Chapter 18

AN: yay! The moment a lot of you have been waiting for! :D Finn finally tells Lily how he feeeels! ****New song in this chapter. It is called Here's To Us, by Halestorm.**** PLEASE go listen to it because it's a very awesome song and you should just do it lol. I hope I caught the few errors in this chapter, if I missed any, I'll fix them later! Enjoy! (btw thank you guys for the reviews for the last chapter! They were all great! )

NavyNinjaHo: yeah… rain has got it pretty bad atm. And yes. Juvia is acting weird, thank you for noticing lol I'm not saying anything about whats going on with her! Just that you will find out later in the story :) and yes, I know she has been quite the brat lately so I really wanted people to see her differently while she was on this trip. And yes. Daughter is just like father only in girl form. And yes, this is the final sequel to these stories. I am going to miss it too. It is a lot of fun to write these OCs.

bubblegum12899: hahaha yeah, I want to smack a few of them around myself. As for Bora using the charm ring, how could he be using it on Juvia since this is the first time we've seen it? She was already in love with him before. ;) something to think about there. And as for Gruvia returning to Canon in this story… you will just have to keep reading to find out ;) lol I too ship Leo and Rain. But im not going to say if they get together or not in the end.

Finny-KunGoddess: lol I felt bad too, but it was pretty funny. And thank you ^.^

Depressica: lol right? Super creepy. I tried to make him as creepy as possible and got chills while I wrote that scene.

Finns' fingers strummed his guitar chords as he sat on the bed corner, waiting for Lily to finish getting ready for their competition. He smiled as his mind replayed the whole day before. The whole trip had been more than he could have ever hoped for. The only thing that nagged at him was his inability to tell Lily how much he cared for her. But that was going to change. If they won today, tonight at dinner, he was going to do it. Nothing was going to get in his way or hold him back. For too long has he held back his feelings, pushing them aside in fear of telling her. How was she going to react once he said those three words? Was she even going to take him seriously or just laugh it off and make it into a brotherly love thing? Or would she just stop talking to him altogether? What if— Finn shook his head as his eyes shut tight. 'Stop it! Don't think like that! Whatever her answer may be… she will still be my friend. Sure it might be a little awkward for a while, but I have faith in us. Even if she turns me down, I'll still be by her side.' Solid blue eyes opened slowly, a slight blush coming over his cheeks. 'But… what if she says yes to being with me? Man… I'd have to kick myself in the ass for not asking sooner! I wouldn't have had to deal with all this torture!'

Lily walked out of the bathroom, wrapping her red bandana around her forehead to hold back her dark bangs and tying it underneath her hair tie. She watched Finn for a minute, raising a brow as she watched him shake his head in thought. A smirk came over her face as she made her way to him. The older girl stopped right in front of the ice mage, putting her hands on her hips and waited for his gaze to come upon her. "So? Whatcha think?"

Finn heard Lily's' voice just a couple of feet in front of him. His eyes shot up and opened wide at the sight before him. She had her dark hair was pulled back with a red bandana holding back the rest of her wild hair. She was wearing a tight, low cut, red tee with a white skull in the middle with a black jacket that hugged her skin perfectly. The top part of her outfit showed off her tanned midriff while her low rise jeans showed off the rest of her bottom half. The jeans looked aged with faded patches here and there, along with a few holes right around where her thighs were, revealing some of her tanned skin underneath.

The ice mages' eyes moved all over the girl, taking the punkish look in and swallowing the lump in his throat that had formed. His blue eyes landed on the smile on the girls face as she stared at him with a raised brow, awaiting his answer. "So?"

"You… look amazing, Lil."

Lily smiled as she sat down on the bed next to Finn. "Thanks! I know it. I just wanted to hear someone say it."

Finn held his guitar close to his body as he laughed lightly with the girl. 'God she looks so good… I don't know if I can get up right now….'

The girls' hands slapped her own legs as she spoke. "Well. You ready? Chrono has been blowing up my phone all morning. I maaay have accidently forgotten to go to practice again."

Finn stayed in place as Lily stood up. "Um, yeah. Just give me a minute to put this away. If you want, I can meet you downstairs."

