rollin' thunder chasing the wind.

chris healy. things are gonna be so much better.

[chriishealy]

lilyjcnsen​:

The idea of staying with Christopher was very tempting but at the end of the day; Lily was a girl that cared about her father greatly even though he had his tendencies to act out and take things out on his daughter. How could she just… leave him there with nobody when he’d already lost his wife? “B-But… But my dad…” she began, head shaking, “I can’t leave my dad like this. H-He… I know he’s not the best person but I know that one day he’s gonna learn that he needs to change and I can help him get the help he needs. I know he will.” She didn’t know. Lily only held onto that hope for sanity’s sake. Yet, her mind contemplated what it would be like to just live with Christopher. Maybe finally have a sense of peace. 

Sniffling as she felt him crouch down beside her, the girl rubbed at her eyes as she moved her head to look up at him with a frown at his mention of not keeping the baby. “… I-I know I don’t have to but… Christopher, I cry when a character dies in a sad movie. Do you really think I’d be able to live with myself if I killed a tiny baby? I’m terrified but… I don’t wanna do that. This is just… we haven’t even finished high school! –D’you really think we can learn something so important?”

“No.” His brother had told him that women liked it when you protected them. Something felt a little... outdated in this piece of advice but Chris was trying to be the supportive boyfriend he wanted to be. That included keeping her out of harm’s reach, especially from her awful father. “You’ve said he’s gonna change how many times and has he? No. We can get your things and you can move into my brother’s house.” His voice was firm, yet he tried to stay as gentle as he could considering his girlfriend was somewhat fragile sometimes. “You’re pregnant... this is about more than upsetting your dad, okay? I don’t want him to hurt you, it... scares me when I drop you off at night. I hate it.”

Seeing her insist that she wanted to keep him, Chris only smiled and pressed a gentle kiss upon her forehead. “Of course we can learn! You’re gonna graduate soon, and... and I can get a job and start saving, and we can read those pregnancy books I always see in the bargain bins!” Glancing around, he felt the packet of cigarettes in his pocket. Pulling them out, he said, “I’ll give up smoking.” On impulse, the boy threw them into the greenery in the distance, nodding firmly. “See! Easy peasy.” Yet, that was hard when you had a nicotine addiction, and Chris soon let out a soft whine as he realised what he’d just done. He missed them already. “... We will be great parents, is what I’m tryna say!”

[chriishealy]

lilyjcnsen​:

Where was she even going? Home? She couldn’t go home. She knew that her dad was probably in one of his crazy drunken comas and would instantly start questioning Lily as to why she was so late getting home which would only escalate further along if she gave him any kind of answer he didn’t like. Yet… Lily felt like home was the only place where she could really go as she was sucked into her own thoughts and kept walking as quickly as her little legs could take her. When you’re small and frail like Lillian Jensen… it wasn’t exactly safe to be out alone on the streets of Chicago and that was settling in as she heard her boyfriend calling for her to stop behind her. Slowly, she did exactly that. “I don’t know,” she said quietly at first, teeth biting down on her bottom lip as she felt those warm tears running down her cheeks and neck which made her wipe away the tears with the back of her long sleeves.

Turning around slowly, she threw her hands up into the air slightly as she looked at him about twelve feet away from her as she said it much louder this time, “I don’t know! I just… maybe somewhere else? Home? I… I don’t know.” Her voice sounded defeated as she soon crumbled from the thoughts whirling in her mind which soon made the girl fall down onto her knees and place her hands over her face. Just you and me against the world, the words seemed to linger in the air as Lily’s head dipped down and her hair hid her face away. “We are a team but… but that doesn’t mean we know what to do, Christopher. We’ve only ever talked about leaving this place and… and now we have to make things work for a baby. A living, breathing, baby! I don’t know the first thing about babies!”

Waiting for Lily to turn around slowly, Chris’ mind wandered. He had no direction in his life, he wasn’t like Lily. She knew what she wanted; college, an English degree, all the hopes and dreams in the world. He had no idea what he wanted to be, he didn’t know what his goals were. Perhaps... his path in life was to care for a family. For a moment, the thought filled him with warmth as he imagined his future child in his arms, making him smile a little. The thought of that... it didn’t seem so bad. Maybe.

