Part 2
They head to the dance floor after Fatin makes everyone her favourite drink, a pink gin and tonic.
Toni and Shelby quickly start grinding on each other, and Fatin will definitely point out the irony tomorrow morning; Toni mentioned earlier that Fatin couldn’t wait to drink and grind on Leah.
They keep dancing for a while and Fatin realizes she hasn’t been out dancing since before the retreat. When they all went back home, she focused on graduating high school, spending time with Leah (mostly watching movies) and their case against Gretchen.
It’s weird because she sometimes feels like she lost so much of her old life because of the retreat. Now, looking around her at her friends all having fun and dancing with her beautiful girlfriend, she has to admit that she won so much more.
They keep dancing and drinking for the next two hours. Rachel and Dot both found some random guys to make out with in the middle of the dance floor, Nora and Martha are dancing with each other and Toni and Shelby are still grinding on each other. Fatin has her arms around Leah’s neck while Leah’s hands are on her waist and they are slowly swaying to the music.
“Do you know how much I love you?” Leah whispers in Fatin’s ear and Fatin feels a shiver run down her spine.
“I think I do, but you can always show me later in our bedroom,” Fatin winks.
“Our bedroom,” Leah gives her a dopy grin, “that feels so nice to hear.”
“Could not agree more my love,” Fatin replies with a smile before pulling Leah in for a sloppy kiss.
They kiss softly for a few minutes before going back to dancing and staring into each other’s eyes.
Lost in Leah’s eyes, Fatin thinks about why she ever liked going to these kinds of parties. Everyone around her is sweating and bumping into each other. People are drunk and the music is way too loud.
Of course, what annoys Fatin the most is that guys and girls keep staring their way and she doesn’t like how they shamelessly stare at her and Leah. She doesn’t blame them because, yes, her girlfriend is the most gorgeous girl in the world but she is her girlfriend and they need to back off.
Hmm, maybe she is a bit tipsier than she thought.
Fatin’s train of thoughts is interrupted by Rachel and Dot motioning that they are going outside for a smoke.
“I’m going out for a smoke with Dot and Rachel,” Fatin shouts in Leah’s ear.
“Okay my love,” Leah smiles before leaning in and giving her a gentle kiss.
Fatin gets lost in the kiss, thanks to the alcohol, and she knows Leah is pretty tipsy as well. They start to make out sloppily and Fatin forgets all about her cigarette. She pulls Leah closer by the waist while Leah holds Fatin’s face softly.
Fatin would be more than happy to spend her whole night like this, kissing Leah like her life depends on it.
“Yo, are we going for that smoke or what?” Dot screams in Fatin’s ear while touching her shoulder. Dot clearly isn’t fazed by Leah and Fatin making out.
Fatin breaks the kiss and glares at Dot before looking back at Leah and staring into her eyes, “Be right back baby, love you,” she gives Leah a quick kiss and a wink.
She laughs when Leah slaps her ass playfully and shouts “Love you!”
She joins Dot and Rachel outside and they smoke while talking about the party.
Ten minutes later, the three of them return to the crowded dance floor, the bass of the music shaking the ground beneath their feet. Fatin’s body is already moving to the rhythm, but her eyes are scanning the group. She spots the girls but something catches her attention. Leah is standing next to some guy, slightly laughing at whatever the fuck he’s saying.
"Who the fuck is that guy talking to Leah?" Rachel asks, her voice low, and yeah, who the fuck is that.
Fatin is moving toward the group now, but it feels like her feet are stuck in quicksand. As they draw closer, Fatin gets a better look at the guy, and her heart drops into her stomach.
Raf.
What the fuck is he doing here?
Fatin's pulse quickens, her vision narrowing on the guy who has no business being anywhere near her girlfriend. She barely hears Dot’s voice break through her thoughts.
“Isn’t that the guy who was always trying to flirt with Leah in the bunker, even though he knew you and Leah were together?” Dot says, her words fueling the fire already burning in Fatin’s chest.
“Yeah,” Fatin mutters through clenched teeth, her whole body starting to heat up, not in the good way. The alcohol in her system only makes her more aware of the simmering anger creeping through her veins.
They reach the group, and Fatin freezes when she gets a clear view of Raf standing there, all cocky smiles and too much confidence.