Lily half smiled at him as she watched him for another minute. "Everything ok?"

Finn smiled nervously. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Lily shrugged her shoulders and headed for the door, picking up her guitar and throwing it over her shoulder. "Don't take too long! We're supposed to go on in twenty minutes!" The dark haired girl said as she disappeared on the other side of their door.

Finn let out a breath and laid down on the bed, setting his guitar down beside him as he stared up at the ceiling. 'Please let them win today…. I don't know how much more I can take.'

The ice mage made his way down to the backstage of the competition, distant arguing filling his ears as he found his way closer to where Lily and her other bandmates were. A minute later he could make out Chrono arguing with Lily as she stood before him, her arms crossed over her chest, her head looking elsewhere, as if she wasn't interested in what he had to say. Finn checked his phone for the time. Five minutes until they are on, and they decide to argue now? Finn shook his head slightly as he walked over to Lily, stopping right behind her.

"I can't believe you Lil! You don't show up for any practices all week so far, and now you want to change the song for the semi-finals?! Are you crazy?!" Chrono said as he ran his and over his head.

Lily stuck out her hip as she spoke. "Look, I don't need to practice, one. I could carry this whole band on my own if I wanted. Two, yes. I want to change what we play. If we want to win this semi-final, we have to play this song. It will for sure get us in. the one you picked will bore the fans to death. We haven't played that since we first started out, and even then it was an iffy song. The only thing that probably got us in this business is my voice."

Finn snickered as he could see Chrono getting frustrated at the girl before him. The other ice mage noticed Finn and glared. His eyes moving back to Lily as he pointed a finger to Finn. "Are you doing this just caz he's here?! I don't even know why you brought him. He isn't useful at all."

Lily grabbed Chrono's finger and started to bend it back, causing the man to quickly change is tone and cry out in pain. "Look, Chrono. I'm leading this band to victory, and if you have a problem with that, then leave. The rest of the guys and I can win this thing without you. Now if you want to be a good little boy and play your stupid instrument with us, then shut your damn mouth about Finn, and play the song I've chosen."

"Ah! Alright! Alright! You win!"

Lily shoved Chrono's hand back to him and turned around to face Finn, letting out a sigh. Finn smiled as he spoke. "At least he's smart enough to pick his battles."

Lily rolled her eyes back to the ice mage. "Not all the time." The dark haired girl's hazel eyes went back to Finn, a smirk coming over her lips. "So you ready to hear this song? I haven't played it for you yet. It's something I've been working on for a while."

Finn raised a brow, smirking back at the girl. "Oh, new song, eh? Taking a bit of a chance with this?"

Lily put her hands on her hips proudly. "Oh I know we'll win. Wanna know how I know?"

Finn laughed a bit and shrugged his shoulders. "Sure. How do you know Lil?"

Lily moved in closer to the young ice mage, whispering in his ear so that Chrono could not hear. "Because I want to go out to dinner with you."

Finn's face turned bright red at her words. His eyes stayed on her as she moved away from him, her hands behind her back and reaching for her guitar. She winked at the ice mage before turning around to head onto stage, waving a hand at him. "Wish me luck!"

Finn raised a hand slowly, words unable to escape his mouth. 'She's actually looking forward to this…. She wants to go out with me…She's so confident in this song that they'll win…'

The younger boy moved closer to the stage after Lily had disappeared out onto it. He watched as they were introduced as one of the last remaining bands left in the competition. The crowd was already going wild before they even performed. They all knew Lily was about to bring the house down with this new song. Finn could hear her name being chanted throughout the crowd as she raised a hand into the air, a wide smile across her face. She turned her head and looked his way, nodding to him before turning her gaze back out to the growing crowd.

Her hands began to play, giving her band the que that she was starting. The people around the stage cheered loudly, waiting with anticipation. Lily grinned as she opened her mouth and began to sing as she played her guitar.

We could just go home right now,

Or maybe we could stick around

For just one more drink.

Oh yeah.

Get another bottle out,

Let's shoot the shit, sit back down,

For just one more drink.

Oh yeah.

