Hey guys, welcome back. Finally got around to continuing this one. Yay! Song used: Night Bus by Lucy Rose
Part Two: Resolve
Early November - Art Classroom - Nina's POV
It had been over a week since Kate and I shared our first kiss in this very classroom, right at the desk I was now standing next to. Part of me wondered if it had all been a dream, some twisted fantasy my mind had cooked up to tease me. Honestly, that might be the best outcome. Unfortunately, it had happened. One look at the young blonde confirmed it.
When our eyes met, she smiled - soul healing and radiant. Instinctively, I licked my lips and did my best to focus on the lesson. All I could think about was kissing her again, letting our lips collide, feeling her arms wrap around me and body press against mine. We'd kissed again several times since then, locking ourselves in this very room once classes were over.
Her dorm was a no go, too many potential witnesses, and if we went somewhere too secluded - like my office or even my home - it would only tempt me further. Doing this in the classroom gave us a time limit with the security patrols - a good thing, so I didn't push it too far - and part of me still kind of low key hoped that I'd get caught. That was the only way I could stop this now. I had no resolve to do it myself.
"Ms. Langley, everything okay?" Rachel asked with a smirk, bringing me out of my daydreaming. Only then did I realize I'd stopped talking, all eyes on me.
"I… yes, sorry. Got distracted there." I shook my head, purposefully avoiding looking at Kate as I wrapped up the lesson. Honestly, that bell couldn't come soon enough.
On the way out, Rachel gave me a knowing wink, passing Kate an approving glance as she left. How much did she know? Was she just trying to tease me? Would she blackmail me? For now, she seemed to be keeping whatever she thought she knew a secret. That was something.
Everyone filed out and I vaguely registered Max and Victoria looking happier than they had in ages, actually talking now. However, my attention was mostly focused on the small, quiet blonde girl near the window. Her hazel eyes met my brown ones, smiling as I locked the door from the inside. Now we were alone, I couldn't restrain myself. She stepped back slowly, almost teasing. Her back hit one of the cupboards, my arms and body pinning her in place. I was a few inches taller than her, crouching down slightly as she stood on her tip toes, lips melding together in a tender kiss.
As usual, my brain told me this was wrong but my aching body overwhelmed that realization. My hands moved along her cheeks all the way down to the small of her back, earning me a soft hum of approval. Our lips moved in sync, the kiss controlled. It sounded like this was Kate's first 'serious' relationship, so I wanted to do this right. She wasn't some brief fling, used and discarded after one time. If we were going to do this, break all the rules, I wanted to make it worth it for both of us.
After some time, I pulled back resting my forehead against hers. Her cheeks were flushed, breath unsteady as her fingers ran through my hair. I shuddered at her touch, eyes closing as she lightly scratched my scalp. The potential danger and taboo of our situation only seemed to excite me more - the total opposite of what I needed right now.
"You still haven't given me your number, you know," she whispered, eyes locking onto mine with mild accusation.
There was a very good reason I hadn't. If we had 24/7 contact with one another, things could get drastically out of hand. On the other hand, if something happened, I needed to get to her. For example, if Nathan started harassing her again. I'd rather keep her safe and risk it. Nodding, I pulled out my phone with shaking fingers, giving it to her. She typed in her number and I dropped her a text so she had mine. That was it now. No going back.
She smiled at the number, pocketing her own phone and placing a soft kiss on my cheek. "Thank you, Nina."
I so desperately wanted to kiss her again, but our time was swiftly running out. One of the security guards would be checking here soon, within the next few minutes. Sighing, I gave her a long hug before we parted ways. I trudged back to my car, hair slightly disheveled and the faint taste of vanilla on my lips from her lip balm.
As always after these after class 'meetings' with Kate, I sat in my car for a while, wondering what I was doing right now. When had it become so complicated? Why couldn't I just cut it off before things got out of hand? Several reasons. For one, Kate reminded me of Izzie in a lot of ways - super confusing. They were both shy and sweet, instilled a desire to protect and care for in me. Years of lingering suppressed feelings mingled with the newfound ones I had for Kate, making it so much harder to resist.
Shaking my head, I started up my car and returned home. Oliver was there at the door to greet me, demanding food. I picked him up, carrying him to the kitchen to feed him. He meowed impatiently, scratching at my foot.
"Geez, cool it, you little tyke," I muttered to myself, ripping open a pouch of food and squeezing it into his bowl.
I went about getting myself some grub, reheated leftovers from last night. Slumping down on the couch, I channel surfed for a while, stopping on some kind of criminal investigation show. All the while, I wished Kate was here to cuddle with, something we hadn't had much of a chance to do, honestly. Would I ever bring her here? I wondered that as I fell asleep in front of the TV.
Meanwhile - Victoria's Room - Chloe's POV
Ever since Max agreed to Victoria's proposed plan, we had been spending a lot of time together. We needed to build up trust again before we even started putting it into full action. Mostly, we'd watched some films - even 'Spirits Within', one of Max's favorite films for some unknown reason neither me nor Victoria could figure out. Other times, we wandered along the beach or through the forest, just chatting.
Right now, we were all chilling out in Victoria's room, smoking weed - courtesy of the blonde. She always managed to get the good stuff. This was our relaxation time, where we could forget the complications. A gentle breeze blew through the open window, keeping the room aerated as we passed the joint between us. Smoke billowed from Max's mouth, handing it over to me. She was sat in the middle, one hand on my thigh - I couldn't even remember when she'd put it there - while her left leg was pressed up against Victoria's.
"Say, I've been thinking…" Max suddenly announced.
