'They Say That Good Things Take Time' – Chapter 15
The blonde student stopped and stared up at the building which she would now be calling home for the next year. It was old and grey, a simple block of flats full of shared spaces for like-minded people with a faintly lower budget. Her sky-blue eyes were filled with a mixture of excitement and slight terror as she contemplated meeting new people, living by and for herself, whilst trying to forge a new path in life. At least the weather was complimentary and the sun shone down warmly on the day, making moving into her college accommodation a pleasant experience for Lilly Truscott.
Her parents were by her side in this endeavour and her brother Matt was especially useful as he could sense his sister's fear, so the kindly smiles he sent in her direction spoke more than the words of her edgy parents ever could. Their connection as siblings had been only made stronger by their shared holiday during their summer vacation and, with his help; finally all of her belongings had been moved into her room. Lilly did not have the benefit of moving in first, but her new roommate had left her a comfortable bed combined with the desk that sat in front of the window. It did not take Lilly long to unpack with her mother fussing around her and colour-coordinating her clothes as they went into the closet. Lilly did not have many things, but she considered this a bonus as that way the room she was sharing room would not be cluttered with her belongings.
Eventually her bed was set up with the linen and covers from home and even this small change instantly made the room more welcoming. Lilly had limited herself to only a couple of posters but lots of photographs of herself with her family and two best friends. She had to drag her mother away from the final box which was still to be unpacked and led them all down the stairs to leave.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay sweetie?" Heather Truscott asked her only daughter. Her eyes were prickling dangerously from the inevitable onslaught of tears at losing her second and last child to further education.
"Yes mum, I'll be just fine." Lilly replied and forced her face to put on a brave smile, whilst her insides twisted from apprehension.
"Don't worry about the Lilster mum she knows what she's doing. Besides, you moved her halfway across the USA; she knows how to make new friends in a hurry." Matt stepped in and winked at Lilly, who felt as if courage had been injected into her veins from his brotherly pride.
"Right then," her father interrupted as he took one last scan up at her new home, "we best be off." He smiled at his daughter and pulled her into his arms for one of their rare moments of compassion. "Good luck sweetheart," he whispered into her ear, "I know you'll do us proud. I'm very proud of you." His voice was gruff and as he released Lilly, the blonde was sure she saw tears lining the edges of her father's eyes.
"See ya later sis." Her brother muttered as he stepped forward to say his goodbye. "You'll be just fine, I know you will. And if you have any questions or anything bothers you, then just give me a call and I'm sure I can take five minutes out of my hectic schedule to talk you through stuff with you." Matt spoke quietly, as if afraid of his parent's reaction at discovering his sensitive side, which he only reserved for certain moments.
"Thanks Matt. Take care yourself." Lilly said with a small smile. Nerves were beginning to flitter more rapidly through her system and watching her parents about to leave became incredulously more difficult as her mother practically threw herself on her.
"Oh Lilly, my darling, please do take care of yourself. Don't do anything stupid; always walk home with friends if you go out. Study hard, but not too hard, I don't want you stressing yourself out over anything. You know that we're just a phone call away and you are always welcome home again."
Lilly smiled into her mother's hair, breathing in the last few traces of home and felt tears creeping down her own cheeks as she stepped into the next chapter of her life. "I know mum, I will, I'll be okay." She murmured back and met her mother's watery eyes again.
"I love you honey." Her mother whispered, looking around as if afraid that she had embarrassed her daughter.
Lilly giggled at her mother's sudden awareness after her dramatic outburst and responded, "I love you too mum. Have a safe drive home all of you."
"We will. Don't forget to eat tonight!"
"Mum, how could I possibly forget to eat?" Lilly questioned.
"Yeah Lil's got a point there. People don't call her Pig Girl for nothing!" Her brother shouted out of the car window, where he was already sat and urging his father to drive due to his secret hate of goodbyes.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny." Lilly reacted with a roll of her eyes before lifting her arms and waving goodbye to her family. She watched her mother dabbing at her eyes with a tissue and her insides groaned as she watched her try to be happy, although it was causing her so much pain to lose her daughter. Her father's face was serious, although he did manage to smile and Lilly could see that he was proud of her. Lilly watched her family until their car rounded the corner and they were out of sight. She crossed her arms in front of her as she felt the nervous butterflies build up within her once more, before she turned around and wandered inside to finish unpacking.
The single Hannah Montana poster which Lilly allowed herself to bring was almost completely stuck up on the wall when Lilly heard the door to her room creak open. She turned her head around so fast that she nearly cricked her neck, but managed a smile at the nervous-looking girl who entered the room.
"Hello." Lilly greeted, somewhat bashfully and she rubbed the back of her neck in an attempt to massage it after the damage she almost caused to herself.