Finn smiled as he saw Lily look to him as she sang, his heart beating faster in his chest. The excitement from the crowd, the sound of her voice, and the way she looked was almost overwhelming. Lily let go of her guitar and let it hang from the strap around her neck, taking hold of the microphone.

Here's to us.

Here's to love.

All the times that we've fucked up.

The dark haired girl looked back out into the crowd, pointing a finger at the fans below.

Here's to you.

Fill the glass.

Cuz the last few days have kicked my ass.

Oh, let's give 'em hell.

Wish everybody well.

Here's to us.

Here's to us.

The people roared as Lily went back to her guitar, her song driving them to want more. But the girl turned her attention back to the boy backstage as if she was singing to him, and only him.

We stuck it out this far together,

Put our dreams through the shredder.

Let's toast, cuz things got better.

And everything could change like that.

And all these years go by so fast, but

The dark haired girl glanced back at Chrono, grinning at him as he stared back at her, confusion on his face as he played.

Nothing lasts, forever.

Lily looked back to Finn, winking at him once again.

Here's to us.

Here's to love.

All the times that we've messed up.

Here's to you.

Lily let go of her guitar, pointing a finger to Finn.

Fill the glass.

Cuz the last few nights have kicked my ass!

If they give you hell,

Tell them Go fuck themselves.

Here's to us.

Here's to us.

The girl went back to her guitar, playing it fiercely as she sang.

Here's to all that we kissed,

And to all that we missed,

To the biggest mistakes that we just just wouldn't trade.

To us breakin' up,

Without us breakin down.

To whatever's comin' our way!

Here's to us!

Here's to us.

Here's to love.

All the times that we messed up.

Here's to you.

Fill the glass.

Cuz the last few nights have kicked my ass!

If they give you hell—

Lily pointed out to the crowd, pausing for just a second as the people below her finished the sentence she was about to sing. She smiled as they sang to her, their arms moving back and forth in the air. She lifted her middle finger along with them and repeated the verse the crowd had just shouted.

Tell them

Go fuck themselves.

Her bandmates now chiming in as the chorus as she sang over them, her voice loud and powerful. Her hazel eyes went back to Finn for the last few verses of her song.

(Go fuck themselves.)

Here's to us.

(Here's to us.)

Here's to us.

(Here's to us.)

Here's to us.

Here's to love.

Here's to us.

(Wish everybody well.)

Here's to us.

Here's to love.

Here's to us.

Lily turned back at the last second to the crowd and raised her hand after she hit her last note on her guitar.

Here's to us.

The people chanted Lily's name once more as she took her guitar off from around her neck, setting it down with the bands instruments and awaiting the judges' decision on who was going to the semi-finals. Finn's heart was racing as they all waited for what felt like a million years. One of the five judges came up onto the stage as the other band made their way next to Lily and her band. The old man coughed slightly into the microphone before he spoke.

"I must say, the competition this year is fierce. Probably the most challenging decision we've had to make in years. We don't commend foul language and gestures while the bands perform—"

The man was cut off by the crowd booing him as he looked to Lily. She smirked and shrugged her shoulders at the crowd. The old man coughed once more and proceeded to finish his sentence. "However… we have made an exception for the band, Black Lotus and announce them as the winners and semi-finalists."

The crowd was in an uproar as the band cheered along with them. Lily jumped up and down excitedly as Finn raised his arms up in the air, cheering with the crowd. Chrono turned to face Lily and held open his arms to her. She completely ignored him and ran off stage to where Finn was, jumping into his arms and wrapping hers around his neck.

"We did it!"

Finn spun her around and laughed. "You guys were so awesome!"

Lily giggled and let Finn go as he set her down. "Man I knew that song would win. I had a feeling it would!"

Finn smiled as he blushed slightly. "Well you know what this means, right? You and I have a dinner to get to."

"Oh I didn't forget. I just need to run out and get something nicer to wear." The girl looked down at her clothes and sweaty body. "And maybe a shower while I'm at it. Don't think they'd let me in looking like this! Even if I did say I knew Uncle Loke!"

