Saturday night movie

[tt_lily]

Date: 24 March 2002
Characters: James & Lily
Setting: Lily's house
Content: TBD
Status: Private : Open

Lily hadn't heard from James in the past few days, mainly do to schedule conflicts. The sporadic quick message on datapad was all since their fun-filled break earlier in the week. She had never been more grateful for a monsoon. When she got James' message she was a little giddy and had asked him over.

Now she was fretting. Should she change? She was wearing black shorts and a black tank top - it was evening in her own home after all. She decided that what she was wearing was fine; it's not like she asked him over for an elegant meal.

He had replied saying he'd be over in 15 minutes, but she knew his 15 minutes could be 5 minutes or 30, depending on what he had to accomplish. This gave Lily a few minutes to hurriedly brush her teeth and perhaps find something to snack on for them in the kitchen.

Comments

[tt_james]

James had thrown on running shorts and a t-shirt after receiving Lily's invitation - he'd been lounging around half dressed when he'd sent out his original messages - and then raided his kitchen for movie snack food and had packed his datapad, a toothbrush, and a pair of denims in a plastic bag in case they happened to fall asleep while watching the movie. He didn't want Lily to think he was assuming anything, but it was always better to be safe than sorry when it came to a clean pair of jeans.

A little later than he'd hoped, he apparated over to her front lawn and made his way up to knock on her door, wondering if there might be a time when he wouldn't need to knock. Shaking his head to rid himself of the silly thought, he smiled brightly when she answered and leaned in to kiss her cheek, "Thanks for the invitation, I'm a sucker for a good movie," he joked, even if it was true.

[tt_lily]

Lily moved her head slightly and caught his kiss and returned one of her own. "Come on in. There's a few movies I pulled out that I haven't seen. I don't know if you have though," she said, shutting the door behind him.

She was still very cautious when it came to safety and didn't hesitate to lock both locks. One of these days, she'd chill in that respect. Maybe if James ever moved in? She surprised herself with that thought. "Make yourself at home. Can I get you a drink or something to eat?"

[tt_james]

"Well, I'm up for any movie any time," he answered and then he lifted the bag he'd brought. "I come equipped with the closest thing this island has to popcorn and juju bees," he grinned, "but a drink would be lovely."

He made his way into the livingroom, looking around as he did, Lily had made her house cozy and welcoming already, like a real home. His was mostly made up of his wine and his electronic toys. "You've already made yourself at home," he commented, "It's pretty amazing."

[tt_lily]

Lily went to her kitchen, "Old habits are hard to break, I guess. Helped to adjust." Lily wasn't sure when she had made this place home, it just happened.

"What would you like to drink? I've got water and juice," she wasn't sure if he'd want alcohol so late in the evening.

[tt_james]

"Glass of water sounds fine," he called out, nosing his way through what books she had and looking at the curtains she'd chosen. He followed where her voice had come from into the kitchen, coming up behind her to put his arms gently around her waist. Into her ear he said, "Adjusting is good. What movies have you picked?" It was comfortable to just be like this, standing with his arms around her, casually discussing life and movies. When had he become this person? He'd been excited about living it up with his oldest best friends in this new tropical world, and instead on a Saturday night he was dressed down, thinking about the best way to make popcorn with Lily Evans.

[tt_lily]

Lily giggled slightly when he came up behind her, but got him a glass of water with ice. She got juice for herself. She wasn't exactly sure what fruit were involved, but she loved it. "Well, Sirius actually had this in his collection. It's a kind of kid's movie, it's called The Goonies, and then there's this other one about a shipwreck from Muggle history called Titanic, and lastly... this one is weird. Apparently these two guys fight aliens who come to Earth in disguise. I heard it was funny. It's called Men in Black."

She felt so very silly trying to describe these movies, but all three had really good ratings. Why not? "You can choose. Titanic apparently is a love story. Somehow." She made a slight face. Love on a sinking ship? Literally?

[tt_james]

"Love on Titanic? How odd," he thought out loud. "How about the funny one? I like your giggle," he laughed himself while saying it, feeling silly complimenting her so normally.

He pulled his wand out of the bag and proceeded to magick the popcorn - a little sweeter than it would have been at a movie theater back in London, but still crunchy and munchy - into popping while still keeping one arm around Lily. When it was finished he extracted himself to grab it and put it in a bowl, guessing where they might be and poking through her cupboards.

Finding one without asking, he poured the popcorn in and looked to Lily, "All set then?" He asked, feeling comfortable and as if he were in his own home, not visiting.

[tt_lily]

Lily nodded and carried their glasses into the living room, placing the drinks on the coffee table. She went over to the player to put on the movie. "I hope you like this one," she said before moving towards the couch to sit. More time with James was sheer heaven for her.

