Another short chapter, but an important one so I hope you like it!
Ethan was less than pleased to get a phone call from his brother when he got home. But it didn't matter, there was no way he'd be disclosing any information about recent events, whether they included Lily or not. He spent the entirety of the four minute conversation almost completely zoned out, not wishing to make any effort to sound interested. He spoke in a falsely positive tone when Caleb informed him that he'd be back in work the next day. When he hung up, he sat back against the sofa and sighed. Hopefully Lily wouldn't massively overreact to his brother's return, but he knew how angry she still was about everything he'd done following their mother's death.
Although they were not making a conscious effort to be secretive, neither Lily nor Ethan were confident enough to be overtly romantic on the presence of their colleagues. Zoe gave Lily a wry smile in the staffroom.
"I hope you two had a good evening together," she said quietly.
"Oh no, everyone knows, don't they!" Lily said, blushing furiously.
"It's not public knowledge, but it's not a total secret either. Just make sure there are no porters around next time you're making plans!" Lily relaxed and made a mental note to rush Max more than usual for the rest of the day. "You don't need to worry too much, no-one suspected anything when you spent time together before. Just try not to act completely loved up if you end up on the same case. Connie will throw a fit if she thinks the department is suffering as a result of, heaven forbid, normal relationships!" Zoe's reassuring manner made Lily much more comfortable; she didn't feel awkward about making conversation with Ethan in public after that, although she did consciously monitor her words when their fellow staff members were around.
She found it much harder to hold her tongue and remain civil when, later in the day, she was left alone with Cal in the staffroom. Oblivious, he made small talk about his holiday. Lily gritted her teeth but tried to retain a neutral expression. But when he started talking at length about how he felt so much better about everything, having taken a step back, she couldn't restrain herself any longer.
"Well it's good to hear that someone around here has been having a nice time," she said icily.
"Not you as well? Ethan's been off with me as well, all day, I'd love to be enlightened with what's going on."
I'm sure you would, Lily thought. "Unfortunately for you, I've got better things to do."
"Come on Lils, I thought we were friends!" Lily froze: she hated being patronised like that, by Cal in particular. "I'd expect Nibbles to give me a hard time but not you! I haven't done-"
Picking her battle, Lily exploded. "Will you stop calling him that? You have no respect for your brother and frankly it's disgusting! What's worse is that you have no idea how much you've destroyed the last four months for him, because you're too selfish to notice anything but yourself. As long as everything's fine for Cal, who cares whether Ethan's even coping? It sure as hell isn't you!" She was fuming, and even Cal looked surprised that she could vent anger like that. It didn't distract him from countering her argument.
"It's so much easier to push everything to one side and carry on. I wasn't being egotistical or self-centred or whatever else you want to accuse me of!"
"Easier for you!" Lily almost screamed across the room, taking Cal aback. "You found it easier to ignore your situation but that does not give you the right to make Ethan think he can't even talk about your mother. People deal with grief differently Cal, it's high time you learned to appreciate that." She paused, marching angrily across the room to pick up her book, and Ethan's which he had left behind.
"What I don't understand, Lily, is why you're so bothered all of a sudden. Don't tell me Nibbles has got himself a girlfriend while I've been away?" he mocked, clearly not expecting it to be true. At that moment, something in Lily snapped. She couldn't help herself, in a fit of rage she strode over to Cal and slapped him hard across the face. She had no idea that the door had just opened. Ethan stood aghast, his mouth hanging open, Connie's on the other hand was pressed into a thin line of sheer anger, mixed with a certain degree of complete disbelief.
"Lily, what on earth-" Ethan began, before Connie cut across him.
"Dr Chao, my office. Now." Still angry but with tears threatening at the corners of her eyes, Lily left the room, almost at a run, pressing Ethan's book to his chest as she passed.