Sirius wanted to say something.

James could see him now, lying beside him on his back, on James' bed, chewing his lips and tapping the headboard. A skittish hand would rake through dark hair every now and then, and his toes kept shifting randomly.

Basically, Sirius was a bundle of nerves and James was very close to asking him what the fuck was wrong.

"So." Sirius cleared his throat. "S-so, Prongs, my friend, have your attempts to woo the f-fine Lily Evans finally worked?"

Trying to distract me. James' lip curled. As if that would work.

"Unfortunately not, dear Pads." James sighed dramatically, lying down as well. "But eventually, she will realise I love her very much and want to spend my life with her."

"Eventually." Sirius sounded more confident than sceptical, which was a nice change from first year.

James could remember it very clearly.

***

"My friends! I have something important to say!" James announced in the dorm.

He looked around at his new friends. Sirius, who was looking expectantly at him and brushing his (admittedly rather nice) long black hair. Remus, who raised an eyebrow at him over his book. Peter, who had paused in scribbling down something for homework and was watching him carefully.

James cleared his throat. "It may surprise you, but I, James Angelica Potter, am - " he threw his arms out " - in love!"

"Congratulations mate!" said Sirius, jumping up and hugging James.

"With who?" asked Peter.

"Your name isn't Angelica," muttered Remus, eyebrows pulling together.

James continued. "Yes, I, your bestest friend in the whole world, am in love."

"With who?"

He puffed out his chest. "Lily Evans."

There was a shocked silence.

Sirius suddenly broke it by letting out a loud bark of laughter. He collapsed on his bed, cackling into his pillow. James looked at him, affronted.

"Why are you laughing?"

"She hates you, mate!" said Peter, giggling.

James crossed his arms defiantly. "Well, she won't eventually."

Remus snickered. "Keep telling yourself that."

Huffing, James walked over to his bed and got in.

"She'll love me one day, mark my words."

***

"James?"

The distracted boy shook himself out of his memories. "Yeah?"

Sirius sat up, fiddling with his hair anxiously. "I... I want to tell you something."

James straightened a little. "Yeah?"

There was a moment where Sirius bit the inside of his cheek, eyes downcast.

"I'm in love."

James shrieked and pulled the shorter boy into a hug.

"Ha! I knew it! This is great!"

Sirius blinked. "Hold on, you knew?"

"Well I guessed." James grinned down at him. "I think I know who it is, too!"

Those anxious hands paused in their fiddling. "You d-do...?"

James nodded. Sighing, Sirius motioned for him to guess.

"Is it our one and only Moony?"

Two hazel eyes met two wide grey ones.

"How in the flying fuck did you guess that?!"

James shrugged. I mean, he couldn't really tell him he had been praying for the confession since second year.

"Intuition, of which you have none."
[A/N: actually, the others figured it out first, but Potters are known for being a bit oblivious].

Sirius groaned, falling onto the bed. "And he isn't even gay!"

"Has he said so?"

"I mean, he likes girls. I know that much." Sirius put his head in James' lap. "But guys? I don't know!"

"He hasn't said no, though," James said slowly, braiding a few strands of Sirius' hair. "So he could potentially be attracted to men."

"Unlikely."

"I think you should ask him out."

"No fucking way in hell."

"How about heaven?"

Sirius smiled reluctantly. "No, James."

James smiled. "Remus is a great choice though. I mean, if I liked dudes I would totally go for him."

"What about me?" Sirius pouted, turning his face away.

"After asking you out of course. You're my number one, after all."

They were quiet for a bit, James creating multiple little plaits throughout the dark locks, Sirius still and brooding.

"Will you tell Peter? Or Lily?"

Sirius shook his head. "Not yet."

"Can I tell anyone?"

"Not if you don't want to be thrown into the lake."

"Rude. Where is Remus anyway?"

Sirius shrugged. "I have no clue."

"He keeps sneaking off. I wonder what he's doing."

"Not me, which sucks."

James grinned, patting Sirius' head.

"You both look really fucking gay."

Peter was standing by the door, taking a picture. Sirius rolled his eyes.

"James is my brother, Wormtail."

"Love you, Pads."

"Aw, I love you too."

Peter walked in, smiling smugly. "Gay."

"Ace," Sirius retorted, sitting up and stretching.

"Eh, you're not wrong."

James looked at his watch. "Fuck."

"What?"

"McGonagall wanted to see me for detention."

The other two sniggered. "Have fun, friendo."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

James walked out of the dorm, stomping down the stairs with a sour expression.

"Where are you going?"

Lily was outside the girl's dormitory, standing with her arms crossed.

"Ah, hello my lovely Evans." James went from grumpy to charming in a second. "I have a detention with Miss Minnie McGee. Care to join me?"

"In your dreams." But there wasn't any of the usual irritation. She sounded almost nice. Almost.

James raised his hands, smiling. "Well, maybe next time then." He headed off again.

"Keep hoping."

"I shall!" James called over his shoulder. He could have sworn Lily smiled, but his brain was probably playing tricks on him.

Or Sirius had drugged him.

Wouldn't be the first time.

James kept walking, whistling cheerfully, feeling like he'd won something.