Over the Rainbow

Heart of Stone: Story 3: Part 4

Jane

2 months later

It was a slow process, our friendship. It worked though. I slowly opened up to her, and she did the same for me. Nothing was ever uncomfortable and through the next month or two, I became closer to her than I ever thought was possible. With anyone, really. I didn't feel alone, and the darkness in my head slowly started to edge away. It wasn't fully gone, and every time I went home I felt it slowly come in, feeling like it might suffocate me.

Mya opened up to me relatively quickly, telling me just about everything about her. She had three brothers, a few pets, and revealed she was, obviously, gay. It didn't take me by surprise, but I was still a bit of an awkward conversation, but it was very quickly brushed over. I noticed she slowly drifted from the Popular's too. She sat with me at lunch, and really only talked to them if they approached her, which they didn't really do anymore. We did become really good friends, and she even roped a few other people into our small friend group. A girl named Kasey, who I recognized, and a boy named Issac. They were both really cool people and I was glad I met them.

Things went smoothly, and I was glad I gave Mya the chance. Even the growing warmth in my chest didn't stop me from talking to her. I ignored it for as long as I could though, the feeing of happiness that erupted through me when she laughed or smiled. The growing blush on my cheeks every time she looked me in the eyes, and I swear that blush was becoming permanent. I ignored it all though, putting it off as something normal, and hoping it wasn't what I thought it was. God, save me if it was what I thought it might be.

Mya and I were by ourselves today at the lunch table, as Kasey and Issac had disappeared to some club activities or something. We were eating in a comfortable silence, occasionally asking question or laughing about something dumb.

"Hey, Jane, you wanna come over tonight?" She asked through a mouthful of sandwich. I hated that habit, the one were she talked with her mouth full all the time. I shrugged, playing with my fork.

"Yeah, probably. I guess I'll have to text my mom or something." Not that she'll get it. Mya knew about my mom, and had said that anytime I needed to get out of the house, just call her. It was a really sweet offer, and of course when she mentioned it, I freaking blushed like crazy.

She nodded, taking another huge bite of her sandwich, one that was much to big to fit in her mouth. I snorted as she struggled to chew, laughing at her. She shot me a glare, but it was laced with amusement and another emotion I couldn't place. I rolled my eyes, laughing as she finally managed to finish that particularly huge chunk of her food. She wiped her hand across her mouth and smiled.

"Yeah, yeah." She laughed with me. Lunch passed quickly, and I waved goodbye as we departed to our different classes for the rest of the day.

We met up again walking into last period, and sat together at a small table in the back of the room. We worked silently on our homework, me with my earbuds in. I know, I know, it's probably rude, but I could care less. She could too.

The bell finally rung, and we gathered our stuff and walked out together.

"So...?" She started. I rolled my eyes and huffed.

"Yes, obviously." I said, bumping my shoulder into hers. She bumped me back and we walked to her car, throwing our stuff in the back. I didn't have a car, as I didn't have enough money for one, and my mom sure as Hell wasn't gonna get me one. Mya blasted some random song I didn't know, singing terribly off key with it. I laughed at her awful voice and she smiled, turning the radio up and only singing louder. We were both laughing by the time we reached her house, our stomachs hurting.

We walked through the living to the stairs, then up to her room. I greeted her mom on the way, who was in the kitchen making dinner.

We reached her room, and I plopped down on her bed, already more comfortable here than I was at my own home. She gave me a side glance as she turned on her Xbox, then coming and plopping down beside me. I didn't play video games, but I enjoyed watching her rage as she played them.

She started her game, and for a few minutes it was quietly mumbling, then turned into full on screaming and swearing. I laughed my head off at her frustration, as her mom yelled at her from the kitchen to knock it off. She finally gave up after a few bad games, turning off the console and throwing her control on her beanbag in anger. She huffed, crossing her arms and leaned back against the wall. I giggled, leaning back against the wall like her.

"Why do you even play the game if it makes you that mad?" I asked. I knew the answer, but I asked anyways.

"Because I enjoy the game when my team isn't a bunch of useless assholes!" She replied, and I just snorted at the anger in her voice. She looked at me, then smiled. The smile quickly faded though, and she suddenly looked very serious. Oh god...

"I have something I want to tell you, and you have to be completely serious? Ok?" She said. I gulped, nodding my head. I dropped my gaze down to my hands, fiddling with my thumbs. She put a finger under my chin though, lifting it and forcing me to look at her. Her eyes filled with something I couldn't place.

"I...I like you." She whispered. I just sat there confused. The shocked. My eyes widened in surprise and my mouth dropped open in an "O." Her hand dropped from my chin, and she ran it through her hair. Oh. OH!

"I'm sorry, you don't have to answer. If you want to leave you can. I'm sorry." She mumbled, the stood up. I just sat there, still shocked. Then I registered that she was getting up, and grabbed her wrist on impulse.

"No! I...I.." I started. I didn't know what to say. Was this what I felt? Every time I saw her smile or laugh? Every time she looked me in the eyes? Every time we brushed each other accidentally in the hallway? Did I like her?

She looked down at me, and I avoided her gaze. I could feel the blood rise to my face, and I knew my answer.

"I like you too." I whispered, so only she could hear. She just looked at me, her eyes widening. Then she smiled, and jumped on top of me, tackling me to the bed. She hugged me, laughing, and I couldn't help but laugh too. Then she pulled her head away, and in  the blink of an eye, her lips met mine. My eyes once again widened, before they quickly shut and I responded to her kiss. Her lips were soft and warm, and they were rough yet at the same time soft. Oh. My. God. She pulled away, both of us slightly breathless, and gave me the sweetest smile I think over ever seen. She rolled of me, but kept her arms wrapped around me.

"Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you." She buried her head in my shoulder and I smiled. Genuinely smiled. I hugged her back.

"Don't thank me for something I should have realized a long tile ago." I whispered into her hair. She squeezed me tighter, and I smiled softly into her hair.

I should have realized it, that feeling in my chest every time I saw her. That foreign blush that was almost always permanent on my cheeks when around her. The need to see her smile and laugh because of me. Just everything about her that made me feel so happy. A happiness I haven't felt in what felt like forever.

Love.

—-

Oof. It's done! (For now) Yes, there are probably a lot of plot holes and stuff, but it was meant to be a short story after all. A very short story. Thanks for reading anyways, and I hope you enjoyed it 😘