#dunkerle

Kara had always loved beautiful things. She’d fallen in love with the wedding gown her grandma had tucked away in her closet, even after all that time, at age five. She’d been allowed to try it on. The gown had swallowed her whole and had made her grandma giggle but Kara felt the power of the dress as she wore it. The dress was beautiful and when she wore it, so was she. Kara begged to keep it but her grandma said she couldn’t, that she had to save it for someone special when she was older. A wedding dress was for a special occasion. It was to be saved and hidden until the one who loved Kara (almost) as much as her grandmother asked for her hand in marriage. At the time, Kara was disappointed. To her it was just a pretty dress and she wanted it. Still, she didn’t protest and she took her grandmother’s words to heart.

  When Kara was six, she fell in love again with a beautiful dog named Marnie. Her mother had taken her to an animal shelter, just to look – she’d been told but no amount of pleading or bribes could get Kara away from the dog once she’d saw her. The old Labrador’s tail had gone a mile a minute as Kara fussed her. They’d let her go and play with the dog and take her for a walk. When the walk was over, Kara had put on her most convincing pout and drew up the most convincing crocodile tears. Her mother had relented and not a month later Kara and Marnie were inseparable. Kara had been told countless times that the dog’s name was Marnie but she only ever called her beautiful.

  Kara wasn’t always so focused on physical beauty, of course. She saw it in the young boy she watched help an old lady cross the road. Kara saw beauty in the way a mother kept an eye on her child and held onto their hand so tight because they were afraid to let them go. Kara found her smile when someone tipped just that little bit extra and asked how a stranger’s day was. People often told her she was naïve for falling in love with such small things and Kara was so often told that there was much worse in the world but she didn’t see it. She wasn’t oblivious, Kara just chose to ignore it because she couldn’t stand to focus on the bad when there was so much beauty in the world.

  The first time Kara thought ‘beautiful’ about someone else other than her grandma and her mother it was in science class. The door had opened and a very nervous, very red in the face blonde girl had walked in. They were fifteen and she’d transferred in the middle of the year and looked like she hated it. The girl’s blue eyes stared straight at Kara and she chewed upon her pink lips as she stared.

“Class, this is Barbara.” Kara’s teacher had introduced and Kara couldn’t help that it was such a perfect name for a perfect person. She watched the way Barbara wrung her hands together and shuffled nervously and felt instantly bad. When the teacher asked who would mind Barbara sitting by them, Kara’s hand had shot into the air. Kara had to admit it wasn’t entirely for unselfish reasons.

  Kara had learnt very quickly that everything about Barbara was beautiful. From her voice to the toes she painted every colour of the rainbow, nothing could compare to Barbara Dunkelman. She was smart, talented and had a strange affinity for puns that couldn’t be matched by anyone – not even a dad. Her hair always fell perfectly around her smile never failed to light up the room or fill Kara’s heart. Barbara could make a bad day a great one and she could turn a dark room into the brightest place on earth. By senior year, Barbara was everything to Kara. Kara hoped that Barbara felt the same to her but to be quite honest, her smile gave everything away. If Barbara lit up Kara’s room, then Kara illuminated Barbara’s.

  Barbara hadn’t searched for beautiful things all of her life. Barbara didn’t care if the birds sung in the morning because could they please just shut up? She’d never fallen in love with a princess or stood in awe of a dance. Barbara didn’t care for beauty until she met Kara. She’d fallen for the Kara who stopped to point out the little kid singing to themselves or that man dancing to his favourite song in his car. Kara always tipped too much and she never said a bad word against anyone because they simply didn’t deserve it. Kara sponsored so many animals across the world she could have sponsored a zoo. Kara was Barbara’s rock and she didn’t know what she’d ever done without the girl.

  Barbara had started to believe in beauty from their first kiss. When Kara had smothered her lips in lip gloss and she’d just eaten some gum. Kissing Kara that night felt like brushing her teeth just after lunch but it was nice. Kara sucked in a little breath when their lips met as though she didn’t believe that it was really happening. Then she reached out and pulled Barbara closer and Barbara realised what all the fuss was all about. This was beauty. Kara’s hands holding so tightly to her shoulders was perfection and the way she put all of her heart and soul into the kiss was everything. Barbara returned the favour will as much intensity and it wasn’t just perfect – it was beautiful.

