Clock Struck Thirty Minutes after Midnight

"What are you dressed up for?" I asked as I walked into Emily's room casually on a Friday night. My Mum had left on a weekend business trip and didn't feel safe at home alone, something Emily seemed to only understand and she invited me to stay for the weekend. I had been downstairs watching TV while eating out of a tub of cookie dough ice-cream, I had brought it over with because it was Emily and my favourite ice-cream. As I looked Emily over I came to the conclusion that she looked hot, she was standing in front of me wearing a suit. The suit was fully black with expectation of her tie that was a bright red colour and she even had pointy shoes on, which she told me she would never be seen dead in but here she is wearing those shoes. It must be something important for her to go to all this effort but for the life of me I couldn't remember if Emily had said anything about going out tonight, I didn't see any reason for her to lie to me.

"One of Mum's friends has a daughter graduating this year from a school cross town and her girlfriend of two years, who she'd known all her life broke up with her for no reason. Olivia had bought tickets for the formal, but she didn't want to go without a date and that's where I came in. Mum convinced me to go today, I didn't really want since I don't even know the girl but if I can make someone happy at any time than I'm willing to do anything." I nodded my head and thought so Emily; it was something that I'd always loved about Emily.

Emily didn't have a mean bone in her body and with so much evil and hate in the world; it was always nice to see someone genuine as Emily. When I had realised my feelings for Emily it hit me harder than anything else, after the first bit of shock it kind of made sense to me. I've always felt this instant bond to Emily, words couldn't explain this bond it wasn't a sisterly bond, it was almost stronger than that bond. Sometimes I didn't even know how to explain the love I felt toward Emily but then I'd look at Emily, when I thought no one would notice me and I'd see her in this new light. For example when we'd have sleepovers and we were watching a movie, Emily would stare at the screen so intensely I always wondered what was going through her mind. It was like Emily was in her own little world, she would forget about the other in the room and would just feel the movie.

"Hanna, you're okay with me going out?"

"Yeah of course," I noticed her fiddling with her collar and tie. I couldn't help but smile, here she was all dressed up like an adult but yet she still makes those same face, she has been making since she was six. It was that look of annoyed but she couldn't let it escape, not with someone else in the room, she had to be gentlewoman or a good host; something I think her Mum has been shoving down her throat all her life.

"Let me," I stepped closer to Emily and start to fix her collar and tie. As I was fixing it every now and then I'd look at Emily in the eye to find her staring back at me. Big, soft brown eyes staring at me, it made me lose focus and I just stared back at Emily as my hands rest on Emily's shoulder. Still through the clothing layers Emily had on top, I could still feel Emily's tone shoulders from all her years as a swimmer.

"Em?" I asked while still looking her in the eye.

"Yeah?" Emily asked back with a smile in her voice.

"Can I kiss you?" I was shocked at myself for asking but it was something I truly wanted to ask, for the longest time ever and now just seemed right.

"Sure," Emily sounded confused and I saw her brow rise in confusion which I didn't blame her for. For all she knew, for the girls knew and the rest of the world, I was boy crazy and now I was asking for permission to kiss a girl; it's quite understandable to be confused. Taking a deep breath I moved my eyes away from Emily's and down to her lips, I saw her tongue come out to wet them and I don't know why I found that move so cute/adorable but I did. It was now or never, I thought in my head if I didn't kiss Emily than I might lose her for ever and that was something I most definitely didn't want.

When I leant forward I saw Emily lean into, as her eyes closed my eyes closed and then there was only one sensation I could feel and that was Emily lips on mine. Emily allowed me to take lead in the kiss, poking my tongue out to swipe her lips to taste Emily's strawberry lip gloss that always made her lips look shine; at all time. Emily slowly open her mouth and I felt Emily's tongue on mine, Emily tongue then start leading mine around her mouth it was like Emily was showing me around; always a good hostess this girl even while kissing. The taste of Emily's mouth could become very addicting there was this minty fresh taste which I assumed was Emily's toothpaste, as well as this cinnamon taste; where that came from I had no clue. When I felt Emily's lips leave mine, I took a couple of seconds or minutes to gain self-control and I slowly open my eyes. When I opened my eyes I found Emily still standing there staring at me with this confused expression on her face.

