-sigh- OK. I'll admit it. I'm getting sick of leaving you guys with a short chapter and them making you wait like more than a month for the next short chapter. So here's what I'm gonna do about: Next 3 chapters. All combined in one posting. Including all the auhtors notes. So you guys can like, make your reviews in 3 sections :P LOL. Well anyway, starting now, I'll give you 3 chapters in 1 posting but you have to give me 3 reviews in one posting. K? K.
Oooh Jess whatcha get them? :P
Winter came, and everything was fine. Nothing happened that could have gone along with Lily drowning. Which was weird.
Two weeks before Christmas, Lily started sticking flyers in random sophomore lockers advertising a New Years Eve party. Her original plan was to tape the flyers on the wall next to every door, but she knew that the janitor wouldn't fall for her 'stamp of approval', even though it was conveniently identical to Principal Waller's.
The bell for sixth period sounded; did I mention Lily was doing this during lunch? Anyway, Lily ran down the hall to her locker and stuffed the rest of the flyers in her there. She pulled out her science book and waited at the cafeteria door for Travis.
On Christmas Eve, Travis appeared at Lily's door around 5:30 pm.
"Good evening miss. I'm conducting a survey this lovely Christmas Eve night, and would like to know: What are your plans for tomorrow?"
Lily gave a half-hearted laugh and took the clipboard out of Travis' hands. She yanked the glasses off his face and put it on a nearby countertop. She grabbed her coat off the hook and called inside.
"Mom! I'm going out with a friend, I'll be home by 10!"
"9!"
"K!"
Lily pulled the door shut behind her and Travis helped her put her coat on. They went over to his car and got in.
"So," Travis started, as he turned on the engine. "What are your plans for tomorrow?"
Travis started down the driveway and kept his gaze on the road behind him, waiting for a chance to pull out.
"Well, in the morning I'm gonna be the first to wake up. I'll make hot cocoa for Simone, hazelnut coffee for my dad and a vanilla cappuccino for myself. We'll open presents with Christmas music playing softly in the background and then go to some restaurant for lunch. See a movie at the Roscoe Cinema. Come home, and then my dad will force Simone and I to write thank you letters to anyone who sent presents this year."
Travis was on the road by now. "Seems fun enough. What about dinner?"
Lily twiddled her thumbs. It was obvious to Travis - actually, obvious to any random dopehead - that Lily didn't wanna talk about it. But she did anyway.
"Usually by Christmas evening, I'd be invited to someone's house for a party or something. Simone would just go find a random 'flyer party' to hang out at until she was too drunk to call for a ride home. I haven't spent Christmas night at my house since my mom died. But...it looks like I have to. Even though it happened 10 years ago I still dread returning home for Christmas dinner. I always cherished the time I spent with my mom because she always told me the same thing every night when she tucked me into bed. 'Live life to the fullest because everyday is someone's last day on earth.'"
"And it's true. I was going to organize a Christmas broadcast for RFR. Care to join?"
Lily looked up and smiled at Travis. "I'd love to."
Has anyone realized that I haven't mentioned Radio Free Roscoe in my fanfic since the second chapter? Maybe I'll have a broadcast evetually but not now.
No, I'm not doing the X-mas brodcast...
At 6, an hour before Lily's New Years Eve party started, Travis and Robbie came over to help with the decorations.
"Lily, is it just me, or have you not said a word to Ray for, how long, 4 months?"
Lily glared at Robbie and ran out of them room. Travis stared at Robbie, sarcastically saying 'Thanks.'
"Ray really misses Lily. Maybe you two should give those dreams a break and see what he has to offer."
"Robbie, do you wanna replace Lily in our dreams?" Travis said defensively, turning to Robbie.
"Look, I'm just saying that Ray would never hurt Lily. I don't get why she thinks that."
Travis turned back to the decorations and spoke more calmly this time. "One afternoon, back in freshman year about three months after Lily and Ray broke up. I called to ask if she wanted to hang out. I tried to help her get out of an awkward moment with Ray and out of spending a whole day with him. That night I dreamt that Lily drowned. She told me later what really happened."
