Chapter 24-I Don't Wanna Be
I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me
Lily awoke to the smell of bacon sizzling in the kitchen. She smiled to herself. Someone was cooking breakfast and that someone had to be a saint. She was starving and could not wait to go out and have fun. So, she hopped in the shower quickly, brushed her teeth, got changed into her beach wear, ran a brush through her damp curls and walked down the stairs to the kitchen.
There was James, cooking breakfast and setting out five plates.
"Wow, you can cook?" Lily asked.
"Not the Muggle way. But really, it's quite simple using magic. My mum taught me," James explained. He took her plate as she sat down and filled it with fluffy pancakes and two pieces of bacon.
"Would you like some orange juice?" James asked.
"Sure," Lily said quietly. She had begun to realize that she didn't know all that much about James's life.
"So, are you close to your parents?" Lily asked.
"Oh yeah. My dad's always been my hero ever since I was a little boy. And well, my mum, she's just my mum. She's amazing. Sirius loves her too," James said.
Lily noticed that he was blushing. James Potter was actually blushing over his family.
"I think that's very respectable that you have such a good relationship with your parents. I wish I could say the same," Lily said.
"Not good with the folks? Lily Evans? What parents wouldn't want you as a child?" James asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know. I suppose they're just not used to my magical capabilities. They've been supportive of it since the beginning, but it's just caused such a rift with my sister, Petunia," Lily said.
"That's a shame. I'm an only child so I guess I have it made. Well, that's what Sirius says anyways. Him and his brother are just like you and your sister. Other than the fact that his brother is a wizard too," James said.
The two of them sat in silence for a while. James continued flipping pancakes. Lily looked up and noticed a huge pile of them.
"Are we feeding all of Miami?" Lily asked.
"No. Just Sirius," James said.
"Are you sure he'll eat all that? Sirius isn't overweight or anything. I can't picture him eating all of those," Lily said.
"You obviously don't know Sirius well," James said. "So what's on the agenda today?"
"Well, I was thinking of going to the beach," Lily said. "Care to join me?"
"Depends. I promised Sirius we would hang out," James said.
"We can all hang out, the five of us," Lily said.
"Good plan Lils, but one slight problem in that theory. Mac and Addy are going to spend some quality time together. So they can kind of sort out their problems," a male voice said.
Sirius entered the kitchen looking refreshed and ready to start the day.
"I never knew how he was such a morning person," James said, putting pancakes onto Sirius's plate.
"Oh James, seriously, are you trying to starve me here?" Sirius asked, the straightest look on his face. He clearly looked underestimated.
"I know, I know. Not as many as you're used to at Hogwarts. I didn't have enough batter," James explained.
"You eat more than that?" Lily asked, gaping at the mound of pancakes. Sirius was pouring the entire bottle of maple syrup onto the mountain.
"Normally," Sirius said. "I am a growing boy."
"As you've told me on many occasions," Lily said, rolling her eyes at him. "So, I'm stuck with you two lunatics all day today?"
James and Sirius grinned at each other.
"Lily Evans, this is your time to become one with the Marauders. We have spoken about it. Don't tell Addy but, you're going to be our first honorary Marauder. So, it's your initiation time now," Sirius said.
"You can turn back now and stay with the girls but this opportunity only comes once in a lifetime, if you're lucky," James said.
"What do I have to do?" Lily asked.
"Oh, we'll think of something. You really are lucky you're with James and I. If it had been Remus and Peter you would have had to so something lame like run around the house. We aren't the amateurs in the group," Sirius said.
"Great," Lily mumbled.
"Trust me, it'll be fun," James whispered into her ear.
.X.
Addy had changed into her bathing suit and she and Mac were going to go lay out. For the moment, she was applying sunscreen on so she wouldn't ruin her already tan complexion.
"Va-Va-Voom. Addy babe, that yellow bikini is looking nice," Sirius said, admiring Addison.
Addison rolled her eyes at him.
"It's called swimming, Sirius. I am not here for your entertainment," Addison said.
"That's what you think," Sirius said.
"Hey listen, you take care of Lily today," Addison said.
