by natalie.ana
"Mary, where the hell are you? I made a right tit of myself in the bathroom-" Lily winced at the loud noise coming through the speaker. Between that and the impossibly loud music in this place she would be lucky to find Mary by next Tuesday. She blocked her other ear. "Mary? Can you hear me?"
"Lil!" she could barely hear Mary's voice at all, "I'm at," and then totally non-decipherable words filtered through and then the line went dead. Her screen read 'call failure'.
"Piece of shit fucking phone," Lily mumbled, holding it up higher to see if it'd get a better signal as she wandered through the less crowded corridors of the night club they were in.
"Ooft!" Lily huffed as her body collided into someone else's and her cup tipped and — cold,cold,cold,cold,cold - "Fuck!" she said, drawing out the vowel as she lifted her white singlet away from her body since it was now soaked with whatever had been in her cup - so ice, a smidge of lemonade, and a whole lot of vodka. This is what she got for trying to find Mary.
"Shit! Sorry! Are you all right?"
Lily finally looked up to see the living wall she'd inevitably walked into and froze. Fit. He was so fit. It almost made up for the fact that she was now covered in vodka. And tall. Jesus, why did she always have such a thing for tall guys? His eyes were such a light hazel they almost seemed to glow and his arms were fit and his face was and his hair was — oh god, he was still staring at her. She was staring at him — actually drooling over him may have been a more apt description. She really wanted to run her hands through that hair. Crap, he was waiting for her to respond.
"F-fine, just … wet." If she were sober, she'd have winced at how dirty it sounded.
Jesus, he made a white t-shirt look like the sexiest god damned thing a guy could wear. How she did not know but it was doing things to her body, to her brain, to her everything.
"Right, sorry I wasn't — oh, er," his eyes flicked away from her. No, don't do that! Lily wanted to shout. "I feel obliged to mention that your shirt is white."
"Er, thanks?"
"And see through."
"Oh. Oh!"
She looked down and sure enough she could see through her shirt to the black lace bra she wore — well bralette — well crop top if one were to ask Marlene McKinnon. The same Marlene who'd forced Lily into it and the white singlet had been Lily's last ditch effort not to feel like a complete slag even if they were in Ibiza and barely dressed did seem to be the dress code here. Except now her white singlet was about as useful as cellophane so with a sigh and knowing at least Marlene would be elated and it beat wearing a wet singlet, she pulled the wet shirt off completely.
She looked back at the guy and smiled softly, biting her lip, when she saw he was pointedly looking up at the ceiling. A total sweetheart.
"Hi," she said pointedly.
His eyes flickered back down to hers, "hi," he said and his eyes flicked down and back up to her eyes again. "Oh, you're not wearing a shirt anymore."
"If my mate is to be believed, this apparently counts as a top but my tits are kind of small so I was wearing it as a bra though she did want me to ditch the shirt at the hotel but I told her I'd look like a slag without it and boys get so much handsier when boobs are on display and it was self-preservation rea-"
"You've fantastic tits," he complimented before freezing. "I just said that out loud, didn't I?"
"You did." She'd be offended if she weren't so amused and bloody captivated by this guy. He's just a guy, a small voice reminded her but another part of her said, he looks like a Greek god.
He ran a hand through his hair and, lord have mercy, she wouldn't mind if this man just pushed her against the wall and-
"That was a really pervy thing to say. I'm sorry," he said earnestly. "I'm not usually-"
"A perv?" Lily offered.
"Yeah," he agreed, running his hand through his hair again. "Though I am usually an idiot so this is probably right on track."
"I don't usually parade around in tops that can pass off as sexy lingerie so let's call it even." What the hell was she even saying?
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bopping, his eyes hadn't looked away from hers during that entire conversation and she just wanted to melt. This was insane. She didn't even know him. She didn't even know his name.
"I'm James," he offered his hand as though he could read her mind and Lily slipped her hand into his, letting his fingers wrap around hers.
"Hi, James. I'm Lily."
"Hi, Lily," he smiled, their hands still slowly shaking between them and then, "are you supposed to be back here?"
"Er," Lily hadn't even considered that she may actually not be allowed in this very deserted corridor. "Where am I exactly?"
"Backstage," he offered.
"Ah, no .. No, probably not," Lily decided. God, he was still holding her hand. Why did it feel like she'd been holding this hand her entire life? "I'm looking for my friend. Mary. She's about this high," Lily indicated with the hand he wasn't holding, "she's got brown hair and she's wearing a shit tonne of glitter."
"Well, I haven't seen your friend," he said, "but if you come with me I can probably find you a shirt, yeah? In the name of self-preservation and all that."
"Oh, you don't have to."
He pulled her along after him — he was still holding her hand — and said, "I feel bad for ruining your shirt."
"Is this the part where you drug me and murder me or something?" she asked, immediately horrified that she'd just asked her future husband if he was a murderer — Jesus Christ, she needed to get a grip. They'd just met, he was not her future husband — not now that you accused him of being a murderer. It's like she'd never flirted before in her life.
"I mean you don't look like a serial killer but you know lots of girls didn't think Ted Bundy looked like a serial killer and, you know," — this was just getting worse — "my friends would be disappointed if I died because all of our flight confirmations are on my phone and my sister would probably sniff at the funeral and say things like 'I always told Lily not to be a slag and follow fit guys anywhere they please' and I couldn't live with the shame of knowing my death proved my sister right for once."
"Or," he cut in, "or I could just be a nice guy who wants to give you a shirt since he ruined yours," he suggested, turning back to face her.
"Right," she agreed. "Sorry."
He opened the door and it was a lounge area with a few leather couches placed around and a bar in the corner lit up with those hidden LED lights glowing a cold blue. A few people were milling around and there was a security guard at the door. He led Lily in until he found a bag and he rummaged through it before pulling out a folded white shirt, identical to the one he was wearing.
"Here you go."
They were standing so close Lily could see all the flecks of hazel and green in his eyes. Without looking away from him, she grabbed the shirt he was holding out but he didn't let go so it kind of just stayed in between them, their fingers brushing, as they stared at each other.
"Thanks, it's a quality looking shirt," she said, still not even having looked at the shirt. He was standing so close to her, she just wanted to take that one step closer and-
"I'm sure it'll look better on you."
She licked her lips and turned away before looking at him again. His crooked grin was infectious and he had dimples. She was a sucker for dimples.
"Oi, Potter! We're on in five!"
Lily jumped at the sudden loud voice and James placed a hand on her arm.
"Steady on."
"Er, on?" Lily asked. "Wait, Potter? As in James Potter, from that DJ band, group thingy?" Mary hadn't shut up about them. What the hell was their name again? "The Marauders," she announced, clicking her fingers.
"That'd be me," he agreed, a very amused smirk on his face. "One half of that DJ band, group thingy."
Lily nudged him because he was laughing at her but she was laughing too and why did this feel so … easy?
"Who's the bird, Prongs?"
"Two minutes, Pads," James called back to him, holding a hand up to his mate.
"Oh, this night is getting so weird," Lily muttered to herself. Maybe whatever Marlene had given her was starting to hit.
"Are you — will you be around for long?"
"I — that depends," Lily licked her lips.
He turned rummaging through his bag, fishing out a pen and ripping a piece of paper out of a book.
"Did you just rip a page out of a novel?" Lily asked mortified but he didn't pay any mind as he scrawled his name and number onto it.
He slipped it into her hand. "It'll be worth it, if you call me after my set."
"For once in your life that was actually smooth, Prongs," the same mate — Pads — said. "Three minutes."
They both ignored him. "Okay," she agreed.
"Okay?"
"I'll call … if the music's good and we decide to stick around."
"In that case … any music preferences?"
"Taylor Swift."
He laughed — he had such a pretty laugh — and nodded. "The other half of my DJ band, group thingy may kill me, but I'll see what I can do."
"You're not going to let me forget that one, are you?"
"Already considering changing our name to that. It's catchy."
"Prat."
"Tell you what, you call me, and I'll consider forgetting."
"I swear, Potter!" the same annoying mate.
Lily whipped around. "Mate, he'd be a whole lot quicker if you weren't such a shit wing man." She turned back to James who was now grinning so widely his whole face was pure happiness. "You were saying?"
"I really think you should hang around and call me."
"You know what my music preference is."
