Are you still working on your Staubrey - ‘Black’ (Part One of Three) story? Am not usually a big Staubrey fan but I really got sucked into this one and cannot wait to see where you go with it next! Loving your stories as always!
Ooh I was waiting for the ideal prompt for it and here we are! Thank you so much dude and I’m pleased you liked the first part. I really enjoyed writing it 🤗 Link to Part One.
Staubrey - ‘Black’ (Part Two of Four)
Stacie took a deep breath, pausing outside her bedroom door that would be Aubrey’s bedroom for the next twenty four hours or so. She was nervous. Like, really nervous. Without The Bellas there to help stoke the conversation and without her two year old daughter there to provide some sort of deterrent from the potential awkward silences, what on earth could she and Aubrey possibly talk about? They’d never had to hold a conversation between just the two of them before.
The brunette knocked steadily on the door, pausing until she heard Aubrey call out a clear “Come in.” And the twenty six year old opened the door and stepped into the room.
Her breath caught in her throat, her brown eyes immediately drawn to Aubrey’s beautiful legs that poked out beneath the pink dress that Bella had insisted Aubrey try on first.
But her initial awe of her friend’s beauty quickly disappeared, replaced with disappointment as Aubrey turned on the spot and seemed to look down by Stacie’s legs - clearly expecting to see Bella arriving with her. The blonde’s bright smile had flickered momentarily and Stacie began to wonder if Aubrey had only actually come here to borrow a dress, have somewhere free to stay overnight, and to see Bella. Stacie wondered if Aubrey had even wanted to see her at all, and it immediately caused a wave of sadness and insecurity to wash over her body.
How could she have been so stupid to think that Aubrey came here to see her? She was just Stacie. Poor sad, single, dumpy, drained, hopeless Stacie with little life currently being led, and little life ahead of her. It shouldn’t have really come as any surprise to her that beautiful, amazing, successful Aubrey would want little to do with her while they were just awkwardly stood here one-to-one.
Perhaps letting her mother take her daughter downstairs had been a huge mistake. Stacie hated to admit it..but she needed Bella to feel okay about not being as amazing as she once was back in college. Bella was the proof as to why she’d changed so much.
“So what do you think?” Aubrey asked, opening her arms out then placing them on her hips swaying slightly as if modelling the outfit she currently wore. That large smile was back on her face again and Stacie took a deep breath, her eyes dragging their way from the hem of the beautiful dress right the way up to the neckline.
Her mouth went dry when her eyes found Aubrey’s collarbone, then Stacie found herself clearing her throat the moment she locked eyes with Aubrey for the first time. The blonde’s smile softened.
“Uh, yeah you look amazing.” Stacie managed to choke out, but Aubrey turned slightly to face the long mirror by the closet, inspecting her appearance.
“Hmm I’m not sure..” she mused, smoothing her hands down the front of the dress, “..I’ve kinda got my eyes on that green dress.”
Stacie watched as Aubrey glanced at the green dress that was hung up beside her and she felt her stomach scramble. God, Aubrey would look stunning in that dress. It had always been the dress that, whenever Stacie had worn it, she’d got the best attention from guys (and girls alike).
And it was that reminder that had Stacie’s stomach dropping very quickly. Oh God, Aubrey was going to look so stunning at this awards ceremony tonight she was bound to be hit on. Maybe she’d even end up switching numbers with a guy. And Stacie would have to go through the torment of knowing that thanks to her green dress Aubrey had ended up meeting the love of her life..
“I’m gonna try it on next.” Aubrey said, peeling down the zip of the dress she was currently wearing and ensuring it didn’t pool then crumple on the floor below. Stacie immediately turned away.
“I uh..will just wait next door..” she said awkwardly, making her way out of the room but Aubrey let out a light chuckle.
“Stacie don’t be silly! It’s just me! We’ve gotten changed in front of each other before.”
Yeah but that was with all The Bellas too, Stacie thought to herself as she returned to the room and closed the door back over. Her heart was hammering against her chest as Aubrey reached up to get the green dress down, stood comfortably in her underwear. And Stacie took that fleeting moment to admire Aubrey’s beautiful figure along with all the moles she’d never seen before. Like the one on Aubrey’s hip. And the one just beneath the curve of Aubrey’s left butt cheek.
