LILY IN THE MOONLIGHT
by
Mariya Koleva
Published by Mariya Koleva at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Mariya Koleva. All rights reserved
ISBN 978-1-4660-1743-6
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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CHAPTER I – NINE MONTHS LATER
"Lily, Lily," the insecure calls came from a girl, a woman and a man standing and waiting at the platform, looking at the train that had just stopped.
"Lily," said tenderly a girl in a compartment in the train, patting another girl gently on the shoulder. The first girl had been watching out of the train window, and, seeing the group of three, she turned abruptly to the other girl and said what she said.
There were five girls in that compartment, all of them blooming 16-years-olds, fresh and smiling. Well, they would have been smiling, if they were not somewhat somber and tentative.
At the sound of their friend's voice, they all looked towards the girl called "Lily".
"Lil, your baby-Sis is there." said one tall and slim girl with chestnut hair.
As Lily said nothing, another girl added, "She is very cute. Just as you told us."
The girl called "Lily" was sitting in her seat, silent and grim. She had her suitcase and bag ready in the aisle, but just did not move. Her eyes were fixed in a spot in front of her, at some indefinite distance.
"Lily, snap out of it! We've arrived." said the only girl in the compartment who had not spoken so far. She then turned to the girl at the window, "Violet, close that window and move. We are never leaving here in this mess."
Violet closed the window without a word and moved her bags into the passage. She looked back to the girls in the compartment and said, "Girls, we must not forget one another this summer." Her eyes slid towards Lily and, meeting her fixed glance, strayed away.
"Violet, I am not planning to forget you." said Lily finally.
Violet blushed. The other girls looked different ways.
"Lily, Lily!" the shouts emerged again, as the three on the platform moved forward and appeared in front of the compartment window.
Lily brightened up and changed totally. She jumped up, smiled broadly and stood next to the window. Pulling it open, she put her head outside and said, blinking in the light outside,
"Orange, baby-sis, how are you doing? Auntie, Uncle, hi. Glad to see you."
The three outside only smiled. Orange jumped in her place and waited for her sister to get down.
The aunt and uncle said "Hi", waved their hands and waited, too.
Lily pulled the window back up and looked at the four girls inside the compartment. They were waiting. That day, at that station, everybody seemed to be waiting. Her family were waiting outside for her to come to them and greet them. Her friends were waiting inside for her to go from them and take their farewells. And the truth was that Lily was baffled. She wanted to be waiting as well, only she knew there was nothing to ne waiting for.
And exactly nine months before that, on Sept. 1, the same people were at the same place, doing just the opposite – Lily and her friends were leaving, her family were seeing her off. Only...
CHAPTER II – THE BEGINNING
Exactly nine months before the above events, on Sept. 1, Lily Lemonpie was on the train, travelling for her second year at George Reader's High and her best friends were in the same compartment as her. The party was going to be awesome. At least judging by the previous year. Her mother and father were there, on the platform, and her younger sister – Orange, was with them, trembling with anxiety. Orange was two years younger and the whole summer absorbed Lily's stories about the school. By the end of the summer Orange had become the most fervent fan of George Reader's High and her greatest dream was to get there herself next year.
Lily had to pull the window open, because Orange was trying to say something and was waving frantically for Lily to open and hear her. With some boredom in her voice, Lily said, "Baby-sis, what is it? Didn't you have enough the whole summer? Now, go back home to help Mom and be a good girl. Maybe you will have a chance next year."
Orange blinked a bit offended, and Mrs Lemonpie voiced her objection, "Lily, please do not talk like that to your sister. A child's chance mainly depends on the child's parents. Remember who gave YOU your chance."
Mrs Lemonpie patted Orange on the back and said nicely, "Orange dear, Mom and Dad promise to be here for you, as well. This time next year we will be waving goodbye to both our daughters. Don't worry. Now smile and wave goodbye to your sister."
Orange swallowed her tears and started waving. Lily blushed with embarrassment. They heard the train whistle.
"Orange, I'm sorry, do you hear? Of course, you'll get into George Reader's High next year. Take care! All of you! See you at Christmas!" she shouted hurriedly out of the window.
Mr Lemonpie smiled to his elder daughter and winked at her, "And be a good girl." He sent her an airborne kiss, "Take care, my princess."
"Take care, sweetie." said her Mom and hugged Orange even tighter.
The train started and Lily moved away from the window and into a seat. Her best friends were already in their seats, smiling, in a hurry to talk and talk, and talk for hours if need be, and impatient to share all that had happened to them in the summer. Of course, there were emails, but how could they be adequate enough. Even the animated emoticons were not a match to a live girls' chat on the train, while the bright September sun was shining outside, and the green meadows along the tracks were running as speedy bands.
