Shooting Star and Swallow's Song

First Wave

"Okay, let's get back out there before Em thinks something is happening, or before something does happen. You make me forget anyone else exists," Steph stated, then added, "Which is great for us, but may be a shock for Em."

"Yeah, no. No public or even private shows. Only a lot of rehearsals."

"What are we practicing for, babe?" Steph asked curiously.

"To break a world record, of course."

Steph gave her a sly grin and said, "You...okay Miss Ambitious, seriously, let's get out there. Just need to grab the stuff."

She went into her drawer and pulled out a small, resealable bag of edibles. She pulled out a few of the thin cylindrical gummies, then paused in consideration before sealing the white and green bag and returning it to its hidden spot.

"Alright, all set. Ready to help Em forget about the bullshit for tonight?" Steph asked.

Alex nodded, appreciating the refocusing about what tonight would be about. She really did feel for the girl. They shared a smile and Steph slipped an arm around her, hesitating to leave the room before assisting Alex back to the couches. Steph held the bag in her free hand.

Sitting on the couch, Emily was watching them come back and looked a bit apprehensive as they came near.

Is she nervous about getting high? Is this her first time? We never asked if she had before.

"Okay ladies, let's do fifteen...ish," Steph proposed.

"Ish?" Emily asked.

"Yeah, ish?" Alex also questioned.

"Well, they are tens, so we'll each get one, then I'll cut these other two in half, so we'll each get five more. Then I'll cut the extra half into thirds as best I can. That makes it about..." Steph took out her phone and after a couple seconds on the calculator app said, "...16.6ish or so."

"You could just leave the half in there for later," Alex noted.

Steph narrowed her eyes playfully at her girlfriend and said, "Stop making sense. I just can't leave a half in there like that. It's like...leaving the TV on an odd volume that doesn't end with a five."

"Didn't you do that on the game night?" Alex brought up.

"That's different. That was to bug Ryan. I hated it too, but it was worth the pain."

"Ah," Alex said, accepting her answer.

Steph smiled and gave one nod before saying, "Okay, be right back; need something sharper than my wit."

"Butter knife?" Alex teased.

"Hey..." Steph said, narrowing her eyes, still smiling, but flatly added, "Well...yeah."

Alex wanted to kiss her before she got up, but decided to not be overly affectionate right now, for Emily's sake. She didn't need to make their relationship any more clear, but she just felt the urge to kiss her all the time now.

"'Kay, just a sec," Steph said, and turned away, tempting Alex to smack her bottom, but she restrained herself, again only for Emily's sake.

Hobbling over to the couches, she sat on the smaller couch, but sliding close to the end to be closer to Emily.

"Hey, Emily...uh, Em. You ever do this before?"

She hesitated, before saying, "No, my parents would have killed me, but now...fuck them."

"Yeah, fuck them," Alex agreed.

"Fuck both of them," Steph called out.

"Someone's listening," Alex said quieter and Emily smiled.