SEVENTEEN

♥Lucille♥

Today has felt, really, really good. I haven't had much time to talk with her, but the fact that I officially have a girlfriend now is insane. She said she's going to take me out Friday night as long as we don't have too much homework or anything. On Saturday we've made official plans to all hang out at Deven's place. We're going to watch Coraline, and then binge a bunch of episodes of The Office.

Dakota is very excited, to say the least. Pretty much every time we've hung out since school started has been whilst studying. Brie won't be able to make it, but that's okay. I still don't know her all that well to be honest...

Kiara isn't back yet. My classes ended an hour ago, but I know her's usually go a little later. I really want to see her again.

I'm shocked at myself, honestly, with the way I was able to confess yesterday. I was not prepared to spill all my guts like that. I'm so glad it went well though. If I'd fucked up I would have definitely driven straight back up to York and never left again. But nope. Things are all good.

Shoot, I still need to tell my parent's the news. I'll inform my sister, though, first.

I pull out my phone. As far as I'm aware Quinn mostly uses Snapchat when it comes to communication, so I pull up our chats on there, texting "Hey Quinnyyyy. Guess what..."

After a minute or two she gets back to me. "?" is all she sends in reply, followed by "What?"

"I have a girlfriend!" I send. I see her little Bitmoji reading the message, and then she starts a video call. I sigh quietly, shutting the laptop I had open in front of me on my bed, and shift so I'm laying on my stomach. I answer the call.

"Are you for real?!" Quinn shouts into the phone as soon as I pick up.

I laugh softly. "Yup. You'll never guess who..."

"It's either one of your friends or your roommate I'm assuming." I have no idea how one of her first thoughts was Kiara after all my complaining. Has everyone been shipping us?

"That's... That's right, actually, yeah. My roommate, I mean."

"Called it."

"How the hell did you call it? I hated her like a week ago." I grumble. I hate the surprisingly large amount of people who knew we'd end up together. Kiara said that Deven had bet on us being together by the end of the semester too. Annoying...

"You kept talking about her when you were visiting home. Even if you hated her, you were definitely obsessed." She has a point, I suppose.

"Yeah, yeah, shut up." I roll my eyes.

"You gonna tell Mom and Dad?" Quinn asks.

"Soon, yeah. I might bring her home for Thanksgiving too." I say.

"You better. I want to meet her. She seems... I hate the word sassy, but I guess that's the closest word to it."

"That is definitely true... I think you two would get along well." We're both quiet for a moment, then I hear the front door of the dorm open.

I'm laying in the direction away from the door, so I could only see Kiara coming in by looking at my camera in the video call—or by turning my head, but I don't do that. This also means Quinn was able to see her.

"Is that your girlfriend!?" Quinn practically screams. Kiara's head perks up from where she'd been untying her shoes.

I sit up finally, not letting Quinn look at her anymore. "Yes, yes it is." I respond. "Hey." I say, directed at Kiara.

"Hello... Is that your sister..?" Kiara figures, walking over. She looks so pretty today. Just a couple days ago I definitely would have denied that I find her to be gorgeous, but my god do I...

Her skin is smooth, hardly any acne or blemishes across her face. She has a large freckle on her left temple though. Her amber colored eyes remind me of honeycomb. Her black hair is always sleek. I suppose it's pretty frizzy in the mornings, but somehow she's always able to comb it down.

Her style is also immaculate. I know I probably might seem like the kind of person who wouldn't care for people with a more alternative style, but I definitely like it. She's wearing a pretty stereotypical outfit today, but I don't care. It looks good. She has on an ivory black top, a leather jacket, and black ripped jeans. She was wearing black boots as well. Lots of black, but I definitely don't mind. I'd never wear it personally, but it isn't about me.

"Yup." I respond, and then I hang up on Quinn. I put my phone down, drawing my focus to Kiara.

"So, uh, how were your classes?" She asks casually, putting her bag down by her bed. It reminds me...

"You left your dirty laundry on the floor. I kicked over there in a pile." I point.

"Right, my bad. Forgot you're a clean freak..." She mutters. I think she's upset, but I notice she's smiling.

"Sorry—I just like having a neat space. Even if... I guess... It's your space over there." I apologize. As annoyed as I am at that, we don't need a proper repeat of the first day we met.

"As much as I love the idea of you apologizing, there's no need. I was just running a bit late. Changed my outfit last minute.  Also with you on my ass all the time, you have been forcing me to be a lot more organized which may be for the better..." She admits. She scoops up the clothes, putting them in her small hamper. "Though, if you were gonna put them in a pile, I don't know why you couldn't just put them with the rest of my laundry."

"Yeah, that was just pure pettiness."

"Clearly." Kiara turns around, grinning at me. She has a pretty smile too.

I'm realizing how normal this is. Maybe our banter is less hostile, but nothing about our dynamic feels different. I wasn't expecting to suddenly be super lovey-dovey, but it's just a little weird, I guess.

Maybe things will change once we go on an actual date. Can't be dating without, well, a date.

I'm really excited. I have no idea what Kiara has planned but I don't know how it could go wrong. Or maybe now that I'm thinking about it, things will indeed go completely wrong, but let's hope otherwise. Knock on wood.

