 
LILY IN THE MOONLIGHT

by

Mariya Koleva

Published by Mariya Koleva at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Mariya Koleva. All rights reserved

ISBN 978-1-4660-1743-6

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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CHAPTER I – NINE MONTHS LATER

"Lily, Lily," the insecure calls came from a girl, a woman and a man standing and waiting at the platform, looking at the train that had just stopped.

"Lily," said tenderly a girl in a compartment in the train, patting another girl gently on the shoulder. The first girl had been watching out of the train window, and, seeing the group of three, she turned abruptly to the other girl and said what she said.

There were five girls in that compartment, all of them blooming 16-years-olds, fresh and smiling. Well, they would have been smiling, if they were not somewhat somber and tentative.

At the sound of their friend's voice, they all looked towards the girl called "Lily".

"Lil, your baby-Sis is there." said one tall and slim girl with chestnut hair.

As Lily said nothing, another girl added, "She is very cute. Just as you told us."

The girl called "Lily" was sitting in her seat, silent and grim. She had her suitcase and bag ready in the aisle, but just did not move. Her eyes were fixed in a spot in front of her, at some indefinite distance.

"Lily, snap out of it! We've arrived." said the only girl in the compartment who had not spoken so far. She then turned to the girl at the window, "Violet, close that window and move. We are never leaving here in this mess."

Violet closed the window without a word and moved her bags into the passage. She looked back to the girls in the compartment and said, "Girls, we must not forget one another this summer." Her eyes slid towards Lily and, meeting her fixed glance, strayed away.

"Violet, I am not planning to forget you." said Lily finally.

Violet blushed. The other girls looked different ways.

"Lily, Lily!" the shouts emerged again, as the three on the platform moved forward and appeared in front of the compartment window.

Lily brightened up and changed totally. She jumped up, smiled broadly and stood next to the window. Pulling it open, she put her head outside and said, blinking in the light outside,

"Orange, baby-sis, how are you doing? Auntie, Uncle, hi. Glad to see you."

The three outside only smiled. Orange jumped in her place and waited for her sister to get down.

The aunt and uncle said "Hi", waved their hands and waited, too.

Lily pulled the window back up and looked at the four girls inside the compartment. They were waiting. That day, at that station, everybody seemed to be waiting. Her family were waiting outside for her to come to them and greet them. Her friends were waiting inside for her to go from them and take their farewells. And the truth was that Lily was baffled. She wanted to be waiting as well, only she knew there was nothing to ne waiting for.

And exactly nine months before that, on Sept. 1, the same people were at the same place, doing just the opposite – Lily and her friends were leaving, her family were seeing her off. Only...

CHAPTER II – THE BEGINNING

Exactly nine months before the above events, on Sept. 1, Lily Lemonpie was on the train, travelling for her second year at George Reader's High and her best friends were in the same compartment as her. The party was going to be awesome. At least judging by the previous year. Her mother and father were there, on the platform, and her younger sister – Orange, was with them, trembling with anxiety. Orange was two years younger and the whole summer absorbed Lily's stories about the school. By the end of the summer Orange had become the most fervent fan of George Reader's High and her greatest dream was to get there herself next year.

Lily had to pull the window open, because Orange was trying to say something and was waving frantically for Lily to open and hear her. With some boredom in her voice, Lily said, "Baby-sis, what is it? Didn't you have enough the whole summer? Now, go back home to help Mom and be a good girl. Maybe you will have a chance next year."

Orange blinked a bit offended, and Mrs Lemonpie voiced her objection, "Lily, please do not talk like that to your sister. A child's chance mainly depends on the child's parents. Remember who gave YOU your chance."

Mrs Lemonpie patted Orange on the back and said nicely, "Orange dear, Mom and Dad promise to be here for you, as well. This time next year we will be waving goodbye to both our daughters. Don't worry. Now smile and wave goodbye to your sister."

Orange swallowed her tears and started waving. Lily blushed with embarrassment. They heard the train whistle.

"Orange, I'm sorry, do you hear? Of course, you'll get into George Reader's High next year. Take care! All of you! See you at Christmas!" she shouted hurriedly out of the window.

Mr Lemonpie smiled to his elder daughter and winked at her, "And be a good girl." He sent her an airborne kiss, "Take care, my princess."

"Take care, sweetie." said her Mom and hugged Orange even tighter.

The train started and Lily moved away from the window and into a seat. Her best friends were already in their seats, smiling, in a hurry to talk and talk, and talk for hours if need be, and impatient to share all that had happened to them in the summer. Of course, there were emails, but how could they be adequate enough. Even the animated emoticons were not a match to a live girls' chat on the train, while the bright September sun was shining outside, and the green meadows along the tracks were running as speedy bands.

The girls in the compartment were, from the window towards the door: Violet Absurmia - beautiful, short-haired, blondish girl, Erin Sune - chestnut hair and hazelnut eyes, Simona Pench – sharp brown eyes, short brown hair, broad shoulders and a bit boyish stance, Veronica Mickey – tall, dark and slim girl, with long, brown hair, and Lily Lemonpie – slim, tender, small and pretty face, curly long brown hair. Four of them, except for Veronica, studied in the same House of their school – the House of the Moons. Veronica was in the House of the Stars. Three of them – Veronica, Lily and Violet played in the school's football team. Simona was part of the trio in synchronized swimming, where the girls were from the House of the Stars, like Veronica, and Flowers. All of them, except for Veronica were beginning their second year at the school. Veronica was their senior by one year, and was taking this journey for the third time.

Lily was definitely in love with her friends and she choked in her emotion, trying to say something and start the conversation. It seemed the others were in no better position, as they were all looking hesitant, insecure and out of words.

"Girls, my brother is getting married just after Halloween," Erin shot in the air.

"What? Who to? What is she like?" questions poured over her from all sides.

Violet asked, "What does your father say?"

"Why their father? What about your mother?"

Erin had an older brother, who had finished another school, and had graduated from university the previous year. The girls did not know much about him, just that he and their father did not get along too much. Obviously Eric (oddly enough, Erin's brother was called Eric) did not share their father's ideas regarding order and subordination. Erin used to tell her friends of all fights he and their father had got into. Eric wanted to be independent and "free", while Mr Sune demanded a plausible definition of "free". Erin herself was somewhat confused as to that matter, so her stories invariably turned into discussions of the phenomenon of freedom. Because of that, the girls never learnt much about Eric.

Of course, Professor Jubesc, the teacher in Legal and forbidden means of influence, only too ready to take up the discussion and clarify as much as possible. It so happened that Erin got attracted to his subject and started showing extraordinary talents. Once, Violet had asked Erin why she was so obsessed with the arguments between her brother and her father, to which she had said that she was afraid her time to argue would come pretty soon, so she felt like getting some preparation for it, as much as possible. Violet had considered that very strange, she said Erin's father would be different to her and most probably that "preparation" would be of no use for the new challenge. Anyway, Erin continued in her earnest efforts to master the means of influence.

And now, Eric was about to get married and probably leave the family home. Erin was to remain alone with her parents and the time was approaching.

"We-e-ell," Erin said, looking around her. "Eric is getting married to a fellow-student – Daisy. She visited us in July. I liked her a lot. Tall, blond, dreamy eyes."

Erin remained silent for some time, mulling over what else to say and biting her lips.

Simona invited her to continue, "But?"

"But," continued Erin, "my mom and dad said she was, quote 'no good'."

Erin looked sad and somewhat hopeless. Silence fell over the compartment. Simona asked, "And now, what? Are they getting married in secret, or...?"

"Hm, not really. In the end, my parents accepted the inevitable. Yet, Eric is not welcome at home, neither is Daisy. I hate this. I love Eric and I think Daisy is a great girl. I hate being only child, and that is exactly what is happening to me." Erin was on the verge of crying. Violet, who was sitting closest to her, made to give her a hug. Lily took Erin's hand in hers and said, "I thing I understand you very well. Sometimes I feel very miserable when I chide Orange for no reason, as if I'd prefer that I didn't have a sister. My mom often scolds me for that. And you know what she does?" Here, Lily looked around as if to receive answers. As nobody spoke, she said, "She usually tells me I should be happy I have a sister at all. And how terrible it is to be alone in the world. She is only child, that's why."

"But I remember you have an aunt. She was at the station last time. Is she your dad's sister then?" Violet asked.

"She is. Anyway, Erin, don't get sad. Maybe when your brother moves away, he will take you with them." said Lily.

Erin looked at Lily, amazed. "Take me? Who is going to let me go? And I believe my brother will have enough worries, as it is. You know he just graduated, right? Well, he has not found a job yet. That is something else that bugs my father." And Erin put on a funny frowning face, trying to imitate her father.

"So how exactly are you expecting to maintain this new family of yours." Saying this, Erin puffed pompously. The others did not know what to do, whether to laugh. There was uncomfortable silence for some time. Luckily, something happened to break that spell.

A smiling fresh-from-the-bright-weather-outside girl stood in front of the compartment door. All inside were relieved, "Germina! Where have you been? Come on in! We have you place reserved."

Germina popped in the compartment and tossed a bag in the overheads.

"It doesn't look especially heavy." smiled Lily.

"That is because it isn't." admitted Germina.

Violet raised her eyebrows. Everybody was looking at her. She stood like that, fixing her gaze on Germina for some time. Finally, she exhaled and said, "True. But how come?"

Now may be a good time to offer some explanation. The full name of the school where the girls studied was George Reader's High School for the Gifted, and "the gifted" were teenagers with special talents in different areas. Violet, for example, was able to sense people's thoughts, that is sometimes called "reading people's minds". Violet was not able to actually "read" which she frequently tried to explain, in fact so frequently that she had given it up at the end of her first year at George Reader's High. Her favourite subjects naturally were Means of influence, legal and forbidden and Art of the words, written and spoken. Professor Jubesc, the teacher in Means of influence, looked up to Violet as a young hope.

Lily was very good in Kinetics and that meant she was able to move objects without touching them. She had found that skill of hers just the year before and the classes in Kinetics helped her recognize a lot of the nuances of her skill. Professor Magpie was Lily's favourite teacher and during the previous year, Lily participated in two debates and contests in physics. The physics and kinetics were united in the same class under Professor Magpie and combined the official physics with the more subtle phenomena that cannot be explained by precise scientific rules.

Apart from those subjects the students attended classes in Chemistry and alchemy with Professor Suthern, who specialized in making all types of paints, glues, glitters, used for many purposes, among which festive occasions, and he was also an expert at party cocktails with secret ingredients and fun effects. Students loved his classes because of their practical direction: the Professor made them read and write a lot, but at least twice a month the classes had practical projects which were real entertainment and taught them very useful things.

Another especially preferred subject was that of Professor Brittle Bravery, quite adequately named Applied Biology. Although it started as very boring reading and memorizing of scientific facts and data, gradually it evolved into practical exercises at a greenhouse or a field, depending on the weather, where the students made all kinds of experiments with plants, germs, and growing agents. Professor Bravery and Professor Suthern worked hand in hand on some projects where the two sciences interconnected.

Another subject was History and Geography of this world and the other, where along with the normal history and geography studied at all school, the students of George Reader's High discussed other realms of existence, not encompassed by the statistical census. This "other" world was something the students did not understand easily, because it had nothing to do with spirits, ghosts or hocus-pocus of any kind. Actually, it was rarely before the end of their last year at school that they finally grasped the idea. Of course, some of the students had talents in that direction – communication and translation between this world and the so-called other. They usually knew more about that, even if they were not able to clarify it. Violet's mother who had been a student in the school as well, was particularly good at that and now she had a career in historical journalism and statistics, which was quite successful and drew intensively from her solid preparation at the school.

Apart from that there was the highly acclaimed and controversial subject of Means of influence, legal and forbidden. The reasons for its high esteem were quite clear, and the controversy arose from the very nature of the discipline. The means of influence enjoyed great interest on behalf of the students and Professor Jubesc was among the most loved teachers. Fortunately, he was a very approachable and charming teacher who was ready to laugh and cry with his students and to listen to all they have to say in way of confiding. Because of this manipulative nature of the subject and the professor's behaviour, the other teachers and especially Professor Crescentius Jennings, the Headmaster, were on the constant watch, lest Adrian Jubesc should exceed his authorities as a teacher of teenagers. That never happened, though and the young blond-haired professor was very much loved among the students and the girls especially.

Of course, students had to attend to Mathematics, Sports and Arts – Music and Visual. Those subjects were quite the subjects we all know from school and although Maths was very intimidating, there were students with special talents in it, who formed a mathematics club and were regular participants at various contests, invariably ranking first and second there. The two subdivisions of the Arts lessons were taught by different teachers, both of whom young and charming – Professor Dorothy Lomax in Visual Arts, who was very active and creative for the school festive occasions and ran a club for artists where the talented teenagers met once a week and painted or drew, or sculpted, and so on, as the need or their inclination was. The artists helped with the school theatre and with all events where decors were needed, or the stage had to be set. Apart from that, the artists organized and took part in various exhibitions, and some of their works were to be seen at public areas around the entire school. The Music teacher – Roxie Timoteo, was a very slim lady, always wearing very tight long skirts and tight tops which only accentuated on how slim she was. She ran a club, as well, as clubs were a normal extracurricular activity that was optional, but was, in fact, taken by most students. Professor Timoteo ran the school choir, which was not an especially prestigious club to be into as it tended to gather students who shared low self-esteem and were usually very timid in social life. Although the musical programmes Professor Timoteo put together and conducted, were delightful, students still looked upon the choir-boys and girls with some derision.

All present in the compartment were in sports clubs. Lily, Violet, Veronica and Germina were in the football team. Simona was in a synchronized swimming trio and Erin went to swimming. Apart from those sports, there was the cheerleading squad where girls appeared between the two halves, as well as in the beginning and after matches to entertain the audience.

So, that was how talents were represented in the compartment we are in. That was how Violet was able to say that Germina had a nearly empty bag with her. What she could not say was how Germina could afford such a luxury, a nearly empty bag.

And the question remained, "But how come?"

Germina laughed and said, "I have a new friend. His name is Antony Belamigo, he is keen on football and hopes to get in our House. First year," she clarified because of the empty looks. "Well, I convinced him to take most of my things with his bags." Germina giggled with delight. She looked like an imp.

"Erin's brother is getting married." tossed in Violet.

Everybody knew that Germina had a secret crush on Eric which was not secret at all. In fact, Germina kept absolute silence on it. Last year, when they were going home for Christmas, Eric was at the station to meet Erin and he wanted to take his sister's friends to have lunch. Only Germina was available, though, as her parents had arranged her to travel home alone. That was how the other girls never got to know Eric, even superficially, but only by Erin's words, and Germina spent a full three hours with him and Erin until her coach home departed. After the Christmas holiday Erin had kept Germina's secret to a certain extent, but what had ever been kept secret in a girls' dormitory? Germina was a downright imp, wearing a naughty look on her face all the year round. No one ever knew her to be sad or absorbed in thoughts. No one ever, until now. The moment her infatuation with Eric hit the floor, she lost her brightness and her face grew dull. She recovered very quickly and waved the rumour light-heartedly, but all who were present there, knew for certain there WAS something.

So, when she heard of the coming wedding, Germina lost her edge again. Erin looked depressed enough, and now Germina's look of despair added to the dull moon in the compartment.

Instead of being jolly with the sweet expectations of the party they would have for another couple of months before going home for Christmas, the five friends were despondent and reluctant to talk even about what had happened during their holidays.

One by one they fell asleep with the gentle sway of the train and each had her own dreams of wonder and despair.

The end of the journey found them in the same mood, not having said another word. They quietly picked up their bags and filed off the train to the school building for another year at George Reader's High School for the Gifted.

CHAPTER III – THE NEW CAPTAIN

The school year started with all the usual pomposity and full-scale celebration which Lily and her friends remembered well from their previous year. The Headmaster, Professor Jennings gave a heart-felt speech which managed to melt even the toughest veterans of the ritual. Then, all class supervisors led their respective classes to their classrooms for a smaller opening and introduced them to whatever novelties there were around the school.

Professor Brittle Bravery was the class supervisor of Lily's year, that was the second, and all the second-years were under her, irrespective of their Houses. She led the second-years to the greenhouse where her office was and made them sit around on improvised seats of crates and buckets, or some piles of objects of unclear nature.

In short, the greatest news was that the football team needed a new captain, as the old one had finished school the year before. The election for a captain was to take place just before the try-outs for the new players on Saturday morning. The election was to be democratic and secret. Each one of the already included players was supposed to cast a vote on a sheet of paper (called "ballot", "What a funny word," the entire group giggled.) and put it inside a box. Then, before the try-outs for new players begin, Professor Baramova was to open the box in the presence of all players and read out the results.

The cheerleading try-out was to coincide with the football team try-out, was the other piece of news Lily heard passing by her ears. She remembered that had been the case the previous year, too. Another second-year was rather enthusiastic with the news, though, and that drew Lily's attention. Juliet Clarence, from the House of Stars, was especially obsessed with the cheerleading squad. She had tried out in vain the previous year and, seeing an opportunity to make it to participating in contests, had entered the synchronized swimming trio suggested by professor Baramova. In fact, Juliet Clarence turned out the best synchronized swimmer that school had seen for years, but her heart lay with cheerleading. She would sometimes attend the cheerleaders' practices, tried to learn their routines and really hoped to make it to the squad this year.

Another item of the agenda of the second-years was discipline and order in the dining room, the necessity, no, but the obligation to observe the rules and regulations of the school and the overall topic of "behaving themselves".

Having heard the football-team news, Lily beginning to get bored. Her passion was football, and that was it. She had practiced all summer with her father. The year before she had not even known the exact rules of the game for sure. Yet, having made it to the team and having played several matches, and especially having practiced and won for a whole year, now Lily knew that was her sport and her passion. She remembered why and how she had decided to take part in the try-outs at all, and she felt grateful to destiny in the face of two students for arising her curiosity. She had overheard a boy speak of football and how tough you need to be to play it, what tenacity you need in order to not simply survive on the field, but to score the goal, too. Then, after ninety minutes of intensive and exhausting run, still to be in a condition fit for taking applause, kissing girls who gave you flowers, or tossed their underwear at you, giving interviews to reporter, and so much other "social" stuff, that invariably accompanied winning a game. Lily had listened to the whole thing, not daring to turn around and see the boy who was talking, for fear she might interrupt him. The "underwear" moment was too much for her, and yet, she waited patiently to sense he had finished. The moment he finished, she looked at him and saw Buster Jenkins – a sturdy, manly teenager of the House of Suns.

Lily asked him, "Where can one play this football? Is it available here? Are girls allowed?"

Buster looked at her in numb dismay. "Is it available here?" he repeated and paused.

Lily nodded affirmatively, "Yes, is it?"

Buster did not answer, and said, "Are girls allowed?"

Lily thought that boy was not particularly smart, but in the interest of the information she needed, she decided to keep that opinion to herself only. At least, for present. She just snapped at him, "Are you going to repeat every word I say? Aren't you going to answer my questions?"

Buster's expression changed from slightly derisive to downright cold. The student he had been talking to, a brazen dark girl, laughed out, "Well, Buster, it's not like this young lady has no questions for you. You'd better get to that before she gets to something more drastic."

Lily honoured the brazen girl with a slighting look. She tried to look as if it was below her to respond to such kind of talk. Instead, she turned back to the boy and persisted in her questions.

"But of course it is available here," said Buster. "My brother is the captain of the team. He has been a captain since his second year here. I am trying for the team this Saturday. If you want to, you may come too. It's open for boys and girls alike." Buster finished curtly.

The girl with him said, "I am going to try out, as well. If you DARE, come!"

Then the two went away from Lily. Suddenly, the boy turned and said, "By the way, this is Padrina Perkins and my name is Buster Jenkins. We are from the House of Suns – the best house in the school." Buster winked playfully while Padrina gave up an artificial smile.

And so, Lily's curiosity was awakened and she was so angry with those two, that she decided to "try this out" and see if she could make it. All three made it. That was how Lily got into the football team, met Buster and Padrina and fell in love for the first time during her teenage. With football, of course, what did you think?

That was in their first year. Now, Buster's brother – Carl, who was the captain, was no longer available and a new captain was to be elected. It was believed by everybody that Buster would follow naturally in the "office". Of course, that could not be so certain, as Buster was not half the boy his brother was. It was true that Buster was very strong and a powerful player, yet he lacked leader's qualities.

Lily could hardly wait till Saturday. Having heard that, she tended to ignore everything else, even the message regarding the school trips and camps which were her other passion. She cast a look at Buster and saw him chewing over the same idea. He felt Lily's eyes on him and turned around. They looked at each other for a while like two animals stalking, stepping aside in circles, growling. Then Lily thought a flick of something passed between them. Before she could recognize the kind of "something", though, Padrina Perkins who was sitting next to Buster turned, too, and seeing the direction of Buster's gaze, pulled his arm, so he moved his look away to Padrina.

"He is going to try it, then?" asked a voice close to Lily's ear.

"Try what?" startled Lily.

"Become a captain, of course. Get elected."

"Violet, are you living in the clouds? Didn't you listen to the professor? We cannot TRY. There will be secret elections."

Here Lily hissed just a little bit louder than needed and Professor Bravery shht-ed in the girls' direction in reproach.

Soon, the small school-year opening was over and Lily left the greenhouse surrounded by her friends. Germina giggled to herself. Everybody looked at her, "What?"

"What 'what'?" she echoed.

"What made you giggle?" asked Simona sharply.

"Oh, that. I just imagined Professor Bravery at the football field, taking Professor Baramova's place. You know, wearing a tight-fitting track suit, a whistle in her mouth. What would you say?"

Since Professor Bravery was a small, chubby lady with a funny face having similarity to a dried apple, the image Germina drew was ridiculous. They snickered, but not very enthusiastically.

Simona said, "I like Professor Bravery."

Erin added, "Yeah, me too. She's a nice lady."

"And a good teacher," said Violet.

Germina's smile froze on her face. She looked a bit irritated, "OK. That was a joke. I didn't actually mean to laugh at her." Her look was sullen.

"Yet that's exactly what you did, in fact." murmured Lily.

"What's wrong with you all? Are we going to start this year like this? I remember you all used to know how to have fun, young ladies." said Germina still irritated.

Violet said, "Yeah, but that was last year. We were different then."

"How?" exclaimed Germina. "Have you grown too old and tired to laugh and make merry, or what? Have you got too many worries and cares, or what?" Germina's voice escalated nearly to a crescendo.

"Yeah, what did you mean, Violet? How are we different? I don't feel any different." said Simona.

"That's right. Me neither." said the others.

"OK now, come at me, all of you, at the same time." Violet was getting irritated now.

Erin said, "Wait! Girls, something is wrong with us. This is not like us. We never do that. We love one another." She looked frantically around, afraid that maybe the others will not share her sentiment.

"Oh, maybe we are different, that's why." someone grunted. But all in all, they agreed with Erin.

Suddenly, Germina sobbed, "Please, forget about it. I don't know what's got into me. Perhaps I'm taking Eric's wedding too seriously. After all," she said in an unsuccessful attempt to sound light-hearted, "I just saw him for a couple of hours. We never even really talked. I bet, he didn't even take a notice of me. After all, I'm simply his young sister's friend. One of her friend, in fact." And Germina waited. Her tears sparkled in her eyes. They all knew what she was waiting for. Erin also knew what Germina was waiting for. Yet, she could not give it to her. She could not deny what Germina had just said. Eric really did not mention Germina even once to his sister after they saw her off to her coach. It was very likely that he had taken Germina for just what she had said – Erin's school friend who had to wait for her next transport. Eric was polite to take his sister's friends to lunch, and Germina was the only available. Then he just saw her off. Erin even remembered what she and Eric had talked about when Germina disappeared out of sight, taken away on the coach – they had talked about their own parents, about Daisy whom Eric had just met and was dying to invite over for Christmas (out of the question, whatsoever), about the party their parents were about to ruin for their children, and stuff like that. Erin, however, was not too quick to shoot all that out to Germina and stood in hesitation what to say, so as not to hurt her friend too much, without, at the same time, lying to her.

Erin was thinking something they have learned at Professor Jubesc's classes, "Don't tell a lie, just withhold some of the truth, and put more stress to that part of it which will draw the other person's attention away. Instead of hurting the other person and wonder how to sympathize with them, make it sound in such a way that THEY would sympathize with you and forget all (or almost all) about their worries." That was crossing Erin's mind. Actually, "crossing" was not exact enough. That was zigzagging through Erin's mind. Sadly, this movement, whether crossing or zigzagging, took so long that Germina got her answer. She pressed her jaw tighter, bit her lips and said, "Ah, well, love hurts." And, because Erin did not get her chance to say something soothing to Germina before, now she was tossed to the other extreme by Germina's words and said curtly, "Love happens to be a two-direction process." Germina lost all colour of her face. She took a step in Erin's direction. Lily intervened, "Wait!" she looked first at Germina, and then at Erin. "Germina, stand back! Erin, you take it back!" Violet and Simona just looked on, in sheer shock and not understanding what was going on.

Finally, Simona whispered, "Oh, my God! What had got into us?"

"Let's split up and not meet till bedtime." suggested Violet in hesitation. Everybody, along with Germina and Erin, nodded fervently in agreement.

Veronica joined Lily in the library where she hid in the afternoon and said, "Germina told me there was something the matter. May I ask about it?" Veronica was always very polite and extremely careful how she spoke. Having in mind what had happened just a few hours before that, Lily could not help thinking what Veronica would have said or done in Erin's place, or in Germina's one. Veronica was permanently cool and reliable. You could always trust her to calm people down. That was how, in fact, she was such an excellent defender, too. It was as if she managed to make the ball calm down and surrender its fervour.

"Yeah, you might ask. The problem is I don't know what to tell you. I have no explanation. And surely, I don't know how to put it together. What REALLY happened evades me. As if we were all possessed. Even I, though I didn't get any chance to show it."

"Hm," said Veronica. "You know, you may be right. I remember something Professor Humbledeen told us in class. It was a story of a group of children who were taken to a forest and told to find a certain place. They had a map, supplies and good instruction, but somehow they lost all and finally got lost themselves. In the meantime, they quarreled with one another and that disruption cost them their lives. I believe according to the professor that was witches' interference, because unawares the children had crossed some forbidden territory."

"So, do you mean something like a curse was put over some place we crossed, to keep people away from it?" asked Lily, not believing her ears.

"That's exactly what I mean. Maybe you were all some place special. Think of it. Try to remember."

Lily thought hard. "I don't know. What time?"

"It might have been before you came to the school. Sometimes these things do not start doing their work before the object is far away, for fear he or she will identify the reason and destroy it."

"Well, before coming to the school, we were together on the train. You were there, too. Before the train," she continued rewinding "we were at the station, on the bus, at home. At least I was." Lily sighed, "I don't remember anything unusual."

Veronica's face darkened. She lowered her voice, "Lily, if it wasn't unusual, then maybe it was INTENTIONAL. Are you suspecting anybody? It could be the work of some beginner, somewhere here, in the school."

"Hm, OK. In that case what would be the timing?"

"In that case it may be immediate. Normally, the one who does it, wants to observe the result. Was there anyone around while you were quarreling?"

Lily tried to remember. "I don't know. I was too worried about Saturday and the captain election to notice anything around."

"What! Captain? But of course!" Veronica was triumphant. "OK. Listen to me. If your football friends fight or argue each other, they may cast their vote for somebody else, and not you. Maybe they will choose another aspirant. And maybe another aspiring captain did this."

"Why, this sounds too far-fetched, Vero."

Veronica did not answer. She made a gesture to Lily asking her to follow her eyes. And Veronica's eyes went to a couple of students entering the library smiling and shining with delight. Those were Padrina Perkins and Buster Jenkins.

"What about them?" asked Veronica. Lily was out of breath. She was shocked and could not say a word for about a minute. Finally, she said, "It is possible."

"Possible? The question, as I see it, is 'Is it PROBABLE?'" accentuated Veronica.

"I believe it is." said Lily slowly. "OK, that must be it. When will it wear away?"

"Maybe it won't. At least not until Saturday. In that sense, what Violet suggested – the thing about you all keeping away from each other, is your best option."

"Wait! How come you are not in it with us?"

"I wasn't there, remember? And it's not contagious, if that's your next question." smiled Veronica.

Lily looked furtively, "My next question now will be, since you already answered my 'original' next one, so my next question, as I said," and she paused smiling to see Veronica's reaction. Veronica just smiled and pinched Lily by the arm. Lily continued, "How do you know these things?"

"We study these things under Professor Humbledeen in History and geography of this world and the other. These are not simply 'stories'. This is history. That put me on the track, so to speak. The rest was reasoning." Veronica looked at Lily, "Why? What did you think?"

"Oh," said Lily quite taken by surprise, "It's rather curious, I know, but I believe I was not thinking. Neither while we were quarreling, nor after that."

"Then I am most probably right in my guess. Germina told me just the same. I'll speak to the others, too. For the time being, avoid them." And she turned to go, but remembering something, she came back and leaned to Lily's ear, "Avoid Padrina and Buster, as well. Until well after Saturday. Now, they have some power over you all. You should be careful."

Lily shrank in her chair and looked around in apprehension. The two friends from the House of Suns were nowhere around, but one could not be too sure. She put her nose close to the textbook she had opened at the table in front of her and pretended to be reading. That was a great way to spend some quiet time thinking, speculating, analyzing, and musing. All of a sudden, she felt she was annoying even herself with that incessant enumeration of synonymous attributes. Was it possible (it was highly probable, she had established that already) that whatever it was Padrina and Buster gave them or did to them, could make her fight herself? She wanted to rush after Veronica and ask, but knew that would arise some suspicions. Besides, Lily Lemonpie was not so easily intimidated by hocus-pocus, even when that particular hocus-pocus was proven science and duly documented and made it to the textbooks. Textbooks tended to validate things. So, Lily straightened up her back again, looked around the library to check what was going on. Nothing caught her interest. A couple of nerds from the first year, impatient to check questionnaires and bibliographies, were already there, randomly perusing various books from piles at the point of crashing down. Mrs. June, the sweet librarian, was at her desk, sorting cards and files of the freshers. So, Lily could go back to thinking (analyzing, speculating, musing). She smiled having thought that again. Well, she was also a bit arrogant. Thus, Lily continued thinking nice things to herself, and smiling at them until she grew bored with that. Yawning, Lily raised her look and saw Buster Jenkins at the library door. True, Lily Lemonpie was not to intimidated by hocus-pocus, but she had not forgotten Veronica's advice to keep away from Padrina and Buster and meant to keep it. That was why Lily pretended to lean down to pick something up from the floor and saw which way Buster was going. "Phew," she thought relieved, he was going another direction. She sat up and Buster Jenkins was in front of her table, looking her in the eyes.

