The Daylight
James walked calmly along in the crisp spring air. The little jump in his step caused his dark curls to bounce against his forehead. He had woken up early to emotionally prepare for finals today.
He had scheduled every single one on the same day and at the same time as one Regulus Black because if he could do it so could James. James and Regulus had been going at each other’s throats for the past four years in university. Ever since the day they mirrored each other’s answers in class they have made it one anothers sworn duty to be a better student then the other. Plus, if they tested on the same day at the same time then they would have all their scores at the same time, and James could prove that he was better than President Perfect Regulus Black.
Lost in his own thoughts James hadn’t noticed that Regulus had started walking next to him.
“Potter” he droned seeming as if he’s already had enough of their short interaction
“Black” James responded attempting to sound just as effortlessly callous
“I heard we have all our finals together.” Regulus stated an air of curiosity surrounding his words
“Yep, how are you feeling about them?” James pondered.
Regulus responded with a simple “Incredible” and began speed walking.
James saw this and fell back into lockstep with him and when Regulus sped up again a rock mysteriously found its way directly in front of James causing him to trip and fall immediately. His glasses flew forward and directly into a small patch of grass. James picked himself up with hands that burned from the newly given scrapes and attempted to dust off the dark spots that appeared on the knees of his jeans to no avail.
James was entirely certain that Regulus had caused that. He wasn’t sure how but he knew that he did because when he walked into his first final Regulus looked at him and threw a snarky smile at James.
After that James immediately took his seat across the room and waited for the final to begin.
*An exhausting day of final’s later*
James slumped out of his chair as he finished his last final and walked up to the front desk barely having the energy to notice how far or fast he had walked until his hip hit the corner of the desk. When it did he apologized profusely to the proctor who simply gestured toward a small black bin before turning his attention back to the students who were testing. As he laid his test in the basket he felt another hand attempt to do the same. When he looked it was none other than Regulus Black. James managed to get his test in first and looked at him with the same snarky smile Regulus had given him at the start of their testing before whispering to him “Black”. James didn’t think he’d ever seen Regulus that angry.
“Potter” he spat with venom on his tongue and poison in his words.
James turned away, internally celebrating the fact that he had made Regulus even slightly angry. He suddenly had all the energy in the world back after that glorious revelation.
After leaving the classroom the only reasonable thing to do felt like going to his best friend’s cafe. “The Space Oddity Cafe” was a small two story building owned and run by his best friend Sirius.
Sirius was strange. For one he didn’t have a last name, and if he did he never told James. He always said that he would wait til he got married and he would take that person’s last name. James didn’t care much about that at all, and that’s not why he thought Sirius was strange. James thought Sirius was strange for the same reasons he thought he himself was strange. He had crippling anxiety but still managed to put himself up on a pedestal and perform for those who couldn’t perform for themselves. James found Sirius strange because Sirius was just like him, and James never thought that possible.
Walking into Sirius’ cafe he saw everything that made Sirius so incredibly Sirius. To the right was a full CD case of glam rock from the 60s-80s. Over the speakers you could hear ‘Rebel Rebel’ by David Bowie playing and directly in front was the menu and a counter that separated the kitchen from the small dining area. James sauntered directly up to the counter and waited for Sirius to pop up with a blinding smile and a bright “Hello” that would make anybody smile. And when he did James smiled for the first time today after his very stressful finals. Sirius saw him and immediately was ecstatic to see him.
“JAMES” he nearly shouted “How were the finals?” he questioned while making James’ regular drink (a soy macchiato with an extra shot).
“They were finals” James remarked “But that kid in my class tripped me on my way over”
Sirius handed James his coffee before following up with “Ew dude are you serious. This guy sounds like an A one douchebag not gonna lie.”
“Yea he is” James responded taking a sip of his macchiato “Perfect as always” James added while holding his coffee up.
“So wait what happened with the douche-” Sirius was interrupted by the bell of his shop ringing. Normally he would’ve finished up what he was saying then told James to hold on for a minute but this time he stopped mid-sentence and stared. A guy walked in with curls that looked like caramel and eyes like milk chocolate. He walked with long legs and terrible posture in an outfit that made Sirius want to raid his closet. When he got to the counter he looked around like he didn’t have much patience to be kept waiting, and Sirius absolutely understood. He darted across the kitchen to take his order.
“Hi, um what can I get you?” Sirius asked surprised he made it through the question without stuttering
“Just a triple espresso with three sugars please” Remus responded smiling slightly.
“Got it.” The man paid for the drink and almost walked away before Sirius called out “Wait!” the man turned around very confused“I didn’t get a name for the drink” Sirius said meekly.
The man smiled wide and with the smallest amount of teeth almost like he was smiling at Sirius’ antics “Remus” he said back to Sirius
“ok” Sirius remarked and turned to go and make Remus’ drink
“Wait, I didn’t get your name.” Remus said wasting no time
“It’s Sirius” Sirius responded and went to go make the simple drink
“OMG James I think I’m in love” Sirius said the second he got to the espresso machine that James was standing by.
“Yeah and you were real subtle about it too” James quipped
“Oh shut up I just met the love of my life, I wasn’t trying to be subtle” Sirius rolled his eyes as he added the sugars into Remus’ coffee and wrote ‘Remus,’ on the cup followed by his number.
“Yea that’s not desperate at all by the way.” James remarked “Just go up to him and tell him you think he’s really cute.”
Sirius just stared at him and exasperatedly said “Fine” pouring Remus’ drink into another cup and bringing it over to him. Just as Sirius walked away James got a call. He looked at his phone and saw that it was another friend from one of his classes. He picked up the phone and was immediately greeted by the familiar sound of Lily Evans.
“HI JAMES!” Lily screamed into the phone over the music that was blasting in the background
“Hey Lily! What’s up?” James asked her, holding the phone a little farther from his ear in anticipation of her screaming again.
“I went out with Mary and we’re at a party!” Lily had lowered her voice a little and had clearly gotten farther away from the music
“Really?” James was shocked “You’re at a party?”
“Yes! And I tried these things called amaretto sours and they’re soooooooo good. You should come over. I think you’d have fun!”
“Oh Gods” James mumbled “Lily it’s 6:30 in the afternoon and I just had finals. I’m about to go home and rest but you enjoy yourself. But don’t drink too much and make sure that you and Mary stick together ok?”
“Ok fiiiine” Lily responded, sounding annoyed. And hung up the phone.
When James looked up he saw Sirius walking back toward the counter absolutely beaming.
“James. James. James.” Sirius repeated until he got James’ attention.
“We’re going on a date on Thursday!” Sirius exclaimed the smile hurting his jaw “And I got his number” Sirius squealed holding out his phone for James to see.
“Good job Siri” James responded “I’m gonna head home, I’m exhausted.”
“You can stay here if you want, the drive back to your place is kinda far and I have that guest room.” Sirius said, sounding worried.
“Actually that’d be great, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not, just go on up to my flat and make a left toward my bedroom but a right to the room next door and there it is” Sirius advised.
“Thanks Siri” James responded gratefully.
James walked upstairs to the room that Sirius had directed him to slightly stumbling from the exhaustion. Once he got in he got undressed save for his boxers and his white undershirt and got cudlled under the comforter that the guest bed had been dressed with. He almost instantly fell asleep and when he did he was ever so greatful for it.
That felt like the only time James got to sleep before three years had passed him by in an instant and he was standing in between two of his best friends and officiating their wedding.