"Steady on, Caulfield," I smirked, getting a lazy eye roll in response.
Victoria chuckled, turning to her. "What about?"
She bobbed her head from side to side, debating. "Is it okay if I just… kiss you guys outta the blue, or is there some protocol I have to follow?"
Victoria and I exchanged glances, the blonde answering with a smirk. "Oh, didn't you read the contract? You can only kiss Chloe on the weekend and me on Tuesday through Thursday."
Max frowned, in her drug dazed state taking it half-serious. I snickered, prodding her in the ribs. "You're so fucking gullible, you know that, right?"
"I didn't believe her…" she protested weakly, sighing when we clearly didn't buy that lie. "Okay, maybe I did for a second. You guys are cruel to take advantage of me."
Grinning, I nudged her leg. "Oh, we haven't even begun to take advantage of you yet, Caulfield."
Victoria chuckled, shaking her head. "In answer to your question, just do what you want, when you want. We won't force you to do anything until you're ready."
She returned our smiles with her own dorky grin. "Well, I kinda wanna try now, kissing. But… I don't want to show any favoritism with who I kiss first."
"Oh, for fuck's sake," I sighed, stubbing out the mostly smoked joint, grabbing Max by the cheeks and kissed her firmly.
The brunette's eyes widened in shock, soon closing as she kissed me back. This was the first time we'd done this, outside of a couple dares. They didn't really count. The kiss lasted a few seconds, my tongue teasingly running over her lips as I pulled back, slapping Victoria's hand to tag her in.
"You're up, Chase," I announced, swiveling Max around for her.
Smiling, Victoria gave her a moment to get her bearings before she pressed a tender kiss to Max's lips, also lasting a few seconds.
Still a little stunned by the abrupt turn of events, Max blinked a few times. "Well, that was… something."
Victoria and I shared a chuckle, giving her a cheek kiss on either side. I put an arm around her waist, while the blonde of the group wrapped her arm around Max's shoulder, our heads bumping lightly against the brunette's. Despite the rocky start, things were starting to look up for us.
Three Days Later - Kate's POV
It was lunchtime now and I decided to head for my secret spot. I'd invited Nina along, so hopefully she would be here soon. Taking my sandwiches, I sat down on the bench and began nibbling while I waited. As usual, the birds and squirrels began to flock, waiting for food. Since I wasn't overly keen of bread crusts, I broke them up and threw them onto the grass.
"Ah, young Kate Marsh. I thought I might see you here." The soft voice made me turn to see Samuel dressed in his usual blue coveralls, broom in hand.
I smiled as he shuffled over. "Hi, Samuel. How are you?"
He returned my smile with his own serene one. "Fine, thanks for asking. More importantly, how are you doing?"
Thinking about it for a second, I replied. "Surprisingly well, thanks."
He nodded, smile widening. "Good, good. It makes Samuel sad when he sees people cry. Especially those who deserve smiles." Leaning on his brush, he tilted his head curiously. "Ms. Langley spoke to me the other day, thanked me for being kind to you."
"She… did?" I asked hesitantly, feeling my heart jump for joy.
"Yes, nice woman. The animals liked her. Has a good energy about her, don't you think? She seems to care about you a lot. About time someone did. Ah, other than Max. Although, I suspect they care in different ways, yes?" Something in his eyes then suggested that he knew more than he was letting on. Uncertain of what to say, I tentatively nodded. "Samuel notices things. And he's good at keeping secrets." With that, he left me wondering whether he really knew anything or not.
Trusting him regardless, I went back to feeding the various cluster of animals. Samuel was usually a good judge of character, so if he thought Nina was a good person too, I had no doubt it was true.
Nina's POV
Kate asked me to meet her at the place she'd showed me before – where she fed the birds and squirrels – for lunch. As dangerous as it might be, I agreed. I really couldn't deny her. Not that I wanted to… After class, I made my way to the campus ground. I knew it would be better to break things off now, sooner rather than later. If only it were that easy…
Sighing, I dropped a few things off at my office before I left to go find Kate. There was someone waiting down the end of the hallway, blocking my way. Nathan Prescott. Undeterred, I push ahead until I came face to face with him.
"I own this school, you'd better remember that," he sneered, staring me down. Clearly, he wasn't happy about me calling him up on bullying Kate before. I'd seen him giving me death glares in the hallway but this was the first time he'd actually directly confronted me.
I crossed my arms, acting unimpressed and bored of his threats. "Mr. Prescott, I suggest you back down before things get out of hand. Intimidation won't work on me."
An unpleasant smirk crept onto his face. "It might not work on you, but it will on Virgin Marsh. You saw how much she trembled last time, and I didn't even do shit to her."
Hearing him talk about Kate that way made me bristle. I took a step forward, voice low. "Now, you listen to me, I don't want to make a scene here, but I will if I have to. However much power you think you have, you don't even have half. Maybe the other students around here let you get away with it because they're scared, but I won't."
"You're not even worth the effort," he scoffed, scowling before he shuffled away.
My fists clenched, teeth gritted as I watched him leave. Honestly, I'd love to wipe that smug grin off his face. Bullies were something I couldn't stand for, not after what happened with Izzie…
Six Years Ago, Nina Aged 16
Finally, the end of the school day had come. I'd been waiting eagerly, desperate to get home. There was a new game out I wanted to play with Iz, one we'd been waiting on forever. I couldn't contain my excitement as I packed up, racing out of the classroom. Izzie had English last - I'd just had math - so I headed over to that part of the school. I wished we shared more classes, honestly. She made everything so much more fun.