Griffon woke Gavin ten minutes later than she said she would, something he held over her for the entire night. She rolled her eyes at the Brit as he squawked and fussed, crossing his arms and pouting at Griffon because of her mistake. "Ten minutes, Griffon. Ten whole minutes." Gavin whined. Griffon shrugged. "Sorry, Gavvers but I did say I'd wake you up for the countdown and if you don't quit whining at me, you might miss it entirely on your own." Griffon countered, it was untrue. There was little under an hour until the countdown, but the thought alone made Gavin rush down the stairs and call Michael's name. Griffon sighed, smiling as she followed the hyperactive boy down the stairs. She reached the bottom step just to watch Gavin collide with Michael in the hallway, wrapping his long legs around his boyfriend's waist as Michael barely caught him in surprise. Michael shook his head at Gavin as he carried him into the living room where their other friends were waiting.

She followed them, unsure of what to do with herself now that she'd awoken Gavin. Griffon didn't head on out the back to find Geoff again, instead resting against the wall of the living room as she observed her friends. A faint smile danced across her lips as she saw them having fun, she shook her head at the affectionate way Ryan stroked Lindsay's cheek and how Kara refused to let go of Barbara's hand. They were so happy with each other, content with their company and happy to be in a relationship together. Griffon didn't remember feeling so happy, so fresh. She instead felt like a well oiled machine, running through the motions and constantly worrying about little things that shouldn't matter. Griffon supposed it was the stress of college, the constant fear of losing her boyfriend to the very thing he'd swore he'd given up and perhaps, more importantly, the nightmares that had never quite left. Griffon had grown up quite a bit since that moment and though, while she knew that perhaps she should be laughing amongst her friends rather than thinking about how they were going to clean up in the morning and which neighbours were going to complain, Griffon would never want to forget that memory. For letting go of that meant she was finally letting go of a person she'd never meant.

When the clock struck twelve Griffon realised, regretfully, that she was standing alone. It was the first time since she'd started dating Geoff that this had happened. Every year they'd kissed as the clock struck twelve. Griffon awkwardly folded her arms as she watched her friends rejoice in such a manner, trying awfully hard to smile when they wished her a happy new year. She knew that it was stupid, getting upset over a small kiss when she could kiss Geoff any time of the year. But this was special, this was tradition and he'd forgot. Griffon was left to fend for herself. She looked away when she saw Barbara and Kara take a breath from their kiss, foreheads touching so intimately and eyes looking lovingly at each other. Gavin was giggling as Michael held him, their kiss less romantic and more frenzied as they realised Geoff was nowhere in sight. Griffon snickered, just a little, at the sight of Ray and Joel and realised that maybe they hadn't stopped kissing in the first place. Griffon only wished to be held and loved like that once again.

Ryan held Lindsay around the waist, holding her close as they kissed while the ball dropped in New York City on the TV. He'd stopped her mid sentence to do it, a wonderful distraction from the top ten cat breeds. Chris had caught Natalia by surprise in a familiar fashion, their hands linked and lips locked in an intimate affair. It being physically impossible to share a kiss with two people at once without injuring at least one of them, they've tried it before and poor Kerry had a toothache for three days, Miles and Kerry settled for the magical midnight kiss being a gentle peck on either side of Monty's cheeks. The asian boy did not care though because honestly, how could it have been more perfect? He couldn't help but notice Griffon, however. Standing alone in a corner he's sure she'd hoped nobody would notice her, feigning ignorance to the world around her by picking at her nails. But Monty can see the worry in her eyes, he knows that something isn't quite right.

Ten minutes. It takes Geoff ten minutes from the time the clock struck twelve to find her. He's stumbling, his words are much more than slurred and his eyes can't even focus on Griffon. She swallows as he approaches, ducks from the stench of alcohol that comes with his breath and puts a hand up to stop him from following her. "Grif?" He's confused, why is he confused? Griffon can't understand why he doesn't see that she's mad at him. "You're late." She states simply, avoiding his eyes because she knows they're not focused on her. Geoff opens his mouth to find an excuse but closes it shortly after. "I'm sorry." He apologises, decent enough not to even try and offer her an excuse. Griffon nods. "Okay." She says and god, if that doesn't kill Geoff. But he's not sober enough to register the feeling instead Geoff is left dumbfounded as Griffon turns and walks away from him. She doesn't do that often, not when she's mad at him. There's too much fire in her for that. It seems, however, that perhaps that fire had dampened a little.

