A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews. I am glad you enjoyed the developments so far. OMG, saw the preview for HP6 and let me say… OMG! I can NOT wait! This chapter is SO long, I have decided to break it up into parts, lest it be a million pages long. Enjoy and review… otherwise I'll hold the next page hostage.

Disc.: I'm only borrowing for my own devices.

Christmas Holiday (Part One)

She felt guilty. There was no other word to describe it. Even though she and Scorpius swore to never talk about or bring up the kiss, she couldn't erase it from her lips, or her heart. She had had her first real kiss with a betrothed man. She felt shameful, though no one was the wiser from the outside. Lily was, after all, used to hiding her true feelings. Darla need never know, though Lily was certain that after she told Taryn during the Christmas break he was going to break up with her. She couldn't let a great guy like Taryn be hurt because she couldn't keep her lips to herself. She felt terrible for betraying him. She closed her eyes, Asher purring in her lap, as she leaned back against the seat. The train was ticking off the miles between her and home at an alarming rate. Christmas Holiday was upon them.

The station was full of holiday travelers and Lily for one was thankful she had very little she actually needed to bring home to wash, just a few of her favorite shirts and jeans she never went anywhere without. How the house elves managed to never lose anything was amazing. Lily glanced around, Asher's basket in one hand, her rucksack in the other. She had no idea where James and Albus were. People bumped her as they pushed past. She had been polite when she waved to Scorpius and Darla who were deep in conversation and barely noticed her.

"Come on, Lily," James said grabbing her shoulder. Lily turned to see her brothers and cousins behind her. She grinned and followed them out of the barrier and to Kings' Crossing. Harry was standing there, leaning against a rail waiting for his offspring with Taryn. He threw his arms around Lily embracing her. He kissed her forehead and released Lily to retrieve Asher's basket and her bag, both which had been knocked from her hands. Asher hissed at Taryn as he took the basket from Lily.

"Your parents asked me to pick you up," Harry said simply. The six kids followed and piled into Harry's minivan. Lily laughed, knowing that her father hated the minivan with a passion. The van ride home was as rowdy as to be expected, the volume deafening.

"I think you should quit Quidditch," Taryn told Lily as the two of them sat in the very back of the van.

"What?" Lily asked making a face. "Why?"

"You got hurt," Taryn said. "I'd hate for them to mess up your pretty face. Plus, when I go pro, I'll want you cheering for me from the sidelines."

"I like playing Quidditch," Lily said crossing her arms. Taryn kissed her nose.

"Don't be that way, Lily," Taryn said. "You'll come to see I'm right."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Harry said. He swore as he pulled into the driveway of the Potter's simple house. Lily felt her stomach twist uncomfortably. Mr. Malfoy was standing there with Scorpius, a bag at Scorpius' feet. "What now?"

"What's he doing here?" Taryn demanded as he looked at Lily. She shrugged.

"Stay in the van for a minute," Harry told them as he whipped off his seat belt and climbed out of the van. The six watched as Harry and Draco Malfoy spoke. They couldn't hear anything but a loud buzzing and the kids knew that Harry had cast a Muffliato spell on the van. Still they tried to watch Harry and Draco's body language. Harry nodded, unlocking the door. Draco and Scorpius headed in as Harry headed back towards the van. He tapped the door with the van. Opening, the kids climbed out of the van. Their bags in hand, they headed into the house.

"Rose, Hugo, help your selves to snacks Grandma Weasley sent over," Harry said tiredly as he sat across from Draco at the table. Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose slightly. "Ok, guys and Lily, Scorpius is going to be stay with us for the holiday."

"Why?!" James and Taryn both protested. Harry glared at them both.

"Er, why?" They corrected sounding less protesting and more concerned, even if it was falsely so.

"Dragon Pox," Draco said dully. The kids moved away from Scorpius.

"I don't have them," Scorpius said scowling.

"My parents both seemed to have come down with it," Draco said. "I have to be there to care for them, but Scorpius needn't catch it."

"Doesn't he have like a wife or something?" Taryn suggested hopefully.

"Darla and I are having a bit of a breather at the moment," Scorpius said looking at Lily. Lily looked away, focused on the cookie Rose placed on a plate before her.

"Anyways," Harry said. "We need to figure out where Scorpius can sleep."

"Not my room," James and Albus both said.

