anadil's mother +oneshots and short stories

for better or for worse (chapter 8)

(hester's pov)

Dot happily bursts into my room.

"Hey Hester! What's so important that you were the one who actually wanted me to come over for once? Also I can't believe your mom's here! And why do you look so solemn..."

I sit with my legs apart at the edge of the bed, holding my chin in my hands, and my elbows propped up against my knees.

"If I tell you something, you have to swear to not ask stupid questions or be happy or annoying or irritating about it. All you have to do is give me non-irritating advice. Got it?"

"Yup, I got it. What'd you do, sleep with someone?" Silence for a moment.

"Me and Anadil kissed last night."

- - - (anadil's pov)

"Me and Hester kissed last night."

"WHAT?" Vic yells on facetime, my phone propped against my bookshelf as I pace back and forth.

"It wasn't supposed to happen, oh my god. I was so so drunk. And I kissed her.. and she kissed me back. And I don't know what to do or say or what that means or what she's thinking and she hasn't said anything about it!"

Vic pauses, processing this.

"Okay, we're talking about Hester here, right. Your supposed new best friend."

"I didn't replace you, Vickie," she ignores this.

"Okay... has she been weird? Stand-offish? Distant?"

"NO! She came to my house and cooked me breakfast! And that sounds good but it's hurting my brain because it feels like everything is normal."

"But this can't be normal! Two friends don't kiss for no reason. Anadil. You like her."

"NO! I don't." I pace back and forth my room faster. "Don't say that! It's not true. I do not like her, Vickie."

"Then why else would you have kissed her?"

"Because I was drunk!"

"They say that things you do when you're drunk are a reflection of things you want to do when you're sober."

"Nobody says that, Vic."

"Everyone says that! And Anadil, Hester probably likes you too."

"No! She doesn't! I don't like her. She doesn't like me."

"Anadil. Sit down and think about this rationally." I sit down on the chair in front of my bookshelf, facing the screen.

"She gave me a hickey," I say quietly.

"SHE WHAT?!" Vic screams. I wince. "THAT'S IT. SHE'S DEAD."

"She was drunk!" I remind her.

"What did I just say about things drunk people do?" I don't say anything for a long moment.

"I can't like her. She's my best friend and hasn't dated anyone in forever. I don't want to ruin anything," I whisper.

"Stop that talk. The Anadil I know couldn't ruin anything if she tried. Give it time, wait for her to take initiative. Try talking to her about the kiss if it comes up, but you're gonna have to talk about everything eventually. If she likes you, she is going to date you because no one in their right mind would ever let an opportunity to date the Anadil Bloodbrook pass! Ask the Roysville High School Girls Basketball Team. You two are going to be okay, and dating in at least two months. Mark my words."