The Ticklish Farewell: Part 2

The late afternoon sun sent long shadows across the bright blue ocean as Kyle made his way across the pier. Every sense was on high alert as he searched for any sign of Lilly. He knew her better than anyone and he felt certain that if she was going to go anywhere, it would be here...Lilly had always ran here whenever she was upset.
   More than once Kyle had found her here whenever someone or something made her mad and she wanted some time to herself. Lilly always came to the pier because she loved the salty air, the fishing, the people--everything. It was where she could think clearest.
   When at last he reached the end of the pier, Kyle walked right over to the very edge. Before he could get any further, however, a gentle hand suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
   “Careful, mister!”
   Kyle looked back in surprise to find a young boy holding onto his arm.
   “I’m fine, little dude,” Kyle assured him. “Trust me, I’ve done this tons a times.”
   The boy looked skeptical. “You’re not supposed to jump off a the pier, you could get eaten by a shark or somethin’!”
   Kyle raised an eyebrow at him incredulously. “I think I’ll be okay, kid.”
   The boy started to argue, but seemed to think better of it. He let go of Kyle’s arm and backed off, though he didn’t seem happy about it.
   With an amused grin, Kyle turned back to the giant blue ocean...and stepped off of the pier.
   He fell for a millisecond before his feet hit something hard. Immediately he went into a crouch to absorb the shock of the fall.
   “Are you dead?!” the boy called from above him.
   Kyle waved his hand in a show that he was alive. “I told ya I’d be fine!”
   “Awesome!”
   Kyle shook his head. What a weird kid.
   With a tired sigh, he turned and began weaving his way through the spiderweb of beams, walking along the eight foot long wooden pathway that led deep into the depths of the pier’s base. He could hear the ocean waters crashing below him as he went, but he didn’t dare look down. His feet ached at the thought of how high up he was...looking down would give him a heart attack.
   The old pathway had once served as a dock where fishermen would come to cast out their lines, or haul in nets back in the early nineteenth century. As the town had begun to thrive, however, the area had been bought out by one of the big business owners. He had had then turned the place into a pier for tourists. However, they had never torn down the old dock, so it was still here, sitting beneath the pier like an ancient echo of the past.
   If you didn’t know it was here, you’d never even see it. It was a closely guarded secret of the very few people who knew about it. As far as he knew, only he and a select few others even knew it existed...Lilly was the one who had shown it to him. How she had known about was still a mystery, though.
   When at last he reached the center of the pier, where several beams converged into one massive structural spine-like support, Kyle grabbed onto the nearest one and began climbing. His heart raced as he climbed higher. His hands sweat at the thought of how high he was going. Above him, he could see the small square platform that was his target.
   Finally, he grabbed onto one of the supports that kept the platform attached to the central beam and hoisted himself up onto the wooden square, where he immediately rolled over on his back, panting with both fear and slight exhaustion...he always hated climbing up here.
   “It’s about time you got here…”
   Kyle winced at the pain in her voice.
   Lilly sat with her legs pulled close to her chest. She had tied her long hair back in a ponytail, allowing her bangs to hang down a little. In the cool ocean air, she had on her old purple hoodie that she always wore and her worn out blue jeans and black boots. Her eyes were red and puffy and her cheeks were stained with tears...she’d been crying.
   “Lilly...are you okay?” he asked dumbly. What else could he say, though?
   Lilly wiped her eyes. “Yeah...I’m fine.” With a deep breath, she looked him straight in the eye. “So...you’ve got something you wanna tell me?”
   Kyle gulped. “You’re the one that said you wanted to talk…”
   Lilly shook her head. “Don’t be a smartass, Kyle...I’m not in the mood for it right now. How much of an idiot do you think I am, huh? I know whenever you’re hiding somethin’ from me...and I know when someone’s planning...on leaving me behind.”
   A pang of guilt shot through his chest as more tears streamed down Lilly’s cheeks. She quickly threw her arm over her face and tried to dry them as quickly as they came, but it was no use.
   Hesitantly, Kyle scooted close to her and tried to put his arm around her, but the second he touched her, Lilly shoved him away.
   “Don’t touch me!” she snapped.
   Kyle ignored her and pulled her close anyway. Lilly didn’t resist. Instead, she plunged her head into his chest and sobbed, her warm tears seeping into his shirt.
   I did this… He sighed and squeezed the sobbing brunette. And I have to fix it…
   “Lilly…” he whispered in her ear. “Lilly, look at me…”
   For a moment, Lilly continued to sob into his shirt, but at last she looked up. “Whu-ut?”
   In answer, Kyle kissed her.
   Their kiss lasted only a few brief seconds before Lilly pulled away and glared at him. “Who...do you think you are?”
   Kyle winced at the harshness of her tone. “Somebody that doesn’t want you to get hurt…”
   “So to keep from getting hurt, you’re gonna hurt me?”
