Chapter Text
“Marnie, why are you such a menace?” Gemma asked, clearly exasperated at her roommate for what was likely not going to be the last time today. She could see the exact moment when Juniper went as red as a bloodstone, and the sight made her stifle a little chuckle that began to sneak up in the back of her throat. Gemma may have not been the innocent cactus flower that Juniper was, but she was practically a nun compared to Marnie.
“Look, Gems, I’m not trying to be. I’m just saying that when it comes to situations like this, I do have a little bit more experience than you.” She lounged and twirled at a stray strand of hair, as ladylike as ever with one leg thrown over the arm of the couch. Glancing over at the kitchen table, she grinned at a flustered Juniper who looked as though she wanted to curl up and disappear from the entire conversation. “You and Justice are one thing. I didn’t feel like I had to jump in and coach. But Junes here? Like a newborn baby yakmel.”
“Ok, you two. I’m not that innocent. I’ve been on dates before.” Juniper glared at her two best friends, reserving the heavy side-eye for the one currently snapping her gum and giggling like she had just heard the funniest joke of her life. “It’s not like I have no idea how to act. Besides, Owen and I have been friends for quite a while. He’s a gentleman. Too much of one to pull some of the crap you’re thinking of, Marns.”
“Of course he is, Juniper,” Gemma reassured, patting Juniper gently on the hand. “So was Justice. Absolute perfect gentleman. Always gallant and respectful. It’s no surprise that Owen is the same way considering how they essentially grew up together.” Gemma stirred her tea and hoped that no one noticed the fact that she used the past tense at a very strategic spot in that little speech. But of course, Marnie’s ears perked up the moment she heard it.
“Don’t think I didn’t hear that, Gems,” she barked out, grin filling her face and a sly look in her eyes. “I know what you two get up to in that jail cell. That innocence train left the station a long time ago right after dropping off that handcuff shipment.”
“DAMMIT, MARNS,” Gemma huffed, dropping her spoon on the table with a clatter. “I told you that in confidence!” She cleared her throat and smoothed a strand of her green hair behind her ear. Returning her attention to Juniper, who at this point looked thoroughly confused, she composed herself and continued with her original point. “What I’m trying to say, Junes, is that Owen will let you take the lead on things and go at the speed that you feel comfortable with. Don’t let someone,” she hissed, glancing at Marnie, “try to make you think that you have to move things along at warp speed.”
Marnie stood up from her lounging spot on the sofa and sashayed through the kitchen, still grinning like an idiot, and dug around in the refrigerator for her usual starberry yogurt. Grabbing the spoon from the table in front of Gemma, she leaned in and gave her a tap on the end of her nose. “Warp speed? Come on, Gems. You know what physics terminology does to my brain. Qi’s not back yet from the Starship ruins, so do you really wanna open that can of worms? Because I have no problem charging up my…”
“OK, OK, I GET IT! By the LIGHT, woman! Can’t you just tone it down for a minute so we can help Junes?” Gemma by this point was just as red in the face as Juniper, even though her own grin was threatening to break through and give away how funny she found it all. Sure, Marns was a menace, but she was their menace, and there was a good reason why they’d stuck together like glue ever since builder school. She snatched the spoon out of Marnie’s hand and placed it back on the saucer.
“Listen, Juniper,” Gemma said, ignoring the grinning troublemaker that just plopped down in the chair between them both. “Owen is absolutely nuts about you. Justice told me so himself. You know how those two goofballs talk after a couple of drinks. They gossip worse than Pablo. So, you have nothing at all to worry about. Just try to relax and enjoy yourself. You already got past the part where you get to know each other just by being friends for this long.”
“Exactly,” Marnie chimed in. “The pressure is off. You don’t have to worry about that awkward phase where you have zero clue about how to act around each other.” She took a bite of her yogurt, flipping the spoon over and licking it clean. “You spend so much time together as it is, but it’s like neither of you has had the guts to change that dynamic. And with Owen being as nice as he is, it just seems logical that you’re going to have to make the first move.”
“Suddenly working with logic, Marnie? Qi has rubbed off on you,” Gemma teased. Just then the realization hit that perhaps she needs to think a bit more before she speaks. As if on cue, Marnie took another bite of her yogurt and held up her spoon, giving it a lick while yet another grin plastered itself on her face.
Slightly ducking, as if she knew that a slap was incoming, Marnie took the opening and ran with it.
“Oh, Gems. If you only knew how much rubbing is involved with our dear Director.”