The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and it stifled her misery for a moment, it didn't prevent her from jumping as a bag quietly thudded beside her. Her eyes widening momentarily and her crying stopped. She wasn't sure what was going to happen but she knew it was unlikely to be pleasant, that was until she felt hands upon her shoulders. She stifled her own cries with a quiet little sniff and shoved her phone bag into her bag, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hands to try and hide the fact she had been crying at all. 

No doubt most girls here would have known Rayne instantly, his scent, the shape of his hands and arms, his clothes or bag and maybe even the hair that fell across his face and brushed against them. Lilly, of course, had no such intimate understanding of Rayne. Still she knew it was him, even before he spoke, only two people could touch her and make her feel instantly safe and warm inside, one of them was Neo, the other was Rayne. 

[I] “Don't cry Lilly.” Rayne had been her brother's best friend when they were growing up, of course, Lilly secretly had considered Rayne -her- best friend too. She'd fallen over at the park when she was five and scrapped her knee and Rayne and Neo; in typical body guard style, rushed over to her, Neo had picked up a stick and was 'beating up' the bit of pavement she'd tripped on while Rayne used his sleeve to dab away the blood. “See, it's no so bad.” He'd smiled sweetly at her and she couldn't help but stop crying and smile back. [/i]

The words sent her right back to her childhood, although they sounded a little strange, turning her upper body just slightly so she could look up at Rayne her slightly reddened eyes widened. Was this really her brother's friend? The last of her quiet sobs stilled in her chest and she blinked, shedding the last few tears from her eyes. Panic swelled in her chest briefly, was this really even Rayne? He was so different now but his arms were still the same.

“I wasn't crying.” She was a terrible liar but she only ever lied to make sure others didn't worry about her, “I just got dust in my eye.” Absolutely the worst at lying, she never had been any good at it, perhaps though that had something to do with the way she had been raised. [I] There is never anything so bad you have to lie about it.[/i] Her mother's words to her since before she could remember really. She wiped quickly at her face again and smiled up at Rayne, shifting a little in his arms so she could return his warm hug with one of her own. 

Lilly rarely hugged anyone but when she did it was both arms and it meant something. She wrapped her slender arms around his shoulders and pulled him close a moment, burying her face into his neck as she had done when they were children. He smelled different and it tickled her nose but she didn't care. “I missed you Rayne-kun.” She whispered against his skin. The desire to take his advice and cry was huge, her tears hadn't just been because of the bullying, she still hadn't mourned her parent's divorce and break up, her mother moving on, moving away from her brother and father, any of it. The meanness of the girls had just tipped her over the edge of what she could cope with and opened the flood gates. 

She managed not to break down again though, Rayne didn't need to see that today. So after what didn't feel nearly long enough she pulled back and looked at Rayne again, “You've grown up.” She said rather bluntly, reaching up to toy with one of his blonde locks, in a curious fashion, [i]different hair cut[/i]. Dropping her fingers to his cheek, the tips rested gently just under the eyes as she canned them,  [I] he looks wiser too[/i], she mused to herself. Glancing down at what she could see of him, he'd certainly filled out a bit too, she didn't remember him being this big. Of course the last she saw him they were still children rather than young adults. Neo had spoke to him a lot of course but he hadn't warned her of the difference physically. “Same you though.” She commented with a small giggle behind one hand. 

The inappropriateness of the position didn't register with her, nor did the idea that people could misconstrue the intent and purpose behind the pairs closeness. Rayne was her childhood friend, they had likely seen more of each others body than anyone who wasn't family, days spent at swimming pools or running around in the yard, the usual childhood innocence which persisted with her to this day. “Lunch?” She'd almost completely forgotten that she hadn't eaten, as if on cue her stomach quietly gurgled it's approval at the idea. “Sure, where would you like to go?” She idly hoped he wouldn't say the canteen, she'd have rather avoided it for a little while if she possibly could.