A.N: Yay update. The Karmy is moving right along. Some of you commented on Karma's apparent obliviousness when it comes to Amy's feelings, believe me when I say there are reasons for Karma not connecting the dots and making the leap that she's the one Amy loves. Fair warning when she does happiness and glee won't be the only reactions from Karma, as I said, I have some thoughts about her character and Amy's.
A.N2: This chapter is shorter as I needed to bridge a specific gap. There is some plot movement though.
Chapter 3
Karma glanced over at Amy one more time as they pulled into her driveway. She had pulled Amy into the cramped backseat of the truck and as she'd hoped Amy had taken the lack of space as license to crowd Karma, her longer frame draping itself around her. The fluttering feeling that explode in her belly when Amy's hand began tracing lines absently on the back of her neck had caused the explosion of nerves, fear, and angst it normally did. Karma's inability to squash her reactions to Amy's innocent touch sent her mind into a tailspin of confusion and guilt but this time Karma set the confusion aside and focused on the feelings the touch invoked. She focused on the coiling heat in her belly, on the shivers that crept up her spine as Amy's short nails scratched at the back of her neck and caused the fine hairs there to stand on end, and on all the confusion and fear that caused.
As the truck rolled to a stop she shivered before she could stop herself and Amy's hand stilled, "Are you cold?"
Karma shook her head and croaked out, "I'm good." She lowered her gaze and to her disappointment Amy dropped her hand away from her, suddenly intensely focused on Karma's house as if she'd never seen it before. Karma's throat closed just a little, wondering not for the first time if she was completely obvious about the more than friend like feelings she was having for Amy. She averted her own eyes and shoved back the wave of sadness that came over her as she slipped from the truck, cursing herself for entertaining thoughts of somehow winning Amy's affections.
Right, as if someone as gorgeous as Amy would ever be interested in her like that. She watched as Amy stumbled from the truck and righted herself before shooting the offending vehicle a cantankerous scowl as if it had personally offended her.
She sighed. Amy was adorable.
Her inner musings were interrupted as the door to her house slammed open and her mom tore from the house. Her mother made a beeline for Amy and grabbed her to pull her into a giant mom-hug that saw Amy's face pressed embarrassingly into her mother's bosom.
Amy let out a muffled squeak, "Mrs. Ashcroft..."
Her mom let Amy straighten up as she spoke, "Oh honey..." She shook her head, apparently overcome and yanked her into another hug, "Honey I am so sorry that your mother is so..." Her mother let Amy go again as she cocked her head, trying to find the right word to describe Farrah Raudenfeld.
Shane piped up meanly, "Spineless and bitchy?" Karma glanced at him and saw that the mere mention of Amy's mom had caused an ugly scowl to paint his face.
Karma's mom shook her head before exclaiming, "Un-evolved! That's the word! Your mom is un-evolved!"
Amy blinked at her, "That sums it up, yeah."
Karma's mom let out a sigh before she reached out to pat Amy's cheek fondly, "Now honey I want you to know that I couldn't be happier that you and Karma have found love together." She nodded as she continued, "You've always treated Karma like a princess and that's just the sort of partner a mama wants for her baby girl."
Karma sighed, "Mom... do you have to call me that?"
Her mother scoffed, "You will always be my baby girl Karma." She softened her tone and cupped Amy's cheeks, "And you are family sweetie, never forget that alright? We Ashcrofts love you."
Amy lowered her gaze and Karma caught the glint of tears which propelled her forward to wrap her arms around Amy's waist, "Ames?"
Amy choked out, "Why doesn't my mom love like yours?"
Karma was saved from answering by her mom who sighed, "Honey your mama loves you. She's just scared. And that man she's set on marrying is ignorant." She rocked on her heels, "She'll come around Amy, what you have to do is keep your heart open so you can forgive the hurt when she does."
Amy's chin touched her chest as she asked quietly, "And if I can't forgive her?"
Her mom replied in a whisper, "Then she won't have anyone to blame but herself Amy honey." She dropped her hands and turned to the truck as she boomed out in her mom voice, "Now! I think we should get Amy's things unloaded." She smiled at Karma and Amy before announcing, "I've cleared out the spare bedroom..." She held up a hand to forestall Karma's argument that Amy could just share her room, "Now baby girl we are liberal but Amy needs to have her own space if she needs some time to herself. Remember how she used to get when she was little?" She huffed out, "I don't have any illusions about you two being physical, just make sure y'all lock the door so that your daddy and I don't walk in on the two of you."
