I am his girlfriend.
Liana
When I got home, I didn't even take off my shoes.
I just stood there in the entryway, heart pounding like I'd run a marathon.
He said it.
He actually said it.
Her boyfriend.
I'd replayed it at least thirty-seven times on the way back.
Elias's voice—steady, sure, low enough that it made my knees soft.
The way Julien practically backed away like he'd been hit with a stun grenade.
I was his girlfriend.
Out loud.
In public.
He said it first.
The apartment was quiet. Alex's shoes were gone.
She must've still been at the gym or on a late shift. Thank God.
I needed to process.
So naturally—
I exploded.
Dropped my bag.
Ran to my room.
And screamed into my pillow.
Like, full-body, fists-clenched, knees-curled screaming.
It wasn't even words.
Just this high-pitched "aaaaAAAHHH"— the kind of noise only dogs should be able to hear.
My face was on fire.
I'd never felt like this before.
My whole chest felt like it had helium in it.
I couldn't sit still. Couldn't stop smiling. Couldn't breathe normally.
I sat up. Laid back down. Rolled over.
Then finally grabbed my phone and called Alex.
She picked up on the third ring.
"Hey, what's—"
"HE SAID I'M HIS GIRLFRIEND."
Pause.
"OH MY GOD."
"I KNOW."
"WHEN?!"
"Just now. Like—outside school. Julien was there and Elias just—he just said it. 'Her boyfriend.' Like it was nothing! Like he didn't just set my entire nervous system on fire!"
Alex laughed so hard I thought she might fall over.
"Holy shit, finally. What did you say?"
"I—nothing! I just stared at him and then maybe squeaked."
"Oh my God. This is the cutest thing I've ever heard. What did he do?"
"He held my hand. Just—casually. Like it's the most normal thing in the world."
"It is normal. You're dating."
"I know! But now it's real! And it feels so... huge."
"You're so down bad," Alex teased.
"I live on the floor now," I groaned. "I haven't stood up emotionally in days."
We talked for another hour. Mostly me panicking. Her laughing.
By the time I finally crawled into bed, I was exhausted.
Still grinning like an idiot, but exhausted.
I pulled the covers over my head, hugged my pillow tight, and whispered into the dark:
"I'm his."
Then my phone buzzed.
A message lit up the screen.
Elias:
since i already said you're not free this weekend…
how about a date?
I screamed again.
Into the pillow.
Of course.