(Evie)
The atmosphere had shifted around Evie and Mal, and it almost seemed as though – with everything out in the open – it was impossible to keep any amount of distance between them, and surprisingly, it had been Mal to initiate the next show of affection; the one that seemed to set everything off.
After about an hour of homework, Jay and Carlos had come to their door and asked if they had wanted to go out for dinner with a group of friends, and they had both agreed. When they had arrived at the outdoor restaurant, Lonnie and Chad had been waiting for them, and Evie had taken the seat next to her best friend, smiling when Mal had easily dropped into the chair on her other side. However, Jane had arrived later with an apology about her mother keeping her, making them a chair short.
Evie stood immediately, well aware that Jane was the most comfortable with Lonnie and figuring the younger girl would wish to sit with her. "Here, take my seat."
"Oh, no. That's unnecessary," Jane mumbled under her breath, making it obvious that she was uncomfortable with the kind offer.
"Come on, Jane. I can grab a chair from another table," Evie insisted, wanting the girl to feel welcome at the group dinner.
"Shouldn't you boys be offering your seats?" Lonnie teased the three boys sitting around the table. "Honestly, are none of you gentlemen?"
"I'm no gentleman," Jay smiled mischievously as he slung his arm over the back of his chair and leaned back. "I'm a thief."
"You used to be a thief," Carlos corrected before bringing his gaze up to meet Jane's. "You can have my seat if you want, I just figured I'm the only one who can tolerate this one enough to sit with him."
At that, Jay reached over casually and shoved Carlos off of his chair, causing all three of the boys to burst out in laughter while Evie shook her head, sharing a look with Lonnie. Stepping around the chair, Evie gestured to Jane for her to take it, and luckily the small girl did after muttering an apology for being late. Scanning the rest of the restaurant she looked for an empty chair, finding one not too far away, however, when she made a move to go collect it she found herself unable to when someone grabbed hold of her waist. She let out a quiet squeal as her body was pulled down over the arm of a chair, but it quickly turned into an excited giggle when she found herself sitting sideways on Mal's lap, her legs draped over the chair's arm as strong arms snaked around her body.
That move had been the one that seemed to set off an inability for them to keep their hands to themselves.
"It seems this seat is already occupied," Evie stated in a quiet voice as she brought her gaze to find sea-green, a smirk reshaping her lips when she found the timid glint shining in the girl's eyes.
"Someone else might need that chair later, you never know," Mal replied, the fingers of one hand dancing over a prominent hipbone underneath a dark-blue shirt.
The touch was subtle enough that no one else would notice it, but noticeable enough for Evie to make her mind wander to less public-friendly places. I need to calm down. Once again, the first thing that popped into her mind was inappropriate, and she was beginning to wish her body would leave her alone for a night. Completely oblivious to the fact that none of their friends knew about their sudden shift in relationship, Evie tangled her fingers in purple hair and leaned down to connect their lips for the second time, finding the same overwhelming emotions that had consumed her earlier in the evening returning to settle into her again. I could do this all day.
Unfortunately, an obnoxious clapping followed by a cheer startled her, causing her to pull away from Mal so that she could turn a narrowed gaze on the source. Why am I not surprised he would do such a thing?
"What?" Jay questioned, lifting his eyebrows and shrugging, the smirk playing on his lips irking Evie.
"You're inappropriate," Evie stated, shaking her head as she shifted in Mal's lap until she was facing the table.
"And making out in the middle of a restaurant is appropriate?" Jay arched his eyebrow in amusement, crossing his arms over his chest.
A laugh caught their attention, and they both turned to face Chad as he spoke. "You think that was inappropriate? You should have seen what happened in the dorm lobby earlier."
Jay's dark-brown eyes met Evie's red-brown again and she just knew what he was about to ask.
"In the dorm lobby?" Jay's smirk had never been more irksome. "Do we get details?"
Carlos snorted and Jane's eyes widened, and Evie opened her mouth to make something up that would get Jay to never ask for details again until she felt Mal's face pressing into the back of her shoulder. Awe, she's embarrassed. Given that knowledge, she decided to say nothing, choosing to ignore the boy instead. Luckily, Lonnie seemed to understand what would happen if it was only silence that followed.
"Hey, Mal, do you think you can help me with my hair?"
The weight on her back was removed, only for the feeling of the girl's chin resting over her shoulder to replace it, and – unable to stop her smile from taking over – Evie slid her hand down until she could lace her fingers through Mal's. This is how easy it should have always been, she thought, the way she had struggled to show her affection for the girl this morning still haunting her because she knew she had caused Mal far too much pain; though the haunting was distant now that she had seen just how much surety and joy she gave the girl.
