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Veronica was resting all of her weight into one of the chairs of the dentist's waiting room, spreading wide and bored. Her eyes were stuck into the white ceiling.
She could hear the sounds of the keyboard and sometimes the mouse being clicked, the constant vibrations from the water filter of the big fish tank that was beside her being drowned by the mindless infomercials of the TV that was above in one corner of the clinically fancy room.
Veronica was dying of boredom even hearing a bubble of air reach the surface of a water jug brought her joy... That was so pathetic but what brought her more joy, happiness even was imagining the ways she would torture Heather and Heather for leaving her alone with her girlfriend, yes Heather Chandler her girlfriend was amaizing but goddamn it she didn't want to spend her Saturday alone with a high Heather Chandler, she would need help and nobody could help her.
Veronica sighed through her nose for the millionth time remembering how she got there;
She noticed as soon as the class ended, Heather Duke turned around to talk to her so quickly, Veronica thought Duke almost broke her neck and said in one breath "Any plans on Saturday?"
Veronica, without taking her eyes off her notebook from class replied, "Nope."
"Great, could you do me a favor?"
"Nope."
Heather Duke downflate in defeat, thinking Veronica was going to agree. She clicked her tongue "Would you do it for Mac?"
She made a cartoon-ish noise as if she was really thinking it through, "No, not really."
She sighed, she saw everybody leaving the classroom for the day and looked again at Veronica, tired of her attitude and knowing damn well she was waiting for the magic word "...For Heather. Chandler?"
"Now we're talking." Veronica closed her notebook and smiled at Heather who was frowning "Seeing both of you so in love is gross."
"Helping you cover Mac's love bites is gross."
The petite girl flushed instantly and again looked around for anyone while slapping Veronica’s shoulder, an action that made her friend laugh "It happened one time!"
"No, it happened three times in one week."
"Oh like you're any better!” Veronica smirk wider and rolled her eyes as Heather continued “Anyway Mac and I really need to attend this church retreat because Heather’s father said she needed more of Jesus in her life because of the divorce and all that stuff, but tomorrow Heather has an appointment at the dentist's to have the last two of her wisdom teeth out. I need you to cover for us, please?"
"Oh" Veronica shifted uncomfortably on her own spot, frowning, trying to remember if Heather had mentioned that earlier, because it sounded too important for her not to "I didn't know that.”
"That's because Heather doesn't want you to see her like that, but please V?"
She frowned and narrowed her eyes "See her like what?"
"You'll see," Heather grabbed her arm and whispered "Don't let anyone see her like that, I remind you she has a reputation, got it?"
"Sure.” Not really sure of what she was agreeing too, but, how bad could it be?
"Good luck, you'll need it."
She gave Veronica the address and she showed up at eleven thirty, like Heather said Heather would be discharged but the secretary told her that Heather put up a fight and delayed the procedure because she was moving and talking too much 'Always a fricking drama queen'
"Miss Sawyer?"
Veronica brought her sunglasses up to see the secretary and to her surprise, the dentist was already at the secretary’s side, smiling politely at her.
"Yes?"
The dentist cleared his throat "Miss Chandler is ready to go, she's finished taking her time to recover from the extraction."
"Is she okay?" She asked sincerely but also because she really didn’t understand why Heather would put up a fight with a procedure she had for a second time.
"She’s doing great! Miss Chandler's extraction was on protocol as last time, she has always been a little feisty but once we put enough midazolam it’s alright!"
Veronica blinked two times, trying to process that bunch of information like, what does the man mean by ‘always’ and ‘feisty’ but what brought her full attention was a specific word "What is midazolam?"
"Oh right, you see Miss Chandler had always been terribly afraid of this sort of procedure so in those kinds of cases we applied midazolam which is a sedative, anti-anxiety, and amnesic so she can go through the extraction without worries." The dentist gave a big relaxed smile as if he just didn’t say he had sedated an uncontrollable beast. Veronica couldn’t even come near Heather without a warning and she was her girlfriend!
Veronica froze on the edge of her seat "I beg your pardon, did you say amnesiac?"
He smiled brightly "That's right, she's usually light-headed after it, but for sure she will not remember anything of what happens since her appointment starting procedure, until she hits a bed and wakes up later, until then she's completely out of it."
Heather Chandler arrive at the waiting room and Veronica couldn't believe her eyes; Heather was walking hunched over, was wearing an all red tracksuit (except for a white tank top that was nearly exposed by the lazily put on jacket) and she was without makeup— that needs to be repeated: Heather Chandler was without makeup!
The whole world could see Heather's cute freckles in all of their glory, as the girl's gray eyes met hers, Heather's face lightened and gave her the dopiest smile Veronica had ever seen from her "Hey there beauthiful!" Heather tried running to her side but her legs weren't strong enough for that and they tangled themselves in the process. She quickly strode to Heather's side and catched her, leaving Veronica breathless, and she would like to say it was because of the incredible view but it was because of Heather's weight "Easy Heather!"
As if nothing had happened Heather still gave her a lovely dovey smile "What'th the apple in my eye doin’ here?" Heather began taking Veronica's neck skin in her hands, running over it up and down almost desperate.
Veronica gave an awkward laugh, glancing a few times at the dentist that seemed unmoved by any of this and patted Heather's back "Thank you bestie! I'm here to take care of you and you shouldn't run." Veronica's voice softened in the last part as Heather's eyes met hers. She swore she had never seen the Demon Queen of Westerberg so radiant and so sappy, even though she looked nothing like usual mystique persona, for some reason Veronica thought that at the same time, Heather had never looked more like herself.
The dentist's sigh in relief pulled out of Veronica's trance and glanced at him "That's right, Miss Chandler, please restrain yourself from doing any form of physical effort."
"I know, I know, I know it'th just that," Heather pressed tightly to Veronica "I'm tho happy to thee you and your jelly bitheps" Heather giggled as her hands went down and around Veronica's arms.
Veronica was mortified "I'm sorry, I don't know what's gotten into my best friend."
Heather scoffed (or tried to— she couldn’t even pronounce the ‘s’ because of all the gauzes in her mouth ) "Ethcuse me, I'm your girlfriend not your beth friend!"
Veronica maniacally cackled out loud at pure embarrassment and practically shoved Heather to the metal chair, "OH MY GOD— HA! That's what I said, I'm your best girl friend! Now look at the fish or the TV or, or— whatever, do whatever, I don’t care, I’ll get your prescription." Heather had an interesting face, like she was trying to decipher the English language but did as told, although Heather didn't let her go so when Veronica wanted to go to the reception, she could only twist herself to face the dentist and barely whisper a really, really, shameful “Sorry.”
