Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was the late Autumn, around a year had passed since that fateful day. Their new home had been forming nicely. A little village of sorts was fully complete, a few houses and some little burrows and dens for the animals stood off to the side of a river. A brand-new town had begun development with a little bakery, which Stampy and Fizzy were adding more roof tiles to. William was off in the nearby forest trying to gather whatever materials could be useful. Polly sat by the river noting down various redstone mechanics in preparation for the soon to be built funland. Meanwhile, Veeva rushed around trying to chase after her little parrot friend she had brought with her after leaving. 

Veeva’s parrot landed on top of Polly’s notebook, snapping her out of her focus. Polly smiled at the little bird and gave them a few scratches. Veeva rushed up to her and stopped to the side of Polly.

“Sorry about them. They’ve been my faithful parrot for years but they just don’t listen to me and just like to do whatever they want most of the time.”

“Oh, no worries! They’re pretty cute, it's fun having them fly around the place.”

Veeva smiled at Polly’s response and took a seat next to her. Veeva took notice of Polly’s notebook and the little diagrams and annotations she had scribbled down.

“What are you writing about?” Veeva asked.

“Oh, I’m making plans for new minigames. I’m trying to figure out the mechanics for a minigame with pistons and levers and other stuff like that.” 

“I thought Stampy made all the plans and you guys just helped him.”

“That's how it used to work. I think he was going to keep it that way when we first came here but I think that the year spent focusing on the houses gave him time to think and he wants to change things up a bit. It’s actually quite nice being able to get my ideas out there for once.”

“Oh, that's pretty cool.”

“Do you think you’ll design a building or minigame?”

“I never really thought about it. Maybe, I don’t really have any ideas.”

Polly thought for a second.

“Do you wanna work on my idea together?”

“Sure!”

Polly handed Veeva another pen. The two started to discuss the current concept for the game and what else they could add to it. The outside look of the game and any other mechanics.

Polly and Veeva had become quite close in the past year. You wouldn’t even consider the idea that they were previously enemies on the complete opposite sides of a conflict. The pair spent much more time together as the months went on. Veeva talked with Polly the most out of everyone. She found Polly the most easy to talk to. Stampy had a habit of taking over the conversation, Fizzy was never really interested in holding a conversation for longer than a few minutes and William didn’t really like Veeva; he was still suspicious of her and any action she made. He was starting to become more trusting of her but they weren’t particularly close. Veeva and Polly had a few shared interests, which was how they started talking in the first place. Veeva found it easy to just sit down with Polly and talk with her about anything in the world. 

The duo sat for a little over an hour. Their conversation shifted from minigame plans to redstone to dreams and goals to anything else. 

Veeva’s little parrot friend took off from Polly’s notebook and flew toward the houses. They landed at the window of Veeva’s small home and tried to enter but it was locked. Veeva noticed and sighed.

“I think they want to go home now. I’m also a little tired, I’ll go home too. I’ll see you tomorrow Polly, it was pretty fun working on the minigame with you.”

“Awww thanks! It was really fun. Bye Veeva!”

“Goodbye Polly.”

Polly and Veeva waved at each other before Veeva left to go home. Polly looked back to her notebook at the new notes that had appeared after her conversation. While the pair had been talking, Stampy and Fizzy had finished the roof of the bakery. Fizzy left to do his own thing and Stampy started to head toward Polly.

“Hiya Polly!”

“Oh, hi Stampy!”

“Me and Fizzy just finished the roof of the bakery, we’re gonna do the inside tomorrow and then the first building in the town will be a hundred percent complete!” Stampy said while taking a seat next to Polly.

“That's awesome! I’m really excited for it.”

“So, what were you and Veeva discussing just now?” Stampy asked.

“Why’d you wanna know?”

“Can’t I wonder?”

“Well, we were talking about my minigame idea. We were sharing ideas and adding to my initial concept.”

Stampy smiled and looked at the paper.

“That’s awesome. I, and the others, have noticed that you two have been spending lots of time with each other, I think I pretty much always see you two together. Well except for right now.”

Polly looked at Stampy.“Oh. Um. We have?”

“Yeah, nothing bad though. I’m actually quite glad she’s found someone she can talk to after… everything.”

“I guess so.”

Stampy looked at Polly who had turned to look at the floor.