"Potter! Final call!" this time not his mate, but some assistant or someone important Lily figured for James sighed and looked up.
"All right, all right!" James shouted at the assistant. "I gotta go."
"Have a good…" Lily blanked on the word.
"Set?" he offered.
"Yes," she grinned, stepping back and feeling addicted when his feet seemed to follow hers, "have a good set, James Potter."
"I'll be searching for you in the crowd, Lily-" he frowned.
"Evans."
"Lily Evans."
He grinned, looked to the floor, and then gave her one last look. She saluted him — the reason why eluded even her. He lifted his hand in a wave and then he was running out the door.
"What the fuck just happened?" she whispered to herself, the biggest, most pleased smile that she'd ever smiled on her face. She covered her mouth as she laughed, looking down at his name and number. He had a messy scrawl and his writing was squished in the gap between the printed text and the edge of the page. He was crazy. This was crazy. She was so going to call him.
Lily made her way back into the main club, grateful that he had insisted on giving her his shirt, wondering how on earth she was supposed to find Marlene and Mary again. She shot them quick texts before heading to the bar for a fresh drink because whatever had just happened — she felt like she'd earned one.
James Potter. He'd done a good job hiding from her all her life.
Once Lily had her drink, she checked her phone and sighed seeing she had yet to receive a response from Mary or Marlene. They were both probably snogging fit blokes somewhere. Lily could be snogging a bloke right now — her bloke, James — if he wasn't the DJ. With nothing else to do, Lily wandered into the sea of people, neck stretched up to try and see over people — which was useless because almost everyone here was taller than Lily's 5'3".
A few guys still tried to get her attention but Lily ignored them as she pressed through the crowd until a hand grabbed her and she whirled around with an "Oi!" only for it to die in her throat when she saw Marlene's familiar face.
"Where the hell have you been?" Marlene shouted, grabbing onto Lily's arm. "Whose shirt is that?"
"Marls!" Lily shouted happily. "Did you find Mary?"
"Yeah, she's snogging some guy up in VIP." Marlene pointed up and Lily could vaguely spot Mary's figure straddling some guy as they snogged like no one could see them. "Where were you?"
"I think I just met the love of my life," Lily sighed. "Look," she held up the paper, "he gave me his number!" Lily quickly tucked it into her bag, less she lose it.
The lights dimmed as the music slowed some what and Marlene and Lily both turned to look at the stage as the music built up. They were swept into the crowd as the music got faster and faster until it broke and two men ran on stage from opposite ends.
"IBIZA! ARE YOU READY TO GET FUCKING CRAZY!" not-James shouted into his microphone to the delight of the entire crowd as cheers erupted.
Lily's eyes focused on James as he put his headphones on. He looked just as good far away as he did up close.
"Marlene!" Lily pulled on her arm and pointed to the stage. "That's him!"
"Who?"
"The guy who gave me his shirt!"
"Shove off, how drunk are you?"
"Quite drunk but I'm being serious! Look!" Lily held her shirt out. "James Potter gave me this shirt!"
"Which one is that? The man bun or the sex hair?"
"Sex hair," Lily said dreamily.
But then the beat dropped and the two girls couldn't help but start dancing, getting lost in the music. Mary eventually found them, towing her snog partner along and-
"We're going to a club!" Mary shouted. "Come on!"
"No!" Lily protested. "I've to stay!"
"Why?"
"Hot guy gave me his number."
"Well this hot guy's leaving! Come on! He says he's got mates at this other club!"
"Okay," Marlene agreed easily and Lily pulled a face looking back up at the stage and then her entire face transformed when she heard the beginnings of Love Story start.
Lily turned to the girls. "We have to stay! Please!"
But they were already pulling her along with them to the exit. Lily looked over her shoulder back to the stage and was it just her, or was James looking for someone in the crowd?
The other club they ended up at was fine except that James wasn't there so Lily compensated by consuming an insane amount of alcohol and talking to anyone who'd listen about her hot DJ. They latched onto Mary's guy's group of friends most of whom were male and one seemed interested in Lily and maybe if Lily didn't have a James she might've gone for him but…
"I can't believe you made me leave," Lily grumbled miserably as they sat at a table in a kebab shop at five thirty in the morning. "I could be with him right now. He played Love Story for me."
"So he played a Taylor Swift song," Mary shrugged. "Jesus, why does this stuff always taste so much better after a long night of getting fucked up?"
"This could've been the start of our love story." Lily sighed, the alcohol wearing off somewhat now that she'd eaten an entire snack pack by herself. "It's stupid. I have to meet Petunia in Paris in two days anyways for the wedding rehearsal."
Ah, yes. The reason they were even in Ibiza in the first place. Lily was being dragged to Paris for Petunia's wedding because apparently getting married in England wasn't good enough and so Lily was dragging her two best friends with her as emotional support except they only agreed to come if hardcore partying was involved and so three nights in Ibiza had been booked. Tonight was night number three.
"Actually I think it's technically tomorrow now."
"Fuck me. You know, she's already sent me like a billion messages."
"Your sister is a cow," was Mary's helpful input but Lily was inclined to agree ninety-seven percent of the time.
"Show me your phone," Marlene demanded and Lily handed it over without much fight.
It was quiet for a bit. Marlene looking through Lily's phone, Mary eating a pita bread, and Lily wallowing. It was strange but she could not stop thinking about him. It's like he was magnetic or something. And his shirt smelt fantastic and-
"He's playing in Mykonos tonight!" Marlene announced.
"What?"
"Your hot DJ! He's playing in Mykonos tonight! This is fate!" Marlene exclaimed though Lily failed to see how. "We have to go!"
Marlene showed Lily her phone. She'd opened up Facebook and there was an event 'The Marauders' in Mykonos' with two dates being listed. One of them being tomorrow.
"What?" Lily laughed, trying to grab her phone but Marlene pulled it out of her reach. "We can't go to Mykonos."
"Why? You've been sulking over the guy all night. If you like him so much we should go to Mykonos and you should fuck his brains out."
"Or let him fuck yours out. It's been a while since you've had a good lay, Lil," Mary commented.
"Or even a good snog."
"And what about Paris?" Lily asked.
"Fuck Paris!"
"Yes! Fuck Paris!" Mary agreed excitedly. "Whose shitty idea was it to do Ibiza first anyways?"
"Yours!" Lily and Marlene shouted simultaneously, and then Lily, "you said and I quote, 'I can't go straight back to London if I'm hopped on drugs and alcohol'."
"Well, that's just being reasonable, Lily. You couldn't expect me to go deal with the Toad whilst I have an Ibiza hangover."
The Toad — rightfully named — was Mary's horrible boss who exclusively dressed in terrible shades of pink and had a toad-like face. Dolores Umbridge was one who was born fifty and expected everyone else to be too. Mary had been called up on a bunch of bullshit like her knee length skirt being too short or her hair needed to be styled more professionally — whatever that meant coming from someone who wore hot pink skirt suits — and other general boss type things that made her a hag.
"But now you want to deal with her with a Mykonos hangover?"
"If it means you get laid then yes. That's just the type of friend I am."
"And we get to live out our Mamma Mia dreams," Marlene added. "Come on, Lily! You're sitting here pining after this guy when he shows up on your Facebook. It's fate!"
"It's Facebook's spying capabilities," Lily muttered. "You can't honestly be serious! What about my sister? She's expecting me there tomo — no today! And the wedding rehearsal is tomorrow night. She'll flip her shit if I'm not there."
"Boo!" Marlene and Mary shouted.
"Fuck Paris! Fuck Paris! Fuck Paris!"
Oh, she wanted to so badly and why couldn't she? She could already imagine her sister's reprimands though that just made Lily want to do it more. Why shouldn't she be spontaneous for once? And James … she wanted to swoon at the mere thought of him which was kind of pathetic but she could feel it in her bones. He was worth going to Mykonos for. And even if it didn't work out, Mykonos sounded fun. A lot more fun than dealing with her sister in Paris. Shit, she wanted to go to Mykonos.
Lily sighed, shaking her head. "Give me my phone," she held her hand out.
"Why?" Mary asked suspiciously.
"I need to change our flights if we want to be in Mykonos by tonight."
The two girls erupted in squeals and cheers, banging on the table excitedly and then, "Mykonos! Mykonos! Mykonos!"
"But we have to be in Paris in time for my sister's rehearsal dinner!"
