One Thousand Songs Later

Luke's POV:

I shivered in response to the bone-chilling weather, ignoring my conscience which was yelling how bad of an idea this was. It was the beginning of Christmas break and knowing how rich and successful Lily's adoptive dad is, she might not even be home, but I needed to see her and apologize as soon as possible.

I cranked the dial that controlled the heat of the truck up to the maximum, hoping that I would stay warn enough. I drove like a mad man to Lily's house, located in the richer part of town, which was a short six blocks away from mine. Luckily, the streets were empty and no one me race past a red light; my reputation was still intact.

The roads were treacherous and icy, snow was falling heavily from black nimbostratus clouds, and the sun had already set, causing me to question my luck. I had barely made it home from footy practice, and I was driving safely then! But I managed to make it to Lily's house in a record breaking, 43 seconds!

Although, getting out the ford to Lily's front door, took longer than getting to her house. It was because the snow piles were six inches tall and had already frozen solid, blocking the space my door needed to open.

After four attempts of banging the door against the stone-hard snow bank, I relented and crawled over to the passengers seat and went out that door. I slipped four times, making my way across the sidewalk because the snow covered all visibility of the ice. Once I had made it across the sidewalk, I struggled up the slippery steps but made it to the door safely.

Panting and damp with cold sweat, I hit the circular, golden doorbell with exhaustion. While catching my breath, I counted 26 seconds until the door was opened. It was Eleanor, who I hadn't seen since I came to visit Lily when she was sick, three years ago. She looked the same except for more tired and... shorter.

She must of shrunk or something.

Crossing her arms, she squinted up at me, confusedly. Well, I guess she doesn't remember me. I licked my chapped lips, nervously.

"Hi Elea-I mean Mrs. Tomlinson. I was wondering if I could see Lily?" She stared blankly at me.

"Um, you might not remember me, I'm Luke, the one who took Lily to the dance?" Her eyebrows rose and her narrowed eyes scanned my body up and down.

"You don't look like Luke." She remarked. I huffed, resentfully, that's what Lily said.

"Please, can I see her?" I half-begged. She sighed.

"Come in." Opening the door wider, I scrambled inside before she closed the door behind me, securing all three locks. Breathing in the warm air in relief, I was happy that I escaped frost bite.

"So, why did you come on the coldest day of the year?" She asked frowning.

"It's not that cold." I mumbled. "It's been colder."
She snorted.

"It's -17 Celsius out there." Ignoring her comment, I let my eyes wander around the house, examining my surroundings. Nothing has changed. Suddenly, a hand clapped against my shoulder and I nearly jumped out of my skin with fright.

"Don't mind Eleanor, she's just in a bad mood." I spun around and faced a brown haired guy who looked like he was in his mid-twenties, not much older than I.

"You must be Louis." I guessed, recognizing him in from all the gossip magazines displayed at the Supermarket. He gave me a small smile and a curt nod.

"And you're Luke." His clenched his jaw and tone of voice, giving away the fact that he obviously wanted to say more.

"Where's Lily?" I asked impatiently. Louis and Eleanor both worriedly glanced up the stairs.

"She's in a critical state..." Eleanor began and flinched at the word "critical."

"Something happened in the morning at school that caused her to run home. Now she won't come out of her room for anybody or anything. She hasn't moved in a week. We didn't want to use force, put if she stays in her room for one more day.." Louis's voice trailed off, like he didn't want to finish his sentence.

"I need to see her." I muttered and started making my way to the stairs. Before I could even put one foot forward, Eleanor stepped in front of me.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Eleanor warned.

"El, come on, let him try to get her out of bed." Louis pleaded. After a moment of silence, Eleanor reluctantly stepped out of the way.

"She's on the fourth floor." Eleanor informed.

Eagerly, I ran up the stairs three at a time. When I arrived at the fourth floor, I was preparing to see a bedraggled supermodel, but I would never expect to see what I saw in Lily's bathroom.

When I first entered her room, I primarily noticed the overwhelming darkness. But then I smelled a horrendous stench coming from the bathroom. To say it smelt bad, was an understatement. It made me gag more than the perfume from the Abercrombie & Fitch. Pinching my nose, I cautiously walked into the pitch-black bathroom, which to my amazement was even darker than Lily's bedroom.

That's when I saw Lily hurling into the toilet.

"Lily!" I called worriedly and scrambled to her side, pulling her tangled hair away from her face. I held her hair back for a minute of disgusting belching and did my best not to throw up myself. After she was done and flushed the toilet, she collapsed on the bathroom tiles, laying her head on the bathtub's ledge and warily watched me.

"What are you doing here?" She whispered, panting slightly and supporting her head with her hand, her elbow propped against the wall.

"I came to apologize." I confessed quietly. She closed her eyes and chuckled softly, although we both knew this wasn't a funny matter.

"Luke, you have nothing to apologize for." She mumbled. My heart raced at the sound of her voice, which was the only thing that hadn't changed. And when she said my name, butterflies fluttered about in my stomach, making my knees go week.

"We both changed physically and mentally and I can except that-"

"Well I can't." I interrupted. "And I'm not going to let you waste your life away, hidden your room." Lily covered her face with her hands and brought her knees close to her chest.

"I can't go back out there." She whispered.

"Why." After a moments of silence, I barely made out two words.

"I-I'm scared."

She removed her hands away from her face but set them around her legs, reminding me of the how little Lily once was, even though she out grew "little" a long time ago.

"Look whatever Kyle did to you, I swear, I will do ten times worse to him, okay?" She looked up at me, her eyes wide, dripping with hopefulness.

"Really?"

"Really. Now come here." I held my arms out and she scooted closer to me and nestled her head in the crook of my neck, putting her arms around my waist. I held her in my arms like a mother holding her newborn baby.

We stayed like that for a while, just enjoying each other's touch, wondering if there was any way this could last forever. Sadly, Lily pulled away and I got a whiff of her sour breath and wrinkled my nose.

"Sorry, I haven't brushed my teeth or showered in a week." She said sheepishly.

"Now that's what I call stubborn." I joked, remembering when we fought over who was the most stubborn. Her eyes lit up.

"Does that mean that I won?" I laughed in response.

"I'll take that as a yes!" Lily smiled proudly and hugged me again.

"You know what would make me happier than hugging you?" I murmured against her shoulder blade.

"What?" She asked, her chin tickling my collarbone.

"If we were hugging...after you took a shower and brushed your teeth." She shot up faster than a rocket and pushed me out of the bathroom before I could say "toothpaste."

"What are you doing?" I asked as I heard the lock turn and the lights turn on inside. I wasn't complaining, that bathroom reeked, but I want to see Lily at all times now.

"What does it sound like? You're right, I'm filthy and need to clean myself, so your going to have to wait a while until you get that hug." Immediately after she said that, I retracted my thoughts before, I didn't want to see her naked...yet.

"Awww." I playfully complained.

"Be patient you big baby." She replied, humorously. I could imagine her grinning from the other side, and that's what made it worth while to wait.

Notes

I have no idea why it's in italics, for some reason, that's all it would type, I couldn't get it off. This is not a flashback, there's just something wrong with the computer. I think.

Anyways, enjoy!

-Louistomlinson

P.S. Schools starting soon, I won't be updating as much (although I don't update much now), but I suggest you to check out I want to be loved by you on this website by Miss M. Brilliant book!