A Summer of Discovery

Chapter Seven

2004

After three and a half weeks on house arrest Pops and Jane finally let us out again. It took a lot of convincing and begging but they had realized that keeping us apart was just making the situation worse. Lilly promised Pops she would not be causing any more trouble and he believed her. Hell I think everyone believed Lilly, it was her way with people. It happened to have been my seventeenth birthday two days ago too, my one wish was of course "no house arrest please"

The first thing we did was head over to the Forrester Plantain to bring Mrs.'s Clayton a basket of cookies, fruits and other lovely things for her help in keeping us safe that night. We both had suggested she deserved a bottle of expensive liquor but our parents didn't trust us with that delivery.

Walking on to Main Street I felt like I hadn't seen other people in months. We both sighed and looked at the each other with a smile, we were both relieved by the sense of freedom to be out of the house. As we passed the hardware store Lilly tugged my hand and pulled me through the door.

"What are you looking for?" I asked.

"I want to get her a new frying pan" she said matter of fact.

I tapped her on the shoulder softly. "No don't do that" I begged.

"Why not" She said coolly. "Hers has Brads last brain cell on it I need to get her a new one, she will love it I promise"

"She will think you're being cruel" I said as I watched her browse the kitchen department.

"Emery chill out she will laugh I promise you" She said her fingers brushing over the price tags.

"You better be right" I said walking to another part of the store.

She bought a bright red one and we headed out the door. I looked at her. She had a huge smile on her face, swinging the frying pan as she walked, completely sure of herself.

Coming up the road behind us was the roar of motorbikes. I gulped. I knew who that was. Tim and Chuck pulled up beside us.

"Ladies" Tim said getting off his bike and standing in front of us.

"Get lost jerk off" Lilly said moving in front of me defensively.

"Now now don't be so mean. I come in peace" Tim replied motioning the peace sign with both hands.

He looked at me for a moment. I held my breath. "I came to apologize to you Emery. I was told by Chuck that I was a complete Jerk and if I hurt you I apologize, truth is I was wasted for an entire weekend when I saw you. I heard about the incident with that psycho and I felt awful"

"Is that an apology" Lilly said hands on her hips.

"Yeah it is beautiful" He smirked at her.

"I won't bother you again is what I'm trying to say" He tipped his head at me.

He turned to Lilly "I'll see you at school my love"

"Drop dead" She said pushing past him as we carried on up the road.

They both roared off past us. Tim stuck out his thumb.

"He makes my skin crawl" She said as we turned into Forrester road.

"Me too" I replied. "There's something about that guy that makes me feel uneasy"

We made it up the dirt road and followed the tall hanging branches of the estates southern live oak trees up to the old porch of the Manor.

"You go first" I said to Lilly feeling eerily creeped out by the flaking decaying white wrap around.

"Don't be silly" She said taking my hand and leading me to the door. She knocked loudly.