“Theater Kid Dusk|Gamer Girlie Dawn” (64.2) (Marmalade)

The moment I realized I couldn't deny it was a crush anymore was on that lake. When we were under the dock, scared for our lives thinking a chaperone was about to catch us skinny dipping, our eyes locked on each other. That was when I knew what I'd been trying to avoid actually putting words to it, but I couldn't do that now. It was a crush, I was crushing on Kalei on a magnitude I didn't know was possible.

And stunningly, moments later, as if I were possessed by an alien that was kinda somewhat smooth compared to my usual self, I asked Kalei to the dance somehow?

I don't know how I slept, or how I functioned through the rest of the camping trip. I barely remember any of the activities we did the last day, nothing as big as us fighting the devils, and nothing as cool as Kalei in that beastly form kicking the devils' asses. We didn't talk much the rest of the trip, but that was maybe fortunate. If I talked to Kalei any deeper than a casual conversation, I'd probably just start saying nonsense words as I drooled over her. 

We also didn't talk much when we were back on campus. It was a long weekend, so I hoped us having one more day off to recuperate would give me some opportunities. One such opportunity was coming up later in the day: an optional beam chasers practice session for those of us on campus.

Before that though, I found myself sitting alone in my room, with no Kalei, Zeta, Oka, Lillia, anyone who'd normally be there. The clouds cast a bright, gray dreariness over everything. The spring rain on the forecast would probably freeze over, as winter wasn't quite ready to give up yet.

But the weather barely registered to me. It was hard to feel gloomy basking in the warm glow of a freshly realized crush. 

When we were swimming, I saw—well, alright, I didn't see a lot of Kalei's body. But I saw a bit. Especially in the brief, accidental glances. And that bit was incredible. And she maybe saw a bit of me, too. And I asked her to the dance. And I asked her to the dance! Were we dating now? Was that a date? Did I somehow get my first girlfriend the moment I realized it was a crush?

I had to tell someone.

I sent some messages about it on my Dynne chat, but I felt this urge to say it out loud, too. I wasn't sure if I should say it to Zeta, Oka, or Lillia; they were close enough with Kalei that she might hear about it sooner rather than later even with their best intentions. Definitely nobody from the beam chasers team, I had barely talked to any of them outside of Kalei's immediate friends. There was that girl who was keeping track of all the gossip, she'd probably be a bad one. I kept thinking of people I didn't want to tell, I needed someone I actually could say this to.

Which is why I was glad I found Michi, by themselves, sketching the view from one of the upper floors of the dorm.

"Hey, am I interrupting?" I asked.

Michi didn't look at me, but reached back to pat the small-ish hallway sofa behind them.

"Sweet," I said, sitting down right away. I watched as Michi sketched for a bit, excitedly fidgeting like a kid waiting for their parents to pick them up from school and take them to a theme park.

"What's got you all pumped up?" Michi asked.

"I have a hypothetical for you," I said. "Maybe something to, like, counter the one you were saying."

"Which one?" Michi asked.

"The, er...crush on the wrong person one?" I said.

Michi chuckled. "That one had some amazing reactions."

"So...mine maybe hopefully also does?" I said. 

Michi waited patiently as I stumbled my way around turning my realization I had a crush into a hypothetical scenario. I left out the Kalei going devil mode and the swimming naked together parts, making it primarily a scenario about someone realizing they're in love.

"So um...this friend...is very happy about this!" I said, proud of myself for obscuring it enough to make it sound like it wasn't about me and Kalei.

"That sucks," Michi said. "I have a crush on Kalei too."

"What?" I asked. "Huh? But! My friend! Hypothetical friend from another school! I didn't say it was Kalei! I mean, the...the story...wait, do you really have a crush on Kalei?"

Michi nodded mournfully. "She was 'the wrong person' all along, because to have a crush on a dear friend's crush stings in a bittersweet manner."

I bought it for about two panicked seconds, then my face drooped in annoyance.

"That would land better if you didn't show me all the scenarios in your sketchbook," I said.

"Drat, forgot I did that," Michi said.

"If you really have a crush on her though, please tell me now," I said.

"I don't, actually," Michi said. "Congrats, though. It's been pretty obvious for a while now."

"Has it?" I asked.

Michi just laughed.

"I guess that answers that," I said.

"Going to the dance with her, huh?" Michi asked.

"Well...about that part..." I said.

"Did she say yes?" Michi asked.

"She said…she'd think about it," I said.

"Perfect, now I can swoop in and steal her from you," Michi said.

"Alright, you can stop with that one any time now," I said. "I guess I'm just…I don't even know what to do. But I also kinda am OK with that? I just wanted to tell someone, and I trust you."

"I'm glad to hear that," Michi said.

I ended up just gushing about how cool Kalei is for a while as Michi continued drawing, until it was time for practice. I was giddy as I practically skipped over to the practice field, where I'd finally get to see her again.