Lazy
Title: Lazy
Author: limnological
Rating: PG, sort of
Pairing: JeTi
Description: AU, in which pizzagirl!fany and lazy!sica collide
6,000+ words so prepare yourself for a long read. Hope it's decent. OTL
For Lambo <3 Thanks Alexa and Gloopy for the help :)
Lazy
The first, second, and third time Tiffany Hwang meets Jessica Jung is when the brunette delivers pizza to the latter’s apartment every Thursday night in April. Their brief conversations always consist of, “That’ll be $10.74,” and “Thanks, pizza girl,” in reciprocation.
Tiffany doesn’t like being called “pizza girl.” Something about it made her feel a little bit derogated. But what really bothers her is the blonde’s lack of gratuity. Tiffany’s not sure if the blonde’s really blonde or just too cheap to pay tip or doesn’t care. Not once in the last three times she’s delivered pizza has she received a tip of any kind from her. To top it all off, the girl lived on the 9th floor of her apartment building and the elevator has been broken for quite some time.
She never really looked forward to going to Apartment #902.
--
The keys jingle as Tiffany unlocks the door to her one bedroom apartment. She tosses her shoes aside tiredly as she struggles to find the strength to walk any further. She wants so badly to just crawl into bed, but the homework stack in the living room reminds her of her reason for working. Before she can make it pass the kitchen, she notices the stack of bills on the counter.
Tiffany frowns. She takes her paycheck out of her purse and opens up the envelope. She is cutting it way too close, living paycheck to paycheck. School is a lot more expensive than she had hoped for. With a sigh, she glances around her cute little apartment.
“I guess I’ll have to cut back on some things.”
Tomorrow, she’d look for a new apartment with a cheaper cost of living.
--
The fourth time she delivers pizza to Jessica Jung, she is greeted with a topless man instead of the usual blonde at the door. Tiffany stutters and trips over her words as she tries to speak to this stranger. She’s seen some pretty weird things as a pizza girl, but today was the first she saw a half-naked man answer the door. He just smiles kindly and pays her with the money on the counter inside the apartment.
When he turns around and asks the blonde for tip, the blonde just stares at him from her couch.
“I’m supposed to tip?”
The sincere confusion laced in that question makes Tiffany laugh a little bit inside. What a true blonde. The girl really didn’t know the common custom of tipping for pizza.
--
The fifth time (and first time, formally) she meets Jessica Jung is when Tiffany’s apartment manager thinks it’s a splendid idea to move them in together since Tiffany needed to find a cheaper place.
“Hi, I’m Tiffany!” It comes out loud and friendly.
“Jessica.” It comes out quiet and aloof.
There aren’t any questions or objections from Jessica. She just simply agrees to the contract and plops onto the sofa and turns on the TV.
Tiffany doesn’t know what to think, but what she does know is that she can’t give up the opportunity to live this close to campus, have a small single room, and pay a cheaper rent than her old apartment. So she signs the contract as well.
--
The first time Tiffany tries to strike up a conversation with Jessica isn’t when she moves in, but when she’s settled and eating cereal for breakfast. She greets the blonde with a cheery “Good morning!” but the latter just remains mute as she brushes her teeth lazily.
Tiffany just watches the girl take five minutes to brush her upper teeth and then another five for her bottom and by now, Tiffany’s done with breakfast and already out the door.
She can’t help, but think her roommate is a little bit strange and introverted.
--
The second time Tiffany tries to talk to Jessica and get to know her, the latter girl just replies with one-worded answers as she reads the newspaper.
“What’s your major?”
“English.”
“Cool. I’m studying biology! Um, what do you want to do with an English degree?”
“Write.”
“Ah… that’s awesome… What do you like to do for fun?”
“Read.”
“Uh, how old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
These one-word answers make her feel like she’s unwanted and just bothering the girl so she stops.
--
The third and fourth time Tiffany tries to talk to the blonde, the blonde shushes her quietly as she points to the TV. It’s some movie that Tiffany’s unfamiliar with and she just ends up huffing and puffing out of irritation. She’d really like to get to know the girl, but the girl seemed to be more interested in the fictional characters on the screen than her only apartment-mate.
She’s starting to feel like Jessica doesn’t like her at all.
--
The first time Jessica initiates a conversation with Tiffany first is when the latter brings home some leftover pizza from work as she enters the apartment.
“Pizza?”
Jessica props up from her couch-potato position and wiggles her nose a little bit. A light bulb pops up in Tiffany’s head and she sets the box on the counter. This could be an opportunity to get to know the other girl.
“Want some?”
Jessica just nods happily as she walks to the kitchen and takes a seat.
“Okay, but first you have to answer a question for every bite you take.”
The blonde just looks at the brunette strangely and then shrugs her shoulders.
“Okay.”
Tiffany is confused by the response.
“That’s it?”
Jessica takes a bite and nods her head.
“Wait, I didn’t ask my first question!”
Jessica cocks her head to one side.
“But you asked ‘that’s it?’”
Tiffany opens her mouth to protest, but the words die in her throat and she ends up chuckling.
“Smart. Well, second question then. Do you not like me?”
Jessica takes a bite.
“I don’t know.”
Tiffany feels a little hurt from the response.
“Why?”
Jessica takes a bite.
“Oh… because I just met you. I can’t say much.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why don’t you talk to me?”
“I don’t like talking. My thoughts are unorganized.”
“Oh.”
It starts to make sense in Tiffany’s brain and she decides to give the other girl a little more space. She remembers that not everyone liked to socialize 100% of the time.
--
The first time Tiffany realizes she has something in common with Jessica is when she comes home to burnt toast. The awful smell and smoke makes her a little nervous, but she glances at the open windows and lets out a sigh of relief.
“You can’t cook?”
“Nope.”
“Me, too.” Tiffany smiles, but then frowns. “That means we won’t survive here for very long.”
Jessica makes a face and nods slowly.
“Just bring home pizza every day.”
“No, we’ll die of grease.”
“Once a week.”
Tiffany contemplates it and Jessica just eggs her on with an ok sign with her fingers. It makes Tiffany laugh and she makes an ok sign too.
--
If Tiffany had to pick one word to describe her impression of Jessica, it would be ‘lazy.’ The brunette always stares at her funny as the girl seems to take the longest naps ever on the couch.
Does she even go to class?
Jessica’s usually asleep on the couch or watching some movie or engrossed in some book. Tiffany’s never really seen the girl really leave the apartment or working on homework or cleaning.
So when Tiffany brings up the subject of school at dinner, she’s not too surprised by Jessica’s answers.
“You only have one class?”
Jessica just nods. “Sometimes I don’t need to go because it’s research-based.”
Tiffany just scrunches her eyebrows together. “But when are you researching?”
“Two weeks before it’s due.”
“Procrastination is bad!’
Jessica just shrugs her shoulders. “I still get it done.”
“Well, how about a job? Do you have one?”
“I’ve never had one.”
“Wow, how are you paying for college?”
“Scholarship.”
Tiffany starts to wonder if Jessica’s one of those people who are incredibly lazy, but brilliant. Suddenly, Jessica jumps up and grins widely.
“Just kidding, I do have a job.”
“What is it?”
Before she answers, Jessica leaves the kitchen and goes to her room. A minute later she comes back into kitchen with a new shirt on and holds the hem of her shirt out for Tiffany to see.
“I’m a part time millionaire~”
Tiffany just shakes her head at the girl’s antics with a huge grin on her face. There was so much more that meets the eye than Jessica’s shy side and lack of conversation and stoic nature.
So much more.
--
The first time Jessica invites Tiffany to do something with her, it’s an invitation to sit next to her on the couch to watch Soul Surfer. Tiffany has a paper to write and research to do, but she drops it all at the girl’s invitation. Pizza is offered and blanket is shared throughout the whole thing.
After the credits roll, Jessica lets out a content sigh.
“That was a really inspiring movie. It really inspires me to do great things.”
“Like what?”
“Well,” Jessica raises her index finger, “Number one, dye my hair blonde again.”
Tiffany bursts out into laughter.
