Hey lovely readers I'm asking that you vote for this chapter as well as the ones before. I will add a little humor, the story sounds so dreary : D

Haha that is my own opinion so share yours too!! I'm am hoping to get atleast ten votes this chapter. I see alot of reads

Come on fellow wattpadies ^_^

I'd love your opinion guys!

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Chapter 8

With my knees against my chest and my arms wrapped around my legs I huttled against the stairs. It began snowing a few minutes ago, thick snowflakes that are defenitly sticking. I let out a breath watching it swirl in the air.

For some reason I had an annoying habit of acting like a fool near Ethan. I mentally kicked myself for running. I had the option of staying quiet or excusing it as us drifting apart. Anything but running like a coward. Wasn't that what I am? I run from my problems and everything connected to them.

"What'ca doing on the ground?"

I jumped at Aidan's voice. He was standing above me with his head tilted to the side. I didn't even here him coming out.

"I needed air."

Aidan kicked the side of my boot with a grin. "You run fast."

I pulled my foot away when I felt a tingle from the force of his kicks. My boot had gray smudges but I didn't mind. Aidan bent his head back catching a snowflake with his tongue. He stuck his tongue in my direction showing me the over sized flake.

I mimcked his actions only catching an average sized flake. Aidan laughed at my pathetic attempt to catch a bigger snowflake.

"Why are you afraid of Ethan? He's really fun and nice."

That was out of the blue. I stood brushing my cold butt from any dirt.

"I am not afraid of him." I lied

Aidan stood on one of the steps so he was towering over me.

"Do you like him?"

I looked down to hide the blush that came with his question. That is the second time someone has asked.

"Ethan is a friend and nothing more." I replied keeping my head down

Aidan jumped off the stairs walking over to a leaveless tree. He croutched down digging through the half a foot of snow. He pulled out a long stick walking back to the same step from before. He placed the stick on the tip of my nose.

"Liar your nose grew."

I pushed the stick off my nose with a smile.

"I am not. You don't even know me." I said

Aidan threw the stick at my feet with a smirk. Crouching down like a wolf sizing up his prey Aidan narrowed his eyes a smile playing on his lips than he leaped onto my back. I stumbled but managed to stay up with Aidan wrapping his little body around me.

"You looovve him." he cooed in my ear

"Do not!" I whined like a child

Aidan twisted his legs so I rocked akwardly from side to side. "Lily loooves Ethan!" he shouted

"Aidan shut up I do not!"

"Lily and Ethan sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes loooove..." he stretched the word out as I desprately tried to get him off.

"Than comes marriage than comes Lily with a baby carriage. That's not all I saw the baby drinking alcohol."

I laughed at the last part. "Aidan you idiot that's not funny."

"Yeah my baby is not an alcoholic."

My eyes widened as I turned to see Ethan standing by the door of the garage. He heard Aidan! I shook Aidan pointlessly. Aidan tightened his grip pulling me down to ground. He landed on me somehow freeing his arms before I landed.

"Aidan!!!" I screamed

His father could have warned me Aidan is driving me up a wall! Aidan laughed wiggling his butt on my back. I gritted my teeth wishing horrible things happen to this little boy.

"Lily loooves you Ethan, do you love her?" he asked

"I do not now get off you little twerp!" I hissed

"Yes Aidan I love Lily very much and I don't appreciate you squishing her." Ethan said

Aidan obeyed quickly standing up. Jerk. I stood with help from Ethan. "Thanks." I mumbled humilted

Ethan's hand lingered on my hand a second longer. He smiled warmly before pulling his hand away.

"Of course your the love of my life." he winked pointing to a beaming Aidan

The corners of my lips turned up as a thought popped in my head. I bent down grabbing a hand full of snow and rolled it into a ball. Aidan's eyes widened as he took a step back. I threw the snowball, it landed on his chest.

I grinned victorious, right on the target. Aidan grabbed a hand full of snow chucking it in my face. The cold snow burned my cheeks feeling like daggers. Quickly recovering I made another snowball throwing it at Aidan. Aidan twisted to the side dodging my attack.

"Snowball fight!" Aidan screamed

He bent down grabbing a handful of snow I ducked the snowball barely missing my head. Taking cover behind a tree I tossed a snowball at Aidan who ducked but slipped falling on his butt. I inched closer to him with a hand full of snow when a snowball came darting my way. I didn't move quick enough and was hit straight in the face. I gasped when the snow crumbled down my coat. I turned to face Ethan's smiling face.

He shrugged innocently. Innocent my butt. I bent down making a quick snowball tossing and missing Ethan. Just as I went to attack again Aidan recovered running over to me tossing unmolded snow in my face. I rubbed my eyes trying to see clearly when Aidan's little arms wrapped around my waist pulling me to the ground.

