A/N: Hope you all are having an awesome summer, it's been a busy one for me but I've finally got this done.
Chapter 10
The rain poured outside as several large buses pulled up to the school letting off a flood of teenage boys, racing to get inside before they got soaked. Oliver followed behind his students entering the multi-room room where the dance was being held. Hearing the boys' arrival, the girls all began to make their way to the gym, ready to get on with tonight's festivities.
The live band on stage had been playing for a half hour now, and still no one had made their way out to the dance floor. Men and women alike remained where they were talking quietly to their friends, not one daring to venture out and be the first ones to start dancing.
Keeping an eye on everyone, Lilly and Kunkle stand in the adjacent room, watching them all closely from behind the refreshment table. Lilly wasn't certain what was going on. The kids had looked forward to this night for so long and yet most of them were sitting around looking almost bored.
Out of the corner of her eye she notices Oliver walk up to them, tensing slightly, their break up a few days ago fresh in her mind. Studying him quickly without being noticed, she doesn't notice any hesitation on his part and takes that as a good sign that maybe they can still be friends.
"Mother Kunkle, you look well," she hears him tell her aunt before turning the conversation to her. "You know Lilly, I thought if we danced, it might encourage some of the kids to get out there. What do you say?"
Lilly doesn't answer for a minute, trying to figure out just what he was suggesting. She couldn't help but wonder if it really was an innocent suggestion, or a way to get close to her again.
Mother Kunkle stands between them watching them both with a smile. While it was a true that she never much cared for Oliver, in light of what she felt was starting between Lilly and the young Miss Stewart, Oliver was obviously the better choice. Before Lilly has a chance to respond to Oliver's suggestion, the older woman does it for her. "What a perfect idea."
Still unsure, Lilly holds her hand out for Oliver to take, leading her out onto the dance floor. "It's a dance," Oliver tells her jokingly, "come on pal. It won't be painful."
Lilly laughs, knowing the guy she was friends with first is back. She knew that he wasn't unaffected with their break up, but she's glad to see he's putting that aside so that they could still be around each other. "Alright," she agrees happily. The look on his face as he tries to find the perfect spot in front of the band is priceless. He looks like a teenage in awe of being able to dance with a beautiful girl.
The two began dancing is slow circles, just the teenagers around them do as they begin to finally fill the dance floor around them. "How have you been?" Oliver asks her sincerely.
"I've been okay," she answers quietly. He gives her a questioning "yeah" and she just nods her head before asking him the same. The conversation pretty much ends after he tells her he's been good, neither one really know what to say.
Miley had watched as all the other girls left the dormitory all dressed up, but remained seated on her bed, not sure if she really wanted to even bother going down there. A room full of boys wasn't going to be a distraction from her, quite the opposite she felt it would only reinforce what she felt in her heart.
After sitting there in the quiet for awhile, she couldn't take not knowing what was going on down there, and more importantly what Lilly might be doing. Getting dressed quickly in a beautiful spaghetti strap red dress and pulling her hear up in a bun, she heads out.
Keeping her head down so as not to make it obvious that she was looking for anything in particular, Miley heads over to the dance floor, spotting Lilly dancing with a guy. She had heard through rumors when she first came to the school that Lilly was dating one of the teachers at the boy's school, but she'd never seen evidence of it until now. The two were obviously very comfortable with each other.
As they rounded around Lilly spotted Miley staring intently at her. The two locked eyes, both betraying what they were feeling for each other. The blondes forces herself to look back at her dance partner, trying to convey to Miley that it would never be the two of them, but in her heart she just wasn't sure what the right thing to do was anymore. Watching Miley walk away was harder than she ever thought it would be.
Wandering outside, Miley pulls out a cigarette, leaning up on the bench in front of her before lighting it up.
Inside Amber, Ashley, and Sarah are all sitting along the wall appearing bored. No one has asked them to dance as of yet so the three were just left there listening to Amber's brother play. The music stops and the band claims a five minute break before putting their instruments down and leaving the stage.
She wanders outside and over to the railing along the overhang. Putting her foot on the bench, she lights a cigarette.
Inside Amber, Ashley, and Sarah are all sitting along the wall just observing everyone else and listening to the music. The song ends and the band put down their instruments claiming a five minute break.
