#abott elementary

⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏﹏ . ⊹ ☾ . ⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏﹏𓊝 . ⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏﹏ ⊹ ࣪

The office air was stale, the meeting room having a static in the space that cut off your air. Boredom was sucking the life from you, and the muffled voices around you were not helping.

The woman to your right was rambling loudly and you were just nodding along, trying to daydream of the long weekend ahead of you. If you could make it these next three days you would be off to pure relaxation and doing nothing.

"You hear me? I said I can't believe they are pulling this shit on us!" Kristin Marie repeated and you blinked yourself back to reality.

"Wait, what happened?" You asked and she sighed.

"They said half the staff scheduled for the PECSA conference this weekend dropped and they will be randomly selecting replacements." She said annoyed with a slow diction highlighting her discomfort.

"Shit!" You muttered and she nodded.

"I swear to God if we get selected and I am forced to give up this weekend... I am never going to come back." You said exhausted, shaking your head and she hummed in agreement.

"Hell, I don't want to either. You know who might be there?" She said nudging your arm and you tilted your head with an inquisitive hum.

"My dear old sis Melissa." She said and you rolled your eyes instinctively.

"Yeah there is no way we are going. I mean, when was the last time you saw her?" You asked and she thought for a moment.

"Scare Fest last fall." She replied and you felt your blood boil at the reminder.

That was the last time you had seen her as well, and it wasn't exactly the best memory. You assumed Kristin wouldn't want to open up that incident in this setting so you just nodded.

"Well, let's just hope the universe is looking out for us!" You said with a faux cheer to try and lighten the mood.

Suddenly you heard the chime of a microphone and the woman at the podium was shuffling through her papers.

"Okay, if I call your name you have been selected to replace the five teachers we lost." She nodded with a smile and all the staff surrounding her groaned.

"Mrs. Schemmenti, Miss L/n, Mr. Chavez, Miss.." Her words faded as your head dropped into your palm with a groan.

"I cant fucking-" Kristin started and you patted her swiftly to stop the string of curses she was going to follow the sentiment with.

"Well, I guess we just gotta avoid Melissa at all costs, attend minimal lectures, and get very very drunk." You nodded and she shook her head.

"This is ridiculous. With all we put up with and now I gotta give up a long weekend to spend it with my least favorite sister." She continued and you rested a hand on her arm reassuringly.

"It's okay, at least I will be there. I can be a buffer." you quipped and she smirked with a grateful smirk. 

When you learned the conference was in Miami this year, you were both suddenly very excited to be the chosen teachers. That night you prepared for the nice weather that was predicted, putting together perfect outfits for the lectures and then any personal exploring you may escape to. 

After you both unpacked and got freshened up you met at the main conference room to prepare for the introduction dinner. Your gaze wandered around the room as you sat at the table with your fellow Addington teachers. There were all kinds of teaching professionals here, from all across the region. You took in a breath, nerves tingling in your body at the notice of the overstimulating environment. 

“They better get started soon. I wanna get out of here.” She scoffed and you elbowed her playfully. 

“It may be nice to meet some new people.” You added and she shrugged, your gaze still keeping an observant eye.

“As long as I don’t see Me-” She started but your eyes snapped to a familiar face as the name left your lips alongside hers. 

“Melissa.” You said with an annoyed tone and she followed your eyeline, finding the redhead chatting with some other randoms, laughing away confidently. 

“Damnit.” Kristin Marie exclaimed and you turned your attention to her, wanting to make sure you didn't get too irritated by seeing the way the ginger conversed so naturally. 

“Maybe she won’t notice us.” She continued and you both tried to avoid her sight. 

“Although, should we be the bold ones and approach her? To show we aren't afraid?” You questioned and she tilted her head in thought. 

“Hmm, that’s a good point. You’re right, come on.” She said before standing and you muttered an okay as you stammered to your feet and followed close behind. 

“As I live and breathe if it isn’t my big sister Melissa.” Kristin spoke out and you looked at the fiery woman's expression. 

“Kristin Marie? What are you doing here?” She inquired with a disgusted look and you hardened your glance in response. 

“Well let’s see, this is a teachers conference, and I am a teacher. So that begs the question-- what are you doing here?” The blonde quipped back and you grinned.

Your eyes finally locked with the redhead and you felt your body grow hot once again, anger bubbling up and testing the surface’s tension. 

“Miss L/n, pleasure as always.” she nodded and you kept your arms crossed over your chest.

“Hi Melissa.” was all you could get out at first, the heat in your body causing your mind to grow dizzy. 

“Say, remind me of your first name again?” She continued and your jaw tightened, biting your tongue to remain professional to some degree. 

Melissa knew your name, this was just her only way of trying to dig under your skin. Fortunately for her it was working tremendously and you couldn't seem to shake her tantalizing gaze. Her eyes raked over your frame, leaving wildfires in its place and grinning at your irritated expression.

“You know it.” You replied simply.

“Well I don’t want to give you too much power.” She said sarcastically and you huffed.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten all about our fun last fall.” You beamed and she rolled her eyes at the mention. 

“Whatever,” she started and you flashed a grin to Kristin at the mere mention of the event shaking the catty woman, “have fun at the conference, I look forward to not speaking with you both for the remainder of the trip.” She said, raising her glass to you both before walking off into the sea of people. 

“Ha! Got her ass.” Kristin laughed under her breath and you nodded as you watched the red curls fade out of sight. 

“Yeah we did, come on lets go sit down. Dinner should be out soon.” You spoke and she moved to find your table.

The dinner was basic but satisfying enough, especially paired with the drinks you had consumed, feeling much more relaxed but needing to relieve yourself. 

“I'm going to use the restroom.” You said softly to the blonde and she nodded. 

“Okay, I am going to go talk to some of the handsome suits over there.” She gestured and you rolled your eyes. 

“Just, leave your ring on at least.” You teased and she waved you off. 

While you washed your hands you noticed the small smudges of your makeup, drying your fingers and then swiping the shadow clean again. You tweaked your hair as well and straightened up your outfit, pausing when you heard the door open. 

“Hello again.” Melissa chimed behind you and you stared at her in the mirror. 

“Hi.” You said curtly and she frowned, taking slow steps towards you. 

“How’s the night been going for ya?” She smiled politely and you finally turned your head to meet her gaze. 

“What do you want Melissa?” You asked flatly and she raised her hands in surrender with a small shrug.

“I was just being professional.” she stated and you rolled your eyes once again. 

“You sure do that a lot.” She gestured to your expression and you hummed. 

“I have a good reason don’t I?” You snarked and the reluctant woman just nodded. 

“Y’know, what happened on Halloween wasn’t my fault.” She said with a sudden calm in her tone and you resisted the urge to meet her eyes. 

The memory played back in your mind and you grew angry all over again. 

“Bullshit. I don’t know you well Melissa, but I know you have a big mouth. And you’re the reason Kristin and her husband are separated.” you said with tension in your tone and she hummed. 

“Who cares? She’s the one that was flirting with other men.” She defended and you looked at her with a clenched jaw. 

“You are also the reason I got stuck with kindergarten again this year, I was supposed to move to third.” You added, annoyed, and her brows furrowed.

“How on earth is that my fault?” She scoffed and you held back the circular motion of your eyes, keeping them on her darkening green ones. 

“That was only my second year teaching, first at Addington, and the principal caught me breaking up a fight between two teachers my mothers age at a family event!” You said frustrated and she felt her mouth drop slightly. 

“First of all, more like a young aunt's age. Second, it's not my problem your friend decided to swing at me.” 

“You mean your sister. God, Melissa, can't you think maturely?” You scoffed and she straightened up, her gaze threatening. 

“Look kid, I've been around a lot longer than you, I know what kind of person my little sister truly is.” she said leaning in closer and you could feel the heat radiating off of her, causing your breath to catch in your chest. 

“People change. You would know that if you ever saw her.” You replied simply, pretending her proximity wasn't causing your insides to ignite in white flames, melting you inside out.

“Why are you really pissed at me huh?” She pried with a quirked brow and you shook your head. 

“I don’t know what you mean.” You stepped back, turning to face the mirror as you recalled the parts of the event you tried hardest to ignore. 

Addington had co-hosted a large fall festival with Abbott for the kids and families to come together. It also was needed in order to have the budget to throw a fall event at all. It wasn't something you could have predicted would happen during your festival duties. As you made your way through the different games and prize booths set up in the courtyard, you searched for the entrance back into the building. 

When you stepped inside you smiled at all the decorations, the hallway doors shut with scary signs to label the make-shift haunted house. Your gaze shifted to the woman standing beside the doors fixing some webbing. Recognition came fast and you hesitated, wondering if you could sneak out before she heard you, but you were pulled from the thought by her low raspy voice. 

“Oh, Y/n hey.” She said, disappointment clear in her tone. 

