Time Heals... Right?
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Hey, Alex! Do you want to come over tonight and watch Dickinson?” Kara sits at her kitchen table, phone against her ear and a rather large smoothie in her hand. The bright morning sun filters int her small apartment, glaring off every reflective surface.
“Hey, Kara. You know I’d love to, but I’m going out with Kelly tonight,” Alex replies. Kara supresses an eye roll. That’s the third time this week that Alex has declined her invitation. Since Alex and Kelly met three weeks ago, Kara hasn’t been able to hang out with her sister. She love Kelly though, don’t get her wrong. She can definitely tell her sister is smitten with the Olsen woman.
“No worries,” Kara says. She tries to keep the disappointment out of her tone. “We can hang out another time! Enjoy your date.”
“Talk later?”
“Of course, Alex.” After the line goes dead, Kara sets the phone onto the coffee table. The last two months have been difficult. With Lena as the new CEO of CatCo, avoiding the raven-haired woman has proven impossible for Kara. She had begged Cat to stay, pleading with her former boss to stay or choose someone else to purchase CatCo. Cat merely shrugged her off, stating that Lena would take care of her company. Despite her history with Lena, Kara had to agree. The woman is a powerhouse, capable of running two large corporations with her hands tied behind her back.
Alex typically hangs out with Kara on Sundays, but since Alex declined her invitation, Kara isn’t sure what to do next. After a few hours of lounging around her apartment, mindlessly watching Killing Eve, she decides to socialize. Kara knows just the person to call.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Nia! How are you?” Kara almost sighs in relief. She doesn’t know what she would have done unless Nia picked up. Especially because James, J’onn, and Winn decided that this weekend they would try camping. Kara had practically spit out her wine laughing when Winn said he was joining James and J’onn. But he was serious. She wonders how it’s going.
“Good, what’s up?”
“You free today? We could go out for drinks?”
“Yes! Let’s go, I’ve been meaning to check out this new pub a few blocks from my apartment.” In the short time it takes Kara to get to Nia’s apartment, she’s already second-guessing her choice to socialize. She could have stayed in her cozy apartment with a glass of wine and watching the end of Killing Eve. Or reading a book. She barely gets to crack open a novel with the constant work she has from CatCo and being Supergirl. She walks up to Nia’s apartment door, knocking twice to indicate her presence.
“Coming!” Nia shouts, heels clicking toward the door. It opens to reveal Nia, dressed in a simple dark blue dress and black pumps. Kara looks down at her own dress, a flowery, strappy sundress with nude flats and feels a bit underdressed.
“I guess I should have dressed up a bit,” Kara expresses as Nia locks her apartment door.
“Nonsense, Kara. You look amazing!” A bright grin lights up Nia’s face. “Shall we?” She offers Kara her arm. Taking it, Kara briefly wonders if it could be misconstrued by anyone. Nia and Kara are strictly friends. Walking towards the pub a few blocks away, Kara’s excitement rises. It’s been a while since she’s actually gone out and just relaxed. With Alex fawning over her girlfriend practically 24/7, Kara’s been lonely. Tonight though, she promises herself to enjoy herself. Entering the pub, it’s already buzzing with excitement and bustling with people. Nia pulls her toward the bar, reaching into her purse for her card.
“What can I get you folks?” The bartender looks at the two of them, eyes searching for any indication that they heard him. Nia glances at Kara before ordering.
“We’ll take two margaritas!” Kara laughs. The last time she had a margarita, Winn made it special for her and it was the first time she got drunk. The bartender nods, making the drinks. While waiting for their drinks, Nia and Kara glance around the pub. Among the patrons dancing and grinding against each other to the music and the flashes of colorful lights, Kara spots a stage with a rainbow banner hung over it that says KAROKE NIGHTS ON THURSDAYS. Nia taps her arm, holding her drink out to her. Smiling, she cradles it and takes a sip. The sharp tang of the lemon juice mixed with tequila hits her tongue.
