"In 1936 the world attended the Olympics in Germany. Few participants said a word about Hitler's campaign against the Jews. Supporters of that decision point proudly to the triumph of Jesse Owens, while I point with dread to the Holocaust and world war. There is a price for tolerating intolerance." – Harvey Fierstein
It's a sweltering, exhausting summer's evening in Texas when Liam decides that his latest girlfriend, the one that's lasted longer than a month, should meet his close friend visiting from God knows where.
She blasts the air conditioning on high and closes her eyes. She smiles as the sun beats down on her skin and imagines she can taste, she can smell the summer warmth as she inhales.
"Amy's getting married soon pretty soon. I went to her engagement party last week in Russia. She's coming over for a few weeks to get away, I think. Her mom's pretty annoying, especially with all this wedding planning."
"How long have you guys known each other?"
"Years. Her parents are friends with mine. I think they wanted us to get together but we're cool." He turns to face her. "We're just friends, y'know?"
"Well, she is getting married to somebody else, right?" He laughs.
"Yeah, yeah, she is. We met in England when we were kids." She looks at him and takes in his jaw line, his soft skin, his dark hair and smiles. He's a nice guy. One day she will fall in love with him, even if it takes her years to do so.
"Do you miss it?"
"Miss what? England? Sometimes. It's very different, y'know? But I like it here. I can't wait to show Amy what it's like." He pulls up at some fancy looking building. This is life when you come from money, she's learning.
She squirms, pulls on her sleeves and brushes a hand through her red locks. The heat seeps all of the moisture out of her skin until she's sweating within minutes of stepping out of the car. Her stomach lands at her feet now that they've arrived. This world, his world is so different from her own, homely one.
She doesn't know how, she doesn't know if she could fit in but she'll try. Her father asked her to and she never wants to let him down.
Liam reaches for her hand and she wants to pull it away, to wipe the moisture from her skin but he keeps a hold and walks off towards the house of a thousand rooms. She rolls her eyes and prays she won't get lost in this labyrinth of a home.
If Amy's never even been to Texas, how does she even own it? That's the thought running through her mind when they wait at the door for somebody to answer. Or does her family? Perhaps they'll have a British butler, too and Liam can bond with him about home and how crappy the weather is there.
And besides, if they don't even own it, why would they rent such a big place for a few weeks? It seems like a waste of money to her but sure enough, a butler appears at the door.
Oh, how the other half live.
She wouldn't know. She's never left this southern town that's something akin to hell. That's the one thing about Liam, she knows at some point, he'll take her somewhere. He'll take her away from gossiping old women that judge and judge and judge and the oppressive heat that chokes you more and more each year. And she will learn to love such a funny, caring guy.
She has to.
"Hello, Geoffrey."
"Good afternoon, Liam." And sure enough, he's British.
"This is Karma. We're here to see Amy."
"Of course, of course. Follow me. She's just in the living room." And so they do. They follow and Karma tries to take everything in but it's all too much. The richly painted walls, the expensive looking vases and pictures, the large chandeliers that pop up in some rooms she gets a glimpse of.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine." She squeezes his hand and smiles to reassure him. He smiles back and continues following.
"Amy." He let's go of Karma's hand and opens his arms wide. She sees nothing but a mess of blonde hair poking out over Liam's shoulder until Liam steps aside.
"Amy, this is Karma. Karma, this is Amy." For a few moments, they stand there, taking each other in. Karma notices the strong jaw, the vibrant green eyes that make her think of travelling and the world and the exotic. She's never seen anything like it. Amy's exquisite and Liam is a fool for not wanting her, she thinks.
Similarly, Amy stands there, shocked for a few moments. Liam usually goes for the blonde, money-grabbing kind of girl to get his kicks with for a little while. Not this, not this beauty. This beauty that has her hand extended towards Amy.
"It's nice to meet you," Karma says, shaking Amy's hand. Amy pulls her close and inhales the musky smell of outside, of Texas, of nature which smells so good on her.
"A friend of Liam's is a friend of mine," she says, reluctantly letting the little Red beauty go after kissing Karma on each side of her face. When she pulls away, she notices a slight red hue on Karma's cheeks and throws a smirk in her direction until Amy's knees go weak.
