"why didn't you just tell me?" james asked. i shrugged. at first, i didn't have feelings for him, but now, it felt like my heart was shattering.
"i don't know, james, it was just nice to--"
"to lie? alice, you know how much i like lily!" he rested his head in his hands. in an instant, i felt everything i didn't know i felt for james. love, fear, intimidation, happiness. in this instant, i wished i hadn't lied to james. i wish i had told him as soon as i had known.
"james, i just--"
"no, alice. stop. i need to go find lily and tell her how i feel." he stood up from the bed, and opened the curtains. i stood after him in protest, but he walked. i resigned into my room. things wouldn't be the same, anymore, i figured.
they weren't.
i sat with marlene and dorcas from then on. lily and james got together, and remus and sirius stayed together. i stayed alone.
after all, it wasn't like a gryffindor to take heartbreak lightly.
