Violet's mind wandered as she drove, thinking about how different her life was now than it had been two weeks ago. Ever since she had come over after work to take Clementine shopping she realized how lonely she had been going home to her quiet apartment by herself every night. So she offered to bring AJ home everyday, no longer wanting to go days without seeing Clementine. AJ would hang around the classroom doing his homework until Violet was done working and she would drive AJ home from school where she would spend the next several hours just spending time with Clementine. Helping with household chores, playing with AJ or her favorite, snuggling on the couch watching tv and talking with Clementine after AJ went to bed. She longed to be near the brunette, even menial tasks became enjoyable when Clementine was around.
Clementine smiled from the passenger seat at the blonde who was focused on her driving. Taking advantage of Violet's concentration on the road to examine her features, getting lost in them. Those green eyes that could pierce her to the very core, no secret was safe from those eyes. Her eye lashes were so blonde it almost seemed as if she didn't have any at all unless you were looking close but Clementine liked to look close. Clementine's eyes continued to rove over Violet's face, her smooth skin, the perfect slant of her nose, halting on Violet's lips. She had kissed those lips almost every night since Violet had been coming over after school, but only a quick kiss, a kiss goodbye at the end of a long day, nothing more. Clementine wanted more.
"Thank you for the movie Violet. It was so nice to not think about... everything... for a while." Clementine spoke up, breaking Violet from her thoughts.
"Don't mention it." Violet glanced briefly from the road to look at Clementine, smiling, before looking back in front. Clementine continued her observations of the blonde, noticing as she held the steering wheel tighter, furrowing her brow as if debating with herself. Clementine considered speaking up, asking if something was wrong, but Violet spoke up before she could ask. "Do you have to get back to AJ tonight? Before work?"
"No, Duck's there for the night and I didn't know how late we'd be so I brought my work shirt with me." Clementine reached in her bag, pulling out a piece of her polo, proving that she had her uniform with her.
"Would you like to... um... would you want to come to my place? I can make coffee." Violet asked nervously.
"I would like to and I want to." Clementine answered, smiling at the grin that spread across Violet's face. Though they had spent every free moment together for weeks, very little of that was alone time.
"Great." Violet said, trying to keep her voice even as she switched lanes and minutes later pulled into the parking lot of an apartment complex. They exited the car and walked up a flight of stairs, Violet pulled out a key as she stopped in front of a door. "It's not much, but it's mine." She said as she turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open, holding it there for Clementine to enter.
Clementine smirked as she looked at the spotless counter tops and immaculate floors. "Either you are the tidiest person I know or you were planning to invite me over before you even left this morning."
Violet could feel the heat rising up her neck as she scratched at the back of it. Violet didn't want Clementine to think that her only intentions in inviting her over were immoral, "I may have done some... light cleaning this morning before work... I thought coming here would be a nice change of scenery." Clementine pulled Violet close and pressed a kiss against her warm cheek.
"You're adorable when you're embarrassed." Clementine grinned as Violet got even redder.
Violet turned to the kitchen counter, trying to keep Clementine's eyes off her, "Have a seat," Violet gestured blindly to the sofa, "I'll make you that coffee I promised. How do you like it?"
"Black, thanks." Clementine sat down, picking up a throw pillow and hugging it to her chest as she watched Violet busy herself with making the drink. Brewing it in a small single cup coffee maker while the water for Violet's tea boiled on the stove.
"Really?" Violet scrunched her face up in disgust at the idea.
"I need it strong to get me through my shift, you get used to it after a while." Clementine shrugged, "Are you having any?"
"No... I would be up all night. I'm making myself some tea." Violet answered, close enough to speak without yelling in the cozy apartment. They were separated by a raised counter top that appeared to double as Violet's kitchen table judging by the solitary stool next to it.
"What kind of tea are you having?" Clementine asked, making conversation as she looked around the room. It was pretty bare, a small tv sat on an inexpensive looking stand against the wall. The sofa had a coffee table in front of it, but that was the only furniture the room contained. A blanket was draped over the couch and the comfortable looking throw pillows gave the small room a homey feel. There were no photos or decorations around the room or on the walls except for one big painting that hung above the couch.
