Hey! the first part is written in Oliver's point of view. the second, is written in Miley's.
Chapter 2: Surrounding Silence
"Oliver?"
I look up. I smile at her.
Her pretty face seems so troubled. Her usually bright and lively blue eyes look so clouded and confused. She looks fed up, dazed, lost. She doesn't seem happy.
"Lilly. What happened? What happened to you?"
I quickly get off the chair and rush to her side. I sit myself down on my bed, beside her.
I gingerly place my arm around her, and bring her closer to me.
I watch her as she buries her small head under mine. I hold my breath.
I close my eyes and count to three. Slowly, very slowly, I breathe out.
"What happened?" I repeat, softly, stroking her hair.
She doesn't answer immediately. She slowly pushes away from me, her dainty hands on my chest.
She looks up, her eyes filled with uncertainty, confusion, ignorance and hurt. "Oliver?"
"Yeah. What is it Lilly? What happened?"
She takes a deep breath. "Do you love me?"
I frown. What? Do I love her? Of course I love her. But... How does she know that? Have I… had I let my guard down? Am I doing it now? Flirting? Caring too much?
"Oliver? Ollie?", her soft voice calls out.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Do you… do you love me Oliver?"
I close my eyes and I nod. Once. Just once. But once is enough. "I do." A throaty whisper.
"No matter what I do?"
"No matter what you do." I repeat.
And without warning, her lower lip starts wavering, her eyes widen. And she starts crying.
I remain immobile for a few seconds, numb with shock. What the fuck just happened? What the FUCK just happened?
She starts screaming hysterically, her arms flailing about wildly, her legs kicking nothing but air.
I try shushing her. I try to calm her. I try to… to empathize. To sympathize.
But what exactly am I empathizing and sympathizing for? The current situation is not a familiar one. I don't see light. I don't understand any of it.
"Lilly, what's going on? How does it matter if I love you or if I don't?
I don't expect an answer. But nonetheless I get one.
"I'm a terrible person. A terrible, terrible person, Ollie. I don't deserve to be loved. By anybody. I'm worthless, and useless, and I should just curl up and die. I'm horrible. Miley doesn't deserve it. She's a good friend. I shouldn't be doing this. Tell me I shouldn't be doing this, please. I'll listen to you, if not my own heart."
I blink at her, still not understanding a goddamned thing. "What the fucking hell are you talking about? Miley? What does Miley have anything to do with… with whatever this is? With whatever is happening to you?"
She sighs. She walks over to me and takes my hands in hers. "This should explain everything.", she whispers, her breath salty, yet bittersweet.
She lets go of my hand. She kisses my cheek softly, and runs out the door.
I'm left standing alone in the middle of my bedroom, staring at her retreating figure, wondering whether I've finally lost my mind.
I look down at my folded hand, my fingers digging my palm, touching the cold, solid object I hold.
My curiosity peaked; I slowly turn my hand around, and release my fingers.
My eyes widen and my breath gets caught inside my throat as I stare down.
There, right smack in the middle of my palm, is a diamond ring.
'Marry me dear Lilly.' it says.
I tilt my head to one side. Unsatisfied with the angle, I turn it to the other. I smile. Perfect.
"So. What did you guys do today? Jakey, would you like to start?" I look at my handsome, blonde boyfriend and smile warmly at him. He smiles back and his eyes crinkle up. My heart does a somersault.
"Sure. Today was exceptionally blah. It was Andy's 16th birthday, so Mom, Dad, and I surprised him by getting him a new car. He was so thrilled. After that we went out for lunch. He's having a huge party tonight. Yup. That pretty much covers it." He shook his head with pretend annoyance. "Kids", he mutters under his breath.
He yawns loudly and scratches his head.
Lilly laughs. "Only you, Jake, are capable of calling your brother's 16th birthday lunch 'blah'. You're incorrigible. "
Oliver sighs. I roll my eyes. Jake turns to look at Lilly. They're about to have a silly argument again.
"And your annoying.", comes his swift reply.
Lilly narrows her eyes. "And you're an asshole."
Jake opens his mouth to retort. "And you're a b-"
I stand up and stick my hands out. "Okay! We get the point. Shut up, both of you." As I sit back down in between the two, I add, "I don't see why you have to quarrel every day. Can the two of you please try to get along? "
Suddenly I feel the tension. I look at the two blondes beside me. They're both staring ahead, their faces rigid and blank; devoid of all emotion. It's as if they were made of marble.
I turn my gaze to Oliver. He's looking down at the sand. When he finally looks up, his usually twinkling brown eyes look dull and lifeless. He looks so sad.
I want to ask everyone why what I had said about Jake and Lilly has proved to have such a strange effect on all three of them. But I decide not to. I decide that whatever it is, it's none of my business.
So instead of saying anything, I close my eyes and lean back.
I decide it's one of those days.
The unhappy ones.
I sigh.
The bright ball seems bigger than usual. The giant orb of light glows blindingly.
As it sinks lower and lower into the sea, the sky gets darker and darker.
First a pale orange. Then a startling combination of pink and purple. And when the sun finally disappears, the sky turns from pale blue, to that of ink.
And just like that, the moon starts to appear. Slowly. Little by little.
We watch as the sea water hits the rocks.
The roar of the waves is loud, dominating over the silence that surrounds us.
And I close my eyes again, allowing the wind to make a mess of my curly, brown hair.
We get up, one by one.
We dust our butts, still not looking at each other.
"That was lovely." Lilly breathes.
Jake nods.
"Yeah." Oliver says.
I remain quiet.
And for the first time, the four of us our distant as we bid adieu. There's no smiling. No laughing. No joking. Nothing.
Just a simple' Bye' and 'catch you guys later' is exchanged.
And then all four of us scramble up the beach, and part our separate ways, not once looking back.
Confusion clouds me.
But, 'what will be, will be.'
And who am I to question Doris Day?
I actually liked this chapter. I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting. I really am.
Please REVIEW.
