Lily

by R. M. Walker

  Her mother was heading over to Crowder Manor to meet her employers, so she dropped Lily off a little early. The college ran a breakfast club for the younger kids so it was open when Lily got there. She used her map to find her way to all the classrooms she would need that day. A part of her still expected the map to be a trick. So far, each guided line was accurate though, and she was grateful for it. She knew it would only take her a day or two to be completely familiar with the layout and then she wouldn't need the map, but until then she would be glad of it.

  When she got to her tutor group, only Mr Peters was there. He let her in, keeping the door open behind her.

  "How are you feeling today, Lily?" He sat on the edge of his desk and clasped his hands around one raised knee.

  "I'm fine now thanks, Mr Peters." She settled herself into the same seat she'd sat in the day before.

  "Nasty thing, epilepsy. One of my wife's cousins has seizures. Grand mal or what they call tonic-clonic seizures now,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s a shame with all the advancements of modern medicine they can’t cure it. Wendy, my wife’s cousin, hers was caused by a car accident; scarring on the brain.” He didn’t say any more, just smiled kindly at her. She knew he was leaving it open for her to say more or to change the subject if she’d rather, and it warmed him to her.

  “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t get them,” she admitted.

  “That’s tough,” he said. “You won’t be able to drive, will you?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “That’s frustrating. I was doing really well, hadn’t had one for six months, but well…” she faded out, shrugging. There was nothing to be done about it now.

  “Well, you didn’t miss anything much in History yesterday, first couple of days back in a new academic year are always hit and miss.” He got up from the desk and went into the Chapter House. He disappeared inside for a few moments, then came back out with some books in his hand.

  “Here you go.” He came back over and handed them to her. “That’s about all we did yesterday. That and a rundown on what we’ve already studied.”

  Lily looked at the two books, one was titled Russian Dictatorship 1855-1992 and the other one was the British history module, Rebellion and Disorder Under the Tudors 1485-1603. She knew her mother had checked to make sure that the same courses were being studied here that she already started in her last college, but it was still a relief to see she didn’t have to cram a two-year course into one year.

  “I used these textbooks in my last college,” she told him, looking up at him.

  “Excellent, then you should slot right in with us.” He gave her an easy grin.

  “Top of the mornin’ to ya.” An overdone Irish accent caught Lily’s attention. She turned to see the twins coming through the door, bags slung over shoulders and wide grins on their faces.

  “And to you, Masters Nethercott,” Mr Peters said, crossing his arms and grinning at them. Lily couldn’t help the laugh that left her lips at the greeting.

  A few other students were behind them and Mr Peters stood up, checking his watch. She watched as the twins went to the same desks they were sitting in the day before.

  “Hey, Lily, how are you feeling?” Sarah sat down and turned to face Lily. Lily knew that something like an epileptic seizure in the middle of lunch would go around the school like wildfire.

  “I’m fine, thanks,” she replied. Sarah had a shade of concern in her eyes, but there was also the rank curiosity that most people had.

  “I saw Nate Cohen carrying you out yesterday.” She lifted her fingers, blew on the tips and then shook them. “He’s so HOT!” she announced, fanning herself. “Bet it was nice being carried by him.”

  “To be honest, I wouldn’t really have noticed if it was a six-foot gorilla wearing combat trousers that carried me out.” She laughed. “I was just grateful someone did and I wasn’t left lying in my plate of chips.”

  “That must be rough.” Sarah leant towards her a little more. “Do you get them often?”

  “No, that’s the first one in six months, I guess the stress of moving triggered it off. I probably won’t get any more for a while. Or at least I hope not.”

  “Do you take medication?”

  Beth sat down, dropping her bag onto the floor. She was chewing gum and fiddling with her phone.

  “Robert sent me a text,” she said smugly. She looked up and gave Lily a smile. “Hey, Lil.”

  “Robert texted you?” Sarah turned to face her friend. “He finally texted you? What did he say?”