"Wow Amber, your brother is so cute," Ashley comments, eyes glued to where he was standing before.
Not wanting to be left out of the conversation, Sarah asks shyly, "does he have a girlfriend?"
"I think I'm going to be sick," Amber sighs.
Hearing the door open behind her, Miley turns to watch as several of the band members make their way towards her. A tall, lanky fellow comes to stand beside her. "You got a light?" he asks her and Miley's sure she knows who he is now. Reaching for her light she flips it open offering it to him as he lights up.
"You Amber's brother right?" she asks him, already sure she knows the answer. He answers with a quick, who wants to know "yeah" as the two study each other for a moment, before Miley asks him for a small favor.
--
Hurrying up to her dorm room, Miley reaches under her bed, grabbing her guitar and throwing it on the bed. Pulling out her note book, she then searches for the page she is looking for, ripping out the lyrics she has been working on all year long. Grabbing them both she begins to head out the door before she changes her mind, setting them both back down on the bed.
Opening the drawer of her night stand, she pulls out the Buddha Prayer beads she's kept hidden there for so long, putting them back on, wanting to be the girl she once was before entering this place, if only for tonight.
Yanking the chopsticks out of her hair, she shakes it loose while reaching her dress straps pulling them down and off her at the same time, leaving the more solid, sexier under dress she had on underneath. Feeling ready now, she grabs her guitar and lyrics once again before heading down to the gym.
Finding Amber's brother back on stage waiting for her, she quickly goes over the lyrics with him, going over with him just how she wants it to be played.
After their dance had finished, Oliver and Lilly had made their way back over to Mother Kunkle, the three conversing easily. "Well everyone seems to be having a wonderful time," Mother Kunkle stats with a smile that could almost be construed as real on her face.
"Yes they do," Oliver agrees. The three of them unaware that Miley is on stage in front of the microphone.
"We're so glad that you brought the boys," Kunkle tells Oliver, both of them oblivious to the voice that now filters through the room. Lilly on the other hand recognizes the voice immediately, caught off guard for the time being.
"Well, it's hardly a dance without boys and girls, right?" By the time Oliver replies Lilly's focus is entirely on that voice.
The space between what's wrong
and right
You will find me waiting for you
Needing to see for herself that her mind wasn't just playing tricks on her, Lilly turns leaving the other two, who barely notice her departure as she makes her way into the dance room, being drawn there by Miley's voice.
All your fortresses go down in
the night
To the dawn I'll see you through
Standing behind the crowd that had gathered to watch Miley sing, she watches the young girl intently, letting the lyrics fill her up.
Cause I know, that you
know
You're all over me now
The two women's eyes finally meet each other's across the room, and Miley looks deeply at Lilly, telling her with her eyes that she wrote this for her, that she's singing just for her.
It is in that moment that Lilly knows she's can't deny her feeling anymore. There is something between her and Miley, and it wasn't just simple infatuation, or a fleeting thing. It was real and she was scared to admit that in some ways it felt just right.
And it's clear, you will
show
And your curtains will go
But if your heart is cold
My
sheets are warm
I will shelter you
All through the storm
I
will shelter you
All through the storm
Suddenly feeling like the room is going to swallow her whole, Lilly made her way quickly out of the room. She couldn't even begin to describe all of what she was feeling. She just knew if she didn't get out of there and get some air quick, something was going to happen. Finding her way outside, she leans up against the door to keep out of the pouring rain.
Miley watches her leave not sure what is going on. She could see in Lilly's eyes a change come over her and she honestly believed it was a good change, at least for her. She kept singing trying to decide if she should follow her or not. Not able to take it anymore, she leaves the stage mid song in search of the blonde.
Seeing her vaguely through the windows leaning against the door Miley makes her way out slowly not sure what kind of reaction she's going to get from the other woman.
Lilly could feel Miley's presence stronger than she ever has before. Keeping her hands wrapped around her middle almost as if guarding herself, she stood there trying to sort her thoughts out. She didn't want to look at the younger girl, afraid of what her face would betray to the brunette. She was sure that her feelings were written all over her face now and she didn't want Miley to see. If she let her see, then it would be real and there would be no stopping what would happen next.