“And number two?”
Jessica just looks up and taps her finger against her chin in thought.
“I don’t remember, but I’ve already listed the most important thing.”
Tiffany laughs so hard she ends up hitting Jessica on the arm, “You are an idiot.”
Jessica’s never thought that she was a funny person. She’s never heard someone laugh so much from what she says. It makes her feel happy that she can make someone like Tiffany smile.
----
The first time they hang out as “friends” ends up becoming a weekly thing. Thursday night movies with leftover Hawaiian pizza make Tiffany look forward to Thursdays.
Sometimes they watch romantic comedies and fantasize about life with lovers. Sometimes they watch sappy love stories and it just makes both of them bawl like babies. Sometimes they watch comedies and Tiffany learns that Jessica likes to laugh a minute late.
They never watch horrors, but they always share one blanket on the couch and sit so close that Tiffany can almost count the other girl’s heart beats. When they watch thrillers, Jessica has this tendency to find Tiffany’s wrist underneath the blanket and grip onto it for dear life. Tiffany always leaves the movie feeling a little sore there, but she likes how Jessica makes a mark on her.
She’s starting to like a lot of things about Jessica Jung.
--
The first time Tiffany realizes she’s falling for Jessica isn’t when the girl is dressed up or making her laugh or during one of those movies they watch together.
It’s when Tiffany walks out to the living room and sees the girl sprawled out on the couch, hair a mess, shirt half-rising, and blanket crookedly falling off of her. It’s when Tiffany makes a quick hot cup of coffee and crosses her legs as she sits on the table, staring at Jessica sleep. It’s when she thinks to herself, “This is Jessica Jung.”
It’s when Jessica sleepily sits up, waking up at her own accord from her nap, and wiping her eye with the back of her hand. She sloppily grins at Tiffany and without needing to ask with her mouth, asks with her eyes, “Going to work?” to which Tiffany just nods as she sets her coffee aside.
It’s when Jessica reaches over, tucking that stray strand of hair away from Tiffany’s face, and whispers, “Come back soon.”
That is when Tiffany realizes she is falling for Jessica.
--
The first time they fight, they’re shouting bitter words from the living room to the kitchen. Tiffany’s upset at Jessica’s lack of household help while Jessica’s tired of the endless complaints. Pent up emotions begin to spill and both girls can’t control what comes out of their mouths.
“You’re lazy.”
“You’re uptight.”
“You never clean.”
“You’re always yelling.”
“You never listen.”
“You never stop talking.”
“That’s because you never do!”
“Maybe I don’t want to talk to you!”
“THEN I WON’T TALK TO YOU ANYMORE!”
The last comment has Tiffany storming off to her room slamming her door while Jessica throws her book at the wall and curls up the couch.
--
For the first time since Tiffany’s moved in, there’s complete silence in the dorm for the next few days and Jessica starts to regret what she’s said.
It’s too quiet now.
Not hearing Tiffany’s constant humming or laugh or insistent questions makes Jessica feel a little empty in their apartment. The younger girl only comes out of her room for class and work and avoids her like the plague.
It lasts for two days and Jessica goes nuts.
She liked the quiet before she met Tiffany, but now the quiet was too deafening on her ears without her.
--
The moment Jessica Jung realizes she’s falling for Tiffany is not when she sees the girl diligently studying or sweeping and vacuuming the floor or hears her singing in the shower.
It’s when Tiffany has stepped out of her life, even if it’s just momentarily. It’s when the emptiness in her heart makes her realize that she enjoys Tiffany’s company more than she thinks. It’s this fight, this stupid petty fight that makes her stop and think, “I miss Tiffany.”
It’s when Tiffany walks through the front door, company polo on, hair messily tied up, and sweat glistening slightly on her forehead from the hot summer heat.
It’s then that Jessica’s heart races and she wants so badly to rewind time, and smile non-stop with her.
--
The first time they make up is when Jessica stays up past 10 waiting up for the girl. Tiffany comes home from work, confused to see the frail girl on the couch waiting in the dark. She almost opens her mouth to speak to her, but remembers what she had vowed during their fight.
When Jessica just stares at her from the couch and puts her hands up to her head and yells “Stressed!” in a Korean accent, Tiffany just ends up laughing, but quickly tries to cover it up.
Jessica just pouts.
“I’m sorry. We’re both stressed right now and I shouldn’t have said mean things.”
Tiffany can’t help but walk towards the girl, arms out and open for her, already forgetting what the original argument was about.
--
Tiffany doesn’t want to ruin their friendship so she keeps her lips sealed. She tries not to stare too long when Jessica’s engrossed in a novel. She tries to stop the butterflies from rising when Jessica grips her wrist under that blanket during movies. She most definitely tries not to be jealous when she comes home to Jessica and a laughing boy, the same laughing shirtless boy she met months ago before she even knew Jessica.
But sometimes, trying isn’t enough and she realizes she’s been distant towards Jessica for a few days and now cold to her guest. She quickly runs away and hides herself in her room before she can do more damage.
The awful green monster rises from the pit of her stomach and she wishes she could just pull it out and stuff it in a jar and then throw it out the window. She runs her hand through her hair, and stands still in the middle of her room, unsure of what to do.
When she hears the front door click, her eyes automatically shut and she says it in her head, don’t - but Jessica’s already in her room, door shutting behind her, clearly not amused.
“Why weren’t you nice to my friend?”
“Just a friend?” She wants to clamp her hands over her mouth, but the venomous words are being spat out from her mouth like rain. “What kind of friend hangs around your house half naked?”
“The kind that are classified as ‘best friends.’”
“Whatever.”
Tiffany bites her lip and closes her eyes, not wanting to argue anymore.
“You’re being unreasonable.”
The comment makes her snap and Tiffany pins her hands against the doorframe, Jessica stuck in between. The blonde winces at the unfamiliar reaction and it causes Tiffany to realize what she is about to do. She stares, perhaps a moment longer than she really should, then shakes her head.
I can’t.
Tiffany takes a step back, turning away from Jessica and whispers softly.
“Sorry. Please leave me alone.”
She starts to walk, but her wrist gets caught by the familiar hand and voice.
“Wait.” Tiffany hisses under her breath, not ready for this moment. Jessica holds on tighter. “Tell me what… what am I to you?”
The words get stuck in her throat out of fear, but that doesn’t stop Jessica from insisting.
“What am I to you?”
She dares not to turn around and whispers so softly that Jessica has to strain her ears to hear it.
“Everything.”
Tiffany almost cries when Jessica lets go of her hand. She almost falls to her knees when Jessica says nothing in return.
But then Jessica wraps her arms around her waist and puts her forehead against the back of her neck and kisses it softly.
“Good, because I like you, too.”
That one sentence is enough for Tiffany to take a leap of faith and let Jessica dive deeper into her heart.
--
There’s nothing romantic about their first kiss. Tiffany simply didn’t see it coming. She’s standing at the bottom of the complex, talking with a past crush as she puts her helmet away in the moped. Next thing she knows, Jessica is right by her side. She introduces them to each other.
“And this is Jessica, my -“
Before she even gets close to finishing, Jessica gives her a brief kiss on the lips, leaving the younger girl dumbfounded and breathless before her and her past crush.
The third wheel just smiles and congratulates the two on their new relationship before taking off.
“That was subtle. Subtle as a rhino, Jessi.”
Jessica just grins and slides her hand casually into Tiffany’s.
“They say actions speak louder than words.”
“Well it wasn’t very -“
Jessica kisses her again, interrupting her and then laughs lightly at the blushing girl.
Tiffany is beginning to learn that Jessica Jung is not subtle.
--
The first time Jessica decides to get a job, Tiffany goes with her to make sure the blonde fills out applications properly. They apply at retail stores, cafes, and then a bakery. But as they walk into the bakery, Tiffany gives Jessica a little tug on her shirt.
“You know what they say about skinny bakers?”
“What?”
She leans forward and whispers into her ear. “Never trust a skinny baker.”
“She’s skinny alright, but check out those cheeks. That’s evidence of all the sweets and baked goods she’s been taste testing.”
