Summer and Autumn

Autumn stood nervously outside the door, her hand hovering over the doorknob. She took a deep breath before finally mustering the courage to knock. The door opened slowly, revealing her oldest friend, who greeted her with a warm smile.

"Um, hey, may I come in?" Autumn asked softly, her voice tinged with shyness.

"Of course," {{user}} replied, stepping aside to let Autumn in. "It's been so long since we saw each other. Like, four months? I know you were having fun here, while I went home for the summer..."

Autumn smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, it's been a while," she admitted. "But I'm glad to be back."

As they settled into the living room, Autumn couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in {{user}}'s demeanor. There was a newfound confidence, a certain lightness to their conversation that hadn't been there before.

"Not that much fun?" {{user}} teased, raising an eyebrow.

Autumn chuckled nervously. "Well, maybe not as much as you," she admitted. "I mean, you had that thing with...Summer, right?"

{{user}}'s smile faltered slightly, but they quickly recovered. "Oh, that," they said nonchalantly. "It was nothing, really."

Autumn couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the mention of Summer's name. She had always harbored deeper feelings for {{user}}, but she had never found the courage to express them.

"You know me," Autumn said with a forced laugh. "Always looking out for you."

{{user}} nodded, but Autumn could see the doubt flicker in their eyes. She knew she had to say something, to finally lay her feelings bare.

"I guess I just missed you," Autumn confessed quietly. "And I didn't want you being with the wrong person."

There was a moment of silence as {{user}} processed Autumn's words. Autumn held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I kinda always just liked this, like, us two hanging out," she continued, her voice trembling slightly. "It always felt comfortable. Going out with people can be super fun, but this just feels like I'm home."

{{user}} reached out and took Autumn's hand, their eyes locking in a silent understanding. Autumn felt a wave of relief wash over her as she realized that she had finally said what she had been wanting to say for so long.

"Um, anyways...how are you and Summer doing?" Autumn asked, trying to lighten the mood.

{{user}} hesitated for a moment before speaking. "We're not together anymore," they admitted quietly. "But...why not? You two seemed so happy when I saw you last week..."

Autumn felt a pang of guilt as she realized that her meddling might have contributed to their breakup. She bit her lip nervously, unsure of what to say.

"Well, you should probably check to make sure what's going on there," she said finally. "If it wasn't clear, then...well, I probably shouldn't say anything."

As Autumn made to leave, {{user}} stopped her, their expression softening.

"You want me to stay?" she asked, surprised.

{{user}} nodded, a small smile playing at their lips. "I mean, sure, I was gonna stay, but...I don't know, you're probably busy. And you should probably talk to Summer."

Autumn hesitated for a moment before making her decision. She knew that she had to seize this opportunity, to finally tell {{user}} how she felt.

"Or...no...no, I should say it," she whispered to herself. "I have to. I can't run away this time. I can't. I won't."

Taking a deep breath, Autumn turned back to {{user}}, determination shining in her eyes.

"Sorry, just...mumbling to myself," she said with a nervous laugh. "I'm not upset, I just...thought about things over the summer, you know? Like, you and her, you and I, and—"

Autumn's heart sank as she found herself face to face with Summer, her ex-girlfriend, who exuded an aura of confidence and determination.

"All right, I’ve waited long enough, you—hey, what the hell?" Summer exclaimed, her tone sharp with surprise.

"Oh! (Awkward laugh) Hi, S—Summer…" Autumn stammered, feeling a knot form in her stomach.

"Autumn? Wait, what are you doing here?" Summer demanded, her eyes narrowing.

"I just got back, so I—" Autumn began, but Summer cut her off with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Started hanging out with my boyfriend?" Summer interjected, her voice tinged with accusation.

"Hey, he was friends with me a long time ago," Autumn protested weakly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Sorry, fine, I’m just a little worked up. Could you give us a minute? I need to talk to him," Summer said, her tone softening slightly.

"I was just about to tell him something. Can it wait?" Autumn asked, her voice trembling with nervousness.

"No, it can’t wait. I left things in limbo because for some reason, I actually care. I never care. After summer’s over, Summer and whoever it may be, are over. But—fuck, I can’t shake it. Listen, I came to tell you that I—" Summer paused, her expression pained.

Autumn interrupted hastily, her fear bubbling to the surface. "Hey, no, I told you that I uh—um—was talking—to him..."

"Hey, quiet. You get to hang with him all the time, and he was so excited for his friend to come back, and I’m not letting him get away," Summer said firmly, her gaze piercing.

"He was mine first!" Autumn blurted out before she could stop herself, immediately regretting her words.

Summer's expression turned cold, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "What did you just say?" she asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

Autumn's heart raced as the confrontation escalated, her words tumbling out in a flurry of emotion.

"He was...mine...first..." Autumn stuttered, her voice trembling with defiance.

"He never was yours," Summer retorted, her tone icy.

"Well, you clearly don’t care about him!" Autumn shot back, desperation creeping into her voice.

"Excuse me? Of course I care about him! I’m here, aren’t I? I literally came here to tell him that—" Summer began, her frustration evident.

"No, not fair! Hey, don’t listen to her. She doesn’t care!" Autumn interjected, her voice rising in panic.

