One Shot #6: Thanks For Caring
(Will alert if rating changes to M)
"Run Lilly. Please Run."
Lilly had to stable herself to stop herself from falling as she ran through the forest. She could not believe what an embarrassment she just endured. It was so public and she did not have the strength to stay there while he had the upper hand. He dumped her. He left her in the shadows and for another girl. She really thought that he cared for her.
She was wrong.
Eventually she stopped running as she collapsed to the ground. She had never run like that before in her life and she never expected that she would have to. But that was the odd thing about life: they though these things at you when you least expect them.
When she had managed to steady herself, she looked at her surroundings. She did not know where she was and she frankly did not want to. If she does not know where she is, probably nobody else will either. But that was her hoping.
The cold was taking hold of her shoulders. Goosebumps rose and her lips were beginning to show a light shade of blue. Sadly, she did not have anything to help her but it did not matter. She had escaped more embarrassment and pity.
To her dismay, she heard shouts.
"Lilly, it's Oliver. Where are you?"
She tried her best to hide herself behind the trees. She did not want to see anyone right now and that included Oliver.
Oliver and Miley entered the clearing, looking around every hiding place they could think of except for Lilly's choice which was now up in the trees.
"Where is she?" Oliver asked.
"No here obviously," stated Miley looking under a bush. "but so far as we've searched, she's nowhere."
"What a jerk. How could he do that to her?"
"Guys," Miley corrected herself in the presence of Oliver, "most guys are jerks."
"But Lilly didn't deserve that. She deserves better."
Miley nodded her head, "but have you got any ideas who this guy could be?" she then asked, looking at Oliver with a raised eyebrow.
Lilly shook her head. When was Miley going to understand and she and Oliver were never going to be a couple.
"Miley. Now is not the time to go into this discussion again."
"Now is the time! She and him are no longer going out. You could go for it?"
"She would never go for me. I'm Oliver Oken the donut. And besides, if it was anything now, it would just be her rebounding and then friendships are ruined."
"You guys are perfect for each other."
"She doesn't think so."
Lilly could not believe what she was hearing. Was it possible that Oliver Oken had a crush on her all this time? This could not be happening. She did not feel the same way – didn't she?
"Come on Oliver. Be the hero now."
"Miley leave it. Let's just find it our objective to find her."
"She's hardly gonna be missing."
"But she's alone." Oliver said, grief making him choke a little. "Do we want to do that to her?"
"Guess not. But that could end for her if you –"
"Did I not tell you to leave it? She doesn't want me. She wants a guy like him."
"Oh yeah, he was certainly perfect."
"Miley, there are just some battles which can't be won."
"How can you call it a battle? You haven't even fought."
Oliver walked off, too annoyed with his friends naïve attitude. In his mind, Lilly only thought about him in one way. Even if he took a chance, she would never take him and that would only ruin the friendship that he holds so dear.
Lilly was in a state of shock. She never realised that Oliver cared so much about her – in that way. And what was worse was that she could have him. But she is not smart. Lilly always went for jerks and never learnt her lesson.
Miley sat down and looked up at the sky, saying to herself, "you see what you're doing? They are made for each other. You know that, right? I can't believe you you're letting this happening. I know it isn't my place to meddle, but you're not exactly doing a good job and I can't just sit there and watch this. It's like writing a romantic novel and then putting the heroine with the man at the beginning.
"I understand it. At a point in time – in a story – there can only be one leading man. But please, in their story, let it be his turn. He really likes her. I should trust what you're thinking but you're making it really hard."
Lilly stayed strong, refusing to let Miley hear her cry. She waited patiently until Miley had walked away to jump off the tree.
"Damn." She muttered as she heard a slight crack at her ankle.
Now limping, Lilly began to walk in the direction she saw Oliver walk in. She winced in pain at every step she took but she was determined to find him. She refused to be stupid this time. She was going to win her leading man, even if she had to amputate her leg.
Oliver threw stones at the lake, but for some reason, they just fell in the water. Probably it was that he didn't quite have the light, happy, attitude which this would be in. It was hard to happy when he didn't know where his hurt friend was. Especially when he so desired to be more than just the caring friend.
Another stone fell in the water. Another reason was perhaps that he wanted to beat Andrew up to a pulp. How could he hurt her? If Oliver had her, he would never be so stupid and dump her. Their was nothing worth dumping. She was amazing.
"Hey," Lilly said watching him through a rock in the lake. "Not sure you have the right technique."
Oliver turned around, ran and hugged his friend. He couldn't resist but smell her blonde hair that flowed down so elegantly.
"Where were you?"
"In a tree," Lilly confessed, "you probably didn't see me."
"No, I didn't." Oliver looked at her. "You worried me."
"I'm fine."
"I know that now."
"Yeah, I know that feeling. When you know something for the first time. Happened a few times just now."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
Lilly was not sure what to do next. She knew she was going to admit her feelings but what feelings? Happiness that someone who was decent liked her? Or actual affection? She did not know what feelings she contained. However, she did know something. Now or never.
"Oliver I heard you an –"
"Hey guys!" Miley exclaimed entering the clearing. Lilly smiled at how ironic that the one person who wanted it to happen for so long decided to pick never for her.
"Hey Miley." Oliver said with some irritation. Lilly hoped that he did not know where the conversation was going, and he was intrigued. That was what she hoped for.
"I'm glad he found you."
"Actually, I found him."
Miley laughed. As she began to pull her away, Lilly was more confused than ever now that she had missed her chance to admit her feelings.
"Lilly!"
She turned around and saw the bewildered look on Oliver's face as he said, "what did you hear?"
"Just – nothing of any interest."
"OK."
Oliver clearly knew it was a lie, and so did Lilly. Even Miley perhaps knew that there was something happening which just whispered in the air. Call it fireworks, call it anything but it was not the usual. It was romantic.
"Oliver?"
"Hm?"
Lilly rushed over and hesitantly kissed him on the cheek, "thanks for caring."
A/N: I know that this one sucked but I have an amazing one planned for next time but I already started this one. Hoped you like the sort of bittersweet ending.