Remus-11
Dammit planning a party was hard. Especially since it was supposed to be a surprise party and it makes it ten times harder to plan a surprise party when you rarely get any time alone with the party planners.
The Marauders, Lily, Alice, Marlene and Dorcas were finding it really hard to get anytime together, without Sirius, to plan the party. They had to come up with excuse after excuse to get away from Sirius, and they hated to do it. The look on his face after they had let him down once again, was really upsetting, but they had to do it, else they would never get the party planned. They had ended up in sorting out a rota of who would keep Sirius away – achem – spend time with Sirius, while the others were sorting out things for the party and today, the day before Sirius’s birthday, it was Remus’s turn to stay with Sirius.
***
(Remus’s texts are in italics, Sirius’s in bold)
Hey
Hi Re
I’m going to go to the Three Broomsticks for supper today after class. Want to come?
I sooooooo would but I’m going cycling
Aw dam hope you have fun
Ta :)
Where you going?
Around taking a picnic with me wanna join?
Huh?
Do you wanna come with me? On my cycle for a picnic?
Yeah I would love to!
Cool. Meet me out the front of college at 4.30?
Okay see you then :)
***
Remus leant up against the railings of college with his bike, hands in pockets, cigarette between his teeth, thinking while he waited for Sirius. He was thinking about Sirius’s party as he waited. He had been put in charge of organising the games, which meant he had to find a giant beach ball, a volleyball set, and some cricket thinks for French cricket. He had actually managed to find everything he needed and was looking forward to setting everything up at the beach the next day.
“You don’t smoke do you?” A voice asked near him and he looked up at Sirius.
“Sometimes. Not much,” Remus replied, taking the cigarette out of his mouth and dropping it on the floor, crushing it with his trainer. Sirius looked at the crushed cigarette with disgust.
“Nasty habit, smoking,” He said, wrinkling his nose. Remus made a mental note to try and quit smoking. If Sirius hated it, he would stop.
“I will try and quit,” He promised, “Now, where are we going?”
Sirius smiled, “I thought we could cycle up round the back of college, along the hill paths, up to the second hill, then down to the Shrieking Shack, through Hogsmeade, stop at the lake to eat then cycle home.”
“Yeah that sounds perfect!” Remus said, strapping on his helmet, “Shall we?”
“We shall,” Sirius said, and they both got onto their bikes, starting to cycle around the back of college and up the hill.
It was a long and gruelling cycle, and Remus found it quite difficult to keep up with Sirius sometimes, mostly when they were going uphill. Sirius seemed to be finding this easy, but then again, Sirius might’ve done this cycle a lot. It may have been hard, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable. Remus loved every minute he was out there, riding through the village and over the hills.
When they arrived at the lake, Remus was very sweaty and tired. He flopped down onto the grass, panting and smiling.
“You look dead,” Sirius commented as he sat down next to Remus, grinning.
“Gee thanks,” Remus huffed, “I don’t do that cycle often. Actually, that’s the first time I have done it.”
“Really?” Sirius said, pulling some food out of his back and handing Remus a sandwich.
“Yeah. How often do you do it?”
“At least once a week. Maybe more. Depends on how I’m feeling.”
Remus hummed and closed his eyes, relishing in the sun shining on his face. It was relaxing, just lying in the sun, listening to the gentle sounds of the water of the lake lapping onto the land. He was happy lying here with Sirius. The only thing that ruined the feeling, was that his head wasn’t in Sirius’s lap and Sirius wasn’t playing with his hair. He wasn’t holding Sirius’s hand or kissing his cheek. They weren’t together. Why weren’t they together? They should be together. You know... Like a couple... That were in love...
“Remus, are you alright?”
Remus opened his eyes to see Sirius bent over him, his brows furrowed in concern.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”
“You were very quiet and that’s not normal.”
Remus laughed, “That sounds like something Frank would say,” He sat up and smiled at Sirius, “I’m great. Just tired.”
