Marlene looked from her GPS from her phone to the bar in front of her, cursing under her breath as she walked to the front door. It was a causal hipster like joint where the cocktails were fifteen dollars and imported beers. She scanned the room and found the smiling red head at the bar, stirring some drink with a small straw.
“Lily?” Marelne asked.
The girl smiled as Marlene jumped on the stool next to her, the entire place was cozy, small couched and arm chairs with lights strung around.
“First time here?” Lily asked.
Marelne nodded, “just moved back into town, been in Antartica for the lat three years studying earthquakes, glad to be back in the warmth.” “Calling London warm is a bold choice this time of year,”
Lily giggled, “glad to be home?”
“Im actually from Dunefemile, but my brother lives here now.”
“How do you know James?” Lily asked. “He plays d and d with my brother, and you?”
“We went to uni together.” Lily said taking a sip from her drink, as the bartender placed a pint in front of Marelene.
“Enought about other people.” Marelne smirked, “tell me yourself.”
By the time the bar was closing, the two girls stood on the sidewalk waiting for the car to pick up Lily, “you live in the area?” Lily asked.
Marelne hesitated before answering, “I usually don't ask this, but my flat is around the corner, do you want to come over for a nightcap?”
The smile on Lilies face flickered, “I’d love too, but I have an early morning, but you have my number, I’d really like to see you again.”
“No worries,” Marlene smiled opening the door to the car, “have a great night!”
&
Couple day later, Marelne walked up the six floor walkup in an old apartment building. She knocked on the door before Danny opened the door, “Marly!” He exclaimed ushering her into the flat.
“Have you been avoiding Ma’s call?” Marelne asked.
“Ummm no.” Danny said sheepishly.
Marlene chuckled handing over a spare pair of key, “here, I bestow you the honors.”
He takes the key from his sister, “thanks Marley, I just put the kettle on, care for a cuppa?”
“I’d love one.”
Marlene sat down on the couch, noticing the past due bill on the phone table, “Danny!” She calls out as he comes back with two mix match mugs of tea. She gestured to the letter, “if you need some help, I can-“
“Marelene,” Danny sighs, “please don’t worry about me, I am fine.”
“Fine, but I am your sister.”
“tell me about your date, how do you like Lily?” Danny interupts desprete to change the topic.
Marlene signed into her tea mug, “she was nice, but a little closed off and doesn’t talk a lot, I tried to get to know her but she does not talk all that much.”
“she’s shy, are you going to call her?” Danny asked, taking a sip of his tea.
“I really want to, but I am not sure if she’s really interested in seeing me again. Please don’t tell anyone, I know she’s your friend.”
Danny nodded, “do you want to come for game night on Friday, like old times?”
“I’m going to be out of town, Dorco is guest lecturing at Oxford.”
“Well give her my love.”
&
“Why wouldn’t she call?” Lily whined, “I’ve been sitting by the phone forever and she havant called!”
James looked at his friend, “Why don’t you call her?”
“I dont have her number.”
The door to the flat opened and Danny came in, still in his suit from work. “oh hey Lily.”
“Danny!” Lily smiled, “Did Marelne say anything about me?”
“oh, I am not getting involved,” he murmured putting his briefcase down, “this is all James’ doing.”
“why hasn’t she called?”
“Lily-“
“Please Danny,” Lily whined.
“She's out of town visiting an old friend from Uni, she’ll be back by Sunday.”
“visiting who?” James asked.
“Dorcas Meadows,” Danny said, “I’m going to regret telling you this… but Lily she had a good time.”
“And?”
“Lily. Please. She is my sister, I don’t want to get involved.”
“Danny please?” Lily pouted.
“James? help?” James threw up his hands in a surrendering pose, “I’m not throwing my hat in that ring. Lils, she going to call. Now would help me set up.”
&
During the night, the group sat around the cramped coffee table with assortment of cards, Lily being distracted by checking her phone every couple of seconds.