"Mykonos! Mykonos! Mykonos!"
_
They arrived in Mykonos after a combined seven and a half hours on a plane — most of which they slept through. Mykonos was bloody worth it though even if Lily never saw James again. The taxi dropped them off in the main town and the three girls sighed.
"This is what I'm talking about," Marlene sighed.
White and blue buildings, pink flowers, and the smell of sea salt in the air. It was paradise. They walked aimlessly through the town, exploring little shops, taking a thousand photos, and sitting down at a restaurant to eat because they were absolutely starved — Lily wanted to know what the hell they put in Greek food because it was literally the best thing she'd ever tasted. Then they wandered through the town some more trying to find a place to stay for the night.
They eventually stumbled upon an inn that had a vacancy and it was definitely not fancy but it was a place to shower and dump their bags. They'd barely settled in, the girls rummaging through their bags for something to wear, when Lily's phone blared and Lily groaned. Petunia's name flashed across her screen.
"Just don't answer it," Mary suggested.
"I have to answer it. She won't stop calling if I don't." Lily pressed accept. "Hi, Petunia."
"Lily? I just saw Marlene's Instagram. Please, tell me you are not in Mykonos when you are already supposed to be in Paris!" Lily pulled a face. Petunia's voice was one octave away from full blown meltdown.
"You posted on Instagram?" Mary hissed, throwing a shoe at Marlene who dodged it.
"Sorry!" Marlene threw her hands up. "I honestly didn't think she still followed me after I posted that photo from Mardi Gras — you know the one with the Drag Queens?"
"I — yes, I am in Mykonos. The, uh," Lily wracked her brains for some sort of reason, "the airline was offering a good deal on tickets and our flight was delayed and we just thought, why not?"
"Because it's my wedding! I can't believe you would do something so stupid so close to the wedding! I knew you shouldn't have gone to Ibiza! I mean honestly Lily, are you even sober right now?"
She was, thank you very much. Well, she was hungover but she hadn't had a drink in at least, like nine hours which is probably more sober than she'd been since they'd landed in Ibiza three days ago.
"The wedding isn't until Saturday. I will be there tomorrow for the dinner. My flight lands at twelve. That gives me plenty of time to get ready for the rehearsal dinner."
"And what about the lunch?"
"Er, lunch?" Lily asked. There had been no mention of a lunch.
"Vernon's parents have invited us to lunch. They expect you to be there, Lily. It's at one."
"That's fine. I — it'll be rushed but I'll make it work."
"Lily, enough with this nonsense. I'm booking you the first flight to Pairs."
Marlene and Mary both shook their heads profusely mouthing, 'fuck Paris'.
"No," Lily said firmly. Maybe she was still slightly buzzed.
"No?" Petunia asked. "Lily, stop being ridiculous! I can organise you-"
"I told you, we are flying out first thing tomorrow and will be-"
"Lily, be reasonable! This is my wedding! And I won't have my sister hungover at my wedding-"
"I'll see you tomorrow, Tuney! Bye!" And Lily hung up, chucking her phone on the bed.
"That is growth, ladies and gentlemen! Lily Evans, finally standing up to her wrench of a sister! This calls for celebration!" Marlene pulled out her secret stash of tequila and they drank as they began to get ready for the night.
"I think it's time for the dress," Mary announced, holding up something Lily had absolutely loved in the store but hadn't had the guts to wear out.
It was a yellow mini-dress that showed a lot of cleavage thanks to the bust of the dress resembling a bikini and then the dress just dropped from there to about halfway up her thigh. It was one of those, 'it' girl summer dresses and Lily just didn't know if she could pull off an 'it' girl summer dress.
"Oh, I don't know."
"Lily, you described this man as the love of your life. If anyone is worth wearing the dress for, it's him."
"What about the blue dress?" Lily tried, holding it up. It was more of a tennis dress style, showed a lot less cleavage and was usually more to Lily's taste.
"Do you want to get laid?" Marlene asked, "because the yellow dress is a dress that is going to get you laid."
Lily chewed on her lip and — "you know what? Fuck it! Let's do it!"
Lily put the dress on — admitted that she looked fucking fantastic in it — and then Marlene fixed her hair into a cute half up, half down deal that she said made her eyes pop. Mary followed up, fixing Lily's face up with makeup and a shit tonne of glitter.
The old greek lady who ran the inn called them a taxi and then they were waiting in the street for said taxi to arrive.
"What if he doesn't remember me?" Lily asked whilst they waited. "What if he doesn't like me anymore? I mean, he's a hot, international DJ. He probably has girls falling over him all the time."
"Hey, snap out of it. You are not dressed like a girl who doesn't get the guy. You are going to knock his fucking socks off! He should be so lucky you're even interested in him! You look fucking amazing!"
"You're a total babe! I'm actually jealous," Marlene agreed with a sniff.
Lily pulled a face. "Marls, you've nothing to be jealous about. You're a literal real life Barbie. And your skin can stand the sun without turning into a lobster."
"How're we getting in to this club?" Mary asked. "We don't have tickets."
"I should call him," Lily realised, nerves and giddiness settling in all at once. "He'd be able to get us in."
Lily fumbled with her phone for a moment, glad she'd taken a photo of the piece of paper with his number on it. It took her a bit but she eventually managed to dial the number — switching between her photos app and the contacts app. She pressed call.
"It's ringing," she told the girls, hitting Marlene's hand before she started pacing.
Lily's stomach was doing somersaults with every ring. Please pick up. Please pick up. Oh, god what if it was a fake number? He didn't seem like the type. Please pick up.
"Hi, you've reached James Potter, please leave a message after the-" beep.
"Oh, crap. A message. Okay" she muttered to herself. "Er, hi, James. It's me, uh, Lily from the other night. You gave me your shirt and your number, evidently, since I'm calling you," she winced. "I'm in Mykonos! And I was wondering, well that is, I was hoping you'd want to, I don't know, maybe hang?" Lily looked at the girls who were giving her gestures that Lily ignored. "'Cause I really want to see you again, I mean we had like sparks or something and I think you should call me back and we can do that, you know? See each other, that is."
"Lils, taxi!"
"Ah, fuck, sorry," Lily ran to the taxi sliding in after Mary, "what was I saying? Oh, yeah, you should-"
"Your message has been deleted."
"What? No! Don't delete my message!" What the fuck had she pressed? Lily tapped at her phone screen and her mouth dropped as the screen went black. She pressed her lock button a few times as dread filled her. She'd forgotten to charge her phone. This could not be happening. She tapped at the screen pointlessly as she groaned. "No! My phone just died! Stupid piece of shit phone! What the hell are we going to do?"
"I'm sure we'll be able to buy tickets there," Marlene soothed. "It'll be fine."
It was not fine. They could not buy tickets there and the security guard was being a dick.
"Please! I know the DJ from the Marauders!" Lily tried as she pleaded with the security guard who was not buying it.
"Which one do you know?"
Lily whirled around to see two guys. One short and chubby and the other tall and lanky and both looked amused. Lily also spied that they had fancy looking passes hanging around their necks.
"James Potter." Lily rummaged through her bag and pulling out her phone. "Look, he gave me his number." She tried to unlock her phone and frowned. "My phone is dead."
"So why didn't you call him so he can get you a pass?" the shorter one asked.
"I did but my phone deleted my voicemail and then the stupid thing died on me as you can see!" Lily huffed. "But I really do have his number! I promise and I'm a pretty honest person."
"She can't lie for shit," Marlene agreed.
"She's got his shirt back at the hotel too," Mary supplied.
The two boys glanced at each other and the shorter one said, "Pads did mention Prongs wouldn't shut up about some girl."
The taller one shrugged. "This will make for an interesting night." He turned to the security guard, flashed his pass. "The girls are with us."
The bodyguard let them in and the atmosphere was insane. Neon blue, white, and pink lights flashed to the beat of the music and the dance floor was just a sea of people jumping and dancing to the music. The girls made sure to stick to the boys' that helped them get in until they were by a bar.
The shorter guy asked, "who wants drinks?"
They all queued up and got drinks that were extra strong thanks to the boys passes that seemed to work like magic wands in terms of them getting anything they wanted. The girls danced on the spot because it was impossible not to in a place like this.
Lily immediately searched the stage but her face fell when she saw a female DJ behind the panel.
"I'm Remus, this is Peter," the taller one introduced.
