Back to Mia

Christmas break

I called Mia. "Hey, what's up?"

"Not a whole lot, just bored, my mom wanted me to help her make Christmas cookies, but I'm trying to find something better to do, which could be literally anything else at this point."

"Wanna go see the Christmas lights?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay, I'll be there in like five minutes. It's a bit cold outside, so grab a jacket."

"Okay." She got off the phone. I pulled up outside her house and knocked on the door. She opened it immediately. "Hey, Eli."

"Hey, Mia. Are you ready to do this?"

"Yes."

We drove to Dunkin' and both got hot chocolate. "Just a little bit of an early Christmas gift." I said, and handed her one. We drove through the park. "This turn always makes me nervous." I said, as we turned the corner, driving above the pond with no guard rails.

"That's not something you want to hear from the person currently driving on it. But I understand, I've always hated it, too." She was on her phone.

"Are you talking to someone else while we're hanging out?"

"I was just texting Jasmine back."

"Jasmine?"

"Yeah, we've been talking a lot since we hung out."

"That's cool." I said. "Do you like her?" For once, she was silent around me. "Mia, what's wrong?"

"I think I do. All break, I've just been thinking of her a lot. Which is confusing for me, because I always thought I was straight. Until I realized I couldn't stop thinking of her, and that I... miss her."

"So... you're not straight, that's cool."

"You're not mad or anything?"

"I'm happy for you. Just... don't get hurt by her, please? Make sure you really love her before you tell her."

"I think I might be bi."

"Well... I'm your biggest Ally. And your biggest supporter. I will always love you and care about you, remember that."

"Of course."

"Do you want to go see her?"

"What? Now?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"I don't think I'm ready for that yet."

"For what? Coming out?"

"Yeah."

"That's fine, just take your time."

"Thank you for understanding."

"Of course. Wait until you're ready, that's the best thing to do. Just... remember that not everyone will be okay with you being yourself, there will be people who don't accept you, or who won't understand you, and that's okay, they'll either come round or you'll learn that you don't need them. But no matter what, you'll always have people who love you and support you."

"How do you always know the right thing to say."

"I've been through it." I drove her home and dropped her off. Her mom was at the door when we arrived. I turned off the car and got out. I opened her door and we walked up to the house. "Hello, Bellissia, I'm ELi, Mia's friend."

"Hi, Eli. She seems much happier around you, I don't know what you're doing, but she really enjoys hanging out with you."

"I just let her be herself and save her from making cookies."

"Thank you."

"Of course. I have to get going now, though. I'll see you tomorrow, Mia." I gave her a hug and left.