“Good point. Give it a go. Oh wait.”
Jessica turns around and lightly blushes when Tiffany carefully fixes her fringe. She likes it when Tiffany plays with her hair.
--
The first time Tiffany decides they need to be more active than just watching movies and staying indoor ends up having the opposite effect.
“Baseball?” Jessica stares at her strangely as she follows her into the open grass field.
“It’s the American dream!”
“This is your idea of exercise?”
“Yes, we can start small. We’re going to play catch, and that’s that. Ready?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Jessica mumbles as she adjusts her hat.
Tiffany gets into form and gives her arm a good swing. Her hair whips forward covering her face as she throws the ball.
Unfortunately, the ball goes completely to the right of Jessica, into what would have been the strike zone if this was real baseball.
Jessica just laughs at her apartment-mate.
“Pfft! You suck. Oh, and your hair looked great in the wind.”
“Shut up, you try pitching in these pants and shoes! And it was the wind’s fault the ball flew that way.”
“Yeah, right. It’s your fault you decided to dress fashionably while playing catch, like it’s a big deal or something. You even ended up ripping your pants!”
Tiffany looks down at her pants and frowns at the newfound tear in her right knee.
“Aww! My favorite pants.”
Jessica walks over to the ball on the ground and looks Tiffany square in the eye.
“My turn.”
Jessica gets into position and has a look of determination in her eyes. She swings her arm forward and releases the ball with all her might as her hair, too, whips forward to cover her face.
And the ball dives straight into the ground a couple feet away from her.
There is a few seconds of silence before Jessica blushes and mutters, “The ground got in the way of my perfect pitch.”
Tiffany and Jessica make eye contact and the brunette falls to her knees in laughter. The infectious laughter causes Jessica to laugh incredibly hard, too.
“We’re such idiots.”
Jessica mutters these words as she wipes tears from her eyes. Tiffany just nods with her statement as she holds onto her stomach.
They never played baseball or catch or whatever it was that they had just attempted ever again.
--
The first day of work for Jessica, Tiffany finds her on the staircase as she returns from the library.
“Jessica? What are you doing on the staircase?”
A box of sweets sits open right next to her legs.
“I wanted to bring the sweets home for us to eat, but I got tired going up the seventh staircase.” Jessica munches on one of the sweets. “Want a bite?”
“You…” Tiffany lets out a little laughter, “… are so lazy.”
Jessica just grins at her and holds out her partially bitten donut. She smiles as Tiffany leans forward to eat it and then takes a seat next to her. The night is still young and the stars shine dimly above them.
“How was your first day of work?”
“Oh, so tiring… I had to stand almost the entire day and sometimes talk to people who are so mean. It’s not my fault some people don’t like the cherry pie! Why would you order cherry pie if you didn’t like it? How do you work with people every day?”
Tiffany laughs.
“You have to build stamina. You’ve lived a pretty sedentary life so far. And as for the mean people, don’t let them get to you. Sometimes people are mean for a good reason or no reason at all.”
“Ahh, I just want to sleep. Carry me up the stairs.”
“No. But I’ll carry the box for you.”
Jessica pouts at the younger girl.
“You. Stop it, Jessi -“
Tiffany sighs.
There aren’t any more protests as Tiffany gives Jessica a piggy back ride with the blonde holding the box with her free hand as the other clings onto Tiffany for dear life.
Tiffany just smiles as she feels Jessica’s chin rest atop her shoulder.
She knows the blonde is smiling and it makes her smile too.
--
The first time Jessica really laughs until she can’t breathe is when they’re sitting on the couch, lounging around on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Tiffany breaks the sudden silence with an odd question.
“When is July 4th?”
Jessica raises an eyebrow, “Did you just ask me that?”
Tiffany realizes how stupid she just sounded and tries to cover up her mistake. “I meant what day of the year!”
“What? Hahaha!”
It’s enough to send Jessica tumbling into the side of the couch out of laughter.
“I meant - Oh never mind!” Tiffany just huffs and puffs at her mistake as she whips out her own phone to check the calendar.
“Let me guess, it’s July 4th, right Hwang?”
Tiffany smacks her on the arm and it just makes Jessica laugh harder. A few minutes later, they finally pick a movie to watch and Tiffany glances over at her.
Tiffany speaks softly, “So about July 4th -”
Jessica’s head goes back and she’s trying to cover her mouth, but the laughter just erupts, echoing in the apartment.
--
The first time Jessica asks Tiffany a question, it leads to many more as they wash the dishes together.
“Why do you deliver pizzas?”
“What?”
“I mean, it’s a dangerous job. I’ve read stories on the news before. Bad, bad stories. Couldn’t you get kidnapped?”
Tiffany knows where this conversation is going.
“I can protect myself just fine.”
“Really? And what if you’re overestimating your abilities?”
The familiar words spark irritation.
“I’m stronger than you think.”
“What if something unexpected happens?”
She bites her tongue at the remark.
“I’m fine.”
“Tiffany, I don’t think -“
The plate falls from Tiffany’s hands into the sink, creating a loud crash. It doesn’t shatter, but Tiffany wishes it did.
“Well, don’t think Jessica! I didn’t ask you to.”
Jessica’s quiet now and immobile as she holds the drying towel still. Tiffany clenches her fists underneath the pool of water and then slowly lets go.
“I’m sorry. I just… I get tired of hearing those words every day.”
Jessica says nothing else as she sets aside the plate. Her silence is an invitation for Tiffany to keep speaking.
“My family keeps telling me to quit. But the economy’s rough as it is and my boss is really one of a kind. I am fine working there and will be. Please don’t get on my case like everyone else, too.”
When Jessica brings up her hand and drags it slowly across Tiffany’s spine to soothe her, Tiffany’s shoulders release tension and she knows the other girl is apologetic. And when Jessica’s free hand takes a scoop of bubbles and perfectly lands it onto Tiffany’s nose, Tiffany lets out a little yelp.
“Don’t frown. Never stop smiling.” Jessica grins childishly at her and Tiffany just throws her head back into a good laugh.
Tiffany likes how Jessica can make her laugh so easily, can make her walls come down, can make her want to tell the older girl everything about her life.
--
The first time Jessica realizes Tiffany sucks at art is when she sees the girl studying in the living room.
“What’s that?”
Jessica peers at the drawing Tiffany is working on, but her view is upside down as she stands across from Tiffany.
“It’s a hair follicle.”
“It looks like radish.”
“What? No. This is the epidermis and the root of hair and the hair shaft and the -”
“All I see is soil and radish.”
“If I think of radishes during the exam I will kill you.”
Jessica leans forward and whispers softly.
“Radish.”
Tiffany throws her eraser at her, effectively hitting her in the gut.
“Oof. That was totally worth saying radish though.”
Tiffany just chuckles at her stupid girlfriend.
--
The first time Jessica celebrates Tiffany’s birthday with her, Jessica almost dies. She sneakily walks into Tiffany’s room with her hands behind her back and teases the girl sitting in her chair.
“I didn’t get you a present because I’m the best you’ve ever had.”
Tiffany laughs and gives her a skeptical look. “Let me see what’s behind your back.”
“Just kidding. Happy birthday!”
The small pink box makes Tiffany excited. Quickly, she rips the wrapping to shreds and unsheathes the lid. Slightly confused, Tiffany takes out the contents of the box.
“You bought me a taser?”
“Yes.”
She moves it back and forth between her hands, carefully examining it.
“A pink taser?”
Tiffany pushes the button without thinking and zaps Jessica to the ground.
“JESSICA!” Tiffany starts to panic as she stares at the limp girl. She falls to her knees and shakes Jessica violently. Fortunately, the blonde starts to move slowly. “Oh my God, Jessica!”
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Jessica slurs her words together, feeling strange and fuzzy. Once she begins to recuperate, she squints at Tiffany, still in her arms. “But wow, I almost died on your birthday.”
“I’M SO SORRY! Why did you get me a taser?”
“It’s for protection against creepers. Delivering pizza can be dangerous for a girl like you.”