Karma blushed to the tips of her hair, "Mom..."
Shane breathed out, "You mom is awesome..."
Karma's mom beamed at him before speaking, "Now I think Amy has had a hard enough day without manual labor so we'll unload her things and Amy you can go watch the television if you want."
Amy shrugged, "I can help. I'm sad but my arms work fine." She smiled at Karma after a moment and flexed her arm, "I've got the guns."
Karma snorted as she headed to the bed of the truck to grab one of the bags, "Sure you do noddle arms."
Amy pouted, "Mean..." She followed on Karma's heels though and Karma smirked.
She winked at Amy flirtatiously, "I like your arms Ames..."
She completely missed Amy's flushed cheeks and the flabbergasted look she exchanged with Shane.
It had taken them longer to get Amy moved into the room than it had taken to get her stuff stripped, mostly because Amy was a little anal about where things were meant to go in her new room. They'd unloaded fast enough though, and after they'd unloaded Shane and Ivy had climbed into the truck as Karma tugged at Liam's shirt before he could leave the house entirely.
"Can I talk to you for a second?"
Liam nodded slowly, "Sure... what's up?"
Karma took a deep breath and replied, "This thing with us? The making out stuff, it needs to end. I can't make out with you any more. It isn't fair to any of us, but least of all Amy."
Liam frowned at her, "So she gets outed to her parents and now you what, feel guilty?"
Karma took a step back from him and leveled him with an intense look, "No. I just... I know what I want Liam."
Liam stared down at her before he huffed out, "And that is?"
Karma breathed out loud for the first time, "I want Amy. She... she's... she's more Liam. Do you get that? Making out with you was nice but Amy... She's a part of me."
Liam looking like he was fighting off a scowl, "Right..."
Karma sighed, "Liam can you honestly say that this thing with us was about anything other than you wanting to get some with a lesbian? Because if I've hurt more than your pride I am sorry."
Liam breathed out, "I just... why do we have to stop making out?"
Karma looked up at him as she answered, "Because for me making out with you was at least partly about being scared of how much I was feeling for Amy and that really isn't fair to any of us." She couldn't tell him the truth about her and Amy, about how the more she'd kissed and touched Amy in public the more intense the thing with her and Liam had gotten because she was fighting the urge to do those things with Amy in private. She'd thrown herself into her fake affair with Liam to prevent herself from ruining her friendship with Amy. She added a little sadly, "We barely know each other Liam. You don't really like me, you like making out with a lesbian..." She smiled softly, "Amy knows everything about me." Her smile dropped slowly, Amy knew everything about her and the chances of Amy liking her back the way she wanted her to were about one in a million.
Liam straightened and asked in a low voice, "Does she know that we've been making out for like a month?" He turned and hurried from the house.
Karma stared after him, almost bemused. She wondered how that would work for him, if he suddenly had a crisis of 'conscience' and confessed to Amy what they'd been doing. She scowled after a second. She already knew that Amy was the one she really wanted but if Liam did that he'd prove he didn't care at all that Amy was the one that would be hurt if her and Karma were really together. As far as he knew Amy and Karma were together and in love and confessing to Amy if they were really dating would have the sole consequence of hurting Amy.
She turned from the door and shut it firmly before bounding up the stairs and bursting into Amy's room where her best friend was staring intensely at the dresser, "Does it hold the secrets to the universe?"
Amy started before offering her a sarcastic grin, "Don't joke, my socks need the best drawer..."
Karma stared at Amy before she moved forward wordlessly and caught Amy in a hug, "I..."
Amy wrapped her arms around her, "What's this for?"
Karma shook her head before she laid it against Amy's chest where she could hear the slightly fast thump of her heart, "I just... I love you a lot you big dork."
Amy was quiet for a long time before she spoke softly, "I love you a lot too Karma..."
Karma listened to the sound of Amy's heart thumping away in her chest. The pace of her heart didn't slow as they stayed in their embrace, instead as Karma's hands smoothed up and down Amy's back her pulse jumped and sped up. Karma closed her eyes, surprised but delighted by the sound of Amy's hummingbird heartbeat. She moved her hands down and almost by accident her fingers slipped under the hem of Amy's shirt and grazed her lower back. Karma's eyes shot open as Amy's breath hitched.
After a moment longer Amy pulled away before pressing a short kiss to Karma's head and returning her attention to the dresser. Karma watched her through slightly narrowed eyes before a slow smile spread across her face. Physically at least, Amy was not unaffected by Karma.
Karma smiled smugly to herself and fought the urge to fist pump.
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