Melinda woke up in the morning feeling rested, considering yesterday. She hopped out of her bed, put a robe on and wobbled out of her bedroom.
She grinned as she saw what awaited her on her couch: Émilie had curled up around her own legs into a tight ball, and was hugging the blanket for all her life. Melinda had to suppress a chuckle and just smiled at her friend.
I guess I'll make some breakfast while she still sleeps she thought.
Émilie opened her eyes and looked around, unfocused. Where the heck am I? she thought. Ah. Melinda's. What is this heavenly smell, though?
Émilie rose from the couch and raised, then furrowed her eyebrows.
When did I fall asleep? And why am I still in my day clothes? Didn't we plan to... Oh my goddess! Did I actually fall asleep on her lap!? This is so embarrassing...
Melinda walked in and saw her awake. "Morning!" She said and smiled at her. "Did you sleep well?", she asked.
Émilie looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her right there and then.
"Ye—yeah… I did… I’m sorry, Mel. I—" she said.
"Sorry? About what? You’ve done nothing wrong," Melinda said.
"I didn’t mean to fall asleep like that. Sorry, I… I’m sorry you had to see me break down like that," Émilie said, and dropped her gaze to the floor.
Melinda walked to her and put her hands on Émilie’s shoulders. "Emi… you don’t need to be sorry for being human," she said. "You are allowed to be sad and feel bad, Emi," she said. "You’ll never bother me by being you," Melinda said and hugged her.
She was taller enough that Émilie was able to lean her head on her shoulder easily.
Melinda felt Émilie’s breath on her neck. She felt her heart starting to beat faster and her cheeks flushed a bit.
This feels so nice, she thought. But why am I reacting like this? She’s just a friend… right? She’s… like that, but I’m straight… right? I’ve never had a boyfriend, but that’s because I’ve never found the right one… right? Right?
"I’m so lucky to have a friend like you," Émilie said, while her face was covered in Melinda’s hair. Her lips were almost touching Melinda’s neck.
The hair on Melinda’s neck rose, and she swallowed hard.
Why do I react like this? She felt her heart almost drop when Émilie said ‘friend.’ She is my friend. Why did I feel bad when she said that? It’s true, she is my friend.
Émilie pushed herself up and wiped her eyes. "Thank you, Mel," she said. "Thank you for being my friend. I couldn’t ask for more. Even when I’m having my heart broken, I can trust you to be there," she said, and smiled at her. She noticed the faint pink on Melinda’s cheeks and raised an eyebrow slightly but didn’t say anything.
Melinda turned away and tried to hide her blush.
Émilie stared at her, confused.
"Th—thank you, Emi," she said. "Let’s.. let’s eat now, before it gets cold," she said, and walked to the kitchen.
Émilie followed her and sat down, glancing at Melinda occasionally. They ate in silence and afterwards Émilie offered to do the dishes and Melinda went to get ready for the day.
She walked to her bedroom, closed the door, and leaned on it with her hand on her chest. Her heart was thumping relentlessly, and she was out of breath.
Alright, she thought, what is happening here? It’s never been this awkward before. I mean, Emi spent many a night sleeping on my couch at the old place! She was there when she was too nervous to ask Evans out all those months ago, and it wasn’t awkward at all. It isn’t the place, surely, so what else has changed? Why does seeing her feeling sad affect me so much? Why do I feel the need to hold her close and hug her and tell her it’s going to be alright?
Émilie was doing the dishes and glanced occasionally toward Melinda’s bedroom door.
Okay, what is up with her today? She thought. Did I do something stupid last night and I just don’t remember it for some reason or another? I don’t think she’s embarrassed about me falling sleep on her lap - I’m more embarrassed about that than she is. She’s more touchy and more caring than ever before… Is she…? No, stop that Émilie, now! Mel is straight and your friend, do not go there.
She shakes her head to clear it.
Émilie was putting up the last of the dishes when Melinda walked back into the kitchen.
She was wearing black jeans and a bright yellow turtleneck and had maroon clothes draped over her arm - her work clothes. Melinda worked part time as a consultant in a big company. The same one actually that Émilie worked in too. She was in a different branch though, so they weren’t actually coworkers, except in theory. Émilie worked on software development and mostly did that remotely.
"Oh, you’re done, already? Shall we go, then?" Melinda asked.
Émilie wiped her hands on a towel and nodded. "Yeah, lemme get my stuff and we can go," she said, and walked to the living room. She grabbed whatever she had there, and they left.
Sitting in Melinda’s car, the lack of conversation was slightly awkward. The air was a sort of electric, and it was certainly feeling different from normal.
Émilie looked outside from the side window and Melinda concentrated on driving. She stopped in front of Émilie’s place and smiled nervously at her.
Why am I so nervous? She thought. I’m just dropping off my friend from a surprise sleep-over. It should be nothing weird, but yet…
"Thanks again," Émilie said. She stepped out of the car. "I’m so lucky to have a friend like you, Mel," she said. She smiled sweetly at her and waved.
"Bye now! Have fun at work! Let’s hang out soon again. Maybe when I’m not being such a bother," she said, and chuckled awkwardly.
"You’re not a bother!" Melinda said, slightly more aggressively and slightly faster than she meant to. "I mean… You’d to the same for me, it was the least I can do," she added. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at her. "Will you be alright, Emi?" she asked.
Émilie nodded at her and smiled weakly. "I’ll be okay, Mel. I’ll survive. I admit it hurts like hell, but I’ll get over her. I’ll… I don’t know, get absorbed into my work for a while, or something. See you around, Mel," she said and closed the door. She waved at her and smiled a sweet smile, then turned away and walked inside.
Melinda sat in the driver’s seat for a couple of minutes, just staring outside. She blinked and shook her head, then drove to work.
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