+ 1
+1: Gideon and Harrow
Gideon knew that she cared about Harrow. She’d known her half her life and she was probably her best friend. Her feelings for her were platonic though. She went out with girls, slept with them and had a string of short but sweet relationships. She cared a lot. Gideon and Harrow were an unlikely duo, yet they’d always stuck together. Maybe they gravitated towards each other because they both felt different. It wasn’t a friendship at first, it was barely an acquaintanceship. They absolutely hated each other for years. Their hatred turned into something else when they were in high school. Harrow tried to act like she didn’t care about anything or anyone but she failed, because she really did care, you just had to look closer.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus was in love. She was so deeply in love, her bones ached if she thought about it for too long. This realisation had come to her quite slowly over the last few months. She and Gideon had been orbiting each other for years, she couldn’t conceive of a universe without her. Harrow was also painfully aware of Gideon’s… endeavours. She wasn’t jealous per se, she just didn’t like the thought of Gideon being someone else’s. So she was a little jealous, but she really really didn’t want to mess anything up. Things were so good between them. Every time Gideon did something that made her heart jump she reminded herself that Gideon did this for everyone. She was just a caring person, that’s all, and she really appreciated how patient she had been throughout their relationship.
They both attend Coronabeth and Ianthe’s end-of-semester party. The twins have a loft apartment off campus where they regularly throw parties. Harrow doesn’t usually go to them but Gideon convinces her quite easily. Not that it takes a lot of convincing for Harrow to spend time with Gideon. Gideon arrives before Harrow does and is greeted by Coronabeth. She’s dazzling, of course. She’s also a little tipsy, which is why she says “Oh Gideon, I’m so happy to see you! Where’s Harrow? I thought you guys always came together?”
“I think she’s on her way, she didn’t tell me when she’d be here,” Gideon called over the music.
“You think she’s on her way? Aren’t you guys like, basically dating?” Corona yelled back and took a sip of her drink. When she noticed the blush on Gideon’s face she rolled her eyes. “Oh sorry, Gideon, I forgot that no one can talk about how obviously into each other you and Harrow are, god forbid you ever have to confront your feelings for each other!”
“I’m gonna go get a drink,” Gideon said, turning away from Corona, who was already walking away to find someone else to lecture about their life choices. Gideon opened the fridge to find a beer. She opened her beer and took a sip when Dulcinea came in. “Hi!” she greeted Gideon in a soft voice, “Where’s Harrow? I haven’t seen her all night and I know that Palamedes was hoping to talk to her about a new theory he’s been researching for biochem.” Gideon looked into the crowded room to find Palamedes looking in their direction. Well, he wasn’t looking at Gideon, that was for sure.
“I think she’s on her way, she didn’t text me,” Gideon said, hoping Dulcie didn’t take up Coronabeth’s antics. “Oh, ok.” Dulcie was assembling a cocktail. “I heard you two spent thanksgiving together,”
(there it was)
“How was it?”
“Yeah, we did. It was nice, Harrow already knows my family, so it wasn’t a really big deal.” Gideon was trying to steer the conversation away before she confessed something that she really didn’t want to admit. “Gideon,” Dulcinea turned to her and took one of her hands in hers, “life is too short to not tell people you love them. I just wanted to say that to you.” Gideon turned her gaze to where Palamedes stood on the floor, him averting his eyes when he noticed her eyes on him. “I know you’re trying to help me, but Dulcie, may I suggest that you take your own advice?” Dulcinea followed Gideon’s gaze until it landed on Palamedes. She smiled. “How about this: I’ll talk to him if you talk to her, deal?” Gideon shook her head. “I don’t think she feels that way about me,” Gideon said, her voice low.
“That is absolute bullshit and you know it.”
Dulcinea gave Gideon’s hand a small squeeze and started making her way to Camilla and Palamedes, turning to yell: “just remember what I said!”
Gideon was so fucked.
Thirty minutes later she stood on the balcony, trying her best not to puke. She wasn’t drunk, not yet anyway. She opened her phone to check if Harrow had left her a message.
Marchioness of bones
I’m on my way.
