Chapter 10
The next day at an early hour only Sarah had been awake with her usual practice. She had had a big performance last night, but she was always one to keep a routine despite being a bit worn out like everybody.
But martial arts to her was like a morning coffee and she was quick on her feet practicing outside. However she was not as alone as just before the crack of dawn someone had joined her outside.
It was May not at all tired, she usually was an early bird, but no one ever topped Sarah, until now. The british woman was overjoyed hearing that it had finally worked out and apologized having told Kalos, but it had been the right thing to do in her position. May understood and was happy, because if Rosetta and her mother had not argued as they did she might have hesitated.
But the conversation truned as the chinese asked a favor.
'What do you need that for?'
The blackhaired girl never resorted to asking, she always wanted, but knew that rudeness wouldn't get her what she wanted.
'Please, just this once, I'll have it back to you in a minute. Take my word, you know I wouldn't do anything irational.'
Sarah noded. 'That's true, but it still isn't allowed.'
Seeing the chineses hopes and plans foiled was something she hated so she easily reconsidered.
'Oh very well. This one time, get it back to me in ten minutes and what ever you do don't give it to one of the newcommers. I don't trust those kids more then I can throw them.'
May understood, the rookies that had come this year lacked much, but never ceased to get into trouble, it seemed to follow in their footsteps and if what she had just got would fall in their hands it could have the potential to do cause upset among the crew.
On the designated floor she finally was at her destination and opened the door with the keychain obtained from Sarah. After she searched high and low and found the orignal keys of the owner of the room was quick to get out and throw the universal keychain back to the dormsupervisor at bottomfloor.
'Thanks.' she said then resumed her mission.
Of course it was Rosetta's room where she so graciously let herself in and had planned something. But just before she got started she took a quick peek in the bedroom to make sure her friend was still soundly asleep.
She slowly opened the door and there on the bed layed out sideways almoast like a feline was the redhead, the one person that had captured her heart and now refused to release it.
This calm and tranquillity about her was also accompanied by a certain innocence, but also hidden strength.
Angels May admitted she never really belived in them, but here is what she considered the next best thing. However this simple checkup to see Rosetta if was still asleep turned to a examination as once she set her eyes on the smaller girl she felt uncapable of averting them.
"Well as long as I'm here." she thought. In the past she had had the occasion to study the girl, but now having entered a relationship with her it made her regard this adorable creature with a new sense of awe and enchantment.
At first she didn't hear it but getting closer she to her surprise heard the redhead silently mumbeling in her sleep. Most of it was silly drabble, curious but not sensible, but she kept repeating. 'It doesn't matter.'
May wondered, but then rembered her original objective. But just as she was about to leave the room the phone next on the counter started to ring.
If Rosetta would awakened by it would foil her scheme and she couldn't have that and quickly took it before disturbing could her friend and quickly got out and threw it down to Sarah briefly yelling. 'Catch!' before returning to the room.
"Now it's time to work."
A couple of hours later May found out that curiously her friend was a very sound sleeper as all the noise she made didn't even make her flinch, if that she started talking louder in her sleep.
May found it funny and most of all adorable hearing the senseless talk coming from her and always felt exhilarted hearing her name, altough in an absurd context.
Two hours later and she was done, her plan was simple, but in her opinion well motivated and she hoped Rosetta would apreciated it.
Sitting quitley on the bed observing her she couldn't help but be reminded of the time at the hospital. Looking back she realized that her newly expressed affections had been present even then, if not longer. Maybe if she hadn't been so rough she might have seen it since then, but she now knew that Rosetta liked her truthfully, rough edges and all.
With the noise from Sarah now getting louder and the youngest members always starting a small riot in the morning it wasn't long before the redhead started tossing and turning. May was trying not to give herself away at the foot of the bed.
Rosetta always had a difficult time getting up, but once started only utter exhaustion could stop her. Rubbing her eyes and focusing her senses it wasn't long before she felt another presence and flinched in surprise.
'Ah! Oh god, don't do that again.' May apologized.
'I'm sorry, but aren't you at all curios why I am here?'
The redhaired girls smile showed itself again and even in these early hours of the morning was as bright as ever.
'I think I can imagine ...' That comment also triggered a smile from May, but it still was her second reason.
'But wait! How did you get in? I locked the door.'
The chinese struck a proud pose.
'You think I measly door can stop me? How else would I have gotten in? I took it down.'
