She raises an eyebrow, confused. “Are you—”
“Yes,” I cut her off, too fast. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”God, why can’t I act normal?
She smiles gently, almost as if to soothe me. “You know, in literature today, Mrs. Shaw talked aboutPride and Prejudice.About how Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s mutual dislike turned into love—love rooted in a friendship that grew little by little.”
I arch a brow. “But how can two people who hate each other fall in love?”
“You hated me at first,” she teases.
“Yes, but we’re friends. Does that count?”
I lie back, arms behind my head like a pillow, waiting for her answer.
Nova nods, settling against my chest. “I think so. You hated me, and even though I didn’t hate you, we didn’t get along. Then we really got to know wach other, and became friends. Maybe Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s love was written in the stars, just like ours. Why else would Jane Austen write it? She must’ve known two best friends like us and retold their story. Besides, they’re adults. We’re just kids. Maybe we’ll fall in love when we’re grown up, too.”
“With each other?”
“Sure!” she laughs. “Who else?”
My heart pounds so hard it hurts. “Nov—”
She raises a hand to stop me. “Can I try something?” she whispers.
I nod, throat tight, cheeks on fire. Slowly, she leans closer until our noses touch.
“Hey...” she whispers, laying her hand on my cheek, her fingers tender.
“Hey...” My trembling hand lands on her shoulder. “How are you?”
She smiles softly. “Fine. You?”
“Me too.”
We’re whispering even though no one’s around, but it feels right, like the world might steal this moment if we’re too loud.
She strokes my cheek while I twist a lock of her hair around my finger. “You know that when I’m with you, I’m not afraid of anything?” she murmurs.
“Not even the dark?”
She shakes her head.
“Then close your eyes.” I whisper.
When she does, I let out a breath and press my lips to hers—gentle, brief. Her lips are soft, tasting faintly of cotton candy from earlier.
When I pull back, her cheeks are flushed, her heartbeat racing in sync with mine.
“You okay?” I whisper.
Nova cracks one eye open, then smiles. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For this. From now on, when I turn off the light at night, I’ll think of it. And I won’t be afraid anymore because I’ll think about my first kiss.”
“Your first kiss? Nova—” My words catch.It was mine too.But I can’t say it. “You taste like cotton candy.”
She bursts out laughing and tosses a daisy at me. I throw one back at her.