I said "You should probably get going don't want to keep your date waiting," remembering that Emily was practically going on a date tonight hurt, especially after incredible, breath-taking kiss.

"It's not a date Hanna, I'm just doing a favour for my Mum and no senior deserve to go to their formal single."

I nodded my head and asked "Did you get her a corsage?"

"Technically yes and Technically no, my Mum bought me it and told me to give it to Olivia," Emily shrugged like it wasn't a big deal and she had no idea how much that crushed me.

"Hanna, I have to go but we'll talk when I get home," I thought Emily was going to say something different but she didn't which made me want cruel up into a ball and cry. I watched as Emily checked herself over in the mirror before grabbing her phone, wallet, car keys and then something in a box which I assumed would be the corsage. When Emily had everything she needed, she looked at me smiled and then left the room. As I heard the front door slam shut I felt myself be pulled to the ground but I swang myself to sit down on Emily's bed, I felt the tears start pour down my cheek as I thought I might actually lose Emily to Olivia.

Emily might not think it's a date but going to another girl's formal when that girl is interested in girls, it has to be some formal of a date. Flopping back down on the bed, I knew Emily would never be interested in me in that way; I have no idea why I thought she would. I wasn't skinny like all the other girls Emily has date or been interested, I'm not pretty or beautiful, I' m not funny and I'm no athlete; hell I complain about walking to fridge for more food. Thinking about food, I decided to head downstairs to get the tub of cookie dough I had put into the freezer before coming up to check on Emily early and I'd eat it up here to drown my sorrows.

It was thirty minutes after midnight and just when I was thinking of giving up on Emily I heard the front door open and close, it was quiet but I was able to hear it. It wasn't long before Emily came into the bedroom she was walking around in the dark thinking I was sleep, she must not have seen me sitting on the bed and I reached over to turn the lamp.

"Oh you are awake," Emily had her jacket off but it wasn't in her hand and her shirt had a stain of a circle shape.

"You said we'd talk and really wanted to talk. What happened to your jacket and what's that on your shirt?" Emily sat down on the bed and there was this weird smell coming from her.

"It wasn't exactly a good night, it was a really long, long night," Emily flopped back on the bed as she rubbed her eyes.

"What happened?"

"The night start out good, I meet Olivia and her friend, I was able to stick it to her ex who was there by herself. I took a few photos with Olivia, we ate and had a few dance, it was going really great. Then someone decided to spike the punch bowl and water with three different kinds of alcohol, which got everyone drunk very quickly. Olivia's body didn't react well to the over amount of alcohol on an empty stomach and I took her to the bathroom, I was able to cut the line because other girls didn't want vomit on their dress or to see it. I held Olivia's hair back as she threw up everything she had in her stomach, when she finished I closed the lid and flashed it. We sat in the bathroom stall Olivia just need time to calm down, I was holding her close to me in support but when she burped more came out all over my jacket and suit. After that weren't really in a partying mode and she asked me to take her home, I left her in the bathroom stall to do the rounds of her friends to say goodbye for her and asking if any of them where in need of a lift home. A couple of girls said yes to lift, I went back to the stall to collect Olivia and I carried her out of the formal room and her friends followed me out to the car. Before we left the city, I went to server station to get them all a bottle of water that wasn't spiked with alcohol; I also took my jacket off and put it into the boot and it still there. After dropping all her friend's home and made sure they got inside safe, I took Olivia home but she still wasn't feeling good and I couldn't just leave her there. I stayed with her until she fell asleep and a bit after just to make sure she was okay, I also found some paper to write her a note and her Mum a note just saying a couple things. I'm sorry, I came home late," I think I fell in love with Emily even more and I went to kiss her but then I saw the patch on Emily's shirt, I just couldn't kiss her while vomit was on her; another person vomit. Emily must've caught on because she unbutton her shirt and threw it away, like I had thought Emily had worn a singlet under everything; it's something she's always done. Now I couldn't stop staring at Emily's shoulders, they're so tone and tan.