"Lemonpie," Buster began, "I have a proposition for you." Seeing the suprise i her eyes, Buster said, "It's just a business proposition."

Still, remembering Veronica's advice, Lily did not know whether it was recommendable to speak. She thought it was not. After all, if you needed to be completely "away", speaking would be incompatible with good, recommendable behaviour. She remembered also that negative forces never dared come to you, but always asked or waited for permission, or invitation to enter. So, Lily waited for Buster to ask and then to refuse him. Buster Jenkins, however, did not ask, but directly sat down of a chair which he pulled from the nearby table.

"Listen, Lemonpie, I want to back you up for a captain." he said out of the blue. Lily swallowed in dismay.

"You do, do you?" she managed to say.

"I do, yes." he answered.

Lily considered that for a while. "But you said it was some business proposition that you had. What is the business? What do you expect in exchange? And why, the hack, would you do that? After all, you are Carl's brother. You will get elected most probably."

"Lemonpie, I will help you become captain, if you help me with a girl."

Lily simply could not believe. Buster Jenkins, Carl Jenkin's brother was willing to trade the captain armband for "help with a girl"! What girl was worth that sacrifice? Instead of asking this, Lily said, "How can you back me up?"

"I will convince all my supporters to cast their votes for you. I myself will do that." Lily could not help it, "What about Padrina?"

Buster said honestly, "I don't believe I can influence her. But that is only one vote. All the rest will be with you. All your friends, too."

"Wait! All my friends, you say? What if they don't love anymore and don't vote for me? We don't have any agreements on that, in fact. We never had a chance to discuss the elections." stated Lily with some bitterness.

"I thought they would vote for you because they love you." Buster repeated his main idea. That guy was really not especially smart, thought Lily in irritation.

"Yeah, but maybe they plan to vote for themselves. There is a chance on that, you know."

Lily began to wonder whether Buster really knew anything about what happened this morning, and what was the degree of his involvement into this, if there was any at all. Now was the time for the other hot question, though. What girl was worth the sacrifice? Buster looked her in the eyes and said simply, "You." Then he blushed, obviously felt stupid, stood up, almost tumbled the chair and hurried out. Well! Lily did not know where she was. "Me? Worth it?" she thought and nearly laughed. But then she only smiled. "He would do that for me?"

"No chance. That's some dirty trick and don't you fall for it, you hear me?" said Veronica when Lily went to her with the story later the same day.

"But what's the point?" asked Lily.

"I don't know," Veronica admitted. "I must think it over. And you are right. Things are suspicious. The fact he never asked you to invite him means that either he is under a very strong protection, which is not very likely, or that he is not involved to the full. We have to check which option is correct. But you will do exactly as I say, and not take any initiatives."

"What initiatives? You told me to avoid them, you didn't say anything about their coming round. Should I have run away?"

"Lily, please, don't get mad, but speaking to that boy was hardly any decent degree of 'avoidance'." smiled Veronica.

"You are right. I'm sorry. I know you are trying to help. Do you think you could find out more about such cases? Perhaps speak to Professor Humbledeen?"

"I've been thinking of that. The professor and the library – those are my reference sources now. And I'd better hurry." And Veronica left.

And so, strictly following Veronica's advice, Lily avoided her friends as much as possible. It was not very hard, as Veronica had spoken to them all and they were in a way "united" in their separation. That was a lonely week. As there were no announcements for the Clubs yet, Lily used to go to the library every day after classes and spend time there, reflecting what she was to do. And because it was still so early in the school year, no one was receiving any mail from home, which would have been a nice distraction. In addition, this being the first week of classes, there was not much to read and study, so Lily's plentiful of time could not be filled with any useful work.

She enjoyed the meeting with Professor Magistra Magpie. She was the teacher in Physics and Kinetics, Lily's favorite subject. Then, she enjoyed Chemistry and Alchemy, although she was particularly poor at that subject, which she adored because of the teacher – Professor Sentenelus Suthern. He was a peculiar man in his middle thirties. She knew that because her aunt Leonora used to go to school with him and they were close friends. Aunt Leonora was 35, which made the calculation very easy. The professor was not very approachable and was often hostile, yet Lily loved his occasional sarcasm and never got offended. It was a pity she did not do better in his subject for she would really love to shine in class and become his favorite and favoured student. "Dreams." she thought in despair. Instead, she was good at Physics where the teacher, although great, was a lady, oldish at that. On Friday night, after dinner, Lily went to the library again and checked her list for school. It was amazing! She had all homework assignments fulfilled and ready for next week. The feeling was so nice - no worries for the weekend, no apprehension as to work left unfinished.

So, Lily Lemonpie was prepared to vote for her new captain on the next day. She had not spoken to her friends for a whole week, but through Veronica and she had avoided Padrina very carefully. As Padrina was always in Buster's company, Lily avoided him, too. Buster's exclamation "YOU ARE!" still rang in her memory, and she did not know what to make of it. Veronica had told her to sweep it out of her mind as part of the bad influence the Suns couple was putting onto the girls. Yet, Lily found herself wanting to know more and uneasy that she could not talk to Buster, or rather must not. Even like that, Lily's first thought was the captain's position. She had been dreaming of it ever since she knew the sweetness of victory. The previous year their team had become a champion on a regional level, defeating all schools they played with. The George Reader's team did not, of course, win all the games, but finally they were the champions. And then Lily saw the amazing rapture and exaltation when each of the players raised the Cup one by one. Their captain, Carl Jenkins had helped the team a lot. He was an excellent strategist and knew how to motivate the players. He was the most loved person in the entire universe. Lily was secretly in love with him. She knew he was leaving and a hope arose in her, that she might be the next captain. She was not sure if she had what it took. Maybe she did. Why would she want it so much?

And Saturday came, of course, and the whole school was buzzing at breakfast with the gossip of who was going to get elected. All the Suns supported their boy, Buster. Padrina was his staunch champion and even at the last breakfast she had not tired to applaud, repeat, remind and insist that each and every one of the football team was to cast their vote for Buster. He was humbler than usual and looked almost shy. Lily looked at him and caught his look. She sharply turned around just to see Germina's sullen look from another table over in the Stars sector. Although the girls had not talked to each other, they had to see one another at the meals, and some of them even had to sit together. Germina had not looked good for the whole week. Maybe she was suffering because of Erin's brother, or because of Erin's words, or lack of such. Erin herself did not look much better. She had received a letter from home, but could not show it as yet. Lily felt the tension build up and wondered how they had managed to endure this unnatural behaviour for so many days, as it seemed to her, and found it so hard to stand now. Obviously, the fact that only a little time remained before the end of this, made it more difficult now. She saw Violet and Simona, seated next to each other, trying to look different sides, just to withhold talking to each other. Erin and Simona were not going to vote, as they were not part of the team, yet Veronica had warned them all against communication. Meanwhile, she had found out that the spell cast on them was not especially powerful, or skillfully-made, yet recommended they protect themselves as before.

Of the team of twelve players, only seven positions were taken, as the other five were to be tried-out-for in the afternoon. Phillip Sommerville from Flowers, Germina and Veronica from Starts, Violet and Lily from Moons and Padrina and Buster from Suns – those were the voters. Lily trembled as they approached the changing rooms of the stadium where the vote was to take place. Professor Baramova was already there, and so were the Professors Jubesc who was present at all events related to rules and regulations, Bravery who was the class-supervisor for the second year, as there were many representatives, and Suthern who was the class-supervisor for the third years. The Headmaster, Professor Jennings was to appear at the reading of the votes.

They had prepared a bowl and ballots. Each of the seven players went up to a table, took an empty ballot and wrote a name on it. The students used the invisible ink prepared by Professor Suthern which had the additional characteristic that it smelled divine. The younger students were first, and so Phillip, Germina, Violet and Lily dropped their ballots in the bowl and stepped back to the bench to wait for the rest. Veronica, Padrina and Buster did the same and Buster came up and sat next to Lily. Because the bench turned out to be somewhat short to hold all seven, Buster had to press himself tightly between Padrina and Lily. Padrina puffed in irritation, but that was not the time to object.

A minute later Professor Jennings came and the ballots were taken out of the bowl and opened. Then the ink appeared and all styles of handwriting appeared identical. Professor Jubesc started counting aloud. " Lily Lemonpie - one time, Germina Hermione - one time, Padrina Perkins - one time, Lily Lemonpie - two times, Lily Lemonpie – three times, Lily Lemonpie – four times, Lily Lemonpie – five times. By a majority of five to two, your new captain is Lily Lemonpie."

Buster put his arms around her in a tight hug. He raised her from the bench, so that all could hug Lily. "I believe we did the right choice." he said looking at the teachers. Professor Baramova smiled and said, "I hope you did." All teachers came to greet Lily, wished the whole team wisdom at choosing their new players and tenacity for the coming season. Then they left. The seven students remained by themselves in the changing room. Lily's friends' joy was coming through the mist of the spell that was dispelling already. Veronica turned to Padrina and said, "You know, Padrina, I may decide to tell the Headmaster what you did to them, it is not too late."

Padrina went pale, but kept her indifferent tone, "I don't know what you are alluding to. I did nothing to nobody." Then she looked at Buster with derision and said, "Well, Buster, your brother will be happy to hear the news."

Buster flushed and hurriedly said, "Yeah, about what? That my best friend did not vote for me on this? Who voted for you, Padrina? I thought you were going to support me." Padrina phewed him away, formally approached Lily and shook her hand, "Lemonpie, you know a captain is not elected forever. Be sure you make a good one."

Buster did not calm down, "Oh, yeah? Is that so? Were YOU the better option? You can't even stay in the same room with us, how would you 'captain' us? Please, Padrina, calm yourself and be reasonable."

Padrina reddened with anger. She looked around and, finding no support in the others, softened. Lily stepped in, "Padrina, I'm sorry if you do not approve of me as a captain. I promise you that I will do my best to be the captain you all deserve. You may rely on me to serve your best interest. We are a team, and the champions at that. Let us not waste what we achieved under Carl." Lily turned to Buster and said with a mellow voice, "And, Buster, thanks a lot. I really appreciate it that you voted for me."

Padrina apologized and they started discussing the try-outs that were going to take place in the afternoon. Having decided on the routine, they all went to lunch.

In the school building, Erin and Simona were waiting. They were standing near the entrance door, on the outside, not talking. When they saw the football team appear, they exchanged uncertain looks and ran towards their friends. The spell no longer worked, yet the girls had got so used to avoiding one another, that they felt awkward at the necessity to speak up and even touch the other. For a few moments, it was really ridiculous, especially as Erin and Simona did not actually know who was the new captain. Seeing them, Padrina lost temper again and stormed past into the entrance hall.

"So?" started Simona, "Who's the new captain?"

"She is," said Buster shaking his head in Lily's direction. At that movement Lily frowned, but she was so delighted that just decided to let go. "Yes, I am," she said smiling and opening her arms to hold Erin and Simona. In the turmoil of girls hugging and kissing one another, Buster and Phillip took their goodbye and followed Padrina inside. She had not gone far, but had been waiting in the hall, just because she was unsure what to do next. Just as the boys disappeared inside, Lily tore herself from Erin and shouted, "Hey, Buster, wait." Her tone was that of a captain. Everybody could hear that. She felt ashamed, but seeing the adoration she evoked, decided to live up to her rank. "Buster," she repeated in a milder tone, smiling, "is Padrina to be seen anywhere around? I would like to discuss the celebration tonight, so will you tell her what we have decided?"

"Yeah, I'm here," mumbled Padrina and she came out in the sun together with the two boys. "I say we do it in the dining room. I may speak to Professor Baramova for the arrangement. We can take some delis from the kitchen, some drinks. I don't know, would we like anything else?"

"The dining room will be perfect. Please, do so – if you can, arrange it with the professor. Shall we say eight o'clock? And we will invite the new players, too. Can anybody think of anything else?" asked Lily.

"Yeah, I want to have dances, too." said Buster to everybody's surprise.

"We didn't have dances last year at the team inauguration," reminded Violet.

"Yeah, but I have heard that dances are typical of that." added Germina.

"Really?" gaped Lily. She looked towards the three third-years – Veronica, Buster and Padrina for confirmation. "Is that so? Has it been like that?"

Padrina said, "I don't know. I was not admitted in the team the first year."

Veronica and Buster agreed that in their first year, when they had made it into the football team, there had been dances at the so-called inauguration party. "Party" was rather an overstatement, since the event held just the twelve. That was a bit annoying for all friends of the players who were outside the team. However, that was a tradition that could not be changed. Oddly enough, the footballers' friends were never annoyed by not having to play a match, they only seemed to get irritated when their "friendly" access to parties was denied. That is a curious side of human nature, for sure.

Lily looked at Simona and Erin. She said, "Girls, you know."

"Yeah, we do. It's OK. It's your opening day. We'll be waiting for you at the dormitory to hear all about it."

"OK, then," said Veronica. "Let's go to lunch. I'm starving, I don't know about you."

With everybody agreeing and saying something to the same effect, the group entered the school building for the last time this noon and set their course directly towards the dining room.

There, a whole crowd was waiting in silence to hear the news. Padrina, Buster and Veronica, as the senior players came in first and announced solemnly, "Ladies and gentlemen, Lily Lemonpie – our football team new captain!"

There was a storm of applause and whistling, encouraging yells and funny lines. Lily felt elated, she hardly believed it. Not that she had ever suffered any deficiency of other people's attention or adoration, but this time it was very special. This time she had earned it by herself, and she had made it consciously, she had achieved something that she wanted and something that was given to one person only. In the past, she had been the centre of attention as part of a group, or when she had succeeded at something without any effort or purpose. Now she knew. Success, individual success, at that, was sweet and biting, it was exciting and invigorating. For several seconds Lily felt she was walking through a dense sticky fog of dizziness and fairiness. Then it all cleared in front of her and she saw Violet waving to her to come to their usual table. Meanwhile, Lily was hugged, squeezed and kissed by numerous boys and girls. The last kiss was the one which awakened her. She turned sharp to see the kisser and saw a boy with a beautiful white face, red full lips, straight nose and glasses.

"Who are you?" asked Lily.

"Mark. Mark Hopfler." As Lily was still standing in amazement before him, not taking her eyes from him, he added, "I'm in my fourth year. House of Flowers. I sing in the choir." His last words were very hesitant and got drowned in laughter. Suddenly, Lily got enraged. How dared they laugh at that beautiful, beautiful boy? Especially when SHE graced him? She looked around in poorly-hidden anger and slowly, so that everybody would see it, she took Mark's hand in hers, drew him very close to her and kissed him on the cheek. Although Mark had just done the same, he was not as brave as that. In fact, he had dared kiss this amazing and brilliant girl only under the cover of the crowd. Now that he was being publicly kissed, he simply did not know what to do. A friend of Mark's, a fellow choir-boy, pushed him from behind towards Lily. So, Mark closed his eyes and did what his instincts told him to – he put his arms around Lily's waist and held her very tight.

A moment of magic! Until Professor Baramova's shrill voice was heard above the crowd, "Well, well, well. I want to know what love is. Is that so, Hopfler? Is that so?" She reached the couple in less than a second and held Lily back from Mark by her ponytail. "Miss Lemonpie, the school has never been cruel to young people's feelings, yet we are determined to maintain decency."

Students took their seats in silence and astonishment. Not less Lily. She felt intoxicated with that brand new feeling of superiority and potency. As if she was a very famous film star, or an international celebrity and her fans were all around, giving her all she needed. And all that was for granted.

Lily was not even hungry, but Violet coaxed her to eat something, lest she should faint at the field during the try-outs. After lunch, when the students filed out of the dining room in small groups and in couples, all of them casting a loving look towards her and waving their hands in appreciation, Lily started to feel exhausted. Erin and Simona left, along with Veronica and it was only Germina and Violet who remained by Lily's side at the table. She felt as if she could fall asleep right then and there, all smile and pomposity vanished from her and she shrank on the table powerless.

"We still have the try-outs, Lily. Brazen up and let's go. After that we can go take a nap before the inauguration party." And they exited the dining room to go and see the try-outs.

CHAPTER IV – THE NEW PLAYERS

All the "old" players sat in great comfort in the VIP area. The feeling was awesome, they had already passed that hard procedure, the try-outs, and now it was their time to be the judges of the new aspirants. Lily was especially warm and excited, as she had made it to the captain's rank. Violet sat next to her and Buster hurried to take the seat on her other side, despite Padrina's reproaching look.

The try-outs continued for two hours. There were a lot of boys and girls that wanted to make it. The cheerleading squad were having their try-outs in another sector of the field, just opposite of them and there was some audience gathered, too. It was almost like a regular game day.

The football team needed another four people. The plan which they agreed on was to make an attempt at "enlisting" boys and girls, from different Houses, so as to keep the principle of equality. They all had some sheets of paper in front of them and held pens – Lily had told them to write down the names of all aspirants and then put some notes with regard to their performance. At the end, they all would have some type of record which would make it easier to decide. In the morning they had decided on the exercises they wanted to see done. Running with the ball, direct kicks at the goal and goal-keeping, were the typical "football" things the aspirants were supposed to do. The other stuff was to check their overall physical fitness. A quarter of an hour in, the seven active players started to envy the aspiring ones at the field, as the first thing they were supposed to do was run for twenty minutes. That was a warm-up and although the weather had been sunny the whole week, the autumn had already invaded the country and that particular afternoon was chilly. So, as comfortable and snug the seven players in the VIP area were, the students who were running on the track were warmer for sure. For a tiny particle of the second Lily cast a look at the other side of the field where the cheerleaders held their event. Most of the audience was mobile, too and they had shifted there while the footballers were just running. Lily saw Diane Valence, the cheerleaders' captain and could tell that she was chilly, as well. There was only one girl on the field, she was doing some routine with jumps and splits. What stroke Lily was that the girl was wearing a short skirt and short-sleeve top. Perhaps the cheerleaders held their try-out in outfit close to the one used in actual performances. Thinking of it, Lily saw it is rather logical, as "actual" performance often took place in bad weather. She remembered how miserable she felt on her third match, when they played and it was snowing. She just wanted the game to be over, no matter what. That was not a good attitude. Looking at their own part of the field, Lily saw that most guys and girls were wearing track-suits that kept them warm. She made a gesture towards the players on her both sides to come closer.

"Look at the cheerleaders. They have their people wear shorts. Maybe we should make our people do the same." said Lily nodding in the direction of the cheerleaders.

"Yeah!" agreed Padrina to everybody's surpise. "Yeah, it would be much closer to the real conditions during a game."

"Aren't we doing it, simply because we feel cold and they have warmed up?" Violet asked tentatively.

Phillip giggled, "Even if we are, aren't they supposed to get informed better?" He winked, "You know, maybe they do well today and get into the team, but then we play in rain and they get miserable and say, 'Oh no, that's not what I imagined!' What are we to do then?"

"Yeah, it's not only about the play. At least not always. Sometimes a player is OK, just circumstances interfere." said Buster.

"So? Shall we call them here and tell them, or shall I go down there and do it?" asked Lily.

"You go. Otherwise it's too much like a master-slave thing." said Germina. The others nodded in agreement. Only Padrina thought it was OK to do it the other way round. Lily herself preferred to do some walking, in the way of getting warmer. Though walking down some stairs was not enough, she still felt better. When she reached the edge of the field the aspirants knew she was about to tell them something and came closer.

"Well, guys, no offence meant, but my friends over there and I decided to ask you to put off some clothing. Go to change, if you like, or you may do it right here. We want you in T-shirts and shorts. As it is not raining today, you know that is the outfit we play in. Believe me, it will do you good. Should anyone of you feel discomfort, then you know what the feeling of the rainy game is." She looked at the group to see how they were taking the message. To her surprise, they took it very well. Some started undressing right away.

"They feel warm now, so they don't resent it. Let's see what's going to happen." said Lily to the others when she went back to her seat.

Nothing too surprising happened, in fact. Half an hour in, the aspirants finished their general physical exercises and Violet and Phillip went to the field carrying two footballs and divided the students there into groups for the next part. One of the group was supposed to run across the field, towards the enemy's goal and try to protect the ball, and another two or three were to hinder him or her and try to steal the ball. That was a very exciting part. Everybody was supposed to try protecting the ball, so it took a very long time. There were two boys, twin-brothers who showed great skills.

"I bet they play together all the time," exclaimed Buster. "I did with Carl."

"It surely helps. I wish someone to play with." reflected Lily.

"But you have, don't you?" asked Padrina, "Don't you have a sister or something?"

"Ah, yes. But she is too young and I don't think she is much into football." said Lily. "I myself discovered the game just last year, at the try-outs. I should think you would remember that, Padrina." smiled Lily.

"Me? Why should I?" said Padrina in surprise.

"Well, because I overheard you and Buster talk about football and how manly it was, and how fit one should be to play it, so I decided to give it a try. And here I am. I didn't even know the rules before I entered the team." Lily was laughing, "Just imagine that!"

Phillip exclaimed, "You didn't know the rules?"

"Mhm," smiled Lily.

"And look at you now," said Buster quietly in admiration.

Padrina hit him on the back, "Oh, come on, Buster, don't be such a sissy. What's that tone?" Padrina was about to say more, but Lily said, "Let's go back to the field. We might offend our candidates there." So everybody's eyes were on the field once again.

The other exercise was goal-keeping. That proved harder than expected. Lily remembered how difficult it was and what sheer loss she had felt the previous year, when she stood in front of the goal. Looked from the spectator's seat, the goal is not so awe-inspiring. Yet, once you get down to the field and walk near it, you sense as you become smaller and smaller. The space between the two sides is so wide, that you can't cover it with your both arms stretched. And the so-called penalty field is not small at all. Suddenly you feel deep respect to all goal-keepers.

As Lily was looking at the new aspirants go and keep the goal, she could see the awe in their eyes, as each of them approached it. They somehow shrank and showed fear of the ball. Of course the goal-keepers try-outs usually see a lot of scores. Even the best keepers cannot be a hundred percent successful at keeping. It was courage and strategy which Lily and the other were looking for now. And there was a boy who showed both. The boy had blond curls and pink cheeks – not your typical macho. Germina was very excited, "That's Antony. See how good he is. I knew he was good for something besides..." she stopped short. Everybody's eyes were on her, ignoring Antony's brave acts on the field.

"Yeah, go on!" laughed Padrina.

"Isn't he a first-year?" asked Buster with slight derision in his voice.

"He is," stated Germina harshly. "So what? Haven't you been a first-year, either?"

"Yeah, sure. Listen, Germina, I meant no offence." Buster tried to apologize.

"Mmm, still," Padrina took it from where she had left it, "What's with you and Antony down there?"

Violet poured some fresh oil to the fire, "Oh my God! Germina! Isn't that the boy who took your luggage?"

Germina turned red. Lily felt uncomfortable and said, "OK, guys, let's not forget why we are here. I like that boy, Antony. Does anybody know his House?"

"Shall I guess Stars?" Phillip winked at Germina.

She nodded, "Yes, he is in my House."

"Oooh, that's so cute," said Padrina.

"In fact, I would have guessed Flowers," said Buster. "He is so... flowery."

"What exactly do you mean – flowery?" Phillip took an offended stance.

Lily had to come in again, "Guys, nobody means nothing! Please, we all mean to be friends and help each other. Now, let's watch the field. We are missing great things. And don't forget to take notes." They all calmed down and went back to watching. "Well," thought Lily, "this captain thing is not so tough. They seem to listen to me."

They took diligent notes and when the try-outs were over, Lily went down to the aspirants and told them to get dressed, get warm and gather in the dining room in half an hour.

Because the notes were so clean and neat, it was not difficult to choose the four. Unfortunately, they were all boys. And, unfortunately, three of them were from the same House – that of Flowers.

Buster said, "Flowers surely amaze me. I thought girls from Flowers made it to the cheerleading. Never thought boys will invade the football team. But it's OK," he hurried to add, seeing Phillip's look, "I mean, people are different. And that's a good thing." Just to be sure he was correctly understood.

Lily made a nice list of the winners' names and surnames on it:

Goal-keeper: Antony Belamigo, first-year Stars

Defender: Clark Evans, first-year Flowers

Midfielder: Sydney Slammer, first-year Flowers

Forward: Oliver Slammer, first-year Flowers

They all went to Professor Baramova's office where she took a look at the list and then copied it in many copies to be affixed at various points in the school. The most important place, of course, not only according to Lily, was the board in front of the dining room. Anyway, they were convinced all the aspirants would gather there in the time agreed to check their status.

Quiet as expected, everybody appeared in the dining room in half an hour, even earlier. There were twice as many people who remained outside and were only curious to see who the new players will be. Then Lily understood the use of the other copies which Professor Baramova had made.

All the aspirants entered in the dining room and were silent as the grave while they read the list. They were seventeen, and the chosen players were only four, so there were many disappointed boys and girls.

"How come they are all boys," asked sharply a blonde girl.

Lily gaped. She saw this girl as more adequate for the cheerleading squad, but here she was, applying for a position in the football team. Buster laughed out openly, yet Lily hushed him remembering her own lack of experience and knowledge of the previous year. She asked the name of the girl and checked her notes. Now, she fully appreciated the notes. That was something she owed to Carl Jenkins. The girl's name was Alison Strutton and she was from Flowers. Strangely though, that name did not come up in Lily's notes. She felt embarrassed.

"Uhm, just a moment." Lily smiled confidently, although she felt really awkward. She turned towards her friends, and stopped her look at Padrina. "Padrina, will you please be so kind as to come aside?" Padrina brightened up. "Of course, captain. Shall I bring my notes?" "Yes, please." was the kind answer.

Alison Strutton was not in Padrina's notes either.

"Wow! What's wrong? Is it us?" Padrina looked questioningly around.

"I have no idea. And I don't remember seeing her at the try-outs. Please, call Phillip." said Lily. Padrina smiled broadly to Alison and the rest of the aspirants and beckoned to Phillip to come. Phillip walked towards them tentatively, and when he approached them he asked in under-tone, "I had better call the whole team?" Lily reflected a moment, "Yes, do."

And so, the whole team gathered around a table three meters away from the group of aspirants.

"OK, what is it?" said Buster.

"We don't have Miss Strutton on our notes." said Lily before Padrina could say it. "Do you remember seeing her at all? But we took some time out of the field, so we are somewhat embarrassed to admit it."

Everybody dug into their notes.

"She is not on mine, either." was heard from each of them.

They all went back to Alison.

"Miss Strutton, Alison," started Lily gently, "did you come to the try-outs for the football team today?"

"Football?!" exclaimed Alison. "No, of course not."

The entire team sighed in relief. Alison continued, "What's this misunderstanding? I showed up for the cheerleading try-outs, I came to learn the results."

The rest of the aspirants laughed. Lily raised her hand and silenced all. Whoopee, she liked it. No, she loved it. Everybody was quiet and paying attention.

"Please, let's be nice. Today's tension has affected us all. Imagine Alison's embarrassment and our embarrassment, too!"

Then she turned to Alison and said, "Unfortunately, I don't know where the cheerleaders take their results out."

Alison was furious. "What?! You don't know? What is this theatre? Have all of you gathered here to laugh at me?"

Now was the time for Lily to demonstrate leadership talents. She did so magnificently, "Alison, that is not the case at all. Come with me, and I shall accompany you to find Diane Valence and see the results of your try-outs." Lily turned to her team-mates and said, "Phillip, Padrina, you will manage this meeting, I believe?"

Lily started towards the door waving Alison to follow her. Suddenly, seeing Lily's sincere readiness, Alison hesitated. "Uhm, wait... uhm. I..." she stuttered, "I will find them myself. Don't leave your team now. I can see it's important." She moved in the direction of the door and before going out, she turned to the students inside and said, "I'm sorry. Have a nice day and success!" and she left while everybody were murmuring higher or lower "byes" and "good-luck-to-yous".

"So," said Lily with great self-confidence, "did you all have the chance to check your status yet?"

As it turned out, some did. Others did not. It took about five minutes until all were clear as of their results. Some were very disappointed, some kept cool faces, but Lily could see their bitterness.

She started again, "Now that you know, we would like to tell you something. First of all, thank you all for coming to the try-outs: we are very happy so many students love football and prefer it as their sport. Second of all," and here Lily had to insert a small lie out of courtesy, "it was extremely hard for us to select our four people as you were all so gifted." Here, Lily groped for words, as her inspiration of flattery got dry.

"But...?" a boy interjected raising his brows and widening his eyes. Other took it from him and in a minute dissent and disrespect were all over the room, flooding all Lily had achieved so far. She, however, was too young in the feeling of ecstasy from being adored to give up her status so soon. She was still curious to discover new ways of managing awkward situations and that was a perfect case for that. The boy was familiar to Lily, his name was Arthur Coil and he was second-year as her, only he was in the House of Stars. Arthur was a peculiar boy. Last year she knew him to be part of the theatre group, where Phillip Sommerville also took part. Lily remembered Arthur was very powerful as an actor, at least she was overwhelmed by his performance in the school play at the end of the year. Right now, she could not remember the play's title, but he was amazing. He had beautiful dark face, green eyes and dark-blond hair. Tall and slim, but unfortunately no gift for football. Lily almost expected his participation at the try-outs was a mere role for the theatre this year, she never took him for serious. And here he was, questioning Lily's authority, trying to pull a joke on her words and her efforts to be polite and efficient.

Lily smiles sweetly and added, "But... we only needed four players and we made sure we pick the exact four ones. Antony was amazing at the goal. Sydney and Oliver stunned us. It could be the fact that twin-brothers often have time to practice together, but that's just better. We don't consider that cheating, if you are curious." Lily felt she was getting malicious, but obviously peaceful talks were not always the best option. She noticed that Arthur Coil "coiled" in his place and turned pale.

