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artificialqueens · 4 years

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Tree House Kisses, Chapter 27 (Adorney) - Scorpio and Veronica

A/N: Click here for previous chapters. xoxo!

Chapter Summary: Just another day at the beach...

Chapter 27: Small Doses

“Aaaaaugh!” Laganja shrieked, running from Thorgy into the crashing waves.

“Who wants a sandwich?”

“Darienne, I love you, you’re such a mom,” Courtney giggled, hugging the older girl around the shoulders.

“So...Adore…” Bob began, grabbing a sandwich from the cooler.

“Yes?”

“Tell us all the hot gossip about those girls you chill with!”

April hit Bob on the shoulder. “Can you please not be gross?”

“I’m not being gross! I’m just showing an interest in my friend’s life!” Bob said, eyes shining mischievously. “I mean, I heard you broke up with Raja. Does that mean you’re hooking up with Violet again? She’s super hot, I wouldn’t blame you. Or Pearl? Pearl’s sexy. And she’s like, down the block. Convenient.”

Roy shook his head. “Bob, keep up, dude. Violet and Pearl are totally a thing. They flirt like crazy all the time.”

“I thought Pearl was with that pretty wardrobe girl, Shea,” Darienne said.

“Oh yeah,” Roy said.

“And anyway, isn’t Violet like, openly crushing on Fame? Willam said that she used to send her boyfriend all these anonymous threatening notes until Fame caught wind of it and made her stop.” Bob laughed. “Violet is kind of rad. Terrifying, but rad.”

Adore looked at Courtney. “Why do they know so much about my friends? This is fucking creepy.”

Courtney shook her head. “I have no idea.”

“Because, Adore, your little group is full of drama, and people gossip,” Roy explained, taking on that patronizing tone that made Adore’s skin crawl.

“Oh, really?” Adore asked. “Drama, like how you threatened to release the texts between Darienne and Jamin from last year if she ran against you for ASB president?”

Roy grinned, flashing his dimples. “That’s not drama. That’s blackmail.”

“Nice, Roy. Such a stand-up guy.”

“Hey, come on. It was for both our benefit. We know all the same people. We would have split votes and both lost. This way, she’s vice and I’m gonna support her for homecoming queen. Right, Dar?”

Darienne held up her middle finger. “Too soon.”

Bob laughed. “Tell him, girl.”

“Babe, let’s go in the water,” Roy said, resting his chin on Courtney’s shoulder.

“I dunno…” Courtney looked at Adore.

“Please, come on…” he whined, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“You should go,” Adore said.

Courtney still hesitated as Roy kissed her shoulder, whimpering. “I don’t have to. I haven’t even eaten anything yet-”

“I’ll save you a sandwich. Nobody wants the veggie ones anyway,” Adore said with a laugh. “Go.”

Courtney bit her lip. “Okay.” She turned to Roy, letting him help her up, following him into the water, then laughing as he picked her up and raced into the freezing cold ocean.

“What was that about?” Darienne asked quietly, burying her feet into the warm sand. She looked at Adore with a curious expression.

Adore looked away, squinting into the bright sun.

“Ummm...I dunno. I guess, sometimes I feel like a third wheel around them. I made Courtney promise that she wasn’t gonna be all over him all day, since...you know, she’s the only one here who really wants me around.”

“That’s not true.”

“Well, you know what I mean.”

Darienne watched Roy and Courtney in the water for a few moments, then said, “Let me tell you something, Adore. You know...it’s really easy, right now, for everything to feel like forever. The ocean. Courtney and Roy. High School. This fuckin’ day...But you know, nothing in life lasts forever. So, just remember that. All we have are moments.” She held a handful of sand, letting it slide through her fingers. “Lots and lots of moments. If we’re lucky.”

“That was really deep.”

“Well, I’m really deep.”

“And cheesy as fuck.”

“That too,” Darienne laughed.

Adore smiled, leaning a head on Darienne’s shoulder. “Thanks.”

“And for the record. Courtney isn’t the only one here who wants you around. I love you, and I always have, but if you’re more interested in hanging out with your other friends right now, I get that. It doesn’t mean that I don’t care about you.”

“Alright, alright…”

“Sorry, but you know I can’t let that one slide,” the redhead said, grinning at her.

Adore laughed. “I’m sorry too. Mostly I just feel dumb around you guys.”

“You feel dumb around Gia?”

Adore burst out laughing. “Maybe not Gia. But the rest of you are smarty pants and you know it.”

“Good grades are not always a sign of intelligence,” Darienne said. “You’re smart. You’re just not a school person.”

“Understatement,” Adore laughed.

“Yeah, well, I have to tell you, I’m not worried. You’re extremely talented, and beautiful, and charming, and like...you’re gonna do amazing things.”

“Are you hitting on me?”