Rosetta jumped out of bed almoast furios.
'You did what?' Then however leaving the room she saw her door to be intact and heard the chinese yelling after her laughing.
'I was kidding.'
As May joined her in the livingroom she was not met by the same amusement from her friend.
'What the? This isn't my room.'
May started laughing harder. 'You could say that, but its just more tidy now.'
The redhead was surprised. Everything was in impecabel order and in the last days being troubled as she had been she hadn't been capable of maintaining her room, altough she never had been skilled in this regard anyway.
The dishes, her clothes, even the furniture was cleaned to perfection and aligned properly.
Still early in the morning she had a hard time thinking straight and it took her a while to realize.
'Wait. Did you do this?'
May noded. 'Who else?'
Rosetta didn't want to sound impolite, but just couldn't grasp her thoughts.
'Why did you do this?' The chinese eyes widened as it was not what she exactly expected, but she enjoyed these little outburst as she ever did.
'I know just how sloppy of a housekeeper you are and with the last days as troubled as they were I was sure this place would have declined, and the last thing I wanted today is to loose you to housework. Now that everything is clean you can spend the rest of the day with me.'
It sounded more like an order then a conclusion, but Rosetta now having grasped the motive behind the blackhaired girls actions found it quite straightforward and also romantic in some strange way.
'Thank you very much.' she said with the wide smile returning and gave May a cheerfull kiss on the cheek. May was a bit dissapointed, she had hoped for more, but she also thought. "The day is still young."
After the redhaired girl got changed however they had a urgent matter to adress. Rosetta picked up on her seriousness and there where some things that had to become clear now that they had finally entered a relationship.
'Do you think we are rushing things?'
The redhead was about to yell at her how she could think like that, but then she calmed down as she added.
'Because I think we aren't.'
So she just silently noded, her concerns where somewhere else.
'What about the others? You think they are ready to know?'
The chinese hadn't even thought beyond her and Rosetta and took a moment to consider, even tough the awkward looks wouldn't get to her they would make the whole thing a lot more unconfortable and they didn't want to get into that just yet.
'I don't think I'm ready for that, how about you?'
Rosetta also didn't want to spoil their first day like that, however they knew that Sora, Sarah, Cathy, Mia and Kalos already knew they wouldn't dare whisper a word without their knowledge and for the time being those were enough.
'I think its too early.'
Both agreed for time being to keep their relationship a secret, but neither had ever been good at subtilty or deception for that matter so it wouldn't be long before the world would know.
'Well then lets go and have breakfest.' The childish tone and slight anticipation worked wonders to get the redheads mood and quickly brushing besides May also have her a soft but quick kiss.
Now the day really had started for the chinese and both realized that their love was not just one of a spiritual nature, but of a phisical nature as well. Neither at least alone had anything to against it and to them just this simple gesture meant just as much as heartfilled words. Either accesible there wasn't anything else they wanted.
With Rosetta both headed downstairs, they always ate together whenever possible as who knows what Sora got herself into by the time it was to eat. As top star she had many responsebilties and couldn't spend the early hours with any of her friends. New contract, production, members and problems and all needed Sora's attention.
Altough Rosetta didn't like it and at first refused to eat without her present, it was May who changed her mind claiming at that time to watch out for her partner. Over time it became a habit and now it was a something neither could think out of their routine.
Strolling down to the messhall both somehow felt this urge as to open a particular subject, but neither could and instead just enjoyed eachothers company. Somehow the world seemed brighter and old worries seemed forgotten, even the same old cafeteria food tasted like a five star meal.
For a while they didn't do anything else but eat and if someone would have watched them they might have thought the two had argued over something, but nothing could be further from the truth.
But even the enjoyable silence as both started talking as they always did, carefully avoiding that particular suject in public, but trying trough wordgames to coax something out of the other that would hint towards it and maybe recive a flustered expression.
However both where especially on the edge today and neither won, tough the game was fun.
Not even really starting their meal and from outside came Sarah running and yelling at the two.
'Don't touch that food.'
A few moments later came Sora panting, the british woman must have been really motivated if she had outrun the lavanderhaired girl.
'What's wrong?' asked Rosetta not understanding what was going on. Sarah promptly answered with a commanding tone.
'Forget breakfest, we're taking you out to celebrate the occasion.'
"Occasion?" thought the two girls then reconsidering and blushing sligthly.
