A/N: There you go! Chapter 3. Hope you enjoy it! Follow up to the date. My Thunder, I took your advice. Lily explains her changed feelings in this chapter! (: Thanks to: JessandDarcy, ChemicalRose1248, My Thunder, and JessaShelby. You guys are amazing! (: Enjoy.

The day after Lily's date, she sat near the Whomping Willow, but still a good distance away. She sat with her knees pulled up, and her chin resting on them. Staring at the Whomping Willow, she smiled.

'Hey. What are you thinking about?' A voice asked, making Lily jump.

Looking over her shoulder, Lily smiled, 'Hey, Emmaline.' She shook her head, 'Nothing really. Just.. thinking.'

Smiling, Emmaline sat next to her, 'How was your date?'

Lily bit her lip, and shook her head, 'I don't know.'

'You don't know?'

'No.' She sighed, and looked at her friend, 'I mean it was good! I'm actually kind of surprised. James wasn't himself.' She furrowed her brow.

'What do you mean?'

'I'm not sure. Like I mean, he was still himself. But he didn't seem like himself...'

'Lil's. That makes no sense.' Emmaline laughed, and stretched out. Laying on her back, 'How do you mean he wasn't himself?'

Lily shrugged, and laid next to her friend, 'He was still James, obviously. He just wasn't, completely full of himself.' She smiled, 'When we were at the Three Broomsticks, Severus came in. And… called me a mudblood. I thought James wa-'

'Lily! I am so sorry!' Emmaline sat up, and pulled her into a hug. 'Why didn't you say something last night?'

Lily shrugged, 'It didn't seem like a big deal.' She shook her head, and laid back down, 'I just can't believe me and Sev were ever friends. He's changed so much.'

'Yeah. I know.' Emmaline, smiled at her, 'Anyways. Get on with the date!'

'Okay. So yeah.. we were having Lunch, and Sev came in with his friends. He called me mudblood. And James.. well.. he stood up for my..?' She laughed, and shook her head, 'Im not sure what he stood up for..'

Scrunching her nose, Emmaline laughed, 'Your virtue? Integrity? You?'

'Yeah. That's pretty much it!' She laughed. 'I don't know, it was really sweet. He was so mad at Sev. I thought he was going to pummel him!' She shook her head, and sat up.

'Did you kiss? Or… anything?' Emmaline asked.

Laughing, Lily licked her lips, 'On the cheek.'

'Awe, how sweet!' Her friend laughed, and threw a leaf at her, 'Are you gonna go out again?'

Lily nodded, 'I think.. so?'

'Are you sure?' Emmaline laughed, 'since when, is Lily Evans not sure of something?'

Lily shrugged, 'I don't know. Everything about him is confusing.'

Emmaline laughed, and laid a hand over her friends shoulder, 'Darling, that's what they call a 'school-girl crush!''

Groaning Lily pushed her friend away, 'Keep it between just us? And Alice?'

'Yup!' Emmaline wrapped her pinky finger around Lily's, 'Always.'

x-X-x

James sat with the other Mauraders, under a giant willow next to the great lake. Leaning against it, he crossed his ankles and grinned at Sirius. 'That's why goblins work at Gringotts, and not Hogwarts.'

Sirius laughed, while Remus shook his head, 'Shut up, James. You don't know that.'

'Uh.. yeah!' James grinned, and shrugged, 'I know these things.'

'Whatever.' Remus picked a handful of grass, and threw it at him, 'How'd your date go with Lily?'

Sitting forward, Sirius grinned, 'Yeah. How did it go? Did she.. bloom.. like a good flower?'

James looked at his best friend, and glared, 'Listen, Padfoot. Don't talk about her like that!'

Sirius and Remus exchanged looks, and grinned, 'Whoa, Prongs. Didn't know it was that serious.'

James arched an eyebrow at his friend, 'Oh yeah?' The boys laughed, and James shook his head, 'Good play on your name, my friend.'

Sirius grinned, and nodded to a group of Slytherins, 'Wanna play?' His eyes twinkled with laughter, as the wind blew through his hair.

'Nah.' James closed his eyes, and smirked, 'Im still in too good of a mood.'

'You're no fun.' Sirius cried, but leaned back against the tree anyways. 'What are we supposed to do then?' He grimaced, 'I'm so bored!'