Taking a deep breath, she turned a glance at Miley finally. One small glance became a long stare as both of them tried to figure out what to do now. Knowing she should get away quickly Lilly turns ready to head out into the rain. She hasn't gone more than a step before a hand reaches out to hers, turning back around to face Miley.
One touch from Miley and that's all it took, in her head she was trying to tell herself this was a really bad idea, but her heart just won't let her stop. Letting Miley pull her close, she willingly step back in front of the shorter girl, their eyes searching each other the entire time.
She could feel Miley's breath on her face now, making her eyes stray to the other woman's lips. The same lips she hadn't allowed herself to admit that she'd been dying to taste for far too long now. Not able to stand it any longer, she puts her hands on either side of Miley's head, pulling her into a searing kiss.
One taste isn't enough, she's got to have more. The two continue to kiss as the rain drowns out their moans. It's moments before they come back to their senses and realizes they are standing out where anyone could easily see what they were doing. No words were needed as Miley grabbed Lilly's hand, pulling her towards the dorms, to afraid that if they quite touching the moment would be lost.
They made their wait towards Lilly's room as quickly and has carefully as possible, making sure no one saw the two of them together. As soon as the door was shut behind them, Miley reached for Lilly's mouth again with her own, slowly backing her up against the wall and effectively taking the lead.
Neither woman can get enough of the other, wrapping their arms around each other and touch everywhere they could reach. Entwining their fingers together, Miley pins Lilly's arms above her head pushing her further against the wall. Releasing them almost as quickly, she reaches for the bottom of Lilly's dress, pulling it up and over Lilly's head, releasing her from the confines of the white garment, sealing their lips together again as soon as it is off.
Moving backwards towards the bed, Miley sits down leaving Lilly towering above her. The two lock eyes as Miley reaches up and begins pulling off the undershirt Lilly had on, placing open mouthed kisses on her stomach as the skin was revealed. Running her hands through Miley's hair, she rolls her head back in pleasure, loving what the girl is doing to her.
Kissing her way back up Lilly's chest, Miley fuses their mouths back together again as they fall back on the bed with Lilly on top, their faces never more than a few inches apart. Neither one can get enough of the other, loving the taste each other.
Reaching a hand to Lilly's back, Miley unhooks her bra one handed leaving Lilly naked from the waist up. Rolling around on the bed, they move so Miley's on top making it easier to pull off Miley's top off, leaving them both in their panties.
Running her hands all over Lilly's body, touching her everywhere she could reach, Miley works her hand down between their bodies. Sliding her hands under the garment still covering Lilly, Miley found Lilly's center. Hands and bodies started working together then to bring them both to the point of ultimate pleasure.
--
"I wonder where Miley is," Sarah wonders aloud the next morning at breakfast, just trying to make conversation and noticing the other girl wasn't there.
"Who cares?" Amber retorts annoyed, not really wanting to even hear Miley's name, which earns her a look from Ashley.
Sarah doesn't give much thought to what Amber said, slightly worried about Miley. "She wasn't in our room last night," she points out.
"Duh!" Amber replies to Sarah stating the obvious. "She's probably in Miss Truscott's room," she finishes as if that's the most obvious conclusion. The three of them trade looks back and forth trying to decide who is right and who is wrong.
Amber knows she's right though. She noticed that both of them had seemed to disappear at about the same time the night before. Although she hadn't really thought too much about it until this morning's conversation. Suddenly an idea occurred to her, giving her a sick pleasure in realizing she could now bring the other girl down. Getting up, she heads over towards Mother Kunkle.
"I don't care if they're together. I like them both," Sarah states offhandedly in her absence before taking another bite of her food.
Taking a seat next to Kunkle, "Mother Kunkle?"
Turning to the young girl, she gives Amber her full attention, unsure of what the girl wants. "Yes, Amber?" she asks.
Not letting the older woman see through the plot in her head, she speaks with the most fake amount of concern she can come up with, "I'm a little worried about Miley and Miss Truscott."
That one sentence was enough to make Kunkle realize that neither of the women in question was in the room. In fact she hasn't seen her niece since early on in the dance. Excusing herself from the table of teachers, she made her way quickly to Lilly's room, determined to find out what was going on.
