I turn to the door and see David and Amber standing there, dressed quite nicely. I greet them and invite them in and walk into the dining room, yet I soon notice that my mother has set the rather large table on the veranda instead. I step outside and take the spot beside Leo without thinking and take part in general dinner conversation of the day.
School is mentioned, plus the non-confidential aspects of Rose's and James's cases, as well as our upcoming tour of Europe that summer. I try and fail to eat my grandmother's recipe of chicken parmesan and I find that my ability to chew is the real culprit here.
Then Rose and James are getting to their feet, arms around one another. "Rose and I would just like to say something," James says proudly.
"To Lily," Rose says, lifting her wine glass, filled with white wine. "To Lily and David, because they are two wonderful people. They may not know it yet, but things in life changes, for better or for worse, yet, things always tend to work out."
As they sit down, I get to my feet, managing to plaster on a smile. "Thank you," I say amongst the applause, which embarrasses me further. "Mom, I... I'm actually not feeling well. Could I please go upstairs?"
"You don't want dinner?" she asks.
"That's a first," Leo mutters.
It takes all that's left in me not to hit out at him. "Please, Mom," I say, almost desperately, as soon as she is finished scolding Leo.
"Of course," she says.
I give her a smile and leave the veranda. I walk inside through the dining room and the kitchen, living room, and finally to the stairs. I rush up them and lock my door behind me, leaning up against the door and dashing the tears from my eyes. It is then that I see a rather large envelope on my bed, and I go towards it. The return address is a massive sticker from the University of Washington, and it is addressed to me, and not to Luke.
Surprised, I rip it open carefully, and see various forms and such. On the top, there is a letter from the dean of the school, informing me that, based on my academic performance, that my principal decided to move me up to senior classes, and that there would be a place at the University of Washington next fall if I would like it.

I couldn't believe it—really, I couldn't. Was it the fact that I had scored a 2350 on my SAT? I honestly didn't know. Maybe I was a one millionth applicant or something, or maybe Luke had impressed someone so much that they owed him a favor.
I set aside the acceptance letter after skimming it and get up from my bed, crossing the room and go to sit in my window seat. I part the lacy curtains that I'm glad survived my wish and peer outside. The sun is setting, and I push the windows open, the warm, mid-April breeze tickling my arms and fingers. I am looking out towards the trees in the distance, illuminated by the setting sun, and watching the orange glow of the sunset as it falls behind them, when I hear something like a bang below me. Shocked, my eyes follow the sound, and I find myself lowering my eyes to the ground below.
"David!" I cry, my eyes widening. "What are you doing here?" I demand, hearing a door close down the hall (it is more than likely Luke or Leo attempting to spy on me) and quickly realizing that I am completely alone with him for the first time since being locked in the abandoned classroom by that creeper Mr. Humbert. "You know that Elizabeth is downstairs with Luke and the rest of my family without a chaperone. Why are you even here, anyhow?" I say, knowing full well that I am giving him an ultimatum.
He shakes his head as he climbs my dad's ladder, which he's propped up against the side of my house, leading directly to my bedroom window. "I came to see you," he says, sending chills down my spine.
"Me?" I ask. "What do you mean?"
David climbs completely up the ladder, which causes me to dart back from the windowsill and stand mere inches from my bed. He climbs into my bedroom and is standing just feet in front of me. "I had to see you."
"Why?" I ask.
David smiles and reaches into his pocket of his suit pants. He then produces a black stone; it is smooth and shiny, and then he grins at me. "Did you think that you were the only one?" he asks, holding out the stone to me.
I take it and weigh it in my hand. "It grants wishes?" I ask.
He nods. "Yes."
"So...what does this have to do with me?" I ask, handing it back to him.
He returns the stone to his pocket. "To be honest, I had this sinking feeling that you were hiding something from me when we...got back."
"And you asked your stone to reveal what I hid from you?"
He sighs. "Well, all the stone was able to communicate was that you did hide something from me, but not what it was."
"Oh," I say softly.
"That's why I came," he goes on. "I wanted to know what you hide from me on the journey or before the journey or after the journey."
"It's not important."
"Then why do I feel that it is?" He turns me around and stares into my eyes. "I know you're not a liar, Lily. Just tell me the truth, please."
I sigh. "I don't think that I should."
"Why don't you think so?" he asks.
"Because I just don't think it's right..."
David pulls me into his arms into a hug, and I find I never want to be out of his arms, ever again, for as long as I live. "You know full well that you can tell me anything, Lily. Just be up front and get it over with."
I push away from him and walk across my bedroom, and the moment is gone. "It's just not that easy," I say in a desperate tone. "You can't just say what you want me to say and just expect everything to be normal."
He sits beside me where I've sat on my window seat. "Come on, Lily. I know that you're just itching to tell me."
I look away. "So what?" I throw at him, not wanting to come clean. "How do I know what you'll do once I tell you?"
David sighs and shakes his head. "I don't understand your hesitation."
"Because I'm smart," I counter. "I mean, the thing that you want me to say is one of the most personal things ever, and it's not to be taken lightly, or to be thrown around."
"Okay, fine," David replies.
"Fine...what?" I ask.
"Fine, I won't throw it around," he says with a smile. "Now, will you please tell me what it is that's such a deep dark secret?"
"It's not a secret."
"Does anyone know?"
"Just my mother," I admit. "And...well, Rose..."
"Rose knows everything, I think."
I smile ruefully. "No wonder she and James put together that lawyer practice. I know that you have to be smart to be a lawyer."
"Which is why your brother is going to be one," he goes on. "And that probably just one of the reasons why Elizabeth fell for him, I think."
My eyes flash to his. "You know about that?"
He shrugs. "Of course," he replies. "I've always known."
"And how do you feel about it?" I ask.
"I think it's the most natural thing in the world."
I nod at him. I can smell the scent of the food wafting from the veranda, and know full well that my mother will also be making chocolate cake to go with the caramel cone. I feel the emptiness in my stomach, as I have not technically eaten in over twenty years. I make myself push the thought aside as I suddenly become aware once again that I am not the only person in my bedroom.
"What?" I ask David.
"I just wish that you would tell me what I want to know."
I shake my head at him and turn away. "I can't tell you because it's too late," I whisper. "It's really too late, David..." I whisper brokenly.
"What's too late?" he asks.
I turn and look at him. "Like you don't know?"
"I don't know."
I shake my head. "You're here with Amber..."
"You act as if you're jealous or something."
I bit my lip. "Should I be?" I ask.
"No!"
"Why?!" I demand. "Look at me, look at her! She's like some model that walked out of Model Magazine and I'm just some girl who's one of the lead singers of a family band! The only way that anyone could ever be interested in me is if they wanted fifteen minutes of fame!"
"Lily, you don't understand."
"And what don't I understand here, David? You're now going out with every high school seniors, quarterback, and captain of the wrestling teams' dream!"
"I never said that I was dating Amber."
I shake my head. "You didn't have to."
"I brought her here, yes. She just needed me to give her a ride."
I scoff then, sarcasm in my voice. "Okay, then. Tell me, if she's not here with you, then why is she here?"
"She's here to see Leo, of course!"