“Lily,” Mary interrupted the game, “you’re acting like a teenager.”
“I feel like a teenager again, she was so hot and cool and smart. She’s a freaking doctor!”
“She’s also my sister…” Danny interrupted.
Just then the phone buzzes on the table, and everyone turns to the phone, Lily slowly picks it up.
She looks at the small screen her eyes opening wide as she reads and rereads the small message bubble. “It's her.” She gasped, grabbing the arm of Regulus next to her, “she texted me.” \
“what did she say?” Regulus asked.
“‘Hey babe, sorry its been a while I’ve been out of town but I was hoping next week we can get another drink?’” Everyone looks at Lily excited for her, another small buzz filled the quiet room, “‘This is Marelne by the way.’”
“what do I say?” She asked, letting go of her breath.
“Say yes,” Mary screams.
“Play it cool!” Regulas tells her.
“Tell her toy need to check your calendar,” James offers.
They all look too Danny, “she’s my sisters.” He told the group.
“Ok,” Lily said unlocking the phone, “oh shit I read the message…”
Ignoring the game at hand the entire group, minus Danny, gather around the small phone all talking over one another to craft out the message.
“Lily!” Danny interrupted, and everyone looked at him, “this is crazy, just be yourself, she obviously likes you.”
“Really?”
“Yes really,” Danny sighs, “just say you’re in, and then she is going to text me all giddy that you agreed to a second date.” Lily held her breath as she waited for another response on her phone, when she did not get her message she placed the phone face down onto the carpeted floor beside her, turning her attention back to the game at hand, not that long later, Danny’s phone began to vibrate, “I was right,” he said reading the message from his older sister, “‘SHE SAID YES’ with way to many exclamation points, also I need to call my ma.”
&
Marelne had been a student for a very long time, from getting her bachelors to working as a post doc, she was no stranger to long nights of binge drinking and waking up next to people she only met the night before, promising herself by the time she had gotten her doctorate, those days were past her, no more sleeping with them before the fourth date at least.
What began as an afternoon coffee date with Lily, turning into a late night drinks at a cute little bar that Lily loves, with cheap but very strong drinks and live music; under the coax of getting Marlene acquainted with her new home, led to Marelne finding herself in a flat she did not know in a bed with a home made quilt and not knowing where her underwear was. fuck me she thought pulling herself up, her head pounding as she pulled her clothing from the night before off the floor.
She found herself meandering into the kitchen, finding someone she did not know standing by the stove making something for breakfast. “mornin’” the strangers smiled with a shit eating grin, “Marlene right?”
“Yea, and you are?” “Emmaline, Lilies flatmate.”
“Right,” Marelne said looking for her lost shoes, “where is she?”
“At the market, she should be back soon.” Finding the lost boots by the front door, Marlene grabbed her purse before turning her attention back to Emmaline, “please tell Lily I had a lovely time, and I needed…” the excuse died on her lips as she could not think of anything to say.
“Please stay for breakfast, I made bangers and mash.” Looking at the watch on her wrist, but not being able to read the small number in her state, before shrugging, “sure why not.”
&
“So you and Lily?” Danny asked.
It was a quiet Sunday and Marlene had invited her little brother over for some afternoon tea, he sat on the couch as his sister sat in one of the arm chairs. The flat was a lot more nicer than he had expected, with the doorman out front and all, it was still a little strange to see his sister go from cramp little dorm she resided in during her time in the arctic to having the nicest place out of all his friends.
Marlene rolled her eyes, “what do you want to know?”
“I ran into Emmaline at the shop this Thursday and she said you have been spending the night a lot lately.”
“Well you are wise, put two and two together then.”
Danny cringed, “I don't need to know about my sisters sex life honestly.”
“than why the question?” Marlene asked, “has James been asking questions?”
“Lily won’t tell us anything.” “So this is why you agreed to tea? To gossip like a bunch of grannies?”
Danny took a bite out of one of the biscuits, “its just nice to have you back, you missed out on a lot.”
