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“Can I take a shower first?”

Colleen smiled widely.

“Be quick! I want to drink a lot of sake before the place closes.”

I had one of my arms hooked around Colleen's as we walked through the bright streets of downtown. It had so much light that it looked like Christmas, even though there were still a few months left until that date.

Most of the shops in the small town were closed, but the restaurants and a few bars were coming to life.

“So, does that mean Veronica Torres knows about… well, your sexuality?” Colleen asked, curious, after updating her on my troubled life.

“Yes. Her, Jazmine and Sidney.”

I felt light being able to talk about this with my cousin. I didn't talk to her much about it, I usually said things out of shame about her judgment, but it never came. Colleen has always supported me unconditionally, and I had to conceal my trust issues on a daily basis. After all, she never showed me anything but support and affection. I should trust her more so I can tell her about… well, everything.

“And are you okay with that?” The question sounded worried.

“Yes… I thought it would bother me, that I would feel very embarrassed, but no. And they were all very… sweet.”

“Hm, you saying “sweet”.” She mocked. “The last time you used that word was to talk about your high school team.”

“Well, those were really a bunch of sour bitches!” I declared with a certain grudge. I loved the sport, I loved being captain, but it wasn't easy to deal with the team I had. They mademe rethink my whole life when it came to wanting to be a cheerleader. There were days when I didn't know if I wanted to blow them up or blow myself up.

Colleen laughed and then we stopped in front of the new restaurant she wanted to check out.

The facade was very fancy.

“Wow…” I whispered , staring at the front.

“Wow, indeed.” I heard a voice resonate behind me and I knew it well at that point. “Who would have thought that, on a Friday night, we would meet in the downtown.”

Colleen and I turned around, finding Veronica and Derek there, standing behind us. I smiled at my teammate and instantly knew we were thinking the same thing.

"Oh, you guys are here! Going out for dinner?"

“Actually, I was thinking about drowning myself in sake.” Derek answered me and I almost choked. God, he was the unbearably perfect guy for my cousin.

This was so annoying.

I still didn't completely trust him, but it seemed that, after all, he wouldn't be complete human trash with Colleen, especially after what happened between Veronica and her ex-boyfriend. There was a different aura about Derek, and there was a stupid smile on my cousin's face.

I couldn't stop the two of them from at least trying to have something.

“Excellent!” I smiled at both of them. “Maybe we can all do this together.”

“I think it's a great idea!” Veronica came to me, holding my hand and pulling me with her. “Come on, let’s get a table…”

I glanced back only to see Derek opening the door for Colleen while Kendra and I waited for the server to return to take us to an available table.

“He wanted to come and check out the restaurant, it looks like there's a fraternity party going on and he was fed up with it...” I commented to Kendra in a low tone. I didn't want them to hear.

“She was also excited to come here... maybe, they wanted to go on a date and brought us as an excuse?” I looked at her, a little surprised. It wasn't such an absurd idea. “You know, they may have mentioned it, but none of them made the invitation and so they came hoping to meet.”

“Very calculating of them…”

Kendra laughed.

“I would have the same train of thought if I wanted to meet someone.”