a/n-here's chapter 17! as much as i hate to say it, this is the final chapter. i dont think i can drag it out anymore. but don't worry, there will be a sequal, and that should be fun to write. i haven't decided on the title yet, but the first chapter will most likely be up tomorrow. thanks to all my reviewers! MoonShine101, Spencer-Sweetie, your average tEEn, simply pink, Ravenmist'Always, O l i v e r . A r t e m i s, lostforeternity, that amii girl, cremeXbrulee, shortstuff14, fairiekween13, CrossingPaths, softballchick03, GreenTeandHoney, StepInTime, luvokemo, NYiceprincess, x3JBFANx3, www-squeaky-darthplaigus-71792, GrabeelGrl, MrsJakeGyllenhaul, tvFANatic26, Mark of CTown, kietrolvr1, angry eyes, Dancerles1, Writerchick101, AvatarianSweetPea, ficmaster, xXxCottonCandyxXx, Luvs-Mitchel-Musso, simplyxjiberty, and MiasRevenge. you all are the best!

Chapter 17: First Punch

"Hey, you two." Mrs. T. greeted us as we neared the carts. "Oh, Laura, does your family want to come over for dinner?"

"Yeah, that'd be great. Owen and Rose finally made up, so it won't be awkward for them." My mom replied. Awkward for them? Apparently she doesn't know what awkward is. This was going to be the most awkward day of my entire life.

Lilly was looking down at the ground, almost like she was about to cry. Of course she would never do that in public. As far as I know, I'm the only one that's ever seen her cry. I eyed her curiously, but she wouldn't look up.

"Alright, Oliver, let's go. Are you sure you don't mind having us all, Tori?"

"Oh, it's fine, don't worry about it."

"Thanks, Tor. See you later, Lilly." My mom nudged me. "Say goodbye, Oliver!" she said through clenched teeth.

I gave them a head nod. "Yeah, bye."

Lilly gave a small wave as our moms stared us down. I couldn't take the staring, so I walked into a checkout line, my mom following behind me.

"What is that matter with you?" my mom glared at me.

"What'd I do?"

"You have been acting so strange lately. And why didn't you say bye to Lilly and her mom?"

"Mom, it's nothing. Can you just not get into my life, just once?"

"Oliver, you have an attitude. Go wait in the car!"

"Nah, I'll just walk home." I began walking away.

"Oh no you're not! Do you know how far it is?"

"Yeah, I do actually. And I know a shortcut through the woods."

"Oliver, you get back here. Don't make a scene."

"Fine, Mom. But when I end up in a psycho hospital, it's your fault."

"You are so dramatic, Oliver." My mom paid for our things and we left the store.

"Whatever." I sat in the front seat and looked out the window.

"We're going over to the Truscott's at 5:00, so be ready then."

"Why are we going so early? What the hell are we supposed to do for an hour and a half?"

"First of all, don't curse. Second, you'll hang out with your best friend." I sighed and crossed my arms, knowing that I was in for a long evening.

The rest of the day flew by, and it was 5:00 before I knew it. Owen was all happy-go-lucky now that he and Rose were cool again, but that didn't stop him from making fun of me, as always. My family and I walked to the Truscott's house, my dad carrying a bottle of wine and me carrying a tray of cookies.

"Hey, guys." Rose greeted us at the door. She took the cookies from me and led us into the kitchen. We all said hello to each other and went our separate ways. Rose and Owen went in the basement, Lilly and I went in the backyard, and our parents stayed in the kitchen.

We hadn't said anything to each other since the grocery store, and we sat on the swings in silence, until I spoke up.

"Um…Lilly…I know things are really weird and awkward, and I take full responsibility for that, but I know that something's bothering you."

Lilly sighed. "I…Yeah. There is something wrong."

"You wanna tell me what it is? I mean we're still best friends, aren't we?"

"Of course we're still best friends, Oliver." she quietly said.

"So…what's wrong?"

She shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it. I'm sorry." Lilly looked down.

"You don't have to be sorry. I don't want to force you to talk about it." I replied.

"Thanks." she said. "I'll tell you…just not today. I don't know when."

I sighed, trying to let it go. Whatever was wrong, I wanted to tell her it was going to be fine. And that everything was gonna work out. But most of all, I just wanted to kiss her.

We swung for a while, occasionally saying something to each other. But that wasn't enough for me.

"Lilly, this is crazy!" I jumped off the swing. "I'm sorry that I kissed you, Ok? I don't want this to be as awkward as we're making it. Why can't we just talk like we did before we kissed?"

Lilly looked down, getting that look like she was about to cry again. "Lil…" I walked over to her. "Lil, what's wrong?" I tried to hug her but she turned away.

"Nothing." she said

"So are we just gonna not talk? I know things are mad weird, but you're still my best friend."

"Oliver, I know!" Lilly was angry.

"Can't we just pretend the kiss never happened?"

Lilly didn't answer for a while, but then she nodded. "Ok."

"Ok? So we're good again?" I held my arms open for a hug.

"We always were." She hugged me back. When we pulled apart, we were looking directly in one another's eyes. I pushed her hair behind her ear and we both leaned in. I can't even begin to think what was going through my mind at that point. But for once, I was glad Owen and Rose barged outside. We almost kissed again, and that would have caused more awkwardness than before, if that was at all possible.

"Whoa, did we just like, interrupt a moment?" Owen asked, Rose closing the door as she followed him outside.

"No." Lilly and I said in unison.

"Really, 'cause it definitely looked like you guys were about to kiss." Rose chimed in.

"That's weird, 'cause we weren't." Lilly denied.

"Then what were you doing, exactly?" Owen crossed his arms.

