They were laying on Isabelle's huge bed, huddled under the blanket watching some movie on TV. The light from the screen illuminated their faces. Elisa's eyes were glued to the screen, but she wasn't paying attention to the movie. Instead she was on alert, listening to Isabelle's breathing, worrying about her.
Tonight was the first time she has seen her, really seen her, bare of all of her defenses. That was her Isabelle, this wounded and abandoned girl. In this moment Elisa wanted nothing more but to confess her love. Her heart was betraying her feelings, as it would speed up every time she thought about it. However, Elisa was aware that now was not the time, Isabelle was too vulnerable and springing something like this on her might have a counter effect.
For the time being, Elisa was satisfied just laying here with her, rubbing her back soothingly, and feeling the light pressure of Isabelle's head on her chest. Isabelle was quiet, and Elisa knew it wasn't because she was engrossed in the movie. Maybe it was wrong, but Elisa was morbidly happy in this moment.
She moved under Isabelle slightly to stand up, when Isabelle's body stiffened. She turned her head towards Elisa, her eyes puffy from crying. Her gaze held fear, and sadness, and most of all a plea, plea not to be left alone. Elisa stopped in her tracks, her eyes meeting Isabelle's pleading ones. The blonde reached out, caressing Isabelle's cheek.
"Hey, I was just going to call my parents to tell them I am staying over." Elisa smiled at the brunette soothingly. "That is, if you want me to?" she quietly added, suddenly unsure of her actions.
Isabelle just nodded at her, relief visibly washing over her face. Elisa jumped off the bed, dialing her home number. She peered back at Isabelle, seeing small smile playing on the other girl's lips.
Her parents agreed to her staying without even asking too many details. Elisa was happy to have such understanding parents. They trusted her and that was the most important thing. She turned back towards the brunette who had her head propped on her elbow, following Elisa's movements with her eyes.
"Hey Is, can I have some sweat pants and a shirt please?" she asked the brunette, who snorted quietly at the words.
"Elisa, please, you know that there's no place for such type of clothing in my closet." Elisa rolled her eyes at the brunette, but she really wanted to smile. It seems Isabelle is still Isabelle after all.
The brunette jumped from her bed, opening huge closet. After some rummaging she tossed some sort of a fancy night gown at Elisa.
"What is this?" Elisa wrinkled her nose in distaste, "I can't wear this, come on Is?" she approached the closet, peering in trying to find something that would suit her more.
"What do you mean?" Isabelle raised her eyebrow at Elisa. "This is an excuisite night gown."
"But it doesn't seem comfortable at all. I always wear sweatpants around my apartment." Elisa pouted.
It was Isabelle's turn to roll her eyes now. "Ok, let me see if I can find something more to your...taste." she waved her hand up and down Elisa's body while wrinkling her nose.
Elisa had to admit she was amazed by the spaciousness of Isabelle's closet, and the sheer amount of designer clothes. After some lengthy rummaging, Isabelle finally fished out a pair of sweatpants. "There you are, you...ugly thing." She also grabbed some plain white T-shirt and handed it to Elisa.
Quickly changing in front of Isabelle, because there was really nothing to hide, Elisa sighed contently. Plucking the nightgown between her thumb and index finger she handed it back to Isabelle.
"Do you want some tea?" Isabelle asked after returning the gown in the closet.
"Sure, I'll come with you." Elisa grabbed Isabelle's hand pulling her downstairs.
After drinking the tea they returned to Isabelle's room. Elisa noticed that Isabelle's mom was nowhere to be seen.
"Isabelle where is your mom?" she asked tentatively. She learned over the course of time that Isabelle's parents were a touchy subject.
"Oh mother is probably in her office...working." Isabelle said, bitterness easily recognizable in her words.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Elisa asked carefully, settling herself on the edge of Isabelle's bed.
"About what?"
"Whatever you want, your parents or Brigitte...?" Elisa trailed off her question hanging in the air. She was walking on thin ice here, but she wanted to help Isabelle somehow. She wanted her to know she was her friend, and that she can trust her.
Isabelle sighed sitting on the bed next to Elisa, "I don't know what to say..."
