Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Graphic credits goes to - jaded_maven

The next day Hazel made short work of packing up her stuff and helping everybody else with theirs, eager to get home and get ready for her Monday with Elora. 

As soon as they entered the apartment, she made a beeline for her room and shut herself inside, fully intending to stay there for the rest of the day.

Knowing Hazel had her own unique routines, Kit didn't think much of it until a couple of hours had gone by with not so much as a peep from the other room. 

Starting to get worried, Kit decided to make them both a snack and check on her sister. 

“Hazel. Open up. I made us some food,” She called, knocking on the door.

At the sound of her sister's voice, Hazel huffed and paused the movie she was watching.

"I'm not hungry." She called back, tapping her pencil on her notepad idily. 

“You gotta eat; you haven’t eaten anything since this morning; what’s going on? Let me help you.” 

Kit waited, silently imploring Hazel to open the door, knowing her sister had the tendency not to notice basic needs, like hunger or tiredness, when she got focused on something. She was also worried Elora might have done something to upset her. 

If Danan hurt her, I will kick that woman’s ass all the way to next year.

Hazel rolled her eyes at the worried tone of Kit's voice, thinking her sister was being dramatic. 

"Well, I don't feel hungry," 

Kit shook her head, not the least bit surprised by the answer or the sassy tone. 

“Yeah, it’s called hyperfocus. Now you should come open the door; I got delicious food and water; you can’t let yourself get dehydrated."

Kit used her sweetest tone, trying to appeal to Hazel's sensible side. 

"Please let me in?” 

"Oh my god, If I eat, will you leave me alone?" Hazel huffed and got up, tossing her pencil onto the bed and marching over to the door. 

As the door swung open, Kit startled back and held up the plates with a sheepish smile, very aware of Hazel's foul mood. 

“Yes, I'll leave you alone as soon as you tell me what you're doing that's stopping you from eating!” 

Kit tried to look around the door to figure out what Hazel had been up to.

Seeing what Kit was doing, Hazel gave her an exasperated look and pulled the door closer to her shoulders to keep her sister from snooping, earning a disgruntled sound from Kit. 

"I'm busy," she stated firmly, taking one of the plates. The moment she caught a whiff of the food, a small pang of hunger hit her.

Her expression turned guilty. 

"Thank you, though," she muttered quietly.

"You're welcome." Kit nodded and instantly took advantage of the shift in Hazel's mood, shouldering past the older girl and stepping into the room, ignoring the growl of frustration Hazel let out. 

"Busy with what exactly?" 

Hazel shook her head. She knew there was no point in trying to kick her sister out, so she made her way over to the desk to eat, wanting to avoid getting crumbs on her bed. 

"Research," She answered simply, motioning towards the stack of romantic movies she had piled up on the media center.

“Research on…?” Kit asked, glancing curiously at the pile of titles. 

“Are you writing a screenplay?” she added, eyeing her sister carefully. 

“No... I'm taking notes. You had all of these 'romantic' movies, and I thought it would be useful to get some information for my first city date with Elora,” Hazel explained between bites. 

“I want to do it right,” she added with a shrug.

Kit nodded, suppressing a smile at Hazel’s wholesome answer, and observed her sister for a moment. She wanted to ask what Hazel was most concerned about but hesitated, not wanting to say something that might make her feel like a child or put her on the defensive. Instead, Kit opted to keep the conversation light and casual.

“What have you learned so far?” She asked curiously. 

Eager to share her discoveries, Hazel held up a finger, quickly finished her next bite, then got up to grab her notepad off the bed, flipping to the first page.

"First, girls seem to like to get flowers or chocolate. I don't know what Elora would like, so I've decided on both,” Hazel began, reading off her list of bullet points.

“Second, I should take her somewhere memorable because first dates should be memorable…” She continued, about to elaborate, before the next point caught her eye.

“Oh, and people like to touch the other person's face when they kiss, so I need to learn how to do that... maybe it'll make it better." She concluded and shrugged, looking up at Kit. 

"Do I have it right so far?"

Kit smiled at Hazel's obvious excitement and nodded. 

“Yes, you're not wrong. Location can be important, and even I like flowers. They're not a need, but they’re nice." Kit paused, watching as Hazel started taking notes.

“Don’t sweat it about holding her face. Holding her waist or playing with the hair on the back of her neck is also a good way to impress,” she continued, as Hazel nodded along studiously, jotting everything down.

“So you’re nervous, huh? Kit inquired gently, hoping Hazel would open up more.

Looking up from her notes, Hazel gave a small nod. "I am a little nervous, but my research is helping." 

She looked back down, reading over what Kit had said. 

"So you said I should touch her neck—that seems weird. I can try, but as you know, I don't like touching much, so we'll see." 

She sighed and continued to stare at her list.

Hazel's nerves were palpable. Kit knew how scary new things were for her, especially with the potential for judgment. But she also believed Hazel was more than capable of rising to almost any occasion. 

Even as children, Hazel would often have meltdowns and run away from things that frightened her. Yet, when push came to shove, she always found a way to make things work.

"You're gonna do great. If you're not comfortable touching her neck, you don't have to—it's not a requirement. The best thing you can do is ask her what she likes." 

Kit advised with a reassuring smile as Hazel looked back up, briefly meeting her eyes.

"Thank you, that's helpful," Hazel muttered, casting her eyes back down and jotting down the new information. 

"You're welcome. Now, have you decided where you're taking her?” Kit asked curiously

Hazel shrugged, shifting her attention to the list of possible date locations. 

"I know she wants to go to a scary movie and dinner, but I think I want to take her to the aquarium first because the first time we really talked after everything, we talked about jellyfish, and she mentioned going to the aquarium, so I think maybe it would be a good choice." 

She reasoned and looked up at her sister expectantly, looking for any sign she might be on the wrong track.

Hazel's tendency to rush her thoughts together when nervous was one of the few things Kit noted she and her sister had in common. However, she refrained from pointing it out, knowing it would only upset Hazel further.

“That’s genius! Great job, Hazey.” Kit praised, genuinely happy for her sister. Hazel beamed in response and began checking things off in her notebook.

There was a time when Kit would have thought Hazel's tendency to take notes was the nerdiest thing she'd ever seen. But as the years had passed without her sister by her side, she'd come to miss it and now looked at it with nothing but fondness.

“What kind of food are you thinking?” Kit continued, looking for any areas where Hazel might need her help.

Hazel continued making quick checkmarks next to the things she'd told Kit about as a reminder that they were good choices. Then, she looked up, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"I don't know yet. After I'm done with these movies, I was gonna text her and ask what her favorite food is and take her somewhere that serves it," she answered with a shrug.

"Sounds like you don't need my help; you have it all figured out. " Kit grinned.

"Thanks... Oh, that reminds me," Hazel said, her expression shifting. "Mom promised she's gonna give me access to her bank account soon, but until then, could I borrow a credit card? I promise I'll pay you back."

She hesitated, looking down for a moment before continuing. "I mean, I'd use my own if Jade would give me back my debit card, but unless you can convince her, I don't have my money," Hazel grumbled, giving Kit a hopeful look.

"Of course, you can use mine," Kit agreed happily. "Also, remember, we're having dinner at Ballantine’s this week, so no making second-date plans for Friday."

Kit wiggled her eyebrows teasingly, fully aware that Hazel wouldn’t want to wait too long for that second date.

"Oh right, got it, thanks." Hazel nodded and made another note.

She had missed having a physical notepad to write in. Digital notes worked, but they didn’t have the same satisfying effect, and she found things became clearer to her when she had to physically write them out.

"Now, can you tell me why you do that funny thing with your eyebrows? I do it sometimes, but I don’t think I actually know what it means."

Kit chuckled at Hazel's quick shift from concentrated focus to curious and expectant.

“Well, it usually means something like…” Kit paused, trying to find the right words. 

“Remember when we were kids and people sang the kissing song? Well, it's kind of the adult version of that,” she explained in the best way she could.

"Oh... I didn't like the kissing song, but good to know." Hazel nodded and made another quick note, frowning deeply as she scratched that off her list of facial expressions. 

“Well, you can use that to tease someone too. It doesn’t mean just one thing,” Kit quickly clarified, realizing she might not have explained it correctly.

"Oh," Hazel muttered and quickly re-wrote it, circling it with a question mark and making a little notation beside it to remind herself it could be used under certain circumstances. 

“Hazel, it’s going to be fun. Elora is smitten by you,” Kit reassured, wishing she could ease her sister's nerves once and for all.

Hazel sighed and moved to sit on the end of the bed, folding her legs under her and resting the pad of paper on her lap. 

"I know it might be fun, but I don't want to mess up," she admitted, looking at the TV. "I know most people my age are more advanced, and she's dated a lot of people. What if she thinks I'm too backward for her? Or stupid?" 

She asked quietly, staring at the couple frozen on the screen in so-called romantic bliss, smiling lovingly at each other.

Kit followed her sister's gaze and sighed, wishing Hazel wouldn't compare herself to fiction. She wanted to say something but knew better than to interrupt before Hazel had completed a thought.

"She might not yet, but if I mess up too often, she might change her mind," Hazel continued quietly, thinking about how much more sure and confident everybody looked in the movies, while she didn't understand or like half the things she saw.

Romantic gestures made very little sense to her in the grand scheme of things. Flowers would just bring bugs and eventually die; chocolates were nice, but she didn't see why it was considered romantic.

