Deborah waved a hand dismissively, her tone overly casual. “You know, just thought it might be a good idea to keep your attention on the stage. Can’t have you getting distracted by the crew again, can we?”
“I know you’re hungover, darling,” Deborah cooed, her voice even louder now, dripping with sarcasm. “That’s why I thought I’d be a good friend and get you up early. Nothing like a little work to shake off the headache, right?”
Ava cleared her throat, leaning forward slightly. “So… I guess this is the part where we talk?” Deborah’s eyes flicked up to meet hers, and for a brief second, Ava saw a flash of something—hesitation, maybe? But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by Deborah’s usual smirk.
Content Set to Go Live: Oct 14th, 2024 on Ao3
Ava wakes up with a pounding hangover, but Deborah’s relentless energy pulls her out of bed and back to work. The banter between them remains sharp, with Deborah teasing Ava about her flirting the night before. As they settle into their routine, the tension between them lingers, unspoken but palpable, until Deborah makes a surprise offer for lunch, leaving Ava hopeful for more.
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Ava’s frustration bubbled over. “I’m just asking for one moment of honesty. Is that really so hard?” For a moment, Deborah didn’t respond, her eyes scanning over a page in her notebook. Just when Ava thought she was going to dodge again, Deborah sighed, closing the notebook with a snap. “Alright, fine. You want to talk? You may buy me lunch. At whatever godforsaken truck stop we stumble across.” Ava blinked, taken off guard by the sudden offer. “Wait, lunch? Like a date? You’re actually suggesting we…?” Deborah leaned forward, her smirk widening. “What? You think me telling you that you can buy me lunch counts as a date? Really, Ava, how sad must millennial romance be for you to think that.” Ava couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. Despite Deborah’s sarcasm, there was something in the way she said it that felt like a concession, like a small crack in the armor she wore so well. “I think it’s a date,” Ava said softly, her voice teasing but sincere.
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Will Ava and Deborah finally confront the growing tension between them, or will their relationship remain wrapped in sarcasm and avoidance?
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