Chapter 3
"Have you been following me?," Sarah asked as she got in the car.
"No. Actually I'm on my way home."
"Oh, okay. Did you fight?"
Delphine didn't answer right away.
"Sorry, if I'm intrusive. Nevermind," Sarah added
"It's fine. We didn't fight much. I just can't be around her right now," Delphine answered.
"Same."
"So, is there anywhere I can drop you off? Wait, Sarah have you been drinking?," Delphine had just smelled a whiff of alcohol and for the first time since Sarah had gotten in the car she looked over to her, "my goodness, you're soaking wet." She immediately turned up the heating and tried to ignore the bottle between Sarah's legs.
"Thanks", Sarah nodded towards the dashboard, "I would have said to drop me off at S's but, like you've already observed I've been drinking. So that's out."
"What's Felix' doing?"
"Not a bastard clue. All I got was his mailbox."
"Great," Delphine groaned.
"Hey. You didn't have to pick me up in the first place!"
Delphine hit the breaks unnecessarily hard and the car behind them honked furiously. "Fine. Get out if you like."
Sarah looked out of the window where it was still pouring buckets. She sighed, "Whatever, just take me to yours, I'll get a cab as soon as I've reached Fe."
Delphine accelerated and the car zoomed over the downtown highway.
When they stepped out of the elevator Sarah couldn't help but admire the place. It looked more like a hotel than an apartment complex to her. She had brought her whiskey just in case, despite Delphine's judgmental glances. As the door to the apartment was unlocked, Sarah let out a small whistle. "Wow, I should have stayed in school." She walked down the hallway and mindlessly dropped her leather jacket on one of the barstools at the kitchen counter, gaping around. Delphine noticed that, and gave her an insistent look.
"What?" Sarah asked
"You just walked past the wardrobe."
"Seriously? I'll be here for like thirty minutes."
"Okay fine, whatever, at least put a coaster under that bottle. They're on your right next to the microwave." Delphine disappeared into what appeared to be her bedroom.
Grudgingly, Sarah took a coaster and opened a few cupboards until she found a glass. She got comfy at the counter and poured herself a drink. After trying to reach her brother for the fourth time she smacked her phone on the marble surface and exhaled. It started to look like she might stay a little longer than expected. Delphine didn't reappear for another 15 minutes. Every now and then Sarah was wondering if she had just gone to bed but then the bedroom door opened. Delphine stepped out wearing sweatpants and a hoodie. Her curls were up in a bun and her make-up was completely washed off. The sight was so unusual and in a weird way attractive to Sarah that she couldn't help but grin.
"Why are you smiling at me?," Delphine asked. Sarah was unable to read her countenance.
"I'm not. It's just, you look so different in that. I mean, I've encountered Dr. Cormier a few times but never Delphine-Sleepyhead."
"Oh shut up," she involuntarily grinned back at her and helped herself to a glass of water. "Have you reached Felix?"
"Nope."
Delphine stood on the opposite side of the counter and held her glass. She traced its rim with her finger and awkwardly looked around.
"Pretty classy place you got," Sarah said.
"Yes, it's not too bad."
Sarah poured another glas of whiskey. Slowly, she was starting to feel its effect. Delphine followed the movement of the bottle with her eyes and Sarah noticed. "Want some?," she asked.
"No… I'm good."
"Are you sure? There's still plenty left."
"Do you want to get me drunk?"
"Of course not. I'd rather sit here with you, making awkward smalltalk until my idiot brother calls me back ," Sarah smirked.
"Formidable", she emptied her water and slid the glass across the counter.
Before pouring Sarah looked up and said, "Are you really sure, it's the super cheap stuff. Judging after this place you're probably not used to it. And also, you probably want to get a coaster for that."
Delphine didn't mind the cheap stuff and after half an hour the bottle was empty.
"Well, I guess this is it," Sarah mumbled, "I better try Fe again." She squinted at her phone and dialed.
"Fucking hell. Fe, if your getting this you better call me right away."
