((It is at this point where you should assume that Parker and Lily are friends))

Lily sat down outside the warehouse, holding her head in her hands. She never thought that one simple kiss...okay, two simple kisses could ruin this much. She missed Audrey; having girls night in, gossiping on the phone...but mostly she missed Ray. She missed that playful punch she used to give him and listening to him make dumb jokes.

She watched Robbie come up the stairs of the warehouse and not even give Lily a passing glance. She missed her old life and she faintly wondered if it was worth it at all. A figure stood in front of her and she stood up, squinting into the light.

"Travis?" She asked.

"Yeah," he replied in a quiet voice, walking toward her.

"We're not allowed in here. So we should, uh, probably get going." Lily said as he tried to wrap his arm around her waist. She took it off for him. He looked at her, cocking his head, but shrugged.

"Okay." He said slowly as he turned around.

"We need to talk about this." Lily said urgently.

"If we calm down, we can work this out," Travis said, in a way he thought was soothing.

"Calm down? Excuse me, Travis, but how can I stay calm when my best friends hate me?" She said, eyes filling with angry tears.

"Of course you're going to be upset about this...and they will, too. But they'll get over it."
"Yeah," Lily said scornfully, "You can be so calm because you have nothing to lose! You came into this town with no one and I firmly believe you could leave this town with no one and still be considerably happy!" Lily exclaimed. "I am losing everyone because of this, Travis, because of us!" Lily stared at Travis for a moment and turned away, sighing and rubbing her forehead.

"Lily..." Travis began softly, "This is a very hard time for all of us right now. We just have to figure out where we all stand. And what we think." He said as he put her hand on her shoulder. She sighed quietly, biting her lip.

"And what to do."

"What are we going to do?" Audrey asked Ray, pulling at his hand as they ran down the street. For some reason she felt really giddy. Ray laughed.

"Slow down. I'll tell you." He said as Audrey stopped in front of him. "...Later." Audrey rolled her eyes but kept walking at his pace, their hands intertwined.

"I just...I can't believe how happy we are and how good we're doing!" Ray said, shaking his head. "I kept thinking that I wanted Lily and actually I needed you." He continued, embracing his sweet and thoughtful side because he liked the way it made Audrey blush. She grinned over at him, flipping her hair.

"Well if you ask me...I think our happiness would be enough to get them back." Audrey told Ray mischievously. Ray stopped walking, looking up in deep thought. It was as if a light bulb went off over his head.

"That's it!" He exclaimed. "Exactly!"
"What's it?" Audrey asked, hooking arms with him. Ray turned to look at her.

"The big semi-Formal. This month. We're going together." He said, conspiring, "and we'll also be crowned Winterfest King and Queen!" He exclaimed.

"Its perfect!" Audrey said excitedly. "We won't even have any competition. Of course River Pierce always enters with his date...but they'll be nothing compared to us." She smiled up at Ray. He grinned.

"I dunno, Parker..." Lily drawled into the phone that night, "I thought that eventually everything would work out between me and Ray and me and Travis. But its not. It's really, really not."

"Well, you know what I always say," Parker replied in a chipper tone.

"No, actually, I don't." Lily said glumly.

"Well neither do I, but the point I'm getting at is, let's go have fun."

Lily laughed. "I don't really feel like it." She replied.

"Not even for a little itty bitty tiny bit at Mickey's? I'm dying for a milkshake, and maybe they have that new River City High CD in for ya." Parker said convincingly. Lily sighed.

"I guess. Maybe. For a little while."

"Ok. See ya in ten Randy!" Parker exclaimed as she hung up the phone.

After leaving Audrey's house that night, Ray didn't really feel like going home. It was Meatloaf Casserole night at home and the thought of it didn't exactly make him hungry.

"Hey Mickey." He said as he strolled into the store.

"Hey kid how's it going?" Mickey replied.

"Good." Ray said as he made his way around the store.

"Mr. Brennan. Am I right in saying that you've completed your history homework before you arrived here?" A voice said from behind him.

"Mr. Waller...yeah, I've," Ray said, turning around. "Parker." He said, realizing it was only she and not the actual principal. "Lily was right, you're pretty good." He complimented. Parker nodded.

"You've talked to Lily?" She inquired innocently. Ray laughed as he sat down on a stool.

"You're a sly one, Parker." He said, this time not as complimenting. She shrugged.

"I'm just a friend trying to help out another friend." Ray noted her especially eccentric outfit. She was wearing a men's belt that looked like one his father had.

"Don't bother. Lily and I are history." He informed her.

"Speaking of History," They watched as Lily entered Mickey's and stopped to order a drink. Shifting to her Waller voice, "Get that history homework done, Brennan." She stood up, and began to walk away. Ray laughed. Breaking out his own impression, he replied,

"Did you break into my closet for that belt? I'll need it back for tomorrow." He laughed, but Parker turned around.

"Now that was just a cheap shot." She told him, laughing. He rolled his eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow." She called back to him.

"Right. Tomorrow." Ray said. "Cool beans."