My little leaf 🌿

Ch. IV ~ Discovery

Now it's Sunday. Me and Ari stayed 2 nights at Pency's. We did a lot of things together. We watched films, did karaoke with Spencer's new karaoke machine that he got for his birthday, played truth or dare, baked, we even got to try Spencer's rollerblades. It was awesome. I'm currently lying on the floor in my bedroom absolutely exhausted after the weekend. I'm trying to figure out what this weird feeling is, since I've never felt it before. It's all so strange. It's like I've been smiling this entire weekend nonstop and my stomach had this weird internal pressure or something. My face was all hot and tingly I almost felt dizzy. For once in my life, I'm actually thinking about what I feel. It's like I really care. I grab my phone and search it on Google. I find a random website about these symptoms. 'If you are feeling these things, it probably means you're in love.' In love!? I sit up and my jaw drops wide open. I cover my mouth in shock. So that's what it is? I'm in love? But I've only known her a week! I sigh and put my hand down. 'I am in love with Aria Lee.' I admit to myself. 'I am in love with Aria Lee.'

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Monday. Great. Mr. Finney greets me as I walk into my form room as usual. I give him a quick smile and carry on walking to my seat. Ari is already there. 'Hey.' she smiles. 'Hi.' I reply as I sit down next to them. 'How've you been?' she asks. I hesitate to answer. 'I've been good.' I say. She smiles and nods. I study her face and notice how red it is. 'Are they blushing..?' I think to myself. 'Clover?' I snap out of my thoughts. 'Yeah?' I mutter. 'Why are you staring at me?' they frown. 'Sorry, I just noti-' I'm interrupted by Mr. Finney's loud voice. 'What?' Ari whispers. 'Uh- nevermind.' I smile.

❓

'You have a crush on Ari.' Spencer smirks. I blush in embarrassment. 'I knew it.' 'What?' 'You know the sleepover?' 'Yeah?' 'I noticed you guys left. I even went out to check on you and I saw you on the balcony.' Spencer explains. 'I- uh-' I stammer. 'Hey, it's alright.' he smiles. 'It's okay to like people.' he adds. 'But the thing is,' I frown, 'I've never really liked anyone before.' 'Really?' 'Really.' 'Well, what are you gonna do? Just keep it a secret forever?' 'I don't know!' 'To be honest, it's kind of obvious.' he chuckles. 'Oh shut up.' 'But it's true!' he laughs. 'Shut uuuup!' I groan and tackle him trying to cover his mouth. He shrieks and laughs and tries to fight back. 'Stop, stop!' he eventually yells. 'Alright, sorry.' I say letting him go. 'Okay but seriously, you have to do something.' he says. 'Fine.' I sigh. 'But how are we gonna do this?' I ask. 'I have a plan.' he smirks. 'Oh no.'

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It's the next day but school is over. I stand by Ari's locker as usual and wait for her. I had already asked them to hang out with me and Spencer today which she agreed to. It's apparently a part of the plan that Spencer has been plotting. I'm quite nervous because his plans usually don't go very well. But I guess I just have to trust him this time since I have no idea how to confess my feelings to Ari otherwise. After a bit Ari approaches me with a big smile on her face. 'Hi, you seem happy.' I chuckle. 'I am.' they smile. 'What are you so happy about?' 'I made a new friend.' 'That's great! What's their name?' 'Her name is Claire. We met on Discord.' 'An online friend?' 'Yep.' 'Awesome.' She bites her lower lip. 'So, shall we go? I bet Pency's waiting for us.' I quickly say. 'Mhm! Let's go!' they rejoice.

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'I kinda don't want to do this anymore.' I whisper to Spencer as the three of us are walking to the supermarket to get food. 'Why not?' he asks. 'I feel like it's just way too early to be doing this.' I explain. 'And I'm not even sure I really do like them that way.' I add. 'Oh.' he frowns. 'I'm sorry.' I say and purse my lips. 'It's alright. I'm sorry too.' 'Why?' 'I feel like I was sort of pressuring you to confess and I didn't think about wether you really wanted to or not.' Ari is walking ahead of us and she turns around to see us whispering to each other. 'What are you guys whispering about?' they ask. Our eyes widen as we're startled. 'I- uh-' 'We were talking about my crush.' Spencer lied. 'You have a crush?' Ari beams. 'Tell me about them!' she exclaims. Spencer sighs. 'Pleaseeee.' Ari begs. 'Their name is Hunter.' Spencer says. 'Their pronouns are they/he and he's genderfluid.' he goes on. 'And I'm pretty sure they like me back.' he smiles. Ari squeals. Spencer rolls his eyes slightly embarrassed. I obviously had no idea that Pency has a crush but I just play along. 'How come I've never met them?' I ask. 'Maybe because he's in my school and not yours.' Spencer points out. 'Oh by the way,' Ari says, 'Claire sent me a picture of her.' they smile excitedly. 'Here, let me show you.' she says and pulls out her phone. They open Discord and show me the picture. 'She's pretty.' I smile. I look up at Ari and see them blushing and biting their lip. Does she like Claire?

❓

Lying in bed again. Considering both my feelings and Ari's feelings. Why do I feel like she's pushing me away..? I mean, they're probably not but since she met this Claire person she's been slightly different. Like when we were hanging out with Spencer, I glanced at them and I noticed that they were constantly checking on their phone. Probably checking if Claire has sent anything. I know it shouldn't, but it makes me uncomfortable. Am I seriously falling this hard for Ari? This is all so confusing. I need her. I want her.