Candles were a fire hazard, and she didn't even want to venture a guess as to why people threw rose petals on their beds.

"Hazel... movies and TV aren't real. They might give you a general idea of what to do in some situations, like your date idea, but beyond that, they aren't realistic." 

Kit spoke gently, doing her best not to make Hazel feel like all of her 'research' had been for nothing. "People are flawed; nothing ever goes perfectly. The best we can do is try."

She watched Hazel frown in thought. "Look, like I said before, Elora likes you. Just treat her kindly and be yourself, and everything will go fine."

She concluded in a comforting tone.

Hazel nodded, processing everything Kit had told her for a few moments before responding. 

"Thanks... I guess it's all just new." She sighed and stared at the notebook in her hands, hoping her sister was right. 

It felt strange hearing somebody tell her to be herself. Being herself was the last thing she'd been taught to be, but Kit had sounded so sure of herself. It made Hazel almost think it wouldn't be such a bad thing. 

“I get that; everybody gets nervous in new situations." Kit smiled and sat down next to Hazel. "Now tell me, how do you plan to end the night?” She asked curiously, observing her sister.

Hazel was often hard to read. The deep frown she wore could indicate any number of things, from concentration or anger to frustration, and sometimes even curiosity.

"With a goodnight kiss," Hazel answered and bit her lip in thought, her expression becoming more animated. "Well, actually, I'll have to ask her about that. Because if we're not going to sleep, I'm not sure if it counts as a goodnight kiss. We might have to make up a new one." 

She rambled, jotting down another note and flipping the page.

Kit raised her eyebrows, struggling not to interrogate her sister to figure out what she was talking about, but decided it was something that might be better left for Elora to talk to her about. 

“Sounds like a good plan.” She smiled.

"Good, because I don't have much time to try and think of another one." Hazel shrugged, her eyes catching the TV again, reminding her she hadn't finished her research. 

"Ok, I've eaten; you can go now," she dismissed abruptly, picking up the remote and motioning for Kit to leave.

Kit would have been offended and snapped back angrily If it had been anybody else, but she was slowly starting to re-learn her sister's quirks. She knew Hazel wasn't trying to be rude; she was simply stating a fact, but she did wish Hazel had asked her to stay instead. 

“Ok, but leave the door open so I can bring you popcorn,” She replied kindly as she started for the door, hoping snacks might be enough to get Hazel to agree for her to come back and possibly invite her to stay. 

"I don't like popcorn; it smells like feet and gets stuck in my teeth," Hazel replied bluntly, staring at the TV, her finger hovering over the play button, waiting for Kit to leave.

Kit narrowed her eyes a bit, realizing it wasn't going to be easy to get an invite to join Hazel. 

“Okay, I’ll bring you a different snack. Can't have you weak on your date,” she joked, doing her best to stall, hoping Hazel would realize it could be fun to watch movies together.

Frowning, Hazel looked at Kit. “The date isn’t ‘til tomorrow, and I already ate. You brought me food,” she reminded her, tilting her head slightly.

“You aren’t leaving, are you? Is it because you don’t want to?” she asked curiously, picking up on her sister’s odd behavior.

Taking Hazel's question as an invitation, Kit immediately ran back and plopped down on her stomach next to her on the bed.

“Yes, I could keep you company,” she answered enthusiastically, resting her hands under her chin and staring at the TV. 

She hoped Hazel would just hit play and not ask any more questions, afraid the older girl would change her mind. 

Hazel shook her head at Kit's antics and scooted back to lean against the headboard, leaving her sister at the end of the bed alone. 

"Why didn't you just say that? You know it's easier for me if you tell me what you want," she reminded her before hitting play.

"You're right; I'm sorry. I should have just asked to join you," Kit agreed, looking back at Hazel. 

"Forgive me?" she asked sweetly. 

Hazel rolled her eyes. 

"Watch the TV, Kit," she ordered, barely containing an amused smile.

“Awesome! Yes, let’s dive into that research,” Kit agreed with a smile, turning her attention back to the TV, thrilled her sister didn't send her away.

"You're so weird," Hazel muttered, shooting her sister a fond look. 

She then focused on the TV again, secretly happy to have Kit with her.

~

The next day, Jade paced from one side of her expansive office to the next. While Kit was still technically on vacation, she had agreed to start doing events again, and this would be the last day before Jade was officially back on duty as her security.

She had weighed her options carefully, debating whether she should do this or not. 

As the day wore on, she felt like it was necessary. Now, all that was left for her to do was bite the bullet—so to speak—and get it over with.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened out her blouse, smoothed down any imperfections in her flawlessly tailored suit, and held her head high before exiting the comfort of her office and making her way up to the biggest one in the building. 

Her confident stride and professional air masked her crackling nerves perfectly. 

To an outsider, she would appear like the picture of confidence, while on the inside, she was little more than a scared teenager about to present herself to the chopping block. She wondered if those who knew her best would be able to sense her nerves. She hoped not.

Approaching the assistant desk, Jade gave a small, polite nod and asked if Sorsha was in. 

It felt ridiculous waiting on a formality to speak to a woman she'd known almost her entire life. So, as the woman picked up the phone, Jade waved her off and strode down the hall before she lost the courage.

She gave two quick knocks before turning the long handle and peeking her head in. Thankfully, Sorsha was alone at her desk, glasses perched on the end of her nose as she looked up from the paperwork she'd been going over.

"May I come in, ma'am?" Jade sounded small, even to her own ears. She inwardly cringed.

Sorsha nodded and motioned for the woman to come in.

"The door's always open for you, unless someone's in here with me, Jade. You know that."

She took off her glasses and waited. She had a feeling she knew what this was about.

"Right. Yes," Jade said, walking in a little stiffer than usual, adjusting her blazer for the tenth time in the last five minutes.

She felt a little silly. She knew that had always been the rule with Sorsha; she never failed to make time for her girls. 

Jade took larger steps, trying to cover the distance in the shortest time possible and hopefully end her humiliation.

She paused as she reached the desk, her mind searching for anything to say.

"How... how’s your day been?" she asked in a silly attempt at small talk.

Quirking a knowing eyebrow at the woman she knew like a daughter, Sorsha motioned for her to take a seat.  

"It's been fine, but I know you didn't come here to make small talk... what's on your mind?"

"Oh good, good, that’s good," Jade replied uneasily, her nerves ticking up a notch under Sorsha's watchful gaze.

Deciding she wasn't being rational, Jade took a deep breath, taking a moment to center herself and find her words.  

"Kit comes back tomorrow," she spoke as she took a seat in front of Sorsha, her nerves under control for the moment.

"Yes." Sorsha acknowledged and watched Jade closely, trying to determine where her line of thinking was going.

"If this is about your position, Jade. I'm sure Hazel will take over for Kit as soon as we get the legal issues sorted, and then it won't be a problem, but until then, you'll oversee my security, and you can appoint somebody else to Kit."

Jade nodded, acutely aware of her temporary demotion.  

"Yes, ma’am," she replied softly, pulling an envelope from her jacket and sliding it across the desk.

"That’s taken care of; I made the decision over the weekend," she nodded toward the envelope, which resembled a resignation letter more than an assignment memorandum.  

For the first time since entering the room, her tone carried its usual confidence.

Tapping her fingers against the letter thoughtfully, Sorsha watched Jade for a moment before speaking.  

"I'm trusting you with my life, Jade, just as I’ve trusted you with hers. You mustn't forget that here, I hold a higher position than Kit," she said, raising a knowing eyebrow.

"This isn't a demotion. This is me making room for the two of you to be together without any talk of conflict of interest," she concluded with a smile.

Jade nodded, feeling a bit emotional at the way Sorsha protected her. 

She cleared her throat and composed herself before speaking again.

“That’s actually what I came here to discuss with you, ma’am,” she said in a serious tone, doing her best to sound professional.

"I'm listening." Sorsha leaned back in her chair, waiting for Jade to continue.

"Okay, first off, Kit will kill me if she finds out I did this. But I feel it’s important to be upfront with you, considering... past events."

Jade looked down, guilt washing over her as she caught Sorsha’s raised eyebrow.

She would never forgive herself for not double-checking who occupied the adjacent room that night. 

Shaking her head to clear her mind, she looked back up with renewed determination.

"Ma'am, I love your daughter very much. I always have. I wanted to let you know that I officially asked her to be my girlfriend over the weekend."

She concluded, bracing herself for any potential scolding.

"It's about time," Sorsha said with a smile, shaking her head. 

"Also, if you want to keep any secrets, I might suggest being cautious around Hazel." She smirked. 

Hazel was many things, but discreet wasn’t one of them.

“Hazel?” Jade asked, a bit confused. 

“What did Hazel say? And When?” 

"Nearly as soon as you all got back to town yesterday. Apparently, she couldn't sleep much that first night... wild animals or something of that nature." Sorsha raised an eyebrow at Jade, clearly amused.

"It seems she's also quite fond of the doctor," she added casually.

Jade's blush nearly matched her hair color.

“Well, yes, coyotes or something,” she joked with an uneasy smile, shifting uncomfortably in her seat under Sorsha's amused gaze.

“As for Hazel and Elora, they're getting along well. I'm not sure of the details, but I'm confident she'll keep you updated,” she added quickly, never one to spill her protectees’ secrets, even if said protectee was a little snitch. 

She made a mental note to have a word with Hazel.

