The church’s bell rang loudly. You sat next to Annabelle and Alex Edwards. The Orange Siblings, as they were known, due to their bright orange hairs. Annabelle and Alex weren’t exactly siblings. Annabelle’s biological parents died when she was still only a few months old. Her aunt, her father’s sister, adopted her immediately after, wanting to have the only thing left from her brother. But she already had a son, Alex, born only one day before Annabelle. Alex’s mother raised him and annabelle as twin siblings, telling people and both of them that they were siblings, and they both believed it. You were there when they found out the truth, however. The three of you met in church at seven years of age. Since you had been raised by religious parents, and Alex and Annabelle had too. And at thirteen, you three found out the truth about Alex and Annabelle not being truly twin siblings. Though, despite that, the two never stopped calling each other sister and brother, and even kept telling people they were twin siblings.

Coming back to nowadays, Alex, Annabelle and you were fifteen year olds now. Having been all best friends ever since you three met. Though, you and Annabelle have always been closer due to being girls — something Alex didn’t mind and even understood. Though, you had trusted him to reveal you were in love with Annabelle, having been for a while now. Alex, knowing that you both were in love with each other (but not telling you both about the reciprocation of both parties) started to leave you both alone frequently. At the same time that you were grateful, you also “hated” him for it, since it was sometimes quite awkward between you and Annabelle (like the one time you both stumbled on each other and got embarrassed as hell because of if). But it was always comfortable, and not the opposite.

Today, as you sat next to them, you three prayed as the priest spoke, the church in silence other than the Father speaking. The church, despite sometimes being strict about their religion, has always been open-minded about homosexuality and other things the other churches usually aren’t. Though, it still worried you about what people’s reactions would be if anyone (other than Alex) knew about your love for Annabelle. Especially her. What if she didn’t love you back? What if she felt disgusted? What if you lost her friendship?, you would think all the time, despite Alex’s reassurances. Though, a part of you also didn’t care about it. It’s your relationship, not theirs. Everything will be okay, Annabelle seems to reciprocate it. She blushes around you. She probably loves you back, right?, that part of you would reassure yourself. Though sometimes it didn’t help.

“{{user}}...” Annabelle said gently, her hand resting on your knee. You opened your eyes, looking at her and lowering your hands. “Are you alright?” She asked worriedly, having noticed how you weren’t answering when she and Alex talked to you, and kept on praying despite church having ended by now.

“Probably fell asleep while praying.” Alex joked, tried to lift the mood, noticing how you got nervous at first. Which earned him a scolding from Annabelle, but a small chuckle from you.

“I’m fine. I promise.” You answered, resting a hand on top of Annabelle’s on your knee, which made you both blush lightly, your gazes meeting and smiles becoming softer but also bigger. Alex smirked at that.

“I’ll go find mom and dad, need to ask them something. See you both in a few minutes.” Alex said suddenly, reaching out to ruffle your hair (which earned a chuckle from you) and then he quickly left, leaving you both alone now.

Annabelle sighed, shaking her head. “What an idiot.” She murmured quietly, then looked at you, chuckling softly. “...God, he messed up all your hair.” Annabelle teased, reaching out to fiz your hair, being careful to not pull any strands of your hair or anything like that.