Miranda was slowly getting used the odd little café that refused to call itself a coffee shop, even though she still felt like she wasn't exactly fitting in. And she couldn't quite help picturing someone getting up on that stage for a dramatic performance of Howl every time she looked at it.
But it had Jack. That was all that mattered. And the coffee was good. It wasn't too bad, spending her Saturday afternoon here, reading and doing some homework, while Jack worked. Even though she got distracted a lot, just by watching Jack. And the occasional small touch and smile when she passed by Miranda's table. Towards the end of Jack's shift, she got a little impatient, though. All she wanted was for Jack to finally take her home. She was relieved when Jack hung up her apron and came over with a smile.
"Done!" She pulled her to her feet and kissed her quickly. "Let's go."
"Looks like it's going to rain." Miranda looked up as they stepped outside, frowning at the steel grey clouds gathering in the distance.
"Then let's go fast!"
They managed roughly half the distance to Jack's place, before the downpour started.
"Ugh, why didn't I bring an umbrella?" Miranda muttered to herself, as they rushed across a street and into a building entrance.
"Wouldn't have rained."
"What?"
"The probability of rain is inversely proportional to the number of people outside who are carrying an umbrella. Everyone knows that."
"You're an idiot."
Jack grinned.
"Maybe I am, but at least I'm an idiot with a girlfriend who'd easily win a wet t-shirt contest."
Miranda peered down at herself, then back to Jack, rolling her eyes a little.
Jack looked around, then drew a step closer and pushed Miranda against the wall, hands working their way beneath Miranda's shirt.
"Jack, what if someone comes by!"
"Want me to stop?" She leaned down and started nibbling at Miranda's throat.
"Shit, no, don't you dare stop."
. . . . .
"I can't believe we did that."
Jack closed the apartment door behind them, then kicked off her boots and smirked at Miranda's still distinctly flushed face.
"Maybe you are a bad influence after all. A really naughty influence."
Jack cackled.
"I'm pretty sure you did most of what you did there without my help."
Miranda shook her head, smiling.
"Oh no, you can take credit for teaching me most of that." She reached out and brushed a strand of wet hair out of Jack's eyes.
"We should get out of these wet clothes!"
"Hey Jack. Did you get caught in the rain?" Liz walked around the corner, then spotted Miranda and beamed at her.
"Hello Miranda! I'm so glad you're back. Jack was in a horrible mood without you."
"Liz..." Jack muttered, grimacing.
Miranda gave her a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Hi."
"That was quite a fight you had. All that yelling."
"It's not going to happen again." Jack looked at Miranda sideways. "I hope."
"Good. I was about to go out."
"Take care."
Miranda started laughing once Liz had left the apartment.
"Oh, I'm starting to like your roommate." She frowned a moment later. "I've been meaning to ask, don't you have another one?"
"Yeah, but she's never around. Spends all her time at her stupid boyfriend's. Which is good, it means she isn't bringing that jerk here anymore. Had to throw him out once... Now, weren't we about to get naked?"
"You're impossible."
"I'm a teenager, I have all these hormones! And so do you, or you wouldn't have had your hand down my pants in public ten minutes ago."
Miranda turned bright red again.
"Oh shut up."
"Make me!"
. . . . .
"I wouldn't mind just staying like this forever."
Jack looked up at Miranda, who was straddling her lap, and smiled, hands slowly caressing her thighs.
"I know. Although, to be honest, I'm starting to get hungry."
Miranda's fingertips traced lazy circles over Jack's stomach.
"Yeah, I noticed."
"Pizza?" Jack asked.
"Do we have to get dressed for that?"
"I'm afraid so." Her hand sneaked between Miranda's legs again. "Though not quite yet."
Miranda smiled and moved against her, her eyes closing.
Half an hour later, they were still reluctant to get up, though.
"Do you have plans for the summer?" Miranda asked suddenly, lifting her head off Jack's shoulder to look at her.
Jack was taken aback briefly, then replied:
"Well, I'm going to work a few more hours at the café. And..."
She blushed, to Miranda's surprise.
"What?"
"Don't laugh."