"You're going to make fun of me, but I've been drinking this tea for years before I met you." Violet delayed her answer.
"Tell me, please?" Clementine leaned over the arm of the couch, flashing Violet her most convincing smile.
"It's an herbal tea, it's... it's orange spice..." Violet said begrudgingly as she poured the now boiling water into a mug, adding the tea bag into the water so that it could seep.
"Oh?" Clementine raised an eyebrow at the name, smirking teasingly at the blonde.
"I drank it before I met you, I swear." Violet insisted with a slight chuckle as Clementine continued to smirk. Violet took the freshly brewed cup of coffee and her mug of tea and joined Clementine on the couch, setting their respective drinks on the small table in front of them.
"Thank you." Clementine said as she picked up her drink, taking a tentative sip, testing the temperature and finding it too hot to drink properly. She held the mug in both her hands, blowing at the heat vapors that rose from the warm beverage before taking another sip and laughing at herself as she set it back down on the coffee table. "That never works, I don't know why I always do it."
Violet smiled, leaving her tea to seep a while longer as it also cooled on the coffee table. She pulled a leg up underneath her as she turned to face Clementine.
Clementine mustered the most serious expression that she could, "How long has this been going on then Vi? This obsession you have with oranges?" Clementine joked.
"The tea is just good, the obsession didn't start until I met you." Violet's eyes widened after she said it. "I mean-I didn't mean... I'm not obsessed with you I just... It seemed romantic in my head but it sounded so much dumber when I said it out loud." Violet covered her face with her hands, trying to hide her embarrassment. Clementine scooted closer, gently prying Violet's soft hands away with hers that were rough from the constant work as of late.
"Not obsessed? Maybe I can change that." Clementine whispered as she moved her head forward, tilting it slightly, her warm breath cascading against Violet's lips as she spoke.
Violet didn't have time to respond before their lips met. Just as they had met several times before, but instead of stopping after one pure kiss, they continued. Clementine was encouraged by Violet's arms slipping around her neck, beckoning her closer.
The kiss deepened with every passing minute, becoming more passionate as Violet leaned back onto the sofa, pulling Clementine down with her as she went, whimpering with desire as she felt the brunette's curves pressed against hers. Violet's hands ran down Clementine's sides, stopping at the hem of her shirt and caressing the skin that was exposed there. Wanting to go further, she ran her hands under Clementine's shirt and up her back, freezing as Clementine's lips broke apart from her own and moved to her neck. Violet's breath caught in her throat as Clementine placed heated kisses along it, working her way down, careful to not leave a mark as she went. As she reached the front of Violet's shirt collar, the blonde hastily reached up to undo the top couple buttons. Her eagerness caused a small smile to play at the brunette's lips before she hungrily leaned forward, capturing the newly exposed skin.
Violet breathed heavily, heart thumping wildly with anticipation as Clementine once again reached the edge of her clothing. Violet reached up with unsteady hands to grant the brown haired girl complete access when the sound of a phone alarm stopped her hands in their tracks.
Clementine swore as she sat up and pulled her phone from her pocket to turn off the alarm. "That's my work alarm, I have to get going." She said regrettably, remaining seated in order to collect her wits.
Violet sat up beside her, hair a mess from rubbing against the couch cushion, "You could always take a sick day." She suggested, leaning forward and kissing Clementine on the lips once more, impatient to finish what they had started, "You work too hard."
Clementine wrapped her arms around Violet, getting momentarily lost in the kiss before pulling away once more. "If I don't go in, I don't get paid. I don't get paid sick leave." Clementine reached up sorrowfully, stroking Violet's cheek tenderly. "I don't want to go, I promise."
"I know... I'm sorry." Violet stood from the couch, stretched her hands out to the younger girl and pulled her up into a hug. "Tomorrow is Friday, I don't get to see you on Fridays..." Violet spoke into Clementine's hair, relishing the feel of it's coarseness against her face. By the time Violet got off work on Fridays, Clementine was already at the pizzeria.
