unseen

Since you’d taken over as Batwoman, the villains in Gotham had been making your life difficult since you put the damn mask on. But they didn’t make the job hard, no they came with the work. The stress of the job came from a Crow by the name of Ambessa Medarda. She often stood in the way of justice for the victims being perpetrated on. Her, murder of an organization brought bureaucracy into vigilante work. 

For every thing she did to piss you off, things were more confusing when she was the opposite. Soft and vulnerable when you least expected it.

Things only got more perplexing after she found out your real identity. It’d be easier if she hadn’t been in your life. But seeing as Gotham was small and you’d grown up with her daughter. The relationship was inevitable.

Like tonight for example, you’d gotten a tip from the police scanner that there were a series of burglaries targeting jewelers. 

Ekko came in through the speaker of your Batsuit. 

“Command to Batwoman, Murder on the way.” 

“Damn it.” You hissed. “From what side?”

“Eastbound. There’s an exit from the West side of the building. You can intercept them.”

“Copy that.” 

Steady fingers shoot your grapple gun to the roof of the building. Your body soars to the top of the jewelry store. You tip-toe making your presence moot. Below you, the sound of the crows arriving didn’t ease your anxiety. From the sound of boots crushing gravel, you hear her voice, commanding her team. 

Inching towards death only for a glimpse of Ambessa Medarda at work. 

You are forced to pull yourself back when more of her crew go huddling in.

The noise of gunshots echo from inside the building. You can imagine the destruction happening below your feet. Creeping towards the direction of the emergency exit on the West side of the building, you stand watch. 

A trio of robbers burst through the door with duffle bags. They hobble to a nearby van, escaping inside. Before they can slide the door closed, you toss a smoke bomb inside. Leaving the robbers to gas themselves inside the van. The perfect gift for a Crow's that otherwise, could’ve ruined the mission. 

…

The rest of your evening is spent completing the bar’s closing shift. You’re staring off into space drying beer glasses when a rude cough disrupts your stupor. 

You flinch. Pasting your best customer service smile. 

“Good evening, Commander. Good to see you out on a Friday like a decent person.” 

Ambessa observes you for a minute then sits down in front of you.

“I’m not a fool.” she remarks. 

You continue with the glasses, moving on to the next in your drink carrier. 

“Never said you were.” 

She gestured for her usual. 

Grabbing the whisky glass, you turn and reach for the dark liquor, she prefers. 

Steady eyes watch you pour and place the drink in front of her. 

Her fingers pick up the glass swirling the golden liquid. 

“This partnership doesn’t work if we don’t trust one another.”   

Returning to your glasses you continued drying them with the towel. 

You lean over the bar separating the two of you. 

“I trust you, as much as I can trust a crow. Cut me some slack. This isn’t my ideal collab. The Kowalski’s get their jewels and you get your numbers. I suggest you stop whining and accept the win.” 

Ambessa rolls her eyes and takes the last swig of her drink. 

“We’ll agree to disagree. Have a good night.” 

Nodding while you put her glass away. 

“Leaving so soon? Date night?” you goad. 

Ambessa shrugs her blazer on. 

“My daughter is back in town.” 

You lean on the counter, raising your brows. 

“Mel's in town? She’s engaged right?” 

Ambessa gives you a solemn nod. 

“I have the honor of meeting the slum, she’s rehabilitating this month.” 

You giggle. 

Mel had a habit for taking in strays. Bless her heart, she sought the good in others.

“Mind if I crash? I’d kill to see the lucky bastard.” 

“No. I’ve seen enough of you this week. I can’t have you jeopardizing my weekend.” 

You tossed a mini straw at Ambessa. 

“Keep that same attitude the next time your squad is disarmed.” you rebuke. 

Ambessa doesn’t reply, just glares at you as she exits. 

–

That night, you lie in bed, reading. The windows in your studio cracked open, the noise from the Gotham streets leak into your tiny apartment. 

As someone that avoided clubs you still liked the camaraderie of the club scene. 

A gentle knock catches your attention. Sitting up, your ears focus on the tapping. 

Slowly you grab the bat you keep at your bedside and tip toe to the door. Your fingers carefully open the door keeping the chain still up. 

Peering through the crack, you see no one. 

Then Ambessa comes into frame, a chrotle escapes her lips.

“What? Expecting someone else?” she quips. 

You close the door, removing the chain, opening the door for her. 

“No, just surprised. I thought you had dinner with Mel? How’d that go?” 

Leaving the door open for her, you return the bat to your bedside.  

“As well as one can expect. Another loser wet behind the ears but this one has a startup. I suppose that’s more ambition than the last one.”

Ambessa tosses her blazer on your couch. Turning around to you. 

Sitting on the bed you watch her step out of her boots. 

“Call me selfish, I don’t care. She and Sevika would be perfect for each other.” you respond.

Ambessa approaches you with intention. 

She shrugs.

“I’ve heard you say that often enough, Why don’t you be with Sevika?”

Your fingers gesture for Ambessa to come closer to you.

She approaches you. Her intense gaze on your fingers making quick work removing the rest of her layers. 

“Been there, done that. Her and Mel seem more compatible.” 

That earns a smirk from Ambessa. 

Her gaze remains, you get on your knees to unbuckle her belt. Her favorite view. 

That night ends the same as many before, Ambessa keeping your bed warm noncommittally.

The next morning you’re entangled in the sheets and each other. Ambessa’s large limbs overtake yours on the full mattress. 

A knock disrupts your sleep. Gazing over at your phone, the clock reads 9:30. 

You struggle to get out of bed, annoyed one of your neighbors chooses this moment to ask for something. 

Making a quick headway, you grab the big-tshirt you had on at some point last night before answering the door. 

To your surprise, Mel is opposite your door, looking as fresh and put together as ever. 

She beams seeing you with eye-crust and messy hair. 

“Morning! I wanted to grab brunch while I’m still in Gotham, are you free?” 

You quickly close the door behind you, preventing her from seeing a naked Ambessa draped over your bed. 

She notices another body behind you. 

“Cheeky as ever, last nights conquest is still over?” 

No judgement in her tone. Mel crosses her arms, inspecting you.  

Hands cover your face in shame. 

“Ok, maybe. In my defense, who is up this early? I closed last night, by the way.” 

Mel rolls her eyes. 

“We’re young, you’ll live. Go wash up, and come on. My reservation is at 10.” 

She smiled at you, holding on to her purse, waiting for you to get a move on. 

You groaned.

“Fine, but at least give me 20. And go wait downstairs while I get my guest to leave.” 

Mel remained. 

“I can’t meet them?”

You turn her around. 

“Absolutly not, this is casual. Don’t even do that.” 

Mel gave you a sad face but nodded. 

“Fine, hurry up. I’m parked in front of your building.”

You nod and shoo her away.

Quickly heading back inside, you lock your door. Preventing Mel from even coming in accidentally.

Striding from your door to your bed in two steps. You gaze at Ambessa slumbering peacefully. 

You poke her muscles gently. Trying to rush but also preventing yourself from waking the crow on the wrong side of the bed. 

You crouch by her face. 

“Bess. Bessypoo. Time to get up.” 

You poke her face. 

Slowly her long lashes blink you into view. She rubs her eyes, sitting up the sheet exposing her torso. 

The clock ticking reminds you that you have 16 minutes left on the clock to meet Mel downstairs. Stripping yourself you rush to the shower, tying your hair up before hopping in the tub. 

Ambessa watches you rush comically. Standing, she follows you to the bathroom. 

“Want company?” 

You poke your head from the curtain. The water running behind you.

“No. Mel is downstairs.” 

The mention of her daughter snaps her out of the haze. 

“Why?” 

You return to your shower. 

“She wants to have brunch while she’s in town.” 

“Did she see me?”

“No. But wait until I leave before you do. Use my key under the mat to lock up.”

The water stops running. 

Ambessa returns to the bed, and searches for her clothes. 

She hears you mutter to yourself behind her. 

“6 minutes.”

“I see there wont be a worry about discretion, during brunch?”

The shuffling behind her grows closer.

“No, I’m not stupid. I’m not yapping to Mel about fucking her mom. I am decent.”

Ambessa turns to face you. 

“Good. Not as dim as you appear.” 

Ignoring the jab, you toss on your shorts and t-shirt. 

You didn’t have time to bicker with her, you had 3 minutes left to get ready. 

The knock on the door startled the both of you, exchanging a glance at the door and then to Bess.

“Hide in the bathroom.” you whisper. 

Grabbing her shoes and jacket you stuff them in her hands before closing the door behind her. 

You scamper for the door, and open to find Mel. 

“Ready yet?”

You shake your head, opening the door wider to let her in. 

“Nope, let me do my skincare and we can go.” 

She nods entering, her gaze studying your small space for any detail of another being. 

That's when you remember your skincare was in the bathroom with Ambessa.

You walk to the door, and project your voice. 

“Go ahead, Mel. Just sit wherever. I need to do my skincare in the bathroom, then we can head out.”

Mel is taken aback at your volume but nods. 

“Okay, no need to shout. I’m right here.” 

You wait a couple seconds before opening the door slowly. 

No sign of life but you see the curtain shuffle. 

Finding the products on the counter, Mel interrupts you. 

“Don’t you want the light on?”

You nod. Remembering Mel could see you from your living room/bedroom.  

“Oh, yeah. Duh. Somebody keeps rushing me. I can’t think straight.” You huff. 

A chuckle from the shower draws your attention. 

“So, did you arrive this morning?” You ask. 

“No, we drove in yesterday. We had dinner with my mother last night.” 

Finishing your skin care with sunscreen. You continue listening. 

“Oh, yeah? She wasn’t too hard on your new boo?” 

Mel chuckles. 

“Please. My mother couldn’t have a bigger stick up her ass. She thinks Jayce is only with me for money.”

Turning the light off, you walk towards the other woman. Standing near her. 

Your eyes stay on her. 

“Please not you too. I’m not some fool, I know what I’m doing.” 

Putting your hands up in surrender. 

“I didn’t say anything. But you do meet the love of your life like every 6 months, you have set a precedent, my darling.”

Holding your hand out, you offer. 

Mel looks ahead. Eventually taking your hand. She stands up and stares at you. 

The tension in the air suddenly became too serious. 

“But hey what do I know? I still think you and Sevika should give it a go.” you joke. 

Mel rolls her eyes. 

“In your dreams.” 

You link arms and head for the door. 

“So, where did you make reservations?” you ask.

You lock the door behind you, walking with Mel to her car. 

Ambessa waits until she hears the door lock before exiting the shower. 

Since you’d taken over as Batwoman, the villains in Gotham had been making your life difficult since you put the damn mask on. But they didn’t make the job hard, no they came with the work. The stress of the job came from a Crow by the name of Ambessa Medarda. She often stood in the way of justice for the victims being perpetrated on. Her, murder of an organization brought bureaucracy into vigilante work. 

For every thing she did to piss you off, things were more confusing when she was the opposite. Soft and vulnerable when you least expected it.

Things only got more perplexing after she found out your real identity. It’d be easier if she hadn’t been in your life. But seeing as Gotham was small and you’d grown up with her daughter. The relationship was inevitable.

Like tonight for example, you’d gotten a tip from the police scanner that there were a series of burglaries targeting jewelers. 

Ekko came in through the speaker of your Batsuit. 

“Command to Batwoman, Murder on the way.” 

“Damn it.” You hissed. “From what side?”

“Eastbound. There’s an exit from the West side of the building. You can intercept them.”

“Copy that.” 

Steady fingers shoot your grapple gun to the roof of the building. Your body soars to the top of the jewelry store. You tip-toe making your presence moot. Below you, the sound of the crows arriving didn’t ease your anxiety. From the sound of boots crushing gravel, you hear her voice, commanding her team. 

Inching towards death only for a glimpse of Ambessa Medarda at work. 

You are forced to pull yourself back when more of her crew go huddling in.

The noise of gunshots echo from inside the building. You can imagine the destruction happening below your feet. Creeping towards the direction of the emergency exit on the West side of the building, you stand watch. 

A trio of robbers burst through the door with duffle bags. They hobble to a nearby van, escaping inside. Before they can slide the door closed, you toss a smoke bomb inside. Leaving the robbers to gas themselves inside the van. The perfect gift for a Crow's that otherwise, could’ve ruined the mission. 

…

The rest of your evening is spent completing the bar’s closing shift. You’re staring off into space drying beer glasses when a rude cough disrupts your stupor. 

You flinch. Pasting your best customer service smile. 

“Good evening, Commander. Good to see you out on a Friday like a decent person.” 

Ambessa observes you for a minute then sits down in front of you.

“I’m not a fool.” she remarks. 

You continue with the glasses, moving on to the next in your drink carrier. 

“Never said you were.” 

She gestured for her usual. 

Grabbing the whisky glass, you turn and reach for the dark liquor, she prefers. 

Steady eyes watch you pour and place the drink in front of her. 

Her fingers pick up the glass swirling the golden liquid. 

“This partnership doesn’t work if we don’t trust one another.”   

Returning to your glasses you continued drying them with the towel. 

You lean over the bar separating the two of you. 

“I trust you, as much as I can trust a crow. Cut me some slack. This isn’t my ideal collab. The Kowalski’s get their jewels and you get your numbers. I suggest you stop whining and accept the win.” 

Ambessa rolls her eyes and takes the last swig of her drink. 

“We’ll agree to disagree. Have a good night.” 

Nodding while you put her glass away. 

“Leaving so soon? Date night?” you goad. 

Ambessa shrugs her blazer on. 

“My daughter is back in town.” 

You lean on the counter, raising your brows. 

“Mel's in town? She’s engaged right?” 

Ambessa gives you a solemn nod. 

“I have the honor of meeting the slum, she’s rehabilitating this month.” 

You giggle. 

Mel had a habit for taking in strays. Bless her heart, she sought the good in others.

“Mind if I crash? I’d kill to see the lucky bastard.” 

“No. I’ve seen enough of you this week. I can’t have you jeopardizing my weekend.” 

You tossed a mini straw at Ambessa. 

“Keep that same attitude the next time your squad is disarmed.” you rebuke. 

Ambessa doesn’t reply, just glares at you as she exits. 

–

That night, you lie in bed, reading. The windows in your studio cracked open, the noise from the Gotham streets leak into your tiny apartment. 

As someone that avoided clubs you still liked the camaraderie of the club scene. 

A gentle knock catches your attention. Sitting up, your ears focus on the tapping. 

Slowly you grab the bat you keep at your bedside and tip toe to the door. Your fingers carefully open the door keeping the chain still up. 

Peering through the crack, you see no one. 

Then Ambessa comes into frame, a chrotle escapes her lips.

“What? Expecting someone else?” she quips. 

You close the door, removing the chain, opening the door for her. 

“No, just surprised. I thought you had dinner with Mel? How’d that go?” 

Leaving the door open for her, you return the bat to your bedside.  

“As well as one can expect. Another loser wet behind the ears but this one has a startup. I suppose that’s more ambition than the last one.”

Ambessa tosses her blazer on your couch. Turning around to you. 

Sitting on the bed you watch her step out of her boots. 

“Call me selfish, I don’t care. She and Sevika would be perfect for each other.” you respond.

Ambessa approaches you with intention. 

She shrugs.

“I’ve heard you say that often enough, Why don’t you be with Sevika?”

Your fingers gesture for Ambessa to come closer to you.

She approaches you. Her intense gaze on your fingers making quick work removing the rest of her layers. 

“Been there, done that. Her and Mel seem more compatible.” 

That earns a smirk from Ambessa. 

Her gaze remains, you get on your knees to unbuckle her belt. Her favorite view. 

That night ends the same as many before, Ambessa keeping your bed warm noncommittally.

The next morning you’re entangled in the sheets and each other. Ambessa’s large limbs overtake yours on the full mattress. 

A knock disrupts your sleep. Gazing over at your phone, the clock reads 9:30. 

You struggle to get out of bed, annoyed one of your neighbors chooses this moment to ask for something. 

Making a quick headway, you grab the big-tshirt you had on at some point last night before answering the door. 

To your surprise, Mel is opposite your door, looking as fresh and put together as ever. 

She beams seeing you with eye-crust and messy hair. 

“Morning! I wanted to grab brunch while I’m still in Gotham, are you free?” 

You quickly close the door behind you, preventing her from seeing a naked Ambessa draped over your bed. 

She notices another body behind you. 

“Cheeky as ever, last nights conquest is still over?” 

No judgement in her tone. Mel crosses her arms, inspecting you.  

Hands cover your face in shame. 

“Ok, maybe. In my defense, who is up this early? I closed last night, by the way.” 

Mel rolls her eyes. 

“We’re young, you’ll live. Go wash up, and come on. My reservation is at 10.” 

She smiled at you, holding on to her purse, waiting for you to get a move on. 

You groaned.

“Fine, but at least give me 20. And go wait downstairs while I get my guest to leave.” 

Mel remained. 

“I can’t meet them?”

You turn her around. 

“Absolutly not, this is casual. Don’t even do that.” 

Mel gave you a sad face but nodded. 

“Fine, hurry up. I’m parked in front of your building.”

You nod and shoo her away.

Quickly heading back inside, you lock your door. Preventing Mel from even coming in accidentally.

Striding from your door to your bed in two steps. You gaze at Ambessa slumbering peacefully. 

You poke her muscles gently. Trying to rush but also preventing yourself from waking the crow on the wrong side of the bed. 

You crouch by her face. 

“Bess. Bessypoo. Time to get up.” 

You poke her face. 

Slowly her long lashes blink you into view. She rubs her eyes, sitting up the sheet exposing her torso. 

The clock ticking reminds you that you have 16 minutes left on the clock to meet Mel downstairs. Stripping yourself you rush to the shower, tying your hair up before hopping in the tub. 

Ambessa watches you rush comically. Standing, she follows you to the bathroom. 

“Want company?” 

You poke your head from the curtain. The water running behind you.

“No. Mel is downstairs.” 

The mention of her daughter snaps her out of the haze. 

“Why?” 

You return to your shower. 

“She wants to have brunch while she’s in town.” 

