Sorry you guys…preparing for finals is kicking my butt! Thanx fer the patience and the reviews!
Three days past, and Miley would walk up to the house at five am each morning. It was empty, there was no one. No one sat at the patio. No one met her on her walk back. Lily had just closed her off. Ugh. Her unknown semi-cooperation was a detrimental part of her plan. Suddenly she heard a gruff voice.
"G'mornin' Mrs. Ryan." It was Bobby Grey sitting on his patio.
"Oh, morning Bobby, how ya doing?"
"Jus fine little lady, come up o'er 'ere won't cha?"
Miley had always liked Bobby Grey. He was a lone man who'd lost his wife and he, somewhat, reminded her of her dad. They spoke to each other nearly every day, meeting up at random times. He was kind and understanding and she felt young and happy listening to the stories of his past.
"Yeah why not Bobby." She came up to sit beside the man on a spare chair. "Why you up so early?"
"I'm an ole man, I wake at all hours o' the day." He chuckled a warm, rough laugh.
"Ah, well what's on yer mind?"
Well I could ask ya the same question little misses. Whatcha doin' ever' mornin' walkin' up to that girl's 'ouse."
"You mean Lily's house?"
"Ya I mean Lil'ian's 'ouse. That girl is so far locked in 'er miser' there ain't no poin' lookin' fer 'er."
"She's usually out there this early, I always used to see her. She just now stopped comin' out."
"Listen 'ere litt' lady, I seen ya up there before. Yer the ferst person I e'er seen 'er talk to fer more than a secun. Now why is it ya talk to 'er so?"
"I don't know. I like talking to her. It seems like something's really wrong, and it looks like she could use a friend."
"No doubt 'bout needin' a fren. But she'll ne'er let ya in. We've all tried talkin' to 'er sometime. Though, I dunno, she talks ta ya so much, ya might be the one."
This made Miley smile.
"So you think I should keep tryin'?"
"'Course I do. That girl deserves a fren after all she's bin through. Jus kno it'll be tough."
"What's she been through exactly?"
"No one really knows. But it's caused 'er a lotta trauma. When she moved 'ere, she looked damn screwy I tell ya."
"I don't doubt it Bobby, she looks really troubled. Thanks for the support. I gotta go, but I'll see ya around, 'kay?"
"Ya better bet ya will. Have ya a nice day little misses. And a big thank ya fer tryin' to help that poor girl. I know she really needs a fren like you. Even when she pushes ya away, don't ya give up. That's all anyone's ever done fer that girl. Don't you give up now."
"Nah, I'd never dream of it sir. Thanks again, have a nice day yourself."
He gave a big smile and a wave and she left slowly.
"We're so lucky ta have a precious girl like 'er." He said beneath his breath, but Miley caught it and a smile began on her face. I won't give up. I won't give up. I won't give up.
Lily slowly rose from her bed and read the gleaming eleven o' clock on the digital alarm face. It was mocking her, reminding her that one day, when the light had been so worn, she'd not open her eyes. In fact, she always woke at five am for fear that a moment more of sleep would condemn her to eternal slumber. But sometimes, when her drugs ran low and her thoughts ran high, she wished that the time would beep later and later until she could see the swallowing fires of hell.
She brushed the thoughts off with the water cascading on her body. And after deeming herself decent, carrying out the dailies of her morning, she headed to the kitchen for her coffee, her drugs, and food. As she neared the pantry, she looked at it in dismay. There was not even a piece of bread without mold. Had it really been so long since she'd eaten a worthy meal?
She moved to her row of cabinets and opened the only one that served more purpose than show. In it were a few mugs, a large canister of coffee, and various dressings. Gazing into said cabinet she reached for the canister, only to find that not the tiniest grain remained. Had she really been so numb that she hadn't registered the graduation of her consumption?
