"Hey."
"Hey."
"Invite her in, Boo!" called Mrs. Jordan from the living room.
Sasha looked at Boo questioningly and Boo stepped slightly to the side so she could come in.
"Hey, Sasha-girl."
"Hey, Netty."
"I'm a little offended that she's going to tell you all about her first date before she tells me," Nanette gave a melodramatic sigh, "but that's teenagers for you."
"You and Michelle should hang out. She's always waxing poetic about the good old days and how gosh-darn impertinent we young folks are."
"I just might."
"We're going to my room now. Don't barge in, okay, Mom?" Boo was getting impatient with the easy banter between her mom and friend. Sasha wasn't there to socialize; she was there to set things straight.
"When have I ever barged into anything?"
"Not the point. Just don't do it now."
"All right, kiddo."
Normally when they hung out at Boo's, Sasha would flop onto Boo's bed and begin complaining about how boring things were and Boo would sit next to her and listen. Now the brunette hesitated when the blonde shut the door, apparently unsure of where to go or what to do. Neither made eye contact with the other.
"How was it?" she asked, still standing.
"I thought you didn't want to hear about it."
"I never said I didn't want to hear about it. I just don't want to hear about Carl."
"Why not?"
"You know why." Sasha sank to the floor and ran her fingers over the familiar carpet. "It hurts too much."
Boo recognized the expression that came over Sasha's face. She wore it whenever she thought she had exposed too much of herself to someone.
"Don't." Boo knelt next to her and impulsively tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "Don't throw the wall back up. I just want to understand."
"What is there to understand? I'm gay, you're straight, I like you, you like Carl. Seems pretty simple to me."
"You said...before...that you like me. I don't understand why."
Sasha laughed softly.
"Because it surprises you when people like you even though you're the most likeable person on the planet. Because of the way you smile when you nail a performance. Because you know exactly what I'm thinking and how to deal with it. Because you're loyal and dedicated and sweet. Everything I'm not. Because, Boo, seeing you is the best part of my day and making you happy is the best feeling in the world."
Sasha spoke so sincerely and fervently that it made Boo's breath catch. She watched Sasha's expression carefully, looking for any sign of mockery, but there was none. Only the quiet pain of someone who has resigned herself to being alone.
"I know that by the rules of the great and powerful Sasha Torres I should make some snarky comment about kicking your ass if word ever gets out that I'm a lesbian and totally into you, but I think it's pretty much useless, don't you?"
"Pretty much," Boo whispered, feeling stunned at her friend's confession. She was having a hard time processing it.
"Not like you'd broadcast the fact that the town bitch has a crush on you anyway."
"Don't say that."
"It's true."
"It's not true."
"Anyway, what else did you want to talk about?"
"I don't know."
"Did I answer your question?"
"I don't know."
"Can I go then?"
"No." Boo put her hand on Sasha's to stop her from leaving. After a pause she said, "We fought about you. Carl and I. He said it was stupid of me to stand up for you because you've got a bad case of bitch-itis."
"Normally I don't think you're stupid, Boo, but I think I have to agree with your boyfriend on this one."
"He's not my boyfriend."
"He's not?"
"Well, he didn't ask me and I don't think I want to go on any more dates with him. He's sweet and charming and likes me a lot, but..."
"But what?"
"I don't know! I feel like I should like him back and be his girlfriend and everything, but every time I'm with him I think of you." Boo took a breath. "And I don't know if that makes me a lesbian too or if I'm just confused because of the kiss, but I don't want to date Carl until I've figured you and me out."
Sasha cautiously raised her head and looked into Boo's eyes.
"Do you really mean that?"
When the blonde nodded, Sasha gave a half smile and brushed her lips against Boo's hesitantly. Like the last kiss, it was slow and deliberate, as if she was afraid that moving too quickly would make it disappear altogether. But Boo didn't want sweet and slow. As soon as their lips met, something inside her broke and she wanted hot and frenzied, wanted to be as close as she could to Sasha, wanted Sasha's long, strong fingers all over her. This is what she had wanted all along but had been too scared, too insecure, to admit. She reached up and slipped her arms around Sasha's slender neck, pulling her in closer, and Sasha put her hands on Boo's hips, playing with the hem of her shirt.
They'd danced together forever, becoming familiar with the way the others' body works, but this was different. This was more intimate than dancing. This was about exploration fueled by feelings neither of them could fully comprehend yet.
Sasha slipped her hand under Boo's shirt and caressed the warm skin that met her there. Boo shivered. Feeling sexy was something she never thought she would experience, but the way she reacted when Sasha sucked on her lower lip... The quiet whimper that escaped her only spurred the brunette on, and she placed hot, open-mouthed kisses all up and down her jaw.
When they finally slowed down, Sasha gave Boo one more lingering kiss and pulled back, trying to catch her breath.
"I definitely like it better when you kiss back," she said with a shy smile.
"Me too." There was a pause. "Now what?"
"Is it awful that I don't want to think about it? I want to enjoy this," Sasha intertwined her fingers with Boo's, "and you," she kissed her forehead tenderly, "without worrying about what people will say."
"Do you want to sleep over?"
"Are you okay with that?"
Boo imagined being curled up next to Sasha all night, imagined how peaceful she'd look when she was asleep, with none of her waking cares to make her frown. She loved the thought that she could take care of her friend in some small way by letting her stay the night and live in this dream for a little while longer.
"Absolutely, Sasha-bear."
A/N: I struggled with this chapter forever! You know how when you look at a word for a really long time it stops looking like a real word? That's kinda what happened to me and Boosha. I tried reading Faberry fanfics to give me kiss ideas and I'm afraid I lost the tone I've been using. Hopefully it isn't too inconsistent.
Also I'm losing my bearings as to where the story should go. Should I stop here? I never intended for it to become one of those massive, neverending fanfics. It seems like a good stopping point to me. Heroiccanvastote said I could put this story on hiatus until Bunheads comes back, which seems like a logical idea because the show itself is what kept me writing. If I do go on hiatus with "Sasha-Bear" I'll definitely keep writing one shots and other stuff.
Let me know what you think? Thanks for all of your reviews! You guys rock!