Addy didn't explain what happened between her and colin as she made Zoe talk about her night and why she was here so soon. They were in the kitchen, Addy was standing on the opposite side as she listened.
They drank coffee, too late at night.
"…I honestly don't remember sleeping with her. It must have been when I was an intern because I don't remember her at all." Addsion admitted to not really knowing Natasha as the other woman claimed.
"Well maybe she lied but she knew you. She just wanted to get into Blairs pants, again." The younger girl was holding her mug with both hands as she sighed, defeated.
Addy forgot her night as she saw her shoulder slump.
"I'm sorry. This … this is seeming to be a hard thing to get done…"
"It is probably me. I'm the problem. In all aspects." She said quietly. Addy looked at her, arms crossed.
"…talk to me." She said gently, that tone made Zoe blush. Her heart raced.
"…Blair wants me to start teaching again. I said I'm not ready and we haven't spoken all week…. I didn't want to go out tonight. I have this… thought. That I will end up alone because of how I am, how I have certain wants and needs and expectations. No one wants a prude. That is what Blair would say and I think part of this thought is because I miss her and I am mad at her- why must I start teaching when I am not ready! I have a panic attack every time I think about what happened- I am not ready! And oh! She is so relentless on making you the bad person, I feel like I can't say ANYTHING to her!"
Addisons eyes were a bit wide as she listened to Zoe rant. She looked like she needed it.
Then the older woman walked to stand next to her, arms still crossed as she looked ahead.
"Let me talk to Blair-
"No! She will actually kill you-
"Don't care. You are too upset to talk to her and I already don't like her so sorting this out for you won't led me to crying. Let me."
Zoe blushed as she looked to her now, their eyes meet. Zoe was still blushing as she saw now that the older woman had to care a bit about her. Her heart skipped a beat and then she felt sick.
This cannot be a real crush.
"You would do that for me?" She whispered. Addy nodded
"That's what friends are for right?" Addy looked tense, saying that, Zoe felt her heart break.
Friends.
She nodded in agreement. Looking away from her.
"…you look really pretty by the way, Zoe." Addy whispered as she then moved away from her to stop her from doing literally anything. Zoe blushed more and she hated it.
"You can sleep here tonight, I will take you home tomorrow and I will talk to Blair." Addy said as she started to go upstairs, Zoe ran after her.
"Wait, can you tell me what happened with Colin-
"No. Good night."
Zoe groaned softly, she hated this feeling. Whatever it was that Addison gave her, she hated it so much. She was so confused, she didn't know what this meant and she didn't know if Addy was in the same boat.
She knew there was a feeling, she wants it to be friendship but the way her heart beats when she is around her, the way she thinks about her and the tone Addy has with her, she just felt like screaming because she was sure as hell that Addy did not even know what a feeling was.
In her bedroom, once she closed the door. Addy sighed, closing her eyes as she rested her read against the door. She was upset. She didn't know why or with who but she was upset. She would normally go out, have a drink and then leave with someone.
But there is someone in her home, someone she was not too sure about and had no idea why she cared so much to protect her. Her mind slipped for a moment to think she could go into the room over and ask Zoe to-
She shook her head and slapped herself, no. Zoe isn't like you and she hasn't done anything. She will not do that, she has better morals than that and she is respectable. She respects Zoe. Which was a lot for her to say in her head, she sighed, walking to her bed and throwing herself down.
20th of January
Blair had her arms crossed over her chest like a child who was sulking as she sat across from Addy. Addy sipped her coffee as she watched her.
Zoe was with Gabe, the agreement was, Zoe will talk to Blair if Blair talks to Addison. Which lead to a lot of convincing then leading to Zoe calling Gabe, Gabe telling Blair off then taking Zoe with him to go shopping then this is where Addison and Blair found themselves.
In a café, across from each other.
Not talking.
Addison was used to this. She kept staring at her then this was when Blair snapped her head to her.
"Stop staring at me you perv!" She said in a quiet yell.
"She speaks!" Addy teased as Blair scoffed.
"…I don't like you."
"I am very aware of that Blair. In case you haven't noticed, I don't like you either but Zoe is hurt and I… happen to not like that and I wanted to get to the root of the problem, which is you and me apparently." Addy said as she leaned on the little table. Blair looked at her, up and down then sighed.
She didn't speak still. Addy hummed then looked around as she spoke.
