Fic: Lily/Kat RPF
Title: F is for...
Rated: PG-13 for language; R later
Lily/Kat RPF
Set six years after Skins ends
Not real. Not real. Not real. Any similarities would be wonderful.
Comment, as you like. If you don't approve of RPF then DON'T READ IT!
My first fic, so please be kind.
Fate
Beads of sweat trail down her warm flushed face, dripping into her parted lips as she pants. Her tongue darts out to lick the salty driblets, the bit of moisture a very welcome treat for her dry mouth. A small moan escapes her lips as she swallows hard and reaches up to wipe the never-ending toxic steam that expels itself from her forehead. Her eyelids twitch when pungent drops of sweat filter through her eyelashes, stinging.
Just 10 more minutes, she mentally cheers her body, urging it onward.
The music she’s chosen allows her to advance further than she normally has resolve for. She knows the pace she keeps is working - her muscles conforming, strengthening.
Lily enjoys her daily regiment of exercise, particularly the last bit - a two mile run. Today she is running further, her overheated mind pushing her to continue down the park path. She’s never run this far before, if for any reason because the farther she goes the more populated the park becomes.
Lily takes great pleasure in the solace of running. The feeling of her trainers hitting the pavement, singing along with her favorite cheesy ballads, and sweating profusely, with only the occasional passers-by, gives her a sense of freedom - a sense of freedom and solitude she often craves.
Today, though. Today feels different.
From the moment she woke up a sense of something familiar invaded her psyche. She dismisses the nagging feeling after the first mile of her run, perhaps subconsciously urging herself on to make sure she is rid of it for good.
The park is crowded on this particular Saturday noon. Even her usually solitary route has been assaulted by cheery people on this warm, sunny day. You should have come earlier, she scolds herself. Leave it to the Brits to come out in droves when the sun makes an appearance. She puffs her cheeks between pants and checks her watch. The four mile marker lies just ahead and she decides this would be far enough.
Her pace slows as she begins to cool down her body. She takes in deep breaths of air through her nose and exhales out her mouth. The air is thick with humidity and her face scrunches reflexively with each intake of breath.
Lily removes the ear buds from her ears and tucks them in the elastic of her gray shorts. The sleeveless white shirt she is wearing is all but soaked with perspiration, causing her to mentally scold herself for wearing the Union Jack sports bra her sister gave her for her birthday. She is near the end of her fifteen minute cool down when she hears the noise of the playground up ahead. Normally, Lily would steer well clear of a child infested place such as this, but ever since her sister became pregnant she’s warmed to the idea of children.
The bright yellow color of the swing set frame comes into view as she rounds the path in a slow jog. Every inch of the play area is crammed with children - some running, some screaming, some crying, and some just smiling away. Lily slows her pace to a brisk walk, making her way between a sandbox and a row of benches where mums and dads sit to watch their offspring cavort. She glances back and forth between parents and children, trying to match facial features. Her mind begins to drift to her niece, or nephew, and wonders if her sister’s child might bear any resemblance to herself.
It is as she daydreams, that on one of the benches she spots a familiar shade of red behind a book. The sight of it nearly stops her in her tracks, but she continues down the path as it winds behind the bench, curious blue eyes steady on red hair. Whiplash becomes likely with all double-takes.
Lily stops and leans down to take a long drink from a drinking fountain. Her mind clouds red as lukewarm fluid moistens her lips and memories of a girl she once knew come flooding in. She feels the need to cup water in her hand and splash it on her face.
Lily rises slowly from the drinking fountain, water dripping from her chin. The water does little to cool her flushed face. If anything, Lily feels as if her body temperature is spiking. She closes her eyes and bends over a bit as she lifts the hem of her shirt in an attempt to dry off her face, only then remembering that her shirt is soaked with sweat.
“Fucking hell,” she whispers and takes off her top.
Lily squeezes the shirt in her hand and places her hands on her hips, taking in a deep breath to compose herself. Slowly she turns around to face the back of the bench where the familiar shade of red sits, reading. Her jaw stiffens. Lots of people have that shade of color. Lily convinces herself. She colored it black, anyway.
As she makes her way the fifteen or so paces to the back of the bench she recalls the last time she saw this girl. Only the last time she saw her, she wasn’t a girl at all, she was a woman. They had literally bumped into each other…
The club was packed; the music, loud; thumping, bodies bumping to the beat. Lily had just finished a rather successful stint in a long-running play, and she and the rest of the younger members of the cast had come to the club to celebrate. She was well into her fourth drink and feeling rather nice - not pissed but happy - when a favorite song of hers eased in at the end of another. Lily was quickly on the dance floor. Happy, but with a bit of tipsy on the side.
As the song played on, Lily danced her way further into the crowd, pausing to grind on a few cast mates here and there. If she weren’t quite so tipsy she might feel a bit sad about not seeing those cast mates on a weekly basis anymore. Lily never liked the end. She raises her arms and sways to the music, closing her eyes as she remembers the end of the most wicked time of her life; those days with all of them. With her.
It’s been over two years since she’s seen or spoken to her. They’d promised to always keep in touch, but somehow it didn’t happen that way. Kat had gone off to Uni and they’d lost track of each other soon after.
Lily begins to think of the last time she saw her; Kat. A small drunken smile appears as her mind drifts to her one-time closest mate, but her trip down memory lane is rudely interrupted when someone crashes into her from behind. “Fuck!” she yells. Not that anyone can hear her over the music. She turns to see the assailant, only to be face to face with a living memory. At first she thinks she’s just really pissed and her mind is playing some kind of trick on her. It’s only when drunken, apologetic, brown eyes change to shocked ones, and Kat Prescott jumps on her and wraps her arms around Lily’s neck does she realize, this is no mind game at all.