The way Karma looks up from under her eyelashes, the slight blush that could be from embarrassment or from another, much more physical source creates a dull ache that pulses between her thighs. She turns away to sit down and compose herself for a moment. She should not be thinking of Liam's girlfriend like that. Hell, she shouldn't be thinking of girls like that in general. Her parents, her family would kill her if they knew.
They sit next to each other with adequate distance between them. Liam sits on a chair to Karma's left.
"So, I hear a congratulations are in order."
"Well, it's either a congratulations or an apology." Karma frowns and Liam smirks.
"Excuse me?"
"What Amy means is, it's either a good thing she's getting married or a very bad thing. Not the best time to make jokes, eh?" Liam winks at Amy. They all laugh, Karma not very believably before Amy clears her throat.
"So, what're you doing this evening?" Karma turns her head towards the girl to listen discreetly to Liam and Amy's conversation. Karma loves the slight Russian lilt to her words, the way her voice seems so regal and strong and decisive.
"Well, me and Karma are going to dinner in a few hours or so," he says after looking at his much too expensive watch. "You're welcome to join us."
"Oh, I don't want to impose or anything."
"You won't be. Will she, Karma?"
"Of course not. As Liam said, you're welcome to join us." Karma smiles and Amy has the distinct urge to lick and kiss and taste the dimple in her cheek, her smile. Amy smiles back and nods her head in agreement. She needs a few moments to compose herself, to lock away the thoughts this firecracker conjures up.
"So, how's Shane?"
"He's good," Amy says, nodding her head.
"Shane's the groom, the lucky man."
"Oh."
"He's busy working, I think. Mama's busy with the wedding and I'm here, trying to escape." Again, they all laugh but Karma wonders how happy this marriage will be if Amy's jokes are any indication. Shouldn't she be excited, be planning along with her mother? Shouldn't she have butterflies in her stomach at the thought of marrying the love of her life, butterflies reminiscent of the ones in Karma's stomach now as Amy smiles at her? Karma's never seen such a soft, vivid hue of green. She's just blindsided by a kind of beauty she's never seen before, that's why her hands are sweaty, that's why her eyes can't stop soaking in Amy's form.
At least, that's what she tells herself.
She's no stranger to admitting the objective beauty of men and women alike. There's no denying how handsome and beautiful Liam is but she's never felt attraction, never felt the need for another person and at 25, she's stopped believe in love at first sight. Hell, she only just about believes in lust at first sight, even if, realistically, she could be feeling it right now.
But that's the thing about feelings, they're so subjective and so Karma takes a deep breath and tries to join in the conversation for the rest of the night, the conversation that doesn't register because Karma's never seen flesh quite so soft, quite so perfect looking.
She's at the restaurant, quietly listening to Amy and Liam catch up and trying not to think about how beautiful Amy's body is. Or that smirk, that smirk that's so sexy and so objectively attractive that Karma knows she's not attracted to her, right? She's just human.
"So, little one. What do you do?" Amy asks after Liam has excused himself to take a phone call. Karma jumps and tries to formulate a response as Amy looks across the table at her.
"I'm a-Wait. Little one? I'm not little, I'm perfect." Amy smirks behind the wine glass and winks at her.
"Perfect?" She looks Karma up and down. "That you are. Now you didn't answer my question." Karma blushes under the look Amy gives her. The one with the eyebrow raised, the head tilted and a lip quirked. She wants to touch those lips, to feel the softness of Amy all over her. Her brain short circuits for a moment before she chases the thoughts away.
"Teacher," she shouts a little too loud, a little too high pitched to hide her nervousness. "I mean, I'm a teacher. I teach people-I mean children."
"Hmm, that's usually what teachers do, no? You like it?"
"It's good-It's nice. Especially when you get to see little children light up when they learn something." Light up like Karma does now. Amy tilts her head a little more and the smirk turns to a smile. She places the wineglass down.
"So it's your passion? To teach, I mean?" Her eyes lock intently onto Karma and Karma squirms under the attention.