"This café is nice. Rustic." Then she looked at Blair. Who was still not wanting to talk to her.
The noise in the café went on around them as they kept quiet.
"…I know you pair me with my sister." Addy said to Blair, which made the younger girl just look at her. She wasn't wrong, they both knew this. Blair may have been hung up on Allison but after a long discussion with Gabe, she knew better. She assumed they both were the same.
Just had sex all the time. They did but Addison had respect for people, unlike Allison.
"Gabe… told me. Told me that you and her aren't as close as I assumed. He said you are the better person in a lot of things… the fact you are willing to talk to me while you know I don't like you just to help Zoe… says a lot." Blair admitted to Addy. The older woman looked at the girl.
Just looked.
"…I have respect for people. I know what no means, I can take a hint and I have rules. My sister doesn't. I don't blame you for thinking we are the same, I know what she did to you. I know… I called you a slut. Back then too… I just… I think I was madder at my sister than you, because she ruined a teenagers life for the fun of it and didn't care," Addy crossed her arms on the table. "She always leaves me to clean up her messes. That is why I hate her and swore, I will always be better than her."
Blair was the one to look. She stared at Addy for a moment.
"Well, you are the prettier one sadly." That made Addy snort.
"Thanks."
Blair didn't smile or anything, even though her heart did a weird flip that she shot herself in the foot for in her head.
She did lean forward so only Addy would hear her.
"I think it is sweet that you care about Zoe but this doesn't change things. She may not see through your little act, but I see straight through you Addison. I will be civil for Zoe but I still hate you-
"Hate is a strong word-
"I hate you. I really do. I love Zoe that is why I will deal with you and her being friends. Don't touch her, or try anything and don't even think you can fix the hate I have for you with the offer of sex, I hate you. You aren't some saint, you are just as much of a whore as any other thing that fucks for fun."
Addison watched her stand up as they didn't break their eye contact.
She was shocked, she didn't even have a remark to come back at her with. She knew where she stood with Blair and she knew, there was nothing she could do to change it.
Why did that make her heart race that this girl hated her?
Why did Blair wish Addison would keep staring at her?
"I will see you… I guess." She said as she tossed a bill and walked out.
Addison swallowed, this was not successful at all. She feels like she just made things way worse, or better. She actually wanted to make Blair like her, for the sake of Zoe. Nothing else.
February 14th, Valentines day Cupid day! (Zoes Favourite day)
It had been a while since the little incident with Colin and Blair for Addy and Zoe has been one just more failed date. Though it was her favourite day and nothing was going to get her down. She loved love, not like anyone else didn't but she was the one who loved it the most in her cards.
Addison hated it, for obvious reasons. Couples. Which also meant, not a long of people were out looking for sex. She also hated pink.
Since Blair had talked Addison down that day in the café, she thought about her too much. She was at work, thinking. Zoe didn't know the talk, well, what was said. All she knew is things were a lot better. They all could be friends.
Or pretend to be.
Addison leaned back in her chair as she thought about what she could have done to make Blair hate her. She only hated her family. She hasn't hadn't had someone hate her like this. She knew there was a fair number of people in New York that didn't like her but they didn't hate her. Not like this.
Tapping her pen against her desk as she wondered. Maybe she should find something to hate about Blair to even the playing field. There was a lot to name. The first being she has horrible taste in women, horrible.
She couldn't think too much longer when suddenly a red card was dropped on her desk, she looked confused then looked up to see Zoe.
"Hi?" She said as Zoe looked very happy.
"Happy Cupid Day! Read the card!" She said with joy dripping from her voice, was that even real? Addy smiled as she picked the card up.
I just wanted to say thank you for the help the past few months and for being a really, really good friend. I like having you in my life even if you don't like having me in yours.
Xoxo Zoe
p.s. I made the card red so you have no excuse but to keep it.
She snorted as the smile on her lips couldn't be hidden. Looking up at Zoe, she still smiled.
"Thank you Zoe… I do… like… like having you in my life. Just by the way." She admitted as she closed the card and then put it in her work case that went home with her, Zoe knew this and she smiled when she saw her take it.
"Really?" she whispered to her as Addy nodded.
"Really."
They shared a smile then Zoe looked to the side then her again. Zoe was wearing all pink Addy noticed. Made her cringe.
"Do you have plans?" Zoe asked.
"I normally stay in on this day, it isn't the best for hooking up. Do you have plans?"