Lily instinctively wraps her arms around Kat’s waist and hugs her tight.
It feels good.
She feels good.
And it becomes just the two of them. Music and crowd be damned.
Kat pulls back, her hands effortlessly threading together at the nape of Lily’s neck. All Lily can comprehend is the cute fucking grin that she so fondly remembers, on Kat‘s face. Lily grins right back, her mind still swimming in a sea of who knows what, and she’s hit with a sense of déjà vu.
When they were teenagers; on their own in Bristol, going out and getting pissed was a regular occurrence for all the cast. They all would hang out together; drink and party. But somehow it always ended up being just Lily and Kat; dancing a little too close, touching a little too much.
Kat begins to talk through her smile and Lily’s eyes close at the stench of alcohol on Kat’s breath. Christ, Prescott! She thinks. Some things never change. The crowd and club invade their moment as Lily realizes she can’t hear any of what Kat is saying. She slips a hand from around Kat’s waist and motions to her ear, as if to say she can’t hear her. Kat slides her hands into Lily’s hair - another familiar feeling - and tiptoes up to reach Lily‘s ear.
“Lily Fucking Loveless!” Kat hoarsely shouts. “I can’t believe it’s you!”
Lily giggles and tilts her head to shout back into Kat’s ear that is poking out from behind black hair. “Kathryn Fucking Prescott… Where the fuck have you been all my life!”
Kat pulls Lily in for another hug, her hands sliding deeper into Lily’s shoulder length brown hair. Lily bows her head and inadvertently grazes her lips over Kat’s bare shoulder. She inhales, taking in the familiar scent of cigarette smoke and Kat’s green apple scented body wash, and thinks, still using it after all these years. She smiles drunkenly into Kat‘s shoulder, knowing only Kat Prescott could mix the two scents and smell really fucking amazing.
Kat too, is taking in Lily’s familiar scent of, Mmm, what the fuck is it? Kat attempts to recall through her inebriated mind but really doesn’t care at this moment. Just wants to take in Lily. So she pulls back again, mindful to keep her hands in Lily’s hair. She presses her cheek to Lily’s and shouts, “I fucking missed you, Loveless,” before locking eyes with Lily again.
Lily smiles. All teeth. She doesn’t lean down to Kat’s ear, but only mouths the words ‘I missed you too.’
Kat’s grip in Lily’s hair tightens. Lily arches her brow as she feels Kat pulling her head down…
“Lily?”
Lily startles and squeezes her eyes shut when a familiar voice - a voice she hadn’t realized she missed - brings her back.
“Lily!”
A wave of heat hits Lily like a punch in the gut. Whether or not it’s the weather’s fault, she’s unsure. Only knows that she feels a bit light-headed as she gazes into excited brown eyes. Brown eyes that could ask for anything, and get it. She smiles a tight-lipped smile and coyly says, “The one and only.” Waves clumsily, wide-eyed, as she approaches the back of the bench.
“Hiya, Kat…” she trails off. “How are you?”
“Fucking surprised!” Kat says through a raspy laugh.
Lily snorts and nods. “Right.” She moves to the side of the bench, and with her left hand grabs the ornamental iron that frames the wood, tries not to wince at the temperature of it. She places her right hand on her hip and leans a bit, trying to not look completely awkward. This time there is no jumping into arms or sweet caresses. They’re older now. Mature adults. Or so they’d like to think.
“So…” Lily trails off again, at a loss for words. She can only think how fucking gorgeous a woman Kat Prescott has become. Her features are the same, but there’s a maturity to her face that Lily notices immediately.
For a moment Lily wonders why she feels so awkward. Why seeing Kat has her stomach doing flips and her body overheating. Why she is gripping the bench so tightly that her knuckles are turning white. Why her top row teeth are holding her bottom lip hostage (A habit leftover from Naomi.). Why she can’t seem to look directly into Kat’s big brown eyes, but can only focus on the frames of the glasses Kat is wearing.
Kat’s lips begin to curl as Lily stands there, staring. “So… You were going to say?”
Lily looks down at nothing and shakes her head; apologizes. “Sorry. It’s just… I’m really surprised too, I s’pose.”
Kat’s smile completes itself. “Of course,” she says and scoots over, patting a spot on the bench next to her. “Sit?”
“Oh…I…” Lily looks down at herself and can’t believe she’s without a shirt. Even worse, she’s wearing the damn Union Jack sports bra! “I’m quite retched right now. It may be best if I keep my dist -”
“Sit the fuck down, Loveless,” Kat interrupts in husky voice. “I haven’t seen you in…what’s it been now, six years?” Kat closes her book and removes her glasses, folding and holding them loosely in her hand. She looks at Lily and furrows her brow. “You can’t just stand there. Sit. I promise not to be offended by any odor that comes my way.”
Lily laughs at Kat’s demanding tone. She remembers it quite well. Kat always did have a way. Her way. She was always quite demanding. Not in a rude or mean manner, but she was a master of subtle manipulation, especially where Lily was concerned.
“You know…,” Lily begins playfully. “We did see each other a few years ago. Remember?” Lily tries not to look disappointed that Kat may have forgotten their moment in the club.
