Author's Note: If you still care Simply Sarah I wrote listening to Schuyler Fisk's Fall Apart Today, Billie Holiday's I'll Be Seeing You, and Hellogoodbye's Dear Jamie Sincerely Me. Happy reading… (Now I'm going to go off and collapse from the lack of sleep.) Enjoy.
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(June 16, 2034 Lily/Oliver: 43 and Beatrix: 8)
LILY: I get up at exactly 6:00 a.m. My eyes open and the sun isn't shinning. It's my birthday. I roll over and bump into Oliver. He grunts and pulls the covers up over his head. I get up and stretch.
I walk to the kitchen and begin making coffee. As it brews I flip through the paper. Three people died in an accident on I-24. I frown and turn to another page. There's a sale at the Gap. I can smell the coffee now. I fill a cup and sip it carefully, still very hot.
I place my dirty mug in the sink and walk slowly to the bathroom. Oliver is still fast asleep. He is snoring and I smile at him before closing the master bathroom door. I turn the shower on and let it run until it gets nice and hot.
I close the glass shower door and let the water hit me. It feels so good. I wash my hair with my new cucumber shampoo/conditioner by dove. I pick up the slippery soap and rub it across my arms, legs, and stomach. I scrub my face a few times and then shut the water off.
The room is foggy and I have to wipe the steam away from the mirror. I look at my face. It's very thin. I don't like that. My cheeks look a little sunken in and there's bags under my eyes again. I shrug and pull out my razor and shaving cream.
I prop my left leg up on the edge of the tub and spread the white cream over it. I shave carefully. I'm planning on wearing my new green summer dress today. After I finish I rinse my legs clear of white cream. Something burns.
I look down and notice that I've accidentally cut my leg. It's only a small cut, but it still hurts. I dry off and wrap a towel around me. I blow dry my hair and decide not to bother with make-up today. I slip into my dress and now I'm done.
I open the bathroom door; Oliver is sitting up and rubbing his eyes clear from sleep.
"Morning…" He yawns. I walk over and kiss his cheek. I hear Bee running down the hall. She comes in and jumps onto the bed with a giggle.
"Happy Birthday Mom!" She says clapping her hands together.
"Happy Birthday Lily..." Oliver says softly kissing me on the lips.
Oliver makes breakfast in his gray boxers and white undershirt. He drinks the extra coffee I made from earlier and sets out eggs and toast for all of us. Bee is buttering hers and Oliver smears his with jelly. I watch them and smile.
"So Beatrix remember tonight you're going over Miley's so pack a bag of things to do." Oliver reminds her. He is taking me out somewhere for my birthday, sweet boy, but I hate surprises.
Oliver has taken the day off today. We hit the zoo with Miley and Jake and all of their kids. We all ogle and ooh and ah at the shows and animals. We have a picnic in the park under a tree. Beatrix says over and over how much she loves the polar bears.
Later when she isn't looking I buy her a stuffed one at the gift shop. Oliver picks up Bee and sets her on his shoulders. She plays with her polar bear who she names, Henry. It is a beautiful day. I keep mostly to myself soaking up the sunlight.
Back at home Beatrix whines about her sunburn. Oliver carries her upstairs and puts her down for a well do afternoon nap. I sit in the kitchen munching on an apple and staring at the clouds forming. Maybe it'll rain? I always did like rain…
I've finished my apple and I lean back in my chair and look at the stairs. Where is Ollie? I get up and quickly make my way upstairs. Our door is closed, odd very odd. I walk over and knock on it.
There is a loud bang I know he's dropped something. I hear him swear and scramble around picking whatever it is up. I wait before knocking again. "Oliver what are you doing?"
"Just hold on a second."
I tap my foot. And then I hear him walk to the door. "What's the secret passwords?" he chuckles through the door.
I tap my chin with my index finger and think. "… Fuck me." I whisper into the crack of the door.
The door opens with a quick jolt and Oliver is smirking and raising an eyebrow. "What a dirty little mouth you have."
I walk in and sit on the bed and smile. "You weren't kidding were you?" He asks tilting his head to the side.
"Please my dear, I never joke."
Oliver snorts and collapses on the other side of the bed. "Whatever Lily." He sighs rubbing his eyes. I lay down with him and curl up next to him. We're quiet for a second.
"I like this." He says running a finger up my bare arm. "I also like this dress."
"Why thank-you." I whisper. We kiss and then pull away. I rest my head on his chest. He pulls my hair back and sets it off to the side so it's spread out over my pillow.
OLIVER: "But I hate surprises!" Lily laughs.
"Lily either you shut-up or I take you home right now." I glare at her, but inwardly smiling. She just shakes her head and I keep driving. We've just dropped Bee off at Miley's house and I'm taking Lily downtown to the music shop.
