I love you guys… Fiercely…*kisses*

Present

"It's lunch with Marissa. What's your problem? Just go inside, sit down, and pretend like nothing happened." Bianca had been standing outside Krystal's for 10 minutes now contemplating whether or not to go in. Why was it so hard? It every time she even attempted to go near the door, something stopped her. Maybe it was fear or guilt. Maybe it was shame. Or maybe it was something different all together.

/

"Where is she?" Marissa thought to herself, looking down at her watch for the forth time this afternoon. She had been staring at intently at Krystal's menu really for no purpose at all but to pass time. She certainly knew everything that on it seeing the redhead had been there so many times. She knew what she was going to order: a burger and fries with chili on the side. But for some reason, she thought staring at the menu would help her stall till Bianca showed up. It wasn't working at the least; in fact, Marissa had become even more irritated. It probably was her just her nerves. Bianca was only 10 minutes late. Or maybe it was just her impatience kicking in. The redhead blew out a tiny puff of air then closed her eyes, growing sick of the menu.

Last Night

"Hey, no more work. No more files, no more of this, stuff," Marissa said lifting up a tan folder and making a face.

Bianca laughed. She loved those faces. Marissa had no idea how cute looked when she made them.

"You're coming with me tonight."

"I have so much stuff to-"

"Not do till tomorrow, come on, please." Marissa batted her eyelashes, showing off her best puppy dog face. Bianca giggled at how persistent the woman was.

"I can't, I'm sorry."

The shorter one bowed her head in a mock misery, letting out a low whine. Bianca almost burst into laughter when Marissa's face reappeared with a stretched, melodramatic frown.

"Okay, but just so you know, you're breaking my heart."

Bianca maneuvered from behind her desk and walked toward the redhead.

"I'm sorry." She giggled, pulling the petite lady into a tight embrace. "I just really have to finish this work." They separated slowly as Marissa turned to leave.

"I still wanna hang out with you," the redhead sighed turning around to catch a glimpse of Bianca once more.

"I wanna hang out with you too, but -"

"I know, work."

Bianca thought for a second, feeling a little saddened by her friend's departure.

"Uh wait Marissa."

"Hmhm?" the redhead hummed, turning around quickly.

"Why don't you just stay here…"

Present

Bianca straightened herself out, plastering a smile on before she entered. The last thing she needed was Marissa to see how nervous she was.

"Hey you." The chatter in the restaurant came to a sudden stop as she spoke, almost like fate himself wanted Marissa to hear. The redhead opened her eyes and turned to the brunette. She was beautiful as always. It was the type of beauty that made you stop and stare for a moment.

"Hi." The redhead's voice was cracking a little as she waved the taller woman over.

Bianca obliged her invitation not really feeling she had a choice on the matter. "So did you order already or- "

"Bianca," Marissa interrupted sensing how nervous the brunette was. It was obvious she would have to address the problem.

"We have to talk about last night."

"I know, we will…eventually talk about it."

Marissa giggled a bit at how fidgety the brunette was; she could understand why, but it still was really comforting to know she wasn't in this alone. What had happened last night was something neither of them expected. And for Marissa, how she felt after it surprised her even more.

"I think we kinda have to talk about it now."

"What's there to talk about? We went to your hotel, we watched a movie, we went to sleep. Story over."

"Um I think you're missing a little bit in between.

Bianca finally looked up at Marissa, seeing her amused countenance.

"You think is funny don't you," She laughed a little at herself. This was Marissa, this was her best friend. What was she nervous about?

"Yeah a little bit," The redhead laughed, moving a strand of hair from Bianca's face. The warmth of her hand caught the brunette by surprise causing her to shiver at contact. Marissa seemed not to notice and simply began talking again. "I just wanted to say that last night was-"

"A mistake," Bianca sighed pretty sure of what Marissa would say next.

"A-"

"Very big mistake. We were both kind of out of it that night and I don't know why I did that-"

"Kissed me?"