“Oh no it’s not a bad thing! I like that you’ve become friends so quickly.”

An awkward silence filled the air. Stampy tried to jump in with something funny to clear that feeling.

“You sure you don’t have a little crush on her?”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh I’m joking! Like you spend so much time together and I thought that it could mean you like her, but as a joke! I know you two are just friends…”

Another awkward silence took over the atmosphere and Polly put her head in her arms. 

Oh that didn’t land well. At all. Stampy thought to himself.

“Polly just ignore what I just said. Please.” Stampy asked.

Polly lifted her head and looked at Stampy. She appeared to be blushing and by the looks of it, she was blushing quite a bit. 

“Oh my gosh, Polly are you ok?”

Polly touched her cheek and noticed that it felt quite warm. 

“Uhhh, I'm fine!” 

Polly looked to the side.

“Why does this always have to happen?” She said to herself.

“Why does what always have to happen?” Stampy questioned.

Polly felt her face becoming hot again. She wanted to get out of that conversation. 

“Nothing! I’m going now Stampy! Bye! Was very fun talking to you!”

Polly jumped up, shut her notebook and rushed away before Stampy could even reply to what she said. Stampy sat a little confused at her reaction to everything. Although he could only think of one thing:

“Why did I think that was a funny thing to say?” he said before putting his head in his paws.

Chapter Text

Polly felt the feeling of fluster more and more as the weeks went on.

Just the mention of Veeva’s name would send her into a rush of awkwardness and embarrassment.

Polly started struggling to hold a conversation with Veeva. The moment they started to talk the familiar feeling of warmness and panic took over and she had to leave the conversation. She had to admire from afar.

She never could get her feelings out of her head. She felt like choking every time she tried to say anything. She felt like every time was the wrong time. She never knew what words to use. 

She wanted to say something but she felt too embarrassed to do so. She was worried what her friends would think, what she would think.

Her feelings took over everything and she was cursed to have to deal with them herself. She didn't know how to express them, she felt embarrassed to talk about them, she was worried what everyone would think. 

Her emotions were holding her back. She had to say something but she just couldn't do it.

Eventually, it became far too much for her to handle on her own. 

She decided to ask for advice. Just something to help with her feelings.

Polly sat just outside her house, she thought about which of her friends she could talk to about her adoration. 

Fizzy wouldn’t take it seriously at all. She thought.

William would probably tell me his theory that she’s still evil for the hundredth time.

Polly contemplated for a few minutes more. There weren’t many people she felt she was close enough with to confide her secrets to and each person she was close enough with had something that pushed her away from talking with them.

I could go to Stampy. He’d probably be the most mature about it.

Polly thought for a few seconds more before making her decision final. Of her 3 closest friends, she concluded that Stampy would be the most sensible. She felt like she could trust him the most with being vulnerable.

I’ll see him tomorrow. 

Despite feeling more comfortable in talking about her feelings with Stampy, she still couldn’t help but feel embarrassed about what she was asking.

I’ll keep it vague. She thought.

She had a plan set up, go to Stampy and ask for advice in the vaguest way she can. He’s one of her best friends, they’ve known each other for years. She shouldn’t feel embarrassed to be open with him.

Although she couldn’t shake the feeling, no matter how much reassurance she gave herself.

Chapter Text

I just need to ask for advice. I’ve asked him for so much advice before. Why am I so scared? 

Polly thought. She stood just outside Stampy’s house, waiting for him to answer so she could ask just a simple question.

I’ll be fine. Just keep it vague.

A faint sound of someone approaching the door from the other side grew. The handle started to move and the door opened.

“Hi Polly! What did you wanna ask me?” Stampy asked.

“Can we go inside first? I’d rather sit down and start talking.” She replied.

Stampy nodded and made way for Polly to enter, it was her first time seeing the interior, she helped design the outside but she knew nothing of the inside. It was similar to his old home back in Lovely World, made of oak and sandstone but with some other types of wood and lanterns around the place. It was much smaller, but it made it cosier and friendlier. The two entered the living room and took a seat.

“I like the decorations here.”

“Thanks! I think it's a huge improvement from houses I’ve built in the past. I’ve actually started using more variety in materials and…”

Stampy continued talking about his building habits while Polly zoned out: he had started to take over the conversation, as usual.

