Absolutely Adorable

Absolutely Adorable

Author: Prongs

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all things 'Harry Potter.'

A/N: Thank you for the reviews!

Chapter 3: James Explains

&*&*&

Sirius flopped down on his couch after a long day at work.  He propped his feet up on the coffee table and turned on the television.  He was just getting comfortable when he heard a knock at the door.

Grumbling, Sirius stood up and made his way to the front door.  He glanced through the peephole and bit his lip.  It was James.

After pausing for a moment, Sirius finally got up his nerve and opened the door.  James looked positively ravishing in his blue jeans and tight black shirt.  Instead of his u gla glasses, he had to have been wearing contact lenses.  

"May I come in?" James asked quietly, tugging at his hair.

Sirius sighed and nodded his head.  He moved out of the way and allowed his best friend to walk inside the room.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Sirius asked, folding his arms over his chest.

James' brow furrowed as he looked at his friend.  "No thanks.  I just want to talk to you right now."

James nodded and took a seat.  He glanced at the TV and looked slightly amused when he saw what was on.  "A cooking show?"

Sirius shrugged his shoulders and turned off the television.  He sat down on the arm of a chair and stared at James.  "What exactly do you want to talk about?"

"I need to explain," James said softly.  "About the other night."

"Nah, I thought you wanted to explain to me how a stereo system works," Sirius muttered sarcastically.

James almost smirked, but stopped quickly when he thought about the task facing him.

"Look, Siri, I'm really sorry I pushed you away and freaked out like that," James began.

Sirius glared at his best friend.  "You have a boyfriend, James.  I thought you previously told me that you would never come here again because you-"

James flinched, "I never said that."

Sirius raised an eyebrow and twisted his earring.  "Oh really?"

"Not in those exact words, anyway.  And…it's just that…I…I lied, Sirius.  I have no boyfriend right now.  I haven't for months."

Sirius stood up and walked over to the window.  He looked outside for a moment and then turned around to stare at James again.  "Am I really supposed to believe that?"

James looked surprised.  "Yeah.  I mean no.  Well yes.  I don't know."

Sirius moved over next to James and looked down at his friend.  "I've never really known you to sound so utterly confused and clueless."

James rolled his eyes and avoided Sirius' piercing blue eyes by staring at a poster of Led Zeppelin on the wall across from him.

"Do you or do you not have a boyfd?" d?" Sirius finally asked, still standing.

"I just told you!" James exclaimed.  "I do not have a boyfriend."

"Why did you say that you did?" Sirius asked, still debating whether or not to believe James.

James sighed and started pulling at his hair again.  "I already told you, Siri."

Sirius groaned and walked into the kitchen.  James continued to stare at the wall for several seconds before joining his best friend in the kitchen.

"Apple?" Sirius asked.

James shook his head in disbelief and sat down at the kitchen table.  "May I please ask you something that has nothing to do with what we're discussing?"

"Can't really stop you, can I?" Sirius asked, sitting across from James.  He took a bite out of his apple and looked at James expectantly.

"Do you eat anything else?"

"Of course.  Why did you tell me you had a boyfriend?"

"Because I freaked out, all right, Sirius!"

"No, it's not all right, James.  Why did you freak out?  You were the one who started it by talking about my hair.  Remember?"

"Just because I said that you have nice, erm, beautiful hair doesn't mean that I wanted you to kiss me," James lied weakly.

"Right," Sirius muttered as he took another bite out of the apple.  "And I hate Jimmy Page.  You're lying and you fucking know it, James!"

"Sirius, I-"

"And besides, you aren't even making any sense!  One second, you say that you lied to me because you were scared, and the next instant, you're telling me that you didn't want me to kiss you.  Well James, that just doesn't make any bloody sense!" Sirius exclaimed.  He tossed the apple core into the trash and glared at his best friend.