Tiffany feels moved by the thoughtful gift so she hugs the girl so tight that she thinks she might break her in half.
Jessica doesn’t say anything else because her smile says it all.
--
The first time Tiffany’s running late for work, Jessica decides to share some wise words with her.
“Never run no matter how late you are.”
Tiffany ignores it as she frantically rushes out the door, shoes not tied and hair a bloody mess.
And when Jessica ends up being late for class or work, Tiffany’s practically shoving her out the door and dragging her down nine flights of stairs and throwing her moped helmet at her with threats of, “If you’re late one more time to work, I will stop bringing pizza home.”
Jessica hates running, but she doesn’t mind it if Tiffany’s running away with her, hands locked together in a firm grip.
--
The credits roll and Tiffany lets out a loud yawn as she stretches, Jessica still nuzzled into her neck.
Sleepily, Tiffany turns off the TV with a remote and they sit for a few more seconds on the couch.
“Time for bed.”
“Mhh.”
“Yours or mine?”
“Neither.”
Jessica pulls her down as she leans backwards, flat on the couch. Tiffany is surprised by the tug, but she relents.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
Tiffany just chuckles because she knows the blonde is just too damn lazy to get up and move to a bed.
--
Shouts are yelled and hearts are wounded as the two of them stand at opposite ends of the hallway. They repeat this fight of Tiffany’s jealousies and Jessica’s impatience.
It has the both of them going off to their own rooms, slamming doors with heaving chests.
It’s the same old fight and the same old excuses.
But somehow within a few hours, one or the other comes crawling back into the other’s arms, anger dissipated and hurt only left scarred.
Tonight it’s Jessica who apologizes first.
Tonight it’s Jessica who kisses Tiffany tenderly on the collarbone, begging for forgiveness for making the girl upset. It’s Jessica who bites hard into Tiffany’s flesh, leaving a mark for the girl to know that she only wanted her. It’s Jessica who grazes her teeth against Tiffany’s jawline and whispers “I love you and only you. Don’t doubt it.”
It’s Tiffany whose anger collapses when she sees Jessica begging before her to see that she only loves, loved, and will love her.
--
Jessica groggily stands in front of the mirror with a big t-shirt and short shorts as she reaches over to grab her toothpaste and toothbrush.
Tiffany’s back leans against the vanity and she watches in amusement as Jessica struggles to brush her teeth.
“Do I have to do everything for you?”
Tiffany lets the comment out as a half-joke. It still takes Jessica five minutes to brush her upper mouth.
There’s no response from Jessica.
One eye is closed and Jessica just drifts off back to sleep while standing and Tiffany shakes her head. She grabs Jessica’s hand and starts to guide the toothbrush around her mouth in a faster motion. Soon enough, Tiffany has effectively brushed the blonde’s teeth for her. As Jessica spits out the toothpaste into the sink, Tiffany teases her.
“Should I dress you, too?”
Out of nowhere, Jessica’s hand comes up to Tiffany’s jaw and she pulls the girl in for a light mint kiss. She smiles playfully as she stares into the girl’s eyes.
“No, I prefer it when you undress me.”
Tiffany lightly pushes Jessica back into her room and shuts the door behind her.
She doesn’t need to be told twice.
--
Tiffany quickly learns that Jessica, the bookworm, doesn’t like the school library. Theory-based textbooks were not her cup of tea. They sit side by side at a study table. Jessica’s resting her chin on her arms as she leans on the table while Tiffany stares hard at the words jumbling together on the pages before her.
The library suddenly becomes loud as a few boys walk past the table, laughing and talking like they ruled the world. Tiffany shakes her head in disapproval as she gawks at their disrespectful behavior. She tries to refocus her attention back on her textbook, but they were being too loud.
Suddenly, soft hands cup over Tiffany’s ears and the noise softens. The brunette stops reading her text and looks up at Jessica, confused.
The girl isn’t looking at her. Tiffany has never seen such a cold, hard stare from the blonde ever before her in life. She’s looking past Tiffany with a glare evident on her face. After a few seconds pass, she releases her hold on Tiffany’s ears and whispers quietly.
“I didn’t like how loud they were being. You have to study, right?”
Tiffany almost melts in her seat at Jessica’s sweet gesture. She learns forward to peck the girl on the cheek.
“Thank you, Jessi.”
Jessica was just way too good to her when it came to the little things in life.
--
The one time Tiffany decides to take a nap in the library, she wakes up to a surprise.
Tiffany’s eyes flutter slowly as her consciousness stirs awake. Skin slightly stuck to the wood, she breathes in slowly, telling herself to get up. Slowly, her eyes squint together, staring at an unfamiliar white object in front of her. As she sits up and massages her sore neck, she lets out a slight gasp, and then laughs quietly, taking in the scene she’s enveloped in.
She’s surrounded by seven, no ten, paper airplanes, scattered on the table and on the floor.
She picks up the one right in front of her and sees the dark ink printed within the folds of the paper. Opening it quickly, a wide grin appears on her face.
“Hi, I love you.”
She opens the rest, giddy at the little surprises.
“Come home soon.”
“Never stop smiling.”
“My heart soars when I see you.”
“Drive safe to work.”
“Stay with me.”
“Movie and pizza soon, please.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“I am now a pro at making paper airplanes.”
For a girl who didn’t like talking much, Jessica Jung always knew how to make Tiffany swoon over with her words.
--
Sometimes Tiffany gets anxiety over tests. Sometimes her anxiety is so bad she has a hard time breathing. All she wants in life really is no regrets. That’s why she puts 110% effort into everything she does.
So when Tiffany fidgets in her seat in the classroom and opens up her notes to study last minute, she’s pleasantly surprised by the little paper tucked in between the pages.
She tries not to laugh too hard to avoid the stares and weird looks, but she can’t help it.
She smiles, her anxieties subsiding and happiness bubbling from the depths of her heart.
--
It’s the little things she loves the most about Jessica. She loves how the girl likes to interrupt her with a kiss when she’s trying to explain a story. It usually leaves her brain dead and she likes it a lot. She loves how Jessica leaves her a cup of caramel coffee on the counter right before she heads off to work. It really gives Tiffany great joy because she knows Jessica wakes up just for that and then goes back to nap.
Jessica is a master of making the little things count, but Tiffany tries, too.
Tiffany likes leaving written messages on the blonde’s arm for her to wake up to.
Messages like, “Good morning/afternoon/night sleeping beauty” and “Wake up soon so I can kiss you” and “Don’t be late, and make sure to run if you are” and “I love you more than you love Hawaiian pizza and movies and books” and “We’re so meant to be.”
What she doesn’t know is that Jessica almost always bursts into tears of happiness at these little love notes and ends up kissing the words on her arm one by one since she cannot kiss Tiffany at the moment.
--
They shared a lot of ‘firsts’, but what Tiffany really likes is the idea of sharing a lot of ‘lasts.’ She really likes the idea of being the last person to have touched Jessica, the last person to have kissed her in the morning, the last one to hear her laugh uncontrollably, the last one to survive her cooking.
Maybe ‘only’ was a better word.
She definitely likes being the only one to receive those little love notes, the only one living with Jessica, the only one who gets to kiss her tenderly everywhere.
She likes telling her declarations of love, too.
“You’re the only one for me.”
--
Jessica Jung may be lazy when it comes to school and work. She may like her long naps and five hundred paged novels and free movies on Netflix and seem extremely lazy.
She may be lazy in everything she does, but she is not lazy when it comes to her love for Tiffany.
Tiffany makes her everything, but lazy.
Tiffany makes her blood rush, makes her feet move on its own, makes her smile, makes her want to be awake 24/Tiffany time, makes her love her so, so much.
Tiffany makes her feel everything, but lazy. She moves her, propels her, motivates her, holds her so close she can’t breathe, kisses so roughly sometimes she bruises.
Most of all, Tiffany Hwang makes her happy.