"We are doing our best for equality of representation, as we would like to have all Houses and the two sexes equally represented in the team, yet..." she paused and looked at Arthur in defiance. He did not dare say anything more, and even avoided Lily's gaze. "Yet, our main priority is the team, as we play to win. So, the results are indomitable and unchangeable. Please, accept it this year. You may all take part in the try-outs next year as well, this is not eliminatory. Sure, I hope none of you is fourth-year." She looked around for raised hands. No one was in their fourth year. That was lucky. Lily would not want to frustrate a fourth-year student out of their last chance to get into the school's football team for their final year. Of course, she had hoped that by their last year, all students would have it clear in their minds where their abilities and strengths really lay, and would not make awkward appearances at inadequate try-outs. But then, you never know.

"Well, any questions are welcome." she said, smiling broadly as if she welcomed all questions, while at the same time she was praying none would ask anything. Lily must have been on extremely good terms with whoever she had been praying to, as no one asked anything. The students who were not elected for the team just thanked and left. Arthur Coil seemed ashamed. Lily felt stupid about that. She wanted to go after him, stop him and somehow clear it up with him. But then, what about her authority? Had she done that, anybody would be able to come and try to extort her. A soft heart is regularly used by one's enemies, as much as it does one credit. So, Lily Lemonpie, the new Captain of George Reader's High football team, entered into her dominion and started the initiation ceremony for the new players.

CHAPTER V – BUSTER JENKINS

Time flew as it usually does in narratives, but for Lily it was tedious because it carried the taste and duty of homework assignments. Lily participated in several projects already, in subjects where she was not particularly interested, just because she wanted to make sure she performed well and hoped the students who excelled at them would pull her through. One of these projects was in Alchemy with Professor Suthern who was still her favourite and had recently began to thrill Lily in a special way. She felt she was passing beyond childhood with that, but was still not sure how to behave. Meanwhile, her only consolation were the team practices every Monday and Wednesday before dinner. Lily did not appear in any other clubs just to have enough energy for her sport. Most students featured in at least two clubs and some of the footballers were either in the theatre, or in Poetry, Art or something. Lily had not even taken the effort to find out what clubs there were, lest she might decide something that would interfere with her training.

Once, at a practice, she mentioned the mineral bathroom where only the swimmers were allowed.

"How come we are the ones who sweat the most and we get just ordinary shower rooms? Why not such luxury as the one for the swimmers?" Lily looked at the others, sincerely expecting explanation. Padrina said, "As far as I have heard, the reason is to soften the blow over the students who don't succeed at the try-out for football and cheerleading. You know, a compensation of some sort. That's what I've heard."

"Mhm, correct, I have heard the same. At least that is what Carl had heard and had told me." confirmed Buster.

"Can't we demand a nicer bathroom for us?" asked Lily.

"From whom?" asked Violet. "Do you think if they had the money, they wouldn't do something?"

"I don't know," dragged his words Phillip Sommerville. "I think we might ask. No harm will come with that. Lily is a new captain, now is her time to put across her demands."

Of course, there were so many conversations of this sort, all before and after practice, that Lily took Buster in her arm and they both went to see the Headmaster about it. Professor Jennings listened to them very carefully, said he would consider it, had them take some sweets and saw them off. Once on the outside, Lily shook the Headmaster's sleepy influence off and was herself again. The Professor had used some spell to make sure there would be no questions and wonderings.

Lily became angry with the Professor. She was outraged. Of course, the first to know about it was Buster. Lily fell into such fury, that a big boy like Buster had difficulties restraining her. He held her tight around the shoulders with both arms and his face got close to hers. Lily felt Buster's breath in her face.

"What are you doing? Get off me! Now!" shouted Lily.

"No! What are YOU doing? Stop it! Now!" hissed Buster. "Do you think our Headmaster was born yesterday? Do you think he doesn't know what's going on?" Lily calmed down and he let her go.

"Then why do they do that?" said Lily, her voice was completely calm now.

"I don't know, I told you. Carl said it was accepted this way. All footballers and cheerleaders are restricted from the mineral bath. Maybe because we go to try-outs, or something. Yeah," added Buster seeing Lily's disbelief, "I don't know. I can't see why. It may have to do with us taking part in contests. Who knows? Maybe the mineral water will harm us in some way."

"That has something to it." reflected Lily. "Did you come to it by yourself?" she asked in all possible sincerity.

Buster got offended. "Lily, why do you despise me so? You used to respect Carl, I know. Maybe even more than that. How come you hate me so much?"

Now Lily was sincerely surprised, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound so rude. What I had in mind was, if you have heard that theory from someone, perhaps. Someone like your brother, or your parents. They also came to this school, right?"

"Only my mother. And no – I haven't heard this 'theory' as you call it from anybody, it just dawned on me right now. Even idiots get ideas, you know." Buster was really hurt.

Lily felt even more awkward. She had never considered him an idiot, exactly, just not a very smart boy. She remembered that last year she was impressed by Buster's physical tenacity, for he was a big and strong boy. Rather automatically, Lily had dismissed his intellect. For a tender and finely-tuned girl like Lily, intellect would be of no use for such a manly boy. Besides, that would be a gross injustice, as he was already bestowed with almost superhuman stamina and power. While on the field, for instance, Buster was unstoppable. If he had the ball, he scored and no one could hinder him, even slow him down. Buster was a machine – fast, enduring and agile. On the other hand, Lily needed to use all kinds of tricks and dodges in order to reach the goal. She and Buster were both in the forward position, along with Carl, and, without Buster knowing it, Lily had been in constant competition with him. In fact, Buster had been her main external stimulus for improvement. Lily smiled unconsciously.

"Why are you smiling, Lily? Is it me?" Buster's question brought her back.

"So," thought Lily, "time to be open." And she said, "No, Buster, it's not you. It is ME, in fact. I was remembering last year and how much power I drew from your power, how much endurance your endurance taught me. I smiled because I thought myself an intelligent girl, my father says I'm a 'finely-tuned' girl, and it took me so long to understand how important and helpful you have been to me all this time."

Buster's face was close to Lily's once again. He said, "So? What shall we do?"

"What shall we do about what?" startled Lily. "Do we have to do anything?"

"Well, yes. You are captain, I voted for you. You remember?"

"Wait! First of all, I never agreed to that deal. Second, only YOU voted for me. What about 'all my friends'?" asked Lily.

"What friends? They are all YOUR friends there – Germina, Violet and Veronica. What 'friends' do I have? I hope you don't count Padrina in?" he said bitterly.

That was unexpected. Buster was so different, Lily wondered if she had known the same boy. She had fallen for his brother, Carl, and just dismissed Buster, and today was an eye-opener.

"I thought Padrina and you were..." she started insecurely.

"No, we aren't." He said curtly.

"But you were." insisted Lily.

"For a short time. Perhaps. I'm not sure." was his insecure answer.

Lily gained confidence. "What do you mean 'you are not sure'? What 'short time'? When? Was it last year, or was it just now, before today's elections? Come, Buster, spit it out." To Lily's surprise, she managed to impress Buster and he was groping for the suitable answers.

"Lily, listen." Buster stood in front of her and put his stretched arm on the wall, so as to hinder her from passing by him. Not that she had any intention of doing so. "When I came to you, I was honest. True, I did not have much to offer. No one would have voted for me, except for Padrina and Phillip maybe. Yet, I wanted you to know. I couldn't think of anything smarter to do. As for Padrina, I believe she was trying to ensnare me in her net before she got the idea that I am not very likely to be the new captain. I don't know what she expected. I don't know, believe me. Nothing happened between us. I felt as if she was using me for some sort of game with I don't know what purpose. I am always with her, because we are at the same House, and we are together in the football team. We used to be close friends last year. But then we were just kids."

"Kids?" Lily interrupted him. "Buster, if you were a kid, believe me, that is not the case with girls. Maybe she was in love with you last year."

"I don't know. Anyway, there was nothing between Padrina and me. And there isn't anything now. So, please, give me a chance."

"Wait," said Lily, "Do you think only the fact that you are free will be enough for me? I don't care if you are free or in a relationship. If I don't like you, how will you make me?" Lily threw Buster a harsh look. In truth, Lily was faking it. She was too confused in her own feelings, but did not want to show it, so she stood by this clever strategy of playing hard-to-get.

In a second Lily knew she had gone too far. Buster's face clouded and his strong body shrank. He stammered, "If... if you don't... then, of course, I can do nothing." He paused to breath and then added, "I simply asked for a chance to spend some time with you and then, perhaps, you will see what I really am. But if you dislike me, as you say, then I am sorry to have disturbed you." He took his arm down and turned his back towards Lily. She hesitated what to do. Should she stop him now, that meant accepting his request. Should she let him go, however, would be in total disregard of her own feelings which, no matter how confused and contradictory they were, still contained a soft spot for Buster.

Lily was very lucky that Buster hesitated, too. Then she saw the reason – Professor Suthern was coming their way and Buster had to stop and greet him. Suthern looked at the two with suspicion and asked, "Lemonpie, Jenkins, is everything all right?"

"Yes, Professor!" said both, Lily smiled and joined Buster in the corridor.

Professor Suthern looked them from top to toe and said, "OK, move on."

"Good night, Professor!" shouted the two overenthusiastically and left nearly running, lest they should have to answer any more of Suthern's questions.

Lily Lemonpie and Buster Jenkins walked side by side for some time, then Lily suddenly caught his arm to stop him and they turned face to face. Buster was very timid and he still looked shrunken. That repelled her. She pushed him in the chest and said, "Buster, be a man!" He opened his eyes wide. In a second he straightened up and blew his chest out. His jaws were tight-set once more and the tiger's look was once again in his eyes.

Surely, a girl is not a child at sixteen, as Lily had noticed some moments earlier. And she was sure now, that a boy is neither a child at seventeen.

CHAPTER VI – A HONEY MOON

Time passed quickly at the school. Very soon the red autumn gave way to a white winter. Football matches were off till spring. The open field where the students went for their Biology classes was desolate and bleak. They would spend more time in class now, writing down dry facts and classifications, instead of outside on the field, or even in the greenhouse, doing practical work. Most plants were either dead or asleep until spring, so what was left was sheer theory. Textbooks and homework assignments were all around. Everybody was in a hectic hurry for the term papers they needed to hand in for most classes. Sports practices were off, too, except by voluntary ones, and Lily and Buster used to go to the football stadium and train at least once a week, when the weather was not particularly harsh. The four matches they had played before mid-December were quite a success and their team's path towards the champions' rank lay clear and open before them. Yet, Lily believed in permanent fitness, so she allowed Buster to talk her into getting to the field in the frosty and bleak afternoons when it was not snowing to practice goal hits, passes and evasive moves with the ball. After such trainings they both longed for the warm mineral bath of the swimmers and resented the trivial shower rooms their changing room disposed of. Yet, even that was a bliss and they were happy as happy can be. Lily could not imagine what more she could want from life. Regular practice had tuned her body and spirit to perfect fitness, her time was perfectly scheduled and she enjoyed the love of the boy she loved.

A Wednesday afternoon, just two weeks before Christmas, after their usual practice in the snow, putting her head in his lap blissfully, Lily told Buster, "I dream of nothing else, but this, here, now."

He said, "Yeah, me neither, but we've got to go to dinner."

She laughed out loud and pinched him, "How can you be so prosaic, when I speak of lofty feelings to you?"

He said in pretended naiveté, "I don't know. I'm starving and I can eat you up with all your lofty wishes and feelings. Do you think they will fill me up?"

They laughed together.

Then, just before Christmas, Buster told Lily, "I don't want to go home. I want to stay here with you." He looked her in the eyes. They had never talked about it before. Normally, students went home for the Christmas holidays, but some of them stayed under certain circumstances. The previous year, for example, Lily remembered Carl and Buster stayed. Their parents had gone away for their holiday and the two brothers spent a magnificent fortnight in the nearly empty school with no restrictions or rules to observe and no lessons to study. This year Violet and Germina were staying. Erin wanted to stay, but she needed to go because of her brother's wedding which was scheduled for the first days of January.

Lily said, "I want to stay, too, Buster. I care about nothing but you. I have forgotten everything that used to be, everything which still is, outside of us two. I want to stay. But I can't. My folks will never accept that. You know, they are all waiting for me to come home for Christmas. My little sister is also waiting. They haven't seen me since September."

"Can't you write to them and explain?" asked Buster.

Lily's heart sank. "Explain?" she thought, how could she explain that in her life there was something more important than them? What words would she use to tell them that she had forgotten about them at all, for that was exactly what had happened? For a couple of months Lily had not thought of her parents other than the people whom she would go back to in some indefinite future and the people who used to send her mail. It was not that she had stopped loving them. It was just that youth would forget everything when love was around. "Explain," she thought again and said aloud, "How can I explain such a thing?"

"You will tell them you love me. If they love you, they will understand and respect your opinion."

"Buster, can you hear yourself? Please, get back to earth. How do you expect my parents to agree to let me stay with a boy whom I claim to love in an empty school with almost no guard? Think of it."

"But we've already..." started Buster not understanding what the big fuss is about them staying together and alone. Lily interrupted him angrily, "Shht!" and she frantically looked around to see if anybody was listening. "Are you crazy? Keep quiet!"

Now, it was his turn to lose patience, "What? Do you think they don't know? Or that they won't guess?"

"I don't care what they might know or guess. We don't speak of such things and certainly we never admit to doing such things. OK?"

"That's hypocrisy." said Buster stubbornly.

"I don't care what it is. Buster, please, understand it – I am a girl. Things are different with girls. Don't make me feel bad because of what we've done. You have to understand! I can't 'explain' them anything."

"What do you plan to do? Never tell them about us?"

"Of course not. I will tell them and will ask them if I may invite you for the spring holidays. You will see, my parents are great." Seeing the obvious distrust in Buster's eyes, Lily said, "They ARE great, apart from THAT."

Buster softened, "Oh, it's a good clarification – 'apart from that'. OK, we both go home for this holiday and we'll see each other next year then. How does that sound to you?"

Lily said, "That sounds funny."

"But I don't see you having fun right now." said Buster.

"No, you are right, I'm too miserable because of that Christmas holiday."

"Hm, to think it is supposed to be the best thing – holidays, family, you can sleep late, play with your sister, your mom will care for you a lot. Does your mom cook well?"

"She is magician in the kitchen. You won't recognize me when I'm back."

"I don't know." Buster laughed. "Last year I recognized you just fine."

Lily stopped. "Last year? You remember me coming back from the holidays?"

"Of course. I remember Freddie, Mike, and Glenn, too. I wanted to kill each of them in turn." Buster breathed out. "But I didn't."

Lily laughed, "Oh, they were only because I was in love with Carl and I wanted him to be jealous."

"I know," Buster laughed, "But instead of that, you got me being jealous. You remember Carl was in love with Gerda."

"Yeah," said Lily, "who was in love with Mike, who was my boy-friend." They both nodded their heads.

Buster said, "Life is funny."

"Oh, that's so true."

That was their last practice before the holidays. Lily never had the chance to say "Bye" to Buster. The next day she received urgent mail to leave for home. She did not even have time to pack her things; the school was to send them later. A car was waiting for her in the front yard after dinner. All the teachers had come outside to see her off. The message said that both her parents and her paternal grandparents were dead. Lily was to go home directly where her aunt Leonora and her uncle Elijah were waiting for her with her sister, Orange.

CHAPTER VII – BLACK CHRISTMAS

Lily did not know where she was. The car was driving too fast, it seemed to her, and yet, all things besides the road appeared motionless. Lily did not see the driver; she did not see anything at all, but the confusion in her soul. She felt as if she was floating amidst some sticky, darkish substance that was trying to suck her out and it hurt, but somehow from a distance. It was almost as if it hurt somebody else. "The human individual is capable of transcendence" came up in her mind, a sentence she had heard in the Philosophy and Ethics class which she had not understood until that day. So, that was transcendence.

Lily wanted to reach home faster. She yearned to see her sister and her aunt and uncle, to hold them tight, to use their bodies to chase that frost from her. Her body was aching from the cold and her teeth were chattering. "Was she naked?" she thought half-unconscious, and that thought woke her up. No, she was fully-dressed. She had not even taken off her coat. And still, it was so cold in that car.

When they finally reached the Lemonpie residence, Lily was afraid to get off. Aunt Leonora came out to meet her. The chauffer opened the door and gave his hand to help Lily out. She took it mechanically and stepped out in the real cold. Then she realized how chilling it was outside and went numb in seconds. The chauffer bid her farewell, got on and drove away. Lily was still standing next to the door. Aunt Leonora was standing next to her, holding her freezing hand and trying to coax her inside the house. In a minute uncle Elijah and a crying Orange were out with them. They simply could not wait inside.

Lily jumped to her sister. Orange was stiffened with weeping and put out her arms as if they were stumps of wood. The two held for a long time, Orange crying, Lily numb with terror. Her yesterday's tribulations as to how to "explain" her parents she loved Buster and wanted to spend Christmas and New Year with him instead of them, were distant and felt unreal. Yet, they filled her with terrifying secret guilt, she was afraid to speak because that guilt might show through her speech. And so, the two sisters held to each other for what seemed like eternity.

"Poor children," murmured uncle Elijah to his wife. Aunt Leonora just shut her eyes and tried to fight back her tears. She was Mr Lemonpie's sister and her grief was triple: she mourned her parents, her brother and sympathized with her nieces.

"Orphans, oh my God!" she managed to sob. "All of us – orphans. With just one stroke of the clock! I can't believe it." Elijah took her in his arms and tried to console her. In reality, Elijah was such a gentle man that it was hard for him not to join the weeping and sobbing, yet he felt that at that moment he was supposed to be the man, so he needed to behave accordingly. He was determined not to let these girls, including his wife, down, so he braced himself up and was the man they expected.

With the toughest possible tone uncle Elijah said, "Lily, Orange, girls, let's go inside. We may talk there, too."

They listened to him and all entered the house of the Lemonpies which brought fresh pain to Lily, who had left this place in summer, all fresh and bright and cheerful, expecting to find this place again in winter, during the warmest and coziest of holidays.

They all went inside where it was warm and cozy, the Christmas tree gleaming in a corner of the living-room, all its lights on, the balls on it glistening. The Lemonpies were of the families who loved live fire and had a real fireplace, although they used it more and more rarely those days. Wood was expensive and attending it was dirty. Besides, cutting wood did not agree with Mrs. Lemonpie's environmental ideas. Mr. Lemonpie would buy some piles of wood at the end of the summer and only burn it on special occasions. For everyday heating they had a thermal pump under their garden soil. Lily and Orange were fascinated with the fire from the fireplace, so their parents still indulged them in that pleasure. They had become rather staunch environmentalists, and even their Christmas tree was not real anymore, although their house was not too far from a large and nice forest full of "Christmas trees". Yet, a couple of years ago, Mrs. and Mr. Lemonpie decided to buy an artificial tree and see how it would go with the girls. It was not the same as the real one. For one, this plastic tree did not smell fresh pine. If it smelled, its odour was plastic or package. Then, its needles did not prick. They were soft and "friendly", as their mother loved to say with a smile. The girls were not overenthusiastic about this new "tree" that was to be the same over and over each year, yet they knew they had to take it, for they knew they could not go on killing a new tree every year. Even though they planted one every year, trees needed a long time to grow and develop into mature trees. The previous year they had decorated the artificial tree at home and on Christmas Eve their father drove them to the forest where they decorated a nice living tree. They put everything on it; it even had a top with a star on it. The only thing they really had to use magic for was lighting the candles on it. Generally, their family used little or no magic and they went about their everyday lives the normal way. In that case, however, Mr. Lemonpie did his daughters' favourite trick – light the candles by blowing at them. Neither of them could do it then. Later, Lily learned it at school and was not so impressed by it anymore, but Orange was still amazed and enchanted to see him do it. That Christmas was perfect. After they had finished the decoration of the forest tree, they stayed around it for a while to enjoy the magnificent view of culture's print on nature. When looked from a close range, this print seemed an influential imprint, one that changed the landscape. But when they gained some distance, they turned back to the gleaming tree simply to find it had turned into a tiny shimmering dot amidst the white vastness of the forest, which, in its turn, was now like a darker speck amidst the white vastness of the area, or of the world. This human print then, why was it so significant? had asked Orange, seeing that what they had done is not even visible at a certain distance, let alone recognized or taken for what it is worth. "Everything we do is significant for the Cosmos," had answered simply their mother and the subject was dropped. Both Orange and Lily knew in their hearts that their parents were right, even though justification of clarification were lacking. Yet, their children's brains yearned to defy and be opposed to, so they kept on nagging and questioning. What Lily remembered when she saw the all-alight and sparkling artificial Christmas tree in its usual living room corner was that their parents had never seemed to be angry with them. All the nagging and questioning in the world did not seem to be able to shake their parents calm and patience. From time to time the girls had done things just trying to get them out of balance. To no success at all. Mrs. and Mr. Lemonpie were personification of love and kindness to their children and they never showed any different way. When Lily remembered that, she started weeping again and the rest followed. The tree was magnificent, the fire was burning in the fireplace, hot tea was steaming on the serving table, their beloved aunt and uncle were there for the holidays, Lily was in love and was really loved, too. Everything seemed perfect. The small discomfort of her and Buster's not spending Christmas together seemed so insignificant, that she did not even plan to bring it up. In fact, Lily had forgotten everything about it. Just as she had deleted from her mind her desire to tell her parents she loved Buster and wanted to spend the holidays with him instead of with them. Psychology calls it displacement.

And so, Lily wept for her mom and her pap, and then for her pap's mom and pap, and it seemed to her she would never feel right again. It looked as if a huge abyss lay open before her and she did not how to go over it, or around it, or just survive it. After some time she got tired of crying. Opening her eyes she saw that Orange was sitting on the couch, taking Lily's favorite place in the middle – the place they always fought over. Normally, Lily would get into a fit of rage to see Orange there. Now, however, she got into another fit of crying. She approached the couch and sat next to Orange. Her sister twitched, but Lily put her arm around Orange's shoulders and hugged her. She said, "No, Orange, stay! Please, don't go! Orange, I'm so sorry." Orange collapsed in Lily's arms in helpless sobs, not capable to say a word.

Uncle Elijah stood in the middle of the living room unsure what to do. His wife, aunt Leonora was also shaking in tears. He decided to take his chances, cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, girls, are you hungry? We have cooked a nice meal." He waited for a minute and when he did not receive an answer, continued, "Listen, I could bring you the dinner in here. We could sit at the coffee table, if you like."

Aunt Leonora said, "Yes darling, thank you. Lily must be starving, cold and tired." She stepped close to the couch and said softly, "Lily, Orange, let's have dinner. Shall we go to the kitchen, or you prefer to stay here?"

Orange was still sobbing slightly and Lily had calmed enough to be able to speak again, "Auntie, I'll come and help. I'd rather we had our dinner in the kitchen. Orange, what do you think?"

Orange looked up, wiped her tears and said, "No, Lily, you'd better go and take a shower, change your clothes, or ... uhm, you know, get comfortable. I have been here all day, I will help aunt lay the table."

"Yes, Lily – you go. Your room is waiting. Your luggage arrived just before you did."

That was another curious thing about their abilities – people used magic to move objects more easily and faster, but it was not acceptable for moving people or animals. People and animals needed to travel the normal way. Lily knew that it was some imperfection in the physical or kinetic laws. Their scientists had not discovered the precise way to transport living beings by disintegration and reintegration yet. Overcoming that obstacle was Lily's ambition.

Right then, Lily started longing for a hot bath and other clothes to take away her edginess and discomfort. She hoped this awkward feeling would go away, once she had changed.

Going into her room was not easy. Seeing her bed, Lily remembered how many times her mother had sat next to her to watch her when Lily was sick. She remembered her father delicate knock at the door when he wanted to talk to her during some of her teenage fits. She saw a knitted wall panel her granny had given her several years ago for Christmas. On it, she had made a beautiful winter scene – deer on the bank of a frozen lake, snow-covered firs around. Lily was fascinated with the picture and it still had its charm.

Being too exhausted and unable to cry anymore, Lily undressed in silence and went to the bathroom. It was at the end of the corridor, past her sister's room. At the bathroom door Lily remembered how often she had banged on it with her fists and had shouted to Orange to "get the damn out of there right on the minute, or else..." And she remembered her utter astonishment when, one time, it was her father that came out in answer to her yells, and not her sister. Now, there was no one in the bathroom to irritate her. Seized by sudden remorse, Lily rushed to the living room, past her shocked uncle and onto Orange who was still sitting in the couch. Leonora came out of the kitchen with a frightened look, "What? What's wrong?" Lily simply wanted to kiss Orange and beg forgiveness for her cruelty. Orange stood up from the couch and holding her arms around Lily's bathrobed body, she escorted her to the bathroom again.

Elijah sighed, "Leo, I hope they will cope with it. I'm so afraid."

Leonora looked at him and nodded in agreement, "Me too."

"But then, it is still very soon. It cannot be any different. I hope." said Elijah and sighed again.

Leonora nodded again and repeated, "Me too. Me too."

They entered the kitchen and took out some plates, the dinner, cutlery and napkins. They laid the table in complete silence without even looking at each other. When they finished, they sat on the two armchairs in front of the fireplace and stared in it, still in silence.

Both of them had lived through a lot, yet such a tragedy was hard to imagine. Leonora lost all her family in just one second. Elijah lost friends in the same terrible second. They both said simultaneously, "Now the..." and stopped, each of them giving the other the chance to finish first. Then Leonora said, "I was going to say that now the girls are all the family I have left." Elijah agreed, "I was thinking the same. They are very important now. We are all the family THEY have left, too." Seeing the tears build up in her eyes, Elijah held his wife close to him and did not let her go until they heard the girls come back.

All sat down to dinner in silence. Elijah felt obliged to break the silence once more and started, "Lily, since you have just come, maybe you have some questions." Lily was not too fast to put her questions. Of course, her uncle was right and her head was swimming with terror and loss. She was at a loss what had happened. How did her parents and her grandparents die all together, just before Christmas? She was at a loss what would happen. Where were their bodies? When was the funeral going to be? And where? Lily was too young to remember funerals, so she did not have any clear idea where people bury their dead? She was at a loss what was she to do at all. Was she going back to school? When? Who was going to pay? Where were Orange and her to live from then on? At that moment, Lily wished Buster would be there with her.

After a long pause, Lily looked at her uncle and asked, "What are you going to tell me?"

"Everything I know," said Elijah.

"Then tell me everything." said Lily, closed her eyes and prepared to listen.

Her parents and grandparents had been getting things ready for the celebration, they had decorated the tree together with Orange, they had welcome Leonora and Elijah the same morning and about noon Mr. Lemonpie said he was going to the station to meet his parents who were to arrive soon. Mrs. Lemonpie said she was going to accompany him. Orange had wanted to go, too, but Leonora had asked her to stay and help her in the kitchen. Orange had resented that at first, but not having seen her aunt and uncle for three months and knowing that there would not be enough space in the car on the way back, she had agreed to stay. As it turned out, it had saved her life. On the way back from the station the Lemonpies' car had an accident on the icy road; it curved off the track and hit a tree. The accident left no survivors. The police officers had brought all the stuff found in the car, which included the presents Lily's grandparents had brought for them. The bodies were badly deformed and were in the hospital. Aunt Leonora had been there for identification. She wept again when she remembered what she saw.

Elijah finished talking. Lily asked about the funeral. It was to take place the day after the next day, they were to be buried in the district graveyard and everything had been arranged in that connection.

"So, are we going to see them? Can't we go to the hospital, too? They are our parents." started Lily.

Her aunt hurried to say, "Lily, nobody is contesting that. You will see them, of course," she made a pause. "After they had been put into suitable condition. You can't imagine what it was. Don't ask for that! You don't need that. Better remember them young and beautiful. You will see them."

"And what about us?" Lily continued. She looked at Orange and then at their aunt and uncle again, "Where are we to live from now on? Who is going to take care of us?"

"We have thought about it. We need to discuss it with you, of course." said uncle Elijah and then added to Leonora, "Sweetheart, you had better explain that."

Leonora started, "What do you prefer, girls? Where do you want to live? Would you rather stay here, or move with us? Of course, if you choose here, we shall have to move in with you, because you are still underage. Well, at least one of us will do that. We can't possibly both quit our jobs. As for you, Lily, you can go back to George Reader's High any time you feel ready. Orange will go to her school, or move to a school in our district. It depends. But you need not worry about your schools, because your education has been paid for. It is only a matter of place to live until you turn 18, and that will decide the school-thing for Orange. So, we hope you are not disappointed with that. I mean, under the circumstances."

Orange jumped from her seat and went to hug her aunt and uncle. "Oh, auntie, uncle Elijah, you are so nice and so considerate. Thank you."

Lily did not know what to say. All of a sudden, she had too much information, even though she had asked for it and had had some vague idea to stand up to her aunt and uncle if they had tried to force any "custody" decision to them. Since that had not happened, Lily was at a loss once again. She was afraid to speak, lest she might say something inappropriate. She simply nodded and stood up to start clearing the table.

CHAPTER VIII – THE FUNERAL

The funeral was very black and very solemn. The girls and the Hollises were all in black, the Christmas tree was switched off, and there were no gifts or decoration around the house. Aunt Leonora and uncle Elijah had done that all by themselves. A lot of people came. All the teachers from George Reader's High, in fact. Both generations of Lemonpies had attended that school, so they were dearly loved there. Professor Crescentius Jennings was a class-mate of Lily's grandmother. Professor Magpie, in Kinetics, was Mrs. Lemonpie's favourite teacher. Mr. Lemonpie was Professor Baramova's favourite student, for he was the star in the football team, and a captain. When he was a student there, Professor Baramova was still a very young teacher. Professor Suthern was a personal friend of Leonora with whom he had been in the same class and even on the same desk. Leonora and Sentenelus Suthern shared not only a desk, but also their passion to Chemistry and Alchemy. Leonora was a great lover of decorations, colourful glues, fluorescent liquids, magic-filled sticks for entertainment of children and all that had to do with odour, colour, flavour and magic.

