James POV
I pace around the common room watching the clock tick on the wall.
“Calm down, mate, she’s coming,” Remus says from the couch, never even looking up from the book he’s reading.
“Well I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t,” I sigh and sit next to him but still bouncing my legs, “I’ve been a right prick to her.”
“You have been and if you don’t stop bouncing your leg I’ll cut yours off.”
“Well that sounds unfortunate,” someone says from behind us. I turn and look at Lily in all her fiery glory.
“Oh.. Lily.. hi,” I trip over my words and my feet as I stumble to get up.
“Hi, James,” she smiles softly and my heart skips a beat, “ready to go?”
“Yeah,” I smile and offer her my arm.
“Don’t keep him out to late,” Remus calls, “he gets grumpy when he doesn’t get his beauty sleep.”
Lily laughs and I throw something at him before we exit. We don’t talk for a minute and I just enjoy the feeling of Lily next to me her arm around mine as we walk through the castle.
“I just wanted to say sorry,” she says at the same time as I say.
“I am so so sorry, Lily,” and we both burst out in laughs.
“What are you sorry for?” She ask after we catch our breathe.
“What I said about you,” I frown, “that wasn’t fair.”
“Oh well, I was a right git about Regulus,” she sighs and sits on the ledge of a wall, “I shouldn’t talk about your boyfriend like that.”
“Not my boyfriend,” I blurt before I can even think about it. All I can think about is how her green eyes shine in the dark of the corridor and how her hair glows in the moonlight.
“What?” she blinks at me.
“It’s fake,” I say quietly.
“I don’t understand.”
“There we’re some girls that wouldn’t leave Reg alone and so we’re fake dating so they leave him alone.”
“Why you, though?” I hesitate. I could tell her that I was trying to prove that I was good enough for her but I don’t think that would go over very well.
“I’m James Potter,” I put quotations around my name, “he thinks that my reputation will get people to leave him alone and as far as I know they have.”
“So he sought you out?” she asks and I’m confused by all the questions.
“Well no, he found me by accident actually, he was trying to get away from someone and he found me.”
“Why were you alone?”
“What’s with all the questions?”
“Sorry,” she tenses up, “just interesting.”
“There’s more things that are interesting about me than, Regulus,” I sigh and lean against the wall behind me.
“I’m starting to get that,” she smirks and gets down.
“Yeah?” My breath catches as she comes closer to me.
“I’ve been an idiot, James,” she whispers and runs her hand along my arm.
“Oh?” I ask cause that’s about all that I can get out right now.
“I didn’t see what was in front of me all along,” she places her hand on my cheek, “so not dating Regulus?”
“No definitely not,” I sigh and she connects our lips. She's soft against me, nothing like Regulus’ solid form and hard angles. I wait for the moment the firework starts and everything to fall in place but instead I hear a quiet cry and pull away.
Down the hall I see a figure and think it's some random student out after curfew until I see the glint of gray eyes that are full of unshed tears.
Regulus.
I pull away from Lily quickly and start after him.
“Where are you going?” She pouts trying to pull me back.
“I need to go to him,” I say pulling from her grip.
“But why? You aren’t dating. It’s not your fault he’s upset,” she’s right of course, I should stay and kiss the girl i’ve been pining over for years but there’s something pulling me towards the dark haired boy.
“I just-” I trail off, I what?
“You what? Do you like him?” She looks on the verge of tears herself.
“No but,” I shake my head and trail off. I don’t know what I feel for Regulus but I know I need to find him,” I’m sorry Lily but I have to go.”
I run as fast as I can before she can stop me again there's only one thought on my mind right now.
Find Regulus.
Find Regulus.
Find Regulus.
The kitchen. Before I know it I’m running towards a familiar painting.