Chapter Six

Beyond the surface

A/N: oh wow, it's been seriously half a year since I updated. I am so sorry and if you are still reading my story I love you so much :)

In the company of strangers I am less than fine

I am turning into wallpaper before their eyes

Somehow I always end up on the wrong side

One day I will get it right

Maybe it's not too late

For me to fly

Maybe you underestimated me

And now it's time

Oh, the scenery is different when you're not so small

I think I can take this fall


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"Where am I?" Charity opened her eyes and looked around blankly.

"You're in the hospital wing," Lily replied helpfully. "I'm Lily Evans."

"Oh hey, I remember you! I helped once on your homework," Charity smiled but then frowned, when she spotted Madeline. "You seem familiar."

"Let me refresh your memory" Madeline's eyes flashed. "Tony, Ryan, Greg, Anthony, Mark, Jose, Daniel-"

"Oh right…" Charity squinted. "You were that psycho girlfriend. Merlin, you need to chill. I was just having some fun with your guys."

"Er Charity?" Lily said nervously, noticing that Madeline looked murderous. "Do you remember anything before you passed out?"

"I passed out?" Charity suddenly broke into a fit of giggles.

"She is so obviously on something," Madeline snickered but Lily silenced her with a frown.

"Yes, you passed out. In the corridor, don't you remember?" Lily said gently to her.

"James," Charity replied, a dreamy smile on her face.

"Excuse me?" Lily shared a bewildered look with Madeline.

"He promised me that if I took a little pill, the pain will go away," Charity cocked her head. "And it did. I feel so …carefree, wheeeee…" Charity's squeal of delight faded as she fell from her bed.

"Oh boy," Madeline rolled her eyes. "We have a long afternoon ahead of us."

Lily, however, seemed to be deep in thought.

"Are you all right?" Madeline asked, concerned.

"What? Yeah," Lily snapped out of it and turned to Madeline. "Let's get her back on the bed."

"Charity?" Lily peered into Charity's face.

"Oh hey," She opened her eyes and smiled weakly. "What happened?"

"Er, well," Lily paused, deciding whether to tell her the truth or not. Memories of what had happened flashed through her mind. There was the horrible singing, the impromptu dance routine and so much more. "Nothing really."

"I feel like such an idiot" Charity sat up and squinted. "You look really pretty."

"Um, thanks," Lily smoothed her skirt. "Madeline told me to try something new."

"Oh Madeline," Charity frowned. "She seemed like she really hated me."

"It's not that she doesn't like you," Lily started.

"No, I understand," Charity smiled sadly. "Maybe that's why I never had any girl friends."

"Well, are you going to be okay? I mean, it's getting late, I should go," Lily said awkwardly and turned to leave.

"I'm not a slut, you know," charity said suddenly.

Lily turned around. "I never said you were."

"It's just, I've had some problems in the past," Charity looked down. "ever since my mom died."

"Oh Merlin," Lily gasped. "I am so sorry."

"She overdosed on sleeping pills," charity continued. "They really are a great Muggle invention. I've thought about it sometimes whenever I feel that I can't take it anymore."

"No, don't do that," Lily walked over to charity and sat down on a chair, "you are a great person and you should enjoy your life."

"I'm not really. It's just-"She glanced up, uncertainly. "Can I trust you with something?"

"Of course!"

"My dad used to hit my mom all the time," Charity sniffled. "I feel she died because she couldn't take it anymore. And I grew up thinking that all men are bad and abusive. But then my cousin found true love and I began to think that maybe there's someone out there for me too. That's why I went through all those guys. I thought that they might like me for who I am but they never take the time to get to know me. They just well, sleep with me and then dump me. I hate all of them but yet I just can't stay away. Especially James, he keeps coming back."

"I don't know what to say," Lily started awkwardly. "I mean, I think you are amazing, you are smart and pretty and you don't need to find your true love right now. I know I sound really cliché but it's true."

"Thanks," Charity smiled. "But I feel a lot better know that I've found a real friend that I can say all these stuff to."

"Well you can talk to me whenever you want," Lily hugged her. "But now I have to go. It's getting late and I have class tomorrow. I hope you feel better and I'll come visit you tomorrow."

"Bye," Charity closed her dark blue eyes and turned off the lights.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Lily was walking back to the common room when she heard someone call her name. She turned and saw Marcie running up to her in a pair of blue sweats and a gray cami.

"Marcie! Hi!" Lily hugged her best friends. "Where were you?"

"Off grounds," Marcie admitted sheepishly. "I went for a run to clear my head. But look at you! You look amazing! Wait no not amazing, I never thought I would say this but you look like really hot!"

"Thanks," Lily twirled around." Madeline helped me a bit."

"So you are over the whole James thing?" Marcie asked nervously.

"You know what?" Lily took a deep breath. "I think I am. I mean I'm not completely over him but I think I can stop acting like a psycho stalker now!"

"Thank god!" Marcie laughed. "Because do you know how annoying it is to hear you talk about him 24/7 for five years! I love you and all but there is only so much a girl can listen to before she explodes."

"Well you ought to be happy now," Lily beamed. "Because I swear that I will not talk about him ever! At least not in a good way."

"So who are you moving on to?" Marcie said slyly. "You can tell me!"

"What?" Lily slapped Marcie. "I am so over guys!"

"Oh come on," Marcie nudged Lily. "The only way to get over someone is to like someone else!"

"Uh no," Lily slapped Marcie again. "That philosophy only applies to you. Merlin, you are so guy crazy!"

"But you know you love me anyway," Marcie started running. "Seriously, we are going to be so busted. It's like after ten!"

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

James and Remus were walking back form a trip to the kitchens when they saw two girls racing past them to the common room.

"Who was that?" James asked Remus.

"Which one?" Remus squinted. "The blonde or the redhead?"

"The hot one, the redhead,"

"That's Lily Evans," Remus replied. "C'mon we better hurry too."

"The one that I haven't dated yet?" James said, staring at Lily. "But I thought she was a dork!"

"She is," Remus glanced at his watch. "Seriously, we better go. If Twittle catches us again, we are going to have another detention."

James couldn't take his eyes off of Lily. "Wow," was all that he could say.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Forgive me for not updating sooner but I have been so busy with school. Finals are coming up and I think I will post another chapter before then. But when I'm going to do that depends on my reviewers ;) so review please!

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Angel721