[ I'm glad that those of you who reviewed (Daylight Dancer, robtaymattlouned, fizzie-lizzie) enjoyed what I had so far. That makes me excited. I spent a long time trying to figure out how to chronologically push this story forward, and I'm still working out the kinks. It's still going to be somewhat short. Lilly's going to try and push her luck. We'll see how that works…
Disclaimer: Meg Cabot owns all characters! ]
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Tuesday, September 30 lunch
I thought Mia was joking about the "shock" she expressed over Boris being on my "Hottest Guys" list, but considering the way she's been acting this last couple of days, I think I'm terribly wrong. Take, for instance. Right now. We're sitting here in the last five minutes of this food-filled chaos, and Mia keeps on glancing at Boris and then shoots these pitiful looks at me. Over and over again. And how would I know, when I'm fiendishly writing these very words?
I have an eye on the top of my head. Dun dun dunnnn…
That came out of the blue. Don't worry, I'm just kidding. Mom, if you're ever reading this, don't worry about my sanity. I'm perfectly fine. Remember who we're talking about here. Lilly Moscovitz. Master at doing-a-billion-things-at-once-while-making-it-look-like-I'm-only-really-doing-one-thing. Yeah, that's me.
But anyways. Mia must really be freaking out. I can see it written on her face, an utter look of disbelief that clearly states: "I can't believe my best friend is falling for guys!" Oh, please. I know I have my opinionated-rebel reputation to maintain, but a girl can do what girls like to do from time to time, no?
Everyone's getting up. Must be time to go… I need to get out of here and avoid the mob in the halls.
Later on Tuesday at home
Yeah, Mia definitely thinks something is up. Today during G&T she kept bringing up the word "violin" in our conversations. I swear she was mentally making notes about my reactions to that word. Sorry Mia, but I know what you're trying to get at:
Mia: The violin is such an interesting instrument, isn't it?
Me: Sure.
Mia: I mean, don't you find guys who play instruments hot? Especially guys who play the violin?
Me: Um.
Mia: Classical and romantic tunes on the violin. I mean, like, that's awesome!
Me: Are you referring to the clatter we hear in the background?
Mia: BORIS?! OF COURSE NOT!
Mia's eyebrows slyly rise and her nostrils begin flaring. Madly. Now, I'm not the psychologists that my parents grew up to be, but I know some tricks of the trade myself. And I definitely know my best friend long enough to realize that this nostril flaring deal isn't some coincidence. She's lying. And it's not working.
Me: Right.
Mia: UNLESS… is there something you're not telling me?
Me: MIA! Why wouldn't I tell you anything? Best friends? Remember?!?! And look what you made me do!
Mia: What?
Me: I was this close from getting a delightful idea for my show, and your racket scared it away. Now calm down and let me finish thinking.
Mia stopped interrogating me, but she had this glint in her eye. But she left it at that, because I think she knows me too well to go off and set me off in the middle of my inspirational jolts. I guess I can get a bit riled up from time to time.
But this is what I want to know. Have I been that obvious? Does everyone see that I have a fetish for the dorky Russian kid in our class?
Wait a second. Did I just write "fetish"? Unbelievable.
Five days ago, I thought Boris was cute. Four days ago, I put him on the list of hottest guys to walk the planet. Today, I have a fetish with him.
I think I need to talk to my mom.
Wednesday, October 1 first bell
Having a psychologist as your mom isn't exactly a bad thing. Take the conversation I had with mine last night after the fetish incident in this flimsy notebook.
Me: Mom, I think… one of my friends is having an emotional breakdown.
Mom: Oh, honey, really? Is there anything I can do to help?
Me: Well, I was thinking I could explain her situation to you, and you could help me figure out how I could… comfort her.
Mom: Lilly, dear, you are one loyal friend. I wish I had a pal like you back when I was in school.
Aherm.
Me: Well, anyways. This… um… friend of mine has a crush on this one guy that we both know, but this guy's reputation isn't any good, you see, he's really a dork, and yeah she doesn't want to tell anyone –
Mom: Whoa, slow that down.
A friend of mine has a… crush? My, what a mess.
Me: Sorry. Well, a few days ago, she was really happy with just knowing herself that this guy was really cute. Yeah, but now, the whole "he's cute" thing has evolved into what seems to be a… crush!
Me: And, my friend just doesn't really "fall" for guys, she's sort of like a rebel… like me? And since not many people like the guy, she's afraid that her reputation will go down the drain too.
Reputation? Am I really afraid of my reputation, too?!
Mom: Lilly, you must really be good friends with this girl. Is it Mia?
Me: MIA?! No… no… of course not!!