Darienne burst out laughing. “Yes. Is it working?”

“Kind of…” Adore giggled, fluttering her lashes.

Courtney and Roy emerged from the water, bickering.

“Omigod, stop it!” Courtney exclaimed.

“Hey guys, did you know that Courtney is Jewish now?”

“Mazel tov!” Jamin exclaimed. “Welcome to the tribe!”

“That is not what I said,” Courtney laughed. “My mom’s boyfriend Slate took us to this Kabbalah Center and it was just cool, that’s all.”

“Slate. He sounds really smart,” Roy joked.

“At least her boyfriend cares about the universe. My dad is still shacking up with that whore, Katya. She’s like, the actual fucking worst,” Courtney grumbled, flopping onto the blanket beside Adore.

“Baby, if you want to get spiritual, you should come to my church. You can watch me carry candles and swing incense around.”

Courtney looked at him with an incredulous expression. “Roy. I’m not like, trying to judge you or anything, but I’m not going to support the Catholic Church.”

“What? Why not?”

“Uhhh, I don’t know, how about how the like, basically approved of the slave trade and looked the other way during the holocaust-”

“Hey, a lot of nuns and priests helped people during the--”

“Covering up child sex abuse!” Courtney shrieked. “Come on!”

“Homophobia? Sexism?” Adore piped in.

“Yeah, exactly!” Courtney agreed emphatically. “You’re siding with arguably one of the biggest oppressors in history.”

“I…”

“But keep on swinging that incense, Dimples,” Adore added, punching Roy on the shoulder.

“Damn.” Roy scratched his head. “But how do you really feel?”

Courtney laughed. “The...candles are nice?”

Roy reached for Courtney, pulling her against him. “So I guess we’re not having a church wedding?”

“Definitely not.” She squirmed a little, trying to move back towards Adore.

“And the kids aren’t getting baptized?” he murmured against her neck, fingers trailing up her bare thighs

“Roy, come on, stop it.”

“What’s the matter? I’m giving up eternal salvation for you, you should be very proud of yourself right now.” He tilted her chin up, leaning in for a kiss.

Courtney wriggled out of his arms, rolling her eyes at Adore. “I said stop it!”

He scoffed. “Fine.”

“Oh, now you’re gonna pout like a baby,” she said.

“I’m not pouting.”

“Are too.”

“So, you don’t want me to touch you, but you want to control how I react when you push me away?”

“Ughhhh,” Courtney rolled her eyes again, flopping onto her stomach. “Nevermind.”

“Sorry for wanting to spend time with you,” Roy said testily.

Courtney glared up at him, slipping her sunglasses on.

Adore rolled her eyes and stood up, brushing off her jean shorts, announcing to no one in particular. “I’ll be right back, gonna go to the bathroom.”

“Dory, wait!” Courtney jumped up and followed her. “I need to go too.”

Adore stood at the sink, rinsing her hands. “So. Does Roy always talk about marriage and babies, or does he just save that for when you have an audience?”

Courtney came out of her stall, shaking her head. “I have no idea where that came from. So weird, right?” She washed her hands in the sink beside Adore.

“It was...interesting.”

“Ugh, and I hate the way he manhandles me all the time.” Courtney dried her hands and rolled her eyes, twirling her hair.

Adore scoffed. “Since when?”

“I just mean, like…” Courtney leaned against Adore’s arm, playing with her hair. “It’s just...constant. He acts like he owns me.”

“Bullshit!” Adore exclaimed, shoving Courtney away, startling her. “Anyone with eyes and half a brain can see who owns who in that relationship. Roy may not be my favorite person in the world, but he’d take a fucking bullet for you and you know it!”

“I just meant-”

“So if you don’t want him to touch you, fucking tell him! Or break up with him! I don’t really give a fuck, but don’t tell me that he thinks he owns you, because that’s utter fucking nonsense!”

“Why are you yelling at me?”

“Because! You’re making me defend your fucking boyfriend!” Adore crossed her arms.

“Sorry.”

“You should be.”

Courtney hung her head, pouting her lip. “Do you hate me?”

“Yes.”

She looked up at Adore through a fringe of lashes, blinking her big eyes sadly, until Adore stuck her tongue out childishly. Then she grinned, wrapping her arms around Adore’s waist and leaning in slowly to kiss her.

Adore’s heart pounded. For a moment, she considered letting it happen, but then memories flashed through her head, and the thought of another “just friends” kiss was just too much to handle. So at the last second, she turned her face, letting Courtney’s lips land on her cheek.

“Don’t,” she whispered into Courtney’s hair.

“Don’t hate me,” Courtney whispered back, fingers digging into her back.

“Too late,” Adore said, holding her stern expression for a few seconds before breaking into a smile, giving Courtney a light smack on the ass. “You’re hopeless.”

