Christmas lights.
During one of their many late-night conversations, tucked between Veronica's bed sheets, and usually each other's arms, Cheryl remembers admitting her fondness for the holiday season...
"You're turn." Cheryl pointed out as she popped another piece of candy into her mouth. It was around two in the morning, but the girls were wide awake. They had only been living together for a couple weeks at this point, and they still felt like strangers in a way. In order to familiarize themselves with the other, they made it a game to ask each other the most random questions. Veronica hummed from her lower laying position, head resting on Cheryl's hip. Cheryl was lying on her side, head propped up with one arm, while she absentmindedly ran the fingers of her other through Veronica's hair. "Mmm, ok, what's your favorite holiday?" She giggled, it was middle of autumn, Thanksgiving was just around the corner, it felt like an appropriate time to learn which holiday Cheryl enjoyed most."Christmas for sure." Cheryl immediately replied, not skipping a beat. "It's so much more than a day. It's a season, a feeling. The whole month of December is one giant holiday full of warmth and love. Even my parents are less cruel this time of year. There's so much to enjoy about Christmas, but my favorite by far are the lights." She paused a moment, closing her eyes as if to imagine a wondrous light display, "this is gonna sound silly, but the feeling I get when seeing good Christmas lights, it's magical, no matter how old I am. I love it."…
"You remembered." Cheryl softly coos as she turns back around, facing her girlfriend. She pulls her closer with the hand still held in Veronica's, so she can place a soft peck to Veronica's cheek.
"Of course, you spoke so passionately about it, how could I forget?" Veronica noted, recalling Cheryl's speech from all those weeks ago.
Cheryl knew exactly where they were once catching a glimpse of the famous light display just a couple blocks from where they parked, Fairview. A small developmental area that was almost three times larger than Riverdale, but still not big enough to be considered a major metropolis, however growing due to its proximity to the local university campus. It was about an hour drive from Riverdale itself, but its larger shopping selection made it a destination for the rural kids looking for a little bit more entertainment than the small confines of Riverdale could provide.
The city was known to have a grand light display this time of year in their city square. Cheryl's been to it a handful of those throughout her life, sibling bonding nights with Jason. It's been a few years since she last visited the town. Their teen years sequestered them at home and cooperate holiday dinner parties to help maintain the Blossom reputation, to keep up appearance. Especially, since the grooming process of her brother to take over the family business started.
She wonders how Veronica, who's only now spending her first winter in Riverdale even heard of this place, let alone knew about the lights. Veronica seems to read her mind as she continues her banter, "Betty's taken me shopping out here a few times, and thanks to a Google search of the area, I saw the fliers for the or Winter Wonderland." She shrugs her shoulders, indicating it wasn't really some elaborate planned out thing. She was just searching for somewhere to take her girl that wasn't Pop's diner.
"Well it's perfect regardless." Cheryl envelops Veronica in a tight hug to show her appreciation.
As Veronica pulls away she offers a suggestion, "I know you're dying to see the lights," she laughs as Cheryl's head turns around to look at the small portion of twinkling lights she can see from around the corner of buildings. "But there's a nice coffee shop just down here," Veronica points behind her, in the opposite direction of the lights. "I thought we could get some hot cocoa to help keep us warm on the walk." Her tone verges on questioning, the idea coming off more like a hopeful request.
It was a mild night for this time of year, but too cold, but a heavy coat, scarf and gloves were much appreciated. As long as the wind didn't pick up, they could probably spend hours in the weather before really needing to take cover. It was still early, only six in the evening. Though the sun sets so early this time of year, it felt like ten. Veronica didn't have anything else planned for the evening besides cocoa and taking a nice stroll through the Christmas lights. She wasn't sure how long they'd be out, but figured they could always return home for a movie and cuddling, or perhaps something a little more PG-13.
Cheryl nods excitedly in agreement, interlacing their gloved fingers and taking off in the direction to the cafe. The walk was short, the shop just on the corner of the block where they parked. Once there, Veronica opened the door for Cheryl to walk through first, a curt 'after you' motion and all.
"Such manners." Cheryl teases, hand over her heart.