   Kyle wiped a tear from her cheek and nodded solemnly. “Basically. I’m goin’ to another country, Lil...I can’t leave you here all by yourself...I don’t wanna leave you waiting for me...what if  I don’t come back? What if somethin’ happens to me? What if I change? College changes people...I don’t want you to be left here waiting for-”
   Lilly smacked him in the face so hard the sound echoed.
   “You’re such an idiot…” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Do you really think you can just make a decision like that all by yourself? Did you ever stop to consider how I feel about it? You know you can talk to me about anything, Kyle...so why’d you keep this from me?”
   Kyle stared at her in silence, still in shock from the stinging pain in his cheek. “I...I just...wanna keep you safe…”
   Lilly rolled her eyes. “Kyle, I’m not a china doll! I’m a lot tougher than I look...you know that. It takes a lot more than a little time apart from you to hurt me.”
   That was true. Lilly was far from clingy. Kyle could probably go off for weeks and not say a word to her, and she would be fine. Of course when he got back, she would grill him with questions and wanna be with him as much as she could, but if he had somewhere to go or somewhere to be, she wouldn’t try and hang off of him.
   It was one of the many things he loved about her.
   Lilly let out an exhausted breath and leaned against him. “You know I want the best for you, dude. I don’t ever wanna see you hold yourself back for me. I want you to make somethin’ of yourself, and I’ll do the same...even if we go our separate ways for now...you know I’ll always be here when you get back.”
   Kyle’s heart pulsed at those words and an old memory suddenly flashed through his mind.
   No matter how far you go, we’ll always be here when you get back, Tom.
   Kyle’s father stood in the doorway, a bag in his hand. That’s not fair to you, though...I’m never around for the kids...they probably hate me for it…
   Kyle's mom smiled sweetly and looked over her shoulder to where Kyle and Claire watched from behind the kitchen wall.
   I wouldn’t worry about that. They love you...just like I love you. No matter where you go, or how long it takes you to get back, I’ll always be here. You know that...
   “Kyle?”
   Kyle shook the memory away and looked back at Lilly. “Yeah?”
   Lilly gently took his hand and placed it on her side. “Can you do me two favors?”
   “Of course...”
   Lilly smiled and slid down so that her head rested in his lap. “First; I want you to promise me that, no matter what happens over there in Ireland, you’ll come back to me whenever you get the chance. As long as I know I’ll see you again, I’ll be fine. I promise.”
   Kyle nodded hesitantly. “Okay...I promise I’ll come back...but are you sure?”
   Lilly punched him in the gut. “It took me forever to get you to ask me out--yeah I'm sure! Worked my ass off, man...I’m not lettin’ you go without a fight.”
   “Okay…”
   Even as the word left his lips, Kyle felt the enormous weight on his chest lift and fly away and for the first time in weeks, he was able to breathe again. Lilly really was amazing. In just a few minutes, she had completely resolved the issue he’d been stressing over for weeks upon weeks...maybe he was a little dramatic...but still...he couldn’t force the image of Lilly standing alone out of his mind.
   “And second…” With a playful smile she took his hands and put them on her stomach. “I...kinda need a little pick-me-up…” Her cheeks turned bright red and she looked away from him, completely embarrassed.
   “Why, Lilly Thompson...are you asking me to tickle you?” he inquired.
   Lilly’s blush grew even larger. “Don’t get any ideas...it’s just this once…”
   Kyle grinned. “Well, it’s not really as fun if you ask for it...but…” He immediately dug his fingers into her sensitive belly, ensuring to wiggle his forefingers into her bellybutton.
   “Nnnngh!” Lilly bit her lip and jerked to the right. “No fahahahahair! Aaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Cheater! I-hehehehehehe wahahahahasn’t reheady!”
   “You asked for it, though,” he reminded her. “That was a pretty dumb thing to do, Lil...now I know you wanna be tickled...so now I can tickle you for as long as I feel like.”
   “Naahooohohohoooo!” Lilly squealed as his teasing fingers found their way to the base of her ribs. “Aahahahahahahahaha! Regret! Regreheheheheet! Aaaah! Uncle! Uncle! Stooohohohoooooop! I gotta peeheheheheheheheeeheheee!”
   Kyle raised an eyebrow at her incredulously. Did she really think he’d fall for that? His heart felt like a swelling balloon as he tickled her, every squeal made his heart pulse with pure joy. It had been some time since he had felt this good...he didn’t have to lose his sweet Lilly, after all...that was like a blessing from heaven.
   What about Lilly, though?
   What was she feeling? Was she really okay with him leaving her behind? Even if she wasn’t clingy, no matter how loyal she was...she would still be lonely here all by herself. Wasn’t it selfish of him to go off and chase his dreams without her? When you loved someone, weren’t you supposed to want them by your side through it all? How could he claim to love Lilly...if he could just run off like that? What right did he have to treat her that way? Lilly was still human...even if she tried to hide it, Kyle knew that she was hurting…
   For the life of her, though, she wouldn’t show it. Anything to keep him from feeling guilty...and that wasn’t right.
