Best guess

It was a bright August day, the first day of first grade. Vi had been buzzing with excitement, clutching Vander’s hand tightly as they walked. He had always been like a second father to her, and when she asked if he could take her to school, he didn’t hesitate. Now, she practically bounced down the sidewalk, barely able to contain her excitement.

She had even picked out her own outfit: a red graphic tee with Spider-Man on it and a pair of knee-length jeans that highlighted her boyish figure. She wasn’t particularly scrawny but not quite plump either, somewhere in between.

“Calm down, little one. I know you’re excited,” Vander said with a soft chuckle, his calm expression only half-hiding his amusement.

Vi’s grey-blue eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, a grin stretched wide across her face. Vander reached down, ruffling her shaggy pink hair before offering her a reassuring smile.

As they reached the school gate, Vi took in the scene before her: a playground bustling with children, their laughter ringing through the air, set in front of a sturdy brick building. Vander opened the gate, and together they stepped inside. Vi’s gaze darted everywhere, soaking in the new faces and unfamiliar surroundings.

Vander soon spotted the teacher and walked over to speak with her. Vi, still buzzing with anticipation, bounced on the balls of her feet.

The teacher crouched to Vi’s eye level and smiled warmly. “Hi there, you must be Violet Lanes. I’m Ms. T. How about you go find your cubby and put your backpack away while I talk to your parent?”

Vi nodded eagerly before glancing up at Vander for confirmation. He gave her an encouraging nod, and she immediately wrapped her arms around him in a hug, barely reaching halfway around his broad frame.

“Have a good day, little one,” Vander murmured. “Mom will pick you up later. Tell me all about your day, okay?”

With one last squeeze, she let go of his hand and dashed inside the building.

Finding her cubby was easy, it was labeled Violet at the end of the row. She carefully placed her brown backpack and mismatched red lunchbox inside before shrugging off her brown jacket and hanging it up. Then, as she turned to scan the room, the initial excitement gave way to something else, shyness.

The classroom was full of unfamiliar faces, and suddenly, the crowd felt overwhelming. Deciding to play it safe, she made her way to her assigned seat. The desks were arranged in clusters of four, each labeled with a name tag. She sat down, taking in her surroundings: the bright, colorful walls adorned with past students’ artwork, the three large windows letting in sunlight, and the chalkboard at the front of the room with Ms. T written in neat handwriting. Above it, the alphabet stretched across the wall.

Curious, Vi opened her desk and found a few pencils, a notebook, an eraser, and loose-leaf paper neatly placed inside. As more students took their seats, she introduced herself to the two kids in front of her. But despite the assigned name tag next to hers, the seat beside her remained empty.

Then, just as the teacher was about to begin explaining the class rules, a knock sounded at the door.

Ms. T walked over and opened it slightly, stepping outside to speak with whoever was there. Vi, ever curious, peeked through the crack and immediately met a pair of striking blue eyes.

A small smile played on the girl’s lips, and Vi, feeling unexpectedly flustered, quickly smiled and waved. The girl lingered for a moment, her eyes sweeping across the classroom before returning to Vi’s. A strange warmth spread across Vi’s cheeks, and she quickly looked down.

A moment later, the teacher re-entered with the girl following behind. Ms. T pointed her toward the last remaining cubby, where she placed her belongings. Then, the teacher gestured toward the empty seat next to her.

Vi’s posture straightened in an instant. She quickly ran a hand through her messy hair as the girl walked over, the faint scent of vanilla and lavender filling the air as she sat down.

Now up close, Vi could take in the details of the girl who was her table-mate dark blue hair tied into two low ponytails, secured with small white bows.

She was so cute.

“Hi, I’m Caitlyn. What’s your name?” the girl asked, her voice carrying a slight accent that caught Vi off guard but made her heart skip a beat.

“I’m Violet, but my family calls me Vi,” she replied, voice soft as she rubbed the back of her neck.

“Like the color?” Caitlyn tilted her head.

“Well… yeah,” Vi said.

“Good thing that’s my favorite color, then.”

If Vi wasn’t red before, she definitely was now. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, and she quickly turned her focus to the front of the room, though concentrating was suddenly very difficult.

Throughout the lesson, Vi found herself stealing glances at Caitlyn whenever she gazed out the window. She was just… so pretty.

When the bell rang for recess, Caitlyn turned to her with a bright smile. “You’re my best friend now, Violet.”

Normally, Vi didn’t like being called Violet, but when Caitlyn said it, it felt different. Sweeter.

