FF: High Glow - Chapter 6
Author's Notes:
1. For previous parts, including disclaimers and rating, please see: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2A, Chapter 2B, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5.
2. Musical accompaniment brought to you by Ulrich Schnauss' "Between Us And Them."
______________________
FF: High Glow
Chapter 6: Between Us And Them
Andrea smiles at her lover. “Don't worry. You'll see, we're going to have blast.
Helena smirks at her, matching the quick step. “I'm not nervous. But that's the third time you've said that in the past three days.”
“Hey! What does that mean?”
“Oh, you're a smart girl.”
“Oh, my God, sometimes you sound way too snooty.”
“When I'm convinced that it doesn't endear me more, then I'll stop.”
“See! You just did it again!”
“I'm timing my lines to increase your very becoming blush.”
“This isn't a blush! It's the sun! It's making me squint.”
Helena wisely swallows a smile. “Of course, darling.” Then promptly strides to the door of the bar. “Allow me,” she says with a gallant gesture of her hand for Andy to enter.
The younger woman dips her head and looks at Helena through her lashes. “Well, if there can't be a puddle on the road, I suppose a door will do.”
“After you, your Majesty.”
“C'mon, Raleigh, you have people to impress.”
-------------
Later That Night
The beat was irresistible, and even though she didn't know who the hell the latest craze was, she knew with whom she wanted 'to get jiggy with it.'
“I can't believe you actually used that phrase.”
“That's me showing my vulnerability. Revealing moments of nerdom from high school slang.”
“Charming.”
Andy only tilted her lips upward, and draped her arms over Helena's shoulders. “Aren't I?”
She leaned in, and ran light kisses up her lover's neck. “I know you think I do.”
“Andy.”
“C'mon...Dance with me.”
“We're already dancing.”
Andy winked. “Damn, I'm good.”
Helena relented and leaned down to kiss her companion. “Yes. Yes, you are.”
-----
“They are almost sickeningly sweet.”
Doug shook his head, unable to tear his eyes away.
Lily almost agreed. “Almost? Oh no, they are definitely sickening.”
“It's just not fair.”
“I can't believe we're both single, Nate's in Boston, and Andy's gone lezzie again.”
Doug poured more beer down his throat. “Look, there are, like, fifty guys here, and I haven't even said hello to anyone. No one's come up to me. I'm ugly.”
Lily rolls her eyes, but still puts her arm on his. “Doug, you are not ugly. You're very sexy. Hot! If you weren't gay...”
He laughingly pushes her arm away. “Oh, please! I already know your type, remember? Unfortunately, all the black guys here are definitely gay.”
“I'm not entirely stupid, Doug. I do have gaydar.”
Doug pushes his bottle away, and sets his head down morosely on the table. “I'm gonna be single forever.”
Lily keeps an eye on Andy, while nudging Doug's shoulder sharply. “Get up! If you look like this pathetic, no one's gonna hit on you. Put some effort in to it!”
He exhales gustily, and then shakes him upright. “Oh, alright. But one condition. You have to tour the bar with me. We can scope the guys out together.”
“What about Andy?”
Doug rolled his eyes. “Does it look she's going to be leaving anytime soon?”
Lily follows his gaze to see their friend doing less of dancing than just simulating sex on the dancefloor. “Oh, Lord...”
“Yea, let's go.”
“But you do have to admit. Helena's something.”
“She's a 12 on a 10-scale. Tres posh.”
“Think it's going to last?”
With one last look at the couple, Doug takes Lily's hand, ready to lead her in to the throngs. “As long as Voldemort behaves.”
------
The next morning, she is never so glad for coffee. There is a dull pounding in her head, but she knows from her college days that it could be overcome with coffee, water, and toast. However, coffee is definitely first on that list.
She pages through the newspapers listlessly, keeping up with what kept the world up on this Sunday morning. She goes through the comics, and finds them only mildly amusing, and then, on a lark, flips to the society pages.
And there it was: In grainy technicolor, Miranda Priestly attending a charity auction, with a very handsome man on her arm.
Andy clenches her jaw without noticing the grating of her molars. She cannot tear her eyes away, and she cannot recognize the sweeping orchestra of conflicting emotions that wash over her.
The words seem to blend together: Richard Harrington. Hedge fund CEO. Eligible bachelor.
“Good morning, Sunshine.”
Andy looks up, as if in another life, and sees Helena, wearing only a towel around her torso as she wraps another over her hair. The sound seems to be coming from a great distance.
Andy starts breathing again, and the world comes back in to focus.
Helena looks at her quizzically. “Everything okay?”
Andy looks back at the paper in an instant, and turns the page. “Fine. Just another political scandal.”
“In the mood for brunch? How about we get to Pastis?”
Andy stares at the carpet and realizes that she needs to vacuum. “That's fine.”
Helena comes up to her, and crouches to meet Andy's eyes. “Hey. It'll be okay.”
Andy looks in to her eyes. “It will?”
“I'll only be gone for a couple of weeks.”
“Until the next time.”
“Andy, you know why I can't move to New York.”
“Do you really want to do long-distance? It's absolute hell. I know.”
“I'm willing to give this a shot. I think it's worth it.”
Andy looks away, and exhales with force and intent. “Helena...”
“Look, we don't have to address this right now.”
“You're leaving tonight.”
“So let's enjoy what time we have until then.”
Andy looks back at her, hurting in a multitude of ways, feeling everything from adoration to guilt in one swift glance. “Tell me it will be okay.”
Helena leans forward to kiss her forehead, and they sit like that for awhile.
