A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews of the last chapters my faithful readers! Loving reading from both those who kindly comment on every chapter, you know who you are, and receiving the great reviews from new readers. Enjoy this chapter... it was quite interesting to write.
'They Say That Good Things Take Time' – Chapter 19
The rain that trickled down the windows on that grey January morning did nothing to ease Lilly's discomfort. She stood and stared, gazing with unseeing eyes at the blank landscape on the other side of the glass from her cool bedroom. Her breath fogged up the area of the window near her mouth and her sky-blue eyes shone with emotion as she waited for someone to break the silence.
"Wow." Jess whispered, her voice breaching the quiet, yet receiving nothing more than a blink from her blonde roommate. "Sounds like an interesting New Year then Lilly."
Lilly sighed and changed her position so that her forehead was resting against the cold glass. She closed her eyes and tried to calm the thoughts that buzzed like angry flies, irritating her mind, whilst her heart was flooded with emotions that rose and fell in her breast as the waves of the sea relentlessly hit the sand. Eventually she removed her steady watch of fellow students bracing the foul weather and turned her attention back to her roommate.
Jess looked up again from her work as Lilly took a seat at the desk chair opposite her own, "So, what are you going to do about it?"
Lilly shrugged hopelessly and her voice was dull, a throbbing contrast to the anguish that she felt within, "I don't know."
Jess pushed aside her book as she prepared to give her stricken roommate her full attention, "Well, you've got to do something." When Lilly raised an eyebrow but did not reply, Jess sighed heavily and pressed on, "Lilly, it was left on such a cliff-hanger and then you just ran away! You don't know what Miley was about to say. From the sounds of it, she wanted you to stay and who knows what would have happened then. If I were you, I would pick up the phone and call her up, say that you want to meet and then tell her you love her."
Jess shrugged simply and granted her friend a smile as she gave Lilly the obvious answer to her plight, yet the blonde cringed in response, shrunk in her seat and replied in a small voice, "It's not as easy as that Jess. I've really screwed it up. Why do I always have to run away? Real mature Lilly." She scolded herself quietly.
Jess watched her friend closely, "Well, what do you think you should do?"
"What you said." Lilly could not help but reply, and offered a small smile as she knew that it would be the most sensible option. "But that just doesn't seem…" Lilly looked thoughtful while she sought for the answer, "…Like a big enough gesture." The blonde met Jess' eyes almost fiercely, "I want to do something that will say to Miley 'Look, I'm sorry about running away. I want to be with you, more than anything. I love you. Please forgive me. I'm yours.'"
Jess' face broke into a wide smile as she heard her roommate talk so openly about her feelings. It was touching to hear her speak the words, straight from her heart, without any need for disguising how she felt. She nodded her head while her own mind brimmed with solutions and, after delving into her desk drawer, she pulled out a form and a pen which she passed across to Lilly.
"Take a look at this and fill it in. I really want to help you Lilly." Lilly lifted the sheet of paper curiously, but after glancing at it for a moment, her eyes widened with fear and she looked searchingly at Jess.
"Jess, I can't do this."
"Yes, you can Lilly." Jess replied adamantly, "And we'll help you. Actually, I already talked to Tony…"
"What?" Lilly snapped in a raised voice, "You've talked to Tony?"
"Well, yeah. I mean he plays guitar and he's actually quite good at it. He was in a band in high school and I thought that he could help you work it all out."
"Work what out?" Lilly asked with a frown, but after a few moments of silence realisation dawned and her eyes shot open again, "Hang on… you can't be serious?"
Jess shrugged, "I don't know Lilly. It's just a suggestion. But I think that it will be the perfect statement at telling Miley how you feel. She wrote the song based on how she felt about you and now it will be beautifully ironic because it's the same feelings, only this time from your perspective."
Lilly's mouth had fallen open, "This is crazy." She replied and she got up from her chair to start pacing the room, "There's no way that we can pull this off. The gig is next Friday! So you're expecting me to work out the music with Tony and then sing in front of an audience? It can't be done!"
"Erm, yes it can Lilly! It's not impossible, it's not the biggest feat in the world and it's screaming out with the right message to Miley. God Lilly, you love her. Now it's time to show her that you do."
Lilly stopped her erratic movement long enough to stare Jess down, with hands on her hips she cocked her head to one side, "You just said God."
Jess sighed and shook her head, "That's what dealing with you does to me."