'We?' asked May wanting to be sure this wasn't going to be something that will be jumping to far ahead.
Sora counted on her fingers.
'Me, Sarah, Mia and Cathy, thought it would be a great idea to take you out to eat.'
Sarah cut her off. 'It's not even open for debate.' and she grabbed May and pulled her out of the chiar leaving Sora to do that same with Rosetta and after the sublte extraction outside waited Cathy and Mia by the little red Mini.
How six people would fit in it was a mystery to the fresh couple, but if it was a excuse to be squeezed closer together why should they complain? And indeed once in the car they where quite close Rosetta almoast sitting in May's lap.
It was quite and enjoyable ride and they were greatfull no one had seated themselves between them, but being the focus of attention was still emberassing. At least it was a restricted group which they knew and it made them eventually feel at ease.
Mia sitting in the front couldn't help but constantly check upon the two and then rembered having brought her camera to comemorate the event and took some pictures of the two squeezed between Sora and Sarah. Then however she vowed not to show them to anyone or put them on the website, especially after what happened to Anna.
The carride took them to a place that apparently newly opened and it looked quite fabulous and extravagant.
'My treat.' added Sarah getting out leaving the two to follow.
Yellow Palm
Being relativly new the restaurant was not yet fully occupied so they got a table quick and where suggested to dine on the terace. Of course they accepted and quickly made their way.
After Sarah had informed the other three conspirators of the succes they wanted to comemorate the moment in their very own way. All six dressed causually looked misplaced in such a luxurious restaurant, but nobody seemed to mind, today was the new couple day and nothing would ruin it.
At a round table all took a seat and of course didn't dare sit between the two. Sora and Mia even distanced themselvles a bit to emphasise the new pair which made both emberassed as ever. As the waitor came and was ready to take their order Mia practiced her acting skills and performed a very lavish customar even using her native accent.
'We shall have the glazed Flesh of Paradise, for drinks bring us a Heimweiher red wine and '
Cake!' shouted Sarah interrupting her act.
'Bring us cake, the number nine.' Mia didn't like being cut of and argued with her having lost the former accent.
'Would you just let me finish?'
Sarah responeded not seeing the problem
'As long as I'm paying I get to decided so a number nine waitor.'
The man noded and said it would be there in a minute. As he walked away she added.
'And six cups of tea.' Sarah continued shouting, then Cathy stepped in. 'Make that five and cup of coffea.'
It wasn't exactly the way one should behave in such a high-class locale, but if they put on a little show it would make May and Rosetta feel at ease and they quickly forgot that this whole celebration was dedicated to them.
'Well as long as we're here might as well discuss the scrpit.' said Mia. 'I think we have the ...'
A long discussion followed and everybody but the young couple followed. Cathy was sick of the fairytale romance Mia had planned, it should be something more special for May and Rosetta's first co-starring and a simple damsel in distress just wouldn't suffice.
Sora tried her best to remind them to be quite as they might get kicked out of here, but Sarah always did want to skew the uptight etiquette of such a places, she might never get another chance.
As much as Cathy and Mia argued they just couldn't agree. Usually the strawberryhaired girl would give in, but when it came to romance she had her strict guidlines.
The tense atmosphere however was momentarily interrupted as the cake was finally served. Sarah was the most eager and couldn't put in words just how good the cake was. The jolly bunch also enjoyed the expensive cake, but even with their forks in their hands continued to debate various scenes.
Sora would not be in the following shows, but expressed her concern about who should go on stage. Some of the new recruits were just too umpredicteble.
Sarah didn't complain, she got her song and was content having it midway trough the show, it was just as usual. After another energetic arguments both Cathy and Mia stopped arguing over the script and settled down to talking ordinary things.
However even with a mouthfull of cake the elder director started giggling. She was starining not to spit or choke, but she noticed something which aparantly was pretty funny.
Poking Sarah with her fork she drew the attention on the detail and the woman almoast choked on her tea as she too noticed. May and Rosetta didn't understand what the comotion was about, neither did Sora and Mia, and the young director was the first to ask.
'What's so funny?'
That question triggered a loud and infectious laugh and as it subsided Cathy was the first to speak up.
'I didn't expect Sora to see, but it seems you're are blind too.' Sora didn't understand a thing.
'What is it?'
Another round of laughs from the elderly, but now not that mature women. Finally getting too tired to continue they resumed their cake and finally Cathy enlightened the two.