“Babe!” Leah exclaims. "Look who it is!"
Fatin can see it in Leah’s eyes—the subtle shift, the knowing glance that says, I know you’re not happy right now, but I also know you trust me. Leah’s smile is warm and easy, but there’s an underlying tension in the way she holds herself. She also knows Leah loves her and she isn’t insecure about that. It’s just ironically funny that they talked about him earlier and now, here he is, in fucking New York.
"Fatin, wow, long time no see," Raf says with a stupid grin plastered across his face. His tone is dripping with too much familiarity, like they’re old friends, and Fatin can feel the heat rise in her cheeks, her jaw tightening.
"Hi… Jof?" Fatin says with a mockingly confused smile, deliberately pretending to have forgotten his name. Fuck him.
Leah chuckles, shaking her head with an amused grin, and Fatin can’t help but smirk back at her. She loves that Leah gets her. She loves that Leah finds this whole situation just as ridiculous as she does.
"It’s Raf," the guy says, his face flushing with embarrassment, though he tries to laugh it off.
Dot and Rachel, seemingly unfazed by the tension, bump fists with him and head back to the dance floor. They’ve never really had much to do with Raf—Leah had always been the one dealing with him back in the bunker.
Fatin steps closer to Leah, her body instinctively drawing nearer as she slides her arm around Leah’s waist, pulling her close. The gesture is possessive, a subtle but clear statement that Leah is hers, and Fatin’s glare remains fixed on Raf.
Raf doesn’t even seem to mind, his eyes glancing at the way Leah’s arm drapes over Fatin’s neck, as if he’s trying to figure out the dynamic. Fatin can't help but feel a dark sense of satisfaction when she sees the uncertainty flicker in his eyes.
“I’m surprised you guys are still together,” Raf says loudly, trying to sound casual, but his words are laced with something darker, something Fatin can't quite place. “I thought this thing you had in the bunker was just a phase, given the circumstances.”
Fatin feels the anger surge, the heat of it radiating through her chest. She could honestly punch him in the face right now. He has no idea what he’s messing with, and part of her is tempted to make sure he understands the consequences of pushing too far. But then she feels Leah’s arm tighten around her neck, and the warmth of it calms the storm brewing inside her, even if only for a moment.
Leah’s voice cuts through the tension, calm and firm, a small, sweet smile still on her face. “No, Raf,” she says, her tone cool but unbothered. “We’re still going strong, stronger than ever. In fact, we just moved in together. It was never a phase.”
Fatin’s heart skips a beat at Leah’s words. There’s no hesitation, no uncertainty in her voice. It’s all so solid, so real, and for a second, Fatin feels like she can breathe again.
Raf’s smile falters, his expression shifting from cocky to confused, then to something less confident. He opens his mouth to say something, but Fatin doesn’t care enough to hear it. Her hand on Leah’s waist tightens in a way that tells him everything he needs to know: back the fuck off.
As Leah turns her face toward Fatin, her expression softens, and Fatin can see the affection in her eyes. The tension between them and Raf fades, but Fatin’s anger still simmers beneath the surface. Leah's calmness is a reminder of how secure they are with each other, and Fatin draws a deep breath, letting the feeling of Leah’s presence ground her once again.
Raf seems to pick up on the vibe, his awkward grin never quite making it to his eyes, before he takes a step back, muttering something that Fatin doesn’t care to listen to.
“Do you have anything else to say?” Fatin’s voice is sharp, her patience hanging by a thread as she steps even closer to Leah, her hand on her waist. She’s beyond done with this guy. “Otherwise, you can leave us.”
Raf hesitates for a moment, clearly trying to play it cool, but the grin never leaves his face. That damn smile. The one that’s all fake charm and thinly veiled arrogance. He looks Leah up and down like she’s some kind of prize, licking his lips as if he’s been waiting for this moment, and Fatin can feel every muscle in her body tense with irritation.
“No, cool,” Raf says with an exaggerated shrug, like he’s just so casual about the whole thing. “Umm, I better go. But Leah…” His voice drifts, his eyes practically undressing Leah. “Can I have your number so that we can...” He pauses dramatically, making it worse, drawing the moment out longer than necessary. And then, just as if he hasn’t heard a word Leah has said, he finishes with, “...get together before I leave?”
