[molly--kroll]

Aroma Therapy // Molly & Shane

[shane--mccutcheon]

Molly’s response made Shane cringe, even though it was well-meaning. For some reason, it was important to her for Molly not to think that she had been like that during the course of their relationship. She had loved Molly, deeply loved her, and enough to be faithful to her in a way she hadn’t been able to do with anyone else. It was a fact she knew her ex didn’t know and would likely doubt, but it would do little good to set the record straight. Maybe it was best for her to think otherwise: that she had been just like every other girl Shane had ever entered into a relationship with. 

The touch completely took her by surprise, and the familiarity of it made something in her chest constrict in a strange, painful way. Shane looked down at Molly’s fingers, her own hand turning slowly as though she were going to hold it back, but then her ex pulled away.

Shane sat back and took her coffee cup with one hand, her other tracing a useless circle on the tabletop as she listened to Molly continue to talk about Jenny. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” There wasn’t any point in denying it. Yet here she was, obviously going against the wishes of her girlfriend, despite how deeply she actually did care for her. Shane didn’t want to hurt Jenny - she actually went to extraordinary lengths to avoid it. The way she saw it, not telling her about meeting Molly was just another way to do that.

She was grateful at the change of subject. Shane laughed lowly and finally looked back up at Molly, resting her elbow on the table as she took a slow drink of her coffee. “It’s different, I’ll give it that. It’s definitely not LA. The weather, especially. It’s fucking freezing.” Right now it reminded her of Canada, another memory she didn’t particularly want to revisit, but had recently been forced to. “But I’m saving a lot of gas money. How about you? What else have you been doing?” 

[molly--kroll]

Molly tried to sit and listen to what Shane was saying, but she was having a hard time.  Was this really where they were at, sitting and talking about the weather?  Their conversation felt so stiff and lifeless.  She nodded in agreement, she too was saving a lot of gas money, but she still couldn't get over that this was what they were talking about.  She laughed out loud, realizing that they were, well, boring. 

"I'm sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, I was- Shane this is ridiculous.  You're talking to me about the weather."

Her hand instinctively went to Shane's arm.  This time Molly didn't pull it away.  "We're not these people.  The people that sit and make awkward small chat because the can't talk about anything else."  Her hand squeezed Shane's arm.  "We're just not.  Shane you can really talk to me."  

Molly was hoping they would get back to the open relationship they use to have.  They use to talk about everything and Molly loved that.  She had never been with someone she could share everything with and she missed that desperately.  

[molly--kroll]

Aroma Therapy // Molly & Shane

[shane--mccutcheon]

Joking about girls with an ex-girlfriend was unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. Shane was far from the jealous type. She actually wanted Molly to be happy; she deserved it, more then anyone, and especially after what Shane had put her through. Even though she had found Molly’s letter too late, she still tried to tell herself that the original decision she’d made had been for the best. If only she hadn’t had that brief moment of weakness and called Molly’s cellphone. At that point, Shane had been on the brink of breaking up with Jenny, but then the situation had gone downhill fast. Now they were here and starting a strange… friendship. 

Shane had never been friends with exes, or flings, or whatever you would call them. All the friends she kept had remained friends. It was a sacred position to her. She valued her friends the way someone would value a family - crossing that boundary was treading on dangerous grounds. Jenny… while Shane couldn’t bring herself to consider Jenny to be a mistake, she knew that something had gone terribly wrong in their delicate and now unstable relationship.

"Me? No." Shane shook her head, smiling faintly, as if there would be no reason at all for Molly to assume she was hitting on girls here just as frequently as she had in LA. "Look, Molly…" She paused, then pressed her lips together and shook her head. "Nevermind. You look good. This city suits you, you know? I went to a few art galleries with Bette when I first got here. It… reminded me of you. Not the art galleries, just… you know, the environment." Intellectuals. New York City was less about glamour and sex than the celebrity-filled streets of Los Angeles. There were people here with real careers - people who changed the world. 

The topic of Jenny threw her off guard. Shane blinked, then gave a soft laugh and shook her head, her gaze shifting toward the large window. “Jenny doesn’t know I’m here.” She was a lot of things, but never a liar.

At least not when it counted.

[molly--kroll]

Molly listened, sipping her coffee as Shane talked about the galleries she had gone to.  She had done something similar when she had arrived to New York, but she had done it alone.  After leaving her girlfriend in LA and coming to an unknown city, Molly had taken some time to find herself.  She wandered the streets, getting lost in a good way.  Exploring the small book shops and art galleries, Molly had found herself again.  She began keeping a journal, noting her feelings, how they changed about everything in her life - everything except Shane.

Her heart beat steadfast for her ex, no matter how long they were apart.  She hadn't bothered to look through the pages of her journal, she knew what they would say and it made her feel a little pathetic.  Shane had moved on, so why couldn't she?

