They say nothing ever changes,
Through the new lines that are on their faces.

****
J A M E S

The day James Potter's life changed forever started ordinarily.

It was a Tuesday, he remembered. A Tuesday in March, with the spring sun shining down on him and his friends as they lay on the field.

Peter was chewing gum in an attempt to look cool, Sirius was smoking cigarettes and looking effortlessly cool, and Remus was pulling apart daisies, his brow furrowed.

But James... James was watching. Watching the same people he'd lived with for seventeen years.

Alice Prewett and Frank Longbottom smiled at each other shyly, sitting on a bench together, the way they'd done for seventeen years (just normally with a hallway between them). Marlene McKinnon blew bubblegum at small, frightened-looking first years.

Severus Snape crossed the grass, hair greasy as always, tie tied tightly, shoelaces tied impeccably. He clutched several notebooks to his chest protectively, and James snorted. Prick.

'Do you think anything ever changes here?' James asked miserably, leaning back on his elbows and peering into the sun in an attempt to conjure a miracle. Maybe if I close my eyes, James thought wistfully. When I open them again something will have happened.

The Marauders- for that was what James and his friends called themselves- didn't answer. James musing about the endless sameness of the town was a weekly, maybe even daily, occurrence.

James opened his eyes, then blinked.

Because somebody was walking through the doors of the school towards the grassy field. And that somebody was somebody James had never seen before.

Red hair swinging down her back. A slick of scarlet lipstick on plump lips. Emerald green eyes narrowed to slits, daring anyone to cross her. A collection of silver bangles jangling on her wrist...

She's...

She was something new.

****

The girl was in James' last period History class, right behind him.

'Lily Evans?' The teacher asked as she walked in, like he didn't already know. Like Lily Evans wasn't the first new student since Bertha Jorkins when they were six.

Lily Evans nodded silently, her lips pursed, those green eyes sweeping over the classroom.

James slouched in his chair and tried not to look like he was staring.

'Behind Mr. Potter, please, then, Miss. Evans,' the teacher said with a brisk nod. 'James, raise your hand so Miss. Evans can see where to sit.'

As she stepped by him, a wave of rose perfume wafted past. Roses. Hmm.

The lesson dragged on forever. Lily didn't speak once, although James was ever conscious of her presence.

The lesson finished an age later, and only then did Lily speak.

'Hey, James, is it?'

James turned around, pulling his bag further up his shoulder. God, she was prettier up close. 'The one and only,' he smirked.

Lily rolled her eyes. 'Do you know where the reception is? I need to let the receptionist know that nobody's murdered me on my first day.'

'I'll take you,' James offered, and Lily shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips.

'Fine. But only because you're the only person I've met in this goddamn town who hasn't stared at me like I'm an exhibit in a museum.' Lily glared at him as he tried to open the door to the classroom for her, and opened it herself, completely ignoring him.

Oh, I like you.

'We can't help it,' James said, catching the door right before it hit him in the face. Lily looked slightly disappointed. 'You're the first newcomer for what... eleven years?'

'Haha. How funny. Have I got gum in my hair or something?' Lily asked, and James jogged to catch up with her. Jeez, she had long legs.

'No, you don't. And I can't show you the way to the receptionist if you're twenty metres ahead of me all the time,' James said, rolling his eyes.

She slowed obligingly, and James smiled. 'Thanks. And I'm not lying. This town is the small town of small towns. I could name every person in this town and their parents. And their grandparents. And probably what they had for dinner last night.'

Lily sighed. 'Oh, God, is it one of those places?'

'Yup.' They were almost at the receptionists office, and James found himself not wanting to leave. 'I can't wait to leave. It's ridiculous. For example...'

James thought for a second, then grinned. 'Okay, watch the receptionist. At half three, she'll get up and say she's going to the bathroom to touch up her makeup. Actually, she's going to Mr. Jones' English class to have sex with him in the cupboard.'

Lily looked at him in disgust. 'You're joking.'

'She thinks nobody knows.' James laughed at the expression on Lily's face. 'Watch. It's three twenty five now, so enough time for her to have a chat with you and then you'll be just in time to see her go.'

Five minutes later, just as Lily was about to leave, the receptionist stood up and walked out. Right on cue.

'That's...' Lily shook her head. 'You know everything about everyone in this town, don't you?'

'And they know everything about me,' James responded, knowing he sounded bitter. E smiled quickly to hide it, and extended an arm to Lily. 'So, Miss Evans, what do you say? Would you let me take you around our wonderful town?'

She smiled a little at that, and accepted his arm. 'I suppose.'

***

He showed her the church- I'm not religious, she complained- the basketball court, where he trained every day, and where he knew people would see him (everyone would known within a few hours that James Potter was hanging around with the new girl) and the swimming pool. Then he showed her his favourite cafe, where she insisted on some coffee, and then the town's only bookshop, which also sold music.

She seemed like that kind of person. And he was right.

She walked along the row of vinyl records, her fingertips brushing them, that beautiful hair flowing over her shoulder. 'Arctic Monkeys,' she read. 'The 1975, The Neighbourhood, The Beatles... this shop sells good stuff.'

It's the only place in the entire town that does, James thought but didn't say. Instead, he grinned at her and said: 'I think that you and I are going to be great friends, Lily.'

Word count- 1062

I'm so tired and grumpy and cranky. I'm like a lazy grumpy cat rn