Delphine giggled.
"That's not funny. The booze is empty and I'm stuck here."
"Well, what if I tell you it's not?", Delphine said raising one eyebrow. She was well aware that she was drunk but the evening had turned out to be not as bad as it started and she didn't feel like ending it just yet.
"Bring it here, Cormier!" Sarah hooted.
Delphine paused before opening the bottle. She collected her words and looked directly into Sarah's eyes, "Are you really sure? It's the super expensive stuff." The more she drank the thicker her French accent got.
"Funny, I never thought you'd have a humorous side to you."
"You are such a brat," Delphine repeated the words she had said to Cosima at their first in-official date but the alcohol made her forget that temporarily.
Sarah took a sip and looked at her opposite admiringly. "Oh wow, they really gave you the good stuff, didn't they?"
"Oui, I admit, working for the DYAD sure has it's perks", she winked.
"And now you're wasting it on me."
"There's more where this came from."
"Of course there is. Seems like they don't half-ass things with their employees," she said tapping on the marble countertop.
Delphine didn't respond. She supported her head with her hands and leaned on the counter, looking at Sarah.
"What are you looking at? Stop!"
"Why did you do it?," the question had been burning on Delphine's lips ever since Sarah had gotten in her car.
"Why did I do what?"
"Why did you agree to her prank?"
It took a second for Sarah process the question. She swallowed and shifted her sitting position.
"Well, she almost bullied me into doing it. Seriously, I though it was a bad idea from the beginning. I hated everything about it. I'm serious," she was talking so fast, she had to pause to catch her breath," it's not my fault, she just wouldn't shut up about it. Look, it made me uncomfortable too."
"Okay."
"What, that's all? You're okay with it?"
"Technically it's not you fault. I was just wondering why you did it."
"Okay."
Sarah looked to the ground, holding her glass with both hands. She could feel the words burning on her tongue and she knew what she could kick off should she say them.
The alcohol made her brave.
"Did you feel it too?", she asked looking up.
"Feel what?", Delphine's eyes seemed to piece her.
"Nevermind, forget it," she clumsily got up from the stool and grabbed her jacket. "I should get going." She started walking towards the door.
"Tell me!," it wasn't a request it was a command.
Sarah jerked to a halt. She was torn between making a run for it and letting everything play by ear. Her bravery conquered her cowardice. She turned around facing Delphine. "Don't play stupid, you know exactly what I'm talking about."
Delphine knew.
She got up from her stool and walked towards Sarah who clutched her jacket a little tighter, crossing her arms before her body. Delphine stopped right in front of her, looking into her eyes. Sarah couldn't help it, she looked at her lips and then at her eyes and her lips again.
Delphine reached out to her, stroking her cheek gently.
"Don't," Sarah breathed.
Delphine stopped.
"We can't do this," Sarah's words were a mere whisper.
"I know," Delphine said and slowly leaned in. Sarah felt her breath on her skin and was unable to keep her guard up any longer. Her jacket fell to the floor and she reciprocated the kiss. Delphine's hands were buried in her hair. Her hands found the hem of Delphine's hoodie and she began fumbling at it. Suddenly, Sarah found herself pressed against the wall. The cardigan had followed the leather jacket to the floor and Delphine was already pulling at the fabric of her black top.
"Delphine…," Sarah didn't know if she uttered the name because she was still hesitant or out of sheer arousal, her body didn't obey her anymore. She had washed her doubts down with the whiskey and now she got what she had wanted since she got in the car.
"What?," Delphine breathed and broke the kiss. She had her hands wrapped around Sarah's neck and seemed to be scanning her face.
This was it, Sarah's last chance to not let this escalate completely. She stared back into brown eyes and, as if she had done it a million times, ran her hand softly across Delphine's cheek and along her jawline. Delphine closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. Sarah felt her whole body tremble at the sight. She never thought this would happen. A small part in her still fought to do the right thing. But she had lost that battle a long time ago.