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“Suzie, I’m telling you girl, your girl is not fine,” Lana warned as they hurried across campus, there was an urgency in her tone that made Suzie pause.
Suzie adjusted the straps of her backpack, shifting the weight on her shoulders. “What’s wrong with Jewels?” she asked with growing concern.
Lana exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. “That’s the thing, I don’t know! She’s been sitting alone in classes all week, said she wants to focus on her studies.”
“Focus in class? Nuh-uh, I’m not buying that if Jewels said that,” Onya chimed in from Suzie’s other side, making Suzie jolt in surprise.
“Exactly!” Lana threw her hands up in frustration, nearly smacking a passing student in the process, which she hadn’t even noticed. “I was watching her the whole time. Fine, maybe for like twenty minutes or whatever. Her ass wasn’t taking notes, she didn’t even try to pay attention to the professor. She was just spacing out until class was dismissed.”
Suzie’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. “Are you sure? She was fine when we saw each other yesterday.”
“Suzie, babe,” Lana said, laced with seriousness. “Jewels always acts like she’s fine. I’ve never seen her actually crack, and that’s exactly why I’m freaking out right now. I don’t know what the hell happened, but I know that you’re probably my only hope right now.” Lana slowed down, grabbing Suzie’s wrist lightly. “I care about Jewels a lot, but I think you’re the only person she’d open up to. Y’know since you’re her girlfriend.”
Suzie’s heart skipped a beat at the word, it still felt surreal even after a while since they started going out. She ignored the way her chest was beating fast and focused on the real issue.
“Oh shit, it’s that serious?” Suzie said.
Lana nodded grimly.
Suzie immediately reached for her phone, already planning to text Jewels, but before she could unlock it, Lana snatched her hand away.
“Nope. Lecture Hall Four,” Lana said quickly. “Class starts in ten minutes. She’s probably already sitting somewhere in the front rows with the nerds- no offense, by the way, you do you.”
“What?” Suzie said offendedly. “Do I look like a teacher’s pet to you?”
Onya snorted beside her like it wasn’t the half truth.
Suzie shook off Lana’s grip, narrowing her eyes. “Wait. Are you telling me to sit with her? I’m not even in that class.”
Lana gave her a look. “Girl, please. The professor doesn’t care about attendance and all that stuff. You’re replacing my place just once, you don’t wanna see Jewels being all sad don’t you?”
Suzie opened her mouth to argue, but Onya cut in, nudging her side with an elbow.
“Go on, Suzie,” she said encouragingly. “I’ll lend you my notes, I get to hang out with my sis Lana while you get to be with Jewels. It’s a win-win situation, no?”
Suzie shot her a deadpan look. “Onya, you’re supposed to be the voice of reason.”
“I am,” Onya said proudly. “Go be Jewels’ white knight that you are, Suzie.”
Lana grinned, throwing her arm around Onya. “You heard her.”
Suzie exhaled heavily, running a hand through her hair. All of her friends were insufferable. Absolutely insufferable.
But deep down, underneath all her protests, she wasn’t exactly upset about missing her favorite class. She was more than happy to have more time with Jewels.
“…Fine,” she muttered.
Lana and Onya high-fived.
—
As soon as Suzie stepped into the lecture hall, her gaze instantly landed on her.
Jewels sat alone in the third row, in her baby pink blouse and her long black hair pulled into a sleek high ponytail catching Suzie’s eyes. She absentmindedly twirled her stylus pen between her fingers. The empty seats around her made her stand out even more like an invisible barrier had formed between her and the rest of the class.
Suzie moved quickly, weaving through rows of students, careful not to bump into anyone as she descended the steps.
Jewels must have sensed someone approaching because she tilted her head slightly just as Suzie reached her row.
“Is someone sitting here?” Suzie asked, nodding toward the empty seat beside her.
“No-” Her expression shifted the moment she realized who was standing there. Jewels’ lips parted slightly in surprise, “Suzie?”
Suzie gave her a sheepish smile as she pushed the seat down and sat beside her.
“Hey.”
Jewels blinked, looking around to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. “What-” She furrowed her brows, lowering her voice. “Babe, what are you doing here? You never told me you were taking Advanced Fashion Marketing.”
Suzie bit the inside of her cheek, debating whether to come clean. “I don’t.”
