"Just Friends"

Chapter 11

SAM

Emma invited us on a girl's date with her friends. They were going out to a bar to drink wine and gossip. She had wanted me to meet them forever. And, apparently, she really liked Julie because the invitation handed via text was meant for both of us. I was glad. 

"Julie," I called her when I received the text. 

BABY
Hi, sweetie. 
The girls and I are having a girls' date tonight. 
I would love it if you and Julie came. 
They're excited to meet you guys. 

"Yeah?" She was playing on her phone in bed next to me.
"Emma invited us to go out with her friends."
"That's cool. Sure."
I remained silent, an uncomfortable sensation growing inside me as I thought about it. "What's wrong?" she asked as if she had read my mind, facing me. 
"They're all queer."
"Yeah... so? We're queer, too." She crawled her way to me. "Are you homophobic, Sam?" She smirked, and I scoffed. 
"No! It's just- I'm new to this."
"To being gay? I know."
I stared at her quietly, dread probably showing on my face. 
"What are you worried about?" She pressed her lips. 
"I don't know... That  they'll see right through me."
"And see what? That you're new to being gay? What does that even mean?" 
"Yeah."
She chuckled. "Every gay person has been new to the community at some point."
"I know, but..."
"Listen." She grabbed my wrist. "You're gonna be okay. They will love you, 'cause you're amazing. Even if you've just realized this small thing about yourself. I know that, right now, it feels huge. But it's not. It's just one more thing about you. No one will judge you. I promise I'll be right beside you the whole time." She drew a kind smile, and I hugged her. 

The bar was small but still crowded. I texted Emma, and she told me they were by the bathroom. I told Julie and made my way inside. 
"Baby!" Emma called me from outside the door. 
"Hey," I smiled, feeling the pressure in my chest lessen. 
She gave me a small kiss, and I grabbed her hand. 
"I'm nervous," I whispered in her ear. 
"Really?" She giggled. "That's cute." She messed my hair up with a grin. "They're gonna love you."
I drew an awkward smile. "Are they in the bathroom?" She nodded. Three insanely fashionable girls in their twenties walked through the door. Their faces lit up when they saw me. 
"So you're the famous Sam?" a brunette with a Spanish accent asked after kissing me on the cheek.
"Yeah," I grinned, surprised by the warm welcome.
"Nice to meet you, Sam," she said. "I'm Maria. And these are Lulú and Erica." Lulú had cayenne hair with blond strips, and Erica had long-ass blue nails. They were all gorgeous.
"Hey!" Lulú waved at me. "Emma has told us so much about you."
"Yeah, we already consider you our fourth bestie," Erica chuckled. I laughed. 

We met Julie outside and sat at the longest table we could find. They ordered some fancy wine I never heard of. But, God, it was delicious. After the first hour, I had figured out two things: María was Lulú's college roommate, and Erica was her girlfriend. 
"How did you two meet?" I asked them after releasing the smoke from the cigarette Emma and I were sharing. 
"At grade school."
"You're kidding."
"Nope," Emma stated, glancing at me with a tipsy smile I found adorable. "The three of us were inseparable our whole childhood. Then I moved to England."
"Completely abandoning us," Erica added. 
"But that left room for our love to blossom."
"When I came back, they were basically married." Emma chuckled. 

Something appealed about their love story. They had been friends their whole lives, meaning they already knew and loved each other before committing to something romantic. I've always loved the friends-to-lovers trope. Especially when it's best friends. The idea that you already know everything there is to know about the other. Their quirks, the annoying things they do, how they fight, how to support them. That was amazing in itself. But, sometimes, it's the fact that you know them on that deep, personal, unique level that makes you fall in love. You met them by absolute chance. You started talking because they seemed fun, smart, or cool. As you got to know them, your love for that person grew. Until, somehow, suddenly, their eyes make you blush. And the way they talk moves you. And you get butterflies whenever you're around them and wish to kiss them.