Gail arrived at Holly's mid morning, wanting to beat traffic but not have to get up super early on her day off. Holly invited her inside to show her the place, give her the kind of feel she was wanting to go for and to make a list of the things she needed, also there was the promise of coffee. Gail had forgotten coffee in her haze to get ready. It was a cozy place, modern but in a warm comforting way with it's dark hardwood and soft walls, big windows giving most of the light into the place -saving the power bill probably. Even empty with no furniture and just boxes it screamed Holly. Not long after they were out the door and on the hunt.
"Is it weird that I still can't believe you're here?" Holly mused.
Gail was thinking the same thing just a moment ago, going over how much this all feels like a dream, how it feels like her life has been movie and she's hyper aware, was she going to be pulled from this dream for being aware? She really hoped not. "I was thinking the same thing Lunchbox."
She caught the shy smile dance across Holly's face before turning back to the road. "There's this awesome furniture place just up ahead."
Holly nodded, still not looking to her, just out the window taking in the city. She'd been to Toronto a few time, she has some family here but she'd never gotten to see it. It was always just to see family, maybe do a few tourist things and then they'd go home. This was her first time seeing it and so she wanted to soak it in.
Gail parked and jumped out of the truck she'd borrowed from Chris that morning and chuckled at the thought. He was of course wary as to why the blonde would need his truck and no assistance, what would Gail need with a truck? She brushed it away with telling him she was helping someone and walked out the door before he could ask who, she wanted it to be a surprise when he found out about Holly. Chris and Holly are going to freak when they find out the three of them had somehow found each other again, all by chance, and Gail wanted to see both of their stupid faces when they did.
"Telling jokes to yourself again there Gail?" Holly smirked as she joined her on the sidewalk.
"Always." She smiles and opens the door for the brunette. Inside is packed with everything from side tables to couches to chairs to beds to entertainment systems, all organised by room and type. "What room do you want to start with, wifey?"
Holly could only manage a shrug, stunned by the store and now the rush of feelings at the sound of Gail calling her 'wifey'. Gail grabbed her hand and led her threw the halls and tunnels of furniture until they were in a section that looked to be for studies. Gail turned to her with an expectant wave, waiting for her to start, but where and how does she start? She's never done this. She's only ever joined someone else shop for their move, suggesting wacky things until she got a feel of how the person felt.
"I really have no idea how to adult right now." Holly admitted anxiously.
"You're in luck then Lunchbox, because I never know how to adult, I'm kind of an expert on adulthood deception." Gail beamed proudly and walked over to a desk, inspecting it.
"So great one can you help me?"
Gail mulled this over, tapping her finger on her chin. "On one condition."
Holly waited for her to continue but it didn't happen, she just walked around looking at shelves and desks and lounging chairs. She was sitting in a deep green, low back and wide enough for two people to squish together comfortably, her face pulled together inquisitively. Then with a nod she turned to face Holly and smiled, "you gotta try this out. It's nap worthy and I have a feeling your favourite colour is still green."
Gail stood and pointed to the chair with a go-now face. Holly smiled and did as she was told, sitting with a small bounce and gave the blonde a small nod. "It's nice but I don't know."
Gail looked at her disapprovingly. "You're doing it wrong. You have to lounge Holly! You aren't going to be sitting like that at home, you're going to be curled up in a ball or laying with your feet over the side reading some stupid medical thing. So sit like you're at home and be real, you're shopping for a home not a house."
Holly was taken aback by the authority in the blondes voice, how serious she was taking this, but the slight curl of her lips and general tone -not to mention how dead on she still knew Holly- made it amusing. So she leaned back, "if we're going to go all out on how I'd sit I need a coffee table or something for my feet." she held up her feet for emphasis, wiggling them. Gail sighed but smiled that Holly was playing along and stomped out of sight.
She listened as the cop stomped around and wondered how she got to this, to be this easy with someone. Holly wasn't very good with people, she feels lucky she's got the three friends she does back home and even with them she wasn't this relaxed. To be nothing but herself, to just be. She feels she has to be a certain part of her for different people, never whole, never too genuine for fear of showing too much and them leaving. Gail was different though. She'd always taken Holly as she was, poking and prodding until she got the real Holly to show herself, then with a satisfied smile she'd back down and continue with whatever weird thing Gail Peck was bound to be talking about. She had seen right through the act. And it didn't hurt that Gail didn't know what happened, that Gail couldn't look at her with the silent sad apologetic eyes that everyone at home does. It's not that they try to, they probably don't even realize they do it, but they do and it just pulls her back. She feels she has to prove she's okay and with Gail she doesn't. No one here knows.
