Lily Flower
*Lily's Pov, Next Day*
I woke up sometime in the early morning to yelling. I rubbed my eyes and rolled out of my warm bed. I glanced over at my alarm clock. It read 5:27. I sighed but left my room and went into the bathroom.
I didn't bother with a shower; I could take one later. I tip-toed downstairs and peeked into the kitchen to see what was going on. Mom and dad were standing up, facing each other, both of them breathing hard while glaring at each other.
"You have no right to be angry at him! He's just doing what any other boy would do in his situation. If you keep trying to keep him away then he'll go to even more lengths to see her. You're just making it worse!" mom snapped.
"He just can't instantly assume that she'll want anything to do with him, especially after what happened yesterday," dad shot back. I knew they were talking about Max and me suddenly.
"That is her choice, Embry Call! Stop treating her like a child and let her decide what she wants to do," mom exclaimed.
I heard dad mumble something but I couldn't understand what he said though. Suddenly a loud popping noise filled the house. I glanced back into the kitchen to see what had happened.
Dad was holding his red cheek while mom cradled her right hand. She had slapped him! Go mom! Woman power and all that!
"You are such a hypocrite," mom whispered before heading out of the kitchen, towards me. I hurried and ran back up the stairs and dove onto my bed before I got caught eavesdropping on them.
I laid on my bed thinking about what they had said and about the odd things that have been happening since I've been home. I've met back up with Max again, dad's having a mental breakdown, and mom's totally sticking up for me even though I have no idea what is going on.
I pulled out one of my old notebooks that I used back at the academy and turned it to a clean page. I wrote for about five minutes until my list was complete.
What does the word "imprinting" mean?
What caused dad's breakdown?
Who is dad's mysterious phone buddy?
Should I go to therapy after seeing my childhood friend naked?
I had a feeling this list was going to be getting bigger soon. I stuffed the notebook under my mattress then left my room to start my day. I took a quick shower; blow dried my hair, and then put on light make up. I left my hair down since it was behaving well today.
Once in my room I went through my clothes to see what my options were for the day. I decided to wear my brown rain boots with my faded blue jeans that had the holes in the knees and my blue flannel shirt.
I went downstairs and got myself a bowl of cereal. Mom had probably already left for work and dad was who knows where. He might be over at Quil's or at work would be my guesses.
After I finished my breakfast, I woke up Dodge, made him something to eat then made him get dressed.
"Where are we going?" Dodge asked, following me out of the house. I didn't answer him right away until after I locked the house up.
"We are going to walk to Forks and go to the library and after that I am going to buy us ice cream," I said. Dodge followed me down the road, complaining about how the rain made it hard to see out of his glasses.
We made it into Forks about an hour and a half later. My feet were hurting and my jacket was soaked through. Poor Dodge was even worse off than I was. He had tripped and fallen into a puddle on the way here, scrapping a hand in the process. We weren't the happiest pair at the moment.
The librarian didn't care that we were sopping wet, dripping all over the carpet because everyone else was too. Dodge went off to the book CDs that they had while I squeaked my way over to the teen section. After I found three books I called Dodge back over to me. The librarian checked out my books, gave me a plastic bag to put them in and shooed us back out into the rain.
Neither of us was in the mood for ice cream anymore but for something warm. Dodge led the way to a café a few streets over. Once inside the nice, warm building my mood started to look up.
I got us a table, ordered us some hot chocolate, and chatted with Dodge about a new video game that he wanted. It felt good to just be relaxing with family after all the drama that dad and Max had caused.
"Lily, are you really going to leave again and go back to school?" Dodge asked, staring glumly at his cup of chocolate. I sighed and leaned forward on my arm. I knew that he had missed me over the last two years, that is why I came back but I didn't want to upset him by leaving again.
"Dodge, I've got a great opportunity to go to one of the best schools on the east coast. I can't just stay here for the rest of my life and not go to college. It's what's best for me right now," I said, hoping her wouldn't push me for more answers.
"Why can't you go to the Washington University? It would be closer to home and you could still get your degree," he challenged back.
"Because the academy is paying for my first two years of college and I don't have the money to go any other way," I explained. Dodge sighed and drank the rest of his cup before standing up.
"I'm ready to go home," he grunted before making his way towards the door. I threw down a five dollar bill before quickly following after him. I let Dodge led the way back to our house even though he got us lost one time.
A beat up truck was parked in our driveway when we finally arrived at the house. I eyed it warily while Dodge just stomped up to the door, unlocked it and slammed the door in my face. I frowned.
"Hey, Lily!" I turned around. Max was hopping out of the truck and smiling at me. I smiled and waved.
"Hi, what brings you to this part of La Push?" I asked, opening the door and letting him in. I shut the door behind me and slung my wet jacket off.
Max grinned down at me while he played with the collar of his shirt and fidgeting side to side on his feet. He looked anxious and excited at the same time. He must be nervous about dad popping up or something.
"I actually came here to ask you something. I was wondering if you'd let me make up for what happened yesterday? I'd feel better if I spent some money on you for a whole day," Max said, smiling brightly at me.
