𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 /choni/

12.

Since that day, Talia was coming over every Wednesday to talk. She was the only one I was seeing after cancelling all  the tea sessions. Others didn't even bother to check up on me and I started to think they didn't even care.

It was different with Talia, she wasn't the only one talking when she visited but started normal conversation. She didn't talk about her private life unless I asked directly and didn't have a problem to answer when I did.

She told me about her life in Greendale. They had problems with money and thought it would be a good idea to move here. Talia had family in Riverdale even though she moved away with her parents when she was a little girl. She met her husband Felix in high school, they  started as good friends and ended up getting married after graduation. But he was more like a best friend than a lover to her, as she admitted later.

He was possessive, unfortunately. It looked like he was the only one who fell in love, Talia didn't seems like she loved him at all. Of course she cared deeply about him, but I was more than sure she wasn't in love.

I also learned that her family was a part of the gang on the Southside. They called themselves the Southside Serpents, people in town were scared of them. Rumors said that they dealed drugs and killed innocent people. However, she denied it and explained everything.

They were like a family to each other. A lot of the members didn't have anyone else and were glad they had at least someone to lean on. As I listened to her, I realized that I wanted something like that as well. Have someone to trust, someone to talk to when I needed, shoulder to cry on when I felt down. That was something I never experienced.

"Please, don't look at me differently now." Talia said breaking the long silence between us.

"How could I? You are the only person I trust, nothing could ever change that." I smiled softly.

"Not even the fact that I'm in a gang?" Her glance was playful and her lips raised up in a smirk.

"Not even the fact that you're in a gang." I replied the same way.

"You are the first Northsider who reacted... normally. Tammy isn't talking to me that much since she found out." Tammy knew Talia since they were little kids and stayed in contact after Talia moved away. But she chose to judge her because of the rumors that weren't even true.

"I know how it feels. Being judged by people that don't know you. Being judged for something your family did."

"I heard about your family." She admitted with her head down.

"And you still decided to come?"

"I don't judge people until I get to know them, Poppy." I felt safe with her more than I ever did in my life. Her spirit was pure, just like her aura and heart.

"You're really sweet, you know that?" She whispered. We were sitting really close. I could smell her perfume as I inhaled deeply. She started to lean closer and I couldn't help but bit my lip to hide a smile.

This was wrong, right? She was married in the first place. Not to mention that we were women. I tried not to listen to these thoughts and closed the gap between us. Her lips were really soft and tasted like the tea we were drinking earlier. She took my cheeks into her hands and I wrapped mine around her waist.

Is this what happiness feels like? I never felt like this with Bitsy. Her kiss wasn't that satisfying or sweet.

"You're making me feel things I thought I never could." Talia breathed against my lips, still holding my cheeks.

"Same." I smiled and pecked her lips one more time. We sat cuddled on the sofa for a while, just enjoying each other's company.

"What about Felix?" I asked quietly. Talia just sighed.

"He can't find out. Even though I don't love him, he's still my husband." I nodded understandingly.

"But it's different with you, Poppy. I'm sure there's something between us." She took my chin and turned my head to look at her. I smiled widely as she kissed my forehead.

"Yeah. Only you can make my heart bloom."