Waiting (on You)

by mikotyzini

Blake means everything to Yang. She's supportive, she's loyal, she's kind...she's the best friend anyone could ask for. If Yang had one wish, it would be to stay friends forever. Then they'll always have each other, and she'll never lose one of the most important people in her life. But life changes without permission, forcing Yang to consider their friendship in a new light.

1. Chapter 1

Back again! This is one of my favorite Bumbleby stories I've written so far, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

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Vale was the perfect city. Bustling, ceaseless energy. Too many restaurants, bars, and clubs to count. Hundreds of thousands of people, with more moving in every day. There was always something new to do and someone new to do it with, making loneliness next to impossible; all someone had to do was smile and strike up a conversation to make a new friend.

Yang loved the energy. She loved that whenever she felt restless or bored she could just walk outside and find an adventure or source of entertainment. Nestled in that constant commotion was something that made her feel...almost at ease.

Permanence didn't exist in such a big city. Businesses opened and closed daily. Buildings were built and torn down. Coworkers were hired or fired. Friends moved closer or further away.

Temporary was the norm, and every interaction was as fleeting as one wanted it to be. That transient vibe gave the impression that they were all here just for a little while, and there was no use getting attached when they would all be somewhere else soon.

Yang had lived here for years now, a seasoned city slicker by many definitions, but she hadn't felt the need or desire to put down long-term roots. She was still young. There was still so much for her to experience, and she was happy to experience those things with whatever temporary acquaintances she found.

"What do you think?" she asked the petite strawberry-blonde sitting across from her while their plates were cleared away. "On a scale of one to ten - where's this place land?"

"I'd give it an...eight."

"Only an eight?" When the girl laughed at the disbelieving tone, Yang smiled and shook her head. "Julia, come on now. You gave that sushi place last week a nine!"

"That place was good!"

"But this is a breakfast place." Yang motioned around the patio they were seated at, with its brightly colored umbrellas shading them from the sun. "Everyone knows breakfast gets an extra point for being the best meal of the day."

"In that case, a nine." As soon as Yang raised her hands to celebrate, Julia smirked. "If you like breakfast so much…I can think of someplace I'd definitely give a ten."

"Oh yeah?" Yang set her elbows on the table and leaned forward, curious to learn about any breakfast spots she didn't already know of. "Where's that?"

"Your apartment," Julia answered with a shrug so nonchalant it must have been practiced. "With you cooking, of course."

The batted eyelashes made the implication clear as day, and Yang chuckled while sitting back in her seat. She hadn't expected that response, but...based on their conversations as of late, she probably should have.

"Sorry, but I can't cook. Unless you like burnt toast and overcooked omelets."

"You can't be that bad…"

"My sister got me a fire extinguisher for my birthday and made me promise to keep it in the kitchen at all times."

Julia's brow rose while Yang nodded. Her mind, however, scrambled for a subject change. She actually didn't cook; she was horrible at it and left it to the more-seasoned chefs. But Julia was actually suggesting that they…move this relationship forward…and Yang definitely wasn't there.

Being in such separate places made their somewhat-stilted brunch all the more glaring. But, as fortune had it, a diversion appeared before she said anything.

"I'll leave this right here," their waiter said while setting the bill on the table. "But take your time."

As he whisked off to check his other tables, Yang grabbed the check and waved Julia's hand away.

"Don't worry, I got it."

"When do I get to pay for something?"

"I'm the one who invited you," Yang pointed out. And, based on how brunch went, that was one invitation too many. "It's only fair that I pay when I invited you," she added, glancing at the time before setting the check and her credit card at the edge of the table so their waiter could grab it the next time he passed. "Besides, I have to spend my paychecks on something, right? Might as well treat you to brunch."

"Fine…but I'm paying next time."

After nodding to their waiter, who grabbed the bill and hurried off, Yang smiled at Julia.

"Sure. Next time, you got it."

Julia's brow furrowed at the response, but Yang tapped her hands together and glanced around the restaurant rather than hold eye contact. If she'd learned anything from previous dates like this one, it didn't take much for girls to read into a situation and come up with wild conclusions. Or, in this case, probably come up with the right conclusions.

