Chapter 2
Regulus felt scared. Which he felt scared to admit. He worried he’d made the wrong choice. He instinctively fingered the necklace at his throat, a slender silver chain with a moon pendent, that he’d had as long as he could remember. At this point he figured there was no going back. He had already taken the taxi to the airport, Passed through security and now sat in the airports cafe drinking the worlds most shitty cup of tea while he texted Sirius on his laptop. Sirius was expressing similar worries, but Sirius had a additional problem Sirius was stubbornly bringing his boyfriend. Regulus had begged Sirius not to, warned him it was a bad idea remembering all too well the events that led up to Sirius and Regulus needing to run away in the first place. But Sirius was insistent, stating firmly that if their parents wanted him back in their lives Remus was part of the deal. And nothing Regulus could say convinced Sirius not to bring him. Not that Regulus didn’t like Remus, he’d met him a year ago at the small christmas party Sirius had held and the two immediately got along. Regulus felt he was just the person for Sirius, a grounding and sensible person who could match Sirius’s energy.
Regulus checked his watch, and found he still had a hour and a half until his plane to the US left. He paid for his tea then got up to stretch his legs. Grabbing his suitcase he walked down to his terminal, window shopping to pass the time. Finally he settled on a chair near his gate, doodling on his sketchbook. Just as he began to get immersed in his work he heard a familiar warm voice.
“Reg??”
He looked up not believing his ears. But sure enough it was Lily Evans. He hadnt seen her for years. She was older now and wore a long comfortable looking dress, her long curly red hair in a messy bun atop her head. But her familiar kind smile he recognized more then anything. The same smile that had made him trust her, open up when he was at his worst. A grin spread across his face and he rose dropping his sketchbook to embrace her.
“Lily? I didnt know you were in England you should have called!”
She smiled holding him at arms length to examine him.
“It’s been so long Reg. You look good.” She paused. “Ive missed you. But Im so happy to see you doing well.”
“Ive missed you too. Are you going back too?”
Lily nodded. “I visit my parents during the summer. Im sorry I didnt meet up when I was here, Ive been so busy. Works been killing me.”
Regulus had heard about Lily’s work, as head curator for the Metropolitan museum of art in New York she had become a very busy and important woman. He enjoyed seeing her post pictures with the art, glad she was thriving.
Lily frowned at him concerned.
“Reg why are YOU going back?”
Regulus sat back down and explained the circumstances. Lily nodded, listening. Regulus could tell she worried. He worried himself.
While they waited for the plane, Lily filled him in on recent gossip. Andromeda had run off with a working class boy named Teddy and had gotten pregnant, leading to the black family disowning her. Sirius’s friend Peter had gotten engaged to a girl working at a Natrual foods store downtown. But what Regulus was most interested in was Lily’s news about Sirius’s best friend James Potter.
Ever since the age of eleven Regulus had been afflicted with the most ridiculous, nonsensical crush on Potter. Even now years later he could remember the time he and James and Remus and Sirius had ran down to the beach at dusk, how Regulus had tripped on a vine on the walk down and how James had caught him before he hit the ground. How James had held him in his arms. How there eyes met and Regulus’s heart raced so fast he thought there might be something wrong. How James’s eyes seemed to dart to Regulus’s lips, and their heads were so close he could feel James’s warm breath on his cheeks.
After Regulus ran away he missed James the most. No matter how hard he tried to get over it there was a voice in the back of his head reminding him of James, of his kindness, windswept hair, chivalry and effortlessly good looks. Regulus knew he was being foolish, knew that James likely never noticed him, was definitely straight and was so different to Regulus.
Yet, when Lily mentioned James’s name, heat rose to Regulus’s cheeks and his heart began to beat waiting in anticipation.