--
Lilly wakes up first but just lays there, enjoying the feeling of having Miley's arms around her, not wanting to move just yet. Thinking over the night before she can't help the smile that comes to her face, not regretting it for anything. Now that it had happened she could admit it how right it felt. The circumstances weren't the best, but she felt more for the young girl than she had in a long time and it felt wonderful.
Thinking she better see what time it was, she lifted her head a bit to see the alarm clock on the other side of Miley. The clock was blinking 12:13 signifying that in the storm last night the power had obviously gone out, leaving her with no idea what time it was.
"Miley, wake up," shaking her arm gently, knowing they both need to get up now and find out what time it was. "Wake up," she tries again.
Sleepily rubbing her eyes, "what?" she asks Lilly not sure what is going on.
"Miley. Shit," Lilly curses getting out of bed looking for her clothes.
"What is it?" Miley tries to ask again only to get a "fuck" from Lilly in response.
Both women can hear the echo of footsteps on the concrete stairs as Kunkle makes her way towards where Lilly and Miley are desperately trying to get their clothes on. Miley barely gets her panties back on before Mother Kunkle burst into the room, leaving Lilly's hands on the zipper of her jeans. They both freeze knowing they've been caught now. With her shirt in hand Lilly tries to cover herself up.
"Lilly!" Kunkle yells disbelieving that she'd actually discovered what she only thought was a very unlikely possibility before. Taking a deep breath, "I want to see you in my office right now," she demands before turning and walking out of the room.
Once she's gone, Lilly lowers her shirt with a stunned expression on her face. Just moments before everything in her life seemed perfect, but now she had no idea what was going to happen. "That did not just happen," she whispers loudly, not sure if she's telling herself or Miley.
"It's- it's going to be okay," Miley tries to assure her, not really sure herself what was going to happen. Inside she was hoping that Lilly wasn't regretting what happened even now, because she sure wasn't. It was everything she wanted and more.
Pulling her shirt on, "you better go," Lilly tells her, not really wanting her to leave, but knowing it would be best for both of them if she did. She wanted to be able to take time and talk with Miley and figure all this out. They didn't have time for that now, everything had changed for them in a matter of minutes.
Miley watches Lilly carefully trying to decipher what she was really saying to her, before gathering the rest of her clothes up and heading for her own room.
Once Miley has left the room, Lilly makes her way over to her desk sitting down. Not able to make herself face her aunt just yet, she tries to figure out what could possibly happen now. The situation looked bad. There was no denying that. But last night had felt more right than anything in her life and she couldn't regret it even if she tried. She had little hope that she could make anyone see it that way though.
--
An hour later, Miley sits unmoving during the Saturday Services. The prayer Father Corelli is giving doesn't even enter her mind, her thoughts are with Lilly. She couldn't help but wonder what Mother Kunkle was going to do to her.
Sitting beside her, Sarah watching her closely, not daring to even guess what is going on in her friends mind. After Amber had talked to Mother Kunkle and the older woman had quickly left the cafeteria they all began to think that maybe what Amber had said was true.
Lilly hesitantly makes her way to her aunt's office, in no hurry to get there. Knowing the campus was empty with everyone at the church she wasn't worried about running into anyone and just enjoyed what may be the last time she walks through these halls.
Reaching her destination, she pauses trying to settle her stomach that was wound in knots before knocking lightly on the door. Her hope that her aunt didn't hear it vanished when she heard the quietly muttered "come in."
Inside Kunkle is rubbing her head as if she has a headache. The two eyed each other cautiously as Lilly takes a seat in front of the desk. Not wanting to look into her aunts disappointed face, she looks down waiting for her to start.
"I'm at a loss for words," she starts, pausing before asking her how she could let something like that happen.
Facing the other woman she whispers, "I don't know," before looking down in shame. Not for what happened, she was not ashamed of that. But she was ashamed how everything happened.
"Well, surely there must have been a moment when you thought to yourself, 'Is this really the right thing to do?'" Kunkle demanded.
"That would have been every moment," admits truthfully. There wasn't a moment since she met Miley that she wondered what the right thing to do was. Even after all this she still wasn't sure.
