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Wilma and Mikayla just got back to the Wheeler residency from a long day out. It was the first day of summer break, the girls spent it at a mall in Indianapolis and having a picnic in a park they spent a portion of their childhood at. Just the two of them for a whole day. Lucy had to visit her grandparents for the weekend and Dianna went straight to science camp, excited to see her boyfriend‒Sully‒of now four years. It was a dream but also a nightmare for Wilma. All of her attention on Mikayla, and all of Mikayla’s attention on her. The brunette’s face has felt warm ever since she was picked up in her best friend’s car, unable to stop blushing at Mikayla’s antics
“Oh, God I smell!” Mikayla dramatically announces as they walk into her room. Wilma giggled and looked towards the floor. Her cheeks hurt from smiling all day and it didn’t seem like they were getting a break any time soon.
“Go shower, we can watch a movie afterwards.” Wilma advises, she puts her bags in a corner of the dark blue room.
“Okay, don’t miss me too much.” Mikayla winks at the other, after grabbing pajamas. Wilma’s breath hitched. The former had already left the room before she had the chance to see Wilma begin to practically glow red. She shook her head to snap out of the glimmer of hope that was building in her heart.
~
It had been half an hour since that interaction when Mikayla finally waltzed back into the room. Wilma had been dozing off on the floor, leaning against the side of Mikayla’s bed.
“What are you doing on the floor, silly? And why didn’t you change into something more comfortable?” Mikayla giggled at the sight of her friend.
Wilma jumped awake, “What? Oh, I um. I don’t know actually.” Flustered at the sight of her best friend with wet hair. She's never seen it so tame. Usually engulfed in hairspray, now laying calmly in thick strands against her slim shoulders. The water makes her dark brown locs look black. Wilma was taken aback. The latter was so enamored, it was difficult trying to stay calm and not stare too long or hard.
She’s going to sketch this later, she thought, but nothing could capture the beauty of her best friend at this very moment. Or at any moment, Wilma thought the other was striking all the time. Even in her worst moments.
“You okay?” Mikayla’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, she was putting her jewelry away, or maybe she was just keeping herself busy.
“Yeah! Yeah Totally! I am just… Ay-Okay!” Wilma bursted, causing the other to raise her brows and jerk her head back. Well that was odd, Mikayla thought. Why did she just blurt that out? After knowing the shorter for over a decade it was very unlike her to get loud in casual situations. Especially when it was just the two of them.
“Alright… Just checking.” The pajama clad girl made her way to the queen sized bed and pointed to her wooden drawers, “You know the drill, don’t know what's taking so long.” Mikayla teased the brunette to hopefully lighten the tensioned air in the room. Wilma flushed even more and quickly turned her head away from the other.
She stood up from her place on the floor and made her way to get pajamas. She walked to the bathroom and turned the water on.
~
Mikayla sat on her bed, legs criss-crossed and biting the dry skin on her lips. Was she checking me out? The dark haired girl sighed and shifted to grab her remote, turning her small TV on. She mindlessly scrolled through the very few channels while waiting for her best friend, trying not to think too hard about the other. Wilma walked back in with quiet steps. Her bangs were pulled back with a headband and mascara residue had made its way under her eyes. She was wearing one of Mikayla’s tank tops that slightly hugged her figure and short pajama shorts.
Now it was Mikayla’s turn to stare. She rarely saw the former without some kind of makeup and baggy shirt. She knew Wilma hated makeup but wore it out of self consciousness. But the brunette was just as beautiful in Mikayla’s eyes.
“Is there something on my face?” Wilma genuinely asked.
“What! No! You just look… different. Good different.” She answered softly. They hadn’t seen each other like this in what seemed like years. In fact, it was years. The last time they had a sleepover together, just the two of them, was the summer of 1984. The following July, when the whole El and Starcourt debacle occurred, was one that Wilma wished she could forget. Then she moved away. It hasn’t been until now, after Vecna, after the Upside Down, after the whole world not ending, that they have spent alone time together.
The girls looked in each other's eyes for a beat longer than what would be considered normal. Something electric between them. Are friends electric?
CRASH!
A random movie playing caused them to jump. Taking them out of a seemingly intimate stare down
“Oh my god! Turn that down.” Wilma hurriedly asked, spooked by the sudden loud noise. Of course, Mikayla quickly did what was asked of her. She would do anything and everything for Wilma, just as the latter would do the same for her. An unspoken truth between the two that they wouldn’t admit to one another.
