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The coffee shop was quieter than usual for a Saturday afternoon. A soft hum of conversation drifted through the room, blending with the low whir of the espresso machine behind the counter. Sophia sat curled slightly over her cup, slowly stirring her iced coffee even though the sugar had dissolved minutes ago.
Across from her, Manon was watching her with a small, amused smile.
“You’re stalling,” she said.
Sophia glanced up. “I am not.”
“You’ve been stirring that drink for like five minutes.”
Sophia finally set the spoon down with a quiet clink. “Okay, maybe a little.”
Manon leaned back in her chair, folding her arms loosely across her chest. A month ago Sophia probably would have been distracted by how effortlessly cool she looked doing something that simple. Now she was used to it, though it still made her heart do that annoying little flip sometimes.
“So,” Manon said gently. “What did they say this time?”
Sophia groaned and dropped her forehead into one hand.
“Lara asked if you were real,” she admitted. “Megan said if I didn’t bring you around soon she was going to assume you were a secret wife. And Yoonchae has decided she doesn’t trust anyone she hasn’t personally interrogated.”
Manon laughed softly.
“That sounds about right.”
Sophia lifted her head again, studying her over the rim of her cup. “What about Dani?”
Manon immediately looked guilty.
Sophia narrowed her eyes.
"Manon.”
“What?”
“You made that face.”
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did.”
Manon sighed, rubbing the back of her neck.
“Well obviously you met Dani the night we met right? Well she asked how the date went when I got back and I maybe lied?”
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
“Not because I’m embarrassed of you or anything,” Manon rambled. “You are gorgeous, funny, and talented. Like I still don’t know why you decided being my girlfriend was the best option.”
Sophia reached across the table to grab Manon’s hand that was frantically flipping as she continued to ramble.
Manon stopped and refocused. Sophia had a calming effect on her. All it took was one look or touch and it made the noise in her head quiet. She was like a lighthouse guiding her through the mess of her brain. Honestly, the reaction Manon had to Sophia scared her. She had never connected to someone so quickly. Everything she learned about Sophia made her want her more.
Manon swallowed and forced herself to continue
“I told her that the date went badly,” she said quietly, “That you didn’t want a second one.”
Sophia’s expression shifted immediately. The softness in her face disappeared as she slowly pulled her back from Manon’s. There were too many thoughts at once. Too many questions.
Part of her wanted to react immediately, to push, to demand answers, but she also knew Manon. She knew she wasn’t cruel. Just complicated.
Manon noticed the loss of contact instantly. Her hand curled in on itself, fingers tightening as the space between them suddenly felt too large.
“Why would you lie about that, Manu?” Sophia asked, her voice soft, but her eyes anything but.
Manon took a breath
“It’s been just me and Dani since high school,” she began. “I have other friends, but Dani, she’s always struggled to keep them. Dance is very competitive, and it’s hard for her to trust people, let alone be close with them.”
She paused, choosing her words carefully.
“When she saw us that night, she got really excited. After I got home, she wouldn’t stop asking about you and the date. Before I could even answer, she was already planning things we could all do together.”
Manon let out a quiet breath.
“I didn’t want to get her hopes up. It was just one date, and I didn’t know what it would turn into. So I told her it went badly. She felt bad for me and just started shit talking immediately.”
There was a faint, humorless huff of laughter in her voice.
“I wanted this to work,” she admitted. “And it has. But the longer it went on, the harder it got to tell her the truth without feeling like I’d been lying to her the whole time. I didn’t want to lose her trust.”
Sophia’s jaw tightened slightly.
“And what about my trust, Manon?” she asked quietly. “Have you told anyone in your life that you are even dating someone?”
Manon’s gaze dropped to the table. She didn’t answer. She didn’t have to
Sophia exhaled slowly, her chest tightening.
“I need some time to think.”
She stood up, grabbing her bag.
Manon reached out quickly, catching her hand.
“I’m sorry, Sophia.” she said. “I didn’t mean for this to hurt you.”
Sophia looked down at her, something conflicted flickering across her face.
“But it did,” she said. “And there is nothing you can do to change the fact that this did hurt me.”
“Sophia, I-”
“Goodbye, Manu,” she said softly. “We’ll talk soon.”
Then she pulled her hand free, turned, and walked out of the cafe without looking back.
Manon stayed where she was, staring down at her coffee long after it had gone cold.
It had been a week since Manon had heard from Sophia. In that week, she had left her apartment exactly once to get some coffee. On the way, she passed the bookstore she had taken Sophia to on their third date. Needless to say, she had broken down crying and gone back home without getting any coffee.
Now she lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything over and over again. All she could think about was how she had ruined her relationship before it had really even started.
