So, This Is Love?

Chapter 4

Chloe's POV

She sees Red's face distorted to a regretful frown at the mention of that memory and mutters an apology, she gives her a sympathetic smile and stands up from the floor. “Scoot over, Hearts.”

Watching Red shift around to make room for her, she lay beside her leaving an inch of space between them as they looked at the plain ceiling. “I know opening up isn't easy for you but I want to let you know you can tell me anything.”

She lays there her eyes not leaving the ceiling as she waits for Red to gather her thoughts and speak up.

“My uh- my mom texted me earlier, asking about my day here, if I'm eating well and well asking about me in general. I admit it's weird for me since my past mom would never do anything like that, let alone text me just to ask me those things and you already witnessed that I'm not really good at this whole adjusting and making friends type of thing.” The girl pauses.

Eating well? Looking back, she never saw Red actually eat much. When they went for dinner last night, all the girl did was use her spoon to jumble up the food around. Even earlier at lunch, she only took a few bites and never ate most of it, even at the welcoming, she saw the queen swat the macaron out of Red's hand before she could even try to take a bite out of it.

“Red, have you been eating at all?” She mumbles.

On the corner of her eye, she sees Red's finger rapidly tap against her own hands. She could tell she was uncomfortable with the topic, so she turned her head to face her. “I’m sorry. I overstepped, do you… want to talk about something else?”

Red bit her lip lightly and nodded. “Yeah. I'll tell you when I can though.”

“Okay.” She says softly, not wanting to push her.

They laid there in silence for a good minute.

“Do you-”

“Why did you-”

They laugh, realizing that they asked each other simultaneously.

“You first.” She smiles lightly, almost instantly regretting that suggestion. Now, it's her turn trying to calm herself down thinking about all the possibilities of what Red is going to ask her.

“Chloe, do you like someone?” It sounded so low that if she wasn't listening, she wouldn't have heard anything.

There it is, the question she wished wouldn't come up. Her mind went through all the possible answers she could say, even though lying is wrong, at this point in time she would've lied just to move past this question. She would've been a hypocrite but either way she couldn't find the heart to lie to Red.

“Yeah.” She whispered, hoping, wishing Red didn't hear it.

“oh.” Red breathes out, pursing her lips as she stares at the ceiling.

“Why?” Her eyes gazed at Red, not able to read what the other girl's feeling from her motionless silence.

The girl blinks a few times, her eyes not leaving the ceiling. “Can I ask who?”

“I don't think they would like me back.” She nervously chuckles, deflecting her question.

“Why wouldn't they? They're lucky enough you like them because who wouldn't want to be liked by you? You're kind, funny, smart, caring, charming I might say.” Red softly laughs at the pun but continues. “Anybody would be lucky to be liked by you.”

She stares at Red, her eyes twinkled longingly at her. Anybody would be lucky to be liked by you.

“You really mean it?” Her lips curved into a hopeful smile.