Dancing In The Dark-Laurel Lance

Confessions...

The next morning, I woke up later than usual. Between Laurel, and the drinking, and having the day off, it was late before I went to bed. But, I still woke up earlier than Laurel and went into the kitchen to make both of us breakfast. As I was just wrapping up with making breakfast, an extremely hungover Laurel entered my apartment kitchen.

"Morning, sunshine." I said sarcastically. Laurel was the opposite of sunshine right now and it was clear.

"Yeah, thanks." She said, holding her head. "What happened?"

"You showed up at my apartment hammered last night." I said simply, starting to set the table for breakfast.

"Oh god. Did I say anything I'm going to regret?" She asked as I handed her advil and a glass of water.

"Probably, but there's some stuff I have to say to you." I looked her dead in the eyes and held her hands lightly. "I am so so sorry, Laurel. I had no idea yesterday was the anniversary of Sara's death."

"Al-" I cut her off quickly.

"I am one of those people who loves her people so hard and so passionately it hurts me. And you're one of my people now. So, when I saw you and Tommy kissing- or Tommy kissing you, whatever it was, it hurt me. And that's only because of how I feel about you."

"How do you feel about me?"
"I feel like you're special. I want to treat you like you're the only girl in the world- if only you gave me a chance."

"You want a chance?" She asked, almost confused.

"I always want a chance with you." I admitted. Laurel grabbed me by the base of my neck and slowly kissed me. I pulled away after a second to look at her, before kissing her again, more passionately this time. I picked her up and put her on the counter, and just as I started playing with the hem of her shirt, there was a knock at the door.

"Vasquez! Open up! I know Laurel's in there."

"Shit!" Laurel whispered, jumping down from the counter. "He's gonna kill you."

"No shit!" I whispered back.

The knocking persisted. "Come on, Vasquez! Don't make me break down this door!"

I started pacing, not sure what I should do. "I gotta open the door."

"Alana, that's my father we're talking about. If he knows what's going on between us, he will try to shoot you."

I shrugged. "Why would he? You're just here as my friend." I said with wide eyes, trying to get her to follow along with my plan.

"Yeah, friend."

"I'm kicking the door in! Three, two, one!" I opened the door just as Quentin's foot went flying in, followed by the rest of his body.

"Shit!" I rushed to his side to help him up. "You okay, Cap?"

"I'll live." He muttered as Laurel and I helped pick him up. Once he regained his composure, he turned angrily to Laurel. "Why are you here? And why didn't you answer my calls last night?"

"Wait, how did you even know I was here?" Laurel asked her father defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Easy, I tracked you." He shrugged his shoulders casually.

"Dad, I'm almost 30! You can't just track me!"

"Sure I can! If I think you're in danger!"

"What danger would I be in at Alana's house? She's my friend, Dad."

"Yes, but that didn't give you an excuse not to answer my calls! I was worried sick."

I started to feel more and more out of place. "Maybe I should just step outside-" Quentin cut me off.

"No, Vasquez, stay, it's your apartment. We're almost done here."

"Yeah, we are, cause you're leaving. I'm an adult, not a teenager. Until you can start treating me like one, don't talk to me."

And without another word and the defiant slam of my door, he was gone.

"Well, uh, that was intense." I muttered mindlessly, staring at where Quentin stood a moment before.

"Yeah, well, I'd rather not think about my Dad right now." Laurel mumbled, turning me around quickly so that I was facing her. "Hi."

"Hi, beautiful." The expression on her face said it all. It was like time stopped when I looked into her eyes. I wanted to cherish every second with her. I caressed her cheek lightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Though I was all about taking it slow in the moment, Laurel wasn't taking that. Before I could even process anything, her lips were placed harshly against mine. As she started to tug at the hem of my shirt, I knew where the morning was headed. I hummed as our lips moved in sync, feeling guilty and unfulfilled as I moved mine away. "I changed my mind."

Laurel squinted her eyes. "You don't wanna sleep with me?"

"Oh, I do, very badly." I corrected her. "But I literally just told you I wanted to treat you like you were the only girl in the world."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I want to take you on a date first. A real date."

"Mhm." She kissed me again. "Better be a quick date."