Chapter Text
“So how are you?” Lucy asks her once the waiter takes their order and leaves their table.
The look in her eyes suggests that she’s not casually asking a friend how she’s doing, but how she is actually doing. It makes Alex sigh. She has been deferring this conversation for a while now. Lucy is her best friend, and even though she tried to be there for Alex after the breakup, the redhead never really gave her a chance.
Things with Kelly ended about four months ago, but tonight is the first time Alex says yes to dinner with her friend. In part it was because she felt it was time to finally get out of her apartment for something other than work and have some fresh air. But also it was out of guilt after standing Lucy up at her girlfriend’s soccer game last night. Work and the fact that she had zero interest in soccer –even if it was the NWSL Championship final– made it easier for Alex to prioritize her night at the lab.
“I’m doing better. Work helps a lot.”
“If it keeps you from socializing I don’t see how it can be of any help,” Lucy reasons.
Touché. “I’m sorry about that.”
“I don’t want you to be sorry, Alex, I just want you to be fine.”
“I am fine, Luce.”
“You’re as fine as I am straight,” she scoffs at her friend. “You know you can be honest with me. You can trust me.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth. Whatever’s in your mind,” Lucy insists. “You went through a shitty situation, it’s okay to be sad. There’s no shame in that. But hiding in your job is not fine. It’s just not healthy.”
“I’m aware of that, but the truth is that I am okay.”
“You spent your Friday night stuck in the lab until three AM, Alex. Three AM! That doesn’t qualify as okay.” When Alex props her a ‘how do you even know that?’ look, Lucy shrugs. “That’s right, Gomez from security told me.”
Fucking snitch, Alex thinks to herself. “I’m focused on my career, what’s wrong with that?”
“What is wrong is that you’re shutting off. From your family, from your friends. That’s not healthy.”
“Oh, please. I’m not shutting anyone off.”
“Look, I'm not trying to be a pain in the ass here okay? But you’re my best friend, and I care about you. And so does your sister.”
“You’ve been talking to Kara?”
“We worry about you.”
Alex lets out another sigh. “I’m fine, Lucy. Seriously. You don’t have to worry about me,” she promises. “I know I haven’t been myself these past few months, but it’s only because I’ve been trying to accustom to my new reality.”
Lucy props her a sympathetic look. “Have you?”
“Still working on it.”
She nods in understanding. “Do you miss her?”
Alex looks away for a moment, pursing her lips. “I don’t know, I guess? But mostly it’s what we had. It’s coming home to someone after a long day at work; it’s sharing breakfast with them. That’s what I really miss.”
“Is that why you've been confined to your lab lately?”
“I’m not confined.”
“Yes you are, Alex. Not even Lena works that much, and I mean, Lena,” she remarks with a pointed look. “The most workaholic person I’ve ever met.”
“Did you know she’s pregnant?”
“Lena?!”
“No, Kelly.”
Judging by Lucy’s face, she didn’t. “Wow, that was fast,” she comments. “Is she, you know, dating someone?”
Alex shakes her head no. “She’s going to be a single mother. Doesn’t want to wait any longer.”
“Well, good for her. That’s what she wanted, right? To be a mom.”
“I guess.”
There’s a silence after Alex speaks, and Lucy catches how she fiddles with her barely touched glass of wine.
“So I gather you’ve been seeing each other again?” Lucy asks.
Alex takes a moment before nodding. “Just once. And just for coffee,” she quickly adds before her friend can make any smartass remark or gesture.
“And?”
“It was good.”
“That’s it?”
“Cathartic, too, I guess. And reassuring.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah. It’s reassuring knowing that calling everything off when we did was the right thing to do,” Alex acknowledges. “Doesn’t make it less painful, though.”
“Are you still in love with her?”
That’s a question for which Alex has not an answer yet. Does she miss her company, yes. They stated that already. But is Alex still in love with Kelly? Well, that’s complicated. Alex was in love with someone she thought was in love with her. Someone she thought she would be with forever. Someone she thought would put Alex before anyone else. But the fact that Kelly ended up choosing a child over her spoke volumes to Alex, making her realize a thing or two about herself and about them, and question another few.
“I don't know. I suppose it’s complicated.”
“I get it. You’ve been together for five years, Alex. You were barely eighteen when you met, new to this gigantic city and away from home. Life with her is pretty much the only kind of life you know here. So it’s not weird to feel like you don’t know where you’re standing right now.”
Alex knows there’s much truth in what Lucy is saying, but she also can’t agree with what her friend seems to be implying.
“I loved Kelly, and I was going to marry her because I was in love with her. I wasn’t as naive as your comment implies.”