   “Haaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Quit ihihihihihiiit! Nehehehehehehehehehe! Stoooohohoooop!” Lilly giggled and squirmed around in his lap, but it wasn’t nearly as satisfying as before.
   Abruptly, Kyle stopped tickling Lilly.
   Immediately she sucked in an enormous breath of oxygen and fell limp in his lap. “You’re...evil…"
   Kyle nodded in agreement. “Probably.”
   Lilly noted the change in his tone and she immediately sat up so that she was looking him in the eye. “What now?”
   Kyle grimaced at her. He hated being such a drama queen...but…
   “I don’t like you sacrificing your happiness for me, Lilly...I wanna be with you, I really do...but...how is it fair that I get all this good stuff in life and you don’t? That’s not fair. If I have to leave  you behind, then what’s the point? All the money in the world wouldn’t make me happy without you there to share it with me…” He sighed and leaned back against the beam behind his back. “Why’s everything gotta so damn complicated…?”
   Lilly let out a sigh that said: What an idiot… and scooted closer to him.
   “You’re seriously too nice, dude. You’d give up everything just so that you could be with me? Your entire chance of being a success? Just so you could be with me? Is that really it?”
   Kyle nodded. “Yes...I’d do anything to make you happy…”
   Lilly was shaking her head before he’d even finished. “Yeah, you would...but that’s not why you’re so conflicted. You feel bad for me, right? You wanna be here with me so that I’ll feel good and be happy, right?”
   He nodded.
   “Then you should go, stupid! Nothing would make me happier than to see you fly like you’ve always wanted to. You’ve given up so much in your life so that everyone else around you could be happy, so now it’s time to make yourself happy…” She hugged him tightly again, pressing her cheek against his chest. “Please...you’ve done enough already...you made my life an adventure...you were there for me when I had no one else to turn to…you saved me, okay? I can do it on my own now. I’m not that little girl you met back then...I’m strong now. I trust you enough to let you go to another country...with redheads…”--She pouted up at him--“your favorite!”
   Kyle blushed and looked away in embarrassment… “Guilty…”
   “Exactly…but I know you’ll come back to me...so will you go? Please?”
   He drew in a heavy breath. Would he? Could he leave Lilly here all by herself? Would she be okay? He felt confident that she would be fine, but there was a nagging feeling in his heart that he hadn’t done all that he was supposed to...it couldn’t be that easy...there was still something missing. The final piece of the puzzle that would finally fix this problem once and for all…
   “I’ll go…” he said at last. “But before I do...there’s somebody I need to see…”

Lilly glared at Kyle from the other side of the couch. She had been pouting like that all day long, and he felt sure that she would continue to be mad for some time to come...but it was a sacrifice he had to make. This was something that needed to be done. Something he’d needed to do for a long time, but had been far too scared to go through with…
   As always, Kyle hadn’t slept a wink the night before, but this time it wasn’t his nightmares that had kept him awake...but rather his nervous anticipation of today. Lilly had stayed with him again last night--she hadn’t slept much, either. Kyle knew that her every sense was in overdrive and that she was spring-loaded, ready to attack at the first chance she got.
   “Are you sure you wanna be here for this?” he asked.
   Lilly nodded without hesitation. “Definitely...somebody’s gotta be here to keep you in line...I’ve seen how you swoon...your heart pumps puppy piss, Ky-Ky...if I’m not here...she’ll take you back…”
   Kyle wanted to deny it, but in his heart he knew that it was the truth. There was only one other person in this world besides Lilly that knew him that well. The only other person on the entire planet that could turn him on like a light switch. The only other one who knew how to push his buttons in just the right sequence to get past his natural defenses...the only other person who had ever earned his love…
   The knock on the door drew Kyle back to reality and he immediately jumped to his feet, acting on pure instinct. All the air seemed to flow out of his lungs as he made his way to the door numbly...this was really happening…
   He had played the situation over and over in his head the entire day before...but now that he was here...he wasn’t sure if he could really go through with it?
   Before he could change his mind, he opened the door…
   And was greeted by an angel.
   She was dressed in a simple white tank-top, blue jean shorts and black flip-flops. Her long, flowing red hair was still parted on the right, allowing her bangs to fall across the right side of her face, covering her eye ever so slightly. It must have been down to her butt now. In the early morning light, it looked like deep, red, burning lava. She still had those same cute little freckles flecked across her little button nose and she still smiled in that same way, like she had something evil planned.
   The sight of her sent Kyle’s heart racing.
   “Kyle!” Mia exclaimed, her greenish blue eyes sparkling with pure elation.
   “H-Hey...Mia…” he stammered nervously.
   Mia looked past him curiously. “You gonna invite me in? Or do you wanna talk outside?”
   He stepped aside and waved her through the door. “Right! Come on in!”
   “Sweet…” She walked inside and looked around curiously. “Still looks the same as the last time I was here...don’t you guys ever redecorate?” She stopped immediately when she saw Lilly. “Lilly? Is that you?”