Finn laughed as he looked her over. "Yeah I don't think they'd let you in either. Oh, that reminds me, I've gotta go get a suit too. I can meet you up at the room when I get back and we can just head out from there."

Lily smiled sweetly at the boy. "That sounds perfect. I'll see you then!" Lily stood in place as she watched Finn leave the backstage, unaware of the cold eyes sending her and the ice mage daggers from the stage.

Finn raced back to his room to grab his wallet, knowing full well where he was going to go first before he got his suit. Once the ice mage had what he needed, he was right back out the door and heading out of the hotel to the plaza of shops they had passed the day before.

Lily was back in her room, looking in the large mirror above the dresser the hotel had provided. She was pulling back her straightened hair into a presentable ponytail, or at least to the best of her abilities. She cursed her parents for passing down their wild hair. She frowned as she began to give up on the dark hair of hers. "There's just no making you look nice." She said as she pointed a finger into the mirror at her hair. The girl sighed softly as she got up and moved over to her bed, smiling at the dress she had picked out quickly. Hazel eyes went to the alarm clock on the small night stand, worry setting in slightly. "And where the hell is Finn? I didn't think it was going to take him this long to find a suit in this city."

Finn stood still as the seamstress adjusted the boys tie for him, his nerves kicking in as he waited for her to finish. The woman smiled at Finn as she took a step back to look him over. "My, my… this must be a very special girl you're meeting up with. Are you going to purpose to her tonight?"

Finn looked at her quickly, a red blush coming over his entire face. "Uh, no! No! I-it's just a dinner… celebration… and… well… I…"

The woman laughed lightly as she patted Finn on the shoulder. "Don't be so nervous sweetie. You look very handsome. And I'm sure everything will go just fine for you tonight." As the woman turned, a couple other girls in the store giggled as they looked Finn over, their faces blushing slightly as they spoke.

"I wish I was his girl… he looks so cute!"

"Oh my god, I know! He's so dreamy…."

"That girl has to be the luckiest girl on the face of the earth!"

The seamstress clapped her hands at the younger girls and motioned them out of the fitting room. Finn rubbed the back of his head as his eyes moved to the mirror, looking himself over in the suit he had picked out. He let out a breath as he let his hand fall down at his side. He felt the small velvet box inside his pocket, forgetting he had placed the thing in there to see how well it was hidden. Solid blue eyes looked down as he reached into his pocket, pulling out the small box and smiling. 'I should head back. Lil's probably all ready to go.' The ice mage slipped the velvet box back into his pocket and walked out of the fitting room, heading straight for the cashier to check out.

Lily had given up on pulling her hair back into a refine looking hairstyle and decided to wear just a simple headband to hold back her wild hair. She sat in the chair in front of the dresser as she applied a small amount of lipstick to her soft lips. She smiled as she stood and gave herself one last look over while she wore the dress she had picked out. A knock on the door got her attention. A smile came over her face as she shook her head, slightly confused. "Why is he knocking? He has a key to the room. What a goof." The girl made her way to the door, opening it slowly as she spoke. "Finn, did you lose your key somewhere or—" Lily's happy expression turned to anger as she looked upon Chrono standing just outside. She scoffed and rolled her eyes as her arms crossed over her chest. "What the hell do you want? I'm busy."

"Yeah? You don't look so busy right now to talk."

"Just leave Chrono. I'm going out tonight with Finn."

Chrono pushed the door open and walked past Lily, his eyes scanning the room. "Is he in here?"

Lily glared at him as he walked past her. "For your information, no, he's not. Will you just leave now? I don't feel like looking at your face."

Chrono turned around and made his way back to Lily, stepping close to her. "And here I thought you and me were gonna get to fool around now that we've made it into the semi-finals."

Lily pushed him back and scoffed, holding up a finger. "You and I, not you and me. And no, we're not. So find someone else to satisfy your dick with." Lily quickly moved past him and back to the dresser, leaning in closer to the mirror and looking over her lips. Chrono closed the door and made his way back over to her, grabbing her wrist and forcing her to look at him. "Let me go or so help me Chrono!"

