Thin As Water

1.

"Lily! Come on!"

"Coming!"

Lilian Erin VanGrayson grabbed her duffle bag and ran out to the car where James was loading his suitcase. 

"Everything else in there?"

"Yep, got it."

James pushed his long light brown hair off his forehead. "Good. Get in. Mother and Dad are gonna meet us there."

Lilian nodded in understanding.

James slid into the driver's seat. He'd gotten his license the day he turned 16, only a few weeks ago. 

"Dad is coming?" Lilian asked as they sped down the road towards East Hill Private Academy.

"Yeah. He didn't want to miss the assembly but he can't make it tomorrow so he's coming today."

"How did he get off?"

"He's been saving up vacation time so he could come up. Mother is meeting him at the airport."

Lil smiled. She loved her dad. He was in the Army, and as such was gone a lot. Him being able to come was a big deal. And if both her parents were together...

"Is mother coming to the assembly?"

James snorted. "No. Thank god."

Lilian sighed and stared out the window. James noticed, and with a small smile, put a hand on her shoulder. 

"It's ok Lily, we're gonna make it through. Like we always have, together, ok?"

"Thanks Jamie."

The highway sped past, but the siblings were quiet, each lost in their own thoughts until the car turned into the long drive that lead through the gates and into the campus of East Hill Private Academy.

Lil jumped out of the car and waited for James to unlock the trunk so she could get her bag out. She grabbed the strap and pulled when a deep voice behind her spoke.

"Need any help?"

Lil spun around and, in an uncharacteristic display of emotion, let out a little squeal and practically jumped into her father's arms. He caught her easily and spun her around the way he always did when he came home. 

"How's my Tiger Lily?" 

Lil didn't bother to answer, just hugged him tighter. James came around the side of the car and Lil noticed that her brother's eyes were brighter and shiny, as though he was about to start crying. Crying?

Corrin VanGrayson pulled his son into a manly embrace, his daughter still clinging to his side. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His face had a few scars on it from his years in the military, but his eyes still had a sort of youthful joy to them. 

"You had better get inside, you have your meeting with the Headmistress, Lilian." 

Lil reluctantly pulled away from her dad at the sound of her mother's voice. She shouldered her duffle as her father grabbed both her and James' suitcases to wheel them in. 

"Are you ready to be Head Girl, Lily?" 

Lil looked her dad in the eyes. 

"I sure hope so."

AN: I am back! Hello again! I've missed you all so much. 

The reason this took so long is that this is the first book I am drafting as I'm going. For The Better and previous books I had had outlined for years, but this one is brand new! Fortunately, I now have a good plot outline in place and am ready to begin this adventure. I will update as much as possible! 

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