As he approached them to make Veronica's life easier, the dentist smiled like it was the most natural scene of the world, "It’s alright, don’t worry, but if I may say, what a beautiful friendship you girls have there, she could've hurt herself badly. Speaking of which, you'll be the one taking care of her, right?"
Veronica tilted her head "Unfortunately.” Heather rolled her eyes but continued to watch the infomercial on the TV.
"I see then, listen carefully, in the first twenty four hours, you'll have to monitor for bleeding, it is okay if she bleeds a little bit but if it continues you'll bring her here again, also make her take her medication on time and put some ice on the area. She should be hungry later, so she can only drink things, not too cold and not too hot and no solid foods for a few days, so she can eat yogurts, mashed potatoes and drink smoothies without a straw. Got everything?"
"Yeah, okay, no problem." Veronica guessed that her expression wasn't the best as the secretary handed her not only the prescription but a paper with instructions the dentist just said.
"Ronnie..."
Veronica glanced again to the girl who cleaned a bit of blood from the corner of her mouth with her finger "Is this blood? Am I going to die?"
The dentist gave a big laugh "Oh no Miss Chandler, not at all." He then gave a pat on the back to Veronica "Good luck, you're going to need it." The dentist and secretary went to check the next appointment for the day, leaving them alone.
Heather’s eyes watered a bit and her hands lay flatly into her lap, realsing Veronica who pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, "Fuck me" To that Heather only nodded as fervently as she could so. Which was actually pretty slow.
Veronica opened the door for Heather so they could go downstairs to pick up the medication and go home. And as always, high on medication or not, Heather had the superpower to transform a simple task that could be done in like two minutes into a full fifteen minutes job.
It was only a two story building, (with an elevator that was out of order. Veronica guess people didn't give her enough luck.) The stairs were thirty stairs max. and still Heather was clinging onto Veronica like she was coming down from the very same Everest.
And as the blonde was in the brink of tears and whimpering from the pain of looking down to see the next step, Veronica was already visualizing what it would be like when they arrived at the Chandlers’ residence and the poor dizzy girl found out that her bedroom was on the second floor.
Finally they arrived down stairs and the room was oddly empty considering it was a Saturday but then again, it was a very private clinic so, whatever.
"Heather, go sit down somewhere while I go get your medication."
"No." That was a fast answer, she sounded like a brat but her tone still left no room for discussion.
"No? Miss Chandler, please do make a compelling argument for the refusal and maybe I'll reconsider not shoving your ass in one of those metal chairs. Again."
Again her brown eyes meet dilated grey eyes, and her voice was somehow breathless "I like it when you uthe your debate club thone, it'th tho cute."
Veronica smiled, defeated, she tries to remember if Heather has ever called her like that, she pulls her closer by the waist as Heather holds onto her by the shoulders "Very well then."
They approach the receptionist, who was an old lady wearing the most gigantic glasses that Veronica was sure could compete with Betty Finn's "Good morning to you Miss Chandler and good morning to you sweetheart, how can I help you?"
Heather clicked her tongue, spitting in the process "You don't geth to call her like that, thslut." Heather snuggled her left side, her good side actually, into Veronica's arm.
Veronica’s eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth but had to recover immediately and hissed "Heather!" And then looked at the old lady "I'm so sorry, she's just high in midazolam."
The lady nodded "Don't worry about it, we are used to Miss Chandler post surgery attitude, watch this," Some of the other personnel gathered as the receptionist glanced at Heather "How's your mom, Miss Chandler?"
"I don't know, probably jerking off thome finanthe bro." The whole group of receptionists laughed out very loud. Veronica stood there in shock for a moment, she knew Heather had some family issues but that's only because Heather herself had given her some crumbles of info about her family drama.
Veronica scoffed "You don't get to do that!" The staff watch Veronica adjust herself "Just because she's not in her five senses doesn't mean you get to mess around with her mind. You need to seriously reevaluate your client service over there—" She glanced at her name tag before she could be called 'old weedy' or something worst "Gladis! Because that's not professional and that's not ethical, so just give me her meds so we can get out of here before I call your doctor on shift!"
The receptionist shared some quick glances with some other members of the staff but did as told in silence.
The receptionist Gladis gave her the medication and the dentist note with a stamp seal of ‘RECEIVED’ back. She didn’t meet Veronica’s eyes again but it wasn’t needed when she said “Have a good day and good luck.” and made some of the personnel share mocked grins.
She locked behind her ear some of her brown curls and huffed, Veronica had to take a double look over to Heather, who was admiring her like she just hung the stars, the moon and the whole forsaken galaxy just for her, "I love your debathe club thone."
"And I would love, if you could just stop talking, you're going to hurt yourself and we're not even out of here yet, so rest your mouth."
"I thought you like ith when my mouth didn't sthop" Heather made an exaggerated wink with one eye, but her other eye followed it, so Heather only blink in a very slow motion pace, making Veronica laugh.
Once out of the clinic (and after five long steps Heather was refusing to go down) they were in the parking lot and Veronica was still semi-dragging Heather until they arrived at Veronica’s Station Wagon.
"Okay, let's go." Veronica let Heather go to sit in her place but noticed the girl hadn't moved and was just staring at her, "Heather, you're supposed to get in the car."
She crooked her neck and rolled her eyes "And you're thupposed to open the door for me."
Veronica scoffed "No, I don't."
Heather grunt loudly "Do I have tho do everything around here?" Heather shook her head but she found out the copilot seat door was locked, "Now thi ith closed. Ronnie, open the door, pleath and thank you.”
Veronica was taken aback first as she had never heard Heather say please or thank you, girlfriend or not, everything always was a command coming from Heather, but she would put it aside from now "No Heather, you'll have to go in the backseat."
Heather was the one that scoffed this time, spitting again "No."
"Yes, it's not up for discussion." Veronica goes to Heather, takes it by the hand and is dragged to the backseat.
Heather smiled and flushed, "Why do you need me in the backtheat, Thawyer?"
The brunette gave a long sigh, it was past noon but she was done for the day. Was this the reason everyone was giving her luck?
"You know, you know, you know..." Heather stared at Veronica, her eyes trying to Focus on her girlfriend "You're beauthiful."
Heather gave her the dopiest smile Veronica had ever seen, she still rolled her eyes and pat Heather's back "Get in the car, Chandler."
"Not until you threath me with love, goddamn ith I'm your girlfriend!"
"Heather, stop yelling!" Veronica looked around to see if anyone heard that.
