Chapter Text
Debbie’s bedroom is bright when she wakes; sunlight is filtering gently through the tiny slither in the curtains, casting the room in a soft peachy glow. She squints and slams her eyelids shut again, not quite ready to deal with the light just yet. Sighing softly, Debbie moves to roll over and relieve the painful pressure in her shoulder — it happens every fucking night — and bury her head back in the plush cotton of her stolen pillowcase.
But when the brunette rolls over and presses her face into what she assumes is her pillow, her lips parted slightly, she finds herself jerking back, a clump of hair in her mouth. Blinking blearily, Debbie reluctantly adjusts to the bright light of her bedroom and snaps her gaze to the lump lying motionless my next to her in the large, sadly not stolen, bed.
Debbie’s first instinct is to panic, because who wouldn’t , but then her vision slowly swims into focus, and she notices the messy mop of blonde hair poking out from the top of the thick duvet. Oh thank god. It’s only Lou. For a moment, Debbie wonders what the fuck her best friend and secret love of her life is doing slumbering next to her in bed, dead to the world, but then I love you and so damn pretty come flooding back to her. The brunette can’t help the sharp gasp that leaves her mouth when she recalls saving Lou from the club and helping her into bed.
(Oh, and avoiding her very handsy attempted at initiating some sort of sexual contact between them. God, it was hard, but Debbie would never take advantage of Lou, no matter how much she might want to kiss her.)
Pushing herself up onto one elbow, Debbie reaches up and runs her hand through her tangled mane of dark hair, wincing as her fingers get caught on a particularly big knot. She’s about to swing her legs over the bed and make herself a much needed cup of strong black coffee, when she feels a heavy limb land on her stomach, curling unconsciously around her side, trapping her.
Releasing a short puff of breath from between her lips, Debbie lets her head fall back against her pillow, her body moving involuntarily closer to Lou’s. Debbie can feel the heat radiating off the younger woman — she’s always been a warm person, constantly grumbling about the New York summers and how hard the apartment is to cool down.
(Debbie is the complete opposite — she’s always got a pair of thick, fluffy socks on, always whining about the cool air blasting through the vents in the loft, attempting to turn up the temperature when Lou isn’t looking. She never gets away with it though; Lou can somehow tell when the temperature has changed, even if it’s only by one degree. It pisses Debbie off to no end.)
With a muffled sigh, Lou rolls over lazily and buries her head into the crook of Debbie’s neck, her hot breath ghosting gently across the brunette’s smooth skin. Debbie shivers, the tension in her shoulders sweeping away as she wraps an arm protectively around Lou’s upper body.
Debbie lets her eyelids flutter shut as she allows the warmth to envelop her and sleep invade her senses. She doesn’t even know what time it is when she lets herself drift back to sleep, Lou nuzzled into her body.
An hour later, Debbie’s eyes flutter open once more, her lips curving upwards into a lazy smile, relishing in the warmth surrounding her, wrapping her in a comforting blanket of safety. Groaning quietly under her breath, Debbie lets her eyes flutter open and she turns her head to the side, expecting to see Lou sprawled out next to her,hair fanned out on the pillow. Instead, she sees an empty bed, the sheet wrinkled from where Lou’s been lying all night. Eyes widening suddenly, Debbie bolts upright in bed, her heart thumping painfully in her rib cage. Has Lou left? Does she remember last night? Did the memories freak her out?
Swallowing thickly, Debbie slides off the bed and pads across the room, chewing anxiously on her bottom lip. Tugging on a strand of hair — a nervous tic she can’t quite get rid of — Debbie wraps her arms around her waist and clutches her loose shirt in her clenched fists.
When she’s greeted with silence, Debbie begins to panic; fear creeps up her throat, choking her as she grabs onto the banister with trembling hands. Tears pricking in her eyes, the brunette stumbles into the kitchen and hauls herself onto one of the stools at the island. Lou really has gone. There’s no trace of her anywhere. Fuck, now you really screwed up. Where the hell would she go? Debbie knows Lou doesn’t get hangovers, no matter how fucking drunk she gets, which means she could be anywhere .
Debbie drops her head into her hands and frowns, tears sliding down her cheeks. A wave of nausea rolls over her, and bile rises in her throat as she thumps her head down on the counter, sighing with a twisted sense of relief at the sudden sharp pain that radiates through her skill, forcing her to grit her teeth to bite back the strangled cry threatening to slip from her mouth.
Debbie’s ready to give up all hope — her slender frame wracks with sobs as guilt rips and tears at her stomach, her heart aching painfully — when the door to the apartment opens, and Lou strolls through, a brown grocery bag clutched in one hand, and a freshly baked baguette tucked under her arm.
As soon as she sees the thick tears dripping down the brunette’s cheeks, Lou drops the bags on the floor and throws herself forwards. She gathers Debbie in her arms and wraps her up in her warm embrace, whispering sweet words of comfort, one hand stroking absently through her best friend’s long, dark hair. “Oh baby, what’s wrong? What happened?”
“I-I thought y-you left,” Debbie admits, her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. Lou steps backwards in surprise, her expression contorting into one of hurt and sorrow. Debbie bows her head shamefully, digging her blunt nails into the palm of her hand, creating tiny red crescents in the pale skin.
Blinking rapidly, Lou tries to wrap her head around the notion of leaving the love of her life, unable to fathom the discomfort and pure heartbreak it brings her. How could Debbie ever think she’d do such a thing? “Debbie, sweetie, I’d never. You— You know that, right? I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.” Lou’s voice is soft and hushed, and though she’s revealing her deepest secrets.
(She supposes she is, really. She’s never been open with Debbie about her feeljngs, for fear of rejection, but for some reason, it just feels right .)
Debbie nods emphatically into the crook of Lou’s neck, her sobs slowing into soft hiccups as she clutches the younger woman tightly, unwilling to loosen her grip. “I do know, but you scared me, especially after— after last night.”
“Last night?”
In a split second, Debbie’s heart sinks to the bottom of her stomach, and she jerks from Lou’s comforting embrace. “You don’t remember?” If Lou doesn’t remember, does that mean— “You don’t remember telling me you love me?” Debbie can’t push the hurt from her tone, angry at herself for believing, even for a second , that Lou really does love her. You stupid fool. Why did you even assume she likes you?
Lou’s face falls, her startling blue eyes clouding over with clear panic. “I did? Shit, I— Look, I’m sorry. I was drunk and it just slipped out. I really am sorry, so sorry, and—”
“So you didn’t mean it?”
“No, I— Wait, yes, I did—” Lou scrambles, tripping over her words as they tumble uncontrollably from her mouth. She’s cut off when Debbie surges forwards, her hands sliding up to cradle Lou’s cheeks in her palms, her thumbs stroking over her sharp cheekbones with care.
Before Lou really knows what’s going on, Debbie leans forwards and presses their lips together gently, her tongue running over the blonde’s bottom lip, begging for entrance. Debbie smiles into the kiss as their tongues dance together, moving as one like a ballroom dance. The brunette presses herself into Lou’s body, relishing in the younger woman’s warm, welcoming embrace.
Love fills Debbie’s heart as their lips glide together, the feeling suddenly overwhelming as she slots her thigh between Lou’s legs. Panting heavily, she pulls away, and stares up at the blonde through sparkling chocolate orbs.
“I love you,” she murmurs.