Chapter Text
“Hey, you coming to Shaw's later?” Gina asked, plonking herself down on the corner of Rosa's desk.
“I wasn't going to. Why?”
“Pleeeaaaseeeee, Rosie. It's sooooo boring without you there,” she whined.
“Okay, I'll come then. You happy?” she replied, raising her eyebrows and smiling.
“Yes,” she said, grinning.
Gina stayed sat at Rosa's desk for a while, scrolling through her phone and making conversation with her. Amy watched them subtly from the copy room, curiously observing the nature of their interactions. And Rosa was smiling at Gina, which never happened. Eyes wide, Amy watched as Gina took Rosa's hand, lacing their fingers together and looking deeply into her coffee coloured eyes as they conversed.
“Jake!” she hissed, racing to his desk.
“Hey, Ames,” he said, looking up at her and smiling.
“Have you seen?” she said.
“Seen what?”
“Rosa and Gina! Gina's flirting with Rosa like crazy.”
“What?”
Jake looked over at them, unable to deny what he witnessed.
“Do you know if Gina likes girls?” Amy asked.
“No idea. She's always been very sexually liberated and ambiguous, though. Come to think of it, she sometimes referred to partners in a gender neutral way. Maybe? I don't know, it wouldn't surprise me at all.”
“Do you think they're together?”
“I doubt it. Rosa doesn't seem to initiate any of the flirting - it all appears to be Gina. If it is a relationship, then it seems a bit one-sided.”
“Yeah. True. Do you think Gina likes her?”
“Maybe. Again, it wouldn't surprise me. I don't know. Rosa's a very private person - she'll tell us in her own time. If there's anything to tell, of course. Maybe they've just suddenly become super close friends.”
“Hm. Maybe.”
That night at Shaw’s, Rosa and Gina were sequestered in a booth. Gina was talking Rosa’s ear off, and she actually seemed to be listening.
“Ugh, this is so dead,” Gina complained. “Wanna bounce?”
“Sure. I’ll walk you home.”
“Can you come over? We can watch movies,” she suggested hopefully.
“Okay. That would be fun. Let’s say goodbye to everyone.”
“Nah, they won’t even notice we’re gone. Let’s just go.”
“Okay. After you, Gines.”
Amy watched as the two left the bar, Gina leading and Rosa helplessly following her. She poked Jake in the side, and they shared a knowing grin.
“Sooo, what d’you wanna watch?” Gina asked when they got back to hers, flopping on the couch.
“Anything,” Rosa said, sitting down beside her.
“Anything? Even a cringy romcom?”
“If it would make you happy,” Rosa countered.
“Aww. You softie.”
“Shut up,” Rosa said fondly, rolling her eyes.
Gina flicked through her Netflix for a minute, and then selected a dull heterosexual romance. They watched in silence for the first fifteen minutes, and then Gina shifted towards Rosa.
“Can we cuddle?” she asked.
“Yeah, sure.”
Rosa wrapped her arms around her, holding her close.
“Ro, are you seeing anyone right now?” Gina asked, heart pounding.
“No, I'm not.”
“Good.”
They spent the rest of the movie lying in each other’s arms, Rosa stroking Gina's hair. When the end credits rolled, Rosa broke the comfortable silence.
“I should probably be getting home,” Rosa said, sighing.
“Oh. Okay. Come again soon?”
“Of course.”
They looked at each other for a long few seconds.
“Rosa-”
“I'll see you at work, Gina,” she said, getting up and letting herself out.
She took the stairs two at a time, almost tripping in her haste to get out of Gina's building. She hurried down the street, the crisp night air hitting her flushed body. Once she felt she was a safe distance from Gina's apartment block, she pulled out her phone and called Amy, already beginning to feel tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Hi Rosa, is everything okay? It's late,” Amy said, picking up quickly.
“Hi Amy. Uh, sorry, I didn't know who else to call. Can you talk?”
“Of course. Go ahead, Rosa. What's going on?”
“I have feelings for Gina. And I don't know what I'm supposed to do. She's straight. Literally the number one rule of Sapphic dating is to not fall for straight girls. I don't know what to do,” Rosa said, and began sobbing on the street.
