We grab some snacks and start climbing the five sets of stairs to my room. The higher we go, the more Liv marvels at the house. "I know I've said this a lot, but damn, your house is big. Like, bigger than Sophia's, and you've seen her house. Or is this small for
you, rich girl?" She grins, her teasing tone making me roll my eyes
"Shut up," I mutter, though I can't help smiling.
When we reach my door, I pause, hand hovering over the handle. My stomach flips with a mix of nerves and embarrassment. The state of my room flashes in my mind-some laundry I haven't gotten to yet. Ugh.
"Why are you hesitating?" Liv teases, her voice pulling me from my thoughts. "You got a bra on the floor or something?"
"Multiple, actually," I smirk, turning to her. "Does that make you nervous?"
"Not at all," she says, her voice low as she leans in, her face stopping just an inch from mine. Her breath is warm against my skin, and my face heats up instantly. "In fact, it kinda turns me on," she adds with a playful grin. I freeze, my heart racing.
Before I can respond, she pulls away, chuckling. "Aw, who's nervous now?" And just like that, she twists the door handle and walks into my room, leaving me standing there, trying to steady my pulse.
I follow her in, watching as she takes in the room, her gaze first landing on the photos hung up on the divider I've placed a few meters from the doorway. I take a deep breath, using the moment to recompose myself. She's joking. She's straight. It doesn't mean anything, I remind myself, though the way my skin tingles says otherwise.
Liv moves deeper into the room, her eyes scanning the couch by the wall, then the TV across from it. She raises her eyebrows and mouths, "Rich girl," her teasing tone back again.
But before I can respond, she suddenly shrieks and rushes toward me. "You didn't tell me you had a dog!" she whispers a bit nervous, her wide eyes locking onto Mooni, who's curled up in my hanging chair, nestled into the pile of blankets, pillows, and beanbags underneath.
"He's harmless," I say, a smile tugging at my lips. "A bit sleepy right now though"
Liv's hand is still clutching mine, and I feel the warmth of her fingers. I walk over to Mooni, gently scratching behind his ears as he lifts his head lazily, offering a sleepy grin. Liv lets out a small gasp, then notices the set of double doors next to the couch.
"Oooh," she hums, pulling me toward the doors. She swings them open, revealing a large mirror framed with a bunch of stickers I've arranged around the edges. Liv grins at our reflection. "That would make a cute picture."
I meet her eyes in the mirror, feeling my cheeks warm. "Let's take one, then."
I grab my Polaroid camera from my desk, and we start posing for silly photos—funny faces, over-the-top poses. But after a couple of those, Liv stops, her expression turning more serious. "Wait," she says softly. "Let's do a cute one. You can put it on your 'special people' picture wall over there." She points to the divider where all my favourite photos are hung.
Without warning, she leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek. My heart skips a beat, and I blush as I snap the picture, grinning. I honestly do not understand straight, popular girls. If this isn't gay, then what is?
Liv, meanwhile, glances around, and her eyes widen again. "Whoa!" She gasps, walking toward my wardrobe with wide eyes. "Is that... a whole makeup area? Your wardrobe is huge!" She drops my hand as she moves inside, clearly mesmerized by all the clothes. She loves fashion—her eyes sparkle every time she sees something she
likes. I'm glad she likes my style.
While she's distracted, I walk over to the far wall where my bed is and hang up the new Polaroids. The room feels warm, bathed in the afternoon light streaming through the giant radius window. I love this corner, especially the alcove seat under the window—it's my favourite part of the room.
Liv's voice cuts through my thoughts as she steps out of the wardrobe. "You have a lot of Polaroids," she says, her eyes trailing over the photos and posters on my walls. "And the drawings—did you do all of these?"
I shrug. "Yeah, but the really good ones I traced and then coloured. Some of the graphite ones I learned from tutorials. The rest are just simple doodles. Pinterest ideas."
"Huh. Did you design your room yourself?"
I nod, smiling. "Yeah, my older siblings helped me, but most of it was my idea. I know the orange walls might seem weird, but I love the vibe."
"No, it's really cozy," she says, glancing around again, clearly impressed.
Her gaze lands on something besides my nightstand, and her eyes widen. "Is that a cello?"
"Yep," I say, a bit proud.
"You play?! Why don't I know any of this?" She looks genuinely shocked.
"Because you barely know me," I say, leaning against the wall with a grin.
"What?" Liv frowns playfully. "We've been in the same core classes since Year 7. Three years."
"three and a half, actually. But, yeah. We never really talk."
"Well, that changes today," she says, crossing her arms. "Play something for me."
God, she's so cute when she gets all stubborn. I laugh, feeling my heart swell. "Okay, but I'm not that—"
"No, none of that," she cuts me off. "You say that with everything. Maths, Touch. You're like, the best at everything. Seriously, what else don't I know about you?"
I laugh, feeling a little bashful. "Well, I tutor, which is kinda nerdy, but it pays well. I also do singing, play AFL—pretty good at that. Volleyball for fun, though I'm just okay. I can play piano and guitar too. Javi taught me. Oh, and I love reading and writing. And doodling for fun. But dancing? I'm terrible at that. No joke, I can't even do TikTok dances."
Liv bursts into laughter. "I knew you couldn't be perfect at everything! Finally, some flaws!"
"Hey now," I grin. "Who knows what secrets you're hiding. A third tit? A second nose?"
We fall into easy conversation, laughing and talking for what feels like hours. The awkward tension I was feeling earlier starts to melt away as we talk about everything—school, teachers, drama with friends. It feels... comfortable. And a little surreal.
Eventually, Liv glances up from where she's sprawled out on the floor, her gaze curious. "So, where are all your books if you're such a huge reader?"
I smile at her, getting up and offering her a hand. "I'll show you."
She grabs my hand, and I lead her to the window next to my bed. Pushing it open, I climb out onto the roof, the cool breeze hitting my face as I turn to help Liv out. She gives me a questioning look but follows, nearly tripping before I catch her by the waist. Our eyes
meet, and she blushes. I tell myself it's just embarrassment.
We sit on the roof for a moment, taking in the view. It's mostly the city skyline, but it's enough to make Liv's breath catch.
"Come on," I say, pulling her toward the rickety staircase that leads to the roof balcony. When we reach the top, I open the glass doors to reveal the library my step-dad built for me. It's old-fashioned, with European-style bookshelves lining the walls and cozy reading nooks tucked into corners.
"Whoa," Liv breathes, stepping inside. "This might actually make me start reading."
I giggle, following her inside. "I write out here too, on the balcony."
She turns around, meeting my gaze, and for a moment, it's just us, standing there, smiling at each other.
"Wanna get Uber Eats?" I ask, breaking the silence. "We could order pizza."
"Perfect," Liv replies with a grin.
