Author's Note: So after the very long wait, it is finally done! I'm so sorry for the delay, and I'm sorry if this turned out suckier than the previous. I did try though, haha. It had been a long time since I wrote non-academic stuff. Also, mentions of Faberry because I can. I own nothing though. Anyway, reviews will be very much appreciated! Thank you every much and enjoy! :)
Evolutionary Development
It was her first day in the Mahtomedi Senior High School, the top public high school in Minnesota—according to her parents, and that was why they dumped her there—in her first subject for her sophomore year, Literature. And she was sleeping. It wasn't exactly her fault because the teacher came in and started blabbering about things she didn't really want to know (and she didn't really care about) so she decided to just slouch on her desk and take a nap as soon as the old scary lady began saying "requirements." Sleep is totally better anyway, especially since—
There was someone poking her arm.
She shouldn't have left her leather jacket in her car. Or she shouldn't have worn a sleeveless shirt. Not that she could be blamed, really. She was new in town and she had to guess the weather. The shirt was if it was warm out and the jacket was if it was cool. She didn't really expect the poking on her arm.
Correction: the insistent poking on her arm.
She shifted slightly, trying to move away from the annoying finger bothering her nap. And they think the French are rude?
"Dude, wake up," she heard someone whisper. "Before Ms. Hopkins goes batshit crazy on your ass." She groaned slightly before finally sitting up. "I'm up," she mumbled, blinking a few times to get rid of the heaviness in her eyelids. Snickers and chuckles can be heard throughout the classroom. Delphine looked to her side where she guessed the insistent poking had come from to make some snide remark about the abuse on her arm but her words died in her throat when she saw a girl with glasses and dreadlocks smiling shyly at her.
"Sorry," the girl whispered and looked straight to the front. Delphine did the same and her eyes were met with the furious ones of the teacher, Ms. Hopkins.
"Thank you, Ms. Niehaus, for waking up our tired classmate. Now, Ms. Cormier, I presume?" The old woman raised an eyebrow. "Since you were busy prancing in dreamland, maybe you could come up in front and recite your favorite poem," the teacher said, more an order than a request. The class chuckled at the new kid's predicament but Delphine just shrugged, still a bit groggy, and walked to the front. Everyone's faces were of challenge and surprise but Delphine's eyes were focused on the girl, who she guessed was Ms. Niehaus, who was still smiling at her.
God, why was she smiling like that?
"Well?" Ms. Hopkins urged, a proud little smirk on her wrinkled face. She loved embarrassing kids; probably an effect from when she was younger. She just had to teach this new punkish little girl just who was in charge of this class. She was about to shout at the mess of a girl when she opened her mouth to speak.
"I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz," Delphine began, making the noise in the class die down and the girl's smile to grow wider. Delphine's gaze was fixed on the hazel of her eyes, or at least what she could make of them. "Or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off." She cleared her throat and licked her lips before continuing. "I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
"I love you as the plant that never blooms but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers; thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance, risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body." She broke the staring contest with the girl beside her seat to look around the shocked faces of her classmates until she glanced at Ms. Hopkins' furious face. Delphine let herself smirk a little at her reaction.
"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where," she continued, finding the girl's eyes once again. She realized it was awkward, to be reciting a love poem and then stare at the girl like she was doing it for her, but Delphine couldn't tear her eyes away. "I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way than this: where I does not exist, nor you…" Delphine trailed off, her lips parted as she paused and placed both her hands in her back pockets, a gesture of nervousness so rare she had forgotten about it. Her smirk dissolved into a shy smile as she ended the poem.
"So close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep."
The class was silent so Delphine cleared her throat once again. "That was Sonnet VXII by Pablo Neruda and it's one of my favorite poems," she murmured and shifted awkwardly on her feet. The girl from earlier broke the trance the class was in by clapping slowly, which was soon followed by a quiet but warm applause from the others. Ms. Hopkins looked genuinely flustered from the situation and sent Delphine to her seat so she could give them their homework.
(The class groaned. Seriously, who gives homework on the first day of class?)
Delphine slid to her seat, a little smug about what happened. It wasn't a good impression to her teacher but it seemed enough to tell everyone else that she wasn't the type to be pushed around. She was about to slouch back on her desk when a piece of paper landed by her arm. She looked up to see the girl with dreads (who gets dreads so early on in their life, Delphine wondered, although she had to admit that the girl looked good) smiling at her and pointing to the folded paper. Delphine took it and read the note.
Sorry about poking you earlier. I didn't know how to wake you up. By the way, that was beautiful.
A smile made its way to Delphine's lips and she grinned at the girl. She was about to write down a reply when Ms. Hopkins dismissed the class earlier than she was supposed to, probably because she was pissed. She thought it was a good sign; more time for her to nap. The teacher left immediately and most of the class got out of the room as well.
"She doesn't like to be proven wrong," the girl said as Delphine fixed her things. Delphine looked up to see her still smiling and the blonde smiled back. "I don't like to be woken up from my naps but look where that got me," she said with a shrug.
The girl chuckled softly and shook her head. "That poem was beautiful."
You're beautiful, Delphine thought, which made her freeze in her movements. She cleared her throat awkwardly as she shrugged again and stood, loosely wrapping the beige scarf she had stuffed in her bag earlier around her neck.
"Delphine," she said, offering her hand to the girl. The girl paused for a moment.
"Cosima," she replied, the smile on her face seemingly growing warmer, and shook the proffered hand. Delphine let the contact linger as she repeated the girl's name in her head.
"Enchantée," she murmured. Cosima tilted her head in slight amusement before responding.
"Enchantée."
She counted one or two heartbeats before reluctantly pulling her hand from Cosima's.
They became friends after that. And then laboratory partners in Biology.
("I don't really like the idea of dissecting a frog," Delphine said one time during lunch. It was only the two of them; not because they didn't have friends but because Cosima insisted on eating by the football field. Delphine, like always when it came to Cosima—as she had found out later on—just agreed.
"I don't really like the idea of talking about dissecting a frog during lunch," Cosima mumbled around her sandwich.
Delphine let a beat pass before speaking again. "Be my lab partner?"
"You sound like you're asking my hand for marriage," Cosima said with a small chuckle.
"Just say yes, Cos," Delphine said with a roll of her eyes.
"Demanding, are we? If I was your girlfriend and you—"
"Cosima!"
"Fine! Yes.")
They stuck together in most of their classes, even if Delphine had gained quite the popularity, mostly because of her stunt in Ms. Hopkins class (because apparently, she was the schools equivalent to Mrs. Dodds, except that her human form is her Fury one as well). Except for that particular incident though, everyone knew Delphine because of the way she attracted boys like a magnet to iron nails.
And also because she was always with Cosima, who everyone ran to when they needed help with school stuff—as Delphine had so eloquently put it.
They grew closer day by day until they got to the point where they had movie nights and sleepovers, like normal friends do, but Cosima saw them as something more, because of reasons.
("I've never really had a best friend before," Cosima stated while they watched The Breakfast Club. They were sitting on Delphine's couch; Cosima laid her head comfortably on the blonde's shoulder. Their hands were laced together, a gesture they had grown at ease with.
"I wouldn't have guessed," Delphine murmured as she played with Cosima's fingers.
"Science nerds are stereotypically anti-social," the smaller girl replied. "And most of my 'friends'-" she drew quotation marks in the air, even as she held the blonde's hand "-only remember me when they need help with their homework." The confession was so casual that it could have meant exactly that, but Delphine sensed the sadness Cosima's words were laced with.
"You should just be friends with lab equipment," Delphine joked instead, just to lighten the situation. Cosima chuckled and pinched her arm playfully.
"Hey!" Delphine exclaimed, making the smaller girl giggle. They then let the silence settle before Cosima spoke again.
"Be my best friend?"
Delphine smirked and turned to Cosima. "That sounds familiar. You know, 'you sound like you're asking my hand for marriage.'"
Cosima rolled her eyes and tugged on Delphine's hand. "Delphine," she whined.
"You know—"
"Delphine!"
"Fine! Yes, Cosima. Happy?"
Cosima just grinned and nodded like a little kid. Delphine smiled warmly at her, like she was just seeing her for the first time.)
They became best friends after that and the rest, as they say, was distant history.
Delphine took another drag from her cigarette and removed her messenger bag from her shoulder to dump it on the backseat of her car. It was junior year and she had finally grown comfortable enough to smoke in public. She shouldn't even be doing it but urges were urges. The bell just rang and she knew she had another hour to spare before Cosima arrived. It was an unspoken deal; Cosima would always make her lunch because her cooking was amazing and Delphine would always be the one to take her home because she had a car. Cosima had Science Club meetings every Thursday and even though Delphine could join, she chose not to.
("What image are we talking about here, Delphine?" Cosima once asked during lunch, a knowing smirk on her face.
"Oh, you know. My badass image," Delphine replied simply, not sensing her best friend's amusement. "No one's supposed to know that I actually have decent grades."
"You're kidding, right?" Cosima drawled. "You have killer grades!"
Delphine shushed her violently, hand on Cosima's mouth, and looked around the cafeteria to check if anyone heard. Cosima, ever the playful one, just had to lick Delphine's palm to make her let go.)
She loosened the beige scarf on her neck and leaned against the hood of her car, taking a long drag of her cigarette then releasing it into smoke rings. She was unaware of frustrated yet fascinated eyes watching her and was about to blow another round when her cigarette was ripped off of her lips.
"You're not supposed to smoke in school, Delphine. Besides, it's not good for you," Cosima muttered, waving the cigarette in her hand wildly. She dropped it on the ground, stomped the light out, and picked it up once again so she could throw away it later. "I thought you stopped already?"
Delphine just shrugged, a little smirk on her face. She loved annoying Cosima to her wit's ends because it was adorable and cute —
Did I just think that? She asked herself. She dropped the smirk from her face and raised her hands in mock surrender. "Oui, okay. I'll stop."