"Lily," she shook his hand. "That's Mary and Marlene."
"So if I take you to James, is he actually going to know who you are?"
"He played Love Story for her in Ibiza!" Marlene shouted helpfully.
Remus looked amused. "All right, all right, I can't take all of you back there but if you want to see him before his set, we gotta find him now."
Lily nodded. "Lead the way, magic pass man! I'll catch you later, girls!"
"Make good choices!" Marlene shouted.
"Do everything I would do!" Mary shouted.
Lily followed Remus through the crowd until they split off into a quieter corridor and then through a door that read 'staff only' and another corridor and, "just wait here a second," Remus said, leaving her at the door way.
She peaked in, flinching when she saw the overly large security guard manning the door, but he was there. Man bun guy and sex hair guy. James. He hadn't noticed his mate or her, focused as he was on his phone.
"Hey mate," she heard Remus say and she watched as he looked up and grinned at his mate. They hugged, man bun guy also made his way over to them but she couldn't catch much else of the conversation so she watched nervously until James' head snapped to the door.
She waved awkwardly and their eyes locked. It was like everything else faded away. She didn't notice man bun guy's head also snapped to her. Or that the whole room really, was looking at her. All she could see was James.
"Holy shit. Evans!" he exclaimed, an elated smile growing on his face as he started jogging towards her and Lily eyed the security guard.
"You're not gonna hurt me if I go in, right?"
He waved a hand and Lily rushed in, meeting him halfway as he picker her up, hugging her tight as he swirled her around and when he set her down Lily just wanted to melt. As it was, her heart was beating so fast she was surprised she was still alive.
"Lily! You're here!"
"I'm here," Lily agreed happily, her grin already mirroring his own infectious one. "In Mykonos."
"Yeah, I gathered that what with you being in Mykonos and all." Lily flushed, biting down a grin. "I was surprised to get your call."
"You were?"
"Yeah, when I didn't hear from you the other night I thought for sure you had convinced yourself I was some Ted Bundy-esque perv."
Lily hid her face in her hands. "I totally rambled, you really shouldn't listen to what I say. I'm the worst."
"You're not the worst, in fact, I've left you a rambling voicemail that should never see light of day."
"You left me a voicemail?" she asked happily. He left her a voicemail!
"You didn't get it?"
"My phone died."
"Oh, thank god!" he threw his head back in happiness. "Something in my life is going right for once. I mean, pretty girl follows me to Mykonos, and embarrassing voicemails don't get listened to."
"You must've pleased one of the gods," Lily teased. "But one thing."
"Hmm?"
"I didn't follow you to Mykonos."
"You didn't?"
"Mm-mm," she shook her head.
He inched closer, so close, she could feel his breath on her face. She wanted to reach up and trace his face with her fingers. He was beautiful.
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"So this is just some big coincidence?" he asked, leaning in closer to her, she felt like she couldn't breathe. His eyes were the most brilliant shade of hazel and they were staring at her so intently she could feel it in the pit of her stomach.
"Exactly," she agreed.
She wanted to close the gap between them so badly. Almost there-
"James, fifteen!" the familiar voice of James' mate called out.
James slumped, leaning his head on her forehead.
"He seems really bossy," Lily frowned.
"It's funny you say that because usually I'm the one on his arse," James sighed. "I do have to go soon."
Lily frowned. "Really? Until when?"
"Closing at six."
"Well that sucks."
"How long are you here for?"
"I've to be back in Paris by noon. It's my sister's wedding rehearsal and there's a lunch with her husband-to-be's family and she'll freak if I'm not there."
"Oh, that does suck."
They sat in silence for a moment both of them miserable at their prospects. Lily gnawing on that feeling in her gut. That feeling that she'd had since she'd met him.
"I need to tell you something," she declared.
"Oh?"
"Yep and you're gonna listen because I'm usually not the type of girl who does this, you know? I don't wear tops that look like bras or 'it' girl summer dresses and I certainly don't fly to Mykonos on mere whims but here I am, doing probably the most spontaneous thing in my life because you know carpe diem and all that and this is probably the most fun I've ever, ever had in my life and I think I'm just riding that wave so what I think you should do is, you should go to the club people - managers-"
"Promoters," James supplied.
"Yes — thank you — you should go to your promoters and tell them you've an emergency and you can only finish half your set and then we can spend the night together."
A beat.
"All right."
"Er, seriously?" Lily glanced up at his face. "You're not just saying that to, like, make me stop talking-?"
"No, I'm saying okay. I'm going to finish my set early." He leaned back running a hand through his hair. She wanted to touch his hair. "Holy shit, I don't think I've ever done this before. Sirius is going to kill me but — okay, we're doing this. I will figure this out."
"We're doing this," Lily grinned and his eyes flicked back to hers.
"You should go — go dance with your friends and come back at three."
"Okay," she agreed.
"Okay," he grinned.
He leaned in, his hand at the back of her head, and kissed her. Fucking finally. His lips were warm and soft and she sunk into it. Was it even possible for a kiss to feel so right? Lily was sure that this was probably just a standard kiss but she also knew she'd never, in her whole twenty-five years, experienced a kiss like this. This was electric and magnetic and she never wanted to move from this spot. Her hand found his wrist, grasping it lightly-
"Hi," he murmured pulling back slightly, his hands cupping her face.
"Hi," she whispered back, mesmerised by him.
"Is this okay?"
"This?" She could imagine doing this for the rest of her life. "Oh, this is fabulous."
"Good." He searched her face. "You're eyes are so fucking gorgeous."
He surged in, his lips covering hers and she hummed in pure ecstasy not sure if she could wait until three. But he pulled away again.
"Three," he told her and she nodded.
"Yeah, three."
He kissed the top of her head as he stood up.
"I'll see you then." He began to walk away but then stopped to face her again, "and in case I haven't already said, you look amazing tonight."
Lily took her time getting back into the main part of the club, feeling drunk just from seeing James but she eventually made her way. James and his mate were already on the stage and Lily paused to just admire him for a second, not believing that everything was working out. She was going to see him again. Properly and for longer than ten minutes.
Three could not come fast enough.
"Oh my god! MAGIC PASS MAN!" Lily shouted seeing him first, thanks to his height. "I told you your friend knew me!"
"Lily!" Mary shouted.
"What happened?" Marlene added.
"I'm meeting him at three!" she wiggled her brows as Mary shouted, "YES! Get it girl!"
"Okay but Lily, your phone died so you have to remember! Airport at eight."
"Airport at eight. I got this," Lily nodded.
"Do not go to sleep without setting an alarm," Marlene told her sternly.
Lily bit her straw with a suggestive smirk and said, "I don't think I'm going to be sleeping tonight, ladies."
Mary and Marlene laughed and cheered, all of them taking sips from their drinks until Marlene snapped back to practical mode — a mode usually filled by Lily.
"Give me your email and password," Marlene requested.
"Why?"
"Because you have all our flight confirmations and your fucking phone is dead, Lily."
It took a few tries for Lily to login to her email on Marlene's phone — she always did seem to take the password remembering thingy on her phone for granted — and not without difficulty, she forwarded all the flight and hotel stuff to Mary and Marlene.
"There! Done!" Lily announced. "You both have all the flight and hotel thingies."
"Ok good," Marlene said before grabbing Lily's hand. "Please do not forget! Airport at eight. Mary and I'll bring your suitcase."
"I got this," Lily said again.
"Good because your sister may murder you if you don't show up for that lunch."
"Petunia can shove it."
"That's drunk Lily talking. Sober Lily cares. So airport, lunch, sister."
"Airport, lunch, sister," Lily nodded, with a determined look.
"Airport, lunch, sister!" Mary shouted.
"Airport! Lunch! Sister!" the girls shouted together, effectively starting a chant — that did seem to be their theme on this trip. "Airport! Lunch! Sister!"
The night went faster than she anticipated no doubt due to the steady stream of alcohol and great music. At some point during the night James played a Taylor Swift song, Wildest Dreams, and Lily couldn't help but laugh as she looked up to the stage. She knew it was probably impossible that he could see her in the crowd but she hoped he could as she jumped and danced with her friends (and his).
At three, she heard James' voice over the music and turned back to the stage.
"MYKONOS!" and the music turned down slightly. "You're fucking great as always! But I gotta leave a little early! I gotta meet a girl!"