"No offense, but Slytherin can sleep in the chamber of Gryffindor," James added quickly when Harry momentarily glared at his son.

"He can take my room," Lily said quietly. "Taryn can take Albus' room. Albus can bunk up with James and I'll sleep in the television room."

"That… would work," Harry said thinking. "That would actually work fairly well, and yeah, that sounds like a plan. Taryn in Albus room so he doesn't have that whole Gryffindor complex and with Lily already being a Slytherin, that'd work perfectly."

"I can't very well banish Lily to a couch in the T.V. room," Taryn protested.

"Would you rather Lily and Scorpius share a private bathroom?" Albus muttered under his breath. Taryn looked at him confused. "Lily and I have a connecting bathroom and closet."

"Sleep well on the couch," Taryn told Lily as he patted her on the head like a child. She rolled her eyes at him.

"It's a pull out sofa," Lily said. She crossed her arms sitting back on the chair.

"Well, it's settled then," Harry said standing. Mr. Malfoy stood as well, shaking Harry's hand firmly as if they were shaking on some important business deal.

"You sure about this?" Mr. Malfoy asked. "I mean you already have a house guest."

"Of course," Harry said grinning at Scorpius said. "Really, what's one more kid? We'll be fine, Draco."

"I do appreciate it," Mr. Malfoy said. "Dragon Pox of all things."

"It's going around, I hear," Harry commented as he walked the man out the door.

"This is going to be a fun week," Taryn said sarcastically. Lily shot him a look but didn't say anything. Instead she released Asher from his basket and the cat ran off to find his favorite spot on Lily's bed.

"Lily why don't you show the boys where they will be sleeping," Harry suggested. Lily nodded and stood. She picked up her own bag and headed up the stairs, Taryn right behind her. She opened Albus' door, pointing to the room.

"This is Albus' room," Lily said. "Feel free to mess with all his toys."

"They're not toys! Their action figures!" Albus yelled from downstairs. Taryn walked in, dropping his stuff on the small twin sized bed, wrapping his arms around Lily and pulling her down on it with him.

"I can't say much can happen on a bed this small," Taryn teased as he kissed her neck and cheek. She laughed and pulled away.

"My dad is just down the stairs," Lily protested. She glanced at the door to see Scorpius standing there, his eyes smoldering with some misunderstood emotion. "Right, be back in a minute or two Taryn. I have to get Scorpius settled in."

"I'll be right here," Taryn said patting the bed he was still laying on. Lily laughed and headed out the door. Scorpius followed her to the last bedroom on the hallway and she hesitated, her hand on the knob. She turned and looked at him.

"I… I just wanted to say I've not redecorated my room since I was a little girl, so it's a bit… girly," Lily said blushing.

"I'm sure it's nothing I can't handle," Scorpius said. Lily opened the door and the two walked in.

"Wow," Scorpius said as he looked around her room. She wasn't kidding when she had told him that it was girly. Pink and frills and lace were everywhere. She had a princess canopy and the room honestly looked as if a literally femininity oozed from every surface.

"Told you," Lily said. Asher looked up at the two of them lazily from his spot on the middle of Lily's bed.

"Well, it's very pink," Scorpius said grinning. Lily groaned and turned to flee but Scorpius grabbed her hand. "No, really it is great. Thanks for giving up your room but you know, I'll gladly take the pull out sofa."

"Grandmother Weasley says that it is bad karma to not allow guest to sleep in the bedrooms," Lily told him. "I don't mind, anyways. The sofa bed is quite comfortable."

"Do you think you and I can hang out a bit this break, just you and I?" Scorpius asked. Lily hesitated, glancing at the doors that lead to the adjoining closet and bathroom.

"I… we can see how it goes, ok?" Lily said.

"Ok," Scorpius said.

"Why didn't your dad hug you good-bye?" Lily asked. Scorpius shrugged as he placed his bag on the bed.

"Dad's never been a hugger," Scorpius said. "He hasn't hugged anyone since my mum died. She was the last person he hugged."

"That had to have been hard," Lily said quietly. Scorpius looked at her with a blank look on his face, unexpressive.

"It was five years ago," he said shrugging.

"I remember her from dropping Rose and James off the platform that first day of you all's first year," Lily said thoughtfully. "She was very beautiful."

"Yeah," Scorpius agreed. He laughed. "But she died doing something she loved and my grandfather hated. That is the only way to go."

