Affection || Shaudrey

Fifteen: Coming Home

Shelby swallowed hard as she grabbed her phone, staring at it for a moment.

"Shelby?" her mother said again.

"Hey, Momma..." she said in a shaky tone as she took the call off speaker and brought the phone up to her ear.

Audrey felt her jaw dropping; She took her lover's hand, kneeling down in front of her, caressing her thigh. "Baby, I'm here, look at me." She whispered softly, wanting to comfort her lover.

Shelby sighed as she looked into Audrey's eyes, trying to stay calm.

"What's going on, Shelby?" her mother asked again.

"I was... uh... with my g-girlfriend." She stammered.

"Girlfriend...? You're gay?"

"W-well, no... I'm not gay, but kind of. I mean, b-bisexual." She answered.

Audrey took a deep breath, feeling like her heart was going to pop out of her chest; The fact Shelby called her 'her girlfriend' bothered her a little, but she knew it was for the best - Shelby's mom was just now discovering their relationship. "Breath, baby." She whispered softly, squeezing her lover's hand a little.

Shelby nodded slowly, trying to listen to both of them at the same time.

"How long have you been with her?" Shelby's mother asked.

"Uh... almost a month."

"And I'm just finding out now?"

"Y-yes, ma'am."

"Why?"

"Y-you were mad that Matt and I are getting divorced... I-I-I thought you'd be mad."

"Well, I'm not thrilled, but I'm not mad at you."

Shelby let out a heavy breath and took a deep breath. "Okay..."

Audrey bit her lip, hating to see how nervous her lover was; She kept caressing Shelby's hand and thigh tenderly, lovingly.

Shelby squeezed her eyes closed as she felt tears starting to form. She swallowed back her emotions as she took another deep breath. "Momma?" She asked softly as her mother grew silent.

"I'm just thinking," she said. "Does anyone know?"

"Chris... I h-haven't told D-Dad yet though. Please don't tell him, I-I wanted to tell you two together." Shelby explained.

"Who is she?"

"Her name's Audrey. She..." she took a deep breath to stabilize herself. "She played me in the show."

Audrey felt herself getting teary as she realized the tears in her lover's eyes; She bit her lip, taking a deep breath to calm herself down, subconsciously squeezing her lover's hand a little more. "I'm sorry." She whispered, a tear falling down her cheek.

'It's okay,' Shelby mouthed to Audrey.

"That British woman?"

"Yes."

"I want to meet her."

"Y-you do?" Shelby asked.

Audrey quickly wiped her tear away, more and more falling; She took her hands away from Shelby, covering her face as she took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. That was not a great time for a meltdown, Shelby needed her.

"Yes, I want to know who you're dating and... whatever was going on when I answered." Shelby's mother explained.

Shelby looked at Audrey, and grabbed her hand, softly caressing it. She brought her lover's hand up to her lips to softly kiss. "Wait... answered? I thought you called...?"