If you’d have told Daiane before the winter carnival that she’d be kissing Hera at the top of the Ferris wheel, she would’ve laughed at you (but stayed home for good measure). Because not only was Hera someone she hadn’t spoken with in years, she was in a relationship with someone else—whom she loved and adored—and Daiane wasn’t a cheater. Yet, there they were, Hera literally cutting off Daiane’s rambling with an unexpected kiss. Maybe for a moment she’d returned it, her body reacting as it would’ve a couple years ago, but the realization landed like a bucket of ice and she pulled away, eyes wide. The regret was immediate, and in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to click undo on that mistake.
The rest of the ride passed in a tense, awkward silence that Daiane did not attempt to fill—instead, she looked out the side of the cart, attempting to calm herself by counting down the seconds until they reached the ground. She’d practically flown out of the cart as soon as she was able, grabbing onto Xavier’s arm and making like an Olympic Speed Walker. Her emotions already heightened with it being December, this kiss only increased her fairly emotional state, inducing a self-deprecating hysteria. Xavier talked her down from the peak of her emotions, which she was grateful for, but the guilt still ate away at her.
Daiane knew that she had to have a conversation with Embry about it, but then Bry was leaving to London, and this wasn’t something she wanted to talk about over the phone. Pretending that everything was alright wasn’t something she expected to do in her relationships, but she wasn’t going to ruin Embry’s vacation with… this.
Christmas came only three days after the anniversary of her father’s death, and so it was already a pretty sombre occasion in her family, but Daiane’s mood was made worse by the weight of her guilty conscience. If any of her family members were to actually pay her particular attention, maybe inquire into the state of her mental health, they would see pretty easily that she was not doing so great, but alas, no one was, really. Christmas was a day for family, and theirs had been fractured: once with Aline’s death, then with Fred’s, and the rest of them had been left holding the large, broken pieces.
Now though, with the holidays over, Daiane was in a much better mood. Most of January had passed uneventfully for her, but Embry’s parents extended their trip by several weeks, and so she still didn’t know about her and Hera’s kiss. By this point, it’s been over a month since Daiane had seen her girlfriend in person, and she missed her like crazy. Sure, her excitement at being with her again was dimmed by their looming conversation, but even so, she couldn’t wait for her to come back to Beryl.
It was in the midst of these thoughts that her phone started ringing, Daiane sprawled out across her bed with her practically untouched homework. She picked it up, a grin splitting across her lips as she saw that it was Embry who was calling her. Dai hadn’t expected a call from Embry, but it was definitely more than a welcome surprise.
“Hello love,” Embry greeted her as soon as she picked up. Sometimes Embry’s accent was less noticeable, but right now, after spending so much time in London, it was very much noticeable—Daiane may have swooned a little. “Bry!” Daiane sat up in her bed, the smile still bright despite the rising guilt. "I was just thinking about you. Hi! It feels like it’s been forever since we last talked, even though I know I called you like a couple days ago.” She laughed softly, tracing the thread of her blanket. “I miss you, Bee. Like I’m happy you get to spend time with your family in Britain but I want to spend time with you too! I swear you’ve been there for a whole year by this point—are they holding you hostage Embry? Blink twice if—oh wait can’t see you—cough twice if you need help. I’ll, like, run very fast.” Daiane grinned, ducking her head. “But seriously, are you coming back soon?”
@Caticorn
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