distance is just a test

“You did not just roll your eyes at me,” she scoffed playfully, not nearly as offended as she looked or sounded. “It’s called boundaries. I’m respecting yours by not going after what I want. I’ll quit using excuses when you say you are ready to take our relationship to the next level.” She glanced down at the floor, trying to hide her grin because she was trying to be convincing. “You mean I was in denial, but I think I’m ready to confess how I feel. I can’t keep it to myself anymore. It’s killing me to not share with you how much I love you. I’ve been in love with you since I met you. I just didn’t know it until yesterday.” She purposely didn’t say ‘today’ so that she could sound like even more of a smart ass. Lifting her head, she tried not to laugh at how badly Astrid was failing at playing along. “Nothing is annoying where I’m concerned and you know it,” she teased, inwardly agreeing that jealousy could be incredibly obnoxious. After Astrid’s co-worker helped her put up the mistletoe, she slipped her arm around the other’s waist, noticing the way he looked at her as if to say ‘it’s tradition.’ She couldn’t bite back a laugh at the look on his face before he turned to walk away. “I’m so bloody convincing, I amaze myself,” she whispered jokingly, smirk gracing her lips as she glanced at Astrid.

“Maybe,” she relented, cocking her head to the side. Ilaria wasn’t one to put much stock in relationship or feelings. It was easier to remain detach, because when things came to an end– which they always did– it didn’t hurt so much. Still, regardless of her stance on the whole thing, she had immense need for romance. She loved the cute things; only without the attachments. It was a conundrum. “A little serious. I have not really done anything since I got to this town,” she shrugged. The photographer constantly needed to get her hands into something perhaps on creative grounds alone. There was no doubt that Ilaria had been serious, but she didn’t think it would actually happen. Her brows raised, doing little to hide her own surprise. “We wouldn’t want this, no.” For all her talk about kissing, Ilaria froze for a brief second. Mentally she kicked herself. A beautiful woman was kissing her, and she had turned into a puddle. Naturally, her hand found the other woman’s cheek. The sentiment was fleeting as she begrudgingly drew back. “– wow?!”

Normally Astrid wasn’t one to be so bold and initiate something such as kissing someone. She was, after all, the type who would rather get close to someone first and get to know them before even think about the idea of kissing them. She was never the type to go around willy-nilly, kissing others as if it wasn’t a big deal and while it may not be for some, for her it was. That was why she had no problems when her friend India kisses her. Because she knew her and knew that they will only be friends and that’s what she prefers anyways. But the fact that she had actually gone and kissed this woman on her own was shocking even to her own self, but still– since Astrid was the one who decided to lean over and kiss the other female, she wasn’t about to act like a coward and back down. Allowing the kiss to linger for a few more seconds, the brunette finally pulled away when the other did, cheeks burning bright both in embarrassment at what she did and because of the others words. “Wow indeed.” she coughed, nodding her head. “Can I assume it you thought it was good?”

Astrid,

“You’d think this, yes,” Ilaria admitted with a slight smirk, shrugging her shoulders. “But I haven’t been kissed a lot lately.” Maybe that was reason enough in itself to head back to Rome. Her luck was better there. Now beaming, she cheekily clapped her hands as well. Only with a smidgen of sarcasm. “Yes, of course. It was nice being useful.” Bouncing on her heels, her expression drew into a more timid one. “You know,” she pointed at the mistletoe hanging above them. “I think it’s tradition and– a bad omen if we don’t do this, no?” Okay, so the other woman was attractive, but it was tradition.

“For some reason, I can’t find it in myself to believe you.” Astrid replied, shaking her head at the other. “Although, maybe it might be a bit of a good thing that you haven’t been kissed a lot recently.” After all, wouldn’t you rather kiss someone you like instead of a random stranger? Or was she the only one who thought this way? “I don’t know if you are being serious about that, but I do appreciate you being useful.” She smiled. But then it faltered slightly, before a blush appeared on her cheek. “The tradition?! Oh right, of course!” Although Astrid was a bit caught a bit by surprise, she realized that it was indeed tradition to kiss someone whenever you are under the mistletoe with them. “Wouldn’t want to cause a bad omen, especially during this time of the year” and with that, she walked over towards the other and pulled her in for a kiss.

