Lil Lily

Just like me, most people are getting really impatient. Usually people behave themselves during morning service since the rules are brutally strict but today everyone is so stirred up. People are whispering, smiling and giggling. Especially Oliver and his group of guys, and Victoria and her group of girls. But it's no surprise. Oliver has an inborn ability to always become the centre of attention which can sometimes, from a little sister's point of view, be quite irritating. He is always the one laughing out the loudest and he always has the funniest jokes. That, plus the fact that he is nice to everyone, is probably why people like him so much. His jokes are one of my favourite qualities about him and often we laugh till we cry. There's no person whom I can laugh with like him. We used to joke a lot about how it seems that Victoria is trying to live by the "How to be a Stereotypical, Rich, Hot, Popular, yet Mean-Spirited Bitch-Handbook" but lately he hasn't really responded to my jokes on that topic. 

Finally the pianist strikes the last chords on the organ and the doors to freedom are opened. People pour out almost as if they were thirsty wanderers in the desert who had suddenly caught sight of a mirage. Now Laura, Oliver and I just have to pick up our suitcases in our rooms and then we will be on our way home. As Laura and I pass through the door I grab her hand and we head towards our room.

"You didn't see the way Oliver was smiling at Victoria, did you?" I ask her almost thoughtfully as I let go of her hand.

"No, I was singing. What was it about the way that he smiled?"

"It just seemed really flirty. He had an almost desirous look in his eyes."

"But Oliver is smiling at everyone all the time. And everyone is smiling desirously at Victoria all the time. So I don't think it really means anything." Laura stated. "Do you?"

"I don't know. I hope not."

Laura pushes the door open to our room. Beside of her made bed, her classic vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases are standing packed and ready. My bed is still scattered with clothes, fashion-, music- and NBA magazines. After Laura and I have stuffed all of my things into my two bags we hurry down to the entrance hall where Oliver is standing among a crowd of his classmates waiting for us. As he sees us trying to drag our suitcases down the marble stairs he and his best friend Lucas hurries up to help us. 

"Are you coming to Nicklas' New Year's party?" Lucas asks me as I hand him one of my bags.

Nicklas is my ex-boyfriend and I've feared that question since we broke up three weeks ago. And now Lucas is asking it. 

 

"Well," I hesitate looking up into Lucas' bright blue eyes. "I'm considering it. I have another option and I haven't decided yet." I lie.

"Oh, but you should really come. Everyone's gonna be there. I'm sure it's gonna be awesome. We'll have a perfect view of the fireworks from his apartment."

"Yeah, I know. I'll think about." I say and smile.

 Jaguars, BMW's and Range Rovers are filling up the wide parking area in front of the school and right there, in between all of the other big, shining, flashy cars, Laura's mom is waving at us through the window of her pitch-black Mercedes. Richard, her driver, places our luggage in the trunk and we're on our way.

"What was up about the way you were constantly smiling and staring at Victoria during the service?" I ask Oliver as we're sitting in the back seat.

"What do you mean Lily?" He asks, with a slight touch of resentment in his voice.

"Come on, you were smiling at her like a child about to open his Christmas gift."

"Haha, I was?"

"Yeah, you were. Why?"

"I won't tell you, Lily."

"Tell it to me then." Laura joins in.

"Okay girls. Do you promise not to tell anyone about this?" Oliver says, looking seriously at both of us.

"You're some of the first persons I tell this to and I don't want you to get jealous but" he makes a rhetorical pause and lowers his voice, still keeping his gaze fixed at us "Victoria has been my secret lover during the past semester. She has been desperate to have an actual relationship with me and now that I'm ready to commit myself we're officially a couple."

Laura and I are speechless. Has my brother kept a secret like this for me for the past half year?

Then he cracks up. 

Thank god.

"Did you guys seriously believe that?" He giggles. Laura blushes and we can't help laughing along. For a second yeah, I actually, seriously believed it. Just then, Manhattan appears on the windshield and Laura grabs the remote and turns up the volume of Lil Wayne's "Let it Rock".

"You're so gullible Lil' Lily" Oliver says smiling.