miscommunication and models

Lily Evans hadn't been on many dates. In secondary school, it just didn't interest her, at least not with any of the guys she had met during her one co-ed class. The only time she had really been on multiple dates was when she had started dating her roommate Alice, but there isn't much two sixteen-year-olds in the middle of nowhere can do. Their dates consisted of library trips, picnics, and the rare midnight swim in the giant lake near the boy's campus (which almost always consisted of the girls walking the half hour back to their dorm freezing cold.). In her recent years, she had spent more time working on her career than she did dating, and now with her growing fame it was just generally hard to find someone she had a genuine connection with- and then she met James Potter.

He was a bit weird, in an endearing ‘god I just want to bite him ’ sort of way. From the way he ran his fingers through his hair until it was in even more disarray, or how he would speak so fast she could barely understand him sometimes, he had made his way into her heart- or at least he was close to. 

It wasn't like she had no clue who James Potter was- she had seen them all online. It also helped that word traveled fast at boarding school, and though she didn't have a clue who this mysterious ‘Prongs’ prankster was, she had been able to put two-and-two together after a few years when the boys would slip up during interviews and call each other their nicknames. She had admitted long ago that James Potter was handsome, if a bit too cocky for her taste, but never had she thought he would trip over himself just to get her to give him a chance.

I mean come on, it was James fucking Potter!

No Lily Evans had not been on many dates, so now she was panicking because ‘oh my fucking god what do you even wear to go on a date with someone like him?’. In all her scrambling she laughed a bit to herself, thinking of how eerily similar this was to a book she had read long ago.

Who would've thought?

James Fucking Potter.

*

Mary was going to quit. She wasn't sure how much she could take of this personal hell. 

‘Fashion designer, millionaire, proud cat owner, quitter..’ she mentally listed off to herself, all the things she was, and she quite hated the last one. Quitter. She had never been one but god she was so close .

After the little comment Emmeline made she seemed to think she and Mary were now just the best of friends, it was driving her nuts. Just the little things here in there.

‘Hey Macdonald, care if I borrow some tape?’

“Hey Macdonald, what do you think if we changed the whole.. pink situation.’

“Hey Mary, want to grab lunch? Me and Izzy were going too.” Emmeline was in the doorway, her bag in hand, grinning.

Ok so maybe it was a bit dramatic, but didn't she remember what she did? How could she just.. talk to mary like this!

“Don't call me that.”

“Don't call you.. your name?” Emmeline just grinned wider, running her spare hand down her green blouse. 

“Friends call each other by first names, acquaintances don't.” Mary rolled her eyes, pushing her chair closer to the sketch she was working on, pointedly not looking at Emmeline.

“Acquaintances also don't know what you taste like but here we are.”

“You- fucking hell. Don't just- how do you-.” Mary's head snapped up to find Emmeline staring at her with a gleam in her eye. Mary threw up her hands as she groaned, shooting a death glare at Emmeline. 

“How do I what? I mean you can't just forget we were friends Mary.”

“Seems like you have.”

“What that meant to mean?”

“Nothing- fuck off to Izzy. I don't want to eat with you.”

Mary looked back to her sketch, her hand holding her pencil much tighter. She heard Vance sigh and mumbled something like ‘suit yourself’ and walk away, the click of her heels on the floor was all Mary could hear for a long while.

When it was finally silent she let herself slouch in her chair.

She really really wanted to quit.

*

“Meadows! Dorcas!”

Dorcas had just gotten out of her dressing room when she heard the call of her name, she barely had time to look up before a pair of arms wrapped around her, and the smell of roses filled her sense.

Marlene!

“Hey there,” She could feel a smile form on her face, and she had no intent on fighting it as she wrapped her arms around Marlene's neck, “not that I'm not loving this hug, is there any special reason or did you just miss me?”

“Always miss you,” Marlene mumbled into her hair, she pulled back a bit to look Dorcas in the eyes, “I have a super amazing secret, I can't tell you all of it but it is just.. soo good.”

Dorcas could only laugh at Marlene's elated expression, “Are you high?”.

“No, course not. I’m just really really fucking happy right now.” 