Since she met Sophia, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Her mind constantly drifted to her without permission. She found herself daydreaming about things that felt too big, too soon. She thought about building a life together, about a future that didn’t even exist yet.
Sometimes, embarrassingly, she even imagined what their kids would look like. She knew it was crazy. They had only known each other for a little over a month, but she had never felt like this before.
To make matters worse, she had a tattoo appointment scheduled for next week to get Sophia’s name tatted right below her boob. That’s how sure she had been.
Now she lay there, on her bed staring at the ceiling, wondering if she would ever hear from Sophia again. Before she could spiral any further, her bedroom door slammed open.
“Manz,” Dani said as she walked in, crossing the room and yanking the blankets off of her. “Oh my god, you smell so bad. When was the last time you showered?”
“Leave me alone to wallow,” Manon mumbled, reaching weakly with grabby hands for the blanket.
Dani held it out of reach.
“I don’t even know what you are wallowing over,” she said. “What's going on?”
Manon rolled onto her back and let out a long breath before speaking.
“You remember the girl I went on a date with last month?”
“Sophia, right?” Dani said. “The girl you saved from that bad date and then she dumped you at the door. That-”
“Yeah,” Manon cut in. “About that. I lied.”
Dani froze.
“What do you mean you lied?” she asked, her tone immediately shifting. “Did she do something? Do I need to call Jonah and his friends?”
“Dani, no,” Manon said quickly. “I lied about her not wanting a second date.”
“What?” Dani said softly, the blanket slipping from her hands and falling to the ground.
Manon sat up slowly.
“We actually both had a great time,” she admitted. “We went on a second date, then a third and I asked her to be my girlfriend.”
Dani just stared at her.
“Last week, she asked me to meet her friends,” Manon continued. “And that’s when it came out that I told you things didn’t work out. She was really upset.”
Her voice dropped.
“She hasn't talked to me since.”
There was a heavy silence between them.
“Why would you lie to me?” Dani asked quietly. “We don’t lie to each other.”
Manon immediately reached for her hands, but Dani pulled back before she could touch her.
“Dani,” Manon said, desperation creeping into her voice. “It's just that I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“Disappoint me?” Dani asked, confusion coloring her voice. “Why would you having a girlfriend disappoint me? That’s all I’ve wanted for you. For us, really. You know I've struggled with friends in the past, and I was really excited when I saw you on that date, so I don’t understand.”
“It’s not that I thought dating Sophia would disappoint you,” Manon said quickly. “I thought that if it didn’t work out, you would be disappointed. I know how much you want friendships like that, and I didn’t want that pressure on my relationship.”
Dani sat on the bed beside her and let out a slow sigh.
“I didn’t realize I was making you stressed.”“I didn’t tell you.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.”
Dani looked down at her hands for a moment, her expression tightening slightly.
“But you still lied to me,” she said quietly. “And that part sucks, Manon. We don’t do that.”
Manon swallowed, nodding quickly. “I know. I know, and I’m sorry. I just-” She shook her head. “I didn’t think it would get this far. And then it did, and I didn’t know how to fix it without making it worse.”
Dani let out a small breath, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
“You’re an idiot,” she muttered, but there was no real bite to it.
“Yeah,” Manon said softly. “I know.”
There was a pause, quieter this time, but not as heavy.
“I guess the wolf’s out of the bag,” Manon added.
“Manon.”
“What?”
“Are you seriously quoting Twilight at me right now?”
Manon nodded, completely serious.
They held eye contact for half a second before both of them broke into laughter.
It didn’t fix everything, but it made it feel lighter.
“So,” Manon said once they settled, “how do I fix this, Dani?”
Dani straightened slightly, her expression shifting into something more determined.
“You need to unleash Manon the rizzard.”
Manon blinked and then slowly nodded.
They looked at each other for a beat before standing and going through their practiced, slightly ridiculous secret handshake.
Dani paused mid-motion, catching another whiff of Manon, and immediately recoiled.
“Okay, we’ve got this,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “But first, you need to shower. You are stinky.”
Sophia barely gets through the explanation before Lara is already leaning forward, eyes narrowed.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Lara cuts in. “So you're telling me that she lied to her best friend, who you have already kind of met, about how your date went, and no one in her life even knows she’s dating someone?”
Sophia winces. “Well, when you put it like that-”
“Put it like what?” Megan jumps in. “All she did was repeat exactly what you said.”
Lara leans back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Wrap it up. The girl sounds like a walking red flag.”
“Okay, hold on,” Yoonchae says, speaking up for the first time. Her voice is calm, but firm enough that it cuts through the noise. “What she did wasn’t right. We all agree on that. But calling her a red flag is a little harsh. She just sounds scared.”
Lara raises an eyebrow. “Scared?”