“I know.” Courtney bit her lip. “Hey, Dory?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t really think I ignore you when I’m around Roy…do you?”

“Um…” Adore considered her answer. She did often feel like a third wheel around them, even in a crowd. Things had just unquestionably shifted ever since they’d gotten together. It used to be Courtney and Adore, the two of them, all the time. People said their names together as if it was one word. Courtneyandadore. All the others: their neighbors, their other friends, even their families, were just roaming around the periphery. But when Courtney and Roy hooked up, suddenly she had another person, another pair to be part of. Adore knew that Courtney loved her, and that she probably felt like their friendship hadn’t changed at all--because for her, it hadn’t. So how was Adore supposed to explain the way she felt without revealing her humiliating jealousy? Finally, she settled on, “No…not on purpose.”

“I don’t ever want you to feel like-“ Courtney’s voice broke, and then she swallowed. “You know you’re my favorite person, right?”

“You mean one of your favorites-“

“No. My favorite.”

“Court…” Adore’s head swam, suddenly self-conscious. This moment was way too much for a filthy, disgusting public bathroom on the beach. “Someone could’ve heard you.”

“I don’t care.” Courtney’s eyes burned, and Adore had to look away.

It was only after a few moments of charged silence that she quietly admitted, “Me too,” still avoiding direct eye contact.

Arms circled her waist, hugging her tightly, face buried in her neck. Adore allowed herself to relax, enjoying it, telling herself that it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter that Courtney had a serious boyfriend, that she felt things for him that she’d never feel for Adore. Because her position as best friend was even more important. It was immature and she knew it, this reassurance she needed that she was number one. And honestly, it shouldn’t matter. There was plenty of room in Courtney’s life, and her heart, for both of them. Adore should be happy that her best friend was with someone great, someone kind and funny, who loved her and treated her well and tried so hard to make her happy. Adore suddenly felt a little guilty about potentially causing a problem between the two of them.

“You’re not actually mad at him, are you?”

“No, not really,” Courtney said. “I just…didn’t want to break my promise to you.”

“Well, I think we can safely say that you kept your promise,” Adore laughed. “Now come on, let’s go back before they think you fell in.”

“Ughhh, nooooo!”

“Bitch, they’re your friends! And our ride back.”

Courtney giggled and nuzzled her shoulder. “Let’s hitchhike. Summer road trip fun!”

“You’re way too trusting. We’d end up dead in a ditch.” Adore slung an arm around her shoulder. “Come on.”

“Fiiiiiine.”

“What took you guys so long?” April asked as Courtney skipped back up to the group, Adore at her heels.

“Courtney was taking a massive shit,” Adore said, climbing onto the blanket and stealing the bag of Cheetos from Thorgy, who burst out laughing.

Courtney put her hands on her hips. “I was NOT!”

“Don’t be ashamed, Court, everyone poops,” Bob said cheerfully.

“Well, that’s not what I was-”

“Although, that one was particularly ungodly. And the smell...you guys should probably not go into that bathroom for like, 30 minutes or so…”

“ADORE DELANO YOU STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!” Courtney shrieked, tackling her. “TELL THEM YOU’RE LYING!”

Adore, now fully enjoying herself, continued, “I just didn’t know that such violent noises could come out of such a small person.”

“Stoooooop!” Courtney pinched her, sitting on her thighs. “Take it back! This is slander!”

“Now I know what they mean when they say ‘shitstorm’...” She shielded herself from Courtney’s assault, laughing and squirming.

Courtney held her arms over her head, unable to hold in her laughter. “Are you done?!”

“Jeez, get a room,” Laganja muttered, shaking her head, and Courtney looked up at her, distracted for long enough for Adore to throw her off into the sand.

Courtney watched Adore, who was now avoiding eye contact, crawl over to where Bob and April played cards. Goosebumps broke out over Courtney’s skin and she sat for a few moments, willing Adore to look back over at her. But she never did, and so after a minute, Courtney gave a small, resigned sigh and stood up, heading over to where Roy and Jamin were making a valiant attempt at frisbee catch.

Courtney sauntered up to them, giving Roy her best puppy eyes. He pretended to ignore her at first, and then dove to catch the frisbee, ending up on the ground with a mouthful of sand. When Courtney offered him a hand, he accepted, allowing her to pull him to his feet.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She brushed the sand off of his chest, hands lingering, then looked up at him. “I’m sorry about before. I didn’t mean to make you feel like I don’t…” Courtney sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Roy rested his forehead against hers, feeling his irritation melting away as his hands slid around her waist.

“You know, Adore just broke up with her girlfriend, and she’s been really bummed about it, and I thought it was kind of weird to be all happy and couple-y in front of her. That’s all.” It was a bit of a white lie. The truth was, Adore hadn’t really mentioned Raja at all recently. But it sounded plausible enough.

