Author's Note: Hey guys. I know, I know, I have several stories in the works right now that I should be working on, but this idea wouldn't leave me alone. I just had to write it down while it's still fresh in my mind, so here you go.
I was watching We Bought a Zoo today, and this idea came to me suddenly.
This is a short story, only a few chapters, about Dylan and Lilly a few years after the end of the movie. Pretend the whole window scene where Dylan confessed his love never happened.
The point of view will change a lot during this story, from third person to first person. It will focus on different characters, when I feel I need more input from a certain character.
Now that I've bored with a horribly long author's note, which is almost a full page, enjoy the story! Remember to review, I value your opinions!
Summary: Dylan and Lilly quickly became best friends after the Mee family moved in to the Rosemoor Wildlife Park. After 3 years, on Dylan's 17th birthday, the two realize what's been between them all along. What will happen between them? Will they live happily ever after, or will their relationship crash and burn? Read on to find out!
Disclaimer: I don't own We Bought a Zoo, or any of the characters.
I Think I Love You
Chapter One: Happy Birthday Dylan!
**********Third Person**********
Dylan Mee woke up very early on the day of his 17th birthday, seeing the bright sunshine outside his window. His soft dark hair was messy from all the tossing and turning he'd done the previous night, and his eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep.
He heard noises coming from downstairs, so he stood up and pulled on a fresh green t-shirt and some faded jeans. Rubbing his eyes, he headed down the stairs to see his 10-year-old little sister, Rosie, helping their father with breakfast. She looked up at him from where she was stirring what looked like pancake batter and smiled at him brightly.
"Good morning, Dylan!" She cried, running toward him and throwing her small arms around his neck. "Happy birthday!"
"Good morning to you too, Rosie," Dylan set his little sister down and ruffled her hair. "Whatcha making for breakfast?"
"Pancakes!" That was the only thing Rosie knew how to make, so it was a good thing Dylan liked pancakes. And Rosie's pancakes were delicious.
"Hey, Dyl, Lilly came by a while ago. Said she wanted you to meet her in the barn after breakfast," Benjamin Mee, Dylan and Rosie's father, told him over the morning paper.
Dylan nodded and grabbed a glass from the cupboard and the milk from the fridge. He quickly inhaled the pancakes that were set in front of him, chugged his milk, and headed toward the door. He only paused to pull on his black Converse sneakers and grey sweatshirt.
He ran out the door quickly and sprinted to the barn to meet his best friend of three years, Lilly. He entered the barn to see her curled up on a pile of hay, sketching quietly in a notebook. Knowing she didn't like to be interrupted while she was drawing, Dylan sat down carefully beside Lilly and waited for her to notice him.
She looked up from her drawing and smiled brightly at him. "Happy birthday Dylan! Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, I did, thanks Lilly. What are you drawing?" Dylan asked as he wrapped one arm around her shoulder. He felt something like an electric current go up his arm when he touched her. That's weird, he thought, but he shrugged it off as nothing.
Lilly blushed. "It's nothing…" She pushed his arm off and stood up. "Let's go for a walk. We can go hang out at the Jaguar for a while. I have a present for you."
"Ok. Let me text my dad so he knows where I'm going," Dylan replied, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket and typing a short message to his dad. When he finished, Lilly was waiting outside for him.
"Let's go. I want to talk to you, and there are too many prying eyes around here." Lilly grabbed his arm, and he felt another shock go through him. Lilly must have felt it too, because she quickly dropped Dylan's arm and began walking.
They walked in silence for a while, each absorbed in their own thoughts. It wasn't uncomfortable though. The two knew each other well enough that talking usually wasn't necessary.
When they entered the Jaguar café, which was closed for the day, they headed upstairs to Lilly's room. Dylan took his usual seat on the chair at the desk, while Lilly sat on the bed.
**********Lilly's POV**********
As long as I've known Dylan, things had never been awkward between us. We hit it off right from the start. Today, however, felt different. I had a clenching, nervous feeling in my stomach, which had never happened before, not around Dylan. I didn't understand what was different between us. Maybe it's because you like him, as more than a friend. As soon as the thought came, I banished it. I couldn't like Dylan, could I?
"Um… Lilly? Are you ok?" Dylan asked me. "You're spacing out."
Act cool, act cool! I put my signature grin on my face and turned to face my best friend. "I'm fine. Just thinking about stuff."
"Oh. Wanna talk about it?" He asked me, his brown eyes concerned. He stood up and moved toward the bed. I took a moment to study him. Over the years, he had slowly grown taller than me. His dark hair hung in his brown eyes, and I found that extremely attractive. I had never noticed how good looking Dylan was.
"Lilly, you're doing it again." Dylan waved his hand in front of my face. Again, I just smiled at him. He gave me a small smile back and sat down beside me.
"Sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me today," I mumbled, my cheeks flushing. Dylan noticed, and began chuckling.
"Lilly, your face is red," he commented dryly. I smacked his arm.
"I know! Geez!" I was laughing at this point too, and we just sat laughing like idiots for a while. Finally, we both calmed down enough to resume a normal conversation.