"Well it's good to know you haven't changed."  Molly said with a knowing smirk.  She placed her hand on top of Shane's without a thought.  The feeling of her skin against Molly's cause her an excitement she hadn't felt in a very long time.  Just as quickly as she had placed her hand on top of Shane's, she removed it and continued talking.  "I'm sure Jenny wouldn't be thrilled you were here talking to me."  Molly had no reason to tip toe around Shane about Jenny.  She had never changed who she was before or censored herself in front of Shane, she wasn't going to start now.

Molly wanted to ask how Shane's little crazy girlfriend was doing, but she didn't want to upset Shane.  She had always been very protective of Jenny, even when it was a detriment to herself.  

"How do you like it here?"  Molly asked, steering the conversation away from Jenny.  She sipped her coffee, keeping a hold of it in her hands to keep them busy and away from Shane's.

[molly--kroll]

Aroma Therapy // Molly & Shane

[shane--mccutcheon]

The morning hadn’t started out well. Shane’s alarm didn’t go off, which meant that she out of bed the same time Jenny did - at least an hour later - and had to come up with an excuse to leave the house without being prepared to do so. Shane could lie, but lying on the spot was more difficult… especially when it was Jenny. She told herself that she was considering Jenny’s feelings by NOT telling her, since the fact that she was meeting an ex-girlfriend - Molly, for that matter - would have been a devastating blow. It didn’t help that Jenny had been so fragile since the accident. Shane was unable to shake the inherent need to protect her feelings. Their life had become a delicate balancing act, chock-full of lies and half truths. 

Around 10:16, she arrived at the nondescript coffee shop, rubbing her hands together to thaw them out. She’d walked and it wasn’t exactly close. The weather in New York City was so different than LA that she wasn’t sure how to cope with it. The two cities were like night and day. It wasn’t the city that Shane would choose to live in, at least not permanently; there was a coldness here that was more than skin deep. 

She glanced around the small shop, but only took a few seconds before she saw Molly sitting at a nearby table. “Hey!” Shane grinned and sat across from her, leaning forward and with her elbows at the edge of the table. “Sorry, I didn’t know it’d take this long for me to walk here.” She thought better of mentioning Jenny. The conversation she had with Molly at the art gallery had been more than slightly awkward… but this time, she had her phone on silent. It sat shoved in her pocket, out of sight and out of mind. 

Molly’s coffee cup caught her eye. There was something written on it. Shane’s gaze lingered, but then she laughed softly and glanced back at the counter. “Already making friends?” It was only some light teasing, a way to break the ice, and she didn’t consider the implications a question like that might raise. Even while they were together, Shane had always assumed Molly found men attractive, even though she realized the hypocrisy of assigning a label to her girlfriend when she’d always criticized them.

[molly--kroll]

When Molly looked up to see Shane, she smiled unknowingly.  She couldn't help herself when Shane was around, even when she tried.  Their relationship, no friendship, which was nothing compared to what they use to have, should have Molly pissed off and mad, not smiling like a giddy school girl.  But her she was, coffee cup in hand, radiating from the crescent shape between her ears.  

Laughing at Shane's comment about making friends, Molly eased herself into conversation with her ex.  It was like riding a bicycle or making love, she knew exactly how to do it without even thinking.  "Yeah, well I didn't ask for his number, though I may ask for the busty redheads number."  She quipped, winking at Shane.

What was she doing?  Shane had a girlfriend.  A psychotic, bimbo who was the spawn of hell, but still a girlfriend.  Molly was digging herself a hole and she knew it.  She was pushing the shovel in the ground, willingly, but she couldn't help herself.  Her fingers reached for her hair and she twisted it a little.  

"But knowing you, you've already got her number."  She joked, verbally nudging Shane.  Molly made jokes about Shane's past to make it seem like it didn't bother her, but they both knew it did.  Between Shane's past and Molly's mom, their relationship had failed.  But at least they could be friends.

"So what did Jenny say when you told her you were coming to me meet me?"  Molly asked, sipping her coffee, a knowing look on her face.  She was willing to bet big money that Shane hadn't told Jenny.  While Shane answered, Molly wondered what it all meant, if it meant anything at all.

[molly--kroll]

Aroma Therapy // Molly & Shane

The smell of fresh coffee hung in the air.  Each time the door to the tiny out of the way coffee shop opened, Molly felt a gush a freezing air follow in the patron.  Hipster soft indie rock played quietly through out the shop, accompanied by hushed voices and the sound of the espresso machine ran by a charming barista.  He had smiled at her as she ordered, nodding his head as he wrote her name on an empty cup.  Molly hadn't even noticed, though normally she would have.  When he made a joke, she smiled awkwardly, then paid and made her way to the pick up line.  Men still flirted with her.  It made her feel weird and she was uninterested.  It made her want to invest in a sign that said "Lesbian:  men keep away."  Maybe she would have a t-shirt printed.  When she picked up her coffee cup she noticed under her name was written "Noah 555-3198"  Molly couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Molly sat down at a table and pulled her floppy hat from her head.  She smoothed down her hair, running her fingers through it, then folded them and placed them in her lap.  She waited.  For about a minute she sat completely still, looking at the door.  Her fingers drummed on the table nervously, as she anticipated Shane's arrival.  Shane was known for being barely on time or late through out their past together, but that knowledge didn't help Molly as the clock showed 10am.  They were suppose to meet at 10, and when her phone switched from 9:59 to 10:00, her heart began to drum in her chest.  Thoughts raced through her mind, every which way, and she couldn't quiet them.  What if Jenny kept her from coming?  That would be something Jenny would do.  