Glancing back to Lily, the teenage boy shook his head and began walking towards her, “Don’t go home, please.” He knew exactly what her father was like and he hated the man for how he treated his girlfriend. That was no place for a fragile and now also pregnant girl to be. “Stay with me.” There was something pleading in his voice but the moment he saw Lily fall to floor he raced beside her, crouching next to the girl with a gentle frown on his face. “We can learn. We can learn and we can get through this. If... if you wanna keep the baby, that is.” The boy placed his arm around Lily softly, turning to face her. “... You know you don’t have to, right?”

[chriishealy]

lilyjcnsen​:

The silence that was soon filling the red car that she has grown far too familiar with was something that Lily had both excepted but also not at all anticipated. A part of her had been expecting that maybe he would look at her and instantly decide that he wanted nothing to do with her. They were kids at the end of the day and they had no place having a child when they barely understood how the world worked. She had maybe been expecting him to tell her to get out of the car and she would have to find her own way home. 

But who was she to think such things when Christopher had only ever been kind to her and the best boyfriend she could have possibly imagined. In that silence, the girl broke and she was suddenly placing her hands against her face as she hid away in what felt like embarrassment. Shame. Horror. Fear. Everything you could possibly think of and she just didn’t know what to do. If her mother had been alive, she would have gone to her first and tried to figure everything out because her mother would have offered her that support. That gentle nature that was exactly why Andrea Jensen had been so loved up until her passing from cancer.

But Andrea wasn’t here. Her father was an alcoholic and… she had nobody. She was going to be 18 and a single mom… with nobody.

She felt herself almost big to hyperventilate the moment that he actually said the word baby and it felt like she’d been struck by a train. A train that never stopped coming. The reality hurt. The reality felt like it was crushing her and the reality was exactly what prompted Lily to let out a small noise. A noice which was only followed by a soft whisper, “I-I’m so sorry…” but with shakey hands, the girl open the car door and grabbed her backpack before stepping out in the evening. It was cold but with tears running down her cheeks, she simply threw her backpack over her shoulders and shut the car door behind her. Despite the cold Chicago weather, she felt like she was boiling in her layers as she wiped her face and began walking around the car towards the street. Going nowhere in particular just.. needing some air.

Staring at the wheel, Chris’ thoughts filled with a million things; how was he going to be a father? How was he going to afford everything they needed?... Would it be a baby boy or a baby girl? Despite the tight feeling in his throat, Chris felt himself soften almost at the last thought. What if it was a little boy? Someone he could take to baseball games with him, teaching him all about cars. What if it was a little girl? Someone he’d do all those things with as well... and dance! Play them all the music he loved and dance with them! 

But Chris had to be real. He was eighteen, no high school diploma in sight, no job, living at his brother’s house. Nothing but a red car to his name. How was someone like that supposed to give a child and his girlfriend the life they deserved?... And what about the life he deserved? He was just a kid himself, they both were, kids who spent their nights using their fake IDs or spending all night in a car park smoking... they were no way fit to be parents. Hearing the car door close, Chris snapped back into reality, seeing Lily walk away.

Frowning deeply, the boy rushed outside himself, remaining by the car but calling her or her to stop, “Lily, stop!... Stop.” Placing his hands on the top of the car, the boy shook his head, “Where are you going?” He asked slowly, “... We’re a team, no? Just you and me against the world, d’you think that’s change ‘cause of a kid?”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys​:

Shaking her head felt like the only thing that Lily could bring herself to do. Sure, her exams had been stressing her out but she was more than able to balance that and her social life if she just chose to limit it to certain days of the week. But she had stopped completely the same day when she had found out that she was pregnant. All she remembered was crying into Maggie’s shoulder from fear but knowing that she needed to adjust her life to avoid putting the little baby growing inside of her in danger. Who had quickly become her only priority. Well, second since it went along with Christopher. Her first was school of course. The gentleness of his tone was able to keep her a bit more calm but there was still something she couldn’t shake. Her own thoughts eating away at her. And now he thought she didn’t think he loved her?! This was only getting worse and worse the more she hesitated which made the petite girl cry even more.

“N-No! It’s not like that at all. I-I… I just wanted to hear you say it ‘cause I sometimes… I don’t know. I sometimes want to make sure you do and haven’t gotten sick of me or something,” she stumbled out with a sadness in her tone considering it was her worst nightmare. Most people thought she was a boring bookworm and Christopher had seen her for more than that. The idea of losing what they’d built was exactly why she needed the reassurance that he loved her.

