Author's Note: On May nineteenth of last year I began posting my first ever fanfiction. I wasn't expecting anything to come from it. But, after only a few chapters, I found myself with some amazing readers and many wonderful reviews. Thank you so much to everyone who read my last story and thank you continuing on with me. Without further ado, I now present the sequel to Finding Myself!
Chapter One: Secrets Revealed
-Meili's POV-
My eyes flutter open, and the first thing I realize is that it is pitch black. It's strange; I rarely wake in the middle of the night. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I realize that this isn't my room. The disorientation passes quickly, though, as I remember where I am. Mushu as I were visiting Mulan and her family yesterday when a rainstorm forced us to stay the night. Right now, I'm sitting in Mulan's bed, and she is sleeping on a quilt on the floor. I offered to take the floor, but she was appalled by the idea and insisted I take her bed. When I argued, she told me that the floor felt more natural to her than a bed anyway.
Suddenly, I hear the sound that must have woken me. Whimpering. I swear I hear whimpering. I reach over to the nightstand and light a candle, and in the pale glow of the flame, I see Mulan. She is on the ground, the blanket she had over her tossed aside as she trembles and thrashes in her sleep. It takes me a moment to realize that the whimpers are coming from her. My heart clenches as I see the look of pain and fear on her face. I've known Mulan since we were five, and never have I ever seen her this afraid of anything. The thought saddens me as well as frightens me. Despite that, I creep carefully out of bed and tiptoe towards her. When I am close enough, I kneel down next to her. Unsure how to help, I reach my hand out to touch her cheek. I am a mere inch away when she trashes again, her right hand shooting out to grab something that isn't there. I flinch my hand away at the sudden movement.
Abruptly, whatever she is dreaming of seems to get more violent, as Mulan trashes this way and that, the whimpers getting louder until a sudden scream rips through her lips. She shoots up, her eyes popping open. I don't wait to react this time.
"It's okay, Mulan," I tell her, scooting closer.
She turns to look at me, frightened by the noise. Her eyes look almost glazed over as if she hasn't completely awoken yet.
"Hey," I whisper gently, "it's just me. It's Meili. You're okay."
I wrap an arm around her, pulling her close to me. At first, she resists, but eventually, she collapses against me, her head resting on my chest. She is hot and damp with sweat. She trembles in my arms, her chest heaving up and down as she hyperventilates.
"It's okay, Mulan," I whisper again, stroking her hair. "It's Meili. Just breathe."
"Meili," she sobs my name desperately.
"Shhh," I tell her, caressing her wet cheeks.
Stubborn as ever, she doesn't listen. "I'm s-sorry," she hiccups.
"Don't be. It's okay."
I pull her closer and continue to do my best to calm her down, but it isn't doing much as she continues to shake in my arms.
-Mulan's POV-
I can't stop shaking, can't breathe right. The last person I ever wanted to see me break down like this is Meili, yet here I am, sobbing in her arms.
"Mulan, listen to me," she instructs. "Take some deep breaths, okay? Don't be afraid, just listen to my voice."
She begins to rock me gently as the sweetest melody I have ever heard fills my ears. I forgot how lovely Meili's singing was. I've never heard the song before, and in the state I'm in I don't quite catch all the lyrics, but that's okay. She's here. I'm okay.
After a few minutes, the song ends, and by now, my breathing has returned to normal.
"Thank you," I whisper. "That was beautiful."
She blushes and smiles at me. "I wrote it for you."
Of course she did. She's Meili. And I'm the mess that she for some reason loves.
"I'm sorry for waking you," I say. "I have… nightmares sometimes."
"Don't apologize," she whispers before kissing me on the cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too."
And at this moment I notice that the door to my bedroom is cracked open the tiniest bit, and standing in the hallway is none other than my father. Horrified, I open my mouth to say something, but before I can he is gone, the door closed once more.
"You think he saw?" Meili whispers nervously.
"Oh, he saw," I reply, cursing in my head. Seriously, secretly together for less than a month, leave it to Meili and myself to get caught.
"We'll deal with it in the morning," I tell her. "Get some sleep."
And I do actually find myself drifting back to sleep.
I dread what is to come as I get ready this morning, drawing tasks out as long as possible. When I am finally ready, I walk out to the dining room with Meili, who seems nervous. I want so badly to reach out and hold her hand but know better. Before we even make it to the dining room, though, we are intercepted by none other than Father.
"Good morning, Father," I state, doing my best to act as if everything is normal.
"Good morning, sir," Meili says, and I hear the nerves in her voice.
"Good morning, girls," Father replies. "Could we… chat for a minute?" he asks, motioning to the living room.
"Of course," I respond for the both of us, and we follow him in. Meili and I sit side by side on the couch, while Father sits in a chair across from us. He seems awkward, unsure how to begin this conversation.
"I just, I want to know what is going on," he states finally, seeming to give up on the subtle approach.
Boldly, I reach over and take Meili's hand. "I love her."
Meili squeezes my hand and looks at my father. "I love Mulan, sir."
Father smiles weakly at us. "I know," he states before sighing. "I've heard of it before, a woman loving another woman like this. I knew of it when you girls were thirteen. I just- I knew that letting you two be together would make life hard for you, and I wanted to protect you. I thought keeping you apart would be good for you. I see now I was wrong." He looks at me. "The separation did more harm than good, yes?"
I think back to the loneliness I felt after Meili and Mushu left. The depression that followed.
"Yes," I whisper.
Father sighs again. "I can't promise I will be able to understand your feelings for one another, but I can promise not to get in the way of them."
Meili looks at me with hopeful eyes, and I feel the same hope rise in me. Is he saying…
Father smiles at us. "If you two want to be together, I will not stand in your way. You have my support."
"You mean it?" I ask hesitantly. He nods and suddenly I am on my feet and hugging him. "Thank you, Father."
Meili is smiling happily and Father gestures for her to join the hug, which she does. Let's face it, Meili spent just about as much time at our house as she did at her own when we were kids. My family loves her.
After a moment, we pull away, and Father looks at Meili.
"I saw what you did last night for Mulan. Not everyone would have been able to help in a situation like that. If my daughter is going to fall in love, I am happy it is with a person like you."
She smiles. "Thank you, sir."
At the mention of what happened last night, a thought strikes me. "Did you tell Mother and Grandma what you saw last night?" I ask Father. He shakes his head.
"This is your secret to tell, Mulan."
I know Grandma probably won't care. That's just how she is. But Mother… now that's a different story. Telling her is what scares me. Meili, seemingly sensing my discomfort, takes my hand and squeezes it.
"Hey, we do this together," she tells me. I nod.
"I'll see you both at breakfast," Father states, leaving the room.
"I guess I tell them?" I ask once he is gone.
"We tell them," she corrects.
"And what of your family.?"
Meili gives me a smile. "One problem at a time, Mulan. One at a time."
I laugh. "Yeah, there will be no point in telling your family if Mother kills me first."
She laughs, too, and hand in hand, we walk out to the dining room. Everyone looks at us when we enter. More specifically, they look at our entwined hands.
"We're together," I announce.
A gasp comes from Mother and the plate she was holding slips from her hands and smashes to the floor. Despite this, I can't help but smile as Grandma proclaims, "It's about time!"
Author's Note: Alright, just a warning: the first few chapters of this story are pretty short, but I'm working on it! Also, I plan on posting on Saturday nights just like I did with my last story starting next Saturday. Be on the lookout for the next chapter, leave a review, and above all, thank you!
~HopeForMorning