HEAL ME | JAMES POTTER

FIFTEEN

- CHAPTER 15 -

❝He didn't actually like me.❞

Hogwarts, Sixth year.

EVER SINCE THEIR KISS, Grace had been ignoring James like the plague. These past few days, she couldn't help hut feel vulnerable around him.

To her, the kiss was more than meaningful. It was something she had waited for months, years even. When their lips had touched, Grace had known there was no going back.

Everything was ten times worse for the girl since, unlike James, she had no one to talk to about her feelings. The only people she'd consider as her friends were the Marauders, no one else.

Nowadays, Grace would find herself crying to sleep every night. The one person who she'd talk to about her feelings the most was Theo, and he wasn't there either.

Currently, the girl was sat near the Black Lake with a book present in her lap. Anyone passing by would notice that she was nowhere near to being focused in the book, eyes staring at the lake with an empty look.

"Grace? Are you okay?" came the voice of Lily Evans.

"Evans, i'm okay."

Lily knew that in the past, she had done many horrible things. But now, she wanted to make everything okay again.

"You can talk to us, you know? I-I'm aware that i wasn't the best in the past, so i'm sorry."

"It's okay Lily, don't worry about it."

At the girl's words, Lily sighed and sat down next to her with hesitation. That day, when she had confronted James in the great hall, Lily was sure she had seen love in the girl's eyes.

Lily knew how love was, she had experienced it first hand. And at this moment, Lily knew that Grace had been contemplating over her feelings for James.

"Are you confused about your feelings?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Wha— how did you know?"

Out of all of her friends, Lily was known as the most understanding of the group. The mother, as some may call it. No matter how upset a person was, Lily would always know a way to make them feel better.

"James is a great guy Grace. He likes you too, did you know?" she said with a smirk.

"What?"

Grace was shocked, to say the least. Ever since they were young, the girl had only seen James pining over Lily. She knew that the boy had loved her since their first year, there was no way he had liked her as well.

"No, that's not possible."

"Grace, the feelings James had for me, it was just infatuation. Once i had said no, he felt like he had to get accepted no matter what. He didn't actually like me, you know?"

When Lily and James had gotten together, the first few weeks were a bliss. But as days started to pass by, the redhead had noticed how unhappy James actually was.

Even though as an exterior, James would always look content and lovestruck, his feelings were completely different on the inside. Yes, he was happy with the girl he had wanted since first year. But at the same time, he couldn't help but think that something was wrong about the whole ordeal.

Lily didn't want to trap him in a relationship that he didn't even want to be in, so she broke up with him. Sure, it made her look like the bad guy, but at least she had helped the boy sort his feelings out.

"You should talk to him. He's been miserable without you by his side."

Later that night, Grace had finally showed up in the kitchens, days after their little moment. She was shocked to see James already there, eyes downcast and sadness lacing them very visibly.

"James?" she asked with hesitation.

Hearing her voice, the boy's head snapped towards the girl with surprise. It had been so long since he had seen her, talked to her, and held her, that he couldn't help but pull her into his arms immediately after.

"Merlin, you scared me G. I'm sorry, about the kiss."

"What are you talking about?"

"I-I didn't know it'd make you that uncomfortable, i'm really so—"

When they had first kissed, during the game, it had been rushed and hesitant. Since there were many people around them, the two had been extremely careful with their actions.

But now, since they were alone in the kitchens, Grace had pressed her lips even deeper into his. She could taste the chocolate on his lips, the one he had been eating before the girl had arrived.

It was an addicting taste, one she would only prefer in a condition like this. James was surprised, the kiss was sudden, yet thoughtful.

The boy brought her closer to him, arms sliding behind her back. He could feel her hand trickle against the hairs on his neck, he couldn't help but shudder with each touch.

Whenever her finger would collide against his skin, James could feel the goosebumps arising on them seconds after.

"Grace.."

"I like you James, a lot."

If he wasn't in heaven before, James was sure that he was now. He had never felt this way, not even with Lily. With Lily, he had doubts. But with Grace, he knew that his only goal in life, was to spend all of eternity with her by his side.

"I like you too G, a lot."