Polly didn't want to interrupt him, he seemed to be quite excited to talk about his building achievements. Polly let Stampy speak for a bit, at least it gave her more time to think of how to ask for advice.

“I don’t really want to make another Love Garden, I might do something similar though, I want to make something different-”

“Stampy” Polly interrupted her over-excited friend “Can I speak now?”

“Right, sorry I got a bit carried away. Anyway, what did you wanna ask me? I’ll do my best to give you an answer.”

Polly fidgeted with her scarf, she tried to think of a way to ask Stampy without outing herself.

“So, I just want to know. Um. Say someone has… Well what if someone liked – no – has feelings for someone else, but they didn't know how to go about telling them. How would you… like… tell them?”

Stampy was a little taken aback, he did not expect to be asked about crushes of all things.

“Is this based on real life? Or just – hypothetical?” 

Polly wasn't sure how to respond. Being honest was probably the best way to answer, she could be more open in the future and Stampy could help her more with his response.

“Hypothetical”

She didn't have the confidence to be honest.

Stampy's ears perked up, he started to get the feeling that this so-called hypothetical situation put upon him had some truth to it.

“Well, I would probably be honest . I would try and be as open with the person I liked as I could. Hiding feelings only ends in disaster.” 

Polly nodded, although the answer wasn't particularly helpful.

“But how would you be open with a person? What things would you say?”

“Polly, are you sure this is hypothetical?”

“Uhhhh yes…?”

“Alright. I think you should ask to meet with the person alone, somewhere with no distractions and where no one can interrupt you. You should have prepared a loose outline of what you want to say beforehand. Then, just say it and wait for a response.”

Polly felt relieved, she had a decent answer and she had done so without revealing why she had come for advice.

“Thanks Stamps, that's pretty good advice.”

“No problem. But can I ask you something?”

“Of course” Polly responded, not knowing what she had just accepted.

“Is this about Veeva?”

Polly stopped. She hadn't been as vague as she hoped.

“Um what makes you think this is about her?”

“Really. You've been acting ridiculously awkward around her, it's starting to become a little hard to watch. I think you spend time with her the most out of anyone. Oh and whenever anyone brings her up around you, you start blushing and stuttering and rush to leave. It wasn't too obvious at first but now, I'd be surprised if you didn't feel anything toward her.”

Polly gave up with vagueness, Stampy knew.

“Fine. It is.”

Stampy’s face lit up, he had started to suspect that she had some kind of crush but he didn't want to assume. He finally had confirmation of what he had been suspecting.

“Stampy please I beg you don't tell anyone else, especially her.” She pleaded.

“You have my word. Although I would be surprised if William and Fizzy didn't know, I'd be surprised if they haven't noticed everything I just mentioned.”

“Stampy! That isn't making me feel any better.”

“Argh I'm sorry. Tried to be funny. Why do I always end up saying something stupid when I try to be funny…”

“Have I really been acting so awkward in front of her?”

Polly brought the conversation back to her behaviour, she panicked that she had been acting like an idiot the past few months.

Stampy didn't want to upset her, he had just gotten her to be open, he didn't want her to close herself off again.

“Well, yes. But I don't think it's been too bad.”

“Stampy, I can barely hold a conversation with her.”

“Ok, maybe you have been acting very awkward.”

Polly sighed.

“I really don't know what to do. I want to confess but I'm scared! If I don't confess then I probably never will and I'll probably end up pushing away one of my best friends.”

Stampy decided to take charge. She needed support.

“Do you still want advice?”

Polly nodded.

“I can give you some more. If you want.”

“Please, that would be lovely.”

Chapter Text

Polly sat, looking at Stampy, awaiting his advice.

“Still consider everything I said before, I think that's still a good way to go.” Stampy said.

Polly nodded, taking in what she was being told.

“Don't say it the moment you meet up with her, start small and build up to confessing.”

“So I don't say everything at once?”

“Exactly, build up to it. Oh and something important you should consider is her response. Prepare yourself for any response, you have no idea how she will respond.”

Polly’s heart sank a little, in all of her nervousness around figuring out how to confess she had never considered how she was going to go forward after doing so.

“I need to think of a plan if she rejects me?”

