Chapter 13
Just a short chapter. *evil chuckle*
Delphine felt a flutter in her chest as she walked. She looked down at a keyring she twirled around her fingertip as she moved down the slim hallway, so many emotions washing through her. Excitement? Happiness? Exuberance even? Everything was working out perfectly, she decided as she stepped to the side, someone nearly running into her with a loaded box.
This was definitely going to be her year. Delphine hummed softly as she stopped at a door, rapping her knuckles against it. The door opened suddenly and she was greeted by a huge grin. "Bonjour."
"Hey, Sexy. Just what I wanted… I was about to study for my anatomy class… and you have fantastic anatomy..." Cosima grinned, hooking her finger in Delphine's jeans, pulling her forward and locking the door. "Whatcha got there?" Already her hands were working on the leather belt and the button that hid behind it.
"Key." Delphine set it on the desk as she was pulled toward the bed. "For my dorm room… non… our dorm room now." Her roommate had dropped out the previous week and it had taken some finagling but they had finally made it happen.
"Ooo living together." Cosima chuckled, her fingertips working Delphine's jeans down her hips. "I don't know if I'm ready for that stage of our relationship." Even as she said it, she was stripping off her own t-shirt.
Following the brunette onto the bed, she covered the shorter frame, brushing soft kisses along her jaw. Straddling jeans covered hips, she let her hands slide down over bare ribs that shook slightly with laughter. Her fingertip ran over a small scar, almost undetectable. She wouldn't have even seen it if she hadn't been there for the biopsy. "Mmmm, yes you are," Delphine laughed as she leaned forward, pressing her lips against Cosima's.
"Yeah I am." Cosima ran her fingers through blonde curls, pulling her down. With a loud giggle, she gripped Delphine's body and rolled their forms over.
Delphine sighed heavily as she was rolled onto her back, Paul's larger form settling over her, kissing her sloppily, pinning her to the bed as his rough hands pulled drunkenly at her clothes. If she closed her eyes, she could remember the time when his touch was so much more to her. She could remember a time when he would actually see her, instead of closing his eyes and burying his face in the crook of her neck.
She still loved him, of course, but was that enough? It didn't matter, she told herself as she waited for him to finish. She was lucky. After all, he was on the verge of stardom, just about to break through and no matter who he flirted with, she was the one he came home to. She was lucky, she repeated to herself as he rolled off of her, spent and unconcerned with her. It didn't take long for his snoring to start.
The phone rang and she was quick to pick it up so it wouldn't wake him.
"Bonjour, Delphine!"
"Maman." Delphine whispered, grabbing her robe as she left the room. The last thing she wanted was to wake Paul.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"It's ok, Maman. I couldn't sleep anyway." It wasn't really a lie, she decided, making her way to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of scotch. "It's good to hear your voice."
"Well, if you would call more often…" Her mother started in, offering the proper guilt trip before going on about the flowers in her garden and the local buzz from the neighborhood. She listened with half an ear as she lit a cigarette, feeling the smoke filling her lungs as the cool menthol tingled in her throat. "Wait… what?" She coughed out when she heard a certain name.
"Oh, that's right. You used to be friends with her... when you broke your arm…" Her mother sounded frustrated with herself. "You were only friends with her a few weeks, but I should have told you… It was last month. She had a respiratory infection…"
The words washed over her and Delphine felt her body beginning to shake. There was an odd sensation of guilt, as if she could have prevented it, as if she could have done something, but her mother was right. They'd only been friends for a week… maybe two… before she got back together with Paul. Why had they stopped being friends? "Maman, I have to go." She spoke softly, letting the cordless phone drop to the table.
How could it be her fault? She didn't even remember why they stopped being friends. But they had been more than friends, hadn't they? Leaning against the counter, she took another sip of Scotch, feeling it burn it's way down her throat.
"What the hell are you doing up?" Paul asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist from behind, pulling her back against him.
"Not now, Paul." She complained as she felt his hand sliding into her robe, cupping her breast as his rekindled excitement pressed against her from behind. "I'm not in the mood."
"Come on, Babe." He stripped her robe off, letting it fall to the floor. "You're the one walking around the house in almost nothing. I have to be at work early and you know I can't sleep like this…"
"I'm still sore…" She argued but he was already pushing her back against the counter, his hand gripping her thigh to wrap around his hips.
"I'll be quick." He whispered in her ear.
Delphine shot up suddenly, her eyes blinking against the darkness. Her heart was beating what felt like a million beats per minute and it felt like her chest was held in a vice. This wasn't like any other dream she'd had before. She remembered the last dream, when Paul's rough touch had turned to the softness of Cosima's embrace and, in comparison, this dream seemed wrong. It couldn't be right.
What the hell did it even mean?
With a curse, she slipped out of bed, heading to the kitchen.
She didn't expect to see her mother sitting at the kitchen island, smoking a cigarette.
"Maman!"