"Want to go to the park with me and AJ Saturday morning?" Clementine asked hopefully, "That way I get to see you as soon as possible."
"That sounds perfect." Violet grinned, they separated from their hug and smiled at one another, kissing one last time before Clementine rushed to the bathroom to change into her work polo.
Violet knocked on the door at the designated time Saturday morning, eager to see the brunette that she hadn't gotten to see the previous day. The sound of hurried footsteps came from inside, followed by the unlocking of the door and turn of the knob. "Ms. Adlon!" AJ shouted as he flung the door open wide.
Violet crouched down to AJ's level, "How about you call me Violet unless we're at school? How does that sound?"
AJ's face lit up, "Okay Ms-uh, Violet!"
"Where's Clem?" Violet asked as she came in the house, closing the door behind her.
"In bed still." AJ shrugged as he sat back down on the couch precariously eating a bowl of cereal as he watched cartoons.
"I'll go wake her up." Violet told AJ before she wandered through the hallway. She knew which room was Clementine's but she had never been in it. The door was open a crack, she knocked lightly on it, almost hoping that Clementine was still sleeping inside so she could wake her up with a kiss. When no sound came from inside Violet pushed the door open, cautiously closing it all the way behind her until it softly clicked shut.
Clementine was hardly visible beneath the pile of blankets, Violet smiled to herself as she noticed only her face poking out, surrounded by a pile of blankets. Carefully Violet sat on the edge of the bed, pulled back the covers slightly and gazed at Clementine's face as she hugged her pillow with both arms, face smashed into it's softness. So naturally beautiful Violet thought as she ran her fingers through Clementine's hair, enjoying the small sighs of pleasure Clementine made as she did. Violet leaned forward and kissed Clementine on the cheek, the corner of the brunette's lip twitched up at the contact.
"Clem." Violet whispered, not wanting to scare the girl in her attempts to wake her. "Clem, wake up."
"Hmmmm?" Clementine rolled over onto her back stretching, eyes still closed. Violet noted how serious she looked even while sleeping, a concentrated look on her face as if she were just completing another necessary task in order to make it through life. Another check off her to-do list.
"Wake up Clementine." Violet said again, leaning in to kiss Clementine once more, on the lips this time.
Eyes still closed Clementine smiled against the kiss. "Good morning." Clementine mumbled as she kicked the blankets off herself, stretching once more.
"Good morning." Violet smiled at Clementine's groggy morning voice. The brunette slowly blinked her eyes open and wrapped her arms around Violet, pulling her down on the bed beside her. Violet giggled as Clementine kissed her on the cheek before snuggling into her side, resting her curly head on Violet's shoulder as she closed her eyes again. "What are you doing?" Violet chuckled, unable to resist putting her arms around Clementine, allowing her hands to slide up and down her bare arms.
"Still sleepy." Clementine mumbled, snuggling deeper. Violet rolled her eyes and reached for the blanket, pulling it up around the brunette as she drifted back to sleep. Violet continued to watch her, noting how her face looked more at peace than it had only moments ago. She sighed as she leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Wondering if she should wake Clementine up again or let her sleep.
The bedroom door creaked open and AJ walked in, "I thought you were going to wake up Clem. Aren't we going to the park?" he said eagerly, ready to go out and have fun with his big sister and his teacher.
"I tried." Violet said, blushing at being seen in bed with Clementine.
"It's okay, you're just not ex-per-ienc-ed." AJ said, breaking up the word as he pronounced it, still keeping an all knowing tone, "I wake Clem up every day, you have to do it like this." AJ ran from his spot at the door and threw himself on top of his sleeping sister.
Clementine's eyes shot open, "I'm awake, I'm awake!" She yelled, adrenaline pumping through her veins. AJ giggled as he hopped off the bed and ran back out of the room, successful in his mission.
"I'm going to get dressed for the park now!" he yelled from the hall.
Violet looked worriedly over at her girlfriend who was now sitting up in bed, "Does AJ always wake you up like that?"