Lily laughed as the crowd went wild with cheers and Mary and Marlene hit her arm.
"Go!" Mary said.
"Don't forget. Airport. Lunch. Sister!"
Lily's eyes flicked back up to the stage as James brought the microphone to his lips again.
"Boys! You know what I'm talking about! Goodnight!"
_
Lily zigzagged through the crowd and towards the stage as she could see James say something to his mate as he took his headphones off. Using her elbows and loud shouts of "excuse me" to part the way for her, Lily reached the stage just as James jumped off of it and caught her hand immediately, drawing her in.
"All right, Evans?" he asked with a grin, his forehead pressed against hers.
"I liked your music," she said back and he licked his lips laughing before gesturing with his head.
"Come on," and they were off as he led her backstage and the moment that they were in a corridor and away from the party, his hands buried themselves in her hair as he pulled her in for a kiss. Her arms wrapped around him, their lips moving in sync with each other, matching move for move as James kept leading them. Lily trusted he knew where he was going and just let herself not think for once.
"Jesus Christ, you're fucking - oh!" Lily whimpered as James pressed her against a wall, working his lips down her neck.
"You were saying?" he mumbled into her neck.
"You're unreal," Lily breathed, bringing his face back up to hers so she could kiss him again.
He leaned back slightly just to look at her, his hands on the wall either side of her head and his eyes roamed across her face and he said, "you wanna get out of here?"
She thought he'd never ask. She leaned forward to kiss him and murmured into his lips, "lead the damn way."
He smiled into their kiss, his hands finding their way back into her hair as he pulled her off the wall and they began their messy way down the corridor again, their lips barely leaving each other. They clumsily made their way out of the club — laughing when Lily tripped over the door step, James catching her.
He hailed a cab and he spoke in an unfamiliar language — sounding quite fluent — and Lily blinked a few times.
"Was that Greek?" she asked and he nodded.
"Yeah, my mum's Greek."
The taxi ride to his hotel was a blur of just him. Him on top of her. Her on top of him. His hands on her thighs. Her hands under his shirt. Laughing as they hit various limbs against the door and window and the car seat.
"Finally," James breathed into her lips as the taxi driver announced they were at the hotel. He flung a hundred euros at the driver as they got out of the car and shouted something in Greek to the driver as Lily grabbed his hand to pull him towards the building.
They entered the hotel much the same way they left the club. Blindly, hands searching as much of the other person as possible, and their lips attached. In the elevator, he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around him easily as he pressed her against the wall, his lips at her neck again.
"You're so fucking beautiful, you know that?" he told her leaning back slightly only to surge in to kiss her lips again.
The doors dinged open and he carried her out, one hand cupping her face, the other on her arse to hold her up and Jesus Christ if that didn't make her want to fuck him right here in the corridor. He pressed her up against a door, and her legs unwrapped as she went to stand again, his hand in his pocket pulling out the hotel card. He fiddled with the card and the door until finally it opened and they fell into the room.
She grabbed his hands, leaning up to kiss him as he kicked the door closed behind them and this time she pressed him against the door just kissing and kissing and kissing him. She didn't think she could ever get enough.
"Come on," he murmured, his arms wrapping around her to turn them around, he grabbed her hand leading her down the hall at a run turning to catch her in the living room but her eyes went wide at the hotel room — well suite, Lily figured was a better term.
Lily had only ever stayed in the kind of hotel that offered a bed and a bathroom and not much else. This hotel room had rooms. The living room was sleekly decorated with black leather couches sitting opposite a stunning kitchen with a full sized fridge and the back wall was all glass facing out to the ocean. Lily's mouth couldn't help but drop open.
"This is — this is wow," she swallowed, as James arms came around her from behind, his lips on her jaw.
"You want some champagne?" he asked, moving away from her to head to the kitchen.
She felt his eyes on her as she walked further into the living room, her hands trailing along surfaces as she went. She twirled around to face him to see him watching her with the softest look on his face.
"I could use some champagne." She sat on the couch and immediately towed off her sneakers only to notice the rug. "Oh my god, this is so fluffy!" she exclaimed and without thinking, she was laying on it. "I could live on this rug the rest of my life."
She could hear James laughing at her so she leaned up on her elbows to see him better. "You laugh, but I'm being serious. This rug is awesome. This rug is like what the ones they sell at IKEA are based off of. The O.G!"
"Is that so?" he asked, bringing with him the bottle of champagne and two flutes as he plonked himself on the floor next to Lily but leaning against the couch instead of laying on the floor. He busied himself with pouring the champagne.
She sat up to join him, shifting forward until she was sitting cross legged adjacent to him and he handed her a flute of champagne, tapping his against hers.
"Cheers," he said.
"What are we toasting to?" she asked.
"To spilling a drink on you in Ibiza."
"To spilling a drink on me in Ibiza." She brought her drink to her mouth, taking a sip as he did the same.
"You know, I don't think I've ever met anyone like you," he murmured.
"Ditto," Lily said and then in a whisper. "I feel like I know you which is strange because I don't know you like at all, except that you're a fit, half-Greek DJ who books overpriced hotels and is an amazing snog."
"Let's change that, shall we?" he asked. "What would you like to know?"
She eyed him with a thoughtful look. "What novel did you rip the page out of?"
"Game of Thrones — the third one. My mate bet me a hundred bucks I couldn't finish the series in a month."
"Oh, and how's that going for you?"
"Well, I ripped out half of the last page so I'm going to guess not well."
She laughed lightly. "Is this the same mate who's a shit wing man?"
"Oh no, this is the mate who brought you backstage. Remus. The shit wing man is Sirius-"
"Strange name," Lily noted.
"It's not even the strangest thing about him," James assured. "Anyway, Sirius has kindly agreed to find other accomodations for tonight."
"So no interruptions?" she asked.
"No interruptions."
"Good."
They talked for ages. Going through stupid things like favourite colours and movies and TV shows before moving into more serious territory like family. He told her all about summers spent in Greece and how his mother forced him to do Greek school until he went to university and he hated it at the time because it was more school and all he was interested in was kicking a football around but now he was glad she forced him to learn.
He praised his parents to heaven and back and not only because they'd legally adopted his best mate when it came out how truly shite his parents had been treating him but because, by his standards, they were the best.
"Even with the company, my mum took a huge step back when I was born so I always had her and dad never missed a game — I played in leagues up until I did my knee in when I was nineteen. Anyway, dad never missed not one game no matter what important things were going on at the company and there was always something important going on there."
"Your parents own a company?"
"Yeah, SleekEazy's. They wanted me to, you know, take over one day but I just — it wasn't me, you know? It may have been the only thing my parents and I have ever actually, seriously fought about and I —" he stopped. "That's not something I usually tell a girl I've just met," he said, as though he'd just realised he'd told her.
"SleekEazy's?" Lily asked stunned. "As in Britain's number one hair care products, SleekEazy's? The same one advertised with Margot Robbie's face on the posters all over London?"
"Er, yeah."
"Wow." Lily was pretty sure she had about four SleekEazy's hair masks in her suitcase at the hotel.
"You think I'm crazy for not wanting to work there, right?"
Lily shook her head. "Maybe a little but I get it."
"Sirius and I got into DJ-ing for fun. It was all a bit spontaneous actually," James admitted. 'We were at a party back in our last year of high school and the DJ passed out halfway through so we thought what the hell and we were probably terrible but we loved it. Sirius was living with my family by then so it made it easier, we bought all the equipment and began to teach ourselves how to do it not terribly and then we started doing parties and in university we moved from parties to gigs — local clubs and what-not — and by the time we finished uni we were pretty well known in Cambridge and even in London and we got lucky with this promoter who booked us for gigs all throughout Europe straight out of uni and then," he trailed off before saying, "that was just our life."
"Something tells me you're the type of guy who's just freakishly good at everything he does."
James considered. "I mean, I'm just that good."
Lily laughed nudging him with her leg. He nudged her back.
"What about you? Where did you grow up?"
So she told him all about the shitty town she grew up in and the public schools she went to and how when she moved to Oxford for uni, she lost touch with most of her childhood friends.
"It's not that I hated it in Cokeworth but …" Lily considered. "I could never imagine going back there. Not after living in Oxford and London. It's just one of those towns with not a lot going on. Oxford really felt like when my life began. I met Marlene and Mary there and we've pretty much always lived together since — except when Marlene moved in with her boyfriend for one short lived semester and Mary and I had to put up with a roommate from hell and then we vowed never to move out for boyfriends we've only dated for less than a year."