"I'm sorry." Lilly murmured and looked apologetic.
"That's okay. If you had really upset me then I might have sworn." Jess smiled at Lilly, who could not help but return the expression. "Good girl. So, you'll do it?" Jess asked with pleading eyes.
"Go on then." Lilly answered and slumped back into her seat once more.
Jess looked triumphant as she watched her friend fill in the form, the blonde was scowling slightly but inside she was pulsing with fear and excitement. Jess reached out to pick up her phone and, after receiving a puzzled glance from Lilly, explained, "We've got some planning to do."
Miley Stuart was frowning in annoyance as she hung her coat up on the back of her bedroom door. Her pants were darkened at the bottom as they had soaked up water from the endless miniature streams which flooded the streets on her way home from class and they were weighing her down.
"Sweet nibblets." The brunette mumbled to herself as she almost fell over taking off her ankle boots so that she may remove her sopping jeans to throw into the laundry basket. Miley wandered across the room to place her bag on her desk whilst revelling in the simple freedom of her bare legs, set loose from the confines of the tight, waterlogged denim.
A sharp knock on the door quickly brought Miley back to her senses and she inwardly cursed as she hastened to her wardrobe to pull on some dry pants. "Just a minute!" She called, somewhat irritably in the direction of the door whilst she struggled into the fresh clothes. With a sigh of content Miley stalked back across the room and wrenched her door open where she was faced with her drenched boyfriend.
"Will?" Miley said quietly as she gazed up into his face, which was glinting from rainwater and looking grim. "Erm, would you like to come in?" Miley asked and stood to one side as she gestured into the room.
"Not really." Will replied and looked uncomfortable. "I just came over here to talk with you, briefly."
"Oh." Miley breathed, "What's up?"
Will sighed, "I don't know. What's going on Miley? You haven't replied to any of my texts and when I call you to find out what's wrong, you always just blow me off. I've tried to meet up with you over the past couple of weeks and you've avoided all my plans…"
"That's not true." Miley interrupted, although internally she winced from her blatant deception of the truth.
Will obviously noted the fact for himself as he raised his eyebrows and adopted a sterner stance, "Yes it is Miley, and you know it is."
Miley glanced shamefully at the floor whilst the blonde boy waited for an answer. She heard Will sigh and run his hands through his damp hair and eventually Miley looked up to meet a pair of sad, grey eyes. "Well?" He asked her quietly.
Miley shrugged her shoulders as she tried to maintain eye-contact with the most perfect guy that she had ever dated, "I don't know." She muttered, her eyes flickering as if seeking a distraction from his mournful gaze, and she cleared her throat. "I don't know what's going on. I mean, I like you, but I'm confused."
Will quirked an eyebrow, "Confused about what Miley? There's nothing to be confused about. Look, I really like you. I mean I really, really like you. In fact…" Will rubbed the back of his head with one hand as he gathered together his thoughts and feelings, "…I think I could be falling for you. But suddenly nothing seems to be right anymore." Miley just looked lost as she heard her boyfriend reveal his deeper feelings for her, whilst inside she began to feel herself become torn apart over the choice she was going to have to make.
"You haven't done anything wrong Will. It's nothing to do with you, you're practically perfect. This is my problem and I'm the only one who can fix it."
Will looked frustrated and he took a step back from the door so that he could look at Miley properly, "What is there to fix Miley? Haven't I been good enough for you? I mean, I haven't pressurised you about anything. We've had an amazing few months and I have really enjoyed being with you. I've waited, more than any other boy would have, which has been hard when you're so damn beautiful and I want you so much. So that can't be the problem."
Miley opened her mouth in an attempt to speak, but her throat was sticking and she could barely grasp at any sensible thing to say that would appease the stricken boy before her. Eventually Will sighed and spread his hands in front of him, apparently coming to his last options, "Look Miley. You either want to be with me, or you don't. If you really wanted this then you would be going about it as whole heartedly as I have. I thought you were something special from the moment I first met you, and you are. You're one in a million. But I don't think you want me as much as I want you."
Miley felt tears begin to prickle her eyes as the handsome young man prepared to say goodbye to her, "Will, I'm so sorry." She sobbed, her body felt suddenly frail and she found herself leaning on the doorframe for support. "I didn't want it to end like this; it's really nothing to do with you. I've just got some issues which I need to address."
