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Gem let out a surprised little “Eep!!” sound as she was grabbed by the arms and practically shoved into the nearest closet. Now normally she wouldn’t have made that noise. She was just… caught off guard…! got that??
the other girl, Pearl, was identified by her small grunt she made while also being shoved in. Gem knew her Pearl sounds well. Pearl Aka her friend Pearl. Nothing more than that. Nothing else going on there. So why was this said friend staggering into a small closet with her? Gem couldn’t tell you. All she could tell you was that it was the fault of Lizzie and Scott.
Pearl sunk to the ground on her knees. Meanwhile, Gem caught her balance quickly.
A sinking feeling in her stomach made itself apparent when she heard the door slam close behind them. Shit. She instantly swiveled around and tried the door. The handle wouldn’t budge. Locked.
“You two are first! How lucky!!” Gem heard Lizzie’s sing-songy tone muffled through the door.
Gem stared blankly at the door for a good 15 seconds, panting a second. Not only was she trapped in a tight closet with a girl, she was trapped in a tight closet with a girl she could barely see.
The only thing illuminating the narrow space was the small crack of light seeping through the small gap through the bottom of the door. Just a faint glow.
She pounded at the door with the side of her fist once. She didn’t catch the flinch it gathered from Pearl. “This is bullshit, what kind of door locks from the outside.”
Her tone was unclear, hard to place. It was somewhat of a genuine, legitimate question, anger seeping into it. But that was besides the point.
“Good question! Unfortunately I will no longer be here to answer, have fun!!” Lizzie’s voice gradually faded away through the sentence, presumably going to join the rest of their friends in whatever they were doing. Leaving Gem and Pearl alone.
Gem turned to Pearl wordlessly. From what little Gem could make out she was huddled against the wall opposite from the door, sitting with her knees clutched to her chest. Pearl offered a small, awkward smile.
Gem sighed softly, a small huff. She leaned against the same wall, sliding to slump down right next to Pearl. Their shoulders brushed each other gently, a small reminder of their close proximity. Gem didn’t mind.
There was a stretch of silence. Aside from small breaths and Pearl tapping an anxious rhythm into the floor’s surface.
There was nothing to do in the small, evidently neglected closet, so time seemed moved slower, inching by slowly like a snail.
There seriously was nothing to do here. All it contained was half of a pencil and some dust. Gem was quite glad she nor Pearl had any apparent dust allergies.
Gem thought there was something severely wrong with this closet. Or whoever owned the place. Gem hated to admit she couldn’t remember. She usually had memory sharp as a whistle.
Though maybe it wasn’t really her fault. She had just been informed that there would be a hangout and Joel drove her to this very location with his absurdly shiny and expensive car that he just loved to show off and gloat about.
Joel talked about it enough, she didn’t want it to take up any more space in her mind than it had to.
Gem only realized she was spacing out when she heard the small sound of Pearl clearing her throat.
“You ‘right, Gem?” Pearl asked feebly, her accent coming through, shortening the word ‘alright’. Gem only now noticed the absence of her soft tapping.
Her smile immediately softened. Gem loveddd hearing Pearl’s Australian accent. Even just the small phrases pronounced that way made her day.
Occasionally she’d engage in more conversation with Pearl just to hear her talk more in that silly foreign accent.
“‘M good” Gem mumbled. She bumped Pearl’s shoulder. “You?”
The smile on her face widened when Pearl bumped her back with a chuckle.
“Could be better. Could not be locked in a dusty old closet right now” Pearl gave a weak smile to Gem through the dark.
“That’s true” Gem agreed with a small exhale, eyes closing with it.
Though… Gem peeked an eye open. Then both.
She analyzed Pearl a second. She had only begun to notice the uneasy body language of the girl beside her.
She caught onto the tapping from minutes earlier though she didn’t think much of it. Looking at the brown haired girl now, despite the lack of light, she did appear rather troubled.
Gem frowned. “You sure you’re okay?” She needed to reevaluate.
“I’m fine.” Pearl dismissed. A decision that was afterward reconsidered.
Pearl looked down to her knees. She fiddled with her hands awkwardly. “I just get a bit… claustrophobic.” Pearl admitted. “I reckon it’s fine, nothing to worry about, we’ll be out of here soon ‘nough” Gem’s frown deepened a bit.
Pearl paused as she had an idea. Eager to change the subject, she then dug in her pocket and fished out her phone. Opening it to the home screen she stared impassively at the time.
“Y’know that would’ve worked if only we knew when we were shoved in here.” Pearl groaned softly, a muffled noise into her arms.
“I can think of a few ways to pass the time” Gem blurted out in a low mutter. Whoops. She faced away from Pearl, face heating up.
Shit why’d she say that. No seriously. Why? What would that even insinuate. What did she even mean by that. What?
“Sorry uh, what was that?” Pearl tilted her head in a spot of confusion, much like some kind of dog.
Gem didn’t answer.
Gem sat there chewing her bottom lip in thought. Staring at the ground. Knees still tucked in under her chin.