"Why are we here?"
"Do you not understand the meaning of a surprise?" I ask her while unlocking the door and holding it open so she can go through.
The upstairs lounge was finished yesterday. Lily hasn't seen it yet and I want to surprise her. We walk up the wooden stairs. Lily's shoes click softly.
There are candles set up along the bookcases full of CD's. The walls are painted a dark purple. Considering Lily wanted blue and I wanted red and we couldn't decide I thought why not just mix them?
Lily, for once, is speechless. There is a small dinner set up for us on a wooden table next to the window that over looks the park. The sun is setting and I just stand in the back letting her take it all in.
She hugs me and kisses me. "I love it, thank-you."
"Think nothing of it." I tell her. We walk over to the table and I hold out the seat for her, she sits down and rolls her eyes at me.
We eat slowly, I watch Lily chew her food and glance around the room. Her skin looks warm and soft under the candlelight. She's wearing her mother's old pearls; they delineate her collar bones and the pale smooth area above her breasts.
She catches me staring and looks away, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. Lily's dress is simple and a light red. She isn't wearing any make-up. She looks beautiful. I sip my glass of white wine and we do not speak.
After we're finished I get from the table and walk towards the back of the room. Lily cranes her head back to see what I'm doing. I turn around and smile, it's a cake. I set it on the table and strike a match and light the single candle.
"Happy Birthday." I say sliding it to her. She looks up at me with her ocean eyes and smiles. "Make a wish." I whisper sitting down.
Lily closes her eyes and puckers her lips and blows out the candle. I clap and she laughs, her white teeth showing.
We eat our cake and I hold her hand from across the table. I clear the table by pushing the dishes aside. "Close your eyes." I say. She obeys and I get up slowly and walk over to the record player.
I slowly slide the record out and carefully place it on the record player. I put the needle down. There is a short hiss and then…
"Oh Oliver…" She breathes and I know it's perfect. "Thank-you."
I walk over to her and she opens her eyes as I take her hand. I sway with her to the musical stylings of Billie Holiday. I whisper the words in her ear and she giggles against my neck.
LILY: I turn over in bed when Oliver whispers my name. "Hum?" I sigh. I can make out his broad outline from the moon shining through the window.
"Was it a good birthday?" He asks timidly.
"The best, thank-you." I kiss him and turn back over to my comfortable position.
He wraps his arms around me and snuggles his head into my neck. I feel the stubble from his small bread rub against my skin. His breath is so warm and smells of his Crest toothpaste.
"Sweet dreams…" I tell him just as I feel his breaths become even and regular. I feel him nod and gently press his lips to my cool skin. Sweet dreamless sleep…
(June 18, 2034 Lily/Oliver: 43 and Beatrix: 8)
LILY: I'm staring off into space. Oliver and I are out to lunch. Bee is sitting next to me coloring on the napkins. I haven't time traveled in a while. And if I do then it's always in some unknown city.
I'm so good at breaking into stores or swiping wallets, purses, or credit cards that I could do it blind folded. Not that I'd try…
"Here we are!" Oliver smiles sitting down at the booth holding the book I left in the car. It's Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I grin at him and pinch his cheek.
"I always knew you were good for something Ollie." I tease letting go of him and sitting back into my seat. The booth is red and leather, it makes a loud unpleasent noise when you rub it the wrong way.
Beatrix stops drawing and begins writing with her blue crayon. Her handwriting is actually pretty good, considering her age. Bee's teachers have often complemtned her on her mad writing skills, along with her beahvoir. It's odd because at home Beatrix dances around in her underwear singing the Go Go's HeadOver Heels.
Her back is hunched over and a look of sheer dertinmation is written across her face. I try to see what she is writing but she hides it from my veiw.
"No! No looking! Not until I'm staisfied with the final product!" She says sternly. Oliver's mouth drops and I look at her strangely.
"Uh Bee? What have you been reading lately?"
She blushes. "James is reading Chaucer to me." She goes back to writing and I burst out laughing along with Oliver.
"And why is that?" Oliver smirks.
"Because I asked him too, I saw it on the shelf and asked him too." She says simply shrugging it off.
I shake my head. "Bee, do you even understand what he's reading to you?"
Bee shifts around in her seat. "Sometimes… maybe… no." Oliver just sips his pop and smiles. I hold out my hand across the table and he takes it. His hands are cool from gripping the ice cold beaverage.
(February 14, 2008 Lily: 43 and Oliver: 17)
LILY: I look around, there aren't any cars in my driveway. I see Oliver's car in his driveway. I jump up from the bush I'm hiding in and race across the street covering my chest.
I knock and wait. I knock again, I'm getting a little pissed now. It's four in the afternoon and I know at any minute some little kid is going to see me and-
"Lily?"