Yoonchae nods. “Yeah. If her best friend has all these expectations for her, I’d be scared too.”
The room goes quiet for a second, everyone sitting with it.
Megan is the first to cave, like always. “Yoonchae is right. What matters is- has she tried to apologize?”
Sophia sighs, picking at the sleeve of her hoodie. “She texted me a couple days ago. Said she was sorry and asked if we could talk.”
“And?” Lara prompts.
“I didn’t respond,” Sophia admits. “I asked for space, so I took it.”
“So no contact since last week?” Megan asks.
Sophia hesitates. “Not exactly”
Three pairs of eyes lock onto her immediately.
“What does that mean?” Lara asks slowly.
Sophia grains. “We have a shared Spotify playlist, okay? And she's been…adding songs.”
Megan perks up instantly, scooting forward like this is the best thing she’s heard all day.
“Oh my god. What songs?”
Sophia doesn’t even need to check her phone.
“I miss you, I'm sorry by Gracie Abrahms,” she lists. “You were good to me by Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler, That’ll be the day by Shawn Mendes, and Sparks by Coldplay.”
There’s a beat.
Lara’s head snaps toward her. “Wait-”
“Yeah,” Megan says, staring. “Wait.”
“How long did you say you’ve been dating?” Lara asks.
Sophia frowns. “A little over a month? What does that-”
“Oh my god,” Megan cuts in, dragging a hand down her face. “Sophia.”
“What?” Sophia looks between them. “What?”
“Those are not one-month songs,” Megan says.
“Those are devastating,” Lara adds. “That is, like, full emotional collapse in playlist form.”
“Especially Sparks,” Megan continues. “Have you heard that song?”
“Yes,” Sophia says defensively. “I listened to all the songs when she added them. I didn’t think it was that dramatic.”
All three of them just stare at her.
Sophia shrugs, a little less confident now. “We just had a really strong connection, okay? And yeah, I’m still a little angry with her, but I wanted to think about it before I did anything.”
Lara squints at her. “You realize you sound insane right now, right?”
Sophia snorts “I mean, Manon is a little insane. I’d have to be a little crazy to want to date her.”
“That’s not the defense you think it is,” Megan mutters.
Yoonchae tilts her head. “So what's the plan?”
Sophia exhales, like she’s been holding the decision in her chest this whole time.
“I’m going to call her,” she says. “See if she wants to talk.”
Megan immediately brightens. “Good. Then we can finally get to meet her.”
“If it works out,” Sophia adds quickly.
“It has to work out,” Lara says flatly.
Sophia blinks. “Oh?”
Lara gestures at her. “You’ve been significantly less unbearable since you started dating her.”
Megan nods. “Yeah, we cannot go back to the dark times.”
Sophia gasps. “I was not that bad.”
All three of them just look at her.
“...Okay,” she mutters. “Maybe a little.”
Princess: Can we talk?
“Dani,” Manon called, bursting into her room completely naked, fresh from her abruptly abandoned shower.
“Manz,” Dani said, not even looking up at first, “I love you, but please stop coming into my room naked.”
“Sorry, Dani,” Manon said, not sounding sorry at all. “But look, Sophia texted me. She wants to talk!”
That got her attention. Dani immediately snatched the phone out of Manon’s hands.
“You have her saved as Princess?” she asked, eyebrows shooting up. “I thought you would have saved her as something like Spider Monkey or Bella.”
“I originally had her saved as Spider Monkey,” Manon admitted. “She changed it after I asked her to be my girlfriend.”
Dani paused.
“Okay, that’s actually really cute.”
Manon beamed.
“Right,” Dani said, snapping back into focus. “Respond so we can set the plan in motion. And go put some clothes on. We have a lot to do today.”
Manon grabbed her phone back and started typing at lightning speed.
Vampire Manon: lfliwehfihwq yes where when how
Dani blinked. “That is not a sentence.”
Before Manon could fix it, another text popped up.
Princess: Tomorrow for lunch? The bookstore cafe?
Manon didn’t even hesitate.
Vampire Manon: Yes yup yeah ill be there
She hit send immediately.
Dani stared at her.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I panicked,” Manon defended.
“Clearly.”
Dani pointed toward the door. “Okay. Go get dressed. We have places to be and a relationship to fix.”
Manon nodded seriously and then ran out the room, still very much naked.
Dani sighed.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered again, though she was already smiling.
“So where are we going first?” Manon asked as she climbed into Dani’s red Camaro.
Dani started the car before answering. “We’re going to the flower shop then the tattoo shop. Sounds good?”
Manon nodded. “Sounds good.”
A few minutes later, Dani pulled up in front of the flower shop.
Manon turned to her. “I’ll go in by myself. Can you call the tattoo shop to let them know we will be there in thirty minutes?”