Jewels’ eyes widened. “Then why-“
“Lana made me switch places with her today,” Suzie admitted, resting her chin in her palm. “She told me you haven’t been acting like yourself lately.”
Jewels exhaled through her nose, looking away for a moment. “Ah! That bitch-” She shook her head, but the corner of her mouth twitched like she wasn’t entirely mad about it. “Mhm, okay.”
Suzie nudged her gently. “What’s going on, Jewels? Have I done something wrong to get you upset?”
Jewels didn’t answer right away. Her fingers idly traced the worn-out corner of her iPad case, nails tapping softly against the plastic.
“You didn’t do anything bad,” she murmured. “I just needed a little space from everyone.”
Suzie watched her closely, noticing how the usual spark in her eyes dulled. Jewels was too good at pretending, but now that Suzie was really looking, the cracks were impossible to miss.
Suzie didn’t push, letting the silence loiter and hoping Jewels would say more.
Before she could, the lecturer walked in. The quiet hum of conversation around them faded as students pulled out their note-taking materials. Jewels straightened in her seat while gripping tightly onto her tablet, Suzie noticed the way her shoulders tensed ever so slightly.
She wanted to say something. Do something.
“You can stay if you want to,” Jewels said, offering a small smile.
Suzie nodded, forcing herself to relax as she adjusted her position in the seat. The lecture had barely begun, and yet she already knew there was no way she was going to retain a single word because she had no clue what the syllabus was about.
Her eyes drifted toward Jewels again.
She was still gripping her tablet a little too tightly. The small smile she had offered Suzie a moment ago faded, replaced by something more guarded. Her focus remained on the screen in front of her, but Suzie could tell she wasn’t absorbing anything.
Suzie wanted to reach out, to say something, but words failed her. Instead, she stayed put, quietly hoping that just her presence was enough.
After more than thirty minutes into the presentation, Suzie had completely given up on pretending to listen. She knew she should at least make an effort, acknowledge the professor’s passion for teaching, but her mind was nowhere near the lecture.
Jewels sat with one hand propped under her chin, the other lazily spinning her stylus between her fingers. Every now and then, she would tilt her head at the screen to stay engaged, but her mind was elsewhere just like Suzie’s.
Suzie watched as Jewels sighed deeply. She shifted in her seat, her lips pressing into a thin line. The restlessness in her movements was subtle, but Suzie saw it.
Something inside her clenched.
Without thinking much, Suzie let her hand drift beneath the desk, brushing lightly against Jewels’ resting fingers. It was a quiet reminder that she was here, that Jewels wasn’t alone in whatever was bothering her.
The moment their hands met, Jewels’ fingers twitched, hesitating for half a second before slowly curling around Suzie’s.
Suzie swallowed. Jewels’ palm was warm and firm against hers. Their fingers intertwined, settling into place like a puzzle piece waiting to be pieced together.
Jewels didn’t directly look at her, but Suzie felt the change immediately. The rhythmic tapping of her stylus had stopped completely, her restless energy shifting into something quieter.
Suzie wasn’t sure if she was grounding Jewels or if Jewels was grounding her. She couldn’t focus on anything but the hand-holding afterwards.
The professor’s voice blurred into an unintelligible hum. The slideshow flickered through slides she wasn’t even trying to comprehend. Nothing else mattered except the slow, calculated movement of Jewels’ thumb grazing against her knuckles.
Suzie didn’t know how much time passed, how long they sat like that, hands tangled beneath their desks, lost in their own space within the crowded lecture hall.
When the professor finally dismissed the class, the sudden scrape of chairs and rustling of bags jolted Suzie back into reality.
Jewels pulled her hand away, fingers slipping from hers as she stretched, rolling her shoulders with a small groan. The warmth lingered even after the contact was gone.
“Jesus, that was the longest two hours of my life,” Jewels muttered, tossing her things into her bag.
Suzie let out a breathy chuckle, still feeling slightly dazed. “I wouldn’t know. I didn’t listen to them.”
Jewels scoffed, shaking her head. “I’d still take this class over your boring Fashion History.” Then, she turned to Suzie with a teasing glint flickering in her dark eyes. “So? What were you thinking about?”
Suzie arched a brow, leaning forward slightly. “Maybe you.”