Cosima narrowed her eyes at her best friend and crossed her arms defiantly against her chest. "You said that before. How am I going to be sure you really won't?"Delphine knew what she meant. There was exactly one time that they had done this before – when Cosima made her promise not to tell her siblings about the henna tattoo of an infinity symbol on her wrist. She groaned and let her arms down in defeat.
"Fine. Pinky promise," Delphine mumbled, a pout on her lips. They were too old for this, really, but if this was what made Cosima happy—
Oh crap, no, she thought. She let out a soft sigh and raised her hand to Cosima, her pinky up. She raised an eyebrow to the smaller girl, who now had a huge grin on her face. "Pinky promise," Cosima echoed and raised her own finger so they could seal their words.
"Happy now?" Delphine asked. Cosima grinned and nodded. Not wanting but knowing she had to, she lowered her hand to her side and stared at Cosima. "Why are you so early anyway?"
Cosima shrugged. "It's a per-committee meeting today so I get to go home early. Why?" She tilted her head to the side a bit and pouted playfully. "Are you not happy to see me?" Delphine rolled her eyes and flicked the tip of her nose, making Cosima gasp and Delphine chuckle. "Happy as always, now get in the car. I have a book to read."
"Ever the geek," Cosima joked with a small chuckle. "You know, you should join—"
"No," Delphine cut off as she walked to the passenger seat to open the car door for Cosima. It was also an unspoken deal of some sort; Delphine had always opened the door for Cosima until it became a routine neither of them took notice of it. She turned to face the smaller girl, a playful glare on her eyes. "If you mention joining Science Club again, I won't drive you home starting today."
Cosima bit her lip in thought and took a step closer, closing the space between them until their faces were mere inches away. "Then I won't make you lunch starting tomorrow," she said. "And you know what's for tomorrow?" She paused for a more dramatic effect.
(Also to prolong the closeness between them; not that she would ever tell anyone, especially Delphine. For the taller girl, it would only appear as their usual banter but not for Cosima. She knew it was not a good thing to do, especially with her feelings all over the place, but any time was as good as the other when it comes to teasing her best friend.
But contrary to what Cosima believed, it wasn't just their usual banter for Delphine. Not with her racing heart and clouded mind because of their distance—or lack of it, for that matter.)
Delphine swallowed nervously and clenched her fists on her sides to stop her from just grabbing Cosima into a fierce hug. She wasn't one of those hug-crazed people after all, and Cosima knew that. It would be weird. "Bento?" She choked out. Her reply cut through the tension they unknowingly placed around themselves and they broke into giggles.
Cosima recovered first. "Bento," she confirmed, a smile still on her lips. Without thinking, she kissed Delphine's cheek. The action made both of them freeze a moment, not because it was new – they have had their fair share of grateful kisses on the cheek and on the forehead – but because it was unasked for, unexpected, and totally spontaneous. Way to bring back the awkward air in a snap of her fingers. "Let's go?" She offered, hoping the moment should just pass because it wasn't helping her situation.
"Yup," Delphine nodded and closed the car door gently before running to the driver's side. She expelled a nervous, shaky breath–but really, why was she even nervous?–before buckling herself in. "So, where to?" She asked softly, not even glancing to Cosima. It was early and they usually drove around to eat dinner somewhere, except during the weekends where they stay on each other's houses, watching and re-watching their favorite movies. Or if the situation demands it, study for tests. Cosima just shrugged, her lower lip between her teeth, as she berated herself.
"Surprise me."
Delphine finally glanced at Cosima at these words, a small smile on her face. Now this was new, because Cosima always had plans and was always rational and logical and was never up for something new as long as she had something to do with it. Not that she was scared or anything but because she only trusted those things that she had tested before.
(Ever the scientist.)
"A surprise it is then," the taller girl murmured as she turned on the car and pulled away from the parking lot. They let the silence settle in first before Cosima decided to turn on the radio, filling the car with the mellow guitar tunes.
"You know, for a punk, your tastes in music are very…varied," Cosima noted, finally breaking the silence between them.
"Very good observation, Cosima," Delphine shot back, a smirk on her face. Cosima swatted her arm playfully as they chuckled. "I probably just dress like one. I like variation in music." She glanced down at her short shorts and leather knee-high boots. Was this punk? She stopped the car at a red light and chanced a look beside her to see Cosima staring at her – like really looking at her, as if she was seeing her for the first time, like that one time in Ms. Hopkins' class. Delphine's breathing hitched at the intensity of her gaze and they locked eyes, until a beep from behind them broke the reverie they were in.
"Merde," Delphine muttered and continued to drive, just letting the awkward moment settle in and die.
(Or propagate, in their case. Neither of them was sure just when this began because both of them were perfectly fine before. Well, maybe except for the fact that Cosima had been doing a little soul-searching lately, in the middle of reviewing for her Chemistry exams, because she found the random notes she and Delphine had shared during lectures—ranging from what was for lunch up to who was Cosima's crush lately, not that there were any—tucked neatly between the pages of her books. Or the fact that Delphine had just realized that she had never let anyone else touch her hair except for Cosima, especially when she had it chopped and blonde-streaked in the middle of sophomore year, when they were watching movies during weekends. Delphine would lay down the couch, her head on Cosima's lap, until she fell asleep from the soothing sensations in her scalp. Little realizations came in day by day but neither chose to read so much into them since they were best friends.
Until today.)
Delphine parked the car in front of what seemed like a small café or restaurant. The neon lights were already on since it was getting darker by the minute, the white and red "Maniac Evenings" blazing against its bluish background. Cosima looked around before turning to the taller girl. "Where are we?" She asked as Delphine reached for her leather jacket in the back seat.
"A new restaurant. They hold poetry-reading every Tuesday and Thursday and I want to check it out." Delphine handed Cosima her jacket. "Put it on, it's going to be cold later." She smiled at Cosima and got out of the car, rushing to the passenger's side to open the door before Cosima could. "Come on," Delphine said excitedly and took Cosima's hand in hers.
(Both of them denied the small jolt they felt from the contact. It was only because the action was unasked for, unexpected, and spontaneous.)
Delphine led her inside the quaint restaurant. There were not a lot of people inside the homey-looking place. The lights were slightly dimmed and the walls were of a warm, dark lacquer finish, giving off a very comforting ambiance. Its interior was a stark contrast to what they were met with outside. They found an empty booth and slid right in as Cosima looked around, observing. "This place looks awesome. How did you find it?"
"My cousin told me about it," Delphine answered as she called for a waiter. They ordered then chatted as they waited for their dinner.
(With the soft music and the lights, it oddly felt like a date, but neither of them voiced out that fact either. It was awkward enough.)
In the middle of their meal, just when Cosima was beginning to digress the topic to the upcoming Science Fair, a large man with a buzz cut took the stage, signaling the start of the poetry reading.
(Cosima was quiet surprised that he recited Robert Frost's A Dream Pang—Delphine identified it for her—and not read it. She was even more surprised when Delphine recited softly with him. Cosima watched her either instead of him, until Delphine shifted her gaze to her at the last line.
"For the wood wakes, and you are here for proof."
It was time for Cosima's breath to be taken away from her, just like that first time when she met Delphine's gaze when she recited Neruda's Sonnet XVII. It seemed like yesterday and forever ago all at the same time.)
They finished their meal as three more people took the stage, reciting rather than reading the more classic poems – Cosima was pleasantly surprised; Delphine did say that it was a poetry-reading after all – all of which Delphine could identify. It still amazed Cosima, even if she already knew that her best friend was that into literature, or at least poetry.
The woman with weird green hair finished her third Pablo Neruda sonnet and asked for a volunteer in the audience. That was when Cosima gently nudged Delphine with her shoulder and with a shy smile, gestured to the stage.
"No," Delphine murmured with a shake of her head.
"Please?" Cosima said with a small pout. Delphine considered it cheating because that pout was her weakness. It took her all but four seconds before sighing heavily and raising her hand for the green-haired lady to see.
"Oh, we have one! Come here punk girl," the woman called out, making the other patrons clap for her.
(But really, punk girl? It was probably the lip and ear piercings that gave her away.)
The woman stepped aside so Delphine could stand in front of the microphone. She squinted her eyes against the lights to look for Cosima. "Evening. I'm Delphine and my best friend forced me up here," she murmured as she found the grinning girl. The crowd chuckled at this and some even looked back to Cosima's direction. "I'll be reciting Tyler Knott Gregson's Typewriter Series #471. Not a classic but equally beautiful." She took a deep breath and began, her words immediately captivating the audience. She kept her gaze away from Cosima, who was staring intently at her all throughout.
"Can you feel me falling into you as you leak into me," Delphine said, her voice getting softer and softer by the minute as she reached the closing lines. She closed her eyes briefly as her emotions threatened to take over her.
(She didn't do emotions, but Cosima always seemed to be the exception.)
"That I am a sinking ship made of sinking parts," she continued as she opened her eyes, immediately finding home in the hazel of Cosima's. "And you, my love, are the sea." She cleared her throat as the crowd broke into applause in her heartfelt delivery. The loudest claps could be heard from Cosima, who was standing and smiling up proudly at her.
(Cosima wondered why Delphine chose that poem. A part of her wished it was for her. Delphine wondered if Cosima knew that it was for her.
The crowd wanted another one so Delphine decided to recite Gene Dixon's Amalthea, the Unicorn.)
"Within which lover's laughter can the likes of you be found?"
They left after that with milkshakes as take-out because they suddenly remembered the Pre-Calculus exam for the next day. Not that they needed to study, really. They just had to make sure they actually ace it. The drive home was a little less awkward, probably because of the talk they had about Maniac Evenings. They laughed at the fact that one guy actually gave both of them his number, saying that he can be shared.
And Delphine let Cosima take her jacket home with her, never to be returned.
Later, in the comfort of their own beds–once both of them had texted their good nights, like they always had–they both laid awake with one thought in mind.
I'm in love with my best friend.
It was Thursday, a week after their night at Maniac's and as usual, Delphine was leaning against the hood of her car, waiting for Cosima. This time though, only gum was in her mouth because she had a promise to keep.