Remus frowned, and looked up from the book he was reading, 'You know, you could always study. Finals are coming up here soon.'

'Ew. No.' Peter laughed, and looked at the group. His eyes wide, taking everything in.

Licking his lips, he sat forward, 'James.' He said, his voice raspy, 'Are you and Lily gonna go out again?'

'I'm not sure, Wormtail. But I hope so,' He opened his eyes, and glanced up towards the castle. He saw Lily and her friend, Emmaline, walking away from the Whomping Willow. They were connected at the elbow. Her head was titled back and she was laughing. 'I hope so.'

x-X-x

A few nights later, James was just walking into the great hall, and ran into Lily. He put his hands on her shoulders, and smiled, 'Hey, Lily-flower.'

Lily groaned, but smiled, 'Really? Lily-flower?' She laughed, and shook her head. Leaving a hand on his arm, she pulled him closer to the wall, and out of the way of students hurrying into the great hall.

Grinning, James tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. 'I like it, it's cute. Like you.'

Lily rolled her eyes, 'I thought we talked about corny nicknames!'

'You talked, I listened.' James laughed, his eyes sparkling.

'You are unbearable!' Lily laughed, and pushed him away; her hand on his chest.

James placed his hand over hers and smiled, 'You like me though. Right?' When Lily didn't reply, he stepped forward, and cupped her chin with his hands. 'You like me, don't you?'

Lily licked her lips and smiled, 'I- I... uh..' She trailed off, and looked up at him.

Leaning forward, James kissed Lily's forehead. Whispering in her ear, he smiled, 'It's okay. You don't need to admit it.. yet.' He stepped back, and smiled.

Giving her a little wave, James crossed to the Gryffindor table, and sat next to Sirius. He turned to look at her, and smiled. Groaning, Lily closed her eyes, and leaned her head against the wall.

Lily sat in the back of the potions classroom, the following Friday. The bell had just rang, and she was all ready for class to be over. She had her head on her folded arms, and was trying to ignore the sweat rolling down the center of her back. She heard the chair next to her scrape across the floor and smiled, 'Em. I thought you didn't feel good. You should go to the hospital wing.' She yawned, 'Get a potion.'

She heard a deep chuckle and opened her eyes to see James sitting down next to her, 'Maybe you should go to the hospital wing, Lily-bean.' He said, smiling slightly.

'I don't need to.' She closed her eyes, and yawned again. 'I'm just tired. And it's hot.'

'That it is.' James nodded, and looked at the girl next to him. Her forehead was shining with sweat, and her hair was pulled up in a ponytail; she is so pretty. He thought to himself. Leaning towards her slightly, he tapped his wand against the back of her neck.

Lily felt a wand touch the nape of her neck, but couldn't bring herself to care. She heard James mutter something under his breath, and the next thing she knew: she was cool. Looking up sharply, 'What did you do?'

James tucked his wand into his robe, and held his hands up. 'You said you were hot.' He smirked, and sat back, 'I always think you're hot. But considering we're in the belly of the castle, I figured you meant literally.'

Narrowing her eyes, Lily licked her lips, and opened her mouth to speak, 'Awe. Lily-bean.' James said, before she could talk, 'You really shouldn't do that.' He reached out, and traced his thumb across her lower lip. 'It does.. magical things to me.'

'Huh?' She asked, generally confused.

James just grinned, and shrugged. 'Then again.. you should keep doing it. It's kind of hot.' He winked at her.

'Jam-' She started, but came to a stop, when Sirius looked at her, then him:

'Prongs!' He shrugged, and looked at his table, 'Are you sitting with the Wilting Flower, or you coming up here.'

James smiled at Lily, but spoke to Sirius, 'I don't think she's a wilting flower, Padfoot.' He grinned, and looked at his friend, 'But I'm gonna stay back here this class.'

Groaning, Sirius walked over, 'You're going to leave me with Moony and Wormtail?' He shook his head, and shuddered, 'Not cool man, not cool.'

James looked from his friend back to Lily, 'Uh...'

Laughing, Lily looked at Sirius, and kicked out the chair across from her, 'You can always sit here, Padfoot.'

Sirius sent her a mock glare, 'Whoa, Ginger. Only the Marauders, or their significant other, can use the nicknames.'

Raising a brow, Lily laughed. 'Significant other? Wouldn't it just be easier, for you that is, to say girlfriend?'

