THREE

I woke up to the sound of noises coming from outside the door.

I rose slowly feeling the weight of exhausted from school and club meetings. There has been so much going on I never get enough sleep, but somehow I feel refresh.

Grabbed my phone off the side table sitting by the ice pack only filled with blue liquid. I removed in between my sleep once I realized the coldness faded. The illuminated screen on my phone shone my eyes I squint to look at the time and saw I have slept for five hours, the school has already ended for today, and not only that but twenty missed call from Effie and 40 texts from Effie and Clark. Then it becomes a group message and everyone and surprisingly Liam wasn't answering all but ask each other where was I. It has seemed they formed a search party for me that I forgot my phone was on silent. That is until one text from Athena had told everyone to shut up and added that I'm here.

Clark isn't here at the moment. He has an early thanksgiving break at Yosemite, camping with his family.

Lucky bastard.

We get four days, and he got two weeks. Must be nice living with lots of money. But Clark didn't seem so happy about it, he didn't want to go, but he was forced to go. I don't know if his family has already known about this cousin and her parent's death - which whom Heather killed them for their money. From what I've learned, Heather had spent so much money to look beautiful for Logan, and it wasn't enough, so she went all out damaging her face just for one guy. One guy!

I can go all out for one guy but spending thousands to change yourself is overrated.

"Logan where is that damn twin of yours!" I heard Effie's voice on the other side, angry.

I sat up and let my feet hang on the edge rubbing my eyes and scratching my head. I didn't know I was this tired.

"How should I know? He's probably in the mall or at some girl's place." That was coming from Logan.

I sat there and listened while they talk about Liam.

"Well, you better tell him to fuckin come home so I can give him an earful of my wrath. I swear that brother of yours is so much worse than you."

"Hey, we are twins we act alike," Logan protested.

"No, you may have been with other girls, but you never think twice to hurt me to push me away. You said it yourself that double date with those two cows was Liam's idea," Effie groaned. "Lily is hurting. I could tell you this morning. It's because of that dumbass twin of yours I couldn't stand to see my best friend hurt." Effie bellowed.

I lift my legs on the bed, touched my ankle to feel nothing, but I wasn't ready to cross the room to open the door, so instead, I crossed my legs and sat Indian style as I rest my head on my hand.

"I know Lily is hurting because of Liam, but he has his reasons."

"Well, he needs to face them, or else if Liam tries to do anything to seduce Lily again and use her as a back-up I will cut his dick off and feed it to my tiger."

"Baby girl, you don't have a tiger," Logan deadpanned, and I chuckled.

"Well, I'll ask grandpa to get me one," Effie suggested. "Name him Shere Khan like from The Jungle Book where he eats a little boy named Liam as a tasty meal."

Isn't the boy's name Mowgli?

"Ro, your overreacting." Logan's voice sound amused by his girlfriend's false declaration of buying a tiger and feeding it with Liam Bits.

"No, I'm serious. I don't know what grandpa said to them inside his office, but once they came out together, the atmosphere between them grew more distant than before." Effie let out a sigh even I could hear inside the room. "I'm worried, Logan."

I sat there listening in and began to stare off to space again. Thinking and wondering if I could give up on Liam.

It was love at first sight for me because I believe in such a crappy fairytale concept.

It's fucking bullshit.

Retook my phone, tap on my Photo app went to my video file, and pressed the first video I ever made when I was fourteen when I transferred all the videos Dad took on our family trips into my computer for editing.

In the footage I was eleven-years-old, and it was winter 2011, my dads and I went to visit Grandma Birdie at Big Bear for the holidays. Three days before Christmas and I hit the slopes, Daddy taught me how to snowboard and was a pro; with a little help from a friend of mine, Mark. It was difficult for me to move with my feet stuck to a longboard and I had to walk like those green toy soldiers from Toys Story including all those thick winter outfits and heavy gear I felt like that monster from The Ghostbusters movie. I have forgotten how many I tripped and fell on my face. It's a habit, I know. But, I kept going because Mark was there helping me.

Damn.