"Yeah," Lily agreed. Scorpius grinned.

"Enough sad talk," Scorpius said. He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure the boyfriend will be wondering where you went."

"Maybe," Lily said. She headed towards the door, opening it. She turned back to look at him. Scorpius had his back to her. "So you know if you ever need a hug I am right down the hall way in the T.V. room."

"Thank you," Scorpius said.

"And I've not forgotten that night," Lily said barely above a whisper as she shut the door. She had seen him tense. Lily knew Scorpius heard her.

Ginny looked a little surprised to see Scorpius at the dinner table that night, but she didn't say anything. Ron and Harry went to the garage to do whatever they normally did out there, the boys went up to play video games on the game system, and the girls were saddled with the dishes. Lily didn't mind much as it gave her time to think about things. As if in a daze, she focused on scrubbing the plates by hands while Rose rinsed them and placed them on the drying rack.

"What's up with you tonight?" Rose asked quietly.

"Nothing," Lily lied.

"Spill it, cousin," Rose said nudging her.

"It's nothing, really," Lily said.

"C'mon Lily," Rose pressed. "I have known you all your life. We've been cousins and neighbors since the day you were born. I know when something is up with you, and there is obviously something up."

"Really, Rose," Lily said adamantly. "It's nothing."

"It's you having Scorpius and Taryn bother here, isn't it?" Rose asked. Lily continued to wash the dishes. "It is, isn't it?"

"It's nothing, Rose," Lily said.

"C'mon, you promised that you would come to me whenever you needed me," Rose reminded.

"I don't," Lily said. Rose smirked at her.

"If there's nothing up then why have you practically washed the embedded design off your mother's plate?" Rose pressed as she took the final plate and washed it. "C'mon. Let's go up to your room and just talk."

"Scorpius is using my room," Lily reminded her. Rose laughed.

"He is a teenage boy," Rose said. "He's probably in the TV room with the other boys trying to kill each other with one of those violent video games."

"Fine," Lily sighed as she dried her hands on the dish towel. They headed up the stairs, the sounds of video games echoing out of the open door. Lily shook her head and went to her room. It was empty, Asher spread out on her bedspread. Lily climbed up there with him, as did Rose, the two of them shifting pillows around until they were comfortable.

"Spill the beans," Rose said. Lily laughed nervously.

"Promise you won't tell?" Lily pressed. Rose rolled her eyes and nodded.

"I've been through this with you. I'm not going to tell a living sole, I promise," Rose said. Lily took a deep breath.

"I got my first kiss, my first real kiss," Lily said quickly.

"With the lips and the tongue and all?" Rose clarified. Lily blush dark red.

"Yes," Lily said.

"Ooh, is that why you and Taryn have been weird? Was he a bad kisser? Oh, were you a bad kisser?" Rose asked excitedly. "When did you guys manage to have a moment of alone time for that?"

"It… it wasn't Taryn," Lily said. Rose's mouth hung open in shock.

"It wasn't Taryn?" Rose asked quietly. "Then who? When?"

"S-Scorpius," Lily said burying her face in her hands. She looked at Rose through her fingers and hissed at her. "And I liked it!"

"W-when?" Rose asked almost as if she was afraid to know.

"That night that Ravenclaw beamed with the stupid bludger," Lily said without removing her hands.

"Oh, oh Merlin Lily," Rose murmured. "This is not good."

"I know!" Lily cried.

"He's betrothed to Darla Goyle," Rose reminded.

"I know!" Lily cried again.

"What about Taryn?" Rose asked.

"I was going to tell him," Lily said. "But that was before Scorpius showed up on my doorstep."

"Oh, Lily," Rose murmured again thoughtfully. "What a mess."

"Indeed," Lily cried. She pulled her hands away from her face. "And the worst part, I can't stand Taryn touching me and kissing me anymore. I want Scorpius."

"Oh, honey, you can't have him," Rose cooed to her, patting Lily's shoulder.

"I know!" Lily cried as she buried her face into the pillow. Rose hugged her best she could.

"Love is never easy, Lily," Rose told her quietly.

"Rose! Hugo! It's time to go!" Ron's voice echoed through the house. Lily sniffled as she sat up. Rose handed her a tissue.

"I'm just down the side walk, Lily," Rose reminded her. "If you need an escape."

