ADOPTED BY PHAN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The week went by dreadfully long, but it's finally Friday. Iris has been letting Vic ignore her all week, give him alone time to collect his thoughts. However, as soon as the bell rings for dismissal today, she makes a dash towards the thin boy.

"Vic, wait up!" She shouts, running to catch up with him. The boy listens, coming to a halt and turning in her direction.

"Listen Iris, I'm sorry for blocking you out all week, and I'm sorry for not answering your questions." Vic apologizes. "It's just really complicated, okay?"

"What could be so complicated about the reason behind kissing someone?" Iris asks.

"Come on, I'll explain this in a les public place." Vic says, leading her through the halls and out the door. They make their way into the woods together, stopping a few meters in and taking a seat on a big rock.

The silence drains on until Vic finally whispers, "I'm gay."

"Okay." Iris shrugs, wondering why this is such a big deal.

"And I thought- I thought that if I kissed you, I could- maybe I could fix my- my sexuality." Vic stutters out, fiddling with his sleeves.

"Why would you need to fix it?"

"Because Nico is dead."

Iris is fled with confusion. "Who's Nico?"

"He was my best friend. He was my boyfriend. He was my everything." Silent tears trickle down Vic's cheeks as he tells his story. "He had a lot of shit in his life and I could barely help him. I didn't understand. His best friend, Skye, was there for him when I couldn't be. She did everything she could, until one day, there was no more. Nobody could save him. And, yeah, he talked about death a lot; but I didn't think he'd actually do it. The day I lost him, I lost it all. I understood that pain he always talked about. I understood the self-hatred. I still do. To this day I cannot accept who I am because there's a little voice in my head telling me it's wrong. There's something wrong with me, Iris, and I need to fix it."

"Wait, did you say Skye?" Iris asks, taking this all in. "As in Skye Pereira?"

"Yeah." Vic sniffles. "We were pretty good friends until Nico passed away. After that, we just completely lost contact. It wasn't just her; I didn't stay in touch with anyone."

"I think you should work things out with her." Iris suggests.

"How? I don't even know where she went."

"I do."

* * *

"Are you sure this is a good idea? Does she know I'm coming?" Vic asks - for the third time - as he and Iris make their way to the mall's food court to meet Skye.

"Yes, Vic. I've texted her every last detail and she has agreed." Iris reassures. She then spots the white-blonde and exclaims, "There she is, come on!"

Pulling Vic behind her through the crowd, Iris finally catches Skye's eye. The blonde arises from her table, meeting the two halfway.

"Green Eyes," She says with a wide smile, pulling her into a hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too." Iris confesses quietly, letting the hug linger before pulling away and gesturing to Vic. "I'm sure you've met him before; this is Vic."

"Uh, hi." Vic greets awkwardly, giving a small wave.

"Oh, come here! I'm a hugger!" Skye exclaims, pulling Vic into an embrace. It only lasts a few seconds, but it's exactly what Vic needed to break the ice.

Skye leads them back to her table, politely pulling the chair out for Iris to sit in. Vic takes the seat next to Iris, and after taking her seat at the other end of the table, Skye strikes up conversation.

"It's been too long, Vic. Where have you been?"

"I could ask you the same." Vic replies, tugging at his sleeves.

"You know where I've been." Skye whispers.

"But I don't." He drops his voice to her level.

Skye looks at Iris worriedly, wondering how she could tell Vic without her finding out. Little is she aware that Iris already knows.

In the end, Skye just thinks fuck it before coming clean. "A mental hospital. I've been in a fucking mental hospital."

"What the fuck?" Vic's face reads only confusion and shock as Iris remains quiet, looking down at her hands folded in her lap.

Skye simply states, "You're not the only one suffering, Vic."

"What the fuck?" Vic looks to Iris and asks, "Were you aware of this?"

Iris only quietly nods her head, giving Skye a bit of a guilty yet apologetic smile.

"Who told?" Skye asks.

Iris sinks in her seat. "Floyd."

"My cousin?" Skye's voice is laced with shock.

"He's your cousin?"

"Not a very good one, might I add." Skye jokes.

Iris cracks a genuine smile. Skye looks as if she's about to speak up again, but suddenly someone's ring tone goes off.

"That's me," Vic announces before excusing himself, "One second."

Skye sits in the seat next to herself, so she's now across from Iris. "Hello beautiful."

"Shut up," Iris says, looking down to hide the huge smile and obvious blush on her cheeks.

"Oh come on, I haven't gotten to see those green eyes for awhile," Skye speaks softly,"Look at me."

Iris looks up, grin growing wider and blush going darker once catching sight of Skye's beautiful smiling face. She lets out a small giggle, allowing her head to fall into her sleeve covered hands.

"Iris Howell-Lester, was that a blush I saw?" Skye teases, leaning closer on the table.

Iris lifts her face out her hands and confidently leans closer, asking with a smile, "What if I say yes?"

"Then I-"

"Hey, sorry about that." Vic interrupts, standing at the side of the table.

"No worries, take a seat." Skye gestures to the chair.

"About that, my mum just called and said I need to get my ass home right now." Vic informs.

"Oh." Skye says, sounding a little disappointed.

"Did you want me to walk you home?" Iris asks, hoping to hear a no so she can stay with Skye.

"No no, that's okay." Vic reassures her, before saying goodbye and making his way home.

The two girls sit in a comfortable silence for awhile. Not knowing that the other is having the same thoughts. And finally, Iris crabs all of her courage, using it to ask Skye, "Would you like to come back to mine?"

"I'd love to." Skye smiles.

Don't worry, there will be much more Skyris to come in the next chapter! Hope you've enjoyed!