One Day At A Time - Revised Edition

A few blocks down the street on that same Sunday morning, Lilly looks at the message that she'd sent Ava.

She hasn't talked to Ava since the Christmas party on Friday, but after all that's happened, she's been giving her some space.

Though, no one has heard from her and Lilly's worrying had prompted her to send a text Ava's way.

After anxiously staring at her phone for a good while, the incoming message bubble appears.

Her message of, "Are you doing okay? How are you?" is met with:

I'm doing good. I'm good, too. I want to see you. Do you want to come to my house?

Lilly feels a big, nervous weight being lifted off of her shoulders, but it's soon put back when she thinks about seeing Ava again.

She's surely thought about it.
She's thought about seeing Ava again and has worried if things will be weird or not.

Ava told her that things aren't weird, between them, but Lilly can't help but worry and think otherwise. (Seeing Ava so unsure, shaking like that... Lilly didn't believe that things weren't weird for a single second. She wants to make sure she's okay.)

I'm happy you're doing good. I would love to come over :)

She drives over to Ava's house and goes right to Ava's room within a matter of minutes.

Ava is hunched over her bed, organizing her pillows and stuffed animals.

She turns around and a soft smile comes onto her face when her eyes meet Lilly's.

She stands up and hugs Lilly, she hugs her tight and she doesn't want to let go.

And she doesn't let go for a good minute; roughly sixty seconds of warmth between them.

A ridiculously simple thing, a simple minute of warmth between them that makes both of their hearts light up and minds fall at ease.

When they both let go, the weight and nerves that came with seeing each other again have gone away.

"How've you been?" Lilly takes a seat on the bed.

She already asked this question, but she wants to hear the answer in person, too.

Ava looks hesitant in giving her answer.

In one day, twenty-four hours, her thoughts have gone from confusion to something close to what she thinks is love- but there's still lingering frustration in her head.

"I'm good, my mind's clearer now." She says. "But... I have, I think, two things I'm still confused about."

If Ava can get these two things cleared up, then she can rest easy. (She has her own whirlwind to wrap her brain around, putting anything else to rest will do her some good.)

"What's the first thing?" Lilly jumps right in.
"Why did you tell Lucas and Rose that you... liked me before you told me? Did you not trust me or-"

Lilly's answers comes quick, eager to clarify.
"No! No. It's not that, I trust you completely. But... I didn't know how you would react... with me... liking you. I wanted to tell someone before I told you, so they could help me... eventually... say it the right way." It comes out fast; she composes herself, "And I was nervous, telling them was a little less nerve-wracking then telling you."

Lilly trusts her completely, that's what she needed to say and for Ava to hear the most.

"So, so, they were just helping you? That's all?"
Lilly nods her head a bit, sighing,
"Yep. That's it. It was nothing against you, I swear." It feels good to say, but there's another thing still to be dealt with and she wastes no time, "What's the, uh, second thing?"