Delia Busby had a headache. Her eyes were sore, her neck was sore, her shoulders were sore. She knew she should take a break but she had too much revision left to do. For once she hadn't left everything to a last minute cramming session, Patsy had made sure of that. But despite planning everything out carefully and studying hard for the last 3 weeks around lectures, seminars and practicals, she didn't feel anywhere near ready for the end of term assessments.
Pushing away from the desk she stretched as hard as she could, arching her back and reaching for the ceiling. Groaning at the succession of pops and pings from her protesting joints and muscles, she glared at her textbook through bleary eyes. Two more pages, she bargained with herself. Two more pages and then she would go down and make herself some dinner. And by dinner she meant a packet of Tesco 30p noodles, one of the few things left in her cupboard in the kitchen.
She tucked her chair back in and drew a deep breath, steeling herself for this last push. She'd only read two more sentences when she felt a tickling on her forearm that made every hair on her body stand on end.
Patsy Mount groaned as she sullenly flicked through the remaining pages in the chapter. She considered herself a highly organised reviser but the last few weeks were kicking even her arse. She hoped Delia was doing ok. The girl had seemed increasingly stressed over the last few days and Patsy suspected she wasn't eating properly.
Maybe her young welsh friend would appreciate a pizza break.
She picked up her phone and logged into the Domino's website, but an ear piercing shriek made her drop the device and leap out of her door. She cleared the landing in two strides, reaching Delia's door as it was flung open, the small brunette crashing into Patsy.
"Get it off me get it off me get it off me!"
The redhead tried to grab her flailing hands, but the girl was frantically hopping from foot to foot, batting at her arm.
"Delia what is it?"
"Sp sp spider!"
"It's all right Delia, we'll find it." Patsy's first instinct was to remove the girls jumper, so she grabbed the hem and lifted, hoping the creature would get caught in the fabric.
"No! No!" Delia cried. "It'll get in my hair!"
Fair point, but she still needed to get the item of clothing off. Then she realised her height advantage, so grabbed the neck of the jumper and pulled straight up, her friend disappearing into the oversized garment and emerging from the bottom with tears streaming down her face. She glanced over the jumper but couldn't see any offensive arachnids, so returned to her friend, brushing her hands over her torso. Nothing. Patsy dropped to her knees as Delia started to hyperventilate, the gasping breaths interspersed with tight whines. She swept her hands over the girl's jogging bottoms, again to no avail.
"I can't find anything Deels."
"Pockets!" Delia squeaked.
Patsy pulled the pockets out of her trousers, vaguely noting the crashing of the front door downstairs. "Nothing darling."
Rather than calming the young brunette this only seemed to distress her further, the hopping sped up, as did the hand-flapping, the whine heightening in pitch and her face reddening. Delia looked uncannily like a toddler in the final build up of a full blown paddy, which would've been hilarious if Patsy didn't find it incredibly disturbing. She…cared…a lot, about this little welsh fireball but she was at a loss how to help her.
"It's in my hair it's in my hair it's in my hair it's in my hair!" Delia shrieked as footsteps pounded up the stairs.
"We heard a scream, what's going on?"
Patsy tugged the band out of Delia's hair, choosing to ignore Val and Lucille in the presence of more pressing matters. But the move startled Delia, the crown of her head colliding solidly with Patsy's chin. She tried not to recoil from the blow but she couldn't help it, her hand automatically coming to press against her smarting jaw.
"Oh Patsy! Are you all right?" Lucille cried, trying to grasp Delia's shoulders.
"I'm fine," Patsy mumbled, returning her attention to Delia, trying to get ahold on her hands. "Deels listen to me, I can't check your hair for this spider if you can't stay still."
"A spider?!" Val scoffed. "All this for a spider?! Never had you down as a wuss Busby."
She was silenced by a solid punch to the shoulder from Lucille.
"Don't be a dick Valerie!"
Lucille gently grasped Delia's face, ducking slightly to bring herself into the shorter woman's eyeline. "Delia, precious, do you want to try an exercise to help you calm down?"
"I I I…don't think…I can," Delia gasped out between short, sharp breaths.
Patsy's heart squeezed painfully at the scene before her, almost as painful as Delia's fingers digging into her palms, knuckles white she was clutching at the redhead so hard. Christ she was useless, so very useless.
"Yes you can Delia, I promise you," Lucille nodded encouragingly.
Delia eventually nodded back.