   Lilly’s eyes burned with the fury of an enraged demon. “Hey...Mia…”
   Mia seemed to sense the murder in the air and she quickly moved behind Kyle.
   Kyle gave Lilly a stand down look and the brunette immediately folded her arms across her chest angrily and looked away, pouting like a toddler.
   Once he was sure that Lilly wouldn’t rip her head off, he guided Mia over to the couch and sat down between the two girls, putting himself right in the line of fire.
   Kyle had been a bit of a player for most of his life, so he still remembered lesson number one; Hell hath no fury...like a woman scorned. He knew that by bringing his first love and his current love together in the same place and then sitting between them was a recipe for an ass-beating.
   There was a reason women were called cats whenever they fought...you couldn’t put two women together without them fighting--not for long. Kyle had learned that the hard way...and getting between two women who were fighting was the absolute worst thing you could ever do. They’d stop beating on each other and kick your ass instead.
   That was a risk he was willing to take, though. For Lilly’s sake.
   For a long while the three of them sat in awkward silence.
   Lilly glared a hole through Mia, and Mia just tried her best not to look at her or Kyle. Instead, she kept her focus firmly on the ground.
   Kyle followed her gaze and, not by accident, found her cute feet awaiting him. They were a little smaller than he remembered, a size seven by the look of them--the same as Lilly’s. Each one of her toes were long and tinted slightly red, strawberry toes. Her nails were painted a bright neon blue, making them stand out quite drastically. Had she done that on purpose?
   Suddenly Kyle felt something heavy land in his lap.
   He looked down curiously...and found Lilly’s bare feet resting there.
   When he looked up at her...he was greeted with a glare that would’ve have sent the Grim Reaper running back to his mama.
   It was a look that said one thing and one thing only: Touch her feet and I’ll tear your manhood off…
   Kyle gulped and immediately began rubbing Lilly’s soft arches.
   With an exaggerated sigh of pleasure, Lilly leaned back on the arm of the couch and closed her eyes, smiling blissfully. She wiggled her toes, obviously directed at Mia, exposing her deep violet nail polish that accentuated her own peachy toes cutely.
   Kyle looked over at Mia apologetically and shrugged helplessly. He wanted her to know that Lilly wasn’t always like this, but he couldn’t say that--not with Lilly’s feet in prime position for a ball-squashing.
Suddenly everything seemed to come to light...now that Mia was here...back in his life…
   What the hell do I do now?!
   Kyle had never been one to think things completely through. Lilly was his girlfriend...Mia was his ex...he couldn’t have both of them in his life at the same time. That was just a recipe for disaster.
   Mia seemed to be getting more and more uncomfortable by the second. It was obvious that she didn’t want to be in the middle of this anymore than Kyle did.
   He was going to have to do something about it…
   “Lilly…” he said hesitantly.
   Lilly opened one eye. “Hmm?”
   With a deep breath, he pointed to the door. “Can I talk to you...outside?"
   Mia seemed surprised and started to get up with them, but Kyle quickly held up a hand to forestall her. “We’ll just be a minute.”
   “Oh...okay…” She sat back down awkwardly.
   Kyle guided Lilly outside and shut the door behind them. The second they were alone, Lilly threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him, like a baby monkey holding onto its mother, and plunged her face into his shoulder. Thank god she wasn’t crying...but she was still upset.
   Oh boy…
   “What’s got into you, Lil?” he asked, stroking her back tenderly. “This isn’t like you.”
   Lilly shrugged and let go of him. When she looked at him, it was the same look she’d given him underneath the pier…
   “I’m just...a little jealous…” she muttered, refusing to look him in the eye. “I mean, I know why you brought her here, and I’m okay with it...but...she’s just so...perfect… She’s got everything you love, dude! The red hair, the freckles, the blue eyes, even medium-sized boobs! Not too busty, not too little--just right. Even her freakin’ feet are perfect! You’re type is so hard to find! That’s why I’m never jealous...‘cause finding a girl to fit your standards is next to impossible, but she’s perfect! I-”
   Kyle put a hand on her shoulder to stop her ranting. “You’re the one I love, Lil. Mia knows that. She’s not the heartless man-stealing hoe you wanna believe her to be. Now, that might be my mushy heart talkin’, but...”
   “Mhm.” Lilly raised an eyebrow. “Keep goin’, loverboy…”
   “Well...I don’t think she’s a bad person, I never have. I mean, she nearly gave me a mental breakdown, but I’ve only guarded my heart like Fort Knox since then...because I didn’t wanna admit that  I still had feelings for her…‘cause  I do...I’ll always love her…”
   “This isn’t makin’ me feel better…”
   “You’ll like this part,” he assured her. “Even if I still love Mia...that doesn’t mean she owns my heart--she’s got a place in there, sure, but that’s it. Would I die for her? Absolutely…but I’d die for all my friends. You know what makes you different from Mia and makes me love you?”