One of the biggest drawbacks of dating women: they felt emotions and words that were left unsaid. A guy would probably remain oblivious - Yang said they could pay next time, so they would pay next time - but that response, combined with the averted answer right before it and several topic changes over the course of their meal, painted a pretty clear picture for the more emotionally-attuned.

The strained silence confirmed that Julia was emotionally-attuned.

Yang could save this if she wanted to, but...she didn't know if she wanted to. Julia was cute and had a nice laugh, and they'd gone on a few good dates, but Yang didn't like making promises she couldn't keep or implying feelings she didn't have.

"I still can't get over this weather," she said to break the silence, tilting her head back to enjoy some of the sun's warmth. "Think it'll be like this all weekend?"

"Hopefully. I'm so tired of the humidity…"

"Same."

When their waiter returned with their check, Yang reached forward to collect her credit card and receipt. "Thanks for stopping by today," he said while she did that. "Hopefully, we'll see you again soon."

Whether or not he actually cared about them returning remained to be seen, as he left before either of them could answer. That saved Yang at least one more awkward conversation, as she took another look at the time and stood up.

"Ready to head out?"

Thankfully, Julia didn't argue for staying longer. She did, however, take plenty of time gathering her purse before following Yang to the exit.

"Any plans today?" Yang asked once they reached the sidewalk, hoping to dispel some of the awkward tension before bidding goodbye.

"I thought we could hang out." Julia's slight frown suggested this was something Yang should have already known even though it hadn't been discussed. "It's Saturday," she added. "We could go to a museum or check out the new civic center."

"Oh, uh…" Shuffling her feet, Yang glanced at the time and shook her head. "That sounds like fun, but I promised a friend I'd help with a work thing."

When Julie crossed her arms and subtly rolled her eyes, Yang frowned.

"Is that…not ok?" she ventured to ask.

"It's fine." One of the most obvious lies Yang had ever heard, which Julia proved by throwing her arms down to her sides and slightly stomping one foot. "You just always have something else to do."

"Sorry, I've been kind of busy recently -"

"It's not just that, Yang. I get that we've only been going out for a few weeks, but you prioritize everyone else over me. It's like the only time I hear from you is when you're bored and have nothing else to do."

Faced with that outburst, Yang spared another glance at her watch and sighed. This wasn't a conversation she wanted to have now, or ever, but it looked like she had no choice. Either she got this over with quickly or she was late, and she refused to be late.

"Listen…" she began as gently as possible. "I'm sorry you feel like that, but I told you I just…want to have fun."

"And what if I want more than that?"

"Then...we're looking for different things." After pausing for a second, just long enough to check what kind of response she was about to get, Yang hurried on. "I just don't want a serious relationship. If that's what you want...then you should probably be with someone who wants the same thing."

"Really?" Now came the disbelief, but Yang hoped shouting wasn't right behind. "That's it? We're just 'looking for different things?'"

The brewing argument was garnering attention now, especially from the diners seated at the tables nearby. As conversations paused to facilitate better eavesdropping, Yang leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"I mean...yes?" she replied, keeping her tone calm in hopes Julia didn't fly off the handle and cause an even bigger scene. "I thought that's what we both wanted? When we met -"

"Yeah, that's how I felt at first, Yang. Things have changed."

"For you," Yang pointed out delicately. As much as she wished they were still on the same page - whatever that page might be - her feelings hadn't changed since the day they met, and she wouldn't pretend that they had.

"Listen," she tried when Julia shook her head and turned away. "Maybe we should just chill for a bit, and you can think about it."

"What's there to think about?" An accusatory glare accompanied the sharp question. "What's the point in being in a relationship that's going nowhere?"

That was the point of looking for something casual, but now wasn't the time to bring that up. Instead, Yang leaned back on her heels and raised her hands to show she didn't have an answer.

"Wow, you really do have commitment issues," Julia finally snapped, going for the easiest insult available. "Maybe it's time to grow up, Yang. You're not in college anymore."