(She would've tried that electronic cigarette she saw at the mall earlier that Monday but she didn't really want to upset Cosima because it was still a cigarette. It was annoying just how whipped she already was. They weren't even together yet, for god's sake.
She realized the yet in her thought and almost choked at her gum.)
She saw movement in her peripheral and turned to see Cosima, bundled up in a sweater and pants. Unlike Delphine, she wanted getting all wrapped up in public but liked wearing sinfully short shorts and skirts and undersized tank tops when they were over each other's houses.
(At least Delphine wore those sleeveless shirts and short shorts both in public and at home.)
Checking her watch, she noticed that she was early yet again, just like last week. "Per committee meeting again?" Delphine asked. After the awkward moments of Thursday—which she called the "incident"— things have thankfully gotten less weird for both of them until they returned to their normal dynamics. She then dismissed the incident as a glitch, even if it was honestly one of the best days ever.
(Even if every day with Cosima was the best. She rolled her eyes to herself at the thought. Whipped.)
She noticed the furrowed eyebrows and the small frown on her lips and Delphine immediately knew something was wrong. Cosima let out a frustrated growl as she leaned back against the hood of Delphine's car. "No, I walked out of the meeting. They are seriously frustrating me and I just…" The smaller girl let out another growl which made Delphine chuckle softly.
"You're stressing out, Cos," she murmured and placed her hand gently on Cosima's shoulder. "You're too focused on this Science Club thing. Relax. This is high school," Delphine reminded as she nudged her shoulder against hers.
Cosima sighed. "Easy for you to say. You left me alone in this club." She pouted and turned, fisting her hands around the fabric of Delphine's shirt. The taller girl was caught in surprise but let Cosima bury her face against her shoulder. Delphine smiled warmly and wrapped her own arms around Cosima's shoulders, comforting her best friend.
(God, the word makes her want to vomit.)
Cosima let out another heavy sigh and shifted closer. The closeness suffocated Delphine, in a good way, and it made her chest cave in with warmth. "Cos?" She murmured, pulling away a bit even if all she wanted was to stay like this. Cosima hummed in response and tightened her hold around Delphine. "Let's go," Delphine said and kissed the top of the smaller girl's head. "I know just what you need." It took a few more moments for Cosima to reluctantly pull away and she looked up to Delphine, her eyes shiny with unshed tears.
(And emotion as well, but it wasn't like Delphine knew. At least that was what Cosima believed.)
"Take me away," she murmured. It made Delphine smile sadly, hoping beyond all hope that Cosima meant it the way she wanted it to. Then again, she was free to dream.
(How hard was it to choose between wanting to stay as best friends and wanting to tell your best friend that all this time, you were madly in love with them? It was a choice between possibly starting a fairytale kind of love story and ruining the friendship they had built. And Delphine was too terrified of the latter possibility so she never took the risk of trying to find out.)
Delphine opened the car door for Cosima and led her in. "I will," she said softly, too soft that she wondered if Cosima heard.
(Cosima did. The two words made her heart beat just a little bit faster in her chest. Delphine always knew what to do and what to say and it made things harder and harder for her to deny. There had been a lot of instances—like that one time when she had a bad day and Delphine just took her home without saying anything, grabbed some blankets from her bedroom to the living room, quietly made a blanket fort and had Eskimo pies delivered just in time for a Tangled rerun; or that one time when Cosima broke her ankle in gym and Delphine volunteered to take her to the clinic, even if she was from the other gym class, and gave Cosima piggy-back rides every single time she could—that Cosima's heart hammered like this and it was always a feeling she was anxious of.
She was in high school. Teenage angst was common and most of the time confusing and that was how hers went, at least for a while.)
They arrived at the beach as soon as the sun began to set. Delphine parked the car and removed her boots before getting out to open Cosima's door for her, like she always did. Cosima removed her shoes as well and looked around at the handful of people lounging in the area.
"What are we doing at the beach, Delphine?" She asked softly as Delphine took her hand, leading her near the shore. This time, the contact didn't surprise Cosima; it however drove her farther into bewilderment. Still, she held on to Delphine's hand like they had always done this before (technically, they had; but not like this, not in public, and certainly not with the fluttering butterflies in her stomach).
"You're going to vent out your frustration," Delphine explained simply. Cosima looked at her and blinked, wondering just what she meant. The taller girl just smiled before turning to the waters and the setting sun. "Like this, Cosima!" She screamed, throwing her hands up to prove her point.
Cosima looked around the beach to see if people were looking at them. Sure enough, a few people looked at them like they were deranged.
"Don't mind them. They don't know us anyway," Delphine assured, a small smile on her face to appease her best friend. "Just try it."
Cosima bit her lip shyly and sighed heavily, looking at the hopeful Delphine. The only thought in her mind was: Why are you always so perfect?
(Because even if falling for someone—especially her best friend, most especially her girl best friend—was not in her high school priority list, it had been done anyway. Unknowingly, between all the jokes and banter and the late movie nights and reviews they shared, Cosima fell for Delphine who loved sleeveless shirts and a wide variety of music and had an affinity for beige scarves and leather jackets.)
Delphine nudged her shoulder, breaking the trance Cosima was in. The sunset was reflected in both their eyes along with the affection so well-hidden by the half-meant jokes and smiles.
("Oh my god Cos, you're into Imagine Dragons as well? Marry me!")
(Come on, Delphine, I was kidding. I love you.")
("Delphine, he's your type? Here I was thinking I'm your kind of thing.")
("It's just a kiss, come on. I'm French, it doesn't really count.")
"Try it, Cos," Delphine murmured as she eyed the dreadlocked girl carefully. Cosima took another step closer to the waters. The sand was warm on her feet. She inhaled deeply, screwed her eyes shut, and summoned the frustration broiling inside of her. "I hate you!" She screamed from the top of her lungs into the vast space of the beach. Who she was pertaining to—the people in Science Club for aggravating her to her limits, or Delphine for making her fall for her, or herself for falling for her best friend—she didn't knew, she just had to vent out. She let out a string of unintelligible words just to expel all that was bottled up inside of her. Delphine, fascination and awe in her eyes, watched Cosima and felt herself fall even more.
Why did it take too long for her to realize that she was in love with her?
Cosima picked up a rock near her feet and poised to throw it into the waters. She needed to vent out, scream until her voice was hoarse, rip somebody's throat off—
"I love you," she heard the all-too familiar voice of one Delphine Cormier say and it made Cosima freeze for a moment. She had never turned her head so fast in her life she was sure she was going to have a whiplash—not that it mattered then.
"What?" She demanded, her shaky voice just above a whisper, her eyes glossy with tears and emotion. The rock in her hand fell back down at her feet as she stared at Delphine who looked genuinely nervous and terrified at the same time.
(They had said their I love yous before, only with more playful tones. Not with this weight in those same three words.)
Delphine bit her lip shyly and shrugged, as if those words meant nothing at all. "I love you, Cosima." She looked away from her best friend as her own eyes clouded with tears—merde merde merde, what have I done? She was sure she just kicked the house of cards they have built with such dexterity right in its foundations. Still, she won't back down. She was almost there anyway; go big or go home. And by the looks of it, she would be going home alone with her heart beaten into pulp. "I'm… I'm in love with you," she tried again, softer this time, her eyes on the pale sand under their feet. As soon as the words were out—those crucial, vital words that had longed to be freed from the grasps of Delphine's mind and heart and lips—a weight was suddenly lifted from her shoulders into the tears waiting to fall from behind her eyes. She chanced a look at Cosima, whose trembling hand was over her mouth, eyes shiny as her own tears fell. Delphine's eyes widened—fuck shit merde non non non no.
"Cos," Delphine murmured, whined even, and took a hesitant step towards her best friend.
Her best friend. She was supposed to be that. Great, she just destroyed everything.
Cosima shook her head slowly. Delphine had her answer. The small action inevitably broke the blonde's heart. Of course, what was she expecting?
(Maybe an "I love you too" or a kiss or a hug or all three, but then again expectations don't always coincide with reality. And Delphine chanced a firsthand experience.)
"I just made a huge mistake, didn't I," Delphine whispered, more a statement than a question, and sighed heavily. "Merde," she muttered and covered her face with her hands. "God, I'm so sorry, Cosima. I just—"
Her words were cut off when soft hands pulled her own away from her face and she was met with the swirling hazels of Cosima's eyes. In them was something Delphine couldn't place. It was probably hatred or disgust—
"I hate you," Cosima breathed out and before Delphine could file that statement as the one to destroy her whole being, she felt a soft pair of lips against hers.
(They tasted of watermelons and safety and of home. Somehow she didn't know how she identified how the last two tasted like, but she felt that way.)
The tears finally fell from Delphine's eyes, not in hurt or regret but rather in relief and pure bliss. She pressed her lips a little harder against Cosima's, desperate for more contact, for assurance that this was actually happening. Cosima wrapped her arms around Delphine's neck just as she wrapped her own around her waist. How cliché could they get, that they actually had their first kiss on the beach with the setting sun in the background? It was sappy and overly romantic. Not they cared, because the only thing that mattered in the moment was them and the lover they held in their arms.
A stupid guy who did a stupid catcall burst the bubble they were in and both of them pulled away, already breathless. They rested their foreheads together and Delphine opened her eyes to see Cosima's flushed face. "You hate me, huh?" She mumbled, her lips quirked up into a smirk.
"I do," Cosima replied and pecked Delphine's lips once again. "Because you could've just told me way before all of this happened."
"What do you mean all of this?"
"I flunked my Pre-Calculus exam because of you," Cosima muttered, making Delphine roll her eyes. "But I love you too." With that, Delphine let out a giggle, pulled Cosima closer into her, and kissed her again.
"You dork."
"Says the geek."
(It was all anti-climactic, really, but it was the thought that counts.)
They both decided to go home before they could start another free show for the guys on the beach. They also decided to go their separate ways since "just because we laid all our cards out there doesn't mean we can go like, all out," they concluded in a true, scientific way.
