Stressed Spelled Backwards |Lesbian Story|

Chapter 20

The fight that never happened before happened. I would cut all the crazy parts and fast forward to us sitting at a table together during the after-party.

The fashion show had ended in the weirdest way possible. I kind of expected to find security guards to come and escort us out of the place, but nothing happened.

After being on the receiving end of Karmen's bewilderment and Elise's strange stoicism, Clarice insisted we all sit down and be civilized adults. Little did she know that being adults were our less favorite thing in the world.

But I still thought it was a clever move since Karmen couldn't yell at me for stealing her girl in front of people, and Elise didn't want to be seen as the melodramatic one, so she remained calm and collected. Clarice was safe from being attacked for her faithlessness. But they had a curious-slash-pouty look on their faces the entire time.

Elise was the first to break the ice.

"So, you and Clarice?" she said calmly, looking at me and the blonde model. Clarice was sitting beside me. I tried not to glance at the Elven Princess, but I could feel her gaze on me.

"Look," I said. "I know it is awkward, but I can explain it." Although I actually had no explanation to give them whatsoever. "The thing is...Clarice and I...we...we..."

"You what? Accidentally fell on each other's mouth?" Karmen exploded, which made me flinch. "I can't believe you did this to me, Azra! You of all people! I thought Elise was the only villain in my love story, but now you too?"

"Hey, stop being a drama queen for once and listen to them," Elise said to her. Karmen glared back, but then she was distracted when a waiter walked by with a tray of Champagne.

"Oh, free drinks!" she said and grabbed the waiter by the shoulder then took two glasses. "Alright, now you may proceed."

If it were an actual trail, Karmen would be the sassiest judge we'd ever had the misfortune to meet. I stole a glance at Clarice. She didn't seem particularly guilty or nervous as I did, which made me wonder what she was thinking.

"Well," I started, but I was interrupted by the same man who mistakenly put me on the catwalk. He showed up at our table with a look that said 'Gotcha!'

"Is that the dessert girl we've been looking for? I found your flyer," he said, pulling out the flyer from his jacket and eyeing me. "Everyone kept asking if it was part of my new design theme. Who would have thought lingerie goes well with tiny cakes? I thought I would have to grow like an onion with my head in the ground."

We looked at each other. I was thinking that was it. We were going to end up in jail. I stood and put my hands up as if I was being caught by the police.

But luckily, Clarice came to my rescue. With her simple logic, she had straightened the things out in a way no one else had thought of. She explained that we were a small start-up business looking for an opportunity. We understood that it wasn't permissible to use someone's platform to advertise our products, but she hoped the man had a kind heart and would understand our desperation.

We looked on, impressed with her eloquence and grace.

"Wow, this girl can really talk down a lion," Karmen whispered to me.

At last, the man smiled.

"No problem, darling," he said and turned to us. "I'm happy to help. There is no need to be nervous about. In fact, you've got yourselves quite a fanbase here. They were asking who the dessert princess was."

Soon, people surrounded our table. The same couples I gave my cakes to during the show turned out to be real pastry enthusiasts and magazine editors. They told me they had tasted heaven, and they would love to write a review of our deli. I couldn't be more overjoyed.

After everyone left, we sat down again.

"Wow, we did!" Elise squealed.

"Yeah, thanks to Clarice," I said with a smile and looked at the blonde, who smiled back.

"All right," said Karmen, looking seriously at us again, "you've dodged us for a while now. It's time to tell us what you did behind the scene."

"Oh, Karmen," I said. "It's complicated."

"We just want you to tell the truth, Azra," Elise reassured. "Whoever Clarice picks, we couldn't care less. Right, Karmen?"

"Right," Karmen confirmed. "Nothing but the truth."

I frowned as I looked at my two best friends. They were strangely in sync with each other, which surprised me and also made me nervous.

"Well...it...it was just a kiss," I said. "What's the big deal?"

But after I said that, Clarice snapped her head to me. I looked back at her and realized that was probably the dumbest thing to say in front of a girl you secretly like.

"Was it?" she asked.

"Er...yeah," I said later. "It was just a kiss, right?"

Clarice's face crumbled with hurt. Her crystalline emerald eyes glistened with tears.

"I choose you, Azra!" she burst. My mouth formed an idiotic O at her outburst.

Did she just choose me? This was the girl who went out with everyone except me? My eyes were glazing over. I started having lightning flashes- Clarice at the supermarket, casserole day, the baking lessons, and coming to help with the deli and even tonight. Sure, she'd always run off at the end with either Karmen or Elise, but that was probably to get my attention. Come to think of it, for a girl with not one but two girlfriends, she'd hung around me a lot. She must have been trying to get close to me! But I was too busy being so jealous and resentful that everything she'd said or done went over my head.

Clarice Kingsley stood up from the table.

"Well, it was nice meeting you girls," she said and wiped her eyes. "I wish you success with the opening day tomorrow."

"Clarice," I stood up, too. Her eyes were fixed on me for a moment before she turned her face away and walked out.

"Clarice!" Karmen and Elise called at the same time. The blonde model kept walking away and weaving between tables.

Karmen and Elise turned to stare at me. I was rooted to the spot, watching Clarice disappear into the sea of people. At that moment, I just wanted to throw myself to the floor, kicking and screaming.

Clarice picked me! All this time, she'd been trying to get through to me. I'd missed what was right in front of my nose! I realized I had created a masterpiece of stupidity. It was best summed up in three words: I blew it.

They must have caught a glimpse of the look on my face, because suddenly, Karmen shoved me forward.

"What are you standing here for, you silly girl?" she said. "If you run after her, you can still catch her."

Elise pushed me, too.

"Go get her, Azra," she said with a giggle. "She's all yours."

I blinked a few times at my two best friends, but when I understood, I ran like crazy.

I found Clarice again at the front building. It was drizzling gently outside. Cars whizzed around the streets of New York City. People had dispersed, taking shelter in the nearby shops and restaurants. Clarice was trying to flag down a cab.

"Clarice!" I called out to her. She turned around. Her blonde hair was swiped by the wind. I ran up to her and didn't wait for a second before I lunged at her lips. The pedestrians glanced at us as they walked by. After she recovered from her surprise, Clarice melted into my arms. Her heart rate matched with my own. I had put everything into our kiss, every emotion, every unspoken word, trying to tell her that what we had was always more.