“And a plan if she accepts your confession. There are countless possibilities, you need to think of a plan on how to act after she replies.”

Polly took a mental note, although she tried not to think of how she would reply yet, she didn't want to consider the idea that she could pour her heart out to Veeva and it end poorly. She also had no idea what she was going to say yet, she still had lots of things to think about saying.

Stampy tried to think about any other advice he had to offer, he hadn’t really had much experience with confessions of love, he had said all he really could.

“That's all the advice I really have” he said “Sorry I couldn’t give you anymore.”

“No, no it’s fine. I think I’ve got enough to go off.” Polly replied.

Stampy thought for a second, he wanted to give her something else.

“You could always ask the others for advice if you want anymore?”

Polly had thought about asking her other friends for advice but she didn’t plan on doing so.

“I think it’ll be good to get multiple viewpoints.” Stampy continued.

“I’ll consider it.”

“You don’t have to but I’ll think it’ll be useful.”

Stampy smiled, Polly had started to consider taking his suggestion and asking the others for advice.

“Polly, can I be honest? I think you shouldn’t be scared to confess. We’ve all seen how close you are with Veeva, and we’ve seen how much she likes you. I think this could do so much good for you too. Getting your fears out of the way could really benefit you.”

“You think? I’m worried about saying something and it coming out the wrong way or getting a bad response or having it ruin our relationship.”

Polly took a pause. 

“Sorry I don’t mean to be so doomerist, I’m just so nervous, but you've heard me tell you that a hundred times already.”

“Don’t apologise for having perfectly normal feelings, I’d be worried if you weren’t feeling nervous!”

Polly giggled at Stampy’s remark, he had eased some of her fears and his advice could be useful. She just had to find a way to put them into motion.

“Thanks Stampy. Talking with you has been really nice.”

“No problem! Promise me you’ll talk with William and Fizzy before going out and confessing anything, and just be yourself.”

“I will.”

The two stood up and Stampy showed Polly out. She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous to talk to him in the first place. 

She just had to talk with her other friends and she should be free of her emotional shackles.

Chapter Text

Polly had decided to take on Stampy’s suggestion of talking to her other friends, after all, what harm is there in talking to two other people she’s known for years?

It was the middle of the day, Polly decided to go to Fizzy first. Just ask for some advice and give him some context. Simple.

Fizzy stood near the river. They were letting off fireworks, as usual. Polly took notice and started to head toward him. 

“Hey Fizzy, can I ask you something?” She said.

Fizzy did not react to Polly’s question, in fact, they didn't notice that she had approached.

This annoyed Polly slightly, although it wasn't out of the ordinary for him. She tapped his shoulder just after he let off another firework.

“Oh hiya Polly!! I didn't see you!”

A great explosion of yellow filled the sky followed by a loud boom.

“I'm playing with fireworks!”

“I can tell.” Polly giggled.

“Do ya’ need something?”

“Oh, right. I want to ask you for some advice.” Polly answered

“Oooooo advice, I have loads of advice about everything.”

Fizzy sat on the floor next to his box of fireworks ready to be launched, he pulled Polly down with him and she tumbled onto the floor. 

“What d'you wanna know?” he questioned.

Polly pulled herself up from the floor. She sat cross legged and readied herself to answer. Opening up to Stampy had given her more confidence, although she still felt nervous to ask. 

“Say you liked someone, not as a friend” Polly began “how would you go about telling them?”

“You have a crush on someone!!” 

Fizzy’s face lit up.

“I didn't say that.”

“But you're asking about crushes so that means you like someone!!”

Fizzy became quite excited. He didn't care too much about romance or have any crushes of his own, but one of his friends having one? Amazing. So much he can say to them, so many ways for him to tease them.

Polly tried to steer the conversation back to her question.

“Back to my question. What advice-”

“ Oooooo you have a crush” He teased.

“Fizzy, I didn't say I have a crush on her, I said I liked her.”

“So you do have a crush on someone! Having a crush and liking someone is practically the same thing. And ‘her'? Who is it??”

Why did I say her?? Polly thought, she intended to keep the identity of the person she liked secret, but with Fizzy asking a million questions a minute, it slipped her mind.

“Who is it who is it who is it who is it who is-”

“It's not important.”

Fizzy stopped for a second. He went through every girl he knew that Polly could potentially like.