And they talked and talked and talked and it was so easy to talk to him. She felt like she could tell him anything and everything. They understood each other in a way that was so effortless. And he was funny. He had her in stitches telling her stories about him and his mates from primary, high school, and university and she wondered how he and his mates had survived so long because-
"You're idiots, basically," was Lily's conclusion.
"We share maybe like two braincells and Remus probably has both of them majority of the time. Sometimes, Sirius and I share one. But come on, like you and your two mates never did anything stupid in uni?"
"Oh, well, there was the time that," and Lily launched into the story of when they stole Marlene's couch back from her ex and then she was on a roll. She went through the laugh-reel of stories involving herself, Mary, and Marlene before sighing and concluding-
"Honestly, if it weren't for them, I probably wouldn't even be here," she sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Why's that?"
"Mykonos wasn't quite part of the plan. We're supposed to be in Paris."
"Paris is overrated," he said confidently.
"It's where my sister has decided to get married," Lily rolled her eyes. "In an attempt to impress her husband's family she's decided to use a big chunk of her inheritance on making it happen."
"Inheritance?" he asked.
"Ah, you caught that," she downed the rest of her glass. "My parents died two years ago. Car accident."
"That's shit, I'm sorry," he squeezed her hand.
"It's," she shrugged, "life, I guess. Anyway, my sister and I don't really get on — haven't since I was about ten or eleven and so she decides to get married in Paris and obviously I have to go because at the end of the day she's my sister and the only family I have left but I just knew in my bones I wouldn't survive Paris if I went on my own. Her fiancé's family are so conservative and old fashioned I literally want to die every time I'm forced to interact with them. So I begged Mary and Marlene to come with for emotional support and because it's so much less pathetic than getting drunk on my own to cope. They agreed on the condition we do some partying which was how Ibiza came into it and then," she looked to him, "you."
"Me," he repeated softly.
"Yeah. My sister is having a fit that I'm not in Paris yet."
"I, for one, am really glad you're not in Paris, Evans."
Lily smiled, "hmm, something tells me even if I was, you wouldn't exactly be begging for company, Mr Fit International DJ."
"The only company I'd be having tonight is that of my mates," he assured her. "This is not something I do, ever. I never leave a gig early."
Lily cocked her head as she considered him. "I believe you."
"Good, because I don't want you to think that I'm that guy that, you know, picks up a girl in every city and just, you know, because that's not me. That's more Sirius' vibe but I-"
"You …?" she swung her leg over his so she was straddling him. Her fingers touched his cheeks lightly. "What's your vibe?"
"Is it lame if I say 'you'?"
"A little, but I can keep a secret," she whispered, her fingers lacing into his hair as his hands slid up and down her thighs.
"Where the hell have you been all my life?" he murmured.
"I've no idea but I have a feeling I won't be leaving it any time soon."
He cupped her face. "Good." And then his lips were on hers again. "I really fucking like you."
"I really fucking like you, too," she mumbled into his lips, as his hands searched her dress.
"This thing have a zipper?" he mumbled.
"Mm, side," she said, and his hand searched, "other side," she added.
He worked the zipper down and he pulled the dress up and over her head, chucking it to the side, leaving her in nothing but her knickers.
"Hi," she whispered, her fingers at the hem of his shirt before doing the same and pulling the shirt over his head.
"Hi," he said back.
Christ, he was fit. Too fit. His body was in that perfect niche of muscles sized just right so that he didn't look like he was a gym junkie that took steroids but he was all firm edges everywhere and her hands were on his chest as his skimmed just under her breasts, skimming up and down her sides and he was setting her on fire from the inside. It was like he was specifically designed to her taste.
She surged in, her lips moving against his, and he moaned as she pulled on his hair slightly. HIs lips left hers to leave a trail of kisses down her throat and then around her breasts, sucking and biting softly, driving her crazy.
"Hmm," he hummed, "I was right."
"Oh?"
"You've fantastic tits," he said between kisses, his thumbs brushing across her nipples. "Best I've ever seen."
"Shut up and kiss me."
He didn't need telling twice, he wrapped his arm around her back and moved them so he was laying on top of her. Her hands went to his jeans because he was wearing entirely too much and began to undo his belt as he kissed her. She fumbled with his button until his hands came to help and he moved off her briefly to kick his pants off.
Then he was kissing her stomach, his hands on her hips, toying with her knickers and she writhed under him as his kisses went lower and lower.
"Oh, god," she whimpered, her hands burying themselves in his hair.
He tapped her knickers, looked up at her, "is this okay?"
She nodded quickly, "yeah." He made quick work of sliding her knickers down her legs and then his head was between her legs and — oh god.
She was feeling way too many feelings and all she could think was —
"I have a flight tomorrow," she breathed out.
"Uh-huh," was James' non-committal response as he continued to do things to her that felt beyond heavenly.
"My friends told me I should remem — oh!" she squeaked, arching her back. "Remember that…" she finished, her hands coming up to her face as he continued to do that to her.
She felt him slide two fingers in her as his lips began to kiss back up her stomach, until they were on her lips again and she moaned into him, her fingers digging into his back.
"Is this good?" he whispered, into her lips, his fingers working themselves in and out at a maddening pace and Jesus Christ-
"Fuck me, already," she begged.
And he did.
_
She woke in his bed the next morning wearing his shirt and facing views of the ocean with her back pressed into his chest, his arm around her waist. She grinned. She'd been scared it had all been a way too good dream or worse that she'd wake up and not be able to remember most of the night. She shifted slightly and he shifted too, hugging her tighter. Mm, she could get used to this.
She turned in his arms to face him and pressed a kiss to his nose. Then his cheek. Then his neck and he hummed as she kept kissing, his hands pulling her closer.
"Morning," she said softly as his eyes flickered open and a slow grin spread across his face.
"Mm, hi," he said sleepily. "I could get use to waking up like that."
She smiled, pleased as he tucked her hair behind her ear and then because she really needed to pee, "this place have a bathroom?"
"Yeah, middle door in the hallway."
She started to sit up but her eyes caught on a set of glasses on his bedside table.
"What are these?" she asked, reaching over to pick up the set of black framed glasses. She opened them and slipped them onto her face only for everything to go extremely blurry. "Holy shit, who has the terrible eye sight?"
He plucked the glasses off her face before she could turn blind from them and said, "that'd be me." At her questioning stare, he added, "I wear contacts during gigs."
"Oh." She grabbed the glasses again and slipped them carefully onto his face.
"What do you think, Evans?" he asked.
"I think I like you better with them," she admitted.
"Yeah?" he grinned and she nodded.
"Definitely. You look much more like someone who'd read Game of Thrones in his spare-" her eyes caught on the time. "Fuuuuuuuck!" she groaned. Her flight was leaving in twenty-seven minutes. "Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck!" She was never going to make it.
"What?" he asked alarmed. "What's the matter?"
She jumped out of bed. Where the hell was her dress? She rushed out of the room and into the living room and found her dress, she shucked his shirt off quickly, slipping the dress on.
"I can't believe I did this! My sister is going to murder me! Jesus fucking Christ!" she shouted, frustrated as the zipper wouldn't go up but then James' hands replaced hers and he slid the zipper up as easily as he'd taken it off. She sighed. "I'm sorry. I just — the airport and I'm probably going to miss my flight and my sister and her wedding and oh god, she's never going to let me live this down. How could I be such an idiot? I need to — need to get a taxi and-"
He put his hand over her mouth. "I'll come to the airport with you."
She nodded. "Yeah. Okay."
They finished making themselves look decent. James slipping on the same pair of jeans from the night before and a clean, black t-shirt. He also forced his denim jacket onto her.
"It'll be cold on the plane," he insisted as he rolled the sleeves up for her.
Then they were in a taxi again, James speaking Greek before turning to Lily.
"Told him there's an extra fifty euro in it for him if he stepped on it."
"You really don't have to-"
"It's fine," he promised and she sighed.
"I can't believe I'm going to miss my flight," she groaned again, dropping her head onto his shoulder. His hand came up to rest on the back of her neck. "If I, you know, survive my sister and I actually get to introduce you to her one day, just know, that no matter what you do, she will hate you."