"So, you wanted to talk to me?" Dylan asked me, gazing into my eyes. I found my attention drawn to his lips, which looked totally kissable at the moment.
Whoa! What are you thinking Lilly? You can't kiss your best friend! Are you crazy!?
And just like that I was snapped out of my trance. "Yeah, but it's not important. We can talk later. Can't we just act like goofballs for a little while?" I replied. I'd missed this. I hadn't really had much time with Dylan lately. We were both busy with work.
Dylan grinned. "So what do you wanna do? We can go back to the barn and swing on our rope, if you want."
I laughed. "We haven't done that in years! It's probably rotted by now!"
At that, he just shrugged. "I can replace it. I'm not some little kid who has to run to his dad for help any more."
"I know. Can you believe you're 17 already? Where did the time go?" I giggled. Dyl really was grown up. We both were. It seemed like yesterday when I first met him when he was 14 and I was 13. We were both so different then. Funny how fast things changed.
Dylan just laughed and pulled at my hand. "Come on, let's go!" And before I could say anything else, he had pulled me from my bed, out of my room, and into the rain. I could tell that it had just started raining though, because it was sunny when we got here.
We ran to the barn quickly, not wanting to get wet, and when we got inside, we stopped to catch our breath. Once we could breathe again, Dyl set to work on fixing our rope swing while I watched him contently. I pulled my sketchbook from the small bag I had strung over my shoulder, and began sketching him. His eyes, his hair, his lips… There I went again. Thinking about his lips. What was wrong with me?
I shook my head to clear it, and began my drawing again.
**********Dylan's POV**********
I worked quickly on the rope swing that my dad had put up for me and Rosie a few years ago, replacing it with stronger rope. As I worked, I found my mind wandering to Lilly. She had been acting rather strange. She looks really pretty today though…
Wait, what? Since when do I think like that about my best friend? It was true though. She had pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail for the day, and wore no makeup. She was absolutely beautiful.
I had to shake my head. Where were these thoughts coming from?
Oh, well. I just shook my head and continued my work.
**********Third Person**********
Dylan and Lilly spent the rest of the day just hanging out in the barn, and at about 7 they went back to Dylan's house for cake and presents.
When they arrived, Benjamin Mee, Dylan's dad brought out a simple cake iced with plain white. Written on the top, in dark blue letters, were the words, "Happy 17th Birthday Dylan."
Rosie carefully lit the candles with her father's help, and set the cake in front of Dylan. Everyone sang Happy Birthday, and he blew out his candles, making a wish.
**********Dylan's POV**********
As I blew out my candles, my wish was I wish I could tell Lilly how I really feel. The only problem was, I didn't know how I really felt about her. Looking at her now, I was pretty sure I knew. I could only hope that she felt the same way. Lilly, I think I love you.
**********Lilly's POV**********
We all watched as Dylan blew out the candles on his cake. When he finished, I smiled at him. "What did you wish for?"
His face turned bright red. "Umm… I… Umm…"
I laughed at his embarrassment. "It's ok! You don't have to tell me if you don't want to!"
He glared at me with his still red face. "If I tell you what I wished for, it won't come true."
Outwardly, I laughed at him. Inwardly, I was thinking. That's strange. He always tells me what he wishes for. I brushed it off and helped Rosie cut the cake.
After everyone ate their cake, it was time for presents. My cousin, Kelly-Also Dylan's new step mom (A/N: I know I didn't explain! Sorry!)-brought them all out. I pulled mine out of my bag.
"Sweet, presents!" I rolled my eyes. Same old Dylan.
He opened them all with vigor. His dad got him an iPod Touch, 5th Generation. He was pretty excited.
Kelly got him an iTunes gift card, and Rosie baked him cookies. He just stared at the cookies and said, "Who helped you make these, Rose?"
Rosie giggled, her brown eyes sparkling. "Daddy did! He didn't trust me in the kitchen all by myself."
Dylan laughed at his little sister. "So they're edible?"
"Of course they are! I wouldn't poison them or anything!" Rosie told him sternly. Dylan just shrugged.
"Here, this one's from me," I told him, handing him the wrapped package. He took it and began carefully removing the paper. Once it was open, Dylan stared at it in shock. Sitting in his lap was a brand new sketchbook that I had made for him, with his name engraved carefully on the cover. "Do you like it?" I asked him, a little nervous at what he would say.
He suddenly jumped up and threw his arms around me, causing a flurry of butterflies to flutter in my stomach. And that was when I knew I had made the right choice of what to get him. "I love it! Thank you!" He cried.
"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it," I replied, wrapping my arms around his neck. I saw Kelly make a kissy face at me, and I stuck my tongue out at her while I blushed. She just smirked at me.
When Dylan pulled away, he smiled brightly at me, thanking me again. After that, it was time for me to go home. Dylan walked me to the door, and held it open for me.
"Good night, Lilly. See you tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.
"Of course," I smiled. "Good night, Dylan." With that, I headed home.
As I entered my room in the back of the Jaguar café, I thought about mine and Dylan's relationship, wishing I could tell him how I really felt.
Dylan, I think I love you.
Don't kill me for ending it there! It's late, and I need some sleep! Review and let me know what you think!