Lindsey most definitely did not disappear within three weeks. In fact, she continued her little tirade on my life. She hung all over James and decided to snog him whenever she got the chance in front of me. James and I were starting to spend less time together. Even at Quidditch practice, Lindsey would be sitting in the stands to distract him. On the flip side, I was spending infinitely more time with my third years.
I helped all three of them in Potions. After a few days of getting ridiculed for hanging out with third years, I hexed a boy for making fun of me. Surprisingly, and I say this with the largest amount of sarcasm, they all decided to let me be. Lily had simply become one of my closest friends. I told her about all the drama between Lindsey and James and she would tell me that James would soon realize what was going on. I prayed that she was right.
It was the morning before Halloween and Gryffindor had a match against Syltherin. I couldn't help but cringe as I walked in to the locker room. I heard "Good luck James-ie-poo!" and I wanted desperately to gag. Just as I was pulling on my scarlet robes, an arm grabbed me around my stomach and twirled me around.
"Are you serious!" I shouted as my robes went flying to the opposite side of the locker room.
"No. Sirius is my middle name. I'm James. But you may also call me muffin." he laughed and continued to twirl me around.
"JAMES SIRIUS POTTER! PUT ME DOWN OR I AM GOING TO HEX YOU!" I shouted and kicked at his shin. He placed me carefully on the ground. I felt very dizzy and I wanted to beat him over the head with his beater bat. "Deciding to talk to me today?" I growled angrily. Truthfully, the two of us never talked anymore except for simple "hi" in the mornings. I was avoiding him, because with him came Lindsey and I couldn't deal with her.
"I think I'm in love Natie!" he sighed and began to pull his robes over his head. The entire locker room turned to look at me for some reason. Why not look at the person who made the crazy statement people?
"James? Do you have a fever? Do you need to see Madam Pumphry?" I moved forward to place my hand on his forehead and he swatted my hand away. A glare came in my direction.
"I'm serious Natalya." he stated indignantly.
"So am I James. You have barely been dating the girl three months. Declarations of love are not something to rush." I retorted, my hands on my hips. I pulled my robes quickly over my head.
"I didn't tell you so you would get all judgmental." he growled. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
"Judgmental? James, do you hear yourself? You're bloody mental!" I grabbed my broom and pushed past him.
"Why can't you just be happy for me? Does everyone have to be as much of a miserable prat as you?" James hissed angrily. There were a few audible gasps and my grip on my broom turned my knuckles white.
"Listen to me you insufferable git! You," I poked his chest hard, " are the reason I haven't been talking to you. This is YOUR fault. The next time you want to admit love for that foul little creature you call a girlfriend, just make sure you're prepared to lose your best friend." I spat, venom dripping from every word. James set his jaw in a defiant manner.
"I. Love. Her." he enunciated every word clearly as if he were talking to a three year old. I only narrowed my eyes and nodded. My jaw working from side to side.
"Good. I hope you have a good time with that." I stated as if I were telling someone to enjoy a free vacation to Australia. James' face turned a bright red color and he looked like he wanted to hit himself with his beater bat. Good.
"Natie, wait, I," he began but I cut across him.
"Sorry, only my friends can call my Natie. You can call me Natalya. Now I suggest you tell the team the strategy for today's game unless you want to lose." It took all the control I had not to let my voice break while I spoke. I felt tears prick my eyes but I blinked them away furiously. Damn him. He reached out a hand to me and I backed away.
"Fine. Be that way." he muttered and turned to the rest of the team. Albus, James' younger brother and the team seeker, came over to me.
"Are you alright?" Albus inquired. No matter how much James looked like his father, it was Albus who acted like his father. A calm demeanor and a friendly smile.
"I'm fine." I said though a felt anything but. He gave me a very critical look but nodded. He left me to go listen to James' team pep-talk.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"That was amazing Natie! Not one single quaffel got in on our team. Way to be an amazing keeper!" Lily cheered as we sat down in the Great Hall for dinner. I smiled happily. That was one of the few things I had inherited from my father. The man was a master at playing keeper and I seemed to take his natural ability.
"Thanks Lils. If I tell you something, you have to promise not to laugh okay?" she nodded her head eagerly. "Every time the quaffel came near me I imagined Lindsey's face on it and wanted to get it as far away as possible." I said matter-o-factly. She snorted out her pumpkin juice and we both laughed.
There was a sudden shriek of high pitched laughter. Seconds later it was followed by, "Oh James-ie-poo! You're so funny!" and another shriek of laughter. I rolled my eyes and sunk lower in my seat. James didn't need me anymore. I was like any second-rate sidekick. We all get discarded eventually.
