And Then... They Fell

CHAPTER TWENTY

Lilly 

I can't help but let my mind drift to the what-ifs: he was never this late. No matter how much I wanted to worry about that right now I couldn't, I waited for David for too long already and if I waited any longer Charlie might not make it. I didn't want to do this alone but I didn't have a choice anymore. I mustered all my strength and picked up my three-year-old brother Charlie, his face hidden and his body held tightly to me. I can't go to a hospital so I go to the one place I never thought I would have to go again.

I make my way to 'The Little Diamond' and go straight to the back where I know Ann will be. The door is blocked by two big dudes but when they see I'm not a threat they go as far as to open the door for me, and immediately Ann looks up from behind her extravagantly jeweled desk.

"You save him, I can work for free for three days."

She raises her eyebrows at the offer but I knew she wouldn't take the first offer, she never does.

"Two weeks."

"One week. Final offer."

"Done." And just like that she snaps her fingers and one of the muscles in the door walks away while the other take's Charlie from my arms. He knows, even in a state like this to keep his eye closed no matter what but it doesn't help the knot in my stomach and the fear of being found out. The fear of what happened to his father happening again.

"Take her to the rooms." And just like that I'm back, even if I don't want to be.

I keep walking, refusing to look behind me, even when I hear a stick snap and feet rustle in the leaves. Even when a hand gently grabs my elbow and when I hear a low "Lilly please,". When I hear it again though, louder I finally stop and turn around.

David

It does though, it matters. She saw me walk up with this girl and I will never forget the look of complete heartbreak on her face when she saw us. I quickly said goodbye and ran to her. She was already crying thinking I was betraying her and I was but not how she thinking. I tried to explain that we haven't done and will never do anything and that she meant nothing to me- all she wanted was the guy with purple eyes and I told her I knew where he was. That's when I knew I had really lost her, because you can mess with her emotions and her life as much as you want but the moment you bring Charlie into it, she won't forgive you.

She didn't trust me though and I was furious that she would think I would betray them like that, and think that it was anything more than a hunt for knowledge. I let my anger get the better of me and told her that if she couldn't trust me than there was no reason for me to be here. She told me if I left now she wouldn't be there when I get back. That if I left she would know she couldn't trust me. That just infuriated me further so I said 'Fine," and left- not expecting that she would really be gone.

The biggest mistake of my life was leaving her.

I came back the next day and when I saw they weren't there I came back the next day, and the next and every day for a week, just hoping I could see her again. After a week I couldn't even walk near my old home without thinking of her and our fight, so I took the long way everywhere I went- just so I could keep her out of my head.

I knew I had crossed a line with her but we had fought so many times before, I have never been able to figure out what was different about this time, no matter how many nights I stayed up thinking about it. 

I can't say anything else but, "Lilly please." And it breaks my heart a little when she doesn't turn around. I don't know what I did that day but I know Lilly and I know she is hot tempered but she would never hold a grudge like this for no reason. Life was to short- we both knew that all to well.