----------
A/N: Haven't written in awhile, so I feel rusty as heck. Hope you enjoyed it! If you can, please let me know what your favorite part was and what I can improve on. ^^;
Author: limnological
Rating: PG, sort of
Pairing: JeTi
Description: AU, in which pizzagirl!fany and lazy!sica collide
6,000+ words so prepare yourself for a long read. Hope it's decent. OTL
For Lambo <3 Thanks Alexa and Gloopy for the help :)
Lazy
The first, second, and third time Tiffany Hwang meets Jessica Jung is when the brunette delivers pizza to the latter’s apartment every Thursday night in April. Their brief conversations always consist of, “That’ll be $10.74,” and “Thanks, pizza girl,” in reciprocation.
Tiffany doesn’t like being called “pizza girl.” Something about it made her feel a little bit derogated. But what really bothers her is the blonde’s lack of gratuity. Tiffany’s not sure if the blonde’s really blonde or just too cheap to pay tip or doesn’t care. Not once in the last three times she’s delivered pizza has she received a tip of any kind from her. To top it all off, the girl lived on the 9th floor of her apartment building and the elevator has been broken for quite some time.
She never really looked forward to going to Apartment #902.
--
The keys jingle as Tiffany unlocks the door to her one bedroom apartment. She tosses her shoes aside tiredly as she struggles to find the strength to walk any further. She wants so badly to just crawl into bed, but the homework stack in the living room reminds her of her reason for working. Before she can make it pass the kitchen, she notices the stack of bills on the counter.
Tiffany frowns. She takes her paycheck out of her purse and opens up the envelope. She is cutting it way too close, living paycheck to paycheck. School is a lot more expensive than she had hoped for. With a sigh, she glances around her cute little apartment.
“I guess I’ll have to cut back on some things.”
Tomorrow, she’d look for a new apartment with a cheaper cost of living.
--
The fourth time she delivers pizza to Jessica Jung, she is greeted with a topless man instead of the usual blonde at the door. Tiffany stutters and trips over her words as she tries to speak to this stranger. She’s seen some pretty weird things as a pizza girl, but today was the first she saw a half-naked man answer the door. He just smiles kindly and pays her with the money on the counter inside the apartment.
When he turns around and asks the blonde for tip, the blonde just stares at him from her couch.
“I’m supposed to tip?”
The sincere confusion laced in that question makes Tiffany laugh a little bit inside. What a true blonde. The girl really didn’t know the common custom of tipping for pizza.
--
The fifth time (and first time, formally) she meets Jessica Jung is when Tiffany’s apartment manager thinks it’s a splendid idea to move them in together since Tiffany needed to find a cheaper place.
“Hi, I’m Tiffany!” It comes out loud and friendly.
“Jessica.” It comes out quiet and aloof.
There aren’t any questions or objections from Jessica. She just simply agrees to the contract and plops onto the sofa and turns on the TV.
Tiffany doesn’t know what to think, but what she does know is that she can’t give up the opportunity to live this close to campus, have a small single room, and pay a cheaper rent than her old apartment. So she signs the contract as well.
--
The first time Tiffany tries to strike up a conversation with Jessica isn’t when she moves in, but when she’s settled and eating cereal for breakfast. She greets the blonde with a cheery “Good morning!” but the latter just remains mute as she brushes her teeth lazily.
Tiffany just watches the girl take five minutes to brush her upper teeth and then another five for her bottom and by now, Tiffany’s done with breakfast and already out the door.
She can’t help, but think her roommate is a little bit strange and introverted.
--
The second time Tiffany tries to talk to Jessica and get to know her, the latter girl just replies with one-worded answers as she reads the newspaper.
“What’s your major?”
“English.”
“Cool. I’m studying biology! Um, what do you want to do with an English degree?”
“Write.”
“Ah… that’s awesome… What do you like to do for fun?”
“Read.”
“Uh, how old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
These one-word answers make her feel like she’s unwanted and just bothering the girl so she stops.
--
The third and fourth time Tiffany tries to talk to the blonde, the blonde shushes her quietly as she points to the TV. It’s some movie that Tiffany’s unfamiliar with and she just ends up huffing and puffing out of irritation. She’d really like to get to know the girl, but the girl seemed to be more interested in the fictional characters on the screen than her only apartment-mate.
She’s starting to feel like Jessica doesn’t like her at all.
--
The first time Jessica initiates a conversation with Tiffany first is when the latter brings home some leftover pizza from work as she enters the apartment.
“Pizza?”
Jessica props up from her couch-potato position and wiggles her nose a little bit. A light bulb pops up in Tiffany’s head and she sets the box on the counter. This could be an opportunity to get to know the other girl.
“Want some?”
Jessica just nods happily as she walks to the kitchen and takes a seat.
“Okay, but first you have to answer a question for every bite you take.”
The blonde just looks at the brunette strangely and then shrugs her shoulders.
“Okay.”
Tiffany is confused by the response.
“That’s it?”
Jessica takes a bite and nods her head.
“Wait, I didn’t ask my first question!”
Jessica cocks her head to one side.
“But you asked ‘that’s it?’”
Tiffany opens her mouth to protest, but the words die in her throat and she ends up chuckling.
“Smart. Well, second question then. Do you not like me?”
Jessica takes a bite.
“I don’t know.”
Tiffany feels a little hurt from the response.
“Why?”
Jessica takes a bite.
“Oh… because I just met you. I can’t say much.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why don’t you talk to me?”
“I don’t like talking. My thoughts are unorganized.”
“Oh.”
It starts to make sense in Tiffany’s brain and she decides to give the other girl a little more space. She remembers that not everyone liked to socialize 100% of the time.
--
The first time Tiffany realizes she has something in common with Jessica is when she comes home to burnt toast. The awful smell and smoke makes her a little nervous, but she glances at the open windows and lets out a sigh of relief.
“You can’t cook?”
“Nope.”
“Me, too.” Tiffany smiles, but then frowns. “That means we won’t survive here for very long.”
Jessica makes a face and nods slowly.
“Just bring home pizza every day.”
“No, we’ll die of grease.”
“Once a week.”
Tiffany contemplates it and Jessica just eggs her on with an ok sign with her fingers. It makes Tiffany laugh and she makes an ok sign too.
--
If Tiffany had to pick one word to describe her impression of Jessica, it would be ‘lazy.’ The brunette always stares at her funny as the girl seems to take the longest naps ever on the couch.
Does she even go to class?
Jessica’s usually asleep on the couch or watching some movie or engrossed in some book. Tiffany’s never really seen the girl really leave the apartment or working on homework or cleaning.
So when Tiffany brings up the subject of school at dinner, she’s not too surprised by Jessica’s answers.
“You only have one class?”
Jessica just nods. “Sometimes I don’t need to go because it’s research-based.”
Tiffany just scrunches her eyebrows together. “But when are you researching?”
“Two weeks before it’s due.”
“Procrastination is bad!’
Jessica just shrugs her shoulders. “I still get it done.”
“Well, how about a job? Do you have one?”
“I’ve never had one.”
“Wow, how are you paying for college?”
“Scholarship.”
Tiffany starts to wonder if Jessica’s one of those people who are incredibly lazy, but brilliant. Suddenly, Jessica jumps up and grins widely.
“Just kidding, I do have a job.”
“What is it?”
Before she answers, Jessica leaves the kitchen and goes to her room. A minute later she comes back into kitchen with a new shirt on and holds the hem of her shirt out for Tiffany to see.
“I’m a part time millionaire~”
Tiffany just shakes her head at the girl’s antics with a huge grin on her face. There was so much more that meets the eye than Jessica’s shy side and lack of conversation and stoic nature.
So much more.
--
The first time Jessica invites Tiffany to do something with her, it’s an invitation to sit next to her on the couch to watch Soul Surfer. Tiffany has a paper to write and research to do, but she drops it all at the girl’s invitation. Pizza is offered and blanket is shared throughout the whole thing.
After the credits roll, Jessica lets out a content sigh.
“That was a really inspiring movie. It really inspires me to do great things.”
“Like what?”
“Well,” Jessica raises her index finger, “Number one, dye my hair blonde again.”
Tiffany bursts out into laughter.
