It was the next day, and Julia still hadn’t responded to the text. Friday, the last day before Infiltrator of Authority would make good on its threat. Alice met with Jessica in the morning, and she reassured her that everything would be fine. Alice was a nervous ball of energy all through their first classes, and everyone gave her weird looks. Alice had to take deep breaths and watch her golden core spin to calm herself down a few times. Alice purposefully sat right next to Julia.

“So, Julia. Did you get my text yesterday?” Alice asked.

“Er, yeah! Sorry about that, I should have responded sooner…”

She looked uncomfortable as the eyes of her friends turned to the two sitting together. There were some whispers, which Alice glared at. God, some people just looked deeper into everything than it really was.

“So, are you busy or something?" Alice continued, "That’s totally fine, I just wanted to make sure…”

It was not fine.

“Er, no. I just. Uhm.”

More eyes turned their way and Alice saw some smirks form from the other girls at the other tables. What was going on?

“Yeah, I’m busy. Sorry. Just… See you after school,” Julia said.

With that, Julia stood and fled as gracefully as she could. Alice just sat there in shock. What the hell was happening?

She didn’t find out until after school. She skipped practice, she couldn’t risk missing the chance to talk to Julia alone.

Jessica showed up, but left again after confirming that Alice still hadn’t managed to get Julia to come. After some time waiting, Alice saw Julia come out of the door earlier than Alice’s practice usually ended. Her head was down as she walked with her backpack behind her.

“Hey! Julia,” Alice called out.

Julia looked up and jolted at seeing Alice waiting there. Her voice was subdued. “Oh, hey Alice. Don’t you have practice?”

“Look Julia, why are you so down? I thought we were friends, why are you avoiding me all of a sudden?”

“Avoid you? No, I mean… Why would you think that?”

She laughed nervously and shifted on her feet, looking like she wanted to be anywhere but in this conversation.

“We haven’t had a real conversation in weeks. It’s almost December now. I mean, we used to hang out all the time. What happened to that? Is this because of what happened with Josh…”

“No, it’s not that. I just…”

“Is it about those stupid rumors going around? They don’t know anything at all. Like…”

“Alice.”

Julia’s eyes were strangely intense and Alice nearly took a step back.

“What if… the rumors were right? What if I did like you… like that?”

“You mean romantically? Like… Oh.”

Alice sat down on the pavement, trying to wrap her head around it. Julia sat down nervously besides her. After a long silence, Alice glanced over to Julia who almost looked like she was going to be sick as Alice spoke.

“The whole time? I… Really?”

“Yup,” Julia replied.

Another long silence.

“Wow, I must seem like a big jerk to you right now,” Alice said.

“What! No, its not fair to you to…”

“No, this whole time I’ve just been dismissing it. It didn’t even cross my mind there was anything to it. But… Yeah. I’ve been telling you this whole time how we were just friends and how the rumors aren't true. Then teasing you about it a little. That couldn’t have been nice.”

“No… it wasn’t. So, do you?”

Alice glanced to the side and saw Julia’s face light up with hope. Damnit, my life is complicated enough already! “I’m sorry, I don’t. I don’t feel that way. I’m sorry for teasing you, I didn’t know.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Julia’s face dropped and she turned away and her voice was a little strangled. “Oh. I’m such an idiot too. I should have just taken the hint…”

She went to stand and Alice started getting angry. “Hey! What are you doing? Just because it's not like that doesn’t mean we still can’t be friends!”

Julia was startled. “You still want to be friends? Even after knowing how I feel about you?”

“Of course! Girls can be friends with guys without dating, can’t they? Why is this any different?”

“What? I… What? You really don’t care about it?”

“No? Did someone tell you that? I mean it's a little awkward now, but still…”

“Well… it didn’t… Well, the first time I told someone they didn’t take it very well. Sophomore year, before I started dating Josh.”

“Did you like Josh too? Both genders?”

“No. Just girls… I just wanted to feel normal. Dating guys and stuff, you know. It was pretty nice before everything went wrong. I never felt that way about him.”