"Good girl. Now, try to concentrate. Take a breath, and tell me about something you can smell."
Delia closed her eyes and took a long sniff of the air. It was an unsteady sniff but was probably the deepest breath she'd taken since the shriek. Her brow creased, and a small groan escaped her throat as she bit down on her lip.
A bolt of heat shot through Patsy as her brain short-circuited at the sight. Seriously Patience?! This isn't the time!
"Barbara's…lasagne!"
Lucille chuckled. "Does it smell good?"
"So good," Delia drawled. "And I know…it…tastes better."
"That's a great start," Lucille smiled. "Tell me what you can hear."
"Delia's eyes remained closed as she focused. "Patsy's music."
"Do you like Patsy's music?"
The brunette nodded. "It's…calming…It let's me know she's…home."
Patsy's throat tightened a little, just as she noted Delia's grip starting to loosen. She'd forgotten about her music, she'd just put the jazz album on in the background. Did that mean Delia found her presence calming? Clearly not, seeing as it had taken Lucille distracting her with questions to stop her hyperventilating. Stay present Mount, come on!
"Something you can see?"
"This manky sodding carpet!"
Patsy snorted as Delia glared around her feet. She'd been meaning to talk to the landlord about that.
Lucille laughed aloud. "Yeah it's pretty grim. Now how about something you can touch?"
A small thumb slipping beneath the cuff of her jumper made Patsy's breath catch as it gently stroked over the skin. She watched a small smile appear on Delia's almost calm face.
"Patsy's jumper." Her whole hand started to stroke the redheads forearm. "It's really soft."
The jumper was old and had been hidden at the back of Patsy's wardrobe. It had belonged to her mother. Delia had insisted on raiding through Patsy's clothes before a house party a few weeks ago and declared it a crime that Patsy didn't wear it. The girl had nuzzled her shoulder many times that night. Surprisingly enough it was now Patsy's favourite jumper.
"Well done Delia," Lucille broke Patsy from her distraction as she pulled Delia into a side hug. "It's a crude grounding exercise, usually you ask about taste as well but there's not really anything in this hallway I'd want near my mouth or yours."
Patsy thought she saw…no that was definitely her imagination…or did she actually? She thought she saw Delia's eyes linger on her lips, just for a second, before averting her gaze to the floor, a light blush on her cheeks, but that could be explained away by the residual adrenalin because Delia was far too young, and having a panic attack to boot, so there was no way Patsy could be thinking like that for fucks sake!
"How do you feel Delia?" asked Lucille, squeezing the girl's shoulder.
Delia's face crumpling and fresh tears spilling down her face was the last thing Patsy expected, she thought Lucille had succeeded in calming her down.
"Right now, fucking embarrassed to be honest!" The welsh girl was instantly held tight by Lucille, while Patsy was left floundering. "I'm sorry for making such a stupid fuss!" She swiped furiously at her wet cheeks.
"None of that now," Lucille cooed, one hand rubbing up and down Delia's arm. "You've clearly got a proper phobia there, so don't be sorry."
Patsy zoned out as Lucille continued to reassure their friend. She wanted to be the one comforting Delia but might as well face it, everyone else was better at it than her, she had no idea where to start beyond giving Delia a hug.
"Pats?"
The timid voice pulled her from her spiralling thoughts. The watery blue of Delia's eyes was so vivid against the red of her cheeks that Patsy's breath caught. She cursed her own lack of interpersonal skills, she just could not read the look in those eyes.
"Pats? Would you…would you mind checking my hair for me?"
The redhead heaved a sigh of relief. Something practical she could do, now that was her forte. "Certainly Deels."
Lucille released the younger woman and Patsy stepped closer. She began delicately carding her fingers through the thick strands, watching closely for any movement of little legs. She noted that Delia was swaying ever so slightly, her eyes closed and face relaxed as Patsy's fingertips grazed lightly over her scalp. It made her feel warm to see the girl so much calmer.
She was distracted by the scent of Delia's shampoo, something herbal she didn't recognise, when the shorter woman stiffened, her hand clutching at the front of Patsy's jumper.
"Deels?"
"Back of my neck," she squeaked between clenched teeth.
The taller woman swept the mane of hair up away from her friends skin, turning her a little for better light. Delia refused to relinquish her grip on Patsy's jumper while she examined the area carefully, while Patsy refused to admire the smattering of freckles across the top of Delia's back as she risked a glance down the collar of the girls t-shirt, before gently lowering the dark locks over her shoulders.