When I got there, she was nowhere to be seen. Weird, Izzie usually waited for me. Since we lived pretty close by, we always walked home together and usually stayed around one of our houses. Worried, I went on a search. After ten minutes, I still hadn't found her. One place left to check… behind the school. Anxiously, I headed there. My stomach dropped, noticing a small group of people - a mix of boys and girls - and hearing someone cry, painfully familiar.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?" I called out, heart sinking as all eyes turned to me, moving just enough to catch a glimpse of Izzie.
She was kneeling on the floor, one of the girls in the group holding her by the hair while a boy brandished scissors. My eyes fell on the ground, horror washing over me when I noticed several locks of dark hair. Izzie looked up at me, tears in her brown eyes, wet droplets also clinging to her cheeks.
The boy backed away from her, approaching me with a sneer. "Giving her a haircut suited to a lesbo. Want to match? Wouldn't that be romantic?" He gave the scissors a menacing snip, the others laughing.
I gritted my teeth, grabbing hold of his wrist and ramming it behind his back. He cried out in pain, cursing like a sailor as the scissors crashed to the ground. "What the fuck, you crazy bitch?!"
Mouth close to his ear, I snarled, seeing red. "Oh, I guess you didn't know I could beat your ass to a pulp if I wanted to. And I could quite easily claim self-defence since you're waving scissors around. Now, if you like having two functioning arms, I suggest you leave. Now."
When I shoved him away, he yelped as he tripped up and stumbled. He thrust his arm out to grab the wall, wincing as he rolled his shoulder. "You haven't heard the end of this, dyke."
The group shoved me as they scattered, leaving Izzie sobbing on the floor. Heart breaking, I ran to her side, crouching down and scooping her up into a hug. I should've been there sooner.
"Nina…" Izzie cried out, holding onto me like a life raft.
"Shh, it's okay now. You're okay. Come on, let's get you sorted out, huh?" I cooed reassuringly, taking off my jacket and giving it to her. Pulling up the hood to cover her hacked hair, I lead her back to my house.
Luckily, my parents were out at work still and would be until late. Better still, my younger sister was round at a sleepover. I sat Iz down on the toilet seat in the bathroom, getting some hair scissors. I suggested going to a proper salon or something, but she declined. This was probably too embarrassing for her.
"Can't promise this will be the best haircut you're ever gonna get, but…" I let my sentence trail off unfinished as I began to make the best out of a bad situation. It took some time, but I managed to get it looking decent. "Good thing I've cut my sister's hair before, huh?"
Not taking it personally when she didn't reply, I passed her a compact mirror, letting her get a good look as I gathered the uneven strands now scattering the floor in my hands. She remained silent as I walked over to put them in the trash can. Suddenly, I felt arms wrap around me from behind, a face buried into my back.
"Why does it matter if I love you?" Izzie mumbled into my shirt, hold tightening.
Sighing, I took hold of her hand, "I don't know, Iz. It shouldn't. I guess some people get their kicks from bullying other people for no reason."
"If you were a guy, or I was, nobody would care…" she sniffled, sounding a little frustrated.
I know she didn't mean it in a hurtful way, but it kinda stung. Would that solve all our problems? …Maybe. If somebody told me they could make me a guy right now, I would take them up on the offer. No question. Anything to stop her from getting bullied like this.
"Would you still love me if I was a guy, though?" I asked hesitantly.
She just shrugged. "If you were the same as you are now, yes. But you're not, so it doesn't matter."
I managed to turn around and cradle her face with my hands, kissing away the lingering tears. The salty taste clung to my lips as I tried to absorb the pain. Eventually, her lips found mine, melding in a bittersweet kiss. I never wanted to see her like this, so sad and defeated. Whatever it took, I'd make sure she was okay...
As the memory washed over me, I was reminded of Kate. Yet again, I'd made things complicated for someone. If it hadn't been for me, Izzie would've led a normal life, probably got a boyfriend - I was pretty sure she had been bi or something, not like me - and never felt so helpless as to try and kill herself. Instead, she had to fall for me and suffer for no reason. The wrong place and the wrong time.
Would… would it end the same way with Kate? No, I wouldn't allow it. Even if it meant sacrificing everything, I refused to let history repeat itself.
Figuring I'd kept Kate waiting long enough, I headed to our meeting spot. On the way, I passed by Samuel, who gave me his usual serene smile. I returned it, watching him shuffle off to wherever it was he needed to go. Despite his borderline creepy aura, he was actually a pretty sweet guy from what I'd seen. He seemed to really care about people, a nice change. Anybody who was kind to Kate was good in my book.
As I approached the secluded spot, I noticed Kate feeding the animals - almost like a real-life Snow White or something. I took a moment to watch her, an involuntary smile tugging at my lips. Then I realized I'd been staring too long and felt a little creeped out by myself. Shaking that off, I exhaled and walked over to her.
When she noticed me, she smiled warmly. "Glad you could make it."
"I didn't mean to take so long, sorry," I apologized as I sat down beside her, pushing all thoughts of Nathan's attempt to intimidate me out of my mind.
Her hand found mine, fingers intertwining. "You're here now, that's all that matters."
If only I was a little younger and attending Blackwell myself now as a student, then what we were doing now would be fine. Still, I couldn't break this off, didn't want to. Why couldn't my life be simple for once? That was a novel concept.
I felt something squeeze my hand, dragging me out of my thoughts. "You seem distracted. Are you okay?"
The question pushed past my complicated thoughts, snapping me back to reality. "Hmm… oh, sorry. Guess I got caught up in my head too much."
