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🅴︎🅿︎🅸︎🆂︎🅾︎🅳︎🅴︎ 🅴︎🅸︎🅶︎🅷︎🆃︎ Ⓟ︎Ⓐ︎Ⓡ︎Ⓣ︎ Ⓣ︎Ⓦ︎Ⓞ︎
SITTING ON THE COUCH OF the Byersʼ family, Kali kept her eyes on the floor. All the adults were in the bedrooms, helping Will find some comfort, whilst the kids lounged in the kitchen, discussing important things they refused to share with anyone else. Kali was on her own, fiddling with a Rubix Cube she found on a bookshelf. She let her finger feel each square, let her skin run over every bump of the plastic. It was strange; she hadn't felt a simple object in so long.
"Hey, can we talk?"
Kali glanced up to face Nancy Wheeler, who stood in front of the couch, an unsure expression on her face. She nodded shortly, moving up to the side so the girl could sit next to her.
Things were quiet for a moment as they sat down together, and Kali placed the Rubix Cube onto the coffee table in front of them. She turned to Nancy, waiting for the nervous girl to speak. Nancy played around with her hands for a short amount of time, going back and forth a million scenarios in her mind.
"I...I want to be with you," the girl suddenly blurted, causing Kali to tilt her head a little, trying not to make too much of a reaction.
Nancy shook her head, feeling her heart quicken over the conversation she'd been dreading but also excited for. She turned to face Kali, letting their eyes meet as she let out a small sigh.
"I want to be with you and only you," she amended, her eyes soft. When Kali didn't say anything, she went on, "And I know that with you, that might take some more time. But I'm willing to take that time." She shrugged. "Steve knows, I told him before me and Jonathan came to see you the other day."
Kali remained silent, but she didn't drop the eye contact.
Nancy continued to ramble on: "Listen, I know it's hard for you to jump into things. I know you need some time." She shrugged again. "But I just wanted you to know that I'm okay with that, and I'll wait for you. I'll do the time if it means I end up with you."
After she said all that, Nancy ducked her head down, slightly embarrassed by opening herself up so much. Kali froze, not exactly sure if what to say. If she was being totally honest, she didn't know what she wanted. Of course, she adored the idea of being with the girl she loved; of course, she was obsessed with the reality where they worked out; but, if Kali was being realistic, she knew it probably wouldn't. Kali knew that, eventually, something would get in the way. Eventually, she'd lose that love. Kali wasn't good at losing things — she preffered to detach herself from all situations before anything bad could happen.
But this was Nancy. When it came to Nancy, Kali found it hard to ever be realistic. She found it hard not to hold her, not to kiss her, not to tell her all the things she wanted to tell her. Kali already told her that she loved her. It was out there in the open now. Kali wasn't sure why she even had to have this debate in her head anymore. She knew what her answer was. But there was something holding her back from letting herself be happy. There always was.