"Not really. I mean, kind of?" Amy frowns. "Music is my passion, that's what I love to do the most but I love teaching, too." She shrugs and Amy nods her head.
"Music? Do you sing?"
"Yeah. I play a couple instruments, too." Karma looks down and tries not to blush. She wipes her hands, discreetly on her floral skirt.
"So why not do that? Why teach?"
"Because." Karma shrugs.
"Because?"
"Because I teach, that's what I do."
"Can I hear you sing sometime?"
"Maybe." Karma smirks. "Depends."
"On?"
"If you make it worth my while." Karma freezes, only just realising how that sounds. "I mean-I, er—"
"What are you guys talking about?" They both jump as Liam re-joins them at the table, sitting to the side of them both.
"Teaching," Karma says, throwing Amy a look. Amy quirks an eyebrow in response and takes a sip of her drink.
Karma berates herself for sharing her musical inclination with Amy. She usually doesn't like people knowing and certainly doesn't want Liam, too. She knows he'll ask her to play and that's something she doesn't want. Hardly anyone knows that she can sing, that she can play guitar and a myriad of other instruments. Not even her parents, her parents who paid for her lessons but where much too busy for her, knew.
Liam frowns.
"Oh."
"Yeah, I was just asking what Karma does."
"And what do you do?" Karma asks.
"Well Amy here's recently opened a company back in Russia. You're planning on moving it here, right?" Karma frowns at Liam and wonders why he keeps answering on behalf of Amy.
"Yes." Amy turns and tries to give Liam her full attention but fails. Karma is in her peripheral vision and she can't help but watch the way she brushes her hair back behind her ear, the way she keeps throwing looks Amy's way, the way her lips caress the wine glass and Amy wishes, wishes she could feel Karma's mouth on her own. "Shane wants to move back here and it'll be better for my company."
"Of course, of course. Are you excited?"
"About the future? Yes, there's a lot going on."
"Yeah, I suppose there is with the wedding and all." She nods her head.
"So, Karma, how do you feel about Tennis?" she asks.
"I'm er-I'm not much of a sports person."
"Me, Amy and a mutual friend are going to play a few games tomorrow." He places his elbows on the table and Karma tries not to show her annoyance. "Do you want to join us so we can have even teams? You and Amy can play against each other. She's an amazing player, the next Maria Sharapova." Amy bows her head. "She can teach you a thing or two." She scoffs and Karma looks at her.
"I'm sure you can, Princess but won't it be boring for you? I'm really, really bad at sport." Amy shrugs.
"I'm sure I could teach you something." She winks and Liam doesn't notice, he's watching Karma. Karma who's trying – and failing – not to squirm and blush. Liam frowns and turns to Amy with a questioning look on his face. She shrugs and nods her head in Karma's direction. "It'll be fun, I promise."
"Yeah, it'll be fun. C'mon, Karms." Amy smiles and Karma can't resist those green eyes and so she nods and accepts her fate. Tomorrow, she'll be playing tennis and embarrassing herself in front of a beautiful, exotic creation of a woman.
"Great," she says, rising from her chair. "So, I should get some beauty sleep." Karma scoffs, Amy smirks. "I'll see you both in the morning."
"We'll see you in the morning," Liam says, rising and hugging her. She walks around to Karma and pulls her close, kissing both cheeks and coming dangerously close to the edge of her lips.
"I'll see you soon, sweet girl," she whispers. Karma looks down, hiding a small smile.
"I'll see you tomorrow. It was nice meeting you, Amy."
"The pleasure was all mine." She squeezes Karma's hand as she walks past.
"So, should we head home?" Liam asks.
"Sure." They both walk out and Karma looks around for Amy, failing to see her. Liam keeps her hand locked in his and she wants to pull it away, her flesh itches to do so but she doesn't and he doesn't let go.
Even in the car, he keeps touching some part of her as often as he can and she knows what's coming, or rather who's going to be coming by the end of the night and she wish she could leave, could tell him no and walk away but he's too nice and she needs him. She needs him to make her happy, to make her not so objective feelings towards women fade away.
Her parents, her mother would hate her. She can't do it to them, can't bring herself to hurt them all she has to do is get over it, get over these physical urges she has for a woman she's only just met. If she's never been attracted to another female in 25 years then it's just a fluke, right? Never mind the fact she's never really been attracted to anyone in her 25 years of existence.