“I just came to see how it was going.” You stated and she stepped closer to you so she could admire the work. 

“All done I’d say. Where’s Kristin Marie?” She said with a nosey gaze and you looked away in annoyance. 

“I don’t know.” You said simply, her gaze slightly disturbed by the answer.

“I wish you two would make up.” You added and she shook her head and raised a hand to stop you. 

“Don’t get involved in family matters, you’ll never get it, hon.” She said with a smooth tone and you couldn't help the way your cheeks tingled. 

“Well it’s too bad because based on this setup, and your costume, I think we’d have a lot in common.” You said playfully with a shrug and she smirked. Her hand came up to feel the fabric of your simple costume and you froze at the touch. 

“My sister and I don’t have to be friends in order for us to be ya know?” the redhead scoffed sarcastically and you nodded slowly. 

“Unless you had something other than friends in mind?” she toyed and your jaw clenched. 

It grew painful, knowing she was just saying this to mess with you. It was only wielding the opposite results and caused a flutter in your stomach.

“Is that what you’re hoping for?” You said playing into it with an unusual mischief in your eyes. 

“I’ll take what you can give me darling.” She quipped and her words struck you to your core. It was growing too real and you panicked, your grin softening as you laughed awkwardly. 

“Yeah well if Kristin found out I was joking with you she'd have my head. I should go find her.” The excuse left your lips smoothly, naturally and she nodded with a knowing smirk.

“It was good to see you, Miss L/n. I hope to have the pleasure of working with you someday.” She said in her naturally velvet voice and your chest tightened as you nodded. 

“You too Melissa. Best of luck to you this year.” you nodded before exiting the building. 

It wasn't even an hour later that you were stumbling upon the fight between the two women, you weren't sure exactly how it started but you knew why and that was enough information to continue to defend Kristin. 

Still the prior conversation with Melissa had made the event more painful to witness. Your present day anger only festers deeper because of the small sense of betrayal you felt after your conversation with the private woman. 

Now here you were, attempting to hide those layers of frustration as the stunning woman looked you over. Her gaze burned into your back as you pretended to powder your nose and apply lipgloss. 

“No way a mature woman like yourself is this upset on behalf of a friend, and over teaching kindergarten for another year.” She mocked and your eyes met hers in the mirror as she stayed close behind you.

With swift feet you moved so you could turn and face her, realizing she was even closer now. Her eyes were dark and you found yourself getting lost in them as you pondered a reply.

“I think it’s just best if we ignore each other the rest of the weekend.” You attempted to move past her and she stepped in front of you with a tilt of her head. 

“Awe, you don’t mean that.” She smiled and your eyes caught hers. 

The emeralds softened when she saw through your facade and knew she was indeed right. Guilt flooded in her and she regretted toying with you so much. Still there was a possibility she was reading into it wrong. Perhaps she’s being too arrogant, and in her own world to recognize you may just be uncomfortable or fed up with the woman. 

She moved aside and at first you didn't budge, your eyes both locked on one another's for a moment longer before you looked forward and walked out of the rest room, your perfume rushing past her as she committed it to memory. 

It seemed the event was large enough, and your avoidance skills strong enough, to not cross paths with the irritating woman for the next day. Then, the night before the final day of the conference, the organizers gathered everyone into a room and proceeded to deliver the worst news of the evening. 

“25% of the schools will be closing. We have them listed here and will be reading them to you all shortly.” They started and you all began to mutter to each other, you gaze frightened as you looked to Kristin. 

“It is important to keep this information as private as possible. If parents find out before we have time to take the proper steps it could be chaotic.” The woman continued and you all nodded. 

It wasn't long before someone shouted at them to kill it with the fluff and just tell us who was going to need to spend the night job hunting. 

When Abbott was the first to be called Kristin Marie let out a cackle and you sighed, looking around to spot the red head. Then you heard Addington follow and felt your chest sink, your head lowering as you muttered curses under your breath along with Kristin. 

That night, a group of teachers had convinced everyone to make the most of their trip so the resort's pool and outdoor bar area was full of people. A band played loudly as well and you were in line to order at the bar, watching as everyone was letting loose and finally relaxing. If it wasn't for the open bar you would be out exploring Miami, but the idea you were losing income was enough to keep you here. The drinks helped to muffle your overstimulating surroundings. 

A voice cut through your thoughts as you sipped your drink, and you turned to find it, your body tensing at the sight. 

“So, how are you holdin up?” The redhead asked as she came to sit beside you. 

“I’m not in the mood to chat with you that's for sure.” You said annoyed and she smiled. 

“Hey-- we are on even ground now, sweets.” She quipped and you just stared forward, drinking the remainder of your cocktail before ordering another. 

“It’s like you said, I think we could be good friends. Why not start now?” She asked and you flashed her an annoyed gaze before grabbing your drink and walking off into the crowd. 

Truthfully you couldn't understand why you were so frustrated with the woman. Her catty remarks only enraged you and her dazzling smile was a contrasting threat. It made your head hurt and your blood to boil to be near her. 

As you made your way around the pool you decided to go for a walk by the port, the music a tad softer now. You took in a deep breath as you took in the sounds of the small tide waves hitting the boats docked in rows. 

“That was awfully rude.” The raspy voice came from behind you and you sighed. 

“Melissa, please just leave me alone.” You said, not turning to face her, though you could feel and hear her take a few steps closer. 

“I don’t understand why we can’t be cordial.” She claimed and you shook your head. 

“I have no interes-” you stopped with a gasp, the words catching in your throat when you felt her hand slide around your waist to your stomach, her breath on your shoulder. 

“You were saying?” She asked and you pulled away, shoving her hand from you. 

“Stop it Melissa. I don’t want to be friends with a snitch who betrays family.” You finally replied, attempting to put your foot down with the personal jab. She simply scoffed. 

“If Kristin Marie didn’t want her husband to know she was cheating, then she shouldn't have been doing it.” Her tone had fallen flat, defensive and tired and you shook your head. 

“What, you want round two Melissa?” Kristin spoke up from behind you and you shook your head, fear flooding you.

“I’m not going to fight you again.” The redhead chimed with a smirk.

“Yeah, no fighting please.” You whined and Kristin looked between the two of you. 

“What are you two doing down here anyway?” She asked and you shook your head but Melissa spoke up before you could, a wicked grin on her face. 

“Your friend was just forgiving me for my Scare Fest behavior actually.” She smirked and your jaw dropped at her attempts to anger Kristin. 

“Is that so?” the blonde chimed and you shook your head. 

“No of course not!” You argued but she had already walked away and you let out a grunt of frustration. 

“God Melissa, what is your deal!?” you shouted before turning away to catch up to Kristin. She watched you scamper off with a grin, loving the idea of you and her imbecile of a sister spending the night arguing. 

Melissa couldn't figure out why but she loved to piss you off, to tease you and mess with you until you’re whining and irritated. It makes her chest flutter seeing you like that, a feeling she’s been assuming was just the delicious zing of envy. 

When you realized Kristin had run off somewhere secluded and out of sight you huffed, a hand coming to brush your hair from your face in a frustrated gesture. Heavy and tiring feet led you back to the bar and you ordered two shots, downing them one after the other. 

Unbeknownst to you, the jaded woman was watching with a smirk from her place on the dance floor. She was joined by some of her coworkers and she watched as you took the shots with ease. There was a clear distance in your eyes and yet Melissa felt herself being drawn in. 

Before she could exit the floor to approach you, you got up and moved to the bathroom. The beverages were hitting you now and you relished in the feeling, a carefree rush flooded through you and you sighed. 

The long hall grew dimmer with blue and pink lights reflecting inside, the music faint but ever present. You could see the door to the women’s restroom to the left but before you could turn, there were hands on your waist. 

You yelped softly as you felt the manicured nails grip your hips and pin you to the wall, your back hitting the hard surface as you met her gaze. 

“What are you doing?” you exclaimed looking around and she just shook her head. 

“You have been thinking about things too much.” she said with a smile, small pieces of her bangs falling over her eyes as they sparkled at you with confidence. 

“No this isn’t right-“ you moved your hands but she pinned them to the wall as well and you froze. 

“Haven’t you heard? The world is ending darling,” she leaned in closer to your ear, “why not go out with a bang?” she finished and you felt a shiver travel through you. 

There was no time to think. Magnetic tension pulled you to one another and the moment your eyes met her lips she knew she had been right all along. Her lips pressed to yours swiftly and you kissed back. Your mouths enveloped one another as your breaths grew heavy and desperate. 

It was all the rage and frustration bubbling up as you smashed together and moaned into one another. She pushed a knee between your legs and her hand came to cup your breast as you tugged on her hair. You both groaned out and you allowed her entrance in your mouth. 