"Hanna," I saw Emily clicking her fingers in front of my face.

"Yeah, sorry," I looked away from Emily's shoulder.

"It's okay, are you still up for talking tonight?"

"Of course," I nodded my head becoming very nervous.

Emily spoke first "That kiss was unexpected but really, really enjoyable on my part and I wanted to continue kissing you but I couldn't let my Mum down."

"I understand why you left and came home late Emily."

"I know, I think. I didn't expect for you to ask to kiss me, I had no idea you were even interested in girls let alone me."

"I don't think it's so much all girls, I think it's more you. I've just been having these feelings for you, I mean don't you feel it?"

"Yes I felt it, I always feel it around you."

"You do that's a good start," I nodded my head but I didn't want to get my hopes up.

Emily said "Yeah. That kiss, the kiss we shared is the best kiss I've ever had," I felt Emily take my hand in hers as she looked deeply into my eyes to get me to believe her. It was hard to believe someone like Emily saying a kiss from me is the best one she ever had, she kissed a lot of people and it's hard to believe I'm the best at something; let alone kissing.

"You are a good friend Hanna; you always have been to me and the other girls. You were the first person I trusted to tell about my sexuality and your support means the world to me, more than you'll probably ever know. We've been best friends for so long that the way we act towards each other just seems normal and that's because it's our norm. We've practically been a couple for our whole journey through high school, yes we dated other people but those people never got in the way of our friendship. We snuggle while watching movie, we feed each other food off of our own cutlery or from our finger, we are always holding hands and we exchange; half of your clothing is here and half of mine is at your house. You let me see that vulnerable side of yours like no else gets to see and in return I show you mine. We are an open book to each other's lives, we know everything about each other expect for how we truly feel." Everything Emily was saying was so beautiful and making tears well up in my eyes.

"And how do you truly feel Emily?"

"I love you, I love you as a best friend and I love you as more than a friend."

"You, wait you love me as more than a friend? What? Why?"

"I love you because we share the same humour. I love you because of the dimples that show when you get this big smile on your face. I love you because I get to see every single side of Hanna, I love you because you are my friend and I love you because you love me, for me." Inhaling deeply as I listened to Emily as calmly as possible, I was trying to not jump up and down in excitement.

"I love you Emily as more than a friend," Emily nodded her head.

"What do we do now?" I asked unsure of where we go from here.

"We can take things as slow or as fast you want to, we can do whatever you want to do as long as I can keep doing this," Emily then leant forward and connect our
lips together. It wasn't a long kiss, it was just one to make her words make sense, though I understood what she meant without the kiss but kissed from Emily are magically.

"You can keep doing that for as long as you like."

Emily nodded her head and said "Deal but maybe later today, I think we both need to get some sleep."

"Yeah, I think you might be right but can we snuggle?"

"Of course we can Han, anything you want." Okay I just loved my new nickname and not just because it was given to me by Emily, it was just made me feel special and important. We both got under the covers of Emily's bed, the sheet feet extremely soft and as I reached over to turn the lamp off I felt Emily roll with me. In the darkness I rolled over to face Emily and snuggled myself up into her body, we just seem told mold together like it was meant to be.

I whispered into the dark "Thank-you. Thank-you Emily, you've given me more happiness than you shall ever know or even understand." I didn't think Emily was
asleep but she didn't reply to my words, which was okay I thought as I tucked my head further into Emily chest. I had never felt as safe as I did in this very moment, in Emily's arms around me and Emily's scent taking over my senses.

The End.