"… maybe." This made Addy smirk then smile to her as she leaned forward to her desk.
"Did you manage to get yourself a date without my help?" She asked Zoe as the younger girl placed her hands on the back of the chair that is seated in front of Addisons desk. She nodded then smiled, proud of herself.
Addison felt her eyes drop to her chest as she watched Zoe lean against the chair, then snapping her gaze.
"I meet someone at the café I work at, she's nice. Pretty… a little bit older than me but not too much. I don't know how it will go but I did something!" She said with a laugh as Addy smiled still to her.
"I'm happy for you."
"Yeah? Can I still come over and talk about the date?"
"Sure, if it really is shitty, I can come be your back up date." That was not what she was supposed to say as she saw Zoes' cheeks flush.
"You'd be that for me?"
"It's what friends do."
Zoe hated that term. Addy said it a lot to refer to their relationship, which they are. Friends. Zoe knew she was stupid to have a crush on the older woman, who probably knew and was loving every minute of her flushed and shy state whenever it came to her giving her any form of attention in a romantic sense.
"…I hope she's nice to you. You seem to have bad luck with my choosing in women-
"Because they all seem to have some idea that if I go out with them, I can help them get a date out of you or Blair."
Whenever Zoe had mentioned Blair around Addison ever since the two spoke, the younger girl didn't miss the way Addys eyes would change or her face would seem to fall slightly. She never knew what they said to each other but something was said that makes Addy act like her whole world was taken away from her.
Or maybe Zoe is seeing nothing and picking up nothing like she always does. She didn't know so much about love and social ques.
"Well uh, this girl doesn't know us clearly so…" She cleared her throat, Zoe narrowed her eyes at her and that made Addy frown. She watched as Zoe walked around the desk and stood in front of her. Her arms now crossed as she leaned down, making Addison lean back in her chair to avoid her.
"Did you and Blair-
"OH my GOD! NO! Why would you- WE made a RULE!" Addison actually gagged at the mere thought of being sexual with Blair. This made Zoe now stand tall.
"Then why do you spazz up whenever I talk about her lately?"
"We don't like each other, it is a natural thing."
"Bull."
"Zoe-
"Bull! Tell me why, really why." She stood still and firm in front of Addy, which lead the older woman to look up at her.
She smirked, she knew Zoe was a brat. She had a thing to take that brat out of girls and even guys. She moved forward that her legs were on either side of Zoes legs, locking her in.
Zoe frowned as she looked down, then the older woman placed her hands gently on her sides as she rubbed gently as her head titled, licking her lips as she moved closer.
"W-what-"
"Act like a brat, I will show you what happens-
Swat
"Zoe!" Addy laughed as the younger girl started to swat at her like a cat as she moved back. Putting her hands up to defend herself.
"WE. HAVE. A. RULE!" She punctuated with each swat then stopped with a huff, she was pink in her cheeks.
She hated herself for stopping her hands but she wasn't going to be that easy, they both knew that.
"I know! I was joking!"
"Just tell me, please."
"Okay, when Blair and I spoke, she just said she straight up doesn't like me, she will tolerate me just because of you. It was shocking because I don't really have people do that to me. Blair just shocked me and now I am just watching myself is all. I don't like her at all so, it is just smart to be safe."
She left out the part where Blair said she saw straight through her because she herself still didn't know what that meant.
Zoe nodded, seeming like she believed her.
"Okay… sorry."
"It's okay."
That night
Zoe was at the usual bar, waiting for her date. Biting the inside of her cheek as she was nervous, the bar was all love theme. Which was strange for an Irish pub she thought.
"There she is." She heard a voice. She turned around and saw the girl she spoke to at the café.
"Lana. Hi. I hope you don't want coffee, they don't do that here." She teased which made Lana chuckle softly. She ordered herself a drink as they sat down at the bar to talk.
The night went smooth, eventually the bar got busy. Couples and singles came into the bar, they moved to a booth to talk. Zoe was enjoying her time with Lana, the woman was a paralegal. Lived in a nice apartment and did a lot of yoga, she was also… very fit. Her abs kept showing every time she moved closer to Zoe, her voice low she so she could hear her.
Zoe brushed her hair behind her ear as she smiled, Lana returned it. She wanted to kiss her.
It wasn't like she hadn't kissed anyone. She just thought you should kiss people that you are dating or intend to. She could poissbly see this going further, she is really pretty and her lips looked so soft.
