Chapter Text
It was several weeks later, once work had eased to give way to the lazy nature of the summer holidays, that the two crossed paths again. It was a hot day, the sun rising up from the horizon and boiling all those in the streets like small potatoes in a hot pan of bubbling water. However, there was no bubbling, no excitement, no energy, just stifling heat and the gentlest breeze that caressed Jemilla's skin as she walked arm in arm with her boyfriend.
The pair had been on several dates, and they got on extraordinarily well. It was astonishing how soon they had picked up each other's expressions and formed many inside jokes. Her friends were already whispering about marriage - a little too soon, Jemilla thought - and some were convinced the pair had secretly been dating for months now.
Which wasn't true. Not at all. Because before, there had been Zazzalil, and Jemilla wouldn't trade those years with her for anything.
Not the time, she reminded herself, determined to not let the sun pierce through her common sense.
The two entered the vast building at the end of the street. The roof and walls were primarily composed of glass and long metal beams, and it was difficult to see what was inside beyond the thick vegetation all over the glass. The greenhouses stretched out over and around the central building, creating a dome.
"Here we are," Clark said, and led her in. After signing them in and collecting a few leaflets about how to get around, he asked her politely if he could go and as for a specific herbal remedy. "I'll be right back, have a look around! See you soon, babe."
"Bye, babe," she responded.
She waited for a minute, not wanting to wander into the maze of winding plants alone, but soon simply standing in the heat alone became too much for her and she began to follow the path.
At each fork, she paused to remember it and evaluate what the best path was, before continuing slowly along. The plants began bare and simple, but the deeper she went, the more beautiful and complex the plants got. Spirals and patterns she could barely remember from Zazzalil's excited explanations long ago, bright red and yellow flowers that reminded her of their apartment's theme.
Speak of the devil.
Of course she was here today, the day hot enough to remind her of her ex-girlfriend's fiery spirit and the day with so many other signs. Not that Jemilla believed in some kind of fate, just that it was the style of Zazzalil to defy logic.
"Oh! Jemilla!" She looked surprised. Happy. But happy that she was in her element in the warmth, happy to see Jemilla, or happy without her? "How have you been?"
It took a second for her to find her voice, though she wasn't quite sure why. "Good. Thanks. Uh, you?" She fidgeted with the leaflet in her hand, glancing at it to pretend to be occupied, though she was sure it wasn't working. "How are things in the labs?"
"They're awesome," Zazzalil said, and the way her face split into a fond grin was both disorienting and wonderful at the same time - intoxicating, like alcohol but inducing coherence rather than taking it away. What had happened? Why did Jemilla feel this way? She didn't still love her. Not that way.
Did she?
The two slowly eased into conversation. Zazzalil seemed faster than ever, making her points and hopping around the discussion nimbly, while Jemilla did her best to keep up. How much had she missed, exactly? But still, the conversation flowed, and it never felt stagnant or awkward. To Jemilla, that didn't make much sense, but she was glad for it. She had really missed her, as a friend at least.
"We should meet up soon. Ice cream parlour, maybe?" she suggested, and Zazzalil visibly brightened.
"Yeah! When?"
Just as Jemilla began to respond, she heard a rustle behind her and Clark emerged from one path, holding two green smoothies and glaring at Zazzalil. He passed a smoothie to Jemilla and sipped at his own for ten seconds before finally speaking.
"Ready to go on?" he said, and for once it sounded a little more of a statement. Jemilla frowned at him, unsure as to why he was suddenly acting so out of character.
"Sure?"
Zazzalil, who had also gone quite quiet, nodded and waved to Jemilla, her mood clearly dampened. "Bye."
"See y-"
And she was gone. How had she disappeared so quickly? And why?
She barely got time to wonder, because Clark was suddenly smiling at her and explaining what he had been up to, leaving Jemilla in the dark, walking through a dome of watching plants.