"But I'm proud of ith! I'm your girlfriend and your my- mine! You're mine!"
“Yes, I am!” Veronica screamed a whisper grabbing her by the shoulders “Now, get your ass in there! Now!”
Heather had a sudden change of humour, and started squirming and flushing, believing Veronica was flirting with her “Oh damn Ronnie! Invited my a coke firsth, you can’th exthpect me to let your handsth wonder under my sthkirt that eathy, but you know,” Heather grabbed Veronica’s head to meet her dazed eyes and she whisper “I’m tho easthy for you Blue Birdth. Alwayth. Hath. Been.”
Veronica’s heart stopped— That was SO inappropriate!
“Jesus fucking Christ, that’s it!” The blonde tried laughing but the pain won and also she choked with her gauze, leaving enough time for Veronica to shove her into the backseat.
Still in her delirium Heather opened her legs, waiting for Veronica, who thanked any deity up there that Heather was wearing a track suit.
She threw the door close, walked into her seat but Heather was faster (surprisingly), she unbuckled and moved to lock the door with her finger, leaving Veronica outside “No!” She growled in frustration "Come on Heather! Don't be like that! Open the door!"
"No." Heather wasn’t smiling anymore.
"Open,” She took a shaky breath “The door!" Neither was Veronica.
Heather had tears in the bridge of her eyes "Say thath you love me!”
That left Veronica speechless.
They have been dating for two months, but they haven't been able to say the word. She was taken aback for a few seconds, until Heather began to loudly readjust her gauze in her mouth.
Veronica had to bite her lip to not laugh at her. She couldn't believe Heather's attitude, she had never seen the girl so clingy and love demanding, she wasn’t like that. Sure, Veronica was used to getting dragged into the bathroom to steal a few kisses, or when they were in either of their houses, Heather would cuddle her on the couch, even when they went on dates they ended up in the back seat of Heather's car talking and playing with her blonde mane. It was all relationship normal stuff, nothing too big or super sweet, it was just, it.
Never in her life Veronica thought she would hear the almighty beg for her to declare her love or to publicly display affection but right now Veronica could win this fight "Heather, you need to stay still so we can go to your house and well,” Veronica gave Heather the most alluring look she could master in the middle of the parking lot “You know.” She wink, and as if the car door was on fire Heather went into the other side of the car and buckled herself up.
Veronica smirked to herself, wishing that Heather was always this manageable with a simple and vague flirtation.
She started the car and after a few minutes, Heather began sighing really dramatically. She guesses she hasn’t seen the last of Clingy Chandler.
Veronica understood Heather wanted attention but she ignored her girlfriend by starting the radio and hummed to it hoping Heather would take a hint and leave her alone.
Heather took it as a competition.
She began sighing and groaning and kicking the front seat, Veronica slightly close into the staring wheel "Heather!"
"That'sth the only way you would pay attenthion to me?!" She stopped only to kick again “Of fuckinth courseth!”
"Heather, the dentist said no physical effort!" Veronica looked at her through the rear view but Heather was pretty entertained kicking the seat.
"Out of all-" A kick "The rude girlth at thschool -" Another kick "Why did I have to fall in loveth with you!" A powerful kick that sent Veronica forward and honked the car.
"I ask myself the same question every morning about you, Heather!"
Some cars honked at her too for being rude and that filled the silence.
But Veronica was frozen. She didn’t mean that, but before she could say something, she heard a little quiet sniff followed by a whining.
"Shit" She sighed, "Heather, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
"It hurts!"
Veronica stopped at the red light “I know and I'm so sorry, I—" She twisted herself so she could meet Heather.
Only to see the girl crying and grabbing her cheek "My face hurts a lot."
She sighed heavily "Oh thank God you meant that."
"You're happy I'm inth pain?" Heather was heart broken, immediately Veronica rectified "No, of course not. We're gonna get you something nice and cold for that pain, alright?" She saw the car next to her move and Veronica returned her gaze into the road again "I don't want to see you cry," Veronica doubted but still said “My love.” They didn’t use terms of endearment like that, but Veronica thought she thought the situation required it.
She saw Heather give her a little smile and a nod from the rearview. It worked. For around two minutes.
They pulled over the Snappy Snack Shack and surprisingly there were no cars, although of course, there was a very well known motorcycle.
Veronica grunted at the sight and for some reason Heather grunted too “Sthupid Sthnack Sthack.”
She agreed and twisted herself to meet Heather’s eyes that were already on her, "Wait for me here, okay? I'll be back with a cold bottle of water." She gave Heather her sunglasses, just in case somebody arrived and wouldn't be able to recognize the almighty.
"Fine, buth bring back corn nutsth. BQ."
Veronica nodded even though she knew Heather wouldn't be able to eat those, in weeks, but agreeing was easier.
She step inside the store and instantly her head went into the right side of the store, there waiting in front of the microwave was JD, already looking at her with a smile "Greetings and salutations, sorry for, uh, the mess if I knew you were comin' I would've tidy a bit."
The girl smiled too and walked up to him bouncing from one side to the other "Hey there stranger, what are you up too?" Veronica saw JD waiting beside a microwave, he pointed to his instant soup, "Having lunch, join me in my feast?"
"Can't."
JD grabbed his chest and played dramatically "Oh! It stings my heart deeply, Veronica."
Veronica rolled her eyes with a smile and walked away to the fridge, the boy followed her.
"Water?" He chuckled, "Since when did you opt for water instead of a redbull or a blueberry slushie?"
"Since it's not for me," Veronica shrugged, "Doctor instructions, can't help it." Again she walked away to the front of the store, leaving JD to chase after her.
"Playing charades will be easier than this shit, what's going on?"
Before Veronica could explain, her car's horn blasted off, making them look outside to a furious Heather Chandler behind the wheel, because of course Heather can't go down a few steps but clearly she can climb through the front seat of her car.
"That's," Veronica pointed to her girlfriend who honked again "What's going on."
Instantly JD's playful smirk turned into a bitter one "A Heather. Of course."
Veronica was not dealing with him right now, she liked him (as a best friend) but— just not right now.
So she turned and paid for the water, however JD was not letting this one go "Haven't you got tired of being her slave?"
Veronica sighed and turned to him, narrowing her eyes, knowing exactly how to shut him up, "Like, in a kinky way or...?"
Veronica laughed at JD vomiting sounds "I'm just saying, she could get her ass into the store and buy it herself, you don't need to do everything for her."
Veronica was relieved that JD couldn't see the mortal state Heather was in right now and she knew Heather told her not to tell anyone but, who JD were going to tell?
