"I want to give you all the love you deserve."
___
Hadley Carter has struggled with her sexuality ever since childhood. She keeps her feelings hidden out of fear of judgement and not being accepted by oth...
"Look at her," Clover argues, gesturing toward the direction of the girl they're currently spotlighting. "She wouldn't give me the time of day."
The five of us are at the park, hanging out near the skate ramps. It's the first time our little group has been able to get together in a while, excluding the party we recently attended. It's nice to be with one another again. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed my friends.
I can't resist glancing over at the girl Mason and Clover are talking about. She's cute; light blond curls cascade down her shoulders and her skin glows with the beginnings of a tan, clad in a yellow sundress. I wonder to myself how the conversation between my friends first began, trying to guess what brought their attention to the girl.
"I'm telling you"—Mason's voice rips me from my thoughts—"take a chance."
Clove snorts, rolling her blue eyes. "Why don't you?"
"What do you think, Kai?" Mason speaks up, turning to face the only male in our presence. "Should I give it a shot?"
Kai's expression tightens in concentration, eyes narrowing as he fixes his gaze on the girl in the yellow dress. "I think she's straight," he concludes, nodding as he comes to this decision.
Mason groans out of frustration. "Am I the only one whose gaydar is totally going off?"
"Sorry, Mase," Devon teases from where she's seated in the grass beside me, leaning on one elbow as she shoots our friend a smile. "I think you're alone on this one."
"Hey," Clover says to Mason, "since you're so sure you're right, why don't you try to get her number?"
Mason's hazel eyes sparkle with annoyance as she eyes Clover. Crossing her arms over her chest, Mason exhales a huff. "You know what?" she murmurs as she rises to her feet. "I think I will."
I raise my eyebrows as I watch Mason take off. She marches down the hill with purpose, heading toward where the girl in the yellow dress stands with a small group of who I assume to be her friends.
Upon reaching her destination, Mason taps the girl on the shoulder to get her attention. I watch with interest as the blonde turns around, offering Mason a smile warm enough to rival a sunbeam. Mason says something I can't decipher due to the distance between us. The girl in the yellow dress nods, and then the two step away from the group the blonde had previously been standing with, striking up conversation. Mason speaks animatedly with her hands, then the two laugh. I raise my eyebrows once again, impressed when Mason extends her phone to the blonde. The girl takes her phone, beaming as she types something before returning Mason's phone to her. They speak briefly for a few moments longer before departing with smiles and waves. Mason is soon making her way back to us, triumphantly climbing up the hill, flaunting a smirk.
"Got her number," Mason gloats as she returns to her seat next to Clover. "Her name is Marigold."
Clover's expression doesn't give much as to what she's feeling away. I can sense a hint of jealousy gleaming in her gaze, though I know she's not too upset.
"So?" Clover questions. "Are you going to call her?"
"Fuck yes," Mason says in a breath, leaning back on her elbows as she gazes off into the distance. "She's beautiful."
The rest of us burst into laughter, though I'm happy for my friend. I realize that what Mason just did is a perfect example as to why people take risks. Fear doesn't get anyone anywhere, yet sometimes chance does. I gaze at Devon over my shoulder, smiling to myself as I study her. She's oblivious to my stare, grinning as she speaks to Kai. Devon is the biggest risk I've taken a chance on in a while, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome.
Sometimes we just have to jump, even at the threat of falling. I'm so glad I took a leap of faith and jumped for Devon. After all, it gave me the chance to fall for her. And I only manage to fall harder for her with every passing day.
___
a/n: this story is nearing its end and it's got me a little emotional ngl.
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