The younger girl didn't realize her gaze was on her lips until Lana lifted her had up by her chin, looking at her with a dark gaze.
"You want something from me?" She husked as Zoe blushed.
On the other side of the bar, there was Gabe, Blair and Addison. Watching Zoe from afar to make sure she was safe. They all were surprised.
"Damn, that girl has game." Gabe whistled low as he looked to see Addy staring. She knew her.
She didn't know from where, but she knew her.
"Earth to Addy?" Gabe said as she then turned to him.
"Sorry, um… what was the name of that freshman who kept being a perve to the younger girls in her class?" Gabe looked a bit taken back as he looked at her.
"Lana Milton or Lara Milton. Why- is that her with Zoe?" Addy shrugged her shoulders. She hoped not, otherwise she had to save Zoe right now.
"I don't think it is anyone you know. I know it kills you that someone doesn't know you but deal with it." Blair said in a hiss.
She rolled her eyes as her and Gabe looked at her.
"Honey, if Addy is right, Zoe is in trouble. That girl has so many restraining orders on her and a lot of accusations." Gabe said as Addy nodded. Blair frowned.
"What did she do?"
"She was a freshmen when I was doing my second masters, she found all the younger girls and would…" Addy cringed at the memory.
"She would force herself on them. She got kicked out of her program." Gabe finished. Blairs eyes went wide.
They didn't know that Lana had somehow convinced Zoe to kiss her. Which was what they were doing, kissing. Nothing fancy or handsy.
Until the woman pushed her hand up her skirt, feeling the soft skin underneath, this made Zoe break the kiss and push her back.
"Wait, wait-
"Do you want to leave? We can go to the bathroom-
"No! I mean, no. no… I haven't… I um…" Zoe blushed in embarrassment but Lana smirked, her hand went back underneath her skirt.
"You're a virgin? I like that."
What?
"What?" Zoe asked as she looked at her. Lana had a smirk on her face now that she didn't find at all attractive. She tried to push her away and off her but she was stronger. Her grip harder on her thigh as she pushed her hand up hard and pressed against her core.
"Stop it-
"You like it. I will make you like it-"
She didn't even finish her sentence before Addy was behind her and with surprizing strength, pulled her by her shirt and to the floor. Blair went to Zoe quickly to hold her and keep her away from her as Addy and Gabe looked down at her.
"Hey man!" Lana shouted in anger as she pushed them off her and stood up. Looking at Zoe, "Come on, we have something we need to finish."
Addy and Gabe both grabbed her and shoved her back.
"No, you don't. You will leave before-
"Or what? You gonna hit me? You can't hit a girl bro." She snapped
"No. but she can."
Addy smiled as she made quick to throw a punch, causing her to fall back to the floor. The older woman winced at the pain but it was worth it. Zoe was scared sure but her heart skipped a beat at Addy saving her. Her knight in shing armour.
The bar staff knew Addy and Gabe, they helped get Lana out and banded, they made sure to get her on record to make sure she has another restraining order against her.
Addy and Gabe went back in the bar to see Blair and Zoe at the other side, they stood in front of them.
"Are you okay?" Addy asked gently as she placed an arm on her shoulder. Zoe nodded as she sniffed, wiping her eyes.
"Yeah… yeah. I hate that I was so stupid-"
"No. You didn't know that is way different. Honestly… if we were here tonight. I don't want to know what would have happened… I can't believe she is allowed to walk the streets." Gabe said as he was so angry with this bitch who tried to hurt his friend.
"I hated that I realized who she is but I am glad she is gone." Addy said after a beat, her hand still on Zoes shoulder. Blair stared at her hand on her shoulder. Humming softly as she didn't leave Zoe,
"…I want to go home." Zoe whispered.
"I can take you guys." Addy said, quickly sorting the bill as they all gathered their things to leave. Gabe was holding Zoe now, keeping her close to him for safety as Blair trailed last behind.
Once they were outside, Addy unlocked the car. Before she could make the walk to get into the car, a hand grabbed her arm. Blair.
She turned to face her.
"…thank you for saving her and for punching that chick." She admitted softly, her grip soft on her arm but not leaving. Addison felt her heart burn, her stomach and where Blair had her hand on her arm, her whole body was on fire.
She nodded, smiling. Not acknowledging the hand.
"Of course." She whispered.