Will shrugged hopelessly and his grey eyes glistened forlornly as he looked upon the girl who he had fallen in love with, but would never have the chance to tell, "We were fine up until Christmas and then I think something happened which has changed everything." He stated. Miley raised a trembling hand to brush away the tears which streaked down her cheeks, "I don't know what happened, or why, but I wish it never had." He smiled sadly and reached out to brush back the hair which had fallen over one of Miley's eyes. "I've had a really great time with you Miles. But I don't think I have anything more to say than, well, I hope you have a good life. And see you around, I guess."
Will slowly slid his hand down to rest on one of her cheeks before looking searchingly into her eyes. With a sad smile, he gently drew his hand away and turned to walk the corridor to take his exit from Miley's life.
Miley closed the door behind her and crossed the room to where she found a tissue which she pressed into her streaming eyes in an attempt to staunch the flow. It was difficult saying goodbye to Will, but seeing him in such a state had only made her feel guiltier about the situation at New Year. She hated the fact that she had hurt the kindest boy that she had ever dated, and also the fact that she could not have given herself up to him in mutual feeling; but her soul only called out for one person. Her feelings for Lilly were throbbing in her breast, in time with her very heartbeat and set the rhythm for her life. She held her hand over this space in her chest, where her feelings for Lilly were at their keenest, and sighed as she realised that now there was nothing standing in their way. All that they needed was for one of them to start the ball rolling down the slope to their future; it would be slow at first, but when it picked up momentum she knew that she would be flying with it all the way.
The brunette lay back upon her bed and listened to the rain as it splattered against her window, revelling in the relaxing sound of it. It was a Friday night and she had the whole weekend ahead of her to plan how to talk to Lilly as well as doing her work for the following week. Miley felt emotionally drained and slowly her eyes began to close as she drifted off into an unexpected sleep.
A couple of hours later and Miley was turning over in her bed. Her brain was fuddled by slumber, yet through the clouds of delusion and half-finished dreams something was dragging her back into consciousness. Miley sat up sharply and push her hair out of her eyes as she stumbled across her dark room to end the source of her annoyance. Her phone was vibrating on the wooden surface of her desk, yet as she picked up the irritating item, her breath caught in her throat as she read the caller identification.
"Lilly?" Miley whispered to herself and her hands began to shake. She found herself hesitating, but answered it anyway, knowing that it could cut out at any second.
"Hello?" Miley breathed down the phone, her voice was still slightly thick with sleep, but she was quickly coming back to life.
"Erm… Hi Miley." Lilly replied nervously and Miley instantly relaxed her body posture.
"Hey Lilly, what can I do for you?" She asked tentatively.
The blonde cleared her throat and her voice was timid as she replied, "Well, I was just calling to ask you if you've got anything planned for tonight."
Miley frowned out of confusion as she contemplated her answer. She could not make out what her best friend was going to suggest so she decided to play it safely, "I don't know, I might be busy, why?"
"Oh." Lilly's voice fell gloomily and Miley's heart tugged painfully within her chest as she reflected just how alone Lilly was sounding. "Well, I was just wondering if you would like to come down to that bar I first saw you at again last term." She responded, but her voice sounded tight as if it was constricted from emotion and Miley did not interrupt, "You see, I'm actually going to be singing tonight." Lilly chuckled nervously as if Miley would find the very suggestion of it laughable. When Miley did not laugh at her friend, however, Lilly gratefully continued, "I just thought that I should invite you, because I thought you would like to see this for yourself. Oh, and also I'm singing one of your songs."
"One of my songs?" Miley reacted hoarsely; her eyes widened curiously, "A Hannah song?"
"No." Lilly stated strongly, "Not a Hannah song. A Miley song, one that Hannah doesn't really have any part in."
Miley gulped as her mind flickered at once to the very piece which Lilly was talking about, "That song?" She replied shakily.
"Uh-huh." Lilly sounded uncertain and she approached Miley sheepishly, "I hope that's okay?"
"Well, yeah. It's fine. But, that song's unfinished."
"I know." Lilly answered, "I just want to sing it. It means so much to me Miley."
Miley was certain now that Lilly was doing all that she could to keep herself from crying. The brunette did not want to upset her best friend further, and a plan was creeping slowly across her mind so she replied casually, "Okay then. Well it meant a lot to me too, and of course you can sing it. I hope you have a good night and, well, good luck!" Miley finished brightly.