"No need to apologize." She shook her head, watching the squirrels and birds polish off the bread crusts on the grass at our feet. "I know… you're a little skeptical about all this. Sometimes, I am too. Then, when we're together like this, I feel so happy. More than I have in a long time." Turning to me, she offered me a genuinely content smile. "No matter what anyone thinks, I'm glad for this time."
"Say, Kate, are you free this Saturday?" The question came out of my mouth before I had the chance to think about it.
Curious, she shook her head. "I don't have anything planned, why?"
"Well, I want to take you somewhere. If that's okay." It was an impulsive move, one that could easily backfire. And yet, I didn't regret the offer. Kate deserved that much and more.
"Like… a date?" Kate concluded cautiously.
I hesitated, almost scared to call it that. As much as I tried to run away from it, Kate hit the nail right on the head. "Yeah, just like that."
A truly dazzling smile erupted on her face, hazel eyes dancing with excitement. "Then yes."
Clearing my throat, I couldn't help but return the grin. "I'll, uh, pick you up in the parking lot around ten?"
Taking a quick look around to check the coast was clear, her fingers intertwined with mine. "I look forward to it."
While there was still a flicker of uncertainty about the offer, wondering if I should really delve deeper into the rabbit hole, I was too.
Next Day, Evening - Victoria's Room - Victoria's POV
Despite our rocky start, Max, Chloe and I were dealing with this whole new three-way relationship thing pretty well. It had been a little awkward at times, still very aware of how much we'd unintentionally hurt the brunette. I only wished we could've done this differently with the same outcome.
There was a Vortex Club party tonight and the three of us had decided to go together. After the recent emotional roller coaster, we needed to cut loose. Forget everything. We all piled into my room, getting ready together. Being the designated fashionista of the group, I took it upon myself to get the others in tip top shape.
Max sat there obediently, letting me do what I wanted and getting a stylish look in return. When it came to Chloe… she was more resistant. A lot more.
"Good luck trying to get Chloe looking smart," Max chuckled, watching the tense Mexican standoff, a hairbrush clasped firmly in my hand ready to deal with the other girl's tangled blue mane.
The bluenette shot Max an unappreciative glance, not taking her eyes off me for too long just in case I tried to attack her. "Rude, dude."
"Just stating the truth, dude," she shot back, sticking out her tongue.
"Alright, no need to fight now," I chuckled, waving the hairbrush menacingly. "And I'll definitely tame the beast we call Chloe Price before the night is over."
"Watch out, I bite." She clashed her teeth together, demonstrating.
With Max's help, we managed to corner her and actually clean her up a little. She protested the whole time, less so when we gave her kisses as a reward for compliance. "You know, I'm expecting a more comprehensive payment for my suffering."
"Maybe later, if you're lucky," I teased suggestively, tapping her lightly on the nose.
As I pulled my finger away, she gave it a playful nip. "I did warn you."
"You did, yes," I smirked, giving her nose a flicker before retracting it. That was when I noticed how quiet Max had been, and her conflicted expression. "Thinking hard over there, Max?"
At her name, her head snapped up, blue eyes meeting mine before shifting over to Chloe then back to me. Clearly, she wanted to talk about something serious. "Listen, something's been kinda… bothering me."
A little worried now, I nodded. "Shoot."
"You guys haven't… you know…" she paused, biting her lip, "...slept together, have you? I know you said you'd only kissed but… if it was just a lie to avoid hurting my feelings, I can take it."
Mischief giving way to something much softer, Chloe wrapped an arm around the brunette. "Max, listen, I promise we haven't done that, okay. We'd tell you if we had."
I joined them on the bed, taking hold of Max's hand firmly. "I know trust is something we all have to work on still but we couldn't do that to you. Shit, felt bad enough just kissing."
Nodding, she relaxed. "Right, sorry… guess I'm a little paranoid or something..."
Giving her cheek a kiss, the bluenette gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Don't go apologizing. You have a right to ask after… everything. I mean, can't deny that it crossed my mind… even though I knew it'd destroy you," she added with a sigh.
As much as I wanted to deny it, I felt the same way at the time. "Yeah, would be a lie to say that. Moment of weakness."
"The most that happen, over clothes touching… flirting on the borderline to more. That was when we majorly hit the brakes," Chloe explained guiltily.
We stumbled in around two am, just a little high and drunk. Max had gone home for the weekend to see her parents, leaving us alone. There had been a party tonight, so we'd decided to go to pass the time. It'd been great, cutting loose and enjoying ourselves. While dancing, Chloe and I had gotten pretty close, although that wasn't surprising given how crowded it was. Still, it felt… more intense tonight.
Flopping down on the bed in an undignified heap of tangled limbs when we got back to my room, we sank back into the mattress with a content sigh. Chloe was the first to speak up. "Gotta hand it to the VC club. While they might be a bunch of assholes, they know how to party."
"Just remember I'm a member," I reminded her, narrowing my eyes.
"About the only member I don't want to hit," she added as an afterthought.
I smiled. "Aw, isn't that sweet."
There was a long moment of silence before she spoke again. I almost thought she'd fallen asleep. "You know, if I'd been on my own, I think Rach woulda pounced on me. Always feels like she's some kinda predator stalking the room for unwitting prey."
"I know what you mean. Hope I didn't ruin your fun." I felt a little bad for Chloe, suspecting that she actually like Max a hell of a lot. My girlfriend seemed to think so, too. If I hadn't come along, those two might have hooked up.
She managed a smile, chuckling. "No way. Been there, done that. Was fun at the time but…"
"But?" I prompted softly.