At last she came to the fridge, a dull pain swallowing her stomach, and she surveyed the contents. There was nothing save a half bottle of curdled milk and a chunk of molded cheese. Suddenly, the pain in her stomach rapidly increased, and the twists were bundled in her thoughts.
She reached for her car keys. They were coated in a layer of dust. The fingerprints that marked their silver had been engraved from the days when she ventured out most. It was a day when she was unafraid of the outdoor world, of the expulsion to memories, of the enthusiastic faces of life-loving bodies in their pattern. But now their faces stung the back of her eyes. Because, once, that was the own face she adopted.
Now, she thought of her shadows. Her stalkers. They followed her out of the house. One lay in an imaginary layer of grey, haunting the accusations of her past. The other wore brown curls on her shoulders and kind green eyes. She would be there. Trying to break her. Trying to figure her out. Trying to cure her. But there was nothing. There was no cure.
She glanced out the window, struggling her eyes beyond the dark tint, running her gaze over every intricacy of her vision. Miley was silent, hidden, but she was there. And as Lily sat in her old truck, pulling away, feeling unfamiliar in the town she occupied, she could only imagine that subconscious drove her car. Subconscious gave her direction. And subconsciously, she could feel the chill of her grey partner in her backseat, and the scrutiny of her brunette watcher not far behind.
Walking down the aisles of countless grocery, she looked into the nutrition facts of a can of soda. It was only to occupy her sight. And suddenly, though not unexpectedly, she heard familiar steps behind her. Soon, the familiar steps blended into familiar breaths. Then, familiar breath formed familiar words. And there was no doubt. It was her.
"Hey Lily, how are ya?"
"I'm fine."
"I haven't seen you on your porch lately. In fact," she looked at her cell phone, "it's like twelve in the afternoon. Did you sleep in?"She feigned shock in a sarcastic way, giving a quick chuckle and a wink.
"Yeah, I haven't been feeling well lately." The humor was never starker on Lily's face.
"Aw I'm sorry. Why are you out if you're sick?" Miley tried to bring the conversation to some lighter comfort.
She reached the back of her hand to lightly touch Lily's forehead, and at the sensation, Lily flinched backward. The brunette quickly recoiled her hand and looked down.
"You know I'm not going to hurt you Lily." She said tonelessly, her gaze never leaving the floor. Lily said nothing, but shifted her gaze to look at the girl before her. Their eyes met quickly, before Miley looked down again, evading the piercing blue.
"Why do you hate me so much Lily?" The words were barely audible. They would have been mixed in with the sounds of the world had a trained ear not listened for them. The blonde emitted a slow and patience-gathering sigh.
"I don't hate you Miley." The brunette's head quickly shot up. "I have no reason to… as of yet."
"Then why won't you let me be your friend?"
"I don't appreciate companionship, you know that."
"I know, but you're still human. And everyone needs at least one friend. Please just give me a chance?"
"Miley-"
"Please Lily."
She sighed tiredly. "If I say we're friends, will you let me be?"
"Yes!" She replied and her eyes sparkled the lightest green.
"Fine. We're friends." She fought the urge to roll her eyes and began to walk off, hearing Miley running behind her to catch up.
"Lily!"
"Yes?"
"Can I shop with you?"
"Is it necessary?"
"Friends shop with friends."
"I'm only getting grocery."
"So am I!"
"Well if you feel the need, you can accompany me."
"Good, I won't bother you, I promise."
"Will you talk to me?"
"I'd like to."
She sighed again. "Alright then." Her tone was worn.
Somehow, she couldn't find it in her heart to hate this woman. The way she smelt like sweet strawberries, the way her smile was ever present, and the way her words slid enthusiastically off her tongue, it was all too different from the norm. Plus, the face she played, with the happiness she harbored, made it like kicking a puppy to refuse her. And though Lily was cold and indifferent to most things, she was not unnecessarily cruel. So, as it was observed but not appreciated by herself, she was submissive in the ways of Miley Ryan.