”Gail.” Holly said softly ”What did you just say to me?”

Gail pulled herself in tighter.

Holly was killing her.

Why did she have to be so cruel?

If they were breaking up, why was Holly touching her like that?

”Gail.” Holly said again ”Did I just hear you say that you wanted to be my girlfriend?”

Gail heard herself whimper as she nodded and looked at the floor.

”Gail,” Holly was speaking again, ”Can you please turn around?”

Gail whimpered again and shook her head.

”Gail, please?” Holly’s voice was soft, it sounded imploring, or maybe she was just imagining things.

She knew she was breaking, shattering like ice, like glass. She willed the earth to open up and swallow her whole, but nothing happened. Holly was pulling on her shoulder now, trying to force her to turn. And somehow her feet gave in. She knew this because she was staring at them.

”I am not a coward.” She mumbled to her shoes.

”WHAT?” Holly exhaled. ”Gail, you are possibly the bravest person I know. What are you talking about?” Holly started to laugh. She knew it was wrong, but she just couldn’t help it.

”Am not.” Gail pouted ”If I were, I would have told you before now.”

Holly was laughing at her.

There was a little zing of something like hope building in her chest. Holly’s fingers were forcing her chin up. Holly’s lips were on hers causing hope to blossom into desire. Her chest was cracking open. They were crushing the roses between them. She didn’t care. Holly still wanted her! She knew in that moment that she would walk through fire to be here. Where she belonged. With Holly.

”You are impossible, you know that.” Holly breathed as they pulled apart. ”You show up on my doorstep, you bring me flowers, you tell me you want to officially be my girlfriend,” Her eyes sparkled as she smirked wickedly, ”You taste really good, what’s a girl to do? How am I supposed to stay mad at you?”

”So, does this mean you’re not breaking up with me?” Gail asked

”Oh Gail, of course I’m not breaking up with you! I never was.” Holly exclaimed ”You know, just because I get angry or frustrated sometimes, doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”

”Oh.” Gail said ”That’s good to know.”

”In fact I’m not really that angry with you, even though you do frustrate the hell out of me sometimes!” Holly smiled ruefully, shaking her head at Gail. ”And I’m  sorry too. I know it isn’t fair to allow my anger at Nick to spill over on to us.”

”Oh. Ok.” Gail said in a tiny voice, allowing herself to begin to relax visibly.

”Come on.” Holly replied taking Gail by the hand, ”Let’s go put these flowers in water. And then,” She arched her eyebrows suggestively, the sparkle in her eye was back, ”I want to see what other surprises you might have for me tonight.”