"We will. She'll have the time of her life," Sirius assured her.
"She better, Black. Or there won't be many more times in your life," Addison said, gripping his arm.
"We'll take care of her," Sirius said, reassuringly.
"Ok, I am trusting you with my best friend. Sadly, but I am trusting a Marauder," Addison said. "I must be crazy."
"Crazy, but bloody sexy," Sirius said, winking and leaving the house. He had to go and meet Lily and James.
.X.
"Ok Lily. This is your first task. You see that old lady over there?" James asked.
Lily looked near an ice cream stand to see an old lady spreading out a towel on the beach. Lily nodded.
"You have to go over there and convince her that the lifeguard is madly in love with her. It is lame, but trust me, the first step to pranking is the lying and deceit," James said.
"And why is Sirius not here for my first task?" Lily asked.
"He went off to go watch the girls volleyball game. He figured I would want to coach you through your first one," James said, smiling.
She blushed.
"That poor old woman. I kind of feel bad for her," she said.
"Go on. Make something up," James said.
Lily walked over to see the woman taking sunblock out of her bag.
"Hi, my name is Arielle," Lily lied, thinking of the first false name that came to her head. "You see that guy over there? Yes, the one with the messy hair and glasses?"
The woman watched. James was absently staring off onto the beach. Lily grinned, knowing that she was pranking a Marauder.
"Oh yes, what a handsome devil he is," the woman said. Lily was slightly taken aback by this woman's brutal honesty.
"Almost as handsome as that young fellow who walked by earlier," the woman said. Lily grinned, she must have been referring to Sirius.
"Sure. Well, that one over there told me he would love to rub that sun block on you. I believe his exact words were 'Delicious'. He was too shy to come over and tell you himself," Lily said.
"Aw, what a dear. I can't believe that. So sweet," the woman said. Quickly her features changed and became masculine.
"And also, so masterful!" Sirius said, lifting Lily up.
"Sirius?!?" Lily asked, shocked.
"That's a Marauder for you," James said, walking over.
"James, she pinned it on you! Not the lifeguard. She is so in," Sirius said.
"Welcome to the Marauders," James said, giving her a hug.
.X.
"Wow, that was an amazing day. I don't think I have ever been that rebellious in my life," Lily said.
She and James were walking barefoot along the beach. The sun was setting and it was the perfect time to be out there.
"Well, then I am glad we showed you a good time," James said. "You were brilliant. I believe that today you were the brains, I was the brawns and Sirius of course was the beauty."
"Oh, but of course," Lily said, laughing.
"Have you ever been to the ocean before?" James asked.
"No," Lily said honestly.
"Then you have to go in. It's amazing. Roll your pant legs up," James said. Lily did so and walked slowly into the water where waves were cascading onto her feet. She smiled.
"You're right," Lily said. She then walked out and pulled James in, getting him a little wet.
"Oh, it's on now Evans," James said, splashing her. Soon, the two were in a full out splashing war. When they were both sopping wet, they got out and started walking back along. James gave Lily his sweatshirt and they walked in silence, just enjoying the mere presence of each other.
"Am I a boring person, James?" Lily asked. James looked at her oddly. She just came out and said what she was thinking. James loved that about her.
"Boring? Do you know how many not boring things you did today?" James asked.
"A lot. But I have never done anything remotely close to that before," Lily said sadly.
"No you're not boring. Arielle Prewitt, now that girl is boring. All she talks about is herself," James said.
"It's weird though. I have been changing for everyone. I have tried to change for my sister so many times. It feels that however I act is absolutely appalling according to her standards. Talking about our families made me realize that today. I don't know who I want to be anymore," Lily said.
"I know who. I want you to be you. I want you to be real with me and whoever you're around. And if they can't accept it, then they're the boring ones. I want you to be Lily," James said.
He cupped her face in his hands and brought his lips to hers. And there, they had one of their first real kisses, alone on the beach when the sun was setting. As Sirius would say, 'How sweet, but totally clichéd'. Actually, he would most likely say something along the lines of 'Addy babe, that could be you and me'. Yet, nothing really mattered to them at that moment other than being themselves.