Are We Okay?

By Mo Marino/ @Raineestorm

Willow’s POV
Every Tuesday for the past three months, I bring takeout to Sofia’s house for dinner. We eat
together on the porch and discuss our days, lives, and what exists beyond that. Tuesdays have become my

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favorite day of the week, even though we see each other almost every day in some form.
“Sofia!” I call to the female on the porch, a big bag of Chinese food in hand. She looks up from her
book and smiles. I smile too. Sofia shuts the book and carefully rests it on the patio table. I step onto the
concrete and set the bag down before sitting and pushing myself in.
I take a moment to admire her as she takes the food out of the bags. She’s the prettiest girl I have

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ever met, and I can’t help but feel blessed to be around her. Her wavy hair flows down her shoulders
gracefully. I know she dislikes its orange hue, but I love it. It compliments her. She pushes her glasses up.
I take a deep breath.
“Willow?”
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I break from my daze and look into her questioning eyes. I accidentally whisper, “Yeah?”
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Sofia chuckles, “Are you ready to eat?” I swallow and glance at the food set out. I shake my head.
“Not yet.”
I lean over and rest a hand on her thigh. Her cheeks flood with color. I look at her. She goes silent.
My lips gently press against hers, and my mind goes soft. I felt her shift and put her hand on top of mine. I
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squeeze. Moments that feel like hours pass before I let go.
“I am now,” I blissfully sigh, picking up my fork. I feel her gaze at me for a moment before
starting to eat herself.
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We spend a few minutes eating until she clears her throat to speak, “I’ve loved these past couple
of months with you. This,” she paused and I looked over, “Just, this has been great.” I frown, because I
can’t tell if it’s just me she doesn’t want to be with, or people in general.
“Me too,” I mumble, looking back at my orange chicken and rice, “I wanted to ask you
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something.”
Sophia’s eyebrows furrow. “What?” She asked curiously.
I cautiously begin to speak, “Well, my parents have been wanting to meet you for a while now,” I
see her frown, “And I’ve tried holding them off as long as possible, but I would really like you to go to
dinner with me to meet them.” I stare into her upset eyes. Shit. A small part of my heart aches with regret.
Sofia looks at her bowl of rice.
“Just one dinner, tomorrow at six. They’re really nice and accepting,-” I get interrupted by her
shallow voice.
 “Fine.”
I stare for a moment before looking at my food again. I know better than to pester and that should
accept the answer I was given. I really am grateful, and I hope she can tell when I take hold of one of her
hands and kiss it.

Sofia’s POV
After we ate and went inside, Willow went into my bathroom to take a shower. I had a seat on the
couch with my book, opened it, and stared at the chapter. After five minutes of rereading the same

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paragraph, I put the book on the coffee table and laid back. My eyes fluttered shut and I sighed.
I wish I hadn’t said yes. How am I supposed to go out in public with her and meet her parents?
Maybe I wasn’t clear enough that I didn’t want to date her. Does she think we’re dating? How many other
people know? I sit up and look down the hall at the closed bathroom door. I sigh softly and stand up.
Knock knock.

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I stand in front of the door, looking at the handle closely. I can feel the hot steam from here.
“Yeah?” Willow hollers at me through the sounds of the water hitting the tiles.

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“Can I shower with you?” I ask, still looking at the silver, scraped doorknob. For a few minutes,
all I can hear is the water. I almost decided to go back to the couch.
Willow finally speaks up, “Sure!” I swallow thickly and twist the doorknob, opening the door and
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looking at Willow through the steamy, sheer glass. I feel her watch as I take off my dress, glasses, and
underwear. She opens the shower door and I carefully step inside. Before she has a chance to say anything,
I rest my head on her chest and close my eyes. She closes the door and wraps an arm around my back.
“Are you alright?” She whispers. I open my eyes just enough to look at her and smile.
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“I’m perfect.”

Willow’s POV
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After the most thrilling shower ever, I helped Sofia out of the shower and we got into bed
together. I could barely think during the sex, but it was the best I’d ever had. Sofia fell asleep against me,
and I fell asleep not long after her. I love this girl.
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When I woke up, Sofia was sitting up in bed reading. I stayed silent to look at her. She quietly
chuckled and smiled as her eyes scanned the page slowly.
I don’t think I’ve ever loved somebody before now. I never really, truly loved someone. I can’t even
decide why I love her. I just do. I love that she can genuinely laugh at a book. It makes my heart pound.
Everything she does makes my heart pound.
Sofia looked over at me and blushed. I know my hair looked ridiculous because I went to bed with
it wet, but hers looked perfect as always. She must have done it when she woke up. I sit up and scoot
beside her.
 “Tonight at six, is that okay?” I whisper, kissing her neck and sighing contently. I feel her nod.
“Thank you.”

