Disclaimer: I do not own Lily Evans, James Potter or the universe of Harry Potter. Anything you recognise is all JKR's. No copyright was intended and no profit is being made from this. I simply own the plotline.

Warning/s: Nothing too bad to worry about. Unless you don't like 'hell' or 'bloody'.

A/N: Here is that long-waited Chapter Two you all probably wanted. I'm sorry it's taken this long to get it but I'm on Holidays now! So maybe you'll get updates and one-shots a lot quicker! I find that I am in love with one-shots about Jily. I can't stop writing them, I'm sorry. Aha.

Please don't forget to review! xo

- (MaraudersAtHeart) -

Differences

Chapter Two

Silence followed the words that tumbled out of the redhead's mouth. It seemed to stretch on forever and as each second ticked by it made her begin to feel nervous and uneasy. It was a blatant lie and she knew it so maybe they did as well. She felt as if they could see right through her façade and maybe, just maybe, they could. She'd never mentioned a cousin before much less a magical cousin.

It was obvious people had cousins but it was rightfully assumed that they were all muggle in Lily's line. Unless she made up some stupid story that she was adopted but she was sure they wouldn't believe her even if she tried. She was basically a replica of herself except in a guy's body which would make sense in some weird way. Lily was already getting sick of this lying business she should probably hightail it out of there as soon as she could.

Everybody had cousins but Lily's were all supposed to be muggle. She couldn't pretend to be said cousin for a day and then never mention him again. It would seem sketchy. Lily hated to be sketchy. She was right about to tell them when she realised that she had been vague about her entire family. James barely knew she had a sister and god was that sister something alright. She had never been one to talk about her family much less with Potter himself.

The Wizarding World had better things to do then pay attention to a muggle-born and her family. Her family, themselves, paid no attention to the world she was thrown into when she was eleven. It was like she was one of those lucky people to have two worlds; the best of both worlds.

Except these days it seemed like she got the worst of both worlds no matter how much she tried. Her parents only cared about her studies and if she had a good year. They could care less about magic in general well that's a lie. At first they wanted to see magic and hear all about it but then she told them it was against Wizarding World laws to show a muggle magic and any magic performed by her was considered underage therefore expelling her from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Not to mention that Petunia literally hated the ground she walked on so who was she to mix the two worlds together more than what was necessary?

It was simply bad enough that she was the person stuck in the very middle. She had a muggle family but somehow she came out a Witch. Was it because she knew Severus or did he sort her out when he realised she was different? What were the chances of all this anyway? Did they have any Wizarding blood in their line or was it pure coincidence?

Knowing one day Lily had to choose between her two worlds it gave her a feeling of dread because she just wasn't ready to give one of them up yet. She still had hope for Petunia and she still wanted to be a part of this amazing world.

Too bad she knew that it was more likely she was going to choose magic than her suburban, mundane life. She craved adventure and that's exactly what this world was all about.

Curiosity got the better of her at the best of times though. She always wanted to find out whether Muggle-borns simply existed out of thin air just to keep the Wizarding population frowning so there wasn't incest going on everywhere or if somebody in her line had actually been a Squib. Lily may never know but one thing she does in fact know is that the Marauders were gapping at her still.

They didn't look ready to believe her lie and truth be told, Lily wouldn't have believed herself either if she was in their position but would they really believe the truth? The truth was far bitterer than the lie she had created to conceal the impossible truth of what had gone down this morning.

The lie was ridiculous but it was necessary.

She would rather jump off a cliff than tell them she was Lily Evans. This was by far the weirdest thing to happen to her since Potter's love potion and he was the one to find her. Lily felt mortified but she let it go. She had to keep her face neutral so they would believe her petty lie.

Secretly, though, she liked the idea of concealing her true identity to be a guy. She sort of liked the fact that James wasn't using pickup lines on her right now. She was also afraid he was only 'befriending' her – or being polite to her, if she were to be honest because only the Marauders were his actual friends – to get into Lily's good books or more specially her pants. She winkled her nose at the thought; she'd never give into Potter, especially not in that way.

She didn't want to find out if she was honest with herself. She just wanted him to leave her alone but right now, seeing him look at her with no hint of attraction in his eyes (looking like somebody who genuinely wanted to be her friend) she realised this would be worth it.