“I'm not saying you didn’t, and I'm not saying you’re naive either. I’ve known you for just as long as Kelly, and I know how reasonable and mature you are,” Lucy asserts. “I'm just saying you were young and inexperienced when you two met, and everything happened so fast with the two of you. I mean, you didn’t get to fall in and out of love or make mistakes or fool around like any person at that age. But that’s okay because now you have that chance, but you won’t be able to do that if you keep hiding in your lab.”
Alex is not really surprised to hear this from Lucy. While her friend was genuinely happy and supportive when Alex told her about her engagement, she also showed a little bit of concern towards her, constantly albeit very subtly pointing out just how young she was for marriage as well as how hasty it all seemed to be.
Looking back now, Alex can admit Lucy might have had a point, but she’s not ready for that conversation yet.
“Enough of my weeping. Can we talk about something else?” Alex begs. “How about you? How are you?”
“Your weeping is the only reason we’re here, sweetie,” Lucy deadpans. Figuring she’s had more from Alex than she expected, she decides to cut her some slack. “I’m great. Happy to finally be hanging out with my best friend again.”
“We hang out at work pretty often.”
Lucy’s face turns expressionless. “Those half-hour breaks do not count as ‘hanging out’”.
Alex quirks a smile. “How are you and Vas doing?”
“Don’t want to come off as insensitive but since you asked we’re actually doing great.”
She smiles genuinely this time. “I’m glad to hear that, Luce. You deserve that.”
“So do you, Alex,” Lucy offers sympathetically.
The waiter chooses that moment to come with their deliciously looking dishes. After making sure everything is perfect, he excuses himself.
“By the way, how did the game go last night?” Alex asks before taking a bite of her pansotti with walnut sauce.
“They won!” She exclaims even though her mouth is full of Walford salad. “It was crazy, you should’ve seen it.”
“I’m sorry I missed it, Luce.”
“Mm, no, that’s okay,” she says once she swallows down. “Because they’re celebrating tonight. They’re throwing a party and we,” she wiggles her eyebrows, “are going.”
Alex frowns before her expression turns into one of mockery. “Oh ‘we’ are most definitely not.”
“You stood me up last night, sweetie, you owe me.”
“And that’s why dinner’s on me tonight.”
“Dinner won’t make up for it. You’re coming tonight.” Lucy's tone is confident.
But Alex’s one is resolute. “I’m not, Lucy. And that’s my final word.”
“Do I really need to do this, Luce?” Alex asks with a listless voice as Lucy practically drags her across the street and towards a luxurious building— the sound of their heels hitting the pavement with every step the only sound in the quiet, chill night. “I just want to go home and call it a night.”
“Come on, Alex! We talked about this, you need to come out and have some fun.”
“But I did! We just had dinner, and it was fun.”
“Oh please, that doesn’t count. You need to really come out, meet new people, fun people. Seriously, when was the last time you had fun?”
Alex sighs, ignoring the question. “I don’t feel like having that kind of fun, Lucy.”
“Let’s make a deal. Come to the party with me, let me introduce you to some people, very cool and fun people. I’ve got this friend that I think you’ll get along with. She’s hot and fun and an absolute goner for redheads.” Lucy’s enthusiasm is almost amusing to Alex. “Have a drink with her or with anyone you want, really, but just …socialize a little, please . And then, if you still want to leave, I promise I’ll take you home myself.”
“Seriously, Luce? I just broke up with Kelly, I’m not in the mood for meeting anyone.”
“It’s been months, Alex.”
“So what? I still think it’s too soon.”
“That makes exactly one out of the two of you,” Lucy points out with a stern gaze. “Come on, Alex, she’s moved on, why shouldn’t you do the same?” The look that Alex props her nearly makes her relent. Nearly. “Look I’m not saying you should come up and dive headfirst into a relationship with my friend, but at least let yourself be open to meeting new people while you enjoy a nice drink.”
Alex sighs again. Lucy has a point, she is allowed to have some fun, even if she’s not actively looking for a hookup. After all, the wounds of the breakup with Kelly are still fresh. The only problem is she’s still unconvinced. “But… I won’t know any of these people.”
“You know Vas. And hey, isn’t that the whole point of meeting new people anyway?”
“I don’t know the first thing about soccer.”
Lucy snorts. “Relax, it’s a party not a freaking exam, you nerd.”
When Alex finally runs out of excuses, she lets Lucy guide them towards the penthouse of the luxury building, where the party is being held. Alex is at least glad that she chose to dress up for dinner with Lucy. Until the last second, she was content enough with wearing dark jeans, a leather jacket and a pair of Dr. Martens, but when Lucy texted her ‘dress up, we are going to a fancy restaurant’ before picking her up for dinner, she decided to change into a navy blue dress and a pair of black heels— not without rolling her eyes first, of course. Now Alex realizes the restaurant wasn’t the real reason she was asked to dress up.
