Three days had gone by and Lily did everything she could to avoid Andy. In the back of her mind, she knew she needed to confront him about it but she didn’t know how to go about it. If she saw him walking down the hallway, she would purposely go a different way. She knew she needed to suck it up and just talk to him but sucking it up and growing some balls was easier said than done.

Andy hadn’t really noticed Lily avoiding him much over the past three days. Sure, he had noticed her acting a little different but he didn’t think much of it. He was too wrapped up in a secret little project—sort of like a surprise—just for her. He just had to figure out how to talk to her. And school was clearly not the place to do it.

After school that day, Andy walked home alone. Lily hadn’t been on the bus. As he walked by her house, he looked over and slowed his pace. He looked at the seemingly still house and figured no one was home. He sighed and figured she was out with one of her many friends. But then he thought he saw her walk by the window.

Just do it. He thought. Don’t be such a fucking chicken. Just go up to the door and ask her.

He gathered up his courage and walked up the brick path to the large front door. He knocked twice and waited. Nothing. He knocked again. Nothing. Now he was getting frustrated. He swore he thought he saw someone pass by the window. He knocked one more time and the door was pulled open roughly.

“What, Andy?” Lily stood there in front of him.

“Um, hi.” He said. “Are you busy right now?”

Lily crossed her arms over her chest. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, come on, Lily. I don’t know what I did wrong but I wish you would stop ignoring me.”

Lily hopped down onto the front step and pulled the door closed behind her. “Fine. What do you want?”

Andy smiled. “Come with me.” He led her down the sidewalk.

He sat her down beneath the tree he fell from and pulled out his guitar from behind the tall trunk of the tree. He sat down beside her and began to sing.

I’d give up forever to touch you, ‘cause I know that you feel me somehow. You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be and I don’t want to go home right now. And all I can taste is this moment. And all I can breathe is your life. And sooner or later it’s over. I just don’t want to miss you tonight.

He strummed his guitar as he sang.

Yeah, you bleed just to know you’re alive.

Lily reached up and wiped away a tear.

And I don’t want the world to see me, ‘cause I don’t think that they’d understand. When everything’s made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am.

He played the last few notes before looking up at Lily, sitting there with tears staining her cheeks.

“Andy,” She began but he stopped her with a kiss.

The kiss was gentle, yet passionate. It was like electricity shot through her whole body. He pulled away and she hungered for more.

“Lily, open your eyes.” Andy’s voice sailed through her ears like sweet music.

She didn’t want to open her eyes because she didn’t want the kiss to be over. But she sighed and obeyed.

“So, you liked the song?” Andy asked.

“Is that why I never saw you for the past few days?”

“Hey, you were the one ignoring me.” Andy defended.

Lily looked down and started picking at the blades of grass next to her. “Yeah… About that…”

“What’s wrong?” Concern filled Andy’s tone of voice.

“Remember when you said that I was the one who needed help?” She referred back to the time Andy had seen her with the box of razors.

“Yeah…?” Andy asked skeptically.

“Well… I don’t think I’m the only one who needs help, Andy.”

Andy’s eyes widened. She couldn’t have seen it. She wasn’t supposed to have known. This was bad. This was so bad.