Lifting her head, the girl finally turned her head to look at him as warm tears trickled down her rosy red cheeks while those big doe eyes settled on those of her boyfriend. Her first time looking at him in almost the whole day and all she saw was concern. Concern for her. He was almost too good to be true at time considering the terrible home life that Lily had been dealing with since her mother had passed away. He’d been the first to show her so many things in so long so how could she hide something so serious for so long? Whimper softly, the girls head dipped down again as she spoke once more, “I-It’s just… I’ve been kind of lying to you recently. About something. And after talking about with Maggie for a really long time I just felt like now was the time, you know? I love you, Christopher, I really do and I hope this doesn’t change things because…” the brunette paused, biting her bottom lip in the process before she continued. “… because you’re all I really have.” Another pause came as she allowed her thick and long brown hair to hide her face while she felt her heart racing in her chest. Terrified. Anxious.

“Christopher… I’m pregnant…” she mumbled softly. Almost too softly that it wouldn’t have been heard had the car not been dead quiet.

“Sick of you?” Chris let out a weak chuckle, shaking his head. “How could I be sick of someone I had to work so hard for her to give me a chance?” If that proved how much the teenage boy liked her, it was that. How he waited so patiently, watched and saw her fall for someone else, but never lost touch of how he felt for her. Not once. He truly loved her. But enough thoughts on how he loved her, his stomach was churning just a little. Did she love him?

Now he was doubting himself. For her only just to look at him was concerning, but her words... they filled the eighteen-year-old with subtle dread. I’ve been kind of lying to you recently. I hope this doesn’t change things. You’re all I really have. Seeing her eyes grow with heartbroken tears made his own grow with nerves and trepidation. “You can tell me.” He repeated himself, but this time... he wasn’t so confident.

I’m pregnant.

Chris remembered the day he and his older brother Michael went to the county fair, just the two of them when he was seven years old. He remembered going on a funfair ride for the first time, how it sent you up into the air then suddenly... you fell. Your heart fell into your stomach, your hands felt sweaty and your mouth went dry. But you laughed from the nerves, laughed from the rush. He got that same feeling right now, that same feeling of your heart crashing and tumbling and falling. Yet, this time, there was no laughter. 

For some time, the teenage boy stared into her eyes, but he wasn’t exactly... there. His were a little dazed, empty, as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind. She was pregnant. A baby was growing inside of her. His baby. He couldn’t be a father... no. Chris was just some stupid eighteen-year-old kid with no high school diploma in sight, spent his days smoking and kissing his girlfriend, stealing bottles of liquor and infurating his English teacher.

He felt like crying.

Moving, he chose to stare ahead instead. His mouth was open, but it was some time before noise could be heard. “... A baby?”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys​:

She didn’t really answer any questions while they were stood in front of the school. Quite frankly, Lily wanted to get as far away from the school as she possibly could in order to tell him what she had to say from fear of the whole student body finding out. Her head was already spinning from the sheer thought of what they’d say the moment she actually started to show something even with those oversized sweaters in her closet making a comeback. Soon enough, the couple had reached the abandoned car park where they spent a lot of their time together but it wasn’t exactly a place that filled her with dread until now. Normally, it was a place of happiness and an escape from the norm. Now… she didn’t know what it felt like.

Hazel green eyes looked out onto the city as she continued to fidget with her fingers and sleeves despite having heard his question. She simply needed some time to actually process her thoughts in order to reveal her pregnancy without it being too blunt. Too blunt and he’d likely pass out. Take too long and he’d think she was breaking up with him. There had to be a spot right in the middle that made sense. “Uhm…” she said eventually, head tilting down as she looked down at her legs, “You know how I-I… I haven’t really been feeling well lately? How the last month I’ve just kind of been less into doing things like smoking, going out and stuff? Well… it’s not really because I’ve wanted to it’s been more because I have to.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she sat there, still avoiding his gaze despite being able to see the smile he had on his face as present as ever. The words kept getting stuck in her through as she did her best to explain but ‘im pregnant’ wasn’t anywhere near the jumbled noises she was emitting. With her hands now on her face as she was crying into them, Lily mumbled softly, “Y-You… you love me right?”

