Lily got three quarters of the way to Ken's house when it suddenly dawned on her: Wait, so he had read the paper… I didn't ask for Ken's address. She suddenly slowed her pace and came to a complete stop. Shit. This is Ken's address, right? Who else's address would he give me? She looked back at the direction she had just come from and hesitated before crossing her fingers and continuing on to the address printed on the small piece of paper clutched in her hand.

She rounded the corner onto Crescent rd., and prayed one last time that this was Ken's street. Two houses in stood a surprisingly modern house of concrete and some type of smooth wood with too many big windows. Lily whistled.

She took a deep breath and shook it out before walking up the driveway to the front door. She shifted her weight from foot to foot eyeing the doorbell like she was unsure if she should touch it. What am I going to say? Heyyy, is Ken there? Maybe I should just say excuse me and barge my way in..Ahhh, fuck!

As quickly as she could she jabbed the button and stepped back to wait. What if he answers the door? Then what? Hug him? And refuse to let him go until he'll listen? She sighed dramatically. Why do I even care so much? Yah, he's the only one I can kind of call a friend, but I never really liked him much at our old school. Then again he does deserve better…What the fuck is taking so long? She looked over at the drive way and noticed there were no cars. Maybe no one's home… but then where else would he be? She peaked through the entry window beside the door, casting a shadow with her arm so she could see inside. Right at that moment someone came into view. Oh no. Her eyes widened as she stepped back trying to think of an escape. She made to leave, but hesitated woring that she wouldn't get out of sight fast enough. She stepped back on to the porch, then pivoted to leave again. Shit! What the fuck, Nathaniel! She turned around again, panicking with indecision when she heard the door click open.

"What the hell."

Lily froze refusing to look up at who she knew was in front of her. Why would he give me his address? Having a small internal hissy fit she slowly raised to her head to acknowledge none other than Castiel.

"H-hey," She waved weakly.

Castiel had a disturbed look on his face as he used the door frame as support to look up and down his street. "W-what—did you fuckin' follow me home?" He asked like that was a horrifying possibility.

Lily blinked. "What? No! God, no!"

He narrowed his eyes at her unconvinced. She held her hands up in surrender.

"What are you doing here?" He asked sounding threatening as he crossed his arms.

Lily let out a sigh, "I'm not even looking for you. I was given the wrong address." She held out the piece paper with his address on it for him to read with her head bowed in shame.

He snatched it from her hand none too gently. Though it was rough and brief, the she felt the same tingling she had when she got her photo ID with him. She tried to ignore the sensation in her hand as she knew he probably didn't feel it and was too afraid to check; though she couldn't help but look at her hand oddly as she tried to flex and unflex the feeling away.

She heard a snickering scoff come from Castiel and dared to look up at him again, wondering what exactly was so funny.

"What're you, dyslexic?" He said thrusting the paper back at her, "You're at 96. You're looking for 99."

Lily looked back down at the paper with the tidily written address on it and mentally face palmed. Oh…how did I—"Right. Well …" she coughed lightly and scratched the back of her neck, "Thanks. I guess I'll, uh, keep goin' that way then," She added pointing down the street as she backed away from him.

"Whatever." He said closing the door on her and heading back inside without another word.

Right, she thought sardonically. Yah, see ya 'round! Jerk. She rolled her eyes as she turned around and continued up the street.

Grumbling over how rude that guy is with his stupid red hair and wanna-be rocker clothes, and dumb smirk, and A-Walk-To-Remember-Landonalicious voice, with those steely grey—ahhem. Lily cleared her throat and shook her head, unable to resist checking to see if anyone happened to overhear internal monologue, when she nearly ran into a mailbox marked: 1999. Whoops! She checked once again to make sure no one saw her, and sighed in relief.

When the front door cracked open her heart stopped. She wasn't ready yet. She was still standing at the bottom of the driveway trying to decide if she should pretend she was just walking by or bite the bullet and walk the rest of the way to the door.