Someone walked by and the two went quiet. Alice broke the silence.

“No wonder you said you liked Dylan.”

“What?!” Julia said.

“Remember? Back during that first sleepover, you said Dylan looked better than Jason? I thought it was so strange. But I get it now. Dylan is nice and Jason is a jerk. You didn’t care how hot Jason looks.”

“Oof. But yeah, Jason’s a dud. Even I can see that. Josh 2.0 without all the crazy conspiracy stuff.”

More silence. Alice glanced up and Julia looked deep in thought, hugging her knees as she leaned against the backpack on the ground. Alice felt a little guilty, but pushed forward with her original goal while choosing her words carefully.

“When you said you were busy this weekend," Alice asked, "Was that true?”

Julia huffed out a breath. “No, I was just being stupid. All those rumors and my messed up feelings. I just didn’t want to deal with it. Sorry, I’ve been a terrible friend. I mean you literally fought to protect me and this is how I pay you back…”

“I thought it was because you thought I was dangerous.”

“I never felt that way," Julia said, "Josh got what he had coming, and I know you would never hurt me. You're not like that.”

Alice felt a stabbing sensation in her chest. Her friendship had already brought danger. Led to Josh hurting Julia, even if it was indirect. Alice led to Infiltrator of Authority focusing on Julia and her family. Alice took a deep breath.

“So what do you say we have that sleepover tomorrow? As friends?” Alice asked.

Alice held out her fist and Julia stared at it for a moment. Then she gave a slight smile and the weight seemed to drop from her shoulders. She extended her hand and bumped Alice’s fist. “As friends. Sounds… Sounds good.”

The two of them sat there in silence after that. But it was a comfortable one, as both thought about what had happened.

— — — O — o — O — — —

Jessica showed herself after a few minutes and the bridge formed again.

‘How did it go? Did she agree to it?’

Alice nodded subtly.

‘Is now a good time for me to come over? You both seem down. You I get, but her too…’

Alice nodded again.

‘Well, if you say so. At least we already know she won’t freak out when she sees me approach.’

Julia looked up as Jessica approached. “Hey, it's that squirrel from before. Is it coming over again?”

Jessica ignored Julia and went to crawl inside the backpack which Alice had subtly zipped open as Julia was distracted. Before Jessica could make it all the way in though, Alice grabbed her and lifted her out. Jessica thrashed for a moment before calming down.

‘Hey, What’s the meaning of this? Let me go you, I don’t like being lifted like this.’

Alice held out the still but slightly sullen Jessica to Julia, cradling her with two hands. One under the front of her chest and another around her squirrel waist.

“Do you want to pet Jessica? I bet it’ll make you feel better,” Alice said.

“Disney Princess”, Julia whispered in awe as she carefully reached out and began stroking Jessica. Despite Jessica’s prior protests, she relaxed in Alice’s hands as Julia continued.

‘Ah, that’s actually quite nice. Like a deep massage. It’s been a long time since I could just relax.’

After a minute or two Alice moved her butt so she and Julia were closer.

“Do you want to hold her?”

“Can I? Will she won’t freak out?" Julia said excitedly, "Jessica is what you named her, right?”

“You’ll be fine, just hold her gently. Like this.”

Alice lifted her hands and twisted her grip slightly so Julia could see how she was holding Jessica.

Alice looked down at the squirrel sternly. “No scratching, Jessica.”

‘I understood you perfectly well the first time you know. I’m not some dumb animal.’ Jessica grumbled mentally as she was carefully handed off to Julia.

Julia hugged the squirrel to her chest, careful to not grab her too tightly. Jessica just sat there and seemed to relax bonelessly as Julia just kept petting her.

“Wow, this is amazing,” Julia said.

“I think Jessica thinks the same thing. Disney Princess,” Alice shot back.

Julia looked up in surprise, before the words registered. She looked between the squirrel and Alice for a moment before breaking out in a wide smile.

“Yeah, Disney Princess. Awesome.”