Hey guys! Thanks for supporting the blunders and such of Lily and her friends. If you get tempted to slap Shirley, that's great. She deserves it. Haha. Well, here is another chapter. I hope you enjoy and you'll get to see the surprise hopefully next chapter. I'm working my tail off to finish this and get all my homework done, so wish me luck, Enjoy!

Lily

Friday was upon us. I had dropped Hannah off at her house later the night before(her stuff was stuffed in my backseat). It was about 11 when I got home. I pulled on my pjs, and went out like a light. It was such a great night, I kept remembering in my dreams. Then I woke up, late. I scrambled to get dressed, making it there just in time. I didn't even get to watch the weather!

As we were marching, finally getting the last few sets really in our memories, dark storm clouds came up. The wind was nice and cooling, but it held the threat of a complete drenching rain. Everyone looked up at the ominous clouds as a deep roll of thunder echoed off the high school. A flash of lightening lit the sky, and the thunder rolled.

"Oh, we're going in reeeaaallll soon." I whispered to Hannah.

"Yep!"

We worked the sets a few more times, trying to get in as much practice before the rain hit. As we were running through the set for the "last time", it hit. The raindrops were big and fat, plopping on us in a steady rhythm. In only a few minutes, we were all blinded! The rain started dropping faster and faster, but we kept going. The sounds of our voices ringing out the counts as the drum captain tapped them out on a cowbell was heard above the rain and thunder. I smiled as we were doing really great and the rain cooled us off.

"14,15,16, halt!" The shout echoed all over, followed by a roll of thunder. The sky was with us.

"Alright guys! Head in!" Stewie shouted at us above the rain.

"Whooo!!" We ran heading to the band hall. The rain hit us harder now.

I laughed as I reached my destination. I went out back into the rain, spread my arms and spun around, enjoying the feel of it, cooling my feverish skin. I opened my eyes to see many of the band doing this. We decided to play in the rain. There was a giant game of tag, ninja destruction, wah. I loved it as peals of laughter erupted all around me.

After a while the rain stopped. We went inside to have lunch, soaking wet, and completely happy. Nate, Hannah, Jordan and I all went to our table. We were still laughing about the fun we had had in the rain. We talked of the night before, how great it had been. Then the topic turned to the big surprise for next week.

All to soon, the lunch hour was over. We went inside to practice our stand tunes, new music I had to copy(which took forever!). But it was fun. Another round of rain came as we left. I went home, glad to be there and took a warm shower to rid myself of any cold that might think of creeping up. There was no way I was going to miss next week.

The weekend passed slowly and leisurely. It rained all day Saturday, leaving me to finish my summer reading. Sunday was church, and preparing for the big surprise. I got on AIM later, after my fingers were raw and red. I saw Jordan was on. I decided to let him talk to me if he wanted to. I ad learned my lesson over the years about him.

I was checking my MySpace when a little box popped up. It was an IM from Jordan. My heart was racing!

jorjor-binks:heyya stranger

rosie91:hey!what's up?

jorjor-binks: nothing. Have fun friday?

rosie91: you know it! I haven't played in the rain in years!

jorjor-binks: I know what you mean.

jorjor-binks:you finish tess?

rosie91: yeah, but there is a few things I don;t get. You?

jorjor-binks: nope. Do you maybe want to go to that new coffee shop in town and put our heads together?

rosie91: yeah! Sounds great. Two heads....

jorjor-binks: are better than one! How about 5:30ish?

rosie91:sounds cool. I'll try to bet there on time. I need to find a few papers I lost. Lol

jorjor-binks: haha. See ya then

rosie91:see ya

We both signed off. I looked over at my clock. 3:29. I decided to clean my room, trying not to think about my semi-date with Jordan. My heart was floating and I was seriously on cloud 9.

Jordan

Ok, so I have no idea why I just did that, but I'm glad I did. I get to be alone with Lily. My heart is racing though it shouldn't be. So was my head. My feminine side was arguing again.

This was a great idea. You get to go on a date with her!

It's not a date. It's a school thing, nothing more.

You know what happens with school projects, don't you?

No, and this isn't a school project, it's just work.

Whatever, but crazy things my dear. Crazy things....

Shut-up! I'm not going on a date, and even if I was, I would be going with Shirley and not Lily.

Why won't you admit you don't "love" Shirley anymore and you like like Lily?!

Because I don't! My head was starting to ache. I really needed to get some help with this....

It was a little over two hours later that I entered the small coffee shop on the corner of a small shopping center. A bookstore was to it's right, a tire shop on the left. A little mom-and-pop restaurant at he far end was a promising place for dinner if we stayed too late. Not that I was planning it.

The coffee shop was a warm, small store with a dark color palate of rich greens, purples, and greens. Chocolate brown graced the back wall with pictures of exotic places such as Italy and France hung on the wall. The big floor-to-ceiling window blinds at the front of the shop were up letting in the setting sun, painting the inside a rich hue of gold and pink. The small, two person tables scattered in an unrecognizable pattern allowed for an intimate setting. There was a small couch with a rich cherry-wood coffee table by the front door. The front door was open, letting in the cool breeze.

