you and me, me and you

cooking up a storm

"Oh, hey Mara. Long time no see" Xavier scolded

"It's been like a week" 

"Whatever, where've you been?"

"Well we got like 3 days off last week because of the rain. And Bella hasn't been booked so ive just been at work without you guys" 

"Speaking of Bella," my face went red, Bella was standing not that far away talking to Craig,  "loving your instagram posts lately. seems like you've been hanging out a lot?"

"Yeah- just- we're really good friends. I needed a friend anyway"

"Hmm"

"What?"

"So you don't like them anymore?"

What was I supposed to say. He was going to find out me and Bella were.. like...together... at some point. It would be weird if I lied and found out. But he'd keep pressing about questions if I told him I still like them. And I do still like them. 

"I do, kinda"

"Ahhhh, thought it'd be over in a month, didn't you say that?"

"Yeah well- it's fine. Shut up Xavier"

There was a silence. A big one, like a very thick layer of wether I should tell a secret or not. like Xavier and I had bubbles of air over our heads, the universe giving me the space to tell the truth to him. I knew I should tell him. 

"You're dating aren't you?"

My head snapped around to him, staring at him with wide eyes as I tried to defend myself but I couldn't speak, my mouth was open but all I could say were sounds, I was looking back to where Bella was standing and then back to Xavier 

"It's pretty obvious"

"Fuck is it?" I finally said 

"To me, yeah. No one else has picked up on it. No one here anyway"

"Okay good"

"So you are dating?"

Would Bella want me to tell him? I couldn't just pause the conversation and call them over here to approve what my answer would be. Actually, I could. I looked over to Bella, hoping if I looked long enough she'd feel my eyes on her. After a few seconds, she caught a glimpse of my gaze 

'You okay?' She mouthed 

'Come here for a sec' I mouthed back. She finished up her conversation with Craig, and started walking over. What if they told Xavier we weren't dating? And then what if we got into a fight again? But Xavier already kind of knows, so.. I don't know. 

"What's up?" Bella said approaching us. I didn't speak, if Xavier wanted to know that bad he'd say it himself 

"You and Amara are dating right?" He blurted out. Bella paused, took a breath and crossed her arms

"Yeah, why?" 

"I KNEW IT- Finally. I was convinced she'd be alone forever" He said, pointing to me

I hit him in the stomach "Shut up" 

He walked away with a smug look on his face 

"That's why you called me over?"

"Yeah, I mean I didn't know if you'd want me to say yes or no so I wanted you to answer"

"You're silly- you can tell people," They smiled, their nose scrunched and it made me smile too, "I'll see you when its time to go home, okay?"

"Okay" I replied as they squeezed their hand on my waist and ran off back to Craig, waving him down.