Mark, I saw him on the screen of my phone where he was captured on camera holding both my hands as we slide on the short slopes for practice. He was around sixteen; taller than me, with his golden honey hair, and beautiful brown eyes he wanted to go pro on snowboarding, then to the Olympics. His family owns a shop filled with snow gears and boards. Mark was the nicest guy, he was patient with me while teaching snowboarding, and I had fun being around him even if his childlike behavior sometimes pisses me off as a child. He couldn't stop teasing me.

Daddy Wayne knew his Dad they go way back when Daddy was in a biker gang and got us the hook up with the equipment. Practicing with Mark, I had a blast. It's been a long time since I last talk to him because of his career as a professional snowboarder, he's at the same level as Shaun White. It took me two days to learn it, and I was able to enjoy the lower hills of the snow. Dad had the camera the whole time filming me of my failures and success I couldn't be happier to be here having fun.

The next scene was the night of Christmas Eve; I had the video camera in my hand filming Grandma Birdie baking her homemade sugar cookies that aren't white but brown. Pulling out from the oven I would ask her if she's making reindeer poop cookies - hey, I was a kid, and my grandma told me they were reindeer magic poop cookies like when she made me cupcakes with rainbow icing on top for one of my birthdays and said they were unicorn poop cupcakes.

And I believed her.

The next shot was the following day, Dad had the camera and called me to come down. I laughed once I saw my younger self-running down with my pink onesie with pattern princess crowns. I yelled Merry Christmas and went over to the large Christmas tree that Daddy had purchased. There were so many presents from large to small. I had to open the small ones that only contact clothes and shoes; then medium gifts are toys and dolls. Then lastly, I've waited for the larger one that was twice my size, or maybe not but I was small, so it was taller than me wrapped in a fancy paper and a large red bow in the middle. I tore the wrapping paper and frowned to see it was an old brown trunk box.

I didn't know what it was and why I wasn't given to it by Grandma Birdie. She told me when she was a little girl she too loves wearing princess dresses like her mother with less amount of money made clothes from thrown away scraps. As a kid, I wasn't happy and whined about wanting something else. Spoiled, I know, but I was expecting something I could use forever and what am I going to do with a trunk that looks old it won't look right in my princess room. It will be out of place.

Before I could throw a tantrum, Grandma told me to sit tight, and she unlocks the trunk with a key, and once she opened the two doors and spread them apart, my large brown eyes grew wide and gasped.

Inside the old trunk were dresses made from the most elegant fabric and styled from medieval times of royals and noble, one of the doors behind were shoes to match it, and the other was accessories fit for a princess. I was so stunned I could contain my excitement. The stuff looks so pretty to wear. Grandma said that she and my Dad were able to recreate it into a more appealing look. She said those dresses were once hers just remade them for me. As for the shoes and accessories was a separate deal from some swap-meet store.

I was so happy I couldn't help but cried. Grandma hugged me, as the camera was given to Daddy as my other dad joined the hug, kissed the top of my head as I say thank you to both of them for such a wonderful gift.

I smiled.

That was the first video I made from that trip using a software program that sucks at uploading before the new MacBooks were invented.

There were other videos I made from all of our trips, from going to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, and many more. I made those videos into a music video that runs on a fifteen-minute limit. It took a while to edit and decide on certain things, but once I showed them to my dads, they loved it. I have my own YouTube account and upload those videos to have it up there. I learned a bit of video editing once I had my laptop and I have fun with it. But it was a hobby of mine and the school does have a film club but it's all nerds talking about comic books and Star Wars, and no girls allowed.

They act like they are fucking children.

I joined the gardening club for a reason because the film club is near and I could see them working on nothing but their own life; eating, video games, watching porn. Yeah, I would see them watch adult nudity. I don't know why they made a club where they can sit their asses down doing nothing. I could do so much better than them, I can come up with ideas within a second, and these nerds are just doing whatever they want.

I locked my phone, inhaled through my nose while leaning back on the bed, and sighed looking up at the ceiling.