Ali, who'd been hidden away with Brandon at her side, witnessed the exchange. She doesn't have to see Griffon's face to know that its crumpled up and maybe she's trying to hold onto her tears, perhaps she's trying to stay strong. It doesn't matter to Ali, though. While Griffon can walk away, she certainly can't. She storms past their friends in an effort to get to Geoff who is just watching her leave, who isn't making an effort to go after her and beg for her forgiveness like Ali thinks he should be. "What is wrong with you?" Is all she can say when she reaches him, any and all of the insults she'd formed in her head leaving her in the moment. Geoff blinks before he looks to her. "What?" He utters simply, the haze of alcohol clouding his brain and making him lose the ability to comprehend things. Ali huffs, arms folded. "Go after her, dumbass!" Ali tells him.

For a moment, it was as though Geoff didn't hear her. He took a couple of minutes to process Ali's words until they hit him. Geoff nodded slowly once before he kicked off from his left foot, launching himself out of the living room as he rushed towards Griffon. He stumbles and trips but refuses to give up. He passes his friends in the hallway as Griffon disappears up the stairs and they all look at him oddly. Geoff is sure that someone called to him as his hand clings to the bannister, using his momentum to swing him around it so that he can clamber up the stairs two at a time. His footing is terrible and his balance is practically useless but Geoff powers through because there is only one thing on his mind. Griffon. He upset Griffon and he has to fix it. Geoff has to fix her.

Griffon takes a deep breath as she shuts Geoff's bedroom door behind her, trying and failing to calm herself down. She scolds herself, tells herself that she shouldn't be so overdramatic. It was just a kiss, a stupid meaningless kiss. But Griffon knows that that isn't whats really bothering her. She swallows. Geoff had promised he wouldn't drink. He'd told her that the last time he'd fucked up after the camping trip. He'd promised so easily, so confidently that Griffon had stupidly believed him. She'd been wrong to. Griffon turns as she hears the door open, expecting to see Ali or Caiti but instead faced with Geoff. He opens his mouth, most likely to apologise, but Griffon doesn't want to hear it. She's been so calm with him up to now, she hasn't lost her cool but somehow Griffon can't quite keep it anymore. "You promised!" She screams in Geoff's face. The tears she'd struggled to keep at bay come freely now as she shakes, eyes staring daggers into Geoff.

"You're such a college girl." Barbara hiccuped as Kara handed her the beer she had just opened with her teeth. Kara rolled her eyes, falling back onto her bed with a sigh. She reached blindly for her own beer, which stood on her bedside table, and almost knocked it over. "I don't hear you complaining." Kara remarked with a smirk. Barbara shrugged, grinning down at her girlfriend as she sat beside her with her legs crossed under her bum. "Nah, its hot." Barbara said slowly, eyes focusing and unfocusing on Kara as she shuffled to sit up to be able to drink her beer safely. "Yeah?" Kara asked, sipping at her beer as she stared intently at Barbara. "Yeah, you're hot." Barbara giggled. "Barbara, you are just one with words y'know that?" Kara teased as she reclined back against the bed, clumsily putting her beer back on the bedside table.

Kara's brown eyes widened in shock when Barbara was suddenly upon her, nose just inches from Kara's own. Barbara had leant down, grinning at her girlfriend. Kara could smell the beer upon her breath. "Are you making fun of me?" Barbara questioned. She knew that Kara had been. "N-No, of course not." Kara stuttered, flustered by the close proximity. With every word Barbara spoke she could feel her breath and Kara ached to close the distance between them and kiss her girlfriend. "I think you were." Barbara announced, amused. "What are you going to do about it?" Kara asked, eyes briefly darting to Barbara's full lips before looking back to her beautiful blue eyes. "Hm," Barbara mused as she gazed lovingly at her girlfriend, "I'm not sure." She admitted as she pushed herself up and away from Kara. Kara was not happy, letting out a small noise of protest as Barbara laughed. Kara wasn't one to give up on what she wanted, though. Barbara's giggles were muffled by Kara's lips as the shorter of the two wrapped an arm around Barbara's neck and pulled her back down for a heated kiss.

The incident was promptly forgotten for a few days, at least Kara had forgotten it. She was working idly at her new desk in stage five, legs swung over one arm of her office chair and back pressed against the other arm. She heard a scuffle behind her as someone made their way into the room and, presumably, tripped over a chair. The newcomer only caught her attention when they wound their arms around Kara's shoulders and rested their head upon theirs. "Hello Barbara." Kara greeted, amused. Barbara hummed in response. "What do you want?" Kara asked sweetly. "Hey Kara, are you a sheep? Because your body is unbaaaaaalievable." Barbara giggled, retracting away from Kara to hold a hand over her mouth.Kara quirked an eyebrow, turning to Barbara in confusion. "I'm sorry?" Kara questioned but Barbara never answered her. She ducked to press a swift kiss to Kara's temple before running away from her girlfriend, giggling all the while. Kara frowned but decided to drop it. Barbara had always been a weird one.