Shuffling onto her side to face me, the bluenette shrugged. "I dunno, I kinda want something a little more… permanent." Her sentence faltered at the end, getting caught up staring at me.
Our eyes connected, much longer than would be considered comfortable for anyone other than a lover. Before I knew it, we were kissing. I had no idea who started it, didn't care. All I knew was that I wanted her. I felt her tongue against mine, hands at my back and then on my ass, body pressing against me. Everything was on fire. Logic and reason went out of the window in favor of longing and lust.
Just as suddenly as the kiss started, it stopped as Chloe pulled back. Her expression was conflicted, a strange mixture of regret and desire. "What the fuck are we doing, Tori?"
That was when I truly understood what we were doing… what I was doing. I shouldn't have done that. "I… don't know. Oh, shit… I can't keep this from Max…"
Sighing, Chloe shook her head. "Fuck, she's gonna hate us… but you're right. We have to tell her."
"What if… she cuts me off? I don't want that..." I stammered, tears welling in my eyes.
Max didn't deserve this - her girlfriend and best friend cheating on her together. The very worst combination. I really liked Max, more than anyone I'd ever dated before. It was still early days yet but it felt like we'd been together for years. She was so considerate, always there when I really needed her. And… this was how I treated her?
Before I could get too lost in my worry, Chloe grabbed hold of my face and forced me to look at her. "Hey, don't go panicking before you have to, okay? I mean, this was… bad, but we didn't like fuck or anything. Doesn't make it right, though."
"No, it doesn't…" I sighed, not even sure how Max would react. She'd be hurt, that was a given.
I felt arms wrap around me tight, Chloe pulling me in for a reassuring hug. "Things'll work out… somehow."
More than anything, I wanted to believe those words...
We all knew what happened after that. Max returned to Arcadia and we told her what happened. She was so betrayed, not speaking to us for a while. And now, we were here.
Max shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Well, you didn't go through with it, so…"
"If there's ever something bothering you, just say. Doesn't matter if you think it's stupid or whatever," the bluenette interjected.
Not wanting to see her sad, I gave her a gentle smile. "Relationships built on secrets and lies, they don't last very long. Don't know about you, but I'm in this for the long haul." Getting an enthusiastic nod in return, I stood and with Chloe's help, pulled Max to her feet. "Now, I think it's about time we get going, don't you?"
Two Days Later, Late Morning - Blackwell Parking Lot - Nina's POV
When Saturday came around, I traveled back to Blackwell to pick Kate up. I waited in the parking lot, dropping a text to let her know I'd arrived.
Nina: waiting in the parking lot
Kate: I'm on my way xoxo
My heart skipped a beat knowing she was on her way. I sat in my car, fingers drumming on the steering wheel. Soon enough, I caught a glimpse of her out my wing mirror. I poked my head out of the car, checking the coast was clear before I waved her down.
She waved back when she noticed me, hurrying along to my two door, cherry red mini cooper. I backed out of the space, leaving the parking lot once she had belted up.
"So… excited?" I asked cautiously. It'd been so long since I went on a date, first time with someone like Kate.
"Of course I am," she replied without hesitation. "I can't wait to see where you're taking me."
"No pressure, huh?" I sighed, feeling very nervous all of a sudden.
"I'm sure wherever you've picked, it'll be great. So long as you're there," she said with a smile, hazel eyes lighting up.
Damn, this girl was just too cute sometimes. At my suggestion, she had a look through the glove compartment for a CD, chuckling at some of the choices. Eventually, she settled on something and put it in the player, soft indie tunes. We sat there and listened for a while in silence, letting the track list play. It wasn't awkward or anything, no need for words.
And you see trouble in her eyes/And you've noticed but only realized/It's not fading however hard you try/'cause it's built in her for her life
I'm not alone/She said I'm not alone
And she takes the night bus home/She's not fazed by the darkness in her soul/And you barely catch a glimpse of her/'cause she's wrapped tightly, hiding in her clothes
I'm not alone/She said I'm not alone
"Despite the few… interesting CDs I saw, you have good taste," Kate announced with a grin.
I returned her smile involuntarily. "Glad to meet the Marsh seal of approval."
Her eyes lit up with playfulness. "It's a tough standard to meet."
"So I've heard," I chuckled softly, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel to the guitar strums.
"I'd say you're passing the tests so far," Kate reassured, changing over CD when it came to the end.
Taking my eyes off the road for a split second, I watched her rummage around in the glove compartment. "Ah, is that a flicker of doubt I sense there?"
Picking a new CD, she put it in the player before answering. "No, not at all. I have faith in you."
"That's all I need… and a little blind luck," I added as a muttered afterthought. Luck didn't seem to be on my side most days.
After driving for a while, getting through a few albums along the way, we reached our destination and pulled into the nearby parking lot. I had chosen the aquarium for our first date; Kate seemed to like animals. It was a toss up between that and a zoo, but I figured the former was quieter, more relaxed. Also, less chance of getting spotted since it was further away. Of course, I insisted on paying for everything today since I was the one with a job, much to her disapproval.
When she pouted at me - admittedly pretty cute - I gave her head a gentle ruffle. "Compromise, I'll pay this time and you can sort out the next one, okay?"
Lightly batting away my hands, the mild annoyance faded to amusement. "Oh, someone's confident there's going to be a second date."
Smirking, I shrugged. "I like my chances."
"Guess I'll be the judge, huh," she countered, hopping out of the car with me close behind.
Figuring that we were far enough away from Blackwell, I let my hand slip into hers once inside. Hers was warm and smaller than mine, still fitting together nicely. To the outside world, we were just two young women holding hands. If they knew the whole truth… I pushed that thought out of my mind, determined to enjoy today. I could go back to beating myself up tomorrow if I really had to.
