L I L Y
We all piled into the cinema room, Leo still hung over Zac's shoulder, he'd gave up trying to be set down and just hung there like a sack of potatoes, it was really funny. I walked towards the large comfortable looking leather chairs and took a seat between Ace and Carter, as Zac dropped Leo onto the seat next to Alex before sitting down on the free one next him.
"What do you want to watch Lil?"
Everyone in the room turned to me as I looked at Carter and shrugged my shoulders.
"Anything I don't mind" I've never watched a movie
"Do you like Disney?" What's Disney?
"Uhm... sure"
Carter eyed me suspiciously as did the rest of the boys in the room, I put my head down and stared at the soft carpet covered floors as Carter let out a sigh-
"Okay, how about we watch Mulan?"
There was a chorus of groans heard around the room, is this not a good movie?
"Carter, you always pick Mulan"
"Shut the fuck up Ace" Carter hit Ace on the back of the head as Grey then scalded him for his cussing "Mulan is the best disney film there is, do you agree Lil?"
"Oh uhm well- I've never seen it"
Everyone in the room was now gaping at me in shock, I could feel my breathing hitch as anxiety coursed through my veins- please stop staring at me. I turned my gaze once again to the floor, I shouldn't have said that, why am I so stupid. I should have just agreed with Carter, they wouldn't be staring at me if I had just said yes. Why can't I do anything right they're going to think I'm pathetic.
"How can you not have seen Mulan!?" Ace states as he stares at me in disbelif, I thought he didn't like it, why does it matter?
"I've j-just never seen it before, my um p-parent's don't like me watching to much television" I mean its technically not a lie.
They all tense at the mention of my parents, strange. A look in their eyes that I don't understand, it's not anger but it's close. My palms begin to tremble as I feel the atmosphere in the room become heavy.
Breathe Lily breathe; inhale- exhale, breathe.
I steady my breathing and clench my hands into fists digging my nails into my palms to try and ease the tremors. The familiar feeling of my nails breaking my already scarred skin, giving me some sort of comfort, some sort of control.
Fingers begin to snap in front of my eyes as I look into Carter's worried pale blue eyes and realise he's been trying to get my attention but I've been to caught up in my internal panic to even notice. I look at Carter, a small smile forced onto my lips.
"I'm sorry, I got lost in my head"
He eyed me suspisiously before gently placing his hand in mine therefore removing my self inflicted comfort and replacing it with his own. He interlocks his large fingers with my tiny ones and began to rub small circles on the back of my hand with his thumb, it felt nice.
"It's okay bambina, I was saying we are definetly watching Mulan- I can't belive you've never seen it before. It's honestly the greatest disney movie of all time"
"Don't talk shit Cart, lion kings the best movie and you know it"
"Ace I swear to god, I will fight you" Fight?
"Bring it on then, big boy" Ace taunts mockingly " I could beat you in my sleep" Beat you?
Whats going on, I'm confused. The boys are talking about fighting and beating eachother but instead of hateful glares and disgusting words, their eyes are shinning with playfulness as they say this to one another with a smile on their face. I look at the rest of the boys in the room as they all roll their eyes at the situation, this must be a regular thing. Suddenly Carter drops my hand sending me a wink as he steps past me and crouches down to face Ace who's sat on the chair to my left.
"Say it again baby bro, I dare you"
Ace stands up looking Carter directly in the eyes with a large grin on his face "I said, bring it on big boy"
Then all hell broke lose.
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Carter grabbed Ace- pulling him into a head lock, Ace then begins to kick Carter on the shin causing him to lose his balance, thus making them both fall onto the floor. Ace then uses this opertunity to sit on top of Carter, straddling his waist whilst pinning his hands above his head-
"You give up yet Cart?" Carter narrows his eyes at Ace before buckling his hips and rolling them over, now trapping Ace under his larger frame.
"What was that baby bro?" Ace huffs whilst glaring at Carter who's full on grinning at him in return.
Just when I think Carter has the upper hand- Alex suddently stands up and tackles Carter to the floor freeing Ace from underneath him "HEY" Carter shouts as he now pulls Alex into a head lock "Two against one really?" he continues to hold Alex in the headlock whilst focusing his gaze on Ace who is now off the floor looking at Carter with a smirk.
"Ohhh don't look so smug Ace, at-least now I know you can't beat me on your own, always needing Alex to come and rescue you"
The smirk immedietly drops from Ace's face as the other boys in the room begin to laugh. Ace moves towards Carter and jumps on his back freeing Alex in the process who then helps Ace gang up on Carter who inturn looks to me, ME?
"LILY SAVE ME"
I giggle at his theatrics, should I help? I mean they're just playing they wont hurt me- would they? Get a grip Lily, stop being pathetic, they won't hurt you just have fun, you can do this.
