title; absence (honey & lemon)
summary; she moves a step too fast and she slips, and he can't catch her, she isn't there. — bluesey
word count; 488
it is a quiet summer evening when she seats herself next to richard gansey iii on the porch swing, fingers clutching a glass of too - warm water.
he doesn't look at her right away (no). blue swallows; fingers trembling slightly.
'how come you didn't tell me, jane.' it is not a question. it is a statement. it is an accusation. (his voice is soft but unflinching.)
she shifts awkwardly. 'i was planning on it, i just ... i've been packing, and," she laughs a little meekly; hoping to lighten the conversation.
'so you were just going to pack and say oh, by the way, i'm leaving now? jane, who does that? do you know how hurt noah would have been?'
blue curled her right hand into a fist, pushing it into her thigh. 'i know. it was short notice. i was on their waiting list, and they contacted me like a week ago. not a big, um, window of time.' he finally looks up, meets her gaze.
'you didn't even tell me you were applying,' he says lowly.
and with a start, blue realizes gansey is hurt. she turns away, biting her lip.
'i'm sorry,' she finally mutters, picking stubbornly at some stray lint on her Very Yellow Sweater.
he sighs. 'i would say it's alright, you know, except it's really not. if you had —' he stops, and blue can almost hear his throat physically catch. his eyes are very narrow (like he's trying not to cry).
she slides closer to him and places her palm over his calloused hand and cautiously lays her head into the crook of his neck. he relaxes.
'you smell like lemon dishsoap,' he comments.
she snorts. 'you like it, i can hear it in your voice.' he smiles comfortably as blue gathers her feet under her.
'i'll make sure to wear all the time when we move in together,' she quips.
he looks down at her. 'move in together?' he asks quietly.
she feels her cheeks heat up at the husky, warm tone he uses. 'i was joking.' for the love of — this boy sure enjoyed testing her convictions.
'hm.'
he leans closer and presses his lips to hers. she stiffens, but the soothing stroke of his thumb against her knee calms her hammering pulse. she opens her own mouth, welcoming him.
he tastes like honey, and familiarity, and everything good and right.
'hey, when does class let out?'
'oh, class was cancelled for today.'
'great! i picked up some italian, i'm coming over to your place.'
she lifts an eyebrow that gansey can't see. 'are jackasses one, two and three coming along?'
'always,' gansey says, laughing.
she hangs up the phone with a full heart.
additional notes; i just love bluesey ok ?
edited dec. 22, 2017