The sound of running water and bright sunlight flooding her room brought Claudia slowly awake. Claudia never got hangovers. She attributed that to her wild metabolism. She had always been able to eat whatever she wanted whenever she wanted and she always had a thin waist and creamy complexion. But she always woke up with a fuzzy head. She tried to focus. Was Janine home? No. She was at University and her parents where there too. Visiting her for the weekend.

Someone was holding her. Oh, my lord did she let Alan Gray into her bed? Claudia slowly turned over and was shocked to see Stacey in her bed. But then the events, or at least some of the events from the night before came back to her. Stacey was going to woo her. Last night's conversation seemed so surreal to her now in the harsh light of the new day. She had so many questions. And doubts. But then Stacey's eyelids fluttered opened and her amazing blue eyes focused on Claudia's dark chocolate browns. Stacey smiled. "My beautiful girl." she breathed sleepily. And most of the doubts evaporated. Claudia smiled back.

But Stacey's smile faded and she looked away. She tried to look into Claudia's eyes but she couldn't. "Claudia. Before… before this goes any further, before we start anything. You have to know some things. You have to know about what I said. Or more, what I didn't say." She looked to Claudia. "This isn't an excuse or an 'I'm sorry'. It's just… I have to clear this away before we can be…"

"Us?" Claudia said solemnly.

"Yes." Stacey gathered her courage and started. "You have to know Claudia, I would never betray you. I know I wasn't there for you when you needed me but I would never betray your trust. I would never say anything about you that wasn't true. You have to believe me. I don't know what Alan said to you but I never said a word to him I never told anyone anything about what happened in the auditorium."

Claudia was silent. She knew they would need to do this and the sooner the better. But still… thinking about that day, that awful day in the auditorium was something that she tried not to do. If she ignored it, it didn't happen. But it was time. Claudia took Stacey's hand in hers and they intertwined their fingers together. The beautiful Japanese girl raised Stacey's hand to her lips and gently kissed her fingers. "I trust you, Stacey. You wouldn't be here if I still believed for one minute that you betrayed me."

Stacey gave her a shaky smile and continued. "I don't know why Alan did what he did. We're going to find out. But," Stacey shook her head. "this isn't about Alan this is about you and how I let you down. I'm not going to apologize to you. I know that's not what you want. But I swear Claudia, I will show you, every day I will do everything I can to make it right."

Stacey's eyes were determined blue sapphires. "I wasn't ready then, Claudia." She looked deep in to Claudia's chocolate eyes. "I'm the fuck up, Claudia. I'm not like you. I'm not brave like you. I let other people guide who I am, tell me how to act, what to do." She squeezed Claudia's hand. "But I'm going to woo you. If you'll have me, I'll be proud to stand by you. I'll support you in whatever you do. I want you to be proud of me too Claudia."

Claudia smiled. She pulled Stacey's hand to her lips again and held it to her cheek. She closed her eyes and thought. She had her own guilt and if they were going to be honest. "I am proud of you Stacey" Claudia smiled a small smile. "I… I never really believed, not in my heart. I never believed that you betrayed me. I don't know how Alan knew but… I didn't want to know. It was just easier for me to believe and…" She squeezed Stacey's hand hard and locked onto her eyes with her own. "I never hated you Anastasia McGill. Never. But. I wanted to. As long as I hated you, you were a bitch. As long as I hated you I didn't think about how much you meant to me. How much you mean to me. As long as I hated you I didn't want you with me. As long as I hated you I didn't" Claudia lowered her voice to a whisper. "As long as I hated you, I didn't love you." Claudia wiped at her eyes. "But I couldn't hate you. You do mean so much to me. I do want you with me. I do, I do…" Claudia couldn't quite say the words. Not yet.

Stacey understood. She reached forward and Claudia melted into her arms. "I'm ready Claudia. I'm ready to start."

"You owe me a day" Claudia whispered "You owe me one perfect day."

"Have you ever wanted to go to Paris?" Stacey smiled.

Claudia pulled back to look Stacey in the eyes. "What have you got planned?"

"It's a surprise. Remember?" Stacey smiled wider. She couldn't take Claudia to Paris but she was a New York girl. She knew some people. She knew some places. She would give her girl her perfect day. "My beautiful girl" She breathed.

Claudia heard the Bathroom door open and footsteps in the hall and stairs. She looked out her doorway. "Stacey, I'm a little fuzzy about, last night. What's going on."

Stacey laughed "I'm sorry Claud I shouldn't laughed. Last night Kristy…"

Claudia's eyes widened "Kristy! She Stayed!?"

"Yeah…" Started Stacey.

"I remember now! She took care of me!" She suddenly looked stricken "Oh my lord. Stacey, I think I said some mean things about you. You tried to help too. I'm sorry"

"No. No Claudia. You didn't say anything mean. You didn't say anything I didn't deserve."

Claudia touched the top of her head her brow furrowed. "She kissed me. On the top of my head. She promised not to go away. She said she'd be here when I woke up." Her smile turned into a grin. "She stayed!" She looked thoughtful. "Are we all friends again?"

"Yes, Claudia." Stacey said softly. "We all have things to says and some of us have apologies to make. But, yeah. I think we're all friends again.

Claudia looked down on her gorgeous, curvy blonde then leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't a kiss with fire but it was long and slow and gentle. A kiss full of promise. She settled down into Stacey's arms and they both lay quietly enjoying each others warmth. They would have to get up soon, but for now it was still their time.