Chapter Text
You’d think it would happen during an actual significant moment.
Like that time where Daniela got close to help Megan with a dance move, or when she went out of her way to buy the food that Megan was craving ‘just because’.
Hell, maybe even that night they spent talking until ungodly hours of the morning- bodies full to the brim with nerves as their final mission was coming up- talking about their aspirations and fears, debriefing about everything and everyone.
But no. That is not what happened- which is what made this flash bang of a realisation so much more of a shock.
Daniela was just lying on the couch, tank top riding just a tiny bit higher as she did something on her phone.
“Oh, hey, Megan!” she said, smiling upon Megan’s entrance.
The girl paused, eyes widening slightly. Her question about the choreography died in her throat, along with the ability to act normal around Daniela ever again.
The sight of Daniela- literally doing nothing, she might add- for some reason awoke the sleeper agent inside her.
‘Oh shit. I like Daniela Avanzini.’
For Manon, it was different.
Every single action Lara did was significant to her.
Which, well okay- she should’ve realised that meant something. Should’ve realised how many flags this raised.
But like- she just thought it was overwhelming love for her best friend.
Lara was the one who matched her humour the most- matched her freak the most.
Whenever Manon would laugh for the most stupid reasons (e.g. saying ‘yeah’ weirdly during an interview and not being able to contain herself for the next 5 minutes), Lara would come tumbling off of the edge right with her.
Then- raise your hand if you’re surprised- fucking Lollapalooza happened.
No hands raised? Woah- that’s crazy.
Manon woke up to her phone ringing shrilly in her ears.
She groaned as she bent over to see who it was.
“What the fuck do you want?” she asked, voice thick with sleep.
“Manon. Come here. I’ve just had the best idea.”
“Lara it’s-“ she pulled the phone away from her ear to check the time, “what the fuck. It’s six am!” she hissed, feeling Daniela’s glare burning holes in her back.
“Just come here!”
“Oh, you’re fucking insane.” she laughed, absolutely bewildered.
“Walk with me, okay? Walk with me!” Lara’s pleas echoed in the empty studio, “So if you just bend over-“
“Hold up, hold up, hold the fuck up.”
“Sorry, is that too far? I just think everyone’s gonna be gagged-“
“What? No, it’s hot but-“
“But what?” Lara’s lip jut out in a pout.
“Why am I the bottom?”
Megan caught Manon looking at her in the mirror. It wasn’t a glare per se, but it was certainly… a look.
She looked away immediately, feigning indifference, but Megan saw it- the way Manon’s jaw tightened, the short exhale that left her lungs.
Confused, she ignored it. She did nothing wrong, after all.
So, she continued talking to her roommate.
“Oh my God- Lara, look at this!” Megan snorted, leaning towards Lara to show her a video on her phone. Lara cackled, smacking her on the arm as she laughed.
Megan felt eyes on her head during the whole exchange, making her feel uneasy.
‘What is her problem?’
Manon stood behind the couch of the living room, showing off her outfit to some of the members as she prepared to go out.
“So? What are we thinking?” she asked, raising her eyebrow teasingly.
She knew she looked good- she just needed to be hyped up.
She exchanged flirting remarks with Sophia- eventually making the latter fold and giggle as Yoonchae stared at her, disappointed.
“You look hot, Manon- like genuinely. If I were gay…” Daniela joked- right as Megan exited her room.
She paused, hearing Daniela’s words.
Manon turned around at the sign of footsteps.
“Oh! Megan! Hey-“ Manon didn’t get to finish, as Megan spun on her heel and slammed the door to her room.
Her flirtatious grin faltered at her abrupt exit.
‘What the fuck was that about?’
This went on for months, normal interactions between roommates resulting in the other getting upset- not knowing why. The pang in both their hearts felt like a mystery pain.
Manon realised first, on a stage in front of 80,000 people.
Lara sat there, leaning back on her hands- smirking at her, a shimmer in her eye as they both caught their breath.
The roar of the crowd didn’t even settle into Manon’s ears- all she could hear was her pulse throbbing and going insane in her ears.
‘Holy shit. I’m in love with this girl.’
Afterwards, Megan had her realisation- promptly doing a 180° out of the living room, confusing Daniela before she shrugged and went back to her phone.
“Manon, you know how you’re my best friend?” Megan burst into her room, panting with fatigue from sprinting, on all fours, up the stairs.
“Lara’s your best friend.” Manon replied flatly, not glancing up from her scrolling.
“Well, yeah but like… I think we’re all best friends- anyway-“
“What do you want, Skiendiel?”
“I think I have a crush on Dani.” Megan blurted out, face scrunched up and bracing for impact.
Manon stilled.
“What makes you think that?” she asked slowly, making sure that her bandmate was absolutely sure about her feelings.
“I love her company-“
“You’re best friends.”
“Just let me finish!” Megan sighed exasperatedly- Manon’s interruptions were not helping her stress right now.
“Aside from that, I find myself thinking of her. Like, all the time.”
“Is that it?”
She looked down, fiddling with her fingers.
“I may… get a bit jealous… when you’re with her.” Megan mumbled bashfully.
Taken aback, Manon started cackling uncontrollably- the pieces finally clicking in her head.
’So this is why she’s been weird around me.’
“Stop making fun of me!” Megan whined, “I’m screwed! What do I do?”
“You’re jealous of me? Megan-“
“Yes! I am, okay? You’re her roommate and you get more time with her and-“
“Dude! I’m jealous of you!”
Now Megan froze.
“Huh?”
“I… may have a crush on Lara…” Manon muttered, looking away as a flush started creeping onto her face.
“What?”
“I may have a tiny, itty bitty crush on Lara.” she squeaked, voice raising like 5 octaves as she vocalised her feelings for the first time.
“You? Have a crush on her? Little miss ‘who won’?” Megan asked, bewildered- cackling herself now.
“You can’t talk! We’re both fucked! Not sure if you forgot, but we’re all in a fucking girl group together!”
Megan’s face dropped completely- reminding Manon of that one Dream Academy clip.
‘It kinda makes me, like, sick a little bit…’ her mind echoes distantly, before she (unfortunately) gets brought back into reality.
She stared at her like that one soldier meme, realising what their hearts have gotten them into.
“Oh we’re cooked. We’re so cooked.”