~Lilly~

It was Sunday. Last night was honestly one of the best nights of my life, besides obviously my first date with my boyfriend of nine months, Matt. I got to hang out with my brother and Noah again, after a year. Not to mention that weird moment that Noah and I had at the piano. Not entirely sure what that was about, but I couldn't stop thinking about. Just, the way he looked at me for those few seconds. I couldn't get it out of my head.

Not that it mattered, anyway.

I was with Matt.

I was sitting, now, on a lounge chair in the backyard by the pool when I heard my text tone on my phone chime. I looked at it and saw Matt's name flashing on the screen.

Matt<3 ~ Hey babe?

Lilly ~ Yeah?

Matt<3 ~ Can you tell me what the hell this is about???

He proceeded to send me a picture from my Instagram. It was of me and Noah from yesterday. The caption was "Finally got reunited with my 'childhood crush' XP".

Lilly ~ Yeah? What about it?

Matt<3 ~ CRUSH?? It's not okay to have a crush when you are in a committed relationship with someone!!!

Lilly ~ Calm down!! I said my CHILDHOOD crush! I had a crush on him when I was, like 12! Trust me, I got over it a long time ago.

Truth be told, it really wasn't at twelve. It was more like twelve to sixteen.

And even now a little bit.

I was sixteen when Dylan and Noah left for their first tour. That's when I had finally decided that nothing was going to happen between us. I mean, I was in a relationship at the time—my very first one—but... we don't really talk about that relationship anymore. It was extremely one-sided and it... it was toxic, to say the least.

Matt<3 ~ Okay, fine.

I could tell it was begrudging, but that's as far as I was going to get with Matt. He was extremely stubborn, but not always in a good way.

I felt my phone buzz again. But this time, it wasn't anyone from my contacts. In fact, it wasn't even a text. It was a Facebook message from someone named Jake Matthews.

Jake Matthews? I thought to myself. That sounds super familiar.

I picked up my phone and unlocked it. The message said:

Jake ~ Hi, Lillian. My name is Jake Matthews. You might not know me but I'm the president of the record label La La Labs. I was looking for a new sound when I stumbled across your band "The Dreamers" online. Your song "What Would I Do" was exactly what I'm looking for! I would like to meet with you and your bandmates on tomorrow to discuss signing you.

I was frozen. I was in a state of paralysis. I had to read it multiple times before it had fully sunken in. A few months ago, we had created a YouTube channel for The Dreamers in hopes of getting discovered. I never believed it would actually happen, but here I was with a message from the president of a record company, wanting to sign our band. Only after I read it a few times did I realize that this was also the same record company that We The People was signed to.

I immediately jumped up and ran into the house, shouting, "Dylan! Dylan!" I almost ran past him, as he was sitting at the kitchen table, which was right by the door.

He slowly looked up at me from his phone. "Can I help you?" he asked slowly. I put my phone down next to his and grinned widely.

I tried getting some words out to explain, but it just came out as unintelligible squealing.

"HHH—DUH—I—GAHHH!" He looked at me like I had spiders crawling out of my ears, but he still looked down at my phone and read anyway. After a few seconds he looked back up at me.

"Well, answer him!" he exclaimed. I stared at him, shocked. I just told him the biggest news that has ever happened to me and he didn't even say "Congrats" or that he was happy for me. I had always looked up to my brother and he was the one I told everything to. He was one of the few people in the world who's opinion actually mattered to me. I had learned to just not let what others say get to me, but I could never do that with Dylan.

But he didn't even care?

"I'm kidding!" he smiled. He got up from his chair and hugged me. "This is amazing! I'm so proud of you guys!"

I felt a huge wave of relief wash over me. He did actually care!

And he was proud of me!

That made me happier than words could describe.