Gideon blinked. She felt her insides threaten to spill out of her. Right then Camilla stepped onto the balcony. Gideon nodded her head at her. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Oh, nothing, just tired of third wheeling,” she looked inside, where Palamedes and Dulcinea sat on the couch, quite close considering the fact that they were the only people on the couch. Gideon chuckled. “Glad they’re figuring it out.” Camilla shook her head at Gideon. “What?” Camilla raised her eyebrows, “You’re just funny.” she paused “so, how come Harrow isn’t here?”
“She just texted me saying she’s on her way, why?”
“Don’t you think it’s funny that she texted you to update you on her whereabouts?” Camilla asked,
“She’s my friend, she just wants me to know that she hasn’t bailed on the party, that’s it.”
“Well, Harrow hasn’t texted me, she hasn’t texted Pal, Dulcie or Corona either, are they not her friends?”
Gideon did not want to be having this conversation. Camilla usually minded her own business, why did everyone seem to have taken such an interest in her love life?
“I don’t want to get into this right now, Camilla,” she took a swig from the bottle she was holding, “even if I did have feelings for her, which I don’t, she doesn’t look at me that way, never will.” Camilla looked at her like she’d just told her that the earth was flat. “You two are unbelievable,” she scoffed. They both turned to see Harrow standing inside the apartment, looking like she was being subjected to torture. Ianthe stood next to her, babbling on about something while Harrow scanned the room, looking for something… or someone. Camilla laughed, “Good luck, Gideon.” Camilla stepped back onto the apartment floor.
Gideon swallowed, hard. Then she walked in to greet Harrow. She was so fucked.
Ianthe sighed when she saw Gideon walking towards her. Harrow turned, the same tortured look on her face. When their eyes met, her gaze softened, a small smile playing on her features. “Hi,” Harrow said. She was wearing a long, black, satin skirt, a mohair sweater with a black turtleneck underneath and her docs, which she’d owned for years. Her hair was loose, except for the front, which was pinned away from her face. Harrow had started getting piercings when they were 14, she had quite a few in her ears, along with the one in her left nostril. Gideon felt like she was going to die. If this was the last thing she saw before she died, she’d be okay with that. Coronabeth appeared, pulling Harrow into a hug, “I’m so glad you made it Harrow, so nice to see you!” she beamed at her, then grabbed Ianthe’s arm and started leading her away, “I reaaaaally need your help here Ianthe, excuse us.” Corona gave Gideon a pointed look as she and her sister walked off. “So, you want to go get something to drink? I’m sure they have room temperature water somewhere,” Gideon laughed at her joke, and the exasperated look on Harrow’s face when she said it. They walked to the fridge, Harrow stopping to greet Palamedes, then deciding against it when she was met with the sight of Dulcinea leaning over and kissing him. She pointed to them, “do you know when this happened?” she asked Gideon, who shrugged, “it was a long time coming, I’ll tell you that.”
She tried not to choke at the irony of what she just said.
Harrow pointed at the top shelf, “can you pass me one of those?” Gideon reached up and grabbed a wine glass for her. She poured red wine into it and took a sip. Gideon’s attention moved to Harrow’s lips. She was wearing black lipstick. So fucking hot was all she could think.
“Gideon, are you ok? You seem a little… unlike yourself,” Harrow trailed off. “I actually need to talk to you about something,” Gideon’s heart was beating out of her chest, “like, in private.”
They walked down the hall, finding the guest bedroom. Gideon held the door open for Harrow and walked in after her. Harrow sat down on the bed and looked at Gideon attentively. “So, what do you need to talk to me about?” Harrow was quite worried. She wasn’t used to seeing her like this. “Is everything ok?” she asked Gideon, who was pacing around the room. “Yes, everything’s fine… or I hope it is, I just- I don’t know how to tell you, and I-”
“Gideon.”
“Yes?”
Harrow patted the spot next to her on the bed. Gideon sat.
“So, Harrow, the thing is, and I just want to preface this by saying that our friendship is a priority for me, I never want anything to get in the way of that.” Harrow nodded. “I just,” she took a deep breath. “I really like you, Harrow, and I know you don’t feel that way about me and I don’t want this to ruin our friendship, I just can’t deny it, bury it down anymore. Please don’t hate me.”
Harrow was silent for a moment. “I could never hate you. I never have, even when I said I did when we were kids. You know that, don’t you?”
“I was just worried-”
“Gideon,” Harrow caught her gaze, black eyes piercing her gold ones, “You and you alone, are the fond object of my affection and my desire. You always have been.”