"Hey." The other girl responded. "You must be Lilly right?"
"Yup, that's me." Lilly answered and grinned at the other girl who smiled warmly back. "And you're Jess?"
"Yeah that's about it." The other girl walked into the room, with an outstretched hand that Lilly shook gratefully.
"It's nice to meet you. How long have you been here for?"
"Oh, only an hour before you moved in." Lilly's new roommate replied. "My dad drove me up and helped me unload. I've already unpacked as you can see." She finished and gestured around the room.
Lilly smiled as she noticed the other girl's neatly stored belongings, mentally prompting herself to remember to keep her half of their shared space tidy. She quickly pushed the remaining, unpacked, box underneath her bed to save for later. Jess seemed like a nice girl, they had communicated in a few emails during the summer and Lilly knew some things about her already. In terms of appearance, she had a friendly face which was covered in a light dusting of freckles. She was tall and thin with long, dark hair and wore glasses over her pale, green eyes. Jess had a kindly smile and Lilly also knew that she took part in a few church activities, but the girl did not come across as a hardcore Christian. In fact, the only symbol of her religious nature was the plain, silver cross which hung around her neck.
"Erm…" Jess was staring at the wall behind Lilly, "I think your poster's about to bite the dust."
Lilly twisted round and noticed that half of her Hannah Montana poster had folded over itself. "Oh right, thanks." Lilly replied and quickly hopped onto her bed to fix it back into place.
Jess stood and watched Lilly with a thoughtful expression on her face as her eyes flicked over the image on the poster. "Hannah Montana…she's pretty good."
Lilly turned around in response to Jess' statement about her best friend's alter-ego. "Do you like Hannah Montana?" She asked.
"Yeah, I think her music is quite good actually. Also I think she's a really good role model for children. Shame that she's retired though, I never did get to see her in concert." Jess sighed and then shrugged lightly, "How about you? I mean, I can see that you've got a poster so you're obviously a fan, but have you ever seen her live?"
"Well…" Lilly replied and twiddled her thumbs together nervously; unaware of how much of the truth she should disclose to someone that she had only just met. Jess seemed like a decent person and she looked trustworthy, but there was plenty of time for them to get to know one another further so Lilly only settled for a light explanation. "Yeah, I'm quite a big fan of Hannah Montana." She grinned and then blushed, "I've been to quite a few of her concerts and I've actually been backstage too."
"Really?" Jess asked and her mouth fell open slightly from surprise. "That's pretty cool Lilly."
"Yeah, I know it is cool. I'm really lucky that I've actually got to meet her a few times too. She's a really nice person, and wants to give a lot to her fans. I think she's retiring for a while because she needs to get on with her own life for a bit. The media are pretty crowding and I think that she deserves to live her life like a 'normal' person for at least a little while, after giving so much of herself away for the past few years." Lilly paused to breathe after her rant and her cheeks turned a shade pinker as she realised how much she had praised her best friend.
"Definitely." Jess replied and smiled warmly at Lilly again, "You speak really nicely about her. I think you guys were friends." There was a twinkle in the taller girl's eyes but it was only friendly and invited Lilly to trust her.
"Well… yeah, we were. Well, we kind of still are friends too. But, erm, it's probably best if not everyone knows about that." Lilly finished and coughed slightly nervously.
Jess laughed, it was a sweet sound and made Lilly like her even more. She was such an easy-going girl. "Don't worry about it Lilly. Your secret is safe with me."
"Thanks. Do you think it's strange that you already know so much about me?"
"Well, we're roomies now. We're going to get to know a lot about each other and because we live together, we'll know a whole lot more about the little habits and stuff that we have than anyone else." She was smiling brightly and nostalgia clouded her eyes. Lilly sat down on her bed, prompting Jess to share her memories and her thoughts. "I worked as a camp councillor over the summer, so I know quite a lot about what it's like to share space with other people. Although, I have to admit, that this is a much better setting for it."
Jess chuckled as she continued to tell Lilly several stories from her life in camp. The blonde was only too happy to sit, listening and contributing, to the ebb and flow of her new friend's conversation. It was effortless talking to this girl and Lilly was glad that she had met someone as kind on the first day. Getting to know people like Jess was going to make this year so much easier.
On the other side of the campus, a slightly pink brunette had finally finished unpacking her books onto the shelves above her desk. After grazing her eyes over the morning's work with a look of pride, she slumped onto her new, double-bed and allowed herself a few moments to relax. She gazed around her room at all of the belongings she had earlier stuffed in her father's jeep, whilst her brother had looked on, shaking his head and announcing that she was taking too much. The shouting battle which had then ensued only added an extra half-hour to her father's schedule, but after much rolling of eyes, followed by a sobbing goodbye on her older brother's shoulder, she had finally made it to college.
