𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩 - 𝙔𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍𝙀 𝙓 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍 ✓

30.

━━━

That man from the club has become more and more involved throughout the months. After our loud exchange of words, I left him my number, since he seemed like a genuinely nice person. He ended up texting me on and off through the weeks, and we hadn't seen each other for a while since. 

I found out his name was Ryle after he spoke to me more. Texts became more frequent, usually just mood check-ins and short conversations about our hobbies. He was kind, cute and just an interesting guy to say the least. He never hesitated to call me either, he seemed to have an actual interest in me. I didn't hate it; I've just been defensive over any possible relationships since I moved. Understandably. 

What I didn't realise, was just how smoothly he'd involve himself in my life. He'd invite me out, take me to different attractions, yet he never made any physical move on me. I appreciated it, but something felt off. Even so, I'd continue speaking to him. 

Leila seemed a little opposed to Ryle at the beginning and understandably so. I met the guy at a nightclub, drunk. It doesn't sound like a safe situation, but he never actually had bad intentions with me. I found out she'd been stalking his social media, stating it was for my safety, basically pulling a background check on the guy. It was a funny situation, but it took a while for her to be convinced that this man wasn't a murderer or anything of the sort. 

She's like a protective big sister, which I appreciate more then she knows. She cares, truly, and deeply. Each second grows our friendship, stronger and more intertwined. I have no regrets, I know everything about her, and she knows... almost, everything about me. 

Until tonight.

━━━

The night lets the city glow at its brightest, enough to glisten through the large, floor-to-roof windows that line my apartments kitchen and living-room. It's a gorgeous, lively sight. Wine glasses are set down on my living rooms coffee table, Leila's loud, party music playing through my speakers. Girl's nights are always fun with her, she brightens the mood so easily. 

Dressed in her baby-blue silk robe, her black locks are clipped back messily. A fun, entertained smile is kept on her lips as she pours some wine in her own glass, then into mine. I sit at the end of my couch, taking my wine glass from her passing grasp. 

"Thank you," I smile and giggle, and she slumps down on the couch beside me and chuckles also. She sips her wine much faster than me, and in larger rounds. "Y/N, I want to know something, something you've never told me about," She begins with mischief in her melodic voice. 

"Hm? what is it?" I ask as I sip from my glass, the music playing loudly around us as we speak. She snacks on popcorn as she talks to me, and her smile contorts into a smirk. "You're not a virgin, are you?" She questions as she tilts her head low towards me, my face quite quickly burning up as I squeal and giggle from humorous nervousness. 

My heart slowly picks pace, a similar, old feeling I've grown out of. It's a strange, eerie feeling to come back to. My eyes nervous flicker from hers to the area around me. "Well, uhm," I fumble with my words, strong waves of year-and-a-half memories slamming back over me. I consider what to say. I don't want to lie. I can't lie to her; it'd be so obvious. But this is something i've never told anyone, and it might be nice to finally express these buried feelings to someone I trust. 

I cave in. 

"C'mon, you can tell me," She assures in a cheeky, assuring tone. It's true, I can tell her anything. She's never judged me once, and I really, really doubt she'd judge me for this. I sigh, shaking my head with a guilty smile on my face, clearly showing that this isn't the norm. She lets out an 'Ooh' of anticipation, chuckling and showing she's all ears.