Clementine chuckled lightly, "Almost always..."
"You poor thing." Violet gave her a pitying kiss on the cheek before she stood and beckoned for Clementine to follow.
Clementine tugged on the rim of her hat, blocking the sun from her eyes as she walked around a glistening pond, hand in hand with Violet. It was peaceful as they walked in silence. Smiling at AJ as he laughed while he both chased and was chased by geese.
"Thanks for staying with me after you saw what a mess my life was Violet. You didn't have to, you could've backed out at any time. You can back out now." Clementine said, eyes still watching the water as it shifted in the wind.
"Never." Violet said simply, squeezing Clementine's hand in reassurance. "If I had found you after all this mess was over with. After everything settles down and is stable, you would never have gone out with a lowly teacher like me. You're too good for me Clementine, you just don't know it."
"Violet!" Clementine stopped walking and pulled Violet to a stop beside her. "You know that's not true. You are the kindest, most caring, smart, beautiful person I know. I'm grateful for every day that you want to be with me." Clementine leaned in close, whispering softly, "Don't tell AJ I said this, but I'm really glad he bit that kid." Violet laughed and Clementine grinned at her success at making Violet smile. The brunette kissed Violet on the cheek as they continued their walk, talking about lighter things.
At the end of the path was a playground that AJ excitedly ran toward. Clementine joined him for a while, swinging with him and playing tag. Doing things she had always done as his sister but never had the time to do as his guardian. After a while she tiredly slumped onto the bench next to Violet. She picked up the backpack she had set there and opened it up.
"Sandwich?" Clementine asked, smiling mischievously and holding one out to Violet. "I made your favorite!"
"My favorite?" Violet asked curiously, unable to recall ever telling Clementine her favorite sandwich. She opened the baggie curiously and pulled up the slice of bread, laughing as she saw that it was full of chicken nuggets and chicken nuggets alone. "Seriously?" Violet continued to laugh, Clementine joining in.
"No, not seriously, it was meant as a joke unless you really want it. I made you a turkey sandwich too." Clementine held up the other one.
Violet smiled as she took the other sandwich, "Maybe I'll have half of each."
AJ came over and ate quickly before running off to play with a new friend he had made. Clementine's phone rang as she was almost finished with her food. Seeing it was Duck she answered it immediately.
"Hey Duck!" Clementine answered, swallowing the bite that remained in her mouth.
"Bad news? Are you alright?" Violet listened in to Clementine's half of the conversation, trying to string together meaning.
"That's a relief, what's going on then?"
Clementine was silent for a long while, worry slowly overtaking the features of her face as Duck spoke.
Clementine cleared her throat, "Um, yeah, no... That's fine Duck. I'm happy for you really. I'll make it work somehow. I always do. Bye"
"What was that about?" Violet asked, seeing the heavy expression on Clementine's face as she hung up the phone.
"Duck, he was going to move in with me in a couple weeks but him and Sarah have been dating a while and she asked him to move in with her. I don't blame him... It's just... I can't keep counting on your for groceries, Duck moving in was going relieve my financial stresses a lot..." Clementine leaned forward, holding her head in her hands frustrated. "Maybe I can get another job while AJ's in school..."
"Clem, isn't that when you sleep?" Violet asked, trying to keep her voice soft.
"I can sleep when AJ gets home from school... before I go to the grocery store. He's responsible, he can make himself something for dinner." Clementine said, Violet could see the gears in her head turning as she tried to figure out their new situation.
Violet set her hand on her back, rubbing it up and down comfortingly. She only thought for a second before speaking, "How about I move in?"
"What?" Clementine sat up sharply at her words.
"I could move in." Violet repeated. "I'll help pay the bills. It won't be me doing you a favor if I live with you. I know it may seem fast, moving in already, but I can stay in Lee's room if that makes you feel more comfortable and I... I miss you when we're apart. My apartment just hasn't felt like home since I met you."
"You would do that... really... for me?" Clementine asked, tears welling up in our eyes.
"No, I'd do it for us." Violet smiled, placing a small kiss on Clementine's cheek.