"Heather had her last wisdom teeth out, I'm buying her this so she could put in her inflamed cheek."
"I didn't know piranhas got their fangs out"
"Be nice." Veronica warned him and followed him to the microwave to take his food out.
He lifted his arms, surrendering, "So you have been taking care of her?"
"Kind of," Veronica looked to the ground "I just found out yesterday because Heather—"
"Which one?"
"Duke, green one."
"Got it."
"Because Heather told me to take care of her at the last minute."
"Damn." JD took his food and began chewing the instant ramen “I don't know much about friendships or relationships, but not having the decency to commit to a favor and leaving Heath—” He grimace to the name of his tongue, “Her, leaving her, at last minute it's, uh, that sucks, V.”
“Yeah, I know. But Heather and Heather are on a church retreat or something like that, though.”
JD nodded “But she didn't tell you anything? Not even the first time she got half of ‘em out? Not even a heads up?”
She shook her head.
The boy looked surprised, “That’s bad, if she didn't tell you something superficial like the extraction of her wisdom teeth then, what is Heather hiding from you?”
She sighed "What am I supposed to do about it?"
"I don't know, leave her?" JD shrugged.
"JD..." She rolled her eyes and she should have known JD had other intentions than just being there for her.
"Veronica, she treats you more like a servant than a human being, she doesn't care about who you are, but what you can offer. I mean, you're her, you know, and she didn't tell you this because clearly she doesn't trust you enough.”
"Now you're just being a dick." She turned around to leave but he grabbed her by her arm.
"Veronica, I really care about you, why are you with her? She's a vampire—"
"Oh you’re so not finishing that sentence JD.” She got herself free from his grasping “You can't talk about her like that as if you knew what she's going through!”
“Do you?”
She could say that Heather was more than he thought she was. She was about to say it. But in her mind there was a new thought: What other sides are of Heather she didn't know of?
The doorbell ring of the Snappy Snack Shack rang and Veronica almost broke her neck to look at the person that just arrived, expecting to see a mad Heather Chandler but it was so much worse. A colorful sweater and a fancy nose wrinkled perfume nightmare.
The Country Club Kids.
Veronica cursed and hid behind a snack stack. JD looked at her weirded out but did nothing to bring themselves any attention. He just whispered, enough so Veronica could hear “Why are you hiding like you own them money?”
She shook her head and whispered back “I’m never alone, if they see me alone then they would know a Heather is near and they can't see Heather.”
JD frowned “Why? She loves to be seen.”
“I know! But she’s not at her best right now. She looks like a normal human being.” She hit herself for being able to think of anything other than that.
He kept eating, deep in thought “Need a way out?” Veronica nodded and he nodded back.
Another and more lasting honk could be heard and Veronica panicked as she saw the Country Club Kids glancing to the window trying to see who it was.
JD took a deep breath, grabbed his still hot ramen and with precision he stepped back, turning around quickly enough to smash against a Country Club Kid.
“Watch where you're going, man!” Keith yelled and turned around to see who just ruined his cotton red sweater, but at the sight of JD, he paled “Ah, shit.”
Anyone with common sense would be scared at the sight of the one who brought a gun to school and shot his saves to the two more feared jocks. Because no one wanted to find out if this time his gun was loaded.
Jason lifted his hands in the air “Greetings and salutations for you too.” he looked up and down “I was…too busy to notice you. My bad.” then slowly slacked his arms and gave a toothy fake grin “What are we gonna do about it?”
All of the attention was set on JD and the Country Club Kid, Keith, because no one wanted this ongoing breaking news, especially not Courtney. She was the worst of them all.
The air was thick and they all held their breaths.
Except for Veronica that made her way out behind the stacks of food and through the front door, discreetly.
Veronica got to her car, opened and shoved Heather to the side.
“Did you bring ith?” Heather asked and Veronica nodded and passed her the cold bottle of water but Heather rolled half way the sunglasses, and stared at her confused.
To that Veronica was even more confused “What? What's wrong?”
“I asthked for Corn Nuths!”
She just sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose.
A tap in the window startled her but it was just JD.
She turned on the car and rolled the window down.
“You're welcome.” He flashed her a charming smirk.
Veronica smiled at him with a thin line but Heather interrupted "Gag with a spoon Jesse James!"
"Not talking to you red." JD didn't break eye contact with Veronica, but Veronica did to scold Heather for the thousandth time this day “Heather, he was being nice!”
"Don't care!” Heather took the sunglasses off to correctly see bitter dark eyes “Don’t think I don't seeth you, I seeth everything!” JD lifted his eyebrows, he really was surprised, maybe it was because Heather never talks to him directly “You're drooling thoo much on my girl'th shoulder and I don't like ith that at all. I only sthpare your life becauthe I don't want to upsthet her becauthe for whathever reasthon she bearsth you!” Veronica couldn't lie that she was a little bit flustered by that.
“So geth your two wonderth incheth away from her before I break you like a Kith Kath, you trash-picking crow!” Heather caught her breath and closed her mouth, talking a lot did hurt her a bit.
JD only stood still, with an unreadable expression.
"Heather!" Veronica, face palmed herself "We'll get going, bye JD." The boy nodded and went inside the store again.
And as soon as she got in the road, Heather got her hands on her face and tried giving her a kiss "Don't!" Veronica put the water bottle in front of Heather "Just put this on your cheek. Don't drink it."
Heather huffed and resigned. She went to the other side of the car “I justh wanted a kith.”
"You'll have to wait.”
Heather looked at her and tried to smile, an odd sight "Until we geth home?"
Veronica took another look at Heather's mouth that had still a little bit of dried blood on the side, her cheek was swollen and the cold bottle of water made it more red. She really felt sorry for the girl, "A little more than that, actually."
Heather groaned loudly, “Justh say you don't liketh me anymore.”
Veronica tried to hold another sigh “Are you jealous, Heather?”
The blonde waved her hair and scoffed "Obviously."
Veronica frowned with her mouth open, not believing how easily Heather admitted that.
“Why are you jealous? JD is just a friend.”
Heather gasped like Veronica had confessed to arson “That’th worsth!”
She blinked slowly and whispered, really not understanding the thought process “How is that worse?”
Heather waved the water bottle weakly “Boyth don't become friendth with girlth they don't want to kith.”
“That is not a scientific fact.”
“It ith!” Heather insisted. “I read it in a magazh—” She stopped suddenly “…Or maybe it wath a TV show…?”
Veronica snorted despite herself “Heather, JD does not want to kiss me.” she lied but it was easier to deny.
Heather narrowed her eyes suspiciously “He lookth like he wantsth to.”
