Cordelia had finally dropped her off and watched her all the way to the door. Misty had dropped her school bag somewhere near the living room and pushed her pants off as she made her way towards her bed. She fell into it heavily after pulling her blankets back and sighed. It was only a matter of minutes before the girl fell into a deep sleep.
oooOOooOOooo
Misty woke the next day to sunlight shining through her window and the sound of someone knocking at the door. She got up quickly and ran for the door. She sighed when she realized it was just Miss Goode, "Sorry. You didn't answer your phone and I had to make sure you were okay," Misty nodded and looked down. She blushed brightly when she realized she was standing in the doorway in just the hoodie she fallen asleep in and her black boy shorts.
"Sorry. Umm, come in please," She shut the door and all but ran back to her room to locate something to put on. She grabbed a pair of leggings and pulled them on before walking back out and finding the woman stood in her kitchen, "I guess when I fell asleep, I fell asleep. I didn't hear my phone. I'm sorry, Miss Goode," The woman shook her head and stepped up to Misty to place her hand to the girl's forehead.
"Your fever is a lot lower," Misty nodded and Cordelia held up a bag, "I brought Tylenol and Ibuprofen. I didn't know which one you preferred," Misty grinned and made a split second decision to pull the woman to her in a hug. She felt Cordelia's arms come around her too and grinned to herself.
"Thanks," Cordelia just nodded into her shoulder and Misty finally pulled back, "Umm. I don't really take thin's like this. Which one would ya suggest?" Cordelia nodded and pulled the Tylenol out and handed it to the girl. Misty nodded and opened it before swallowing three of the small pills, "My grandma always told me that I should never have someone in my house and not offer 'em tea. I don't actually think we have hot tea but I do have sweet tea?" Cordelia laughed.
"Your grandmother sounds a lot like my aunt Myrtle," Misty laughed, "Sure, Misty. Thanks," The girl nodded and grabbed two glasses from the cabinet and opened the fridge to pour the two beverages. She handed one to the woman who grinned her thanks and took a sip, "You look like you feel better."
"I was exhausted. I wouldn't be surprised if that was caused by sleep deprivation alone," Cordelia nodded and followed the girl as she led them into the living room. She took a seat on the couch and Cordelia sat a few inches away from her, "So yeah. I forgot what good a full night's sleep will do ya," Cordelia bit her lip.
"You don't sleep at night?"
"It's kinda hard when your mama comes in drunk around two in the mornin' and can't see straight," She widened her eyes and clamped her hand over her mouth when she realized what she'd said, "Shit. I didn't mean ta tell ya that," She looked up at the woman and could see anger swirling around in brown eyes.
"Misty, you shouldn't have to bear all of this by yourself," The girl nodded, "Please never feel like you can't tell me something."
"Thanks, Cordelia," The woman felt her heart skip a beat when the girl said her first name. She'd told her she could call her that days ago and now was the first time that she'd actually heard it out of Cajun lips. Misty sat her glass down on the coffee table and turned toward the woman, "I mean it. I've never had anyone care this much."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Misty mouse," The girl grinned and Cordelia blushed bright red when she realized that her little nickname had slipped out, "I didn't mean to let you hear that."
"Obviously," Cordelia looked down in embarrassment, "I like it. I've never had a nickname before," The woman looked back up and bit her lip, "Really. It's cute," She grinned at the girl and reached for her hand and squeezed it in her own.
"You know what? You have me now okay? And you never have to worry about me disappearing anywhere."
oooOOooOOooo
The woman had left and Misty promised to call her if she felt worse or anything. She walked into the kitchen and picked the bag up that had had the medicine in it to throw it away only to realize something was still in it. She scrunched up her face and opened the bag before laughing and reaching in to pull out a stuffed cat. It was white and looked a lot like Rhiannon. She threw the bag away and made her way to her bed room to grab her phone.
She located it where she had dropped it the night before in her haste to get in the bed and snapped a picture of the cat, 'Thanks. You really are the kindest person I've ever met.' She sent the text and laid down across her bed. Her phone beeped and she looked down at it.
'It's not a problem, Misty. And thank you, darling. You're the sweetest person I've ever met.' The girl grinned and rolled on her side bringing the stuffed animal with her.
'I'll add it to my collection.'
'You have a collection of stuffed animals?' She laughed.
