WHEN THE SUN BEGAN TO PEEK THROUGH THE SHEER bedroom curtains, Corey's arms were still wrapped around Madison's frail frame. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to leave the bed. She'd spent the last few days in the studio, running on caffeine fumes and nicotine while still trying to keep the academy running smoothly with Cordelia away. Slowly, she opened her eyes. She blinked back the light that started to flood through the room.
The blonde's hair splayed out across her chest as she slept with her head tucked under the redhead's chin. Corey watched the shallow rise and fall of the weighted comforter for a moment. It was an attempt to collect herself before having to go through the mundane process of her usual day-to-day. She rested her cheek against the top of the blonde's head, trying not to wake the other girl with movements that were too brisk.
Instead, she felt the pressure of the actress's leg wrapped around her waist as she tightened her grip. Madison furrowed her brow with a pout. She let out a groan in protest as she nuzzled against Corey's chest. A smirk crept across Corey's lips as she let out a chuckle, her arms wrapping tighter around the porcelain girl beside her.
For the first time in a long time, she was content. She closed her eyes, letting out a soft hum as she took in Madison's familiar scent. A foreign giggle left her throat as she felt the delicate trail of kisses the blonde left behind. They started at her clavicle and slowly moved up the side of her neck to her lower jaw. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked down at the other girl, the smirk on her face mirrored ten-fold.
"Mornin', sunshine," Corey hummed. Her left hand trailed up to cup Madison's cheek. She watched as the girl's bottom lip slipped between her teeth, her gold eyes scanning the other girl's face. The sleepy gaze mimicked the equally sleepy tone in the girl's voice.
"Good morning," the blonde sighed in response. Her grip on the redhead became loose as she craned her neck to take in the other girl. "What time do you have to be at the studio?" She asked. Her bottom lip jutted out in a slight pout as she pressed her cheek against Corey's shoulder. There was a playful spark in her eyes, one that craved a challenge.
"Not until about noon-ish." Before Corey could even question Madison's motives, she watched the excitement wash over the girl's face. She let her delicate fingers trail up Corey's sides. Her lips curled upwards as she felt the ripples throughout the other girl's skin caused by her touch.
"Good," she said simply. She nodded once, her eyes hooded as she sat up. Corey looked at her with a furrowed brow, confused yet intrigued. As quickly as Corey could blink, the actress was straddling the musician. Her one hand rested against the pillow on the side of Corey's face as the other latched onto her side. Her thumb found its home in the crevice just below the redhead's ribs.
"More time to be alone." Corey swallowed hard. Her mind urged her to make the other girl laugh. She wouldn't let Madison get away with pinning her down so easily. She needed to do something, anything, to break the tension between them.
"Jinkies," her tone wavered as if she wasn't sure of the delivery. She unknowingly forced her voice to stretch through her dry throat and out into the atmosphere that surrounded them. She struggled to keep herself from laughing as she watched the blonde's face. Madison pursed her lips, her eyes still hungry as she hovered over the other witch. She wouldn't let herself break. Corey's shoulders twitched, coming undone underneath the actress as her face quickly followed in suit.
"Oh, come on!" Corey challenged her. The crinkle of joy near her green eyes only made the other girl want her more. "That was a good one and you know it." Her laugh rippled out, quietly at first, gradually filling the room with a roar.
"I fucking hate you," Madison muttered. Her giggle crept out through the corners of her mouth. She brought her hand up from against the pillow to cover the grin that took over her features. She shook her head, trying her hardest to look away from the other girl.
"Yeah?" Corey challenged the remark. Her brows arched upward as her hands snaked up Madison's thighs to rest against her hips. She let one hand continue to move up the blonde's side as the other planted itself firmly in the divot of her waist. Her tongue jutted out to wet her lips as she watched Madison nod feverishly, her head turned away from the witch loosely pinned underneath her as she mumbled an inaudible response.
"How about now?" Corey heard Madison squeal as she flipped them over so that the blonde's back was pressed against the white sheets on the mattress underneath her. She smirked at the soft thunk of Madison's shoulders bouncing against the pillow. She leaned down, her lips ready to connect with the blonde's in an instant.
"You going to be a tease this time?" She asked. Her breath hitched as the anticipation rippled through her nerves. Her gaze flickered between the witch's green eyes and soft lips. She was more than capable of closing the distance between them, but something deep down told her to let this play out on its own. Like it'd be an eternity before they could ever be themselves like this again. Madison grabbed the weighted comforter by the fist-full and slowly tugged it up Corey's back, her lip slipping between her teeth once more.
"No," the redhead shook her head. The simple statement all that was needed to kick the blonde underneath her into gear. "We have all the time we need, Babygirl." Her suddenly husky voice caused Madison to swallow hard. The only response she could muster up was a frantic nod as her mouth became dry. The hitch in her breath was audible as her hand cupped the back of Corey's neck, her eyes flicking to the girl's lips once more as she closed the distance between them.
