Megan didn't believe in fate, but if it were real, it had to be responsible for dropping Daniela Avanzini into her life.
The day Daniela arrived at Dream Academy, she burst into the dormitory like she owned the place, hands on her hips, blonde curls bouncing as she grinned at the group of girls unpacking their things.
"Alright, who's ready for their life to get infinitely better?" she announced.
Megan, sitting cross-legged on her bed, raised an eyebrow. "Bold claim. Let's see if you can back it up."
Daniela turned to her, amused. "Oh, I like you."
The blonde sauntered over, dropping onto the bed across from Megan without hesitation. She leaned back on her palms, legs crossed at the ankles, radiating confidence like it was second nature.
"Megan, right?" she guessed, tilting her head.
Megan mirrored her pose, smirking. "Depends. Who's asking?"
Daniela grinned, like she had been waiting for this exact response. "Daniela Avanzini. But you can call me Dani." She extended a hand, but there was a playful challenge in her eyes, like she was daring Megan to take it.
Megan considered this for a second before clasping Dani's hand, squeezing just a little tighter than necessary. "Megan Skiendiel."
Dani's grip was just as firm. "Nice to meet you, Megan Skiendiel."
Megan held her gaze. "Likewise, Dani."
Dani's smile turned knowing, as if she had already decided they were going to be best friends. Megan wasn't sure if it was fate, but one thing was certain—she was in trouble.
And that was it.
From then on, they were a team. Whether it was training, sneaking snacks into the dorms, or pulling late-night pranks, they were always together. Megan couldn't imagine life without Daniela's wild laughter, the way she'd randomly pull her into a dance, or how she somehow turned every moment into an adventure.
Even the other girls noticed the undeniable pull they had towards each other.
Then, one night, everything changed.
They had been practicing past curfew in the empty studio, the city lights glowing through the glass windows. Daniela had insisted on showing Megan some salsa moves, claiming it would "change her life."
"You have to feel the music," Daniela said, gripping Megan's hands. "It's not about counting beats, it's about letting the rhythm move through you."
"Sounds like some spiritual awakening type shit." Megan joked.
Dani smirked. "Shut up and follow my lead."
She placed Megan's hand on her waist and started stepping to the beat. Megan tried to keep up, but her brain short-circuited when Daniela twirled under her arm, her curls brushing against Megan's face.
"See? You're getting it," Dani said, her voice warm.
Megan swallowed. No, she was not getting it. If anything, she was getting more confused. Because all she could focus on was how close Daniela was. How her eyes sparkled when she smiled. How Megan never wanted this moment to end.
So lost in her thoughts she almost missed when Dani tucked a strand of her ginger hair behind her ear. Gently brushing it as she retracted her hand.
And that's when it hit her.
She was in love with Daniela.
And Daniela? She was completely, completely oblivious.
⸻
Megan tried to ignore it. She tried to push the feelings down, to pretend that Dani was just her best friend. But it wasn't easy when Dani would casually drape herself over Megan's shoulders, call her mi amor without meaning it, or dance with her like they were the only two people in the world.
It didn't help that Megan's friends saw right through her.
"You have to tell her," Lara said one afternoon while lounging on their dorm couch.
Megan groaned into a pillow. "No."
Adela rolled her eyes. "Meg, you look at her like she personally discovered oxygen."
"I do not."
Emily grinned. "Oh, you so do."
Before Megan could argue, the door slammed open. Daniela waltzed in, tossing her bag on the floor dramatically.
"Ladies, guess who has a date tonight?" she announced.
Megan shot up so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. "A what?"
Dani flopped onto the couch next to her. "A date. With Travis."
Megan's stomach plummeted. "Travis? The loud guy? The one who thinks he's better than everyone and hotter than Top Gun's Maverick?"
Daniela snorted. "He's not that bad."
Emily grinned at Megan's reaction. "Interesting. Megan, thoughts?"
Megan folded her arms. "I think it's a terrible idea."
Dani smirked. "Why? You jealous?"
Megan scoffed. "Please. I just don't want to hear you complain when he turns out to be a walking ego trip."
The Latina rolled her eyes. "I'm giving him a chance. Who knows? Maybe I'll fall madly in love and leave you all behind."
Megan forced a laugh. "Yeah. Hilarious." But couldn't ignore the pit forming in her stomach.
That night, when Dani left, Megan couldn't sit still. She kept pacing the dorm, glaring at her phone, willing herself not to check how the date was going by blowing up Dani's phone with messages.