Pressing her lips together, India pretend to take a moment to think of a response to Astrid’s question. “We could, but where would be the fun in that? And who is to say that I needed an excuse to kiss you? I never need an excuse,” she reasoned with a grin. “You’re the relationship expert so you tell me if I am in denial of my undying love for you. Perhaps I am tired of waiting for Christmas every year to kiss you. We should drop the charade and confess our love.” She managed to maintain a somewhat decent poker face as she spoke. “Good because you don’t want to know, trust me. You better because you do not want to see me jealous. Although, I have heard that jealousy can be a turn on…” She laughed, leaning against the wall as Astrid walked off to find someone to hang the mistletoe for her.

For whatever reason, Ilaria was beaming. Her smile reached from one ear to the other. “Maybe their luckier than me and don’t need it at all,” she commented with faint chuckle. Giving it the good ole try, she took the mistletoe in her hand and immediately found herself on her tiptoes. “Merda, almost there,” she muttered, slightly shaking from the extension. When she finally got it in place, she turned to the other woman with an even cheekier grin.

Not knowing how to take what the other just said, the therapist decided to just smile once more and let out a faint laugh. “Oh, I’m pretty sure you are really lucky and just don’t take note on it.” she reassured. Once the mistletoe was taken from her, Astrid decided to take a step back and couldn’t help but chuckle when the other struggled a bit but was successfully able to put up the mistletoe. “Yay, you did it!” she clapped her hands together, her smile widening. “Thank you so much, again.”

Jack laughed and shook his head as he moved closer to the struggling woman. Plucking the mistletoe from her fingers, he held it up and looked towards her for guidance. “Do you want it here? Or to the left? Maybe the right?”

The moment he took a hold of the mistletoe, Astrid took a step back and watched as he held it up. She then crossed her arms and thought for a second. “Hm, a little more of the left, right above that desk.”

Ana chuckled when she heard Astrid mumble under her breath, although she could only make half of it out. “No problem, she replied, returning her smile. She put the chair back where she found it and listened to her friend’s reply. “Sounds exciting, although I gotta admit that I’m a little jealous. Life’s been as dramatic as a soap opera, I think I might audition for one soon or write a screen play based off of the past few weeks. Hey, I go to bed at ten, most the time, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

At the mention how life has been like a dramatic soap opera for her, the brunette arched an eyebrow at her friend. “You’re jealous because my life is so uneventful in comparison to yours?” She asked, sounding as if she was a bit offended about this but wasn’t. “And what, may I ask my dear friend, has made your life so dramatic? Oh I know, but for some people it may seem shameful especially for my age. But I am not planning on switching my sleep schedule just to please them.”

“Is that so? You must have wanted me to kiss you, then, because you were holding that thing right above my head.” India’s grin merely grew as she poked fun at the other. “Or maybe I kiss you because I’m secretly in love with you and want you to bear my child. The world may never know,” she joked in return, winking playfully. “Okay, but watch out for the bloke in the corner. He might try to kiss you and he’ll stick his tongue all the way down your throat– don’t ask me how I know that.” She fake-pouted at her friend’s last words, groaning dramatically. “Where’s the fun in that?” Another joke, of course. Mostly.

“Need some help?” The boy asked with a smile as he leaned against a nearby wall, watching with amusement as the girl struggled.

“If you could be so kind.” The therapist replied, trying to stretch as far as she could once more before deciding to give up. 

“Wow. Nice job. You could have asked somebody else to do it. Or, I don’t know, use a ladder.”

“I know that I should have asked somebody else, but I figured that I could do it on my own. Didn’t realize how putting a mistletoe up would actually be.”

Just as he thought. He hated that word, confidential. “Oh, I’m not planning on becoming a patient of yours. For that you need a significant other.” He let out a quiet laugh before continuing. “Wait. You do not sound very British to me. I detect an accent. Excuse my curiosity, as it is completely unrelated, but where are you originally from?”

“Oh...” She trailed off, clapping her hands together before allowing them to fall against her lap. “Of course. That would make perfect sense.” She shook her head, a bit confused on why he was asking about this if he didn’t want to schedule an appointment. “My accent? Oh, I am a bit surprised you took note on it, but I am originally from Munich.”