"Bitch."  Molly breathed under her breath.

Molly didn't understand how Shane could still be with Jenny, at least that's what she told herself.  The truth was Molly knew exactly why Shane was with Jenny.  She knew that her ex cared for the damaged girl and that she would stand by her through this struggle.  That didn't mean that Molly had to like Shane's actions, even though she understood them.

10:02am  Shane was late, but Molly wasn't surprised.  She glanced down at her phone again, waiting, her fingers still drumming against the table every now and then.  She lifted her cup to her lips to take a drink, but it was still too hot.  A quick glance around the shop showed that Noah was looking in her direction.  She wished that he would take the hint as her eyes casted down to her phone and watched it tick to 10:03.

[bette--porter]

Pressure Points || Molly & Shane

[molly--kroll]

Molly wanted to get coffee with Shane, more than she was willing to admit to her ex girlfriend.  Seeing her here, it made so many feelings well up inside her.  Her palms began to sweat when she saw Shane and even though the conversation wasn’t going as plan, she still wanted to keep talking to her and see her again.  

"Coffee, yeah, umm… What are you doing later?"

It was forward, but Molly had never been one to try and hide what she wanted.  She wanted Shane to know that she was here, no matter what, even if it was just as friends.  Secretly Molly had the feeling that Jenny and Shane would implode, or at least she kind of hoped they would.  She should feel guilty or ashamed about that, but honestly she didn’t.  They weren’t good for each other-  Molly didn’t actually think Jenny was good for anyone.  Jenny just had too much shit to deal with of her own to be in a relationship.

"I think Bette just wanted me to fill out some paperwork, but if you’re busy I totally understand.  We could do it another time, you know, if you wanted to.  Or not."  Words just kept tumbling out of her mouth, in that way they always seemed to when she was nervous.  

[shane--mccutcheon]

"Um…" As much as she wanted to agree, Shane felt a sinking feeling at the idea of explaining this longer-than-expected absence to Jenny. She hesitated, then grimaced and shook her head slightly. "I can’t… today. Tomorrow? Can you meet up tomorrow? Maybe in the morning? I know a few places you might like, unless, you know, you already have a favorite." Putting off the coffee venture to the next day seemed to be like a good idea, especially because it would give her time to make excuses for Jenny. It felt strange to be lying to her all the time, but at this point in their relationship Shane felt literally backed into a corner. It wasn’t that she planned on doing anything but talking with Molly, but even something as innocent as that would be blown to epic proportions if she tried to talk it over rationally with her girlfriend. 

Shane took out the cell phone, quickly typing in the passcode to get paste the myriad of messages from Jenny, and went to her address book. “I don’t know if I still have your same number.” After all this time, she’d kept Molly’s number - and her own had never changed. “How does ten sound?” Shane asked, trying as hard as possible to prove that she wasn’t just trying to blow Molly off by not agreeing to go with her right now.

[molly--kroll]

Molly’s heart sank a little when Shane turned her down for coffee that night and instead suggested meeting up tomorrow.  It bothered her that so much of her feelings were wrapped up in Shane.  Molly had been so independent, but now it was as if her happiness depended on how things were going with her and Shane.  With a little sigh and a nod, Molly convinced herself that this would be okay.

“Yeah, tomorrow, sure.”  

She felt like she was being brushed aside, even though Shane was making an effort to meet up the very next day.  Molly reached in her pocket and pulled out her phone.  She knew she still had Shane’s number, but maybe she had changed it when she moved to New York.  

“My number is still the same… Is yours?”  She questioned while flicking through her contacts to Shane’s name.  

Molly let her hand drop after she checked Shane’s number against the one she had in her phone.  The street outside the gallery was bustling.  Molly let her eyes drift to the people outside, coming and going.  She didn’t want to look at Shane, to feel the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that she had felt when Shane said she wanted to be friends.  Molly didn’t want to be friends, but if it was all she could have, she wanted at least that.

“Ten sounds great.”  She forced a smile.  “I guess its a date.”  Immediately after she said it she shook her head, looking downward and blushing.  “I mean, its not a date because I know you’re dating Jenny, and- its- I just meant that I’ll see you then.”  She was flustered all over again, feeling silly for her slip up.