Dani gave her a look. “Thirty?”
Manon winced slightly. “Forty-five?”
Dani rolled her eyes but pulled out her phone. “Just go.”
As Manon stepped into the shop, she immediately noticed the greenery. It felt like she had stepped into a jungle.
When she got to the counter, no one was there.
She rang the bell and two teens popped up from behind it.
They were both on the shorter side. One had black hair that fell over her eyes like an emo girl. She wore a simple white with a plaid long-sleeved shirt left unbuttoned over it, paired with washed-out jeans. Next to her stood another girl in a very loud polo. It was warm colors covered in cartoon cats. She wore dark jeans, and her short, curly hair peeked out from under a snapback. Actually, both of them were wearing snapbacks.
“Hi!” the first girl greeted, shockingly loud despite her more emo haircut. “My name is Vinny, and welcome to Little Moons. This is Shadow. They’ll be assisting you today.”
“Hello,” Shadow said. “What are you looking for today?”
“I’m looking to make a bouquet of flowers that screams ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘please have my children.’”
Shadow opened their mouth to respond but was immediately cut off.
“What did you do?” Vinny asked.
“Why do you assume I did something?”
“You are literally asking for a sorry bouquet,” Vinny said, now staring at her very judgmentally. “Did you cheat or something?”
“What? No,” Manon said quickly. “I just wasn't honest about something.”
Vinny didn't say anything. She just kept staring at Manon. Judgementally.
Shadow awkwardly shuffled out from behind the counter, clearly trying to break the tension. They gestured for Manon to follow and began guiding her through the shop, silently pointing out different flowers.
They settled on white lilies and white tulips for the outer layer, blue hyacinths in the middle, and pink carnations tucked in between. Every time they pick out a flower, Shadow aggressively rubbed their hands together and coughed.
Manon chose not to question it.
Once the bouquet was finished, they returned to the counter check out.
“You know,” Vinny said, eyeing the arrangement, “I think something’s missing.”
“Really?” Manon asked.
“Yeah. Something to make it pop.”
“Ting ting!” Shadow suddenly blurted before rushing off to the back of the store. As quickly as they disappeared, they came back, holding a single red rose, which they carefully placed in the center of the bouquet.
Vinny nodded approvingly. “Yeah. That’s it.”
She looked back at Manon.
“Good luck, dude. I hope you learned your lesson.”
“Thanks… I think?”
“Goodbye!” Shadow said, giving a small wave before coughing awkwardly into their sleeve.
Manon walked back out to the car, bouquet in hand, and held it up for Dani to see as she got in.
Dani’s eyes widened slightly. “Wow. That's beautiful.”
Manon smiled, a little proud despite everything.
“Alright,” Dani said, starting the car again. “Next stop.”
“Tattoo shop,” Manon said, gripping the bouquet a little tighter.
Dani glanced over at her as they pulled up. “Are you sure you want to do this, Manz?”
“Yeah, Dani,” Manon answered. “I’m sure.”
When they walked into the shop, they are greeted by a tall girl standing behind the counter. She was tall enough that both Dani and Manon had to tilt their heads to look at her. Her light brown hair fell just past her shoulders with loose curls. She wore a camo crop top with oversized black pants and her arms were covered in tattoos. She slouched casually over the front desk.
When she spoke, both of them were taken aback by the deep tone of her voice.
“Welcome to Kat’s Hideaway,” she said. “Do you have an appointment?”
“Yeah,” Manon answered. “I think the artist's name was Isa?”
“Oh, you mean Izzy?”
“Yeah.”
“Izzy!” she called toward the back. “Your client is here.”
A girl emerged from the back. Her brown hair was fluffy, with bangs falling over her eyes. She wore a long-sleeve shirt layered under an oversized AC/DC tee,and her black pants were covered in zippers and pockets.
“Thanks, Kira,” she said before motioning for them to follow her. “My name is Izzy. I’ll be doing your tattoo today. It says here you want ‘Sophia’ written along your ribs on your left side.”
“Yeah,” Manon said. “But I want to make it a bit more personal. Any ideas?”
Izzy moved around, setting up her station before gathering her notebook.
“Can you tell me a little about her?” she asked. “It’ll help me figure out how to personalize the tattoo.”
Manon immediately straightened up.
Dani groaned. “Here she goes.”
“Sophia is the most determined and put-together person I know,” Manon began, already slipping into a ramble. “When I first met her, she seemed serious, but also kind of go-with-the-flow. But once we actually started getting to know each other, I realized she can be really chaotic and funny tool. Her laugh is so loud it almost sounds like a bark. She’s also seen Twilight, which is obviously the best movie ever. She really cares about her family and friends. She’s like… my princess. But sometimes she surprises me and takes control. And the way she kisses otherworldly. Sometimes she twists her tongue-”
“Okay okay,” Dani interrupted quickly. “We’ve lost the plot. I have heard you rant about Sophia’s tongue way too many times. Do not traumatize Izzy.”