"Girl, you're making me feel dizzy with all that pacing." Lara laughed.
Adela nodded in agreement. "Face it, Megs. You're suffering."
Megan shot the oldest a glare. "I am not
suffering."
Emily, sprawled out on Megan's bed. "Then sit down."
Megan hesitated, then continued pacing.
Emily snorted. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
Megan groaned, throwing herself onto the couch. "I just—Dani's not gonna like him. I know her. She gets bored too easily, and Travis is just... ugh."
Emily hummed. "Sooo... you think she's coming back annoyed?"
Megan shrugged. "Maybe."
Lara leaned forward. "Or maybe she'll come back happy."
Megan stiffened. "She won't."
Emily wiggled her eyebrows. "Sounds like you're hoping for that."
Was Megan secretly hoping that Dani's date would go bad? As long as she doesn't voice it, it isn't true.
——-
Hours later when the other girls left Megan's room, her door slammed open.
Daniela stormed in, kicking off her heels looking thoroughly pissed. "Ugh. Never again."
Megan shot up from her bed and bit back a smile. "That bad, huh?"
"He would not shut up about himself," Dani groaned and threw herself onto the bed beside Megan. "Like, dude, I get it, you bench press so much weight."
Dani lifted her head dramatically. "He wouldn't shut up about himself. Like, I get confidence, but wow. At one point, he looked in the mirror and called himself 'a gift to women.' He was so fucking loud about it too!"
Megan, despite herself, felt a wave of satisfaction. "Girls don't like boys who make noise."
Dani hummed in agreement and a comfortable silence fell between the two. However, Dani could feel Megan wanting to say something.
"I know you want to say. Just say it." Dani said breaking the silence, eyeing the ginger.
Megan beamed and said in a sing song voice. "I told you soo."
Dani always thought that Megan was pretty but when she gave her big grin, whisker dimples and all, Dani felt her heart leap just a little bit.
But like platonically. Everybody melts for their best friends who look really fucking adorable.
Daniela pouted. "Okay, yeah, you were right. You happy?"
Megan grinned. "Extremely."
Dani huffed. "Well, I could use a rebound cuddle to erase the memory." She slumped against Megan's side, wrapping her arms around her like she always did.
Megan's breath caught. Her heart was pounding. This was normal. This was so normal.
Dani sighed, resting her head against Megan's shoulder. "You're the only person who actually gets me."
Megan's heart ached.
Because she wanted to be more than just the person who "got" Daniela.
Dani absentmindedly traced patterns on Megan's arm, her fingers light and warm against her skin. It was something she always did, something Megan had convinced herself was just Dani being Dani. But tonight, it felt different. More intimate. Like something fragile and unspoken sat between them, waiting to be acknowledged.
Megan swallowed hard. This is fine. This is normal. You cuddle all the time. Just breathe.
"Mm," Dani hummed, her voice thick with exhaustion. "I don't get why dating is so hard. Like, it shouldn't be this difficult to find someone decent, right?"
Megan tried to keep her voice even. "Guess you just have high standards."
Dani turned her head, cheek pressed against Megan's shoulder, looking up at her with those dark eyes she fell in love with. "Maybe. But, like... I don't think I'm even asking for that much. I just want someone who makes me laugh. Who really listens. Who isn't full of themselves or trying too hard."
Megan forced a chuckle. "Sounds like a pretty tall order if Travis was your best option."
Dani groaned dramatically. "Don't remind me."
She buried her face in Megan's neck, and Megan froze.
Because Dani's lips—soft and warm—had just barely brushed against her skin.
It was probably an accident. It had to be. But Megan was hyper-aware of every single nerve in her body now, her breath caught in her throat.
Daniela, blissfully unaware, sighed. "Honestly, I just want someone who gets me and doesn't make things complicated."
Megan's hands clenched into the fabric of her hoodie. That's me. I'm right here. Why can't you see that?
"...Maybe you're looking in the wrong places," Megan said softly.
Dani pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "Yeah?"
Megan swallowed. "Yeah."
Dani stared at her, her expression unreadable. The weight of it made Megan's chest feel tight. Then—so casually, so Dani—she reached up and tucked a loose strand of Megan's orange hair behind her ear.
This brought Megan back to when they were in the dance studio and she had figured out she's in love with Daniela. This did not cease her already hammering heart.
