The cold air nipped at Riya’s face as she stood outside the party, her thoughts spinning faster than the wind swirling through the empty streets. She’d slipped out moments after Miya vanished into the kitchen — too overwhelmed to stay inside.
What did that kiss even mean?
Her mind kept replaying it — the warmth of Miya’s hand on her face, the way her breath had hitched just before their lips met. It wasn’t just a joke. It couldn’t be.
“Riya?”
Riya turned to see Miya stepping onto the porch, hands stuffed in her hoodie pockets.
“There you are.” Miya’s voice was soft, almost hesitant. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Riya lied.
Miya frowned. “You ran out pretty fast.”
“I just… needed some air.”
Miya shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Look, about what happened back there—”
“It’s fine,” Riya interrupted, forcing a smile. “I know it was just a dare.”
Miya’s face fell, but she quickly masked it with a shrug. “Right… yeah. Just a dare.”
Why does that sound like a lie?
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The wind kicked up, tossing Miya’s hair across her face.
“Here,” Miya muttered, stepping closer. She reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind Riya’s ear.
Riya froze. The touch lingered longer than it should have — Miya’s fingers barely skimming her cheek.
“You’re doing it again,” Miya murmured.
“Doing what?”
“That crinkle thing,” Miya teased softly. “You always do it when you’re overthinking.”
“I’m not overthinking,” Riya insisted.
“You totally are.”
Riya tried to laugh, but her voice shook. “I just… I don’t get you, Miya.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’ve been weird ever since…” Riya paused, unsure how to explain everything — the rooftop, Miya’s distance, and now this.
Miya’s gaze dropped to the ground. “I know,” she said quietly. “I just… I thought if I stayed out of your way, things would be easier.”
“Easier?” Riya repeated. “Why?”
Miya exhaled slowly. “Because…” Her voice faltered. “Because I didn’t want to mess things up.”
“You’re not messing things up,” Riya said, stepping closer. “I just… I need to know what’s going on.”
Miya’s fingers twitched inside her pockets, like she wanted to reach out but didn’t know how.
“I thought that if I kept pretending this was just some stupid crush,” Miya said softly, “I could ignore it.”
Riya’s breath caught. “And… can you?”
Miya’s eyes met hers — wide, nervous, and unsteady. “No,” Miya whispered. “I can’t.”
For a moment, Riya forgot how to breathe. She should’ve said something — anything — but the words caught in her throat.
“Forget I said anything,” Miya muttered quickly, turning to leave.
“No,” Riya blurted, grabbing her wrist. “Wait.”
Miya froze.
“I…” Riya swallowed hard. “I don’t want you to ignore it.”
Miya turned back slowly, her expression impossible to read. “You sure?”
“I don’t know,” Riya admitted. “But I know I don’t want you to disappear again.”
For a moment, Miya just stared at her. Then, without warning, she grinned — that familiar, teasing smile that always made Riya feel like the ground wasn’t quite steady.
“No promises,” Miya said softly.
And this time, when Miya’s fingers brushed against hers, Riya didn’t pull away.
---
End of Chapter 6
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