Before she could respond, Caitlyn grabbed her hand. “Come on!”

Hand in hand, they sprinted out of the classroom, giggling as they raced across the playground. Caitlyn’s dark blue hair flowed behind her, catching the soft breeze.

When they reached the wooden castle structure, Caitlyn declared, “We’re playing princesses.”

Vi folded her arms. “Only if I get to be a knight.”

Caitlyn’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Kneel, Sir Violet.” Her voice carried a playfully commanding tone, her accent making it sound even cuter.

Grinning, Vi dropped to one knee. Caitlyn picked up a nearby stick, holding it in place of a sword quite regally.

“I dub thee Sir Violet of Runeterra, Knight of Princess Caitlyn.”

Vi gazed up at her. The light blue collared dress, the white frilly socks and the brand-new Mary Janes. The way the sunlight made her blue eyes gleam. A light blush dusted Caitlyn’s cheeks, though whether from the sun or something else, Vi wasn’t sure.

“I promise to always protect thee,” Vi vowed, placing a fist over her chest.

Caitlyn smiled. “Rise. Honorable knight Violet.” She handed the “sword” to Vi before grabbing another stick of her own. With a mischievous grin, she swung at Vi in challenge.

Vi met her strike with a quick block, and just like that, their duel began. They clashed and parried, their laughter ringing through the air as they played.

Eventually, exhaustion won out, and they collapsed onto the grass, breathless and grinning. Vi noticed a patch of daisies nearby and sat up, carefully weaving them together with strands of grass.

When she finished, she placed the makeshift crown atop Caitlyn’s head. “There. A beautiful flower crown for a beautiful princess.”

Caitlyn giggled, clearly pleased. They held each other’s gaze, both smiling softly.

Then, the recess bell rang.

Without warning, Caitlyn reached out and tapped Vi’s shoulder. “Tag, you’re it! Last one inside loses!”

Vi barely had a second to react before Caitlyn took off running.

“Hey, no fair! You got a head start!” Vi shouted, immediately sprinting after her.

Caitlyn reached the stairs first, with Vi right on her heels. Vi grabbed Caitlyn’s hand as she skidded to a stop, panting.

Vi grabbed Caitlyn’s hand and huffed, “That wasn’t fair.”

Caitlyn smirked. “I still won, slowpoke.”

Vi groaned, but deep down, she didn’t really mind. If anything, she was really enjoying the girls company.

They finally settled down in the cafeteria, sitting next to each other. Vi’s mother had packed her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a mandarin, a juice box, and one of her mom’s famous cookies. Her mom made the best cookies. She had to work today, so she hadn’t had much time to cook, but Vi enjoyed her lunch nonetheless.

Caitlyn, on the other hand, had a turkey and cheese sandwich on wheat. She hated wheat, but her mother was always trying to push healthier alternatives, so she picked off the crust and ate it anyway. Alongside it, she had celery with peanut butter and a juice box. As she chewed, she watched Vi eat her cookie. She was such a messy eater, it made Caitlyn laugh.

Vi raised an eyebrow mid-bite. “Wha-?” she mumbled, mouth full.

That was all it took for Caitlyn to practically spit out her juice laughing.

Shaking her head, Caitlyn grabbed a napkin and leaned forward to wipe the crumbs from Vi’s face.

“I see you eyeing my cookie,” Vi said, smirking. “You want some?”

“No, it’s fine, really. It’s yours,” Caitlyn replied, though her gaze lingered on it.

Vi broke the cookie in half, studied the two pieces, then confidently placed the bigger piece on Caitlyn’s plate.

“My mom makes the best cookies,” Vi declared, taking a big bite of her half. “We have plenty at home.” She spoke through a mouthful, her words slightly muffled.

Caitlyn’s eyes widened as she watched the shaggy pink-haired girl in front of her. There was something so effortlessly warm about Vi.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Caitlyn asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vi shrugged, finishing her cookie. “Because you’re my best friend, and I really like you, princess. You’re so sweet. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Caitlyn’s cheeks warmed at the words, a small, bashful smile forming on her lips. She picked up the cookie and took a small bite. The moment it hit her tongue, her eyes lit up, and she practically inhaled the rest.

“Told you,” Vi said smugly, shrugging as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Suddenly, Caitlyn lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Vi in a tight hug. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “I’ve never really had friends before.”

Vi stiffened for just a second before wrapping her arms around Caitlyn in return.

When Caitlyn pulled away, Vi tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “But you seemed so confident earlier?”