The choice was taken from her however when a loud snuffle was heard followed by a happy tear filled hiccup of, "L-Lily?" and the current target of Lily's mission came stumbling towards her with open arms.

Lily watched on awkwardly as he got closer and closer, clearly set on embracing her. Maybe I should have planned this better… "H-hey, Ken…" She offered uncertainly as he wrapped his arms around her, lightly patting him on the back with her fingertips of one hand. Oh boy…

He snuffles loudly again rubbing his face in her chest. Lily cringes in disgust, oh god…why me? She stares pleadingly up at the sky waiting for this moment to be over. As if the gods took pity on her Ken stepped back and rubbed his eyes after yanking his glasses off his face unceremoniously. He looked as though he was about to speak when a second voice echoed from the door Ken came from.

"LORAINE! IT'S HER! GET OUT HERE!" A man's deep voice hollered into the house as he steps outside.

"YOU!" He points at Lily threateningly making her go wide eyed. She looked back and forth from Ken to the enormous muscle man before her, trying to put two and two together. This can't possibly be… "HOW DARE YOU TOY WITH MY SON!" Lily and Ken paled simultaneously. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?" He growled demanding an answer only inches from her face, spittle unpleasantly landing on her cheek.

Lily swallowed hard unable to do little more than lean infinitesimally away from him and try to remember how to breath.

Suddenly a third voice was heard along with the sound of small quick steps, "Honey…" The small female voice warned daintily.

Lily let out a breath she hadn't noticed she was holding when the beef bear of a father turned around to face his wife, giving Lily her personal space back. While his parents muttered mutedly between each other she eyed Ken beseeching him with her eyes to add some clarity to the situation or to save her or do something, but he avoided her gaze and kicked at the pavement with his shoes looking for all the world like a dog that just ate its master's slippers.

Lily jumped when she heard her name, but quickly relaxed when she realized it was the petite mousy mother that had addressed her, pushing up her glasses.

" Lily dear," she tried again when she received no response. Lily met her eyes with a cautiously. "Now, I understand that this is a difficult time in a girl's life and you are probably still trying to figure out who you are and what you want, but surely you must know that it isn't right to cheat on your boyfriend—"

"NOT RIGHT!? That's an understatement!" Her husband cut her off clearly unable to hold his tongue any longer. "Now, you listen here, girl, now, I know my boy ain't much, but no one, especially someone so loyal deserves to be treated the way you treated my boy!"

Lily's head spun. What did Ken tell them?! She was beginning to panic if she corrects them she's calling him a l—

The mother huffed, "What my husband is trying to say, dear, is that our little Ken here loved you from the very bottom of his heart, was even willing to leave all his other friends so that he could still be with you when you moved. He has sacrificed so much and would have done anything for you. It is unfortunate that you didn't appreciate him like he deserves. We have to ask that you stay away from our son now—"

"NO!" Ken suddenly shouted looking up at his mom and clinging to her arm. "Please mom… "

His mom looked at Ken sympathetically gently brushing his tears away with her fingers, "Hush now, Kentin. It'll be okay. Go on inside now. Make yourself some tea…" She said sweetly before kissing him on the forehead and giving him a gentle push in the right direction. Ken obeyed shame faced, dragging his feet behind him.

"This is precisely why he's such a pansy…" His father grumbled.

"What'd you say?!" His mother demanded, turning from gentle flower to venus fly trap in an instant. Her husband lowered his head and went inside. Lily raised her brow, really?

"Now where was I?" She asked rhetorically, back to her calm dainty self. "Ah, yes. It really is such a shame. From everything he told us about you we were so looking forward to you two getting married one day, but I suppose it simply wasn't meant to be…"She continued on with a sigh of disappointment. "I am glad you have stayed so silent and haven't tried to argue your way out of the truth. It makes me feel as though you are truly a good person deep inside and have simply strayed off your usual path."

