Part 1
“Hey! Whistler!” Kate hears from across the hall. The office is quiet so Curtis’ voice echoes through the hallway. Kate stops in the door of her office and leans against the door frame. She spots ASAC Curtis as he makes his way from the other end of the hallway and joins her outside the door. “You have those cleared files for me? I’m sure you want to get out of here just as much as me.”
Kate has just barely gotten through this week, but for once she wishes it wasn’t Friday. She wishes tomorrow was just another day protecting intel at the DIA. Not the impending weekend with Lucy, Grace, and Luke. “Yup. Got it right here.”
Kate sluggishly walks over to her desk, picks up the paperwork and walks back over to where Curtis is eyeing her by the door. “Thank’s Whistler.”
“Anything to help out.” Kate replies as Curtis is still eyeing her with suspicion in his eyes. “Keep us updated on the FBI's investigation. We have been watching these guys closely.”
“Of course. I appreciate the intel, Kate.” Curtis hesitates like he wants to say more, but doesn’t know if it is his place or not. Kate has known Curtis for a few years, he’s a mentor of hers and it’s no secret he has been trying to recruit her for the FBI for some time. Kate is happy where she is, slowly moving up the ranks in the DIA, but she will admit she has thought about going to the Bureau once or twice. And having Curtis as a boss would be a plus. Curtis looks her over again before voicing what is written all over his face. “Are you okay Kate? You look a little-”
“I’m fine.” Kate interrupts him. Curtis’ face twists into confusion. It came out a little harsher than she meant to. All this time she has been spending with Lucy has started blurring personal and professional. Something that Kate has never let herself do before. So she has to stop it from happening anymore than she already has. She offers an apologetic look. “Sorry. I do have a lot of-err-personal things going on, but I’m good.”
Curtis doesn’t seem to believe this from the empathetic look on his face. “I promise.” Kate smiles weakly.
To be honest Kate is not okay. She’s fine physically, but emotionally, well she’s been better. Lucy has been short with her all week. Kate is practically a ghost to her at work and Lucy has only responded with simple okays or one word answers to all of Kate’s text messages this week.
The thing is, the fake double date went perfectly. Besides her apparent inability to lie at first, everything after Lucy jumped in and saved the day came so naturally. And she actually had fun. More importantly, she had fun with Lucy. She actually enjoyed herself with someone from work. But, then she had to go and fuck it all up. It would have gone perfect if she didn't let herself get distracted. She lost focus and she won’t let that happen again.
Kate’s not oblivious. She knows why Lucy is mad. But that can’t happen. Ever. Period. No matter how much Kate wants to just let whatever it is happen, she can’t.
“Okay.” Curtis finally offers. He moves his hand to her shoulder and pats it briefly before breaking away from the doorway. “Have a good weekend.”
Kate feels her chest get heavier at the reminder of the weekend. “You too.”
_______
“Wow this is amazing.” Kate utters, trying to strike up a conversation with Lucy. She doesn’t bite and rather continues to ignore any eye contact Kate tries to make. Lucy was silent the whole car ride over. The first words Lucy spoke to her were in the presence of Grace and Luke a minute ago. The couple greeted them before letting Kate and Lucy have some time to settle in their room before dinner.
Kate looks around the villa’s second bedroom. It is quite amazing. The walls are painted a pale blue and it is furnished with tasteful beachy furniture. It’s not far from how Kate would decorate her own beach house if she were ever to have one.
As she looks around the room, there is a slight problem. There is only one bed. Of course Kate realized they would have to share a room for the weekend, but she was hoping there would magically be two beds or maybe even a sofa couch. There is a couch in the shared living room, but they are supposed to be in love, not sleeping in separate rooms, so that is not a possibility. But, none of that matters now. Now, all that matters is trying to navigate the situation at hand and the fact that Lucy is already pissed at her is making this incredibly harder.
Kate gives the room another look and sighs. “I can take the floor.”
“No I can.” At first Kate is annoyed by Lucy’s need to be difficult but then Lucy looks up and her eyes meet Kate’s for the first time since their almost kiss. At first glance they are soft and Kate thinks that Lucy’s offer is sincere. Kate’s heart skips a beat, but she can’t pinpoint why. She’s never really felt this way. She feels as if they are the only two people in the world. Like nothing else matters except for- stop . No, this isn’t her. She is just getting caught up in the story that’s all. She can’t be doing this. Lucy isn't just some girl. She’s not even her friend. She’s her coworker and it needs to stay that way. And there’s no way she feels that for Lucy. It’s just the method acting, that’s all.