(They had "the talk" last night, in Cosima's driveway, of how and when the feelings began. It cleared everything and they were trying to transition into this higher level of relationship, but pinky promised that nothing will ever change and that they were best friends first and foremost.)
Delphine wanted to take Cosima out the night after and she had a plan which was sure to make Cosima flip, either from swooning or frustration. She found the girl picking up her books in her locker. Delphine walked to where she was and leaned against the row of lockers, a smirk on her face.
"Hey Cosima. Are you made of copper and tellurium?" She said, biting her lip to stop the grin from spreading across her face. Cosima placed her books on her bag and turned to Delphine with furrowed eyebrows. "What?"
"Because you're CuTe. Get it?" Delphine said before bursting out into laughter. Cosima just furrowed her eyebrows even more before shaking her head. "No, Delphine. Too far," she muttered, even if the smile on her face betrayed her annoyance.
"Come on, it's funny," Delphine pouted but kissed Cosima's cheek. "Walk you to class?" Cosima chuckled and just nodded. Their public display of affection wasn't entirely new; it was just that this time, they were both actually aware of where it was coming from. Once they reached Cosima's assigned room, Delphine slid a note in her hand and winked before walking to her own class.
You're so cute you make my zygomatic major contract, it read. Suffice to say it made Cosima smile as well. She texted Delphine with another "Too far," reply however.
Cosima was on her way to the lunchroom when a random guy handed her a white rose before quickly walking away into the crowd in the hallway. The girl looked confused at the flower before dismissing it as a wrong delivery. She walked to the nearest trash can to throw it away when another guy handed her a second one.
"Hey, what—" She was cut off once again when a girl, who she was sure to be a senior, handed her a third one. Cosima blushed when everyone's attention shifted to her and she walked as fast as she could to the lunchroom, knowing just who the culprit was. She received a fourth, fifth, then an eleventh rose until she got to the lunchroom door. She was feeling nervous; she had thought before that such grand gestures only happen in movies. Or books. She sighed heavily and pushed the door open, only to be greeted by a grinning Delphine holding another white rose, the twelfth one.
"No more pick-up lines," Delphine promised and handed Cosima the rose. "White roses mean new beginnings. So…" She bit her lip. "Will you go out with me?" She smiled shyly. "Please?"
The crowd behind Delphine was waving their hands frantically, begging Cosima to say yes. Some of her friends were smirking at her and Cosima was sure she would be under scrutiny later, about the very important stage of development in her and Delphine's relationship. Cosima studied Delphine closely and found the telltale signs of anxiety. She realized that even after the night before, Delphine still feared that Cosima wouldn't say yes to the date. The crowd was probably to pressure her into agreement. Not that Cosima needed any more coercion though. Other than that though, there was a large number of people who were actually looking at her with such interest. Delphine had something close to a fan base in school—she was a gorgeous, brilliant, kind, beautiful, perfect, but it was probably biased because it was Cosima who said those things—and she had a multitude of choices, yet there she was, worriedly waiting for Cosima's reply.
"You sound like you're asking my hand for marriage," Cosima finally said with a small chuckle. Delphine let out a long sigh to expel her nerves.
"Just say yes, Cos," she said with a nervous quirk of her lips.
"Demanding, are we?" Cosima shot back. She shifted the roses in her arms and tilted her head to Delphine. "If I was your girlfriend and you—"
"You're not my girlfriend," the blonde interjected. "Yet. I'm still asking you out, and you haven't really said yes?" Cosima grinned at the uncertainty in Delphine's voice. She loved to push her buttons. It was always a sight. Their friends were already snickering at Delphine's stress.
"But if—"
"Cosima!"
Cosima finally smiled. She gave the roses in her hand a small sniff before looking up at Delphine bashfully. "Fine. Yes, I'll go out with you."
"You sound like you're forced," Delphine whined, a pout on her lips. Cosima rolled her eyes and just pulled Delphine into a kiss, effectively making her shut up. The lunchroom was given a free three-second show, but they did gave the two quite the applause.
"Why won't you tell me?" Cosima pouted as they walked to their respective classrooms. Lunch had just finished and the girl was bringing a whole bouquet of white roses along with her books because she insisted on boasting it around.
(She had her fair share of suitors before Delphine but there was just something about being hers that made her all proud and giddy. It was probably because despite Delphine's inclination for pulling pranks on random people—her innate bad girl image, or so she always says—she was a good person who was always there for anyone and everyone, especially if the situation called for it. Everyone loved her.
(Cosima backtracked her thoughts and rolled her eyes to herself. She wasn't even Delphine's girlfriend yet. Yet. She was looking forward to it, even if she was satisfied to just stay like this and not put any label between them. It's their relationship that counted and not the term they would tell everyone if they asked.)
Delphine just shrugged before grinning. "It's a surprise. I thought you were on top of your class? Don't you know what the word means?" She teased, a mirthful spark in her eyes. Cosima rolled her eyes again.
"You know I hate surprises," she mumbled and not-so-subtly smelled the roses. She smiled shyly at the reminder that Delphine didn't even care what other people might think of her being queer. (Her school was open about it but not a lot of students were proud of waving a rainbow flag and she became even more proud of her.)
"I know. But you're going to at least like this," the taller girl said as they arrived at Cosima's classroom. Delphine smiled and kissed her cheek. "I promise. So I'll pick you up at seven. Oui?" Cosima nodded. She was about to go but boldly decided to lean up and kiss Delphine on the lips before running into her classroom with a small blush on her cheeks. What possessed her to do that, she didn't know, but seeing Delphine frozen for a beat or two outside the door before smiling widely and fist-pumping the air as if she won something huge was totally worth making the first move.
(She had decided it was her turn to do so, since it was Delphine who said those blessed three words first. Not that it was competition, of course; she just wanted to make sure that Delphine knew she was as into this as she was.)
Delphine knew but she didn't think much of it. Not when she had a first date to plan. She remembered last week in Maniac's and realized just what that look in Cosima's eyes meant. Oh great, she thought. More pressure, because now she had to think something to step up her game. She hoped Cosima would appreciate anything she had for tonight, whatever it was. Now she had to dig every romantic bone in her body for her girl.
(She rolled her eyes to herself. Cosima wasn't even hers yet. Yet.)
The two of them sat in their separate classes for the rest of the afternoon, both unable to concentrate on their lectures. Cosima was fidgeting with excitement and nerves. Delphine was fidgeting with excitement and nerves while making texts and calls in between classes to make sure everything goes well later that night. Why did she ask Cosima so soon, anyway? She could have asked her on a Saturday night or some later date that could have given her more time to plan a better date. The nervousness she had about her planning went away though as soon as she read Cosima's text.
I know what you're thinking. Just know that I already love you and whatever you have planned, I'll love it. Remember to breathe. – Cos
The stupid grin on her lips and the small blush on her face seemed to have called Ms. Hopkins' attention—that same Literature teacher during sophomore year who seemed to have developed some hatred for her ever since that day—and had her enumerate ten classical poets.
(Please, she had those memorized like the back of her hand.)
I love you too, she replied just because she could, before answering Ms. Hopkins with a shit-eating grin on her face. Just because she could.
Classes ended sooner than both had expected and Delphine waited for Cosima in the parking lot as usual. Cosima said it was okay for her to walk home but Delphine insisted. She arrived later, a skip on her step and a grin on her face. Delphine wished it was because if their date later. (Of course it was.)
"You look happy," Delphine greeted as she opened the car door, making Cosima blush and bite her lip. Delphine just chuckled as Cosima sat inside.
Oh great; more pressure, she thought.
The drive to Cosima's house was quick and silent. The shorter girl got out of the car but not before kissing Delphine's lips yet again. "I'll see you later," she murmured with a smile before jumping out the car.
(The blush on their faces was of a light pink and both of them wondered if it was normal to suddenly act all shy around their best friend just because they were transitioning into a higher level of a relationship. But they were best friends first and foremost and they pinky-promised that nothing will change.
Except maybe the random kisses from out of nowhere. Those were very welcome and very much encouraged as well.)
Delphine drove back home, making calls once again to make sure everything was okay. She didn't really plan for them to go a lot of places; she just wanted to be certain that things will at least go smoothly.
She got home and got out of the car only to be greeted by her grinning father who was by the open front door. Delphine rolled her eyes. Her father seemed to be more excited than her.
"So did she say yes?" He asked, clapping his hands together. He was still in his business attire, necktie and all.
"Of course she said yes! That was what I was cooking for earlier," she heard her mother yell from inside the house.
(Oh joy. Of all the days they were both home from their business trips, it would be today. Delphine's parents had never really said that they knew that she was, well, queer; but when she came home last night with a lovesick smile on her face from the earlier hours she had spent with Cosima, they just kind of blurted it out. They were sitting on the living room, her father writing his reports and her mother reading a book. She walked inside the house and greeted them a whole lot more cheerfully than normal and the two of them just looked at each other before returning to what they were doing. It was her father who said the words.)
("Cat's out of the bag, huh."
("I bet," her mother replied, keeping her eyes on her book.
("Bet what?" Delphine asked. She was confused and all, but when both her parents replied with a mere shrug and "Cosima," she just smiled even more and hugged both of them. It didn't need explaining and Delphine was grateful for that.)
"Oh. I thought that was for me," her father mumbled, furrowing his eyebrows as his smile dropped a bit. Nonetheless he grinned once more and pulled a hesitant Delphine into the house. Delphine sighed. Was she really that obvious? She bit her lip as she walked to the kitchen where her mother was finishing up with the food.
"So that's what these are for," her father said in realization as he walked into the kitchen as well and handed Delphine tickets. "Oui," the daughter replied. She checked the stacks of food, everything Cosima's favorite.
"The flowers are ready to pick up as well, sweetie," her mother said as she put the other food containers into a paper bag. Her father dropped his jaw in mock betrayal. "She's into this and I'm not?" He exclaimed and placed his hand on his chest dramatically.
"Because you're too excitable, papa," Delphine said with a smirk. Her parents chuckled and made a motion for her to hug them. She did, tightly. She had heard of stories how a lot of people got kicked out of their own homes because of who they were. Delphine was thankful that she didn't have to go through that.
