Don't Tell Me Chapter 4: Warner Park: Part 1, a radio free roscoe fanfic

Pairings: T/L

Disclaimer: I don't own RFR, any of the characters or any of the actors (although I wish I owned Nathan Carter!). I also don't own any of the songs that appear in this chapter. They belong to certain artists that you will find out later.

A/N: OK well, this chapter took me a long time to write. I'm sorry that I kept you all waiting. Thanks for all of your reviews! They have truly made my day.

I'd like to take this time to thank my wonderful beta. Without her, I'd have nothing and you'd still be here waiting for the next chapter. So, thank you Tina! You're the best. Also, to one of my best RFR friends who constantly pushes me to get off my tush and write. Luff ya Dani! But you should take your own advice too. LOL! I luff all my RFR friends! Where would we all be without each other huh? Be sure to review and leave me a message you guys!

And finally, I have a little challenge for all you readers out there in…um…Readerland? Yeah, just read the chapter and pay attention. It will help you in the challenge. Ok, read on…

Chapter 4

Travis leisurely strolled down the sidewalk with his backpack slung over his left shoulder, deciding to take his time walking so he could think about the day he'd had. After hastily leaving the warehouse, he realized that all he needed was to meditate for a good half an hour or so. Travis knew that once he was at his favorite place, engulfed in the tranquility and seclusion that it provided, he would be able to relax and calm down.

On his way, he couldn't help himself as he mentally replayed everything, from the notes in algebra to the scene in the warehouse before Lily ran out. What baffled Travis more than Ray's request was the way he had answered. What on earth had possessed him to say yes? And why had Ray asked him to help instead of asking Robbie? What was that about? He continued down the street, different thoughts swirling around and intermingling in his head.

Ray is one of my best friends. If it were any other girl, I'd be glad to help him. But it's Lily. It wasn't some plain, old, regular girl; it was Lily. Am I prepared to give up my feelings for Lily, just to help my friendship with Ray? And what was that whole "Zen and the Art of Romance" thing? What did he mean by….

Hold on a second…feelings for Lily? What feelings for Lily? Where had that come from? Travis shook his head, trying to dislodge the thoughts about Lily that were now invading his mind. Did he have feelings for Lily?

He knew what his problem was. It was too hard to distinguish when he felt like being only friends with her, and when he wanted them to become more. But it would never work out with us two, would it? Well, it doesn't matter anyway, because I can't like her. There was a quote that he had memorized while living in London; it was about the value of having a true friend. He had forgotten about the quote ever since coming to Roscoe and meeting Lily, Ray and Robbie. But, now seemed like a great time for it to resurface in his mind.

Euripides once said, "One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives." I never truly understood the saying until now. I never had any real friends till I came here. Now that I have some, I don't want to imagine how it would feel to lose them all after I opened myself up to them. I guess my friendship with Ray is worth more than pursuing a relationship with Lily.

He was having a hard time letting the idea of helping Ray and Lily get together sink in. So, he repeated to himself over and over again the only thing that could get him through this.

"One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives. One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives. One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives." Somehow, that doesn't hold the same type of value it did before.

Travis realized that he was still clutching his cell phone in a death grip, his thumb hanging over the open phone above the number 3. He was going to set things straight with Lily, but now he couldn't even bear to look at her knowing that he'd be the one to deliver her to another guy. He continued to walk along the street, the thoughts of Ray and Lily together spinning in his head.

Travis found himself getting anxious to get to his treasured spot. He loved the feeling of calmness that washed over him when he sat down on the grass and took a deep breath. He turned the corner onto the next street and was greeted with the vision of the entrance into Warner Park. He continued to walk, thinking nothing of the sight before him. He was preoccupied in trying to deal with the vision of Ray and Lily together…as boyfriend and girlfriend. Then it clicked in his brain. I could just take a shortcut through the park. It has to be a shorter route than walking around to the other side.

Travis crossed the street and strolled into the park, his thoughts drifting away from him once again to the first time he had walked into this park. He had just arrived in Roscoe with his family and needed time to himself to think. He walked out of his house and wandered around the block for a while before he stumbled upon the park. He remembered thinking that the park was so nice and peaceful.

Lily had been sitting beside the fountain for a while already, but she didn't care. She was happy because in a little over an hour, she had managed to get her song to sound exactly the way she wanted. Not only had she written a song in record time, but she had gotten some much-needed exposure as well.

Deciding that it was time for a break, Lily got up from her seat on the edge of the fountain. She walked to her backpack, opened it and pulled a water bottle out. Sitting on the bench, she took sips of water as she glanced around at the other people who had decided to gather around the fountain as well. She saw a lot of young children with their families, complete with their assorted pets, running around and sticking their hands into the cool water emerging from the fountain. Lily also noticed couples roaming around the park. She felt a dull pain in the vicinity of her heart; most likely the consequence of a bruised heart. The heartache began to get to her, and soon Lily was looking for something to do to take her mind off of…him. Her gaze wandered back onto her guitar, which lay flat on the edge of the fountain. Suddenly, she felt an urge to hear her song once again. Wait, she hadn't even played it all together, only in pieces.