"It's fine, we can talk when you feel like it. I just want you to know that you can trust me." Elisa said her last words barely above the whisper. Not giving Isabelle the time to react she pulled her in a hug, inhaling her fresh scent. Isabelle wrapped her hands around Elisa's waist, resting her head on Elisa's shoulder. They stayed like this for a couple of minutes, listening to their soft breathing, and feeling the steady thumps of each other's hearts.
"Am I a bad person Elisa?" the brunette suddenly asked breaking the silence, her voice muffled and insecure. Elisa squeezed her gently and then released her, causing the brunette to look into her comforting brown eyes.
"Look Is, I won't lie to you..." Elisa started, looking in the enchanting green eyes. "I don't think you are a bad person, but somewhere along the way, you were so insistent to make people believe you are that you started believing it yourself, and acting like it. If you asked me this question before all of this started..." Elisa waved her hand around them, "I would have probably said yes, but now that I'm getting to know you..." she lowered her voice, cupping Isabelle's face, "I understand somewhat why you behave the way you do."
Isabelle dropped her head, looking at her lap. After a moment of engulfing silence, she raised her eyes back, which were pooling with tears. "I never appreciated her Elisa..." she said quietly, her voice wavering. "She was always there for me, she was more than a...a servant, she was a friend, and more of a parent than my own parents were, and I never had any nice word for her. I took her for granted Elisa...and now...now she is gone. Just like that, she is gone, and I can never tell her how much she meant to me..." Isabelle choked, her tears streaming freely down her face.
Elisa didn't know what to say. There were no words of consolation. Everything she might or could say would probably sound like a pathetic attempt, a corny phrase of empathy that would bring no real comfort to her. Instead Elisa kissed her tears away, and embraced her offering her comfort by just by being there for her.
***
Despite waking up with grief in her chest, Isabelle had to admit she felt slightly more at ease just by the sensation of a warm body pressed against her back. She couldn't fight off a smile of relief and the feeling of comfort that Elisa's presence brought her. Looking at the clock, Isabelle realized it was time to get up and get ready for school. Even though she wanted nothing more than to stay laying here in this cloud of warmth and security, she knew that new day has come, and that she had to pick up her pieces and carry on.
What is done, it's done. I hope Brig will forgive me wherever she is now... Isabelle thought sadly. Removing the comforter, she glanced back at the sleeping form beside her. Her heart filled with warmth looking at Elisa. She brushed the hair from her face, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
"Ely wake up." she whispered kissing her nose. The blonde mumbled in her sleep, wriggling under the sheets. Isabelle kissed her lips softly, getting easily distracted by intoxicating sensation. Elisa's lips started moving along hers, finally waking up.
Isabelle pulled away, getting off the bed. "Come on. We have to go to school."
Elisa groaned, stretching on the big bed. "Aaah and I just had this wonderful dream, of kissing these plump, soft lips."
"If you don't get up, kissing them will stay only that...a dream." Isabelle teased her, moving towards the bathroom.
Elisa pouted at her, and jumping off the bed she pulled her into a kiss.
Forty-five minutes later, they were riding the elevator. The door opened to an underground garage.
"Where are we? I thought you had a driver?" Elisa asked Isabelle.
"I am going to drive us today. Antoine, my driver is...was Brigitte's husband..." she trailed off, gulping hard, this simple question reminding her of her fresh wounds.
"Oh, I'm sorry..."
"Come on." Isabelle took Elisa's hand dragging her towards her family's parking lot.
"So which one should we take?" Isabelle asked, rubbing her chin in thought. When blonde didn't respond she turned to look at her. Elisa was gawking at the cars in front of her, her eyes so wide, Isabelle thought they would pop out.
"Are th- these all yours?" Elisa looked at her with a confusion and amazement plastered all over her face.
"Well of course silly, we are Parriers after all." Isabelle shook her head, smirking at blonde's shock.
Elisa walked between the cars, looking at each like a little kid in a candy store. "Oh I see, we have a car enthusiast here." Isabelle muttered to herself.
"Is this baby yours too?" Elisa gasped somewhere among the cars.