"Thank you," Lily said dabbing her eyes. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

"Uh, no. I don't want to be the one that tells your brother that you are in love with a practically married man, the enemy of that same brother," Rose teased. Lily laughed through her tears and checked her appearance in the mirror on her way out the bedroom.

Lily pulled out the sofa bed, the sheets crisp and cool in the house that was normally warm enough. The TV room seemed to have decided to take a chill on and Lily pulled out a thick quilt to snuggle deep inside of the blanket. She ignored the sounds of the rest of the house and instead fell into a deep, dark sleep plague with Quidditch players vying for Lily to choose them.

Lily felt the bed shift rather rudely as someone jumped onto the sofa bed next to her. She groaned as the TV came on and more people joined the room. She pulled the covers over her head, trying to block out the sounds of death and explosions as the boys went to work playing their video games. She didn't want to be woken so early and her hand slipped out of the blanket and reached across to the table where she had tossed her watch. She sat upright.

"It's seven in the morning!" Lily protested.

"Nice hair," Taryn laughed with his mouth full of milk and cereal. Lily shot him a very nasty look and climbed out of bed.

"It's cold in here," she complained as she left. She didn't care that she looked seven ways of hell and instead marched into her room, not realizing that Scorpius was asleep. He watched her, half asleep as she headed into the adjoined bathroom. Yawning, he climbed out of bed stretching and scratching his bare chest. He yawned again as he slipped on his jeans. He looked up, mid-way of buttoning them as Lily came out of the bathroom with a towel on around her.

"Oh," Scorpius said with a look of surprise on his face. His fingers froze on his buttons.

"Sorry if I woke you," Lily mumbled as she uprooted her feet and headed to her dresser. She pulled some clothes out of the drawers and headed back to the bathroom. Lily closed the door and leaned against it, her face on fire. She hadn't expected him to be standing there in various states of undress. Lily dried off with her towel and dressed in her clothes.

"You're too thin," Taryn said standing in the doorway. Lily looked up horrified.

"How long have you been standing there?" Lily demanded. Her face was bright red.

"I just walked up," he said. "You should shut and lock both doors, though. Especially with all these guys in this house. Anyone of them could walk in and see more of my Lily than they should see."

"Taryn, it's not that big of a deal," Lily said flippantly as she brushed her hair into a ponytail.

"With him in the house, I want you to stay covered up unless you're behind locked doors, ok?" Taryn pressed. Lily frowned.

"Why are you being so possessive?" Lily asked.

"I just don't trust him," Taryn said as he stepped into the bathroom. He cupped her face, running his thumb over her bottom lip. "You're just so beautiful and perfect. I don't want him to tarnish you."

"I'm not some precious metal, Taryn," Lily protested. "Scorpius and I are friends. Nothing more."

"Good," Taryn said quickly kissing her lips. He leaned against her, almost pinning her between the counter with his body. "I couldn't live with myself if I thought that someone as unworthy as he touched you while under my watch."

"Taryn, my parents are downstairs," Lily protest as she felt his mouth go to her neck.

"No they're not," Taryn promised. He pulled her by the wrist to Albus' bed. "We can just cuddle a bit. Your parents won't be home for hours."

"We really shouldn't and I've not eaten breakfast," Lily said.

"It's ok," Taryn told her. "I've already eaten enough for the both of us."

Lily found herself pinned between the bed and Taryn, his mouth on hers. She cringed inside, knowing that he thought he was giving her the best first kiss a girl could ever want. He did kiss well, but no matter how he tried, Taryn was too late on that first kiss. Despite herself, Lily could feel a myriad of feelings twisting behind her navel. She wouldn't quite classify it as butterflies, not like when she and Scorpius kissed. She couldn't deny she was kissing Taryn back, because she was, but when her eyes were closed it was Scorpius she saw. She knew it was wrong.

"We should stop," Lily breathed.

"Not yet," Taryn said as he pressed into her harder, kissing her deeper. She felt his hand on her skin, her shirt pushed up some that her stomach was no longer covered.

"Oh for Merlin's sake! Not on my bed!" Albus exclaimed as he stood there in the door way. "And not my sister."

"Hey, your sister's hot," Taryn said shrugging with a grin as he finally released her from his clutches.

"I don't want to know that," Albus said covering his eyes. "And, I never want to see that again. Don't taint up my bed making out with my sister, man. That's just not cool."