Wanting to know what the finished product sounded like, Lily gave in to her desire to play the finished song. She put her water bottle away after taking a long sip, straightened out her legs, walked over and picked up her guitar. Taking a seat on the edge of the fountain, Lily began to feel the softly throbbing pain begin again in her heart. For a minute before beginning to play her song, she imagined all of her problems drifting away with the notes for the song that she was about to play. She closed her eyes, began strumming her guitar and quietly sang the lyrics that she had pieced together for the past hour or so.

How could you know
That behind my eyes a sad girl cried
And how could you know
That I hurt so much inside
And how could you know
That I'm not the average girl
I'm carrying the weight of the world, yeah

I try to wash the pain away from me
Away from me

I'm playing the role
Of the happy girl
But no one knows
Inside I'm alone
But I would never let it show
Here I am so alone
And there's nothing in this world I can do
I want to be what you always needed
Then I hope you'll see the heart in me

Lily played and sang, letting her emotions flow. Tears streamed down her face and she didn't bother to wipe them away, knowing that if she did, she would have to stop playing.

And I wonder, are you thinking of me
'Cause I'm thinking of you
And I wonder
Are you ever coming into my life?

'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know
That makes me believe
I'm not alone
I'm not alone

Nothing mattered more to her than to keep on playing her song, keep on letting her emotions flow. A small crowd had gathered around Lily, curious and interested in where the beautiful and powerful music was coming from. In that crowd, someone gazed intently at Lily, trying to taking in the lyrics that she was singing.

I'll learn my lessons, and I'll make mistakes
And if I get burned, it'll only be my heart to break
It isn't easy, hearing what they say
Sometime you've got to take a leap of faith

Each and every chord Lily played was filled with passion and excitement, and she could feel it surge through her body. As she neared the end of her song, feelings of relief and freedom rushed through her.

You're in everyone I see
So tell me
Do you see me?

Lily played the last chord and then silence engulfed everything around her. The silence lasted only a few moments when the small crowd around Lily erupted in applause. She quickly opened her eyes and was surprised at the amount of people that had gathered for her impromptu performance. She scanned the crowd for familiar faces, but she didn't recognize anyone.

People had come up to her at her position beside the fountain and had complimented her singing. But what made her day was a little girl wearing a pink bandana, much like the one she was wearing now. The little girl had come up to Lily, holding her CD single in her little hands. She gazed up in awe of Lily and stood there for 5 seconds before she said, in a barely audible tone, "Wow."

Lily warmly smiled down at the little girl and extended her hand. "Why thank you! I'm Lily, what's your name?"

"Mara."

"Well Mara, what did you think of my song?"

"It was great. I've never heard it before." Mara looked around and saw the all the papers by Lily with the writing on it. "Did you just write it?"

"Yeah, I did. It just came to me while I was sitting here. Then I began to play it; I didn't even think anyone would want to stand around and listen to me sing." She looked into the sweet face of the little girl and smiled again. Then she noticed the CD that Mara was holding. "Mara, would you like me to sign the CD for you?"

Mara held the CD and a black Sharpie out to Lily so that she could sign her CD. Lily took both and began to write out a little note to Mara on the case. As she wrote, Mara looked down and asked, "You must really love him, don't you?"

Lily stopped writing mid-sentence and quickly looked up at Mara. "What are you talking about?" she asked quickly.

"I said, you must really love the guy that you are talking about in your song, don't you?

Lily closed her eyes for a moment before she quietly responded. "Yeah, I do." She finished up her message and handed the CD and the Sharpie back to Mara. She looked at Mara again and said, "Thank you Mara. Thank you for buying my CD and thank you for helping me today. You made me realize something. It would have taken me a lot longer to realize it if it wasn't for you." She bent down and gave Mara a big hug. Mara smiled and then walked back to her mother who was waving to Lily.

Lily turned around and held her face in her hands. Mara's words echoed through her head. You must really love him, don't you? Her song made her feelings about him more known, but it also complicated things. While putting away her papers and her guitar, a thought flew into her head. This song reveals too much about me. I can't let anymore people hear it. With that thought, she grabbed her messenger bag, her guitar and her notebook and headed out of Warner Park. She had every intention of putting the song away until she felt that she could play it again.

As she held the notebook preparing to stash it safely out of sight and out of mind...she felt vulnerable. It was an intense feeling but not scary, as if someone was not just hearing her songs, but reading her heart...similar to being watched. Lily's head jerked up, like a deer in the field...watchful...waiting...then she saw him in the distance. There was something oddly familiar about him. Her heart sped faster as it forced her to jump to wishful conclusions; something about the way he walked reminded her of...Travis. Lily's notebook fell from her grasp and as she bent down to pick it up, the mysterious person turned around and glanced at Lily. Lily straightened back up and the stranger continued walking. Lily looked on as he walked away; she shifted her weight in indecision. As his figure receded, her doubts loomed larger and she shook her head and started for home.

A/N: Well, did you like it? Did you pay attention?

Ok, here's the challenge that I mentioned above. Remember the part with Lily's song and the lyrics? Remember? Do you? Well, do you?

Do you know which artists own the song (meaning that it's on one of their records)? The first person to review with the correct artists will win…something to be mentioned later.

Here's a hint…there is a total of five different artists, which means five different songs.

So, what are you waiting for…find out who the singers are! Oh by the way, regular reviews are also appreciated and are encouraged if you have no clue who the owners are. LOL! ;)