A/N: Yeah, um. These have fallen off an organized pattern. There is no set update date anymore, I guess XD They're just put up as soon as I'm done, every week. Heh :3

This one is just sort of in James' head. There isn't much more to it than that. He borders on obsession, lol.

CHARACTER: James Potter

YEAR: after 1977

PLACE: n/a

WORDS: 936

Sometimes

Sometimes, he thinks she might—just might—like him.

Sometimes, he purposefully runs his right hand through his hair in front of her.

Sometimes, it's to see her reaction. Others, he can't help but want to piss her off.

Sometimes, he makes sure he's sitting close enough to her to be paired with her in classes.

Sometimes, that doesn't work so well. The teachers either have caught on or are catching on.

Sometimes, he takes out a snitch that he nicked and plays with it in front of her.

Sometimes, she glares at him for it. He only ever smirks in reply or makes a comment that is sure to bother her.

Sometimes, he catches her looking at him out of the corner of her eye.

Sometimes, he thinks he might actually have a chance with her.

Sometimes, he thinks that's wishful thinking.

Er…all the time, actually.

And sometimes, he dates other girls. Sometimes, it's to see her reaction. Sometimes, it's to try to forget Lily Evans.

Who is that again?

Oh, right. Lily Evans. Red hair, bright green eyes, smartest girl ever, sucks at flying, doesn't understand Quidditch (can't understand Quidditch to save her life), fiery, short-tempered, kind (to most people, not usually him).

Sometimes, he tells her so. Sometimes (all the time), she uses some sort of hex on him that usually sends him to the hospital wing. Sometimes, he doesn't mind one bit.

Sometimes, Sirius reminds him how she'll literally be the death of him. He says she'll be sent to Azkaban for his murder.

Sometimes, Remus tells him to leave her alone, even if just for a little while.

Sometimes, Peter encourages him, tells him to ask just one more time, she can't say "no" forever!

Sometimes, he complains to his friend Lisa the Ravenclaw, who scoffs and says he'd do much better asking someone else out. Sometimes, he asks her who she suggests. Usually, she tells him to ask out one of her friends, all of which, apparently, have some sort of bet going on about the "best looking guys in school." Apparently, he's number two. He asked once who number one is. It's Sirius. He's not number one, because he's always hung up on Lily fucking Evans.

Sometimes, Lisa corrects him. "Fucking Lily Evans is more like it."

Sometimes, he asks Lisa to go to Hogsmeade with him. Sometimes, she says, "Yeah, let's rub it in her face!" Sometimes, she says she's going with someone else. Recently, she's actually been seeing someone.

Sometimes, that new boyfriend of hers thinks it's okay to threaten him. He laughs and tells the guy that if he hurts her, he'll have all four Marauders to answer to. "That's my little sister," he says. "Hurt her, we'll hurt you. Badly."

Sometimes, she smiles and tries to throw an arm over his shoulders (she's too short) and tells her boyfriend (is it Martin or Maxwell?) that she has the best big brother a girl could ask for.

Sometimes, he thinks Evans might be catching on that he and Lisa are like he and Marlene. Except Lisa isn't flirting with his brother and letting the occasional "that's kind of like incest" thought slip into his brain. And, sometimes, out of his mouth, earning laughter from the two.

Sometimes, he knows she isn't, because she flushes angrily every time she sees them together. Usually, he has his arm around her shoulders, which might be why some people are getting the wrong idea.

Sometimes, Sirius, Remus, and Peter add on to the rumor mill, knowing they're trying to get at Lily Evans. Of course, the two have very different reasons. James loves her. Lisa just hates her guts. James doesn't know why, doesn't care to ask or find out if she doesn't tell him.

"Yeah, they shag like rabbits in our dorm room." Sirius makes James want to bash his head against a wall.

"Probably going to be together forever, them." Peter makes James want to bash his head against a wall.

"Never seen him serious about a girl that wasn't Lily before." Remus makes James want to hug him and jump up and down as their brothers bleed profusely against the wall.

Sometimes, Lisa drops hints around Lily Evans for James' benefit. Sometimes, she'll say something like, "Yeah, he's a big teddy bear," when talking with her friends in the library, making sure Evans is just around the bookcase. Sometimes, she says, "He's still not over Red, though."

James doesn't mind the truth of it. He does mind the "Red" bit. Lisa picked it up from Sirius. Lily Evans hates that nickname, and Lisa knows it. Damn it.

Sometimes, Lily Evans looks about to approach him. Sometimes, she opens her mouth when he's near her, as if she's about to say something. Sometimes, James waits. Sometimes, she goes in the opposite direction.

Eventually, he corners her one day and asks what she thinks of the newest girl he's taken on a date. Her nose scrunches cutely before her face falls. She shakes her head and tries to leave. He lightly holds her arm.

"She went on and on about how great I am. It was kind of boring," he admits. She doesn't pull away, gorgeous green eyes focused on the ground. He continues, "Don't suppose you want to go with me instead?"

There are a few minutes of silence. "Go where?" she asks quietly.

He shrugs and lets go of her arm. "Anywhere you want."

She raises her head, meets his eyes. "All right, then."

He smiles. Amazingly, she smiles, too.

Then, "You have one chance. Make it count."