Skilled fingers moved up your side to cup your cheek and brush the hair from your face. After a few more moments you had to pull away, needing to catch your breath as you looked at her with big eyes. 

“You realize this could have happened last year if you had minded your own business.” You remarked and she rolled her eyes. 

“Well, I’m here now hon. You really gonna turn me down?” she said with a cheshire grin and charming eyes, your heart tightening as your cheeks burned. 

“Fine but I’m not fucking here in the hall.” You said agreeing to her unspoken desire and she smirked, grabbing your hand and leading you outside. You looked around confused, following her with haste as she looked for a secluded area. 

“Melissa-- we can’t do this out here.” You whispered even though the music carried enough to cover your voices. 

“Shh!” She shushed sharply and you obeyed. 

“We aren’t, we are doing it here.” She said before pointing to a boat that was docked nearby but somewhat hidden from the moonlight. Your jaw dropped and you shook your head. 

“No way!” you laughed, unable to hide the giddy grin on your face. She tugged your wrist and pulled you onto the deck, opening the cabin door and gesturing you in. 

It was surprisingly spacious and you knew only extremely wealthy people could afford to rent these kinds of boats out. The whole concept was something you never considered you would take part in. 

“Pretty nice, huh?” She asked, her hand sliding up your arm to stroke it gently. 

The sensation pulled you from your wandering thoughts and your eyes met hers as you nodded slowly. She allowed her nails to rake up higher until the met the strap of your sun dress, sliding it down before moving to the other. A chill crawled up your spine as you slowed your breathing and watched her in awe. 

Her eyes looked back to yours before she went any further and she could see the deep lust forming in your innocent and bright eyes. It caused her stomach to flutter knowing she had this effect on you, that you were interested in someone her age let alone with such an intense personality. 

When you didn't stop her, she pressed her lips to yours and you kissed her back with need, your lips locking harshly with hers as you moved them against hers slowly. Her lips were soft and damp and you felt the heat between your legs growing stronger, your thighs rubbing together instinctively. 

There was a beautiful and elegant eroticism in the way she kissed you, it was deep and primal but slow and sweet, you could feel every muscle in her mouth moving with precision. As you moaned into her mouth, her hands finally continued, stripping your dress off and moving back so you could step out of it. She turned you so you were backing up against the foot of the bed. 

When she finally pulled away and opened her eyes, she admired your frame with reddening cheeks, you looked away and she felt her confidence grow at your nervous expression. She liked knowing she was in full control of you already. 

Her lips pressed to yours as she gently pushed you to lay back on the bed, crawling to hover over you as your lips remained together. Your hands roamed her body and up through her hair, pushing it out of her face as she moved her knee between your thighs. Your lacey thong rubbed against her and you moaned into her deeply. 

As she moved a hand to cup your bra you allowed your nails to trace over her hips to the hem of her long dress, finding the slit of it so you could bring it up higher and move to the back of her thigh. Pulses traveled through your core at the feeling of her thick thigh in your hand as you ran it up to her ass. You massaged it gently as you pulled her down on top of you, allowing her weight to rest on you as your lips moved faster. 

She rolled over and you climbed on top of her, straddling her as you sat up to strip off your bra. She watched with her tongue swiping her teeth and a raised brow. You grinded down onto her and she grabbed your hips before sliding her sharp nails up your sides before cupping your bare breasts. 

“You are so fucking sexy.” Her voice was sudden but soft and you blushed. 

“Not so bad yourself, but I think you have some catching up.” You said tugging at her dress and she smiled. 

“Patience, we will get there. You need to do something for me first to make up for your behavior.” She remarked and you scoffed, preparing to debate her only to realize it didn't matter what she had planned for you, you would do anything to be with her. 

Her hand moved up to your shoulder, pushing you down the bed. You quickly caught on and she bent her knees up once you reached a better angle, your hands sliding slowly up her silky legs. She watched from above with a devious smile, as the fabric slid up higher and higher.

When you reached the red lacey panties beneath the linen, you looked up at her with excitement. Your lips came to her thighs, placing slow kisses on the inside as you grew closer to her center. Steady hands snaked around her hips as you held her in place and allowed your tongue to lick stripes over her clothed folds. A pleased hum left her throat as she watched with darkening eyes. 

“I can’t wait any longer.” She spoke up and you pulled away to help her strip off the thing lace and shove her dress up her hips. 

The moment her glistening cunt was on display you moved back toward it, your hands scraping her thighs gently as your tongue feathered through her slick folds, collecting her juices as her eyes grew hazy. 

“Fuck yes baby, just like that.” She moaned and you sucked on her clit, earning a deeper groan from her as she began to rock her hips into you. 

You could feel your own arousal growing so you pushed your thighs together, your tongue moving in circles faster to pull more erotic noises from the redhead. She moved her fingers to your hair, brushing it away gently before gripping onto it and gently pushing your head closer to her.  

“I’m getting so close-- christ.” She exclaimed and you smirked into her, you allowed your tongue to enter her and she gasped as she moved her hips harder, your grip growing tighter around the plush skin. 

You could feel her grip around you and felt her growing tighter so you moved to her clit, flicking your tongue over the sensitive bud and causing her orgasm to come flooding over her. The redheads brows pushed together as her head leaned back on the pillow and her back arched. You didn't stop until she had slowed her hips and opened her eyes.

After she recovered and you pulled away, she looked up at you with ruffled hair and a post-orgasm glow. 

“That was fucking amazing hon, wish we had hooked up sooner.” She quipped, pulling you towards her. You giggled and your lips locked with hers, her hand sliding down your stomach to tear your thong off and cup your core. You twitched under her as she felt how soaked you were. 

“How cute, you practically came all over yourself from eating me out.” She hummed and you looked up at her with doe eyes as she moved her fingers back and forth slowly. 

“Please I want…” Your voice faded slightly as she gently pressed her fingers against your clit, moving them in circles over it.

“What do you want Miss L/n? Hmm?” She said seductively and you whined. 

“To be against you, feel you finish with me.” The words were soft and hesitant but she just smirked, sitting up and pulling off her dress, then removing her bra. 

You resisted the urge to widen your eyes and look at nothing else aside from the perfect breasts displayed before you, but you admired them and then looked at her with lust filled eyes.

With a quick motion she moved you so your legs were intertwined and your centers could press together. Your arms gripped around her leg as you slowly began to grind against her, both of you instantly moaning out at the feeling of your slick cunts rubbing together. The nerves you felt from never having scissored with a woman before quickly disappeared as she took the lead by allowing you to use her like your own toy. 

“Just grind against me darling, you feel so good on top of me.” she moaned out and you nodded as you felt your head growing light. 

The sight of her below you only pushed you closer to your climax, the coil tightening as you watched her chest bounce with her motions. Her red hair was spread out around her in curls on the mattress and you admired the way her face contorted as you grinded against her. 

“Jesus Mel, you are a fucking goddess.” You said curtly and she smiled, her hands grabbing what she could of you and digging into your burning flesh. 

“I like when you say nice things to me.” she joked and you couldn't help the small laugh that escaped but quickly turned to a moan as her hand on your hip and arm pulled you down harder, her hips pushing up to meet you. 

“Fuck-” You moaned and she bit her lip as your hips sped up, the friction between the two of you growing stronger as your head fell back. 

“You tasted so good-- and feel so good, i’m so close.” You said softly and she groaned in agreement. 

“Come on baby, let go all over me.” She encouraged and you moaned out as you grinded your hips in sync with hers. Your cunts rubbed together as you scissored with skilled movements, going off pure instinct and desire. 

It wasn't long before you felt your orgasm crash over you and your body convulsed over, her arms coming up to catch you and pull you to lay beside her. You layed there looking up through the sunroof, admiring the moon as you panted alongside the silent redhead.

“You did so good, kid. I should have given you more credit.” She scoffed playfully and you sighed.

“Don’t worry about it, I don't exactly scream sex appeal.” you joked and she furrowed her brows and looked at you. 

“Are you kidding? You just fucked me on a boat at a work conference. That is pretty fucking sexy.” She said as she turned to face you, her lips hovering over yours. 

“Yeah?” you said proudly and she hummed with a node before pressing her lips to yours. It was a softer kiss this time, more tender and caring but it soon grew deeper. 

The sounds of someone walking along the port echoed and you pulled away, looking over her face as your eyes grew wide. 

“We should probably go.” You suggested and she nodded, the both of you quietly dressing. 

“You’re coming to my room though.” She ordered and your eyes locked on hers before you exited the boat.

“I’ll take whatever you give me.” You quipped with a smile and she brought her hands to cup your face, pressing a sweet kiss to your lips before moving to hold your jaw between her fingers with a firmer grip.

“Careful with those words, hon.” She winked before grabbing your hand and poking her head out of the cabin, scanning the surroundings.