  Lily saw Sarah’s interest had swapped from her to her friend and she was glad. She put her history textbooks into her bag and took out her timetable. She had Maths again, followed by History and then Geography.

  “Okay, people, phones away, let’s make a start,” Mr Peters called. When she looked up, the classroom was mostly full. She saw one or two look over at her, but no one else made any comment or reference to yesterday. She hoped it stayed that way.

  After registration, there were a few minutes before the bell rang. Lily opened her bag and took out the book she was reading. A shuffling noise came from her right, and she turned to see the twins had swapped out desks with the girls who'd been next to her so that they were now beside her.

  “Hey, Lily, how are you feeling today?” one of them asked her quietly. He was leaning on his brother’s shoulder to see her better. She studied their faces, but they were blank of emotion. Only their eyes showed a little concern, or at least she thought it was concern.

  “I’m much better, thanks,” she replied quietly.

  “Matt said you took a swan dive onto the floor and ended up with chips all over you,” the one leaning on his brother spoke to her.

  His twin snorted and shook his head. “He didn’t put it quite like that,” he retorted.

  “Well, it’s pretty much how it went,” she said, looking between them. “Which of you is which?” She still couldn’t see any tells that would help her work out who was speaking. But all she got in reply was a wicked smirk with a wink from them both.

  “You need to figure that out, Lily.”

  “Just call us Nethercott if you get confused. That’s what most people do,” the other twin added.

  “Or get you to wear that orange button badge?” she asked hopefully. The one closest to her snorted and shook his head.

  “That makes it much too easy for you,” he said. “You’ll get a clue this morning as we’ve got Maths first again.”

  The bell rang, and she slid her book back into her bag and stood up.

  “You know Matt?” It sank in what they’d said.

  “Yeah, he’s our cousin. So’s Nate.”

  “You’re all cousins?”

  “Yes, our mothers are sisters,” he replied as they made their way through the door and towards the Maths department.

  “Are Nate and Matt brothers too?”

  “No. There are three sisters; April, our mum; May, Nate’s mum; and June is Matt’s mum. And no, we’re not joking about their names.”

  “April, May, and June. Your grandparents must have had a good sense of humour.” She grinned at them. “They must have had you all at the same time, or thereabouts,” she added.

  “Nate is the eldest, he’s eighteen on the 5th of October, then it’s us on the 31st, and Matt’s is the 2nd of November.”

  Lily laughed, falling into step with them easily. “You’re Halloween babies?”

  “Born just before midnight. Mum was not pleased. She’d been all dressed to go to a party, and we decided to turn up five weeks early.”

  “So who’s older between you?” she asked as they went into the Maths classroom.

  “I am.” They both spoke in unison, and she laughed in disbelief.

  “You can’t both be older.” She chuckled as she climbed the steps to her seat. They sat behind her again, the rest of the students finding seats and chattering loudly.

&
nbsp; “We agreed years ago that the seven minutes he was still kicking his heels inside are irrelevant.”

  She watched as the other twin pulled the button badge from his jacket and pinned it into place on the black jumper he was wearing.

  “Josh,” she said quietly, and he looked up under his fringe at her. His eyes sparkled with wicked humour.

  “Might be.” He smirked, and she rolled her eyes.

  “I think you’re Josh, and I think you’re older.” She called them out on what they’d just said.

  “Why do you think that?” he asked. “He just said I was younger by seven minutes.”

  “Am I right?”

  “You are,” he replied and regarded her with interest. “How did you guess?”

  “Just a feeling.” She shrugged. “Thanks for the altered map. It helped a lot.”

  “You are more than welcome, Lily Pad.” Josh smirked at her.

  “Alrighty! Get settled, everyone. Derivatives won’t wait for your social lives, and neither will I!” Mr O’Connor came in, slamming the door behind him. Lily was sure he was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, and his cardigan was still inside out.