The last person Yang needed lecturing her about 'commitment issues' was someone she met at a club and went on five total dates with. But the insults confirmed that this was officially over, meaning she could leave. Swinging her jacket around her shoulders, she smiled regardless.

"I'm aware," she said, admitting to all of the above. "But I really am sorry I can't give you what you're after. I had a lot of fun."

After giving Julia the chance to respond, to which she scoffed a little softer and looked a little less angry, Yang flashed one last smile and walked away. As soon as she made it around the corner, she quickened her pace and blew a big breath through her lips.

She hadn't expected to do that this morning, but she couldn't escape a fair amount of relief. Things had started feeling more...emotionally involved...recently, and the last thing she wanted to be was someone's girlfriend.

But if that conversation made her late, she would be very unhappy.

Hoping to make up time, she hurried over to her motorcycle, hopped on, and started the engine in one fluid motion. The bike sprang to life beneath her, growling at first before settling into a low rumble. She revved the engine one more time before tearing off towards her next destination.

Traffic was horrible, as usual, which validated her decision to drive a motorcycle rather than any other vehicle. Compared to the big, bulky boxes bumbling along the streets, Bumblebee was quick and nimble. She fit between cars, skirted around traffic jams, and could even go up on the sidewalk if necessary.

Being short on time wasn't a great reason to drive on the sidewalk, unfortunately. So, as much as Yang loathed the idea of being late, she stuck to the streets, drove faster than usual, and cut as many corners as possible. It definitely wasn't defensive driving, but she'd never called herself a defensive driver. No one else had either, but that was beside the point.

By the time the sprawling shopping center plunked down near the edge of downtown came into view, she had a few minutes to spare. That alone was enough for her to sigh in relief while making her way to the far side of the building, where a multi-story bookstore drew in anyone looking for a good read or a quiet place to grab some coffee. Since it was the weekend, the parking lot was packed.

Fortunately, there were plenty of motorcycle spaces available - another perk of riding rather than driving. After rolling into the first open spot, Yang cut the engine, kicked the stand into place, and waved at the person she'd rushed here to meet.

Blake's long, wavy, jet-black hair and slender, graceful figure helped her stand out in any crowd, but it was her calm demeanor and quiet, unspoken confidence that truly set her apart. She was the exception to Vale's fleeting, transitory atmosphere. Smart, capable, gorgeous...she was honestly too good for Yang, yet they'd been best friends for years now.

How they ever became friends remained a mystery to Yang, but she valued their friendship more than pretty much everything else in her life. Blake was so important to her that she tried her hardest to be on time whenever they made plans. And, because they were best friends, those plans were better and more exciting than any date.

"The cavalry has arrived," she joked while jogging over to Blake, whose intense amber eyes had been trained on her ever since she pulled up. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"I haven't been here long," Blake assured her with one of those almost-shy, almost-teasing smiles she loved. Before she responded, however, Blake looked her over and then leaned to one side to look at Bumblebee.

"Why weren't you wearing a helmet?"

"Oh." Of course Blake noticed that. She noticed everything. "Uh, I was in a hurry."

Again with that smile, as Blake sent another glance toward Yang's motorcycle.

"You don't even have it with you," she pointed out, giving Yang ample reason to chuckle and run a hand through her hair.

"Um, right. I might've been in a hurry when I left my apartment, so I might've left it by the door."

"Yang…"

"I was already late," Yang admitted, but Blake shook her head.

"I'd rather you were fifteen seconds late to your date than get a call that your brains are scattered across the freeway."

"I'm a safe driver!"

"No, you're not," Blake said, laughing and shaking her head before Yang argued otherwise. "You're aggressive and drive double the limit."

"One, double the speed limit would be fun but ridiculous with the amount of potholes around here." When Blake smiled and rolled her eyes, Yang grinned and held up two fingers. "And two, I'm actually such a defensive driver that it only looks like I'm aggressive. But there's no greater defense than a good offense, right?"

"Fine." Blake raised her hands to concede the argument. "But, for what it's worth, you're more attractive with the helmet on."

In a single sentence, Blake caught all of Yang's attention and then some.

