Chapter 11

Lily sprinted down the stairs, her school bag half open and her tie half knotted. She nearly tripped over her dog as Ivy ran to greet her, wagging her tail excitedly as she jumped.

“Not now, Ivy, I’m late for school. We’ll play in the afternoon.” She said , crouching down to gave Ivy a quick rub on the head, she picked up her toy and threw it up the stairs, Ivy whined, but ran up after it. 

“Don’t forget your lunch!” her mom called from the dining table.

“Yes, ma’am,” Lily yelled back, picking her phone from the table and zipping her bag.

“And Ethan’s.”  

Lily groaned. “I know, Mom, I know.”

She walked into the kitchen to pick up the already packed lunch boxes sitting on the counter.

“What did you make?” she asked Mrs. Harper, who was cutting cookie dough.

“Chicken Pitas,” She answered without looking up. “Hurry along now.” 

“Yay, you’re the best,” Lily said, rushing outside.

When she got out, she spotted Ethan waiting by the gate, his hands in his pocket.

“Your lunch.” She said as she reached him, slightly out of breath.

Ethan glanced at the bag in her hand. He took it from her without a word and put it in his bag. Holding her steady, he reached for her tie and adjusted the knot with a look of resignation. 

“How do you still not know how to tie a tie?”

“Aren’t you here?” Lily said, smiling, as she skipped forward.

He smirked but said nothing, falling into step beside her as they walked to Chloe’s house.

Beep. Beep.

A car horn shattered the peaceful morning.

“Lily! Ethan!” A familiar high pitched voice called out.

 A patch of black hair with red streaks peaked out of the car’s window.

 “Hop in, we’re gonna be late.”

They rushed into the car, with Ethan sliding into the passenger’s seat while Lily sat in the back with Chloe.

“Ah, first day of junior high! One more year, and we’ll be done with high school. Freedom here I come!”Chloe said dramatically, “I wonder if there’ll be any new faces. Maybe I’ll finally get a boyfriend.” she giggled, then she gasped dramatically. “Lily, you should be on the lookout too, we could go on double dates.”

Ethan exhaled sharply, turning in his seat. “You should focus on getting good grades this year instead.”

“Mood killer,” Chloe gronned, looping her arm through Lily’s. “A girl can’t have something to look forward to.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “Do you have to be this dramatic on a Monday morning?”

“Naturally. It’s a Monday morning.”

The ride to school was filled with the joyful bickering of the teens.

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During the period before Lunch break, Lily and Chloe said their goodbyes to Ethan before heading off to their art class. 

As they settled down and said their hellos to familiar classmates, their art’s teacher, Mr. Riley, walked in wearing one of his signature floral shirts.

“Hello. Hello, my doves. Welcome back to your cage.”

Calls of ‘Hi, ‘Hey,’ and ‘Hello’ rang throughout the room.

“Okay, okay, settle in.” He clapped his hands together. “We have a new classmate joining us today. Come in.” 

He walked to the entrance and beckoned to the person outside.

A young man with long curly brown hair tied with a string walked in with a smile on his face. “Hi, I’m Miles.”

“Tell the class more about yourself,” Mr. Riley encouraged.

A few girls exchanged looks and murmured.

“I do watercolor and oil painting. I also like to skateboard.”

The class erupted into applause.

“Over here, over here,” Chloe gestured excitedly as she pointed to the unoccupied spot behind her and Lily. 

“He’s so good-looking, just my type.” She whispered to Lily as Miles walked past.

Lily blinked at Chloe. “You are supposed to focus on school this year, young lady.”

Chloe smirked. “I didn’t agree to that.”

As Miles took his seat, Chloe immediately turned to him. “Hi, I’m Chloe, and this is my best friend, Lily,” she declared, extending a hand to the boy who was adjusting his sketchbook. “Nice to meet you.”

Miles chuckled. “Nice to meet you both,” he turned his gaze to her easel. “What are you working on?”

Lily adjusted her stool to reveal a charcoal sketch of a garden. A puppy was in the center, playing with a ball. Even though it was unfinished, it was already impressive.

“Wow,” Miles said, leaning in for a better view. “You’re really good. What’s your inspiration?” 

“Thanks,” Lily said with a smile. “The garden at home,” she pointed at the puppy. “This is Ivy, my pet dog.”

Beside Lily, Chloe’s gaze drifted between her and Miles.

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During lunch break, Ethan made his way to their usual table by the window.

 It was always him, Lily, and Chloe.

But today, there was an additional person-- sitting in his spot. 

Long curly hair tied back, and paint splotches on their shirt.

Probably a new friend from art class.

 He rounded the table and he saw the person. 

It was a guy he had never seen before. 

Lily was too absorbed in her conversation with the guy that she didn’t notice his arrival.

She was talking animatedly, her eyes closing as she laughed at something the guy had said.

Chloe caught Ethan staring at Lily and Miles, a speculative smirk creeping onto her face.

She leaned back in her chair.

”Hey, Ethan.”

Her call snapped him out of it, and he set his bag down–louder than necessary.

Lily looked up. “What took you so long?” She said brightly. “Why are you over the–” She stopped, realizing Miles was in Ethan’s usual spot.

Miles looked up, and his eyes met Ethan’s. “Oh, sorry,” Miles started to move, but Ethan shook his head.

“Here is fine.”

He took the seat opposite Lily instead and opened his bag.

Chloe watched him with a mischievous smile on her face.

She turned to Miles. “So, Miles, do you have a girlfriend?”

Lily choked on her drink. “Chloe! That is rude.”

“Oh, come on, I’m just trying to know him better.” She turned back to Miles an expectant look on her face.

Miles laughed. “No”

“Ouuu, do you have someone you like?” She turned to face Ethan. “What do you think about Lily?”

Ethan shot her a glare, his grip tightening around his drink.

Lily pocked her. “Stop messing around.”

Chloe grinned, undeterred. “Last question, I promise.”

Miles chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Lily’s great, fun too, but we just met.”

“Exactly, Chloe, get those messy ideas out of your head.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop.”

Ethan poked at his food. 

He didn’t know why, but it felt like a weight pressing on his chest.