Chapter 5
“what the fuck.” muttered regulus as he stared back at a now blank phone screen, immensely confused
james potter would never fail to confuse him.
———
“oh no. oh, no, no, no.” James chanted at his phone, eyes wide and breathing heavy. Without much of a second thought, the boy got up to run into the living room, slightly slipping on his fish patterned socks as he did. With a shocked expression he met his friends, all playing an intense game of uno with The Hunger Games playing in the background.
“Guys.” James breathed, panic completely set in by now.
“NO. Moony, plus four? I thought you loved me?” Sirius sputtered in betrayal.
“I'll make it up to you, I always do.” Remus responded with a wink, earning a grimace from Peter.
“GUYS.” James yelled, practically vibrating on the spot. All three of his friends looked over now, taking in their usually happy and calm best friend, who currently looked like he might cry.
“Uh, prongs? You alright?” Peter asked first, as Remus and Sirius exchanged worried glances.
“He’s- hes hot. He's SO hot. I called him- I CALLED him HOT.” James yelled dramatically, waiting for a response from his best friends.
“Alright, Prongs, get in!” Peter spoke up after a short silence.
“Pete, by the look on his face, I'm thinking that calling this boy hot wasn’t the correct move.” Remus told him softly, tapping on Pete's hand with a parental expression.
“Well, what did he say in response? Maybe he thinks you’re fit too," Sirius asked, clearly trying to hold in her dramatics for James’ well-being. James immediately grimaced and brought his hands to his face, trying to block how embarrassing he was from his mind.
“Uhm,” He started slowly, “I hung up, like, directly after calling him hot.” James mumbled through his hands. Eventually he brought them away from his face to look at his much too silent friends, only to find Sirius red and shaking with silent laughter, Remus looking embarrassed for James, and Pete with his mouth in the shape of a circle.
James sat down beside them and immediately started to whine about their lack of help, and Sirius reassured him that at least there was nothing that he could do to make it any worse than it already was.
10:54 am
barty.
yes, my sugarplum princess baby?
oh my god can you please let me have a normal conversation with you?
oh, well of course sweet angel
fuck you.
would you describe me as “hot”
yes, smash.
what
smash
?
i'd smash
so, you think i'm hot?
i dont think youre hot, i know that you're hot. its a fact, not an opinion
so if someone called me hot it doesn't necessarily mean that they are into me?
regulus everyone is into you
WAIT WHO CALLED UPU HOT??
thanks, bye.
12:34 pm
i cant believe that you're making me text you first.
1:06 pm
james
look you're really damaging my pride here, so it would be great if you would respond.
3:54 pm
okay point taken.
2 Days Later
James' friends were concerned, to say the least. The roommates had decided to have a get together with their friends that night, seeing as James had been eerily quiet and anxious over the past couple of days. They had tried to make him feel better in every way that they could think, making food with him, watching his favourite disgusting rom coms with him, they'd even built a blanket fort for the roommates to snuggle up in together last night, but nothing really helped. James shimmer was dulled, and they knew that it had to be more than just a bit of embarrassment in front of his psych partner.
So, after all of their high school friends worked together to make a completely homemade meal, they got to drinking. James was especially keen on blue raspberry flavoured shots, after a few glances at his phone. When he was really beginning to sway, James picked up his phone and began to type.
11:47 pm
Hey
I’m realy sorry about that call nd everything
And for not respoding
1:25 am
Reguus im honestly so sorry
I wasd embatrrassed
By almost two in the morning, the group was properly gone. Marlene had been rolling some seriously fucked up looking joints for the group as Lily and Mary finished off a concerningly large bottle of vodka, with Pete scrolling through tinder to call someone over, and Remus and Sirius in the kitchen, not completely sure if they were flirting or fighting.
James was sat on the floor with his brown eyes closed and hands shaking around his phone like they had been all night. When it vibrated, he jumped to open the text, which didn't go unnoticed by his friends. Lily tilted her buzzing head at him, waiting to see what expression he would make towards the texter.
To her surprise, James' expression dropped only a minute later. He swiftly placed his phone on the ground, and got to his feet with some difficulty. When she saw his face again, tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
1:49 am
i didn't know that you were capable of feeling embarrassment.
Im sorry
its whatever
not like i care if you text me or not anyway
Oh
“Well , you're going to have to tell me exactly what you want.” Remus mumbled in a hushed tone as he held Sirius up by the thighs.
“Why?” Sirius asked with false annoyance, one arm wrapped around their boyfriend's shoulders, the other tracing a scar on Remus’ exposed collarbone.
“How else will I know?” Remus asked with a smirk and a glint in his eyes.
“You're just trying to fluster me,” Sirius smiled at him dangerously, “but I'm not easily embarrassed.” she whispered into Remus’ ear, alcohol prominent on his gentle breath.
At the sound of feet shuffling into the kitchen, Sirius quickly pulled away, immediately turning tomato red. He jumped down from their boyfriend's arms swiftly, and turned to face the intruder.
Remus was still smirking down at his girlfriend, “Not easily embarrassed, my ass.” He chuckled, but quickly looked up when he realised that his boyfriend was looking at whoever had entered with worry.
James had come into the kitchen with tears streaming down his cheeks and a truly pitiful expression on his face.
Sirius jumped into action the moment he could understand what he was seeing, immediately engulfing their best friend into a warm embrace and mumbling soft words and careful questions. Remus jumped to action quickly following Sirius, giving his girlfriend a nod towards the living room before leaving to ask if anybody knew what had happened. Lily turned and picked up james’ phone, explaining what she had seen and handing it to Remus, who thanked her and made his way back to the kitchen.
As Sirius held his best friend, Remus gave her a rundown of what Lily had said. Softly, Sirius encouraged James to look at him so that they could understand from James what had happened on his phone.
“What happened, Prongs? Did something happen to mum or dad?” Sirius asked carefully, worry beginning to eat her away. Quickly, James shook his head, eyes widening.
“No, it's- just open it.” James sighed in defeat, his tears slowing as Sirius let go of him with one arm.
Remus handed Sirius the phone, wanting to gather more information as quickly as possible. However, when Sirius opened James' phone and scrolled through the messages, Remus only grew more confused. He watched his girlfriend’s expression flicker between neutral and anger, and when his eyes flicked up at the name of the contact, their face changed to that of shock.
“Alright,” Sirius assessed the situation, looking up at James and patting his cheek softly.
“Okay, Prongs, it's going to be okay. I am going to go somewhere really quick, I'll be back soon, but youre okay.” Sirius spoke softly, suddenly very sober. Remus opened his mouth to ask them where they were going, but Sirius turned back to James before he could.
“Prongs?” Sirius asked as he shrugged on his jacket.
“Yeah?”
“You really like him, then?” Sirius asked with caring eyes. James paused for a moment before nodding. Sirius squeezed his hand and nodded back, before letting go and facing remus.
“I will be right back and I'll explain everything, okay, love?” Sirius mumbled to Remus, pressing a kiss to his lips.
“Where are you going?” Remus asked with concern laced in his voice, a hand holding onto his partner's waist.
“Slytherin Hall, just down the block.” Sirius explained briefly, looking at Remus to reassure him.
“Where your sister lives?” Remus asked, trying to keep Sirius from going just yet.
“Where my brother lives.” He responded quickly, leaving the house without another word.