Can I Have That in Writing?

Emily: Valentine

I was still reeling from Riley's kiss. Even when I got to back to school, I was still thinking about it. About her.

The only person I could tell was Allison, so I decided that I would. She would understand, and she wouldn't tell our father. I met her at her car in the parking lot. She greeted me with a grin.

"Hey," she said.

I smiled. "Hey."

She responded with a stunned look. I was confused for a moment, but then I realized: I hadn't spoken to her in almost a week. Allison dropped her backpack next to the car and hugged me. I hugged back, pressing my face into her shoulder.

When we finished, Allison grabbed her bag and put in the back seat. We climbed into the front. Once inside, I told her how Kim and Vera found me, and how their support helped me speak again. How they drove me to Riley's so we could make up and I could say what I needed to.

Allison again reacted with a stunned face. "Are you serious?"

I nodded. I expected her to then follow up with congratulations and excitement. However, instead of lighting up, her face fell.

"Emily... I'm happy you got to see Riley, but... what you did was seriously reckless. You could have at least texted me so I knew where you were! What if you got into an accident and got hurt, or worse?! I'd have had no idea where you were!"

I lowered my head. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "It won't happen again."

"Good."

She sighed. We sat in silence for a minute. Finally, Allison spoke up again. "So... how did it go? With Riley?"

I couldn't control my face. My lips automatically curled up into a grin. "It went great. Better than great, actually. I told her I loved her, and she said she felt the same. And then, she kissed me."

Allison gasped. "Wait what?! Hell yeah! Congrats!"

I laughed. "Thanks."

"So are you two officially a thing? Or do you not want to label it?"

I looked out the window to avoid my sister's gaze. "She... wants to wait to make it official. She wants to get our father's blessing."

Now Allison was the one laughing. "I'm straight and I can't get his blessing to date Seb. You told her it was impossible, right?"

"Yep."

"And she's going to try anyway."

"Yep."

"Yeah... well, that's why you're made for each other. You're both crazy."

***

It was finally Thursday.

Instead of going in, I waited for Riley outside of the classroom. As she approached, I grinned. It took her a moment to realize I was standing there. But the moment she did, her face lit up.

Riley weaved around some students until the hall between us was clear. Then she jogged over and skidded to a halt in front of me. "Hey!"

I laughed. "Hey."

"It's Thursday."

"I know. We said we'd see each other Thursday."

"I know. I still missed you, though."

My heart pounded against my chest. The way she spoke so honestly about her feelings... I wondered if I would ever be able to do that.

Riley looked over both of her shoulders for a moment. The only students that passed behind her were either listening to headphones or absorbed in their own conversations. She saw this as a cue to open her arms to me.