9

"When are you two moving together?" Soph asks absently as she skims through summer dresses in one of the clothing racks. It's Saturday and we decided to hang out at the Shopping Mall, it has been a while since we last went out together after we started working and I started dating Daniella, and she kinda started being pals with Jenny.

"We just had our first big argument just before yesterday, that might be way too soon."

"I thought lesbians moved in quick," she says, picking up a summer baby pink dress. "What do you think of this one?"

"Yeah, and I wanted to but I was being naive. There's still a lot we don't know about each other and I don't think Daniella would be ok with it," I say, looking at the dress she was holding. "It's cute."

"Yes, it's cute but is it also, you know, sexy?"

"Uhm," I look at it again. "I mean, I guess so? Why, are you going on a date?"

"Well, anyway I agree with you and it's better that way, I heard the flame dies off when couples move in together," she says, tossing the dress at me. I'm currently serving as a hanger for all the clothes Soph wants to try on.

"Why are we having this conversation in the first place?"

"I don't know, just curious I guess."

"Have you talked to Jen?"

"Kinda?"

"Kinda?"

"I kinda went unannounced to her house, look I was bored and sad, don't judge me. I asked her if she wasn't over you yet and if that's why she's avoiding me," Soph says not really looking me in the eyes.

"What did she say?" I ask, following her into the changing rooms.

"She denied it but she also denied she was avoiding me, which she clearly was."

"Maybe she's just busy with all the university stuff."

"What kinda stuff?" She asks, taking the stack of clothes I was holding.

"Getting stuff ready, I don't know, I knew I wouldn't want to go to college ever since I was in middle school. I didn't even bother to do any research."

"Middle school? Took you too long, I was already sick of school in kindergarten."

"You two should talk, like seriously talk, no hanky panky."

"You know, we didn't really have sex that day," she says rolling her eyes and closing the curtain between us. "We just kissed."

"You? Sophie Abebe just kissed?"

"Shut up, I'm respectful."

"Since when exactly?"

"Uhm— Since now, it doesn't matter, I'm trying to be a decent person."

"Look at you in love, never thought I would see it."

"You're lucky I'm only in my panties here or else I'd go out there and break all your teeth."

"That never stopped you, you really are a changed person."

"We're going on a date later today," she says pushing the curtain open, showing me the dress she had picked up earlier. "How do I look?"

"A mixture of cute and hot," I say looking her up and down. Jenny. that lucky bastard better put a ring on this babe.

"Should I try the yellow one?"

"Yellow usually compliments you better but I really like this one."

"Yeah, I'll take this one but I'll come back for that yellow one next payday," she smirks, closing the curtain again. "What are your plans for this evening?"

"I'll visit Ed and Lucia with Daniella, I think."

"That's a weird date," she jokes. "Why don't you two tag along, keeping a distance of course. We'll be having a picnic, you two can set your own."

"I don't know if Dani will agree to it, we're being extra cautious now after the Sonia incident."

"Understandable but the south park is always empty, everyone would rather go to the new one downtown, got the fancy picnic tables."

"I'll propose it to her but I make no promises," I say, taking my phone out of my pocket as she leaves the changing room.

"I'll pay for the dress while you're at it."

"Hey, are you done shopping?" Daniella asks from the other side of the line.

"Hey, are you busy? Sorry for calling so suddenly, and almost, Soph is paying for her stuff but I'm sure she'll want to check out a few more stores."

"I'm not, but I have good news," she chuckles. "Text me when you're done, I'll pick you up."

"Did you get accepted into a new school?" I ask excitedly. "It's ok, Soph will take me to your house, it's on the way to hers."

"Yup, the Catholic one."

"It's better than nothing."

"It's great Anna, the pay is better and the kids there are well behaved. I only see bonuses. You're just salty that they have better lunch options."

"And they won against us every year too," I groan. "Well, anyway, I called because Soph invited us to have a picnic with her and Jen later today. Separately."

"Oh, so you didn't call because you simply wanted to talk to me," she says faking a sad voice.

"That's the bonus part."

"Uhum. The south park?"

"Yup."

"Yeah, we should go."

"But what about Eddie and Lucia?"

"That's up to you, were you so certain I would refuse?"

"Kinda?" I chuckle. "Well, it isn't every day you actually agree to go on a public date with me, what should we take to eat?"

"Leave it to me, or is there anything you want in specific?"

"I'm craving grapes, the rest is up to you."

"Alright, I'll have to go grocery shopping then, I'll see you later."

"See you later, love you."

"I love you."

"Why are you staring at your phone blushing like that?" Soph asks, walking up to me just after I ended the call. "Were you two talking dirty while I was out? Anna, this is a mall."

"Ugh, you're ruining my moment."

"Oh, sorry for interrupting your post-orgasm moment."