  “Open up your textbooks to wherever you left off yesterday and work quietly. Any questions, stick your hands in the air. Lily Adair?” She jumped when he called her name but put her hand in the air. He lifted his finger in acknowledgement and came bounding up the steps, two at a time. His hair seemed to bounce with each step, and she found herself mesmerised by it. That was until he slapped her test from the day before on her desk and leant forward, placing both hands on her desk. He had no concept of personal space, and Lily found herself watching his expressive eyebrows as he got right into her face.

  “If you’d gone into that foundation room yesterday, I’d have hauled you in front of the Head today for cheating. One hundred percent, Lily! Well done, well bloody done!” He slapped one hand down in emphasis, making her jump again, shocked at his casual swearing in front of students.

  “I’m going to enjoy teaching you this year, Lily, and you’re going to enjoy being taught by me. Fantastic job. Right, open your book and get on with it.” He turned to go back down the way he’d come, hesitated and looked back at her. “You feel better today?”

  It was obviously not just the students who talked, not that it surprised her.

  “Yes, thank you, sir,” she said, and he nodded firmly.

  “Excellent, if you fit in here, don’t you worry. Just try to fall backwards and not down the steps. Actually. Nethercotts! On your feet, desk either side of her please, gentlemen.” He clapped his hands together. She heard them scrape out of their chairs. “If you start to fall, one or the other will catch you, won’t you, boys?”

  “Of course we will, sir.” They spoke in unison, and Lily found herself gaping in surprise. He didn’t need to do that; she’d be fine.

  “I’m fine, honestly. It was probably a one off. I feel fine. They don’t need to move, sir.”

  “We’ll watch her, sir,” Josh spoke up, and she looked at him apologetically.

  “I don’t want to split you up,” she said.

  “Nonsense. They’ve been split up since the egg divided in their momma. Work hard, my children. Hand in the air if you get stuck.” Mr O’Connor turned and jumped his way back down the stairs. She was left staring at him in utter amazement. He was a breath of fresh air, that much was true.

  “Just roll with it,” Jake said, opening his book and picking up his pen. “He’s a certified nutter, but a complete genius with it. He saw us right last year.”

  “Did you really get a hundred percent?” Josh asked, and Lily shrugged, opening her own book and notebook.

  “I like numbers, patterns.” She shrugged again. “Has anyone told him his cardy is inside out?”

  “Yep,” Josh whispered as the class started to quiet down as they began to work. “He just blinks at you if you mention it.”

  Lily chuckled, and bending over the textbook, got to work. She wasn’t joking when she said she loved numbers and soon lost herself in the work. The rest of class was uneventful. Lily felt herself becoming more settled as the time passed.

  History was her next class. The twins had Electronics and that was in one of the buildings outside the main building. They said goodbye to her, and she waved in return.

  When she got to the classroom, the rest of the kids were waiting outside to be let in. She moved to the side and leant against the wall. Lily saw the cliques were already formed, and while most smiled at her and said hello, they stayed with the friends they had already made. She didn’t expect anything else. She’d learnt long ago that with each new school, it took time to establish anything more than a passing hello. It didn’t bother her anymore, and with this being her last year, she wouldn’t have to go through it again.

  “Hello, Lily Flower. How are you doing today?”

  She turned to see Matt coming towards her, a big smile on his handsome face. Another boy was with him, but he broke off and moved to talk to a group of girls.

  “Hey, Matt.”

  “You remember my name,” he said pleased.

  “I do, and thank you for helping me yesterday,” she said, hoisting her bag higher on her shoulder.

  “You’re welcome. Okay, now?”

  “I am, yes, thanks.” She smiled at him and realised that now she was standing, he was a good eight inches taller than her. The twins were taller than her by about six inches. She figured they were probably about five ten, but Matt was six foot easily.

  He leant against the wall with her, propping one foot behind him. “You didn’t miss much yesterday.” He nodded towards the still closed door. “He just handed out textbooks. I didn’t realise you’re taking History, or I’d have picked them up for you.”