"Yeah, that. You are my friend and that's all I want-"

"But I kissed you bac-"

"I'm sorry about what happened. I just hope we can put it behind us and forget it ever happened." Bianca was just babbling now, desperately trying to drop this topic as quickly as possible.

Marissa frowned slightly, adverting her eyes from the brunette. It was obvious Bianca regretted last night, but Marissa didn't. Yeah, it scared her having this feeling; this attraction toward her best friend, but what scared her even more was the thought that she was in this thing alone. That Bianca didn't feel what she did. So the only thing the lawyer could do was run. Run away from every feeling, every emotion, and for once, think her way out of this. Find the logic in the turmoil of emotions. It was either that or get hurt again. It was either that or do what she had done so many times with JR; love someone who didn't love her back.

"Yeah…yeah, you're right. I, I couldn't agree more. It was a… a huge mistake."

Bianca felt her heart break a little. It wasn't that she expected anything; she knew Marissa was straight from the beginning. She knew how this whole dance and twirl went and she knew that it usually ended with her heart being shattered into a million pieces. No if anything she wouldn't go through this heartbreak again. Bianca would rather be pushed off a cliff, a second time, than go through that horrible misery.

Last night

"You know what I don't get…"

"No, tell me," the brunette yawned

"Why you just didn't come with me in the first place, instead of making me beg you?"

" Cause, I didn't want you to think I was easy," Bianca laughed eyeing the redhead humorously who smiled broadly back. "Plus, I actually did have work to do at the Miranda Center."

"You didn't do anything-"

"Yeah that's because you are a huge distraction."

"Am I?" Marissa giggled, feigning a look of innocence.

Bianca laughed at how flirty this conversation had become. Was she the only one who noticed?

"Where are we going anyway?" she said changing the subject.

"It's a surprise!"

"How am I supposed to drive if I don't know where we're going?"

"I told you to let me drive." Marissa retorted, smiling at the frustrated brunette.

"Not in my car and you didn't bring yours. I mean who walks 4 blocks when they have a lexus in the driveway."

"I don't like that car-"

"I know but still."

"JR bought me that car…" Marissa glared in silence for a moment, then turned and spoke again. "Anyway I don't mind walking 4 blocks. Wait, what do you mean 'Not in your car'?"

Bianca laughed loudly, trying hard not to take her eyes from the road. "YOU, Marissa, ARE THE WORST DRIVER EVER."

"No I'm not."

"Yeah, you are."

The redhead pouted , reclining back in the passenger seat.

"Okay whatever. Have it your way. I will just tell you the directions."

/

The hallway had become replete with laughter as the two women wobbled up to the hotel room, stopping every few seconds to hold their aching stomachs.

"Karaoke, wow, Marissa. Thank you. I needed that."

"Anytime." The redhead sighed pulling out her keycard. "Just promise me that it won't be long till we do this again."

"I promise." vowed the brunette trying to catch her breath. "Alright, well, I'll see you tommor-"

"Woah, wait!" Marissa said, gently tugging Bianca back to the entrance of the door, "where are you going?"

"Home?" Bianca cocked one eyebrow confused.

"No, no, no. You're staying here with me tonight."

The taller one's eye squinted a bit. What was Marissa saying?

"I mean," a blush engulfed the redhead's face, "I mean you said that the girls are staying at Kendall's for the night, right?"

"Ummhmm,"

"And AJ is with JR for the weekend so I just thought that we could hang out tonight.

"You wanna have a slumber party?" Bianca giggled at the awkwardness of the moment.

"Well, not as juvenile as you put it. I mean, we'll only braid each other's hair if you want to." Marissa laughed lightly.

"Okay."

"Okay? Just okay…You're not gonna fight me on this, not gonna tell me how much work you have to do…Nothing?

"Well I do have a lot of work now that you mentioned-"

"No! no"

"Okay then, let's get this sleepover started." Bianca cheered, walking into Marissa's room. She wasn't worried. What could go wrong?