A/N: Thanks so much to all my wonderful reviewers! I reached 31 reviews; one more over what I'd hoped for. Cookies go to: Jamie, TheScarlettSecret, EmpressMaryLee, MariaCachucha, XxXMzVirginiaWeasleyXxX, xXDarknessFallsDeADXx, kitty richmond, me, and i-know-all-the-wicked-lyrics.

(Thanks, Kelly, for all those creative pen names and wonderful reviews!)

I'm sorry I didn't update right after I hit 30 reviews…there was a death at my school and I just couldn't write for a long time…

But here's chapter 8! As before, I won't update until I hit 40! 40 40 40 40! Only9 reviews!

Read, and of course, enjoy!

Chapter 8: The Talk

"Password?"

"Lemon drops," Lily mumbled, wiping at her eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"LEMON DROPS!"

"Alright…alright, Miss Evans." The portrait hole swung forward and Lily clambered inside, tears blurring her vision as she stumbled across the common room, up the stairs, and into her bedroom; where she threw herself on her four poster and renewed her sobbing. She clenched her fists around her pillow and buried her face in it, trying her best to forget the feeling of his mouth on hers…his touch…the very memory drove her mad. She wasn't supposed to like James Potter! She was supposed to hate him! And she did, didn't she?

It was no use; Lily, exhausted, let her body succumb to a fitful sleep.

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"Lily? Lily…wake up!" Groaning, Lily rolled over onto her back, opened her eyes, and wasn't surprised to see Olivia standing at the foot of her bed.

"What?" Lily mumbled, rubbing her eyes and propping herself up on her elbows.

"I need to talk to you," Olivia replied, sitting down on the bed.

"Not now…I'm-"

"No, Lily, now." Lily groaned and sank back onto the bed.

"I really don't want to talk about this right now, Olivia!"

"I know, but-"

"But nothing! I really don't want to talk!" Lily cried, her voice choked with tears, sitting up again. "Please…can we talk tomorrow?"

"No, Lily, we need to talk now. I hate seeing you like this…so confused…and lost…and hopelessly in love." She smiled and Lily ducked her head and wiped hastily at the tears spilling down her cheeks.

"No…no…no! I don't want to talk right now!"

"Oh Lily…" Lily laid her head in Olivia's lap and her best friend held her as she cried. Olivia stroked her hair and rubbed her back as she waited for the torrent of tears to pass.

"You know, you'd be a lot happier if you just talked about this with me."

"I know…"

"So…"

"So?"

"Come on, Lily…"

"Alright, alright…" Lily sat up and accepted Olivia's offered handkerchief and quickly blew her nose.

"So, what do you think you should do?" Lily shrugged. "Oh come on Lily…"

"I don't know…go and talk to James?"

"No…not yet. I think you should break up with Brandon."

"What!"

"Lily, don't you dare pretend to be shocked." Lily folded her arms across her chest and glared at Olivia.

"Fine, I won't." Olivia smiled triumphantly.

"Breaking up with Brandon is the only way you'll be able to get to Potter."

"And what's all this crap about getting to Potter?" Olivia laughed and laid a hand on Lily's shoulder.

"Don't pretend you don't like him, Lily! Don't pretend that you didn't enjoy his kiss! Don't pretend that he's not better that Brandon in every single way!" Lily scowled.

"I didn't say I was."

"Oh Lily…you're acting like you are."

"So?"

"So…it's only hurting you more and more…admit it, Lily, you do like him." Lily turned away briefly and glared out the window…wishing she could disappear; it was scary how well Olivia knew her.

"Ok," Lily replied, turning back to her friend, "I'll say this: I don't like him-"

"Lily…"

"But I will admit he's better than I thought. He's really not that big of a jerk and there's a different side to him…an emotional side…that he doesn't always show…that I, well…like." Olivia grinned.

"Well, I suppose that's all I'll get out of you for now."

"It's going to take a lot from him to convince me that I should like him after what he did today."

"That you should like him?" Olivia repeated; Lily decided to tell her everything.

"Well, it's strange, Olivia, because this new James I'm seeing is well….actually likeable. But it's as if I'm scared to like him…because I've always hated him…and I don't want to face the facts that he might just be alright, that he might just be decent. I can't explain it really."

"Hormones, hon, hormones." Lily laughed.

"But then why am I afraid to like him?" Olivia shrugged.

"Perhaps you should find out more about this likeable side…see what other likeable things he's capable of."

"Hmmm…I suppose."

"I think you should just allow that little voice inside of your head to take over so you can go ahead and like him."

"But-" Olivia raised her hand.

"Nothing more about this subject. The most important thing right now is to go down there and break up with Mr. Parkinson." Lily laughed.

"Alright…will do."

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Lily descended the stairs into the common room and carefully avoided the Marauder's glances. Brandon jumped to his feet when he saw her and came walking towards her, his eyes flashing.

"Lily, what the hell happened this afternoon?" he demanded, towering above her. Lily stared straight into his eyes and for the first time realized how ugly they were: so gray and dark…nothing like James' hazel ones.

"I don't really know, Brandon-" Lily began, but Brandon cut her off.

"Well, you should! You're the one who was snogging Potter!" Lily noticed how quiet the common room had become and that everyone was watching them fight; it would be all the more embarrassing for Brandon.

"I didn't know it was him, Brandon," Lily replied steadily, trying to control her emotions that were threatening to spill over; she glanced quickly over her shoulder at James who was watching her avidly. "But, I thoroughly enjoyed it." Brandon's face turned beet red and an audible gasp echoed around the room.

"What?" Brandon asked, his voice soft and menacing.

"We're through Brandon."

"What?"

"I said we're through. What don't you understand?"

"But…but what did I do wrong?" he asked, grasping her hand.

"Everything," Lily answered, squirming out of his grip. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going down for some dinner." With that, she turned her back on him, and walked calmly out of the common room, but not before Sirius shouted,

"Sucker!" right in Brandon's face.

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"That was pretty cool, wasn't it?" James asked, glancing down the table at Lily who was talking avidly to Alice Longbottom.

"Yeah…it was sweet!" Sirius crowed and Peter laughed; Remus shook his head.

"She handled the situation very well, I must say."

"So, is the game back on, Prongs?" James tore his eyes away from the most beautiful witch in the world and grinned.

"Oh yes…and this time, I will win."

A/N: Ok so do you see the little toolbar in the bottom left hand corner of the screen? Click on OK and submit a review! Remember, I shall not update until I hit 40.

Hope you enjoyed this!

Elise Bentwin