AN: Thanks to Princess Cutie, IheartORANGE, adryrules99, and anniecakes13 for reviewing. I said I'd post this Saturday and I am; it's just a little later on, because I turned out to be busier than I thought. Here'sthe huge update for you guys.Lilly's got Oliver's attention. It's time to spill the truth... RR as always.
Lilly and Oliver stood face-to-face, but didn't speak for a few moments. Oliver's brain was still feeling the effect of rage, and he couldn't calm them. After several deep breathes, something hit him. He actual was able to look at his best friend with a normal feeling. That's when he examined her: hair damp and tangled. Eyes wide and full of fear. Her body shivered in spasms from head to toe from only having on shorts and t-shirt.
"You're...you're soaking wet..."
Lilly had taken the time to calm herself down, too. Her body was trying to prevent itself from overheating, and she was still in a semi state of shock from Oliver pulling her into his room. Raw emotion settled, and she scanned Oliver's whole body: Hair unkempt and frazzled. Eyes blood-shot with dark, low-hanging circles. His complexion was the palest Lilly had ever seen. His whole upper body was exposed; all the clothing Oliver wore was a pair of old black sweat pants.
"You...you look like death warmed over..."
"What do you want, Lilly." Oliver sighed as he walked over to sit on his bed. His tone was much softer.
"I want to know what's wrong with you." Lilly replied. She wanted to walk over and sit next to Oliver, but hesitated to take even the tiniest step forward. "What's causing you to act this way?"
"You know darn well what caused this." Oliver replied with this head down.
"No, I don't." Lilly said. "I haven't a clue."
"You said you read the note." Oliver replied. "It's all there in black and white."
"The only thing I got from your note was a heart attack!" Lilly explained. Oliver didn't respond. She felt brave and inched towards the bed. "Look, if it's something I said or did-"
" Yes, exactly!" Oliver shouted. "That's exactly what it is! It's you! It's you're fault!"
"But I don't understand!" Lilly shouted back in defense. "You've been acting this way every since you got back in town! You stormed out on me at the Stewart's that night! I hardly said a word to you! How can this be my fault!?"
"You actions spoke for you that night." Oliver replied. He couldn't look Lilly in the eye just yet.
"My actions?" Lilly asked. "What exactly did I do that hurt you so much?"
"You sure are fitting the dumb blonde stereo-type tonight..." Oliver muttered under his breath.
Lilly became so bold as to sit down next to Oliver on the bed. "Tell me." She went to put her arm around him, when Oliver shot up and blurted out what had been bottled up inside him all this time.
"Alright it's you and Jackson! You and that freak are going out, and it's making me sick! I know he's only using you! To him, you're just a younger girl that he can seduce into doing anything and everything he wants, and I can't stand to see you get caught up in that! I can't let that guy use you to the point where you could get badly hurt! I can't just watch you being with someone like that when I know there's a better person out there for you! When I know there's someone who loves you more than life itself! I just can't do it, ok!?"
Lilly was completely taken aback. She opened her mouth and tried to explain, but couldn't barely spit out her best friend's name. "O-Oli-ver..."
"Where did this come from!?" Oliver continued. "Everything was fine and dandy before! I leave town for a week, and I come back to..." He paused for moment. "Those...those voice mails, the messages. That's what they were about, weren't they?"
"Yes..." Lilly answered softly. "I really just wanted to talk to you about it so you'd understand." So..." She paused. "So you wouldn't be caught off guard and get overwhelmed."
"Newsflash; it's a little too late for that one." Oliver replied in a smart-mouthed tone.
"That's why I had you come over that night." Lilly was sticking to her story. "After you said you couldn't get my messages, I wanted to talk it out in person so it wouldn't be weird...but I guess I messed up big time, huh?"
Oliver plopped back down on the bed. Staring at the floor, he asked the only thing in him that was left to say:
"Why? Why Jackson?"
Lilly was very hesitant in responding. "I-"
"What do you see in him?" He still wouldn't look at Lilly as he spoke.
"It's..." She started. Her words were drawn out. " I don't know...it's kinda...well, it's like you and Joannie..."
Oliver tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I like Jackson for...for some of his qualities." She began. Oliver's look was still puzzled. "He's funny; telling jokes and always doing something stupid to make me laugh. I just have a good time when I'm around him."
"Oh..." Oliver didn't want to hear a character analysis. He wanted real answers.
"He's a good guy, Oliver. Really, he is." This definitely wasn't helping. "But like I said, he's like Joannie was to you. Everything I could want, but..."