“Did she see me?”

“No. But wait until I leave before you do. Use my key under the mat to lock up.”

The water stops running. 

Ambessa returns to the bed, and searches for her clothes. 

She hears you mutter to yourself behind her. 

“6 minutes.”

“I see there wont be a worry about discretion, during brunch?”

The shuffling behind her grows closer.

“No, I’m not stupid. I’m not yapping to Mel about fucking her mom. I am decent.”

Ambessa turns to face you. 

“Good. Not as dim as you appear.” 

Ignoring the jab, you toss on your shorts and t-shirt. 

You didn’t have time to bicker with her, you had 3 minutes left to get ready. 

The knock on the door startled the both of you, exchanging a glance at the door and then to Bess.

“Hide in the bathroom.” you whisper. 

Grabbing her shoes and jacket you stuff them in her hands before closing the door behind her. 

You scamper for the door, and open to find Mel. 

“Ready yet?”

You shake your head, opening the door wider to let her in. 

“Nope, let me do my skincare and we can go.” 

She nods entering, her gaze studying your small space for any detail of another being. 

That's when you remember your skincare was in the bathroom with Ambessa.

You walk to the door, and project your voice. 

“Go ahead, Mel. Just sit wherever. I need to do my skincare in the bathroom, then we can head out.”

Mel is taken aback at your volume but nods. 

“Okay, no need to shout. I’m right here.” 

You wait a couple seconds before opening the door slowly. 

No sign of life but you see the curtain shuffle. 

Finding the products on the counter, Mel interrupts you. 

“Don’t you want the light on?”

You nod. Remembering Mel could see you from your living room/bedroom.  

“Oh, yeah. Duh. Somebody keeps rushing me. I can’t think straight.” You huff. 

A chuckle from the shower draws your attention. 

“So, did you arrive this morning?” You ask. 

“No, we drove in yesterday. We had dinner with my mother last night.” 

Finishing your skin care with sunscreen. You continue listening. 

“Oh, yeah? She wasn’t too hard on your new boo?” 

Mel chuckles. 

“Please. My mother couldn’t have a bigger stick up her ass. She thinks Jayce is only with me for money.”

Turning the light off, you walk towards the other woman. Standing near her. 

Your eyes stay on her. 

“Please not you too. I’m not some fool, I know what I’m doing.” 

Putting your hands up in surrender. 

“I didn’t say anything. But you do meet the love of your life like every 6 months, you have set a precedent, my darling.”

Holding your hand out, you offer. 

Mel looks ahead. Eventually taking your hand. She stands up and stares at you. 

The tension in the air suddenly became too serious. 

“But hey what do I know? I still think you and Sevika should give it a go.” you joke. 

Mel rolls her eyes. 

“In your dreams.” 

You link arms and head for the door. 

“So, where did you make reservations?” you ask.

You lock the door behind you, walking with Mel to her car. 

Ambessa waits until she hears the door lock before exiting the shower. 

sevika

love thy neighbor (one shot) - neighbors!sevika x girl next door!reader

rumor mill (series) - soccer coach!sevika x soccer mom!reader (2)

design flaws & dirty intentions - contractor! sevika x interior designer!reader (2)

conditioned for love - stylist!reader x blue collar!sevika

waiting game (series) assassin!sevika x librarian!r (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

grayson

smoke rings - bodyguard!grayson x engagement ring clerk!reader (2)

perfect victim - detective!grayson x victim!reader (1) (2)

ambessa

reef encounter - (2) milf!Ambessa x loser lesbian!reader

poor choices (Batwoman AU!) - crow!Ambessa x batwoman!reader

abby

door slightly open (one shot)- toxic! a.a. x ex!reader

Burnin' up - Chef! abby x restaurant manager! reader (2)

currently working on...

line cook!abby has two different modes during a lunch or dinner rush: weirdly calm and terrifyingly competent or one minor inconvenience away from burning the entire restaurant down.

line cook!abby works the grill and flat-top primarily, usually alongside her roommate (and best friend) manny. the two of them argue like an old married couple most of the time, which you find hilarious.

line cook!abby has a personal beef with ticket machine. she had broken at least 5 in the entire time she’s worked there, and marlene tells her that the next one is coming out of her paycheck. but it never actually does.

line cook!abby who says things like, “behind”, “move”, “corner” like a drill sergeant.

line cook!abby’s work uniform consists of an array of oversized band tees or cut off tees, cargo shorts or sweatpants and a bleach stained apron. she wears her hair in a neat braid down the middle of her back, or in a messy bun. but if her hair is pissing her off that day she’ll throw it into a low ponytail, put on a backwards dad hat and call it good enough.

line cook!abby apparently “has a thing for pretty waitresses” according to manny. but the only waitress she’s ever been soft on is you.

line cook!abby is addicted to caffeine. she cannot go a whole shift without pounding at least two energy drinks or an extra large iced coffee.

line cook!abby constantly checks to make sure you’ve eaten during your shift. and if you try to tell her you’re too busy or you forgot? suddenly a basket of fries or a grilled cheese will appear next to you while you’re ringing in an order at the kiosk. and she’ll mumble a stern, “go eat. now.” before disappearing back behind the line like it’s no big deal.

line cook!abby who runs extremely hot. if she’s not on the line you can usually find her in the walk-in trying to cool herself off and grumbling about how, “marlene needs to fix the damn air conditioner already.”

line cook!abby is always in control of the aux in the kitchen when she’s working and is not afraid to smack anyone who tries to change the music. you and manny can usually tell what kind of mood she’s in by what genre of music she’s playing. so if creed, matchbox twenty or theory of a deadman is blaring when you clock in, you already know she’s been having a rough afternoon.

line cook!abby wears her irritation and annoyance plainly on her face. she’s snarky and short with almost everyone, but the minute you ask for something? she visibly softens, and does whatever you asked for without question.

“abs, can I get another basket of fries, please?” and with a soft flutter of your lashes or a warm smile, she’s folding immediately—dumping a fresh batch of fries into a basket and sliding them into the expo window without uttering a single complaint.

“christ, you are so fucking whipped, cariño.”

line cook!abby keeps a bandana in her back pocket or a clean towel draped over her shoulder to be able to wipe the sweat from her face throughout her shift. the one time she didn’t seem to have one and had to use the hem of her t-shirt, you nearly dropped an entire tray of food.

line cook!abby has the biggest praise kink. you tell her something she made was delicious? instantly bashful, ears turning pink as she ducks her head and tries to pretend you didn’t just turn her insides to mush. and you’re absolutely tucking that information away for later.

line cook!abby gets weirdly possessive over kitchen tools. she once threatened manny that she’d scrub their toilet with his toothbrush if he ever touched her knives again.

line cook!abby absolutely cannot flirt like a normal person. so she shows her affection in subtle ways like: not complaining or giving you shit when you mess up an order, carrying the ice bucket up to the bar for you because it’s “painful to watch you struggle”, staying late to help you roll silverware after she finishes her own closing duties, playing paramore’s entire discography during a shift that you’re both working together just because she heard you tell leah that they’re one of your favorite bands.

line cook!abby always walks you to your car if the two of you are scheduled to close together. even if she finishes her closing duties faster than you.

line cook!abby absolutely despises remakes or substitutions on orders, and she’s not afraid to let someone know just how much it annoys her.

“the menu says no substitutions, can’t people fucking read?”

“abby, they’re literally allergic to onions.”

“sounds like a personal problem.”

line cook!abby always has a toothpick or pen shoved behind her ear, or stuck in between her teeth. she’s also constantly chewing gum—mostly because she knows it annoys the hell out of manny but baby girl has a oral fixation. she just doesn’t want to admit it.

line cook!abby will absolutely complain about having to close, but it’s secretly her favorite shift to work. especially if you’re on the schedule.

line cook!abby takes a lot of pride in her work, even when she’s slammed and is glaring at every new ticket that comes through like they personally insulted her. but even then she never lets a plate go out on the floor looking like a damn mess.

the one exception she ever made was the time your ex came in and made it their personal mission to make your night a living hell. so when she found you crying in the walk-in not long after, she ‘accidentally’ let that burger burn to a crisp before sending it out with a satisfied smirk.

line cook!abby who always seems to smell like a combination of fresh citrus, old spice and smoke from the grill, no matter how often she washes her clothes.

line cook!abby is constantly burning her hands on something. half the time she doesn’t really react anymore besides cursing under her breath or mumbling a barely audible, “yeah that was fucking dumb, abigail.” to herself.

but if you are in the back when it happens? you’ll insist on helping her bandage it until she finally relents with the most adorable scowl.

line cook!abby is terrible at hiding her jealousy. while she doesn’t cause a scene, or become overly possessive—if she sees a customer flirting with you, she absolutely makes it everyone else’s problem.

she’s slamming pans harder than necessary, muttering constant curses under her breath at the grill, shouting for “someone to run this fucking food already!” the second it appears in the expo window. lev finds it a little too hilarious and is always roasting her when he’s bringing clean dishes up from the pit.

line cook!abby is extremely sentimental. you wrote her a little thank you note on the back of a discarded receipt once before you two started dating and she still has it taped to the inside of her locker.

line cook!abby isn’t big on pda, but when she realizes how much her touch seems to affect you, she makes any and every excuse to get her hands on you when you’re working together. whether it’s a hand against the small of your back as she passes behind you in the kitchen, curling a finger into the loop of your jeans to pull you out of the way when another staff member is dashing around the corner, sneaking up behind you to rest her chin on your shoulder when you’re ringing an order in.

she thinks she’s being subtle most of the time, but abby is about as subtle as a bull in a china shop.

The bright humid air from outside was suffocating in your tiny kitchen. All the windows open, yet you were still a puddle. On occasion a gentle breeze slips past your curtains. Your favorite record was on and your children were bickering in the backyard. The cooler was packed with ice below you and the dog hadn’t been let out yet. Her whining made your heart ache. You sighed as you went through the mental list of tasks you needed to complete before you took the kids to their soccer tournament. 

You made your way to the back patio, the air already 10 degrees cooler outside. You called for your eldest son to walk the d0g while you were out.

He groaned and nodded. You blew a sea of kisses his way, seemingly unphased by my affection and went back to his friends. You returned inside and bent to the cooler of fruit. After dropping off the cut up watermelon into the cooler, you began counting over the containers ensuring you have enough. A ringing phone cut you off. You resumed cutting the strawberries and hit the answer then the speaker. 

“Hey, I’m finishing up the fruit and we’re leaving in 15.” you speak. 

A cough cut through the speaker, “Hey, I appreciate you covering for Angie on snacks, you’re a lifesaver.” Sevika said. 

“Don’t mention it, double ear infection is my worst nightmare. But also is it bad I’m grateful Barrett wont sabotage the game.” 

Sevika chuckled softly at the receiver. “Remember this is a little league not the Olympics.” 

You groaned at her words, you hated being reminded. 

“Oh yeah, no, everyone has to start somewhere, but how are my angels going make it to the Olympics with these duds on their team?” 

“Be careful now, all this shit talking might get you in trouble.” 

You smiled at her words. “That wasn’t shit talking but I can give you–,” 

“Ok, ok I gotta go, see ya later.” 

You finished prepping the strawberries. You packed the cooler playing Tetris with the various tupperware and mini water bottles. 

…

The park buzzed with boisterous yelling and indistinct chatting. You sat on a lawn chair on the edge of the field watching your twins, steal the ball and prove their the best on the team. 

As you sipped your sparkling water, you heard the whispered hushs behind you. 

“That’s what I heard too, she’s sleeping with her, how else would her girls be in the starting lineup, every game.” 

The idea of gossip wasn’t foreign to you. But gossip was only good when the tea was actually hot. This tea felt stale. You stood and the murmurs ceased. Amateurs, you thought, just like their loser kids. You checked your watch, another hour of this bullshit. Your attention fell upon Sevika on the opposite side of the field. She was yelling something with her clipboard, staple scowl she wore religiously. Her outfits were simple, a t-shirt and basketball shorts. Today, she mixed it up with a muscle tee and had her delicious shoulders on display. That little slut.  You’ve had dreams of what it would feel like to have her arms envelop you, your hips. She was usually sweaty– a referee blowing the whistle brought you back to reality.

It’s not fair, Sev was forbidden fruit on a platter. You were able to look as much as you wanted, nothing else. But you cannot  should not fuck your children’s soccer coach, that will only make things messy. The rumor mill was already swirling due to how often you help with cleaning up. Your divorce didn’t make things any better, you need to stay away from Sevika. Which was easier said than done.

...

After the game wrapped up the kids inhaled the snacks and drinks you brought. After everyone ate, the departures began. One after another each player and their parents left, leaving only you and Sevika to clean up. You were grateful that your house was only a block away from the park. You already sent the twins home, so it was just you and Sevika. Alone. You tried not to focus on that fact. Scattered plates and napkins littered the tables, you filled your trash bag. Sevika came up to the picnic table you were working on.

“I win the bet,” Sevika broke the silence.

Your eyes turned to her direction. “Hmm?” you asked. 

“Sheila, last week you said she wouldn’t come to any more games with vodka, ” She mimicked your voice. “I could smell her on the other side of the field.” 

You chuckled and raced to her side giving her a playful shrug, though she didn’t budge.

“I can’t believe you took me seriously, are we surprised? But what about her falling asleep?” you abandoned the trash bag and crossed your arms, lips pursed. 

Sevika smugly nodded her head. “ Saw Alex dragging her to the car 30 minutes ago.” 

You put your hands up in surrender. Sevika inches a few steps closer.

A deep sigh escapes from you. “Fine, I concede, what do you want?” 

Sevika made a faux thinking face, “Lemme think, I don’t wanna waste my wish,” she crept closer to you. You fidgeted with random objects left on the picnic table, in an attempt to avoid her gaze. 

“I got invited to this wine tasting, a birthday gift from my sister, and I gotta bring a plus one.” 

You crept closer to Sevika, resting your head on her shoulder. 

“Awww, date with lil ol me? You know I love an excuse to ‘Wine’ about it.”

Sevika beamed at your words, then quickly went back to her usual nonchalance expression. 

A timer went off on her watch. 

“Lemme drop you off, I gotta head out,” 

You waved her off. “Don’t worry about it, the sun hasn’t even set, I'll finish up here.” 

Sevika eyed the time on her watch and looked back at you. 

“Nope, not risking it, we’re in a dangerous part of the city.”

Your gaze fell upon the manicured park and the cookie cutter homes surrounding your neighborhood. 

“Yes, the suburbs are a very dangerous area, let's get you out of here before trouble finds us.” Grabbing the leftover trash, you filled the bags and tossed them over to the bin.

You followed Sevika to her car. She kept her eyes on her phone as you both walked up to her truck. 

She opened the door for you and waited for you to sit down before shutting it and rushed over to her side. 

“You know you can’t drive with that right, it’s like a whole thing,” you messed with her radio, she smacked your hand still on her phone. 

“Ha. Ha. I’m just letting my parents know I’m on my way, no texting and driving here. Also the radio stays on classic rock, its law.” 

You scoffed at her words. “I’m shotgun, so my word is law actually,” you squint your eyes and flip through different channels. You finally settled back on the classic rock station. Sevika eyed you with a ‘Told you so’ face. “Whatever, nobody listens to the radio anymore.”

“You are something else,” she huffed.

She put her arm on the back of your headrest as she reversed and looked in your direction. The action was something everyone did when you reverse, but why did she look so sexy driving? 

You turned your gaze to the window, avoiding ogling the woman anymore than you already have. You sat on your hands until you made it home. You took deep breaths, why did the 4 minute drive suddenly feel like a road trip. Sevika glanced over at you, she noticed your change in demeanor. One hand on the wheel, the other on the gear shift, 

“You shit yourself or something?” 

You turned sharply at Sevika. “What? Ew. Of course not."

Sevika kept her eyes on the road. “I’m not judging, just let me know, lemme crack a window or something,” she shrugs. 

“Sevika Marie, shut up.” you cross your arms. Eyeing your driveway. She slowly pulls in. 

“You know damn well ‘Marie’ isn’t my middle name,” she says.

You shrugged and open the door. “Do I?” you exited the car and walked to your front door. You go inside, feeling Sevika’s eyes on you. 

What did you just agree to? 

The bright humid air from outside was suffocating in your tiny kitchen. All the windows open, yet you were still a puddle. On occasion a gentle breeze slips past your curtains. Your favorite record was on and your children were bickering in the backyard. The cooler was packed with ice below you and the dog hadn’t been let out yet. Her whining made your heart ache. You sighed as you went through the mental list of tasks you needed to complete before you took the kids to their soccer tournament. 

You made your way to the back patio, the air already 10 degrees cooler outside. You called for your eldest son to walk the d0g while you were out.

He groaned and nodded. You blew a sea of kisses his way, seemingly unphased by my affection and went back to his friends. You returned inside and bent to the cooler of fruit. After dropping off the cut up watermelon into the cooler, you began counting over the containers ensuring you have enough. A ringing phone cut you off. You resumed cutting the strawberries and hit the answer then the speaker. 

“Hey, I’m finishing up the fruit and we’re leaving in 15.” you speak. 

A cough cut through the speaker, “Hey, I appreciate you covering for Angie on snacks, you’re a lifesaver.” Sevika said. 

“Don’t mention it, double ear infection is my worst nightmare. But also is it bad I’m grateful Barrett wont sabotage the game.” 

Sevika chuckled softly at the receiver. “Remember this is a little league not the Olympics.” 

You groaned at her words, you hated being reminded. 

“Oh yeah, no, everyone has to start somewhere, but how are my angels going make it to the Olympics with these duds on their team?” 

“Be careful now, all this shit talking might get you in trouble.” 

You smiled at her words. “That wasn’t shit talking but I can give you–,” 

“Ok, ok I gotta go, see ya later.” 

You finished prepping the strawberries. You packed the cooler playing Tetris with the various tupperware and mini water bottles. 

…

The park buzzed with boisterous yelling and indistinct chatting. You sat on a lawn chair on the edge of the field watching your twins, steal the ball and prove their the best on the team. 

