When I got home, I told Mom that Riel was spending the night. Although Riel has slept beside me many times, she will always have Josh's bed set up for her to sleep in. Mom never said anything about our sleeping habits, to my surprise. Maybe because I never locked my door, and she never doubted our relationship as anything but friendship.
I was done taking a shower and in my pajamas when Riel came in. She is wearing a black, oversized shirt and white shorts. Her hair was up in a ponytail, which looked like she put it up in a rush.
She flopped herself into the bed and positioned herself on the left side of my bed, closer to the wall. She turned to her side and rested her head on her hand while watching me put my stuff away.
"Start talking about what happened yesterday." She demanded
I turned on the lampshade that was on the night table and turned off the ceiling light. I was about to crawl into bed when I heard a knock on my door. As I turned to answer, the door opened.
"You guys want any snacks?" My Mom asked.
Riel quickly jumped up and ran towards my Mom.
"Yes Auntie! I'll help." Riel excitedly left with my Mom.
This is probably part of the reason Mom never worried about me and Riel spending the night together. She has yet to open my bedroom door and come across anything other than friends sleeping in one bed.
Riel returned with brownies and a glass of milk on a tray. She placed them on the nightstand and sat on the bed beside me.
"Good thing you have a toothbrush here, huh?" I jokingly told her.
I didn't realize Mom was behind her until she reminded us to brush our teeth before falling asleep.
"He has a long story to tell me, Auntie, so we won't be sleeping soon." I tapped her head for telling Mom that.
"That's why you are spending the night." Mom deducted
"Auntie, can you tell your child to stop physically and mentally abusing me?"
Mom laughed. "If not for you and Grace, I will have a hard time adjusting to Josh not being here anymore." Mom said.
"Awww, Auntie misses Josh." Riel teased my Mom as she took a bite of the brownie.
Mom sighed, saying, "Alright, goodnight, you two, and don't stay up too late."
Riel said goodnight, but I didn't say anything. The door closed, and Riel turned to me.
"I understand you think Auntie doesn't care about you as much as she cares for Josh and Grace, but I can tell she loves you." Grace spoke in a caring voice.
My sentiments towards my parents are another thing that sooner or later I have to resolve. With everything happening in my life lately, my perspective and point of view are slowly adjusting.
"I know," I mumbled as I lay flat on my back, placing my hands behind my head to rest on.
Riel handed me a brownie that I gladly took and ate while I looked at the ceiling.
"Riel, Josh said you know me so well, it's amazing." I told Riel as she took a drink of milk.
"I know I am amazing, but I think I don't know you as well as I thought."
She got me curious with what she said. "What do you mean?", I asked without taking my eyes off the ceiling.
I heard her put the glass of milk down. She lay down on her back and stared at the ceiling with me.
"Tell me what happened yesterday." She said it in a serious tone.
I finished my brownie and sat on the edge of the bed then drank the remaining milk. I then got up and went to the bathroom to wash my hands and mouth. I thought about brushing, prompting me to tell Riel to get up and brush her teeth.
"It's going to be midnight before you tell me what happened yesterday." Riel complained sarcastically.
After getting done with our oral hygiene, we both crawled back to bed and got under the blankets. Riel snuggled with me and poked me. "Start!"
I started the story with meeting Alec's Mom and us having coffee at the cafeteria, then ended with him showing me the overpass. I didn't include most of our personal conversation, fearing Riel's reaction.
"That's it?" Riel seemed surprised.
"Pretty much," I said
"He didn't confess to you?"
My breathing stopped for a few seconds with Riel's question. I turned on my side to look at her face.
"Why would you ask that?" I asked her
"It is obvious he likes you." She answered nonchalantly
"Obvious?"
I am puzzled by what Alec made obvious, except for what he said earlier in the school parking lot.
"During basketball, he kept looking at you even when Josh had the ball. After the game, I started keeping an eye on him discreetly, and he looked at you a lot. At lunch, I had to divert his attention before anyone else noticed him ogling at you."
"Should I keep going?" Riel asked.
I got quiet, trying to consider telling Riel everything about yesterday.
"Riel, I found out yesterday that Alec likes me." I confessed to Riel
I paused, waiting for Riel to say something, but she didn't say a word.
"I also realized that I....."
Riel's lips are suddenly on mine, just touching my lips, not moving. I didn't move, trying to see how I would feel. Her lips are soft, and the smell of toothpaste is still on her breath.
I slowly moved my face away a little from her face. "What is this all about? I asked her in a sweet way
She placed her head on my chest and didn't answer me.
I began to run my fingers through her soft, pony - tailed hair thinking she must have felt embarrassed doing that.
"Can we start dating?" She mumbled through my chest.
I froze.