I heard a knock on the made me rise as my heart jump but was a relief to see Effie's face. "Hey, Lily. How are you?" She casually entered her room as if its a stranger's.

"I'm okay," I muttered. "I had a headache and sprang my ankle. I needed to rest, so I came here." I slowly lift my eyes at her.

"Yeah, Athena told me. Does it still hurt?" Looking down at my foot.

"I'm fine; I just need to put pressure." I sighed. Effie, I'm sorry I snapped at you. It's just...I've been so stressed out with school, the club, the musical, my grandparents...Liam." I mentioned his name last.

Effie took my hand. "Lily, you don't have to apologize. I get it. It's hard multitasking with your personal life and your education."

I stayed silent looking down at my other hand.

"Lily, "I get the feeling that she's going to talk about you-know-who? "About Liam, he's a nice guy it's just that-"

"Effie, don't say anything," cutting her off mid-sentence. "He and I...okay."

"Okay?" Effie frowned and confused. "I know it was quite a shock seeing how my grandpa just put you two on the spotlight in front of everyone including your now ex-fiancé." She paused and tilted her head. "What did my grandfather said to the both of you?"

After the whole ordeal of being Liam's fiancé, Odin has told us not to tell anyone including his grandchildren.

I pinch my lips.

I have the urge to tell her because she's my best friend and I could tell her everything because she understands me completely. But, I promise Odin and I can't break it to ruin this play. I have to lie to her, and it makes my stomach churn for lying to the only friend who gets me.

"Nothing, just," I was becoming hesitant, but I came up a quick lie to fool her, but this is Effie, she will know I'm hiding things from her. "It seems that Odin knows my great-grandfather while doing business and it seems they made a promise to have your dad and my mom together," I watch Effie's eyes stare at me. "But since your dad left, and my mom was with someone it didn't work out so, they have me and Liam to make that promise."

"But, Liam isn't my grandfather's kid? How does your great-grandfather know if you haven't met him." Effie asked, confused, and suspicious.

I know this lie Odin made me figure it out was a bad idea. She caught on, and I know the more I open my mouth, the more she's going to remember her grandfather had lied to Kareem and everyone else to get me off a marriage I did not want in the first place.

"Well..." I tried to avoid eye-contact, but Effie started to move her body towards me keeping her silver eyes lock into mine. Her short hair that she had cut from beginning a fresh new life after the incident as it falls forward her face. I lean back as I could, but my back hit the bed frame.

I'm fucked.

"Lily," her tone of voice became serious. "I know your lying."

"W-What are you talking about?"

"People lie when they move their eyes to the left, and that is what you're doing right now."

"I'm not lying," I protest. "It's just..." I swallowed hard.

"Oh, come on Lily," she sat back and rose up from the bed. "You and I are best friends, we formed this bond over our similarities, and you could not tell me the truth. Do you take our friendship as a joke?"

"No!" I got up and exhaled sharply. "Effie, I'm so happy your my best friend without you I thought I'd be just the girl who has two dads."

"Then tell me," she grips my shoulders. "What did my grandfather said to you and Liam?"

I let out another shape exhale and sat back down on the bed, upset. "Okay, fine."

The bed move as Effie sat next to me.

"Your grandfather just saved me from an unhappy marriage. He suggested that Liam and I were engaged in fooling my grandparents. He will have one of his lawyers talk to them about this arrangement."

"Why do I get a feeling there is a but?"

I scratched the back of my neck and massage as if it aches. "Liam asked Odin, that does he need to be intimate with me, of course, to fool the Naval and my grandparents. He told Odin that he and I...were friends."

It hurts.

So much. I hate repeating those sentences over and over to remind myself that Liam does not want me.

I heard Effie let out a shaky breathe when I look up to see her eyes turn dark.

Uh oh!

Effie slowly rose. I grabbed her hand quickly before she storms out and causes a hurricane. "Effie, don't!"

"Liam has just crossed the line," she bellowed. "I can not believe...the nerve of that guy."

I watched her chest rise and fall, angry and upset at the same time. "Effie, Effie," I pulled her down back on the bed. "It's okay."

