Pairing: Pirate!Captain!Brienne of Tarth x Fem!Reader
Warnings: mentions of alcohol & blood, brief death mention, sapphic yearning, the usual warnings when writing in the GoT universe.
Synopsis: When the infamous Captain Bri makes port to recruit members to her crew, you don't waste the opportunity. To your relief and pleasure, she accepts you, and the time spent aboard her ship and among her crew leads to many things. One of them being a relationship developing between you and the Captain herself.
A/N: Happy Pride Month!! This has been sitting uncompleted in my word since like, February? March? I am not sure. Either way, a very long time. The fact that I finished this during Pride Month was only coincidental, though I am glad it ended like this because Pirate Captain Brienne is the hottest thing I have ever seen in a long time and I hope you all think the same! The sea shanty referenced is this one, but I have modified it a little bit, of course. Either way, it's good. Listen to it if you wish. :) English is not my first language and so on. Enjoy!
Thank you to bae, wifey, co-brainrotter, sharer of brain cells, and co-writer, @daydream-cement for unknowingly giving me this idea by sending a picture to the GC all those months ago.
The summer evening sun set over Oldtown as you followed the Honeywine down to the nearby inn and tavern. The Hightower's fading shadow informs you of the late hours - confirming that you were right on time for your destination and its event.
Word had spread fast when she had arrived. Whispers enthusiastically gossiped about why she was here, and what her business was. Eventually, the information reached your spiked ears: she was recruiting members for her crew.
This was something you had dreamt of ever since you heard about her: sailing with her. Someone who struck fear in people with the same name she was praised with, her actions earning her a nickname traders rued to hear. Her sails and flag striking terror and fright across all nine seas whenever spotted, and rightfully so.
She had quite a reputation. The pirate Captain who only raided, robbed, pillaged, boarded, and stole from the large, and wealthy trading companies. No one knew why she does what she does, why she only attacks the ships she does, only she knew. It was one of the largest mysteries surrounding her, she was an enigma, and she intrigued, and fascinated you at the same time.
The glowing braze of the Hightower danced in the Honeywine along with the nearby torches of the various stone houses that stood along the river. Every step you took brought you closer to the tavern, and effectively closer to her, and it was only when the tall and wooden Quill and Tankard Inn came into vision that you realized just how stupid this was.
What did you think was going to happen? That you’d just be able to waltz straight in, and that she’d accept you to her crew? No, that was wishful thinking. She would have many men on their knees in front of her, begging to sail with her, if they knew what was good for them. To even have an audience with someone with her renown was a privilege, and you were just satisfied with being in her presence.
Yet, you couldn’t shake the feeling that she might be looking for more than just work power. You had heard whispers that she had lost her Quartermaster and that she was in need of a new one, but this was just hearsay, and gossip, and you decided not to trust any of the two.
Opening the door to the wooden tavern, you quickly laid notice of the fact that it was quieter than you were used to, surely had to do with the looming presence in the room.
In the back of it - in front of the hearth and under the slanted roof - an intimidating, short-haired blonde woman sat by a table. A goblet in one hand, the other fiddling with a dagger. Her booted feet were slung up on the wooden surface as she gently rocked on her chair.
She looked bored, apathetic. The dimly light tavern only cast a shadow over her face, meaning you couldn’t quite see what she looked like from where you stood.
The tavern was empty, well, emptier than you had expected and you wondered if she had turned any men away because they failed to live up to her standards, or if you were the first one to arrive. Judging from the fuming men who sat in a corner you could see as you approached the bar, you guessed the former.
“Good evening. Do you want your usual?” The barkeep approached you as you stopped at the bar, her hands wiping themselves on the apron around her waist before they came up to help her lean against the bar top. You and she had formed an interesting friendship after your regular visits, and you had spent many evenings ranting to her about your long-time wish to sail with Captain Bri.
Unbeknownst to you, the uninterested blonde’s eyes had found you the second your back was turned. She raised her goblet to her lips, taking a sip of the strong cider the tavern was known for. The movement in her other hand never stilled, the dagger constantly moving in her scarred hand.
The reason for her eyes finding you was unknown to her, maybe it was because you had been the only non-man to come into the tavern that evening, the bartender excluded. Or maybe it was because she found you, a complete stranger to her, intriguing and magnetic, even if it was subconsciously.
Either way, her gaze was fixed on your back for a few seconds as you interacted with the barkeep, only redirecting her attention somewhere else once one of the men from her crew exclaimed how ‘slim the pickings’ were from beside her.
“No. I am here to meet the captain. However, now that I am here, it all seems like a most terrible idea.” You gave your answer to the barkeep, voicing your concerns. You were sure the nervosity was easy to hear in your voice when you spoke. The excitement of meeting Captain Bri had completely overshadowed the reality of the situation, but you couldn’t just turn around and leave. You had to at least try.
“I was wondering when you’d show up,” the barkeep chuckled slightly. “She has yet to accept a single bloke. I’d say your chances are high.”
“Well... I am here. I might as well go try.” You released a shaky sigh. Realizing you had to at least act somewhat confidently so that Bri would consider recruiting you, you pushed down your anxiousness to the best of your abilities. “She’s the woman at the table. Right?”
“Mhmm,” the bartender hummed in confirmation. “Go wow her.” She gave you a thumbs up and a smile before she departed to help a customer who was waiting further down the bar. You turned around and approached the intimidating presence by the table with determined steps.
When you stopped in front of the table, you could, by the help of the glow of the fire behind her, finally see her face. Her face. Many things were told about Bri the Righteous Beast, but none of the stories mentioned her immense beauty.
She was incredibly handsome, her disheveled blonde hair framing her intense blue eyes as they raked you up and down. And her lips. Good Gods, her lips. The small, accented scar on her upper lip scrunched as she smirked, and you wondered how she had been bestowed such a stunning ‘flaw.’
She was a vision, there was no other way to put it and you could spend so many hours just staring at her. There would not be enough time to take in her entirety, but your life would have to suffice.
Eventually, your gaze wandered to her hands. Her hands. They looked so strong, and her fingers were so long. Small, long, and deep, scars were visible on most of her fingers, her palms, and the backs of her hands, surely from learning to master dagger fidgeting and sword fighting.
The hand that had previously been playing with a dagger had stopped, and the noise of sharp metal being stabbed into wood ripped you out of your observation.
“Well. Look here. The Lady here wants to join our crew.” If Bri’s face was attractive, her voice only matched it. It was velvety smooth, so deep and so extremely intruding. Her accent only made it even more delicious, and you were sure you would never get used to it. Even if the captain’s voice and words sounded cocky, there was a mighty insecurity swimming in her eyes and her soul that did not match her outwardly persona. “I’m no knight, but I’m sure pretty ladies such as yourself should be in their castle... not down here with us peasants.”
The smirk plastered on her face was infuriating, but you couldn’t deny that it was thought-provoking and so, so attractive. Her words didn’t have the effect on you that she might’ve liked them to have, not even the comment on your appearance, as the constant eye contact only reminded you of the self-consciousness inside of her. At the same time as you wanted to tuck your tail and run, you wanted to stand your ground. Show your grit. So, you did. “I’m no Lady. But I’m sure you knew that. You were right about one thing, however. I want to join your crew, Captain. I want to sail under your command.”
The blonde raised a brow and her smirk fell. She threw her feet off the table to place them on the ground so she could lean forward in her chair. She placed her goblet on the table next to the wood-impaling dagger, her eyes scanning your face imperceptibly. “...Very well. Have you sailed before?”
“Yes, Captain.” The intense eye contact was burning you up from the inside and you wanted nothing more than to break it - if only just to breathe, but you knew you couldn’t do that if you wanted Bri to believe your words. Because of this, you remained strong. “I was Quartermaster on my last ship before the captain got drunk and sunk it during a supposed boast. I wasn’t present.”
The captain cocked her head to the side as she watched you, trying to assess whether you were telling the truth. In the years of being a pirate captain, Bri had learnt quite fast how to tell if a person was lying. From what she could tell, you weren’t.
She was silent for a long while before she finally spoke. “Well, as luck would have it, I need a new Quartermaster. My last one had to be... let go. But I say that we should get you started as a crew member first. Just to see how you work. And to build trust. And gain respect from the rest of the crew. We just met, after all.” Suddenly, the blonde woman stood up from her chair to reach out a hand to shake, and oh, was she tall. At least six feet, you guessed. There was seemingly nothing about this woman that was unattractive.
Her intimidating height and appearance made it hard to resist staring at her open-mouthed but that would be considered rude, and frankly unprofessional, so you abstained. Even if it was tempting. Instead, you grabbed hold of her incredibly soft, outreached hand and shook it, your eyes never leaving hers, even when you had to change from gazing down at her to up at her.
The smile she offered was much softer than her previous demeanor had been, and it caught you off-guard. It matched her more than her earlier expression. Matched the emotions that you could see deep in her eyes and soul.
You could only hope to get to know her on a level that would allow you the pleasure of seeing and meeting the real her. Until then, you’d be the best crewmate she had ever seen.
“Welcome to the crew.” And just like it never left, the captain’s overconfident behavior had made its return. She let go of your hand and motioned with her head towards the men sitting in a booth diagonally behind her before sitting down in her chair. “Go socialize with the rest of the crew. Get to know them well. You will be spending a lot of time together. Don’t be scared... they don’t bite. But I might.” That cursed smirk again. Why did it have to look so good on her luscious lips? It was plain torture, that much was clear.
The only thing you could do was nod and go sit down with the crew, the rejected men in the other booth groaning in anger as you did. When it reached your ears, you couldn’t help but feel the tiniest bit smug that you had been chosen and they hadn’t. Maybe this wasn’t the most terrible idea you had built it up to be when you entered the tavern. This had been the best idea it had originally posed itself to be in your mind.
The men conversed around you, and even if you were sitting amongst them, you wouldn’t say that you were paying attention to anything they were saying. You were more focused on the woman who sat mere meters away from you with her back toward you. With the new point of view, you could observe her without her knowing it.
Her booted feet had found their way up onto the table again and the dagger was back in her hands. Her trousers were dark, in this light you couldn’t be sure but either a dark grey or dark blue. The shirt she wore was loose on her upper body, it was off-white due to years of wear and slightly unbuttoned at the top which you had registered when you gazed down at her.
There was a piece of cloth tied around her waist to ensure that her shirt didn’t blow up in the intense ocean winds. It was blue, close to the color of sapphire, but considering the sun was ruthless and had bleached it significantly, it was hard to tell.
The sword that hung by her hip was broad but seemed light enough to offer one-handed handling. A broadsword if you had to take a guess.
The rest of the evening was not as eventful as you had hoped. Bri turned away every single person that approached her except for one man.
When the tavern began closing for the night, the captain approached the table you and the rest of the crew were sitting at.
As the hours had gone on, you had grown more comfortable than you thought you would and had even had a cider or two.
The rugged exteriors of the men did not match their insides and you found them to be quite charming and funny, which was rare for most men in Westeros, but especially for pirates. You could see why Bri had recruited them to her crew.
Your chatter was cut short when Bri stopped by the table, her eyes roving over all the people who were sitting by it. When her eyes got to you, they lingered for a few seconds longer before they resumed their journey. You noticed this and you wondered if it was intentional or not. When she finished her scan, she spoke with that deep voice that made a shiver run down your spine. “The haul was scarcer than I had expected...” After she had uttered her first few words, she made direct eye contact with you and smirked, again. “But it will have to do. I’m sure our two new recruits will pull their weight.” It seemed like forever before she broke the contact, moving her gaze to the only other recruit.
The sound of a voice coming from behind Bri made her turn around and the rest of you direct your attention to the person behind the captain. “If you don’t have a room rented, it’s time to leave. We close in five minutes.” The voice came from the barkeep who was holding back the largest smile when she saw you sitting amongst the men. She had her arms crossed over her chest as she addressed Bri and the rest of her crew.
The captain nodded toward the bartender before turning to face you and the men once again. “It seems like we have reached the end of the line, gentlemen... and gentlewomen. Let us trot back to the ship and our respective beds, shall we?” Bri turned back to the bartender once again to offer words of gratitude. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
The barkeep in turn responded with a curt nod and a ‘anytime.’ She then stood to the side so Bri and her crew could leave, only giving you the largest grin when you passed her by to leave the tavern. She whispered some encouraging words, well, they were short considering you had to keep moving to not fall behind.
Bri led you and the crew out into the chill night air, and it was needed because the second you had stood up you had felt the tipsiness from the strong cider. The cool air would help in sobering you up, and if it didn’t, you were sure the salty ocean air would when you departed out to sea the next day.
The walk along the docked boats in the Honeywine was longer than you had expected it to be, but when you finally reached the ship at the far end, you were more than ready to call it a day.
The captain stopped right before the docked ship and let the rest of the crew board but stopped you and the other recruit. “This is The Bloody Sapphire. She will be your home for the rest of your life until you die or desert. You better not because if you do desert, I will hunt you down and kill you. If you treat her well and with respect, she will return the favor. Your beds are below deck, make yourselves comfortable. Tomorrow, we make way to Lannisport to resupply. They are not very friendly so put your best innocent face on for our visit. If you need me, my cabin is underneath the quarterdeck, but do not wake me unless there is a fire, we are sinking, someone is attacking us, or if someone is dying. Savvy?”
You and the man looked at each other before you looked at Bri again and nodded. Both of you responded in unison, making the captain laugh slightly. “Savvy.”
“Good. Then you may board.” The captain stepped aside to allow you both to step aboard, but before you could step a single foot on the wooden deck, Bri stopped you with a hand hovering in front of your sternum whilst she allowed the other recruit to step aboard and you watched him disappear below deck.
You looked at her with a puzzled expression as your mind ran through the possible reasons for her stopping you. What could she possibly say that the other guy couldn’t hear? Then again, she had her reasons, and you shouldn’t question her. So, instead of voicing your confusion, you remained silent as you waited for her to speak.
“I never caught your name. I suppose my mind was distracted and I completely forgot to ask.” Bri dropped the hand that had been hovering in front of your sternum and it came to rest on the pommel of her sword. Her voice was much softer than it had previously been when she had addressed you and your fellow recruit, and you wondered why that was.
What you didn’t know was that against her better judgement, the captain’s brain had somehow convinced itself that you were a safe space. Even if she had only met you a handful of hours ago. She was drawn towards you.
When you told her your name, she repeated it and the way it sounded rolling of her tongue with her accent was orgasmic. Never had it sounded so beautiful as it did when spoken by her. In return, she introduced herself to you, not that she needed to, you already knew her name. But you guessed that it was an act of honor. “Bri of Tarth.”
“The Sapphire Isle? Is that where the name for your ship comes from... and your waist fabric?” Learning where she came from spiked your curiosity, and you asked more questions than you probably should have, considering she enjoyed her privacy. What you weren’t expecting, and that was a pleasant surprise, was that she answered.
“Indeed. The ship's name is... a long story.” Bri looked down at the fabric around her waist and smiled before she looked back up at you again. “Well spotted. It is indeed sapphire blue... or it used to be, at least. It is from Tarth, I wanted to have something on me that would remind me of my old home. This piece of fabric has been with me since the beginning of my seafarer career. I’m surprised it hasn’t ripped yet.”
You observed the fabric tied around her waist, excluding dirt stains from years of usage, the occasional blood spatter from seeing many battles, and the bleach from the sun, it looked strong. “I’d say it won’t rip for a while... looks like good material was used. Whatever it was intended for must’ve been important, the fabric looks expensive.” You looked up at Bri again and met her eyes. A flash of what looked like sorrow was briefly displayed in her eyes and you realized that your nice, late-night, alone chat was over.
Her demeanor changed in the blink of an eye - as if she had mastered switching her expression and behavior. Her tone switched from gentle and tender to overweening, but her eyes never left the previous persona. “Sorry for holding you up. Off you go.”
You wanted nothing more than to stay, to protest, to say that you wanted nothing more than to stay here all night and converse with her, but your feet worked against the will of your brain and before you knew it you had stepped aboard the ship and was climbing down the stairs that led below deck, leaving Bri standing behind.
She boarded the ship after a few seconds and retired back to her quarters where she proceeded to think of you until she fell asleep. You fell asleep thinking about her, her intense blue eyes and her blonde hair stayed on your mind until you fell into slumber next to the rest of the crew.
------
The weeks that passed after you were integrated into Captain Bri’s crew went by lightning fast. You and the recruit, who you had learnt was named Will, had worked hard and had earned both the respect of the rest of the crew and your captain.
After your conversation on the dock, you had managed to get a private chat with the tall blonde five times. The interactions were cut short by various interruptions or her withdrawing from the discussion.
It was like there was some sort of conflict inside of her and she couldn’t decide which side to listen to. It was heartbreaking to watch.
After a month of sailing with Bri and her crew, you began climbing the ranks. It started with a simple suggestion that ended up working well in everyone’s favor and before you knew it, you had been voted for and promoted to first mate. The new title didn’t do much in terms of giving you more one on one time with the captain, but it was a step towards it.
After three months of being aboard The Bloody Sapphire, a chaotic boarding made it clear that the ship clearly needed a Quartermaster and the crew voted for you, considering your experience. Bri could not complain because it meant she would be able to see you more often. You were always standing by her side when she was standing by the wheel, after all.
This new rank did earn you the privilege of having many alone talks with Bri as she steered the ship. Until she, of course, left for her chambers and left you to take over for her. The shortness of the interactions meant you didn’t learn that much about her that you didn’t already know, and it was starting to gnaw.
That was until you were standing by her side by the wheel on a very sunny fall afternoon and the men started singing. The song was about some scorned woman killing a man who betrayed her and the woman by his side.
It took you until the middle of the shanty to realize that it matched some of the things you knew about Bri. You turned your head to look at her where she stood, her gaze fixed dead ahead. “Is this shanty about you?”
The captain sighed and the noise of it disappeared into the chilly early Autumn air. She was silent for a few moments until she nodded. “It is. The story went down quite differently, however.” Bri’s gaze never wavered, her eyes never leaving the blue water. “I didn’t sneak aboard a ship for revenge. I snuck aboard a ship because I wanted to get away. The fact that the person who betrayed me was on the ship as well was only a bonus. She just disappeared, and I found out why when I saw her walk with her new lover. I didn’t kill them. Just to make that clear.”
You listened to Bri’s story but completely stopped breathing once she so casually mentioned that the woman was her former somewhat lover. Even if it caught you completely off-guard, you were able to listen to the rest of her retelling.
This was the most you had learnt about her in one single conversation, and it made you mightily happy. You so desperately wanted to ask more questions, about why she wanted to get away, who did kill the two lovebirds, but you didn’t want her to escape back to her quarters again.
Even if you wanted to get to know her even more when the opportunity had presented itself and she seemed to be open to sharing, you would rather enjoy her presence in silence over not being in her proximity at all. Meaning you only said something to let her know that you had listened and acknowledged her sharing but kept your mouth shut to not let anything slip out. “I see.”
You stood in silence for a while until Bri opened her mouth to say something but was inevitably disrupted by Will who had shown up at the captain’s side in the blink of an eye to explain that they needed to dock somewhere to resupply.
After the blonde woman had dismissed him, she looked over to you and within seconds you had moved to the sea map to lay a new course towards a pirate-friendly port.
When you returned to the helm, Bri left for her quarters again. Your absence had surely led to her conflicting with herself again and had probably concluded that she had shared too much with you. You had no idea what she did in her quarters all those hours, but you didn’t want to ask because you wanted to offer her privacy. At least there was some progress.
------
Six months after learning that Bri had a shanty written about her, you had been able to snag her for many more chats and each one lasted longer than the one before.
You learnt more and more about her in every day that passed and even if you didn’t want to admit it, you were so in love with her. You had known it about one month after sailing with her, but now, you were sure. Her looks combined with her gentle and loving personality made it so easy to fall for her. You just had to make sure that you did not hurt yourself on the way down, but it was a bit too late for that.
You were more than certain that she didn’t feel the same way, even if she behaved so differently around you than she did around the rest of the crew. However, what you didn’t know, was that Bri was very much attracted to and interested in you and all that you were. Having you next to her every day was one of her greatest privileges and she reveled in your proximity.
Seeing your face every single morning made her happier than any loot ever could, and she quickly found herself stumbling before she eventually fell for you. Yet, she couldn’t see how anyone could ever find her attractive, less love her. So, she didn’t allow herself to hope that you would feel the same about her and subjected herself to a life of yearning.
It would have remained hidden until the day you both died - if it weren’t for a cold winter evening.
The Bloody Sapphire had dropped anchor not that far away from Tarth, and the Sapphire Isle was visible from the deck. The ship was cleverly hidden with its sails and flag lowered to avoid a surprise attack should it be stumbled upon.
You were just about to retire to bed when you spotted Bri standing by the railing, looking out over the ocean in the direction of Tarth.
Slowly, you approached her and stopped next to her, looking out over the Sapphire Isle yourself. After so many of your conversations and her sharing so much, you felt confident enough to pose a query after you had stood in stillness for a few minutes. “Do you miss it? Tarth, I mean.”
Bri leaned against the railing of the ship as she stared at the silhouette of Tarth. Her silences before her answers had become commonplace and you had gotten used to them at this point.
As you patiently awaited her response, you shifted your gaze from the darkened Sapphire Isle to the woman standing next to you. You really couldn’t help yourself when she looked so pretty in the glow of the torch.
The fire cast a shadow over her face - her side profile looked even more angelic in this light, and you could only wish that you would be able to see her this close and like this so many more times in your life.
When she finally replied, she ripped you out of your appreciation for her features and you began focusing your attention on her voice as well. “Sometimes. Though it’s very rare. The people I have met on my journey and my crew have treated me so much better than anyone on that island ever did. They have never insulted me. Not once. Not even when they learnt that I was a woman. I never wish to go back there. This is my new family.”
She was so... vulnerable and it made you shocked. Sure, she had shared small things about herself in your talks but never something this deep. You couldn’t let the opportunity go to waste again. “When they learnt you were a woman? May I inquire in what it is that you mean, Captain?”
Bri gazed at the Isle where she had grown up and eventually left as she told her story. It almost felt ironic in a way. Like it was coming full circle. Speaking about something she had never uttered out loud as she was close to and looking at Tarth. The island where the anecdote began.
“When I first snuck aboard a ship that docked by Tarth, I told everyone that my name was Bri, and I even darkened my voice so they would believe that I was a man. When they eventually learnt I was a woman, they welcomed me with open arms instead of shunning me and calling me names. It was such a new approach and reaction. I’ve never been so happy.” Towards the end of her story, the blonde was smiling fondly as she thought back to how welcomed she had felt by a band of outlaws when she couldn’t even get the smallest amount of kindness on Tarth.
Your gaze never left the captain’s pretty face. You could never get used to how beautiful she looked, and you simply could not believe how other people could not find her as attractive as you did. She was the most gorgeous person you had ever laid your eyes on in your entire life.
Despite your mind coming up with all sorts of scenarios that would surely be deemed inappropriate should someone hear them, you still managed to ask a follow-up question to Bri’s tale without slipping anything that would let the blonde woman know that something completely different was going on in your head. “So... Bri is not your real name?”
The captain shook her head before she responded. “No. No one knows my real name. The old band I joined and my current crew stated that to them, my old name does not matter. To them, my name is Bri. Though, I have nothing against my real name. I just prefer to have the rest of the world know me as it, so they get confused when they see that I am a woman.” Bri let out a small chuckle at the end of her explanation. Almost like she was thinking back to the different reactions she had gotten from various captain’s ships that she had boarded. “Except you seem to have known that I was not a man from the beginning based on your reaction when you first saw me...”
“You are a legend... I had to know more about you. There was not a lot to learn about you from the people I managed to find. I only found out about your womanhood through a friend who works somewhere where tight lips go to blab. She also sees many things. Though, finding out that you were a woman only made me want to sail with you even more... I... May I pry?” Even if Bri seemed to be more comfortable with sharing and answering your queries, you knew that she had a habit of removing herself from the discussion when it was too much, and you did not wish to take her openness for granted. She had done nothing but treat you with respect, so you did the obvious thing and returned the favor. You had no interest in upsetting her when she was so exposed.
“I see... Yes.” Her answer to your question was fast and equally as quick as she had responded, she turned her head to look at you who was intently admiring her. With her now facing you, you could see her breathtaking blue eyes that sparkled so bewitchingly in the light from the torch just meters away from you both.
“What is your real name?” The inquiry was a whisper as your eyes scanned her face for any sign of the overweening personality you had gotten used to usually signaling the end of your conversations. It never came. The gentle and careful personality remained. The personality you assumed was the real her.
Bri opened her mouth to answer your query but stopped when a noise sounded from below deck signaling that one of the crewmates was still awake. The captain turned her head to look at the hatch leading down and waited for someone to pop their head up, but that never happened.
Even if it was still quiet below deck, she couldn’t risk someone eavesdropping on the conversation considering her behavior was completely opposite from how she usually acted. Before she spoke, she turned her head back to look at you. “We shouldn’t do this here. Join me in my quarters?”
The question caught you by surprise. Never had you been inside of her quarters before and it was something you could never have dreamt of and now she was extending an invitation. At first, you were unsure if you had heard her correctly but as she looked at you expectantly, you knew you had heard her right.
You almost screamed your answer, ‘Gods, yes please!’ but that might be seen as a little bit too enthusiastic and would surely weird Bri out. What came out was more composed and calmer - not a single trace of the previous excitement. You were surprised that your voice came out without a single shake, tremor, or stutter considering the storm that was going on inside of your head. “Sure, Captain. If you’d have me.”
Your answer made Bri smile the smallest bit. She found it endearing. She found you endearing. She spun on her heels and started for the door that led to her cabin, and you followed close behind.
Oooh. How about a fic where the reader gives Brienne her favor at every melee and Brienne is just clueless
Tokens of Devotion
Brienne of Tarth x Fem!reader
A/N: I started writing this so many weeks ago, sorry it took so long anon! I hope you’ll enjoy what I did with your request, it was a lovely idea!!<3
Brienne could hardly believe it the first time she’d seen you waving a ribbon at her, calling her name in the hope of catching her attention.
“Me?” She mouthed, pointing at her breastplate.
“Yes, you!” You nodded and waved the blue ribbon more vigorously.
The woman hesitated. What if this was some sort of sick joke? What if once she’d get close to you, the whole crowd started laughing at how much of an imbecile she was for thinking a lady would ever give her, Brienne the Beauty, her favour.
“Please!” You insisted, knowing the mêlée was about to start.
After a few more seconds of hesitancy, Brienne eventually made her way to you. She kept her head up and her shoulders straight, readying herself for the inevitable mockery.
“Thank you,” you said when she was finally close enough. “For a second I thought I would have to give my favour to another knight…And I really did not want to.”
The tall woman dared to look at you then and the beauty of her features nearly made the ribbon slip from in-between your fingers. It took everything within you to tear your eyes away from her face and tie your favour to her pauldron.
“I should be the one thanking you, my lady. I will fight for your honour.” The blonde said, letting her eyes roam on your face while you looked down at your working hands.
You knew it was simply a polite way to address you, but your heart fluttered anyway. Oh, to be her lady.
Your fingers lingered on the steel of her armour for a couple of seconds too long before you eventually pulled away.
“May it bring you luck.” You gestured to the ribbon.
“It already did.” Brienne said, giving you an awkward nod before walking away back to the field, her heart beating loudly inside her rib cage. Her very first favour. She would carry it proudly, and she would make sure to be victorious.
The mêlée lasted for over an hour, men falling left and right, some being disarmed and others simply yielding to their opponent.
“Yield!” Brienne barked at the last man standing, still firmly holding her sword in front of her.
It had been the two of them for a moment now, Brienne’s muscles burning and begging the knight to let go of her sword. But she wouldn’t give up, she didn’t want to disappoint the lady in the crowd who was rooting for her.
“I yield.” The knight spat the words out after another couple of minutes, being too exhausted to keep fighting even if it meant losing to a woman.
You loudly cheered when Brienne was announced victorious, louder than anyone else in the crowd did. Butterflies bloomed in your stomach at the thought that maybe your favour had given her the strength to win. Not that you doubted she would have won anyway.
Brienne removed her gauntlets and her helmet, slicking her short blonde hair back before she made her way over to you again.
“I knew you would be victorious!” You said excitedly, your fingers fidgeting with the fabric of your dress to prevent them from reaching for the tall woman.
“Well, I had to fight for both your honour and mine, didn’t I?” Brienne pushed a shy smile and offered you her hand to shake. “Thank you, my lady.”
“Thank you, Brienne of Tarth.” You smiled and gently grabbed her hand, bringing it to your lips to press a kiss on it instead of going for a simple handshake.
Brienne was left at a loss for words, her cheeks taking a pinkish colour as you let go of her hand. No one had ever done that before, certainly not a woman.
“Well, I suppose there will be people waiting to celebrate with you at the tavern. Until we meet again!” You winked at the knight, disappearing into the crowd before she could say anything else.
Brienne stood there for another minute, dumbfounded by the whole scene that had just happened until she was practically dragged to the tavern to celebrate.
She found that drinking did not help to forget the feeling of your lips on her hand, if anything it only made it worse.
When she showed up to the next melee a month later, Brienne wasn't expecting to see you. Not that she wasn't wishing to see you again; she simply didn't think you would come back for her. Why would you?
How wrong she was, she realised when she heard the familiar voice calling her name. There you were, a smile that reached your ears as you waved something that, from afar, looked like a piece of fabric.
Four long strides were enough for Brienne to be standing right in front of you, your heart once again starting to beat uncontrollably fast when you noticed that your previous favour was still tied to her armour.
“Well, will you start collecting my favours then?” You joked, showing her the piece of fabric that you were holding.
Brienne looked away for a second, desperately trying to hide the blush on her cheeks. She had thought about removing the ribbon from her pauldron, but couldn’t find the courage to do it. Not when she was reminded of your face every time she’d look at it.
“It was only a joke. Although I would not mind seeing a collection of favours on your armour. Only mine, though, or I might get jealous.” You smiled at the blonde. “Will you accept my favour, Brienne of Tarth?”
“Of course, how could anyone decline such an offer?” She nodded and took another step closer. Looking down at your hands she noticed that the piece of fabric matched your dress, raising an eyebrow to silently question you.
“I lost my ribbon on the way here.” You admitted. “So I ripped a piece of my dress.”
“My lady, you didn’t have to! You shouldn’t have!”
“Oh, but I wanted to.” You looked up into her blue eyes and pushed a soft smile.
Have you ever been told how beautiful you are, you wanted to ask, how looking into your eyes feels like swimming in Tarth’s sapphire water?
“The mêlée is about to begin, my lady.” Brienne snapped you out of your thoughts, her hand gently wrapping around yours.
“Yes, yes of course. I apologise, I was…” You shook your head and chose not to finish your sentence.
You quickly tied the piece of fabric to her pauldron, right next to your previous favour. And it felt right, seeing a piece of your dress on her armour, knowing that you two were now matching.
“Think of me.” You whispered and let go of her before taking a step back.
Brienne swallowed thickly and quickly walked back to the battlefield, her mind filled with nothing but thoughts of you. She wondered for a second if you had cast a spell on her, if the ribbon and fabric tied to her armour were enchanted with a love spell.
The woman was brought back to reality by the tip of an opponent’s sword nearly poking her breastplate. She quickly parried the sword away, moving swiftly to avoid a counterattack.
You watched her fight for what seemed to be hours, cheering every time she landed a successful strike or avoided a blow. It almost looked like a perfectly rehearsed dance, the way she moved around effortlessly.
You could only imagine what she looked like under her helmet as she fought, snarling and groaning from all the effort. Your mind wandered and for a second you imagined her on top of you, groaning and sweating from another kind of effort.
It was only a silly girl crush, something that would pass in no time. At least you hoped it was. You’d heard about the rumours saying Brienne had had some sort of intimate relationship with Jaime Lannister. You knew you could never compare to the most handsome man in Westeros, if he was her type, you simply had no chance with her. It was only a silly girl crush anyway, it would pass in no time.
You were lost in your thoughts when Brienne was declared victorious, the crowd loudly cheering for her.
The knight removed her helmet and immediately turned to look at you, her eyebrows knitting together when she couldn’t find your face anywhere in the crowd.
-
“So, Brienne, tell us about the girl?” Tyrion asked, taking a sip of his drink.
“What girl?” Brienne huffed a little too defensively.
“The girl.” He insisted. “Don’t act like you have no idea what I’m talking about, you’ve been fidgeting with that piece of fabric since we’ve sat down.” He said, pointing at the favour on her pauldron.
“I’m not having this conversation with you.”
“Is it about my brother?” Tyrion smirked.
“Tyrion-“ Brienne warned him but to no avail.
“Oh come on! He chose Cersei’s cunt, you will have to get over it someday.” He shrugged.
“Shut your mouth!” Brienne barked and slammed her hand on the table, the whole tavern going quiet for a couple of seconds. “This has nothing to do with Jaime. I don’t know what you think you saw about that girl and me. Nothing is going on.”
“Oh, really? Is that why she always is the loudest cheer in the crowd? Or why she is the one you immediately looked for after your victory?” Tyrion cocked an eyebrow.
“I said I would not be having this conversation with you.” The tall woman hissed and emptied her cup before storming out of the tavern.
She almost felt like ripping the ribbon and fabric from her armour right there and then, grabbing them and being about to yank them off when she suddenly remembered how bright your smile was every time she’d acknowledged you.
She didn’t want to feel these things again, not after Jaime. She never wanted to feel these things again, and yet...
Love, what a disease.
“Brienne?” The tall woman’s back immediately straightened when she heard her name being called.
“My lady…” She turned around, her hand still firmly gripping your favours.
“Are you alright? You look…upset?” You took a step closer, gently wrapping your hand around hers. It was almost comical how small yours looked next to hers. “Would you like me to take these off for you?”
“No, no, I-“ Brienne closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. “Why are you doing this?” She asked looking at you.
“I’m sorry?” You frowned, confusion painting your features.
“This,” she said. “Acting like you care. Acting nice. How long will you keep the joke going? How long until you admit that you’ve been taking the piss out of me?!”
“Taking the piss out of-“ You huffed loudly. “You think I’ve been mocking you? Why on earth would I do that?! Why would I rip a piece of my most beautiful dress to give you as a favour? All for a joke?!”
“If not for a joke, then why?!” You could hear the pain in her voice, how it slightly trembled no matter how hard she tried to keep her composure.
“Because I like you.” You admitted in a whisper. “And I’m no Jaime Lannister, I’m no prettiest woman in Westeros, I’ve got nothing to offer you but those silly little favours. Those, and my devotion. I would never, ever be cruel to you.”
You barely had time to register Brienne’s hand cupping your cheek and pulling you into the softest kiss, her body trembling as if she was still fearing that this was all a joke. So you kissed her back with all you had, arms thrown around her neck to hold her close.
“It’s enough,” Brienne whispered when she pulled away, her forehead pressed against yours. “Those silly little favours and your devotion, it would be more than enough.”
“Good.” You smiled, taking her hand in yours. “How about we share a drink, mh? To celebrate your victory.”
Brienne nodded, her fingers intertwining with yours as she led you back to the tavern, holding the door open to let you in.
Tyrion grinned like the right imbecile he was when you sat down in front of him with Brienne. He introduced himself before turning to look at the woman by your side.
“Much more pretty than Jaime, if you ask me.” He smirked and pointed his chin at you.
You saw Brienne nod in agreement and looked down to hide the blush creeping on your cheeks.
Isn’t it crazy, you thought as you fidgeted with the ripped fabric of your dress, what those little tokens of devotion could lead to?
You couldn’t sleep a wink, tossing and turning every hour, replaying the voicemail and debating whether to delete it.
Although you were still processing everything, you’d pretty much accepted the father wouldn’t be involved. You’re sure it’d get to you eventually with your hormones all over the place, along with some guilt for not even remembering his name. Not that you’d planned any of this, everything seemingly beyond your control. Even the little bubble you started to slip into with Melissa’s words still ringing in your ears and your mouth still buzzing from being kissed had quickly popped the second you pressed play.
Matteo.
At first you weren’t sure who it was, trying to distinguish why he sounded so familiar. And then he was apologizing for standing you up, explaining he had lost his phone and even went to the lengths of buying a new one before he was magically finding it and hearing your voicemail just a couple days ago.
It sounded too convenient and felt like an excuse. He’d asked to make up for standing you up, following up with a message just an hour after he’d left the voicemail asking when you’d be available.
You weren’t entirely sure what to do. It felt flakier than Melissa had been with you, but at least she never stood you up.
And then that had dawned on you, Melissa.
Did you tell her? Would that scare her off? What about everything she said? What if she didn’t mean any of it? What if she took it back or couldn’t remember?
That alone was driving you insane that by the time you finally closed your eyes and felt yourself drifting off, your alarm was going off.
You groaned, wanting to cry at how tired you already felt as you dragged yourself out of bed.
Once you’ve showered and gotten changed you head downstairs.
You could already hear Melissa in the kitchen moving about and humming away that it had your heart suddenly in your throat as you tried to remember how to breathe and slow down your heart rate.