Everybody was there and everything was ready. The two coffins, deep red glossy mahogany only made the girls sadder. The bodies of their parents and grandparents had been brought in the previous afternoon and they had been put in the living room for the mourners to pay their respects. Professor Suthern had arrived the previous night and had stayed in vigilance with the bodies. Lily, Orange and Leonora took turns during the whole night. Lily and Orange stayed together and their uncle came to keep them company so that they will not feel lonely or get too depressed. When they went to sleep Leonora stayed with Suthern. They talked a lot about old days, and Leonora cried a lot. Suthern knew Mr. Lemonpie very well, as he was once a wooer for Leonora's hand, and of course, her older brother was a significant factor. That wooing did not result in anything serious. They used to be so good friends at school, that Sentenelus felt it natural to project that cooperation and friendship further into a family, yet Leonora was a crazy head who defied all rational explanations, and she did not want to get married, but longed for adventure. After school she left all - family and friends, even the country and went away to sail around the world. Her story with Elijah was also curious. They met when she was still at school and he was another contestant for her attention. Elijah was ready to give up all in his life for her. That was how Professor Suthern knew uncle Elijah as well. Unfortunately for Elijah, as well, Leonora did what she did and their marriage got postponed till fifteen years later.

All the rest arrived early in the morning. Lily and Orange did not have any power after their sleepless night. They drank something Professor Suthern gave them and felt better for some time.

"I told you, he's a real magician. He can concoct anything." said Lily to her sister. Orange's look was blank, even though she nodded.

During the service the surviving family – Orange, Lily and Leonora stood in line to accept condolences and everybody came by to pay some. After the tenth person Lily felt dizzy and indifferent. Aunt Leonora was very kind to everybody. She listened to them carefully and always answered something. Lily felt discomfort and she looked at Orange just to see her standing like a doll, in stupor and pale face, eyes fixed in a dot on the opposite wall. Lily felt numb and turned to tell her aunt that something was wrong with Orange. Leonora looked at Orange with anxiety and made a motion to Suthern who came immediately. He touched Orange by the hand and she did not react. He caught her hand and measured her pulse. Then he disappeared in the kitchen. In a while he came back with a glass half-full of some liquid of no colour. He gave it to Leonora who made Orange drink some of it. At first Orange looked as if she was not going to take it, or as if she did not know what to do. But she obeyed her aunt and opened her mouth to the glass. Then Leonora gave the rest to Lily. Immediately, Lily felt much better. All warmth and muscle vividness came back to her body. She turned to see how it worked on Orange and was glad to see that Orange was once again herself.

The whole thing went off like a dream, like a bad dream. The procession of all the mourners dressed in black, filing along the snow-covered path to the graveyard, the deep red coffins glowing with warmth while holding deadly coldness inside filled the picture with grotesqueness. The most terrible moment which cut in Lily's mind like a chisel was when they closed the blankets over the bodies, closed the coffins and lowered them in the ground. That was a moment she could not believe was real and happening. Lily clung to Orange and both of them squeezed each other and whined like lost puppies. Tears were ebbing like fountains, but neither dared to shut her eyes, for fear they would miss the last sight of the material vision of their parents. Coffins lowered, the gravediggers started piling the soil on top of them. The sound of falling dirt that was to cover their mom and pap forever brought the girls to the edge of hysteria. They trembled and shook, mouths opening and shutting, eyes filled with empty terror, nostril twitching. Uncle Elijah and Professor Suthern had to grab them as, for a second it seemed as if they would fall down.

The rest was just the terrible sequel to an already wicked dream.

After the funeral everybody went back to the Lemonpies house, where aunt Leonora and Professor Magpie had laid a long table with snacks and drinks. That was too awful, to Lily's mind, as she felt it weird to eat and drink as if on some sort of celebration. Professor Magpie noticed her mood and took her aside to sooth her.

"Lily, imagine that all the people left all of a sudden and you remained here alone, as you were the night when you arrived. How would you feel then? All of you would be at a loss what to do, and most likely you will be very depressed. That is the main reason for such sociable events – that the closest family will not get too sad immediately after their loss. Not that this will decrease it; it will simply soften it for a short period while you have to attend your guests." and with this Professor Magpie patted gently Lily's shoulder and left her.

The professor was right, Lily felt. She knew she was irritated because she needed to behave in front of all these people. She could not go to her room and cry as much as she wanted. All the guests were speaking good things about her parents and grandparents, they were so kind to her and her sister, that Lily did not dare to be rude. At the same time, however, she only wanted to get rid of them and be able to mourn her full. She stood in a corner near the kitchen door looking nowhere in particular. Orange was busy serving the guests. For a brief second Lily noticed Orange's eyes. They were full of tears and there were wet streaks down Orange's cheeks. Aunt Leonora was very pale. Professor Suthern took her by the hand and led her to a chair to take a seat. Uncle Elijah noticed that and went to his wife. There, Professor Suthern and he exchanged some words and it seemed to Lily that those words were not friendly as they were the previous night when Suthern had arrived. Lily approached the two men and heard her uncle say with irritation, "Sentenelus, if you could just please stay away from my wife? She had lived through enough hardship to need any more confusion." To which Professor Suthern answered, "I am not the one who brought confusion to her life, in the first place, you know, Elijah." Lily did not understand that very well, but she was a clever girl and knowing that Professor Suthern and aunt Leonora used to be best friends throughout school, it was not very difficult to make the calculation. Then she wondered where would this exchange of words get them. Professor Jennings stood up and came to the two men. Lily came a little closer, but the Headmaster's look of warning made her stop and she decided to help Orange serve the drinks.

Lily entered the kitchen and found Orange standing like a statue in front of the refrigerator. It was open and her hand was on the door. Obviously, she had just opened it, most likely with every intention to take something from inside. The reason she had frozen in that position was unclear.

"Orange, baby-sis," said Lily gently. "How are you doing, lil' kitten?" She came to her sister and caressed her hair. Orange's hair was so smooth and glossy, it felt like satin. Orange snapped out of her stupor and said, "I just remembered how Mom and Dad used to stack things in the fridge. See!" and she pointed to the shelves where jars, packets and cans were neatly arranged. On each there was a note written by their mother's scratchy handwriting. Orange used to laugh at her mother for labeling everything in the fridge. Now, she was afraid to look at those labels, for she saw her mother's reproach there.

"No, it's not a reproach. Mom would never reproach you for that. She knew we loved her." said Lily, herself not believing in that. Yet, she felt she had to soothe Orange, for how could they live otherwise.

In a second, their aunt came into the kitchen to look for the drinks that never came out of the fridge. Apparently, Professor Jennings had managed to appease the two men there. Aunt Leonora said softly, "Girls, let's take the drinks out. What's going on? Are you OK?" she asked when she saw the curious and confused looks of the girls. Lily just turned to her sister for help. Orange was still looking at the notes left by her mother. Leonora traced her look and said, "Oh, your mom's fridge labels! Cute!" She grabbed a couple of bottles on a tray and left in a hurry.

Lily sighed, "Oh my God! I think we are getting a great scandal waiting." Orange widened her eyes, "What? Why? How come?"

"Well, I'm not very sure, but I think something just went on between uncle Elijah and Professor Suthern. They were not on friendly terms, if you understand what I mean."

Orange frowned, "Oh, that! Gee, I hoped it won't emerge right now." she shook her head. Lily's curiosity was aroused. "Do you mean to say that you know what is going on between them?" she asked in a hurry.

"Of course, I do. Auntie and the professor were in love, then uncle came by and took her from the professor. Well, he was not a professor back then. Yet, they pretended everything was OK and you know that Suthern is a frequent guest at aunt and uncle's place. I suppose..." she stopped unsure what she supposed.

"Maybe it's the stress." Lily finished Orange's thought.

"Yeah, that's right." Orange confirmed. "Anyway, let's go. Grab another plate of cookies. I'll take these napkins." And, taking things in their hands, the two sisters went into the living room, their faces fresh and flushed with their new curiosity.

In the living room nothing had changed from the moment Orange had left it. All the guests were around the table, taking bites and sips, speaking kindly of the Lemonpies, frequently sighing in sadness and nodding their heads in bitterness. Uncle Elijah was standing close to the table seeing if anybody needed anything, and aunt Leonora was clearing the empty trays. Orange and Lily walked to the table and left what they carried on it. Professor Jennings stood up from his seat and approached the girls before they could disappear back into the kitchen. He caressed Orange by the head and said, "So, this is the younger Miss Lemonpie." After Orange nodded in affirmation, he continued, "I am expecting you at our school next year, Miss Lemonpie." Then he turned to Lily, "And you, Miss Lemonpie, are free to come back anytime comfortable for you. You have your place with us, as you know very well and I can assure you that everybody back at the school is waiting for you." He turned to go back to his seat and then suddenly remembered something, "Oh, and Miss Lemonpie," adding, because both looked at him, "Lily, I believe Professor Baramova has something to tell you."

He waved to Professor Baramova to come and sat down. The sports teacher approached the girls and taking a curious look at Orange, she said, "Lily, in case you decide to take a longer holidays, let's say until March, you need to appoint a temporary captain for the team. Think of it and let me know before the end of January." Lily's eyes got a sharp look to them and she was ready to get offended. "Wait," spoke Professor Baramova, "I believe you had better rest until March, at least. Take your time and come back in March. Your friends and the teachers will keep you up-to-date with what is going on there. You will not miss much. The Headmaster promised you will be arranged a separate examination session, to match your degree of attendance. Right now, my advice is to stay with your sister and help her out of this. How is she going to live without you? Can you imagine that?"

"Orange," Leonora called her from the other end of the room, "please, join me." Orange left Lily's side and felt angry. She and Lily had lost their beloved parents, their ultimate protectors and here they were – all day attending some strangers, serving them, cajoling them and trying to be nice hostesses, as they were serve maids in their parents' home. No one seemed to take any notice of them, they were part of the "staff" it seemed. She felt like an orphan all too fast. That made her miserable and angry. Halfway to the other end of the room, Orange stopped short and turned sharply towards Lily. Her sister caught her look, apologized to the teacher and came to her.

"What is it, baby-sis?" asked Lily.

Suddenly furious because of that name, instead of complaining to her sister, Orange just hissed wickedly, "I told you to stop calling me that! Go away! I don't want to see you." and she ran outside.

Everybody was silent. Elijah shook his head at Leonora reproachfully and, taking Orange's coat and shawl, ran out after her. Leonora blushed and, blinking in embarrassment, stepped towards the entrance door, not daring to follow. Professor Suthern looked at Leonora with tenderness and made a step towards her, but the Headmaster said, "Sentenelus, sit down, please. The family are mourning. We need to leave them alone in their sadness." The professor stood up and the others followed, "Dear colleagues, I believe it is high time we left. Our school also needs us. Leonora, dear, I can't tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Take care! And take care of the girls. I want Lily back soon and well." With this he winked at Lily and went towards the door to take his coat. All the teachers came by Lily and Leonora to say "bye" and "take care", and taking their coats, they left one by one. The school bus was waiting outside. Lily and her aunt stood at the threshold and waved until the bus was lost from sight. It was already dusk, but it would not get real dark for the snow that glowed around.

Then, there were several more guests left, neighbours who also stood up to go. They left in twos and threes, as they had come and wished the family "all the best, as far as possible." They all lived nearby, so they walked away.

Lily and her aunt entered the house again, thinking where Orange and Elijah might have gone. Suddenly, Lily realised that most probably her sister had wanted to go to the Christmas tree they decorated each winter. She asked Leonora, "Did they decorate the other tree?" Leonora was not sure, but Lily insisted they would go and check. She knew exactly where the tree was and, although the dusk was inhibiting their view, they grabbed torchlights and set out for the forest.

When they entered the forest it grew dark very fast. Their torchlights worked well and made weird bluish shafts amidst the forest mist. Lily felt anxiety creep up her spine, but despite that she shouted, "Orange, uncle Elijah, where are you?" She made a short pause, then turned to another direction, put her palms on the side of her mouth and yelled again, "Are you OK? Where are you? Say something!"

For about ten minutes they walked and shouted from time to time, until they reached the Christmas tree. It was decorated and all alight in beauty and glory. Lily and Leonora stopped there to enjoy the view. Leonora was amazed how magnificent it was. Orange and Elijah, however, were nowhere around. Leonora started calling her husband and her niece as well, but for about quarter of an hour they simply walked and shouted without receiving any answer. The two started to get worried. Lily said, "They left a long time ago. We lost some time in seeing the guests off. We should have found them by now."

"Where could they have gone?" asked Leonora. "Is there anywhere else you used to go with my brother?" Lily was thinking. Then she said, "Not in the winter. I can't think of anything."

They started making widening circles around the Christmas tree and kept on calling Orange and Elijah. Suddenly, maybe half an hour later, it seemed to Lily she could hear Orange's faint voice. "Shht!" She said, "I believe this is Orange. Can you hear it?"

Leonora listened carefully, "Yes, it is her. Which direction does it come from?"

Lily asked, "Shall we split up to cover larger area?"

"No, since we are only two. One must never remain alone." said Leonora.

"OK, let's go in this direction then." and she led.

"Wait," said Leonora, "Sentenelus gave me something which may help now." She took a small flask from her purse and opened it. It contained some kind of cream which she applied on the front glass of their torchlights and they threw not simply shafts of light, but the whole forest in front was alight. It was not daylight, yet it was good enough to create certain comfort for them.

"I wish it could keep us warm, as well." smiled Lily.

"That would be perfect." agreed Leonora. "Well, maybe you will devise one like that."

"Oh, auntie, I've never told you, but, sadly, Alchemy and chemistry is not my favourite subject and I'm not good at it at all."

"Which one then?" asked her aunt.

"Kinetics."

"Oh, really?" exclaimed Leonora. "Just like your mother."

"That's right." said Lily.

By this time Orange appeared from among the trees. She was in great distress and alone.

"Uncle Elijah had an accident," she almost shrieked.

CHAPTER IX – OLD LOVE

"What?!" was the almost hysterical reply of aunt Leonora. She held Orange by the shoulders, helped her to stand stable and looked into her shocked eyes. Orange shrieked again, "Uncle Elijah had an accident. We'd better hurry and get help."

"Where is he?" asked Lily, overshouting her aunt's question, "What happened?"

Afraid not to offend her aunt, Lily said calmly, "Once we go to him, he'll tell us everything."

Orange only managed to stretch her arm and point to the direction from which she had just come. She looked in the darkness of the white Christmas forest and it was already a frightening hole that sucked all good, warm and light. The bright Christmas tree which was at a mere five minutes' walk from them, seemed to no longer exist. The beautiful place where the girls used to go for winter walks with their parents had now turned to a hurting secretive trap that had brought them panic, stress and solitude.

Aunt Leonora held Orange by the hand, lest she would trip in the snowy bushes. Orange did not have a torchlight. Luckily, Elijah had taken her shawl and coat to her, so she was not so cold. He had not brought her any gloves, though and her hand felt like an icy block to Leonora. Her anxiety over Elijah mixed with her motherly feelings for the two young orphans who depended entirely on Elijah and herself. She sighed deeply, "Orange, you are freezing. Let me give you something to warm you." And Leonora opened her bag and took another small flask, similar to the one which contained the glower. She made Orange stick out her tongue and using a pipette, Leonora dropped a single drop of the flask's contents on Orange's tongue. She did the same to Lily and then she took one drop herself. Lily felt comfortable warmth spread all over her body.

"Is it another of Suthern's trick?" asked Lily.

Leonora twitched, "This one I made myself. Of course, Sentenelus helped." With this, Leonora stopped and said, "Girls, please do not mention Professor Suthern's name in front of your uncle. At least, not very often. And definitely, not now. May I rely on you?"

Lily and Orange, already warm and comfortable, feeling more confident in a group, exchanged curious looks. Orange said, "Yes, of course, you may." Lily simply nodded.

The three started walking towards the place where Orange had left her uncle to go and look for help. Soon, they reached the place and saw Elijah leaning against a stone in somewhat unnatural position. Leonora ran to him, "Honey, are you OK? Can you speak? Can you move at all?"

Elijah just murmured, he was conscious but not very adequate. His eyes had a bleak expression, that scared aunt Leonora. She touched his face and his hands. They were icy cold, but his face was burning. He was trying to speak and it was so low, that she had to lean down to his mouth.

"I think I broke my leg," he said pointing to his right leg. It was propped against a fallen tree branch and he did not move it, but with low moans. Leonora said, "You have a fever. Maybe you are hurt. Do you feel any pain in your body, apart from your leg?" Elijah closed his eyes, and breathed heavily. "I don't know. I feel nothing. Only fire in my head."

Leonora stood up and went to the girls. She had become her usual self now – serious and rational. "Girls, we will need help. First, we have to wrap him with a blanket of some sort. He has fever and has a broken leg, so a stretcher is also a good idea, or he won't be able to move."

Lily said, "I can bring the blanket. I just need to remember where I can find one."

Orange said, "I know where. I have one in my room, it's in the armchair in front of the window."

Lily said, "OK. I will need a couple of minutes." And she went several steps away.

Leonora looked at the curiosity in Orange's eyes, "You know that Lily can bring it here without going there, don't you?"

"No, I didn't know that." She looked at her sister concentrating. "Do they learn that at the school?"

"Yes, they do. That is, we do. And you will, too. Yet, Lily is especially talented in this. Your mom's speciality, that was. Professor Magpie loved your mom and she now loves Lily."

In a couple of seconds the blanket was there, and with it, Lily had moved, unawares, a small cushion which was lying over the blanket in Orange's armchair.

"Well, I'm not so refined it this, I guess." giggled Lily, seeing the cushion.

"Not yet, but you will be soon." said Leonora and put the cushion below Elijah's head for additional comfort. Then the three went about the trees to look for a strong and straight branch to tie Elijah's leg to. Lily said, "Oh, why didn't I remember to kinetize a chainsaw or something? We could then make a stretcher, too."

"Girls, now you go back to the house and call for help."

Orange and Lily rushed towards the edge of the forest, not minding the chill which harshly cut across their faces. Orange could not feel her hands as they were icy and numb. Her coat was unbuttoned and the wind had caught her shawl which was streaming past her. Lily was running ahead, but when they reached the Christmas tree she suddenly stopped and looked back at Orange.

"Orange, wait!" she said gasping for breath. "Button up your coat and fix your shawl. It's no good if we get ill, you know. Now, we have a lot to take care of. Aunt can't do it by herself." Seeing that Orange's hands were numb with cold, Lily went up to her and helped. When she wrapped her shawl good around her neck, Orange shivered. Lily could see that her sister's lips were blue.

"Orange, baby-sis, can you say something? Tell me how you are." Lily spoke gently and was beginning to worry. Orange still stood there, numb and cold. For a couple of minutes, Lily considered what was to be done. Then she made up her mind and grasped Orange's head between her two hands. Orange's face was ice-cold, too. Lily put her lips on Orange's lips and stayed kissing her like that for several minutes. She was careful not to open her mouth and wet her sister's face, for that would have been a disaster. Lily hoped that the warmth of her hands over Orange's cheeks and the warmth of her lips will help Orange back to life. For some time Orange did not change. She just stood there expressionless and silent, not moving. Cold fear instilled in Lily. Will she lose them all? Her uncle lay unconscious and hurt in the forest, her aunt was alone with him there, totally unprotected, and her sister was on the verge of turning into an icicle. Not losing the touch, Lily rolled her eyes around, as far as possible, to see if nature was against them, too. Of course, in a December evening in the forest, nature was quite natural, and that meant all was cold, hostile, white with snow, but dusk was getting deeper and colder. Even the Christmas tree glowed in a ghostly and depressed manner. Feeling a shocking lack of breath, Lily let go her sister and she fell to the ground. Gasping, Lily tried to hold Orange up and did not succeed. Orange stumped in the snow and she seemed asleep. Lily knelt down and felt the wet snow getting through her leggings and gloves. In a second, she was wet and cold. For a moment panic gripped at her throat. All around was against her. She could not help Orange, she was to let down her aunt and uncle. Without any help she was alone, so alone and lonely. And her parents were already in the cold earth, she could not imagine how cold they must feel now. She sobbed remembering the last look of her mom and dad, in their coffins, the clapping sound of the lids closing and then the thump-thump-thump of soil being shoveled over them. They could not breath there, the earth was so congested and heavy.

Lily, the new captain of the champion football team of George Reader's High School for the Gifted, was down.

Orange, the younger daughter of the recently deceased Mrs. and Mr. Lemonpie, was deep in her final white sleep.

Deeper in the forest, Mr. Lemonpie's little sister, was trying to keep the life in her husband who had fever, a broken leg and going in and out of consciousness every now and then, the periods of unconsciousness getting longer and longer each time. Leonora Hollis, nee Lemonpie was sad and somber, afraid for her nieces, worried about her husband and mourning over her brother, her parents and her sister-in-law.

"Elijah, honey, how are you, baby? Please, talk to me. Tell me something, anything, whatever. Just speak." her voice turned to sobs. "Oh, we are so alone." She looked up towards the tree-tops and felt overwhelmed.

On the ground, still leaning on the black tree branch, Elijah shuffled and groaned. Leonora rushed towards him, "Honey, how are you?"

He tried to speak but just mumbled something. Yet, he opened his eyes and tried to smile at her. Leonora felt hope coming back. She held her husband tight and whispered, "Baby, don't go scaring me like this. Please, come back and speak."

Elijah was coming back slowly. Leonora propped him to sit up. She took the straight branch and started tying it to his leg. Elijah moaned when he tried to move it.

"Don't move." said Leonora. He whispered something. She leaned closer to hear. "The girls?" he said.

"Oh, I don't know if I didn't make a mistake." said Leonora with a worried tone. "I sent them to the house to call for help, but I'm afraid they are too long. And I forgot to give them my tonic." she fumbled in her bag and took the flask out. Its contents glistened enticingly inside and she already felt warmth, just by holding it.

Elijah was watching her. She caught his look and put the flask back in her bag.

"Why don't you call him?" asked Elijah.

Leonora avoided his look.

"You think I don't know?" Elijah shook his head, "Take out your mirror. Call him." he insisted. "He can help. Who are the girls going to get? The nearest neighbours are too far. They can't drive and the phone was down the whole day. You should have called him right away." Having said so much, Elijah lay down again exhausted.

Leonora hesitated. Then she cleared her throat and said quietly, "I didn't want to tease you. Not now. Not again. You have had enough today." She paused and as Elijah did not say anything, she added, "Maybe it was a good idea. Do you want me to call him?"

Elijah just nodded with his eyes closed.

Leonora stood up, took out a tiny flap-mirror from her purse and opened it. She spoke softly into it, "Sentenelus, come please. We need you. Elijah is hurt, I don't know where the girls are. Please, call help. We are here." and she held the mirror to all sides as if to show somebody on the other side their exact location. Then she waited looking in the mirror. Nothing happened; she could only see her own reflection in the dark.

"Go to find the girls. I will be fine here." said Elijah with a calmer tone. "I feel much better now."

Leonora looked at him with uncertainty and said, "I cannot leave you alone in the forest. You are hurt."

Elijah said, "They are alone and they are our responsibility now. Let me have a drop of your tonic and go." Leonora gave him the flask. She did not know what to think and how to behave. Elijah took a drop and giving her back the flask, he said softly, "Leonora, don't worry. I know. I am not over-suspicious. I love you."

Leonora was still hesitant what to say, "I... just... Well, you know that Sentenelus and I have been best friends since school. There is nothing else, nothing to worry about. I guess I didn't tell you about the mirror, because maybe you wouldn't get it as it is. I don't know. Perhaps that was very stupid of me. You... Will you forgive me?"

"Forgive you? Baby, what are you talking about? I know there is nothing to worry about. I have known about the mirror and all the small flasks you get from him all along, and have never said anything, because I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." He reached out his hand and caressed her cheek. "Now, go and find the girls. I have the feeling they are not OK."

Leonora stood up and started towards the Christmas tree. Her torchlight made her path easy and she was still warm and excited, so she reached the clearing very soon and saw her nieces. She rushed to them and found they were breathing very slightly. Orange was in far worse condition. She was stiff and blue, while Lily's cheeks still had some redness in them. Leonora knelt by the girls and took Orange's hands in hers. They were like stumps. She had not taken her gloves and her fingers were stiff and icy. Leonora took some snow and rubbed it over Orange's fingers. She did it for some time, and then she took off her gloves and put them on the girl's hand. After that she turned to Lily, afraid that she might lose her. There were two of them and Leonora was alone. She took out her mirror again and opened it. It glowed and she saw Sentenelus in it. He was looking for her, "Ah, Leonora, there you are. We are on the way, don't worry. Professor Jennings arranged for medical team to come. I am travelling fast. Stay put and keep them warm. See you." and he disappeared from the mirror. Leonora was startled to see her own pale face staring back from the smooth surface.

Leonora pushed Lily gently and tried to make her sit up. Lily moved slightly and opened her eyes. "I want five minutes more." she mumbled and went back to her slumber. Leonora pushed her harder, "Lily, sweety, you need to get up. No time. Orange is not well. Stand up and help me carry her."

Lily opened her eyes again, this time tried to look around, could not fixate on her aunt's face very well, yet she made an honest attempt to sit up. She failed and went back to sleep.

"No, you don't do that now." yelled Leonora and slapped Lily's cheek slightly. As Lily did not show any signs of waking, Leonora whispered, "Forgive me, Lily." and slapped her harder. Lily opened her eyes sharply and Leonora pulled her both arms and helped her sit up. Lily's look fell on Orange, lying prostrate on the ground already blue and not breathing. Her dull look cleared and fear showed on her face. "Orange! Baby-sis!" Lily made a heroic attempt to stand up, but her legs and feet did not succumb. Leonora helped and propped her to kneel beside Orange.

In a couple of minutes, Lily was back from her deadly sleep, but Orange seemed beyond return. Leonora and Lily took snow and started rubbing Orange's hands and face. They pushed her, poked her in the ribs, rubbed her ear lobes, pinched her cheeks, and slapped her. All was in vain. Orange did not move, redness did not come back to her cheeks.

Lily looked at her aunt helplessly. Leonora had nowhere to look. Now she was the oldest of all. Even Elijah was younger than her and he depended on her skills now.

"I hope Sentenelus comes faster," she murmured.

"Sentenelus? Professor Suthern is coming?" Lily asked in surprise, still rubbing snow over Orange and pushing her to sit up. "Professor Suthern? Does uncle know?"

"Lily, your uncle asked me to call him. Professor Suthern has a lot of influence and means to assist us. Let's hope he is coming soon."

Lily said, "I'd better bring a blanket or two over here. What is going to happen to Orange?"

Leonora said, "Bring a blanket. I hope against hopes she will survive and be in one piece."

"Do you mean that it may be otherwise?" asked Lily terrified.

"Don't waste time and bring that blanket." said Leonora and, kneeling down besides Orange, forced a drop of her tonic between her clenched teeth.

Lily stepped aside and focused on the blanket she knew had to be somewhere in her parents' bedroom. Her mom used to have one on a chair just to the left of the wardrobe. Hoping that it was still there in spite of her mom's lack, Lily wished the blanket over there, with Orange. To see it come made Lily hurt as she realized that objects outlive us. She also realized she had half hoped the blanket would have disappeared after her mom's disappearance, out of loyalty, or something. Of course, then the question of where to find another blanket would be standing with urgency. Emotionally, Lily was devastated, but her rational side triumphed. She was getting better at that.

Some minutes later, Professor Suthern arrived on a snow jet and with him were a group of men on other jets with two stretchers ready. Leonora rushed towards Professor Suthern who hugged her warmly.

"Where are the girls?" he asked hurriedly. The men with the stretcher had already seen Orange on the ground and a team went up to her. They put her on the stretcher with no further fuss and saying something to Suthern, left on their jet. Lily was confused. Were they not supposed to speak to her, too? Or, at least to her aunt?

She approached her aunt and her teacher with the blanket which was useless now.

"Hello, Professor Suthern. Thank you for coming." said Lily politely. Leonora said, "Sentenelus, Elijah is still in the forest. Shall I take the boys to him, and you may accompany Lily to the house."

Suthern nodded and pressed her hand. Leonora threw him a hurried and shy look and whispered, "Thank you, Sentenelus. I must tell you that Elijah wanted me to call you. I was not going to." She looked down. Professor Suthern blushed and said, "Leonora, you know you can always rely on me. Send my regards to Elijah. Wish him a fast recovery."

Leonora was already leading the men with the other stretcher to the place where Elijah was waiting. She turned to Suthern and waved him goodbye, smiling. "See you, Sentenelus. And thanks a lot."

Lily was alone with her favourite teacher and the blanket. Professor Suthern looked at her for the first time, saw the blanket in her hands and asked, "Miss Lemonpie, what with this blanket? Would you like me to carry it for you?"

Since Lily was silent, he asked, "Are you OK? Can you walk? I will help you, if you don't mind. Come, lean on my arm." And he offered Lily his arm. She was still baffled and embarrassed. Slowly, Lily took the outstretched arm and gradually she leaned on Suthern with all her weight. She was trembling. "So good it's freezing. He'll never know. He must never know." was thinking Lily fervently. She threw a furtive look at Suthern's face and met his gaze. She shivered even more.

"You must be freezing. How long have you been out here?" he asked calmly, not taking his eyes off Lily's face.

She said, "Well, aunt and I came out right after we saw off the other guests, who left immediately after you. And you saw for yourself when Orange and uncle left."

"Ah, yes, I did. It is a very long time. Let's hope that the medics will be able to help your sister." said he matter-of-factly.

Lily was shocked, "What do you mean? Is it possible that they can't?" She pulled Suthern by the arm to a stop. He blinked and corrected his tone, "Oh, of course they will do their best. You should not worry for Orange. She is going to be alright. Let's take care of you now. You are shivering with cold. And your lips are blue."

"Yes, I'm very cold." murmured Lily and thought very hard how he could see her lips were blue. "Take care of me." she repeated in her mind, dreamily. "Oh!" she said unconsciously.

"What? What's wrong?" asked Suthern sharply. Lily could feel he was uncomfortable with the situation, too. "Well, if that is the case..." she thought, and pressed her body harder against Suthern. Thus, they walked and Lily went into reverie. It seemed to her that they walked for hours, while in fact they reached the house in a quarter of an hour. In front of the door, Professor Suthern said, "Miss Lemonpie, if you please, let me go. We have arrived at your front door."

Lily opened her eyes, looked at the teacher, still dreaming, and she smiled to him. Suthern blushed in the light of the front light which lit the entrance.