There was a beat of silence.
“Right…” Izzy said slowly. “So here is what I’m thinking.”
She turned her notebook around. The design showed Sophia written in soft script, resting on a small pillow, with a delicate tiara placed on top.
Dani blinked, speechless. Manon, on the other hand, immediately started taking off her shirt and laid down on the bench.
“Well,” Izzy said, grabbing her tools, “I guess you liked it.”
She turned the music up loudly and got to work. Every few minutes, under her breath, she muttered, “hoppin dih dih dih.”
At one point, she leaned back to take a break and startled as a cat darted past her foot. Izzy picked it up immediately, pressing it gently against her cheek.
“This is Lupe,” she said. Kira walked by, stopping to give the cat a few head pats. The cat meowed. Both Kira and Izzy meowed back at the same time.
Dani stared.
“Why do you guys have a cat in here?” she asked.
“We actually have a couple,” Kira replied, now holding Lupe against her chest. “But I mean… we are literally called Kat's Hideaway.”
Izzy set the cat down and went back to touching up the tattoo.
“So how long have you guys been dating?" Kira asked casually.
“Sophia and I have been dating for a month.” Manon said smiling.
Dani rolled her eyes.
Izzy paused mid-motion. “A month?” she repeated.
“Yeah,” Dani said flatly. “She loves tattoos and girls, and yes, she is very sure.”
Izzy blinked. “Okay… wow. Alright.”
Then she went back to finishing the tattoo.
Izzy leaned back slightly, wiping the area clean before taking a step to the side.
“Alright,” she said, gesturing toward the mirror. “You can check it out.”
Manon slid off the bench, grabbing her shirt but not putting it on yet as she turned toward the mirror on the wall.
For a second, she just stared.
Sophia’s name curved neatly on the underside of her breast, the script soft but intentional. The small pillow beneath it gave it a delicate weight, and the tiara resting on top tied it all together in a way that felt very Sophia.
Manon let out a small breath.
“Yeah,” she said quietly. “That’s perfect.”
Behind her, Dani made a strangled noise. Manon turned to look at her.
Dani was staring at her like she had just committed a crime.
“A month,” Dani said slowly. “You have been dating this girl for one month.”
Manon shrugged, already pulling her shirt back on. “When you know, you know.”
Dani blinked.
“No,” she said flatly. “No. Absolutely not. Estás loca. Tu estas muy loca.”
Izzy coughed slightly, clearly trying not to get involved. Kira, however, had fully turned around at this point, watching like it was live entertainment.
“It’s a nice tattoo,” Izzy offered carefully.
“It’s permanent,” Dani shot back.
Manon rolled her eyes. “Relax. It’s not like I got her face tattooed on me.”
“That would somehow be worse, but this is still bad,” Dani said, dragging a hand down her face. “You are insane.”
Manon paid, thanked Izzy, gave Lupe a quick pat on the head, and practically dragged Dani out of the shop before she could escalate further.
The moment they got into the car, Dani turned to her.
“Explain yourself.”
Manon buckled her seatbelt calmly. “I don’t get it. You literally drove me here and didn’t fight me when I was getting it done. So what’s different now?”
Dani hesitated, starting the car but not pulling out yet.
“I guess it didn’t really hit me until Kira asked how long you had been dating,” she admitted. “And then actually seeing the tattoo…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “I know you always said you’d get a tattoo for someone, but I thought you were joking.”
“Dani, we literally have matching tattoos”
“Manon,” Dani said, turning to look at her fully. “We’ve known each other since high school. That is a completely different situation.”
Manon sighed, leaning her head back against the seat. “I like her.”
“I gathered,” Dani said dryly.
“No, like. I really like her.”
Dani studied her, searching her face for even a hint of doubt.
There wasn’t any.
“Dios mio,” Dani muttered. “Esto da miedo.”
Manon smiled slightly, looking down at her side, fingers brushing lightly over the fresh ink through the fabric of her shirt.
“She’s worth it.”
Dani made a noise somewhere between a groan and a scream.
“If she doesn’t take you back, I’m going to fight you,” she said, finally pulling out of the parking lot. “Because this?” She gestured vaguely toward Manon’s torso. “This is commitment at a level I cannot emotionally support.”
Manon laughed softly, the sound lighter than it had been all week.
“She will,” she said, more to herself than to Dani.
Dani exhaled, shaking her head.
“For the record,” she added, glancing at her, “if this works out, I’m holding this over your head forever.”
