A/N: Well, here it is, the second chapter. I must say, I was a tad sad about the number of reviews that I got, but when I checked, the system thingy was kind of confused and the fic didn't show up for two days, and by that time, it was on the second page. But whatever. The story does get better though, and in this chappy we begin to find a plot line! YAY! Anywhoos, read read read my little duckies!

Flawless

Chapter Two: It Was Only a Kiss

Lily blinked in shock.

What was Potter doing here?

"What are you doing here?" She asked out loud.

James shuffled his feet, looking down.

"Well," He said awkwardly, scratching his head. "I figured that since no one was home, you would be lonely, and well, here I am." He said, finishing with a sheepish grin on his face.

Lily cocked her head to the side, raising an eyebrow at the boy.

"No one should be alone on their birthday." James pointed out, "…and I brought cake!"

Lily paused. She had been about to turn him down, but now how could she refuse? The look on his face was pleading, James Potter was practically begging.

Plus he had cake.

Lily smiled, opening the door fully.

"Don't make me regret this Potter."

----::::----::::----

James set the cake down on the kitchen table and looked around. He vowed to stomp out any tension that came up. Lily looked around and shoved her hands in her pockets, at a loss for words. She had no idea what to do with James in her kitchen.

"Umm, right, to the living room then, yeah?"

They walked slowly. James realized as he sat down across from her that apart from making her mad, he really had nothing to say.

Lily looked up, surprised at how eager she was to talk to him.

"You're an only child aren't you?"

"Yeah, well, except Sirius, who sort of lives with me…?" There was a question in his voice as though he was uncertain of how Lily would react.

"Oh?" Lily's eyebrows rose considerably. She hadn't realized that before.

"Well, his mum is kind of wacked and mine really likes him…so…"

Lily guessed that there was more to the story, but she didn't feel like pressing the matter.

"Your sister is a muggle, right?" James made another attempt to strike up conversation.

Lily responded quickly, nodding.

"Yeah, and a year younger so we thought that she might get a letter too. I think Tunia was always jealous, though I don't really know of what…and now with the war she's frightened of me…it's pretty horrible."

Lily's face flushed, noting that she had vented all of her pent up feelings that she had been repressing to the boy who she had spent her school years detesting. She looked down, a frown appearing on her face.

James saw the change in her expression and was suddenly reminded of how scary seeing her so unhappy was. He had such an overwhelming urge to make her laugh that everything from stripping to juggling plates seemed like an option. His stomach saved him though, as it growled loudly.

Lily laughed softly to herself and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'boys' as she shook her head.

"Let me guess, you want to eat the cake?"

"I could make lunch first, then it would be a balanced meal," James said this so hopefully Lily had to smile again. She stood and asked,

"What can you make?"

"Oh you know, I peel bananas, boil water for pasta, peel bananas, boil water…peel…boil…"

"Pasta sounds fine." A faint smile appeared as she watched him put water in the strainer and look surprised when it fell out of the bottom. Lily crossed to him and gently took the strainer out of his hands while picking up the correct pot. She could hardly believe that this was James Potter, the boy she had hated, ignored, rejected…at school he seemed to be so arrogant and conceited, but now here he was in her kitchen trying to make her pasta.

Even her parents didn't make her food anymore. Lily decided that something must be clearly very wrong if she was incorrect about Potter. Something was wrong and the ever growing patch of purple on her hip was a definite reminder.

Lily glanced at James, wondering if he could tell what she was hiding. They ate in silence, both of them not exactly sure of what to say; not wanting to ruin the peaceful atmosphere.

"The pasta is very good. " Lily said stiffly, watching as James nodded, slurping up his penne. Lily raised her eyebrows at the disgusting sound, but couldn't help but smile when he grinned at her, sauce around his mouth. Lily picked up a napkin, chuckling. "You've got some sauce James…here." She folded the napkin in half, wiping his mouth. James smirked as she withdrew her hand. Lily's eyes widened as she realized how that must have looked. Blushing, she turned back to her bowl, picking at the pasta.

James cleared his throat, still unable to wipe the grin from his face.

"You called me James." He smiled, looking at Lily.

She looked into his eyes, surprised to find herself get lost in them. Lily blinked, breaking the hold that he had on her.

"That is your name is it not?" she asked snippily.

"Well, yes, it is, I just wasn't sure if you could remember, since you haven't called me that in five years. " James replied just as coolly. A small smile graced Lily's face.

"I suppose I haven't, now have I?" she asked, her smile turning to a frown abruptly. James shook his head, looking at the girl. "Well then James Potter, I believe I owe you an apology." Lily said, dropping her fork and hopping out of her seat. James coughed, his eyes going wide. As he recovered from his episode, he choked out,

"What?"

Getting up as well, he raised his eyebrows. "Lily Evans is apologizing to me? Are you sure that I am completely awake?"

Lily rolled her eyes, crossing her arms, "You know, I could just take it back-"

"You haven't even apologized yet, you can't take it back!" James teased, cutting her off.

"Yes I can!" She argued back, hands on her hips.

"Can not!" James said loudly, grinning widely. Lily on the other hand, was getting angry, her face getting redder and redder.

"Can too!"

"Can not!"

"Can too!"

"Can NOT!"