Lying to James Potter – and his friends – would be worth it if he wasn't looking at her with lust and simply an intention of friendship. He just wanted to be her friend and right now, with how scared she was, a friend sounded good right now.

She decided to stop questioning his motives and give the guy a chance. A chance with friendship and a little bit of her trust. If he does something stupid she'll just give up on trying to be his friend. Trust was important in any friendship and she was giving him a metre or two. He better not push his luck or it'll go right out the window.

The silence felt like hell but then it stopped and three very different voices began to blurt out all their thoughts; one by one.

"Cousin?"

"I didn't know Lily had a cousin."

"I didn't know Lily had a magical cousin."

All the eyes darted to her and then back at each other. All four pairs of eyes analysed her, judged her, making her feel naked and exposed in front of them. She tried coving herself and stepping back. Despite her attempts to keep it in, she blushed, bright red. The heat radiated off her and she groaned in annoyance. "Stupid, bloody, red hair," she grumbled to herself, not really expecting an answer.

"Red hair isn't all bad, mate," commented James, "Redheads are the prettiest by far." Sirius began to laugh, "Stop being gay, Potter," he said and James scowled at him. Lily rolled her eyes, discreetly. James just didn't know when it was the right time to give up. He talked as if he didn't own a bloody filter. It was something she should've been expecting from him since he always talked like he was missing a filter or even a brain.

What makes things weirder for her is that it wasn't directed particularly at her but just at her in general. The Lily they couldn't find when she was right in front of them. She felt sick and confused.

"That was so cheesy," Sirius seemed to realise what James had initially meant. "Lily isn't even here, James. Stop wasting your awful pickup lines on her poor unsuspecting cousin," frowned Remus. "Liam doesn't deserve that and you and I both know it."

James glared at his best mates, "I wasn't trying to be cheesy, Pad. I didn't even mean for it to sound like a pickup line. I was just stating a fact," he said, rolling his shoulders in a shrug-movement. He seemed to be telling the truth and Lily couldn't help but feel flattered even if James didn't direct it had her but at the other her; the real one.

The Lily Evans with long, curly red hair and almond-shaped, emerald-green eyes. The Lily who always had something bad to say about him in return. The Lily that wore beanies when it snowed. The Lily that had a best friend name Alice Prewitt. The Lily that giggled with said best friend about Frank Longbottom to make her happy. The Lily that knew what they were covering in all of her subjects. The Lily that used to have a best friend named Severus who used to have her back. The Lily who thought Sirius was nothing but a bad guy. The Lily who was a Prefect who only got along with Remus. The Lily who thought Peter was misguided and slightly pathetic. The Lily that judged the Marauders without getting to know them, who's also feeling partly guilty for that.

The Lily with bloody boobs, that's who.

"Well, thank you, James," mumbled Lily through her embarrassment. "That was rather nice of you. Uh, I'm sure L-Lily would've liked that," she said, stumbling over the words a tad. She'd never talked about herself in third person before and it felt nauseating. She was starting to question her sanity. She should've just told them the truth, it certainly would've saved all of the confusion and awkwardness she was feeling. She'd be able to argue with Potter and get it over with.

Except how could she had explained the absurdity of the morning she had to them four?

She didn't even trust them enough. She hoped this was a dream but if it was, she would still question her sanity for dreaming it. Unless the truth of the fact is that she dreamed half her life as a girl because then she was going to blow her top. She wasn't ready to think about the third possibility; gender swap. Screams scratched at the back of her throat, demanding to be let out but she didn't let them. It wouldn't help her case at all.

What the hell was she even supposed to say to that? She was way too confused, she wasn't even going to bother because her head ached.

James paused and then asked the very question Lily didn't want to answer because she had no answer. Panic swirled in her green eyes and James hesitated but he repeated his question so it was heard and answered. "Where is Lily, Liam?"

She didn't know what to say to him and she coughed, awkwardly. She didn't like to talk about herself much less about her supposed whereabouts. 'I'm right here, James,' she thought but then decided against saying it out loud.

Clearing her throat, she gave the lie a go, "Not, uh h-here," she said, nodding to herself. It sounded bad but it was the best she got, albeit it was horrible. That was what was supposed to be said, right? Was she really going to lie to the body who claims he loved her with all of his heart? Was she ready to pretend to be a boy for however long she has to?