"But, Professor, surely you cannot leave like that! You must come inside and stay for dinner and warm yourself." As she spoke, she did not let Suthern's arm go. He blinked, swallowed and said, "Of course, I will come in. I have to wait for Mrs. Hollis and hear news of your sister and your uncle."

Lily reached out to open the front door. She felt so much better now, all depression and solitude forgotten. Inside was warm, light, nice and smelled good. From the very entrance Lily could see the bright and beautiful Christmas tree. She felt her blood return to her body and she came back to her usual self.

Lily invited Professor Suthern with a generous gesture and showed him where to hang his coat in case he wanted to. She, herself, did not feel like taking it off yet, for the cold outside had made her crave fire and blaze. She looked at the fireplace - it was dying. Professor Suthern followed her look and said, "Would you like me to rekindle it?" He pointed to the fire.

"Yes, please." said Lily with surprise. "I didn't know you could."

"Your father and grandfather taught me, in fact. I used to be a frequent visitor at their place." said Suthern and smiled.

"Oh yes, I forgot." smiled Lily. "Do you know where the wood is?"

"I think so. This house resembles your grandparents' house very much. Perhaps you have noticed." answered Suthern.

"Sure," said Lily. She did not know what else to say, so she went to the fireplace and sat down on the couch in front of it. Suddenly she felt so weary. Professor Suthern went to the shed to take some wood for the fire. By and by Lily fell asleep.

She dreamed, too. Her dream was really confused. She saw her parents, Buster, uncle Elijah and Professor Suthern. It seemed to her that her aunt Leonora was not there. Buster's presence in Lily's dream was surprising. He spoke something to her father and they laughed. Lily's mother seemed indifferent and just stared outside some window, as if she was waiting for someone or something. It was getting warmer and warmer. Lily felt uncomfortable. Her mother seemed hot and stressed. She still did not speak to anyone in the dream and then all the rest went out of the room. Lily's mom began to weep. Lily wanted to go to her and soothe her. She tried to move and put her arm around her mom's shoulders, but was not able to. Then it became even hotter and Lily started to choke. She could hear the sound of burning wood and smelled it in the air. Then there were soft voices and a touch on her shoulder shocked her back to reality. She opened her eyes to see her aunt leaning over her, smiling warmly. Lily sat up and looked around. Professor Suthern had rekindled the fire, aunt Leonora was back and they were sitting in the two armchairs next to the couch, facing the fire and talking. It was their voices that Lily had heard in her dream. But who was her mother waiting for?

"Where is mom?" Lily asked, somewhat baffled.

Before she could come back to her senses, she was nervous to see a teacher of hers and her aunt sitting snugly in their living room, but no trace of her own family. "And dad? Are they around?"

Then she saw her aunt's worried look. Professor Suthern stood up and went to his coat. He came back carrying a flask. That rang a bell. That small flask, just like the ones her aunt would use in the forest where they had gone after Orange and uncle Elijah, who had left ... the afternoon snack after their parents' funeral. Lily closed her eyes as the idea sank deep. Tears ebbed in her eyes. Her aunt was still looking at her.

"So, it is true, then. There was a funeral. And it was today."

Her aunt nodded.

"Whose funeral was it?"

Suthern and Leonora exchanged worried looks. Leonora said carefully, "Honey, today we buried your parents and your grandparents."

Lily looked in disbelief. Then, the truth she had forgotten slowly came back.

"What about Orange?" Lily asked. Looking at Professor Suthern, she added, "And uncle Elijah?"

Professor Suthern spoke, "Your sister and your uncle are in hospital. They got injured in the forest. Do you remember that they went out earlier in the afternoon? Then, you saw the guests off and went after them? And then you called me and Professor Jennings to help. So, I came with some medical teams, who took your sister and your uncle away." Suthern spoke slowly and carefully. He paused to make sure Lily understood everything.

Obviously, Lily understood it all too well. She stood up and asked, "Where are they now? Can we go and see them?"

Suthern said, "We are supposed to call the hospital later tonight. If they give us green light, we will go and see them."

Lily calmed down somewhat. She looked towards her aunt, sighed and said, "Well, shall we have dinner now, then? I mean 'now'? Professor Suthern, you are staying, right? I must admit that I really fear the possibility that we two remain alone."

Leonora put out her arms and drew Lily to a hug. "Yes, dear. We are having dinner now. Sentenelus, will you help me, please?"

Professor Suthern nodded, but Lily jumped, "Why not me? I can help. Professor Suthern was kind enough to come and help. We can't make him do the chores, as well. Not anymore, anyway," she added smiling remembering that he had already rekindled the fire in their living room, which was quite hard work, in fact. She waved her hand towards the armchair and said, "Please, Professor, sit down."

Professor Suthern smiled and obeyed. Lily joined her aunt in the kitchen, where they had a lot of piled plates and bowls from the afternoon to take care of.

"Duh!" grunted Lily. "All these plates. We'll never finish."

Leonora looked at the plates and said, "Don't worry about those. We'll just push them to this side and go about our dinner. I'll take care of them later."

There was plenty of food in the fridge that just needed to be warmed up. Soon, a pretty nice dinner was ready and served. Professor Suthern opened a bottle of red wine made by uncle Elijah. Uncle Elijah was a wine-lover and wine-maker. Recently, he had improved a lot. For this Christmas the Hollises had brought a whole crate with them. The crate was still where Elijah had put it, next to the fridge.

The three of them sat and had dinner in silence. Lily was allowed to have a glass of wine. She did not like it very much, yet she felt it polite to say that it was magnificent. Professor Suthern smiled and brought her a new glass full of water where he poured a droplet from another flask he took out of his pocket.

"Alcohol-free cocktail to make you feel good." he said. It was really much better than her uncle's red wine. The living room was warm and nice, the fire was burning peacefully and the Christmas tree was still beautiful and solemn. Lily was trying to be polite and not too sad. She was thinking of her mom and dad, of Orange, of her grandparents and uncle Elijah. She felt awkward having dinner at her parents' Christmas-decorated living room with her aunt and her old boyfriend. Well, not quite a boyfriend, but still...

"Aunt, I would like to know if we are going to a hospital to see Orange and uncle Elijah."

Professor Suthern went outside to call the doctors. In a couple of minutes he came back and said, "Leonora, I suppose you are with your car."

Leonora nodded, "I hope you have the neutralizer with you." Professor Suthern took yet another flask and Lily's aunt took a drop of some liquid that was supposed to neutralize the alcohol she had had. In five minutes they were ready to go. The effect of the cocktail Lily had drunk was beginning to wear away and she was getting cold very rapidly. It was a very good thing that the Hollises car had a working air-conditioning, for the night outside was especially chilly. "As it is supposed to be around Christmas." thought Lily to herself.

Leonora took the Hollises' car out of the garage and Professor Suthern and Lily put on their coats and went out to get into in. The moment Lily was outside, she felt great reluctance to go. In the frosty December night, it all came back to her – the terrible experience in the forest earlier that afternoon, the fact that her sister had fallen asleep in the snow never to wake up again, as it seemed at the time. Lily craved the cozy warmth of their living room, and even the comfort of her bed. She realized that since she had arrived, she had hardly had any time to rest. Given the circumstances, that was normal. Yet, she was beginning to feel the exhaustion – both emotional and physical. Lily slumped at the back seat of the car, not capable of any extra thought, motion or emotion. Her mind was blank and she even did not have the power to like it. There was nothing in her head, nothing at all. Buster had told her that guys often felt like that and it was not a mockery at girls when they were in that condition, and certainly, it was neither a lie, nor a posture. Boys, obviously, did not exercise so much in consideration or reflection as was the habit of girls. Of course, Lily had heard that before, but never believed it. She had always thought of it as a convenient excuse. The she heard it from her mom, yet not referring to her dad. He was quite the opposite, in fact. Mr. Lemonpie was great at showing his feelings and emotions, he was approachable and they used to discuss a great deal about emotion, attitudes and feelings, not only in specific situations, but in general, as well. Yet, Mrs. Lemonpie had vouched for the fact that men WERE not very emotional and more particularly - not very keen on showing their emotions, or their soft side, for that matter. Lily had heard it from aunt Leonora occasionally, as well, even though she was not referring to HER husband, either. Finally, Buster had testified totally in agreement with that, and Lily had no good reason to doubt his sincerity. "Oh," she thought, "Buster, my lovely strong boy." Lily regretted everything that had occurred to interfere between them and she blamed black destiny and cruel fate for her misery. She could have been with him now, her parents and grandparents could have been alive and enjoying their dinner and uncle Elijah's red wine, and Orange could have been warm and happy with the holidays and the many people who were there to love her and show it. In a couple of days, Lily would have arrived home and the holidays would have passed as usual.

Or, maybe, she was being too selfish. Lily looked at her aunt who had lost her parents and her brother in one and the same moment, and was afraid she might lose her partner, too. And yet, aunt Leonora was trying to be cheerful and nice, she was careful not to push Lily too hard or offend her. Professor Suthern sat in front, next to aunt Leonora and Lily thought they made a nice couple. As if able to hear that, Professor Suthern turned back towards her and asked, "Or, would you prefer that I sat over there with you?" Oh, Lily would surely have preferred that to anything else. Yet, she was too embarrassed to say as much, and simply mumbled something incomprehensible. To have Professor Suthern sit next to her on a ride of infinite duration, was like a dream come true to Lily. Of course, she could think of other, more mature dreams than that, but they embarrassed her.

Aunt Leonora made a gesture to Suthern to go at the back. He moved and sat next to Lily. Aunt Leonora drove off.

They drove for what seemed ages, before the car really warmed inside and Lily had doubled up with cold, shivering in her coat. Professor Suthern was looking out of the window in the opposite direction. Aunt Leonora did not speak, either. Suddenly disturbed by that silence, Lily said, "Auntie, why don't you turn on the radio? I'm getting tense in this silence." Leonora just nodded and switched the button. The radio was playing soft music. Professor Suthern said, "Ha, Leonora, do you remember that?" Aunt Leonora looked at him in the rearview mirror and smiled, "If I remember that? Oh, Sentenelus, I have never forgotten it. It was marvelous." Lily felt very uncomfortable with that intimate exchange of lines between the two, but did not dare to say anything. Instead of that, professor Suthern spoke, "One winter holiday, just after New Year, we went away from school. This same music played on the bus then. It was a magnificent trip. We went skiing for five days. Can you ski, Lily?" asked Suthern. Lily could. But not very well. Suthern continued, "It is very pleasant, once you manage to keep on your skis most of the time." Leonora laughed, "Which was not the case with me, then."

"But you got much better towards the end," said Suthern lovingly. "Yeah," agreed Leonora, "while you never learnt." Lily looked at him in surprise, "You can't ski, Professor?"

"No, I can't," he admitted.

"What did he enjoy, then?" thought Lily and guessed she knew the answer, but did not say anything aloud. Yet, Professor Suthern, as if anticipating her question, said, "You know, Lily – there are other things to do when on a ski holiday." And because Lily did not seem to know, he went on, "A sleigh, for instance." Lily was shocked. She decided they were intimate enough already, besides she was tired, so she asked him directly, "Professor Suthern, do you read minds? I'm afraid you're reading mine and I feel rather uncomfortable." Suthern turned aside to face her and said sincerely, "No, I can't. I'm sorry if I made you feel bad. I can't do that, I just guessed your question, that's all. In fact, everybody asked the same question after the holidays. When I said I was happy and I'd had the best holidays in my life, they all said, 'How come? You never skied.' As if that mattered at all."

Lily pressed on, "So, what mattered?"

Professor Suthern was not disconcerted, as she had expected. He just shrugged his shoulders, "What happened in the evenings mattered." Lily smiled, glad of his sincerity. She even giggled in a low voice. Suthern was still turned towards her. He said, "Aren't you going to ask about the details?" He obviously enjoyed the conversation. Suddenly, Leonora said, "We should arrive any minute now." Her voice was sharp. Professor Suthern kept his silence. He just looked at Lily and smiled reassuringly. Lily got startled by her aunt's voice and all her worries came back to her. Besides, it was already close to midnight and they were all extremely tired.

CHAPTER X – NEW YEAR DAWN

They reached the hospital so tired that they filled almost indifferent. Lily was worried because of that, but she had no strength to stand up and feel 'up'. She looked for support at her aunt and saw she was disturbed in just the same way. Professor Suthern went off the car and opened the doors for them, gave them a hand and walked them to the entrance.

"I will not come inside. I'll be waiting here." said he.

"Yes, maybe it will be better." said aunt Leonora and pressed his hand with a long look. She let go, then turned towards the hospital entrance and suddenly stopped. "Sentenelus, I..." she paused.

"Don't worry, Leonora. I understand. You don't have to speak. I'll be here."

Lily and Leonora entered the hospital hand in hand and went straight to the reception desk. Of course, no one was there, so they had to go to the office of the doctor on duty. It was too hot inside and Lily was getting dizzy. A nurse popped out from the office, after their insistent knocks.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" she asked, somewhat irritated. Seeing the woman and the girl, she straightened up and cleared her throat, "How can I help you, Mam?"

"We are here to enquire as to the condition of my niece and my husband. They were brought here earlier this evening. Orange Lemonpie and Elijah Hollis." said Leonora very politely, although Lily was sure her aunt was angry with the sloppy nurse.

"Yeah, sure. Just a sec." said the nurse and got lost inside the office once again.

Lily looked around and whispered, "Nightmare! Maybe we could get around by ourselves. Who can stop us? If we had not asked here, they wouldn't have known we've even arrived."

Leonora was becoming more and more annoyed. Her face was red when the nurse came out of the office accompanied by a doctor, with the same sloppy appearance. Obviously, the nurse had woken him up. Mrs. Hollis stepped up to the doctor and before he had a chance to say something, she began, "I will file an official complaint with you. There is nobody at the reception, you come out of your office still sleeping and the staff welcomes me in an untidy manner. I require your names, please." and Leonora actually took out a notebook and a pen. The doctor's expression changed completely. He became polite at once and he started with an apologetic tone, "Dear Madam, I assure you that will be unnecessary. Please, let us not deter you longer. Tell me again the names of your relatives and I will inform you of their condition."

"Here?" Aunt Leonora looked around. "Do you mean here, in the corridor? Aren't you going to look into files or folders?"

The doctor grew red, "Of course, Madam, let's go to the reception desk. The files are over there."

Lily murmured, "So, we could have looked for ourselves." The nurse threw Lily a sharp look, but the doctor did not say anything. He just led the group to the reception desk and started fumbling through the documentation there. Aunt Leonora leaned towards Lily and whispered in her ear, "Fetch Sentenelus."

Lily nodded and went out. Professor Suthern was standing by the car, doing nothing. When he saw Lily he walked towards her and asked, "Is anything the matter?" Lily explained in a few sentences. He pressed his lips in discontent. "We'll see about that. Professor Jennings was very particular about this hospital exactly. I myself preferred a private one. Unfortunately, the management here is too loose. What with the staff's low salaries and the government not giving enough for its maintenance."

"Then why did the Headmaster choose this hospital?" asked Lily.

"Obviously, state-owned hospitals still hold the better doctors." was Suthern's reply.

"Judging by what I saw, this doctor is not among the better ones. And the nurse was downright mean."

When the doctor saw Professor Suthern, his face changed again. This time he lost all colour and said, "Oh, you come from Professor Jennings. But of course."

Meanwhile, he had succeeded in finding the necessary files and he read aloud that Elijah's leg was attended to and he was asleep after some tranquilizers; while Orange was in a state of major hypothermia and was still in total anesthesia. She was in the intensive ward, her life was out of danger, only her fingers had frozen and doctors still did not know whether she will leave the hospital with all ten. Orange had no physical hurts, but her face had suffered from the cold.

"Oh my God," whispered Lily, and then again, "Oh, my God! Oh, my God!"

Leonora was numb. Professor Suthern asked if they could visit her. The doctor said sure, no problem and they went to the intensive ward. Lily was afraid Orange will not come back to herself as she was, and felt helpless. She tried to think whether she was able to do something to help her sister. Professor Suthern was walking by her side and he patted her on the shoulder.

"It was not your fault. You did your best. We all saw Orange leave without even her coat. If it wasn't for you, it could have been far worse."

They reached the intensive ward undisturbed. Orange was alone in a room. When she saw her, Lily gave out a brief shriek. Orange was fast asleep and her arm was connected to tubes and devices which flowed medicine into her veins and controlled her state. Her face looked terrible – it was red and blue, so stiff and deformed that Lily was not sure it was her sister. She stepped close to the bed to look at Orange better and felt sick. Noticing her swaying movement, Professor Suthern offered her a chair to sit on. Her aunt came and hug her, they both sobbed. In a second, both were weeping. Suthern stood there not knowing what to do and how to help. He watched the two helplessly for a while, and then went out of the room. Leonora was the first to come back to her senses. She drew herself apart from Lily and said through her tears, "Lily, don't worry. Her face will heal. That is because of the frost. I hope they will help her back to her old self and appearance. I know it looks shocking, but the hurt is still too fresh."

"How long will she be here?" asked Lily sobbing.

At this moment, Professor Suthern came in and said, "I just called the Headmaster. A doctor will come promptly to enlighten you on all you wish to ask." And sure enough, while he was still speaking, a doctor came accompanied by a nurse, and the two looked fresh and businesslike, quite the opposite of the other doctor-nurse pair they had met at first.

The doctor came up to Lily and said, "Young miss, my name is Doctor Grant. I understand the other young miss over there is your little sister and the only family you have now."

"I am her family as well," said Leonora.

"I understand, Madam, yet I was speaking of what we call 'core' family. You know – parents, children, siblings."

"Oh, I see." said Leonora with a softer tone and stepped back to let the doctor pass.

"So, young Miss Lemonpie," the doctor began again, looking at Orange's file. "We have every reason to believe that Miss Orange Lemonpie will recover fully. At first the condition of her fingers was esteemed as too grave. Now, however, we notice that they thrive just fine and we hope she will keep them all even without any signs of what has been. I see you are shocked by her appearance now, yet I must assure you that will pass, too. She needs care and rest now. And I'm afraid, we'll have to keep her here under surveillance and professional care."

"What professional care?" Lily exclaimed. "Excuse me Doctor Grant, but when we came no one noticed us. The nurse and the doctor downstairs barely knew who we were talking about. There was no one to stop us from coming here, and no real surveillance, in fact."

Doctor Grant said, "I understand your worry. Please, accept my apologies. That will not happen again. You will be allowed to come to visit anytime convenient for you and you will receive updated information on your sister's status twice a day."

Leonora came closer to the doctor. He turned and said, "Mrs. Hollis, now your may go and see your husband. Mr. Hollis is much better than the young lady here. He has only his left leg broken, but is doing very well. I'm afraid he is asleep, because we gave him some medicine. Yet, tomorrow afternoon we plan to check him out. The nurse will take you to his room."

The nurse finished attending to Orange and smiling to Leonora, she led her out of the room. Lily lingered behind. She sat on the chair Suthern had put next to the bed and gazed at Orange. Her face was still awful, in spite of the doctor's words of consolation, and Lily felt discomfort just by looking at that blue mess. She wanted to take Orange's hand in hers, but both hands were tightly bandaged. Lily was afraid she might displace some of the tubes and needles on her sister's arm. The doctor's words still rang in her, Orange WILL recover fully. Or else? Lily tried to stop thinking. Of course, it was easier said, than done. She wanted to empty her mind of everything. She was lost. Lost in her sadness, lost in her solitude, lost in her naked feelings of love and care. Whom did she love? Whom did she care for? Buster's face was so far already, as if he never existed and what happened between them had never been. Still, Lily wanted Buster by her side then, because he was the person she felt closest to her heart.

All of a sudden, Lily realized that she had no contact with Buster. She had not taken his telephone number, or his address. That hurt even more. Looking at the fast drugged sleep of her injured sister, Orange realized one more thing – she was alone. She was alone, but for that tiny creature whose life trembled on the verge and whose wholeness was still under too much doubt. For when she awoke, even if still in one piece, Orange would remember a lot. What would she do, where would that memory lead her? Those were tough questions, and Lily was afraid to think of the possibilities.

Yet, four funerals were enough for that Christmas, Lily thought and stood up.

"Bye, Orange, I will come to see you again tomorrow. Is there anything special which you like me to bring along?" No answer followed, yet Lily went on, "Oh, I know. I will bring you the Christmas gifts you received. Don't worry, we haven't opened any yet." Leaning towards Orange's deformed face, Lily kissed her on the brow.

She left the room without looking back.

Then, she saw Professor Suthern at the end of the corridor. He was waiting for her to take her to her uncle's room. The professor was very serious. "Lily," he said, "your aunt and the doctor are right. You shouldn't worry too much. At least not for Orange. I guarantee she will come out of this hospital the way she was before her accident. You know that I have some talents. I have gels and creams that will heal her face and fingers."

Lily looked at him with gratitude. He continued, "Anyway, this time is very hard for you. They say that time heals, but I'm not so positive about it. It surely heals some things. Other things remain a wound forever. Those wounds time only sores. This is a very grim lesson to learn." Suthern was speaking as if to himself. "And a very fragile age to learn them at. I am so sorry for that, Lily. I don't know if it's any consolation for you, but with age this kind of wounds get easier to endure."

Lily frowned, "How do you mean? Easier? In what way?"

"I don't mean that they get less hard, or less grave, only that a person gets stiffer and tougher. Otherwise, we would not survive to walk through life." Lily seemed to understand.

"Is that how you felt about my aunt? Is that why you manage your pain now?" she asked softly.

"That is how I manage a lot of things in my life." Suthern answered indefinitely. "Lily, you will never forget your parents, or the pain you feel now. And you will never be the same to your sister."

"I am sure of that." Lily said rather energetically. "There is something I wanted to discuss with someone, with an adult person. It concerns my sister and me." She looked at Professor Suthern, not sure if he was the right person to discuss it with, or whether he would agree to listen.

He said, "If it is your mixed attitude and the guilt you feel because sometimes you have not appreciated Orange the way she deserved, don't worry. That is normal. And now you know better."

They were silent for a while. Then Professor Suthern said, "We'd better be going now."

They met Leonora in front of Elijah's room. She was weeping, as it turned out, for joy. Seeing Lily, she hugged her and said, "Oh, he is OK. He is fine. We are taking him home tomorrow. One less to worry about." And she pushed Lily slightly towards the door.

What Lily saw inside, was quite different from the sight in the intensive ward. Elijah Hollis was fast asleep but he radiated calmness, as if his sleep was the sleep of a very tired or sick person towards recharge and recovery. Elijah's sleep had nothing to do with Orange's blue and deformed stupor, neither was he tied to so much equipment as Orange. Here, Lily could take her uncle's hand and gaze at his handsome face for a while. She did so. And his warm hand in hers encouraged her a lot.

"Uncle," she whispered, "I love you. And I can't wait to see you home again." She stayed like that for a while and standing to go, she whispered, "And, thank you for saving Orange."

That night Lily slept without interruption although she thought she could not lid an eye. She even asked Suthern to give her "something" to sleep, but he refused saying that she was so tired and shattered, that he expected her to fall asleep right there talking to him. He left and aunt Leonora saw him off. He took her car and promised to be back in the morning for the hospital visit after breakfast. Lily heard him say that on the outside and shouted to him, "No, professor, come before breakfast. Let's have it together." She listened for an answer, and when there was none, she shouted, "Sorry, and bye."

In the morning Lily woke up refreshed and happy. She seemed not to remember anything from the previous day and she even whistled to herself while she was coming down the stairs. Orange and her had a special tune that followed the rhythm of stepping down stair by stair. That usually irritated their mother, especially when she was yelling them to hurry.

Professor Suthern was already in. Lily could hear him and her aunt talk in the kitchen and she stopped humming her tune to listen. She approached the kitchen door very lightly to have a better hear, but just then they stopped talking. Lily stood like that for several moments, hoping to satisfy her curiosity, but nothing followed, so she looked the other direction. There was the Christmas tree. It looked magnificent that morning. And below it glittered the inviting boxes of presents. "Oh, presents," smiled Lily. She took a step towards the tree. She noticed it did not have its top attached yet. "The top!" she sighed. It was her father's duty to do it, and he usually did at Christmas Eve. "Which was last night," thought Lily.

"Auntie," she yelled towards the kitchen. Out of it, came Professor Suthern with a tray laden with plates and cutlery.

"Oh, good morning, Professor! I'm glad you accepted my invitation." she smiled cunningly.

"How could I not?" said the professor good-humoredly. He came to the coffee table and let the tray on it. "Do you prefer yogurt or milk, Lily?" he asked.

"I'm sure aunt knows we never have milk at home." said Lily.

"Oh, sure she does. Anyway, I let her rest and made the breakfast myself."

"But isn't aunt Leonora there? I thought I heard you two speak." frowned Lily.

"You heard us speak, yes. But we spoke over the intercom. I suppose she is in the guest bedroom. I'm sure she'll be downstairs in a while."

Lily felt a bit uncomfortable with her teacher who had made HER breakfast, while she was never able to do HIS homework assignments well enough.

"I'll go up and check on her." she said suddenly, not sure what to do in the living room.

"OK," said Suthern, "but don't take long, for the toast will get cold."

Walking up the stairs, Lily hummed her tune and put words to it, "It's-so-cree-py-that-I-wo-rry-aun-tie-oh-please-come-down-sta-irs."

She almost run to Leonora's room and rushed inside out of breath for fear. Leonora had just gone out of the bathroom. Her bed looked disturbingly disheveled. Seeing her stressed look towards her bed, aunt Leonora smoothed the bed cover hurriedly over the sheets and asked, "What is it, dear? You look worried."

Lily did not know where to start, so she blurted out, "What's going on here? Why is he downstairs making breakfast as if he is at home? Why is your bed like that? Why are you taking a happy bath now?" She was looking hard at her aunt. Leonora looked at Lily and said, "What are you implying, young lady?"

"You know very well what I am implying, Mrs. Hollis. Do I have to remind you that your husband is in hospital, and this is my parents' house where you are only a guest, and my parents' funeral and your parents' funeral was only yesterday?"

Leonora came up to Lily and held her hand, "Lily, you are greatly mistaken. The bed is in this condition, for I wasn't able to sleep well last night. As for Sentenelus, he came about half an hour ago and went straight to the kitchen." Seeing the disbelief in Lily's eyes, Leonora continued, "I assure you, Lily, I am fully aware where I am, where my husband is and where my brother and parents are. And since when. Don't see ghosts where there aren't any."

Lily calmed down. Her aunt's look was sincere. Maybe it was like that. She was under too much stress.

"OK, I came to tell you that breakfast is ready. And I wanted to ask you about the top."

"What top?" asked Leonora not understanding.

"The top to the Christmas tree. Dad used to attach it at Christmas Eve, which was yesterday. So, may I put it now?"

Leonora smiled, "Lily, you are an exceptional young lady. Just a minute ago you told me it was your parents' house where I was merely a visitor. And now you're asking me if you may put the top on the tree. Of course, you may. I'm here only as long as you need me. I won't force you my company."

"OK," said Lily very embarrassed. In fact, Lily did hear the coming of the professor in the morning and she knew her aunt was not lying to her, yet that vain fury of losing the grip had seized her throat and made her fly at Leonora like that. "I'm sorry. Do you hear, auntie? Please, excuse me."

And they hugged again, and then they cried for a while. After some time they heard Professor Suthern call from downstairs, "Ladies, are you going to honour me with your presence. I'm afraid the breakfast is getting spoiled."

Lily rushed down, wiping her tears off on the way, "Oh, I'm sorry, professor. It's all my fault."

Lily put the top of the Christmas tree and all sat down to breakfast. Professor Suthern had made coffee and Lily thought it would be curious to try it.

"Auntie, is it OK if I have a cup of coffee?" she smiled ingratiatingly.

"But, of course. It's not so strong." answered Leonora.

"Professor, did you put something in it?" asked Lily, taking a sip from a beautiful small white red-spotted cup.

"No, not this time. What you are drinking is real coffee." smiled the professor.

After breakfast they hurried to the hospital and Suthern remained in the house. "To take care of something", as he said. Lily thought the professor simply did not wish to get in the way of uncle Elijah. She was wondering if Suthern would still be there when they returned.

Aunt Leonora did not stop talking all the way to the hospital. She talked mainly about Elijah and their home. At first, Lily was busy thinking about her own worries, so she did not listen very carefully. Soon, though, she could not help it and started paying attention. It was obvious that her aunt was disturbed and anxious. Maybe she realized she might lose Elijah one day, the way she lost her family, and she was afraid of the next day she would have to live without him. Lily asked, "Aunt, is there anything between you and my teacher?" Leonora only looked at her in the rearview mirror and said nothing. Lily said, "I know you still think of me as a child, but I am not a child, and certainly not stupid. Let me put my question another way? Do you want me to keep a secret about anything?"

"No." said Leonora. "There is nothing improper going on. You may tell your uncle anything you saw and heard. He is not stupid either."

"Auntie, I love uncle Elijah. I know YOU are my family, and not him. But still, I love him very much. I can't take it if something goes wrong between you two."

"Lily, let me ask you something. Now that you say you are not a child anymore, if you didn't know Sentenelus and I were friends at school, would you have seen what you think you saw?"

Lily considered it for a while. Her aunt was right. She decorated her relations with Suthern, only because she had heard the rumour. Still, uncle Elijah had got annoyed with Suthern, so there must have been something.

"Well, would you?" insisted aunt Leonora.

"Probably not. But uncle's reaction to Professor Suthern was rather furious by uncle's standards. Why did he overdo it this way?"

"Maybe it was all the recent stress and tension that reacted then. If it wasn't Sentenelus, but Professor Jennings, would you still feel the same?"

"No, I wouldn't." said Lily.

Her aunt was right. Human relationships were so subtle. You never know.

After that, they spent the journey in silence.

Elijah was almost fully recovered. He smiled broadly and hugged his wife and niece warmly. The doctors had provided him with crutches and until noon, when Lily and Leonora arrived, he had mastered them very well. In fact, he told them he had just come back from the intensive ward where he had visited Orange. Lily asked if they were going home directly and he nodded, "My stuff is ready. I only need to sign the papers." Leonora looked around the empty room, "What stuff?" Elijah laughed and poked her in the ribs, "Honey, where is your sense of humour? Of course, I have nothing, don't you remember how you sent me here?" Lily smiled and said, "So, when are we going to see Orange?"

