Marauders - Always - Part One

Alien Boyfriends of Classic Literature

Lula Kensington sat at the pub, nervously waiting. She spun the straw in her glass, watching the ice move in circles, worrying she was losing the color of her lipstick as she pressed them together, biting back a panic attack. Her painted black fingernails clicked as they drummed against the glass. Condensation rolled down and pooled on the table beneath it. She slid a coaster from a stack of them by the napkin holder and put her glass on top of it.

Every time the pub door opened, her eyes shot to it, praying she'e see Spencer Stewart there.

It was ten minutes past the time they'd agreed upon when Remus Lupin entered the pub, looking nervous. He glanced around the pub and spotted her at a table by the bar, tucked into a corner, and he started toward her, ducking between the crowded bodies that filled the room. Laughter - too loud and so at odd with the feeling coursing through her - echoed about the room.

Lula's eyes filled with tears and she looked down, closing her eyes, her heart breaking. She'd pinned too many hopes on the idea that Remus Lupin might be able to talk Stewie into coming to the pub, and now she felt foolish for having expected anything. She had dared to believe that she and Stewie were unbreakable, deep down, that if she just had the chance to apologize things would go back to normal, things would be alright again... But she had truly and completely ruined it all hadn't she? Her jealousy and her anger and her self doubt and obstinance had all played a perfect storm, and Stewie had truly gone from her life, hadn't he?

Remus cleared his throat and she looked up at him.

Spencer Stewart stood beside Remus next to the table - and Sirius Black and two others of Remus's friends she remembered seeing at the Halloween party. She barely saw any of them besides Stewie, though, and she rushed to her feet, nearly knocking over her chair and threw her arms around him.

Sirius was dragging two additional chairs up from another table so all six of them had seats 'round the table as James pulled a chair out for Lily, and Remus sank into the third at the table. Sirius pushed one up beside Lula and dropped the second beside Remus, spinning it so he could sit backwards in the chair, propping his arms up on the seat back. Remus tucked his arm 'round Sirius's back and James grabbed the little menu on the table, looking it over as Lily took a deep breath and said something smelled amazing.

"Sean Buckner says the chips here are incredible," James said.

Sirius watched Lula hugging Stewie and his eyes sparkled with mischief, "Well reckon we ought to get the pair of you a room?" he teased, elbowing Spencer's hip.

Lula drew back, dabbing her eyes with her finger tips, afraid her make up might be running down her cheeks and looked up at Stewie. "I missed you," she said.

It had been a month since she'd seen him, and it was too long. She couldn't believe how much he appeared to have changed in the time apart, he had lost weight (and had very little to spare to begin with) and seemed scruffier about the chin and cheeks, as though he hadn't shaved in a few days. His eyes were sharper, or something - the color in them brighter.

Remus watched Spencer closely, his eyes riveted, reading his emotions as Lula stood, waiting for him to speak, to return the sentiment of missing her. Spencer looked squirmy and uncomfortable and he murmured something that might've been agreement, then slid into the seat at the table. Sirius's arm reached over and clapped onto Spencer's shoulder as a comfort, making Spencer jump slightly and look at Sirius in surprise. Sirius squeezed his fingers - a motion that Remus imitated on Sirius's own shoulder - and patted twice before letting his hand fall away. Remus's hand stayed on Sirius's shoulder and his eyes stayed on Spencer.

"It's been a month, Stewie," Lula said, "And I've felt guilty and horrible ever since Halloween. I was such a brat to you all through October and I'm terribly sorry. I - I took you for granted and I've realized it in the weight of your absence." Her eyes sparkled as she stared at him, pleading him to speak.