I needed the confidence
Marlene’s phone started ringing and she jolted up at the sudden noise, only to hit her head on the table she was underneath.
She groaned and grabbed her phone, "hello."
"Mckinnon! What are you up to?"" James' voice came through.
"putting together a table. Which I just hit my head on."
"Ouch. You nearly finished?" He asked.
"Almost. But I think she wanted me to fix the slats on her bed as well."
James snorted, "Sounds like she's suggesting something. Is she hot?"
Marlene groaned, "gross. She's like 80."
"Anyway", he elongated the last letter, "We're having a small party tonight."
"Nice. Any reason why?"
"Andy and Ted are babysitting Hari for the whole weekend so it's the first time in ages that we can all get drunk."
"I'll be there. What time?" Marlene asked.
"We told the others to come at half seven, but if you want we can pick you up from wherever you're working now and you can help set up."
Marlene agreed, "Sure. Beats getting the bus."
"Alright. Message me the address when you finish. We'll probably be at the park."
James hung up and Marlene finished putting together the table.
She went outside to the woman's back garden to tell her she was finished with the table.
The woman asked her if she had time to help with the broken slats, and Marlene agreed to fix them.
When she was nearly finished, she texted James the address.
"All done", she said as she walked down the stairs, "good as new."
"You're a gem, lovely." The lady said as she handed the cash to Marlene.
Marlene thanked her and headed out, spotting James' head halfway out the window of their car as they reached the street.
Marlene walked over to them as they came to a stop.
James opened the door for her after pulling his head back in the car.
"How are you, Marlene?" Lily said from the driver's seat.
"£75 richer", Marlene grinned.
"Sirius said he gets like £40 for that kind of work", James questioned, "did you end up sleeping with her?"
Marlene snorted, "God no. Sirius just gets the wrong kinda customers. It's the rich old ladies who pay you so much more."
Regulus smiled, "Sirius probably just refuses to accept more than the agreed amount of money."
Marlene waved her hand dismissively, "Well he's got Alphard's wealth to live off."
Lily raised her eyebrow, "Marlene. You're family are very well-off "
"Semantics. So, who'd you invite to the party?" Marlene asked.
Regulus glanced at Lily in the driving seat, who in turn looked at James through the mirror. James groaned at having to answer.
"You know, the usual people. No one else."
Marlene leaned her head on her hand and stared at the three of them, "What's going on?"
"We may have invited someone else", Regulus smirked.
"Who?"
"Dorcas", Lily answered, with a smile.
Marlene gaped, "What? How'd you even know them?"
James grinned, "We're very good friends. We meet up at least once a week. Remus has been going to that bookshop for years, of course we've met and become friends with Dorcas."
"Why didn't you tell me? Oh god, I'm covered in sweat and smell like old ladies!"
Lily rolled her eyes, "You're coming hours before everyone else, you can have a shower and change at our house."
Marlene nodded, "alright. Okay. I can do this."
"That's it Mckinnon. You can do this." James chanted.
♡♡♡
Dorcas got out of the car with Mary and Emmeline when Peter and Sirius came over.
Both of them were grinning like maniacs, Remus smoking against the wall behind them.
"Come on in, Meadowes. We've got a surprise for you", Sirius winked.
Dorcas glanced at them in confusion as they opened the door and went inside.
They walked over to the lounge, James was there with a cup of cider in his hand and trying to get either of his partners to dance with him.
Once he spotted the group, he bounded over and grabbed Sirius' hand. The two of them started dancing together.
Dorcas went into the kitchen to grab a drink, and ran into Marlene. She was sitting on the counter doing shots by herself and chanting "you can do this."
Once she downed the last shot, she spotted Dorcas in the doorway and fell off the counter.
"You alright?" Dorcas laughed.
Marlene pouted, "laughing at my pain."
Dorcas went over to help her stand up, she wobbled slightly.
"Oh, you're drunk", Dorcas chimed.
Marlene pointed at Dorcas sternly, "I needed the confidence."
"What for?"
Marlene huffed, "like you don't know."
Dorcas laughed, "I really don't."
Marlene kept quiet, just staring at Dorcas. While Dorcas stared back until Marlene opened her mouth again.
"I really want a muffin." she pouted.
Dorcas smiled, "I actually, uh. I heard you were coming here so after work I went to the cafe. I got you one."
They looked in their bag and passed them a small box, Marlene gasped and opened it to see a blueberry muffin inside.
"This is the greatest gift of my entire life."
Sirius had strolled into the kitchen at that moment and huffed at Marlene.
"I got you Kate Mckinnon's signature!"
Marlene turned to them, "you also got to meet her! She's my role model and yet you're the one to meet her!"
Sirius rolled their eyes, "not my fault. Now come back into the lounge and stop flirting."
"We're not flirting!" they both yelled.
Sirius just grabbed a drink, grinning, and left the room.
Marlene glanced over to Dorcas, staring at the bottle in their hand.
"Sirius says that to everyone, by the way."
Dorcas looked over, "Yeah. I know them as well."
Marlene nodded, "right".
Marlene walked out the kitchen, leaving Dorcas alone.
God, this was awkward. Marlene groaned as she sat down next to Lily, taking a gulp of their drink.
Dorcas leant against the counter, putting their bottle down and holding their head in their hands. Marlene was hot. Even more than usual, wearing skinny black jeans and a cropped bowie t-shirt. It was undoubtedly Sirius' clothes, Dorcas wondered why Marlene was wearing his stuff.
But Marlene had also decided to use Sirius' eyeliner, and put red glitter on her cheeks. It looked incredible on her.
Dorcas grabbed her drink and downed half of it. God, this was going to be so awkward.