Fatin feels her blood pressure rise. The audacity of this guy—he’s literally drooling over Leah, acting like it’s totally fine to disregard the fact that she’s clearly taken. Worse, he knows damn well that Leah and Fatin are together.
Fatin opens her mouth, her fists clenching at her sides, ready to kick his fucking ass.
But before she can say anything, Leah steps in.
“What part of ‘I am dating Fatin’ don’t you get?” Leah’s voice is laced with annoyance, and Fatin’s head whips to the left, her eyes widening as Leah’s words cut through the tension. Leah’s scowl is fierce. “I know you expect something to happen between you and me, but you are being so disrespectful right now. Honestly, I’d rather go back to that island and starve than see you again. Fuck off okay?”
Fatin can’t hold it in. She lets out a sharp laugh, unable to resist. The sight of Raf’s face turning crimson, his smug expression evaporating as he stumbles over his words, is almost too good to be true.
Raf rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, clearly thrown off by the force of Leah’s words. “Umm... sorry, I guess—”
“Okay, bye-bye now,” Fatin interrupts him with a grin so fake it could be considered a crime.
With that, she grabs Leah’s hand, practically dragging her away from the scene before Raf can even finish his sentence.
As they rejoin their friends, Fatin can’t wipe the grin off her face. She feels a rush of pride for Leah, for how effortlessly she stood her ground, how easily she shut Raf down. Fatin squeezes Leah’s hand, still laughing to herself as they step into the group.
“I’m surprised you didn’t get more jealous,” Leah teases, her voice low and playful as she steps closer to Fatin, her hands sliding up to the back of Fatin’s neck, pulling her in just a little. Her fingers brush against Fatin’s skin, sending a spark of warmth through her body.
Fatin scoffs, rolling her eyes in mock disbelief. “Me, jealous? Please.”
“Honey you were practically fuming besides me,” Leah laughs and Fatin blushes slightly.
“I was close to punching him, but good thing you told him off before I had a chance to,” Fatin says and gives Leah a quick kiss before swaying to the music, “The way he looked at you with his fuck ass grin, god. It makes me sick.”
Leah leans forward and licks Fatin’s ear before whispering, “I am so turned on right now,” Fatin feels a chill run down her spine, “I love jealous Fatin.”
“And I love when you turn down dumb ass guys who are trying to get into your pants,” Fatin replies, not even denying the jealous part anymore.
Yeah she was jealous.
“I guess I didn’t see it back then because I was too focused on other shit,” Leah says with a wry smile, “but I saw the way he was ogling me tonight, so I am sorry I didn’t see it earlier. I am so throwing that bracelet away when we get home.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Fatin smiles at Leah and squeezes her waist, “Just let me punch him if he even dares to come close to you again,” Fatin grins mischievously.
Leah laughs and pulls Fatin in for a hug.
“Hey, what did he want?” Rachel asks, Dot by her side. Fatin wonders where their “make out” buddies went.
“Just trying to creep his way into Leah’s pants,” Fatin rolls her eyes.
“God, what a douche,” Dot says and Fatin could not agree more.
“Should we get another drink?” Leah asks and they all nod.
Toni and Shelby are nowhere to be found now, mostly likely having sex somewhere and Nora and Martha are busy playing beer pong with some random people.
Fatin grabs Leah’s hand and drags her to the kitchen. All this Raf shit has tragically sobered Fatin down so she makes them all another pink gin and tonic.
--
One hour later, Fatin is back in the kitchen, making drinks for Leah and her while Leah is in the bathroom. She is almost done when she feels a hand on her shoulder. She turns around and comes face to face with a blonde girl smiling at her.
“Hello,” the girl gives Fatin a flirtatious smile, “You are drop dead gorgeous, can I offer you a drink?”
Fatin raises her eyebrows in surprise.
Does the girl not see her making drinks right now? Are people that dense?
“Sorry,” Fatin says and glances at Leah walking towards her, behind the girl, “I’m taken.”
“Are you sure?” the girl says and Fatin rolls her eyes, “One drink might change your mind.”
“Are you playing dumb or are you actually that dumb?” Leah says when she joins Fatin, putting a protective arm around her shoulders, “she said she is taken.”