Kate averts her eyes and breaks eye contact with Lucy. When she looks back up Lucy’s face is turned into a subtle scowl, contrast to her soft face just a moment ago.
Damnit, Kate. She needs to pull herself together. She takes a deep breath, hoping they can both be civil. They just need to get through these next few days, then they never have to talk to each other outside of work again.
Except, is that what Kate really wants? Never to talk to Lucy again? She brings her hands to her face and visibly shakes her head, trying to rid the thought.
She turns back to Lucy “Fine. If you don’t mind, we can both just share the bed. It’s two nights. No big deal.”
Lucy turns back towards unpacking her duffle bag. “Fine.” Kate lets out a sigh. Thankfully Lucy has not chosen to continue their argument.
“Fine.” Kate matches Lucy’s tone. What is up with her? If she really didn’t want to come then why is she here? She’s been on edge this whole week. Obviously she is upset about the almost kiss. But why?
Kate chooses to ignore her impending thoughts and starts unpacking her things as well. Clearly Lucy has chosen the right side of the room, so she stays on the left. Like there is an invisible line. An unspoken agreement not to pass into each other's space. Kate feels herself get angry at the childishness of it. Whatever.
They apply their makeup in silence in the private bathroom. Eyes focused ahead, not daring to veer into uncharted territory. Kate knows she should be grateful that Lucy is even here. But, it’s not like she is making it easy.
Not soon after they have both finished getting ready, there is a soft knock on the door. “You two ready for dinner?”
No. “Yep.” Kate pushes the door open, a fake smile plastering her face.
_______
Lucy looks at herself in the bathroom mirror. She is livid. No, maybe she’s just exhausted. She doesn’t know. She is just so confused. Kate is confusing. Her feelings are confusing. It’s all just confusing.
Dinner with Grace and Luke was fine. It was kind of similar to the dinner they had earlier this week, minus all of that weird shit that happened with Kate. This time there was none of that. It was nice. Civil.
They went to one of the restaurants at the resort. Something with tiki in the name, Lucy doesn't remember the rest. It was good. The food was amazing. And she will admit that this resort is very fancy. Of course she grew up going to fancy places like this, but since she left home, she hasn’t done much of that. So Lucy guesses there is something good about this whole thing.
But then, they went to the bar. Lucy sighs, anger fuming. They didn’t even drink that much, or well they weren’t that drunk just having fun, but that wasn’t the problem. It’s just Kate. She’s just so frustrating. Dinner was fine because it was a relaxed setting and they had practiced it earlier this week, they had it down. But the bar, that was a different story. They hadn’t practiced that. Lucy drops her head to her hands.
Grace and Luke were a bit buzzed from the cocktails they had at dinner. So was Kate. Lucy was fine, she grew up drinking with her brothers so she can hold her liquor. The three of them dragged her to the beach bar, Kate’s eyes pleading with her. Like she genuinely wanted Lucy to come. Of course Lucy couldn’t resist. “Luce. Come on, it will be fun.” Kate said happily. And it was like her anger from the week had faded. Lucy deserved to have some fun, it was the weekend after all. And she couldn’t turn down drinks with a very attractive blonde who happened to be her fake girlfriend. So she said yes.
“Okay. Fine, yeah let’s go.” Kate’s eyes had lit up at her response and Kate pressed a quick peck to her cheek. Lucy watched as Kate’s face froze for a moment. The panic of what she did started to set in. But Lucy was liking this side of Kate, her anger from before forgotten. She had given Kate a reassuring smile and Kate pressed herself against Lucy, pulling her in. First mistake.
They ordered some drinks and Lucy was feeling a steady buzz, not drunk, but she was feeling good. There was a live band and the two couples moved toward the open space in the sand, arm in arm.
Lucy couldn't help but notice how natural it felt to be that close to Kate. Invading her personal space like it was her own. Their arms tangled around each other left Lucy with a smile plastered to her face. Second mistake.
As they made their way to the ‘dance floor,’ Kate snaked her arm around Lucy’s waist. Lucy’s shirt rode up a little and Kate’s hand brushed against Lucy’s skin. There had hardly been any contact, but Lucy found herself wanting more. Although she was unsure why. Of course she found Kate to be absolutely stunning, but it was nothing more than an attraction. Purely physical. And only a slight attraction at that. But, it had been enough for Lucy to completely forget about Grace and Luke and why Lucy was there in the first place.
However, Lucy was buzzed and so was Kate. The band started up another song. “Oh my gosh!” Kate squealed. And now sorority girl Kate made sense. She had never seen Kate like this. “This is my favorite song!”