"Of that, I have no doubt," Sorsha laughed.

"While I find it noble that you're trying to protect what you think are her secrets, I can assure you they aren’t. I received a full rundown of their very first 'camping' date, and apparently, tomorrow is their first official 'city' date." She shook her head, thoroughly amused.

“What? Kit and I didn’t even get a report!” Jade laughed, finally feeling at ease with the woman again. 

"No? Well, I am her mother, so that might have something to do with it," Sorsha replied, unable to suppress a beaming smile. 

Realizing that Hazel wanted to share things with her—things she didn’t even share with Kit or Jade—made her feel special, as though Hazel was welcoming her back into her rightful role.

“I’m happy for you, Sorsha.” Jade smiled at Sorsha's obvious glee; her bright smile was a welcome sight after the many years of sadness they’d all endured.

“Just to wrap up our original topic: now that you know about us, Kit and I will be sitting down with the PR team tomorrow to discuss how they want to handle our relationship.” She added with a sigh, feeling a pang of guilt for how nervous she had been.

"I guess I didn’t have to button my jacket or be scared, huh?”

Sorsha shook her head, standing up to walk around the desk as she motioned for Jade to come in for a hug.

“I’ve watched you grow up, Jade. I’ve always loved you as part of the family; this is no different.”

She spoke warmly, pulling away and gripping Jade's shoulders tightly.

“But when it comes to matters involving my daughter... let’s just say a healthy amount of fear is a good thing.” She added, winking playfully.

Jade chuckled nervously and nodded. “Understood. I’m on my way out, so I’ll let you wrap up your day.”

She took a moment to gather her thoughts before adding, “I’ll see you tomorrow bright and early, Sorsha. Thank you for your support.”

"Of course, dear. Thank you for telling me; I appreciate it." 

She smiled and returned to her desk to continue pouring over paperwork. "Now go enjoy your evening. I’ll see you tomorrow."

~

Later that afternoon, Hazel stood in front of Elora's door, trying to figure out how to knock with both hands occupied. 

Huffing in frustration, she finally decided to set one item down before rapping her knuckles against the door in a familiar pattern. 

She counted out four thumps and repeated the pattern once more, then quickly picked up the discarded item and thrust it behind her back, keeping it hidden from view.

Rocking on her heels, she waited for the door to open. It was a miracle she wasn't late after changing her outfit no less than ten times. 

In her anxious state, none of them had felt right against her hypersensitive skin.

After finally accepting nothing would fit perfectly, she settled on the least offensive option: a pair of relaxed-fitting black jeans with a matching t-shirt and button-up overshirt. Something simple that she didn't have to think too hard about, but dressy enough to show she'd made an effort.

She was so lost in thought, mentally rehearsing what she'd say and do when the door opened, that she almost missed the moment it did.

There, standing in the open doorway under the soft glow of the late afternoon sun, Elora looked radiant in tight blue jeans and a large, comfy-looking cashmere sweater. 

Hazel instantly had the urge to run her fingers over the fabric but refrained.

She tightened her grip on the items in her hands, reminding herself to keep them hidden, and offered a sheepish smile instead.

“Hi,” Elora said in a breathy tone as her eyes feasted on the sight of her girlfriend.

“You look great, handsome. Come on in, I just need my purse,” she added, catching Hazel off guard with a quick kiss to the cheek before walking back into the house.

It took Hazel a moment to snap out of her dazed state long enough to realize she was supposed to follow.

"Thank you, you look nice too," she replied in a distracted tone as she stepped into the house, her eyes immediately landing on the soft-looking couch she’d noticed the last time she visited.

She could just imagine how buttery it would feel under her fingers.

Realizing she was zoning out again, Hazel winced and shook her head, silently reminding herself not to be weird. She forced her focus back on Elora, anxious to give her the gifts she was hiding.

Keeping her hands behind her back was getting uncomfortable.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Elora said, closing the door and turning toward Hazel, a smile spreading across her face at the way Hazel physically jolted back, her hands still hidden behind her like a child caught trying to steal cookies from the jar.

“You can relax, babe; I’m not a drill sergeant,” she added playfully.

Blinking, Hazel frowned, wondering why Elora was bringing that up.

"I didn't think you were. I only said you sounded like one because you were counting out our steps. But I know you're a doctor," she assured, shaking her head to dismiss any thoughts that might sidetrack her.

"Here, these are for you." She abruptly thrust a bouquet of flowers at Elora, watching to see if they were well received and taking mental notes.

Elora's smile widened, melting at the sight of the vibrant flowers.

“Oh, Hazey… they’re beautiful! I really like them!” she gushed, taking the flowers with genuine excitement and pressing them to her nose, inhaling their light, sweet scent.

Noting the positive reaction, Hazel nodded and gave a small, relieved smile.

"You should put them in water now. They've been with me for over thirty minutes and haven't been able to drink. They'll probably die in a week anyway, but if you don't water them, they'll die way faster," she explained in a nervous rush, her words tumbling together until she was nearly tripping over them.

Elora giggled at her girlfriend's obvious nerves, finding it unbelievably endearing. 

"Yes, and I know the perfect place for them. Follow me." She motioned and headed into the kitchen, where she found the perfect vase.

Leaning against the counter, Hazel watched as Elora arranged the flowers delicately. 

She enjoyed how cheerful the woman always was—it wasn't a sight she was used to with the people she'd grown up around.

"While we're here..." Hazel trailed off, waiting until Elora looked at her before presenting the box of chocolates she'd been hiding.

Elora smiled widely at the sight and stopped fiddling with the flowers. 

She was about to say how excited she was, but before she could get any words out, Hazel started talking again, her eyes darting all over the room anxiously.

"Almost every movie I saw made it seem like women like getting chocolates, so I thought you might like these. Also, I don't know if you have any allergies, so please don't get upset with me if a few of them aren't good for you, or even if maybe all of them aren't. But I'm pretty sure you aren't allergic to chocolate, because I've seen you eat it, so here." She shook the box a little to encourage Elora to take it.

Despite her effort to show how much she cared, her nervous energy made her tone come out flat and rushed, which contrasted with the wide range of animated expressions she was making as she described her thought process.

Elora’s smile only grew as Hazel peeked at her from the corner of her eye.

"You bought me flowers and chocolates? Baby! That’s so sweet! I love it. Thank you!" she exclaimed, taking the chocolates and hugging Hazel, who stiffened a little in her arms.

"Some are dark chocolate, so they might not be very sweet," Hazel warned, misunderstanding. 

"But you're welcome," she added, pulling away without returning the hug. 

"It's not a good time for me. Can we hug later? I feel a little sick, and it makes it hard for me to be touched or to touch."

She explained, looking down guiltily.

Elora observed Hazel with concern, feeling bad for potentially overstepping her girlfriend's boundaries.

“Yeah, of course, I'm sorry! Do we need to cancel? We can absolutely postpone if you’re not feeling well,” she assured, taking a step back. 

"Also, I just meant it was a sweet gesture—I wasn't referring to the chocolates. But I do love both dark and milk chocolate, and I promise I will enjoy these,” she added, smiling at the box of chocolates in her hand, thinking about how thoughtful her girlfriend was.

"Oh, right," Hazel mumbled, looking down and frowning.

"Do you not want to go?" she asked quietly, fidgeting with her fingers as she considered the possibility that Elora was offering not to go because she didn’t want to.

She worried she might have come on too strong and scared Elora off. It wouldn’t surprise her; she often talked too much in an effort to account for everything. To the point where it usually irritated people. She hated that about herself, but she just wanted to make up for her shortcomings.

Elora longed to reach out, still Hazel's nervous hands, and kiss the frown from her perfect face, offering the reassurance she clearly needed. But she knew that might only make things worse, so she kept her distance instead.

“No, I want to go. I’ve been looking forward to it all day, in fact. But you said you’re not feeling well...” She trailed off, furrowing her brow in thought as she observed Hazel’s mannerisms more closely.

“Are you just nervous?” she asked gently, tilting her head to catch Hazel’s eye. “Walk with me; I need to put these in their place.” She grabbed the vase of flowers and started walking toward the den, with Hazel trailing a small distance behind, lost in thought.

"Yes, maybe. You've made me sick before," Hazel finally replied, shrugging to herself as she followed Elora into what looked like an office—a very put-together one.

She smiled as she took in how organized the space was—not a single thing out of place, just like the office she had visited a couple of times before. But this one felt more homey. It wasn’t that she expected anything different, but seeing it made her relax a little, finding comfort in the calm and lack of chaos.

Letting her eyes settle on Elora, she watched as the woman set the vase on her desk and grinned at the flowers. It warmed her heart to know she had helped put that smile on her girlfriend's face.

“Well, you make me nervous too, but the good kind,” Elora chuckled, glancing back at Hazel. She wasn’t bothered by Hazel’s way of phrasing things—she understood her. 

However, she did sometimes worry about how others might misinterpret Hazel's way of communicating. 

“These are going by my bed,” Elora added, tapping the box of chocolates with a playful grin. “Come on up with me.” She invited, heading toward the stairs and pausing at the base to turn and face Hazel.

"Before I forget, I want you to know that while I think I understood what you meant, there are better ways to phrase it. Saying, ‘You make me sick’ doesn’t sound very nice. It makes it seem like I disgust you, and unless I’m misunderstanding, I don’t think that’s what you meant, right?" she asked gently.