That's how she ends up on her back with Liam on top of her, plunging in and out of her with her thoughts on Amy. Amy, Liam's close friend that turns Karma on more than anyone else ever has and she doesn't even know her, not really.
But that doesn't stop Karma, doesn't stop Karma from imagining it's Amy above her and when she does, the weight on top of her turns from oppressive to delicious. She imagines the way Amy's curves would slide against her sweat slicked flesh and feels the pressure building in her stomach.
She imagines it's her lips, not Liam's that are kissing from her mouth, across her jaw and down her neck to her chest. She imagines that it's Amy's mouth that's greedily licking and sucking and biting her breasts and suddenly it goes from hurting to sending pulsing shocks between her thighs.
Liam groans and the magic's lost. He plunges in a couple more times before pulling out and rolling away. Karma feels emptier, dirtier than ever. She shouldn't have done that, shouldn't have been thinking about her but she was. And it felt good.
"You good?" he asks.
"Yeah." Karma nods and rolls over, her back facing Liam who climbs out of the bed and begins getting dressed.
"I'll pick you up around 9, okay?"
"Okay." He walks over and kisses her on the mouth.
"Night."
"Night." She lies there, facing the darkness and wondering what's going on. Why does she feel like this? Why she does want her and not him?
Unbeknownst to Karma, Amy is lying awake thinking of her. The way her red hair looks so soft, is so soft when it brushes against Amy's cheek, the way her lips look so kissable all the time, the way her blush is the cutest thing Amy's ever seen.
That's who she's thinking about as her hand sneaks below her waist and under her panties. She moves in and out, in and out and imagines Karma is above her, thrusting her fingers deep inside and whispering in her ear.
"You're so beautiful," imaginary Karma whispers. "I love fucking you." And her fingers hit the spot just right, sending shocks through her body that keep building and building the more she hits it. "And, God, you taste so good." Amy imagines her kissing her, kissing her and swallowing the moans and groans that erupt from her throat as the shocks explode and all Amy can see is herface until she's left alone in darkness.
She's never cum so hard, so fast and it's all because of the red beauty she cannot have.
Karma has Liam, good, funny, friendly Liam and Amy has Shane. Shane whom she loves, loves but not like that. And he doesn't love her like that, either. In six weeks, they'll be trapped in loveless marriage that only has room for platonic feelings.
Shane needs Amy to cover for his family, Amy needs him to cover for her. If only she wasn't born in Russia, if only her family wouldn't hate her, if only she met Karma first and then she could stop repressing herself, holding herself back.
She doesn't believe in love at first sight but she knows, she knows she could feel something for Karma if given the chance but she can't do it, can't hurt Liam, can't hurt Shane, can't ruin her life.
And so she has a restless night of tossing and turning. In the morning, she dresses and curses herself for having butterflies in her stomach as the time to meet Karma comes closer and closer until she's there, in front her. A tight white shirt and skirt clinging to her skin, emphasising her curves, her curves that Amy wants to reach out and grab and press into herself.
"Hey."
"Good Morning."
"Hello, Aims." Liam walks ahead of Karma and hugs Amy first. "Me and Oliver are gonna play a few sets. We'll meet you later for lunch, okay?"
"Okay," Amy says, reaching for Karma with one arm and hugging her.
"How'd your beauty sleep go?" Karma says after Liam walks off.
"I could've done with some more but I see you got enough sleep for your beauty." Amy winks and Karma laughs and looks away. "C'mon, Lastochka, let's play some tennis." Amy loops her arm through Karma's and pulls her towards the courts. "You know how to serve?" Karma nods her head and Amy walks to the other side of the court.
Karma grunts as she throws the ball in the air and hits it with her racket. It hits the net. Amy smirks and holds the racket down so she can lean against it. Karma narrows her eyes and tries again. The ball goes over the net, Amy hits it back and Karma runs, stretches as far as her body can take her and hits it. Amy misses the return, distracted by the strip of flesh that became visible as Karma stretched. Her mouth almost watered at the sight.
