Amelia didn’t know what she was going to do. Sam was slowly getting suspicious of her frequent mysterious outings and she didn’t want to lie to her but she couldn’t tell her that she was an alien from another planet who saved people in her free time. Much less the world famous Scarlet Warrior.

How do you even tell someone something like that? What if she didn’t accept her for who she truly was? She knew Sam’s family wasn’t exactly fond of aliens but Sam didn’t seem to mind them. Oh Gods there was no way in hell she could do this. Sam was her favorite person in the whole universe and she really wanted to be more than friends if she was honest. If Amelia lost Sam she would be distraught.

She knew she would lose her either way. If Sam caught on to who she was she would be hurt that Amelia didn’t tell her herself. That was a definite. She may accept her otherwise.

In that moment Amelia realized what she needed to do. She had to tell Sam before she found out. She would just have to take the risk.

Amelia shot a text over to Sam to meet her for dinner that night. She told her she needed to discuss something important and that they would be going to Sam’s favorite dim sum bar. If she filled her with delicious dumplings maybe she wouldn’t hate her when she told her about her alter ego.

Amelia stood on the curb outside of the dim sum place in the freezing Chicago cold for 30 minutes before Sam’s bright face peeked out from around the corner. She looked gorgeous in her wide legged black slacks, red coat, her cheeks flushed from the bitter cold wind and long blonde hair swirling around her face. A smile spread across both of their faces when they locked eyes from mere feet apart.

“Hi Amelia!”

“Hey Sammy” she greeted her voice taking on a sweet tone that only made an appearance around her blonde counterpart. “Can we please go inside I’m freezing!”

She rolled her eyes fondly. “Of course you are” she teased. She slid her arm through the crook of Amelia’s and they strolled in side by side.

Tony, the owner, had set aside their favorite table in the back at Amelia’s request and they were seated quickly.

They chatted, cackled, and ate more dim sum than should be possible for two young women. When the servers started cleaning up the plates and cups from the table Amelia felt a nervous flutter in her stomach and she thought she may regurgitate her delicious dinner onto the cloth covered table in front of her. She took a deep breath, closed her rich brown eyes, and prepared herself for what could possibly be the worst conversation of her life.

Before she could muster up the courage to open her eyes she felt a gentle warm hand cover hers on the tabletop. She slowly opened her eyes to see concerned emerald eyes staring back at her.

“What’s wrong Ames?”

“Nothing I just have something important to tell you and I don’t know how to even start.”

“Hey, it’s just me” she whispered. “You can tell me anything”

“You won’t hate me will you?”

“I could never hate you.” She insisted.

With another deep breath Amelia blurted “I’m the Scarlet Warrior”

A look of shock crossed Sam’s face and she looked down.

“You are mad at me!”

“No, no, no! I’m not I swear I just I already knew that” She laughed. “I thought you were going to tell me something else, but it’s okay. I’m really glad you finally told me your secret.”

“What?” Amelia gasped. “How did you know? I’ve never told a single soul.”

“Wild guess. You were always running out on our lunch dates and movie nights and missing random days of work and they all just so happened to coincide with times the Scarlet Warrior was out saving lives.”

“Okay you’re too smart for your own good.”

Sam laughed and Amelia couldn’t help but giggle a bit herself.

“Wait, what did you think I wanted to talk to you about?”

A deep flush spread up Sam’s pale neck and across her freckled cheeks.

“Oh nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“I will worry about it. What was it Sam? You can tell me anything too you know”

Sam huffed and looked down at their intertwined hands resting on the table. “I guess I just thought you were groping to ask me out” She whispered never making eye contact.

“Oh” Amelia said speechless.

“It’s okay though. You just don’t like me like that and it is perfectly fine.”

Amelia reached across the table and lifted Sam’s chin gently so their eyes met. “Yes I do. How could I not? You’re perfect.”

“Really?”

“Really. I just didn’t want to tell you how I felt until you knew who I truly am”

Amelia leaned slightly across the table to place a tender kiss on Sam’s soft dry lips. The kiss was brief but it left both their hearts racing.

“Let’s get out of here.” Amelia whispered against Sam’s parted lips.