"But seriously, though, answer him."

~~~

About 2 hours later, I had told Gabbie and Tommy the news, made sure that tomorrow was a good day, and answered Jake back. I had also told my parents the news and packed my things. I was supposed to be staying with them a few more days, but they told me that it was fine and that they wanted me to be happy, be living out my dreams. I was always really lucky in that sense. I had some of the most supportive parents I could ask for. A lot of people who wanted to go into the career path I did weren't that lucky.

Dylan had decided that he would go back with me. He wanted to be there when I got the call and he wanted to be right there after I got home from the interview tomorrow. Dylan had also always been very supportive, but, then again, it would be a little hypocritical if he wasn't.

Now, I was in my car, driving back to LA.

Climbing out the back door
Didn't leave a mark
No one knows it's you, Miss Jackson
Found another victim,
But no one's gonna find Miss Jackson, Jackson, Jack- RRRRRRRRIIIIIINNNNG!!!!

In the middle of singing, I stole a glimpse down at my radio. Since my phone and radio are hooked up together, if I got a call or text, I could answer it through the radio. I saw the words "Incoming call from: The Best Big Bro". I roll my eyes and hit "Accept".

"Really?" I ask.

"What?" Dylan asked innocently.

"You really changed your name on my phone?"

"Maayyybeee," he dragged out.

"How did you even get my password?"

"I have my ways."

I sighed.

"But I can tell you one thing!"

"And what's that?" I asked.

"You don't have to heart to change it back because you know it's true!" I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Alright, does this call have a purpose? Or are you just here to annoy me?" I ask, though I was smiling, trying to hold back laughter.

"No, I actually called to ask you something; so you're not going back to your and Gabbie's apartment, right?"

"No, I'm going to Matt's to go tell him the news," I explained.

"Did you tell Matt you're on your way home?"

"No, why?"

"Well, you're coming home a couple days early."

"So?" I questioned, confused.

"Alright, let me give you a little insight into the mind of guys: most of us are really messy."

"Thanks!" I answer, sarcastically. "I didn't know that!"

"What I'm trying to say is that your apartment is probably going to be a complete mess," he chuckled, "so I would give him a fair warning."

"No," I answer, "I think I'm good. I'm gonna surprise him, and, I mean, he can't be messier than me! You've lived with me pretty much your whole life: you know me!"

"True," he admits.

"Alright, now, if you'll excuse me, I have some music to get back to!" I say, about to hang up.

"Wait!" He interrupted.

"What?" I asked. Before he could answer, I heard a car honk beside me. I glance over at the left lane, and see Dylan driving beside me. Being the sassy person I am, I flip him off.

"Rude," I hear him scoff.

"Good-bye!" I hung up on him.

~~~

I walked up the front stairs to Matt's apartment building. My backpack was slung over my shoulder and I was hauling my suitcase behind me. I got onto the elevator and pressed the 6th button. I was beaming, insanely excited to tell Matt everything that happened this weekend.

Well, maybe not everything. I might not tell him about those couple moments that I had with Noah. Not that anything really happened. I was faithful to Matt and I would never dream of cheating him. That doesn't mean that I can't reminisce about when I used to have a crush on Noah.

As soon as the elevator opened, I walked down the hall. I grab my key out of my pocket and silently open the door. I glanced around and saw that Matt wasn't the living room. I assumed he's in the bedroom, probably on his laptop. I put down my backpack and suitcase by the door and silently tiptoe down the hall. When I reach the door to the bedroom, I silently turn the doorknob, and then burst through the door.

"I'm home!" I try to say, but I was barely able to finish saying the word "home" because my heart dropped to levels I didn't know was possible.

"Matt?" I asked in a shaky voice, as my vision started to blur with tears. I couldn't believe him. After nine months. Nine damn months of our lives together! Most girls probably would've been angry. They probably would've screamed and yelled. They probably would've even thrown something at him. In all honesty, I was surprised I was able to retain myself from that. However, before I had really even realized it, the hot tears were rushing down my cheeks. They weren't completely unprovoked; he was kissing some other girl in his apartment.

He looked towards me with a panicked look on his face. The collar of his shirt was a mess and covered in lipstick.

"Lilly?!" he exclaimed. "You weren't supposed to be home till Friday!"

"Yeah! And you were supposed to be my boyfriend!" I spat back. "How—how could you?! After nine months together?" I ran back out of the room, grabbed my things, and ran out the door. For the brief moment I saw her, the girl who seemingly stole my boyfriend had this conniving, sly little grin on her face, like she was expected me to come back early, like she had wanted to get caught. She seemed almost happy that I was heartbroken.

I could see why he would've wanted to trade, though. Her red hair perfectly framed her heart-shaped face. He had almond shaped, bright, piercing green eyes. They matched perfectly, unlike how my hair and eyes contrasted oddly. She was short—couldn't have been more than 5' 2"—and had a petite little hourglass frame; her beautiful curves were only exaggerated by the skin tight dress she was wearing that Matt was half way towards slipping off of her.

"Lilly! Wait!" I heard behind me. "Come back! It's not what you think!" he called. I ran down the hall and to the elevator. As if on cue, it opened right as I pressed the button. Thankfully, no one else was inside. I ran in and pressed the Lobby button repeatedly. I heard footsteps running down the hall, but just as I caught a glimpse of his face, the door closed and the elevator began its descent.
I wanted to punch the wall. I wanted to scream. I wanted to collapse into a pile of a broken girl, just a mess of heartbreak and tears.

