She didn’t look up from the cracks on the sidewalk, nor did she turn down her street to go home. Instead, She just kept walking. I’ve been behind her, walking back to my house, since school ended, and she hasn’t tried to look at anyone or say anything all day. Maybe she didn’t realize, maybe I should tell her. “Hey, um, lily, you missed your street.” I said, hoping she would say something. Anything. But no. She just nodded her head, not bothering to look up. “Lily, did something happen? I-if you don’t want to go home… you can come to my house?” I offered her. Even though she hated me, and she thinks I hate her, I would never want someone to go somewhere they aren’t comfortable to. “Why do you care?” She asked, feigning tears. “I- uh, well, I understand how it feels to dread going somewhere every day, to not to feel safe somewhere. My mom used to be a major alcoholic, and if she got angry, she would take it out on me and my dad… screaming at us until she got mad and left for one, two, three days. Then she would come back and act like nothing was wrong.” I took a deep breath, “one day she decided she didn’t want to be like that anymore, she tried her best to get rid of alchohol, and she went to these classes for anger management. Nowadays, you would never guess she used to be like that.” I was now standing next to lily, hoping she’d at least want to talk to me after I just spilled my guts to her. She said “uhm. Today was the day my mom died, she was in a car accident and I was the only other person in the car, and well, I survived and… she didn’t and my dad blames me for it. He practiacally hates me, at her services I was crying and people came up to me first rather than my dad, ‘cause, you know, I was a seven year old with no mother figure anymore, and I had to witness her die. Well I guess he didn’t like that and he blew up at me right there, right then, not caring that people were horrified,” she took another breath, “and… he told me that I wasn’t allowed to- I wasn’t allowed to be sad. He told me it was my fault she died and that he wished I was the one who… died, rather than her.” Lily was now crying hysterically. I pulled her into my arms, her gaze still not leaving the ground, but she hugged me back. “Lily, that’s awful. I’m sure he didn’t mean it, and it was just in the heat of the moment.” I said quietly, while stroking her hair. She shook her head “No… he reminds me every year that he wishes we would of switched spots and that he hates me and I’m worthless… and I’m starting to believe him… maybe people would be better off without me.” My heart sank at her words, how could he say that to her? And how could she think that? “No, no, no, no, no, your not any of that, your amazing, and kind, and beautiful, and people would definatly miss you if you were gone.” I assured her, “who would ever miss me? I’m just the weird kid who’s mom is dead and everyone feels sorry for.” She cried into my chest, gripping my shirt in her hands. “Me. I would miss you. I can’t imagine what life would be like without you. And trust me. You’re not weird, and people really don’t feel bad for you all that much, I’m not even sure most of our school knows about your mom. Like think about it. I didn’t know, and I talk to you every day.” I said, trying to brighten her mood. I lead us over to a nearby stone wall and leaned against it, still holding lily close. “Yeah, I guess you do, but that’s not make fun of me. I don’t know if that counts.” “Lil, I make fun of you, because you think I hate you, and I guess I just didn’t feel like correcting you. And even though I pretty much only do that, I still know all about you. for some reason, when I hear anything that includes you, it sticks in my brain.” I smiled, silently pleading for her to look up at me. She didn’t, but that’s okay, because I’m still helping her feel a little better. Suddenly she blurted out something that shocked me. “He hits me… my dad that is.” My jaw tightened, pulling her into a warmer embrace. “Is that why…” I slightly pulled back, tilting her chin up with my hand and coming face to face with a large, red slap mark on her cheek. Tears welled in her eyes and my heart broke. This was her. The girl I’ve secretly loved for so many years. The girl who never fails to make me laugh. She was fragile. Breaking. But I would fix that if it took forever. “Cmon, you can stay at my place for now.” I said to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and guiding her down the road. “Are you mad at me for not telling you earlier?” Lily asked me. My jaw dropped. “No! Of course not, 1. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. And that goes for anyone, and 2. I could never be mad at you.” She nodded, mumbling “noted. Maybe I should steal your car next.” I chuckled at her small joke. As soon as we stepped inside my house my mother was there, greeting us. “Hi Lucas, who is this?” She asked l, trying to pry. “Mom. This is Lily. Lilly, that’s my mom. Okay, nice introductions, let’s go now.” I said worriedly, trying to pull her away from my mom and to my room. “Now now, wait a minute. _Why _is Lily over at our house? And why are you trying to pull her away so quickly?” She asked sneakily. I groaned, looking to Lily, seeing she has her head down again. “Lily just needs to be here right now mom. You don’t understand.” I said with annoyance tainting my voice. “Okay, okay, but yknow what i do understand? There will be no hanky panky under my roof, you hear that?” She exclaimed sternly. I felt my cheeks turn pink and I groaned again. “Mom, that’s not what this is okay?” I asked her rhetorically as I grabbed Lilys hand and was finally able to bring her to my room where she could feel safe. “Thanks Lucas. You’re really kind.” Lily said as she sat down on the edge of my bed. “Of course Lil, I’m always happy to help” i smiled, sitting next to her. “So tell me one more thigg by about you that nobody else knows. I told you two and you only told me one. So… the floor is yours.” She said to me. Before I could even think about it I blurted out “I’m in love with you.” I immediatly covered my mouth, and turned redder than a tomato. I uncovered my mouth to apologize.“I’m sor-“ I was cut off by something warm on my lips. My eyes widened seeing Lily. She was kissing me. She was kissing me! She. Was. Kissing. Me. I gasped into the kiss and immediately wrapped my arms around her. “I… love… you… too.” She whispered in between kisses. All of the sudden she stood up and walked in front of me, pushing me up the bed and pushing me into a laying position. She crawled on top of me, sitting on my stomach, not breaking the kiss. She lightly bit my bottom lip, causing my mouth to open, she took the opportunity to let her tongue into my mouth, and exploring it. She slowed the kiss down, savoring every moment. Then, she broke away, pulling me into a seated position and sliding into my lap. She wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled our bodies so close together that I could feel the heat radiating through her. She kissed me again, way slower this time around. She started moving in my lap, probably trying to get comfortable, but it was a bit… well, uncomfortable for me. I groaned slightly as she kept moving, kissing me more. Now I know her movement is purposeful, “lil…” I warned. “Hmm” she hummed back. The feeling was all becoming too much for me. I grabbed her hips, moving her in a way that felt way better for me and for her. I groaned again, guiding her back and forth faster. I laid back again, keeping her in an upright position. She was moving faster now. I then heard a soft rustling sound. Then felt items being dropped to the floor. I gasped in realization, but didn’t try to stop her. Then suddenly she lowered herself on me. I arched my back off the bed and gripped the sheets. I heard her noises and they made me want her more and more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time skip: later that night

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I love, love, love you!” I yelled, spinning her in the air.