~*~*~Lily's POV~*~*~
Chapter 20
"Casey, what do I do?" I pleaded into the phone, walking around my room fretting like an old lady.
"You were the one who agreed do go on this date with Jake. You're going to have to go through with it and tell him that you don't like him that way," a strong yet gentle voice replied.
"But I don't want to."
"Then why did you agree to go out with him in the first place?"
I decided not to reply. I don't think 'Because Cory didn't want me' was a good enough excuse. Yet I was feeling even worse after our argument we had at school. But my mind had come to a conclusion... Love hurts. Yet now I have to go on a date with a good friend.
I groaned and heard Casey sigh through the phone.
"Lily, don't play this game," she told me concerned.
I gently sat at the end of my bed, "Believe me Casey. I never planned it to be like this."
We were both silent for awhile until I heard Casey say, "Is Jake a good friend?"
"Yes, of course he is," I said straight away, not needing to think.
"Then he will understand. Go on the 'date' and make it clear that you have no intentions of being anything more. It's the only way to do it right. Remember Lily, no regrets."
And with those last two words the memories flooded back. Back from a time where it didn't matter if I was wrong, or even right. Those care free times where all my problems hadn't even begun and where life seemed rather... dull.
**
"Lily, can I ask you something?"
I turned to see Casey staring at me with a complex expression. She had grown so much over the summer. She was even more stunning then she usually was. She had gotten her hair cut so that it was now short with layers that made her hair flick. It looked quite lovely and matched her face perfectly. The summer itself was boring. I'd spent most of it with Casey. Sleeping over each other's houses, talking about our goals for this year, what we wanted to do with our lives. I decided I wanted to become a doctor. I want to help people and my parents think it's a wonderful idea. But I guess they just like the thought of having a 'doctor' in the family.
"Ask away," I said with a smile.
"I want you to do something for me this year. Can you do that?"
I looked at her with a curious expression across my face.
"What?"
"Lily, I want you to live your life. Stop worrying about everyone else."
"I don't worry-" but I was cut off.
"Lily, live your life. No regrets. Okay?"
"No regrets?"
"It's not that hard," she tried to encourage me.
"Casey, I can't just go out and be crazy. I have so many responsibilities!"
She frowned, "Like what?"
"School, and my parent's and-" I tried to think of explanations but I couldn't.
She smiled knowing she was winning this argument.
"Casey, become a lawyer. You always win."
Casey smiled and said, "Maybe, but I need you to promise me you'll try. I hate seeing you not fulfilling your life the way you want."
"How do you know I am not fulfilling my life?" I asked her honestly.
"Lily, be honest with yourself. Can you say that everything you have done in your life was your own decision and that it's everything you wanted it to be?"
She got me.
"I-" I started but paused, "I don't think I can live life like that."
I was being completely honest right now. I hadn't been this honest for a long time. Somehow my brain had managed to make me believe that my life was what I wanted but it wasn't. My whole life it's been about the grades, and my so called 'future'.
"Do you want to live life to the fullest?" Casey asked me sincerely.
I didn't respond. I didn't actually know if I did or didn't. Life was working the way it was, and I was scared to step out of that boundary... Yet I wanted to, so bad.
"I do. Casey I actually really do."
She smiled, "Then you know what to do right?"
I looked at her with a curious expression.
"No regrets," she said earnestly.
"No regrets," I repeated with a smile.
**
"I'll do it," I finally agreed. "It's for the best anyway."
"It is. Now hurry up and get ready."
I glanced at the clock on my bedside table which read '5:47pm.'
"SHIT!" I yelled realising I had just over ten minutes to get ready for my date with Jake.
I heard Casey chuckle while I hurried to my closet.
"What the hell am I going to wear?"
"Something comfortable and nice, but nothing too 'wow, I want to impress you'," Casey helped me out.
"Err... I am utterly screwed."
Casey giggled while I pulled out my black skinny jeans and a violet coloured top. It was one of my nicer tops but not overdone.
"I have to go Casey. I'll call you when I get back okay?"
She laughed, "Okay Lil', I'll talk to you later."