“Is it Veeva?”

“No.”

“Polly you're blushing! It is Veeva! You like Veeva!”

“Fizzy!” 

There was no point in trying to hide it, Fizzy had figured it out.

“You like her!”

“Fizzy, can you please try and take this more seriously?” Polly asked.

“You wanna hold her hand and hug her and kiss her and-”

“Fizzy please!” Polly yelled loud enough to cut him off.

Fizzy stopped, Polly looked embarrassed and perhaps a little annoyed.

“Sorry. Can you ask your question again?” He asked.

Polly sighed, although Fizzy’s hyperactiveness was not unusual, she had become used to it.

“What advice would you give to someone who wants to confess their feelings?” She asked, again.

Fizzy stopped to think.

“Just tell the person.”

Polly sighed.

“But how would I tell them?”

“With words.”

They weren’t getting anywhere with this. Fizzy noticed that Polly seemed disheartened. Perhaps he should actually try and give her advice.

“Well, you could maybe prepare what you wanna say before, but prepare multiple things to say.” He said.

Fizzy took a pause, trying to think of more to say.

“You could also just go for it as soon as possible, if you keep putting it off then you’ll never get around to doing it.”

Polly smiled at her friend, more advice to have at hand.

“Thanks.” Polly replied “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Fizzy returned her smile before turning back to his box of fireworks. They reached in and continued playing with them as before. 

Polly accepted that their conversation was over, although she had gotten what she had come for.

She only had William left to talk to for advice, although he would be less willing to help. 

Afterall, he still saw Veeva as suspicious, despite having spent a year living with her.

Chapter Text

Polly spotted William returning from the acres of woods to the right of their new home; he had set off a few hours ago, just before she went to talk to Fizzy. 

William and Veeva had a complicated history. They had warmed up to each other in the year spent living together, they no longer avoided each other like their lives depended on it or  tried to slit the other's throat while they slept, although they weren’t particularly close. William still couldn’t shake the feeling that Veeva still had connections to a certain someone, even though she had proven multiple times that she doesn't. He believed her, but he just had a feeling that loomed, after all, everything happened so fast.

William stopped for a second before noticing Polly stood looking over at him. He waved at her, while she signalled for him to come over to her. He headed over to his friend, while she readied her questions.

“Hi! You alright?” William said while approaching his friend.

“I’m fine” Polly replied “I just wanna ask you something.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“Do you have any advice for someone who’d want to confess their feelings to someone?”

William stayed silent for a second, he was not expecting that to be her question. 

“Ummm, not really? I guess just go for it and be honest.” He answered, not being really sure on how to answer.

Polly felt a little disappointed at his answer, it not being particularly useful, but she had plenty of advice from the others. 

“Thanks. That's all I wanted to ask, see you!” Polly responded before turning away to leave.

“Polly, wait.” William interrupted, “can I ask you something?”

Polly stopped and turned to face him again while nodding her head.

“Why'd you ask? Why do you want to know about confessing to someone?” 

“Uhhhh, No reason… Not important.”

“Really. So you called me over and asked me a question that you didn't need to ask?”

“...yes”

William sighed.

“Are you hiding something? If you are then that's fine, you don't have to tell me something you don't want to. But I'm one of your best friends , you can trust me with secrets.” 

Polly started to feel uncomfortable, she felt bad being cryptic with her questioning but she didn't want to tell William outright why she was asking for advice.

“I like someone.”

“You do? So you were asking how to confess because you have a crush on someone?”

Polly nodded.

William smiled, he was happy for Polly.

“Sorry I don't have any other advice, I'm not really sure how to go about with confessions of love.”

“Oh no it's fine! Really, I asked Stampy and Fizzy for advice and they gave me quite a bit. I'm just trying to figure out how and when I want to confess.”

Polly felt like a weight of some kind had been lifted, asking had gone better than she thought. Although she had left out the key detail of just who she has feelings for.

“Right, I understand. Although can I ask one thing and then I'll let you go?”

“Sure!” 

“Who is it?”

That weight fell upon Polly again. She wanted to tell William, she had no issue with telling Stampy or Fizzy but they were not as protective or suspicious as he was.

“Uhhh, nobody important.”

“Nobody important? I highly doubt that. Come on, you can tell me!”

