Chapter Twelve: JP & LE- No More
She avoided the Marauders the next morning by leaving for breakfast earlier than she normally would eat. Once finished, she headed to the school grounds, grateful to find that the air was the warmest it had been in a couple of days. New spring grass was growing, and the trees had flowered, as if over night spring had sprung. The air was fresh, crisp, and clean from the melted snow of winter. She could feel her heart expand with all the possibilities that spring would bring them.
"Evans!" A voice shouted across the school grounds. Squinting, Lily placed her hand over her eyes to block the glinting sun. She watched as the four Marauders strutted her way. She bit back a laugh, thinking that they all looked rather pompous walking that way. She picked up a stone and skipped it on the water of the lake as they approached.
"Potter, Black, Remus, Peter," Lily greeted them rather distantly as they stopped just mere feet from Lily. She looked at them over her shoulder.
"Evans," they replied in unison, James remaining silent.
"Lily, can we talk?" James asked. Lily glanced at the Marauders.
"Privately, or with the Marauders present?" Lily asked crossly.
"Privately will do, but I don't care," James said. Lily and he walked a few steps away from the Marauders, who had started skipping their own stones across the water. "Lily, look I have been thinking…"
"I have been thinking too, James, and this, you and I, isn't worth you loosing your friends over," Lily said cutting him off from speaking. "I won't be the one who comes between the Marauders."
"But Lily," James protested. She hugged him and patted his shoulder.
"I was great while it lasted," Lily murmured. She kissed his cheek and abandoned him on the shore of the lake. James wandered back to the Marauders.
"So, all is cool?" Sirius asked. Remus scowled at him.
"She…she broke up with me," James said in a state of shock.
"What?!" Remus and Sirius both exclaimed.
"She said that it wasn't worth breaking up the Marauders," James said as he sat down by the tree, unable to walk.
"Didn't you tell her that we aren't mad?" Remus asked. James shook his head.
"I never got a chance," James groaned, burying his head into his arms. Remus and Sirius looked at each other, uncertain as to what they should do. Sirius sat down next to James and put his arm around him.
"We should go tell her," Sirius said. James shook his head, unable to look up at them.
"No," James said with a suspiciously sounding stuffiness. Sirius looked to Remus, uncertain how to handle James' crying.
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