As you sipped your sparkling water, you heard the whispered hushs behind you. 

“That’s what I heard too, she’s sleeping with her, how else would her girls be in the starting lineup, every game.” 

The idea of gossip wasn’t foreign to you. But gossip was only good when the tea was actually hot. This tea felt stale. You stood and the murmurs ceased. Amateurs, you thought, just like their loser kids. You checked your watch, another hour of this bullshit. Your attention fell upon Sevika on the opposite side of the field. She was yelling something with her clipboard, staple scowl she wore religiously. Her outfits were simple, a t-shirt and basketball shorts. Today, she mixed it up with a muscle tee and had her delicious shoulders on display. That little slut.  You’ve had dreams of what it would feel like to have her arms envelop you, your hips. She was usually sweaty– a referee blowing the whistle brought you back to reality.

It’s not fair, Sev was forbidden fruit on a platter. You were able to look as much as you wanted, nothing else. But you cannot  should not fuck your children’s soccer coach, that will only make things messy. The rumor mill was already swirling due to how often you help with cleaning up. Your divorce didn’t make things any better, you need to stay away from Sevika. Which was easier said than done.

...

After the game wrapped up the kids inhaled the snacks and drinks you brought. After everyone ate, the departures began. One after another each player and their parents left, leaving only you and Sevika to clean up. You were grateful that your house was only a block away from the park. You already sent the twins home, so it was just you and Sevika. Alone. You tried not to focus on that fact. Scattered plates and napkins littered the tables, you filled your trash bag. Sevika came up to the picnic table you were working on.

“I win the bet,” Sevika broke the silence.

Your eyes turned to her direction. “Hmm?” you asked. 

“Sheila, last week you said she wouldn’t come to any more games with vodka, ” She mimicked your voice. “I could smell her on the other side of the field.” 

You chuckled and raced to her side giving her a playful shrug, though she didn’t budge.

“I can’t believe you took me seriously, are we surprised? But what about her falling asleep?” you abandoned the trash bag and crossed your arms, lips pursed. 

Sevika smugly nodded her head. “ Saw Alex dragging her to the car 30 minutes ago.” 

You put your hands up in surrender. Sevika inches a few steps closer.

A deep sigh escapes from you. “Fine, I concede, what do you want?” 

Sevika made a faux thinking face, “Lemme think, I don’t wanna waste my wish,” she crept closer to you. You fidgeted with random objects left on the picnic table, in an attempt to avoid her gaze. 

“I got invited to this wine tasting, a birthday gift from my sister, and I gotta bring a plus one.” 

You crept closer to Sevika, resting your head on her shoulder. 

“Awww, date with lil ol me? You know I love an excuse to ‘Wine’ about it.”

Sevika beamed at your words, then quickly went back to her usual nonchalance expression. 

A timer went off on her watch. 

“Lemme drop you off, I gotta head out,” 

You waved her off. “Don’t worry about it, the sun hasn’t even set, I'll finish up here.” 

Sevika eyed the time on her watch and looked back at you. 

“Nope, not risking it, we’re in a dangerous part of the city.”

Your gaze fell upon the manicured park and the cookie cutter homes surrounding your neighborhood. 

“Yes, the suburbs are a very dangerous area, let's get you out of here before trouble finds us.” Grabbing the leftover trash, you filled the bags and tossed them over to the bin.

You followed Sevika to her car. She kept her eyes on her phone as you both walked up to her truck. 

She opened the door for you and waited for you to sit down before shutting it and rushed over to her side. 

“You know you can’t drive with that right, it’s like a whole thing,” you messed with her radio, she smacked your hand still on her phone. 

“Ha. Ha. I’m just letting my parents know I’m on my way, no texting and driving here. Also the radio stays on classic rock, its law.” 

You scoffed at her words. “I’m shotgun, so my word is law actually,” you squint your eyes and flip through different channels. You finally settled back on the classic rock station. Sevika eyed you with a ‘Told you so’ face. “Whatever, nobody listens to the radio anymore.”

“You are something else,” she huffed.

She put her arm on the back of your headrest as she reversed and looked in your direction. The action was something everyone did when you reverse, but why did she look so sexy driving? 

You turned your gaze to the window, avoiding ogling the woman anymore than you already have. You sat on your hands until you made it home. You took deep breaths, why did the 4 minute drive suddenly feel like a road trip. Sevika glanced over at you, she noticed your change in demeanor. One hand on the wheel, the other on the gear shift, 

“You shit yourself or something?” 

You turned sharply at Sevika. “What? Ew. Of course not."

Sevika kept her eyes on the road. “I’m not judging, just let me know, lemme crack a window or something,” she shrugs. 

“Sevika Marie, shut up.” you cross your arms. Eyeing your driveway. She slowly pulls in. 

“You know damn well ‘Marie’ isn’t my middle name,” she says.

You shrugged and open the door. “Do I?” you exited the car and walked to your front door. You go inside, feeling Sevika’s eyes on you. 

What did you just agree to? 

Bodies swarmed around through the industrial kitchen. The heat billowed into the air conditioned dining area as you stormed through the double doors. The plate in your hand was salmon risotto. It should've been shrimp risotto. You slammed the plate on the pick up counter. 

“Chef, can I get a shrimp risotto on the fly.” 

“I just gave you one.” Chef Anderson yelled. 

“You fucked up the order, wrong protein!” you yell back, matching her tone.

Anderson was testing an aioli, gliding over to the prep station to finish setting up the dish. She threw the plate on the counter. 

“Make sure your servers ring the orders correctly, we don't have the time to correct your mistakes, [name].” 

You reached for the dish, and burned your hand, almost dropping the dish. 

Amy, a server behind you, had a towel ready. 

“I can take it out.” she grabbed your plate as you frantically waved your hand to relieve the raw, stinging sensation, and exited the back of house. 

You ran to the sink holding your blistered hand and you watched it run under cold water. More of your servers swarmed you. Between the crowd of concern and the pain, agitation grew in your gut. In addition to the intense piercing gaze, boring holes into your head, thinking felt impossible.  

“I’m fine, I’m fine, just a minor burn.” you grumbled.

You heard the sound of someone leaving the cookline, approaching the group around you. Chef Anderson cuts through the mass of people, picking your hand up between hers. You meet her gaze. 

“This could’ve been avoided.” She stated with a stern expression. 

You grabbed your hand swiftly from her grasp. 

“Yeah, yeah I’m well aware of my error, Chef. Thanks.” you replied dryly. 

You wrapped up your hand, and continued with your work.

…

Slowly approaching your door. You reached for the key to your apartment, forgetting about the burn from earlier. Grabbing it with the bandaged hand. 

‘Owww.” you groaned. The door swings open, your girlfriend appears. Abby stands before you, looking like a hit puppy. 

“Why didn't you tell me you were on your way?” She takes your bag and holds the door open with her back.

You enter and you bend down to undo your shoes. She smacks your uninjured hand away and continues taking your shoes off. 

“What do you think you’re doing, I can do it, just sit down.” 

You obey her order, plopping down on the stool in your entryway. She slips off your shoes and your coat. Abby holds her hand for you to grab. You ignore it. You pass through the corridor and head for the kitchen. Abby must’ve taken care of dinner. 

“Traffic was terrible, I did feel like texting because of this.” you held your bandaged hand up. 

“Sit down, I’m so sorry, baby.” she cooed. 

“Shut up, you’ve been apologizing all day, even through text. it's getting annoying.” 

“Is it?” She threw a worried look at you. 

“No, it's been annoying.” you give her a teasing smile. Abby sat on the couch & pulled you into her lap. She nuzzled in the curve of your neck. 

“This isn’t fair, I wanted to hold you all day.” Abby sighs as she cuddles into you.

“No, we agreed. We can’t tell them. I’m a private person that isn’t changing for you.” You booped her nose on the last word. 

Her large palms rubbed the side of your thighs. 

“Dinner is ready, I got takeout from that new place on the eighth & Broadway.” she eyed you expectantly. 

You turned to face her. 

“But you hate ordering in,” you cried, squeezing her as tight as you can. 

Abby attacked your face with a rain of kisses. 

“Stay here, I’ll fix you a plate.” she stated.

…

You rolled silverware alone, as the waiters hustled around you. Too busy listening to a podcast on your airpod, you didn’t notice the figure approach behind you. 

A cough startled you. 

“Is this ticket a joke? What the fuck is ‘Carbonara everything on the side’?” 

You pretend to think over the order, like there were others you could confuse it with. 

“Well, let's use our thinking brain, Chef. If carbonara is made with eggs, bacon, parmesan and pasta, and the customer requested all those components on the side…” 

You look at her with wide eyes expectantly. 

Abby glared at you. A mirthless chuckle escaped her lips. 

“You want scrambled eggs, pasta, bacon and parmesan and pasta, all separated?” 

Your eyes rolled to the back of your head. “If fine dining is too much, I know McDonalds is always hiring, Chef.” 

Tossing Abby, a saccharine smile, you notice the mask fall. She quickly looked around to ensure there was no one around to see her error. She threw her grimace back on. 

“What is wrong with these people?” she mutters to herself. 

You turned around and ogled her figure as she strode into the kitchen. Your eyes didn’t leave her ass until she turned the corner. 

The counter vibrated from your phone. You press the screen to see the notification. 

Anderson: I could feel the hole your eyes left on my ass.

[name]: 🤷‍♀️can’t prove shit.

You giggled at the message. 

Amy rounded the corner returning the tray to its slot. She comes up behind you. 

“Who’s got you acting goofy at work?” 

You lock your phone and turn it face down. “No one, just a lame meme my sister sent me.” you murmur. 

Amy plays with her ponytail, sizing you up. “Okay girl, whatever you say.” She sounds unconvinced but doesn’t pry. 

During lunch you sat alone near the window, eating your leftovers from yesterday. You stole glances as Abby. She was across the room, eating a sandwich, listening to something with her headphones. You wonder which book she was listening to, she always had at least 5 checked out from the library. You looked down to your phone propped up, you watched the real housewives while you ate. Movement drew your attention to her side of the room. Venesa, a new host, sat beside Abby, the other woman barely acknowledged her. You rolled your eyes and went back to the housewives. Your gaze was glued to your screen but your peripheral view remained on the pair. You watched the interaction play out, Venesa sits down without getting any acknowledgement from Abby. This leads her to wave her hand in the chef’s face. Abby remained unimpressed and took out her headphones, you didn’t hear the conversation. But you see Venesa stand up and walk to an empty table. You bite your lip at the interaction, it gave you satisfaction but you hated having to constantly watch her get hit on at work. 

This is what you wanted, that voice kept reminding you in the back of your head. While another voice fueled by your possessive side took center stage. Deep down you knew this arrangement wouldn’t last long, you’d been together a year and a half and only moved in together recently. How much longer could you both hold up the charade?

The aura in Opal & Onyx was buzzing. Brightness filled every inch of the shoppe, oppressive white surrounding you. The hideous snowflake chandeliers surround the rotunda. The store was poorly decorated by new money, anyone entering the shop could tell. Between the marble patterned floor, excessive lighting, it's giving heavenly hell. If you weren’t working you’d be overwhelmed by how filled the store was at the moment.

Why did men think holiday proposals were groundbreaking? Statistically most proposals happen in December. Nothing causes you more nausea than the holiday season, between everyone assuming you celebrate it and now you have to help men that know nothing about their partners attempt to make grand gestures of romance.  

A couple you were consulting debated bands sizes before you. Your stance remained cordial, though the bickering led you to believe you wouldn't be making a sale today. You had a mental checklist whenever couples came in together. 

Who’s in charge? 

What’s the budget? 

Do you know what you want?

The last question mattered more than the others, nothing clogged your cue more than indecisive adults. The irony of such a cynic like yourself making a living selling engagement rings, but you had bills.

As the straight couple contemplated their relationship before you, your gaze explored the room until your eyes landed on her. Grayson’s fine ass stood by the door. Your gaze traveled down her body, you thought of the things you’d let that woman do to you. Grayson had a clean cut look to her, dressed formally with a gray tailored 2 piece suit. She must iron her suit before work, judging by the crisp lines in her blazer. One of the only good things about this place. You wondered how she liked her eggs in the morning.  

After the couple finally left, you took your break. 

The mid-day smoke break was your favorite part of the day. You told your coworker, and grabbed your coat before heading out through the back. Entering the darkness, frigid December weather knocked the wind out of you. You curled into yourself and lit your cigarette. As you take a drag leaning against the back of the jewelry store, you savor your smoke, this might be your last for a while. The lack of sales this month made your stomach rumble, you did the math, coming in wee shy of the rent. You’d have enough for this month, but you needed to find something else, selling rings didn’t bring in money when you worked on commission. Your mind is cycling through different solutions to your money problem. A cough snapped you from your stupor, making your heart stop. You grabbed your chest.

“Do you have a light?” a crisp voice said. Grayson stood beside you. “Sorry, I scared you.”

When did she get here? Her scent of blond woods with hints of vanilla drew you in. Shaking your head, you handed the older woman your light. 

“Those things will kill you, y’know?” she murmurs. A mousey smile graced her lips. 

“Let's hope so.” You resented how people always had something to say about your habit.  

Grayson reached out and grabbed the lighter. 

“Since when do you smoke, Grayson? Always saw you as the straight edge type.” 

She shook her head slowly. “You could ask what I’m doing instead of making assumptions” 

You scoffed.

Thoughts raced. This was the most you’ve spoken to her. Grayson held the light up to her cuff sleeve. The lighter singed a loose thread. 

“Clothes are made very poorly these days,” Grayson muttered. She blew on the cuff. 

Your mouth hung open as you watched the other woman. 

“You’re funny, seems like I’m not the only one flirting with death,” a humorless chuckle escaped your lips, shaking your head as you took another drag. Halfway through the cigarette now. 

Grayson shook her head. “I don’t want the stitch to unravel,”

“You can’t cut it? 

She shook her head slowly. 

“It’s better to seal it off. I knew a seamstress and she had a tool for it. I need to make do with what I have.” she huffed.

“You know, this is the longest we’ve talked.” your eyes traveling up from her italian shoes until you meet her eyes. She breaks the staring contest.

“That can’t be true,” She shoves her hands in her pockets and eyes the cement at her feet. 

“Nope, it is. Our shifts never line up, you covering for Adrienne?” 

She nods. “She had festival plans with her latest girlfriend,” 

You nod taking in her words, and exhaling smoke opposite of her, the wind had other plans and defeated your gesture. 

“Well, I’m glad we got to yap, I found out you're a sociopath and you learned of my nicotine addiction. Big things are happening.” 

Grayson chuckled. 

“That enough for marriage now,” 

You giggled at her words.

“Imagine spending 10 grand on someone and you don’t even know their ring size. Couldn't be me.” 

“Did you see the older couple Mya was helping?” 

You shook your head. 

“I was too busy dealing with the high school ‘sweethearts’.” I mocked.

“They met a month ago, got hitched at a drive thru and now they’re planning a wedding.” 

You ash your cig, “Jesus, and they say we move fast.” 

Grayson nodded then stepped closer. 

“What is it?” 

You furrowed your brows at her. 

“Your shoe size.” 

You realized what she was doing.

“You know that's a myth, it's just a coincidence if your ring size is the same as your shoe.” 

Grayson leaned on the wall and ran her fingers through her silky tresses. Her hair sat just above her cheekbones, the back closed crop. 

The impulsive urge to sniff her scalp was buzzing inside you. 

“I’m an 11 in both,” she states.

You took the last drag out of your filter at this point, and threw it in the trash beside the door. 

“Good for you, Grayson.” you tilted your head at her and stepped closer. Holding her gaze. 

“If I knew you were this funny, I would’ve spoken to you sooner.” 

“Why didn’t you?” you countered. 

A timer on your watch sung, announcing the end of your break. 

The smug grin of satisfaction she wore. 

“See you later,” you said. 

Grayson held your gaze. You break the contest, this time. Cowering in your coat, she opens the door for you. 

“Thanks,” you murmur. 

Once inside you quickly take your coat back to your locker and return to your post. You checked your watch, you have 3 more hours and you’ll be free. 

…

The rest of your shift went fairly well, even made a few sales, I might make rent next month. You were heading out waiting for Mya, when Grayson came up. 

“A couple of us are going to the bar across the street, wanna come?” She bit her lip waiting for your answer. 

You eyed your watch, it was only a quarter past 9 on a Saturday. You nod, “Sure sounds like fun, did you see Mya?” 

“She left with Brian, do you wanna ride with me?” 

You clutch your tote and nod again. 

You walked towards Grayson’s Jeep together. 

“You would drive a Jeep,” 

She looks over at you slowly, unlocking her car with her remote. “What do you mean by that?” 

You shrug your shoulders and let yourself in. 

As you make your way to the bar, your eyes roam Grayson’s car Jeep, it was really clean and lacked personality. That seemed like her. You fingers itched to go through the different compartments, but you weren’t familiar with each other, you had some home training. 

You finally made it to the bar and Grayson parked near the front. She cut the engine and looked over at you. 

“If you need a ride home, I don’t mind.” 

You were gripping to your tote bag for dear life. First conversation and now she wants to take you home. Between the commission from today and this, you thought this day was setting you up for something awful.

You needed to say something, her ash eyes expectantly awaiting your response. Her gaze made you hyperware of her perception. 

“Could you not look at me for a second.” 

She turned away from you. She spoke to the window. “Is this better?” 

You nodded, then remembered she couldn’t see you. 

“Yeah, sorry, I don’t know why I agreed. I hate bars, I hate hanging out with our coworkers, they’re just a lot, y’know?” 

Some strands of hair move forward as she nods slowly. “Honestly, I was surprised when you agreed.” 

Grayson reclined her seat, still facing the window. “I can take you home, if you want.” 

You put your bag down. “Look at me.” 

She obeys. 

“Wanna get something to eat?”

…

20 minutes later, you and Grayson are being seated at a booth in a diner in the city. The hostess placed large plastic menus in front of you and left. 

You and Grayson slide into your own sides. 

“Taco bell is still an option,” you purse your lips. 

She throws an unamused stare your way. 