"Can TOO-this is ridiculous!" Lily shrieked, her hair flying everywhere.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You are insane. Completely, totally insane! We're not five-bloody-years old James!" She rationed. James laughed; the sound ricocheting off the walls.

"That is the think with you Lils," He said, taking a step towards her. Lily raised an eyebrow at the nickname.

"What thing?" she asked, stepping towards him as well. James grimaced.

"Are you sure you want me to tell you?" He asked softly, his eyes questioning.

Lily gulped, aware of his closeness.

"Yes," she said, jutting her chin upwards, feigning confidence.

"You over-react." He said simply. "You over-react and you've forgotten how to have fun."

"I have not!" Lily protested promptly. "I have fun, and I most certainly do not over-react!"

"You do actually Lily, you are over-reacting right now. There is no need to be so snippy with me." James smirked.

"I am not over-reacting James Potter!" Lily argued with him.

"Yes you are my little flower. You're cheeks are turning red and your eyes just got two shades darker. I know when your getting angry…believe me, I'm used to it by now." James smiled, tapping the girl on the nose.

Lily stood silently, letting him continue.

"And about the whole 'not having fun' thing…you never go to Quidditch games anymore, you skipped the last two balls, and I never see you in Hogsmead. What the bloody hell could you possibly be doing? Studying?"

Something changed in Lily's face, a frown appearing.

"Brandon doesn't like me going to games when he isn't playing." She muttered.

James raised his eyebrows.

"Since when do you do everything you're told?" He asked, stepping closer.

"Everyone makes sacrifices James. That's what you do when you care about someone." She said softly, locking eyes with her tormenter.

Coming closer still, James cupped her chin in his hand.

"You care about him?" He asked; his voice barely above a whisper. James' eyes flickered to her mouth, which was a mere three inches away from his.

Lily couldn't think straight. He was way too close. Letting out a garbled reply, she shivered, feeling his breath on her face. Lily blinked, trying to stop herself form staring at him.

"James…" She managed, her breath becoming shallow. "Stop."

"Stop what Lily?" He whispered, his face coming closer still. Lily could make out each and every eyelash, dark on his eyelids. Trembling, Lily's eyes wandered to his mouth.

James brushed his lips against hers, tenderly caressing her cheek with his hand.

All the thoughts in Lily's mind seemed to flutter away as the intensity of the kiss began to build. James' hand left her cheek, his arm swooping around her waist, holding her gently. Lily could feel her body heating up, her face flushing, but she couldn't have cared less. Abandoning herself in the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to get closer to him. Reacting to this, James pulled her into him, holding her tighter, gripping her waist.

Without warning, Lily jumped away, wincing. Panting slightly, James let go of her as though he had been burned. Rubbing his eyes, he sighed.

"Fuck Lily, I…" He stopped himself.

"No, no, its fine, it's just that I…shit." Lily turned away from him, pulling her shirt up slightly. James' hand had gone straight to the swelling bruise on her hip, and Lily's side was pulsing with pain. "Shit!" She cursed to herself, not aware that James had crept up behind her.

"What the bloody hell is that?!" He asked, brow crinkling. Lily whipped around, startled by his voice. She hastily pulled down her shirt, not taking her hand off of it.

"It's nothing; I just bumped myself a couple days ago…it hurts like hell…no big deal." Lily lied quickly.

James narrowed his eyes at her, not believing a word of it.

"That couldn't have come from a bump Lily." The look on his face was undecipherable as he made an attempt to see the bruise again. He tugged on her hand that was gripping the shirt firmly.

"Evans, if you don't show me now I swear I will take you to St. Mungo's. A bump would not cause someone that much pain. It wouldn't make you break off a kiss like that." James demanded, his eyes turning dark. Lily narrowed her eyes at him, not moving her hand. James held the gaze, trying to find an answer in her emerald orbs. When she noticed that James wasn't backing down, Lily averted her eyes, fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

"Did someone do that to you Lily?" James finally asked after a long silence, his voice dangerously low. Lily looked up, her eyes wide.

"What would give you that idea? Honestly Potter, do you really think that I can't take care of myself?" She snapped, her eyes icing over.

"God dammit Lily, tell me! Did someone do that to you?" James' voice rose as he stepped closer to the cowering girl. "Did Brandon do that?" He controlled his volume, his voice softer, more caring now.

Lily swallowed.

"I can't tell you." She whispered, tears threatening to fall.

James nodded, now understanding completely.

"How long has this been going on?" He spoke gently, his hand back on her cheek, wiping away the salty tears that had escaped. Lily sniffled a bit and then responded in a quiet voice.

"Last night was the first time." She said, biting her lip. "But I suppose that he's been hurting me throughout our whole relationship…emotionally at least." Lily smiled at James through her tears. "Fancy that, I always figured you would be the one to hurt me and here you are all heroic saving me from Brandon."

James chuckled softly and said, "You know I don't mind,"

Lily nodded slightly as he continued.

"Come on, we'll bring the cake to my house. My mum's a healer, she can fix you up." He suggested.

James took her hand, tugging on it gently.

"You'll be okay, I promise. You'll be okay."

A/N: Please please please review!!

Oh, I almost forgot…thanks to sorrybut (again) for beta-ing and writing part of this! I altered it slightly, but it's in there!

R and R!!

Lexy