Robbie set down the balloon that he was trying to pin up for a dart game and looked at Travis. "What happened?"
Travis took a deep breath and sat down on the couch. "Lily ended up spending the entire day with Ray. She really thought he changed and it was sort of like a one-day stand. That night she dreamt that the mud was pulling her down harder than I was pulling her out."
Robbie looked down, embarrassed. "Oh."
-insert awkward silence-
"We should get back to getting ready. We still have to finish the paint wall, fill the fortune balloons and move all the furniture so we can lie out the bubble wrap. It's 6:15."
"Right."
Around 6:30, Lily still hadn't come back out. Travis and Robbie were done filling the paint balloons, and they needed a sheet to put up. Travis went in search for Lily while Robbie started putting Lily's fortunes into balloons.
"Travis, get two of them, we need one for the fortune balloons too."
"Okay."
Travis went to the back to Lily's room, scared of what he'd find. He didn't have to be, for when he opened the door, Lily was sitting on her bed staring up at pictures of her and Ray.
"I really miss him Trav," she whispered, aware she was no longer alone. "I know I shouldn't but I miss him terribly."
"Lily, you have every right to miss him. He's your best friend."
"Was. Was my best friend. I don't think I could ever stop worrying. He may never forgive me for avoiding him."
"Lily, he's in love with you. He'll never get over you, despite what you two have been through. He's practically expecting you to march right into his room and give him a make-up hug."
Lily wiped at her tears and turned around. "Really? He really wants to make up with me?"
"He'd give up months of cartoons for it."
Lily gave a small smile. "I'll do it when we get back to school."
Travis nodded. "Well, do you wanna come help me and Robbie with the decorations?"
"Sure. I guess I have to, huh."
"Yeah well, your shirt is soaked with tears. Don't you think you should change? I mean, a wet white t-shirt..."
"Yeah. You're right."
Travis sat on Lily's bed as she pulled out a long sleeved shirt. He smiled innocently at her as she waited for him to leave so she could change her shirt.
"What? I'm just waiting for my sweet girlfriend to get ready for her New Years Eve party. Nothing out of the ordinary here" Travis pointed out, looking around.
Lily put her hands on her hips and titled her head to the side. A grin broke out on Travis' face and Lily whipped him with her shirt.
"Travis..." Lily pointed to the door. Travis ducked his head like a little child in trouble and made his way to the door rather slowly. Lily turned him around and planted a kiss on his lips.
"Get out if you don't want that to be your last one."
Travis widened his eyes and dashed out the door.
Just as Lily slipped on her shirt, Travis popped his head in the door.
"Damn, I missed it." Travis stuck his tongue out at Lily and she punched his arm.
Lily tugged on the hem of her shirt and followed Travis out the door. She went into the closet and pulled out two sheets, then went into her father's toolbox and pulled out string and tape. She made her way over to Robbie, who was tying up the last of the fortune balloons.
"Why'd you change your shirt, did you spill something?"
"Yeah I...just spilled my drink."
"Oh...kay"
Robbie looked a little skeptical, but shrugged it off. He ignored Lily's new shirt and went back to taping up balloons over the sheet. "So...are you sure this tape is gonna hold the balloons? They seemed kinda heavy. Two pounds, three pounds, or so"
"I'm pretty sure they'll hold. But that's why I made sure we did this in here, with the tile floor. East clean-up if any balloons drop."
"OK."
Lily, Travis, and Robbie finished at 7:15, just in time for the first few guests to arrive. Lily greeted them with a smile and led them through to house, which was pretty dark. A large room in the back of the house had a black light and a strobe light. Travis waited at the door for guests to arrive while Lily and Robbie the guests who were already there company.
Lily, Audrey, and a few other girls were shooting the paint-filled balloons with darts, covering a white sheet that would hang up over a plain wall in Lily's room in January. It was 9 pm, and the room had gradually filled up over the past two hours.
3 more hours till the fireworks, just 3 more Lily thought to herself. She and Travis would sneak down to the Roscoe observation deck at about 11:45 to watch the fireworks together. Although it seems like a reasonable place for many people to go to, Lily found that every year when she went with the guys, it was deserted.