She quietly contemplated what explanation to use or what to say next. She stayed quiet for a little longer. What could she even say to recover for that?
“Do you want to do it?” Gem asked thoughtfully, glancing over to Pearl.
“Do what? Huh?” Came a confused reply from Pearl.
Gem coughed awkwardly and broke eye contact with Pearl. “Y’know, uh. What they shoved us in here for. Seven minutes in heaven…?” A bit of heat rising up, mostly hidden by the darkness they were still plunged in.
God, what was causing Gem to say this. To Pearl of all people. Regular old Pearl. Or… maybe not?
No, no. This was just to help Pearl and to please Lizzie. Her stupid best friend Lizzie who had probably set this up… and why would she set this up…
“Wha-” Pearl not so quickly processed the other girl’s words. The gears turned rather slowly, perhaps a bit of rust on them.
Oh. Her face went an impressive shade of scarlet. Pearl’s gaze flew back to Gem, carefully studying her face. Her soft, rosy pink cheeks, littered with gorgeous freckles.
She took in as much as she could in the darkness, not given a ton of light. It wasn’t fair that Gem wasn’t even trying to mesmerize her. She always did anyways.
Gem didn’t actually know how much Pearl had wanted this. For a while actually!
Gem’s eyes flicked over to hers occasionally as she awkwardly waited for an answer and for Pearl to stop staring at her like that.
“Yeah.” Pearl decided finally as if she was debating it that whole time. As if it was a hard decision. As if she needed to weigh the pros and cons.
When Gem’s now wide emerald green eyes met hers, Pearl swiftly added “Y’know. To… pass the time and stuff…! Duh..” And her gaze flicked away.
Gem reached out her hand, hesitated, and then slowly slipped her hand into Pearl’s. “Cool, yeah… to pass the time.”
Pearl nodded meekly, a bit dazed.
Neither of them budged for a few short moments as they faced each other. Emerald eyes meeting cerulean. Both waiting for the other to make a move.
Well, Pearl was. Gem was lingering too long on the other’s face. Examining her hazy blue eyes close in the shadowy room, the way the dim light rendered her face.
Gem had to internally shake herself by the shoulders to get herself to snap out of it.
Finally, in a moment Gem scooted closer, albeit awkwardly. Half on Pearl’s lap now, Gem tentatively cupped her face.
“Is it okay if I…” Gem trailed off and continued. Her other hand slid to Pearl’s shoulder as she readjusted, leaning over her. Pearl was pushed against the wall.
Quickly flicking her attention back to Pearl’s face for confirmation, Gem was met with flustered Pearl’s face. An adorable sight, really.
When Pearl snapped out of it and noticed, she gave a small, shaky nod.
Gem flashed a quick, hopefully reassuring smile as she dropped into the other girl’s lap, settling there quickly.
Pearl flinched and looked down to her lap, frantically helping her hands find Gem’s waist.
This was all the right kinds of overwhelming and scary. It did not help that Pearl was touch starved as hell.
Her head was spinning. Pearl thought it was gonna overheat and probably explode as well.
Gem held Pearl’s face in her hand, thumb up against her lip. She hesitated.
“You know we don’t have to do this, right?” Gem needed to double check.
Pearl pulled herself together for a second. She swallowed hard. “No, I want to.” The brown haired girl managed. She then looked to Gem while adding, “Please?”
Gem forced a small nod as her heart pounded faster. Oh god the way Pearl looked at her in that moment.
Something had gradually shifted. Maybe this wasn’t just to help Pearl pass the time. She wanted this, didn’t she? But Gem wouldn’t admit that, not yet.
There was a moment of nervous stalling before Gem leaned forward, hand still cupping and guiding Pearl’s face.
She started with just a small, awkward peck on her friend’s cheek. Gem’s other hand slid over to hold Pearl’s cheek, thumb brushing against her ear.
She didn’t dwell too much. Gem pressed her face to Pearl’s forehead, nose, and the corner of her mouth. Gem’s lips tried to be on as many places as they could reach.
Pearl was absolutely delighted with this fact. Her face buzzed everywhere Gem touched it, heart skipping many beats and lightheaded to the point where Pearl was surprised she hadn’t passed out.
She was glad she hadn’t though. She was required to be here and present to experience this.
Gem pulled back to observe Pearl and study her work. She was happily met with a goofy, lovestruck grin. Gem smiled wide.
She may or may not have forgotten she had lipstick on, though. Barely visible in the dim light. Oopsies!
After a small drawn pause of holding her face up and staring into her eyes, Gem finally tugged Pearl closer until their lips touched. Lightly at first, lips barely brushing.
Until Pearl tilted forwards, hand on the base of the other girl’s neck to steady herself. Other hand cupping her cheek on the opposite side. She’d wanted Gem’s mouth on hers for months and there was no way she was passing up this opportunity.
She savored the way Gem startled, then leaned into her. The way Gem’s soft lips felt against hers, addicting. The way Gem cradled her face so gently.