As they enter the penthouse, Alex notices two things: the first one is that the place is packed with an eclectic crowd; and the second, this gotta be one of the fanciest places she’s ever been. She tries to remember if she has ever been in a place like this before, but marveling over the view of the entire city through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the outdoor deck on the terrace, she concludes she definitely hasn’t. But it’s not just the view but also the whole place: everything looks so expensive. The whole aesthetic takes Alex to those deco magazines where you can daydream about your ideal home if you just have a few millions to spare.
“This is your friend’s place?” Alex raises her voice just enough so that Lucy can hear her over the loud music on the terrace.
Lucy shakes her head. “Definitely not my friend’s. But it’s nice, isn’t it?”
“It’s amazing.”
“Lucy! Hey, you made it, girl!” A cute brunette cheers when she spots Lucy among the crowded place. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Oh hi, Sam!” Lucy wraps her arms affectionately around her friend. “You too, honey, it’s been a hot minute. How’ve you been?!”
Pulling back, Sam— Alex learns— reaches for the golden medal that hangs from her neck and shows it to the other brunette flashing a huge, proud grin. “Not bad!”
“Oh my gosh, congrats, you guys!” She hugs her friend again before introducing Alex. “This is Alex, by the way. Alex, this is my amazing friend I mentioned before, Sam Arias. Best sweeper in the country and captain of this dream team.”
Alex has no idea what that means, but she smiles when she shakes Sam’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Sam. And um, congrats on the championship.”
“Thank you, Alex, and it's nice meeting you too. What would you guys like to drink? Please, just feel at home.”
“Speaking of home, who shall be our wealthy host?” Lucy asks curiously.
“That would be our Golden Girl,” Lucy’s girlfriend, Vas, joins the conversation, hugging Lucy from behind. “Hi, cutie.”
“There you are,” Lucy flashes a sweet smile before turning around in Vas’ arms and planting an affectionate kiss on her lips. “Congrats, baby. I knew you’d make it,” she says before kissing her girlfriend again.
When Lucy finally lets go, Vas turns to the redhead and greets her with a nod. “Hey, Alex. I see Lucy finally convinced you to come along.”
“Eh, ‘convince’ is not the word I’d use…” she mumbles, more to herself than anything else.
“I can be very persuasive,” Lucy comments with a seductive tone.
“Mm, don't I know that.” Vas pecks her on the lips before turning back to Alex. “I’m glad she did, by the way. It’s nice having you here.”
“Thanks, Vas.” Alex gives another look around the luxury place before inquiring. “So. Who is this golden girl you mentioned?”
Sam snorts as if she just told a joke, and the next thing Alex knows, a few heads are turned Alex’s way as if she were a freak.
“Um,” Alex trails, getting closer to her friend, suddenly feeling a little intimidated. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Nah, you didn’t,” she waves it off. “The Golden Girl is just another girl on the team.”
“Right, no one special, just the MVP for the third consecutive season and our stargirl,” Sam ironizes.
Lucy rolls her eyes. “She’s just the girl of the moment.”
“She’s also Lucy’s ex,” Vas adds with a mischievous smirk.
“Oh please, she’s not my ex. We dated for like five minutes, it was nothing.”
“Ouch.” A voice comes from behind Alex. “Stone cold.”
When Alex turns to look at the source, she spots a drop-dead gorgeous woman coming to stand right beside her. The first thing that Alex notices is the same golden medal Sam and Vas are wearing, resting over naked olive skin that contrasts perfectly with the white low cut button down she’s wearing tucked under high waist black leather pants (and if Alex stares a little too long, well, she can’t feel guilty about it).
Even clearly being the subject of their conversation—ergo, of Lucy’s dismissive comment— the woman is still portraying the most beautiful smile Alex has ever seen in her entire life.
Unfazed by her presence, Lucy acknowledges the newcomer. “Sawyer.”
“Lane.”
Alex would feel very uncomfortable by the sudden silence and tension that takes over if it wasn’t for the giant mocking grin planted on Vas’ face. Whatever this is, it’s clearly not a love triangle. Thankfully.
“Talking about me again, Lane? And in front of your girlfriend? Bold,” The newcomer says in what Alex reads as a playful tone.
Lucy rolls her eyes once again. “You wish.”
“She better not,” Vas adds playfully, triggering a laugh from the whole group.
“So Alex, this is Sawyer, aka the Golden Girl aka Stargirl,” Sam introduces.