“He looks like he wants to bomb the school.”
“That too,” Heather admitted and nodded.
They were near the Chandlers' residence. They had their house on the periphery, the family wanted to live somewhere more exclusive and spacious, so Veronica had to take the highway to arrive there.
Heather leaned closer again “You're very kithable, you knew thath nerd?”
Veronica kept her eyes on the road “I— Okay.”
Heather continued “Your mouth irritatesth me so—” She gave a long ‘so’ that made Veronica smiled “—Fucking much! Alwaysth saying intelligent thingsth and all, I want to kissth you every time you open ith!” Heather sighed like she was extremely tired and Veronica had a stupid smile on her face, “It's tho, tho, tho, pathetic of me.” She held her head with the bottle “You make my hearth tho thsquishy musthy it's so— blergh!” Heather came closer to her “Let me kissth you, pleaseth.”
Veronica this time laughed “Heather, I'm driving.” she said as if that was the problem.
To take the road to Heather's home instead of the road to leave town, they had first to pass a railroad. She noticed a train was passing by and there was another car already waiting.
"Can I hold your hand while you drive?"
She smiled and giggled, "I need my right hand to change the gearbox, my love." She really liked calling her that, Veronica thought she was going to stick with it. She was actually so happy.
But as Veronica was getting closer…
"Then can I put my legs over your lap?"
"No, I’m sorry, your weight will make it difficult to change my feet.”
Her smile began to fade…
"Why don't you ever want me near you?!" She could hear Heather complaining but didn't really pay her attention.
"What?” She was out of breath. Her stomach dropped.
No way.
She recognized the green 1985 Jeep Cherokee.
Veronica pulled beside the car and saw, already looking pale as a paper sheet, Heather and Heather.
“What the fuck?!” She opened the door and went flying over the jeep and didn't have time to move— not even backwards.
Veronica grabbed the passenger door and yelled to Heather McNamara who was screaming for her life and had for some reason her labcoat on “Heather, open the door!”
McNamara shook in fear “No! You're gonna yell at me!”
Heather Duke kept glancing to the train, that was nowhere near to end and the crazy as of a woman who was left on her own to survive an untamable beast.
The brunette had the brilliant idea of opening the back door and of course, it was without a lock an stupid decision of Heather Duke.
“Explain!” She climbed through the passenger seat as Duke and McNamara yelled her hearts out. They grabbed each other, over reacting and as if Veronica was a serial killer. She grabbed Heather's lab coat with one hand and Heather's red down vest with the other “Explain or I’ll kill you!”
“Okay! Okay! Let go!” Heather Duke shook her way out of Veronica’s hand “Jeez!” but the other Heather just stayed there.
“Explain!”
“We were leaving Sherwood!”
“Why?” Veronica pressed “Why did you lie to me?!”
“We wanted to be free!”
“What's that supposed to mean?!”
“Stop yelling!” McNamara yelled.
And the car fell silent.
Outside, the train kept roaring past, metal clanking over metal like it had all the time in the world.
Veronica took a deep breath and let go of Heather’s down vest and Heather's lab coat. She slumped back against the seat, rubbing her face with both hands.
Heather McNamara immediately started fixing her hair in the rearview mirror like the last thirty seconds hadn’t happened.
Heather Duke pulled her vest straight and whispered, “What’s your damage?”
Veronica exhaled slowly “Sorry,” she finally said. “I was just… confused. And, well, upset.”
McNamara nodded quickly. “Yeah, I understand. We’re also sorry for lying to you.”
Heather Duke scoffed. “Speak for yourself.”
McNamara slapped her arm. “We are sorry.”
Duke rolled her eyes but muttered, “Fine. Whatever. We are sorry.”
Veronica glanced between them “You literally looked like you were fleeing the country.”
Heather Duke tilted her head “Yeah, yeah, well, now you deserved an explanation.”
“But,” Heather McNamara looked at her in the eyes, those baby blue eyes never seen to hold a piece of malice in their irises “Promise you won't judge and also, don't tell Heather.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes “Depends. Does it affect her?”
“No!” Duke said immediately.
Veronica frowned.
Duke rushed to clarify. “It affects us.”
“How?”
Duke inhaled like she was about to confess the worst crime known to mankind “We…” she said carefully, “are going to see a movie.”
Veronica blinked.
“And? That's it? It's just a movie?”
Duke pointed a finger at her “It’s not just any movie.”
McNamara whispered, like it was a sacred secret “It's Back to the Future Part II.”
Another long beat of silence.
Then Veronica slowly began realizing that Duke had a red down vest on top of a denim jacket and a white blouse and McNamara had a lab coat in an all white outfit.
They were dressed as Marty McFly and Doc Brown.
“You ditched me for dressing up to see Back to the Future Part II?!” Veronica yelled again.
“It's the premiere in Toledo, Veronica!” Duke shot back. “Do you know how many weeks we have to wait before Sherwood gets anything?!”
“No?”
“A month!” Duke said, throwing her hands up “Everything hits Toledo first and then we get it when nobody cares anymore!”
But McNamara grabbed her arm and shot her a warning look, silently telling her to tone it down.
She couldn't believe Heather and Heather.
“And?! You left me, alone,” she said slowly, pointing toward the road beside them, “With a high-as-a-kite Heather!” They all saw the road beside and Chandler was almost passed out in the car, slowly dripping down saliva onto the front seat.
Heather McNamara whispered “Oh my God, she’s so out.” Heather Duke never believed she had some pity for Heather Chandler, but there she was kind of feeling guilty.
“Do you realize, what have you done, guys?”
Duke pinched the bridge of her nose “Don't even get started right now, Veronica.”
“Oh no missy, I'm so gonna start right now!” Veronica shot back. “You lied to my face like cowards and left me to deal with her by myself!”
“That is not what happened!” Duke snapped.
“Yes it is!”
Duke leaned and scratched her neck “Okay, yes we did that, but—” Veronica lifted her hands and Duke pointed right back at Veronica “We had a good reason!”
“The movie is not enough!”
“We are tired of Heather Chandler hiding behind us instead of talking to you!” Heather McNamara blurted out.
Veronica blinked “…What?”
Heather McNamara jumped in immediately, words tumbling out faster and faster “Yeah! She’s totally chicken about it! And yes, okay we saw the opportunity in this!” she kept going “Like, she’ll act all tough and mean to anyone, even you, right?”