All kinds of bright and colorful fish swam around us behind glass, as well as octopuses, sharks, turtles and other larger underwater creatures. Kate seemed pretty excited, peering into the various tanks to get a better look at the captive wildlife and dragging me along with her. She seemed reluctant to let go of my hand, only letting me go to do a few doodles or take pictures. It was really something watching her, putting me at ease.
About halfway around, we stopped for a drink and bite to eat at the cafe. Of course, we ordered a pot of tea and a couple slices of cake to accompany the beverage. Honestly, this was the most fun I'd had in a long time. In recent years, I'd become a bit of a recluse much preferring to stay at home than venture into the unknown filled with strangers. It could be a scary place, as I'd seen. Having Kate around made the worry fade away.
"Nina," the young blonde sat opposite me called out shyly, dragging me from my thought.
It was then I realized I'd been staring at her with a dorky grin plastered to my face. Her cheeks were a little red from being the focus of my attention for… however long I'd been spacing out for.
Instinctively, I glance away and cleared my throat. "Uh, sorry, were you… saying something?"
"No, just… wondered why you were staring at me. Uh, n-not that I mind or anything…" she added as a reassuring afterthought.
Focusing, I reached across the table to take her hand. "Guess I can't help it when there's such a cutie in front of me."
"Oh, hush…" she giggled, going redder than before. At this rate, she'd be the same color as my car. "Quit embarrassing me on purpose."
Squeezing her hand, I fiddled with one of her rings. "Hmm… I'll think about it."
Kate rolled her eyes playfully. "You are evil sometimes, you know that."
"And that's only the beginning," I replied in a much deeper, stereotypical villain voice. The bout of maniacal laughter at the end drew a few looks but I didn't care much. They could think what they wanted.
Sighing melodramatically, she shook her head unable to hide her smile. "You're such a dork."
"As with my evil streak, I've got plenty more to give on the dork front," I shot back playfully, lightly nudging her leg under the table.
Being around Kate was like a breath of fresh air and for the first time in years, I felt genuinely happy… and that did scare me a little. Both because someone like Kate shouldn't make me feel like this and because where there was happiness, there was an equal chance for heartbreak.
Meanwhile – Max's Room – Max's POV
In a rare turn of events, I was alone for the day. Victoria had some gallery viewing to attend over the weekend – a major bore apparently – while Chloe had some kind of family appointment, much to her disgust. She and David didn't get on great, in all honesty. A major personality clash; the reason why she hung around Blackwell as much as possible.
Ever since agreeing to Victoria's proposal, the three of us had been stuck like glue. As much as I liked their company, it was just as nice to get some time to myself. I'd spent the morning playing my guitar and getting some work done, as well as reading a little. Just generally chilling out and reviewing recent events. I still couldn't believe the sudden veering direction my life had taken. From heartbreak to… this. It was insane.
My mind drifted to the Vortex Party the other night. It was the first time in a while that all three of us had gone out together like that. At the beginning of the night, I had been a little hesitant – mostly from knowing that Victoria and Chloe had very nearly hooked up after this kind of party. That feeling had disappeared soon enough once we got there. I'd actually enjoyed myself a lot, more than usual. Normally, I wasn't a huge party goer but going with them always made it fun.
It was almost funny how different Victoria and Chloe were. Throw me into the mix, and you had a pretty diverse cut of the social strata. Somehow, it worked. Victoria got hit on by one of the drunk and high as hell jocks, Chloe coming in to 'defend her honor' by threatening to beat him down. Not that the blonde needed back up, honestly. They could both be pretty scary when they wanted to be. When one of the skaters came over to talk to the bluenette, Victoria stared daggers at them. And when poor old Warren tried to get my attention, he had double the scrutiny. Both of them had a possessive streak, especially when it came to me it seemed. Not that I minded.
I had the feeling they were trying hard to make me feel included, making an extra effort. Something I really appreciated. As much as I wanted to just forget about the mess leading up to this, it was hard. I certainly didn't hold it against them. In all honesty, it could have happened just as easily between me and Chloe, maybe even more so. There had been something between us since we were tweens and it took me dating to really understand just how strong those feelings were. I had to wonder if Chloe had felt something similar at the time – kinda lost, hurt and alone.
At least it all seemed to be pretty much resolved now. Sure, it might still take some getting used to but I was more than willing to give it a damn good go.
Realizing I hadn't actually spoken to Kate today, an odd occurrence, I came to a point in my work where I could stop and ventured across the hall. Normally, she came over to say hi or was around at least. When I reached her door, I knocked. No answer. Frowning, I wondered where she had got to. It was rare for her to go out, especially this late in the afternoon. In fact, she had usually just finished practicing her violin around this time. Where had she gotten to?
Maybe it had something to do with the conversation we had a little while back about Kate's slightly older crush. Could she be on a date? She had seemed pretty happy recently, almost bouncing with excitement. And she was shy as a rule when it came to her personal life. Smiling, I returned to my room, making a mental note to grill my blonde friend for the juicy details later.
Kate's POV
After the quick break, Nina and I wandered around for a while longer. On the way round, I did a few more doodles of the sea life. Sometimes, I found Nina staring at me with a gentle smile. Whenever our eyes met she glanced away, embarrassed at being caught red-handed. It was funny really. While teaching, she was always so composed and focused. Underneath her work side was a pretty shy person.
