Quilting Appreciation: ScorpiusLily
Word Count: 376
They sit by the lake in silence. Normally, Lily doesn't mind the silence, but it feels deafening today. Her demons seem to claw their way through her throat, and it's only a matter of time before those insecurities spill from her lips.
Scorpius shifts beside her, turning to look at her. "What's wrong?" he asks, his thin lips tugging into a frown.
"What makes you think something is wrong?" Lily asks. She tries to fake it, but even she can feel how flimsy her smile is.
"You're tense," Scorpius answers. "And you've got that look on your face like you want to cry."
She supposes she's lucky to have a boyfriend who knows her so well. Sometimes, like now, it's curse. There's no hiding anything from him. Scorpius always seems to know, and he can see right through her.
With a sigh, Lily slumps forward. "Are you sure you don't want to be with Rose?"
A beat of silence passes between them. Her boyfriend rests a hand on her back, gently rubbing. She feels the tension in her body slowly melt away at his touch. "If I wanted to be with Rose, I wouldn't be with you. I don't like wasting people's time." More silence. He kisses her forehead. "What brought this on?"
She almost laughs. How can someone so clever be so oblivious? Everyone thinks he should be with Rose. They're so alike, and who doesn't love a good story of rivals becoming lovers? Sometimes, it feels like he's just settled for Lily. She doesn't want to be the girl with no confidence, but the whole world seems to want her boyfriend to date her cousin. It's hard to believe she's good enough.
When she doesn't answer, Scorpius pulls her closer. His fingers brush through her auburn hair. "I love you," he says quietly. "I don't want anyone else. I want you. Isn't that enough?"
So many doubts and insecurities still race through her mind. Before she can find a way to voice them, his lips are on hers, and he puts her demons to sleep.
"I want you."
And it doesn't matter that everyone thinks he and Rose are meant to be. Scorpius wants Lily, and the rest of the world can piss off.