Falling Together

Chapter 7 (Lily)

        

Grandpa past away yesterday morning in his sleep and everything has been crazy at my house. I have always been a strong person when it came to things like these. I haven't even had the chance to grieve him or think about past memories with him because there are so many people walking up to us, acting like they give a damn about him; when we all know they don't. I just want to be alone, away from the crowd of people. So I decide to go out on the porch. As I open the door I see a taxi pull up. It's my sister. We make eye contact for a second and then she switches focus to something behind me and completely ignores me.

Lily: "Well, hello to you too sis."

          She ignores me and walks straight inside the house. I just hope one day she could hear me out and at least try to understand what really happened that night, when she took it upon herself to hate me. If she would just give me three minutes to explain, maybe we can put this behind us. But as I stare into the beautiful California view, I catch a glimpse of a familiar car. It can't be! As it pulls up closer, I see Adrian in the driver seat. He gets out of his car and I think my mind goes blank. No really, I don't even remember my name.

Adrian: "Hello Lily."

That's it!

Lily: "Adrian you're here."

He is always so proper.

Adrian: "Yea, I came to...

Julie: "ADRIAN!"

What the..

Adrian: "Juliette?"

Julie: "I can't believe you're here."

Lily: "Wait what."

Julie: "Adrian this is my sister, Lily. Lily this is my boyfriend Adrian."

Lily: "Boyfriend?"

My head is spinning. I can't think straight and all I can see is Adrian just standing there frozen, as if the air has been sucked out of him.

Adrian: "Lily, I can..."

Before he can finish that sentence I interrupt.

Lily: "It's nice to meet you Adrian."

          I can tell by the way his facial expression changes, he is extremely confused. Or is he? Did he know this entire time that she was my sister? How could he? I never even mentioned her name. I can't do this to my sister. She looks happy with him. I guess he's the infamous man she's been bragging about to my parents. For once, I completely understand her. Just look at him. He could be a model. The dark hair, those light eyes, don't let me forget his smile. Ah, I need to stop. He's with Julie; I can't ruin that for her. But why would he flirt with me? Was he even flirting? He drove me home one night, that's it. He couldn't possibly have known me and Julie were sisters. Julie would hate me if she knew we hung out once. I can't do this, not again.

          It was Julie's last boyfriend, well before Adrian. His name was Alex Mitchell. He was my best friend before him and Julie even started dating. They were completely and madly in love, well so I thought. It was my 21st birthday and we all decided to go clubbing. All my friends were there Jesse, Skylar, Serena, Valen, Alex and Julie. Julie and I got a little too drunk, so Alex had to take us home. Julie passed out in the back seat of the car, which left one complete drunk and her best friend in the front seat.

          Once we got home, Alex put Julie to sleep in her bed and came downstairs to watch a movie with me. Alex and I had been friends since preschool. We literally grew up together and I considered him the brother I never had. We ended up choosing 13 Going on 30. Throughout the movie I don't know if it was the buzz but all I could feel was Alex watching me. He had his arm around me and I was leaning against him. This was how we usually sat when we watched movies. I always felt comfortable around him. But there was a point in the movie where I couldn't keep my eyes open and I could feel myself slightly drifting off. But the second I'm about to fall into complete sleep I feel myself lay my head on something. I move my hand and feel hair. I open my eyes to see my hand laid across Alex's chest but for some reason I don't want to move it away. I feel safe. Something I haven't felt in the longest time.

          Seconds later I feel Alex wake up and I instinctively pull my hand away but with my surprise, he grabs onto my hand and places it right back on his chest. Then, with his other hand he tilts my chin up and our eyes meet. I never noticed how beautiful his eyes were. We stayed staring into each other's eyes for what felt like hours before he spoke up.

Alex: "You are so beautiful Lily and you don't even see it."

Lily: "Thank you Alex, but as my best friend you are kind of obliged to say that."

          I started to laugh but he caught me completely off guard when he gently held my face in his hands and kissed me, like really kissed me. My pulse began to race and I'm not sure that if at the moment it's because my best friend unexpectedly kissed me or because I started to love the feel of his lips on mine.

          But we were pulled apart by the sound of a door opening.

Julie: "Lily?"

I was on my feet in an instant.

Lily: "Julie, it's not what it looks like."

Julie: "Really because what I see is you laid completely on top of my boyfriend and with your tongue down his throat.

Lily: "Julie, I'm sorry. I was drunk and one thing led to the next and well, I am sorry. Alex, are you just going to sit there? Tell her it just happened and that it didn't mean anything."

Alex: "I'm sorry, I can't."

Lily and Julie: "What?"

Alex: "I mean, it did mean something to me."

I cannot believe I am hearing this. Does he even know what he's saying? Is he drunk too?

Lily: "Are you drunk?"

Alex: "No Lily, I'm not."

Julie: "Then please explain yourself."

Alex: "Lily, I love you. I have loved you. I know you probably won't understand why I am choosing to tell you now but it's because I was always too scared to tell you. I was scared that if you didn't feel the same way, we would stop being friends."

Lily: "When?"

Alex: "What do you mean?"

Lily: "When did you know? I mean when did you start having feelings for me?"

Alex: "Two summers ago, at your aunts wedding. Your date had bailed so you asked me to go with you. We danced, laughed and I guess that's when I realized that you meant way more to me than a friend."

Lily: "Why didn't you just tell me. Maybe we could of..."

Alex: "Could've what Lily? You never saw me as anything more than a friend."

Julie: "Wait, hold on the day you fell in love with my sister was the first day we met? You asked me out exactly a week after. Why? Why would you do that if you were in love with my sister?"

Alex: "I knew that Lily would never like me the way I do her. So, I just pushed my heart aside and wanted to start anew. I am sorry Julie. I really do like you. It's always been real with you but my feelings for Lily were always there too."

Julie: "Just leave, both of you."

Alex: "I am so sorry Julie. You have to believe me. Don't punish Lily for what I have done."

Julie: "It's both of your faults. Remember, it takes two to tango."

Lily: "Julie, I'm sorry."

I couldn't believe what had just happened. I didn'teven know what to say. Alex and I had been friends for so long but that kiss. Idon't know. It changed something between us and from that day on Julie has notspoken to me. Alex's family moved away months later and all I got from him wereapology texts and a long email explaining everything he's been holding in sincethe day we met. I haven't seen or heard from him since then.