As she left Sirius’ apartment building she picked her buzzing phone from her pocket. Sighing, she picked up.
“Dorcas.”
“What’s all this about Jily?” Lily could hear the conductor announce the metro pulling into Tottingham court road in the background.
“You’ve heard?”
“Lily. I think everyone’s heard.”
“Not helping.”
“Sorry. But I mean, this has gotta be good for you. The publicity, your single is climbing the charts already.”
“I don’t want it to happen this way. Just because I ‘hooked up’ with some famous bloke.”
“So it’s true.”
“No...well, we kissed.”
“Lily!”
“Once! We kissed once!” The girl next to her looked over and whispered something to her friend. “Listen, Dora. “She lowered her voice. “I’m on the train, can I call you when I get home?”
“Sure.” The line went dead.
It might’ve been her imagination, but Lily thought the people around her on the subway were staring more than usual. She’d only just gotten used to sometimes being recognized on town, she wasn’t ready for this. She raised the volume of the music in her headphones and tried to ignore the surroundings.
As she climbed the stairs to her apartment she was just happy to be out of the public eye and it wasn’t until she’d unlocked the door and was about to go in that she saw him.
“James.”
“Lily. Hi.” He stepped forward.
“What...what are you doing here?”
“We need to talk.”
“Yeah, I think we do.” Lily bit her lower lip. “But you know, there are phones. You don’t just show up on someones doorstep.”
“I tried calling, but you were on the other line.”
“Yeah, talking to Dora.”
“So...do you wanna go in?”
“Oh, yeah. Sure.” She pulled the door open with such force it sent her flying backwards. James put a hand on her back to stabilise her and it send a chill up her spine.
“So...” James stepped through the door. “This is your apartment.”
“Yeah.” Lily pulled of her coat and put her bag down on the chair next to the door. “You want tea?”
“No. No I’m good.”
“Okay...”
“Should we sit down?”
“What, oh, yeah.”
“So...you saw the interview.”
“Yeah. I just got back from Sirius’.”
“He said.”
“When?”
“He called me.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
Lily looked down at her hands and then out of the window, trying to avoid James’ glance.
“This is ridiculous, Lily.” He reached forward and grabbed her wrist. “Will you just look at me?”
She turned her head slightly and met his gaze.
“I thought we were fine. More than fine.”
“We were.” She sighed. “Until Sirius went and ratted us out.”
“So what?”
“Really? Of all people, I thought you might get it.”
“Get what?”
“I am trying to build my own life, and now all everyone will remember is this.”
“Don’t worry, Lils. It’ll blow over in a day.”
“Oh really?”
Nancy Thompson:
Golden boy spotted entering a certain young singers apartment. Thanks for the tip, penny.
“Maybe not a day...” James admitted, letting go of her wrist just in time for Lily to pick up her buzzing phone again.
Marlene: What’s this I’m hearing? James is at your place?
Lily: All thanks to you and that bloody Black
Marlene: What’s I got to do with anything?
Lily: You just had to go and break his heart again, or whatever
Marlene: You’ve lost me
Lily: You guys broke up, that bloody Nancy asked about you, he freaked, this happened
Shoving the phone into her pocket again, she looked up at James again, and then out of the window.
“Are you sure you don’t want tea?” She sighed. “There’s a herd of fangirls outside.” She nodded towards the window.
