#the junior

****

1 year later…

“Emma!” Sarah packs her lunch “Hurry or we’ll be late!”

Emma walks down the stairs and smiling brightly “Sorry mommy just want to make sure I didn’t forget anything”

Sarah smiles “Good girl now let’s head to school” She puts her lunch in her bag

“Mommy I’m seeing daddy this weekend right?”

“Yes you are baby”

Sarah’s phone buzzes she grumbles I swear if this is another text from that bitch She looks at her phone and let’s out a sigh of relief seeing that it’s only Josh calling

“Hey Josh”

“Hey I’ll get Emma at 4pm I’m gonna have a long meeting”

“Ok you’ll need to get her from her ballet class”

“When did you sign her up for ballet?”

Sarah giggles “Since she begged me cause Claire was there”

Josh chuckles “Those two are attached at the hip ok I’ll get her there”

Sarah’s phone buzzes again and she grits her teeth “Josh she did it again”

“Tiff!”

“Babe I was just”

“You know I would block her but I need her number in case you’re not available but not if she’s gonna be rubbing everything in my face” Sarah hangs up angrily then she sighs and turns to Emma “Let’s go sweetie” She grabs her bag and they head to the car

“Mommy look a big truck”

Sarah looks over and sees the truck across the street “Well looks like we have a new neighbor”

“Really? Yay when can I meet them mommy?”

“After school we’ll go and say hi now come on”

****

Josh looks at Tiffany with an annoyed glance “Why are you harassing her?”

“I’m not I just”

“I told you multiple times that we only talk when it’s about Emma and you hear it too”

Tiffany huffs “I just don’t like how friendly you are with her”

“So you don’t trust me?”

Tiffany stands “No babe I do I just don’t want anyone to take you away”

“Look we both agreed to be civil for Emma’s sake no kid wants to see their parents constantly arguing ok that’s all”

Tiffany signs “Ok babe”

****

Sarah pulls into the driveway and sighs “So glad I have the day off today I can relax maybe I’ll go for a jog today” She heads in the house and changes into a sports bra and sweats she grabs her earphones then walks out the door

“Sarah?”

She freezes I know that voice She turns around and sees him “Chris?”

Chris grins he approaches her “Hey it’s been forever” he pulls her into a hug

“I know how have you been?”

“Been good just got a new job here”

“So you’re the new neighbor I saw this morning”

Chris smiles “Yup I saw you this morning wasn’t sure it was you and I’m guessing that little girl is your daughter”

“Yes her name is Emma she’s amazing”

“I can see that I’m sure you and your husband are proud”

“Oh I’m not married divorced actually”

Chris’s eyes shoot up “Really?”

“Yes just me and Emma what about you? Married?”

Chris grins “No I have a son Jack he’s with his grandma right now”

“Cant wait to meet him” Sarah smiles “It was good seeing you Chris”

“You too I gotta finish unpacking but let’s catch up soon”

“Absolutely see you Chris”

He waves and walks back to his house Sarah watches him as he goes smiling

so it is curiosity that she feels, but there's irritation too and she hates that it's there at all. because she knows that Alex and Kaitlyn are friends, but sometimes it bugs her. just a little bit.

the point isn't that she's worried or doesn't trust Alex. because she does trust her--more than she thinks she's ever trusted anyone before, and maybe that's part of what's making her scared. but that's definitely a conversation for another day.

no, the point is that she has to act like it's all fine even though it's not and she can't just go up to them and cause a scene--

"hey, stranger."

Becca jumps at Alex's voice but still feels herself ease a little against her. not enough to be noticed, just enough to feel the light brush of her fingers.

"hey." Becca takes a sip of her drink and thinks she may have made it a triple by mistake. she pulls a face and offers it to Alex.

"what is it?" Alex asks. she cups her hand around Becca's as she takes the cup.

"tequila and sprite. think i made it too strong."

"you don't like tequila." Alex takes a small sip and makes a face too. definitely too strong.