Kat squints, as if trying to recall before looking away, obviously remembering what almost happened that night - what she almost did - and a hint of a smirk forms. “That time in the club hardly counts. I was pissed, and we didn‘t even get a chance to talk or anything.”
Lily stiffens her jaw, mouth slightly parted, and tries not to smile as she sits down an arm’s length from Kat. “Fuck!” She yells as the back of her legs make contact with hot wood. Her curse earns her several glares from surrounding parents, as well as some innocent, wide-eyed looks from nearby children. My arse is on fire, what the fuck, people! Her inner monologue carries on until Kat interrupts.
“Nice…” Is what brings Lily back. She looks over at Kat whose face wears a smirk.
Lily can’t hide her shy smile any longer. Slowly blue eyes find brown again. And it‘s then Lily notices Kat is staring at her tits.
“…bra.” Kat finishes and snorts through a giggle.
Kat’s remark eases some of the tension for Lily. “Fuck off, Prescott,” she snaps back, playfully. “I was in a hurry this morning.”
The noise of the playground fades away. And, for a split second it’s as if they are teenagers again; giggling, making cheap shot remarks back and forth.
Flirting.
---
They always flirted. From day one. It may have helped that they knew one another previously, from drama lessons, but they were instant friends on the set. And when it was apparent that their characters would be more than friends on-screen, it only helped to strengthen their off-screen bond. There was something between them. Everyone saw it. That connection, that bond that no other cast mate could compete with. Even Kat’s twin, Meg, was unable to penetrate it.
Lily knew them both quite well. One would have to after spending day in day out for weeks… months, really, with anyone. But it was always Kat who drew her in. Always Kat whom she stared at a bit too much and touched for a second too long. Always Kat that could make her giggle without really trying. Always Kat.
And they couldn’t help the flirting, it was just something they did subconsciously. Perhaps it was because they had been so intimate with one another on-screen and that chemistry just poured over off-screen.
Perhaps it was the opposite.
After all, they had been intimate in a sense, off-screen. Sharing an apartment where they would often fall asleep in each other’s beds. Rehearsing intimate scenes on their own, just to make sure they would have it right for filming. (All in the name of Emily and Naomi, of course.) Getting pissed together and hanging on to each other incessantly. It was all common for Kat and Lily.
They were mates. The best of. What everyone else saw between them, they were oblivious to. For Lily and Kat it was natural. Familiar. They could not be any other way. And they were quite aware of the fans who thought they were “together” at the time. Often they would joke with each other, calling one another pet names, or touching inappropriately. But it never went further.
It never truly bothered Kat, what the fans thought about them personally, but Lily always felt somewhat compelled to discuss her boyfriends during interviews.
Years later, when Lily reflected on those days, she would ask herself why.
---
Kat’s grin is plastered to her face. She gives Lily a once over, letting her eyes travel from the top of Lily’s head to the tips of her trainers. Lily can sense Kat’s gaze on her and crosses her arms over her patriotic bra, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Back to blonde, I see.” Kat finally says.
Lily reaches one of her hands up and smoothes out her blonde ponytail. “Yeah. I missed it, y’ know?” She smiles sweetly at Kat after this statement, as if missing her blonde hair was somehow a metaphor for missing Kat; for missing the time they spent together. She looks over at Kat, who seems to have caught on; brown eyes making direct contact with blue. Lily’s eyes travel north to Kat’s own familiar color. “Back to red, then.”
“Would you believe I just colored it yesterday?” Kat puts her book on the bench next to Lily’s shirt and tucks her glasses inside her purse.
Lily uncrosses her arms and turns her body so she’s facing Kat. “I never would have noticed it was you if not for your hair,” she says. She sighs and happens to glance down at the title of Kat’s book: Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child. Her eyebrows arch and she suddenly remembers where they are. The sound of children rings in her ears once more. She looks back up at Kat, who has turned her attention to the playground. Lily’s mind spins for a moment.
“Kat?”
“Hm.” Kat is distracted.
“Are you a…mum?” Lily fears the answer. If Kat has a child it must mean she’s married, and for reasons unbeknownst to her, the thought gives Lily’s stomach fits. Her mind races to comprehend it all until she hears Kat’s husky laugh.
“Christ, no!”
Lily is relieved, and confused; her laugh reflects her feelings. She’s looking at Kat and awaiting an explanation. Kat clears her throat and turns to face Lily.
“I’m here with a patient.” Kat says matter-of-factly. “Actually, I prefer to call my patients, clients. But no, I don’t have children.” Kat smiles at Lily and looks back toward the playground. “I would like to though,” she softly continues, “someday.”
A strange wave of relief washes over Lily, slowly covering her body. She gazes at Kat’s profile - something she did quite a bit of when they worked together - studying the new curves and lines that age has brought with her. There are only a few new details she notices, and thinks Kat truly hasn’t changed at all. Her skin is still flawless, pale. Her nose still charming, curved up just the right amount at the tip. Her lips, still pouted perfectly.
Lily‘s eyelids grow heavy and she‘s unaware of the small smile that‘s slowly forming on her lips. A piercing scream from a toddler not two feet away shocks her out of her stupor, though. She clears her throat. “So, you are… a doctor, then?”
Kat‘s perfectly pouted lips curl. “Yes. A psychologist. Child psychologist, and I also do some family therapy.” Kat waves across the playground. Lily looks to find who she is waving to and sees a couple with a young boy waving back, as they leave.
“Sorry about that,” Kat says. “I was observing one of my new clients and his parents. But I’m all yours now.” She cheerily reveals.