She pulled you to the ships deck before helping you across to the dock and you saw a few people down the row of ships and grew nervous, trying your best to act nonchalant. As usual you followed her quickly with a rush of adrenaline from the actions you had just performed, combined with the ones that awaited you. 

It was unclear what your careers would look like moving forward, and how life would be when you returned home, but for the remainder of PECSA you were going to spend every second with Melissa.

⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏﹏ . ⊹ ☾ . ⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏﹏𓊝 . ⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏﹏ ⊹ ࣪

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-“I'm sorry...”-Melissa said carefully trying to get your attention. You looked up too fast, as if you had been startled out of thought. You were beautiful in the quiet kind of way people often missed at first glance. Not polished or deliberate, just warm. Your hair pinned up messily, tired eyes, soft mouth. The sort of face that looked made for smiling even when it was strained with worry.

-“Yes Miss Schemmenti?”-You looked up, Melissa hesitated.

Her house had an extra room, and for the last year it had become a graveyard for old exercise equipment and things she swore she would donate someday. It was empty enough.

And your daughter, Gaia, was sitting cross-legged by the cubbies drawing flowers on the back of a math worksheet because she was too patient to complain that her mom had spent the whole pickup quietly arguing with someone over the phone in rapid-fire Spanish.

Melissa had caught enough to understand.

Rent. Late again.

Please, just one more week.

-"Are you okey?" - she asked and you nodded rubbing your eyes.

-"What?" - you were not used to have someone caring how you were, so it took you by surprise - "Oh yes... I know I'm late to pick her up and that I haven't been coming to the last few meetings... I'm just working some extra hours, but I will be here the next one, I promise..."-you didn't wanted to say that you had lost your job and that you won't be busy the next days because you were not able to do extra hours anymore. But you limited your answer to a promise.

-"Look... I don't mean to pry but I heard..."-before she could gather the courage to say what she was planning to say, your phone rang and you opened your eyes like remembering something.

-"I'm sorry Melissa, Gaia has a dentist appointment and we are getting late...Can we talk another time?..."-you were calling your daughter with hand gestures. Your baby girl grabbed her color pencils and ran to you holding your hand and looking at the redhead with a bright smile

-"Yes... Don't worry...I will see you another day..."-the redhead said grabbing her bag and seeing how you picked up your daughter

-"Bye Miss Schemmenti" - you said hurried

-"Bye bye miss Schemmenti, see you tomorrow!" - Your little kid waved her gloved hand and you left, disappearing behind the green doors into the cold day

A couple more days passed, and Melissa could not stop thinking about you. About the strain in your voice during that phone call. About the way your fingers had trembled while buttoning Gaia’s coat. About the way you had smiled anyway, as if warmth could be forced into existence through sheer determination.

She noticed things after that. Little things.

The way Gaia always arrived clean and neatly dressed, even if her shoes were beginning to pinch at the toes. The careful way her lunches were packed, always homemade, always portioned with precision. Sometimes just a sandwich cut into perfect little triangles, an apple sliced so it looked abundant, a few crackers tucked carefully into a napkin.

And every morning, Melissa made sure there were snacks waiting in her desk drawer.

-“Miss Schemmenti, can I have one of the strawberry bars?”-Gaia asked one morning, peeking up at her with wide brown eyes.

-“Absolutely not"-Melissa clicked her tongue dramatically. Gaia’s little face fell.

Then Melissa reached into the drawer and placed two bars in front of her-“One is clearly for quality control"- Gaia giggled.

-“Thank you"-she said saving one in her pocket-"One for mama, this are her favorite ones too" - that squeezed the redhead's heart

-“Don’t tell the other kids”-Melissa warned-“I have a reputation to maintain”-she joked. Gaia nodded solemnly, as though entrusted with state secrets.

Melissa watched her skip back to her desk and felt something twist in her chest.

The kid was bright. Sweet. Too observant for her age.

She couldn't ignore the innocent conversations that your daughter had with other children, who although they were not rich, had gone out on weekends to nice places and your daughter was excited to say that on her weekend you had enough to buy you a ice cream to share with her.

And one Friday afternoon, while the class colored quietly, one kid was teasing Gaia about her lack of color pencils. Melissa immediately came to help

-"Hey, that's no nice, I will talk to your parents about your behavior by the end of the day when they come pick you up" - she said frowning and crossing her arms. The kid immediately went quiet and resumed his coloring lesson.

-"Gaia, if you want I have colors on my desk" - she offered and your daughter denied with her head

-"I like mine, I don't have the big box of coloring pencils but this works..."-she said and looked up to the redhead - “My mom cries in the bathroom so I won’t hear”-Melissa’s stomach dropped. She crouched beside her desk carefully.

-“Gaia…”-The little girl shrugged, still drawing.

-“It’s okay. She thinks I don’t know"-Melissa swallowed hard.

-“She loves you very much"-the teacher stated

-“I know"-Gaia finally looked at her, serious beyond her years-“She just gets sad because money makes grown-ups weird"-Melissa blinked.

Then, despite herself, she laughed softly.

-“That is… disturbingly accurate"-Gaia smiled. Then she leaned closer and whispered

-“I think she likes you"-Melissa nearly choked on air.

-“What?”-she blinked a few times. Gaia returned to coloring as if she had not just detonated Melissa’s nervous system.

-“She smiles when she says your name and she likes the strawberry bars that you send"-Melissa stared at the top of her dark little head, speechless. Children were terrifying.

That evening, pickup ran late again.

The classroom had emptied, the halls gone quiet except for distant janitors and squeaking wheels from someone’s cleaning cart.

Gaia sat by the window, drawing little stars on fogged glass. And then you appeared.

Hair damp from melted snow, cheeks pink from the cold, breathless and apologizing before the door had even fully opened.

-“I’m so sorry, our car broke and I had to take two buses and one was delayed and...-you were gasping for air trying to speak

-“You’re fine"- Melissa said quickly. You stopped. Actually stopped. As if the words had stunned you. Most people accepted your apologies because they expected them. They treated your lateness like proof of failure. But Melissa said it like she meant it. Like your being late did not make you lesser.

Your shoulders softened.

-"Thank you," - you said quietly. Gaia launched herself at your legs, and you bent to gather her close, kissing the top of her head. The tenderness of it hit Melissa square in the ribs.

Before she could lose her nerve, she blurted

-“I have a room"-You looked up, confused, you frowned

-“What?”-you looked scared, like she was offering something that shouldn't be offered in front of a child

-“In my house-” Melissa clarified, immediately flustered-“Not like a weird serial killer thing. Jesus, why did I phrase it like that?”-she scratched her head nervously. A laugh escaped you before you could stop it. Melissa’s face flushed brighter-“There’s an extra room"-she rushed on-“It’s mostly old junk and a treadmill nobody has respected since 2019, but it’s yours if you need it"-she offered. You froze. The air shifted. Melissa’s pulse thundered-“I overheard enough the other day"-she said more gently now-“And before you get embarrassed, don’t. Life is expensive, Philly landlords are criminals, and sometimes people need help"-she whispered with soft eyes.

Your mouth parted, but no sound came. You looked down at Gaia, who was already half-asleep against your coat. Then back at Melissa. Your eyes shimmered.

-“You barely know me"-you whispered, Melissa gave a small shrug.

-“I know your daughter says please and thank you without being reminded. I know she shares her crayons when other kids forget theirs. I know she talks about you like you hung the moon"-Your breath caught-“And I know good people sometimes get hit with bad luck"- Melissa finished softly.

Silence. Then your face crumpled. Not dramatically. Not loudly. Just the quiet collapse of someone who had been carrying too much for too long. Melissa moved before thinking. Her arms wrapped around you instinctively, awkward at first, hesitant. Then you broke.

A trembling breath left your chest as you leaned into her, your free hand clutching the front of her coat. Melissa held on tighter. Her heart hammered wildly. You were warm despite the cold. Smaller than she had imagined. Real.

-“It’s okay"-she murmured, surprising herself with how much she meant it-“You’re okay"

For the first time in months, standing there in an empty classroom with your daughter half-asleep between you and the scent of snow still clinging to your coat, you believed it.

