Chapter Three – Jealousy

It was nine o'clock at night in the Gryffindor Common Room, and all of the Gryffindor boys and girls in their seventh year were all relaxing and hanging out there. Arabella's and Sirius' posse were around in one corner, Sirius talking to some other girls and Arabella doing hair. The quidittch team was lingering near them as well, eager to get a chance to talk to James, who was the Quidditch Team Captain, and could possibly soften up to recruit them.

"Arabella," Jessica said, who was kneeling below Arabella in order for her to do her hair. "Can I have a French braid please?"

"Oh, yeah, of course," she smiled, beginning to section Jessica's fiery red hair. However, it wasn't her best work. At the same time, she was warily watching Sirius and a few girls who were hopelessly flirting with him. And to her disappointment, he seemed to be enjoying it.

"Oh Sirius," a girl with curly strawberry blonde hair giggled. "You are too funny!" she fluttered her eyelashes, taking a string of Sirius' long hair and stroking it through her fingers.

Bella's gaze turned into a glare and her eyebrows were drawn. She tried to ignore it – that painful, hurt feeling pounding in her heart – but it hit her hard when she saw Sirius grin that smile, his blue eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Thanks," she heard Sirius smile. "But I was really just asking if you knew where my friends were…I'm not sure how funny that is,"

Dumb blonde blinked numerous times but then threw herself onto Sirius in a totally non subtle way. "No, I don't know where you're like friends are," she said in a sultry voice, "But…I'm here,"

Arabella couldn't help it. Her eyes were narrowed so dangerously and her fists were clenched so much, she didn't notice at first when Jessica cried, "Ouch, Bella, ouch!"

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, Jess!" she exclaimed, releasing her grip at once. "I wasn't paying attention. I was just….um…."

Jessica looked at her and then glanced at Sirius and his admirers meaningfully. Arabella turned beat red and looked down to her designer shoes.

"Do you want me to finish your hair?" she muttered, embarrassed.

"Yes," Jessica said, "Just try not to have such…firm a grip next time," she teased.

"Right," she said softly.

She felt something tap the back of her head, and she turned half way around to see James wink at her. She blushed once again, but blushed even more when James stood up and cried, "Oi! Sirius! Come sit next to this lovely lady! I think she needs some *ahem* warming up!"

Sirius turned around and grinned a huge smile when he saw James wiggling his eyebrows at him and Arabella blushing immensely. He practically pushed Dumb Blonde off his lap and skipped across the room, sitting down next to Arabella on the couch. Dumb Blonde fell to the ground, landing on her butt, and her other dumb friends tried to pull her up. She scowled when she saw Sirius had left her for Arabella and turned away, folding her arms. Bella smirked.

"There's my pretty girl!" Sirius smiled giving Bella a hug and a peck on the cheek.

Bella wished she had put on more foundation….her cheeks were as probably as red as a tomato at this point.

"Hi……." Bella managed to say, but it came out in a dreamy, embarrassing voice. "I-I mean, hi,"

Sirius grinned, noticing Bella was acting slightly love-struck and looked at James, amused. James, however, did not acknowledge that, but pointed to her with an expression on his face as if saying, 'You like what you see?' Sirius looked confused for a second but then realized what James was referring to and rolled his eyes, wrapping his arm around Bella's shoulder.

Suddenly, that strong, warm bicep felt cold and stiff. Of course he would roll his eyes. I mean, why would he want to date Arabella Frell?! What had she been thinking? How could Sirius ever like a girl like her?

Arabella shrugged his arm off of her shoulders and looked away, forlorn. She silently cursed herself. She could just see it now….she would grow up and old, ugly widow who talked to Lily and Jessica on the telephone three hours a day because she was so lonely.

"What's the matter?" he asked, his face hurt and concerned.

She shrugged, and concentrated again on Jessica's hair. From the corner of her eye, she saw Sirius look at James with a confused face, nodding in her direction. James just rolled his eyes and looked away.

As disappointed as she was, Arabella still sort of wished Sirius would try to say sorry or something. Try to win her back…..

"Bella…" he said softly.

She looked hopefully up to him. Was he going to win her over? Was he?! Was he?!

"Are you sure everything's cool?" he said quickly, smiling.

She gaped. Of course. Sirius didn't have a romantic, sweet side. Not at all.

"Cool as ice? Flowing as the motion of the ocean???" he added, joking.

She stared at him, her face blank. Why, why did she have to be in love with him?! "Sure, Sirius. Sure."

"Ok, good!" he beamed, wrapping his bicep around her once again.

