Finding My Way To You

The Party

Katie took a deep breath before walking into Caitlin's place with her makeup bag and clothes for the night. She was nervous to share her feelings because of Caitlin's reaction to finding out she was jealous of her a Lia. Before she had a chance to get into her own head too much Caitlin invited her in and quickly pushed her into the kitchen to take a shot before going up to get ready.
"Cheers! Here's to a night!"
"Cheers Cait" Katie laughed at her friend who grimaced at the shot. "Can't handle it like a Irish girl can you?"
"Shut up or I won't let you play the music while we get ready."
"Fine fine let's go then"
They had been sitting in front of Caitlin's mirror together for about 10 minutes before put her makeup down and looked over to Katie.
"So. You going to tell me what's on your mind or do I have to punch you again?"
"You know I have a bruise from that."
"Don't change the subject"
"Fine. I don't really know how to put it into words. I just have had a lot going through my head recently. And then I saw you and Lia talking and hug. I was confused why you didn't tell me you were back together."
"Because we aren't back together."
"Then why were you guys all friendly again?"
"We are working on staying friends. I um had to ask her something too so that's why we were talking outside in private."
"What did you ask her?"
"I'll tell you later come on we got to get moving."
"Nope sit down. You're the one avoiding me now and I can punch harder."
"God fine. I asked if she would be okay if I asked another girl out on a date. I didn't want her to find out through someone else since the team will know eventually."
Katie froze no no no no no this can't be happening. She likes someone else. I knew I shouldn't have let myself believe she liked me. Damn it. She could feel herself rebuilding her walls immediately.
Pretending to look at the time, Katie said " omg you are right. We do need to get going. But we will talk about your new girl soon Foord."
Caitlin was a little confused. Katie seemed upset all of a sudden. Should I just tell her it's her I want to ask out on a date? But Katie got up too quickly and Caitlin couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Ubers ordered!" Katie yelled already heading downstairs.
"Coming" Caitlin mumbled

Once at the bar, the two girls both started drinking heavily for different reasons. Caitlin to build up some confidence to ask her best friend out and have something in her system already in case she got turned down. Katie was pounding shots to get Ruesha completely out of her mind for good. To get these feelings she couldn't quite piece together for Caitlin out. To get every comment her sister and Jordan made about Caitlin liking her out.

Their teammates quickly noticed how much drunker the two girls were compared to the rest of the group. Lia overheard Caitlin slurring some words while talking to Viv and went to go get her a water. Only to find Katie at the bar about to rip another shot. "Hey Katie you want a water instead of that maybe."
Katie didn't answer clearly lost in her own thoughts staring at the cup of liquid in front of her.
Lia placed her hand on Katie's shoulder to bring her back.
"Hey you okay?"
"Oh hey Lia sorry in my head a bit I guess."
"Want me to grab Caitlin for you?"
"Why would I want Caitlin?" She said a little sarcastically
"Oh sorry I just noticed you guys were getting really close and Leah said you told her you were talking to Cait about your breakup."
Katie wanting to release some built up frustration kept going," no Lia. I don't want to talk to her right now. If you want her back go get her before she asks some random girl out on a date.

Fuck sorry Lia. I shouldn't have said that to you. I think I've had a bit too much to drink. I'm going to run to the bathroom and head home. Again please ignore what I said. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Katie. No offense taken. Here take this water with you."
With that Katie headed back to the bathroom and Lia ran back to the table and grabbed Caitlin pulling her away from the other girls and shoving a water in her face.
"Chug that."
"Lia what are you doing?"
"The girl you want to ask out. It's Katie isn't it?"
"Uh uh..."
"Just answer me. I'm not mad."
Suddenly sober, "yeah it's Katie." Caitlin whispered.
"Well your girl is quite drunk and upset because she think you are about to ask a random girl out and not her."
"How do —"
"Don't ask me questions right now. Katie is in the bathroom but she's going home right afterwards. Go get her. I want you to be happy."
"I owe you big time. Thank you." Caitlin said running off.
As she sprinted to the bathroom she pushed open the door and ran right into a red eyed Katie. It was almost oddly similar to how Katie ran into her near the locker rooms after Lia and her broke up.
"Are you okay?"
"Drank too much. Feelings got me. I'm going home."
"Katie wait." She grabbed Katie's arm and pulled her back. "I need to tell you something. About what we were talking about earlier."
"Caitlin I would love to hear about your new girl but can we do this tomorrow."
"No because you already know her. She's amazing. I want nothing more than to take her out on the best date of her life. I was thinking sushi because we both love it. But we've been getting sushi every week for months now. So I was thinking I should take her on a picnic with all of her favorite foods because I know them all. And then I'd drive her out of the city to this little hiking trail I go to sometimes to clear my head that I've never showed anyone. I have never felt this close to anyone as I do to her. She's had a rough past couple of weeks but I want to help her through them. I want to cuddle up with her. We already have a few times. She thinks I'm warm and cozy so I think that's a good sign."

At this point Katie's frustrated tears had turned to happy tears.
"Caitlin.."
"Please tell me you aren't crying because you wish I never said any of those words."
"No I'm crying because I thought I would never hear them and now that I have I want to say yes 1000 times over. I would love nothing more than to go on a date with you Caitlin Foord. You make me feel things I didn't think I'd ever feel again. You make me feel loved and safe."
They started to lean in a bit before Caitlin grabbed her hand and led her out the back door to the back patio of the bar that was lit with some string lights.
"We were not going to have our first kiss in a bathroom."
"Always so thoughtful" Katie said while putting her hands on the back of Caitlin's neck and pulling her into a kiss.
If she thought there was electricity during the hug she should have expected to feel electrocuted during their kiss. Caitlin snaked her hands around Katie's waist bringing her in tight. It wasn't a rushed kiss. It was sweet. It was loving. It was everything. They finally pulled apart when they couldn't breath and rested their foreheads against one another before deciding to head home out the back gate to avoid their teammates.

Leah looked around the bar to see two people missing. "Do you know where Katie and Caitlin are?"  She asked Lia
"Well either screaming and yelling at one another  or they slipped out the back door."
"Are they?"
"I don't think yet. But they both definitely like each other."
"Are you okay with that?"
"It will take a bit of getting used to but yeah I'll be okay. I'll find my girl soon enough."she said
Leah blushed slightly "yeah you deserve the world too Lia."

Katie went back to Caitlin's after the both got a pizza on the way home.
"Listen Caitlin I don't think I could have pictured a more perfect start to whatever it is between us. But I really need to take it slow. I've only been out my 7 year relationship for a few weeks now."
"I know Katie we will take it as slow as you would like. We don't even have to go on a date until you're ready. I wasn't implying we have to do it tomorrow or anything okay. Just know I'm ready when you are. And we have that trip to Ibiza with the girls next week and World Cup shortly after that. I know we are both busy, but I'm not going anywhere."
"You are already too good for me."
Katie kissed her lips once more before going to sleep with a smile on her face as Caitlin cuddled into her side.