At 10:30, Lily left the party to go to her bedroom to get something for a couple of jocks to toss around. Someone grabbed her waist and dragged her to the bathroom.
Lily kicked and bit her capturer until he let go. She dashed to the bathroom door but he locked it from the outside.
"You're pretty stupid, you know that, right? Neither of us can get out and no one will be bale to hear us until morning."
"I don't give a shit about any of that. You broke my heart and you're gonna pay."
"What the...Ray! Are you...drunk?"
"What the damn right I'm drunk."
"Why the hell did you lock us in here?"
"I'm here for you! Get over here, beautiful lady!"
Lily crossed her arms and leaned against the door. "Like you'd do anything right now, you're so vulnerable."
Ray stumbled over to Lily and forcibly kissed her. She pushed on his chest as hard as she could and wished she could get the vile taste of alcohol out of her mouth. Before she could get some water from the sink Ray grabbed her.
"God dammit, don't you know anything?"
"Ray, let go!"
Lily struggled to get out of Ray's grasp. With one hand, Ray grabbed Lily's arms and shoved them against her neck so she couldn't say or grab anything. With the other hand he undid his zipper, then Lily's.
At 11:30, Travis pulled on a string that dangled from the ceiling, releasing all the fortune balloons. Everyone grabbed a balloon and popped it open, revealing his or her fortunes. Travis went over to the radio and turned off the music.
"The fireworks start in 30 minutes. Everyone has a choice to either go up on the roof, outside to the front or stay in here. Keep in mind that only 20 people are allowed on the roof at one time. First come first serve."
Travis left the room in search for Lily, who, to Travis' surprise, was gone for an hour. He heard something coming from the bathroom, what sounded like crying.
"Lily?" Travis knocked on the door. "Lily, are you in there?"
"TRAVIS!" Lily managed to scream out. Ray had left Lily about 40 minutes ago, locked in the bathroom, half naked. Travis jiggled the handle, then pulled out a bobby pin and picked the lock. He prayed to God this would work, and fortunately, it did. Lily was curled up in the corner, looking like a complete mess. She was still crying, rocking back and forth, and hugging her knees. Travis bent down to her level and hugged her.
"Lily, what happened?" He coaxed calmly. "Who locked you in here?"
Lily gulped and fresh tears ran down her face. She tried to explain what happened but all Travis understood were that it wasn't very pretty.
Travis wrapped his arms around Lily and let her cry into his shirt. For about ten minutes he calmed her down the best he could do.
"Lily, are you ok to tell me what happened now?"
Lily nodded and sniffed a few times.
"OK but first let's get you fixed up; looking like this will raise some suspicions."
Lily nodded again and Travis left the bathroom to let Lily get ready. At about 11:50 she came out looking like nothing happened.
"How about I tell you on the way to the deck? We've got 10 minutes before the fireworks start."
"OK."
After making sure everyone was cool, Travis and Lily snuck their way out onto the road in Mr. Randall's car.
"I was in my room and Ray grabbed and dragged me into the bathroom. He was sorta drunk. I'd say he had about 6 or 7 cans of beer. And so he dragged me into the bathroom and started rambling about a bunch of crap about him and me. So then he grabbed my wrists and pushed them against my neck so I couldn't speak or grab a hold of anything. Then he...well, you know. He left after about 20 minutes and seemed satisfied enough."
Travis nodded in understanding and turned a corner. "Well, I'm not sure what we can do about it now, but if he does anything else to harass you, or anyone for that matter, we'll have to take the case to court."
"OK. But I feel like, regardless of what he did, he's still my best friend and I don't want to harm him."
Travis stopped at a stoplight and turned to Lily. "Anytime you start feeling guilty about that, just remember what he did. He deserves punishment for making you feel uncomfortable."
Lily stared into Travis' eyes and leaned over to kiss him.
The light turned green and Travis continued to the deck.
LKF: This entire chapter didn't come to me until about 2 days after I wrote the first paragraph, where Lily was shoving flyers into lockers. :3 In other words, this was one of those things where I'm only thinking for about 3 seconds of what I'm gonna write before I write it.
