Comfy Closets - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

I haven’t seen Leah since the day of the game. The entire weekend, I was kept busy with my job at the coffee shop and the school work I stupidly chose to procrastinate on. Although we just became a couple, I couldn’t help but crave for her presence, her attention. It’s why I can’t wait to see her at school tomorrow, and for the record, it is the most excited I’ll ever be for a Monday morning. Her beautiful lips might also be a reason for my eagerness...
I was almost done with my English Literature essay when I got a text from Leah. I instantly dropped what I was doing to click into it.
Leahbear: Whatcha doing?
Lyssaaa: Essay, but f*ck that now.
Although we haven’t been able to see each other in person, we still kept in touch through texts. I cherished these moments where we could talk about absolute nonsense and still keep the conversation going like it was the most interesting topic ever. It was like we were trying to keep each other there for just a little longer.
As I was smiling goofily at my phone because of a sarcastic reply she sent back for something I previously said, someone awkwardly cleared their throat.
My head snapped up in alarm, thinking it was my mom or dad, but all I found was my little sister standing by the half-opened door with her stuffed toy elephant hugged in her arms.
“I came to say good night,” she said timidly, as if afraid to have interrupted me.
I put my phone down and smiled warmly, always finding this daily routine adorable. “Good night, Addy.”
She walked the few steps to my desk where I sat and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Good night. Sweet dreams.” I internally ‘awwed’ at that. “You look very happy. Who were you texting?” she asked, a child-like innocence to her tone of voice as she tilted her head like a curious puppy.
“A... good friend of mine. Yeah. She was just being funny,” I let out, trying to cover up the small hesitance in my voice.
“Is she your new best friend? Can I meet her?” she asked excitedly, bouncing little bunny hops on the spot. As my little sister, she was always fascinated in meeting my friends, like it was something special because of the age gap between us, making them seem so cool to her. I guess she also liked how they fawned over her cuteness and cooed at her any chance they got.
I was a little stuck on how to answer that, not gonna lie. Because my family didn’t know about that part of me, I couldn’t just go telling the truth to my six-year-old sister. I had to be careful about what I said.
“Umm, she's sort of like that? Kind of? Not really?” I said, trying to skirt around the truth, but I ended up making her confused.
“Huh?”
“Never mind. You’ll meet her someday,” I said offhandedly, hoping that was enough to appease her.
She squealed at that, then proceeded to do this weird celebratory dance that involved a lot of disco moves. A laugh rumbled up from deep in my belly, her hilarious antics catching me off-guard.
“Alright, alright. Head to bed now. Goodnight,” I said, the lingering amusement present in my grin.
She exited the room then, humming happily to herself with a skip in her step. I turned back to my phone and continued my conversation with Leah, now with a fond smile on my face.
The next day, I got to school a little earlier than usual because I was keen on seeing a certain someone, to the point where I drove a little faster than I should’ve. I went and got my books then made my way to Leah’s locker, leaning my back on the one beside it as I waited for my girlfriend to arrive. Just the thought of that word provoked such a giddy feeling in my chest.
A few minutes later, I was still idly standing there looking at the people around me, my fingers fidgeting with the purposely frayed ends of my jumper when I finally saw her walking down the hall. She had her head down, focused on the opened folder she had in her hands. A concentrated look was present as a frown creased the space between her brows. People avoided her path as she strolled by, not wanting to bump or interrupt her from the task she was so focused on.
She stopped in front of her locker, still not looking up as she continued reading. When she seemed to be done with the page, she closed the folder with a sigh and finally looked up, only to yelp in surprise when she noticed me standing there with an amused smirk. She would’ve dropped her folder if it wasn’t for me catching it in time before it could hit the ground.
“Hi,” I said smoothly, holding her folder in my hands.
The blonde cleared her throat as she tried to compose herself from the scare. “Hi there. Why did you have to do that?” she chastised, narrowing her eyes at me funnily as she grabbed the folder I held out.
“What? I didn’t do anything! You were staring a hole into that folder with how much attention you were giving it.” She stared at me evenly. “Okay, I should’ve said something. But you looked so cute so concentrated,” I mumbled towards the end so only she could hear.
She blushed softly at that. As I grew more and more comfortable around her, I’ve found that I liked being able to compliment her with no shyness in my attitude, because she deserved to be showered with compliments, and should have full confidence that I meant it.