Gideon couldn’t breathe.
“You- what?”
“I really like you too, idiot,” Harrow answered. She was biting her lip, a nervous habit of hers. Gideon smiled, she probably looked like an idiot. They sat there, looking at each other, taking each other in for what felt like the first time. Gideon broke the spell. “Harrow,” her eyes darted down to Harrow’s lips, “can I kiss you?”
Harrow brought her hands up to cup Gideon’s face. She moved until they could feel each other’s breath on their face. Gideon closed the gap between them, kissing Harrow softly. Harrow’s fingers were buried in her hair, fingernails scratching at her scalp. Gideon rested her hands on her waist, holding her in place as she climbed onto her lap. When Harrow was straddling Gideon, she broke the kiss to catch her breath. Gideon looked up at Harrow. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long," she admitted. “Yeah?” Harrow quirked an eyebrow, “how long?”
“Years,” Gideon’s grip on her tightened, “I think I’ve wanted that since the second I found out kissing was a thing.” Harrow smiled the warmest of smiles. “Me too.” Harrow, still holding Gideon’s face in her hands, brought her lips to hers. This kiss was shorter but just as earth-shattering as the first one.
“You know, as much as I want to continue this, and I do, really, I think we should go somewhere better suited for this situation,” Harrow suggested. Gideon did not like the idea of Harrow climbing off her lap but she didn't love the idea of any of their friends walking in at this moment. She wanted it to be theirs. She nodded. “Your place or mine, sugar?” Harrow smiled at her.
A few minutes (and a short make-out) later Harrow stood up, fixing her clothes and hair, using her phone as a mirror. “Do I have lipstick on my face?” asked Gideon, Harrow's black lipstick on her mouth and surrounding areas. Harrow reached into her bag and pulled out a wet wipe. She patted Gideon’s face, removing the evidence of what had just transpired in the guest room. She reapplied her lipstick, then turned to Gideon.
“How do I look?”
Stunning, gorgeous, breathtaking, strikingly beautiful… The list in Gideon’s head went on.
“You look so fucking hot, Harrow.” Gideon winked at her. Harrow blushed. “So do you.” Gideon gripped the door handle and held the door for Harrow, “my lady.”
They walked through the crowd of people, making their way out of the apartment undetected by their friends. Unbothered at least. They only saw Corona, but she was too busy making out with Judith to notice them. Gideon was thankful, she could not handle her seeing them right now, all she cared about was getting back home. With Harrow. They took the elevator down, running out to find the nearest taxi.
They settled on Gideon’s room, it was the closest to them. The second Gideon’s door shut Harrow was on her, crushing their lips together as Gideon tried her best to take her jacket and shoes off without breaking contact. Gideon picked Harrow up, her legs wrapping around her hips. She walked them to her bed, laying Harrow down softly. She laid down next to her, so they were face to face. She cradled Harrow's face. She placed soft kisses on her cheeks, her jaw and finally on her forehead. She kissed her lips, not with urgency but with a sureness, that this wasn’t a one-time thing. Harrow tucked herself into Gideon, wanting to be as close to her as possible.
“Gideon,” Harrow broke the silence. “Do you think our friends will be surprised by this… development?” Gideon laughed. “Something tells me that they’ve suspected this for some time.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we haven’t exactly been subtle…”
Harrow huffed. “Hmmm, I’m not sure what you mean by that.” Gideon stroked Harrow’s side, “so, should we tell everyone right away? Whatever you like, I’ll co-sign.”
“Tell them that… we’re in a relationship?” Harrow asked, suddenly feeling a little shy. “Yes, that you’re my girlfriend and I’m yours,” Gideon replied, bringing her hand up to brush Harrow’s hair out of her face. “Let’s figure it out in the morning,” Harrow sighed contently into Gideon's palm.
“Can I borrow a shirt to sleep in?” Harrow asked as they sat up. Gideon rummaged through her shirts, settling on a shirt with some band logo that Harrow didn’t recognize. Gideon sat down on the bed as Harrow stripped to her underwear and put her shirt on. Harrow wearing her shirt. She thought she’d die then and there. Harrow laid down next to Gideon on the bed, Gideon’s arms wrapping around her waist.
“Good night, Griddle.”
Gideon pressed a kiss into her hair. “Good night, Harrow.”