But I knew I couldn't. I couldn't let him know how he had hurt me. I couldn't let him see how he had gotten to me. I had to stay as strong as I possibly could.

I made my way outside, tears still streaming. I didn't know where to go or what to do now. Gabbie wasn't at our apartment yet, since she was back visiting her parents. I needed to be with someone, I needed comforting.

I was about to look through my phone to try and find someone to call when I saw a name in my Recent Calls list that made me feel just a little bit of hope. I ran to my car that I had parked on the street and started it. Just as I started driving away, I watched as Matt ran out of the building. There was one curl of his light blond hair hanging in the middle of his forehead. It always annoyed him, but I loved it.

I never want to see that face ever again in my life. Not if he thinks that he can just throw the last nine months of our lives together out the window like that.

~~~

About five minutes later, I was knocking on the door to the apartment of someone who I hoped could help me, tears still cascading down my face. Not more than 10 seconds had passed when I heard footsteps and the door opened.

"Hello—oh my god, Lilly! What's wrong?" Dylan questioned. He grabbed my hand and walked me inside.

"Matt," I choked out, as I was still crying. He leads me over to the couch, sat me down, and sat down next to me, putting his arm around me, comfortingly.

"What did he do?" he asked, suddenly much more
serious.

"I—I came—came home... and—and—" I started explaining through my sobs. I started feeling lightheaded and dizzy before Dylan cut me off.

"Woah, okay, calm down, Lilly. Take a deep breath," Dylan consoled me.

I did as he instructed and paused for a couple of seconds. Once my breathing had somewhat steadied, I started explained again. "When I got back to Matt's apartment, I walked into the living room. He wasn't there. So went to the bedroom..." I felt the sobs starting to rise in my throat. "I walked in... and there was this—this girl... and I..." I looked up at my brother's concern ridden face and that was when I completely broke down. I wrapped my arms around him, letting myself cry, the heavy sobs shaking my frame.

"I'm gonna kick that kid's ass," I heard him mumble through gritted teeth. I didn't know what else I was going to expect from Dylan. Ever since high school, he had been extremely protective over me, especially over who I dated. It wasn't really all that annoying. He helped protect me from going through another disaster, like what happened in high school. It was about three years ago, but it still pained me.

"I... I... I thought—" I sobbed through gasping breaths.

"I know, Lilly, I know," Dylan consoled me, rubbing my arm.

Somewhere through my weeping, there was a door opening and footsteps, but I barely registered them. Everything was still pretty fuzzy in my mind.

"Hey, Dylan, do we have any—is that Lilly?!" I heard a familiar voice ask. "Holy shit! Is she okay? What happened?!" Noah's voice seemed flooded with concern. I had forgotten that they shared an apartment. They had since they first left home on their tour, so it was just what they were used to.
Dylan explained to him what happened.

"I mean, I can see why! You should've seen her! With her flowy red hair and those bright green eyes, just like the SNAKE she is! With her perfect little hourglass figure! He's obviously had enough of me and wanted an upgrade! He wanted to move on to something new, prettier, better," I cried, relaying my earlier thoughts to them.

God, what has gotten into me? Why am I making such awful assumptions about a girl I've never met? For all I know, she thought she was the one being cheated on.

"Lilly." Dylan sounded as if he were admonishing me, but he was still speaking quietly and supportively. "I never want to hear you say that. You are perfect. You are beautiful and there is no one that could be an 'upgrade' from you, because you're already the best there is."

Although they made me feel a little better, his words still didn't make me stop crying.

"Could you stay with her for a couple of minutes?" Dylan quietly asked Noah. "I have some... stuff to do if you know what I mean." He lowered his voice, not meaning for me to hear, but I still could. "You're a nice guy, just... say something to make her feel better."

"Of course."

"Lilly?" I lifted my head and looked up at Dylan. "I'm gonna be right back." He got up and walked purposefully towards the door. Noah walked over to the couch and sat next to me, but about a foot away, a little awkwardly. We sat in silence for a couple of minutes. I couldn't really blame him, though. He was practically trapped in a room with a crying girl that he hasn't seen in a year. Also, talking to him about my relationship issues? Our past made that a little bit more than awkward.

*********************************
A/N: WOW TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE DAY??? In all honesty, you're probably gonna get at least a few more today, since I still have to get through all the prewritten chapters.

Idek why I'm writing the Author's Notes like this. Literally no one is reading this, sooo.... I'm kinda just posting this into the open, empty cyberspace....

{Posted on 4/27/19}