Chapter Text
Trinity had a plan for her college years. She’d get through school, get a job with her degree, and figure out the rest later. But things didn’t go as planned. one night after a few too many frozen margaritas and a shot to boost her confidence, Trinity decided to try karaoke. It was just a simple college activity, but that’s where everything changed. She fell back in love with singing. She had always liked it as a kid, but her parents had never let her try out for plays or musicals. After a few drunken cheers from her friends, she got down from the stage. When she turned around, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was a girl she didn’t know.
“Hey, you’re really good at that.” the girl said, offering a warm smile. Her hazel eyes making a drunken Trinity swoon on impact. she could feel her ears grow pink as she looked the girl up and down. probably college age as well, if not older. She introduced herself and trinity was sure she'd never have to use a terrible lesbian dating app ever again. which she never had good experiences with anyway especially considering she didn't wanna be some straight couples third.
That was the night Trinity met Melissa king. She seemed to be a really nice girl, pretty hair, prettier smile. Though Trinity wasn't sure if she was gay, which was odd. trinity prided herself on having an impeccable gaydar. but in this moment the thing must've broke. maybe it was the margaritas, maybe it was the way Mel disarmed her so easily. trinity met a few of Mels friends as well. they all seemed nice, all varying amounts of drunk as well. they all sat at the booth as Mel dished out everyones drinks and that was when Mel nervously made the pitch.
And to her own shock. Trinity joined a band that night. That was the night her life changed. For better or for worse? She was still debating that. Even now.
Three femmes and two butches walk into a bar..start of a bad joke right? they're all nobodies, another cover band. they walk out with a viral video of them taken by a patron. their career only builds from there.
Enter Slow Kick, a rising indie rock band. Mellisa king, their bassist and lyricist. Samira Mohan on the guitar. Victoria Javadi on keys. Cassie Mckay playing the drums. And the main event, Trinity Santos as the leading woman. After dropping three singles over the next year and finding their footing, the girls had grown close. Trinity catching feelings for a certain blonde. Their first studio album 'An Angels Blade' reached platinum in just two months after its release. The girls weren't used to fame. any lick of privacy they'd had stripped by new fans. their manager had panicked and handed them off to a new manager. one more equipped to handle the quick spike of fame. today was the day to meet the woman.
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Trinity sat just outside the studio, lit cigarette between her fingers. Her legs in Mels lap. Mel never smoked, she just enjoyed being in Trinity's presence. It was quite clear to anyone that wasn't trinity that Mel liked her. Trinitys eyes fell over Mel. She was sporting her usual jeans and a hoodie combo, her glasses perched high on her nose. Trinity smiled to herself and then looked away, not wanting to be caught staring. Mel looked down at her lap playing with the rings on her fingers.
The peaceful moment was quickly interrupted by Victoria swinging the back door open. "guys, get up. new managers here." Trinitys eyes shot up. Shit. she'd forgotten that was today. Victoria gave them an odd look before heading back inside to join the others. Trinity gave Mel a small 'sorry' and a sheepish look before stubbing out her cigarette on the brick wall and swinging her legs off of Mels lap.
Mel watched as Trinity left. not saying anything but getting up and following her in. The sound of Samira's laughing filling the studio as she spoke to an older woman in a pantsuit. she looked out of place in the homey decoration of their studio. the woman had air of authority to her, like she could rule the room with just a look. and she most likely could. Mel sided up next to trinity, watching the rest of the girls converse with their new manager. until of the woman saw them and smiled warmly. introducing herself as Dana Evans. Trinity faintly recognized the name.
Mel was quick to smile, step forward and shake Danas hand. "Hi, im Melissa king. Mel, if you want. I'm so exited to meet you." Mel stumbled off nervously, rocking slightly on the heels of her tennis shoes. trinity held in her own laugh at Mels awkwardness. they locked eyes for a moment before she quickly looked away.
"im trinity," Trinity shook the woman's hand as well. then stepped back to Mels side. conversation picked back up after a few seconds of award silence. Dana discussing contracts with the girls. going on about networking and whatever else managers talked about. everyone listening honed in on Danas every word. trinity had spaced, the moment focus wasn't on her. voices fading into the background. Mels laughter brought her back for just a moment. finding whatever Dana had just said funny. a jealous feeling bubbled in her gut. though Mel was always sweet and welcoming, but Dana had this air to her. something that made her feel small and minor. trinity made Mel laugh it wasn't like it was impossible. but Dana doing it on the first day of meeting her? and how she seemed so shy around Dana really annoyed trinity. Dana wasn't that funny. Trinity didn't find her funny anyway.
Trinity didn't own Mel, she knew that. hell she didnt even have the guts to ask Mel out in the first place. no matter how much they've flirted. it made her feel like a coward. she had internalized the thought that she'd singlehandedly corrupt Mel, or ruin her. She was just so amazing, and trusting. even the thought of just wanting her felt sinful.