Lilly was taken aback by Miley's abrupt response but brushed it off as she brought their conversation to an end, "Thanks Miley. I hope you have a good night too. Bye."
"Bye." Miley answered and hung up the phone. She felt her entire body cringe over regretfully and she put her hands to her face as she knew the disappointment that Lilly would be feeling, yet when the night reached its end, she knew that it would be worth all of the anguish.
Miley bit down on her lip as she slowly turned her attention toward her favourite object in the room and found her mouth stretching into a smile as she cast her eyes over her guitar. She crossed the bedroom in a few steps and picked up her beloved belonging, running her fingers along the strings before settling down to tune up. As Miley sat on her bed, across her mind were creeping new sentences of thoughts and she was finally reaching the conclusion which she had sought for years.
"Erm, earth to Lilly, do you read me?" Jess was waving her hands in front of the blonde's face in an attempt to bring her attention back to the situation at hand. Lilly was standing nervously toward the back of the room, as far away from the stage as she could get and had temporarily zoned out of all sensibility.
"Huh?" She finally reacted and turned to face her roommate who was looking at her anxiously.
"Are you okay?" Jess asked in a quieter tone, "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."
Lilly nodded, "I'm alright. I'm just scared." Lilly forced a grin but was soon glancing nervously around the room once more, "There are more people here than I thought there would be, and I don't even know if Miley's actually coming, so part of me doesn't even see the point in playing anymore."
Jess was following the fearful glimpses that Lilly was throwing across the room, but she could also see hope in the young blonde's eyes and decided to build on this fleeting insight, "Well she might come Lilly, you never know. Plus you don't want to let all these people down. Also I've heard you guys practice, you sound really good, and some of these other people don't stand a chance." Jess smiled warmly at Lilly before gesturing in the direction of the boy who was attempting to charm his harmless pet snake, but failing miserably to the amusement of his audience.
Lilly giggled as she watched his frugal efforts, "You're right. I just need to psyche myself up." Lilly looked over to where her guitarist was standing, talking with his girlfriend and sipping a beer, "Hey Tony! Come on, we need to go and warm up, we're on soon." Tony nodded in her direction before following her to tune up, just off the stage.
Jess watched Lilly from a distance and soon became aware of the fluttering butterflies in her own stomach as she began to feel nervous for the girl who would be playing soon. She knew that she had thrown Lilly into the deep-end with this scheme, and she was worried for her that Miley would not show. Lilly seemed to be submerged in talking through the performance with Tony, however, and so Jess risked taking an anxious glance in the direction of the door. Her timing was impeccable as she suddenly noticed a brunette carrying a guitar case, whilst trying to look as small as possible, enter and sidle up to talk to the manager. Jess smiled as she took in everything about the brunette, closely admiring her beautifully concerned features as she persuaded the man into allowing her to perform something. But what is she going to do? Jess pondered to herself as she followed Miley's movement to a table at the back, where she stopped and stood apprehensively watching the stage, as the lights in the room dimmed for the real performers of the night. Jess quickly turned around herself and resumed her focus to join that of all the other awaiting students in the bar; it was show time.
The lights went up on the stage and simply bathed the boy and girl in a warm yellow glow. Miley's breath caught in her throat as she cast her eyes over her perfect other half, Lilly looked so stunning and Miley's eyes sparkled fiercely; she was never going to let Lilly go, as long as Lilly wanted her. A movement from the blonde towards the microphone shortly brought Miley back to her senses and she waited with baited breath as Lilly nervously scanned the room before addressing her audience.
"Hello everyone, erm, my name's Lilly Truscott and this is my friend Tony and we're going to be playing a very short song for you tonight. It's short because it was never finished." Lilly's laugh was nervous but, as she noticed the warm smiles the people standing at the front were giving her, her voice strengthened and she cleared her throat to continue, "The song is called Goodbye and it was written by my best friend, who I don't think could make it tonight." Lilly's face was sad for a moment, yet she knew that the show must go on and so, with a nod at Tony she spoke for the last time, "I hope you all enjoy."
Miley smiled as the familiar acoustic of the single guitar came into play and she could not help but feel impressed that Lilly went to such lengths to work out the song. As her best friend started singing, Miley felt unexplainable joy bubble up throughout her body which conflicted with the sadder emotion that she connected with the song.