"I thought you were the next Maria Sharapova?" Karma shouts. Amy's lip quirks upwards and she chuckles.
"Just wait and see little love."
And Karma does see. Liam really was right, Amy's an amazing player who won every single set but Karma thinks it slightly unfair, unfair because Karma is so not a sports person.
"Good game," Amy says, walking to the net and shaking Karma's hand. Karma scoffs.
"I suck but thanks for trying to make me feel better." Amy laughs and touches her arm.
"You were pretty good. Especially for a lazy, non-sports person."
"Lazy? Who said I was lazy."
"I did." Amy winks. "Now c'mon, showers are this way." She pulls on Karma's hand and Karma obediently follows. She watches the way Amy's hips rotate and licks her lips. The sheen of sweat on her skin makes Amy's skin look even softer.
"So what's it like? Russia, I mean," Karma says in the changing rooms as she wipes her face with a towel. She'd never admit it but Amy was right, she is pretty lazy and the heavy breathing throughout told Karma she needs to exercise more.
"It's nice. It's different, a lot different. I like it here, though. It's warmer, more accepting. Why do ask? Planning on visiting?" Karma scoffs.
"I'd have to actually get out of this town for that but no, I was just wondering what it was like. Don't you miss home?"
"Not really. And me and Shane will be moving her soon enough." Amy shrugs. "Do you want to travel anywhere?"
"Yes, everywhere. I want to go away and learn new things, see new cultures, y'know?" Amy nods.
"That's…admirable of you but don't you want to settle somewhere?" Karma laughs.
"No, I'm just 25, I have time to settle down."
"I'm 26 and getting married."
"But that's you, not me. If you want to do that, then I'm happy for you but it's not the kind of life I want to lead."
"So you'll travel, you'll follow that passion but you won't share your music with the world?" They're standing opposite each other, both with frowns in place.
"That's-that's different."
"How so."
"It just is." Karma turns to put the towel in the basket and gets her fingers caught as the wood closes on her fingers. "Ouch."
"What's wrong?" Amy grabs her hand and pulls it close. "It looks okay." She rubs Karma's fingers with her thumb and looks her in the eyes. "You'll live." Her voice softens to a throaty whisper. Karma stands frozen between wanting to look into green for the rest of her life and pulling away, pulling away from the engaged woman in front of her.
"Are you looking forward to your wedding?" The moment ends and Amy lets go of Karma's hand.
"I guess." Karma quirks an eyebrow. "Things aren't as simple they seem. But, golubushka, will you promise me something?"
"What's that?"
"Do what makes you happy." Karma nods her head and the crease in her brow deepens. Amy smiles but her eyes look a little duller, a little more sad than usual. Amy rubs her necklace, a gold heart shaped one and Karma thinks it suits her, somehow it's not too feminine or masculine for her. "C'mon, showers are just through there. We better get ready for lunch."
"Okay, I'll be out soon." Karma walks off.
It's hard, Amy thinks. It's hard to be in a shower stall right next to a beautiful girl, a beautiful girl she wants that's showering and naked and wet right next to her. She rests her forehead on the tiles and wishes, wishes she could have her, wish she wasn't so trapped by her culture, her home, her family.
She cries, quietly. She cries and cries for everything she know she can never have. That girl in high school that she lost through fear, the one that's no longer alive at all, the one who's next to her right now.
And Shane. Shane who loves men like Amy loves women. Shane whose staunchly Catholic parents would never allow him to live life like he wants too. Shane who's just as trapped as Amy. She decides to call him later, fill him in on everything that's happened since yesterday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon that seems so long ago.
"Are you okay?" Karma asks as Amy walks into the changing rooms. She freezes when she notices Amy's only wrapped in a towel. "You took a while." Karma tries to look away but her eyes are drawn to Amy, drawn to the way rivulets of water drip down the valley between Amy's breasts, down her lightly freckled shoulder, down her neck.
