After (Wolves of Mercy Falls Fan Fic)

Chapter 18

She kissed me.

I didn't really know how to respond. My hands fell off her shoulders just to fall to my side. What were you suppose to do when your best friend of five years just randomly decides to kiss you? Shock was what overtook me most of all. Then it was the confusion.

Lila pulled back a few seconds later, without moving her hands from where they were on either side of my face, and looked into my wide eyes. When she saw what she needed, Lila hugged her arms to her body. Her head tilted down so her hair hid her emotions.

I regained control and realised what a jerk I had just been. Great. Now she thought I probably hated her. I wanted to sigh at my stupidity, but thought better of it. Lila would think I was sighing at her.

Instead, I took her soft cheek in my fingers and kissed her back when she looked up at me. It took her a second, but she kissed me too. Her skinny arms wrapped around my neck to pull me closer.

It was times like these that always reminded me that Lila was actually my age, no matter how many times I imagined her younger. Now, with my hands on her hips and her legs wrapped around my waist, there was no mistaking her age.

Neither of us broke away until we heard footsteps down the hall. "Emily, are you ready to go? Or do you just want to stay here tonight. I have to get to bed soon, but I can pick you up after work tomorrow," Rose called. Lila glanced at me, then away, her face bright red. I smiled and stepped away so Lila could go meet her sister.

Lila smiled at me shyly and hopped off the bed, walking into the hallway. I stuck my hands in my pockets until the door closed behind her. That's when I pulled out my hand to touch my lips. I just kissed my best friend. Well, that made things complicated.

My head jerked away from my fingers when I heard the door click shut. Lila stood in front of the door, looking down at her feet with her hands still on the knob behind her. She seemed nervous so I decided I would act like nothing was different.

"I take it your staying then?" She nodded, glancing up at me sweetly. I smiled. "Good. I'm sick of being depressed," I said. I heard Lila giggle as I walked to my closet to find an old shirt of mine.

"You do realize you're not going to be able to do that again, right?" I glanced at Lila who looked panicked. I smirked and continued to look in my closet as if I hadn't noticed. "All this time and not a thing from you. That hurt, Lila." I was being more serious than I gave away with my playful tone of voice.

I heard Lila's light footsteps as she walked towards me. Her arms wrapped around my torso from behind me. She knew me too well; this was her apology.

I sighed. "I just missed you, Lila. That's all. I'm not mad." I felt her press her face between my shoulderblades, sending a shock down my spine. I shivered a bit. I peeled her arms off me and pull her gently to face me. I smiled, touching her cheek lightly. "I'm just happy your back." She smiled and nodded.

I looked back to my closet, "I don't think we have anymore of your clothes here so you can wear one of my old shirts to bed. Is that okay?" I asked, still trying to find one that would fit her. She nodded and held up a finger to give her a minute. With that, she ran out of the room (just as I had found a shirt for her too).

I could hear Rose saying, "I'll be back around 5 tomorrow to pick you up," from the living room. I was starting to think Rose was a very loud person. The front door shut and my door opened again at the same time. Lila shut the door behind her and sat on my bed, taking off her flats. I handed her the shirt and went to the bathroom to change into some clean night clothes.

When I came back, Lila was dozing off already. Her dress laid across the chair. I put my clothes where they were suppose to go and hung up her dress. Lila was so energetic until bedtime. Then she always got lazy. It was nice to see nothing had changed. It might not have been a year since I last saw her, but it felt like two.

Lila sighed in her dozed state, bring my eyes to where she lay on top of the covers. Now that I got a better look, it was hard to look away. Her shirt only reached a little past her hips and I doubted she had taken the time to find anything to go under it. She moved her leg up so the shirt rode up. I glanced away and shook my head. Now she was teasing me.

I shut off the lights and pulled the blankets out from under her. Lila barely moved to make room for me. I kissed her cheek and got into bed. She moved so her forehead was touching mine. "Goodnight, Lila." I could just barely see her smile in the dim light. I knew she wasn't asleep.