“But please just call me Maggie.” She offers a hand in greetings and flashes the brightest double-dimpled smile Alex has ever seen, and something inside her ignites. A little starstruck by such beauty, Alex shakes the offered hand in autopilot but doesn’t miss the silky touch of Maggie’s hand on hers. “These assholes like to tease me about all that buzz, so please, don’t listen to anything they say.” She then points at Lucy. “Particularly this one.”
“You’re just afraid I’ll spill all your secrets.”
“I’ll try not to,” Alex says with a sympathetic smile. “I’m Alex, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Alex. I heard you were asking about me?”
“Don’t let it go to your head, Sawyer. Two minutes ago she didn't even know who you were,” Lucy taunts.
“In my defense, I don't know the first thing about soccer, or sports in general. So you shouldn’t take it personally.”
Maggie laughs. “Don’t worry, I won’t. How did you end up here then?”
“Lucy kinda dragged me along.”
“You say that like I forced you here.”
Alex winces a little. “Well…you kinda did.”
“As your dear friend, I can confirm you can get a little pushy sometimes,” Sam agrees.
“I thought persuasive was what we all agreed on just five minutes ago.”
As they all share a laugh, a beautiful older black woman reaches Maggie and whispers something in her ear, making the mirth in her eyes disappear.
“Regardless, I hope you don’t regret coming at all,” the beautiful brunette says, offering her a quick but sincere smile. On her part, Alex thinks seeing that smile alone is already worth her trouble. “Gotta take care of something right now but you guys enjoy the party.” She turns to Alex again before leaving. “I’ll see you around, Alex.”
As she watches her leave, Alex wonders if being that outstandingly beautiful is even legal.
“Alright, ladies,” Vasquez’s voice brings Alex back out of her awe. “I’m gonna take my beautiful girlfriend to the dance floor. Wanna join us?”
It feels like ages since Alex last danced at a party, and before her hips can remember how to swing, she needs a drink. “I think I’ll hit the bar first.”
“Yeah, I could use a drink too,” Sam says, offering her company to Alex.
“Cool.” Alex smiles, grateful that she won’t have to stand alone in a corner like a weirdo as the only people she knows here are dancing.
“Alright then, you two have fun, ladies.” Lucy winks suggestively at Alex as she and Vas head to the dancing sector.
She rolls her eyes at the lack of subtlety of her friend.
“Come with me, Alex. I’ll get us a drink,” Sam offers once it’s just the two of them.
They come up a few steps to the bar at the side of the terrace, where only a couple people are chatting and laughing with each other.
“What is it gonna be?” The tall brunette prompts.
“Oh, uh, just wine is fine.”
“Sure? I mean, they can make you a cocktail. Come on, what do you like?”
Alex has never been too keen on cocktails. In fact, her tastes are simple. She often drinks beer or wine and only when she comes home after a long day at work, feeling exhausted, can she enjoy a nice glass of whisky. But Sam is looking expectantly at her, apparently excited about the fact that she can get a fancy drink of her choice, and Alex doesn’t want to turn her down, so she asks for the first drink that comes to her mind.
“Alright, um. What about an aperol spritz?”
Sam flashes a pleased smile. “Excellent choice, I’ll have one too.”
The barman nods and promptly starts working on their drinks.
“I don’t usually drink alcohol, to be honest.” Sam leans on the bar as they wait for their drinks. “We have a very strict diet where alcohol is absolutely forbidden. But since we are celebrating I figured I can allow myself at least one drink tonight.”
“Of course you do.” The redhead agrees. “Honestly I’m not that much of a drinker either. Actually, I’m more of a social drinker myself, and usually it’s just wine or beer. Preferably wine.”
“Ooh, yes, I admit that there’s a special pleasure that comes from enjoying a nice meal with a nice cup of wine. Even more so if the company is just as nice.”
“Hard to beat that.” Alex giggles, trying to ignore the subtle note in Sam’s statement.
When the bartender hands them their drinks Alex follows Sam a few steps toward a very fancy linear gas fire pit set in the middle of the terrace, and they make themselves comfortable in the loungeset. They have a privileged sight of the entire city from there, one that has Alex’s jaw almost dropped.
Once they’re set, Sam raises her drink. “Should we make a toast?”
“Sure. To you guys.” Alex raises her glass as well.
But Sam shakes her head no. “To you, for joining us tonight.”
“In that case, to Lucy then. She’d like to get all the credit.” Alex jokes and takes the first sip of the surprisingly delicious cocktail.
“She certainly would,” Sam agrees, amused. “So how do you know each other?”
“We work together. She’s a legal consultant at the company I work for. We’re very good friends, she’s amazing.”
“I know, she’s the best.”
“What about you?” Judging by the affectionate hug they shared when they arrived, Alex figures they go way back.