Mom: Ah, I see. Well, here's what I think. Self-happiness is, perhaps, the most important thing to achieve in today's society. I think your friend shouldn't worry too much about the reputation problems and make the moves that she thinks will make her happy. Reputations may seem important for you girls, but really, if she's happy, and those who have won her trust are happy for her, everything should end up fine.
Me: Wow, Mom. That makes a lot of sense, thanks for helping me.
Mom: Anytime. Anything for my daughter.
Me: Me? I mean… um… my friend.
Mom: Her too, her too.
Michael walked in right then, but I could tell he had listened to some of our mother-daughter bonding time. Which easily explains the reason why he kept snickering silently. Does he know too? Oh please, no, it's my job to keep him in line. I definitely don't need a role reversal right now.
But I have to say, my mom really made me think. And really, I could care less about the opinions of the cheerleaders and football players at AEHS. Lana's opinion means nothing but crap to me, and half the school is yearning to be like her. And with me already being in G&T, I guess the whole "dork" factor isn't going to be too upsetting. And I doubt my reputation is round and perfect, as I definitely know people have made slurs about my pug face and opinionated outbursts. So what's there to lose? Obviously, not much. Maybe I should actually try and get to know the kid a little more.
No… scratch that. I have a lot of things going on right now, show deadlines and adjusting to freshman life, so I definitely don't think I'm going to be pulling some moves on Boris anytime soon. As much as it'd help me achieve self-happiness. But I guess I need to do something.
I think it's time to tell Mia.
Later on Wednesday at home
Okay, so I didn't exactly tell Mia my whole thought process on Boris. I tried, I really did, but she seemed… how do I say it? … out of it today during G&T. I think there's something going on with her too because she's just not being her own perky self. She's not gleefully dissing Lana and Josh and she isn't even complaining about Algebra. I don't understand what's going on. She says her dad's visiting, but I don't see the big deal in that. At least I don't think I do.
And okay, I know I didn't try and tell Mia what I thought about Boris in person, but we were in G&T, and Mrs. Hill didn't leave the room for too long today. What was I supposed to do?
Nothing else, but pass notes. Lilly-Mia style. Mia still has the actual scraps of paper, but I remember how it basically went. Well, the important tidbits, at least. [A/N: This is actually Meg Cabot's stuff, first PD book, page 35]
God, he is so CUTE.
Who's cute?
BORIS!
He isn't cute. He's gross. Look what he did to his sweater. Why does he DO that?
You're so narrow-minded.
I am NOT narrow-minded. But someone should tell him that in America we don't tuck in our sweaters.
Well, maybe in Russia they do.
But this isn't Russia. Also, someone should tell him that to learn a new song. If I have to hear that requiem for dead King Whoever one more time…
You're just jealous because Boris is a musical genius and you're flunking Algebra.
Lilly, just because I am flunking Algebra does NOT mean I'm stupid.
OK, OK. What is wrong with you today?
NOTHING!!!!!
Yeah, something's definitely wrong with Mia today. It took her fifteen minutes of notes to possibly realize that I just might favor Boris. At least that's what I assume by her "I'm not stupid" remark. Or maybe, she didn't even realize what I was talking about. Yesterday, she tries to record my every reaction to every Boris-related item. Today, it's like her entire memory's been erased. And now that I think about it, I think I actually did a fairly good job of getting my point across. I mean, you read those notes. Wouldn't you get the point that I liked Boris?
Something's definitely on Mia's mind.
And something's on my mind too. Do I, or do I not, actually try and talk to my Russian-flavored eye candy?
More later. Give me time to THINK, first.
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[Whee, fizzie-lizzie, that was a bit longer than before, don't you think? And for the rest of you, am I doing an okay job on maintaining Lilly's voice? Or is it getting a little whiny? I can't tell… it sounds like my normal style of writing. And I know some of you may be all "Lilly thinking about guys 24/7 – no way – this fanfic is so inaccurate", but I reread the first PD book, and I have to say, Lilly really does support Boris a lot. And we hear so little from her that who KNOWS what she's really thinking?
Reviews would be highly appreciated. I'd like to know if you guys actually still have compliments for this, or if I've totally ruined it through this chapter.
And I promise things will get faster. The teenage girl part of Lilly will wake up in the next chapter, and we'll get things rolling again. But who knows what'll happen now?
And a peek into my personal life: I just realized some odd coincidences. My physics lab partner's name… is Boris! And he's from Russia (don't worry, he's good at English and his accent is really cute heh)! But he doesn't tuck his shirt in and he doesn't have a gross retainer, and he's actually really tall. And he doesn't play the violin. I do! And I've been playing for a really long time. Freaky? Nah.]