Not a “date”

Jill had hurried home, basically thrown everything in her fridge and decided to wear something cuter because she felt like the jeans and T shirt she was wearing was a little unflattering. She threw on a blue sundress that went to about mid-thigh and showed off a bit of her cleavage. She also decided to switch out her mismatched underwear because she didn’t want to look silly. Jill was unsure why she was trying so hard for someone that had been her enemy in high school but that ping that occurred when she was called cute made her want to actually feel cute and look the part. She quickly gathered her stuff as she was needing to hurry up to avoid being late for her “chit chat.”

***

Julie had rushed home herself and changed out of her sweatshirt and sweatpants. She could not explain why she was suddenly so nervous and sweaty after calling someone that was a nemesis “cute.” She looked at her reflection wearing only her matching purple underwear and posed in the mirror to try to look cute herself.

(Did Jill think I was cute and why did I suddenly care? More importantly why did I even say that out loud to her!??) Her cheeks were still burning red as she looked for something cute in her closet since Jill looked so nice in her jeans and T shirt. She decided to go with a green floral dress that had little sleeves and went to her knees. A knock on her door made her realize that it had been an hour already as she quickly adjusted her hair at the mirror and rushed to the door to let her inside.

Both women were surprised to see the other wearing a different outfit that they let out a laugh. They laughed for a good ten seconds before Julie said, “I’m sorry…Please come in!”

“Why thank you! Might I say I love your dress, Jules,” Jill said as she crossed the threshold of the door. The women gave a hug that lingered again as both women quickly broke it off, feeling embarrassed like earlier. Julie closed the door and tried to change the subject.

“Thank you for coming over so quickly. You look ravishing,” Julie said unconsciously and immediately hid her face in her hands as she was unsure what was happening.

Jill chuckled and said, “I really don’t mind the compliments but are you normally this upfront?” Julie quietly shook her head no behind her hands as Jill led them to the sofa.

“I don’t know what’s come over me…I think something’s wrong with me,” Julie said as she fanned herself.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you, Jules. And if there is, I’m pretty sure I have the same issue you do,” Jill said stroking Julie’s hair. Julie put her hands down and looked into Jill’s eyes. Julie had never been one for romance and if she was honest she had a crush on Jill for quite a while but she remembered being called Dyke and Lezbo by the person she was interested in as well as her friends. Julie got sad remembering it and Jill immediately picked up on it. “What’s on your mind?”

“I just…” Julie said as she struggled to say the words but she swallowed some saliva and spoke up. “I’ve liked for you a longtime like since we first met…I don’t know why we became rivals when all I wanted was to be with you…” the tears started to come out. Jill nestled her crying friend in her chest as she held her close.

“And for that…I’m truly sorry…if I’m honest, I was extremely attracted to you but I had too many people that told me that I couldn’t be interested in girls…I fed into it and decided that being mean to you was the only way to fight these feelings. Instead, they only made they stronger and it broke my heart to see how broken I was making everything we could have had if I wasn’t so stupid.” Tears fell from her eyes onto Julie’s head. Both women quietly sobbed and held one another tightly for a few minutes as truths that had been buried for years had finally surfaced.