Veronica didn't have time to respond when Heather responded
“Right! So the thing is that when she got the first half of her teeth taken out she was moping and whining about you for hours and she spat so many things, so many feelings and unfiltered thoughts and there were also a talk about birds—”
Duke groaned. “Mac—”
“—And we already had the tickets for the movie like, weeks ago and we didn't know what to do because Chandler hates the first one—”
“She hated it? Huh.” Veronica asked sincerely, not believing it.
McNamara nodded not really stopping with her rambling “—But, but, but Heather didn't know that and had the surgery scheduled and she didn't tell you because she didn't want to make a fool of herself, she didn’t care for us, we have seen her in worst situations, but in front of you it’s a different story because she’s scared of being vulnerable around you and loves—”
“Mac!”
McNamara stopped literally shutting her mouth with her hands.
Veronica was staring at them like someone had just dropped a piano on her brain.
Duke sighed, rubbing her temples. “Look, genius. Chandler likes you a lot.”
McNamara nodded emphatically. “Very much.”
Veronica opened her mouth. Closed it again.
Duke leaned back in the seat. “And she’s way too proud to say it.”
“So she was just,” Veronica gestured vaguely toward the back seat where high Heather was, “Like, waiting for me to decipher all this? By myself?”
“Exactly,” Duke said.
McNamara added gently, “Which is why someone has to make her talk.”
Veronica frowned. “And that someone is…?”
Both Heathers stared at her.
Veronica nodded and clapped her hands “Okay got it.” took a deep, deep breath and all it all out in a single exhale while dragging her hands through her face.
Again, Heather and Heather shared a glance. And Duke was the one who said “You know you're not any better, right?”
She got still as a rock in the blink of an eye “What do you mean?”
McNamara picked up the thought carefully “Well… you both talk a lot. Like, all the time. You never shut up.” She glanced at Duke for approval, and Duke nodded “But you don’t actually communicate.”
Duke leaned in the middle of the seat so she could see Veronica better “Chandler shuts down because she hates being vulnerable. Fine. That’s her problem.” She pointed at Veronica. “But you shut everyone out. You sit up there on your moral high horse like you're above all the drama, so nobody feels like they can talk to you about real feelings either.”
Veronica gets the people that knew Heather, they all saw Heather as the result of a broken rich family, a girl that learned to bite first and to ask second. Heather was rude and mean to everyone because she learned it’s better to be seen as bitch than vulnerable, fragile and dependable. She didn't want to be pushed around or to be the punchline of someone with more power than her, Heather wasn't heartless or cold, she was afraid to open up because for the first time she had someone to lose and someone that could use that soft side of hers as leverage.
For their part Veronica was the result of a simple life, a girl that viewed her life as a simple shoe box in which she had to fit in, to win approval and to lower her head and nod. She believed that being on the top of the food chain would bring her freedom, but it brought her boredom and a sour feeling of never being enough— to accept that always there would be someone to hold all the power, and that someone wouldn't be her.
But she liked Heather.
Not just the powerful Heather. Not just the terrifying Heather.
She liked, angry Heather. Sarcastic Heather. Sad Heather.
And if she was honest…
She wanted to see Lovey-dovey Heather too.
She wanted to see all sides of Heather; when she woke up and was groggy, wanted to see her eating breakfast and enjoying her food, she wanted to be by her side when she was watching her favorite movie, her giggle and hear laugh when she heard a good joke, she wanted to see her thinking over and choosing a nice outfit, she wanted to know Heather.
She didn’t just want to survive Heather.
She wanted to know her.
And she needed to make Heather know that too.
And right now neither of them was making that easy.
She realized she and Heather weren't giving themselves a safe space; they were living in a field test.
It was as much her fault for being stuck with Heather as it was Heather’s fault for being stuck with her.
With new determination Veronica got herself out of the jeep “I need to get Heather home.”
Heather McNamara clapped. “I'm so happy for you!” She turned to Heather Duke and Veronica thought they didn’t realize she could still hear them “Oh my God,” McNamara breathed.
Duke muttered back “I can’t believe that actually worked.” and lastly exclaimed as Veronica came back down from the green jeep “Don't tell Heather about us, though!”
“Heather…” Veronica moved her softly but firm to wake her up enough to get her to her bed.
Grey eyes open and she groan “If you're going tho wake me up, gimmeth a good morning kissth.”
Veronica laughed through her nose and grabbed Heather by the arms and dragged her out of the car. She almost fell but Heather managed to stand up.
She kept an arm around Heather's waist and the other pulling Heather's arm around her shoulder. As much as Veronica wanted to look smooth and romantic, she couldn’t carry Heather, bridal style. She was a bookworm, not a jock.
The stairs were the actual problem. Veronica really wondered how Heather could go up after partying all night and being wasted for hours “So Heather,” She needed to keep her up “Why didn't you like Back To The Future?”
Heather scoffed, “Becauthe it’th thtupid.”
“What’s stupid about it?”
“The time travel thing.” Heather waved her hand vaguely. “People can’t go back in time. That’th dumb.”
Veronica laughed softly as they reached the stairs, “But that’s the cool part! So what do you like? Historical accuracy?”
Heather leaned more of her weight on her, as she gave another step “No, I like birdsth!”
Veronica frowned.
“…Did you say birds?”
Heather nodded with conviction, and obviously very slowly “They go wherever they want.” She pointed lazily at the sky through the window, “No school. No parentsth. No Sherwood. They jutht… fly.”
Veronica had to admit that was uncharacteristically deep and poetic for the girl that refuses to write an English essay for their class.
Also Heather added “I'm an eagle!”
And there it went Heather’s philosophy spark.
“Yeah, and why’s that?”
Heather lifted a finger like she was about to deliver a lecture “Becauthe eaglesth are at the top.”
Veronica snorted softly. “Of course they are.”
“They don’t hang out with pigeonth,” Heather continued with heavy seriousness “They live on mountainsth and look down on everyone. Even the parentsth-eaglesth leave their baby-eaglesth in the nesth, without food or anything tho they can learn how to fly! They’re doing them a favor!” In an unexpected turn Heather’s tone softened “Even though that hurtsth baby- eaglesth feelingsth, sometimesth.”
Veronica stopped on the stairs and looked at her.
Heather wasn’t talking about birds there.
She realized something else too; every time she had been in this house, it had been empty. She knew that Heather had two working parents, one time Heather had told her, her mom and dad were lawyers in a buffet in the capital, but they moved to Sherwood because the land was even more cheap there than in Columbus. So, her best guess is that her parents were almost never in the nest.
Veronica shifted her grip on Heather’s arm. “That sounds familiar.”
Heather nodded proudly. “Like… they notithe thingsth. Little thingsth.”
“Sure.” She resumed the pace as Heather kept looking at her.