“I know,” she saids, “I still can’t believe that James is dating Reggie, it really did freak Sirius out.”
“How is he?”
“Good, still in Canada,” she smiled, “got a job working as a professor and may make tenure soon. He keeps inviting me down there, I think he wants me to move closer to him.”
“Do you?”
Marlene shook her head, “nah, I’m happy here, besides someone gotta keep an eye on you.”
“I can take care of myself,” Danny sulks, “but that reminds me I bought your ticket and you owe me ninety quid.”
“For what?” “the train? For ma’s birthday party? You did not forget did you?”
“wait, you were serious about that?” She asked, as genuine shock overtook her.
“Who needs to be watched over now?” Danny joked.
&
Somehow Danny was able to convince his older sister to join him and his freinds in their game night, under the promise of beer and dinner. Marelne felt rather out of place among the group of friends, for she only knew them by the stories Danny had told her. James Potter, became a sort of big brother to Danny after Marlene left for her masters degree in the United States. Marlene asked Danny to befriend Regulus Black, as he was the same age, and they became fast friends, for she was best mates with his older brother, but like her Sirius, not really caring about staying close to home left the country to collect his masters and doctorate degree. Besides her family, he was the only friends Marlene went out of her way to keep in touch with. Mary was Lily’s childhood friend, and Remus was someone they adopted along the way, as Marlene tried to ask how that came about, no one gave her a straight answer.
As Marlene watched as everyone intermingles among themselves, she could not help but feel proud for her younger brother, as he was able to build this life for himself. She’s been away along time, and yet she always worried about him.
As she waited for Utimate One Night Warewolf to begin, as Danny spent the morning over text messages explaining how the game was played while she was supposed to be working, someone came and sat next to her on the couch. Lily was not able to come tonight, for her play in which she was stage managing for was going through tech week and she had to work late for the next week or so, leaving Marelne all by herself tonight.
“First time?” Someone asked sitting next to Marlene on the couch.
“yes.”
“I’m Mary,” she smiled.
“Marlene, Lily told me a lot about you.”
“Well, it’s all lies.”
Marlene laughed, “I’ll take your word for it.”
“So, how do you know everyone?”
“Honestly, I only know Danny, but I am friends with Reggies brother, we were mates in Uni.”
“So you are the mystery girl that everyone thought was dating Sirius?”
“Oh, me and Sirius? That would be a train wreck.” Marlene laughs awkwardly, recoling at the memory of when her classmates did beleive he was her boyfreind.
Mary just shakes her head, before grinning at her, “how many of the stories are true?”
“He would kill me if I told, but uni was a wild time!”
Mary opens her mouth to say something, but before she can James comes waltzing into the living room, “ready to play?” He asked.
Everyone excitedly sits around the coffee table, making it into a makeshift table for them.
As Reggie starts passing out the cards, “you know how to play?” He asked Marelne.
“Yup, Im the Tanner.” She saids holding up her card.
Everyone groans as James takes the cards and reshuffles them back into the deck, “you’re not supposed to tell anyone,” Danny whispered to her.
“Sorry, I didn’t know.”
&
Marlene sat at her desk answering emails and drinking her third cup of coffee of the day, when her phone chimed next to her. Smiling at the little screen she read Lily’s message over, “So excited for tonight! I’ll see you at seven!” After months of whining, she finally was able to convince Sirius to visit her over his spring break, and that came with meeting the new girl in her life. Spending so much of their talks, gushing over Lily and how amazing she was. He knew he had to come and visit her and meet her for himself, claiming it was to make sure she was right for Marlene, (and also check up on Reggie). Her mind was too distracted all day as she kept on checking the time on the corner of her computer, counting down the hours until she could pick up her old friend from the airport. Finally five pm came, she grabbed her coat and bag, not before saying goodbye to her coworkers and she’ll see them on Monday, she practically sprinted to the car. She grabbed her phone one more time, texting Lily before starting the car, “On my way to the airport! See you tonight. <3”