"Just the two of us tonight, okay?"
Amy's words were ringing in Lauren's ears, she grabbed her pillow tighter, like a weapon. "Why would you want that?" She whispered, clearing her voice right afterwards. She hated herself for being this nervous – weak – in front of Amy. Slowly she slid back, just to enlarge the distance between them. "You know, that we're not … friends, or something like that, don't you?" Her mouth spilled out the sentence too fast to consider the meaning of it. As if she were surprised by her own words Lauren gasped and brake the eye contact. Why the fuck are you this nervous?! And why are you ruining the peace offering? You're crazy! Her fingers were playing unconsciously with the fabric of the pillow, showing her uneasiness.
"Well…" Amy couldn't quite hide her disappointment. She swallowed hard, frowning deep. Slightly sighing she searched in Lauren's face the softness she noticed before. She only saw unease and felt the tension between them. "Though I know we're not 'friends'" She air-quoted. "we… I … I thought you could need someone to talk to." Amy took a deep breath when she saw Lauren's twitching lips. "…OR we'll just eating ice cream and watching something you like?" Why do I have to be this nice to her? She just hates me anyway. She'll never accept th- "Okay."
Amy's eyes widened in shock when she heard Lauren's answer. "You… what? Okay?" She asked confused but with a bright smile on her face, the first one this evening to be exactly. While ignoring her heart beating slightly faster than it used to do she grabbed the ice cream and stood up, grinning at Lauren. "Your place or mine?" Amy asked the other one seductively, winking at her. Sawing the confused look and the blush on her stepsister's face Amy started laughing loudly. "Fine… then it'll be mine." Lauren's answer was the pillow she was throwing with force against Amy. "Don't be ridiculous." She hissed in response.
Her words only earned a giggle from Amy, before she eyed up Lauren. "Be ready in ten minutes, or I'll choose tonight's program." Lauren opened her mouth to respond but Amy cut her short. "I don't want make-up stains on my bedding, and your dress, though it is quite pretty, doesn't look to comfy." There was a moment's silence between them before Lauren spoke up. "I know I'm pretty. You don't have to tell me." Her glance was expectant, but also distrustful.
Of course she knows that she's… pretty! How could she not? She looks like a freaking doll with her too pale skin and her too big eyes, ridiculous. Amy watched how Lauren played with the end of her – still perfect - HOW IN HELL DOES SHE DO THAT – braid. Why does she feel this insecure around this evil girl? It's like Lauren was sending mixed signals: On the one hand the badass bitch on the other hand this self-consciousness girl with way too much emotion in this big blue eyes. "I won't. Scout's honor." Amy sneered. She didn't even understand why she acted like a bitch herself. It was almost as if Lauren dared her to be like that so they couldn't slip on a way too emotional level. Why do I care at all?! Amy asked herself when she left the room, leaving Lauren with an unreadable expression.
Lauren sat there, watching Amy leave and sighed heavily. "Scout's honor" She aped with a growl and stand up. Fuck you, Donutface. The small girl stood before her mirror, glancing at her reflection, while she was stroking her curves slightly. I don't have you to tell me how pretty I am. But this weird feeling in her stomach – was it disappointment? – was telling her otherwise. Slowly she slipped off her dress, to take on her more comfortable pajamas. After cleaning her face from the left make-up, combing her hair, doing her daily-routine, she took a deep breath before she knocked on Amy's door. With a highly disapproving face she waited until Amy opened the door, letting her in. "That weren't ten minutes." She just said, letting her stepsister in. "Well. You asked for my presence, so you have to wait like everybody else." Lauren sneered, looking around. She still wondered, why Amy was allowed to keep the larger room, after the whole 'I'm-a-freakin-lesbian'- disaster. Kicking one of her shirts aside she asked: "Couldn't you clean up at least?"
Stroking through her now loose worn hair, she turned to Amy, tilted her head. "What're you looking at?" Her expression was a mix of confusion and anger. Amy looked still like the mess, maybe she combed her hair, but nothing more. Amy lifted one eyebrow. "I'm looking at you." For one moment she could swear, that she saw how Lauren was flushing, but in the next second she turned around again, clearing her throat. At least Amy couldn't noticed her stepsister's racing heart. What's wrong with me?! "Maybe we could sit down and watch something? Wasn't that you're idea?" Lauren tried to hide her uneasiness and sat down on Amy's bed, playing with the fabric of the blanket.
Amy looked down at this nervous girl, who was supposed to be her evil stepsister. But now she saw the blonde girl in a state, which made Amy believe she could actually like her. Like a sister, of course. Of course. The voice in her head responded sarcastically. Okay, maybe Amy could imagine to call Lauren really her friend. Really. Friend. Amy shook of her thoughts and the confusing voice as she sat down next to Lauren. "Maybe we could talk about today? You seem quite… off." She raised her head suddenly, looking at Amy. "W-What do you mean?" She huffed, gripping the fabric of the blanket a little bit tighter now. Like in defense, Amy raised her hands. "I… don't know. Just … I would understand if you're… distracted with the whole college-thing and… you know…" Lauren fell silent for a moment, before she whispered: "I've withdrew my application." She bit on her lower lip, trying not to show too much weakness or to allow the tears in her eyes to fall. She didn't even dare to look at Amy's, probably amused, face. She'll laugh at me, or she is glad, because it increases her chances… I would. Still deep in thoughts she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, slightly stroking her, and Amy, who slipped a little bit closer. "Why?" Amy couldn't resist to ask, but her voice was concerned, as she tried to catch Lauren's look. Amy was really worried, it was crazy how the other one troubled her. Finally the small blonde looked up, and Amy noticed the tears in her eyes, also her hoarse voice and the nearly desperate smile. "They only want me because I'm intersex."
Now she couldn't held her tears back anymore. Amy felt a sudden sting in her chest seeing Lauren suffering like that. Though they usually didn't have this kind of intimacy Amy put her arm around the small shoulder of her stepsister, immediately feeling how said girl leaned in. Lauren sobbed weakly, her hands were shaking, searching for holding, when she finally gripped into the fabric of Amy's trousers. She flushed a little bit, when she felt Lauren's fingers, her blonde hair on her cheek, smelt her perfume, a mix of vanilla and strawberries. Instantly she felt the urge to pull her closer, but was too afraid of scaring her away. You like her as a 'friend', right? So it's really weird to enjoy that hug so much, isn't it? Amy swallowed hard at her thoughts. But before she could loosen the hug she heard Lauren's voice again. "And … Anthony…" Oh god, this bastard. What has he done? Slowly she caressed the other girl's arm, causing goosebumps on Lauren's soft skin. Wait… what?
To be honest, this was the comfort Lauren wished for the whole day. Yeah, it seemed very odd for her to hug Amy this deeply, crying on her shoulder, without any unpleasant questions. It was nothing like this with Anthony. She really felt somehow …comfortable with her stepsister, protected in her arm, understood, and her fingers leaving this tingling sensation on her skin. That's not normal, is it?
Lauren looked up, when she felt Amy stop and her body suddenly tensing. Her expression was unreadable. Was she … flustered? Confused? Angry? It was as if Lauren remembered who sat next to her, when her eyes widened and slowly moved away, while wiping her tears. "… Sorry." She mumbled, very embarrassed. "You know, I'm usually not the one whining around like a crybaby." She tried to find her strength again, but it felt like she failed. Especially when she heard Amy's next question:
"Lauren… could it be… well… Do you like me?"