After services were over, Miley headed back to the dormitory with everyone else not really paying any attention to her surroundings. Instead focusing her attention on the necklace in her hands.
Out of the corner of her eye she catches sight of an unusual care parked in front of the Administration Building. Looking at it more closely she notices it's a U.S. Government car like the ones her mother travels. Worried now, she takes off heading for the front of the building wanting to get to Lilly as soon as possible.
Inside Lilly was still trying to get her aunt to see her side. "I'm not trying to say what I did was right," she says, trying to hold back all the emotions she's feeling right then and just have a serious conversation.
Interrupting, "It's not right!" Kunkle yells, standing up to overpower her niece. The young woman has not only disappointed her, but left her feeling disgusted and ashamed.
Not backing down, knowing that she's done nothing wrong, she looks right at her aunt unblinking. "I don't expect you to understand," she pauses for a moment wanting to make sure Kunkle takes in every word of what she is about to say, "but I love her."
Kunkle starts to let the emotion get to her. She holds back how upset she is but the tears shimmer anyway, knowing what she is about to do to not only a great teacher, but to her own flesh and blood as well.
Out in the hallway a two-way radio can be heard as a man and woman in suits enter the room, both with badges clipped to their belts. She knew there would be consequences for her actions, she just hadn't let herself think of how severe they could be. Now standing before her were to people ready to take her away and she had no idea where too.
"I'm sorry, Lilly," Kunkle says without any real apology behind it. Instead she turns away as the woman walks over and grabs Lilly by the shoulder, pulling her out of the room.
With an officer one each side of her, they begin making their way towards the front of the building. At this point the hallway was becoming filled with curious students, unsure of why one of their favorite teachers was being taken away.
Just as they reached the stairs leading down to the front of the building, Miley comes running in from the back side. "Wait!" she yells slowing them down but not stopping them entirely. Running as fast as she can, she pulls Lilly's hand out, wrapping the Buddha Prayer Beads tightly into her hand.
At that moment Lilly was pulled forward as they blocked Miley from getting any closer. Lilly's eyes stay with her as she is being pushed towards the exit. Lilly's eyes stay with Miley as they push her down the stairs, a small smile on her face. Miley giving her the beads proved to Lilly that the other girl loved her as well.
Miley tries to smile through her tears, feeling like everything will be alright just by the look she received from Lilly. Neither one regretted what had happened, nor would they change it. In their own ways, they had shown each other that they were loved.
Once Lilly was out of sight, Miley turned around, heading back down the way she had come. Girls lined the walls, none of the stopping Miley as they watched the tears fall freely now. It was obvious to everyone what had happened now.
A bell rings off in the distance and all the girls began making their way out. Ashley gives Amber a disgusted look before she too heads off to follow them. Knowing she ruling screwed up this time Amber just stands there letting them leave her there alone.
Just wanting to be alone, Miley heads towards her dorm room but stops just outside the door. Leaning on the frame for a minute she considers her options before turning to make her way into Lilly's room. Standing inside the doorway, she just takes in the rumbled bed now filled with memories of love and tenderness. Something she'll never be able to forget.
Picking up the pictures of herself that were laid out on Lilly's desk, she could see evidence of Lilly's love for her. The photos brought back memories of their trip to the beach and what a huge step it was for them. It only reaffirmed in her mind that what they had was right and true and nothing could change that.
Inside the car Lilly's hands gently finger the beads that Miley gave her. Each touch brought back another memory. How hard she worked to get Miley to take them off, and now here she was holding on to them like they were the most precious thing on earth. In a way they were, because to her they symbolized Miley giving her heart to her.
Rolling down the window, she watched the sun filter through the trees as they headed away from the school for what may be the last time. Tears filled her eyes as she rolled it back up, knowing that she had finally found her true love and everything was going to be alright.
A/N: This concludes the end of the movie. For those of you who have asked yes I am planning on writing my own person ending that will act as an epilogue so watch for that. I'm still not sure how I will end it so it may take awhile but I'll try to get it up as soon as possible.
P.S. Anybody seen Transformers more than once? LOL I FREAKING love that movie!