-"We got kicked out today" - Your voice came out weaker than you expected, trembling as you pulled back just enough to wipe at your tears with the sleeve of your coat. The words tasted humiliating. You hated how small they made you feel. Melissa stayed still in front of you, her hands hovering at your waist for half a second as if she wanted to pull you close again but was not sure she was allowed to. You took a shaky breath-“I lost my job because the restaurant closed. I was trying to gather money for rent cooking meals for some hospitals, but…”-Your voice broke, and you swallowed hard before continuing-“They didn’t give me more time. When I got back after dropping Gaia off here, all our things were outside the apartment"-Melissa’s face changed. Not pity. Something sharper. Anger, hot and immediate, on your behalf. You looked down, unable to bear the kindness in her eyes-“I put everything in our car, and then the car broke down halfway to the repair shop"-You let out a hollow little laugh that sounded nothing like amusement-“It’s still there, full of our stuff. And on the bus ride here, all I could think about was where Gaia and I were going to sleep tonight"-The shame hit harder saying it aloud.Your throat tightened -“I don’t want to impose. I know having a kid in your home is… a lot. A huge change. And I know this is insane, but…”-You laughed weakly through fresh tears-“I don’t exactly have the luxury of saying no"-Your voice cracked completely. You pressed your lips together, trying and failing to hold yourself together-“I… I don’t know what to say"-

Melissa’s expression softened. Her own hands shook slightly at her sides, and for some reason that steadied you. Then she gave that tiny crooked smile of hers, the one she always wore when she was trying to sound cooler than she felt.

-“Say yes before I overthink it and become a coward"-A laugh escaped you before you could stop it. Small and watery, but real. Melissa’s shoulders loosened at the sound, and something in her face brightened.

For the first time in what felt like forever, your chest loosened enough to breathe.

-“Yes, Miss Schemmenti”-you nodded, the words came out soft. Your cheeks warmed under her gaze-“Thank you"-

The way she looked at you then made your pulse stumble. Not polite concern. Not obligation. Something gentler. Something that made your skin feel suddenly too warm inside your coat.

Melissa cleared her throat and looked away first, her own cheeks pinking.

-“Please"-she said, grabbing her purse from her desk- “if we’re going to live together, you should call me Melissa"- The name felt strange and intimate sitting on your tongue.

-“Melissa"-you repeated quietly. Her breath caught. Just for a second. Then she recovered quickly, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear and forcing a practical little nod.

-“Right. Good. Great. Cool.”-You smiled despite yourself. She looked adorably flustered-“Now"-she said briskly, slipping back into her usual sharp efficiency-"tell me where the shop is. We’ll grab your stuff from the car, and then we’ll go home" - Home. The word hit unexpectedly hard. Your eyes stung again. Melissa noticed immediately and groaned dramatically-“Nope. Absolutely not"-You blinked-“No more crying. I’ve hit my emotional support quota for the week, and Barbara says if I absorb any more feelings I’ll become a guidance counselor"-she said looking for her car keys. A startled laugh burst from your chest. Melissa looked deeply pleased with herself-“Better"- she said.

Gaia, who had been half-asleep against your side through most of the conversation, suddenly lifted her head and blinked up at Melissa.

-“Does your house have snacks?”-Melissa gasped in mock offense.

-“Excuse you. My house is basically seventy percent snacks"-Gaia’s face lit up. You laughed, really laughed this time, and Melissa felt the sound settle somewhere dangerous beneath her ribs, but she tried not to pay attention to it.

Two weeks later, Melissa was learning that living with another person was like suddenly discovering your house had acoustics.

You hummed while making coffee in the mornings, old Spanish songs Melissa didn’t know but found herself replaying in her head all day.

Gaia left tiny glittering trails of crayons and stickers wherever she went, as if she shed art supplies instead of skin cells. And Melissa, who had spent years coming home to silence, found herself lingering after work just to hear them.

At first some things were "difficult", not necessarily problematic, but yes funny encounters of getting used to live with someone else. The first month settled into domestic collisions.

For example:

1-Melissa likes the house warm enough to survive Philadelphia winter.

You grew up with “put on another sweater, heating is expensive.”

You keep secretly turning it down. Melissa keeps turning it back up. This escalates into sticky notes on the thermostat: “Stop touching this. We are not reenacting the Ice Age.”

Your reply: “We are not funding PECO’s CEO’s yacht.”

2-Melissa had a system. You reorganize the kitchen logically for cooking. Now she can’t find anything. She opens a drawer.

-“Why are the spatulas with the measuring cups?”-she frowns

-“Because they are both cooking tools?”-you reply

-“That is psychotic"-

Gaia picks sides like it’s a custody battle-“Mom’s right, Miss Melissa"-Absolute betrayal.

3-Melissa Accidentally Becomes “Mom Mode” without realizing when Gaia spills juice.

-“Okay, no panic, paper towels, blot don’t rub, we can fix this"-Melissa says immediately. Then freezes because why did that come out so naturally?

You just stare at her, weirdly touched.

Later Gaia casually tells someone at school - “Miss Melissa knows mom stuff"-and Melissa short-circuits for a week.

4-Melissa does her laundry. You do yours. One day they get mixed.

She unfolds a very lacy bra that is aggressively not hers. You walk in making eye contact. Silence so loud it deserves its own soundtrack.

-“This is structurally impressive"-she murmurs and you laugh so hard you cry.

5-One night you got up at 2 AM for water because your thermos was empty. Everything was pitch black and you were not using your glasses, clumsy you slammed against something soft, very soft, Melissa's chest, was like a clowdy pillow. Her smell was very nice and she was warm, you were still half asleep, not processing that you should separate. Melissa turns on the light and you blush, separating and going without saying nothing else to get your water.

During the next couple months, those interactions kept progressing, the awkwardness becoming something familiar and confortable now.

1-One Saturday morning she wakes up to music drifting from downstairs. You’re cleaning the kitchen, singing softly in Spanish, hair messy, wearing one of her oversized old t-shirts because your laundry is still drying.

Melissa comes downstairs for coffee and just… stops. Completely frozen. You notice and smile.

-“Good morning"-you whispered. Melissa forgets how language works

-“Yep. That is… statistically morning"-Then she walks directly into the fridge door while your eyes followed her.

Gaia witnesses everything.

-“Miss Melissa has a crush"-she declared and Melissa nearly dies on the spot.

2-The Accidental Matching Outfits. You both come downstairs wearing black sweaters and jeans. Same silhouette. Same shoes. Gaia gasps like she has witnessed prophecy.

-“You match! That means you’re married in cartoons"-she claps and Melissa chokes on her coffee.

You turn bright red. Gaia spends the rest of the day introducing Melissa as “my almost-stepmom.”

3-Melissa has been thinking about her leftover lasagna all day at work. She comes home. Opens the fridge to find it gone. Absolute betrayal. She storms into the kitchen.

-“Who ate my lasagna?”-Gaia points at you immediately. No loyalty. No hesitation. You freeze mid-bite. Melissa stares, scandalized-“That was labeled"-she frowns

-“It said ‘don’t touch.’ I thought it was sarcasm"-you looked at her with your cheeks full

-“I'm Italian. That’s how we express seriousness"-You laugh so hard you snort. Melissa is doomed because she finds it adorable and she can't keep her mad face up.

-"I made more lasagna, don't cry" - you said pointing to the warm one on the oven

4-Melissa Learns You’re Touchy Without Realizing. You’re naturally affectionate. A hand on her shoulder when passing. Fixing her collar absentmindedly. Brushing lint off her blazer

5-Melissa gets sick and insists she’s fine. She is clearly not fine. Still trying to grade papers while looking like Victorian tuberculosis. You take one look and confiscate everything.

-“Bed"-you point to the stairs

-“Absolutely not"-she frowns like a little kid

-“Melissa"-you raised an eyebrow like you did with your daughter

-“…That tone feels illegal"-she murmurs getting up the stairs to her bed. You tuck blankets around her and make soup. She’s so unused to being cared for she gets weirdly emotional about it.

Later Gaia whispers to you while you cook

-“She likes when you boss her around"-you look at Melissa and she just pretends to be asleep but the blush on her cheeks betrays her.

And after a little more time, things change from familiar to family.

1-Melissa hears you defending her at pickup

-“Miss Schemmenti is kind of intense"-another parent complains

You immediately smile politely stepping into the conversation

-“She’s dedicated, smart, and she cares more about these children than anyone in this building. Some people mistake competence for intensity"-nobody dears to fight you, Melissa overhear from her car. No one has ever defended her like that. That night she stares at the ceiling until 3 a.m. Catastrophic feelings unlocked.

2-Grocery shopping. Melissa hated grocery shopping on Sundays.

Not because of the store itself. She liked lists. She liked organization. She liked crossing things off with aggressive efficiency and silently judging people who blocked entire aisles while contemplating yogurt. What she did not like was crowds.

And she especially did not like crowds when Gaia had somehow convinced you both to come along, which meant Melissa was currently navigating the produce section while your daughter zigzagged ahead in her little pink coat like a caffeinated hummingbird.

-“Gaia”- you called, steering the cart with one hand-“lento bebe"

-“I am slow!”-she yelled

-“You are literally running"-you replied

-“That’s just fast walking"-she always had an answer to everything, Melissa snorted before she could stop herself.

-“See? Miss Melissa agrees with me"-Gaia whipped around triumphantly.

-“I absolutely do not"-if the redhead learned something on the time living together was that Gaia didn't needed someone on her side to win

-“Traitor"- Gaia informed her solemnly narrowing her eyes. Melissa placed a hand over her chest.