"Y'know... sometimes I feel like you know me better than anyone," Dani murmured.
Megan's heart was pounding.
This was too much.
Dani's hand lingered near her face, her fingers brushing lightly against Megan's cheek. The touch sent a shiver down Megan's spine. She needed to say something. To make a joke, to change the subject, to do anything before she completely lost it—
But then Dani's gaze flickered downward.
To Megan's lips.
Just for a second.
Megan's breath hitched. Did she imagine that?
Before she could process it, Dani let out a soft laugh, shaking her head as if dismissing a thought. Then she nestled closer, draping herself over Megan like a human-sized cat.
"Ugh, whatever," she mumbled. "You're comfy. You're stuck with me."
Megan barely heard her over the sound of her own racing heartbeat.
Because Dani had looked at her.
And for the first time, Megan wasn't sure if she was imagining it anymore.
⸻
The next day, Megan told Emily about the disaster date, expecting her to say, See? She's hopeless. Move on.
Instead, Emily grinned. "This is perfect."
Megan frowned. "Perfect how?"
Emily leaned in conspiratorially. "We finally have the perfect setup to see if she's in love with you."
Megan snorted. "You do hear yourself, right? I'm already teetering on the edge of delusion, and you want me to jump?"
Emily patted her shoulder, undeterred. "Exactly. And I'll be right there to push you. Being delulu is the solulu."
Megan narrowed her eyes. "Okay. I'll humor you. How are we supposed to figure it out?"
Emily's smirk could have powered an entire city. "Easy. We make her jealous."
Megan scoffed. "Dani doesn't get jealous."
Emily shot her a knowing look. "Then let's test that theory."
And so, the next phase of Emily's master plan began: Flirting with Marquise.
——-
Emily brought the plan to Marquise and the girl agreed. Megan suspected this plan benefited her too. She saw the way Marquise looked at Lara.
Marquise was sweet, and always warm toward Megan. It was easy to spend time with her, and Megan played into it—laughing a little too loud at her jokes, touching her arm casually, leaning into the flirtation.
And Daniela?
Daniela noticed.
At first, it was subtle—little glances, an unreadable expression whenever Megan and Marquise laughed together. Then, the interruptions began.
"Megs, can you help me with my routine?" Daniela would ask, literally stepping in between them.
Or—
"Oh, Marquise, you're spending a lot of time with my girl lately."
Megan raised an eyebrow. "Your girl?"
Daniela blinked. "I mean—not like that. Just, y'know. My bestie."
Megan's heart clenched.
The first real test came during lunch. The group sat in the cafeteria, and Megan made sure to sit next to Marquise, leaving an empty seat on the other side of her.
Dani, as usual, was running late.
Megan turned to Marquise with a teasing smile. "You always smell so nice. What is that, vanilla?"
Marquise chuckled. "Coconut, actually." Casting a quick glance towards Lara who sat there with a slight scowl.
Megan hummed, leaning in just slightly, enough to make it look natural. "It suits you."
"Here she comes," Marquise whispered, just as Daniela arrived.
Megan didn't miss the way Dani's steps stuttered for half a second before she continued, sliding into the empty seat beside her.
"What's going on here?" Dani asked, too casual.
Megan glanced at her, feigning innocence. "Nothing. Just complimenting Marquise's perfume."
Dani let out a short laugh, but it sounded forced. "You never compliment my perfume."
Megan grinned. "That's because you always smell good, mi amor. It's a given."
Daniela blinked. Megan saw the moment her brain short-circuited before she quickly recovered, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Damn right I do."
Still, she was watching Megan and Marquise closely for the rest of lunch.
——-
The next moment happened in the dance studio.
After rehearsals, Megan and Marquise were the last two lingering, stretching out their muscles. Dani had said she was leaving, but when Megan glanced at the mirror, she noticed the blonde had stopped in the doorway, pretending to check her phone.
Marquise, of course, noticed too. "She's watching," she whispered.
Megan smirked. "Perfect."
She turned to Marquise, putting on her best oblivious, flirty Megan expression. "Hey, can you help me with this stretch?" She sat on the floor, legs extended, reaching for her toes.
Marquise played along flawlessly. "Of course." She knelt behind Megan, pressing a hand gently on her back to help push her forward.
Megan let out a slight sigh, making sure her voice was just loud enough to carry. "Damn, you're good at this."
From the mirror, she caught Daniela's entire body tense.
