It's a Love Story

"Hey, everybody. I'd like y'all to meet Lilli," he called, trying to say it loud enough so everyone could hear.

Lilli blushed and almost hid behind Mike. She waved slightly, trying to smile.

Mike chuckled as everyone said 'Hi, Lilli' at the same time. The older ladies came to meet her first and invited her over to their table for coffee.

Even though she didn't really like coffee, Lilli let go of Mike and went with them.

Mike squeezed her hand gently before she went with them and went to take Cassie to go see their cousins.

Lilli sat down and smiled, feeling a little out of place. She fixed her dress though it didn't really need fixing.

The older ladies poured her a cup of coffee and offered her sugar and creamer. "So, where is it you live," they asked.

"New York." Lilli said, smiling.

"ohh, what's it like," they asked curiously.

"It's fast, really busy... I like it." she smiled.

"It sounds too big for me," one of them said. "And too loud. But I think it'd be nice to visit one day," she smiled.

Lilli smiled. "Mike liked it. I showed him things that tourist's usually don't see."

"How did you meet Mikey," his grandma asked curiously. "Over the computer, he said? I don't know how that works."

"There are chat rooms online where you get to talk to people you don't really know. Mike started talking to me and... we sort of hit it off." she smiled, playing with the promise ring on her finger.

"Oh, I see. I think," she chuckled. The other older ladies laughed and turned back to Lilli. "Do you live with your parents or in your own place?"

"With my parents, for now." she said to the lady. "I'm leaving for college soon."

"Ohh, that's exciting. Where are you headed?"

"I'm not sure yet." she said. "But I know that I'd like to study art."

"Oh, an artist! How fun," his grandma smiled. "What do you like to draw?"

"Anything." she smiled. "Everything. I like drawing, painting, photography, uhm, coal drawings, pen and ink."

"Artists of variety are always the best," she smiled. "They see everything, not just some things."

she nodded, smiling, playing with the ring on her finger. "I love art."

"Do you go to galleries? We have a small one here. Bert runs it. That's him over there," Mike's grandma pointed the balding man who was now giving little Cassie a hug.

Lilli looked over her shoulder and saw how Cassie was glowing from happiness first then saw the man and nodded. "Maybe I'll talk Mike into taking me."

His grandma smiled. "He'll like that. Oh! Did Mikey take you out riding yet? Georgie told me he bought his first horse not too long ago. I haven't gotten to see her yet."