Serina's eyes snapped open to see Izzy right beside her. Instantly her heart was pounding in her chest. God, she was so pretty. It was just unfair. She just stared mutely at the object of her affection and took the offered cigarette. She put it to her lips and lowered herself down carefully. Her tight dress did not make such moves easy but she did have practice so she managed. Sweetpea? She was not sure how she felt about that nickname but at least it was not 'kid'. She exhaled through her nose and looked at Izzy again. What was she talking about? Then it hit her. The lipstick on his cheek and the way she watched his mesmerizing performance must have given the wrong impression.<br/><br/><span style="color: green">"Adrian is sssweet and kind and he alwaysss looksss out for me,"</span>She paused, taking another shuddering breath and hoping that Izzy did not notice her hands trembling. She was so close to saying it; she just needed the strength to keep going.<span style="color: green"> "I-I like sssomeone elssse." </span>What if Izzy rejected her, what if she laughed?<span style="color: green">"Remember when we were in your wagon and I posed the whole hypothetical to you about how you would react if sssomeone told you that they liked you.... What if that sssomeone... wasss me?" </span>Serina actually winced. She had finally said it after all the time spent pining over Izzy, she had finally said it. She felt both overjoyed and terrified. She waited, not even breathing, for Izzy's response.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>