Ethan and Lily broke apart, breathing heavily. Ethan's mind was full of crazy things but mostly the fact that Lily Chao: beautiful, sophisticated, intelligent had kissed him, Ethan Hardy.
Gazing at Ethan, Lily was awoken from her thoughts by a short cough. Turning, her face flooded red as she saw Robyn, Max, Lofty and Caleb staring at her and Ethan.
"Guys! I didn't... We didn't...", Ethan stuttered.
"Ethan, relax we don't bite!" Robyn giggled as Caleb started talking, "We were just a little curious as to the identities of the couple snogging outside the pub. I mean, Ethan? I never would have guessed that you would make out with Lily in front of us!"
Lily felt her face flush even redder as Ethan's cheeks turned crimson. Ethan could not believe that Caleb had just said that. He had not... They hadn't... Turning to Lily he saw her face giving off even more light than his (so it is possible!) and quickly, reaching for her hand, told Caleb rather un-politely to 'go away'. Spinning he pulled Lily along side him until he felt calm enough so as not to shout.
"Lily, are you okay?"
"Yes," Ethan questioned her with a look, "No. Well, nothing another kiss couldn't fix." Lily asked nervously.
"Happy to oblige", Ethan smiled as their lips touched gently together. Mere seconds later, he pulled away asking if there was anywhere they could go to talk.
"We could go back to my flat, its really close from here."
"Yeah sure, if thats okay with you", Ethan replied in a strangled voice. Back to her flat?! Was that code for something? Why couldn't he be Caleb and totally smooth? What if...
"Y'know to talk", Lily continued, "I mean if you don't want to or if you need to be somewhere that's fine." Why, why had she said her flat? Now Ethan was going to think she was some kind of sl...
"That sounds great", Ethan smiled his awkward, adorable smile and Lily's fears vanished.
"Its just down here and round that corner", Lily explained as they started to walk down the street, their hands still interlinked.
"Here we are! My flat is tiny, I know but I'm training in an ED, what do you expect? Grab a seat, I can get you a drink. What do you want?"
"What do you have?"
"Uh, juice, water and beer." Sound a bit more excited, for god's sake or he'll just leave.
"Why do you have beer?", Ethan asked surprised.
"House-warming gift", Lily replied shaking her head at her Mum's suggestion that when a guy came over they could drink together.
"I'm having beer," she continued brightly. Jeez now i sound too perky.
"I'll have the same, thanks". Tonight was full of surprises; Lily having beer is just one of them, Ethan thought to himself. As Lily grabbed the beers, two glasses and ice, Ethan looked around the apartment, agreeing with Lily's description of tiny. It was tidy and ordered, unsurprisingly but had few individual touches. Ethan assumed that as she'd only moved in recently, Lily would make her mark later. His mind soon moved back to its original train of thought. He needed to talk to Lily but how do was he supposed to start this kind of conversation? What do I say? Do i just come out and say it? Why is it so hard? Its just Lily. Yeah, she's just beautiful, smart and eloquent. Ethan's internal monologue was interrupted by the entrance of Lily, carrying two glasses.
"So, Ethan what did you want to talk about?", Lily asked breezily. Don't sound so relaxed or he'll think you don't care!
"Its just, ummmm. About last night..."
"Uh-huh?" That the best you can do?
"I just wanted to explain why I left."
"Ethan?" Don't sound so scared, idiot.
"Look Lily, I'm in love with you and I guess i started falling in love the minute i met you so when I saw you crying I wanted to be there for you, so I came to sit with you and then when you stopped crying, it hit me. I realised how much i wanted to kiss you again. But I'm not Caleb. I've grown up with stories of how he's taken advantage, kissing crying women. Then I realised; I'd done that to you. And more than anything else, I don't want to be Caleb. I didn't want for you to feel you had to kiss me, because I was there or that I was trying to 'make' you love me. So as soon as I knew you were okay, I left. And i'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for Ethan?"
"For kissing you when you told me you loved Ash, for kissing you at all, for leaving you, for going to you, for everything", Ethan replied tripping over his own words in both haste and embarrassment.
"Ethan, look at me. You have nothing to apologise for. I told you i loved Ash because i thought I did. I didn't. Just my family never say 'Well done' or 'we're so proud' so when Ash praised me I... I guess I thought I was in love but I wasn't. I'm in love with you Ethan. I've been in love with you since you kissed me through my tears."
"You mean that?", Ethan asked in wonder. He knew Lily liked him; he never imagined she would ever say 'I love you'. He thought she was more likely to call the whole thing a mistake.
"Yes I mean that."
Quickly Ethan lifted her head to his and kissed her passionately saying all the things he'd wanted to say for so long. Lily kissed him back knowing now, how love truly felt. The untouched glasses of beer were still there when they finished talking much, much later.
"Lily, I should really be going."
"Ethan, are you serious? Its one am. You can just sleep on the sofa and you can go home in the morning, before work." Did I honestly just say that? What is he going to think! Oh no!
"If you're sure that's fine with you, I would love to. I mean, i-i-i-i'd r-r-rather", Ethan stuttered, flushing pink.
"Honestly, its fine", Lily reassured him. Kissing him softly on the cheek, Lily left the room and turned into her small bedroom.
Ethan realised five minutes later that he was still sitting there, a ridiculous smile shining on his face.
Hi again!
Sorry it's been so long since i updated I've been working on improving the other chapters. You can thank Hamnahisnotarealperson for making me write this
Long but boring is my guess at the reviews but anyway please review!
One more chapter and then i'm planning to do a series of one-shots... Ideas much appreciated!
Love Lizzy