The girls in the compartment were, from the window towards the door: Violet Absurmia - beautiful, short-haired, blondish girl, Erin Sune - chestnut hair and hazelnut eyes, Simona Pench – sharp brown eyes, short brown hair, broad shoulders and a bit boyish stance, Veronica Mickey – tall, dark and slim girl, with long, brown hair, and Lily Lemonpie – slim, tender, small and pretty face, curly long brown hair. Four of them, except for Veronica, studied in the same House of their school – the House of the Moons. Veronica was in the House of the Stars. Three of them – Veronica, Lily and Violet played in the school's football team. Simona was part of the trio in synchronized swimming, where the girls were from the House of the Stars, like Veronica, and Flowers. All of them, except for Veronica were beginning their second year at the school. Veronica was their senior by one year, and was taking this journey for the third time.
Lily was definitely in love with her friends and she choked in her emotion, trying to say something and start the conversation. It seemed the others were in no better position, as they were all looking hesitant, insecure and out of words.
"Girls, my brother is getting married just after Halloween," Erin shot in the air.
"What? Who to? What is she like?" questions poured over her from all sides.
Violet asked, "What does your father say?"
"Why their father? What about your mother?"
Erin had an older brother, who had finished another school, and had graduated from university the previous year. The girls did not know much about him, just that he and their father did not get along too much. Obviously Eric (oddly enough, Erin's brother was called Eric) did not share their father's ideas regarding order and subordination. Erin used to tell her friends of all fights he and their father had got into. Eric wanted to be independent and "free", while Mr Sune demanded a plausible definition of "free". Erin herself was somewhat confused as to that matter, so her stories invariably turned into discussions of the phenomenon of freedom. Because of that, the girls never learnt much about Eric.
Of course, Professor Jubesc, the teacher in Legal and forbidden means of influence, only too ready to take up the discussion and clarify as much as possible. It so happened that Erin got attracted to his subject and started showing extraordinary talents. Once, Violet had asked Erin why she was so obsessed with the arguments between her brother and her father, to which she had said that she was afraid her time to argue would come pretty soon, so she felt like getting some preparation for it, as much as possible. Violet had considered that very strange, she said Erin's father would be different to her and most probably that "preparation" would be of no use for the new challenge. Anyway, Erin continued in her earnest efforts to master the means of influence.
And now, Eric was about to get married and probably leave the family home. Erin was to remain alone with her parents and the time was approaching.
"We-e-ell," Erin said, looking around her. "Eric is getting married to a fellow-student – Daisy. She visited us in July. I liked her a lot. Tall, blond, dreamy eyes."
Erin remained silent for some time, mulling over what else to say and biting her lips.
Simona invited her to continue, "But?"
"But," continued Erin, "my mom and dad said she was, quote 'no good'."
Erin looked sad and somewhat hopeless. Silence fell over the compartment. Simona asked, "And now, what? Are they getting married in secret, or...?"
"Hm, not really. In the end, my parents accepted the inevitable. Yet, Eric is not welcome at home, neither is Daisy. I hate this. I love Eric and I think Daisy is a great girl. I hate being only child, and that is exactly what is happening to me." Erin was on the verge of crying. Violet, who was sitting closest to her, made to give her a hug. Lily took Erin's hand in hers and said, "I thing I understand you very well. Sometimes I feel very miserable when I chide Orange for no reason, as if I'd prefer that I didn't have a sister. My mom often scolds me for that. And you know what she does?" Here, Lily looked around as if to receive answers. As nobody spoke, she said, "She usually tells me I should be happy I have a sister at all. And how terrible it is to be alone in the world. She is only child, that's why."
"But I remember you have an aunt. She was at the station last time. Is she your dad's sister then?" Violet asked.
"She is. Anyway, Erin, don't get sad. Maybe when your brother moves away, he will take you with them." said Lily.
Erin looked at Lily, amazed. "Take me? Who is going to let me go? And I believe my brother will have enough worries, as it is. You know he just graduated, right? Well, he has not found a job yet. That is something else that bugs my father." And Erin put on a funny frowning face, trying to imitate her father.
"So how exactly are you expecting to maintain this new family of yours." Saying this, Erin puffed pompously. The others did not know what to do, whether to laugh. There was uncomfortable silence for some time. Luckily, something happened to break that spell.
A smiling fresh-from-the-bright-weather-outside girl stood in front of the compartment door. All inside were relieved, "Germina! Where have you been? Come on in! We have you place reserved."