Bella sighed, clipping away the ponytail and looking at James for help at the same time. However, he didn't meet her gaze. So much for his help this time.

Jessica ran her hand over her long French braid thankfully and smiled at Arabella. "Thanks, Bells!"

"You're welcome," she forced a smile, watching Jessica jumping up to sit next to Remus. Remus and Jessica were not technically girlfriend and boyfriend yet…but the way they acted around each other could be fooled. Arabella somewhat enviously watched Remus look at Jessica like…she was amazing. She wished Sirius would look at her like that.

Maybe he never will, she thought looking at him, one arm wrapped around her shoulders, head turned around to talk to James at the same time.

Maybe he never will.

***

James Potter

***

"Dude," Sirius plopped onto his bed, sitting Indian style. "Is this year going to be bomb or what?! We're like the rulers of Hogwarts,"

Remus rolled his eyes, pulling out his toothbrush and toothpaste and walking into the bathroom. "You are hardly the ruler of Hogwarts, Sirius," he called.

"You are hardly the ruler of Hogwarts, Sirius," Sirius mimicked him.

"Well," James said cleverly. "Not only are we the oldest ones at Hogwarts, but there are lots of hot girls,"

Sirius laughed as Remus walked back out from the bathroom. "Well I know who Reeemsies has his eye on! Jesssiiicccaaa!"

"Very mature," Remus said calmly.

"Very mature," Sirius mimicked again.

"Well," James cut in, "What about Arabella, Sirius? She's actually really fine this year,"

All three boys layed down under their covers. "Arabella?" Sirius said, his hands folding behind his head. "Arabella…" he said, this time less of a question and more of a pondering tone in his voice.

"I think she likes you," Remus added.

"Yeah," James said quickly. "I mean, have you seen the way she acts around you? She was totally jealous earlier when you were hanging with those other girls – which I must add are definitely not your type – and when you wrapped your arm around her and stuff she was blushing like mad,"

"Really?" he said softly.

"Really," James and Remus said in unison.

"Huh," Sirius muttered, thoughtful.

"Do you think she's cute?" James egged on.

"Arabella………" he drawled. A long silence followed and James craned his ear to hear the slightest of thought. However, a familiar steady breathing followed and to his annoyance, James realized Sirius had fallen asleep.

"Crap," he whispered.

"James," Remus said, turning onto his side to face him.

"I'm getting this feeling that you're trying to set Sirius and Arabella up or something. Is that true?"

James couldn't lie to his friend. Especially Remus. Besides, he was trustworthy enough. He wouldn't tell anyone.

***

Arabella Frell

"Today we will be pairing up for tea leaves," Professor Trewlaney boringly drawled, her scarves and beads rattling. "Ahem," she cleared her throat. "Lily Evans – Jared Smith,"

Bella watched as James glared towards Jared, Lily's ex boyfriend who still hadn't gotten over her since Lily dumped him last year, smirk and flirtatiously wink at Lily. Lily tossed her hair behind her shoulder and stuck her nose in the air, annoyed.

"Peter Pettigrew – Remus Lupin,"

Peter clapped his hands in excitement in a weird way, and Remus looked away, embarrassed.

"Arabella Frell….."

Please. Please let it be Sirius!

"and Sirius Black,"

Yes!

Was it fate???

Sirius grinned and sauntered over towards Arabella's table. She immediately sat up straighter, ran her fingers through her short, silky hair, readjusted her neat pile of books, and took a whiff of her perfume. The warm, spicy smell calmed her.

"Hey," Sirius said, sitting down at the opposite seat across from her.

"Hey," she flashed a sparkling white smile.

When Sirius didn't say anything else, (he seemed to be staring off in space. Was he disappointed he got paired up with her?) Bella coughed and pretended to be listening to the lesson. She absentmindedly flipped through her book pages, and her eyes scrolled over the black and white pictures.

Boring!

Once she was sure he wasn't looking, Arabella snuck a look at Sirius. He was staring down at his tea leaf, his eyebrows furrowed together as if he was confused.

"Oh, no," she said, turning his leaf over. She accidentally brushed his wrist, which sent her heart rate beating quickly. Gosh, she wanted him so bad. "You have to look at it like this," she explained, turning the object at an angle.

Thank goodness I paid some attention.

"Ohhhhhh," Sirius nodded. "I get it," he said, although the look on his face said otherwise. "Thanks,"

"Uh huh,"

Wow. That was lame.