They just stood there for a few moments. Dorcas’ arms wrapped loosely around Marlene's neck as she played with her hair, and Marlene’s hanging firmly to her waist, a stupid grin on both of their faces.

Dorcas was tempted to just pretend to be sick so they could leave the studio, and go to her apartment. Say fuck it to the three hours in hair and makeup, Mary wouldn't mind if Dorcas told her how Marlene had looked, and how she was looking at her.

“You know I think I’ll just go into my dressing room for a few minutes,” Dorcas said, raising her eyebrows at Marlene.

“Oh?”

“Mhm.” Dorcas hummed, her hand brushing the back of Marlene's neck, “and I think I’ll change into my next costume.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Her hand stopped its movements in Marlene's hair, “and I might just forget to lock the door.”

“That's a real oversight on your part, Meadows. Anyone could walk in.”

“Truly, how foolish of me.” She let her hand tug at Marlene's hair as she untangled herself, letting herself grin as she walked the three steps back to her dressing room.

Conveniently, she left the door unlocked.

*

James was having a pretty good day.

Sure it had its downs where he and his best friends had a tiny mental breakdown in the car, and then he had to wait an extra thirty minutes to start driving to his date because he was scared he might cry, but other than that it had been going great!

He had picked Lily up, hugged her, opened the door like a gentleman, and drove her to the closest amusement park. 

He had thought a lot about where he should take Lily, he so badly wanted to make a good impression. I mean he was so sure about her, and though he knew he had the habit of falling in love too easily he felt like he could really imagine a life with Lily, and how better to show her that he would be perfect for her other than a perfect first date. 

Ok so his plan did have its faults, they both had to wear sunglasses, and James had on a beanie, they also had to have extra security at all times.. but it was an amusement park! You cant not have fun at amusement parks!

It was all a bit awkward at first, their disguises hadn't been very good and they had been noticed a few times James could only hope they waited until later to post the ‘discreet’ photos they had taken. As the two of them got more comfortable with each other, it was a lot easier to continue the date, I mean its a bit hard not to get comfortable with someone as you sit on a rickety death machine and scream in their ear.

Not that James had screamed in her ear.

Not a lot anyways.

After the whole screaming like the mature unafraid adult he was, they had taken a break from the rides to play a few games of which James was determined to win and get Lily a gift. 

After spending a small fortune and bruising his ego, James accepted his defeat. Mostly.

“I swear it's rigged, I’ve never been able to beat these.” He had his arm around Lily’s shoulder as she fake-pouted and patted his back.

“You poor thing. It probably is rigged, yes that's it,” she said, a grin threatening to break her faux-sympathetic expression.

“Mhm.. Here you try it.” He smiled at her then, “if anyone can win it’ll be you.”

“You're just saying that because you think I'm pretty.” Lily rolled her eyes at him, as she paid for another turn at the bottle rings.

“Nope, I have the utmost faith in you. But I do think you're very pretty.” James was behind her as she grabbed the hoops, hugging her waist. 

“Your gonna make me drop them, y’know.”

“Ok ok, good luck.” He winked at her as he stood to stand next to her, just off to the side.

Lily had five hoops, and only three had to make it for her to win a prize, and now she was determined. She threw the first one, cringing when it flew straight over the bottles, James threw her a few words of encouragement after the loss. She threw the second one, which just bounced off the bottle, making her heart drop in premature glee. 

“Damn it!”

“Your doing good, that one was really close!”

She narrowed her eyes as she grabbed her third hoop, staring intently at the bottles, and carefully she threw the hoop soaring into the air for a moment before wrapping itself around the neck of a bottle, a small ping as the plastic hit the glass. Both she and James shouted in glee, high-fiving as she quickly turned for her fourth hoop, which too hooked around a glass bottle. Lily grabbed the last ring, hoping her adrenaline from the last two wins would help her make the toss. She held her breath, closing her eyes as she threw it, and when she heard the sound of plastic on glass and James' excited shout she knew it.

Oh fuck yeah! Lily Evans won!

She and James were quick to hug, he picked her off the ground for a moment. It was a blur as he excitedly drummed on her back while she picked out an oversized stuffed rose. Proudly showing it off when James got his phone out to take a photo.

