The falls

chapter 33

Jessica and Lilien sat on a bench in the quiet corner of the park, the moon casting a soft glow on the trees around them. For once, Lilien's ever-present butler was nowhere to be seen, leaving the two girls alone in a rare moment of privacy. They had walked there after leaving the diner, needing some fresh air and time to decompress from all the strange things happening lately.

Lilien fidgeted with the hem of her dress, clearly nervous about something. She glanced at Jessica, who was staring up at the stars, deep in thought. Finally, Lilien broke the silence.

"So... are you and Neomi... like, together? In a relationship?" she asked, her voice soft but curious.

Jessica blinked, caught off guard by the question. She turned to Lilien, her face slightly flushed. "Um... I'm not entirely sure, to be honest," she admitted. "We've kissed a couple of times, and... well, I really enjoyed our night at the party. But we haven't talked about making anything official yet."

Lilien nodded slowly, processing the information. "So, it's kind of... in between?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Jessica said, smiling awkwardly. "I like her a lot, but I don't know if we're, like, officially a couple yet. It's complicated."

Lilien seemed to hesitate for a moment before she asked, "What's it like... you know... kissing a girl?"

Jessica's cheeks turned bright red, and she quickly averted her gaze, feeling her heart race. "Oh... um..." She stammered, trying to find the right words. "It's... nice? I mean, I don't really know how to compare it to anything else because I've never kissed anyone else. But it felt... really good."

Lilien's eyes were wide with curiosity, and Jessica couldn't help but feel a little flustered by the attention. She realized then why Lilien was asking. It wasn't just casual curiosity—there was something more behind the question.

Jessica bit her lip, gathering her thoughts. "Are you... are you asking because... you're trying to figure out if you're into girls?" she asked cautiously.

Lilien looked away, her expression thoughtful, almost conflicted. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I mean, I've never really thought about it before. But watching you and Neomi, and hearing you talk about her... it makes me wonder. What if I'm not... what everyone expects me to be?"

Jessica's embarrassment faded, replaced with understanding. She could see how hard it was for Lilien to voice those feelings, and she wanted to be supportive. "You don't have to have all the answers right now," Jessica said gently. "It's okay to be unsure. I didn't even know I liked girls until Neomi kissed me. It's... confusing sometimes, but it's okay to take your time figuring it out."

Lilien gave her a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Jessica. It's just... everything feels so uncertain lately, and I'm not sure where I fit in with all of it."

"You'll figure it out," Jessica reassured her. "And if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."

Lilien nodded, her shoulders relaxing a little as they sat together in the quiet night, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air but no longer feeling so heavy.

Jessica sat back, feeling a mix of relief and understanding settle over her after Lilien's confession. They were both quiet for a moment, lost in their thoughts. The park was peaceful, the night air cool but not too cold, and the distant hum of crickets filled the silence between them.

Lilien, still looking down at her hands, seemed to be wrestling with something. Finally, she looked up at Jessica, her voice soft and hesitant. "Can I... can I kiss you?"

Jessica blinked in surprise. She wasn't expecting that, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Her heart sped up, and she felt a twinge of nervousness. She liked Lilien as a friend, but she wasn't sure what this would mean—especially considering her feelings for Neomi.