A Better Boyfriend (GirlxGirl)

Forty-six- Destiny

My eyes were blurry from sleep when I opened them the next morning, but when I turned in my bed to see Scarlet lying beside me, a smile instantly danced upon my lips. How could it not? This was everything I had ever dreamed of.

"I'm proud to call you my best friend." Those are the words Scarlet had said to me so long ago, and I was proud to be her friend. It was probably the thing I was most proud of. She had saved my life time and time again. she probably didn't even realise just how much. My strongest childhood memories all involved her. She was everything to me. She always would be. I wanted to give her the world, if only she would allow me.

"Hey," I said, when Scarlet's eyes opened to meet mine.

"Good morning," she said, resting her head against my chest.

I could get used to this.

"I have a question," I said.

"Shoot," Scarlet replied.

"Do you believe love in first sight is a real thing?" I asked.

Scarlet seemed to ponder my question for several moments before she replied.

"I think so," she said. "I haven't personally felt it, though. Have you?" she asked me.

I shook my head.

"No. I don't believe it's a thing. Not really. I think a connection can happen really quickly, but you can't love someone you've never spoken to. You may be attracted to them, lust them, but that's all. It takes time and effort to build something sustainable, something that could last a lifetime. It takes commitment and a good fight. That's love," I said.

Scarlet hummed in response.

"That makes sense," she said sleepily. "You're wise when it comes to love."

For someone who had only experienced it on a few occasions, I supposed I had a pretty good idea of it.

"I haven't had many relationships but...I think a lot," I said.

Scarlet released a soft laugh at that. She knew it was true.

"You're really emotionally intelligent, Dest," Scarlet said.

I tried to be.

"And you're precise. You know exactly what it is you're talking about. I like that," she continued. "You're a realist. Sensible. You don't jump into love or relationships headfirst like I used to."

I smiled at how much Scarlet had noticed the things I did. I often felt as though nobody cared, but I knew that wasn't true. Scarlet did care and I cared about her, too.

"It's best to be realistic about things and know that nothing lasts forever. If you set up lofty ideals for people or events and they don't live up to them, then you'll end up disappointed and heartbroken."

"I think that's how I felt with my parents," Scarlet said. "And Chase," she added, after a second. "I thought they would change, be this idealised version of them that existed only in my mind, but it never happened."

I pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead.

"It's alright," I said. "You won't be hurt again."

"I'd like to think that things are getting better," Scarlet said. "You've had a significant part in that."

"It's always good to have someone there but...your whole mindset has shifted, too, love. I notice a good change in you," I said, which caused the corners of Scarlet's mouth to lift upwards in a sweet smile. "Be cautious, be careful, but most importantly of all, be kind."

"You've changed my life for the better. You've changed me for the better," Scarlet said with sincerity. "I am forever grateful that I got to exist in this time with you."

"I would wait for you," I said.

Scarlet's eyes widened.

"You're all I want, Scarlet. There's nobody else," I said. "I don't think there will ever be anyone that touches my soul in the way that you have."

I needed for her to trust me, if only she would take the leap...

"I hate how scared I am," Scarlet said, then, causing my ears to perk up in curiosity.

"Scared of what?" I asked softly.

"Scared to let go. Scared to fall in love, really, properly, with all of me."

I could understand all of that because it resonated with me, too. Everything that we were scared of...perhaps we were scared of the same things.

"'Cause you could get hurt?" I asked.

"Because how could I ever stop?" she replied. "I should get back to writing, I'm procrastinating-"

"Or putting off facing your fears," I blurted before I could stop myself.

"Dest..." she trailed off.

She went to move away but I caught her wrist in my hand.

"Scarlet, you can't close yourself off from something that could make you happier than anything," I said. My voice was serious now, which almost took me by surprise. Usually, I was relaxed about most things, but this was important. Scarlet was the most important person to me right now.

"I need to write, Dest, let me go," she said.

"We need to talk about this," I said.

We were as stubborn as each other, honestly.

Scarlet didn't say anything. She looked past me and frowned.

"I can't concentrate. I feel spaced out. I need a moment," she said.

I let go of her wrist and she wandered over to her laptop and turned it on.

"Can we talk about this later?" she asked, meeting my gaze with an apologetic expression.

Yeah.

I nodded and made my way out of the room. All that talking had made me hungry.

Once I got down to the kitchen, I found that my dad was making omelettes, which was well needed. I was tired, not in a physical sense, but tired of fighting.

I could tell Scarlet needed some space to think things over, so I decided to give her that.

We would be alright. We always were.

"Hey, kid. What would you like on your omelettes?" my dad asked me.

"Black pepper would be great please and some ham and cheese?" I asked.

He grinned and nodded, as he continued to prepare breakfast for the two of us and Scarlet, too. I hoped that she would come downstairs soon to join us.