-“After everything I’ve done for this family"-The word slipped out before she could catch it. This family. You heard it too. She knew because your hands paused on the shopping cart handle for half a second, your knuckles tightening slightly before you looked down to hide the little smile tugging at your mouth. Melissa’s stomach flipped. She immediately redirected her attention to a pyramid of oranges as though citrus had become critically important

-“Those are definitely overpriced"-she muttered. You laughed softly beside her. God, that laugh, it was becoming a problem, a dangerous, daily sort of problem.

Family...You had settled into her house with alarming ease over the last months. There were little signs of you everywhere now. Gaia’s drawings taped to the fridge. Your cardigan hanging over the kitchen chair. The scent of your perfume and whatever impossible magic you did to plain rice lingering in the walls.

Melissa had spent years cultivating her solitude into something neat and controlled. And now your shampoo was in her shower. And somehow that felt less like intrusion and more like something her home had been waiting for.

-“Melissa?"-Your voice pulled her back. She turned too quickly. You were holding up two jars of pasta sauce.

-“This one or this one?”-Melissa stared blankly. Not at the sauce. At you. At the tiny crease between your brows while you concentrated. At the way your hair had escaped its clip in soft strands around your face. At the domestic normalcy of this exact moment. Like this was just what the two of you did. Like there was nothing strange about standing here together deciding between basic tomato and roasted garlic while your daughter attempted to climb into the lower rack of the cart behind you. Her chest tightened.

-“Melissa?”-You tilted your head-“Are you okay?”-She blinked. Right, words.

-“The left one"- she blurted. You frowned at the labels.

-“The plain tomato one"-you frowned

-“You love garlic"-you whispered confused

-“I have evolved"-she replied. You smiled, warm and amused.

-“Sure"-you left the sauce, then, before she could process what was happening, your free hand reached up and brushed lightly at her cheek. Melissa froze. You held up your fingers, showing a faint streak of red.

-“Gaia got marker on you this morning"-The touch had lasted barely a second. It still sent heat rushing all the way down Melissa’s spine.

-“Oh"-Very articulate Melissa. A+ response.

You smiled, clearly oblivious to the fact that your casual tenderness had just short-circuited her entire nervous system, and dropped the sauce into the cart.

Behind you, Gaia popped up dramatically-“Can we get cookies?”-she looked at you

-“No"-both of you said instantly. Gaia gasped. Then narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

-“You sound married when you do that"-Melissa nearly aspirated. You turned bright red. Gaia grinned like she had personally orchestrated this.

-“Interesting"- she sang, and disappeared toward the cereal aisle before either of you could recover. For one long second, neither of you moved. Then your eyes met. And to Melissa’s horror, you both started laughing. Real laughter. The kind that made your shoulders shake and left your cheeks aching. By the time it faded, you were both standing a little closer than before. Not touching. But close enough for Melissa to feel your warmth through her coat. Close enough that if either of you leaned in even slightly, everything would change. Neither of you moved. Then Gaia’s voice echoed from three aisles over.

-“Mom! Miss Melissa! There’s a man licking the avocados!"-The moment shattered instantly. Melissa closed her eyes

-“Why is that a sentence I have to hear?”-You were still smiling as you started toward your daughter

-“Welcome to parenthood" - And Melissa, following close behind with the cart and a smile she could not seem to suppress, realized something terrifying. That the word no longer scared her quite as much as it should have.

3-Melissa starts to gets jealous of literally nothing

You thank the mechanic fixing your car and smile politely. Melissa, standing beside you:

Why is she smiling at him?

Does he deserve that smile?

She is immediately disgusted with herself.

4-A rude cashier dismisses you when your card declines. Before you can even react, Melissa appears. Sharp posture. Dangerous calm.

-“Try that attitude again and I’ll explain customer service to you using very small words"-she said, you stare. Cashier folds instantly. Later, outside, you smile at her.

-“You defended me"-you smiled, Melissa shrugs, suddenly shy.

-“Well. You’re… here"-That tiny sentence absolutely wrecks you.

5-The moments that your daughter decided to play Cupid.

You’re reaching for something on a high shelf. Melissa reaches too. She plants one hand against the wall to steady herself. Now she’s accidentally caging you in. Faces inches apart. Breathing catches. Nobody moves. Then Gaia walks in.

-“Are you guys kissing?”-You both leap apart like the house is on fire. Gaia sighs dramatically-“Okay. Later then"-Walks away.

Melissa had dated enough terrible men to know the warning signs by heart. It was almost impressive, really. If there had been an Olympic event for consistently choosing emotionally unavailable men with mediocre opinions and deeply unnecessary confidence, she would have qualified for nationals.

There had been Chris, who called her “intimidating” every time she disagreed with him, as if her having thoughts of her own was an aggressive act.

And then there was Ethan, who had once looked genuinely inconvenienced when she got the flu. She remembered shivering under three blankets, feverish and miserable, while he stood in her bedroom doorway holding his phone and asking if she really needed him to cancel poker night. Melissa had broken up with him two weeks later.

Then Joe, cheating husband.

Gary that didn't listen to what she wanted.

And then Rob, who the only thing that she saw attractive on him, was his job. And he thought that his work was way more important than hers and his relationship.

The thought drifted through her mind now as she stood in her own kitchen, staring at you. It was almost midnight. She had gotten home late after parent conferences, exhausted and already bracing herself for the usual ritual of silently microwaving leftovers and grading papers until her eyes crossed.

Instead, the kitchen light had been on. You were standing barefoot by the stove in one of those soft oversized sweaters that always made Melissa’s brain briefly lose signal.

Your hair was half-down, loose around your shoulders. And you were making soup. Not because she had asked, not because you expected anything. Just because, apparently, you had noticed she looked tired that morning.

-“There you are"-you said softly when she stepped inside, whispering because Gaia was already asleep. The smile that spread across your face was immediate and unguarded, like seeing her had genuinely improved your night. It did something strange to Melissa’s chest.

-“There’s soup"-you said, nodding toward the stove-"And before you protest, yes, you’re eating.”

Melissa automatically opened her mouth to argue. You gave her a look. Not annoyed, not impatient, just calmly certain and somehow that was worse. She obeyed, which was humiliating.

She sat at the kitchen table while you poured a bowl and set it in front of her, along with a spoon and the good crackers Melissa pretended she was saving for special occasions.

-“You didn’t have to do this"-she said. You shrugged, like the answer was obvious.

-“You work hard"-That was it. No grand performance. No expectation of praise, just a simple statement of fact. You work hard. Melissa stared down at the steam curling from the bowl. Something about it made her throat tighten unexpectedly. Her exes had always made care feel transactional. If they remembered something she liked, it was because they wanted credit for remembering. If they did something kind, it arrived with an invisible invoice. Later, there would always be some moment where the cost was collected.

A favor expected, a guilt trip, a reminder that she owed them for basic decency.

But with you, kindness just… existed. It moved through your hands as naturally as breath.

You packed her lunches if she forgot. Folded the blanket over her if she fell asleep on the couch. Left sticky notes on the coffee maker when she had stressful mornings.

"Good luck today. You’ll do great."

"Don’t forget your scarf. It’s freezing."

"Gaia says your eyeliner is 'slay.' I was told this is a compliment."

You gave without keeping score. The realization hit her so suddenly it stole her breath. This was what comfort was supposed to feel like, not anxious, not performative, not the constant, exhausting work of making herself smaller so someone else could feel bigger. Just this. Warm soup. Soft kitchen light. Your sleepy smile as you leaned against the counter, watching to make sure she ate.

Melissa looked up before she could stop herself.

You blinked.

-“What?”-you asked. She had been staring. A lot, apparently. Her face heated instantly.

-“Nothing"-Your eyes narrowed slightly, amused.

-“You’re doing the thing"-you pointed to her face

-“What thing?”-she narrowed her eyes this time

-“The one where your brain is clearly spiraling but you’re pretending it isn’t"-you already knew every face that she made

-“I do not spiral"-You smiled. Melissa’s stomach flipped.

-“You alphabetize your spice rack when you’re stressed"-you state

-“That is called efficiency"-she replied

-“That is called distress-organizing"-you retorted. She opened her mouth to defend herself and then stopped when you laughed. God. That laugh. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t polished or practiced. It was warm and breathy and real, and it filled her kitchen like it had always belonged there. And just like that, Melissa understood something terrifying.

Every relationship she’d ever had had felt like trying to squeeze herself into clothes that didn’t fit. Too tight in the wrong places. Always aware of the discomfort. Always waiting to breathe again. But this? This felt like finally coming home and changing into something soft. And that was infinitely more dangerous.

Because Melissa Schemmenti had spent years learning how to survive discomfort. She had absolutely no idea what to do with peace.

