Reactance | James Potter

Chapter 18

  IT TOOK JAMES a lot longer than Olivia had anticipated to notice that Lily and Jon were dating.

   Olivia was on edge constantly over it. Her nails were bitten to the raw, bleeding skin because of how she gnawed on them, watching Lily every second as if a hawk was about to swoop her up into the sky. Olivia didn't know what to expect.  .  .  . Would James throw a childish fit?

   If asked a few months ago, she would've immediately said yes. Yes, James would throw a fit. An angry, violent, vengeful fit that anyone and everyone around him would suffer for. He'd pull out his wand or, worse, throw it aside — either way, Jon would spend a few long nights in the hospital wing.

   Those nights would give Jon a stretch of quiet, lonely time to think over his choices .  .  . then, when he got out, he'd suddenly want nothing to do with Lily. He'd swear his change of heart isn't about her — or James — but Lily would know the truth. The whole school would know the truth.

   And once again, Lily would be declared property of James Potter in the whisper of unsaid name if in nothing else.

   But, now, Olivia wasn't so sure anymore. She'd become keen on another side to James, one that she doubted very few people knew existed.  .  .  . Perhaps it was new. Perhaps he was tired of the rejection, tired of fighting — perhaps the pit of sorrowful sadness he was slipping into was a reflection of gut-wrenching defeat.

   No, she'd be a fool to believe that. James never surrendered; A stranger who knew less about him than even Olivia could tell you that about James. He was a Gryffindor proud and true, to the worst fault of it, and a trait of Gryffindors is their refusal to quit, even when they should.

Needing to share her burden, Olivia expressed her concerns to Marlene but she left out how she knew the little details: as in her and James' few short, private conversations. She didn't want to imply the wrong idea because Marlene was very good at playing make-believe just to keep life interesting.

   Thankfully, Marlene already had worries of her own about James and Lily, so she asked no questions. Together the girls stayed hyper-aware at all times, just waiting for something to go terribly wrong — for the other shoe to drop on Lily's current fairytale.

   But it didn't happen. Weeks went by since that first Hogsmeade trip and James remained blissfully clueless. He made no comment on how Jon walked Lily to all of her classes, how they laughed with entwined hands in the corridors — leaning into one another with the happiness that only a new couple could enjoy, and even how they cuddled up in the common room.

Perhaps James doesn't want to know, Olivia started to think, so he feigns ignorance for as long as he can. .  .  . But how could that be? Surely, James would take any chance he can get to make a show of strength for his — adoring fans.

   Wherever Lily and her friends went, Jon never stayed away for long. That first Wednesday afternoon after Hogsmeade, Lily worked feverishly on her homework, sat on the carpet and bent awkwardly over the glass table. Olivia and Marlene lounged on the couch, stretched opposite ways with their arms folded over their heads. Mary, Alice and Dorcas had gone up to their dormitory to change out of their uniforms an hour ago, but they had yet to come back.

"Quit kicking me," grumbled Marlene, muffled through her puckered lips as her cheek smooshed against the cushion. When Olivia shuffled again, bumping their legs together, Marlene jerked out her foot, swiftly catching Olivia in the chest.

"Ugh, you bitch," Olivia winced with pain as she flipped over again, onto her side, and dangled her arm towards the floor. She blinked slowly at it as it swung, back and forth, trying desperately to keep her eyes open.