cucali tries to be romantic (unfinished)

"Um, hey," Cucali approached Paloma as the lovebirds twittered in the background. (She wished they'd quit with those songs.) She grabbed Paloma's arm and dragged her with her, not quite meeting her eyes. "Get over here, stupid."

"Cucali? What's --"

"Shut up! I just sort of," Cucali sighed, "look, I got somethin' for you, okay?! So just follow me."

"... okay."

And so, Cucali led Paloma down the marble halls until they reached a darkened room lit by a single candle's light. It was centred on a table complete with fancy tablecloth, fancy spaghetti dinner resting on two plates.

Paloma stared, clearly awestruck. "Cucali... you... you did this for me?"

"Ugh, who ELSE would it be for--" But Cucali stopped herself, there, and shook her head. She had to play it cool. "Yeah, it's for you. Um, you like it?"

"It's wonderful! I love it!"

"You'd better-- yeah, guess you would." Her save wasn't much better than what she was going to say, and Cucali was beginning to lose heart. Still, she pulled out a chair for Paloma, and went around to sit in the opposite chair once she'd nestled down.

Paloma's smile was warm. "Thank you, Cucali. This is beautiful."

"Yeah, well," Cucali looked away, trying not to blush like her matesprit was. "Don't fuckin' mention it. You'd better eat that before it gets cold."

They ate in silence for a while, and as they did, Cucali internally panicked. What did she do now?! There was always some smooth comment or whatever, but none of them really suited Paloma, and --

"Fuck it!", Cucali screamed and stood, grabbing the table. She flipped it sideways, glaring at the ground where the plates fell. "I can't fuckin' do this, okay?! There's no way I can pull stupid shit like this off!"

"Cucali..." Paloma stood as well, moving towards her, clearly concerned. Cucali pushed her away, though the gesture lacked any real bite to it.

"Go away! This shit was stupid anyway, I don't know what the fuck I was even thinkin'! Fuck this romance thing! Fuck it!"

"No, Cucali, you, you were doing well!"

"Just look at this mess, does this look like I'm doing well to you?!"

"We can clean it up, it's okay..." Paloma stepped forward, again, and took Cucali's hand. She pressed it between both of her own as she looked up at the other girl. "It, it means a lot that you tried to do this for me. So, so don't feel like you've failed, okay?"

"... whatever. I don't give a fuck."

Paloma lifted Cucali's hand to her lips, kissed her fingertips. Her voice was soft and lilting. "I do. And I'm so glad you're trying."

"It don't mean shit," Cucali said as she tensed up, but she didn't pull away.

Paloma smiled and rubbed the palm of Cucali's hand with a thumb.