Germina popped in the compartment and tossed a bag in the overheads.
"It doesn't look especially heavy." smiled Lily.
"That is because it isn't." admitted Germina.
Violet raised her eyebrows. Everybody was looking at her. She stood like that, fixing her gaze on Germina for some time. Finally, she exhaled and said, "True. But how come?"
Now may be a good time to offer some explanation. The full name of the school where the girls studied was George Reader's High School for the Gifted, and "the gifted" were teenagers with special talents in different areas. Violet, for example, was able to sense people's thoughts, that is sometimes called "reading people's minds". Violet was not able to actually "read" which she frequently tried to explain, in fact so frequently that she had given it up at the end of her first year at George Reader's High. Her favourite subjects naturally were Means of influence, legal and forbidden and Art of the words, written and spoken. Professor Jubesc, the teacher in Means of influence, looked up to Violet as a young hope.
Lily was very good in Kinetics and that meant she was able to move objects without touching them. She had found that skill of hers just the year before and the classes in Kinetics helped her recognize a lot of the nuances of her skill. Professor Magpie was Lily's favourite teacher and during the previous year, Lily participated in two debates and contests in physics. The physics and kinetics were united in the same class under Professor Magpie and combined the official physics with the more subtle phenomena that cannot be explained by precise scientific rules.
Apart from those subjects the students attended classes in Chemistry and alchemy with Professor Suthern, who specialized in making all types of paints, glues, glitters, used for many purposes, among which festive occasions, and he was also an expert at party cocktails with secret ingredients and fun effects. Students loved his classes because of their practical direction: the Professor made them read and write a lot, but at least twice a month the classes had practical projects which were real entertainment and taught them very useful things.
Another especially preferred subject was that of Professor Brittle Bravery, quite adequately named Applied Biology. Although it started as very boring reading and memorizing of scientific facts and data, gradually it evolved into practical exercises at a greenhouse or a field, depending on the weather, where the students made all kinds of experiments with plants, germs, and growing agents. Professor Bravery and Professor Suthern worked hand in hand on some projects where the two sciences interconnected.
Another subject was History and Geography of this world and the other, where along with the normal history and geography studied at all school, the students of George Reader's High discussed other realms of existence, not encompassed by the statistical census. This "other" world was something the students did not understand easily, because it had nothing to do with spirits, ghosts or hocus-pocus of any kind. Actually, it was rarely before the end of their last year at school that they finally grasped the idea. Of course, some of the students had talents in that direction – communication and translation between this world and the so-called other. They usually knew more about that, even if they were not able to clarify it. Violet's mother who had been a student in the school as well, was particularly good at that and now she had a career in historical journalism and statistics, which was quite successful and drew intensively from her solid preparation at the school.
Apart from that there was the highly acclaimed and controversial subject of Means of influence, legal and forbidden. The reasons for its high esteem were quite clear, and the controversy arose from the very nature of the discipline. The means of influence enjoyed great interest on behalf of the students and Professor Jubesc was among the most loved teachers. Fortunately, he was a very approachable and charming teacher who was ready to laugh and cry with his students and to listen to all they have to say in way of confiding. Because of this manipulative nature of the subject and the professor's behaviour, the other teachers and especially Professor Crescentius Jennings, the Headmaster, were on the constant watch, lest Adrian Jubesc should exceed his authorities as a teacher of teenagers. That never happened, though and the young blond-haired professor was very much loved among the students and the girls especially.
Of course, students had to attend to Mathematics, Sports and Arts – Music and Visual. Those subjects were quite the subjects we all know from school and although Maths was very intimidating, there were students with special talents in it, who formed a mathematics club and were regular participants at various contests, invariably ranking first and second there. The two subdivisions of the Arts lessons were taught by different teachers, both of whom young and charming – Professor Dorothy Lomax in Visual Arts, who was very active and creative for the school festive occasions and ran a club for artists where the talented teenagers met once a week and painted or drew, or sculpted, and so on, as the need or their inclination was. The artists helped with the school theatre and with all events where decors were needed, or the stage had to be set. Apart from that, the artists organized and took part in various exhibitions, and some of their works were to be seen at public areas around the entire school. The Music teacher – Roxie Timoteo, was a very slim lady, always wearing very tight long skirts and tight tops which only accentuated on how slim she was. She ran a club, as well, as clubs were a normal extracurricular activity that was optional, but was, in fact, taken by most students. Professor Timoteo ran the school choir, which was not an especially prestigious club to be into as it tended to gather students who shared low self-esteem and were usually very timid in social life. Although the musical programmes Professor Timoteo put together and conducted, were delightful, students still looked upon the choir-boys and girls with some derision.
