Chapter Text
“Dorcas, turn the music up!”
“Turn it up yourself!”
“You're literally right next to it.”
Lily tried to ignore her friends’ bickering, but unfortunately she couldn't hear the music over their raised voices. She ended up leaving her position on the couch, and walked towards the speakers to make them play louder. Don't stop me now blasted through Mary's living room. Marlene gave her a huge smile. “Thanks Lily. You're the best.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere Marls.”
“Wrong. Flattery will get me anywhere I like.”
“Flattery and flirting.” Dorcas added, with a jab of her elbow.
Lily snorted and walked back to the couch, grabbing a few sweets from the table on her way, only to find that Mary had stolen her place.
“After everything I’ve done for you.”
She crouched down and sat on the ground, her back to the couch. Mary, maybe in an attempt to make Lily forgive her for the stolen couch, started playing with her friend’s dark red hair. Lily closed her eyes to focus on the sensation.
The moment was broken when the music changed, and Freddy Mercury's voice was replaced by a soft piano and guitar arrangement. Marlene gave an excited squeal while Lily pursed her lips, readying herself for what was to come.
“I love this song!” The blonde woman said, as if her reaction to it hadn't been obvious enough.
“I hate this song.”, countered Lily.
The Marauders were Marlene’s newest favorite band. For now, they mostly played in pubs and parks, but they were steadily gaining more attention. Their music was fairly good. Except for this one particular song, which for some inexplicable reason was precisely the one the radio had decided to pick up. It played freaking everywhere. Lily thought the singer's voice worked better on rock and roll songs. Stare was a slower number, and a very romantic one at that. It was a little too mushy for her taste.
Apparently they were all very good looking. Lily wouldn't know: she had never seen a picture of them because she refused to encourage Marlene in her frankly ridiculous swooning. While Marlene closed her eyes and started to rock her head to the melody, Lily shared an amused look with her other friends. But thanks to Alice receiving yet another text that brought the biggest smile to her lips, the conversation started up again and Lily was saved from having to listen to the Marauders ’ song.
-----
The bus was exceptionally empty on that day. Lily was pleasantly surprised to spot a free space towards the back. She sat down and put her bag on her lap. She rummaged through it in search of her book but sighed when she couldn't find it. She must have left it at home.
“Tough day?” the man next to her spoke, which made her turn her head towards him. She hadn't given him much attention before but now that she was, she had to admit he was very much her type. The messy hair, the sideway smile, the glasses .
“Aren't they all tough days?”
He gave her a sympathetic smile and shrugged. “I guess a day hanging out on your couch with your best friends is less tough than working at the office all day.”
“I guess you're right.” she admitted,” What do you do?”
“Oh, I don't actually have an office job. It was more of an example. I'm… “ the man stopped, seemingly hesitant.” That's my stop.”
Lily thought that he looked awfully relieved to put an end to their conversation. She watched him get off the bus and followed his silhouette with her eyes until he turned right and disappeared from her view.
----
Now that she had talked to him once, Lily realised that the man took the same bus as her on most days. He was usually there when she entered the bus and always left three stops before hers. He apparently lived in a posher neighbourhood. Seeing how good-looking she found him, it was honestly surprising she hadn't noticed him sooner. Now she couldn't help but steal glances. Sometimes she found him looking her way, but it's hard to tell if someone's looking at you for you or if they've just noticed you staring. She hoped it was the former.
They didn't talk again for a week, not for lack of wanting on Lily's part, but because the bus was always packed.
On a Friday evening, they found themselves next to each other again, this time standing and holding onto the same pole. He gave her a big smile. She responded with one of her own.
“Hey” he said, then paused. “Oh, I don't actually know your name.”
“Hello again. Do you always ask for strangers’ names on the bus?”
Only the pretty ones, she thought she heard him mutter.
“Well technically, this is the second time we meet. I'm James.”
He offered her his hand and she shook it. “Lily.”
“That's quite a beautiful name, Lily. ”
She rolled her eyes. “Let me guess: a beautiful name for a beautiful girl? I've heard that before.”
He laughed, not bothering to deny what he had been planning to say. “And you've received quite a few lily bouquets, I'm guessing?”
She nodded.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” James said with assurance. Lily thought it looked good on him.
The bus stopped and he actually dropped a curtsy before getting off the bus. “See you later, Lily.”