[bette--porter]

Pressure Points || Molly & Shane

[shane--mccutcheon]

"Oh," Shane said stupidly, but didn’t actually think the break-up it had anything to do with her. The voicemail she’d left for Molly that night had been ambiguous, but she’d always underestimated Molly’s feelings and truly believed that severing the relationship had been in her best interests. "I’m sorry." She did feel sorry that the relationship had ended, insofar as it meant that Molly might be… unhappy… but there was an odd, shameful relief in the knowledge that Molly was unattached. It wasn’t as if anything could happen between them; the satisfaction was pure, guilty pleasure that she felt only distantly ashamed of. 

When Molly asked about the ringing, Shane immediately shook her head and took out her cell phone. She didn’t bother looking at the screen. “No, it can wait.” Shane put the phone on silent and slid it back into her pocket. She knew Jenny might go into panic mode soon, but she also told herself that she could wait just… a few more minutes. It wasn’t like she’d been gone that long. “Do you… I dunno, want to get coffee or something? Not right now, I know you have to… uh, work, but…” It occurred to Shane, belatedly, that Molly was going to be working in Bette’s gallery, which meant that she would be seeing… more of her. In turn, it meant that Jenny would also see more of her. The situation was troubling, but Shane told herself that Jenny trusted her enough to realize that this was a relationship she’d already left in the past, no matter how she… actually felt about it. The same could be said about Carmen, but somehow Shane had the idea that Jenny would be much less understanding about her.

[molly--kroll]

Molly wanted to get coffee with Shane, more than she was willing to admit to her ex girlfriend.  Seeing her here, it made so many feelings well up inside her.  Her palms began to sweat when she saw Shane and even though the conversation wasn't going as plan, she still wanted to keep talking to her and see her again.  

"Coffee, yeah, umm... What are you doing later?"

It was forward, but Molly had never been one to try and hide what she wanted.  She wanted Shane to know that she was here, no matter what, even if it was just as friends.  Secretly Molly had the feeling that Jenny and Shane would implode, or at least she kind of hoped they would.  She should feel guilty or ashamed about that, but honestly she didn't.  They weren't good for each other-  Molly didn't actually think Jenny was good for anyone.  Jenny just had too much shit to deal with of her own to be in a relationship.

"I think Bette just wanted me to fill out some paperwork, but if you're busy I totally understand.  We could do it another time, you know, if you wanted to.  Or not."  Words just kept tumbling out of her mouth, in that way they always seemed to when she was nervous.  

[bette--porter]

Pressure Points || Molly & Shane

[molly--kroll]

"School, yeah, at Columbia.  I had thought about applying there before we split up and when I got in.. it just seemed like too big of an opportunity to waste."  This was the same thing she had rattled off to her father, even though she had told him that she wanted to go to UCLA before.  He never second guessed her change of school, but then again  he wasn’t exactly in the loop when it came to lesbian bicoastal drama.  

"I really do like it here.  You know how much I hated driving in LA."  She laughed a little, allowing herself to ease into the back and forth they had had before.  Molly’s eyes skimmed over Shane’s face, stopping for a moment on her lips.  How she missed those lips, the tender way they had kissed her own.  She couldn’t help but stair at them, longingly.

The word ‘friends’ took Molly by surprise and she couldn’t help the words that spilled from her mouth.  

"So you’re still with Jenny then?"

Her tone was harsh, much harsher than she meant it to sound, but she couldn’t help showing how hurt she was.  Here she was, in New York, after leaving her friends and family behind, hoping that the two of them could start over.  But the word ‘friends’ seemed to put that day dream to an end.

[shane--mccutcheon]

Shane didn’t know shit about colleges, but she knew enough to understand that Columbia was a hell of a lot better than UCLA. Ivy League, maybe. It was a decision Molly wouldn’t have made had they stayed together - but then again, neither of them had likely ever anticipated that they would both end up in New York for entirely separate reasons. 

"Yeah." She managed to laugh softly and relax, even though it was difficult to look at Molly and not remember the delicate words on that hidden letter - the one she was never meant to see. "Of course I remember. I drove us everywhere." Reminiscing about their relationship was more painful than it should have been, even though it had been six months since their last encounter. It had been similar with Carmen - but different. It was impossible to compare her exes. She’d been different. Now… she really wasn’t so sure who she was, what she was. Everything was wrapped up in Jenny.

As if on cue, her phone vibrated in her pocket, rattling against the two packs of cigarettes. Shane grimaced, but the expression was fleeting and she tried to smile again. “Yeah, I am.” Molly’s tone caused her half-hearted smile fade. She also forgot about the incessant jangling the phone was making in her pocket. “What about you? Are you still, uh…” Shane trailed awkwardly, suddenly realizing that she’d never known the name of the girl she saw with Molly in the store. All she remembered was the strange, sinking feeling she’d experienced when she saw them together. She had felt happy for Molly, but it didn’t mean she’d been unaffected. 