What was shaking Lily this bad? It made Chris frown softly in concern. When she worried, he worried. It was a natural reaction he had these days when he thought about just how hard life could be for his girlfriend most of the time. He longed to take the pain away and make things better. His eyes flickered over her ticks, how she fidgeted, looked away, stuttered. When she spoke slowly, something was up. “Yeah, I have.” His voice was gentle, calm. He hoped it would soothe her. “I just presumed you wanted to focus on your exams, that was all.”

Then she asked him if he loved her. Of course, he did. He always told her that, always wanted to make sure she knew that he was right behind her, or just a phone call away. “Of... of course I do, Lily.” He sat upright against the dark leather seat, his frown lacing with deep confusion as he took her hand in his. “Do you think... do you think I don’t? Talk to me. You’re... you’re scaring me.”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys​:

One month. Lily had known that she was pregnant for one month as of today and she had chosen to keep it a secret. For a variety of reasons. One; she was scared of what was going to happen if her father found out. Two; she was scared of what people in school where going to say when they heard that she was pregnant. Teenagers weren’t exactly the kindest of people. And three; she was scared that Christopher would just up and leave her and not want anything to do with the baby. But one thing that Lily was certain of was the fact that she was keeping the baby regardless of how things worked out. This was a conclusion she had come to after having visited the doctor with her best friend Margaret only to cry against her the moment they were in the car. Maggie had comforted Lily and told her that she would always be there for her and that the baby was going to grow up as loved as anything. She recalled sobbing and asking what she’d do if Chris left her but Maggie had only sighed and told her that she didn’t need to only think about herself. That the baby was also important and that little things like her baby daddy could be let go should it be the case.

There were bigger things to also think about and Lily had spent a long time studying for her exams considering she’d accidentally allowed her grades to slip since she’d been spending too much time with her boyfriend. Her guidance counselor had specifically told her that she was fully capable of keeping her perfect GPA as long as she worked hard and did well on her tests. With the baby also on her brain and her alcoholic father in the background of her studying sessions, you could say that Lillian had struggled quite a bit but she knew she’d done well. At least she would have that going for her but the young girl didn’t quite know if a baby and college would work well together. However, for now? She wanted to keep things the way it appeared. Maggie, however, had bagged Lily so much when they were alone that the girl had finally chosen to tell Christopher the news. Scared and on the verge of a breakdown, the girl had grabbed her things from her locker and made her way outside where she knew her boyfriend would be waiting for her. Like he always did. She’d stopped by the door and looked out of the windows, watching him with a small smile, eyes twinkling brightly as she focused on the one thing that brought her joy in life.

Sighing, she’s simply taken a breathe and headed outside. The girl didn’t realize that her face showed exactly how she was feeling on the inside and she was pulling at the sleeves of her sweater which was another sign of her nerves. A tick. Brushing back some of her long dark brown curly hair, Lily bit on her bottom lip as she heard his question as she was unable to really look him in the eye for the time being. “Uhm… not quite, Christopher. C-Could… Could we maybe go somewhere more… quiet? We need to talk.”

Wrapping his arm around his girlfriend was a natural reaction from Chris. Watching how nervous she grew at times concerned the teenage boy exponentially, which was sadly... often. It was simply part of his character to react the way he did. “Not quite?” His frown deepened a little, keeping her close, “Did your exam not go so well?” Pausing, he glanced around, beginning to grow concerned by how... unsure she seemed, how she pulled at the sleeves of her sweater, how she couldn’t even look at him.

“... Of course. Let’s go someplace else.”

10 MINUTES LATER;

That famous car park that looked over the city. It might not have looked like much from the outside, but it was a frequent place for the couple. No one around, open space, a pretty view of the city skyline. They’d spend hours here, smoking, drinking a Slurpee, just talking... sometimes something more personal. Today it was a talk. Pulling up, Chris switched the engine off, leaned back, and looked at Lily with a soft smile. “Wanna talk about it now?”

[chriishealy]

Exam season was almost over for Chris, Lily and the rest of their school. Whilst Chris had no care for his classwork, the rest of the peers, including his girlfriend, had the overbearing desire to go to college and get as far away from Southside Chicago as they possibly could. He too longed to see the world but simply believed he could do it without the grades. An optimistic, lazy attitude.