“Yeah, sorry. I don’t remember turning it up that much.” She awkwardly laughed.
“No worries.”
The room felt awkward. They’re acting like acquaintances rather than best friends of 11 years. Best friends who have gone through so much trauma together. Best friends that would go to the moon and back for each other, although that would be too much time apart for the both of them.
Wilma put her dirty clothes next to her bags in the corner then walked over to the bed. Mikayla watched her and patted the open space next to her on the bed. The former sat stiffly with her arms around her knees and back uncomfortably straight, as if she’s never sat in a bed before. Wilma found it hard to breathe, afraid of making too much noise or movement. What am I doing? Just act normal! She thought to herself. Wilma sucked in a deep breath after a minute that felt like an eternity.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mikayla asks worriedly, bringing back their earlier conversation. This time Wilma didn’t say anything, just humming and nodding her head swiftly. She took her arms away from her knees and put them to her sides. Her left hand‒out of Mikayla’s sight‒had a knuckle whitening grip on the warm duvet, keeping her grounded. When she leaned back in an attempt to relax, her neck was at an uncomfortable angle, ultimately in a worse arrangement than before. She decided to stay in that position, not wanting to be a bother. Wilma began to space out, chewing on the right side of her cheek.
Mikayla shifted to lay on her side, looking up at Wilma. The latter looked down at her as she tapped her arm. Wilma could never resist those eyes. Full of life and hope, she would fall for her in every life just because of those eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed even more, it has been increasingly difficult for her not to shout at the top of her lungs that she's in love with her best friend. Her caring heart being one of the biggest reasons she fell for her all those years ago.
Mikayla had a concerned look on her face. She wanted nothing but the best for Wilma, and seeing her so clearly upset after all their fun activities today made her confused.
“What's going on? Today was amazing, why are you acting weird all of a sudden? Did I say something? I’m really sorry if it’s me, you know how I get. I say things wrong and it comes out rude… I'm sorry.”
“No! No, you didn’t do or say anything wrong. I guess I’m kind of… stuck in my head right now.”
“You know you can tell me anything right?”
“Yeah… I know.”
Mikayla slightly raised her eyebrows, like she was waiting for a follow up. Her eyes were the size of the moon, there was a sparkle in her nearly black iris’. It all became too much for Wilma, she needed to leave before she said something she’d regret but didn’t know how without causing unwanted questions. Her stomach was doing flips and she began to feel nauseous.
“I have to use the restroom.” The brunette stuttered. Wilma left the room as fast as she spoke. Mikayla’s door shut loudly and a slam followed seconds after.
The latter had sat up and tried to stop Wilma but it all happened too quickly. Now she was really worried. She tucked her damp hair behind her ear, trying to think of what to do. What happened? Why won’t she talk to me?
She looked at her bedside clock; 9 o'clock on the dot. She decided against following the older girl in the case she was actually using the bathroom.
She waited like she always would.
~
Wilma locked the bathroom door and slid to the cold tiles of the floor. She tried to calm her breathing, a stranger would think she’d just ran a mile. Her face was bright red and her eyes were glossy. After minutes of deep breaths, she finally got up.
She walked to the sink to splash her face in an attempt at cooling down and reducing the redness that littered the apples of her cheeks. Wilma looked up at the mirror, seeing the state she was in. Her mind was full of self deprecating thoughts; Why am I like this? I’m so embarrassing. Why can’t I be normal?
Wilma hadn’t realized she was crying until someone knocked on the door. Had she really taken that long? The brunette put more water on her face and dried off. She walked over to the door and took a deep breath.
As the door was pulled open Mikayla had raised her fist to knock again but was met with a disheveled looking Wilma. Without a second thought Mikayla’s arms were wrapped around the shorter’s shoulders. She buried her nose in the light brown hair.
“Please, Will. Just talk to me.”
“I’m so sorry.” Wilma sobbed into her neck.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Mikayla pulled back, keeping her hands on Wilma’s arms, “Please don’t cry. Hey, look at me.” She put her hand against the latter’s cheek, gently moving Wilma’s face upward.
Wilma’s arms are partially resting on Mikayla’s hips, her forearms were slightly crossed behind the other’s back. She leaned into the hand on her face and took a deep breath, taking in all the affection she could get. An intimate moment that no two “normal” friends would ever experience together.
“Listen, if you really can’t tell me what’s wrong then at the very least let me comfort you. You know I can’t stand seeing you upset.” Mikayla said softly. She pulled her back into an embrace. Wilma nestled her head into the crook of Mikayla’s neck. The taller girl’s spindly fingers made their way into Wilma’s short hair, gently massaging and brushing.
