(Lmao I was proud of that one)
“We’ve pretty much got it all, so I think we’ll be good.” Elaine pulled her hair over one shoulder, twisting it up and letting it down just so she had something to do with her hands. Because if she didn’t, she’d probably end up with her hands cupping Veronica’s face. “Done eating?”
Veronica -quickly remembering that she was still holding the bowl, finished the curry up in two quick spoonfuls before smiling, “Yep, all done.” She stood and smiled, ignoring the little warm feeling in her chest she got when she looked at Elaine.
"Great." Elaine slid off the couch and made her way to the hallway, slipping into the room to the right, which was the furnace room where they kept their freezer. She opened the freezer and softly called Veronica over to choose a flavour.
Veronica’s eyes glanced over all the ice creams, but she had trouble drawing her attention away from Elaine. Gosh she’s so pretty… No, no, she’s pretty as a friend. I’m straight, I can’t possibly actually like her, I’m just getting my feelings confused. “What are you going to have?” Veronica asked nonchalantly, trying to get her mind off Elaine and onto the ice cream.
Elaine's eyes flickered over Veronica, she seemed… tense. Like something was on her mind. Debating whether or not to ask what was wrong, she pulled a tub of ice cream from the freezer's icy interior. "Dark chocolate, you? We've got regular chocolate, vanilla, raspberry sorbet, cookies and cream, mango, and mint chocolate chip. Honestly, take as much as you want, we've got enough to last us all year."
“I think I’ll have some dark chocolate too, then,” Veronica laughed a little, keeping her eyes on the ice cream container, “I still find it hard to believe you have this much ice cream,” She shook her head, with a smile still resting on her face. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just share a bowl… Nope, nope.
"So do I," Elaine chuckled quietly, closing the freezer door. "It sort of… accumulated I guess." They made their way upstairs to grab bowls and spoons, treading quietly so as not to alert Elaine's mother. She crouched, opening a cupboard, and paused. Oh. "Uh, Veronica? There's– there's only one clean bowl left and.. the dishwasher isn't finished yet. Are you good with sharing?" There were enough spoons, thank god, but Elaine's heart still pattered weakly at the thought of sharing a bowl with her— friend. Friend. That's it. Just. A. Friend.
“Uh-“ Veronica nodded her head, too nervous to form words in fear of her saying something stupid. Butterflies fluttered throughout her stomach, even though it was stupid because they were only sharing ice cream.
Elaine's stomach twisted. Veronica clearly seemed uncomfortable, and that was the last thing she wanted to make her friend feel. "You know what it's fine– I won't have any," she offered quickly, a mix of regret and disgust at herself mingling in her stomach.
“No, no, have some, I don’t mind at all, in fact, I would prefer-“ Veronica blushed furiously after the words escaped. That was it. That was the stupid thing she had been worried about, that she’d say something like that after she opened her mouth and be unable to take it back. And that would probably make things worse.
Elaine's heart missed a beat when she realized three things, the first being the fact that it would be amazing if she 'accidentally' left the bowl on her lap while Veronica was eating out of it. The second was the potential meaning loaded behind Veronica's words. The third was the fact that her friend's cheeks were bright red.
Then, all the negative consequences of Realization #1 came crashing into her, followed by the fact that Veronica obviously had exactly zero non-friend feelings for her and whatever 'potential meaning' she'd imagined was completely bogus.
Elaine hurried to ease the tension between them by finishing Veronica's sentence for her. "You'd prefer that I ate as well because it would be sort of awkward if only one of us was? Thanks, Veronica, and good point." She quickly scooped ice cream into the bowl, heart functioning again.
Veronica was still bright red, her mind still catching up to how Elaine interpreted her words differently than from what she had meant. Thank gosh, thank gosh, if she had found out that I liked her- No, I don’t like her, what am I thinking? “Uh, yeah, yeah,” She nodded as if to agree, not quite trusting her own tongue again.