I blink. "Excuse me?"

He nods. "Yeah, they'vebeen a thing for almost a year now..."
"But...Leo is a sophomore..."
"So? Amber's a sophomore, too. She just happensto have two or three junior and senior classes."
"But what about Roxy?" I ask.
"What about Roxy?"
"In the market today...her mother acted like..."
"Roxy doesn't know," David replies. "Amber isafraid that her mother will call the paparazzi over to their house or something."
I shake my head at him, confused. "I don'tunderstand. Aren't you here to make sure Luke keeps his hands off ofElizabeth?"
"No!" David cries, then hesitates. "Well, partly.But I really did come here for you."
"Why would you do that?" I whisper.
"Honestly?" he asks. "I just had to see you."
My eyes fill with tears. "I'll dish out honestly.You want to hear honest?"
"I do."
"I love you," I say, my voice wavering then. "I'msorry if I did anything to make you doubt me, but I do, I love you."
David blinks and looks at me, his dark eyesabsorbing the meaning of my words. "I still don't understand why you would letme forget everything."
I lean in and kiss him. "I just wanted you tohave a choice."
"A choice...?"
"Between me and Amber," I admit, lowering myeyes, "and between anyone else you might be interested in, in some way or another.That's what the reason was before, anyway. I mean, how was I to know about herand Leo? I don't know, David, I guess I just didn't want to make you feelobligated in any way..."
David turns my face to look at his. "I wouldnever feel obligated, or compelled, or forced, or duty-bound, or anything likethat towards you, Lily Radcliffe. I love you, and I want to be with you forever."
I smile at him. "Forever is a really long time,you know."
"Then let's start with now," he replies. "I wantto start with 'now' as the beginning of our forever. The reason being that I amutterly and passionately and ardently—"
"Ardently?" I ask.
"Mr. Darcy said it to Keira Knightley," hereplies.
"Ah."
"Anyhow... Completely and fully in love with you.I never want to see anyone else, and I don't want you to see anyone else."
"Now is good," I say softly, allowing him tokiss me, forcing my lips shut to make sure the overwhelming sigh cannot escapethem. "Now is a good beginning for forever."
I guess you could say that there is something ineverything, and something about everything, and everyone, you come into contactwith during your lifetime. That's what I learned when David got shot by thatmadman in the park, that I could never be parted from him, ever. But in thismoment, with David's arms wrapped around me and my lips on his, I learned thatthere is something about time.