“That’s just because you smiled at me,” Caitlyn admitted. “I figured I should try a different approach than I usually do.”

Vi grinned. “Well, now you’re stuck with me.”

As the day went on, they kept stealing glances at each other in class, sharing secret smiles, both completely distracted from the lesson.

When the final bell rang, Caitlyn waved goodbye as a sleek car pulled up to take her home. Vi, on the other hand, sat on the school steps, waiting for her mom.

Eventually, her mother arrived, still in her hospital scrubs, exhaustion clear on her face. Vi could tell it had been a long day. Instead of saying anything, she simply smiled and took her mother’s hand.

Her mother smiled back, and they walked in comfortable silence. Their house wasn’t too far from the school, which made the walk home ideal.

After a while, her mother finally spoke. “How was your day, sweetheart?”

That was all Vi needed to launch into a full retelling, practically gushing about her new friend, Caitlyn.

“She sounds like a very nice girl,” her mother said, listening intently. “I guess I’ll have to meet her. Kiramman, you said? Why, she’s the councilor’s daughter. I see her parents often at the hospital they’re some of our biggest patrons.”

Vi didn’t entirely understand what that meant, but she figured it meant Caitlyn’s family was important.

“Oh! And she loved your cookie, Mom,” Vi added. “I gave her some.”

“That was very sweet of you.” Her mother chuckled. “I’ll make sure to pack two next time.”

Vi beamed and stopped in her tracks, wrapping her mother in a tight hug. “I love you, Mom.”

Her mother kissed the top of her head. “I love you too, honey. Always.”

Feeling lighter, Vi skipped the rest of the way home, eager to see her baby sister, Powder. She had just turned ten months old the other day and was finally starting to crawl and stand a bit. Vi loved watching her sprawl out on the floor, wiggling and exploring the world in her own way.

When they arrived home, Powder was in her jumper. Vi wasted no time lifting her out and smothering her chubby cheeks with kisses.

Her father, freshly home from work, greeted Vi and her mother with a kiss each before heading straight to shower. He always made their mom smell like axle grease, but Vi secretly liked it.

As their mother started on dinner, Vi sat on the floor with Powder, stacking blocks and making her giggle.~

Meanwhile, across town, Caitlyn gazed out the car window, replaying the day in her head. She thought about the scrappy, pink-haired girl who had so easily called her a best friend. It made her chest feel warm in a way she didn’t quite understand.

As soon as they pulled up to the Kiramman estate, she rushed inside, eager to tell her mother about her day. She knew she’d find her in the study, so she knocked politely on the door.

“Come in, darling,” her mother’s voice called from inside.

Caitlyn stepped in. “Hi, Mum. How are you?”

Her mother, still hunched over her desk, barely glanced up. “Quite stretched thin at the moment. Paperwork.”

Caitlyn hesitated. “Oh. Well… I just wanted to tell you I’m home. And my day was good.”

“That’s excellent, sweetheart,” Cassandra replied absentmindedly, still focused on the papers in front of her. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really need to get this done.”

Caitlyn swallowed the disappointment and nodded. “Right. Okay.” Without another word, she turned and left.

Feeling somewhat discouraged, she decided to call Jayce. He always listened. He was like a big brother to her, and she hadn’t talked to him in a while.

As soon as he picked up, his warm voice came through the receiver. “Hey, Sprout. What’s up? You alright?”

Caitlyn sighed, then smiled slightly. “Yeah, I’m alright. I just wanted to tell you about my day. Are you busy?”

Jayce immediately picked up on the sadness in her tone. “Never too busy for you. Go ahead, I wanna hear all about it.”

Caitlyn perked up at his words and launched into the story, recounting every detail of meeting Vi.

Jayce was thrilled. He knew how hard it was for Caitlyn to make friends, growing up in a world of adults. Finally, she had someone her age.

And for the first time in a long time, Caitlyn felt a little less alone.

As the years passed, Caitlyn and Vi grew closer. They did everything together. They were inseparable, like two halves of the same coin. Everyone knew they were best friends; it was rare to see them more than five feet apart.

When autumn arrived, painting the trees in fiery reds, golden yellows, and deep oranges, they spent even their weekends together. Their parents became acquainted, whether they liked it or not.

By the time two more school years had passed, they were now in third grade.

For Halloween, Caitlyn invited Vi to go trick-or-treating in the upper-class neighborhoods, the ones that handed out full-sized candy bars. Caitlyn dressed as Miraculous Ladybug, while Vi had begged Vander for a Spider-Man costume.

