Chapter Three - Sight of Lightning

Lily woke up the next morning before everybody else in the house. Changing out of her pajamas, she dressed in a simple pair of old blue jeans and an old top. She opened her window, and pressed out her screen. She climbed out onto the mini-roof that was right outside her window.

She gently walked over to a tall tree that extended over the real roof. She grabbed a familiar branch, and used it to swing into the tree. When Lily had her footing, she realized that it had been nearly five years since she had done this before.

Lily closed her eyes, and let the memories flood back to her. She moved around the tree, just like she was eleven again. Finally, she came to a stop, and she opened her eyes. She sat down on a branch, which was her old seat. She loved that spot, because it was a blind spot. Nobody had ever seen her there. Her family had walked by in broad daylight, and hadn't seen her.

It was a one-way blind spot, however. Lily had a good view from where she was. She sat on the branch, staring at her own yard. Nothing was going on. It was like the whole world was asleep, except for her.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down from the clear sky. It hit right in the middle of Lily's yard. Lily held back a scream.

But as quick as the lightning was there, it was gone. It did, however, seem to leave something behind. Something small and white lay where the lightning had struck.

Curiosity overcame Lily's fear, and she climbed out of the tree. She cautiously approached the spot. What was there looked like a scarf. Looking at it closer, she saw that it wasn't a true scarf.

It was just a piece of cloth in a square shape. But when Lily picked it up, she discovered that it wasn't an ordinary piece of cloth. It was as soft and as smooth as silk. And yet, it wasn't silk. It also wasn't just white. Lily saw that it shimmered in pastel colors. Lily didn't have much time to examine the pseudo-scarf, however. She heard a noise from the house, and realized that Brandon, who had a room right next to her own, was awake.

Knowing that her parents would be awake soon, too, if they weren't already, Lily climbed back up the tree and went in through her window as fast as she could. She put back the screen, closed the window, and changed back into her pajamas just as her mother knocked and entered her room.

"Oh, honey, you're up," her mother said.

"Oh, yeah, I just got up," Lily lied.

"Okay, then. Your father signed a deal last night, and they want him out for a preliminary reading by seven today." Lily looked at her clock. It was six forty-five. "And I have an early shooting for my movie today. Brandon will be taking you to your show today."

"Okay,"Lily said. Her mom smiled, and left the room, closing the door behind her. Lily dressed again, this time into a partially faded pair of jeans and a blue and white peasant top. She stuck her new scarf into her pocket. She grabbed a blue purse, and put her essentials in it, including her cell phone.

By the time she went downstairs for breakfast, both her mother and father were gone. Brandon, of course, was still there. He was sitting at the table, eating, and reading the newspaper. It was the entertainment section. When he saw Lily, he set down the paper. It was a page that was mostly ads. One of the ads was for "Stealing Your Heart."

Lily leaned forward to see what the ad looked like. She wasn't a part of it, but she had expected that. She wasn't the lead role, after all.

"So, you need a ride to your show?" Brandon asked.

"Well, my wings are in the shop right now, so I guess I'll need one."

Brandon chuckled. "If you're not careful, you might just become a female version of me."

"That's just what I want, to be Brandina." The two of them began laughing.

Lily sat down next to Brandon. There was a plate of toast and bacon, and a glass of orange juice, ready for her. "So, what are you doing today?" Lily asked.

"Well, the director of 'Falling' decided that he wanted to add a few extra shots, now that they've started editing. It's driving the film editors crazy, but what can you do? So, I'm going back for a few more days of shooting," Brandon told her. Almost as an after thought, he added, "So, did you see any hot reporters last night?"

Lily nearly spit out a mouthful of orange juice. When she swallowed it, she exclaimed, "Brandon!"

"Well?" he asked.

"Male or female?" Lily asked.

Brandon smiled. "Both."

Lily chuckled. Brandon didn't have a girlfriend, but Lily wasn't sure if he was looking for one or not. He often made comments like that, but she could never tell if he was serious or not. Lily was sure that Brandon knew that, and would taunt her by seeming to be both serious and sarcastic at the same time.

"Well, no guys, but there was one reporter that did a cast interview that you might have liked. She looked young." They both laughed again.

"Well, next time, try to get a phone number or two," Brandon said, and they cracked up again. Lily didn't know anyone else in the world that could be seriously sarcastic, or sarcastically serious. Lily nearly sighed, but luckily didn't. If Brandon wasn't my brother, she thought, he would make a good boyfriend.

Brandon looked at his watch. "I think it's time we get going," he announced. They got up, and left their plates on the table. They knew that the maid would clean it up.

It was warm enough that they didn't need a jacket, so they went outside. They got into Brandon's convertible, and he drove off. It goes without saying that, by the time they arrived at the location for filming "What Are Friends For?" they had burst into laughter several times.

"Bye," Lily said, as her brother drove off. He waved, and she waved back.

Lily joined the cast and director, and they began reading through as scene. They read it through once through, just saying the words. They then decided to read through it with the motions.

It was an outdoor scene that took place on top of a small hill. It was a scene where Lily's character and her new boyfriend are picnicking with Lily's friends. After a few more read-throughs, it was time to shoot it.

All the actors went off to get makeup and costumes. Lily, however, walked a little slower than the rest. She was feeling slightly depressed, like the scene was taunting her.

She put a hand in her pocket, and felt the scarf from earlier. "I wish I could find somebody and fall in love with them."

Lily sighed, knowing that there must be somebody for her somewhere out there in the world. The only problem was, she had to find him. And there was no guarantee that he would love her.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down from the still clear sky, just like Lily had witnessed that morning. Only this time, it didn't strike in the middle of the ground. This time, it hit Lily.

Special Thanks - Where I thank those who have reviewed my story so far…

Well, nobody new has reviewed my story since my last chapter's special thanks.