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The soft glow of fairy lights cast a shimmer over the room, illuminating the delicate lace curtains that fluttered gently in the night breeze of the open window. Fluffy pillows and cozy blankets were scattered across the plush carpet, creating a little nook for the two friends to lounge in as they indulged in one of their favorite Netflix shows.
As the show continued, a flutter of excitement danced in Laurel’s stomach as her best friend snuggled in closer to her. The warmth radiating from Talia's body and the sweet scent of roses and jasmine oil engulfed her senses. She couldn't help but crave more of it.
Talia and Laurel had been friends since childhood, and their bond had only grown stronger through the years to the point that they were nearly inseparable. As they entered their late teens, nights like this, where they snuggled together under blankets had become a normal part of their friendship. However, lately Laurel couldn't shake a new strange feeling that had started to grow within her. An unfamiliar desire to kiss those soft lips and hold Talia close in a different way had become almost unbearable recently, consuming her thoughts and fueling her every move and she didn't know why.
As the night wore on and the show came to an end, Talia let out an elongated sigh, stretching, and turned to face her friend, "let's do something else."
Laurel's stomach fluttered as she gazed into those bright green depths, anticipation filling her every nerve. "What did you have in mind?" she asked eagerly.
"Something cliché," she replied with a shrug, "can I do your make-up?"
Laurel's heart sank as she tried to hide her disappointment. She wasn't sure what she was expecting Talia to suggest, but it certainly hadn't been that. She pushed those thoughts aside and put on a smile. "Sure, why not?" she replied with forced enthusiasm.
Talia grinned mischievously as she rummaged through her makeup bag, pulling out various products and laying them out on the floor in front of Laurel. She sat cross-legged in front of her, Laurel closed her eyes as Talia's skilled fingers brushed against her skin, applying different shades of eyeshadow and mascara. The sensation sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
"You have such beautiful eyes," Talia complimented, her voice low and soothing. Laurel's heart skipped a beat at the words, she knew they were just meaningless filler commentary, her friend's attempt at being friendly but she blushed all the same.
As Talia's hand moved away from her face Laurel opened her eyes to meet her gaze in the mirror, she looked away not wanting to face the girl in her reflection. "Thanks," she murmured, feeling a mixture of happiness and guilt.
Talia leaned in closer to apply some blush on Laurel's cheeks, their faces inches apart and Laurel instinctively squeezed her eyes shut again. She could feel Talia's breath gently ghost across her skin, causing her to shudder involuntarily. "Open your mouth," the words caught Laurel off guard. Her eyes shot open to see Talia staring at her, confusion flickering in her gaze. "Open your mouth so I can apply the lip-gloss," she repeated, holding up a tube of glossy pink liquid.
Laurel's heart raced as she opened her mouth obediently, parting her lips to allow Talia to glide the cool gloss over them. She could feel her friend's warm breath against her lips and the scent of strawberries filled her nose, Laurel couldn't help but close her eyes again, savoring the moment.
"There. All done." Talia's voice snapped Laurel out of her trance.
Laurel opened her eyes to see Talia admiring her handy work in the mirror, a satisfied smile on her lips. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment knowing that the moment was over. "Thanks," Laurel replied, trying to keep the sullen tone from creeping into her voice.
Talia grabbed her face by the chin, looking her over carefully, "I did a pretty good job," she said proudly. "Although I must say, I had an excellent canvas," she added with genuine sincerity.
Laurel's heart soared at the compliment. Yet, as quickly as it came, it dissipated, leaving behind an emptiness that had been gnawing at her for some time. "Thank you, Tal," she said softly, a small smile appearing on her lips as she desperately tried to push away the negative thoughts that threatened to overshadow the momentary happiness.
Talia seemed to pick up on Laurel's subtle change in mood, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, "hey, is everything okay?" she asked with concern laced in her voice.
Laurel forced a smile onto her face and nodded, "yeah, I'm fine. Just feeling a little tired," she lied, not wanting Talia to know her true thoughts.
Talia furrowed her brow in confusion, "you want to sleep? We haven't even gone on patrol yet and I literally just put make-up on your face."
Laurel shook her head, “oh yeah, you're right. I'm actually fine. Let's go," she blurted out flustered, trying to sound convincing.
Talia eyed Laurel suspiciously, but seemingly decided not to press the matter further, "then let's suit up." Laurel quickly took Talia's lead changing into her super suit, purposely facing away from her friend, not trusting her own eyes to not wander.
A whisper of cool night air from the open window brushed against Laurel's cheek as she turned to face Talia. The other girl's lips curled into a mischievous smirk as she fired off her grappling hook and gracefully swung out into the darkness. Without hesitation, Laurel followed suit, springing from her bedroom window and into the inky blackness of the night. As she soared through the crisp air, Laurel couldn't help but wonder if her feelings of uncertainty and desire would ever go away. She wanted things to stay the same but at the same time, she wanted everything to change. She wanted something she couldn't have. She wanted Talia.
Art by dainocoart