Serena sighed walking into the hospital, weaving her way through the coffee shop, legs carrying her as if on autopilot. After yet another long and stressful week she was bloody looking forward to a night alone, just her, a hot bubble bath and at least 1 bottle of expensive Shiraz. She had shamelessly bribed Alan into taking Jason for 2 nights and she was more than ready for complete indulgence on her part.
As she waited for her coffee she absentmindedly thought back to the events of the past month- as she had done a hundred times before now – body aching with the emotion of it all. Of course it had all centred around a certain blonde woman...
Best friends one minute, mouths colliding the next, the kiss had been... well frankly... astounding. Tension, anxiety, another searing moment of heartfelt warmth and passion that made her flutter with happiness, and finally that moment of abandonment.
Bernie had left, or more precisely, ran, apparently needing space to process the increasing pull between them-
Being pulled from her thoughts suddenly, she took the coffee with a grateful nod and stepped onto the lift, trying to occupy her mind with anything but the last memory of them alone in a lift together. A month of being lost in her feelings and grieving for the loss of her best friend had taken its toll and she was only just starting to piece herself back together. 2 weeks she had told herself repeatedly this week... she had 2 weeks to prepare for the onslaught of Bernie's return. Over the days of her absence it had become slightly easier to carry on with daily life, forcing herself to squash the almost heartbreaking emotions weighing her down but the one thing that was simply impossible was stopping her busy thoughts...
She had been thinking of Bernie almost constantly. The hospital suddenly seemed full of details her brain would automatically link to her. A spilled coffee in the corridor (Bernie was always so messy), a glimpse of khaki worn by a stranger (God how Bernie had looked in that colour), a scribble on a post it pinned to the noticeboard (Bernie had always been anal-retentive with that – when she thought no one was looking of course – and her doodling skills...) STOP!
Serena shook her head a little, ignoring the curious glances of people around her. Godammit she had recently trained her brain to just about stop thinking of Bernie. The fact she was going to see her soon did not mean the anticipation had to make her hands shake a little with every step!
Damn feelings she thought as the lift pinged open, just leave me alone already. Corridor, doors to AAU. Familiar territory. You've done your damage now let me become the withered cat lady I was always meant to-
…
…
She froze, breath catching in her throat as every thought simply vanished.
Her eyes caught the unmistakable head of unruly blonde hair, her eyes following the figure now resting against the nurses station.
Suddenly sensing a familiar pull, the woman in question frowned and turned, brown eyes meeting hazel as Raf shot them both an awkward glance.
2 weeks? Apparently fate had other ideas...