"Go get your girl," her mother said as they pulled away. She just grinned and ran to her room.
She had a girl to sweep off her feet.
Cosima waited impatiently for Delphine's reply. She asked what she had to wear since she forgot to earlier. She would wear casual because that was what she always wore on nights out with Delphine but this—this was different. This was their first date and although the girl said she loved Cosima, she still wanted to impress her. (Not that Delphine thought she needed to. She was already perfect as she is. That was why she fell for her in the first place.)
Her phone finally beeped a few seconds before she was about to call Delphine.
Wear what you always do. Just know that I already love you and whatever you wear, you're beautiful. Remember to breathe. – D
Cosima smiled at her words shot back to her. I love you too, she replied.
It all seemed so surreal, to be honest. There she was sitting on her bed, about to go on a date with her best friend, and she still couldn't quite believe it. Just nights ago she was on this same bed going crazy about her feelings and now here they were. How their relationship has evolved into this, she couldn't quite retrace. It happened slowly and all at once; it was a beautiful, revolutionary development, one that Cosima would forever be amused and amazed with.
It was ten minutes to seven and Delphine still sat in her car, staring at the door of Cosima's house. She would have just gone and went inside if this was a normal night but it wasn't.
It was their first date.
First. Date.
"Oh mon Dieu," she breathed out. Her heart was racing already and she can't breathe and—
Her phone beeped.
Are you going to come in or even just knock? You've been there for almost half an hour, the text from Cosima read. Delphine blushed slightly and peered out the car to see Cosima watching her from her bedroom window. The girl waved shyly and Delphine waved back.
Shit.
She sighed again and grabbed the bouquet of flowers from the passenger's seat. She had a special arrangement, the flowers chosen especially because of their meanings, and even if Cosima didn't know what they mean they were still beautiful aesthetically, despite them appearing like some patriotic display. She was probably going overboard too, and Cosima might actually find her disgustingly sappy and laugh at her, but she couldn't care less; not when she was sure there were literal butterflies in her stomach. She took small, slow steps until she finally reached to door.
Oh mon Dieu.
She raised her hand to knock but before she even could, the door was ripped open and she came face to face with three people.
Oh mon D—merde shit fuck
The three of them—Felix, Alison, and Sarah, Cosima's older siblings and guardians; what a welcoming party—were glaring at Delphine, who swallowed nervously.
(She had interacted with them before when she was still on the best friend status. She guessed new rules were to be set if she were to pursue a romantic relationship with Cosima. Delphine swallowed the huge lump in her throat once again. The three were very protective of Cosima, especially Sarah and Alison, her obvious sisters because of their physical appearances. Sarah, the oldest at twenty-seven, often acted like the mother bear or the occasional lioness, especially when Cosima had suitors. Delphine had the chance to see Sarah almost rip off the boy's throat when he arrived late for their date that night. The boy never came back. Sarah was also a badass, so much so that Paul, a former military now working for some agency or something and her boyfriend, was sometimes scared of her. Alison was too serious sometimes and at twenty-five years already had a very unhealthy relationship with wine and that man from the bank named Donnie. Felix, twenty-two, was adopted by the three's parents but was always treated as a real blood relative. Delphine liked him because he was sassy and funny. He was a fabulous twenty-four-year-old artist which made the blonde look up to him. The three of them still treated Cosima like a baby sometimes, despite the fact that she was already seventeen, almost eighteen even.)
"Okay, everyone away from the door. Please," she heard Cosima say. Delphine let out a soft sigh of relief. Her legs felt like jelly; she had never been this scared before. Good god, she was just meeting her best friend's family in another setting; she shouldn't be this afraid. The three adults narrowed their eyes at her before taking a step back. The distance was not that great but Delphine was thankful.
"Thank you," Cosima breathed out and Delphine finally turned to her. She briefly forgot the people who looked like they were about to kill her as her eyes landed on her.
Her.
She dressed casually, just like she always did on their nights out, but somehow, in that moment, it was like Delphine noticed the details she had never really looked into before, like the specks of green in her eyes or the faint scar on her chin. She had her usual necklace and bangles, a short patterned skirt over black stockings, and a maroon sweater which dipped too low Delphine could just—
Merde.
"Hey," Cosima greeted and Delphine snapped her eyes up to see her smirking.
(She totally planned this.)
"H-hey," Delphine replied as she tried to recollect herself. "For you," she mumbled before handing Cosima the bouquet of blue and red roses. Cosima accepted it with a smile on her face but raised an eyebrow at the presence of blue flowers.
(The three people behind her raised their eyebrows as well. Nosey siblings.)
"Blue roses?" She asked.
Delphine bit her lip. "Oui. They mean—"
"Love at first sight?" Cosima whispered, more of a question than statement. She breathed in the scent of the roses to hide her smile. Delphine let out a shaky laugh before nodding.
"Oui. That day I recited Sonnet XVII."
"Where I does not exist, nor you," Cosima murmured, making Delphine smile even more.
"Yeah. That day." She didn't think Cosima would remember but she obviously did.
Cosima nodded at the memory. "Let me just put these in water. Want to come in?" Delphine bit her lip in thought and glanced at the people behind Cosima.
"I'll um, wait here," she answered. Cosima smiled in amusement and turned to go to the kitchen but not before sending a warning glance at her siblings, as if to say 'behave.' All three rolled their eyes. It was creepy. The four of them watched Cosima and as soon as she disappeared into the kitchen, the three glared at Delphine once again, all of them crossing their arms.
"Oi, punk," Sarah began. "I like you as her best friend but stepping into the romantic zone gets you a target sign on your back so watch it, yeah?"
"Or else I will strangle your willowy arse. With my favorite scarf," Felix supplied.
"And I'm going to cut you with my craft scissors. Make sure your death will be slow and painful," Alison added.
Delphine blinked at the images in her head and nodded furiously at the three of them. She was already sending her prayers to the stars.
"We're going to be your worst nightmare if you ever hurt Cosima," Sarah warned. Alison and Felix nodded slowly in agreement. As if Delphine didn't know.
As if Delphine would ever do that. As if she would even think about it.
"I will never do that," Delphine whispered in reply but her thoughts were along the lines of where are you, Cosima? Save me, save me. She loosened the scarf she wore over her button-up shirt. She couldn't breathe from fear.
"You better make damn sure, French girl, because if you—"
"Guys, I said away from Delphine," Cosima warned from the kitchen, effectively cutting off Sarah in lioness mode. The eldest one snapped her mouth shut but all three kept their glares on the poor blonde. They heard Cosima walk back to the living room and the adults raised their index fingers to their necks, making a slitting motion.
(Delphine wondered briefly if they rehearsed this. It didn't help diminish the threat in their actions though.)
"Don't listen to them. Let's go. See you later guys," Cosima muttered as she dragged Delphine by the arm and off the doorway. The taller girl let out a sigh of relief.
"Don't you feel relieved, woman! We're watching you!" Felix called out.
"Get her back by midnight or I'll get Art to hunt you down, Delphine!" Sarah added before slamming the door shut. 'Shit,' Delphine thought. Art was...the kind of art Delphine didn't like. He had a permanent scowl on his face and he was creepy and Delphine was pretty sure he was every criminal's worse nightmare. She shook her head at the thought and opened the door for Cosima.
"Sorry about them," Cosima whispered as she slid inside the car. "They're very…overprotective of me." Delphine smiled and just nodded in thought.
"I would be, too," she murmured with a smile before closing the door and getting into the driver's side. "You look beautiful, by the way. As always," Delphine added. Cosima's cheeks dusted pink and she bit her lip.
Well, time to get the show on the road.
Cosima had the radio on and hummed to the songs playing while Delphine drove. The silence between them was awkward because of their nerves yet curiously comfortable at the same time and they were content with it.
"Still not going to tell me where we're going?" Cosima prompted. They have been on the road for the duration of four songs and quite frankly, she was getting restless. Delphine glanced at her with a smile.
"We're going there," she answered, pointing to the building up ahead. Cosima shifted her gaze to the direction and her jaw dropped in pleasant surprise.
"Really?"
"Really."
Delphine parked the car on the almost empty parking lot. They were at one of the most scientifically interesting places in their town: an aquatic park. Cosima had always wanted to go there and she had mentioned it to Delphine many times. The latter had offered for them to go but it was too expensive and Cosima didn't want to take her offer of buying her a ticket.
("You know I can—"
("No."
("Why not? Papa can—"
("No."
("B—"
("No."
("I—"
("No."
(That was how their conversations about that usually went.)
Now though, Cosima couldn't say no.
"Very clever, Delphine," Cosima mumbled as she opened the door, her eyes fixed on the building in front of them.
"I know," Delphine smirked as she got out. She smiled at her best friend and offered her hand. "Let's go," she murmured. Cosima took her hand with a shy grin and they giggled as they ran to the entrance. Delphine gave the tickets to the boy by the gate and subtly added her car keys.
(She had a plan to execute, after all.)
Cosima's eyes brightened like a child during Christmas as soon as they were inside. The corridor was only illuminated by the light from the aquarium and there were only a handful of people inside. Colorful fishes and other creatures—sharks, manta rays, jelly fishes—swam through and around the deepest blues of the waters.
"This is why I want to take Biology in college, Delphine," Cosima murmured in awe, her eyes on the sea creatures in front of her. "Just look at them. We know a lot about them but they remain one of the greatest mysteries. Did you know that there are theories saying that we came from fishes?" Cosima chuckled softly while they walked side by side. Delphine was content to just let her explore and talk. Cosima's voice was music to her ears. They stopped by an area where a diver swam with a school of fishes. "And then there are still those undiscovered species, like down the Marianas Trench; species so evolved they can survive the extreme environment." Cosima's gaze flitted around all the cerulean waters around them. "They're just so…" She trailed off as she placed her hands over the thick glass, her eyes scanning every possible area at the end of the enclosure. "So beautiful," she breathed out. Delphine, all the while staring in admiration at the girl beside her, smiled even more.