I looked at Lilly who gave me a worried look. "Isn't it obvious?" I asked. "I was…gonna tell her a secret."

"Yeah," Lilly defended me. "A really big secret."

"Oh really?" Rose asked.

"Yes really." I answered.

"What are you guys doing out here anyway? Don't you have to go make-out in the basement?" Good job, Lilly. That was my kind of girl, getting them at their own game.

"What!" Owen yelled, causing me to crack up. Lilly was smiling now too.

"We did not make-out! We are just friends!" Rose defended.

"Yeah, Ok, Rose." I laughed.

"You guys are so immature!" Rose whined.

"You guys are so immature!" Lilly and I mimicked.

"Shut-up, Oliver." Owen pushed me.

"No way, dude! Stop trying to act cool in front of Rose!" I pushed him back.

"You just push me, little man?" Owen was almost on top of me. I was tall, but he was taller. I was strong, but of course he was stronger. I had a six pack, he had an eight pack. There was no way I could take him.

"Yeah, I did." I said with confidence, pushing him a little more.

"You do it again," he pushed me back, harder. "I'll knock you out."

"Come on, Oliver." Lilly said, pulling my arm.

"Oh, got your little girlfriend to help you?" Owen laughed.

I pulled away from Lilly and tackled my brother with all my might. Rose started screaming and trying to get me off of him while Lilly watched in amazement. I caught him off guard, so it was hard for him to fight back. If he had through the first punch, I would probably be dead.

I was on top of him and started punching him everywhere. That's 15 years of anger that I finally let out. Let me tell you, it felt good. Owen finally pushed me off him and I flew backwards. Before Owen could kill me, Rose stood between us.

"Owen, stop!"

"Rose, move out of the way."

"No." Rose crossed her arms.

"Rose, let them settle it!" Lilly grabbed her sister's arm.

"Ew, get off of me!" Rose yelled, thrusting Lilly away.

"Don't push me, bitch!" Lilly knocked her sister down. Rose had no idea how to fight, so she was just screaming.

"Alright, Lil." I got Lilly away with ease. Owen helped Rose up and Rose was whining 'cause she was dirty.

"I could have killed you, so it's a good thing your little boyfriend saved you."

"First of all, you couldn't kill me in my dreams. And second, at least my boy doesn't cheat." My mouth dropped open. So did Owen's and Rose's. Lilly just stood there smirking.

"Well alright, Lil!" I yelled, cheering her on.

"Shut-up, Oliver!" Rose yelled at me.

"Don't talk to me like that, Rose!"

"Don't give her that attitude, Oliver!" Owen yelled at me.

"He can do what he wants, jerk!" Lilly defended. All of a sudden, we all just started fighting. We were rolling around on the ground, and there was a lot of screaming. That is until the parents came out.

"Everybody freeze!" Mr. Truscott boomed. We listened. We all stopped where we were. I was lying on the ground and Rose was about to attack me. Lilly was on Owen's back, and Owen was on his knees, trying to get her off.

"Now stand up!" My dad yelled. We obeyed again.

"Who's fighting who?" Mrs. T. asked. We all started talking at once and pointing fingers, until she whistled loudly. "Never mind. Oliver and Lilly, upstairs. Rose and Owen, basement. Now."

Again, we did as we were told and scurried inside. Lilly and I ran into her room, and plopped down on her bed.

"Sorry about Owen." I said.

"Sorry about Rose." she apologized. "But that was amazing when you were beating Owen up!"

I laughed. "Yeah, well…it was 15 years of anger. I've been wanting to sock him forever."

She laughed too. "Well, you did awesome."

"Thanks." I laughed. "Oh shit!" I stood up quickly.

"What?"

"I'm not supposed to be in your room, remember?"

"Chill, Oliver. My dad said he's over it. Besides, they told us to come upstairs. Sit back down, stay a while." I shrugged and sat on her bed again. But this time, I sat right next to her. I couldn't resist. "Besides…" Lilly started. "It's not like we're gonna do anything…right?"

"Right." I agreed. "'Cause we're just best friends…right?" I looked down at her.

"Right." She was staring up at me. "Just like…Owen and Rose…" She was leaning her head in.

"Yeah…" I breathed, my face slowly inching towards hers. "Just like them…" My lips were almost touching hers, but I just had to say one thing. "Lilly." I whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I'm nothing like my brother." She grabbed my neck and put her lips to mine. I don't want to go into detail, but we started making out, let's just say that.

Someone knocked on the door, and we flew 10 feet apart from each other.

"Come in!" Lilly said nervously.

It was her mom. "Dinner's ready."

"Ok, we'll be down in a second." Lilly answered. I was speechless.

Tori must have noticed the look on our faces, because she asked "Are you two Ok?"

"Yeah." I finally got out. "Great." I smiled.

"Oh my gosh, Oliver, your eye is bruised! And Lilly, you have scratches all over your face!"

"Mom, if you didn't notice, we were just in a huge fight outside." Lilly laughed.

"Do you want some ice, Oliver?"

"No thanks, Mrs. T. I'm good."

"Ok, see you in 'a second'." Mrs. T. said and left.

"Lilly…" I started. "I have been wanting to tell you this for the longest time…"

"Tell me what?" Lilly asked, smiling.

"I like you…as more than a friend." I did it, finally! It took me long enough!

Lilly grinned. "That's what was wrong before. I was sad because you said that when we kissed you were just in a moment. But I've liked you for so long, so that kind of broke my heart."

"It's a good think I lied." I smiled. "Or else I'd be just like my brother." Wow, this was the best night of my life. "Hey, Lilly, will you go out with me?" She didn't say anything, she just pulled me in for a kiss. We pulled apart, smiling. "Yes or no?" I asked.

"That's a hell yeah." Lilly smiled.