Phase

"Friends"

Alex arrived at seven on Saturday. Mom had already left.
She had her beanie on again, black eyeliner framing her blue eyes. I thought she looked beautiful, but I didn't say it.
"So this is your room," she looked around, taking it in, "Nice... who's this?" She picked up the tattered bear from my bed, making him dance along the duvet.
"That's Edgar," I blushed, "I've had him forever."
"He's cute," she smiled, "not as cute as the other person who sleeps in this bed. But still."
"... I thought we were just friends?"
"We are," she shrugged, "I can still think you're cute though."
"And I can still tell you I like your hat?"
"Exactly," she grinned.
"What's the normal thing to do now?" I asked awkwardly.
"Put on pyjamas and watch movies?"
"Sounds like fun."
I went to get changed in the bathroom. My pyjamas seemed to look more childish than usual, somehow. When I went back in, she was sitting on the edge of my bed. That was when I realised her bottoms were pale pink, and stopped worrying .
"You've met my mom," I said when we were watching the movie, "what are your family like?"
"Uh... weird," she stared at her lap.
"Weirder than my mom?"
"Your mom's normal," she told me, "my dads on the other hand... not so normal."
"You have two dads?"
"Yup. They're great really. But... most people don't see it that way."
"I think it's cool," I said, trying to reassure her, "do they know you're gay?"
"Yes... they were very proud," she chuckled.
"... I don't think that's how my mom'll feel."
"You don't know that. She seemed nice, maybe she'll be cool with it," she suggested.
"... to be honest, I'm still worried that she's right. About the phase thing. What if I'm just... 'rebelling against the norm'?"
She giggled at me, "you told me you've always felt this way."
"I have, but..."
"You're always doubting yourself," she sighed.
"I know..."
"... do you like me?" She asked suddenly, looking nervous.
I took a deep breath, "... yes."
"Then it's not a phase," she smiled calmly, "you liked it when we kissed, didn't you?"
I nodded.
"Definitely not a phase."
"I guess you're right," I admitted, "... did you like it when we kissed?" I asked quietly, scared of what the answer might be.
"I did," she nodded, "I liked it a lot."
The end credits started to roll on the movie, "what do we do now?" I wondered.
"...We could play spin the bottle?" She looked into my eyes.
"There's only two of us," I pointed out.
"Exactly," she leaned towards me.
"... I thought we were friends," I was confused.
"We are... very close friends."