"Yeah? You think so?"

"Mhmm. And then you get to do that thing."

When Blake gestured with one hand, Yang's curiosity grew.

"What thing?"

"Where you take your helmet off and shake your hair," Blake explained, her gaze unfocusing as if she could see it right now. "And that's...really sexy."

The thought of Blake finding her attractive - sexy even - made Yang grin like a fool. Not many people earned such high praise from Blake, after all, and Yang would gladly accept being one of them.

Realizing what Blake just did, however, she sighed.

"Dammit. I'll wear the helmet."

"Good." Having gotten her way - again - Blake patted Yang's shoulder and gave her a good look up and down. "You look nice."

"Didn't want to embarrass you."

"When have you ever embarrassed me?"

"Never. Not that I know of, at least." Blake's brow rose at the answer, knowing it proved her point. "Doesn't mean I ever want to," Yang admitted, and Blake finally relaxed into a soft smile.

"I doubt that'll ever happen," she replied before motioning to a stack of boxes sitting beside the bookstore's main entrance. "Can you help carry these in?"

"Of course!"

Considering Yang just raced across the city specifically to be Blake's lackey for the afternoon, she willingly tackled her first task. Picking up the first box, however, required a grunt of effort and a few more muscles than expected.

"Damn," she huffed once she straightened up and shifted the box to fit more comfortably in her arms. "What're these filled with - books?"

While Yang grinned at the joke, Blake gave her a deadpan look before grabbing another box and backing through the door of the bookstore.

"Come on, that was funny!" Yang teased, following Blake into the store and gently bumping Blake's shoulder. "Because they are books," she whispered, and grinned when Blake finally laughed.

"You make that joke every time -"

"And you laugh every time!" Yang pointed out. "Almost as if you find books amusing…"

As Yang playfully mulled over that unsurprising comment, Blake shook her head. She still thought it was funny though - Yang could tell by the way her eyes sparkled and a hint of a smile lifted her lips.

"We're setting up over there," Blake explained several steps later, opting to get back to business while nodding toward the cafe in the far corner of the store. The location was conveniently out of the way of the checkout counters and provided ample room for a crowd. Several shelving units had been moved aside too, opening up the space even more.

"Just like last time?"

"Exactly."

After setting the first box near a pile of supplies already inside, Yang took stock of the work left to do. Having helped Blake with similar projects before, she had a pretty good idea of where everything needed to go and how long it would take to get everything how they wanted it. How Blake wanted it, actually, since Blake was captaining this ship.

"I'll bring in the rest of the boxes?" Yang suggested. "Then you can get started in here."

"You sure?" Blake asked, but Yang waved off the concern and backed away.

"You know I'm better with manual labor," she said, adding a wink before heading outside to grab the next box.

Lugging around boxes of books on the weekend might not sound like the most fun, but she already felt lighter and happier than she had all week. Not only was she helping Blake, which she loved doing, but they got to hang out in the process. Weekend plans didn't get much better than that, as far as she was concerned.

"You're buying me a drink or something after this, right?" she asked while setting the second box on top of the first.

"Was that the deal?" Taking a second away from mulling over their work, Blake sent Yang an amused smile. "I only remember saying 'Will you help -?' before you said 'I'm there.'"

" - for the free food or drink to follow!" Once Blake laughed and shook her head, Yang smiled and backed away. "Alright, reward to be determined," she added before heading outside to collect another box.

Blake always treated her to something for helping - not that Yang needed any incentive to be here. Spending time together was rewarding enough, especially when Yang hated taking up too much of Blake's free time.

As the most driven person Yang knew, Blake always had something going on or a goal she was working toward. That was why today was so perfect - Yang didn't feel guilty about talking Blake's ear off, and Blake got her work done at the same time.

Considering how the morning started, Yang's mood had turned around remarkably fast. Brunch with Julia hadn't been as fun or carefree as she'd hoped, but that memory was already fading into the rearview mirror. The uncertainty of what someone else 'wanted' from her...the tenseness after realizing they viewed their time together in different ways...none of that crossed her mind when she was with Blake.