“Okay,” Sirius bit his lip, then shuffled closer to Remus, laying his head on Remus’s shoulder. Remus was frozen for a second. Sirius was leaning on him. Without him having to initiate a hug. He unfroze quickly and lent back a bit, so Sirius could curl closer in a more comfortable position, which he did. Neither boy said anything, they just sat quietly, relishing in the contact. They stayed like that for a while, occasionally chatting and eating the picnic. It was amazing, being able to curl up with Sirius and laugh together. Remus wanted to be able to do this and be able to kiss Sirius as well. He needed to be able to do that, else he might spontaneously combust. He decided to ask the question. Now. Right now, while he was with Sirius and it felt all romantic. It was the best time to do it, and it felt right. So, he shifted a bit and started to speak.
“Hey, Sirius,” But before he could get any further, Remus’s phone started ringing. ‘Lifesaver’ by Sunrise Avenue rang out loudly and Remus made a noise of frustration. He grabbed his phone and saw who was calling, James. Sighing he looked down at Sirius, who was still leaning on Remus’s shoulder.
“You mind if I take this?” He asked, and Sirius shook his head, lifting his head from Remus’s shoulder and lying back in the grass.
“Na. S’alright,” He said, closing his eyes. Remus sighed and stood up, walking out of earshot of Sirius so he could talk to James.
Remus(R): Yo what’s up?
James(J): Er... So, problem.
R: What?
J: Well... You know the cake? Yeah well none of us can bake apart from you. Well, I think Lily can... But she is busy revising for her music exam and I kinda don’t want to disturb her. So... Um...
R: *sighing* You want me to come home and bake it?
J: Yeah if that’s okay...
R: I was just about to ask Sirius out!
J: Ah shit. I’m so sorry mate. But we need this cake.
R: I hate you. I’ll be there in ten.
J: Thank you so much you absolute lifesaver and I’m so sorry.
Remus hung up and walked back over to Sirius, tucking his phone away in his jacket and thinking of a suitable excuse for having to leave.
“Er... So, James needs me to help him... with his... History essay,” He said, rubbing the back of his neck. Sirius opened his eyes, disappointment visible on his face.
“Oh. Okay. I better get going anyway,” Sirius sat up and gathered up all the food and things, shoving them into his backpack.
“I’m really sorry. I would totally stay if I could-”
“It’s fine Re,” Sirius said, smiling, “Don’t worry. I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess.”
“Yeah. See you tomorrow,” Remus watched as Sirius strapped on his helmet and cycled off towards his home. He sighed as he clipped on his own helmet and climbed onto his bike, cycling to James’s house where some of the others were waiting. When he arrived, he went into the kitchen, only to be greeted by a giant mess.
“What the fuck happened here,” He exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. James, Peter and Marlene looked up at him and grinned sheepishly.
“We tried baking a cake,” Peter said.
“It kinda didn’t work,” Marlene said.
“Yeah no sweat,” Remus laughed, “Help me clean up and I’ll start baking a new one.”
The four friends set about to cleaning up the mess that was created in the kitchen, throwing flour at each other and making everything shine. Remus then tried to banish the others from the kitchen, but they refused to leave, so he reluctantly let them sit at the table and chatter away while he baked.
He tried to make it perfect. It had to be perfect for Sirius. It was his eighteenth after all, and eighteenth birthdays had to be perfect. It marked the coming of age and the start of adulthood after all. He was making a chocolate orange layered cake, with strawberry jam in between each layer and fondant icing on the top. He decorated it with gold piping icing, which he used to write ‘Happy Eighteenth Dog Star’ and put several fancy swirls and stars and hearts around it. Stepping back once he had finished, he wiped the back of his hand on his forehead and called the others over.
“I’m done. Do you like it?”
They came over and all gushed about how amazing it was, making Remus blush with pride. It was going to be perfect; the best eighteenth Sirius could ever have wished for was about to take place, and it was going to be amazing.
They just hoped that Sirius would like it.