“That’s all, huh?”

“Yeah. But...what do you say we spend some time together this weekend, just the two of us?”

“Sounds promising.” Roy raises an eyebrow.

“Um, my mom’s gonna be in Mexico with Slate. I’m supposed to be staying with Darienne but I could probably sneak away on Saturday. Wanna have a sleepover?” She pressed against him.

“Yeah, that-I think I can safely say that I’m super fucking down with that,” Roy said, tilting her chin up for a kiss.

She giggled against his mouth, then walked away, tossing a flirtatious wink over her shoulder. Roy watched her, eyes glazed over, as Jamin ambled up with a devious look.

“Congrats. You’re about to become a man. Took long enough.”

“Huh?”

“The sleepover? You’re getting laid this weekend, dude,” Jamin said, punching him on the shoulder.

Roy shook his head. “I don’t think that’s what she meant.”

“Uh, bro, you need to read between the lines. Let’s get a second opinion. THOR!” he bellowed, beckoning Thorgy over to them.

The gang put their stuff into the trunk of Darienne’s minivan and Alyssa’s SUV, negotiating who would go in what car. When Adore tried to call shotgun, she was soundly rejected.

“Sorry kiddo, as the youngest one here, I’m afraid you’re stuck in the far back with the other skinny bitches.”

April and Courtney waved to her.

“Welcome back to the kid’s table, puta!” April sang.

Adore climbed in the back, taking the window seat on the other side of Courtney. Half the ride consisted of the two girls giggling and whispering to each other, Courtney snuggled up to Adore, practically in her lap.

“Oh, she’s mad at him,” Adore said, nodding towards an older couple in the car next to them.

“What ‘cha think he did?” Courtney rose up a bit to get a good look at the grumpy couple.

The woman glared out the window, rolling her eyes at something the driver was saying.

“Missed the exit. He definitely missed an exit,” Adore nodded. “John, I fucking told you that was our exit back there, but you never want to listen. Just like when I told you-” Adore mimicked in the voice of a middle-aged white woman.

Courtney snorted, causing Adore to throw her head back in laughter and Courtney to have a giggle fit as she tried to get Adore to stop laughing at her.

When nothing but the radio filled the silence, Roy turned around to get Courtney’s attention. His dimpled smile quickly dropped and his eyebrows rose when he saw how comfortable his girlfriend was in Adore’s arms.

Courtney was humming along to the song on the radio, head nestled back against Adore’s chest as she ran her fingers along Adore’s arm, making invisible patterns. Adore leaned against the window, seemingly lost in thought.

When Courtney noticed Roy, she smiled at him, eyebrows lifting in curiosity. He only shook his head before turning back in his seat, shifting at how uneasy that moment had just made him, even though he wasn't quite sure why.

April woke as the familiar setting of their neighborhood engulfed them, stretching her arms and yawning.

Looking around the car she nearly cooed when she saw Adore and Courtney asleep, adorably snuggled up to each other. She whipped out her phone, taking a quick picture.

Needing someone else to fawn over the two friends with, April leaned over the seat, tapping Roy awake and shoving the phone in his face. “Aren't they so cute?”

Roy squinted at the picture, glanced behind him at the two girls, then back to the picture before grunting, “Absolutely adorable.”

“What's adorable?” Darienne asked, glancing back in the rearview mirror.

But before April could answer, Bob grabbed the phone out of her hand.

“Aye, perra!” April stepped on the seat, launching herself forward as she wrestled to get her phone out of Bob’s grip.

“Hey! Stop that! Bob, give her her phone back. Roy, break them up!” Darienne demanded.

Thorgy turned around in the front seat, reaching to try to help April take her phone back. Bob had slid onto the floor, cackling, making it difficult to reach him.

The commotion stirred the two sleeping beauties awake. Adore tried to stretch her stiff limbs in the tight space of the back seat with Courtney laying on her chest.

Courtney opened one eye, a small smile spreading across her lips as she tried not to laugh at April and Bob wrestling and Roy trying to avoid getting hit, before snuggling into Adore.

Adore rubbed her eye tiredly, placing the other on Courtney’s waist, her thumb rubbing circles on the smooth exposed skin there.

Then it hit her like a truck where they were, the position they were in, and what it could look like. Adore quickly sat up, pushing a whining Courtney off of her.

Courtney pouted, “Dory, I was comfortable.”

“Well, we're… we're almost home.” Adore said with shrug, turning towards the window, refusing to meet Roy’s surveying stare.

#rpdr fanfiction #tree house kisses #scorpio #veronica #adorney #adore delano #courtney act #bitney #bianca del rio #darienne lake #bob the drag queen #april carrion #acid betty #lesbian au #high school au #angst #fluff

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