Chapter Text
Bianca paused at the end of the pier, her eyes lingering on Zoe's strong shoulders even as her feet stilled themselves, nerves overtaking her. She leaned against a supporting beam, and as her sister's words flitted through Bianca's mind, for a moment she wasn't sure she could go through with it. She was falling in love with Zoe; that, she never doubted for a moment. And Zoe's physical gender, Kendall's main concern, didn't bother Bianca one whit - not anymore, at least. The time she had spent with Zoe had shown Bianca that her friend was a woman, through and through, and soon, Bianca was certain, Zoe's exterior would match her soul.
No, what stopped Bianca cold was her own admission, months before. She'd forced Zoe to take back those three little words, her own past failed relationships making Bianca afraid to rush into anything. And, if she were being honest with herself, she had still been terrified of what her mother would think, of what people would say if she got involved with a man, even one who was becoming a woman. But now, months of friendship and unwavering devotion lay between that Bianca and the one who stood there, watching Zoe as she crouched to dangle long, slender fingers in the freezing lake water. And Bianca was terrified that her own words would come back to haunt her. Would Zoe balk at the idea of becoming more than friends, now that it would endanger their deep bond of friendship? Would she abhor the idea of taking that chance for something more? Her mouth on Bianca's, the soft moan that had slipped through her lips when they had kissed should've been enough proof that Bianca was wrong, but then, she pondered, I kissed her. Maybe she's changed her mind. Maybe...
Straightening her spine, Bianca shook her head. She couldn't let Frankie, Maggie, her past, her mother, society and all those other things dictate her life. She was stronger than that; she was better than that. Zoe was better than that. Zoe deserved more. A smile curled Bianca's mouth, becoming half a smirk as she imagined the surprise on Zoe's face when Bianca revealed that she was Zoe's secret admirer.
The clouds parted, and the moon shone down, illuminating the pier. Bianca stepped out of the shadows and cleared her throat. Zoe stood up and whirled, clasping her hand over her heart dramatically. "Darling, you scared the hell out of me. What are you doing here?"
Opening her mouth to speak, Bianca found that the words inside her had vanished, giving way to her heart and the way it doubled in size whenever Zoe was nearby. "Surprise," she said finally, shrugging even as her cheeks colored.
"Surp--" Zoe broke off, staring at Bianca in confusion. Then her face cleared, and she laughed. "Oh, I see. Babe told you I was meeting my 'secret admirer'." Zoe made derisive air quotes with her fingers. "And you've come to save me from the stalker."
Grinning widely now, Bianca shook her head. "I am the stalker, Zo."
"Oh, please, you couldn't--" For a second time, Zoe stalled mid-sentence, recognition dawning. "You?"
Bianca took a deep breath, trying to calm her jangling nerves. "Me."
Tilting her head, Zoe said on an intake of breath, "Bianca?"
"Zoe." Bianca smiled tightly at her friend. A long moment passed, with Bianca growing ever more nervous. "Say something?" she requested.
"I don't know what to say."
"Oh." Bianca nodded, trying to smile sympathetically. "Okay. I thought you might feel this way. It's okay. I mean, we'll just stay friends. Forget I said anything." She winked at Zoe, then turned before the other woman could see her face fall. But Bianca had barely taken a step before she felt Zoe's fingers closing around her wrist.
"Bianca..."
Her name had never sounded more precious, whispered with such reverence, and the pull of Zoe's lilting accent turned Bianca back. She stared at the weathered boards that made up the pier, willing herself not to cry. Bianca started to speak, but then Zoe's hand was cupping her cheek, and she was leaning into the gentle caress and closing her eyes involuntarily. "Bianca," she repeated softly. "Look at me."
Opening her eyes, Bianca was startled by Zoe's smile. Not condescending, nor pitying, it was a smile so full and radiant, it took Bianca's breath away.
"Sweetheart," Zoe said gently. "I told you I loved you more than a month ago." She edged closer, sliding her hand down to cradle the back of Bianca's neck. "I kissed you after Miranda's birthday party."
"I kissed you," Bianca replied immediately, a smile creeping over her face.
Zoe rolled her eyes, her grin teasing Bianca. "But I let you. And I wrote you a goddamn song, Bianca."
Bianca's deep brown eyes opened wide, and she stammered, "That--that was for Miranda."
"It was inspired partly by Miranda, yes," Zoe explained patiently. "But no one in her right mind writes a song about love for a three-year-old." She stroked Bianca's neck with her fingertips, and Bianca took a step toward her, reaching out to rest her hands on Zoe's hips. "It feels like I've waited forever for you to come to your senses."
"Come to my senses?" Bianca laughed, her mouth falling open. "I'm a lesbian, and you were a guy the first time you hit on me." She saw Zoe wince and she corrected herself, immediately apologetic. "I mean, you were...I saw a guy. You know?" She reached up and brushed her thumb over Zoe's cheek. "I thought you were just another perverted guy who thought he could fix me, and--"
"Bianca?"
Bianca frowned, tilting her head. "Zoe?"
"Shut up, so I can kiss you."