"If you keep staring at him he's going to come over here." Sirius inspects his fingernails as he teases you.
Your eyes flick away from where Remus is checking out his small stack of library books. "He's going to come over here anyway," you mumble. "He's meeting us."
"He's meeting you, sweetheart," Sirius drawls. "I'm just here for the spectacle."
You look at your hands and the stack of books you've checked out and wonder how you're going to fit them in your bag. Sirius's words make you feel flushed. One of these days you're going to properly tell him off for teasing you about your crush, but today is probably not going to be that day.
"Oh, hush," you tell him. He demanded he come to the library with you once you told him you were meeting Remus and going to tea at the shop around the corner.
"S'not like he minds, you know that. He's just as bad as you with the staring--" Remus approaches the table and Sirius mercifully cuts himself off. You don't need anyone else making you more obvious than you already are.
"Hello," Remus says softly, eyes crinkling at the corners. "You alright? Quite a load there." He eyes the titles in front of you.
Your stomach flips. "Hi," you say.
"Oh hi, Sirius," Sirius says. "How are you? Oh I'm well, thanks for asking Remus."
Remus ignores him. "Can I carry some of those for you?"
He's already reaching for your books before you can tell him not to. "I can carry them," you say, watching him load them into his backpack. "Really, Remus, I can."
"Too late," he says. You just smile at him for a few moments and he smiles back.
"Fuck's sake," mutters Sirius. "Are you two done yet?"
Remus shoots him a glare this time. This dance is familiar by this point -- you and Remus acting as though the world around you doesn't exist but not really doing anything more than some light flirting. You think that he takes your lead, and if you ever want something more, you'll have to tell him so. It's agonizing and exhilarating at the same time.
"Tea?" Remus asks as you exit the library, Sirius trailing behind you. "I could use some, if you still want to."
You turn to face your best friend. "Are you coming, Sirius?"
He scoffs. "I know when I'm not wanted." You frown.
"Don't say that." He snaps out of his pout and winks at you.
"I'll catch up with you later. Call me if you end up getting food and I'll come back, yeah?" He darts forward to press a kiss to your cheek and to flick Remus's nose before he saunters off in the opposite direction, whistling.
"He's insufferable," Remus says. "I don't know how you've put up with him since you were kids. I can barely handle him at this age."
You start walking and he falls into step next to you. "Well, he was shy for a few years, if you can believe it. We fit quite well together."
"Every time you tell me that I have a hard time imagining it. He's never been shy a day that I've known him."
You laugh and Remus beams. "Well he clearly grew out of it," you say. "Me, not so much."
"And I'm glad," he says, grin softening. "You are much more pleasant to be around than he is." You have to look away at his words.
Remus's hand is light on your back as you enter the cafe. It's a bit crowded and you don't know where to look, taking a step closer to him as you get in line. His warm palm settles on your shoulder and you turn into him.
"Do you want me to order and you go find a table?" he says, eyes flicking over your face. You can order for yourself, but you'd rather not stay in the crowded entry for too long, so you nod.
By the time you've settled in a booth in the back you realize you didn't tell Remus what you'd like to drink, but when he finds you he's got a steaming mug that smells just like your favorite tea.
"Thanks," you say softly. His long legs knock against yours under the table as he sits.
"Sorry," he says, not sounding very sorry at all. You feel brave for a moment and press your knee against his and don't move.
"That's alright." He smiles at you and takes a sip of his own mug.
"Would you like to read for a little while?" he asks. You know that he's suggesting it for your benefit so not as to overwhelm you -- he must know the effect he has on you, which should be embarrassing, but instead you find it charming. You find everything about him charming.
"Sure," you say. He hands you one of your books from his bag before putting on his reading glasses.
Every time you look up at Remus over the next hour or so he's already looking at you.