What Did I Tell You?

Chapter 6

The next day, Floor woke up feeling a lot better. She was still mad at Sharon, and still hurt, but she felt like she could actually get up and do something. Tarja was surprised when she came into the kitchen fully dressed, her makeup done perfectly, looking ready to go out.

"You look nice," Tarja said, hugging her. Floor hugged back.

"Thanks, Tarja," she said.

"How are you feeling?" Tarja asked.

"Better, thank you," Floor answered, sitting down at the table. "Aw, you made me breakfast." She flashed Tarja a little smile as she picked up her fork.

"Of course I did," Tarja said, doing the same. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Yeah, I gotta practice with Nightwish. I'm not missing practice just because of a breakup," Floor replied. Tarja noticed a look in her eyes that had never been there before. Something like determination, with a hint of bitterness and pain that was all but concealed. But at least she was up and not moping around. That was something.

After Floor left, Tarja put a Metallica CD into the CD player and started tidying up the house. Around 13:00, there was a knock on the door. Tarja shut the CD player off and went to go see who it was.

"Hey!" Alissa said, throwing her arms around Tarja and kissing her.

"Hey, Liss," Tarja said, kissing back. "I didn't know you were coming over today." Alissa grinned.

"Well, I thought maybe you could use some company, and Floor, too."

"Floor's not here, sorry," Tarja said, stepping back so Alissa could enter the room. "She had stuff to do with Nightwish."

"So she's doing okay?" Alissa asked.

"Yeah, she seems to be," Tarja answered. "Well, at least, she isn't moping."

"That's good," Alissa said. "Cause depressed Floor is...scary."

"Agreed," Tarja said. She wrapped her arms around Alissa's neck. "It's good to be with you."

"Aw, same to you," Alissa smiled. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I should have realized you weren't having fun."

"It's okay," Tarja replied, kissing her. "I don't mind. You're the best girlfriend I've ever had."
"Just curious, how many have you had?" Alissa asked. Tarja held up three fingers.

"Three, and a boyfriend. Though I'm not sure one of those really counts."

"Who, and which one didn't count?" Alissa wanted to know.

"Well, Marcelo was the first person I ever dated," Tarja said. "But he cheated on me, so I left him. Then I didn't date anyone for about three years, and then I met Liv, and we started going out. But, after about two years and six months, we just started fighting. We couldn't agree on anything, and finally, she left me. I'm still not sure it wasn't for a guy." Tarja sighed. "Then there was Floor. She was the one I meant when I said I wasn't sure if one of them counted, cause I don't think there were really any romantic feelings involved. It was more like a convenience thing, I guess, like, 'We already live together, so why not?' But she's more like a sister to me, not a lover, and so kissing her and stuff...that was just weird. So we decided we're better off as friends. And then there was you. The best of the bunch." Tarja smiled. Alissa pulled her close and kissed her, and didn't pull away for some time. When she did, she whispered,

"I'm glad you think I'm the best. That makes me feel special, Tari. You're the first woman I ever dated, so I've been super-worried that I'll screw something up and scare you off." Tarja laughed softly.

"Don't be silly. You wouldn't scare me off." She kissed Alissa again. Alissa kissed back, slowly pushing Tarja up against the wall, her hands on Tarja's shoulders, her knee between Tarja's legs. Their breathing was loud and heavy, and Tarja's heart was pounding, not from fear or nervousness, but because Alissa was so close. She liked having her close, in fact, she liked it a lot. "Shall we...?"

"Sure," Alissa said, opening the door to the bedroom. Tarja pulled her inside and shut the door behind them. Alissa pushed her backward against her bed and lay on her, kissing her passionately. Tarja moaned softly.

"Liss..." Alissa tangled her hands in Tarja's long, dark hair. Tarja wrapped her arms around Alissa's waist, holding on to her, keeping her close. Her fingers brushed bare skin on Alissa's back, giving the bluenette goosebumps.

"Tari..." Alissa breathed.

"Yes?" Tarja whispered.

"I just want to tell you...I love you so much," Alissa answered, kissing Tarja again. Tarja kissed back, thinking of her wish that was coming true. She never wanted to be away from Alissa. She wanted to stay with her forever. Their hearts beat together, as one, in perfect unison, their spirits soaring high together like birds. Everything was perfect, until the door opened. Alissa pulled away from Tarja and both their heads whipped in the direction of the door. Floor was standing very still, looking at the scene in front of her with horror. Then she turned, slamming the door behind her.

"Wait, Floor!" Tarja yelled, pushing Alissa off of her. She got up and ran after her flatmate. She found Floor crying in the living room,sitting on the couch with her knees pulled up to her chest. "Floor, I'm sorry. Why are you crying?" she asked, putting her hand on Floor's shoulder.

"You want to know why I'm crying? It's because I'm jealous, you..." Floor yelled, but her voice cracked, and she buried her face in her arms again.
"Oh, Floor," Tarja groaned. "I thought you were doing okay."

"I was, until I came home and found you screwing MY friend!" Floor snapped.

"Are you jealous? Do you want Alissa for yourself?" Tarja asked.

"No! It's not that. I just miss Sharon," Floor said, tears sliding down her cheeks. Tarja put her arms around her friend. A moment later, Alissa did the same. Floor sat there crying on the couch, not pushing them away, but not cuddling closer to them, either.

"Oh, muffin," Tarja sighed.

"I'm not a muffin," came Floor's muffled voice.

"Sure you are," Alissa said, stroking the back of Floor's head. "You're our muffin."

"Oh, fine, I'll be a muffin," Floor mumbled. "Actually, can I have a muffin?"

"Yes, sure you can," Tarja said, disappearing into the kitchen. She came back holding a blueberry muffin. "It's the last one." Floor took the muffin and ate a few bites. "Better?" Tarja asked gently. Floor nodded and sniffled. She looked so pitiful that Tarja had to hug her. Alissa joined in, and suddenly, there was a pig pile on the couch, both Alissa and Tarja trying to hug Floor at once.

"You guys are awesome," Floor said, trying to hug both of them at the same time, which resulted in her dropping muffin crumbs down Tarja's shirt. Tarja shook them out, then grinned at Floor.

"So you thank you me by dropping crumbs down my collar? Thanks, Floor." Floor giggled.

"Sorry. It was an accident."

"I know," Tarja said. "I'm just messing with you."

"Hey, look, she's smiling," Alissa said, pointing at Floor's face.

"Only cause you two are so sweet. I don't deserve friends like you," Floor answered, taking another bite of her muffin.

"Stop beating yourself up," Tarja ordered. "You're a wonderful person, you really are. So stop believing otherwise."

"Well...okay," Floor said. Tarja smiled.

"That's more like the Floor I know."