Us Against the World

Friend Zoned?

So Adeline and I were friends for five weeks and I was starting to question if we were ever gonna be something more. We would text non stop, the only time we weren't texting was if our parents took our phones away or if we were too tired to continue talking. We'd walk each other to classes, eat lunch together, hang out after school, have multiple sleepovers. It was almost like we were already dating! I told jokes most the time we talked, mainly because I loved hearing her laughs. Especially when she let out one of her "ugly laughs." She hated that laugh, I loved it. It was basically her just wheezing until she cried from laughing too hard.
There was just one problem, she is so hard to read! I can't tell if she likes me or if she just wanted to be friends! Sometimes she'd be like "Zoe, you're so beautiful and funny and gosh any guy would be lucky to have you." And she'll act all protective and anytime a guy would just talk to me she'd get super jealous. On the other hand, she's always brushing me off if I get too close, I tried to give her a forehead kiss once and she pushed me away. I don't know what to think.
The day started off terrible, my alarm went off 5 minutes after the bus already came, I had to have my mom drop me off.
I was walking into school, my head down, I felt a little sad. I guess I just woke up that way but I was really, reallt upset, and over nothing. I opened the door and looked up. There she was, Adeline, sitting on a bench, head in her hands, crying.
My heart dropped. I didn't waste another second, I threw my backpack to the floor, it was just weighing me down, and bolted towards her.
"Adeline?!" I had tears in my eyes too.
She looked up at me, her face wet and her eyes red.
"Zoe." Her voice broke.
I couldn't take it anymore, I embraced her.
"Everything's gonna be alright!" I said.
"You don't even know what's wrong!" She tried to push me off of her.
"I don't care! You're upset and I'm here for you!" I protested.
She gave in, she hugged me back.
"My parents are homophobes." She said through sobs.
"You're gay?" I said, shocked.
"Yeah, please don't leave me." She gripped the back of my shirt.
"Never." I hugged her tighter.

I decided that school wasn't the best thing for Adeline today.
I called my dad, who is the most understanding person in the world, and told him that Adeline was upset and that we wanted to get out of school.
Soon enough Adeline and I were called to the office and we left. We went to the mall.
"Hey Zoe?" She called.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for being there for me. I can't help but feel so close to you, and I'm really glad you're the one who comforted me." She smiled.
"No problem." I smiled back.
She grabbed my hand and kissed my cheek, causing me to blush madly.
"Zoe, do you like me?" She asked, tilting her head.
"W-what? Why do y-you say that?!" I stuttered.
"Just asking." She smirked.
"I mean, y-you're cool and all!"
"That doesn't answer my question." She got closer to my face.
I gulped.
"Y-yes, I like you. " I looked away and prepared for the worst.
"Good." She grabbed my hand again.
"Because I like you too." She smirked.