James Potter (snitchnicker) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2018-06-29 22:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, james potter, lily evans |
Who: James Potter and Lily Evans
What: Old school friends running into one another
When: Earlier this month
Where: A coffee shop
Ratings/warnings: Fairly low
Status: Complete | Partner Thread
James had only just moved to the Orange County, and already he was discovering all sorts of interesting things that he never would have dreamed of discovering in London. For instance, sparkling lattes. Who would have even dreamed of something like that?
“So, you’re telling me it comes this way from the cows?” James asked, a flirting disbelief in his voice. “I don’t believe it. Why don’t you take me out there sometime?” he asked, though his attention was diverted from the pretty barista when he caught sight of a familiar head of red hair.
Without bothering to listen to her response, he grabbed his latte and quietly snuck up behind the redhead. He leaned in close, and when he was close enough to her ear without drawing her attention to his presence, he said “Well, is that Lily Evans I see?”
***
Lily was going over the last minute changes her client for Saturday’s party had just given her, her phone out so she could check what she already had at home against what she needed and order what she didn't. Amazon Prime was definitely useful at times like this - when she needed to get things fast. She let out a sigh when she heard that question and for a moment as she started to respond she was back at boarding school.
“Can't you see I'm busy James and don't have -” she cut herself off mid sentence as it sank in who it was and where they were. When even and she turned around in her seat to face him, eyes wide as she stared at him before laughing and giving him a quick hug. “James Potter! Californian holiday?” She asked, sliding over to give him room in the booth beside her.
“How long are you here for?”
***
James returned the hug and slid into the booth beside Lily, one arm draped over the back of the booth. “For as long as I’d like, I suppose,” James answered her cheerily. “You looked like you were having such fun pretending to be a mermaid that I thought I’d come see what all the fuss was about. I bought a house over on the beach.”
***
“Of course you did,” Lily said, shaking her head at him about the house on the beach. “Private beach or are you willing to share with the neighbors?” She teased him, easily falling back into their old interaction from school. “And the real fun is when I get to play princess for a day. That costume is a big part of why I live alone.” It got hot in the dresses she had for Merida so when she finished those jobs - it was home to walk around in either her underwear or nude.
***
“Well, beaches are no fun unless they’re filled with people in bathing suits,” James said slyly.
The idea of Lily walking around dressed like a princess was one that amused James far too much. Lily was far from the ‘princess’ kind of girl. “So you can wander around your house dressed in a pink, poofy dress? You’re definitely going to have to show me sometime. I promise to keep most of my laughter inside.”
***
“Depends on what type of fun on the beach you’re looking for really. Some of the people I’ve met out here have some very interesting stories about things they’ve gotten up to on the beach with only one or two other people.” Lily told him, a little smirk on her face as she reached for her drink and took a sip.
“There is nothing pink or poofy in my flat thank you very much. Merida’s costumes to run a little more to the sleek than anything Glenda wore.” She retorted as she pulled her phone to her and pulled up the website for her party princess bookings, showing her in both her characters. There were even a few pictures of her with a bow as Merida shooting at a target. That would cost extra for parents if they wanted an archery display during the party.
***
James rose his eyebrows, a little surprised. Then, he smirked right back. “Well, if you wanted a private tour of my beach, I’d be more than happy to take you,” he said with a wink.
James looked through the photos, clearly amused. “Just how long does it take you to do your hair like that?” he asked, looking at the Merida photos. It seemed like it would probably be a lot of work. “And since when can you do archery?” he asked, coming across one of the photos with her and her bow and arrow.
***
That little moment of surprise didn’t go unnoticed by her and Lily would have been lying if she’d said she didn’t get a thrill out of being able to get that kind of reaction from him. It wasn’t often she was able to pull off something like that. “Are you sure it deserves a private tour?” She asked, turning so that she was facing him in the booth.
She glanced down at the phone when he asked about the hair. “Getting it to look that way doesn’t take all that long. Getting it back to normal is where the nightmare is.” She leaned in slightly to look with him when she noticed the alert about a new message. Just confirmation of payment - nothing to worry about now. “I picked it up during university. I needed a physical education credit and it was the only one that didn’t sound mind numbingly boring.”
***
“Oh trust me,” James said, seductive in almost an ironic kind of way. “It definitely deserves a private tour.”