He took her hand as they walked and Lily confidently shoved the flower into his arms, “Had to win you something, right? It's a cliche.”

James had blushed beautifully.

*

(marlene) padfoot!

(sirius) excuse me?

(marlene) what?

(marlene) thats what remus calls you

(marlene) your code names.

(marlene) for pranks?

(marlene) i think

(marlene) i stopped listening half way through, I mean how was i meant to with a name like fucking wormtail

(sirius) marlene

(sirius) are you drunk

(marlene) god i wish

(marlene) but no

(marlene) cant drink during game season, which sucks

(marlene) but not really cause im not a big fan of it

(marlene) ok im rambling

(marlene) lets go out!

(sirius) marlene i thought you were a lesbian

(sirius) also is this like pokemon or something

(sirius) gotta catch them all; marauders edition

(marlene) your funny

(marlene) and you're not very sly

(marlene) your not too fond of me are ya

(sirius) i hardly know you

(marlene) so lets change that

(marlene) because i know lots about you 

(sirius) how

(marlene) remus obviously

(sirius) he talks about me?

(marlene) its about all he talks about actually

(marlene) sirius. you know most people respond after 15 mins

(marlene) i mean surely you know he mentioned you

(sirius) well 

(sirius) it didnt

(sirius) cross my mind

(marlene) well if you come over

(marlene) ill tell you all about what he says

(marlene) ill even give you a makeover?

(sirius) fine.

(sirius) whats your address?

*

“Wait so are you and Dorcas dating now or-” 

Marlene was more than glad that Sirius had agreed to come over. They had had a few conversations over the months, most ending quickly with a convenient excuse from Sirius. It had taken her a while to realize that he had been jealous, but when she had realized it she had to admit it was fucking hilarous- and something she just had to remedy. 

And the perfect solution? Telling her friend's (not) boyfriend all about what he had said about Sirius.

Honestly, how was this crush a secret? 

“Look up.” She ordered an eyeliner pencil in her hand. “I honestly don't know, like- we’re going out but I don't know if we’re girlfriends. Am I meant to ask or is that like too assuming- Sirius stop laughing I’m going to poke your eye out. Maybe not accidentally.”.

“I’m sorry but this is absurd-” Sirius mumbled, as Marlene carefully lines his waterline, “I never thought I would have Marlene McKinnon doing my makeup in her bathroom.”

“Consider yourself lucky. Ugh, you have such nice eyes. Remus won't let me do eyeliner, he only ever lets me do eyeshadow.”

“You’ve done his makeup?”

“Yeah, paparazzi followed us here a few times, so we killed time.” She grinned as she finished, putting the top on the eyeliner and grabbing Sirius’ chin to admire her work. “I am a god, maybe I should take Mary’s job I would be great at it.”

“Can you make clothes?”.

“Theoretically yes.”.

“I don't think you can take Mary’s job.”.

Marlene just shrugged, stepping away from the counter Sirius was sitting on, and rummaging through her makeup bag. 

“I didn't know you knew Mary.”

“Met her at the shoot, a few months back. Dorcas and her are pretty close so I see her when I go visit on set- oh you should come one day. Its funny, Marys having a bit of a feud.”.

“Oh shit,” a grin spread across his face, “with who?”

“Another Fashion designer, Emme… Emmeline! Vance.” Marlene looked proud of herself, “Quite well known I heard, but I’ve never been into that scene.”

Sirius’ face went a bit weird at the mention of Emme, but Marlene honestly couldn't care to ask, the new mention of Mary’s work had reminded her of the visit to set just earlier that morning. A phantom feeling of hands in her hair distracted her.

“Wait you think Mary would come over?” Sirius asked, “She's always one for makeovers.”

“Wait- yes! I’ll call her, she can help me curl your hair.”

*

Marlene McKinnon was no longer allowed to touch Sirius Black’s hair.

Marlene McKinnon had accidentally burned it off.

And then laughed. 

*

Emmeline was close to quitting. She had tried to be the bigger person, she had tried to be civil! Ok so maybe she made a comment right to Mary's face, but that was one time! And seeing Mary again looking so.. unbothered had left the old wound feeling fresh again. 