"No, it's not okay." She yelled but not at me, she's yelling because of Liam. "How can my grandfather agreed with him. How could he-"

"Odin gave five days for his lawyer to talk to my grandparents," I said. "There are two days left, and I have not heard a word from them."

"What is my grandpa thinking?" She exhaled and grunt. "I don't even know how he knew you like Liam."

"Wait, you didn't tell him?" I arch a brow.

"No, I was in my room the whole time and with Logan, as we...okay I'm going to say it - have sex."

Now both of my brows shot straight up.

"Yeah, that day we finally did it." She sounded proud and happy.

"Well if you didn't tell him then who did?" I asked with a smile watching she blushed. Effie shrugged.

"That would be me." Effie and I didn't notice the door open when Seth pop himself leaning against the doorframe. "I told him, Lily."

"What? Why?"

How does he know?

Okay, yeah they are brothers they probably share everything including the women.

Ugh! Men.

"Because I saw how much you care about my baby brother. Not only me but everyone else here knew how Liam angry with that fiancé of yours."

"Ex-fiancé," Effie corrected him.

"I never saw him act that way for any girl." Seth continued and crossed his arms. "I mean, with you he seems comfortable, and you guys share the same hobby like computers."

"Wow, way to bring out the racial slurs, Seth." Effie scoffed.

Seth waves his hand. "Anyways, when my brother talks about computers some of the ladies aren't interested, they don't like a brainiac."

"Seth, you should have asked permission from Lily," Effie said.

"Hey, I understand why Liam wanted to fake this whole arrangement. Yeah, I heard everything from the start. Don't worry I'll keep it a secret." He presents to zip his lips, with an invisible key and threw it behind him as promised. But I doubt his personality he's eager to yell to the world. But with something dire, I know he can keep it a secret.

"Thanks, Seth." I smiled at him.

"No worries, but thank for you not letting Effie go because Liam is here and I would just stay away."

My heart jump.

"He's here," I whispered.

"It's about time," Effie rose, all confidence and ready for a shakedown.

She changed. A lot and I never been so proud Of her to be herself again. We had the same preschool and never had once talk with each other because she was very popular with her beautiful looks and voice I didn't have the chance to say hello.

Not that changed in high school, and I was able to become partners in Mrs. Bloomfield's class and hit it off from there. I helped her to be herself again. And meeting Logan develops in her social interaction I must say I helped too.

"Effie," stopping her again. "I'll just go home."

"What? But, we need to confront Liam."

"I'll go and warn Liam to stay away from you, Effie," Seth chuckled nervously and left down the hall.

"I appreciate, really I do but let me handle it," I assured her with a small smile, almost serious. "If Liam doesn't want to be intimate with me then that's fine. I...no longer have feelings for him." Tears already build-up, but I kept on that smile.

"Lily, don't say things that you don't mean. You have to fight this. I know you have strong feelings for him," Effie pleaded as my life depends on it to make a difficult decision.

But my mind has made up. If that's what he wants, then it's time for me to move on and focus on essential things than falling in love with a boy.

"It's okay," I choked out my words and sniffled. "If God didn't want me to have a guy like Liam then he had other plans for me. I'll just have to wait, and when everything is settled, then I'll let him go."

"Lily-"

I walk out before Effie can confide me from leaving and face Liam. But enough is enough. I don't want to be unhappy with him. It's sucks that I'm close to having an unhappy marriage when I'm unhappy with my relationship with Liam.

I walked past the living room with the loud noise seeing the Wolfe brothers and the older Reid siblings playing Jenga. I stop for a bit and saw Seth sitting behind Liam who was on the floor and eyed me then point at his brother. I shook my head, and he frowned. My foot still stings I hissed softly, but not as many thanks to Athena I carefully put on my shoes that I had placed by the door, a tradition that Effie and her siblings do, and picked up my bag.

"Oh, Lily, your up. How are you feeling?" I jerk my head up to see Athena then my eyes avert to the boys looking at me, except for one person.

