Flawless
Chapter Five: All Too Familiar
James and Lily jumped away from each other as though shocked with an electrical wire.
"B-Brandon," Lily choked out, her voice hoarse. "What are you doing here?"
Brandon was glaring at the pair, a fire burning in his eyes. Lily wanted to look at James, to tell him not to do anything, but she couldn't break the gaze. Feeling sick all of a sudden, she trembled as he took a step towards them.
"I swear to god Harper, if you take one more step-" James barked. He let go of Lily's hand, reaching for his wand. Brandon already had his out, and he pointed it at James as he shifter his glare to focus solely on the boy. Lily's eyes darted between the two; she was blinking furiously, not crying, not crying, not crying."Put the wand away Brandon."
"What? Do you think that I'm not going to fight you Potter?"
"Put the wand away," James' voice was even and strong. "You don't want to get picked up by the ministry for underage magic." Lily's hear rate calmed for just a second as Brandon put his wand away. Then, he lunged at James, causing her to let out an involuntary shriek.
"Shut up bitch!" At that James' fist connected with Brandon's jaw. Tears filled the boy's eyes as he stumbled backwards only to step forward and punch James in the gut. Taking advantage of Brendan's bending over James kneed him in the groin. Brandon fell over, his eyes widening.
Lily gasped, she had never seen him like this, so vulnerable. Brandon's chocolate eyes met her emerald ones, silently pleading, and her face was unreadable as she held the solemn stare. James was glaring at him with a disgusted look on his face. Brandon curled on his side, face pressed to the ground.
James glanced at Lily for the first time, noticing the strange look on her face. He let out a strangled sigh and looked at Brandon, "You can go now," James said slowly, still glaring at the boy. Brandon stood, trying to gather all of the dignity that he still had.
He brushed the gravel off his shirt and looked furiously at James, "This isn't over." He shot a menacing glance at Lily, then turned around and stomped down the street, his hands in his pockets.
James and Lily stood, staring after Brandon's retreating back.
"Lils," James turned to Lily. He began to continue, but Lily slapped him across the chest.
"What the bloody hell were you thinking?" she screamed hair flying everywhere.
"What?" James cried, confused beyond belief. "Are you seriously screaming at me right now?!"
His voice began to rise, matching Lily's volume. "You fought him James!" You bloody made him cry!" she argued.
"Well Jesus Lily, he fucking tried to hit me, what was I supposed to do, play dead?" James asked incredulously, gesticulating wildly. Lily's eyes were beginning to water again.
"I dunno," she said quietly. "It's just… when you get like that… I mean, like really angry, it scares me. And I know it sounds stupid, but I hate it… I just… I hate it."
James blinked, letting her words sink in. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair.
"It won't happen again," he promised, his arms enveloping her in a hug. She nestled comfortably into his chest.
"Okay," she whispered.
"Okay," he repeated cradling her closer. "I'm sorry Lils, you know that right? I never want to scare you. Ever. I just want to make you happy," he mumbled sincerely into her ear.
Lily could feel herself tearing up again. Holding onto him tighter, she buried her face into his neck.
"Thanks," she said her breath tickling his throat. They stood like that for a few more moments, until they were interrupted by a barking dog. Lily realized that she had come home fore a reason and slowly pulled away.
"I have to call my parents," she said reluctantly. James nodded, letting go of her. He took her hands in his, resting his forehead on hers.
"I'll see you soon?" he asked locking eyes with her. Lily smiled, letting his warm breath wash over her.
"Soon," Lily replied, desperately not wanting to be alone.
"Okay, soon" He let go of her hands and kissed her hair gently. James turned, stuffing his hands in his pockets and walked over to his car. Lily watched him wave as he got out his keys, grinning at her. Laughing softly she waved back at him. He got into the car, the roaring engine noisy in her quiet neighborhood. Lily walked up the stairs leading to her house, pausing at the door. She slowly turned around, almost expecting to see James standing behind her; but by the time she looked for the car it was gone, probably in the air.
She ran back to her front lawn, peering upwards hoping to get a glimpse of it. . The sky was practically spotless, no more than one cloud dotting it. Lily sighed, heading back to her house. She glanced up one more time before turning to the door, just in time to see a red rose floating down from what seemed to be nothing. She reached into the air poised to catch the flower.
Lily watched in a daze as it slowly spiraled into her hand. A smile was now tattooed onto Lily Evans' face as she gazed into it amorously. She walked to her door again still staring at the rose. Lily opened the door, surprised to find it unlocked.
"Hello?" she called, walking farther into the house.
"Finally," came a reply. Lily heaved a sigh of relief.
"Where are you Pet?" Lily asked loudly trying to locate her sister.
"Kitchen." Lily lazily walked into the room.
"When did you get here?" she asked, spotting her sister.
