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[indent][indent][color=darkgray]The rest of the impromptu lunch-time three-way went pretty well. The two veterans of King’s Academy offered as many tips and tricks as they could to the newest California transplant, and shared contact info. After that, Sunshine departed to attend to other business. Shawna and Kellie, meanwhile, had subtly decided that maybe they should have a discussion about where things stood after yesterday and the conversation at the table.

They needed somewhere quiet, somewhere that was sparsely attended by the students of the school. A place where they could have serious talks and know it wouldn’t be entering the gossip sphere immediately. Luckily, Shawna’s previous years of isolation were spent in the perfect place for such things. 

The two grabbed the remaining pieces of their lunches, Shawna stashing her remaining cupcakes in her locker and grabbing Pepsi money for Kellie en route to the classics section of the library. There were a few tables for studying the old tomes, but they were never used for such purposes. At least not as far as the former honor student knew. So it would be perfect.

As the two sat down next to each other in between the works of the masters of Greek tragedy and people who wish they were said masters, Shawna took the unusual move of engaging in conversation first. [color=E81B00]“Hey,”[/color] she started. [color=E81B00]“So I’m sorry if inviting Sunshine to the table was out of line or anything. I just felt sorry for her, being that lone student without a chair. I know that feeling. It sucks. But I should have asked if that was all right.”[/color]

Kellie Anne waved a dismissive hand. [color=00FA9A]“You’re fine, sweetie!”[/color] she said softly, placing her hand on top of Shawna’s and letting her thumb softly graze the back of it. [color=00FA9A]“I didn’t mind in the slightest. Don’t forget that four years ago [i]I[/i] was the new student here too.”[/color]

The feeling of Kellie Anne’s hand on her own was producing that kind of electric feel that was still new to Shawna but was oh so intoxicating. Better than the drugs she had been turning too, better than the sugar rushes and the enveloping warmths. It was so good. She wanted more. But the question was, were the desires mutual?

Shawna coughed slightly. [color=E81B00]“I’m glad. I’m glad, she seems like a good person. I mean, first impressions are everything so far, but I think she’ll be a solid friend.”[/color] She smiled up at the dancer in front of her. [color=E81B00]“So... um… Sunday. That…”[/color] She was struggling. [color=E81B00]“That was… awesome. And wonderful. And I want to do it again. With you. I mean… if that’s all right. I mean…”[/color] This was completely foreign ground for her, and while usually good with her words, she was almost flustered trying to figure out how to proceed. [color=E81B00]“Um… I’m sorry. I’ve… um… I’ve never done this sort of thing.”[/color] 

[color=00FA9A]“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never done this sort of thing either,”[/color] Kellie admitted with a laugh, resting her head on Shawna’s shoulder. [color=00FA9A]“I mean, obviously I know how to kiss and stuff, but I’ve never been with a girl bef- actually, that’s not [i]entirely[/i] true, but that’s a story for another day!”[/color] she confessed, giggling for a few seconds.

As the other girl’s head hit her shoulder, the feelings continued to well up in Shawna. It just felt good to have that kind of contact with someone, anyone. She wanted to make sure there was more of it. She moved her hand up to pat Kellie’s head, almost reassuring herself as much as her … dare she say it?

[color=E81B00]“You’re a world ahead of me, Kellie,”[/color] Shawna told the dancer. [color=E81B00]“And I want you to show me that world… as your girlfriend. I mean, if that’s cool with you. It’s totally cool with me. And like we don’t even have to do that, we can just take it slow and I dunno…”[/color]

When Shawna dropped the word ‘girlfriend’, Kellie Anne froze on the spot, body quickly stiffening. Although she’d never been one to shy away from anything related to feelings, things between the two girls were certainly going too fast. Yes, they had spent the better part of Sunday afternoon baring their souls to each other and kissing. But to go from a kiss to throwing the world ‘girlfriend’ around was a whole different scenario… And something the dancer wasn’t ready for just yet.