Mel noticed trinity spacing out, she always did. it was practically her superpower. she nudged trinity, bringing her back to the moment. She placed over at Mel then refocused on dana, now talking about how exited she was to be working with this group. she seemed genuine. the smile on her face was magnetic. trinity paid attention the rest of the hour-long meeting before dana left. The door closed soundlessly and Trinity crashed back against the studio couch. It was a worn in cotton that she could easily relax back into. Mel sat down next to her, her hand finding trinity's.
"hey, you alright? you seemed kinda distracted when Dana was here." Mel cocked her head, looking over at trinity. other looking ahead. not wanting to look at Mel. which only made Mel worry more. she moved into trinity's line of sight. "earth to Trin?" Mel waved a hand in front of her face. which seemed to work.
"hm?" trinity hummed lowly, looking at Mel. "sorry, what's up?" Her hand tightened around Mels. finding peace in the simple contact. she was unable to hold the eye contact long. however with Mel starting back at her like a scorned puppy she gave in quite easily.
"I asked if you were okay, you kept spacing and I just wanted to make sure-" Mel started before being quickly cut off by trinity.
"no, im fine. just uh, just a bit tired y'know." Trinity shook her head. deflecting Mels obvious worry for her, and trying to keep her face neutral. which was an attempt to keep Mel away from the simmered out jealousy trinity had felt moments earlier. she fully sank back into the couch, keeping the most distance she could between her and Mel. though still unable to let go of the blondes hand.
"are you stressed out tired or are you 'I need a coffee' tired?" Mel questioned, letting trinity add the short distance between them. sometimes she forgot Trinity didnt like physical touch, sometimes trinity forgot too. Mel could tell something was eating away at trinity. she always read trinity like a damn book. There was just something about Mel that softened Trinitys sarcastic demeanor. maybe it was the fact that sarcasm was always lost on the blonde. or maybe that Trinity could let her guard down, if only a little.
maybe she was stressed out, most people would be in her situation. but she didn't feel like letting Mel know. Mel was too empathetic for her own good. she always reflected others moods instead of trying to figure out her own. one of the very few flaws Mel had, at least in Trinitys eyes that is. Mel saw the best in people, and trinity saw the truth. Maybe Mel had a savior complex, or maybe she just liked being around trinity. Mel was hard to read at times if you weren't paying attention to the little tweaks in her features. its an easy way to miss things. like now- the worry that made her eyebrows pinch and her nose scrunch. or because her grip on trinity's hand that was just slightly tighter than it needed to be.
"you know I never say no to coffee- unless Samira made it, then count me out." they both giggled softly, a soft familiarity falling between the two. alone together, no words had to be spoken for Mel to understand that trinity was in fact not needing of a coffee, but rather a home cooked meal and at least eight hours of sleep. maybe it was the spike of fame, or just the pressure of life, but Mel saw right through Trinitys act.
"how about I buy you a coffee and we have lunch?" Mel offered awkwardly. it felt both like a friendly offer and a non-platonic lunch date. meeting Mels eyes felt like a poking a bruise. she was mentally bracing herself for rejection, and it showed clear in her face. her hand pulled from Trinitys. "or y'know we all could have lunch tomorrow discuss tour plans as a group." Mel fumbled over her words. a brush of pink dusting her freckled cheeks. trinity paused at Mels words. or rather two certain words. tour plans.
"Tour plans?" trinity repeated, the question in her tone evident. "we don't have a tour scheduled-" Trinity shook her head, then looked at Mels both series and concerned features.
"dana said we would be on tour in four months if everything went right. were you not listening? I even nudged you to make sure you hadn't spaced again." Mel replied, it was almost accusing. Mel was always a listener, she grew up that way. Becca being her parents focal point. she prepared herself to speak again, but was cut off by trinity.
"its not my fault, plus I'd guessed it would all be about like paperwork and shit. sorry I wasn't hanging onto Dana's every fucking word like you were." There it was. the burn in her gut had boiled over. the raw kick of the jealousy trinity had felt earlier rearing its ugly head. she had regretted it the moment it left her mouth, seeing the blatant hurt flash over the blondes face. her eyes slight glossed over before blinking it away. Mel had no rebuttal, she didn't like to argue. not with anyone. it just wasn't something she did. Trinity had done enough arguing for the both of them. she was quick to anger and quicker to speak. both a pro and a con.
Trinity felt a distance added as the room fell to silence. not only the physicality of them both moving away from each other on the studio couch but a mental barrier. not just hurtles to jump over, but mountains neither of them had the energy to climb. they both would hurt in the end anyway, might as well have it fade out now. that was all trinity could think about anyway. her and Mel, whatever kind of fucked slow-burn this was morphing into. it would be simple to quit it now. at least trinity would be able to quit something.
"right," Mel nodded, breaking the awkward silence in the room. "well, see you in two months for tour prep. Danas emailed us the dates." the blondes shoulders hunched like she'd just gotten beat up and bullied. which filled trinity's gut with guilt. Mel grabbed her bag from the shelf and left before trinity could get a word in. the almost quiet thump of the door closing behind mel felt like closure that trinity would never fully receive.
two months. two months without Mel. only.. what had she said? four months to prep for a tour? Trinity really should have payed attention to Dana instead of staring at Mel.