[molly--kroll]

"No, I ended that."  Molly said abruptly.  She thought Shane new her better, knew that she wouldn't have texted her the things she had if she was with someone.  She didn't offer a reason as to why she ended it, though it was all because of Shane.  They could have done the long distance thing, her girlfriend had even wanted to, but Molly couldn't.  She had come to New York to see if her and Shane could some how get on the same page.

When she planned her move, Molly convinced herself it had nothing to do with Shane.  She almost believed the lies she was telling herself, but now faced with the reality of Shane and Jenny's relationship, she couldn't keep lying to herself.  They weren't going to make things work, Shane was still in a relationship, she had move for nothing.  Molly was annoyed, but she tried to real it in.  It wasn't Shane's fault.  Shane hadn't know Molly was going to pick up her whole life and move across the country to work on things with someone who wasn't even responding to her text messages.  She felt like such a fool.  This was completely out of character for her, even though it was quite romantic.  At least Shane didn't have to know Molly's real reasons for moving.  

"Do you want to get that?"  Molly asked, as Shane's phone kept buzzing, adding to her annoyance.  

[bette--porter]

Pressure Points || Molly & Shane

[molly--kroll]

So many things needed to be said, but Molly didn’t think she could say any of them.  She remembered the voicemail she had gotten from Shane the night things went down with Jenny.  She had tried to get ahold of her since, but hadn’t heard anything from her.  A few of the girls had told Molly that Shane moved to NYC with Jenny, but Molly didn’t know if that meant they were still together or not.  She could’ve asked but she honestly didn’t really want to know.  Thinking about the fact that Shane might still be with Jenny made Molly cringe inside.

"I’m, well.  How are you?"  Molly looked down at her shoes, feeling an awkwardness that had never be there with Shane.  Things were different now, but she hoped they could return to where they had been before.

"I texted you." Molly half blurted out after Shane stopped talking.  She shook her head, trying to make sense of the thoughts rolling around in there.  "I just, I mean- you never texted back.  But its okay.  I know things were….. crazy for you with-  Jenny.”  Her eyes darted up to look at Shane before heading back to her feet.  ”I just-I missed you.”  

[shane--mccutcheon]

"Yeah, I’m…" Shane trailed, then seemed to decide against continuing that train of thought. There seemed to be little point in explaining things to Molly. It wasn’t as if anything could be different, and she didn’t want to fuck up her life any more than she already had. The break they made was a clean one. Now that she’d decided to stay with Jenny, she deeply regretted leaving that message… but there was no taking it back. "I’m okay. Thanks. So how do you like it here? You’re… going to school, right?" It was a safe assumption; it was one of the excuses Shane had made for breaking up with her in the first place, even though it had never been a factor. 

She had to stop herself from taking a step back when Molly brought up the texts. She’d gotten each and every one of them, nearly all while Jenny was still in the hospital, but hadn’t been in any condition to respond. The whole episode had been disconcerting and terrifying. Some of it she didn’t even remember. “I know, I’m sorry. It was… yeah. You’re right. It was crazy… what happened.” It was difficult to believe that Niki was capable of something so violent, and even though Shane hadn’t been there, she had been involved in the relationship and easily could have been the catalyst. It was hard not to blame herself.

Jenny still didn’t remember anything, so it was impossible to know exactly what happened. The only thing Shane clearly recalled was diving into the pool and pulling Jenny up under her arms, she’d been surprisingly light, and dragging her out onto the concrete. Bette had been there too. Everything else was a rush of activity that seemed to fly by and go in slow motion at the same time.

Shane took a deep breath and managed a smile, but only because what she said was entirely sincere. “I missed you, too. I really hope that… we can be friends. I want to be.” 

[molly--kroll]

"School, yeah, at Columbia.  I had thought about applying there before we split up and when I got in.. it just seemed like too big of an opportunity to waste."  This was the same thing she had rattled off to her father, even though she had told him that she wanted to go to UCLA before.  He never second guessed her change of school, but then again  he wasn't exactly in the loop when it came to lesbian bicoastal drama.  

"I really do like it here.  You know how much I hated driving in LA."  She laughed a little, allowing herself to ease into the back and forth they had had before.  Molly's eyes skimmed over Shane's face, stopping for a moment on her lips.  How she missed those lips, the tender way they had kissed her own.  She couldn't help but stair at them, longingly.

The word 'friends' took Molly by surprise and she couldn't help the words that spilled from her mouth.  

"So you're still with Jenny then?"

Her tone was harsh, much harsher than she meant it to sound, but she couldn't help showing how hurt she was.  Here she was, in New York, after leaving her friends and family behind, hoping that the two of them could start over.  But the word 'friends' seemed to put that day dream to an end.