'Just how blind can you to be? May?'
The chinese felt as her heart quickened.
'Yes?'
The elderly woman tried to supress her laughter and starined to speak.
'Since, when did you become lefthanded?'
The chinese now really flustered, followed by Rosetta, both seeing they had been found out. Everybody had been eating at the same time, but from the start Cathy noted May who was sitting to Rosetta's left was keen on eating with her left hand.
At first neither Sora nor Mia realized and it took them a while to figure it out. Why would May solely eat with her left hand?
Finally Mia and Sora realized too which made the already flustered girls blush further.
It had been hidden under their noses all the time, but in the heat of the conversation and with the decked table layed out and the couple sitting almoast opposite to the other four, May's right hand had grasped Rosetta's.
Mia found it extremly cute and romantic holding hands when they thought nobody was looking. Sora had to agree, but tried to make their emberassment milder, now that they were together, why should they be secretive? It just showed how unprepared both were to confessing to the world, but how deeply they yearned for eachother as they apparently couldn't last half and hour without making contact in some way. But just as quick as the joke popped up it died down.
However in all that time and after the others had stopped swooning over them, not once did they let go of eachothers hand. It was just one of the many ways to express their affections to eachother.
But as the festivities ended so did their moment. They still didn't feel confortable being seen by other people, but one day they hoped they might.
In the carride back the two stopped, even surrounded by close friends they didn't want to reapeat the earlier scene. Now however with their hands holstered their palms itched and their fingers nervously tapped as not being complemented by another palm it seemed to lost any other purpouse.
Despite the small incident both did have an enjoyable time and having discussed the script their new show was just under two weeks away. With their newfound relationship they wondered just how well they would preform together. If after their first performance in the traininghall they realized just what there was between them, what would follow after the real show?
Back at the dorms the two parted the itch in their palms almoast unbearable.
'Aren't you coming over?' asked May. Rosetta at that question sprung a idea and was keen to put it into practice.
'I'll just get changed then join you.'
Even these small comments where enough to provoke a smile form May.
'Alright then. And then added. Don't keep me waiting.'
Rosetta noded amuzed, subtility really wasn't the chineses strong point, but she had other plans for them and after seeing the girl close the door to her room quickly scurried to Sarah for a favour. The british woman still felt the taste of the exquitiste cake and as the readhead told her about her idea she was a bit surprised.
'Didn't you have enough.' Rosetta shook her head.
'It not about that, please I really need your help. Call her and tell her ... '
May was constantly checking on the clock on her wall and was impatently tapping on the table where she was sitting at.
No more then five minutes had passed and already she couldn't stand being by herself. They had been spending the day together, but with their friends also present they couldn't talk openly without getting themselves flustered.
One day she would be more confindent in this regard, but it clearly wasn't going be today. As much as she wanted to get things done herself, this were one of the rare times where patience would be needed. As she heard a rining she quickly jumped up and rushed to her door, but then remembered that she didn't have a doorbell and realized it was the phone ringing.
Whoever on the other line was would get a piece of her mind as soon as she answered.
She was burning with anticipation and longning and now someone had nothing to do then to interrupt her.
'What the hell do you want?'
On the other line Sarah was a bit surprised, normally people answered with a who is it?.
May quickly apologized altough she still horribly annoyed.
'I'm sorry I didn't know it was you. ... Say that again? ...'
Now it didn't matter who it was she was talking to as the news she had just recevied made her even more angry.
'I can't belive this. What? Now?' Sarah despratly tried to explain to her that at the stage waited someone who wanted to see her about the show and who had announced a meeting a long time ago. May for a moment had to consider her priorities.
"If I stay I'll have the chance to spend some quality time with my girlfriend. But if I don't go to that guy I might end up losing the show and Rosetta would never forgive me for having ruined our first costarring."
The chinese was immensly headstrong, but common sense got to her and she quickly left, the faster she went the faster she could return. Determined as she was running was the only option for her and she sprinted out of the building.
"Let's get this over with."
But whilst running she rembered her previous thoughts and also realized what her inner voice had just said.
"Girlfriend? ... Now theres a word I never pronounced."
This little run made her regain her calm and also made her see just what Rosetta was to her, her girlfriend and so much more.
Rosetta sighed in relief and noted how fast May left the building. Her plan was taking shape, but seeing how quickly her friend was running she knew she only had a few minutes at her disposal.
