Author's notes: Inspired by the movie, let's just say this is a little missing scene from the first book. I doubt Bailey had a crush on Tibby, but whatever, it was fun to write anyway.
Thanks to Natalee for betaing and just putting up with me period. )
Disclaimer: The characters within this fan fiction do not belong to me.
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She's not sure, really, why she keeps coming back. Tibby doesn't like her and Bailey doesn't like Tibby.
Except that's not so true, because even though Tibby drives her crazy, there's still something about her.
Bailey likes to watch her, when she's not looking. When she's bent over, glaring at whatever crap she's doing at work, or focused on her computer. She sparkles when she's like that, when she's unaware. She's deliberate in what she does and concise in what she says and as cheesy as it sounds, is just plain pretty.
Bailey sprawls back on Tibby's bed, listening to Tibby experimenting with songs to add to the movie. Occasionally she'll ask Bailey's opinion, which makes Bailey's heart kind of flip or something teenybop like that.
Mostly though, they're just silent. But it's a comfortable sort of quiet, with the clicking of the keyboard and the soft hum of music. Bailey assumed, with Tibby's 'screw the world' attitude, that she'd be a fan of rock music, the kind with all the screaming. But she doesn't seem to be, playing instead a lot of mid ninety's stuff, light melodies and pretty voices.
Bailey inhales the air, smelling part Mimi and all Tibby. She moves up the bed hesitantly, snuggling against Tibby's pillow. So that's what her hair smells like.
She closes her eyes and lets all the senses wash over her, pretending Tibby's lying with her.
"Hey, Bailey. Hey, wake up."
There's a light pressure on her shoulder and Bailey shifts, blinking blearily. "Mmm?"
"Wake up, come on." Tibby's leaning over her, she's pretty sure. She can kind of smell her and her voice is gruff, coaxing and awkward all in one.
"Sorry." She sits up and runs a hand through her hair.
Tibby shrugs, flopping down beside her. Her arm brushes Bailey's hand as she passes, and their body heat mixes for that brief millisecond.
"You wanna hear the finished product? Your mom called, you've gotta get home soon, but I figured since you've done such a big part in this and all…"
"Yeah, I'd love to."
Tibby grins and gets up, messing around with the computer before coming back and sitting next to Bailey again.
And the sound of the soft music washes over the room, and Tibby's sent swirls and Bailey's insides jerk everywhere.
And it's simple and kind of stupid, feeling like this. But it's also maybe even a little sad, because nothing will ever happen not with Tibby and not ever, Bailey doesn't even think she'll ever get her first kiss. But none of that matters now, here with Tibby, because Tibby makes everything special and fun and super.
And Bailey smiles. Tibby sees and smiles back, not quite at her, Bailey knows, but almost, she thinks. And that's better than any sloppy first kiss or fumbling hand holding.
Tibby's better than all of that, and Bailey feels like she is, too, when she's with her.
End