He ran his hand through his already messy hair. “Well, I know how that is. You know, I bet you could find something from Sleek Easy that would make the whole process easier. I could ask Dad for some samples.” It was, after all, how his father had managed to quadruple the family fortune. Not that you’d ever know from looking at James that his family ran a hair care company. Of course, his messy hair was a carefully calculated look.
***
Lily rolled her eyes at him, shaking her head. “I know you better than to trust you James.” She teased before getting serious again. “Although...there is something appealing about having a friend with their own private beach to hang out on.” She admitted. Anyone else she’d have walked away when they started trying to be seductive but this was just another part of their friendship.
“I’ve actually been trying to find some here but no luck in any of the stores near me. I’ve almost reached the point of using Amazon to order some because nothing I’ve tried here works half as well.” She’d been using Sleek Easy before she met James at boarding school - it had been one of the few products that had worked on her and Petunia’s hair both so their parents had bought it.
***
“So you did learn something in school after all,” he teased. “Seriously though, you should check it out. And if you ever need a place to throw a party with all your princess mates, you know who to call.” So long as they didn’t arrive in costume at least. He was pretty sure he didn’t need a bunch of actual Disney Princesses running around on his beach. He had an image to maintain after all.
“Don’t bother with Amazon,” James respond. “I’ll just ring my da’ and he’ll mail some right over. I’ll make sure he sends it express, no less.”
***
“One or two things that I haven’t completely blocked out in my worship of the sun here.” She told him, gathering up her hair and pulling it into a ponytail with the holder on her wrist, leaving it hanging over one shoulder. “You just want a bunch of girls in swimsuits in your backyard don’t you?” She teased. “But...I might take you up on that. Some friends and I have been trying to find a spot to watch the fireworks this year. The place we used last year is out since the owner is actually living there and not out on tour.”
Lily leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best. And not just because your family owns a hair product company. Although...I’d probably be less likely to admit it if they didn’t.”
***
“You know, I just may be convinced to throw a Fourth of July party,” James responded thoughtfully. In fact, he’d already been convinced. What would be a better way to celebrate his first Independence Day in America than by hosting a party?
He felt a rush of warmth when Lily kissed him on the cheek. He’d always had a bit of a crush on her in school, though she’d never really responding to his flirting and since he’d been pretty popular in school among the boys and girls both, he’d never put too much effort into winning her over. “You don’t have to tell me that,” he responded jokingly. “Though it is nice to hear that you’ve finally noticed what everyone’s always known.”
***
“Oh really? Anything I can do to help convince you that you should?” Lily asked him, tilting her head slightly.
Lily would never have admitted to anyone but she’d had a small crush on him back in school, they’d been friends and hung out but he’d always been a lot more popular than she was and she also just hadn’t wanted to deal with the distraction of a relationship. “Careful - you wouldn’t want to get a big head. It’s not generally a turn on.”
***
James thought about it for a moment. “Well, I a kiss couldn’t hurt,” he suggested playfully, not entirely convinced that it would work. But hey, you never knew if you didn’t try.
James grinned at her next comment. He really, really shouldn’t. It was likely to get him slapped. But he couldn’t help himself. “Really? I’ve always heard the opposite. Or are you one of those girls who claims size doesn’t matter?”
***
“How about a deal - you put together a party for the 4th and I'll give you a kiss during it,” she countered, a playful smile on her face.
She almost choked on the sip she took of her drink at his question and she coughed, cheeks heating up as she looked at him. She should have expected something like that from him. “For me it's more a case of does the guy know how to use what he has more than the size of it.”
***
“Deal,” James said cheerily, holding out a hand to seal the deal with a handshake. “I’m going to hold you to that, you know.”
James couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. “Careful, Lil, I’d hate for you to waste all that drink because of little old me,” he said. “Though, I will say that it’s a good thing that I have both those bases pretty well covered.”
***
Lily shook his hand. “You hold up your end of the the bargain and I’ll hold up mine.” She told him with a small smile. “And it won’t be just on the cheek either.”
“Oh really? Hmm. Maybe I should have given those rumors back at school a bit more credit then.” She said trying to sound casual about it even as her cheeks colored more.
***
James grinned. He’d really only come here for a coffee, and now he had that and a near promise of a kiss from Lily, which was unexpected to say the least. All in all, he was pretty sure he had come out on top.
“Maybe you should have,” he said with a wink, but he could see her blushing and he didn’t want to push too far. He didn’t want to blow this, not after all these years. “But, I should let you get back to… whatever it was you were doing. See you on the fourth,” or sooner.
***