"Yeah. Beautiful," she agreed softly. Cosima turned to her with a shy smile.
"Thank you for bringing me here. It was clever of you and although I feel like you cheated, thank you."
Delphine chuckled. "You're always welcome. But we're not done, though. We have dinner to attend." The shorter girl bit her lip to fight back a grin. It was already perfect but it got better and better.
"Lead the way," she giggled, and Delphine took her hand in hers.
And better.
They walked out of the building into a field nearby. Cosima was surprised by it and wondered just what Delphine had planned but she kept her questions to herself as the taller girl guided her through. It was dark out but small fairy lights lit a path and they took way, the two of them hand in hand, until they reached the area where stacks of food and drinks sat on a picnic blanket. Cosima let herself smile. "We're going to eat in this dimly-lit area?" She teased.
Delphine chuckled. "Energy conservation, Cosima," she said simply, before pressing the switch by the blanket. Pale orange and yellow lights from little lanterns which were scattered in the area illuminated the place. Cosima looked around in amazement.
"Wow. How did you do this?" She ask with a soft chuckle. Delphine just grinned as she opened the containers of food—chicken penne alfredo, stir-fried vegetables, cupcakes, and sliced fruits—and slid some in front of Cosima.
"I have friends, you know," she said cryptically and opened a thermos of apple cider to pour Cosima a glass. "Eat. Mum cooked so it tastes just fine." Cosima snickered at the reminder that Delphine cannot, in any way, cook.
("You burned the popcorn! In the microwave!"
("Delphine, that's not how to fry eggs!"
("Out of the kitchen, Delphine!")
Delphine merely rolled her eyes.
"So… They know?" Cosima asked as she began to eat. Delphine thought for a while before nodding.
"Kind of. They actually knew without me telling them," she said with a shrug.
They ate in a comfortable silence, every once in a while talking and laughing and just being them, Delphine and Cosima, Cosima and Delphine, who were best friends first and foremost.
And it was enough for them.
"And what's that?" Cosima asked as she pointed to the constellation just beside Andromeda. They finished their dinner and decided to stay, at least for a while. They lied on the blanket, hands laced together as if they had done this a million times before, as they watched the stars above them.
"That's the Cassiopeia," Delphine replied. She pointed to another group of stars below it. "And that's Cepheus. He's the king of Ethiopia and Cassiopeia is his beautiful wife. Andromeda was their daughter."
"So what is their story?"
"Well, Cepheus was placed in the sky on his own right, for his journey as an Argonaut in search for the Golden Fleece. Cassiopeia, however, although beautiful, was a boastful queen who bragged that she was far more superior in beauty compared to even Juno, who was the queen of the gods, and the Nereids or the sea nymphs." Delphine paused to squeeze Cosima's hand, as if telling her that she was more beautiful than those creatures. "Neptune sent a sea monster to the Ethiopian coast to avenge the insult. Andromeda was to be sacrificed so the sea god could be appeased, but Perseus," Delphine pointed to another nearby constellation above the previous three, "came just in time from killing of the Gorgon Medusa. He killed the monster and in exchange, asked for Andromeda's hand in marriage. He had fallen for her at first sight, with the wind on her hair and tears on her eyes as she was chained, ready for the sacrifice."
Cosima, who had turned to her side to watch Delphine talk and smile and point to the different stars, hummed in thought and squeezed Delphine's hand. Delphine turned to her side as well.
"Love at first sight. Sounds familiar," the blonde teased. Cosima bit her lip to stop her smile from even growing wider.
"I can never comprehend how you can remember all your poems and stories," Cosima murmured rather.
"It's probably the same with all your sequences and formulas," Delphine shot back.
"Yeah but you know all those, too."
"Not as much as you do."
"Geek."
"Nerd."
They laughed and laid in silence, watching and counting the stars and sharing stories and just being them, Delphine and Cosima, Cosima and Delphine, who were best friends first and foremost. It was their promise, after all, and beyond the awkwardness in the car during the ride over was the ease they had shared ever since.
"Recite something for me," Cosima asked as they lied on their sides, face to face and hand in hand as if they were in the comforts of their beds and not in a public area. Delphine smiled shyly. "Recite what?"
"Anything."
Delphine bit her lip in thought and kissed the hand on hers before beginning.
"Little pieces near the heart shared in quiet here; tiny portions of a soul, minute scraps of fear," she uttered, her voice above a whisper. "Crumbs that fall unnoticed swept up with the dust; scant words and compact thoughts handed out with trust. Do you hear the meager words, crumbs that fall so faint; can you hear my heart's voice speak beneath its restraint?" She smiled lovingly at the girl who looked back at her with the same love she hoped she had in her eyes.
"Do you care, these few small sounds are thoughts of mine apart," she continued, her voice getting softer. "And that to you I dare give these pieces of my heart?"
Cosima just stared at her eyes until her gaze flitted minutely to Delphine's lips. She cupped the taller girl's face and ran her thumb against her lower lip slowly, sensually, that it took Delphine's breath away.
"Can you listen to the words I've been aching to say," Cosima began, making Delphine smile. She had recited those same words before but hearing them being narrated to her, for her—it felt warm and good and simply perfect. "That I go where the lights pull me and you, my love, are the stars?" The shorter girl bit her own lip as she finished. "I recited those lines right, right?" She asked.
Delphine just smiled widely and nodded.
"Good," Cosima whispered before leaning forward to kiss Delphine.
Ever the cheeky one.
Cosima pulled away and it was Delphine's turn to capture her lips. Again. And again and again.
The alarm they had set earlier rang and they reluctantly got up. It was thirty minutes until Cosima's curfew—and Delphine's deadline—and they had to leave now. They packed up the things they had to and turned off the fairy lights and lanterns. Delphine said they could leave them there. A thought ran through her mind while she folded the blanket and she placed it on the grass before offering her hand to Cosima.
"Dance with me?" She asked shyly. Cosima raised an eyebrow but took her hand nonetheless.
"There's no music," she commented as she wrapped her arms around Delphine's neck. The latter silently placed her arms around Cosima's waist and pulled her close. Delphine hummed and leaned a bit so she could whisper against her ear.
"And these are the moments I thank god that I'm alive," she sang softly, making Cosima smile and hold on just a little bit tighter. Delphine wasn't a singer, not unlike some of her friends from Glee club, but she could at least carry a tune. It was the thought that counted after all. "And these are the moments I'll remember all my life. I found all I've waited for and I could not ask for more."
"Everything you are is everything to me," Cosima joined with a chuckle. Her usual audience for her singing would be her books and her shower stall but Delphine didn't mind. (She found it endearing—the singing, not the... The singing was endearing.) "And these are the moments I know heaven must exist. These are the moments I know all I need is this. I have all I've waited for, and I could not ask for more."
They moved together by the light of the moon and the stars, their hushed voices and synchronized heartbeats guiding their slow, deliberate movements. They were just being them, Delphine and Cosima, Cosima and Delphine; best friends first and foremost who had fallen for each other along the way.
And it was enough for them.
(Delphine got Cosima home five minutes to midnight and just like she feared, Sarah and Alison were by the porch, waiting for them. The kiss goodnight—on the lips—she got from Cosima made it all worth it though.)
That night proved a challenged for both girls for many reasons. They couldn't really sleep because of thoughts of their date. There was also the urge to text each other, again, even if they already had said a thousand good nights—and I love yous as well, because they did love each other. There was no point in delaying saying those words just because they were still, somehow, in their courtship period. They managed to fall asleep sometime during dawn (but really, who noticed the time?) with smiles on their faces, no matter how cheesy it seemed. Saturday rolled in and Cosima was the first to text with a cheery 'Good morning! :)'; Delphine did smile at that, even though she was never a morning person. (Again and again, Cosima was her exception to many things.)
Both girls were put in the hot seat by their families: Delphine, because her parents were curious, and Cosima, because her siblings are protective.
Delphine's parents talked to her during breakfast. Her father wanted to know just how his only child did on her first date (at least, the one that she planned; on Delphine's very few dates before—the girl was not really picky, she just really was focused on her studies—she was the one taken out, not the other way around). Her mother wanted to know how Cosima reacted. Delphine was more than eager to describe what had happened, her Cosima-induced smile painting her features.
("So did you kiss?" Her father asked nonchalantly just as Delphine was drinking orange juice to follow her cereal. Delphine sputtered on her drink and blushed a bright red before shaking her head and running off to her room yelling 'homework!' Her father just laughed heartily and her mother chastised him with a shush, although she couldn't keep the smile off her face.)
Cosima's siblings just wanted to know if Delphine tried anything funny. They had her sit on the couch, the three of them surrounding her right after lunch. The youngest girl just shrugged it off, saying that Delphine was the perfect gentlewoman. Felix had proceeded with an 'aww,' only to be elbowed—hard—by Sarah and glared at by Alison. Cosima did recount the date night though, even without the three of them asking, and Sarah had to admit that it was great to see her sister lightening up in a whole new different way when talking about Delphine ("Dude, she was just…so sweet, you know? I mean, I know that I know that already, as her best friend, but to be on the receiving end is…" Cosima trailed off and just shrugged, but her smile just seemed to have grown wider. Pssh, high school, Sarah thought.) Not that there was a lot of difference before, really; Cosima had always talked about Delphine—on times she wasn't talking about animals and genetics and science stuff—and there had always been that glow on her eyes, and her hands seemed to take more life than they do when Cosima talks about things that she loved.
It all made sense now.
("So are you girlfriends now or something?" Alison prodded as she narrowed her eyes. Cosima just sighed dreamily. "Not yet," she replied, sounding so sure of herself. Sarah looked proud for a moment before scoffing. Cosima just rolled her eyes and stalked off to her bedroom, muttering 'homework.'
But really, they just spent the rest of the day—the rest of the weekend, actually—texting each other, more so than usual, but in the middle of their studying.
School did came first, after all.)
