Chapter 1: I Don't Exactly Want to Go

Ray and Robbie sat boredly on the bottom step of the stairs before school. Ray yawned, looking at his watch. "Jeez, man. Tired?" Robbie asked, sarcastically. Ray nodded. His hair was messy, his shoes untied, and his shirt on backwards. "Yeah, why did Lily want us here so early anyway?" Ray asked, attempting to smooth his hair down so he didn't look like a complete idiot.

Soon, they heard footsteps echoing down the empty halls. "Lily?" Ray and Robbie called in unison. "So she's not here yet, I take it?" Travis asked as he turned a corner, coming into view. Ray and Robbie shook their heads looking at the freshly polished floor. Travis sat down next to Ray and fiddled with his thumbs. Ray was still busy making himself look less dorky. Robbie had rested his head on the step about three steps up from where he sat, his eyes closed. None of them noticed Lily walking down the stairs.

She stood on the step above Robbie's head. She leaned over, and he finally saw her. "Hey, Lily, where have you been?!" He asked, surprised. Ray and Travis instantly stood up and smiled at her.

"Oh, you guys, I'm so sorry I kept you this long." Lily said, her shoulders slumping. Ray folded his arms jokingly. "Well, you sure should be!" Lily punched his arm. Ray rubbed his arm and sat down, whimpering like a puppy. Lily smiled and laughed a little as she stepped off the stairs.

"Why did you want us to meet you here?" Travis asked, inspecting the large bag on her shoulder. Lily put down the bag and looked at her friends. "Well, I'm going on vacation for a week, and I thought I should tell you. My family is waiting for me outside."

Ray stood up quickly. "You mean you're leaving me alone with these things for a week? Gosh, and I thought we were friends!" He stuck his bottom lip out. Lily raised a fist and said, "I wasn't a part of this decision, Ray. I don't exactly want to go."

In the background, Travis had picked up Lily's bag. "This thing is pretty heavy, Lily. What did you pack?" Lily lowered her fist and looked at him. "It's just some clothes and stuff. Why?" Ray took the bag from Travis. He made a face and joked falling over. "Its probably 20 pounds of make-up," He laughed. Lily raised a fist again and walked towards Ray. He stuck out his foot and Lily fell over sideways towards the stairway railing. You can imagine how much her head would have hurt if Travis wasn't there to catch her.

"Ray!" All three friends scolded him in unison.

Ray shrugged. "So when are you leaving?" he asked her. Travis helped Lily to stand up, but still kept a hand on her arm to keep her from tackling Ray. She blew a piece of hair away from her face and took her bag back. "Now, Ray. I'm leaving now. I'll see you in a week. Maybe longer, if I want to." She turned away and hugged both Travis and Robbie. Ray held out his arms, expecting one himself. Lily patted him on the head and walked out the doors down the hall.

Travis and Robbie glared at him. Ray shrugged. "Did I do something bad?"

Travis sighed, "What is up with you today, Ray? What was all that about?" he asked calmly, not letting the anger from deep inside him show. Ray shrugged. "I was only kidding around. Maybe its Lily that's in the bad mood."

Robbie looked at Travis. "I'm going to go try to calm her down before she leaves. Are you coming?" Travis nodded. "That's a good idea, but we'd better hurry." He ran down the hall. Ray got up to follow him, but Robbie stopped him. "No, I think it's better if you don't talk to Lily for a while. In fact, I think it should just be Travis. He's better with calming people down than either of us is."

Ray nodded. "I guess you're right." He sat back down on the bottom step of the stairs, and Robbie sat next to him, on the floor.

Travis caught up with Lily just as she was reaching the doors that led outside. He grabbed her arm, but she didn't turn around. "Ray, if that's you, I--"

"Lily..." Travis said. Lily turned around. "Oh, Travis, I'm sorry, I just thought..." her voice trailed off when Travis put his hand on her shoulder and slumped over a little, catching his breath. "You put up... a good... chase back there..." he managed to say. "I don't know about Robbie, but I... Robbie?" Turning his head, he expected to see Robbie. The hall was quiet. The only sounds he could hear were Lily's slow, calm breaths and his rapid, worn-out breaths.

He stood up a few minutes later, breathing normally, and looked Lily in the eye. "Look, Lil... Ray was just joking around back there. He didn't really mean to get you mad." Lily exhaled deeply. "I know, Travis, and I think it's really sweet how you're trying to get me to forgive him..." A small smile tugged at the corners of Travis's lips. Lily continued on, "...I just think there's something going on with him. He hasn't been himself lately."

"Yeah, I've noticed that too," Travis lied. This was his big chance to be with Lily, and he wasn't going to pass it up by saying anything stupid.

Lily smiled. "That's good, I'm glad someone else has. I want you to watch him, take care of him for me. I'm real worried about him. Can you do that for me?" Her eyes showed a deep concern that Travis had never seen in her before. It made him worry, and feel helpful, like this really was his big chance, both at the same time.

"Sure, I'll do that for you. Of course I will." Travis said. Lily smiled widely at him and hugged him again. "Thanks Travis," she said. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "This means a lot to me. You really are such a good friend." Travis blushed slightly, and he hoped Lily didn't notice. "Anytime," he said quickly. "So I'll see you in a week?" Lily smiled and nodded. Travis stood there for a minute, and watched her walk out the door.

At the time, Travis didn't know what a responsibility Ray could really be.