#We live in a lawless land I’ve been writing a LOT lately it’s winter I’m not working my second job right now i need to channel my extra time

[lady-assnali]

It’s the babiest Crygi yet, teacher au Crygi but their friendship is still pretty new. Walking home from the bar after a night out, Crystal finds out that Gigi does not like to walk when she drinks.

“Of course you live on the top floor.” Gigi whines, standing at the bottom of the fifth flight of stairs. Crystal, already halfway up the flight, stops where she is and stares down at her newest friend. The ginger is leaning heavily against the railing, eyes half-shut and posture gradually failing. She balances on some precariously high heels that Crystal isn’t sure how she managed to walk the few blocks to her apartment in, huffing.

           “I didn’t choose for the elevator to break down today, Geege. We could’ve gone to yours…”

           “Nope. You know I want my deadweight roommate evicted, I can’t let her meet you. She’s tried to be me for far too long. You’ll charm the pants right off of her and I can’t have that-you’re  mine, not hers.”

           Crystal’s stomach flips at the possessive, and it takes her a minute to regain her own awareness. It’s the liquor finally hitting them both, she decides, and Gigi had tried too hard to keep up with the girls to be completely cohesive. Besides, she’d spent the entire night on her arm making sure that everyone knew Crystal, the best person I’ve ever met, my best friend, which let her know where she really stood.

           Not that she wants anything else to happen. Gigi’s just someone she wants around all the time, someone she’s become an and with very quickly. That doesn’t mean anything. She could be considered an and with Daya, although that’s a very clearly drawn sisterhood.

She’d met Gigi, a stunningly beautiful fashion design major, in a college art history course where they’d sat together for two weeks. Crystal had thought she’d be a bitch. Gigi overwhelmed her with compliments on her pattern mixing and her hair and they’d been instant friends. Gigi had been a good study buddy-silly, yet wanting nothing more than to do well. They’d exchanged numbers and had gotten lunch together a few times a week. Then one morning Gigi had texted her in perfectly simple terms;

Just dropped out-am going to take an internship instead. I can do so much more there than in a classroom where they’re teaching us how to thread a machine.

That’s when Crystal learned about her determination.

They get to see each other a bit less now, Gigi’s internship and Crystal’s coursework causing a clash in schedules, but even without Gigi with her in class their friendship has only grown. Gigi still helps Crystal study. Crystal brings coffee to the studio when she’s having a rough day. They have sleepovers every Friday night at least, if not more.

Gigi holds her hand (and only her hand. Don’t touch me is a big part of her vocabulary, but never for Crystal.). Gigi sits next to her and leaves no room between them. Gigi has introduced her to every single one of her friends as her best friend. It all leaves Crystal a little breathless. It leaves the lines feeling a bit blurred.

           “Crys,” Gigi refuses to move, pouting. “I can’t do it, I just can’t. There’s so many stairs and there’s only one of me. How do you expect me to make it?”

           “One foot in front of the other!”

           “Please can you carry me?”

           Crystal narrows her eyes but makes her way down the staircase anyway, shaking her head. She’d chosen a sensible pair of platform boots for the night, a much sturdier option than the red-bottomed heels Gigi’s mother had gifted her after selling her first commissioned gown. She’d been so proud to wear them that there was no negotiation, even now.

           When she makes it to the landing Gigi spins her around, wrapping her arms around her and jumping onto her back. Crystal only falters slightly, stumbling and repositioning her hands on Gigi’s thighs to get a better grip. Once she’s adjusted, she stands at the bottom of the staircase and readies herself. From behind her Gigi sighs thankfully, dropping her head into the crook of Crystal’s neck.

           “That’s a lot of stairs.”

           “You’re lucky I love you. If I didn’t you’d be taking those shoes off and walking the rest of the way.”

           “I can’t take these off, ever. My mom got them for me! I miss her. Can we call her tonight?”

           “Maybe tomorrow would be a better idea. It’s late; I promise we can call her in the morning, maybe after we’ve both slept everything off.”

           “Will you do it with me? My mom loves you, she asks about you a lot. I talk about you a lot, though, so don’t let it get to your head.”

           “Well, your mom is my favorite Goode.”

           “Take that back!”

           “Or what” You’ll walk home?” Crystal snickers. Gigi jolts her thigh with the side of her foot gently.

           “Hey!”

           Crystal can only laugh harder, which in turn makes for a bumpy ride up the last two flights of stairs for Gigi. She even has to stop once, when she can’t catch her breath over Gigi’s petulant mumbling over why she should be Crystal’s favorite. The ginger slips off of her back and Crystal catches her just in time for them both to plop safely onto the landing of the ninth floor, staring at each other with wide, shell-shocked eyes before dissolving into a fit of laughter. The air between them is dizzying and warm, and for a moment they sit tangled in each other, comfortable and light. Gigi leans further into Crystal, their bodies pressed together from head to toe, and the older girl is suddenly shocked awake. She pats her hand on the ground, shifting away from Gigi and holding out her hands.

           “Come on, we only have one more flight to go. You still want me to carry you?”

           Gigi, flustered and wine-fogged, slides onto Crystal’s back without saying another word.

           When they finally make it to Crystal’s apartment Gigi finally takes off the shoes, shuffling over to the pantry and sliding them onto the floor before shutting the door behind her. When she turns, Crystal is standing behind her with a raised eyebrow and a smirk on her face.

           “What?”

“The pantry?”

“I’m not the one who decided to get a kitten. You know I love Tic Tac but can I really trust that cat with a new pair of shoes?”

           “Did you hear that? She doesn’t trust you.”

           “Don’t listen to her, you’re my favorite Methyd.” Gigi scoops up the kitten while Crystal watches, jaw dropped. She moves through the apartment with ease, carrying Tic Tac to the bathroom while Crystal pours them two glasses of water and turns off the lights, leaving them on the nightstands. She can hear Gigi’s baby talk from the bathroom as she changes, Tic Tac no doubt sitting dutifully on the counter while her best friend takes off her makeup and brushes her teeth. She emerges from the bathroom with the tiny kitten still cradled in her arms. She’s dressed in one of Crystal’s old t-shirts, baggy and short, with her hair in wild flames down her back. She climbs into her side of the bed.

“Drink that water,” Crystal orders. As she makes her way to the bathroom for her turn she can hear Gigi’s sleepy, silly voice mutter sarcastic yes ma’am.

When she returns, the glass is half-full and Gigi’s almost already asleep.

She turns off the last of the lights, snuggling into the slightly chilled blankets. Gigi immediately rolls over onto her side to face her, cheeks flushed and eyelids just beginning to droop.

“Thank you for climbing all those stairs for me. I adore you, Crystal Methyd. I’m really glad we met.”

“Me too.” It’s all she can manage to get out, and suddenly she’s wishing she’d had that one last shot before they’d left. Although sleepovers have become a common occurrence for them, she certainly feels a bit too lucid for this. Gigi shifts to close the distance between them, tangling their legs and resting her head on Crystal’s chest. She’s asleep before the older girl can remember how to breathe, Tic Tac purring happily between them. The kitten looks up at Crystal almost intuitively and she rolls her eyes.

“That’s enough out of you.” She scolds.

She falls asleep with her head on top of Gigi’s and her heart hammering in her chest,  a new mantra volleying with Gigi’s sleepy words.

I adore you, Crystal Methyd.

It’s nothing, we’re just friends.