A large wave from the lake leapt up and engulfed Lily in its icy cool water. Travis, who was still in fell-down position, pounced up and dived after Lily. The water started swirling, taking in Lily, leaving Travis more scared than he was watching The Exorcist. He grabbed onto a boulder that seemed conveniently placed, and watched as Lily continued drowning. Travis knew that Lily was getting closer to her death by the second. If he went down for her, even if he did save her he'd die himself. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
"I can't promise I won't risk my life to save you Lily. But I can promise that I'll be right by your side, no matter what."
Travis climbed up onto the rock and stood. "I'd give anything for you Lily. Even my life."
Travis dove into the whirlpool and forced himself in the direction of Lily. She was caught in the swirling of the water, making it hard for Travis to catch her. Using all his strength, he grabbed hold of Lily and pulled her onto the shore. He laid her body out in front of him and got on his knees.
"Lily...Lily, can you hear me?"
After no response, Travis positioned his hands on Lily's rib cage to give her CPR. This, despite the small task it is, drained up the last of his energy. Lily's eyes fluttered open and she smiled gratefully at Travis. He smiled back just before the life was sucked out his body and he fell to the ground.
Both Lily and Travis woke up, drenched in a cold sweat at exactly 9:02 am. Both muttered the other's name, and raced out of bed.
As if they were psychically connected, both got ready and ran to the park to wait for their significant other.
Lily slowed down to a jog as she approached the park bench that Travis was waiting at.
"Hi." She greeted softly.
"Hey. Did you have the dream as well?"
"Yeah. Did you wake up at 9:02?"
"Exactly."
Travis sat down on the bench casually and Lily followed his action about three times as quick and jittery. Travis scooted close to her and rested an arm around her shoulders. Tears soon spilled over from Lily's eyes.
"Did he use protection?" Travis asked, referring to the obvious. Lily sniffled.
"That's one more thing to worry about."
Travis gazed calmly at Lily and she stared back.
"Lily?"
"Yes, Travis?"
"I can't promise you that I won't risk anything important to me to save you. But I can promise that I'll be right with you forever and a day."
Lily giggled a little and looked down. "No matter what?"
Travis chuckled. "Even if...your dad kicks you out of the house for...well, you know. I'd do anything for you if it makes you happy."
Lily smiled and leaned toward Travis for a kiss.
Lily made it through the rest of the school year with Travis being her loyal protector against Ray. Unfortunately, she received endless taunting and ignorance during the last two months of school. No need for explaining, you all know why. Travis just shot glares at anyone who was laughing and soon enough, they were facing the other direction. Oh, man, if looks could kill
There was also the deal with her dad. When she started to get noticeably big around the stomach area, her father fumed. Lily didn't have the guts to tell her dad what really happened, and certainly didn't want him to find out. But of course that could never happened. One Saturday in April...
Lily woke up to the sound of her father calling. She hopped out of bed and bounded down the stairs to the living room, where her father was waiting.
"Lily, I'd like to have a word with you about the obvious" Phillip announced, eyeing what he was talking about. Lily blushed and looked down.
"It's not what you think dad, it was"
"Lily, saying it was an accident will not work. I've taught you better and look how you repay me, by acting irresponsible with Travis. I trusted you with him, Lily! How you could you do this?"
"It's not Travis' baby..." Lily corrected softly.
"Excuse me?"
"It's not Travis who did this to me, dad...it was" Lily choked on her words. "Ray raped me at my New Years Eve party. He was really drunk and wanted revenge to how I treated him." Lily kept her gaze down and wiped her eye before tears could spill.
"It was Ray?"
"Yes. I tried to push him off but I felt really weak" Lily cried harder and curled her knees up to her chest. Her chin trembled subtly and she wiped at her eyes.
"Lily, why didn't you tell me?"
"I was scared you would make me do something I'd regret...or you'd regret"
To avoid a really, really crappy ending to the scene, all ended up well.
On September 2nd, a few days after Lily's junior year at Henry Roscoe High started, right during the middle of English Lit, Lily wasn't feeling too good.
What the hell...9 months, of course. God, why couldn't this have happened after school? Or on a weekend?
Lily raised her hand as the teacher turned around.
