A/N: Alright finally I'm back with chapter 8. I figure after this one there's only 2 more chapters left and then maybe an epilogue with my own ending. My goal will be to finish it before my niece's birthday (She'll be one year old on June 30). I have one more food audit coming up at work next week so I'll try to write as much as possible but I may be working a lot of overtime until it's over.
Chapter 8
Wanting to wash away from the stress of the day Lilly decided a nice warm bath would do the trick. Playing with the dials until she got the right temperature, she left the water running and headed back into her bedroom for a minute to grab a few things. As she was hustling around the room her eyes caught sight of a picture and without knowing why she picked it up and carried it with her back into the bathroom.
She laid everything out just the way she wanted it, gently placing the picture up against the wall on the lip of the bathtub, next to the dials. She quickly undressed and climbed into the hot water, ready for it to start working its magic. Closing her eyes she leaned back against the wall just letting the heat and steam fill her senses, trying to block everything out of her mind. Pushing thoughts of Mikayla and Miley out of her head. Or at least she was trying.
How could she though with everything that had happened earlier that day? Miley was so sweet to her. She saw a side of the young girl she'd never seen before other than that time with Sarah, but that was different because the attention wasn't directed at her. She couldn't deny wanting to be with Miley, but it was impossible. There just wasn't any way for it to happen.
Then there was Mikayla, the first girl to steal her heart while they were still practically just kids. They had been inseparable, it was no wonder they fell in love like they did. Closed off from the rest of the world on this campus, they weren't left with a lot of options but to spend time together.
Opening her eyes back up, they land on the picture in front of her. Sitting up she pulls her knees into her chest tightly before slowly reaching out for the picture. Running her fingers gently over the face of the posed girl, she thought about the love she felt for her.
Laying the picture on the top of the water, she watched as it began floating away from her. At the same time she felt her heart start to heal and knowing now that she had finally let go of Mikayla.
--
Looking over at her alarm clock, Lilly realized she had been in bed over an hour, and decided she wasn't having much luck going to sleep tonight. Too many thoughts were filling her mind enough to rest. She was grateful she still had another day off before school was back in session. Otherwise she wouldn't be much good teaching tomorrow morning if she was half asleep.
A creaking just outside her door alerted her to the fact that someone was out there. She didn't have to wonder who it was. She could feel the girl's presence as easily as seeing her with her own two eyes. Leaning forward a bit she waited impatiently to see what the girl would do.
Miley paused outside Lilly's door not sure what had made her come in the first place. She had been lying awake in her dorm room, the silence almost deafening. She was used the noise of her roommates as they slumbered and found it hard to fall asleep without them in the room. Especially with all the thoughts swimming through her mind.
Had the two of them really made any progress to being closer? She wanted to believe they did, but she just wasn't sure. That thought had brought her to this door now. She was curious as to what Lilly thought about the whole thing. She wanted to talk to her and see where they stood now.
And she was lying to herself if she believed that's all she wanted coming to Lilly's room like this. She wanted more than that. She wanted Lilly to acknowledge what was happening between them. She wanted to be close to the other woman emotionally as well as physically. She just wanted the teacher to give her a chance.
Raising her hand to knock Miley paused, the rejection she had felt earlier in the car coming back to her. She wasn't sure she wanted to feel that twice in one day, and she wasn't sure how Lilly would respond to her showing up like this. Suddenly it was a risk she didn't want to take. To go on pretending would have to be easier than finding out the truth, especially if it was a truth she didn't want to hear, at least for tonight. Lowering her hand, she turned and walked away, thinking maybe tomorrow she'd have the guts to ask.
Inside Lilly let out a relieved breath as she heard footsteps fading down the hallway. She was still unsure of what would have happened if Miley would have knocked on her door. Even more, she was afraid that feeling like she was tonight, that they would have done something that she would surely have regretted later.
Laying back down, she tried once again in vain to go to sleep.
--
School was back in full swing and with it came all the hustle and bustle as students made their way around campus. It was only the first day back but already Miley was missing the quiet that Spring Break had offered.
She'd hardly seen Lilly at all since everyone started arriving and she was beginning to wonder if maybe the other woman was avoiding her. She thought surely she couldn't when they were in class but she was proven wrong when Miss Truscott hardly spared her a glance except when necessary.
Yet she couldn't help but feeling as if her eyes were glued to the beautiful woman in front of her. And for the first time in Miley's life it wasn't just the physical beauty she was drawn too. She realized that she was falling for the beautiful woman she saw inside of Lilly. That's when she knew she had fallen in love and she just wasn't sure what to do about it.
That night at dinner Lilly couldn't stop herself from watching Miley sitting with her roommates at a table across the room. She couldn't stop herself from watching the younger girl when she knew the other girl had no clue she was doing it. She hadn't allowed herself to give Miley any sort of attention when they were close to each other. She had to keep her distance if she wanted to get through the rest of the year in one piece.