Then, James grinned this whole-hearted smile that made her heart melt. "You stutter a lot, Evans," he chuckled, "That's okay. We'll make you into a chick magnet in no time at all!" James slapped Lily's back. The grin on his lips never faltered and her stomach twisted in an unusual way. Lily stumbled from the force of his slap, blanching.

He couldn't be serious, could he? What the hell is he even going on about? Lily has never liked girls in her life and she wasn't starting now. That was beyond gross, too far for her. She didn't agree to change her sexual preferences; just lying, that's all.

Pretending to like girls isn't what she wants.

"Hmm," Sirius said as his eyes narrowed in on her, as he watched her. He looked at her in a funny way and it made her feel uneasy. Something was off, he could feel it. Why couldn't Liam give him a straight answer about Lily's whereabouts anyway?

"Sirius," Remus said in morning and Sirius simply shrugged, falling back into his seat. He seemed to have given up, at least for now and that's all she could really hope for. She shuffled over to Remus, feeling relieved to not have to sit next to James, who in return, was content with Sirius' company. They always had a really strong bond. They had their backs no matter what. They'd do anything for each other.

It was almost admirable if she forgot they bullied together as well.

Lily still didn't trust James, at least not fully. She could try for the sake of not having to admit to this weird situation but she didn't really fancying sitting beside him. He was still a prat, after all. Lily thought about what they said, she clicked her tongue against her front teeth before she spoke in a quiet voice, "What if I don't want to be a 'chick magnet'?"

She voiced the question that was on the tip of her tongue and now she just needed an answer. She didn't want to be a, 'chick magnet', as they called it. It sounded like a weird disease but she knew what it meant. She didn't want girls to flock to her like they did to Potter and Black. She was no whore and she certainly wasn't a lesbian. If girls did flock to her, they'd have to be incredibly stupid to.

All eyes darted towards the redhead a minute of silence passed by before they began laughing their asses off. Lily's eyes narrowed in on Potter in particular as she grumbled a bit to herself, "Bloody boys," she muttered. They weren't good for anything, if she were to be honest. They just made life seem like hell.

Remus' sensitive ears picked up her comment and he stared at her with confusion swirling in his amber eyes. "Uh, do you happen to have a girlfriend back at home?"

It sounded like a safe question to him, he best start with the safe options first. Lily snorted, surprising him completely.

"No," she said and then she paused for a second before she suddenly spat out with as much hatred and annoyance that she could; "But this one bloody infuriating person will not leave me the hell alone! Doesn't get a bloody damn hint! Doesn't understand the meaning of 'no' either! Like, hello, I have no intention of dating you!"

James awkwardly shifted in his seat and Lily couldn't help but feel happy about it; Ttake that, Potter. Six years pent-up anger,' she thought with rage coursing through her veins. He never got a hint and he didn't understand the meaning of 'no'. Sometimes she really wanted to kill him.

"Oh," mumbled, James, "She sounds, uh, nice." Sirius began laughing, "Nice?" He slapped his knees as he tried to control his laughter, "She sounds bloody obsessive!" Remus pursed his lips before pointing an accusing finger at James, "She sounds like you, Prongs."

Lily shifted in her seat but instead of feeling uncomfortable, she felt curious. This was the second time in her presence they had called each other by their 'nicknames'. She had always wanted to learn about them. Why had they come out of nowhere? What do the mean? Whose is what? And why do they have nicknames so peculiar?

A shout from James startled her into falling onto the ground; "I am so not obsessive!" Lily snorted in disbelief and Sirius laughed in response, conveniently ignoring her place on the ground. James directed his glare to her instead of one of his best mates. He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted and Sirius only laughed harder, "Man," he wheezed out, "He'd ne so whipped if she ever gave him the time of day," he said. The sentence made Lily think about it. Was Sirius telling the truth? He was probably only joking, he's never said something unless it was a joke. He jokes, that's who he is.

James didn't want her. He just wanted what he could have from her. After he's taken it he'll leave and never come back. He didn't have anything to come back for. He didn't even care about her anyway. It would be weird if he was madly in love with her. She wouldn't be able to handle it.

So, yes; she could lie to James Potter and then when things meant back to normal she'd simply pretend that Liam was nobody special and they'd never hear from him again.