"You go, Lily. We'll join you in a minute." So she left them and they went to the reception desk.

"Orange," whispered Lily entering the room where her sister was still asleep. Her face looked just the same, her hands were still bandaged and all the equipment was still on. There was no change since last night. Lily went cold with fear. The change in her uncle was so striking, while Orange was in the same bleak condition. Looking around, Lily saw a button by which she could call a nurse. She pressed it, for she wanted to enquire about Orange's state. Immediately after she had done that, Lily thought that the grumpy nurse from last night may appear and she regretted it. Another nurse came, though, and Lily sighed in relief. Seeing Lily, the nurse smiled and said, "Do you want me to call the doctor?"

The doctor came in a couple of minutes. Uncle Elijah and aunt Leonora were already there, too. The doctor did not say anything new and Lily's face grew gloomy. On seeing them off, the doctor said, "Young miss, make sure you come to your sister every day, so that she may recover faster." Already at the door, looking after the Hollises, the doctor added, "Oh, and, Mrs. Hollis," to which aunt Leonora turned in surprise. The doctor said, "Mrs. Hollis, will you please remind Professor Jennings and Professor Suthern to visit us, too?"

Lily threw a tense look towards her uncle careful of his reaction. He smiled broadly, "Why is old Sentenelus so needed here, baby?"

"Well, for the medicine, of course." said Leonora. "By the way, Elijah, Sentenelus is waiting at home."

Lily was following the conversation intensely. Yet, it was as if her uncle was a different man. He was different from the man he had been the day before, that was. In fact, her uncle behaved in his usual smooth and easy-going manner. Had it not been for the day before and his weird outbreak, Lily would not have even taken any notice of that. She shook her head briskly, as though trying to shake off the bugs from inside. Elijah was walking close to Lily, holding Leonora by the hand. He pinched Lily's ear and asked, "Little princess, what are you hiding in your beautiful head?"

Lily pressed her eyes tightly shut and laughed, "Oh, I'm afraid I can't tell you, uncle. It has to do with love." She winked and pinched him back.

"Love?!" Elijah exclaimed. "Oh, how I love the sound of that word! So, has that time come already for you, too?" he asked in astonishment.

Lily gaped. That was unexpected. Elijah interpreted that in his own curious way, "Oh, I seem to have found a gold mine for chats. So, tell us everything. Is he from the school? He must be, of course." he started. "Where else may you find a boy? Or?" Elijah waited for Lily's answer.

"Or what? Leave me alone!" protested Lily. "It's not about me."

"Who then?" Elijah looked at his wife. "Do you know what she is talking about?"

"Uhm, I suppose. Not sure, though." said Leonora.

"Well," Elijah continued, "Come on! Somebody enlighten me!" He looked from Leonora to Lily and back. "What are you two hiding? Who is in love? And with whom?"

Leonora raised her eyebrows, "Honestly, I don't know. You lost me here."

Lily giggled, "Oh, to be honest, I got lost, too. Uncle, how do you do this? You confused me totally and I can't even remember what I was thinking about."

They all laughed and Elijah said, "Well, then let's try a new topic. Lily, tell us about yourself. We didn't have time to speak of you. What's going on at school? How's your football career?"

On the way back Elijah sat back with Lily and she told them all that happened at school, with certain modifications or reductions. When she was telling the story of Padrina's spell, her aunt said, "Oh, Padrina, the Perkins' girl! I'm curious to see her. I haven't seen her parents for a while now. Her mother used to be impressive. Always top of the class. Perkins was a loser, though. I think she met him on a holiday in Egypt. He was an archeologist then."

Lily was listening with eyes wide open. "You know Padrina's parents?"

"Oh, yes. Her mother used to study at our school. She is a year older than me. I used to date her brother for a year. That's how I met her."

"Your aunt and her love affairs from school," winked Elijah good-humoredly.

"Uncle, you don't seem worried because of those affairs." suggested Lily carefully.

"You are a little devil, you know that, Lily? All the while you have been dying to ask me something and didn't know how to go about it. OK. Ask me now!" said Elijah smiling warmly to her.

"Who? Me? Ask something? No, uncle, I assure you." Lily put on her most innocent look.

Elijah sighed and said, "OK. Go on then. You were telling us the story. How did you know it was a spell?"

Lily told them in details about Veronica and how she advised them to stay away from one another and from Padrina and Buster. For a moment, Lily wondered how to alter the story so as to skip Buster's detailed description or involvement, but obviously she took too long. She noticed how her uncle looked at her and smiled. As Elijah did not say anything, she tried to continue in a natural voice. Yet, her voice faltered a bit and she hesitated in her story. She paused wondering how to proceed.

"Why don't you tell us of this Buster? He seems like a controversial boy?" asked Elijah. Lily said, "Well, he is big and strong, a great footballer. He is friends with Padrina mostly."

"And what happened then? He doesn't sound like someone who will get involved in a spell-casting. Have you made friends eventually?" Elijah led the conversation masterfully.

"We have." was Lily's somber response.

Before Elijah could say something, Leonora announced, "OK, lover-chats, here we are. Save it for inside. Let's go and have lunch, I'm starving."

"Oh, I hope Sentenelus has put together something eatable," said uncle Elijah. Seeing Lily's uneasiness, he urged, "Ask! Now!"

"And you don't hate him?" said Lily hurriedly, thinking it a good idea to speak briefly, as if in some kind of a coded language, although her question was pretty clear to all within a hearing.

"No, of course not. We are almost best friends. I can even say 'best', yeah, I have no other friends." said uncle Elijah and aunt Leonora looked on smiling.

"But he lost her to you," insisted Lily.

"Oh, you are wrong in that. He and I lost her to her first husband. So, we were both in the same boat, as they say. I figure that was about the time we made good friends." Elijah smiled to Lily and said, "Now, can we go to have lunch or your appetite for gossip is not satisfied yet."

Lily had forgotten all about her aunt's first husband. She was not sure she knew the entire story very well, in fact. You know how sometimes adults consider children unworthy to hear all the cool details of some family affairs and that leads to huge misunderstanding in future. Lily had never met her aunt's first husband, but she had heard there was such a man. She knew nothing of that period of Leonora's life.

They went inside where Professor Suthern, wearing a kitchen apron, was serving the kitchen table and attending something in the oven. Seeing Elijah, he smiled apprehensively. Elijah's lips spread in a broad smile and Suthern smiled back. The two walked towards each other with their arms open and hugged like best friends.

"But yesterday," Lily persisted.

"Yesterday, I was nervous. That's all." said Elijah curtly.

The new year was approaching nearly unnoticed. They all went to see Orange at the hospital every morning and stayed well till after lunch. A week later, on New Year's Day, the dawn broke and Orange was brought out of her slumber so she could already see them. Lily had brought all Christmas presents to Orange's hospital room in spite of the nurses' protests. Professor Suthern had somehow influenced them to grant all Lily's wishes.

No one was in the room when Orange opened her eyes for the first time. The first thing she noticed was a large red balloon, in the shape of a heart that was floating near the ceiling. Then Orange smelt cinnamon and apple. Next thing, she heard Lily's voice and to Orange, after her seemingly age-long sleep of oblivion, it sounded like the jingle of silver bells.

"You are awake!" shrieked the silver-bells-voiced Lily and broke into violent sobs. She started pressing the button to summon some nurse frantically, growing more and more irritated because the thing did not seem to work properly. It somehow sank below Lily's finger and then did not come up correctly. Blind with tears and hysteria and choking with sobs, shrieks and struggling with breath trying to pass in either direction available, while incapable of doing so, Lily stood there fully incapacitated and useless, until the moment uncle Elijah entered the room to see that weird picture. During Lily's outlandish fit, Orange had come to nearly all her senses and was fully able to take in the scope of the situation. Elijah smiled when he saw Orange laugh voicelessly, and her eyes sparkling with happiness. He put what he was carrying in his hands on the... Well, he looked around to see where he may put the cups of tea and coffee he had retrieved from the vending machine at the reception desk, and saw that the bedside table was totally occupied, and the... Looking to the other side, there was nothing there. Elijah was beginning to lose the grip of the moment and his face got red with irritation that it was slipping through his fingers. As, by the way, was about to happen to the sugar packs he was holding exactly between his index and middle fingers. At that moment, Leonora appeared at the door. She was shocked by what she saw. Lily still punching the button, not able to breathe, Elijah looking in total confusion at the sugar packs falling down, and Orange looking from the first to the latter, laughing with a crisp sound and shaking in the bed. A second after that, someone bumped into Leonora and pushed her in the room. The bowl she had borrowed from the hospital canteen to put the biscuits she bought there was filled to the brim and all four people in the room watched it fall to the beige tiles with a shattering sound, as cinnamon and honey biscuits scattered across the entire floor.

The nurse who had pushed aunt Leonora unconsciously in her hurry to enter and answer the hysteric rings of the bell, just said, "Oh, my God. Shall I call the doctor?" Aunt Leonora looked at her without understanding. She answered, a bit offended, "I simply dropped a bowl of biscuits. It's not a big deal."

The nurse was taken back, "I mean, for the patient? I see she is conscious now."

"Oh," muttered aunt Leonora very embarrassed. "Yes, I think you'd better. Thank you."
CHAPTER XI – THE LONG HOLIDAYS

So, with the new year dawn, so to speak, Orange was in her recovery mode. Her blue face was changed back to normal. She took Professor Suthern's medicine regularly and before another week passed, the bandages were off her hands and her fingers were as good as they were before the accident. One morning, when Lily went to visit her alone, she saw Orange up and fully dressed.

"Is it... Are you... Will they..." she stammered.

"It is! We are going home." Orange nodded her head in delight. "At last. I was beginning to think I'd never leave this room." And she held her arms wide and Lily hugged her very careful not to hurt her "baby-sis" in any way. Maybe Orange was still too weak and was not supposed to get strained. Lily looked at the doctor-summoning button with all due respect and considered pressing it. Orange followed her look and laughed, "They fixed it after last time. You can press it again."

"They FIXED it? I knew there was something wrong with it. It obviously wasn't functioning correctly." said Lily.

"Well, they fixed it after you broke it, in fact." Orange said laughing.

"Ha! You don't say!" was Lily's astonished answer.

Orange checked out of the hospital and went home. It was still early in the year, and the school holidays was going on. Professor Suthern had stayed for some time and spent New Year's Eve with the Hollises and Lily and he left just before Orange came back. Aunt Leonora had left the Christmas tree decorated in the living room, so that Orange may have a chance to see it. Even though its charm had passed, Orange enjoyed it very much. Lily had taken all the Christmas present she had received to the hospital room, but Orange never get to look at them. So, they brought everything back, as it was still well-packed in nice boxes and the morning after Orange's return the Hollises and the Lemonpie sisters had a Christmas Day replay of opening the presents. Most present made them cry and the whole process took their day. When Orange looked up from the pile of colourful paper, it was already dark outside. The fire was burning softly and the lights were bright on the tree, twinkling in and out of various modes, to the girls' delight. Professor Suthern had helped aunt Leonora make a special glitter to apply over the walls and the ceiling, which changed colours, too, ranging from soft and subtle to bright and inviting. The aroma it dispelled was also magic, Orange's favourite – cinnamon and apples, varied with Lily's favourite – orange and lemon. Because they were so absorbed in the presents and their memories, they had not switched the lights on and when dusk fell, they remained like that, looking at the fire and the glitters on the walls. Lily could almost hear the rustle of the trees in the forest and could feel the breeze on her face. She remembered the winter forest where they has nearly lost their lives, or at least some fingers. That was not a forest to dream of, Lily thought. Yet, ignoring the icy cold wind that pierced through them with a shrill voice, even that was a magical forest – its trees casting long shadows, as if scratching across clearings covered with snow, where the pale moon was reflected by a myriad of snowflakes, making crispy sound below your boots. "Not my boots," Lily said aloud, impressed by the vividness of the moment. The others looked towards her. Aunt Leonora stood up and said, "Well, I'd better get to preparing the dinner. I totally lost my mind here. Are you hungry?"

Lily and Orange did not answer. In fact, Lily was not especially hungry. After weeping for some time, she felt cozy and comfortable just sitting on the thick rug in front of the fireplace and looking at the flames playing random and wild.

Then, at the end of the winter holidays, Lily and Orange had to decide. Their uncle and aunt needed to go back to work, and the girls were expected back at school. At least, Orange was. Lily filed a request for holidays prolonging and had her permission soon. Because of her hospital stay, Orange had no time to take any steps towards arrangements with her school. On the first day after the holidays, she went to school accompanied by her aunt. For a long time, Orange was not sure what she wanted. She did not feel like leaving home, even for a couple of months, but she was afraid of remaining alone there, too. The night before Lily had said, "Aunt, what if I stay at home? Will it be possible that Orange stays here, too? Or do we need an adult all the time?"

So, when Orange and Leonora stepped inside the elementary school in the neighbourhood, Orange had no clear idea how she could get what she wanted. She explained that to the Headmaster, though, hoping she would be able to advise her. Leonora confirmed that her husband and she would agree with whatever decision the girls make, and not press their custody to the extreme. "The girls are mature enough. We will come regularly, of course. We were thinking something like twice a month for the weekend." The Headmaster was listening and nodding. Finally, she said, "You know, Mrs. Hollis, that the law allows such a thing. We have to have a hearing in front of a judge, of course."

When they left the Headmaster's office almost an hour and a half later, they had an appointment for the hearing and every assurance that the school will take care of Orange, if she decided to stay.

That was how Lily and Orange Lemonpie started the longest and strangest holiday in their lives, looking after themselves alone and making everyday decisions ... basically, every day. By and by Lily grew to like this kind of living. It was all new to her, she had no experience in household work, neither did she know how to cook or do most chores around the house. They were lucky their aunt and uncle visited every two weeks, for there was always something wrong, or just not right with the Lemonpie household. Sometimes, a door knob broke, or a drawer went out of its slide. Lily tried to fix such things either by simple tricks she could remember, or using some tool. Yet, the result was never too lasting. At least, that was the case in the initial couple of weeks. Step by step, screw by nut, Lily improved and when the Hollises came to their regular visit at the end of March, there was nothing to be fixed around the entire house.

The struggle in the kitchen was more epic and took more victims, so to say. Lily tried to try hard, but she knew she was doing only her second best, so when Orange voiced her desire to take that burden away from her, Lily sighed in relief.

Around the end of January Lily was already free of too much house duties and had time to start thinking.

At first, right after the winter holiday, when the Hollises left and Orange started school again, Lily had to clear the whole mess created during that crazy Christmas break. Her uncle helped her put the Christmas tree apart and in its box again, but Lily had to finish all the rest.

While Orange was at school, she stayed home and tried to put the house in order. There were piles of plates and trays to wash, dry and put away to places that Lily did not know. She had forgotten the place of everything in their house. It seemed so long she had not been there, although thinking about it, Lily realized that she spent her whole there and used to help her mom all the time. "All the time?" Lily thought to herself with a wry smile. All the time when she was not emailing Violet or Erin, or the other girls, and all the time when she was not busy playing football with her dad. It was Orange who helped all the time. Orange was familiar with every single thing in the kitchen and the garage; she even knew how to use most items. Anyway, Lily had switched to a new profile. She had accepted the part of an adult who needed to take care of the young orphan. She made sincere attempts to learn how to cook, to keep the house clean and tidy and to do the shopping. To a certain extent that kept her mind off her loss and she did not have to waste energy fighting her confusion and anger. At first, Lily was timid going to the supermarket, for, as she found out, things were not arranged in a familiar way, the place was big and many people rushed besides her, obviously knowing exactly where they were going. She stopped as early as the entrance section. There were shopping carts and shopping baskets. Which should she take? A cart would be uncomfortable to push, but a basket would get heavy. Yet, it was smaller and would make her control the volumes of her purchase. She took a basket and went around the supermarket, section by section, randomly putting various stuff in her basket, not convinced she knew what she was doing. From time to time she could see another shopper looking at her and what she read in their eyes was condescension. It was curious how Lily, so self-confident on the football field, was intimidated by the looks of average customers at a local supermarket. "Yes, exactly," thought Lily. By the look of the elderly lady near her, she realized that she had said it aloud.

"Yes, my dear?" asked the elderly lady. Lily saw the lady was with a cart, although it was not very full.

"Uhm, I'm sorry. I was just thinking aloud. I didn't realize that." said Lily and smiled.

"It seems it is your first time in a supermarket." smiled the lady. Lily was beginning to like her. "Can I help you in any way? Maybe show you where you can find the items on your shopping list?"

"My shopping list?" said Lily. "But of course, that's a great idea." She pursed her lips. "If only I had made one."

"Ah, it's not a big deal. Just think of what you need in terms of aims." seeing the puzzle on Lily's face, she explained, "For instance, are you going to cook dinner, do the laundry, or clean? Then, how many people are having the dinner you are going to cook, and so on."

Lily just blinked. Now, that was some strategy. It needed analytical skills, too. It was almost like making a plan for the football game. Well, almost...

Soon enough, Lily got "tuned in" as she liked to say and shopping was merely a routine for her. She enjoyed this game of grown-up for a long time.

Most days Lily thought of her mom and dad and tried to repeat every single thing they used to do around the house, for fear she might forget them. Forgetting was like losing them in real and forever, remembering was keeping them alive to some degree. She noticed that Orange was doing the same. They had dinner in total silence, because at times Lily could not remember exactly the words her father used to enquire about their day at school. Lily was somewhat embarrassed because of that. She felt secret guilt, as if she was some kind of a traitor. As far as her days at school were concerned, Lily had been away for a complete school year and a half, so it was natural she had lost touch with family dinner rituals. Yet, Lily was intimidated by Orange's sincere look of expectation. Her younger sister looked up to her to replace her parents, to play their part and speak their lines. It looked as if Orange was afraid to step onto a new stage. Lily sensed that Orange's emotional balance depended on preserving the situation as close to the original one as far as possible. Unfortunately, they did not talk much, being already strange to each other. The two sisters realized that all their lives so far they were linked by means of their parents, and it was their parents who acted as props in their everyday existence. Without the mediating role of Mrs. and Mr. Lemonpie the sisters did not even know what to say to each other at dinner.

"It didn't use to be like that." Lily said one evening, looking at Orange over the potato soup. "I remember we used to play a lot as children. How come now we don't know how to speak to each other?"

Orange's eyes widened and she gaped, "Aw, yes, that's right." And her mouth remained ajar.

That annoyed Lily a lot. It seemed her sister had many annoying habits of being too slow and sometimes too thick. "Shut that mouth!" Lily snapped at Orange. "And stop staring like an idiot."

Orange blinked several times rapidly, in total humiliation. Her lips remained parted and tears glistened in her eyes. It was even worse than before. "And she doesn't look any prettier." Lily thought, merciless. Then she felt sick. She got vertigo and her ears started to boo in an intolerable manner. She could sense a grey porous cloud of damp and dirty matter wrap around her brain, right inside her head, and saw a shabby, frayed curtain drop before her eyeballs. She especially felt it in front of her eyeballs and not her face; she felt this damp curtain inside her head, under her skin and bones. It was as if her eyes were the windows to a building and this was their curtain, only it was a poor one and made Lily feel unspeakably week. In a second, she wanted to stand up and tried to make a motion with her hand, in an attempt to protect herself. All Orange saw was Lily's terrified look, followed by emptiness and an indefinite mechanic gesture of her hand, as Lily slumped on the floor.

On the next morning, Lily woke up to nice breakfast in bed and hot coffee, the way Professor Suthern had made it. Orange had requested to stay home to care for her sick sister and had called aunt Leonora to ask about Lily's breakfast tastes. After all, Leonora was the last woman who had had breakfast with Lily. Orange was aware of the abyss that had opened between Lily and herself. She was determined to neutralize it, though.

That weekend Orange and Lily Lemonpie, the two orphan-sisters, who had been estranged without knowing it, found the way back to each other through Lily's sickness and Orange's talent in the kitchen.

"Oh, my God! You are a goddess of cooking!" exclaimed Lily over and over. "How did you let me make all those tortures for you? And you actually ate them?"

"Well, you know, I needed time to study. If I cook, there will be no such time." Orange smiled. "Besides, I think you should learn, too." Lily frowned, "No, thanks."

"It's not that hard, believe me."

"Are aunt and uncle coming this weekend?" asked Lily. "That's according to the schedule, right?"

"It is. Yet, they are not coming."

"Have you told them I'm not OK?" asked Lily in bewilderment.

"I have. That's why they decided against the schedule."

Lily was even more bewildered. "What do you mean?"

"They thought it would be a good chance for us two to sort things out for ourselves." Orange was looking for the proper words. "You know, after mom and dad died, we've always been in company with someone, and never having the house to ourselves and time to enjoy our own company. Well, something in that sense." Orange shrugged her shoulders.

"And what do you think about it?" asked Lily carefully.

"I think," said Orange slowly with a smile, "that it's high time you went back to school." She paused. "And football." and smiled again. Not waiting for Lily's possible answer, Orange stood up and went towards the dressing table. She opened a drawer and took something from there. It was an envelope. It was a letter. It was a normal, paper letter, addressed to Lily Lemonpie, written in handwriting, on a ruled college paper, punched at the side margin, ready to be put in a folder. The handwriting was hardly readable and apparently several pens had been necessary for this letter, for the tint of the blue ink used to shift every page.

"I will leave you alone to read your post. Whenever you are up to it, you may join me in the living room." said Orange, took the tray with the empty plates and left.

When Lily took a closer look at the letter, she saw that it was not only the pens that were changed, but the hand holding them, too. "Oh, my God!" she thought, in disbelief. That letter was written by several of her friends and each had signed at the end of their section. She saw Violet's name at the bottom of the first page, then she spotted Simona's and Erin's. Lily could not wait and looked fervently to see for one particular name. Was it possible? Or, rather, was it probable that HIS name would also appear in the letter? She had already sat up in bed and turned her sheets. It was warm in the room, so she could stay in her pyjamas for a while. By the end of the letter, she started to feel indifferent. Buster's name was not there. Of course, that meant nothing. After all, her friends had gathered together to write her a letter. Perhaps none of them volunteered to go and ask Buster if HE had anything to say to Lily.

Violet's part was somewhat strange. Of course it was. What else could it be? Lily tried to concentrate. What would she have written to a friend of hers whose parent had just died? What? So as not to sound too curious about details as to get offensive and, at the same time, not to sound too indifferent and DO get offensive. "Yeah, what!" she almost yelled to herself. Lily tried to calm down. Yet, Buster had not written. Not a word had he put down.

Sombre and dull, Lily read the letter her friends had put together. They were all asking the same thing – when she was coming back. Simona spoke of synchronized swimming and the Christmas contest which they had won. Erin told her all about lessons. Germina filled half a page of jokes and funny things that happened around the school. Veronica was nice and tender, she started by offering condolences; then said Lily's position as a captain was waiting for her, Buster had been appointed temporary captain during her absence, they played one match without her, and it was a tie. Lily's jaw dropped. Buster was a captain for one game?!

CHAPTER XII – MARCH, THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR CALENDAR

By the end of February, Lily had got bored with household duties and had shaken her terror of the loss of their parents.

At least as far as possible. She was sincere in thinking she had overcome it. Besides, she had tired of playing adult. She wanted to be back at school, sit at her lessons and listen to real adults who could instruct her in some ways. Lily did not know how to put it, but the constant tension she felt while she was making decisions about how to approach this or that, was getting on her and slowly, as winter was getting cold as cold was possible, Lily realized she was freezing in this unnatural state of skipped loose spirit.

"The teenage spirit, do you mean?" asked Orange one evening cuddling next to Lily on the couch.

"Yeah, that's right. It's like I am trying to skip a whole portion of my life and I'm not ready for the next one."

"How could you be? I suppose, one age prepares you for the next step." said Orange musing. She looked at Lily with dreamy eyes. Lily's look was not so sharp as usual. Recently, Orange would see her elder sister sitting at the kitchen table, her eyes fixed on a coffee cup in front of her. Orange was sad to see this grim change in Lily. At first she was secretly delighted when Lily seemed tortured with family duties and obligations, because from time to time, her elder sister had treated Orange with condescension, and she considered some nemesis was in order. But then, Lily grew duller and duller, and Orange did not find it so funny anymore. Finally, she knew that Lily had to go back to school and back to her normal self.

So, it was arranged, that Lily would go back to school at the beginning of March. She received an official letter from the school, in which was her "special" programme. She had missed so much, that catching up was hardly possible. Yet, she was supposed to follow the normal school schedule and go to classes with her old group. The Headmaster had decided against a "special" schedule for Lily, for he did not want to prolong her isolation. So, with some difficulties, she was to join school life again and have separate criteria for her examinations. She received the schedule for the football matches as well, accompanied by a special note from Professor Baramova, which said, "The month of March used to mark the beginning of the new year with the ancient Romans, as it celebrated Mars – the god of war. Welcome back to a new year of conquer!" It was so flattering.

Aunt Leonora and uncle Elijah came that weekend to see Lily off. The week before her trip Lily lost her sleep. She had not written back to her friends with the news of her coming back to school. Her only letter to them was right after she had received theirs and it was rather short and impersonal. In fact, Lily was not sure what to say, as all the time she was wondering how to ask about Buster, and not daring to do it. So, her tone was more businesslike than she would have it. In her heart, Lily hoped the school would have notified them and they would be waiting for her. In her mind, she was afraid that might not be the case. In her soul, Lily was in total stupor and dared nothing.

Orange, Leonora and Elijah were at the station and Lily was alone in a compartment. She had all her stuff transported to the school the night before, and had just her purse.

And so, again, they stood at the platform waving and waiting. Starting to regret that she had picked an empty compartment, Lily put down the window and told her family to go.

"No need to wait. The train will leave for sure. Go about your business."

"No, I want to wait." screamed Orange in sheer terror. Lily could see the tears in her eyes.

"I will write to you every Sunday and post the letter on Monday." she promised smiling. "Thus, you will be able to follow my life week by week."

Lily pulled the window closed and sat down on the seat farthest from it. She looked in the other direction intently. The train made a slow motion, jerked and then started accelerating smoothly. Her life as a house-sister-keeper remained behind and her life of a football team captain and girlfriend of Buster was ahead.

She had told them all about the captain thing and nearly all about Buster. She knew no one understood. Of course, her aunt and uncle cared. It was just different. Her father would have cared in a different way. Her mother, too. Even Orange would have reacted differently. But then, to be honest, Orange DID react differently. She did not pay much attention to the football details, but she wanted to know all about Buster. She was trying to imagine him. She was making plans to see him, maybe invite him to a visit, or contrive a complex plan to get into the school herself to get a peek at him.

"Oh, come on!" was Lily's answer. "I don't even know if he remembers me. Maybe I'm still his girlfriend, but he is not my boyfriend anymore."

"What do you mean? How can he not remember you?" Orange gaped again. Lily looked at her sternly and she checked herself.

"It's a good thing you told me that, you know. Otherwise, I would have continued doing it and making a fool of myself." And, forgetting all about Buster, Orange ran in front of the mirror to practice making faces.

So, Lily was sitting in the train, remembering her long and weird Christmas holiday and trying to think ahead. By and by she dozed off. She woke when they were nearly half the way, and she felt difference in the air. She sniffed in suspicion. Then she woke fully and realized the change was not in the air. It was in her head. The football team was getting closer and she could almost feel the harsh wind that was probably sweeping at the football field right then. She craved for the yells of the audience, the drizzle during winter games and the fire in her heart when she touched the ball, the whole team looking up to her for instruction, inspiration and more. More...? What more?

Before the trained stopped at its final station, Lily had put all the housekeeping behind and completely forgotten it. It was the 1st of March, the beginning of the new war year.

CHAPTER XIII – BUSTER JENKINS REVISITED

On Monday Lily went to her first class for the new term. It was with Professor Bravery. The whole group of second-years were delighted to see Lily Lemonpie. She entered the greenhouse in trepidation, apprehensive of the large community gathered inside. The night before she was welcomed just by Professor Bravery and the Headmaster at the station and they took her directly to the hospital wind where she spent the night. Gloria, the nurse, and Dr. Ottero questioned her in details, took all kinds of measures and did various tests. The doctor pronounced her OK, yet he recommended she spend the night there and join her fellow-students in the morning after breakfast.

Professor Bravery stopped the hail of questions the students had for Lily.

"Come, come! You'll have enough time during breaks. Let's focus on our lesson today." The students were not happy about it and two or three yet tried to talk to Lily. Then the teacher said, "Well, what about your homework assignments? Have you all got them ready for me?"

Classes went in this or similar manner till lunch. Lily was surprised by Violet's startled look. As if Violet was trying to avoid Lily's gaze. She sat next to Erin. Curiously, though, Erin and Simona appeared to be quite busy with some project they had done together. Even though they apologized with it, Lily sensed they were apprehensive of something. Yet, because she had missed so much of the lessons, Lily decided to leave that communication issue till later and focus on the class. And so, the whole morning Lily moved from room to room, and from class to class with other second-years, among which many came to her to ask her various things and to offer condolences and friendship. She never met Buster. She could not meet Violet's eyes, either. Nor for that matter Erin's or Simona's. Wondering what was going on, on her way to the dining room, Lily bumped into Veronica who was hanging in the corridor leading there.

"I am waiting for you, Lily. Welcome back!" Veronica hugged Lily warmly and tightly and held her for some time, not speaking. "I'm so happy to see you again." She pulled Lily back by the shoulders to take a better look at her. "You look great. I mean it. Yes, especially under the circumstances. How are you doing, in fact?" They walked hand in hand, for Veronica refused to let Lily go. "I will walk with you. Don't let go my hand." she said softly.

"So?" Veronica started. "Tell me."

"Why are the girls so strange?"shot Lily directly.

"Aw, the girls." Veronica mulled over her words, apparently not sure how to proceed. She then turned sharply back and called, "Erin, where is Violet?"

Erin shuddered visibly. Lily saw a guilty look in her eyes.

"Erin," said Lily, "what's the matter? Simona, look at me? You have been avoiding me the whole morning. You must tell me." And, since the two girls only became more sullen, and did not say anything, Lily insisted, "You used to be my best friends."

Erin sighed and said, "Buster has been dating Violet for some time."