"I'm going to get breakfast," Lily said with her face on fire.

"You up for another round of Shoot 'em Dead?" Taryn asked Albus as if nothing had just transpired between himself and Lily.

"Yeah," Albus said nodding. Lily pushed past him and headed down to the kitchen. She looked at Scorpius who was standing there with a plate of bacon and eggs. His face was blank though she was sure he had heard Albus' outburst.

"I made you breakfast," he said quietly. He placed it on the table and poured her a glass of juice.

"Thank you," Lily said as she sat down. Scorpius took his own plate and took the chair across from her.

"Are you ok?" Scorpius asked her. Lily looked up at him with a look of surprise. She nodded.

"Yeah," Lily confirmed.

"I just want whatever will make you happy," Scorpius said looking down at his plate.

"Me too," she said.

"Hey, can someone go out to the woodshed and get more firewood for the fireplace?" James yelled down from upstairs.

"Sure thing," Scorpius yelled back. He took a final bite of his food and placed the plate in the dishwasher. Lily watched him pull his coat on and head out the backdoor. Lily jumped up, abandoning her breakfast and joined him, pulling her own coat on as she stepped out into the brisk December air. Scorpius looked around.

"The logs have to be split first," Lily told him as she opened the shed. "The axe is in here."

"It's dark," Scorpius said touching her shoulder as he followed her into the shed.

"Yeah," Lily said as she looked up at him, the only light coming from the open door. He kissed her suddenly, his hands on either side of her face. She put her hands up, and for a second thought of pushing him away. After all, she had just kissed Taryn, her boyfriend, just a while before. She found herself pulling him closer in spite of it, her fingers tangling in his hair. Scorpius touched her face gently, it cradled in his hands. There was a hunger in the way that they kissed each other. Scorpius pulled away hesitantly, breathless. He licked his lip slightly.

"You taste like cherry," he said. Lily blushed and pulled out a tube of lip balm.

"Cheery Cherry," Lily said wiggling the tube. It slipped from between her fingers and fell to the floor. She kneeled, picking it up. She reached up, her hand on his hip, holding onto his belt, as she proceeded to stand.

"What in Merlin's Stones is going on here?" Taryn demanded angrily. From his vantage, from anyone's vantage it did not look good. Scorpius looked down, realizing what Taryn thought was going on and he jumped back.

"Oh, nothing like that," Scorpius said quickly, his hands up in surrender. He back away, not from fear but from the conflict.

"I dropped my lip balm," Lily said as Taryn advanced. She held it up as if it would shield him from advancing.

"Don't stand up for him," Taryn told her.

"Don't talk to her like that," Scorpius said advancing towards him. Both boys had their fist clenched and Lily put her hands up to keep them apart.

"Don't tell me how to talk to my girlfriend," Taryn threatened. "Or else."

"Or else what?" Scorpius challenged, rising to Taryn's threat.

"Easy you two," Lily snapped. "Nothing happened. Come on, Taryn. Let's go back inside, back upstairs."

"This isn't over with, Malfoy," Taryn shouted at Scorpius.

"No it isn't… whatever your surname is," Scorpius replied. If it hadn't been so tense, Lily would have laughed at that response but she couldn't. The air was thick with contempt and anger, and there was no place for humor. Lily practically drug Taryn out of there by his arms, the boy worked up and angry.

"I told you I didn't want you to be alone around him," Taryn said in angry whispers. "I don't trust him."

"I just showed him where the axe was," Lily said as she stroked his arm. He pulled away. "I dropped my lip balm and you walked in as I was picking it up. It was really all innocent."

"You'd never cheat on me, would you Lily," Taryn demanded. Lily shook her head.

"Let's go play video games, ok? Rose and Hugo should be here soon," Lily said as she kissed his cheek and pulled him towards the stairs. Inside she was screaming.

"Oh, Rose and Hugo are already upstairs," Taryn said quickly. Lily breathed a sigh of relief as Taryn seemed momentarily distracted. James had collapsed the sofa bed and everyone was lying about in various positions. Taryn threw himself in an overstuffed chair, pulling Lily down into his lap.

Lily felt Taryn tense and pull her closer as Scorpius walked in the T.V. room carrying a stack of firewood. James jumped up, tossing his controller to Hugo who continued to play the game as if he had been playing all along. He helped put the wood in the bin and start a fire. The room quickly lost its chill, a fire roaring in the hearth while the gaming continued.