"I would never!" Miranda protested.
"Yeah, you would!"
"Okay, but I'll try not to."
"I've been asked if I would tutor some kids in maths."
Miranda blinked.
"Oh."
"That look is almost worse than laughter," Jack grumbled.
"No! I'm not... I'm just surprised."
"That I'd be asked to do that?"
Miranda huffed.
"No, dammit. Stop being so awfully defensive. I just didn't know you might have an interest in that, that's all."
"Sorry, I just..."
Miranda stopped her with a kiss.
"It's okay."
"It just seems like a worthwhile thing to do, you know?" She frowned a little. "I was surprised at first, too, to be honest. But my grades are good and apparently I'm approachable enough these days for people to ask me shit like that."
Miranda smiled a little.
"You should go for it. Honestly. And now I'm picturing you as a teacher. That's quite an interesting idea..."
Jack raised her eyebrows.
"We can roleplay that if it turns you on."
"You're horrible!"
"You love that."
She brushed her nose against Jack's, then kissed her.
"I do."
"What about you?" Jack asked quickly, trying to hide her pleased smile. "Summer plans, I mean."
Miranda rolled over onto her back, folded her hands beneath her head and looked up at the ceiling.
"I want to spend a lot of time with you. And Ori. I've been looking for jobs, too. Considered internships."
She bit her lip.
"I'm sensing your dad somewhere in that frown," Jack said lowly, after a moment of silence. It was a topic they'd been avoiding deliberately all week.
It took Miranda a moment to reply. Eventually she said lowly:
"I'm just... getting quite paranoid. You know, thinking about all the ways he could complicate things for me. He has too much influence with everyone who matters. And the thing is, as soon as people realize I'm his daughter, they're going to treat me differently. The moment I give my name, people are going to bend over backwards just to please my father. I don't want preferential treatment because I'm Henry Lawson's daughter, and I don't want to be afraid that he can ruin everything for me with one phone call."
"So he knows we're back together?"
"I haven't exactly told him. We're barely talking to begin with at the moment. But I've been spending nights away from home, I think he can imagine."
Jack let her nails trace a line from Miranda's armpit to her elbow, making her squirm and erupt in goosebumps.
"You don't think he might just... let it go?"
Miranda turned over and caught Jack's hand, locking their fingers together.
"It's a possibility."
"But you don't think so?"
Miranda shrugged.
"I have never gone against his will like this. I can't tell what's going to happen. Maybe he will let it go. I just don't know."
Jack's stomach gave a low rumble.
"Time for pizza?"
"Yes!"
Jack got up, and Miranda followed her, cringing slightly as she did so.
"God, I'm sore," she moaned.
Jack snorted.
"Sorry. But, you know, not really."
. . . . .
Jack woke up early and just lay there for a while, looking at Miranda, contemplating whether or not to wake her. But she was sleeping deeply, and Jack decided against waking her just yet. Instead she slipped out of bed, put on a shirt and padded into the kitchen.
She mumbled something that sounded vaguely like 'morning' at Liz, who was drinking tea while leaving through a magazine, and started making breakfast.
Miranda cracked her eyes open and blinked up at Jack who was leaning above her.
"Morning!"
"You are awfully cheerful this early in the morning."
"Because I'm looking at something awfully hot?"
Miranda smiled at her, stretched a little and let her hand land on Jack's hip, from where it slowly moved beneath her shirt.
"Hmmm... parts of me have a pronounced interest in parts of you, but other parts of me have an equally strong interest in that breakfast smell..." she muttered.
"Breakfast first?" Jack suggested.
"Who are you and what have you done with my girlfriend?"
She tugged Jack down to kiss her, but rolled out of bed grudgingly when Jack pulled away after a moment.
"I'll stay hot for you, babe, but breakfast won't," Jack said nonchalantly.
Miranda snorted, rummaging through her overnight bag for fresh underwear.
"That must be the worst line I've ever heard."
"Doing my best here."
Miranda stood up and walked over to her.
"You're such a dork. And I'm so into that. Now, before I decide to just drag you back into bed after all, what's for breakfast?"