'I was being sarcastic. I've never had any before.' Her phone didn't beep again like she expected and she thought maybe she'd angered the woman in some way until her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"I'd buy you the entire stuffed animal aisle if I thought it would help anything," Misty felt her heart swell and tears well up in her eyes.
"Thanks, Cordelia. It means a lot," She heard the woman sigh.
"I'm sorry, Misty mouse."
"What in the world are ya sorry for?"
"I don't know. I just felt like I needed to say it."
"You're definitely not the one that needs ta say it. But thanks anyway," She heard the woman shifting on the other end, "I'll see ya tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Misty."
oooOOooOOooo
Misty had made it through her day of school and was now at the clinic. She took in the new shipment and sorted through everything. She grinned when a familiar name popped up and pulled her phone out. 'Rhi's flea stuff just came in.' She pocketed her phone and continued sorting. Her phone beeped.
'I'll have to get it tomorrow. I'm in a meeting.' Misty nodded.
'I can stop it by when I get off if that's okay.'
'You don't have to do that, Misty.'
'It's the least I can do. Please?'
'You don't owe me anything, darling. But if you want to, then that's fine.' Misty grinned and got another text with the woman's address. She put her phone away and continued working until closing hours.
oooOOooOOooo
Misty triple checked the address before shrugging and pushing the metal gate open. She approached the front door and rang the doorbell. It was opened a few moments later and Cordelia stepped aside to let her in, "Thank you so much for this, sweet heart."
"It's not a problem, Miss Goode," She nodded and took the medicine from the girl. Misty's eyes lit up and Cordelia turned to see that Rhiannon had come into the room and caught her attention. She bent and picked the cat up when she brushed against her legs and Cordelia grinned at the two of them, "Ya live here by yourself?"
"It's a little large, but I inherited it after my mother died so it's all paid for."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Cordelia just shook her head and gestured for the girl to follow her. Misty followed and Cordelia turned around to see her hold Rhiannon like a baby and petting her belly while the cat laid lazily in her arms.
"She's spoiled enough, Misty."
"No such thin' as a cat that's too spoiled," Cordelia laughed and put the medicine on the counter.
"There definitely is and she's right there," Misty looked up at the woman to shake her head and stopped the movement of her hand. She felt Rhiannon's paw touch her hand and looked down where the cat was looking up at her. She laughed, "See what I mean?"
"Maybe. But she's adorable so it doesn't matter," Cordelia wanted to tell the girl how adorable she was but refrained from doing so.
"Is that right?" Misty just nodded and looked up into brown eyes, "Alright. I guess so."
Misty grinned and sat the cat down on the floor, "I should probably go," Cordelia just nodded.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Misty mouse."
oooOOooOOooo
Misty was now in the greenhouse for study hall and could hear the woman moving around in the back room. She heard something shatter and a whispered expletive before getting up and moving to the room. Cordelia was stood near the counter and had a rag wrapped around her hand. A shattered bowl was nearby on the counter. Misty stepped over to her and Cordelia looked up when she heard her approaching.
She looked up confused as Misty grabbed her hand and pulled the cloth away. It was bleeding heavily and Misty pushed it back to it, "What happened?"
"Oh, I kind of tripped with that in my hand and fell into the counter with it," Misty nodded and pulled the woman into the other room with her. She led her to the sink and unwrapped her hand.
"Sorry," Cordelia opened her mouth to question the girl but flinched when Misty stuck her injured hand under the warm water. Misty looked at her apologetically and pulled her hand from the water. She wiped the blood away gently, "It's not too bad. It doesn't need stitches," Cordelia nodded. Misty reached and turned the water off, "Where's your first aid kit?"
"Misty, I'm fine," The girl raised an eyebrow and Cordelia rolled her eyes playfully. She pointed and the girl came back and sat down at one of the tables. She gestured for Cordelia to take a seat across from her and the woman finally did so. She reached for her hand again and Cordelia watched her clean the cut gently before bandaging it. She bent her hand and pressed kiss to the bandage and Cordelia felt a blush start in her cheeks, "Thank you, Misty mouse," The girl just grinned and put the kit back where it belonged before sitting back down across from the woman.
"Anytime, Miss Goode."
Author's Note: There is a difference between constructive criticism and being an asshole when leaving a review. Yes, I do know that my two high school AUs are similar. I was given two of the same prompt for two different yet very similar pairings. I'm doing the best that I can and trying my hardest not to let this fic be too similar to the other one. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but darling, you don't have to read it... And to the people who continue to read and review and love this fic, thank you all so much!