The next day in the Great Hall was like any other. Lily was sitting alone until the Marauders walked in.

"Hey Lily" Greeted Remus and Peter simultaneously.

" Yo Lils" said Sirius before stuffing his face.

" Hey guys," she said.

All the girls around glared at her. I mean honestly, what do THE Marauders have to do with Lily Evans, the geek, the outcast, the dork, whatever you wanted to call her. Just look at her…she's Lily Evans for Merlin's shorts…

James sat next to her and smiled.

" So," he said casually.

"What do you want Potter?" she snapped harshly, not even bothering to look at him.

James was taken aback. He thought last night was an improvement. Because it was…right?

"Well, if you have nothing to babble about, then I'll be going." And she got up and left. James put his head in his hands and groaned in frustration.

" Prongs, my man, my homeslice, my homie, my dawg, my stag, my brother, my friend, my Marauder, my-,"

"Shut up Sirius! For the love of Merlin just give people quiet."

" What the heck's the point of a mouth if you can't use it Moony?"

"Why don't you find out?"

"Guys, please stop," Grumbled James

"Sorry"

"Sorry"

"Hey Prongs guess what?"

"Yeah…?"

Sirius gave James a weird look, "I said guess what not guess yeah!"

James moaned, " What Padfoot?"

"I know something that will cheer you up! We could-,"

"I think it's better for everyone if you just stop talking,"

"Yeah, okay."

The whole day Lily ignored James. Even their patrols for Heads' duties were awkward.

One rainy day, James played a nasty prank on Snape and was totally blown up at by Lily. She yelled at him she was red in the face. After she was finished, lightening stuck as did thunder shortly after. Lily almost let the tear in her eyes slip

" I though you changed," and she stormed out of the castle.

She wasn't mad at him exactly; she was just really counting on him being mature. She wanted him to be. She wanted to be with him. Why couldn't he see that? But he did…

James ran after her.

It was poring out; the water was coming down in sheets. He saw a girl standing in the middle of the grounds, alone. The thunder was so loud, he couldn't hear her crying so he prayed to the gods that, that was Lily otherwise he'd be in some serious trouble ((" Haha Sirius/serious! She said it! And it's funny cause that's my name!" "Shut up Sirius and listen to the story" "Sorry Moony"))

"Evans!" He yelled. Both he and Lily were soaking wet. Too bad they were both in white shirts (A/N: Er, anyone else note the sarcasm? Me too)

" Potter go away!" she shouted from somewhere to his left. Lightening flashed and James took that opportunity to run towards her.

" Evans, what do you want from me? What would make you stand the sight of me? I've tried everything I can think of and nothing seems to be working!" He yelled when he was face to face with her. She looked up at him and saw hurt in his hazel eyes and etched all over his face. " Lily I've liked you ever since I first saw you when we were 11. When you walked into my compartment you walked into my life." Thunder boomed loudly. "Your hair, your eyes…I wouldn't change anything about you. But when I changed almost everything about me, it's still somehow not good enough. And this is not some stupid crush. This isn't some fling I'll get over in a week. 6 years. 6 years, and you can't give me a day." He sighed heavily, truly and utterly defeated. "So, Lily, you win. Really, I give up. My heart can't take the torture anymore. I thought I was strong enough, but I was wrong. I won't ask you out anymore, flirt with you or even stare longingly at you anymore. I'll just, get out of your life, okay?"

It was poring even more then before. The rain was fiercely pounding against their skin. They were soaked to the bone but neither cared. It was at that moment; maybe even before but now just realizing it, that Lily Evans, yes, Lily Evans fell for James Potter.

Hard.

"No," she said firmly. James looked at her questioningly but it almost looked painful.

"It's not okay. James, I like you. It used to be hard to say before but now: I like you; I like you; I like you. But I will not be treated like any other because I refuse to let that happen."

" I would never do that to you. It wouldn't be like that and you know it. You know it would be perfect and that's why you were afraid. But I promise I would never treat you like that."

" How do I know that? Show me. Just prove it to me." James smirked in spite of himself and he moved closer so there was no gap between their bodies.

"As you wish," James put his left hand behind her head and pulled Lily's lips to his. As soon as their lips met, lightening struck in the sky (A/N: I know, cliché, sorry). Lily had never had a kiss like this. She felt a warm sensation throughout her entire body, setting her nerves (A/N: and hormones snigger) on fire. She knew this would last forever. Or at least she hoped it would.

James wrapped his right arm around her waist, Lily clinging to James's shirt as if her life depended on it. They stood kissing in the rain for what felt like forever. Finally, they broke off (for air reasons only) and decided to head for the castle, not realizing it was actually way after hours.

They snuck quietly to the Heads' common Room and started the fire. James changed quickly into a red sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. He gave Lily clothes to change into because his were big, cozy, fluffy, and warm. He put butterbeer in two mugs and put extra whipped cream on the coffee table.

Lily came out with her hair brushed, but still wet, baggy, green plaid pants, fuzzy socks and a comfortable blue sweatshirt. What Lily loved most about James's clothes was that it all smelled like him. Cinnamon and his cologne. Yum.

She found James sitting on the cushy red and gold loveseat, drinking his butterbeer. He looked up at her, put his mug down, and smiled. She smiled back and instead of sitting the armchair across from him as he expected, she sat closely next to him on the loveseat. He handed Lily her butterbeer and sat back down.

"You must be cold," he said taking out his wand and performing the drying charm on it.

"I didn't even think about that," Lily laughed.

She took a sip of butterbeer and it warmed up her whole body. James put his right arm around her shoulders rubbing her left arm to warm her even more. She leaned in and snuggled up to James's body. She put her head on his chest and heard his strong, steady heartbeat. Lily sighed contently thinking 'This is the place to be' as James slid his arm down to her waist. Lily looked up to see his eyes closed with a small smile playing on his lips. She took off his glasses and put it, with her butterbeer, on the table. She crawled onto his lap and fell asleep with her legs across his and her head on his chest when someone cam through the portrait of Sir Codagon, the picture in front of the Heads' room, looking for them.