Monday after their date, the girls really weren't sure how to act. Cosima did say that Sarah was giving her a ride to school since she'll drop by the police station so Delphine had to go to school alone. It was a rare occurrence, and somehow Delphine had suspicions about Sarah's real intentions, but she didn't want to voice those out. The now-blonde (she had her hair dyed once again on Sunday) stood before her locker, picking her books, when she felt someone lean on the locker beside hers. Without even turning, Delphine already knew who it was. She rolled her eyes to herself and continued arranging her things.
"Oh, come on Delphine. Spill the beans." Delphine just grabbed a book and shut her locker before turning to her friend.
"Isn't it too early for gossip, Q?" Delphine drawled. She slid her books to her bag and tilted her head to her pink-haired friend. "I never really took you as the nosey type."
Quinn just shrugged. She wasn't the nosey type. She was just interested. "Just wondering. You never really went out on a date before. I was starting to think you were a plant or something." Delphine glared at her but motioned for them to walk to class, Math, which they shared.
"I am not a plant. I'm not picky either. I'm focusing on my studies."
Quinn snickered. "Studies. Right. And Cosima will be your…study buddy?" Delphine blushed slightly and shouldered her friend.
"Something like that. And hey, don't you have anything better to do? Like, your girlfriend or something?" She shot back. It was Quinn's turn to blush, a light pink like her hair dusting on her porcelain cheeks, and smacked Delphine's head—good thing the blonde dodged.
"Rachel is not my girlfriend!" Quinn whispered harshly. "Not yet, at least." Delphine chuckled as they walked into their classroom and took their seats.
"But you like…" Delphine furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and tapped her left index finger over her right repeatedly. Quinn blushed harder and swatted her hands away, all the while shaking her head. Delphine giggled and then sighed. "You gotta have the guts to ask her to be your girlfriend sometime soon, Q. I'm pretty sure Rachel's waiting."
"Yeah? I bet you don't have the guts either when it comes to Cosima," Quinn muttered. Delphine bit her lip in thought.
"So you didn't kiss?" The brunette diva asked as they walked to their classroom, History. Cosima bit her lip and shook her head. "Huh… You did kiss," she deadpanned again.
"Ssh, Rachel!" Cosima shushed, waving her palm down against the air. "I'm pretty sure everyone knows that we do kiss, after that stunt during lunch last week." She sighed and pushed her glasses up with her middle finger, ducking her head as they walked through the corridors.
"Yes, but I'm talking about, like…" Rachel trailed off, cocking her head to the side as if to say you know.
"Rachel! Why are you even asking me that? I never pegged you as the nosey type," Cosima mumbled.
"I'm not. Mike was just saying about how…terrifying you were in Science Club meetings during Glee Club," Rachel explained. "The guys were pretty convinced you were just frustrated." Cosima colored brightly but huffed.
"I am not! If I was, it's because of the upcoming Science Fair. It's this Thursday and I just wanted to make sure things will go smoothly." Rachel just nodded knowingly, an amused smile on her face. "Stop looking at me like that! Go…you know…with your girlfriend or something," she mumbled.
Rachel sighed softly at that as they walked into their classroom. "Quinn's not my girlfriend yet." Cosima furrowed her eyebrows in confusion but smiled reassuringly.
"I'm sure Q's waiting for the right time. Either way, Rachel Berry's never the one for labels anyway."
Other than a few more stolen kisses during breaks and mouthed 'I love yous' in empty hallways, nothing had really changed between Cosima and Delphine. They liked it that way though; the transition seemed rather slow for others but for the two, it was just enough. It wasn't like there was so much supposed to change anyway. Maybe because it was because they were still in the courtship stage, but both of them liked that they could share stories to each other and exchange the bashful smiles lovers do.
They deemed it a pretty good deal, and they were very happy about it.
The Science Fair that Cosima and her Science Club had been planning for a while went through without a hitch—at least, for the Science Club.
It was a fine day. Science students and enthusiasts from all over the state had come to their school to participate. Cosima was pretty busy that day, and since Delphine was not technically part of the Science Club, she wasn't excused from her classes. That meant spending almost a day without Cosima—they were apart even during lunch—and Delphine was pretty annoyed with it. The fair happened in the gymnasium, a building so far away from Delphine's classrooms, so she couldn't really sneak in.
Rachel and Quinn had seen her glaring at her books before lunch time.
("You need to get laid, Cormier," Quinn joked, causing Delphine's glare to transfer to her. Rachel just giggled and apologized in behalf of her not-girlfriend and dragged her off to class. Delphine didn't miss the whispered 'You need to get laid, Fabray.')
Delphine had all but run off to the gymnasium once her classes was done. The fair was also wrapping up but then so she expected Cosima to be less busy because the school staff would be the one in charge of that. The blonde was surprised to find Cosima by the small cafeteria near the gymnasium, speaking with a boy about their age. Cosima was talking animatedly to him, and Delphine guessed they were talking about science or the fair or both. She walked to them and Cosima had barely noticed her until Delphine tapped on her shoulder.
"And it's very—oh, hi Delphine!" Cosima greeted, pushing herself off her seat to kiss Delphine on the cheek. The blonde smiled a bit before turning to the boy. "Oh, this is—" Cosima said, gesturing to him, "Scott. He's a representative from the school next town and we were just talking about cloning," Cosima explained excitedly. The boy—Scott, apparently, but not that Delphine cared—grinned. "Scott, this is my best friend, Delphine," Cosima introduced casually.
Delphine had been used to that introduction for so long that she was surprised by the pang of hurt that surged through her chest. She forced her smile to stay though and waved a small 'hi' before straightening back up. "I'm going to go, you look a bit busy. I'll wait for you in the car," she told Cosima before walking away. Cosima stared at her retreating form in confusion before Scott distracted her into more talks of epigenetics and the possibility of human cloning.
"You're overreacting, you know that right?" Quinn muttered, rolling her eyes. Rachel swatted her shoulder and turned to Delphine with a small smile. "You're jealous, Delphine. It's—"
"I am not jealous," Delphine muttered and slammed her fingers on the piano keys. She winced at the loud sound before sighing and randomly playing notes once again. "It's just… I haven't seen her for the whole day and she didn't even looked excited to see me."
"Yeah, pretty sure you're jealous," Quinn drawled. Rachel sighed softly and was about to say something when her phone beeped.
"It's Cosima," she announced as she typed a reply. "She's looking for you." Delphine didn't reply, just focused on her playing, and Rachel motioned for her and Quinn to sneak out while the blonde wasn't looking. Quinn grinned and grabbed Rachel out the door quietly. They waited for Cosima, still clad in her formal attire she used for the fair, walk to the choir room. Before she could even ask, Rachel bobbed her head to the direction of the room. As soon as Cosima was inside, Quinn shut the door.
"Q?" Cosima heard Delphine call out. She saw Delphine from behind the piano. "Oh. Cosima," she said dryly.
"You told me you'd be in your car. I tried calling you but…" Cosima shook her hand as if to say nothing. Delphine just sat back down and shrugged.
"Thought you'd be too busy with Scott to notice," she muttered in reply. Cosima furrowed her eyebrows as she walked closer to Delphine until she stood beside her.
"Scott?" Cosima asked in confusion. Delphine barely nodded. A few moments of silence passed before Cosima relaxed her features and she chuckled. "You're jealous of Scott," she stated simply.
"I am not! Why does everybody think that?" Delphine almost shrieked.
"You act like you're jealous," Cosima reasoned. She sat down beside Delphine and took one of her hands in hers. "Don't be. He was… A colleague, that's all." Delphine let out a long sigh and laced their fingers together.
"I know. I just… I can't help it. I don't see you for like, a whole day, and then you don't even look happy to see me," Delphine murmured. Cosima smiled widely and cupped Delphine's face to turn her to face her. She leaned forward to press a soft but lingering kiss on her lips before pulling away, but still close enough for their lips to touch and their breaths to mingle.
"I did miss you though," Cosima whispered. It was though as it was enough to appease Delphine and she pecked Cosima's lips again.
"I missed you too."
Cosima smiled, even wider if possible, and squeezed the hand she held. She looked up at Delphine, as if studying her for a while, and then bit her lip. It was the face that basically said she was thinking and weighing her options. Delphine smiled in amusement and kissed her nose.
"What are you thinking?" She asked, breaking the silence. Cosima quirked up the corner of her lips before shrugging and looking away. Delphine let her, even if she was genuinely curious. Cosima turned back to her again, her eyes shiny with determination.
"I was just…wondering," she began. Delphine waited for the continuation but it never came. Cosima just stared at her, biting her lower lip nervously.
"Wondering…what?" Delphine prompted. Cosima sighed deeply and winced. She waited a few more moments before speaking again.
"Wondering. If you… You know, want to be, um… If you want to bemygirlfriend? I know it's too soon and—" Cosima stopped abruptly at Delphine's reaction. The blonde stared at her in confusion, and then in shock, which then formed into elation as she nodded twice.
"Of course."
Cosima grinned widely and pulled Delphine into another kiss before they heard a groan and a loud exclamation of victory from outside the door. Delphine sighed and Cosima chuckled as she tugged her now-girlfriend up and to the door. They open it to see Rachel doing some sort of victory dance and Quinn shaking her head.
"Ha! I win. I told you it'd be Cosima," Rachel exclaimed with a grin. The pink-haired girl and the brunette noticed the two. Rachel beamed. Quinn just stared at the couple in disbelief before glaring at Delphine.
"I had faith in you, man," she almost whined. Delphine just shrugged while Cosima looked rather amused. Quinn motioned for them to leave. They closed the choir room door before walking their way to the parking lot. Delphine hesitantly took Cosima's hand in hers and the latter squeezed the hand she held to tell her it was okay. Quinn, albeit a bit annoyed at her loss, had her hand on the small of Rachel's back.
"You took bets," Cosima drawled. Rachel nodded enthusiastically. "You… You're not even together together and you took bets on us." Rachel chuckled while Quinn finally smiled.
"Oh merde," Delphine said with a grin. She turned to Quinn and flicked her hair. "You finally had the guts, Q?"
"Oh shut up. You didn't; Cosima did."
"She just did it first."
"Still doesn't count."
