Sorry for the wait, writer's block AGAIN! :S

Thanks to the guys who reassured me that they're reading :) You are the main reason I write :) I love you all! Thanks for the wonderful reviews! :D

Another dramatic chapter... as usual :P

"He what?" James asked, wide-eyed.

"He likes you," said Sirius. James stared straight back at him with the strangest look in his eyes.

"Likes... me?" he asked, without blinking.

"Yeah."

"Why?" he questioned curiously.

"Why should I know? Ask him!" Sirius said impatiently.

"Sorry," said James. "I just can't believe it. I mean, I know you both were gay of course, but I never thought that one of you would actually like me in that way..."

"Yeah, well-"

"- and Remus of all people!"

"Yeah, so-"

"- and doesn't he know that I'm straight?"

"Yeah, that's what I was trying to-"

"- I should really let him down lightly, shouldn't I?"

"If you-"

"- but then, I don't want to hurt him. He's my mate."

"Well, you don't want to-"

"- lead him on?"

"Yeah, how did you-"

"- I just know what you mean. I know! It's hard Sirius. What should I do?"

"Well, you could-"

"- but I'm really not used to this! It's so surreal!"

"- IF YOU WOULD JUST LET ME TALK!" shouted Sirius frustratedly. James shut up and mouthed the word 'sorry'. "Just speak to him about... well... I don't know why I'm trying to make it easier for him after what he just did to me! You know what? Hurt him as much as you want. I'll be thrilled to watch."

"Sirius, you don't mean that," said James disapprovingly.

"Oh really?" challenged Sirius. "I couldn't care less if he died right now."

"Why don't you watch your words?" James said. "If he died right now, you would feel terrible."

"Yeah yeah," said Sirius. James sighed.

"Shall we just go back up to the castle? You're supposed to be going on a date today remember?"

"OH CRAP!" said Sirius. "I forgot! James, I'm a mess!"

"You look fine," shrugged James. "Just be yourself and she'll love you. Come on, let's go."

##

"Sirius!" cried Marlene, rushing up to him and grabbing his hand. "You look gorgeous as ever, of course," she winked. Sirius gulped and smiled.

"Thanks," he mumbled. "So do you."

"Oh, stop it," she said, waving off the compliment. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, sure," he said in a voice a few octaves higher than he would have liked.

The walk down to Hogsmeade was extremely uncomfortable and awkward.
"So..." said Sirius, trying to ease the tension.

"What's your favourite colour?" asked Marlene lamely.

"Red. You?"

"Blue."

"Ah, cool."

"Red's a cool colour too, though," said Marlene. "Gryffindor!"

"Yeah!" Sirius said, punching the air with no enthusiasm.

"So," Marlene cleared her throat. "Where would you like to go?"

"Anywhere," said Sirius.

"The Three Broomsticks?" suggested Marlene, and Sirius shrugged.

"Sure."

As Madam Rosmerta placed the two butterbeers on their table, they both took a sip and stared at each other, hoping for the other to bring up something interesting to talk about.

"Well this sucks," said Marlene after a while. "No offence, but you're so boring. If you don't want to talk, why don't we just kiss?"

"Huh?"

"Shut up," she said, pulling his face towards her and shoving her tongue in his mouth. He kissed back, trying to mimic the force she was putting into it. He felt her grab his hand and run it down her body, slowly, down her neck, over her shoulders. She stopped at her heart, where he felt it beat fast. She moved his hand down to her breasts, and he gasped as he cupped them in his hands.

"Mmm... you like that?" she whispered seductively in his ear with a small giggle.

"No," he said automatically. She pulled away in confusion.

"What?"

"I mean yes! I like it!" he said, willing himself to at least try to enjoy it. She smiled at him and he nearly jumped out of his skin as her hand grasped his crotch.

"M-M-Whoah! We're in public!" he yelled at her. She laughed.

"So?"

"So I don't want people to see this," he said.

"We can go somewhere a little more private," Marlene said, biting her lip. "I'm not wearing any underwear," she added in a whisper.

"Eww!" he shouted, backing away. "Why would you tell me that?"

"Because you're supposed to find it sexy!" she replied, pouting.

"You are not sexy!"

"Well neither are you," she answered. "I only did this because I was bored anyway. There were better guys I could have spent my time with."

"Lovely to know," replied Sirius dryly. "I'll just be leaving now."

"Yeah, because I know that there was no way you would be coming," she yelled after him.

"Not with you!" he yelled back, slamming the door shut.

##

Collapsing on the floor with his head in his hands, Sirius let out a cry of frustration. Why did everything have to be so complicated for him? He couldn't ever do anything right. Not even with a perfectly beautiful girl. He was just hopeless.

"Are you OK?" asked someone. Sirius looked up.

"I'm fine," he said angrily.

"Are you sure?" asked Peter. "You seem to be really upset lately."

"Don't you know why?" Sirius asked. "I saw you speaking to Remus this morning."

"Yeah, but-"

"-Choose your side carefully, Pete. Him or me."

"What?"

"I understand. You choose him. Why not? He always was so wonderfully perfect."

"I think you should go see a doctor Sirius," Peter said worriedly. "No offence, but you don't seem right."

"How?" mocked Sirius.

"You seem to have lost it a little," said Peter apologetically.

"You think I'm crazy?" Sirius laughed.

"I didn't say that!" said Peter. "You seem to have just got so stressed that you're losing it a bit. You just need to see a doctor. You'll be fine."

"Thanks, but no thanks Pete," said Sirius, walking off back towards the castle without a look back at his friend.

##

Crazy? How could he be crazy? The Sirius Black. Crazy. Ha! Sirius laughed to himself as he walked through the corridors. Then again, he thought, he was in the Black family. Why wouldn't he be crazy? But he knew he was different. He was a Gryffindor – that had to mean something, and he had the courage to run away from home. He wasn't crazy.

Lost in his thoughts, Sirius collided hard with someone, falling to the ground.

"Aww m'head!" he slurred, as he sat up, the room spinning before his eyes. When his sight got back into focus, he saw who it was that he had collided with. The person who was sitting in front of him, looking at him in concern. His brother.

"Are you OK?" he asked.

"No," said Sirius.

"I didn't mean to... I was just walking... I just... I didn't see you-"

"- You ruined me," croaked Sirius. Regulus' face fell and he looked at Sirius with sincere sympathy.

"I am so sorry," he said. "I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am."

"I love you," said Sirius. "How could you... could you... could you... do this?"

"I don't know," Regulus said with a frown.

"You're evil," Sirius spat.

"I'm not-"

"- You are so evil," continued Sirius. "And I can't even find the strength to stop myself from crying."

"Oh god," said Regulus, looking at Sirius with sad eyes. Sirius let the tears fall down his face, and he didn't even care who walked by and saw it. He didn't care that he was vulnerable. He just didn't care. Nothing mattered to him any more. He wasn't even sure what he was living for...

An ex-boyfriend who hated him? A brother who betrayed him? A girl who humiliated him? A friend who accused him of being what he wasn't?

He just wasn't sure any more.

###