"Zoey, uh..."
That was as far as Dawn got before her words caught in her throat. There wasn't any reason for it, she told herself. It was just Zoey, her rival and best friend, in a sleeveless white shirt and a pair of boxers.
"You okay there, Dawn?"
Zoey's voice broke Dawn out of her reverie and for a reason she couldn't quite explain, her stomach knotted up and she felt heat infuse her face.
"You have nice legs," as soon as she said it, Dawn wished she hadn't.
Not that it wasn't true. Zoey did have nice legs. Very nice legs, in fact.
"Thanks? You too," Zoey's eyebrow raised.
Dawn blushed harder.
"You wanna sit down?" Zoey asked, and Dawn remembered where they were.
They were at Zoey's house, alone. She was alone with Zoey. She was alone with her best friend. She was alone with her best friend who was making her feel very...what was Zoey making her feel? It wasn't exactly discomfort, and she didn't feel weird, not really. Whatever it was, Zoey was making her feel it.
"Yeah," Dawn more or less collapsed on to the couch. When had her knees become so weak?
"You sure you're okay?" Zoey joined Dawn on the couch and placed her hand on the bluenette's knee.
At the touch, Dawn jerked.
"Excuse me," Dawn said and bolted for the restroom.
Dawn's heart was pounding and the knot in her stomach had tightened. Why did she feel like this? Zoey was her best friend. She was funny, and nice and attractive...
Oh God. She was attracted to Zoey. There was no other explanation. Dawn tried to wrap her mind around this realization. She had never felt this way about anyone, much less another girl, and she wasn't sure what she thought about it. She didn't have a problem with people who were attracted to the same gender, so she didn't feel disgust. Still, she never thought that she might be one of them.
"You okay, Dawn?" She realized she hadn't bothered to close the door.
And Zoey was in front of her and she looked so concerned for her, and then Dawn felt an overwhelming desire to kiss her. So she did.
It was better than she had imagined. It was awkward and wonderful and she had to grasp the counter behind her to keep from falling.
"Uh..."
Dawn felt a surge of pride for herself at Zoey's speechlessness, and she smiled shyly.
"I think I like you, Zoey."
Zoey smiled and Dawn felt her heart flutter.
"Oh? And I thought maybe you just kissed me for the hell of it," Zoey smiled again, and Dawn nearly swooned, again. "I think I like you too, Dawn."
Dawn smiled and grasped Zoey's hands in her own. "Nice boxers, by the way."
Zoey's response was to laugh and press her lips against Dawn's.