Sally B: Aw, thanks for your comments! Really glad and it means a lot that you're enjoying. I'm updating as quickly as I can.
MrsWhovian: Thank you so much! Love your one-shots and stories too. They're adorable and I honestly can't wait for them to get together.
Guest: Thanks for your feedback - I agree in reality to be fair. I just wanted a scene that didn't involve Lily and Iain solidly, to break things up a bit. I like to think she'd have some people willing to meet with her anyway. Your comments are very much taken on board :-)
TheBeautifulNerd: Glad you like it and are following it - I am equally enjoying your updates to your stories!
'Today's the day.' Iain commented, as they made their way down the stairs to the ground floor.
'It's... worrying...' Lily said, expression anxious.
'Nah. Perspective. Remember what I said, you'll ace them. You know everything anyway.' He told her.
She just nodded. Just as this happened, Iain's elderly neighbour exited the doors too.
'Morning, Iain love.' The woman called.
'Hi, Mary! You alright?' Iain shouted, voice echoing in the corridor.
'Yes thanks! I'll pop over later, I've baked some ginger biscuits and I've loads of spares.' The woman replied, enthusiastically.
Iain and Lily turned the corner and Iain rolled his eyes.
'Thanks, Mary! You shouldn't have done.' Iain shouted, again, if a little falsely.
'No, no worries. You take care!' Mary called.
'And you, darling.' Iain replied, as they continued to walk. He turned round to check to see if anyone was behind.
'Thank god.' He said.
'Aw, she's nice.' Lily replied.
'She's a pain in the backside.'
'She's baked you biscuits! That's sweet and motherly.' Lily commented.
'Mm.' He replied, not convinced, as he put up a brolly for them to walk to work under.
Lily kept her head down for most of the walk, and Iain didn't attempt to engage her in conversation. She had things to think about, go over.
Lily lined up with the a few others outside the exam hall. They were all considerably older then her. Doubts plagued her mind. More experienced. Better. Older. More chance of getting the job. Her head begun to pound and a wave of nausea hit her. Still, she remembered she was in a room full of medics, so she'd be fine health wise. She'd just need to know enough to pass the exams. Lily made eye contact with Dylan. 'Good luck.' He nodded his head once.
'Yeah. Same to you.' She replied.
A stern looking invigilator reminded them to be silent. Lily obliged, dropping her head down. The all-too-familiar feeling of dread started to burn her lungs. Breathe. She couldn't breathe. Her lungs kickstarted and she gave a cough. She has to. It was now or never to do her father proud.
'Ah, Lily! How did they go?' Elle asked, a few paces behind Lily as they walked down the hospital steps.
'It doesn't matter how they went, they are done now. That's it.' She sighed.
'Not well then, I take it...' Sympathy was in Elle's voice now, as Lily was so clearly disappointed.
'Sorry, Elle. I'll speak with you tomorrow.' Lily said, quietly.
Iain walked in through the doors and Elle gestured a hand horizontally along her neck. Iain's eyes travelled upwards so Lily spun around. Elle dropped her hands by her sides and overtook her on the steps, dashing off to behind the counter.
'Hey, how are you?' Iain asked gently, remembering Elle's signals and trying to be calm for her.
Lily just shook her head once. 'I just want to go home, I'm exhausted.'
'Alright. Home, as in, your flat?' He checked.
She nodded. 'Yeah. Now the exams are over.'
Iain felt dejected and tried to bury thoughts about the conversation they'd agreed to have - after the exams. He decided it best not to mention that, especially seeing as Lily clearly wanted space and to be by herself again.
'Need help moving your stuff?' He asked, getting some hand gel from the dispenser on the wall.
She shook her head again. 'I'll manage, I only brought one bag. The key you gave me... I'll post it back through the letterbox after I've locked up.' She said.
'Or you could just come and find me and give me them?' Iain sighed, trying not to be irritable.
'I'd rather get home... you might be on a call anyway.'
'Could leave them with Charlie or Max.' He suggested.
'I'll post them through.' Lily nodded, and he knew it would be futile and a waste of time to argue further.
Charming, he thought. Not even so much as a thanks. He knew he was wrong to expect too much, but at the same time, a big part of him had hoped everything would be nice after the exams.
'Okay.' Lily nodded, and with nothing else to say, she began to walk down the corridor.
'Lily!' Iain called. She turned round, stopping. He opened his mouth, then closed it. 'Just... message me to let me know you're home alright.' His voice was flat and tapered off towards the end. Lily seemed unaffected, apart from her eyes. They looked tired, sad. Iain wondered if it was his imagination that they were glistening. Maybe she'd just had a long day. It was hayfever season, she had sneezed a bit earlier and perhaps it was just that. Lily just blinked at him. They stood there and froze. It felt like at least a minute to Iain, but compromised at under a second. She just nodded quickly and left. Iain waited until he couldn't hear the sound of heels on the patent floor and then turned to lean on the wall, letting out a groan. She'd admittedly had a hard time, but he was far from capable of helping her if she actively refused the help.
Dusk had begun by the time she arrived at her flat. It was chilly, and there was a distinct mustiness to the air that hadn't been there a few days previous. Lily pushed the door closed, but the draft stayed. She was greeted by her textbooks and notes, strewn all over the floor. The last time she'd seen the four walls of her apartment had been the middle of the night several days before. Notes about airway traumas, gonadotropin types in detail.
Still there, two hours later. Even after she'd showered. Of course, it wouldn't have miraculously tidied itself up, but even so. All the pages of work were a tangible reminder of the stress and the strain she'd put herself under for years. And, none of it mattered. None of it seemed worth it. None of it even seemed real. A mug of coffee sat on the side. She tried to pick it up. Stuck to the table. Eventually she tugged it free, but her face crumpled at the sticky brown residue left on the coffee table. Tears began to flow, and she hurled the mug at the wall. Shards of ceramic flew everywhere. All over the new rug, the TV set, the photo frames on the wall. Photos of her family ruined. Anger surged through her once more, and she seized the photo frames. They clattered to the floor, smashed and broken. What use were they anyway? Objects, objects that didn't even matter. She found the picture of her father with her as a toddler. That one went out the window. She didn't even notice the clatter on the pavement below.
'Lily.' Iain's voice was at the door. No answer. Lily fell silent and put a hand to her mouth, shaking. The extent of what she'd done begun to sink in, all too quickly. The flat looked as if she'd been burgled. Broken shards of glass and pot everywhere, old congealed coffee had managed to stain the once pristine cream rug. Iain's voice again made her jump this time. 'Lily, I don't want to kick this down. Let me in.' Her stomach twisted. If she let him in, he'd see the mess. The destruction. He would see everything. That's what she felt it was best she kept him out. 'Open up.' He sighed, once more.
His commands swayed her and she pulled the latch. He turned the handle and opened the door wide. Lily first saw the broken photo frame laid across his palm. Her face crumpled once more.
So. Attempted to be a bit metaphorical in the last bit but didn't really go as well as I'd have hoped :-( next chapter up in a couple of days or so. How will Iain react?