Lily laid on her bed, her knees bent to her left, her left arm draped over her stomach, and her right arm beneath her head. She stared up at the ceiling, unable to see anything in the utter darkness surrounding her. She sighed, and closed her eyes, hoping she'd be able to sleep.
She rolled onto her side, sighing, and pushed herself off her bed. She glanced down at the baggy sweats she was wearing, and the one-size-too-big football jersey she had, as she wandered out of the room, looking around the darkened hallway for any sign of life. Seeing none, Lily rushed down the hall, and carefully opened one of the bedroom doors, peeking inside to see John sitting up on his bed, his blanket over his head, and a flashlight on. Smiling, she closed the door behind her, and crossed to the bed, lifting up the blanket, and smiling at his surprised face.
"Lily! What are you doin' here?" he whispered. She sat down in front of him, tugging the blanket over her back, and looked down at his hands. He had been flipping thru a magazine, but when she'd lifted up the blanket, he shoved it beneath his mattress so she wouldn't see. She giggled, and looked back up at him.
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come see if you were still awake…And when I come in to see you, I find you looking at dirty magazines…Dirty, dirty John," she giggled. He blushed, but smiled.
"Uh…yeah…yeah…that's me…Dirty John…" he said softly. Lily leaned over, kissing him, but pulled back to giggle again. "Your just giggly tonight aren't you?"
"Yep…sorry, can't help it. It's almost two in the morning, and I haven't slept at all yet…but I wanted to see you…" He clicked off the flashlight, and climbed out from under the blanket, pulling her with.
"C'mon, let's go for a stroll," he said casually, leading her out of the room. He took her up to the roof, and they sat, staring up at the sky, in silence. Finally she sighed.
"John…what would you do if you could just pack up everything right now and leave?" He thought for a second, and gave her a squeeze.
"I'd tell you to pack up, too, because you're coming with me." She smiled, and leaned back in his arms, looking over at him.
"Where would you take me?"
"As far from here as possible, so long as we stay out of Carson City," he said, smiling back.
"Because of your parents, right?"
"Exactly…You are so brilliant, Lily." She blushed, shaking her head.
"No, I'm not. If I were, I'd be passing these damned classes…"
"Nah, Lil, not brilliant as in school brilliant. You have a way with people that makes them feel like you've known them forever…"
"John…"
"Yeah?"
"Stop it. I only seem brilliant because you've already told me these things. You've told me everything, John. You and I have no secrets between each other…And I love that. It…" She paused, trying to think. She took his hands in hers, and lifted them up, swaying a bit. "It makes me feel so free!" she exclaimed, laughing. He laughed, too, and pushed his lips against hers.
"I love you, Lil."
"Love you, too, John…Dirty John." They laughed again, and she leaned back in his arms.
Lily yawned, and rolled over, her arm falling over the edge of the bed.
"Lily…" She squeezed her eyes closed, and buried her head in her pillow. "Lily…" Groaning, she rolled onto her side, and looked up at Bobby. She jumped, and grabbed her stomach, pain shooting thru her body.
"God Damnit! Shit! Ah…what, Bobby?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. He stepped back.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. John wanted me to come in here and tell you that he wanted you to meet him at your spot in twenty minutes." Lily looked at him, confused, but nodded. He shrugged, and left the room, apologizing again. Sighing, Lily pushed herself off the bed, and quickly changed into a pair of knee length shorts and a sleeveless green shirt, then turned, heading out to the grounds, and paused.
"Our spot…" She couldn't think straight before the sun was completely up, and looked around, trying to think. Their spot…what was their spot? She closed her eyes, and saw the image of them on the rooftop, the one from her dream, and smiled. Heading back inside, she found the stairs to the roof, and climbed up them, closing the door behind her as she reemerged outside. John stood with his hands in his pockets, staring out at the trees. "John?" she asked, smiling. He turned his head, and walked over to her, slipping his arms around her waist.
"Hey, Lil…"
"What's up? Why'd you have Bobby wake me up before noon?" she questioned, dropping her arms around his shoulders.
"Because I wanted to see you in the morning light…something I haven't done in years." She blushed, and lowered her head, but he lifted it back up as he stepped back.
"John?"
"And…I wanted to give you something." He dug his hand around in his pocket, and pulled his fist back out, taking her hand in his free one. "This…" He put his ring back on her finger, and set his lighter in her palm.