She’s got her back to you when you step into the kitchen, watching red curls dangle down her back and over her shoulders, you suck your breath in at that - which causes Melissa to turn abruptly.
Your face flushes then, immediately looking at the ground as you miss Melissa’s smile forming.
“Hey, mornin’.”
“Morning.” You swallow as Melissa turns back to the coffee machine, pouring you both a cup before coming round to you.
“You look rough, hon.” Melissa’s voice is soft as she holds out one of the mugs to you, her brows pulling together as she takes in the bags under your eyes and the sluggish expression.
Your mouth barely twitches as you reach for the mug. “Rough night I suppose. Didn’t sleep much.” You shrug, taking a longer sip than necessary as Melissa puts her mug down and comes to stand before you.
“‘Cause of what I said last night?” Melissa’s already putting a hand against your hip as she steps into your space.
“Uh… not completely.” You could feel your heart hammering away as you finally dare to look at Melissa.
Her eyes seemed greener than usual, a distinct glint in the corner of her eye that you’re sure is from the light reflecting.
“Hey.” Melissa’s taking your mug and putting it beside her own before she’s cupping your face. “I did mean it, all of it.”
You know how to breathe, but you freeze in place trying to register Melissa’s words and whether this was actually happening.
“Melissa…” You let out a low breath as her mouth curls, her eyes briefly dropping to your mouth before back up.
“Y/n.” She repeats back in the same low tone, which only makes your belly flip before she’s leaning in to kiss you.
You still weren’t used to it, the feel of her mouth against yours and the faint taste of mint lingering on her tongue while her hands clung to your face. She kisses you in a way that has you practically falling into her, time ceasing to exist. Any thoughts are completely wiped as your heart thrums a way to a tune you should probably just call Melissa by now.
You feel dizzy and more tired than a minute ago by the time she’s pulling back and you’re finally catching your breath.
“I’m not dreaming am I?”
Your words cause a laugh to slip from Melissa’s mouth as the sound fills the room and makes your heart soar.
“No, sweetheart. You’re not. Very much real.” She leans in to kiss your forehead then before peeling herself away and grabbing her mug.
You stand a little dumbfounded before pulling yourself together.
“I meant what I said, y/n. I want to… try. If that’s even something you still want.” Melissa only questions herself then, you could see it all too easily across her face.
“It’s something I want. I still very much want.” She gives you a look then, suppressing her smirk as your brows pull together. “That last part didn’t make complete sense”
“Sorta. But you’re cute when you’re confused.”
You can’t help but blush then, your shoulders loosening as you roll your eyes at her.
“You’re gonna have to get used to that.” She nods to you, very much noticing your flush cheeks as she smirks to herself.
“Get used to not breathing properly? That’s not happening anytime soon.” You let out a breath as you move to the kitchen island. “You mind if I take a banana?”
“Course not. And don’t think you gotta ask me if you can eat somethin’ in this kitchen, fill up.” She gently grabs the side of your hip, patting it twice before moving around you.
You suck in another breath at the change in Melissa that was starting to drive you further to insanity. This woman would be the death of you.
—
“What do we tell the others?” Your mouth is half full of banana as Melissa glances at you from the corner of her eye before focusing on the road.
She’d made you both breakfast, the banana you grabbed almost forgotten about till you were in the car, your appetite growing.
“Don’t speak and eat.” She tsks at you, despite the shine in her eyes. “And tell the others what? Who even classifies as the others, that could mean anyone.”
“Ok, the others clearly mean Ava, Janine, Jacob, Gregory and Barbara. Sometimes Mr. Johnson, but he’s weirdly everywhere and nowhere.”
“Uh huh, so what are we not telling the others?”
You almost squint at her, even if a smirk sat prominent on her mouth.
“You and me?”
Her brow slowly lifts at that, glancing at you briefly again before her tongue slips from her mouth. “Us sounds better.”
“Good film.” You blurt out as your face flushes, unsure why you’d said that to Melissa’s words. It caught you off guard that you almost choked on your breath.
“Isn’t that Janine’s favourite film?”
“No, that’s up. Fucking hell you have to stop doing that.” Your hand sits against your chest where your pulse pounds beneath before shoving the rest of the banana in your mouth.
“Doing what!”
“Saying th–” You pause, your mouth fulll that you could already see Melissa’s mouth opening to tell you off, though you're sure that would turn you on more than it would annoy you. You swallow the remaining mush before speaking. “Saying things like us when I thought we were taking things one day at a time.”
It’s Melissa’s turn for her face to flush, but she somehow managed to keep it under control as her fingers grip then loosen against the steering wheel. “We are, so maybe we don’t tell the others until we’re no longer taking it one day at a time?”
She turns into the parking lot to Abbott, reaching a hand over to your thigh once she’s parked.
“What if Janine starts interrogating us again?”
“I should find some dirt on her, use it to blackmail into not squeaking.”
“Melissa!” You almost gawk, unsure whether to laugh or not. “First of all, Janine is about the squeakiest clean person, there is no dirt. Except her crush on Gregory, but everyone knows that.”
“But does Gregory know that?”
“Mel, no blackmailing.” Your hand falls down to cover Melissa’s as she squeezes your thigh gently.
“Fine, but if I happen to mention something about Gregory…” She almost shrugs, looking round the parking lot before back at you. “Besides, technically we ain’t lying when we say there’s nothing going on between us.”
She had to stop saying us before you combusted completely.
“So kissing me senseless and saying you want me, you and the kid is nothing?” You say it lightly, your brows lifting as Melissa’s expression seems to soften further.
You weren’t the only one in a blissful bubble, Melissa feeling slightly giddy that she almost felt embarrassed for what she felt. It’d been a long time since somebody had ever made her feel that way. She gave up hope of ever feeling that giddy spark after the divorce. Even when she met Gary she’d settled for what he made her feel.
”You might give her an aneurysm if you tell her that.” Melissa almost snorts, squeezing your thigh one last time before slowly lifting her hand to push your hair over your shoulder. “There’s a lot going on between us.”
Your heart couldn’t help but skip with Melissa continuing to say us and the feel of her fingers lightly brushing strands over your shoulder.
“Is there an us?” It comes out quiet, silence filling the small space between you as Melissa’s mouth curls slightly before glancing down and reaching for your hand this time.
“I wanna get there and not screw it up.”
There’s some apprehension before she lifts your hand to her mouth. Vulnerability wasn’t easy for Melissa, but when it came to the people she loved she had to try. She could easily speak to Barbara and show different sides of herself most wouldn’t see, but she also knew she was slowly letting you into that despite her own fears and heartache.
“Like you said, one day at a time.”
If you had it your way, there would be an us without question, though you still wouldn’t mind if Melissa didn’t want to let everyone know when it was still very new to you both.
—
“Look, it’s the roomies!” Jacob’s buzzing with too much energy and excitement as he lights up watching you and Melissa enter the breakroom.
“How are you this energetic so early?” You may have stopped breathing from what was going on between you and Melissa, but you were still exhausted and couldn’t help but flock to the small couch to sit.
“Don’t think you need anymore coffee, hon.” Melissa snorts as she slips into her usual seat.
“I haven’t had any coffee, you know actually I’ve started drinking this new tea brand-”
“Jacob, I don’t care.” Melissa cuts him off as he closes his mouth at that before heading over to where you’re sitting.
“Ignore her. She’s just grouchy in the morning.” You mumble, earning half a glare and half a smirk from Melissa as you soon lean back and close your eyes.
“Hey, I made you breakfast this morning. I’d be nice.”
Melissa’s turning her attention back to her phone as Jacob slips into the space next to you.
“You look exhausted. Melissa been keeping you up?”
Your eyes shoot open at that as Jacob gives you an odd look.
“What?” Your pulse thumps hard and fast as Jaocb doesn’t pick up on your panic.
“Like, is she in some secret rock band we don’t know about and was up till all hours on the drums? Give me all the details, what’s the house like? She never let Janine and I go upstairs.”
“Tell him nothing.” Melissa cuts in from across the room, not even lifting her eyes up as she focuses on her word game.
“The house is nice, looks somewhat the same upstairs as it does downstairs.” You shrug, leaning your head back as you close your eyes. “And sorry to burst your bubble, but there’s no secret rock band. I think it was just a change, sleeping somewhere different.” You shrug, it wasn’t a complete lie. You never did too well in new places, let alone where you put your head at night.
—
Monday lunch.
You look at the message on your phone again, briefly looking up at your class who all had their heads down focusing on the test paper before them.
The silence was replaced with pencils against paper, the sound of feet or chairs moving and sighs of frustration or confusion. Thankfully nobody was cheating, or at least, you weren’t catching it if that was happening.
You still hadn’t replied to Matteo. Staring at the message he’d sent last night that was still waiting for your response.
If you ignored him, you wouldn’t have to deal with the potential of losing Melissa. But then you weren’t sure you’d be content depriving your child of a father, though you still didn’t know him and he could be a complete jackass. If he flaked on meeting you, who’s to say he wouldn’t gap it the second the baby arrives? You weren’t sure what to do, but you drop your phone when you see bubbles appearing.
“Sorry.” You whisper, grimacing as you startle your students, grabbing a pen to make it look as though you were grading. You wait till they’ve all gone back to their papers before grabbing your phone, this time keeping it on your desk to not drop it again.
You had another message from him.
Are you free today?
You contemplate replying, but you weren’t even sure what to say just yet.
When you glance at the time you exit the message completely to tend back to your class.
“Ok guys, you all have another fifteen minutes. If you’ve finished please hand it in and you can head out to lunch early.” You call out a little louder, one by one your students depositing their test on your desk before heading out for lunch.
Once everyone’s gone, the noise from the hallway is quickly drowned out the second you close your door.
You needed more time to figure out what to do, along with processing everything happening with Melissa that you’re not sure you could handle anything further today alone. You turn your phone off for the time being, unsure if meeting Matteo was a good idea or not. He could easily flake again or make up an excuse. Though you couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted him to suddenly contact you, what he’d told you still felt like a complete lie.
You slump into your seat, your arms coming to your desk before your forehead is resting against your forearm.
You closed your eyes and let out a breath, intending to allow yourself a moment where your thoughts weren’t running in every direction before you’re falling asleep.
The next thing you know, your shoulder was being shaken and you were quickly jolting up.
“Hi!” You startle yourself, Melissa now hovering above you as your brows pull together before feeling something stuck against your cheek as you lift your hand to the sticky note that had stuck itself to you the second you’d fallen asleep, Melissa finding your face pressed into your desk letting out quiet breaths that had her falling that much harder.
“Think you fell asleep there.” She reaches out to fix up your hair as you blink at her. “If you’re this tired you should just head home, sweetheart.” Her soft voice and nickname seem to have little effect when her calling it home has your heart pounding so hard you’re sure she could hear it beating fast.
“I’m ok. I only put my head down and then you were here.”
“We’re twenty minutes into lunch, hon. You didn’t show and your phone was off so I came looking for you.” At least that seemed to be on par for you both, something that had Janine thinking back to a few weeks ago when you kept disappearing from the break rooms during lunch and then suddenly returned like no time had passed.
“Shit. It’s only Monday, Ava will kill me.”
“I’d kill her first. But she’ll be fine knowing you’re pregnant.”
“The kids just had a test, if a sub gets in they’re gonna throw some pop quiz at them.” If you could get through the morning with ease, you could do a few more hours.
“Then leave instructions for the sub, they’ll love that if it means they don’t have to plan anything out.”
Melissa’s hand had moved from your hair to your shoulder as her fingers gently dug into your skin, almost massaging it that your eyes couldn’t help but fall closed as you felt the heaviness fall over you.
Melissa’s view had her heart thumping hard and fast as she took in the sight of you and realized how much she wanted to take care of you and love you.
“You drove me in.”
“So take my car home, I’ll get Barb to drop me off.”
Your eyes open at that, blushing when you see Melissa already looking at you with too much concern and something else you couldn’t quite pinpoint.
“Go tell Ava you’re heading home, I’ll get my keys and meet you out front.”
“Melissa.” You sigh as her hand retracts, her body spinning round and already heading to the door.
“I’m not taking no for an answer.” She doesn’t bother looking back at you as you sit there and let out a groan.
You quickly write up a note for the substitute before heading towards Ava’s office.
Luckily she was already sitting in there with her legs up on the desk as she scrolled her phone.
“Hey.” You knock, forcing a grin as Ava doesn’t bother looking up from her phone.
“Hey, if you’re gonna hide out in here just be quiet.”
You can’t help but let out a small laugh as you shake your head and head further into her office before closing the door, which prompts her to look up at you finally.
“Actually I need to go home, I’m really not feeling great.”
Her eyes roam over you for a moment and you think she’s about to say no and shake you off.
“You do look terrible, I just didn’t want to be the first to point it out ‘cause that’s a bit shitty.” She shrugs, turning her attention back to her phone.
“Uh… ok. What have you done to Ava? You do know that means you’ll need to get a sub?”
“Girl, I run the place I think I know how it works. Now get out of here before I change my mind.” She lifts her hand in the air at that.
“Thank you. You’re the best.” You flash a grin at Ava who shrugs at you.
“Tell me something I don’t already know. Now get out of here before I’m charged with beating up a pregnant woman.” She smirks at you, teasing as she places her phone down to start typing something on her computer.
“Melissa didn’t say anything to you did she?”
Ava looks at you then as she lifts a brow. “About what?”
“Me?”
“Aside from you two moving in together I’ve hardly seen her.” Ava won’t mention the threatening text Melissa had sent her no more than ten minutes ago that you would be heading home and that Ava better not make it hard for you because you were pregnant and Melissa also keeps a bat under her desk.
“We didn’t move in!” You were staying with her, you weren’t sure why everyone couldn’t see that.
“Girl, who are you kidding? It’s damn obvious how bad you two are for each other.” She laughs to a point that has your cheeks heating up and your eyes widening.
Ava looks at you then, something mischievous sitting on her face. “And that look right there confirms everything I need to know.”
“Shut up! There’s nothing going on there. What? I-I’m pregnant, geez, Ava.” Though you hardly sounded convincing as you started to head out of her office, suddenly annoyed for bringing Melissa up to begin with.
“Uh huh, keep lying to yourself, girl!” Ava calls out as you shoot her a look and stalk off.
By the time you’ve gotten outside there’s no missing the scorn sitting on your face as you greet Melissa with an annoyed Hello.
“Hey. What’s wrong with you?” Her head falls to the side as she holds her keys out to you as you swipe them from her hand.
“Nothing, I’m just tired.” You shake your head, not meeting Melissa’s gaze.
“Did Ava do somethin’? Cause I already told her I own a bat.”
“Huh? What does a bat have to do with Ava?”
Melissa’s face flushes at that, clearing her throat as she moves her hand to the small of your back to give you a nudge towards the parking lot.
“Melissa?” You give her an odd look as the two of you head towards her car.
“I may have messaged Ava to go easy on you.”
So that’s why Ava hadn’t even prompted you any further and went along with it so effortlessly. “Oh my god! Mel!”
“What! Did it not work?”
“It did but that’s not the point. She knows there’s something going on between us.”
“How does she know?”
“Because everyone thinks we’ve moved in together and you messaged Ava just now to go easy on me. She’s not stupid, and she said it’s obvious how bad we have it for each other…” You feel your face heat up at that, your pulse thumping hard as Melissa keeps her hand on the small of your back despite her own pulse skyrocketing.
“I’m letting you stay with me. There’s a difference.” Melissa adds and you couldn’t agree more with her. At least you two seemed to be on the same page, unlike everyone else on the outside who seemed to know you both better than you knew yourselves.
“So I won’t threaten her with a bat in the future.” Melissa shrugs as you both come to stand beside her car.
Your head snaps to her then. “You what?!”
“Are you gonna be fine to drive home?”
“Don’t change the subject! Stop threatening people with a bat.”
“You find it hot.” She gives you a look that has your chest lifting and something growing between your legs.
“That’s not the point. Stop that.” You shoot her a look watching her dazed expression as her hand moves up your back slowly.
Melissa’s hand comes to cover yours as she presses the car keys between your palm to unlock the car and open the drivers side for you. “C’mon, get yourself home to bed.”
“You’re bossy.” Though you weren’t complaining, she could boss you around especially with the words she was saying. You weren’t even sure she knew the effect it had on you to hear that.
“I can be. I don’t hear you complain much.” She displays a shit eating grin as you hop into the driver's side, Melissa standing between you and the car door.
You watch as Melissa casually looks around to take in her surroundings that you don’t expect her to lean in to kiss you.
It’s over as soon as it started, Melissa’s mouth gone too quick as you feel your own pulse stutter as your brain short circuits.
“Turn your phone back on and text me when you get there, ‘kay?” You don’t miss the pink on Melissa’s cheeks as she gives you a shy grin and closes the door.
—
Once you get back to Melissa’s it almost feels like you’re intruding when you unlock the door to let yourself in. It felt different being inside Melissa’s home without her, even though you could still feel and smell her presence. You do as she told you and turn your phone on, pouring yourself a glass of water waiting for your phone to turn itself back on.
You see the missed calls and messages Melissa had left during your brief sleep. You don’t notice yourself smiling stupidly before you’re sending Melissa a message.
Made it.
You notice the other missed call from the number belonging to Matteo as your heart drops. He was being persistent with the 2 missed calls separated between ten minutes only half an hour ago.
You open his name, wondering whether to call or leave a message but you’re interrupted by Melissa’s name in your notifications as her response comes through.
Good girl. Now get some sleep, yeah?
You try not to react too much to her words as you let out a quick breath. This woman was going to be the death of you with the way she spoke. You down the glass of water before heading upstairs to get changed and remove your makeup before you’re settling under the blankets.
You take your phone to click on Matteo’s name before looking away and debating whether to send a message or not.
I’m not so sure if it’s a good idea when I don’t know if you’ll stand me up again. I can’t have somebody unsure or unreliable. You don’t have to be a part of this.
You send it, deciding not to think twice about it before you’re putting your phone on, do not disturb and finally allowing yourself a chance to sleep.
—
Monday evening.
When you wake it’s dark and you panic reaching for your phone hoping you haven’t slept for too long.
5.42pm.
You’re up then, leaving your phone unattended as you pull on pants and make yourself a little more presentable before heading downstairs hoping to find Melissa.
You find her sitting in the lounge, a book in her lap and glasses perched on her nose that your breath catches taking in how cozy she looked.
She’s twirling her hair between her fingers before sensing your presence and her eyes lift to look above her glasses, a small smile forming that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“There’s the sleepyhead.”
“Hey.” You swallow the small lump in your throat before crossing the room to sit beside her, Melissa taking it as her queue to close her book and place it on the side table before turning her attention to you.
“You look like you’re feeling better.”
You lean back into the couch, a small smile forming as you look at Melissa. “I went out like a light.”
“I thought as much.”
Your brows furrow then, Melissa’s eyes looking somewhere else. “What do you mean?”
“You haven’t checked your phone have you?”
“Why?” Your pulse pounds at that.
“I got a strange message from you.” She’s reaching into her back pocket as she pulls out her phone to unlock it and find your name before she’s turning her phone around to you.
You glance down at your prior conversation only to see the message you’d meant to send to Matteo. Your eyes go wide at that, immediately looking up at Melissa who’s eyes were already on yours. You must’ve clicked Melissa’s name instead in the state you were in. Their names both started with an M that if you weren’t focusing it was easy to mix the two up.
“That wasn’t meant for you.” You could feel your heart in your stomach and your pulse pounding as you blink back tears and sit up a little.
“I figured as much.” Melissa puts her phone on top of the book before her feet swing to hang off the couch and she’s sitting closer to you.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about him, the father.” She leans forward on her knees, playing with her own hands as you watch her. “At least that’s who I think it was for.”
“It was.” You hesitate before reaching over to her hands and she easily takes your palm in her own, lifting her eyes to focus on you. “I uh, had his number and… left a message, asked him to meet me. But…” You shrug, looking away briefly as Melissa’s thumb begins to move in small circles against the back of your hand.
“He stood you up.” Melissa finishes off your sentence as you nod.
“Then he left me a voicemail last night…”
Melissa’s thumb stills for a moment as you look back at her.
“That’s why you couldn’t sleep.” It all seems to click then for her then as you nod your head at her. “I guess I didn’t help.”
You shake your head at her words as you let out a breath. “It’s not your fault.”
“You said you can’t have somebody unreliable or unsure.”
You feel Melissa’s hand tense against yours as you look at her for a moment before it’s dawning on you what she must’ve felt first receiving that message and applying it to herself.
“Mel, I wasn’t saying that to you.” You squeeze her hand as she shakes her head slightly.
“I know that. But it kinda applies to me, don’t it?”
“I don’t want to lose you.” Your voice hangs so low as Melissa lets go of your hand and slides an arm around your shoulder to pull you in. You can’t resist, your head coming to rest on her shoulder as you take in the smell of her perfume and feel the warmth from her body against yours.
“You’re not going to.” Her jaw tightens as she rests it on top of your head and practically pulls you into her lap. “I meant it when I said I want to try. I was just… scared. I’m scared shitless, y/n.”
You can’t help but let out a small laugh as your face buries itself into Melissa’s neck, feeling the woman’s body tense and loosen instantly as you hold onto her for a moment. “We can be scared shitless together then because I’m beyond terrified, Mel.”
“I’m… with you, every step of the way.” You lean your head back at her words, looking up to see the seriousness in her features as she lifts a hand to brush hair from your face.
“What if that means there’s somebody else involved?” You feel your heart dropping lower and lower as your breath stills waiting for Melissa’s response.
“As long as they know I’m not sharing you I can live with that.”
There’s no stopping the grin that forms on your face at Melissa’s words as you feel your cheeks go as red as her hair.
“By that reaction I’d say you can live with it too.” She smirks, her thumb coming to brush against your cheek as she looks down at you with a tightness in her chest that wants to explode.
“If I agree to meet him. Will you… come with me?” You swallow as Melissa doesn’t stop caressing your cheek while pondering, not that she needed to think about it when that’s all she spent the afternoon thinking about.
When she’d first got your message it had startled her, it didn’t take long to know it wasn’t meant for her, but it made Melissa start to think about everything she didn’t know. She’d been so focused on you, on the fact you were pregnant that she’d completely forgotten about the fact there was a man involved. She also knew how flaky she’d been with you from the moment you’d tried to kiss her up until now. Melissa didn’t want to be unreliable or come off unsure to you, especially if some man was going to do exactly that and leave you and a kid all on your own. Which made her realize just how much she wanted to step in and be a part of your life and this baby’s.
“Course I will. I’ll bring a bat too, so he knows what he’s working with.”
You roll your eyes snorting at Melissa’s comment as you feel something light spread through your body for the first time in awhile. Maybe if it went so horribly with Matteo, at least you’d still have Melissa.
“You mean so he knows who the boss is?” You lift a brow as Melissa’s turn to slits.
“That too.” She leans down then, kissing you softly as you hum contently, wrapping an arm around her neck as you lean into her.
“So what’s his name then?” Melissa pulls away from you, using her thumb to wipe the lipstick she’d left on your lips.
“His name’s Matteo.”
Melissa’s face drops then, the blissful bubble she’s been floating in all day finally popping, because of course she can’t have anything good in her life, of course it has to come with hardships and never be easy.
Melissa swallows hard then, slowly untangling herself from you as she stands up, the room starting to feel smaller and much too warm.
“Mel?” Your brows pull together watching her in confusion as your pulse starts to skip. “What’s wrong?” You’re on your feet to come stand beside her but she quickly puts a hand between you and you try not to let that hurt.
“I’m sorry, don’t touch me right now I’m too hot.” Her chest lifts as she lets out a heavy breath and starts to fan herself with her hand as she heads into the kitchen.
You follow her, a little unsure and the nerves building as you watch her fill up a glass of water and chug it back. She stares down at it for longer than necessary before she’s finally looking at you from across the room like a deer caught in the headlights.
“What?”
“When you met Matt..Matteo.” She corrects herself, swallowing something bitter in her mouth as her chest feels like it’s caving in. “You said he reminded you of me. That he was speaking Italian or what not.”
Your heart skips then. “Y-yeah. He did. Why?”
Melissa can hardly look at you when she starts to remember how Matteo had described you, everything had flown over her head when he first talked about you. He never said your name, so she wouldn’t have even thought about you. Melissa tries to remember what you had said - how you couldn’t stop thinking about her the entire night, but now it made her feel sick to her stomach at the thought of her cousin in bed with you.
Melissa looks around her kitchen for a moment before she’s heading back out into the living room to grab her phone. You follow her out, still confused and beginning to panic as you watch Melissa.
“Can you tell me what you’re thinking right now?”
“I just need a second…” She scrolls through her phone until she finds a picture from a few family dinners ago of her and Matty. She zooms in on him before turning her phone around to you.
Your eyes drop to the phone as you blink looking at the familiar face, trying to recall where he was – oh.
“Is this Matteo?” Melissa’s voice comes out as a whisper but you hear it loud and clear as you feel tears start to prick.
“Why do you have a picture of him on your phone?”
Melissa turns the phone back around, zooming out so you’re able to see her doing the bunny ears behind Matty’s head as she turns the phone back around.
Tears drop when you take the photo in completely and see Melissa and him. “I don’t… I don’t understand.” You wipe at the tears as Melissa’s heart aches at the sight.
“We call Matteo, Matty. He's my cousin. The one having a kid...” Melissa pauses, her chest lifting as you see the tears building in her eyes. “The one that's... you're having his kid.”
Going to an assembly to watch something Janine put together is never on Melissa’s list of things she would like to do. But getting to see her students do something they were passionate about? She’s the first in line. Metaphorically.
She’s always skeptical when Ava’s name is tied to anything. They may be friends, but Ava always had other things to do. Melissa was surprised to hear that Ava was helping Janine, of all people.
Ava liked some of the students at Abbott. Like every principal, she knew the few she knew, and the rest were acquaintances. Gossip always got to Ava, and she made sure of that. She has to know what is going on at her school. She wouldn’t be a good principal if she didn’t. Specifically, who was into who and what teacher went to what club the night before.
-
“I’m so excited for you to see what the kids have been working on.”
Melissa’s texting away on her phone while Barbara and Jacob pretend to listen to Janine talk about the step club.
“We’re excited to see it, sweetheart.” Barbara nudges Melissa, who quickly shoves her phone into her bra.
“Yeah…mhm…”
“Did Ava actually help?”
Jacob looks around at the rest. Melissa and Barbara asked the same question with their eyes.
“The routine is hers. They all did it together. I mean, I was the one who got them to rehearse but-”
“These are the shirts you want us to wear?”
Ava walked into the gym, wearing a blue t-shirt with the words “Abbott Step” across the front. A few girls are with her, sitting on their hips like the principal.
“Yeah, I spent all night making those.” Janine’s smile is large across her face as though she’s expecting something from the rest.
“You spent all night making them?” Ava scoffs.
“Well, yeah. Writing on fabric isn’t easy. And I messed up a few times.”
The teachers give her a look. There is more to that.
“Okay, a lot of times. But I think they’re cute. They’re fun! They have glitter!”
The entourage rolls their eyes as they leave. They remind Janine of the girls from her high school—the popular girls who knew everything. They walked around like they owned the building. Their claws are always out, ready for the pounce on their prey, only for the thrill of the kill.
She assumed that after she graduated and escaped from her younger years, she wouldn’t have to deal with people like this. She was wrong.
“We’ll see you later, Janine,” Barbara says, forcing Janine’s head to whip back towards the group.
“I’m excited to see the performance.”
Melissa and Barbara left for their classes. Wondering and waging on whether the performance would be as good as Janine claimed.
“It’s gonna be great,” Jacob said, trying to be encouraging. He ran out of the gym and back to his classroom. Only one more hour until it was showtime.
The “encouragement” from her fellow teachers started to mess with Janine’s head. What if it wasn’t good? After all, Ava choreographed it. Janine wasn’t a part of the process at all. She barely knew the routine.
Maybe Ava would step up to the plate. She said she loved step team. And she’d been to every practice, which seemed out of character. But she was also late and usually only spent the last fifteen minutes choreographing or practicing with the students. The rest was full of eating and gossip.
“It’s gonna be fine,” Janine smiled at the cameras. Glass half full, right?
-
Earlier that week, Melissa stepped into Ava’s office. It wasn’t rare for Melissa to be there in between classes. But no one else knew that.
“So, did you find a place?”
Melissa sat across from Ava, leaning in on her desk.
“We did. Thanks for the recommendation.”
Ava let out a deep sigh, her eyes darting across her phone screen as she typed. The sound of her nails tapping against the screen made Melissa wonder.
“What’s wrong with it?”
Ava took a second before setting her phone face down on the desk and leaning back in her chair.
“I’m just worried. She’s been with me for weeks and was with family even before then. What if what happened last time just happens all over again? I can’t afford to send her to another place.”
“It’s going to be okay. She just needs to acclimate to the new space. They have great people there. My nonna spent her last few years with them. Trust me. You told them a Schemmenti sent you, right?”
“Yeah.”
Ava blew another lung full of air out. She’d learned to hide her emotions from the rest of the teachers. And for a while, Melissa. But Melissa learned Ava’s tells. How she couldn’t keep focus when she lied. How her bravado seemed to double when something was wrong in her personal life. Making fun and cracking jokes was just a mask she wore—a defense mechanism. Melissa knew about that all too well. It almost felt like therapy when Melissa would come in for those few minutes between classes. For who? Neither of them knew. It was all confidential. It was raw. They could put her fists down for just a moment. Take their mouthguards out. They could relax.
“Hon, what’s wrong?” Melissa noticed one of Ava’s tells. Ava loved to text. She was always on her phone. But Ava was not one to check her phone for a text. She wouldn’t give that time of waiting and staring to anyone. She had more important things to do.
That day, Ava checked her phone four times when she walked in to grab her coffee and sugar. She almost left the lounge without grabbing sugar.
“She’s getting worse,” Ava responded, leaning back in her chair, slightly swiveling. Her voice was softer and caught in her throat. Her grandmother practically raised her. And even though she was still alive, Ava felt like she was losing her. She’d been lost to the disease. Now when she saw her, she had to introduce herself often. Remind the woman who taught her how to sing, dance, and cook what her name was. Her own flesh and blood.
Melissa nodded, her lips pulled to the side out of sympathy. It’s hard to lose someone to dementia. Usually, Melissa hoped her name was not in anyone’s mouth. But towards the end of her grandmother’s life, she wished to hear her voice say “Melissa” once more. To hear her say “nipoti mia” and to smile when she saw her walk in every Monday after school.
“I’m sorry. I know that’s hard.”
“I don’t know what else to do. Is this it?”
Melissa leaned forward in her chair. Ava was anxiously checking her phone, her leg bouncing under the desk. A soft hand grabbed hers, forcing her to look up into the green eyes that softly looked at her.
“No, it’s not over. You just make her feel comfortable. Loved. She knows what it means to be loved. Even if it’s…,” Melissa paused. She almost choked herself up, her mind thinking ahead in her sentence. “Even if it’s by a stranger. She still smiles. She still hugs, kisses. She will hold you when you lean on her and look into your eyes as though she knows you. Because somewhere she does. She just doesn’t always remember why.”
“Schemmenti, you can’t get this soft on me. It’s going to ruin the way I see you.” Ava smiles. Tears are in her eyes as she thinks about the day her grandmother truly stops remembering her. It had gotten to the point where now and then, Ava would have to remind her where she was. She would be fine, and in an instant, she would look around, confused. The conversation would start again. The conversation they’d just had. Sometimes, almost word for word.
“Let me know if you need anything, okay? You know, if you’ve actually decided to save my number.” Melissa smiles before standing and leaving. The bell rang for the final block of the day.
A picture of Ava and her grandmother is now on the corner of her desk. Ava can’t help but take a moment for herself as she holds the frame.
It’s not over yet.
-
Children file into the gym as the girls in the step team practice one last time. Ava smiles, watching them kill the routine.
“Yall, this looks fire. I did good,” she smiles, brushing off her shoulders and taking credit for the routine. She calls a huddle, all hands in.
“You’re going to do amazing. Everyone’s so excited to see the routine and-”
Her phone rings. It’s the people who are watching her grandmother.
“Hello?” she asks, quickly walking out of the room. The girls look around at each other, confused.
“Are you available to come to see her?”
“No, I- I’m at work. I can come in the next half hour.”
“She needs to see you.”
“Look, I can’t leave. I promised-”
“We can bring her to you. We’ll be there in ten.”
“Okay, I’ll be in front of the school.”
Ava’s heart is pounding. It’s happened again.
Cover for me, she texts Melissa.
“Uh…I gotta go. But kill it out there. Janine will figure it out.”
“Wait, you aren’t going to come?”
“I- something’s come up, okay? Just…tell Janine. I gotta go.”
Melissa overhears one of the girls telling Janine that Ava is gone. She’s left the building. She’s got to come up with something quick. Ava’s personal life doesn’t need to be the next topic of conversation, especially from Janine.
“So, where’s Ava? Did she bail already?”
Everything she says is a lie. Well, not all of it. But most of it. Regardless, it worked. No one questioned, and Mr. Johnson is now stalling until Janine can figure out what to do.
Where are you? Melissa texts Ava back.
I’m outside. They’re bringing her here.
Do you need me?
No, stay there. I don’t need a search party.
When Melissa looks up from her phone, Janine is nowhere to be seen.
“Where did she go?”
“I guess to find Ava. I’m not surprised that she’s not here. Janine will figure it out.” Barbara shrugs before walking over to her kids.
Melissa stays, her hand gripping her phone so she wouldn’t miss the vibration if Ava texted an SOS. She’s entertained by her students watching Mr. Johnson. His humor is far more advanced than they understand. But they’re enjoying it.
Ten minutes feels like five hours as Ava paces the front steps of the school. She can feel Janine’s energy plowing through the hallways as she bursts out of the doors.
Shut UP, Janine.
She pretends she can’t hear her and that she isn’t hurt by the words she’s saying. That she’s fine.
“You really had to bring her here?”
I’m glad you did. A beat. She recognizes me. A breath.
Janine stands back from Ava. But it feels as though she’s breathing down Ava’s neck. This is not a part of her life that she wants to be publicized. She doesn’t need pity from Janine. If anything, Janine is the one who should be getting pity from her.
Ava knows that Janine is going to swallow her words. She knows that she’ll just regurgitate them in the form of an apology. It’s her MO. But Ava can’t deal with that right now. She’s got to calm her grandmother down first. She looks so lost. She looks scared.
It takes everything in her not to snap at Janine, who is now following her through the halls.
She found me.
I’m sorry, I tried. I didn’t see her leave.
Are you okay?
Yeah. I guess.
They haven’t performed yet. Why don’t you join them? It will make you feel better.
Melissa looks up from her phone as Barbara walks over. She lies again. She never lies to Barbara.
It’s not long before Ava and Janine push through the gymnasium doors. Their team is right behind.
Ava makes a point not to glance at Melissa. To not make eye contact at all. Melissa would be able to read too much if she did that.
It’s not until Janine leaves that Melissa and Ava meet again. Barbara is waiting in the hallway. Melissa tells her she needs to run to her mailbox before they leave. She’ll only be a minute.
“You okay?”
Ava looks up from her phone. Surprisingly, she is okay. And she’s proud of her team.
“I’m fine. Janine was saying I only care about myself.”
“Well…that is what you give off. I’m sure she doesn’t believe that now. She didn’t out you today.”
“Good. She’d be fired.”
“You can’t fire her. First off, you have no reason. And second, you care. You like her. I know you do.”
“I told her I appreciated her.” Ava sits, waiting for Melissa to undercut her. But she doesn’t. “I wasn’t lying.”
“I know. Ava, you and I are similar.” Melissa’s gentle smile drops the moment Ava looks up at her. “No need to go telling people I said that,” Melissa rolls her eyes. “Don’t let it get to your head.”
“Melissa Schemmenti. You like me.”
“Ava, I’ve never not liked you. I might…just maybe…kill for you.”
The two share a smile before Melissa taps the desk.
“You know where to reach me if you need anything. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hey, Melissa?”
Ava watches as Melissa turns, her hair whipping around her. It’s been a while since anyone cared for her as Melissa did. Spoke to her like she had her baggage too. And understood it.
It only takes two cars to pack up your belongings, Janine, Melissa and you in one, the other holding Jacob, Barbara and Gregory.
You’d tried to trade with Barbara, until Jacob mentioned something about gardening and then you’d lost your chance completely. Janine had kept looking at you weirdly all morning, sometimes even catching her when she thought you weren’t looking. You weren’t sure what to think of it, but it was starting to make you nervous.
Melissa insisted you sit in the front but you’d made an excuse about car sickness and the back being easier. Really you just didn’t want to sit in front of Melissa knowing her eyes would be burning into you. You’re not sure how you were going to survive living with her after the glimmer of hope she’d given you. But you push it from your mind for now.
The car ride starts off quiet, Melissa fidgeting with the radio before finding a clear station as the tune plays throughout the car until Janine’s speaking.
“So… this is fun, right? I didn’t actually know you two were this close.”
You see Melissa’s head shift at that as your eyes lock with Janine’s in the rearview mirror.
“Uh…What do you mean?”
“You gotta be pretty close to move in with each other.”
