Jessica's breath was still uneven when she stepped away from Molly.
The kiss echoed in her body like aftershocks - hands still trembling, lips bruised, chest burning with things she couldn't name yet.
Molly didn't say anything.
She just stood there. Frozen. Wide-eyed. Like she couldn't believe what she'd just done.
Jessica waited.
And waited.
"Molly," she said softly, the tremble in her voice betraying her, "Say something."
Molly blinked, jaw clenched, chest rising and falling like she'd run a marathon.
But then - like a switch flipped - her gaze dropped. Her posture stiffened.
"It was a mistake," she muttered.
Jessica flinched like she'd been slapped.
Molly turned before Jessica could speak, already pulling open the door. The bell jingled, and she was gone before Jessica could scream the words caught in her throat.
The next week was war.
Jessica didn't reply to Molly's messages.
She didn't look at her in Chemistry.
She didn't speak to her.
Selene noticed.
They were laying on Jessica's bed, legs tangled, the TV playing some indie film neither of them was really watching.
Selene traced lazy circles on Jessica's stomach. "You're not really here."
Jessica sighed. "I'm trying."
Selene propped herself up on one elbow. "You always kiss me like you're trying to forget someone."
Jessica didn't deny it.
Selene smiled - sad and sharp. "Is it her?"
Jessica closed her eyes.
Selene leaned in, kissed her collarbone gently. "I can handle being your distraction, Jess. But I won't let you lie about it."
Molly watched Jessica with Selene at lunch.
Watched Jessica laugh at something Selene whispered in her ear.
Watched Selene press a kiss to her jaw.
Watched Jessica kiss her back.
And Molly burned.
She tried to eat, but every bite turned to ash in her mouth. She stared at her phone for hours that night, typing and deleting the same messages over and over:
| I didn't mean what I said.
| it wasn't a mistake.
| I want you.
She never hit send.
It was Jake's birthday.
Everyone was there. Jessica came in wearing a black mini skirt and a low-cut mesh top that made Molly's head spin.
And Selene was at her side.
They danced together - close, magnetic, too perfect.
Molly downed a drink. Then another.
She couldn't look away.
At one point, Jessica spotted her from across the room. Held her gaze. And kissed Selene right in front of her.
Molly stormed out.
Samantha followed her to the porch. "This is getting sad, Molls."
Molly rubbed her face. "I screwed it up."
"Then unscrew it. Tell her how you feel."
"I can't - "
"You already did," Samantha cut in. "You kissed her like your world was ending. And now you're pretending it didn't happen?"
Molly sat on the steps, head in her hands. "I'm scared."
Sam's voice softened. "Of what?"
"That if let myself fall for her, I won't be able to stop."
Jessica posted another photo.
This time: in her bed, backlit by soft fairy lights, wearing one of Selene's oversized flannels, collarbone exposed, hair messy, makeup smudged just enough.
Caption:
'Unbothered. Mostly.'
Molly stared at it for ten minutes before replying.
Mollyhastings_: That flannel would look better on my floor.
Three dots.
Jessica replied:
Jessicadane_x: You don't get to say that after running away.
No reply.
Two days later, Jessica was closing up alone when she heard the bell jingle.
She looked up - and molly was standing in the doorway.
Jessica sighed, "If you're here to tell me the kiss was another mistake, save it."
Molly stepped closer. "I'm not."
Jessica crossed her arms. "Then what do you want?"
Molly's face was flushed. Wet from the rain again. Her eyes were tired, bloodshot like she hadn't slept.
"I can't stop thinking about you," she said. "I see you with her and I- I feel like I can't breathe."
Jessica's throat tightened. "Then why did you leave?"
"Because you terrify me," Molly said, voice breaking. "You make me feel things ive never let myself feel. It's not just lust or curiosity or some high school phase. It's you. And it's real. And I don't know how to live with that."
Silence.
Jessica took a step closer, voice low. "So, what now?"
Molly didn't speak.
She just surged forward - slamming Jessica against the bookshelf again, lips crashing into her, hungry and furious and real.
Jessica groaned against her mouth, pulling her closer, hands gripping at her shirt, tangled in her hair.
Molly kissed her like she was drowning.
Jessica let her.
Their mouths moved fast, desperate, bruising. Molly kissed down her jaw, whispered her name like a prayer, fingers gripping Jessica's waist like shed fall apart otherwise.
And then - Jessica pulled back.
"Molly," she panted. "You can't keep doing this.
Molly's breathing was ragged. Her hands still clenched around Jessica's hips.
Jessica looked at her dead in the eyes. "You either want all of me - or none of me."