Maya P.O.V.
"Do you honestly like her", Lindsey asks.
I think about this for a second, "Yeah, I do."
She sits down next to me, and the silence grows.
"I have to respect that", she says quietly.
Lindsey stands, and I stand with her. She gives me a hug, this wasn't an ordinary hug. It was a goodbye hug. I don't want to lose her forever. Before all this, we were best friends.
"Maya", my father says from the hallway.
His voice is low and raspy. I almost forgot what it sounded like.
I stand and open my door, "Yes?"
He enters my room, "Lindsey's dad called."
That feeling I felt a year ago came back, but I didn't hear disgust in his voice. I heard remorse and guilt.
He sits down and pats the space next to him, "I should have let you talk before accusing you about Lindsey, which is my mistake."
He looks towards the ground, looking for the words to say next. My heart picks up, and I feel my palms sweating.
"He wants us to move back on base. Supposedly, Lindsey fabricated those things she said about you", he says quickly.
Move back on base? I finally got comfortable in this town, I've made friends who understand me. People who seem to care about what happens to me, and I've found a girl. A girl that is worth waiting for.
I stand, "I can't move again."
He nods, "I know you don't want to, but we need to. I don't have the money to continue living here, especially if I have the opportunity to move back to where I belong."
Emily P.O.V.
"Has she texted you", Hanna questions going through my IPod.
"No. How many times do you text a person with no reply before it's weird", I ask staring at my phone.
"Stop texting her. She will get back to you when she can. Do you have any good music on this thing? Is Katy Perry not good enough for you", Hanna questions, throwing the IPod at me.
"She's not my favorite", I say with a laugh.
I hear Hanna's phone going off, "Are you going to get that?"
She looks down at it, "Uh, I don't think so."
"Why", I question curiously.
She doesn't answer, and I figure out why.
"Is it Maya", I ask.
"I have to go", she says standing up.
I don't question it, because she won't tell me what's going on.
Maya P.O.V.
"Do you want anything", the barista questions with a smile.
"Coffee, black", I say handing over a couple dollars.
I don't like coffee. But I needed something, even just to hold.
Someone taps on my shoulder, "Hey."
I turn around and see Hanna, "Hi."
"Let's sit over there", she says, pointing at the table in the corner.
Before moving, I grab the sugar shaker and add almost the entire thing to my coffee.
"Ordering a latte or something would have been easier", a girl with brownish red hair says to me.
I smile, "I guess, but it would have been more expensive, also."
"True, but it would taste much better", she says with a flirty grin.
She grabs a napkin from the counter and writes something down on it, "Call me sometime."
Straight forward, I like it, and it's something I've been looking for. Someone who isn't afraid to be who they are or be seen flirting with me.
I sit to the left of Hanna, and the silence was awkward.
"She was cute", Hanna says nonchalantly.
I look over at her, "I guess."
She snorts, "You were flirting with her, don't play dumb now."
"Why are you getting mad", I question defensively.
She takes a sip of her coffee, "I was hoping you wanted to talk about Emily."
I nod, "I do."
"Spill", she says.
I don't know why I called Hanna, if anyone I should have called Emily. I should be having this conversation with her, but I don't know how to.
"I'm moving", I say softly.
Hanna leans forward, "What did you say?"
"I'm moving", I say a little louder this time.
She leans back into her seat, "That's why you didn't call Emily."
"My dad got offered his old job, and he can't afford to pass it up. Usually, I would complain and fuss, but we do need the money. Things are tight at home, plus that was the first time in almost a year that my dad has spoken to me", I say, the words just flying out of my mouth.
She thinks for a second, "How far away?"
I calculate the numbers in my mind, "I think it is about two and a half hours away."
"That isn't too bad", she says optimistically.
"It isn't too bad, till the first time Emily or I have to blow each other off", I say casually.
She runs her hand through her hair, "I'm not saying it is going to be easy. If you don't want to try it, you have to tell Emily. I'm not going to be your messenger."
I pull out my phone, "You're right."
Meet up later? –M
The response doesn't take long.
Of course. –E
Emily P.O.V.
I walk out onto my front porch. The weather is beautiful, a tad warm with a cool breeze.
"Hey", Maya says, sitting on the ground.
I smile and take a seat next to her. The breeze is cooler than usual, and I shiver. Maya puts her arm around me, and I feel myself melting beneath her touch.