"What the fuck has gotten into you Lil?! What happened to us?! And why are you spending all your time with that weakling? I thought you liked a man with power." Chrono said as he pressed himself against Lily, leaning in for a kiss. Lily pushed him back and yanked her wrist away from him.

"What's gotten into me? What's gotten into me is that you're a fucking stupid piece of shit that just won't leave me alone! You're obviously stupid enough to not be able to take a hint. We haven't gone out in months so what makes you think that coming here means you can just get in my pants?! And for your information, I do like a guy with power, not a dumbass with no sense of friendship. Finn is my best friend and I can do what I want, with whoever I want! You don't own me or control my actions. So take this hint that I'm giving you and get the fuck out of my room!" Lily shouted as she pointed a finger to Chrono.

"WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO STUBBORN?!" Chrono shouted back.

The dark haired girl responded back with a yell as well. "WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO STUPID?!"

The two mages stared at each other for a long minute, their eyes locked on each other's. Chrono quickly reached out for the girl, wrapping his arms around her waist and taking her lips into his own. The dark haired girl quickly brought her hands up to the side of his face, pulling him in closer as she kissed him back. The ice mage turned her around and pushed her back to the bed, his lips never leaving hers as they fell down onto the sheets, their hands exploring each other.

Finn smiled as he adjusted the tie around his neck, thinking of how to tell Lily the truth while they were at dinner. He paused for a minute and laughed. "God…" A hand came up and ran through his blue hair. "I'm already so nervous and I haven't even seen her yet!" The ice mage continued his walk to his hotel room, reaching it within minutes and sliding in his key card. He opened the door quickly and stepped in. "Hey Lil, you ready to go? Sorry I took so long. I wanted to stop… by… the…."

Solid blue eyes fell upon the two bodies on the bed, the girls eyes wide as she pushed off the ice mage and pulled the small strap to her dress back up her shoulder. Chrono saw her and looked to Finn who was in disbelief as he kept his gaze on the woman he loved. "What's the big idea, buddy? Can't you see me and my lady are about to get it on?"

Lily's gaze grew angry and darted towards Chrono. "Shut up Chrono! I'm not your lady! And we weren't about to do anything—"

Finn held up a hand as he spoke. "Really? Caz from here it looks like you were."

Lily stood up and straightened out her dress. "Please, Finn, I can explain—"

"Save it! I don't fucking want to hear your excuses Lily!" Finn said as he lowered his head slightly, his fists clenched tightly.

"But, Finn, please let me explain—" Lily said as she took a step.

Finn's words stopped her in her tracks as he yelled. "I DON'T WANT TO FUCKING HEAR IT! I CANT EVEN STAND TO LOOK AT YOU RIGHT NOW!"

Lily could feel her heart ache, his words hitting her like a knife. Chrono had made his way over to Finn and pushed him back a bit. "Hey! Don't talk to her like that!"

Finn tilted his head slightly, his eyes shaded by his bangs. "Don't push me."

"What are you gonna do, pipsqueak? Huh?" Chrono said as he pushed Finn again. "You want another repeat of prom? Huh? Well do ya?"

Finn's teeth clenched tightly as he looked up at the other ice mage, his hands reaching up and pushing him back as hard as he could. "I said don't push me!"

Chrono chuckled as he watched Finn try to defend himself. "Oh so that's how it is, eh? You want another beating? Well that's fine. I can do that for ya!" Chrono pulled back his arm, getting ready to hit Finn who was standing his ground. The script mage behind him quickly wrote letters in the air as she spoke.

"Leave him alone Chrono!" The girl pushed the words forward to Chrono, causing him to freeze in place.

"Lil! What the fuck did you—"

The ice mages' words were cut off as Finns' fist made contact with his jaw. Knocking him down onto the floor. Finn shook his hand and looked up to Lily who was staring back at him with sad and shameful eyes. He still couldn't believe what he had seen. He didn't want to believe it. But there it was. Right in front of him. He shook his head at her as stared back. Her eyes pleaded with his, begging him not to turn around and leave. Without a word, Finn turned and left the room, throwing down his card key and tie as he walked out of the door. Lily started after him, throwing off her heels that she had on so she could catch up to the ice mage.