"I am happy to confirm that you are 100% arachnid-free Miss Busby," Patsy declared, standing straight and clasping her hands in front of her.
Delia practically deflated at the confirmation, slumping forward and pressing her forehead to Patsy's shoulder.
Patsy should have anticipated the move, Delia had been increasingly tactile with her since Freshers week, but for some reason it still caught her off guard. A smaller pair of arms wrapping around her middle kicked her brain into gear and finally she held Delia tight.
The girl was trembling.
"Are you all right Deels?" Patsy murmured against the dark hair.
Delia nodded. "I just wish I knew where it's gone," she mumbled.
Patsy turned to glare at the huff behind her.
Valerie straightened up from where she was leaning, arms crossed, against the banister. "I'll check your room shall I?"
Patsy didn't miss the eye-roll as the local girl passed through the doorway. She'd be having words with her later.
"It was on my desk," Delia called after Val, glancing nervously over Patsy's shoulder.
"Blimey Busby, are you just living on Tesco cereal bars?"
Patsy sighed as Delia hid her face against her shoulder. It appeared her earlier concerns had been justified.
"Valerie!" Lucille marched into the room. "Will you please focus?"
Patsy found herself gently swaying, rubbing her cheek against Delia's hair, listening intently to the quiet shuffling of her friends to distract herself from the rising feeling of contentment she felt at just holding the welsh girl like this.
"I've found it," Lucille called.
"Oh for fucks sake Delia, it's a tiny little money spider!"
The distinct sound of a slap reached Patsy's ears.
"Owww-wah! Christ when did you get so violent?"
Patsy felt Delia's shoulders lift with a small laugh.
"Delia?" came Lucille's voice. "Is it all right if I use your mug to catch it?"
"No!" Delia squeaked, tensing and clutching at Patsy. "Please just kill it."
"Are you sure? I'll release it in our garden, it won't be able to get to you again."
All Delia managed was a whimper.
Patsy sighed, leaning back to meet her friends eye through the doorframe. "Better just kill it Lucille."
Lucille's brow furrowed, but she nodded, reaching for a tissue. She stood poised over Delia's textbook, but appeared reluctant to complete the deed.
"Really?" Val exclaimed. "You've been beating me up all day but you can't kill an incey wincey spider?"
The Jamaican girl turned and started pummelling her, Val raising her arms to protect her head.
"All right all right already!"
Lucille relented and swept her hair out of her face, glaring at her friend. "You deserve it Valerie Dyer, that spider doesn't."
Val glared back but snatched the tissue from Lucille and stood over the text book. "Sorry pal." She wrapped the tissue around the unseen spider, and squeezed it tightly.
"It's gone Deels," Patsy whispered, Delia releasing a shuddering breath.
"Do you need to see it for confirmation Delia?" Val emerged from the room, brandishing the screwed up tissue.
Patsy jabbed a swift elbow into the woman's ribs.
"Ooof! Not you and all?!"
"Thank you for your help Val, but now please kindly fuck off," the redhead deadpanned.
"All right fine." The Londoner started towards the stairs, before turning back with a look of enlightenment on her face. "Delia was this all a ruse to get the two hottest girls in the group to feel you up? Because if so then I salute you mate!"
Chaos erupted as Patsy turned to give her what for, only for Delia to lunge past her, red faced and hands set in claws. Fortunately Val had the wherewithal to leg it, followed closely by Lucille, Patsy grabbing Delia to prevent her going after them. A yelp as the door slammed suggested Valerie had not escaped unscathed.
"I'm going to deck you Dyer!" Delia screamed.
"You're not the only one," Patsy reassured, still trying to keep a firm hold of the antsy woman in her arms.
"I wasn't doing anything of the sort Patsy I promise!" Delia stared into Patsy's eyes defiantly.
The redhead pulled her in, running a soothing hand up and down her back. "I know Deels, I know."
Kicking the skirting board, Delia dropped her head against Patsy's shoulder. "I hate her."
"Yup," Patsy nodded.
"She's a knob.
"You'll just have to kick her arse at Mario Car," suggested the redhead.
Delia straightened up, staring incredulously at Patsy. "Kart, Pats. It's Mario Kart."
The taller woman was losing the battle to keep the smirk off her face.
Delia pursed her lips and shook her head. "I hate you too."
Patsy chuckled. She debated for a moment about asking her next question, but Delia had spent the last few months encouraging her to be more open with people, so she hoped she wouldn't mind.