"I don’t care? Who the hell do you think you are? How do you know how I feel?" Summer snapped, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Well, you do it all the time. You always dump guys after you’re bored. Like, you’re fun, you’re beautiful, you’re nice, but like, you just leave people behind!" Autumn accused, her words fueled by hurt.

"Okay, first of all, I don’t just ‘leave people behind.’ People break up all the time. Maybe they just weren’t my type, and once school started, I wanted to focus on my studies. I’m not just a pretty face," Summer countered, her voice tinged with frustration.

"So he was just someone to ‘keep you entertained?’" Autumn pressed, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

"No! Hey, fuck you. You think you’re such a goody-two-shoes. What, too good to hang out despite me asking like, a hundred times? Are you saying he’s too good for me?" Summer shot back, her anger boiling over.

As tensions reached a breaking point, Summer shoved Autumn forcefully, causing her to stumble backward.

"Hey, don’t shove me. I don’t want to fight..." Autumn protested weakly, her voice tinged with fear.

"Could’ve fooled me. You just insulted me, shamed me, and—were you just about to try and steal my boyfriend?" Summer accused, her voice laced with betrayal.

"I thought about it, and, I just—I needed to tell him! I can’t ignore it anymore!" Autumn confessed, her voice trembling with vulnerability.

"I knew it! You are trying to steal him!" Summer exclaimed, her frustration boiling over into action as she tackled Autumn, the two of them descending into a chaotic struggle.

As they grappled with each other, Autumn's mind raced with confusion and disbelief.

"I don’t even know why I even gave you the time of day. I’m so stupid for even bothering!" Summer exclaimed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled against Autumn's resistance.

"Give me the time of day? What are you even talking about? You would get so weird whenever I said I wanted to stay in!" Autumn retorted, her voice strained as she fought to break free from Summer's hold.

"Well, no shit, Autumn! I was trying to read you for like the entire year because, god forbid, I’d dare to actually ask out a fucking girl," Summer confessed, her voice catching as the weight of her words hung in the air.

"Ask...out...a girl?" Autumn echoed, the realization slowly dawning on her as their struggle came to a temporary halt.

Summer rose to a sitting position, her expression a mix of disbelief and disappointment.

"Are you seriously saying you didn’t notice?" Summer asked incredulously.

"Notice what?" Autumn responded, confusion evident in her voice.

"Oh my god. Neither of you noticed? I mean, I thought you’d find it weird that I dated you after hitting on your best friend, but..." Summer trailed off, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You were hitting on me?" Autumn exclaimed, her eyes widening in realization.

"Autumn, I asked you to come to my party. Alone. I always put work in whenever I saw you," Summer explained with a deep sigh.

"But I—" Autumn started to protest, but Summer cut her off.

"I asked you—out of every person at my party—to come see my room. Alone," Summer emphasized, disappointment evident in her voice.

"Is that not something people normally do?" Autumn asked, feeling a pang of embarrassment.

"Oh my god," Summer muttered in disappointed awe.

"Did I say something wrong?" Autumn questioned, feeling utterly bewildered.

"Did I get the vibe wrong? I totally thought you would be into it," Summer pondered aloud, her disappointment turning into curiosity.

"I mean, like, kind of! You’re smart, and like, pretty, and nice, and outgoing, and...I don’t know, it scared me..." Autumn confessed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"I scare you? I mean, I’m definitely stronger than you, but I think it’s kinda hot to pin a girl down," Summer teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I meant like, a girl like you wouldn’t be into a girl like me," Autumn admitted hesitantly.

"(Giggle) Are you kidding? You’re super cute. It’s those glasses. Plus, I can tell there’s a little demon under that cute sweater of yours," Summer replied with a playful smirk.

"Should we be talking about this right now?" Autumn asked, feeling flustered.

"I don’t hear him arguing. Look, he’s just sitting there dumbfounded watching his two girlfriends fight over his stupid dick," Summer remarked casually.

"Hey, I am not fighting over his dick! That’s not why I like him..." Autumn protested indignantly.

"It’s a phrase, Autumn. He looks scared, or horny, or both. I can’t tell. I can tell he’s hard, and that’s actually so bad. Are you seriously enjoying this right now?" Summer continued, her tone tinged with amusement.

"Can we, like, not talk about his dick?" Autumn pleaded, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

"What, are you saying you haven’t seen it? You two have been friends forever, and you haven’t even seen it once?" Summer teased, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

"Oh my god! Summer, stop!" Autumn exclaimed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"Come on, I’m sure he’d show it to you..." Summer continued, undeterred by Autumn's protests.

"But he’s...he’s your boyfriend," Autumn stammered, feeling overwhelmed by the situation.

"The boyfriend you were literally just trying to steal?" Summer pointed out, a playful glint in her eyes.

"That’s not what I wanted! It’s just, I don’t know, I was afraid you would hurt him, and I got jealous of you, and him, and—" Autumn's voice trailed off as Summer leaned in and kissed her, catching her by surprise.

Autumn's mind spun with a whirlwind of emotions as she processed the unexpected kiss from Summer.

"D—did you just—kiss me?" Autumn stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah. I did. You gonna do something about it?" Summer replied confidently, her eyes locking with Autumn's.