“Like what you see?” Aubrey asked in an amused tone, her cheeks a little pink, and Stacie realised her mouth was hung open. Crap.
“Uh...” Stacie paused to clear her throat, grinning slightly with embarrassment, “...you just have a really amazing body.”
Aubrey was grinning while she stepped into the green dress, then shrugged while she turned to look at her reflection in the mirror, “Well when you do as much yoga as I do it’s difficult to lose tone..”
Stacie felt tears prickle her eyes. She hadn’t done yoga in years. Not since she’d fallen pregnant. She used to love yoga. Had done it almost every day. Having a kid changed things though. Bella was far too active and fidgety to take to a yoga class - even the ‘Moms & Tots’ one on a Thursday - and Stacie didn’t like to burden her mother with babysitting duties, so the only time she got to do something for herself was when she went to work twice a week for six hours per day. The rest of her time was all encompassed around her two year old.
“I really miss yoga.” Stacie said with a whistful sigh, looking down at her feet. She’d tried to curl her leg over the back of her neck the other week - just like she’d once been able to do before having Bella. She was so inflexible now. Stacie remembered how hard she’d burst into tears. She missed her old body a lot.
“Why don’t you join a local class?” She heard her friend ask and Stacie looked up to see that Aubrey was glancing at her.
“It’s not so easy with a two year old.” Stacie admitted, sniffing suddenly to try to keep her tears at bay, “I don’t exactly get time to myself any more unless I’m at work. And even then that’s only twelve hours a week.”
She watched as Aubrey looked at her sheepishly while trying to do the zip of the dress up, “What about dates? You must get people asking you out all the time.” Aubrey suggested but Stacie shook her head gently, a sad smile on her face. Her life really was a boring as she feared it was. And Aubrey was quickly discovering that.
“I haven’t been on a date since falling pregnant.” Stacie admitted quietly, “Unsurprisingly there aren’t many people around here attracted to the sad, sorry twenty six year old single mother of one who has a flabby stomach post-pregnancy and bags beneath her eyes the size of the moon..”
She seemed to automatically wander towards the blonde, keeping her eyes on the zip that Aubrey had stopped struggling to reach around to do up and Stacie reached out to help. She slowly slid the zip comfortably up, her index finger accidentally smoothing up Aubrey’s soft skin on her back. And Stacie swallowed loudly ignoring the way her friend looked at her in the reflection of the mirror.
She didn’t want Aubrey to feel sorry for her. She was sick enough of feeling sorry for herself.
“You’re really beautiful.” Aubrey said in an affectionate tone that Stacie had never heard before, “You do know that, right?”
Stacie’s heart jumped into her throat, her chest tightening slightly at the compliment. Aubrey - her crush - had called her beautiful. But Stacie didn’t feel beautiful. She never felt beautiful. She was a mess. And she felt sad to think that Aubrey was just saying those things to try to cheer her up, not because she meant it.
She looked up into the reflection of the mirror, noting how beautiful Aubrey looked out of the two of them. How could the blonde possibly think that she was beautiful too?? She looked like a tramp beside Aubrey who stood before her like some sort of Goddess.
The green dress drew the green from Aubrey’s eyes, lighting them up like the fresh green leaves on a beautiful warm summer’s day. And Stacie felt tears brimming in her eyes again.
“No where near as beautiful as you.” she managed to choke out, her fingers still lightly clutching the zip she’d just zipped up for her friend. “And this dress is definitely the dress. You’re gonna blow everyone away tonight.” she added in a soft tone, forcing a small smile onto her face as she stepped back with a sniff to take in Aubrey’s entire figure. She looked stunning.
Aubrey seemed to take a few moments to assess her appearance in the mirror, but she didn’t smile. And for a fleeting moment Stacie thought she could spy tears shining in her friend’s eyes. Oh God. Had she upset Aubrey with her sad sorry self-pity? Way to go, Stacie - killing what should’ve been a light fun experience between the two of them with her shitty pity-party.
“Right,” Aubrey announced with a sharp sniff, clearly composing herself and standing up straight. She turned to the three dresses that were still hung up and plucked the black dress from its hanger, “You’re gonna put this on.” she said in a confident tone, turning back to Stacie and holding it out.