“That’s fair,” Manon said.
“And if it doesn’t,” Dani continued, “we are getting it covered up immediately. I’m thinking of a big dragon. Or a sick panther.”
Manon snorted. “I’m not covering Sophia with a panther.”
“Watch me.”
Manon just smiled, looking out the window as they drove.
The next day, Manon woke up nervous, but excited to see Sophia again.
She stood in front of her closet longer than she’d like to admit, trying to find an outfit that screamed I’m sorry, please take me back, and maybe also do me.
In the end, she kept it simple. A white t-shirt, baggy faded jeans, a Dodgers snapback, and a brown leather jacket. Something that felt like her
She grabbed the bouquet from the counter where she had left it sitting in water the night before headed out.
Dani had already left for the day, teaching a ballroom dance class downtown.
Manon grabbed her keys and made her way to the car. When she got there, she was thirty minutes early.
She grabbed a table in the back, one where she had a clear view of the door. She set the flowers in the middle of the table and sat down, her leg bouncing slightly under the table. She kept switching between staring intently at the door and checking her phone for a text from Sophia.
Her phone pinged.
Alice Cullen: Good luck Manz! Put her under your spell.
Edward Cullen: In the Twilight world, I don’t have those powers, remember?
Alice Cullen: Then channel your inner Damon
Edward Cullen: I taught you well
Manon smiled faintly.
Before she could respond again, the bell above the cafe door rang indicating someone had entered the shop. Her head snapped up at lightning speed.
Sophia walked in. She looked put together in a way that made Manon’s brain short-circuit for a second. Skinny jeans with a black belt, a black blouse, and a long tan coat draped perfectly over her shoulders.
Manon stood up so quickly her chair scraped loudly against the floor. As Sophia walked over, Manon shoved the bouquet into her hands.
“Hello to you too, Manon,” Sophia said, holding the flowers to her chest.
“FiFi,” Manon said, slightly out of breath like she had just run a mile. “Thank you for meeting with me.”
“Yeah, I-”
Before she could finish, Manon was already pulling her chair out for her
“Sit,” she said quickly. “I’ll-I’ll get the food.”
And then she was gone.
At the counter, Manon barely registered the girl standing there. She had curly brown hair pulled back into a bun and wore a tan apron over a white collared shirt. Pinned on her shirt is a name tag that says Sara.
“Hello,” the girl said.
Manon didn’t respond.
“Hello?” she tried again.
Nothing.
“Hello.”
Manon blinked, snapping back into reality. “Oh, sorry. I got distracted.”
“Right…” Sara drawled. “Whatcha want?”
“Uh, two BLTs and two matchas?” Manon said quickly.
Sara hummed.
“Is that all?”
“Yeah.”
“That’ll be $24.39,” she said, already half turned away.
Manon tapped her card and rushed back to the table.
She sat across from Sophia, suddenly very aware of everything.
“Manon,” Sophia started gently, “there’s no need to be nervous. I’m sorry I didn’t reach out sooner. I just really needed time to think.”
“It’s okay,” Manon said quickly. “Before you say anything, can I-can I say something first?”
Sophia nodded. Manon took a breath.
“I’m sorry for keeping you a secret,” she said. “I really like you, and I wanted to give our relationship space to grow without Dani hovering.” She huffed a small laugh. “But I talked to her, and she told me I should've just been honest. And she’s right.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“I’m all in with you.”
She gestured toward the bouquet.
“The flowers are part of my apology. The white lilies are for purity and new beginnings, because I know I messed things up early. The white tulips are for forgiveness and respect because I respect you so much and I didn’t show that. The blue hyacinths are for sincerity. The pink carnations means affection which I definitely carry for you.”
She hesitated for just a second before finishing.
“And the red rose is for everything else I feel.”
Her voice softened.
“I know it's early, but I really, really like you.”
Sophia’s eyes had already started to water. Before Manon could say anything else, Sophia reached across the table and pulled her forward. The kiss was immediate. Sophia’s hand came up to cup her cheek, her thumb brushing gently against her skin as she tilted her head just right. It was soft at first, but there was something deeper underneath it, something that had been building all week.
Manon melted into it. For a moment, nothing else existed.
They both pulled back slightly at the same time, sensing someone standing nearby.
Sara stood there, holding their food and drinks, looking between them.
She let out a small giggle. “Right…”
She set everything down and walked away. The two of them looked at each other and laughed.
“I feel the same way about you,” Sophia said softly. “And thank you for doing all this.”
“Of course, Soph,” Manon said, a little shy now. “I was really stupid.”
She glanced down at her food, suddenly flustered.
Sophia smiled.
“You know,” she said, “my friends are really excited to meet you. Now more than ever.”