'Quickly Sarah, she left the door open.'
The british woman had a big bag with unknown contents and strained to get it trough the door.
'Where do you want this?' The redhead promptly answered.
'Here on the this round table.' She then helped the older woman unpack and set up everything.
With everything done the caramelhaired woman left whishing her luck, but also adding.
'She'll have my goat when she finds out...'
Rosetta didn't even pay attention as she was making last minute adjustments.
"I can't belive this! First Sarah tells me to quickly meet this guy at the stage, but the place is locked for the night. If this is another one of her practicle jokes, we'll see who will be laughing."
"I told Rosetta not to keep me waiting and now I am keeping her."
That thought troubled the chinese, she knew it wouldn't end their relationship, but she couldn't stand having her dissapointed. Back to her room she remebered having left the door unlocked, but also remebered having left the light on.
'Is anybody there?' she asked cautiosly looking around then seeing a small flame lighting one candle slowly lighting the whole room.
'Rosetta?' The chinese was surprised what she saw. Barly a few minutes had she been out and in that time the redhead set up a small round table, with fancy sheets cuttlery and other things.
The scene was something she would not forget so easily.
'What are you doing?' Rosetta laughed softly.
'Isn't it obvious? I prepared us a proper dinner, with all the comotion we just had a piece of cake, we both need a good meal. Just consider it me returning the favour for what you did this morning.'
Maybe the redhead should have rephrased as somehow to the chinese that sentence didn't sound at all good.
'Don't be foolish, I didn't do it as a favour and I don't want you returning it.'
She pieced together that the earlier call must have been her idea and would have found the gesture nice if they had been only friends.
'I did it because I love you.' added the chinese, having spoken without considering, but she spoke what she truly belived.
For a moment Rosetta was stunned having heard May pronounced love and refering to her.
Of course she had hoped that was how the blackhaired girl felt, but she didn't want to rush things and in such a short time it all became frightning again, but now the promise of love was something which overshadowed everything.
It should have just been a simple dinner between a fresh couple, but it became something much more. May also was surprised by her choice of words, but knew them to be true. However having said them she wagered the most precious thing she posessed, not her heart, but the relationship with Rosetta.
If she wasn't ready to return her affections then now and here would their first love end. The redhaired girl now trapped again in awe over uncertainty remembering the last days events quickly saw how much it progressed and even this dinner was part of her plan to explain how deep her affections went.
This time there was nothing to stop her and she said with a heartfilled voice, but also strangly aluring.
'Then I did this out of the same reason. I love you too.'
May's eyes widened, so it was true then, there was love between them and having pronounced it between them sealed the bond between their hearts. Rosetta felt as she had made the right choice and altough having decided for herself didn'd find it as difficult as she expected it, as if someone wanted them to remain together, god, fate or the universe, it didn't matter who it was as long as the result was the same.
Both would have liked to share and intimate kiss here and now, but rembered the prepared table. The round table was quite small and the two plates where cramped with cuttlery and one candle on the tiny surface, which however meant they where an armsreach away. They started eating and slowly talking, until now they always blushed intensivly when talking about their bond, but now having openly admitted to love oneanother it seemed to have changed them.
It was bizzarly funny how it was pronounced between them, both had expected some romantic scene out of a fairytale, but now having gone trough them, the surroundings didn't matter as long as the outcome was unchanged. After they finished May thanked for the gracious meal and as Rosetta got the plates to the sink she asked, slightly playfull.
'What? No dessert?'
After their celebration with their friends neither wanted to ever see another confection, but as Rosetta returned she swiftly, but determined kissed the chinese, both surprised by the quick and bold move. Intensity never seemed to have lowered altough they had shared some before, but neither where their kisses consistant, always unique for some reason.
May having asked for desert got more then she suspected as nothing would be sweeter then what she experienced with the redhead in these moments.
Rosetta's Room
After yesterday's events both May and Rosetta felt confident to take the next step. As the chinese always waited for her friend, now better known as her girlfriend, to get changed. Nothing special had been planned for today, they just wanted to have a nice walk around town and spend time with eachother.
But as Rosetta got out after having changed in May she saw the determination that today would be the day they reveal their relationship to the world. With one hand extended towards the redhead May asked.
'Ready?'
Rosetta understood what she meant and was equally prepared for today, she knew some would congratulate, other scold her, neither would move them as long as they where together.
