James honestly tried not to look at Lily as she came down the stairs with the other girls into the Gryffindor common room.

He tried, but he failed. His eyes landed on her, wearing a strapless dark blue dress that came all the way to the floor.

She looked breathtaking.

But she knew something he'd known long before the first time he'd asked her out.

He didn't deserve her.

And that's why he was going with Mary. Mary was wearing a long red dress with long sleeves.

It's not that James didn't like Mary, it's just that he could never like her like he liked Lily. Lily was perfect, and Mary was a friend.

He sincerely hoped Mary felt the same way, or things could get very awkward tonight.

*****

Remus took one look at Lily and wanted to kill himself.

It wasn't that he didn't want to go with her tonight. Quite the opposite in fact. It was that he wanted to go with her too much. She was too beautiful for her own good.

And he wanted to kill himself for being such a horrible friend.

He sighed, faking a smile and walking over to Lily. Of course, the smile was only fake until he touched her, then he was grinning like an idiot no matter what.

He led her to the Great Hall, where the ball was being held, praying that Sirius didn't do anything stupid.

*****

"So, who're you going with Sirius?" James asked as they walked to the Great Hall, Mary clinging to James's arm.

"Peter," he said, grinning. Peter looked confused and a little scared for a moment before he realized that Sirius was kidding. (AN: Haha, that was funny to write. Sirius was kidding. Get it? Haha.)

"No girl tonight?" Remus asked, Holding Lily's arm.

Sirius shook his head, still grinning. "Nah," he said. "I'm going stag." Then he grinned meaningfully at James.

"Ha ha," James said humorlessly. Sirius noticed him glance at Lily. She looked at him too, but a moment too late for their eyes to meet.

But Sirius didn't miss it. He grinned conspirationally.

*****

Lily decided this wasn't so bad. They were all together. It was like a big group thing. This would be okay.

So long as Remus didn't get any ideas about this being more than a group of friends.

Because seriously, what was I supposed to do if that happened? I already felt bad enough using the poor guy, I didn't want to reject him too!

Lily took a deep breath. This would be fine, she decided. It would.