Manon looked up. “Dani is too.”
There was a small pause.
“Do you want to come back to my place?” Manon asked.
Sophia didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah,” she said, smiling. “I really missed you.”
Manon and Sophia stumbled through her bedroom door, still attached at the lips. Sophia moved backward as if the room was her own, her hands firm on Manon’s hips guiding her forward.
Manon broke first for air, but Sophia didn’t go far. Her lips trailed along Manon’s jaw, leaving a slow path down her neck that made Manon’s breath hitch.
Step by step, Sophia kept moving back until the backs of her knees hit the bed. She immediately sat down without breaking contact, and Manon followed, settling into her lap as her hands came up to press lightly at Sophia’s shoulders. Sophia’s hands tightened at her waist, grounding her there. Their mouths found each other again, slower this time, but deeper. Manon tilted her head, and Sophia met her easily, like they had already learned each other’s rhythm.
Sophia’s hands drifted, brushing along her sides before slipping under the hem of Manon’s shirt. She pulled it up gently, giving Manon just enough time to lift her arms before tossing it aside.
Her hands lingered there for a moment, tracing softly, until Manon suddenly tensed.
A sharp inhale.
Sophia pulled back immediately. “Hey, what's wrong, mahal?”
Manon shifted, sitting back slightly in her lap. “I have something to tell you.”
Sophia sat up a bit straighter, her hands settling carefully at Manon’s hips, thumbs rubbing in slow, reassuring circles.
“Okay,” she said softly. “Tell me.”
Manon took a breath, then gently guided one of Sophia’s hands to her side. Sophia’s fingers stilled as she felt it.
She looked down.
Her name. Carefully inked along Manon’s ribs.
For a second, she just stared, her thumb instinctively tracing over the letters.
“Is this…” she started, then glanced back up. “Is this permanent?”
Manon nodded, suddenly a little unsure. “Yeah”
There was a pause.
Manon rushed to fill it. “I can get it covered if you think its too much- I just wanted to-”
“No,” Sophia shouted quickly, almost too quickly. “No, I just-”
She let out a small breath, her fingers still resting over the tattoo.
“I’m just a little shocked,” she admitted. Then softer, “It’s really hot, actually.”
Manon blinked. “Yeah?”
Sophia’s gaze flicked back up to hers, something shy but honest there.
“Yeah,” she said. “I kind of like knowing that you’re mine.”
Manon smiled slightly, her nerves easing. “I got it on my left side,” she added. “So you’re always close to my heart.”
Sophia didn’t say anything for a second. She just stared at her. Then she pulled her back in. The kiss this time was different, less hesitant, more certain. Like whatever space had been between them before was gone.
Her hands for Manon again, steady and sure, and Manon melted into her without thinking. This time, neither of them rushed.
Two weeks later, Manon and Dani stood outside Sophia’s apartment. Dani was practically vibrating, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she waited for the door to open.
“Dani, would you stop that?” Manon said. “You are making me nervous.”
“I’m sorry,” Dani said, not stopping at all. “I’m just excited.”
Before Manon could respond, the door swung open. Sophia stood there, dressed more casually than unusual, but no less stunning. She wore a blue Adidas shirt, gray jeans that hung looser than what Manon was used to seeing her in, and oversized black-rimmed glasses. Her hair was curly today, a contrast to her usual straight look.
“Hey, guys,” Sophia greeted, smiling as she stepped aside to let them in.
Manon immediately slipped off her shoes before stepping forward and greeting Sophia properly with a kiss that lingered just a little too long for company. When they finally pulled apart, Sophia turned Manon around to face Dani, resting her chin on Manon’s shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Dani stared. A mix of confusion and mild disgust crossed her face.
“Manz,” she said slowly, “why did you take off your shoes?”
“We’re a no-shoe household,” Sophia replied casually.
“Oh sorry,” Dani said quickly, immediately bending down to take off her shoes.
Manon squeezed Sophia’s arms twice in a signal to let her go. Sophia pouted but released her, allowing Manon to return to Dani’s side. When Dani straightened up, Sophia reached out her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you again,” she said.
Dani shook it. “I’m sorry you have to put up with her.”
Sophia smiled. “Eh, you know she makes life exciting.”
“Okay, come on,” Sophia said, grabbing Manon’s hand. “The others are in the kitchen.”
Manon barely had time to brace herself before being pulled into the kitchen.
When they walked into the kitchen, they were met with three new people. Before Sophia could even start introductions, “Is that rising global popstar sensation Lara Raj?” Manon blurted.
Lara blinked. “Manon?”
She leaned forward slightly. “Wait, you’re Sophia’s Manon?”
Sophia looked between them. “Wait, you guys know each other?”