Sofia’s POV
After Willow left at around three, I showered again and made sure my hair was conditioned. It
took me an hour to blow dry it perfectly and put it up in a bun. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and
sighed shakily. I felt sick.
I changed into a floral dress and finished my makeup, slipping high heels on. I stared at myself in

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the mirror and checked my phone. I spent so long getting ready, I didn’t have a lot of time to get to the
restaurant.
I had Willow double-check the address before I started to drive. I wish we went together, but she
insisted on going with her parents. I’d feel much better right now if she were in the passenger seat,
singing along to a 2000’s Katy Perry song.

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It took 10 minutes to get to the restaurant, and I sat in my car for an extra 10 minutes to practice
what I would say and how I would act. As long as I was flawless, they’d like me. I got out of the car and

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sighed, looking at the restaurant. It was incredibly fancy. Willow’s parents aren’t rich, are they?
When I walk inside, I catch a glimpse of Willow sitting at a table. I feel like I’m going to barf. I
turn around as she calls to me, “Sofia!”
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Panic sets in. I think about what I should do. I can leave now, but her parents will hate me. I have
no choice. I turn back around and walk up to the table. Willow’s parents turn around. You can tell that
they’re rich because Mrs. Elsher has a string of pearls around her neck and a boa, and Mr. Elsher looks
like a character you would only see in a movie. They all smile at me and Mr. Elsher stands up to shake my
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hand. I die a little inside because I know my palms are sweaty, but I shake his hand anyway. I see him
wipe his hand when he sits back down.
I’m going to throw up.
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Willow’s POV
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When Sofia sits down beside me, I notice she wipes her palms on her dress. I take one of her
hands and kiss it softly. Maybe she wasn’t ready for this.
She looks at me and smiles slightly.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Mom starts with a friendly smile, “We’ve heard a lot about you from
Willow.” Dad nods in agreement.
“It’s nice to meet you,” She says, “You uh, have a lovely daughter.”
I made sure my parents knew that she would be nervous and to be nicer than normal, which they
certainly were. We ordered our food and got drinks, but besides that Sofia was a robot. I frowned and
cleared my throat, “Sofia, will you come with me to the bathroom?” She looked over at me and desperately
nodded.
We left the table and when we got to the bathroom, I took her hands. She stared into my eyes, I
could feel the moisture in her palms.
“I’m not okay,” she announced before I could ask.
I nodded at her and sighed, “Why? I know they’re a little intimidating but they seem to like you!”
“We aren’t a couple,” Sophia looked up at me, “But they think we are.”
“I get that, but they’re my parents. I didn’t know what to tell them.”

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“Why did you have to tell them anything?” Her voice raised and her breath hitched.
“What? Because they’re my parents,” I replied, frowning, “They were excited to meet you.”
“I want to go home, I shouldn’t have agreed to this!” Sofia pulls away and wipes her face. Her
eyeshadow smears.
“Please-” I ask, but it’s too late. She storms out of the bathroom and out of the restaurant before I

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can follow her. I take a minute in the bathroom before I go explain the situation to my parents.
“Were we too much?” Mom asks as I get my purse and phone. I shake my head.

shoulder.
“No, thank you guys, I love you.”
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“We’ll see you soon, Dear. I hope it works out,” Dad says, hugging me goodbye and patting my
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“Me too.”

Sofia’s POV
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I could barely fall asleep last night due to all of my emotions. I know Willow was mad because she
texted me twelve times. I read them but didn’t reply. Her last text was that she would come over tomorrow
to talk in person. I tossed and turned, not being able to sleep until about midnight.
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When I woke up it was around noon. I sat up and stayed in bed for an hour until I figured I might
as well be dressed for when Willow comes over.
As I sat and started to do my hair, all the guilt came back to me. I should’ve been more honest,
and maybe should’ve said goodbye before leaving. Shit, there’s no chance her parents like me now. I might
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as well break up with her, but I don’t want to.

Half an hour after getting ready, I hear a knock on my door. I purse my lips and go to open it.
Willow stares back at me. I frown and sigh, “Let's sit on the porch.” She nods and sits in her usual spot. I
follow.
“Why did you leave last night?” Willow asks. She looks hurt, and I was the one who hurt her.
 I start to explain myself and fiddle with my fingers, “I lied to you. I wasn’t ready to meet your
parents, and I should’ve said that before I agreed to go. I want to try again, in a few months,” Willow takes
my hand, and I keep going, “I’m not out to anybody, I’m still figuring it out. I don’t want us to end.”
Willow hugs me, and I feel my eyes water. I didn’t realize how upset I was.
“I don’t want us to end either.”
She kisses me, and I start to cry more.
“I love you…” I sob against her, “I’m sorry.”
I feel her wrap her arms around me and I hear her whisper, “I love you more.”

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