Days in Avalon
Chapter Thirty-five: I Feel Bad
Lily spent the next week or so in the hospital wing. It wasn't until one Saturday afternoon that she was finally allowed to leave.
"Hey easy there Evans. You shouldn't be lifting that," stated Felicia.
"Oh, Figg would you relax. She's not going to break," said Andy as she helped Lily pack some of her things into a bag.
"Oh I wouldn't talk if I were you," snapped Felicia. "At least I didn't ask the nurse if she should be in a wheelchair."
Andy glared at Felicia for a moment. "Hey she started to stumble," she said defensively.
"Because of your feet," comment Felicia.
"Oh. Right. Yeah."
Lily gave an exasperated sigh as she rolled her eyes at her two best friends. "Would you two cows please stop your jabbering. I'd like to get out of here please. Today if possible."
"You've got it," comment Felicia as she grabbed a hold of some of Lily's books.
"Let's blow this joint," added Andy as she swung the bag she was packing over her shoulder.
The three girls left the hospital wing quickly and headed for their common room before they went off to enjoy the nice spring day outside. That was until they ran into Everett.
"Hello Lily," said Everett timidly. Andy and Felicia glared daggers at the boy who almost killed Lily.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" barked Felicia. Everett chose to ignore the two girls and continued his attention on Lily.
"I thought about asking if I could spare a few moments of your time, Lily," he said sweetly.
"And I thought I told you that if I found you anywhere near her I'd break you bloody legs," spat Andy as she took a threatening step toward him. Everett's reflexes caused him to jump back a bit at the blonde.
"Actually, I think you said you'd make his life a living hell," whispered Felicia.
"Felicia, please," sighed Andy in annoyance.
Everett shook his head and took a deep breath to free himself of his nervousness. "Lily...please. I just want a few moments in private."
"Sorry. Can't," barked Andy.
"She's busy," added Felicia.
"Actually, I think I can do that," said Lily. Both Andy and Felicia stared at their friend as if she had grown an extra head.
"Lily! Have you gone insane? Don't you..." started Felicia.
"I know. But...there are some things I have to say to him too," said Lily while looking at her boyfriend.
Andy grabbed a hold of her friend's arm to get her attention. "Are you sure?" she asked as she looked directly at her best friend.
Lily nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."
Andy watched her friend closely and noticed that she had a fire in her eyes that she only saw on rare occasions. "Okay, but
don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"I'm not going to," said Lily darkly. Andy shook her head in understanding.
"So be it. Come on Figg, let's take this stuff back up to the room," said Andy as she motioned for Felicia to follow.
"Alright," sighed Felicia in defeat as she glared at Everett for a moment before she caught up with Andy.
"I can't believe that you just..." she whispered loudly.
"She knows what she's doing," whispered Andy in the same tone. "Now shut that whole in your face before I put a cork in it."
Lily couldn't help but laugh at her two friends conversation before she turned her attention to Everett.
Everett gave a week smile before running a hand through his dark brown hair. "How are you doing?"
Lily tucked a strand a her dark auburn hair behind her ear before she folded her arms in front of her. "Much better. No thanks to you," she said darkly.
Everett slightly cringed at her words but knew he had it coming. He did almost kill her after all. "Well...you look great," he said weakly trying to make small talk.
"Everett...what is this about?" asked a highly annoyed Lily.
"I wanted to apologize for what happened. I should have never taken you out in those conditions," he said quickly in a pleading tone.
"Well there's a no brainier," said Lily in an undertone.
He sighed deeply trying to build up the confidence he needed. "Lily, I'm sorry. I know I messed up...big time. But if you can find it in you heart to forgive me, I promise I'll never hurt you like that again."
Lily stood there a moment listening to his words and looked as if she were contemplating on the idea of forgiving him and moving on. But that look only lasted for that moment.
"You're right," said Lily in a slightly dark tone. "You won't hurt me again. Because you will never come near me again."
"Whoa...wait...what do you mean?" said a confused Everett as fear began to creep in his actions and tone.
"I mean we're done. I'm tired of trying to prove myself to you even when there is nothing to prove," exclaimed Lily as she let what she had been feeling for the past few weeks finally let loose.
"But, Lily. I said I was sorry," pleaded Everett.
"And that's suppose to make things better? Everett, you almost killed me!" said an emotionally drained Lily.
"I know, but...I...wait. I know what this is about," said Everett who's tone turned a little harsher. "This is Potter's doing, isn't it?"
"Oh give me a break!" laughed Lily.
"It's true. He put you up to this, didn't he?" he accused.
"No, he didn't! This has nothing to do with James. This has to deal with me and your extreme jealousy over things that don't even exist," roared Lily.
"But you..."started Everett, until he was cut off.
"No! I'm tired Everett of you're manipulations and arguing with you about this subject over and over again. We are done. It's over! Good-bye."
With that Lily quickly walked away from Everett leaving him standing their bewildered at what had just occurred. Once she was a safe distance away from him and knew that he wouldn't come looking for her, she leaned up against the wall and began to take in everything that just happened. She had just gone through her first break up, which really didn't go as she expected. As she began to come off her adrenaline rush, the slight pain of regret began to inch its way into her heart. A few tears began to form in her eyes, but no more. Needing to get some air, and not really wanting to have to tell her friends about what happened just yet, Lily walked toward the entrance hall and out the front door.
It was a warm spring afternoon with just a hint of summer coming soon. Lily walked aimlessly among the grounds until she came a tree by the lake that she sometimes sits under while doing her homework.
'Why did he have to bring James into the conversation? It's not like he has this spell over me that made me want to break up with him,' she thought. 'Why does he have to be so difficult?'