My heart suddenly sped up and my brain felt all fuzzy. He had a really nice smile……and really nice tight abs too…..Ugh and his legs were all muscular! I shivered and stared down at the carpet instead of looking at Max.
"Lily, you okay?" he asked, stooping down to get a better look at my red face. I cleared my throat as quietly as possible before meeting his eye.
"Oh, yeah, I'm peachy!" I squeaked out. Max kind of half smiled and stood back up to his full height. I swallowed and shakily pushed some of my hair out of my eyes.
"So, would you like to spend all of Friday with me?" he exclaimed, looking hopefully at me. My legs were started to tremble and my mouth felt all dry.
I just nodded and stumbled to the couch before my legs gave out. I felt all flustered and stupid. I've talked to boys before, a few boys, but I've never lost my cool around them! It's just Max, lovable, adorable, best friend Max not the sexy beast I saw yesterday in the kitchen.
I watched Max carefully as he sat in one of the armchairs and turned on the TV. He made himself at home and took over the remote. He glanced over at me frequently but I didn't even have half a mind to look away now. The only thing that was running through my mind was how I could get another glance of his body without embarrassing myself.
"What is Dodge doing?" Max asked suddenly, looking up at the ceiling. I strained my ears and listened as hard as I could. I could faintly hear Dodge slamming video cases around.
"He's mad at me right now," I stated, watching the TV screen now. I was annoyed with Dodge; he should know that I just couldn't give up my scholarship just so I could stay here with no future for me.
"Why?" he exclaimed, looking truly perplexed at the little bit of information that I had given him.
"He's upset that I'm going to be leaving again for school in a few months," I answered as calmly as possible without letting him know how much leaving my home again would bother me.
"Oh," I looked up at Max to see what had made him sound depressed. He was staring at the carpet, bottom lip stuck out, and lines on his forehead as he thought. "College isn't that important," he stated finally.
A strong urge to laugh rose up in my chest but I held it down the best I could. "I'm guessing that you didn't go to college then Max?" I chuckled despite my efforts.
"No, I didn't go. I didn't even finish high school. I've got a pretty cool job though and great benefits," Max said proudly, finally meeting my gaze and grinning at me. My heart stopped for a second before doubling in speed.
"What's your job then?" I asked curiously. He had always evaded my questions about his work so far and I wanted to know what had kept him away from La Push for so long.
"I'm something like a policeman up in Canada," he mumbled before staring pointedly at the TV. I sighed but decided not to push him any farther today.
Around three o'clock mom came home. I was worried that she'd freak out like dad but she just smiled and greeted Max before trudging into the kitchen to start dinner for us.
"Lily, can you please tell Dodge to help me with dinner?" mom asked from the kitchen. I gave Max a small smile before hurrying up the stairs and into my brother's room. He was lying on his bed, staring up that the ceiling.
"Mom wants you to help her with dinner," I exclaimed, leaning against the doorframe. He glared at me but didn't make a move to get up.
"Why can't you do it?" he snapped.
I rolled my eyes. "I don't know. Mom just said to help her," I snapped back with a little bit more venom than he had used. I wanted to get back downstairs to Max so I could keep talking with him before dad came home and kicked him out.
Dodge stomped past me and went into the kitchen while I sat back down on the couch. I heard mom and Dodge mumbling in the kitchen.
It was almost five o'clock when dinner was finally done and dad came home just when mom was setting the plates on the table. Dad glanced over at Max and me before going into the kitchen.
Max didn't seem worried about my deadly father and followed after him. I sighed and trailed after both of them and took a seat at the table. Max sat beside me, dad across from me with mom sitting beside me and Dodge sitting between mom and Max.
We ate the roast beef, potatoes, and green beans silently. Max didn't seem bothered with it but mom, Dodge, and I kept glancing over at dad, waiting for him to snap yet again.
"So Max, when are you heading back up to Canada to Jake?" dad asked suddenly. We all waited for Max to answer. He seemed to seriously think it over, glancing at me every once in a while.
"I'm not too sure if I'm going back to work in Canada. I've been thinking about getting switched to a different post, maybe somewhere on the east coast," Max explained.
Dad's face tensed up and his jaw clenched but one glare from mom stopped him from doing God knows what.
After everyone was finished eating Max and I washed the dishes and put them up while mom and dad went into the living room to relax after their day at work. We whispered as we talked to each other, not wanting to bother my parents.
"I've got to go. It's getting late and I didn't let my parents know where I'd be at," Max sighed, glancing up at mom's kitten clock.
"Oh, okay. I'll see you Friday morning then, right?" I said, putting down the dish towel. He nodded and smiled, flashing his white teeth at me.
I walked him out to the front porch, trying to make our goodbyes last longer. He seemed reluctant to go just like I didn't want him to leave. I stayed on the porch as I watched him jog out into the rain to his truck. Max waved goodbye to me once more before getting in and driving away.
Author's Note: So, so, sorry that it took me so long to get this out. I've been busy with sports and homework the last couple of weeks. Let me know what you think and review!