I went up to the counter in the back. I looked over the menu, deciding on a tattie (iced coffee) with hazelnut and vanilla flavoring. The muffins and cookies by the cash register called my name in soft, enticing whispers. I gave in to temptation and bought two of the hootenannies. My mouth was watering at the delicious smell of the hot muffins as I brought them over to one of the tables by the windows. I looked at my watch. 5:33.

Lily walked in at that moment. The sun caught her hair in a rich wash of copper and honey and chestnut. Her old, black band tee was worn and faded, the design cracking and falling apart from multiple washes. Her jean shorts were modest, but short enough to keep her cool, falling a little higher than mid-thigh. Her hair was curled and flowing around her face. She was really quite attractive.

She went right up to the counter, her green purse, big but not to the point of excessive, slung over her shoulder. The binder she carried was full of papers. She smiled politely at the cashier. She ordered a tattie too, pulling out a floral wallet. The cashier shook his head, but she insisted. He offered her a piece of carrot cake and she accepted it with a dazzling smile. While she waited, she looked around. She saw me and headed over, her piece of carrot cake balanced carefully on the binder. She smiled that dazzling smile.

"Hey! I thought I beat you here."

"Nah. You're late." I joked.

"Hey, you said ish, not sharp!" She defended, a laugh playing in her words.

"True." I laughed.

"Irish cream and vanilla tattie!" The barista boy called.

"Hold on a sec." She put her purse and binder on the chair across from me and headed off.

"I feel like an old man, waiting so long!" I joked again. She smiled as she sat down.

Lily

I could not stop smiling. He was so adorable! His hair was quirked at odd angles, faded khaki shorts his favorite band tee. I laughed and smiled the entire time we were. We actually got some work done too! The questions I had had problems with, Jordan tackled with none at all. We helped each other out, the talk turning from this and that to the upcoming marching season.

"I think it's gone be great! We have some really great marchers this year, and they're all working so hard." I praised.

"I know. Nate is actually pretty good. I wasn't surprised when Stewie gave him the solo this year. He deserves it."

"Yeah! Aren't he and Hannah super cute? I mean they aren't official yet, but it's gonna happen really soon." I chattered excitedly.

"Right..." He such a sarcastic tone.

"What? I think this is good for her. She needed to get over Kenny and I wouldn't want her with anyone else. Nate's a great guy and he's a great guy for her!" I defended. "Unless you have another reason for not liking them..." I left the sentence hanging., full of a question I never asked.

"No. I like them, but I'm a guy and I don't really care about stuff like that." Now it was my turn.

"Right..." I looked at my phone as it vibrated on the table. There was a text. From my mom. It read:

Hey sweetie! You gonna come home to dinner or is your date treating you to it? Lol

I laughed at the message.

"What?" Jordan asked, a slight smile on his face.

"Oh, my mom wanted to know if I'd be home for dinner or not."

"Oh, what time is it?" He glanced at his watch. "6:54."

"Wow, really?"

"Yeah. You wanna get supper over at the restaurant on the corner?" Jordan's face was tense.

"Whose paying?" I joked. " I'm kidding. That sounds great." I said as I saw the look on his face.

"Oh, ok. Let's go?" We threw our cups and napkins away as we left the sweet little coffee shop.

The restaurant wasn't too crowded as we entered it. The night was still light as twilight set in. There were a few tables on the patio out back open to a magnificent garden. We were lead to one of those, candlelight making the atmosphere full of romanticism. A half moon was rising, and the tall hedges separating the outer world from this secluded little bit of amorous ambiance rustled softly in the wind. We sat down, giving our drink orders to the young waitress. I opened my menu, taking in the rich foods the restaurant offered.

"Oh, I think I'll get the balsamic chicken!" I exclaimed.

"Haha. I think I'll try the steak. And the rolls. They are delicious."

The waitress came back, taking our orders, and bringing our drinks and a basket of rolls. The rest of the evening went by slowly and The food was hot and the company was something I thought I would never have. I had a great time, but I had to keep reminding myself it didn't mean anything. We were just doing stuff for school.

When the evening was over, the sky was sparkling with hundreds of stars. I looked up, catching a glimpse of my first star of the night. I closed my eyes.

"Star light, star bright, I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight." I whispered under my breath. I said my wish in my head: to have a date for my last dance, please let it be with Jordan.

"You still wish on stars?" Jordan asked ,incredulous.

"Yes. Why?"

"I do too." We walked back to our cars. The soft light of the moon shone on us. I wished it wouldn't end.

"Night Jordan. Thanks. For tonight."

"No problem. See you tomorrow."

"Bye." I got in my car and drove home, eager for the next few days, excited. I couldn't stop smiling the entire way home.