Me and Steph!

After a little while, Lilli came back rubbing a towel through her hair. She had gotten the blood off her face and the makeup off her eyes so now she didn't look so bad, so bruised. She smiled slightly at Jack. "Hey buddy." she said. "Thanks for the shower. It really helped."

Jack froze but looked up and sighed. "Glad that you don't look so beat up....You hungry?" he asked as he got up and looked over her. She didn't seem to be so injured to be unable to walk or anything. She just had bruises. The one on her cheek bothered him the most. Why the face? Why the face of his best friend? "I swear...why didn't you call the police on his ass?" he asked, angry but his voice soft as his hand carefully brushed over her cheek.

Lilli didn't flinch or blush as he touched her cheek. she only looked calmly into his eyes. "Because it was my fault. he was a little drunk and I started the fight." she said softly. "You don't have to be so nice to me, Jack. We're not friends..."

Jack felt a small cut to his heart once he heard those cold words. "I'm not a bastard like him, you know that. I couldn't be cruel to you, even if you stepped on me and cussed me out. I'd still be nice to you because you were there for me when we were kids...or did you forget that already?" he said, his eyes showing no emotion but the expression..it showed he was hurt and ticked off. He pulled away his hand and sighed, looking away. "Anyway, I'll stay in here. You can have my bed. It's a temperpedic, ain't that grand?" he said, smiling weakly as he left the room to the kitchen.

"Jack..." she sighed, going to him and grabbing his hand, hugging him. She locked her fingers together at the small of his back. "Please tell me that what happened at school is forgiven. We were being stupid kids..."

Jack stiffened, sighing as he felt her hand and squeezed it. "I was stupid. Well, more blind really. Anyway, I got over it. I'm fine. Just, you just make it seem like we signed something that was for us not to ever be friends or..be nice to each other." he muttered, looking over his shoulder at her. "Do you hate me?"

She shook her head, looking up at him. "The complete opposite. Jack, I still love you..."

"Yeah, right. As a brother now because I really f*cked it up. Plus, you obviously had no problems being with another guy." Jack said sharply, turning around to look at her fully. "I...I don't know what to say to that.." he mumbled, getting silent.

"I love you any way that you're willing to love me back." she said, taking his face in her hands. "You don't have to say anything, I just want you to know." she said, then laid her lips on his gently. she smiled at him and took a step back, going into his kitchen. "so, what do you have to eat?" she asked, being normal again.

Jack stared, losing the hurt in his eyes and replaced with curiousity. She loved him still? Wow, that truly surprised him. He shook his head and smiled, following her into his kitchen and opening the fridge. "Uh, well..I have some left over chicken from Bojangles." he said, looking over at her and raising a brow. "Want pizza instead?" he grinned, trying to get over what just happened. A kiss, right after she had just said such harsh words. Ouch.

"Fresh pizza or left over?" she asked, looking at him. She was trying to pull off high school normal. She wanted to be at least friends.

Jake shrugged, trying to put on the facade as well. "I guess fresh pizza sounds better than left overs.." he mumbled, smiling as he grabbed the phone on the wall and looked at the Domino's pizza delivery. "So, we're calling the police on that guy, right?" he asked, glancing at her quickly before then ordering the pizza they always ate as kids.

"I'd rather not," she said, sitting at his table. "I left, that should be enough." but, the tone in her vice said she wasn't sure.

Jake grunted, sighing. He knew that she was probably terrified of calling the police on his ass. "I'll do it, he beat you, Lilli. You can't expect me to just think that it's fine just getting away. He can track you down for all we know.." he muttered, trying not to overthink the situation but putting out the inevitabilities. The guy could be a psycho.

"Jack... Please don't. It's really none of your business." she said, looking down.

"It is if you want to be friends. You know me." Jack said harshly as he opened the fridge and got a beer out, opening it and chugging the liquid down. This was all too much stress on him.

She looked down and then at him again. "alright, you're right... I'm sorry. You'll stay with me, right? When I go to the cops?"

Jack rolled his eyes, sighing. "Duh, sherlock." he replied sharply. He just was tired of the BS that happened between them. They were adults and she was starting to piss him off. Years....Years of being friends until graduation from highschool! You'd think she'd get the clue that he'd always be there for her. "Anyways, the pizza'll be here in a few minutes, meanwhile, I'll take a shower myself." he said, leaving the kitchen and throwing away the bottle.

Lilli sighed and brought her knees to her chest but then winced as her ribs gave a scream of protest. She sat there for a little while, just thinking. She was being stupid, he was her best, closest friend and she was screwing things up again.

After five minutes, the doorbell rang and of course, the pizza was here. Jack had taken his time in the shower, thinking and trying to calm down. His anger was starting to rise up again, and he didn't need it. He couldn't have it. He'd just have to swallow the pain and irritation.

Lilli got up, grabbing her wallet from her bag and opening the door. She would pay since Jack had done so much for her already.

As soon as Lilli opened the door, he smirked. "Hey baby. Found you." he said walking in and holding her in his arms with an iron embrace. "I'm so sorry I hurt you. I must've been drunk off my ass to hurt my one and only." Dillion said, as if mocking his own 'sympathy'.

Lilli got terrified and pushed against his chest to gt him away but couldn't get him to move. "Dillon... you beat me, get away from me..." she said, trying to keep her voice strong.

Dillon pressed her against the wall and smirked. "So? You're still my girl, right? Unless you're such a slut that you had to get it from some other guy." he mused, forcing his lips onto hers. Obviously Jack then came out of the bathroom, dressed but with wet hair as he heard Lilli complain. "Who the hell are you, pal!?" he hissed, walking towards them and pushing him off.

Lilli moved out of the way, standing behind Jack. She was shaking, scared about what Dillon would to do Jack and then to her.