Bella suddenly had a flash back of that first day at Hogwarts. She had met Lily on the train ride there, and had decided to walk in together and to try to get in the same room. Jessica came with them also. They were walking down the hall, just the cute little first years like they were, when Arabella saw her friend James. "Hey, James!" she shouted, waving her hand above her head. James looked behind him and smiled. He beckoned over two of his friends to walk with him towards her….and a ruggedly handsome twelve year old followed suit. James explained something to his cute friend, who snickered something in reply.

"Hey there," James smiled, giving Bella a quick hug.

"Hi, James," she smiled.

James moved his gaze over to Lily, and to Bella's amusement, his brown eyes went wide. "And who might you be?" he whistled under his breath.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Lily Evans,"

James nodded his, eyebrows high. "Nice to meet you Lily Evans,"

"James...." Arabella gestured towards his very cute friend. "Are you going to introduce us to someone?"

"Oh yeah," James smirked, nudging his friend. "This is Sirius,"

Sirius smiled and nodded at the girls.

"And this, Sirius," said James, "is the girl i was telling you about, Arabella,"

Sirius snickered with James as if laughing at an inside joke and flashed a pearly white smile. "Hey, Bells,"

Arabella was amazed how Sirius' bright blue eyes twinkled.

"H-Hi......" she stuttered dumbly. She looked at James expectantly. "Are you going to tell me what you told your friend here about me?"

James folded his arms and leaned towards Arabella. For a second she thought he was going to kiss her cheek but then he whispered into her ear, "I'll tell you only if you can hook me up with that hott friend of yours,"

Bella scowled. "Fat Chance,"

"Then you'll never know......." James smiled.

Arabella watched as a boy with sandy hair run up to Sirius and James. "Hey guys," he said quickly. "We gotta go,"

"Kay, Remus," said Sirius.

"We'll catch y'all later," James promised, grinning and sauntering off.

"Alright, bye," Arabella automatically replied. She felt her heartrate speed up as she saw Sirius wink at her, and then turned around and walked away.

"Omigosh," Arabella cried. "Did you seeeeee that hottie Sirius?! He is so fine!"

"That Remus is not so bad either," Jessica added.

Jessica and Bella saw Lily looking off into nowhere in particular, as in a faze. They smiled at each other, supressing their giggles. "What about that James, Lils? What do you think about him???"

Lily snapped back to attention and, of course, immediately recoiled. "What? Why? How? I mean - why would you think I'd be interested?"

"Because of the lovesick look on your face when you first saw him," Jessica answered matter of factly.

"I did not!" Lily snapped. "I am none whatsoever interested in James Potter!"

"Whatever you say......" Bella said, not convinced.

Arabella suddenly need a plan of action. Sirius had winked at her at the first day of school! It was a sign!

"Sirius," she said quickly, her eyes wide.

He looked up from his text book. "Yeah?"

"Do you think we can get together sometime to uh....study? For our tea leaves?"

SIrius looked confused for a second. His eyes looked her over for what seemed like an eternity.

Oh no, Arabella thought. He was going to say no!

Suddenly, his stare upturned into a smile. "Sure!" he grinned.

"This Friday?"

"Yeah that would be great!"

She breathed a sigh of relief. Yes. Yes. Yes. "Great," she said, breathlessly.

She, Arabella Frell, had done it. She was finally going on a date with SIrius Black. Ok, well it wasn't an official date. But...still it was close! Without meaning to, she felt a smile grow on her face. She tried to stop it, but she couldn't help it. She probably looked like an idiot, with a huge stupid grin on her face while she was working.

Professor Trewlaney announced that the class was over and Bella fought herself to not jump for joy just then.

A few of Sirius' Quidittch buddies walked up to Sirius and crowded around him. They exchanged hello's and a couple high fives. "Hey," one of them said. "We're having a party on Friday! It's gonna be tiiiighttttt! You're gonna be there right?"

Bella's heart pounded. If Sirius went to that party - they would not have their study date. He would have to choose between Arabella and his friends. Who was more important?

Sirius did not make eye contact at all with Arabella. As if he was avoidng her. "Yeah, totally. Wouldn't miss it," he said, forcing a smile.

Arabella's breath swished out of her mouth. That was his choice then. She could not believe Sirius had just done that. He had rejected her - right in front of her face. Sirius still refused to look at her.

Not being able to stop herself, she jumped out of her seat, the chair making a loud creaking noise. The boys, including Sirius, watched her roughly gather up her things, wipe her tears, and walk quickly out the room. She flew down the long steps as fast as possible. "Arabella! Arabella!" she heard Sirius call after her. But she ignored him.

She was crushed.