Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 7

We worked in silence for a few more minutes as I accumulated ten songs. "My head hurts; I thought you were organizing the jukebox," I complained and put my emphasis on the word 'you.'

"How many did you get?" Tim still absently spoke as he continued to move through boxes.

"Ten," I sheepishly said.

"That's better than I thought I'd get out of you," he laughed as he turned his attention to my anemic box. "Can you put the song facing front?" He added as he flicked through the first couple of singles.

"I think I did, but I'll check."

"And the order you would listen to them," he mumbled.

"But that changes," I protested.

"Well, put them in the order you'd listen to them today," he argued.

"Ugh, I should've gone to the garage with Billy."

I flicked through, reordering them, thankful it was only ten. "I'm going to see if Mary needs help."

"Fine," he didn't look up from his focus. "Hey, bring me a Coke?"

"Sure."

Mary was humming to herself when I got to the kitchen. She didn't notice me at first as her back was turned to me. She swayed a bit to the song in her head.

"Hey," I tentatively said, hoping not to startle her.

"Oh, hey," a flush of embarrassment flooded her face from me catching her lost in a song.

"Tim wanted a Coke," I explained as I grabbed one from the refrigerator, grateful to have something to keep my hands busy.

Mary paused and watched as I rolled the bottle between my hands. "How are you, Lil?" 

Something about Mary's presence permeated what I felt was a strong shield. It must be a Collins trait. 

"Sit," she directed. Instinctively I slid onto a stool. "Talk," she directed as she continued to work on the cookies. 

"I thought he would be with Ella and we could be friends," I whined. 

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes," I quickly shot. 

"You want Billy to move on; fall in love with someone else? That's not what he told me yesterday," Mary prodded. 

"What did he say?" The anger bubbled in my words. 

"Lil, nothing is secret between that boy and me. Lord knows I've told him I don't need to know all that I do, but he..." Mary's eyes softened. "He doesn't let a lot of people in and I'm afraid with where he's going admittance is only going to get harder," she sighed. 

"I didn't say that I didn't want him to move on. I want him to move on, but it'll take me a while to get used to it. Getting over him is the hardest thing I've ever done," I admitted. 

"Have you?" Mary's eyes had a knowing twinkle. 

"No," I admitted. "But I'm trying. I don't want to lose him."

"Sweetheart, you'll never be able to shake that boy. But, if you really want to only be friends, he'll hear you. He won't like it and I'd expect quite the fight, but he'll get there." 

I sighed as my mind spun on what I wanted. I felt selfish for both not wanting the life Billy was building, but also not wanting him to find someone to share it with. I couldn't let him be lonely. He needed someone to love him as much as he loved. I just couldn't convince myself that I could love as honestly as he did; I was too busy overthinking everything. 

"Did Tim get you to pick your songs?" Mary knowingly smiled.

"Yes, did he make you do that too?"

"Oh, of course. Tim's a thoughtful boy." Mary smiled to herself as she continued to mix.

I realized then that he was ordering the jukebox by the people in Billy's life. I was filled with annoyance at myself for being short with him.

"I should get this back to him," I quickly said as I scurried back to the basement.

"Hey, Tim," I called as I rounded the bottom of the stairs.

He was bent over the jukebox loading albums. My loud entrance startled him, causing him to jerk up quickly and hit his head on the lid of the machine.

"Sorry, I was an ass earlier," I added as I hopped around the piles of albums and instruments.

"It'd be weird if you weren't," he said, but his eyes easily accepted my apology.

"Thank you," I added as I wrapped my arms around him. "You're an excellent friend."

"I know," he awkwardly shrugged at my display.

As I pulled my arms away, his elbow caught the Coke bottle, causing it to spill down the front of my shirt.

"Oh shit, Lil," he caught the bottle, quickly tipping it upright. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," I pull the hem of the shirt a bit to avoid the soda from rolling to my shorts. "I gotta change, though."