That night, Kara and Barbara agreed to go to drinks with Michael, Lindsay and Gavin. It didn't take long for either of them to get a little drunk. Kara was tipsy, at the very least. Barbara was a wreck. She'd drunk one too many beers and now fully relied on Kara to keep her standing. Gavin was no better as he fell onto Lindsay who, to her credit, kept him standing. Kara could feel Barbara's breath upon her cheek and had felt the taller blonde staring at her for a while now. Deciding to humour her obviously drunk girlfriend, Kara turned to smile at her. "Are you okay, honey?" Kara asked with a smirk. Barbara was definitely not all right. "Yeah... yeah..." Barbara answered with glassy eyes, "are you a tamale? because you're hot!" Barbara almost shrieked the last word and Kara winced away as it hit her ears. She could hear Lindsay giggling from beside her but Kara only sighed and shook her head. "You're a strange one, Dunkelman." Kara mused and finally smiled when Barbara laughed at her comment. "Yeah, but ya love me!" Barbara said in a sing-song tone. Kara grinned because yeah, of course she did.

Kara quickly grew accustomed to Barbara's onslaught of punny pick up lines. So much so that a few days later, when she had roped Barbara into helping her pick out some new pants, she was ready. Kara was getting dressed in the fitting room while Barbara waited patiently outside. Kara smiled to herself in the mirror as she smoothed down the pants she'd picked out, sure that Barbara would love them. She strutted out from the dressing room and spun around to give Barbara the full view of her new pants. Barbara grinned widely, revelling in the sight before her. The pants were skin tight and absolutely wonderful in Barbara's opinion. So much so that she almost missed the opportunity for a great pick up line. "Woah... are those space pants? Because your ass is out of this world!" Barbara announced rather loudly with a self-satisfied smirk. Kara rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't know. Hey Barbara, are you a frito? Because you're totally corny!" Kara said as she childishly stuck out her tongue and waltzed back into the fitting room. Barbara was left dumbfounded where she sat, not used to her girlfriend retaliating. Secretly, she was proud.

At work the next morning there was a frustratingly long line for the coffee machine and so Barbara suggested that they simply went to Starbucks instead. Craving her morning coffee, Kara readily agreed. Barbara drove them there and sweetly opened the car door for Kara to get out once they'd arrived at their destination. Kara giggled as she took her girlfriend's hand, leading her into Starbucks as the sweet aroma of coffee filled her nose. The line to get coffee in Starbucks was much shorter than the one in the office. While Kara was sure that they'd probably already have their coffee by now if they'd stayed, she didn't care because it meant she got to spend a little more time with Barbara before the day began. They bought their coffees, both lattes, and started to walk to the car when Barbara couldn't resist dropping another pick up line much longer. "Y'know... they call me coffee. I grind so fine." Barbara said with a creepy smile. Kara wanted to do anything but crack up laughing like she had done. But the line was so corny and Barbara's smile was so twisted that she couldn't help herself. Barbara felt proud.

The following weekend Barbara and Kara opted for a quiet night in despite being asked by a suprising amount of people to join them for drinks. Kara offered to cook but Barbara refused to let her unless she helped. They'd decided to keep it simple and had chosen to cook spaghetti bolognese. Kara cooked the pasta while Barbara helped to prepare the sauce. While Kara concentrated on her cooking, Barbara snuck up behind her. Kara relaxed back up onto her but soon tensed again when Barbara's hands cupped her breasts. "B-Barb... what are you doing? Now is not the time." Kara hissed as she pulled Barbara's hands from her chest. "Kara, is your daddy a baker? Because you got a nice set of buns. If you know what I mean." Barbara said, wriggling her eyebrows and wagging her tongue for emphasis. Kara groaned. "Yes, I know what you mean. Are you going to tell me what all the pick up lines are for?" Kara finally asked, giving up. The question had been making her curious for days. "Why? You're not annoyed by them or anything are you? I'll stop if you want..." Barbara said softly, vaguely reminded Kara of a kicked puppy.