You And I (Expanded Edition)

Bonus Chapter: In Another Life (Redux)

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Jade's eyes focused on Maxine's lips, an idea forming.

Although everything in her brain was screaming at her not to do this, that this was a very bad idea, Jade leaned up.

And she kissed Maxine.

A moment passed before Jade realized what she was doing, and her eyes flung open. 

Oh shit. 

However, before Jade could pull away and apologize profusely for her actions, she was met with another surprise:

Maxine threaded her fingers into Jade's hair and kissed her back. 

Maxine... was kissing her back. 

Jade closed her eyes again and melted into this unexpected, but not unwelcome turn of events. 

After a few moments, the two girls pulled away, their eyes meeting. 

"Wow," was all Jade could say. 

Maxine laughed in that way that always made Jade's heart swell. 

Jade swallowed nervously. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean... I... I didn't know you also liked girls."

Maxine looked away. "I... I'm still figuring things out. I know that I don't like boys. I'm still not one hundred percent sure about everything... but..."

Maxine looked back at Jade, blushing. "I know I like you, Jade."

A huge grin spread across Jade's face. "I-I like you too, Maxine! I like you a whole fucking lot!" 

Maxine smiled, her blushing deepening. "So... can we try this? Me and you? Girlfriends?"

Jade took Maxine's face in her hands. "Maxine, I don't want anything more than to be your girlfriend."

Maxine placed a hand over Jade's. "Then it's official." And she leaned in to kiss Jade again. 

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Eight years later.

Had the bar not been insanely loud, Loona was certain that she would have drifted off to sleep in this little booth. 

Loona laid her head sideways on the table and pulled out her phone. In the blackness of the screen, she saw the reflection of her human form. 

It had been an excruciatingly long and frustrating day at work, and by the time she got back home all she wanted to do was go to sleep. But it was Saturday, and something within her told her that she had to keep tradition and go to the human world to visit a bar and hopefully meet someone.

She was a creature of habit, after all. 

Loona put her phone away and glanced around at all the people mingling throughout the bar. However, she found her gaze drifting to two women making their way to a small table for four, where a man and woman already sitting at the table and were waving over the two women. 

The taller woman whispered something to the shorter woman, and the shorter woman laughed and looked at her partner lovingly.

Something about the way these two women were able to be effortlessly loving to each other made Loona mad. 

"Maxine!" the woman at the table called. "Sit next to me!!"

The shorter woman, apparently named Maxine, smiled and sat down next to the woman at the table. Her partner sat next to the man. 

Loona continued to watch as the four friends began to chat and laugh. Loona felt a sharp pang of jealousy as she watched them. 

"So, Maxine," the man at the table began, "we've been hearing rumors that Jade here," he motioned to the taller woman that Maxine walked in with, "might have finally popped the question to you!"

Maxine blushed and nodded. "It's true."

Loona watched as Maxine and her partner, Jade, exchanged loving looks. Then she glared at Maxine.

Loona found herself feeling an unexplainable anger towards this random woman. 

This Maxine had everything that Loona wanted.  She had love. Friends. Happiness. 

Meanwhile, Loona had none of that. She was lonely. Angry. Sad. Drunk. 

Loona tore her gaze away from Maxine and her friends. 

Tears began to well up in Loona's eyes as she pressed her forehead to the table. 

This whole thing has been so fucking stupid. She told herself. 

This has been nothing but a waste of my fucking time. Nobody's ever gonna fucking want me. 

Loona gritted her teeth.

Fuck you, Maxine. 

Loona angrily wiped away her tears and stepped out of the booth. 

Fuck you for being in love.

Loona cast one last angry glance at the table of friends. They were all currently laughing at something Jade had said, and Maxine leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. 

Fuck you for being happy. 

Loona weaved around the bar patrons, tears once again beginning to form. 

Fuck you for having everything I'll never have. 

Loona walked out of the bar as fast as she could. 

However, unbeknownst to her, Maxine Thomas watched her go. Maxine had glanced at the other bar patrons briefly and noticed a mysterious woman rapidly making her way to the exit. 

Maxine suddenly found herself feeling sympathy for this woman she didn't even know. 

I hope she's okay.

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Loona burst out of the bar and into the cool night air. She wiped away the last of her tears before hurrying to find an alleyway where she could form the portal back to Hell. 

All the while she pictured Maxine. 

Loona shook away all thoughts of that woman as she entered the portal and left the human world.

Loona never went back to her weekly human world bar visits.

And she never saw Maxine again.

End.