"Merde!" The woman quickly killed the cigarette, waving her hand through the air to disburse the smoke. "Delphine… why are you awake?"
Her eyes narrowing, Delphine grabbed a mug from the cabinet. "I thought you quit smoking."
"I did…"
The beeps of the microwave sounded ten times louder in the middle of the night as Delphine heated up some milk. "Uh huh."
"Yes well…" Her mother cleared her throat. "I had a long day. How is your arm?"
"Fine."
She tilted her head to the side as she watched her daughter moving around the kitchen, retrieving the container of honey. There was something about the way her daughter was walking, a change in her posture almost. She looked as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Maybe it was something as simple as what she was sleeping in. Her daughter had always preferred light colors, but dressed in a black t-shirt, she seemed different. "Where did you get that t-shirt?"
Looking down, Delphine felt a slight blush come to her cheeks at the picture of a cartoon Harley Quinn. "It's Cosima's. She loaned it to me after we got caught in the rain."
Her mother seemed to ponder that. "So… it's not Paul's?"
"Non." Delphine answered with a grimace, the dream still fresh in her mind. "Paul and I broke up last week." Stirring in the honey as she took a seat, Delphine blew lightly on the warm milk. "I thought I told you."
"Well you've broken up with him at least 5 times that I can remember." Her mother defended.
"Well this time it's for good."
Her mother pursed her lips. "Is that why I received that call on Tuesday about your sudden attendance problem? When I said you could take the day off, you had not told me you missed classes from the 3 previous days..."
Her mug halfway to her lips, Delphine froze. She'd completely forgotten about that stupid automated system. "I'm sorry, Maman."
"Once, I would not care so much. You are a good girl, Delphine, but several times?" Her mother gave her a worried look. "I know break ups can be hard sometimes, especially when you are a teenager and it feels like the end of the world," her mother covered her casted hand with a gentle touch, "but you cannot risk your future for a boy."
Delphine nearly choked on her sip. Setting down the mug with a cough, Delphine nodded. "I know. I'm sorry."
Her mother nodded. "As long as I don't get anymore calls," she leaned forward in a conspiring whisper, "I won't tell your Papa as long as you do not tell him I was smoking."
Delphine grinned as she nodded. "Deal."
Why had she made that deal? Delphine sighed heavily as she sat at the empty table, away from most of the crowded cafeteria. She hadn't been able to find Cosima everywhere, and even Scott wasn't exactly sure.
It was taking everything in her to stay in school. She'd managed to make it through her calculus test thanks to Cosima's tutoring, and the rest of her classes were less than difficult. It would be the prime opportunity to ditch.
But she'd promised her maman.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when a form plopped down on the bench beside her. "Hey!"
"I come in peace." Paul held his hands up. The bruise on his eye had faded away to just a pale tinge of yellow.
"What are you doing here, Paul? Don't you have a table full of your douche friends?"
Paul rose his eyebrows before laughing. "I guess I deserved that." He shook his head. "Look… I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
Delphine's brows furrowed as she took him in. He looked sincere, away from the crowd of his friends.
"I was being an asshole, and I know it." He reached out, his hand covering her own.
"Come on, Babe." Paul's voice from her dream flashed back to her and Delphine quickly pulled her hand away. "Thank you for saying that."
Paul seemed to ignore her reaction, moving just a little closer. "Come on, Delphine. Why are you being so cold? I miss you."
Delphine shook her head. "I'm sorry, Paul but it's not going to happen."
"Delphine... We're perfect together, you know that." He moved even closer, close enough for Delphine to feel the heat radiating off his body. "I know you…"
"Paul!" Alison smiled as she set her tray down on the table across from Delphine. "I think Donnie was looking for you." She gave him a sweet smile. "Something about not being able to play on Friday."
"What?" Paul backed up, looking over his shoulder. "He better not…" Standing up, he sighed. "Delphine… can we talk later?"
Delphine shook her head. "Non, Paul. Please just go."
"Hey Paul!" Krystal appeared, setting her tray down. "I think Olivier was looking for you. Something about an injury?"
"What the fuck?" He stalked away, shoulders set in anger.
"Are you alright?" Alison asked quickly.
"Yeah. When did Paul get so agro?" Krystal gave Delphine a sympathetic look.
Delphine smiled. There was guilt again, having ditched all her friends as soon as she and Cosima started hanging out. "I'm ok. Thank you both."
Alison rolled her eyes as she opened her milk. "That's what friends are for. If you'd let us."
"Totally." Krystal agreed. "Like, even though you have been cutting classes since last week and the first time you are having lunch here, you totally sit in the corner by yourself?"
"Désolée." Delphine gave her a guilty look. "I never meant to…"
"I totally forgive you." Krystal grinned brightly. "You're impossible to stay mad at… not saying I was mad at you."
Delphine smiled, but still it did not quell the uneasiness. Checking her wristwatch, she sighed. Three and a half hours left.