Hazel frowned and shook her head adamantly, horrified that her words had come across that way. 

"No, I meant when I see you sometimes, I get sick," she explained, her frown deepening. She knew it didn’t sound quite right, but it was exactly how she felt.

“Well, can you say you get nervous or anxious instead?” Elora suggested with an amused smile. 

“If you tell your mom I make you sick, she might not like us hanging out,” she teased as they started climbing the stairs.

"I did tell her; she just laughed," Hazel shrugged. "I guess I can say nervous, but I wasn’t sure if that was right." 

She frowned thoughtfully. Emotions were so confusing.

Elora laughed, imagining that conversation. “Don’t look at the mess,” she said as they entered her room.

She placed the chocolates on the bedside table next to her book and phone charger—her idea of a mess—before heading to the walk-in closet in the bathroom to grab her purse and long coat.

“Nothing looks messy to me, other than that robe being out of place,” Hazel called, her tone reassuring as she admired the rustic decor, starting with the chair the robe was draped over and moving to the large ornate vanity beside it.

She found it to be an interesting switch from the semi-modern look of the living room area.

"I like your house; it's very nice... you decorate well," she continued, eyeing possibly the largest bed she'd ever seen, complete with tall bedposts.

She smiled to herself as she imagined putting fabric over them and making a cozy fort.

“Thank you. Feel free to come over whenever,” Elora said, returning to the bedroom. 

“The full tour will have to wait until next time. I don’t want us to be late,” she added with a smile. 

“Ready?”

"Mhm." Hazel nodded. "I like your bed; it would make a cool fort." She let her intrusive thoughts win and voiced them, wincing as soon as the words left her mouth.

"I swear I’m an adult. I know that sounded super childish. It’s just... I like places that feel safe. Building forts and stuff made me feel that way when I was younger, and I guess it kind of stuck," she shrugged sheepishly, looking back at the bed.

Elora took a moment to appreciate how much Hazel fascinated her. Every little detail, every rambling bit, made her fall harder.

“I know you’re an adult, love. I wouldn’t be going out with you if I had any doubts,” Elora reassured gently, knowing Hazel was extremely self-conscious about being perceived as younger than she was.

“Maybe one of these days you can come over, and we can make the bed into a fort—watch movies or read. I think it’d be fun. 

What do you think?” she asked with a smile, trying to catch Hazel’s eye again.

"I think that sounds fun, but I really hope..." Hazel trailed off, shaking her head. 

"Forget it. I'm sorry. I just know I'm not as advanced as other people, and I want to be as good for you as you are for me," she admitted, glancing at Elora.

Elora shook her head and stepped closer, making sure she had Hazel’s attention before speaking.

"Hey, don’t worry about being advanced. We’re just getting started. There's time to learn things together. 

And as for you being good for me—you’re very good for me, babe. You have no idea." 

She smiled gently at the shy way Hazel bit her lip, appearing to process the information.

“Now, let’s go before we miss dinner,” Elora added, wanting to keep things moving so Hazel wouldn’t get too embarrassed and start overthinking.

"Oh, no, we won't miss dinner; we still have hours," Hazel replied quickly, checking her phone just to double-check. 

"Yup, plenty of time, but we can head out now." She added, walking to the door and motioning for Elora to go first.

"I know we agreed on a movie and dinner, but I asked to come here early so I could take you to one other place first if that's okay with you?" she asked as they descended the stairs and paused by the front door.

“Ooh, a surprise? Yes, it's more than okay!” Elora replied eagerly, stepping outside and breathing in the crisp late afternoon air.

"Yeah, I guess it is." Hazel nodded, shoving her hands into her pockets while she waited for Elora to finish locking the door, silently worried that Elora was expecting something better than what she had planned.

"Oh, you can drive too," she added, framing it like a favor as she dangled her keys out to Elora. 

"Oh, I can, huh?" Elora, wise to Hazel's games, raised an eyebrow. 

Hazel shrugged, giving a sheepish nod. It would’ve been cute if it weren’t so unhealthy, but that was for another time.

"Interesting. It's almost like you don’t want to drive in town at all." 

"You can tell me; I won’t judge." Elora smiled encouragingly, trying to gently coax Hazel into admitting her feelings on the subject without making her feel cornered.

Hazel looked down, feeling caught. 

"It can be overwhelming... and you like driving my car," she mumbled softly.

"I do like driving your car, but you can always be honest with me. You didn’t have to hide how you feel about driving," Elora replied in a kind tone, taking the keys and going around to the driver’s side.

"I know," Hazel muttered, dropping into the passenger seat and buckling in. 

She pondered why she could be honest about some things and struggled with others. 

"It's just... I don't want you to try and teach me how to get over it. I don’t want to hurt anybody. It can be dangerous when I get too overwhelmed—I can't think clearly, and I make mistakes." 

She wrung her hands nervously, remembering the countless times she'd been put in that type of scenario with Lili.

Elora nodded, reaching out to hold Hazel's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm not going to do that, Hazel. I understand your concerns, and I'm never going to try to change you." 

Elora spoke firmly but kindly, watching Hazel swallow hard and nod slowly, as though she was trying to decide if she should believe it or not. 

"Also, I don’t mind driving. We can take my car next time, or I can keep driving yours—whatever makes you more comfortable." 

She squeezed Hazel's hand again, hoping to give her peace of mind.

This time, Hazel quirked a small smile and squeezed back, starting to believe her.

"Thank you... I was scared I might hit somebody last time. She had me drive in New York City..." 

Hazel trailed off, shuddering at the memory. "I know she thought it helped, but it didn’t. I guess it did help me not complain anymore, though." 

She shrugged, staring out the windshield with a far-off look in her eyes.

With every new detail Elora learned about Lili, she hated the woman more.

“I'm so sorry, Hazel. That was cruel. 

She was abusive,” she said quietly, observing Hazel for a moment, noticing the slight flinch at the idea of Lili being abusive.

Shaking her head, Elora turned the car on. She couldn't fathom how anybody could torment another person like that. 

“Where are we going?” she asked gently, trying to shift Hazel's focus to happier things and encourage her to talk again.

"Oh shit!" Hazel exclaimed anxiously, snapping out of her thoughts as she glanced at Elora. She hadn’t even considered the surprise element. 

"No, no, I’ll drive." 

She hurried out of the car, nearly tripping in her haste to get to the driver's side. 

"It’s not a big surprise or anything, but still. I can manage it." She added as she opened the driver-side door and motioned for Elora to step out.

Elora frowned, worried Hazel still felt pressured to drive. 

"Are you sure? Because, like I said, I really don't mind driving."

"No, that would spoil it... and besides, maybe with you in the passenger seat, I won't be as anxious." Hazel reasoned, leaning on the door.

Flattered and hopeful she truly could be a calming presence in Hazel's life, Elora blushed and nodded. 

“I’ll do my best,” she spoke softly, squeezing Hazel’s hand. 

Then, she got out and swiftly switched to the passenger seat.

"I'm not expecting a miracle, but you do seem to have a calming effect on me," Hazel answered casually as she got situated behind the wheel, adjusting the seat back to its normal position and fixing the mirrors to accommodate her shorter stature.

Elora smiled. “That's very sweet. I'm happy I have that effect on you,” she said softly. 

“You can hold my hand if you want,” she offered sweetly, resting her hand on the center console.

"I would, but that's not very safe—and I'm already an anxious driver." Hazel laughed, checking her mirrors one more time before pulling out of the driveway.

Hazel had been right—Elora's presence kept her calmer than usual, allowing her to navigate the streets of Chicago with more ease than expected. That’s not to say she didn’t have a few moments of sheer panic, but she managed them quicker than usual.

After just fifteen minutes, they parked and made their way into the aquarium, with Hazel guiding Elora every step of the way, reminding her to keep her eyes closed.

"Okay, don’t be too disappointed. I told you it’s not great, but when I thought of you, I remembered our first conversation in New York, and I wanted you to know it meant a lot to me."

Hazel stopped them in front of the jellyfish exhibit and squeezed Elora’s hand nervously. "So... open your eyes."

Elora did as instructed and took a moment to take in the sight before her, mesmerized and at a loss for words. 

"You’re kidding, right? This is amazing! Hazey..." she breathed, glancing at Hazel and squeezing her hand. 

She wished she could kiss her right then but stopped herself.

"You like it? You're not just trying to make me feel good, right? Because it's better to be honest with me, so I learn." Hazel replied, wary of how happy the woman seemed.  

“No way! I love this! Look at them go,” Elora exclaimed, squeezing Hazel's hand and arm as she watched the jellyfish, completely transfixed. “So beautiful.”

“Yeah... beautiful,” Hazel agreed softly, her eyes fixed on Elora rather than the jellyfish.

“Truly stunning,” Elora said, meeting Hazel’s gaze with a bright smile.

“Mhm.” Hazel hummed, maintaining eye contact briefly before turning her gaze to the jellyfish. 

“They look so peaceful.” She sighed and squeezed Elora’s hand again, relishing the small contact.

“They do...” Elora agreed softly, shifting her gaze back to Hazel. 

“This lighting is magical,” she breathed, studying her girlfriend’s profile. 

“Tell me about them,” she requested with a beaming, hopeful smile.

Smiling, Hazel nodded and began listing facts about the species they were observing, pointing out their unique characteristics with the enthusiasm of a happy kid. 