“You know eagles,” Veronica couldn’t help looking at Heather’s eyes, they again all blown, grey irises staring at her loving and drinking the sight of her brown eyes “They mateth of life.”
“Oh come on Heather.”
“Whath?!” She really seemed offended this time, she stops and Veronica groans “Why are you with me if you don’th like me?!”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Then why don’th you showth ith!” Heather had to pass down to continue, "You don'th like ith when I try to hug you in public— you alwaysth shifth away when I try to do ith! Or when I try tho brush your hair you take my brusht out of my handsth— you don't like anything! And that'sth only the thip of the iceberg and I can't help but wonder if you justh don'th like that sthuff or you justh don't like me?"
Veronica sighed, again, really didn’t know what Heather wanted from her.
From Veronica’s perspective she had been careful not to embarrass Heather, careful not to start rumors that could ruin both of them, careful not to push something Heather herself had never asked for.
Heather hated looking weak. She hated asking for things. Veronica knew that. So Veronica had assumed the safest option was to let Heather set the rules.
But apparently that had been the wrong move. Because Heather didn't want rules, she wanted proof. And to be fair, even when they were alone, Veronica didn't feel the confidence to display affection to Heather.
“Heather, in a perfect world I would hold your hand walking down the hall, carry your books to class, we'd go to prom together— hell, we'd even get married! And also nobody would have let Cher style her hair like that. But the world isn’t perfect and we have to accept that."
"...Do you mean ith?"
"Oh yeah, her hair is like a nest." Veronica's smile couldn't fool Heather's eyes "I don't know, really haven't thought about it, I just said it as an example because even if we wanted we'll never be able to do it."
"But if marriage wasth possthible for people like usth, would you marry me?"
Part of Veronica wanted to say a million reasons why only thinking of that was stupid, not the idea of equal rights of course, but the idea of getting married, she wanted to say 'No Heather, we're seventeen and have been dating for like two months, I haven't even thought about of what I will do on our first year anniversary, let alone about marriage'.
But now with a high Heather looking at her with those soft eyes and her heart on her sleeve, she shut her mind off and let her mouth say "Yes, I would marry you."
Heather's eyes flutter and blushes profoundly, even her neck is all red. Veronica rolled her eyes, also feeling her face hotter “C’mon, let's get you to bed.”
The blonde’s eyebrows got up “Oh damn Ronnie! Going straighth tho the honeymoon nighth, uh?”
“Shut up Heather.” Heather didn't like being shut up, obviously who liked that, but for the first time ever she took it with a lighthearted smile.
“Tell me, what kind of bird am I?”
“You already knowth thath.” Heather nodded “You’re a blue birth— A blue jay.”
Veronica had no idea what Heather was talking about, but it sounded interesting “And why’s that?”
“They’re annoyingly smarth. Like, puzzle smarth, very loud, very vocal—” Said the person who talks post dental surgery “blue jayth don’t care if there’th an eagle around, they scream at them anyway and,” Heather giggles “They even pretend to be hawksth to trick other birdth. Very sneaky.”
“Think I’m sneaky?”
Heather nodded “Yeah, that’sth why you’re dangerous with thath garbage-eating crow.”
Veronica frowned, remembering that Heather said something about a crow earlier “Who? JD?”
Heather seemed very serious as she nodded “Yep, blue jayth and crows can team up to kill eagles when they feel threatened.”
Veronica stared at her for a moment.
Heather looked oddly serious for someone who could barely keep her eyes open and nodded with certainty.
“That’s… dark.” Veronica said finally.
Heather only shrugged against her shoulder.
“Nature.”
She stared back at Heather “You know you’re the eagle in this metaphor, right?”
Heather gave a lazy grin “Obviously blue bird and that sonuvabitchth wantsth tho kill my assth tho, tho bad buth his dick itth’s tho shorth ith a pussyth.”
Veronica snorted and pushed open the bedroom door “Okay just checking how delusional you are.”
At the sight of her bed Heather walked and fell into it “Oh my God, I’ve missed you.” Heather rolled onto her side, eyes half closed, but Veronica couldn't have that just yet.
She took out Heather's medication and brought her a glass of water from the bathroom, She sat next to Heather “Take this before you sleep.”
Heather nodded “Yeah ma’am!” she took the glass of water, with her other hand she reached into her cheek and pulled out a wad of gauze.
Veronica recoiled instantly, “Oh my God!”
“Hold this.” Heather held it out with surprising seriousness.
Veronica stared at the bloody cotton like it was a live grenade.
“Pleathe.” Heather pushed it into her hand anyway, “For thafe keeping.”
Veronica looked at the gauze. It was warm and wet and awful and it was so gross she didn’t think this through and it showed “I— I will.” she felt like she was dealing with a patient with dementia and had to agree with any crazy made up thing.
Heather drank her painkiller medication and smiled sleepily. “Now gimme a good night kissy.”
She nodded “Yeah, whatever you want, let me just—” Veronica walked toward the bathroom like someone carrying radioactive waste. The second the door closed she dropped it straight into the trash “What the fuck, Heather.”
She washed her hands for far longer than necessary.
When she came back to the bedroom, Heather was already asleep, sprawled diagonally across the bed.
Veronica stood there for a moment, watching her breathe “You surely spread your wings like an eagle. A loud, obnoxious eagle.” she muttered softly.
Then she pulled the blanket over her.
And sat in the white loveseat Heather had in her bedroom.
Not really knowing when Heather would wake up but it had been a long day— she looked at her watch and it was ‘2:13 PM’.
It had only passed an hour and fifteen minutes… an hour and fucking fifteen minutes.
She still decided she was too tired anyway and going to take a nap, leave a note with the instructions for the meds, with another note that they need to talk and then go home.
Veronica woke up 15 minutes past 5 PM.
‘Shit’
Who would have thought that taking a nap wouldn’t be a good idea?
Not her though.
She sat down and she was sweating, her throat was dried, her head was killing her and her ears were pounding loud.
Veronica went to the bathroom and washed her face and drank water like she had never drank before, she felt like she had been rolled over with a Caterpillar.
She was taking a breath after all that water and heard some steps, maybe Heather had woken up. Veronica waited there in the bathroom for Heather to appear and say hi. And as Heather approached with closed eyes, Veronica thought she looked cute all groggy after sleeping with her wild blonde mane,Veronica thought the object of her affections deserved to know it “You look beautiful, my love.”
Heather seemed confused by that and only open an eye. Then both.
Her face pale.
“Veronic— agh!” As Heather tried to yell her pain stopped her “What are you doing here?”