A spark of hope hit Oliver and he perked up slightly. "But what?"
"But he's not the guy I'd really want if I could have my way..."
Lilly could tell something she had said struck a chord with Oliver by the way he was acting. "S-So there's someone else?"
Lilly nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, but I don't know why I waste my time. I'm too stupid to say anything, and really, I just don't want to risk what I have with him. We've built up such a tight bond, and I could loose it all if a make the wrong move."
Oliver kept listening eagerly. "I wish I was more of a risk taker, but I'm not. Besides, I'm sure the dork I'd do anything to have doesn't even feel the same way about me."
Oliver had zoned out again, but this time for a different reason. It took several moments of complete silence for all of Lilly's words to be absorbed and reasoned. Was she thinking about him? Was she really too scared? Was he the dork of her dreams after all?
"Well, it's only getting later." Lilly announced, breaking the silence. "And you've already made it clear you don't want me here, anyway." She turned to look at Oliver. His eyes were still dazed. "Just...promise me you'll eat something, get more rest, and maybe come out for a little sunlight and fresh air in a few days, ok? You could really use it."
Oliver was too deep in thought. He wasn't concentrating on what he was being told at all. A much bigger matter was on his mind.
Lilly let her eyes stay focused on Oliver for a few more seconds, hoping he'd reply. Nothing was said. He didn't even blink. She placed her hands on the bed and pushed to lift herself up. "I'm just going home. I don't really feel like spending the night with Jacks-"
Before she could finish, Oliver snapped back to reality. In a split second, he'd reached up for Lilly's hand and quickly put it to his bare chest; placing it in the center and overlapping his hand with hers. Lilly's hand was still so cold and damp that it sent shivers up Oliver's spine. The same tingling feeling hit Lilly, too. It shocked and caught her off guard.
"Do you feel that?" Oliver spoke with his eyes glued directly on her.
Lilly felt warm, soft thuds gently bumping against her hand. Some sort of weird feeling came over her. Something she couldn't describe. She wasn't even able to form words properly. A faint "uh huh" squeaked out in response.
"It's back..." He whispered.
Lilly was still trying to figure out what her body was feeling that she couldn't make sense of anything Oliver said. "W-What?" She asked, barely able to be heard.
"For the past few weeks, I couldn't feel anything." He began. "I had a frozen block in my chest that sent icy liquid streaming through my body. It didn't feel as though I was alive; just simply existing."
Lilly just kept her eyes fixed to Oliver as he continued.
"But now, the ice has melted. Warmth has thawed the frozen block, and it's working again. This organ only functions if it has a purpose. Lately, I've been living without one. A heart without a soul to come alive for just lies dormant until it finds the desire to beat for someone."
Oliver stood up ever so slowly, never letting either his or Lilly's hand move. He let his brown eyes melt into her blue ones, which were widen with every passing second.
"It found that desire in you..."
Oliver leaned in towards Lilly, cupping his hand over the one on his chest. Their lips touched and the magic began. Upon first instance, Oliver's heart had skipped a beat. Lilly felt it return and build in strength and speed as she kissed back. Both could feel each other's lips were shaking, but the kiss deepened.
When the two final broke apart, all they could do was gaze at each other. They both had the same feeling and thought fluttering through them.
So this is what love feels like...
"T-The...the heart I'll never have. The...the child forever gone..." Lilly spoke. "You though that was...you thought I was-"
Oliver grabbed both of Lilly's hands and pulled her so close that their bodies were touching.
"Say you'll be mine." Staring into Lilly's eyes, he wrapped his arms around her waist. Being this close to Oliver made Lilly's brain shut down.
"I-I.."
"Say it..." Oliver urged, but in a sweet voice.
Lilly smiled. "Actions speak louder than words..."
Lilly closed her eyes and Oliver followed suit. She was now the leader. She wanted to prove to Oliver where her true feelings lie. Their lips got within a inch from each other, the warm air tickling their faces.
"Lilly!?"
Their eyes just shot open in an instant when they heard Jackson's booming voice. Lilly mad the mistake of turning around, catching sight of her disgruntled, rain-soaked boyfriend breathing heavily with angry just out side the door way.
I thought about ending this at the sweet Loliver moment, but thendecided to have Jackson resurface for one final battle. (A little extra drama never hurt anyone, right? Hmm, we'll see.) I'm making some adjustments to the last chapter, so I don'tknow when it'll be posted. I'm shooting forMonday evening, but I don't know yet.Either way, I hope to have an exciting conclusion. Keep reading!
-drummer8907