AN: I'm not really sure where this is going ... but its the ultimate form of procrastination. haha mmm i dont own anything well nothing related to HM anyway (no im not some bogan living in a card board box :P) haha well i hope you enjoy ... i dont really mind if you review or not ... its interesting to hear peoples oppinions at best but i just like knowing that my work is read haha unless i know its dodge then tell me and ill take it off =) chances are ill edit it when i find time ... for once its not complete because i just dont know where its going.... but enjoy all the same =) xx

Different

Have you ever seen someone, and known they were ... well, different? It's not something you can quite understand. It's not something you can really know how or why. It's just, one of those things you just know without really knowing at all. But for some reason, without an explanation, or a valid excuse, Oliver knew that something was different, and it was her.

. . . . .

Oliver watched the playful breeze as it flippantly drew patterns with the autumn leaves in the wind. He watched as the sun struggled to shine its final rays above soaring mountains, a warm final farewell to earth below. Another day had ended, and another day would soon begin. The dark slowly began to encompass the earth, Oliver watched as the long and lonely shadows began to grow. His attention averted to the streetlights as they flickered on, one by one their light slowly cascaded down the street like an ongoing Mexican wave. He smiled. He didn't mind that she was late. Not today. Twilight was his favourite time of day, and he knew she had an excuse. She always did, and no matter how crazy, or untrue he knew it was, he'd always be here. He'd always listen, and he'd always hold her close. He'd always be here, waiting.

He checked his watch. Worry crossed his brow, it was getting late. He stretched his legs allowing the circulation to return along with the distinct pain of pins and needles. He grimaced. This he could do without. It was then that a familiar voice broke nature's silent song.

"I wasn't sure you'd still be here." the voice of his childhood friend whispered. His gentle gaze followed her as she sat next to him on the park bench.

"You know, I'll always be here." He said quietly. She nodded silently, allowing the gesture to speak for her. Her hoodie covered her face, but he knew that she was upset.

"But what if I'm not?" Oliver looked at her and instinctively wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He drew her in so that she could rest on his shoulder, but something was different. She flinched at his touch. Her moves were uncertain. Yet her head still fit perfectly in his crest, like two pieces of a puzzle perfectly designed.

Oliver gulped and bit his bottom lip. He was one of her best friends, and she his. He sighed before speaking her name.

"Lilly?" Gently he turned her shoulders so that she was facing him. His finger gently brushed under her chin so he could look into her eyes. 'Lilly?' he spoke again softly. She gazed at him before looking away. Uncertainty; Worry; Fear. Only with him did her eyes ever expose the fragile soul that had been caught in the hands of fate for far too long.

"I just don't understand." She was being strong, but he knew her voice would crack. He waited. He knew she would go on when she was ready.

"I just can't understand." She said more definitively. She looked at him. Oliver nodded. Honestly he didn't quite understand either, but his male senses told him agreeing would be a lot easier for him in the long run.

"Ollie?" she spoke again. "What if there was no tomorrow?" her voice was full of wonder, as if she were dreaming of a future that never existed. It was unnerving. "What if ..."

"What if what Lilly?" Oliver stood and spoke with a slight annoyance, his actions interrupting her thought process. Her stare dove deep into his eyes, reading the unsaid questions in his soul. He blinked attempting to hide what he knew she'd already seen. She nodded.

"I'll stop." She said quietly as if she was reading what he was thinking. He looked at her. The life and light sparkle was gone from her eyes again. Something wasn't right.

"I'm sorry ..." his voice calmer, softer. She looked up. Something was different. His gut churned out the warnings. He cocked his head to the side, puzzled as to what he was really looking for. " ... I was out of line Lilly ... I'm sorry."

"It's okay ..."

"Lilly ..." She looked up, their eyes making contact.

"I have to tell you something"
"I have to tell you something."

They both chuckled before turning serious. Oliver's smile turned to a gentle frown, Lilly's smile had disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"Can we say it at the same time?" Lilly suggested. "I don't know but I'm just not sure of how you'll react." she spoke to the ground uncertainly. Oliver nodded

"Okay then ... on the count of three then?" Oliver suggested.

"1" ... that wasn't so bad, was it?

"2" ... should I really be telling him this?

"3" ... She deserves to know how I feel. Does he really have to know the truth?

"I really like you Lilly."
"I can't see you anymore."

They both looked at each other, each registering what the other had said, and both registering the stupidity of what they had spoken now knowing a smaller bit of the truth.

Oliver swallowed and bit his bottom lip.

"Why?"

"Why do you always need an explanation?" The tears cascaded violently down her cheeks. Every part of her screamed mistake, yet she knew this was the right thing to do, no matter how much it hurt. It was right for him. She got up to run, but he caught her wrist.

"Lilly. Look at me." She flinched and every muscle in her body tensed as he grabbed her wrist. He noted her reaction. Something was different. He let go. He didn't want to hurt her. She gingerly held her wrist, rubbing it tenderly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." he said quietly. She looked at him. Fear evident in her eyes. His heart sunk. He looked to her hand that she still held tenderly, he noted the pallet of colours that had formed on her wrist.

"Lilly?" he questioned, unsure of what he'd just done.

"It wasn't you," she said quietly and ashamed. She swallowed back her well of emotions waiting to crack at every seam.

"was it ..." he didn't even dare to ask. He looked up to meet her eyes again, but when he had she was gone.