The hour flew by in much the same way, with Hazel sharing facts about various creatures while Elora listened intently, enjoying her girlfriend’s passion.

They ended the trip with Chicago-style hot dogs from a stand out front before heading to the movie theater. 

Hazel chose not to get popcorn for herself but happily bought some for Elora, deciding that enduring the smell was worth seeing her girlfriend happy. 

As the lights dimmed, she whispered in Elora's ear, "You ready to be scared?"

Elora was not only impressed with how well everything had gone so far but also enchanted by how smooth Hazel was being. 

She glanced at her girlfriend and lifted a finger to signal her to wait. 

Then, she raised the armrest between them and scooted closer. 

"Now I am," she said, nodding eagerly as she cuddled up to Hazel.

Swallowing hard at the unexpected closeness, Hazel hesitated momentarily before recalling what she'd seen in the movies and quickly draped an arm over Elora’s shoulders, pulling her closer. 

"I'll keep you safe," she murmured softly. 

In an attempt to emulate other couples, she briefly rested her head on top of Elora’s but straightened up after a moment—the sensation of Elora’s hair against her cheek feeling too uncomfortable to maintain.

Noticing Hazel's efforts, Elora tilted her head up and lightly kissed her cheek. 

“Thank you for being my hero,” she smiled, snuggling into Hazel a little more to get cozy.

"Anytime." Hazel smiled and slumped further into her chair, letting Elora continue lying against her as she watched the screen and gently stroked the woman’s arm, working to become more accustomed to touching her.

Basking in feelings of excitement, contentment, and pure, bubbling sexual attraction, Elora sighed, smiling as she looked at Hazel.

Feeling eyes on her, Hazel glanced down. 

"Everything ok?" she asked curiously, wondering why Elora was watching her and not the screen. 

“Mhm,” Elora nodded and gave the girl a small peck on the lips.

Furrowing her brow, Hazel glanced at the screen and then back down at Elora.

"That felt like a goodnight kiss," she whispered curiously, unclear on the rules of kissing in a movie theater or how she was supposed to handle it.

Elora nodded. 

“Yes, because I don’t think we’re ready for movie theater kisses yet,” she whispered softly, pointing to the couple kissing in the row ahead of them, to Hazel’s left. 

“And I really wanted to kiss you,” she added, giggling as Hazel cringed at the other couple’s PDA.

"But... we're not going to sleep," Hazel pointed out in a hushed tone, shifting her attention back to Elora with a confused look.

"Yeah, you're right, we're not. I know, but not all small kisses mean goodnight," Elora explained in a hushed tone.

"A chaste kiss can also be used in situations like this, where one person wants to kiss the other but doesn't want things to get out of hand," she added, motioning toward the other couple as an example of what it looks like when things do get out of hand.

Hazel frowned in thought, her eyes traveling to the other couple again with curiosity. 

“You said we're not ready for movie theater kisses... is that a movie theater kiss?” she asked, pointing to the couple and raising a questioning eyebrow at her girlfriend, wanting to ensure she understood the rules.

Biting her lip, Elora nodded slowly, searching for the right words. 

“For most people, yes... but people kiss like that in other places too,” she explained, watching the wheels turn in Hazel’s eyes, her expression expectant as she awaited Hazel's response.

"For most people..." Hazel trailed off with a frown, feeling she understood what Elora wasn't saying. 

"Well, if we're in a movie theater and you want to kiss me... shouldn't we try a movie theater kiss?" 

She asked in an almost challenging tone, eyebrow raised as she fixed Elora with a daring look, acting a whole lot braver than she felt. 

She wasn't sure she could handle kissing like that in public, but she also didn't want to be seen as incapable either.

Surprised, Elora gave Hazel a scrutinizing look, sensing the false bravado in her tone. Still, she also knew it was important to let Hazel try things and learn from experience rather than gatekeeping and risk making her feel immature.

“Would you like to try?” she asked carefully, second-guessing herself almost immediately, but leaving the offer on the table.

"Yes please." Hazel gave a short, quick nod, determined to try and learn things Elora enjoyed, so she could adapt her behavior and navigate their relationship more efficiently, even if it terrified her.  

Seeing how serious Hazel was, Elora nodded slowly, hoping they weren't making a mistake. 

“Okay, if we're going to do this, we need to kiss quietly and mainly during the scary scenes. That way, we can take breaks in between to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 

We'll stop kissing when the movie starts to wrap up so we can cuddle until the end,” she explained matter-of-factly, knowing Hazel needed clearly laid-out rules and plans.

"Got it." Hazel nodded but then frowned. 

"Wait... don’t we always kiss quietly?" She raised an eyebrow in question.

“Yes, but we have to be extra quiet because we’re in a theater,” Elora chuckled, glancing around as she did a quick study of their surroundings. 

She was thankful to find the auditorium was still only half full, and the spaced-out seating offered more privacy, making it easier to manage any potential meltdowns should one occur.

"I know that’s why I’m whispering; I just didn’t know you could kiss loudly," Hazel replied seriously. 

"Also, if we’re kissing, how do we watch the movie?" She paused, then quickly added, "Not that I don’t want to try this, but I’m just curious. Why did we come to a movie if we aren’t going to watch it?" 

The concept didn’t make sense to her.

Elora looked at Hazel for a moment, a small smile creeping onto her face. Of course, she would question that. 

“Well, to be honest, couples often go to movies just to be close and make out. It’s kind of a fun, forbidden thing to do—like, you’re in a public place where everyone’s supposed to be watching the movie, but instead, you’re kissing.”

“Oh... it’s forbidden?” Hazel asked, her eyes widening. “We shouldn’t have kissed then... we could get in trouble,” she muttered, glancing around worriedly before pointing to the couple in front of them. 

“Should we report them?”

Elora bit her cheek, suppressing the guffaw that nearly burst from her lips at Hazel's panicked expression and urge to tattle. 

"No, hon, we should mind our business and let them carry on." She chuckled, an amused twinkle in her eyes. 

"It's not forbidden in that way. I'm sorry; I should have been more clear. I just meant it feels forbidden because it's frowned upon if people get too into it, like moaning or being loud in other ways." 

She explained with a gentle smile and cuddled closer to Hazel, really struggling not to kiss the utterly adorable perplexed look off the woman's features.

"Hmm." Hazel hummed, turning her attention to the screen as she thought it over, unclear on whether it made sense to her.

"We should just watch the movie," she muttered, keeping her eyes straight ahead as she focused on the pre-trailer commercials. 

She was determined not to do anything that could be frowned upon.

Elora nodded and shifted her attention to the screen for a moment, lost in her own thoughts as she considered whether she should let it go or try coaxing Hazel out of her comfort zone a bit. 

“Okay, you’re right. It’s only our first date, so we should behave. It's not like you’re dying to kiss me or anything anyway,” she replied casually, a playful smile on her lips as she cuddled closer and rested a hand on Hazel’s thigh.

Hazel, now fully immersed in the trailers, nodded reflexively, totally oblivious. 

"Yeah." She agreed and patted the top of Elora's hand lightly as she stared at the screen, unblinking.  

She would never understand people's interest in going to a place full of people to watch an overly loud movie, but it seemed to make people happy, and she was determined to try and enjoy it.

Elora shook her head and sighed softly, finding Hazel's honesty amusingly refreshing, even if it could be frustrating at times. 

Accepting that the moment was over, she settled into Hazel's side and watched the rest of the trailers. 

But as the movie began, Elora found herself watching Hazel more than the screen. She couldn’t help it—her girlfriend was captivating, and the way Hazel seemed completely unfazed by the jump scares only made her more intriguing.

In contrast, each jump scare had Elora resisting the urge to climb into Hazel’s lap. Instead, she settled for inching closer and burying her face in the woman's neck to shield her eyes.

By the fourth time, Hazel couldn’t take it anymore.

"You're breathing on me... that tickles, and it's distracting," She whispered and frowned at the screen, not a fan of the jump scares at all. 

She'd figured out they usually happened when everything seemed it's calmest, so would inwardly brace anytime the movie got quiet to compensate, but with Elora breathing on her neck each time, she found it increasingly difficult to focus.

“I’m sorry, but I’m scared…” Elora muttered, squeezing Hazel’s thigh reflexively as the movie got louder, trying her best not to breathe on her girlfriend’s neck.

Hazel had never been more thankful for her earplugs. Between the chainsaw roaring on screen and Elora’s hand on her thigh, she was sure she’d already have had a meltdown without them.

“I know, but it’s hard for me to focus,” she whispered, glancing at Elora while tightening her arm around her shoulders.

“I have to pay attention so I don’t get scared too. If I get scared, I won’t be good at making you feel safe.”

Elora quietly swooned at Hazel’s explanation, amazed that she’d been trying to stay brave for her benefit.  She also felt a little guilty for not picking up on it.

“Okay, I’ll stop.” Elora pressed a soft kiss to Hazel’s neck before turning her attention back to the movie, giving the girl some space to focus.

Swallowing hard, Hazel turned her gaze back to the screen and licked her lips slightly, unsure how to react.

"You can still be close," she muttered without looking at Elora, flinching at a particularly loud moment in the movie.

“I know, just trying not to breathe on you” Elora whispered, still facing the screen. 

"Hmm, kissing my neck wasn't helpful either," Hazel mumbled and squeezed the woman's shoulder affectionately.

“Are you mad I did it?” Elora teased, venturing a glance at Hazel. 