"Bye Casey," I said before hanging up the phone and bolting for the bathroom.
I waited around nervously. For some reason I was really nervous about this date. I liked Jake, a lot, but just not in the way he wanted me to like him.
Don't get me wrong, Jake was amazing. He was everything I should want in a guy. He was sweet, funny, caring and had all the looks... But he just wasn't Cory. It hurt to love him. I mean who wants to hear about him sleeping around? I don't, but none the less I still loved him.
My mind wandered further until it was abruptly stopped by a knock at the door.
The inside of my head screamed at me, while my body refused to move.
"Lily, are you going to get that?" My mother called from the other room.
She was ecstatic about the fact I was going on a date. But I think she thought I was going with Cory.
My heart dropped slowly with the thought of Cory. I blew him off for a date with a guy and for what reason? I hadn't one clue.
I got up and walked towards the door, taking long breaths in and out to calm me down. As I opened the door I looked up to see a smiling Jake looking down at me.
"Hey, you," he said rather lamely, but I wasn't going to tell him that.
"Ah, hey Jake."
I looked at his appearance and it was no shock that he looked as handsome as ever. His dark brown hair looked damp yet soft and his fuzzy brown eyes were filled with excitement.
I motioned for him to stay there as I quickly ran into the kitchen to get my bag. My mum was in the kitchen and smiled a huge cheesy grin when she saw me.
"Going on your date, hey?"
"Yes Mum. I'll try and be back around 11pm"
"Oh, don't worry about that. Just have fun," she shrugged my reply off, which was so... unlike her.
"Oh okay," I replied rather awkwardly as I grabbed my bag that was hanging of one of the dining chairs.
I gave my mum a quick smile before heading out. I quickly made it back to the front door to see Jake leaning against the doorframe.
"All ready," I told him shyly.
He stared at me with a huge smile, "Let's role!"
I couldn't help it. I laughed.
No matter how I felt about this situation, Jake could turn it into something funny. It almost put me at ease, but the thought of hurting him still stayed there in my head.
He led me outside to his car and my mouth dropped when I saw it. It was a red convertible. He owned a fricken sports car? But then again, Jake was rich.
His father owned some massive company. Nearly everyone at our school was rich, except for us few people who had been luckier enough to claim a scholarship.
"Don't just stand there, hop in," he said with a cheeky smile before getting into the driver's seat.
I got in and buckled up. I had to admit, I was looking forward to riding in this car.
He took off and I immediately smiled feeling the wind brush across my face.
I turned to see Jake smiling at me.
"KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD!"
He laughed shaking his head, "You love this don't you?"
I wondered whether to reply but I nodded anyway. His car was amazing, and I loved it.
"Where are we going?" I asked him curiously as he pulled off the main highway.
"It's a secret."
I frowned. The one thing I can't stand is secrets.
"Oh come on Lily, it's not that bad. Think of it as a surprise," he tried to bargain with me.
"I hate surprises."
He faked a shocked face, "You hate surprises?"
I poked my tongue at him, not caring if I acted like a child around him.
"Oh very lady like," he laughed as he got a smack on the arm.
Jake drove as we talked. It was quite relaxing just being able to sit here and chat about anything. Reminded me of the times I spent with Casey.
"Let's play a game," Jake suggested to me.
"Okay, what's the game?"
"Have you ever played, 'Would you rather?'" he asked me as he made a left turn.
"Nope."
"Basically you give two options and you have to make the person choose. For example, would you rather... Cut all your hair off or... Walk around naked for a day? " he asked me as I started to laugh.
"What sort of game is this?"
"A funny one, so answer the question!"
I thought for a moment, "Well I love my hair, but I am not walking around naked for a day."
"But it's just one day!"
"A day of shame and embarrassment I won't be able to get rid of," I explained.
"Okay, okay."
"My turn now," I said with an evil smile.
Jake laughed but waited for me to ask the question.
"Would you rather, live without your beautiful car or turn gay?"
Jake gasped, "Live without my baby. Never!"
"So, you would turn gay hey?" I laughed as he pulled up on the side of the road.
"We are here," he smiled.
"Where is here exactly?"
"You'll see."