Remembering

Phase One

"He thinks he can screw with us? Let's show him just what he's dealing with," I finished, putting my hands on my hips and pursing my lips. The girls looked at one another from their positions on the floor.

"Well..." Marlene looked torn. "You're the only one, right Lily?"

I snorted. "Of course. I just need outfits. You guys'll be my assistants. Please?" I asked, putting on my puppy dog face and gazing imploringly at them.

Dorcas rolled her eyes. "I was going to agree anyway, just thought that... you know... this is kind of mean."

I huffed indignantly. "Oh my god, Dorcas, you did not just say that. I thought you, of all people, would be on my side. He's asking us to use our bodies for his stupid prank. I say, kick his ass."

There. Now that I had cursed, Dorcas seemed to understand. Speak in her language and you get what you want. I don't know why, but she's a lot easier to persuade if you speak fluent profanity.

Dorcas nodded. "I see what you mean. He's trying to use us and see us in revealing stuff, isn't he?"

I threw my hands up to the ceiling. "Thank you! Sirius is doing it too. Remus obviously has no idea what's going on, or he would stop it, and you know how Peter is a total perv sometimes. Sirius and James are just hormone-driven teenagers."

"Why did you agree to help them, then?" Alice piped up.

I shook my head. "Isn't it obvious?"

"No," they chorused. I rolled my eyes.

"Wow. Pay a little more attention to me, will you?" I was laughing, though.

"Well, there you have it, folks. A full-blown plead for attention." Mary MacDonald stood in the doorway, her arms crossed. I scowled at her.

"It was a joke, Mary, geez."

"Call it what you will," she said, shrugging, hostility peeking through her playful words. She walked over to her bed, pulling things out of her trunk.

"You know, you might want to pull your skirt down," I said loudly.

"Shove off, Evans," she growled.

"What?" I asked innocently. "I'm your friend. Aren't I supposed to help you with fashion?"

Mary turned around, her tanned face twisted into a sneer. She threw her long, frizzy dark hair over her shoulder. She had obviously tried to straighten it this morning. I would offer her my product to tame her mane, but seeing the way she was acting, I decided against it.

"Are you?" she asked, her voice venomously sweet.

"What?" My hands flew to my heart in mock surprise. "You -- you don't like me?" I gave a fake sniffle.

"You said it, not me." She smirked and flounced off to the bathroom, pajamas in hand.

I stuck my tongue out after her. Unfortunately, she didn't see.

I turned around, where Alice and Emma were looking at me in pity, Marlene was looking at the floor in embarrassment, and Dorcas was staring at the ceiling innocently.

"Ugh!" I flopped down on the floor. "'You said it, not me,'" I mocked in a high voice. "What is her problem?"

"Don't listen to her, Lily, she's just jealous," Alice said.

I snorted. "Of what?!" I gestured at my pale skin, my bright red hair, my green eyes.

"Of your popularity," Dorcas said suddenly, taking her gaze from the ceiling. "You're really popular, and she hates that."