Hot Chocolate

[intheheart]

Title: Hot Chocolate
Rating: PG.
Summary: Gina's daydream starts to come true.
Date: December 10th, 2010
Notes: I do so love my ladies. Gina's side of Stay A While.



Gina boarded the subway in a suprisingly chipper mood, for December. She was not fond of the winter months, particularly not in the City where the soft pure snow she so loved turned too fast to dirty grey slush, and especially not days like today, where the wind blew through her jacket and it wasn't even cold enough to turn the icy sleet to snow.

Days like this made her very grateful for her deceptively warm, high-collared black coat and thick boots.

But for all of that, the day had gone well. She'd assisted in a release party for one of her favorite authors, who'd given her a free copy of the book and even signed it for her. She'd found what could probably be the next New York Times bestseller in the slush pile. Best of all, when she got out of the party and turned her phone on, she found a message from Olivia inviting her out that weekend with 'everyone,' which meant Ivy.

Her breath quickened, and she gripped the subway pole, hard.

This was getting a little bit ridiculous. She had to ask Ivy out soon, or let it go for good, and if there was one thing she didn't want to do, it was pass up this chance.

This weekend, she decided. She'd pull Ivy aside at the gathering, and ask her out there. And then... her stomach tightened.

And then she could only hope that Ivy would say yes, because if she didn't, Gina didn't know how she was ever going to look her in the eye again.

She sighed, and shifted on her heels. She couldn't wait to get home and take them off, get into her pajamas, make a cup of hot chocolate. She'd be warm and comfortable, lounging on the couch feet in her quilted slippers, cup warm in her hands. Maybe she'd turn on the TV, or some music. She'd order in, crepes or Italian, comfort food.

She takes a bite of spaghetti, and looks up as Ivy laughs. She swallows, says, "What?" in fake indignation.

"You've got sauce on your lip," Ivy says, reaches over and wipes it off with her thumb. Gina let her, breath quickening, looking into Ivy's sea blue eyes.

"There," Ivy says, breathlessly, her hand lingering near Gina's face. "All better."

"Not quite," Gina says, reaches forward and kisses her.

The subway lurched to a stop. Gina swayed forward, snapped out of her daydream, though her grip on the pole kept her upright. She opened her eyes, annoyed, and froze, as the object of her fantasy walked onto the subway and glared evilly at the hipster in the handicapped seat.

"Ivy?" she blurted, and cursed her tongue as Ivy turned to face her.

She looked horrible, nose red, eyes puffy and crusted. "Hi, Gina," she said, and sneezed. Oh, Lord, poor girl.

"Are you okay?" Gina asked, resisting the urge to pull Ivy into her arms and cuddle her.

"Um. No, not really. Long day, and I'm..." She sneezed again. "Sick. Goddamnit."

"You look terrible," Gina said, worried. "How long until you get home?"

Ivy blinked blearily up at her, and shrugged. "Uh? Oh, God, I don't know. I have to catch a bus at Union Square and then walk a bit. Uh. Forty-five minutes?"

Way too long, and Gina decided immediately that she would see Ivy in a cab if she had to pay for it herself, assuming Ivy would let her. She shook her head. "No, that won't do. You'll just make yourself sicker. Why don't you catch a cab?"

Ivy shrugged again, and crossed her arms over her chest, hugging herself. "Can't. Too broke," she said. "I'm a student."

Ah. Gina was all too familiar with that state of being. She nodded sympathetically, and said, "Well, I probably don't have cab fare on me, but I only live a block away from Union Square." The thought of Ivy in her apartment sent a thrill racing down her spine.

Ivy looked at her, slightly confused, and swayed backwards as the subway shuddered to another halt. "That must be expensive," she said, and wiped a hand across her nose.

"Yeah," Gina said, confused by the subject change, "but it's tiny, so rent's less than you'd think." She paused for a moment, then added, temptingly, "I've got hot chocolate..."

"Vile temptress," Ivy said, sniffing. "My sister Summer drank all ours. I was just gonna crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head. And stay there for about a week."

Oh, maybe Ivy didn't understand. She laughed, and said, "That was an invitation." Abruptly it dawned on her what that might have sounded like, and she flushed a bright, hot red. "Er, to have hot chocolate, not crawl into bed."

Not that she woudn't invite Ivy to crawl into bed with her, but it was far too early for that.

Ivy blinked at her again."You're inviting me to tea?"

Hot chocolate, anyway. "Close enough," Gina said, and then, suddenly terrified that it wasn't enough, added, "Here, I'll bribe you. I'll give you cab fare home."

Her eyes went big. "Oh, no, I couldn't take that..."

"Sure you could," Gina said, as breezily as she could. "You're sick, Ivy. I mean, I don't think you get quite how sick."

She realized how asnine that sounded just as Ivy scowled and wiped her nose. "I'm the one suffering here. I get it just fine."

Better make up for that one and quick. "Yeah, well, it could turn into bronchitis, and that would suck." She shrugged. "You can pay me back when you're done being a student, if you really want."

Ivy's scowl eased.. "Hah," she said. "Bronchitis would suck. I guess if you're really willing to wait three and a half years for cab fare..."

Wait, what? She could not be a freshman. "I thought you were out of college?"

Ivy waved her hand dismissively. "I am. This is grad school. Heaven help me."

Gina laughed again, relieved, and said, "Right, well." She waved an arm towards the doors. "Come have hot chocolate with me and I'll wait three and a half years to get my cab fare paid back. Promise."

Ivy wrinkled her nose, and looked at Gina for a long, long time. Finally, she said, "Or I could buy you dinner once I get over this damn cold."

Gina's heart skipped a beat. Several beats, really. She couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face, and from the slightly stunned expression on Ivy's face, it was a brilliant one. "I'd love that," she said, reached forward, and seized Ivy's hand in both of hers. "You better get well quick. I'm patient about cab fares but not about dinner."

She'd been waiting so long. She could wait a little longer.

Ivy beamed back up at her. "I'll do my best," she said.