But that was supposed to be the case, wasn't it? There was no pressure in being friends, so she could relax and be herself. No worrying about how her words might be misinterpreted or misconstrued to imply feelings she didn't have. No questions about where they were going, what they meant to each other, or what the future held.

That probably explained why she was so much happier being here. Even as she carried box after box through the doors, getting a serious arm workout in the process, she had no complaints. Just her, Blake, and tons of books - unlikely friends, but friends all the same.

"Last one," she announced, dropping the final box near the others and brushing off her hands. "What next?"

"Let's set up the table."

Working as she spoke, Blake opened the first box and pulled out several brand new hardcover novels. She passed those to Yang, who handled them carefully while setting them on top of a cloth-covered folding table.

"Have you read this one?" Yang asked while Blake handed her another stack.

"Of course."

Yang chuckled at the unsurprising answer while placing those books on the table, too. The cover art featured a man in armor and several mythical creatures she couldn't identify, along with an author's name that she'd never heard of.

"Any good?" she asked regardless, but Blake made a face and shrugged. "Noted. Not adding it to my reading list."

"You have a reading list?"

"Ouch." Yang laughed at the well-deserved tease and set more books on the table. "I'll have you know, I do have a reading list. But the only books on there are ones you recommend."

"And I don't recommend books since I know you won't read them."

"Exactly. It's a pretty short list."

When Blake scoffed and shook her head while breaking down the first empty box, Yang smiled down at her. Plenty of people might think they were an odd pair - an aspiring author and a...well, she didn't even know what she wanted to be. Yet their obvious differences hadn't stopped them from becoming quick friends, then best friends. If anything, having nothing in common gave them plenty to talk about - and tease each other about, which they did more often than not.

"This is probably enough, right?"

Yang gestured at the neat stacks of books she'd made on the table, and Blake silently counted them. Yang knew Blake was counting from the way her lips moved ever so slightly, which was especially funny considering she probably already knew exactly how many books were in each box. But Blake was a perfectionist when it came to her job. That was what made her so good at it, and why her bosses trusted her with greater and greater responsibilities.

"That should be good," she concluded. The empty box was then shoved aside, to be removed later, and a second box of books opened to replenish the table when necessary. "Think you can set up the banners next?"

"Pretty sure that's the only reason you asked me to help," Yang joked while the two of them directed their attention to a pile of plastic poles. The assorted sizes and various connecting joints came with no assembly instructions, but that was apparently part of the 'fun.'

"God, I hate these things…" Blake sighed just looking at the mess, but Yang patted her back and stepped forward.

"Stand back and watch the master work."

After playfully cracking her knuckles and rolling her shoulders, Yang stared at the jumble of parts and tried to remember what went where. If fitted together properly, the poles created tall stands from which the author's banners and meet-and-greet information could be displayed. As the pieces were now, however...they were just a bunch of plastic pipes with no purpose.

Picking up two of the smaller pieces, Yang looked them over as a plan formed in her mind. Once she had a vague idea of what to do, trial-and-error solved the rest. Before long, she stepped back to admire a somewhat-sturdy plastic skeleton that would graciously display a banner.

"Tada!"

Yang grinned at her masterpiece, and Blake gave her a look of disbelief.

"How are you so good at that?"

"You know me," Yang replied with a playfully boastful grin. "I'm good at everything."

"Do you remember the 'pancakes' you made last weekend?"

"Except cooking!" Yang clarified. "And maybe Ruby loved those block-building games when we were kids. This is kind of like that."

"Something else to thank your sister for…" Blake mused before unwrapping the first rolled-up banner and handing it to Yang. "Who do I thank for your height?"

"Probably my dad."

"I'll do that next time I see him."

Chuckling at the response, Yang stood on her tiptoes and attached the corners of the banner to the top of the stand. Once secured, she let go and watched the banner unravel, revealing an enlarged photo of the author along with details on the event today. Blake helped fasten the middle and bottom of the banner so it stayed in place, then Yang started building the second stand.

"How was your date?" Blake asked while handing Yang one of the plastic pieces.