Fatin glances at Leah with a smirk.
Damn jealous Leah is fucking sexy.
They are both used to being hit on by random people, but things get interesting when you add alcohol.
“Sorry,” the girl says, “Have a good night,” she adds before rushing to the dance floor.
“I am legit hot for you right now,” Fatin faces Leah and drags her hands slowly down her back until they stop on her ass.
“Hmm, really?” Leah says and slowly leans in to kiss Fatin, “Should we finish these drinks quickly and then head home?” Leah grins, “I want you so bad.”
“Absolutely baby,” Fatin leans forward to give Leah another kiss before they both down their drinks quickly.
They find their friends and inform them that they are going home, but not before making sure that they are all still okay.
They spend the rest of the night making love.
--
Fatin wakes the next morning with a pounding headache,
Fuck, she thinks, I forgot to drink water last night. Her throat feels dry, her mouth like cotton, and the dull throb behind her temples isn’t helping.
She shifts in bed, careful not to disturb the warm body beside her. Leah is still sound asleep, her back facing Fatin. The soft rise and fall of her breath, the delicate cascade of her dark hair spilling across the pillow—Fatin smiles softly at the sight. Leah always looks so serene when she’s asleep.
So fucking beautiful.
Fatin lets out a quiet sigh and slips out of bed, trying not to make too much noise. She slides into an oversized T-shirt, the fabric hanging loosely on her, and pulls on a pair of panties before heading downstairs. The house is still, the only sound being the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath her feet. She reaches the kitchen, grabbing two Advils from the cabinet and filling a glass with cool water. The refreshing chill of the water is exactly what she needs, and she swallows one of the pills with a quick gulp.
With a soft sigh of relief, Fatin heads back upstairs, the second Advil in hand. The house is very quiet. They only got home around 1 am last night, and she’s pretty sure the rest of their friends didn’t make it back until much later. It’s a Sunday morning, and she wouldn't be surprised if they were still nursing their hangovers, wrapped in blankets somewhere.
When she returns to their room, she gently closes the door behind her, careful not to wake Leah. She places the glass of water and the second Advil on the dresser next to the bed, glancing at her phone as she does. It’s only 8 am—plenty of time to sleep before their furniture is delivered in a few hours.
Fatin climbs back into bed, slipping beneath the covers and snuggling up behind Leah, who remains blissfully unaware. She wraps her arms around Leah’s waist, pulling her close, inhaling the faint scent of her shampoo mixed with the warmth of her skin. She rests her chin on Leah’s shoulder, content, her headache already starting to feel a little more bearable.
“Hmmm,” Leah groans softly, stirring slightly in her sleep, and Fatin smiles against her neck. “What time is it?”
Fatin presses a gentle kiss to the back of Leah’s neck, letting her lips linger for a moment before whispering, “Sorry, baby. Go back to sleep. I just wanted to cuddle.”
Leah mumbles something indistinct, but the words are heavy with sleep. “Mmmkay...” she replies in a near-dreamy tone, and Fatin feels the weight of her body settle back into the bed as she drifts back off to sleep.
--
Six hours later, everyone is up and moving, finishing the last touches on their new home.
They now have everything they need. A massive TV for their massive TV room, which, let's be real, is just the cherry on top of their already pretty sweet situation.
Did Fatin mention how rich they are now?
After finishing lunch, they all settle in the living room, lounging and brainstorming what to do for the rest of the day. College doesn’t start until next week so they’re all free, but they all still have a slight hangover from last night. It’s safe to say that going out is not even a consideration.
“Don’t you guys think it’s time to test our pool?” Nora asks, her grin wide and eager.
For a second, Fatin blinks, caught off guard. Then it hits her. The pool. The massive pool in their backyard that she had almost forgotten about in the chaos of moving in. She can’t help but smile.
“Hell yeah, let’s do it,” Rachel responds, grinning exactly the same way as her twin, not even missing a beat.
Within moments, they’re all heading back to their rooms to change into swimsuits. The day is shaping up to be exactly what they need.
In their room, Fatin pulls her bikini top on, glancing over at Leah, who’s already in her own swimsuit. Fatin grins, a little mischievous.
