So started watching Merlin this evening, and was like 'Yay, Merlin!' Bu then I remembered that I need to update my fics :L sorry folks. I love writing these, I really do, and it's just sometimes I am the most forgetful person in the world. I do try my best, honest. By the way, in case anyone gets offended, there will be one teensy little swear word in this next chapter. I didn't just put it in for the sake of it; I genuinely wanted to show how the character feels about this particular person. But it's a really mild one, it's not that bad, honest, I just wanted to let you know just in case.

Disclaimer: I do not own Waterloo Road, or any of the characters in it, but I do own Lily Longhope, her mum, her twin sister and her dad, (yes she does have those last two, all will be revealed very soon!)

Tom stared at her in amazement. Never had he heard someone so young speak so eloquently or be so sure of her. The long-suffering teacher was even more surprised when the poor girl just burst into tears. He acted in pure paternal instinct, and gave her an awkward hug. He then realised that she didn't know much about her background. That was something that could have an effect on how she would be able to cope with this sort of thing. It was, after all, a massive setback that no-one was ready for. He decided to be blunt about it. It might help them both, and anyway, he figured that Lily Longhope wasn't one for sentiment. She was awfully distanced about some things.

'So Lily, I know this is gonna sound strange, but can you tell me anything that might help us to help you? For instance, your background, family etc,' Tom inquired.

Lily didn't stare at him in surprise like he presumed she would, but instead just looked… relieved. As if she'd been waiting for this opportunity for a while, and just wanted to let it out, as it were.

'Well, my mum and me live on our own, we're fine, we don't need help, we just haven't heard from my dad in a while. He took off when I was about 19 months old. I had a twin as well, but I guess that if she's as much of a bitch that she can't even be bothered to contact me, I don't see why I should either,' Lily gushed.

Tom stared, confounded. 'You have a twin sister?'

'Yep, you'd think that would make a difference to how much she cares about me, wouldn't you? But it doesn't, not one little bit. She doesn't give a damn about me, I've tried to contact her but she's not bothered. Not that I care,' Lily smarted.

Josh could tell that Lily had been seriously hurt by her sister, but she wasn't about to show it. Instead, she was acting all tough and hard just to get through it. But Tom could see the real Lily Longhope behind that cleverly-concealed mask of hers. And he was going to help her take it off.

The last day of term

It was the last day of Waterloo Road, ever. Well, in Rochdale at least. Next term, it was all change, with most of the staff and even some of the pupils migrating north to Scotland to have a place in the new, updated, and (hopefully) improved Waterloo Road. Josh and Tom had already announced that they were accompanying Michael there, as after the incident at the party Josh's confidence had been seriously knocked, and Tom was unwilling to force him into a brand new school where he would have none of his old friends, though at least he was sure that Lily would have followed him there if it meant being with him every day. Speaking of Lily, he wasn't quite sure where her position at present regarding the move to Scotland. He knew that she was trying to persuade her mum to let her go, and he knew Eliza just wanted the best for her daughter, but for some reason she was extremely unwilling to let Lily go. Normally she would have leaped at the chance for a change of scenery, without any other children or partner to worry about; Eliza Longhope found it very easy indeed to just up sticks and go at a moment's notice. But she was refusing to let Lily go. And why? Tom had absolutely no idea, but one thing he was certain of: Lily wasn't going to give up that easily.

Lily, of course, had taken matters into her own hands, and had already come up with a plan. She knew how much her mum loved Josh, as she had met him before and had been overwhelmed by his kindness and his manners. She also knew that school had told her about Josh's schizophrenia, and how much Lily was affected by it, something that had deeply both worried and irritated her at the time, she had had no idea how her mum would react to this sudden news. Luckily, her mum was sympathetic and incredibly kind towards him. But she hadn't seen him since he had been diagnosed. Now, Lily was going to play this to her advantage. She approached Josh at the beginning of the day with her, in her mind, simply excellent plan.

'So my mum right, she has like no idea what you've been like since you've been diagnosed, and she doesn't fully understand how much we rely on each other every day. So I thought, I'll invite you round tonight and you can explain to my mum why you need me, and she'll see why we can't be separated, and then she'll let me come with you to Scotland! Isn't that brilliant?!'

Josh stared at her in absolute awe, fully proud of her, amazed at how she could be so un-modest and yet so devoted at the same time. Anyone else would have thought she was clingy, even weird, but Josh loved her for it. He was even beginning to wonder if his love for her was purely out of friendship… But he wouldn't complicate things now. He didn't want to confuse Lily at the moment, or get her hopes up. He wanted to sort out some problems of his own first, before he could even begin to question his sexuality. He just laughed happily, kissed her on the nose, and told how awesome she was. Which, in his mind at least, was an awful lot.

Lily stared at the love of her life with a thrill of anticipation running down her spine, excitement building in her stomach. She just knew that her plan would be successful. But at the same time, she felt dread, and a deep sadness inside. What would happen when they got there? What if all her planning was for nothing? What if?...

Josh fell in love with someone else?

Lily didn't know it yet, but things weren't always going to go her way in the months to come, and some of her worst fears were about to be realised…

There you go!