…I can honestly say you've been on my mind since I woke up today…
Miley quickly scanned through the audience and noticed that they were all enjoying the music and Lilly's performance. She was singing brilliantly. The blonde was wearing a black top and jeans, with her hair half up, half down, while some looser strands had fallen down to frame her face. Miley loved Lilly's simplistic style as it was one of the many things that made her unique and utterly desirable.
…I remember when we kissed…
It was now her time to edge slowly through the crowd, toward the side of the stage and ready herself for her move. Her eyes did not part from Lilly's figure and internally her heart was beating, sending out silent signals of praise to her beloved.
…I remember those simple things. I remember 'till I cry…
Suddenly Miley stopped short in her attempt to get to the stage as she felt an alien hand rest on her arm. She turned her head in surprise, but was only met with a pair of green eyes which she was certain she had seen before. Lilly's roommate was looking at her in slight shock, and with an arched eyebrow she whispered, "What are you doing?"
…The memory I want to forget is goodbye…
"You'll see." Miley replied and turned her focus back to the stage momentarily, her face assuming an expression of boundless love for Lilly who, oblivious to Miley's presence, kept on singing.
…And through my tears I sang along…
"That's my dork." Miley grinned at Jess once more, before offering her a friendly wink and then pressed on.
…Cause I know I'm wasting my time. And I don't mind…
Jess, with her mouth partially open, was stunned after Miley's remark. She stood, internally consumed, with suspended emotion as she realised that Miley was about to do something dramatic. Jess knew that Lilly had now reached the last chorus and, with the final lyrics of the music, she felt excitement tremor throughout her being as she awaited the climax of the evening.
Lilly smiled as she received an appreciative applause from her audience. Adrenaline was pounding her system and her hands were beginning to shake again as she shyly spoke into the microphone once more, "Thank you all so much, and goodnight!" Lilly turned to grin at Tony who gave her the thumbs up before leading the way off the other side of the stage. The blonde and her companion received pats on the back and words of congratulations, which Lilly barely registered as she tried to find her roommate. She soon spotted Jess weaving her way through the crowd, her face alight with multiple emotions, all of them directed at Lilly, who stopped in her confusion.
"What's going on?" Lilly asked with a lowered brow as the brunette clutched her hands.
"Look!" Jess gasped and pointed behind Lilly, in the direction of the stage.
Lilly's eyes widened as she turned to follow the source of her friend's apparent disturbance and then she froze as shock charged through her body and she caught sight of Miley on the stage.
"Hi." Miley said simply, her eyes ablaze as they made contact with Lilly's, which were wide and glowing with anticipation. Miley then resumed her attention to the small crowd of people who were becoming quieter as they noticed the new performer onstage. Miley cleared her throat and smiled sweetly at her audience, "Erm, hello everyone. This is just a little unscheduled moment of the evening, kinda tying in with the last song." Lilly looked at Jess who merely shrugged, the same puzzled expression playing across her own face. Lilly quickly turned back to Miley, who was already seeking her attention again, "Basically I'm the girl who wrote the last song, but I never finished it. When I heard that Lilly here…" Miley gestured at the stricken blonde in the crowd, who was looking fretful, "…was going to be singing it, I decided that an incomplete song was just not good enough and I was hit with new inspiration." Miley glanced over at Lilly once more with a warm smile, and the blonde promptly pulled herself together enough to manage a watery smile in return, "I couldn't have done any of this without Lilly. Tonight I finished my song and I'm dedicating it to her, my best friend, for always, and I only hope it means as much to Lilly as it does to me."
Miley cleared her throat and settled her fingers into position on the strings. She began to strum out the chords for the song, casting her eyes over a captivated audience while feeling her old love for performing return to her. It flowed through her blood and brought shining life into her eyes, simultaneously causing Lilly's heart to burst with affection as she watched her favourite teenage star take to the stage once more.
Miley began to sing, bringing in the final lyrics of the chorus to warm her audience to the song once more.
…I remember when we kissed; I still feel it on my lips. The time that you danced with me with no music playing …
Lilly blushed shyly as she felt Jess squeeze her arm and greeted her eyes with a smile. The sudden shift in the music, from the formation of the new verse, quickly caused Lilly to look back up at Miley, whose eyes were burning as they locked intensely with Lilly's once more.
Suddenly my cell phone's blowing up
With your ring tone.
