My Sisters Best Friend || Yellow Jackets

Chapter Ten || Friendly Gesture

As I sit there in class, my attention divided between the lecture and the presence of Shauna beside me. I steal a quick glance in her direction, and my heart races as I catch her eye. I try to suppress the growing smile that threatens to betray my feelings, but it's a battle I seem to be losing.

My gaze drifts to the clock, and it feels like an eternity until the end of the class, but it's also a countdown to a moment I can't help but eagerly anticipate. In thirty minutes, I'll have the chance to pick up our conversation, the one that left me wondering about that kiss on the cheek she said she liked. Am I reading too much into it? Did Shauna mean it as a simple friendly gesture when she said she liked it, or could there be something more beneath the surface?

The anxiety wells up inside me, and I can feel beads of sweat forming on the back of my neck. It's nerve-wracking not knowing for sure how she feels. So, in a moment of impulse, I decide to take action. I raise my hand, asking for permission to go to the restroom. When granted the reprieve, I waste no time. I grab my bag and make a quick exit from the classroom, rushing towards the bathroom.

Standing in front of the sink, I stare at my reflection in the mirror, thankful that I had the foresight to step out of class because my flushed face reveals my excitement and uncertainty. My hand moves to the back of my neck, and I let out a frustrated groan when I realize that I'm sweating.

As I wash my hands hurriedly, my mind races with questions. Does Shauna like me, or am I overanalyzing every little thing? the uncertainty gnaws at me, and I can't help but wonder if I'm reading too much into the situation.

The bathroom door swings open, and I instinctively turn to look. To my surprise and delight, it's Shauna who enters. "Hey," she says with a warm smile as she makes her way over to me. My heart flutters, and I can hardly believe it's happening.

"Mh- h-hi," I stammer out, my voice sounding anything but smooth. Inwardly, I cringe at my awkwardness. "Wow, smooth as hell, Y/N," I berate myself silently, sarcasm dripping from my inner monologue. "She's definitely going to want you now," I chastise myself with a touch of self-deprecating humor.

As Shauna approaches my thoughts spin like a whirlwind, and I desperately try to keep my composure.

In that brief exchange of greetings, a world of possibilities and uncertainties opens up before me. I can't help but wonder if she noticed my flushed face and nervous demeanor. Is there a chance that my vulnerability resonated with her, or will she perceive it as a sign of my ineptitude?

"Are you okay?" Shauna's voice breaks through my inner turmoil, her raised eyebrow and folded arms adding to the intrigue of the moment. It's a simple question, yet it carries the weight of my deepest hopes and fears.

"Perfectly fine," I respond, my voice attempting to convey a sense of normalcy despite the emotional turbulence beneath the surface. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, silently analyzing every detail of my flushed face, as if it might hold the answers to the questions that weigh on my mind.

Her words linger in the air like a suspended note of a beautiful melody. "You didn't say anything when I said I liked that kiss," Shauna observes, her voice laced with curiosity, and she tilts her head slightly, her eyes searching mine for a response.

I can feel her gaze on me, and it's both exhilarating and unnerving. I don't look directly at her, not wanting to reveal the emotional storm that's brewing within me. "Oh," I manage to reply, a single syllable that seems to carry the weight of my confusion and the echoes of my racing thoughts.

Her grin widens, and a soft giggle escapes her lips. "Oh? What does 'oh' mean?" she inquires playfully, her words dancing like a tempting challenge. In that moment, the bathroom seems to fade away, leaving only the two of us in this suspended reality, where every word and gesture carries profound significance.

Inside my head, a whirlwind of thoughts churns. What does 'oh' mean, indeed? I can't help but wonder if Shauna's confession about liking the kiss was a subtle invitation, an opening for me to express my own feelings. Or perhaps, it was a test to see how I would react, to gauge my interest.

"In what way did you mean you liked the kiss?" I whisper, my voice barely audible over the hum of the bathroom's ventilation system. It's a question laden with curiosity and a hint of nervousness, as if I'm tiptoeing on the edge of revelation, cautiously probing the depths of Shauna's feelings.

Her response hangs in the air for a moment, pregnant with anticipation. "In the way that means I want you to do it again, but on the lips this time," Shauna replies, her words laced with a raw honesty that sends a shiver down my spine. The world seems to contract to this small, intimate space we occupy, where every heartbeat reverberates with the weight of unspoken desire.

My mind races as I process her words. The ambiguity that had clouded our interactions has suddenly dissipated, leaving a crystal-clear understanding of her intentions. Shauna Shipman wants more than just friendship; she's laid her emotions bare, and there's an undeniable allure in the vulnerability she's shown.

As I look at Shauna, her eyes holding a mixture of anticipation and vulnerability, I realize that the choice before me is not just about a kiss. It's a pivotal moment that could redefine the course of our relationship, and I must decide whether to embrace the unknown or retreat to the safety of what's familiar.