She stayed silent for a second before deciding to just say it.

“Fine. It's Veeva”.

“Oh.”

Polly thought for a second, she had some things on her mind she had to get out.

“Look I know you don't like her but can you please just hear me out. So much has happened in a year and she's far from the person she used to be. We've become so close and I just can't help what I feel. She's proven so many times that she's changed. I know why you don't like her, but can you please just give her a chance.” 

“I don't want you to put off confessing, if it's what's best for you then go for it. I know she’s changed but sometimes I can't shake the feeling that she's hiding something. I've stopped thinking like that recently, this time last year I was driving myself crazy thinking that she was hiding something or plotting against us.”

William took a pause.

“I know she isn't our enemy anymore, me and her have become more friendly with each other in the past year but sometimes I can't help but think about the times from before. I think I'm rambling too much… just do what you think is best.”

Polly understood what he was saying, she nodded her head in understanding.

“Thanks. I'll just do what's best.”

Chapter Text

It had been a few days since Polly had talked to her friends, she had all the advice she wanted, she just needed to confess. 

Although that was easier said than done.

‘I’ll just ask her to meet up’. Polly thought. 

Such a seemingly simple task felt impossible. 

‘And then I’ll try and build up to what I wanna say’.

She stood from her seat and decided to go outside for a bit, clear her thoughts and plan her next moves.

She stepped outside, her eyes drifting toward Veeva’s house. She just had to ask her to meet up, perhaps now was the time to do so.

A wave of confidence hit her, after all, she was just going to ask Veeva to meet up, it wasn’t like she was going in to confess now.

Polly approached her door, she hesitated to knock. She took a deep breath and knocked a few times. The sound of someone hurrying to the door grew nearer. The door clicked open and Veeva stood on the other side. Polly stood a little awkwardly.

“Hi Polly.”

“Hey! Um, are you not busy right now? I need to… uhhh… ask you something!”

“No. What is it?”

“Well..” Polly began

“I, uhh… I just want to… ask if you’re free tomorrow. Tomorrow evening.” She continued.

“Should be.” Veeva replied. 

“Can you meet me…um… by the river?”

“Sure, but why so?”

“Ah. Well. I’ll explain then.”

“Oh, alright. See you then.”

“S-see you then…”

Veeva shut the door and Polly took a huge sigh of relief, as if asking Veeva to meet up would be the hardest thing to ask.

Chapter Text

One person, just 8 words to say.

Polly sat by the river, the meeting place, awaiting for Veeva to show up.

‘Just do what the others told me.’ She thought.

In the distance, Polly spotted Veeva approaching, it was too late to turn back. She got closer, there was no escaping it.

“Hey Polly.” She said while stopping.

“Hi.” Polly responded, only managing one word.

Actually having Veeva in front of her had made it finally hit Polly what she was about to do.

The sun was just starting to set, the light being emitted was a sort of golden. The air was fresh, a slight breeze could be felt. Polly stood with her legs turned inwards, her hooves held at her heart. She could hear every breath she took, every heartbeat. She felt herself growing warmer and warmer every second she stood in front of her. She knew exactly what she wanted to say, but couldn’t get the words out without feeling like she was going to choke. Veeva stood in front of Polly, waiting for what she wanted to tell her. 

Polly tried to start talking but the moment she did it felt like all of the air had been sucked away. She clutched onto her scarf to try and regulate herself.

“Polly” Veeva began “Are you feeling alright?”

Polly only managed to sputter out one word:

“Yes”.

“Why did you want to see me?”

Polly re entered the cycle of trying so desperately to say what was on her mind but being suffocated by her fear. She tried to overcome it, try and answer Veeva’s question, but she couldn’t help but stare at her and get lost in her own thoughts.

“Polly, are you ok?”

“I’m fine.”

“Okay…”

‘ Just say it.’ Polly thought.

She had to get it over with, no matter how awkward her answer would be, she just had to get it out.

“Right, so. I asked you to meet me because I have a very important question to ask.”

“Now, um. I… I uhhh… I-I really w-want to ask you… I mean do you- no. I just want to say.. that..” Polly continued.

Veeva stood a little confused at her ramblings.

“Polly if you’re not feeling good then you can just ask me whatever it is another day.”