Vi carried a white pillowcase to hold her candy, while Caitlyn had a store-bought Halloween bucket.

“Woah, totally not fair, you have way more space for candy than me,” Caitlyn complained, eyeing Vi’s makeshift bag.

Vi smirked. “Well, you should’ve thought about that beforehand, huh, princess?”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She knew Vi would end up sharing her candy anyway.

They walked hand in hand, making sure to hit every house in the neighborhood. Eventually, Caitlyn got tired, so they stopped at a park near her house, sitting on the swings and eating their candy.

“My mum’s probably gonna go through all my candy when I get home,” Caitlyn sighed. “She always does. Says I shouldn’t have too much sugar in one day.”

Vi shrugged. “Well, your mom’s not here now so eat up.”

Caitlyn turned to her. “Vi?”

Vi looked back at her. “Yeah, Cait?”

Caitlyn hesitated for a moment before asking, “Will we always be best friends?”

Under the soft glow of the moonlight, Vi met Caitlyn’s gaze, her gray-blue eyes filled with quiet certainty. “Of course. What’s a princess without her knight?”

Caitlyn’s eyes glistened, and she smiled the brightest smile Vi had ever seen. “You’re right. What would I do without thee?”

“Exactly,” Vi said with a playful bow.

Caitlyn laughed. “You ready to go home, my valiant knight?”

Vi held out her arm. “Always, princess.”

Caitlyn took it, and the two giggled as they walked back toward her house.

Before they realized it, fourth grade had arrived, and for the first time, they were placed in different classes. But it didn’t matter, they still sat together at lunch, played at recess, and spent their weekends at Vi’s house.

Caitlyn loved the warmth of Vi’s home. It was small, but always filled with light, laughter, and the comforting scent of home-cooked meals. Compared to her own mansion, it felt like heaven. Her own house, though grand, was cold and isolating.

Caitlyn had insisted on calling Vi’s mother, Mrs lanes but after persist effort from her she wore Caitlyn down to just Felicia.

She adored Vi’s younger sister, Powder, who would shout “Cait! Cait! Cait!” every time someone knocked at the door. Now five years old, Powder had the same shaggy haircut as Vi, a result of their father cutting their hair himself, as it was the only style he knew how to do.

Vander was always around too, and Caitlyn enjoyed his presence. The whole family radiated warmth, something she had never truly known. They had movie nights, played games, and shared meals together, all things that Caitlyn could never imagine happening in her own home. Her father was always away on business, and her mother was practically married to her work. Family dinners only happened on special occasions and holidays.

At Vi’s house, she finally felt at home.

One evening, a knock came at the door. Powder, as always, squealed, “Cait! Cait! Cait!” and ran to the door. But when Vi opened it, it wasn’t Caitlyn.

Instead, a man stood there, covered in coal dust, wearing a miner’s helmet just like the one her father wore to work.

“Hey there, little lady,” he said gently. “Is your mother home?”

Vi nodded, suddenly feeling uneasy. She turned and called for her mom.

Felicia came to the door, her expression shifting the moment she saw the man. Without a word, she stepped outside. Vi, sensing something was wrong, peeked through the front window.

Her stomach twisted.

Felicia collapsed onto the porch, a wail escaping her lips as the man caught her, trying to hold her up.

Vi didn’t need to hear the words. She already knew.

Her father wasn’t coming home.

Heart pounding, she ran back inside and grabbed the phone, dialing Vander’s number with trembling hands.

He arrived within minutes. When he saw Felicia, still sobbing on the porch, his expression darkened. He walked over to Vi, placing a firm, steadying hand on her shoulder.

He didn’t have to say anything.

Vi ran.

She didn’t know where she was going. She just ran, tears spilling down her face in thick, silent drops. She refused to sob, refused to let anyone hear her cries.

Eventually, she ended up at the park where she and Caitlyn always met. She collapsed onto the swings, gripping the chains tightly as she tried to stop shaking.

Through her blurry vision, she saw a familiar blue-haired figure walking toward her.

Caitlyn.

Vi quickly sniffled, wiping at her tears, trying to compose herself. But Caitlyn’s face was already filled with sadness.

“Oh, Vi…” was all she managed before wrapping Vi in a tight hug.

Vi let herself fall into Caitlyn’s arms, the weight of the day crashing down on her.

Caitlyn held her close, gently stroking her hair and rubbing soothing circles on her back. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “I know. You don’t have to be tough for me, Vi.”

Vi swallowed hard. “How did you know where to find me?”

“Vander called me,” Caitlyn said softly. “I figured the rest out. Where else would you go?”

