They embraced in a quick hug. Lily Evans, one of the kindest people Remus had ever met. They were best friends in high school, and she'd always help him with projects and such if he needed it.

"So what's up with you?" she said, seeming excited, "Have you found a girlfriend yet?"
That must've been the logical conclusion she came to, Remus thought before speaking,  "Nothing much. I just got a job at the new coffee shop down the street. And no, I'm single. What's happening with you?"
"Well, one I own this bookshop now. Two, I've not single—"
"What?" Remus asked in utter shock, cutting her off, "Who?"
"Oh you'll remember him from college. He also said that he went to the same high school as you and the rest of your old friends. Severus Snape."

Wait what, Remus stepped back and raised an eyebrow. Lily Evans and Severus Snape. The thought disgusted him, but he wasn't going to say that. He could never see someone as kind and caring as her with a guy like Snape.

Snape was very aloof, so to speak, and was friends with most of the older people because of a strange club they all joined. Remus never asked about that club, knowing it was too strange and frightening to think of.

"That's ... nice." he replied, faking a smile.
"I know he's strange, he's very kind now." Lily grinned.

Then her phone began to ring, playing a song he only vaguely recognized. She picked it up with a smile. Remus stood by, picking at his cuticles as to make himself busy and burden.

"Hey Sev!" Lily greeted brightly to whoever she was talking to on the phone, "I'm just at the bookshop, cleaning. ... Yes, I'm fine just calm down. Geez." A pause, "I'll be home in a bit. You called me three minutes ago, I'm fine. See you."

Lily turned to smile at Remus once more before waving. The smile didn't seem to reach her eyes, "I'm sorry we can't talk some more. Sev wants me home in a few minutes. And I'll try to pop by that coffee shop you work at now. Bye Remus."
"Bye Lily. I'll see you another time." Remus faked a bright smile again, hoping she wouldn't see through his lie.

Remus couldn't believe what his ears heard. He sighed partially out of disappointment and partially out of exhaustion. He watched as Lily fixed up a shelf of books, then he turned on his heel to head back home. He didn't really want to call it home, seeing as it didn't feel like one.

The night seemed colder, even though it was close to the end of summer. Remus found himself shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked down the lonely street.

~oOo~

Lily walked alone to her car, her hands shoved in her pockets, fuming with anger. Why'd she ever say yes to him?

Dating Severus Snape was the strangest decision she'd ever made in her life. He'd been so obsessed with her, that she couldn't find it in her heart to say no. Maybe she'd pitied him? Since he didn't have that many friends and was picked on time to time.  Or maybe she'd gotten so tired of trying to just be his friend. She did love him, only in her own way, not as a romantic partner. Maybe she was desperate to stay friends with someone from her college.

He'd always been agreeing with her as friends, he treated her like an equal. Now, since they started dating, he deemed it fit to be able to control most of her life.

She wanted to leave him. But he just wouldn't let her. She'd barely been able to get away from him to tidy up her bookstore. Lily hated her life at the moment. She had believed in love, once upon a time. That wonderful warm feeling that flooded your body when you saw the one you loved. The smile that would come alive on your face. But now, it was just something that trapped her. Trapped in a possessive relationship with someone she'd fallen out of love with a long time ago. But she couldn't seem to leave. She was trapped.

She breezed right past the coffee shop, knowing that she'd try her hardest to stop by the next day. The city was quiet now, and she found her car parked right where she left it. She shoved the key in, turning on the car and slowly began to drive home.

Lily blew a strand of dark red hair out of her eyes so she could see. Her fingers flipped the switch so she could listen to the radio. A few of her favorite songs came on, but she didn't find the joy to sing.

Why didn't she stop the car now? Run away from her troubles. Run far away. But no, she had people that needed her. Her sister hated her, solely because she was the one who graduated with flying colors. Jealousy had taken her family away from her, and Lily was sick of everything.

But there had to be reason. There was a reason for everything. A scientific solution that would answer her questions. Why had her sister begun to hate her? She was jealous. But for the longest time, she didn't find the reason as to why Severus acted the way he did with her. Her heart began to ache with fear as she drove home.

She unlocked the door to see Severus sitting on the couch, picking at his nails like he usually did. His greasy dark hair fell about his shoulders too neatly while his hook shaped nose was wrinkled in disdain.

"Lily, where were you?"
"I was at the bookshop, Sev. I told you."
"You weren't with anyone else?"
"I was talking to a friend from college. You remember Remus."

She watched as his expression soon turned sour and he sneered at the name. Lily couldn't understand why. Remus was a perfectly kind man.

"He's not in love with you or anything, right?" Severus looked at her, appearing sad and helpless.
"What?" Lily asked, not understanding why he'd ask something like that, "No, not at all. I just bumped into him at the bookshop."
"I don't think you should hang out with him. I heard he doesn't even have a job." he added, as if it were a dismissive comment regarding one of her friends.

Lily grit her teeth with rage and tied her hair into a ponytail so she could start cooking. Her hands worked at the pots and pans as she threw in foods and spices. Her hands ached from carrying stacks of books, but she had to cook. Her feet hurt from walking up and down stairs and her head was pounding from dealings with customers. Occasionally, Severus took it upon himself to make food for when she got home. But she was usually one making food.

Severus was tired too, as he usually told her. A chemistry teacher at local high school. Sometimes she pitied him, as he didn't have family that he could turn to. Others she seethed with anger. Tonight was one of those nights.

"What do you have against Remus? He's just a friend." she retorted angrily, holding a cooking spoon as if it were a sword in her hands.
"How can I be so sure that he's not just a friend, Lily?"
"You're like this with all of my friends, Sev. Can you calm down a little?"
"I don't want to argue with you." Severus tried to look apologetic, "Are you going to Marlene's next weekend."
"Yes, I am. You can't tell me no."
"I wasn't going to. I just wish you were at home with me a bit more."

Lily snorted, turning her back on him and stirring the spoon into the mix. Home with him? She was home with him every single day! Weekends were her freedom. Lily seethed silently, gritting her teeth as she said their food down on the table.