“Want to dance?” Nia has to yell above the noise. Kara nods, downing her drink before setting the glass on the bar. She allows Nia to pull her into the middle of the room, already swaying her hips to the beat of the music. Even though Kara isn’t a dancer, she decides to let loose and dance with her friend. After a few minutes of dancing, Kara spins breathlessly. A familiar head of raven hair catches her eye. Her heart thuds hard in her chest. Why in the Rao would Lena be here? No way, maybe Kara’s confused. She stops dancing, pulse racing, palms beginning to sweat. Lena. It’s unmistakable. The lithe woman snakes her way through the crowd, her hand stretched behind her attached to another hand. In slow motion, Kara’s eyes travel towards the individual who Lena’s holding onto. Another woman. Kara doesn’t recognize her.
“You okay, Kara?” Nia leans close to her, making sure she can hear her. Even though Kara does, it sounds far away. Everything seems to fall away, the people, the noise, the lights. “Kara?” Nia touches her arm. Startled, Kara jerks backward, stumbling into a few other people. Mumbling an apology, she shakes her head at Nia before rushing out of the pub. Gulping the cool night air, she tries to steady herself. Who was that woman? Why was she with Lena? The next thought punches Kara in the gut. Is Lena dating the woman? The margarita seems to swirl in her stomach, threatening to come up. She takes a few more deep breaths then heads back inside. Finding Nia in the throng proves difficult, but she eventually finds the young woman still dancing with a group of individuals.
“Sorry, Nia. I needed some air.” Nia nods, sincere concern on her face. “I’ll be right back. Washroom.” Nia gives Kara a thumbs up. Heading toward the back of the pub, Kara pushes herself into the bathroom. Immediately, an unpleasant odor hits her nose. Swallowing hard against the smell, she checks herself in the mirror. Her hair hung around her face in loose curls, the dancing undoing some of the tighter tresses. She splashes some water on her face, trying to soothe her anxious stomach. She’ll be doing her best to avoid Lena tonight. Kara doesn’t think she’s seen her yet, so it shouldn’t be impossible. As she leaves the bathroom, she runs into someone. Literally.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Kara begins to apologize. “I didn’t see where – ” Her voice catches in throat at the person in front of her.
“It’s okay, Kara,” Lena says, calmly. She smooths out the front of her dress. Kara’s face burns with embarrassment. “It’s good to see you.”
“Y-you too, Lena. You look… good.” Actually, she looks incredible. The tight black dress that Lena’s wearing enunciates her curves. From the dim light in the small hallway, Kara hopes that Lena cannot see the heat rising to her cheeks. An awkward silence begins to fill the air.
“I should go.” Lena begins shuffling around Kara to the bathroom.
“Who’s the woman?” Kara blurts out. She slaps a hand over her mouth, eyes apologizing already. “Never mind. It’s none of my business.” Lena’s eyes flash.
“No, you’re right. It isn’t any of your business who I date.” Kara feels like she’s been shot. With her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, she backs away from Lena. Her vision blurs. Tears begin to stream down her face as she frantically pushes through the crowd to find Nia.
“Kara, what’s wrong?” Nia asks as soon as she spots Kara’s crying face. Kara stifles a sob.
“I need to go, I’m sorry.”
“Of course, let’s go.” Nia grabs Kara’s hand, guiding her out the door and into the cool evening air. Trying to take some deep breathes as they walk back to Nia’s apartment, Kara is grateful that Nia remains silent. Once she manages to gather herself, she turns to Nia.
“I’m sorry, Nia,” Kara says gloomily. “I thought I was over her. Over Lena.” They are in front of Nia’s apartment now. She takes Kara into her arms, hugging her friend.
“It’s okay, Kara. Do you want to come up?”
“N-no, I couldn’t inconvenience you like that.”
“You’re not. C’mon.” Nia leads them up into her apartment, settling Kara on her couch before making some tea. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“She had another woman at the pub,” Kara deadpans, the pain in her chest swelling with every word. “I ran into her, literally, at the bathrooms and stupidly asked her who she was.” Kara offers Nia a sad smile as she takes the cup of tea. “She told me it’s none of my business who she dates.” The teacup rattles on the saucer as Kara’s hand shake. Nia takes it, setting it down on the table, then takes Kara into her arms. She’s unable to stop the tears now.
“Shh, Kara. It’s okay.” Nia holds her tighter.
“It’s been two months… why does it hurt so much?” Kara cries out, the sobs racking her body. “Doesn’t time heal, Nia? Why haven’t I healed?”