Hazel looked at Elora with a confused expression and shook her head. 

"Do I seem mad?" she asked curiously, upset that she had come across as angry when she wasn’t.

“No, it actually looked like you wouldn’t mind if I did it again,” Elora said softly. 

Then, practically jumping onto Hazel’s lap, she rested her thigh over Hazel’s and buried her face in her shoulder just as the killer on the screen attacked.

Hazel startled, widening her eyes and glancing down at her girlfriend.

"I did?..." she trailed off, taking note of their position. 

"Is this frowned upon too?" she asked in a whisper, momentarily forgetting about the movie.

"Yes, you did... and no, this isn't frowned upon, plus I'm too scared to care," Elora whispered, hiding her face against Hazel's chest. 

The instant Elora made contact, Hazel winced, her body tensing as she tapped Elora's back. "Shoulder's better," she mumbled stiffly, the discomfort clear in her voice.

Feeling bad for making Hazel uncomfortable, Elora nodded and placed a small, apologetic kiss near the woman’s collarbone.

“Sorry, hon,” she spoke softly, adjusting her position before dropping a gentle kiss on Hazel’s shoulder. Then, she leaned against it, snuggling a bit closer, genuinely terrified of the movie.

Fingers running back and forth over the smooth leather of her armrest, Hazel nodded, giving Elora a moderately uneasy look as she tried to work out how she was feeling.

“Sorry… I’m just…” She trailed off in a hushed whisper, realizing she had no idea where she was going with it. 

“The shoulder is more comfortable,” she decided quietly.

Though she hadn’t hated the small kiss near her collarbone, she was afraid to let it happen again since it was close to uncomfortable territory.

“That’s okay; you don’t have to apologize,” Elora muttered, snuggling into the crook of Hazel's neck. 

Her lips brushed lightly against the skin there as the stupid girls in the movie planned to split up.

Hazel swallowed hard, soft leather dimpling into perfect impressions of her fingertips as she tried her best to focus on the movie. 

However, no matter how hard she stared at it, her mind kept drifting to Elora's lips brushing against her neck in a way she knew she'd normally find irritating. But in this case, she kind of liked it, feeling a pleasant buzz all over.

“Splitting up is not good,” Elora spoke softly against Hazel's neck, eliciting a small shiver from the younger woman.

“No,” Hazel agreed in a clipped tone, chest expanding and nose wrinkling as she drew in a shaky breath. 

The pungent smell of popcorn burned her nostrils, almost enough to distract her from Elora's lips against her skin. Almost.

Elora looked up at Hazel and smiled, finding her reply and persistence in staying focused cute. 

She gave her a quick peck on the lips before nuzzling back into her neck, leaving a few open-mouthed kisses there.

Whining softly at the new sensation, Hazel squeezed her eyes shut and squirmed slightly, the groan of the leather beneath her making her shoulders rise, and her thighs flex tensely. 

As she shifted, her hip accidentally brushed against the recline button, leaning her further back with a loud whir that made her hands fly up to cover her ears as she sunk lower into the chair. 

She felt like she might die of embarrassment, and Elora’s soft giggles against her now extra-sensitive neck were not helping.

"That... feels really funny," she murmured tensely, finally opening her eyes to give Elora a pained look.

Seeing the look on Hazel’s face, Elora quickly composed herself and gently caressed her cheek. 

“Good funny, I hope?” she whispered with a sweet smile as Hazel moved her hands away from her ears and shrugged, uncertainty clouding her expression.

Elora didn’t want to push too far but also knew better than to take everything at face value, aware that Hazel struggled to identify her feelings and might need help navigating more nuanced experiences.

“Sorry, I’m just scared, and being close to you makes me feel safe. I guess I got a little carried away. It won’t happen again,” Elora assured, pressing a light kiss to Hazel's lips, testing a theory.

As Elora pulled back, Hazel found herself leaning up, chasing the kiss until Elora mercifully brought their lips together again in a gentle, slow kiss that had Hazel's heart racing in time with the frantic music building all around them.

“Mm,” Elora moaned softly, careful not to be loud, as she lightly bit down on Hazel's lower lip and moved closer. 

The more reclined position putting her halfway on top of the younger woman.

Shivering, Hazel pulled back for a moment to catch her breath, a dazed look on her face. 

“This is fun,” she admitted softly, glancing around to ensure nobody was looking at them. 

Thankfully, everyone else was too absorbed in the movie or their own partners to notice them.

“Yeah? I’m glad you like it,” Elora muttered, nipping and tugging on Hazel’s lower lip as if begging for another kiss, testing to see if Hazel picked up on her subtle coaxing.

Smiling, Hazel kissed Elora again wantingly, unable to resist. 

“Sorry,” she muttered against the woman’s lips, realizing she had acted without thinking it through.

“It’s okay, try that again,” Elora encouraged quietly, pleased that she had gotten the desired response and hoping to show Hazel that it wasn’t a bad move.

Nodding, Hazel decided to try something new and slowly brought her hand up, hovering it near Elora’s face like she’d seen in the movies. But no matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn’t get past the block. 

Just as she was about to give up, Elora took her hand and gently guided it the rest of the way, placing it against her cheek with an understanding smile.

“Like this,” she whispered softly, and Hazel’s heart skipped a beat as her thumb lightly stroked the soft skin of Elora’s cheek. 

She swallowed hard and nodded again, at a loss for words.

Smiling tenderly, Elora brushed her nose affectionately against Hazel’s before leaning down to capture her lips in another slow kiss, drawing a soft, pleased little noise from her girlfriend.

As she pulled away, Elora smiled at Hazel. 

“So? Better?” she asked, her curious eyes watching intently, wanting to savor every look and moment, eager to learn what Hazel enjoyed.

"Mhm, you're soft," Hazel replied with a small smile, letting her fingers trace the contours of the woman's face carefully.

“You’re soft too,” Elora said with a small smile, enjoying the soft brush of fingers against her cheek.

"I am?" Hazel asked curiously, withdrawing her hand from Elora's cheek to touch her own. 

She frowned as her fingers brushed the faintly raised scar. 

"No, I'm not," she decided with a disgruntled look, before going back to tracing Elora's face.

“Yes, you are,” Elora said, caressing the girl’s face and then gently touching the scar. 

“And I like this because it’s part of you,” she whispered, ghosting her lips over the mark in a feather-light kiss. 

“You are very handsome— all of you.”

Biting her lip, Hazel brushed the pad of her thumb against Elora's cheek again before kissing her softly. 

"I like when you call me that," she admitted quietly.

"I know," Elora mumbled against the woman's lips with a smile.

The last thirty minutes of the movie were spent wrapped up in each other, exchanging small kisses and quiet words.

When it was almost over, Elora cuddled into Hazel's arms as they waited for the credits to roll, giving them both a chance to catch their breath and compose themselves. 

The pre-established rules Elora set for their little makeout session made it easier for Hazel to transition from kissing to cuddling, with almost no repercussions—save for a tiny disgruntled pout that quickly faded at Elora’s answering giggle.

~

"So... did you enjoy the movie?" Hazel asked, curious, as she took Elora's hand in hers and led her out of the theater, swinging their hands back and forth between them happily.

“I did, did you?” Elora asked with a small smile, enjoying Hazel's obvious joy. The woman even had a slight bounce to her step—it was adorable.

"I didn't see much of it, but I liked kissing you," Hazel answered with a big grin. 

Then, at the sound of Kit's name being called, she looked around. It didn’t take long before her eyes landed on a familiar face, 

and her expression instantly soured to one of confusion as she tried to place where she knew the woman from.

Elora frowned as she looked between Hazel and the approaching woman. Her eyes briefly scanned the woman’s business casual attire—slacks, a polo unbuttoned just enough to reveal ample cleavage, and wavy hair swept back into a neat ponytail. 

The woman wasn’t unattractive, but she wasn’t Kit's usual type either, and Hazel seemed visibly thrown off by her.

"Who's that, hon?" Elora asked softly, looping her arm possessively through Hazel's as the woman came to a stop in front of them. 

Her eyes traveled over Hazel’s outfit, the appraisal in her gaze sharp and obvious, laced with judgment.

"I can't remember... her name," Hazel whispered uneasily, her eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration. There was something so familiar about this woman that it was driving her crazy—until the woman spoke.

"Well, if it isn’t Kit Tanthalos... and here I thought you’d already slept with every lesbian in the country besides me."

The smirk on her face, combined with the condescending, sympathetic way she eyed Elora, finally triggered Hazel’s memory.

Frowning, Hazel stepped in front of Elora and glared at the woman, instantly falling back into character as her sister. 

"I would never be interested in you. I like sweet people. And, P.J., you're an ass." She spoke firmly, glaring at her childhood bully.

"Kit," Elora spoke gently, resting her hand on Hazel's shoulder in what she hoped was a calming gesture.

P.J. crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at 'Kit's' odd response. While they'd never been friends, Kit would normally laugh off any insult, letting it roll off her back with a snarky jab of her own.

"Yeah? Well, I thought you were supposed to be mourning that dweeby sister of yours, not channeling her," she shot back, gesturing to 'Kit's' outfit with a sweeping motion before pulling out her phone and snapping a couple of quick pictures.

Seeing red, Hazel stepped forward, fist pulling back, ready to deck the woman—furious on behalf of Kit and the insensitive way P.J. spoke to her.