"You don't think I'm some sort of hair-stylist, do you?" Mal asked the girl, and Evie couldn't help but giggle due to the girl's breath tickling her neck.
"Well, no...?" Lonnie trailed off, right eyebrow lifting. "I just figured you might be able to find a style that suited me better. You know, since your hair is amazing."
"Thank you," Mal smiled softly, the delight in her voice lightly coated with a bashful layer. "I... I kind of use magic on it."
"Magic? I didn't know you..."
"Well, yeah, Lonnie, her impeccable ability to reach black-out anger can't be her only talent," Jay chimed in with a brilliant smile gracing his features, his interruption meant to tease both Mal and Lonnie.
Mal laughed awkwardly. "You saw that, then?"
"Are you kidding?" Carlos chuckled, his hand hung over the side of his chair so that he could scratch Dude's head. "I think everyone saw it."
Knowing something was wrong, Evie turned immediately to press her lips to Mal's temple, offering her comfort with the hope that it would keep the girl relaxed. She knew the topic wasn't the best for Mal considering she wasn't proud of the way she had acted at the game, but she also knew that – if given the chance to – the girl wouldn't change what she had done to Audrey; knowing both ultimately had her confused as to how the girl would react to the conversation continuing.
"I'm not sorry," Mal announced, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"And there's no reason for you to be," Jay shrugged as he crossed his arms again. "Though maybe we should all think twice about teasing Evie."
"I thought we were talking about Lonnie's hair," Jane spoke up for the first time since she had sat down. "How did we get here?"
Jay took a moment to think about it. "Don't know. Sorry, though."
"Oh, um... well, if you still want me to, then I'll help, but I'll have to use magic," Mal offered awkwardly, her fingers manipulating Evie's softly.
"Of course I still want you to help!" Lonnie exclaimed excitedly, reaching up to touch her hair. "I'm not afraid of magic, and I trust you."
At that, Mal relaxed against her, her fingers stilling their nervous movement as a small breath escaped her lips. Knowing all of her friends truthfully enjoyed Mal's company and witnessing the girl finding comfort in their words placed a smile on Evie's face that she knew would never truly find its end. How did we end up here, huh? She wondered, remembering how defensive and blunt Mal had been in the beginning towards all of them, and the way Jay had been cautious of her intentions, attempting to keep her away from the girl. It was a mystery to her if she were being honest, but one she didn't feel the need to solve because she loved the results, and she wouldn't swap a single piece of their messy puzzle out for a cleaner cut one.
(Mal)
A sense of familiarity welcomed Mal as soon as Evie asked if they could slip away from the group, but she didn't even consider stopping the girl when she laced their fingers together and tugged her away, the smirk gracing the blue-haired princess' features somehow managing to make her both excited and nervous. After dinner the group had decided to head to the tourney field and play a small match against each other; Mal, Carlos, and Lonnie versus Evie, Jay, and Chad, with Jane on the gun. It had been difficult and highly amusing, especially since Evie seemed to be terrified of the ball most of the time and Jane's aim was horrendous. However, despite the fact that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, Evie had still taken the first chance handed to her to pull Mal to the side and talk her into leaving – though it hadn't been difficult for Evie to convince her.
It was getting late, but Mal still didn't hesitate as she followed behind Evie, their fingers linked as the taller girl led her across grass and pavement with ease due to the lack of people wandering around at this time. She wondered what the others were doing now that they had lost two players, but the second Evie threw a glance over her shoulder the radiant smile she saw took refuge in her mind, blocking out everything that wasn't the breathtaking girl in front of her.
"Where are you taking me, E?" Mal asked, though she honestly didn't care much; she would follow Evie anywhere.
"You ask so many questions," Evie giggled, the sound entrancing.
"Well, maybe if we hadn't been attacked the last time you wanted to take me somewhere I wouldn't be so cautious," Mal replied, more of a statement than an accusatory claim. She trusted Evie, she just didn't trust the cover of night.
"You worry too much."
"That's it?" Mal questioned jokingly, recognizing the dorm building despite being on a side she had never been on. "You're not going to say anything else to reassure me?"
Evie suddenly turned around, and before Mal knew what was happening the girl had taken her other hand and backed her against the side of the building. The mischievous smirk had returned, and so had the excitement and the nerves, leaving Mal desperate to know what happened next as Evie pressed their bodies together, pinning her against the building.
"If you stopped focusing on asking questions, I think you would notice that we're at the dorms," Evie whispered, her voice deeper than Mal was used to. "But you're just a curious girl, aren't you?"
Mal tried not to, she really tried to keep the next words that came out of her mouth from being a question; but it didn't work. "Was that our destination, though?"
"Actually, it was," Evie answered, lips curving into a smile. "Is it so difficult to believe that I just wanted to cuddle with you instead of playing a game I'm terrible at? Or did you think I was going to murder you?"
