Re: [UFO Tourism: Connie & Dahlia]
"Uhh. Ask Pat." What, Dahlia, embarrassed? Nahh. If her ears looked a little pink just then, it was just the sun. "And uh, don't get mad at him 'bout keepin' it secret," she mumbled. "I begged him to keep his mouth shut while I--I dunno. While I figured shit out." While she weighed the costs. While she tried to stomach a lot of the same insecurity she was seeing reflected back at her. Honestly, man, if Connie thought she was a bad person, then Dahlia was the fucking antichrist in comparison. But at least some of her best friend's shit started to click into place.
"You did nothin' wrong," Dahlia added, 'bout the ex-sheriff and his girl, "alright? Nothin' to deserve that shit Sam pulled. You're funny and sweet and just--you care 'bout shit more than anybody I know. If some asshole sees that as a threat, then it's their fuckin' loss." Then she smiled small, almost coy, "And uh, more for me, I guess."
Vulnerability was fucking weird, Dahlia decided. It weren't that this felt like weakness, like she expected, so much as she worried her shit was too much to carry. But just being 'round dragged something a little more honest, a little more patient, a little more real outta her--and maybe that made her a little bit better of a person. So if her best friend still thought herself undeserving, or whatever--Dahlia didn't buy it none. She had proof to the contrary. Connie took up fistfuls of her shirt, and Dahlia looped one arm 'round her back, fingers pressed into her spine. "C'mere, monster," all affection, and touched lips to hers this time, once more, with feeling. The second kiss, the real kiss was way less timid. This weren't just picking up a date for the prom. This was the slow dance, thick and heavy with intent.
Coulda been a few moments, coulda been forever. Whenever that kiss broke, she felt some weight go with it. Nosing her cheek, Dahlia squeezed her best friend gently, breathing a minty, rumbling sigh near her mouth. Pleased. "Mmhn. Hey," she murmured, "you uh, alright?" A soft check-in, 'cause Connie had just thrown down a lot of feelings. Whenever Dahlia got like that, she mostly just wanted a nap afterward. "I sorta remember promisin' you alien laser tag at breakfast. But if you ain't up to crushin' some fourteen-year-olds, maybe we oughta head back." To the motel. Just chill and watch a movie or some shit, and blast some dayglo aliens tomorrow. Whatever came next, it didn't matter none to her. There was a promise in her tone that--whatever this was? It didn't just end here.