This is it. I think to myself as I reach out to ring the doorbell to Adelia’s house.

It’s about twelve, and it’s currently drizzling. Fortunately for me, I brought an umbrella.

Just as soon as I remove my finger from the doorbell, the door swings open. Adelia stands in front of me, her eyes level with mine. Her expression reveals nothing.

“Hi,” I state, clearing my throat. “Can I…um…come in?”

Adelia’s eyes widen, as if she’s confused about where she is. “Oh, sure. Uh, here, let me take your umbrella…”

Adelia whisks the umbrella away from me while I step inside the house, bending down to take off my signature Air Force 1’s, which are dotted with little droplets of water from scurrying in the shallow depths of the puddles along the sidewalk.

“Shall we go upstairs?” Adelia suggests, pointing up the stairs.

“Sure. Wherever you want to go.”

Adelia turns around and heads up the stairs, not saying a word. I follow closely behind her.

I close the door behind me as I step into the room. Adelia just stands in the middle of the room, arms crossed. “So…” Well, I guess we’re just going to get right to it, then. No small talk, I guess.

“So…” my voice trails off. I don’t know where to start.

We just stand there, in silence, for a few really awkward moments, until Adelia shakes her head and lets out a soft chuckle. “Okay, maybe we should do this differently. I bet it currently looks like I’m persecuting you, or something. Why don’t we both get comfortable and then talk?”

“Sure,” I breathe, and we both settle onto the edge of Adelia’s bed, being forced closer together as the weight of our bodies on the mattress makes it dip, causing us to be closer. I personally don’t find it uncomfortable; in fact, I quite enjoy being this close to Adelia.

“I…I came to apologize. For how I’ve been acting these past few days,” I begin, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

Adelia nods her head reassuringly.

“I don’t know if you’ve connected the two yet, but this does have to do with me getting ‘bisexual’ as my result on the sexuality test. And…it has to do with you, too.”

Adelia’s eyes widen slightly before returning back to their original, blank state.

“The thing is…I know we’ve just met, like, not even a month ago, but…” I shake my head. I can’t get the words out of my mouth.

“But what?” Adelia whispers, reaching out for my hands. I give her my hands, and she squeezes them reassuringly.

“I…it’s hard for me to say. I don’t know if I can say it,” I admit, casting my gaze down, avoiding Adelia’s eyes.

I don’t know what it is, but when I look up at Adelia, I see something register in her eyes. Does she know what I want to say?

“I…” Adelia hesitates, looking away for a moment, staring at the wall. “I think I might have an idea of what you want to say. Maybe if I say it first, it would be easier for you to say what you have to say?” This comes out as a question rather than a statement.

I don’t say anything at first, but then I just nod my head after a few seconds.

Adelia bites her lip. “Okay…but, like, I’m not one hundred percent sure this is what you even wanted to talk about. I’m worried that if I say it, I’ll ruin our friendship, and I don’t want that. I mean, we agreed to meet up to mend our friendship, didn’t we?”

“Say it. I’m pretty sure we both have the same thing on our mind.”

“Are you also worried that what you have to say can ruin our bond?”

I cock my head to the side, considering. “I mean, kind of. There’s a little more to it than that, but I guess that’s part of it.”

Adelia inhales a shaky breath. “I…we haven’t known each other for long, I know, but…I’ve finally come to realize that I like you more than just a friend.”

We sit in silence for a few moments, until I start to hear Adelia mutter “moron” to herself repeatedly.

“Hey, don’t be mean to yourself!” I exclaim, grabbing Adelia’s wrists.

Adelia looks up at me. Her eyes are watery. Tears are waiting to be spilled. “But I just messed it up. That…wasn’t what you were going to say, was it?”

“No, it…it was.”

Adelia lets out an incredulous laugh. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not!” I protest.

Adelia starts to laugh, and her tears spill.

“Oh no, don’t cry, I’m sorry I—”

“Shh,” Adelia places her finger on my lips to stop me from uttering another word.

“I’m not upset. I’m the opposite, actually.” But then her expression completely changes. “Wait…there’s more to it than you just confessing your feelings to me, isn’t there?”

I nod.

Adelia bites her lip again, casting her gaze down, examining the floor.

“The thing is, I really do like you. Like, a lot. You’re always on my mind, and I’m always so happy to be around you.

“But then again, I never thought I was…anything but straight. This is just confusing me. I’m just struggling a bit, grappling with my sexuality and all.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you, though! I mean, if you want to be with me too, then I’ll gladly be with you, but I also need a bit of time to figure myself out.”

I let out a shaky breath as soon as I’m done speaking my mini monologue.

Adelia’s eyes light up. “Wait, really? You’d…go out with me?”

“Yes,” I breathe.

Adelia runs a hand through her sapphire blue hair. “I…I never thought…I mean, you did give me some signs that you felt the same way, but…” Adelia seems to be at a loss for words. I don’t blame her. If I were her, I’d also be at a loss for words.

“But are you okay with me needing some time to figure myself out?”

Adelia looks at me like I have two heads. “Well, duh! That’s perfectly fine! Sexuality isn’t a straightforward thing; take as long as you need!”

Adelia stops speaking for a minute, seeming to be considering something, and then she starts talking again, reaching out to hold my hand. “Does this mean…that you and I…are together?” She looks at me hopefully.

I honestly don’t know how to respond. “I mean, I guess it means we’re, like, going out? But I’m not sure about it meaning much else at the moment.”

“Okay,” Adelia replies, nodding her head quickly. She squeezes my hand. “Well…take all the time you need. You don’t need to have everything figured out right now. I’m just happy to know where we’re at right now.”

“Me too,” I reply, and I rest my head on Adelia’s shoulder.