True Love is Blind
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. Just the plot.
A/N: A big thank you to KaitsSlytherin and Lady Knight Keladry who pointed out a few of the mistakes I made in the previous chapters. I fixed them straight away )
Also thanks to everyone who reviewed!! shetlandlace, Kira2667, Hoeun, angelps7, MoodyMoony241, greenfly and carrebear14, Lia-The-True-Gryffindor376, mandii, Edward Cullen08, summersgirl2526 and offramp!!
I kept my promise this time! I said the next chapter would be up shortly didn't I? :P
Enjoy!
Chapter 3: Chance
James threw another pillow at Sirius and Remus, who still couldn't seem to get over the fact that Lily "rejected" him.
It had been going on for the past 3 hours, and the laughter still hadn't died down.
"Don't be too happy too soon" James warned, "I'm not giving up on her so easily,"
Sirius looked as if he didn't believe him. "I guess it's safe to tell you this now," Sirius started, "Do you know why I thought Lily was perfect for this bet? There's more reason to it than the fact that she's not the type you'd normally go for."
A confused expression crept up on James's face. "It's because she despises us." Sirius said with a sleep smile. He found the whole idea that someone would hate the Marauders hilariously entertaining.
"Why?" James asked quietly, obviously perplexed.
He had never met anyone like Lily before, she definitely wasn't pretty nor was she too easy to get along with, but still something about her managed to grasp hold of James's full attention.
"I have no idea." Sirius replied, "So basically James, you don't stand a chance this time", he continued to tease.
It was then that Remus spoke, a hint of worry in his voice. "Obviously Lily's very different from the girls you're used to being around, James."
Sirius looked up and nodded in agreement.
"So if you want to win her heart, you have to approach her differently too. Take it slow, and try again tomorrow." He finished before returning to his normal carefree self.
James stared back at Remus grinning slightly. "You know," he said standing up from his bed, "In the end though, you're still going to owe me. Not the other way round."
Sirius was about to protest, when James walked out of the room.
The Gryffindor table, in the morning was where all the action occurred. Breakfast was equivalent to entertainment for most Hogwarts students, as it was usually the time when most of the girls would do something highly embarrassing in an attempt to impress the Marauders, or a time where pranks were performed, often resulting in a few laughs from the rest of the school.
But this morning, it was different. James Potter was strangely irresponsive to the girls who attempted to smile flirtatiously at him.
Today, he promised himself was the day he needed to concentrate on Lily. Just Lily.
He was not going to lose to Sirius, especially when Sirius was so confident that he would.
He immediately spotted Lily as she walked hurriedly down the hall with her friend Anna and sat at the end of the long Gryffindor table.
Lily was always much easier to spot than every other girl. Her dark hair was always in a messy bun, her think framed glasses made her stand out noticeably well amongst everyone else, but most of all, her clothes always looked a few sizes too big.
James walked over and sat casually next to her. The Hall was quiet once again, as all eyes began to shift towards their direction. Even Kate, along with her friends turned to watch. Kate blew James a kiss which he gladly accepted, before reassembling his composure and turned serenely to face Lily.
"Good morning, Lily." he said calmly once again. His voice just as attractive as the rest of him. "I was hoping you'd give me another chance today." He shot her a warm smile.
Lily ignored him and continued eating. From the corner of her eyes, Lily could see his smile fade slightly.
"I don't know what exactly I've done to offend you, but just so you know, I'm very bothered by it," he continued, "I…don't want you to hate me Lily."
He said it with so much sincerity, that Lily almost felt ashamed.
She ignored him nonetheless, hoping that he would get the message and leave her alone.
"Tell me what it is that you hate about me" he sounded like he was pleading with her, as if he truly didn't know.
Lily contemplated whether to continue ignoring him. But decided against it as he opened his mouth, about to speak again.
"Potter," she said, staring coldly into his eyes, "I hate almost everything about you!" she said shaking from anger, "You act like you're so great, going out with girls then breaking up with them a week later. You think you're so wonderful and that everyone is in love with you. You're so overly arrogant and seem to think I'm like everyone else, that I would also fall into your pathetic trap and agree to go out with you. But you know what Potter? I'm not like them. I don't worship you at all. I don't want to have anything to do with a selfish, heartless jerk like you. So if you don't mind, please don't make me throw up my food again. "
She had finally said it. The words she kept to herself for so long were finally out in the open. And even though she was shaking so hard with fear and anger, she felt relieved. She continued to stare at James' with cold, tense eyes, half expecting him to stun her or at least slap her across her face.
But he remained calm, staring deeply into her emerald eyes. The hall was almost dead silent. Lily could hear nothing, but the sound of her heart beating in her ears.
"Lily," he said, breaking the deafening silence, she could feel all eyes on the two of us, all mouths open in shock, "I know that you are different." James spoke, smiling at her.
It was as if someone had used the calming charm on her. All the anger and hatred built within Lily disappeared in an instant with his soft voice and warm smile.
Why was he still talking to me? Why hasn't he slapped me and walked out of the hall?
It was another few seconds before James Potter spoke again, "Why do you always do this Lily?" he asked, "Locking yourself away from everyone else, not allowing them to understand you. You hate it when people judge you without knowing you at all don't you?"
She felt her head spin at how true his words were. He was right. She didn't have the right to judge him like this. Lily opened her mouth to say something "I…"
James had cut her off again. "You don't understand anything about me. Yet you insulted me like you know me so well," he said still not looking away from her eyes, "do you make these assumptions based on what you see didn't you?" he paused, "But have you ever even tried to get to know me? The real me?"
For the first time, Lily saw hurt in his eyes.
It was the exactly words she wanted to voice to everyone else. How many people in this school had ever tried to get to know her these last 5 years?
The real her.
She hated everyone because of it, never giving her the chance to be close to them, yet wasn't she doing the same to James? Being a hypocrite and judging him entirely by his looks and the way that he presents himself. It seemed to her that at that very moment in time, the one person she hated the most, was in fact herself.
Lily felt tears sting her eyes. "James…I…" her said softly, her voice weak, "I'm… really sorry…" she said, fighting back her tears. "I was way out of line."
It was the first time in 5 years, that she had ever felt this combination of emotion. Guilt, regret, relief, and happiness. "I shouldn't have said those things.. without ever giving you a chance…I'm sorry"
James looked away for a split second before turning to face her again.
"I won't forgive you though…" he said, his face serious.
Lily looked up, her throat constricting even tighter than before. A single tear escaped from her eyes and rolled down her cheek.
James lifted his hand, and wiped it away. As Lily flushed with his touch. As he saw this, his warm smile returned to his face. "I won't forgive you…" he said again. "…Unless you promise you'll give me the chance I deserve."
The words came out like words of relief. She couldn't help but laugh up at this boy, who up until a few moments ago she hated with a burning passion. Perhaps, she was wrong about him all along.
"Okay fine, Potter," she said beaming up at his soft smile, "I'll give you a chance."
Lily quickly blinked away the last traces of her tears, turned around and smiled at Anna, who was now looking at her with a shocked expression. She picked up her textbooks and made her way to the exit.
"Hey Lily!" James's voice called out once again.
She turned her head back to find him grinning affably at her. "And also" he said, "You really have to drop the Potter."
It was the second time in two days.
James Potter had made her stomach flutter.
"Bye James," she called out before she disappeared around the corner.
A/N: And so Lily's finally given into James's charm Like it? Hate it?? Leave a review and tell me what you think!
(If you find any mistakes, please tell me also! I'd really appreciate it )