Lily finally reached her house after the failed attempt to obtain her necklace. Standing in front of the modern duplex, she sees her mother's grey car parked outside on the driveway.“Oh God!”She was too late. Her mom was already around and now she had to face her again.Slowly lily turned the front door knob, opening it. She walked inside and her eyes landed on the structure of her mother sitting down on the ash couch in the living. But her attention was focused on her phone. Lily took that as a chance. She took a deep breath and began to tiptoe her way to the stairs. But her mom did in fact notice her presence."Lily Davis" Mrs. Davis' stern voice cut through the air, freezing Lily in her tracks. Lily's heart sank; she had been caught. "Why are you home late? Where were you?” she said with her eyes still fixed on her phone.“Hey Mom" lily tried to play it cool but her voice obviously sounded suspicious. Her mother abruptly whipped her head around and her eyes widened at the sight o

Ethan and Lily managed to slip away from the bustling lunch break environment at school. Now, they were seated in Ethan's car.Lily could hear her heart pounding loudly. What if they were caught? What if they got into trouble? What if her parents found out?“Lily,” Ethan's voice called her back, and she turned to him, finding his presence already calming her racing thoughts."Relax," he said, his voice soothing and appealing. "This is what you wanted, right?" He smirked."Yes, yes. I'm relaxed," Lily attempted with a shaky voice. "I'm just a little sc... no, I'm good," her words stumbled over each other.Ethan chuckled softly, his laughter like a comforting melody. Lily shifted her gaze around the well-designed car, her nervous glances darting here and there.Ethan turned the key, starting the engine, and accelerated out of the school compound. However, instead of heading towards his house, he went in the exact opposite direction. Not only that, but he was driving down the very street

Ethan's car came to a halt in front of Lily's house. During the ride, he tried to bring up what happened, but Lily immediately cut him off. As she stepped out of his car and slammed the door shut, she flashed a sheepish grin through the window, raising her right hand to give a small goodbye wave. Lily held the painting and the new phone he had gifted her with her left hand. Ethan nodded. "Bye, see you tomorrow." "Y-yeah..." She replied, her voice low and brittle. As the car zoomed off, Lily felt a heavy weight lift from her chest. "Aaaahhhh!" She screamed loudly, finally releasing the pent-up frustration that had welled up since that very, very embarrassing moment. She glanced around her surroundings to see if anyone had witnessed her outburst. She noticed that neither of her parents’ cars were in the compound. "Thank God," she mumbled and headed inside. Now lying on her soft, sinking bed, Lily pressed the pillow against her head, her screams muffled by the cushion. "I should j

"What was that about?""I don't know. I literally don't know what came over me," Lily answered Mark, her eyes glued to the ground. "I saw him, and then I started running, and he started running too. I didn't want to talk to him, that's why... that's why I kissed you," Lily blabbered."Why don't you want to talk to him?" Mark said, placing his hands on Lily and clutching them tightly. "Did he do something to you?"Lily's eyes remained fixed on Mark's. "No, I tried to kiss him, and he pulled away... I know, very embarrassing." She muttered, "Damn it! Why am I even telling you this?" She jerked Mark's hands off her shoulder and facepalmed."Lily, you have to st—""Lily Davis to the principal's office," the principal's secretary's voice interrupted Mark over the speaker.'What did I do this time around?'"Lily Davis to the principal's office," the speaker called again."Mark, I have to go," Lily said and started running out of the room."Lily, wait," she heard him call, but ignored it and

"Don't get me wrong, Lily. I'm not so sure," Sarah explained. "Then why would you think they are dating?" Lily asked. "Because of your intense crush on Ethan and your failed kiss attempt, I've been keeping my eye on him,” Sarah started. "On the days you weren't around, I noticed he wasn't hanging around the MJs again. It's either he's alone or Madison is clinging to his body like a baby koala.” "And as much as I hate to say it…" Emily chimed in, "They look good together." Lily laughed hysterically, prompting confused gazes from her friends. "I should have known," Lily said. "That's why he pulled away, isn't it?" "But that doesn’t mean you should give up. I remem