(Lilly's POV)

"Are you okay? You're really quiet," Erik asked me after walking for about an hour, okay so it was two minutes. I looked up into his big blue eyes.

"Yea, I'm just a little nervous. What if you're friends don't like me?"

"Trust me the minute they see you, they'll love you. I know I do." I was about to thank him for the encouraging words, when I realized he said he loved me. Okay, maybe not in those words, but still.

"Huh?" I was surprised, flattered, and utterly confused all at the same time. Was I hallucinating or something?

"Yea, Lil. I love you. I hadn't said it sooner 'cause I was too nervous but I'm positive now Lilly. I love you." I thought by now my jaw was touching the cement beneath my converses, but it wasn't until I realized I had to say it back, that I shut it faster than you can say Erik loves Lilly.

"Uh..ummm...I-i-i-i...uhh..." I don't know if I'm in love with Erik. I mean I'm 14 for G-d's sakes, but how can I possibly say that I don't love him back. I mean sure we've said love ya like on the computer or on the phone or texting but never actually the three most meaningful words in the English language straight to each other's face.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Oh my gosh. Thank the lord. Someone's calling on Erik's phone.

"Hello...yo what's up man?...yea we'll be there in a few...later. That was my friend Justin. He said they're all waiting for us."

"Ooh then let's go. I don't want to keep them waiting," I responded and with that said we were off, his arm around my shoulder, but we said not a word. We finally got to the park which was our meeting spot. I saw a guy with medium blonde hair, one with short spiked up black hair, and another with longer brown hair. There were also two girls. One was a redhead while the other was a brunette.

"Hey guys. I want you to meet Lilly. Lilly this is Justin, Zack, Mike, Lindsay, and Erica."

I smiled my biggest smile and said, "Hey, I'm Lilly." Ooo. Real smooth, state the obvious.

"Hey...boy Erik, you have good taste," Justin said as he laughed and did one of those fist punches with Zack.

"Cut it out!" the redhead said, "I mean...you're making her feel uncomfortable." I smiled at her and she pulled me to the side to talk to her and Lindsay..I think that was her name.

"Soo.." I started was soon cut off by Erica (I saw their necklaces..they both had their names on them.)

"Listen.. 'Lil!'..you better stay away from Erik. He's my man and if you wanna live you better break up with him!" Geeezz..I thought this stuff only happened on TV.

"Excuse me?" I asked as I put my arms across my chest.

"You heard me. Look, if you don't want my fist will be traveling down your throat, you stay away from Erik. He's so out of your league." I didn't even know what to say. How do you respond to that. 'Okay. Sounds just peachy.'

"Oh and you better not show any sort of PDA in front of me.. or in general. You got it?" I slowly nodded my head. Let me paint you a little picture. I'm 5' 2". This girl's about 5' 8". I think she could knock the wind out of me in just one little poke from the pinky. No, she's not fat or anything but she looks like she's made out of muscle.

"Good," she did a little fake laugh, "Now let's go back before they get suspicious. Oh, and not a word of this to Erik." We then walked back to the guys and I didn't say a word. I was still taking in everything Erica was saying. Wow. Erik and Erica..weird huh?

"Hey you okay babe?" Erik asked me. Awww. He's so sweet. I can't break up with him. I love him...woah rewind. I didn't just say that. I can't besides I'm still in love with...

"Helllllo?" He asked me and I realized I was staring into space.

"Oh yea sorry. I'm okay."

"Good." He then wrapped his arms around my shoulders pulling me into a big bear hug. It felt good to be in his arms sure but I had to remember about Erica now. Thinking of her, I let go of our hug.

"I should probably get home. I have a lot of homework and everything."

"I'll walk you home," my hubby said..haha hubby's a funny word. Wow random moment.

"No, it's okay. Stay with your friends."

"But I want to walk you home and plus we never finished our conversation from before." Oh, shoot. He remembered.

"Well, if you sure." I smiled at him and he gave me a quick kiss on the lips. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Erica and Lindsay glaring at us.

We all exchanged goodbyes and the two of us walked home. We hadn't said much just a few occasional little comments and harmless flirting. We reached my doorstep and we kissed for about a minute..okay 67 seconds... but no tongue.

"Hey, do you wanna come inside?" I asked. I thought I was going to tell him all my thoughts about him and the "L" word.

"I thought you had homework?" He asked with a small smirk plastered across that gorgeous face of his.

"Well...I could always make extra time for you." Okay so I'm a huge flirt. Sue me.

"Okay let's go." I scream an "I'm home" and we went up to my room. I sat down on my bed and he followed suit. I looked straight into his eyes and said,

"I..I..think I love you too. I'm sorry I don't know for sure. I just need a little more time.." I looked at him with pleading eyes.

"That's okay. I'm just glad you know how I feel." I could tell he was upset but being a guy he would never admit to it. He gave me a kiss and was about to pull away when I deepened it. Soon we started making out and I'm pretty sure you don't want details but let's just say soon my head was lying on my pillow and Erik was on top of me while we were playing a little round of tonsil hockey. No, we weren't going to any farther than that, but someone walking in on us make get the wrong impression. Unfortunately for me, that's just what happened.

A/N Hey guys..thanks so much for the reviews..I'm glad you're enjoying the story..sorry for a bit of a cliffy on this chapter...but I'm pretty positive I'll update tomorrow! R&R!!..oo and did you catch that little hint in the chapter!?!oo and don't worry next chapter will have lilly/oliver interaction..well. Thanks, much love, Val.