The room which had been selected for her was one of the best that the college had to offer. All of the hard earnings from working as one of America's top, teen pop-stars had not been sweated out of her for nothing, and the double-bed with ensuite bathroom was proof of that. The view out of her windows over the college grounds, dotted with tree tops and flowerbeds was more than perfect, especially as the morning sun would greet her and she could keep her eye on the hive of activity that was students walking to and fro. Miley Stuart smiled to herself; she had finally made it.
As both girls adjusted to their fresh surroundings, and slowly trod paths about the campus, gradually wearing in their new lives, several things happened. For a start, Lilly Truscott learned the joys of sharing a shower with the six other girls in their hallway. She was able to amuse Jess on only their second day inhabiting the building of how she had almost killed herself slipping on someone else's bar of soap. This was followed by cringing as she overheard another girl getting too friendly with a boy she had spent the previous night with. Miley attended orientation and discovered that finding her way around the maze of corridors within her teaching buildings was an experience in its own, injecting reminiscence of her first days of high school when everything was so new and scary. Both girls went on to meet new people and share first experiences of college life with them, including parties and illegal booze, which some boy always managed to sneak in. They also attended their first classes, taking endless notes and analysing their lecturers afterwards over coffee with their peers. The one thing that the girls did not have a chance to share in, however, was each other's company.
Miley was sat in her one of her final lectures of the first week; her head perched on her hand whilst her fingers twiddled lazily with her pen. The old man at the front of the room was filling up the space using such a monotonous tone that Miley believed she was close to sleeping, and so she spent the second half of the hour in daydreams. As the class came into its last ten minutes, however, the brunette felt her skin prickling as if she were being watched. She emerged from her stupor and cast her eyes about the room to find the source of her discomfort. Miley shortly discovered that the stares she was receiving emanated from the grey eyes of a blonde boy only a few rows away. She raised her eyebrows as her face adopted a puzzled expression when the boy smiled gently at her, before resuming mock attention toward their lecturer. Miley frowned and looked down at her notes. She shook her head and told herself to think nothing of this attention; he was obviously just taking in the scenery. She glanced up again and was met with the same grey eyes, now twinkling with amusement as they watched her watching him. Miley felt the corners of her mouth twitch involuntarily as she glanced over the appearance of the boy who had seemingly taken interest in her. She had to admit, he was attractive, in a preppy sense. As the class came to a conclusion, she noticed that he was tall too, with broad shoulders and a handsome face. Miley shivered slightly when she noticed him approaching her. He walked past, as if he did not see her, but just after he walked away, he turned back and looked intently at her. Then the boy smiled, and Miley smiled back before he walked on, and, as she turned away, her insides bubbled whilst the image of his face imprinted itself on her mind.
One Friday evening, a couple of weeks into their first term, Lilly was studying at her desk, trying to absorb information so that she would be prepared for her class the following Monday. She was subconsciously sucking on the silver pendant which hung around her neck and had to spit it out yet again, before absentmindedly fiddling with the chain as she attempted to complete the page of boring text. Jess was on the other side of the room, sprawled across her bed and knitting a scarf, because that was all she knew how to make so far. Lilly sighed and rested her head in her hands, growing slightly frustrated at the fact that she could never motivate herself to work earlier in the week. A giggle from her friend soon brought Lilly's attention back to the room and she swivelled her desk chair around to face her.
"What? What are you laughing at?"
"Just you. I don't understand why you didn't do this work the other night when you were complaining that there was nothing to do around here."
Lilly grinned and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. I've always worked like this, and I know it's really dumb. Besides, I did find something to do, didn't I?"
"Lilly, discovering where the skate park is, is not the same as studying for class." Jess giggled again.
"I know, I know." Lilly sighed and ran her hands through her hair. "Maybe one day I'll change, but who knows when that will be."
She turned back around to gaze lamely at the pages in front of her as her friend returned to the gently clicking of her knitting needles.
"Do you have any plans for this weekend yet Lils?" Jess asked casually as she concentrated on threading her wool.
"Nope, not yet anyway. What about you?"
"No. I was thinking about going along to one of the Christian society things and maybe signing up for some volunteering programs, but other than that I've got nothing planned."
Lilly nodded her head in agreement before flicking open her cell phone to check for new messages the third time that hour.
"Who are you expecting to text you Lilly?" Jess inquired.
"Hmm? Oh, no one in particular. I just haven't heard anything from Miley yet and I thought I would have done by now."
"Oh right." Jess replied, before pausing her knitting for a moment to ponder, "Why don't you message her?"
