Can I Have That in Writing?

Riley: Tapping In

I knew I wanted to get closer to her. But like, just a little bit. Close friends normally hung out with each other outside of school. I didn't know if Emily felt the same way about me, though. I figured I would ask her at the pep rally- if she felt the same, and if she wanted to hang out. She answered affirmatively to both, and that was great.

So the hard part was over. Right?

"You'd consider us friends, right?"

Why did I say it like that?! I mentally screamed, flopping onto my bed when I arrived home. The only reason you'd ask something like that is to try and get out of the friendzone! Right?! I want to stay in the friendzone. Don't I...?

I groaned into my pillow. I made a promise to Allison. Emily would be my friend, and I'd be someone she could be herself around. I was currently keeping that promise rather well.

So why did I feel like I was doing something wrong? And why did holding her hand feel so right?

Something wet pressed against my hand. I lifted my head up to see Pancake sniffing and licking. I chuckled.

"Come here, boy," I said, sitting up.

Pancake placed his front paws on my lap. I leaned toward him and allowed him to lick my face.

"You're so cute," I mumbled, rubbing his ears. "You're a good boy. Yes, you are."

Pancake always calmed me. He was a dog, after all. He wouldn't care whether I liked Emily as a friend or something more. All he cared about was being fed and walked. It was a relief, having just one person- or animal- that I didn't have to worry about disappointing.

Once I was done petting my dog, I looked over the writing club GroupMe. I smiled to myself, remembering how Emily said that she would share her story at the next meeting.

It turns out, the hard part was not over. The hard part was containing my excitement until then.

***

Mr. Sage, Allison and I had planned for the meeting to serve as our holiday meeting, as it was the last one before winter break. It also doubled as Jacob's early birthday party. Almost everyone volunteered to bring snacks or utensils. We had quite the spread. The long table in the front of the room was covered by a snowflake-printed tablecloth. There were cupcakes, cookies, candy canes, Twizzlers, chips, paper plates, and napkins.

Mr. Sage picked out a few movies for us to choose from. Since the club was a democracy, the majority ruled in favor of Elf. It was Jacob's favorite holiday movie, so no one dared to vote against it.

Then it came; the moment we'd all been waiting for. Or at least, the moment I had been waiting for.

"Before we get the party started," I began. "Does anyone want to share any writing from the past two meetings?"

Members looked around, but no one said anything. Emily eventually cleared her throat and stood.

"I- I have something," she stammered. "It's, um... my edited Thanksgiving prompt."

"Yeah, Em!" Kim cheered. A few other members clapped in support, even Anthony. Emily blushed in response. As she gathered the papers in her hand, I remembered what she said before the pep rally.

I had that same feeling when I first came here... I was scared of everyone and everything, so scared I could barely speak.

It amazed me how far she came. She'd barely said anything to me on our first day of school. Now here she was, about to read something she created out loud.