A Lily For Joshua

Chapter 2: The Friendship

Chapter 2: The Friendship

After Lily's first day at school, I dropped her off at her house.

"Do you need a ride tomorrow?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "I don't think so. I'll let you know," she said. I nodded.

"Bye, see you later," I said, starting up my motorbike. She waved. When I got home, I started dancing like a maniac. Lily and I have all of our classes together. She loves Mrs. C just as much as I do, if not more. And she has an amazing singing voice. She can also play the violin, just like me, and the piano, also just like me. She can't play guitar, though, and she wants to learn. I offered to teach her and she said "Absolutely." So that's what I'm doing right now: trying to decide the best way to teach guitar to a beautiful girl. I figure if I get the plan down, then it'll be easier to teach her later. I arrived at school on Tuesday morning with a smile on my face, humming a tune only I knew. I closed my locker, and when I turned around, I nearly had a heart attack.

"Eli! Don't do that," I said with a shudder. He patted me on the shoulder.

"So. How'd it go with your "angel" in purple?" He said. I shushed him.

"Not so loud," I hissed. "And where'd you get that name?"

"From you, remember? You said, and I quote, 'Look at that angel in purple.' Then you stared at her for a minute-and-a-half," Eli said. I shook my head.

"Don't repeat that." He shrugged.

"Fine, but I think it's sweet. Love at first sight. For you, anyway." I slugged his shoulder and headed off to English.

"Hey Joshy," a snooty voice behind me said. I groaned silently.

"Hey Vanessa," I said, turning around slightly. She giggled and waved her fingertips.

"Joshua!" I heard from the back.

"Gotta go," I said quickly as I ran to sit by Lily. After English and chemistry, Lily and I had our music class.

"Okay, class, today we're going to be planning our fall concert and our Christmas Concert." Mrs. C said.

"Quick question, Mrs. C," Lily said, raising her hand.

"Yes, Lily?"

"What does the "C" stand for?" She asked.

Mrs. C laughed. "I always have one new student in every class who asks that. It stands for Couley,'" she answered.

"Okay, thanks," Lily said.

"Now, for the fall concert I have all the songs planned. There are several group numbers, but I also have many solos, duets, and trios. Who would be willing to perform a solo?" A handful of students, including Lily, raised their hands. Mrs. C wrote down their names on the board. "Duet?" She asked. I raised my hand, as did almost half of the class, including Lily. She wrote down their names. "Trio?" More than half the class raised their hands, and Mrs. C wrote down their names. "Great! I'll have auditions for the parts set up this week and next week I'll tell you who is doing what." The bell rang. "Class dismissed," Mrs. C said. "See you all tomorrow."

"Lily," I said on our way to lunch. "Yes?" She asked.

"You're a sophomore right?" She nodded.

"You're only fifteen, correct?" She nodded again. She seemed..distracted.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked. She turned to look at me head on.

"Huh? Oh, nothing," she said, her gaze wandering to the...oh. Notice the disgusted tone.

"Lily, don't even go there," I said.

"What?" She asked.

"He's not worth your time or money," I said, pointing to Jack Stevens.

"He's a player," I added venomously. Playboy is more like it. I can't think of one girl, besides Lily, that he hasn't been with. "Lily Palmer," I said, my English/Scottish accent thick, "promise me you won't go anywhere with him," I said pleadingly. She looked at me, then back at Jack.

"I promise," she said. Satisfied, I grabbed my lunch and waited for Lily.