Author's Note: Hey y'all! How's life? Good? That's good. I know, I know. I should have updated sooner. But I have reasons: 1st, School has been crazy, so I've had tons of homework. 2nd, I started working again. Sure, it's only a summer job that hasn't fully started up yet, but I've been working weekends since the end of March. So sorry I haven't updated. I'll try to do better, but no promises, sorry guys.
Also, any italicized parts indicate journal/diary entries done by either Dylan or Lily.
Disclaimer: I don't own We Bought a Zoo or any characters involved. I do own the laptop I'm using to write this on, and this plot line is all mine.
I Think I Love You…
Chapter 2: Hiding These Feelings, Part One (Lily's POV)
Dear Diary,
It's been two weeks since I realized my feelings for Dylan. I haven't seen him much, seeing as it's June now, and the zoo is at the busiest part of the season. I've been working hard, trying to avoid him so I don't let my feelings slip. I have no idea how he's going to take it. Will he hate me? Will things be awkward? It's questions like these that keep my feelings in the dark.
I mean, I seriously don't know what to do, or how to act around him anymore. I don't think he feels the same way about me as I do about him. It's kind of a depressing thought. I have only spoken to him twice in the last two weeks, and I miss him. It's like a giant hole has been punched through my chest, and I don't think it will ever heal until I let him know how I really feel about him. How does one go about confessing their love for their best friend? Hmm… I'm not really sure.
I am in need of advice right now. I would go to Kelly, but she would tease me endlessly. I mean, I know she has seen this coming. Who hasn't? I mean, besides Dylan and me. I'm sure he won't feel the same way.
Would Kelly help me? Maybe, but she's been so busy I don't want to bother her. Plus, she's super stressed right now, and I'm not sure why. I mean, sure, the zoo is really busy. But we've dealt with this before, and it was much busier the year we reopened. Surely that couldn't be why she so stressed out all the time?
Speaking of Kelly and weird happenings going on with her, she has been eating a lot lately. And it's pretty strange stuff. Sardines in peanut butter, when she doesn't even like sardines? Of course, she's been putting peanut butter on everything lately. And she seems to be gaining weight, particularly in the tummy area. Could she be… Nah. Not possible.
Oh well. I'm off to finish my chores for the day, then off to bed I go. Maybe, before I go to sleep I will go talk to Kelly for a little while. Maybe that will ease my mind a little bit. Good night, and I will write again tomorrow, hopefully!
-Lilly M.
Sighing, I put my diary back in its secret place underneath my pillow. No one would ever see it there, hopefully.
I slid out of my desk chair, which is right next to the head of my bed. I hurriedly ran down the stairs to finish off my chores for the night. I still had to put all of the feed away and make sure the lights in the storage rooms were off.
Once I finished with my work, I made my way over to the Mee's house. I knocked lightly on the door, and it was opened to reveal a shirtless Dylan. He was only wearing a pair of sweats, so I figured he was ready for bed. It took me a moment to learn how to breathe again as I took in his slight, yet still visible, muscles. Man, he was good looking.
"Hey, Lilly. How are you? I haven't talked to you much," He told me, smiling in concern as my face began to heat up.
"I'm fine. Can I come in? I have to talk to Kelly for a few minutes," I told him. Was I imagining the disappointment in his dark brown eyes? Nah, probably not.
"Sure, come on in. You know where to find her," Dylan let me in, and I slid past him up to Kelly and Benjamin's room.
I found Kelly in there alone, with her hands curled around her abdomen protectively. She looked up as I came in, and smiled at me. "Hi, Lilly. What's up?" She asked.
"Umm… Can I talk to you for a minute? I need some advice," I confessed, blushing.
"Okay, sweetheart. What do you need?" She smiled at me encouragingly as I tried to figure out something to say.
"Okay, so I really, really like this guy." I told her. "But I'm not sure how to tell him how I feel without pushing him away."
Kelly tapped her chin thoughtfully, then grinned mischievously back at me. "Does this boy happen to have dark brown hair, brown eyes, and does he live on the property?"
I gasped, though I shouldn't have been surprised. I knew that Kelly knew that I had a crush on Dylan. She probably knew before I knew myself. I felt my cheeks grow warm. "Yeah, I really like him. But how do I tell him?"
"Well, you could always just come right out and say it. Or you could sing it to him, seeing as you absolutely love to sing." she told me, and I felt myself blushing harder. I couldn't sing to him, could I? "And you're really good, too, by the way," she added, smiling at me.
I thought about it carefully, then nodded. "What would I sing to him?"
I could see I had hit a road bump there. "Well, I'm not sure. I'm sure you'll figure something out."
I smiled and thanked her as I began to leave.
"Wait!" She called after me, before I could leave the room completely. "I have something to tell you."
"Okay." I said, coming to sit back down beside her on the bed. I could tell she was nervous, and a small blush covered her cheeks.
"Well…" She began. "I'm not sure how to tell you this, so I'm going to come right out and say it."
I nodded, intrigued. This couldn't have anything to do with her strange eating habits and weight gain, could it?
She steeled herself, and rushed out a quick sentence that I didn't understand, at all. I asked her to repeat it, slower this time. She took a deep breath and said, "I'm pregnant."
I jumped up, squealing, and hugged her. "Congratulations!" I crowed, squeezing her tight.
She pulled back a moment later and smiled at me, tears of joy in her eyes. "I've wanted a baby for so long, Lilly," she whispered. "And now I get to have one, with Benjamin. I couldn't be happier."
There was just one thing that was bothering me about this. "You haven't told anyone about this, have you?" I asked her.
She shook her head. "I'm not sure how they're going to take it. Benjamin and Dylan especially. I'm sure Rosie would be pleased, she's always wanted a little brother or sister." She took a deep breath. "But I'm not sure if Dylan will be happy, what with his mother dying, and all. And if Dylan's not happy, Benjamin won't be happy." Kelly sighed in defeat. "I don't know how to tell them."
"Kelly, Dylan's mom passed away years ago. Sure, he misses her and all, and wishes it were her instead of you, but he would love a baby brother or sister. I'm sure of it. And Benjamin wants a baby, too. I can see it in his eyes whenever he sees babies coming to the zoo with there parents."
"So, you don't mind? That there will be another kid in my life besides you?" She seemed legitimately concerned about this, so I looked for a way to reassure her.
I smiled at her and hugged her again. "I'm happy for you, Kelly. Really, I am, And I love you." With that, I blew her a kiss and left the room, hearing her call and "I love you, too," back to me. I walked slowly back to the Jaguar café, where my room was, thinking about everything Kelly had told me, from her advice on Dylan, to the news that she was pregnant.
I smiled to myself as I entered my room from the back door. It would be fun to have a new baby around.
I changed into my pajamas and turned my radio on, slowly drifting off to sleep. Right before the land of dreams took me, I heard the perfect song for me to sing to Dylan. It fit my feelings just right, and I couldn't wait to sing it for him. I then drifted off, thinking about Kelly's baby, and how excited Benjamin, Dylan, and Rosie would be when they found out.
A/N: So there you go. Sorry if it didn't make much sense. It's late, and I'm kind of tired. Let me know what you think, and I'll have the next chapter out as soon as I can get it done. I love reviews, so make sure to leave one. I'll see y'all next time, and I love you all!