(no I don't like her what am I thinking = literally my life your character is so relatable XD)
Elaine slid the bowl off the countertop and made her way back down the stairs, motioning for Veronica to follow. Once back down in the living room, she placed the bowl on the couch and quickly went to put the tub of ice cream back in the freezer. Re-entering the living room, her stomach fluttering with nerves, she sat down right next to Veronica– obviously so that it would be easier to share a bowl. She rested said bowl half on her thigh, half on Veronica's, handing her friend a spoon.
(Ikr!)
Veronica took the spoon, very much aware of there proximity and how their legs were so close as her heart rate was shooting upwards. Calm down, we’re just sharing ice cream- as friends. Veronica took a spoonful of the ice cream in attempt to cool off her rapidly heating face. Just— just be cool, you’re just sharing ice cream with a friend.
(lol)
Elaine was taking immense pleasure in the fact that Veronica's face was discernibly flushed, even in the dim lighting. No. Stop. Now. It was easier said then done.
She took a spoonful of ice cream, accidentally smearing some in the corner of her mouth. Pretending she hadn't noticed, however, she harboured a faint fantasy that Veronica would lean over to wipe it off. No. Stop. You're being stupid. And weird.
Veronica looked at Elaine only to notice the ice cream on her face. She stared for a split second, her mind screaming at her just to look away and eat more ice cream, but her heart begging her to find a way to not-awkwardly wipe it off Elaine’s face. At this point, though, she had been staring, so she tried her best to make it strictly friendly, bringing up a laugh, “You have something on you face,” She reached up, keeping the amused smile as best she could as she touched Elaine’s face and wiped off the ice cream.
Heat rushed to Elaine's cheeks. Whatever she'd been expecting, her tiny lesbian fantasy to become a reality had definitely not been on the list. "Oh– uh, thanks," she managed, lips tingling. Before she could stop herself, she mirrored Veronica's movements from earlier and caught her friend's hand in mid-air.
Veronica hardly knew what to do, let alone what to say. And the protest coming from her brain was overruled by the want in her heart. Veronica found herself staring at Elaine’s lips, desperately wanting to lean in and kiss her. No, no, that’s a bad idea, that’s a really bad idea. But Veronica couldn’t take her eyes off of Elaine’s lips nonetheless.
Elaine didn't bother hiding how wide her eyes were. Veronica– she wasn't pulling away. And she was staring at her lips. This isn't possible– you're imagining things– But in all honestly, Elaine didn't care anymore. She licked her parched lips, opening her mouth to speak. "I think this is as good a time as any to say– I– I'm lesbian. And I like you."
Veronica was just about melting at this point. “I……” Her own tongue didn’t know how to form words anymore, her mind and her heart were in the middle of a fierce battle for the words she was about to say. But overall, her gut won. “I really like you too.” The absolute truth came out. And then she had no idea what to do with it.
Elaine's eyes widened further, heart pounding. Ohmygod– She didn't have time to think, wouldn't have been able to stop herself from angling her body towards Veronica and placing both hands– slightly shaking– on her warm cheeks. "I didn't think–"
Veronica swallowed, the logical part of her absentmindedly using her hand to set the bowl of ice cream between them aside. Then she couldn’t stop her d-mn mouth, “Can I kiss you?”
Elaine answered her question by leaning forward to hesitantly nudge her mouth against her– crush's. Her hands gently supported Veronica's face, allowing her to access her soft lips easily, letting her eyes fall shut as a million starbursts of exhilaration exploded within her.
He eyes fluttered shut when Elaine’s soft, full lips met hers. It was like lighting was shooting through her body for the first time, it was like being alive for the first time. Veronica’s hands found themself running through Elaine’s soft hair, savoring every single second of this moment.
Elaine reveled in the feeling of Veronica’s hands on her skin, and it was like she’d been set free. She pulled back for a split second to inhale, then was leaning in again, crushing her mouth against Veronica’s. Her hands were shaking, trembling as they cupped her best friend’s face, but she couldn’t have cared less, did want to do anything more than pull Veronica closer until there was barely anything separating them.