Vi looked up at her, Caitlyn’s warm hand cupping her cheek.

“I promise it’ll get better,” Caitlyn whispered, her blue eyes full of sincerity.

Vi wanted so badly to believe her.

And for a while, it did get better.

But soon, her mother was working twice as hard to support them, even with Vander’s help. She threw herself into work as a way to cope, pushing herself to exhaustion.

Eventually, it caught up to her.

Felicia fell ill with a cardiorespiratory infection. No matter what treatments she received, she wasn’t getting better.

Vi knew.

She knew the moment would come when she would have to say goodbye.

One evening, she sat beside her mother, holding her hand as Felicia weakly turned to her.

“Vi…I know the day will come when you’ll get married and have a family of your own.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “And I know…I won’t see that day.”

Vi squeezed her hand, trying to hold back the tears stinging her eyes.

Felicia removed a ring from her own finger and slid it onto Vi’s.

“This is the ring your father gave me when he asked me to be his wife,” she said. “I know you’ll pass it on…when you’re ready.” She took a slow breath, her lips curling into the faintest smile. “And I’m so glad I got to meet her.”

Vi’s breath caught in her throat.

“I know you love her, Violet. I’ve seen the way you look at each other.” Felicia’s eyes softened. “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re too young. Be with her. Don’t waste the time you have.”

Vi couldn’t speak.

Felicia turned her gaze toward Powder, who was curled up in a chair nearby. “And you, Powder…never lose your creativity. Give her my necklace when she’s old enough, Vi.”

A few days later, her heart gave out.

She was cremated, and Vander took both girls in, holding them close as they cried into his chest.

One evening, Vander sat Vi down.

“Listen, kiddo,” he said. “I know you’re still young, but Powder looks up to you. And it’s just us now. I need your help. Whether it’s getting a job or keeping things in order when I’m at work…I know it’s a lot to ask.”

Vi did exactly that. Every night, she walked home from school with Powder, cleaned up the house a bit, and then cooked dinner. Her mother had left her only a cookbook, and Vi learned to make her recipes, perfecting each dish through trial and error.

By the time she reached sixth grade, she had developed a routine. She often stopped by The Last Drop to spend time with Vander across the bar. It became a second home, where she did her homework and helped Powder with hers. Even Caitlyn joined them sometimes, the three of them huddled over their books while Vander served their favorite drinks.

One particular night, after leaving Powder with Vander, Vi walked Caitlyn home. As always, they held hands in the dark, their fingers intertwined in quiet reassurance. The comfortable silence between them spoke of an unspoken closeness, the kind that didn’t need words.

“Look, the moon is full,” Caitlyn said, pointing at the sky.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Vi murmured, though she wasn’t looking at the moon.

Caitlyn felt Vi’s gaze on her, and suddenly, the cool night air felt much warmer.

“Cait, do you think we’ll be okay in high school?” Vi asked, looking down, her fingers twitching nervously.

“Well, of course,” Caitlyn answered, as if the thought of anything else was impossible.

Vi fidgeted with her hands until Caitlyn gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet her eyes.

“Vi, you will always be my best friend. No matter what, I promise.”

Their faces were so close now that Vi could smell Caitlyn’s familiar scents something soft and warm, like vanilla and lavender. The moonlight traced Caitlyn’s lips, making them look impossibly perfect.

Caitlyn held Vi’s gaze for a moment too long before shaking her head slightly and pulling back. Vi hesitated, then grabbed Caitlyn’s hand and suddenly took off running, laughter spilling between them.

Vi loved the feeling of the wind on her face, but she loved Caitlyn’s laughter behind her even more. By the time they reached Caitlyn’s gate, they were breathless but smiling.

“I’ll see you later, princess,” Vi said, pressing a quick kiss to Caitlyn’s hand.

Caitlyn’s eyes widened, her face burning red—or at least, Vi imagined it would be if not for the darkness.

“Goodnight, my chivalrous knight,” Caitlyn replied, her voice softer now. “Sleep well… and please get home safe.”

Vi nodded, watching as Caitlyn disappeared inside the mansion.

The next morning, Vi woke up to Powder stirring beside her. She had her own room, but lately, she had been sleeping in Vi’s bed. The company comforted her, and Vi didn’t mind.

She got up, made breakfast, then dragged Powder who was half-asleep to the bathroom to pee and brush her teeth.

By the time they sat at the table, Powder was more awake, and Vi set down a plate of eggs with cheese and toast in front of her.

