“That’d probably be best to get over with first,” Veronica responded, smiling a little bit even though she regretted that she had pulled away. She pulled out her school issued ipad and got ready to start typing.
(Want to timeskip to when they finish working?)
(Yeah sure)
Elaine sighed a little, setting down the iPad. “I think we’re done for today.” She wanted so badly to lean against Veronica’s side, but she didn’t dare. Luckily for her, that’s when she heard the faint sound of a key turning in the lock. The door swung open, and heels clacked sharply on the floor. “Elaine?”
“Hi mum!” Elaine called back, feigning convincing enthusiasm. “Veronica’s here, she’s staying the night if that’s okay.” Her heart pounded as she awaited an answer.
Veronica looked towards the direction of the new voice, chewing her lip. She was mentally exhausted and desperately wanted to cuddle up with Elaine again. But she faked a smile for Elaine’s mother, ever the robot slaving away for school and society.
The sound of high heels slowly descended the stairs, and Elaine’s mother appeared. She was a severe, strict woman of Indian descent, with dark skin and straight black hair to match her daughter’s. Her eyes were deep brown and perpetually narrowed, her back was always perfectly straight.
“Hello, Veronica,” she greeted, though her tone seemed to be stern. She turned towards Elaine, and her eyes seemed to harden slightly as her smile softened. “That’s fine, dear, I’ll be upstairs working if you need anything.”
And that was all. She simply turned and left for her office.
Veronica watched the woman go, keeping up the smile until she disappeared from view entirely before she murmured quietly enough for only Elaine to hear, “She seemed…” Mean. Although Veronica couldn’t outright say that to Elaine, so instead she said, “She seemed like she had a bad day.”
Elaine's shoulders sagged. Normally, when she'd had friends over, she'd timed it so that they left before her parents came home, or even better, had elected to go out to some coffee shop instead. But it had been unavoidable today. All of her friends thought her parents were just strict and valued academics, and Elaine had preferred to keep it that way. It's too late for that now..
"Sorry about her.." Her voice was oddly quiet. "She's……… distant."
Veronica scooted closer and wrapped her arms around Elaine and sighed. She didn’t know the whole story, but Elaine has been there for her all night so Veronica wanted to provide some kinda of comfort. “Do you… Do you want to talk about it?”
Elaine bit her lip. "You have bigger problems then my parents," she told Veronica softly, secretly wanting to snuggle further into the other girl's embrace. No–stop it–nonononononostop. She did not move away, couldn't make herself. I do want to talk about it.. but that would be selfish of me. You matter more.
“That doesn’t matter… Do you want to talk about it?” Veronica repeated softly, drawing circles on Elaine’s back comfortingly. She’s just so strong… I don’t know how she can bear it all… Veronica wanted to repay Elaine in some way, even if it was small, for everytime she comforted Veronica.
Elaine almost shivered under Veronica's touch. Stop it. Stopstopstopyoustupidgirlstopitnow. The voice inside her head turned into that of her mother's. After a pause, she caved in. "Yeah. I'm sorry." She knew she was being a horrible, selfish, weak person, and hated herself for it.
“Don’t be apologetic,” Veronica replied quietly, “Talk to me. I’m open ears…” She slowly moved her hand up to brush a piece of hair away from Elaine’s face gently, listening intently.
Elaine's eyes widened slightly, but she relaxed into Veronica, heart pounding. "I just– my parents– they're not exactly… loving. I'm being stupid– tons of kids have it way worse– I just…. nothing I do is good enough. I get yelled at for bringing home 89%. I get locked in my room for doing the slightest thing wrong. My mom– last year– she caught me-" She forced her mouth to stop moving. "She was disgusted," she continued quietly, tears pricking her eyes. "she hasn't shown emotion to me since…. I'mcomplainingI'msorryIshouldstop–"
Veronica hugged Elaine tighter, “Elaine… it’s okay, it’s gonna be okay, oh Elaine,” She hugged her friend against her, as tight as she could without squishing her. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t even know…” She murmured, continuing to rub circles on Elaine’s back. And here I was crying over be so stressed and sad all the time… Elaine has it way worse…
Elaine’s words were coming out in a mumbled rush. “Don’tapologizeI’mcomplainingtoomuchyouhaveitworseI’msosorryforwhining——“ She buried her face in Veronica’s shoulder, hands shaking.
Veronica took a second to decipher the words, before immediately holding Elaine tighter, “Shhh… shh… it’s okay, it’s okay, you have nothing to be sorry for Elaine, it’s okay, it’s okay,” Veronica grabbed one of Elaine’s shaking hands and held it against her heart, “You have it worse than me, don’t be sorry, Elaine… You aren’t whining either, heck, I was the one crying on your shoulder earlier today.”