As the two entered the hall, all their friends already were having breakfest and walking together towards them, nobody in the whole room failed to notice.
Sora and Mia were quite surprised, if it had been either of them they probably wouldn't have been so open so quick, it just showed how much inner strength they had and how together there was probably nothing that could stand up to them.
Their hands bound as always there was no turning back and despite faking indiffrence, they heard all the comments of the other castmembers that they hadn't gotten to know yet.
'Unbelivelble.' 'They are what?' 'Who would have thought.' 'That's awkward.' 'Those two?' 'What a match.'
Many where shocked by the two, but still weren't fully sure what it meant, it might be just something momentary and they resumed their normal conversations.
However in the back one of the newer recruits couldn't drop the subject and talked it over and over with his friends. May and Rosetta didn't mind, they expected it. Sora and the other congratulated them on their bravery.
Anna, Marion and Ken where among the many who had been kept in the dark and never would have thought them out of all people to enter a relationship. Marion found them immensly cute, Anna was proud of them not keeping it a secret and Ken was surprised just how bold the two where.
After breakfest both left and not to leave any dillusions rejoined their hands. Now that the cast knew, it was time for the rest of the world to know.
The rest of the day both promised eachother not to plan anything and just enjoy and discover what being a pair was like.
Walking along one of the nicer and more layed back parts of town it was time for the rest of the world to find out. They really hadn't before left the stage to do something this layed back and all it had a calming effect on the two.
But as they started encountering people they soon found themselves overwhelmed by persistand and awkward looks.
With their hands inserperable the two had a certain complementary grace about them, together they somehow fitted.
Capy Mary had always been a gathering of unique people, artists, musicians and of course acrobats, and most due to their chosen profession adopted a certain openmindedness that was now visible.
For the paintors hard at work on their canvas took a few minutes off to admire the beauty of the two and some musicians changed their tunes to a ballades portraying love. Somehow this special brand of people understood just looking at them how they where struggling to show the world just what they shared.
But besides them and some other understanding folk the whole street was divided. Some acknowledged them, but others where repulsed. Capy Mary never had had a reputation as being a place where samegender couples would live, that usually was asociated with Boston. That must also have been the reason for all the strange looks they got.
Both weren't that concerned with what other people thought, but every time either of the girls picked up one of those accusing looks would slightly squeeze the other hand to show the disconfort it created. It wasn't enought to upset them, but just annoying. After another half hour they felt at ease again and strolled confortably along the sidewalk.
On days like this it was crowded, by artist, some creating, other selling their creation. Rosetta was reminded of the chineses grandmother who had never gotten along with people trying to sell her things. Having avoided a bulk of people the sidewalk was getting much easier to navigate.
Now they were getting to the Benchwall, where as the name suggested a large number of benches where set up in a row with many people ocuping them. The two however didn't find a place to sit and continued their enjoyable walk and decided to head to Cape Mary park where they could sit a while.
'I think we're doing pretty well.' said May looking at her girlfriend smiling.
'I wouldn't have expected anything else from us.' answered Rosetta steering them to avoid a small child on rollerblades.
'I just whished others would stop staring at us at least for a while.'
Rosetta sighed, she too had been worn out by the persistant looks.
'Oh well, every man with his mind.'
The chinese couldn't understand why she so easily forgave, some had been plain rude and pointed mockingly at them.
'Are you saying they have a right to scold us?' The redhead shook her head.
'No, I mean that everybody has a right to an opinion and we have to accept it.'
The chinese now talked with all her mouth, before they had been speaking normally, it just showed how much the redheads attidude surprised her.
'Even if that means hurting other people? That hardly justifies it.'
Rosetta was now pressed to respond in similar way.
'I didn't say it was right, we just have to learn to live with it.'
May stopped the two of them.
'Why are you trying to defend them? Are you on their side now?'
The redhaired girl stuck to her opinion, of course she didn't enjoy what they had been put trough, but it didn't matter as long as they had eachother.
'There is no they and even if there was, we were a part of them just a few weeks ago, so don't go around pointing fingers, if they can't accept its their problem, not ours.'
May and Rosetta hadn't gone into one of their arguments for some time and it was refeshing for both to see that their relationship didn't mellow them down.
The chinese had a hard time forgiving anyone if they would truly hurt her, but Rosetta on the other hand would forgive her worst enemies, if they really meant it.