All present in the compartment were in sports clubs. Lily, Violet, Veronica and Germina were in the football team. Simona was in a synchronized swimming trio and Erin went to swimming. Apart from those sports, there was the cheerleading squad where girls appeared between the two halves, as well as in the beginning and after matches to entertain the audience.
So, that was how talents were represented in the compartment we are in. That was how Violet was able to say that Germina had a nearly empty bag with her. What she could not say was how Germina could afford such a luxury, a nearly empty bag.
And the question remained, "But how come?"
Germina laughed and said, "I have a new friend. His name is Antony Belamigo, he is keen on football and hopes to get in our House. First year," she clarified because of the empty looks. "Well, I convinced him to take most of my things with his bags." Germina giggled with delight. She looked like an imp.
"Erin's brother is getting married." tossed in Violet.
Everybody knew that Germina had a secret crush on Eric which was not secret at all. In fact, Germina kept absolute silence on it. Last year, when they were going home for Christmas, Eric was at the station to meet Erin and he wanted to take his sister's friends to have lunch. Only Germina was available, though, as her parents had arranged her to travel home alone. That was how the other girls never got to know Eric, even superficially, but only by Erin's words, and Germina spent a full three hours with him and Erin until her coach home departed. After the Christmas holiday Erin had kept Germina's secret to a certain extent, but what had ever been kept secret in a girls' dormitory? Germina was a downright imp, wearing a naughty look on her face all the year round. No one ever knew her to be sad or absorbed in thoughts. No one ever, until now. The moment her infatuation with Eric hit the floor, she lost her brightness and her face grew dull. She recovered very quickly and waved the rumour light-heartedly, but all who were present there, knew for certain there WAS something.
So, when she heard of the coming wedding, Germina lost her edge again. Erin looked depressed enough, and now Germina's look of despair added to the dull moon in the compartment.
Instead of being jolly with the sweet expectations of the party they would have for another couple of months before going home for Christmas, the five friends were despondent and reluctant to talk even about what had happened during their holidays.
One by one they fell asleep with the gentle sway of the train and each had her own dreams of wonder and despair.
The end of the journey found them in the same mood, not having said another word. They quietly picked up their bags and filed off the train to the school building for another year at George Reader's High School for the Gifted.
CHAPTER III – THE NEW CAPTAIN
The school year started with all the usual pomposity and full-scale celebration which Lily and her friends remembered well from their previous year. The Headmaster, Professor Jennings gave a heart-felt speech which managed to melt even the toughest veterans of the ritual. Then, all class supervisors led their respective classes to their classrooms for a smaller opening and introduced them to whatever novelties there were around the school.
Professor Brittle Bravery was the class supervisor of Lily's year, that was the second, and all the second-years were under her, irrespective of their Houses. She led the second-years to the greenhouse where her office was and made them sit around on improvised seats of crates and buckets, or some piles of objects of unclear nature.
In short, the greatest news was that the football team needed a new captain, as the old one had finished school the year before. The election for a captain was to take place just before the try-outs for the new players on Saturday morning. The election was to be democratic and secret. Each one of the already included players was supposed to cast a vote on a sheet of paper (called "ballot", "What a funny word," the entire group giggled.) and put it inside a box. Then, before the try-outs for new players begin, Professor Baramova was to open the box in the presence of all players and read out the results.
The cheerleading try-out was to coincide with the football team try-out, was the other piece of news Lily heard passing by her ears. She remembered that had been the case the previous year, too. Another second-year was rather enthusiastic with the news, though, and that drew Lily's attention. Juliet Clarence, from the House of Stars, was especially obsessed with the cheerleading squad. She had tried out in vain the previous year and, seeing an opportunity to make it to participating in contests, had entered the synchronized swimming trio suggested by professor Baramova. In fact, Juliet Clarence turned out the best synchronized swimmer that school had seen for years, but her heart lay with cheerleading. She would sometimes attend the cheerleaders' practices, tried to learn their routines and really hoped to make it to the squad this year.
Another item of the agenda of the second-years was discipline and order in the dining room, the necessity, no, but the obligation to observe the rules and regulations of the school and the overall topic of "behaving themselves".