   “My gentle nature?” she inquired.
   Kyle grinned and held back a laugh. “I'm serious, Lil.”
   Lilly waved his seriousness aside. “Yeah, yeah.”
   Kyle shrugged and started back for the door. “Well, if you don’t wanna know, then that’s fine…” He had barely gotten two inches when Lilly suddenly grabbed his hand and jerked him back. When he looked back at her, her cheeks were puffed up and she was pouting in a way that he found incredibly adorable. “You wanna know?”
   Lilly nodded. “Yes...jerk…”
   Kyle smiled and looked up at the roof of the porch thoughtfully. “Well...I think the main reason that I love you is-”
   Suddenly the door flew open and Mia came rushing out. She saw Kyle and Lilly and immediately dove behind them both, hiding behind Lilly. Whatever was chasing her must have been bad for her to hide behind Lilly. That was like how the Germans ran to the American soldiers rather than the Russians after the death of Hitler and the crumble of the Nazi regime. There could be only one reason...whatever was after Mia was a hell of a lot worse than Lilly…
   As if on cue, Claire suddenly burst out of the house, her eyes burning like a crazed bull. “Where’d she go?”
   Instinctively Kyle put himself between both Lilly and Mia. “Back off.”
   Claire rounded on him. “What the hell’s wrong with you?! You can’t bring her back here! Not after what she did to you!”
   “It’s not really your business what I do…” he reminded her.
   Before Claire had a chance to knock him clean across the block, a familiar man came out the door behind her and grabbed the crazy girl around the waist.
   “You’d better get goin’, dudes!” Ethan exclaimed as Claire struggled against his iron grip. “Ya know when she gets like this, there ain’t no stoppin’ her!”
   Kyle knew for a fact that was true…
   “Lilly. Take Mia and get outta here.”
   Lilly didn’t question him. She knew that Claire would hunt them all down if Kyle went with them...he was going to deal with his psycho sister.
   “Let’s go…” Lilly guided Mia down the steps and out the driveway. The second she reached the sidewalk, she turned back and called to him. “Come find us when you get this settled! You know where to find me!”
   Kyle nodded silently and they both made their way down the sidewalk and out of sight.
   That only seemed to make Claire more angry.
   “What the hell, Kyle?! You can’t just let ‘er get away!” She struggled harder and elbowed Ethan in the stomach several times, but the muscular man didn’t even bat an eyelash. “Lemme go, Ethan!”
   Ethan shook his head and grinned jovially at Kyle. “Ain’t she just the cutest?”
   “...Sure…”
   'Cute’ wasn’t exactly the word Kyle would use to describe Claire. Ever since they were little kids she had tried to pick fights with anyone that came near him. She was protective, sure, but sometimes she was a little too protective. He wasn’t a child anymore...and she needed to face that fact. Her behavior had gotten more than a little out of hand…
   This had to stop. Now.
   There was no talking to Claire like this, though. She wouldn’t listen to a word he had to say.
   Ethan, having dated the psycho for a few years now, seemed to know what needed to be done ahead of time.
   “AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Claire suddenly busted out laughing as Ethan wriggled his fingers into her delicate ribcage, driving the angry brunette into a fit of girlish laughter that belied her true vicious nature. “STOHOHOHOHOOOOP! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU JERK! AAAAAH! NOT THERE! NOT THEHEHEHEHEHEEEEERE!”
   Ethan smiled at Claire lovingly as he slipped his hands underneath her shirt and found her sensitive belly button. Kyle knew that he loved tickling Claire. The two were a lot alike, actually. Ethan was a tickler and foot fetisher, same as Kyle. He was a free spirit, one that wandered the world as he pleased, just like Kyle wanted to. He hardly ever came around...and yet he was still able to keep Claire happy. He came back whenever he got the chance, and sometimes he even paid for Claire to go to him.
   He loved her…
   Watching the two of them, Kyle was reminded of how he and Lilly used to be...back before all this college crap had ruined everything.
   “AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GET OHOHOOOFF A MEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!” Claire laughed and squirmed, desperately trying to escape.
   “Aww, you’re so cute when ya laugh, CB.” Ethan grinned over at Kyle and nodded towards the front door of the house. “Ya mind, bro? Don’t want the whole neighborhood seein’ Little Miss Tough is ticklish. It’d ruin her image, ya know?”
   Kyle opened the door for him and he quickly walked inside, carrying the laughing brunette with him as he went, as if she weighed nothing at all.
   Once they were inside, Kyle turned back and started to chase after Lilly and Mia, they couldn’t have gotten too far away. However, just as his foot hit the porch, a sharp whistle stopped him in his tracks.
   Looking back, he saw Ethan sitting on the couch, still tickling Claire, who by now was turning a brilliant shade of red.
   “I think you oughta leave ‘em alone for now, bud,” he said. “Let them settle this on on their own, okay?”
   Kyle was hesitant, but he nodded nonetheless and walked back inside, shutting the door behind him.