Lilly thought for a moment and turned her chair around to face her friend again, "I don't know really. I guess I could do, it's just strange because normally she's the one who's the organiser."
Jess shrugged, "Maybe she's been busy Lil."
"Yeah that's true. And Miley does like to get ahead with her studies." Lilly answered before looking sheepish as she thought about her own, belated method of learning.
"Well, you won't do any harm in trying to meet up with her. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."
"Yeah, you're right." Lilly sighed. "I'll text her later, after I've finished reading this chapter."
It was two weeks after Miley had established that she was being stared down by the attractive, grey-eyed male in her English class, that she now found him standing opposite her outside her doorway. She fiddled nervously with her keys as she stared at the floor. The sound of his throat clearing made Miley almost jump and she looked directly up into the twinkling eyes that gazed down on her.
"I've had a really nice night with you Miley." He spoke in a soft voice, layered with politeness and warmth, "I'd really like to do this again, if you'd like to?"
Miley swallowed in an attempt to moisten her dry throat and get it working again. She smiled, which only added to her slight blush, as their eyes connected and she nervously replied, "Sure. It would be great to do this again. I've had a really nice night too."
He smiled and Miley could not prevent the slight fluttering that took place in her stomach, just as she could not cool the heat in her cheeks. He was such a nice boy, courteous and understanding, and she had truly enjoyed their evening. As she lost herself in her reflections on what exactly had taken place that night, she suddenly became aware of his body looming closer to her own. He smells nice too, Miley thought dizzily to herself as his masculine aftershave overtook all of the other smells which hovered around her, due to his proximity. She tried to block memories of the other smell her body recognised and reacted so strongly to, and squinted slightly as she attempted to prevent images of a young, blonde woman, stirring up inside her mind.
The boy standing next to her seemed to take this action as a signal and Miley quickly became aware of a blurred object descending closer toward her face. She shut her eyes properly for fear of laughing or falling over from shock, whilst she awaited the inevitable. Miley soon felt a pair of lips lightly touching her own, and his hands rested evenly on the tops of her arms. She tilted her head up toward her new acquaintance and opened her mouth slightly, moving it against his in a very gentle and conservative first kiss. Slowly the boy drew away with a half smile playing across his lips. Miley smiled back, partly in relief, but also out of happiness. He really seemed to like her.
"Erm…I'd better get going." He said quietly, one hand ruffling up his hair, whilst the other squeezed her arm gently. "I'll give you a call though and we'll do this again, yeah?"
"Y-yeah, sure, sounds great." Miley said with a smile.
"Cool, see you around Miley."
"Bye Will. Thanks for dinner." Miley called softly down the corridor, before letting herself into her room and flumping onto her bed.
Miley screwed her eyes shut and rubbed her face with her hands. She had just been on the most perfect first date in a beautiful restaurant with excellent conversation. It had been sophisticated and he was charming, good-looking and generous. He was her type, if she even had a type, and Miley was determined that she was going to make this work.
Tiredness soon descended on her and, after realising that it was now quite late, she set about getting ready for bed.
As Miley picked up her cell to set an alarm for the next day, so that she could study in the morning, her phone jumped into life with a bleep, which made her drop it.
"Sweet nibblets." Miley mumbled to herself as she swung her legs out of bed and wandered the short distance across the room to where her phone had skidded. As Miley returned to her blankets and cosy mattress, she opened the message and could not help but smile.
Hey Miley, just wanted to say again what a great night I had with you. Sleep tight. –Will
The brunette grinned to herself as she hauled her legs up in bed and huddled herself into a ball as she considered replying. She rocked herself backward and forward in amusement for a few moments before deciding that she would be better off leaving it until the morning to respond. Miley quickly tapped in the settings for her alarm before returning her phone to her nightstand and reached across to switch off her bedside light. She was distracted once more, however, by another bleep and she sighed in fake exasperation as she picked up her phone again.
The smile which had wound itself across her face suddenly dropped and she froze on opening the message. Her heartbeat increased slightly as she noticed that the message was from the very person who she had heard least from over the entire summer break.
Hey Miles, long time no speak I know. Sorry about that, and sorry for being so lame and always expecting you to do stuff first. Just wondering if you wanted to meet up for chats sometime soon. Miss you, Lils. Xox
Miley gulped and lowered her phone into her lap. She was filled once again with the unnerving desire to drop everything else, reply to Lilly straight away and fill her life up again with the blonde's vivacious presence. Miley shook her head, it had been a long time since they last saw one another and she could wait a little longer. To meet up with Lilly again would be wonderful, but Miley was not sure whether she was ready. Perhaps she should spend a little bit more time with Will first. Miley switched off her phone and set it beside her on the table; she was determined not to be disturbed again that night.