Veronica merely smiles cheekily in turn briefly before looking up at the large chalkboard menu hanging on the wall behind the counter. "Anything you want, it's on me tonight."
After a moment of indecision, the girls make their way to the counter to place their order, two large hot cocoas to go and a couple pastries for later. Veronica accepts the bag of sweets from the barista and places them carefully in her purse, not wanting to smash the flaky dough. Once their drinks are ready, they redress their scarves and gloves before leaving the warmth of the shop, entering the cool winter air.
"This was a great idea." Cheryl hums after taking a sip of the drink in her right hand, her left wrapped tightly around Veronica's arm.
Veronica looks over at her girlfriend to find some whipped cream lingering above Cheryl's top lip. She pulls her in for a kiss, effectively removing the cream in the process. She licks her lips when they part, both girls giggling at how cliché the whole thing was, "a very good idea."
The walk to the park is longer, but still only a couple short blocks away. The closer they got to the shimmering lights, the giddier Cheryl became. She was practically bouncing with excitement as they rounded the corner and the full light display came into view. Stopping in their tracks to take it all in from the distance.
Veronica was impressed by the show, lights adorning every tree, building, street sign in the area. Every inch of the large courtyard of benches, pavilions, and walking paths adorned with lights of all colors and shapes. She understands why it was described as a 'field of wondrous light' on the fliers she found online this morning. While the sight if the lights themselves was awe-inspiring itself, the sight of Cheryl taking in the display was even more magical to Veronica.
The redhead stared at the lights, scanning every strand, every bulb, the changing colors of flashing lights reflecting in her eyes. In that moment Veronica could visibly see that magical feeling Cheryl described all that time ago in her bedroom. It was tangible, and she felt it too, except her joy didn't stem from the lights, but from Cheryl herself.
She barely breaks the silence with a breathy whisper, "I was right you know."
Cheryl looks to the girl next to her, eyes breaking from the display in front of them for the first time. She looks confused, had she missed something Veronica said, too enamored by the sight in from of her, she hadn't heard her speaking next to her…
"I tend to get lost in the beauty of Christmas lights, I could probably stare at them for hours." Cheryl ended her monologue of an answer. She hadn't realized how long she had been talking, bet Veronica wasn't expecting that answer when she first asked the question. She was a bit embarrassed by her rambling, she intended to ask Veronica a question to abruptly change the subject but before she got the chance, Veronica chimed in with a soft smile, "I bet you look beautiful bathed under twinkling lights."It's a casual, yet telling admission that causes both girls to blush, for very different reasons. Veronica embarrassed, thinking she'd crossed a line, that wasn't a fun flirty statement they often shared. It was an veritable truth that Veronica felt so deeply within herself that when cast under Cheryl's spell, let loose, a Freudian slip. Cheryl blushed due to her own hidden feelings for the girl resting on her hip. The words bringing a rush of warmth to her heart and a tingling feeling throughout her body…
Veronica reiterates the statement she let slip, taking her now girlfriend in her arms, fingers lightly tracing over the spots of colors that danced over her skin as the lights flickered in the background. Cheryl once again blushes at these words, although unnoticeable due to the shadow, the heat underneath Veronica's fingers ultimately speaking the truth. Cheryl snakes her arms around Veronica's neck. They meet in the middle, both girls aching for the feeling of the other's lips on theirs. Veronica moves her hands so they are now both holding on to Cheryl's face, she curls the fingers of her right hand back behind the redhead's ear, nails tickling the back of her neck. She moves her fingers in rhythm with her lips, a dance carefully choreographed, she takes Cheryl's bottom lip between her own, teeth gently nipping at the soft flesh. Cheryl lightly moans at this and the girls break out in laughter. Veronica releases Cheryl's lips, their noses and lips grazing all over each other's faces, as they giggle together, Veronica pulls back just enough to lean her forehead against Cheryl's. They stay there like that for a moment, their laughter slowly dying down. Once the moment passes Veronica speaks up, "Shall we?" She held out her arm as offering, which Cheryl gratefully accepted, and the two made their way through the square, ready for the excitement of tonight to continue.