She swatted my shoulder lightly and went to open her locker door. “So, what was that you were reading?” I questioned.
“My lines for drama class. I need to memorize them for this group project I’m in,” she said, sounding a little stressed.
“I can always run them with you? If you want,” I mentioned, wanting to help her if I could. “I do it all the time with Gia.”
Closing her locker, she turned to me with hopeful eyes. “Really? You would do that?” Once I gave her a nod, she rewarded me with a dazzling grin that brought out those dimples that I loved. “Thank you! This is going to help me a lot.”
Without me realising, she had shifted closer to me until there were only a few inches left between us. The hazel-eyed girl placed a hand on my bare forearm, drawing small subtle patterns sensually over my skin as her gaze was focused on me. “Enough about that. I haven’t seen my girlfriend all weekend. I think I deserve something in return, right?”
Although she had evoked a warm stirring within me with just that, I gently tugged my arm away so her hand would slip from me. I looked around nervously to see if anyone was looking. When I found no gazes directed at us, I turned back to her to see a hurt expression there.
Guilt filled my being when I saw that expression on her face. I tried to look sorry as a way to apologize, but she just looked away. I needed to explain. So instead, I gently clasped her wrist, quickly guiding her somewhere where we could talk. “Come with me.”
Thankfully, I felt no resistance as she followed, and soon I found a classroom that was empty for us. I opened the door for her and locked it after us so no one could barge in.
“What was that? Why don’t you let me touch you?” she questioned immediately. Confusion and hurt laced her tone, and that just made me feel even worse about what I did. This was my fault.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, and trust me, I love when you do that,” I reassured her, thankfully seeing her slowly calm down. “I’m sorry I should’ve said this earlier. It’s just - I want to keep this relationship quiet, at least for now.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute, just looked at me evenly with an unreadable expression on her face. Finally, she decided to say one single word. “Why?”
Letting out a breath, I ran a hand through my brunette hair, trying to give myself time to gather my thoughts. “I’m not out,” I said, starting with that statement. “I haven’t come out because I’m not ready to. Something happened before, and I don’t want it to happen again. Not yet, I’m not ready for that,” I confessed. I knew that I was being vague about why, and this might just sound like a load of nonsense to her, but I didn’t think I was ready for that either.
“I should’ve told you earlier, I know, and that’s my fault. But can we keep our relationship a secret for now? I really want to be with you, but I’m not ready to be out. Not to the whole school.”
I waited anxiously for her reply as she deliberated for a moment. She went to sit on the teacher's desk, putting her hands next to her as one of them went to tap out a beat that was unfamiliar to my ears. “I know that what you’ve told me isn’t necessarily complete.” She looked to me then, a softness now present in her gaze. “But you don’t have to tell me all of it now. Maybe someday, when you’re ready, and only then.”
She stood up, leaving her tapping beat behind. Walking up to me, she held one of my hands and laced them together with hers, using her other to brush a fallen strand of hair behind my ear. I felt myself relax with the touch of her soft skin against mine. “If you’re not comfortable with being out as a couple, I understand. I like you, Lyssa, and we don’t have to be out with this until you feel you’re ready. Now, until then, I guess we just have to be a little bit more subtle in public. Yeah?” she whispered suggestively.
She took a step closer, almost closing the gap left between us. Releasing my hand, she wrapped her arms around my waist, a sultry look now taking over her features. “But for now... No one is watching, and so let me kiss my girlfriend.”
With that, her lips pressed to mines, finally satiated from it’s wait. We let out sighs of content, the kiss slowly deepening as hands went about to explore. I went to grab at her hair to help guide our movements, whilst hers roamed the contours of my back sensually, grasping it with need. Feeling her tongue slightly probe my bottom lip, I instantly let her through and moaned softly at the contact. Our kisses turned feverish as our tongues battled for dominance. I eventually let her win, succumbing to her insistent tongue and melting in her arms.
When I felt my legs starting to go unsteady, we stopped then to catch our breaths. Leah leaned her forehead against mine, our pants almost in unison as we stared at each other, wide satisfied grins present on our faces. “That was worth the wait, wasn’t it?” I teased.
“F*ck yeah.”
Laughing at that, I felt relief flood through me at the knowledge that she was alright with keeping this relationship a secret. She took a glance behind me at the clock. “We have to go. It’s almost time for class, and people will be coming in soon,” she informed me, a little regretfully at that.