“She’s not moving in.” “I’m not moving in.” You and Melissa both speak at once, your face unable to stop itself from going a dark shade of red.
“See! You two do that a lot. Like you’re always on the same page.” Janine’s brows pull together as she focuses back on the road and you shift closer to the window to avoid finding her gaze again.
Though you’re not sure you agreed with her when you weren’t sure which page Melissa was ever on. Especially right now.
“Melissa’s just kind enough to let me stay.” Shrugging as you try to maintain the skipping in your pulse.
“Yeah, what she said.”
“Yeah, see. I thought that too. And then I realized if Jacob and I were in y/n’s position I don’t think you’d be offering to let either of us stay.”
You almost choke on the air that spills out as you feel your face getting flushed. Nobody else was supposed to notice that, you’d already thought about it long before you tried crossing the line with Melissa. There was always something more hanging between you two, Melissa had always treated you differently to Janine and Jacob.
“Can hardly let a pregnant woman be homeless.” Melissa adds as you feel your shoulders relax. That sounded believable.
“You and Barbara already knew that too. That’s interesting.”
“Not really.” You shrug, leaning closer to the window.
“And the other night I realized you two are always together.”
“The other night?” Melissa asks, both you and her looking at each other confused.
“When we were helping y/n pack. You and y/n worked pretty well in the kitchen…”
“Yeah, cause you put us together.” Melissa adds, arms folding across her chest. “What exactly are you implying here, Janine?” Melissa’s brows pull together as she keeps a far better composure than you currently were.
“Uh… is there something…are you two?” Janine tries to speak clearly despite the internal panic spreading through her.
“Are we what?” You could feel your pulse quickening and your face growing more and more red waiting for Janine to speak.
“Together?”
“Wha–” “No?” You and Melissa speak at once again, both cutting each other off as she looks back at you for a moment.
“Can’t people be friends?” You frown at Melissa’s words as you try to not take that to heart.
“They can…” Janine trails off, side eyeing Melissa for a moment.
“Look, Janine. Whatever you think you’ve conjured up in that little mind of yours I’d quit while you’re ahead. There ain’t nothing going on between me and the kid.” You’d have believed Melissa if she hadn’t been looking at you with a look in her eyes that told you she thought otherwise and was only saying it for Janine’s benefit. Which only made your heart thump harder and faster.
You still weren’t sure where either of you stood after Melissa had practically asked you to move in with her after telling you that maybe her mind had changed and she wanted all of this.
“I can’t believe you thought there was something going on between us.” You awkwardly laugh, not sounding completely believable.
“Right, yeah. How silly of me.” Janine lets out a small laugh, though she didn’t believe a word either of you said which only confirmed her suspicions further.
“You say some strange things, hon.” Melissa almost snorts, her eyes shining at you for a moment before she’s facing the front.
“Is it that strange? Weirder things have happened. I mean y/n is moving in with you.”
“She’s not moving in.” Melissa speaks before you get the chance to.
“Why don’t we change the subject to something more real?” You finally take the plunge and look in the rearview mirror to catch Janine’s sight.
She frowns at you before focusing on the road. “Right... Um, Are you getting excited for the baby?”
Trust Janine to only choose topics that you didn’t want to talk about right now. You’re just glad the surroundings were starting to look familiar which meant you’d be at Melissa’s soon.
“I haven’t really had a chance to let it sink in yet.” You shrug, being honest. You’d had too much on your mind and too much to do that you’d not even taken the time to stop and take in what was happening.
“When did you find out?”
“Uh… like a week or so again? The move kinda took over.” And Melissa. But you can’t say that out loud without completely outing whatever was going on between you and Melissa.
“Oh, wow. Kinda sorry we know now.”
You shake your head smiling. “Between you and Jacob the excitement is pretty infectious.” They’d not stopped talking about it since finding out, already asking if they could throw you a baby shower and planning much too far in advance that you had to excuse yourself multiple times.
You and Janine get lost talking about all things baby that you miss Melissa’s glistening eyes listening and taking in how content and happy you looked. Melissa eventually averts her attention when Janine pulls up outside her house. You have to stop your heart from hammering fast when the redhead comes round to open your door, Janine giving her an odd look before Melissa snaps her fingers to get a move on. There’s no denying the blush creeping up not only your face, but Melissa’s too.
—
After everything’s been stored away you all end up huddled around Melissa’s table for lunch.
You’d wanted to thank everyone in some way for helping you, so Melissa suggested lunch. You weren’t expecting her to cook though, already looking at delivery apps before she’d taken your phone off you and said it was no problem and that it’d be better – which it was, it was Melissa’s cooking after all and that never failed.
After Jacob and Zach leave you watch Barbara head off with Janine and try not to audibly groan. You just hoped she didn’t ask Barbara the same things she’d asked you and Melissa.
It’s not until the other two women have left does the silence and Melissa’s company finally dawn on you.
This is what it was going to be like for the next while.
You both move around each other in the kitchen as you place dishes in the sink.
“Thanks for lunch and yanno… letting me stay.” You shrug, still unsure how to properly act around her.
“Don’t worry about it. Hey, you don’t have to do the dishes.” Melissa flashes you a smile as she comes to stand behind you.
“You cooked, it’s only fair I clean.” You glance at her briefly, your heart skipping as she grins at you before you’re tending back to cleaning the plates. “I promise I won’t stay long, just until I find a place.”
Melissa has to bite her tongue for a moment, stopping herself from saying what she really wants to say. “You can stay as long as you need to. There’s no rush. I like the company.” She shrugs as your pulse skips at that and then again when you feel her hand against your hip as she reaches round for the dish.
“Why don’t you let me finish cleaning up and you go get yourself settled?”
Your chest lifts as you remember to breathe and let Melissa take the dish from you knowing you’d have dropped it if she didn’t. You swallow before nodding.
“I… ok. How about I make dinner and clean up too since you did lunch?” You’re not sure why you feel so nervous, maybe because Melissa was still hovering behind you, the feel of her hand still against your hip as you slowly step away from her.
“You don’t–” Melissa goes to speak but you quickly cut her off.
“And you can’t say I don't have to, because I know. I want to.”
Melissa places the dish back in the sink as she dries her hand and throws the dishcloth over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling as she smirks at you and nods.
“Alright, hon. C’mon, I’ll help you bring your things up.”
You stand there once Melissa leaves the room before finally letting out the breath you’d been holding as you try to figure out how you were supposed to survive when you could hardly think straight.
Once you pull yourself together and grab your bags to head up the stairs, you stop looking down the small hallway. Although you’d seen Melissa’s bedroom and knew exactly where that was… you didn’t know the layout of her home or where the other bedroom was.
Melissa wasn’t sure whether you were nervous or not, but her hand comes to the small of your back as she gently pushes you forward. “This way, sweetheart.”
You try to process that pet name as she guides you to the left and opens the door to the room, switching on the light as she places your bags down.
“Bathroom’s down the hall on the left. I’ve cleared space in the closet and drawers for you, so make yourself at home.” Melissa lets out an awkward breath as her hands slide into her front pockets looking at you.
You nod slightly as you take in the guest bedroom. It matched the decor to the rest of the house, and also smelled like Melissa which only made it that much harder for you.
“I won’t be here long.” You shake your head, missing the hurt on Melissa’s face as she passes you.
“However long you’re here, it can't be fun to live outta bags. Space is there whether you use it or not.” She grabs hold of the doorknob before turning to face you.
“I’ll be downstairs if you need anything. Take your time, ‘m sure you want some space.” She nods at you before closing the door and leaving you to it.
—
Saturday night.
After you’d unpacked a few items of clothing you swore you were going to rest your eyes for a minute or two as you lay on top of the bed.
But then you’d woken up in the dark with the blanket covering you and you weren’t sure how much time had passed.
Last you’d checked it was just after one, once you grab your phone you almost fall out of bed seeing the time say 5.30pm.
Had you really been asleep for almost five hours?
You feel a little dazed as you change from jeans to sweats before heading downstairs to find Melissa. The smell from the kitchen has you flocking there immediately as you’re met with the sight of the redhead moving about her kitchen, hair up in a messy ponytail as her eyes light up sensing your presence.
“Well look who's finally up.” She lets out a small laugh as you feel your cheeks darken.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” You shrug, slowly moving further into the kitchen as Melissa shakes her head.
“Don’t worry about it. Was a busy morning, can hardly blame ya.”
“Why didn’t you wake me? I was supposed to make dinner.” You try not to pout at that.
“‘Cause you looked too cute…” Melissa pauses then, realizing what she’s said as her face flushes. “You looked peaceful and like you needed it. Wasn’t gonna disturb that. Then it got a bit late so I thought I might as well make a start on dinner. Oh, by the way I’m gonna need a list of what you can and can’t stomach ‘cause I will be offended if you hate anything I make.”
Melissa speaks too much and too fast that it’s hard for your brain to register half of what she’s said before she’s going onto the next thing. So it had been Melissa that put the blanket over you and turned off the lights. You try not to let your stomach flutter before your stomach is grumbling and interrupting your thoughts.
“I’ll cook tomorrow then, and I’ll still do the dishes tonight since you wouldn’t let me at lunch.”
Melissa gives you a look then, but you raise your brow at her that she can’t help but crack a grin. “Normally that’d be a deal, but the third Sunday of every month is family dinner.”
“Third? Why every third?”
“If I knew the answer to that I wouldn't be going every third of the month.” She almost snorts, tending back to the stove.
“That seems normal.” You can’t help but tease as Melissa rolls her eyes at you, sticking her tongue into her gums to suppress her grin. “Do you host?”
“Fuck no, not if I wanna keep my sanity. I go for the food and my nonna. And the booze, but details.” She shrugs as you watch and listen to her, a small smile playing on your lips without realizing.
“Ok so I’ll cook the night after that.”
“Deal.” Melissa looks over her shoulder at you then, catching you already looking in her direction as you quickly look away feeling your cheeks go dark. “Pen and paper is over there.” She cocks her head to the right and your brows pull together.
“Pen and paper?”
“The list, hon.”
“Uh..” You hadn’t been completely paying attention to what she’d said before, still trying to process the images inside your head of Melissa finding you asleep and dragging the blanket over you to keep you warm.
“Weren’t you listening? What you can and can’t stomach.”
“Right! That list. Got it. Baby brain.” You shrug then, letting out an awkward laugh as you move to grab the pen and notepad. It was more Melissa on your mind than anything else, but you weren’t going to give her that satisfaction, at least, not until you knew what was going on between you two.
You complete your list and maintain small talk with spurts of silence till Melissa is serving up dinner. The faint music coming from the record player added to the scraping of cutlery.
“Melissa?”
The redhead moves her gaze to you, lifting her brows at you, her mouth currently occupied with food.
You’d been waiting for the right moment to ask Melissa what was going on between you two, a week ago you’d had hope that got crushed and now you were getting back that small glimmer of hope. Taking a deep breath you focus on Melissa and try to ignore the hammering inside your chest.
“What did you mean earlier today?”
“Which part?”
“In the car with Janine you said there wasn’t anything going on but the look you gave me…”
Melissa doesn’t expect the question, but keeps her composure nonetheless as she swallows and drops her gaze down to her plate.
“You two are bold with your questions today.” She lets out a breath as she reaches for her glass to take a small sip.
“She was kinda right tho. You wouldn’t let her or Jacob stay.”
Her chest lifts as she puts her cutlery down and leans back slightly to give you her full attention. There was no point in beating around the bush when you were pretty much living with her. You’re not sure you could deal with not knowing what to say or how to act around Melissa with the mixed signals she kept giving you.
“‘Course I wouldn’t let either of them stay.” She says it casually, as though it was obvious. Which, clearly it was to everyone else and not just you or Melissa.
“Why?”
“I think you know why, y/n.”
“I actually don’t. I-I don’t know where you and I stand right now.”.
Melissa’s sigh is much too audible as she reaches her hand across the table, tapping her nails to get your attention as you look to her hand then her.
“Why don’t we take it one day at a time?” Her brows pull together as her hand turns over and you pull your own brows together as you slowly reach out to take her hand.
You can’t help the stutter in your breath when you suck in, Melissa’s fingers wrapping round yours as she gently squeezes.
“I don’t know what that means, Mel.”
“It means… I don’t know where we stand right now either. But maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle?”
“What’s in the middle? ‘Cause last you were telling me this isn't what you wanted.” You say, gesturing to yourself as Melissa’s hand squeezes yours again and makes your pulse skip faster.
“You said today you haven’t properly processed all this. You can’t expect me to process it before you even have.”
Listening to Melissa you can’t help but nod slightly. “I mean, I wouldn’t have taken me to bed if-”
Melissa turns your palm over before placing her other hand on top of yours.
“I shouldn’t have done that… I should’ve said something sooner. You just… Any rational sane thoughts fly out the window the second you’re around.”
Your cheeks can’t help but heat up as your mouth fights with the smile threatening to bloom. “So I make you crazy? Cause that’s pretty much what you do to me.”
Melissa pulls her lips together as she begins to run her fingers over yours.
“I guess that makes us even.”
The silence fills the space again as your hand grows warm between Melissa’s.
“How do I know you’ll feel the same next week?”
There’s no missing the hitch in Melissa’s breathing when her chest lifts.
“I’m not exactly young. And I’ve been divorced.” She almost lets slip ‘but when you know, you know’. Holding herself back as her hands squeeze yours instead.
“Your age or marital status doesn’t exactly bother me.”
Her hand lifts from yours momentarily to wave in the air as Melissa shakes her head. “I wasn’t done. Point is, you get to my age. It feels like all or nothing. And if you haven’t noticed, I kinda panic when it comes to commitment. Joe fucked with that so it’s hard sometimes. But you have always been so different, might’ve been a bit in denial at that.”
You didn’t need to ask when, when you could still replay Melissa’s face when you first tried to kiss her. But you could also see how open and honest she was that you were starting to understand Melissa a bit more. She wanted it, but didn’t know if she could allow herself after being burned before. While you’d been processing your own feelings, so had Melissa. Except she’d not always been so keen on admitting what she felt was more than just some stupid little crush.
You were a breath of fresh air to Melissa. You’d only been at Abbott for under a year, but Melissa couldn’t pinpoint why she felt drawn to you. At first she thought maybe she just wanted to fight you, until it dawned on her the type of fighting she’d rather do did not involve blood or fists. But it took overhearing Ava telling Gregory how obvious his crush on Janine was, listing off everything that Melissa connected to you. She felt mortified for crushing on a younger woman. She’d tried to deny what she felt, running two classes at once took up most thinking time, along with Gary appearing and merging himself into her life.
You squeeze Melissa’s hand, your pulse continuing to skip hard and fast. “So… one day at a time?”
Her shoulders shrug as she retracts one hand, keeping the other holding yours as she picks her fork back up. “One day at a time.”
—
Sunday.
You spend most of your Sunday viewing a property, immediately noticing the shift in Melissa’s body when you’d mentioned you’d be viewing a property and only when you’d returned had she perked up telling her about the twenty levels you’d gone up after finding out there was no elevator.
You were already getting used to being around Melissa more and it hadn’t even been a full 24 hours yet, but you couldn’t help but a feel a little bit giddy inside Melissa’s home, especially when she starts getting ready to head out for Family dinner. You hadn’t properly looked at the photographs that decorated the walls or the various decor Melissa had. It wasn’t being nosy, right?
“You gonna be ok on here?” She’s not looking at you as she puts one of her hoops in her ear before grabbing her bag from the floor.
You can’t help but let your eyes gloss over her body as she moves about the room.
“I am an adult, Mel. Or would you rather I call a babysitter?” You muse, watching the redhead glance at you briefly as her eyes almost darken, catching your eyes snapping up quickly.
“Might need one.” She smirks at you before disappearing into the kitchen as you let out a small breath feeling your face flush.
“But I’ll be ok.” You call out to her as you turn your attention back to your book.
“I might be home a bit late.” You try to ignore the stutter in your chest when Melissa says home, of course she’d call it that when it was exactly that. But it still did things to you nonetheless. “Don’t feel like you gotta wait up for me.”
“And miss a second of beauty sleep? Doubt it.”
“Like you need anymore.” Melissa laughs as you feel your face go darker.
“Sleep?”
“No, beauty you gavone.” She shakes her head at you as you try to remember how to properly breathe while Melissa toys with how to say goodbye - did she kiss you? Could she do that? “Ok, cya.” She nods as you give her an odd look.
—
You’re still curled up on the couch with your book by the time Melissa gets home.
“Hey, you’re still up.”
Melissa’s face was flushed as she grins at you, you could smell the booze radiating off her but somehow her signature scene was still more overpowering that you couldn’t help but almost feel drunk.
“Hey, It’s only…” You turn to glance at the clock before your brows pull together. “Oh.”
Last time you looked it was only 9pm and you’d told yourself one more chapter, now it was 11.40pm.
“Guess I got caught up in the book. How was it?” You brush it off as you let out a small breath, leaning forward as you close your book and place it on the coffee table. You may have been invested in it, but truthfully you just didn’t want to admit to Melissa you’d stayed up to make sure she got home safe and sound and reading made the time go by faster.
“Mhm, yeah it was how it always is. Most were on their best behavior.” She laughs slightly and your brows pull together watching her. “I’m actually glad you’re still up.”
Your heart skips watching Melissa shrug her jacket off before coming to sit beside you.
“Yeah?”
Melissa’s eyes briefly drop to your mouth and you can’t help but grow weak before she’s closing the gap between you. Her hands come to your face as her mouth moves against yours, her tongue forcing its way into your mouth that has a whimper escaping from your mouth at the sudden passion and urgency as Melissa pulls you into her lap.
“Fuck, Mel–slow down.” You tried to not groan at the warmth already spreading through your body as you lean away from Melissa, the lingering taste of liquor and cream prominent from Melissa’s tongue.
“Sorry. Mhm, I’m actually not. I’ve been wanting to do that since the last time.”
Your whole body almost tenses as you try to process what Melissa’s words were doing to you.
“Is this just the booze talking?”
Melissa’s head shakes, brows pulling together as her hands come to rest against your hips.
“No, I mean it definitely helps.”
You try not to roll your eyes, lifting your hand as you move your thumb to wipe at the smeared lipstick on Melissa.
Her mouth shifts to kiss your thumb, almost wrapping her lips around before you drop your hand give her a look.
“What has gotten into you?” You almost laugh, somewhat enjoying a tipsy Melissa.
Her hands gently slide up and down your thighs as she takes in your neck and cleavage while you try to focus on anything but what she was putting your body through.
“My cousin, he’s having a kid too.” Her shoulders lift as you listen to her, unable to help the confusion that sweeps across your face.
“Ok?”
“He was gettin’ all serious asking me if he thought he’d make a good dad and then he yanno, drunk as ever, said a few things to me that got me thinking.” She lets out a breath then, leaning back into the couch as she tries to relax.
Your pulse only grows the longer the silence stretches on, but you could tell Melissa was preparing her thoughts, so you lift your fingers to play with her necklaces.
“He said I’d make a good one, that I’d love and protect the shit outta them.” Melissa’s mouth twitches, her face softening as you feel your chest growing tighter.
“Make a good what?” You’re not sure if you spoke your thoughts out loud, your heart thumping away in your ears as you take in what Melissa is saying.
Melissa gives you a look at that, her brow slowly lifting. “You know what.”
You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding as you looked away from Melissa momentarily. “He’s right, your cousin. You would.”
“He said you’d say that.”
She’d escaped outside only to run into her cousin Matteo, the pair ended up sharing a flask tossing things back and forth under the stars before he’d dropped the serious question. He’d asked her to keep it on the down low, which meant he definitely owed her and gave her something to use against him if need be.
“Huh?
“Matty, my cousin. I told him about you. About the kid. He seemed to think you’d agree with him on that.” Honestly, she’d never been that open with her cousin before, but something about the moment between the two of them and the shared vulnerability.
“I did feel my ears burning before.” You mumble as Melissa lets out a laugh, but you couldn’t figure out what to say let alone think when all you were now imagining was Melissa telling her family about you.
“I think I’d be horrible at it, all of it. But the more I get to know you, I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than here with you.”
Melissa looks at you then and you swear you could see something swimming in her eyes. s fill with tears and you quickly close your eyes.
“Mel…”
“Maybe we can… give this a go. You, me… the kid. I know I said one day at a time but it can still be that”
“You’re going to be the death of me.” You let out a breath as tears spill, Melissa’s hands quickly lifting to your face as she wipes them away.
“Don’t cry, hon.” You shake your head in her hands as she pulls you in to kiss you softly and you can’t help but melt into her.
“I’m hormonal, I can’t help it. Especially when you say shit like that.” You speak in between kisses as your fingers lose themselves in red hair.
“Say shit like what?” Her fingers dig into your hips that you almost shift forward.
“Drunk thoughts you might regret in the morning.”
“Drunk thoughts are sober thoughts, and I won’t..” Her head shakes at you as you slowly peel yourself from Melissa.
Your phone goes off then but you ignore it as you hold your hand out to Melissa who pulls her brows together before finally taking your hand and letting you pull her up.
“Then you’ll tell me all this in the morning when I know you’re not running on adrenaline.”
“You really wanna have this convo on the drive to work?” Melissa snorts as her hands come to your hips, leaning in to kiss your cheek as you feel your eyes flutter closed for a moment.
“Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“I don’t have a choice, do I?” Melissa asks as you shake your head and she almost groans and you lean in then to kiss Melissa one last time before pulling away from her.
“Goodnight, Schemmenti.” You rub your lips together as you grab your book and phone, feeling much too giddy inside that you need to get away from Melissa before you start grinning like a maniac.
“Night, love.”
That does things to you as you try to ignore the feeling of your heart wanting to burst at everything Melissa was saying and doing to you.
Once you’ve given yourself a few minutes to relish in how happy you were starting to feel you start getting ready for bed. Plugging in your phone has the screen lighting up as you see the (1) new voicemail on display.
If it was the property manager calling, there’s no way you’d even accept living there.
What you’re met with instead is a man’s voice, one that has the smile wiped from your face and your heart in your stomach as the voice becomes increasingly familiar as you finally gain a name to the man you’d slept with.
“Not that I don’t love it when you show up unannounced.” Barb pauses, placing a mug down in front of Melissa.
The redhead had shown up at Barbara’s without warning, hammering against the door to be let in. She hadn’t seen Melissa this frantic in years. She could tell Melissa had been crying, even if she had cleaned her face up. Barb wouldn’t point it out, she knows Melissa never keeps anything from her for long.
“But you’re starting to worry me.” Frowning as she sits in the seat next to Melissa, placing her hands on the table that Melissa’s hands are quickly coming to take and gently squeezing.
“I fucked up real bad, Barb.” She finally lets out a breath and looks at her. “Really bad.”
“Bad as in… You need a lawyer?” She wouldn’t put it past Melissa, nor was she going to ask what she had (or didn’t) do.
“No, not that kinda bad.” Melissa waved her hand in the air before sitting back.
“Well what then?”
Melissa grimaces before daring to look at Barb while speaking. “It’s to do with y/n.”
Barbara’s brow arches in curiosity as Melissa avoids her gaze. “Oh, honey. What did you do?”
“She told me about… yanno.” Melissa still couldn’t fathom saying it aloud, he word pregnancy—baby, all hung from her mouth unable to fall.
“And how did you react?”
“She kept distracting me. I don’t know what it is. I turn into a stupid flippin’ teenager around her I can hardly think straight.” Her chest rises and falls, a small blush washing over her face.
“Melissa Schemmenti… what have you done?” There’s concern and curiosity sitting on Barbara’s face, unsure what could’ve possibly gone wrong when she knew how Melissa felt about you.
“I told her I didn’t want a baby.” She shrugs, looking down at her lap as she picks at her fingernails. “After we— she stayed the night.”
Barbara listens intently, trying to piece together Melissa’s words. “Okay…Oh.” Her eyes widened slowly as it began to dawn on her. “Tell me you didn't…”
“Sleep with her then tell her? Yeah, yeah, I did.” Melissa groans and covers her face with her hands as Barbara finds herself trying to process Melissa’s words. “I told you, Barb. It’s bad. Real bad.”
“You are a grown woman, Melissa!” She shoots the woman a look, tutting her head as she lets out a sigh. “She’s in a vulnerable position.”
“And I’m not?” Melissa almost gawks at Barbara.
“You are. But she’s not nearly as grown as you are, I mean she’s pregnant, Melissa. You can’t be messing with pregnant women’s feelings. I almost didn’t speak to Gerald for a month because he was ten minutes late for Taylor’s scan.” Barbara almost laughs about it now, seemingly ridiculous now but serious in the moment.
“I just know I don’t want kids.” Melissa reaches for the coffee Barbara placed down earlier, taking a large gulp. “Got anything stronger?”
“I thought you were fond of her? And not when you’re driving home.”
“I am fond of her! Shit, I don’t know, Barb. I haven’t done this. Gary was the first since Joe, I didn’t expect a woman let alone someone her age to come along and make me feel…” Shaking her head and sighing again. It was all a mess, a mess she couldn’t seem to figure her way out of. “I am too old for this, Barb.”
“For her? Or to be a parent?” Barbara asks, watching the redhead’s eyes focusing on the framed photo of her and Gerald with a baby Taylor.
“I don’t know. Both?” Melissa shrugs, sounding far too defeated. “I shouldn’t want it. Any of it. Hell, you asked me that a few months ago and I’d have my answer ready.”
“But something has changed. Hasn’t it? It’s ok to change your mind…” Barbara rests her hand over Melissa’s arm, gently squeezing and giving her an understanding look.
Melissa let’s out another heavy sigh, moving her attention from the framed photos back to Barb. “I don’t wanna mess her around. I don’t know… what I want. That’s not me! I’m a woman that knows what she wants. But somehow she makes my brain turn into mush.”
“I think you do know what you want, but I also understand your apprehension. Doing anything at our age, taking that leap of faith… it’s not easy, Melissa.”
“I told her dating her would end with a baby and that it aint what I want.” Melissa’s unsure how much of her own words she believes, but she’d said them, she might as well make her bed and lay in it.
“You say some strange things when your mind wants otherwise.” Barbara pats her arm gently before standing up.
“I think it’s good you were honest with her, if that’s what you really want. But if you’re unsure… that’s also ok. You could’ve told her you weren’t sure how to feel and just take it how it goes.”
“And what happens six months down the line when all I want is to be with her, but now she’s got a kid?”
Barbara’s doing something in the kitchen as Melissa sits at the table still pondering.
“Do you like her? And yes, I am asking if you like her more than a friend.”
“Mhm, you know I do.”
“You’ve liked her from day one, haven’t you?”
Melissa tries not to go red at that, turning back around. “Not answering that.”
Barbara smirks at the redhead before rolling her eyes. “So then how are you going to feel about her a year from now?”
“What?” Confusion washes over Melissa then as she turns completely to face Barbara.
“Humour me. A year from now, when y/n has the baby or gets together with the father. Are you going to have any regrets?”
Melissa tries not to roll her eyes at the mention of you getting together with the father.
“She barely knows the guy, I doubt they’ll get together. And what Regrets am I gonna have?”
Barbara raises a brow, shaking her head slightly. “No, you barely know the man. Y/n is going to have this entire pregnancy to know him, if that’s what she wishes. But are you going to regret standing back thinking you don’t deserve some good?”
Melissa’s arms folded across her chest as she listened to Barb’s words before shrugging. “I don’t know, Barb.”
“Who are you trying to convince?” Barbara comes to sit back beside Melissa, patting the redheads shoulder.
“Fine, maybe I’d regret it. But that’s a maybe.”
“Is it? Because we could go round and round with this and I think you’d still be making excuses.”
“I don’t want to get her hopes up.”
“Or you don’t want to get your hopes up in thinking she’ll leave you high and dry the way Joe did.”
Melissa’s body sinks in her chair then. “Barb.”
“You know I’m right. You and I have been friends since the girls could barely walk or talk. I saw the way you were with them and the way you are with all children.” She squeezes Melissa’s shoulder then, a small smile playing on her lips. “It’s ok to want things, especially if those things result in you being happy.”
She knows Barbara’s right, but Melissa’s own fears couldn’t help but overpower.
“Even somebody half my age who’s gonna have a kid I could very well be the grandma of? Hell I could be her grandma.”
“Whenever Taylor gets round to giving me grandbabies at least they'll have a friend.” Barb teases, though Melissa can’t help but think about it.
She wanted you. Maybe a part of her wanted a family too, which scared her even more.
—
Saturday night.
To busy yourself and stop thinking about Melissa you’d decided to finally make the call to the baby’s father. Although you couldn’t remember his name, you did have his number. It clearly hadn’t been set up as you were sent straight to voicemail which had you panicking and word vomiting. You’d awkwardly explained meeting several weeks prior and that you were pregnant with his kid. You’d sent a follow up message afterwards to clarify this wasn’t some joke or a way to get money from him.
You’d asked him to meet you at 1pm at one of the coffee shops nearby.
That was then. Now it was 3.30pm and he was still a no show.
Your thoughts had almost driven you insane while waiting.
What if he’d given you the wrong number and you’d left a message for a complete stranger? Granted, he was also a stranger to you. But you’re sure he gave you the correct number… or maybe he had heard it and decided this wasn’t for him.
After everything with Melissa, you thought things would get a little better. Except now you’re more alone than before.
No Melissa, no father.
It was just…you.
You pull out your phone, messaging the number again.
I guess you’re not coming… A message would’ve been fine if you didn’t want to be a part of this so I didn’t wait around for hours.
You stuff your phone into your bag and finally leave the cafe.
Once you’re home you can’t help but fall asleep on the sofa, only when your phone keeps ringing does it wake you up much later.
You’d fallen asleep during the day, so it surprised you waking in the dark. Almost panicking wondering what time or day it actually was.
“Hello?” You didn’t bother checking who it was, your pulse quickening.
“Hi, y/n. It’s Roger.”
At the sound of your landlord you try not to audibly sigh.
“Hey, Roger.” You glance down at your phone.
7:30pm.
“What can I do for you?” You ask.
The call doesn’t last very long, Roger advising you your lease would end next Saturday and whether you wanted to extend it or not.
You’d forgotten all about that.
With everything going on your lease was the last thing on your mind. Usually you were on top of it, having been living there for nearly 3 years.
But the lease would be for six months, and your place was only big enough for you, which even then it still felt cramped. You couldn’t raise a baby in this quaint place. There wasn’t even a place to put a crib and you knew the last thing you’d want to do is find a place and move six months down the line.
You’d told him you wouldn’t be extending it. Which meant you now had one week exactly to find a new place big enough for you and the baby, and a week to pack everything up and get out.
It felt like everything was coming down on you then. One wrong thing after the other.
Your hormones were everywhere, but after the day you’d had, you’d sobbed to yourself in the dark.
Your phone had gone off, but you didn’t bother reaching for it. Waiting until it ended before you wiped away your tears and picked up the phone.
1 new voicemail.
Maybe this was some good news? You weren’t sure if you should listen to it now and make your night even worse. Or wait until tomorrow and make tomorrow just as bad.
You listen to it now, your heart tugging when you hear the familiar voice.
“I know the last thing you probably want is to hear from me right now...” Melissa’s voice fills your ears as you listen to the message. “…Which is why I'm guessing you’ve sent me to voicemail. I deserve that. I… y/n.”
She says your voice so softly, a sigh falling after that it makes your chest tighten and the tears return.
“I don’t… I didn't mean everything that I said. And I know I can’t take it back, it’s out there. I said it. I’m not trying to mess you around, that’s the last thing I’d ever want to do, cause I care about you. Yanno? So much, y/n. You’ve no idea...” You hear the hitch in her breath, and you swear it almost sounded like she was crying. “I need to figure myself out, cause you deserve someone who’s not gonna flake on you or change their mind. So I… please don’t let this be the end.”
Your heart was hurting, confusion running through your mind listening to Melissa. It sounded hopeful, but the last thing you were going to do was get any hopes up for Melissa.
You weren’t even sure what Melissa meant. What words had she said that she didn’t mean or wasn’t sure she meant? The end? Of you and her? You and her had barely even been anything before it came crashing down.
Melissa didn’t want a baby, she made that clear to you.
“I’ll leave you be, I hope you’re ok and…I’ll see you Monday.” You hear the breath she lets out and the clasp of her hand over her mouth before the call cuts and you’re left there in the dark.
It felt like she was playing with your heart and mind, even if she said the last thing she’d want to do is mess you around. You felt like you were being messed around.
—
Monday morning.
“Good morning!” Jacob practically bounces into the room, a grin on his face that falls when he doesn’t get a response and sees Melissa tapping against the side of her mug, staring at the clock.
“Hello, Melissa?”
The redhead turns then, brows lifting to the other. “Hi, Yeah? What you want?”
“I… was just saying morning. You ok?”
Melissa nods her head while her shoulders shrug before she’s looking back at the clock. Jacob opens his mouth to speak, confusion all too clear on his face before he thinks better of it and starts busying himself.
After a minute or two of silence, Melissa finally speaks.
“Can I ask you something?” Melissa watches Jacob spin from the coffee machine to face her.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Have you and Zach ever talked about having kids?”
Jacob’s head tilts at that. Whatever he had expected her to ask, it wasn’t that.
“Like having kids together? Because between him and I that’s not really possible.” He laughs, pleased with himself as Melissa shakes her head.
“No, that’s not—“
“I’m just messing with you.” He grins but Melissa sends him a look that has him swallowing and turning back to the coffee machine. “But we’ve talked about it, sure. Most couples do eventually, that was one of the big conversations we had early on in our relationship. Why?”
“No reason. Just curious I suppose. Did you both agree?”
“Agree on what?”
“On whether you want kids or not.”
Jacob pauses then, leaning on his right foot as he thinks about it. “I don’t think either of us were completely sure. I know I changed my mind many times. Zach was always set on not having kids.” His chest lifts, grabbing a spoon to drop sugar in. Although he’s never shy when it comes to revealing personal information, something about this specific conversation had him questioning how much to share.
“I wanted them at first. Then I decided I didn’t want them. Then we moved in together and… I dunno, something changed between us. First christmas card had us imagining future cards we could do and Zach’s ideas were...” He smiles to himself reminiscing, stirring his coffee for far too long as he almost gets distracted.
Melissa snaps her finger which pulls him back.
“Right. At this time we don’t want kids... But maybe in the future we’d like to expand our two person family.” He turns, Melissa noting he seemed a little nervous as he casts a glance at her, smiling slightly.
Melissa’s brows pull together, her own lips twitching when she realises his honest vulnerability.
“My ex, Joe. He never wanted kids, so when we got married I just kinda pushed it as far back as possible.” Shrugging, deciding to give him a slither of vulnerability, which was rare for her and it has Jacob standing still unsure how to respond or whether he could slip into one of the seats at her table.
“Did you ever want them?” He’s not sure whether to pry further, but he casually moves to the table, barely reaching for the chair before Melissa’s giving him daggers and he quickly moves to the table behind her.
“Sometimes. Too old for them now.” Shrugging, her foot beginning to tap as she looks over her shoulder at Jacob.
“Is anyone ever really that old? I-I mean you’re not old. I don’t think you’re old, what I meant to say-“
Melissa snorts, shaking her head as she cuts him off. “You’re fine, hon.”
“Why do you ask though?” Jacob looks at Melissa with curiosity before his eyes widen. “You’re not… Are you? I mean I know you and your guy well ex guy just broke up and I’m not saying you look preg-“
“Slow down, Jacob. I ain’t that, at my age? That clock stopped long ago, please.” She’s thankful to be faced away from him, the expression on both their faces a mix of horror and confusion.
“I was just thinking ‘bout kids. That’s all.” She shrugs, trying not to go further into why she was thinking about them in general. But Jacob takes the hint to not pry further.
“Like your students or your own?”
The long pause gives Jacob his answer.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to pry.”
After a minute of chewing her lower lip Melissa finally speaks again. “No, you’re alright. I should be sorry. I asked, thanks for… hearing me out.”
Jacob’s head snaps up as Melissa turns to face him. “Are you sure you’re feeling ok?””
“Don't let it give you a big head or make you think we’re friends.” Smirking as Jacob’s grin only grows wider watching the redhead shake her head and turn away. He would definitely get a big head about it and he will definitely keep trying g
“Well, Melissa. If we were friends I would say you’re most certainly welcome and that I’m here at any and all times for whatever’s on your mind. Even .” He muses, expecting her to go back to her own world then as he almost does a happy dance in his seat, freezing at Melissa’s words.
“If we were… I’d take you up on that sometime.” She gives a half smile before glancing at the clock once more.
—
Monday lunch.
You avoided the break room when you first got to school, immediately heading to your classroom knowing you wouldn’t be able to face Melissa.
You weren’t sure what to think of the message she’d left you, let alone where either of you stood. How were you supposed to go on like everything was normal? You weren’t sure if you’d even be able to even look at her without thinking about how she looked in bed or the sound of her telling you she didn’t want a baby.
After the morning goes by in a blur, you let your students out to lunch slightly early so you could slip into the break room, grab your lunch, and get out before Melissa showed up.
When you do get there, Jacob’s already there, sending you a smile as you try giving him one back.
“Hey, y/n. How was your weekend?”
