Chapter 22- White Houses
Crashed on the floor when I moved in
This bungalow alone with some strange new friends
Stay up too late, and I'm too thin
We promise each other it's til the end
Now we're spinning empty bottles
It's the five of us
With pretty eyed boys girls die to trust
I can't resist the day
No, I can't resist the day
The wind rustled through her auburn hair and it brought a smile to her face. She was away from her torments, her stress. She was able to be carefree, to have fun. Something she rarely did. If only he could have seen her now, so young, so alive.
The three girls walked up to a white house with blue shutters. It was right on the beach. The thought of getting up and jogging to the sound of rustling ocean comforted her. She loved the thought of peace and privacy and..Sirus Black with a water gun! That was not in the brochure!
"Oh my god."
Those were the only words Addison could get out before Sirius sprayed her blonde-blue locks. She was devastated. She was speechless. Her mouth hung open with the impressing nature of a loss for words.
James smiled. He knew he would be seeing girls, but never had he thought of the chance of seeing his beloved Lily. She was here, with him. It was his chance. His chance to be away from all his admirers at Hogwarts and to be real with Lily. He knew it would work.
Lily was just staring at James. His famous lopsided smirk appeared, but for once it seemed genuine. She looked down, feeling the heat of a rising blush appear on her face. Potter was here. Not good, not good at all. He caused much of the stress she was hoping to get away from.
Addy spoke first. Apparently, Sirius was stunned as well to have met not only Mackenzie McKinnon, but his secret heartache, her twin, Addison McKinnon. He was also speechless.
"What are you two doing here?" she blurted out.
"Vacationing," James said simply.
"Oh Sirius! We'll be bunking together," Mackenzie squealed.
"Oh joyful day of mine!" Sirius said, clasping his hands together. He rolled his eyes when she wasn't looking.
"Too bad Arielle couldn't be here," Mac said, frowning slightly, but keeping her eyes on Sirius.
"Oh yes, too bad," James said shaking his head. He saw Lily's luggage and walked forward.
"Do you want some help?" James asked.
"I do know how to use magic you know," Lily said.
"I know. But it's polite to offer to help a lady," James said.
"I don't need help, as I have told you on a numerous amount of occasions," Lily said.
She levitated her bags and sent them soaring into the beach house.
"So, are the rooms nice?" Mackenzie asked, trying to make conversation. Sirius and Addy were staring maliciously at one another.
"They so obviously like each other," Lily muttered to James.
"I know. Why don't they just get together? They're right there," James said.
"I hate people who are in denial like that," Lily said.
"I know, right?" James said. "Let me show you around."
"Ok," Lily said.
The two of them stalked off into the house. Addy and Sirius continued staring. Mackenzie didn't know what to think of this so she rambled off in incoherent babbling.
"Wow, can't wait to take a dip in that ocean. It looks great. Blue as bonnets I often say. Yes, blue as bonnets. Do they put salt in salt water? I have tasted it before, and it hasn't tasted good. Isn't salt supposed to liven up the flavor of things?" Mackenzie said. Sirius and Addison turned to the girl, in surprise and disgust.
"Am I really related to such a moron?" Addison asked.
"Now, now Addison. Mum would have your bottom for that one," Mac said, pointing a finger in Addy's face.
"Who cares about Mum right now? You're acting like a moron," Addison said.
"She has a point you know," Sirius said.
"SHUT UP SIRIUS!" Addison and Mac shouted. They continued fighting with each other. Sirius sighed. This vacation would surely bring fond memories.
He looked at the two girls. They were twins, and they resembled one another, but they acted completely different. Addison's short blonde hair with electric blue streaks set her apart from Mac's long wavy blonde hair. Yet, both shared the same penetrating blue eyes.
"Fine, everyone forget about me. I am just a lost, careless soul. Not a care in the world other than my survival. I could die here alone without supervision. I tend to put myself at risk like that in all unsupervised activities. It happens often. Addy can just pretend like I didn't give her the most fabulous kiss. She can, she can. And Mac, well, she's a bother really. It was a fling, no reason to get all obsessive over me. I have other interests," Sirius muttered, talking to himself.