Melissa didn't wanted to accept that any kind of feelings, besides appreciation were involved, she wasn't scared of loving you because she doubts her feelings. She was scared because she respects you too much to ever want you wondering if her kindness came with strings attached. That guilt would eat her alive.

Melissa did not tell Barbara. That alone should have been enough to alarm her.

Barbara Howard had somehow become the unwilling keeper of every emotional disaster Melissa had ever stumbled into. Usually because Barbara possessed the deeply irritating ability to look at Melissa for three seconds and immediately know when something was wrong.

Which was exactly why Melissa had spent the last three weeks avoiding being alone with her.

No lunch breaks in the teacher’s lounge alone, no lingering after meetings, no going out together, no opportunities for Barbara to narrow those knowing eyes and gently dismantle every carefully constructed lie Melissa had prepared.

Because if Barbara asked, Melissa would tell her.

And if she told Barbara, then it would become real. And Melissa could not afford real. It was easier this way.

If she kept the feelings quiet enough, buried deep enough beneath routine and practicality and carefully timed exits from shared rooms, maybe they would shrink. Maybe they would dissolve into something manageable. A harmless crush. Temporary. Controllable.

That was what she told herself, anyway.

It was what she told herself every morning when she heard your soft footsteps downstairs and had to physically stop herself from smiling before she even saw you. What she told herself every time you laughed at one of her dry little comments and looked at her like she’d said something genuinely brilliant. What she told herself every time Gaia casually called her Miss Melissa in that affectionate little voice that somehow made her chest ache.This was temporary. It had to be. Because the alternative was unbearable.

Her plan worked, for a few days at least, until one night Gaia slept at a friend’s house.

Melissa had never considered herself the jealous type. Possessive, maybe. Judgmental, certainly. Selective with her affection to the point of emotional constipation, absolutely.

But jealous? No.

Jealous implied irrational attachment. And irrational attachment required first admitting she had some kind of attachment to begin with, which was obviously absurd and deeply inconvenient.

So when she came home Thursday evening, juggling two overstuffed grocery bags and mentally composing tomorrow’s lesson plan, she was entirely unprepared for the sight waiting in her living room.

You were standing by the hallway mirror, adjusting a small silver earring. And you looked…

Melissa’s thoughts stopped functioning.

You were wearing a dark green dress she had never seen before. Nothing flashy, nothing dramatic. Just soft fabric that skimmed your body perfectly, elegant in that quiet effortless way that always seemed to follow you.

Your hair was down, falling in waves around your shoulders. A little makeup, just enough to catch the warm apartment light. You looked beautiful.

Not the tired, practical kind of beautiful Melissa had memorized over the past months. Not your messy-morning-hair, oversized-sweater, flour-on-your-cheek kind of beautiful.

This was deliberate. Intentional. Date beautiful.

Melissa’s stomach dropped so suddenly it almost felt physical.

You turned and smiled when you noticed her.

-“There you are"-Your smile was warm, distracted, a little nervous. Not for her. For whoever was waiting for you.

Something sharp twisted under Melissa’s ribs.

-“Hi"-she managed. Her voice came out weirdly flat. You tilted your head.

-“Everything okay?”-you asked

-“Why wouldn’t it be?”-Too fast. Too sharp. Your brow furrowed slightly. Melissa immediately wanted to throw herself down the stairs. She set the grocery bags on the counter with more force than necessary.

-“You look…”-she started. Good. Beautiful. Impossible. Like whoever was taking you out tonight had better appreciate exactly how lucky they were-“…different"- Excellent recovery.

You blinked. Then smiled softly, smoothing your hands down the dress.

-“Oh. Thank you.”-That tiny smile wrecked her. You looked nervous. Excited nervous. Melissa hated this mysterious person instantly. She opened cabinets aggressively, putting groceries away with enough force to suggest she was personally punishing the canned goods.

-“So"-she said casually, which would have sounded casual if she hadn’t just nearly decapitated a box of pasta against the shelf-“big plans?”-There was a pause behind her

-“Sort of"-you replied

Sort of? Not a denial. Her stomach sank lower. You hesitated.

-“I don't want to say anything yet, until it's something sure...”-That somehow made it worse.

Because of course you wouldn’t tell her. Why would you? You were roommates. Friends, maybe, if Melissa was being wildly optimistic. You didn’t owe her explanations about your love life. The thought hit with surprising force. A hot, ugly little ache she was deeply embarrassed to feel.

-“Oh"-She kept her back to you-“Cool"-Silence. The kind that stretched too long. Then your voice came, softer, your leg was bouncing on the floor, the hill of your shoe making it sound louder, you were nervous.

-“Melissa"-She turned before she could stop herself. You were watching her carefully now, reading her. You’d gotten annoyingly good at that.

-“What?”-her question was sharp. You studied her face for a long moment, and she had the terrible feeling you could see every stupid, yearning thought written there. Then your expression gentled.

-“It’s not what you think"-you whispered. Her heart gave one humiliating leap. Dangerous. Hopeful. She shut it down immediately.

-“I’m not thinking anything"-she almost pouted

-“Melissa"-your voice came more serious this time

-“I’m not"-she repeated and you stepped closer.

Just enough to make her pulse kick.

-“It’s a job interview"-you confessed. The words landed so suddenly Melissa actually blinked.

-“…What?”-she asked lost. You let out a tiny breath of laughter, nervous and relieved all at once.

-“It’s dinner with the director of a new pediatric rehabilitation center. They’re opening next month, and one of the nurses I used to cook for recommended me for their in-house meal program"-you blushed lightly because of the nerves. Melissa stared. Your smile turned shy-“If it goes well, it could be full-time. Benefits. Real stability"-For one suspended second, all she felt was relief. Bright and dizzying and immediate. Not a date. Not someone else.

Then guilt followed close behind. Because the strength of that relief told her exactly how badly she’d wanted it to be true. And that was… information she absolutely did not know what to do with, a stable job maybe would mean that you would move out, and she didn't wanted you to leave.

-“That’s amazing"- she said, and this time her smile was real. Your whole face softened.

-“You think so?”-you played with your rings nervously

-“Obviously"-Melissa stepped forward without thinking and fixed the collar of your coat where it had folded awkwardly. The motion was automatic. Domestic. Her fingers brushed your neck. Both of you froze. The apartment suddenly felt very quiet. You looked up at her. Too close.

Close enough for Melissa to notice the tiny hitch in your breathing.

Close enough to smell your perfume, soft and warm and dizzyingly familiar underneath.

Her hand lingered for half a second too long. Then she jerked back like she’d touched fire.

-“There"-she said, voice thinner than usual-“Professional"

You smiled, but your cheeks had turned pink.

-“Thank you"-You bit the inside of your cheek,her closeness making you feel more nervous that the interview itself. Neither of you moved.

Then Gaia’s voice crackled suddenly from your phone where she was on speaker with her friend’s mom, you forgot you had called her.

-“MAMA?”-You jumped.

-“What?”-you asked, your heart hammering on your chest

-“Miss Melissa says you look nice"-Melissa nearly died.There was delighted cackling from Gaia and her friend in the background.

-“Oh my God"-Melissa muttered.

Your laughter spilled out bright and helpless, filling the room. And just like that, the tension broke.

You reached for your purse, still smiling.

-“I should go"-You pointed the door, Melissa nodded.

-“Yeah"-she replied, you hesitated at the door.

-“Would you wait up?”-you asked. Her heart stuttered-“For interview updates"- you added quickly, though your smile turned a little shy.

Not entirely innocent. Melissa swallowed.

You straddled Melissa as she rested sitting on the bed, her back against the bedframe, her arm holding on to your hips, as she guided her fingers up and down inside of you. After a few more minutes of this action, she helped you finish while whispering filthy thoughts in your ear.

You enveloped her in a hug, while still straddling her, your physical exhaustion taking over, as she softly kissed your neck and her teeth playfully tugged on your earlobe “Mmm sounds like someone’s up for round 3, my ragazza birichina? (naughty girl) Melissa smacks your butt, the dull sound audible throughout your shared bedroom.

“Not tonight, i’ve been worn out” you say which makes her laugh as you lay down as she goes to start your aftercare routine which you immediately shake your head no to. ‘Just cuddle me like this, skin to skin.” You say, as she adjusts your positions to have you resting your head on her chest.

At that point, she reaches out to open her nightstand drawer and pulls out a box of cigarettes from her nightstand drawer that she stashes underneath her underwear. You’ve never really seen Melissa smoke before, just a handful of times. “What’s that?” You ask her curiously. “Just a cigarette.” She replies, fumbling around in her dresser drawer for a lighter, which she eventually finds. She lights up, and takes a long drag before exhaling smoke.