Then—
"I forgot my water bottle."
Dani's voice was just a little too loud as she marched back inside. She didn't even look at her water bottle sitting by the speakers. Instead, she headed straight for Megan and Marquise.
"You guys are still here?" Dani asked, feigning nonchalance.
Megan bit back a smile. "Yeah, Marquise was helping me stretch."
Dani's jaw twitched. "You never let me help you stretch."
Megan blinked innocently. "You never offered."
Dani, grabbing her water bottle with unnecessary force. "Whatever." Then, under her breath, "Bet I'd be better at it."
——-
The final straw came at the dorms.
Emily, ever the mastermind, had suggested Megan and Marquise take a casual selfie together after rehearsal. Megan, wearing her usual mischievous smirk, leaned close to Marquise, resting her chin on her shoulder as they snapped a quick photo.
Emily immediately sent it to the group chat.
Daniela saw it.
And two minutes later, Megan's door slammed open.
Megan barely had time to react before Dani stood there, arms crossed, fire in her eyes.
"What," Dani said, voice tight, "is going on with you and Marquise?"
Megan took her time setting her phone down, tilting her head. "Why? Does it matter?"
Dani scoffed. "No."
Megan raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Because you stormed in here like you had something to say."
Dani's jaw clenched. "I just—" She huffed, running a hand through her hair. "You're mine, okay?"
Megan's heart stopped.
Dani seemed to realize what she said at the same time Megan did.
"...I mean—not like that," Dani backtracked quickly, eyes wide. "I just—y'know, my bestie."
Megan swallowed down the sharp sting in her chest.
"Right. Bestie."
Dani's lips pressed into a thin line.
Megan met her gaze. "But if it's just that... why do you care so much?"
Daniela didn't answer.
Because she did care.
——-
Daniela didn't do jealousy. She had never been the type to get clingy or possessive. Relationships—romantic or otherwise—had always come easy to her.
So why, why, was she losing her mind over Megan and Marquise?
It had been gnawing at her for days. Every time Megan laughed a little too loudly at Marquise's jokes, every time they whispered to each other in the dance studio, every time Megan touched her—Dani felt something ugly curling in her chest.
And it wasn't just jealousy. It was something worse.
It was the terrifying feeling that maybe... she had already lost Megan, and she hadn't even realized she was supposed to be holding on.
—
The realization hit her like a freight train one night, when she was alone in her dorm scrolling through her phone.
She wasn't meaning to stare at the selfie Megan and Marquise had taken together.
Dani had stormed into Megan's room and confronted her about it the other day like a complete idiot. She didn't even have a real reason to be there.
She wasn't meaning to zoom in on Megan's smile—the same big, bright, dimpled smile that used to be reserved for her.
But she was.
And she hated it.
Her stomach twisted, something hot pressing against her ribs.
Was this how Megan felt when Dani went on dates with guys who never mattered? Was this how it felt to want someone and pretend like you didn't?
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
Megan wasn't hers. Megan was just her best friend.
Right?
But if that was true, then why did the thought of Megan falling for someone else make her chest feel like it was caving in?
Why did the idea of Megan kissing someone else—of Megan looking at Marquise the way she used to look at Dani—make her want to scream?
Dani groaned, tossing her phone onto her bed and pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes.
Shit.
She was in love with Megan.
——-
The next morning, Dani did what any rational person would do.
She avoided Megan.
At first, it was subtle. Showing up late to breakfast so she wouldn't have to sit next to her. Pairing up with Sophia instead of Megan in rehearsals. Conveniently being too busy when Megan asked if she wanted to hang out.
But Megan noticed. Of course she noticed.
"Okay, what is going on?" Megan finally demanded, cornering her in the hallway after practice.
Dani swallowed, suddenly feeling way too warm. "Nothing. Why?"
Megan folded her arms, giving her that look. "Don't pull that on me. You've been weird all day."
"I have not."
Megan huffed, stepping closer. "Dani."
Dani's breath caught.
Shit, shit, shit.
This was worse.
Because standing here, with Megan's sharp gaze locked onto hers, with barely a foot of space between them, Dani realized something else.
Megan was beautiful.
And not just in the way Dani had always known. Not in the yeah, my best friend is hot, whatever kind of way.
No.
Megan was the kind of beautiful that made Dani's stomach flip. The kind of beautiful that made her want to reach out, tangle her fingers in Megan's stupid orange hair, and pull.
