Melanie & Miss Audrey, Rated T
“I’m not doing that again,” Melanie groaned, sliding back down the wall of the nightcar. Next to her, Miss Audrey laughed.
It had been a hard day and a rough session. The nightcar was mostly empty, Melanie wasn’t at the helm that night, and they’d both decided a few drinks were in order. And now here they were-Melanie discovering she was way too drunk by the wave of dizziness that had slammed into her when she’d tried to get up to make her way back to her room in the engine.
“And here I was thinking you were so tough,” Audrey teased, “You certainly acted like it when you were leading this train.”
Melanie stuck her tongue out at her, “I am! You just don’t know me well enough.”
“Oh yeah?” Audrey winged an eyebrow skeptically.
“Yeah,” Melanie nodded seriously, “Just ask Javi.”
Audrey laughed, “You know, I’m not sure I’ve actually ever met him before.”
“Well you can,” Melanie told her, then grinned playfully as an idea came to her, “If you escort me back to the engine to make sure that no one takes advantage of their despised former leader’s inebriated state.”
“You’re not despised, Melanie,” Audrey’s voice was soft and serious.
“Most people would say otherwise,” Melanie murmured, but there was no true argument that she tried to make.
After a beat Audrey stood, smiling and extending a hand, “Come on then.”
Melanie let herself be pulled up. Audrey dragged her to the stairs, then let go of her. Melanie shuffled behind her the entire way to the engine.
As strange as it sometimes was to realize that she could actually consider the other woman a friend now, Melanie kind of liked it.