Sat outside the school, Chris rested comfortably on the hood of his beloved red car, finishing up a cigarette he always felt like he was craving. He had been waiting for Lily (finishing an exam, he believed), considering he always dropped her off home every day, even though he always begged her to stay at his, stay anywhere in the world except her God-forsaken home. He hated how nervous he felt whenever he left her behind, but... he had no choice. He simply waited for the day he could take her someplace better.

Looking up, he tuned out the sound of his radio playing as he noticed her walk over to him. Smiling, he waved and threw the dying bud onto the ground. “Hey.” He called with a grin, but his excitement fell when he noticed his girlfriends expression. Had the exam gone bad? 

Pushing himself up, he took on the role of a caring boyfriend, tilting his head, “Everything okay, Lil?”

[chriishealy]

[ GIVEN TO HIM WHEN HE PICKED HER UP FOR SCHOOL ]

( ooc; i’m pretty sure some of these didn’t exist in the 90’s but just replace it with a 90’s candy cause i spent forever googling and fact checking and got frustrated )

With a small bag in her hands, Lily scurried out of her home into the cold morning air and tugging her jacket around herself as she made her way to her boyfriends car and quickly sliding herself into the front passenger seat. “It’s so cold!” She squealed, pouting as she rubbed her hands together as well as rubbing her hands against her cheeks in an attempt to get warm again. Leaning over after, she pressed a kiss to his cheek, “But good morning! Happy Valentines Day!” She cooed, smile soon bursting onto her face as she held out the small bag for him after making sure that she was wearing her seat belt. “I wish I could get you something a bit better but… I’ve always thought that Valentines Day is more about the sentiment behind the gift and not so much about the grandeur of what you’re getting. And at least I know you’ll actually like it ‘cause you like all these things,” she told him with an innocent laugh as she folded her hands on her lap. “Open it!”

It was almost amusing watching Lily scurry into his car in the morning when it was cold. Don’t ask Chris why, it just was. Watching her get into the red vehicle, he turned the heater up for her, noticing the way her cheeks matched the colour of the car. “Good morning.” He responded, leaning in and kissing her on the lips before she had the chance to slip back. But then she held out the sweetest little bag for him, making him grin as he carefully took it from her. Opening it up, his face lit up in surprise at the sheer amount of candies in the bag; he was a sucker with a sweet tooth. “Hey... you wrote all of these?” He said, picking up the pop rocks and giving the note a read.  “I think they’re great! Screw money, I love it.” He insisted, leaning in and giving her yet another kiss. He would hope that his gift, later on, would be something enjoyable as well.

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

She didn’t even have a chance to answer him before she felt his lips pressing into hers, feeling that oh so familiar feeling of comfort and safety the moment she was close to him. It was a foreign feeling that she’d felt until Christopher had come into her life, to think that so many months ago she’d been so adamant of doing anything with him. Now, all she wanted was to do all things with him. The girl hadn’t had time to reciprocate since he was soon parting away from her as a confused look appeared on her face but soon a soft smile tugged on the corners, moving her hand against the side of his neck before placing it gently on the back of his head, “No…” she initially said, moving her lips closer to his as they just barely touched as she muttered, “I want to. Please be quiet before I change my mind.” Right after the last word slipped out of her mouth, the girl was pushing her lips into her boyfriends in a not so gentle manner. She wasn’t rushing it but she wanted to get lost quickly enough where she wouldn’t have second doubts.

And away they went. Christopher was practically buzzing on the inside for two reasons. One, it had been so long since he’d last had sex and he was a teenage boy with teenage desires. And two, it was sex with Lily Jensen, and that meant good things. Really good things. He knew she lost her innocent demeanour if she was in the right mood. “Okay.” He mumbled, silencing himself as he lost himself in her body, hands quickly roaming to her waist as he reciprocated the intimacy he felt in her kiss. Damn, the car would be steaming up in practically seconds, moving better so he could be closer. But... he was needy, and soon enough he was moving his hands to his t-shirt so he could pull it off over his head, not without bumping his forehead into hers. “Oops!” He whispered, letting out an embarrassed chuckle, “Sorry...”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

Frowning, the girl only watched the way that he took a hold of her hands before her eyes slowly traveled from them and over to looking at him directly in the face. A part of her wanted to smile as he spoke about being proud of her, about finding herself and that she deserved that. He had a fair point because while it had taken a lot of build up to get to this point, she had been able to do it and be happy with how she looked. She’d thought about taking things further with Chris many times but fear had stopped her - much like with clothes. Her eyes moved down again, biting her lip as she shrugged her shoulders, “I… I am open to more things and having sex with you because I do want to have sex with you but…” she paused for a moment, letting out a breath as she just shook her head, choosing to stop making excuses for herself. She’d done something major today already, what was one more with someone who actually cared about her. “I… okay,” she finally said, looking over at him with a tiny smile, “I’ll do it. You. The thing.”