"Stop making it weird," I groan, taking her hand and dragging her out of the store before anyone could hear her loud-ass. "We're in our first I love you's, it's silly but I can't help feeling so giddy and happy about it," I say once we come to a stop in front of the store.

"That's grossly cute."

"It's ok Soph, you and Jenjen will get there one day," I smirk at her, she simply rolls her eyes and walks away.

I was right when I assumed Soph would want to go to other stores, not that she'll buy anything, she just likes to see them for some reason. I, on the other hand, didn't buy anything, I'm saving money for a car. I know Daniella is more willing to take me anywhere, but soon she'll start teaching again and I don't want to bother her with it. And it's about time I get one.

"Meet us there in two hours, pumpkin," Soph says as I get out of her car.

"See you then," I say, closing the door and watching her trying to turn it back on. "Off you go," I say when it finally does, watching the thing go down the street as its life depends on it. Well, it does.

Daniella is waiting for me by the door when I turn around, an amused expression on her face.

"Were you waiting for me?" I smirk, walking up to her.

"I wasn't but I was able to hear that dying engine from miles away."

"Don't let Soph hear you," I joke, planting a quick kiss on her lips as she closes the door behind me. "Do you have everything ready? We have two hours."

"Yeah, everything is ready, why?" She asks arching one perfect brow.

"I wanna cuddle," I say innocently, wrapping my arms around her torso and burying my face in her chest.

"You're so needy," she chuckles running her hands down my hair.

"And you aren't?" I ask amusedly, finally raising my head from her chest so I can look at her.

She simply huffs annoyedly but the blush on her face is undeniable, got ya.

We cuddled on her sofa with Slippers for a good while, we even ended up napping for a good half an hour until we reluctantly had to get up and start putting all the stuff we needed for our picnic inside her car.

We were the first ones to get there, which meant we got to choose where we wanted to settle. Daniella chose a nice spot under a big tree that somehow gave us a sense of privacy, it was also the one farthest away from the entrance, there's also another tree nearby but still far enough where Soph and Jen could settle in.

Soph and Jen finally come by just when Daniella and I are setting our blanket on the ground. And to my contentment, they're holding hands.

"Sorry girls, Erika isn't in a good mood today," Soph says apologetically as she walks up to us. "Dani, good to see you."

"Good to see you both," Daniella answers looking between them with her best 'I totally care' smile, which is reciprocated by Jen.

"You need to retire that old can," I say rolling my eyes. "One day you'll get in an accident."

"It's what I tell her," Jen says, eyeing her.

"Are you ashamed of my stallion?"

"Never," she chuckles, taking her hand again and pulling her over to their very own tree.

"Have fun you two," Soph says, wiggling her brows as Jen continued to drag her away.

I simply shake my head, going back to setting up our picnic blanket. "What was up with that?" I ask as we finally sit down.

"With what?"

"You can't still be jealous of Jenny."

"I'm not," she says simply, throwing me the bag of grapes we brought. "I just don't like her."

"And why is that?" I squint my eyes at her.

"You saw it, she doesn't like me either, it's mutual," she groans, taking a grape for herself and leaning back on her elbows.

"Well, you keep giving her the eye."

"She started it."

"You're cute," I say leaning down and planting a kiss on her forehead. "Don't give me the eye." Too late.

The nice evening summer weather felt nice as we laid together on the blanket, side by side with some distance between us, after devouring literally everything we had brought. We could hear Soph and Jen's giggles as they are also laid down on their blanket, but in a more affectionate position, kissing and snuggling together. I can't help but feel a little bit of jealousy.

The park is nearly deserted but not completely deserted, every now and then someone would pass by in the distance walking their dog.

"We should have brought Slippers, he'd love to run around," I say laying on my side, watching her side profile as she looked up to the cloudless sky.

"That would be a pain in the ass," she smiles, facing me too. "We would have to spend all day looking around for him."

"He just needs a little training."

"He wasn't always like this — he's old and he misses my mom like crazy, they're very close. I guess he's just trying to look for her every time we go out."

"It's a shame they don't let him in, even in the garden," I pout. "I wonder how he'll react when he sees her again after so long, and how he'll deal with Ed too."

Daniella smiles affectionately, caressing my cheek with the back of her fingers. "He would be very happy to meet both."

I slowly close in the distance between us, giving her time to retract in case she doesn't want the kiss — but to my surprise, she closes in too in a slow and delicate kiss.

"One more," I mumble on her lips as she tries to pull away. She simply chuckles, planting various closed-mouth kisses on my lips. "Still not enough."

She's cut off by her phone before she could so much as open her mouth to answer me.. or kiss me. Curse on the person that is ruining my romantic moment.

I groan as she untangles herself from me and reaches for it inside her purse.

"Who is it?" She's silent for a few seconds just looking at her screen, making me immediately get into a sitting position. "Daniella?"

"It's from the clinic."