“Yeah,” Lara said. “We met at a party a couple years ago. We have a lot of mutual friends.”
Lara turned sharply toward Manon, eyes narrowed.
“Wait, Manz, why the hell were you hiding Sophia?”
“Lara,” Sophia cut in quickly, a warning edge in her voice. “Let it go. We moved past it.”
There was a beat of silence.
Lara held up her hands. “Okay, okay.”
Sophia exhaled, then gestured around.
“Manon, since you’ve already met Lara, this is Yoonchae, and this is Megan.”
Yoonchae gave a small nod, standing comfortably in an oversized sweatshirt and joggers, her hair tied up in a bun. Megan lifted a hand in greeting, dressed in an oversized t-shirt slipping off one shoulder and gray sweats, her dark hair falling freely around her face.
“Guys,” Sophia continued, “this is Manon and her best friend, Dani.”
Dani gave a small wave. Manon smiled, but there was a hint of nerves now. There was a brief moment of silence. The kind that felt like everyone was sizing each other up at the same time.
“So,” Megan said, leaning forward like she had been waiting her entire life for this moment. “You’re the one who made the devastating Spotify playlist.”
Sophia groaned. “Oh my god, Megan-”
“What playlist?” Dani cut in immediately, eyes lighting up.
“No, no playlist,” Sophia said quickly.
“There was a playlist,” Lara added helpfully.
“There were songs,” Yoonchae corrected calmly.
Manon blinked. “Wait. What songs?”
Sophia buried her face in her hands.
Megan sat up straighter. “Oh, you know. I miss you, I’m sorry. Sparks. Very heavy songs, right Manon?”
Dani slowly turned to Manon.
“I thought we talked about listening to sad music while going through breakups.”
Manon shrugged, suddenly shy. “I missed her and I wanted to reach out, but she said she needed space, so”
“So you added songs to your shared Spotify playlist to show her that instead?” Lara asked incredulously.
“You have to admit it was creative.” Yoonchae interjected.
Dani clutched her chest dramatically. “Dios mio, you are so down bad, Manon.”
“I am not-” Manon started.
“You got her name tattooed on you,” Dani shot back.
The room froze.
Sophia’s head snapped to look at Manon.
“You told her?” She asked, eyes wide.
“Told me?” Dani asked immediately, pointing at Manon. “I’m the one who took her to the shop.”
All three of Sophia’s friends turned to Manon in unison.
Megan gasped. “You did what?”
Lara’s jaw dropped. “There’s no way.”
Yoonchae just blinked slowly. “Already?”
Manon rubbed the back of her neck. “In my defense-”
“You don’t have a defense,” Dani cut it.
Sophia stepped closer, grabbing Manon’s hand without even thinking about it.
“It’s fine,” she said quickly. “I know about it.”
“That does not make it fine,” Lara said.
“It makes it worse,” Megan added.
“I like it,” Sophia said a little more firmly this time.
That shut them up. For about two seconds.
“Of course you do,” Lara muttered.
“Okay, but wait,” Yoonchae said, eyes narrowing. “Which side?”
“And can we see it?” Megan interjected.
Manon blinked before reaching for her the hem of her shirt while answering “Left-”
Sophia rushed forward, grabbing her wrist to stop Manon from showing the tattoo to her nosy friends. “No.”
“Why not,” Megan asked.
“Yeah,” Lara added. “Now we have to see it.”
“Can’t I just want my girlfriend’s body for myself?” Sophia asked, crossing her arms.
Dani slapped a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh. Manon burst out laughing, never one for self control.
Sophia swatted at both of them. “Stop.”
“Now we definitely have to see it,” Yoonchae said.
“Fine,” Sophia sighed. “Fine. You can show them.”
Manon didn’t hesitate for a second. She lifted her shirt immediately as if she had just been waiting for the order her entire life.
Yoonchae, Megan, and Lara froze as their eyes came in contact with Manon’s newest tattoo. The silence stretched.
“...Are you a bottom?” Lara asked.
That did it. Manon and Dani doubled over laughing.
“Excuse me?” Sophia exclaimed.
“It's a valid question,” Yoonchae said calmly. “She literally has you depicted as a pillow princess.”
Sophia stared at her. Then she broke too. Her laugh was loud and uncontrollable, which immediately set everyone else off again.
After that the laughter never really ended. Arguments broke out over everything: movie preferences, music, even the type of pizza to order for dinner. Dani and Lara immediately argued as if they knew each other from a past life. Megan being the victim of most of their antics, while Yoonchae quietly fed into the chaos with perfectly timed comments.
Manon and Sophia stood off to the side, smiling at their friends.
“This went better than expected,” Manon whispered.
Sophia smiled, leaning into her. Her arm slipped around Manon’s waist.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “It really did.”