Author's note: Hello there! Like "Brick by Boring Brick", this story is named after a Paramore song. As the story continues, it should become obvious why I chose this title. I urge you all to listen to Paramore if you haven't already. Anyways, the prologue is a bit long, but it's necessary to set up the story. A little background about the prologue before we begin the story… James and Lily are in their 6th year. James deflated his head a bit, refrained from hexing Snape so much, and stopped asking Lily out so much. Over the year they have slowly become friends, and Lily has a boyfriend, whose name is Michael Wiggins. I hope you all enjoy it!
James walked silently down the corridor under his Invisibility Cloak, trying to get back to Gryffindor tower without attracting attention. He had just successfully snuck past Filch and around a corner when he heard someone crying. He stopped in his tracks, alarmed. He didn't quite want to get involved, but he also felt he could hardly just leave whoever it was by them self. Hesitantly, he crept forward to a broom closet a little ways up the corridor. He slowly opened the door and looked inside.
Lily sat there, her arms wrapped around her knees and her long red hair is disarray. Her body was shaking with sobs.
James felt his heart break as he looked at her. He had never seen perfect Lily Evans lose it like this. He had seen her get angry, yes (especially at him), but he had never seen her cry. He knelt down in front of her.
"Lily?"
She looked up at him. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face was streaked with tears. She looked lost.
"What's wrong?" James pleaded. "Please tell me."
She took a shuddering breath and threw her arms around him. James caught her and held her, rubbing her back.
"It's okay, Lils. It's going to be okay."
She continued crying into his shoulder as she clutched at his shirt. He whispered soothing words to her, wondering what could possibly make Lily so upset. He kept his arms around her, reveling in getting to hold her for the first time. Her soft hair smelled like a bouquet of roses. Eventually, she calmed down enough to detach herself from him and wipe her eyes.
"S-sorry," Lily hiccupped.
"No, don't be sorry," James corrected her. "I hate seeing you so upset."
She put her head in her hands.
"He broke up with me," she said, her voice muffled. "Michael broke up with me."
"WHAT?"
Lily nodded.
"He- he said he wasn't happy."
"Oh, Lily," James said, putting his arm around her. "I'm so sorry."
He was truly sorry, although he was secretly ecstatic that he no longer had to be friends with her while Michael got to kiss and hold her on a regular basis. It had been excruciating.
"Thank you, James," Lily whispered, resting her head on his shoulder.
The late June afternoon sun beat down on the grounds as James lounged beneath the beech tree near the lake, reading a Muggle novel Lily had lent him. Sirius and Peter were studying for their Potions exams, and Remus was preparing for the full moon. James' thoughts were firmly wrapped up in his book when a shadow blocked the sun's glare.
"Hey, James," Lily said, smiling shyly. "Mind if I sit with you?"
James hurriedly shut his book and placed it next to him.
"Not at all!" he exclaimed, heart pounding. They had gotten a lot closer since Michael had broken up with Lily, and James had found himself hoping beyond hope that she would finally give him a chance. She had certainly become a bit more flirtatious; one night in the Common Room she had "compared hand sizes" by holding his hand.
James couldn't help but notice how her long red curls looked in the sunlight; little flecks of gold highlighted her auburn locks, which fell halfway down her back. Her eyes showed more life than they had in weeks and her cheeks were flushed. He thought she looked beautiful.
Lily caught him staring and blushed furiously.
"So- er- do you like the book?" she asked awkwardly.
James started and looked down at the novel.
"Oh, yeah. It's interesting," he replied. "Thanks for lending it to me."
"No problem," Lily assured him. "It's the least I could do."
James glanced at her curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"You've been a really good friend to me, James."
"Oh." He looked away towards the lake. A friend. He should have known. "Well, I care about you. I want you to be happy."
She fidgeted with her hair.
"You make me happy," she muttered.
"What?" James said sharply, turning to look at her.
"You make me happy," Lily repeated. "I'm sorry I didn't see it before."
James couldn't believe what he was hearing. He made Lily, Lily Evans, the love of his life, happy. He had strived to do that ever since he had met her, and the past year he had done everything in his power to get her to stop hating him. Slowly, they had become good friends. When she had started dating Michael, James was devastated. Still, he had comforted her when things with Michael got rocky, and again when it finally ended. He had hoped he'd made her feel better, but for her to say he made her happy?
"I don't know if you even still like me, so I guess I'm sorry for that too."
Okay, James thought, this has got to be a prank.
"What are you talking about?" James asked her. "Of course I still like you. I'll always like you. No matter what. But even if it's not with me, I just want you to be happy."
Lily smiled, leaving James more confused than ever.
"Well, in that case… er, I'm not really ready for a relationship yet, but I think- if you'd want to, that is- when I'm ready, I'd like to try 'us'."
If James had been walking, he would have slammed straight into a wall.
"Are you serious?"
Lily looked him in the eye.
"I wouldn't lie about this, James."
James couldn't believe it. He was finally going to get the thing he had wanted most since third year- a chance with Lily. It seemed too good to be true.
"I've wanted that for three years, Lily. I'm not going anywhere."
She beamed at him.
"Good. You're an amazing guy, James." She bent to kiss him on the cheek; his face burned where her mouth had touched him. "I've got to run," she admitted sadly. "But I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
He nodded and watched her go, her long auburn hair swinging behind her.
James was just finishing up his breakfast the next morning when he saw Lily get up from the table. She walked towards him as she hooked her bag over her shoulder. He stood up as she reached him.
"Hello," he smiled at her, but she continued past him with her head down. He stared after her, confused. Hadn't they been completely honest with each other only last night? He hurried after her, following her out onto the grounds.
"Lily!" he called, trying to stop her.
She stopped and turned around, looking at him seriously.
"We need to talk."
James stopped in his tracks.
"What's up?" he asked nervously.
Lily ran her hand over her face and took a deep breath.
"Michael and I talked last night," she explained.
"Okay…?" James asked confusedly.
Lily sighed.
"We're getting back together."
His heart stopped.
"Are you serious?"
She nodded, looking upset.
"I'm sorry, James."
"Lily, you can't! What about all that stuff you said to me yesterday?" James cried desperately.
"I know, James. I like you, I really do, but what I have with Michael is different."
"I can't believe this."
"I thought you said you wanted me to be happy!" Lily yelled angrily.
"I do!" James snapped. "But he broke your heart, Lily, and he's going to break it again! Can't you see that? You've been fighting for months! You can't do this!"
"I'm sorry, James," Lily said with a note of finality. "But I've made my decision."
"Fine." James felt empty, broken. "Goodbye." He turned and walked slowly away from her.
"Wait, James!" she called after him. "I don't want to lose you!"
"I'm sorry, Lily," he repeated her words from earlier. "I can't be friends with you when I love you so much."
"Did you just say-?"
"Yes, Lily," James cut her off, turning back to face her. "I did say love. I've loved you as long as I can remember ever liking girls, and I always will."
"James-"
"Just… be happy, okay?"
"I am," Lily said simply.
He walked away, and for the first time in his life, James Potter cried.
Author's note: What did you think? I'd love to hear your opinions on what went down between Lily and James. Keep in mind that about a month went by between Michael and Lily's break up and the scene by the lake. Reviews are appreciated! See you soon