   If anyone other than Ethan had told him to, Kyle would have completely ignored them, but he knew that Ethan was probably right. He was practically like Kyle’s older brother. Ever since he was a kid, Ethan had been around, bugging Claire until she finally gave the idiot a chance...and they’d been together ever since.
   His advice was usually good. Ethan was wise beyond his years, he had been through hell and back in his twenty three years of life...but could Kyle really leave Lilly alone with Mia? That just didn’t sound like a good combination...would Mia be okay?

“AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! STOP! STOP! STOHOHOHOOOP! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU CRAHAHAHAHAHAZY BI-AAAAAAHAAAAA! NOT THE TOOOOHOHOOOOOES! AAAAAAAH! AAAAAAH! AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! STOOOP!” Mia laughed and squealed and struggled against Lilly’s iron armlock.
   “I’m only gonna ask you one more time…” Lilly growled, digging her nails into the ultra soft skin of Mia’s delicate soles. “What are you gonna do with Kyle?”
   “NOTHIHIHIHIIIING! AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! STOOOHOOOP! PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEASE!” Mia’s toes scrunched up in a desperate attempt to lesson the ticklish torture.
   Lilly glared at her as the redhead squirmed around on the couch, trying desperately to jerk her feet away. She had to be lying. Why else would she come back after all these years? After what she’d done to Kyle, it had taken Lilly forever to get the poor guy to even smile again. He was a broken husk of his former self...and even now he was afraid to ever trust again. It was like he had PTSD. Everything that reminded him of his time with Mia freaked him out...he was traumatized…
   And yet he’d brought her back.
   What did he see in this girl that Lilly didn’t? How could he see the good in the girl who had completely shattered him to the core? No matter what she did….Kyle would always love her. She could probably stab him in the heart and he’d still love her. Why, though?
   What was so special about Mia…? And why...why didn’t Lilly have it?
   "AAAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE STOHOHOOOOOP! NYAAAAH!” Mia let out a squeal so shrill that Lilly was sure only dogs could hear it. “PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEASE! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOT MY FEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEET! I'M SORRY! I'M SORREEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!”
   Lilly sighed...she couldn’t torture the poor girl...not without a reason.
   With an annoyed frown, she stopped tickling Mia’s feet and let her breathe.
   Mia sucked in a breath and slumped on the couch, her entire body going limp. “Oh my god...and I thought...Sierra...was bad…”
   Lilly remembered Sierra, Mia’s older sister. Mia was actually two years younger than both Kyle and Lilly, she was just now a junior in high school. Sierra was their age. Kyle had met Mia through her. The bubbly girl was probably off somewhere getting drunk and laid right about now...honestly Lilly kind of missed her obnoxious humor.
   “Sorry…” Lilly grumbled under her breath, though she really wasn’t sorry.
   Mia sat up and frowned at her. “Why are you so mad at me? What’d I ever do to you?”
   That did it...Lilly felt something inside of her...snap. She could almost hear it.
   “It’s not what you did to me that pisses me off…” she growled, feeling her rage begin to boil deep down inside of her. Did this snobby little bitch really think she could get away with pretending she didn’t know what she’d done?
   Mia let out a heavy sigh and fell back on the pillow behind her. “I know I hurt him...nothing I can ever do, or say will make that better...but you don’t understand...I didn’t know that he’d been suffering so badly all these years...I always thought that we were still friends--really distant friends.” She looked down at out the window wistfully. “I tried to text him...I wanted to say sorry...but I couldn’t reach him. He never texted back. After a while I kinda just gave up...but  I missed him...I used to listen to old songs that reminded me of him back after we broke up…”
   Lilly’s anger faded a little with every word out of Mia’s mouth...was all this really true?
   “When I dated him, he’d always make me laugh, no matter what.” She smiled up at the ceiling, a dreamy look in her pretty eyes. “I remember once when I had the stomach virus, he stayed right by my side. He said he’d already had it and couldn’t get it again...and he wound up with it a week later.”
   Lilly laughed despite herself. She remembered that. Most people with the stomach virus threw up, but it had affected Kyle in a...different way. He’d wound up on the toilet for a straight week. Lilly remembered watching an old show with him that whole week because he wasn’t able to go to school and he couldn’t leave the living room recliner. She remembered him having to survive on fish because it was the only thing that didn’t tear up his stomach.
   Mia grinned at her. “Remember that other time when I fell off my bike and cut my leg open?”
   Lilly laughed again, unable to stop herself.
   Kyle had tried to carry Mia to the nearest hospital, not thinking to call an ambulance. He’d gotten about halfway when his mom had found them walking and took them to the hospital...Kyle had waited outside the ER for four hours that day…
   “And his foot rubs…” Mia sighed blissfully. Lilly felt her feet twitch and looked down to find Mia’s toes curled up in remembrance. That neon polish really did look nice on her...why hadn’t Lilly ever thought of that?
   “They’re heaven-sent…” Lilly agreed.