[bette--porter]

Pressure Points || Molly & Shane

[shane--mccutcheon]

"…Hi," Shane said again, trying not to think about that voicemail she’d left for Molly less than an hour before finding Jenny facedown in Bette and Tina’s pool. Any calls or texts from Molly after that had gone unanswered; she’d never even explained. It felt easier, better, to ignore it all. What was the point? There was no way she could leave Jenny after what happened, especially after finding out that it was Niki who actually stole the negatives. Part of Shane still desperately wanted to trust Jenny, even after she found Molly’s letter hidden in the attic. 

Bette’s abrupt disappearance made her feel a surge of panic, but she didn’t outwardly show it. Instead, Shane awkwardly took her hands out of her pockets, rubbed her hands together again, and took a few steps closer so there wasn’t so much distance between them.

It wasn’t difficult to assume why Molly might be here. During their relationship, she knew that Molly had been thinking about applying to a few law schools - one of them had been in New York City - and assumed that it was the likely explanation. It didn’t explain why she was in Bette’s gallery; that just seemed to be one of those horrible coincidences that made Shane feel elated and sick at the same time. “So… how’ve you been?” She finally asked, very quietly. After the disastrous run in with Carmen, it seemed wise to tread carefully.

[molly--kroll]

So many things needed to be said, but Molly didn't think she could say any of them.  She remembered the voicemail she had gotten from Shane the night things went down with Jenny.  She had tried to get ahold of her since, but hadn't heard anything from her.  A few of the girls had told Molly that Shane moved to NYC with Jenny, but Molly didn't know if that meant they were still together or not.  She could've asked but she honestly didn't really want to know.  Thinking about the fact that Shane might still be with Jenny made Molly cringe inside.

"I'm, well.  How are you?"  Molly looked down at her shoes, feeling an awkwardness that had never be there with Shane.  Things were different now, but she hoped they could return to where they had been before.

"I texted you." Molly half blurted out after Shane stopped talking.  She shook her head, trying to make sense of the thoughts rolling around in there.  "I just, I mean- you never texted back.  But its okay.  I know things were..... crazy for you with-  Jenny."  Her eyes darted up to look at Shane before heading back to her feet.  "I just-I missed you."  

[bette--porter]

Pressure Points || Bette, Molly & Shane

[bette--porter]

"I’m sure you’ll do well." Bette wouldn’t have agreed to hire her otherwise. It actually felt as if the position would be beneath someone like Molly, who should be able to handle more than routine office work, but at least it would give her something to do and it would take the weight off Bette’s shoulders. She was about to say something else, but then became distracted when a familiar person walked right through the front doors.

It was true that Bette hadn’t seen Shane as much as she could have since they arrived in the city. She felt surprised (but glad) to see her now, until she belatedly realized the tense situation it might create. Bette had heard about the awkward meeting between Molly and Shane after their break-up, which had seemed amiable enough (compared to Shane’s past indiscretions), but it was still a situation she wasn’t unprepared for. 

"Hello, Shane." Obviously there was an impending conversation that needed to happen between the two of them, and even though Bette had asked Molly to come into the gallery to start her first day of work, she gave her a small smile. "Go ahead. I only have some paperwork for you to fill out before you get started." She waited until Molly’s back was turned before giving Shane a meaningful look, then retreated to give the two of them some privacy. 

[molly--kroll]

"Hello, Shane."

The words seemed to vibrate through the air towards Molly.  Her body tensed up, her fingers tightened into a fist at her sides.  She had never been afraid of seeing Shane until now, when she was presented with her.  Molly took in a deep breath and turned around.  Shane was standing in front of the doors, a look of disbelief on her face.  Neither seemed to know what to say.

Molly turned to talk to Bette, but she was already telling the two of them to talk, heading in the other direction.  It looked as if this meeting, something Molly had anticipated, even dreamt of was now happening, and she wasn't sure she wanted it to.  With a deep breath, knowing there was nothing she could do to change what was happening, Molly greeted Shane.

"Hey."  Was all she said.

[bette--porter]

Pressure Points || Bette, Molly & Shane

The call from Phyllis had been unexpected, but Bette was happy to promise Molly a position at the Lehmann Maupin Gallery. Although there wasn’t much more to it than menial errands, it would still be a prestigious job to match Molly’s acceptance into one of the country’s highest ranking law schools. From what Bette knew of Phyllis’ daughter, she was more than just a bright girl - she had been smart enough to step away from Shane before the relationship created irrevocable disaster.

These days, Bette thought as little as possible about Shane - because it also meant thinking about Jenny, a blight in her mind that would not, no matter how much she tried, completely disappear. It was sheer luck that Jenny had forgotten what she had thought she’d seen between Bette and Kelly (something that she still couldn’t understand, especially because that night had been entirely platonic in nature), but that didn’t mean her memory couldn’t inexplicably return. That last conversation they’d had on the balcony also seemed to have been mercifully forgotten.

