Their Best Chance (#hangrid, lesbian story)

After The Panel

"OH. MY. GODDDDDD THAT WAS SO AMAZING!" Ingrid shrieked and covered her face with her hands to hide the fact that she was tearing up for the tenth time that day. As soon as Hannah finished Snapchatting their exit from the stage of the Sexual Orientation panel, Ingrid threw herself into Hannah's waiting arms, and finally exhaled.

She hadn't even realized she'd been holding her breath.

"Babe. Babe." Hannah placed her hands firmly on Ingrid's shoulder and held her at arm's length. Looking straight into her eyes (eye contact, Ingrid thought giddily) and shaking her gently, she said, "Babe. You were amazing. Seriously, those were amazing answers. You were so inspiring and real. Seriously. I am so proud of you."

Hannah pulled Ingrid back in to her for a tight hug. Ingrid sank into her, letting Hannah support her weight ever-so-slightly, burying her grinning, tear-streaked face in her shoulder. She smelled like amber and ginger--the cologne Ingrid had given her.

"Heeeeeeeyyyyyy you two, excellent job!" The moment was broken by Tyler's shrieking, excited voice behind them. He put an arm around each of their shoulders, and smirked knowingly. "Sorry to break up this adorable lezzie love fest, but you know the audience can still see you from here if they REALLY want to, right? Better be careful, babes."

Sandwiched between them, his arms still around their shoulders, Tyler steered them further back stage, behind the enormous VidCon backdrop, and into the green room, where the prying eyes of the con attendees, ravenous for any hints of the true nature of their relationship, wouldn't see them.

"Thanks, hubby," Hannah said jokingly. "I just got a little carried away--wasn't she amazing?!" Ingrid watched Hannah's face light up with pride as she kept gushing about her with Tyler as Ingrid listened. Without seeming to even notice she was doing it, Hannah had intertwined her fingers with Ingrid's and had pulled her close again. Ingrid was still amazed every time this happened, even though they'd been dating for 3 months already.

"Okay you guys, that's enough! Everyone was amazing. It was just so great to be a part of it."

"Oh my god, do you really always talk like that?!" Tyler joked. "So very earnest. Are you filming right now? Where's the camera?"

Hannah hip-checked him and gave Ingrid a reassuring look. "He's kidding, babe. Aren't you, hubby?" Hanna mimed kicking Tyler in the shins and he scampered off, laughing.

Alone again--well, alone besides the rest of the panelists and their respective inner circles--Hannah took both of Ingrid's hands in hers and grinned. "So, um...I think everyone else is going to the "Prom" thingy tonight but...what if we...didn't?" By the end of her question, Hannah was swinging their linked arms back and forth between them and bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. So freakin' cute. Ingrid could not believe that she could possibly be the cause of so much happiness.

"What do you think, room service picnic for two?"

Ingrid felt the butterflies that had never really gone away since the moment she'd first laid eyes on Hannah kick it in to high gear. It happened every time Hannah made it clear how much she wanted to spend time with Ingrid--just Ingrid. And every time, it caught her off guard and made her stomach do flips. Every. Single. Time.

"Ohmygod, duh!" Ingrid replied, sure that she looked like an idiot from smiling so hard. She could almost feel her eyes turning into hearts as she looked at Hannah. Yep, that was her--Ingrid Nilsen, heart eyes emoji personified.

Hannah led her by the hand to the green room exit. Ingrid couldn't understand why even just that simple gesture--her hand secure in Hannah's, following wherever she may lead--made her feel so safe and warm and loved. It was crazy what this girl was doing to her.

She absolutely fucking loved it.

Hannah stopped abruptly at the door, turned quickly on her heel and leaned in. Their eyes locked for a split second before their lips met in a whisper of a kiss. Ingrid leaned in, wanting more, always wanting more of her, but Hannah pulled away. She was so good at that--holding the reins for the two of them, making sure they were careful, followed the plan.

"You ready?" Hannah asked.

Ingrid nodded (and thought to herself, "Always. Forever."). They dropped hands (no need to give the people too much after the shipping gold they'd just delivered during the panel--as it was they were speeding things up in public a little more than they'd planned to) and re-entered the craziness of VidCon, two women in love, heading to their secret date night.