My Darkest Desire (girlxgirl)

Chapter Seventeen

Author's Note: GUESS WHAT? I found another chapter of this story! :)

Well... It was actually an extension of the last chapter, but I found a place that I could cut it off and use it for another chapter. Which is good, because I don't really have inspiration for this story at the moment, but it's my most popular one and it's been over a year since it was last updated.

I hope you enjoy, and maybe by some miracle I'll develop the motive to finish this soon!

~

Who would they go to now when they had a problem? When they were sick of each other? When they just needed a laugh? It wasn't the same, not for either of them to go to the other...They both knew it.

The two girls sat on the floor, entwined in each other's embrace for a long time before Carolina's parents walked through the door. Her mom immediately rushed for the pair, throwing questions at them like knives.

Nothing seemed real anymore. Cricket couldn't shake the feeling that everything was just a dream as she and Carolina took turns choking out bits of the news. Because there was no way this could be a reality, right?

Mrs. Borgenson began to cry too, and though Mr. Borgenson wanted to help the crying females, he had no idea what to do. He awkwardly retreated off to bed, leaving his family on the floor of the living room to deal with the tragedy.

The three must have spent hours piled on the floor, letting their emotions wash over them. When they finally pulled themselves together enough to go to bed, it was almost two in the morning.

Cricket and Carolina went straight to the latter's room, crawling into bed and wrapping themselves around the other. It took them forever to find sleep, but even in her grief, Cricket was thankful that her girlfriend got to sleep before her. She fell asleep at around four, heartbroken but warm next to her remaining best friend.

The funeral was terrible.

Friends and family of Riley were everywhere, grieving and gossiping between themselves.

Who had killed Riley? Who would do such a thing to an innocent soul? She was so young...

It had been about a week, but there were still no leads on who had committed the terrible crime. The few fingerprints they had found at the scene were still at the lab being processed. For all anyone knew, though, they could belong to Riley herself.

And every moment was agony when it came to the desperation to know who had killed a daughter, a sister, a best friend, and so much more.

Cricket and Carolina stayed pressed to each other's sides during the service, their hands locked together. No one paid them any mind, but they wouldn't have cared if someone had. Cricket couldn't shake the surreal feeling that seemed to capture her. It still didn't feel like it had actually happened. Surely, they'd go to school tomorrow and Riley would be right there with them, right?

Tears sprang to her eyes again, suddenly, like they had been doing all week. She dropped her girlfriend's hand and buried her face into her own as she began to sob silently. Carolina wrapped an arm around her and settled her chin on the girl's bowed head, but even she was fighting tears.

She was still trying to be the strong one of the two, just as she had been for years. Cricket needed her. She wanted to be there, no matter her own pain.

The service went on for another hour or so, and then Riley's casket was taken to the grave site to be buried. The girls decided not to go to watch, and the blonde drove them home. The drive was silent, the radio kept off, because this wasn't a drive for shitty, happy pop songs.

Once they were home and the car was parked in its space in the driveway, the pair walked slowly inside. Cricket found her place on the couch and curled up there as Carolina took the spot beside her. It was still silent, and the vacancy of the house was prominently known.

But every silence is eventually broken.

"What are we going to do?" Carolina whispered hoarsely, and it was just like that that her composure shattered. She was once again the girl that collapsed on the floor a week ago when she found out the devastating news, crying like she'd never cried a tear before.

Cricket didn't respond for a few moments. She was numb, unable to cry another tear since they had gotten in the car at the funeral home. Maybe she'd bawled herself dry, she thought.

But as she slowly looked at her girlfriend and best friend, a thought hit her - Carolina had never faced tragedy in her life. Besides the usual pet, the blonde's life had been pretty much perfect and death-free. She had gone through Cricket's parents' deaths with the girl, but it hadn't nearly been the same. Not really.

Arms reached out and wrapped around Carolina, pulling her close. Cricket rested her chin on the blonde's quivering head, and let her cry. She tried to do what the girl had done for her so many times, and it seemed strange. Here she was, finally stepping up to be the stronger friend. She could do this.

She needed to, for Carebear.

Carolina folded herself into the brunette's embrace, letting her choking sobs rack her body and wear her out. It was a good half hour until they slowed, but Cricket managed to calm her best friend down. Once the only sound escaping Carolina were occasional sniffles, Cricket pulled back to look at her.

Red, tear-stained face. Glassy green eyes. Her girlfriend looked a mess but was still so, so beautiful. A pale hand reached up to wipe the last tear from the emerald orbs, and Cricket gave her a sad smile.

"We'll get through this, baby.." She promised. "I'll get you through this."

Carolina almost lost it right there, but she bit down on her lip and held her breath. Cricket leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.

"I love you..." She whispered as she pulled away, giving the blonde a squeeze.

"I love you too..." Carolina responded once she trusted herself to breathe again.

"Come on, let's get you something to eat." Cricket said, climbing to her feet as the girl moved from her lap. Her stomach was growling something fierce, an obvious sign that she hadn't eaten for a couple days. "I know you're hungry."

The blonde smiled her first real smile in over a week, and led the way to the kitchen. "I want bacon and eggs. And toast."

"Ah," Cricket smiled, rummaging through the fridge. "Three of the only things I know how to make. You're in luck, my dear."

She stood up with the items and moved to the counter to get to work. Seconds later, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and a chin rest on her shoulder.

"I have you. That's luck in itself."