Serendipity

I'll hold you to it

"I'm just..." I swallow. Should I tell her? "I'm sorry, school is just a bit overwhelming. And especially since everyone kinda picks on my friend."

She searches my eyes. "You don't have to tell me...just- tell someone. It's not healthy to keep everything to yourself."

Of course she'd understand.

"Okay, Mom," I nod and push myself off the stool. I tilt my head in the direction of the stairs. "I'm gonna head to bed now... Goodnight."

"Goodnight," She smiles, though I can see the worried crinkles at the edge of her eyes.

I find Kiki lounging on my bed, and I close the door and flomp down next to her with a groan.

"I couldn't tell her, Kiksta," I say, ruffling her ears. She licks my hand and huffs. "Yeah, yeah, but I don't even know myself, so how can I tell her something I'm not really sure about?"

Kiki looks at my computer, closed and forgotten from this morning on top of some folded-up clothes, then sneezes and jumps off my bed to curl up on the dog bed on the floor. Her ears flick as she watches me from the corner of her eye.

"You're a genius, girl," I mutter, pulling myself up on the bed and grabbing my computer. I hear Kiki sigh, and when I glance over, I see her wiggling her paws with her eyes closed.

I open up the search tab and pause.

[How to know if I'm b-] delete delete delete.

[What if I like boys-] delete delete delete.

[How to tell someone I-] delete delete delete.

Finally, I just open up a 'what's my sexuality?' website and start clicking.

Twenty minutes (and several retakes and different online tests) later, I sit back and pet Loki, who had demanded to be let in about five minutes after I started.

"Looks like Sydney was right," I ruffle his ears, watching them flop around. "At least according to the internet... I'm bisexual."

Just saying the words out loud feels strange, but also like a kind of release. A weight lifted slightly.

I glance at my phone and see several texts from Sydney.

Sydney :)|Hey are you okay?

Sydney :)|did you get home safely?

Sydney :)|let me know when you can talk

I type quickly.

|Sorry! I got home safe and sound! - delivered

I wait a few seconds for the 'delivered' to turn into 'read'.

Sydney :)|oh good

Sydney :)|by the way I still have ur hoodie lol

Glancing around, I realize that, yes, I never got my hoodie back from him.

|Lol u can keep it for now - read

Sydney :)|sweet

Sydney :)|wanna call for a bit?

|Sure - read

I press call and it only rings once before he picks up.

"Hello?" We say at the same time. I chuckle. This happened last time, too.

"What's up?" I ask, smiling. "Did you get dinner?"

"Oh, yeah, um," He coughs. "I haven't eaten yet."

"Oh, okay," I frown, but try to keep my voice light. When was the last time I saw him eat?

"So, uh, thanks again," Sydney mumbles. "For everything."

"No problem. I'm glad I waited for you."

"Me too."

"...So, um, wanna try to hang out later? I mean, tomorrow?" I play with Loki's fur absentmindedly.

"My place or yours?"

"Mine, unless you don't wanna see the dogs."

"Oh, yeah, yours. Definitely."

I laugh. "Both of them are actually in my room right now."

"Really? Can I see?"

"Hang on, let's switch to video chat."

"Alrighty."

After hanging up, I press video call and he answers right away.

His face is kinda hard to see, since it's really dark, but I can see the outline of his smile as I turn the phone so Loki's in the screen.

"Is that Loki?" He asks, grinning.

"Yup," I pet him, then turn the camera so it shows Kiki, still laying on the bed but now on her back, her belly exposed. "And over there's Miss Kiki."

"Oh my god," Sydney squeals. "I wanna go rub her little fluffy belly so bad."

"Hang on, lemme just-" I scoot off the bed and crawl closer, flipping the camera, extending my hand, and running it through her fur. "I hope this substitutes."

"She's so cute," He coos. "I'm definitely asking if I can come over tomorrow."

"I'll hold you to it."