Stacie hesitated, looking down at the dress then back up at Aubrey. Her friend was looking at her with a pointed expression and though she didn’t know a lot about Aubrey, she remembered that look. It was Aubrey’s bossy expression.
“Because I need to show you just how incredible your body is. And this dress is the way to do it.”
Stacie hesitated. She hadn’t worn this dress in over three years. There was a high chance that she would struggle to get into it. And it terrified her. She just wasn’t as slim as she used to be. And her ankles hadn’t really lost their chunkiness since her pregnancy. She was going to look just awful.
But the younger woman took a deep breath, then slowly reached out and took the dress. Her fingers brushed against Aubrey’s, causing her hands to tingle a little. Then she watched as her friend stepped past her with a kind smile, and headed for the door of the bedroom. Stacie’s brow furrowed slightly while she watched Aubrey reach for the door handle.
“Hey where you goin’?” she asked but Aubrey simply looked over her shoulder at her.
“I just need to ask your Mom something.”
Stacie hesitated, wondering if she should be concerned. But Aubrey didn’t give her time to air her worries, quickly slipping out of the room with nothing more said. Stacie looked back down at the dress in her hands and took a deep shaky breath.
Aubrey slowly wandered down the staircase, her mind feeling fuzzy while her stomach knotted. She felt confused. Sad for her friend.
When she’d arrived here a couple of hours ago she’d expected to find the Stacie she’d always known: bright, confident, relaxed, happy. But to her surprise her friend seemed to be like a shadow of her former self. Stacie seemed far less confident, both externally and internally. She seemed more anxious. More tired. More uncomfortable. And Aubrey had struggled to keep her tears back as she realised just how unhappy Stacie probably felt.
She didn’t know if it was Stacie’s hormones. She didn’t know if Stacie had just become a victim of circumstance - a single mother living at home and making barely any money in a job that probably filled her with little stimulation.
But one thing that Aubrey definitely did know was that she still harboured a huge crush on the brunette. A crush that she’d only started considering back when Stacie had been in her senior year and had been giving Aubrey a good bit of attention during their time away with The Bellas in Copenhagen. They hadn’t ever spent time one-on-one. But Stacie had had this sparkling expression on her face that had captivated Aubrey. To the point that Aubrey had thought about her a lot over the years since then, checking through her Instagram and admiring her life via social media.
She hadn’t hesitated in contacting Stacie when she’d found out about the awards ceremony that was being held tonight. She’d been a pack of nerves driving over to see her. Had been in awe of Stacie’s beauty when the brunette had wandered downstairs to greet her.
But the short conversation they’d just shared had Aubrey’s heart lurching towards Stacie. Lurching towards the young woman she secretly adored. She had to find out more. She had to find out what had happened to make Stacie lose her confidence.
And there was only one way to find out. By asking the person who knew Stacie best: Stacie’s Mom.
Stacie perched on the edge of the bed, her face in her hands, weeping gently. Her body shook with emotion as waves and waves of self-doubt overwhelmed her. She’d miraculously got into the dress. But where she’d once been able to zip it up alone three years ago, now Stacie’s extra weight that she’d put on during the pregnancy and the flexibility she’d lost since, meant that the brunette sat on the edge of the bed with the back gaping open.
She always knew this would happen. She should’ve just told Aubrey she wouldn’t do it. Wouldn’t try on the dress. But then Aubrey had looked at her with those beautiful green eyes and Stacie hadn’t needed any more persuasion. What a mistake that seemed now..
Stacie jumped as she heard the bedroom door opening and she pulled her face from her palms, sniffing loudly, frantically swiping the tears from her cheeks. She caught a whiff of perfume and immediately recognised it as Aubrey’s. And sure enough the blonde slowly wandered over and stood before her. Stacie looked up and saw the look of concern on her friend’s face.
“Want some help with the zip?” Aubrey asked softly and Stacie sniffed again before getting to her feet. She let out a heavy sigh while turning slightly on the spot. Then her breath caught in her throat when she felt Aubrey slowly draw the zip of the black dress from the small of her back up to the top.
She thought she heard Aubrey swallow loudly, then her friend gently took hold of her hips and guided her gently over to the long mirror Aubrey had once been stood before. Stacie caught sight of her reflection and took a sharp inhale of breath between her teeth.
