raleksandra

rani

Rani's POV

"Yeah, they did seem really nice," Zey said. "Holly and her friends should hang out with us more often."
Emma grinned, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, they're great."

"Do you think maybe they'll come to music today?" I asked. Smooth. You mean Alex.

Emma shrugged. "I think Holly has some art folio to work on today." I sighed, shrugging. "That's too bad."

"More bassists for us," Zeynep said, grinning.

***

They didn't come to music. I don't know why I expected them too, given that I was warned they wouldn't be able to come, but I remained hopeful. However, it was 7 minutes to the bell, and there wasn't much hope for them turning up at this point. Welp. I guess I will have to see her- them - some other time. Okay, maybe I meant her. That blonde girl, Alex, the cute one who couldn't stop smiling - I couldn't wait to see her again. I had spent my lunch hour watching the minutes tick past and listening to Zey and Emma play the same 3 songs over and over, but alas she never arrived.

"I'm going to my locker," I announced, standing up from my spot in the corner, saying bye to my friends and walking through the oak doors of the music department. I was perhaps too invested in this girl. I hadn't really spoken to her. You can just tell when someone is cute. You know, by the way they smile or the way their face lights up or by the way they laugh and play with their hair while they-

"Fuck."
I recognised the voice before I had to look up to see I had walked straight into Alex, her folder falling onto the floor.
"Shit, shit, I'm so sorry," I scrambled to the floor to try and pick things up, but I think I was mostly making a mess. She was blushing a little while she gathered the sheets of paper into a pile. Why was she blushing? I was the one who had just caused her to drop her things all over the floor. I am the queen of smooth moves.

"It's okay, it's fine, really, it's fine," she said quickly, smiling. I chuckled. "Oops." I handed her the last thing on the ground, a copy of Frankenstein, before starting to stand up. "Sorry about that."

I looked at her for a minute, opening my mouth to say something, when I heard a second familiar voice.
"Oh, hey! There you are," Emma said, walking towards us, smiling brightly, before cautiously glancing between the two of us. "Actually, you know, I should- I should go, uh, see Holly.." Emma mumbled, trailing off and turning to scurry towards the art department.

"I should, uh, go get my stuff for next period," I said, looking down at my feet. "Maybe I'll see you in music tomorrow?"
Alex grinned, but it quickly faltered.
"I don't know if I'll be able to- uh.. Wait, here, um, I'll give you my number and then, you can text me, and I'll, um, let you know?"
Alex typed her number into my phone and I hurried off, worried I would be late. That wasn't, like.. Flirting? That wasn't flirting. Friends give new friends their phone numbers all the time. That was normal.

***

"So, uh, guys.." I started; Zey, Zeynep, and Emma turning to look at me. "You know that Alex girl?" They all nodded.
"What's her deal?" I asked.

I was met with a variety of confused looks. "You know, what's her deal? You're dating Holly, you'll marry the first bassist you meet, you're in love with that other friend you're always telling us about. What's her deal?"

Emma shrugged. "I don't really know." She smiled a little. "Why do you ask?" They all gave me that look they do and I could feel myself blushing. "I don't- are you.. I just- Okay, so she's cute, right, fine, I said it, are you happy?" I blurted out. They all grinned.

A walk home later and we already had a ship name. A ship name. I swear to god if they ruined this for me my life would be over. Well, okay, exaggeration, but I haven't had a crush like this in a while. She's so cute.

***

I worked myself up to text the number she had given me that evening. I spent maybe 20 minutes trying to find the best way to greet her, with such options as: hey, it's Rani; Hey, it's Rani; hi, it's Rani; hi this is rani; Hi, this is Rani; Yo. Rani; pleaselovemeyouresocute.
In the end I settled for Hey, it's Rani.

She didn't reply right away, but when she did I replied back almost instantly. I'm excitable sue me. I asked her more about music she likes, and a little about TV shows, and our families and the like. It was nice. I laughed a lot while I was supposed to be sleeping. In fact, it wasn't until about 1:25 am that I fell asleep with my phone in my hand.

***

I apologised over and over the next day for having fallen asleep, but she didn't seem to mind. She decided she would come to music, which Holly said was special given that they had an art assignment due the next day and she needed the time. I didn't think anything of it.

I arrived at music in the beginning of lunch, meeting Emma and Holly in a practise room.

"Hey, guys."
"How's Alex?" They asked, before greeting me or asking how I was, looking ready to interrogate me.
"Nice to see you too?"
"I think you should ask her out." Holly said confidently.
I laughed, shaking my head and sitting in my spot. "No way. How on earth am I supposed to do that?"
Holly chuckled. "If I can do it you can do it.
I shook my head. "There's no way I can do it."

That's when the door opened.
"No way you can do what?" Alex asked, stepping inside and coming to sit next to me. I shot Emma and Holly a look, and yet Emma still muttered, "you unless she makes a fuckin move."

Alex looked startled. "What? Wait, what did you say?"
I laughed nervously. "Nothing. Nothing. She said nothing." Alex raised her eyebrows, looking at me.
"Rani..?"
"She didn't say anything."
"You're being weird."
I smiled, trying to look normal while I looked at Alex. "I'm fine."
I looked at her for a few moments quietly, but the silence was broken with Holly's outcry of "Just ask her out, for gods sake."

I couldn't see my own reaction, but I bet I looked mortified. I glanced at Alex, and- wait. She was bright red and giving Holly daggers. Now I'd bet I look confused.

Holly smiled a little. "I was talking to both of you."

holyshitholyshithol ysh i thol y s h it

I turned around slightly to look at Alex.
"What?" We said, in unison, looking embarrassed and confused.

"Do you-""So, uh-" I started to speak, but I was interrupted by Alex.

"Want to go on a date?" We said, both blushing harder as we spoke at the same time again.

"Jinx," Emma mumbled, as holly glared at her. "What? Neither of them were gonna say it."

"Yes."

I cautiously took Alex's hand. That went much better than expected.

"So you really think Gerard tops then? Like, actually?"

I nodded, chuckling.
"Right. I can look past that."

Oops lol I'm too tired its 1 am ahahahahah kms worth it lol enjoy