Ethan chuckled as Aidan and I rolled on the ground throwing snow at each other. I sat up when Aidan stopped to clear his eyes from the powder snow we were throwing. Here was my chance.

I stuck my hand up motioning for Ethan to help me up. Almost immediately he came over to help me up, I tried to hide my smirk. Ethan wrapped a hand around my wrist trying to pull me to my feet, I grabbed a handful of snow keeping it hidden behind my back.

When on my feet I shoved the snow as far as I could into his overalls. Ethan jumped in surprise as the cold snow slipped deeper into his uniform. Aidan and I clutched our stomachs rolling on the ground with laughter watching Ethan hop around trying to get the snow out.

"Your dead." Ethan growled

Ethan stalked over to me with a handfull of snow. His other hand tight and his eyes set on me. I sprang to my feet running towards the stairs to safety. I felt a tingle in the pit of my stomach. He was so hot when he was angry. Whoaa rewind I am not allowed to ever think that way about Ethan. Ethan is my friend and nothing more. Huh I said the exact same thing to Aidan before.

Just as my fingers touched the door handle Ethan's arm wrapped around my stomach, I gasped at the soft yet strong grip he had on me. He pulled me against him. My heart thumped wildly in my chest. I was panting and not from the chase.

I could feel Ethan's heart beating just as wild as mine against my back. He let out a husky breath into my ear. I bit my lip forcing the strange warm feelings for Ethan to go away. Could he tell what I am feeling?

All those warm feelings disappeared when Ethan shoved snow down my back. The cold powder melted as I frantically dug my hand in to my coat to reach it. I grabbed the remaining snow tossing it aside most of it already dripping down my back. I turned to a grinning Ethan, I was boiling with rage that disappeared when I saw the bottom of his overalls wet.

"Still can't control your bladder."

Ethan dragged his eyes to what I was laughing at. Surprisingly he laughed along with me. It felt nice to laugh a geniune laugh again. It wasn't forced for show like usual. I am having a good time.

It was like this with Ethan even when we were younger. He would do something that made me forget my problems. I missed him.

The thought stopped my laughter. I missed Ethan. It was than I realized he was still had his arm wrapped around me. As if hearing me he tightened his hold gently. It was silent but not uncomfortable. Slowly I lifted my gaze to Ethan who was staring back at me.

His lips were in a firm line, eyes set hard on mine. I found it hard to breath, like my lungs decided to go for a break. My body felt numb against the warm arm around me. It felt familiar like it has always been there.

"Hey Lily." Aidan shouted snapping out of my daze

I turned in time to be hit with a snowball. I forgot all about Aidan. I stood dumb found as I realized this is still a snowball fight. I jumped off the stairs slipping from Ethan's arm not looking back. I don't want to see his amused face. I made a big enough fool of myself already.

"Your going to get it Aidan."

With that I continued the war between my new friend forgetting Ethan. I bent down to grab some snow when I heard the thud of garage door.

I slammed my locker shut crumbling the red paper that a little perky someone put in. Nick shook his head grinning at my sour expression.

"If I didn't love Rachel I'd probably kill her for this." I said throwing the paper in the garbage.

Rachel has put posters, cards,invitations of the stupid hearthrob dance in my locker all day. At the moment she was getting the gym ready for tonight along with the rest of the committee.

Nick put an arm around my shoulder walking me to class. "She doesn't want you to go alone."

"Tell her to be thankful I agreed to go."

The hall was splattered in red and pink banners with inflaitable hearts that hung from the ceiling. Tables with flowers were at every corner for people who wanted to buy flowers for that speacil someone. I rolled my eyes at the guys who were buying red roses by the dozens.

Try being more original, I thought. Red roses are pretty but everyone gets them on Valentine's Day. Nick bought a bundle of red roses as we passed a bored looking blonde.

"A flower for a flower." he said tucking a red rose into my hair

I smiled not wanting to be rude by saying how stupid it was to give a red rose on Valentines. Nick pecked my cheek dashing to find Rachel. He had chocolates (turtles Rach's favorite) and small red teddy bear that is holding a heart while blowing a kiss. Plus the bouquet of roses.

With a smile I headed to history. As I sat in my seat finishing my paper on the mediveal times the sub from the other day walked in waving her hand for us to carry on. How did she get this job?

I put my work away and pulled out my red notebook. It was my free write book, not a diary or journal. Just a whatever book for anything. I began scribbling a funny looking picture of a bird on a perch staring aimlessly to the distance. The bird's left wing was slightly uneven but I never said I was an artist.

"I never knew you could draw?" an unfamiliar voiced said above me

"I can't." I said raising it up to see

Ashton stiffened a laugh nodding in agreement at my lopsided bird. I grinned closing my book and putting it away. Ashton stood above me with a hand behind his back. He was wearing a bright blue sweatshirt with dark blue jeans. His blonde hair brushed to either side of his face adding more attention to his blue eyes.