The way Gem looked at her when their eyes fluttered open was treasured immensely. Pearl wished she could take a picture in that moment, something more permanent than a memory that could easily be forgotten. Though the likeliness of that ever happening was close to zero.
Gem smiled against Pearl’s lips.
Pearl hesitantly pulled away
Her mouth tingled weirdly.
Ever a problem solver, of course Pearl had to find a way to fix it. First she tried pressing them back on Gem.
She was met with soft, gentle kisses back. Attentive as could be. Reacting to Pearl’s every move.
Pearl was very eager though. She pressed forward, sliding one of her hands down Gem’s arm to grab her hand instead. Gem tilted her head slightly for better access to her mouth.
They kissed until their mouths hurt, Gem’s lipstick smudged across Pearl’s face… And in Pearl’s mouth. Didn’t taste like much, wasn’t a bother.
This was exactly where Pearl wanted to be, anyways.
—
“Shit. We forgot about Pearl and Gem.” Scott said in the middle of a moment of silence in the conversation. The gang was quite busy. Focusing on important stuff of course… like Mario Kart.
“Yeah, we did do that.” Cleo agreed casually. They were also very busy focusing on Mario Kart. The round was almost over, they could check on the two then.
Cleo had to say, though, if Gem and Pearl didn’t get together by now, they’d be very disappointed. The two girls have had sooo muchhh time to just kiss already. And Cleo absolutely dreaded hearing Pearl whine about Gem more.
Cleo got a bit lost inside their head for a moment, staring blankly at the tv while playing, not paying attention to the chatter. Funny how they still managed to overtake Martyn in first place at the last second, ultimately winning the game.
“Oh fuck you too” Martyn grumbled, dropping his controller and crossing his arms, pouting.
“Awww, sorry, maybe you should’ve tried harder then!” Cleo answered positively, high pitched in that sarcastic, sweet voice they did a lot, their hands clasped innocently.
Cleo dropped it as soon as they caught Scott’s eye, him nodding in the direction of the closet they had left Gem and Pearl in. Cleo nodded back with a shrug and followed him.
Apparently at some point Lizzie decided she was coming too. Which… made sense as she was also one of the ones who came up with the plan!
“They’re probably fine by the way…“ Cleo muttered while they quickly walked through a room. God, Scott’s house was enormous.
“Probably more than fine, actually!!” Lizzie chirped. Cleo scoffed.
“I wouldn’t put it past them to actually just sit in silence the whole time…” Cleo mumbled. They finally got downstairs, to the room the closet was in.
The three little miscreants marched their way up to the door. And with a small knock beforehand as warning, Scott unlocked the door and pushed it open.
Light flooded into the small room. The first thing Cleo saw was the two girls sat tucked against the back wall, clearly engrossed in… each other. That only lasted a short moment, maybe a second later Gem and Pearl jumped away from each other. As much as they could, at least. Pearl was kinda pressed to the corner
Observing the scene, Pearl very clearly had lipstick all over her face. And Gem clearly had lipstick smeared off her lips. On top of that, both of their faces were beet red.
Cleo wasn’t super surprised.
“Wow.” Cleo said first.
Pearl looked like she was gonna spontaneously combust.
“Grian owes me 20 bucks, thank you guys so much” Lizzie said with gratitude while also trying to hold back laughter.
“You bet on us?!?!” Gem was the first of them to speak, somewhat dumbfounded. Pearl still looked frozen in shock, similar to a stone statue or an opossum playing dead.
“Pfffttt, well, duh” Scoffed Lizzie. “What else were we supposed to do??” Lizzie said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, common knowledge, really.
“Pearl? You uh, you got a little something on your face there.” Scott managed to speak finally, suppressing a few giggles.
“Shush your face.” Pearl said, instinctively. Then she blinked twice. “…Wait what do you mean”
“Fuck I forgot i had it on…” Gem muttered, touching two fingers to her lips then looking away.
Pearl quickly pulled out her phone and clicked onto camera. Her face heated up a bit. “GEM.” Pearl glared at the redhead.
“Whoops?” Gem offered, frankly very unbothered.
“…Now…” Gem shot a halfhearted scowl at the people still standing at the doorframe. She promptly slammed the door closed with her foot, hand already finding the collar of Pearl’s shirt to tug towards her.
Gems stared at Pearl for a moment.
“Y’know, you kinda got something on your face. Don’t worry I’ll get it!”
And her lips were on Pearl once again.
—
“NOT a word.” Pearl hissed as she slid into the front seat of the car
Grian, of course, was gonna say a word. Multiple, actually. “Awww, did someone have a good night? Did someone get a girlfriend last night? Did someone fall asleep in said girlfriend’s arms awwww—”
He quickly got smacked on the arm. Okay yeah Grian knew that was coming
“…Pearl got a girlfriend??” Jimmy asked cluelessly from the back seat.
Pearl wordlessly pulled out of the driveway, but her expression and the way she hid her face spoke volumes.
“Tim. PLEASE.”