After taking on the Wayne project, Selena had been busier than ever, and Tara, though she was her assistant, sometimes went days without seeing her. That night, Tara came home to a silent, dark apartment, and flicked on the lights with a sigh. She knew Selena was working, but the emptiness gnawed at her in an unfamiliar way.
Selena had already become a steady presence in her life, something Tara had started to rely on without even realizing it.
She dragged herself to the kitchen, noting how cold and unused the stovetop was. With Selena gone so often, Tara hadn't bothered to cook either, relying instead on a few stale slices of bread from the back of the fridge. She chewed the dry toast absentmindedly, then slumped onto the couch, hoping to lose herself in a TV show.
But every show felt dull, just noise that filled the room while her gaze drifted to the ticking clock, checking her phone every hour for any sign of life from Selena. The last time she checked, her heavy eyelids won out, and she drifted into sleep with the TV playing softly in the background.
When she woke, it was well past eleven. She shifted, and something soft slipped from her shoulders to the floor. Looking down, she recognized Selena's floral-patterned blanket. Bolting upright, she picked it up, excitement creeping into her voice.
"Selena, you're back?"
No answer. Just the empty, quiet apartment.
She paused, then checked her phone, scrolling through the many useless notifications, hoping to find one from her. Nothing. She turned off the TV and called out, "Selena? Are you here?"
The quiet persisted. She walked down the hall to Selena's room, pushing the slightly open door to peek inside. The bed was neatly made, and it was clear she hadn't been home at all.
Normally, if Selena wasn't coming home, she'd text Tara around nine to let her know. Worry pricked at her, and she immediately dialed Selena's number.
The phone rang for several long seconds before it picked up. But the voice that answered wasn't hers. The loud background noise of thumping music and laughter drowned out her words, making Tara's heart pound with unease. She clenched the edge of her jacket, trying to steady herself as she spoke. "Selena, where are you?"
After a few shrill laughs from somewhere on the other end, a faint voice finally said, "Little sister, your 'big sis' isn't coming home tonight. You better get to bed—don't you have school tomorrow?" The statement ended with another round of laughter from both men and women, all blurring together in a cacophony of noise.
Tara's tone turned cold. "Could you give the phone back to Selena, please? I need to speak with her." Though her words were polite, the sharpness in her tone made it clear she was in no mood for games.
After some muffled shuffling and a pause, Tara barely caught the faint sound of Selena's voice. "Who is it?"
"Your assistant," another voice called out, pushing the phone back into her hand.
At the mention of her assistant, Selena jolted, her hazy thoughts settling. "Tara?" she said, a bit more clearly this time. She started moving toward the bar's restroom for some privacy, covering the phone to muffle the background noise. "Hey…Tara?"
"Where are you?" Tara's voice, already naturally low, was even huskier, sultry and almost wounded in its quiet intensity.
Hearing her, Selena's thoughts swirled, and she decided to tease her just a little. "Why? Do you miss me?"
Tara could practically see her, leaning casually against a doorframe, one hand resting lazily at her side, uttering those casual, heart-jerking words with a half-smile. But she wasn't sure how to respond and instead dodged the question, focusing on what mattered. "Where are you?"
Though she was disappointed Tara didn't answer her, Selena sighed and relented, telling her, "I'm at The 388 Lounge on Desire Street."
"I'll come get you."
Without waiting for a reply, Tara hung up, grabbed her jacket, and headed out the door.
It was late autumn, and the night air was biting cold. The cab dropped her off at the end of Desire Street before hurrying off to its next fare, leaving Tara to walk the rest of the way. She zipped her jacket up to her chin and pushed through the buzzing crowd of neon-lit bars, spas, and karaoke lounges. Even at midnight, Desire Street was alive with a gaudy energy that made her a little uncomfortable, though she couldn't help looking around in curiosity.
Following Selena's directions, she found The 388 Lounge, and as soon as she stepped inside, the loud music assaulted her ears. Her brow furrowed as she scanned the room, finally spotting Selena slouched on a velvet sofa across the bar.
She was leaned back, one leg crossed over the other, a sliver of her pale calf catching the flashing lights. Her eyes were half-closed, squinting against the bright beams that swept across her face, and a girl beside her handed her a cup. Selena raised the glass to her lips, her mouth curling in a faint smile as she downed it in one go, earning cheers from the surrounding group.
Tara's chest tightened. She felt she should turn and walk out, but her feet betrayed her, carrying her closer with each step. She stopped in front of Selena and softly called out, "Selena?"
Over the loud music, it was doubtful Selena could hear her, but the others noticed, erupting in teasing calls for introductions.
Though she was clearly tipsy, Selena's eyes settled on Tara's form. Tara was dressed in a simple black jacket, her ponytail high, framing a face that had sharper, more defined features than usual. It was the first time Selena really noticed the slight tilt of her eyes or the strong line of her nose, adding a striking intensity to her otherwise gentle appearance.
She raised a hand lazily, tugging Tara down beside her. "Everyone, this is Tara—my assistant, and my roommate."
That was all she was to her—assistant, roommate. Tara felt a faint sting at the lack of any closer description. Just those two labels felt oddly… distant. But then again, she realized that if Selena had called her a friend, she'd likely still feel disappointed. It was like a hopelessly tangled knot inside her.
Tara gave a polite nod, greeting the group. Most of them were women, which eased her discomfort somewhat.
One girl by Selena's side nudged her playfully and joked, "Hey, your assistant deserves some serious overtime for following you around at this hour, Selena!"
Tara's eyes narrowed slightly as she caught a hint of something more in the girl's demeanor. Her tone, her body language… it was clear she wasn't just a casual friend.
Seeing this, Selena's hand found Tara's, fingers brushing against hers gently, almost as if to reassure her. "Everyone, have fun," she said, then rose, tugging Tara along as she led her upstairs to the quieter lounge area.
Selena led her into an empty room with a couch, then gestured to the couch, settling in with Tara close beside her. "This bar belongs to an old college friend," Selena explained. "With work being so hectic, I thought I'd unwind here. Guess I forgot to tell you." She gestured for Tara to shut the door. "It's quieter in here."
Her eyes, full of a subtle warmth, softened as she looked at Tara, who felt her heart flutter in response.
"Come sit," Selena patted the spot next to her.
Once Tara sat, Selena leaned even closer, tilting her head so their faces were just inches apart. Her gaze was locked on the small beauty mark by the corner of Tara's eye. "It's been so long since I really looked at you. Have you missed me?"
Tara's hand tightened reflexively, but before she could respond, Selena continued, her tone as soft as a feather brushing across skin. "I've missed you. Turn toward me a little… let me look at you properly."
It felt as though Tara were under a spell. She shifted as Selena asked, turning to face her fully, and in doing so, found herself completely captured by Selena's gaze.
"Are you wearing lip gloss?" Selena asked.
Selena's breath was tinged with the faint scent of wine, and Tara felt her pulse quicken. She shook her head, unconsciously touching her lips. "No…"
"Don't move."
Selena's hand reached out, stopping Tara's fingers just before they touched her lips. In the low lighting of the room, a warm, heady tension seemed to build between them, making Tara wonder if Selena might actually lean in and kiss her.
Just when Tara thought she might be imagining it all, Selena's weight settled gently against her. Her lips brushed softly across Tara's cheek, leaving a faint mark of red behind—a mere whisper of a kiss before she slumped against her, pretending to fall asleep.
But Tara knew the truth: this bold yet subtle gesture held a message only they could understand.