"I have to tell you something", Maya says grimly.
I nod, telling her to continue with just the nod of my head.
She looks out into the distance, "My dad got offered his old job back, and he wants to take it. I completely understand, money is tight. I have to move, long story short."
My nerves disappear, but my heart felt heavy. How would that work? With school and swim practice, I'd never be able to see her.
Maya looks at me, "I want to try to make this work, because I'll regret it if I don't."
"How would it work", I ask, pushing away from her.
The distance between us felt symbolic. Miles will be between us soon enough.
"I know you are busy with school and swim, but I could come see you", Maya says.
I look at the ground, "My mom doesn't know about us, she would think it was weird that you were driving all that way to come see me."
Maya looks at me defeated, "If you don't want to try, tell me. Don't leave me hanging on for nothing."
Coming out is a big step. No, not a step, it is a leap.
"I don't want to try", I say barley above a whisper.
The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, but I don't regret them. I know what coming out did to Maya and her family, and I'm just not ready to lose my own parents.
Maya smiles, "I understand."
A year later
Maya P.O.V.
"Stop it", I say with a laugh.
"Make me", Laura says grinning.
Laura, the brownish red haired girl from the coffee shop, and I have been dating for about four months now. Things are going great, actually more than great. My parents are somewhat accepting of my lifestyle. Not to the extent I'd want them to, but it is enough for me right now.
Laura kisses me lightly, "I have to go. See you later?"
I nod, and we part ways. My dad has recently decided to move back to our old house, living on base isn't for him anymore. That's what he says anyway. I've got my own assumptions on the matter.
"Are you packed", my mother questions, walking into my room.
She looks around and shakes her head, "This answered the question for me."
I haven't started packing, the thought of moving back made me sick. I haven't seen or talked to Emily and the girls since I moved.
"I am going to pack", I say, grabbing a few things out of my drawers and throwing them in the nearest box.
She laughs, "I'll help you."
Emily P.O.V.
"Are we triple dating tonight", Spencer asks.
I nod, "I think so. Ben said we could go to that new Italian place."
She snorts, "I can't believe you are dating him again."
"Do we have to talk about this every time I say his name", I ask rolling my eyes.
"I got a call from your old friend today", Spencer says with a sly grin.
Hanna looks over at Spencer, "Which old friend of Emily's?"
She holds her phone up to me. In big letters, I read: Maya.
"She called you, why", I question.
Hanna looks at me, "Who called?"
Spencer sits on my bed, "She's moving back, and she wanted to know if we could hang out."
"Seriously, who called", Hanna asks, a little louder this time.
I stare at Spencer, "Why does she want to hang out with you?"
"Come on, Em. She wasn't just your friend", Spencer says.
Hanna grabs Spencer's phone, "Maya called? I haven't heard her name in a while. Are you going to hang out with her?"
Spencer nods, "Of course."
I start to get mad, "Don't."
"You don't have any right to be mad, Em. You ended things", Spencer says grabbing her phone back.
"There wasn't much to end. They only kissed", Hanna corrects.
Maya P.O.V.
Box after box, they don't seem to end.
"I feel like we have more stuff than last time", I say.
My mom laughs, "We probably do."
My mom nods towards Emily's house, "Have you talked to her?"
I shake my head, "Not since we moved."
She grabs another box, "You should give her a call."
I mumble no under my breath, good thing she doesn't hear. I don't need my mom questioning what happened between Emily and me.
"Hey", I say into my phone after the second ring.
"Do you need help moving in", Spencer says cheerfully.
"How did you know I was moving in right now", I question.
I see Spencer walk out of Emily's house, and I smile to myself. We meet halfway, and I hug her tightly.
"I missed you", Spencer says letting go of me.
I hand her a box, "Come on. We can catch up inside."
Yes, I did a big time jump. I know people will be mad that Maya and Emily still aren't together. But reality is, you don't wake one day deciding you are going to accept yourself. I went through many phases, denial was definitely the longest of those stages. Yes, Emily is dating Ben again, but she is doing it for a certain reason. We will figure out why in the next chapter. Maya is dating someone else. Next chapter, Emily is going to meet Laura. How is that going to work out? I just didn't want to act like coming out is an easy thing, because it isn't. I want to make this as realistic as possible. They will be together soon enough, promise.