It's been a couple of weeks since the midterms, and I have to say, things have definitely changed between Rachel and me. After all the late-night study sessions, the walks, and the deep conversations, we've become... well, I guess you could say we've become close friends. Closer than I ever expected.
Rachel ended up doing well on her exams—way better than she thought she would. The relief on her face when she saw her results was priceless, and honestly, I was so proud of her. We had a little celebration, just the two of us—ordered pizza, watched a movie, and simply hung out. It was the first time in a while that we weren't worried about school or anything else. We were just teenagers, doing teenager things.
Since then, we've kept up the routine of spending time together, but it's no longer just about schoolwork. We've started hanging out just for the sake of it. Whether it's grabbing coffee after class, going on walks, or just chilling at each other's houses, it feels natural—like this is how things were always meant to be.
One afternoon, as we were lounging on the grass at the park, Rachel brought up something that had clearly been on her mind.
"You know, Jo," she began, her gaze fixed on the sky above us, "I've been thinking about what you said a while back. About being real, showing people the real Rachel."
I looked over at her, intrigued. "Yeah? What about it?"
She turned her head to face me, her expression thoughtful. "I've decided to start searching for myself now, you know? And lately, I've started to figure out who I am... and it's because of you."
I felt a warm flutter in my chest at her words. "That means a lot, Rachel. I'll be really glad to see the real version of you someday."
She smiled, a soft, genuine smile that I've come to cherish. "Thanks, Joanne. It's just...it's been a long time since I felt like I could just... breathe, you know? Not having the eyes and spotlight breathe down my neck."
"I get it," I said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "And I'm here for you, girl. We're in this together, right?"
Rachel squeezed my hand back, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Right. Together." Without realizing, we intertwined our fingers. Finding comfort within each other's touch.
As we lay there in the park, our conversation drifting from one topic to another, my phone suddenly buzzed with a notification. I picked it up, glancing at the screen, and saw a message from Maeve.
Maeve: Hey, haven't seen you much lately. Miss your face. The gang's been wondering where you've been... Are you avoiding us? Or is it that you've got a new bestie now?
I frowned slightly, feeling a mix of emotions. Maeve's tone was teasing, but there was an edge to it that I couldn't ignore. I knew Maeve had always been the more possessive type when it came to our friendship, but this felt different. She seemed genuinely concerned or maybe even hurt.
Rachel noticed the shift in my expression and propped herself up on one elbow. "Everything okay?" she asked softly, her eyes filled with concern.
I looked at her as I put down my phone, hiding its contents from her gaze. My actions only seemed to make her more worried as she studied my body language, waiting for my response.
I hesitated for a moment, weighing whether to tell Rachel or not. Part of me wanted to keep it to myself, to handle Maeve on my own without dragging Rachel into the mess. After all, it wasn't her problem; it was mine. I could handle Maeve—at least, that's what I told myself.
"Yeah, everything's fine," I said, forcing a small smile. "Just a message from Maeve. Checking up on me and all that."
Rachel studied my face for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "Are you sure? You looked a little worried there for a second."
I shrugged, trying to brush it off. "It's nothing major. Just wondering when we'll hang out again," I lied, not wanting her to worry.
Rachel's concerned expression didn't waver, but she nodded slowly, clearly not entirely convinced. "Okay," she said softly. "But you know, you don't have to hide stuff from me, right? If something's bothering you, I'm here to listen."
Her words were so sincere that I felt a pang of guilt for not being completely honest with her. But I didn't want to drag her into the complications of my friendship with Maeve. Rachel had her own things to deal with, and this wasn't something she needed to worry about.
"I know," I replied, giving her a more genuine smile this time. "Thanks, Rachel. I just... I don't want to cause any unnecessary drama, you know?"
Rachel's gaze softened, and she reached out to touch my arm gently. "I get it. Just know that you don't have to handle everything on your own. We're friends, Jo. You don't have to go through your problems alone."
Her words touched me more than I expected. I felt a warmth spread through my chest, and I couldn't help but be grateful for how close we had become. Rachel had become someone I could trust, someone who cared about me beyond the surface level.
"I appreciate that," I said, my voice soft. "Really, I do."
She smiled, her eyes filled with understanding. "Anytime, pet." The moment of tension seemed to pass, and we quickly fell back into our usual rhythm—talking about lighter topics and laughing together.
But even as we enjoyed the rest of our time at the park, the thought of Maeve lingered in the back of my mind, a small cloud casting a shadow over an otherwise perfect afternoon.