"Which one?" Isabelle asked her, walking towards the blonde. "Oh yeah, that's my father's Harley Davidson. Although he never drives it." Isabelle shrugged indifferently.
Elisa ran her fingers carefully over the shiny black motorcycle as if afraid she might damage it somehow. "Wow." she exclaimed, completely engrossed in the admiration of the two wheeled beast.
"Can we take this?" she asked Isabelle with hope in her eyes.
"Umm Elisa you are aware that it's winter. Besides I've no desire to die." she said, immediately regretting her choice of words as they reminded her of Brigitte's premature end.
Elisa frowned, genuinelly disappointed, "But I know how to drive it, I had a motorcyle."
"Uh-uh, maybe in spring, but definitely not now." Isabelle pulled reluctant Elisa away. "We can take this." she pointed her finger towards red Ferrari.
"Do you want to drive? I hate driving." Isabelle asked the blonde dangling with the keys in front of her awestruck face.
"Really?" Elisa asked excitedly. Isabelle rolled her eyes at the blonde.
"Yes, really. Go ahead." Isabelle pecked the blonde, handing her the keys.
They drove in peaceful silence, Isabelle looking at Elisa from the corner of her eye. The blonde was beaming, and Isabelle couldn't help but smile at her expression. What is it about this girl that makes me so feel this way?
Suddenly Elisa took Isabelle's hand, intertwining their fingers. Isabelle was startled by the unexpected movement, but she didn't pull away. Tingles erupted on the brunette's skin, and she squeezed Elisa's hand, letting her know she liked this. Elisa briefly looked at her, their eyes meeting, and they smiled at each other simultaneously. Warmth crept up Isabelle's face, her heart skipping a beat. Elisa reluctantly returned her gaze to the front, but the slight rosiness of her cheeks didn't escape Isabelle's observant eyes.
Isabelle realized they were embarking on an unknown territory. She felt it, something has changed. They weren't seeking only carnal release in each other anymore, this was more than occassional sex. It was becoming something so much more, but interestingly enough Isabelle found herself actually excited to discover what.
Elisa pulled her hand away as they arrived on the school's ground. Isabelle felt disappointed by the instant lack of comforting warmth.
"Wow what a car. But, I think I will dream about that beautiful two wheeled monster tonight." Elisa said, returning the keys to Isabelle.
"You won't dream about me?" Isabelle feigned disappointment.
"Ooh someone's jealous?" Elisa wriggled her eyebrows at the brunette.
"I am so not." Isabelle huffed. They were bantering all the way towards their homeroom, not noticing the occasional stares they received. It was an understatement to say that people were surprised seeing them socializing with each other, and actually talking like friends. Only when Isabelle noticed her minions, gawking at her with their jaws almost dropping to the floor, did she realize that she was not supposed to be talking to Elisa.
"Crap." Isabelle muttered under her breath. Elisa glanced at her apologetically mouthing, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Text me later." Isabelle whispered at her. After a subtle nod, the blonde sped away. Isabelle stopped in front of her minions, glancing quickly one last time at Elisa before she turned a corner. The girls still gawked at her, question marks almost visible over their heads.
"Come on, let's go to class." Isabelle ordered them, pulling her mask of indifference on. Settling in her seat, she allowed the thoughts of Elisa to swarm in her mind. She couldn't fight it anymore, it was completely futile to deny her feelings for the blonde. Isabelle smiled to herself as the invisible weight she didn't even know she was carrying lifted.
Isabelle you are completely whipped, she thought to herself, and she wanted to laugh at the admission. She probably would have laughed her butt off if she wasn't in the class. She realized that over the course of the past few months, all the things she hated about Elisa became the things she loves now. Somehow Elisa wriggled her way in Isabelle's heart, and one by one she was tearing Isabelle's defenses down.
Isabelle turned in her seat, subtly directing her gaze towards the blonde, who was of course already looking at her. It seemed that the whole world ceased to exist as she was looking into those chocolate pools. For the first time in her life, Isabelle's cheeks flushed with embarassing pink, one clear, loud thought ringing in her head over and over again. And in all 18 years of her existence nothing made more sense than those three simple words.
I like her.