(Part X)
The times on which Lily and Marlene were alone were more than limited, specially during the nights. But tonight the boys were gone - they didn't specify where and for how long - so Lily and Marlene had decided to stay at the McKinnon's for a change.
Marlene was showing Lily her large wardrobe, when a picture of a young James and Marlene caught Lily's attention.
"You and James are very close, right?" asked Lily timidly as she neared Marlene's wardrobe and pretended to check a lilac dressrobe.
"Yes. We grew up together," replied Marlene nonchalantly.
"Are...are you two...an item?" Lily took the dressrobe off the hanger.
"No. No we are not," replied Marlene. She sounded sincere and - strangely - serious. Marlene could read underneath Lily's words, could see beneath her forced indifference and saw the hidden interest on James's love life - not Marlene's.
"Oh. Ok, then. I just thought...nevermind," said Lily.
"We fuck, but we are not an item."
The words rolled out of Marlene's mouth so effortlessly, but to Lily they sounded like sharp, pointy fingernails furiously scratching a blackboard. Yet, Lily was somewhat content with the answer - they fucked, but they were not an item. She tried to divert the subject of the conversation.
"This is a beautiful dress," she said.
She didn't want to analyze it too much.
(to be continued)