"Yeah. That shower was nice, refreshing." Karma nods her head in agreement. She bites her lip and turns away, continuing getting dressed and trying to put the thoughts of a naked Amy out of her head.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes." But she isn't. Amy's dressed in nothing but her dark red panties and bra and Karma is almost salivating at the sight. Amy's abs poke out each time she takes a breath, her legs are long and toned and look so edible and her face, her face with that smirk just does something unexplainable to Karma. Well, maybe not that unexplainable if the wetness pooling just below Karma's waist is anything to go by.
"I'll er, I'll wait for you." Karma points behind her. "Outside, I'll wait." She walks out and tries to rid her mind of the sight of a beautiful and almost naked Goddess. She takes deep breathes and closes her eyes. She shouldn't be thinking this, she shouldn't be wanting her when Liam is just there, just there and walking towards her with who Karma assumes is Oliver beside him.
"Hey, we were just looking for you guys." He kisses Karma's lips. "Where's Amy."
"Amy's here," she says, appearing from nowhere. She looks tense and stands a little straighter. The way she frowns and looks less than happy doesn't suit her, Karma thinks.
"Good. We're starving, aren't we Ol?" Oliver nods his head and adjusts his glasses.
"Yes-yes we've worked up quite an appetite."
"Yeah, well. You know Amy and this is Karma. Karma, this is Oliver and old friend of mine and Amy's."
"It's nice to meet you," he says and they shake hands.
"Likewise."
"So, where would you ladies like to go to eat?" Karma shrugs.
"Wherever."
"Why don't we just eat here since we're here already?" Amy suggests and everyone agrees. "They do the best Pelmeni here, you should try some," Amy whispers into Karma's ear. Karma turns to face her.
"Is it Russian?"
"Yes."
"I'd love to eat some Russian," Karma says winking and for once, Amy's the one to lightly blush. Karma laughs softly and pulls on her hand. "C'mon you. Let's go eat."
Liam and Oliver are walking ahead and stop to wait for them for a moment. "Sorry," Karma mutters like a naughty school girl getting told off.
"It's okay." Liam steps between Karma and Amy and holds his elbows out for them to each hold onto his arms. Amy rolls her eyes and Karma wishes he'd stop interrupting. Even though he's her boyfriend, she'd rather talk and just be with Amy.
Karma knows they won't last, Amy is proof of that but she wishes she could be brave, could upset her family and leave Liam for Amy. Even if Karma thinks Amy hasn't so much as hinted at wanting her. Even if Karma thinks it's stupid and near impossible to want someone so much after a short amount of time. Even if Karma refuses to fully accept the infatuation she's feeling, a part of her knows, knows Amy could be special, even if all they have now is friendship, she won't let her go.
Oliver quietly walks beside Amy. Amy likes him for that. He doesn't need to fill the silence, doesn't need to always be doing and talking and interrupting. He can just be.
They sit at their table and order. Karma gets the Pelmeni and Amy orders a sandwich. A sandwich which forces her to make the most delicious sounds Karma's ever heard. Amy moans.
"Taste this." Karma takes a bite a moans, equally as enthused as Amy at the taste.
"That's delicious. You were right about this, by the way," she says, pointing to her plate. "Absolutely delicious. You want one?" Amy nods and Karma holds the dough covered morsel to Amy's lips, Amy's lips that lightly brush her fingers and God, her tongue, her tongue which lightly strokes one of Karma's digits.
Luckily, Liam and Oliver are engaged in a conversation and miss the sensuous scene unfolding before them. Amy and Karma are locked in a moment, a moment which forces their hearts to jack hammer at unspeakable speeds.
"When are you going back to Russia?" Liam asks and both women jump. "They're both so jumpy." Both men laugh and Amy joins in. Karma looks away for a moment, trying to forget Amy's impending nuptials.
"16 days of freedom left." Everyone laughs but only Karma hears how hollow, how empty Amy's laugh is and she remembers, she remembers the 'things aren't as simple they seem' Amy had thrown her way earlier.
Under the table, Karma places her hand on Amy's thigh and strokes it with her thumb, trying to comfort her. She smiles and Amy looks at her for a moment before doing the same and smiling back.
"I've met Shane. He's a nice guy."
"Yeah, he's a good man. A kind man."
"I hope to meet him one day," quiet Oliver says and Amy smiles softly at him. He'd be the perfect man, the perfect temperament for Shane. Too bad Amy has to marry Shane instead.
