Title: (Well, I thought that was kind of obvious, but, ok) Lily's Little Problem

Author: Um, Scarlet September… hi!

Disclaimer: Uh, yeah… hello! Is anyone home? If I was JK Rowling, would I really be publishing my stories on Fanfiction? So, no… I don't own this book or any of the characters.

Author's note: Sorry it took me so long to update, but hey, better late than never!

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Chapter 2:

Mixed Up

The next day, James followed Lily to all of her classes. Whenever she turned around, he'd hide behind Sirius. After a while of this cycle, Sirius turned to him, annoyed. "Why do you keep doing that? You look like frightened cat."

But James just ignored him. This was the only way to get Lily to talk to him: If he, out of nowhere, approached her, and she couldn't escape. Because every time she saw him walking toward her, she merely turned and ran in the other direction.

With James constantly trying to talk to Lily without her running away, Lily hardly ever saw him. Well, that was because he kept hiding behind Sirius. But it was a good tactic to James. He merely had to stay out of her sight and not annoy her, so then he could start a civil conversation with her that didn't involve the usual death stares, a hex or two and a few curses here and there.

After nearly a week, James decided it was time to act. And no, that action was not hiding behind Sirius. He was going to talk to Lily Evans.

* * *

After Potions that day, Lily felt tremendously happy. She hadn't seen James in a whole week and she had just passed an extremely difficult Potions exam. Oh, happy days.

Just when she thought her day couldn't get any better, she was stopped by none other than James Potter. And just when she thought she was having a pretty good week.

He sat there and stared at her for a full minute, before, annoyed Lily clucked her tongue and said, "Are you going to say something or are you just going to stand there and stare at me?"

He blinked, as if realizing for the first time that he was staring at her, his mouth gaping a little. He rubbed his neck, ruffled his hair, flexed his fingers, blinked a few more times, then turned on his heel and ran faster than in if You-Know-Who himself was chasing after him, waving a sword over his head and screaming bloody murder.

That's right ladies and gentlemen, the action wasn't hiding behind Sirius, the action was running. Yes, running. As far away from Lily Evans as possible.

Lily watched him and shook her head. What was that all about? Well, atleast he didn't—

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone coming up behind her. She turned around to face Severus Snape.

"Hey, Sev."

"What was Potter doing here?" he asked, without an introduction. He spat the word Potter as if he just said 'Merlin's dirty gym socks.'

"Eh, you know, just being his own stupid annoying self." She shrugged. "So, anyway, what have you been up to?"

Severus shrugged, merely saying, "You know. The usual."

Lily groaned. "You haven't still been hanging around Malfoy, have you?"

"So what if I am?" he said, sounding offended.

Lily closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if she was about to begin explaining something to a very stubborn child. "Sev… they do bad things. They spend their time jinxing innocent students! With illegal curses and jinxes."

"So!" Severus said, defending himself. "They're cool! And they're not the only ones who do… kind of bad things. What about Potter?! You see him going around, cursing people and—"

"Sev, why are you even bringing Potter into this? That's what you do every time we have this conversation."

"What conversation?"

"Sev…," Lily began warningly. "You know what conversation. The conversation about you and your Death Eater buddies, that is what they call themselves. Death Eaters, Sev. Doesn't that click any light bulbs in your head or ring any alarms?"

Severus pretended not to know what Lily was talking about. "I… I don't really get it. I mean, what's wrong with that name?" He shrugged, faking innocence.

Lily groaned. "Forget it, Sev. Just FORGET IT."

The two friends walked together outside, talking of other things, like school and things of the sort.

When they reached the lake, Severus automatically tried to steer Lily away from where James and the rest of the Marauders were by the shore, shooting curses at the squid.

"Um, why don't we go this way?" Severus suggested, trying to stop her from seeing the terds.

But, Lily had already seen them.

"What are they doing?" she asked, sounding genuinely curious. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to see over his shoulder to see what was going on.

"Just Potter and his friends being idiots."

"Sev, move your shoulder! I can't see!"

Severus blushed. "Why do you even want to see him?"

Now it was Lily's turn to blush. "I-I don't want to… just, just move your shoulder, Sev!"

She stood so far up on her tiptoes, she could see over his shoulder.

There was Potter, like Severus had said, and he was shooting curses at the squid. He was laughing along with his friends and strangely, Lily actually thought he looked kind of… cute. The way his black hair floated lightly over his forehead. The way his keen hazel eyes seemed to twinkle with mischief. The way… wait, Oh My Merlin, what was she saying?! Potter wasn't cute! He was ANNOYING!

She quickly turned away before anyone could see her staring, but not before she met Potter's eyes. And right before she had turned away, she saw him staring at her for a moment. She thought she saw him wink.

Lily tore her eyes away from James. "Come on, Sev. Let's go this way."

She pushed his shoulder so they were both turned away from the Marauders.

They walked away, but Lily still could get the image of James's intense hazel eyes staring right through her out of her head.

What was wrong with her these days? Why was she just so mixed up?

By the end of the day, Lily had come to the conclusion that puberty stunk.

* * *

James grumbled to himself all the way up to the common room.

"Stupid Snape…. You know, I always hated the little slime ball…. Now, now he's crossed the line!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "What are you mumbling about NOW, Prongs?"

James gave a loud groan of frustration and anger. "SNAPE! Don't you see what he's doing?!"

Remus shrugged. "Are we supposed to know what he's doing?"

"Yes! Can't you see it? He's trying to steal Evans from me!!!"

They all suddenly stopped.

"WHAT?!" Padfoot and Moony said at the same time.

"What?" said Wormtail, mainly because he had NO IDEA what had just happened.

"Don't you see? Every time Lily even tries to talk to me or look at me, he pulls her away! She wants me! She wants to give me a chance! I can see it in her eyes! She finally loves me!"

"Let's not forget your charming modesty," he heard Remus grumble while Sirius laughed.

"Prongs, do you SERIOUSLY think that Lily would… would fall for, for Snively?!" He laughed even harder.

James blushed. "No! But he fancies her! And he's trying to ruin our chances of EVER being together!"

Remus clapped a hand encouragingly on his shoulder. "Relax mate. I'm sure you're just paranoid. It's all in your head. Just, do the world a favor and calm down, for the love of Merlin."

James took several deep breaths but still couldn't shake off his suspicion.

He further confirmed Lily's observation that puberty stinks.