She wondered how close she should sit by him, not wanting to invade his personal space. There were still things about him that she had to adjust to. Although he was getting really comfortable with her, she didn't want to push him. Lily knew how the James of 1980 was but also knew the James of '78 wasn't really the same person.

Before the movie started, she quickly ran to get a blanket should she get cold. "Want to share my blanket?"

[tt_james]

"I like pretty much all movies. Though that ship sinking one seems a bit odd." He quirked an eyebrow when she moved in the opposite director of the couch but smiled when she turned and asked him about the blanket. "Happily, always," he said, settling down into the arm of the couch, one arm around the back for Lily to cuddle into if she liked. The popcorn was on the table in front of them with the drinks.

[tt_lily]

Lily sat next to him, covering both of their legs. Nice excuse to snuggle up close to him. "Yeah, I don't understand that, but..." she shrugged, "Muggles can be weird. I guess everyone has someone weird though..." Lily didn't hesitate putting her head on his shoulder after she got a quick drink. She could easily do this every night.

She actually hoped one day they could.

[tt_james]

When she lay her head on his shoulder, he wrapped his arm around her and settled back into the couch. Before the movie began he asked quickly, "By the way, how's your datapad doing? Better?" It was casual conversation, something James wasn't very good at it, but he had the feeling that evenings like this, with Lily, might be a great way to practice. He liked hearing her voice, so if asking how her day had been or how her datapad was working was a chance to hear it, well then, he'd take it.

[tt_lily]

Lily shrugged, "I try not to use it too much. I'm not fond of it... I'll answer messages, but that's about it," she finished, looking up at him instead of the screen. "I would so prefer an owl, maybe you can fiddle with it sometime."

"Oh... I suppose I should bring this up now... do you like kneazles? Mine is somewhere around here. He prefers to lurk."

[tt_james]

James chuckled, "You've already got yourself a kneazle? How did you do that?" He looked around the room for the thing but didn't see one. "What's his name?" James wasn't particularly fond of animals besides owls but he wasn't against them either.

[tt_lily]

"Charlie Weasley gave him to me for my birthday. He usually hides up my on bookcase," Lily said, looking on the top of it, "but I don't see him there, so he may be in a guest room. He disappears. I called him Lelantos because he gets so quiet and will just watch someone. But I've given him a dozen nicknames."

Lily snuggled up to James, her head going back to his shoulder as she looked back to the screen. "You should get an animal. Good company."

[tt_james]

"Lelantos," James repeated, like he was memorizing it. "I like it. What are the nicknames, though?" James was a nickname feigned, rather obviously.

He couldn't help the guffaw that came out when she suggested he get a pet. "Pets require you to take care of them, be around for them," he shrugged his shoulders as if of course he could never be expected to do either of those things.

[tt_lily]

"Oh. Leo. Lela... yeah, its girly. I know. And then cutesy stuff that I'm sure he would be embarrassed for me to share," Lily said with a grin. "Kneazles are fairly independent. He likes me to feed him, for sure. And occasionally he'll just want my 100% attention all the time. Most time he's good with being talked to. He's odd."

"So does a girlfriend. I like you being around..." Lily said softly.

[tt_james]

James thought on her description for a moment and then said, "Yeah, I like Leo. I like him." He decided.

"Girlfriend, huh?" His tone turned teasing, "So you're my girlfriend?"

[tt_lily]

"Well... would you prefer me to just be the woman you snog a lot?" Lily asked him, batting her eyelashes up at him. Did he not think they were together? He was so confusing. She felt a bit silly for saying anything now. Should she be hurt or just play it off?

[tt_james]

James laughed, "How about both?" and under the blanket for a ticklish spot on her side and got her there, hoping to break any potential tension.

The movie had started to play and he stopped tickling her, "I'm going to get you using your datapad more often, just to warn you," he added before looking at the screen and settling into the couch once more.

[tt_lily]

Lily let out a giggle. "Both it is... and I will hide that datapad. I don't want to use it, James," she said and snuggled up next to him, watching the screen. She let her finger idly make patterns on the stomach of his t-shirt.

[tt_james]

The feel of her fingers on him, lazy and comfortable, lulled him into relaxation. James had a girlfriend. And it was Lily Evans. If anyone had asked him six months ago if this would be his life - even without the time warp and the tropical island - he would have laughed in their face. But this... it felt right. It felt different from 7th year and yet familiar, though he couldn't help but worry maybe Lily had expectations considering the life they'd had that he didn't get to live.

He shook his head, as if to physically rid himself of the thought, and hoped Lily hadn't noticed.