lavender. (mace)

six

When Mamrie wakes up she freaks out, confused by the clothes strewn across the floor and sheets scattered among the room. She sees Grace curled up against her, and she smiles.

Oh, right. She thinks with a grin. She settles back down and listens to Grace's breathing, so gentle and soft. She makes small whimpering noises in her sleep and will occasionally tug at Mamrie's T-Shirt. Eventually, Mamrie rubs her fingertips against the blonde's neck, tracing over the lovebites from the previous night.

It tickles and Grace grins and hides her still sleepy face into Mamrie's side, inhaling the smell of Grace's shirt over the redhead's body.

"Morning," Mamrie greets.

"Hmm." She mumbles in response. "What time is it?"

"Time to get up." She props her head on her hand and looks at the awakening girl. The sun peaks into the room through the blinds and paints itself over her golden skin and hair like a halo aura. She looks so stunning. If she could sit there all day and play with her hair she would.

Grace shoves her face in Mamrie's neck even farther, leaving messy and sleepy kisses there. She snuggles in closer. She's so soft and warm, and probably still stuck in a dream.

Mamrie rubs her back and everything for the first time in a long time is okay. Everything is quiet and wonderful, and she feels safe.

"'Mkay, gotta admit," Grace mumbles. "Didn't have much time to plan a date for tonight, for obvious reasons."

"No problem." She sighs with a grin. "If I could stay in bed like this forever I would. You know that." She runs her fingers gently against her silky blonde hair, my god, she's so soft. Everything about her is so gentle. Her hair, her skin, her lips.

She kisses Grace and it's more like kissing her chin; the younger girl is just sloppily planting her lips wherever they land. It's loving and soft like velvet.

"What's the plan today?" She asks when she pulls away, slowly awakening.

"What, my staying-in-bed proposal wasn't any good for you?" Mamrie asks.

"I have a meeting today, I can't." Grace responds. "I've missed the last three, the boss will kick my ass of I'm not there today."

But instead of moving they just remain there, sitting ever so still and just cling onto one another.

"Grace?"

"Mmh?"

"Maybe you should quit your job and stay here all day." She offers, only half-jokingly.

"Haha, very funny."

"I mean it," she looks at the blonde. "You should just quit your job."

"What am I gonna do about, you know, the bills then, baby?" The pet name should make Mamrie uncomfortable but instead she just feels warm and fuzzy inside. She smiles and hides in, burying her face in a pillow.

"I've got money!" She exclaims though obvious, face still stuffed in the mattress.

"I'm not gonna live off you, Mamrie, I barely know you."

"Oh, but you'll sleep with me?"

"... Touché."

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

* * *

Later that evening, Mamrie takes them for a ride.

"This isn't fair," Grace sighs from the passenger seat. "I'm the one that's supposed to be planning the dates."

"Change of pace is good, though."

"But you won't even tell me where we're going!" She yells.

"You'll see." She pulls into a parking lot and Grace reads a sign on a building in front of them.

TATTOOS.

"Hell no." Grace chuckles.

"More like hell yeah." She turns off the car engine. "Come on, it'll be fun. You'll get a tattoo, we'll go out for some drin--"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait." She interrupts. "I'll get a tattoo?"

"Well, yeah."

"No way, if I'm doing this, so are you."

"Yeah, ok, Helbig." She laughs, stepping out of the car. "There is no way in hell that I'm getting a single tattoo tonight."

And then she was sat in a chair, getting a tattoo sleeve.

"No way in hell, huh?" Grace grins. She was holding the redhead's hand, and though it was a rather awkward gesture, she couldn't help but feel as though their hands fit like a glove.

"Shut it, Grace." She snaps, but sure enough once the needle starts to hurt again, she tightens her grip on the younger girl's hand.

"Not only are you a liar, but you're a total wimp." She holds up her hand.

"Whatever, you and I both know you just wanted to hold my hand because you're all...Like, gay like that or something."

"Oh, really?" She lets go of Mamrie's hand and crosses her arms, watching as she balls her fist at the pain. She shuts her eyes shut then reaches for Grace's hand.

"Okay, okay, okay, fine." She intertwines their fingers. "I'm a baby, I get it, laugh it up Grace, go ahead."

Grace giggles and drives her back to the hotel. She parks.

"I'm just saying, it's unfair that you didn't get one!" Mamrie shouts.

"You wouldn't let me!" She laughs. "You told me you didn't want me to 'feel the pain you did.'"

"Whatever." She scoffs, looking out her window.

"I've got that meeting." She says, handing her the room key. "Go to the room, I'll be back in an hour and a half."

"But what if it hurts?" She whines, pouting and holding up her freshly-inked arm.

"Then it hurts, sweetheart." She leans in and plants a soft kiss on Mamrie's lips. "I'll be back soon and then I'll help you if you want. 'kay?"

"Ok." She whispers then leaves the car. She watches Grace drive off, and waves goodbye.

Damn it.
Damn it, damn it, damn it.
She's in love.