“Oh?” The teasing tone of her response comes out of Lily’s mouth before she has time to stop it. She doesn’t quite know what to do with Kat’s statement, it’s made her heart beat a bit faster and her eyes glaze over.
“Lils, relax!” Kat places her hand on Lily’s knee. “Wow, it’s so strange how I just call you Lils like time hasn’t passed at all, yeah?” She squeezes Lily’s knee.
“Yeah.” Lily looks down at Kat’s hand. It feels cool against her hot body. She sighs loudly, trying not to focus on the fact that Kat‘s thumb is gently stroking her knee. “I feel nervous, for fuck’s sake.” She admits. “But, at the same time,” she continues, “seeing you; talking with you, it feels so good. So… natural.” Lily rolls her eyes and rubs her nose. “Christ, I’m not making any sense. The heat must be getting to me. It‘s so bloody hot!”
“I like it.” Kat purrs, tipping her face up toward the sky, removing her hand from Lily. “And, it’s fine, you know. Your feelings are quite natural.”
Lily rolls her eyes. “Oh, God. Please don’t analyze me, Dr. Prescott.”
“Shut up!” Kat pushes Lily’s shoulder. “I just meant…I get it. What you’re feeling and all.”
“Do you?”
“Mm.” Kat nods quickly and tries to calm Lily by asking her some questions. “So what are you up to these days?”
“I’m still doing acting, if you can believe that.”
“Course I can.” Kat replies with enthusiasm. “Anything I might’ve heard of?”
Lily shrugs. “Dunno. I’ve mostly been doing theatre productions. I did a bit of TV a few years back, but I found that the stage gives me more of a rush.”
“Seems we’re both doing what we said we were going to do, yeah?”
The corners of Lily’s lips turn up as the memory of an interview in matching gray jackets slowly returns. She laughs out her nose. “We were such kids back then,” she recalls fondly. “I was a right twat!” She adds, cackling.
“We both were,” Kat muses. Her husky laugh hasn’t changed one bit, Lily notices. “Working on anything right now, then?”
Lily nods. “Mm. I start rehearsals on Monday.” Her eyes light up instantly. “Will you…come and see it when it opens?”
“Course,” Kat says excitedly. “Just tell me when and where!”
“Speaking of…” Lily trails off. She checks her watch. “I’ve got to go. I have this dinner thing at my place tonight -”
“A date?” Kat interrupts.
“No no no.” Lily laughs. “It’s a thing I do, have done…have been doing for a few years now.” She picks up her wet shirt and stands up. “Walk with me?” She asks, gesturing toward the park entrance with her head.
“Yeah.” Kat picks up her purse and book, and follows. She’s a pace behind when Lily starts talking again.
“I have these dinner parties before I start any new play. Sort of a tradition now,” Lily says, looking toward Kat. "Started them a couple of years ago. I find it helps the cast get to know one another, helps me feel a bit more comfortable." They reach the entrance to the park where Lily pauses.
“Sounds like fun,” Kat says, switching her purse to the other shoulder.
“Getting a bit drunk with strangers is always a tip,” Lily laughs. She shifts her weight to one leg and purses her lips.
Kat laughs softly. “Yeah.” An awkward silence hovers between them before Kat says, “Well…it was really great to see you, Lily. I…” Her lips form a shy smile. “I’ve thought about you a lot over the years.”
Lily can feel herself blushing. “Really?” A nervous scratching of the top of her head follows. Before she can say anything else Kat takes a step back.
“Yeah, well, you were a big part of my life, y’ know? I think about those days in Bristol quite often.”
Lily nods. “Those were fun times… back then.”
Kat laughs. “God, it wasn’t that long ago, Loveless.”
“Yeah.” Lily sighs, clenching her jaw. “Well, I better…”
“Right. Sorry. You need to go.”
They stand and gaze at one another longer than most people do. Lily can’t help reaching out to move a strand of red hair that’s caught on Kat’s eyelashes.
“I guess I’ll call you, you know, to relay info about the opening and all.”
Kat arches her brow and slowly says, “You may need my phone number, then.”
Lily rolls her eyes and snorts. “Right.” She watches Kat take out a small red case from her purse. Watches her fingers as she flips it open and slides out a card.
“My card,” says Kat, full of pride. Hands it to Lily with an adorable grin. “It has my office, mobile, and home numbers.”
“Ooh, very fancy, Dr. Prescott,” Lily teases.
“Fuck off.” Kat can’t help but smile through her expletive. Lily giggles and slides the card into her pocket.
“I’ll call you, then.”
“K.”
Lily slowly turns on her heels. “Bye, Kat.” Her farewell wave just as clumsy as her hello.
“Bye, Lily.” Kat watches Lily walk a few paces before turning and walking toward her car. She’s only made it a couple of steps herself when she hears her name. Kat turns to find Lily walking back toward her. “Yeah?”
Lily exhales sharply, as if she’s been holding her breath too long. “Are you busy tonight?”
Kat shakes her head. “No. No, I’m not.”
“Would you…like to come to a dinner party where you won’t know anyone?” Lily’s eyes widen and a goofy smile forms on her lips.
Kat’s lips curl. “I’d know you.” An arch of her eyebrow causes Lily to roll her eyes.
“So, yes or no, Dr Prescott?” Lily thinks she can hear her heartbeat as she waits for Kat to answer.
“Yes, you twat.”
Lily smiles at what she knows is an affectionate term. She begins walking backward as she says, “Great! I’ll call you with directions, then. Cunt!”