"I'm sorry, Siri.  s jus just that you've bwithwith so many men, and you never stick with any of them.  I don't want to be just like them-just another person you date, sleep with, and then don't care about anymore.  That's why I lied-because I got scared.  Yes, I did respond to the kiss.  I couldn't fucking help it!  I've wanted it for so long.  But as soon as it ended, all I could think was that you were going to treat me like everyone else you've been with, and so I lied," James finally breathed and stared at Sirius worriedly.  Honestly, he couldn't believe he'd had the courage to say all of that to his best friend.

Sirius looked at James, saying nothing.  He appeared to be completely speechless.  

"I shouldn't have said that," James finally said, getting up.  "I'm so sorry, Siri."  He hurried out the room and disappeared outside before Sirius could even get up.

&*&*&

"And so you ran off?"us aus asked.

"Yeah," James said, sulking.  "What's wrong with me, Moony?  I used to have some guts."

"True," Remus replied, sitting down next to his friend.  "I think you still do.  I mean, you told him the truth this time, didn't you?  That ought to count for something, James."

James snorted.  "Then I ran out like an idiot."

"He didn't follow you?"

"Too stunned, I think," James answered.  "I've made a complete mess of things.  But, you know, how do I know he wouldn't just discard me after several months?"

"I guess you don't know fore," e," Remus replied.  "Although, s yos your best friend, and it's quite obvious that he loves you.  He would never hurt you, James."

"Not intentionally, I suppose," James mumbled.

"Not at all," Remus amended.  "I truly don't think Sirius would hurt you at all, and I really mean that, James.  He cares about you."

"So, what do I do now?  I really want to be more than friends, but I think I've royally screwed up."

Remus ked.ked.  "Leave it to my wife.  All you need to do is return to your flat and try to take it easy."

"Lily?  What's she doing now?"

Remus smiled and patted James on the shoulder.

&*&*&

"Banana?"

Lily groaned and walked over to Sirius' refrigerator and started to open it.  Sirius was over there in a flash.  "What are you doing?"

"Looking to see what's inside of your-"

"Why?"

"Because I'm worried about you, Sirius!  Do you eat anything besides vegetables and fruits?"

"Of course I do.  Why are you here?"

Lily's eyes flashed, but she moved away from the refrigerator.  "Fine then.  I won't open it, but in exchange you have to promise me something."

"What?"

"That tomorrow night, you will go to James' flat and talk to him."

Sirius groaned and threw away the banana peel.  

"Don't you care about him?" Lily asked gently.

"Of course I do!" Sirius yelled.  

Lily flinched.

"Sorry," Sirius mumbled.  "I love him, Lil.  But after hearing what he said, I…well, he's right, you know?  I'm a total bastard when it comes to men, and-"

"How would you treat him, Sirius?"

Sirius sat down at the table and put his head in his hands.  "I want to spend the rest of my life with him.  I've been in love with him since we were in school.  I just never had it in me to admit my feelings to him.  All of those other men were just there-they never meant anything to me."

He lifted his head and stared at Lily.  "But how do I prove to James that I'll never leave him?  That I love him and always have and always will?"

"You need to tell him what you just told me," Lily said as she patted Sirius on the shoulder.  "Tell him the truth, Sirius.  He's your best friend, and I know that he truly loves you.  He knows you wouldn't lie to him.  I think that, inside, he's just worried and scared because you mean so much to him, and he's afraid that he could lose you."

"You know, he said he liked my hair.  That's what started the whole thing.  He had to know that a comment like that was going to start something."

"I think he probably did know," Lily replied.  "And I think he wanted something to happen.  As soon as it was over, he started worrying.  Are you going to talk to him tomorrow night?"

Sirius nodded his head.

"Excellent!" Lily exclaimed gleefully.  She grinned at Sirius.  "Maybe you two should eat dinner together then."

"Dinner?" Sirius asked worriedly.  "Why don't we meet after dinner?"

Lily started to say something and then thought better of it.  "All right.  Should I let him know?"

"Thanks," Sirius mumbled.  He watched as Lily left his flat.

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