[color=00FA9A]“It’s not that I don’t [i]want[/i] to...”[/color] Kellie trailed off uncomfortably, looking down as she placed her hands in her lap. She was silent for a few seconds, trying to find the right words to explain her predicament without hurting Shawna’s feelings. Finally, she cleared her throat and continued. [color=00FA9A]“It’s just- I’m still hung up on Max. As much as it sucks to admit it, I still carry around all these feelings for him, no matter how many times he screws up. I wish I didn’t, but I do. And it wouldn’t be fair to you to rush into something when things are still so raw for me. Shawna, I know we’ve only known each other a day, but I already feel this insane connection with you. I don’t want to rush into anything and ruin the only good thing that seems to be happening to me so far.”[/color]

Shawna knew it. She had pushed things too quickly. It was all over that first sentence. How could be she be so stupid? She literally met this girl yesterday! Why the hell did she have to go and throw that label on it so soon? She didn’t even know what she was doing! Asking someone to go steady like that? She wrecked everything!

Then Max’s name came up again. Much like it did in the lunchtime conversation with Sunshine. [color=E81B00][i]‘Of course. Fucking Max. I’m going to hurt that guy so fucking badly.’[/i][/color] And then the hope. The admission of the connection. The way Kellie said Shawna’s name. It wasn’t wrecked. It was just...fragile.

Shawna straightened herself up. [color=E81B00]“No, of course... I mean, that’s why I said, we don’t have to be rushing into that. We can totally take it slow and yeah, not worry about the whole label thing. Forget I said it! Just the sugar rush talking. But, um, yeah, I mean, we can totally keep things cool for now. Until you’re ready. I can wait. I think you’re worth waiting for, Cupcake.”[/color] She rubbed Kellie Anne’s knee as if to try and emphasize just how cool she was with everything, even if she was still kicking herself for bringing it up so clumsily in the first place.

Shawna’s reassurance that things were still fine between them definitely eased Kellie’s conscience, and her decision to wait until she was ready to open herself up to love again warmed her heart in a way she didn’t think possible. After the tragedy that was her failed relationship with Max, the young woman had been convinced that there would never be anyone else. But in less than twenty-four hours, Shawna Josi had proved that there was definitely a light at the end of the tunnel… And Kellie was curious to see what would happen next.

Overwhelmed by hope and affection, the dancer cupped one of Shawna’s cheeks with her hand and locked their lips together in a soft, sweet kiss. She let it go on for what seemed like forever, and it was only when she felt herself losing her breath that Kellie broke away.

[color=00FA9A]“You’re amazing, Wolfie,”[/color] Kellie whispered softly, giving Shawna another quick kiss. [color=00FA9A]“I’m lucky to have found you.”[/color]

The green-eyed girl did her best to make that kiss last forever. There may not have been icing on their lips but in a way it was almost sweeter. Knowing that there was something there, even after the missteps, it was huge for someone still trying to figure out just how to actually negotiate this whole love thing. Was it love? Shawna wasn’t going to say yet. Not after what happened. Not after they agreed to take it slow. But for someone who hadn’t really experienced it, she had a good idea this was something like it.

[color=E81B00]“And I’m lucky that fat guy took my bribe. Best $20 I ever spent getting the chance to meet you,”[/color] she told Kellie Anne. She returned a quick kiss of her own. 

[color=00FA9A]“You make it sound like I’m some kind of celebrity you had to pay to meet!”[/color] the shorter girl said with a laugh, letting some content silence linger between them before nudging Shawna with her elbow. [color=00FA9A]“And hey: just because we’re not dating doesn’t mean we can’t have a sequel of Sunday where we just go where life takes us...”[/color] Kellie told Shawna, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at her and letting out a flirtatious giggle.

Shawna didn’t have the eyebrow wiggle in her arsenal, but she definitely was picking up on what Kellie was dropping. She giggled in response and rested her elbow on the table, gazing at the dancer. [color=E81B00]“I would totally be down for another round of something like that,”[/color] she confirmed before dropping her arm down to prep for the return of the bad British accent. [color=E81B00]“Whatevah moy queen deesoires.”[/color] She grinned, knowing that Shakespeare himself would have thrown a book at her for that performance. But it didn’t matter to her. Not now. Now in Kellie’s presence.

[color=00FA9A]“You’re an idiot,”[/color] Kellie said in between giggles, giving Shawna another deep kiss before wrapping her arms around the girl for a hug.

The Shawna of six months ago would have taken that as a straight-up insult. The Shawna of right now wouldn’t want to be anything but at this moment. She returned the kiss and the hug to her … friend, and she was perfectly content to do so. For now, tragedy had been averted.

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