Lauren made it to her house and pushed the door open. Danielle looked like a mess. Her hair was all tangled up, there were bags under her eyes, tear stains on her cheeks, but she was still the prettiest girl Lauren had ever laid eyes on.
"I-", she tried.
"Don't talk", Danielle mumbled.
"What do you want me to do?" Lauren asked.
"Hold me and pretend nothing happened between us".
Lauren looked confused but did as she was told, she wrapped her arms tightly around Danielle and just held her, held her for hours. Danielle sobbing, Lauren just looking at her, feeling her pain.
"I love you", she whispered.
And suddenly both of them were crying, Lauren didn't know what was happening, didn't know why that was the only thing Danielle said to her.
"Fuck I love you so much", she cried, "I'm sorry I didn't admit it earlier, I'm sorry for causing you all this pain, cause I know what it feels like now, it's hell, how did you put up with me, fucking hell Lauren, I love you so much", she kept on babbling and Lauren being selfish just kept on listening.
"Why did you do it?" Danielle suddenly asked. "Why did you leave, why didn't you respond to anything?"
"I was hurt". Lauren said.
"But, I told you, nothing happened".
"I know, I was just, I was embarrassed that I let myself sink this low, I'm sorry, for causing you all this pain, making you think you were the one to blame when it was all me, I swear. It's all me".
"Then why did you do it? Why did you try to get in bed with me".
"I thought that, if maybe I acted a little more like you, a bit more carefree, a bit more party girl. Maybe you wouldn't have eyes for anybody else, maybe you'd finally want me. And even if it wasn't romantically. At least I had you all for myself. I was so selfish, I'm so sorry".
Danielle looked into her eyes and sighed, she moved her hair out of her face and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
"We're such a mess", she whispered.
Lauren nodded. They were. "Can you forgive me?" She asked in a small voice.
Danielle nodded, "this is as much my fault as it is yours, it would be selfish of me not to forgive you".
Lauren wrapped her arms around her neck, kissing Danielle while the tears were streaming down her face. How utterly extra and unromantic of them. She didn't want it to happen any other way.
She lifted Danielle up and dumped a towel into her arms, "go shower, you look like a mess", she said after a while.
Danielle stuck her tongue out, but went to her bathroom regardless. 20 minutes later she came back out, looking as beautiful as ever. This was the Danielle Lauren wanted to see all the time, even though everything was resolved now, she'd forever blame herself for causing Danielle such pain, such heartbreak.
