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“you’ve got that stupid smile on your face again,” noel says, his eyebrow raised. “what is it ?”
penny turns to face him, and noel looks back knowingly. “what do you mean ?” she asks softly, watching ocean as she walks out of the choir room. “you’ve always got that weird smile on your face after you talk to ocean. like you’re head-over-heels or something,” he explains, “you look lovesick.” penny feels her face grow hot from embarrassment as she looks down at her shoes. “well, she’s my friend. i like her and she makes me happy,” penny smiles lightly as she says it, the thought of ocean making her feel warm inside.
noel studies her face for a minute longer, then shrugs. “okay,” he sighs, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and walking away. penny gets her things together absentmindedly, her only thoughts being about ocean and that smile of hers. it makes her feelt warm and fuzzy, the way her lips quirk up and her eyes crinkle. its too cute for penny’s heart to take. a smile grows on her face, and before she can help it she’s thinking about ocean’s lips. they’re always dry in the winter, from the canadian wind and cold weather. penny’s mind wanders, and she wonders how ocean’s lips would feel on hers.
penny’s had a crush on ocean for a while, but she’s never said anything. ‘if i don’t say anything, it’ll go away,’ she thinks. lately, though, not telling ocean how she really feels is getting harder and harder.
———
the next day, penny notices something else about ocean. her cheeks are always dusted pink when she smiles, and when penny sees it, her heart squeezes a little more in her chest. ocean’s face lights up when she smiles, and penny can’t help but stare and grin back.
“penny ?” ocean says, breaking penny from her thoughts. she looks back at her friend, and ocean looks fond. penny’s heart squeezes a little more. “yeah ? what’s up ?” she asks. ocean laughs a little, and she says, “you were staring at me. are you okay ?” penny’s face feels hot, and she breathes a small “oh,” out of embarrassment. “just lost in thought ! sorry, ocean,” penny smiles a little wider, and ocean nods. out of the corner of her eye, penny can see noel looking at the pair with his usual raised eyebrow.
looking back to ocean, penny sees her smile again. her lips are a little cracked from the cool weather setting in, and the bridge of her nose and cheekbones are a light pink. she looks content, and penny falls in love with her a little harder. she wants to press her lips to ocean’s smile, to her cheeks and anywhere else on her face. ocean is too cute for penny’s weak heart, and she loves her a little more.
———
every day, penny feels her crush on ocean grow stronger. whether its her smile or her kind eyes, her gestures or things that she does for penny. its all too much.
trying to keep her crush on ocean a secret feels almost impossible with how the girl made penny feel. everything about ocean draws her in more and more, and penny swoons impossibly harder.
by now, noel knows about penny’s massive crush. “really ? you’re crushing hard on ocean ?” he teases, and penny laughs a little. “she’s amazing, noel ! i love everything about her, and she’s just so cute. she makes me so happy,” penny squeals, smiling at the thoughts of ocean. noel shakes his head, “are you sure we’re talking about the same girl ?” penny looks at him with wide eyes, and his face softens. “damn, you really do like her,” he says, and penny nods.
“no, noel, i love her,” she admits, and saying out loud makes her heart squeeze in her chest.
———
penny loves everything about ocean too much. she can’t keep it in for much longer, so she decides to tell her. penny wants to tell ocean how badly she’s wanted to hold hand with her and walk her home and go on dates and kiss that shining smile of hers. she wants and wants.
“ocean ?” penny says softly after choir practice. its just the two of them in the room, and the pair are packing up to leave. penny’s heart pounds in her chest, and her hands are sweaty. she wipes them against her plaid skirt and swallows the lump in her throat. ocean hums, distracted by putting her sheet music away neatly in her binder. “can i tell you something ?” penny’s voice comes out more unsteady than she’d have liked, and ocean looks up. “yeah, sure ! is everything okay, penny ? you look tense,” she comments, and her face is worried. penny wants a little more.
“i’m okay, don’t worry ! i just need to tell you something, that’s all,” penny replies, and ocean hums in response. penny takes a breath, then looks at ocean directly. “i really, really love you, ocean. i love when you smile at me, and how you look so fondly at me, and how your cheeks always look so pink. i love how you’re patient with me, and understand me, and i love your freckles. i love you more than i’ve ever loved anyone, and you make me so happy,” penny rambles, taking small pauses to breathe. ocean looks shocked, and her cheeks grow pinker as penny keeps talking. when she’s done, penny looks at ocean expectantly with nervous eyes and a smile.
“wow, that was a lot,” ocean says quietly, and she steps closer to penny. ocean rests her hand on the side of penny’s face, and she smiles wide. her heart squeezes. “so, we can kiss now, yeah ?” ocean says, a hint of humour in her tone. the way she says it makes it sound like she’s really asking. penny breathes a laugh and replies, “yeah, i think so.”
penny’s heart squeezes hard in her chest as ocean leans up and presses her lips to penny’s. she stands on her toes to reach the other, and penny laughs softly against ocean’s mouth. the kiss is sweet, and penny has never felt happier.
when they pull away, ocean looks at penny like she’s a saint, and she whispers, “i love you, too.”