"I'll be there at 11 Ali! It starts at 9 so I'm going to have a pre-party at mine okay?" Cosima said coolly, knowing full well her "Pre-party" would be her getting high with Sarah, and Alison would disapprove if she knew. Not that Alison had any right to judge, her own alcoholic tendencies made her points moot and she knew it, but still, Cosima felt obliged to hide her pot from her friend. But still Cosima didn't specify and turned to face the front of the classroom, wondering who her new lab partner would be.

They were after all, the three most popular girls in school, each of them having strong holds in all the school departments, they ran the student body. Alison, a cheerleader, had control of the PE side. Sarah somehow ruled the Languages department, thanks to her friendship with Helena, Both Ali and Sarah were involved in the theatre, be it improv. or musicals, and Cosima? Cosima was the nerd; she lived off science and maths. But somehow this odd trio were loved by all, invited to everything and knew everybody.

It was their junior year of high school when Delphine Cormier transferred from Paris, and Cosima noticed her instantly, she was tall, blonde and thin, with a smile Cosima felt could melt the icecaps, and she fell head over heels for this girl she never spoke to, until senior year when they were made lab partners in AP Biology.

Before the summer holidays Delphine had been clumsy and lanky, not really fitting into her own body but Cosima found something adorable about the awkward way she moved, and how she fell quiet when spoken to, as if she felt self-conscious around everybody. But when she walked in that first day of class, her clothes fitting on her figure, her hair perfect and the teenage acne cleared up, Cosima fell even more in love than she was before, if that was possible.

Delphine's heart accelerated when she saw Cosima's gaze fall on her, for the last year of her life, the shorter girl had taken up a place in her heart, even though they'd never said two words to one another. She'd seen her interact with the world around her with such enthusiasm, she'd seen her speak in front of the whole school with such joy in her being, and she'd heard the loving applause she'd always be greeted with when it was over. Cosima Neihaus was the most popular girl in school, loved by the students, parents and teachers alike, for her cool demeanour, unparalleled intelligence and out and proud bisexuality, driving men and women insane with her looks.

"Delphine Cormier," Mr Watson said kindly, "Nice to see you again!" Delphine nodded shyly. "Your Lab partner this year is Cosima." He smiled at her and leaned in to whisper, "you two will work perfectly together, you think very similarly." Delphine's already tachycardic heart nearly stopped at the mention of Cosima's name, but she somehow managed to make her way to her allocated seat, face red, head down, not noticing the grin of sheer joy on Cosima's face.

That first class went by in silence as Delphine found herself unable to speak in the dreadlocked girls presence, but as she was scurrying to pack up and go she felt a hand come down on her own, stopping her instantly. Cosima was leant against the table, smiling toothily up at the blonde.

"So… Delphine." She drawled, the last syllable rolling off the edge of her tongue. "as the French say, Enchantee." She butchered the accent but Delphine didn't care, the knot in her stomach tightened even more as she found herself weirdly turned on at the attempt.

"ermmm… Enchantee Cosima." The name felt foreign on her lips, she'd never said it out loud, and heard her mispronunciation, accenting the final syllable as opposed to the American middle emphasis, and felt her face flush even deeper red. Cosima's stomach flipped at the way Delphine pronounced her name, its uniqueness, the way her tongue moved as it shaped out the letters. It was just then that Cosima truly decided to chase and get this girl no matter what it took.

"Bonjour Delphine." Cosima whispered as she slided behind the taller girl by her locker. "Its nearly the senior Christmas ball, you know? Who are you going with?" she asked politely.

Delphine stuttered nervously, "I'm not… I'm not going." Cosima looked shocked but didn't inquire as to a reason, secretly glad that her partner wasn't taken yet, and planned in her head a way to ask her.

Alison was going with Donnie, Sarah with Paul, but Cosima never took a date to social events, preferring to not be stuck to one person all night, instead enjoying what everybody else had to offer, and it was a running gag at their school that she never did. But nobody planned on her not showing up.

When Delphines front door rang at 9.30 that night, she never expected to see Cosima outside her house. Never in her wildest dreams was Cosima holding a ukulele. So when she unlocked the door and opened it, her mouth dropped open as she stared at the brunette, who was dressed in a floor length burgundy maxi dress, her dreads in a ponytail, her eyeliner fierce yet her eyes soft, her glasses reflecting Delphine. She raised the ukulele and played a slow melody, that vibrated through Delphine as she blushed deeply in the glow of her porch light. She watched Cosimas fingers move with flexible dexterity, and felt her body warm.

"I couldn't figure out why you wouldn't be going to the ball, so I figured I'd bring a bit of the ball to you." Cosima said shyly after she lowered the ukulele, "I've loved working with you for the last few months, but It didn't dawn on me why you never seem to be able to talk to me until last week." She said, a little bolder, and took a deep breath. "So here goes nothing." Cosima took two steps forwards and caught Delphine in a gentle kiss, her hands cupping the taller girls cheeks.

Delphine froze at the contact, with her eyes open, and the taste of Cosima on her mouth made her forget to breathe momentarily. Then she melted into the smaller woman, frantically grabbing at her, her hands running up and down her body as they kissed in Delphines doorway.

When they broke apart Cosima sighed contently and Delphine fell against her doorframe, panting heavily, but smiling at the smaller girl.

"so… want to come to the ball with me?" Cosima asked, a cocky grin appearing on her face.

"Only if you help me pick out an outfit." Delphine replied.

"If I get you in a bedroom, we're not going to make the ball."

"Bien sur." Delphine giggled, pulling Cosima into her house and slamming her into the closed door with a ferocious kiss, the strength of the quiet girl shocking the popular girl.