Touch Me, Don't Love Me // styles

t h i r t y - f i v e

"Hey darling... you hungry?" Mom greeted me as I walked through the door. She's unusually early today. I was hoping she would be out most of the night because I wanted to talk to Lily about what happened.

"No... I'm okay." I answered. Lily didn't show up at the cafe today though she left me 5 messages asking where I was or if I were mad because I acted weird last night and left her earlier. I didn't reply because I just saw them when I got off work.

I went around the counter and saw the envelop which Mrs. Davis handed me last night. The top of it is torn so it means mom has already opened it. "What's in it?" I held up the envelop for her to see.

"Oh, that's an invitation for the branch of the gallery that will be opening next week." She turned around from cleaning the kitchen cabinets.

"Where is it?" I sat down and fiddled on the paper.

"Delaware."

"Will you be going?" If she goes then I guarantee she'll be gone for a day or two.

"Yes. All of us teachers are." She grabbed a rug from under the sink and wiped the counter. "I haven't cleaned this house in months. I think we'll need a helper."

"Uhm... how long will you be staying there?" I swallowed before asking the question, hoping she won't notice my interest in her leaving Lily and I.

"There will be a three-day activity so maybe about four days."

"Oh...okay." I placed the envelop back to its position and stood up from the stool. "Where's Lily?"

"Studying up in her room. She said she has an exam tomorrow." She closed all the cabinets she cleaned and washed the rug.

"Okay... I'll go... um... take a shower now." I slowly walked towards the stairs while watching mom move around the kitchen, hoping she would be preoccupied for a couple more minutes.

I can hear an RnB music coming from Lily's closed door as soon as I reached the top of the stairs. I hesitated for a while before knocking. She isn't opening up, maybe because of the loud music. I decided to just slowly open the door and peak inside.

When I opened it and poked my head in, I saw Lily on her bed. She was lying on her stomach with her feet perched up. She has her back to me and her eyes seemed to be fixated on a book.

I checked the staircase and could still hear mom moving things around down there so I slid inside her room and gently closed the door.

When I looked back at Lily after closing the door she was already in a sitting position, with her legs crossed and hands supporting her weight.

"Where have you been?" She asked through the loud music. I walked towards her till I was standing at her feet.

"Lily we need to talk..." Her expression turned from mad to worried. She sat up straight and creased her eyebrows.

"What about?" She asked. I looked at her computer where the music was coming from and turned the volume down a bit.

"Yesterday, during our..."

"Date." She finished for me. I didn't want to sit down beside her incase mom enters the room.

"Yes. My friend... Liam saw us." I waited for her to say something but it took her a while.

"Well he won't tell anybody right?"

"Uhm... yeah. I talked to him this morning to make sure he won't." My eyes kept moving back and forth between Lily and the door.

"What's the problem then?" She tilted her head to the side.

"Lily..." I sighed. "The problem is... other people can also find out about us. I'm thankful it was only Liam. But what if it was Mrs. Davis, or Penny, or Lena... or any of mom's friends? I am so worried right now Lily..." My hands were all over the place making all this gestures hoping to make things somehow clearer.