   Mia nodded. “Yeah they are…” A shadow fell across her face again. “I was really stupid to let him go like that...he was the sweetest guy ever...it’s my fault, though. I’m just...unlovable.”
   “That’s not true.” Lilly instinctively began rubbing her thumbs into Mia’s soft arches, it was a habit she’d picked up from Kyle. As she rubbed Mia's super soft feet...she could see why Kyle loved them so much...it was like rubbing her fingers along pure, warm silk. They were so soft and delicate...
   Mia blinked in surprise, but then a relaxed smile spread across her pretty features. “If it wasn’t true...then I’d be able to keep a man...I always drive them away. I hold on too tightly.”
   Lilly knew that feeling. “It’s not your fault. You just wanna love somebody, right? You don’t wanna hurt them, or force them to stay with you all the time, do you?”
   Mia shook her head. “No...I just want someone to love, and who loves me back. I don’t wanna be forty-three and looking for a boyfriend…"
   Now I get it… Lilly smiled down at Mia’s toes and gently squeezed them, the same way that Kyle did. She couldn’t do quite the same way as him, but she was still pretty good.
   Mia sighed happily in a show of approval.
   Now that Lilly wasn’t trying to kill her, she could actually see how Kyle had fallen in love with the redhead. Once you got to know her...Mia was just a scared girl. She was trying to grow up too fast.
   In a way...Lilly kind of felt bad for her.
   “So...why’d you come back?” she asked hesitantly.
   Mia shrugged. “To be honest, I wanted to date Kyle again. I thought when he called me last night and asked me to come over that he wanted to date me again...I was really excited…I thought I had a second chance…” She laughed bitterly. “He told me all about what’s goin’ on between you two, though. He just wanted help resolving the problem...but I’m not mad at him for it. He’s moved on, and I can tell he’s happy...I’m glad.”
   Lilly couldn’t believe her ears. “So...you really came here to help Kyle and me?”
   Mia nodded. “Why else?”
   Lilly away, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment. “Uh...nothing…”
   The wise redhead smiled knowingly, but didn’t say what Lilly knew she was thinking. Was it really that obvious?
   “He’s leaving tomorrow, right?” Mia suddenly asked.
   Lilly nodded. “Yeah, why?”
   Mia smiled deviously and sat up. “Well...you wanna have a girl’s night? I wanna wish him goodbye, too...if that’s okay.”
   Lilly raised an eyebrow at her and raked her nails up the ultra soft sole of Mia’s foot once again.
   “AHAAA!” Mia fell back on the couch, plunged back into a fit of hysterics. “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOT AGAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAIN!”
   Lilly smiled evilly. “That sounds fun…”

. . .    

Kyle and the others all walked through the wooded grove, following Ethan as he guided them to his plane. Lilly and Mia stuck close to him, each one walking on one side of him. Sam and Mandy hung back, obviously not wanting to get in the middle of the love triangle.
   Claire walked beside Ethan, chatting casually with him. Despite their previous quarrel the night before, they seemed to be perfectly fine now. Claire was still a bit iffy about Mia, but Kyle had managed to keep the psycho off her back for now.
   Both Beth and Kyle’s mom brought up the rear, talking between themselves. Both of them seemed to be a bit upset that he was leaving...he’d practically had to pry his mom off of his leg this morning when they’d left.
   Lilly and Mia seemed to strangely be getting along today, though. Mia had stayed at Lilly’s last night, and apparently they’d invited Sam and Mandy as well...Kyle wasn’t sure what had went on over there, but judging by Mia’s exhausted expression...they’d had more than a little fun with her.
   Kyle had wanted to go and see if the two of them were okay, but Ethan had refused to let him. 
   Give 'em a day, man. They'll figure it out. You're only gonna start drama if you go over there. So leave 'em alone. Okay? If they come to you, that's okay. If they don't, then leave 'em be. 
   Apparently he'd been right...again.
   At last, they emerged into a giant field that stretched out across an enormous natural landing strip. The tall, green grass seemed to stretch for miles with trees surrounding it on either side.
   In the middle of it all, there sat a giant black and red biplane.
   OLE DEATHTRAP was printed across its left side in big, bold, red letters.
   Kyle recognized the plane immediately...and the sight of it struck a point home...it was really time to go. 
   Lilly and Mia both pulled Kyle into a enormous double-hug.
   “Be careful over there…” Mia said, smiling up at him. “I know how you are with girls...so try and keep it in your pants...you have someone waiting for you. Remember that.”
   He nodded and smiled at her, feeling his heart swell for the beautiful redhead. “Don’t be a stranger, okay? You ever need anything, just let me know...I’ll come running.”
   Lilly squeezed him to get his attention. “What about me?”
   Kyle grinned and kissed the brunette. When he pulled away, he smiled at her lovingly. “You know I’ll swim across the ocean just to hold a door open for you…”
   Tears filled Lilly’s eyes and she immediately wiped them away. “I love you…please come back sometime…”
   “I love you, too, Lil…”
   “Forever and always…” Mia finished for him.