"What do you want?" I asked straight foward

With a shy boyish smile he pulled his hand from behind his back revealing three red roses wrapped in a pretty rose petal plastic bag. I looked up at him confused. I have never spoken to him except for the last couple days.

"I'm sorry for not helping you the other day with Danny." he answered

Oh yeah Danny. I grabbed the roses sniffing the floral scent. "Thank you and apology accepted."

With a smile Ashton sat on the empty seats beside me. I placed the flowers on the side of my desk, more red roses.

"You handled yourself well but Andy left the real impression." Ashton said shaking his head smiling

"Whoa hold on there smiley what are you talking about Ethan wasn't there."

Ashton knitted his brows before shaking his head. "Oh yeah he wasn't there."

The chatter continued around us, mostly about the hearthrob dance. Its another stupid dance with pretty decorstions. Nothing different or anything to get excited over. Teens have no lives. (A.N. I'm a teen and agree with Lily. we have no lives :P)

"You going to the dance?" I asked a squirmy Ashton

He twisted in his chair uncomfortably staring behind him. Ashton nodded not looking my way. Whats his problem? I turned to the direction Ashton was to see Ethan staring at Ashton with such intense anger I almost turned back around.

I looked over to Ashton who was trying to stay seated foward but kept turning his head back. His face fearful. "Are you okay?"

"What- yeah I'm going." he replied quickly

I gazed at Ethan's clenched jaw and hard green eyes that were still set on the scared blonde next to me. His fist tightly clenched at his sides.The look on Ethan's face was the common one he used to scare people off.

"Is Ethan scaring you?" I asked not taking my eyes off of Ethan

At the sound of his name which I said a bit too loud his hard eyes turned to me. The hard dark green melted almost instantly. His fists loosened enough for his knuckles to return to their nature color. Ethan's lips parted as if he were going to speak but shut it again.

"Nah just a guy thing. So ahh do you have a date?" Ashton said still squirming

I was looked at him as if I haven't aknowledge his presence til now. Date? Oh yeah I asked about the dance.

"Nope I'm going solo."

"Really I heard a couple guys asked you." he stared at me in disbelief

"They did, I declined. Do you have a date?"

Ashton looked down at his hands that he was twisting under the table. He cleared his throat bringing his hands back up on the desk.

"Yeah, the other day under the bleachers I was there to ask Melissa."

Why did he feel uncomfortable? Actually its a surprise that Melissa even knew who she was sucking faces with.

"You weren't there for the magic wand?" I asked remembering how he declined

He smiled and shook his head causing a few strands to fall onto his face. "I don't like that kind of stuff."

"Melissa does so be prepared to see more of it."

"I don't think I'll last to see anymore. No offense but you sister likes to umm.."

"Fuck around with different guys." I answered for him with a smile

Ashton laughed nodding in agreement. It was a harsh way to put it but the truth is harsh. "Wow you are full of surprises aren't you."

I scrunched my face in confusion. What exactly did that mean? Instead of asking Ashton told me more about himself. He wasn't what I expected. He is an artist which I would have never guessed he seemed more of a douche who played girls which I told him. Ashton laughed not taking any offense or denying it. He showed me how to fix my croaked bird and tried teaching me the basics of drawing. I failed miserably but we passed the time.

When the bell rang I stood up heading to lunch and the slut squad. Stupid Nick!

"Bye Lily hope to see you later." Ashton said handing his flowers over to me

"We'll bump in each other in the bathroom tommorow morning." I shouted as he walked away laughing

I went to my locker where I saw Jake standing by Ethan at the flower table. Jake nodded at whatever Ethan was saying. Ethan pointed at one of the many flowers behind the still bored looking blonde. Slowly the blonde bent down grabbing a half a dozen yellow roses handing them to Jake. Jake paid before placing a brotherly slap on Ethan's shoulder.

Ethan smiled but not a real smile, it seemed strained. I leaned against my locker watching them. Ethan turned in my direction his jaw suddenly clenched. His face hardened with an unknown emotion. Ethan nodded in my direction saying something to Jake before taking off.

Jake was at my side instantly pushing the roses in my face. "Thank you they are beautiful."

Jake beamed happily as if I told him the meaning of life. "Come on lets go eat."

He said we! I smiled reflecting Jake's wide smile.

"Okay let me put these in my locker." I motioned the roses.

As I opened my locker to find bouquet of pink tulips tied together with a red ribbon leaning against my books. I pulled them out with a smile. A note was beside them. I read :

Lilies are better than tulips.

A wide smile spread across my face as I put the roses in tucking the note back.

"Who were they from?" Jake asked as we neared the cafeteria

"Just a friend." I replied

Jake frowned but didn't press on about it. Yeah a friend I missed. A friend that never seems to forget me like he promised.

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~LovelyDove43~