"What?" Lily stammered. Her face got pale, and she got short of breath. She felt her eyelids grow very heavy. Veronica did not let Lily's hand go and further supported her to lean against the wall. Lily felt "flashed", and she thought she could see many people look at her, in curiosity and disdain. Yet, she dared look around, her eyes groping for an anchor.

Erin and Simona blinked in embarrassment. "Lily, I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you." said Erin.

"It was not your piece of news to announce." said Lily quietly. Veronica eyed her worried. "Lily, are you OK?" she asked.

"Just as fine as you'd expect. Under the circumstances." grinned Lily. She smiled to Erin and said, "I don't see why you two behaved like that? You left me very disturbed."

The two girls looked down. Simona finally said, "I guess that was stupid. Yet, we were at a loss."

"How long has it been like that? Were they dating when you sent me that letter?"

"Not really. At least, it was not official. He was still after her." Erin rushed to explain feeling the burden getting off her back. "You have to know, Violet did her best to hold him off. We were all surprised how energetic he was." Here Simona interjected, "Right, he followed her night and day. It was sheer torture."

Lily raised her eyebrows in mock surprise, "Oh, my God! Poor Violet! She was being tortured. So, her best was to yield? Brave, for sure." She felt anger rising in her and noticed the girls' disturbed looks. They were afraid. "Of what?" Lily thought. "Weren't they bold and brazen? What has happened to them?" Then she said, "Girls, if it was YOU, how would you react?"

Simona closed her eyes and almost sobbed, "Lily, stop it, please. It is not our fault. If it had happened to me, I wouldn't have accepted it. Is that what you want to hear? Don't think we're chickens, just because we are standing here like this, trembling with anxiety, apprehensive of your reaction. Of course we are anxious – you lost your parents, you were absent for two months, your boyfriend acts weird and one of your best friends followed suit in that weirdness. What do you expect us to do? We have never expected such complications. We are trying to be as natural as possible, but the truth is we DO care for you and what you think. Last night I, for one, didn't shut an eyelid to worry. Same with Erin here. And you know very well that Erin has issues of her own. So, stop looking at us with such accusation and disappointment! We are sorry that happened. We are sorry about a lot of things. But, then, which one of those things really depended on us?"

Simona was right, and Lily knew it. Still, in her stomach she could feel the gurgle of infuriation. Lily closed her eyes and twisted her hand free of Veronica's. Making fists, she clenched her teeth and shivered. Her three friends just looked on. Now, really – was there anything they could do?

Violet and Buster walked towards them along the corridor. Seeing them, Buster puffed up his chest and put on an arrogant look on his face. Violet, quite the contrary, shrank and Lily thought she would disappear, if she could. "Well, she can't." thought Lily with delight. Of course, Violet could sense people's minds, but that did not worry Lily. Oh, she rather hoped Violet would do her trick on her. Lily, however, was confident Violet would not dare do such a thing.

When they approached, Lily did something surprising to all. "Buster," she said, "my love, you are here. I was expecting a letter from you. I lost my parents, my sister got injured, and I went sick. A letter would have done me a great deal of good then. By the way, I was rather hoping you would welcome me at the station." Lily's eyes were mere slits of coal-fire.

"Oh, yeah? Were you now?" was Buster's cool response. "Why, I was expecting a letter from you, as well. You know, I really wanted to come to the station; I only didn't have any idea you were coming back. At all. Not that I didn't check the post every single day, you know."

Lily froze. The scene froze outside the boundaries of time. Then everybody there heard Lily say, "Well, that must have been a gross disappointment for you." You could see Lily was shattered to pieces. Yet, the courage with which she faced Buster's statement, was amazing.

He said curtly, "It was." And taking Violet firmly by the hand, Buster marched by Lily towards the dining room.

CHAPTER XIV – THE NEW CAPTAIN REVISITED

"Well, at least it's all clear now." said Lily a moment later and also walked towards the dining room.

When inside, Veronica let Lily's hand go to join her own house. There was Germina who had been absent earlier. Lily frowned, "Oh, why was Germina not in class?" Fixing her look on Germina, Lily waited to get noticed and waved to her. Germina's face brightened, as far as that was possible at all for such a cheerful face, and ran towards Lily.

"How are you? Welcome back." said she, taking Lily's hand in hers. Germina's eyes were fixed on Lily's with warmth. "We've missed you. Both at school and at the field. Buster was not a very good captain. Our last game was a tie, and that's entirely his fault." Germina clang to Lily affectionately. "But now you are back and everything will be back to normal. I mean, as it used to be. I mean, it has to be back. Doesn't it?"

At first, Lily did not answer. She planned not to. But then, amidst her anger, she thought the girls were in a very awkward situation themselves and punishing them by disregard was stupid. The best she could achieve is drive them from her. What happened between Buster and her was all her fault, obviously, so she had no right to fish for scapegoats.

In the dormitory she switched bedrooms, because she was sharing hers with Violet, which was weird, at the very least. So, Erin took Lily's bed with Violet and Lily stayed together with Simona. Lily knew she could not keep eternal silence with Violet, because on the second Saturday from her return they had a match scheduled and they had practice on Monday evening.

When the players gathered in the changing rooms, Lily knew she was expected to give some sort of speech: something to brighten them up, something assuring. She stood up in front of the row. The ten looked at her in expectation.

"Hi," Lily started, feeling insecure. She could see Violet, Buster and Padrina at one end of the back bench and Padrina's look was filled with open disdain and defiance. No one returned to her "Hi".

"I'm back," said Lily next and blushed immediately. That was the stupidest possible thing to say. After all, they could very well see she was back. Just as Padrina pointed out sotto voce. The players around her giggled. That giggle was a slap across Lily's face. She cleared her voice and felt insecurity flow back to its bleak den, surged by her captain's confidence.

"I said 'hi', but failed to hear your greetings. I said 'I'm back', but no one welcomed me. I hope you still remember that I am your fellow-player and we are a team." Lily stopped here, to make room for reaction. She saw thrills passing through the team, their faces changed and the players began to listen. Random "His" and "How are yous?" were heard.

"Next Saturday we have a match. Let's practice and be perfect." And she started towards the door.

The players were surprised, "Was that all? Where are you going? Hey, Lily, don't get offended."

"I'm going to the field. I'm afraid I'm not in good shape, for I had no chance to practice these couple of months. I need to get fit again." said Lily and smiled broadly, "Come on, it's getting colder outside."

So, the team somehow swallowed Lily's personal issues and thought they had better focus on the game.

Soon enough, things were back to normal. Lily got fit very fast and although she could hardly walk for a whole week after her first practice, she was happy when she got so exhausted that she did not have time to think. Because of her personal programme, Lily spent the time free of classes and practices in the library, reading missed lessons and writing papers and reports on various topics. Each teacher had prepared a questionnaire for her, which she was to follow. Each teacher had, in addition, set particular time for private tutoring, in case Lily needed that. Three days in it, Lily was desperate she could not cope with that. There were too many questions in too many subjects and too many pages that she was supposed to read. She found out that reading was very difficult when no one explained anything to you, and when you are basically alone in interpreting the books. She fell asleep several times in the soft, warm dusk of the library and when she stepped out of it, she felt none the wiser or better informed. Football was taking her thoughts away from it. Veronica used to join her in the library from time to time, just to check in on her.

Next Saturday came fast and the guest team appeared at breakfast. The George Reader's High team welcomed the guests and then held their usual meeting for coordinating procedures. After all flatteries and formalities, the teams filed to the changing rooms. The whole school and the fans of the guest team were already at the stadium expecting the victory of their favourites.

Simona and Erin were already in the VIP section and waving frantically to their friends. Lily looked at each one of the players. The twins and Clark Evans were fresh, smiling and ready to triumph. Their goal-keeper had his gloves on and was shining with excitement. Germina was wearing her usual impish look. Violet was somber and avoided Lily's look. Buster and Padrina were not – they were looking in defiance. "Where is Phillip?" frowned Lily, not seeing her eleventh player.

"Here I am," he said, coming from the bathroom in a hurry. They all laughed. "Oh, that's a good time to go to the bathroom, for sure." said Lily good-naturedly. "Well, if we are ready, let's go and take this game by victory, in spite of some personal issues each of us might have. Let's be the team our school deserves. They do not care about our issues. So, let's not bring those issued on the field."

Padrina and Buster nodded. "Lemonpie, don't worry. You know, when we play we do our best." said Padrina gravely. That was true. Padrina knew how to separate between personal and team stuff. Lily felt reassured.

The match was magnificent. It was all like a splendid, freezing dream where you are happy in spite of the miserable weather. But then, of course, who could feel cold in a dream? George Reader's High won the game by many goals. Their rivals, all boys from a remote school, left the field so downcast, that even Lily felt remorse for their loss of dignity. But then, their fall raised her pride sky high. Lily was floating on Cloud Nine and could hardly see clearly. After the game, the cheerleading squad showed a brand new routine they had been practicing for some time. Honestly speaking, Lily could not care less about cheerleading, but Germina knew all from her friend Juliet Clarence, the second-time failure at the cheerleading try-outs. And, of course, whenever Germina knew something, everybody around was certain to hear about it in great details. As she saw Lily's indifference, Germina voiced her protest, "Now, Lily, you know they are doing it for us." Lily did not have any intention to contradict her or anything, but she could not help saying, "No, Germina. In fact, they are doing it for themselves. After all, they take part in contests where we do not appear. While the opposite is not the case." That shocked Germina. She opened her eyes wide. "Oh, my goodness, you are right. Well, anyway, right now they are entertaining our public." Lily really wanted to calm things down, but she somehow could not, and so said, "Our public would appear even if they weren't here." Apparently Germina was either too tired, or too happy, so she just shrugged Lily away, "I like them." and she left. Lily tried to hold her, saying, "I like them, too. Germina, please, stay. I didn't mean to sound as if their work means nothing. But, you see – today is our day. We're the winner. People are applauding us. They are great, no doubt. Yet, people out there are applauding us." she repeated. "While they shine by our reflected light, so to speak. That's the case right now. When they go to their contests, I'm sure the public goes to see them, because of who they are and what they do." Lily looked at Germina, who nodded. "you're right, And then we're not there to shine 'by their reflected light', right?" she giggled.

The changing rooms were a place of sweeping love. The twins had developed a special dance and taught it to everybody. The very first practice at which Lily was present after her absence, they taught her that dance. When Lily and Germina entered the room, everybody inside was dancing the "Slammer" dance, as they called it – named after the twins, of course. Antony Belamigo, one of the heroes of the match, having saved more goals that not, was flushed with laughter and dancing. Seeing Germina, he literally jumped towards her and pulled her in the dance. Phillip did the same with Lily. So, they romped, shouted and waved hands and legs for a while. Then, exhausted but warm and happy, they all hugged and it was time for the team kiss, where everybody would kiss everybody else, or try to, basically turning their heads left and right with pursed lips, ready to kiss or be kissed. That ritual was Germina's idea and it dated since the previous year. Their captain then, Carl, liked it very much, even though boys usually shun kissing. Lily was in love with Carl then, so she always tried to get as much kissing to and from him as possible. She ended up having kissed a lot of others, too. This year it seemed to Lily she kissed mainly Padrina. And they were not even standing by each other. They had another kissing round and she received the most kisses from Buster this time.

"OK, that will be enough," said Lily laughing. "Let's not get too taken away with that kissing thing."

"Oh, come on, Lily," protested Phillip Sommerville. "That's my only chance to ever get kissed."Others laughed out. Buster joked, "No wonder, flower boy." That "flower boy" theme had turned into a home joke for the team after the last try-outs, where three boys from the House of Flowers were selected. The Slammer twins giggled, "Don't listen to him. That's the Don Juan of Flowers. That's how we call him." Phillip waved to them to keep their mouths shut, laughing at the same time. Veronica snickered, "Well, maybe Don Juan likes some additional practice." Germina bit her lips in hesitation and dropped the bomb. "Or he likes practicing with other boys and our ritual gives him the chance for that." At those words, all the boys jerked free of the kissing circle, all of them wiping their mouths and murmuring things to the effect of "No, what a stupid idea." "Oh, for goodness sake, what's wrong with you?"

The team was welcomed in the dining room by a hail of applause, shouts, and friendly pats on the shoulders, unintentional touches and intentional hugs, elbow-brushing and kissing. Lily found herself amidst a lovely havoc and ended up getting more and more kisses. Then a kiss on her lips awoke her from her champion dream. She opened her eyes and that was again that boy, what-was-his-name-again, the boy with the beautiful face and nice-looking nose, and those full soft lips. Lily thought intensely. Seeing that he said, "Mark Hopfler, fourth year, Flowers, sings in the choir." Lily did not want to leave Mark's arms, yet she knew she had to. She pulled back from his face and said, "Well Mark, fourth-year flower, sings in the choir, last time Professor Baramova chose the worst possible moment to enter upon us, as far as I remember." Mark nodded, "That's exactly my memory of the moment, too." He did not let her go, but only blushed a little. "Will you give me a chance to tell you what I had no time for, last time?" and with these words, he squeezed her harder. Lily looked around to see who was watching. Well, practically, everybody was. She turned to Mark, bit her lips and whispered, "Mark, yours are the tenderest lips I've touched. Those lips may tell me whatever they like."

There was a great holler in the dining room. Students' faces were red with excitement and joy, and their eyes shone as though it was they who had just received a great compliment on their lips. A real love affair was unfolding in front of their very eyes. That was not a film or soap opera of the kind their parents would sometimes watch on TV. This time no teacher showed up to spoil the moment. So, there, in front of the whole school Lily Lemonpie, captain of the coolest club at the school, let Mark Hopfler, and insignificant member of the most laughed-at club, kiss her passionately and tell her in a trembling voice, "From here..." which Lily finished off by, "... to the end of the school year." Mark laughed and said, "OK. That's even more than I could've hoped for."

CHAPTER XV – MUSIC IN THE AIR

Before the Easter holidays, Lily sent a letter to Orange. In it, she wrote, "I'm staying at the school for the holidays. Have too much work to do. Go to aunt's. See you in June at the station. Take care!"

For sure, Lily had a lot of work to do, as well as many assignments to prepare. Yet. her true reason lay beyond school matters and into the House of Flowers. She stayed at the school with Mark. He would usually go home for all holidays, but this time he wrote to his parents that he would like to spend this one at his school with his friends of the fourth year, for they would be saying "Goodbye" to it in a couple of months. The truth was that a lot of fourth-years chose to do that, for exactly that reason, whileas nearly all first-years preferred hurrying home to their parents.

This was the first letter Lily had written to Orange since the beginning of March. In spite of her promise to write every Sunday with news of the passing week, she had completely forgotten it, so Orange received no letters, but this one. She obeyed, of course, though with some discomforts and was sure Lily was right. Orange was sure her sister had enough difficulties having to catch up with all the lessons and assignments.

Meanwhile, Lily was having a great time with Mark. It turned out that he only seemed to be obscure, while in fact he was quite interesting. Professor Roxie Timoteo, the music teacher, was really thankful to Lily because her affair with a choir boy caused a lot of interest towards choir singing and students would go to the club to enquire how could enlist. Among those students there were boys, who finding Lily Lemonpie "one hell of a hot chick", wanted to be characters she would fancy; or girls, who thinking that, if everybody chose Lily who chose Mark, then Mark must be hot, hoped to find other "hot" boys in the choir, whom they might have oversighted. Lily enjoyed that general excitement sincerely and, also, rather sincerely, believed she had found a real treasure. Mark was cute and intelligent. He was very clever and rather strong-built, too. That last quality came as a surprise to Lily as early as their first real kiss, and ever since she was infatuated by this charming boy who was, in addition all else, a great kisser. Which Buster was not, honestly speaking. So, Lily was very happy that Buster had dumped her! In her thoughts, she would thank him numerous times for rendering her free to choose Mark. Well, she also blamed Buster for the time she has wasted in the first place, because she remembered very well that Mark had come to her on the day she had won the captain's elections. Of course, Buster, the football team star, Carl's brother, that same Carl Lily had been in love with, the strong and big Buster, had diverted her attention from the choir-boy all to himself. And, of course, the fact that Lily would see Buster at every practice both in the changing rooms and on the field, on the way to the bathroom wrapped only in a towel, was also quite decisive. Now, she could see Mark without his school uniform and could see that he was not worse that Buster. She learnt that, in addition to the choir, Mark was also in the water polo team under Professor Baramova. Unfortunately, all the boys in it were in their fourth year and there were no new recruits, so the water polo of the school was about to get retired, in Mark's words. He put a word with Professor Baramova to let Lily into the mineral bath when the holidays started and the school emptied. Lily and Mark used to spend the whole morning in the mineral pool. Lily was fascinated. First, with Mark's body in a swimming suit. He was so well-built that she felt awkward herself and every time she put on her swimming suit, she hurried into the pool, so that he would not see her body well enough. The pool itself was pure magic. There was a nice fountain in its centre which renewed the hot water and glittered in various colours. Periodically, the valves at the pool sides opened and let a jet of bubbles that smelled so sweet and enchanting an odour that it made Lily close her eyes in dreamy dizziness. Mark would swim close to her, he always came in the pool after her, and they would let the water sway them gently for a long time. Professor Baramova was on duty that holidays and she would come at some prearranged time in the mornings, having warned them all at breakfast, just to make sure nothing "weird" was going on in the pool. As Lily and Mark were not the only students in there, nothing much too weird could happen. But then, who would know what might happen when you have several love couples inside the warm sweet-odoured pool, amidst the romantic dusk created by Professor Suthern's magic lamps in the vast hall? None of the couples would tell you, that much is for sure.

CHAPTER XVI – CAPTAIN IN DISTRESS

One day in spring, Lily received a letter from Orange. It read as follows: "Dear Lily, I know you promised to write every Sunday night and post first time every Monday morning, but perhaps you are too busy to do that. I know that because of your long absence, now you have a lot to catch up with. I really hope you ARE catching up. I'm writing to let you know that I have moved in with aunt Leonora and uncle Elijah. It happened around two weeks after your departure. Of course, I was too busy, too, having to transfer to another school so late in the school year, and that's why I haven't told you. I received your letter, telling me you weren't coming back for the spring holidays. They re-send all the post we receive to aunt and uncle's address. Of course, I received it a week later, so I had already gone back to our house. Because the letter had already been resent, I didn't have any idea why you weren't coming. There was a bit of confusion, but it's alright now. Thanks for letting me know, anyway. Wishing you all success. Your sister: Orange."

Lily sat down in an armchair in her House lounge and closed her eyes. She could almost feel the earth turn. Only, in her head, it was spinning uncontrolled and it was sickening. She thought her heart was breaking. In fact, it was Orange's heart that was breaking. Lily stayed like that for a long time, until it grew dark outside and other students came and went, some trying to speak to her, others just looking at her solitary despair and not wishing to disturb her. The holidays were over and it was a normal school day. She was supposed to spend the afternoon in the library, studying. Instead she had spent it on the armchair, holding Orange's letter tight. A dark wave of sadness surged in her breast and she felt something gripped at her throat. Lily could not speak. Not that she particularly wanted to, anyway.

That evening there was no football practice, so after dinner Lily wanted to go straight back to her dormitory and try and write a letter to Orange. She could not think of what to say. She was dismayed and ashamed at the same time. Mark approached her in the dining room.

"Is everything OK?" he asked, seeing she was so sullen.

"Well, to be honest, not quite." Lily told him in short about Orange's letter. Mark blushed. "Lily, I had no idea I was doing this. You could have refused to stay, or ... well, now it's too late to consider possibilities." Mark remained uncertain what to say or do for a while and then he asked, "Is there anything you want me to do? I could leave you alone to write your sister a letter. We will be together some other evening." That last sentence stung Lily deep and bitter.

"Mark, I..." she stammered.

"It's OK. If you write the letter soon, you may come to listen to me. I'll be in music practice. You know – it's Tuesday." And each Tuesday the school choir had their session. Those session were much more populated since Lily had befriended Mark Hopfler. Professor Timoteo was so happy, that she invited Lily to sing there. Although greatly flattered, Lily had to turn this proposition down, for fear she will not be able to handle all. Football still remained Lily's greatest passion.

"OK, Mark. That's exactly what I'll do. Hopefully, I will be able to make a nice apologizing letter to Orange. I feel I piled plenty of sins towards her, you know. I feel embarrassed. She is younger and I'm supposed to take care of her, now that our parents are not around."

"Are not around," repeated Mark in a strange voice. "It's really a weird way to say that. I think somebody has to take care of you, too, Lily." With these words he hugged her and she felt warm and comfortable. "Mark, you are wonderful. Unfortunately, you are leaving this year." Lily felt that stupid lump get stuck in her throat again. Mark sighed, "You'll find somebody else next year, don't worry." and then he pinched Lily to show her it was a joke. She laughed and said, "Be careful, choir-boy, for I just may."

Back in the lounge of her house, Lily sat down comfortably and composed a neat letter to Orange. She was not sure how much to say, whether to put specific things in it, or not, and so the letter became rather distant again. She read it and was terrified. It read like a memo from the boss to his personal assistant. She tore it and started anew. In two hours, Lily had not succeeded in composing the perfect soothing letter to her sister yet. She was on the verge of despair. Then, Violet Absurmia walked in the lounge. Lily only saw her, because she had raised her head in earnest attempt to doctor her letter style into niceness and affection. Meeting Lily's eyes, Violet stopped short and nodded in acknowledgment that she had noticed Lily. Lily did not know what to do, so she nodded back. Obviously, Violet interpreted that as a sign to come and sit on a stool next to Lily. So she did. Only then Lily noticed that Violet had a nylon bag in her hand. She put the bag on the table in front of them and said, "Would you like me to bring the glasses, or you prefer to do some exercise and go to our living room?" Lily could not grasp the situation as of yet. She looked at Violet, at the bag and then at Violet again.

"What glasses?" asked she eventually.

"To pour the champagne." said Violet nonchalantly and pulled the nylon bag down to show a sweaty bottle of the best sparkling wine produced in the country. "Have you forgotten, Lily? That's my family label." and she raised eyebrows in a playful manner.

Lily was still baffled. "Violet, I don't know where to start from, but are you OK? I mean, you look OK, but is everything fine?"

Violet said, "I'll bring the glasses. You open the bottle." and she put an opener on the table, stood up and rushed towards their dormitory.

Lily shrugged, took the opener and opened the bottle of wine. It was not an easy task. The stopper shot out with a mighty crack and several other students turned to see what was going on. Quite smartly, Lily had pulled the bag back up to conceal the bottle and pretended to have made the sound by hands. She clapped a couple of times and Violet was back.

"What, Lemonpie, are you practicing Kinetics with people already?" laughed the students. Lily and Violet laughed, too.

"Yeah, be careful over there, for I might just move you, too."

Violet waited for the others to turn round and start talking again, then poured.

"So," said she, tilting her glass to and fro and looking at the bubbly liquid inside sway. "Lily, forgive me. Make me do whatever you like, make me say whatever you want. Please, just forgive me. Let's make up, Lily. I can't live like that any longer."

Lily looked in total stupor. Violet smiled, "Don't forget to breathe." So, Lily breathed in and out, thinking. Then, she said, "Violet, what happened? Did Buster leave you?"

"He did. He is with Padrina now." Violet said and looked down. "Not a very recommendable time to try and make up with you, right?"

"Right. How long has it been like that?" asked Lily, aware that maybe Violet had managed to keep her secret for a while.

"Since after the Easter holidays. When I came back from the holidays, he was already with Padrina."

"Oh, this kind of behaviour reminds me of something. Wait, what was it? I'm thinking, I'm thinking." Lily imitated hard thinking. She just could not help it. Violet smiled embarrassed.

"You are right to mock at me, I know." said she in reconciliation.

"Oh, come on, don't do this! You're killing my pleasure. I want to have some sort of revenge on you." Lily said in disappointment. Violet nodded, "I see."

Suddenly thinking of something, Lily asked, "How do you know he wasn't with Padrina before you knew it? They are always together." By the way Violet stared, Lily knew she did not know. And how could she? Buster and Padrina were in the same House, they shared a lounge, they could visit each other's rooms. Of course, that last thing was strictly forbidden and there were alarms on each entrance that were activated by unauthorized entry, yet such thing were known to have happened, albeit rarely. Lily sighed, "Violet, I believe we are both stupid ducks. Maybe Buster and Padrina have been together all along. I mean, how would I know they weren't while he was my boyfriend? Maybe it's just some sick game of theirs. Who knows?"

Violet frowned in disbelief, "Do you think so? But he was so..."

"Sincere? Hot? Dedicated?" suggested Lily.

"Yes. All." confirmed Violet.

"I don't know. That's normal for a boyfriend, I suppose. He must have liked us, anyway. Buster is no masochist. Yet, I don't know."

"Maybe all the time he actually wanted Padrina." suggested Violet.

"But weren't they together last year?" Lily tried to remember.

"I don't know. I hardly noticed him then." said Violet quietly.

"Oh, yes, that's right!" exclaimed Lily, "You were in love with Carl then."

"Just like you, in fact." Violet had begun to come back to herself.

"Well, it seems we share the brothers." laughed Lily, "I say, let's drink to it."

"Let's do it. To friendly sharing!" toasted Violet and the two drank their glasses.

"Oh, my goodness!" said Lily with misty eyes, when she put the empty glass down. "I had completely forgotten this divine taste."

"Spoken like a true champagne fan!" laughed Violet.

By and by, the girls had finished their second glasses and suddenly Lily said, "Oh, I completely forgot. Violet, you have to help me."

"OK. With what?"

"I'm writing a nice letter to Orange." said Lily.

"A NICE letter? Do you normally write ugly letters to her?"

"I normally write nothing. And I promised to write. Then I didn't. And today I received this." and she gave Orange's letter to Violet to read.

"Oh my!" said Violet. "She is really hurt. Do you want me to try and make up something to her? Then you'll read it and if you approve, you'll copy it in your handwriting."

"You'll do that?" asked Lily suspiciously.

"Of course, I will. I told you not an hour ago that I'll do anything you want me to, just to be able to make up with you."

So, Violet took to writing. She wrote fast and in a confident manner that surprised Lily.

All of a sudden, Violet looked up and said, "Stop it, Lily. Have you forgotten what I do?"

"Oh," said Lily remembering what her friend had in mind. "So, that's how you know what to put in the letter."

"Yes, I can see you in your mind." Violet went to writing once again.

"Wait. If that is so, how come you didn't see in Buster's mind?" asked Lily.

"I've thought about that. I expect his whatever it is that we would call 'mind', is protected by some spell." Violet said that without raising her head or pausing. "I spoke to Veronica about that. She confirmed."

In less than twenty minutes Violet had finished Lily's letter to her sister. Not surprisingly, Lily approved of it and immediately started to copy it. It had a couple of paragraphs that dealt with Mark and were too intimate, so she decided to leave them out, but the general thing was perfect. Perhaps because of the wine, she made a lot of mistakes and scratched several words, so she had to start over again. Then, she got very sleepy and decided to leave the letter till morning. Violet agreed, seeing the mess Lily was making with the pen. She stopped the bottle again and said, "We'll have some for tomorrow. Anyway, a whole bottle will be too much for us."

Lily was ready to fall asleep in the armchair, but Violet pulled at her arm to help her up. In front of their bedroom doors, the two had to separate, because they did not share the same bedroom anymore. Lily felt very sad for that, although she had a vague feeling that it was merely the champagne talking.

On Wednesday morning Lily hated her life. She woke up with great efforts. Simona had to push and pull her, to take her blanket off of her and almost roll her onto the floor in order to make Lily get up. Erin appeared at the door and said it was the same with Violet. Apparently, even two glasses of champagne were too much for 16-year-olds. When she finally was able to get into her clothes and Simona literally carried her to the bathroom, Lily got a heavy headache which made her wish to be already dead. Breakfast was gruesome, for she completely lacked in any manners. She was hungry like a wolf even though she did not know that was the champagne's doing. The whole morning till the lunch break Lily wished to go back to bed, or just die on the spot. Unlucky for her, Professor Suthern had classes with them and it was quite clear to him what had happened.

"Miss Lemonpie," he said, in a cold tone. "I'm sure there will be many disappointed people. So, for your sake, I hope this particular type of behaviour will not be repeated."

The class of students all turned to Lily to see what their teacher had in mind. They were not sure what they saw.

During the lunch break Lily thought of the letter she was trying to write to Orange. Where was the draft Violet had composed? She could not remember taking it from the lounge table. She could remember taking the bottle, though. Lily saw Mark wave from over the Flowers' tables and waved back with a forced smile. Then, she sat down next to Violet who did not look much better than herself, and asked, "Violet, what did we do with the draft of my letter? Did you take it from the table last night?"

Violet's confused look had Lily freeze with horror. Next, she heard Padrina's voice, saying in neat declamatory tone, "My dearest, sweetest, baby-sis Orange..." and she read the whole draft aloud. Lily felt she was going to be sick in front of everybody. So, she stood up and walked towards the door. Padrina followed her with eyes and body turning to face her all the way out, reading on. At the door, Lily bumped into Professor Baramova who was on her way to check in namely on her, having heard Professor Suthern's report of his morning classes. Seeing the professor, Lily felt much better, even though the professor's face did not express especial love of her. Baramova caught Lily by the arm and brought her back into the dining room where Padrina was almost at the end. Lily saw Mark and desperately thought how hurt he must be. Contrary to her expectations, though, Mark was bright with excitement and looked around proudly. What was wrong, thought Lily. Then she realized. Mark had always had low self-esteem and those intimate details from Lily's letter, naturally drew attention to him and other students began to see him as a lover-boy. Strangely, Lily did not feel too ashamed herself because of the shared "nude" details. She was afraid that if she showed embarrassment, the others would eat her alive. After all, she was the captain of the football team and needed to be assertive. Besides, those intimate moments were witnessed by other intimate couples in the mineral pool, so no one would dare say a word, for fear they might get exposed, too. "Ha," Lily thought, "that's a pretty comfortable way of thinking."

The entire dining room was in awe. Lily looked at Violet and hissed, "Did you need to be so comprehensive?" Violet just grinned, "I didn't know it would come out."

