Interlaced (book 2 of Intertwined)

Chapter 6: Getting Caught

"COLE SEAN BRADFORD GET YOUR SORRY BUTT DOWN HERE DOWN!" my mom yelled from downstairs. I inwardly cringed at this. "Lilly also please come down." She might not have screamed Lilly's name but that didn't mean she was any less angry. We scrambled downstairs with Lilly making her way down them in front of me. I saw my mom standing with her hands on her hips and tried hiding behind Lilly until she moved out of in front of me. "What makes you think that you could sneak out and not come home until five in the morning and not get caught?"

"Mom, we were just-" I started to speak before she stopped me short.

"Don't you dare interrupt me, I know exactly what you two were doing," she said," I know you snuck out to the mansion. I'm not deaf and I'm not stupid so what makes you think that you could have gotten away with it? It was dangerous and you both could have been hurt or worse, I'm disappointed in you two," my mom motioned us to the island in the kitchen. She pulled out three coffee cups and filled them with freshly brewed coffee. She handed Lilly and I a cup and sit out creamer, milk, and sugar. "Now tell me what you found."

"Well-" Lilly and I both tried to tell her at the same time.

"You go," I told her with a small smile. She looked cute with her hair wild from the long night out. She was so pretty with her long brown hair and sparkling eyes.

"Well, when we got there the gate was locked but the door wasn't. There was heavy dust and spider webs was everywhere. There was no sign of disturbances besides our footprints, but we found something weird. There was like a dungeon downstairs with cells and chains. I have no idea why they were there and I'm pretty sure Cole doesn't either," Lilly finished speaking towards my mom.

"I think I know why there's cells," she said. "Lilly, your grandfather was a werewolf and came from one of the strongest family lines left, and your grandmother was a shapeshifter. Your grandfather would probably chain himself away when he changed, because he would lose control over himself. Your grandmother would shift into a wolf and be there for him during though shifts."

"Wait, so werewolves change with the moon?" Lilly asked.

"No, that's a common myth among the Mundane, or non-Paranormal, the moon only urges them to change but they can resist, though it is more painful the longer you wait between the change," Cole explained for me. I felt like an idiot with the lack of knowledge I possessed over all of this.

"You aren't an idiot, Lilly Bud, you are incredibly smart and you just weren't brought up with this. You'll get the hang of this, I promise. I'll even help you through it," I said to Lilly.

"That's incredible," my mother said, "the way you both are able to communicate like this." Lilly blushed and I sent my signature smirk at her.

"Wait, what about the council? If there's no sign of Lilly's father or mother then do we really need to call them still?" I asked.

"I think not, but we should still notify them of Isabel's disappearance," my mom said getting up from her seat and putting her cup in the sink. "I'll call them this evening, but besides that, what's your plans today you two?"

"I think I'm going to show Lilly the sights today," I said giving Lilly my lopsided grin. Just then my phone started ringing. I looked down at the screen and saw Oli's name pop up with an old picture of us. I ran a hand down his face. "I forgot about the guys last night, we had plans to hang out."

I swiped my phone and answered the call. "Hey man, I'm really sorry about skipping out on you guys last night, something came up."

"Cole, its ok, I understand, is everything alright now?" Oli asked concerned. See this is why we became best friends. Instead of getting mad when something comes up unexpectedly, he's there for you.

"Yeah, how about you come hang out with Lilly and me, I'm showing her around town today?"

"Like the Lilly that I like Lilly?" Oli asked excited. "Wait, why are you guys together then?"

"Yeah, she's the new girl, her mom is actually an old family friend of my mom's," I explained to him.

"Oh cool, then maybe you can help me with her? I really like her man," Oli said to me. "I'll call North and we'll be there just text me the address ok?" Lilly was the first girl Oli has liked in a long time, normally I'd be happy for him but it's hard when it's the girl I love.

"Ok, see you guys in an hour, Oli," I inwardly sighed.

I looked at Lilly then," I'm sorry about that, I felt bad for forgetting our plans and invited them along, I hope you don't mind," I said feeling guilty.

"It's fine Cole, they're your friends so I should probably get to know them anyways, right? I have a question though," Lilly said and at this I grinned at her.

"Anything, Lilly Bud."

"What happened to the cocky douchebag from before?" she asked.

"Well, that was before I realized you were the girl that I was in lo- that you were my best friend," my face turned red and I know I was fidgeting and acting weird, and I said the last part pretty quick but I couldn't help it. I almost confessed my love for her on accident.

"I don't see how that would make a difference, why stop being a cocky jerk?" she asked pushing for more.

"I feel comfortable with you and you know the real me," I explained, it was the truth. All of the other girls that I used to flirt with was just a placeholder until I could be with Lilly. When I realized that she was my Lilly, it felt like a part of me was finally able to open up. I realized that I had been silent for a little too long lost in the thought. "I should probably take you back to your apartment."

Lilly said, "I need to go back to the school to get my car."

"I'll just take you to your apartment and after I show you around, I'll drop you off at your car," I explained. "You don't know your way around yet and you'll be going with me anyways so it makes more sense this way."

She told me her address for her apartment and it turned out to only be a five minute drive from my house. Her apartment complex was one the nicer ones for cheap. Lilly and I walked until we reached 462 and she pushed her key into the keyhole and twisted before opening the door.

Lilly's apartment was a studio apartment with the walls painted beige with the cheap painting hanging. It held a queen size bed and two black armchairs with some appliances in the small kitchen. After a quick scan I noticed no personal touches. There was no pictures of family or friends, no sign of Lilly's personality besides the bed.

"Hurry and get ready, we have about 45 minutes until the guys meet us here," I said before falling back onto the bed. It had a maroon comforter with gold colored pillow cases with black trim. I pulled out my phone to text the guys the address before looking back at her. "Well? What are you waiting for Lill?"

After sending the quick text to our group chat I glanced around a little more. A book sat on a tiny nightstand that I didn't originally noticed. The book was by Walt Whitman, I scanned through it a little noticing notes in the margin and highlighted parts. I put it down and continued looking around a little more. I heard movement in the bathroom so I laid back down against the bed and pulled back out my phone.

Lilly walked out of the bathroom before asking, "Well, how do I look?" as she did a small twirl. I couldn't help it when my jaw dropped, she was beautiful, breathtaking, amazing. She was dressed in a simple outfit that suited here well and wore light makeup, letting her natural beauty shine through. Her hair was in this braid that started at the front her hair and made its way back in a braid. She looked amazing and that's when I realized I was practically drooling over her and I quickly rearranged my face. I then noticed that her shoulders were showing in the sweater and I didn't want Oli to have another reason to fall for my girl.

"You look great but are you sure you won't get cold out there? It's pretty windy out there." I said to Lilly looking at her bare shoulder.

"I'm sure, thanks dad," she stuck her tongue out at me and I threw a pillow at her. She ducked just in time. The pillow hit the door just as the doorbell rang.