And that’s what Veronica remembered; Heather had amnesia.
She could see it in Heather's eyes, instead of sleepy and unfocused they return to their normal appearance, sharp and powerful. Her eyes looked as always, then again, her mane was all down, her freckles were like stars in her face and she had taken off her red track suit jacket, and was in a white tank top. This was a new Heather Chandler for her.
“I’m sorry Heather, Heather and Heather couldn’t make it.” Veronica would keep the promise for them but she didn’t know how Chandler reacted to it.
And it was the complete opposite of what Veronica thought of.
Heather studied Veronica’s eyes, face and expression. She gave her a single nod “Fine. You can go now.” She disappeared from her sight.
Veronica’s feet didn’t move.
All of the afternoon came crashing back again and that all seemed like a distant memory, all those petitions for kisses, hugs, words, expressions and feelings that were actually felt for once, all that love…from someone that didn’t exist.
From a Heather that wasn’t allowed to exist.
And Veronica will not let that Heather vanish so easily.
“Wait!” Veronica got her face dried and went chasing for Heather that was already half way through the stairs and that didn’t look at Veronica “Heather please!”
The blonde still didn’t turn around and went into the kitchen, disappearing from Veronica’s view for a second as she dashed down the stairs.
She found Heather reading a note that was left on the table, in the center of the room, there was a pack of yogurts “Uh, good thing my mother left those for me.” Heather exhaled and continued “Okay you can leave now for good.”
“Heather, we need to talk.”
Veronica was only facing Heather’s back.
“It’s nothing bad, I swear. I’m not angry at you or anything—.”
Heather scoffed “Of course you’re not. I am!”
Veronica frowned and stopped to process what just Heather said “You’re angry?”
Still she didn’t meet her eyes, yet Veronica heard Heather’s voice tremble “Yes. Go. Now.”
That was actually a good option. Veronica could leave Heather to calm down, she could leave Heather be until she said they could see each other again, she could go because Heather’s anger wasn’t her problem, she could go and didn’t need to look back because Heather could and would heal alone because that how always had been, she could leave and take the good option. The easier one. Veronica could do that or… she could change.
“I want to talk to you, can I?”
Heather stayed in silence for a good minute, until she sighed through her nose “Fine.”
Veronica didn’t move near her, she didn’t want to scare Heather away. So she stayed put and said “I know you didn’t want me to see you like this. And I’m sorry for that, I didn’t want to trespass your privacy. I know there’s a time and place to say things and well, today maybe some of the things you thought or meant to say in another way they escaped your control. But I really enjoyed your company,”
“For once.”
“No, Heather—” Veronica shook her head and then she stopped “Actually, yes, yes I did.”
Heather moved her head to the side, Veronica still couldn’t make her profile but that was something “Because this time I spent time with Heather, not the mythic bitch from high school or Miss Heather Chandler the daughter of some business people, no… For the first time I met fully Heather and not just a tiny glance like when we are alone together, I finally met her and she was awesome!”
Veronica thought she heard Heather laugh with that silky and adult tone she had, so she pushed more “I know how much your reputation means for you and I know is not easy taking the battle armor off when you had it put on for so long anywhere you go and I know I hadn’t been the best either, I know that sometimes it feels like we’re in a landmine and it’s your or my heart on the line,” She took a step “But I want to change that Heather.”
This time Heather face Veronica, went searching for her brown eyes “Why are you doing this?”
Veronica smiled and truthfully she could answer that easily, “Because I love you Heather.”
Heather’s eyes were open wide, she was left speechless.
A corner of Veronica’s mind was wondering that if she had said that to Heather, would Heather had kept her post surgery mouth shut.
But Veronica’s heart was speaking now “I want to know who you really are Heather, because I already know who you display and pretend to be, I told you once, I know you can be so much more than you think you are and I want to see you become you, not the girl you thought other people believe you are. So, I want to see all of you Heather, from morning, everything in between to night, your happiness, your sadness and your anger, I want to know your dreams, your wishes and even the things you think are dumb. Everything.”
“And what if you don’t like it?” Heather’s eyes were on the floor “You’re the first person to actually want to know me, what if you don’t like what you see?”
Veronica didn’t know the answer for that, some time back, she could imagine her life without Heather Chandler. Junior year Veronica, that glance from afar, behind her locker door in between Betty’s talks and school chatter, she observed how Heather reapplied her lipstick in her locker mirror from across the hallway, feeling planets away from her and being scared that looking too much at the all mighty might bring her unwanted attention from her and ended up pushed against the wall by one of the cheerleaders. Veronica daydream leaving Sherwood and came back after years of a successful career and found out Heather Chandler right were she left her, with a not tanned mark that a wedding ring left and was not there anymore, with a handful of unwanted kids, mental problems and a bottle of diet coke in one hand, living in the past were her memories stop but her age didn’t.
But right now, she couldn’t turn back to that, she wanted to imagine a future with Heather “Let’s go one day at a time.”
Heather met her eyes again and she spoke under her breath “Okay.”
She opened her arms and Heather rolled her eyes but went to hug her anyway, but Veronica was now ready for something that Heather didn’t know was asking for all day “Can I kiss you?”
Heather smiled somehow bashfully, “Funny, I was thinking of asking you the same thing.” however when Veronica went for the kiss Heather looked the other way “We can’t, I’m recovering.”
“We’ll manage, just, close your eyes and don’t kiss me, I’ll kiss you.” Heather didn’t believe they’ll manage but she did as told. Veronica grabbed her head by her right side, the side that wasn’t swollen and pulled enough so her lips were pressed together in a way that couldn’t hurt Heather.
When they separated, Heather exhaled from her nose “Thank you. For everything, but mostly for being there.”
Veronica snorted, “Oh my sweet little eagle.”
“I’m gonna stop you right there!” Thankfully she wasn’t angry anymore, on-the-spot she was blushing really hard, again all her face, neck and ears were red, she was trying to hide her face with her hand and hair but that wasn’t working now that Veronica had her in her arms “What the hell did I tell you, Ronnie?”
Veronica start giggling, hugging her harder and not letting her go “Hush, one day at a time, that your beautiful blue jay—”
“OH MY GOD!” Heather was squirming her way out of her girlfriend’s arms and despite she couldn't yell she still had a very loud voice.
“It’s gonna take good care of you.”
“DON’T!” She inhaled hard “LET GO!”
“That's not a strong and complaint argument– Oh sorry, how clumsy of me to use my debate club voice, oh you so declare to love.” Veronica’s laugh was drowned by Heather’s groan.
They still have a lot to talk about. It’s a good thing they both love to talk too much.