“We went to college together. Then life took us down different paths, clearly, but we’ve been friends ever since. I actually introduced her to Vas.”
“Ohhh, they make such a cute couple, don’t they?”
They spot the pair dancing and acting foolish together on the dance floor. “They are pretty much made for each other, if you ask me.”
Alex smiles. Lucy does look happier whenever Vasquez is around.
“What about you?” Sam asks casually before sipping from her drink.
“Mhm?”
“I mean, do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend or…?”
“Oh.” She sips from her drink too. “I… no. No, I… Well, I had one. A girlfriend, I mean. But um, it didn’t work out.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, well…” She is too. “What about you?”
“Well, I’ve been dating this hot redhead for a couple months but it didn’t work out either.”
“That’s a bummer.”
“Eh. It wasn’t that serious anyway. She was great and all, but I don't know, I guess I was too focused on my career to engage in any kind of commitment,” Sam explains.
“That’s understandable. I mean, you guys spend most of your time training, right? And you are expected to perform at your 100% at every practice, otherwise you can lose your place in the starting lineup. So yeah, I believe it’s only fair that at some point you need to set your priorities right.”
Sam raises her eyebrows surprised by Alex’s reflection. “Damn. That's some deep thinking for someone who just said doesn't know the first thing about sports.”
“Well, I do talk to Lucy about stuff sometimes,” she admits. “Besides, we might not belong to the same line of work, but I do know a thing or two about prioritizing work over relationships.” She isn’t about to disclose her private life with someone she just met, but she figures she can share her own experience regarding the topic. “My ex and I loved each other very much, but we couldn’t make our priorities work. So yeah, I know how difficult it is to continue a relationship when the parties are not on the same page.”
“Was it serious?”
Alex nods resolutely. “We were together for five years.”
“Wow. That’s a lot. Was it recent?”
It’s been months, really, but Alex is still mourning that relationship. “It still stings, if that’s what you’re asking,” she answers in full honesty. “This is the first time after the breakup that I actually go out to a party like this and meet new people.”
“And how’s that going?”
Alex tugs her lip to the side. “It’s going good, actually.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, this is fun.”
“So it’s not a bad thing that Lucy pushed you a little, after all, is it?”
At that moment, Alex spots Maggie, the gorgeous hostess, at the distance, apparently engaged in a heated conversation with another woman. When their gazes cross, however, the crinkle in Maggie’s brow instantly vanishes, her features soften and a timid smile takes form on her lips. Even across an entire room, that half smile dazzles Alex’s eyes.
“Nope. Not bad at all,” she grants with her eyes still fixed in Maggie.
And Sam notices. Of course she does, because Alex can’t even try to conceal her starry eyes. But far from being annoyed, Sam is amused by the realization. “Wow. Okay. Okay, yeah, I get it.”
Suddenly mortified, Alex blushes and starts stammering. “What-- what is it? What?”
“I mean she is gorgeous.”
“I-- I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Alex gulps down the drink that she has barely touched since the bartender fixed it for her, prompting a chuckle from the other woman.
“Hey, if I ask you something, will you answer with honesty?”
“Depends on the something.”
“Fair enough,” Sam concedes. “Did Lucy try to set us up?”
Alex’s first instinct is to deny it, yet she considers her answer for a moment. “She…may have.”
Sam nods, but with a certain mirth in her gaze. “Yeah, I figured as much.”
“That bothers you?”
“Nah. It’s just I don’t think it’s working for you, is it?” Before Alex can say anything, Sam beats her to it. “And before you try to deny it, I did notice how you looked at Maggie when I introduced her to you.”
This time Alex bashfully lowers her gaze and fixes it on her drink. “Sorry if I made this awkward.”
But Sam lets out a reassuring laugh. “Nah, don’t worry, you didn’t,” she promises. “It’s not a competition for me. She’s pretty awesome too, so I can't really blame you.”
“Not like I’m planning on even talking to her,” she dismisses any possibility.
“Why not?”
“Like I said, I'm just getting out of a relationship. I’m not sure I'm ready to dive into anything just yet, even if it’s just for fun.”
“I get it, it’s still raw for you.”
“Exactly.” Alex feels relieved to finally find someone that gets her. “And Lucy has the best of intentions, and I love her for that, but honestly, it was never in my plans to come here and meet anyone.”
“It’s okay, Alex. Time works differently for everybody. But…” Sam stands up and extends her right hand to the redhead. “ …that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun and dance, does it? I mean, we’re already here.”
Feeling a little more relaxed, Alex smiles and takes Sam’s hand. There’s something about the tall brunette that makes Alex feel comfortable, some feeling of genuine camaraderie. Like maybe they could be great friends someday. It’s probably not what Lucy meant for them but who knows, maybe it’s for the better. Alex actually endorses the idea.