You can’t help the sigh that falls as you head over to the fridge.
“Oh, that didn’t sound like a good sigh.”
You grab your food before turning to face him. “Found out my lease isn’t getting renewed. So now I have a week to find a place.” You groaned, bending the truth just slightly.
“Youch, that is not a good weekend. What are you gonna do?
You hadn’t intended to stay in the break room or converse, but you were somewhat desperate to get some thoughts out of your head. You glance to the clock then the door before making the decision to go sit beside Jacob.
“I have no idea. I’ve got 3 viewings and that’s just tonight. Not to mention I can’t figure out if I need a moving truck because what if the place is far from my old one? And if it’s close then I don’t need a whole truck.”
You’d forgotten how much it gave you a headache trying to sort and figure everything out. Though you were somewhat appreciative to have your mind focused on finding an apartment rather than have to think about Melissa or the baby’s father.
“Well, what can I do to help? You said a week? When do you have to be out?”
“This Saturday, that’s when I’ve gotta be out.”
“That’s perfect! Well, not perfect for you, obviously, because you’re moving. But I don’t have any plans on Saturday. Zach and I could help you move.” He grins at you and it gives you a slither of hope, your chest tightening as you feel tears well.
That was one thing that kept happening. How much more emotional you seemed to be, even over things that didn’t need to be emotional.
“Seriously? You’d help?”
Jacob shrugs like it’s no big deal as he continues eating. “Yeah, of course. We’re friends, can’t leave you in the dark like that.”
Your shoulders feel a little less heavy with one thing crossed off your list. Unable to stop the tears that fall as you quickly wipe them away. “Geez, I dunno why I’m crying.” You try to laugh as Jacob gives you an odd look.
“It’s just been stressful. So not having to worry about movers is… Thanks.”
Jacob’s smile only grows wider at that. “Yanno, this really is turning out to be the best Monday. First Melissa, now you. Man, I really am being a good person.” You see him getting a little lost in his thoughts but your mind stays fixated on Melissa.
“Melissa?” You ask as you wipe away the remaining tears.
“She seemed down, asked me an odd question. Then I guess thanked me for listening? I can never quite read that woman.”
Your brows pull together then, your chest tightening. “Odd question?”
“Mhm, well, odd for Melissa of all people to be asking.”
“What, um. What’d she ask?” You try to act casual, despite clearing your throat and avoiding Jacob’s eyes, unbeknownst to him still in a world of his own.
“She asked if Zach and I had ever talked about kids. Out of all the questions, that's not one I thought would ever come from Melissa.”
Jacob let’s out a small laugh, but you’re gone then, your face falling as you take in his words. You could feel the tears welling again and that tight feeling beneath your chest growing.
“Why’d she ask that?” You swallow then, biting your lower lip to try to suppress any tears from falling.
“I honestly don’t know. I tried pushing further but she wasn’t having that. Then thanked me for hearing her? Again, that woman is really hard to read.”
“You’re telling me.” It comes out choked, a little in disbelief at what Jacob was telling you. Thinking about kids? Your pulse was pounding hard and fast trying not to overthink.
“You ok there?”
You blink a little too fast as tears fall, feeling your chest getting tighter and tighter as you hear the footsteps, turning to find Barbara and Melissa entering the break room.
Melissa stops dead in her tracks, Barbara’s expression faltering when she catches sight of your teary eyes.
“Y/n?” As soon as Barbara speaks the tears fall again and you’re quickly standing up. “Are you alright, dear?”
Melissa isn’t sure whether to move or not, her own chest tightening at the sight of you fumbling with your things as tears fall down your face.
“I’m fine. Great, um— I have to go.” It comes out in a rush as you quickly move, Melissa stepping in front of you quickly.
“Sweetheart, what’s-“
Before Melissa can properly speak or reach out to you you’re jerking yourself back. “Don’t you dare.” It comes out shaky, Barbara and Jacob sharing a look as you move around Melissa and leave.
“What was that about…” Jacob’s a little shocked as he looks between Barbara and Melissa. “Should we go after her?”
“Why don’t you stay here and I’ll go check on her.” Barbara gives Jacob a small smile as he sits down confused and slightly worried.
“No, I’ll go, Barb.” Melissa grabs her friend's arm gently to stop her.
“I’m not sure that’s what’s for the best right now.” Barb gives her a sympathetic look, squeezing her hand before removing it from her arm as she leaves the breakroom.
Melissa tries to not look so glum as she stands there for far too long before realising Jacob’s still in the room.
“What’d you do?” She almost bites as she moves towards the fridge.
“Nothing! We were just talking.”
“Well you must’ve said something to her, so what gives?” She shouldn’t be biting at Jacob, but the worry wouldn’t stop eating away at her.
“I think she’s just stressed out. She said she’s got to move out in a week.”
Confusion hits her then, brows pulling together as she looks to Jacob. “What?”
“Oh, I would’ve thought she’d told you already. Something about her lease not renewing and she has to be out by Saturday.”
—
“I-I’m busy.” You choke out hearing the door to your classroom open, your back facing the door.
“Y/n, it’s me. I came to check on you.” Barbara’s soft voice has your shoulders loosening as you wipe at your face quickly before turning to face her.
“I’m fine. Hormones.” You shrug, letting out an awkward laugh as the other woman comes to stop in front of you.
“You do not look fine, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. What’s going on?”
You let out a sigh as your head shakes. What wasn’t going on? “A lot, a lot is going on.”
“Is it to do with Melissa?”
You look at Barbara then as your heart twists. It was, but it was also everything else.
“No.”
Barbara gives you a look that lets you know she doesn’t believe you, not for a second.
“I have to find a new place.” You swallow the lump in your throat. “I have to find a new place by Saturday, it’s just… a lot.”
You weren’t lying, not completely.
“Oh, dear. On top of everything else, I’m so sorry.”
“Jacob was just saying he’d help me move. Made me emotional.” Barbara pulls you into a hug then and you can’t help but sink into the embrace. “That will too.” You laugh slightly, pulling yourself back as Barbara gives you a reassuring smile.
“I doubt I’d be much help at moving, but if you need help packing that I can do.”
You’re not sure what you did to deserve such helpful and kind friends, but you were grateful.
“You really don’t have to do that, Barbara.”
She shakes her head at that. “Oh please, I know I don’t. I want to, you can’t leave it down to Jacob.”
—
Wednesday afternoon.
When Melissa doesn’t catch you during lunch, the anticipation builds inside the longer the day stretches on. The second she’s let her students out to signify the end of school she’s heading directly to your classroom.
When she finds you tucked away inside her stomach flutters, knuckles colliding with the door.
“Hey.”
Melissa’s voice has you freezing, currently bent over putting the children’s books away.
“What do you want?” You try to keep your voice steady as you come to stand and turn around to see Melissa standing at the door.
“To see how you are.” Her hands stuff into her front pockets as she slowly steps further into the room.
Your shoulders lift at that, avoiding her gaze. How did she think you were feeling?
The longer the silence stretches on, Melissa pushes.
“Jacob told me ‘bout the move.”
You look at her then, watching as she hesitates before moving across the room to stand a few feet from you.
“He really can’t keep a secret can he.” Your eyes roll, not that it was exactly a secret.
“Yeah, well I asked what he’d done to upset you.”
You try not to scoff at her words, your arms folding across your chest. “If anybody’s done something to upset me here it’s you.”
You see the hurt flash across Melissa’s face as she swallows. “I deserve that.”
“What do you really want, Melissa? I’ve had a day as it is, I can’t do more.”
Melissa’s chest lifts as she lets out a small sigh and takes a tentative step closer. “I don’t know if you listened to the message I left.”
“I did. You said you’d see me Monday.”
Melissa’s mouth twitches, unsure how to react as her shoulders loosen. “Yeah, I did.” She shakes her head, almost letting out a laugh.
“Well, you’ve seen me now.” You gesture your hands to the door but Melissa ignores it.
“I also said I don’t want this to be the end.”
You were glad you had the apartment hunting to focus on instead of analysing Melissa’s phone call. It sounded far too hopeful, as though a bit of time would fix everything and she’d suddenly want all of you.
Your grip tightens on your arm as your pulse pounds at Melissa’s words, suddenly aware of the close proximity and how intoxicating her perfume was that had you fighting to not let your lids flutter. But they do the second you feel her fingers reaching for your elbow, a gasp slipping as her touch burns you.
“Let me help you move.”
Your eyelids open then, blinking at Melissa, the redheads eyes focused on you with a small knot between her brows that has you unsure how to properly breathe.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Your voice falls to a whisper.
“Why not? Jacob said he’s helping you, I’m a better help than him.”
“Barb said she’d help me pack.”
“So let me help too.”
She was pleading, sounding almost desperate as she reached for your elbow, her touch burning as you looked down to her fingers against you.
You weren’t sure how you two could be friends when the feelings were far more than anything platonic.
“I haven’t even found a place yet. So don’t hold your weekend open for me.”
“Screw that. I’m helping, I don’t care if it’s the worst job. Just let me help.”
Her fingers gently squeeze your elbow and it reminds you to breathe, not even remembering she was still holding onto you.
“I’ll think about it.” You swallow the lump in your throat, slowly stepping back as Melissa’s hand falls down.
“I’ll take it.” She nods at you, eyeing you once before she’s turning on her heel.
She only gets to the door before stopping and looking over her shoulder at you still standing there.
“I can’t just turn off what I feel for you or stop caring about you.”
Though her voice was low, you could still hear each word loud and clear and you couldn’t help but feel the tears come back as Melissa takes one last glance at you before leaving.
—
Wednesday night.
“You all didn’t have to actually come.” You can’t help the small smile that plays on your lips handing out beers to everyone.
You knew Barbara and Jacob had offered to help, along with Melissa… even if you hadn’t actually said yes, she still showed up. So had Janine, Gregory and even Ava.
“Of course we’d come! You’re our friend.” Janine grins while taking one of the bottles.
“I heard there’d be booze.” Ava says with a grin before Melissa’s shooting her a look. “And to help… yeah what that one said.”
“Well, regardless of what you came for. Thank you.” You cheer your bottle with everyone’s before they all part.
Janine had in fact gone above and beyond with organizing to better sort belongings, she’d put Melissa and you on kitchen duty, Ava and Barbara on bedroom, Jacob and Gregory on bathroom and Janine would do the living space just off the kitchen. You’d told her it didn’t need to be this organized to pack her things away, that you truly wouldn’t care if your pots ended up in the same box as a plunger if it meant everything was packed up.
“This ok?” Melissa keeps her voice low as she stands behind you in the kitchen.
“Huh?” Your brows pull together as you open one of the cupboards to start collecting glasses.
“I didn’t ask her to put us together.”
Your heart skips at that as your face begins to flush.
“It’s whatever.” Shrugging as you start wrapping the glasses in the newspaper.
“Oh, wait. There’s another in that set.” Melissa’s hand comes to your waist casually as she reaches over to grab the glass from the cupboard before handing it to you.
Her touch alone makes you want to shiver as you try to focus on the task at hand and ignore the effect she has on you, completely missing Janine stopping in her tracks as she catches the two of you.
“Are you drinking?” She nods to the bottle you’d been sipping from as her hand removes itself from your waist.
“I tipped it out and refilled it with apple juice before everyone showed up.” You try not to blush as Melissa’s mouth twitches at you.
There was no helping falling back into the rhythm you and Melissa shared, both working around each other in the kitchen as items were boxed away.
The silence between you was comfortable, but you know that was because faint music played throughout your place and with how small it was you could still see Janine and hear whatever Ava and Barbara kept yelling about.
You’d decide not to ponder on why Jacob and Gregory seemed quiet. Probably talking about Janine, that or they definitely broke something.
“Have you found a place yet?” Melissa’s sitting on the floor stacking your pots before pausing to take a swig of her beer.
“I’ll hear either tonight or tomorrow whether I got it or not.” You lean back into the counter and grab your bottle, sniffing it to ensure it was yours before taking a swig.
“Far from here?”
“About 3 blocks, but it’s bigger and almost the same price as this one.”
Melissa listens, unable to help herself in letting her eyes run over you.
“What?”
Melissa blinks up at you to see you frowning at her slightly.
Her face can’t help but go red getting caught, even if you were none the wiser to Melissa checking you out, only catching her staring at you.
“Nothing. Can you help me up? I ain’t as young as I used to be.” She snorts to herself as she holds out her hand to you.
Taking her hand has you feeling the electricity between you two as Melissa’s chest hitches grabbing the edge of the counter with her free hand as you help her up.
“Thanks.” Melissa nods once she’s standing, your hands still interlaced and held between you. Even now she never fails to make you feel like it was just her and you and nothing else surrounding you.
Until it’s interrupted.
“Girl!” Ava’s voice has you and Melissa quickly letting go and putting space between yourselves.
“I-I can explain.” You’re a little wide eyed, pulse quickening as you look at Ava.
“What is this?!” Your eyes flick to the sonogram she’s holding onto that has your stomach dropping.
Oh.
She hadn’t seen anything between you and Melissa… not that there had been.
“I–that’s not mine.” You laugh awkwardly as Ava gives you a look.
“Oh girl, please. I’m not that blind, I can read! This has your name on it!”
“Ok so maybe it’s mine.”
“What’s going on?” Jacob and Gregory come from the bathroom as Janine finds her way over, her eyes widening when she finds what Ava’s holding.
“Oh my god, y/n?”
“I was gonna wait until I was further along.” You almost grimace at yourself. You’d prefer the floor to swallow you whole than have to feel everyone’s gawking faces. “But seeing as Ava was nosy..."
“It was in your draw! the same one we were packing, right Barb?”
“Oh, don't drag me into this.” Barbara shakes her head.
“I’m pregnant.” You speak once the attention falls back on you.
Janine and Jacob both squeal, rushing to hug and congratulate you.
“Ooh, we should start a bet on what you’re gonna have.” Ava mumbles before looking between Melissa and Barbara. “How come you two don’t seem surprised at all?”
“They already knew. And no betting.”
Though you’ll completely miss Ava and Barbara making a bet later.
Ava rolls her eyes before coming over to hug you. “Mhm, you’re no fun now you’ve gone and gotten yourself knocked up and all. But I’m happy for you nonetheless.”
“Thanks?”
Everyone’s already opening up another bottle to celebrate before Gregory’s speaking.
“So who’s the father?”
“Uh… one that won’t be in the picture.” You feel your face flush more as you swallow the lump in your throat.
You miss the look on Melissa’s face or her eyes following you as you excuse yourself to your bedroom as everyone else opens another bottle.
“Good job, Gregory.” Melissa shoots him a look as he looks at her defenseless.
“What’d I do? I asked a question.” He gawks, shoulders lifting as he looks around at everyone.
“A bad one.” Melissa shakes her head, moving past the others. “I’m gonna check on her.”
This time Barbara doesn’t stop her, but Janine doesn’t miss Barbara watching Melissa leaving.
Melissa gently knocks on the door before opening it as she pokes her head in.
You’re sitting on the edge of your bed, picking at your fingernails with tears already staining your cheeks.
“Hon.”
She doesn’t wait for you to shoo her off before she’s closing the door behind her and coming to sit beside you.
“I’m fine.” You let out a breath, wiping at your eyes.
“You’re not.” Melissa hesitates before wrapping an arm around your shoulder and pulling you into her.
The embrace is warm and soft and you hate how much you want to stay just like this.
“You don’t want this.” You mumble, making no attempts at moving as your head rests in the crook of Melissa's neck.
“Maybe I do.”
Your chest tightens then as Melissa’s chin turns to rest atop your head.
“You can’t play with my feelings, Mel.”
“I’m not trying to, sweetheart.” She pulls back then, forcing you to lean back and look at her as she lifts a hand to wipe away the fallen tears. “It’s a lot to process and I thought my mind was made up.”
Your pulse quickens at that, your chest slowly lifting as you take in Melissa’s words.
“Made up on what? You already said you don’t want a baby.”
“I don’t. Didn’t. Not myself. Not at my age… but with you. I, It’s different.”
She was being honest, the vulnerability woven into her words as she reached for your hand. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
You turn your head from her then, looking down at your hands as Melissa gently squeezes your hand.
Your mouth just opens to speak before your phone goes off and has you both jumping.
You use your free hand to pull out your phone, only letting go of Melissa’s hand when you struggle to answer with one hand.
“Hello?”
“Hi! Is this, y/n? It’s Lacy from the viewing you had Tuesday.”
Your body stills for a moment when you feel Melissa’s hand on your back, her palm moving in soft slow circles that you almost forget somebody was speaking.
“Yes, this is she–I’m y/n. Hi, Lacy.” You let out a breath as Lacy proceeds to tell you that you didn’t get the property and you can already feel the tears spilling as Melissa’s hand stops in its tracks against your back.
“I–well, thank you anyways. Mhm, call me if that… changes. Ok, bye.” You hang up then, your phone dropping into your lap as Melissa’s hand comes round to cup your face, brushing at the tears.
“Who was that?”
“I didn’t get the place.”
At that Melissa pulls you into her chest and you can’t help but sink into her, your arms instinctively wrapping round her waist.
You cling to her, sobbing quietly as her hand gently rubs at your back. “Hey, hey. It’ll be ok.” She tries to calm you as you pull back and take a deep breath.
“That was it. That was all I had. How am I gonna find somewhere in 3 days?” You shake your head, almost wanting to laugh in disbelief as Melissa wipes away your tears with her thumbs.
“Stay with me.”
Your heart skips then, sight landing on Melissa. “What?”
“You need a place to stay, I’ve got space.”
You can hardly believe what she’s even suggesting as you pull away from her and come to stand. “Again. What?”
“I have a guest room, we can store your stuff in my garage. I mean, you’re hardly gonna find something good within 3 days, hon. So, stay at mine. Take as long as you need to find something suitable for you and the kid.”
Brows pull together as you stare at Melissa, the redhead looking at you all too casually and seriously before she’s coming to stand.
“You’re not seriously asking me to live with you?”
“Why not? It's just till you find a place. We work together, we can carpool. Plus it gives me an excuse to cook for more than just myself.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Barb said I should’ve just told you I’m not sure what I want and that… maybe things have changed.” She steps closer to you, hands lifting to find your hips. “I’m figuring that out, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still be what I was before, ‘cause I’d still ask you to stay even if neither of us felt anything.”
You try to breath steadily, your stomach fluttering away as your pulse skips over each beat. Melissa didn’t know what she was doing to you with her words and touch alone.
“I mean, are you really gonna say no to my cooking?” She tries to muse and you can’t help but sigh and roll your eyes, far too defeated to say no even when you know it's not a good idea.
“I’m only saying yes for the cooking, and to hear you explain to everyone why I’m staying with you.”
Melissa’s face grimaces at that as you grin slightly for the first time in a few days.
“Deal.”
Your chest lifts as Melissa's wipes away the remaining tears before dragging you out to everyone to tell them the news.
You miss the odd looks shared, especially from Barbara.
Even you were unsure why you'd said yes to practically moving in with Melissa and her hopeful words that had you second guessing everything.
summary: based on the short film: The Ladies (2022) and these pictures.
warnings: none
“Jacob, no.” You groan, reaching across the table to grab your phone from his hands as he pouts at you.
“Oh, c’mon!”
“Absolutely not. And if you don’t stop, then I’m gonna go find a bat somewhere to hit you with it.”
You hear a laugh coming from behind you as you turn to see Melissa entering the break room already grinning at you that causes your own lips to lift.
“Atta girl. Always start with violence.” Her words shouldn’t make you blush, but they do and you have to turn back to face Jacob to hide the red creeping across your cheeks.
“Hey! No! I am still here.” Jacob shoots both of you a look.
“I got a bat under my desk.” Melissa adds.
“Can I use it on Jacob?” You smirk at Jacob who frowns at you, folding his arms across his chest.
“Like I’m gonna say no to you.” Melissa slips into her usual seat eyeing the two of you. “And not that I’d stop you from attacking Jacob, but what gives?”
“Y/n won’t let me set her up on a date.” Jacob chimes and now you’re shooting him a look.
“That’s because you don’t know my type.” You shrug.
“What’s your type?” Melissa pipes as you look over your shoulder and smirk at her.
“Redheads, obviously.” Though, part of you wasn’t actually joking and you can see the way Melissa’s eyes darken as her lips twitch, not breaking eye contact with you as you wink at her before turning back to Jacob.
“I told you I know a few women that would be perfect for you!” Jacob tries again and you audibly groan as you sink into your chair.
“Women, huh?” You hear Melissa behind you and you lean your head all the way back to look at Melissa upside down.
Though you’ve unintentionally given Melissa the perfect view down your shirt and put images inside her head she has to clear her throat.
“Because I’m into women.” You stare at Melissa before the blood is rushing to your head forcing you to sit back up properly.
“I appreciate you wanting to help, but I don’t need that right now. Especially if it’s anything like the last one you and Zach set me up on.” You shiver then, shaking your head remembering the entire night spent listening to your date talk about their ex and blatantly flirt with the waiter in front of you.
“You said you wanted fun!”
“Yeah, fun! Like a one night stand or something, not a girl hung up on her ex ready to fuck whatever walks past us.” You snort reaching for your coffee cup, missing the way Melissa’s eyes were unable to leave your backside as she listened in to your conversation with Jacob.
“To be fair I thought they broke up…longer than I thought. But I can do better! Please?”
You roll your eyes, shaking your head. “I’m not budging on this. I’ll find someone at a bar or something.” You shrug and watch Jacob eye you before sighing.
“Fine, don’t say I didn’t try.” He starts to stand and collect his things. “I will see you all later, duties call.”
“You think I hurt his feelings?” You ask once Jacob’s gone as you turn to look at Melissa.
“Nah, he’ll find something else to focus on.” She smirks, taking a bite of food as you smile at her before turning back around to your empty table.
The silence fills the space between you but it’s not long till Melissa’s voice cuts through the air.
“Hey, since you’re all alone, come sit here.”
Melissa’s words have your heart pounding as you turn a little too quick and raise your brow. Nobody was allowed to sit with her and Barbara. The table was reserved for them alone with no invitations to the others. Or so you’d been told by Janine.
“Really?” You’re almost confused but Melissa shrugs and seems to act nonchalant.
“Hurry up before I change my mind.” She smirks and you shake your head laughing before getting up and moving your things over to the seat beside Melissa.
You watch Melissa pull out her phone seeing thumbs press against the screen, though you’re unable to see what she’s typing.
“I invited y/n to sit with us. Don’t act like it’s a big deal or anything.”
“So, you going out later tonight?” Melissa asks casually as confusion sweeps over your face.
“Huh?”
“You told Jacob you’d find somebody at the bar.”
“Oh! Right, yeah. It’s Zach’s birthday, so we’re all going out to a few bars. You were invited yanno..” Heat flares across your cheeks as you laugh casually, missing the way Melissa’s eyes shine watching you.
“And there’s a reason I didn’t accept.” She muses, watching you. “Any bars I’d know?” You miss whatever she’s suggesting or insinuating, putting it down to Melissa making polite small talk.
“Uh… I dunno. You know that one on twenty sixth? Purple neon lights outside?”
“Think i’ve passed it. Any good?”
You smirk and shrug. “It’s a gay bar, so… yeah.” You laugh, interrupted by Barbara entering the lunch room, Janine following behind.
Barbara doesn’t seem phased as she sits in her usual seat and smiles at you, but Janine stops dead in her tracks staring at you as the camera crew filter into the room and zoom in on her face.
“Ok… what’s going on?”
You all turn to face her, brows raising.
“How come y/n gets to sit with you guys but I can’t?”
“Cause you’re annoying.” Melissa speaks and Barbara elbows her. “What?” She gawks at the other who shoots her a look. “Ok well, y/n doesn’t ask questions or speak until spoken.”
“Oh so I’m only allowed to sit here if I follow your every order?” You smirk, you and Melissa looking at each other that the tension isn’t missed between you.
“You know what, nevermind.” Janine mumbles. “I get it.” You miss that part, watching the smaller woman squint between you two before smirking to herself and sitting at the table you'd once been sat at.
—-
The night was stretching on and any chances of finding somebody to take home seemed incredibly low.
You lost Jacob and Zach about two bars ago, messages from Janine flooding your phone asking where you’d gone and then her saying she was heading home.
You decide one more drink will do you good before heading home as well, but you get a bit more hopeful walking over to the bar and catching the backside of a woman sitting alone, her red hair easy to spot even among the low lights.
“Can I buy you a drink?” You decide to be bold as you come to stand beside the woman who slowly turns to face you and your smile soon drops as you take in Melissa Schemmenti staring back at you.
“Melissa?!” Stunned as you watch her face scrunch and laugh at your reaction.
“Were you trying to hit on me?” She smirks, taking you in that there’s no denying the warmth flooding through your body.
“I…” You had been, and you still would regardless. But you stop yourself in time. “Well I didn’t expect to see you, but I’m not complaining.” You swallow, unsure of how to act beside Melissa outside of school grounds.
“Was out to dinner with Barb and Gerald, thought I’d check this place out.”
You try to process Melissa’s words, along with processing the fact Melissa was sitting inside a gay bar — the same one you’d mentioned earlier that day.
The bartender cuts off any question you’re about to ask. “Um, can I get another beer and two shots? Plus whatever this pretty lady wants.” You look back at Melissa then who arches a brow at you and smirks.
“Just give me the same.” She turns to the bartender who nods. “Shots huh?”
You finally slip into the bar stool beside Melissa, your nerves only growing at the close proximity between you two.
“I like to down a few shots before I leave.” You shrug, glancing down at your hands.
“You’re leaving?”
“After the drinks, yeah. Haven’t had much luck tonight so I thought I’d quit before I make a fool or do something regrettable.” You laugh, lifting your head in time for the bartender to deposit your drinks.
You don’t waste time, downing both shots as Melissa watches you. Your face scrunches as the vodka burns down your throat and you’re quick to chase it with your beer.
“I thought the same. It’s why I ordered an uber, was just waiting around for it.” You watch Melissa down one shot with ease and you swear the second shot is taken slower on purpose as her lips wrap around the glass, her head flying back that you’re unable to think anything pure.
“You wanna ride home with me?” She asks so casually as you nod your head, taking a sip from your beer to stop the thoughts spreading through your mind that was making your pulse skip hard and fast.
“You telling me nobody’s hit on you tonight?” Is all you can seem to come out with that Melissa’s head turns to eye you more.
“Except you. Been pretty quiet over here.” She won’t mention the two women that had flocked to her the second she’d entered. But Melissa wasn’t interested, at least, not in them.
“I mean can you blame me?” You snort and feel yourself blush harder.
“Well, I’m flattered you thought I was young enough to hit on.”
“I would’ve hit on you regardless of age.” Shrugging, the nerves only grow worse as you stop yourself speaking further by drinking more beer.
“Oh, is that so?”.
“I’ve had enough, I can be a little more honest than I usually would be…” You take a leap of faith, your chest lifting as you suck in a breath while Melissa looks at you curiously. “I definitely would’ve hit on you if we didn’t know each other. Your age is… not a factor. I’d buy you a drink and hope I’d get to take a beautiful woman home.” You shrug, unable to look at Melissa as you look round casually.
“Well, I accepted the drink and invited you back to mine.” She teases, smirking as your cheeks grow more rosy.
“You know what I mean!” You shake your head.
“Offer still stands.” Melissa shrugs, and you’re not sure if she knows what her words are doing to you right now. But maybe it was Melissa being Melissa and it didn’t mean anything else.
“Probably better I go with you then stay out any longer and end up in some sad sacks bed.” You snort before realising. “Not that I’m saying I'm ending up in your bed.” Melissa laughs at your startled expression.
“I know what you meant.” I wouldn’t mind. Melissa almost adds.
The bartender appears again, two more shots placed before you.
“Oh we didn’t…”
You’re cut off by the bartender cocking his head and pointing to the Woman at the end of the bar. “They’re from her.” He shrugs and tends elsewhere as you both focus on the other woman at the end of the bar already making her way over.
“Couldn’t help but notice you both doing shots.” She stands between you, forcing your bodies to turn as Melissa’s knees dig into yours.
“Thanks, but yanno… two’s my limit.” Melissa shrugs.
“Is that your limit for all things?”
The other woman’s words almost have you laughing as you pull your lips together and look at Melissa.
“My girlfriend and I aren’t interested in a threesome.” Melissa’s words almost have you choking on your beer as her hand comes to cover your knee.
You stop listening then, unable to think about anything but what Melissa had just said and the way her hand skirts up to hold your thigh, even long after the other woman has left.
Only when she speaks do you come back to it.
“Hm?” Your brow quirks as Melissa almost squints, a small smirk on her face.
“Ubers here.”
“Oh! Yeah, we should go.”
“Mhm, before anybody else offers a threesome.” Melissa muses as your face flushes.
You down the rest of your beer before leaving out a few notes to cover the tab. Melissa offers you her elbow and you hesitate before looping your arm with hers, trying to contain the pounding beneath your chest and the fact that you can’t focus on anything else but the fact you were leaving a gay bar in Melissa’s arms.
Your teeth begin to chatter as the cold sweeps over you. Trust you to wear a sleeveless dress knowing you’d end up outside, the warmth from the alcohol doing little to ease the way you shiver.
It’s enough for Melissa to notice that once you two have slipped into the uber, she’s removing her leather jacket and wrapping it around you.
You almost choke on your own breath at the warmth, at the smell of Melissa filling your senses as your flushed face looks to her beside you.
“It’ll keep you warm.” She murmurs, brushing hair out of your face as you swallow hard, Melissa noticing it and causing her to smirk as she sits back, her arm stretching round your shoulders to pull you closer.
You don’t black out, but you’re becoming more sober the longer the ride goes on. Melissa doesn’t once budge or remove her arm from around you and it feels a little too much like you’re dreaming and will soon be interrupted by an alarm clock.
This woman had no idea of the effect she had on you — except she had an inkling, one you’d come to find out about much later.
—
As the car pulls up outside Melissa’s your mouth forms a small pout realizing you’d have to say goodbye to her and the warmth she provided.
Except Melissa reaches over and you think she’s going to kiss you until she’s unlocking the door and trying to move you. “C’mon, hon.” You blink at her, a little dazed and confused.
“This is your place though.”
“Well done, you’re not as drunk as I thought.” She smirks as you obey her and slip from the car, keeping her jacket over your shoulders as Melissa slips out after you and shuts the door behind her.
“You can stay. Like you said, better my place than some random sad sack.” She smirks and your lips twitch.
Was this actually happening?
Melissa’s looping your arms together once more as she guides you up the path and inside.
“I can very much say ending up at yours is not how I thought my night would end.” You chuckle quietly as Melissa flicks the living room lights on.
“Are you complaining?”
“Not at all. It’s how every fantasy starts.” You snort, not registering your own words as you take in the photos Melissa has decorated over the walls.
You only stop when you feel her behind you, hands coming to your hips as your body slowly freezes. “Fantasy?”
You’re not sure you completely remember what you said, slowly turning to face Melissa. “I— Well.” You look away from her momentarily to try to think of something plausible, but it merely earns a reaction from Melissa as she laughs, her hands sliding down your arms as you almost shiver.
“Do you know why I went to that bar?”
You look back to her, shaking your head as her hands come to slowly push the leather jacket off your shoulders as it clatters to the ground.
“Because I wanted to run into you.”
Your heart pounds in your ears as you blink at Melissa.
“You…you did?” You sound a little breathless, your voice quiet as the warmth spreads through your body.
“Mhm hmm.” Melissa nods her head, the green in her eyes drowned out by dilated pupils as she takes hold of your hips and slowly leans in.
—-
“Where’d you end up last night?” Jacob asks Monday morning, the pair of you sitting on the small couch in the break room.
“Uh…” Your words trail off as you look towards Melissa and Barbara at their usual table, Melissa’s eyes once on you quickly flicking somewhere else.
“Oh my god!” Jacob lightly hits your arm to get your attention and your eyes widen at him.
“What?!” He couldn’t read your thoughts suddenly, could he?
“You got laid, didn’t you?” His eyes are widening, face growing wide as Melissa and Barb direct their attention towards you.
“Wh-what? What makes you say that?” You awkwardly laugh, starting to stand up and avoid wherever that conversation was going.
“Uh, one, you’re not deying it! Two, Oh my gosh, who was she? Tell me everything!”
“It was nothing, Jacob. Just some fun, it didn’t mean anything.” You shrug, swallowing as you miss the hurt flashover Melissa’s face.
“Nothing? With you? I doubt it.” Jacob follows you as you slip into the seat beside Melissa. “Enough about me, please let’s focus on something else.”
Your heart was racing as you looked at the table, Melissa avoiding your gaze and Barbara seemingly too frustrated.
“What’s wrong, Barb?” You try to pass the attention along and it seemingly works.
“I locked this stupid thing” She taps at her phone screen, frowning at it. “I don’t know how to work this thing.”
Jacob comes round beside her to glance down. “It says you have three hours before you can unlock it. Maybe factory reset?”
“I’m not going to a factory, Mr Hill. But I would like to get into this now and not in three hours!”
“How did you even lock it for that long?” You ask.
“I may have put the wrong password in….”
Barb points at Melissa who shrugs. “I don’t know what to tell you, Barb. I sent the photos I took from dinner to you. Can’t help it if you lock yourself out.” She shrugs and your lips twitch remembering a few hours after that she’d ended up in a bar with you.
“Just go into your phone and show her.” You say, shrugging, causing Melissa to finally look at you.
“Not a bad idea, kid.” She grabs her phone and starts to press the screen before her eyes widen. Barb and Jacob were so fixated on Barbara’s phone that only you noticed Melissa’s face.
“What is it?”
“Can I talk to you for a quick sec? Over there.” Melissa doesn’t wait, ignoring the confusion between Barb and Jacob as Melissa grabs your arm and pulls you from your chair to the other side of the room.
“What the hell!” You whisper quietly as Melissa shows her phone screen to you.
“Look!” Your eyes fall to Melissa’s phone as you see an image of you in a bra, Melissa leaning her head against you grinning away.
Your own eyes widen as you take the phone from her and scroll up the endless pictures Melissa had sent of you and her… ones that Barbara most definitely didn’t need to see. You only stop when you reach a picture of Barb and Gerald.
“Mel!” You try to whisper her name as she shushes you. “Why the hell did you send those?!”
“I didn’t do it on purpose! Shit. I must’ve clicked them all when she interrupted us.”
You can still remember Melissa taking you upstairs before being interrupted. She’d gone to her camera roll to find the photo of Barb and Gerald she’d taken from dinner, but you’d wrapped your arms around Melissa and clicked on the camera. It was meant to be one photo. Until it turned into multiple, a fit of laughter before Melissa’s phone was forgotten and you two were tangled with each other.
“You came onto me! Did you even mean what you said?” Melissa’s voice is much quieter as you look from Barbara back to her.
“What?” You frown at her as she looks at you.
“You told Jacob it was nothing, just some fun.” She sounds so small when she speaks and it breaks you.
You have to refrain from reaching out to touch her when others are present in the room.
“I only said that to get him off my case. It meant something. You meant something.” You keep your eyes locked on hers and she smiles at you.
“It meant something to me too.” You’re both interrupted by Jacob cheering.
“Hell yeahz. And that’s why they call me Mr J Hill!” He’s got Barbara’s phone in his hands as you two walk back over.
“Nobody calls you that.” Barbara adds.
“Whatever. I got your phone unlocked.”
Both you and Melissa’s eyes widen as you look at each other.
“Jacob!” You think quickly, stepping towards him, grabbing the phone just as his eyes go wide and you know it’s too late when you look down at the phone in your hands and see the blurred image of Melissa's wide smile leaning next to a pair of tits in black lace.
“What was that?!” Jacob’s voice is so loud you start to panic.
“Nothing. You saw nothing!” You shake your head and he looks at you confused before it clicks and he’s looking back and forth between you two.
“Oh my god?! Oh my god!”
“Jacob, shut up!” You toss the phone to Melissa who doesn’t catch it and drops it, the image of Melissa face up that her own eyes widen as she quickly picks it up and throws it across the room.
Barbara’s watching in utter confusion until her mouth drops watching Melissa haul her phone halfway across the room as it smashes into the wall and hits the ground.
“Melissa! What on god's green earth is wrong with you?” Barbara’s getting up and you stare at Melissa.
“Why the hell did you do that?” You ask, all four of you rushing over to Barabra’s now cracked and dead phone on the ground.
“To do that.” She mumbles to you before pulling on an act. “I don’t know what came over me, I’m so sorry, Barb. These two panicking just sent me into fight or fight. I’ll get you a new one. One you won’t lock yourself out of.” She swallows awkwardly as Barbara shakes her head and glares at the woman.
—
Once Barbara has left, it’s just you and Melissa… and Jacob.
“Not a word.” Melissa grits her teeth shooting Jacob a look.
“So you two?”
“I said not a word, Hill.” She barks at him and he puts his hands up in defense.
“My lips are sealed.”
“Better be or you won’t live to see another day.”
“Mel!” You shoot her a look as she shrugs.
But Jacob nods, promising to keep this… a secret. Despite the grin he had and the text message he sends you later completely gushing over you and Melissa.
Melissa’s got her head in her hands, elbows leaning on the table as she shakes her head. “That was a disaster.”