Before she could follow through, Elora, knowing just how explosive Hazel’s temper could be, quickly stepped in.

"Kit, honey, let’s not get physical," she soothed with a gentle smile, her hand softly covering Hazel’s fist.

The calming effect of her touch was just enough to keep things from escalating as she gently lowered Hazel’s hand.

"That's right, keep your attack dog on a leash," P.J. sneered, shaking her head at Hazel, her eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary before finally shifting to Elora.

Hazel huffed softly and glanced at Elora. Relaxing a bit at her girlfriend's imploring expression, she gave a short nod of understanding before turning her angry glare back on P.J. 

Relieved that Hazel had taken her guidance, Elora looped her arm through hers again and addressed P.J.

“P.J., is it? It’s nice meeting you, but we’re just trying to enjoy a quiet evening, so would you please leave me and my girlfriend alone?” she asked in a reasonable tone, maintaining her calm even as her grip on Hazel’s arm tightened slightly.

"Sure. I got what I wanted anyway. You two have a good night," P.J. said with an insincere smile before turning and walking away, her eyes glued to her phone as she zoomed in on the image for a closer look.

“What a bitch,” Elora muttered, quickly hustling them into the parking garage and toward Hazel’s car.

“You may need to tell Kit or Jade,” she warned softly, her concern evident. 

The way P.J. kept looking at Hazel, along with that final comment, left her uneasy.

"I guess," Hazel sighed, tossing Elora her keys. 

"Can you drive? I think I'm too rattled." 

She let out another sigh, completely unaware of the watchful eyes tracking their every move from a distance.

“Of course, hon,” Elora agreed, sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the car. 

She waited a beat as Hazel buckled her seatbelt before asking, “Who was that?”

"P.J.," Hazel began, reclining her seat and pinching the bridge of her nose. 

"A girl Kit and I went to school with. I used to think she was a friend, but I was wrong... she bullied me."

Elora nodded, understanding Hazel's reaction a lot more now. 

“She took a picture... it’s possible she’s paparazzi,” she said carefully, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.

“That's just great... Fuck, I'm screwed... Kit and Jade are gonna kill me,” Hazel groaned, covering her face with her hands in frustration.

Elora cast a worried glance toward Hazel.

“It’s okay, just take a breath, text Jade, and let’s go to dinner. She can fix it,” Elora said, her voice calm and reassuring.

"I'll text her later... I don't want to think about this stuff right now. I just want to enjoy dinner with you," Hazel muttered, dropping her hands onto her stomach with an audible thud. 

Tilting her head to look at Elora, she added, "I'm such a screw-up. I should have just stayed home... I didn’t think about how it would look." 

She sighed, offering an apologetic look, feeling terrible.

"Hazel, no... you're not a screw-up," Elora replied in a sympathetic tone, casting a quick glance her way. "You can't be expected to stay inside all day long. You have a right to live your life. Don't let this worry you; everything will be fine." 

She kept both hands on the wheel to give Hazel one less thing to worry about, even if it was killing her not to be able to squeeze the woman's hand as reassurance. 

"Besides, Kit and Jade aren’t public yet. It’s not like it wouldn’t be completely normal for your sister to have a girl under her arm. It only becomes a concern when she and Jade decide to go public with their relationship."

Hazel frowned and raised her seat back up so she could turn toward Elora a bit more.

"But you're not just another conquest... I don't want people thinking that about you," she replied sincerely, watching the woman closely, hoping her seriousness came through.

Elora couldn't help but smile at Hazel's thoughtfulness. 

It felt nice to have somebody care so much about her reputation, something people often didn't consider or care about in her previous relationships.

“I appreciate you saying that, Haze, I really do, but we need to protect you first,” she replied honestly, glancing at Hazel again, noting the small frown on her face.

"No, I don't care about me... You're not Kit's... You're..." Hazel trailed off, shaking her head. 

"I like you, and you're my girlfriend. It's not right for people to think you're some sort of game for anybody." 

Her tone was soft but sure, the sincerity clear in her voice.

"I know, hon, but we can't tell the truth until your mom gets things settled. And that's okay because we know the truth, and that's what matters." Elora gave her a reassuring smile as they came to a red light.

Hazel didn’t like it, but she understood Elora was right—there wasn’t much they could do until things got sorted. 

As much as it sucked, it was her new reality, and by proxy, Elora’s as well. 

If Elora was okay with it, she figured she’d have to try and learn how to be, too.

“So... maybe I should act more like Kit then?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, that might be a good idea, at least while in public and just until everything’s sorted,” Elora spoke gently, giving her girlfriend an apologetic look. It didn’t feel fair.

"Okay... it’s settled. I’ll behave more like her then." Hazel nodded, setting her mind to it.

Elora sighed, not wanting Hazel to be anyone but herself.

“But right now… can I have my Hazey?” she asked in a sweet tone, finally giving in to her impulse and extending her hand to the woman as the light turned green.

"You sure? Kit's probably more fun," Hazel joked, taking the woman's hand, trusting her driving enough not to protest.

“Nah, I like you; you’re my kind of fun,” Elora said with a quick smile, squeezing Hazel's hand.

"Thank you." Hazel smiled and squeezed the woman's hand back, before settling back for the rest of the car ride.

At dinner, Hazel took Elora’s hand across the table, gently stroking the back of it with her thumb as she glanced over the menu. 

It felt like something Kit would do, and under the pretense of being her sister, she found she could do more. 

"I think I’ll get the steak. What about you?" she asked, meeting Elora’s eyes.

Enjoying the gentle display of affection, Elora smiled, watching her girlfriend carefully. 

Her whole demeanor felt different—more like when they first met, far more permissive and less guarded under the guise of being Kit. It was almost as if she took it as permission to act in ways she was too afraid to as herself. 

Elora hoped this experience might help Hazel learn more about herself and perhaps demystify certain aspects of navigating their relationship.

“I will go with the surf and turf, and truffle risotto,” she said, giving Hazel a bright smile.

"Hmm, sounds like a good choice." Hazel smiled, despite hating the idea of anything seafood-related. If Elora liked it, then it was a good choice in her book.

The rest of dinner went by in a similar fashion, with Hazel continuing to act as she thought Kit would, maintaining the facade all the way to Elora's front door, where it started to falter a little.  

"I had a good time tonight. Thanks for agreeing to go with me," she spoke softly, holding both of Elora's hands and keeping her eyes on them.

Elora smiled, seeing some of Hazel's shyer personality starting to show through again. 

“Of course, I had a great time too. Thank you for an unforgettable first city date, babe” She said in a lower, but sweet voice, filled with affection. 

Hazel nodded but kept her eyes on their joined hands. Her nerves kicking up a notch, she started squeezing Elora’s hands rhythmically, lifting her heels off the ground in a small, almost imperceptible bounce.

"Good, you're welcome," she rushed out, licking her lips anxiously and glancing up from beneath her bangs to meet Elora’s eyes.

"Do you think you’d want me to kiss you good night?" she asked softly, knowing Kit would probably just do it, but she didn’t want to break Elora’s trust.

Seeing Hazel being herself again, Elora smiled, feeling honored. Even after all the kisses they'd already shared, Hazel cared enough to drop the act and still ask for permission.

“yes please.” 

Hazel smiled shyly—outwardly bashful, but inwardly giddy that Elora hadn’t rejected her. 

Leaning forward, she gave the woman a quick peck on the lips, then pulled back and averted her eyes, a small blush creeping over her cheeks.

"Goodnight, Elora," she spoke softly, still holding the woman's hands, not quite ready to let go.

Hazel's ability to look confident and even imposing at times, while shy and unsure at others, never ceased to amaze Elora. 

Just a couple of hours ago, she'd looked like she wanted to deck P.J., and now, she looked like she wouldn’t hurt a fly if her life depended on it. 

Elora took a moment to observe her, watching the way Hazel nervously chewed her bottom lip and rocked back on her heels, her unsure blue eyes darting up to meet Elora’s.

“Goodnight, Handsome,” Elora finally sighed, not wanting the night to end either.

Smiling, Hazel nodded and reluctantly let go of the woman’s hands. 

"Right, I should... go," she muttered, jerking her thumb over her shoulder toward her car with a nervous laugh as she started backing away slowly.

Elora chuckled softly.

“Text me when you get home, will ya?” she requested, imploring eyes fixed on Hazel.

"Of course... yeah." Hazel nodded and quickly turned around, marching to her car as fast as she could. 

She felt like she needed to get home before she did something stupid, like ask to spend more time with Elora.

“Night,” she called from her car, closing the door behind her. 

Resting her head on the steering wheel, she took a deep breath, unsure of what was wrong with her. 

It wasn't like she hadn't spent the entire day with Elora.

Resisting the temptation to stay on the porch and wave Hazel off, Elora walked into the house, closing the door and leaning against it with a wistful smile, unable to believe her luck.

After a couple of minutes, Hazel finally collected herself enough to drive home. 

She entered her and Kit’s apartment as quietly as possible, careful not to wake her sister in case she was already asleep. 

Once in her room, with the door closed, Hazel sent Elora a text.

Hazel: Hey, just wanted to say I had a really good time tonight, and I made it home safe. Hope you sleep well. :)

Rereading the message and feeling satisfied, Hazel hit send and tossed the phone onto her bed before changing into her nightshirt. 