Ah fuck, the word ‘but’ had arisen and not in a good way. Readying himself for disappointment, disappointment that he’d have to hide considering he didn’t want to make his girlfriend feel guilty in the slightest, Christopher also sat up in surprise when she agreed, a smile on her face even. “Really? You... you sure?” It was then that he leaned in towards her, hand on her cheek as he pressed his lips gently against hers. He could say he was definitely falling for Lily Jensen, there was no doubt about that. “We can stop if you feel uncomfortable,” He mumbled, pulling away for a moment though they remained close, “but... I really hope you don’t.”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

The fact that he seemed to be hinting towards something didn’t really help considering that Lily wasn’t exactly used to this kind of thing. Up until this point, she’d assumed that Chris was happy with what she was willing to offer him since… well… he always acted in an understanding manner. Until he told her flat out that what he wanted was something she hadn’t given him. Instantly, her face fell and she was turning away from him and looking down at her lap, fingers just drumming against the bare skin of her thigh. “O-Oh… I-I… I see…” she stammered out faintly as the quiet and awkward nature true to her came bubbling to the surface. All the confidence she’d gained disappearing in an instant. “I… I mean… I like you too but I just… I thought you were okay with me waiting until I was comfortable. I…” she trailed off for a moment, trying to figure out why he was saying this now of all days as her hazel hues focused on her skirt. That was when it hit her; her outfit. Her overall change in appearance. Was this the reason? “Do… Do you only want to have… sex with me because I’m not like… because I’m dressed like this?”

He could kind of expect this reaction from her. She had always cared about this kind of thing and he had always respected her for it. But her thinking he only wanted to have sex because of her outfit made him quickly shake his head, wanting to get that idea out of her head. “Not at all,” He began, turning to face her and take her hands in his. “I know that... wearing the outfit you wore today took a lot of confidence from you, and I’m really proud of you. Ignoring how hot you look,  forget that, that’s not important, I’m just glad you’re finding yourself, Lily, you deserve it. I just... well, I guess I thought because you were more open to this you’d be more open to other things as well, so I figured I’d shoot my shot.” He explained, hoping she’d understand because he definitely didn’t want her to. “If you don’t want to, that’s okay. I don’t want to freak you out.”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

More confusion settled into Lily’s delicate features as she noticed that her boyfriend had turned off the car. Normally, that meant two things; they were going to sit and smoke or they were going to make out in the backseat. Things never ventured further than that due to Lily’s own insecurities over doing more considering the one time she’d actually done it had left her feeling… disgusted with herself. Watching the way Christopher seemed to grab the penguin and put it to one side after mimicking the accent Lily had put on, the girl pulled her long brown hair to one side as she braided it out and tied it off. Giving him a look, the girl adjusted how she was sitting as she blinked a few times, “Do what, Christopher? It can mean a whole lot of things so I think you’re going to have to get a little more specific?” It was then when she noticed the awkwardness in his behavior. Christopher Healy wasn’t an awkward boy at all. Why get awkward now?

Christopher was the type of teenager who made sure his boxers looked immaculate and not gross like teenage boys tended to be, he always had a condom in his wallet because you “never knew where the night would take you”, and he had mint tablets ready on standby. Lily Jensen had made this boy feel awkward. It didn’t exactly help when she didn’t understand what she was hinting at, either. “I... you know!” He waited to see if she understood but alas, nothing. So he had to get blunter without being blunt, essentially. “I... sex. Sex, Lily, I think we should both have sex ‘cause...” Why did he want to do it? “I really like you. And I wanna be closer to you.”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

A FEW HOURS LATER…

The girl had genuinely meant what she had said when Christopher had managed to position the claw arm at the perfect angle; this was the best day ever. Shortly after winning her little penguin friend, her excitement had let the two to slip in a dark corner in the arcade where they’d been glued together up until a group of younger kids walked in which made them promptly exit the establishment considering Lily couldn’t bring herself to make out with her boyfriend when eight year olds were close by. The remainder of the day had been spent driving around, Lily’s feet propped up slightly on the chair with the little penguin positioned right on her lap where she’d occasionally give it a little cuddle or squeeze. It was almost sad just how happy something so small could make her. But, confusion began to settle as quickly as the night around them as she watched as Christopher pulled into an abandoned car park. She normally knew what this mean but instead of asking herself, she held up the little penguin and put on a little british accent as she wiggled the stuffed toy while saying, “Excuse me, sir, but this doesn’t seem like the arctic. Why are we here?” Making it seem as if the toy was talking instead.