Lily continued to remain silent, not knowing what she could possibly say at this point that would even matter, as his mother circled around her to come up behind her and gently turn her around with her hand lightly pressed into the small of her back.

"I suggest you go home and take some time to reflect on your actions, dear. I have faith you'll find the right path again. Good bye, Lily." She concluded with a little push in the right direction as she had done with her son.

Nodding dumbly Lily slowly started off in the direction she was sent. She took a few steps when she came out of her daze and realized she had to say something or this whole thing was a huge waste of time. She turned around abruptly and called out to his mother who halted just before entering the house.

"Tell him..." She hesitated trying to think of something short, "Tell him to find finer literature!" She called out.

His mother looked confused but nodded and went inside.

"He'll know what I mean, right?" Lily asked herself. I hope.

"You still lost bedhead?"

Lily looked up, startled out of her thoughts and spotted Castiel walking towards her.

"No. Well sorta, but not that kinda lost." She replied.

"Right…Hey, sorry about earlier. I had some things on my mind." He mutters to the ground, scratching the head of the dog Lily just realized he was walking.

"Awe, what a cute puppy, " Lily gushes, crouching down to introduce herself to the dog. "Sorry for what?" She asks petting his head affectionately.

Castiel rolls his eyes at his furry companion seeing how excited he is being scratched behind his ear, "You're such a man whore, Demon. You'd do anything for a pretty girl's attention, wouldn't you boy?" He says to the dog, also crouching down to give him a good scratch.

Demon, I'll have to remember that. Lily blushed picking up on the indirect compliment and enjoying the occasional brush of Castiel's finger tips against her hand as they occasionally scratched the same area. Just ignore it. It's no big deal. It's all accidental, she told herself as she looked up, and coincidentally locked eyes with Castiel. He smiled at her and the orange glow of the sunset made him look so much warmer than she could recall seeing him before. He usually looks a bit on the grumpy side of life, though in a tough stoic way that he somehow pulled off attractively and not an angsty teenage way. Stop that! He's still lanky, and pasty, and has stupid hair! And he's rude! Which is why he's easier to talk to…but still!

They both stopped smothering Demon at the same time and stood back up. "Is he your dog?"

Castiel smiled proudly, "Yeah."

"He's gorgeous." Lily tells him, speaking to the dog.

Castiel chuckles, "Yeah, he's pretty studly."

Lily smiles at that, quietly giggling, to which Castiel smiles back. Lily felt a warmth build in her chest as short comfortable silence settled between them.

"You wanna come in for a bit? " He gestures with his head to his house Lily only just realized they were stopped in front of. "You know, to make up for being a jerk earlier when you showed up on my doorstep."

Lily looked up at his house chewing her lip in contemplation.

"Hmm…Only if you're up to doing some homework," She decided.

Castiel smirked, "Sure. Let's do it."

Lily was taken aback, "Really? I didn't peg you as the studious type."

He chuckled, "What's that supposed to mean? You wouldn't be judging a book by its cover would you?" He replied in mock incredulity.

Lily squinted her eyes at him, enjoying how easy it was to be herself around him, "Maybe…?"

"Well, you can make up for it by comin' in for a bit. And we'll even do homework, just for you."

Lily smirked at him, "This doesn't seem like much of an apology on your half."

"It is when you consider how often I do my homework." He teased over his shoulder as they walked up his drive way with Demon in toe wagging his tail.

BAM! UPDATED! FINALLY! Yeah….i'll again try to update more often which includes my other seemingly more popular MCL story, The Beauty in Imperfection.

As per usual I would love, love, love some reviews. I know my writing has gotten rusty over the years and could definitely use some constructive criticism and encouraging comments. Love you guys. I'll try to update my other story super soon since I know there are quite a few people following it now who are probably annoyed at my lack of updates.

Thanks for the support lovelies. And a big thank you to the reviewer who pointed out that Lily didn't ask for Ken's address, hopefully what I did rectifies this blunder. J