“Babe, can you tighten my straps for me?” Fatin asks, holding her hair up so Leah can get to work.
“Gladly,” Leah’s voice is light and teasing, and Fatin hears the smile in it before she even feels Leah’s hands on her back.
Leah’s touch is gentle and skilled as she adjusts the straps of Fatin’s bikini top, the sensation sending a shiver down Fatin’s spine. As Leah finishes, she leans in and plants a soft kiss on Fatin’s shoulder, and Fatin can’t help but close her eyes, enjoying the moment.
Fatin turns around slowly, looking up at Leah. She drapes her arms around her shoulders, pulling her close, and leans in for a gentle kiss.
“Should we—” Fatin starts before being interrupted by someone barging in their room.
“Let’s go, bitches! We’re having a contest to see who can hold their breath the longest!” Rachel says, completely unfazed that she’s just interrupted what was, for all intents and purposes, an intimate moment.
Before either Fatin or Leah can even respond, Rachel’s already barreling down the stairs, her excited cheers filling the air as she heads for the backyard.
Fatin stands there for a second, her mouth slightly open in disbelief, before she mutters under her breath, “Fuck man, we need to lock this fucking door every time we’re inside, alright?”
Leah lets out a laugh and pulls Fatin into a quick hug, squeezing her tightly. “You know they would never actually barge in if they knew we were actually having sex, right? That door is pretty thin.”
Fatin rolls her eyes but can’t help the smile tugging at her lips. She kisses Leah quickly, her lips brushing against hers before she pulls away. “Whatever,” Fatin says with a playful shrug. “Let’s go.”
Leah grins and tugs at Fatin’s hand, leading her out of the room
--
Of course, Fatin and Dot point out that the contest is quite unfair, considering Rachel’s swimming history and all.
"Bitch you’ve been swimming since you were like five," Fatin says, crossing her arms over her chest as she stands at the edge of the pool, glaring playfully at her friend. "How the fuck are we supposed to compete with that?"
Dot laughs beside her. "Yeah, it's not exactly a level playing field. We’re gonna get our asses handed to us."
Rachel rolls her eyes. "Do you wanna do this or not?
The three of them continue to bicker at the edge of the pool, exchanging playful jabs and teasing. But they’re so caught up in their arguments that they don’t notice the other girls running toward them. Before they can react, all three of them are shoved into the pool.
Fatin laughs while coming up for air and all previous arguments are forgotten.
They spend a good hour playing volleyball (if you can call it that in water) and laughing all together.
Leah is now sitting on the edge of the pool, dipping her feet in the cool water. She is leaning back on her hand, watching the rest of the girls swimming; Fatin cannot help but stare at her. Leah is so damn gorgeous, with her pink bikini and wet hair, small droplets of water trickling down her face to her chin and between her breasts and Fatin just-
“See something you like Jadmani?”
Fatin looks up at Leah with a blush. “Definitely,” she says and swims the small distance to reach Leah. She stands up in the shallow pool and places both hands on Leah’s thigh while staring into her blue eyes. “You are so beautiful babe, I am so lucky.”
“Stop,” Leah blushes and pushes Fatin’s shoulder. She leans down to capture Fatin’s lips in a sweet kiss, “I am the lucky one.” Fatin uses that opportunity to grab Leah’s waist and pull her in the water. Leah screams but grabs onto Fatin’s shoulder to prevent herself from going under the water. “Babe!”
Fatin grins but holds onto Leah’s waist. Leah snakes her arms around Fatin’s neck and puts her legs around Fatin’s waist. Since they are in water, Fatin has no issue carrying Leah.
“Just a little payback for you pushing me in the pool earlier,” Fatin says mischievously but Leah laughs and leans down to kiss her once again.
Fatin walks forward, Leah in her arms, until Leah’s back hits the edge of the pool. Leah deepens the kiss and lets out a small moan. Fatin moves her hands to Leah’s ass, all while breaking the kiss to place kisses on her neck.
“NO SEX IN THE POOL!” Fatin and Leah break apart to stare at the rest of the girls, still swimming in the pool.
“Damn I totally forgot they were here,” Leah says and Fatin cannot help her laugh.
