Hi guys! I hope you enjoyed the previous chapter, and if not, please review! I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong. Anyways, enjoy!
Linh
When I get home, I quickly change out of my Foxfire uniform before going to my room and waiting by the window. I sit there for what feels like eons, even though it has only been ten minutes before Marella arrives. When I see her glitter onto the beach, I rush downstairs to get the door.
"Hi!" I say as I let her in.
"Hey!" she responds with that beautiful smile I love so much. There's an awkward silence, soon broken though, as Tam comes downstairs. He walks straight into the kitchen, then reappears a few seconds later with an entire plate of mallowmelt. I stare at it hungrily, and Marella must have been too, because he says,
"Will you two please stop looking at me like two hungry gorgodons?" I look away, embarrassed, before asking Marella,
"Well, do you want to go to my room?"
"Sure," she responds, almost nervously. But Marella is never nervous. Why would she be nervous anyways? As we head up the stairs, Marella trips and falls, but I catch her. When she lifts her head up, I don't let go, my brain has melted and I am no longer functioning properly. Instead, I just stare at her. At her hair and the way she always does those pretty little braids, her beautiful pixie-like features, but my gaze lingers the longest on her eyes. Oh, those beautiful eyes. I continue staring for what feels like ages before Marella rights herself and I let go. I feel my face heating up, and I look away as I continue up the stairs. When I reach the top, the hallway seems endless, and with my room at the end, it feels more like a walk of shame. Marella probably doesn't even like me! I scold myself, I'm stupid if I think that's ever going to change. Then a tiny whisper from the back of my mind says, Tell her… That's when I decide. I'm going to tell her. After dinner maybe? Then we could go for a walk on the beach. Ugh, why am I thinking of a romantic place? She's probably straight anyways. Then I realize. Every time I try to convince myself that she could like me, my mind says, probably not. Probably. There's still a chance. A small chance, but it's there. When we reach my room, we sit in silence, each of us lost in thought.
"So," I finally say, dragging out the 'o', "What do you wanna do?"
"I dunno," Marella says with a shrug.
"Do you want to raid the kitchen for mallowmelt?" I say with my best evil grin.
"I'm in on anything that involves mallowmelt in my mouth!" Marella jokes. So we sneak back downstairs and search the pantry. Eventually, I call out,
"Found them!" and we bring the whole plate out onto the beach. This is the perfect moment to tell her. I open my mouth, but I can't bring myself to say the words that could change me and Marella's relationship forever. For better or for worse.
"Linh?" Marella asks me.
"Yeah?" I manage to croak.
"I... I have something to tell you." she says. My heart leaps to my throat. Could she be...? No. I immediately squash the thought. But then the words come out of her mouth leave me breathless. Words I thought I'd never hear her say.
"Linh, I-I like you. And now you probably think I'm crazy, since liking someone of your own gender is illegal but-" I kiss her. And it just feels so right. Sparks fly and fireworks go off in my head as she kisses me back, and I could stay here like this forever. But all too soon, Marella pulls away, grinning.
"That was the best thing I've ever done in my life," I breathe. Then I see the sun, dipping below the horizon.
"It's getting late," I murmur to Marella. She sighs and lifts her pathfinder to the light.
"See you tomorrow," she says, but before she steps into the light, she gives me a quick peck on the cheek, making me turn beet red as I watch her glitter away. Once she's gone, I stand up, dust myself off, and head back inside. I have a quick dinner before going to my room. Once I'm lying in bed, I think about Marella and replay the kiss over and over in my head. I soon fall asleep, dreaming of a certain blonde-haired girl.