Suddenly her legs were being picked up and delicately placed on something hard. Looking down from her stare at the ceiling she found a very satisfied Gail staring back.
"How's that?" She asked clearly excited.
Holly wiggled deeper into the seat and closed her eyes, seat one is a yes. She swerved her way into lounging with her feet dangling, dropping her head back and hugging her midsection, just as Gail said. Again a win. One last sitting position and it's a winner, this last one she knew Gail will get a kick out of. Holly chanced a look at the blonde to see her watching intently, she wasn't quite sure how to her her expression but she did seem amused and even a little nervous. And with that she kicked her legs up and over the back of the chair, her hair almost touching the floor and wormed forward until her butt touched the back rest, Gail let out a giggle.
"Really Holly?"
Holly shrugged, "it's highly comfortable." She stood and joined Gail in the appraisal of the green chair. "It worked for everyone of my sittings and you're right with green still being my favourite colour, which how in the world do you remember something like that?"
"Have we made your first purchase?" Gail brushed off as if she didn't hear her.
"Yup, it's perfect."
Hours went by in much the same way. Gail or Holly would find something and they both would test it out in all the ways it would be used in a home, piecing room by room of furniture that only kind of went together. Holly wasn't looking for matching things, as long as she liked it and it served it's purpose it was a win. They found the easy flow they had together so long ago, Gail making sure Holly cut the crap and be real with her, making her laugh with her obscurity and randomness that somehow made sense in all it's weirdness. Holly making Gail forget everything else in the world, and even when she remembered none of it seemed so bad with the brunette by her side, the good turned great and everything was warm. Everything was easy and fun with the other there. Gail persuaded some guys to load the truck with the newly purchased items and they were off to a much needed lunch break.
They decided to eat at a burger joint -per Gail's recommendation- and so they found a booth, now reading over the menu. Gail closed her menu within seconds as she already knew what there was, hell she probably could tell Holly everything by memory, she just needed those few seconds to hide the stupid smile her lips betrayed by showing. And so now she sat there watching Holly read, her brow furrowed slightly and glasses making their way down the bridge of her nose as it always did when she read.
"Enjoying the view?" Holly smirked and pushed up her glasses with her middle finger, not looking up from the menu.
Gail's cheeks flushed a light pink, "very much." she stated simply.
Her stomach flipped watching Holly's cheeks turn a beautiful shade of red, if she wasn't sure before she was now, there were definitely feelings to be had outside of friendship with Holly. The rush Gail gets when Holly laughs, the butterflies she gets when Holly say's her name, the continuous lip look she finds herself in, there was no doubting how she felt about the brunette. So now all she could do was unabashedly show how she felt and figure out if Holly felt the same way.
"So what's catching your eye?" Gail asked casually as she slid the sugar container from hand to hand on the table between them. Holly looked up with Gail's favourite of her smiles, the goofy lopsided one, the best of the lopsided smiles.
"I'd say you but I think you're talking a bout the menu, so I'll say number three with a shake and leave it at that."
She crumbled on the inside. Absolute puddy in the dust of the simple flirtation. But on the outside she tried her best to keep it cool, only giving in to a wink and a small shy smile.
"I usually get the bacon cheese burger with the choice of onion rings or fries and a shake, nice choice there Lunchbox." Gail praised not making eye contact.
"You really know the menu, don't you?" Holly clarified and put her menu on top of Gail's.
"Only like once a week."
"Try twice on a busy week." a girl chuckled as she approached their table, pencil at the ready with a welcoming smile. "Same as usual Gail?"
"She doesn't need to know how often I'm here quite yet Liza, and yes." Gail replied shooting the waitress a teasing smile.
"It's better to find out if she can handle your diet now rather than later." Liza grinned at Holly. Gail shrugged in response. "What can I get you" she trailed off obviously looking for her name.
"Holly. Three looks good, no onion or tomato, fries and a chocolate shake please."
Liza wrote a few things on the pad of paper and looked back up with a smile between them. "Alrighty, your food will be ready in like ten and I'll be back in a few with your shakes." and she was off.
"First name basis with the waitress huh?"
"Yup." Gail replied popping the p. "I'm actually the one who trained Liza, that's why she's so good."
Holly's eyebrows raised, "oh really?"
Gail settled further into her seat, arms taking up all the space on the back rest. "I worked here for a few years during college and the academy, Liza was the one to replace me so I had to train her before leaving. She too is working here through college."
Liza was back before Holly could say anything. "Is she telling you lies about me?" she mused as she placed the milkshakes in front of them.
