"Emily wait! Don't go! I can explain!" Maya shouted as she raced after Emily who had stormed out of the room. Things had gone from confusing to crazy in 2.0 seconds flat. How did she explain that what Emily heard, wasn't exactly what it sounded like?

"You can explain? How? I heard what you said!" Emily shouted turning to face Maya. She wanted to run away, like she normally did when things got hard, but she felt she needed to hear Maya out. "okay … explain" she finally said.

They had been standing out on the porch in a silent face off for what felt like hours before the reply came, but you could see the unspoken relief on Maya face, when Emily spoke.

Maya watched her steadily. Emily stood before her with one hand folded across her body and the other actively at work wiping the stream of tears that flowed.

"You said I was just some girl you were experimenting with and that you didn't really care "Emily finally said breaking another length of silence between them. "Did you mean it? Do I mean that little to you?" she looked scared and broken, she wasn't even trying to hide how hurt she was.

Maya's face fell, that is exactly what she said, but it wasn't how she felt. Emily had accidently walked in a conversation with Maya and her mom. Where she was venting to her mother how frustrating it was to be in a relationship that was essentially a secret and how it would have been much easier to deal with, if she didn't care and they were experimenting. Maya sighed and stepped closer to Emily reaching for her but she stepped back, putting herself once more out of Maya's reach.

"That's what I said" Maya explained. "But that's not what I meant, I was venting to my mom, about how hard it is being in this relationship and that it would have been easier if I didn't care but I do" Emily seemed to soften then, she no longer looked like she was ready to retreat down the porch stairs. "I want to be with you Em, more than anything" Maya further explained. "Its just that sometimes its hard for me, because I cant hold your hands at school, or kiss you when people are around, or tell our friends about us … everything is so cloak and dagger" Maya sighed. Having a secret relationship was cool and exciting at first, but now it was stressful and depressing.

"So you don't want to break up?" Em asked, her voice was small and tight, and to comfort her Maya moved in closer.

"No … I don't want to break up … ever" Maya whispered. She gently wiped away a tear from Emily's cheek then tipped to press her lips against Emily's. It was a soft kiss, meant to be comforting and reassuring to two girls that needed it in that moment.

"I'm sorry …. I got scared" Emily tried to explain when the kiss ended, but Maya silenced her with another kiss, this time deepening it as she pulled Emily into her arms.