"I, erm, I'm going to bed." I stated, standing up and pushing my plate away.
"Nat, you barely ate anything. A forkful of potatoes is not a dinner make." Bridget scolded.
"I'm not hungry anymore." I replied and turned to leave.
"Come on Nat, don't let her get to you." Danielle said comfortingly. It was too bad I didn't find comfort in it.
"It's not her that's the problem guys. I'll see you all tomorrow, okay?" and then I was off. I raced out of the dinning hall and ran straight to Gryffindor tower. I made it to my bed just as a sob escaped my throat and I collapsed.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXx
It had been two weeks since the fight between James and I and we still weren't talking. It was tearing me apart. Never in my life had I wanted anything more then to run and hug him. I wanted to say we were still best friends and that we always would be. But I couldn't. Lindsey was still with him and she was poison to our friendship.
My third years saw how this was effecting me. I never ate anymore. Maybe a piece of toast or a slice of meat, but not a lot. I could never sleep unless I cried myself in to it. And then it would be restless and I would have nightmares of James and Lindsey getting married. It frightened me to think we would never be friends again.
I was sitting in the common room with Lily and Bridget, as Danielle was off studying in the library. I felt dreadful. My complexion was pale and I felt overly exhausted. I heard Lindsey's laugh and I cringed. Lily dissapeared for a moment and then came back, standing in front of me.
"You know he just asked me if you're okay." Lily blurted out. I raised my eyebrow. "James, I mean. He's awful sorry for what he did. Said he didn't know what he was saying." I snorted a laugh but it sounded sad even to my own ears.
"Tell him he should think before he speaks and to pluck up the courage to talk to me himself." I muttered. Lily rushed away and came back moments later.
"He said you wouldn't talk to him anyway." she said anxiously waiting my reply.
"Nope." I stated and she made a move to go to him but I grabbed her arm. "You're not a bloody owl Lilianna. Sit down." I pulled her down next to me on the couch.
"I'm just trying to help you guys." she said in a desperate voice. I smiled and hugged her close.
"Oh my dear Lily, what is going on between James and I needn't concern you. If he has something to say, he can say it on his own." I smiled down at her sad face.
"You sound like my mum." she stated unhappily. I shook my head and tried to laugh.
"Go to bed Lily." I said firmly. She shook her head.
"Not until you do." she mumbled but sleep was already weighing down her words. I chuckled and stood up. She came with me and we reached the girls dorm steps. "I always wanted you to be my sister." she said sleepily and headed off to bed. I turned and saw that the clock read eleven thirty. No wonder she was so tired. Bridget and Danielle, who I hadn't seen arrive, soon followed. I moved back to the couch in front of the fireplace and closed my eyes.
I was jolted awake when a hand shook my shoulder. I refused to open my eyes. We may have talked through Lily but we had still talked. He was concerned about me. That had given me enough peace of mind to go to sleep. The hand shook my shoulder again and I groaned. I opened my eyes groggily and saw that James was standing over me.
"Get off the couch Natalya. You need to go to bed." he said softly. I let out a whimper and held out my arms.
"Carry me!" I sniffled. He rolled his eyes but picked me up anyway. His one arm went under my legs as the other supported my back. I put my arms securely around his neck. He cradled me closer to his chest. "I'm still mad at you." I mumbled, already half way back to sleep.
"I know." was James' only reply and then everything faded to blackness.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"He's really worried about you Natie. Just talk to him." Lily urged. I laid my head on the table in the Great Hall. After he had brought me up to my bed, James and I still hadn't talked. It was utter torture.
"I care about my pride too much to talk to him." I replied honestly. I had told him he would lose his best friend and I wasn't going to cave so easily. Yes, it was ripping me apart. I felt as if someone repeatedly punched me in the stomach and tore out my heart. But I couldn't be friends with him while he was dating Lindsey. She was vile. She was most definitely not piteous! She was a miserable excuse for a human being!
"Screw your pride! Go talk to him!" Bridget and Danielle nearly shouted. I placed my hands over my ears.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I am not going to talk to him. End of discussion. The end. Good bye. Good night." I grumbled and rubbed my temples. They all gave me such a headache.
A/N: Okay, that is an odd place to leave it, I know, but it just works that way. For me anyway! A special thanks to Yani ( .Black) because she is amazing and so is her story! And thanks to those who added to their alert list! Review please! They make me happy!