"Eh. Pretty sure she won't be calling me anytime soon."

"I'm...sorry."

"Don't be." Yang sent Blake a reassuring smile before snapping the next piece into place. "She's looking for something I can't give her."

"A relationship?" Blake teased, but Yang sighed.

"I don't get it. I'm really upfront about not wanting anything serious, but somehow I end up being the bad guy by...still wanting what I said I wanted?"

Blake shook her head but didn't respond, so Yang kept talking.

"I don't know how many other ways I can put it. 'I'm not looking for anything serious.' 'Hey, let's just have fun.' Or 'you know, I just want something casual.' The only way I could be clearer is to come right out and say 'Hey, I really only want to go on about five dates to pass the time and have a little fun. We'll never get married, so please don't plan a wedding.'"

When Yang threw her arms in the air, Blake laughed and offered her the second banner.

"I told you - they understand what you're saying, they just don't believe you."

"Why? Why don't they believe me?"

"Plenty of people say they don't want a serious relationship, Yang. That doesn't stop them from getting into serious relationships."

"So they think they can…what? Change my mind?"

"Exactly." Blake looked almost apologetic on behalf of those other girls as she offered a small smile. "They think maybe they'll be the one who convinces you that you want a long-term relationship."

"But I don't want that."

"I know." Again, a fleeting smile before Blake knelt to open a bag holding a collection of pens and bottled water. "But they don't understand how much you mean it, so they'll keep trying."

Realizing that Blake had a point, Yang sighed and leaned down to grab a handful of loose pens.

"So what do I do - accept that I'll always be the bad guy? Remind them every date that I'm not looking for anything serious? Make them sign a waiver?"

Yang smiled at the joke when Blake laughed.

"I like the waiver idea. That would be a nice touch."

"Yeah? Then I'd have something in writing, right?"

When Yang held up the handful of pens, Blake smiled at them.

"Maybe," she began before her expression grew more thoughtful. "Or maybe you just need to accept that some people will want more from you than you're willing to give them. There's bound to be hurt feelings, but as long as you're upfront about what you want, and they accept, then I don't think you're the bad guy."

Yang hadn't realized she was looking for acceptance, but Blake granting it was a big relief.

"I'll try to be clearer though," she promised regardless, following Blake to the table to put the final touches in place. A line had already begun to form, but she paid them little attention while offering Blake one of the pens in her hand. "When will you have dating drama to whine to me about?"

"I'm too busy to date right now. Besides, I don't need to when I can just listen to your stories."

"That's the spirit," Yang replied with a laugh, earning Blake's smile for just a second before Blake's attention flitted elsewhere.

"Oh, here they are."

As Blake straightened her posture, Yang turned around and quickly spotted their esteemed guest for the afternoon. The tallish, average-looking man wore what looked like a detective's coat to go along with his baseball cap - a...unique...outfit, but at least he looked comfortable. The briefcase-carrying young man beside him must be a personal assistant, whose frazzled energy suggested as much about his employer as about himself.

"Time to be an all-star." After gently nudging Blake forward, Yang motioned off to the side. "I'll be over there."

After one last smile and nod, Blake took a deep breath and walked over to greet the man. Yang, meanwhile, leaned against the cafe's railing and watched the introduction take place.

Seeing Blake's professional side was one of Yang's guilty pleasures. As friends, Blake was quick-witted, mellow, and a dispensary of good advice. Work Blake was...the same, kind of, but with a layer of polish and politeness on top.

She was damn good at her job, which was a good stepping stone for where she wanted to go. The longer she worked at this publishing company, the more connections she made. And the more connections she made, the more numbers she had to call once she finished her own book.

Once Blake introduced herself to the man of the hour, she brought him over to the table where the signing would take place. The way he pulled out the chair and settled in suggested he had attended more than a few of these in his time, so Blake fluidly switched to explaining the finer details to the man's assistant instead. The young man was much more eager to listen and nodded every few seconds to what Blake had to say.