Having heard the football-team news, Lily beginning to get bored. Her passion was football, and that was it. She had practiced all summer with her father. The year before she had not even known the exact rules of the game for sure. Yet, having made it to the team and having played several matches, and especially having practiced and won for a whole year, now Lily knew that was her sport and her passion. She remembered why and how she had decided to take part in the try-outs at all, and she felt grateful to destiny in the face of two students for arising her curiosity. She had overheard a boy speak of football and how tough you need to be to play it, what tenacity you need in order to not simply survive on the field, but to score the goal, too. Then, after ninety minutes of intensive and exhausting run, still to be in a condition fit for taking applause, kissing girls who gave you flowers, or tossed their underwear at you, giving interviews to reporter, and so much other "social" stuff, that invariably accompanied winning a game. Lily had listened to the whole thing, not daring to turn around and see the boy who was talking, for fear she might interrupt him. The "underwear" moment was too much for her, and yet, she waited patiently to sense he had finished. The moment he finished, she looked at him and saw Buster Jenkins – a sturdy, manly teenager of the House of Suns.
Lily asked him, "Where can one play this football? Is it available here? Are girls allowed?"
Buster looked at her in numb dismay. "Is it available here?" he repeated and paused.
Lily nodded affirmatively, "Yes, is it?"
Buster did not answer, and said, "Are girls allowed?"
Lily thought that boy was not particularly smart, but in the interest of the information she needed, she decided to keep that opinion to herself only. At least, for present. She just snapped at him, "Are you going to repeat every word I say? Aren't you going to answer my questions?"
Buster's expression changed from slightly derisive to downright cold. The student he had been talking to, a brazen dark girl, laughed out, "Well, Buster, it's not like this young lady has no questions for you. You'd better get to that before she gets to something more drastic."
Lily honoured the brazen girl with a slighting look. She tried to look as if it was below her to respond to such kind of talk. Instead, she turned back to the boy and persisted in her questions.
"But of course it is available here," said Buster. "My brother is the captain of the team. He has been a captain since his second year here. I am trying for the team this Saturday. If you want to, you may come too. It's open for boys and girls alike." Buster finished curtly.
The girl with him said, "I am going to try out, as well. If you DARE, come!"
Then the two went away from Lily. Suddenly, the boy turned and said, "By the way, this is Padrina Perkins and my name is Buster Jenkins. We are from the House of Suns – the best house in the school." Buster winked playfully while Padrina gave up an artificial smile.
And so, Lily's curiosity was awakened and she was so angry with those two, that she decided to "try this out" and see if she could make it. All three made it. That was how Lily got into the football team, met Buster and Padrina and fell in love for the first time during her teenage. With football, of course, what did you think?
That was in their first year. Now, Buster's brother – Carl, who was the captain, was no longer available and a new captain was to be elected. It was believed by everybody that Buster would follow naturally in the "office". Of course, that could not be so certain, as Buster was not half the boy his brother was. It was true that Buster was very strong and a powerful player, yet he lacked leader's qualities.
Lily could hardly wait till Saturday. Having heard that, she tended to ignore everything else, even the message regarding the school trips and camps which were her other passion. She cast a look at Buster and saw him chewing over the same idea. He felt Lily's eyes on him and turned around. They looked at each other for a while like two animals stalking, stepping aside in circles, growling. Then Lily thought a flick of something passed between them. Before she could recognize the kind of "something", though, Padrina Perkins who was sitting next to Buster turned, too, and seeing the direction of Buster's gaze, pulled his arm, so he moved his look away to Padrina.
"He is going to try it, then?" asked a voice close to Lily's ear.
"Try what?" startled Lily.
"Become a captain, of course. Get elected."
"Violet, are you living in the clouds? Didn't you listen to the professor? We cannot TRY. There will be secret elections."
Here Lily hissed just a little bit louder than needed and Professor Bravery shht-ed in the girls' direction in reproach.
Soon, the small school-year opening was over and Lily left the greenhouse surrounded by her friends. Germina giggled to herself. Everybody looked at her, "What?"
"What 'what'?" she echoed.
"What made you giggle?" asked Simona sharply.
"Oh, that. I just imagined Professor Bravery at the football field, taking Professor Baramova's place. You know, wearing a tight-fitting track suit, a whistle in her mouth. What would you say?"
Since Professor Bravery was a small, chubby lady with a funny face having similarity to a dried apple, the image Germina drew was ridiculous. They snickered, but not very enthusiastically.
Simona said, "I like Professor Bravery."
Erin added, "Yeah, me too. She's a nice lady."
"And a good teacher," said Violet.
Germina's smile froze on her face. She looked a bit irritated, "OK. That was a joke. I didn't actually mean to laugh at her." Her look was sullen.
"Yet that's exactly what you did, in fact." murmured Lily.
"What's wrong with you all? Are we going to start this year like this? I remember you all used to know how to have fun, young ladies." said Germina still irritated.
Violet said, "Yeah, but that was last year. We were different then."