love spirals

3

When James opened the door to Lily on Saturday evening, the weird tension was unfortunately still between them. She smiled at him awkwardly and followed him inside, where she immediately walked over to Peter who had arrived earlier.

Friday's practise had been just as weird. Even though they were supposed to practice their free dance that would decide their final score, they hardly could look at each other, let alone touch.
Alice must have had heard from Sirius about what had happened because she had given them some more freedom in their exercises than usual.

Peter's hockey game in the evening had been a bit more relaxed with Remus and Sirius sitting between them, trying to lift the mood.
Peter and Barty had been playing fairly well and had immediately invited most of the Cardiff team and some people of the Rouen Dragons to James' party.

James now went into the kitchen and poured himself a drink first, drowning it just as Sirius came after him.
"She looks extra good tonight, doesn't she?", James said, full of yearning.
His best friend smiled at him knowingly and wordlessly held his own cup out to get it filled.

He was able to see her from here, chatting with Peter, her open hair framing her face like flames and her face lighting up when Peter offered to get her a drink.

The blond boy joined Sirius and James at the kitchen counter, pouring drinks.
"It's alright that I invited the Cardiff Devils, isn't it?", he asked cautiously. "I really want to impress them..."
"I'll take the compliment," James laughed. "It's not a problem, stop worrying!"
"Anyways. It's not entirely my fault: Barty has the biggest crush on Evan Rosier, he plays number eight for the Dragons..."
"Isn't he like the French star player? Barty has his standards settled high, huh?", Sirius joked. The three boys laughed.

"Also," Peter added "Xenophilius will possibly join us. He is the Dragons' assistant coach and he is about our age as well. I think Evan asked Barty if he could bring him."
"What's he look like?", James wondered.
"Oh, you would hardly miss him. He has really fair hair, almost white, about shoulder length. Didn't you see him at the game?"
"Yep, now I do remember." James distinctively had a blurry image of said young man in his head. He had not really payed attention to the coaches, especially not of the French team.

Sirius closed the open bottles and pulled his friends closer around the shoulders, whispering: "Do not by any means, let me fool around with Mary."

Peter and James shared an amused glance, so the black-haired boy slapped their heads: "I know what you are thinking about and I will not let my mistakes be repeated. That whirlpool haunts me in my dreams..."

His friends cracked up at the thought of it, but Sirius jumped up and interrupted the conversation when the doorbell rang again. He opened the door jauntily: "Welcome, welcome! Come in..."
Older ice hockey guys and their girlfriends, figure skaters and Peter's friends from university spilled inside and James lost track of Lily.

---

James joined Sirius at the music box as he was shuffling until people started complaining.
Couples dancing and swaying in each other's arms seemed to be all around him, mocking him with their happiness.
Peter had started talking to a girl some time ago and had ignored James' problems, telling him to grab a drink and enjoy the party like everyone else.

"She hardly even looks at me!", he whined, leaning against the pale boy. "She only has eyes for Remus. Remus here, Remus there... and the worst thing is", James added, "I actually kinda like him."
"He said he had a boyfriend, but look at 'em", he slurred, pointing at them with his half-filled cup.

Lily sat half on Remus' lap, giggling at something he said.
After all that she had released on James, how she felt about him and the sabotage confession, he was just so exhausted. The party was the perfect opportunity to just forget about it all.
Still, there she was and his blurry eyesight focused on her again and again, like she was his centre of gravity, everything that grounded him.

James felt the tears build up in his eyes and Sirius must have noticed as well, because he nudged him and grinned devilishly: "I'll kiss him, so we know for sure."
James wiped his eyes and pouted cutely: "You would do that for me? You really are the best! Oh, I love youu!"
"I love you too", Sirius proclaimed loudly, slinging one arm around his friend.

---

Remus and Lily shared an amused glance.
"He is cute, you know?", Remus noticed thoughtfully.
"Sirius?", Lily now looked at the two boys as well.
"No! No. I'm talking about James...", but Remus' blush was telling a different story.