books on my mind

I was inspired by one of those quote writing prompts for this.

Word Count: 695, Angst, James Potter x Lilly Evans

There she was. 

Jame’s heart stopped for a moment; only to fall back into the same rhythm of her laugh once more. Looking at her was like being bathed in sunlight. Looking at her was like a knife right through his soul. Warmth pooled into his stomach as he ordered himself to breathe again. Air. Why was it that the air was so much clearer now? Had he truly been breathing all these years? As they widened in recognition, James found himself sinking into the meadows of her pale green eyes just as easily as he had the night he first saw her.

Eighteen. Eighteen freckles scattered across her face, the same amount there had been three winters ago when she had broken his heart. Her once long, silky, red locks had been cropped down to just below her neck. As James took her in, she cleared her throat. He could see the gears turning behind her eyes, searching and scanning for the perfect words for their first meeting in thirty-six months and fourteen days. She had always been so exact. So calculated. Every action she took was planned, every thing she said was with intent. James never thought about anything. He had always thought that their differences were why they were so electric together. 

She had always thought that it was what would tear them apart. 

“The cat misses you,” Lilly finally says. 

The sentence lands on James like a ton of bricks. She was still so… perfect. Her lips, still pink and full. He truly believes that there was no mouth other than hers that was ever meant to belong on his. Her voice, still soft but strong. Every word she uttered sounded like a song. Her. She was still completely and utterly perfect. 

He manages a smile and forces out a chuckle. A dent forms between her perfectly arched eyebrows. She sees right through him, just as she always had. James wouldn’t be surprised if Lilly Evans could see his shattered heart right through his chest.

A heart that is still only beating for her.

“Well, do be sure to tell Pheonix that I miss him right back.”

She grins, and despite the circumstances, there is something genuine behind it. Perhaps they are both thinking right back to that same day in the Gryffindor common room where they had rescued the mangy cat all those years ago. Seeing her smile sends a simultaneous wave of agony and joy through James.

As her smile fades, Lilly says, “I should be going now. My train for London leaves in ten.”

James nods and smiles politely. “Of course. It was great seeing you again, Lily Flower.”

The fond nickname slips out of him involuntarily, but oh, he was glad it did. Her cheeks turned as bright and red as her hair, her eyes got big, and her plush mouth fell open slightly. A familiar thrill ran its course through James’s body. It had been so long, he had forgotten what her embarrassed face had looked like. His mind went back to his days at Hogwarts where he would spend any second of free time he had trying to elicit that reaction out of her. Being able to make her make that face was a privilege James had taken for granted for so long. 

Lilly gathered herself before speaking. “Nice seeing you as well. Goodbye, James.”

His name from her mouth was still as spell-binding as it had always been. 

James was repeating the ballad of her voice over and over again in his head as she brushed past him. A brief meeting; a hasty goodbye. James could not complain. Laying eyes on Lilly Evans was a gift in itself. 

Perhaps they will never meet again, and he will remain forever haunted by the memory of her, and the thought of what could have been. After all, James Potter was the sunrise, while Lilly Evans was the sunset. They will always stay chasing a different sky.

'A chance to do quests, just the three of us? Like old times? The Three Musketeers!'

'The Powerpuff Girls,' Annabeth suggested.

'Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey,' I said.

'Wait a minute,' Grover said."