You sit beside her, arm reaching out to gently rub her back as she turns her head to look at you, a small smile forming.
“You don’t regret it?”
You see her lips turn to a smirk, casting a glance to the empty doorway before reaching over to take your hand and squeeze it. “Not a chance. Even if the thought of Barb seeing those pics of us had me questioning where I should move to.” She snorts.
“Normally I’d be offended. But I really don’t want her seeing me in just a bra… I can’t believe Jacob did.” You shudder.
“To be fair you couldn’t tell who I was with… could’ve saved yourself.”
“And let him think some other woman gets to please you? Not a chance.”
Melissa can’t help but laugh at your reaction, shaking her head as she tugs at your hand and pulls you closer to kiss you.
summary: continuing on from part two. melissa finally finds out what you've been keeping from her, but not everything goes accordingly.
warnings: nsfw/smut (18/21+), also angst.
Melissa tried to push through her double classes, but there was only one constant on her mind, you.
But not for the reason she should be.
She should be losing herself over other things. Like how good she felt for the first time in a long time. But of course, nothing comes easy for her in life.
Instead her mind falls down various rabbit holes: What had Barb meant?
Melissa isn’t stupid. Maybe if there hadn’t been signs right in front of her she’d be oblivious. But it starts clicking little by little.
The bad date. It’s something Melissa couldn’t stop thinking about , especially when you mentioned sex.
At first she couldn’t quite figure out why it had bothered her so much and made her skin crawl. Barb talked about her sex life all the time and it never bothered her. But yours? It’s what made Melissa start questioning what she actually felt for you. She was with Gary, she shouldn’t be getting jealous over somebody else, let alone a young woman she’s old enough to be the mother of.
No drinking was the next clue.
She’d be able to test that properly tomorrow night if you failed to tell her what was going on. One night of not drinking didn’t mean anything, but if you kept it up… Melissa would get her answer.
Your appointment replays. The mention of blood tests. It was all making sense now.
As soon as the bell rings she’s hurrying her kids out before darting down to your classroom. When she finds it empty she almost kicks the door, deciding to sit and wait at your desk instead.
—
You’re standing outside, waving off each of your students as they run to their parents. You kept glancing at the door, wondering if Melissa would see her students off, but once you see them filing out without the redhead you try not to pout.
“Y/n.” Barbara’s voice quickly gets your attention as the woman comes to stand beside you.
You hadn't spoken to her today, not that you were trying to avoid her or anything…
“Hi, dear.” She smiles at you before turning to wave off some of the students.
“Hi, Barbara.” You should probably talk to her eventually, but you only had one thing on your mind.
“So, you and Melissa…?”
Your face heats up then, pulse skipping a beat at the mention of the woman on your mind.
“There’s no secrets between you two, is there?” It’s said lightheartedly but Barbara’s smile falters when she looks at you.
“Barbara?”
“I might have accidentally said something about you.”
You can feel your chest tightening as your face falls.
She knows how close the two women are, but Barbara had also said she’d let you tell Melissa.
“What did you say?” Does Melissa know? Is what you want to ask, but you were still trying to play ignorant around Barbara.
“I made an off hand comment about you being a young girl…carrying.”
It didn’t sound bad at first, until confusion washes over your face. “Carrying wh– Oh.”
A wave of nausea hits you then, your heart starting to thump hard beneath your chest.
“I need to find her.” You blurt out, leaving Barbara too quickly as you head back inside.
You don’t find Melissa in her class room, but once you get to yours you find the redhead sitting at your desk, eyes closed and head pointed to the ceiling as she leans back.
She looked peaceful, it almost made you feel hopeful.
“Melissa.” You plaster on a grin, watching the woman jump slightly as her eyes dart to you.
“Hey.” Her mouth twitches then, sight drifting down your body as you shake off your nerves and head further into your class. “Been waiting for you.”
“I was just seeing the kids off. Thought you’d be there.”
Melissa was hard to read, but her attention was still focused on you as you came to stand before where Melissa sits.
“Why were you waiting?” Your heart skips again, watching as Melissa holds your gaze.
“Tomorrow. You’re still gonna come round earlier, yeah?”
Maybe Melissa didn’t have a clue, if she did she was good at hiding it, though you still couldn’t help but feel like something was off. Maybe you were panicking for no reason. Melissa wasn’t prompting you any further, nor was she acting out of the ordinary.
“Oh, you were serious?” You laugh awkwardly as Melissa smirks and shakes her head.
“Course I was. It’s a date.” She comes to stand then and all your nerves begin to dissipate being so close to her, just a few feet between you.
“The same date that’ll be interrupted by a bunch of our colleagues.” You remind her.
“Beggars can’t be choosers.” Melissa shrugs, lifting her hands to adjust the lapels of your jean jacket. “Wear something… cute.”
“I always wear something cute.” You frown, despite knowing Melissa was teasing you. It was working too, your face flush as she smirks at you, unsure when her hands had found themselves on your hips as you try to remember how to properly breathe.
“Mhm, you do. But date cute, not game night cute. I wanna know how you’d dress for a real date.”
You look away momentarily, a small smirk forming. “A real date might not be group friendly.”
Melissa shakes her head, a small noise of her laugh filling your ears as her tongue digs into her gums.
“But I can do date-appropriate for game-night cute.”
“Attagirl.” Melissa gently squeezes your hips, hesitating before leaning in to kiss your cheek that has you melting right then and there.
She gives you another look before leaving your classroom and only when she’s gone do you come back to it and realise where you are.
You weren’t sure whether to be excited, or still worried. Maybe Melissa was none the wiser and you’d be able to enjoy the evening without worry.
Shrugging it off and pushing it to the back of your mind you head over to your desk, collecting your grading papers as you pick up your handbag to stuff them inside.
Your lips twitch seeing the ultrasound images, casting a glance over your shoulder to ensure nobody was around. Only then do you take the folded images out of your bag, glancing down at the images taken of what was currently growing inside of you.
You stuff them back into the side pocket and zip it up before finally leaving your classroom.
—
Friday afternoon.
Melissa hadn’t been any different throughout the day, not to you at least.
Which you were taking as a good sign that maybe you were overreacting. Barbara had said it was an off handed comment, maybe Melissa didn’t pick up on it. You’d been able to sit in the break room at lunch without worrying Barbara would say anything or that Melissa would suddenly prompt you.
You’d been so focused on that you almost forgot about the nerves that came with a date. Even if you’d be interrupted by game night, you still wanted the date portion with Melissa to go well. After all, you didn’t think she was interested in you just a couple of days ago and now you knew for certain she felt the same.
You get to Melissa’s around 5.30, ringing the bell as the door opens not even a minute later.
You’d forgotten it was a date and game night to even think about what Melissa might wear.
She always seemed much softer out of school and tucked away inside her home.
Her makeup was slightly retouched, her hair up, a tight fitting shirt that showed just enough cleavage with her leather pants to accompany.
“You look… good.” It comes out a little strained as you let out the breath you hadn’t realised you’d been holding.
Melissa’s grin is cocky as she shakes her head taking in your jeans, a long sleeved phillies shirt tucked inside.
“And you look very date-appropriate cute.” Her eyes focus on your shirt before she’s rolling her eyes and stepping aside. “You have your tricks, don’t you?”
You side eye her upon entering her home. “If knowing you is a trick, so be it.”
“You know what I mean. You know what you’re doing.” Shutting the door, smirking as you turn around to her curiously.
“I’m not doing anything.” You shrug, unable to suppress the grin forming across your face.
“Can hardly resist you in a Phillies shirt now can I.” You were still getting used to this, Melissa being less subtle, more flirtatious.
You couldn’t pass up the opportunity to wear it, casual enough but fitting for a date with the number one Phillies fan. You were hoping for a reaction and satisfied with what you received. Melissa unable to take her eyes off of you that it made your face heat up as you try keep a steady voice. “You’re welcome.”
She rolls her eyes smirking at you before cocking her head. “C’mon lets get a drink in.”
You follow her through to the kitchen, unable to help yourself but take in Melissa’s decor and memorabilia. It always felt so warm and open.
“When do the others get here?” You stop to lean against the counter watching Melissa move about, unable to help yourself but look at her curves again.
“Around 6, so we’ve got some time.” Melissa grabs two glasses before looking at you, a blush creeping over both your faces. “Quit checking me out.”
“It wouldn’t be a date if I wasn’t checking you out.”
“You check me out when we’re not on a date.” Melissa snorts and your face gets more red.
“Have you looked in a mirror lately? Because you make it very hard not to.” You let out a breath, watching the way a blush creeps up Melissa’s neck and spills across her face to accompanying her hair.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Arching a brow as she begins pouring.
“I’m attracted to you, and you’re fucking beautiful. Also very hot.”
Melissa’s better at maintaining a poker face, but there’s no helping the wide grin spread across her face as she tries not to blush even further at your words.
“Flattery will get you places.” She muses, handing the wine glass to you.
“What kinda places?” You take the glass casually as she sips on her own.
“Guess you’re drinking tonight.” Melissa eyes you for a moment, watching as you nod.
“Just the one, gotta drive home somehow.” You take a small sip, watching as Melissa’s brows furrow before she’s turning as quick as it happens and heading towards the stove.
“You're not gonna stay?”
The sip you’d taken wasn’t one swallowed as you discreetly spit it back into your glass before hearing Melissa’s words. You know she’d said it when you first agreed to this date but you didn’t think she actually meant it.
“Are you sure?” You clear your throat, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand as Melissa puts her knuckles against her hip and glances at you.
“Wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t. Besides, thought I made you wait long enough,” Her mouth smirks as you feel warmth washing over you.
“I’ll stay.”
You can’t help the smile that spills across your face as Melissa watches you a moment before turning back.
“You hungry? I thought I’d whip us something small up.’’
“Starved.”
“Oh, don’t say that to an Italian. You’ll regret it.” Melissa glances over her shoulder, a small spark in the corner of her eye as you simply grin at her.
“If it’s your food, I’ll happily go into a food coma.”
–
After light conversation and food, any worry of Melissa asking you anything about what Barbara had said completely slipped from your mind. You’d gotten lost in listening to her rave on about various things, watching as her posture softened and grew closer to yours.
“If this is what all our dates are gonna consist of I might need to rethink this.” You tease as Melissa finds her way over to you.
After eating you’d shifted into her living room to start rearranging some of the furniture to make it more game night appropriate.
“Dates? As in plural? That’s pretty bold of you, babe.” Melissa gives it back to you as her hands come to your hips, causing your breath to hitch as your chest pounds at the pet name and touch.
You’ve wanted her for so long that it didn’t seem possible at first. Your leap of faith in trying to kiss her hadn’t ended as well as you’d hoped. For a moment there you worried you’d gotten it all wrong between you two, that the growing bond was only inside your head. And then she was kissing you, asking you to hers and calling it a date.
You’re sure Melissa knows by now the effect she has on you, you weren’t exactly being coy and she was starting to be much more open with you than you were used to. The touching, names, it all made your head spin.
“Only fair we have a proper date with no interruptions or other people. So plural, yes.”
Melissa grins a little stupidly at you as she pulls you closer. “I think I can live with that.”
“Yeah?” Your voice goes quiet as Melissa nods and closes the distance between you, kissing you softly that you can’t help but melt into her.
This woman was going to be the death of you with how much she made your heart soar.
Both of you hummed against each other, your hands holding the sides of Melissa’s neck as your bodies pressed together before you’re both in need of air.
“There has been something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” She speaks once you’ve both pulled back.
You lift your hand to play with her necklaces, the action causing her to freeze and get distracted by your fingers twisting each chain between your fingers.
“Yeah, what was that?” You can’t help but smirk at the reaction before you, it’s one you haven’t seen from Melissa but one you want more of.
“You’re making me lose my train of thought.” She lifts her hand to still yours but you lean in to kiss her quickly.
You’re not sure what she wanted to ask or how you both wound up on the couch, but you weren’t complaining.
Her knee was wedged between your legs as she hovered above you, her mouth moving down your neck as your hands found residence on her shoulders.
You let out a small gasp upon feeling her tongue lapping against your neck before lightly nipping and sucking. Pleasure shoots straight to your core, causing you to bite your lower lip to suppress moaning and letting Melissa know the exact effect she had on you when doing hardly anything.
Her mouth finds yours again, her hand coming to smooth hair out of your face as she looks down at you with smudged lipstick that has you grinning as you lift your hand and wipe at the corner of her mouth.
“You’re a mess, Schemmenti.”
“You should see the other guy.” Melissa teases as you let out a small laugh, your chest feeling lighter than it had in awhile.
You couldn’t believe where you were and what you were doing with Melissa.
“Must be a real mess.”
“Oh, a big mess.” She leans back down at that, kissing you slower as her tongue runs along your lower lip and slips inside your mouth.
Your hands find their way down Melissa’s back as her body settles against yours, unsure who’s heart was thumping faster.
You take a risk and slide your hands down into her back pockets before lightly squeezing. The sound Melissa lets out against your mouth has you doing it again, but harder, which only prompts her to groan and grip your jaw with her fingers.
“You’re driving me crazy.” Melissa’s hand slowly slides down your neck before inching lower as her palm comes to cover your breast and lightly squeeze.
Your head goes a little dizzy then, another shot of pleasure straight to your core.
“Fuck, so are you.” You can barely get out a breath before she’s kissing you again.
Your hands slide back up, slipping beneath her shirt and dragging your nails up her back as she lets out a small hum.
Only a few beats pass before the doorbell goes off, causing Melissa’s teeth to sink hard into your lower lip as you both jump.
“Shit.” Melissa’s off you then, the loss of contact almost making you shiver as you see her quickly fix her hair and mouth before turning back to you, the doorbell going off again. “Fix your face and try to not look like I was just sucking your face.”
She’s gone then as you sit there slightly dazed until she’s snapping her fingers at you. “I’m not fucking around, get to it y/n!” Her teacher's voice comes out then and you’re quickly on your feet..
You use the small mirror above the fireplace to wipe Melissa’s lipstick marks from your mouth and neck, trying to make yourself look a little less disheveled.
“Oh, hi, Y/n.” Barbara’s chirpy voice comes from behind you, causing you to jump slightly as you turn to face the other.
“Oh, hey, Barbara.” You catch a glimpse of Janine heading to the kitchen with Melissa carrying containers.
“You got here early.” Your heart skips then as your head nods slowly.
“I thought I'd help Melissa setup since all I have to do is show up.” You shrug, trying to walk you both to the kitchen as Barbara takes a hold of your arm to stop you.
“You’ve still got some lipstick.” Barbara points to the corner of her own mouth as your eyes slowly widen and you quickly lift your hand to wipe both sides of your mouth.
“I.. can explain that.” You laugh awkwardly as Janine and Melissa come into the room.
“Explain what?”
“Hey y/n!” Janine grins as you force a smile and hope you’d gotten the rest of the lipstick off your face.
“Oh, nothing. Just something on my face.” You shrug, as Melissa gives you an odd look.
“Doesn’t look like there’s anything.” Janine adds looking at you.
“Well there we go. Hm, what’d you guys bring again?” You try to shift the conversation and it works, but you miss Melissa watching you.
—
Game night goes off without a hit, the evening full of laughter and bonding - as Janine had put it.
You’d managed to get away with not drinking throughout the night as everyone was more focused on the games.
But unbeknownst to you, Melissa had been watching you all night.
Janine asks if you want to share an uber but you use the excuse to help Melissa clean up, which has an odd look settle on her face.
Barbara’s the last to leave, a smirk sitting on her face noticing you lingering in the kitchen.
You’ve just collected the glasses, putting them in the sink before you feel Melissa’s hands on your hips and her body close behind yours.
“Well, hello.” You let out a small laugh as Melissa’s mouth twitches into a small smile.
“You don’t actually have to help clean up yanno.” Her chin rests on top of your shoulder, her hands sliding to wrap round your waist as your body can’t help but tense when her hands interlace and settle over your stomach.
“I-I know. I just wanted to.” You struggle to let out a steady breath as you try to ignore your head and ease into Melissa’s touch.
“You ok, hon?” Her hands untangle, one coming to sit on your hip as the other lifts to move hair over your shoulder as she leans in to kiss your neck.
That only makes it worse as your eyes flutter and you let out a shaky breath.
“Oh, yeah. You just… have an effect on me.” You answer honestly, catching from your peripheral vision the curl of Melissa’s lips before she’s pulling away from you.
“How much did you drink?” She lets out a brief chuckle as you turn around and lean back against the sink.
“I’m completely sober, Mel. And this is still technically a date. I’m not gonna act like I don’t want you or that I don’t like you, like a lot. Ridiculously a lot.” You almost laugh as you look down momentarily, unsure just how honest you should be.
Then again, you were on a date, there wasn’t any point in holding back what you felt anymore.
Melissa’s face softens, a flash of something else washing over too as she takes you in and sucks in a slow breath. “I like you too – a ridiculous amount.”
At that your chest tightens, your heart soaring as you look at Melissa, taking in her face and each line that accompanies her as a small smile blooms across your face.
“I just don’t get why you can't be honest with me.”
Melissa’s words have your smile dropping as confusion washes over. “What? I am being honest.”
“So why haven’t you told me?” Melissa stares at you, expression unreadable as you feel your chest tightening.
“I have told you? I just told you I like you.”
Melissa’s head shakes at you as she lets out a deep breath. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Silence fills the room as you stare at Melissa. There was one thing you hadn’t told her. But after today and tonight, you didn’t think Melissa even had a clue. Why wouldn’t she have said something earlier? Barbara never mentioned anything to you throughout the night that made it easier for you to completely immerse yourself into game night without worrying when the ball would drop and the night would be ruined by secrets being exposed.
“Unbelievable.” She almost snorts, her hands moving to her hips as you feel the walls closing in on you.
“I have no idea what you–”
Melissa cuts you off before you’re able to finish. “Quit trynna play me for a fool! I know you’re pregnant.”
Time stops then, your heart sinking into your stomach as you watch the hurt settle on Melissa’s face.
“I-I just found out.” You could feel the tears building then, unsure when the room had gotten so hot as you started pushing up your sleeves to feel cool air.
“Bullshit, Barb knew. My best friend - my very best friend knew before I even did!” Melissa hisses slightly, folding her arms across her chest.
“It’s not bullshit! I just found out, then somehow Barb was putting it together. I don’t know how her magic mind works!” You bite back, tears spilling then as you quickly lift your hands to wipe them away.
“You still could’ve told me.” Melissa’s watching you, her chest rising and falling as her feet almost move to you when tears fall, an uncomfortable feeling sitting in the pit of her stomach.
You know she’s right, but you also knew you’d yet to wrap your own head around it let alone disclose it to Melissa.
“If you’ve known this entire time, why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“Oh no, don’t try to pin this on me, sweetheart.” She gives you a look and your chest tightens before you’re looking away from her, finding a place to stare that blurs from your vision. “I wasn’t about to ruin everyone’s night, they look forward to it. ‘Cause some of us actually think about other people.”
Your brows pull together then as you try to let that not sting. “So much has happened the last couple of days, Melissa. When I found out you hadn’t even asked me to dinner. Next thing you’re suddenly telling me you like me when I thought you didn’t look at me that way. Not to mention you kissed me so hard Barbara found me with lipstick marks.”
“I did tell you to get to it.” Melissa mumbles slightly and you can’t help but let out a breath of air. Trust Melissa to always be Melissa, no matter the moment.
You both sigh at the same time as Melissa comes to stand before you.
“I was going to tell you.” You hesitate before looking at her finally, your pulse skipping when you see her already looking at you.
“When? ‘Cause you’ve had all night”
“I don’t know, Mel. I just… you wanted me and I thought telling you would ruin it.” Your chest tightens as you suck in a small breath. “Has it… ruined it?”
Melissa looks away from you for a moment that it makes you worry, what was she thinking? You could tell she was thinking harder than before, the slight crease between her brows and the way her lips shifted. She was unsure of herself, but you didn’t know if she was also unsure about you.
“You still haven’t said it.” Melissa speaks then.
That wasn’t a no. So maybe you hadn’t ruined everything.
“Melissa.” Maybe you didn’t know what she was thinking, but you knew what she meant now.
Her brows lift in response as you swallow the small lump in your throat.
“I’m pregnant.”
You watch her head nod slowly and you take a small risk in stepping closer, your hands reaching out to Melissa’s hips.
She doesn’t flinch or pull away from your touch, so you take it as a good sign.
“I saw the scan thing you had in your bag.” She avoids your gaze then.
“Did you snoop through my bag?” You remember finding Melissa sitting in your chair with her face to the ceiling, she’d looked so peaceful you weren’t even sure if she knew anything, but she had.
Unbeknownst to you, she’d ‘accidentally’ kicked your bag over, calling out an oops for anyone passing by before she was picking up your bag and seeing the ultrasound images stashed at the bottom.
“No, it fell over. I was just picking it up.” She shrugs, but you’re not quite sure if you believe her.
“Sure…” You give her a look as she rolls her eyes.
“Who’s the father? Is it that guy from your bad date?”
Your hands almost retract from Melissa’s hips but instead you use them to steady yourself slightly, Melissa taking note of the way your body tenses.
“Uh… the thing about that. It wasn’t exactly a date.” You feel your heart thudding hard and fast as Melissa looks at you curiously.
“I went out to…” You suck in a small breath before sighing, you didn’t have anything to lose being truthful with her, not anymore with all cards on the table. “I went out to make myself feel better for being so stupid trying to kiss you. I was hoping to meet some older woman…” Your cheeks heat up then, unable to look Melissa in the eye as you miss the furrowed brows and the slight twitch of her mouth.
“Instead this guy… fell into me.” You close your eyes, shaking your head as you recall the moment. “He was Italian.” You’re sure your face was as red as Melissa’s hair now. Out of all the things you could admit, somehow telling her you screwed a random man that resembled her felt like too much. “He reminded me of you so I… took the chance.” You roll your eyes at yourself, unsure when Melissa’s hands found themselves on your own hips but you try to remember how to breathe like you did earlier.
You could remember that night clear as day, standing at the end of the bar waiting on your drink. Feeling sorry for yourself over how stupid you’d been to try kiss Melissa, of course she wouldn’t reciprocate what you felt. You had tried scanning the place for anybody that might catch your eye, until a taller man was tumbling back into you, spouting Italian from his mouth at another guy before softening when he realised he’d fallen into you. He’d been apologetic then, offering to buy you a drink. He seemed sweet enough. His eyes were as green as Melissa’s, maybe his hair was darker and he was much taller than Melissa. But in the dark that night, it was easy to imagine somebody else making you scream in pleasure.
“So you had a one night stand?”
You blink back before nodding your head and daring to look at her. “I didn’t exactly want to tell you that I went out to get my mind off of you.”
Melissa’s fingers had found themselves slipped beneath the loops on your jeans as she listened to you. “Who’s the guy?”
You blink at her then, a little confused. “I don’t… remember his name.” Your hands leave Melissa’s hips then to cover your face as you shake your head. “That sounds bad but I…Fuck, Melissa. All I could think about was you.”
Melissa swallows as her own face flushes listening to you, lifting a hand to pull yours from your face. “Did you go back to his?”
“Why does that matter?” You’re looking at each other then, unsure whose face was more flush as neither of you let go of each other's hand.
“So you’d know where he lives?” She arches a brow at you, as though it’s the most obvious question when you were still wrapping your head around everything.
“Right… no, he came back to mine.”
“In more than one way.” Her comment has your jaw dropping and eyes widening.
“Melissa!” You don’t know whether to laugh, but you’re shocked to say the least.
“It’s true, ain’t it?” You couldn’t tell if the question was rhetorical or not, but the longer she stares at you the more you realise she was waiting on an answer.
“I– are you seriously asking me that?”
“Did you use protection?”
You blink at her a few times. “What the fuck, Melissa?”
Her hand drops yours to come back to your hip as your pulse skips. “It’s a pretty standard question.”
Though you’re not sure if Barbara or the others would ask these questions like Melissa was.
“Yes. Clearly it was useless.” You fold your arms across your chest, trying to not let your face heat up any further.
“You really should be more careful.”
“I was! I just… had a lot on my mind.” You try not to huff, frowning as you look back at Melissa.
“Must’ve been a bad fuck if he still had you thinking.”
Your mouth goes dry at her words.
The atmosphere between you shifts, the lump in your throat swallowed hard as you feel your cheeks heat up.
“I was thinking about you.”’ It falls below a whisper, but Melissa hears it loud and clear. “You close your eyes… anything is possible to imagine.”
You feel Melissa’s hands tighten against your hips as your chest rises and falls all too quickly.
“You imagined what? That I was the one fucking you?”
Your eyes fall closed at that as your tongue dips out of your mouth. There’s no denying the warmth spreading through your body as you struggle to fight your desires.
You weren’t quite sure where you and Melissa stood, but her face hovered so close to yours you the smell of her filling your senses that it made it hard for you to think, even breathe steadily.
“Tell me.” Melissa lifts a hand to your face, forcing you to look at her as you almost shudder.
“I imagined it was you… everything he did.” Your pulse pounds harder and harder as you speak, your eyes drifting to Melissa’s lips before back to her eyes. “You made me come so hard.”
Your words almost fall with a whimper, a hitch in your breath or Melissa’s, you couldn’t figure whether it was hers or yours.
Her eyes darken then, pupils dilating as she slowly leans in. “Is that what made you come? Pretending his cock was mine?”
Your eyes almost roll as you feel Melissa’s mouth against yours, finally letting the breath out you’d been holding.
“Dirty girl.” Melissa husks, her fingers digging into your hips as she nips at your lower lip.
“Fucking hell. You have no idea what you do to me.” You sigh out as your arms wrap around Melissa’s neck.
Her hands tug at your shirt, freeing it from being tucked into your pants before her hands are slipping beneath to feel your skin.
“We shouldn’t.” She says, shaking her head as goosebumps arise on your skin, Melissa’s hands making you squirm.
“Why not? I want you.” You plead to her, brushing your nose against hers as your mouth hovers. “Don’t you want me?” You hadn’t meant to sound so needy and vulnerable, but the desire was pooling and Melissa was making it hard for you to think about anything but her hands against you. You’d wanted her for so long, unable to help yourself in dropping your hand to her wrist as you tug her hand lower.
“God, you have no idea just how much.” Melissa groans leaning in to kiss you, taking the hint and popping the button to your pants before sliding the zipper down as her hand dips below.
You’re not sure who moans first when Melissa’s fingers find how wet you are.
“Fuck, how long have you been like this?” Fingers slide down slick folds as Melissa pushes you back into the counter, the edge digging into your back almost painfully. You’d bruise there, not that you could seem to care about anything when Melissa’s hand was currently cupping you, feeling just how much she drove you insane.
Melissa was completely hypnotised by the sight before her, watching you fight your moans as her fingers start to slowly press and circle your clit as she kisses you hard. Your hands grip her hair, almost shuddering as her finger teases your entrance, your body involuntarily arching into her touch. Her pupils had blown completely you could hardly see any green left as your own eyes flutter feeling her slip a finger inside before slowly adding another.
“Mel–” Your head felt heavy as it threw itself back, feeling Melissa’s fingers pick up a steady rhythm before curling inside of you and making your body twitch and tense.
“You feel so good.” Her voice was hoarse that it had your stomach doing flips as Melissa worked her fingers in and out of you, adding a third as her mouth attached itself to your neck that all you could do was hold onto Melissa tightly and thrust your hips in time with her thrusts as you balled her hair into your fists while letting out a string of moans and curses.
It should be embarrassing at how quickly she was making you come undone. Then again, you’re sure you’ve been wound up since she first kissed you, desperately waiting for her to finally touch you and have you seeing stars.
“I-I’m close.” You could feel it building as your toes began to curl, your body arching further into Melissa’s as you let out a whimper. White spots clouded your vision as you felt the ache growing and time beginning to still. Your hormones were all over the place but Melissa’s fingers felt far too good inside you for you to care let alone think coherently.
“You gonna come for me, baby?” Melissa’s whispering in your ear as your eyes slowly roll and your grip on her tightens, her own arm keeping you up and pressed into the counter.
“Fuck–yes. Mel–please, don’t s-stop.” Your face buries itself into Melissa’s shoulder as she works you, her hand coming to grip the back of your neck as she holds you against her, the sounds of your wetness and moans echoing throughout the kitchen as you feel the pleasure rip through you. Melissa’s fingers don’t stop, continuing their rhythm of working you faster and harder that you’ve barely had time to properly register the next wave that hits you hard, causing your body to convulse as your cries get muffled into Melissa’s neck.
You’re not sure how long you stay buried in her neck, but your grip just begins to loosen, Melissa’s fingers slipping from you causing you to shudder and rock your hips. “Fuck.”
“Fuck, alright.” Melissa almost laughs, dragging you back as you come back to it, watching her eyes shine before her fingers lift to her mouth and your cunt can’t help but throb again watching her suck her fingers dry. “You taste good too.”
You could come again from hearing that alone, instead taking a deep shaky breath as you lean in to kiss her, moaning at the taste of yourself on her tongue as you push yourself from the counter and guide Melissa backwards.
“What’re you doin?” Melissa mumbles against your mouth as you back her into a wall.
“I want to touch you.” It comes out as a whine, pulling Melissa from the wall.
She stares at you, a small smirk sitting on her lips as her chest slowly heaves.
“Let me make you come.”
It’s those words that have her quickly guiding you to the stairs and up to her bedroom.
She sits in the middle of the bed as you drop to your knees, watching Melissa’s eyes widen slightly as you crawled up the bed and dragged her pants off her completely. You took your time between her thighs, never nearing where her ache kept building. You wanted her to ask you and when she does you can barely hold yourself back.
The taste of her lingered on your tongue even long after you’d made her come.
Both of you shedded clothes and explored each other's bodies that you don’t know when you even fell asleep. You’d been kissing Melissa and running your hands over her body one minute, the next you felt a pleasant ache through your body as the sun poked through the curtains.
You wake to Melissa spooning you, her hand covering yours that laid beside your face. Only when you turn does she begin to stir, your heart soaring at the sight of Melissa’s morning face, the closed eyelids and the sleep etched into each line on her face. “You’re so beautiful.” It comes out as a whisper, but you hadn’t meant to speak it aloud.
The corners of Melissa’s mouth twitches then, her eyes slowly fluttering before they’re landing on you.
“Morning.” Your face heats up then, lifting a hand to Melissa’s cheek as she takes you in like you had just before.
“Morning.” Her lips curl then, a small smile settling on Melissa’s face as her eyes drift down to your lips. “You want some breakfast?”
You nod your head as you watch her hesitation before leaning in to kiss your cheek. She slips from the bed then, your eyes not tearing themselves away from her naked body and only growing to a frown when she puts on clothes.
You lay there for another minute as she leaves the room. You still couldn’t quite believe what had happened. You take in last night and the sounds you’d never heard Melissa utter that had you wanting to hear them again and again without ever growing tired of hearing it.
You decide to put last night's clothes on, leaving your shirt untucked as you make your way downstairs to Melissa’s kitchen.
She was already busy grabbing ingredients from the fridge as she catches you, a smile twitching when she does. “Look who decided to join me.”
“Can I help?”
“You sit and look pretty, I’ve got it covered. Plus I’m a grouch in the kitchen, especially in the morning.” She smirks as you blush and sit on one of the stools.
“Are we going to talk about last night?” You decide to ask, watching her move about so effortlessly.
“We didn’t do much talking last night.” Melissa snorts, waggling her brows as you roll your eyes at her and blush harder.
“You know what I mean, Mel.”
She stops in front of the fridge, pausing before looking at you. “Do you… regret it?” She asks, not watching you for a response as she turns away to open the fridge.
“No. Not at all, what?” You slip off the stool then, finding your way over to Melissa. “Do you?”
“No.” Her response is quick as she turns to face you and shakes her head.
You glance down at her hands then, the eggs making your face scrunch slightly as Melissa’s own face drops to where your eyes are.
“Eggs?” She asks as you feel your face flush.
“Not right now, the um – It doesn’t sit well.” You cringe at yourself then as Melissa stares at you.
“Oh, right. Yeah, ‘course don’t worry about it.” Melissa nods her head, her expression unreadable that you’d almost kill to hear her thoughts as you watch her turn back around, putting the eggs back where she’d collected them.
She stands facing away for a while as the silence grows between you two that it makes you nervous, the worry starting to fill up inside you.
Although you knew what she felt for you and you’d never be able to get the images of her coming undone around your tongue, there was still one minor issue neither of you had properly talked about. The one big thing that could tear apart whatever was happening between you two.
“What are you thinking?” You ask as Melissa sighs, closing the fridge and turning back to you.
“I can make pancakes without the eggs.” Your brows furrow at her response as she moves from you and busies herself again.
You stand there awkwardly playing with your nails. “Mel?”
“Let me make breakfast first, then we’ll talk.” She looks at you then, waiting till you nod at her before she’s back to it.
—
Once she’s made breakfast, both of you sit beside one another at the table, only then do you finally talk.
“I want to know what you’re thinking.” You fill your mouth then, moaning at the taste that isn’t missed by Melissa who’s fingers tighten round her glass watching you far too intently.
“That you might kill me if you keep making those sounds.” She muses, causing you to blush as you look away.
“You make everything taste so good.” A pause. “...You taste good.”
Melissa almost chokes while drinking her water but swallows it down without a problem before she’s squinting at you, the smirk faint on her mouth.
“But I’m serious, Mel. What are you thinking?” You focus on the redhead then, watching as she leans back in her chair and pushes hair from her face.
“I’m thinking about a lot, hon.” She almost shrugs, finally looking at you with something else lingering in the depths of her eyes.
“But what? I’d kill to know what’s going on inside that heat of yours.” You turn then, your knees digging into Melissa’s thighs as you reach across to tuck red strands behind her ear as she almost shivers at your touch.
“Mhm, I know a guy for that.” She muses and you can’t help but roll your eyes and smirk.
“What don’t you have a guy for?” You arch your brow, meant as a side comment.
“Raising kids.”
Her words have a furrow sitting between your brows then as you feel your chest tighten and your pulse pound.
“Why don’t we stop beating around the bush and you just ask me what I already know you’re dying to ask.” Melissa’s arms fold across her chest then, her body turning slightly to face you.
“Ask you what?”
You watch Melissa chew on the edge of her lower lip as she looks away from you momentarily, staring at some of the photographs plastered on the wall.
“I’m too old to be having kids, y/n. Even when Joe and I were together it’s what… Well, I didn’t want kids. I’m not parent material, the only kids I’ll ever have are my students, yanno?” She shrugs, speaking so casually that you’re unsure how to feel, but it wasn’t good. You weren’t sure where Melissa was leading with her words, but it sounded a lot like an ending more than a beginning.
“You’re not having a kid, I am.” You try to rephrase, but Melissa’s head shakes as she holds a hand between you.
“If we’re together, then it’s not just you, is it? You gotta think about that, y/n.” She looks at you then.
“Why does it matter right now? I’m not asking you to step in and be a parent, I don’t even know what I’m doing right now. I just want to be with you and get to know you.”
Her arms untangle as she rolls her neck slightly. “You don’t get it, hon. I gotta think about what I want.”
“You wanted me last night.” You’re quick to speak, your heart pounding hard as you try not to let your thoughts run wild with what Melissa was saying and insinuating.
“I do want you but I–” She stops herself then and you can feel the tears beginning to burn in your eyes.
“But what? You want me, I want you. It can be that simple.” You hesitate as you reach for her hand.
“It’s not that simple, babe.” She sighs, eyes falling closed for a moment as she squeezes your hand.
“Why can’t it be? People date and figure out whether they’re compatible or not. It’s not like I’m asking for your hand in marriage!” You knew you were sounding desperate, but with the look on Melissa’s face, you couldn’t help it.
“You might as well be!” Her head shakes, tongue running along her lower lip as she tries to pull together the correct words. “Dating you is gonna end with a baby. And I… I don’t want a baby, y/n.”
Her words hurt, of course they do. Melissa wanted you, and you wanted her. It should be that simple but it wasn’t.
The tears had fallen then as you retract your hand back to yourself and shift your body from her.
“Why the fuck did you take me to bed then?”
You look at her as she looks at you, her pulse skipping when she sees the tears falling that has a knot sitting between her brows, her hand reaching over to you that you can’t help but flinch and turn away from her as her fingers barely brush your cheek.
“You said we shouldn’t, I get it now. That’s why, ‘cause you were never going to want all of me.”
You hadn’t quite known what Melissa meant when she said We shouldn’t. It made perfect sense now, she didn’t want to take you to bed when her mind was already made up about what she wanted.
“I do want all of you.” Melissa’s jaw tightens as she shifts to the edge of her seat, her hands coming to your arm as you struggle to look at her.
“Don’t! You don’t. All of me includes wanting this.” You grit your teeth, your hand coming to your stomach as Melissa’s eyes drop then.
“Hon.” Her hand finds your face then, cupping your cheek and turning you to look at her. “I’m sorry.”
Apologising isn’t something Melissa ever does, but in this moment she felt it was needed. Especially when your eyes fall closed and the tears slip down your face.
You don’t fight her when she pulls you into her chest, the warmth from Melissa’s body soothing and making you ache. You should feel pathetic for falling apart in front of her like this, but you also couldn’t control your hormones lately.
