They were two weeks in and Hogwarts was full of hustle and bustle once again.

Even the first years had settled in and accepted their new bizzare yet great reality.

'Got rejected yet again.' A dejected James entered the common room.

The guys were sleeping on the couches, bored of what to do.

'You asked her out again ?' Sirius sighed.

'I thought she was smiling at me. Turns out it was Brian.'

James snarled the name Brian with spurts of hatred.

'Who's this Brian guy?' Remus asked.
'Some dude she was checking out, probably.' Sirius said, pushing his head further in the couch.

'I don't know what she see's in that guy. I mean I get that guy is a brainiac and totally rocks of a leather jacket but she need's to see the sexy in me.'

'The sexy in you?' Peter laughed.

'I think I need to ask her out again.' James muttered. 'This time in a more classy and elegant manner.'

James was about to leave when Sirius threw a dart at him.

'Dude.' James said. 'I told you to stop doing that. You can just ask me to stop, you lazy piece of shit.'

'Whatever.' Sirius muttered, his voice barely audible as he was mumbling in the couch.

'James.' Sirius said. 'Don't ask her out again. Meet me today at ten at The Three Broomsticks.'

'What's wrong with this place?'

'Too many people.'
'Okay. I can wrap my head around that one. Why don't we go now?' James asked.

'Cause I am lazy as fuck now.' Sirius mumbled and dug deeper in the couch.

Remus pushed Sirius out of the couch.

'Why did you do that?' Sirius got up.
James shielded Remus and told him to come with him.

After a couple of harsh curses, Sirius agreed on a deal to get the couch to himself when they were back.

'We can just talk in an empty classroom.' said James.
'Yeah, but now that I am not sleeping, I want to drink.'

'We can drink later.' James said pulling Sirius into the nearest classroom.

'Fine. Now I have a whole speech prepared to make you understand the concept of what you have to do.' Sirius said.

'I am all ears.' James said.

'Act casual.' Sirius said.
'What?' James asked.

'Act casual.' Sirius repeated.
'I am acting casual.'

'Towards lily, dumbass.' Sirius said.
'Towards lily what?' James asked, face blank like white parchment.

'Act casual towards lily.'
Sirius said.

'What does that mean?' James asked.
'It means stop stalking lily. Ignore her.'

'You think ignoring her is gonna make her want me more.'

'No. It will make her notice you.'

'Okay. And then what? I ask her out?'

'No. Once phase one is complete, we move on to phase two.' Sirius said.
'What's phase zero?' James asked.

'Are you kidding me? The phases start from one.' Sirius said. 'Don't ask stupid questions.'

'I meant why not start with phase zero?' James asked.

'Fine. We will start with phase zero.' Sirius said.
'What's wrong with one?'

'I am out of here.' Sirius said walking towards the door.

'No, wait. We will start with phase one. What's phase two?'

'Then you start dating someone else and after a considerable amount of time, pretend to fall in love with her.'

James nodded to show that he was following Sirius.

'Then lily regrets her decision. And she wishes she has a second chance. Then you be the greater man and bang her. Then you bang every other girl in the school. Become a player and live the perfect life.' Sirius concluded.

'I am pretty sure that was your life story.' James said.

'Yeah, it is.' Sirius smirked.

'Then you got me all wrong. I am in love with Evans. I don't want to be a player.' James sighed.

'You love her like would love to bang her, right?' Sirius asked.

'No. No. That's not love. Are you kidding me? Is this what you thought?' James asked.

'Well, yeah- I guess.'

'Well you are wrong. I love this girl. I always will be.'
James said before storming out of the room.

Sirius sighed and thought about his life for a second. With his brother probably going to the dark side that fall, his life was about to ruin forever.

Then with frustration revolving around his head he slammed the door.

Thoughts of his family entered his mind. They were followed by thoughts of Marlene.

He didn't know why he wanted to be with her so bad.

He knew that James was in love with lily. But up till that point he didn't want to accept that.

Because if the abstract concept of love was true, his heart would have a role to play with McKinnon and his entire life would turn out to be a lie..
***