---
Rated: PG-13 for language; R later
Lily/Kat RPF
Set six years after Skins ends
Not real. Not real. Not real. Any similarities would be wonderful.
Comment, as you like. If you don't approve of RPF then DON'T READ IT!
My first fic, so please be kind.
Fate
Beads of sweat trail down her warm flushed face, dripping into her parted lips as she pants. Her tongue darts out to lick the salty driblets, the bit of moisture a very welcome treat for her dry mouth. A small moan escapes her lips as she swallows hard and reaches up to wipe the never-ending toxic steam that expels itself from her forehead. Her eyelids twitch when pungent drops of sweat filter through her eyelashes, stinging.
Just 10 more minutes, she mentally cheers her body, urging it onward.
The music she’s chosen allows her to advance further than she normally has resolve for. She knows the pace she keeps is working - her muscles conforming, strengthening.
Lily enjoys her daily regiment of exercise, particularly the last bit - a two mile run. Today she is running further, her overheated mind pushing her to continue down the park path. She’s never run this far before, if for any reason because the farther she goes the more populated the park becomes.
Lily takes great pleasure in the solace of running. The feeling of her trainers hitting the pavement, singing along with her favorite cheesy ballads, and sweating profusely, with only the occasional passers-by, gives her a sense of freedom - a sense of freedom and solitude she often craves.
Today, though. Today feels different.
From the moment she woke up a sense of something familiar invaded her psyche. She dismisses the nagging feeling after the first mile of her run, perhaps subconsciously urging herself on to make sure she is rid of it for good.
The park is crowded on this particular Saturday noon. Even her usually solitary route has been assaulted by cheery people on this warm, sunny day. You should have come earlier, she scolds herself. Leave it to the Brits to come out in droves when the sun makes an appearance. She puffs her cheeks between pants and checks her watch. The four mile marker lies just ahead and she decides this would be far enough.
Her pace slows as she begins to cool down her body. She takes in deep breaths of air through her nose and exhales out her mouth. The air is thick with humidity and her face scrunches reflexively with each intake of breath.
Lily removes the ear buds from her ears and tucks them in the elastic of her gray shorts. The sleeveless white shirt she is wearing is all but soaked with perspiration, causing her to mentally scold herself for wearing the Union Jack sports bra her sister gave her for her birthday. She is near the end of her fifteen minute cool down when she hears the noise of the playground up ahead. Normally, Lily would steer well clear of a child infested place such as this, but ever since her sister became pregnant she’s warmed to the idea of children.
The bright yellow color of the swing set frame comes into view as she rounds the path in a slow jog. Every inch of the play area is crammed with children - some running, some screaming, some crying, and some just smiling away. Lily slows her pace to a brisk walk, making her way between a sandbox and a row of benches where mums and dads sit to watch their offspring cavort. She glances back and forth between parents and children, trying to match facial features. Her mind begins to drift to her niece, or nephew, and wonders if her sister’s child might bear any resemblance to herself.
It is as she daydreams, that on one of the benches she spots a familiar shade of red behind a book. The sight of it nearly stops her in her tracks, but she continues down the path as it winds behind the bench, curious blue eyes steady on red hair. Whiplash becomes likely with all double-takes.
Lily stops and leans down to take a long drink from a drinking fountain. Her mind clouds red as lukewarm fluid moistens her lips and memories of a girl she once knew come flooding in. She feels the need to cup water in her hand and splash it on her face.
Lily rises slowly from the drinking fountain, water dripping from her chin. The water does little to cool her flushed face. If anything, Lily feels as if her body temperature is spiking. She closes her eyes and bends over a bit as she lifts the hem of her shirt in an attempt to dry off her face, only then remembering that her shirt is soaked with sweat.
“Fucking hell,” she whispers and takes off her top.
Lily squeezes the shirt in her hand and places her hands on her hips, taking in a deep breath to compose herself. Slowly she turns around to face the back of the bench where the familiar shade of red sits, reading. Her jaw stiffens. Lots of people have that shade of color. Lily convinces herself. She colored it black, anyway.
As she makes her way the fifteen or so paces to the back of the bench she recalls the last time she saw this girl. Only the last time she saw her, she wasn’t a girl at all, she was a woman. They had literally bumped into each other…
The club was packed; the music, loud; thumping, bodies bumping to the beat. Lily had just finished a rather successful stint in a long-running play, and she and the rest of the younger members of the cast had come to the club to celebrate. She was well into her fourth drink and feeling rather nice - not pissed but happy - when a favorite song of hers eased in at the end of another. Lily was quickly on the dance floor. Happy, but with a bit of tipsy on the side.
As the song played on, Lily danced her way further into the crowd, pausing to grind on a few cast mates here and there. If she weren’t quite so tipsy she might feel a bit sad about not seeing those cast mates on a weekly basis anymore. Lily never liked the end. She raises her arms and sways to the music, closing her eyes as she remembers the end of the most wicked time of her life; those days with all of them. With her.
It’s been over two years since she’s seen or spoken to her. They’d promised to always keep in touch, but somehow it didn’t happen that way. Kat had gone off to Uni and they’d lost track of each other soon after.
Lily begins to think of the last time she saw her; Kat. A small drunken smile appears as her mind drifts to her one-time closest mate, but her trip down memory lane is rudely interrupted when someone crashes into her from behind. “Fuck!” she yells. Not that anyone can hear her over the music. She turns to see the assailant, only to be face to face with a living memory. At first she thinks she’s just really pissed and her mind is playing some kind of trick on her. It’s only when drunken, apologetic, brown eyes change to shocked ones, and Kat Prescott jumps on her and wraps her arms around Lily’s neck does she realize, this is no mind game at all.