Chrono had gotten back up before she could get out the door and grabbed onto her wrist. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

Lily's head snapped back at Chrono. "I'm going after him!"

"You seriously are choosing him over me?! He's so fucking weak!"

"He was strong enough to knock you on your ass!"

"Yeah no thanks to you and your stupid magic!"

Lily pulled back her arm, forcing her wrist out of his hand. She quickly opened the door and ran down the hallway in search of Finn. 'Please don't be gone yet, please don't leave!'

Lily found herself down in the parking lot, her nose still picking up Finn's scent. She began to run for his car, his scent getting stronger. She winced as she stepped on small rocks as she ran through the parking lot. But that pain was nothing. She knew that look on his face, and it pained her to see it on him. Why was she so stupid? Why did she even let that jerk on her like that? The girl cursed herself as she ran for acting so stupidly around Chrono.

She finally caught a glimpse of Finn's blue hair in-between the cars, her heart racing as she ran over to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder as she spoke. "Finn, wait, please!"

His cool hand pushed her hand off, his face turned away from her as he opened his front door to his car. "I don't want to talk to you."

"Please! I'm begging you! Can we talk about this?!"

Finn turned and pointed a finger at Lily. "You want to talk?" The ice mage slammed his car door and started to get loud. "Alright! Let's fucking talk! Let's talk about how, I'm fucking sick and tired of you using me throughout the years, how you used me in school, how you've gotten me into so much fucking trouble back home with your dad and mine, oh and let's not forget how you say you and Chrono are through, yet I come back and find you fucking him!"

Hazel eyes began to tear up as she spoke back. "I wasn't going to fuck him! Nothing was going to happen!"

"Oh? Yeah? Is that why he had your fucking dress almost off when I walked in?!"

"Why do you even care about me and Chrono?!"

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, LIL!"

Lily's eyes went wide as she stood there. Finn turned around and ran his hand up through his hair, gripping it tightly. "I've loved you ever since we were young. And not the way a friend loves another friend… I actually love you." A laugh escaped Finns throat as he turned around slowly. "It's funny… I was going to tell you at dinner how I felt about you. I had it all planned out too. This week gave me the perfect opportunity to tell you finally. I'm such a fool for ever thinking you'd want to be with me."

Warm tears began to fall down tanned cheeks. "Why… didn't you say anything?" the dark haired girl moved in closer and grabbed his suit jacket. "Why didn't you just tell me?!"

Finn grabbed her hands and threw them away from his body. "I DID TRY! All those songs that we played together! All the things I've done for you! You mean to tell me you couldn't figure it out?! I was honestly starting to think you had feelings for me ever since we got here to this city! I guess I was wrong." Finn turned back around and opened his car door.

Lily raised a hand to his door, stopping him from closing it. "Where are you going?!"

"I'm leaving, and going back home. I'm fucking done here. I'm done with you. Oh, by the way." Finn said as he reached into his pocket. "I got these for you. Not that it fucking matters now." The ice mage threw the small velvet box down at the ground. Hazel eyes followed the small box. She brought back the hand that was holding the front door to Finns car open as he slammed it shut. Her tearful eyes went back to him through the window as she shook her head.

"Finn, please don't go! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for any of this to happen! I swear!"

Finn kept his eyes forward as he began to drive away, leaving the girl in the parking lot with the small box at her feet. Lily's eyes overflowed with tears as she fell to her knees. Her hands picked up the small box and opened it slowly, revealing the pair of earrings she had wanted the day before. A hand came up to her mouth as she stared at the small studs in the box. Hazel eyes shut tightly as she hung her head down. 'I'm so stupid… Finn… I'm so sorry!'

AN: yay for Finn finally telling lily?... boo how it happened? Sad kitty face…

It really sucks that I had to write what I did there at the end. Everything was going really well for Finn. He was finally happy for once in such a long time. Didn't worry about his dad, spent so much time with Lily, and not to mention, I loved writing them caz it was so damn cute!... now things have just gotten crazy…. :D next chapter might be up on Monday so watch out!

PLEASE REVIEW!