"Deels? May I ask what happened to make you so scared of spiders?"
She saw the fire ignite in Delia's eyes before the girl even spoke and took a step back.
"Nothing!" The brunette bit. "Nothing fucking happened to make me scared of them, I didn't get locked in the fucking cupboard under the stairs with them or run into a fucking web when I was a kid it's a fucking phobia!"
"Don't shout at me!" Patsy snapped, feeling only a flash of guilt for her own tone as Delia rubbed her hands over her face and groaned. "I wasn't judging you, I was just curious."
"I know," Delia whined. "I'm sorry, it's just a really touchy subject. I know they can't harm me. It's an entirely irrational fear and I just wish it would fuck off!"
Patsy reached out to take Delia's hand, stroking her thumb along her knuckles. "It must make things difficult."
"You have no idea. Living in the welsh countryside with arachnophobia is a fucking nightmare." Delia stamped her foot. " And I can't even go to the Harry Potter studio tour because of it!"
"The injustice," Patsy smirked.
The girl snorted before seeming to wilt where she stood. "God I'm so tired."
"I'm not surprised after all that." The redhead wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her towards her room. "You should probably get to bed." She felt Delia resist as they reached the doorframe. "Deels?"
"I…umm…" Her lower lip started to quiver, her face quickly reddening as her eyes grew wet. "I don't think I can go back in there tonight."
"That's ok," Patsy reassured, stroking her back. "We can't really set you up on the sofa in the kitchen though. Do you…do you want to come in with me?"
Delia's eyes glanced across her face. "Are you sure that's ok?"
Patsy shrugged.
A small smile appeared on Delia's face. "Thank you."
Gesturing for Delia to lead the way, Patsy took a deep breath. She hadn't shared a room with anyone since the end of fifth form at school. But she could do this, it was only Delia.
The girl was stood awkwardly in the middle of Patsy's room. Patsy walked straight past her and pulled a box of extra bedding from under her bed. She didn't have anyone she thought would ever come to stay but it never hurt to be prepared.
Delia watched her with a furrowed brow.
Patsy nodded to the bed as she pulled out the sleeping bag. "Go on. Get comfortable."
"Where are you sleeping?" Delia asked, glancing at the neatly made bed like it might bite her.
"Right here," Patsy declared as she rolled the bag out on the floor.
"No Pats, I'm not kicking you out of your own bed!"
"Of you're not." Patsy rocked back as she opened the vacuum storage bag containing a pair of pillows that rapidly regained their size. "I offered it to you."
"I…but…well surely we can just double up?"
Patsy stared at Delia incredulously. Share a bed? They'd dozed off together on the sofa once or twice, but in a bed? In that close proximity? For the whole night? Surely that was too much! "Deels it's a single!"
"I know but…I'm happy to sleep against the wall I don't take up much room…and I'll probably sleep like the dead after all that…and to be honest…" The girl avoided Patsy's gaze as she fiddled with the hem of her t-shirt. "…I could kinda do with a cuddle." Her eyes flicked up to Patsy's for only a split second.
Running her hand through her hair, Patsy sighed. This was such a bad idea. "All right, get in."
Delia looked at her with such open relief Patsy couldn't find it within herself to keep second guessing the decision. She nodded to the bed again and Delia flashed her a grateful smile before crawling over the sheets and laying with her back to the wall.
A smile crossed Patsy's face unbidden watching Delia snuggle under the duvet. When she looked settled Patsy switched off the light and carefully climbed in beside her, laying on her back and lifting her arm in invitation. The girl seemed unusually hesitant to indulge in the embrace, but soon her head was resting on Patsy's shoulder, a nervous fist lying lightly on her stomach. Patsy didn't want to let this be an awkward experience for either of them, so taking a leaf out of Delia's book she pulled the clutched hand over her middle, and wrapped her own arm snuggly around her friend, drawing her in close.
Delia sighed. "Thank you Pats."
"You're very welcome Deels," Patsy murmured, refusing to analyse the tingly feeling running through her right now. Delia needed this. So she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Pats?"
"Mmm?"
"You have a really hard chin."
Patsy laughed openly. "I knew you were hard-headed, but I didn't realise how hard!"
Delia giggled, and lifted her head from Patsy's shoulder. Patsy's breath caught when the girl placed a light kiss on her jaw before snuggling down again.
"Good night Pats."