Hey guys, so I kinda feel like this chapter is a bit shit but I hope you like it anyway. Been having writer's block lately. Hopefully inspiration will strike me again but here's something short to hold you over x

Annabelle tentatively creaked open the door of Simone's room, that which used to be Mother Immaculata's. Simone was waiting for her on the couch, staring blankly into space. Annabelle had her apologetic face on, and was lost for words herself. It was almost as if walking slower would put off the impending conversation that she didn't want to have. "Should I sit down?" she asked, feeling the need to seek permission.

"No, there is fine" Simone breathed, looking at the ground. She stood up herself and approached the window, all the while avoiding eye contact.

"I'm sorry…" Annabelle uttered.

Simone still didn't turn around. She gazed into the night sky and the stillness that surrounded them. "Sorry for what?"

"Listen, Lucy was upset. I was just trying to comfort her and I wasn't expecting for her to do that. There was nothing in it."

"So you're not sorry?"

Annabelle sighed, and didn't say more. Words escaped her.

Simone turned around and caught the gaze of the younger woman in front of her. "Annabelle, I'm not just your ex-girlfriend. I'm your headmistress, your boss. I can't make exceptions for you. This kind of special treatment of a student is totally unacceptable."

She laughed. It was a little ironic for Simone to be giving her a lecture on this very topic. "What, like the special treatment you gave me?"

"That was different."

"Oh really, how?"

"You came on to me Annabelle. You know I tried to do the right thing."

"And I'm not!? SHE LIKES ME, that's it. It's a harmless schoolgirl crush, and I'm not going to turn my back on a student that's in a hard place."

"And do you like her?" Simone asked, abruptly.

Annabelle took a few steps forward. "Excuse me?"

"Do you like her?"

"What is this even about Simone? Because I get the feeling this isn't some concerned headmistress looking after her student. If anything I'm the one doing that. Why do you care so much?"

Simone backed down a little, and returned to her position on the couch. She fidgeted with her cross and didn't say much. She merely looked up at Annabelle and tried to convey what she was feeling with a single look.

"You're worried about Immaculata aren't you?" Annabelle asked.

Simone nodded. Annabelle made her way over and joined Simone on the couch. "Look, you know I'm here for you okay?" She rested her hand on the older woman's knee. Simone quickly turned her head, almost surprised.

"There isn't any student that would come before you."

Simone managed a smile and bowed her head, she felt both sad and unable to talk. Tears began falling down her cheeks and the stress of everything was finally being let out. A hand came across and wiped each tear before the salty taste could reach her lips. That same hand turned her face ever so slowly and softly, so that she was looking her ex-lover deeply in the eyes. She saw only compassion, not someone who was there to hurt or deceive her.

Annabelle wanted to approach this as carefully as possible. She didn't want to take advantage of the situation but at the same time she genuinely felt pain on behalf of Simone and wanted to do whatever she could to ease it. She leant in and placed her lips on those of the older woman, tenderly and gently. She wiped away tears with her thumb and ran her fingers through her hair.

Simone responded with the same level of softness, barely mustering the strength to do so. She curled up in a ball on the couch and Annabelle followed, cradling herself in the comfort of Simone around her. They were together again.