   “Alright, that’s enough a that! One side, lovebirds!” Sam grabbed Kyle and pulled him out of Mia and Lilly’s embrace.
   Mandy hugged him next. “I’m gonna miss you! You’d better still play online with me!" 
   “For sure…” Kyle patted her back. “I’ll be back, Mandy. I promise."
   Mandy sniffed, he knew that she was trying her best not to cry. “D-Don’t make me cry, dude!”
   Sam gave him a stern, judgemental look from behind Mandy. “You’d better not cheat on Lilly while you’re over there...if you think bein’ in another country will save you...you’re crazy...I’ll find you, punk.”
   Kyle raised an eyebrow at her and held out one arm. “C’mon. You know you wanna hug the teddy bear.”
   Sam’s face turned bright red and she looked away from him. She looked around as if she were afraid someone might see her, then she quickly hugged him and back away, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.
   Mandy finally let go and Claire, Beth and Kyle’s mom came to take their turns.
   Beth ruffled his hair and hugged him tightly. “Be safe...don’t forget to do your homework. If the laundry’s too hard, just text me and I’ll give you instructions on what to do. Don’t go to any pubs, you’re not twenty-one yet...but I doubt that matters over there. Don’t get drunk and do anything stupid! Don’t talk to strangers, keep your nose clean, and don’t do drugs. Got it?”
   Kyle nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
   Beth’s eyes flooded with tears and she squeezed him one last time. “Oh! Can’t you just stay another year?!”
   Kyle’s mom patted Beth’s shoulder. “He grew up way too fast…”
   Beth nodded and pulled away so that his mom could hug him, tears of her own streaming down her cheeks. “Be safe, sweetie...remember to call when you get there. Come back whenever you get the chance to, the door’s always open…I love you, baby….” She squeezed him a little tighter. “...I guess you’re not my baby anymore, though...I looked away for a second and the next thing I know you were grown and didn’t need me anymore…”
   “That’s just life, Mama...but I’ll come back, promise. One day I’m gonna be rich and pay off all your debt so that you can finally be happy...and Dad can stay home…”
   “Oh, hush. Worry about yourself...I’m so proud of you…” She gave one last kiss on the cheek and then pulled away.
   Claire punched him in the arm and then she, too hugged him. “Be good, bro. Don’t make me come over there and kick your ass!” She looked over at Ethan suspiciously. “Same goes for you!”
   Ethan looked around, feigning confusion. “Who, me? I’d never do anything bad!”
   Claire rolled her eyes. “Keep an eye on him, okay?”
   Kyle laughed. “Will do.”
   Claire pulled away and Kyle gave a final wave to everyone before he climbed up into the plane, his duffel bag was already in the cab. He found the black bag lying right where he’d left it...however…
   Ethan gave Claire a final kiss, then climbed up into pilot’s cockpit and grinned back at Kyle. “You ready, bud?”
   Kyle shook his head. “Hang on a sec...I think I might’ve grabbed somebody else’s bag when I was packin’.” He held up the purple rolling backpack. “This is not mine.”
   Lilly suddenly plopped down in the seat beside him. “It’s mine,” she said with a devious smile. “I’m gonna come and stay over there with you for a few days...if that’s okay…”
   Kyle’s heart soared. “Hell yeah that’s okay! When did this happen?!”
   Mia Sam, and Mandy all climbed up onto the plane’s side.
   “Last night,” they said in unison.
   “We snuck out here and loaded Lilly’s stuff up, then we talked to Ethan last night about it. Apparently Lilly just needs a passport and she can hang out over there for a while. Lucky, eh?” Mandy explained.
   Kyle looked at Lilly in disbelief. “For real?”
   Lilly wagged her eyebrows at him. “Didn’t think I’d let you go over there alone before I scoped out the competition, did you?”
   “Everybody off!” Ethan ordered in a captain’s voice. “Time to fly!”
   The girls said their final farewells, then they jumped off of the plane and backed away, giving Ethan enough space to safely take off.
   Once he was sure they were out of the danger zone, he started up the plane. The engine whirred to life, sending a giant vibration through the entire cab as the propeller sputtered and whirled.
   “Let’s fly!” Ethan hit the throttle and the plane shot forward, knocking Lilly and Kyle back into the seat. Instinctively he grabbed her hand and squeezed it…
   Lilly smiled and leaned over on him.
   As the plane sped up, Kyle smiled down at her...he wasn’t going to have to leave her behind after all…
   The plane shot into the air and Kyle’s stomach sank like a rock as they left solid earth...and all at once he remembered...he was horribly scared of heights!
   Lilly squeezed his hand gently, drawing his attention. She smiled up at him silently and Kyle’s fear died instantly…
   There was nothing to be afraid of. Not as long a she was here…
   “What would you do without me?” she asked.
   “I’m glad I don’t have to find out…”