Jewels giggled, bumping their knees together under the desk. “Cutie.”
Suzie shook her head, the small smile tugging at her lips was impossible to fight.
As Jewels zipped up her bag, preparing to leave, Suzie hesitated. Her fingers drummed lightly against the desk, heart picking up pace before she finally spoke.
“Hey.”
Jewels glanced up. “Yeah?”
“Are you free now?”
Jewels raised a brow, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Why? Are you asking me on a date?”
Suzie opened her mouth, but the words got caught in her throat. “Well-” She cleared her throat, suddenly nervous. “I mean… if you want to, Jewels.”
Jewels’ expression softened, but not in the way Suzie hoped. She gave her a small, apologetic smile.
“Sorry, baby,” she said. “I don’t really feel like going out right now.”
Something in Suzie’s chest tensed, but she quickly forced a shrug. “That’s fine. We don’t have to go anywhere.”
“Oh?”
“We can just chill at my place,” Suzie suggested, offering a slightly awkward smile. “This was your last class, right?”
“Yeah but…” Jewels blinked, caught off guard. “Your place?”
Suzie nodded, shifting in her seat. “Just hanging out, two of us alone. The old married couple won’t be home until next Monday.”
Jewels stared at her for a moment, like she was waiting for some sort of catch. Then, her shoulders relaxed slightly.
“That sounds nice.”
Suzie exhaled, not realizing she had been holding her breath. “Yeah?”
Jewels’ lips curled into something softer. “Yeah. Let’s go, Zee.”
Suzie didn’t even have time to process her thoughts when Jewels was already pulling her along, falling into step beside her as they exited the lecture hall.
When they stepped into the hallway, Jewels reached for Suzie’s hand, lacing their fingers together without hesitation.
Suzie felt something settle in her chest, steady and sure.
Jewels might not have wanted to go out, but she still wanted to be with her.
And that was more than enough.
_
Suzie had never thought much about what it would feel like to bring someone home. When she pushed open the door to her shared apartment with Jewels following closely behind, she realized how intimate it suddenly felt. And how unprepared she was.
The door clicked shut behind them, enclosing them in a quiet coziness. Suzie all of sudden felt aware of the faint scent of vanilla and fabric softener lingering in the air, and the way Jewels’ presence filled the space beside her.
Jewels stepped further in, her gaze sweeping across the living room. Sketches were taped haphazardly to the walls, half-sewn fabric pieces lay strewn across the couch, and remnants of midnight snacks cluttered the coffee table.
Suzie tensed, suddenly self-conscious. “Fuck, I know it’s a little chaotic,” she said. “Kori promised she was gonna clean her mess up before she left.”
Jewels ran her fingers along the wall, eyes flickering over the designs pinned to them. “Are these yours, babe?” she asked, voice unreadable. “Cuz Kori would never come up with anything this sickening.”
Suzie couldn’t resist a snicker at the comment, but the way Jewels said them in the slightest hint of something off made her pause.
Jewels was still staring at her designs with her lips pressed together, fingers tightening subtly against the hem of her sleeve. Suzie caught something glassy in her eyes, something contained within her before she quickly looked away.
Suzie didn’t say anything about it but she could slightly recognize what this was. She didn’t need to ask more.
She reached for Jewels’ hand, threading their fingers together in a gentle pull. “Let’s go to my room,” she said softly.
Jewels didn’t oppose and gave a small nod, letting Suzie lead her across the room without a word.
Suzie pushed open the door to her room, the familiar warmth of it greeting them both. The dim glow of her vintage lamp bathed the space in soft amber light, casting shadows across the deep emerald and gold tones of the decor. Jewels stepped inside curiously, her fingers grazing the edge of Suzie’s desk, dropping her bag onto the unoccupied chair.
She let her gaze wander, taking in the carefully arranged sketches on the desk and the posters hung on the wall. “Damn this room just screams you, Zee.”
Suzie leaned against the doorframe, watching her. “That’s supposed to be a good thing right?”
“Yeah, of course! It makes you, you. If you know what I’m saying.” She brushed her fingers over the velvet throw at the foot of the bed before sitting down. “It’s nice. Your bed is so comfy, by the way.”