“You should’ve made me go home.” You pull away from her then, missing the way her brows furrow.
“You made it a little hard.”
“I knew it was too good to be true. I should’ve known all you wanted was a quick fuck.” You don’t mean to have an attitude, but it comes regardless as you finally stand up, Melissa following as she grabs your arm.
“Hey, whoa. You’re upset, I get that.”
“Do you? Because I haven’t changed my mind about wanting you.”
Melissa lets out a sigh, her hand running up and down your arm gently that it’s almost too much to bear.
“Stop it.” You jerk your arm away, needing to put space between you and Melissa as you run your hands over your face. “You can’t just touch me or bat your lids and expect me to be fine.”
“I don’t expect you to be anything.” Melissa stays put though, letting you put the space between each other as she watches you, the guilt starting to eat away at her.
“Why the hell couldn’t you have just never told me how you felt.” You turn to look at her then, but Melissa couldn’t quite meet your eye.
“Same reason I should’ve let you kiss me that first time. Maybe then things would be different.”
You blink at her then. “So you’re saying if I wasn’t pregnant then you’d be with me no problem?”
Her eyes fall back to you then, and whatever was swimming in her eyes is something you take the wrong way. Silence fills the space between you and you nod your head slowly, letting out a small laugh as you feel more tears building.
“Fuck you.” Shaking your head, feeling far too defeated as you head towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Melissa’s on your tail then, following you quickly and stepping between you and the door.
“Away from you. You know where I stand, but I’m… I’m not going to keep letting you play with my feelings when you don’t want me.”
She almost corrects you again, wanting to say that she does want you. But it won’t do any good.
“Please move so I can get out of this house and stop thinking about you.” Though you know the second you’re away from Melissa all you’re going to do is think about Melissa.
“Babe.” Her hands find your arms then and your chest hitches at the name.
“Let me go.” You didn’t want her to, you wanted her to tell you she doesn’t mean it – that she does want you and this baby. But once she steps aside you know that’s that.
You could feel your heart breaking as you brushed past Melissa, the cool air from outside hitting you as the door closed behind you.
You and Melissa both stand in place, a single door between you.
5-year plan to win your heart. game 1. Melissa Schemmenti
Mastermind
Pairing: Melissa Schemmenti x reader
Summary: Melissa creates a five year plan to win your heart.
Warnings: minor character death (non graphic), spiders 🥴
Notes: I love making up new Melissa-lore. It’s my favorite hobby. Hope you don’t mind that I made this a full length fic. Enjoy, loves
Melissa Schemmenti knew a little something about wild animals.
She knew because of the orange kitten she had found under Nana's front porch that you can’t approach a wild thing so fast. She’d woken up to the sounds of him crying and jumped out of her sleeping bag on the living room floor to gaze out the window to find what had made the noise. Seeing nothing, she double checked that Nana was still dozing, her ceramic cup with her dentures inside still safely on her nightstand.
Melissa, still in her pink nightgown, had hijacked her papa’s old rubber boots since it had rained the night before, and crept out the front door. She listened quietly for the cries to fill the misty morning air and when it did she followed it to under the porch. The opening was small, barely large enough to fit her head through, but she did it anyway. Luckily, the summer before her uncle that had been in the Vietnam War had shown her how to do the very best army crawl.
Like the proper young woman her mother was so desperately trying to teach her how to be, Melissa rolled up the sleeves of her nightgown and crawled under her nana’s porch and dragged the terrified kitten through the packed dirt at the bottom until she got him loose. As soon as he saw an easy exit, the kitten had scratched and clawed its way out of Melissa’s arms.
Her nana woke up to a bloodied Melissa, leaning over her bed, her nightgown caked with mud and torn from the rotted edges of wood that created the opening under the porch, asking where she kept her bandaids. Still, Melissa isn’t sure who was more terrified or who screamed louder. Her nana, seeing her grandchild looking akin to the woman from the ring and the muddy footprints she’d trailed through the house, or Melissa, seeing her nana scream without any teeth in.
After recovering from her shock, Nana had helped Melissa clean the mud from the floorboards and under her fingernails, and listened to the tale of what had happened. Gently, as she swiped antiseptic over her cuts, Nana told Melissa about how when she was a young girl living in Italy’s mountainside, she’d befriended the wild horses.
Or so she thought.
One evening, Nana had stolen a few carrots from her mother’s fridge and had snuck out to the countryside to feed her horses. What she hadn’t realized was that there was a snake in the long grass, spooking the horses and almost trampling her in their haste to get away from the wretched creature.
Nana’s point, she said, was that wild animals will always be wild animals no matter how much we love them.
Melissa had understood.
That’s why, as an adult, when she found a stray dog outside the school after a late night of grading homework, she knew what to do.
Melissa dug up some of the vegetables from Barb and Jacob’s raised garden and left them in a pile near the dumpster where she’d seen the dog. She did the same every morning and night, always the first to arrive and the last to leave even through the cold winter months, until the senior dog, graying around the muzzle, allowed her to approach.
She secured a collar around her neck and walked her to her old beat up truck, and allowed her in the passenger seat. The dog listened to her “sit” and “stay” so well that Melissa knew this dog had been dumped or forgotten—not a wild thing, but someone’s. And if by how the dog scurried away from her at first, she had been someone’s who didn’t treat her very nicely. It was easy to get the two confused.
That’s why, when she first met you, she realized she would need a plan to win you over. A five year plan to be exact. Melissa would need to earn your trust and not spook you.
She had known a new teacher had been hired over the summer, but you two hadn’t run into each other while decorating your rooms for the upcoming school year.
One day, the week before the open house, Melissa was busy creating a seating chart for her new students when she heard a crash closely followed by a shout of “Fuck! Shitballs! Dammit!” coming from across the hall in a voice she didn’t recognize.
After stealthily removing her bat from its spot taped to the underside of her desk, Melissa popped her head out of the hallway to search for an intruder. After finding none, she stalked her way across the linoleum and into the open door across from her.
And there you were, standing on top of your desk, overlooking the shattered stapler across the floor. “What the hell happened here?” Melissa asked, lowering her weapon. You refused to turn and face her, your finger shakily pointing across the room near the metallic remnants of the stapler.
“There,” you shrieked, taking another step back. “Get it! Quick,” you demanded.
“Get what?” Melissa snorted. “Are you scared of a stapler? They’re not that scary if you keep your fingers out of that little space where the staples come out.” She moved farther into the room, stopping beside the desk.
“Haha, very funny. Now can you please get the spider?”
“Me? Why do I have to get it? It’s your classroom, your spider.” Melissa spun on her heel to leave, satisfied with the knowledge there wasn’t any crime being committed.
“Wait!” You turned your head in her direction for the first time, if only for a split second. “Can I at least use the bat?”
Intrigued, Melissa shoved a hand in her pocket and strode back over to your desk to hand you the Louisville Slugger. You grabbed it with a look of determination in your eyes and crouched down to rifle through your purse that hung on the back of your chair. A pair of safety glasses was promptly pulled from the depths of the bag and in a practiced movement you had them on and were jumping off the desk.
Melissa raised a brow. “You just carry those with you everywhere?”
Without turning back to her, you stalked the eight legged beast and responded. “You just carry a baseball bat with you everywhere?”
Fair point.
Not a second later, you started pummeling the tile with the bat, shards of stapler flying through the air as you continued. Melissa watched in equal parts horror and wonder as whatever insect had dared enter the room was obliterated by you swinging the bat above your head and to the floor and back again.
Eventually, you decided the spider was Most Definitely dead, and stopped, whipping the goggles off your face with your free hand and wiping the sweat from your brow. “Thanks,” you said simply, handing Melissa her weapon back. “Any idea if the janitor is around?” You pointed your thumb back towards the mess.
Melissa stood, blinking owlishly at you for a moment before realizing you had asked her a question. “Uh, yeah, Mr Johnson should be around here somewhere. I’ll page him for you.”
She rushed back to her own room for her walkie-talkie thinking, what a woman. She knew then and there she would do whatever it took to make you hers, and the five year plan was born.
-
Melissa started with making herself present wherever you were. She made sure she sat in the same row as you whenever there was a staff meeting, she traded Janine to have lunch duty the same week as you, even going as far as to change tables in the break room.
This caught Barbara’s attention. At first, the woman was miffed about Melissa seemingly avoiding her, but she waited and watched, gathering all the information before confronting her friend.
“So you have the hots for the new girl. When are you going to make a move?” She asked one night during their weekly poker game.
“Psh,” Melissa floundered, choking on her Dr Pepper. “I do not. Who said that? Did she say something?”
Barbara sighed, setting her cards on the green table face down and looking Melissa directly in the eye. “How long have we known each other? Don’t you dare lie to me. I’m running out of excuses to tell Janine as to why she can’t take over your seat.”
“Sorry,” Melissa smiled sheepishly, “I can come back,” she offered.
Barbara raised her hand to stop her. “No, no. I know when I’ve become second string. Just don’t invite her to poker nights without making sure she can handle it. I’m not teaching a newbie,” she warned.
Melissa scoffed. “What? There’s nothing going on between us, I swear.”
Barbara leaned in, eyeing her friend carefully. “Yes there is,” she said simply. “You’re not exactly well-versed in being subtle.”
“Fine,” Melissa acquiesced, and let Barbara in on her plan.
And if Barbara already knew, Melissa decided she needed to lay low for a while lest she scare you off. She went back to her old seat in the break room (much to Janine’s dismay), and kept her own lunch room rotation.
To her surprise, you pulled up a seat next to her and Barb, seamlessly inserting yourself into their conversation and never leaving. Melissa’s lips twitched up into a small smile and started in on the next part of her plan.
Now that you two were friendly, Melissa wanted to cement her place in your life, show you her good qualities. She began to bring you little treats each day, whether that was offering you a piece of gum, having an “extra” coffee from the barista, or being “too full” to eat the leftovers she brought for lunch.
But she didn’t stop there. She bought a can of Raid and stuffed it in the bottom drawer of your desk and made a concoction with peppermint oil to put in a spray bottle to keep the spiders out.
One morning, whilst spraying the edges of your classroom’s windows with the peppermint oil, you surprised her by showing up early.
“Melissa? What are you doing here?”
She’d never moved so fast in her life, spinning around and holding the spray bottle behind her back. “Oh, uh…,” she struggled to find a plausible excuse, “I thought your room had a bit of a draft and I was checking your windows for a crack.”
“Hmm,” you hummed, tossing your bag and your jacket haphazardly across your desk before making your way to her side. The closer you got to her, the more you smelled something. You leaned in close and sniffed. “Are you wearing a different perfume today? Something smells minty.”
Melissa swallowed at your close proximity and shook her head. “No, I—,” you cut her off by going behind her back and finding the spray bottle.
“Is this peppermint oil?” You asked, twisting the nozzle off to get a good smell of the liquid inside. “For the spiders?”
“Uh, yeah,” Melissa scratched at the back of her neck. “I wanted to make sure no other spiders got in here.”
Your inquisitive stare softened and you sat the bottle down on a nearby desk. “You, Melissa Schemmenti, are the sweetest person I know.”
She nearly pushed you against the wall and tasted your smile right then and there, but she reminded herself she was playing the long game here.
“Don’t let anyone else hear that, I have a reputation to uphold,” she said with her own matching smile. It was working.
Talking turned into hypothetical future plans turned into real plans when you tell her about the tickets you’d won to a Phillies game from calling in to a radio show. Melissa was ecstatic with the news, saying yes to going with you before the question was fully out of your mouth.
Melissa had shown you the best stand to get a hotdog from (the condiments were never watery and the buns always perfectly toasted), and bought you the best craft beer the stadium had to offer. She also insisted on returning the favor, taking you to an Eagles game the next month.
Going to games turned into invites to watch on each other’s couches turned into sleepovers turned into a full-fledged friendship. And suddenly those five years passed her by. It happened before Melissa even realized it had started.
She was completely and royally fucked. Her plan had worked well. Too well. Melissa was so good at being your friend that she became your best friend and got herself stuck in the dreaded friendzone. How was she supposed to get out of that and confess her true feelings?
Without a plan for the future, Melissa continued on.
-
When her dog died, you were her first call. No one loved Daisy like you did and Daisy loved you just the same.
You went to her house and you both cried together, huddled in each other’s arms on the floor of her dining room. You stayed until Melissa’s tears stopped and her breathing slowed before tucking her into bed. As you walked away, a manicured hand held onto yours, stopping you from making your exit.
That night you slept cuddled together, neither letting go.
In the morning, you’d made sure to text Barbara before work so everyone knew not to mention the death or to otherwise provoke the redhead.
In the week following, Melissa was noticeably more irritable than usual, stomping around, slamming cabinet doors, and even shattering a mug with how forcefully she threw it in the sink.
Of course, Jacob took it upon himself to inform everyone of the man’s history with canines, reaching back to before humans knew how to make a proper shelter.
When this didn’t work, Janine made the decision to have “Puppy Day” where the local pet adoption center brought some of their puppies to the school to encourage adoption and to give them some play time.
Neither made Melissa feel any better, and she was noticeably absent from the assembly.
With a quick word to Barbara, you slipped out of the auditorium doors and through the double doors leading to the kitchen to find the redhead sitting on the stoop near the garden. Instead of interrupting her, you quietly backed away and made your own plan.
That weekend, you showed up at her door dressed to the nines with a bouquet of flowers and a reusable grocery bag filled with supplies.
Melissa wearily opened the door, hair messy and a stained set of sweatpants on, and took in your appearance. “Oh shoot, is the prom tonight? I must’ve forgotten,” she said dryly, swinging the door open and allowing you to enter.
“C’mon, get dressed, we have things to do.”
She grumbled in response, flipping through the television channels instead. You set your things down on the kitchen table before stalking towards the walk-in closet of her bedroom. Hangers click together as you search for appropriate clothing for her to wear, flinging the acceptable pieces onto her bed.
“What are you doing?” Melissa questioned from the doorway, slouching against the doorframe. “I don’t really feel like going out tonight.”
“Oh, we’re not going out,” you assured her, moving to her vanity to search through her jewelry. “Now are you going to make yourself look presentable or am I gonna have to dress you?”
You looked up in time to see a look cross her face, the same one she gave you that first day after you smashed that spider to bits.
She reluctantly shoved herself from the doorway and trudged towards the bed. Relieved she listened without much argument, you handed her the jewelry and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Good choice. Don’t come out until you’re in your Sunday best,” you tossed over your shoulder and swung the door closed behind you.
When Melissa came out, you led her to the backyard where you had set everything up. There was a picture of the two of you with Daisy, surrounded in flowers. Beside it, you placed Daisy’s collar and leash as well as some of her favorite things.
“What’s all this?” Melissa questioned with a whisper, taking it all in.
“I thought Daisy deserved a proper goodbye,” you tangled your fingers with Melissa’s that dangled at her side, “she was an amazing dog and you gave her a beautiful life for her last years. She should get a beautiful send off too.”
Melissa’s eyes met yours, wide in disbelief and filled with tears.
You gave her an encouraging smile and went first. You brought an apple because whenever anyone ate one around Daisy, she would try jumping in their lap for a taste even though she was too big. You had her favorite brand of dog treats, peanut butter flavored, and stored them in the shoe box.
Melissa said her own words, filling the box with Daisy’s favorite toys and the stuffed rabbit she slept with every night. The two of you buried the box through the grief and slumped together on the couch with a bottle of wine.
Nothing was said for what felt like hours, the silence heavy with emotion. “You know,” Melissa started, startling you from your thoughts, “I don’t think anyone has ever cared about me the way you do.”
“Well, yeah, Mel, who else has been in love with you for the last five years?”
“Wait what?” Melissa sputtered, setting her glass of wine down and turning to you. “You can’t play jokes on me right now, that’s mean.”
Your brows furrowed. “I’m not joking. You seriously didn’t know?”
She stared blankly in response, taking it all in. “But…,” she started slowly, “I’ve been in love with you for the last five years. Why didn’t you say anything?”
You shrugged, taking another sip of your wine. “I had this whole big plan to make you fall for me. I guess it worked?”
Melissa gasped. “You had a plan? I had a plan. Are you seriously messing with me right now? How did you find out? Who put you up to this?”
Knowing no other way to prove your feelings to her, you grasped her head in your hands and leaned it, pressing your lips to hers. Her hand automatically found the small of your back, pressing your body closer to hers. All the passion that built between you over the past few years came out in the kiss, lips gliding across each other and tongues exploring anywhere they could reach.
Slowly, the kiss came to an end when you both had to breathe. “Fuck,” Melissa gasped under her breath, “seriously?” Green eyes found yours to search for the answer.
“Yeah,” you nodded as you got your breath back. Her fingers twitched where they were tangled in your hair and you couldn’t quite remember when they got there.
Melissa pulled you towards her again, urging you into her lap as she pressed your head back down to hers. The second kiss was faster paced and more intense, like Melissa thought you would run away the second it ended.
You didn’t and Melissa relaxed some. “I have to confess something,” she shifted her eyes from you. “I know you said you had a plan but it was all me. I knew from the very first day that I wanted you and I was going to get you. Do you hate me?”
“Mel,” you laughed, tucking your face into her neck. “Barbara told me a long time ago. Did you really think all of that was going to work?”
summary: continuation on from part one. you kissed melissa but things go wrong. what happens when she breaks up with gary and new things come to light?
warnings: none.
Except it wasn’t. It was just you… going to dinner, with Melissa, at Barb and Gerald’s.
And yet, you were a bundle of nerves for too many reasons that you were simply glad to have a night of distraction to take your mind off all the chaos.
You keep it casual. Jeans with a dressy shirt. Elegant enough for the Howard’s, but casual enough to remind yourself this was just dinner with friends.
Your phone goes off just before six, a message from Melissa telling you she’s outside waiting.
You quickly leave your apartment and dart to Melissa’s car.
“Hey.” You sound a little too cheery as you slip into the passenger side.
You eye Melissa quickly, her hair was tied up as she wore leather pants and that one deep red shirt you remember telling her how much you liked it on her.
You try not to read too much into that. It was clearly just a coincidence.
“Hey yourself.” You see the flushed face, her eyes drifting down your body that it causes you to swallow hard as you busy yourself with buckling in.
The drive to the Howard’s is quiet, but it’s a comfortable silence. You’re enjoying the music playing quietly throughout the car as you try to not look at Melissa too much.
“So what was that check up you had?” It’s only been ten minutes of silence but Melissa’s speaking does startle you.
“Oh. Nothing really. Just… haven’t been in awhile. Wanna make sure everything’s all good.” You laugh nervously.
“Shit, maybe I should do that, I’m twice your age.” She laughs, clearly not phased.
“Mhm, try three times.”
Melissa stops at the red light, her head whipping to turn at you as she gawks. “You calling me old?” Though there’s no malice or anger.
“Of course not! You’re not old, just older.” You smirk at each other as she shakes her head at you, squinting before biting her lower lip and looking back to the road.
“Don’t hold back on me now.” She laughs, the light turning green as you casually turn to look at her.
She was beautiful even in the scarce lighting, her face lighting up from street lights and various signs.
“How old are you again?”
You see her squint as she focuses on the road and glances in the rear view mirror. “59. Where’s this going?”
“Melissa Ann Schemmenti, you don’t look a day over 59.”
You see her shake her head, the sound of her laugh is never not glorious.
“God, that was awful. Does that actually work?” She casts a quick glance as you mimic her grin.
“Of course not. But you know I don’t actually think you’re old.”
“I mean, I kinda am. It ain’t a bad thing.”
“Sometimes I feel old. Which, before you roll your eyes and make some crack about how I’m closer to diapers. Just let me finish.”
“You feel old cause you’re in the big girl world now.” Melissa pipes and you don’t miss the smirk she lets settle across her face.
“Oh shut it.”
“Kid, you’re… well, you’re basically a kid.”
Your brows furrow then, the smile once sitting on your face slowly dropping.
“So you see me as a child?”
Melissa stops the car as she turns to face you. “What?”
“You said I’m basically a kid. So that must mean you view me like a child?”
Oh god, had you been wrong in thinking you and Melissa were getting close because she reciprocated the feelings you felt but instead was viewing you like a daughter.
“I just meant cause you’re way younger than me. I mean you’re still in your twenties.”
You shake your head, feeling like a complete and utter fool. “Are we Barb and Janine 2.0?”
“What?” Melissa’s looking more and more confused as you glance around to realise you’ve made it to Barbara’s and that’s why she’d stopped.
“Do you see me as—“ You pause, unsure if you want to hear the answer. “Do you view me as a daughter?”
Your horrified voice only seems to match the horror on Melissa’s face.
“Daughter? Whoa, oh no. No, no. No. Absolutely not.”
“Are you sure because you seem panicked? I’m only a couple years older than Janine.”
“I do not view you like Barbara does with Janine! I’m not looking at you like my daughter! What the fuck, y/n?”
Melissa’s mortified you'd even think the thought and she wonders if she can even stomach dinner right now.
“Well pick different words so I don’t think that!” You both stare at each other a little dumbfounded before Melissa’s laughing.
“What’s so funny?” You ask, Melissa’s mouth wide as her laughter fills the space between you.
“The look on your face is priceless, kid.” She teases, leaning across to lightly push your arm.
“You’re one to talk! You looked horrified.” You gently shove her back, shaking your head as you feel your chest tighten.
“I am! I mean shit, I know I’m old and could very well be your mother. But I ain't your mother nor do I wanna be.”
“What do you want to be then?” You don’t mean to sound so serious but the laughter stifles down as the silence fills the space between you that has you second guessing.
“Ignore that. We should go in.” You force a smile before quickly unbuckling as Melissa just nods her head before exiting the car.
—
You both head inside, greeted warmly by Gerald and then Barbara.
“Are we the first ones here?” Melissa gives you an odd look as Barbara laughs.
“No, dear. This is it. You are the first and only ones.” Barbara gives your arm a squeeze and you head further inside.
“Yeah it’s something Barb and I started doing a while back” She shrugs, following Gerald into the kitchen.
“She usually brings Gary. We’d call it two for two.” Gerald says it so casually and expects a laugh but Barbara swats at him. “What?” He frowns at her as she hurries him away.
“So I’m the new Gary?” You cast a glance to Melissa, feeling your face heating up as much as hers was.
“Not unless you suddenly quit and took interest in vending machines.” Melissa tries to shrug it off. “What’s cooking, Barb?”
So it was a double date.
You were the replacement.
—
You try to push what this meant to the back of your mind.
Melissa didn’t view you that way… she’d said it herself, hadn’t she?
Once you’ve all settled at the table, it’s only when Gerald starts cranking open the wine bottle does panic arise.
“Oh, none for me.” You say nonchalant.
“Huh?” Melissa casts you a look and Barbara arches a brow.
“Gotta get home somehow.” You shrug and Melissa’s brows furrow.
“I drove you here.”
Your cheeks darken then.
“Well I’ll drive you back then.”
“And what? Take my car home with you?” She looks at you confused as you quickly try to think of something.
“I can’t.” As soon as you’ve said it you’re quickly correcting yourself. “I mean, I shouldn’t… I had a really bad headache and took some painkillers just before you picked me up.” You shrug, reaching for the glass of water.
“Right. Now that makes more sense why you’re a little doozy.” Melissa chuckles and you roll your eyes.
“Still, one won’t hurt.” Melissa shrugs, taking the glass from Gerald and passing it to you as you feel your face heat up.
You miss the curiosity on Barbara’s features before she’s speaking. “You had an appointment this morning, tell us how that went.”
What was everyone’s damn interest in your stupid little appointment?
“Had some blood tests, that’s all. So I probably shouldn’t drink after drawing blood.” You gently push the glass away from you.
“Thought you said it was just a check up?”
“Uh…” Looking from Melissa to Barbara, Gerald is utterly oblivious as he retreats to the kitchen. “It was. Checkups include blood tests.”
You can’t quite read Melissa’s face as Gerald returns wearing oven mitts carrying the pot to the table.
He dishes you all up before you fall into pleasant chatter and spurts of silent eating.
“So, y/n.” Gerald pauses before getting your attention. “What’s new with you?”
You clear your throat and shrug as attention falls on you.
“Not a lot… Oh! Refereeing Abbott’s basketball team. That now sounds a little sad out loud.”
“Oh, hush you.” Melissa’s hand falls on your arm as she gently squeezes.
You feel your cheeks growing warmer as you reach for your glass to busy yourself.
“Anyone new in your lif–ow, who kicked me?” Gerald asks, a bread roll just held before his mouth as he looks to Barbara beside him who merely grins wide and toothy.
You’re not sure what looks they’re giving each other, but you might as well answer him.
“Nope..” Shaking your head. “We can’t all be happily married like you two though, it’d be sickening.” You let out a small laugh as you feel Melissa eyeing you.
“What ‘bout that bad date you had?”
You turn to her then. “--What?” “Bad date?” Barbara and you speak at once.
“It was… one date, not even a proper date. It wasn’t anything.” You try not to huff, but it’s clear you’re irritated as your shoulders lift slightly. “Why are we focusing on my life so much? Didn’t you break up with Gary recently, Melissa? What happened there?”
The look alone that falls on Melissa’s face is one that shouldn’t turn you on but it’ll kill you either way.
“Are we enjoying dinner?” Barbara cuts in, and you pull yourself together a little more as Melissa’s posture shifts from you.
“If I’m being honest. I wasn’t that big of a fan of his.” Gerald chimes in after a minute which causes Melissa to snort.
“Gerald!” Barbara almost gawks at him, even if she’s fighting to smirk.
“No, it’s ok, Barb.” Melissa waves off her hand. “So we weren’t a good match, no big deal.” She shrugs, casting a glance at you that you swear lasts longer than a second before she’s looking down at her food.
What the hell did that mean?
You hadn’t forgotten what she’d said to you before you tried kissing her. It was what gave you the courage to finally cross that line.
“We make a good match.” Spins round inside your head. She’d said it so casual with the biggest grin on her face and you had decided right then and there you wanted to officially make a good match.
It has your heart beating faster and your stomach doing small flips.
—
“That was really lovely, Barb. Thank you for inviting me.” You smile, coming to sit beside Barbara on the couch after dinner while Melissa and Gerald collect plates and lose themselves in discussion about some Philly team.
“When Melissa suggested, I thought it sounded like a lovely idea after everything lately.” She gives you a warm smile but your own face scrunches slightly.
“Melissa suggested what?”
“Inviting you of course.”
You stare blankly at Barbara then, Melissa’s words from earlier running through your mind. “Hey, Barb’s having me round for dinner tonight, she wanted me to ask if you’d join.”
“Oh, right. Duh.” You laugh awkwardly as Barbara eyes you.
It hadn’t been Barbara’s idea at all, in fact, it was all Melissa’s doing. It was starting to give you a headache thinking about it.
“What’s going on with you lately, hm?”
“What do you mean?” You pull yourself from your thoughts as you look over to Barbara.
“Well… And please correct me if I’m wrong.” Her sight drops to your stomach and at first you think she’s indicating you’ve spilled something on your shirt but it’s all clear when you look down.
“Huh?”
“Jacob’s homemade hummus.”
You almost gag the second she mentions it. “Please don’t. I’d like to keep that meal down.”
You shake your head, the back of your hand coming to your mouth.
“And your appointment earlier today. Now the wine and your thoughts are all over the place.”
It clicks for you what’s clicked for Barbara and your eyes widen slightly as you refrain from looking at her.
“Are you…?”
“What? How… no, I’m not.” You shake your head, almost gawking as your face starts to go bright red. There’s no missing your awkward laugh and the way your body shifts from the other woman.
You look over to see Melissa and Gerald still busy in the kitchen as your heart plummets beneath your chest.
“I may teach kindergarten, but that doesn’t mean I don’t notice things. Besides, I’ve been through it before.”
Truthfully, nobody could actually get anything past without Barbara noticing somehow.
Or Mr. Johnson. But you’ll put that down to him always lurking around the school.
You’re positive he lived there without Ava knowing.
“You don’t have to tell me anything you’re not comfortable with. I just want to make sure you’re doing okay.” Her hand finds yours and you look at her then, the friendly warm smile enough to have you letting out a defeated sigh.
“Ba-” You pause as you hear voices getting closer, glancing over your shoulder in time to catch Melissa and Gerald heading your way, Melissa’s eyes finding yours as she shoots you a smile.
—
“Thank you both once again.” You hug Gerald as Barbara and Melissa hug goodbye before the redheads slip into the driver's side.
Barbara comes to hug you and whispers in your ear. “I won’t tell Melissa. That’s yours to share. But I am here for anything you need, okay?” She squeezes your arms as you try to hold back tears.
“What was all that about?”
Melissa asks once you’re buckled in and the car starts.
“What was what?”
“Barb. Looked serious.”
“Oh, that's what.” You laugh awkwardly, feeling your face heat up. “You know Barb. Just telling me I’m doing a good job with um, the refereeing, yeah.” You shrug, but Melissa buys it.
The drive home is quieter. No music playing, your mind still thinking intensely before Melissa interrupts the silence.
“You all good over there? You’re pretty quiet.”
You turn to look at her as she focuses on the road.
Only then do your eyes start to wander as you take in the loose ponytail and stray strands that have managed to escape. The expanse of her neck and the curve of her jaw.
You’d tried to not oogle her throughout dinner and afterwards, but maybe now you could…
“Oh, yeah. I was just thinking…” You shrug, watching the curiosity wash over her face.
“About what?”
“What you said during dinner. Something Barb said after dinner.”
Melissa stops at the red light, casting a glance in your direction and only realising then you’d been staring at her as you quickly turn away, missing the smirk on Melissa’s face as your own heats up.
“Why did you invite me?” You ask.
“Invite you to what?”
You roll your eyes, sighing as you turn back to Melissa to see her looking back at you.
“To Dinner.”
Her face falters then, the fluorescent light switching from red to green that has her quickly turning back to the road. “Barb did.”
“She told me it was your suggestion.”
You watch Melissa then, the way her fingers tighten round the steering wheel and a lump that’s swallowed down her throat.
“Just wanted to.” She shrugs as you watch the loose strands from her ponytail scratch the side of her neck.
“To a double date night?”
“Y/n–” Melissa speaks but you’re quickly cutting her off.
“I don’t get it…”
“I didn’t want to be third wheeling Barb and Gerald.” Melissa says.
“Is that the only reason why?”
The silence is deafening as Melissa’s knuckles grow whiter,
“Why did you actually break up with Gary, Melissa?”
Melissa’s face scrunches as the car stops at another red light, her face finally turning to face yours. “What the hell does he have to do with this?”
“Everything! I almost kiss you and you remind me you’re with Gary, the same Gary you broke up with who’s place I’m suddenly replacing at dinner. What’s next?”
There’s no helping the tears beginning to brew in your eyes as Melissa focuses on you.
“It’s really not fair to play with my feelings.” Looking down briefly as you shake your head, Melissa’s mouth begins to open, her hand reaching across to you.
But she never quite reaches your arm, both of you jumping when the car behind Melissa’s honks, the green lighting your faces up as you both turn to face ahead, Melissa continuing on.
“Your feelings? You were drunk and would’ve kissed anyone.” Melissa almost hisses.
“No I wouldn’t have! I made that up because I just tried to kiss you and it went horribly wrong!”
Melissa’s shocked expression turns to you briefly before going back to the road as she carefully pulls over.
“Look, I’m not playing with your feelings, y/n. Or I ain’t try in’ to.” Sighing, Melissa turns to look at you then.
You could see how nervous she looked that made her seem much smaller than usual that it had your own heart pounding.
“You almost kissed me. Then I hardly saw you all week. I guess it affected me.” She shrugs, looking down briefly. “Anyways, Gary figured something was wrong. So I told him what happened. And yanno, he wasn’t bothered. I don’t think it phased him that somebody tried to kiss me. But… he was bothered about something.”
You’re not sure you’d be as cool and collected as Gary seemed if somebody tried kissing your girlfriend. Let alone if they were anything like Melissa.
“What was he bothered about?”
“I perked right back up when we finally made up.” There’s a softness and sense of vulnerability in the way she talks that you almost forget what you’re talking about.
“So I bothered him then?”
“Kinda.” She grimaced, but you couldn’t exactly take much offense to Gary disliking you. “He asked what the deal was. Whether I had feelings for you.”
Your heart drops then, and when Melissa’s chest rises just a little too high, so does yours.
“Feelings for me? But you said you’re not…” Well, technically she had implied.
“I panicked! And I was with Gary.” She shakes her head, turning away from you as she leans her head back against the headrest. “I wasn’t sure if I felt something for you or it was just my fear of being with Gary after the divorce.”
Your heart pounds beneath your chest that you’re sure it’ll burst through at any second. “Which was it?”
You see Melissa’s lips crack into a small smile as she looks at you. “I broke up with him, didn’t I?”
You swallow, looking away as your cheeks heat up.
“I had to be sure so I wouldn’t ruin it.” Melissa unbuckles herself which piques your curiosity as you look back to her.
“Sure of–Sure of what?” You clear your throat, unsure if you could fully trust your voice.
“Y/n.” Her eyes drop to your mouth before back to your eyes.
“It’s not like I’m young.” Her hand reaches over then to tuck a loose strand behind your ear as you try to remember how to breathe.
“And? You’re… you.”
She rolls her eyes then, letting out a breath of air as a small grin forms. “I wasn’t sure you felt that way about me but then you tried to kiss me.”
Her hand stays close to your face as fingers come to cup your skin and you fight to let your eyes flutter.
“I should’ve let you kiss me. I wanted you to kiss me.” She shakes her head and everything else around you fades away as you try to properly register Melissa’s words.
You hadn’t misread the signs.
“But I was with Gary.” She leans in then, her thumb brushing over your lower lip.
“Melissa…” You plead looking at her as she closes the gap between you.
“I’m not anymore.”
Time stops when her mouth connects with yours. Your ears were bursting and your heart was soaring as fireworks went off.
Her mouth was soft, the taste of dinner still lingering on her lips and tongue that finds its way inside your mouth.
You withhold the whimper threatening to fall as your hands find their way to Melissa’s arm, both of you slowly pulling back for air.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long.” Melissa mumbles, leaning in as you pull your head back shaking your head.
“But I did try do that but you…”
Melissa cuts you off by kissing you again as her own head shakes, both her hands coming to cup each cheek.
“You did, and all I could think ‘bout was how I was gonna tell Gary I stuck my tongue down your throat.”
There’s no helping the moan that falls as Melissa’s tongue slips inside your mouth till your head spins. Her tongue sweeps over yours, fingers slowly disappearing into your hair.
“You took your time.” You mumble as Melissa leans back slowly, still trying to come back to it as Melissa’s laugh fills the space between you.
“Yeah, well, I had to be sure. And it wasn’t that long.” Leaning back Melissa’s hand drops to find yours as your eyes follow her movements.
“It was definitely close to two months.” You muse and Melissa’s brow quirks at you.
“You been keepin’ count?” Your cheeks darken, time stopping for a moment before Melissa lets out another small laugh. “That’s kinda adorable.”
“Oh, shut it.” You let out a breath as your body heats up further.
“Alright.” You turn in time to meet Melissa’s mouth on your own.
“I’ve been parked outside yours this entire time, yanno.” Melissa speaks after pulling back and only then do you finally take in your surroundings to see where you were.
“Oh.” You watch Melissa grin at you, her hand still tangled with yours as she squeezes your hand and pulls you right back to the moment.
“Did you want to come in?” Your voice comes out quiet as Melissa slowly shakes her head.
“Not ‘cause I don’t want to.” She lifts your tangled hands to press a kiss to your knuckles.
“We don’t have to do anything.”
“I know. But if I come in, we will.” She holds your gaze then, letting a few beats pass before she’s untangling herself and leaning back properly into her seat.
“Let's have a proper date first, yeah? How’s Friday?”
You try to contain the smirk pulling across your face as you let out the breath you hadn’t realised you’d been holding. “It’s game night.”
“So we don’t go.” Melissa shrugs.
“And if one of us gets picked to host?” Your brow arches as you watch her think for a moment.
“So one of us stays the night.” Her brows lift to you which causes you to blush and look away from Melissa.
“Ok, friday.”
Melissa grins leaning back over to you, kissing you softly before reaching over you to open your car door – though you’re sure it was just an excuse for her to lean and brush her body over yours, which didn’t exactly help with how much she’d already turned you on.
“It’s a date.” She’s far too smug as she leans back, the shit eating grin causing you to roll your eyes and fight your own smug expression.
—
Thursday morning.
You come to school that following day with too much pep in your step, you might just outwin Janine for giddy happiness until you end up in the break room when Gary’s stocking the vending machine.
Right. Thursday.
You stand there too long debating whether to make a coffee or go cold turkey that it’s too late to do anything but awkwardly enter the room when Gary spots you, standing up a little straighter.
“You got some nerve.”
Your brows pull together then as you reach for a mug. “I… work here?”
“Oh, yeah. Right, I forgot that.” You give him an odd look as he shrugs you off and turns back to the machine.
You think that’ll be it as silence takes over, but it’s not.
“Actually you do got some nerve kissing other guy’s gals.”
“Didn’t she break up with you?”