Wilma was hit with a sudden wave of nostalgia. When they were about 8 years old, having a sleepover, the shorter one was crying due to her father. Mikayla, freshly out of the shower, smelling of coconut shampoo and bodywash, held Wilma until she fell asleep after seemingly crying her heart out. She still uses the same shampoo and bodywash to this day.
Wilma muttered something so quiet it could be confused with a sigh.
“What was that?”
“I’m in love with you.”
Mikayla swore she stopped breathing, “Wait, what? Really?” She pulled away to look Wilma in the eyes. Her face was flushed, tears staining her cheeks and rolling past her swollen lips. It only made the shorter sob harder.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” She pushed Mikayla away who stood frozen in place after being slightly pushed backwards. Wilma began to heave and double over, she tried hugging herself for comfort but nothing could console her. She began to pace around the bathroom, the cold tiles at the bottom of her bare feet were the only thing keeping her grounded. She felt sick to her stomach. It wasn't supposed to go like this. Hell, it wasn't supposed to ever happen. Wilma was going to take her secret, and oh so gentle, sin to the grave.
“I’m queer and I'm in love with you. I’m sorry.” She admitted with shame.
Wilma doesn’t even remember hearing or seeing movement, all she felt was plush lips against hers. Mikayla had strided over to Wilma and grabbed her face.
She kissed her.
Wilma’s eyes were wide with shock but soon melted, sighing into it. She reached for Mikayla’s hips, bringing her closer, slightly deepening the kiss. They pulled away from each other and simply stared into one another’s eyes. Though there was nothing “simple” about their relationship. Platonic or not.
The electricity between them was thick and heavy. Friends could be electric. Are they friends? Questions and thoughts bounced rapidly through their minds yet nothing was spoken. Until Mikayla muttered,
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
“Me too.” Wilma mumbled, gazing at Mikayla like it was the last thing she’d ever do.
Abruptly, both girls pulled away when the sound of multiple feet running up the stairs. Familiar giggling was heard.
The two were met with Nathan and Johanna‒their older siblings‒ going into Nathan’s room without even noticing the girls in the bathroom. Wilma and Mikayla look each other in the eyes and burst with laughter. They couldn’t stop even when the taller one pulled them into her room.
“Oh my God! That’s so gross!” Wilma said through giggles, wiping tears from her eyes. She made her way to flop on the bed. “I am exhausted.” She sighed, after their long day together on top of whatever just happened, Wilma felt like she could fall asleep at any moment.
Mikayla was still standing by the door, smiling gently, observing the beauty of her best friend. The soft curves of her face and broad shoulders, the beauty mark above her lip, the way certain parts of her face get red after crying; her lips, nose, ears, and cheeks. She wants to taste the salty tears on her lips again. She wants to hold her face and just look. She wants to see her closer than she’s ever seen her before. She wants to memorize every perfectly placed blemish and freckle. She wants to have her.
Mikayla’s hand slid down the door knob and locked it.
Wilma had fallen asleep but woke up as Mikayla tried sneaking her way into the bed.
“Sorry, I tried to be careful.”
“It’s ok.”
Wilma curled onto her right side, facing Mikayla. The latter copied the position. As Wilma began to drift off again, Mikayla whispered.
“I love you too.”
Wilma opened her eyes and beamed. Her smile was seemingly brighter than the lamp behind her. It lit up her silhouette like a halo. Mikayla has never felt so much love and want for a person. She craves everything about Wilma.
“I love you so much.” Mickayla reached for the other girl’s face and brought her in for another kiss. Wilma straightened out as Mikayla went above her. Wilma pulled her onto her hips, her hands rested at the curve of Mikayla’s waist. Soon their hands were all over one another, tangled in hair, roaming around torsos, cradling faces. Mikayla gasped as Wilma nipped her bottom lip. She practically dove back to her lover’s lips.
After years of yearning and desperation neither of them wanted this moment to end, they wanted nothing more than to be combined like salt and water in the sea. To never be separated, adhering to one another for eternity.
The intimate moment was shattered by the clanking of a remote being kicked off the bed. The girls gasped in synchronicity, they giggled as Mikayla reached over to turn off the lamp and lie next to Wilma. They faced each other, holding hands. Unable to take their eyes away from the others. The two grew closer, asleep with Mikayla’s face in Wilma’s neck and their hands intertwined.