“Eww.” You say, as cigarette smoke isn’t something you're used to even though it’s second nature for your long term girlfriend, Melissa Schemmenti. You’ve heard countless stories of how she started smoking at age 14, and now she will have an occasional cigarette once in a while.

“It's bothering ya?” Melissa asks, going to immediately put the cigarette out, into the empty beer bottle on her nightstand drawer she was drinking from earlier until you speak up, “No! It’s just that I'm not used to seeing you smoke at all.”

She laughs and blows smoke away from you, as you adjust your position, turning in her arm draped around you to rest your chin on her chest, looking up at her. “What’d you do that for?” She asks and you just shrug your shoulders and reply “I want to look at my beautiful girlfriend.”

Melissa scoffs and smacks your shoulder trying to rebuff the compliment, but you won’t allow her to do so. “You know what, you actually look hot smoking a cigarette.” She laughs at you as you compliment her and blushes a little. “You really think so?” She asks while taking another puff, and discarding some of the ash into the beer bottle. 

“... and then Janine kept getting overwhelmed by all the middle schoolers asking her if she’s a student.” Melissa is telling you a story about her day and you’re both laughing and engaging in some pillow talk after your earlier activities.

“It’s a good thing today’s a Friday, huh? I think I’m ready to go for round 3 if you are?” You say biting your lip as Melissa keeps smoking the cigarette, putting the ashes into the bottle, thinking about it before eventually discarding the cigarette completely.

“Mmm are you sure you’re ready for that, because I can go all night.” Melisa says, grabbing another cigarette and lighting up, before blowing some smoke out.

“Your turn?” You say as you start to kiss her jaw before you move to her neck, your body moving on top of hers again. Your lips slowly move along her neck trying to leave a hickey in the wake. She stops you before you can, smacking your arm playfully before asking “Are we in middle school?” 

“Okay, so only in non-visible areas then?” You playfully challenge before she nods and you start to kiss between the valley of her breasts. Your kisses start to make way over to the top of her breast, as you lick a stripe down to her nipple.

Just before you attach your mouth to Melissa’s nipple, you look at her and ask for her consent. “Is it okay if I do this?” You wait until Melissa enthusiastically responds yes, yelling at you to continue before you proceed forward.

“Mmm baby” you say as you start to softly suck on Melissa’s nipple, feeling it harden on your tongue. You worship Melissa’s right breast, while your hand moves over to her left breast, giving it the same attention. Melissa throws her head back and moans as you softly suck.

Melissa puts the cigarette out on the empty beer bottle, not even a quarter of the way done as her hands move to your head, tangling her fingers in your hair and tugging where she needs you to go the most. “Hold on baby, let me make you feel good.” You chuckle out, her desperation funny to you, while she moans and whimpers.

“Hey, you- god, fuck! Please, please, baby” She whimpers out as you release her nipple and kiss over to her other breast, leaving some hickeys along her chest. You move up to kiss her lips, as her hips move up and she starts to desperately rut against your thigh. 

”Wait baby, I promise I won’t make you beg, this time.” You grin at her, while starting to softly kiss her again as one of your hands goes to her breasts, massaging them evenly as she moans into your mouth as you whisper into her ear. “Just like that Mel, let me hear it all”

She nods, while her breathing gets faster and back keeps arching upwards. “Are you ready for me, sweet girl?” You ask, moving your hand lower, until your finger starts tracing her hips, which drives her crazy, as her hips move upward trying to find any friction against her hand.

“Goddamit, stop teasing!” Melissa screams desperately, and you laugh while responding. “Wow, I haven’t touched you yet, and you’re already screaming my name.” She rolls her eyes, not being able to keep up with your smart mouth, while she’s in such a position.

“You want to keep going?” You ask, as your hand hovers over her most vulnerable area waiting for Melissa to give you permission to proceed. As Melissa nods, and moans the word yes, in what you assume is Italian your hands start to touch.

“Fuck baby, you’re so wet.” You say as your hand moves around the outside of Melissa’s intimacy, feeling the coarse hairs that have become soaked. “All this for me?” You ask while Melissa nods, breathing heavily, her head leaning back against the pillows.

Your fingers softly circle close to where Melissa needs you the most, but not yet. “Keep your eyes open for me sweetheart, I want to see your pretty eyes.” You request while your fingers slowly enter Melissa, as she loudly moans and curses in Italian while you slowly put another finger in.

‘Everything okay?” You ask checking in, and Melissa responds to you feverishly nodding and breathing heavily while moaning “Yes! Yes! God- Don’t stop, please!” She begs you, and with how sexy she looks right now, how can you not comply?

Your fingers begin pumping in and out with the smell of sex in the air, and you're both focused on intimacy with each other. You curl your fingers up, and Melissa’s back arches along with your fingers. You grin and lick your lips knowing what you’re about to do next.

“Baby, you're making a mess. Need some help cleaning up?” You ask, as your lips begin  kissing down from her neck to her mons pubis waiting for her permission before you dive in. As you get the nod from her, you begin to clean her up, your tongue early runs across her pubic hair, not caring if any of it gets stuck in your mouth.

The taste of her sex is the best thing you’ve ever tasted and you eagerly clean her up, while your fingers are still curling inside of her. She tangles her fingers in your hair desperately guiding your mouth to where she needs you the most.

Your mouth finds Melissa’s clit, and as you begin to softly suck, she moans the loudest she ever has and starts bucking her hips along your mouth, as your tongue enters her and licks her from bottom to top.

As you come up for air, there is a string of your saliva and Melissa’s cum intermixed with each other, connecting from between her hips to your lips. Melissa sees this and it drives her wild, as she wipes the liquid from your lips, and you catch her fingers with your teeth and softly bite her fingers while sucking on them.

“Jesus, hun, you’re going to make me cum, just by doing that.” Melissa says as you both take a mini break. Eventually, she nods at you which is a silent way of saying ‘you better get back to it, or else.’ You go back to pleasuring Melissa by using your mouth, as Melissa adjusts her position to put her legs over your shoulders.

You use the free motion you have with your hands, to go back to playing with Melissa’s nipples. She grabs one of your hands, interlocking your fingers together, as her other hand, grabs your hair in a ponytail using it as she would reigns on a horse.

After a few minutes of this motion, you can sense that she’s near her breaking point as her breathing quickens and her hand squeezes yours faster. “Fuck! I’m going to cum! Fuck! Honey please!” She yells, as her hips are bucking against yours desperate for release.

You keep eating her out, your tongue softly sucking on her clit, as your hand that isn’t interlocked with hers finds a way between her thighs as you work her over the edge. You rotate the motion between fingering her and eating her out, knowing that it’s going to drive her wild.

“I’m cumming! Fuck! I’m cumming!” Melissa yells, as she releases all of herself into your mouth, and you gleefully take it all and smile mischievously. Even though you’ve eaten your girlfriend out before, you internally decide at that moment that Melissa is the best thing you’ve ever tasted. The sweet taste of her release coating your tongue.

She’s quiet for a few moments, unable to do anything aside from just breathing heavily. Her hand relaxes in your hair, as you lay your head on her thigh, waiting for her to form words.

“You okay Melly?” Softly asking your girlfriend, who can just manage to nod and smile. You softly place a kiss on her hipbone, as your index finger traces a calming pattern on her other thigh, trying to help her come down from her orgasm.

After a few minutes, Melissa’s breathing slows down and she laughs. “Jesus, kid, you really did me in, huh?” You laugh and get up, fetching the aftercare kit she had intended to use on you. Grabbing the damp towel, you begin to softly clean her up as she softly breathes harder when you touch a particularly sensitive spot.

“Sorry love, you're doing good. Just a bit more.. and all done” You say throwing the damp, cold, hand towel back on the nightstand, as Melissa grabs the water bottle and starts drinking from it.

Melissa gets up on her own and walks to the restroom, and once she’s done, she comes back out wearing her pajamas, and collapses on the bed.

It feels weird to her being on the other side of the aftercare routine, but it feels nice to be the one taken care of. “Sooo I guess you’re a bottom now?” You say teasingly while eating the granola bar. Melissa shoots you a look and says “you’re only getting away with that right now, because my legs are jelly.”

You poke her nose in return and kiss her temple, while helping her get under the sheets. She’s grateful for this, and wraps her arms around you, closing in what feels like a tight bear hug cuddle. “I still need my ribs Mel!” You wheeze out which makes her laugh, and she gives you some breathing room.

You both are entangled in each other's limbs as Melissa drifts off to sleep, and you notice her facial features while sleeping. The way her chest rises and falls, her mouth parted open with some snores coming out of it, her relaxed frown lines that become prominent when you do something she deems as “bratty.”

The more you become enamored with her beauty, you let out a yawn and drift off to sleep focusing on the beauty of Melissa’s relaxed state. You both sleep until the late morning on Saturday afternoon, and spend the rest of the day in bed watching movies.