“No, that was me.” You turn to face him then.
“Oh, she didn’t tell you, huh? Yeah, I broke it off with her. Guess it ain’t so nice being kept outta the loop.”
You feel your pulse pounding, then again you weren’t entirely sure if Gary was being honest.
“I shouldn’t have tried to kiss her, but don’t blame me because you couldn’t keep her.”
He scoffs then, closing the vending machine. “You’re lucky you’re a lady–”
“Or you’d what.” Melissa’s voice startles you as you grip the bench behind you and turn to see the redhead fuming, her bag hanging from her shoulder that’s quickly dumped onto the table as she moves further into the room.
“Melissa.”
“Nah, don’t let me stop you. What were you just about t’say, Gar? ‘Cause if you’re looking for a lady to fight, I know one that ain’t afraid to take it.” It shouldn’t turn you on with the way she bites at him, her hand on her hip that has your eyes roaming over her hips and thighs.
“Not even worth it.” Gary grabs the empty boxes before walking past Melissa. “Don’t let her fool you either.”
You ignore Gary’s words. You hadn’t realised you’d sunken yourself into the corner of the kitchen as you hear Melissa speaking, not entirely hearing what she says before her presence before you pulls you from your thoughts.
“Y/n?” Melissa’s hands are planted on your arms as she runs her eyes over your face.
“W-what?” It croaks out at first till you clear your throat and let your tongue dart out.
“I said, are you ok?” Her hands drift up as you finally look at her.
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” You swallow hard as you try to move but Melissa stops you.
“Hey, look at me.” You glance at the door, unsure when Melissa closed it, before you look at her.
Her hands hesitate before drifting to your cheeks, causing your eyes to fall closed as you let out a small sigh.
“I’m sorry about him.” She pulls you into an embrace as your head shakes, arms loosely coming to hang around her waist.
“That’s not your fault.” You shrug, resting your chin on top of her shoulder.
“Yeah but he wouldn’t have been that harsh on you if it weren’t for me.”
You shake your head then, slowly pulling back.
“He says he broke up with me ‘cause I kept ignoring his calls until he showed up and said he’s not chasing somebody who’s made up their mind already.”
She hadn’t necessarily lied, nor had she told you the entire reason they’d broken up. “You were pretty adamant you called it quits.”
“Yeah, ‘cause I didn’t want you thinking I was still hung up on him.” She shakes her head, glancing at the door briefly before you then your lips. “I’m hung up on you though.”
Her attempts to cause your sunken expression to something softer works when your lips crack and your cheeks go red.
She leans in to kiss your cheek, lifting her hand to wipe away the mark of her lipstick.
“You’re getting cheesy, Schemmenti.” She releases you then, her smirk growing wider as she puts space between you two.
Though you already miss the warmth of her presence even from the coffee machine to the table.
“Maybe you’re rubbin off on me.” She kinks a brow, slipping into her seat.
“Not yet, at least.” You shrug, watching as Melissa’s face heats up just as much as yours.
—
Thursday lunch.
Melissa gets to the break room just as Barbara settles herself.
“Hey you.” Melissa grins as Barbara gives her a look, watching the redhead with a little more pep in her step than Barbara’s used to seeing.
“Hey yourself. What’s got you in such a good mood?”
“Oh, nothin’.” Shrugging, unable to suppress the small dopey grin she displayed as she sat beside Barbara.
“You are glowing, Melissa Schemmenti. C’mon, what gives.” Curiosity washes over Barb as she watches the redhead.
“Nothing gives, Barb!” A brief pause. “But maybe I kissed y/n last night.” She tries to shrug it off, saying it nonchalantly – but Barbara gasps, hand coming to Melissa’s arm.
“Does that mean you two finally–?”
“It was a kiss, Barb. An actual kiss this time, not an almost. Though maybe I asked her out. God, now that makes me feel old. Who asks people out these days?” She snorts, rolling her eyes as Barbara merely grins at her.
“Well I for one am just happy you finally took that step. It was getting a little sad watching you two.”
“Barb!”
“Well it was! So much worse than the students and their little love shapes or whatever they’re called.”
“There ain’t no love triangle. Gary’s out.” Melissa shakes her head, pulling her container out of her bag. “Though speaking of Gary. Guess who I saw earlier.”
“It is Thursday.” Barbara almost shrugged.
“Yeah and I got other things goin’ on to keep up with what days Gary’s in.” Melissa groans, opening her container. “But he tried threatening y/n.”
“He did what? Is she alright? He didn’t hurt her?” Barbara’s eyes widen as Melissa quickly shakes her head.
“No! I said he tried threatening Barb. You think I’d let him get away with that? He’s lucky I work here or I’d be taken out in cuffs.” Shaking her head, stabbing her fork down into her salad.
“Mhm, he is lucky you kept yourself behaved. Oh, that’s not a nice thought.”
“You’re telling me!” Melissa scoffs, shaking her head as she stabs her fork into the salad. “Don’t think I’ve seen red like that in a while.”
“I’d be seeing red too! Young girl like herself with what she’s carrying.” Barbara utters, shaking her head as she turns back to her crossword.
“Carrying what?” Melissa says with a mouthful, cocking her brow at Barbara who turns to Melissa.
Barbara doesn’t get to speak though, you and Janine entering the breakroom.
“Hey–what’s with the faces?” Janine’s grin turns to a small frown looking between the two older women.
“Did Barb’s computer get hacked again?” You ask slipping into the seat beside Melissa who you see visibly shift.
“No! And stop bringing that up.” Barbara almost hisses, her and Melissa’s conversation cut short.
“Touchy subject.” Melissa mutters only loud enough for you to hear as your cheeks pinken.
Once you’re all finally settled in the break room, Janine gets everyone’s attention as she holds a small bowl.
“Okay, okay. It’s time to decide who’s hosting the next game night tomorrow.” Janine’s a bit too giddy grinning away. “Jacob, your name is here. But if you get picked first we’ll just ignore it.” She nods to him as he grins at her and sits back down.
“Oh thank god. I did spill some wine that Zach wasn’t too happy about… I might’ve been in the dog house.” He shrugs but nobody prompts him further.
“You know the drill, first name picked is who’s holding it, second and third name is bringing alcohol and fourth–”
“Fourth and fifth is food, sixth gets to just show up.” Ava cuts Janine off. “And I better be sixth this time.”
“That’s not how it works, Ava.” Janine rolls her eyes as she holds the bowl in Ava’s direction. “In fact you get to pick first!”
Ava groans but ultimately picks out the first name and shows it to Janine.
“Melissa!”
Melissa groans as she leans back in her chair. “This is why I should’ve never agreed to this stupid thing in the first place.” She shakes her head, arms folding across her chest as you smirk at her.
Melissa picks next and calls out Jacob’s name, who then proceeds to go and so forth.
“That thing is definitely rigged.” Melissa groans again.
“It’s rig proof, Melissa.” Janine reminds her.
“Well I for one am happy with my choice.” Barbara grins.
“Again, not a choice, Barb. But you never miss the food.”
“I’m just glad I don’t have to do anything but show up.” You grin, merely teasing as you hear Melissa scoff.
“Mhm, you know what. I think since you ain’t bringing nothing. You can show up early to help me, kiddo.” Melissa muses, her hand coming to grip the back of your chair.
Nobody notices both of you staring at each other, small smiles playing on your face.
—
“So what’d you mean before, Barb?” Melissa asks when it’s just her and Barbara heading back to their classes after the bell goes.
“I said a lot of things back there. You’ll have to be specific.”
“Y/n and carrying something.” Melissa shouldn’t start to feel anxious or worried, but the longer Barbara takes to respond the more her thoughts start spiraling.
“Carrying all those bags she brings in everyday.” Barbara shrugs, heading into her classroom.
Melissa doesn’t buy it, hands stuffing into her pockets as she follows Barb inside.
“Mhm, I can tell when you’re lying to me, Barb. I’m just wondering why.”
“I am not lying to you!” Barbara shrugs, pulling out the papers she’d printed earlier.
“Aight. So say that again but without looking away from me.”
Barbara sighs before finally turning to Melissa, her expression one she can’t completely decipher.
“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t go down that rabbit hole.” Barbara warns as Melissa’s face scrunches.
“The hell does that mean?”
“Talk to y/n.”
“Barb what the h—“ Pausing as she notices the kids filing in and lowers her voice. “The hell do you mean?”
“Ask her.” Barbara won’t say it again, instead ushering Melissa out of the room. Leaving the redhead standing there dumbfounded and feeling unsettled.
summary: you decide to finally kiss melissa, but things don't go as planned.
warnings: none.
Friday night.
The two of you were currently standing outside on the balcony — Jacob was holding a game night, plus one’s always invited, of course.
But it was you and Melissa who both showed up by yourselves — Melissa without Gary, now forced to be paired with you for each game.
Not that either of you were complaining.
The two of you would always use any excuse to be each other's partner.
That, and you were both competitive as hell, so being put on the same team seemed like the best plausible situation.
You’d needed some fresh air after the last board game had you sitting in Melissa’s lap the entire time. She wouldn’t let you sit elsewhere, constantly feeling her breath tickling your neck every time she spoke or laughed, her hand glued to your hip and the warmth from her body radiating against yours.
You weren’t expecting her to follow you out, but she does. Handing you another beer with a wide smile.
Your flushed cheeks matched her hair and she couldn’t help but point it out.
“We make a good match.” She smirks as your beers clink and you both take a sip.
It made your heart flutter, and maybe you’ve had too much, maybe it’s the closeness between you and Melissa.
But you decide to go for it with the close proximity between you two.
You’re leaning against the railing as you slowly lean towards Melissa beside you, your eyes beginning to flutter.
But you never close them completely, your mouth barely brushing against Melissa’s before she’s pulling back abruptly with wide eyes and your own internal panic begins.
“Shit. Melissa–” You gasp, feeling more sober than you were five minutes ago as you put space between you two.
“What the hell, kid?” The nickname shouldn’t cut like a knife but with the tone of her voice and continuing words you couldn’t help but feel your heart shattering. “What are you trying to pull?”
“Nothing! I’m so sorry. I-I didn’t mean–”
“I’m with Gary.” Shaking her head, cutting you off again. “And I’m not–”
Her words hurt, your chest rises then, looking away from Melissa momentarily as you try to hold back tears.
“I’ve had way too much, Melissa I-I didn’t mean to… try and kiss you.” You don’t sound believable, practically pleading with her. “I probably would’ve kissed whoever was with me right now. God, imagine me trying to kiss Barb.” You shrug, awkwardly laughing as you desperately try to come up with something plausible rather than confessing your entire feelings for Melissa.
You watch her shake her head, something else hidden in her eyes you can’t completely decipher as her hands fall to her hips.
“Can we please pretend this never happened?” You can feel the tears about to fall when you quickly blink them back.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, y/n.” She casts a glance at you, and you swear her eyes blink down to your mouth but she’s gone just in an instant.
How could you have gotten it so wrong?
All this time you’d thought there was something brewing between you two. That the flirting was flirting. She took more interest in you than she ever did with Janine or Jacob. You were at her house every other weekend or evening. The two of you were practically inseparable, nothing was off limits and all cards were on the table.
Or so you’d thought.
You’d been wrong. She wasn’t interested in you, maybe she never was. Maybe it was simply being polite since she shut everyone else out.
You couldn’t quite figure it out and you knew the longer you waited outside the worse the tension in the other room would get.
Once you head back inside, everyone’s got a new partner.
It doesn’t take you any guessing to figure out who requested it.
Melissa’s now paired with Barbara, Gerald sitting in the spot she once occupied.
He says Barbara requested it, but you know he’s only being polite especially when Barbara gives you a confused but concerned smile and Melissa is unable to look at or acknowledge you for the rest of the night.
She ignores you when you’re all packing up, ready to head out for the night.
You get caught up talking to Zach by the time you realise Melissa has left without saying goodbye and you feel your heart shattering even more.
—
Monday morning.
You head towards the break room, almost dreading who you’ll find.
It only gets worse when you do find Melissa.
She’s in the middle of grabbing the milk carton from the fridge, her back to you.
You panic for a second before quietly going to the coffee machine.
Melissa, hearing and sensing the presence glances over her shoulder, her heart skipping as she clears her throat and keeps a steady voice. “Morning.”
“Morning.” You reply, already hating the awkward tension between you two when your greetings used to be full of a lot more joy.
You finish making your coffee before realising you’re not sure where to sit.
Did you still sit beside Melissa with her and Barbara? Or should you go back to where you first started?
“Have a good weekend?” Melissa’s already removing her bag from the chair you usually sit on, clearing space for you instinctively and you try not to let your heart flutter.
“Sure.” You shrug, shaking your head as you carefully slip into your seat.
She arches a brow at you and you contemplate bringing up what happened.
“Had a bad date Saturday.” You roll your eyes, deciding to not bring up your original thought as you sip away at your coffee.
You hadn’t actually had a date. But you had gone out specifically looking to hookup with somebody — anybody.
Melissa didn’t need to know those details though.
You miss the confusion and distinct hurt in Melissa’s face that’s quickly gone the second you’re looking back up at her.
“What about you? You and Gary get up to anything?”
“He had family visiting.” She shrugs, eyeing you as you stare back into your coffee. “Tell me ‘bout the date, that sounds more interesting than meeting relatives.” Her tone is lighter, trying to break the tension.
“Meeting the family is a big step though.” You nod, trying to suck up what you truly felt as you ignore the blush creeping across your face. “That seems way more interesting than a bad date.”
“I guess it’s a big step. But hey, we all have bad dates.” She gently kicks your foot beneath the table and you let your lips curl at her effort.
“At least the sex wasn’t so bad.” You mutter, looking away from Melissa as you miss her face faltering.
You’re just thankful Jacob comes in a few seconds later raving on about his weekend and the glorious game night.
You start to avoid Melissa after that morning.
Choosing your classroom over the break room at lunch, getting in earlier than Melissa ever did to ensure you could get a cup of coffee and avoid her. You leave earlier or busy yourself till you know she’s gone.
You couldn’t handle seeing her as much as you used to, which was hard working in the same building as her.
You’d need to find something to busy your time.
Until that first Friday when she catches you in the early morning.
“Are you avoiding me?” It’s the first thing out of her mouth as she stands in the doorway.
“What?” You almost pour too much milk into your coffee, her words surprising you. “I’m not… why would you think that?”
“‘Cause you are.” She snorts, dumping her belongings on the table as she leans against the chair, hand on her hip.
You avoid looking at her after finding her hair was tied up with her glasses sitting atop her head. It was a look that made you weak, and had your thoughts turning a little sinister.
But you couldn’t.
“Thought you said you wanted to pretend it never happened?”
You look at her then, your brows pulling together. “What?”
“Oh, c’mon. Quit playing stupid with me. You almost kissed me and now you've turned into Houdini this week.
“I’ve been busy with work. It's been hectic. Not everything is about you.” You try to shrug it off but Melissa’s head shakes as she pushes her lower lip out with her tongue looking away from you momentarily before standing up straighter.
“Fine. So what if I have? Can you blame me?”
“Ain’t we friends?”
Your jaw tightens then quickly looking away from Melissa. You thought you’d been more.
All those signals – had you simply conjured them up?
“Are we?”
“I thought we were. But you can’t even look at me let alone be in the same room with me for more than five minutes.”
“Because I’m embarrassed! Or did you forget what I tried to do?”
“You were drunk.” She shrugs it off. “Like you said, you would’ve kissed anyone.” She sounds hurt, or bitter, you couldn’t quite tell.
I wouldn’t have kissed just anyone. You fight yourself to not say it.
“That still doesn’t take away the embarrassment. I mean, have you ever almost kissed a friend? Barbara?”
“Yeah, plenty. Mistletoes, platonic pecks. It’s what best friends do.”
“We’re not best friends though. We don’t… kiss randomly.” You swallow hard, trying to get the image of Melissa giving you casual kisses out of your head. “So it’s a bit different. Also my last best friend and I would make out, she was my girlfriend for a while too.” You shrug, unable to help yourself as you see Melissa’s face crack, letting out a small laugh.
“I miss hearing your quips.” You can’t help the small smile at Melissa’s words, trying not to read too much into your interactions with her anymore.
Maybe friends did kiss, or share platonic pecks. But your actions weren’t platonic, you wanted to kiss Melissa senseless till you were both dizzy. You wanted to do far more to her than simply kissing, you wanted to worship the ground she walked and be the one making her insanely happy. Which is not something friends do unless there’s feelings or benefits involved.
“Look, we all do stupid shit when we’re drunk. I don’t want it to ruin what we got.” Her voice is earnest and all you can manage is to nod at her.
What we got. You’re not even sure you knew what that was anymore.
The entire time you’d thought there were blurred lines between you and Melissa, that the closeness was much more than platonic. That what you felt was also felt by the other.
“It won’t.” You try to reassure.
“Yeah? That mean you gonna sit in here and drink your coffee instead of being a loner in your classroom?” She pokes and it does feel good to hear it, to be talking and seeing Melissa again.
“Well I can’t be called a loner, bad for my rep. So guess so.”
You still had it bad for her, but you’ll push it to the back of your mind and try to forget about it.
Maybe if you stopped romanticising every interaction with her it’d get easier.
—
Tuesday, 3 weeks later.
It’d been hard at first, still trying to break the tension between you two.
Barbara found out a few days after you stopped trying to actively avoid Melissa, though she had an inkling something had happened the second you stopped showing up in the break room.
You confess to Barbara when Melissa isn’t around that it wasn’t a drunken mistake, how in love you are with Melissa and expecting to be judged but instead met with a warm hug and kind words.
“I messed up real bad.” Your face was in your hands, Barbara sat beside you as she gently rubbed your back.
“You didn’t, y/n. We’ve all made mistakes before.”
You shake your head, feeling the lump in your throat and the tears burning.
“It wasn’t a mistake… I thought.” You drag your hands away, unable to look at Barbara as you stare at the table. “I thought she liked me. I thought she felt the same.” You feel pathetic, your eyes close then, the embarrassment washing over as you hear a small sigh from Barbara.
“I’m so sorry, dear.”
“How could I be so stupid?”
“You are not. None of that self pity talk.” Barbara shakes her head, her hand still on your back as you finally look at her. “You cannot help who you fall for, y/n. And I’ve seen how close you two have gotten. Sometimes we get our feelings muddled. It doesn’t have to ruin your friendship.”
That was the only problem.
You didn’t want a friendship with Melissa, you wanted more.
But you couldn’t.
You had to busy yourself in getting over Melissa along with not having to see her every second of the day.
So you do, picking up an after school activity – refereeing for the basketball team, which gives you an excuse to not see Melissa as much as usual.
It made your interactions with her scarce and easier, she couldn’t say you were avoiding her when you were simply helping out and ‘needing more cash’ as you’d tried to put it and successfully winning Melissa over. (you think)
—
Friday.
“Good morning.” You bounce into the room with a box full of donuts but stop seeing Melissa with a dreary face, arms folded and eyes staring into space. “Melissa?”
She blinks then, looking at you and feeling a sense of realisation of where she was. “Oh, hey. Morning.” She nods, her smile barely reaching her eyes as you place the box on the table.
“What’s wrong?”
Melissa shakes her head and reaches for the box. “Broke up with Gary last night.”
You stand still, unsure what to say or do as you watch Melissa open the box and search before taking out one of the glazed donuts.
“I’m sorry.” You try to sound sincere as you sit beside Melissa.
“Didn’t you hear me? I broke up with him.” She takes a mouthful and you watch her carefully.
“You can still be upset even if you broke it off. Are you okay?”
“I got a donut and it’s Friday, I’m great!” Her voice sounded more sarcastic than genuine as she fakes a grin at you.
“Girls night? You, Barb, me – could rope in Janine and Ava and really make a night of it.”
Melissa waves her hand off, shaking her head as she takes another mouthful. “I ain’t being fussed. Besides, I got a big bottle at home with my name on it that I ain’t sharing with anybody.”
“Well, call if you need anything.” You shrug, unsure what to properly say to Melissa as your own heart pounds at the thoughts running through your head.
“Was it because of what I almost did?”
Melissa looks at you confused for a second before it dawns. “No.” But she didn’t sound convincing and you could easily tell she was lying, you just weren’t sure why. “There were other reasons. I can assure you it ain’t got nothing to do with you almost kissing me, hon.”
You weren’t fully sure if you believed her, but you couldn’t prompt her further when Barbara came in and immediately started fussing over Melissa.
—
2 weeks later.
It starts to get less awkward between you and Melissa over time, slowly finding your way back to your usual rhythm.
You try not to read or think too much into it, especially with her and Gary being broken up and the redhead seeking you out even more — coming to your practices and using catching up on grading as an excuse while also wanting to support Abbott.
It messes with your head.
Melissa didn’t feel the same, so why was she making sure you couldn’t avoid her?
You don’t ask, trying to shake it off.
You were friends. That was it.
Especially when you two finally hugged after what felt like months of keeping a pole between you two, and It feels like the tension you’d once had was starting to dissipate as you felt yourself slipping back into how you were before you’d tried to kiss her.
—
Tuesday.
“What is that god awful smell?” Your hand comes to cover your nose as your face scrunches.
“My homemade hummus?” Jacob pipes from behind you, as you look over your shoulder and feel the strength of the stench.
“Oh, I’m gonna be sick.” You close your eyes and shake your head, pinching your nose as you try to breathe through your mouth.
“What? It’s not that bad.” Jacob’s confused as he looks between you, his hummus and his pita chips.
“You know, when I was first pregnant with Taylor I couldn’t stand the smell of mayonnaise and eggs, Gerald had to keep it from the house till the third trimester before I could even stand being around it.” Barbra speaks, shivering thinking back to it.
Melissa smiles listening to her, but you’re quickly starting to internally panic when you realise; you’re late.
“I’ve always had a good sense of smell.” You shrug, trying to downplay how nervous you were starting to feel.
“Like my cousin Bobby, he could smell a branzino from a mile away.” Melissa pipes and you can’t help but laugh.
You finish your lunch before excusing yourself at the last minute to grade your papers.
But you make an appointment instead.
—
Wednesday lunch.
“Where have you been all morning?” Melissa’s voice pulls you from your thoughts as she enters your classroom with a wide grin, striding over to your desk as you pull your head out of your hands.
“Hmm?” Unable to look at her or force a smile. Too much on your mind.
“Ava said you had some sort’ve appointment.” She shrugs, leaning against your desk and you suck in a breath before exhaling and forcing a small smile.
“Yeah, yeah. I did. Just your usual check up.” Melissa nods at you and you think she’s going to prompt you further.
“Hey, Barb’s having me round for dinner tonight, she wanted me to ask if you’d join.”
You could use a distraction and you couldn’t say no to spending time with not only Melissa, but Barbara and Gerald as well.
“Well I definitely can’t say no to you or Barb.”
Melissa grins, patting your arm. “Attagirl. Now c’mon, lunch.”
You try to hide your smile as you pick yourself up and head to the break room with Melissa.
—
Wednesday afterschool.
“Hey.” Melissa knocks on your door while you’re in the middle of packing your belongings away.
“Hey.” You flash a small smile as she heads further into the room.
“So I was thinking, it’d be a lot easier if we just ride together. I can swing by yours and we can head to Barb’s place together.” She seemed nervous but you try to remember what you’ve been telling yourself — don’t read into your interactions with Melissa anymore, it’ll only mess with your head and have you falling harder when you were trying to get over her.
“Sounds smart.” You shrug, tossing your bag over your shoulder. “What time should I be ready?”
“Six. Dinners not till six thirty.”
“Perfect. I'll see you at six then!.” You grin once more before the two of you exit your classroom.
“It’s a date.”
You almost stop in your tracks then, your face heating up just as Melissa’s does.
You see her mouth open, eyes widening slightly. “I mean, yanno, like… date with Barb and Gerald. Double date. No, I'm making that sound worse. I’ll see you at six.”
You stand there slightly dumbfounded watching Melissa shake her head as she mutters to herself and disappears down the hall.
What the hell was that all about? A date? Did Melissa know what she was doing to you?
She’d never said that before. Even when you two had had countless ‘friend dates’, just the two of you having dinner — going to the markets. Doing date things.
But she’d never called it a date, not even accidentally or in a joking manner.
Summary: You have an obsession with old, cliche pickup lines, and Okoye seems to be the main one at the recieving end of them. Though she often pretends that she isn't very fond of you, somehow she's fallen in love with your goofy self.
Author's Note: I know you said American, so I did write with an American accent in mind, and somehow, it came out sounding very country-esque. I want you to know that I’m not trying to generalise the American accent in this writing, but rather that I chose the one accent that I felt fit the story in a charming way. It’s purely just what I was specifically thinking of as I wrote. Much like how the rest of my fics work in the same way.
Word Count: 5k
Just jokes and a fun time
Warning: Extremely bad jokes, Mention of minor injuries
When Okoye had been asked to be in Shuri’s lab for the day, she’d assumed it would just be a slow day of observing what they did there, not fully paying attention, and sometimes giving her slightly unwanted but very honest opinions about the things that were being made.
She agreed without hesitation, going to the lab and standing just by the entrance. She couldn’t see Shuri anywhere, which she noted as unusual, but still no red-flags came up for her.
Out of all the things she thought was happening, a set up of some kind had been far from the first idea on her list.
At first she didn’t notice.
She heard 2 pairs of footsteps approaching and thought nothing of it. Shuri sometimes brought people in with her, so still it would be nothing unusual if one of Wakanda’s scientists entered beside her.
As they got closer. Okoye thought that she heard something familiar. She grew extremely quiet, even temporarily pausing her breathing to get a clear hearing of it.
It took a few seconds, but then it definitely repeated itself. She heard not only a specific sound, but a specific voice.
A hearty melodic voice that expressed genuine joy. In a laugh.
A laugh that, although was very unique and could not be easily imitated, didn’t quite fit into the ‘annoying laugh’ category.
Okoye enjoyed hearing the sound, and it was soothing to hear for the most part. But knowing who the owner of it was, she started to panic.
She had to find a way out.
She couldn’t leave through the door. She’d be caught instantly.
She couldn’t pretend to not see the woman either as that would only fuel her desire to talk to her.
Her eyes scanned the room for any hiding places, knowing that it would seem childish to hide but also wanting to continue having a day where her sanity wasn’t tested.
The only way that this would happen was if she didn’t make any contact with the woman she thought of at all.
So she made her way more into the lab to try her best to hide and blend into the room until she could make her escape.
She was almost there too.
Then, “Hey, Okoye!” your voice rang loudly through the lab; stopping her movement.
‘Bast help me.’ she prayed silently, turning around to give you her signature serious face as she walked towards you and Shuri.
She saw the look on the latter's face, and she finally realised that she was probably the cause of her dilemma all along. Shuri had clearly set Okoye up so she could watch the ultimately ridiculous encounter that always seemed to happen when you were around each other.
“Hello, Y/n.” Okoye said as professionally as she could.
You had your typical ridiculously cocky smile on your face that Okoye never seemed to be able to knock off.
Shuri smirked, watching the two of you look at each other with completely opposite expressions. When you’d suggested that she get Okoye into the lab just before you arrived, she knew it would be a sight to see.
She didn’t like deceiving the General but it sure was entertaining when she did.
The General almost looked impressed at the intentional coincidence, but she wasn;t about to show any respect towards the cruel situation she’d been placed in.
She wasn’t going to give Shuri any praise for this particular trick. Not when the first thing that she had to hear you say to her was, “I know it's the umpteenth time that we’ve met but um, do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?”
Then came that laugh again. So warm but so, so dumb. You laughed like you genuinely thought you were the funniest person in the world.
Every joke or pickup line was either bad, or absolutely terrible but every single time without fail; you’d laugh. And you’d get others to join you too.
Just like Shuri right then.
She tried to keep her mouth closed so her laugh wouldn't travel but she still allowed herself to be infected with the foolishness that you brought with you.
Okoye wasn’t the same, however. She looked at you. As in really looking at you. Standing her ground and not even letting her lips quiver in their temptation.
Her eyes let you know that you weren’t getting anywhere with that.
Much like she’d been trying to let you know for the past 2 years that she’d known you personally.
You never seemed to give up though. And for some reason Okoye could tell that this time was no different.
“Back so soon.” she said, smirking at your surprised reaction to the question. “You know, back in my day people who never seemed to settle down into one place were called Nomads. Though, with you it’s strange. They usually travel in groups. But I have yet to see you with anyone else.”
“Oh, so that’s how you wanna be today, huh?” you asked, gaining a grin from the woman, “And you know you’re not that much older than me. Stop playin’.”
“How would I know that? I barely pay attention to you.”
“Come on now, Okoye. There’s no need to keep lyin’. I know you pay attention. You love me. I see it all over that pretty face of yours. I’m sure you were thinking of me the entire time that I was gone.”
“How would I have had the time to do that? You never leave for long enough for me to even realise that you’re gone.”
“I was gone for an appropriate amount of time.” you argued. You knew that she was just trying to get to you but you were completely fine with going along with it.
“So what’s brought you back?”
You grinned, seeing that she’d set herself up. “You.”
“Oh, Bast.” you heard Shuri whisper to herself, realising that she was still there. She was clearly enjoying herself more than a lot.
Okoye tried to seem unfazed, but it was clear that your answer had caught her slightly off guard.
“Nice try.” she said, looking away from you.
“Okay maybe it wasn’t all you. Shuri also asked me to help her on a mission. Plus I had a new invention on my mind and you know that Wakanda’s the only place I can make this kind of stuff without gettin’ arrested.” Okoye’s stance softened, though she grew slightly disappointed at the real answer.
“But…” you quickly said. “I saw you walkin’ by and I just had to come and say hello.”
“I wasn’t walking anywhere.”
“Yeah, you were. I literally saw you walkin’ in that direction.” you pointed to where she’d been going before you called her.
“You were.” Shuri pitched in.
Okoye looked at where you pointed, a guilty expression on her face.
Now you wore the biggest smirk. “I got you there didn’t I, General?”
She accidentally let herself chuckle, causing you to laugh in victory.
She couldn’t deny that she’d grown used to the face that you made when you won over her in one of your back and forth conversation battles.
She enjoyed seeing it now just as much as she had the first day that she’d met you.
2 Years Earlier
The General made her way around the palace after a morning of training, wanting to make rounds through the entire place to see if any of the royals required assistance with anything.
She didn’t believe that her skills would be very highly sought-after since it was a fairly quiet day, but it was her duty to make sure.
After going around almost the entire building, she ended up in front of Shuri’s lab.
It was louder than usual, and although music sometimes played throughout the day, the sound coming from inside was definitely being made by people talking.
It piqued Okoye’s interest; prompting her to go inside.
As she entered she felt a happy energy throughout the room, two different laughs bouncing off of the walls. One in particular that she’d never heard before.
It was full, and deep, with an interesting pattern to its rhythm.
As she got closer to its source, she was surprised not to hear the usually very loud AI that Shuri had made informing people of her arrival into the room.
She reckoned that it was probably temporarily put on silent mode, seeing as a new guest was in there.
By the time that she was only a few steps away from Shuri, she identified an unknown woman standing next to her. Tinkering with a hologram.
She let her footsteps announce her present, awkwardly waiting for somebody to notice her.
The first person to notice her was the unknown woman. She looked up at her, and completely stopped working on what she’d been doing.
Okoye stared at the woman as she grinned at her in awe. She had a few choice words for her when over a minute had passed, but she kept them to herself.
Then the woman finally spoke, “Wow. I think I was just blinded by your beauty. I’m gonna need your name and number for insurance purposes.”
Okoye was taken aback at the words. Her face creased in confusion.
Shuri looked at you, then at where you were looking, saying a silent but excited “oh” when she saw the General standing there.
“General, this is my friend, Y/n. She’s a scientist.”
“Hey.” you said in a way that Okoye could only describe as delirious.
She hummed a greeting, still thrown off by your first comment.
What shocked her was how serious you seemed to be in saying your ridiculous line.
She shook her head, deciding to just turn around and leave. But before she could, you were getting up and trying to stop her. “Wait, gorgeous!” you said. Making her stop.
She turned to look at you again, watching you rummage around for words.
“Your name?” you asked.
Then the same smile that you’d greeted her with came back on your face. Like you’d come up with something good. “Or can I just call you mine?”
Okoye grew wide-eyed at that, looking around the room to figure out where you’d got the gumption to talk to her like that.
She was willing to be respectful, since you were apparently a friend of the princess, but she had to make it clear to whoever you were that she wasn’t like whatever you thought she was.
“It’s Okoye.”
“Well it was nice meetin’ you, Okoye.” you said. You put an emphasis on her name. Like you’d decided right then that it was a name that you were going to remember. Like you’d just permanently stored it into your brain.
She shook her head, dismissing herself before she allowed herself to get too familiar with you.
You let her go, smiling to yourself as you returned to Shuri’s side.
“I know you already knew her name.” Shuri called you out as soon as you sat back down.
You laughed to yourself. She’d told you about the General many times.
“I was just tryna make a good first impression.” you admitted.
Shuri rolled her eyes, unsurprised at your choice to pick Okoye as the woman you were going to ultimately fixate on from then on.
Hours after the first encounter, Okoye had silently been hoping that you had left already.
She’d assumed that you wouldn’t be involved with anything that she was doing in the palace so she wasn’t all that pleased when she came back into the lab and saw both you and Shuri standing together.
“What are you doing here?” She let herself impulsively speak, gaining an intense side-eye from Shuri.
“Okoye!”
“Nah, it's okay, Shuri. I’ll give her some time to get used to me.” you grinned at her.
The General sighed, going forward to look at what she was called to do.
“Y/n and I have been working on a few new devices for the past few months and we need you to tell us how you feel about our new designs.”
“So she’s an inventor too.” Okoye said, eyeing you from across Shuri’s shoulder.
“Yes I am. And a good one too. I’m a full package deal really.” you shot back.
“Can the two of you behave yourselves, please?” Shuri groaned.
Okoye scoffed, going back to what Shuri was showing her.
The two of you stayed quiet while she looked through the designs for the new devices that you’d been working on. And from what she saw, you looked almost excited for her to see them.
After a few minutes of standing between the two of you, Shuri left to tend to her other projects. Instructing you to continue showing your designs to Okoye and taking notes on where they could improve.
Okoye stayed where she was standing, while you stepped closer to her. She looked up at you with only her eyes for a second, before looking back down to the table where your holographic designs stood.
She went through a fast procedure of looking at a design, telling you what she liked and then adding notes on what could be improved. Then you’d take a few minutes to write down the notes and you’d go to the next one. You got through about 8 designs before she realised that you hadn’t been taking notes for the last 2 designs.
You were looking down towards the table, but it was clearly not at the designs.
“What?” she finally asked.
You gave her a mischievous grin, “Your hand looks lonely. Can I hold it for you?”
Your hand approached hers, wanting to touch it. Kissing her teeth, she swatted it away.
Just like before, you chuckled in delight at the sight of her annoyance. Laughing was clearly something you did often.
It was slowly growing on her.
Very slowly.
“Can you focus on the task at hand, miss ‘good inventor’. You’ll find that this design is especially in need of improvement.”
Your face fell, and you looked down at your design. “What’s wrong with it?” you asked. Okoye nearly stopped messing with you right then. Seeing your face getting so worried at the idea of your design being bad.
Keyword: Nearly.
“It seems unrealistic.”
“What’s unrealistic about it!?” you demanded.
“You’re trying to tell me that you can make a shoe that can make any human run as fast as someone with supernatural speed abilities.”
“Well it’s not that simple.” you complained.
Now she decided to stop being so hostile.
She gave you as good of a smile as she would any stranger. “Then tell me how it works.”
Your eyes lit up at that, and for the next 40 minutes you rambled on about how you were able to figure out how superspeed worked in supernaturals. And how to use the elements you’d found in your investigation to replicate and centre them into a single object (in this case; a pair of shoes) that would slightly fuse with the body that they were on, to absorb, build up, and generate enough kinetic energy to run extremely quickly.
Okoye didn’t bother to pay attention to most of what you said, but she pretended to care for most of it. She wasn’t sure why she wanted to make you feel better, but she did.
Well, at least she wanted to when you were being serious.
When you went back to your corny pickup lines, she grew less tolerant of you again.
And luckily for her, you’d allowed yourself to get distracted again at some point.
“I think someone must have stolen the stars and put them in your eyes.” you muttered out.
She looked at you, realising what you’d said and immediately she was back to how she had been acting before.
“You should go back to Shuri. I'll finish the notes on your designs.”
She started to direct you back to where Shuri was.
You scoffed, “Okay, I see how it is with you.”
You voluntarily started to walk away. But just as Okoye had turned to go back to her table, you turned around again, calling her.
“Okoye, wait!”
She sighed deeply, slowly turning. “What now?”
“I just wanted to tell you; I’m no photographer, but I can definitely picture us together.”
You didn’t wait to see her reaction, rather choosing to turn back around and imagine that she smiled at you. Maybe even blushed.
She didn’t. Shuri watched her wave you off, going back to the table without a blush in sight.
When she saw you stumbling back to her with that smile on your face, she wondered what you’d seen that she hadn’t.
As you sat down next to her again, Shuri tried her best to cover up her surprised reaction.