- TBC
1. For previous parts, including disclaimers and rating, please see: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2A, Chapter 2B, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5.
2. Musical accompaniment brought to you by Ulrich Schnauss' "Between Us And Them."
______________________
FF: High Glow
Chapter 6: Between Us And Them
Andrea smiles at her lover. “Don't worry. You'll see, we're going to have blast.
Helena smirks at her, matching the quick step. “I'm not nervous. But that's the third time you've said that in the past three days.”
“Hey! What does that mean?”
“Oh, you're a smart girl.”
“Oh, my God, sometimes you sound way too snooty.”
“When I'm convinced that it doesn't endear me more, then I'll stop.”
“See! You just did it again!”
“I'm timing my lines to increase your very becoming blush.”
“This isn't a blush! It's the sun! It's making me squint.”
Helena wisely swallows a smile. “Of course, darling.” Then promptly strides to the door of the bar. “Allow me,” she says with a gallant gesture of her hand for Andy to enter.
The younger woman dips her head and looks at Helena through her lashes. “Well, if there can't be a puddle on the road, I suppose a door will do.”
“After you, your Majesty.”
“C'mon, Raleigh, you have people to impress.”
-------------
Later That Night
The beat was irresistible, and even though she didn't know who the hell the latest craze was, she knew with whom she wanted 'to get jiggy with it.'
“I can't believe you actually used that phrase.”
“That's me showing my vulnerability. Revealing moments of nerdom from high school slang.”
“Charming.”
Andy only tilted her lips upward, and draped her arms over Helena's shoulders. “Aren't I?”
She leaned in, and ran light kisses up her lover's neck. “I know you think I do.”
“Andy.”
“C'mon...Dance with me.”
“We're already dancing.”
Andy winked. “Damn, I'm good.”
Helena relented and leaned down to kiss her companion. “Yes. Yes, you are.”
-----
“They are almost sickeningly sweet.”
Doug shook his head, unable to tear his eyes away.
Lily almost agreed. “Almost? Oh no, they are definitely sickening.”
“It's just not fair.”
“I can't believe we're both single, Nate's in Boston, and Andy's gone lezzie again.”
Doug poured more beer down his throat. “Look, there are, like, fifty guys here, and I haven't even said hello to anyone. No one's come up to me. I'm ugly.”
Lily rolls her eyes, but still puts her arm on his. “Doug, you are not ugly. You're very sexy. Hot! If you weren't gay...”
He laughingly pushes her arm away. “Oh, please! I already know your type, remember? Unfortunately, all the black guys here are definitely gay.”
“I'm not entirely stupid, Doug. I do have gaydar.”
Doug pushes his bottle away, and sets his head down morosely on the table. “I'm gonna be single forever.”
Lily keeps an eye on Andy, while nudging Doug's shoulder sharply. “Get up! If you look like this pathetic, no one's gonna hit on you. Put some effort in to it!”
He exhales gustily, and then shakes him upright. “Oh, alright. But one condition. You have to tour the bar with me. We can scope the guys out together.”
“What about Andy?”
Doug rolled his eyes. “Does it look she's going to be leaving anytime soon?”
Lily follows his gaze to see their friend doing less of dancing than just simulating sex on the dancefloor. “Oh, Lord...”
“Yea, let's go.”
“But you do have to admit. Helena's something.”
“She's a 12 on a 10-scale. Tres posh.”
“Think it's going to last?”
With one last look at the couple, Doug takes Lily's hand, ready to lead her in to the throngs. “As long as Voldemort behaves.”
------
The next morning, she is never so glad for coffee. There is a dull pounding in her head, but she knows from her college days that it could be overcome with coffee, water, and toast. However, coffee is definitely first on that list.
She pages through the newspapers listlessly, keeping up with what kept the world up on this Sunday morning. She goes through the comics, and finds them only mildly amusing, and then, on a lark, flips to the society pages.
And there it was: In grainy technicolor, Miranda Priestly attending a charity auction, with a very handsome man on her arm.
Andy clenches her jaw without noticing the grating of her molars. She cannot tear her eyes away, and she cannot recognize the sweeping orchestra of conflicting emotions that wash over her.
The words seem to blend together: Richard Harrington. Hedge fund CEO. Eligible bachelor.
“Good morning, Sunshine.”
Andy looks up, as if in another life, and sees Helena, wearing only a towel around her torso as she wraps another over her hair. The sound seems to be coming from a great distance.
Andy starts breathing again, and the world comes back in to focus.
Helena looks at her quizzically. “Everything okay?”
Andy looks back at the paper in an instant, and turns the page. “Fine. Just another political scandal.”
“In the mood for brunch? How about we get to Pastis?”
Andy stares at the carpet and realizes that she needs to vacuum. “That's fine.”
Helena comes up to her, and crouches to meet Andy's eyes. “Hey. It'll be okay.”
Andy looks in to her eyes. “It will?”
“I'll only be gone for a couple of weeks.”
“Until the next time.”
“Andy, you know why I can't move to New York.”
“Do you really want to do long-distance? It's absolute hell. I know.”
“I'm willing to give this a shot. I think it's worth it.”
Andy looks away, and exhales with force and intent. “Helena...”
“Look, we don't have to address this right now.”
“You're leaving tonight.”
“So let's enjoy what time we have until then.”
Andy looks back at her, hurting in a multitude of ways, feeling everything from adoration to guilt in one swift glance. “Tell me it will be okay.”
Helena leans forward to kiss her forehead, and they sit like that for awhile.
- TBC