Work Text:
Lillie tugged at the sleeves of her costume, trying to will them to be longer. This of course had no avail. She couldn’t tell if it’d been made to small or if her arms were just to long but she could never get the sleeves to go down to her wrists, it was annoying.
But that didn’t matter at this point! The show would be starting any minute and she needed to focus.
Lillie exhaled and released the end of the jacket, she was just going to have to live with them. She glanced around the backstage trying to figure out what everyone was doing with their precious last minutes before the show started.
Lana was reading over her lines.
sophocles was helping kiawe get his head peace on.
And ash and mallow...
The two of them had their heads poked out of the curtains out at the audience.
“Guys come on!” Lana called “stop looking for your parents and come get ready!”
The two slowly withdrew their heads and wandered backstage both looking more anxious that before.
Ash was scratching the back of his head nervously as he agreed to help Lana run lines. Lillie couldn’t blame him for being nervous, it was the first time he’d seen his mom in almost over a year. But mallow...
The green haired girl was seated in a corner and had her arms wrapped around herself and was tapping her foot nervously.
Lillie had barely ever seen this side of mallow, it usually only ever showed itself around big tests or when her family’s restaurant was extremely busy.
It surprised Lillie that mallow looked so anxious. Out of everyone throughout the whole process of rehearsing for the show she’d been the most calm. Even until a few moments prior. So why was she so worried all of a sudden?
Lillie made her way her way over to the other girl, just to make sure she was ok and see if she could help her nerves in anyway.
“Mallow?” The greenette looked up
“Yeah Lillie?” Her voice was quivering
The blonde sat down next to her friend “are you ok?”
Mallow sighed “just a little nervous, ya know?”
Lillie nodded, not entirely convinced but she knew it was best not to pry.
“Alright, just checking” she placed her hand on mallow’s and could of sworn she saw a shimmer of blush on the other girls face.
She’d probably just imagined it.
“Well I have to go get ready for the show” Lillie said standing up “you should too probably”
Mallow nodded “right” but she didn’t move.
——————————————————————————
The show was over, at last. Even with the strange bumps in the road things had gone smooth enough. Mallow’s nerves seemed to have calmed down once the show had started which had made Lillie relieved. And even with her mother happily screeching everytime Lillie was on stage, Lillie had enjoyed herself.
After changing out of their costumes everyone headed home with their parents.
Ash and his mom were going out to dinner.
Lana’s mother was taking her to a beach side picnic.
Kiawe and his family were going back to their farm.
And sophocles and his parents were going home.
But what had made Lillie quite happy was that her mother had agreed to take the night off to spend time with her, something that even now rarely happened.
She was just about to leave when her mother had struck up and conversation with the professors. Leaving Lillie with a solid 15 minutes to a half hour on her hands, so she went to go see if mallow was still in the building.
She’d just made her way of the stage when she’d spotted the greenette standing alone in the corner of the auditorium.
Where was her dad? Lillie could have sworn she’d seen him in the audience.
She made her way over to her friend, hoping to see why she was alone./p>
“Mallow?” The greenette whipped her head around revealing puffy red eyes.
She’d been crying.
“Mallow!” Lillie exclaimed and quickly wrapped the other girl in an embrace. “Are you ok?”
The other girl shook her head “n-no”
“Well what’s wrong?” Lillie reached up to trying and wipe away some of the other girls tears.
“M-my dad just l-left”
What? He’d done what?!
“What do you mean?”
“I mean after the show I went to go see if he was going to take me home and he’d just left” the other girl spat, breaking free from Lillie embrace.
“Mallow-“
The greenette turned away from Lillie.
“My dad only expects perfect from me” mallow finally said after a long moment of silence. “Perfect grades, perfect food made at the restaurant, perfect everything” she took a shaky inhale “that’s always how’s it been. If something doesn’t fit his standards then it’s garbage”
Lillie felt guilty, she felt guilty that she’d always felt jealous of mallow, guilty that she’d never noticed this and guilty that she didn’t know what to do.
“That’s why you were so worried when you found out your dad was going be here” Lillie said placing her hands on mallow’s shoulder.
“Yeah...” mallow muttered turning to face her.
There was a moment of silence where the two of them just stood there for a moment.
“Sorry” mallow sputtered finally breaking the silence.
“For what?” Now Lillie was confused
“For making this awkward and ruining your night-“
“Mallow!” Lillie cut her friend off “you do not have to apologize for anything! Your stupid dad should be the one apologizing! Not you!”
“But-“
“No buts! You did not ruin my night! If anyone did it would be your dad. Speaking of him, if he can’t see that you’re a human being who makes mistakes and isn’t perfect, then he’s not worth it! He should love you for who you are mistakes and all!”
Lillie exhaled, she rarely ever got this worked up about anything.
Mallow was staring at her, the blush Lillie had thought she had imagined had returned much more visible this time.
“T-thank you” mallow sputtered finally looking away from Lillie
Lillie smiled and grabbed mallow’s wrist “I was just speaking the truth” she started to lead the other girl towards the stage “now come on I’m sure mom my would love to have you over for dinner-“
“Lillie” the other girl came to a halt.
The blonde turned to face her friend who’s face was still flushed “yes?”
“I know this maybe be a bad time but um-“ mallow paused to stare at the ground “I kinda uh wanted to tell you something- I um- damnit!” The greenette cupped Lillie’s face with her hands and pulled her in for a kiss.
Lillie at first was in complete shock but she slowly melted into the kiss and slid her hands into mallow’s hair.
Mallow tasted like honey and fruit and Lillie couldn’t help but smile into the kiss.
When the two finally broke apart Mallow had never looked happier. Her eyes were still slightly red but she was not longer crying. Lillie smiled and pressed their foreheads together “I like you too”
Lillie wanted to stay like this forever. Stay with her hands in mallow’s hair, stay with a happy mallow, stay with-
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwww”
Both girl whipped their heads around to find lusamine standing there. “That was so cute! My baby’s all grow up!”
“Mother!” Lillie sputtered pulling apart for mallow “how much did you hear?!”
“Just the adorable kissing part” Lusamine said
Lillie felt her face turning a bright shade of red.
“Mallow you have my blessing” Lusamine said
Now it was Mallow’s turn to turn red.
“Mother!” Lillie hissed
“Alright, alright I’ll stop” Lusamine sighed “I’ll just go wait outside”
Lillie waited until she was sure her mother was gone to press a quick kiss on mallow cheek, grab her hand and lead her towards the door.
“I’m pretty sure she’ll let me come over to dinner now” Mallow said
“OF COURSE I WILL!!!” Lusamine called
“MOTHER!”