They leave their drinks aside, and join Lucy and Vasquez who are still moving at the rhythm of the music, as if they haven’t been dancing for the last thirty minutes.
The four women dance to the rhythm of some remix version of Miley Cyrus’ Flowers and when the music turns to something with a more sensual tinge, Sam swiftly takes Alex’s hand inviting her to dance closer together.
Much to her own surprise, Alex enjoys this. It’s been quite some time since the last time she went out dancing. When she was younger and single she loved going out dancing with her friends, but after she started dating Kelly, she stopped doing it altogether because her ex never really digged it. They would usually go out and have fun with friends but never go out dancing.
It’s in details like this that Alex becomes more aware of how the age gap between her and Kelly had unbeknownst influenced their relationship, and how without being fully conscious she had adapted to her ex. Now Alex realizes she had forgotten how good it felt to let herself go and how much she missed having this kind of fun.
As she and Sam sway their bodies together— very together— Alex catches Maggie again, at the bar this time, staring at them— or more precisely staring at her, before looking away and promptly nodding and smiling at something someone in the group of people around her is saying. Feeling Sam’s hands roaming over her body as they dance, Alex wonders if she imagined the disappointed look in the brunette’s eyes as she watched them dance together.
When the DJ changes the track to some remixed ABBA song, the small crowd of dancers goes wild and the dancing duo let go of each other. Lucy takes the opportunity to lean closer to Alex and speak close to her ear so that only Alex can hear. “That’s going well, right?”
Alex nods with a content smile. “It’s going great, actually! Only not the kind of great I suppose you were expecting it to go.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think we’ll be friends!”
Lucy smirks. “What kind of friends?”
“Not that kind, Luce.”
“Why not? She’s hot!”
“I know, I do have eyes,” she quips.
“So?”
Alex purses her lips and shrugs. “Luce, you can’t force chemistry.”
“Are you kidding me? That woman is chemistry!”
Alex chuckles at her friend’s antics when a hard bulk collides against her back and a sudden coldness in her lower back stiffens her body. Next thing she knows, her butt and legs and feet are soaking wet.
“What the fff--” Alex gasps feeling her backside soaked.
“Woah!” All Sam, Lucy and Vas say in unison.
“Shit! Fuck, I’m so sorry!” A voice quickly says and when Alex looks up, it’s Maggie holding an empty glass who is desperately apologizing to her.
“Are you fucking kidding me?!” She snaps at the brunette.
“Sawyer. Why am I not surprised?” Lucy remarks ironically.
“It wasn’t my fault!”
As if on cue, a woman who Alex has seen dancing around just moments ago, assumes full responsibility. “It’s my bad, I’m so sorry! I twisted my ankle and lost my balance.” She apologizes with a clear grimace of pain.
Alex looks down at the woman’s feet and sure enough she is wearing a pair of stilettos heels. Alex wonders how her ankle didn’t break at all. “It’s fine,” she huffs, though her frown doesn’t make it so convincing.
“It’s not. At least let me get you something to clean up.” Maggie speaks over the loud music.
“Sorry!” The other woman insists, limping her way towards the nearest sofa.
A little calmer, Alex accepts Maggie’s offer. “Fine, maybe I could use some towels.”
“Of course, come with me.”
“We’ll wait here,” Sam nods when Alex offers her an apologetic smile before following Maggie’s lead.
Alex figured they would go to the toilette she assumes this huge place might have somewhere around, but when Maggie leads her up the stairs she realizes she assumed wrong. In complete silence and observing the party from above, Alex follows the brunette to the top floor and when the lights turn on, Alex’s jaw drops.
They are in Maggie’s bedroom, but this isn’t just like any bedroom. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, the view of National City is nothing short of spectacular. Alex wonders how magical it must be watching the sunset from the comfort of the ginormous bed.
Immersed in the extravagance of this place, Alex suddenly finds herself daydreaming about how marvelous the view must be when it pours. She always secretly loved watching the rain fall, even if she never liked the cold. There’s something about it that gives her this sense of safety and comfort that not many other things do.
At some point, Maggie’s voice brings her out of her amazement and Alex realizes she has been gaping. “The bathroom’s that way and the towels are in the cabinet under the sink.”
“Thanks.” It’s only now that Alex notices that Maggie’s white shirt is completely stained and ruined. “Oh shit, your shirt too.”
“It’s fine, I can change into something else. I'll be in the closet, so just yell if you need anything else, okay?” She points to the room contiguous to the bathroom.