While they were in the midst of talking, the author waved to the first person in line forward, effectively ending their conversation as the signing abruptly got underway. The young assistant was instantly frazzled again, but Blake offered him a few more words of advice before he returned to his employer's side. Only then did Blake leave the table behind, rolling her eyes as she joined Yang.

"These people are the worst sometimes…" Blake muttered.

"You did great though! And the setup looks awesome."

Blake glanced at the culmination of their efforts, plus the work she'd put in before Yang even got here today, and shrugged. That was probably the closest she would ever come to approving of her work, but Yang knew that she'd done a fantastic job.

"Thanks for helping," Blake said while watching the next person in line hurry forward.

"Don't mention it. I love helping you."

"Still, I know you had a busy morning."

"Please." Yang laughed this time, briefly drawing Blake's gaze. "I'd rather be here with you than having awkward conversations with some girl."

"Does that mean you haven't noticed the pretty redhead making eyes at you for the past hour?"

"Oh, I've noticed," Yang admitted, laughing again. "But I'm here to help you, so that's what I'm going to do." Once Blake looked mollified by the response, Yang added, "Besides, I can always catch up with her after."

Yang playfully nudged Blake's shoulder and, after receiving the obligatory eyeroll, laughed. She glanced the redhead's way and smiled but didn't let her attention linger longer than that. Instead, she watched the book signing and tried to imagine it through Blake's eyes.

A decent line of fans waited for their opportunity to see one of their favorite authors. Many of them had brought their own copies of his books, but some walked away with one of the new ones Yang carried in not long ago. When their turn came, they had just a few moments to ask their carefully planned question or deliver their praise while he signed whatever book they thrust in front of him. To John, to Jane, to my cousin, my mom, my grandmother - he didn't seem to care much for what he wrote, but he did offer everyone a courteous smile and a few bits of conversation.

"One of these days, you'll be sitting there," Yang finally voiced out loud, but Blake scoffed. Knowing the type of person Blake was, however, Yang was more confident in that than in much else about her life. "It'll happen. And when it does, I'll have to stand in line just to talk to you."

"I'd never make you wait in line," Blake said before shooting a lighthearted look Yang's way. "You can stand next to me and make sure I never run out of water or working pens."

"Oh, thanks," Yang replied with a laugh. "What an honor."

On cue, the author shook the pen in his hand before holding it in the air. Like a jack rabbit, his assistant jumped forward to grab it and seamlessly replaced it with a new one from the reserves Yang had left just out of view. Yang and Blake laughed at the turn of events, which was nothing more than a minor pause in the steady progression of the line.

The upbeat atmosphere in this corner of the bookstore suggested that this would be another well-planned and well-executed book signing. Of course, Yang expected nothing less with Blake involved.

"You can take off now if you want," Blake mentioned a little while later. "Or you can go flirt with that redhead."

"And miss out on my hard-earned reward?" Yang gasped before shaking her head. "No way. I nearly strained my back for this."

"You realize I have to wait for this to end and pack everything up before I can leave, right?"

Looking at the banners that would have to be rolled back up, the display stands to be disassembled, the unsold books to be boxed up, and the other pieces of the setup that would have to be packed up and carried outside, Yang grinned.

"Guess we'll be here for a while then, huh?"

Yang smiled, but Blake's amber eyes searched hers after the response. Liking what she found, Blake relaxed into a smile of her own as Yang leaned into her side.

"Now, please tell me you'll dress like him when you're rich and famous."

Blake's laughter was like music to Yang's ears, and she grinned while preparing for what would be a great afternoon. But any time with Blake was great, which was why she sought out Blake's company so often.

Vale's busy, chaotic energy might encourage shallow, brief connections, but her life wasn't without permanence. Sure, people gave her a hard time about her relationships - mostly, the shortness of them - and sure, she wasn't in college anymore. But she was still young, and she didn't want to tie herself down with anything serious. Besides, the more serious a relationship became, the more likely someone ended up getting hurt...and she didn't want that to be her.

Right now, she was happy to hang out with her closest friends and family without worrying about being someone's girlfriend, and all of the pressures that came with that title. Julia might disagree, but Yang knew her priorities were in the right order - her family and Blake came first. Everyone else came after.