“And number two?”
Jessica just looks up and taps her finger against her chin in thought.
“I don’t remember, but I’ve already listed the most important thing.”
Tiffany laughs so hard she ends up hitting Jessica on the arm, “You are an idiot.”
Jessica’s never thought that she was a funny person. She’s never heard someone laugh so much from what she says. It makes her feel happy that she can make someone like Tiffany smile.
----
The first time they hang out as “friends” ends up becoming a weekly thing. Thursday night movies with leftover Hawaiian pizza make Tiffany look forward to Thursdays.
Sometimes they watch romantic comedies and fantasize about life with lovers. Sometimes they watch sappy love stories and it just makes both of them bawl like babies. Sometimes they watch comedies and Tiffany learns that Jessica likes to laugh a minute late.
They never watch horrors, but they always share one blanket on the couch and sit so close that Tiffany can almost count the other girl’s heart beats. When they watch thrillers, Jessica has this tendency to find Tiffany’s wrist underneath the blanket and grip onto it for dear life. Tiffany always leaves the movie feeling a little sore there, but she likes how Jessica makes a mark on her.
She’s starting to like a lot of things about Jessica Jung.
--
The first time Tiffany realizes she’s falling for Jessica isn’t when the girl is dressed up or making her laugh or during one of those movies they watch together.
It’s when Tiffany walks out to the living room and sees the girl sprawled out on the couch, hair a mess, shirt half-rising, and blanket crookedly falling off of her. It’s when Tiffany makes a quick hot cup of coffee and crosses her legs as she sits on the table, staring at Jessica sleep. It’s when she thinks to herself, “This is Jessica Jung.”
It’s when Jessica sleepily sits up, waking up at her own accord from her nap, and wiping her eye with the back of her hand. She sloppily grins at Tiffany and without needing to ask with her mouth, asks with her eyes, “Going to work?” to which Tiffany just nods as she sets her coffee aside.
It’s when Jessica reaches over, tucking that stray strand of hair away from Tiffany’s face, and whispers, “Come back soon.”
That is when Tiffany realizes she is falling for Jessica.
--
The first time they fight, they’re shouting bitter words from the living room to the kitchen. Tiffany’s upset at Jessica’s lack of household help while Jessica’s tired of the endless complaints. Pent up emotions begin to spill and both girls can’t control what comes out of their mouths.
“You’re lazy.”
“You’re uptight.”
“You never clean.”
“You’re always yelling.”
“You never listen.”
“You never stop talking.”
“That’s because you never do!”
“Maybe I don’t want to talk to you!”
“THEN I WON’T TALK TO YOU ANYMORE!”
The last comment has Tiffany storming off to her room slamming her door while Jessica throws her book at the wall and curls up the couch.
--
For the first time since Tiffany’s moved in, there’s complete silence in the dorm for the next few days and Jessica starts to regret what she’s said.
It’s too quiet now.
Not hearing Tiffany’s constant humming or laugh or insistent questions makes Jessica feel a little empty in their apartment. The younger girl only comes out of her room for class and work and avoids her like the plague.
It lasts for two days and Jessica goes nuts.
She liked the quiet before she met Tiffany, but now the quiet was too deafening on her ears without her.
--
The moment Jessica Jung realizes she’s falling for Tiffany is not when she sees the girl diligently studying or sweeping and vacuuming the floor or hears her singing in the shower.
It’s when Tiffany has stepped out of her life, even if it’s just momentarily. It’s when the emptiness in her heart makes her realize that she enjoys Tiffany’s company more than she thinks. It’s this fight, this stupid petty fight that makes her stop and think, “I miss Tiffany.”
It’s when Tiffany walks through the front door, company polo on, hair messily tied up, and sweat glistening slightly on her forehead from the hot summer heat.
It’s then that Jessica’s heart races and she wants so badly to rewind time, and smile non-stop with her.
--
The first time they make up is when Jessica stays up past 10 waiting up for the girl. Tiffany comes home from work, confused to see the frail girl on the couch waiting in the dark. She almost opens her mouth to speak to her, but remembers what she had vowed during their fight.
When Jessica just stares at her from the couch and puts her hands up to her head and yells “Stressed!” in a Korean accent, Tiffany just ends up laughing, but quickly tries to cover it up.
Jessica just pouts.
“I’m sorry. We’re both stressed right now and I shouldn’t have said mean things.”
Tiffany can’t help but walk towards the girl, arms out and open for her, already forgetting what the original argument was about.
--
Tiffany doesn’t want to ruin their friendship so she keeps her lips sealed. She tries not to stare too long when Jessica’s engrossed in a novel. She tries to stop the butterflies from rising when Jessica grips her wrist under that blanket during movies. She most definitely tries not to be jealous when she comes home to Jessica and a laughing boy, the same laughing shirtless boy she met months ago before she even knew Jessica.
But sometimes, trying isn’t enough and she realizes she’s been distant towards Jessica for a few days and now cold to her guest. She quickly runs away and hides herself in her room before she can do more damage.
The awful green monster rises from the pit of her stomach and she wishes she could just pull it out and stuff it in a jar and then throw it out the window. She runs her hand through her hair, and stands still in the middle of her room, unsure of what to do.
When she hears the front door click, her eyes automatically shut and she says it in her head, don’t - but Jessica’s already in her room, door shutting behind her, clearly not amused.
“Why weren’t you nice to my friend?”
“Just a friend?” She wants to clamp her hands over her mouth, but the venomous words are being spat out from her mouth like rain. “What kind of friend hangs around your house half naked?”
“The kind that are classified as ‘best friends.’”
“Whatever.”
Tiffany bites her lip and closes her eyes, not wanting to argue anymore.
“You’re being unreasonable.”
The comment makes her snap and Tiffany pins her hands against the doorframe, Jessica stuck in between. The blonde winces at the unfamiliar reaction and it causes Tiffany to realize what she is about to do. She stares, perhaps a moment longer than she really should, then shakes her head.
I can’t.
Tiffany takes a step back, turning away from Jessica and whispers softly.
“Sorry. Please leave me alone.”
She starts to walk, but her wrist gets caught by the familiar hand and voice.
“Wait.” Tiffany hisses under her breath, not ready for this moment. Jessica holds on tighter. “Tell me what… what am I to you?”
The words get stuck in her throat out of fear, but that doesn’t stop Jessica from insisting.
“What am I to you?”
She dares not to turn around and whispers so softly that Jessica has to strain her ears to hear it.
“Everything.”
Tiffany almost cries when Jessica lets go of her hand. She almost falls to her knees when Jessica says nothing in return.
But then Jessica wraps her arms around her waist and puts her forehead against the back of her neck and kisses it softly.
“Good, because I like you, too.”
That one sentence is enough for Tiffany to take a leap of faith and let Jessica dive deeper into her heart.
--
There’s nothing romantic about their first kiss. Tiffany simply didn’t see it coming. She’s standing at the bottom of the complex, talking with a past crush as she puts her helmet away in the moped. Next thing she knows, Jessica is right by her side. She introduces them to each other.
“And this is Jessica, my -“
Before she even gets close to finishing, Jessica gives her a brief kiss on the lips, leaving the younger girl dumbfounded and breathless before her and her past crush.
The third wheel just smiles and congratulates the two on their new relationship before taking off.
“That was subtle. Subtle as a rhino, Jessi.”
Jessica just grins and slides her hand casually into Tiffany’s.
“They say actions speak louder than words.”
“Well it wasn’t very -“
Jessica kisses her again, interrupting her and then laughs lightly at the blushing girl.
Tiffany is beginning to learn that Jessica Jung is not subtle.
--
The first time Jessica decides to get a job, Tiffany goes with her to make sure the blonde fills out applications properly. They apply at retail stores, cafes, and then a bakery. But as they walk into the bakery, Tiffany gives Jessica a little tug on her shirt.
“You know what they say about skinny bakers?”
“What?”
She leans forward and whispers into her ear. “Never trust a skinny baker.”
“She’s skinny alright, but check out those cheeks. That’s evidence of all the sweets and baked goods she’s been taste testing.”