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Will you stay for dinner, I'm making meatloaf, and it's my mama's special recipe."

"Yes! I love your meatloaf," Don exclaimed, fisting the air. When he yelled, the whole wood blocks suddenly fell when Logan pulled one under to keep the balance.

"Damn it, Don." Logan snarled at his older brother.

"Yeah, I have to make three meatloaves for all your fatass," they all grunts, and Athena look back at me. "So will you stay?"

"Thank, but I have to get home," I told her feeling bad I can't stay.

"Oh, okay. But what are you doing for Thanksgiving? Since it's only two weeks away. A day before the holiday is Seth's birthday and we are planning to go to Morongo to spend the weekend there. I've already reserved two cabanas for us to use at the pool. And I'm sure Effie would like to invite you to come. It's going to be fun."

I glance over Athena's shoulder to see Liam still looking the other way.

There is nothing special with Thanksgiving in my family we mostly stay home and have a nice meal. Then I would spend the rest of my break reading books, gardening, or read more books to kill past times.

"Sorry, my dads and I are going to visit my grandma at Big Bear that weekend."

I hate lying. I hate people lying to me, and It just makes me so mad, even for myself to lie.

But it's the only way out of it so I won't have to be a pest to Liam.

"Oh, cool that sounds fun. I haven't been to Big Bear the last time I was there was when my mom pregnant with Ares, and it was the worst because on the way my mom was already in labor and she gave birth to that big head in the car."

"I heard that," Ares bellowed making everyone laughed, except Liam.

God!

I should go. He's not happy I'm here.

"Okay, that's nice." I saw my keys with the small Minnie Mouse keychain wearing a Belle's dress on the table near the door and grabbed it. "Sorry, I got to go. Thanks for icing my ankle."

"Are you sure you can drive?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks again," I went outside, hugging myself in the freezing night as I head to the car. Inside I turned the engine and out the heat in high. I drove out of their parking lot and headed home. After twenty-five minutes later I unlocked the door.

"Oh, pumpkin, your home early. I thought you would stay until eight?"

I saw my Dad in the kitchen, and Daddy sat in the living room on his large recliner chair snoring while watching some sport on TV.

"No, we have to end early."

"Lily, what happened to your feet?"

I stop midway before I could hide in my room. "Oh, while rehearsing I slipped and fell - sprang it.." Letting out a nervous laugh. My Dad was already at my side and concerned plastered his face looking down at my right foot. "Don't worry, Athena applied an ice pack."

So much for hiding it. I thought of walking to my room without getting noticed, but my Dad has a sharp eye for these things.

"Well, it looks okay. You just need to be careful next time."

"I will Dad."

"Okay, dinner is almost done. We are feasting on Mexican tonight." He walked back to the kitchen, and in front of the stove, he stirs something inside the pot. "I'm making Chicken Tortilla soup, Spanish Rice, Mexican Casserole, Crusted Pork Tenderloin, and your Daddy's favorite Tres Leches."

All of those sound so good, but right now my stomach isn't feeling the Mexican vibe. "Sorry Dad, I'm not hungry. I already ate at Effie's house, plus I have to study for my math test this Thursday."

Dad turn and looked at me with a frown. "Oh, well you're missing out. I will leave some leftovers for you if you ever get hungry."

"Thanks, goodnight," I left my room quickly, shut my door, and locked it. Threw my bag on the floor and kicked off my shoes as I jumped onto my bed facing down and stayed there.

I didn't want to make my Dad sad I'm not able to eat his delicious meals, but right now my stomach is protesting. All it wants for me is to die of starvation, but I didn't want that I have to eat.

I turn my head only looking at the brown trunk I had pulled out from the attic yesterday. It was heavy, and there was no one else helping. I woke up one morning decided to pull out the old trunk and placed it in my room as decor. I haven't opened it since. I just fucking staring at it. It's not because it has been up in the attic for a long time and probably have spider babies, I don't have the strength to go through memory lane.

I grunt, then grabbed my pillow, smash my face into it and scream my heart out.