“No no! I’m fine! Why does it hurt to talk…”

Polly took a pause. She knew exactly what she wanted to say, she just had to prepare herself.

“You and I, we’ve become really close over the past year. I mean, I think I spend time with you the most, and the others said the same thing! About us becoming really close. And I think that over this past year, I’ve started to feel… more than just friendship with you. Like, you’re one of my best friends but I feel differently to you than with the others. But not in a bad way! Whenever I see you I can’t help but think about you for the rest of the day, or if I don’t see you in a little bit I start getting upset and try to meet up. There are other things but they’re a bit embarrassing… ”

“I’ve noticed that you’ve been struggling to talk around me the last few weeks, you’ve been uncharacteristically quiet.” Veeva replied.

“Oh. Well, there is a reason for that and I’ve been waiting to ask you for a while but I just didn’t know how, I didn’t know what to say or where to say it and I kept putting it off and I think I’m putting it off now by rambling so much! But I think I’m ready now. I like you Veeva, I mean I like like you. Like you more than as just a friend and I just want one thing from you.”

Polly took a pause, those 8 words left her mouth.

“Do you want to go out with me?”

Polly went quiet, months of emotions all out at once. Veeva’s response to a heartfelt confession of love?

“Oh.”

Chapter Text

“Wow. That’s a lot… I’m not really sure what to say. I wasn't expecting this! I guess I have to give you an answer..”

Polly stood in silence, awaiting Veeva’s answer. She had tried to consider every possibility and how to react, although she couldn’t do anything until she had an answer.

“Look, I really like you Polly. You’re probably one of the nicest people I know and probably my best friend, I’d place you higher than everyone else. Everything you said about ‘feeling more than just friendship’ I’ve been having similar thoughts. I guess I hide it better than you, you’ve been stuttering and rambling on whenever we talk, I’ve just kind of hidden it. Anyway, you’re a great person, I really like you and I’m starting to see you as more than just a friend.”

Polly’s eyes lit up, by the sounds of it, Veeva felt the same toward her. All she needed was a yes.

“I’ve been putting off talking about a lot of stuff. Stuff I’m just not ready to talk about or face yet. One of those is how I feel about you.”

“What I’m trying to say is that I like you, I like you more than a friend.”

“You do?” Polly replied.

“I think I do.” Veeva responded.

“So? What’s your answer?”

Veeva stood in thought for a second. She looked at Polly with a sadder expression than she had.

“I’m so sorry, but I have to say no.”

Chapter Text

“No? Why? Why no!” Polly responded.

Veeva stood still looking at the ground.

“Veeva, why no?”

She continued looking at the floor.

“Please just answer me!”

Veeva looked up, the once excited Polly had become very disheartened.

“Look, I’m so sorry. It’s nothing to do with you I swear! Everything I said before was the truth, I do really like you and I want to say yes! I really do want to say yes but I can’t.”

Polly looked at Veeva.

“Why can’t you say yes?” Polly said.

Veeva continued.

“I'm not ready for any kind of relationship yet. I've just left probably one of the worst relationships of my life. I’ve told you all about what it was like before. I know you are nothing like he was. I know you wouldn't dare hurt me. I know that being with you would be far from that toxic relationship I was in before but I don't want to commit right now. I want to enjoy freedom for a bit, I want to find myself, as silly as that sounds. I need to figure things out for myself, I don't want to commit to something straight away.”

“Oh, ok.” Polly replied quietly.

Veeva thought for a moment.

“And it’s not just that. Please just listen for a second. I'm scared to start something new so soon, it feels like I'm not ready yet, and I'm scared I might let my feelings I’ve gained from being hurt take over and I'll end up hurting you because I'm being reminded of something bad that happened to me. I really like you, but I don't want to say yes and end up hurting you.”

“I get it.”

A silence filled the air, a sense of solemness filled the gap between the two, all had been said.

“I love you. But I can’t love you now”

Polly nodded her head, she understood what she had been told.

“I’ll see you around.” Polly said.

“You too.” Veeva replied. 

The pair went their separate ways.

Veeva walked back, everything she said playing in her mind, thinking if she said everything how she wanted. 

Polly walked back, trying to process everything she was told. She was so ready, so prepared, so prepared if she got a negative response, but not prepared for a “not now.”