You roll your eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. What are you thinking?” 

Your eyes glimpse at the menu, your mind has been made. You gaze goes up to Grayson staring down at the menu, her eyes focused.

“I’ll have french toast, you?” 

Grayson shakes her head, turning the menu over. 

“Maybe the club sandwich or the philly steak.” 

You went back to the menu. “They had a philly steak? Do I want that or breakfast.” you bobbed your head side to side. Your phone buzzed, you saw the text from your roommate but ignored it. 

“Breakfast always wins.” you collected both of your menus and placed them in the center of the table. 

Your server came around and dropped off waters and took your orders. Once she left, Grayson took a sip of her water. You left yours untouched. You watched her peer over at you. You felt the judgement in her gaze. 

“I don’t drink tap water okay? I don’t trust it’s clean, you never know what could be lurking in unpurified water.” 

Grayson made a face at you and set her water down. “It is purified, and how are you hesitant about that but not cigarettes?” 

“That’s not the same, and you know it. I know what's in my lil cancer stick, and it's way more sustainable than the plastic vapes that are disposable.”

“You’re intriguing, you know that?” 

You blink your eyes at her, “It’s because I’m a pisces.” 

She nods. “I’m a scorpio.” 

“I can see that, you do have an intensity to you.” you mused. 

Grayson leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. “What else do you see?” 

The alarms in your mind said she was flirting, but the logical part of your brain reminded you that she’s like more than a decade older than you and you’re giving yourself too much credit. 

“You’re a big fan of being outside, and because work has you inside all day, you spend your weekends hiking or fishing or some shit like that. You also seem like that brand of human that enjoys camping.” 

Grayson chuckles. “Camping is fun when you’re with the right people.” 

“Sleeping on a forest floor can never be fun, sounds like my personal nightmare.” 

“Okay, but see it like this, you get to get away from everything. Only with nature, you can get your hands dirty, go on a hike if that’s all too much, the vibes are immaculate.” she hums, taking another sip from her water. 

The server brought out your food and you ate in silence.

“You don't have to sleep on the floor, you can also sleep in a cot. Some of the best sleep of my life has happened on a forest floor. Nothing beats the sound of insects at night, the forest is like the city for the bugs in a way. ” 

You nodded slowly at her words as you cut into your french toast. Your phone buzzed, you ignored it again. 

After you both finished eating, you looked at your watch, it read 10:30. You grabbed your phone and looked at the messages. 

“Fuck…” 

Grayson looked up packing the rest of her philly away. “What’s wrong?” 

You sighed. “My roommate is a slut, that’s what. She brought someone home, our walls are super thin, now I have to either wait them out or just grab a pair of headphones and sit in the lobby of my apartment until they leave.” Another deep sigh escapes from your lips. 

Grayson fixed a displeased look at you.

“No, I don’t mean slut derogatory, I love sluts. I’m a slut. I’m pissed off she's getting laid, and I can’t even sleep in my bed.” You murmur in your hands.

This day had been so long, and it just kept dragging.

“Well, you can always stay over at mine, I don’t have a roommate, just a studio.” 

You sink into yourself.

“Are you sure, I don’t wanna impose, I can wait a few hours, they just updated the lobby and they have comfier couches now.”

Grayson chuckled sadly. “No, please, I insist. But I understand if yo–” 

“I’m interested.” you stammered. “In sleeping over, the couches aren’t that comfy.”

A small grin graced her lips at your words.

SZA’s ambience filled the air from the record player; sandalwood wafted every inch of your apartment. Your humming couldn’t be contained as your eyes scan the recipe on your iPad a final time. The chaos of the kitchen dressed with eggshells, dirty measuring cups, and other baking supplies. The separated dry and wet ingredients in two bowls sat in front of you...

Milk?

Since when did cupcakes need milk? How could you forget the milk? You zoom to your fridge, scanning through the takeout containers, condiments, and Soju, but no milk. Perhaps your neighbor had some? Your legs saunter over before your anxiety can change your mind. 

Marching over to your front door, you slipped on Crocs and marched your way to the opposite apartment. You knocked on the door, waiting to see if anyone was home. As your eyes roamed the decrepit hallway, you remembered how you’d left the house in your home clothes. The faded floral loose pajama shorts with a black cropped tank. The drafty hallway pebbled your nipples, your hair probably looked a mess. Anxious thoughts consumed you at the thought of your neighbor seeing you disheveled. Before you fully turned around, you were interrupted by a voice. 

“Hey [name], what's up?” 

With caution, you turned your body towards the sound; Sevika. She stood against the door frame. The loose bun, hanging low from the day, her undercut on display and a single AirPod in. She must've gotten back from the gym. Low-rise basketball shorts hugged her hips, and a homemade muscle tee hung from her torso. The arm slits beyond stretched displaying her obliques.

You crossed your arms over your stomach reflexively, self-conscious of the skin you're showing.

“Hey Sevika, I hope this isn't a bad time."

“Nah, unless you’re bringing back the Dutch oven you borrowed." she mused, mirroring your stance.

“Yes, my original bread didn’t rise right, so I’ll need it for just a little longer, I can get it back to you this weekend.” 

“Fine, I guess I could spare a few seconds, being neighbors and all.”

Her eyes marveled down your body, taking in exposed collarbone, the swell of your tits swinging freely in your itty bitty crop and the plush thighs dressed with Lilo & Stitch crocs.

You couldn’t blame her for admiring.

The journey her eyes made finally landed on yours. She didn’t hear the question you asked. Her mind wandered to other things. Intrusive thoughts daring her to reach out and squeeze with both hands. Sevika was grateful her arms are crossed– afraid of any accidents.

“Sorry, what'd you need?” 

“D’you have any milk, my brain, like ignored it in the recipe? And I of course haven't gone grocery shopping in a fat minute.”

She chuckled softly. “Yeah, gimme a sec." she said as she disappeared into her apartment. 

You held the door open with your croc. The earthy patchouli atmosphere wrapped around your nose. The various sports equipment littered her entryway, leaning in as you scanned her place. She had a mountain bike in the hallway, some fishing rods against the walls. The last time you’d seen this entryway was when she moved in a few months ago. The approaching footsteps shooed you back to the hallway. 

“Here’y go.” 

You reach for the carton.

“You are saving my life, I’m making these cupcakes for a baby shower and I chose this opportunity to try a new recipe instead of my tried and true.” 

Sevika crosses her arms, and nods at your words. 

“If you need a taste tester, I know how to eat.” With a wink, she let her joke hang.

You rolled your eyes. “I’ll just holler if I need anything.” 

Sevika bites her lip to hold her tongue. 

As you grabbed for the milk, your eyes catch a number etched into the side of the container in marker. 

Sevika wiped sweat off her forehead with the hem of her muscle tee, drawing your eyes to her V-line and a happy trail leading to a small puff of curls.

“If you ever need more milk or anything, don’t be a stranger." she said slyly. A covert grin decorating her lips. 

The bashfulness couldn’t be contained as you fidgeted with the container. Avoiding the other woman’s intense gaze. 

You scrunch your face, head tilting side to side. 

“This wasn’t a pick-up or anything; I just needed milk.” 

She leaned down inches from your face. “Whatever you say."

The aroma of cardamom and tobacco hit you, the temptation daring you to close the gap. 

She returned to her apartment and winked at you. “Next time, just come in.” Then she shut the door. 

with the warm thoughts of her you took an everything shower, enjoying the hot streams of water. feeling refreshed after, you left your hair wet as you put on the shirt you usually sleep in - one you stole from vi. oversized, red and with a big spiderman logo in the middle that always made you huff with laugh at the audacity of this woman. summer was getting closer and everyone could feel it in the stuffy, hot air, so you dropped pants and settled in with your comfy cotton panties.

humming under your breath you relocated to your room, turning on a lamp on your nigthstand, dimming it down a bit so it wouldn’t be too flashy. in that moment you heard a shuffling noise and when you turned around you saw vi, crouching on your windowsill in her suit, window pushed up, free hand already tugging at the red mask.

“well, hello, pretty.” she said, jumping into the room, throwing the mask on your desk, looking you up and down. “you my fan or somethin’?”

“oh, drop it. it’s your shirt, stupid.” you replied playfully, watching her stalk closer, her gaze almost devouring you, a few strands of hair sticking to her sweaty forehead, cheeks a bit flushed after all the swinging and fighting she did tonight.

“yeah. and you look dashing in it, shortcake.” her voice was breathless and you were pretty sure that this wasn’t from physical exertion. not with the way she looked like she was starved, yet like she was begging for something at the same time. her eyes got hazy and she got that puppy-like look on her face, brows furrowing the slightest, hands curling up in fists and uncurling as if she wanted, needed to touch you, feel you.

“…missed you.” she whispered, standing right in front of you. you whispered it back, obviously, your hand moving to rest on her bicep, feeling the spandex of her suit, her muscles sculptured underneath it.

she kissed you, soft and sweet, her lips moving in tandem with yours, chasing you when you took a step back, towards the bed. she couldn’t bear being away from you even an inch, not when she was finally here, not when she finally had you right there. her hands travelled around your curves, groping at the flesh wherever she could reach. she smirked against your lips when her fingers started pulling up your - her - shirt to touch your tummy and move upwards towards your soft breasts.

“wanna fuck you in this shirt. don’t take it off, yeah? need to make you feel good, please.” she mumbled against your lips, her voice turning whiny with every second. she was so damn needy, turning into an obedient pup whenever around you. and the way you wore this shirt, with basically her logo big, visible, in the middle - it’s your private marking. you are spiderman’s. and she is yours.

she gently pushed you down on your bed, hovering over you, her touch reverent, almost worshipping your every nook and cranny before she pushed open your legs, fingers still hidden in spandex gloves touching up your thighs, the smooth, cold feeling making you shiver. when she saw the goosebumps she couldn’t help but hum, pleased, lips curving in a self satisfied grin.

“poor thing. pretty missed me so badly, huh?” she cooed, her voice teasing but the look she gave you showed obviously how affected she was by all of this as well.

“shouldn’t you— violet, take off the suit. i’ll make a mess.” you said when her gloved hands started tugging down your white cotton panties with a wet patch visible in the middle.

she only shushed you in an answer, not even giving a cheeky reply back, too focused on the sight she deemed heavenly. a silent curse left her lips when the pads of her fingers brushed up against your slit, collecting the wetness on the glove that almost immediately started soaking into the fabric. you knew damn well you’ll have to wash her suit after this, definitely.

she could spend hours like this, near you, worshipping you and your body, bringing you to the edge time after time and making you come as if she felt the need to make up for the time she lost saving the city. she whispered soft praises, touched reverently, kissed you everywhere she could reach and left small love bites on your thighs, stomach, neck and shoulders. she was completely devoted to you, to making you feel good. but she was also selfish at the same time, needing to feed her desperation every time you whined and moaned, every time your face scrunched up and twisted in pleasure, every time your back arched off bed.

she only stopped when you were in tears of pleasure, red shirt all sweaty and sticky against your tired body. then she softly peppered your skin with kisses, letting you come down from your high before she gently cleaned the mess between your legs and took off her suit that was also all sweaty and covered in your fluids.

You open your eyes in a dark dank hotel room. Your eyes explored the unfamiliar space, a stale stench of cigarette hung in the air. The sheets had multiple visible stains and the floor was an outdated linoleum that peeled up at the corners. Some areas exposed the concrete below. The room scared you because someone would have to seriously hate themselves to sleep in this room. It seemed like you were alone. You were petrified of who took you. 

Your mind wandered to Sevika, what if she thought you left her? The idea of her being alone, broke your heart. 

The door shook as it opened, you were scared to see who would be on the other side. The anticipation grew in the pit of your stomach. What kind of monster would kidnap you? 

When the door opened your heart fell. 

He was balancing multiple takeout containers with wings and pizza. 

His eyes met yours. 

“Hey Sis, glad you're awake! Want some?” he practically shouted. The words echoed off the peeling wallpaper. 

“No?” 

He shrugged. 

“Suit yourself.” 

Your ass was growing numb on the hard wood chair. You fidgeted with your restraints behind your back. Your next choice had to be deliberate, you can’t just say anything. But in the end, the anger for your brother boiled over your rationality. 

“Why the FUCK am I here!” you screamed. 

The voice didn’t reflect your own. It came out raspy and hoarse. 

He tossed a loose smile your way, pleased to have gotten this reaction out of you. 

“Little miss perfect, not looking so good.” he sucked his teeth. 

He dropped the food on the dining table before you and scarfed down a greasy slice. 

“Calm down. We have plenty of time to catch up.” 

He unfolded a napkin and dropped a couple slices of pizza on it. He put it in front of you. 

You watched as he stood up and undid your restraints. 

Your hands rubbed the rope burns on your wrist as you eyed the pizza. You hesitated, unsure of the tricks he had up his sleeve. 

“Don’t worry, I didn’t poison it.” 

You watched him grab a slice from the box and eat. 

The slice he took looked different than yours. Out of precaution, you grab his and take a bite. 

He takes a curt breath and scrunches up his lips. 

“So fucking annoying,” he grumbles. 

…

Sevika was having a video call with an old contact. It’d been years since she’d worked with Kirraman, before she worked alone. 

Vi continued to hover over her, she thought the young woman might go home or leave but it seemed like she’d be stuck to her side until they found you. 

“Sevika, I’m checking the coordinates you gave and I’m not coming up with anything.” Cait said. 

“Did you see the other numbers I gave you? Did you send her the other ones I suggested.” Vi interjects. 

“I can’t check alleyways, they don’t have CCTV. I need clear markers that are in the open, specifically large gatherings or main streets. The larger the area, the better the coverage.” Cait replied. 

Sevika grumbled to herself, this is taking too long. If she had it her way she would’ve got in her truck and looked everywhere–but she needed support if she was gonna find you. She was certain it was your brother. 

She stood up and paced in the room. 

“This is taking too long. I need to be out there. He could be anywhere.” Sevika remarked. 

Vi stared at her. 

“You’re really convinced it's her brother. Maybe he rented a car?” 

Sevika shook her head. 

“He’s not smart enough to think ahead or plan, he’s driving his piece of shit truck that he followed us here with.” 

“If I’m kidnapping someone I need a place to tie them up, somewhere no one will bother me, and cheap.” 

Sevika halts. This was the most helpful Vi had been since she slimed her way here. 

“Hey Cait, was it? Can you check how many hotels are in town?” Vi asks. 

“No.” Sevika interrupts. “Check hotels within a 5 mile radius. He needs something close.” 

Sevika sits back down in the seat, awaiting Cait to confirm. 

“10 motels within the area, need to make that smaller. This is still too broad.” Her voice comes through the laptop. 

“Try cash only motels that don’t require a deposit.” Vi suggests. 

“I’ve got 3. The Sleep‑EZ Lodge,  The Night Owl Inn and The Dusty Trail Motor Lodge.” 

Vi shakes her head. 

“Sleep EZ is shut down. Great place to squat if you don’t have much. They have to be there.” 

Sevika writes down the name of the other 2 just in case. 

“Let's go. Thanks, Cait.” Sevika closes the laptop. 

Vi looks up as Sevika stands. 

“Can I come?” 

Sevika shakes her head. 

“No, stay here– in case she comes back.” 

Vi rolls her eyes. 

“She’s literally kidnapped, the chances of that happening are nil. Let me help you! I’m not a weak link.” She flexes her muscles for emphasis. 

“You’re not coming with me. I don’t need anyone slowing me down. It’ll be easier this way, trust me.” 

Vi slumps her shoulders. 

“Fine.” 

Sevika exits and rushes to her car, she opens up her trunk with all of her goodies filled with guns, knives and injectables to make people compliant. She contemplates grabbing everything to take your brother out. She eventually settles on the hand-gun, anything bigger will weigh her down and she can overpower him in 1 on 1. 

…

You watch as your brother makes the most disgusting mouth noises fingering his teeth for bits of pizza. The image is a sight for sore eyes. 

“Why am I here? Why are you here? Why did you follow us out here?” 

“With ease, sister. I’ll tell you everything when the time comes. I just think it's interesting that your little girlfriend thinks she can take my money and get out of town like it's no big deal.” 

At this point, you were too annoyed by his rambling. 

“What are you talking about? Sevika doesn’t need your money. Also what money? Last I heard you need a job to get money?” 

He tosses you a faux chuckle. 

“Oh that's good. You’re funny. You think you can just ruin my plans and make off with my money? After everything I did!” 

He stands and creeps up to you. 

“I had an entire plan, and everything was set and you have to ruin it, because that's your thing. You’re a ruiner!” he snarled and slammed his fists at his side like a toddler throwing a tantrum. 

The pizza breath repulsed you. The more he spoke the less sense he made. 

“What does this have to do with anything? Is it Dad? You can have him. Not his daughter,  never was.” you replied. 

He shook his head, getting more frustrated. 

“No, I mean yes, everything is about dad. Don’t you get it?” 

He brought his face up to yours. 

“I was supposed to be his surviving son, and get life insurance and finally get them damn loan sharks off my back, but you had to ruin it with the doctors visits and the ensure, and you!”  

He gestures at you for emphasis. 

“Oh. You’re mad because I took care of him, and you were trying to kill him for money?” 

“Yes! He was already there and just needed a little push.” Tightening his fists with passion. 

“If it's a push then they aren’t really there.” you replied. 

“Yes he was!” 

You could see the vein bulging in his forehead as he barked. 

“He was gonna be in a coma for a few months, keep the pension payments coming and then pay out from the insurance after he kicked the bucket.” 

He backed up and began pacing and biting his finger nails. 

Your eyes searched the room for anything to defend yourself with. The table only had plastic cutlery, and everything else was too light to attack him with. Then your eyes landed on an alarm clock. It wouldn’t kill him but it could disarm him enough to make your escape. 

“The pension would help me set up a college fund for Corey, and the insurance would help me get back on my feet. The house is already paid off, I just needed some more time.” he says. 

“And then you’d get a job?” you inquired. 

The question lit him back up. 

“Of course not. Then I’d use the life insurance payout I took on you. Yours was bigger since you were younger. 20 million.” 

