someone's got a crush
After Remus left and was safely out of earshot, James turned to Sirius.
"You like him!" James exclaimed, louder than necessary. Sirius took a deep breath, wondering how he should play this off.
"Yeah? He's my friend?"
"I didn't mean it like that and you know it, Pads."
"What did you mean then?" Sirius challenged, crossing his arms.
"You like like him!"
"God, what are we, middle schoolers?" Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Well MAYBE if you had just understood the first time-"
"Okay, okay, I get it!" He held up his hands in surrender. "You're right, I think I do like him. Kinda surprised you realized, to be honest. You're usually oblivious to that sort of thing, Jamie-boy."
James slapped the back of his head with the newspaper that was lying on the counter, but before Sirius could slap him back, James's phone dinged.
James dived for it, where it was lying on the couch.
"Who is it, Prongs?"
"Oh. I thought it was Lily. Nah, Remus just posted a photo."
"What? He gave you his account?"
James rolled his eyes. "Jealousy is not a good look on you, Black. And no, I just searched up his name, because honestly, how many Remus John Lupins are there in the world?"
"Wow, okay, smart-ass. Just let me see."
"Okay, okay! No need to be so bitchy." James said, smiling as he handed over the phone.
“Oh. Ahaha. That’s a nice post. Um.”
James raised an eyebrow, but, thankfully, decided not to comment on Sirius’ red face. “Well, anyways. Do you think he’s dating Lily?”
“What?”
“Like, look.” James flashed the screen at Sirius again. “Apparently she was helping him choose the outfit. And she sent him kisses. And he called her princess. And-”
“‘Kay, hold on, calm down Jamie. Say it again, slower.”
“I think Lily’s dating Remus,” he murmured, twiddling his thumbs.
“I honestly doubt that, Prongs. Have you seen the way she looks at you? I’m pretty sure that’s just their dynamic.” Sirius hadn’t noticed Lily looking at James in any particular way other than friendly affection, but James didn’t need to know that. There were times when he needed the truth, and times when he needed comforting.
“Are you sure? What if-”
“James, how about this. You can ask her when we see her tonight at the concert, okay? Or you can ask Remus. If you like, I can even ask them. Or I can text Remus. But I’m sure that they’re just friends.”
“If you say so.. I’ll ask Remus tonight. Thanks, Sirius.”
Sirius smiled. “Now, c’mon, take a photo of me. I want to post something tonight too!”
“Only if you do me after!”
“You didn’t even end up using any of the photos we took just now!” Sirius exclaimed.
“Yeah, because your photography is shit!” James laughed.
“Idiot," Sirius scowled. "You didn’t even choose one where it’s dark outside, they’ll be able to tell. And you’re not even wearing the same thing right now!”
“Honestly, who gives a fuck?”
“Well, that is true.”
James smiled (for what felt like the thousandth time that day, to be honest) as he took a sip of his coffee.
“Anyways, did you notice who commented on your post??”
“I did, actually, seeing as I replied.”
“Oh, fuck off , James. That’s not what I meant. Why didn’t he comment on mine? Does he have mine? Maybe I should follow him... So he knows who I am, right?”
“Well, you could do that. Or you could be a normal person and like, not stalk your crush?”
“Normal is boring, Jamie. You should know that by now.” Sirius reached up to pat James’s head before going over to open the fridge. It was donut time.
James rolled his eyes. “Whatever. By the way, if Remus says he’s not dating Lily, do you think I should ask her out tonight?”
Sirius turned to look at him so fast his neck started to hurt. “Yes. Yes, do it! One hundred percent.” James had been attempting to work up the confidence to ask her for almost a year. “Do it right now, in fact!”
James snorted. “I don’t even know if she does have a boyfriend.”
“Then ask Remus. Here, take his number from my phone.” Sirius walked back over to James to thrust his phone into his hand. “Password’s my birthday. Go on, what are you waiting for?”
James looked up nervously. “What if, you know, she says no?”
“Then you respect her wishes. But I doubt she’ll say no, Jamie.”
Sirius did doubt she’d say no. She always agrees to first dates. And he really does think that they’d make a good match.
“If you’re sure.”
“Yes! Flowerpott is FINALLY happening!” Sirius pumped his fist into the air, eliciting a small laugh from James.
“Okay… I’ll text Remus.”
Sirius leaned over to look.
[CHAT WITH “James” AND “Remus”]
[“James” changed their name to “jimbo”]
[“jimbo” changed “Remus” to “rem”]
[“jimbo” changed the group name to “two idiots take over the world”]
jimbo: hey remus!! this is james potter. from the marauders. yea u know who i am. uh so hi. this is rlly awkward tbh. but uh. i was wondering if u were dating lily. yeah i said it. ok bye.
“That’s… really bad. But oh well?” Sirius said as he watched James send it.
“Now what do we do?”
“Wait.”
About two minutes later, a new message came in from Remus.
rem: hey james! no i’m not dating her, she’s single :)
rem: does someone have a cruuuuushhhh?
jimbo: uh yea im planning on asking her out today
rem: best of luck :)
jimbo: thanks remrem😘
jimbo: do u have any nicknames btw
jimbo: bc we all habe one and u dont
rem: lils used to call me moony
rem: don’t ask why
rem: it’s a long and embarrassing story
[“jimbo” changed “rem” to “moony”]
[“jimbo” changed their name to “prongs”]
prongs: what, did u like moon someone
moony: …
prongs: omg u did!! i was joking btw but u actually did!! omg
moony: whaat,,, no i didn’t,,,
prongs: gtg tell sirius!!!
moony: shit
moony: fuck u prongs!!
James, obviously, did not need to go tell Sirius, because he was sitting right there reading over his shoulder. Silently laughing.
“D’ya think that’s true?” Sirius asks.
“Well it must be, he was denying it. Why would you deny something that’s a lie?”
“That’s so funny! Beats ‘Prongs’ anyday.”
“Hey! Prongs is OG, okay?”
“Whatever you say. Anyways, I’m going to change his name in OUR chat to Moony too. That’s hilarious.”
[two gays sitting in a tree..]
[“padfoot” changed “remus” to “moony”]
moony: yk that story’s not true right?
padfoot: uh huh sure
moony: its acc not, i got the nick moony since i liked looking at the moon thru telescopes in elementary school
moony: and i have a moon tattoo on my middle finger
moony: i was just taking the piss when i said that LMAO
padfoot: well now i feel dumb
moony: aw how sad gonna cry?
padfoot: STFU
moony: no❤️
padfoot: i hate u
moony: you love me
padfoot: HWFIUYAENF
padfoot: sorry phone glitched
padfoot: ignore that
moony: sus
padfoot: you said you have a moon tattoo? let me see
moony: changing the subject 🤨
moony:
padfoot: thats
padfoot: that’s your hand?
moony: yeah?
padfoot: cool
padfoot: cool cool
padfoot: so uh
padfoot: give me a second
moony: okay? lol
“AHHHHHHHhhhhhh,”
“You good?!” James called into the room. Sirius had retreated into his bedroom at some point during his and Remus’s conversation.
“No! Look at this!”
James came bounding into the room. “What?”
He flashed the phone at James. “Look!”
James takes a moment to look at the photo. “So?”
“Nothing really. Just wanted to be dramatic,” he shrugged.
“Ugh, you’re an idiot. Get in the car, it’s time to leave.”
“What, already? It’s only, like, eight.”
“Yeah, but we have to get all the stuff set up. You know, instruments and lighting and stuff.”
“Okay, okay, fine. Let’s go.”
“This is going to be so fun!” James said and basically skipped out of the room with excitement.
Fun indeed.