Corey peered up at Madison from her seat on the floor, her head tilted back against the mattress as she plucked at her guitar strings. The blonde sat in the bed with her blood pressure cuff secured over her bicep. The sleeves of the baggy tee-shirt she seemed to be swimming in were rolled up to her shoulders. Ophelia rested comfortably in her lap, one paw reaching outward as she stretched. The cat's mouth opened in a yawn, and a quiet squeak escaped from the back of her tiny throat.
Corey found a melody that the blonde seemed to enjoy, watching her sway back and forth as she moved through different chord progressions. Madison had one side of her stethoscope secured in her ear while the other dangled next to her head, the drum pressed against her pulse point in the crevice of her arm.
"You should take it as a compliment that I got drunk and made fun of the way you talk." Madison looked over at the redhead as she began to sing. A smile slithered across her features as she listened to the other girl. When she heard the first line come out of Corey's mouth, the blonde rolled her eyes, She tilted her head at her counterpart as she pulled the eartip away and tossed it to her side. She quickly flipped the other girl off. "I turn into a mess, alright?"
"You should think about the consequence of your magnetic field being a little too strong," Corey gave the other girl a fake pout. "You know it ain't my fault," she let the laugh rumble up from her chest as she watched Madison continue to bop back and forth, her middle finger still held up proudly as she pulled her pressure cuff off.
The blonde collected her monitoring equipment and tucked it away in the bed side drawer before pulling out a pack of cigarettes and an ashtray. Ophelia quietly protested, the heavy black lump of cat remaining firmly in her spot upon Madison's lap. She watched the redhead with a small smirk on her face from her spot on the bed.
"And I've got a boyfriend, he's older than us." Madison's playful demeanor dropped slightly. Her brows furrowed as she started to pick up on the meaning behind the words. "I haven't seen him in a couple of months," the blonde scoffed. One brow arched upwards at the redhead. She lit one of the pearl white sticks with her newfound powers, her shoulders rolling defensively.
The words weren't a lie, Corey had been seeing someone when they met. However, she never had any idea where he was or who he was with. If she was honest with herself, she was really only with him as a way to not be alone. She had no connection to the man, and no desire to be seen with him or be around him in general. He was a chess piece placed by her management team to make Corey seem more relatable to her audience.
"I go through phases when it comes to love," the redhead closed her eyes. Her head tilted to the side as she continued to ignore the blonde's silent protest. "I'm nothing that you want, but I must say... Sunset and Vine, you've ruined my life by not being mine."
The mention of the street where the pair had shared their first real date caused a smirk to peek at the corner of Madison's lips once again. Though TMZ had immediately found them, it was reported as a budding friendship. They learned the hard way that they could never have real privacy if they remained in the industries they were a part of. For the most part, it was still true. They couldn't leave the academy without one of them, or the pair together, being spotted every time.
"You're so gorgeous, and I ain't just talking about your face, but look at your face. Ah, ah ah-ah." Corey opened her eyes just in time to watch the blush creep across the blonde's face. Madison tried to hide behind her hair but realized she'd been caught when she heard the laugh leave Corey's lips as she made an attempt to vocalize through the makeshift chorus.
"And I'm so curious, your mind's got me feeling some type of way." Corey scooted to the side so that she was fully facing the other girl, her tongue dipping out and wetting her bottom lip as she continued. "What can I say? You're gorgeous. Ah, ah, ah-ah." Again, the blonde peeked out from behind her hair. Her eyes locked with the redhead's.
"You make me so happy it turns back to sad. There's nothing I want more than what I can't have. You are so gorgeous it makes me so mad." Corey watched as the smirk on the blonde's lips grew slightly larger. Madison scooted closer to the edge of the bed, her head tilted slightly as she continued to listen to the other girl.
"You make me so happy it turns back to sad. There's nothing I want more than what I can't have. Guess I'll just stumble on home from my cab... alone... unless you wanna come along." Madison hummed as she leaned across the bed. Her hand held her cigarette up in a way as to not scatter loose ash against the bright white bedding. Corey threw her head back in a laugh. Her eyes were bright as she watched the other girl practically dangling off the edge of the bed. The only thing that held her down was the weight of the black lump in her lap. She slid forward, her voice merely a whisper as she locked eyes with Madison.
"You're so gorgeous, I can't say anything to your face. Just look at your face. Ah, ah ah-ah," She expected to be hit with a pillow. Or a piece of clothing. Or anything other than the blonde hovering mere inches away from her face.
"And I'm so furious at you for making me feel this way." Her face relaxed as she watched Madison's eyes become hooded once more. Corey struggled to catch her breath. She could feel the goosebumps on her neck from the blonde's smoke filled exhale fluttering across her skin.
"But what can I say? You're gorgeous." The blonde leaned forward. Her lips connected with the redhead's just as quickly as they had previously. They were filled with the same hunger, the same desire and want, that had taken over them hours before. She felt one small, clawed paw brush against her chin as Ophelia quietly protested once again. The acoustic guitar clattered against the marble floor as Corey shot upward. She was positive that she'd be late for her in-studio session.