Elaine was currently on a rollercoaster ride of emotions; flusteredness, fear, weakness. “All I have are detached parents— you have a legitimate problem—“ Still, she didn’t pull away. “I’m so sorry— I am so, so sorry—“
“Don’t be sorry,” Veronica murmured into her ear softly, continuing to rub her back. “Just because we both have problems doesn’t mean one of them is worse than the other,” She whispered quietly, moving to press her forehead against Elaine’s, “It’ll be okay…” Veronica didn’t even realize how close they were she was so focused on comforting Elaine.
Elaine’s mouth went dry. Veronica’s mouth, her soft, pink mouth, was right there, barely centimetres away. If she’d had an ounce less of self control, she would have crushed her mouth against the other girl’s right then and there. She took a shuddering breath in, acutely aware of Veronica’s hand on her back and their foreheads touching, and her head turned instinctively towards the stairwell, afraid that her mother would walk down. “I— I guess. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Veronica repeated, pulling back enough so she could look over Elaine, “Elaine, I love you and I want you to come and talk to me when you need or want to.” Veronica registered the words a second after she said them, but unable to take them back. I love you. She desperately hoped Elaine would only take them as a friend talking to a friend. Nothing more.
Elaine’s dark eyes widened a fraction more. There’s no way— stop dreaming— she meant it platonically you idiot— “I—“ I love you too. “Thanks, Veronica. Same goes for you.” She didn’t want to pull away, wanted nothing more than to press her lips against Veronica’s, but she made herself. “Are— do you want to eat?”
“I…” Veronica was having trouble remembering the question. “Uhhh… Yeah, that sounds good…” She was probably as red as a tomato, and gosh she was so stupid. What have I done? And she hated herself because all she wanted to do was to pull Elaine close like that again.
Elaine could see the self-hate written all over Veronica’s face, and it terrified her. Immediately, she took the other girl back into her embrace. Trying to ignore both their blushes, she hugged her friend tightly. “Hey, you don’t need to worry. About anything. Now come on, let’s go eat.”
“Okay, yeah, yeah.” She said quietly, smiling a genuine smile despite the heat on her face. Veronica forced herself to pull away from Elaine’s hold after a moment, standing up and stretching. Thankfully, with Elaine’s help, she had gotten a lot of work done and the pressure of stress wouldn’t weigh any more on her shoulders for the rest of the night.
Elaine slipped her hand into Veronica’s and pulled her upstairs, but let go as soon as they were in sight from anyone on the top floor. Her father hasn’t come home yet, thank god, but her mother was still working away in her office, and Elaine didn’t want to risk bumping into her. Opening the oven, she pulled out two bowls of curry her mother must have set out for them, grabbing a spoon and trying some. “It’s barely spicy,” she told Veronica, handing her a bowl and a spoon. “Let’s go back downstairs.”
Veronica nodded with a smile as she took the food and the spoon, “Alright,” The smile still rested on her face as she walked back downstairs with Elaine, carefully sitting back down to avoid spilling. The curry tasted really good, it was nice after a long day of stress and schoolwork.
Elaine pulled her legs up into a cross-legged position, laying the bowl in her lap. She reached back to slide the clasp out of her dark hair, which tumbled down, spilling over her back and shoulders. It hung almost to her waist in a smooth, straight mass, partially obscuring her face. Eating quietly and carefully, she hummed a melody, completely comfortable around Veronica. Normally she would keep her hair pinned up, because she was afraid of looking too much like her mother with it down, but it was a relief to let loose at the end of the day.
Veronica found herself staring a second at Elaine, marveling at her beautiful long hair. And before she could stop herself, she leaning over and reached up and brushed a strand away from Elaine’s face. She immediately jerked her hand away once she realized what she’d done, hastily apologizing, “Uhhh- S-Sorry.”
Elaine’s eyes met Veronica’s, and she smiled through flushed cheeks. “I don’t mind,” she whispered, leaning forward herself to brush a strand of her friend’s hair out of her face. Her fingers tingled when they brushed Veronica’s cheek, and she pulled her hand away when an electric shock passed up her arm.
She savored the feeling of her friend being so close to her. Veronica caught Elaine’s hand midair as she was pulling away, holding her hand for a second before dropping it. What am I doing? She’s going to think I’m crazy- we’re just friends, she probably was doing that to be silly.
Elaine froze for a moment, eyes widening imperceptibly. Her eyes strained to make out the shape of Veronica clearly in the dim light, but she already had every point of her friend’s face memorized. Thinking quickly— she didn’t want Veronica to misinterpret her reaction— she smiled broadly and scooted slightly closer, her hair spilling from her back over her shoulder. “Feeling better?”