I pouted, not wanting this to end just yet. “Just a little longer. Please?”
There was a fight going on in her eyes, internally debating whether that was a good idea or not. She finally sighed, shaking her head as she stroked my bottom lip with her thumb wistfully. “We can't.” I pouted even more until she continued. “But, we can go somewhere after school, maybe like a first date, but as an actual couple now,” she suggested, excitement lighting up her gorgeous hazel eyes. I just realised they looked more honey brown than green today, emanating such a warmness from them.
“I have work after school, but we can go after?” I proposed.
“Okay! That sounds good. I’ll meet you at the coffee shop,” she said, nodding her head in agreement.
After settling on that, we proceeded to the doors and unlocked it, but before she opened it, I stopped her. “Wait! One more thing.” Giving her a quick kiss at the corner of her lips, I pulled back and flashed her a teasing smile. “Something to remember me by till the date.”
With that, I pulled open the door and headed down the now crowded corridor, not looking back but relishing in the fact that the blonde was left stunned, and I walked away with a large goofy smile on my face.
_________________
“Gia, you alright over there?”
“Hmm? Oh yeah, I’m good. Just thinking,” she responded, trying to dismiss my worry, but failing.
The boys had some basketball practise scheduled at lunch today, resulting with Gia and I being the only ones at the table. The moment I sat down, I knew something was off about the redhead. She didn’t seem as lively or as willing to talk like usual. Instead, she ate her meal in silence, staring off into nothing as she popped in a French fry every now and then.
“You don’t seem alright. Is this about Zach?” She didn’t answer to that, confirming my thoughts. “What happened?”
She wiped her mouth with a tissue then rested her head in the palm of her hands. “Well, I did what you said. I asked Zach whether he felt the same way I felt for him.”
“And?” I prompted gently, but I was internally dying to know.
“He said no. He said he had his eye on someone else he liked and wasn’t looking to date anyone else,” she summed up dejectedly, her light blue eyes looking so sad, it made my heart hurt.
I went to sit by her side, putting my arm around her in an attempt to comfort her. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. He’ll be missing something very special, but at least you know where he stands now. You won’t have to wonder about a ‘possibility' or a ‘chance’, and instead, you can move on,” I said, trying to show her the bright side of this situation.
“Yeah, I guess,” she muttered in a small voice. “I just want to know who he likes.”
“Oh no, don’t you go down that rabbit hole,” I warned, trying to stop her train of thought right then. “It will only continue to occupy your mind until all you can think about is that. Don’t turn this into an obsession while you still can, because you shouldn’t be comparing yourself to whoever he likes. You are a strong, funny, beautiful and badass girl, and any boy is lucky to be your boyfriend,” I stated, trying to make her see that too. She deserved someone who would return her affections equally, if not more than she was giving.
“Thanks, Al,” she mumbled. “I know, and it's hard not to compare, but I’ll try damn hard not to.” She nodded resolutely at that.
“That’s my girl,” I said, giving her a nod of encouragement as I stole one of her fries before sitting back in my own seat.
“Hey! My fry!” She indignantly yelled, using her arms as a barrier to shield her food from me. “You cannot cross this border. It is forbidden,” she declared in a dramatic narrator voice. I was just glad she was acting like her usual self again.
Chuckling to myself, I settled down and decided to steal another one later. I knew she didn’t actually mind; she does this every time out of habit, because of us.
Looking out into the expanse of the filled cafeteria, my eyes were subconsciously searching for a certain someone. They craved the beauty that she possessed and the joyous energy she emanated. I spotted her in the centre of the room a few tables away, surrounded by her popular friends who I’ve always been too intimidated to ever talk to. But unlike before, where I felt like she was surrounded by an air of untouchability and unapproachability, I now saw her in a different light.
Looking at her now, I realised I had forgotten how high up in the food chain she was. But when I was with her, that all slipped from my mind. She wasn’t the president of the student council or the most popular girl at school. No, she was just Leah, who was funny, sarcastic, charming, kind, and someone that had the odd habit of making me blush.