Wow, even Christopher Healy had never made out in an arcade with someone, but boy, had he enjoyed every second of it. That was until those little kids had walked inside. Something felt so wrong about continuing when all they had wanted was some fun. But now that the sun was beginning to set over Chicago’s bustling skyline, Chris hadn’t been able to disregard one little thought in the back of his mind the whole day; how good it felt when making out with Lily Jensen. Sure, he’d done things with different girls over the years, but how had the most innocent girl he knew managed to make him feel... not innocent at all? It had to be resolved. Getting a little idea, he remembered an almost always empty carpark that looked over Chicago city, and he was soon pulling up into space with a hopeful look on his face. Hopeful that she would be open to new things. He just had to make sure he didn’t sound like an asshole.

Turning off the car engine, the teenager gently grabbed the teddybear and put on a British accent himself. “Sorry, sir, ignore my questions. I’m rather tired so I’m going to sleep!” He too pretended to make it talk, placing it beside him. Turning back, he faced Lily with an awkward expression; how did you begin? “Uhm...” He mumbled, “I brought us here cause I wanted some alone time, you know?” He smiled, “I... I was hoping that... well... let’s do it, Lily, come on.”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

Giving her boyfriend a sad look as he spoke, she turned to look back at the claw machine almost ready to give up considering she didn’t want to end up wasting the money away. It was far too important. As he stood behind her, she could see him in the little reflection before she realized that he had actually began to play the machine, making her let out a soft little ‘oh!’ upon figuring out what was happening. You’d think a teenage girl wouldn’t be so nervous over a claw machine but Lily wasn’t exactly the most normal in terms of what teenagers liked. “That’s so much pressure!” She exclaimed, hands resting on her cheeks but as she looked down, she noticed the seconds ticking down which instantly made her panic and she slammed her hand onto the button. 

Hands covered her eyes since she didn’t want to see the disappointment happen again but it never came. Instead, there was a cheering noise from the claw machine which made her drop her hands. “Did it work?!” She questioned, leaning down to look in the collection area where she pulled out the little penguin, “Oh my god!” She squealed, giving the little penguin a squeeze before turning around to look at her boyfriend, “It’s so cute and perfect! Thank you so much! This is officially the best day ever.” Unable to contain her excitement, the petite girl rose to her toes before her lips made contact against her boyfriends. This time, she had a tad bit too much passion in her but blame it on the excitement. 

Seeing her reaction through the window made him smile even though he had his chin rested on her shoulder, arms wrapped around her waist softly when she pressed the button almost in a hurry. Please work, please work, he thought to himself, praying that she got the little penguin she wanted so badly. He felt like Lily never got what she wanted, what she deserved, even if it was just something little, it was something, no? Hearing her let out a squeal, the teenage boy’s eyes lit up with joy as she pulled out the adorable little plushie. “Hey, I only did ninety-five percent of the work, give yourself some credit.” He teased, allowing her to kiss him a little more.. excitedly then than she usually did. He never complained.

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

One of her hands pressed against the glass of the claw machine as she looked at the little stuffed animal, tiny feet rising onto her toes slightly to see if she could get a better look over the overall layout in hopes of it helping her get what she wanted. Quite frankly? It seemed useless. Her other hand remained in a fist holding the few coins, giggling softly as she felt the gentle little kiss against her cheek which naturally made her flush. She had a limited amount of chances so the pressure was still there. “I think you have too much faith in me. If it’s something that can’t be studied, I’m not very good,” she giggled, slipping one of the quarters into the machine and grabbing the little joystick, “It’s going to fit in perfectly! Maybe if I’m extra lucky, I can get two and you can keep one to remind you of me.” Pushing the start button, the petite girl did her very best to maneuver the claw towards the little penguin. When she felt the most certain, Lily pushed the other button to drop the claw but was met with disappointment as the claw grabbed it’s head for a fraction of a second before letting it drop which made the girl pout sadly. “But I was soooo close…”