“You guys are no fun,” Fatin smirks at the girls, “you expect me to keep my hands to myself when my girl looks THIS good?”
“YES!” Toni and Rachel scream.
Fatin huffs.
Leah lets go of Fatin to stand in the pool; Fatin grabs Leah’s waist and hugs her from the side, both wrapped in each other’s presence all while enjoying the sound of their friends having fun at the other end of the pool.
“Race you to the other end?” Leah suddenly says with a playful grin.
“What, like now?” Fatin’s eyebrows shoot up but Leah doesn’t answer.
Instead, she dives in the water, splashing Fatin. Fatin laughs but doesn’t waste time diving after Leah.
--
"Should we watch something on TV?" Nora suggests from her spot on the floor, her legs spread out in front of her as she looks up at everyone lounging on the couches.
They have three big couches—plenty of space for everyone—but Nora and Rachel insisted on placing a mattress on the floor to lie down. "It reminds us of our childhood," Rachel had explained, and Fatin had thought it was endearing.
They'd just finished a big dinner, the smell of comfort food still lingering in the air, and now they were all cozied up in the living room, the lights dimmed and the room filled with warmth and easy chatter.
"Oh my god!" Shelby exclaims from her spot next to Toni, the excitement practically radiating off of her. "Let’s watch all the High School Musical movies!"
The suggestion is met with groans from Toni, Rachel, and Dot, who all share an exaggerated eye-roll.
"Not this again," Toni mutters, her head dropping back against the couch as if she’s about to pass out from the sheer thought of it.
But the rest of the group cheers in unison.
“Fuck yeah,” Fatin grins.
"Yes! I’m in!" Leah claps her hands excitedly, and Martha raises her hand like she's volunteering for a mission.
"Perfect!" Shelby practically bounces, grinning at the others. "We’re watching them all. No turning back now."
And so, they settle in. Popcorn bowls are passed around, some people grabbing candy or chips, everyone getting comfortable and getting ready for a night of nostalgia and sing-alongs. Fatin and Leah curl up together on the two-seater couch. Leah's head rests on Fatin’s shoulder as they share the popcorn, and Fatin feels a quiet sense of contentment settle over her. Her heart feels full.
“This is perfect,” Fatin says softly, pressing a kiss to Leah’s cheek.
Leah’s smile is soft, a little teasing. "I agree," she says, her eyes gleaming with that mischievous spark. Then, she stands up suddenly, pulling Fatin with her. "Now get your butt off the couch so we can all dance and sing!"
Fatin laughs, still a little surprised at how easily Leah can drag her into spontaneous fun. Not that she’s complaining. "Wait—right now? We just sat down!" she protests, but she’s already standing, popcorn flying everywhere.
"Yes, right now," Leah says, pulling Fatin to her feet. The whole living room is buzzing with energy, the others already bouncing to the music that’s playing on the TV.
"Come on, Fatin! Let’s go!" Martha says. She and Shelby are already halfway to the makeshift dance floor.
Fatin can’t help but laugh, shaking her head. "Alright, alright," she says, grabbing Leah’s hand. They both join the others who are already belting out the song, the words coming so easily they all know them by heart.
Toni groans dramatically but can’t stop smiling as she gets dragged up, eventually joining in, albeit with some reluctance.
By the time they reach "Bop to the Top," Fatin’s stomach hurts from laughing, and her cheeks are sore from grinning. Leah is singing her heart out, clearly relishing the moment. Fatin, who normally wouldn’t be caught dead doing something so cheesy, is caught up in the infectious energy. She’s twirling Leah around, both of them trying to master the choreography, failing but loving every second of it.
"You’re a terrible dancer," Fatin teases Leah, even though they’re both a mess, but Leah just shakes her head with a smirk.
"You’re one to talk," Leah shoots back, dipping Fatin low with a flourish, making them both laugh even harder.
By the end of the night, they’ve all perfected their High School Musical moves—or at least, they think they have. They’re all exhausted, sprawled across couches, the mattress on the floor, their faces flushed, but happy.
As the credits roll on the last movie (and they all wipe their tears), Fatin feels a quiet kind of peace settle over her. It’s not about the perfect choreography or the singing (though it was a damn good time). It’s about being here, with the people she loves, in a house that already feels like home.
Perfection.