He crept up to you again. 

“The old man was a little fish, getting a contract killer for you was the real plan.” 

An uneasy chuckle escapes your lips. 

“Yeah right, you don’t have the balls to hire a killer. Just like you don’t have the balls to fill out a job application.”

Getting up from the chair and stretching. Testing the waters to see how much movement he’d allow. 

He sits down and puts his feet up on the table. You watch his shoes sit too close to the food on the table for your liking. 

“I did, I was gonna pay them 1 milli and everything. But they backed out at the last minute. Fucking coward. And then I saw you and your little bulldagger driving away. And then it clicked. She was hired to kill you but fell for your ugly ass.” he snarled. 

Your mind didn’t buy anything he said. Of course he’d use Sevika to get to you. Low hanging fruit. 

You rolled your eyes. 

“Sure, just because you’re alone. We all have to be alone like you.”

“Oh, you think I’m kidding? Come sit down, lemme show you everything.” 

You shook your head. 

“I’m not sitting down with your crazy ass-” 

A loud slam drew your attention. 

You looked down and he had a pistol on the table. 

“I said sit down, sis.” 

…

Sevika checked every room in the abandoned motel. Nothing. The place was abandoned with some squatters like Vi said. 

She kicked one of the doors, frustrated with how long this was taking her. She wondered if this was her karma for even accepting this contract. When she’d gotten the offer it was too good to be true. She should’ve known better. 

She slumped back to her car, Sevika took out the note of the other motels nearby. She swore under her breath but this was the only way to be in two places at once. She texted Vi and told her to check one of the motels while she went to the other one. The chances of you being in either of them was high. She couldn’t afford another misstep. 

…

Your gaze was glued to the gun at the center of the table. He spun it around like Russian roulette. The choices in your mind were arguing with each other, you wanted to call his bluff but what if there were real bullets. The risk wasn’t worth it, your life was on the line. 

Steps guided you cautiously to your seat. You sat down, your eyes lifting to meet your brother’s. 

“You’re litt-Let me try that again. You’re big girlfriend ran off with my money.” 

“What money?” 

“Getting you killed was gonna be harder so I needed it to look good, I hired a contract killer on the dark net, that’s known for making deaths look like accidents.”

The thought of your older brother planning your demise didn’t shock you. The annoyance in his sudden ambition to take you down burned something in you. This man had no desire to do anything for himself or his family but suddenly taking you down rose to the top of his priority list. 

He coughs up a loogie and snaps you from your stupor. 

“The bullshit she put me through to be awarded a contract, fucking bitch. I had to bid $1 million to even make it on her list.” 

“The million from the $20 million life insurance, my life insurance?” 

“Yeah, shit was too easy. But her contracts require a 10k deposit. I had to get a credit card in Dad’s name since my credit is shit.” 

You get up from your chair and serve a hard thinking face. Walking up to the table and pretending to say something and deciding against it until your brother calls it out the 3rd time. 

“What is it? Just fucking say it!” 

You take a deep sigh and cross your arms. 

 “You found a stranger on the black web, and gave them $10k to supposedly commit a murder, but what if they just ran with your money? Sevika just got out of jail.” 

He stands up and comes face to face with you. 

“Bullshit. I’m not a fucking idiot. You think she would come to this shit-hole for-what? Fun? She’s not here for you. She’s here because I paid for a killer. Face it. Your girlfriend is an assassin, a shit one too.” 

You shake your head. 

“No she isn’t. She just got released.” you state with finality. 

“From where.” he probes. 

Your eyes meet your brothers as you bite your lip with anxiety. An icy chill pours down your back. 

You and Sevika had been together for months and you don’t know where she was released from prison. Nonetheless a prison you could name. 

He cackles. 

“I fucking knew it. You don’t even know because you believed whatever bullshit she fed you.” 

He proceeds to get close to your face and make a sad face. 

“Let’s face it sis, you’re kind of dumb.” 

He taps your temple with his finger for emphasis. 

“If it wasn’t for my money, you wouldn’t even have her.” 

You turn away from him too irritated to face him any longer. When you look up, you’re staring at the clock on the mantel. 

His words played over again and again in your head. The culmination of his mocking reminded you of your former father, and their ability to make you feel small and useless. Sadness had no more room in you, she’d come and go. Ire burned deep within you, the wrath had to be let out, it couldn’t live inside you any longer. She was begging to be released. 

You heard your brother pivot and shift the curtains. Without a second thought, you grabbed the clock and swung. 

…

When Sevika and Vi burst through the door, their eyes couldn’t register what was happening. They saw someone getting beaten on, it took a minute for them to realize you were doing the beating. Sevika grabbed you by the waist pulling you off of him. You were fighting back until you saw her eyes and realized who was pulling you. 

She held your face and pulled you into her chest. She held you tight, and breathed you in while she stroked your hair. 

“I’m sorry, I let this happen.” she spoke in your hair. 

You peeled yourself off of her. 

“No, this is my fault,” you replied. 

Your gaze fell to the blood soaking your hands. 

Vi stood in the doorway while you and Sevika had your little reunion. 

“Only I would be stupid enough to fall for my killer, like an idiot.” 

Sevika couldn’t respond. Her brain had no way of computing a response. She was a woman of few words, but she was stuck.

“No…” she mumbled. 

You stepped up to her. 

“It wasn’t hard at all. Just a little bit of flirting and I let you in so fucking easily.” you cried. 

Sevika made an attempt to reach out. You jerked hard away from her. 

“Sevika-Whatever your name is.” 

You pushed past her. 

Vi moved out of the doorway, avoiding cross fire.  

You left the stuffy motel room you’d been locked in. Desperate to walk anywhere your legs would take you. 

The sun was setting but it still felt good after being trapped all morning. Footsteps followed you. 

“Sevika. Not now.” you murmured. 

“I’m not letting you out of my sight again.” 

You stopped walking. She bumped into your back. 

“I don’t give a shit. You were also supposed to kill me but how did that turn out?” 

Neither of you were facing each other, just distantly staring off into the loaded parking lot. 

“It’s not fair. I wish we could’ve met in different circumstances.” 

You nod. 

“Me too. Maybe then it wouldn’t hurt so bad.” You replied. 

The wind blew you, reminding you how you’ve been wearing the same outfit since last night. You shivered. 

“Cmon.” Sevika called. 

She walked past you to her SUV and opened the back, Sevika moved a bunch of plastic containers and handed you a blanket. 

You walked up to the car and took it. 

“Let's get you back to the motel, I’ll get another room.” 

You nodded. Out of words. 

Vi came outside. Meeting the two of you at the car. She rubbed the back of her neck. 

“Not the best hang out, but definitely better than last time.” Vi mused. 

A small chuckle left your lips. 

“Does this mean you'll be bigger the next time I see you?” 

Vi smirked. 

“Maybe. Might even have a boo.” she shrugs. 

You make a surprised face at Vi. 

“Shut up. I gotta go, take care of yourself.” 

“You too.” you reply.

Giving Vi a hug before she leaves. You watch her walk out the parking lot, hoping it won't be the last time you see each other.

The drive back to the motel mimics the car ride to the diner. You ignore the hunger in your belly. You don’t feel yourself fall asleep, when you open your eyes you’re already in bed. 

The next morning, you wake up alone. You passed out the night before, not even concerned with where Sevika slept. 

After you went to the bathroom, you found a sleeping Sevika on the couch. She’d been hiding under all the blankets you didn’t see her from the bed. 

You squatted down near her snoozing face, the most peaceful figure asleep was also the deadliest awake. Rationally you couldn’t wrap your head around how dangerous your girlfriend was. She’d been hired to kill you yet all you wanted to do was be cuddled up with her. 

The back of your fingers caressed her cheek. 

Her eyes fluttered open. 

“Grand rising, sleeping beauty.” you murmured. 

“Morning.” she sniffed. 

Sitting up and stretching out on the small couch that didn’t fit her large frame. 

You grabbed her arm and pulled over to the bed. 

It didn’t take Sevika much strength to resist you. She didn’t budge. 

“We should sleep apart while we’re still on this trip.” 

“Were you ever gonna tell me?” 

She moved some blankets and made room on the couch for you. 

“I was embarrassed.  After everything I’d done.” 

You sat down beside her, a few feet away from each other felt like miles. Normally you’d be pressed up against her or sitting on her lap. The distance made you feel like strangers, it made your skin itch. 

Quickly getting back up, you stand before the couch. 

“I don’t understand. I know –I have evidence that you tried to kill me. But, I still want you in my life? After everything that’s happened the only thing I crave is going home with you. How fucked up is that?” 

Sevika rubbed her eyes. 

“When you asked me what I saw for myself, I lied. I’ve never seen anything for myself. I didn’t expect myself to make it this far.” 

You looked over at her. “Do you wanna keep doing what you’re doing?” 

Sevika shrugs. 

“The money is quick, that kinda gets addicting. How much money I can make in the quickest time.”

You narrow your eyes. “How many people have you killed?”

Sevika lols her head unsure. 

“Gimme a ballpark.”

She hoffs. 

“I don’t know. I never cared enough to track.”

“30,” 

Sevika points up. 

“50,”

Her finger remained pointed. 

“100,” 

She pointed emphatically towards the ceiling. 

“200.”

She nodded. 

“Around there, give or take.”

You bring your knees into your chest. 

“200 people? That’s so many but also it doesn’t seem like a lot. That's the average number of visitors we get a week.” 

“I only take work when I need money, and take a break for a couple of months until I run out. I didn’t expect to get good, but the contracts kept increasing and so did the money.” 

Nervous habits resurface, you pick at your cuticles, your anxiety climbing as the conversation continues. 

“Do you only kill with a gun? Gimme details, you’re holding out on me.”

“Depends. Sometimes contracts need the death pretty quickly and they’ll give me an allergy to exploit,” 

You nod taking in the new information. A month ago you would’ve assumed you were reading the summary of the latest thriller, not your girlfriend’s work stories. 

“If the contract is already in the hospital, those deaths are the easiest by far. I feel like a kid in a candy store, hospitals are always stocked,” 

Listening to the insight of her jobs, came off naturally as Sevika recalled her past encounters. You could tell she’d wanted someone to yap about this with but never had the outlet before. The methods she described were creative, death can happen in so many ways and listening to Sevika felt like it was her medium. She’d spent all this time getting to know you, it’d only be fair to delve into Sev’s interests. 

Death was something you didn’t encounter much growing up. Your grandparents were still alive and you didn’t have a close enough relationship to any relative that did pass away. It was a foreign concept. The people around you experienced death and the pain of grief. All you could offer were condolences, and now you were in a similar situation, unsure of how to coast this news.

“Sometimes, I’ll get a connect to collab on a contract depending on how hard it is to get my hands on them.” she continued. 

“Have you ever took out anyone famous? Or a politician?” 

Sevika bobs her head side to side. 

“Sometimes. No one famous here, but I have taken out some diplomats in other countries. I get a dossier on the subject, I know everything about them. Makes it easier to take them out, if I know where they go for coffee every day.” 

You crossed your feet under you as you listened to her. 

“What was the most difficult contract you’ve taken?”

Sevika looked to the corner, leaning back on the couch, bringing her right foot over her left knee. 

“Difficult? None.” 

You crossed your arms annoyed with her response. 

“Maybe annoying? C’mon I wanna hear the juicy stories. Have you ever like had to sleep with someone’s wife to give them a heart attack? Or bring back someone’s twin?”

She stared at you with a deadpan expression over her face. 

“No, because this isn’t a telenovela. Fine, I ‘ve had some annoying assignments, like, in Berlin. I had a mogul that was a hypochondriac, and he had a fear of balloons, so for a month straight, whenever he checked into a hotel room, I made sure a balloon always greeted him. After that he took time off work, and every other night while he slept I hid in his bathroom and popped a balloon as soon as he shut his eyes.” 

“Balloons? That’s his big fear? Thats so lame. How did he even die?” you questioned. 

“OD.” 

“Oh…”

“Yeah, if someone is an addict that also helps. But I didn’t set that up, he just OD’d.” 

You turn to her. 

“Did you still get paid?”

She nods and closes her eyes. 

“Oh, yeah. The stress from the balloons pushed him. I had another contract, she–”

Raised eyebrows stared at Sevika. 

“You kill women too?” 

“Money is money. Like I said, I had another contract, she had a heart thingy.” 

Sevika snapped her fingers trying to recall the name. 

“A pacemaker?” 

“Yes, a pacemaker, my nerd was able to track the ID of the gadget and was able to induce a faux heart attack by playing at a unique frequency.” 

“Wow, never knew you had it in you.” 

She looked over at you. 

“What? Think I’m a luddite?”

“No, have friends.” you quipped. 

Sevika cut her eyes at you. 

“He’s not my friend, just my nerd. I call him when I need shit, and he gets a cut.”

“Did you meet him in this business?” 

“Nah, we grew up together, he’s like an annoying little brother, I never had.”

“Right, I forgot you were an only child.” 

Sevika grimaces at you. 

“Never did.” she quips. 

“Yeah, but you never mentioned siblings, whenever I used to bring my brother up. Do you have siblings?”

She shakes her head. 

You bring your face up to hers. 

“You aren’t the only one that can investigate well, I too can sleuth just as well.”

“Is that right?” Sevika sizes you up. “What else? Don’t be shy now.” 

Her eyes are all over you. A spotlight that won’t let you go. 

“Cooking is the only hobby you don’t feel shame about. You’re talented in other areas but you seem to carry a lot of guilt about those skills.” 

She’s quiet. 

“You’re not close to your family or they’re dead. 

She nods in acknowledgement. 

“And you have some type of mommy issues. You rarely bring up my mother, and I know that dossier you have on me tells you everything about her. But you never comment or ask even after the situation with my ex-dad.”

You take a deep breath and hold her gaze. 

Sevika waits a few moments before tossing you an impressed shrug. 

“Not bad, for a rookie.” 

A small smile appears on your lips. A sense of pride surging in her recognition. 

“Okay, you got 3 for 3. Pick your prize.” 

She leans back awaiting your response. 

Biting your lips you rub your hands together. 

“Tell me about your family.” you state. 

A soft chortle leaves Sevika’s throat. She stands to her feet and stretches her spine and arms. 

“But first, food. I can’t have shitty sleep and be hungry.”

…

Breakfast consisted of your new favorite diner and Sevika’s childhood stories about her parents and their strained relationship. After you stuffed your faces, the two of you slept off the past 24 hours. The exhaustion that hung over your bodies was indescribable. 

…

The motel had begun to lose its charm, you both needed an escape. The two of you decided to go on an actual vacation using the deposit your brother paid. It was only fair considering he’d foiled your original road trip. 

…

The golden gate bridge looked prettier in person. You had ice cream and took touristy photos with Sev, while she explained the first time she had been in the bay. For a job, no less. 

You listened with intrigue, scooping the bite size bits of mango sprinkled with tajin, into your mouth, while she recounted the tale about inventing a special type of rubella for this con-man. 

The wind blew in your hair, and there wasn’t a sinking feeling in your gut that this was temporary. It felt surreal, and having Sevika by your side made it even sweeter. 

As for your brother, last you heard he was awaiting his trial. Of course your father bailed him out even after the insurance plans were blasted on the news. The press bombarded your front yard for a few weeks. Which led to Sevika whisking you away on another vacation. You were forced to resign due to the weird true crime fans stalking your work. For now you were forced to start tutoring, you gave up your lease and moved in with Sevika. Which meant you had to move to an entirely new city and move into her space. 

The bay was far more eclectic than the boring town you grew up in. 

You listened to Sevika recount, accepting another job in San Fran and falling for the area so much she moved here. The condo she owned, with its floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Pacific ocean. When she recounted places to visit she was describing this place, her home. The sun overlooking the water took your breath every morning and night. You couldn’t blame her. A change of space was exactly what your psyche needed after the adventure from the past month. You were eager to explore the city Sevika loved, and unearth your future together.  

paring: milf!Ambessa x loser lesbian!reader cw: sfw, modern!au, fluffy, playful banter, angsty, r!gender neutral, young Ambessa (think like 30's), r is cringe, soft Ambessa, no y/n, no description of r!, ft. ex!Sevika, reader is down bad, pussyblock/edge play, Ambessa wants that cookie bad

The lone patron at the bar sipped their drink while you gossiped with your colleague. The place had been dead all evening, leaving you with downtime to clean and chat more than normal. The soft jazz playing in the background did nil to mellow out the storm brewing in your chest. 

You fidgeted with your phone while you listened to your coworker go on about her latest hook up of the week. You had an hour left of your shift before your 3rd date with Ambessa tonight. You’d been talking since the aquarium but you always got nervous the hours leading up to a hang. This would be the first time she’d come over. The previous times have been dinner and a movie or a trip to the museum. Tonight she was visiting your apartment, your insides brewed as you thought about all you’d done to prepare; you gave your roommates a heads up so the place would be empty, you cleaned every inch of your living room and bedroom, got the snacks set, and you already ordered take out. The plan was to invite her over with Chinese takeout and video games you kept gushing about. She never had time to play video games so you were eager to lure her into your world. But now as you listened to your colleague complain about their date and how the guy expected her to play video games for hours, you were doubting if that was the best option. 

“He showed me some annoying game like puppets, and there was a woman and a dude. It was so weird. Safe to say, he was blocked.” she sighed. 

A customer took her attention as you thought about Ambessa telling all of her serious military colleagues about the lame ass date you had planned. The games you had lined up were Life is Strange and Detroit: Become Human. 

“Oh. Damn, that sucks, you really liked him.”

You stashed your phone under the bar and grabbed a rag to wipe the counter trying to look busy on the tailend of your shift. 

“Eh. I guess. I was just bored, not like I was in love or anything…unlike someone…” she softly poked your shoulder repeatedly. 

Rolling your eyes at her words. After every date with Ambessa you’d run back to anyone that would listen about how well they went. You told your coworkers, your friends, even your dad. Anyone who would listen, but in your defense meeting Ambessa felt like fate. Neither of you were on the apps and it was by sheer coincidence you met on your niece’s field trip and got locked in the elevator together. 

