(A/N: So I was hoping this will be done by the New Year…but as you can see, it's not. I'll try my best to update ASAP. So, here's the next chapter! PairingRily)
"And yet another Christmas party with the Randals and the Brennans is a total…dud."
Ray smiled as Lily sat down next to him on his bed, handing him a bowl full of party mix. So far, the first three hours of their annual family Christmas party were worst than the last. Ray's dad had brought out the red wine within the first five minutes of dinner.
"How do you think you're going to get home?" Ray laughed as he popped a handful of pretzels, salted Cheerios, and chopped walnuts into his mouth. "I mean, your parents can't drive…and my parents can't drive…and I think Tim stayed downstairs for a reason."
"My best friend is going to walk me home after we call a taxi for my parents." His brown eyes twinkled as Lily's blue eyes smiled back at him, her hand digging into the bowl as well.
"Well, I don't know what you're going to do. Parker isn't here." Lily quickly slapped his arm and he mocked a terrible pain, falling down onto his back moaning. "Oww! Lily!"
"Stop your whining. And you're walking me home whether you like it or not." She snapped, lying down beside him. The party mix she'd brought up was still in the bowl…but half of it was lying all over his shirt, the gross plastic smell of the bowl making Ray cough. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. The bowl's just trying to kill me. That's all."
She let out a small laugh and he smiled, turning to watch her. She was propped up on her elbows, her long golden blonde hair falling down her back in curls. He loved it when she curled her hair…it made her look like an angel.
"I like your hair like that Lils. It makes you look…so feminine." Her surprised blue eyes turned to him and narrowed, her eyebrows raising as she surveyed him.
"More so than I usually look?" Lily asked coldly and he just grinned, nodding.
"Yes." As he realized what he'd just confirmed, his eyes went wide and he sat up, sending the rest of the party mix onto his jeans. "I mean, no! I mean, well, yes, it does, but you always look feminine! Never not look feminine with you…I mean…well you…you look beautiful. You always do."
Her cheeks went pink and so did his face, his eyes staring around his room for something to stare at. Something other than her…
"Walk me home now? It's getting late…and Parker said she'd phone me…and if it's not too late, we can watch a movie or something…" She said, her voice stuttering in a flustered fashion.
"Okay." Ray nodded, smiling nervously as they both stood up. Why couldn't he just tell her? Everyone made it sound so easy…but when the most beautiful girl you'd ever seen before is standing in front of you and you're trying to form the words to tell her you love her…it wasn't exactly a piece of cake to pull off. "To the front door!"
"To the front door."
…….
"So…here we are."
Lily laughed as she nudged Ray's shoulder, her blue eyes traveling up to her house. They'd reminisced the whole walk home, with the exception of her slipping and falling on a patch of particularly thick ice. And he'd helped her up…just like he always had.
"Yep." She nodded, shoving her hands in her pockets as she turned to him. Snow was lightly falling around them and getting caught in his jet black hair, making him look like someone had just dusted icing sugar over top of him. "It wasn't that bad was it?"
"Of course not. I actually enjoyed sneaking out of the house." Ray laughed, mimicking her as his hands found their way into his coat pockets. It was a nice night out (minus the snow) and the breeze wasn't too bad…it would've been the perfect night for skating in Roscoe Park.
"Do you want to…sit down?" Lily said, pointing to the stairs. It sounded corny, but she'd needed an excuse to get him to stay. Tonight was the night she would tell him…tell him how she felt about him. Since High School had started…since she'd turned into a girly girl and had actually started to look at boys, she'd had a crush on her best friend. Ray Brennan…and even though they'd both had their different relationships (she would never forget the time Ray had come after her first flunked date with some basketball jock), she knew that they would possibly, hopefully end up together.
"Sure!" He nodded, walking over to the stairs and sitting down on the snowy surface. "Lil? Are you coming?" She realized suddenly with cherry pink cheeks she'd been staring…again.
"Yeah…I'm coming." Lily mentally kicked herself as she sat down, knowing she was getting nervous and shaking. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if he was just leading her on? Maybe tonight shouldn't be the night…maybe she'd wait for him to do something…
But she would regret it if she didn't at least say something tonight. Smiling, she thought about what Alex would do if she was in this position. She'd probably joke around with him, wait for the right moment, and notice the mistletoe hanging above the doorway. Even if it weren't there, Alex would kiss whoever was there as an excuse, letting them know then how she felt.
"It's nice out tonight." Ray smiled, breaking her thoughts. But Lily wasn't like Alex…Lily stuttered and got scared and felt like she was on a stage with everyone watching and listening to her tell that person how she felt. She needed to act…Ray was a good looking guy who could be easily swept off his feet by any girl that was funny and went with his style. And it didn't matter how much Lily felt she was the only perfect girl for Ray…he could be taken from right under her feet.
"Yeah…it's really nice." He seemed flustered too and he smiled at her, looking down at the ground before speaking.
"Lily,"
"Yes?" Lily knew that from the moment she'd jumped at saying yes, she sounded eager. But eager was better than nothing…wasn't it? Ray let out a sigh, seeming frustrated as he looked at her.
"Is something bothering you? I…I mean you seem kind of…you seem to be thinking a lot or… something."
She let out a giggle and he seemed to be hurt for a second…Ray trying to be serious was always funny…but he didn't seem to get that. He opened the door for you, Lily…opened the door for you.
Looking upward at the doorway, she prayed that Alex or Parker had stuck mistletoe there when they'd been decorating a few weeks ago. And it was as if it was a dream…the green and red stuck out from her white front porch like a sore thumb. And she'd thought Alex had been kidding when she said she was going to put it up…
"Where should I put the mistletoe, Randi?"
Lily looked over at Parker who was holding the small plant, laughing brightly. She wasn't going to actually put it up? Was she?
"Well…it's usually put on the doorway but-" Before Lily could say another word, Alex had snatched the decoration from Parker's hands, running up the stairs carefully and using a thumbtack to stick it on. "Guys, do you honestly think I'm going to need mistletoe hanging on top of my porch doorway?"
The two girls looked at her pointedly and she laughed, shaking her head.
"Of course Randi! I mean…what if Ray haps upon walking you home one day?" Lily's mouth fell open at Parker's words and Alex let out a loud laugh, her green eyes sparkling at Lily. Bending down, Lily filled her mitten hands with two balls of snow and threw them at her two best friends at the same time, her cheeks bright red.
"Don't ever say that again! At least not where people can actually hear…"
"Lily?" She blinked looking back down at him, smiling lightly. The stage was set…now all she needed to do was walk out and perform.
"Yes, actually. There is something bothering me…there's mistletoe right above us and you haven't kissed me yet."
Leaning in, she didn't stop herself as her warm lips met his, her insides screaming for joy as she finally accomplished what she'd been meaning to do for the longest time. When she pulled back, all Ray could do was smile at her in awe, taking her hand and pulling her up.
"Let's talk about this inside."