"Mr. Miller? I need to use the restroom"
"Go right ahead Miss Randall."
Lily got up out of her seat and avoided the stares she was getting. She picked up her hall pass and ran down the hall to the classroom where Travis had his 3rd period. She popped her head in the doorway and knocked on the wall.
"Ms. Kaylen, may I please speak with Travis for a moment?"
"Of course Lily."
Travis looked at Lily with a bit of confusion on his face and went out into the hall with her.
"Lily, is there a problem?"
Lily had a little trouble telling Travis, but it finally came out. In a whisper, of course.
"Travis, not to sound embarassingly blunt, but it's been 9 months."
Travis pulled out his cell phone and turned it on. While waiting for it to connect, he spoke with Lily.
"OK, how about I have my mom come pick you up and take you to the hospital now? I'll tell the rest of your teachers before each class that you had to leave due to an emergency, and your dad can give a note to Mr. Waller tomorrow, excusing you for the day." Travis dialed his mom's number as Lily nodded in agreement.
Phone conversation, agreements and understandings, blah blah, Travis' mom picks up Lily, gets her to the hospital, la dee da, nothing importanté...FAST FORWARD
Lily waited in the...eh...whatever the room where women wait before they deliver is called...bored out of her mind. She felt so uncomfortable in here; only 16 years old and waiting to deliver a baby. At 3:30, Travis came in, looking rushed. Lily grinned.
"Hey Travis. I didn't think Robbie and Ray would let you come."
"We did some negotiating but in the end, I won. Boy with pregnant girlfriend waiting to deliver always beats ¾ a group of amateur radio DJs."
Lily laughed a bit and kissed Travis.
"I think Ray rubbed off on me. He always waits till the last minute and we haven't thought of any names yet."
"Lily, we don't even know what gender it's going to be yet. Calm down, we'll have plenty of time to think of a name."
Lily smiled and hugged Travis. "Thanks so much for sticking with my through this. I really though of getting an abortion but when I spent an hour in my room thinking of what would happen I just couldn't bear to kill my child. I pray it looks more like me than Ray, I don't think I could have him help raise my child."
"Everything's going to be OK. Please don't worry."
Cheesy moment, Lily waits for like, 6 hours, ready to deliver, blah blah blahOK So she's handed the baby after it's all cleaned up, Travis is with her, and the baby is...DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNN...A...girl :)
"Lily, she's absolutely beautiful."
"Aww, thanks Trav." Lily grinned at Travis and he kissed the side of her forehead.
"I've actually thought of a few names myself, if you don't mind."
"Of course not. Names are not my specialty."
Travis sat down on the bed next to Lily. "Ever since I was young I hoped that when I got older I could have one kid, a boy. So I didn't think of very many girl names, if that's alright with you," Travis joked. "I really like the name Erin. It can be both a girl's and a boy's name, except with different spellings."
"Erin...that's a really nice name. What else do you have?"
"Ginger. If you ask me it seems like the perfect name to fit a spunky, sporty kind of girl who's not quite a tomboy, but not exactly a Barbie doll. Like a spice. Not too sweet, not too much flavor, just balanced out."
Lily nodded while staring off in no particular direction.
"There's also Skye. Unique, charming, bound to be the only 'Skye' in her grade."
Lily chuckled at Travis' remark and remembered back in 8th grade when there were two other Lilys in her grade and she shared one class with each. Lily soon bit her bottom lip.
"Something wrong, Lily?"
"No, nothing...it just seems like...none of those names fit her. I don't know. I'm not judging you or anything, it's just...you understand, right?"
"Completely. I have one more name though."
"Shoot."
"Kiana. It means Moon Goddess."
Lily smiled at Travis and then down as her sleeping baby.
"Sasha...it fits her perfectly. Kiana Alexandria Randall."
Travis hesiatated for a moment, and nodded. "I like it too."
-looks really nervous- Uh...nn...eh...um...uhhhnn... O.o -whines and points to me brother- BLAME IT ON HIM HE MADE ME WRITE A REALLY LAME CHAPTER!!
No but seriously, I wasn't in the mood to write. Just bored.