Flowers and sunsets.

Lily and Catherine... and Erica

Lily stumbles in, her arms filled with all kinds of artistic stuff. Cat stands up and offers to help her.

"Oh hey Ruby!" She smiles brightly. Her hair frames her pretty face but it's tamed slightly with a colorful hairband. Her red sweater and grandpa jeans complete the artistic, happy look.

"Don't you look beautiful!" I compliment and Cat playfully glares at me before kissing Lily on the lips gently. I look away.

Catherine gets us some snacks and more water while Lily plops down beside me.

"How was your day?"

"Boring. Yours?"

"That too! But oh my god you will never guess who I saw in the café earlier!" Her voice is cheerful and loud and I chuckle at her enthousiasm.

"Mm let me guess... Beyoncé?" I chuckle and she slaps my arm in a joking way. The bracelets on her arm move as she does so and I'm distracted by their colors and shapes for a moment.

"No, you dumbass! I saw Erica!" She yells and Catherine turns to look at us. I guess my facial expression mirrors Cat's, but Lily, unbothered as always, continues as if it's the funniest story ever.

"I didn't recognise her until someone said her name." Lily continues until Cat steps closer and shushes her.

"What?" She foolishly asks.

"Fuck, I thought this year I would be freed of that girl and now she keeps popping up." I curse. Last year started with her as my girlfriend, but we split up around november. I took the rest of that college year to figure out what I want and to heal from what she broke. This year however... this year was supposed to be mine and I didn't think I'd still have to worry about this shit.

"What do you mean she keeps popping up?" Lily asks. I can tell she feels uncomfortable prying now, knowing she said something that upset me. Catherine sits down on the arm of the couch and softly caresses Lily's back as she talks.

"Anne and Erica are roommates." She explains and I can see the confusion in Lily's chocolate eyes. Lily knows about Charlie and the entire history of Erica. They used to get along even, Lil and Erica, but obviously Lily stayed with me after the break up and Erica never showed up at the café anymore.

I mean, I get why Lily would bring this up. I used to be unbothered by any mention of Erica because that chapter was done, she didn't influence my life in any way anymore. But now, suddenly she's bringing drama into it and I'm tired of having to re-live the memories.

"Wait... roommates?" She asks and Catherine nods.

"Oh gosh... right when you and Anne are getting all close." She states and I glare at her.

"We aren't 'getting all close', what's with you both implying that?" I rudely snap. Catherine chuckles and reminds me of the kiss we shared, twice.

"TWICE?" Lily interrupts and I sigh. Girls are exhausting. I grab a cig and lean back on the couch, smoking it while Catherine updates Lily.

After her obnoxious "aw's" I ask them about their relationship status to change the subject and it works perfectly. Lily starts blushing and looks down at her lap, playing with her bracelets.

"We're just hanging out, see where it goes." Cat explains, her eyes constantly falling back to the artistic, flustered girl next to her to make sure she doesn't offend her. Lily nods along and smiles.

Catherine offered to cook for us after our small chat, so Lily suggested me and her sit out on the balcony and watch the city thrive below us.