Chapter Text
It was late into winter break, a few days before Christmas. All the girls had headed home from college to see family, And eventually, each other. They all decided to gather at AJ’s farm house. AJ cleaned around the house she had on the farm. One by one her high school friends popped through that wooden frame and old memories rushed through her bones. Familiar faces sat around the fireplace, missing one person only. Dash was late, like always.
Finally Dash popped through that door, Though she was lacking the usual blinding rainbow of hair, replaced by a, much softer, strawberry blonde. She walked into the main room and greeted everyone. Something seemed off with her. Dash walked into the kitchen to grab a drink, and was followed by AJ.
She leaned up against the counter while the blonde dug through the cupboards, and she decided to question it. “Dash, you good?” “What’d’ya mean. I’m fine.” There was a certain bite to the words, something AJ hadn’t heard from her best friend. “Ya sure D? You sound upset” “I’m fine. Buzz off” AJ grabbed her arm before she could storm off into the other room, “Dash. What’s up?”
Dash gave a loud groan, She didn’t enjoy talking about her feelings, Even if it was her best friend. It was easier to talk to Jackie about it, but she still didn’t like it. She preferred to avoid emotions completely. AJ let go of her, and Dash slid down onto the floor, leaning against the cabinets behind her. She let out a long sigh. “It's just.. My parents have been fighting, and school has been rough, And life just.. Sucks.”
AJ sat down next to her on the floor and placed her hand on Dash's leg. “You know my door is always open, Right?” Dash looked down at the contact, “I know I just don’t wanna bother you all the time with my problems, You have a life Jackie” AJ paused for a second at the name, It’d been a while since anyone had used Jack or any variation of it. “Sure, I have a life. A boring farm girl life, One of which who misses her best friend every day!” She gave a small push to Dash’s leg and shot up a smile at her.
Dash smiled back and stood up, Walking back into the main room where the rest of the girls were. “What happened to your rainbow, RD?” “Eh, My parents said I can’t come around anymore if I got ‘Fancy Colors’ in my hair, And I need to be able to move out, so.” She gave a small smile, Though Jack knew that she wasn’t happy about it. The girls decided they would be having a sleepover, And to crash the party, None other than AJ’s step-monster.
“AJ, Did you ask your father if you could have friends over?” “Why would I. Its not his property and Gran said I could have over whoever I liked.” “Annie Jacqueline. You can’t simply do whatever you want because your gravestone of a grandmother said so.” “Do not use that name. It’s AJ. And Dad isn’t even going to get the property if Gran does pass, Which you need to calm down about. Everything is going to Me, Big Mac, and Bloom. Keep your grubby hands away from me and my friends.” With that, AJ closed the door on the woman, And, sorta angrily, rejoined the girls.
They all asked if she was okay, Except for Dash who simply looked at her with concern. They both knew they’d be talking about it later. Jackie liked to talk to Dash about everything. Being completely honest, She liked Dash as it was. She was perfect. Athletic, Pretty, Nice, And everything else Jack could have ever wanted.
The night went on and probably around midnight, Jack got up to get a drink and decompress in the kitchen. When she stepped into the moonlit room, She saw the blonde already hanging around in the kitchen, And by “hangin around” she meant sitting on her counter. “Get off of there, Please”. Dash hopped down, And handed her water over to AJ, “Thirsty?” “Yea”
They hung out for a bit on the floor of the kitchen, Talking about emotions and all of that nonsense. Eventually they reached a topic both of them wanted to talk about, Yet avoided anyway. Their liking for each other. It was a mutual connection and they both knew it, It’s just that actually talking about it was really hard.
“So uh… Dash there’s something I’ve been needing to tell you.” “If it's what I think it is, It’s pretty damn obvious Jackie” “Oh really? What is it then, Ms. know-it-all?” “If it’s that you’re gay, The closet you’re in is glass.” She had to give it to her, Dash was really good with words. “Well it wasn’t exactly that but.. Yeah, I’m gay” “Yes yes, Go on with your speech cowboy” “It wasn’t gonna be a speech!” “Yea whatever, You never know when to stop talkin’ around pretty girls”
Was Dash calling herself a “Pretty girl”? And was she insinuating that AJ liked her back? “‘Scuse me? What’s that s’posed to mean, Beck?” “Don’t call me ‘Beck’, Annie” “Okay okay I get it” “And, FYI, Its supposed to mean that either you’ve been checking me out for months, Or you’ve been heavily judging everything I have worn since summer started” Shit. Was it really that obvious when her eyes wandered down her friend's body?
“I- I uh.. Dunno what ‘ur talkin’ bout” Dash leaned over to her, whispering in the country girl’s ear, “Your accent gets stronger when you’re flustered, Apples” She sat herself back against the counter, Relishing in the red color spreading across AJ’s face. Even though it was dark in the kitchen, The cold tiles reflected the moon light in just the right way to light the two girls up. It felt cold in there, No one had used this kitchen for a good while, But with her crush there, AJ couldn’t have felt warmer.
They sat silently for a hot second, Before AJ felt a sudden warmth against her exposed thigh, Dash’s hand pressed gently against her, “Im gonna head back to bed, Jacks, We can deal with this when you’re less tired. You should get some sleep” She stood and exited the kitchen, Leaving AJ there with the phantom-feeling of the hand that was on her a moment ago. For the record, AJ was upset the hand was removed. Nonetheless, She also walked back into the living room, and got into her sleeping bad.
Unconveniently right next to Dash’s sleeping bag. Dash was faced away from Jack when she laid down, But AJ’s eyes kept falling back onto that form, The slow rise and fall of her breathe. The way she was so soft in her sleep, Compared to when she was awake. She didn’t mind Dash being a total annoyance, But she really did enjoy the quieter moments.
When she would drive Dash home from game practices was one of ‘em. Her and Dash would be out on the field long after the sun had set. She’d practice sprints, and throwing, All sorts of things for the various sports she played. Afterwards they would always get into Jack’s copper-red, pick-up truck and drive down to a gas station. They’d grab two gatorades and listen to the hum of the radio on the way back.
It became a routine over the summer, A night AJ looked forward to every week. After long work weeks she would get to sit and admire the most beautiful girl. She hated when it was suddenly taken away from her, When they had to go back to school, Leave everything they had for college classes, and boring tests.
She missed the night drives they would have, Where they’d end up by the lake. The two would roll up the pants and sit with their legs in the water and just talk. Somehow they always ended up gazing at each other under the gentle caress of the moon’s soft kiss. The water would catch the light and glint it up onto their silhouettes. They’d talk, and joke with each other for hours on that lake. It was frozen over now. Maybe she could take the girls out for some ice-skating?
All these thoughts circled through AJ’s before she drifted off into dreamland. By the time that she woke, The room was bright and full of cheery faces. Jack had bever understood how these people could wake up happy. She slothed her way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, Once again running into Dash. “Is your favorite isolation-spot my kitchen?” “No, But your kitchen has snacks” She lifted up a chocolate bar she must have dug out of the pantry, Before taking a good bite out of it.
Jack sighed as she reached into a cupboard for a mug, Making herself a cup of coffee. While the machine hummed, and the energy-boosting drink poured, She shifted herself to face Dash. “About last night, I uh.. I do like you, Alot.” “I know, ‘Cuz I’m awesome” AJ hit her shoulder playfully, “Could ya’ be serious for sec’ D?” “What’s in it for me” “Might be a kiss from a pretty girl” AJ chose those words carefully, Mocking Dash’s previous statement
“That a promise, Jackie?”