“And if it’s something that can’t be studied...” He trailed off, watching the penguin plush fall back down with a little nod, “...chances are I’m good at it.” Christopher let out a gentle chuckle and moved to stand behind the girl, determined to beat this stupid fucking machine and win her that God damn penguin. “Let’s see...” The teenage boy mumbled, placing another quarter into the machine and beginning to manoeuvre around the little joystick until he had just as he wanted it. Exact, dead on. “Okay... I’m gonna let you press the button. I really want you to win this, Lily, don’t let me down.” He laughed, resting his chin on her shoulder gently, hoping and praying this would be the one so she wouldn’t be disappointed.

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

It was hard to not have much money and you’re a teenager. You have to struggle between choosing what you need and what you on the daily and while tutoring earns her some money, it wasn’t enough where Lily could allow herself the luxury to do something as dumb as spend coins on a claw machine. And truly? It sucked. She wanted to be like all other teens who always had some kind of money but she had to make sure everything else in her home worked first. She was a child who’d lost her childhood after the death of her mother and spiraling of her father. And nobody could see it because she hid it almost too well. Nobody except those she confided in like Chris or Maggie. But all she wanted in that moment was the little blue penguin she had seen the day before. Hazel hues flickered down to the coins in his hands as her eyes lit up excitedly, “Well, duh!” She squealed, grabbing his hand and pulling him all the way to the arcade where she finally stood in front of the claw machine. “It’s still here!” The petite girl exclaimed happily as she bit her lip, “I’ve never been the best at claw machines but hopefully luck is on my side. I have a name picked for it and everything so… I kinda really want it.” It was childish almost to want a stuffed penguin but Lily’s been obsessed with the animal since she was four years old and her parents had taken her to the Bronx Zoo before her mother had gotten diagnosed with cancer.

Seeing how excited she grew over a few quarters almost broke Christopher’s heart. His family weren’t rich but he definitely had none of the worries and concerns that his girlfriend, none of the stress, none of the pain. He wanted to change it, give her everything she deserved. One day, I’ll give you the world he thought to himself, but for now, he only smiled at her hazel eyes and placed the coins in her hands, allowing himself to be dragged into the colourful arcade on the highstreet. Leaning against the claw machine next to the one full of those cute, little penguin things, Chris’ smile grew as he placed a kiss on her cheek, “You’ll do it, I know you will.” Moving back, he gestured for her to start. “Can’t wait for it to chill in the front seat of my car next to you.”

[chriishealy]

ofliilys‌:

SEVERAL HOURS LATER…

Even though she had had her doubts about skipping an entire school day, Lily had managed to get it into her head that it was perfectly fine as long as she only did it once and focused on school there after. One time never hurt anyone, right? She already had above perfect grades so she didn’t need to go today. It was fine. It had proven to be quite the interesting few hours since the first hour was spent driving around trying to figure out what to do until Lily told her boyfriend that she was hungry so they went and ordered a whole pizza for the two of them. Said pizza had been eaten in his car as they sat in a parking lot listening to music and the girl attempted to explain to her boyfriend that pizza with pineapple really wasn’t that bad. Not her favorite but certainly not her least. After that, they’d decided to walk down main street just looking at windows which was how they ended up near an arcade that had caught Lily’s attention. “Oh my god, do you have any quarters? That place has a claw machine where you can get cute little stuffed animals and they had the cutest penguin there yesterday but I had used my quarters for laundry.”

Best decision ever. Skipping school was always fun but it was extra fun when you did it with someone who was nervous about it, it felt boring when everyone skipping had done it so much. Eating pizza with your girlfriend was also the best decision ever, especially in his car, despite his persistence that pineapple on pizza was not the way to go. ‘Don’t hurt my Italian heart, Lily!’ he had said. But now they were walking down one of the many main streets Chicago had to offer when Christopher noticed that his girlfriend had come to a stop. Following her eye line, he smiles as he saw the grabber machines inside the arcade, soon reaching into his pocket and pulling out loose change. “You’re in luck... I’ve got a few. Wanna go inside?” He asked, holding the money out for her to take. He knew she had hardly any cash so it would be nice to let her play.