A song Marlene couldn’t quite remember the name of blasted through her headphones as she sat at the back of Witch’s Brew. She had her laptop open to a blank Word document. The document flashed back at her, taunting her, Marlene had been struggling with the wording of her new book. She knew what she wanted to happen, but no words could do the idea enough justice.
Lily thought a change in cinerary might do Marlene some good, hence her presence at the back of the coffee shop Lily worked at. Witch’s Brew had become a staple within their friend group, as both James and Lily worked there.
Marlene’s mind wandered all over the place when she was bored, all over the place in a way she couldn’t even remember what she had thought about.
Marlene’s body jolted when Lily appeared before her. Lily had a can of Diet Coke and one of those red velvet things they sold here, Marlene loved them.
“The usual right, Marls?” Lily smiled down at her, a smile that could light up the whole world.
Marlene loved Lily’s smile. All was right with the world when Lily smiled. Just … perfect.
Marlene smiled back, her usual crooked smile that Lily could never get enough of. Marlene pulled her headphones down, off her ears. She didn’t know what song she was listening to. She didn’t know what song was playing on the radio in the Witch’s Brew. She never knew anything when Lily smiled at her like that.
Lily turned; she turned to leave. She turned to leave. Her Girlfriend turned to leave.
Lily walked around the back of Marlene’s chair. “Oi!” Marlene tilted her head back to look at Lily. “Kiss meee!” Lily stifled a laugh as she moved to be standing in front of Marlene again.
The café was quiet. The lunch rush was over, and it was just them in the sitting area. The kiss was slow, painfully slow. Marlene barely got to run her hands through Lily’s hair before she moved away again. Marlene wanted Lily all to herself, she wanted Lily in her arms.
Lily hummed as she began to move away again. Lily might have been content with that kiss, but Marlene was not.
“No,” Marlene wined. “Kiss me again!”
Lily laughed but obliged. The kiss was longer this time, more passionate this time. It was so much better.
A voice sounded behind them; a voice Marlene recognised. “Marlene if you could stop distracting my staff that would be great.”
Lily smiled against her lips and pulled away again. “Sorry, Minnie.”
Marlene knew Lily wasn’t sorry. Lily said sorry every time. If she really meant it, it wouldn’t keep happening. Lily loved the rules, but she’d only follow the ones she agreed with. If Marlene knew one thing for sure it was that Lily loved, it when Marlene kissed her. Lily wasn’t going to stop any time soon.
Lily winked over her shoulder as she moved back behind the counter. Marlene’s eyes followed Lily’s movements, the way her deep auburn ponytail swayed when she walked, the way she smirked at Marlene from behind the counter. The way Marlene’s heart flipped when Lily looked at her. They had been dating for months and yet sometimes Marlene still felt like a teenager with a crush.
Lily could just smile at her, and she’d nearly perish.
Lily was so beautiful, Marlene didn’t know why Lily chose her, but she did, and that one choice meant everything to Marlene.
“Sirius!”
Marlene hadn’t noticed Sirius slide into the chair across from her, she hadn’t noticed James appear from the kitchen behind the counter. She was too busy staring unapologetically at her girlfriend.
“Hi, James!” Sirius yelled back.
Marlene and Lily weren’t the only people in the café anymore. Sirius was sat across from her and James was stood next to Lily.
James turned to the espresso machine. Marlene could hear it whirring as her gaze fell back to Lily.
Lily’s eyes met her own, Lily smiled at her. Marlene saw the glint in Lily’s eye, the glint of that Lily Evans smile that she could never get enough of.
Marlene looked away turning to her plate, the cupcake her usual. Lily memorised her usual the first time Marlene came here. Marlene had met Lily’s friend group in the café, she got along really well with them, they were her friends too, now.
Minnie had walked back into the staff-only area behind the kitchen, and as she did so, she threw a quick “Behave,” over her shoulder.
“Marls, we’re still going to yours after my shift, right?” Lily questioned.
“Oooh, any special plans?” James had returned to his place next to Lily with a fresh, steaming cup of coffee in hand.
A blush hit Marlene’s cheeks.
“Marls, you're blushing!” Sirius sing songed.
“I know,” Marlene mumbled as she lifted the can of coke from the table.
Marlene did know she was blushing; she and Lily had made plans to play Mario Kart together ages ago and Marlene was just excited to have Lily over. That was all the blush was. Really.
~.~
Marlene stood outside the door to her apartment, Lily’s hand firmly placed in her own. Marlene turned the handle, her breathing slightly heavy. This was the first time she’d had Lily over. Her apartment was her space and having other people in it made Marlene feel slightly self-conscious.
She twisted the handle, breathing lightly.
Lily walked into the apartment, tailing Marlene. Her eyes widened; she scanned the room: she saw the corkboard on Marlene’s wall, full of newspaper clippings. She saw the red electric guitar hanging on Marlene’s wall.
Marlene watched Lily’s eyes scan the room.
“Marlene …” Lily’s eyes still scanned the room, stopping occasionally, Marlene watched it all. “Your apartment is so beautiful.”
Marlene smiled back at her. “Mario Kart?”
Lily nodded and started towards the sofa at the end of the room. Marlene followed closely behind her. She turned on the game and sat beside Lily on the cheap sofa she had found at the thrift store but still managed to fit in her apartment perfectly.
“I’m so going to beat you,” Lily smirked at her.
Marlene was competitive, Lily knew it; everyone knew it. Marlene also knew that Lily loved her for it. Marlene knew this was a change, a challenge she would win.
“Yeah, right?” Marlene quirked.
“Okay …” Lily’s eyes glowed with mischief. “If you win, I’ll kiss you.”
Marlene’s eyes glowed differently, with longing. Marlene knew Lily would kiss her either way but … this way was better this way it was a challenge.
“Okay.”
Marlene won she knew she would win she always did. Lily wasn’t ever trying; Marlene had caught her staring multiple times. Marlene loved the look in Lily’s eyes. Marlene loved Lily’s eyes. Marlene loved Lily.
“Come on, winner.” Lily outstretched a hand to her.
Marlene followed Lily blindly back to her room. Marlene was pushed against the door. It was a harsh movement, full of passion and longing. Marlene knew Lily longed for her in the same way she did.
Lily pressed her entire body against Marlene. A singular smell engulfed Marlene, a smell she loved, a smell that was purely … Lily.
Marlene could feel Lily’s heartbeat against her own, she could feel Lily’s arms around her waist. Lily was intoxicating, her smell, her breath. She was all Marlene had ever needed, ever wanted.
Her lips pressed against Marlene’s; her tongue teased Marlene’s lower lip. Marlene knew it now and she’d know it forever: Lily wasn’t the calm before the storm she was the happy ending.