Immovable Object (Of Affection)

It's been a while since I rode the bus. I'd forgotten how much they suck. I can deal with the fact they're always cold, and smell funny, and uncomfortable, none of that matters to me. It's how slow they are. Not just the speed of the vehicle, but how long it takes for everyone to figure out how to pay, and how the bus driver will occasionally just sit there since he's ahead of schedule. It's frustrating. Especially when I want nothing more than to get home. To get to her.

When we reach our stop I hurry off the bus at nearly a full sprint. I don't know what it is, but every fibre of my being needs to be with her, right now. I guess, if I don't have that many seconds left with her... I want to to take advantage of every single one. Trish's camper is parked out front, if she's here then that means Elise is too. Good. I rush through the door, almost knocking it off its hinges. Ruby's barking registers in my ears, but my mind barely acknowledges the sound. All of my being is focused on getting to Elise. I hurry through to the living room, nothing, kitchen, nothing, must be in my room.

I bound up the stairs, almost falling more than once. The door is slightly ajar, I run straight into it, swinging it wide open... And there she is. Sitting on our bed. The make-up cleaned off her face. The tears no longer running. The light reflecting on her beautiful blue eyes just like the first time I saw her. She's perfect. Her and Trish, who's perched on the chair from my desk, immediately look at me to identify the sudden intrusion. After a few seconds, Elise's look of surprise changes to worry, as it becomes obvious I don't have good news.

"Lapin." She begins.

"No." I cut her off. "Just, hang on a second." I continue, catching my breath, and walking over to sit with her on the bed. Trish is kind enough to make herself scarce, and exits the room. I lost track of Rouge, but presumably she's the source of the door shutting and Ruby's happy yips.

"Look, I know how I'm supposed to act. I'm supposed to play it cool, and say it's your decision, support whatever you choose... But I can't." I begin to explain. "When I talked to them... I just can't let you go. I know I'm being selfish, but I can't help it. I can't exist without you, I don't function without you, all I could think all day was 'what would Elise think about this?' or 'Elise would love this' or a million other things that start with your name. So I'm asking... I'm begging you. Don't go. Don't leave. Because I can't think of a life without you in it."

I take her hand, too scared to look her in the eyes.

"Lapin..." Elise attempts again.

"No." I repeat. "Don't... Don't start a sentence if it ends with you leaving... I can't hear those words. I just can't." My voice breaks, I can't keep it together right now. It's all too much.

Elise tries again, her voice more decisive. "Scarlet, I-"

"Please. Stop. I just... I can't. I can't listen to-". I ramble, tears now rolling down my cheeks....

Until my lips are stopped by hers.

For one moment. Just a few glorious seconds. There's no parents, or work, or houses. Just her. Only her. And what more could I want? Eventually Elise breaks the kiss, and meets my gaze with a look of pure joy.

"I'm not leaving, I was never leaving, if I'm honest... I was shocked when they told me, and I thought about it, but... Every time I tried to consider it all I could think about was you. I love you, Scarlet Cray. I could never go where you couldn't follow." She whispers to me, never breaking our eye contact.

"But your family..." I blurt out.

"My family isn't going anywhere. My parents are, but... You're here. You're my family. Walking around that house was nostalgic, but it just made me realise that it's not home anymore. You're my home." She smiles, new tears falling from her eyes, this time tears of happiness.

I'm so stupid. I was insecure, and I let those arseholes get to me. They don't matter. None of it matters. We matter. Scarlet and Elise.

The Rabbit and the Moon.

*

"I'm just saying, family drama aside, kind of a cockblock!" Trish laughs. Elise and I stayed in my room for a little while before rendezvousing with Trish, Rouge, and Ruby in the living room. None of us really felt like cooking, so pizza was our go-to move. Now this is nostalgia I can get behind.

"After Rouge walked in the other day? We're even." Elise retorts with a grin.

My sister doesn't seem impressed with this competition. "Hey, given how close our proximity is, maybe best not to keep track on how many times we interrupt each other? Seems like a fast track to awkwardness." She points out.

It's like old times. I feel so much older... I mean, I am older, but I mean I feel years older... I guess it has been most of a year. Look, the point is, I hardly recognise myself from back then, and soon, I probably won't recognise the circumstances I'm in either...

"Not that we're going to be in proximity for much longer." I think out loud. My tone seems more mournful than it should... I'm excited, I am. But... Change is scary, and I'm going to miss this.

"Shut up!" Trish scoffs. "You think I got that camper because it's fun? I'm gonna be going back and forth between here and Rouge's uni so often it's a necessity, you'll have a free lift to see us whenever you want." She reveals. Wow, that makes sense, I'd wondered why she went for that rather than getting a flat. I guess that makes sense, why live anywhere when you can live everywhere? It's very Trish. "But, just in case, we need to make sure your birthday is extra special!"

Shit. I'd forgotten. Our birthday's next week. I guess I got so wrapped up in school and work and family stuff I just kinda... Ignored it. Nineteen. Damn, I know Elise is turning twenty next month, but nineteen just feels like such a bigger leap... Saying that, it'll probably feel the same next year.

"You don't need to do anything too massive." I state humbly, my birthdays have never been big arrangements, Rouge always used to go elsewhere, so it'd be me, Mum, and Jasper watching crappy movies and then I'd go to bed and treat myself to a birthday wank. Might not need that this year.

"Fuck that!" Rouge objects brashly. "If the party ends without someone getting punched or pregnant, we've done it wrong."

I know she's speaking hyperbolically, but given our circle of friends is mostly same-sex couples, the latter seems biologically unlikely. I mean, I guess Jenny could. Wow, did I just subconsciously invite Jenny? I've grown a lot more than I thought.

I look to Elise, she seems excited to plan something too. Okay, that convinces me, I know she's got good taste, big party it is. I rest my hand on my necklace, I realise I owe her a little something. Maybe a lot of things. Okay, all the things. I take another slice of pizza. After the day we've had, it's going to be a long night.

I'm gonna need my strength.