Dancingwithmyshadow6: Thank you :-)
Ltfl: I like writing cute scenes.
Sally b: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Chapter Thirty-Two
It was later that day and Lily had already gone to bed, so Gem and Iain decided to start on the new series of Pretty Little Liars together. They'd ordered an indian and had already changed into their pyjamas, and Gem was secretly pleased to have an evening alone with her brother.
"So," Gem went to speak, whilst biting into a poppadom. "Are you and Lily an item then?"
Iain shrugged his shoulders and said, "yeah, I guess you could say that. Is that a problem?"
"No." Gem shook her head. "I like Lily, and you deserve a girlfriend. It's going to be hard though, you know?"
"What do you mean?" Iain frowned at his sister in confusion, his mouth full of food.
"Well, you could call her the most beautiful woman in the world and she won't believe you," Gem began. "She starves herself, Iain, and she cuts. Her self esteem is extremely low and have you not thought about the affect that it would have on you? You're basically her carer."
"I am not her carer," Iain said, smiling to himself. "You're being dramatic."
"And don't forget the fact that her last relationship didn't exactly end well," Gem said. "She's not used to romantic dates, kissing, spending time with someone who actually compliments her."
"Gem, I don't mind," Iain said. "I love Lily and we both had an amazing time today. She was different, you know? She smiled, she laughed, and it was lovely."
"She's not going to get better just like that," Gem said. "It'll take time."
"I know that," Iain sighed. "I'm not expecting it to be a two day job. I want to help her get better, I love her."
Gem smiled at him, and put down her fork. "You're such an amazing guy," she complimented her brother. "I'm lucky, and so is Lily."
"Thanks, Gem," Iain said.
He and his sister may have had arguments and there may have been times when she annoyed the pants off of him, but he loved her. He was pleased to have her back in his life and he never wanted to let her go again.
The two of them continued to eat, both of them wondering what on earth was going on in Pretty Little Liars. They'd been so engrossed in conversation that neither of them had really been listening to the show. They heard the sound of Gem's bedroom door click open and the sound of vomiting soon followed.
"She hasn't even been in the kitchen," Iain whispered to his sister, concern filling him.
"Did she eat today?" Gem questioned him.
"No," he sighed, shaking his head. "I had fish and chips for lunch. She had a bottle of water." He glanced across at the bathroom and said, "I'm going to go and see if she's okay."
"Do you want some help?" Gem offered.
"No, you carry on watching this," Iain said, standing up from the sofa. "You can tell me what happens, yeah?"
Gem nodded and gave him a sympathetic smile. "Sure," she said.
Lily had an appointment to see Connie the next morning. She wasn't looking forward to it anyway but then Iain had gone and informed Connie that she'd made herself throw up last night. She was angry at him for a short while, but she soon forgave him, she just worried about Connie's reaction.
She was just waiting for Connie to finish up in her meeting, when she strolled up to Gem in the shop. She looked bored as anything, desperately waiting for a customer to come along.
"Are you not busy?" Lily asked, shrugging her shoulders at her.
"No, and I'm bloody bored as well," Gem said, eyeing Lily up and down. "How are you anyway?"
"I am okay," Lily answered. "Tired though. Yesterday was lovely but it was a long day, and I haven't been sleeping too well."
"I know," Gem whispered. "Do you want anything anyway? A drink of something? It'll be on the house."
"No thank you," Lily said, but gave her a thankful smile anyway. "I have to go and see Mrs Beauchamp soon anyway."
"Of course," Gem said, just as a customer arrived at the desk. "Yes? Can I help you?" She asked, moving over so that she could deal with them.
Lily sighed and anxiously fiddled with her hair, before making her way over to look at the chocolate and various sweets that sat on the shelves. She gulped and her chest tightened at the sight of the food. She slowly turned and saw that Gem was busy making a coffee, whilst the woman rummaged around for the correct change in her purse. She wondered if Gem had told her that she wasn't too good at numbers. She turned back to the shelf and picked up a small Dairy Milk bar, dropping it into the pocket of the trousers that she was wearing.
"Gem, I'm going to go," she said, quickly making an excuse to get away. "Mrs Beauchamp will be wondering where I am."
"Okay, sure," Gem said. "I'll see you later."
Connie was already waiting for Lily in a cubicle. Lily stuffed her hands into her pockets and walked in. Connie gestured to the bed and she hauled herself up onto it, her fingers grasped around the Dairy Milk that remained in her pocket.