I just wished she could relax a little about what was going on between us. Yes, it was a big risk, more for her than me, but we were being careful. None of this was worth doing if it just stressed her out all the time. Sometimes, her eyes were just so… sad.
Finishing up a sketch, I re-joined her over by another tank. She had her back to me, peering in. I watched her for a moment, returning the favor. It was strange seeing her in casual clothing; jeans, a white and black striped jumper, dark trilby hat, red sneakers, bracelets on her left wrist and a silver ring she always seemed to wear on her left index finger.
Cautiously, I snaked my arms around her in a hug, making her jump a little. I felt her hand come to rest on mine, sighing. "Kate… you scared me. Guess I'm gonna have to watch out for you from now on, little ninja."
"Hey, who are you calling little," I pouted, giving her ribs a light prod.
"Sorry, sorry… ouch, and you say I'm the evil one. Jeez…" she chuckled, letting our hands intertwine as I pressed into her back.
We stayed like that for a while, just enjoying the moment. Eventually, I pulled back and came to stand beside her. "Mind if I get a picture of us?"
The question caught her off guard, dark eyes widening slightly. "Uh… I'm not very photogenic..."
"I highly doubt that. And even if you're not, I'd still like a couple," I gently insisted, hoping she'd say yes.
She bit her lip, giving it some thought. "Okay then, you've twisted my arm."
We stood in front of the tank, faces close as we angled my phone camera to get both of us in. The first was a little blurry and the next cut part of Nina's face out. Readjusting our positions, the third try was a success. Normally, I hated pictures with me in, avoided it like the plague. This time was a definite exception.
"Huh, looks pretty good," she admitted while examining the photo.
There was one more thing I wanted to try. It was a little embarrassing but worth it. This was the first proper date I'd ever been on so I wanted to do it right. Capture the perfect moment as Max always said when she took pictures on our days together.
"Can we… get one that's a little more… coupley?" It might be a bit of a selfish request but… I wanted to capture this day for what it really was.
"Oh, uh, yeah. Totally. Just, um… keep it to yourself, okay?" Clearing her throat, Nina posed for a cheek kiss. I could tell she was a little nervous having something vaguely incriminating captured but she didn't complain.
Smiling at the picture, which came out pretty well if I did say so myself, I returned her cheek kiss. "Thank you."
Max would've done a way better job, I knew, but this was definitely a keeper. If only I could use it as my phone background… too risky, though. Maybe one day, I would be able to. Until then, I just had to appreciate it in private.
"No problem," she replied, a little flustered now. "I, um, wouldn't mind a copy. Of both. If it's not too much trouble or anything."
"Sure, I'll send it to you." Not waiting around, I selected the string of texts I shared with Nina and - careful to ensure hers was the only number that would receive the pictures - I sent it.
A moment later, her phone vibrated and she checked it with a soft smile. "Perfect, thanks."
With pictures exchanged, we continued wandering around the aquarium hand in hand, stopping to examine new tanks on the way. We took it slow, wanting to enjoy and prolong this time as much as possible. All good things come to an end, unfortunately. After browsing through the gift shop, Nina getting me a cute turtle key chain, we headed back to her car.
"So, what do you fancy to eat?" she asked curiously. "We can go anywhere you want. There's a nice Chinese takeout near where I live. Uh, you know, if you want to… swing by my place… or we can go somewhere else. That's…" She cleared her throat, point losing traction. "…fine, too."
I smiled, nodding eagerly. "I'd like that, yes. Gives me a chance to meet Oliver."
Going to Nina's place made me feel happy, like this was a real thing between us. Not some make believe fairy tale.
Nina's POV
When I started up my car, I realized that maybe I should've thought this through before inviting Kate back to my place. First off, I was pretty sure there were some dirty clothes linger around… and dirty dishes in the sink. Second, it was dangerous. I would never do anything she didn't want me to and I suspected it would take her a while to actually want to go further than just kissing, but… what if she got caught up in the moment? It happened. More importantly, what if I did? Could I trust myself?
By this point, it didn't matter whether I could or not. I had to. Feeling nervous, I drove us back towards my place. Sucking it up, we pulled into the parking lot and got out. The takeaway was pretty close by, only a ten-minute walk, so we headed there before getting too comfortable at home. After ordering our food, we headed back down the street and up to my apartment. The walk up was a little nerve wracking. I just hoped Kate didn't feel the same…
When we got inside, Kate took a moment to take in her new surroundings. "Nice place. Very cozy."
"Thanks, I tried to get that vibe." Before I could say another word, I heard the pitter patter of paws and an impatient yowl as Oliver appeared from my bedroom.
The ginger fuzzball sauntered up, giving Kate an inquisitive glance. Smiling, she crouched down and stuck her hand out for him to sniff. "You must be Oliver. A pleasure."
After checking her out, he gave a deep purr and brushed up against her hand, demanding she stroke him. Chuckling, she got to work hitting all the right spots. I shook my head, kicking off my shoes and hanging up Kate's jacket before dumping the bags in the open kitchen area. The prospect of food encouraged him over, meowing expectantly.
"Worse than a kid, I swear…" I smirked as I filled up his food bowl.
Kate leaned against one of the counters, watching us. "Aw, but he's so cute. As much as I love my little Alice, I'd snap him up in a heartbeat."
"Guess I'll have to check your coats and bags on the way out," I teased lightly, getting the kettle going and grabbing some plates.
Despite my best protests, Kate took charge setting my small table while I dished up. Between us, it didn't take long to get everything ready. We sat down after I shooed Oliver away from the table. He was a real pain in the ass sometimes. Thankfully, he got the hint and took position on the couch while we ate.