Still a little starstruck by all the luxury, Alex nods and walks into the bathroom to clean herself up. At this point she isn’t surprised that the bathroom is almost as big as the entire bedroom, or that it has a bathtub in the middle of it— as if it were completely normal to have a freaking bathtub in the middle of your bathroom. What finishes blowing her mind, however, is that the view is as spectacular as the one from the bedroom.
Alex only ever saw this kind of luxury in movies.
She gets a clean towel from under the sink as Maggie indicated and uses the fancy bathtub to rinse her feet and legs covered with alcohol. She feels bad for ruining the immaculate white towel with these reddish drink stains, but then she figures that if Maggie can afford a place like this, she can also afford a new towel.
When she comes out, Maggie is already waiting for her. Alex notices she has changed up into a black sheer slim shirt half tucked into the same leather pants she has been wearing, exposing a considerable part of her chest. But it’s the fact that Alex can also see Maggie’s perfect abs through her shirt that has her useless gay mind short-circuiting.
“All cleaned up?”
“Yeah. Except for my dress, unfortunately. I think it’s ruined.” She spins her torso to look at the huge stain in her navy blue dress from the waist down.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry, Alex. I promise I’ll pay for the dry cleaner. Just send me the bill.”
“If there’s any chance they can save the dress, I just might.”
Maggie pops an apologetic smile and that alone is enough to weaken Alex’s legs. “Oh and sorry for the bump, too. I fully got you down there, didn’t I? I hope I didn't hurt you.”
“You didn’t hurt me, don’t worry. Only my ego,” she jokes. “And my dress.”
“Damn, what a disastrous first impression I made, huh?”
“Yeah I guess you could’ve done better.”
“Maybe you could give me a chance to amend my screwup?” Maggie suggests.
Alex purses her lips in consideration, losing herself for a moment in Maggie’s black lacy bra that she can also see through her shirt. “Maybe. But not tonight, though. I think this was my cue to call it a night.”
“Oh already?” The brunette asks with clear disappointment in her voice.
“I can’t exactly go on with a huge red stain in my ass.”
“I mean I could lend you something. Maybe a dress?”
“That’s nice of you, but I don’t think it would fit anyway.”
“Of course it would. Actually, just, wait a second…” Maggie trails as she runs back into the closet. “I think I might have something here that could work just fine.” Alex hears her say from the other room before she comes back with a beautiful bottle green sequin sheath dress. “Here, try this one on.”
“Oh my god, it’s beautiful,” she says admiring the dress.
“You may use the closet.”
“Wait, are you sure?” Alex notices the dress still has the label. “This is new!”
“I owe you a dress, don’t I?”
“Not yet, you don’t.”
“Well, you can have it until we figure that out, then. That way I can personally see that yours is saved.” She concludes. “Come on now, try it on.”
When Alex walks into the closet, she’s not surprised by its luxury anymore. She’s already expecting the large windows and vast spaces, so she only focuses on her outfit. Even though she knew the dress would fit perfectly when she saw it, she still lets out a sigh of both relief and wonder when she looks at herself in the mirror. She looks amazing.
“Wow,” Maggie gasps when she comes out. “You look beautiful, Alex.”
“It’s good, isn’t it?”
Nearly gaping at her, Maggie nods dumbfounded. “It’s perfect.”
Feeling a little shy under the brunette’s intense gaze, Alex clears her throat. “Um. So why do you have this dress anyway? It doesn't seem your fit.” Or her style, if Alex would have to guess.
“It was meant for my ex, actually. I got it for her as a birthday present,” Maggie tells her.
“Oh.”
“Don’t worry, she won’t miss it.” Maggie is quick to assure. “We broke up before I could give it to her.”
“Oh,” she repeats. “I’m sorry.”
Maggie waves it off. “It’s been collecting dust for weeks now. I’m glad someone can finally use it.”
“Why didn’t you just return it? Or exchange it for something for you?”
“I’d say it’s a good thing I didn't.” Maggie nods at Alex to make her point.
Looking at her reflection in the window, Alex can’t disagree. “I will return it to you though.”
“Seriously, keep it, I don’t mind. It’s not like I will use it anyway.”
“It’s a lot, Maggie.”
“It’s just a dress.”
“A haute couture and probably very expensive dress.”
“Still just a dress.” Maggie insists. “Shall we go back downstairs?”
“Sure, let me just clean my shoes. They are all sticky.”
Maggie promptly grabs something from the bedside table’s drawer and hands it to Alex. “Here, help yourself with this.”
Alex frowns as she takes it. “Thanks.”
“What?”
“This is convenient.”
Maggie shrugs. “It’s just wet towels.”
“In your bedside table?”
“Sure. They come in handy more often than not. Like now, for example.”