Lily instinctively wraps her arms around Kat’s waist and hugs her tight.
It feels good.
She feels good.
And it becomes just the two of them. Music and crowd be damned.
Kat pulls back, her hands effortlessly threading together at the nape of Lily’s neck. All Lily can comprehend is the cute fucking grin that she so fondly remembers, on Kat‘s face. Lily grins right back, her mind still swimming in a sea of who knows what, and she’s hit with a sense of déjà vu.
When they were teenagers; on their own in Bristol, going out and getting pissed was a regular occurrence for all the cast. They all would hang out together; drink and party. But somehow it always ended up being just Lily and Kat; dancing a little too close, touching a little too much.
Kat begins to talk through her smile and Lily’s eyes close at the stench of alcohol on Kat’s breath. Christ, Prescott! She thinks. Some things never change. The crowd and club invade their moment as Lily realizes she can’t hear any of what Kat is saying. She slips a hand from around Kat’s waist and motions to her ear, as if to say she can’t hear her. Kat slides her hands into Lily’s hair - another familiar feeling - and tiptoes up to reach Lily‘s ear.
“Lily Fucking Loveless!” Kat hoarsely shouts. “I can’t believe it’s you!”
Lily giggles and tilts her head to shout back into Kat’s ear that is poking out from behind black hair. “Kathryn Fucking Prescott… Where the fuck have you been all my life!”
Kat pulls Lily in for another hug, her hands sliding deeper into Lily’s shoulder length brown hair. Lily bows her head and inadvertently grazes her lips over Kat’s bare shoulder. She inhales, taking in the familiar scent of cigarette smoke and Kat’s green apple scented body wash, and thinks, still using it after all these years. She smiles drunkenly into Kat‘s shoulder, knowing only Kat Prescott could mix the two scents and smell really fucking amazing.
Kat too, is taking in Lily’s familiar scent of, Mmm, what the fuck is it? Kat attempts to recall through her inebriated mind but really doesn’t care at this moment. Just wants to take in Lily. So she pulls back again, mindful to keep her hands in Lily’s hair. She presses her cheek to Lily’s and shouts, “I fucking missed you, Loveless,” before locking eyes with Lily again.
Lily smiles. All teeth. She doesn’t lean down to Kat’s ear, but only mouths the words ‘I missed you too.’
Kat’s grip in Lily’s hair tightens. Lily arches her brow as she feels Kat pulling her head down…
“Lily?”
Lily startles and squeezes her eyes shut when a familiar voice - a voice she hadn’t realized she missed - brings her back.
“Lily!”
A wave of heat hits Lily like a punch in the gut. Whether or not it’s the weather’s fault, she’s unsure. Only knows that she feels a bit light-headed as she gazes into excited brown eyes. Brown eyes that could ask for anything, and get it. She smiles a tight-lipped smile and coyly says, “The one and only.” Waves clumsily, wide-eyed, as she approaches the back of the bench.
“Hiya, Kat…” she trails off. “How are you?”
“Fucking surprised!” Kat says through a raspy laugh.
Lily snorts and nods. “Right.” She moves to the side of the bench, and with her left hand grabs the ornamental iron that frames the wood, tries not to wince at the temperature of it. She places her right hand on her hip and leans a bit, trying to not look completely awkward. This time there is no jumping into arms or sweet caresses. They’re older now. Mature adults. Or so they’d like to think.
“So…” Lily trails off again, at a loss for words. She can only think how fucking gorgeous a woman Kat Prescott has become. Her features are the same, but there’s a maturity to her face that Lily notices immediately.
For a moment Lily wonders why she feels so awkward. Why seeing Kat has her stomach doing flips and her body overheating. Why she is gripping the bench so tightly that her knuckles are turning white. Why her top row teeth are holding her bottom lip hostage (A habit leftover from Naomi.). Why she can’t seem to look directly into Kat’s big brown eyes, but can only focus on the frames of the glasses Kat is wearing.
Kat’s lips begin to curl as Lily stands there, staring. “So… You were going to say?”
Lily looks down at nothing and shakes her head; apologizes. “Sorry. It’s just… I’m really surprised too, I s’pose.”
Kat’s smile completes itself. “Of course,” she says and scoots over, patting a spot on the bench next to her. “Sit?”
“Oh…I…” Lily looks down at herself and can’t believe she’s without a shirt. Even worse, she’s wearing the damn Union Jack sports bra! “I’m quite retched right now. It may be best if I keep my dist -”
“Sit the fuck down, Loveless,” Kat interrupts in husky voice. “I haven’t seen you in…what’s it been now, six years?” Kat closes her book and removes her glasses, folding and holding them loosely in her hand. She looks at Lily and furrows her brow. “You can’t just stand there. Sit. I promise not to be offended by any odor that comes my way.”
Lily laughs at Kat’s demanding tone. She remembers it quite well. Kat always did have a way. Her way. She was always quite demanding. Not in a rude or mean manner, but she was a master of subtle manipulation, especially where Lily was concerned.
“You know…,” Lily begins playfully. “We did see each other a few years ago. Remember?” Lily tries not to look disappointed that Kat may have forgotten their moment in the club.