As their debate prolonged themselves they continued to walk and all that time their hands had not parted even for one moment. It just showed how deep their love was.
But their energetic argument came to a hold when they passed a man on the sidewalk.
'New couple I hear, come here, ribbons for new couple, ribbons for new couples. Do you want one?'
The darkskinned man looked quite poor and wore a pair of sunglasses. He however had a pleasent smile on him.
The two girls where curious to hear how the man earned his money, he would just sit on the sidewalk and bind lovers hand with a red ribbon for a small fee. Seeing him tie the knot without even looking at their joined hands, they deducted the man to be blind. It was just one of the curiosities that this city had to offer.
'How did you? ..' The man answered quickly sighing having heard the question too many times.
'You don't need eyes to see love.'
They continued happy to have stopped.
Now others would know for sure that their relationship was not some form of game or practice.
Finally they got to the park and sat down. With all the comotion even they needed to recuperate.
The park itself was abundant with activity, small children playing on swings and seesaws. Teenagers with rollerblades or skateboards attempting risky tricks, whilst others where just watching them. Rosetta and May looked at the abundant fun that filled the park and enjoyed finally having a quite moment together.
Rosetta leaned tired on May and at first wanted to blame it on being tired, but reconsidered. Why should she motivate longing for affection from her girlfriend? The chinese at first was surprised, but then enjoyed having the redhead make the moment sweeter then it already was.
If her hand hadn't been bound by the ribbon she would have gently stroked Rosetta's hair which was leaning against her. Tenderly sitting quitely enjoying eachother simple presence the redhead picked up on of the ponytails which had not been caught under May's back.
'I never did understand why you have your hair like this.'
The chinese laughed softly as she rembered the story herself.
'After it grew too long my parents and I couldn't decided what to do with it so my grandmother comes and grabs them in two tails and it has been like this since.'
Rosetta never found the two awkward tails usefull, but they had that uniqueness about them.
'How about you?' The redhead didn't have such an emotional detachement as May.
'It always cut it like this because it would get in the way of the diabolo.'
Just as quick as their odd conversation started it ended again. Even if they were a new couple, they had known eachother for years and knew just about everything there was to know about eachother.
But this silence was just as precious as having secrets unearth and they spent another hour sitting there observing the little ones having a good time ... as were they.
But it wouldn't last for long as a group of six teenagers passed their bench and noted the two's tender position and the red ribbon binding their hands. They didn't really pay attention to them, but one of the six the girls knew, it was one of the rookies, the most mischivous of the new recruits who always got into trouble.
The small group sat a bench away from them and disturbed the tranquill atmosphere with their loud talking and laughing.
'Hey aren't those two from the stage, that where you're at right?' The rookie noded.
'Since when is the Kaleido Stage a place for lesbians?' The young boy didn't really know what to answer.
'I don't know, I've just been there for a few months, I just saw the two this morning.'
One of the older boys found the two funny for some reason and laughed loudly.
'Man, I knew it was circus, but I never thought it to be a freakshow.'
Rosetta and May both cringed at that remark, alone May would have probably have entered a rampage, but having Rosetta by her side kept her calm.
'I really don't get your problem.' said one of the girls. 'If their in love let them be.'
The two boys besides the rookie started laughing. The rookie knew just how quicktempered May could be and didn't want to upset her as it would have probably have serious consequences. The two boys however didn't know that and continued, one of them having come up with something.
'Hey you two.'
The couple did their best to ignor them, but turned to them not wanting to appear scared.
'Yes, you two. My friend here she would like to aslo become a lesbian.'
The girl he was referring to slapped the boy over the back of the head.
'Cut it out. I'm deeply religious and what their doing is considered blashphemy.' The two again had a round of laughs.
' Ow come on, every girl secretly wants to be with another girl, its only the really weird ones that actually do it.'
That same girl was appauld to hear her friend talk like that to her.
'Would you shut up?! Don't ever compare me to someone like them and even if I was interested it wouldn't be anything then a simple confusion.'
"A simple confusion!?" thought Rosetta outraged trying not to have an outburst. The boy relented to annoy her friend, but not the couple.
'Yeah It never works out between lesbians, there just is no love.'
Rosetta had heard enough, she knew people would say things like that, but as much as she tried to accept it those comments where just plain rude.
Just as she was about to tell May to leave, the chinese got up furios.
'No love!?' she exclaimed close to going to that boy and hitting him. 'What do you know of us?'