Alex raises her eyebrows skeptically. “Do you make a habit of getting women wet and taking them into your bedroom?” Just as soon as the last word comes out of her mouth the double sense strikes for Alex. When she looks at Maggie, she knows the brunette is striving to keep a straight face. “Don’t answer that! I didn’t mean it like that.”
Maggie can’t hold the chuckle that blurts out. She mimics a zipper on her mouth and holds her hands up in surrender, albeit with a giant smirk that makes Alex’s knees go weak anew.
~
When they come back down, before Alex can even spot her friends, Maggie lays a gentle hand over her forearm. Alex isn’t sure if it’s the height difference accentuated by her heels or the dim lights on Alex’s back shadowing Maggie, but the brunette suddenly looks smaller and shy and nothing like she had looked like just a minute ago.
“Hey, um, Alex? I should go check that everyone is behaving and having a good time but um, I was wondering if you would like to have a drink with me after that.”
Alex didn’t come here expecting to meet someone or to even have a good time at all; it was Lucy who dragged her along. All Alex wanted tonight was to make it up to Lucy for standing her up last night and go home to continue feeling sorry for herself.
But Alex wasn’t counting on meeting someone who would make the butterflies she thought dead go wild in her stomach again at the mere flash of a smile. She wasn’t counting on feeling that adrenaline you get when you meet someone you like again. And she definitely wasn’t counting on entertaining the possibility to stop dwelling in the past and start moving forward.
It’s the first time in months that Alex actually wants to have fun without feeling guilty or sad about what happened. For the first time in months, Alex feels excited about something. She realizes she has to do something about it, something like being brave and letting herself be open and free again.
“Will you let me drink it this time instead of making me wear it?” She deadpans, a promising glint in her eyes.
And there it goes again that smile that rattles the butterflies in her stomach. “I’ll try my best. But just in case, I promise I will be having something that matches your dress this time.”
“How thoughtful of you.”
They agree to meet again by the bar on the terrace before Maggie winks at her and disappears into the crowded party. When Alex finally spots Lucy and her friends chatting in the living room she joins them with one fixed purpose: talking to Lucy.
“Girl, it took you some time,” Lucy says as Alex walks their way, gasping when she notices the new outfit. “Wow!”
“I know right?!” Alex poses and smiles.
“Dude! Where did you get that dress?”
“Maggie lent it to me. Mine was ruined.”
“Wow. How generous of her.” Lucy hums. “Anyway, I was waiting for you. Wasn’t sure if you’d want to stay after all that.”
She sits on the sofa next to her friend. “Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”
“…Okay?”
“Maggie,” Alex trails, trying to come off casual.
“Yeah…? What about her?” She questions, narrowing her eyes. “Oh no. I know that look.”
“I’m just asking.”
“What exactly are you asking?”
“Just how ‘not serious’ you guys were?” Alex air quotes.
“Oh dear God. Not you too.”
“What? Is it weird? I mean, you did say that it was nothing, but if it is weird I’ll let it go.”
“What happened with Sam?” Lucy asks instead.
“Sam is great but I just don’t like her that way.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Look you know damn well I didn’t come here expecting anything. Hell, I didn't even want to come. But maybe you were right and it’s time for me to meet other people and have fun and I don’t know, Maggie seems cool. I mean, she’s cute and nice--”
“Woah, woah, woah. What are you saying, Alex?”
Alex stills for a moment and swallows thick. Maybe she was wrong, and Lucy lied about Maggie meaning nothing to her back then. Maybe this is weird for Lucy, and Alex shouldn’t have said anything--
“Are you saying I was right?!” Lucy gasps exaggeratedly. “Is Alex Danvers finally admitting I was right?!”
Alex rolls her eyes, feeling like she can breathe again. “Asshole.”
Lucy just laughs and shoves her playfully. “Go! Have fun! I like to mess with her but she’s pretty great. I'm not surprised she caught your eye, to be honest.”
“So you don’t mind?”
“Alex! Don’t be ridiculous. You’re hot and single and she’s hot and according to the tabloids also single, so go be hot together!” She encourages. “I only feel bad for Sam, if anything.”
When Alex raises her gaze to look for the tall brunette, she spots her amicably talking with Maggie. “She’ll be fine.”
“So, Sawyer, huh?” Lucy nods approvingly. “It’s the smile, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“I mean, I know those double dimples are kind of irresistible, after all I’ve fallen victim to them at some point too. I just never thought they would be so powerful to change your stubborn mind quite so quickly.” Lucy deadpans mischievously.
“Shut up!” Her face heats up and she shoves Lucy playfully, but she doesn’t deny it.
Lucy cackles and hugs her friend, smacking a sound kiss on Alex’s cheek. “Now go have fun.” She nods towards the terrace where Maggie is already waiting for Alex.