Hearing her phone buzz, Hazel hurriedly finished tugging on her night pants and grabbed it off the bed. She read the message with a gentle smile and quickly typed a reply.

Elora: I can't wait for our second date night. Sleep well.

Hazel: Same!... you too.

Across the hall, Kit and Jade had been watching a movie in Kit’s room when they heard Hazel get home. Fully expecting her to come tell them about her night, they paused the movie and waited. After several minutes, Kit grew impatient and decided they’d have to go to Hazel instead. Jade followed close behind, wrapping her arms around Kit’s waist as they reached Hazel’s door.

“Hazel, open the door! We want to hear about your date,” Kit called, pounding on the door. 

“There’s no way you’re telling Mom first. Come on,” she whined.

Pausing the message she was writing to her mother, Hazel frowned and glanced at the door. 

"We? Is Jade here?" she called, locking her phone with a sigh as she got up.

"Yes, now hurry up," Kit replied impatiently. 

Jade tightened her hold around Kit's waist, trying to calm her.

"One sec," Hazel muttered, unlocking and opening the door, giving them both a guilty look. 

"Hi," she mumbled, stepping back.

"Took you long enough," Kit scoffed, pulling out of Jade's arms and brushing past Hazel. 

"She means well," Jade smiled at Hazel. 

However, her expression shifted to concern as she noticed how uncomfortable Hazel looked. The younger woman kept casting nervous glances at Kit, avoiding Jade’s eyes. 

"How are you feeling?" Jade asked carefully.

Hazel shrugged, still not meeting her gaze. 

"Okay, I guess."

“Okay? You guess? Did Elora do anything to hurt you? I will kick her ass!” Kit declared angrily, instantly jumping to conclusions.

Uncomfortable with Kit's reaction, Hazel scowled and quickly decided not to mention their run-in with P.J., reasoning that it was possible the woman just took a random picture and that nothing would come of it.

“No... it was good. We went to the aquarium, then a movie and dinner. I had fun,” Hazel replied quietly as she and Jade made their way into the room.

“Good going, Haze!” Jade praised, proud of her.

Realizing she might have overreacted, Kit reined in her anger and sat at the end of Hazel's bed.

“Cool! How was the movie?” she asked, her tone shifting to a more upbeat one.

"Thanks." Hazel blushed, then turned her attention to Kit. "I dunno... it seemed okay if you like scary movies," she shrugged.

Seeing the confused look on Kit's face, Jade sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. 

“Honey, I don't think they did a whole lot of watching in that theater,” she smirked, glancing at Hazel for confirmation. 

Hazel blushed and looked down, confirming Jade's suspicions.

“And you got to give her a goodnight kiss?” Jade asked with a knowing smile.

"Yes, I kissed her goodnight," Hazel answered shyly, shifting from foot to foot anxiously.

“Yeah, you did!” Kit celebrated, beaming as she hopped up, pulling Jade along with her, sensing that their presence was putting Hazel on edge. 

“Okay, now that we know your date was a success and you used all the pro tips I gave you, we’ll leave you to call or message Mom,” she teased, smirking because she knew exactly what Hazel was planning. 

“But just for future reference, I’m way cooler than Mom when it comes to this stuff.”

Jade smirked but kept her mouth shut, 

preferring to just stand back and let the sisters bicker without getting herself in the middle.

Hazel frowned at her sister. “But Mom's older and knows more than you do... plus you're all about sex and stuff. Mom's too old to care about that.”

Kit scoffed. 

“I am pro-love! I’m not just about the sex stuff… I’m reformed!” she protested indignantly.

“Sure, Kit... I could tell how reformed you were on Friday night,” Hazel grumbled, rolling her eyes. 

“I could’ve gone my whole life without hearing that, by the way,” she added, narrowing her eyes.

Jade couldn't help but blush at the mention of their little camping trip adventure as she slowly crept toward the door. 

“What? Me warming up my girlfriend? There’s nothing wrong with that,” Kit scoffed, crossing her arms defiantly. 

“I’ll take her on a proper date tomorrow night: a fancy restaurant followed by a walk along the riverwalk, with all the stops... and no sex; sorry, Jay.” She added, glancing at Jade, who abruptly stopped her not-so-subtle escape, a sheepish look crossing her features as she nodded and smiled back in agreement.

“For the best,” she spoke stiffly, clearing her throat, still dying of embarrassment as Hazel's curious eyes found her for a moment before shifting back to Kit.

"I warmed up Elora, and none of that happened," Hazel shot back seriously, raising her eyebrows in a silent challenge.

“Elora just didn’t want you to be overwhelmed, and you’re asexual anyway, right?” Kit asked her sister, then glanced at Jade.

Surprised by the suggestion, Jade shrugged and turned a scrutinizing gaze toward Hazel. 

Thinking about it more, she realized it actually made a lot of sense. Hazel never seemed fazed by people's appearances; even when Elora wore the sexiest outfits, she seemed more interested in the accuracy of the costumes than in the woman wearing them.

Hazel frowned at Kit's question, trying to figure out what she meant. 

“I admit I pushed a few boundaries,” Kit continued sheepishly, and Jade nodded in agreement.

“Kit gets away with a lot when she shouldn’t,” Jade said, casting a reprimanding look at Kit before turning her attention back to Hazel. 

“I’m glad Elora was appropriate with you. I’m sure she’ll be very kind every step of the way,” she spoke softly, then added, “You look happy, Hazey.”

Still pondering Kit's question, Hazel nodded slowly at Jade's comment.

"Thanks... I am happy. The theater kissing was a little confusing at first, but I think I got the hang of it." 

She smiled shyly, thinking back on it.

"And as for being asexual, no, Kit, I cannot reproduce on my own!" she added, glaring at her sister indignantly.

Jade chuckled at Hazel's misunderstanding and raised an eyebrow at Kit, curious to see how she would handle it.

“What? No, Hazel... not that kind of asexual! I mean the sexuality,” Kit chuckled, shaking her head at her sister. 

Seeing that Hazel still looked confused, she continued, “On the most basic level, it just means you don't feel sexual attraction. But you should look into it more—there's a whole spectrum to it,” she encouraged. 

“Now, why was kissing in the theater confusing? Let me guess: you were afraid of getting caught?” Kit teased with a smile.

“Oh… well, that’s a weird name for it and technically inaccurate. But if that’s what it means, then yes, I’m asexual,” Hazel shrugged, feeling that the description fit her pretty well.

“Also, yes and no. Elora gave me a goodnight kiss at first and said she didn’t want to do theater kisses because they’re frowned upon. But she eventually gave me the rules, and it was okay,” she added, sitting on her bed.

“The rules?” Kit looked at Jade, confusion etched on her face. 

“What rules?”

“No clue,” Jade shrugged, turning to Hazel with a questioning look.

“Yeah, like goodnight kisses are quick and small... but theater kisses aren’t. You mostly only kiss when the movie is scary and you can’t be loud, and you pause so you don’t get overwhelmed,” Hazel recited quickly.

“Those seem like good rules to abide by, Hazel. I’d listen to Elora,” Jade advised, leaning against the doorframe.

“I did! It was hard not to get overwhelmed, but I managed not to,” Hazel announced proudly

"That’s awesome!" Kit exclaimed, hugging her sister, thrilled to see her so excited. 

Uncomfortable, Hazel patted Kit's back awkwardly and tried to squirm out of the hug.

"Okay, I won’t hold you up anymore. Go talk to Mom, but remember, I’m here, and I care too—about both of you," Kit added sincerely before pulling Jade out of the room.

"Night, Hazel!" 

Jade called as she was being pulled back toward Kit's room. "I’ll see you tomorrow!"

"Night!" Hazel laughed, closing the door behind them before resuming her text to Sorsha.

~

The next morning, Kit woke to her phone blowing up with texts and calls, one of them from the head of the company’s PR team.

Annie PR Pain in my butt 😡: Kit, don’t talk to the press. Use the back entrance if you leave the house. I sent a copy to your place.

Kit: What the fuck are you gettin’ at, Annie? It’s 8 am. You know I need a spelled-out report if it’s before 12 pm.

Annie PR Pain in my butt 😡: You’re on the pages of a tabloid with a new bimbo. Why’d you go out without a detail?!

Kit: I didn’t! I stayed home all day.

Kit hit send without thinking. 

Once she saw the read receipt, she froze. 

Panic set in as she rushed to the front door, snatching up the newspapers from her doorstep.

There, on the cover of the sleaziest tabloid in town, was a photo of a visibly angry Hazel, with Elora’s hand resting on her shoulder, seemingly trying to calm her down. 

The bold headline screamed, “Tanthalos Heir Finds New Mystery Lover, Loses Temper and Sense of Fashion.”

Not ready to explain the situation over the phone, Kit decided it was easier to go along with it for now and clarify later.

Kit: Oh... yes, that’s right. I’ll explain later, but right now, I gotta go get ready.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me,” Kit muttered, staring at the picture credits to P.J. Waters. Below it, the caption claimed she looked distraught and disheveled. Groaning, she stormed to Hazel’s bedroom door and knocked loudly, not bothering with any ceremony. 

“Hazel, wake up! What the fuck is this?”

At Kit's sharp tone, Hazel jolted awake, blinking at the closed door for a moment before realizing what Kit was most likely yelling about. 

Terrified to face her sister, Hazel quickly darted under her bed, hiding like she’d done as a child whenever she’d done something wrong or needed comfort.