"Only good things so far." Holly smiled at the brunette.
"Well she is secretly a ball of mush behind that snark, but don't tell her that, I'd only get half the tip." she winked to Holly and walked toward a guy calling for her.
Holly laughed lightly, shaking her head and grabbed her drink. Gail asked about Holly's family, how they've been, what they've been up to, she made a point of asking about her father's flower shop as she knew Holly was closest to him. The shop was only just bought and being renovated when they knew each other, her mother had just started with a new company and Lila was on her last year before high school.
She was telling Gail about her mothers hectic search for a hobby when their food arrived, Liza didn't say anything as she noticed was intent Gail was listening to Holly and didn't want to disturb.
Gail watched as Holly set up her plate, moving a few fries away from the ketchup spot, lifting the top bun on her burger to make sure everything she wanted was on it, and spread around evenly, all while still talking. Then with a small nod she began to eat. She smiled to herself, somethings never change she thought before picking up her burger and taking a bite. Holly went on to tell her about Lila, still almost exactly the same but less annoying now that they have grown up, she'd also become a very well known photographer in B.C. with a kid of her own. Gail's insides turned to mush the moment Holly mentioned her nephew, Gavin, the way she talked about him, the tone of her voice, the light in her eye, her love for him radiated from her every being. The ten year old had her wrapped around his finger.
"I'm probably boring you now, I'm sorry." Holly suddenly got self conscious and looked down.
Gail put her hand on Holly's forearm and squeezed it reassuringly, "don't be sorry. I asked you about them and you're telling me, 20 plus years is a lot to cover. It also helps that I like listening to you."
Holly looked up from under her eyelashes to see Gail starring back.
"So you can stop with the self conscious stuff, no need for that with me Lunchbox. Tell me more about this nephew of yours, he sounds cool." Gail prompted and began tracing lines along Holly's arm, unable to stop the contact now that she had it. She could feel the scar, a lot smaller than it was when she got it all the time ago.
"Yes Gail, you have to go, everyone at the camp is going so there isn't anyone to stay and watch you." her camp counselor, Stacey, told her for the umpteenth time. Gail really didn't want to go, hikes were not her thing, they meant being outside in the woods with the bugs and walking all day. She'd gotten out of two already but today she had no choice, so she was going to drive her counselors crazy in the hopes that next time she could stay at camp.
Stacey noticed the lanky brunette and turned to Gail, "look there's Holly! You can go with her."
And sure enough there was her friend walking with some other girl she didn't know, someone from her cabin probably, not ten feet from them. "This doesn't make up for the fact I still have to walk forever." Gail threw over her shoulder as she quickened her pace to catch up with Holly.
"Heya Lunchbox." she said grabbing the bag of cheese puffs from the girl and popping a few in her mouth.
Holly giggled and introduced Gail to the girl on her other side as Sue. She nodded in the girl direction and continued her snacking. The two soon began talking again, Gail adding something every so often, when Sue was called to help with something.
"Are you going to be eating all of those or can I have some of my cheese puffs?" Holly asked waving to the orange bag clasped between Gail's hands.
She shrugged noncommittally. "I guess I can spare a few for my wife."
Holly's cheeks suddenly felt warm and her stomach did a weird thing, she took her water from her bag and took a long drink not wanting to get sun sick as what she was feeling was definitely sun sickness in the making. She offered the blonde a drink, which was taken in seconds in a switch of water for cheese puffs. The two walked in relative silence, Holly spouting some fact about plants as they past one, Gail snickering about a fellow camper when she dubbed fit, until Holly was attacked from behind in a flash of dark red hair. The girl, Chloe, was going for a surprise piggyback ride -they later found out- but ended up jumping onto Holly's back and making her tumble forward, scrapping her knee and cutting a lengthy gash up her forearm -almost from wrist to elbow.
"It's too bad you didn't need a bed, I'm an expert at that." Gail boasted with a smirk.
"You seem to be an expert at a lot of stuff today." Holly ignored the double meaning.
She leaned on the door frame, still smirking. "I'm an expert at a lot of stuff everyday, you'll find out."
Holly met that with a smirk of her own, looking the blonde up and down. "I'll take your word for it."
"So more shopping tomorrow?" Gail asked, praying she didn't sound as hopeful as she felt.
She nodded biting her lip, "if you want."
With that Gail took one last look at Holly, one that would have to last for the night, kissed her on the cheek and practically ran to the truck.
Holly stood there stunned for a moment, watching Gail drive away, cheek on fire and stomach dropped a thousand feet.