“Good point. Give it a go. Oh wait.”
Jessica turns around and lightly blushes when Tiffany carefully fixes her fringe. She likes it when Tiffany plays with her hair.
--
The first time Tiffany decides they need to be more active than just watching movies and staying indoor ends up having the opposite effect.
“Baseball?” Jessica stares at her strangely as she follows her into the open grass field.
“It’s the American dream!”
“This is your idea of exercise?”
“Yes, we can start small. We’re going to play catch, and that’s that. Ready?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Jessica mumbles as she adjusts her hat.
Tiffany gets into form and gives her arm a good swing. Her hair whips forward covering her face as she throws the ball.
Unfortunately, the ball goes completely to the right of Jessica, into what would have been the strike zone if this was real baseball.
Jessica just laughs at her apartment-mate.
“Pfft! You suck. Oh, and your hair looked great in the wind.”
“Shut up, you try pitching in these pants and shoes! And it was the wind’s fault the ball flew that way.”
“Yeah, right. It’s your fault you decided to dress fashionably while playing catch, like it’s a big deal or something. You even ended up ripping your pants!”
Tiffany looks down at her pants and frowns at the newfound tear in her right knee.
“Aww! My favorite pants.”
Jessica walks over to the ball on the ground and looks Tiffany square in the eye.
“My turn.”
Jessica gets into position and has a look of determination in her eyes. She swings her arm forward and releases the ball with all her might as her hair, too, whips forward to cover her face.
And the ball dives straight into the ground a couple feet away from her.
There is a few seconds of silence before Jessica blushes and mutters, “The ground got in the way of my perfect pitch.”
Tiffany and Jessica make eye contact and the brunette falls to her knees in laughter. The infectious laughter causes Jessica to laugh incredibly hard, too.
“We’re such idiots.”
Jessica mutters these words as she wipes tears from her eyes. Tiffany just nods with her statement as she holds onto her stomach.
They never played baseball or catch or whatever it was that they had just attempted ever again.
--
The first day of work for Jessica, Tiffany finds her on the staircase as she returns from the library.
“Jessica? What are you doing on the staircase?”
A box of sweets sits open right next to her legs.
“I wanted to bring the sweets home for us to eat, but I got tired going up the seventh staircase.” Jessica munches on one of the sweets. “Want a bite?”
“You…” Tiffany lets out a little laughter, “… are so lazy.”
Jessica just grins at her and holds out her partially bitten donut. She smiles as Tiffany leans forward to eat it and then takes a seat next to her. The night is still young and the stars shine dimly above them.
“How was your first day of work?”
“Oh, so tiring… I had to stand almost the entire day and sometimes talk to people who are so mean. It’s not my fault some people don’t like the cherry pie! Why would you order cherry pie if you didn’t like it? How do you work with people every day?”
Tiffany laughs.
“You have to build stamina. You’ve lived a pretty sedentary life so far. And as for the mean people, don’t let them get to you. Sometimes people are mean for a good reason or no reason at all.”
“Ahh, I just want to sleep. Carry me up the stairs.”
“No. But I’ll carry the box for you.”
Jessica pouts at the younger girl.
“You. Stop it, Jessi -“
Tiffany sighs.
There aren’t any more protests as Tiffany gives Jessica a piggy back ride with the blonde holding the box with her free hand as the other clings onto Tiffany for dear life.
Tiffany just smiles as she feels Jessica’s chin rest atop her shoulder.
She knows the blonde is smiling and it makes her smile too.
--
The first time Jessica really laughs until she can’t breathe is when they’re sitting on the couch, lounging around on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Tiffany breaks the sudden silence with an odd question.
“When is July 4th?”
Jessica raises an eyebrow, “Did you just ask me that?”
Tiffany realizes how stupid she just sounded and tries to cover up her mistake. “I meant what day of the year!”
“What? Hahaha!”
It’s enough to send Jessica tumbling into the side of the couch out of laughter.
“I meant - Oh never mind!” Tiffany just huffs and puffs at her mistake as she whips out her own phone to check the calendar.
“Let me guess, it’s July 4th, right Hwang?”
Tiffany smacks her on the arm and it just makes Jessica laugh harder. A few minutes later, they finally pick a movie to watch and Tiffany glances over at her.
Tiffany speaks softly, “So about July 4th -”
Jessica’s head goes back and she’s trying to cover her mouth, but the laughter just erupts, echoing in the apartment.
--
The first time Jessica asks Tiffany a question, it leads to many more as they wash the dishes together.
“Why do you deliver pizzas?”
“What?”
“I mean, it’s a dangerous job. I’ve read stories on the news before. Bad, bad stories. Couldn’t you get kidnapped?”
Tiffany knows where this conversation is going.
“I can protect myself just fine.”
“Really? And what if you’re overestimating your abilities?”
The familiar words spark irritation.
“I’m stronger than you think.”
“What if something unexpected happens?”
She bites her tongue at the remark.
“I’m fine.”
“Tiffany, I don’t think -“
The plate falls from Tiffany’s hands into the sink, creating a loud crash. It doesn’t shatter, but Tiffany wishes it did.
“Well, don’t think Jessica! I didn’t ask you to.”
Jessica’s quiet now and immobile as she holds the drying towel still. Tiffany clenches her fists underneath the pool of water and then slowly lets go.
“I’m sorry. I just… I get tired of hearing those words every day.”
Jessica says nothing else as she sets aside the plate. Her silence is an invitation for Tiffany to keep speaking.
“My family keeps telling me to quit. But the economy’s rough as it is and my boss is really one of a kind. I am fine working there and will be. Please don’t get on my case like everyone else, too.”
When Jessica brings up her hand and drags it slowly across Tiffany’s spine to soothe her, Tiffany’s shoulders release tension and she knows the other girl is apologetic. And when Jessica’s free hand takes a scoop of bubbles and perfectly lands it onto Tiffany’s nose, Tiffany lets out a little yelp.
“Don’t frown. Never stop smiling.” Jessica grins childishly at her and Tiffany just throws her head back into a good laugh.
Tiffany likes how Jessica can make her laugh so easily, can make her walls come down, can make her want to tell the older girl everything about her life.
--
The first time Jessica realizes Tiffany sucks at art is when she sees the girl studying in the living room.
“What’s that?”
Jessica peers at the drawing Tiffany is working on, but her view is upside down as she stands across from Tiffany.
“It’s a hair follicle.”
“It looks like radish.”
“What? No. This is the epidermis and the root of hair and the hair shaft and the -”
“All I see is soil and radish.”
“If I think of radishes during the exam I will kill you.”
Jessica leans forward and whispers softly.
“Radish.”
Tiffany throws her eraser at her, effectively hitting her in the gut.
“Oof. That was totally worth saying radish though.”
Tiffany just chuckles at her stupid girlfriend.
--
The first time Jessica celebrates Tiffany’s birthday with her, Jessica almost dies. She sneakily walks into Tiffany’s room with her hands behind her back and teases the girl sitting in her chair.
“I didn’t get you a present because I’m the best you’ve ever had.”
Tiffany laughs and gives her a skeptical look. “Let me see what’s behind your back.”
“Just kidding. Happy birthday!”
The small pink box makes Tiffany excited. Quickly, she rips the wrapping to shreds and unsheathes the lid. Slightly confused, Tiffany takes out the contents of the box.
“You bought me a taser?”
“Yes.”
She moves it back and forth between her hands, carefully examining it.
“A pink taser?”
Tiffany pushes the button without thinking and zaps Jessica to the ground.
“JESSICA!” Tiffany starts to panic as she stares at the limp girl. She falls to her knees and shakes Jessica violently. Fortunately, the blonde starts to move slowly. “Oh my God, Jessica!”
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Jessica slurs her words together, feeling strange and fuzzy. Once she begins to recuperate, she squints at Tiffany, still in her arms. “But wow, I almost died on your birthday.”
“I’M SO SORRY! Why did you get me a taser?”
“It’s for protection against creepers. Delivering pizza can be dangerous for a girl like you.”