It's Oliver, he has a sandwhich in his hand. "Hey buddy." I wave while laughing nervously. "Wanna let a naked lady in?" I know it's past the time I've told him about myself. The paper I found lying in the trash says it's valentines day. Ooh.
He quickly grabs my arm and leads me inside. He's parents aren't home. His brother is at boy scouts and sister is out at dance practice. I slip into Oliver's mom's old stuff, a pair of sweat pants and big T-shirt.
I sit indian style on the couch. Oliver collapses in the cream colored chair in the corner and sighs.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"… I hate valenine's day." He answers gruffly.
"You ane me both." I snort laying down on the couch stretching out. I roll my head to the side and stare at him. By his silence I'm guessing something bad happened today. I rack my brain and try to think.
"Hey Ollie? Did something uunfortunate happen today?" I ask dryly.
"What gave that away?" He bites back bitterly. Whoa, whoa! What is up?
I sit up and try to make eye contact with him, he avoids me. "Oliver? Come on tell me what's wrong?"
"When do you and I get together?" He is frowning with a very fierce un-Oliver like look in his eyes.
"You know I can't tell you…"
"Yes you can! You can! Just tell me already! You're killing me." Oliver shouts, exasperated.
"In good time. Now tell me what's up or I'll knock some sense into you. And believe me time has only made me stronger." I joke. Oliver just keeps frowning, man, tough crowd.
"Katie and I went out yesterday." Oliver states after a minute. "Ring a bell?"
Oh, I'm so slow! I gave Oliver hell today! I stomped around acting like a four year old because I was wild with jealousy. Oliver went out with Katie and I hated him for it! And then I said some very unforgivable things to him.
"I'm sorry Oliver." I don't know what to say. I basically told Oliver to go to hell and that I hated him today. I was harsh, I was mean and insensitive.
"Why would you say those things to me?" Oliver asks looking at his feet with a defeated frown.
"I was upset Oliver. You have to understand that I love you. I love you so much in this time and the next. And right now I'm going through some really shitty things. And seeing you with stupid Katie really sent me through the roof… and not in a good way. Can you please forgive me?"
Oliver shrugs. "I don't know. I want to be with you two. But since Katie asked me I didn't see the harm in going out. And I thought it'd make you jealous and admit your feelings sooner."
I shake my head. "Be patient with me. I'm a mess right now."
"But why? What's wrong? Is it the traveling thing? Just give me a clue so the next time you scream at me and slap me across the face I'll know why!" Oliver is pleading with me; his brown eyes are burning holes in mine.
"… I was hurt." I say softly.
I notice the sudden stiffness in Oliver's position in the chair. "What?" He says through his teeth.
"The me in this time was hurt by a stranger. It happened a few days ago. And seeing you with Katie really did not help. I took my anger out on you."
"But you don't have any marks or bruises." Oliver says with scared eyes.
"It's on my arms. It was this guy, he held me against the wall… oh don't look like that please. Ollie I hate that face, this happens to me a lot. Its just this was the very first time and it really scared me."
Oliver looks like he's going to be sick. He closes his eyes and his fists curl together very tightly. I get up from the couch and put my arms around him. I hear him sniff and I feel hot tears on my neck.
"It's going to be ok Oliver. You make all the pain go away. It's because of you I smile again."
We pull apart and Oliver turns from me. He doesn't want me to see him crying. I sit on the arm of the chair and wait for him to regain some kind of control.
"I hate that I can't help you. I hate that I'm useless." He whispers fiercely, still not quite meeting my gaze.
I rub his back. "You do fine. And your not useless, want me to restate that last statement? You make everything clear and perfect again. Okay?"
He nods and I kiss his head. I stand up just as the doorbell rings. It's me coming to apologize. Oliver glances up at me with red eyes. I nod and he stands and walks to the door. As I hear my younger self being to babble about how sorry I' am, I vanish knowing that Oliver stops my ramble with a safe warm hug.
(June 21, 2034 Oliver/Lily: 43 and Beatrix: 8)
OLIVER: I've just finished cleaning up after dinner. Lily has been gone for about two hours. I take a seat on the couch and rub my tired eyes.
"Ollie…" I hear her voice from the other room. I open my eyes and find Lily walking over and sitting next to me on the couch. She's wearing my bathrobe.
I smile at her and she pulls me into a close hug. "If I could I would trade eternity to stay in your arms for one single moment." She whispers in my ear slowly.
"Where's this coming from?" I smile kissing her cheek.
"February 14, 2008." She says with tears lining the edges of her eyes. Oh…
….
Author's Note: I hope that last statement wasn't too corny. I try to avoid the cliché moments. Hopefully it was a good read. Leave your thoughts…