"You know, I was talking to Deven earlier, and they told me I should get a therapist." Kiara says with a small, sad laugh.

"They have a point..." I agree. "My parents got me a therapist like 5 or so years ago, and while at the time I don't think I needed it too bad, it's really helped me since. I haven't been to any appointments since August though."

"Really?"

"Mhm. And—no offense—but you seem like you have a lot more built up trauma." Now that I think about it, I've almost completely forgotten about Sam. We had our last session near the end of August, but we never scheduled one for September since I didn't know if I'd have the time. I guess I should probably send her a text at the very least with my surprisingly positive life update.

"That's... Yeah, that's fair." She admits. "I'm considering it but—"

"You should try it! It'll be awkward at the beginning but it gets better."

"I don't have the money. Or the time, really."

"Oh. Well, as your girlfriend I will gladly pay for it!" I suggest.

"I am not going to let you do that. Also is it your money, or your daddy's money?" She asks, justified.

"Technically my dad's... But one session! Okay? And then I'm sure you can work it out money-wise or with insurance. Or never go again." I stand, clasping her hands in mine. I don't know the details of all Kiara's trauma and the history with her mother, but from what I saw, it's clear that it's pretty shitty. I might not know how to help her. I don't. But this really could.

"Are you going to force me into this?"

"No, but I will beg. Pleeeaaassseee." I say, practically whining just for the annoying effect.

She rolls her eyes. "Okay... but I'll need to find someone actually taking appointments first. And I'll need to make time..."

"Yeah, yeah we'll make it work." I grin at her.

"Would you still like me if I was mentally unstable?"

"What kind of question is that? Aren't you already?" I tease. "Also, better question—would you still like me if I was a worm?"

"Did you actually just ask me that?" She laughs.

"I was joking, but now I need my answer."

"Well your answer is no. I'm not into worms."

"Damn. Just say you hate me already." I say, fake betrayal in my voice.

"I don't hate you, I hate worms." She deadpans.

"Same difference." I shrug

"That implies you being a worm."

"Right on."

"You are a freak..." She can't hold back her laugh, I grin too. I like making people laugh. I get told a lot that I'm too serious and uptight, so this is honestly rare for me.

"The first worm/weasel/candy princess I have ever met. And my favorite."

"Least weasel." I correct, trying to dismiss her attempt at flirting with that last line. Well, more so trying to draw the attention away from my blushing face. I have a weird type. I'd be embarrassed if it didn't mean being embarrassed of Kiara.

"Right... My bad. And I'm the lizard person, right?"

"Please don't remind me of my garbage attempt at insulting you." It was only a few weeks ago, I realize. It's felt like months.

"It was a good insult, honestly. You used it at a bad time, and you ruined it when you needed to explain it, but it wasn't that bad." She reassures me.

"You're being way too sweet right now." I roll my eyes, looking away.

"Bitch."

"Excuse me?"

"You sounded like you wanted me to be meaner." She shrugs, an annoying smirk plastered on her face.

"Well you didn't have to call me a bitch, bitch."

"Well now you just called me one!"

"Because you called me one first!"

She rolls her own eyes, still smirking slightly. I can tell she's enjoying this.

Before she can respond my phone starts ringing again. Dammit. I check to see who, and it's my dad. Chances are that Quinn told him and mom about Kiara. Hooray.

I sit back down on my bed, Kiara joining me, and I answer the call.

"Hi, Dad..."

"LUCILLE MARIA BELANGER!" He yells into the phone, I have to move it away from my ear as the sound could be deafening. Kiara seems to end up hearing it as well, an eyebrow raised.

"Hi..." I repeat. "I can hear you just fine when you aren't screaming." I shake my head with a small laugh.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He disregards my words. I can practically see him waving me off with his hand. "Is it true?"

"Is what true?" I feign innocence.

"You know what."

"I don't think I do..."

"Listen, kiddo, I'm going to be honest. I don't actually know anything either. Quinn just told me that you had news for me and that I should call demanding answers." I was not expecting that. Maybe I should have.

"Well... I do have news, actually. I was just expecting you to know from Quinn already."

"Well I do not. You need to share now or else I will tear up your Chloe Moriondo poster."

"Dad!" I laugh. Kiara seems confused. Maybe she was expecting a less wholesome conversation when she heard the yelling.

"You know I wouldn't actually do that, but you really need to stop avoiding the question."

"Okay. Fine... I have a girlfriend." I admit. I catch Kiara smiling to herself in the corner of my eye.

There's silence for a moment. I check the screen, making sure the call didn't disconnect. It hasn't.

"Hello?"

More silence.

"Everything okay?" Kiara asks me. I nod, knowing that whatever reaction my dad is about to have will be nothing but utter and absolute excitement.

"Dad if you don't say anything I'm just gonna hang up..."

"Wait!" I hear him shout. "I need details, Cille. I need every goddamn detail and I need it now."

I scoff, but my face reads more intrigue than annoyance. "What was with the sudden silence?" I ask.

"Silent celebration." He explains nonchalant. "Details, Lucille. Give me the details." He demands playfully.

"You are way too invested in my love life, but alright..."