"These games are addictive," Scorpius said as his turn came up. "Makes me wish I didn't live in an all magical household."

"I love living in an all magical house," Taryn said glaring at him.

"Anyone want to help me make lunch?" Rose asked. She touched Taryn's shoulder. "Taryn, why not you?"

"Uh, sure," Taryn said as Lily climbed free of his lap to take James' controller. Lily didn't even watch Taryn leave; instead she sat back in the chair on the very edge as the fighting game loaded up.

"I hope you don't mind getting your butt kicked by a girl," Lily teased Scorpius as she chose her character.

"You talk a big game, Lils," Scorpius taunted. "Let's see if you can put your fist where your mouth is."

"You mean your money," Lily laughed.

"Either way," Scorpius grinned, his character chosen.

The game began, and both dodged, jerked, and twisted their bodies as if they were the characters in the game even though the movements did nothing for the game play, actually. It was the dance of the gamer, the bobbing motions to avoid the opponent at all cost. Lily and Scorpius both played their hardest but Lily was victorious. She jumped up and down, cheering, her controller above her head. She looked at Scorpius, laughing.

"I won! I told you!" Lily laughed. Scorpius smirked and handed the controller to James. James laughed and the two of them started the second game as Rose stormed into the room with the plate of sandwiches. Taryn was right behind her, carrying the pitcher of juice and a stack of cups. He set them down and immediately grabbed Lily and pulled her back to him.

"I missed you so much," he whispered to you. "We should go for a walk."

"Now?" Lily asked frowning as she struggled to reach a sandwich from her place on Taryn's lap.

"Yes, now," Taryn said. He wasn't smiling. Lily shrugged and followed him out of the T.V. room wishing she had grabbed one of the sandwiches. Taryn pulled her down the stairs by the hand, straight out the door, barely letting Lily grab her coat.

"What's wrong, Taryn?" Lily asked as she slipped her arms into her coat. She struggled to get the zipper up for a second before abandoning it and resorting to shoving her bare hands into pockets. She looked up at Taryn, him standing over her by a good foot, just like everyone in the world.

"Your cousin, Rose, kissed me," Taryn said. He was frowning.

"W-what?" Lily stuttered.

"Your. Cousin. Rose. Kissed. Me." Taryn repeated slowly.

"Why would she do that?" Lily asked.

"I don't know," Taryn said visibly upset. Lily frowned.

"That's not like Rose," Lily said crossing her arms.

"She's jealous of us, Lily," Taryn assured her as he pulled her into his arms. He kissed her forehead. "She told me that if I told you that she would lie and say that I came on to here because she doesn't really want us together."

"But… Rose is like a sister to me," Lily said confused.

"I told her that I couldn't keep it from you, Lily," Taryn said. He lowered his mouth to Lily's. "She told me that you kissed Scorpius."

"W-what?!" Lily said as she tried to pull away.

"I don't blame you, Lily," Taryn said quietly. "You had a head injury. All the more reason that you are going to quit the team."

"Wait, what?" Lily struggled.

"Lily, I said that I don't blame you," he said stroking her hair. "Malfoy took advantage of you."

"I kissed him," Lily said.

"Are you so certain?" Taryn asked. Lily thought back. She couldn't recall who kissed whom first, just that they kissed and it had been good. Taryn nodded. "You have doubt; I can see it in your eyes. Look, no one loves you like I do."

"But why would Rose kiss you and then threaten to blackmail you with it?" Lily asked. Taryn grinned.

"Even cousins that are like sisters get jealous when one is so much prettier and smarter than the other. Rose is a pretty and smart girl, but beside you she is no more pretty that a wench or hag," Taryn said. Lily blushed. "I just couldn't let her do it just out of jealousy and spite. Please don't hate her, Lily. She can't help being jealous."

"Rose has never been jealous of me before," Lily said uncertainly.

"I'd beg to differ," Taryn said morosely. He took her by the hands. "Look, Lily, Rose has been jealous of you since you two were little girls. You were always the cuter, younger, and sweeter of the two. She's gotten really good about hiding it, and I don't think she means to be that way. The fact of the matter, she'll do anything to make you as miserable as she is."

"I… I can't believe Rose would do that," Lily said frowning.

"Lily," Taryn said. "Why would I lie to you?"