Suzie sat beside her, their shoulders brushing naturally.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched between them wasn’t awkward, but loaded with something unspoken. Jewels wasn’t making an easy joke or throwing out a teasing, shady remark like she usually does. She just sat there staring at the floor, lost in her spiraling thought.
Suzie hesitated before breaking the quiet. “Do you wanna get takeout for dinner?”
Jewels turned to her then, her dark eyes flickering with something unreadable. She studied Suzie’s face, her gaze drifting slowly from her lips to her cheek, then back to her eyes again, to consider something.
Without a word, she reached out, fingertips brushing lightly against Suzie’s cheek.
Suzie barely registered the touch before Jewels leaned in, her rosy lips pressing softly against hers.
The kiss was slow and unhurried. Jewels kissed her like she was savoring it, wanting to memorize the shape of Suzie’s lips against her own. Her hand slid from Suzie’s cheek to the nape of her neck, fingers slipping into the curls of her red hair, reeling her in just slightly.
Suzie sighed into it, her body instinctively shifting closer, the warmth of Jewels’ body seeping into hers. Her lips parted slightly as she melted into the kiss, the slow drag of Jewels’ mouth against hers sent a shiver down her spine.
Jewels deepened it gradually, her thumb brushing along the curve of Suzie’s jaw, anchoring her in the moment. Suzie let her hands drift to Jewels’ slim waist, fingertips pressing lightly against the soft fabric of her blouse.
Jewels made a quiet, satisfied hum in response before tilting her head, molding herself against Suzie with practiced ease. Her lips pressed gently, fingers clawed in Suzie’s hair, teasing with a flick of her tongue before pulling away just enough to make Suzie chase the kiss.
The scent of Jewels’ perfume lingered between them, sweet and intoxicating.
Jewels kissed her slower this time, letting each lingering press of her lips melt into the next. Their breaths intertwined in the quiet space between them. When she finally pulled back, she didn’t go far. Their foreheads rested close, the air between them thick and charged.
Her thumb traced over Suzie’s lower lip, her voice a murmur.
“Are you still thinking about takeout?”
Suzie let out a soft, breathy laugh, her fingers still curled around Jewels’ waist. “Not really.”
Jewels’ smile was small but real, something deeper settling into her expression.
She kissed Suzie again, more passionately than previously. There was no hesitation this time as Suzie let herself sink fully into the heat of Jewels’ embrace.
_
Suzie freaked out when she woke up to an empty bed, her heart lurched at the absence of Jewels beside her. Her room was dark, save for the faint glow of streetlights filtering through the curtains.
She hurriedly sat up and switched on her lamp, eyes scanning the room, a ripple of panic settling in her chest.
Fortunately, Jewels’ precious bag was still sitting neatly on the chair where she had left it, which meant she hadn’t left the place yet.
Suzie let out a slow breath, pressing a hand against her chest to steady herself.
Gathering herself, she slid out of bed and padded softly toward the kitchen, following the dim light spilling into the hallway.
And there she was.
Jewels sat on the kitchen island along with a half-eaten tub of ice cream resting on her lap. Her posture relaxed as she scooped up another bite with a spoon, but when Suzie stepped closer, she noticed something she hadn’t expected.
Jewels’ eyes were glazed, silent tears slipping down her cheeks as she continued eating like nothing was wrong.
Suzie stopped in her tracks. She had never seen Jewels cry before, the sight made her chest throb. She took a cautious step closer, noticing Jewels was donned in her favorite green hoodie, along with a pair of shorts that Suzie too recognized as her own. She must have changed after Suzie dozed off once they finished their sensual encounter in bed.
Suzie approached slowly with a gentle voice. “Jewels?”
Jewels startled slightly, hastily wiping at her face, but Suzie had already seen the tears. “Fuck, you’re not supposed to see me like this,” she mumbled, a hiccup slipping from her throat. “I caught dust in my eyes that’s all.”
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Suzie asked, stepping between her legs. She reached up, gently brushing away the glistening tears with her thumbs. “Jewels, sweetheart, look at me please?”
Suzie cupped her face, brushing gently over her damp cheeks. “Deep breaths, baby,” she murmured. “Tell me what’s wrong. I’m here.”
Jewels swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the spoon still buried in the melting ice cream. “My project,” she muttered, voice tight with frustration. “I have to redo the entire thing from scratch because someone destroyed it.”