Lily and James walked out to see this scene. Sirius was talking to no one in particular and Mac and Addy were fighting already.
"Hey, hey, hey. No fighting you guys. You're sisters. Let's do something fun," Lily said.
"Whatever. But if she gets in my way of Sirius, she's going down," Mac said.
"I always said you overestimated yourself," Addison said. Sirius looked uncomfortable, as did James.
"Girls, look! Shiny objects," Lily said, pointing off in the distance. Only one of the girls fell for this.
"Shiny? Where?" Mac asked, walking around, in search of a shiny object.
"Thanks Lils," Addison said.
"No problem. You two sure don't act like twins," Lily said.
.X.
"She snores really loud," Sirius said. He saw Mac sleeping on the couch and heard the grunting sounds of her snores.
"Tell me about it. Now you know why we always look tired in the morning," Addison said. The four of them were sitting on the wooden floor. Lily was teaching James a Muggle card game.
"So, I say Goldfish?" James asked.
"No! Go fish," Lily said.
"Ok Lily. I only have a three, a six, and a lady card. You can go fishing," James said proudly.
"James, you don't tell me what you have! And the lady on the card? It's called a queen," Lily said, pointing to it.
"So that's what the Q is for?" James asked.
"I swear, he gets dafter by the hour," Sirius said.
Addison grinned. She and Sirius hadn't spoken at all about what happened on the train. She wanted to act like it hadn't happened. But, she knew, that it indeed had.
"What are the chances of all of us coming to the same place for Christmas break?" Sirius asked.
"I know. It's really weird," Lily said.
"I wish Maims and Remus could have came," Addison said.
"Yeah. That would have been a good time," Lily said.
"Addy, this is your suitcase?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah. Why are you going through it?" Addison asked.
"I am curious as to the mind of a girl," Sirius said.
"I would think you'd have first hand experience at that Sirius," Addison said.
"What on Earth are they talking about?" James asked Lily. She shook her head.
"Nothing. We are talking about nothing," Sirius said, recalling the incidents.
They sat in silence for a few moments. Lily shuffled the deck and put the cards away. She sat on the armchair and rested her eyes for a moment.
"Oh my god. Don't tell me you actually wear this?" Sirius asked. He was holding up her yellow bikini.
"Yes. It's a swimming suit. Lily has one too," Addison said.
"Oh, she does?" James asked, suddenly interested.
"So, you wear this in public?" Sirius asked.
"Yes. When one goes swimming, they usually wear something," Addison said.
"Fine by me. Although, I think I prefer the nude," Sirius said. "We'll have to go skinny dipping while we're here."
"Fat chance of that." Addison said. "Ask my sister. She's turning stupid."
Sirius glanced over at the snoring Mac and contemplated this.
He shook his head.
"Me and James will be the only ones skinny dipping," Sirius said.
The they heard little Lily scream in surprise. James had sat on her.
"James Potter, get your butt off of me," Lily shouted. Addison and Sirius were howling in laughter.
"I'm not that heavy, Lily dear," James said.
"My leg hurts! You're violating my space," Lily said.
James got up and grinned. "You know you enjoyed it as much as I did."
"Oh yes," Lily said sarcastically.
"I'm glad it was us who met here," Sirius said.
"Me too," Lily, James, and Addison said.
The four of them sat in silence for a while, sipping on hot chocolate. Lily was falling asleep slowly in the armchair.
James got up and looked at her sleeping.
"I'll put her in bed," he said. He knew Addy and Sirius needed to talk some things out.
He picked her up and carried her up the stairs into her room.
There was an awkward silence, other than the snores coming from Mac.
"So, we need to talk Sirius," Addison said.
"Yes, I am afraid we do," Sirius said.
"Why did you kiss me?" Addison asked, feeling the the blush rise in her cheeks.
"You know why I kissed you, Addy babe. I like you. So, I lived for the moment and did what I wanted to do. I kissed you," Sirius said. "And you know what?"
"What?" Addison asked.
"I'm feeling spontaneous right now," Sirius said. He pulled her to him and wrapped her in a kiss.
At that moment, the snoring came to a pause.