Never Stop Running

Lily watched with wide eyes, squirming away occasionally so she didn't get too close to one boy. Ever since Niall had accidentally touched her badonkadonk (he tried to tap her shoulder at the same time she turned around), she had felt a little uncomfortable around the boys. Maybe it was just because it was all new to her.

"One possible suspect is Lily Oaks." She froze in her seat, eyes glued to the TV. Her picture, with the bold caption of "WANTED FOR POSSIBLE MURDER", was on the side of the screen. The boys all turned their heads to look at her. Harry and Niall, the boys closest to her, instantly scooted away. "This girl, possibly around the age of nineteen, has committed crimes several times since the murder of Mary Oaks. However, her last sighting was three months ago."

The reporter went on to babble about the details. Lily stood up, nearly tripping over Niall's foot. "I have to go." She announced, and ran. She was momentarily stopped at the door, since she pushed instead of pulled, but then she was off, like a deer startled by a gunshot, into the woods. All that was left of her was a bloodstain where she had sat, since it was that time of the month.

Lily's head pounded, although that might have been from the headaches she got from that time. She was being scraped and scratched by those pesky trees, and she had tripped at least five times on tree roots, concealed by dead leaves. At one point, she had accidentally stepped on a bird's nest ("what was the stupid thing doing on the ground?" Lily complained) and had had to run extra fast to avoid a pissed mama. It had, unfortunately, reminded her of how her mother had protected Lily from her father (the real one) before they had divorced.

Great. She missed home (both the one in the States and the temporary one she had had in the cabin), her head pounded, and she was bleeding everywhere, including Brazil.

"Lily!" A familiar voice yelled. Lily cursed loudly, then cursed again for it, then stopped to contemplate her idiocy. A second shout made her remember what she was doing, and she launched herself into the nearest tree. A squirrel bit her, as she had put her foot near it, but she had different things to worry about. She started to climb, using every hand/foothold to her advantage, until she was high enough that the person pursuing her couldn't grab her.

The blond head bobbed into view, and one of the faces Lily had come to love was searching for her, scanning the undergrowth.

Lily grabbed a pinecone, arming herself in case Niall came after her. And then she did something so stupid it made Patrick Star look like a genius.

"Hey!" She threw the cone at him and grabbed another one for self-defense.

"Ow!" Niall yelled, rubbing the back of his head. He looked up at Lily. She was straddling a thick branch, glaring at him defiantly. "Come down here. Please."

Lily stuck her tongue out at him. "Make me."

He held up a bag. "I brought food."

Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since yesterday, unless you counted the small bit of food she had before she had fled. Apparently, her stomach didn't count it. "Fine." She jumped down, bending her knees slightly to absorb the shock. As it was, she stumbled and leaned against Niall. Sort of. Her hand was pressed against his face.

He started to protest, but Lily shushed him. She was doubled over, panting heavily. She had run a long distance. Or at least, it seemed like it. Who knew how far she had actually gone?

"You don't get food unless you move your hand." Niall said firmly, raising the bag far above her head. Lily razzed him, but did as he asked. When he handed her the paper bag, she peered in and discovered a grilled cheese sandwich. She sat down cross-legged, right there in the dirt, and started eating, although she did keep one eye on Niall.

"Okay. Now let me explain. I don't believe you did that stuff-"

Lily swallowed her food quickly, choking on it briefly, in order to interrupt him. "I did do most of the crimes mentioned, except the murder ones."

"Right then." He seemed less sure of himself. Oops. "Anyways, most of us just don't know what to think. Liam is the only one who truly believes you're guilty, although Harry is working on convincing him he's wrong."

"What about Louis and Zayn?" Lily asked, taking another bite of her magically delicious sandwich.

"Like I said, they don't know what to think."

"Right. Anyways..." She waved her hand, waiting for him to continue.

"I brought you this. Wherever you go, I'll meet you there. Tell me what happens, every little detail. I'll convince the others to do a concert there. It'll work out, I promise." He took out a flip phone and passed it to Lily. She looked at it suspiciously.

Opening it and turning it on, she discovered that she had five contacts already - all of the boys. "Isn't it traceable?" She asked, wondering if they were teaming up with the government or something. Maybe they were going to leak her location to the police, have them capture her.

"Don't worry." Niall said, reaching in and tucking a strand of Lily's curly hair behind her ear. She flinched away. "Sorry..." He mumbled, looking away. There was a faint blush on his cheeks.

Lily shook her head. "No, no, I'm fine." It's just, I've never really dealt with this stuff before."

"Ah. Anyways," he seemed to grow a bit happier, "so what are you bringing? Do you have any plans?"

Lily shrugged. "Well, I'm going back to New York. I'm bringing my gun, my book, and some fish and chips for Dan."

"Who's Dan?" Niall asked. He looked slightly hurt.

"A hobo." She replied dismissively, although in reality he was much more than just a hobo. He was like a father to her. A grizzled father old enough to be her father's father, but still a father. Maybe even a brother.

Niall looked like he didn't believe her, but he didn't speak. He just leaned against a tree and studied Lily. Finally, he broke the awkward silence. "You look like death."

"I feel like it too." Lily decided not to mention her bleeding uterus. "Anywhere I can find some fish and chips?"

Niall made a face. "Fish and chips won't keep. The chips might, but the fish will rot."

"Oh..." Lily frowned at the ground. She had wanted to give something to Dan, to show she appreciated him, but now she had nothing to give. Unless she gave him the book. She would have to, she decided. She stood up, checking that her gun was still in her jacket pocket. Luckily, she had been wearing her jacket indoors (the cabin was pretty drafty).

"I have to go now."

"Bye." Niall said. He walked over to her and walked over to her, embracing her. It was a warm and tight hug, one you'd never want to end.

Lily stood still, blushing crimson in the half-light. She wasn't sure what to do. Should she hug him back? Should her arms go around his waist or higher up? She was too confused, and by the time she realized where to hug him, he was pulling away. "Bye." She mumbled, tucking the phone into the pocket of her jeans.

Then Lily ran. Niall picked up the paper bag she had dropped, watched her disappearing figure for a few seconds, before turning and walking slowly back to the cabin. He was quietly humming You and I quietly under his breath, pretending he was singing it to Lily.

Notes

Hey, only about two weeks c: Not bad, eh?

The timing and the chapter. I was listening to Mermaid while writing this, I don't know if it had an impact c:

Well, this was a fun chapter to write. Let me know if I should just stay out of Romance x3. I know I'm crappy at that stuff, but that's perfectly okay.