"The second one, definitely," Mal breathed out, the girl's deep husk releasing a feeling that settled in every inch of her body; and she really didn't know what to do.
Though she was well aware that Evie would never murder her, she couldn't help but think there was something else on her mind other than what she had stated she wanted. It was something in those red-brown eyes, something in the smooth honey of her voice, and it was everything about the way she pressed their bodies firmly together and the way she slid her hands over her ribcage.
"You really only wanted to cuddle?" Mal questioned, voice seeming to weaken as Evie's grew more mesmerizing.
"Mmhm," was Evie's only response as she leaned down to nuzzle Mal's jawbone.
Oh, for the love of... she couldn't even finish that thought. "I don't believe you."
"And why is that?" Evie asked quietly, molding her inviting lips into an attractive pout.
Mal's breath hitched when lips brushed teasingly over the skin of her neck, and for a moment she didn't think she would make it out of this encounter alive. Yeah, she forced herself to exhale; she definitely wants something else.
"It's just a feeling I have," Mal whispered with a small crack in her voice. What is this girl doing to me? She didn't know, but she didn't dislike it.
"It's just a feeling, huh?" Evie smirked, sliding back up until their foreheads and noses were pressed together. "And may I ask exactly what that feeling is saying to you?"
"It's... it's um..." Mal stuttered, flicking her tongue from her mouth to lick her lips, the skin suddenly feeling chapped. "There's... something else on your mind."
"Mm," Evie hummed.
If Mal had thought she was going to have a heart attack earlier, she was sure of it when hands gripped her waist and tugged her hips forward suddenly, the feeling of Evie's body molding to hers reaching places in her own body that had never been ignited before. Unable to handle the seductive husk of her girlfriend's voice, Mal brought her hands up to grip Evie's neck and used the hold to pull the girl down until their lips were a mess of heated desire. Evie hummed into the kiss, lips curving into a small smile as she reached around to slide her fingers underneath the back of Mal's belt for the second time that day. She seems to enjoy doing that. Mal didn't mind, though, in fact, she could barely focus on anything other than the feeling of the girl's lips, and when she felt teeth close around her bottom lip she felt her knees weaken as a light groan pushed its way out of her body.
"Is this okay?" Evie husked against her lips, fingers tugging on the smaller girl's belt.
Swallowing the thick lump that had formed in her throat, Mal nodded, groaning again when Evie immediately pushed forward to close her teeth around her plump lip another time. "Fuck."
Giggling, Evie fused their parted lips together again.
All she wanted was for the princess to be as close as possible, so she slid her arms around the girl's neck and pulled until their chests met, their height difference making it a bit awkward, though neither of them really cared. She wanted things she had never wanted before; she wanted Evie's hands caressing the areas of her body she had never allowed others to even look at, she wanted those heavenly lips pressing into every inch of her skin, she wanted to do anything and everything that flashed through her mind in that moment. She just didn't know how to even begin, or how to express her cravings.
"I... Evie, we should..." she was breathless, lost for words.
"Go inside?" Evie finished for her in the form of a question, red-brown eyes sparkling with a look Mal had never witnessed before; she enjoyed it.
And she definitely enjoyed the way fingertips danced over the skin just above the waistband of her jeans. She's daring, Mal's breath was stolen from her lungs when the fingertips rounded to her front; what does she want? Part of her felt as though she knew the meaning behind every look, every touch, every kiss, but her inexperience in life still managed to keep her from knowing exactly what was going to happen when they made it back to their shared room. She wasn't scared, though, not even in the slightest, and so she aimed to show that by pulling the princess into another kiss, one full of affection and passion instead of lust and desire.
"Well, well, well, this was certainly something I did not expect."
Recognition hit her immediately and had her startling away from her girlfriend, her eyes widening as her chest constricted in panic due to the unexpected interruption. I didn't think he would come himself. No, she never would have guessed it.
"You actually believe the trick of love," Head continued, his pace slow as he approached them, hands behind his back as if this was a casual meeting. "I thought I taught you better than that, Mal."
Mal hissed, stepping away from the wall and wrapping her arm around Evie to push the girl behind her. "It would make sense, considering you never taught me anything of worth."
Evie seemed to know to stay silent, but she slid her hand down Mal's arm until their fingers could lock together tightly; whether it was a warning for Mal to not push things, or a comforting touch, she didn't know. She pressed the girl further behind her, not willing to let her get hurt. However, her focus wasn't divided enough for everything occurring in that moment, and when she caught the movement in her peripheral vision it was too late for her to stop the blow from connecting with its destination.
It was too late for her to keep herself from losing feeling of Evie as every light around her flickered into forced darkness.