At least for one of them. Every second was burned into Bette’s brain. She found herself exploding at Tina, Kit and even Angelica at the drop of a hat. Her naturally tightly wound nature was at its breaking point. Just two days before, she’d snapped and fired one of her best art movers for not properly measuring the space before maneuvering a brand new piece into the gallery. Her patience was waning. Her sanity was held by a finely strung cord that was slowly but steadily pulled tighter and tighter. For now, Bette explained her behavior to her partner as the natural stress of a new job and the mounting responsibilities of being a curator of such a distinguished collection with a formidable reputation, but she wasn’t sure how much longer Tina would excuse her erratic behavior. 

Somehow, she managed a smile when Molly arrived, and even offered her hand. “Hello, Molly. It’s been a while. How have you been?” Even though she knew Shane and Molly had dated for some time, Molly was, first and foremost, the daughter of her old supervisor. Bette intended to mention that Shane was also in New York City, but she saw little reason to dampen the first meeting with news that was unlikely to go over well. “I heard about your acceptance. Congratulations.”

[molly--kroll]

Molly walked into the gallery unsure of what to expect.  She was glad her mom had gotten her a job, but she hadn't exactly been very nice to Bette when they had first met.  Bette had taken her to a movie set and showed her around, but Molly had barely even bothered to thank her or act nice in any way.  She was sure Bette wouldn't remember or hopefully wouldn't blame her for her actions back then.  It had been a hard time for her, finding out her mother was gay and watching her father wither away during their divorce.  

"Hey Bette," She said extending her hand to shake Bette's in a professional manner.  "I'm great.  It's been pretty exciting, moving to a new city and everything."  She pulled her hat off her head, a newly acquired piece to her wardrobe.  She hadn't needed anything like that in the LA sunshine.  "Thank you.  I never imagined I would be going to Columbia, but I love it so far.

Bette was friendly, which Molly was happy about, but her nature was mostly all business.  This was a side of Bette she had never seen before, but she expected from everything her mother had told her about her new boss.  

"Thanks so much for finding me a position.  It means a lot to me."  

[thrandxilofmirkwood]

Hello New York // Carmen & Molly

[thrandxilofmirkwood]

"Oh, yeah? Where are you from?" Carmen offered the girl a soft smile, fishing out another napkin to help the girl pat off the front of her coat. Carmen felt rather.. Happy, to be talking to someone who seemed to understand her sentiments. Carmen hadn’t been antisocial since moving to New York, but she hadn’t really made any friends. She had been rather busy with work, and.. Well, who was she kidding. She just hadn’t wanted to go through the same thing again. She didn’t want to fall into a group, fall in love, and then lose everything so suddenly. 

"Where do you live? I’ve lived here for a few years, I just might be able to help you.” Carmen smiled at the girl next to her, standing up. “I’ll even walk you, so you don’t get bumped into again.” Offering her hand to the other girl, the warm smile stayed on Carmen’s face. “I’m Carmen, by the way.”

[molly--kroll]

"I'm from LA."  Molly said, crumpling the napkins Carmen had given her up.  She knew there wasn't any point in trying to wipe anymore of the coffee up.  "What about you?  Where did you come from?  Do you like it here?"  Molly couldn't help asking a lot of questions, she hadn't talked to anyone much since coming to New York.  Molly had been too intimidated to try and find a group of friends yet.  With everything that happened with Shane, after feeling like an outsider with the group of friends she had grown to love, Molly wasn't ready to make friends again.

"I live in the East Village."  She smiled, glad to have found someone that was not only nice, but helpful, and also pretty cute.  "I hope you can help me find my way home.  It would be great to walk through the city with a pretty girl.  I'm Molly, its nice to meet you Carmen."

[femmefaetale-blog]

[thrandxilofmirkwood]

Hello New York // Carmen & Molly

[thrandxilofmirkwood]

Carmen hadn’t really been paying attention to the things going around her. Living in New York for so long had taught her to keep her nose out of other people’s business, so she was rather shocked when the rather clumsy girl sat next to her. When she started up a conversation. Carmen arched an eyebrow at her, letting out a soft hum.

"I suppose they are." Carmen reached for her bag, pulling out a handful of napkins and offering them to the girl. "I’ve found it to be less.. Devastating as the more friendly life in warmer climates, though." Carmen flashed a rather small smile. "You should dry yourself off, then go home and change. It’s cold here, and you just had an entire coffee spilled down your front. I can’t imagine you to be very comfortable." 

[molly--kroll]

"I came from warmer climates too, and oddly I know exactly what you mean."  It was true, Molly thought to herself.  She had been destroyed in LA, completely emotionally devastated.  She had bared herself, completely vulnerable with Shane in a way she had never been before.  When Shane had ended things, she wasn't sure that she could trust in anyone again.  It wasn't easy coming back from that kind of heartache and the entire experience was something Molly had never faced before.  The guys she had dated before had lacked in emotional maturity causing Molly to be disconnected from them emotionally.  She hadn't even realized that until she connected with Shane.