Every day it was the same thing. Emmeline would go to work, she would try and be polite and kind to Mary and Mary would blow her off.

It was like she didn't even remember what she did to Emmeline, how badly she had hurt her. Or maybe she just didn't care. Neither thought helped the sick feeling of dread Emmeline had as she walked into work.

She smiled at those she knew as she walked through the large soundstage, making her way to the small room dedicated to those in the costume department. She waved to Dorcas and Marlene who were by lingering outside of the makeup room, she had noticed Marlene coming by more often and reminded herself to ask about it. 

“Wait a sec.” Emmeline stopped in her tracks, taking a few steps backward to look Dorcas up and down. “What are you wearing?”

It definitely wasn't the outfit Emmeline had made. The one she had spent three sleepless nights on, the one she had been specifically asked to make for the Gala scene, which was one of the highlights of the movie. 

“A dress?” Dorcas looked a bit dazed, as she looked away from Marlene who was looking a bit pink- Emmeline ignored it because why the fuck isn't she wearing the dress?!

“That's not the dress you're meant to wear, where is the red one? I set it out yesterday.”

“I really don't know, this is just what Mary told me to wear.”

“For fucks sake.” Emmeline checked her watch, she had come in late, and they had only forty minutes until the scene was to be shot and everything was wrong. Dorcas was in a gold shimmery dress, it hugged her tightly and while it was beautiful it was completely wrong! Emmeline's dress was a red velvet dress, with a slit in the leg and a plunging neckline, the sleeves hanging off the shoulders. Along with the wrong dress, her hair had been pulled into a sleek ponytail instead of the original braided hairstyle they had all agreed on, and her makeup was gold and smoky, and Emmeline was sure they would never have enough time to redo the makeup to make the red dress. She was pissed, if Mary had changed Dorcas’ outfit did that mean she also changed Davids? Was he no longer wearing the matching tux Emmeline had made?

She could feel her face turning a bit red from anger, and she quickly turned walking quickly down the hall. She could hear Marlene and Dorcas’ following behind her.

“Are you serious?!” Emmeline asked as soon as she had seen Mary, she was sitting with a bored expression, playing with a curl, evidently waiting for Emmeline (the small self-satisfied smirk on her face confirmed the fact.).

“About what?”

“I can't believe you- you are such a child honestly! This fucked everything up.”

“Hardly, you can't deny she looks great- and David matches her.” Mary didn't even look at Emmeline, instead looking at her nails.

“Your- you are-” Emmeline hardly had the words, she was just angry and hurt, in almost the same way she was all those years ago. And Now here she was again! Mary stabbing her in the back, for the second time. “You are so selfish! I mean god, do you know how long I worked on those outfits?”

“Please, we both here know whos really at fault.”

“Oh my god, grow up.”

“Says you!”

“You know what? I have tried so hard to be nice to you, and I’ve forgiven you Mary-”

“ Forgiven me ?! What did I ever do to you?”

“Dont act like you don't remember!”

“ You stabbed me in the back!”

“Only after you stabbed me in mine!” Emmeline yelled back.

The two continued their argument until eventually it was time to roll and Mary stormed out, and this time Emmeline let her.

She refused to make the same mistake she did last time.

*

*

(marlene) hey dorcas

(dorcas) hey marls!!

(dorcas) are you coming to the dressing room? emme and mary have had their spat, so i think they are done for now

(marlene) yeah im omw rn

(marlene) i just had a quick question

(dorcas) yeah, whats up? :)

(marlene) so

(marlene) you do know im on your personal twitter right?

(dorcas) hm?

(dorcas) my

(dorcas) @dorcasmeadows?

(dorcas) that one?

(marlene) no love the other one

(dorcas) oh

(dorcas) oh shit.

(marlene) yeah, I can unfollow if you want?

(dorcas) no no i mean no its ok.

(dorcas) i really didnt want to do it like this

(dorcas) but i also dont know if I can wait

(dorcas) can you call me please?

*

In the end, Marlene didnt even give Dorcas the chance to ask her to be her girlfriend, answering the phone with a simple ‘yes.’.

And that was it.

Dorcas was sure she was falling in love, very quickly.

And for the first time ever, she wasn't afraid.

*