You were in your own romantic comedy, though you questioned how long this luck would last. When you think about how terrible your last relationship ended you needed anything to restore your faith in love. 

“Calm down, it's just 2 dates. 3 After tonight, we aren’t even official or anything.” 

“Can I grab the check?” a customer interrupts. 

Your coworker prints a check from the POS and drops it then returns to your side. 

“You bone yet?” she probes. 

The question has you looking around to make sure no one heard. The customer already dropped his cash and was on his way out.

Suddenly turning into a grandma, your bashfulness was on full display. You fidgeted with the ice scooper. 

“No. We haven’t. We’ve um-” 

She chortles at your hesitation. 

“Grow up. ” 

“We messed around and shit but nothing else. But we have the whole place to ourselves tonight.”

You gleam at her, biting your lip. Thoughts of what the night had in store playing in your head. 

“Shut up! Someone’s getting cracked.” 

You rolled your eyes. You heard a notification go off on your phone. You grabbed it, and read it was from the restaurant. Your order was ready for pick up. Checking the time, you had 15 minutes left of your shift. 

“Whatever you say, I like going on dates without expectations. Life's easier that way.” 

Your hands get to work finishing your closing tasks, and you begin going over everything you have to do before Ambessa drops Mel off at Dante’s for the night. If you were lucky she might sleep over. 

…

After getting the living room set up for a cozy vibe with candles and low lights. Along with the food. You looked yourself over in the bathroom one more time, you chose a cute sage matching pajama set, that included shorts, and a cropped tank. You told Ambessa to come in her PJ’s too, hoping it would inspire her to sleep over. Nothing made you cringe more than wearing a full outfit to hang out on your couch after a long shift. 

A knock at the door interrupts your inner thoughts. You toed over to the corridor taking a moment to collect yourself and appear less anxious. 

Answering the door you tossed Ambessa your goofiest grin only to realize it wasn’t her. Your ex, Sevika, was standing at your door. 

“What?” you barked. 

She leaned up against the door frame unbothered by your tone. 

“I was in the neighborhood, wanted to see what you were up to.” 

She attempts to let herself in but you used your body as a shield preventing her. 

“What do you want? Your lap-dog isn’t around.”  You cross your arms. “Does Margo know you’re here?” 

“It’s not even like that. We’re friends having fun.” She feels the hem of your shorts. “Cute PJ’s.” 

“Stop it.” You chide. Slapping her fingers away from you. 

“Sevika, please leave.” 

She approaches you, pressing her hard warm body against you. “You weren’t saying that a month ago. Aw, Sev, I miss you. I need you right now. Remember?” 

You rolled your eyes deeply. Taking a deep breath to calm yourself. 

“That was one time and you were late. I’m seeing someone.”

Sevika ponders over your words. “Fine.” 

As quickly as she came to annoy you she was gone as fast. You closed the door and leaned against it. Perhaps Ambessa was too good to be true. The luck you had with love was nonexistent up until this point. It didn’t make sense for things to get good now. 

Another knocking disrupted your stupor. You checked the peephole for confirmation this time and it was Ambessa with a box. 

You cracked the door open slightly and gave her a once over.

“You’re weirdly on time…” 

Ambessa looked confused. 

“You said arrive by 7:45,” She checks the watch on her wrist. “I’m exactly a minute late, since punctuality is a problem now.” she quips. 

You chuckle at her attitude. 

“Not a problem, just annoying, but I’ll forgive you only if I get whatever is in the box.” 

She looks at the box. Then back at you. “This box?” 

You nod rapidly, still clutching on the door.  

Ambessa winces. “I don’t know. I planned on scarfing these down alone. Do you even like cannolis? Not like you made 3 disappear on our first date or anything.” 

You gasp. “Get in here before anyone hears you.” 

She chuckles at your words and follows you inside. She takes her deep maroon trenchcoat off and hangs it on the coat hook. The PJ’s she chose were black, short sleeve button up and cotton matching shorts with white piping, comfy and casual. 

“You look so cute, if I knew you’d be matching I would’ve suggested we match. But it’s fine.” 

She looks down at her ensemble. 

“I got whatever they had at Target. I don’t usually wear anything to bed.” 

You gave her a look. “Thats so fake. I said PJ’s not generic. What the hell, Bess.” 

She throws her hands up in surrender. “In my defense no one wants to see me walking down the street nude.” 

She watches you raise an eyebrow. 

“Except you.” she corrects.

Your fingers mess with the waistline of her shorts. “Literally, hello! Seeing you naked is like my whole M.O.” 

She chuckles, grabbing you in for a tight squeeze. “I missed you.” she murmurs in your hair. 

You take a deep inhale of her natural scent, today it dances with shea butter and coconut oil. 

“I missed you too. Work was exhausting, I literally spent my entire shift counting down the hours until this.” 

“Me too. I can't wait to get strange with Detroit but also human?” 

You laugh at her attempt. 

“Okay, let me show you the spread.” You grab her hand and present the food on the coffee table you set up. “We also have the house to ourselves. So we can play the game as loud as we want,”

She nodded at your words but kept quiet about that comment. 

“Here we have our lovely seating area where we’ll stretch ourselves out and eat like slobs. Oh! And I got take out, Szechuan Style beef for my beef cake,” 

You wiggle your eyebrows in her direction, getting a smirk out of her. 

“and I got general Tso’s. I wasn’t sure if you were into apps so I just got crab rangoons and I got a spring roll for free. And wine because it’s been a long week.” Taking a deep breath after rushing to get your spiel done. 

You rest your head on her shoulder. She pets your head like you completed a difficult task. 

“Don’t forget my cannoli’s.” she adds. 

A gentle smile can’t be contained as you look up at her. “A sweet treat is a must.” 

“I remembered you mentioned something about needing something sweet after dinner, even though that points to low protein.” 

You shake your head. “Nope, that’s factually incorrect. It means you need a sweet treat.” Your finger boops her nose at the last word. 

She crinkles her nose at your touch. 

“Why are your fingers cold as ice?” she questions. 

You shrug, sneaking your fingers to her waistline. Drawing from her naturally toasty body. Ambessa winces trying not to jump away from your touch. 

You shush her. “Let me steal some of your body heat, it’s literally my right as your–,”

She looks down at you, smirking, curious to know your next move.  

“Anyway. I’m starving, let's eat.” 

Your fingers reach for hers and drag her to the couch. 

The both of you eye the platter before you and get to work. 

…

Ambessa struggled with the controller, so she watched you snoop around Chloe’s house. 

“She is far too nosey for her own good.” she comments. 

You snort. “Oh, Max? Absolutely, nosey but damn does she know how to sniff out a rat.” 

“And they’re friends, her and the blue one?” 

You nod. 

“Yup, they were like besties but Chloe's dad died and all this stuff, they haven’t talked in ages but the friendship is still there.” 

The scene switched to Chloe smoking a joint in her bedroom. 

Ambessa rolled her eyes. 

“As a parent, she is my worst nightmare. Bury me alive before my child brings drugs into my home.” 

You couldn’t help chuckle at her reactions to the game thus far. 

“Ok, let's switch gears, because someone is getting worked up.” your fingers boop her nose again. 

Ambessa swats your finger away. 

“That’s not true.” 

You toss her an incredulous look.. 

“Sure, Jan. Ok, this next game is different but it's very focused on the future, and no teens and drugs. I promise.” 

Ambessa rolls her eyes, she gets up with you but takes the plates to the kitchen. 

You hear the water running as you switch the game discs. 

“You better not be doing dishes, Medarda.” you call out. 

Standing up you see Ambessa frozen with the bottle of dish soap hovering over the sink. She tosses you a guilty smile and puts it down slowly. 

You run after her and she uses her super speed and bolts out of your path. 

Tackling her to the couch, you press into her with your knees on either side of her hips, pinning her arms above her head. 

You bring your mouth to her ear. 

“You’re my guest, and guests don’t do the dishes.” you state. 

You see the lust in her eyes and have to resist taking her on the couch due your roommates rules. 

Instead you bring your lips to her ears and gently bite. You watch her squirm under your hold. Both of you aware of Ambessa holding herself back, her strength surpasses yours but under you she isn’t fighting for control. She freely gives it to you. She confirms with a husky whimper. You move lower to her neck dropping a few pecks until you get the sound you were waiting for, another moan when you find her sweet spot. Her collarbones. 

You continue to suck hearing the sweet melody of her moans. 

“So strong yet subby. Just my type.” you praise. 

She frees one of her hands, and grabs the back of your neck. Bringing you in for a deep kiss. Her tongue begins exploring your mouth, the sweetness of the custard from the cannolis remains. The build up of your conversations and dates led to this moment. It couldn’t get more delicious than knowing you’d get to bring Ambessa to your bed. Nothing could sabotage this moment, until you hear a knock at the door. You try to ignore it, until she stops due to the knocking getting louder. 

Someone better be getting murdered you think to yourself, because nothing could make up for this disruption. 

With agitation you get off Ambessa and stomped to the door, you didn’t check the peephole too annoyed. 

Opening the door, none other than Sevika at the opposite side. 

She gives you a cheap smile. 

“Yo, my power’s out. Is your shit still on?” 

You took a quick sigh and stared at her. Turning to the TV you make note of it being off even though it was on before you began making out. 

Turning back to Sevika you shake your head. 

“Nope, everything is fine. Goodbye-” 

Before you get a chance to close the door, Sevika stops it with her boot. 

“Nuh-uh, since when is your hall light off?” 

Still trying to get the door closed you cross your eyes at her. 

“Now is not the time, Vika.” 

She quirks a brow at you. 

“Aw, am I interrupting something?” she questions. 

Hoping this was a moment of honesty. 

You look up at her, “Yes, I was and you’re interrupting.” 

“Too bad.” she strides through past you entering the apartment like she had a million times. 

Sevika halts when she spots Ambessa on the couch, she puts herself together after the brazen session you’d just had. 

She stands up and introduces herself to Sevika. 

You walk in front of her and stop the introductions. 

“Don’t do that. She won’t be here long.” 

Ambessa puts her hand down slowly. 

“Sevika, she offers.” 

“Ambessa.”

Putting yourself between them. You glower at Sevika. 

“Well?” you wonder out loud. 

“You didn’t notice your power went out?” 

She eyed the black screen of the tv and the darkness in your kitchen and living room. Although the candles you’d set up gave the space a cozy ambient atmosphere. 

Your gaze turns to Ambessa who is avoiding eye contact, shame creeping up at being caught in the act. 

Stiff posture, you rub the back of your neck. 

“We were distracted…” you mumble.

“What was that? Speak up.” 

“She was showing me something on her phone, we got too caught up.” Ambessa claims. 

Sevika nods her head slowly. Unsure if she bought it. 

“Cheap bastard, I told you the Super would do more shit like this.” 

“You’re neighbors?” Ambessa points between you and Sevika. 

Sevika and you hold eye contact. Curious how she’d answer the question. You decided to answer for her. 

“Yup, Sevika is close with my roommates.” 

The corner of Sevika’s mouth crept up. 

She nodded thoughtfully. 

“Let me get this lazy bastard on the phone, I’ll see myself out. Nice meeting you, Ambessa,” 

Ambessa smiled. 

Sevika walked past the two of you. Her hand reaching for the door, she stops and turns back to you. Gaze to Ambessa.  

“Let me know when you get tired of [name].” She tosses you a wink and leaves.

You follow her out, locking the door. Preventing her from returning. You walked up to Ambessa, wrapping your arms around her. 

A call came through. The both of you looked around unsure of whose phone was going off. Ambessa found her phone and answered. 

You looked at her as she took the call. She turned away from you. Feeling like you were overstepping you looked around your living room and noticed how dark the space was. Originally your vibe was meant to be homey and comforting. Now staring at the darkness, it didn’t have the same vibe. It came across more sultry than you intended. 

After a few moments, Ambessa rubbed your back with an uncertain look on her face. 

“I’m sorry, Mel isn’t having a good time, she wants to go home.” 

Biting your tongue, you nod. Hoping you gave off the vibe of someone understanding and not at all annoyed. 

“Aw. It’s okay. I used to be the same at sleepovers, I hyped it up leading up but in reality I never made it past the night.” 

She chuckled softly. 

“Mel is the exact same. She still hasn’t been able to make it through the night.” 

You walked over to the food. 

“Let me get some leftovers packed up, I can’t finish this by myself.” 

As you walked over to the kitchen, you grabbed the paper bag the food came in and packed up half the leftovers and threw some cannolis in there for Mel. 

Ambessa puts on her trench, watching you silently open the door. 

You hand over the bag of goodies but you don’t let go. 

The both of you hold eye contact. 

“I’m sorry our date was cut short. Rain check?” 

You nod thoughtfully. 

“I’m holding you to that,” 

She laughs softly. 

“But you’re bringing the sweet treat.” 

She nods getting closer. 

“Is it too early to get a sweet treat?” Ambessa muses. 

Your hands meet her face and you drop a delicate kiss on her lips. Nothing crazy as before. Just a soft and innocent peck. 

You pull away first. Ambessa stands there, still waiting for more. 

She bites her lower lip. “I wish I could stay.”

“Me too. I feel like this was our shortest one yet.” You lean against the door. 

“So do I. It feels like time moves faster when I’m with you. Even at the aquarium. ”

“Are you about to propose? Because it feels like you’re getting ready to get on your knees.” 

“Wish I was getting on my knees for something else…” 

“Night, Bess.” 

She smirks as she leaves. 

“Sweet dreams, [name]” 

In the second semester of your junior year, you developed the fattest crush on this girl in your grade. Her name was Abby, and she was a player on your school's varsity soccer team, and a damn good one at that. She was intelligent too, planning to follow in her father's footsteps of going to med-school and becoming a doctor. There was something about her that you couldn't quite resist. With her kind eyes, broad shoulders, and a smile so bright it creased her freckle-adorned cheeks, Abigail Anderson had charmed you, a part of your heart already preparing itself to be carved out and set aside in devotion to her.

So, when Abby asked you out to prom in the spring, you didn't hesitate to say yes, jumping up and squealing in excitement as you threw your arms around her neck.

Prom was perfect, the baby pink color of your long, sequined dress matching Abby's tie. The two of you were practically inseparable for the entire night, exhibiting the behavior of what some would consider "puppy love."

Abby wasn't your only highlight of the night, though. The moment they called your name out for prom princess, your heart filled so full you swore that it would spill out any second. As they placed the glittering sash over your shoulder, you truly felt like a girl at the end of a coming of age movie, like you had finally found where you belonged in the world, and it was here, under flashing lights in the venue of your high school prom, the validating cheers of your peers blaring through the room.

With a gleaming tiara on your head and Abby on your arm, you knew this night would be one that you would remember forever.

That summer, in the blaring heat of a June sun, Abby asked you to be her girlfriend, and just as you had in response to her promposal only a few weeks earlier, you enthusiastically accepted, throwing yourself into her arms.

Between tanning beside glittering swimming pools with your best-friends, getting virgin piña coladas with your mom, and sneaking out with your new girlfriend, you thought you had the best senior summer a girl could ever ask for—and that’s without mentioning the cherry on top: your father gifting you your dream car, a pink Mercedes-Benz. 

So, when it was time to begin your senior year at Jackson High School, you had not even a single doubt in your foolish belief that your senior year would live up to the expectations of your Hollywood-inspired fantasies you had possessed through all of your youth.

With your sexy buff girlfriend by your side and a hot new ride, your year was bound to go perfectly, right?

As you soon discovered, all expectations you had could be totaled up to nothing but the wet dream of a naïve spoiled suburban princess.

Just a few weeks into the first semester, you were driving yourself to school in your 21st century royal carriage, iced coffee in hand and bedazzled sunglasses balanced on your nose, when the shitty Subaru in front of you slammed on their brakes abruptly, causing you to run into them from behind.

"What the fuck?!" the car in front of you stepped out, fury ridden in every crease of their face.

After profusely apologizing to the angry stranger and offering to pay for repairs, you ended up sobbing while attempting to explain what you had gotten yourself into on the phone with your father, who only sighed in disappointment on the other end, “Daddy, it wasn’t my fault, I swear! They were the one who slammed on their brakes in front of me!”

Though you didn’t know yet, this accident only marked the beginning of the most humiliating week of your life.

Graciously, your parents let you stay home from school that day as you grieved your pink Mercedes. Their mercy didn't last for long, though, as they forced you to go back the next day, not allowing you to miss anymore school.

To your dismay, the angle at which your car was impacted left it in no condition to be driven. Since your parents both had work and Abby claimed she had an early morning gym sesh planned, you found yourself riding the infamous Big Cheese to school that morning. You felt so humiliated being a senior and having to ride the bus to school. The pickled odor ruminating through the air combined with the sticky seats left you less than comfortable, to say the least. Some underclassmen boys were play fighting behind you, and one ended up elbowing you in the face. You glared at them offensively, but neither of them offered so much as an apology, just continuing to laugh obnoxiously while sloppily throwing their hands at each other.

You started that day already pissed off, and what made it worse was that Abby had been acting distant. In fact, she had been acting distant ever since the first week of the semester. She had only been replying to all your texts with one-word responses, and she had been avoiding you at school, too. When you texted her regarding her distant behavior, she just replied, "dw abt it, baby."

Safe to say, you were angry, but you didn't know if there was anything you could do about it. After all, you didn't have any reason to suspect her of doing anything wrong.

You were about to fall asleep in study hall when all of a sudden you got a notification from your best friend Dina.

wifey dina <3 - 10:05 AM

"holy shit, did you see cat's story?"

you - 10:05 am

"who the fuck is cat?"

wifey dina <3 - 10:05 AM

"she's like some stoner chick. has tattoos n shit."

wifey dina <3 sent an attachment

Upon clicking on the photo Dina sent you, you audibly gasped. It was a screenshot of an Instagram story, a grainy photo of some girl with black micro bangs (who you presumed was Cat) with her hand wrapped around someone's hickey-littered neck from behind while leaning down and biting their bicep.