"Oh…I completely…"
"Forgot you'd given them back? I didn't. I just wanted to wait until I knew you'd forgiven me…" He bent his head a little, pushing his lips against hers, and smiled into it.
"Of course I've forgiven you…Dirty John…"
"What?"
"You don't remember?" He shook his head.
"Uh…no…" he replied.
"It was quite a few years ago…but it was around two in the morning, I guess, and I had gone into your room to see you. You were under your blanket with a flashlight, looking at dirty magazines, and I called you Dirty John…" He laughed.
"I remember now…"
"Yep, you were Dirty John Allerdyce…"
"I don't need the magazine's, Lily, cuz now I've got you, so you don't gotta call me that anymore."
"I haven't called you that in years, John," she pointed out, smiling. He hugged her, and smiled back, looking over her head thru the trees. She slid her hands around his waist, resting her head on his chest, and sighed.
"Lil?"
"Hm?" He paused, thinking for a second.
"What would you do if you could just pack up everything and leave right now?" She giggled, burying her face into his chest as he held her to him.
"I…I'd tell you to pack up too, because you're coming with me," she replied, thinking back to her dream. He smiled.
"Where would you take me?"
"As far away from here as possible…so long as we stay out of Carson City.." He lifted her head, and kissed her, hard, on the lips.
"God, I love you…" She giggled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders again.
"I love you too, John. Always have. Always will." She rested her head against his chest again, sighing contently, and moved her arms around his waist. His arms went around her shoulders, and he let his chin rest against the top of her head, holding her closely. Lily closed her eyes, feeling the breeze rush over her face. She sighed again, and held him a bit tighter.
"You alright?"
"Mmmhmm…sorta tired…and just a little chilly…" she said, pushing her hair out of her eyes. John pulled away, and tugged his blue jean jacket off, resting it around her shoulders. Smiling, Lily pushed her arms thru it, and hugged him again.
"That better?"
"Yeah…Thank you…" He kissed the top of her head, and took her hands.
"Come on…let's go grab something to eat," he said, leading her to the door. She followed him, all the way to the kitchen. As they passed thru the halls, Lily noticed there weren't many kids awake, or at least not wandering around. Bobby was sitting on the couch, staring at the TV, and he turned, waving. She waved back, and entered the kitchen behind John. He opened the fridge, and started rifling thru the food, but Lily just wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek on his back. "You gonna stand there, or you gonna help me look?" he asked, looking over his shoulder. She moved up, kissing his cheek, and pulled back, walking to the other side of the kitchen. After a minute, he heard a small crash, followed by a thud, and turned to find Lily laying on the floor, eyes closed.
"Lil?" he asked, kneeling beside her. She didn't respond, but he saw she was barely breathing, so he picked her up and carried her downstairs, to Jean's lab.
John looked at Jean.
"Can you tell me what the hell just happened upstairs?" he asked. Jean examined Lily, and looked at John.
"I think she needs to go to the hospital…"
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I am serious…Pick her up, let's go…"
John paced the waiting room, waiting for word from the doctors.
John, sit down… Xavier thought to him. John sighed.
I'm worried, Xavier…
I know…but sit. You haven't rested for four days, since Lily got there… You're making Jean and Bobby nervous... he thought. John sighed again, and sat.
"Xavier bugging you from his office?" Bobby asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Shut up…and yes." Bobby shrugged, looking over at Jean. She shook her head, and looked up as the doctor walked over.
"Who's responsible for this girl?" John went to stand, but Jean stood instead.
"I am…"
"Alright…I'm Doctor Matthews…"
"I'm Jean."
"Hello. Well…" He looked over at John, who was looking at him expectantly. "You may go in to see her if you wish…She's resting now, but she's still awake…" John pushed passed Jean and walked in the partially open door. Lily looked up from her place on the bed, and John practically ran to her side.
"Hi, John…" He placed a hand against her cheek, and pushed her hair off her shoulder.
"Hey, baby…How're you feeling?"
"Tired…but a little better…" He paused, pulling his hand back, when he realized she was hooked up to machine.
"What's this thing doing?" he asked.
"Letting me breathe…"
"You having problems, baby?" he asked, sitting beside her. She took a breath, looking away.
"John…"
"What?" She reached up, and took his hand, and moved her eyes to meet his.
"I'm sick…"