I slowly get off my seat and walk towards the three boys, I can do this. I stand infront of the wrestling boys and wonder what on earth I'm meant to do, I should've come up with a plan. I turn and look to the other six boys in the room, Callan being the first to catch my eyes. I wave my hand at him signalling for him to come over, he does so immediatley.
Once he's by my side I whisper to him "What do I do? How do I help?"
He chuckles at me before whispering back to me "Jump on one of their backs as a distraction and I'll get the other one" I look up to Callan eyes filled with fear, jump on their back? what if they hurt me?
"They won't hurt you piccolo" Did he just read my mind?
I take a deep breath and nod at Callan before quietly approaching Ace from behind, he wont hurt you Lily stay calm.
I jump on Ace's back causing him to release his hold on Carter as he places his hands my legs wrapping them around his front essentally trapping me, Oh dear.
"Wrong move principessa"
Ace gently twists his body so I'm now face to face with him "I helped you escape Leo and this is how you repay me? You wound Lil"
Oh
Ace stares at me with a small smirk, he's planning something. I take a deep breath before gently tilting my head down and peering up at Ace through my long black eyelashes whilst jutting out my bottom lip as I give him the best puppy dog eyes I can muster.
"I'm so sorry Ace, you're right."
Ace stares at me his expression softening as the grin on his face turns into a smile, while the rest of the boys in the room let out laughs at my trick.
"You're forgiven, puppy dog eyes should be illegal"
With my legs still wrapped around his torso, I wrap my arms around Ace's neck pulling him into a hug and whisper my next words into the crook of his neck.
"Thank you, I'll help you next time instead of Carter"
I didn't whisper as well as I thought as I feel Ace's chest rumble as he barks out a laugh along with the rest of the boys apart from Carter who protests in the background. Ace walks back to the large leather chairs and gently places me down whilst Callan sets up the movie.
"Right now that's over, let's watch Mulan"
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"What did you think?"
I turned to Carter as the credits to Mulan filled the large screen, a large grin etched on my face.
"I loved it" I truly did, I wish I was as courageous and strong as Mulan.
"Best film ever, am I right?"
"You're right Carter, I really enjoyed the songs to"
"Which was your favourite song? Mines is- I'll make a man out of you"
"I liked that one to, it was a bit sexist though. I really liked reflection"
I couldn't help but relate to the song reflection, those oh so meaningful words that she sang as she stared at herself in the water, it felt like me. The many times I've stared at my reflection in my old broken bathroom mirror and wondered my purpose on this earth, my purpose in this life.
When will my reflection show who I am inside? When will I stop only seeing the broken abused girl and start seeing me, start seeing Lily. Will I ever just be Lily though? Will I ever get away from the horrors of my home life? I hope so.
"Right guys, time for bed"
Everyone groans at Zac, myself included "C'mon Zac, we need to watch the second one" I turn to Alex, my eyes filled with excitement "There's a second Mulan?" Alex looks at me and nods his head with a soft smile on his lips.
"Sorry the twi-" Zac awkwardly clears his throat before continuing "Leo and Lily need to get to bed, we can watch the second one another night with Lily" he then points to Leo and I "Both of you head up to bed it's past ten" we nod at him as he then turns his gaze to the rest of the boys - excluding Grey "I expect the rest of you to be in bed by eleven" thus causing the boys to release another series of groans whilst muttering that they don't need a bed time causing me to giggle. Leo and I give everyone a hug and say goodnight before leaving the cinema room heading to his bedroom.
"Do you want to sleep in my room with me or in the guest room Lil?"
"Erm, will your brothers mind if I sleep in your room?" I really don't want to be alone.
"Of course not, you wanna sleep in my room then?" I nod at him shyly "perfect principessa, wanna do an all-nighter? We can chat and I can even start teaching you some Italian?"
"Yes please, I don't want this day to end anytime soon" As we enter Leo's bedroom I pull him into a hug burying my face in the crook of his neck "Thank you Leo, I want you to know you mean so much to me in the short time I've known you. This truly has been the best day of my life"
Leo hugs me back in an instant as he softly whispers his reply- "You don't need to thank me Lil, you mean more to me than you know"
We pull back from the hug as Leo gently cups my face in his large hands "Ti amo così tanto mia bella sorella"
"What does that mean?"
"You'll find out soon"
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End of chapter twenty three :)
Who's your favourite? ✨
Any other POV you'd like to see?
Next chapter will be up on the 8th/9th🤞🏼
Thanks for reading✨
I do have this book planned out but if you have any suggestions on how you'd like the story to go feel free to leave a comment :)
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Translation for Leo's words - I love you so much my beautiful sister.