My admiring state was interrupted, as I caught her eye just then. She bit her lower lip almost seductively, drawing my eyes there as lust filled my vision. My eyebrows lifted at that as thoughts of how they tasted entered my mind with fervour, and I couldn’t help but let a dreamy sigh escape my lips, flashes from this morning appearing in my mind's eye. Sending a subtle wink my way, she gave me one final teasing gaze before turning back to one of her friends. I turned my attention away too, a bubbly feeling now taking over my body, only for it to pause when I saw the look Gia was sending my way.
Her intrigued gaze was looking back and forth between me and Leah, having noticed the interaction between us just seconds ago. “Okay... what was that?” When I didn’t answer right away, she started rambling her questions out like a rapid fire quiz. “Did something happen the other night? Did you guys do it? Are you guys official? Why haven’t you told me yet?!?”
“Girl, chill! I was going to tell you!”
“Going to tell me what?”
“That we’re dating!”
“WHAT!” she screamed in shock. Some people around us turned to see what was happening, only to turn back around with disinterest when they saw it was Gia. Her dramatics were well known by everyone, but I mean that in a good way. “SERIOUSLY? YOU’RE NOT JOKING? ATTA GIRL!”
I shook my head embarrassingly as I tried to sink into my chair. Sometimes, she could be too much for me to handle in public. Like now. “I’m leaving if you don’t quiet down.”
Instantly, her mouth shut so fast, I thought she’d get some sort of jaw whiplash. “Sorry,” she whispered, a childish pout now present on her lips. “But seriously, good for you Aly! I’m happy for you,” she expressed genuinely.
Smiling softly, I replied. “Thank you.”
“Have you told Ashton yet?” When I shook my head, she hummed in amusement. “You know, he’ll never figure it out by himself if you never tell him, right? That boy is so clueless sometimes,” the redhead stated as she rolled her eyes.
“I know, which is why I’ll tell him soon. Knowing him, he’ll act all big brotherly and protective. So actually, on second thought, maybe I’ll just drag it out a little longer.”
Gia chuckled at that. “Yeah, maybe that’d be best for now.”
The rest of the school day went by like normal, and I headed to the coffee shop right after. Entering the place, I was greeted once again by the familiar coffee bean smell as a wave of warmth washed over me. They definitely got the cosy vibe right.
I went to the back and changed into my uniform. Putting on my apron, I walked out to greet my co-workers. “Hey, Sal. Hey Mike. What can I help with?”
Sally, who was standing in front of the cashier, sent a greeting smile my way when she saw me. “Hey, girl. Mike needs an extra pair of hands at the coffee station.”
After that, I went about doing my job, the repetitiveness of the motions lulling my mind into a daydream. Before I knew it, three hours had passed and I only had one more hour of work left.
“Jemma?” I called for my boss' attention when the rush of customers had slowed for us to relax a bit. “Do you mind if I leave just a little earlier today?”
“Why?” she asked with mild curiosity.
I knew Jemma was a pretty relaxed boss, but I wasn’t sure if she would allow me to go because of my reason. But I didn’t really want to lie to her since she’s always been good to me. “I kind of have a... date.”
“Oh really now?” she mused, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. She studied me for a few seconds before sighing and waving a hand in a ‘whatever’ motion. “Fine. You can leave early. Go have fun and fall in love and whatever. All that jazz.”
I internally let out a ‘whoop’, smiling happily in appreciation. “Thanks, boss!”
The one hour passed quickly as I excitedly buzzed about, looking forward to this date. When I saw Leah come in through the door, I beamed happily when I met her eye and gestured that I was going to the back to change. I quickly got my stuff together and almost skipped out of the staff area with giddiness.
Walking to the front, I saw my girlfriend at the counter, talking to Jemma. I thought it was weird since we were going out to eat somewhere else, but instead, she was standing there buying a drink.
“Hi, I thought we were going out to eat?” I asked the dirty blonde as I stopped by her side.
“Oh, no, I’m not ordering a drink. I’m just talking to Jemma,” she said simply.
Jemma looked between the two of us, realisation dawning on her. “Oh! So this is the person you’re going on a date with.”
Damn, so much for keeping this on the down-low, I sarcastically thought to myself. “Yes...?” I confirmed, trailing off as I internally berated myself for mentioning that.
“You should’ve told me you were dating Leah. I would’ve let you go sooner.”
Confusion clouded my mind. “Why would you? Do you guys know each other...?”
Leah was the one who answered me. “Yeah, of course. She’s my aunt,” she stated casually.
“WAIT! I’M DATING MY BOSS' NIECE?!?”