Suzie’s stomach twisted. “Are you serious? That’s horrible, Jewels!”
Jewels let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “Somebody even had the nerve to accuse me of plagiarizing in front of the supervisor, discrediting all the sweat and tears I put into my work for weeks. People keep looking at me like I did something wrong when I didn’t do shit.”
Suzie’s mouth hung open as she listened, disbelief settling in. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Jewels bit the inside of her cheek, reluctant. “It’s… it’s my problem, Zee. I should deal with it myself. I don’t want to trouble you when you already have so much on your plate.”
Suzie sighed, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. “You don’t have to do everything alone.” She leaned back just enough to hold Jewels’ eyes. “Let me help, okay? We’ll fix together.”
Jewels looked up at her, something unguarded flashing in her eyes before she finally let go of whatever resistance she had left. She set the ice cream tub aside and wrapped her arms around Suzie’s waist, resting her head against her shoulder.
Suzie held her close, one hand running slow, soothing strokes down her back while the other cradled the nape of her neck. “We’ll make something even better,” she murmured. “I promise you’ll get the recognition you deserve. Believe me, we’re getting that first-class honors couple photoshoot next year.”
Jewels let out a shaky laugh, her breath warm against Suzie’s skin. “You always know what to say to me, Suzie.”
Suzie smiled, kissing the top of her head. “I know. And you deserve it.”
Jewels pulled back just slightly, enough to press a soft, lasting kiss to Suzie’s lips. It was slow and grateful, fingers gripping the fabric of Suzie’s sweatshirt.
Suzie melted into it, letting the moment settle between them.
Then, she glanced down at the abandoned ice cream and smirked. “You do realize that’s Kori’s, right?”
Jewels wiped her face with Suzie’s sleeve before shrugging. “Makes it even better.”
“You’re terrible.” Suzie laughed, shaking her head. “I want some too.”
Jewels grinned mischievously, scooping up a spoonful before holding it up to Suzie’s lips. “Say ahh.”
Suzie rolled her eyes but leaned in, letting Jewels feed her. She hummed in approval before licking her lips. “We should’ve ordered takeout.”
Jewels giggled, taking another bite for herself.
They really should have ordered takeout last night. There was barely anything fulfilling in the kitchen that they were making a meal out of stolen ice cream.
Still, the moment felt perfect. They sat together in the quiet of the early morning, stealing kisses between spoonfuls, giggling as Suzie twirled Jewels around the kitchen like they were dancing.
A sudden voice cut through their laughter.
“Woah, you two scared the fuck out of me.”
Suzie nearly tripped over her own feet as she spun around, eyes wide. Lydia stood in the hallway, hair a tangled mess, eyes heavy with exhaustion, looking like she had just crawled out of a grave.
“Lydia?” Suzie blinked. “What the hell? I thought you were in Boston with Kori.”
Lydia yawned, shuffling toward the fridge. “Yeah, no. If I had gone with Kori, I’d never finish the project on time. Let’s be real, girls.”
Jewels gasped, placing a hand over her chest. “Lydia choosing her grades over her girl?! That’s insane.”
“Mhm, sure, sure,” Lydia muttered, too tired to argue as she rummaged through the fridge. She pulled out a yogurt, staring at it blankly before peeling back the lid.
Jewels grinned, stretching her arms out. “Lyds, c’mere. Let’s have a group hug.”
“Oh, it’s fine.”
Jewels pouted. “Come onnn.”
“C’mere, Lydia,” Suzie said, gesturing her to come closer.
Lydia sighed heavily like this was the greatest inconvenience of her life. “If you say so, sisters.”
She trudged over, and the second she was close enough, Jewels wrapped her arms around both Lydia and Suzie, pulling them into a warm, tight embrace.
Lydia let out a long, drawn-out sigh, standing stiffly in their hold. “Okay. Loooove this for us but can I go eat my yogurt now?”
Jewels snickered against Suzie’s shoulder. “Five more minutes.”
Lydia mumbled something incoherent before letting out another yawn.
Suzie closed her eyes briefly, feeling the quiet hum of warmth between them, the weight of Jewels leaning into her and Lydia’s reluctant but undeniable presence.
It was almost four in the morning. They were exhausted and starving, but right now, Suzie wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else as long as she was with Jewels.