fic: love is not a science
Title: Love Is Not a Science
Author: x_kathirose
Rating: Safe for all.
Length: 749 words.
Summary: Things get ever more complicated for Kelly. Set a few weeks on from The Morning After.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters in any way shape or form.
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"Polly, I need a plan. Preferably in the next five minutes."
Kelly Jones planted her hands on the desk in front of the red-headed girl with a thud, making her jump. Polly looked up from the architect's plans she had been studying and eyed Kelly suspiciously. Kelly might have been her superior, but she had an element of recklessness in her personality that made Polly uncomfortable sometimes. Today, however, despite the authoritarian tone, Polly could read genuine sadness carved into the head girl's face.
"To do what exactly?"
"Something's gone really wrong with Annabelle. She's ignoring me and I can't get her to talk to me, or even look at me."
"Lover's tiff, eh?"
"How do you - wait, I forgot you have cameras in my room. What do you do with those recordings, by the way?"
Polly flushed at the remark but otherwise ignored it.
"What makes you think I can help you?"
"You were accepted by MENSA aged five. I'm pretty sure you can think of something. And don't think I don't know about the stash of cheesy films hidden in that box under your bed."
"I still don't think I'm the best person for the job."
"Well I can't ask Taylor or Andrea, can I? And plans are what you do best. I know this doesn't involve physics or calculations or whatever it is you spend most of your time doing, but still."
Polly sighed exaggeratedly and pushed the blueprints out of the way, making sure to roll her eyes as she did. Kelly smiled and pulled up a chair next to her. The redhead pulled a giant notepad and a pen from her bag, set it down on the table and scribbled something in her indecipherable handwriting.
"Can I ask what went wrong?"
Kelly's expression darkened and for a moment Polly regretted asking the question, but then Kelly's words came tumbling out, practically falling over one another as they did so. She had clearly been bottling this up for a while.
"You remember the party Chelsea told us about? The one you said you weren't going to because no-one at that school could count to four, let alone keep up with you?" Kelly smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "Well, Annabelle and I both went and there was a game of spin the bottle which may or may not have been my idea and Annabelle spun it and it landed on me and it was the best kiss ever and then she left and I chased her down a corridor and kissed her again and that time it was even better." Kelly paused for breath before starting again. "And then we fell asleep in the same bed and then when we woke up she wanted to have sex so we did and it was the best sex anyone has ever had. And now she won't talk to me."
It took a moment for Polly to digest what Kelly had just said and another moment to think of a reply. Polly had been in relationships before - not that anyone would believe her, obviously - but this was entirely new to her.
"Look, Kelly. Love's not like algebra or trigonometry - it's imprecise. You can't just input the variables and end up with x = true love forever. Whatever you two have going on is your business, not mine. You need to sit her down and talk to her and figure this out between yourselves. And if you can't get her to talk to you, then maybe I can make this my business. At least for a little while."
Kelly looked up from the table and smiled. Polly could see the glimmers of hope in her eyes and felt ever so slightly like a proud mother.
"Can I hug you?"
The redhead grimaced. "Save that for Annabelle. I'll compromise on a handshake. Now, we have a girl to win over. Let's get to work!"
"You got it, boss."
Polly started writing, and when she looked up at Kelly, she thought she could see genuine happiness on her face. She rolled her eyes. Love was way too messy for her. She'd stick to physics, thank you very much. It was only when she was writing down an idea of what Kelly could say that a thought suddenly struck her.
"Kelly?"
"Yes?"
"One condition: I never, ever have to listen to you ramble on about how gorgeous she is, EVER."
"Deal."
Polly smiled. This might even be fun.