Molly took the napkins the girl offered her and haphazardly wiped at the coffee she had spilt.  "You're right it isn't very comfortable at all."  She looked around the path, this way and that, coming to the realization that she was completely turned around.  "Now if I could just find my way back to my apartment."  She smiled and shrugged, hoping this strange, pretty girl could at least point her in the right direction.

[molly--kroll]

Text || Bette & Molly

Bette: Hello, Molly. Your mother said you've agreed to come work for the gallery. I would need you there monday at 8am sharp. We have a large shipment coming in.

Molly: Hey, yeah, I'll be there. Thanks for the opportunity.

[thrandxilofmirkwood]

Hello New York // Carmen & Molly

Late afternoon walks were one of Carmen’s new found pleasures. Lately, she had been rather stressed, and the recent run in with her ex had added to the stress level. So Carmen had gone out of her house, and taken a rather long walk. 

She was now seated on a bench in a park, drinking a rather disappointing cup of coffee. She had to work in a few hours, but she wished she had a job she could call off from. Carmen never wished for things like that. She loved her job. She loved being a DJ. She loved the fact that she was a permanent fixture in that club, that they wanted her to spin every night. Today, however, she was feeling rather tired out. Worn down. Who would have thought that such a brief encounter could bring her down so quickly? 

Carmen had called home, but hadn’t spoken of what had happened. She just called to hear her mother’s voice, to ask how everyone was. To say how much she missed her mother’s cooking. She listened to her mother ask her to come home, and said that maybe, she would someday. 

New York weather was so different from LA. Carmen was bundled up, a scarf, a hat, gloves. A winter coat, as well. People hurried by her, the occasional odd look was shot her way as she was just sat on a bench in the middle of winter. She would love to have someone to talk to, but everyone she had met seemed to be working, or visiting their family due to the holiday season. Carmen let out a loud sigh, eyes falling shut. Christmas was coming, and Carmen hadn’t the faintest idea what she would be doing. 

[molly--kroll]

The city was always rushing around her, Molly had noticed it the moment she left her apartment for the first time.  The hustle and bustle, the ever sounding traffic, New York was a very different place from LA.  There were some things that Molly really enjoyed about her new home, like the fact that she could walk everywhere or take the subway.  She hadn’t liked driving heavy city traffic and now she didn’t need to.  

Molly had taken to exploring her new home, enjoying the time she had off from school.  Her breath rose into the air, a cloud of fog in the crisp, cold air.  The weather was different from LA, NYC actually had seasons.  She hadn't bought any gloves yet, so she nabbed a warm coffee from a cart before she made her way into the park.  The cup warmed her hands as she held it and Molly was thankful for that.  

She walked idly through the park, passing people who all new where they were headed.  Molly wished she knew where she was head, both on this walk and in life.  She couldn't even come to grips with why she was even in New York.  Her mother had thought she was silly for moving halfway across the country to law school, but mostly she was just thankful she had decided to go after all.  Her mom even called in a favor to get Molly a job at Bette's gallery.  Molly didn't know much about art but she was thankful for the job.

Lost in thought, Molly bumped into a guy who was in an obvious hurry.  Her coffee tumbled down the her front, hot against her clothing and the skin underneath, but quickly turning cold.  "Hey watch it!"  The guy yelled as he continued to walk.  He hadn't even stopped to see if she was okay. Molly looked around embarrassed, wondering if anyone had seen what happened.  Across the path she saw a girl watching from a bench.  She was very pretty and Molly walked over towards her, smiling, still embarrassed.  

"Are all New Yorkers in such a hurry?"  She asked, wiping the front of her coat.

[thenewlwordroleplay]

Name: Molly Kroll

Sexuality: Bisexual

Status: Taken

Bio:

Molly Kroll is an educated, articulate and driven young woman. She has been pushed by her mother to be successful and has risen to the occasion with ease. When her mother, Phyllis, first came out as a lesbian, Molly was initially unsupportive. It wasn’t until she met Shane McCutcheon that she experienced her own attraction to the same sex. The two of them began a relationship, which was frowned open by Phyllis, who thought of Shane as not good enough for her daughter. Eventually, Shane pushed Molly away because she thought she deserved better. Molly delivered a letter for Shane, but it wasn’t received until it was too late. Molly is sweet, funny, and still coming into her own in regards to her sexuality. She has moved on, but still holds a candle for Shane.

Before Jenny’s accident, Molly received a voicemail from Shane about the letter Shane finally found in Jenny’s attic. Molly, believing there might be a chance at a new relationship, immediately dumped her current girlfriend - only to find out that Shane and Jenny never broke up. 

Molly has recently accepted a prestigious internship in New York City, despite the fact that (…rather, because of) Shane and Jenny live there.