Her voice was strong and emotional and the events which the lyrics had been created around stung Lilly with their reality, and she blazed within out of pure longing for Miley Stuart.
I hesitate but answer it anyway,
You sound so alone.
And I'm surprised to hear you say
Memories began to flicker across Lilly's mind as Miley sang the final chorus, which brought together the feelings that they had finally both come to realise they shared for one another.
…You remember when we kissed; you still feel it on your lips…
The blurred image of an airport filtered into Lilly's mind, where a pair of young girls stood to say goodbye since the blonde prepared to leave her teenage life in Malibu for good. As they drew away from their final embrace, their lips came together accidentally, yet one of their hearts was beating so strongly that she yearned for it to have been on purpose. The two then proceeded to laugh it off, but there was something in the brunette's eyes that lingered painfully, causing Lilly to stumble over the thought and put her fingers to her own lips; she remembered.
…The time that you danced with me with no music playing…
Seventeen year old Lilly Truscott extended her hand to her best friend, who had a bemused look playing across her face. She helped the other girl to her feet and soon they were waltzing around Miley's bedroom, to a silent rhythm which Lilly led them in. Sheer delight coursed through their veins and the same smile was on both their faces, as their hearts pulsed to the same rhythm.
…You remember those simple things…
And now a fresher picture was played in Lilly's mind. Lilly was sitting alone in her dorm bedroom, flicking through her old box of belongings, including the diary of their time in London. Miley had made Lilly breakfast, sung to her during the final concert and hired at a private compartment on the Millennium eye. She would have gone to the ends of the earth to find the things that Lilly needed.
…We talked 'till we cried…
Standing on Miley's balcony, not even a month before and Lilly was on the verge of tears as she told Miley that she had to make a choice as to whether she wanted her in her life. Miley's pause seemed to say to Lilly that she wanted none of this but, when the blonde turned to leave, the needing of the brunette's heart was enough to reduce her to a single sob, which hit Lilly deeply.
…You said that your biggest regret, the one that you wish I'd forget, is saying goodbye. Saying goodbye.
Lilly's eyes were glistening but she blinked back the evidence as Miley finished her song, never once having taken her eyes off her best friend. Lilly felt numbed all the way through, drenched in the love that she felt for Miley, so strong that it almost hurt.
With a great effort, Miley tore her gaze away from her silent blonde, who had not moved a muscle. She did not need to fear rejection anymore, but she felt the lights drowning her in claustrophobic heat and the room suddenly seemed suffocating. Miley made up her mind and, leaving Lilly to digest the tumultuous opportunity which she had just left out for her, fled the stage.
Lilly gasped and took a step forward in pursuit, only for Tony to grab her by the arm, "Lilly, she left her guitar on the stage."
Lilly turned around irritably, rage swiftly flashing through her as the boy interrupted. Her eyes blazed and he cowered slightly as he realised what he had done. "S-sorry Lilly, I didn't mean to stop you. I just thought you should know." He was looking humble and Lilly sighed from frustration as logic trickled back into her mind after the disturbance.
"You're right, she has left it behind." Lilly mumbled.
"You should take it to her." Jess cut in sharply, almost pushing Tony out of the way. She was secretly annoyed that he had intervened, so untimely, just when the suspense had reached its crescendo.
"Erm, okay." Lilly replied beginning to look flustered and her cheeks glowed slightly pink since she noticed that most of the people from the bar were staring at her.
"Are you alright Lilly?" Tony asked her quietly, trying to make up for his previous mistake.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just feeling hot."
"Maybe we should get you some water." Jess said and quickly marched to the bar to get her a glass.
Lilly just stood and seemed to wait quietly, yet the storm of emotion that she felt within served as a sharp contrast to her external expression. She knew that Miley wanted her to follow; it was finally as easy as that between them. Yet what she was going to find on the other side of Miley's door was making Lilly throb with both trepidation and desire.
Jess was soon at her side and a glass of water was pushed firmly into Lilly's hand. "Go on Lils, drink that." Jess coaxed her gently.
Mechanically Lilly lifted the glass to her mouth and found relief in the cold slide of the water down her throat. Her cheeks gradually lessened in colour, yet the fire rising up inside her was nowhere near quenched. Finally she thrust the glass into Jess waiting hands and marched towards the door. She did not need to say anything and, as her friends watched on behind her, she swung open the door and stepped out into the rain.