"What time is it?"
"Past two."
The girls could hear the unmistakable sound of the front door open and closing occasionally; people were starting to leave the party. Lily remained on the floor; face down on the carpet, while Emmeline stroked her hair. Dorcas rose slowly and crossed to the window, peering out at the leaving party goers.
"They look like they had fun at least," she said quietly with a sigh. "Your birthday was a hit, Lil."
The redhead snorted into the carpet, the last of her tears having fallen hours ago. But she was too exhausted and depressed now to even move. Slowly she turned her face to the side, looking up at Emmeline with puffy eyes. "You never got to dance with Sirius."
"It doesn't matter," she replied gently. "He probably wouldn't be able to handle my
moves anyway."
The three girls laughed, smiles gracing their features for the first time since entering the room. Slowly Lily pushed herself up into a kneeling position. She felt wretched and knew she probably didn't look much better. She could see streaks of mascara across the back of her hands and wondered just how bad her face must be. "How do you think John would like me now?" she sniggered.
"Don't talk about him," Dorcas said, returning to her side. "You don't want a bastard like that anyway." She retrieved another tissue from the desk and dabbed the end with her tongue, using it to clean Lily's face. "You're better off without him."
"I know," Lily replied in a small voice. "I just – I don't know how this happened. It's my birthday and we were supposed to-" She released a long breath. "-I feel so stupid. I don't get it, what did I do wrong?"
"Nothing," both Dorcas and Emmeline answered immediately. "He's just an idiot," Emmeline added seriously. "He got too cocky. He obviously figured if he could manage to get a bird like you he could get anyone."
Dorcas scoffed, wiping at Lily's face still. "He wasn't supposed to get them at the same time though."
Lily sighed, running her hands through her slightly tangled hair. "What do I do now?"
"Whatever you want," Dorcas grinned, rolling up the tissue in her hand. "You're a single woman again."
"I think you're getting ahead of yourself," Emmeline said with a pointed look at Dorcas. Lily nodded. "What does she say to John?"
"Urgh," Dorcas grimaced. "The break up, nasty."
"Thank you," Lily snorted. "My confidence had just increased ten-fold."
"Glad to help."
"Shut up."
"Are you going to yell at him?" Emmeline enquired. "If you'd rather just forget him I guess we could go out there for you; tell him you don't want to see him again."
"No way," Dorcas scoffed, before Lily could reply. "She's going to eat him alive, aren't you?"
Lily smirked. "I'll give him a piece of my mind alright, but this isn't the place for a row."
"I'd much prefer to wreak revenge on the two of them," Dorcas added enthusiastically, a wicked glint in her eye. "Let's embarrass the hell out of them in front of the entire school; that'd sure teach them. I want to shave off Judy's hair; she's so vain it would kill her."
"Dorcas," Lily laughed, shaking her head. "Honestly."
"I am being honest!" Dorcas exclaimed. "And I'd like to charm John's you-know-what so that he'd never be able to find a condom to fit him!"
All three girls rolled about laughing until the sound of the front door opening and closing reached their ears once more.
"I guess I should show my face," Lily sighed, using the leather chair to pull herself to her feet. The two girls followed suit. "It's my party and I've ignored everyone all night; I'm a terrible host."