The kind of beautiful that made her want to close the space between them and—
Dani stumbled back. "I—I have to go."
Megan frowned. "Dani—"
But Dani was already turning on her heel, heart slamming against her ribs.
She was so screwed.
——-
Megan wasn't stupid.
Something was up with Daniela.
At first, she brushed it off. Maybe Dani was just busy—too caught up in rehearsals or distracted by some new drama. But as the hours turned into days, it became obvious.
Dani was avoiding her.
And not in the casual, "oops, didn't see your text" kind of way. No. This was intentional.
She started showing up late to breakfast, conveniently sliding into a seat next to Lara instead of the one Megan always saved for her. She swapped dance partners in rehearsals without warning. She stopped hanging around their dorm like she used to.
And the worst part?
She barely even looked at Megan anymore.
"What the hell is going on?" Megan groaned, flopping dramatically onto Lara's bed.
Lara barely looked up from her laptop. "Dani still avoiding you?"
Megan threw an arm over her eyes. "She's ghosting me. Dani—the same girl who used to text me memes at 2 a.m.—is ghosting me."
Emily, lying upside down on the couch, smirked. "You sure you didn't, like, accidentally run over her cat?"
"She doesn't have a cat. And I would never run over a cat. I'm a great driver."
"To be debated."
Megan glared. "About the cat or that I'm a good driver?"
Lara, sensing the start of an argument cuts in. "So why do you think Dani's acting weird. Did you do something to upset her?"
Megan scowled. "No! I—ugh! I don't know what I did. We were fine and then—" She sat up, glaring at them. "Wait. Do you know something?"
Lara and Emily exchanged a look.
Megan narrowed her eyes. "Oh my God. You do know something!"
Emily grinned. "Not saying anything."
Megan turned to Lara, pleading. "Lara."
Lara sighed, closing her laptop. "I might have an idea."
Megan sat up straighter. "Tell me."
Lara hesitated, then said, "What if Dani is jealous?"
Megan blinked. "Of what?"
Lara raised an eyebrow. "Of you and Marquise."
Megan snorted. "Dani doesn't get jealous."
Emily cackled. "Babe, have you met her?"
Megan hesitated. Had Dani been acting weird because of Marquise?
Sure, there had been some snippy comments. Some weird tension. But Dani never cared when Megan flirted with people before. So why now?
Emily sat up, wiggling her eyebrows. "I think our girl is having a little gay crisis."
Megan's heart stopped.
"No."
Lara shrugged. "It would explain the weird behavior."
Megan's brain short-circuited. Dani? Jealous? Of her? That would mean—
No.
No way.
Right?
Except... now that she thought about it, all those weird looks, the interruptions, the sudden distance—
Oh my God.
Megan's stomach flipped.
Emily grinned. "Ohhh, she's panicking."
Megan grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.
But she wasn't denying it.
——-
Megan wanted to believe it. She wanted to think that maybe—just maybe—Dani was avoiding her because she was jealous. Because she actually felt something.
But Megan wasn't about to let herself get her hopes up over nothing.
So, naturally, Emily had a plan.
"You and Marquise need to ramp it up," Emily declared, pacing dramatically in their dorm room.
Lara, sitting on her bed with her arms crossed, scowled. "Or, hear me out—we don't do that."
Emily ignored her. "We need to push Dani over the edge."
Megan hesitated. "How over the edge are we talking?"
Emily smirked. "Enough to make her snap."
Lara groaned. "This is the worst plan ever."
Emily turned to her. "Do you have a better one?"
Lara opened her mouth. Closed it. Glared.
Emily turned back to Megan. "Exactly."
Megan chewed her lip. "You really think this will work?"
Emily grinned. "Only one way to find out."
Lara groaned again.
Marquise agreed to play along, though she shot Lara a look when Emily explained the plan. Lara looked away, suddenly very interested in her phone.
The next day, Megan cranked up the flirting.
——-
Daniela was going insane.
There was no other explanation for it.
She couldn't sleep, couldn't focus, couldn't even dance properly without her brain short-circuiting at the thought of Megan and Marquise.
It was stupid. So stupid. Because Marquise was sweet and kind, and Megan looked happy when she was around her. But every time Dani saw them together—saw Marquise casually brush Megan's hair out of her face, or heard Megan giggling at something she said—she felt like she was going to explode.
Which was why she started avoiding her. It was easier that way.
