The Basketcase and The Princess

Chapter 17

Stacie rounded the corner of the building, expecting to see Aubrey leaning against the side, maybe having a stress cigarette taken out of Chloe's bag on the way, but Aubrey was fast, she was almost to her car.

"Aub!"

"No don't-"

"-Come back, please!"

"No! I'm done!"

"Stop please just...You don't even have your car keys Aub." Stacie had caught up to her. Aubrey stood, back to Stacie, shaking. Stacie wanted to reach out, turn Aubrey to face her but she needed Aubrey to do that herself. She knew it was the only way Aubrey would come back, if it was her own decision.

"Well go get them for me."

"I'm not going to do that."

"Well I can't face going back in there. They all hate me, they think I'm a total jerk!"

"Please, you don't have to come back in, at least not right away, just-just don't leave."

Aubrey turned, crashed into Stacie. Stacie stumbled back a little. Aubrey's lips on Stacie's neck, hands went straight to Stacie's boobs.

"Hey no," Stacie stepped back. Aubrey stepped straight back into her space, her lips went to Stacie's mouth this time. Aubrey needed Stacie's touch to calm her down. "Aub." Her name a warning, a warning that Aubrey ignored, as Stacie put her hands up in front of her. Another step back. Aubrey was still shaking, but now more with the need for Stacie, the anger channelled and focused on Stacie. "What are you-"

"-Chloe would've..." She strangled the words back.

"W-Would have... Chloe would have what?"

"Nothing." Aubrey said quickly, stepping close to Stacie again. Taking Stacie's hands in hers. Aubrey moved to kiss her again. Anything to detract Stacie from probing about Chloe.

"Nothing?" Stacie pulled her hands out of Aubrey's. "Chloe. Would have. What?"

"It doesn't matter." Aubrey pleaded. Stacie nodded. She knew how stubborn Aubrey was, she wasn't going to get anywhere when Aubrey's emotions were running so high.

Stacie filed it away, something to be dealt with at a time that wasn't right now. Cause right now they had Sectionals in two days. So she let it go. Whatever the fuck it was. But she was done trying to gently coax Aubrey back inside. There wasn't time for that. Time for a change in tactics.

"You're their leader so get back in their and lead!" A beat. Aubrey's eyes wide. Surprised at Stacie's shift in tone. Was she about to go too far, had she already? "Dammit!"

Aubrey looked up at the sternness in Stacies face, along her arm at where her finger pointed. She was right. Stacie always knew what was needed. What she needed.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome?"

A kiss. Light. To her cheek. Stacie froze, she wasn't expecting that reaction from Aubrey, then her stomach swarmed and her knees barely held her up, shit. Shit she really had fallen for Aub. Shit it felt wonderful. Shocking? Yeah she was shocked, sure she and Aubrey had moved really fast. Stacie knew sex was healthy and Aubrey liked her, she liked Aubrey so being together was a no brainer. She had figured Aubrey out straight away, uptight and controlling but she knew she could handle her and Aubrey got her off. Aubrey was hot. Stacie had too many other things to use her intelligence on whilst she was at Barden, so yeah Aubrey had been a fantastic easy choice she had made. It wasn't until right there that she realised it was so much deeper than her physical reactions and attraction towards Aubrey. She was in this with her heart too. Shit. Fuck. What the shit would Chloe had done?