Forever Yours

Chapter 2 Poetry

In the canteen during lunch the next day you were completely ignoring the conversation that Gabrielle and your cousin, Lanette, were having since you were staring at the neighbouring table where Remus was sitting quietly as he listened to James and Sirius chat animatedly. Lily was beside James reading a book, but that didn't concern you; only Remus did.

"Fantasy, pay attention!" Gabrielle demanded.

"Oh, sorry," you mumbled, tearing your eyes away from Remus.

Lanette shook her head. "You've got it bad."

"What are you talking about?" you questioned, yet you already knew the answer.

"You fancy Remus when you don't even know him," responded Lanette disapprovingly.

"No, I don't," you lied stubbornly.

"Yeah right."

"Yeah, I am right," you remarked, stealing two of her chips and eating them. The bell rang. "See ya later." You headed to English and nearly dropped the books you were carrying in shock when you arrived. Why? Remus was sitting at the desk next to yours at the back of the room that had remained unoccupied until now.

"Hello, Fantasy. How are you?" inquired Remus courteously.

How does he know my nickname? "Fine," you replied.

"Are you going to Bree's party?"

"Probably."

"You don't talk much, do you?"

"I do. It's just that I-" you stopped yourself just in time. You had almost said, "Just that I like you."

"Just what?"

"Nothing." You blushed and took your seat.

The English instructor, a sweet-tempered old woman with a long name that you couldn't pronounce and consequently called 'Ms. J,' stood at the podium in front of the blackboard. "Everyone, we're going to begin studying poetry."

Most of the class groaned. Conversely, Remus looked excited.

"Do you like poetry?" you whispered. Some poems were nice, in your opinion, but reading and writing it was not something you did often.

Remus nodded. "Pad-er, Sirius, James, and Peter, our other mate that couldn't come on this trip, always tease me about being sensitive."

"That stinks," you sympathised. "If it's any consolation, most girls love sensitivity."

Remus chuckled softly. "It is a consolation. Thank you."

"Anytime," you assured with a smile. Oh my gosh! Am I flirting with him?

Ms. J. continued, "Please, get into pairs, choose one of Shakespeare's sonnets, and interpret it."

You were about to try your best to casually suggest to Remus that the two of you should work together when he shyly requested of you, "Would you be my partner?"

"All right," you answered, attempting not to sound too eager.

You and Remus started to page through a thick book containing all of Shakespeare's poems. He skimmed over them more swiftly than you, as if he had read them all before.

"This is one of my favourites." Remus pointed at sonnet number 130.

You read:
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red:
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound.
I grant I never saw a goddess go:
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

"Riiight. What exactly does it mean? Isn't he insulting his wife the entire time?" you questioned.

"Not at all," Remus said pleasantly. "He does state that she is unattractive, ungraceful, has bad breath, and has an annoying voice, but her voice always says wise things and he loves her so much that he would not trade her for a goddess. I just like it because I know a lot about caring for someone in spite of their faults; my friends do it for me." He closed his mouth and you assumed he thought that he'd said too much. "It doesn't matter. We can do a different sonnet if you want."

You smiled warmly. "No, let's do this one." I know nobody is perfect, but what horrible faults could he possibly have?