But Megan wasn't making it easy.
If anything, Megan had cranked up whatever game she was playing. And it was killing her.
——-
Dani stormed into rehearsal one afternoon, already in a bad mood, only to immediately spot Megan sitting on the floor with Marquise.
And not just sitting—practically in her lap.
Marquise had an arm draped over Megan's shoulder, their fingers loosely intertwined. Megan was laughing at something, her head tilted back, and Daniela saw red.
Then, to make matters worse, Megan turned her head slightly and whispered something into Marquise's ear—close enough that her lips brushed her skin.
Marquise flushed.
And that was it.
Dani slammed her water bottle onto the floor, loud enough that everyone looked over.
Megan looked directly at her, tilting her head. Innocently.
"Oh, hey Dani," she said, her voice sweet as ever. Dani loved when Megan said her name. "Something wrong?"
Saying nothing she yanked Megan up by the wrist and dragging her out of the studio.
Megan barely had time to react before Daniela shoved her into the empty hallway, slamming the door shut behind them.
"What the fuck was that?" Dani hissed.
Megan's pulse skyrocketed. "What?"
Dani's hands curled into fists. "You're doing this on purpose."
Megan blinked, feigning confusion. "Doing what?"
"Marquise."
Megan leaned back on her palms, arching an eyebrow. "What about her?"
Daniela exhaled sharply, trying to keep her voice steady. "Are you into her?"
Megan's lips curled into a slow, teasing smile. "Why? Does it matter? You've been avoiding me for ages. Why do you care?"
Daniela's pulse spiked.
Because Megan had just thrown her own words back at her.
The same thing she had said when she had first questioned Megan about Marquise.
Now Megan knew.
She knew she was driving Dani insane, and she was enjoying it.
Dani's breathing grew uneven as Megan slowly stood, stepping closer.
Her voice dropped to something lower, something dangerous. "If you have something to say, Dani... say it."
Dani felt her heart pounding against her ribs.
The words were there, caught in her throat, but she couldn't—
Megan reached up, brushing her fingers along Dani's wrist, barely touching, just enough to send a shock up her spine.
"You've been avoiding me," Megan murmured. "Why?"
Daniela couldn't breathe.
Megan's fingers traced lightly up her arm, slow and teasing, until Daniela snapped.
She grabbed Megan's wrist, yanking her closer—so close that their noses nearly brushed.
Megan inhaled sharply, her eyes flickering with something heated.
Dani's grip tightened. "Because I'm in love with you."
Megan's lips parted.
Dani's pulse was erratic, her entire body on edge. "Are you happy now? Is that what you wanted?"
Megan swallowed. "Say it again."
Dani's breath hitched.
Megan tilted her chin up slightly, her eyes flicking down to Dani's lips for just a second before meeting her gaze again.
Daniela's entire body burned.
"I'm in love with you."
Megan let out a shaky breath.
A slow smile tugged at Megan's lips. "Took you long enough."
Dani exhaled sharply, every nerve in her body screaming. "You—" She shook her head, gripping Megan's wrist tighter like she was afraid to let go. "You drive me fucking insane."
Megan grinned, tilting her head. "Yeah?"
Daniela huffed, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Yeah."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The hallway felt too quiet, too charged, the space between them almost nonexistent. Megan's fingers were still trailing along Dani's wrist, featherlight, and Daniela swore she could feel every inch of contact like a brand.
Megan wet her lips. "So what are you gonna do about it?"
Daniela didn't think. She didn't hesitate.
She surged forward, crashing her lips against Megan's.
Megan gasped against her mouth before melting into the kiss, her hands flying up to tangle in Daniela's curls, pulling her impossibly closer. Dani groaned at the sensation, at the warmth of Megan's body pressed against hers, at the way Megan sighed into her like she had been waiting for this.
Because, fuck, maybe she had.
Dani cupped Megan's face, tilting her head, deepening the kiss like she could pour every ounce of frustration, every stolen glance, every goddamn feeling she had been ignoring into it.
Megan kissed back just as fiercely, nipping at Dani's bottom lip before pulling away slightly, their breaths mingling.
"Took you long enough," Megan murmured again, her lips brushing against the Latina's.
Dani rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Shut up."
Megan just laughed before kissing her again, softer this time. Daniela sighed into it, her shoulders finally relaxing, the weight of everything—the jealousy, the overthinking, the avoidance—melting away.
Megan was hers.