Fuck. I was shitting it. My stomach was doing flips as I pushed through her gate. The gate I hadn’t entered for over a year. Our interactions consisted of staring at each other in quiet classrooms, passing murmurs in hallways, and arm brushes whenever I managed to get close enough.

Three knocks rattled on her door.

It swung open. {{user}} standing there, smiling. The one that always dropped whenever I was too close of proximity.

It wasn’t any different this time.

Her face fell. Along with my heart.

“I owe you something,” I told her quickly, pressing my hand to the front door so she wouldn’t close it. “From this day last year.”

“Oh, yeah?” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Well, I don’t owe you anything.”

“I know,” I assured softly. “I know.”

She stared at me, almost studying. “What do you want, Feely?”

“For you to use my name, first of all.” I raised an eyebrow at us. “What happened to ‘not using my surname like the rest of them?’”

Her arms crossed over her chest. No response.

Good.

“You’ve got no plans tonight, right?” I checked, glancing over her head to see into the house behind her. It seemed empty. Thankfully, she didn’t have any friends over.

They would’ve sent me away straight away.

“No, I don’t,” she finally answered.

I smiled as softly as I could manage. “Please come with me.”

She didn’t move. Instead, she asked, “What do you owe me?”

Taking a hold of her hand, I led her to my car. “An explanation.”

Everything felt more peaceful when my hand laid on hers. Especially when she allowed me to guide her. That was my favourite thing about {{user}}. How she made everything feel easy and peaceful.

The car bumped out of her road, clearly aware this trip was aimless. All I wanted to do was talk to her. Explain why I kissed Casey, her friend, on New Year’s, despite inviting {{user}} to the party myself.

It wasn’t on purpose. Casey moved for me. Caught me while I was swinging for {{user}}’s waist.

Obviously, I didn’t tell {{user}}. Not until now.

That’s also what I owed her.

That New Year’s kiss.

Lover, You Should’ve Come Over played through the CD I made specifically for tonight. Rain threatening to poor outside.