Petunia Evans was the complete opposite from Lily. With her blonde hair and startlingly blue eyes, she was a beauty for sure, but there was an air of bitterness around her.
"Three hours ago; you should be thanking me you know." Pet replied, glaring at Lily from the stove.
"Why?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mum and dad called." She turned to stir something that was boiling in a pot. "But I saved you, said that you were in the shower and that you'd call them back."
"Thank you, thank you." Lily said appreciatively. She fetched a vase from a cabinet and filled it with water, putting the rose in it. She cocked her head, smiling hazily. Petunia sighed loudly, shaking Lily out of her trance-like state.
"Been with that boy again? What was his name, Bernard?"
Lily smirked at her, putting the vase on one of the shiny counter tops.
"Brandon," Lily began, stressing the name, "and I are over."
"So where'd you get the rose from?" Petunia asked, scrunching up her nose.
"From someone other than Brandon!" Lily smiled secretively.
"Really? Who?" Petunia's face broke into a smile. "Tell me, tell me!" She exclaimed, pulling out a chair for Lily and herself.
"I don't know…" Lily trailed off.
"Lily, please!" Petunia stuck out her bottom lip, rounding her eyes.
Giggling, Lily sat down across from her sister. Moments like these, when the two girls could act like friends, gossiping together without thinking or worrying were rare.
"Well, I've mentioned him before, but I never said anything good about him…" Lily's voice softened as she fiddled with her fingers. She didn't know how to begin.
What are we, James and I? Are we just friends?
"I don't know how to explain it-"
"Just get on with it!" Petunia pressed, her eyes eager. Lily laughed again, surprised by her sister's nosiness.
"When did you get so nosy Petty?"
"I've told you a million times, do not call me that!" The younger sister said, flipping her hair back. Lily laughed again, trying to change the subject.
"So, did mum say when they were-"
"LILY!! Please just tell me!" Petunia begged.
Lily sighed, finding no other way around it. She ran a hand through her hair, looking for a way to explain James.
"Right, so-" She was cut off by the shrill ring of the phone.
"Dammit!" Pet said, tired of the interruptions. Laughing, Lily got up, sauntering to the telephone.
"Hello?" She asked into the receiver.
"Lily darling, it is so good to talk to you!"
"Mum." Lily said, a tight smile appearing on her face.
"How are you dovie? Was the party fabulous? How many people were there?" He mother's voice was high, and Lily could practically see her fixing her hair in the mirror as she spoke.
"I'm fine mum, the party was okay, and there were more people than I wanted." Lily said, thinking of one person in particular.
"That's terrif love! Now listen, your father and I are going SCUBA-diving, so I really must leave but-" Her mum cut off, a muffled noise coming from her end. Lily waited, rolling her eyes as Petunia giggled. "Lily? Listen dear, I've got to dash, I'll talk to you in a couple days." Elizabeth Evans rushed.
"But-" Lily gaped, her eyes wide. "Aren't you coming back today?" There was silence on the other end. "Hello, mum?" Lily asked, trying to listen for the tiniest sound. Sighing, she hung up the phone, coming to the sad realization that she was talking to herself.
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Lily and Petunia finally retired to their rooms at one o'clock in the morning. After the call with their mother, the two had spent the rest of the night being girls. For the first time in a very long time, they had acted like real sisters. There had been friction between them of course, but during the summer the two girls had gone their separate ways, it had never exploded into anything.
Petunia had made the dinner, and Lily, who ate as much as she could what with the cake still in her stomach, finished by making the desert.
The girls had talked for the rest of the night, Lily telling Petunia about her day with James, and Petunia explaining her latest breakup.
It was out of the ordinary, and gaggingly corny, but Lily was grateful for it. Perhaps if she fell asleep with the pleasant thoughts in her head, she wouldn't have nightmares about the events that had happened earlier that day.
A/N: So, I know that I said that this chapter was going to be really long, but when I was re-reading this, I realized that not much actually happened in this…but…whatever. Lily was very bi-polar isn't she? Well, that's just because her nervous system is on the brink because of everything that's happening…just in case anyone else was furrowing their brow because of her neurotic behavior. ANNDD…my beta was confused about this at first...James drops the flower FROM THE CAR. He doesn't use magic, since he's only sixteen and that would be illegal…
Next chapter has A LOT if action and stuff…and it's, like, 26 pages and I'm not even done! But that's handwritten, not typed. It should be up soon, since my beta is pushing me to post faster, with longer chapters…so…
So, for next chapter, I'm going to do a little challenge/dedication thing. The 50, 51, 55, and 57 (though that's pushing it) reviewers will get chapters dedicated to them! But only if you post the words 'I read the a/n' in your review. I want to see how many people actually read these things. Especially long ones like this.
Read and review!!
Oh, and yes, I did make up the word gaggingly.
And proud of it.