Disclaimer: I own nothing you may or may not recognize. Song lyrics are by Coldplay, I don't own them. Characters are from RFR, sadly, I don't own them either.

Rating: PG13, just in case

Pairing: Travis/Lily eventually

A/N: Hold on tight TRILY, it's going to be a bumpy ride! Is anybody reading this thing? I type and type and type and (sniff) my box is empty (sniff) I don't know if I can see the keyboard through these tears! (MWAAAAAA!)

Because I Know You

Chapter Five: Fresh Starts

As the last bell rang signaling the close of classes, the atmosphere rivaled that of Rio's Carnival. Students were hardly thinking of schoolwork as this was the last week before the summer holiday. Most took the attitude that studying for the exams was a moot point, if they hadn't learned it by now, they probably wouldn't in the next couple of days. Lily found the girl she was looking for on the steps in front of the school doing a perspective drawing of the building as it stretched along the grounds.

"Hey, Audrey."

"Lily."

"Not the greatest opening line," Lily thought. Now she was even more nervous, she hoped she had the guts to follow through. "Nice drawing."

Audrey still didn't look up. "Thanks, I suddenly got an inspiration to do perspectives. I was also endowed with a surprise gift of fresh supplies from Travis." She deftly flipped her obviously new sketchbook to the first page. Lily immediately recognized Travis' writing. Audrey continued, "Seems he wants to clean the slate. Great symbolism, don't you think?" She finally looked up at Lily.

"Funny, that's why I'm here, too." She held out a terra cotta pot that was filled with sharpened watercolor pencils. "For a fresh start, bright and hopeful future?" As Audrey studied her, Lily suddenly knew how boys must feel asking girls out. Audrey's gaze was cool and somewhat calculating. Finally, she gracefully took the gift, set it beside her on the steps, and commented, "You and Travis think alike, I can see why he was led astray." She plucked a pencil, and began some simple shading.

Lily decided that was as close as she was going to get to an invitation to sit down; she took a seat on the steps carefully obeying the "personal space" rule. She began carefully, "I heard you on RFR … you do deserve better. I can't change what happened but I can be responsible for my actions. I hurt you and I'm truly sorry for that. I'd still like to be your friend, if you'd let me. I understand completely if you don't, I just wanted to apologize properly."

Audrey carefully chose another color from the bouquet, "You know the great thing about perspectives? Everything gets smaller the farther away it is, still there, but not so significant as to affect the immediate surroundings." She glanced at Lily with a small smile.

Lily got up and brushed off her pants. "Audrey?" When the girl looked up at her Lily could see a good friend; the type of friend she should have been. "Thanks."

Audrey's look turned slightly vulnerable and her voice was soft, "Don't do it again, Lil." Lily nodded and as she walked away she heard Audrey's call. "You know, Lily, summer is here. You know what that means?"

Lily didn't miss a beat as both girls spoke in unison, "Sandalpalooza!" Audrey followed their outburst with a girlish laugh. "See you at the malls, Lily Randall!" For the first time in a couple of months Lily felt lighter.

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When she arrived home, she found Ray sitting on her steps fidgeting with the huge bow of a brightly wrapped package. He looked different somehow and it took a moment for her to realize that this was not the mussed-up after-school version of Ray she was used to. He had cleaned up, combed his hair, and was currently about to put his left leg through a step with its constant bouncing. He had not noticed her approach due to his constant fuss over the present.

"Oooo, I get two birthdays this year?"

He nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of her voice. "Hey, Lily, just waiting here for you, where have you been?"

"Just talking with a friend. What's with the package?"

"It's for you." He slid over so she could sit next to him and handed her the gift. "You'll understand when you open it. At least I hope you do." She shook her head slightly with a bemused smile and began to unwrap it. She had to stop midway through to place her hand firmly on Ray's bobbing knee. He grinned apologetically. She lifted the lid to reveal a handsome leather photo album. This was a very unusual gift coming from Ray and she looked over at him with her eyebrows raised. He simply gestured with his hand for her to open it.

She turned to the first page to see two filthy but grinning toddlers standing in what could only be described as a mud pit. One was a tow-headed pigtailed girl and the other a small boy with an unruly mop of dark hair. Under it written in neat letters was "First Friend." The next page's photo was of them, slightly older, crying, mouths wide open, eyes screwed shut. Lily's mom was behind them expertly cutting out chunks of bubble gum from their hair. Beneath it read, "First Haircut." Each one held a special "first" or just a funny notation in Ray's handwriting about that particular memory. She turned another page to see a scrawny Ray dutifully applying playing cards to the spokes of her shiny new bike. Beneath it read, "First Cool Ride."

She smiled at Ray, "This is wonderful, but what is it for?"

He replied with a grin, "Keep going."

She saw tributes to their sleepovers, first scary movie, school plays and school dances, and a picture of Lily strumming her first guitar with Ray behind her plugging his ears comically. She came to a page that held quite a bit of Ray's handwriting. It was only a couple of years ago and it was from his days of playing summer league ball. He had just hit the game winning home run. The first he had ever hit out of the field and Lily had rushed to him, hugging him tightly. The rest of the team was obviously about to engulf them but somehow Lily had gotten there first. Ray's writing beneath it touched her. It read, "This was the moment that I knew no matter what you would be my friend forever. Dozens of boys were watching me get smothered by a girl, which at this age was still uncool, and I didn't care. I was so happy to share my proudest moment with you."

She looked to him again; she could feel her eyes stinging with happy tears. The grin was softer but the look in his eyes was serious. "Keep going."

She passed a few more moments when she came to some pages that had no photos but had inscriptions. One page held "First Date," then "First Double Date"; another had "First Romantic Picnic." She stopped at the one that read "First Slow Dance as a Couple." She finally understood what this book was about and was now suddenly as nervous as Ray had been. He seemed strangely calm now. She looked at him, "Ray?"

"Lily the best moments of my life have been with you. I know I should have said something sooner but how do you risk a friendship like this? I realize now the risk I took by not doing anything. I care about you, Lily. A lot. Every couple has those "Firsts." Lily, I'd be honored if we could fill these pages with even more wonderful firsts, like we've always done." The look on his face tore at her heart; she knew when Ray Brennan really wanted something. She was incredibly flattered that it was her. Did she really want to risk this friendship like this?

She remembered the girlish butterflies in her stomach when he had been with Veronica. She knew she had feelings for Ray but were they as strong as his appeared to be? Was the foursome strong enough to handle this change? She remembered the song Travis had played, it had mentioned "life was for livin." She decided to "live" a little and take a chance on Ray.

Lily hadn't realized how long her thought process had taken because Ray looked like he was about to backtrack and apologize. She grabbed his knee once again. "Ray?"

"Yeah, Lily?"

She began to lean toward him and her voice lowered an octave, "Hope you've got plenty of film." He surprised her by jumping up like an excitable puppy and ran towards his backpack that had been neglected by the door.

"Are you kidding me? I've got digital, baby!" He powered up the device.

She laughed heartily. Only Ray. She rose to stand next to him. "Give me that, you idiot." She snatched the camera from him, and held it at arm's length. "Ready Ray?" The moment sobered them both. His voice was smooth, "and waiting." She closed her eyes and recalled a memory of holding hands with him and jumping off a cliff into a cool deep lake. This felt oddly similar. She barely remembered to press the button on the camera as his lips touched hers. The flash went off and another "first" was documented.

~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Okay, so who is screaming and who is jumping for joy? Coming up…How does Travis react to this change? How does Lily feel about crossing the "friendship" line with Ray? Time speeds up even faster next chapter, at least I think so.