She continued with her work for a few minutes while you daydreamed about the previous encounter.
Then, “I think your General likes me.” you said confidently.
She looked up at you, then back towards Okoye. Who was still not smiling.
“I don’t think you interpreted that moment correctly.” she no longer tried to hide how ridiculous she thought you sounded. Seeing as you were clearly in too much of a state to notice her words. Or her laughter.
You ignored her anyway, nodding your head as you silently hyped yourself up in your final decision.
“She likes me.”
You laughed in victory.
Presently…
“Did the sun just come out or did Okoye just smile at me?” you asked the two women as they looked down at the table full of new devices and inventions.
“This again.” Shuri groaned as she contemplated whether it had really been a good idea to set Okoye up to be there that morning.
Okoye, who had for some strange reason again allowed herself to grow comfortable in front of you, immediately stopped. Seeing where that had gotten her. She looked away from you.
“What am I looking at here?” Okoye steered the conversation back to the devices.
“What do you mean what are you lookin’ at? It’s the weapon gear we’ve been designin’ and makin’ for months.”
“Where are the improvements that we made?” Okoye asked.
You looked at Shuri nervously. You thought she’d told her.
“Um, Okoye.” Shuri spoke. “I may have forgotten to tell you that we decided not to add your suggestions for this one.”
“You forgot to tell me, or you didn’t want to?” The General corrected her.
Shuri tried her best to explain the situation.
You watched in amusement as you focused on the last details for your mission.
When you checked the time, and realised that you were running out of it, you had to get Shuri to stop talking so you could go.
“Shuri. We gotta get goin’.”
Shuri looked at the time, and looked at Okoye apologetically.
“No, you can spare me five more minutes to finish explaining how you think that the original design was somehow better than the one we worked on.” Okoye demanded.
“I’ll explain later. I promise.” Shuri said before going to get her things.
You waited for Shuri, watching as Okoye processed what she now knew.
You shrugged when she looked at you, “I thought she told you.”
“It’s your loss. Our designs were better.”
You wanted to stay and apologise, but Shuri was already at the door calling for you to leave with her.
“Hey, I’ll make it up to you. What's your favourite drink again?”
“My favourite drink?”
You smiled, “I'm asking so I know what to buy you on our first date when I get back.”
“You know what, you can just go now.” she said, waving you off.
“Oh come on, you’ve gotta admit that one was good!”
“Go!” she accidentally laughed once again.
“Ha! I knew you liked it.”
“Y/n! You have places to be!”
You waved her a goodbye, nearly tripping over your feet as you blew her a kiss goodbye.
The General tried to stop herself from smiling, finding it exceptionally hard.
“She’s so annoying.” she lied with a grin.
For the hours that remained in the day, she tried to stop herself from thinking about you and your corny jokes. Unfortunately only encouraging her brain to think back to your most outrageous ones over the years.
Like when Okoye had just been surveying a training session that you were in, and you pretended to have hurt your knee saying, “Do you have a band-aid? I scraped my knee falling for you.”
Or when the two of you had conveniently decided to have lunch in that same place at the same time and you said “If you were a fruit, you’d be a ‘fine-apple’.”
She remembered when she’d taken you back to your designated room after you’d spent an entire night working, and you’d drowsily said “Aren’t you tired?”
She’d said no, but you continued through her interruption.
“,from running through my mind all day.”
That was the first one that she’d ever allowed herself to properly laugh at. Helping you get into bed before closing the door and allowing herself to burst out into a fit of giggles.
She’d refused to talk about that night after it happened, feeling embarrassed that she’d let herself do it.
But now, she’d laughed a fairly large amount of times throughout the day with no shame, even though she’d dreaded seeinging you at first.
She was growing more and more confused at her conflicting feelings towards you. She realised that she probably would have told you what her favourite drink was had she had the guts to.
She didn’t want to throw all sorts of 4 letter words around looking to describe how she felt about you. Especially any ones that started with ‘L’.
When she passed the lab again after she’d been gone long enough for you and Shuri to be back, she forced herself to stop thinking about you in those uncomfortable ways.
She forced herself to stop indulging.
She entered the lab with a neutral expression, ready to face you again.
What she found in the lab was a complete wreck of messy stations and Shuri in her black panther suit. Hurt.
“Shuri, what’s going on?”
“Okoye! The mission didn’t go according to plan.”
“Well what are you still doing here? We need to get you to the infirmary.” She tried to make a grab for the younger woman but was quickly swatted away.
“I’m fine, Okoye. I have to do one more thing before I get myself checked out.”
“What’s so important that you’re willing to stay here in all this pain just to finish it?”
“Y/n was kidnapped!”
The world seemed to stop for a moment. All the air being sucked out of the room, making it harder to breathe.
“She was taken right out of my hands. I need to go find her.”
Okoye shook her head, “Let me do it,” she said without hesitation. Her head was screaming at her not to, asking her what on earth she was doing.
“I’ll go find her.” she told herself.
“Okoye. You know that those people are dangerous. I can’t let you go there without some type of-”
“I don’t care! We have to find her, Shuri. I don’t care what I have to do. I’m going to go find her.”
“Where is this coming from?” Shuri asked, looking at the General questionably.
Okoye shook her head, refusing to elaborate. “We have to get her back. She’s too important to-” She stopped herself.
Shuri finally connected the dots, “To you.” she finished.
Okoye looked down, staying quiet.
Shuri didn’t need to wait for answers, “Okay. I’ll stay here and guide you while you go.”
Okoye looked up again, saying a silent thank you.
Within a few hours Okoye was at the location that Shuri had directed her to, looking for the underground warehouse that you were supposedly taken to.
She walked around looking for an entrance, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around she found herself ambushed by three people in masks.
Without hesitation she charged for the biggest one, taking them out and then going for the next.
When the last one was on the ground, pleading for her mercy she yelled, “WHERE’S THE ENTRANCE!?”
They pointed to the secret lever that opened the door to the building.
The General quickly knocked them out, making her way to the lever.
She pulled it, allowing herself to be lowered into the ground.
She went looking for you in every room. Finding herself fighting several people per room before she decided to go looking for the room that most likely held you in it instead of charging into every single one.
The doors were closed, so she listened for voices.
Then, she heard a loud screech,
She ran to the far end of the building, barricading through the door and aiming her spear at the guard that she was met with.
“Don’t hurt her!” you yelled, causing the General to turn around to see you in strangely high spirits.
“Y/n!” she let out a deep heavy breath, but then looked at the guard who was backed away in a corner.
She scowled at her, “Why shouldn’t I hurt her?” she hissed.
“She was goin’ to help me escape!” you explained.
Now Okoye couldn’t keep herself focused. She dropped her spear looking at you with many questions.
“How did you convince her to help you do that?” she asked.
“I asked her nicely. And I threw in some of my best pickup lines.”
Okoye gasped, “You used one of your lines on her?”
“Well I’ve been tryin’ them on you for 2 years and you haven’t done anythin’ with it so I was explorin’ my options.”
She stopped, realising how ridiculous you and her both sounded. Realising that the joke was over you actually explained, “I threatened her with the hidden weapon.”
She hummed in understanding, pointing her spear at the guard again.
“Let us go and I won’t hurt you.” she demanded.
The guard nodded, stepping towards and then past her.
Okoye went to you, helping you up and carrying most of your weight as she was led out through the exit.
She saved your exact coordinates on her beads, noting that Shuri would need them for when they inevitably had to come back.
She helped you onto the quinjet, laying you onto a chair while she started it on autopilot.
“I got her.” she told Shuri through her earpiece. She’d put it on silent mode for the majority of the mission.
Then she went back to look through and check you for injuries.
You co-operated as she took most of your gear off, testing the mobility of each part of your body.
“Are you a parkin’ ticket,” you started and Okoye already had her eye-roll ready. “,because you’ve got fine written all over you.”
“Y/n, focus. I need you to tell me where it hurts.” she pleaded.
You pointed to all over your abdomen, having gotten a pretty good beating there.
She took out the first aid she had and immediately got to work. She was barely breathing. Trying to get you wrapped and rested as soon as possible.
“Okoye, breathe. You saved me. I’m okay now.”
You put your hand on hers, forcing her to take deep breaths with you.
“Thank you.” she said.
“Any time.” you said, allowing her to finish.
When she got done, she sat down next to you, focusing on her breathing.
You were fine now. She just had to keep reminding herself of that.
She only came back to reality again when she heard you talking.
“You looked like if you could arrange the alphabet, you’d put U and I together.” you said, with a concerned smile on your face.
“What?” she asked.
“I mean you looked really scared back there. And right now.”
“Oh.” she said, “Well you should have just said that.”
“Yeah. I should have.” you agreed to make her feel better.
“But seriously. Why do you look so scared? Even if you hadn’t come; I would have found a way out. I would have been fine.”
Okoye took her time finding an answer. She barely knew why either. She’d grown so used to pretending to just tolerate you, these new feelings were hard to accept.
“You’re important.” she said.
“To who?” you asked, looking into her eyes for an answer. When she looked into yours with that same hesitation that she had earlier, you gasped. “To you?”
She didn’t respond at first.
“I’m important to you?” you asked again. You were smiling that victorious smile again, already making Okoye regret her next move.
“Don’t make a big thing out of it.” she told you, confirming your suspicions.
You completely ignored her request, making a very big deal about it.
“You like me! No, you love me!”
“No I don’t!”
“Admit it, Okoye. I’ve already found you out. Spare yourself the pain of keepin’ it to yourself.”
“Okay fine! Maybe I do. But you have to be more quiet. I don’t want just anyone knowing. “ she said, pointing to her ear.
You realised that she was talking about the earpiece, which she’d clearly forgotten to turn off. You nodded in understanding.
You whispered, “But you do?”
“Yes. I lov- like you. I like you.” she didn’t want to rush herself.
She waited for some other snarky remark to come out of you, turning to see you with tightly closed lips.
“Aren’t you going to say something?” she asked.
You shook your head. “I was. But you're so beautiful you made me forget my pickup line.”
She looked at you in complete disbelief; laughing.
‘Only she could find a way to add her pickup lines into a serious conversation.’ she thought.
Maybe that’s why she liked you. You were relentless in trying to get what you wanted. Even when you had it.
It was refreshing to feel that dedication.
Okoye allowed herself to release all her tension around you now.
Then she felt you jolt in excitement. “What’s wrong?” she asked worried again.
“Nothin’. I just remembered what my line was.”
She sighed, “Go ahead.”
“Listen to this. If you borrow me a kiss, I promise to give it right back.” you chuckled looking at her.
And as stupid as it was, she actually borrowed you that kiss.
summary: five times other people realized melissa was in love with you and the one time she realized it herself
warnings: mostly fluff, reader gets called a slur but it isn’t written
note: sorry i’ve been slow on updating, it’s finals week and a relative has had some a health scare :/
ava
when ava introduced you to the other teachers in the break room, she truly wasn’t going to give them much of a glance. a new teacher here that understood all the references she throws out instead of squinting? now that was someone she could hang out, and party, with outside of work.
but ava coleman is nothing if not observant. she sees the way melissa is struggling not to stare at you, the way her blinking looked almost forced. she brushes it off. you’re hot. at least she knows melissa isn’t blind, being down a teacher when she just hired one would suck.
it wasn’t until months later that ava actually noticed just how much of melissa’s attention was specifically for you. jacob had gotten you hooked on some show, now the two of you were excitedly talking about last night’s episode. ava listened to none of the nerdy word vomit coming from the two of you, but instead watched melissa gaze at you while you spoke. the soft look in her eyes and the barely noticeable smile almost made ava laugh, but she kept quiet.
this could be fun.
jacob
movie night this week was replaced by you and jacob watching the two hour finale of your show together. just as you got your snacks and drinks spread out, as well as every throw pillow you owned, and the ones jacob brought, arranged into a makeshift mega-couch, the buzzer of your apartment went off.
you scrambled to your feet, “melissa is here!”
jacob nearly choked on a swedish fish, “melissa? melissa like schemmenti?”
“what other melissa do we both know?” you laugh as you buzz her in, “she caught up so that she would watch with us,” you say with a big smile. jacob had thought melissa wouldn’t come to this movie night, the way barbara, janine, and gregory didn’t for tonight, and ava never came to any, claiming she was ‘too fine’ for the occasion. they didn’t watch thisv show, neither did melissa, until now.
“yeah… us,” he mutters under his breath.
“what?”
“nothing!”
jacob watches you nearly bouncing when you hear the knock on the door, rushing to answer it. he hears a muffled mel! followed by hey sweetheart. no one else, except barbara, could call her mel. he tried once and got a glare that still haunts his dreams. she was so easy to reply to you with a pet name, too. usually she called everyone dude, or kid, or just plain you. but not you, no, you got sweetheart.
jacob was almost convulsing, the realization was just too good. he covered his mouth in order to not scream. melissa schemmenti, notorious hardass, had a big, fat crush on you. he squeals at the thought.
“do not tell me you looked at a spoiler jacob abernathy hill!” you shout as you walk back in.
“abernathy?” melissa laughs, stopping the second you look at her, before looking at jacob for an answer.
he stiffens, “nope. just super excited to see this all happen.”
janine
being yanked by the sleeve into her classroom like a raggedy anne doll was not what janine expected on a monday morning. jacob shut the door and turned to look at janine, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“i have got to tell you something,” jacob says with excitement practically oozing from him.
“what is it? is barbara okay?” janine asks quickly.
“no, no. barbara is fine, it’s something good. i’m not going to spoil the big surprise, i wanna see it on your face,” jacob answers, “but i’ll give you a hint.”
“oh my god, jacob. please just get to the point.”
“yes, sorry,” he clears his throat, “melissa has got one of the biggest crushes i’ve ever seen, second only to yours on grego-”
janine smacks a hand over his mouth, “uh-uh. who is it?”
“i can’t tell you!” jacob sing-songs as he rushes from her classroom.
the next week has janine practically stalking melissa around every corner. she watches her hold the door for you, shove jacob out of the way so she can get the last iced tea, roll her eyes aggressively when ava spoke, hold tacks for you as you hung up the new monthly decorations, then hold your hand as you stepped down from the from the chair.
janine saw in real time how melissa’s tough exterior dropped with you. she watched her handle you so gently, anyone would think you were made from glass, but you didn’t seem to notice. it was so normal for you to see this side of melissa, you couldn’t see that it was different. janine scurried to her classroom to happy dance quickly before calming herself, as much as janine is capable, before leaving to get the kids from the art room.
gregory
thankfully, janine’s knowledge of melissa’s feelings for you did not make front page news or into the morning announcements. janine felt it a safer choice for her and jacob if they just kept this secret to themselves, which left gregory in the dark.
gregory only heard mutters of your name and melissa’s, which gave him some sort of direction about their whisperings. he looks towards you, seeing you leaned into melissa while looking at something on her phone. totally normal. gregory continued to eat his also totally normal sandwich, boiled chicken is not weird.
it feels a little less normal after janine called melissa a bad teacher, leaving janine unprepared for the might of courtney’s troublemaking. when the kids are at recess, gregory starts towards the lounge but is stopped by voices inside your classroom. he stops to listen, suddenly intrigued.
“do you think she’s right, though? she wouldn’t just say that normally,” melissa says, her voice tense and sad.
“no, i don’t think she’s right. she got an ego trip from thinking it was a real requested transfer and it spilled over, i don’t think she meant it,” your voice is calm, soothing in a way.
“are you sure?”
you laugh softly, “of course. you’re one of the best teachers in the world. i know it, janine knows it, hell, stanley tucci knows it.” your words make melissa laugh, something she very much needed it seemed.
gregory feels the need to take just a tiny peek. he sees your arm around melissa’s shoulders, her head on your shoulder while yours rests on hers, your fingers gently playing with the loose curls on her hair. melissa looks relaxed, content even. he’d never seen her showing physical affection to anyone, except the occasional side hug to barbara. but she was leaning on you, playing with the hem of your shirt as she spoke, letting you playing with her hair.
gregory stepped away from the door and started briskly walking to the lounge. so that’s why jacob and janine were so giggly about you two.
barbara
barbara knows her friend very, very well. she saw the look she gave you the first time she met you. she also clocked every other look melissa has sent your way since. at first she thought melissa was just checking you out, but after a few weeks the heat in her gaze turned to cartoonish heart eyes bulging out of her head.
barbara was no fool, she saw how you acted with melissa. it didn’t slip her mind once that you also had feeling for the red head. she watched the dance between you two, smiling at the fact her best friend was so happy, even if she didn’t realize it. barbara keeps her smile to herself.
legendary schools was a hyperactive bull running through abbott elementary’s very delicate china shop. parents were snapping at teachers left and right, one setting off melissa’s ‘fight-or-fight’ response. jacob walks in, babbling about a commercial. he almost asks where you are so you be part of the conversation for the take-down plan, but he’s cut off by yelling in the hallway.
everyone rushes out to see the mother of one of your students in your face. barbara can see that you’re trying not to cry at the cruel words, but she also sees how you’re holding your own. you don’t yell back, only speaking when the mother takes a breath. a word barbara cannot and will not repeat strikes through the air, silencing everyone around you. your face drops immediately, looking like you’d been harshly slapped.
melissa is walking down the hall before anyone can stop her, immediately in front of you. “you got some nerve talking like that around here. what is this, 1951?” melissa barks at the parent, holding herself back from swearing at and beating the living day lights out of someone on this seemingly normal thursday afternoon.
“you have teachers in this school pushing their own shit onto our kids, and you’re defending it? you’ve got a cross around your neck!” the mother yells.
“liberation movements are part of the curriculum. i asked the kids what three topics they were most interested in and we covered those, i didn’t choose,” you try reasoning from behind melissa, she won’t let you move from your spot.
barbara heads over and speaks to the mother with a plastic smile, “i’m going to have to ask you to leave, the school day is done. i’m sure you’d prefer to re-educate your child with some ignorance at home, correct?”
ava leads the mother away and barbara focuses on you; your breathing is fast and you can’t tear your eyes from the floor, lip wobbling. melissa’s hands gently go to your shoulders, you barely nod before she’s pulling you into a hug. barbara can see that melissa is whispering to you, but she can’t make out the words, she just sees you nod. you pull away from melissa slowly before taking off to your classroom to get your stuff and leave.
barbara comes to melissa’s side, “going back to your place?” melissa nods and follows you down the hall.
she filled in barb later that you watched golden girls on the couch until you fell asleep against melissa’s shoulder. barbara watched the muted smile on melissa’s lips struggle against her efforts to conceal it. lord this woman was whipped.
melissa
melissa knew she loved you, but truthfull not to the extent in which she did. she had spent so long convincing herself she cared about you the same she cared for all her friends, that she didn’t see the love for you was different. somewhere between you bringing her lattes and her letting you use her lap as a pillow on movie nights, the lines between what was friendship and what was maddening love for you blurred.
melissa’s first hint that she had feelings for you should’ve been when she started looking for you. it was so small but when she realized she was doing it, she’d blush and force herself to look down. during meetings she watched you take notes, then watched as those notes slowly turned to doodles of flowers and fossils. you’d given her a very accurate drawing of a bumble bee after an ava-centered meeting. you’d told her it was because her name meant honeybee in greek, before walking back down to your classroom, leaving melissa with honeybees buzzing in her chest.
—
the day she actually realized she had full on, gross, huge feelings for you, you’d been running late. you ran into the break room with a mug already in hand, bag haphazardly over your shoulder. everyone collectively looked at you with a little bit of shock.
with a stern face you stated back, “speak now or forever keep your two cents. i’m not a fan of staring.”
immediately all eyes dropped back down, except for melissa’s. she just kept watching you move about with quick steps, pouting at the change in the normal routine. she moves to the coffee maker and pours you a cup, using the creamer you prefer from the fridge. you only responded with a relieved smile and a mouthed ‘thank you.’
she watched you hurriedly get your classroom ready for the students, a small smile across her rosy lips. “you want help or are you enjoying the crazy chicken dance?”
you huffed at her, “ha ha, schemmenti,” your fake glare dropped, “could you pass out the science quizzes? they’re on my desk.”
melissa looks over your desk as she grabbed the papers, taking note of the knickknacks and pictures. the funko pop of dorothy from golden girls makes her smile, so does the sketchbook with a bee sticker on the cover.
she passed out the quizzes, and helped you prep the whiteboard for the day. you chatted lightly, but mostly just moved around each other while music played. it was so incredibly peaceful, the ease of it made her feel this warmth in her chest.
“thank you for helping me, melissa. truly. you didn’t have to,” you say as you finish rearranging the classroom chore chart.
“it’s no problem, really… i like spending time with you,” melissa says tentatively, gauging your reaction.
any nervous energy she may have had dissipates when you smile and duck your face down. you look back up at her, shy smile on your lips, “i like spending time with you too.”
you walked with her to get the kids from drop off, standing just a little bit closer than usual.
—
today was different. this beautiful saturday morning with you practically pulling her around the flea market. you inspected every item on the table with equal curiosity, always showing melissa your favorite things and things you think she’d like. her smile never fades and her eyes never leave you.
as you finish having lunch under the large center tent, she sees your eyes widen with excitement.
“what? what is it?” melissa says through her final bite of a hotdog.
you grab her hand and pull her towards what she bows sees as the mini petting zoo. your immediately cradling the face of a goat, baby talking it to high heaven. she walks up next to you, gently petting the top of the goats head.
“he likes you,” she says.
“only him?” you say with a laugh, watching another goat approach, now wanting the attention his friend was getting from you two.
melissa laughs to hide her shock at your words before facing you, “no, definitely not just him.”
your smile grows at her words, the way you bite your lip makes melissa feel a little faint. thankfully she gets a moment to breathe when you’re distracted by a piglet coming towards you, making you squeal in delight. in this moment, melissa was sure she loved you.
melissa stands back up after bit, going over to grab both of you a lemonade. when she walks back, the words she hears only solidify her thoughts.
an older gentleman approaches you, “you and your wife are a beautiful couple.”
his words clearly shock you, “oh,” but she sees you push it down before responding with a kind smile, “why thank you, that’s very sweet! she’s definitely the beautiful one.”
when you turned, you see melissa and immediately move towards her. she wordlessly hands you a lemonade, which you accept as well as loop your arm with hers. she’s quiet as you walk back to the car and place your purchasing in the backseat.
before she can start the car, you place a hand on hers, “you okay? you’re just a little quiet.”
“yeah, sweetheart. never been better,” she says, squeezing your hand. she relishes in your tugging her arms and hugging it, stretching across the console to rest you head on her shoulder as she drives you back to her place for dinner and a movie, as always.
melissa ann schemmenti realized she was big time in love with you that day.
not sure if i love this but let me know what y’all think :)
Ava finding out that you were this game streamer she secretly likes but won't tell pt. 2
Ava Coleman x Reader
A/N: much longer. basically oneshot disguised as headcanon because im bad bad (literally bad at writing)
1 - 2 (you're here!) - 3
When you get home, you start to regret what you just did.
You're about to stream for less than 30 minutes because you posted that you would be finally back after being gone for a week because… Abbott being the public school that they are.
You tried sucking everything up, gathered yourself, and grabbed some food before going live.
While the live is ongoing, your comments are the usual questions of when are you doing a reveal, or when would be your next schedule because they always miss you.
Remembering the interaction earlier at the break room, and also checking your calendar to see that there would be a game convention in less than two days, you responded spontaneously.
"If I get two 150,000 star balloons then I might reconsider that." You giggled before focusing back on the game.
Someone sent the gifts while you were trying to clutch win the game, so you didn't notice how the comments were raving about your reveal.
After winning, you checked the comments to see that someone really sent what you said.
You internally panicked, but since you did this to yourself, you guess you don't have any choice. You tried sounding as cheery as possible when you announced that you'll be live at the upcoming game convention so you hope everyone else will be there too before ending the stream.
When you arrive at Abbott tomorrow morning, you see Jacob talking to Melissa about the game convention, but the poor guy is getting ignored because Melissa doesn't have her coffee yet.
You didn't go to the break room during lunch because you were too scared to see Ava. Things were starting to hit. What if your fans get disappointed? How will you face everyone at work? How will you face Ava?
So you decided to just take a nap in your classroom.
When you woke up minutes later to get your kids after recess, everyone seems to be gathering together in front of Janine's classroom, with Ava approaching them.
She announces that she got everyone tickets to the convention, and that made everyone cheer.
She throws a wink at you, which didn't go unnoticed by your two mentors. You roll your eyes at her.
She goes on your side, teasing on how your favorite gamer is about to reveal her identity, implying it was your doing so she got you a ticket as well.
"Why you lookin' like that?" "Yeah, I look like Grinch who's about to ruin Christmas."
"Don't make fun of yourself. It makes it less fun for me when you do it. And who told you that? You look damn good under me in my bed." "And yeah like you will."
Ava falters. "Right because my bed's too precious for some gagootz like you."
You look at her like she grew another head, then gave a quick questioning glance to Mel and Barb who were looking aghast in your direction and heard Ava as well.
Few more bickering and the happenings became all blurry. You just know you retorted with some shit you don't remember
And now you find yourself in trouble on a deal of having a chance to date dinner with Ava.
summary: now that she knows you record videos of yourself naked and do streams to pay your bills, melissa can't stop thinking about your body. she subscribes to your onlyfans account, telling herself that she's supporting a single mom in need and things get awkward and heated real quick
warnings: dual povs, sex work, masturbation, mentions of sex toys
18+. NSFW content. MDNI.
It was all Ava's fault, really. And this time, it wasn't about blaming Ava because she was an easy target who made a mess of everything she touched at school. No. It really was entirely her fault this time. Well, maybe the whole ordeal wasn't Ava's fault, but it was definitely only because of her big mouth that Melissa Schemmenti had ended up in that fucked up situation.
It was all because Ava was way too excited to find out that one of the moms ran a somewhat successful OnlyFans account. And Ava being Ava, she had shared the information in the teachers' lounge, so excited about her little discovery that she hadn't paid attention to the people present in the room.
Melissa knew that some of the male teachers that had been present for the announcement had subscribed to the mom's page—disgusting pigs that they were.
Melissa Schemmenti was not like them, though. She was definitely above that. She had no desire to check out some porn made by some random woman. Except she was no random woman. She was one of the moms that Melissa had encountered the most this year—single mom to a special needs kid in her second grade class. A mom who also happened to be extremely attractive and charming; a beautiful person inside and out.
It was all because of Ava that Melissa had been too curious to resist the temptation.
Being the smart businesswoman that she was, Melissa knew to check the merchandise first before risking to spend money on something that might not be worth it. She had not opened a porn website in a year and a half, but she did that night, wanting to see if she could find previews and samples for the OnlyFans content of emerald velvet.
Melissa had expected to find boring straight content, nothing spicier than good old doggy style. But instead she found artfully shot solo videos with sensual lighting and gorgeous lingerie sets.
Before she could even realise what she was doing, Melissa had pulled down her pants and settled down on her couch, phone clutched in her hand as she waited for a sample video titled "LESBIAN EDGING VIDEO—touching myself for you" to load. The first image that appeared on her screen was a most stunning body in a gorgeous red corset and matching panties, a pair of stockings that hugged her thighs in the most delicious of manners. It was a tasteful look, and as the gorgeous mother started caressing her breasts, her inner thighs, her neck, Melissa reached a hand between her own thighs, rubbing herself over her panties gently.
“You want to touch me, don't you?” the woman on her phone said, her voice teasing. Melissa had heard that voice in her classroom enough times to recognise it. “Shame you haven't earned that right.”
The angle changed, with the woman now on her back, legs spread to expose the drenched crotch of her fancy red panties. When she tugged the thin material to the side, revealing her soaked pussy, Melissa felt her cunt clench at the sight. She could not tear her eyes aways from the leaking pussy on her screen, watching as the younger woman rubbed circles on her reddened clit—Melissa mirrored the movements, desperately seeking her release. She was so close. So fucking close.
And then, all of sudden, everything stopped.
Watch the full video now on OnlyFans!
The words were written in cute pink font and taunted Melissa and her interrupted orgasm. She slammed her phone down onto the couch out of frustration and shoved at the coffee table with her foot.
FUCK!
Melissa wanted to see more.
She needed to see more.
No matter how guilty it made her feel that she wished to get off to porn videos made by the mother of one of her students, nothing else would satiate her and she knew it.
It was just a few minutes before eight when you arrived at Abbott, later than you were usually comfortable with, but nothing had gone smoothly from the moment you had woken up—starting with your alarm failing to ring and Liv needing to wake you up. The toaster stopped working, you dropped the last almond milk bottle when preparing Liv's breakfast, and you didn't have enough time to finish your cup of coffee. Still, you made it to school on time (nothing short of a miracle, really).
“Let's go, mom!” your daughter called as she ran towards the entrance doors.
You followed after her, ensuring that you had actually packed her noise cancelling headphones in your handbag before locking your car door and following after her.
It wasn't every day that you walked her all the way to Ms. Schemmenti's classroom, but you did from time to time, to talk to your daughter's teacher. It was nice to have a quick talk with the woman, to make sure that everything was still going okay with Liv during the day, to ask if there were things they needed to go over together. You had been spending even more time at the school since Liv was diagnosed with autism and ADHD than you had when the teachers still believed that she was just a trouble kid.
“Good morning, Ms. Schemmenti!” you heard your kid exclaim as she ran into the classroom.
The teacher approached when she noticed you in the corridor. You were amused when you realised she wasn't crossing the threshold, keeping the two of you separated. She did not greet you immediately as she usually did, instead looking you up and down—it lasted such an awkwardly long moment that for a second you thought you had put on your outfit wrong, but no, your black shirt was buttoned properly, your dark jeans fit well and your zipper wasn't down, even your boots matched and were laced all the way up.
“Morning, Ms. Schemmenti?”
She looked up at your face and blinked. She looked more tired than you had ever seen her.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, yeah, sorry.”
You tilted your head at the short, almost dismissive response.
“Ms. Schemmenti, at loss for words, as I live and breathe,” you teased, smirking down at the redhead who stood in front of you.
She cleared her throat and seemed to regain her usual confidence and attitude, that tired, distant and distracted look in her eyes gone. Her eyes were back to the spine tingling intensity that motivated you to walk Liv to her classroom even when it wasn't necessary. It wasn't your fault if you had a thing for older women—it was a fantasy you never acted upon, aside from a few solo videos where you referred to your viewers as mommy.
“Do we need to have a meet up soon?” you questioned.
The redhead was not discreet when she glanced down at your cleavage before answering your question.
“Yeah. I mean no, we don't need to,” she corrected herself quickly once she managed to look away from your body, “Olivia has been doing a lot better lately, she's even starting to make some friends.”
You couldn't figure out what, but something was different about the way Ms. Schemmenti interacted with you. She'd always seemed to enjoy the way you looked, but you had taken it as a sign of mere approval. This was different. It was more like raw attraction—more like the reactions you got from men when they realised that you did porn.
Oh fuck—
There was no way she had found out about your OnlyFans account, right? It wasn't like teachers had time and money to spend on porn subscriptions, right? And Ms. Schemmenti looked too... too... Ms. Schemmenti to watch masturbation videos made by a simple single mom (a hot one, obviously, or else you wouldn't be making money from your videos but still just a single mom).
You couldn't even ask her about it without risking exposing herself in case Ms. Schemmenti didn't actually know about your videos.
“I should leave you to your students, they'll all be here in a couple minutes,” you stated, offering her a smile that was enough to keep her attention on your face. “I'll see you soon enough, Ms. Schemmenti.”
“Have a good day.”
“You too. Be good, Liv!”
You waved at your daughter as you took a few steps back away from the classroom. You took one last glance over your shoulder as you made your way to the front doors, an found Ms. Schemmenti's eyes on you—and she was definitely not trying to make eye contact with you, unless, of course, she believed that that your eyes were on your ass.
Today was a slow day. Working from home had many advantages, like allowing you to film your videos and do streams on a regular basis. Less time commuting to and from work, a better income, and more time and money to take care of your daughter. It was rather ideal.
Except for the part where you were now half-convinced that your daughter's teacher knew that you did porn on the side. You didn't have time to think about that. You had a live stream planned for noon—people were horny at all hours of the day and the rich men (and occasionally women) who worked office hours left the biggest tips when they were bored at work, something that you had learned quickly after starting your career because of how many new subscribers you got over lunch breaks.
You were used to getting everything up and ready for your lives now, and it didn't take long to choose a set of lingerie that you knew would be appreciated. Today's set was one of your favourites; matching emerald green corset and thong. No stockings, you kept it simple during the day. "Lunchables", as you called your midday streams, gathered only a few loyal subscribers who sent you big tips to listen to you talk about the gifts they had sent you over the past few days and to watch you do a quick solo.
Something was different today when you started your live stream though. A new username had popped up among the usual notifications from your regulars.
Schemmexy.
That... that was not a coincidence. That was ridiculously on the nose.
No fucking way.
You took a few deep breaths and schooled your expression. You couldn't let anything transpire.
It was like any other lunch stream. No problem. Your kid's teacher totally hadn't found out about your special career and subscribed to your account. Totally wasn't watching your stream while supposedly at school—sure, it was lunch break, but still!
You reached for one of the packages you had set down on your bed and braced yourself for a disastrously awkward stream.
But everything went on as usual.
The gifts you had been sent were all high quality silicone dildos (you'd jokingly complaining about your fans sending only vibrators lately, and it seemed they had listening and taken you a bit too seriously), and a couple sets of lingerie (both very pretty and soft to the touch).
You'd gotten off (twice) quickly using a bullet vibrator. You'd said goodbye to your viewers, naming some of the biggest tippers directly to make them happy.
All in all, disturbingly ordinary.
Schemmexy had manifested herself only once, with the smallest tip available, to praise your looks and the way you sounded when you came. The "such a good girl" at the end of her message had taken you aback, but you'd done decently good at pretending you weren't flustered by the words when you imagined them pronounced in Ms. Schemmenti's raspy voice and South Philly accent.
It was so wrong to fantasise about your daughter's teacher though. But it had to be more wrong to watch your student's mom get off live, right?
You couldn't even know for sure if it really was Ms. Schemmenti—even if there was no way in hell it wasn't her.
Deciding that there were much more important things to think about and to do, you got up from your bed and went to take a shower. Maybe the hot water could wash away your sins and your dirty thoughts about your kid's hot MILF of a teacher.
After a long, hot, relaxing shower, you flopped down onto your bed, wrapped only in a towel. It was just the perfect amount of comfortable.
You reached for your phone. One text notification stood out among all the others.
Ms. Schemmenti.
Hey, I hate to bother you in the middle of the day, but the kids have been really excited since lunch break. Do you think you might have time to bring Olivia's headphones?
That didn't make sense. You'd put them in your handbag this morning.
And... and you'd proceeded to be so distracted by the notion that Ms. Schemmenti might know about your second career that you had forgotten to hand the headphones to her.
Well, fuck.
Now you'd have to face the woman after she'd watched you get off live. At least her reaction to seeing you wouldn't definitely give away whether or not it really was her, right?
Ava finding out that you were this game streamer she secretly likes but won't tell
Ava Coleman x Reader
A/N: dumping this now so i will have the energy to finish the other parts. originally a fic but i know i won't give justice to it unless it's a drabble. headcanons are too long so i divided it into parts.
1 - 2
You were an uprising game streamer from Philly. You consistently stream thrice per week, depending on your schedule in Abbott. After gaining popularity (which you gain for being a fiery yet good talker), you tried out playing other games as well.
The only thing about your gamer persona is you don't actually show your face. You did some voice acting gigs back in college so you use that to conceal your real voice. So, no one knows that the popular streamer is the same as the shy, quiet teacher in a public school.
Everything kind of went down for you when fans were more insistent that you do a face reveal than before, which you jokingly and unintentionally agreed to.
But going back, it might have all started when you heard Jacob nerding about his current fixation that time.
You expected the other teachers except Janine to roll their eyes or ignore him but they were actually engaging. Even Melissa and Barbara seem to know and join in the conversation.
You tense when Gregory mentions your username, asking if it was you Jacob was talking about. When he said yes, you realized Mel and Barb just talked about your gaming persona. You. And hearing those two compliment your gaming persona as well feels surreal because you consider them as your mentors and friends, plus they always give you assurance about how you're doing a great job as a teacher.
Ava walks in to the door with her mug, complimenting your music choice and fashion, then she stares at the camera after plugging her shop and taste because you bought some from her.
"I bet she looks Godzilla 'cause why the hell would you hide your face like that if you look Beyonce?"
That flusters you. You know yourself you're not exactly pretty but definitely not ugly. So in a spur of shock, you countered her statement. Which is going to be your first time.
You think you're just another Janine for Ava with the way she treats you and calls you nicknames. Not Gregory, or maybe even Jacob. You don't recall if she even knows your name, because at least she knows Janine's.
So you usually ignore her when she treats you… differently. But now, everyone's eyes are on you. You are usually a lone wolf unless necessary, and Ava must have hit a nerve for you to react.
"Oh, we got ourselves a fan here. I'm about to think you're actually white."
You ignore her last remark, and instead challenge her that you can prove her wrong. When she questions if you know the gamer personally, you just warned her to stay put on her feet and watch before leaving the room.
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