About halfway through the movie, I dared to look up. Nothing much was happening but I knew there was still a while to go. Why did people like this kind of thing? They were sick. Something on the screen made a bang and I dropped my head back to my knees. Screw that. I was a baby and completely happy with that title.
I jumped as something brushed the outside of my leg. Lewis’s hand? My breath caught in my throat. Okay, that was a better way to make me forget about the movie. I doubt hiding would ever help again after that. I didn’t dare look at him, but I sensed his smile.
There was no way I was going to be able to concentrate on the movie now, so I raised my head from my knees. Just look at him. Man, I really was a baby. I flicked my eyes up and Lewis looked at me at the same time.
“Okay?” he mouthed, and I nodded. I was more okay with the back of his index finger drawing circles on my leg. Wow, my skin actually tingled wherever he touched.
“Boo!” Henry shouted at the top of his lungs. My heart leaped out of my chest and I jumped in the air, screaming.
What the heck!
“What’s wrong with you?” I yelled. He doubled over with his face planted in the quilt, laughing his arse off. Lewis, Kerri, and Rachel were no better, although I think they jumped too. “Seriously, Henry, I almost had a heart attack.”
“Overdramatic wuss,” he said, rolling his eyes. I gave him the death glare.
I felt Lewis’s body shaking beside me as he laughed. “Damn, that was funny,” Lewis said breathlessly, as he continued laughing.
“Yeah, hilarious,” I replied sarcastically. My heart was still pumping. My brother sucked. They all did.
Finally the hideous movie finished and Henry went downstairs to get the pizza menu so we could order dinner, since none of us could cook without burning the house down. Thankfully, Mum and Dad left some cash for us. They wouldn’t be back from their dinner with Dad’s old boring university friend and his equally boring wife until late.
Kerri fake coughed. “I need a drink. Rachel, come help me.” Oh. My. God. Can she be any more obvious? I widened my eyes at her and she smiled innocently. Come on, ground, swallow me up. Please?
They left and the room fell silent. I literally couldn’t think of one thing to say. Everything I thought of sounded lame in my head.
“You’re quiet,” Lewis said, stating the obvious.
“So are you,” I replied.
He chuckled and moved slightly so he was facing me. “Enjoy the movie?”
“Not one little bit.”
“Baby.”
I rolled my eyes at him and he did that sexy half smile thing. Wow. I heard Henry, Rachel, and Kerri talking at the bottom of the stairs and I wanted to pout that they were coming back so soon. Lewis bit his full lip. “I’ve wanted to do this for a while.”
“Do what?” I asked. He leaned forward and his lips pressed to mine, lingering for only a second. My heart beat so fast I felt like it was going to explode. He pulled back and looked at me. Oh my God, Lewis just kissed me! I was in a total daze but he seemed unaffected. He threw one leg over the other and looked up at the door just as they came back.
“What pizza did you order?” Lewis asked. I didn’t hear Henry’s reply. I couldn’t have cared less what pizza he ordered. I bit my lip to try to disguise the huge smile that was making my jaw ache. I kissed Lewis, I kissed Lewis, I kissed Lewis! Damn it, why did they have to come back so soon?
6
SUMMER
Sunday, July 25th (Present)
“Let’s get this cleaned up,” Rose said, clapping her hands together as if it was going to be the most fun in the world. I got up to help, just to have something to do. Rose washed the pans, plastic cutlery, and dishes while I dried them and Poppy put them away. We cleaned and tidied in silence, filling the room with the lemon scent that tingled my nose. I had a million questions I wanted to ask.
Finally, after the whole place was clean, we sat on the sofa. I realized I was acting just like one of them and I burst into tears. I curled up into a ball and sobbed so hard, my lungs started to burn. This can’t be my life. Never before had I felt so utterly alone.
“Oh, Lily, it’s going to be okay,” Violet said and rubbed my back.
“N-No. Not okay.” I sobbed harder. Tears poured down my face, soaking my knees.
“Shh,” Rose cooed. “Take deep breaths and calm down. You’re not alone, Lily.” Yes, I am.
“We’re all in this together,” Poppy added.
I took a deep breath and tried to stop sobbing. “How can he?” Wiping my tears away, my blurry vision cleared. “He’s going out tonight. How can he do all this and still be normal to everyone else?”
Rose sighed. “It’s not a pub he’s going to, Lily.”
“Stop calling me Lily,” I snapped.
Rose ignored my outburst as if it never happened. Maybe in Rose’s world it didn’t. “As far as I’m aware, he doesn’t socialize a lot. Most of his time is spent either at work or in here.”