The four girls at the table seemed to be quiet but at least she thought they were getting along better now that the year was almost over. When Miley had first arrived she had feared the girl would keep herself closed off from everyone. But the brunette had surprised her and let people in. She knows though that the one Miley wanted to let in the most, was the one that wouldn't allow it, and for that she felt sad.
Next to her Mother Kunkle watched Lilly play with her food. She couldn't figure out who Lilly kept looking at, but she was pretty sure she knew who it was anyway. She couldn't help but start to feel a little worried with how her niece was acting.
Not knowing she was being watched, Miley sat idling pushing her food around on her plate, not knowing that the woman on her mind was doing the same thing. She wasn't feeling very hungry and couldn't seem to make herself eat anything right then.
She never expected that she would actually fall in love with the young teacher. It had started out as just a simple game of cat and mouse, a way to pass the time while she was stuck in this place she was sure would be hell. Yet now she couldn't help but admit she was really glad she had come here, and was still trying to accept that her relationship as it was with Miss Truscott had come to mean so much to her.
"You have a look," Amber breaks into the silence of their table, effectively pulling Miley out of her thoughts. Trying not to give her any reaction to encourage her further, Miley just stares at her as if she had no idea what she was talking, and in truth she didn't. That didn't stop Amber though who just gave her a cocky smile, "you slept with her didn't you?"
"Slept with who?" Ashley asks incredulously of Miley, both questions catching her off guard. She wasn't sure how to respond. She wouldn't be lying if she denied it because nothing really did happen, but she needed to make sure they believed that. She also needed to put an end to this conversation and not given them any more reason to speculate.
"I didn't sleep with anyone," she tells Ashley first before turning to glare down at Amber, "and I don't have a look."
Amber wasn't to be deterred however. After having been rejected by Miley, it seemed she had made it her goal to taunt the other girl. "It's more like a glow."
That statement made Miley stop and think for just a minute. Was it possibly that just being in love gave you some kind of glow? Could Amber really see through her like that? She wasn't sure, but she really wanted the other girl to shut up already. "Stop," she demanded with as much force as she could muster without making a scene.
Amber was easier to read than she allowed herself to believe though. Miley was pretty sure she knew what all this was about, but she didn't know what to do about it. She just didn't like the other girl like that.
Amber still wasn't ready to drop the conversation just yet. "You should hide it better than that," she taunted.
"Hide what," Ashley asked curiously, still unsure what the other two were talking about. Her question went unheard however as Miley and Amber were too busy staring each other down.
"Would you shut up, Amber," Miley demanded once again hoping that would be the end of it. She was relieved when Mother Kunkle stood up, halting the chance for Amber to say more. Not wanting to show any interest in what the other woman was about to say, she turned back to her tray and began to eat.
"May I have you attention please?" Mother Kunkle asked the students as she stood up before them. She waited for all the students to settle down and give her their attention before continuing on. "As you may have heard, this Friday night is our annual End-of-the-year dance with St. Paul's."
A loud cheer goes up throughout the room. Lilly just rolls her eyes, not looking forward to the event. She just had this feeling that, that dance was bound to be trouble for her. She tries to put on a happy face for the girls though. She remembers how important this night always was to them. After having been locked away in this campus for some long they'd finally get to let a part of the outside world in for one night.
Miley turned her head just in time to catch Lilly's smile, before turning to look at her tray once more. She had heard about this dance from some of the other girls but wasn't excited about it like they were.
But then for most everyone else, it was a chance to meet people and connect. A time for them to dance and to flirt with people of interest, but the one she wanted to share that experience was already on this campus. She wasn't holding out much hope of any of that to happen though in such a public place.
"Ah, ah, ah. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior," she tells them, interrupting their excitement. She leaves it at that though and sits back down, leaving each table to go back to their conversations again, most of which now consumed with talk about Friday.
Amber let their table be no exception. "My brother and his are playing at the dance," she tells them, knowing they all knew her brother attended St. Paul's. Suddenly she thinks of one more thing she can annoy Miley about. "Maybe you could play with them Miley."
Not sure where Amber was going with this, she decides to tread a little cautiously. "Maybe," she admits without much interest, just wishing this meal was over so she could get awhile from the other girl for awhile. She definitely was starting to really piss her off.
"You know, we haven't seen you sing or play that guitar," Amber continues. "I'm starting to wonder if it's all just for show," she finishes, knowing that she's pretty much pushed Miley to the end of her rope. Serves her right for turning her down in favor of some teacher so much older.
Deciding she'd had enough, Miley slams her fork down onto her plate. Getting up, she mutters a "see you guys later," before storming off.
"Amber," Ashley scolds her.
"What?" she asks innocently, acting as if she didn't just do that on purpose.
A/N 2: Also I'll try and keep my Twitter updated as to when you can expect the next chapter and when I'm working on it. Twitter screen name is LilSpa for those who aren't following me.