Professor Baramova made a gesture towards Padrina requesting the draft. Padrina had no option but to hand it over. Professor Baramova folded it, put it in her pocket and said, "Aren't you too slow having lunch? Your afternoon classes are about to begin." Then she turned to Lily and said, "Miss Lemonpie, come to my office. Now, please." And she left. Lily was at the door, her hand outstretched towards the professor, her mouth open as if about to ask for the letter. Professor Baramova was gone. Lily snapped her mouth shut. She stood by the door while the whole school walked by her, each and every one of the students looking at her in amazement. Sure, some looked differently, yet most envied. Some envied Mark, others envied Lily.

Lily went to Professor Baramova's office in great apprehension that something horrible will happen. After all, the letter was too spicy, she had already been reported to have hangover and that was enough for punishment. Moreover, she had not sent Orange the letter. Besides that, she had not spent the evening around Mark.

"Come in and sit down, Lily," said Professor Baramova. Lily went to the chair in front of the professor's desk.

"You know why you are here, I guess." started the professor.

"I suppose so," said Lily. She felt like telling the professor that it was all a large misunderstanding and she was not like that at all; that it was simply a matter of wrongly-combined circumstances. Professor Baramova could see that and interrupted her with a gesture. "Before you speak, I would like to say something." She made a pause. "You are one of our most impressive students. You are a star in the football team, which was reflected in the captain's elections in the beginning of the school year. You are outstanding in Kinetics, we take Professor Magpie's word for that. The Headmaster cherishes you dearly and wants to do anything in his power to soften the pain you are in after your parents' death. Even Professor Suthern, in whose class you do not excel particularly, gives positive comments for your endevours and the earnest efforts in his subject." Here, the professor paused again to see what effect her words had on Lily. We may honestly say that their effect was devastating. Lily felt like a worm that did not deserve all that kind thoughts and treatment at all. Then, the professor continued, "Right now, you are about to ruin all you have worked for."

Lily wanted to interrupt her; she wanted to shout that it was not like her, that it was just an accident and couldn't they forgive an accident to somebody with all those excellent qualities that the professor had enumerated as hers. But she just was not able to. She checked herself, and even though the professor was looking at her with expectation in her eyes, to hear what Lily had to say, the girl felt too embarrassed, because she had not learned how to beg for forgiveness and, in addition to that, she felt a punishment would be really deserved.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" asked Professor Baramova. "Anything in your defense?"

"How could I? How would I?" said Lily, her head bowed.

Professor Baramova sighed and gave her the draft back. "You had better finish rewriting this and send it to your sister." Lily took the paper from her.

"Oh," added the professor, "and you don't need to worry about the 'hot' details Padrina read aloud. She made them up. This letter does not contain such things. Which is why, Padrina Perkins is the next person who shall visit my office and perhaps the Headmaster's office, too. Please, on your way to your afternoon classes, find the third-years, I think they have classes with Professor Jubesc now, and tell Miss Perkins to come here."

Lily stood up and walked towards the door still unsure if she would be punished in any way, or not. Professor Baramova saw her hesitation and said, "Is there anything else?"

Lily answered, "Exactly: is there?"

"Oh, you mean any kind of punishment, something like that, do you?" asked the teacher.

"Exactly."

"Don't worry. It's your very first time. If you don't make it your habit to drink alcohol, we will not prosecute you." said the professor and laughed when she saw Lily's eyes get huge at the word "prosecute". "Don't worry. Go now."

Before the end of the day the whole school had heard about Padrina's foul play and her conversation with Professor Baramova. Since it was her first offence, too, she did not receive any punishment. Veronica was not happy about it, for she knew Padrina loved foul play and had used it at least once, in the beginning of the school year. Yet, she never told any of the teachers about it, so there was no way to prove that now. Veronica had spared Padrina because of her natural adversity of betrayal. Now, however, she really regretted her loyalty and felt deceived. Lily was indifferent to what had happened to Padrina since she felt guilty herself, so she just shrugged the lack of true justice. She remembered the day when Buster had joined her to the Headmaster's office on the issue of access to the mineral pool. Even though she was a fighter for justice and it was officially refused to her (that was how she saw things), later on she still managed to get illegal access to the bath. That was injustice, but she, as staunch champion of justice as she promoted herself to be, did not hesitate to take advantage of it. Of course, that access to the mineral bath was only during the holidays, yet it was still against the rules which did not change. With those severe bites of consciousness, Lily had no courage to say anything at all.

"Veronica, find somebody else for that fight. I'm sorry. I'm in trouble myself." said Lily.

Germina looked at her and smiled, "Come on, captain! Don't lose it now! The whole school is in love with you."

"Or just the opposite," frowned Lily.

"Could be. But that's still very good. Loving you, or envying you, or even hating you is still good for your reputation. They all want to be like you, around you." said Germina.

Lily considered for a moment. Germina could be right. One will never be loved by all, so the fact that she was not, perhaps, everybody's favorite was not so significant. The important thing was that she was popular and other students had strong attitudes towards her.

"Oh," she said, "what's more, I will always know who really likes me and who doesn't."

Germina smiled, "You see? Now you are getting it."

Veronica was standing next to them, wondering what to say. Apparently, she did not approve of that attitude, yet those were her friends and she could easily forgive them small moments of sick enthusiasm. History knew plenty of such examples. She bit her lips in wondering how to react, but then smiled and nodded, "OK. You are great. Yes, you two. You made my day." winked at the two second-years and left.

"Do you think she got offended?" asked Lily.

"No, I think not. She is cool. And she likes us very much." said Germina.

"From time to time it seems to me Veronica is already old." said Lily.

"You know, I have the same feeling. She is so mature and calm. As if nothing bothers her and she has the answers." agreed Germina.

"Not like you, for instance, who always asks billiards of questions." giggled Lily and pinched Germina's arm. Germina just shook her head and said, "Oh, please."

CHAPTER XVII – THE RISING MOON

That same day, Lily braced up and put down the letter to her sister. She read it over and over, several times. It was a nice letter. Lily had to admit that Violet had done a great job. After classes she went to the post box where letters were dropped and each evening the box was emptied and all its contents sent away.

Next, she went to look for Mark. She needed to straighten things with him. He was not in the library, neither could she find him in the lounge of the Flowers. Instead Phillip came out to see her in the corridor and gave her a note. "More letters," thought Lily in bitterness, under the impression that letter never forebode well. At least, the last one she had received, did not. She thanked Phillip and left. She went to the library and was surprised to see so many students inside, reading. There had been only four or five several minutes before. Lily had forgotten that the end of the school year was approaching and students were becoming more and more diligent as to their studies. She could hardly find a place to sit. When she did find it, however, she remained there for less than a minute. There were students on all her sides. She could not imagine opening the note from Mark and reading it there. So, she smiled to the students, made an indefinite face saying something like "oops" and left the library.

Where could he be? The choir practice was yesterday, and the swimming practice was to be as usual after dinner. It coincided with her football practice. Lily passed by the dining room and seeing the door open slid inside and sat at a chair. She could not wait to read Mark's note. Her hands trembling and her heart pounding, she opened it. There was a large heart drawn inside, glittering in red, orange and purple colours. Lily exclaimed in dismay at its beauty and suddenly she smelled a fresh citrus odour. It was coming from the note. Then, she heard a soft tune. That was also coming from the note. She stared at the beautiful heart and saw letters, appearing one by one on the sheet, inside the heart.

"The rising moon

will haunt us,

its superbness whispering,

till we step aside

and wonder, silently,

in super-awe,

at its perfection

and lucidity."

"Oh!" thought Lily not able to move. "Mark!" Now, that was a note she did not expect. All of a sudden, she heard some shuffle at the door and it closed. Before Lily could do anything, it got locked from the outside. Lily jumped and started pounding on the door and yelled, "Hello! I'm inside! Please, open!"

Obviously, the person who locked the door was already far from there, for nothing happened in answer to Lily's shouts and hits. "Very cool!" thought she. What was she to do now? Dinner was not due for another hour at least, so she would have to spend so much time here alone, in the dark. "Why, in the dark?" she shrugged her desperation away, "I will switch on the lights." She started groping along the wall in search of the light switch. At first she could not find it. That was why she decided to sit down, take some time and try to calm down. She walked back towards the place where she thought the chair was, but somehow did not reach it. She inhaled loudly. "OK, don't panic. Everything is in its place. This is our dining room. You are familiar with it. Calm down and you will find whatever you need." At the end, she realized she had said that aloud. Not knowing what to do, Lily sat on the floor. She stretched her arms and moved them in all directions around her, just to find out that there was nothing within reach. "Pity," she thought, "I shouldn't have moved from the door, in the first place. Maybe that's some stupid trick of Padrina's." Yes, now that she thought of it, that explanation seemed highly reasonable. Will this girl not tire of casting spells? Well, it could be somebody else. Or, just a coincidence. After all, the dining room was only open during meal hours. Maybe somebody of the staff just forgot to close it, and in a hurry to do it, before any of the teachers had come this way, had locked it without checking inside.

"Which way am I to go now?" thought Lily. She tried to remember which direction she had come from, but the darkness in the room made that very hard. She knew that if she started moving in the wrong direction, it would take her farther inside the room and she will not be able to locate the door at all. Maybe she would be able to move a chair around the room and bang it against the walls to hear the hollow thump where the door was. "Can I?" she wondered. At least she could do her best and try it. Well, for that she needed to know where she could find a chair. Of course, there were plenty of chairs inside, yet in order to move an object, Lily still needed to "see" its location quite clearly in her mind. She spent around half an hour trying to "locate" a chair, or a table somewhere in the room. No success. She only got tired of exerting her mind. In some time, what she was doing started to seem like absurd to her, mind-groping in the dark, hunting for objects. Lily smiled, "It would be mighty funny, if it wasn't so scary." She rested for a while and suddenly felt Mark's note in her hand. Now Lily was glad that she had not let it go. She opened it and smelled the fresh odour again. Then the soft tune was played once again and some light came out of the note. Lily stared on, as a super-moon was rising from the paper and getting higher and higher, the light of the moon growing stronger, until Lily could see the room and the door. Slowly, "its superbness" started to "whisper" and Lily could hear clearly its voice in her head. Strangely, the voice was rather familiar and its tone was a bit rude, "Where, the hack, are you? Speak to me! NOW!" Lily blinked and wondered how to speak and to whom, when she heard again, "Lily, it's me Violet! Either speak out loud, or think of it, but please, tell me WHERE you are!"

"Dining room!" shouted Lily and sat down on the floor again. She simply did not have the strength to walk to the nearest chair, although she could see it very clearly now. The whole thing was too much for her.

In a couple of minutes the door was opened and Lily could go out of the dining room. Professor Magpie was there with Violet Absurmia. Violet rushed towards Lily and hugged her. "You really frightened me, Lil'." said she when they both had calmed down. Professor Magpie looked at the two girls lovingly. "Lily Lemonpie, you are very lucky to have Violet as your friend. Tell me what happened?"

"I don't know, professor." said Lily honestly. "I came by, saw the door open and entered. I needed to sit down and think." she did not say anything about the note in her hand. "And then somebody closed the door and locked it. That's all. Later I heard Violet in my head."

Violet was amazed, "Was it? You could actually hear me? Oh, I didn't know how it works. I'm thrilled it did work, however. That was my first time."

When she went to dinner, Lily found Mark and told him, "I got your note. It's funny, but it saved me." She gave him a short kiss and sat down in the Moons section. From time to time she would turn towards the Flowers section and search Mark's eyes and whenever she caught him, they smiled.

Mark came to watch Lily's football practice. The weather was already good enough, so a lot of students used the football and cheerleading practices as an excuse to stay outside. They came to the stadium, sat down in groups, and chatted. When the practice was over, Mark took Lily by the hand and pointing up, he said, "Lily, my love, look here above." Lily thought it was magical, "Mark, it sounds like poetry." He said, "And it looks like poetry, too. Look!" Lily followed his eyes and saw a huge moon rising above the horizon, still soft and yellow, but soon to turn silver and cold. She was at a loss. There were no words to describe this. Mark said slowly, "Till we step aside and wonder, silently, in super-awe, at its perfection and lucidity." Lily looked at him with new eyes. "Correct." she only managed to say.

Strange enough, Lily slept very well in spite of the super-moon and her dreams were silver and silky.

CHAPTER XVIII – FALLING APART

The weather was getting better and brighter each day, and Lily could almost smell the approaching end of the school year. The previous year, she had had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, holidays were a good time and supposed to be fun because there was no pressure to study and write assignments. On the other hand, thought, she would be far from her friends and the fun moments they could have together. The previous year, Lily was reluctant to go home, for she did not feel her sister mature enough for the kind of fun she was having with Germina and the others. And, of course, football practice was the best routine Lily had at school and she hated to interrupt it.

This year, however, things were even more complicated. Lily had thought that nothing could be more so after last year. Yet, it turned out it was possible. She still did not want to go home. Her parents would not be there and everything around the house would remind her of them. Yet, she wanted to spend some time with Orange. She could feel her sister was not the strange baby she had regarded her so far, but was a nice girl and rather smart, too. Lily still deeply regretted what she had written in the "Easter" letter, as she used to call it. She could not think of an adequate way to apologize. There was something else, as well. Mark would graduate that year, the ceremony was due in a couple of weeks and she hated the thought of the school without him. The two had not found a proper cause to quarrel yet, as she had secretly hoped, and it seemed to her that their mutual dependence and affection to each other increased by each day. How would she survive after that? Erin was trying to be supportive, telling stories about Eric and Daisy, who had had some history of separation before they finally decided to get married. Those stories, however, were ill-taken by Germina who apparently had not got over him. True, they all saw Germina talk to Antony and laugh with him more and more often, yet it seemed it was still Eric she was thinking of.

To be honest, and by the way Erin shared that opinion one day when Germina was not around, Antony and Germina looked and sounded born for each other. The new goal-keeper, who did great at the post, was a lover of jokes of all kinds. The two managed together to play prands on more people in a short time, than anyone could imagine.

"Maybe that infatuation with Eric is just because she couldn't have him. Nothing happened and Germina sees it as a wasted opportunity." said Lily to her friends one day at the dinner table when everybody else had left.

"I believe it is," agreed Simona. "After all, how much did she KNOW Eric?"

Erin pursed her lips, "Not much. We just went to lunch and it was so normal that I hardly remember anything."

"Yeah, but still," said Lily looking around to see if there was anybody in the dining room. "He is a MAN. I mean, he is older. He isn't just another teenage boy we have so many at school." Lily was worried that her own fancy towards Professor Suthern might show, but she still wanted to put that point across and see her friends' reactions.

They were unanimously silent. Finally, Simona smiled, "That's true."

Veronica, who had been silent so far, said, "Then, why is she always in the company of Antony? Not only is he a boy, but also younger than her."

"Perhaps in a way of protection." said Simona. Lily was suddenly glad she did not need to say anything. She caught herself thinking of Suthern over and over again. And then she heard Erin's disbelief, "What do you mean, Simona? What protection? From whom?"

"Oh, Erin, I'm surprised you don't see it. You are always the one searching second meanings and hidden messages." laughed Violet. "I think the same way. Germina is doing it just because she's afraid someone might think she liked older boys, or men, to use Lily's word."

"What do you mean, 'Lily's word'? I didn't make the word up." said Lily irritated.

"Lily, why are you so annoyed? It was just an expression." Violet tried to calm things down. Before Lily could accept it, though, Veronica interjected, "Wait a minute! I really think that Germina likes Antony and they make a great couple. Maybe she doesn't know it, maybe she has chosen him exactly for that reason, yet she has fallen for him. That much is certain."

Then, considering for a while, Erin said slowly, "If that is so, we need to show Germina that she isn't in love with Eric, but with Antony and do it as soon as possible."

They decided to go to the library and do their thinking there, because Veronica was not allowed to their House's lounge.

"OK," started Lily when they had taken a whole table at the quietest corner of the library where there was nobody. "Here's what I think. The graduation ceremony is due very soon. I hope the school will need some cool decoration. Apart from the Artists' Club who we know normally do that, we may suggest that something magical is done, as well, just as a reminder what kind of school they finish. Germina, Antony and Juliet are the best there is in that field. So, they will have one more chance to spend time together and do what they both like. What do you think?"

"I think it's great." said Veronica.

"And," added Erin, her eyes shining, "I will invite Eric and Daisy to the ceremony as visitors. Then, Germina will be able to compare."

Lily said, "Maybe that's too risky. We may ruin all."

Veronica agreed with Erin, "Why? I believe that if Germina's in love with Antony, she won't find Eric attractive anymore. Not in that way, at least." she said, fearing not to offend Erin. Erin, however, just nodded in understanding. "She will see Eric as a settled family man, one of whose greatest ambition is to make as cheap a house repair as possible." She looked towards Erin again and Erin nodded again. Finally Veronica added, "I thought I'd highlight it a bit." Erin smiled, "Don't worry. That's exactly what I'm hoping."

Lily was still in doubt. "Yeah, but imagine that Eric still appears more attractive namely because of the status he's got – he's free from school, free to be married, free to drive his own car and spend his own money. Well, you know – all those things we envy adults for. Then what?"

Simona said, "Then she doesn't love Antony."

"She doesn't?" Lily was shocked. She was thinking of Mark, Professor Suthern and herself.

"She doesn't. That will be sure." agreed both Violet and Erin. Veronica just nodded.

"But then," said Lily slowly and quietly, "we may break her heart."

"WE cannot do that much, I hope." said Veronica, "But she will be very confused."

Anyway, the girls agreed to do that and Lily and Veronica were to speak to Professor Baramova first thing next morning and raise the issue of the "magical theme" at the ceremony. Traditionally, it was Professor Baramova who hosted those ceremonies and all organization issues went to her.

Later that evening, in her bedroom, long after Violet had fallen asleep (yes, they had got back together), Lily got deep into thinking. If, upon comparison, she did not automatically choose Mark, then perhaps it meant she did not love him. She searched her heart. She did love him! She searched her feelings. Then, she searched again. Surely, she had a soft spot for Mark. She loved him. Yet, she was not so sure she wanted to compare him to anyone. "Well," she thought in desperation, "after all, Mark is adult now. He has practically finished school and is about to do all nice things real adults do." So, did she love him? Or, did she crave a chance with the professor? "Not now, of course," she hurried to think. Later, when she finishes school, when she would be adult herself. Then, if she had so much time (two years, to be precise), why couldn't she enjoy the company of other nice boys, or nice men?

Lily was not able to reach an agreement on that before she fell asleep. Her dreams were fragmentary and hectic, she had a general feeling of discomfort and pressure.

CHAPTER XIX – GRADUATION

Surely, Germina, Antony and Juliet had done an unforgettable job. That was their first chance to present their skills at such a grand event. Veronica had helped them, both in order to see how these things are done, and to watch what was going on between Germina and Antony.

The night before the graduation ceremony Veronica summoned them all at the stadium and said, "OK. There is nothing between Germina and Antony. I'm positive about that. They are more like siblings, you know. If one starts a sentence, the other one will finish it. The one goes in a certain direction, the other one hurries there, too. And that is not out of passion." She shook her head.

"So?" asked Erin, "What are we to expect tomorrow? Maybe I should call Eric and Daisy off?"

"Or maybe not." said Violet. "Let's help Germina know the truth. Has she seen Eric again after that epic lunch?"

"No, never. Not even on pictures." said Erin.

"Well, then," said Violet. "She may have been mistaken. Now she will see him and know that he is not the one, and that will be it."

"What if she recognizes him as the true ONE?" asked Lily.

"Please, Lily." insisted Violet. "What is she doesn't recognize him at all?"

Simona said, "Hey, that's a good one."

"And quite probable, too." Erin said. "I won't let Germina know he is there. Let's see if she will even as much as notice him, let alone recognize him, or identify him as her true love." The girls giggled.

"Cool," admitted Lily. The girls were already curious to see if heart-broken Germina will be able to recognize Eric.

The morning dawned. Plenty of guests filled the great hall with their colourful outfits, outsiders' smiles, freshness and expectations. The hall looked amazing. No, it was breath-taking. Juliet and Antony were at the door welcoming guests and directing them to their assigned seats. Germina was "around", which meant that she went around the hall checking. "What exactly is she checking?" asked Lily in utter perplexity. It turned out that Violet had persuaded Juliet that her presence at the hall entrance was of utmost importance, as she might personally ask each guest as to their opinions of the decorations, while Germina was prepared enough to do the routine checks. That trick was necessary because Juliet was the principal of the decoration accomplishment and she took great pride in her skills. So, she quite naturally wanted to go round and do those small checks herself, just to enjoy her work over and over again.

Violet had avoided that in the most elegant way possible, just by being able to "see" Juliet's attitude. The idea of Germina welcoming each and every guest at the entrance was not compliant with the girls' idea of keeping her as far from Eric as possible.

In fact, no one recognized Eric. Lily knew she had seen him, but could not remember anything in particular. She simply hoped Eric would look like Erin well enough and be recognizable due to Daisy's being with him. Unfortunately, there were several such couples of alumni whom the girls had not met before. The Jenkins came along, too. When she saw Carl, Lily was taken aback. He had grown into a man. Right then, Lily was talking to Mark who was getting ready to join the other graduates backstage. She simply stopped talking and froze. Mark turned around, curious to see what had drawn Lily's attention like that. His smile darkened when he noticed Carl. The former football captain noticed them, too and came to say "hi".

"Congratulations, Mark and good luck!" Carl shook Mark's stiff hand. Mark nodded, apologized and joined his friends.

"Lily," smiled Carl when they were alone. "I hear you've made quite a captain. And you won the cup again! I'm happy for you. Indeed."

"Uhm, thanks," said Lily, not knowing what else to say,

"And I hear that my brother had done rather wrong by you. I can't believe he let an adorable girl like you just go away."

"I don't believe you are aware of all facts," said Lily, who did not want to get him under the wrong impression about his own brother. "It was more a case of communication failure. And then it was too late."

"And I hear you're happy again," continued Carl, as if not having heard Lily's last words. "You have a new boyfriend."

"Mark's going away," said Lily curtly. She already felt like putting an end to the conversation.

"He will come back for the ceremony next year. Look at me! I'm here!" Carl winked. Lily felt a sting in her heart.

"Yeah, that's surely a comfort. Here you are, after all."

"By the way, have you met my fiancé?" suddenly Carl turned and beckoned to a girl to approach. "This is Fiona. Fiona, this is Lily Lemonpie. She is the new captain of the football team."

The girl was very pretty and looked almost unreal. She shook hands with Lily, and her hand was soft and loose. Lily hated that.

"The football team?" Fiona exclaimed and turned to Carl, "But surely that position can't be taken by a girl, can it?"

Lily hated her. Carl smiled and said, "Yes, dear. The post is open to all players." Fiona frowned. "Oh, that's so crude. These girls, who play at the team, must be real ruffians."

Lily felt that if she did not leave at once, she would kill that beauty. She WOULD be acting like a true ruffian.

Yet, that was the end-of-year ceremony. Lily was taking her goodbye with Mark and who knew what else. She could not let stupid girls, no matter how beautiful and breath-taking, distract her from it. So, Lily looked at Carl with ill-concealed disgust, followed by contempt.

"I thought he was more than that," she stormed to Veronica and Simona later when they were all seated for the ceremony.

"More what?" asked Simona. "He's a boy. Boys only want one thing from a girl. Obviously, Barbie has it."

"Perhaps not all boys, yet I reckon Simona's right. I'm sorry, too, because he did seem a different kind of boy." said Veronica with a sad smile.

"Not much different from his brother." snapped Lily. Violet, who was sitting on Veronica's other side, overheard it and said. "I'm not proud of it, but I must confirm."

Lily frowned, "I know that I suggested that resemblance, yet I cannot confirm that. Buster was different." Violet widened her eyes, "Do you mean that the two of you haven't..."

"No, wait – that's not the point." Lily tried to walk out of the trap she had opened for herself.

"The point is clear, Lily. Let's keep quiet now. The ceremony is about to begin." said Veronica.

The ceremony was so solemn, that it brought tears to Lily's eyes. She looked aside and saw Simona weep, too. The glitters around the hall were magnificent. Colours changed along with the change of speakers and their respective moods. Juliet had a special trick with doors leading Lily knew not where, and there was one on the stage. It just stood in the middle of the stage and there was nothing on the other side. Yet, it glowed blue or red, purple or crimson and it seemed to pulsate.

When the Headmaster and the class supervisor had finished their speeches, they called the graduates who appeared, one by one, through that very door. Lily gaped in astonishment.

"What's that? Oh, my God!"

"Wow, that's Juliet's doing. She has perfected it." said Veronica with a brief laugh.

Simona giggled, "Yeah, she has. Remember the Halloween fiasco."

"This one certainly works better." Violet whispered from Veronica's other side.

"I wonder how they persuaded the students to get on the other side and even try it, in the first place." Lily scratched her head.

Indeed, all the special tricks Juliet had accomplished with Germina and Antony's help were a huge success. Juliet was beside herself with joy and pride. Lily went to congratulate her on those magical moment she had created. Then she wanted to speak to Germina, but suddenly remembered she had not seen Erin for a while. Not sure she was doing the correct thing, she asked Antony, "Have you seen Erin Sune?" Instead of Antony, it was Germina who answered, "Yeah, she 's over there with Eric and Daisy." and calmly pointed to the far end of the hall. Lily was confused. She must have looked it, for Germina smiled, "What? You didn't know I knew? I knew him the moment they entered."

Lily blinked and she must have had a puzzled look, because Germina patted her on the shoulder laughing, "Lily, love, did you think I was stupid, or what?" She took Antony by the hand and walking away, she said, "I was mistaken. Now I know."

Watching Germina and Antony walk away, Lily felt great relief. Juliet was twittering away happily about her magical work. Lily stayed there to listen and be nice, but in a couple of minutes she really hoped something WILL happen to save her.

And it did! Mark appeared out of the blue, kissed Juliet on the cheek, saying, "You were amazing! A true talent!" Then he took Lily by the hand and away.

"Sorry!" said Lily and sent Juliet an airborne kiss, hurrying away with Mark. At the farthest end of the hall there was a cocktail table of snacks and drinks and Mark was taking Lily to it. They took some bites, then had two cocktails made by Professor Suthern who smiled at Mark giving him the glass and said, "Well, Mark – here's to you and may you have every best luck in your life!"

Lily grabbed her glass and moved away from the professor. Mark told her, "Let's go outside!"

Lily did not know what to expect. She was strangely numb, because she did not know what to do or say, either. Luckily, Mark already had some ideas. He started, "Do you remember what I told you when I kissed you the second time in the dining room?"

Lily closed her eyes, remembering that kiss. "Kiss me," she said. Mark kissed her and then laughed, "That was not it. Do you remember?" he insisted. Lily knew very well. "Yes, I do."

"What was it? Say it!" pushed her Mark.

"OK." agreed Lily. "You said, 'From here...'"

"And then?" Mark urged her on. "Say it."

"OK. Then I said, 'To the end of the school year.'" Lily hated herself. How could she have said it then, and how could she say it now? She closed her eyes and waited. Mark hugged her tight and whispered in her ear, "That was much more than what I'd hoped and prayed for. You made my final months at school matter." He did not let go. Lily said unsurely, "So, that's the end?"

"Of the school year, yes." said Mark. Apparently, he wanted her to take initiative in everything tonight.

"What about us? Is it the end of what we're having?" asked Lily. Mark considered for a while. "I'm leaving. We'll not see each other again for a long time."

Suddenly, Lily felt cold. She wanted to take that self-conceited prick with his new-found confidence and slap him in the face. She trembled with anger. Mark misunderstood that shiver and hugged Lily even tighter.

"Oh, baby," he said, where he had never used that soapy word, "You made me a man. And I'll be forever thankful to you."

Lily was blind with fury. She trembled even harder and made efforts not to hit him when she managed to get off his arms. Mark was still inside his illusion, "Don't worry. You'll find somebody else. Everybody wants you. You're Lily Lemonpie!"

That was it. Lily blacked out and punched him. As they were standing on the terrace, where Mark was leaning against the railing, Lily's punch sent him over it and down in the grass. It was not too high, but it must have hurt. However, Lily did not stay to check on her ex-boyfriend and, still half-blind with fury and humiliation, she crawled back to the hall. She went straight to Professor Suthern who was still mixing his special cocktails.

He seemed to know in a single look. "Oh, Miss Lemonpie, you are back!" said he, nonetheless. "And you look shocked." He added playfully. "Let me mix something for you to bring you back to your true self." He started putting ingredients in a blender. Lily felt a surge of courage and no real chance to go lower in her self-esteem for the night, so she ventured a question, "Professor Suthern, do all men want only one thing?"

The professor looked at her earnestly and said, "Sadly, most do."

Lily must have looked appalled, for he said, " now I've caused you even more shock than you were already in."

He continued with his cocktail mix and when it was ready, he handed Lily a glass, saying, "Yet, some don't."

Later that night the girls had crept out of their Houses to discuss the events of the past weeks.

"That's why I prefer football. There are rules. This game of love is too complex." said Lily, still furious.

"I'm sure Antony is on the second type of boys," chirruped Germina. "Oh, by the way," said she smiling to Erin, "Daisy is very pretty."

Erin just smiled. She dared not speak. Violet, on the other hand, was unstoppable, "Yet, not half as pretty as Antony." She winked, tongue in cheek.

Germina looked around, put her hand on her forehead and said in a deep melodramatic voice, "Oh, no! Here we go again."

That same night when the girls finally went to sleep, and it was, in fact, early morning, Violet jumped when, entering their bedroom, she saw Mark in the window frame.

"Lily, I'll be in the living-room." she sang.

"Mark, what are you doing here?" asked Lily. She was so tired that she did not feel like long conversations and clarifications. She simply wanted to go to bed.

"Lily, I'm sorry!" he said and his voice failed him. Encouraged by that, Lily approached him, then looked out of the window. Mark had brought a ladder with him.

"How long have you been here?" asked she.

"Long enough to show my sincerity."

"You can actually measure that?" Lily's mind was made up.

She said, "Mark, yesterday we agreed it was the end of the school year. That is it! Goodnight." Lily looked out of the window again. "Or, good morning, in fact. And don't miss your ladder on the way down." She turned her back towards him and wanted to call Violet from their lounge.

"So?" said Mark. Lily looked him in the eyes and then at the sky where a tiny silver-edged cloud was sailing. She said, against her own breaking heart:

"It's going to be a rainy summer. Be sure you bring your umbrella."

THE END
