A New Life

fifty nine.

"I promise,"

Danielle's POV

Thursday, April 2nd (same day)

*smut warning*

"Do you want me to sleep out on the couch tonight?" I ask, my voice dry and slightly annoyed.

"Why on earth would you do that?" Stefania looks at me with a puzzled expression.

"Because you're obviously upset with me," I reply, peeling back the covers on my bed.

"I'm not upset with you bambina," Stefania still speaks with a confused tone.

"Well, you're upset about something," I avoid eye contact while slipping my shirt and leggings off of my body and replacing them with an oversized t-shirt. I hear Stefania let out a sigh, yet she doesn't say anything. "And now you're not talking again," I say quietly, almost to myself.

"Danielle, I don't want to do this right now," She says, no longer confused, but now annoyed again.

"Well I do!" I almost yell.

"You're going to wake up Abby," Stefania says dryly, walking over to the bathroom.

"What did I do?" I ask, following her into the other room. "Did I forget to do something you asked me to? Did I say something to upset you? What was it?" My voice raises again.

"Danielle, how many times do I have to tell you?! You didn't do anything!" Now her voice raises as well.

"So then why won't you tell me why you've been acting like this all day?!" I fight back.

"I'm not obligated to tell you everything that goes on in my life," she huffs, walking back into my room.

"I would like to think that when it begins to interfere with our relationship, then you would feel obligated to tell me," I say, aggressively throwing my clothes from the day into my hamper.

"If you would just drop it, it wouldn't be interfering with our relationship," Stefania says sternly. "You're the one who keeps bringing it up."

"Because I love you!" I shout, my heart immediately dropping when I realize what I just said. It's not that I don't mean it...I definitely do. I just wasn't expecting it to come out of my mouth like that. When I see Stefania's facial expression soften dramatically, I decide to continue. "I love you, Stefania." I almost laugh, trying to fend off the anger and knowing that I've been thinking this for so long but have been scared to actually say it out loud. "And I hate that you feel like you can't talk to me, and I hate that I've had to watch you in distress all day without being able to help you. The person who I love isn't talking to me, and it hurts. I love you, and I want you to trust me." My voice gets considerably softer as I talk.

"I love you, too." Stefania says immediately after I stop talking, walking over to me and bringing me in for a searing kiss. "So much. I love you so much, Danielle." Her voice cracks as she speaks. I bring my hand to the back of Stefania's head and bring her in for another kiss, our lips moving slowly against each other's. Stefania pulls away after a moment and rests her forehead against mine. "I've been so scared to say it, but I've been thinking it for so long," she whispers, one of her hands gently caressing the side of my face. "I love you,"

"I love you so much," these words seem like a drug, both of us not being able to stop saying it over and over again. Stefania connects our lips again, and I take a deep breath as I allow myself to become consumed by this feeling. Stefania backs us up against the bed, pushing me onto it and immediately straddling one of my thighs when I lay down. Our lips never lose contact, and I flex my leg muscle, raising it slightly to press firmly again Stefania's center, which elicits a quiet gasp from her lips. We both are only wearing baggy t-shirts and underwear.