She contemplated her thoughts while enjoying the nice breeze that was coming off the lake.
Elsewhere on the Hogworts grounds James and Sirius were helping out Hagrid with the new batch of Hippogriffth eggs he had acquired.
"These beauties be perfect for around here," said Hagrid happily.
"Yeah if you don't mind getting ripped to shreds every now and then," said Sirius quietly to James. James couldn't help but let out a laugh as the three of them continued on making a nest for the eggs to keep them warm.
When they were almost done with the nest Hagrid stood up straight to get the kink out of his back when he noticed Lily sitting by the lake looking sort of lost.
"Hmm...wonder what's got hur all upset?" said Hagrid aloud.
"What are you talking about," asked James as he looked up at the half giant.
"Well take a look for yer self," commented the friendly Hagrid as he pointed toward the lake. Both boys stopped what they were doing and saw what he was talking about. "Hur of course."
"That's Lily!" exclaimed James recognizing her auburn anywhere. "What is she doing out of the hospital wing?"
"She must have gotten released from hospital today," commented Sirius before going back to work.
"She looks a lot better from the last time I saw hur," said Hagrid before he went into his hut to retrieve something.
Sirius noticed that James was still staring at her from afar. He lightly chuckled to himself at his best friend's obvious display of affection toward the red haired girl. He gave James a little nudge in the arm to get his attention.
"Prongs, why don't you go over there and talk to her?" he asked.
"What? And miss out on this?" said James as if his friend had just insulted him.
"You really expect me to believe that when you have been dying to talk to her since her accident?" asked Sirius with a raised eyebrow.
"I haven't been 'dying' to see her," said James in defense.
"James get up and go over and talk to her before jam this twig up your arse," grunted Sirius while holding a slightly large twig.
"Okay. Okay. Geez, and I thought Andy was bad enough," said James jokingly. Sirius slightly glared at him while trying to mask the feelings that wanted to escape at the sound of her name.
James walked over toward the tree that Lily was sitting under while taking a number of deep breaths to calm his nerves down. He couldn't really understand why he was acting this way. This was Lily after all. The same Lily that nearly died nearly a week ago. The same Lily that he couldn't imagine a world without.
He noticed that she was now curled up into a small ball, with her arms wrapped around her legs near her chest. He guess she was deep in thought because she didn't notice that he was now standing right next to her.
"And what are you doing out of bed, young lady?" asked James jokingly. Lily simply looked up at the slightly tall boy and gave him a weak smile.
"Hello James," she said politely.
"Hmm...that's odd," said James as he squatted down to Lily's height.
"What is?" Lily asked a little curious and annoyed.
"Most people who've been in the hospital wing for a week are usually ecstatic to be out," he said with a lopsided grin.
"I am," she responded while looking at her knees.
James took a small deep breath before he sat fully down on the ground next to Lily looking out toward the lake. "What's going on Lily?"
"I walked out on Everett," she said simply.
James blinked a couple of times before her words actually registered in his brain. "You guys broke up? W-when?" he said a little bewildered.
"About ten minutes ago," she said as he watched his reaction. He was silent for a few moments digesting the news he wanted to hear for months now.
"Wow," was all he seemed to say.
"Yeah. It didn't really go all that well."
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said while looking down at the grass. Lily gave him a looked that caused him to look up at her. He could see in her eyes that she didn't believe him.
"No really. I am," stated James. All Lily could do was laugh at his attempt to make her believe him.
"James," she said with a giggle.
"Okay for the most part I'm not. But I am sorry for what caused you to break up with him," he said honestly.
"You're sorry for his stupidity?" she asked trying to be funny.
"You know what I mean."
The two of them sat there for a few moments in silence just enjoying the nice spring day. But more for the fact that neither knew what to say next.
"You want to know something?" asked Lily suddenly looking directly into James's hazel eyes. He merely nodded at her to continue, for her current distance was having an effect on his voice at the moment.
"I thought I would be heartbroken with breaking up with him, but I'm not. I don't really feel anything," she said in slightly confused tone. "Does that make me a bad person?"
"Of course not!" said James abruptly at her words. "Lily...why would ever think such a thing?"
"Isn't it obvious?" she said in a ghost like whisper. James stared at her for a moment until the realization of what she was really talking about hit him.
"No, you are not a bad person," he said sweetly as he took a hold of her hand gently. "You are the exact opposite. You are a wonderful person who cares very deeply about those who are close to her heart."
Lily couldn't help the light headed feeling when James grabbed a hold of her hand and began to lightly rub his thumb across her knuckles. She could feel her cheeks begin to redden and her heart rate began to rise.
"How?" she said softly as she slowly pulled away from James.
"Excuse me?" he asked completely confused.
"How is it that you are able to make me feel better when no else really can?"
James looked straight into her bright green eyes and felt something stir in the pit of his stomach. "Naturally I guess," he said as aloof as he could make it.
The look in her eyes was one that he had never really seen before. Normally guys that would be put in this kind of situation would act on it quickly. This he learned from living with Sirius for six years. But for some reason...he just couldn't do it.
"I should be getting back to Hagrid and Sirius," he said suddenly. Lily blinked a couple of times at his actions in confusion until she realized just how long she had been gone for.
"Yeah, I should be heading back too," she said as both of them began to get up. "They've probably already sent out the search party for me."
James gave a little chuckle before she gave her a quick hug. "I'll see you around Lily."
"Yeah. See you."
Disclaimer: Look I'm not J.K. Rowling. I don't own the whole Harry Potter world. I only own this story and the characters I made up. Everything else belongs to her.