BRINK (gxg)

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It was far from poetic, really, the moment Elle finally gave in to temptation. 

It was around 2 in the morning. She and Reese sat on the floor of her balcony as their intoxicated friends dozed off on the other side of the sliding glass doors.

It wasn't much of a view from where they sat, considering they were only on the third floor — a circumstance owing to Elle's mother's paranoia of science fiction disasters affecting higher condo units. Godzilla, alien invasions, King Kong, and the like. Thus, all they could see in the dark night was the excessively bright convenience store across the street, housing a bored teenager manning the counter. In essence, an unsightly view for such an earth-shattering moment.

The moon, however, shone brightly above them, perhaps the only thing cliché about the scenario. Besides that, absolutely nothing screamed romance. Reality works contrary to poetry, Elle supposed.

"You know, we've been friends for years but I don't really know anything about you," Elle started, initiating the first real conversation she's ever had with Reese, just the two of them.

"Mmm," Reese hummed before taking a sip from the glass of water that sat between them. The varying rings occupying each finger, concealing a couple of impulsively and admittedly ill-decided tattoos, clanged against the glass she held. "What do you want to know?" she asked, sending Elle's pulse racing.
As always, the ever-present tension weighed heavy upon them, like magnetic anchors over their shoulders, attempting to close the cold air between their warm bodies.

"I don't know. What's your story?" Elle asked. "Are you straight?" she quickly added, leaving to the universe the consequences of that last question.

Reese, resting her head on the glass behind her, turned to Elle with an unshaken smile — with the dimples, raised eyebrow, gorgeous sleepy eyes, and all — as though the next words to come out of her mouth were a secret she recently gave up on keeping to herself. As though what she was about to say had been begging to be proclaimed to the night in all its glory. As though after such revelation, she could finally breathe.

"Don't tell the others," she said, a slight slur in her words, "but I'm not really... that straight." Perhaps knowing of the impact of her words, Reese let some silence pass so Elle could take them all in.

Everything suddenly looked brighter, as though Elle had been wearing sunglasses most of her life, and finally removed them. Everything took on a brighter color, from Reese's snow-like eyes to her light, tan skin.
"I—you're—what?"

Reese chuckled at Elle's surprise, and ended with an adoring, teasing smile. "I'm kind of in love with you, you know," she added, as if her first statement didn't already shatter Elle's perception of everything. Then she moved as if to stand up and leave Elle alone.

And that was it. That was all it took. With her tired, intoxicated mind letting go of all the inhibition she's held on for the past two years, Elle finally gave in.

"Come here," Elle said before grabbing Reese's hand.