Sirius leaned forward in his chair, and grinned. Propping his chin in his hand, he said 'Yeah. It would be. But you see, I'm not sure if 'girlfriend' would be used properly for dear Wormtail.'

'Padfoot!' James said, softly. 'Just because.. to this date, he hasn't had a girlfriend. Doesn't mean he's... uh..'

Lily laughed outright, and loudly, 'James, can't you say 'gay?''

'Shh!' Both boys cried. Lily laughed, and shook her head.

'Look. It's not like I can't say.. ga.. it's just.. I- I don't know.'

Tilting her head to the side, Lily looked over at Peter and Remus. Like usual, Remus had his head in a book, a furrow between his brows; while Peter sat, biting a nail. She grimaced, and looked back at the two sitting with her. 'Will you still be friends with him, if, you know, he is into boys?'

Sirius and James exchanged a look. It went on for more than a minute, before Lily cleared her throat, and laughed, 'You know. If the two of you keep looking at each other like that.. people might think the two of you are.. you know.' She made big eyes at them, and nodded her head.

The boys, jumped away from each other, and groaned, 'Oh god, no!' this from Sirius, and 'You know I like you!' from James.

Lily laughed, and shook her head, 'I was kidding.'

The two frowned, and sat back down. They looked at each other, but looked away quickly, 'Lil's..' James trailed off, and frowned.

'What?' She asked, looking towards the blackboard, she frowned, 'When were we supposed to start.. this?' The waved her hand at the board, and frowned at the boys, 'See this is why I sit with Emmaline.' Lily jumped up, and raced towards the supply cupboard.

Sirius laughed, and reached for his cauldron. 'Wow. We might actually turn a potion in on time, for once.'

'Thank goodness for smart people.' The two grinned at each other, before opening their books.

x-X-x

'Sorry, it's last minute, Professor.' Lily was just placing the potion her group completed on the Professors desk, as the bell rang.

'Ah. Miss Evans.' Professor Slughorn looked at his favorite student. Heaving himself into his desk chair, he sighed, 'I've been meaning to talk to you.'

'About what, sir?' Lily asked surprise evident in her tone.

'About your future my dear.' Slughorn smiled, and linked his fingers together. 'When are you free?' He asked, 'I'd like to set up an appointment, for when you have more time.'

'Oh.. uh. I have a prefects meeting after classes tonight, but what about tomorrow?'

Slughorn flipped through his schedule, and glanced up, smiling, 'Works for me. Let me just,' He picked up a quill, 'Write you .. in.'

'Okay. Well, I'll see you tomorrow then.' Lily slowly started to back away.

'Uh, yeah. I see you have someone waiting for you.' Lily turned around and saw James picking up his book bag, a small smile on his face.

Lily smiled, and walked towards him, 'Hey. You didn't need to wait.'

'I wanted to.'

The two slowly made their way out of the dungeons. They walked close next to each other, their hands touching. James cleared his throat, and stretched his fingers. Glancing down, Lily saw his fingers flex twice. Taking a deep breath, Lily linked her fingers with his.

James tightened his fingers, momentarily, and then relaxed them. 'So. We have one more Hogsmeade trip before finals. Uh..' He cleared his throat, and smiled, 'Would you maybe wanna go with me?'

Lily looked up, and smiled, 'Yeah.' She bit her lip, 'I think I would like that.'

'Really?' When she nodded, he grinned, 'Cool. And I didn't even have to blackmail you this time!'

Lily elbowed him in the ribs, and laughed, 'Shush.' He laughed, and let go of her hand, to rest his arm on her shoulders. 'You know how.. you blackmailed me into the first date.'

'Yeah..' James furrowed his brow, and looked down at her.

'Well..' She licked her lips and glanced up, 'I think.. uh.. never mind.' She stepped away from his arm, and grinned. 'I've gotta.. run..' She trailed off, and raced up the stairs.

'What, in the world?' James asked himself, and laughed. Walking towards the great hall, his stomach rumbled. He grinned, and patted his stomach, 'Kitchen, here I come!'

A/N: So was it good? I hope so! The plot for the next chapter is already swimming around in my head! So yeah, hopefully it'll be up soon. And not that you guys care; but I so ate celery and peanutbutter while writing this! (: I forgot about how good celery is. lol. Anyways, reviews are delicious! (;

^_^ -Lorrinda.