Page 181 of Pride High 2: Orange

Silvia studied her a moment before swallowing. “I wish I could give you an answer. Maybe I could, if I’d met you sooner. Which sounds terrible, because I’m glad I met Omar. I really am. But I would have liked to have known. It’s a strange feeling to suspect something about yourself without being able to prove it.”

“That’s easy,” Keisha said. “Want me to walk you through it?”

“Yes,” Silvia said.

“Romeo and Juliet” was playing over the store speakers, the raw emotion of the song making her feel brave.

“Do you find me attractive?” Keisha asked.

Silvia nodded instantly. “Yes.”

Keisha walked around the counter. “Do you have feelings for me?”

Silvia swallowed. “More than I should.”

“Then we have a solid theory,” Keisha said, stepping into her personal space. Silvia didn’t pull back. Not even in the slightest. “All we have to do is test it.”

Those russet lips of hers were irresistible. And eager and willing as they pressed against her own. The song had built to a crescendo, but even it faded into the background, because Keisha had finally found everything she’d been looking for. She imagined the universe rearranging itself, the planets and stars changing their trajectory to orbit around Silvia instead. Keisha had expected electricity and fire, but this went beyond the forces of nature to something else entirely.

When she pulled back, she saw the same surprise mirrored back at her. Except those lovely brown eyes weren’t locked onto her own. Keisha turned to follow their path and saw a young guy standing by the door. The one who was aways flitting around Diego Gomez, like those little birds that were fond of rhinos. He was staring at them in shock, having no doubt witnessed the kiss. Perhaps that’s why he decided to flee back out to the street.

“Ricky!” Silvia shouted. She pressed past Keisha, placing a hand on her shoulder in the process.

Keisha grabbed it to stop her. “Can’t it wait?”

“No,” Silvia said, her eyes still wide with panic. “I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry!”

Keisha watched her rush from the store. The song playing over the store speakers reached its end, leaving Romeo on his own with only the memory of Juliet to keep him company. And it was all too relatable, because the kiss had ignited something in her that couldn’t be extinguished. She wouldn’t allow it to be. Keisha would tend that fire, warming herself on the memory until her dying day, or preferably, until they finally belonged to each other.

* * * * *

Silvia ran down the sidewalk, the sound of her footfalls attracting Ricky’s attention, but he didn’t stop after glancing over his shoulder. The little snoop started walking faster!

“Stop!” she shouted. “Please!”

Ricky tensed before turning around, his eyes wide behind his glasses. He continued to stare as she slowed to a walking pace.

“You can’t tell Omar,” Silvia blurted out.

Ricky’s forehead crinkled. “Areyougoing to tell him?”

“No!”

His eyes darted to the side, then back to her again. “Do you plan on breaking up with him soon?”

“No! I love him!”

“Then why were you kissing Keisha?”

“She kissed me.”

Ricky studied her before his head began to shake. “You were definitely kissing her back. I have to tell Omar.”

Silvia tensed. “Why?”

“Because he’s my friend!”

Her stomach sank. “It’ll hurt him,” she croaked. “Please don’t.”