"That's it."

11.58

Cuddled on the couch, Stella and Tré looked up at the ceiling. Completely in bliss, no one spoke for a while.

"So, who else have you told?" Tré was resting her head in the crock of Stella's neck. At this point, their bare skin clung to one another, and it was marvelous. "Am I the first one?"

Stella half-smiled at Tré's mischievous, unscrupulous question. She raked her fingers through Tré's curls absentmindedly. "Are you worried there was someone before?"

"Maybe," Tré admitted. "Another doting fan of San Junipero to sweet talk your pants off does not sound far-fetched at all," Tré insinuated.

Stella glared at Tré, "What now?" she demanded, hoping she was not speculating what Stella thought she was speculating.

Tré let out a nervous chuckle, "Wait, let me back it up and take my foot out my foot."

"Lets," Stella said.

"That was my oh-so-not subtle way of asking about your dating history, if you were talking to anyone else right now."

Stella chuckled softly, the flare of irritation she felt left as quickly as it came. "I thought I was in love once."

Tré studied Stella's faraway stare, it seemed as if she were a million miles away while her focus was unbreakable. Tré was unable to cease her wonder, what happened between them, Stella's words, seemed empty as they were pain-stricken. Yet she couldn't bring herself to ask, despite her deep-rooted curiosity.

Stella dropped her hand from her face, turning to look at Tré, she cleared her throat. "What happened between us, doesn't matter, it was the fact I knew I wasn't in love with her that did. It seems like if you're not in love, what are you doing with your life? People would rather be with someone for all the wrong reasons because it's expected of us rather than waiting for someone who's perfect for us. We stop appreciating who we are, understanding what we want, and how we want to be treated first before entering into a new relationship. In today's world filled with high likes, easy clicks, and downloads, face to face interactions are becoming less frequent more and more. Now it seems the only way is either through friends' social media or a dating app. With technological advances, we have integrated ourselves via the Internet instead of in the traditional senses. The concept of meeting or talking to someone is so unheard of it's a dying tradition. And don't get me wrong, I enjoy the advancements we had accomplished. Still, I don't think people understand how much we have given up either. Now more than ever, people are eager to dive deeper into the world of touch screens and virtual realities. We have advanced further than any of our ancestors could ever fathom from FaceTiming across countries effortlessly to sending electronic messages down the street with our fingers' tips." Exhaling, Stella wiped her hand across her face. Honestly, all of it was overwhelming. Stella was sure nine out of ten people would have trouble recalling the last time anyone wrote them a letter or sent one. She wished we didn't forget where we came from, how messages were carried instead of being pinged off of telephones towers, or how operators used to patch people through the channels. "We are slowly emerging ourselves into technology and quickly forgetting our past. We put on this lucrative farce, and for what? I think that's why I was so engulfed with Kelly's and Yorkie's love story, because feeling an instant connection with someone, even if across a room, is becoming extinct," Stella finished. Then glanced at Tré, "Well, almost," she corrected, leaning over she pecked Tré on the lips, smiling.

Tré reeled over Stella's words for a moment, "So what you're saying is—"

"That finding authentic love is a rare commodity," Stella cut off, smirking at Tré.

Tré squinted her eyes, shook her head sternly. "That was a long answer for a no. You could've said no, and I would have taken your word for it."

Stella tossed her head back and laughed. "You jerk," she said, shoving Tré's arm, and together they laughed some more. "No, seriously, the only ones I've told are my best friends."

"You mention them a lot. I hope I get to meet them someday."

Stella smiled. "I would like that," she said then kissed the crown of Tré's head. "Although," she murmured against her forehead. "I would not put it past them to arrive tomorrow morning with breakfast Danishes and coffee in hand. Demanding to meet you."

"Wait, you told them bout me?" Tré looked up at Stella.

Stella bent down and kissed her. "Maybe."

"Wow," Tré said dazedly.

"Right."

"So, that's it?"

Stella tightened her arms around Tré, "That's it," she whispered.