"So… When?"
"Last Monday."
"When I asked you?"
Quinn nodded. Delphine turned to her friend's now-girlfriend.
"Rachel, you should definitely thank me."
"Shut up, Delphaba," Quinn muttered.
"You love me, Q."
"Shut up, both of you."
"Love you too, Rach."
"Ehem."
"And I love you, Cos."
"Whipped."
"Shut up, Quinn."
(Cosima just rolled her eyes and kissed Delphine just as they got to their car. It was enough to make Delphine effectively shut up for a few minutes.)
The rest of junior year went by in a blur. Aside from random hang-outs labeled as dates, countless stolen kisses (and make-out sessions but they would always deny it) and declarations of love, lovesick gazes, prolonged hand-holding or cuddles, and the incessant reminders from Delphine's parents and Cosima's guardians to 'not try anything funny,' not much really has changed between the two girls (although those were a lot of changes in just a few months). The good thing was no one really bugged them about the next step in their relationship.
Well, except their friends.
("You really need to get laid, Cosima," Mike had muttered one time during Science Club.
"No, I do not!" The girl had shrieked in reply. Suffice to say no one brought it up. Ever.)
Junior prom had been okay. Delphine didn't really like to socialize, especially at nights when she could have been sleeping, but her parents and Cosima insisted. The blonde wore a black cocktail dress and maroon high heels, not that she needed any additional height, while Cosima wore maroon dress and black pumps. The night had been romantic; they danced all night, almost not giving up each other to anyone else who wanted to dance with either of them. Delphine had whispered sweet nothings to Cosima's ear all night ("There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word") and to anyone who could have been watching, one would expect that they would lose each their virginities to each other, like all clichés go. But they didn't. They respected each other's space. It was perfect, if they were honest; they were both comfortable with each other and so were others to them.
They didn't have the perfect relationship though, and they appreciated that. They loved bickering and teasing each other, sometimes to the point where they would have arguments even with the pettiest of things, but it was okay in the end, because the rule was to never sleep until they had made up.
(Making-up involved making out and their friends were pretty sure they were arguing on purpose.)
Delphine never joined Science Club, even with Cosima's constant pleading (with puppy eyes and pouts and if she was really playing dirty, kisses). Senior year came and went smoothly—or as smooth as it goes—with minor hitches on their relationship. There was that one time during the end-of-the-summer party at Quinn's before senior year which found Delphine and Cosima wasted and bordering the line to second base. It was a funny incident, if only either of them could have remembered: Delphine was pulling her shirt away only to be stuck on her head, and they ended up giggling and laughing and then just talking about what their last year in high school entailed until they passed out on Quinn's guest room's bed.
Or that second Science Fair that their high school once again hosted. Cosima made sure to stay away from Scott, although she had to admit that Delphine was pretty hot when she was jealous—even more so that usual, anyway. Scott had just taken a turn to the creepier. The day of the Science Fair ended with Delphine surprising Cosima with a bouquet of congratulatory flowers and then taking her to Maniac's for their anniversary. Because they both loved Maniac Evening and it was a memorable place. Also so Cosima could force Delphine to recite her another poem, because she loved it when she did; not that Delphine needed to be told to. She'd find words and sing them to Cosima if the girl asked.
(Whipped, as Quinn would have said. Not that the pink-haired girl was any different when it came to Rachel.)
Delphine had taken the stage with little hesitation. She smirked at Cosima and greeted her a happy anniversary—to which the crowd had gone wild; everyone seemed to be a romantic there—and began to recite a poem that she shouldn't have really recited in public.
"I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair. Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets," she started, and through the faint light on the back where they sat, she could see Cosima blush.
That night was their first time, too. It was, lightly put, awkward but sweet and romantic as first times could go. Good thing that it fell on a Friday because they were pretty sore the next day—not because of a marathon or something but because they had spent the night curiously exploring and marking each other's bodies.
(Sarah would kill Delphine if she found out about Cosima.)
The day after was memorable as well. Delphine had woken up Cosima with soft kisses to her ear and her jaw, singing a song so softly Cosima could barely understand.
"Je me fous du monde entier," Delphine murmured against her ear as she pulled the girl close. Cosima was not quite sure she was awake then until she felt Delphine's hands intertwine with hers. "Tant qu'l'amour inond'ra mes matins… Tant que mon corps frémira sous tes mains..."
Cosima had asked what the words meant but Delphine just smiled sheepishly before kissing Cosima on her lips, whispering those three words she would never get tired of hearing.
"I love you."
A few months before graduation, just as the deadline for application for colleges were nearing, the two got into a pretty major fight—because Cosima wanted to go to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus and Delphine wanted to, too. Naturally, Cosima had told her girlfriend that she didn't have to follow her to college. Delphine had gotten into Yale, anyway, along with Quinn, but Delphine insisted that it wasn't only because of Cosima. It ended up with screaming and blaming until Cosima had just pinned Delphine into the wall and kissed her hungrily, desperately, as if conveying into the kiss her frustration with the girl—or woman, perhaps, since they were both 18 then. It led to some angsty sex, and then sweet make-up sex, until the two had just passed out on the bed with exhaustion.
They did talk about it the next morning though, after Delphine had woken Cosima up the same way she had during the morning after their first time: with soft, feather-like kisses and spoken words than lulled Cosima gently back to consciousness.
"I like what it does, I like its hows. I like to feel the spine of your body and its bones, and the trembling-firm-smooth ness and which I will…" Delphine wrapped her arms around Cosima's waist, pulled her close, and sighed. "Again and again and again kiss. I like kissing this and that of you."
They had laid in silence after Delphine's words had echoed pass her bedroom walls ("I like the thrill of under me you so quite new") until the blonde broke the silence. "They have a pretty decent Biomedical Science course," she explained. "I can take extra credits for English Literature… While you do your thing at Biology. Besides, moving to New Haven would defeat the purpose as to why we moved here to Minnesota in the first place." Cosima just chuckled and nodded, their fight the day before forgotten. They found it okay that way. As long as neither of them kept anything to each other, as long as shared stories and secrets and everything in between, they were okay.
They were best friends first and foremost, after all.
High school graduation was more fun than Delphine would like to admit. Or at least, the graduation ball was. Someone had spiked the punch (Cosima was pretty sure it was someone from the football team; Delphine guessed it was one of the cheerleaders) and everyone had loosened up to the point that the girls had forgotten they were wearing five-inch heels and dresses that could be sold to buy a small island in the Pacific, and the boys could remotely care about the designer watches they were wearing (parents did tend to spoil their children, at least at one point in their lives). Everyone danced and sang; they were free from high school that night, technically. Delphine and Cosima had run off giggling, both slightly tipsy, to Delphine's car. They drove off around town, as slowly as the blonde could without crashing their car, and ended up in a tattoo shop. There was a small voice in Cosima's head that screamed no don't do it but well, they did. They ended up at Delphine's house sometime in the morning. They only realize later on what tattoo they got: Delphine had a blue single-strand DNA on her right inner wrist, while Cosima had a red single-strand on her left inner wrist.
It was something they will probably regret soon, when they had broken up sometime in the future, but none of them thought of that. Instead, they thought of how to tell their parents and guardians. They thought of college, of how they would survive with flying colors but still have time for each other. They thought of how they would spend the holidays. They thought of ways to make their college lives a memorable one, just like their high school had been, even if it was filled with events and situations that had been scary or awkward or embarrassing.
Or feelings that most people believe would have been fleeting. Because high school romances never last most of the time. They were the exception, apparently. Or not.
Because they were best friends, first and foremost.
They didn't end up regretting their drunken decision to get tattoos because years later, two years after Cosima had graduated her doctorate in evolutionary development and three months after Delphine had won her Lifetime Achievement Award for Immunology, they decided to get married.
Cosima had requested for them to spend a week back home. On a Thursday, she had invited Delphine with her to Maniac Evenings. Delphine had almost expected for Cosima to tell her to recite something for the sake of old times. The surprise was on her though when her dreadlocked girlfriend took the stage. The brunette waved bashfully at the shocked woman and proceeded to deliver her words. Delphine was captivated—like she always was when Cosima spoke, but it was different this time.
"Camerado, I give you my hand," Cosima uttered, her voice soft and raw with emotions as her eyes bore on Delphine's. "I give you my love more precious than money, I give you myself before preaching or law; Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me?" Cosima smiled shakily while Delphine continued to look at her as if she was seeing her for the first time. "Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?"
Delphine expected the applause to follow but the room was met with silence. She was surprised, really; she thought the delivery was magnificent. Not only because she was biased but because she thought that way. Her surprise turned into something deeper, however, when Cosima walked back up to their table, took a red velvet box from her pocket, and blurted out "Marry me." The blonde was taken back to years ago, the day she 'proposed' for Cosima to be her laboratory partner, and through her tears, shot back, "So you're finally asking my hand in marriage, hm?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I am," Cosima mumbled, her voice audibly trembling.
Delphine chuckled and tilted her head in amusement. "I could tell you you're being demanding, but we both know I'll say yes anyway."
Maniac Evening was the home for the romantics, alright.
(Their tattoos were matched with white gold wedding rings shaped into DNA strands. Ever the nerds and the geeks.)
END
References:
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz
"Sonnet XVII" by Pablo Neruda
For the wood wakes, and you are here for proof.
"Dream Pang" by Robert Frost
Within which lover's laughter can the likes of you be found?
"Amalthea, the Unicorn" by Gene Dixon
Can you feel me falling into you as you leak into me
"Typewriter Series #471" by Tyler Knott Gregson
Little pieces near the heart shared in quiet here
"Dim Sum" by Sharron R. McMillan
And these are the moments I thank god that I'm alive
"I Could Not Ask for More" by Edwin McCain
There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word
"A Glimpse" by Walt Whitman
I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair. Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets
"I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair" by Pablo Neruda
Je me fous du monde entier
"L'hymne à L'amour" by Edith Piaf
I like what it does, I like its hows
"i like my body when it is with your" by e.e. cummings
Camerado, I give you my hand
"Song of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman