“Remus, your thirty minutes are up.”
Lily prodded her study partner's elbow. Remus, in front of her, had his head rested and face down into his crossed arms which were set over his closed laptop. Lily turned off the vibrations coming from her phone’s timer and tried again, this time patting Remus’s head.
“Remussss,” she elongated.
Finally, Remus and his head of light brown curls sat up. He blinked hard, stretched, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Thirty minutes ago the sky from the library’s narrow floor-to-ceiling window was a pretty pink and orange. It let an autumn golden hour beam sunlight come through and illuminate their table. Now, it was a deep blue that was only going to get darker and the fluorescent lights above them shone in full effect.
“Welcome back,” Lily chuckled.
“I actually slept. Shit, I usually can’t do that.” Remus, who has grown dependent on black coffee and the occasional energy drink since starting college, was truly surprised by his capability to nap just now. He still had a half-filled coffee cup beside him. But despite the energy, or lack thereof, that the power nap was supposed to give him, he was groggy so he crossed his arms on the table again and propped his chin on them.
“Well, I for one, am done for today.” Lily closed her notebook. She began putting her colored pens in their pouch. She and Remus were sat face-to-face at the section of the library with the best views of campus since the early afternoon. At that time, the Writing for Business class they shared ended for the day and Lily suggested they continue their project for that class at the library as they were both free. The task was to write a summary and analysis report on the SEC investigation of a fraudulent company of their choosing, with the professor's approval of course. Remus and Lily met up for the first time a week before to discuss a plan of attack and clicked instantly. However, they didn’t begin proper research until today. “If I see the words ‘Elizabeth Holmes’ and ‘blood tests’ once more, I might gouge my eyes out. But your little nap actually helped me be productive,” Lily added.
Remus opened his mouth in fake offense. “I’m not that much of a distraction.”
“I know! Just got a burst of energy from seeing you sleep, I guess.”
“You must've taken all of it from me. I'm still tired.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Glad I could help.”
Lily offered him a smile, stood up, and placed her backpack on the chair to put in her notebook and computer. She noticed Remus hadn't really moved. “You're not coming?”
Remus shyly shook his head.
“It's been like five hours. Surely, you're hungry.”
“Maybe a bit.”
“I'm gonna walk to Freebirds and am extending the invitation to you, not only to be friendly, but I would also appreciate a guy's presence while I walk the streets in the dark,” Lily said. She mentioned the “walk the streets in the dark” part in a joking manner but Remus knew she was half joking.
“Let's do it.” Because what kind of gentleman would Remus be if he said no? That and the fact that Lily has become someone Remus found easy to be with. Plus, dinner with a new friend on a Friday evening was something novel to come out of his normally mundane life.
Remus took his bike to campus so he walked with it on their way to the university-wide known spot of Freebirds for some decent (although they're excellent when you're absolutely pissed off your ass) burritos.
While on their way and while waiting in the restaurant line, Lily initiated conversation. Over the week she's known her project partner, she gathered he was rather introspective but not unsociable and he was great at listening and asking follow-up questions. She’s learned he's into classic rock (Remus always walks into class with his earbuds in. The volume is loud enough for the sound to leak out and for someone next to him to be able to hear.). She also knew that he has an electric guitar (Or was it a bass? The two had set up an online meeting with their professor to propose Theranos for their SEC fraud assignment subject and Lily saw the instrument on a stand in the background of his video.).
“My boyfriend's playing with his band tonight,” she started. Then she had the idea of once again extending the invitation. “Would you like to come?” Before Remus could get a word out, Lily rambled on, “It's not a crazy party if that's a concern. It's just live music in his and roommates’ front yard. Pretty chill really. It actually already started. I was gonna go home first and drop off my stuff before catching the last of their set.”
Inwardly, Remus was really happy Lily offered the invite. Last year, his first year at university, Remus had trouble finding his footing and some solid friends. He had wanted to see his college town's live music scene however he couldn't bring himself to go at it alone. He diminished his excitement by coolly asking, “What do they play?”
“Anything. Rock primarily? Maybe pop, pop rock, punk rock, 70s rock, surf rock. All covers though. They haven't performed an original yet.”
“Hold that thought,” Remus said. It was their turn to order.
With their burritos in hand and Remus's bike dragging along, Lily persisted. Something in her wanted to bring him out of his shell, let others see Remus’s personality stand out, and introduce him to other musicians so she could see him play maybe. She flipped her deep red hair away from her face and took the first bite of her dinner. “So, yeah? You'll come? They live on the other side of my block,” she said, covering her mouth. Her voice was muffled around her food.
“Yes, I'll go.”
Lily’s eyes lit up and she swallowed. “Yay! If James made money with this band, I deserve a cut for bringing in an audience.”
Lily lived on the second floor of a duplex. They basically finished eating by the time they arrived. She let Remus lock his bike on their metal banister while she unlocked the door. “Mary! I have a guest!” she called out the moment she opened the door.
“A guest? No way, that is actually so perfect!” said a female voice from inside.
Lily gestured for Remus to come upstairs and when he stepped inside, the scent of something freshly baking in the oven wafted to his nose. A pan of cooling brownies was set on the kitchen counter and Remus could see another pan in the lit oven.
“Mary, Remus. Remus, Mary.” Lily introduced as Mary appeared in the doorway, hastily putting her coily afro in two puffballs of pigtails.
“Hi!” Mary offered Remus her hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Mister Theranos.”
“You as well.” Remus didn’t know how to feel about the nickname boldly implying that Lily and Mary have talked about him but politely took her hand into his.
Lily then said, “We're just dropping our bags here and going to James’s place. Wanna come?”
Mary sighed. “As much as I’d enjoy ogling at James's hot as fuck band, the stress baking has caught up with me. I've procrastinated my midterm study guide long enough. But take a brownie before you go though! And let me know if it's any good. They're vegan and gluten free.”
Lily went over to the pan and gave the brownies a tap to check if they were cool enough to the touch. “Remus, you could put your bag by the sofa.” Remus did as Lily found a knife to cut Mary’s brownie into cubes.
“Do you live nearby?” Mary asked Remus.
“My apartment is actually closer to campus and Freebirds.” Remus lived in a studio all to himself.
“Wow. Lily, what do you say to kind Mister Theranos?”
“Thank you, Remus, ” Lily obliged.
He laughed, “Not a problem. It's not even a five minute bike ride and we're seeing James's band, anyway.”
“I've been telling Lily to use her bike since last year! It's just sitting outside all sad without purpose.”
“I like walking!” Lily told Mary and then turned to Remus. “Do you really still want to see them?”
“Yeah! Especially now that I've heard they're hot as fuck.” Remus cheekily glanced at Mary.
Lily rolled her eyes unseriously. “Alright, let's go.” She took a brownie and handed another to Remus. They were yummy and just like one would expect them to taste like. “These are great, Mary. Good luck on your studying and don't forget to turn off the oven.”
“I won't. Have fun! And give Marls and the boys my love!”
Remus didn't pay much notice to it earlier but Lily's boyfriend's band's music could faintly be heard when they went back outside. When they turned the two corners, the song’s intro got louder and Remus could feel the bass bumping through the asphalt underneath his feet.
The song was a near accurate rendition of “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon. The only distinct difference was the singer's voice. Rather than the somewhat more gravelly voice of the original, this singer sang clearly and sounded youthful. Nonetheless in some parts, he did attempt to capture that raspy effect.
Remus and Lily reached the hub of the music by the end of the first verse. The tall wooden gate at the side was left open. They stayed in the back leaning against the wall of a fence. People were entering and exiting as they pleased but the band maintained a crowd of at least fifty people, all vibing. They were standing in the cement front “yard” of another duplex, similar in style to Lily's. Strings of very dim outdoor lights zigzagged from the second floor balcony railing to the posts on the fence. Rainbow icicle Christmas lights were also lit along the fence's perimeter. The stage was no higher than a foot and a half and the band had four members, lead singer/rhythm guitarist, lead guitarist, bassist, and drummer.
Mary wasn't kidding. Everyone in this band was attractive and Remus took the time to study all of them. The lead singer was wearing a simple red university t-shirt with the sleeves cuffed, khaki trousers that were cuffed at the ankles as well, and red hi-top sneakers to match his shirt. If he wasn't strumming, he was clutching the mic on its stand, running his hands through his flawlessly messy hair, or adjusting his glasses to the bridge of his nose. The bassist was a girl with a light blonde medium length shag haircut, a nose ring, a number of rings on her fingers, and a number of earrings from each lobe to the helix. She wore a black camisole under a fitted mesh long sleeve that just barely revealed the various tattoos on her arms and belted houndstooth skirt. The way she was in her own world, really feeling the rhythm in her bassline was fun to watch. The drummer was bopping his head to the rhythm too. The golden swoops of his center parted hair bounced along with him. He wore a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows and the top buttons undone. Lastly, the guitarist. Oh my god, the guitarist. Remus couldn't imagine being both as talented and as genetically gifted as him. The guitarist added quick little improvised flourishes on his guitar and Remus wished he could appreciate them more if this man’s mannerisms were less distracting. The longest layers of his black hair reached the top of his shoulders, the rest was tied back in a knot but the strands that were too short to be tied framed his face. His dark eyebrows created a stark contrast on his pale skin and light eyes and his jawline was simply perfect. He wore all black down to his oxfords. If he moved his guitar away just so, it would uncover the fact that his sleeveless shirt was indeed cropped. The spotlight on the stage created shadows that showcased his toned arms and waist and Alright, let’s listen to the music. The guitarist was singing too but his mic wasn’t very loud.
“Which one's James?” Remus had to raise his voice a little over the music and the crowd. He also wanted to make sure he wasn't staring too long at possibly Lily's boyfriend.
“The one with glasses.” Lily grinned bashfully.
“They’re good!”
“I think so too!” She nodded.
Remus tapped his foot and nodded along to the last chorus until the song ended with the beautiful guitarist’s two brief strums on that last chord. The audience clapped and cheered and James thanked them.
Two voices on Remus’s left called for Lily. “It is her!” said the female one. “Lily!” the male one shouted.
Lily’s head whipped toward their direction and she broke into a grin when she saw the voices’ owners. “Alice! Frank!” She walked over to hug them both at once.
“Didn’t think you’d make it,” said Frank.
“I could let myself be late but I’ll never miss one of these. Besides, I was at the lib with-” She turned back and scanned for her study partner. “Remus!”
Remus was anxious this would happen. Lily would go off and talk to her friends, of which she has many, and either leave him awkwardly to his own devices or she would summon him into a conversation with said friends and he’d seem to listen but struggle to contribute. He’s never really liked talking in groups. The latter, Remus thought, was worse. At least, when left to his own devices, he wouldn’t be standing there self-consciously. There was something, or rather someone, to watch.
“Hi, nice to meet you.” Remus brought himself into the circle Lily made with her friends.
“You too. I’m Frank Longbottom, the not musically inclined fourth roommate.”
“Hey, tech is impressive. I’m Alice.”
“Do you two want a drink?” Frank asked.
Lily said, “Sure” at the same time Remus said, “I’m good, thank you.” Lily gave him a look that Remus perceived as slight concern to which he responded with, “I’ll meet you out here.”
Frank, Alice, and Lily went inside the first floor apartment through the sliding doors. Finally, Remus could get back to the band. He realized he still didn’t know the band’s name. The drummer had been filling in their silence with a constant kick drum beat as the gorgeous guitarist finished tuning his guitar to drop-D. James had also switched places with the girl, her bass in his hands. She nodded at her bandmates, the drummer counted four beats, and she immediately started singing the first verse of “Still Into You” by Paramore.
Unlike James’s “Sex on Fire” which was done very much in his own voice, this girl sounded quite similar to Hayley Williams. It was stunning. James added harmonies to “butterflies” and “worst nights” and echoed the “I’m into you” in the chorus. That was also stunning.
Lily appeared at Remus’s side again. “That’s Marlene!” she yelled into his ear. “Also!” She was holding one open can in one hand and waving two unopened ones in the other at Remus, a soda and a hard seltzer. “I know you said you didn’t want one but Frank and Alice insisted and I mean, it’s free!” She shrugged.
Remus laughed. He looked at the can Lily was drinking from and copied it. He took the seltzer. “Thanks!”
There was an instrumental part in the song that the irresistible guitarist was focused on adding his own spin to. Marlene had taken the mic off the stand and started hopping on the stage, hyping up the crowd to cheer on his sick solo riff. Her entire stage presence was vivacious.
Some things just, some things just make sense and one of those is you and I
Some things just, some things just make sense and even after all this time
I’m into you
Baby, not a day goes by that I’m not into you
Marlene belted out the highest note impeccably and continued jumping as she sang the last chorus. The audience whooped and the people at the front jumped with her.
After the last, “I’m still into you,” she reached her hand at someone in the first row of the crowd while everyone clapped. That someone held on as Marlene helped them step onto the stage. She was a thin girl with long, dark braids. She and Marlene kissed, Marlene dropping the mic for James to catch so she can cup the girl's face. The other girl's arms were around Marlene's waist. The two laughed before Marlene gave her one more quick kiss and let her go.
“Let’s hear it for Marlene McKinnon!” James shouted and let the crowd applaud. He took center stage again with his own guitar. “And give it up for my best mate, Sirius Black!” James gestured to the ever so enchanting guitarist at his right. “It was his birthday yesterday!” More claps.
Sirius Black. God, even his name is so cool.
Sirius raised his arm to wave and doing so lifted the hem of his fucking crop top even higher. Remus had to suppress his scoff. Sirius absolutely knew what he was doing and Remus was falling for it anyway.
James continued, “And last, but certainly not least, on the drums, put your hands together for Peter Pettigrew!”
Peter had been giving each of them a little drumroll as James said their names. He gave himself a concise but still complex drum fill.
“Alright, we’re the-”
“-Wait, hold on! We cannot forget.” Sirius interrupted into his mic. Remus tried to savor the sound of his voice. Charming, confident, and elegant. It still wasn't as loud as James's but everyone could hear him. “A round of applause for James Fucking Potter!”
Lily hollered as loud as she could.
James turned to his best mate, put his hands over his heart, and bowed. He then spotted Lily and his smile grew even wider. He casually blew her a kiss and laughed. “Alright, do you guys have room for one more before bed?” James asked and the crowd cheered. “Frank, turn up Sirius's mic!” Frank, startled, ran to the audio mixer off to the side of the stage. “Frank Longbottom, everybody!” James exclaimed lightheartedly and Frank jokingly threatened to shove James. The crowd cheered again, amused. James continued, “Thank you all for coming out. We really appreciate it. We're The Marauders. Tell your friends.”
Sirius began playing the repeating iconic intro riff of “Toxic” by Britney Spears. To Remus’s surprise, Sirius sang the first few lines.
Baby, can't you see
I'm calling?
A guy like you
should wear a warning
It's dangerous
I'm falling
Remus practically melted. Sirius sang so seductively and didn't change the “guy” lyric. Remus had become so infatuated over this captivating guitarist that hasn't even looked his way. He had to remind himself that undoubtedly he can't be the only one feeling this way. All the straight girls here must be admiring Sirius too. Yet, Remus and his delusional mind couldn't get over that he had a chance. He didn't change the lyric.
Only the guitars and especially the bass were heard for the first verse. James took the next bit and Marlene took the “too high, can't come down” prechorus. The drums were calmly brought in and then Peter kicked it up a notch with a fill and then a faster beat and the three harmonized the chorus before taking turns again with the verses and it was just so so fun.
The string lights above and spotlight turned off on cue with the last note of the riff which left the colors of the rainbow lights, the kitchen light inside the apartment, and the distant street lights. That didn't stop Sirius from playing however as he softly transitioned into playing “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus” by The Strokes. It was just the instrumental of Sirius’s lead guitar and even softer rhythm guitar playing by James. Many in the audience, the ones with no relationship ties to the band but heard the music and decided to stop by, began to leave. The girl Marlene had kissed, some of her friends including a classier looking Sirius lookalike, Alice, Frank, Lily, and Remus were the last ones there.
“Thanks for coming with me, Remus. I hope you had fun,” Lily smiled.
To Remus, it seemed like a suggestion to leave but since it’s Lily, she likely meant a kind signal that he could leave if he wanted. “I did! Thank you for taking me.”
“Evans!” James shouted. He jogged up to his girlfriend and Remus, for a moment, forgot that James was also a normal regular student and not a celebrity musician. Remus could appreciate James’s smile and unruly hair more now that James was closer in view. James kissed Lily’s forehead and animatedly continued, “You didn’t miss anything new. We played ‘The City’ again and Sirius begged to do ‘Rebel Rebel’ again. He killed it as usual. But what did you think of the debut of ‘Toxic’?!”
Rebel Rebel? Remus regretted missing out on a Sirius Black solo cover of his favorite artist. His eyes searched among the remaining people until their gaze fell upon Sirius wrapping up wires with Frank by the audio mixer. Sirius let his hair down and just seeing him do something as simple as nod and chat with Frank was causing Remus to swoon. Remus was never one to shoot his shot. Maybe he’d have a sliver of confidence if he had more alcohol in his system but the several sips of his drink obviously didn’t achieve that.
“Remus!” Lily grabbed Remus’s attention.
“Hm? Yeah, sorry.”
“I was saying James and his mates are having a little kickback or we could go back to my place so you could get your bike and stuff.”
“If you want to stay, I don’t mind.”
Lily shot him with her look of slight concern again.
“I swear!” Remus asserted. “I’ve got nothing going on tonight.”
Lily must’ve caught him looking fixedly at Sirius before calling him because she teased, “Okay, I’ll make sure he saves you a seat,” without any context to who he is. Remus resisted the urge not to facepalm at his indiscretion. She could’ve said James if she wanted. If Lily saw Remus at any point during the three songs, she probably caught him staring then too.
Lily pushed the sliding door to the kitchen open and she and Remus stood in front of it. “Everyone,” she cordially began. “This is Remus.” A chorus of “Hi”s followed.
“Excuse us, Remus,” said Sirius’s voice from behind Remus. He put his hands on Remus’s shoulders to gently push him aside so he and Frank could get through the door. Remus couldn’t help but notice the numerous buttons and pins on the tote bag Sirius was carrying, especially the one with the stripes of the bi flag.
Everyone went back to their own thing but James approached. “Thanks for coming. I’m James. Don’t wanna force you or anything but you should come see us in full.”
“Yeah, you guys were great. How can I know your next one?”
“It’s honestly whenever you hear us down the street. We sort of like to be low key.”
“I’ll be sure to ask Lily then.”
“We’re The Marauders–”
“Tell your friends,” Sirius cut in. He eyed Remus up and down. “Want another drink?”