It wasn't just anyone's bicep, though. You would recognize those freckled broad shoulders from anywhere, and the dirty blonde baby hairs peaking out from behind the person's ears only confirmed your suspicions.

you - 10:06 AM

"i fucking know that's not abby."

wifey dina <3 - 10:06 AM

"babe, i'm afraid it is.”

“and leah told me that she overheard someone saying that they saw them making out behind the bleachers yesterday after school too.”

You didn't know what to do. You didn’t want to cry in the middle of class, but your tightening throat and the tears blurring your vision didn’t really give you much of a choice. Sure, you had only been dating Abby for a couple of months, but part of you felt like you truly loved her.

Your mind began racing: Is this why Abby has been so avoidant? Is it my fault? Am I not pretty enough? Did I not give her enough attention?

wifey dina <3 - 10:07 AM

“i’m so sorry, doll.”

“you deserve so much better.”

Damn right you did, and after the initial wave of sadness and heartbreak washed over, you were immediately filled with rage.

As the bell rang for lunch, you marched toward the cafeteria with more purpose than a Navy SEAL.

If Abby had no issue with carelessly making this such a public ordeal that you had to find out through a blurry screenshot, then you didn’t have any problem making your confrontation a scene.

Usually, Abby would sit with all her soccer friends, while you would sit with the cheerleading girls.

Today, though, you stomped directly towards Abby’s table, calling out her name angrily as you approached.

When at first she didn’t hear you, you yanked on her shoulder forcefully, shouting her name again to capture her full attention.

“Oh my god—what the fuck, babe?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“What is your problem?”

“My problem is that you think it’s okay to just run around and fuck other girls when you have a girlfriend.”

“You’re seriously accusing me of cheating on you?”

At this point, her entire table was either staring at the two of you or whispering and snickering amongst themselves, but you couldn’t have cared less in the heat of the moment.

“Oh, I’m not accusing you. I know what you did, so don’t even try to lie to me.” You pulled out your phone, shoving the screenshot of Cat’s story in Abby’s face, “Mind telling me what the fuck you’re doing here?”

Abby just scoffed in disbelief, staring at your phone scathingly, as if you would have never caught on if it wasn’t for the stupid, tattletale device in your hand.

She returned her gaze to you, “Babe, I can explain—“

You interrupted her before she could even start, “Abby, please. Don’t try to lie to me. I mean, for fuck’s sake, people are running around saying they saw the two of you making out! There’s no explaining this.”

To you, it didn’t matter what she said at this point. Even if she apologized, the hurt had already been caused.

Abby sighed, defeated, “I think we should just break up.”

“What—?”

“Yeah, if you really feel that way, then I don’t think—“

“No.”

“No?”

“No! You cheated on me. You don’t get to dump me now. I’m the one dumping you.”

Abby raised her eyebrows and smirked as if she just couldn’t take you seriously, “Are you sure? Because I’m pretty sure I’m the one who said that we should break up first.”

Abby’s snarky facial expression combined with the obnoxious snickering of all of her friends made your blood boil. You had never been more pissed off in your life.

"You know what? I fucking can't with you. Don’t try to talk to me ever again. I’ll see you in hell.”

You hoped your dramatic exit would be something iconic or even badass that would stick in Abby’s mind and make her immediately regret ever breaking your heart.

However, as fate would have it, something less ideal occurred. As you walked backward, you bumped into someone, causing you to yelp while falling onto your ass as their black coffee got spilled all over your shirt.

Abby and all her friends began laughing hysterically. At this point, your face must have been flushed completely crimson. Now, whether it was more from anger or embarrassment, you didn’t really know.

Getting back up on your feet, you were fully prepared to berate the moron that let you get drenched and humiliated at the hands of their carelessness, but as you saw the person responsible for your misery, your blood boiled even hotter (if that was still possible), your eyes narrowing in on her scrawny figure.

Ellie fucking Williams.

Well, technically the one who spilled the coffee on you was her idiot best friend, Jesse, not Ellie, but you knew it somehow had to be Ellie’s fault anyways. Why? Because it just fucking had to be, nothing else would make sense. Ellie hated you, and you hated her. It’s just how it was.

If anyone were to ask you when the feud began, you wouldn’t have been able to answer exactly when. Maybe it started in middle school when you spread a rumor that she was a druggie and her dad was a satanic cult leader—or maybe sophomore year when she muttered something about you being a “spoiled, dim-witted, brat” under her breath when you passed her in the hallway, and when you forcefully turned around to quip something back, you tripped onto your face in front of half your school, effectively destroying the heel on your favorite pair of pink pumps and spraining your ankle in the process, all while the little demon laughed at you from behind.

For a while after that incident, nothing else had happened between the two of you. No drama, no rumors, no petty remarks, nothing. It was peaceful, you thought maybe the tension had finally dulled between you both. Well, that was until last November when she sent photos of you drinking at a Halloween party to the principal, almost causing you to lose your position as captain of your school’s varsity cheer team. What business did that stoner have tattling on anyone over substance use, anyway? Well, you didn’t have any way of knowing for sure Ellie was the one who snitched on you; the report was anonymous, of course. But it seemed obvious to you that she was the only one bitter enough to do something so petty with the sole motivation of hurting you and your reputation.

It didn’t even have to be about the trivial dramatics; just the way Ellie presented and carried herself was a mortal sin against everything that you stood for. You were the spoiled princess of poised perfection and cherry flavored lip gloss dressed in rhinestoned true religion jeans and lacey pink baby doll tops, locked in your upper middle-class tower—while she was the fire-breathing, smoke-exhaling, lighter-slinging dragon with dingy black scales and worn wings, adorning silver piercings and black eyeshadow, lurking from outside palace walls as the epitome of a suburban pariah.

Everything about her made your blood boil. It was as if the resentment between you was fated, written in the stars, no matter how horribly cliché it was.

So, naturally, you had to suspect her of scheming on your downfall through even the most insignificant things.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to!“ Jesse scrambled to apologize, but it was too late, rage had already consumed you.

“Do you not fucking pay attention to what you’re doing?”

Ellie decided now was the best time to butt into the conversation, attempting to rescue her friend from the blunt end of your wrath, “Hey, c’mon, dude. Y’know he didn’t mean to.”

You glared at Ellie as if she was the most malevolent creature in the whole world, “Do you really wanna be talking right now, Ellie? I know this is all your doing.”

She laughed at you like you sounded crazy, “What? How is this my doing?”

“Because,” through your anger, you still tried to make sense of all the shit you were spewing, “only you are bitter and spiteful enough to do something so petty just to embarrass me!”

Ellie furrowed her brows at you in disbelief, "How the hell is it my fault that you bumped into Jesse? You’re the one embarrassing yourself, you don't need my help to do so.”

You scoffed, irritated by her audacity, “Listen, if this was any other day, I just might let this go, but you chose the worst possible time to fuck with me."

"Again, I didn't do anything to fuck with you. Get over yourself, princess."

Princess. You fucking hated when she called you that, condescension laced so firmly in her voice that it never failed to leave you feeling thoroughly disrespected and so impossibly small.

You rolled your eyes at her, "Just leave me alone, Ellie."

As you walked away, you internally hoped she didn’t hear the little crack in your voice from your tight throat, warm tears threatening to pour out your eyes.

You slipped into the first bathroom you spotted outside the cafeteria, finding refuge in a quiet stall as you hurled your legs into fetal position. There, you finally let yourself cry.

You weren’t crying over your altercation with Ellie, of course. You weren’t even crying over your break up, really. It was just everything. You were so overwhelmed. For the past few days, it felt as if you weren’t ever able to catch a break, not even for a second. It all just kept on coming, and a girl could only be so strong.

So, when the bell rung, you decided that, after the week you’ve had, you didn’t have it in you anymore to sit in a miserable classroom with a bunch of sweaty kids for an hour while trying and failing to understand whatever shit your math teacher had on the board that day.

Instead of going to class, you slipped out of a side door of the school, concluding all you needed was some fresh air.

"You still pouting, princess?"

You whipped your head around to meet the condescending voice calling at you, only to see Ellie Williams, again.

You huffed, “What do you want, Ellie?”

She looked so smug, sitting there with one leg tucked against her chest and the other lazily stretched out against the ground. She pulled out the blunt gently pressed between her lips, exhaling soft gray smoke into the air.

“Why don’t you come and join me?”

“And do what? Sit there and smoke weed for an hour then walk back into class and pretend people can’t smell the shit on me?”

“Sure, why not? Maybe it would help you chill out for once.”

You crossed your arms in defiance, shocked at her audacity to ask you to smoke with her after the shit she pulled earlier today. 

You could brush her off and say you had better things to do, but you did have a really shitty day. You could use something to relax after everything you’ve been through. Besides, maybe it would help to have someone to rant to.

You quickly glanced around, checking for any cameras or people around that could rat you out, but you didn’t see anything. After all, Ellie did this all the time, and she never got caught.

You huffed defiantly, crossing your arms as you slipped into the space on the concrete staircase beside Ellie.

She handed you the blunt, but you just stared at it dumbly, not fully understanding what she was expecting of you.

Ellie smirked, “You’ve never smoked before, have you?”

You glared at her, “What do you think, Ellie?”

Ellie grinned before taking the blunt back, “All you have to do is press it against your lips and inhale, just like this.”

You stared at her mouth as she demonstrated, thin paper brushing against the soft pads of her rosy pink lips. As she exhaled, the wind carried the smoke through the air, allowing you to breathe in its herbal scent.

Once complete, Ellie turned towards you. She leaned in, placing the blunt in your hand as her hand clasped over yours, guiding the blunt towards your lips.

Your cheeks burned red from the proximity as you took a hit from the joint, maintaining eye contact with her the entire time.

As she pulled the blunt away from your lips, you were immediately thrown into a fit of coughs, all while Ellie laughed at you, clearly finding amusement in your failure.

Once recollecting yourself, you glared at Ellie once more, smacking the tattoo on her forearm, “Hey! Quit laughing at me!”

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry!” Ellie took a deep breath, trying to restrain herself from cracking up again and pissing you off further, “Y’know, don’t feel bad. A lot of people struggle when they first start.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! I mean, I didn’t really. But I’m sure lots of other people do!”

You rolled your eyes, “Yeah, whatever.”

For a moment, the two of you just sat there, enjoying each other’s silence and the chill breeze of the September air.

Watching Ellie take a hit from the joint, you grew a bit hungry for another.

“Ellie?”

“Mhm?”

“Can I have another hit?” you asked sweetly, your doe eyes pleading to her.

Ellie passed you the blunt back, but not without smirking while doing so. Why did she have to look so god damn smug all the time?

This time you took it much more smoothly, no coughing involved. Ellie even nodded her approval.

In your mellowed state of mind, you became the first to break the silence, “Why did you invite me to smoke with you anyways?”

Ellie shrugged, “I told you, I thought it would help you be not so stuck-up for once.”

You shook your head, “Yeah, but we’ve never really gotten along.” Residing in the calm solitude the two of you shared now, you couldn’t help but laugh at the stupidity of your guys’ past altercations, “I mean, our interaction in the cafeteria today wasn’t exactly friendly.”

“Eh, I saw you and Abby fighting right before. ‘Figured that had to be the reason you were acting so particularly bitchy today.”

You groaned at the mention of your ex-girlfriend’s name, “Ugh, Abby.”

“What happened between the two of you anyways?”

You sighed, annoyance permeating through the tone of your voice, “She cheated on me.”

“Oh my god, that sucks.”

“Yeah, it does, and I had to find out through a fucking Instagram story too. I felt so humiliated.”

“I’m sorry, that’s horrible,” Ellie comforted you as she reached over to her water bottle, twisting off it’s plastic cap. “If you don’t mind me asking, who did she cheat on you with? It’s hard for me to imagine she could’ve done much better than you.”

You knew that she didn’t mean much by the last comment. She said it so casually, but you couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered anyways.

“It’s some girl named Cat,” you answered.

When you looked back at Ellie, she was choking on the sip of water she had just taken.

You placed some gentle blows on her back, trying to help her out.

“Hey, are you okay? Is something wrong?” you asked, concern laced in your voice.

She managed her words through coughs, “Yeah—yeah, I’m fine.”

She coughed a bit more before recollecting herself, finally responding to what you said, “Yeah, Cat isn’t shit. Abby fucked up, for sure.”

The two of you sat there for a while longer, exchanging stories with each other, talking about people from your school, and laughing at each other's stupid jokes.

You didn’t like to admit it, but part of you had started to develop a real understanding of her. She could be really nice when the two of you weren’t dead set on hating the other. At one point, you mentioned that you were hungry, and she gave you a full bag of sour gummy worms. It might’ve just been candy, but that moment had to have been the nicest she’s ever been to you in all your time of knowing her.

Who would’ve known that the two of you could actually really enjoy each other's company? (Even if you had to be a little bit high to do so.)

When the bell that finally cut school out rang, you were surprised. You didn’t think you had been out there with her for that long, but maybe time just seemed to pass by faster when you were hanging out with her.

You groaned as students piled out of the building.

“What’s wrong?” Ellie asked as she threw all her things back into her bag.

“My car’s broken and I don’t want to ride the bus…”

“I could drive you home if you want,” Ellie offered.

“Really?”

“Yeah, sure. Your house can’t be that far away.”

The ride home was quiet, but never awkward. Somehow it didn’t feel weird to be in Ellie’s space, listening to her playlist softly playing from her car’s speakers. It was almost comforting, but the thought of accepting that made you want to throw up.

So, instead, you just stared out the window, trying to force your mind to not think about the humiliation you had endured this week or, arguably worse, the prospect that the girl you had despised since middle wasn’t actually the devil reincarnate you imagined her to be.

After you got home and had finished taking your shower, you laid down in your bed, sinking into the mattress. For the first time that day, you felt like you could finally decompress. But before the silence could give you enough space to reflect on everything, you received a face time call from your best friends Dina and Leah.

“Hey, babe!” Dina exclaimed as you picked up, “Leah wants to know if you can come to this party.”

“Yeah, Jordan’s parents are out of town on some work trip or whatever, so he’s gonna invite a bunch of people over tomorrow night. You should come!”

“Oh, I don’t know…” you hesitated, playing with the hem of your satin pink pajamas. With your break up being so fresh, you didn’t know if going out would be the best idea. Sure, you weren’t going to be alone since you had Dina and Leah, and Jordan was Leah’s long term boyfriend, so it wouldn’t be like you were somewhere unfamiliar. But, still, you couldn’t help but feel like you wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy it.

“C’monnn, it’ll be so fun!” Dina pleaded.

Leah pouted, “You usually love going to parties, what’s wrong?”

“Well, it’s just that since I broke up with Abby—“

“Hold on,” Dina interrupted, “you actually broke up with Abby?”

“Yeah…”

“As you should,” Leah said, “You deserve so much better.”

You chuckled, but there was no amusement in your voice, “I know.”

“We’re always here for you if you need to talk,” Dina reminded you.

“Thank you guys,” you said, smiling softly, truly grateful your friends’ support.

“Don’t even worry about it, girl,” Leah chimed in again, “Abby downgraded anyways. Cat can’t dress for shit and those micro bangs look like she cut them in the dark with craft scissors. Not to mention that she’s Ellie’s ex-girlfriend.”

Your heart dropped, “Cat is Ellie’s ex-girlfriend?” 

“Yeah—you didn’t know? They had, like, a really messy break up last year. Something about Ellie being too obsessive and Cat cheating on her with like some older guy at her job so Ellie stole Cat’s car for revenge on some Grand Theft Auto shit.”

Leah’s eyebrows twisted as she recalled the rest of the story.

“Then she recited this really cringy poem to her English class she apparently wrote about Cat. Somehow the president of Mozambique was involved too, but I don’t remember.” 

“Oh my God—did all that really happen?”

“Yeah!” Leah claimed, “Well that’s just what I heard. I’m sure some of it has to be embellishment of the truth or whatever—But, anyways, yeah. Everybody knows that they used to date.”

You were sure Leah was just regurgitating a bunch of bullshit—you loved her, but Leah was involved in so much shit talking that you began to suspect that her brain had started melting.

Despite that, through Leah’s rambling, you did recall something about Ellie being in love and falling out with another girl in your guys’ grade.

Your heart sunk a little at the thought of Cat’s relationship with Ellie, a feeling settling inside you somewhere between disgust and devastation. You just brushed it off, though, not understanding what it meant and not being able to unpack it even if you did.

“Don’t worry about Abby and Cat,” Dina comforted, “You should still come to the party, it’ll help you get your mind off her.”

“I’m still not sure…”

“C’mon,” Leah pleaded, “We’ll have so much fun, you’ll completely forget all about her!”

You sighed, “Fine.”

“Yes!” Dina grinned.

“Great!” Leah exclaimed, “I’ll probably go to his house first to help set up, then I can go pick you guys up.”

“Alright,” you said, “Dina, is it okay if I go to your house after school tomorrow to get ready?”

“Of course, babe,” Dina agreed.

“Thank you!” Suddenly, you yawned, a wave of exhaustion crashing over you, “I’m getting pretty tired. I’m gonna go to sleep, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

Almost immediately after ending the call, sleep consumed you. Which, in hindsight, you were grateful for, knowing that if you had stayed up any longer, your overthinking would latch onto you and keep you up for the rest of the night.

After getting home from school the next day, you were having second thoughts about the party. You were utterly exhausted, part of you just wanting to lay in your bed and eat ice cream while wallowing in the hollow aftermath of your break up.

Fortunately for you, your best friend Dina was determined to help you escape the claws of your own self-pity. Confident that the perfect antidote for your heartbreak was a night of going out, she was there at your house at 5pm sharp to help you grab your outfit and makeup and take you back to her house to get ready and pregame.

Though you seriously doubted how effective partying would be for curing your sadness, you trusted your best friend. After all, she knew you better than anyone, and you did love getting dolled up and tipsy at some rich fucker’s house after a long week.