Tiffany feels moved by the thoughtful gift so she hugs the girl so tight that she thinks she might break her in half.
Jessica doesn’t say anything else because her smile says it all.
--
The first time Tiffany’s running late for work, Jessica decides to share some wise words with her.
“Never run no matter how late you are.”
Tiffany ignores it as she frantically rushes out the door, shoes not tied and hair a bloody mess.
And when Jessica ends up being late for class or work, Tiffany’s practically shoving her out the door and dragging her down nine flights of stairs and throwing her moped helmet at her with threats of, “If you’re late one more time to work, I will stop bringing pizza home.”
Jessica hates running, but she doesn’t mind it if Tiffany’s running away with her, hands locked together in a firm grip.
--
The credits roll and Tiffany lets out a loud yawn as she stretches, Jessica still nuzzled into her neck.
Sleepily, Tiffany turns off the TV with a remote and they sit for a few more seconds on the couch.
“Time for bed.”
“Mhh.”
“Yours or mine?”
“Neither.”
Jessica pulls her down as she leans backwards, flat on the couch. Tiffany is surprised by the tug, but she relents.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
Tiffany just chuckles because she knows the blonde is just too damn lazy to get up and move to a bed.
--
Shouts are yelled and hearts are wounded as the two of them stand at opposite ends of the hallway. They repeat this fight of Tiffany’s jealousies and Jessica’s impatience.
It has the both of them going off to their own rooms, slamming doors with heaving chests.
It’s the same old fight and the same old excuses.
But somehow within a few hours, one or the other comes crawling back into the other’s arms, anger dissipated and hurt only left scarred.
Tonight it’s Jessica who apologizes first.
Tonight it’s Jessica who kisses Tiffany tenderly on the collarbone, begging for forgiveness for making the girl upset. It’s Jessica who bites hard into Tiffany’s flesh, leaving a mark for the girl to know that she only wanted her. It’s Jessica who grazes her teeth against Tiffany’s jawline and whispers “I love you and only you. Don’t doubt it.”
It’s Tiffany whose anger collapses when she sees Jessica begging before her to see that she only loves, loved, and will love her.
--
Jessica groggily stands in front of the mirror with a big t-shirt and short shorts as she reaches over to grab her toothpaste and toothbrush.
Tiffany’s back leans against the vanity and she watches in amusement as Jessica struggles to brush her teeth.
“Do I have to do everything for you?”
Tiffany lets the comment out as a half-joke. It still takes Jessica five minutes to brush her upper mouth.
There’s no response from Jessica.
One eye is closed and Jessica just drifts off back to sleep while standing and Tiffany shakes her head. She grabs Jessica’s hand and starts to guide the toothbrush around her mouth in a faster motion. Soon enough, Tiffany has effectively brushed the blonde’s teeth for her. As Jessica spits out the toothpaste into the sink, Tiffany teases her.
“Should I dress you, too?”
Out of nowhere, Jessica’s hand comes up to Tiffany’s jaw and she pulls the girl in for a light mint kiss. She smiles playfully as she stares into the girl’s eyes.
“No, I prefer it when you undress me.”
Tiffany lightly pushes Jessica back into her room and shuts the door behind her.
She doesn’t need to be told twice.
--
Tiffany quickly learns that Jessica, the bookworm, doesn’t like the school library. Theory-based textbooks were not her cup of tea. They sit side by side at a study table. Jessica’s resting her chin on her arms as she leans on the table while Tiffany stares hard at the words jumbling together on the pages before her.
The library suddenly becomes loud as a few boys walk past the table, laughing and talking like they ruled the world. Tiffany shakes her head in disapproval as she gawks at their disrespectful behavior. She tries to refocus her attention back on her textbook, but they were being too loud.
Suddenly, soft hands cup over Tiffany’s ears and the noise softens. The brunette stops reading her text and looks up at Jessica, confused.
The girl isn’t looking at her. Tiffany has never seen such a cold, hard stare from the blonde ever before her in life. She’s looking past Tiffany with a glare evident on her face. After a few seconds pass, she releases her hold on Tiffany’s ears and whispers quietly.
“I didn’t like how loud they were being. You have to study, right?”
Tiffany almost melts in her seat at Jessica’s sweet gesture. She learns forward to peck the girl on the cheek.
“Thank you, Jessi.”
Jessica was just way too good to her when it came to the little things in life.
--
The one time Tiffany decides to take a nap in the library, she wakes up to a surprise.
Tiffany’s eyes flutter slowly as her consciousness stirs awake. Skin slightly stuck to the wood, she breathes in slowly, telling herself to get up. Slowly, her eyes squint together, staring at an unfamiliar white object in front of her. As she sits up and massages her sore neck, she lets out a slight gasp, and then laughs quietly, taking in the scene she’s enveloped in.
She’s surrounded by seven, no ten, paper airplanes, scattered on the table and on the floor.
She picks up the one right in front of her and sees the dark ink printed within the folds of the paper. Opening it quickly, a wide grin appears on her face.
“Hi, I love you.”
She opens the rest, giddy at the little surprises.
“Come home soon.”
“Never stop smiling.”
“My heart soars when I see you.”
“Drive safe to work.”
“Stay with me.”
“Movie and pizza soon, please.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“I am now a pro at making paper airplanes.”
For a girl who didn’t like talking much, Jessica Jung always knew how to make Tiffany swoon over with her words.
--
Sometimes Tiffany gets anxiety over tests. Sometimes her anxiety is so bad she has a hard time breathing. All she wants in life really is no regrets. That’s why she puts 110% effort into everything she does.
So when Tiffany fidgets in her seat in the classroom and opens up her notes to study last minute, she’s pleasantly surprised by the little paper tucked in between the pages.
She tries not to laugh too hard to avoid the stares and weird looks, but she can’t help it.
She smiles, her anxieties subsiding and happiness bubbling from the depths of her heart.
--
It’s the little things she loves the most about Jessica. She loves how the girl likes to interrupt her with a kiss when she’s trying to explain a story. It usually leaves her brain dead and she likes it a lot. She loves how Jessica leaves her a cup of caramel coffee on the counter right before she heads off to work. It really gives Tiffany great joy because she knows Jessica wakes up just for that and then goes back to nap.
Jessica is a master of making the little things count, but Tiffany tries, too.
Tiffany likes leaving written messages on the blonde’s arm for her to wake up to.
Messages like, “Good morning/afternoon/night sleeping beauty” and “Wake up soon so I can kiss you” and “Don’t be late, and make sure to run if you are” and “I love you more than you love Hawaiian pizza and movies and books” and “We’re so meant to be.”
What she doesn’t know is that Jessica almost always bursts into tears of happiness at these little love notes and ends up kissing the words on her arm one by one since she cannot kiss Tiffany at the moment.
--
They shared a lot of ‘firsts’, but what Tiffany really likes is the idea of sharing a lot of ‘lasts.’ She really likes the idea of being the last person to have touched Jessica, the last person to have kissed her in the morning, the last one to hear her laugh uncontrollably, the last one to survive her cooking.
Maybe ‘only’ was a better word.
She definitely likes being the only one to receive those little love notes, the only one living with Jessica, the only one who gets to kiss her tenderly everywhere.
She likes telling her declarations of love, too.
“You’re the only one for me.”
--
Jessica Jung may be lazy when it comes to school and work. She may like her long naps and five hundred paged novels and free movies on Netflix and seem extremely lazy.
She may be lazy in everything she does, but she is not lazy when it comes to her love for Tiffany.
Tiffany makes her everything, but lazy.
Tiffany makes her blood rush, makes her feet move on its own, makes her smile, makes her want to be awake 24/Tiffany time, makes her love her so, so much.
Tiffany makes her feel everything, but lazy. She moves her, propels her, motivates her, holds her so close she can’t breathe, kisses so roughly sometimes she bruises.
Most of all, Tiffany Hwang makes her happy.
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A/N: Haven't written in awhile, so I feel rusty as heck. Hope you enjoyed it! If you can, please let me know what your favorite part was and what I can improve on. ^^;