Taking a deep breath, she turned the corner and walked right by them. For a minute she thought they hadn’t seen her, but then Sirius whispered, “James, look, behind you!”
James turned around as quickly as he could, and yelled, “Hey Evans! EVANS!”
She ignored him. He followed her anyway.
“Evans, why are you giving me the cold shoulder? You seem to be avoiding me lately.” James said, talking to her casually as if they were good friends.
“You’re right, I have been avoiding you. Because I know that every time I walk past you are going to ask me out!” Lily exclaimed. “Honestly, I am really sick of it. You know I am going to say no, so why do you keep trying?”
“Come on, you’re just playing hard to get.” James said, trying to wrap his arm around her.
“Get off! I don’t like you!” Lily yelled as he whirled her around.
“Well, that’s an improvement. The other day you told me you hated me.” James said, smiling.
Lily looked up at him. She never noticed his eyes before. They were a beautiful shade of brown, and almost hypnotizing to look at. She pulled herself away from him.
“Maybe I still do hate you! You are never going to learn, you are never going to grow up!” Lily yelled at him. She walked away and smiled to herself. She left James there standing confused and shocked, like she had just hit him across the face.
But what had happened before? She had become entranced by his beautiful eyes, they had looked at her with such longing…
Stop! She ordered herself. She would not fall for James. There was no way she was going to let herself fall for James.
James walked back to his friends, having been turned down yet again. Sirius walked up and patted him on the back. “Don’t worry, mate, she’ll turn round eventually.” He said.
“Whatever.” mumbled James. Maybe she was right. Maybe he was never going to grow up. He didn’t think the matter over, because at that moment the perfect vent for his frustration had walked around the corner.
“Look Padfoot, it’s Snivellus.” James whispered.
Sirius looked up and grinned. “What should we get him with today? Bat-Bogey hex? Or a Jelly-Legs Jinx? I am personally up for the Bat-Bogey hex.” He said.
James nodded and began to pull out his wand, when he heard Lily’s voice ringing in his head:
“Maybe I still do hate you! You are never going to learn, you are never going to grow up!”
James stopped and put his wand back in his pocket. “Not today guys, I’m not in the mood.” He said quietly. “I’ll see you in Charms.”
Sirius looked appalled, Lupin looked a little impressed, and Peter just stared as Snape as he went past.
James felt happier with himself. If he could stop picking on Snape, maybe Lily would look at him in a different light. Maybe, just maybe, she might consider going out with him…
This thought carried him all the way to Charms, where, to his delight, he saw Lily, looking as beautiful as ever, rereading her charms notes from the lesson before.
“Hello Evans!” he said cheerfully as he approached. She looked up and rolled her eyes.
“You again? I thought I made my feelings about you clear before.” Lily said, not taking her eyes off her notes.
“Well, I thought a bit about what you said, and I think I am ready to grow up.” James said confidently.
Lily looked up. Did she just hear what she thought she heard? “Oh, and why is that?” she asked him.
“I have just passed up an opportunity to pick on Sniv…Snape…and I intend to do the same every time I see him.” He answered.
“Yeah, we’ll see how long that lasts.” Lily snorted. James frowned. What else was he supposed to do?
“Come on Evans? Will you just go out with me once?” James asked hopefully.
Lily didn’t look up. She knew if she did, she might become weak from those beautiful eyes of his, and then she might even say yes. “I don’t know.” Lily said.
“What do you mean? It is a simple yes or no question!’ James exclaimed.
“Maybe to you it is!” Lily yelled. She stormed into the classroom and took a seat far away from where James and his friends usually sat. James followed her again. Couldn’t this guy take a hint?
“Please Lily?” he asked, looking straight into her eyes.
Lily looked up. His eyes were so entrancing! She was about to open her mouth when Professor Flitwick walked in and said, “Everyone, take a seat, that means you Mr. Black, and open your books to page 572!”