After a diligent half hour of makeup and careful outfit deliberation, you stood in front of Dina’s floor length mirror and inspected the figure reflected back at you. You truly felt beautiful, adorning a skintight cheetah print tank top, cleavage on display, with a black mini skirt draping over your hips. The fishnets and black pumps you put on tied your look together. Bright strands of hair tinsel glittered when caught in the lights while the charcoal tightlining of your waterlines allowed the color of your eyes to pop out more than ever before.

“Holy shit, you look hot,” Dina remarked, her voice pulling you out of your own head. You only laughed shyly in response. 

“Abby must be a fucking idiot. She has no idea what she’s missing out on right now,” she added on.

Upon glancing over your face, she immediately picked up on the sadness engrained into your features.

“Hey, don’t be sad, okay?” Dina comforted you as she placed her hand on your shoulder, “You deserve way better than Abby anyways. If she’s a cheater, it was never gonna work out anyways. You practically dodged a bullet. You’re hot, funny, hardworking, and actually really good at math.”

Dina softened her voice while kneeling down in front of you, “You’ll find another girl to love, and she’ll never take for granted how lucky she is to have you.”

“Do you really mean that?” you asked, throat tight as tears pooled at the bottom of your eyes, threatening to spill over.

“Of course I do. Besides, we’re gonna have so much fun tonight, you’ll forget Abby even exists,” she brushed your cheek, collecting a rogue tear that had dripped down from your eye on her thumb, “Now cheer up before you mess up your makeup.” She tousled your hair before pulling out her phone, “Leah should be in here like five minutes to pick us up, you ready?”

You nodded, looking back at your reflection one last time, reapplying your favorite cherry-flavored lip-gloss for good luck. You really hoped Dina was right. You didn’t want to think about Abby anymore, and you sure as hell did not want to think about whatever couple shit she could be doing with that Cat girl.

Tonight, you just wanted to have a good time. You wanted to enjoy being young, single, and hot—maybe get a little bit tipsy, and (most importantly) get Abby off of your mind. 

Despite your wishes, it seemed fate had other plans for you.

As soon as you got to the party, Dina and Leah spotted someone they had met at a concert they attended a few weeks ago. Promising them that you would be okay by yourself, you decided to slip away from them to grab a drink while they caught up with their friend. 

Once acquiring your drink, you slipped into the crowd and observed the mass of partiers. To your devastation, in the center of the room stood no other than your ex-girlfriend: Abigail Anderson, shamelessly making out with the same girl she had cheated on you with underneath the party’s violet luminescence with no regard for the presence of other people around. Her tongue was stuck so far down Cat’s throat it was as if she was trying to reach the depths of her soul through her mouth.

You stared at the two of them, disgust rising and settling deep inside your gut.

“They’re so disgusting,” you muttered, not even realizing that you were saying your thoughts out loud.

“Yeah. They make me want to throw up,” a voice next to you sneered. 

You flinched, not expecting another voice to boom so close and unexpectedly near your ear, “What the fuck?!” 

The voice came from no other than Ellie Williams, who paid no mind to your jumpiness as she continued talking shit, “Y’know, never would I ever imagine the two of them together."

You scoffed, piling onto Ellie’s thoughts in agreement, “Yeah, because they don’t look good together. Besides, I don’t understand why they feel the need to practically eat each other alive in front of everybody.” 

“Exactly,” Ellie chuckled, “It’s just gross.”

Silence settled between the two of you for just a second longer than what felt comfortable.

You shifted your feet as you worked up the courage to ask her the question that had been lingering in your mind since last night.

“Ellie?”

She returned her head and her attention back to you, “Yeah?”

“Yesterday, when I told you about what happened between me and Abby,” you paused for a moment, collecting yourself, “Why didn’t you tell me that Cat was your ex-girlfriend?”

You watched the muscles of Ellie’s throat flex and relax slowly as she swallowed, jaw tensing, “We were talking about you, what happened between me and Cat didn’t matter.”

“Oh, okay,” you replied, suddenly shy.

After a moment, Ellie spoke up again, “But, y’know, about that… I can’t help but think…”

“Think what?”

She turned her body fully towards you, engaging eye contact, “Do you really think that they’re just making out in front of everybody because they just find each other so irresistible?”

You furrowed your brows, “What the hell are you trying to imply?” 

Ellie smirked, mischief suddenly creeping across her expression, “I’m saying that they’re obviously trying to make us jealous. Don’t you see it?”

Swishing the drink in your hand absentmindedly, you doubted her theory, “I don’t know, Ellie. What if they just like each other? I doubt they thought about it that deeply.”

Ellie rolled her eyes in response, “You don’t have to believe me, but I’m right.” 

Silence lingered between the two of you as Ellie turned her gaze away from you. As her gentle features got caught in the violet glow reflecting off the silver mirror ball, you couldn’t help but notice that she was actually quite beautiful.

Your eyes locked back onto the pair, who was now grinding on each other to the rhythm of whatever shitty bass-boosted house song was blasting from the speakers.

“They make me fucking sick,” you muttered.

Ellie smirked as your gaze met with hers again, “Well, I’m telling you, they’re just trying to get under our skin, and there’s only one way we can get them back.”

“Now what the actual fuck are you trying to say?”

As she lowered her voice, Ellie leaned in so close that you could feel the warmth in her breath and smell the liquor she had downed ten minutes ago.

“I think you already know what I’m trying to say, princess.”

For a moment, you were stunned, heat rising in your cheeks at the proximity.

Was she seriously trying to imply that you two should kiss in an attempt to get back at Cat and Abby?

As appealing as it sounded to rile Abby up and make her jealous, the idea of kissing Ellie sounded fucking insane to you. She might've comforted you after your break up yesterday, and the two of you might be currently bonding over your exes getting together in a fling that nobody could have ever predicted—but none of that made you forget the years of resentment that had festered between you both until this week.

Besides, she was still a stoned out loser. What would people think of you if they saw you kiss her?

Breaking out of the trance you were in, you shook your head, pushing her off of you, “C’mon, Ellie. That’s fucking crazy and you know it.”

She just shrugged in response, “Maybe, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it anyways."

"If you change your mind, I'll still be here," she practically breathed into your ear, “Just saying, it would really piss Abby off.”

It was true, Abby hated Ellie as much as you did. Well, nearly as much as you did. Ellie made you want to fucking rip your hair out of your scalp and strangle her with it. Well, at least she used to. Everything seemed to be confusing lately.

You brushed Ellie off and made your way through the crowd, finding Leah and Jordan by a wall, cuddling up and laughing. The love that radiated off of them mocked you in your post-breakup state, reminding you of Abby and enraging you all over again.

You stomped up to the couple, “Jordan, why the fuck did you invite Abby?”

“Wait, she’s here?” Leah said, beginning to glance over the crowd.

“I’m so confused,” Jordan said, “Isn’t she your girlfriend? I thought you would want her to be here.”

You rolled your eyes, “Look at what she’s doing right now.”

Jordan scanned the crowd and gasped when he saw Abby, “Is she making out with another girl?”

“Yes,” you groaned, “We’re not together anymore because she’s a fucking cheater.”

As you began to turn away, Leah tugged on your forearm, pulling you back.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologized, “I should’ve told him not to invite her, I had no idea she would even come.”

“It’s okay, Leah. Don’t worry about it. There’s nothing we can do about it now. I’m just pissed.”

Pulling away from her, you continued walking towards the bar.

You downed a cup of suspicious fruit punch and mentally prayed to God that it wasn’t laced with anything other than cheap liquor.

With the bitter taste of alcohol settling in your throat, you leaned back against the wall, your eyes scrutinizing the room of partiers once more.

Sure enough, Abby and Cat were still there in the center of the room, grinding and kissing on one other.

You thought you were fine. You thought you could handle it. Not everything is meant to last and people grow apart and all that other bullshit about letting go.

But then you saw Abby’s hands slide over Cat’s body.

Abby’s fingertips caressed the sensitive muscle of Cat’s abdomen, making her gasp and look back at your ex-girlfriend, the two closing the gap with a messy kiss.

How fucking dare she.

It broke you to see Abby touch another girl with the same hands, the same intensity, the same purpose that she had touched your body with only a week prior.

That was your final straw.

With liquid courage burning through your veins, you thought back to Ellie’s proposition.

Without giving yourself a chance to have second thoughts, you pushed through the crowd.

Sure enough, she was still there in the party, just as she said she would be, now talking to a few other losers that you (quite honestly) didn’t care enough to learn the names of.

All you had to do was call out her name once, and she turned back towards you, your gaze meeting hers immediately.

If you were going to back down, this was your final chance to do so.

But you didn’t back down.

Instead, you wrapped your arms around her neck, pulling her into a warm kiss.

Ellie responded to you immediately, pressing your body into hers through her hold on your hips.

After a few seconds, you were the first to pull away from the kiss, gasping for air. Ellie didn’t seem satisfied with that, though, soon pulling you back in for more, this time much more confident and intense as you both grew more familiar with the other’s body.

Ellie licked across your bottom lip as a request for entrance, to which you accepted, allowing her to deepen the kiss.

Once you both had no other choice but to break away for air, you still held Ellie close, resting your head against her shoulder as you attempted to recollect yourself.

As the adrenaline crash hit you, you began to undergo the full consequences of the shots you took at Dina’s house in combination with whatever shit was in those red solo cups.

Everything sounded like it was underwater. You couldn’t even see the crowds of your peers staring and whispering as everything blurred together in your vision.

Each light was blinding. Each noise was deafening.

Your stomach turned like it was working against its natural movement, trying to force out something you desperately did not want to come out right now.

You leaned against Ellie to prevent yourself from falling over as your limbs shook they would soon stop working entirely.

“Ellie, I don’t feel so good.” you muttered into her ear. “Can you take me home?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just hold on to me.” Ellie agreed, her voice still breathy from the kiss.

She guided you out of the party with her hand on the small of your back. You knew people were talking about you, but you were too dazed from the kiss and your inebriation to care.

Once outside, Ellie unlocked her car and helped you into the passenger seat before walking around and climbing into the driver’s seat.

“Ellieeee?” you drawled out her name.

“Yeah?” she turned towards you, genuine concern in her eyes, “Do you need anything?”

“Can I have your jacket? ‘M so cold.”

Ellie threw her jacket into your lap before turning on the car.

You pulled the leather over your shoulders, immediately finding comfort in the scent of smoke and musky cologne that radiated off her jacket.

Fortunately, Ellie remembered your address from taking you home yesterday, so it didn’t take long for the two of you to take off after settling into the car.

After Ellie started driving, you quickly accustomed to the gentle hum of the car beating against the road, finding comfort in it's rhythm.

Hearing your phone blow up with notifications, you clumsily unlocked your phone. Seeing that all the texts came from your group chat with Dina and Leah, you tapped on your screen to read what they were saying.

In your drunken state, the blue and white hazes from your phone all blended into one, forcing you to have to squint your eyes to make out what the texts said.

leah baby - 11:32 PM

"lol tell me why i just saw cat and abby walking out the party"

"they seemed like they were fighting too"

wifey dina <3 - 11:35 PM

“y/n.”

"where the fuck are you?"

leah baby - 11:36 PM

“omg”

"y/n, why are people saying that you and ellie kissed?"

"What are you looking at?" Ellie asked.”

"Oh, my friends are just texting me."

You moved to reply to your concerned friends, but your fingers felt like jelly. Despite it feeling almost impossible to type back a coherent response, you carried through.

you - 11:38 PM

"m oksy guys"

"ellie s takinf me homd"

You shut your phone off and relaxed into your seat, resting your head against the window as you watched Ellie drive, her brow furrowed in focus.

After a minute or two, you finally decided to break the silence, “Ellie?”

“Mhm?” She met your gaze momentarily before returning her eyes to the road.

“What actually happened between you and Cat?” You thought back to your conversation with Leah yesterday, giggling at the absurdity of her story, “Leah said that she cheated on you with some old man and you stole her car or some shit.”

“That did not happen,” Ellie sounded a bit defensive at first, but couldn’t help the smile that adorned her face upon hearing the gentle melody of your soft laughter.

“Then what did happen?” You asked, looking up at her with big doe eyes from your slouched sitting position.

Ellie sighed, "Well, I met her in this art class I was taking sophomore year. I thought she was really cool... and pretty," Ellie let out a short, breathy laughter as she recalled what was now just a distant memory to her. "We had a lot in common, too, so we became friends pretty quickly."

"One day we were chilling in her car listening to Pierce the Veil or whatever shit was on our playlist," Ellie paused like it still hurt her to remember, "Then she leaned in and kissed me."

"Then what happened?" You asked, fully engaged.

"Well, we started dating—and at first it was good, like really good. I mean, she was my first girlfriend since middle school, so it wasn't like I had a lot to compare it to, but still."

Ellie bit her lip for a moment, lost in thought, "Then, I guess she got tired of me. 'Said I was getting too clingy or something, started acting distant... then she cut things off."

"I'm so sorry, Ellie," you said softly, fully sympathizing with her and relating to what she went through through your own break up.

She shook her head, "It's fine. I'm over it now; it just hurts to think about."

You leaned in and placed your hand on her forearm, rubbing circles into her skin in an attempt to comfort her, "Still, nobody deserves to be treated like that."

Your heart felt like it was being squeezed a little as you witnessed the soft smile that graced on Ellie's face. It may have been there for just a second, but that was enough for you.

Ellie cleared her throat as the car came to a stop, "We're here."

You looked out the window and, truth be told, there stood your family's house illuminated under the pale moonlight.

Ellie got out the car and walked over to your side, opening the door for you and helping you get out while holding your hand.

Still inebriated, you had to lean onto Ellie as you walked up towards your house.

"Fuck, Ellie," you giggled, "I left my keys on my nightstand. I'm gonna have to crawl through my window."

Ellie laughed at you, "Are you fucking serious? How do you forget your keys?"

"Oh my God, shut up!" you laughed along with Ellie. "Dina was rushing me out the door, okay?"

"Okay, but now seriously how the fuck are we going to get up to your window?"

"Chill out, I live on the first floor. It's right there."

Once reaching the outside of your bedroom, you leaned against the vinyl panels of your house while staring at the flexing of Ellie's muscles as she pushed open your window.

You climbed through the window first, landing on the floor with a thud due to your drunken lack of coordination.

Ellie followed, climbing into your bedroom next.

"Ellie, what are you doing?" you asked, not expecting her to actually come in.

She fidgeted with her hands, suddenly a bit shy, "I just wanted to make sure that you were going to be okay before I left."

Upon seeing you struggle to get your heels off, Ellie kneeled down and helped you unfasten all the straps, tossing the shoes into a corner of your room once complete.

Stumbling over to your dresser, you pulled out a change of clothes so you could finally get out of your itchy bra and tight clothes.

"Ellie, can you please turn around while I change?" you asked.

"Oh, right—sure! I mean, yeah, of course I can," she spun around, cheeks flushed completely red. You thought it was adorable how easy it was to make her nervous and get her wrapped around your finger.

Sometimes Ellie could seem so tough, her confidence radiating in a way that appeared so effortless to those around her. Underneath her sharp tongue and edgy demeanor, though, she was just an awkward girl that got shy when you went soft on her.

Once slipping out of your party outfit and throwing on the Fleetwood Mac shirt you religiously wore to bed once a week and a striped pair of pajama pants, you told Ellie she could look again.

The alcohol debilitated your senses once more as you stumbled on your way towards your bed, making Ellie rush over and hold your waist as she helped you climb into your sheets.

As you let the comforting familiarity of your mattress embrace you whole, you realized how fucking tired you actually were.

“How about we exchange numbers?” she asked, “That way you can text me if you need anything.”

“Mmmm,” you groaned in exhaustion. “I don’t wanna get up, I’ll just tell you mine.”

You recited your phone number out to her as she diligently tapped it into her phone to save it.

“Ellie?” you called out to her, your voice low and soft as you were actively trying and failing to fight off sleep.

“Yes?”

“I think you’re really sweet.” you confessed.

“Thanks,” her face turned red from your flattery, “I think you’re really drunk right now.”

You hummed, your eyes fluttering shut as you surrendered to sleep, “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Of course, it’s the right thing to do.”

Before climbing out your window to return to her car, Ellie took a minute to admire you in your unconscious state. She truly believed you looked beautiful like this, curling into yourself as you buried your head deeper into your pillow. You looked more than precious with your soft lashes pressed gently against each other and your pouty lips agape. Ellie wondered if this is what angels looked like in flesh.

She shook her head, breaking herself out of her thoughts. No, she couldn’t think of you in that way.

She forced herself to rip her gaze away from you and instead head back into the night. Regardless, no matter how much she tried to tell herself that any proximity between the two of you was strictly a product of random circumstance and a desire for vengeance, the gross pink thing beating between her ribs argued otherwise.

You woke up the next day with a pounding headache that never ceased, a sour taste in your mouth, and a hot sweat that made your clothes stick to your skin. You covered your eyes with your hands in an attempt to hide from the sun, whose blinding light left black and blue dots permeating your vision.

Groaning, you pulled your phone off your nightstand.

The time on it read 1:52 PM. You didn't think you stayed at the party for that long, so you must have just been so tired after the week you had that you slept for over twelve hours.

The time wasn't what shocked you the most, though. In fact, the part that made your heart sink was the amount of texts that had blown up your inbox over night.

wifey dina <3 - 11:39 PM

“you're in a car with ellie?"

"are you fucking serious, y/n?"

leah baby - 11:42 PM

“holy shit”

"so you actually kissed ellie?"

"wait, but i thought u guys hated each other?"

wifey dina <3 - 11:44 PM

“they do."

"i don't know what she was thinking."

abigail. (cheating asshole) (DO NOT CALL) - 12:05 AM

“what the fuck”

"did you seriously make out with ellie?"

"in front of everybody?"

"are you insane?"

"out of all the fucking people you kiss ellie?"

leah baby sent an attachment - 1:03 AM

leah baby - 1:03 AM

“someone posted a photo of you two kissing on their story”

(###)-###-#### - 8:22 AM

“hey, it’s ellie”

"text me when ur awake"

You threw your phone across the room and rolled onto your side, placing your palms against your forehead as you groaned deep enough that it echoed across your bedroom walls.

What the fuck did you get yourself into?