"I'm impossible to hate."
"My sister hates anyone who dares to be slightly different or not follow the rules or not fit in a 1950s stereotype. She will absolutely hate you."
"I guess I can live with that if this means I will be introduced to your sister one day."
She lifted her head, leaning her chin on his shoulder instead, just as he turned his to face her.
"Yeah," she whispered, "I want to keep you."
He closed the gap between them and it was slow and deep and sweet and she was so tempted to just tell the taxi to turn back around because she was going to be late anyways so there'd be no making her sister happy so she may as well spend a blissful morning having breakfast with James. But it was her sister and she knew she couldn't so she just kissed him.
They both put into the kiss the words they didn't know how to say because they hadn't even known each other for a full day and she didn't want to never see him again. In fact, it was crazy because with every kiss, with every new piece of information she'd found out about him, she could imagine this lasting. She could imagine being his girlfriend and introducing him to her friends, to her sister. She'd never felt this much for a guy in such a small span of time and it scared her.
But the taxi was slowing and they were at the airport.
"I don't want to say goodbye," she whispered, their foreheads touching.
"You don't have to," he whispered, kissing her. "I'm going to call you, Lily Evans. This … is just beginning."
She nodded. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," he agreed, his thumb brushing over her cheek.
"I should — I gotta go."
"I know."
"Thanks, for coming to the airport with me."
"Thanks for coming to Mykonos for me."
"I didn't — yeah okay," she relented. "I came to Mykonos for you."
"I'm so fucking glad you did."
"Me too."
She pressed one last kiss to his lips before pulling away and getting out of the car. She watched as the taxi drove off and slumped, already feeling like something was missing from her.
She trudged into the airport, going through the motions. She paid an insane amount of money to get put on the next flight to Paris which would have her landing in Paris at one thirty. She bought herself a phone charger and sat against a pole as her phone came back to life.
She couldn't bring herself to read through all of Petunia's texts and missed call notifications so for a good while, she just sat and came to accept the fact that her sister may just disown her when she did arrive in Paris. Then one notification caught her eye.
A voicemail from James dated from the previous night. She brought the phone to her ear, pressing play.
"… I wasn't expecting … er, hi! Lily! Evans. Lily Evans. How are you? … And you can't answer that because this is a voicemail, right. Ah, I can't believe you called, Evans, but I'm glad that you did and not just because I gave you half of the last page of the book I'm reading but," his voice faded out into a whisper, "what am I even saying?" He coughed. "Er, I hope you call me back again and hopefully this time I'll be able to answer because I really want to see you again. So yeah. You should call me."
Lily couldn't help but smile through the entire thing. He was just … his voice was like honey to her. It felt so comforting in a way she couldn't explain and maybe that was on point because she could not explain anything when it came to him. He caused her to do the most irrational things and yet she'd do it all again for him.
Her flight was eventually called and she was jolted awake when the plane landed in Paris almost four hours later at 1:37PM. She called Marlene as she waited for a taxi.
"Thank fucking god you're alive!" her voice answered through the phone. "Where the hell are you?"
"Just landed in Paris." Lily sighed, swiping her hand through her hair. "My sister is going to murder me."
"What are you going to do? We told her they wouldn't let you on the plane because you were sick but I don't think she bought it."
"I'm just praying I live long enough to make it to tomorrow."
"Is that Lily?" she heard Mary ask, her voice sounded far away.
"Yeah, she just landed in Paris. Lil, you're on speaker."
"Hey, Mary."
"Jesus, Lil, talk about giving us a heart attack."
"Sorry, sorry, but I'm fine. I'll be at the hotel just as soon as I can get a taxi."
"Okay, text us when you're on your way. We've just stepped out for lunch but we'll make sure to be back when you arrive so you can get into the room."
"Thanks," Lily said, as she spotted a taxi become available. She flagged it, jogging over. "I'm getting in a taxi now. I'll see you soon."
Lily waited for their goodbyes before hanging up and climbing into the back of the taxi. She arrived at the hotel an hour later, her mouth dry thanks to her having fallen asleep in the back seat — honestly she was surprised she was still alive. Her mother would be rolling in her grave because Lily Evans, you never fall asleep in a taxi unless you want to be one of those girls on 60 Minutes. But she made it alive and in one piece and entered the lobby only to freeze.
"Lily."
Her sister stood in the middle of the lobby with her fiancé, Vernon, and his parents and sister. Oh, she was more than dead. The vein throbbing in her sister's forehead was enough to convince her of the fact.
"Er, I'm here," Lily tried with a smile that she was sure came out more like a grimace. "Hello everyone," she waved.
Her sister's ice blue eyes skimmed her from head to toe — she may as well have skinned Lily alive — appraising her wild hair that hadn't been brushed since the previous night, to Lily's less than proper dress to the denim jacket that clearly wasn't Lily's. It didn't take Petunia long to come to the unfavourable conclusion that Lily was dressed in the clothes she'd worn the previous night and was doing an international walk-of-shame.
"Good," Petunia plastered on a smile so fake it looked menacing. "I'm glad the airline finally let you on a flight. You best go up to your room to rest before the dinner rehearsal."
Lily wanted to laugh. Of course, Petunia would act amicable in front of her new family. Amicability flew out the door though when Petunia's little fist rapped fiercely against Lily's hotel door not thirty minutes later. Lily opened the door, just as annoyed as her sister seemed to be because, Jesus Christ, was it too much to ask for quiet?
"Hello, Petunia," Lily said pleasantly.
"What the hell were you thinking? To pull something like this the day before my wedding is perhaps the most cruel thing you've ever done to me! Do you know how embarrassing that was for you to show up like that? You looked like a slag doing the walk of shame!"
"Oh, stop with the dramatics, please. I'm here."
"You're dressed like one of those girls from Love Island, you're hungover, and you've bags under your eyes that can be seen from space!"
"You being here won't help much with that."
"Don't sass me when-"
"When I've been such a terrible sister, yes, I know," Lily rolled her eyes as she flopped onto the bed. It seemed Lily had no patience for Petunia today which was disappointing in a way because it was Petunia's wedding weekend so Lily should just take it to keep the peace and yet she couldn't seem to help herself. "I behaved inappropriately and I embarrassed you and you think I'm dressed like a slag and blah, blah, blah. Can we please skip over this lecture? There's only five hours until the dinner and if I want to have any hope of getting rid of these bags, sleep would be lovely."
"Why are you being like this?" Petunia accused. It really wasn't fair but she couldn't seem to stop the attitude from seeping in.
"Being like what?" she asked, like a petulant twelve year old.
"So uncaring! It's my wedding and the Dursley's were kind enough to invite you out to lunch and you just do what you want to do, like you always do, with no regard to how I-"
"I'm sorry that I missed the lunch, Petunia, but it was just a lunch. And let's face it, you're fiancé and his family hates me and is probably glad I missed it."
"This is just like you to be so selfish! The attention always has to be on you but it's the day before my wedding and-"
"I'm selfish?" Lily asked, astounded by the stuff that could come out of her sister's mouth. "I missed a lunch, Petunia, and news flash, your new family aren't bloody royalty! It's not like I missed the wedding, or god forbid, the rehearsal dinner! Is it not enough that I came to Paris for you?"
"You're my sister and it's my wedding! It's expected!"
"Oh, so now we're sisters," Lily laughed bitterly and here it came — the burn she'd been holding onto for too long. She shouldn't say it, not here, not today of all days, but she did. "Yet you couldn't drive two hours to see me graduate from Oxford."
"Your graduation?" She blinked. "That was almost two years ago!" Petunia clicked her tongue. "Mum and dad had just died and-"
"I was alone!" Lily shouted. "It was my graduation! Do you know how it felt to be the only one there who didn't have anyone? You're supposed to be my sister except you never are when it comes to something I need! You stand there and expect me to deal with your fiancé's snob family and your constant lecturing and pay north of a thousand quid to come to Paris for your wedding, meanwhile, you've never even come to visit my flat in London, you kick me out of your bridal party, and you scold me like I'm a child.
"And I wouldn't mind all of that if you just acted like my sister for once in your life. If we could get through a conversation without you commenting your disapproval about something. If I knew you cared about me in a bigger capacity than how I make you look. If you made an effort for me."