"I hope you do, too. I'm sure you'll like him."
"So, what're your plans?" Liam asks.
"I was going to head down to the coast for a few days, next week if any of you would like to join me? We have that beach house in Houston, still."
"Aims, I'd love to but I'm busy working all of next week. Karma's free though."
"I'm busy, too. Sorry Amy," Oliver says, shrugging. Everyone turns to Karma who squirms under the attention. Amy's torn. She hopes Karma agrees to go at the same time she hopes she doesn't. Karma's in a similar predicament.
"Hey, Karms. It'll be a brilliant trip away for a few days. I've seen the beach house and the beach, both are stunning," Liam encourages. Both women know he's dying for them to get along and they do, perhaps a little too well for his liking. Karma swallows her nerves.
"Oh, okay. That sounds lovely, thank you for inviting me."
"You don't-you don't have to come if you don't want to." Karma looks at her and watches the way she plays with her necklace and her leg shakes under Karma's hand, her hand squeezes and she nods.
"I know but I want to. It'll be nice to travel somewhere, right?"
"Right," Liam says but Karma ignores him, waiting for Amy's sign that this is okay, that she wants Karma to go. The smile Karma gets tells her enough.
"I'll look forward to it, blondie." Amy scoffs. Oliver looks between them both, frown in place and watches, watches the way they look at each other, the way they act with each other and he sees. He sees what everyone else hasn't.
They'd be perfect for each other, given the chance.
He grimaces and throws a sympathetic smile towards them both. Oliver knows numbers better than he knows people so when there are studies on people, he reads them for anthropological research. He knows that almost 75% of Russian's think homosexuality is wrong, he knows that if Amy wants to keep her family, wants to home to Russia that she can't be attracted to women.
Even if she is.
Amy looks away from him, hiding her face behind her blonde hair. He's never seen her do that before and Karma, Karma looks at him confused and with a hint of shame, he thinks.
He looks down and tries to wipe the sympathetic thoughts away, tries to re-arrange his face into a neutral expression (and succeeds).
Liam is still talking about this and that and nobody else is listening, not with the revelation that's just shook the table.
"So how did you two meet?" Oliver says after a few awkward moments, pushing his glasses a little higher up on his nose.
"My dad left something at home and asked me to drop it in at his office."
"Yeah. Her dad works for mine. I kept seeing her around and after the hundredth time of asking her out, she finally agreed." Liam shrugs. "And here we are." Amy fidgets and Karma moves her hand away, aware that they shouldn't be doing this. At least not until she's spoken to Liam.
She certainly can't stay with him now. Not now she knows what attraction really feels like. She knows her parents won't be happy, her mother will be furious but she can't do it any longer. She knows she can't have Amy either but she's sure, she's positive that she'll find someone. She has to, right?
Amy feels colder now Karma's hand isn't on her thigh. She wants her to put it back at the same time she doesn't. Meeting Karma has become a bittersweet experience she knows will end in pain. Amy already likes her too much.
And that's what she finds herself explaining to her best friend, her fiancée, Shane.
"She's so cute."
"So you like her?" Amy sighs through the phone. She's sitting on her bed, curled on her side and a pillow pressed against her stomach.
"Yes. I know I shouldn't but even you would look twice." Shane whistles down the phone.
"Damn. Sounds like one mighty fine lady." Amy smirks.
"She is."
"So what's the problem?"
"She's with Liam and last time I checked, we're getting married."
"Yeah but we all know she won't be with Liam for that long. He's playboy of the century and from what you've told me, she's too smart for that."
"Yes, but we're still engaged, lapochka."
"We are but that doesn't mean I'm going to trap you, Aims. If you want to be with her, you can. I don't mind." Amy can almost see him shrug and smiles at knowing him so well. "We both know this is a marriage of convenience, not love." Amy gasps.
"You don't love me?"
"That's now what I meant and you know it." Amy chuckles and makes a mental note to introduce Shane to Oliver.
"I know. Thank you, Shane."
"Welcome, Sweetie. Now tell me about all those ways you're going to seduce her this week." Amy rolls her eyes before replying.