The blackhaired girl had had enough, she wanted to try to accept other peoples ideas as Rosetta had suggested, not becuase she valued them, but because it would have made the redhead happy, but hearing someone say that their relationship was illfounded, that they didn't love eachother, was something she wouldn't allow anyone to claim.
'You don't even have the guts to say that again.'
The boy was intimidated by her, but surrounded by friends he felt superior.
'Oh, just go and whine to your girlfriend, I'm sure she can make you feel better.'
The intention of the last phrase was painfully clear to May and it cut her deeply. As much as she had planned to avoid such confrontation and as much as she tried to make such a scene in front of Rosetta she just couldn't leave anyone insult her love.
But just as she was about to charge the boy to just show him what his opinion meant to her she felt a strong pull coming from the hand that binded her to the redhead. Rosetta also was injured by the groups comments, but found another way to spite them, a better way.
With a quick and strong pull she turned May around and gave her a sweet kiss that instantly calmed both down. None from the group of six expected it and weren't sure at first what it meant, or if they should be looking.
After that brief and tender moment Rosetta and May had completly forgotten what had just happened and turned around and left the group. It had been quite a cruel test and earlier then what both would have liked, but Rosetta had come trough for them and avoided something which May probably would have regretted later on.
On the way back they now didn't just walk to see people reactions and to expose them to the world, but walked as a proud couple that wouldn't be deterred. And on the way back they stopped at most of the stands and did the things only couples could do. They bought some small trinkets and had eachother on their cheeks painted a flower.
May had a red rose on her cheek whilst Rosetta a blue orchid.
The painters really thought them to be a cute couple and congratulated them, for the painter was an artist and as such isn't he destined to see the beauty in the world?
Lastly they had a picture taken to comemorate the day. In all the haste they hadn't realized that for the first time they together had spent an enjoyable day in eachothers company, so for the first time the two girls went on a date.
May's Room
'That was really fun.' said the redhead, she never had been one to go out and enjoy herself.
She would rather have train until exhaustion, something she shared with May, but something that they together overcame.
The chinese didn't like having to cut the ribbon, but they had to do it eventually and the red ribbon she placed safely in a drawer as a memory.
She then proceeded to her bath and started washing her face, more specificly the rose that had been painted on her.
'This is really hard to get out.' she said trying to remove the color. Rosetta saw her across the room.
'Aw, don't you like it? Can't you leave it there for a few days?'
May chuckled, it was a interesting thought, but she added having succesfully removed the paint.
'I don't need something like that to it to express my love.'
The redhead liked the way the chinese spoke, somehow in key moments she knew what to say.
'Well I think its nice anyway, I think I'll keep mine.'
May stroked the painted cheek gently, the blue orchid would probably last for another couple of days.
'As you whish.' said the blackhaired with a affectionate voice, adding to the mirth of the moment trough a hearfilled kiss. It was still a mindblowing experience, one that always seemed to calm both and somehow remind them just how deep the affection was ingrained.
But the long and slow kiss was interrupted by the phone and only after it started to annoy both did they stop. They knew they could always pick up where they left, but that didn't make the intervention any less annoying.
'What?!' asked May picking up the phone. 'Oh sorry, I thought it was someone else. ... Fine, how about you? ... Fine as well. ... Oh I completly forgot about that. ... Tomorrow? ... Yes, of course I'll be there. ... What? ... It's not even open for debate, of course we will. ... Alright. ... You too. ... Goodnight.'
The blackhaired girl put the phone down and stood quietly for a moment considering.
'Who was it?' asked Rosetta pulling her out of stupor.
'My mother.' she said. 'She called reminding me that my family was planned to have a feast tomorrow and then hear my grandmothers will.'
Rosetta didn't want to bring back painfull memories. 'Oh.'
The chinese however was concerned about something else.
'I don't want to force you, but I already told her I was only coming with you, but if you don't want to go I'll understand.'
Rosetta smiled, appearing in front of May family as a new pair was going to have its difficulties.
'Its not even open for debate, of course I'll come.'
The chinese was overjoyed knowing she would be there for her and together they resumed where they had just been so curely interrupted.
The next day both had to dress for the occasion and spend a few good hours preparing. They wanted to avoid appearing unadequete on front of May's extended family. However Rosetta did as she said and didn't remove the flower painted on her left cheek. Their cab arrived and they left for the family gathering.