A/N: So, I know I said that I wouldn't upload until I had at least two reviews but I cracked. I have checked for reviews every half hour since I last updated and I get more and more depressed every time there are none. I finally had a reality check and realized that I may have to suffer through posting the whole story without any reviews, and I would have to live with it. So I'm no longer going to be begging for reviews, but they are still appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the recognizable aspects of the plot line.

Chapter 5: The Next Day

Lily woke Sunday morning with a pounding headache. After Sirius had left her she sauntered slowly back to the common room and stayed up half the night reliving the events of the night. She hated herself. She couldn't believe that she actually considered shagging Sirius just to get her mind off of James. She got out of bed and showered and headed down to breakfast alone since Bella and Marlene were both still asleep. When she got down there she saw James sitting all by himself at the Gryffindor table so she walked to where he was and sat down across from him.

"Morning" Lily greeted.

"Oh! Good Morning" James replied. He wasn't expecting her to be as forward as she was. Guess Sirius did better than I thought he did.

"So where are the others?"

"Please! A marauder up before noon on a weekend? Insane" he joked.

"And yet here you are".

"Ah yes well I'm not entirely like them. We do have some differences".

"Well I can't argue with that".

"What does that mean?" He hoped he sounded confused and not happy like he truly was.

"Oh nothing".

Damn. I have to get her to tell me about the night with Sirius. "So what did you do yesterday?"

That's weird, I thought Sirius would have told him all about it. Maybe he doesn't want James to know because he doesn't want to hurt him and ruin their friendship. "Just hung out. Actually it was the worst night of my life". The words came out before she could stop them.

"Oh really? Why?" Now he really hoped that she wasn't paying close attention because there was no way he could hide his happiness for much longer.

"Don't be mad. I was on a date yesterday".

"I'm not mad. I could never be mad at you. But if you were on a date then why was it so bad?"

She smiled then sighed. Might as well tell him. Excluding the shagging stuff and definitely not including telling him it was Sirius. "He was just a real jerk. But I guess something good did come out of it, so I can't really complain".

"What is that?"

"It made me realize what a great guy you are". She smiled warmly at him.

He couldn't help but smile back. "Well then I'm conflicted whether to hate this guy for being a jerk to you or thank him" he joked.

She laughed. "Yeah. But it also made me realize how few guys I have dated".

"O-oh?"

"Yeah. I think that I need to see other people before I can be with you. You are just on a completely different level of relationships if that make any sense". She hesitated. "I need to get a little more experience so that I can live up to your reputation".

"I-I would never force you into something that you're not ready for if that's what you're afraid of. Please don't be intimidated by my reputation. You don't have to live up to anything. All you would have to do is like me even a fraction of the amount that I like you for us to last".

"I know you would never pressure me. I just think that we should be just friends while I get some more experience. And of course I'm not saying that you can't do the same. I'm not so cruel as to make you sit on the sidelines and watch as I date other people while you can't. I just need that time to get the crazy out of me before I settle down".

"Okay. Okay. . . as long as you're talking about settling down with me in the end then until you are ready I will happily be your friend".

They finished breakfast talking as if there wasn't an awkwardness between them.

Later James stormed into his dorm where Sirius was alone, sitting on his bed making paper airplanes out of the note he should have been studying.

"It didn't work" screamed James.

"Whoa whoa whoa! What are you talking about? What didn't work Prongs?" Sirius tried to calm his friend.

"The plan for Lily to realize she should be with me".

Sirius froze. He knows! He must know what happened. She probably told him earlier and he is going to kill me. "Look mate-".

But James cut him off before he could finish. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. After all you did perfect, she said she realized what a great guy I am and she eventually wants to settle down with me".

"Eventually?"

"She first wants to see other people. She said something about getting experience and getting the crazy out of her before she settles down. Said she wanted to be able to live up to my reputation. Whatever any of that means".

"Well I think she just means that she wants to see other people before she settles down with you so that later on in life she doesn't have to wonder if you're the best she could do. So that she never questions your relationship since you're the only guy that she would have been with".

"Since when are you so deep?" James joked just wanting a subject change.

Sirius recognized his friend's desire and happily let him change the subject. He wanted to steer away from that particular topic just as much as James did.

That night James went with Remus and Peter to the library for a last minute study session for their test in Defense against the Dark Arts the next day. They had asked Sirius if he wanted to join them and all four started laughing immediately after because Sirius going to the library was laugh worthy in itself without also adding Sirius studying. This left Sirius all alone with his thoughts. So Lily wanted to see other people? Will I be one of them? What am I saying? Of course not. She would never choose me to be one of them because I am too close to James and I'm also kind of the reason why she's doing this in the first place. But maybe that's also a reason for her to choose me. Of course I would have to say no. Right? I could never do that to James. But would I really be helping him out? If I say no to her then it might take her some time to find another guy which means more time before she can be with James or even worse she would have to find another guy who wasn't a complete arse-hole to her and actually realize that she would rather be with him than James. So really I would be doing him a favor if I said yes and it would be a total injustice if I turned her down.

Just then, almost as if on cue, there was a light knock on the door. Sirius called for the person to come in and from his position on his bed, on his back looking at the ceiling, he couldn't see the person but he heard the door open and close. He finally looked toward the doorway to see who the visitor was and was shocked to find the face of Lily Evans staring back at him. Before he could get out a word she started walking toward him slowly, wordlessly. When she got to the top of his bed where his head laid she looked down at him, leaned forward slightly, and slapped him across the face.

A/N: So this is a medium length chapter I believe because it is longer than those preceding it but not as long as those following. It was going to be longer but I couldn't get myself to split the next chapter up and you'll find out why when you read it ;) I love all of my readers and reviews are much appreciated!