"So Iain told me," Connie said, without looking Lily in the eyes. "I thought that we were past all that, especially now you've started your sessions with Mary."
"I can't help it," Lily whispered. "And he didn't have to tell you anyway."
"I think he did actually," Connie said. "You're staying with him for the time being, and he cares a lot about you."
"He took me to the seaside yesterday," Lily said, as Connie carefully began to examine her.
"Oh yeah?" Connie asked. "What was that in aid of?"
"We're kind of together now," Lily said. "I feel sorry for him, having to put up with a mental case like me."
"Don't talk about yourself like that," Connie said. "You are by no means mental. What do you mean you're together anyway?"
"We're together." Lily gave a small shrug. "We kissed, and...He asked me to be his girlfriend."
"Are you sure you're ready for that kind of thing?" Connie asked, frowning at the young doctor. "A relationship is a huge deal and if you break up, then it could have a huge affect on your self esteem. It's already as low as anything. Also, the whole thing with Archie and..."
"Iain's different," Lily interrupted her, hating the way that Archie's name sounded. "He makes me feel good."
"Okay," Connie whispered, smiling at how happy Lily seemed. "Can I check your arms please?"
Lily shook her head, falling silent quite quickly, and removing her hands from her pockets.
"Please, Lily. I need to check." Her fingers curled around Lily's wrists and Lily faintly nodded, with tears in her eyes. "Thank you," Connie said, rolling her sleeves up gently.
The sight of Lily's cuts still upset Connie greatly and when she saw a few new marks, she thought that she was going to burst into tears. She said nothing though and just examined them to make sure that they weren't infected or in need of any urgent treatment. Luckily, they weren't.
"Sorry," Lily whispered.
"Don't." Connie shook her head, and rolled her sleeves down. "Climb off of the bed for me. I just want to weigh you quickly."
"Do you have to?" Lily asked her.
"Yes, I do," Connie snapped sternly, trying not to lose her patience. "Come on. I'll be quick."
Lily sighed and sat upright, before jumping down from the bed. Just as she did, the Dairy Milk bar dropped from her pocket and landed on the floor between herself and Connie. She bit down on her lip and hung her head, hoping that Connie hadn't noticed it. The clinical lead had though and pursed her lips together, whilst bending down to retrieve it.
"What are you doing with this?" Connie asked, holding it in front of Lily's face. "Were you going to eat this?"
"No," Lily whispered, shaking her head at her.
"Lily, talk to me," Connie said.
"I...I was going to eat it eventually," Lily said.
"Were you planning on hiding it until then?" Connie asked, knowing all too well about eating disorders from her experience of being a doctor. "Where did you get it from?"
"I...I took it from the shop," Lily admitted quietly, swallowing to hold back tears. "When Gem wasn't looking."
"So you stole it?" Connie asked. "Lily, what's going on with you? I...I hoped that you were getting better."
"I am," Lily whispered.
"Come here, sweetheart," Connie said, perching on the edge of the bed beside her. "What are we going to do with you?" Lily just shrugged, wanting to cry at how nice Connie was being to her. "Is this court case worrying you?"
"Of course," Lily said.
Connie sighed and stroked at her hair. Lily just kept her head hung, too scared to make eye contact with Connie in case she started crying.
"Everything will be okay, you know?" Connie said. "I promise. Do you want a hug?"
"A hug won't make me feel better about anything," Lily said.
"Oh I don't know," Connie laughed. "They usually help, I thought."
"It's not going to make everything go away though, is it?" Lily said. "I'll still be sad, I'll still be crazy, and I'll still have to attend court."
"Why don't I give you one anyway?" Connie asked, wrapping her arms around Lily and pulling her in for a hug. "I think I ought to give this back to Gem, don't you?" She said, referring to the chocolate. "Nothing more needs to be said."
Lily nodded into Connie's blouse, tears rolling freely down her cheeks.
"Now, whatever happens in court..." Connie began. "Myself and Iain will be there."
"Do you think I'll ever get better?" Lily said. "I hate feeling like this, I really do. People think that I can help it, but I can't. I really can't."
"I know, I know," Connie calmed her. "Don't you listen to a word people say. You will get better, it may just take a little while that's all. One of these days though Lily, you will start eating again and you'd have stopped cutting and you'll forget all about that person you used to be."
Probably one of my favourite chapters to write. So the court chapter is next, stay tuned :-) x