Kate was a pretty slow eater, which was fine by me. Not like I was in any rush at all. The longer we stayed like this, the better. Finishing off our meal, we moved over to the couch to watch some Disney films with a bowl of popcorn and another round of tea. Shuffling Oliver around so he was sitting across mine and Kate's lap, I hesitantly put an arm around the blonde. She accepted it gladly, resting her head on my shoulder as she stroked the purring ginger cat. For the first time in years, I felt truly content.
At the end of our first film – Alice in Wonderland, of course – Kate got up to use the bathroom. Much to Oliver's disapproval, who skulked off towards my bedroom again. While she was away, I refilled the popcorn and grabbed a couple glasses of water. It wasn't too late yet, enough time for at least one more movie before I would take her back to Blackwell. Honestly, I didn't want the day to end. If I could relive today over and over again for the rest of my life, I'd be happy.
On her way back, she stopped to look at a familiar framed sketch, face lighting up immediately. "Is that… my drawing?"
Honestly, I was a little embarrassed. "Uh, yeah… figured it deserved a frame and all…"
A fond smile tugged at her lips as she sat back down on the couch. "I'm glad you thought it was worth the effort."
"Of course. Any gift from you is," I insisted more forcefully than intended, feeling a light blush on my cheeks. "I, uh… really like it, so… yeah… And Oliver would hate me if I didn't put it up, too."
That got the blonde girl grinning like a fool. "Oh, Nina… you sure know how to make a girl happy, huh?"
"Sometimes…" I muttered, thoughts briefly resting in Izzie before focusing back on the here and now. "Let's hope the trend continues, huh?"
Going to the bathroom myself, giving my face a splash, I then joined her snuggling up once more. This time, I couldn't pay too much attention to the film, more focused on Kate. Every time she caught me staring, I glanced away shyly. However, my eyes were always drawn back to her.
Kate's POV
I could feel Nina's eyes on me every few moments, not focused on the film at all. She obviously wanted to kiss me or something, that much was clear from her eyes and expression. Still, she refrained… which was a little disappointing. On the fourth or fifth time, I decided to take the initiative.
In a decisive move, I leaned in a brushed my lips against hers. She was a little taken aback, the shock soon fading as she kissed me back. Her hand found mine, resting lightly on my thigh as we shared a tender kiss. I could tell she was holding back, deciding the pace for me. While I knew she was only trying to be considerate, it kind of annoyed me. Determined, I kissed her with more feeling. She faltered for a split second, pulling back to look into my eyes. Her own registered shock, a faint flicker of fear and mild longing.
Then, she was kissing me again, less restrained this time. I felt something warm and wet on my lips, her tongue gently asking. Up till now, things had been pretty tame. Was I ready to take it another step? Faltering for a second, I pushed the doubt back and allowed her full access. Her moves were slow at first, letting me acclimatize. I hadn't done this with anyone before. God only knew what my mom or auntie would think if they could see me now…
Their opinions didn't matter to me in this moment. The only person I cared about was Nina. It didn't take long to get into a rhythm, still a little shy. It remained gentle yet I could sense a hungry undertone, longing for more. I held her close, a pleasant warmth spreading through my body as her tongue explored my mouth.
My heart raced, lightheaded as she pulled back. Her eyes were gentle if a little uncertain, cupping my cheek. "That wasn't… too soon, was it?"
I shook my head, putting a hand over hers. "No, it wasn't. Nina, I… please don't treat me like a child who doesn't know what she wants. I appreciate you giving me time to settle, but…" Sighing, I averted my eyes. "I want this to feel like a real thing, not... temporary or pretend. You don't have to be so hesitant all the time. I mean, I'll be sure to let you know if I'm not ready for something, believe me."
A sigh reached my ears, eyes flicking back to Nina, who seemed to be thinking it all over. "You're right, Kate. Guess it's hard to forget that you're not that much younger than me. If it wasn't for the whole… student thing, I wouldn't even notice. You know, you're probably more mature than me."
"Just try to think of me as your, uh…" I hesitated, not quite sure how I would classify our relationship in all honesty.
"Girlfriend?" she finished hesitantly.
"Yeah, that," I confirmed shyly. "I'm glad you said it, because I didn't want to assume…"
Nina actually smiled at that, soft and reassuring. "Well, assume away."
"Just think of me as your… girlfriend, not your student, if possible. And I'll do the same to you, not think of you as my teacher… outside of class, anyway," I proposed, wanting this to work.
Instead of speaking, she kissed me again, much less cautious this time. That more than answered my question. Soon, it started getting close to curfew and Nina drove me back to Blackwell. She offered walking me back but I declined, not wanting her to get worried about being caught together.
"Well… if you're sure…" she conceded, glancing around before giving one final goodnight kiss. "See you around, little one."
I narrowed my eye playfully. "What did I say about calling me little?"
That got her chuckling, going in for another longer kiss before she tore herself away. "Thanks for a great day."
"Hey, that's my line," I pointed out with a grin. Today had been magical, over way too soon.
"Let's not wait too long for the next one, yeah." Something told me she was reluctant to leave, and so was I. "I'll, uh, see you on Monday. Keep in touch." Somehow, she managed to tear herself away – not without getting another kiss first - and drove off.
I waved her off, smiling to myself like a complete dork. Clutching my newly acquired key chain in my hands, I headed back to the dorm with a skip in my step. Monday honestly couldn't come around soon enough.
So, one more long chapter for this fic left, I reckon. Will Victoria, Max, and Chloe overcome their issues to make their relationship work? And will Nina and Kate be able to face the challenges just on the horizon? Find out next time…