V & V (wlw)

Chapter 4 - The one with a long overdue talk

Veronika sat in a little stool in the late morning heat, grateful for the table umbrella that offered her some relief from the sun. Even in just a tank and jeans, she still sweltered. Or maybe it was the anxiety of waiting for Rose.

She had a drink in her hand, because she was embarrassed to take up a table during brunch hours for no reason.

Soon enough, Rose arrived. Veronika got up and went for a hug, but the other woman did not seem welcoming, so she ended up terminating it and instead shook her hand in panicked improvisation.

Rose was not impressed. They sat down on opposite sides of the table.

"I missed you," said Ron, even if she'd had no time to even think of the woman amidst recent developments. It was the action that counted. "Do you want anything?"

"I'm fine. Listen, I don't think we should see each other anymore."

Veronika paused mid-sip and almost spluttered. She had thought they were doing well. In a week or so, she might have even asked Rose out properly. Then it dawned on her, when she shouldn't have forgotten.

"Is this about Friday night?" She would admit, she did forget about Rose when Victoria swooped in to catch up.

"No. I mean, yes. It's not just Friday night," said Rose, exasperated. "Ronnie, I don't think you even like me all that much."

"Now that's just not true," said Veronika. And she meant it; Rose was pretty and smart and they were good together. Ignoring that they weren't actually together, in that sense.

"We haven't been proper friends for very long, Ron, but we've been aware of each other for a while. Look me in the eyes and tell me that, if we kept at this, you wouldn't ask to break up after a couple of months. Like you did with the others."

Now Veronika really started to sweat. She raised her gaze to Rose's severe eyes and found that she couldn't say a word.

After a beat, Rose's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, Ronnie. You're so nice and you're cute, but I don't think we'll work out. And I'm not willing to put in the time and effort when I know it won't last."

Veronika was quiet for a while, not quite believing her ears and yet entirely convinced. She said, finally, "I'm sorry for ditching you Friday night."

"Yeah, my bad." Rose cracked a smile, dimples showing. "I was trying to hit on that woman. Hope you two had a good time."

"It wasn't like that," she replied, defensive, and then she changed tact. "Can we still be friends?"

"Really, it feels like we've been hanging out this whole time, just with kissing and all the other things," said Rose. "So yes, as long as there's boundaries."

She felt herself smile in relief. It was a better end than Veronika expected; most other times she'd just been called a liar and a slut and you'll die alone someday, you bitch.

Rose got up, presumably to leave. Veron stood with her.

"Do you want me to drive you home?"

"No thanks." Rose wrinkled her nose. "I don't like motorcycles."

Veronika felt much better as she watched the other woman walk away, to her own surprise. Everything Rose said about her was true; she would have asked to break up after a while. Nothing, and no one, ever really stuck.

Now she sat alone and realized she was at a loss. What were her options now? With Rose gone, she either had to go clubbing to find someone else, or wait until her friends eventually found some woman interested in her and linked them up. From there, she could strike up a relationship again, or decline and throw herself at her job and her writing. It was a cycle that hadn't ever been broken.