Here To Stay [OUAT || Swan Princess Trio Book #4]

38 - Lily

The Coffee Mug Diner...

Emma and Elaine walked out of the diner and they walked over to Starla, "Hey. Starla," Emma said.

Starla looked at them, "Is something wrong? Did I bring you decaf by mistake? I'm so sorry. I always get the pots mixed up," Starla said.

"Starla isn't your name, is it? Lily," Elaine said.

"How do you know that?" Lily asked.

Elaine pointed to Lily's wrist, "This mark. You showed it to us a long time ago outside crappy cub food in Hopkins, Minnesota," Elaine said.

"Emma? Elaine?" Katy walked out and Lily looked at her, "Katy," Lily said.

"We thought you were dead. What the hell happened to you?" Emma asked.

"I... Got into trouble, uh... With some bad people a couple years ago, and I needed a fresh start. But I've been careful. How did you find me?" Lily said.

"We..." Elaine said.

"Fate," Emma said.

"What?" Lily said.

"I know this is gonna sound crazy, but remember when we were kids, you used to say then we were connected? Like something was drawing us together?" Emma said.

"Yeah, that's something teenage girls say, and then you braid each other's hair and become BFFs," Lily said.

"You didn't seem like the girl who'd braid her hair," Katy said.

"What if you were right? What if... There's a reason your life has been on a downswing ever since we met? That all your problems are not your fault, they're... Ours?" Elaine said.

"You're right... That sounds crazy... You both still mindreading each other?" Lily said.

"Now that sounds crazy," Katy said.

"It's complicated, but we can explain it if you come with us. I just need you to trust us," Elaine said.

"Look, I don't know what kind of 12-step program you're in," Emma and Elaine rolled her eyes, "But I've moved on. I'm fine," Lily said.

"You're living in the middle of nowhere under an assumed name. We can help you," Emma said.

"I don't need your help. And my life is great, thank you very much. I have an awesome daughter and a loving husband. The last thing I need is you three to come into my life and just blow it apart again, so..." A school bus pulled up and Lily glanced at it, "If you'll both excuse me, that's my daughter's bus," Lily said and Katy bit the inside of her mouth to keep herself from commenting.

"I...I'm sorry... For... Everything," Elaine said.

"Me too," Emma said.

"You two don't need to apologise. We were kids. To be honest, I haven't even thought about you three in years," Lily said.