Her hands immediately stroked at the small pouch of jelly-fat that had been present since Bella’s birth. No matter how hard she’d tried, she was still unable to shift it.
Her eyes ran up and down the length of her body, tears welling up in her eyes again. She was hideous.
“See,” Aubrey said in a soft tone, stood behind Stacie, reaching around to take her hands and hold them by her sides, “you’re absolutely beautiful.”
Stacie sniffed loudly. She had no idea what part of her Aubrey was looking at to have given her such a compliment. Her eyes found Aubrey’s in the reflection, and she saw a look on the woman’s face that she’d never seen before. A look that she couldn’t pinpoint. What was happening?
“Will you go to this awards ceremony with me this evening?” Aubrey asked, resting her chin gently on Stacie’s shoulder. This felt intimate. Like how two lovers would stand together. But they weren’t lovers. Which was the key reason why Stacie was confused by this contact. “I was offered a plus one and I thought I could go it alone but...”
Aubrey seemed to pause, bringing her head from Stacie’s shoulder and the brunette furrowed her brow for a moment. She turned on the spot, looking at Aubrey in some concern. But to her surprise her friend looked into her eyes with a smile that slowly grew on her face.
“...I want to take you out for the night. To say thank you. And the Lodge will be paying so we don’t have to worry about money or anything.”
Stacie hadn’t quite comprehended that Aubrey’s hands were still resting on her hips, nor had she comprehended that her own hands were lightly cupping the blonde’s elbows.
“Your Mom said she’ll look after Bella no problem.”
Stacie’s heart began ramming against her chest. Had...was Aubrey asking her out on a date?! She opened her mouth to answer but words caught in her throat. All she could do was clear it lightly.
“You can wear this incredible dress, and we can do our hair and makeup this afternoon like we used to do when preparing for performances with The Bellas.” Aubrey continued, noticeably nervous now, trying to make this evening’s trip sound more and more enticing. But Stacie didn’t need any more enticement. She’d been sold the second she realised just who had asked her out. “A-And we’ll get an Über both directions so we don’t have to worry about one of us driving or your Mom having to dr-“
“-I’d love to.” Stacie interrupted, a watery smile spreading across her face. She watched as a broad smile of relief appeared on Aubrey’s face, her green eyes twinkling while Stacie looked into them.
There had been no official mention of this being a date. Definitely not. And even though Aubrey was unusually affectionate right now Stacie was sure that didn’t mean that the woman had a crush on her or anything. It was just Aubrey trying to comfort her when she’d been upset. And Stacie was really grateful for that. Normally she only had her Mom as a shoulder to cry on. Or Bella looking at her with a bit of a perplexed expression before snuggling up to her to try to help her feel better.
“Thank you.” Stacie whispered, blushing, such had been the intensity of Aubrey’s look, and she snapped her focus down to her hands. She quickly pulled them from Aubrey’s elbows, a little embarrassed by how vulnerable she was acting.
Just as they stepped apart, the bedroom door crashed open and little Bella stepped into the room with a massive grin on her face, gasping before crying out, “Mama you look beautiful!”
And Stacie let out a coy smile while her little girl looked up at her with her big green eyes, wide with wonder.
“See,” Aubrey mumbled, nudging Stacie gently, “I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
Stacie’s Mom suddenly appeared in the doorway, out of breath from racing up the stairs, looking at the two women apologetically, “Sorry girl’s, I turned my back for two seconds and she was gone!”
Aubrey and Stacie both chuckled as they looked down at the two year old who swayed innocently on the spot before them. Stacie brought her hand out and affectionately slipped her fingers through her daughter’s long brown hair.
“That’s okay, Ma. We were just about to change out of our outfits.”
And Bella’s eyes widened again, “That’s what you’ll wear tonight with Bau-Bree?”
“Yeah kiddo, that’s what I’ll be wearing tonight with Bau-Bree.” Stacie said with a grin. A grin that softened a little as she looked up at her friend to see Aubrey already looking at her somewhat...affectionately. And it was that look that had Stacie’s stomach doing topsy-turvys. Because nobody had ever looked at her like that before. Not even Bella’s father.
Tonight looked like it could be a very wonderful night indeed..
