Lezplosion

I stumbled around trying to open my flat’s door whilst two drinks coursed through me. I wasn’t particularly drunk, just a bit tipsy. The bottom of the bed sheet wrapped around me was dirty but right now, I wasn’t thinking of doing laundry. Nor was I thinking about the course I was going to start next week. I went to the kitchen-slash-common area to fetch myself a glass of water, not noticing Manrika and Maisie sat on the firm as fuck sofa, watching some sort of reality TV.

“Tina,” Maisie suddenly noticed me and a cheeky smile shot on her face, “How was the Toga Party? Any sightings of willies?”

I laughed, before cringing at the mental image, “To my relief, nope. But yeah, it was fun. Talked to Caprice and Cilla who we met at the club and their friends.”

“I remember them. They’re so sweet, aren’t they?” Maisie remarked.

“Yeah, they’re really nice to talk to. Cilla’s doing a similar course to me so I have someone to sit with in lectures,” I stated, leaning against the countertop.

“That’s nice,” Manrika added, turning her attention to me.

“Tina, please join us,” Maisie cajoled, “We’re watching ‘I Kissed A Girl’. It’s a groundbreaking documentary.”

“Sure,” I shrugged. I was tired, but Maisie soft-soaped me into watching TV with her.

“Manrika loves it.”

“It’s quite entertaining,” She smiled and it almost took me out. They moved to one side to make space for me, and my left thigh was slightly touching Manrika’s right. God, I hope she feels comfortable.

“Is this alright?” I checked, clutching my hands.

“Yeah, it’s chill,” Fuck, this is awkward, but it somehow feels good. Like those electrical signals. Manrika’s jeans touching the bed sheet bundled up around me.

“I roped Manrika into watching this,” Maisie bragged, “She’s not the dating show type.”

“Yeah, most of them are quite… undiverse.” Manrika beamed, “But this is a good dating show and I like Dannii Minogue.”

“Is she Kylie Minogue’s daughter?” I asked, genuinely wanting to know what was going on.

“No, you silly billy, Dannii Minogue is Kylie Minogue’s sister,” Maisie swished her hand, teasingly. Great, she will bully me for eternity now.

“Oh. Sorry my knowledge of pop culture is limited,” I clapped back.

“I thought the same, Christina,” Manrika remarked, “I’ve only really heard of Kylie.”

Maisie dipped out of our conversation and naturally rested her feet on the coffee table. I should have probably concentrated on the show but I was distracted, imagining and wishing I could hold Manrika’s hand. Her scent was hard to resist. I don’t think she smelled of perfume, but she had a scent I deeply wanted to wake up to. Her hands gently holding my stomach, her breath tickling my neck. Lesbians tend to move fast when it comes to relationships, but she doesn’t know my burning desire to be with her and acts like it’s nothing much. 

In the famous words of our family friend, Mel, don’t commit flatcest. Despite it all, I started imagining that it would be worth it if I got with Manrika.

“Right,” Manrika got off the sofa when the credits rolled. “I’m going to bed. Sleep well.”

“Hug?” Maisie held out her arms. Manrika accepted the hug and asked if I did hugs as well, to which I quivered a ‘yes’. When she hugged me, it was like a rush of euphoria to the head - and other places which I will spare the details of. Emulsify me, please. Let me rest in your scent and just aimlessly melt. God, her scent. Is she even aware of how nice she smells? Then my mind snapped out of it and I convinced myself of the possibility she might just like men. Seeing the drabness of some of the guys in the nightclub, Fever, I can’t sympathize with people who get the appeal of them.

Once Manrika left the room, Maisie and I sat there quietly. Me, trying to comprehend how I can function after being that close to my crush. Maisie, gathering her thoughts and looking down at her lap, pensively. Was she alright? Did she think I had something I wasn’t telling her?

“You good?” I pierced the silence of our personal confusions.

“I don’t know. I feel as if Tess hates me.”

“How come?”

“I don’t know. She just seems so cold to me. Like my presence inconveniences her and that she’s always judging me. But she clicks so well with Manrika,” Maisie sighed, still looking down, agonising over why Tess hates her, if there’s something flawed about her personality.

“Look, sometimes you’ll meet people who are frosty,” I concluded, “It’s a part of life. Maisie, you’re one of the warmest people I know and Tess probably feels threatened by that.”

“I know, but I just want everyone to like me and everything to be sound. I don’t want to be too much and I don’t know why Tess likes Manrika and not me.” Maisie vented, feeling like she had been heavily deflated by her uni experience. “No shade to Manrika though,” She added quickly.

“I get it. Sometimes we bend our backs, trying to please people and our backs get hurt. Don’t blame yourself for Tess not liking you, Tess probably has shit going on and she’s just not worth questioning yourself over.”

“Tina, you are so sound for that,” Maisie perked up, the invisible sound of something in her mind clicking, “Tess is anally retentive, really. It demonstrates itself in her fashion sense.”

I nodded, slightly agreeing with Maisie’s comment on Tess’ fashion sense. I felt glad I could be there for my ‘week-old flatmate’, and that I wasn’t the only one feeling Tess’ coldness.

Maisie decided to move on, clearly feeling better. “Tina, I have a hike and pub social for Dykes on Hikes society. Can you come with me?” Maisie begged.

“You want me to be your wingwoman? So you can get with the fit second year!” I crooned, making her crease into a sheepish smile.

“Not exactly! I just need to meet more queers.”

“You want to get with Jen?” I looked her in the eyes, knowingly.

“Just slightly,” Maisie hedged, then synchronised, we burst out laughing.

“Maisie, I will be your fucking wingwoman.” I thought about adding, ‘as long as you’re mine’ but what was it implying? Did I want to make everything tense in Flat L when it hadn’t even been a week yet?