Kat squints, as if trying to recall before looking away, obviously remembering what almost happened that night - what she almost did - and a hint of a smirk forms. “That time in the club hardly counts. I was pissed, and we didn‘t even get a chance to talk or anything.”
Lily stiffens her jaw, mouth slightly parted, and tries not to smile as she sits down an arm’s length from Kat. “Fuck!” She yells as the back of her legs make contact with hot wood. Her curse earns her several glares from surrounding parents, as well as some innocent, wide-eyed looks from nearby children. My arse is on fire, what the fuck, people! Her inner monologue carries on until Kat interrupts.
“Nice…” Is what brings Lily back. She looks over at Kat whose face wears a smirk.
Lily can’t hide her shy smile any longer. Slowly blue eyes find brown again. And it‘s then Lily notices Kat is staring at her tits.
“…bra.” Kat finishes and snorts through a giggle.
Kat’s remark eases some of the tension for Lily. “Fuck off, Prescott,” she snaps back, playfully. “I was in a hurry this morning.”
The noise of the playground fades away. And, for a split second it’s as if they are teenagers again; giggling, making cheap shot remarks back and forth.
Flirting.
---
They always flirted. From day one. It may have helped that they knew one another previously, from drama lessons, but they were instant friends on the set. And when it was apparent that their characters would be more than friends on-screen, it only helped to strengthen their off-screen bond. There was something between them. Everyone saw it. That connection, that bond that no other cast mate could compete with. Even Kat’s twin, Meg, was unable to penetrate it.
Lily knew them both quite well. One would have to after spending day in day out for weeks… months, really, with anyone. But it was always Kat who drew her in. Always Kat whom she stared at a bit too much and touched for a second too long. Always Kat that could make her giggle without really trying. Always Kat.
And they couldn’t help the flirting, it was just something they did subconsciously. Perhaps it was because they had been so intimate with one another on-screen and that chemistry just poured over off-screen.
Perhaps it was the opposite.
After all, they had been intimate in a sense, off-screen. Sharing an apartment where they would often fall asleep in each other’s beds. Rehearsing intimate scenes on their own, just to make sure they would have it right for filming. (All in the name of Emily and Naomi, of course.) Getting pissed together and hanging on to each other incessantly. It was all common for Kat and Lily.
They were mates. The best of. What everyone else saw between them, they were oblivious to. For Lily and Kat it was natural. Familiar. They could not be any other way. And they were quite aware of the fans who thought they were “together” at the time. Often they would joke with each other, calling one another pet names, or touching inappropriately. But it never went further.
It never truly bothered Kat, what the fans thought about them personally, but Lily always felt somewhat compelled to discuss her boyfriends during interviews.
Years later, when Lily reflected on those days, she would ask herself why.
---
Kat’s grin is plastered to her face. She gives Lily a once over, letting her eyes travel from the top of Lily’s head to the tips of her trainers. Lily can sense Kat’s gaze on her and crosses her arms over her patriotic bra, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Back to blonde, I see.” Kat finally says.
Lily reaches one of her hands up and smoothes out her blonde ponytail. “Yeah. I missed it, y’ know?” She smiles sweetly at Kat after this statement, as if missing her blonde hair was somehow a metaphor for missing Kat; for missing the time they spent together. She looks over at Kat, who seems to have caught on; brown eyes making direct contact with blue. Lily’s eyes travel north to Kat’s own familiar color. “Back to red, then.”
“Would you believe I just colored it yesterday?” Kat puts her book on the bench next to Lily’s shirt and tucks her glasses inside her purse.
Lily uncrosses her arms and turns her body so she’s facing Kat. “I never would have noticed it was you if not for your hair,” she says. She sighs and happens to glance down at the title of Kat’s book: Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child. Her eyebrows arch and she suddenly remembers where they are. The sound of children rings in her ears once more. She looks back up at Kat, who has turned her attention to the playground. Lily’s mind spins for a moment.
“Kat?”
“Hm.” Kat is distracted.
“Are you a…mum?” Lily fears the answer. If Kat has a child it must mean she’s married, and for reasons unbeknownst to her, the thought gives Lily’s stomach fits. Her mind races to comprehend it all until she hears Kat’s husky laugh.
“Christ, no!”
Lily is relieved, and confused; her laugh reflects her feelings. She’s looking at Kat and awaiting an explanation. Kat clears her throat and turns to face Lily.
“I’m here with a patient.” Kat says matter-of-factly. “Actually, I prefer to call my patients, clients. But no, I don’t have children.” Kat smiles at Lily and looks back toward the playground. “I would like to though,” she softly continues, “someday.”
A strange wave of relief washes over Lily, slowly covering her body. She gazes at Kat’s profile - something she did quite a bit of when they worked together - studying the new curves and lines that age has brought with her. There are only a few new details she notices, and thinks Kat truly hasn’t changed at all. Her skin is still flawless, pale. Her nose still charming, curved up just the right amount at the tip. Her lips, still pouted perfectly.
Lily‘s eyelids grow heavy and she‘s unaware of the small smile that‘s slowly forming on her lips. A piercing scream from a toddler not two feet away shocks her out of her stupor, though. She clears her throat. “So, you are… a doctor, then?”
Kat‘s perfectly pouted lips curl. “Yes. A psychologist. Child psychologist, and I also do some family therapy.” Kat waves across the playground. Lily looks to find who she is waving to and sees a couple with a young boy waving back, as they leave.
“Sorry about that,” Kat says. “I was observing one of my new clients and his parents. But I’m all yours now.” She cheerily reveals.