“Oh, Rosa. Well, do you know for a fact she's straight?”
“I mean, she hasn't told me she is. But she's never implied or said outright that she's queer, either.”
“Well…me and Jake had kinda thought that maybe Gina likes you. We were actually wondering if you were already together, just on the down low.”
“Oh. So do you think she maybe could…?”
“I think it's a very real possibility she likes you.”
“But what we have right now is so good. It's nice to have friends, you know? What if she's just being friendly and I fuck everything up by confessing my feelings like an idiot, and then I'm back to being alone again?”
“Rosa, you won't be alone. You have me and Jake, and the rest of the squad. There's so many people that love you. And, yeah, maybe your relationship with Gina right now is really good. But it could be even better. Take the chance, is my advice. But don't kill me if it goes wrong.”
“Okay. I'm gonna tell her how I feel.”
“That's great. When?”
“Tomorrow after work. But if it all goes wrong, can I come over?”
“Of course you can.”
“Thanks Amy. And I'm sorry I just cried on the phone to you like a weak idiot.”
“Rosa, it's fine. I'm here for you. Whatever ya need, girlfriennnddd.”
“Don't call me that,” Rosa said, grimacing.
“Right. Yes. Cringe,” Amy said.
They both laughed.
“Goodnight, Amy. Thank you.”
“Goodnight, Rosa. Any time.”
The next morning at work, Rosa silently put a cup of coffee down on Gina's desk, offering her a small smile. She was a bundle of nerves the entire day, and spent most of the time avoiding Gina as much as she could (the last thing she wanted was a public rejection…yikes). Gina seemed a little upset by her distance, which only spurred Rosa's hope on further, and her heart thudded almost audibly as she worked.
Once work was over, Gina headed straight home. Rosa took a detour to a florist, picking up a gorgeous, enormous, and very Gina bouquet of red roses. She continued on her journey, barely able to breathe as she walked up the stairs to Gina's apartment. It took her a minute to work up the courage to knock on her door, but when she did, Gina answered in only a few seconds.
“Um…hello,” Rosa said, flushing bright red. “This is a long shot, because I literally have no idea if you even like girls or not, but, I have feelings for you, Gina. Wanna go on a date?”
“God, I thought you'd never fucking ask! Of course I'll go on a date with you, Rosa.”
Rosa grinned cheesily, opening her arms, and they hugged tightly. Upon release, Rosa gave her the flowers, and right there, on her apartment landing, Gina pulled her in for a passionate kiss. Rosa's hands found her waist, gripping it and holding her body close. Their lips stayed linked for a while, and when they let go, they both giggled.
“Come inside. You can take me out some other time, but tonight, baby, we're gonna order food, watch movies and make out. Sound good?” Gina proposed.
“That's perfect. Especially the making out part,” Rosa grinned, smacking her ass playfully.
They both giggled, and Gina pulled her inside, kissing her again.
“I'll put these in a vase, Rosie. Go sit on the couch.”
“Okay, Gines.”
After a minute, Gina joined her, sitting down on her lap and kissing her softly. Rosa looped her arms around her waist, smiling, and they kissed again.
“Sooo…what do you, like, label yourself as? Or do you not?” Rosa asked.
“Eh, I'd say I'm a lesbian, but I'm not too attached to any label. I've been with guys and not disliked it, but every girl I've dated I've loved being with.”
“Girls are incredible, I agree.”
“Mhm.”
“I was so nervous to ask you out, in case you weren't gay and it ruined our friendship.”
“Awww, I mean that much to you?”
“You really do, Gin. And why didn't you make the first move? Everyone knows I'm bi, so you had more security than I did.”
“Oh, I don't take people on dates. I get taken on dates. Anyway, I flirted with you, and HARD. You were just oblivious.”
“I was not! I just didn't wanna read into it too much and end up falling for you. Which I did anyways.”
“Oh, sweetie. I'm irresistible.”
Rosa laughed, and they shared another kiss, snuggling down contentedly on the couch.
“God, Gina, you're the best.”
“I know.”
Rosa: she said yes!!
Amy: oh my god yay!! so happy for you two xx
Rosa: thanks Ames