A Four letter Word

Oneshot #10

By: freak.on.a.leash.13

It was another night of patrolling, and as usual head boy James Potter was tormenting head girl Lily Evans.

"But you would like me if you went out with me." he argues, against her latest rejection that she would not date him because she did not like him.

"I highly doubt that. If anything I'd like you less."

"But Lily, I love you!" he cries dramatically, for effect. He's said it before, and like always it fails to make her believe it.

"And what is your definition of love Potter? A four letter word?" she mocks.

"No, love is what I feel for you, though you do drive me to want to say some other four letter words…." he trails off.

"Say them and I'll give you detention."

"So serious." he mocks. "If its only a four letter word, why don't you just admit you're longing to say it to me."

Lily glares at him, then looks away. He is so persistent, it drives her crazy, and not in a good way as he so claims.

"There's only one four letter word that comes to mind when I think of you."

"Love?"

"Hate." she says spitefully.

James ignores her like she has said nothing.

"Lust?"

"Pain." Lily says warningly.

"Want?"

"Need." she replies.

He looks hopeful so she quickly finishes, "What you want and I need are very different things, you want me to want you, I need you to leave me alone."

James takes it in stride, searching his mind for other four letter words.

"Take."

"Take?"

"As in take me I'm yours."

"You need better material Potter."

"Hope."

"It is all you have." she mutters, sending an annoyed glance his way.

"Wish."

"Let me guess, as in I wish you were mine?"

"How'd you guess?"

"I told you, you need better material."

James considered this a moment before Lily intruded.

"Any other four letter words you want to use to describe how I feel about you, or you feel about me, or whatever it is your going at?"

Where was I at, wish-"

"I have one. Dead." Lily cut in.

"Dead?'

"As in I wish you were dead." she announced.

"Lily." he sounded slightly hurt, she almost felt a tad guilty. Almost.

He caught her arm and spun her around to face him. They were standing very close, but she didn't mind, she had gotten used to it over the years, James had a real problem with personal space.

"Your turn." she said brightly, hoping to get him off track of the wishing he was dead. She didn't want to have to take it back, but if it really had hurt his feelings….

"Long."

Lily was snapped out of her thoughts by that.

"James Potter you better not be attempting to describe certain parts of your anatomy-"

"No," he interrupted, "Long, as in I long for you."

"Wait." Lily replied.

"Wait?"

"As in you'll have a long wait if you're waiting for me to long for you back."

He looked at her moment, studying her face.

"Anything else, or are you through with this silly game?" she snaps.

"Date?"

"Nope." she chirps smiling. That one she really should have seen coming.

James seems momentarily defeated and Lily decides to take advantage.

"Are you done yet? I do realize four letter words are high on your list of vocabulary-"

"Kiss."

That throws her off, and she can't think of a decent comeback for that four letter word. It send a panic through her and she says the only thing that pops into mind.

"Don't."

He is smiling, no smirking down at her, amused by her panic. As if it meant anything. So, she has, upon occasion, thought of what it would be like to kiss him. And has even acted it out in her head, once or twice. But it does not mean she wants to kiss him, its only because the idea is so repulsive that she thinks of it.

James steps closer to her, and for a second she thinks he is going to kiss her, and her heart skips a beat. Because she is disgusted, not excited, really.

"Nervous?" James asks, and he sounds so sure of his self, so cocky, she wants to hit him.

"Of course not." she snaps, wondering if he can hear her heart beating in her chest, its so loud.

James leans in closer to her, his lips a breath away from hers. Lily's eyes flutter closed, and she waits. And she waits some more.

"Your call Lily." James says softly.

Great. So its up to her to decide if it happens. She can't say yes, she can't, but she really, really, doesn't want to say no. She waits, hoping beyond hope that he will just do it anyway without her comply. She thinks for a moment he is, because he moves, but its away from her not toward her, and her eyes fly open in disappointment.

James must see the disappointment there, because he is smiling at her, in that annoying, knowing way of his. Lily is determined to wipe it off his face, but the angry glare she sends him only has him smiling brighter.

"Go out with me?"

"No." she says stubbornly.

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"Last chance-"

"There's never a last chance with you." she says dryly.

"You know you want to."

"I do not!" she cries, though its clear none of it is sinking in for him.

"This weekend, at Hogsmeade. Come on, say yes." he argues.

"Fine!" she yells frustrated. Only to shout him up, not because she wants to go or anything like that. Only a little. Maybe more than a little. Maybe.

James smiles at her victoriously. It makes her mad, he hasn't won her or anything. No she has not fallen for him the way he always said she would.

"One date Potter. One. And it better be worth it." she snaps, brushing past him down the hall.

"Trust me Lily, it'll be worth it."

Lily smiles to herself as she walks. Maybe she doesn't hate James Potter, maybe love is more than a four letter word. Maybe she would have to find out.