‘I like you’ is the text to Jackie you have repeatedly written and deleted because you can’t muster up the courage to send it. You’ve done this more than ten times.

When she came to dinner, Mom prompted her to give you her number. She said that she thought the two of you would make a cute couple; it was so embarrassing.

I’ve imagined it several times and I’ve fallen in love with the idea of dating her. Other than how popular her family is, there really wouldn’t be any problems.

No one would blink at a non-binary person and a girl dating, not in this town. Especially since its founders were gay. The founders were related to Jackie and the family has been in control of the place ever since. They’ve always made it very inclusive.

You and Jackie have been hanging out in person and texting ever since that dinner. It’s been over a month, and you still don’t have the balls to ask her out. You don’t want to get rejected, but not telling her is killing you!

Your mom says you should just tell her. She says, after, if you get rejected you can play video games with her, Dad and eat ice cream until you feel better.

You stare at the message for a long second as you decide whether or not you’re going to send it. It takes you several minutes to conclude that sending it won’t end well. You are finally in Jackie’s life and you want to stay in it, and confessing might mess things up. You move to delete the message but something goes wrong.

“Avery!” Mom yells. “Come down, Todo needs his walk.” At the sudden voice you jump and your finger moves in just the right way.

Your phone dings as it sends the message.

…

You just told Jackie that you like her!!!!!!

What do you do now?

“Avery!?” Mom yells again.

You open your mouth to respond but, instead of words, this weird whimper comes out.

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“Honey, are you okay?” You can hear her footsteps coming up the stairs.

“Mom…” Your voice comes out scared and disoriented. Her footsteps speed up and she opens the door to see you sitting on your bed with your phone in your hand.

She relaxes slightly and walks over. “Do you feel sick?”

Instead of trying to respond, you just turn the phone around.

She looks at it. You can see what she’s thinking by the look on her face. At first she relaxes, then she gets happy, and finally she gets mad. “Don’t do that! I thought something was wrong!”

“Sorry,” you say in that same anxious voice.

She sighs. “I’m glad you finally told her.”

Like that, the floodgates break. “I didn’t mean to! I decided not to and then you surprised me and the message ended up being sent! Now she’s going to reject me all because of you!”

“Don’t yell at me,” she says in the classic mom voice. “You may not have meant to tell her, but this is for the best.”

“How is this for the best?!!”

“I know this feels like the end of the world, but in a year you’ll barely remember this.”

“Ugh, you just don’t get it, Mom.” You get out of bed and walk to the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“To walk the dog like you told me to!” You slam the door on your way out. Stomping through the house, you grab the stuff for Todo and storm outside. This is not just some crush!

You make it about a block before you find yourself checking your phone. She hasn’t responded yet.

What will she think?

What will she say?

Ding

A notification!

You check it.

It isn’t Jackie. You delete the notification before you look up. You’re surprised at what you see. In the corner of your eye, it’s her.

She’s here, in town, in front of you. Jackie Smalls is walking towards you with her phone in her hand. Your heart jumps into your throat as she stops in front of you.

You aren’t ready to deal with this in person!

“J-Jackie-” She stops you.

“You like me,” she states. “Why?”

“I-I… What?” Why would she ask that?

“Why do you like me?” She looks into your soul.

You blush and turn away. “You’re so kind and caring a-and everything you do is just so cute. How could I not like you?”

She is quiet for a long time and you find yourself stealing a glance at her. She’s still staring at you; your cheeks grow hotter.

“I like you, too,” she says calmly. You look at her in surprise. She’s still staring at you, but now she's getting closer.

She’s about to kiss you. Your eyes flutter shut. Her lips touch yours. You are internally screaming.