Chapter Four: The Fourth Note

Lily and the girls were at the Gryffindor common room, making their assignments. Jenny, however noticed that Lily has been on the same page for quite a while.

"Lily, I'm sure he's going to give you the next note tomorrow. Who knows, maybe he was busy or something."

Sighing, Lily finally closed her book as it was useless to read it. She has been reading the same sentence the whole time, not getting the words connected to make the sentence logical. "I hate what he's doing to me! I'm starting to believe he's only playing with me!"

Following her lead, Jenny too closed her book and sat next to Lily. Katie and Hailey were silently looking at them, listening at their conversation. "I'm sure he's not playing with you, Lils. No one would do that to you. You're a great person." Jenny, sensing her words didn't do any difference, looked at her two remaining friends, asking them to say something soothing.

"Lils, Jenny's right. I can sense the sincerity of his actions."

"And we're not just saying this to comfort you, but because it's true." Katie said. "You're a good person."

"But why didn't I receive anything today?" Lily questioned desperately.

"We don't know the answer to that…" Jenny said. "But I'm sure he's not quitting in the middle of this all."

Lily gave it a thought before deciding she had enough of wondering for the day. "I can no longer study. Do you guys have something that can get my mind off him?" Lily asked her friends hopefully.

"Like chocolates?" Katie suggested. "I think I still have chocolate frogs from our last visit to Hogsmeade."

"Yeah, it's better than nothing." Lily said.

Katie hurriedly ran to her dorm room, eager to find the chocolate and distract her friend. Lily has been out since lunch, wondering why she hasn't received anything today. She was about to run out again when she noticed something on Lily's bed.

Lily and the girls were seated contentedly on the couch watching the lower years play exploding snaps when suddenly, they heard Katie dashing down the steps hurriedly, calling Lily's name.

"Lily, Lily, Lily, Lily, Lily!" She grabbed the highly confused Lily and dragged her towards the steps.

"Katie!" Lily asked, not having the opportunity to drag the other two with her. "What are you doing!"

"It's him!" Katie said, still pulling Lily with her.

"What?" Lily asked confused. She was however thankful when she heard the other two follow them.

"Lily, just come and see!" They stormed in their room, and without having to glance around, Lily understood what caused Katie to act so crazily.

Lily approached her bed, not knowing what to feel. She reached for the fourth tulip and before reading the note attached to it, she grabbed the three other from her bedside table. Finding all of her friends' presence in the room, she read it.

The distance between us was quite far, but the figure of you and him holding hands was a clear sight. (1)

From where I was standing, both of you were having a good time… (2)
Holding hands…
Walking with comfortable silence…

Knowing nothing about a man hurting—watching with tears drowning his eyes. (3)

His longing for someone…
His love—he knows he could never have. (4)

"That's it?" Hailey asked? "Nothing more?"

"Yeah…" Lily said, highly disappointed. "I wonder how he got here…"

"I'm pretty sure he didn't come up here…" Jenny pointed out. "I'm guessing he asked someone to put that on your bed."

Shrugging, Lily took placed the notes between the pages of her book. "I'm starting to wonder whether he'll ask Derek again or ask someone else."

"I'm guessing he's confusing us…" Hailey said. "He doesn't want us to be expecting or waiting."

Lily nodded in agreement. "He wants me to be absolutely surprised."

"Yep," Katie chuckled. "And again, he did just that."