“When the rain is blowing in your face.”
The tune of ‘Make You Feel My Love’ echoed across the otherwise silent beach. The pure happiness on Kate’s face made Lucy melt. Lucy pulled Kate back in and wrapped her arm around Kate’s waist. Kate relaxed into the embrace and Lucy rested her head against Kate’s chest. Third mistake.
“When the rain is blowing in your face. And the whole world is on your case. I could offer you a warm embrace. To make you feel my love”
The song played in the background, but Lucy was focused on anything but that.
“I could make you happy, make your dreams come true. Nothing that I wouldn't do. Go to the ends of the Earth for you.”
She was focused on the way Kate’s hand felt in hers. The way Kate’s heart seemed to skip a beat everytime Lucy shifted her hand on Kate’s back. They had danced like that for the whole song, oblivious to anything else. She felt relaxed. Happy even.
“To make you feel my love.”
But then, the song had ended and it’s like something took over Kate. One minute Lucy was in her arms and it felt real. The way she felt about Kate didn’t seem fake like they were pretending to be in love. It felt like they were really in love. Almost like the kind in those romantic comedy movies.
Except, it wasn’t real. Maybe Lucy just dreamed up the whole thing because the song ended and Kate was practically pushing Lucy out of her arms and mumbled something about needing to get back to the villa to rest for the busy day tomorrow.
So that brings Lucy to now. Sitting in the bathroom alone. She wants- no needs- to be away from Kate. She wishes she could sleep in her bed alone. Or at least not next to Kate.
She had to put on a show all night and now that they are in the comfort of their own room, Lucy’s not exactly comfortable but that's besides the point, she has to fight the urge to lay everything bare. She wants to yell at Kate. Yell at her for making her have to lie and be her fake girlfriend. Yell at her for being the way that she is. Yell at her for-
But, Lucy doesn’t have the energy for that. And soon enough this will be over as quickly as it started. In two days she doesn’t even have to speak to Kate except at work, if she wanted to. So Lucy makes her way out of the bathroom and opts to lie down onto the bed. She positions herself so she is as far to the side as possible. Her body turned away from Kate. A clear sign to Kate to not even try to talk to her right now.
“Luc-” Kate starts, but Lucy isn’t having it.
“Kate.” Lucy hesitates, the words almost getting caught in her throat. “Please.”
The bed sinks down next to her, followed by the shuffling of sheets. There’s more slight movement as Kate mirrors Lucy, turning her body so she is facing away from Lucy. Like a couple who just got in a fight. Expect they aren't even a couple. So Lucy shouldn't feel this much pain. Her heart shouldn’t hurt. Her head shouldn’t be spinning. They haven’t even spent that much time together. It shouldn’t be this hard.
Lucy turns off the bedside lamp, the bright moon seeping through the curtains is the only thing lighting up the bedroom.
Lucy tries to fall asleep but her mind keeps replaying the night and the sound of Kate’s unsteady breathing beside her isn’t helping. Kate keeps tossing around in the bed too, causing Lucy to do the same.
After a few annoyed grunts from each of them, Kate breaks the silence against Lucy’s request. “Why are you even here?”
Why is she even here? That’s the question of the week isn’t it. “I don’t know Kate. Maybe-”
She stops herself. Lucy wants to yell at her. She wants Kate to know that she is mad at her. She wants Kate to know that she hurt her. That she’s confusing her. But, for some reason she doesn’t yell. Doesn’t fight back.
“Kate, I-” Lucy leans in and kisses Kate before she even knows what she’s doing. It takes her a second to realize that Kate is kissing her back.
Lucy’s hands go to Kate’s face, her thumb rubbing softly against Kate’s cheek. Lucy feels Kate’s own hands going to Lucy’s waist, rubbing the skin under her shirt. Lucy feels Kate’s tongue against her lips and opens her mouth, granting it access. She sighs into the kiss.
She feels her cheeks flushing up and lets her body relax into Kate’s touch. Gosh Kate is so beautiful. Their hands explore every inch of each other's bodies like there is something new to discover about each other every passing second.
After, neither of them say a word. The silence of the dark room is painful so when Lucy feels Kate turn over on her side, she does the same.
If Lucy was confused before, she is even more confused now.
She eventually falls asleep. In what feels like a minute later, her phone alarm goes off, startling her from her restless slumber. She turns over so she can turn off the beeping alarm. But something feels off. She doesn’t feel the sink of the bed next to her or Kate’s shallow breathing. She turns over to face the opposite side of the bed and Kate is nowhere to be found.