this chapter is pretty short- i apologise. i took a lot of your advice and made another party scene chapter. i'm not positive yet if we're going to stray from the party after this one. i'd love more input. thanks so much for all of your sweet reviews. they make me want to write more and better and faster. i hope you like this. just another fun banter chapter. i have too much in mind to get the girls together already. as i said at the beginning of this story, i think that these characters would take quite a bit of time and push and pull before either of them allowed themselves to admit their feelings. so that's what i'm portraying. please let me know what you think. i love your reviews and suggestions. thanks again.

14.

Shay rolled her eyes and sighed deeply, blowing the hair out of her face intentionally. She and Rafferty were on their third pool game- this time versus Otis and Cruz- and she was getting bored. She had really hoped that she could flirt Rafferty into getting worse at shooting pool, but it seemed her efforts were useless. Shay found out that even if she through the game completely Rafferty would still end up having enough skill to win it on her own. She sighed again, looking across the pool table to see Rafferty and Dawson talking like old friends. A pang of jealously ran through her before she got her bearings and realised that it was a really good thing. She had wanted her best friend and her new friend to get along from the beginning and she had secretly worried that they never would. Dawson was protective of Shay, and she appreciated the sentiment, but Shay worried that Dawson would hold on to her grudge against the previously homophobic Rafferty forever. Watching them talk right now meant everything to Shay; it meant that Gabby had seen the change in Rafferty too, and now knew that the woman only had Shay's best interest in mind. She smiled to herself, somehow having dazed out again.

"Maybe it's a good thing that we haven't gotten around to drinking anymore yet," Rafferty said quietly, suddenly at the girl's side, brushing her elbow into Shay's ribcage. "You keep stepping out on us," she found Shay's eyes and smiled.

"No, I was just thinking," Shay smiled. "Sorry," she said sheepishly.

"Don't be sorry. It's your shot," Rafferty nodded to the pool table. "These guys are actually giving us a run for our money, so don't try to throw the game like you did last time," she smirked, running her hand down Shay's back casually.

Shay rolled her eyes at her friend but took her shot and sunk it regardless. And then another.

"Geez, Shay! I didn't know you were a pool shark. Why don't you ever play with us at Molly's?" Otis asked, leaning against the table and sipping his beer.

"Because at Molly's you guys play for money, and I'm too good of a friend to bankrupt all my brothers every damn night," Shay laughed, taking her third shot and missing. "Since I live here, I'm making a rule: if Rafferty and I win again, which I'm guessing we will, we're taking a drink break after this game," she pounded her pool stick to the floor like a staff with authority and everyone laughed.

"Why? You need some more 'Allison's?" Severide laughed, holding Lindsay on his lap.

"Oh, honey, I always need some more 'Allison's," Shay wagged her eyebrows, turning to Rafferty who was laughing but slightly red-faced.

Xxxxxxxxx

"Thank God!" Shay exclaimed genuinely as Cruz sunk the eight ball and finally won the game, giving her and Rafferty the break that she'd been asking for.

"Ha! We beat you!" Otis did a silly little dance.

"Do I seem unhappy about that?" Shay laughed.

"As competitive as you are, I've never seen someone so happy to lose something," Rafferty chuckled, looping her arm through Shay's and leading her away from the pool table.

"Who wants some 'Allison's?" Shay called to the entire room and most of them chuckled in response.

"None of us as badly as you do," Lindsay piped up, earning surprised gasps from both Severide and Dawson.

"Hey? New girl? You better watch it," Shay warned, pointing at Lindsay with a scowl before her face turned in to a sincere smile instead. "Once you have an 'Allison' you won't want anything else."

That only made the room erupt into laughter even harder.

"I'll bet," Otis laughed.

"You would say that," Casey contributed.

"Don't listen to her," Rafferty started, getting Shay's attention. "She doesn't even remember what all she put into these drinks she keeps hyping up, so I'm guessing some of you are in for a world of shit."

"Hey?!" Shay scoffed, grabbing her chest dramatically. "If I remember correctly you're the one that drank the shitty drinks," she pointed out, poking at Rafferty's chest.

"Meh," Rafferty shrugged. "I was thirsty."

"Well I hope you still are, because I'm making 'Allison's for everybody," Shay told them.

"It's gonna be like Russian roulette in here..." Rafferty said to the room before turning to Shay. "I thought you were the only one who got to have 'Allison's..."

Shay caught her eye and held it, looking at the girl too deeply for a moment. She smiled. Rafferty was staring into her eyes, emitting so much that Shay was sure that she was unaware of. A content smile graced Rafferty's face, seemingly getting as lost in the moment as Shay was. They stood like that for a moment before Shay's gaze dropped quickly to Allison's lips subconsciously.

"Yo, bartender!" Severide yelled, intentionally drawing them out of their moment and already smirking to himself about it, earning a punch in the chest from Lindsay.

"Can we get those drinks sometime tonight?"