  “Mr Peters gave me them this morning. But thanks anyway.”

  “So, a bird has told me you’ve moved into the village. We all live there so you can catch a ride home with us instead of getting the bus.”

  “I’ll be fine on the bus,” she said quickly, surprised he was even offering.

  “Yeah, right! You obviously haven’t ridden on it yet. Take it from someone who’s had to use it for the last six years. I was over the moon when I passed my test and got a car. Honestly, the bus takes forever! It goes around every tiny hamlet known to man before heading into the village. The trip takes ten minutes in the car, forty-five on the bus.”

  “I don’t want to be a pain.” She wasn’t sure letting him take her home each day was a good idea, no matter how good looking he was or how nice he seemed to be.

  “You aren’t. But I can guarantee you’ll be in pain if you take the bus. What’s your last subject today?”

  “Geography.”

  “Damn, none of us are taking that one. It’s okay though, we have to pass your classroom to get out. Hang around for us, and we’ll take you home.”

  “Who’s we?”

  “Me, Nate, and the twins. You know us all anyway now.”

  “There won’t be room,” she said, still not sure whether she should take him up on it or not.

  Matt snorted with laughter. “Five seater cars, Lily, wonderful invention. Besides, I drive a Land Rover Discovery, there’s more than enough room. And I promise not to crash.”

  “Morning.” Mr Peters came down the hallway with an armful of papers and his keys balanced on the top. “Sherrie, get the door, please?”

  A tall redhead detached herself from her friends and took the keys from the top.

  “Thank you, Sherrie. I have excellent news about our trip this autumn,” he announced as she held the door open for him. “Get yourself seated quietly.”

  Lily held back, knowing that all the desks would have been chosen yesterday. Matt nudged her with his shoulder and indicated for her to follow him. He settled himself at a desk by the window and patted the seat beside him. She looked to see where his friend was, but he’d sat at the back
with another girl.

  “Good thing no one claimed it yesterday.” Matt grinned at her.

  “Our first trip this term is going to be relaxed.” Mr Peters started to write ‘Hamerock House’ on the board. “While the house itself is not related in any way to either of our courses, there’s going to be some lectures held there and a play. Don’t all cheer at once,” he added when there was a series of groans throughout the room.

  “Permission forms are coming around. You know the drill, folks.” He handed a stack of papers to those sitting in the front. “Take one and hand them back. Trip is on the last Friday of the month, the 30th. I need those back at the end of next week at the latest!”

  “You gonna be able to go?” Matt asked, waiting for the forms to get to them.

  “Probably. You?”

  “Yeah.” He nodded his head and reached forward for the forms the boy in front was holding out. He took two and handed the rest to the girl behind him.

  “Here you go.” He handed her one, and she took it to read. It was a standard form. She folded it before putting it into her bag.

  Mr Peters clapped his hands for attention, and the class grew quiet

  She was conscious of Matt beside her much more than she had been of the twins. She had a desk to herself in maths, but with Matt, the desks were in pairs. She was highly aware of every move he made; every fidget, every cough. But at the same time, she was relaxed with him. It was an odd state to be in, and her concentration suffered.

  She was so hyper aware of him that when the bell rang, she flung a quick goodbye at him and made for the door before he’d even got his books away. She was going to have to sort herself out, she couldn’t afford to spend the year not concentrating fully because she was aware of him beside her.

  “Don’t forget, wait for us after last class!” he called out. She sent him a wave but didn’t commit herself one way or the other. She wasn’t sure what it was about him, but there was something she was hyper sensitive to. Maybe her brain connected him with her seizure and was trying to protect itself. She knew logically he wasn’t responsible, but she couldn’t help but remember touching his fingers, the jolt of electricity and the subsequent seizure. She dismissed that as ridiculous and headed to her next class. Half of her was expecting him to be there, or the twins, or the other one, Nate. She was split between relief and disappointment when she found a seat and realised none of them were there.