"Lily-"
"Enough!" she demanded. "No more. Just go, please. I'm tired. I want to shower before the rehearsal dinner. It's been a really long day just — just forget about it. I'm sorry that I missed the lunch, I really am. The last thing I want to do is ruin your wedding, but I just — I can't sit here and take lectures from you. Not anymore."
Petunia stood tight lipped for what felt like an eternity and when she left, it felt like oxygen returning to the room. Not a minute later, Mary and Marlene came in, looking at Lily cautiously.
"You know, Lils, it may be shit timing but I'm glad you finally brought up the graduation thing with her," Mary said.
"Not now, Mary," Lily said flatly, shame already filling her from head to toe for causing a huge fight the day before the happiest day of her sister's life. What had she been thinking? Petunia had every right to be upset with Lily.
"Oh, honey," Marlene sighed. "It'll be okay."
"I think I'm going to go cry in the shower," Lily murmured before going to do exactly that and then she slept until her alarm blared an hour and a half before they had to leave for the dinner.
She didn't get to speak to her sister again until late that night. Lily waited for her in the lobby and Petunia's smile slipped off her face at the sight of Lily.
"Can we talk, please?" Lily asked. "I don't want to fight."
Petunia sent Vernon on his way and they sat on the lounges in the lobby.
"I'm sorry for acting like that earlier today and I am sorry for missing the lunch."
Petunia sat, her hands clasped on her knees as she stared.
"You were right, though," Petunia said and Lily thought her ears weren't working properly.
"Er, what?"
"I said, 'you were right'."
"Oh," and then, "I still shouldn't have said it — at least not today. It's your wedding weekend and I never meant to take that away or taint it. I want you to be happy, Tuney."
"Thank you for saying that," Petunia acknowledged and then, "I want you to be happy, too."
They spoke for a bit longer and maybe it was a bit stilted but it was civil and there were even a few laughs as they talked about some of the guests odder choices of evening wear. Lily went to sleep that night knowing her and Petunia would be on better terms for the wedding the next day and that's all she could ask for. They could fight more in London if they had to and chances were they would.
The wedding was beautiful though — and exhausting. They all woke at the crack of dawn to get ready and from that moment it was non-stop. It was hair, make-up, keeping track of the three flower girls, taking photos, and making sure the flowers were perfect. It was talking to family members and trying to remember to eat something and downing a glass of champagne in the bathroom because if she had to hear Marge Dursley mention her dogs one more time she may actually perish.
It was all worth it to see Petunia though. Petunia who looked elegantly stunning in her gorgeous, taffeta dress. It hugged her body perfectly before fanning out into a mermaid tail at the knees and the decision to pair it with a beautiful, cathedral length, lace veil looked absolutely gorgeous. Lily had never seen Petunia look more happy.
The day seemed to go in the blink of an eye though. One minute she was slipping into the sage, silk dress she'd bought for the wedding and the next they were in the tail end of the reception — the food had been eaten, the cake had been cut, the speeches made, and the first dance had. Her sister was a Dursley now.
It was nearing midnight when she escaped the reception — or more aptly, Vernon's cousin who seemed to think if he hit on her enough times, she'd cave — to explore the small but pretty gardens the venue had. It was all neatly trimmed hedges and pretty rose bushes and small trees wrapped in fairy lights and a fountain in the middle to tie it all together.
"You look stunning, you know, just in case no one's told you that today."
Sage must be her colour, she mused to herself, turning to face whoever demanded her attention and her jaw dropped.
James Potter was standing only a few meters away from her. Lily's eyes raked over him as though trying to make sure she wasn't seeing an apparition but he was here. All messy haired and soft smiles and his eyes on her — only her.
"James?" Lily asked, a smile already on her lips, her stilettos clicking against the pavement. "What the hell are you doing here?"
They collided, James' arms coming around her torso as hers wrapped around his neck.
"I had a layover in Paris."
She pulled back, considering him as his hands settled on her hips, and then she smiled brightly. "You came to Paris for me."
"I did not, under no uncertain circumstances, come to Paris for you."
"And so you just happened to be here at exactly the same time as I am."
"I did. Funny coincidence that."
"We seem to be having a lot of those," she nudged her nose against his.
"With a little bit of help."
"Oh?"
"Well, you see, I called you today-"
"I didn't-"
"I know. Your sister's wedding. Your friend answered. Marlene. She told me where you'd be and I asked her to keep quiet. I wanted to surprise you."
"You succeeded," she told him, she stared at him for a moment, just taking him in. "I can't believe you're here."
"In a good way, right?"
"In the best way."
"Good. That's good, because this is going to make the question I wanted to ask you a lot easier and just know, I know it is insane and I've changed my mind about fifty times on whether I should come here and ask you-"
Lily pursed her lips. "Er, you're not going to, like, propose marriage are you?"
"What? Marriage? Who said anything about — Jesus, we've only known each other since Wednesday! Even I'm not that mad."
"Okay, cool, sorry I just had to check because that kind of seemed like where it was going and that would've turned weird very quickly. Go on with your question."
"I," he frowned, "well, now I don't want to ask."
Lily raised a brow. "You flew all the way to Paris and now you're not going to ask?"
"Yes?"
"You don't seem very sure."
"I mean, what if I ask and it makes it weird?"
"You're not a part of some sort of weird cult thing are you? Because I do object to extreme cultist activities."
"Only extreme ones? What about like non-extreme activities?"
"I don't really know to be honest but messing about with my mind is definitely out but, James?"
"Yes?"
"You should ask your question."
"Oh. That."
"Yes. That."
"Okay but first ground rules."
"For a question?" Lily laughed. "You can't be serious."
"No, he'd be back at the hotel. I'm James."
"I'm going to have to avoid the use of the word 'serious' whenever I'm in your presence, aren't I?"
"It's probably for the best," James agreed before getting back to the point. "Ground rules."
"Okay, shoot."
"You can answer any way you like and it won't change this."
"This?" Lily asked, just to tease him.
"Yes, this. Whatever this is happening between us because I really want to ask you this question and you mentioned you were riding a wave and so I jumped on that wave and came to Paris to ask the question-"
"That you still haven't asked."
"Shut up, I'm getting there."
"Before the day ends? 'Cause I think there's only like another ten minutes until tomorrow."
"My point is," he said, ignoring her cheek even though she could see him holding in his grin, "that I don't know if we're both still riding the wave so if I ask, and we're not still riding the wave of spontaneity no hard feelings. We just pick this back up when we're both back in London."
Lily nodded. "Okay, agreed."
"Okay," he nodded. "Bottom line is, I've got a gig in Tokyo and I'm leaving tomorrow night and I think you should come with me."
He wants her to go to Tokyo with him. She blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. She'd not been expecting that and it was—
"It sounds insane, I know." But the whole experience of knowing him had been insane. And wonderful. "The flight tomorrow is at 6PM and I got you a ticket-" and he stepped back to pull out the folded piece of paper with the itinerary on it "-which I know you're probably not going to want to accept but really it's nothing and I couldn't ask you to come to Tokyo and expect you to pay and it's fine if you say no, because this ticket is refundable so really, no pressure but I just think it'd be good if you came. Sirius and I are only playing on Friday and Saturday nights and we're flying back Monday morning so we'd actually get to hang out and see Tokyo and I've heard there's a bar with robots and-"
"All right."
"I knew you'd think — wait," he stopped, "what?"
"I said 'all right'," she said, disbelieving even herself. "I guess we're still riding that wave and I don't want to get off the wave and it's mad — I know it's mad — but I've got a shit tonne of leave that my boss has been begging me to take so I — I'm gonna do that. I'm going to tell my boss that I've decided to extend my trip and I'm going to go to Tokyo with you and we're going to have an awesome fucking time."
They both stared at each other for a moment before breaking out in laughter, as James swooped in to twirl them around, Lily hugging him tightly, because this was, by all sensible reason, mad. Except it didn't feel mad. It felt right.
"Are you sure? I was prepared to have to convince you."
She kissed him as his fingers laced into her hair, she hummed in pure content. Sparks seemed to coarse through them wherever they touched and Lily could see it all again. She could see him in her future — in their future together. Flashes like lightning strikes of her and this man. James Potter. And she knew.
"I think our friends are going to have us committed," Lily murmured and James grinned.
"Yeah, but think of the story we'll get to tell our kids one day."
She knew there'd never come a time after this that she did not know James Potter.