Who's the One?

Chapter 18

*Steve's POV*

"Alright bro, I should go. Lily had a doctor's appointment today, I want to know how that went", Doug says.

"Oh, I thought she'd be fine by now", I reply. Talking about her causes my heart to ache.

"She is. Walks fine and all, but she wants to know if she can start training."

"Right", I nod. "Is she doing okay?" I can't help the need to know how she's doing. I don't want her sad, because that mental picture kills me. I also don't want her overly happy, because that means she doesn't want me around.

"You know man? I don't know why you're doing this to yourself. Talk to her. Come over", Doug pleads.

"I can't. Not now. I can't face her after the way I acted." I was so stupid. The kiss was barely a kiss, and I saw her push him away, but that didn't matter. In that moment, I couldn't stand the thought of her lips against anyone's but my own.

"She's in her own head a lot. Walking around, like she's not there mentally. She's in another world. Lily's obsessive, especially if she thinks she's done something wrong. She'll think of things she could've done differently, she'll make herself crazy", Dog's face is somber, answering my first question. "Until she resolves the problem, she won't be the Lily we know."

"Has she talked to...him?", I grit my teeth.

"I wouldn't know. She doesn't want to talk to me about it. I'm sort of biased. 'Conflict of interest', that's what she called it. I'm no help. Even if she talks to him, nothing is fixed until she talks to you", he stands.

There's a tug at my heart. I didn't expect to be dragging down Lily and Doug. She is his baby sister, a huge part of his world, I've known that since we became friends. He does anything he can for her, so not being able to help her and be the hero is hurting him.

I'm an idiot.

I walk him to the door, he leaves in a blue mood. I hate myself for being so selfish.

I go to my room and fall face-first onto my bed. It's exhausting to feel so many things. Anger, because he kissed Lily in front of everyone. Hurt, because she was with him all night. Frustration, because I don't have the balls to talk things through with her. More anger, because I'm hurting Lily and Doug.

I turn on my game system to distract myself from my thoughts. It's not working, after fifteen minutes all I'm doing is losing, making me even more irritated.

I give up on the video games and plop down on my bed again. I'm going out of my mind. When did things get so complicated? Why did I wait so long? Why did he have to move back? Why? Why? Why?!

My phone rings, startling me out of my spiraling thoughts. I look at my screen, it's an unknown number. I don't answer unknown numbers. Yet, I find myself answering, "Hello?"

I hear a release of a deep breath. "Hey." The voice is sweet. One I'd recognize anywhere. "It's Lily."

"Hey", I say quietly not knowing what else to say.

"Hi." She lets out a soft laugh. "Said that already", she mutters, most likely to herself.

"What's up?", I ask. I try to sound nonchalant. I hate that she doesn't know how to talk to me right now, that I've made her worry about making me upset.

"I just feel like we need to talk." She sighs, "I messed up, I realize that -"

"You messed up?" I laugh. She's blaming herself for my overreaction. "Lily, you didn't do anything wrong."