Andante

XXXIII

¨Goodmorning, Lily.¨ he said as he walked into the classroom, a smile on his face. 
¨Hey, Eddy!¨ she said, and she gave him one of her happy shy smiles. 
Lily and he had become good friends at school over the months. Admittedly, they never saw each other anywhere else, because he spent all his spare time with Brett, but they sat together every break and talked about everything from the weather, to music, to the bigger questions of life. Sometimes he wondered how she felt now: he knew that she had feelings for him in the past and he hoped that they were gone by now. He'd never dared ask her though. He was still feeling guilty about the night of the dance. 
Things were much better for him at school these days. Somehow the news of him kissing Lily had gone to Andrew and he seemed to think they were more than friends. Well, that was fine by him: Lily didn't seem to mind and it had got Andrew to back right off. But he really should ask her about all this at some point. He was being a serious coward by just leaving it be. Maybe he should discuss it in a break? The lesson started then, and he tried his best to focus. 

In the first break they automatically walked off to their table together and sat down. 
¨So, did you get your letter yet?¨ Lily asked him straight away. 
Fuck. Nice friend he was. He should have messaged her yesterday!
¨Yes, I did! And I'm first! We both are!¨
Lily broke out in a wide, genuine smile. 
¨I'm so happy for you! I knew it. I knew you had no reason to be so nervous.¨
He'd told her all about his silly episode at the audition last week, and she had told him he had nothing to be embarrassed about. 
But then, she would tell him that, wouldn't she? It had been easier to tell her because she was a girl. If any of the boys at school would ever know they would have his head, he'd never live it down. 
¨So how does it work, then?¨ she asked him. ¨You go to camp?¨
¨Yeah! It's two weeks, and you stay there. I'm gonna be bunking with Brett.¨
He'd actually been in equal parts incredibly excited about that, and dreading it at the same time. Spending two weeks in the same room as Brett? Watching him sleep? Seeing him change? It made his heart flutter every time he thought about it, and he had no idea if they would be alright with it all. 
She looked at him with that knowing look of hers. 
¨How are you feeling about that?¨
He was silent for a moment, wondering what to say. 
¨I don't know.¨ he said then, going for truth. ¨It's great, but also I'm worried.¨
She nodded. ¨I get that. I'm sure you'll be fine, though.¨
Okay. He breathed deeply, because he knew the opening for the question was there right now. Time to man up.
¨Lily, er... I wanted to ask, how are you doing with all this? I mean... you told me some stuff at the dance, and... er...¨. Fuck. Way to stumble your way through things, mate.
She looked at him kindly, though.
¨I'm fine, Eddy.¨
¨But.. like... I know that some of the kids seem to think that we...¨ his voice trailed off.
She nodded, her face serious.
¨I know. I don't care. Let them think it, no? Then you're safe.¨
He could feel his eyes widening. Wow. Oh my God. That was such a lovely thing to do. He hadn't even thought of it that way.
¨Do you care?¨ she asked then, her voice soft.
¨No! No, of course I don't.¨ he said, surprised at the question.
¨Good.¨ she nodded. ¨'Cause I'm happy with the way things are now.¨
He had to ask. He had to. 
¨Are... do... are you feeling differently now?¨ He cast his eyes downward. 
She was silent for a moment. 
¨Yeah, I'm getting there.¨ she said then, her voice even softer than before. ¨I'm happy I'm your friend.¨
¨I'm happy about that too, Lily.¨ 
¨Hey.¨ she said suddenly, putting her hands on his upper legs. ¨I got your back here. I mean it.¨
He smiled, shaking his head slightly. ¨You're an awesome friend.¨
She giggled. ¨So are you.¨