In Omnia Paratus (AU) - Book 2

Baby steps

"I love you." I smiled up at Richard as we laid in bed together. It was early and we'd been called by Matt and Lily that breakfast was ready but we were too tired to move.

"I haven't heard you say that in a while. I love you too." He whispered kissing my forehead gently.

"I think we should go." I whispered back. "They've called us quite a lot."

"Alright, let's go." He shifted moving under the covers and then sitting up on the edge of the bed. I did the same and then we both stood up to go and get dressed into something more appropriate for breakfast.

"Coming!" I called after they had yelled us for the fourth time. Apparently they had something to tell us, it must be important because they sounded really serious.

- - - - -

"What accommodation did you apply for?" Richard asked us both over breakfast that morning.

"Not your fancy ones." Lily scoffed.

"Why not? I'm staying this year there as well. They're really nice. Ensuite, double bed nice kitchen and on campus." He smiled all happy with himself for his expensive accommodation.

"Well not all of us are rich Hun," I smiled across as him as he had seen everyone's face and their eyes narrowed at him.

"It's not that expensive you could afford--" he nodded at me and shoved my arm into his side to shut him up.

"We are fine. We get nice accommodation, ensuite but it's a 10 minute walk to campus. It's really not bad, and less expensive right?" I encouraged lily to lighten up and start playing along.

"You should have just shared with us--" Richard just wasn't getting the point.

"No cause I'm staying with lily again remember? We just spent 6 months separate." I moaned at him as if it was obvious.

"Sorry rich boy but--"

"Lily--" I frowned. "How about you tell us what you were saying you needed to tell us?"

"Oh well..." Matt said slowly. "It more.. a show you thing rather than tell you."

"What?" I laughed gently as he stood up and then walked round the back of Lily and pulled her wheelchair out. I was wondering what the fuck they were doing, it freaked me out.

Slowly I started to realise what she was doing, her face was focused and a pained expression was plastered onto her face. Then slowly she did it, she leant forward and stood up right in front of me and I was speechless.

Richards hand had found mine and I was squeezing it tightly. I just covered my mouth because I was so shocked it was hanging open.

It wasn't even the best thing. Matt held one of her hands and she took a step forward. And stood alone away from her wheelchair. Maybe this was really was working.

"No way." I beamed.

"Yep." Lily smiled and then started laughing. I laughed along with her because I was so damn shocked and soon both of us were in tears and crying at such a beautiful breathtaking moment.

"When did you learn that new trick?" Richard joked as Matt helped Lily back into her wheelchair and sat back down.

"We were at one of the sessions and she could stand up really well and then suddenly the coach said take a step forward and she did." Matt explained before kissing her cheek gently.

"That's really amazing." I smiled. "Really... wow."

"I hope now you can see that I'm getting better, I'm fine and you can stop feeling so bad about this accident." Lily sighed knowing how hard things had been recently.

- - - - -

"How is it learning how to walk?" I asked Lily biting at my nails because I hated this subject so badly.

"Not that bad, it's painful at times but it gets better. I know that overall all the pain gets you the result... being able to walk again and I never thought that would ever happen." Lily grinned as she sat back in her chair.

"I love that this is all working out for you." I smiled, admiring her from afar.

"It's all working out for you too. You got a scholarship, you've got accommodation and your ready to go to uni." She tried to support me but it was wasn't quite working.

"I guess. But--" I trailed off.

"What?" Lily asked.

"I don't think things will ever be normal." I sighed glancing over at Richard who was sat on the sofa with Matt watching the football and chatting away, they were unusually friendly recently.

"Of course they will, don't you worry. This year is a fresh start, you're going to quit that modelling, get a job at the university paper instead and then have fun with me." Lily laughed and I smiled along with her.

"But modelling pays so good--" I sighed.

"It's also times consuming and jeopardising your relationship..." Lily whispered the last bit. "Yeah I know things, this George guy is no good for you. The pay at the newspaper will be just fine." She smiled.

"Alright." I huffed. "I've got to work out this month or two though they won't let me just quit."

"Fine, but as soon as you can you're out of there. This is going to be your year okay?" She assured me.

It was easier said than done to be honest with Lily. But it was always like that with her and so I just had to accept it and move on.

- - - - -

"You know we're just friends right?" I asked George the next day at work. I could be fairly open with him we'd gotten really close this summer and it was really nice.

"Yeah I have a girlfriend." He smirked. Then I remembered. Of course he had a girlfriend, now I could just tell everyone that when they badger me about him.

"Of course yeah sorry it just some people don't believe me." I laughed. "Don't worry--"

"I'm guess your boyfriend had a good yell at you the other day huh?" George asked.

"A good yell? No a bad one, very bad. We sorted it now, but I just hate that I can never win arguments like that. It's all about trusting someone really..." I explained to him and someone finally understood where I was come from, it was a miracle.