“Oh?” The teasing tone of her response comes out of Lily’s mouth before she has time to stop it. She doesn’t quite know what to do with Kat’s statement, it’s made her heart beat a bit faster and her eyes glaze over.
“Lils, relax!” Kat places her hand on Lily’s knee. “Wow, it’s so strange how I just call you Lils like time hasn’t passed at all, yeah?” She squeezes Lily’s knee.
“Yeah.” Lily looks down at Kat’s hand. It feels cool against her hot body. She sighs loudly, trying not to focus on the fact that Kat‘s thumb is gently stroking her knee. “I feel nervous, for fuck’s sake.” She admits. “But, at the same time,” she continues, “seeing you; talking with you, it feels so good. So… natural.” Lily rolls her eyes and rubs her nose. “Christ, I’m not making any sense. The heat must be getting to me. It‘s so bloody hot!”
“I like it.” Kat purrs, tipping her face up toward the sky, removing her hand from Lily. “And, it’s fine, you know. Your feelings are quite natural.”
Lily rolls her eyes. “Oh, God. Please don’t analyze me, Dr. Prescott.”
“Shut up!” Kat pushes Lily’s shoulder. “I just meant…I get it. What you’re feeling and all.”
“Do you?”
“Mm.” Kat nods quickly and tries to calm Lily by asking her some questions. “So what are you up to these days?”
“I’m still doing acting, if you can believe that.”
“Course I can.” Kat replies with enthusiasm. “Anything I might’ve heard of?”
Lily shrugs. “Dunno. I’ve mostly been doing theatre productions. I did a bit of TV a few years back, but I found that the stage gives me more of a rush.”
“Seems we’re both doing what we said we were going to do, yeah?”
The corners of Lily’s lips turn up as the memory of an interview in matching gray jackets slowly returns. She laughs out her nose. “We were such kids back then,” she recalls fondly. “I was a right twat!” She adds, cackling.
“We both were,” Kat muses. Her husky laugh hasn’t changed one bit, Lily notices. “Working on anything right now, then?”
Lily nods. “Mm. I start rehearsals on Monday.” Her eyes light up instantly. “Will you…come and see it when it opens?”
“Course,” Kat says excitedly. “Just tell me when and where!”
“Speaking of…” Lily trails off. She checks her watch. “I’ve got to go. I have this dinner thing at my place tonight -”
“A date?” Kat interrupts.
“No no no.” Lily laughs. “It’s a thing I do, have done…have been doing for a few years now.” She picks up her wet shirt and stands up. “Walk with me?” She asks, gesturing toward the park entrance with her head.
“Yeah.” Kat picks up her purse and book, and follows. She’s a pace behind when Lily starts talking again.
“I have these dinner parties before I start any new play. Sort of a tradition now,” Lily says, looking toward Kat. "Started them a couple of years ago. I find it helps the cast get to know one another, helps me feel a bit more comfortable." They reach the entrance to the park where Lily pauses.
“Sounds like fun,” Kat says, switching her purse to the other shoulder.
“Getting a bit drunk with strangers is always a tip,” Lily laughs. She shifts her weight to one leg and purses her lips.
Kat laughs softly. “Yeah.” An awkward silence hovers between them before Kat says, “Well…it was really great to see you, Lily. I…” Her lips form a shy smile. “I’ve thought about you a lot over the years.”
Lily can feel herself blushing. “Really?” A nervous scratching of the top of her head follows. Before she can say anything else Kat takes a step back.
“Yeah, well, you were a big part of my life, y’ know? I think about those days in Bristol quite often.”
Lily nods. “Those were fun times… back then.”
Kat laughs. “God, it wasn’t that long ago, Loveless.”
“Yeah.” Lily sighs, clenching her jaw. “Well, I better…”
“Right. Sorry. You need to go.”
They stand and gaze at one another longer than most people do. Lily can’t help reaching out to move a strand of red hair that’s caught on Kat’s eyelashes.
“I guess I’ll call you, you know, to relay info about the opening and all.”
Kat arches her brow and slowly says, “You may need my phone number, then.”
Lily rolls her eyes and snorts. “Right.” She watches Kat take out a small red case from her purse. Watches her fingers as she flips it open and slides out a card.
“My card,” says Kat, full of pride. Hands it to Lily with an adorable grin. “It has my office, mobile, and home numbers.”
“Ooh, very fancy, Dr. Prescott,” Lily teases.
“Fuck off.” Kat can’t help but smile through her expletive. Lily giggles and slides the card into her pocket.
“I’ll call you, then.”
“K.”
Lily slowly turns on her heels. “Bye, Kat.” Her farewell wave just as clumsy as her hello.
“Bye, Lily.” Kat watches Lily walk a few paces before turning and walking toward her car. She’s only made it a couple of steps herself when she hears her name. Kat turns to find Lily walking back toward her. “Yeah?”
Lily exhales sharply, as if she’s been holding her breath too long. “Are you busy tonight?”
Kat shakes her head. “No. No, I’m not.”
“Would you…like to come to a dinner party where you won’t know anyone?” Lily’s eyes widen and a goofy smile forms on her lips.
Kat’s lips curl. “I’d know you.” An arch of her eyebrow causes Lily to roll her eyes.
“So, yes or no, Dr Prescott?” Lily thinks she can hear her heartbeat as she waits for Kat to answer.
“Yes, you twat.”
Lily smiles at what she knows is an affectionate term. She begins walking backward as she says, “Great! I’ll call you with directions, then. Cunt!”
---