𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒, james potter

09. sunsets

December 1, 1974

NESRIN GROANED FOR what seemed to be the millionth time that day.

"C'mon, Fadel," the boy next to her encouraged. "You can do this, I know you can. You've done this a hundred times before."

"I fucking can't, Potter. Why does it have to be so hard! This problem doesn't even make any sense."

James sighed, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

"Okay," he spoke up. "How about we take a break, yeah?"

"Finally!" Nesrin exclaimed, aggressively throwing her quill down on the table which earned her a stern look from Madam Pince.

She only shrugged in response as she stood from her seat and stretched her arms out. From her peripheral vision, she saw James roll his eyes but let out a small smile. He came around the table and held out his hand.

She furrowed her eyebrows at it before looking up at him.

"I promise I don't bite. Come on, let's go."

"Where?" Nesrin asked a little more dramatically than necessary.

"I'll show you."

He reached his hand out further. Nesrin eyed it warily before taking it, his calluses pressed tightly against her palm.

Her stomach did a little flip that she would definitely never replay again.

The teenagers left the library, leaving their books behind. James led the brunette down familiar hallways and up familiar stairs until they reached a very familiar place.

The two of them walked to the edge of the railing on the Astronomy Tower. Nesrin leaned out against it, laughing as the breeze blew her hair into her face.

James caught himself smiling at her and quickly looked away as he mirrored her position.

"Look," he said, pointing out into the distance. "The sun is about to set."

And it was. Nesrin looked at the blues and purples and oranges and pinks blending into one another. It all seemed so coordinated and balanced. And yet completely spontaneous and unforced.

"It's pretty," she found herself saying, taking it all in.

"Yeah." James's voice sounded strained, so she turned her head to look at him. He was staring blankly at the sky.

Nesrin frowned. Nudging him, she asked, "Everything okay?"

His eyes shot to her, something about the way they were green in that instant making her feel a little lightheaded.

James grinned at her, nudging her back. "Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

She just shrugged and turned her attention back to the sun setting in the sky.

"I love sunsets," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

James hummed. "I do too." He turned to face her. "We should come out here and watch them."

"Together?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, separately from opposite sides of the fucking tower. Obviously together, dumbass."

It was her turn to roll her eyes. "Shithead."

"Bitch."

"Loser."

"Jerk."

"Dick."

"Bye."

James turned around to leave, making Nesrin jump into action as her eyes widened and she grabbed the sleeve of his jumper.

"Where are you going?" she asked frantically.

James did a terrible job of hiding his smirk. Nesrin's eyes narrowed in on him.

"Woah, Fadel. Didn't know you wanted me that bad."

"Shut the fuck up, Potter. I just don't want to have to walk back to the library in the dark by myself."

"You do realize it's not dark inside the castle, right?"

"And?"

James let out a dramatic sigh and settled against the railing once again, shaking his head in amusement.

"You're going to kill me one day, Nesrin Fadel."

"I don't doubt it, James Potter."

𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 !

the urge to write a fanfic about tadashi hamada every time i watch big hero 6.