"i don't, just..." she shrugs. "what were you and Kaitlyn talking about."

Alex sighs and returns the cup to Becca's hand. she takes a step away and Becca feels the cold air of late October immediately. they've probably only got a few more weekends of outdoor parties until it gets too cold. shame, because it really is nice: the lights and stars and gentle ground beneath her feet.

"sorry, i didn't-- i'm not trying to make it bigger than it needs to be. i know you two are friends, i just-- i'm curious."

"hey, it's okay," Alex takes Becca's hand softly behind the table and squeezes. "come on, we should probably talk."

Becca's eyes go wide.

"no! sorry, not that. no." Alex squeezes her hand again and Becca can see the way she's itching to lean forward and press a kiss to her cheek to soothe her insecurities. "sorry."

"it's okay. follow me?"

Alex nods. Becca keeps their hands linked as they slip away from the backyard party. she leads them inside and upstairs to her room. far enough away so that the music softens to a gentle thump.

"so," Becca starts, "having a fun night?"

"Kaitlyn said she wants to get back together."

Becca can tell, even in the low light, by the look on Alex's face that she hadn't meant to just spit it out like that.

"sorry, i didn't mean to--"

"no you don't--" Becca moves a step closer, wants to reach out but isn't sure how to. "what did you tell her?"

Alex tips her head to the side and she gets this look that Becca's only seen a handful times. it's a rare look, only comes out when Alex is genuinely confused and trying to understand something.

"what do you--"

"you two have a history so the situation is obviously far from ideal, especially since we all live together--"

Alex leans forward and pulls Becca against her. she kisses her hard and desperate, like she's trying to tell her something, make her understand something.

"oh." they pull apart and it takes Becca a moment to realise that she's pushed Alex up against the door. she moves to step away but Alex drops her arms to Becca's waist and holds her in place.

"okay, first of all, i have no intention of just picking someone else and leaving you. we're taking this slow, and i think that's a good thing. what we have is special and important."

"i'm sensing a but." Becca tries to laugh but it doesn't feel right.

"not but. just that. plain and simple." Alex squeezes Becca's waist.

"i told her that i'm not interested and maybe that was too harsh, but i didn't want to tell her that i was seeing someone because then she'd ask questions and i don't want to lie but i also know that you're not ready and that's fine--"

"Alex, breathe, it's okay."

"no, it's not okay, because she wouldn't have asked me that if she knew about us, and i'm not trying to pressure you, okay? i would never. i just wish that i could say i'm unavailable and have that be the end of it until we're ready."

Alex finishes her speech and tips her head back against the door.

Becca knows that so much of this could be easier if she was more adjusted, but she knows--knows in her bones and cells and heart--that Alex is telling the truth. she's not pressuring her, she's just frustrated that nothing around them is letting them move at their own pace.

"unavailable, huh?" Becca smirks and watches the way that Alex shifts, embarrassed, under her gaze.

"well, i just-- i mean--"

"i like it."

"really?"

Becca hums and nods. she fixes a loose piece of Alex's hair behind her ear and cups her cheek gently. "i'm not saying we have to do a whole announcement."

"you don't want to scream from the roof how much you like me? i'm hurt, really." Alex pulls a face but only manages two seconds before she's grinning again.

Becca can't help but smile just as wide too. "all i'm trying to say is that i wouldn't mind if you wanted to tell people you're unavailable, or whatever. doesn't need to be specific."

"we're unavailable together. i like it. it's cute."

"i know it's not ideal but--"

"hey, it's fine." Alex lowers herself just an inch against the door so she's eye-level with Becca. "at our own pace, remember."

Becca softens. "thank you."

"of course." Alex kisses her quickly. "now do you wanna go back right now?"

"i'm sure they'll be fine without us for ten more minutes."

"only ten? i was thinking at least fifteen."

"oh really?"

"twenty might actually be better now that i think about it."