“Eat up, Pow. I figured we could go to the park today,” Vi said, taking a bite of her own food.

A door creaked open, and Vander emerged from his room, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

“Good morning, kiddos,” he greeted.

“Good morning,” they chimed back.

“I made you coffee. There are still eggs in the pan,” Vi said.

“Thank you, Vi,” he replied, pouring himself a cup before grabbing the newspaper.

As he took a seat between them, he kept his eyes on the paper but spoke casually.

“So, I heard the flower shop on Main Street is looking to hire. I figured you might be interested. No pressure, but it could be nice for you to have your own money… or just help out. What do you think?”

Vi blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” Vander chuckled. “I already mentioned your name. If you want, you can go down today. I’m sure they’ll be expecting you.”

Excitement bubbled in Violet’s chest, and later that day, she walked to the shop and landed the job. As she strolled home, she felt lighter, proud to finally be contributing.

When she arrived, Vander was playing his guitar: a wooden acoustic with intricate engravings. Vi paused, watching as his fingers plucked the strings effortlessly, the chords weaving a melody that filled the room.

“Vi, you’re back faster than I expected. Did you get it?”

“Yeah, I did… probably thanks to you,” she admitted, walking closer.

Vander reached out and ruffled her hair. She had shaved the side recently, letting the rest swoop naturally to the side. She liked it this way it felt right.

“Do you think you’d wanna learn how to play?” Vander asked, his voice warm with affection.

Vi hesitated. “You play so beautifully. I’d probably ruin your eardrums.”

“Vi, that’s not what I asked,” Vander chuckled. “Here, we’ll start off simple.”

So they spent the rest of the afternoon learning chords. Vi struggled at first, but by sunset, she could play a few simple progressions.

That night, she cleaned up the kitchen, said her goodnites, and closed her bedroom door. Then she snuck out through the window.

There was only one person she wanted to see.

The air was crisp with January’s chill as Vi ran through the quiet streets, a bag slung across her body. She wore an oversized brown leather jacket and khaki cargo pants, the weight of her bag slowing her only slightly.

When she reached Caitlyn’s house, she climbed the fence and threw a small pebble at the right window. It took a few tries before it creaked open, revealing a groggy, blue-haired girl.

A sleepy smile spread across Caitlyn’s face, her tooth gap showing something Vi adored.

Caitlyn held up a finger, signaling Vi to wait, and disappeared. Moments later, she climbed down the trellis near her balcony. Vi held out her hand, and Caitlyn took it without hesitation.

“Will thee join me for some stargazing? I brought thee’s favorite candy,” Vi teased.

Caitlyn chuckled. “You’re ridiculous.”

Yet she still followed Vi to the highest point of the garden—the arbor. Vi laid out a blanket and gestured dramatically. “For you, my lady.”

Caitlyn curtsied. “Why, how lovely.”

They lay side by side, sharing candy and stories of their days, pointing out constellations, dreaming about the future.

After a while, Caitlyn turned toward Vi, eyes wide with curiosity.

“Hey, Vi… have you ever wondered what it’s like to kiss someone?”

Vi blinked, thrown off by the question as she turned to face Caitlyn. “I mean, I guess so… but I could never imagine kissing a boy. I’ve never even had a crush on one.”

“Me neither,” Caitlyn admitted.

Silence stretched between them, thick with something unspoken. Caitlyn’s fingers played absently with Vi’s hair, and when she scooted closer, Vi felt her whole body warm.

Caitlyn moved in slowly, hesitantly, before pressing a soft, uncertain kiss to Vi’s lips. Her hand cradled the back of Vi’s head, gentle yet firm. Vi returned the soft kiss.

Vi’s heart pounded so loudly she thought Caitlyn might hear it.

Panicked, she pulled back, sitting up.

Caitlyn’s face fell. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Please don’t leave-”

“Cait, shut up,” Vi whispered, grabbing Caitlyn’s face with both hands.

And then she kissed her.

This time, it was longer, deeper. Vi’s hands found Caitlyn’s waist, pulling her closer. Their lips moved in sync, innocent but electric, sweet but dizzying.

When they finally broke apart, Caitlyn whispered, “Just one more, Vi. Please.”

So they kissed again, the moonlight bearing witness to a moment they would never forget.

As they went to sleep that night they both dreamt of when they’d kiss again and screamed into their pillows because it actually happened.

At twelve years old, they gave each other their first kiss. They wouldn’t speak of it again until four years later. As they resumed their friendship as normal the next day. Never forgetting what happened that moonlit night in January.