Sincerely, Leah

23

Gabrielle's POV

"What was that about, Gabs?"

I shut the door and I turn to face her.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

The older girl sighs.

"Why did you get so upset when I said we were best friends? We are. We've been through hell together. Do you not want to be friends anymore?", she says. She sits down on her bed and I sit next to her. I feel my brain go fuzzy.

A bit of backstory: I've been hopelessly in love with Tasha ever since we met around 2 years ago, when I was almost 13 and she was 13, and in love with my brother, Pat. When they broke up, we became best friends, and when I entered first year, she told me she was going to have to repeat first year because of her performance the previous year. I felt shitty for being happy about it, but for a girl who was going to have to redo the shittiest year of secondary school, she was delighted.

I still love her, but she has no clue. That's why it's so painful to hear her refer to us as best friends, even though its technically true.

"I didn't get upset. I just got shy for a moment.", I lie. She raises her eyebrows.

"Sure. You suddenly get all shy with Matty Healy's hot younger friends, eyeing the girl who looks suspiciously like me and miss the chance to hang out with them before we meet Jesus himself.", she says sarcastically. This girl is going to kill me one of these days.

"I wasn't eyeing her. And we're still meeting him anyways.", I say.

Lucy does look like Tasha. 

"Gabby, I'm serious. Do you like me or something?"

I freeze up. I need to think of an excuse.

"Well, you're my best friend, of course I love you more than anything."

"You know what I mean."

There's a painful silence.

"Why did you hold my hand tonight? On the Luas?"

"Anxiety."

"Really? And during Medicine?"

I sigh. I think it's best to just come clean.

"OK, I like you. A lot. Ever since we first met. But I didn't say anything because I didn't wanna lose my best friend. Also, it's such a cliché to fall for your best friend.", I admit.

She looks at me for a minute.

"You could've just told me. I knew but it would've been better if you just told me. I would never hate you or not be your best friend.", she says with a smile.

"You knew?", I ask.

"I found your love poems and drawings of me. Woops."

Fuuuuuuuuuck. 

She laughs.

"Its OK. I think its really cute. I'd do the same thing if I could write, and draw."

"You'd write and draw. About me?"

"Yup."

My heart is feeling funny. Its the same feeling I got the first time she hugged me. When she and Pat broke up.

"So, do you like me too?", I ask stupidly.

She laughs again. "Obviously."

We just kind of look at each other for a few seconds. I'm about to speak again but then she puts her hands on my extremely rosy cheeks.

Then, what happens is what I've been wanting for 2 years. She kisses me, softly and slowly, and it feels exactly how I dreamed. Like a boombox in my stomach. Like fireworks. Like all I'll ever feel again is pure happiness.

We separate and she rests her forehead on mine. We smile at each other and we lean in again.

We kiss for another 5 minutes before we hear a knock on the door.

"Gabrielle? Tasha? Ready to go?", says Leah.

"Yes, we'll be right there!", I say.

I quickly text my mother to tell her to not fall asleep when she comes back and to let us in. We'll have our key anyways but just in case.

We smile at each other, and then she gives me a quick kiss, and I go fuzzy again.

We head out the door.