V & V (wlw)

Chapter 7 - The one with the nice day out

Veronika sat opposite her friends, sweating bullets. But she could blame that on the weather; they were sitting outside in the little fenced-in outdoor area of the bistro, at one of the umbrella tables.

It would be incorrect to say she dreaded this day, but ever since it had been scheduled, she had been anxiously waiting for it to be over.

"I still think this is an elaborate prank," said Celia. "Sorry, Ronnie, but you're never like this with your other girlfriends."

She covered Ron's hand with her own. "If you don't want us to introduce you to new people, you can just say so."

"Nah babe, those flowers were real," said Jess, eyes distracted by the Bugatti that cruised past them, just a few meters away along the street. Veronika's stomach dropped.

"I told you, she's just late." From the corner of her eye, Ron watched as the car parked on the street and Victoria, dressed in a crisp white shirt and navy windowpane slacks, clambered out.

As her girlfriend walked into the building to get to them, she leaned forward and hissed, "Hey, when she gets here, don't make it weird."

"Why would we be weird?"

"Promise you won't. You'll understand," said Ron, just as Victoria came upon them.

"Celia, Jess," Vic said, shaking each of their hands. The two, too confused to do anything else, went with it. "Been a while."

Victoria dropped into the empty chair next to Ron.

"Babe," she said, and pressed her lips against the skin stretched over Veron's cheekbone. Ron tried her best not to freeze. In front of them, Celia's mouth dropped open a fraction and she covered herself with her hand.

"Actually, let me head into the bathroom. One moment." As soon as Vic walked into the building again, Celia let her mouth fall open. Ron grimaced; Jess was still confused.

"Who – " She began, but Celia cut her short.

"You didn't say she was that Victoria," she hissed, pointing an accusing finger at Ron.

"It's complicated," said Veron weakly.

"Sorry, which Victoria?"

"From school!"

Jess's face lit up, and darkened again. "But you hated her?"

"I didn't," said Veronika, lying.

"Ronnie, be honest. Are you being coerced?"

"Celia. No!" This spoke less about Celia's perceptiveness - in which she would have been partly correct - and more about Celia's all-encompassing paranoid concern.

"I'm serious! What have you gotten yourself into? Do you know who she is now?" When Ron didn't reply, Celia said, "Is it money, is that it?"

"No," said Ron emphatically, a little too loud.

"Then what?"

"I'm embarrassed," muttered Ron, rubbing a hand over her face. "I didn't know how you guys'd take the news. Vic is – she's not like anyone I've ever been with. I was worried."

Celia's face softened, and Jess said, "You like her enough to ask her out. We trust your judgment and we support you."

"Although," she added, eyes drifting to the side; Victoria was coming back. "We didn't know you liked that too. We could have introduced you to more people."

Vic materialized beside Ron. "Hi."

She sat and briefly squeezed Veron's hand; the latter gave her a smile.