Crooked Smile

Chapter 4: What I Lost

~You can't get up 'cause you've been down and you are reeling. You catch your breath by counting cracks upon the ceiling.~

Gail looked around as she exited the terminal. So this is sunny California, she thought. She made her way to baggage claim and waited for her suitcase. Soft, warm hands covered her eyes and made her smile.

"I told you I'd get a cab," Gail said, still smiling.

"I know," Holly giggled as she spun Gail around to face her, wrapping her arms around Gail's waist. "But there was no way I was gonna miss out on picking you up, so I maybe lied to my boss and told him I was sick."

Gail touched the back of her hand to Holly's forehead. A look of faux-concern crossed her face.

"You're burning up! We need to get you home and in bed immediately!" Gail joked with a waggle of her eyebrows.

"You are so cheesy," Holly teased, cupping Gail's face tenderly between her hands.

"You like it," Gail countered as she leaned in for a kiss.

Holly's lips met her half way. Her lips were softer than Gail remembered. Their lips moved together slowly, getting reacquainted with one another. It wasn't long however, before the kiss grew more intense. Both women attempted to pour all of their pent up emotions into this kiss. Holly quickly remembered their very public location and pulled back slightly.

"We should probably get out of here," she whispered against Gail's lips.

"You're just full of good ideas."

Gail gave her a quick peck and threw her bag over her shoulder. She grabbed Holly's hand as they began walking toward the parking garage.

"Didn't you have another bag?" Holly asked.

"Shit!" Gail exclaimed as she dropped Holly's hand and ran back towards the luggage belt. She scanned the area for her bag and groaned in frustration when she did not immediately see it. At last she saw it appear around the bend. She roughly pushed her way through the crowd, ignoring the complaints of the people she passed, and ripped her bag off the belt. She jogged back to the door where Holly was waiting.

"Ready," she said, smiling brightly.

"Come on, you," Holly teased, flashing her lopsided smile at Gail.

It had been a week since Gail had stopped coming by Holly's office. Either Detective Anderson or an unfamiliar uniformed officer would stop by to pick up reports or drop off the occasional piece of new evidence. Holly knew Gail was officially avoiding her.

She finished typing up her report and gathered her belongings. Holly flipped the light switch off before closing her door and locking it behind her. As she approached the door to the car garage, her phone rang out loudly, startling her. She managed to hold onto her empty coffee mug, though it certainly made an attempt at escape. Digging her phone out of her purse, Holly sighed at the name on her screen.

"I'm fine," she answered.

"Well hello to you too," Rachel's voice came through the speaker.

"Sorry, Rach, it's just been a long day. And Lisa called me at lunch and I've just had enough of her lately."

"Oh god, what'd she do this time?"

"Nothing in particular, she's just Lisa. Like she can't wrap her head around why I'm so upset and can't just get over it. She keeps bugging me to go out. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone new," Holly said, parroting her friend.