"So," Clark began, dragging out the word obnoxiously.

"So?" Keres echoed softly in question, readjusting where she was tucked beneath Boobies' left arm to look over at Clark, who was tucked into Boobies' right.

"Your little therapy sessions with Dar seem to be working." He stated softly, wiggling to squish his cheek into the bear's fur, knees at his chest and hands splayed beside his face. Keres smiled widely and nodded.

"He's really sweet and patient and kind, even when I'm asking stupid questions or just repeating the same things. I really like him." She gushed, tightening her arms around the bear. Clark raised his eyebrows in question and Keres looked at him confused for a moment before realising and shaking her head profusely. "No no no not like that no! Not him."

"Not him?" Clark asked slowly, a smirk beginning to curved at his lips. "So there is someone?" He teased lightly. His smirk was immediately wiped at Keres' panicked expression. "Woah, I was joking, it's alright-"

"I don't know." Keres murmured softly. "I've been so focused on the plan and- and getting rid of Damien that- I don't know." Clark reached to place a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "I think there is someone but... I don't know who..."

"Hey, it's alright, Chickadee, we can figure this out together." He assured softly, rubbing a thumb against her shoulder. "Think about who you know, who you're close to, and picture being in a relationship with them and then tell me how you feel. You can start with me if you want."

"Isn't it a bit weird to think about dating you when you're right here?" Keres asked self consciously but Clark just shrugged.

"I think about dating Ro when I'm around him." He countered. "Among other things but we won't get into that. Just close your eyes." She hesitantly did as she was told, not wanting to disregard his previously comment yet but equally not all that sure she wanted to know.

"Picture going to dinner with me or a movie or on a walk or doing laser tag, whatever your ideal date is." She nodded softly, just about managing to conjure up an image of Clark walking with her hand in hand through the park, coming home to cook together and then curling on Keres' sofa to watch movies until they fell asleep, swaddled in blankets and pillows. Maybe they'd make a pillow fort. "Tell me how you feel?"

"It just feels... friendly, I guess? I can't really picture telling you I love you or- or anything like that. It feels odd to picture you like that." She replied honestly, letting her eyes peel open again. Clark nodded.

"Alright, so we can cross me off the list. What about George? You've known him for a while." He suggested.

Keres didn't need to picture it to know it wasn't him, shaking her head. "George is like a brother to me, and so is Clay kinda because of George. Clay's like my brother in law."

"Okie dokie, so it's not me, Clay, George or Darryl. Could it be Zak?" He then suggested and Keres looked to be contemplating for a moment before shaking her head.

"I don't think it's any of the band, they all have each other, I couldn't do that... again." Clark squeezed her shoulder softly in a quiet, understanding reassurance.

He hesitated a long moment before his next suggestion, face pinched with a much too well known pain. "Jethro?"

Keres thought. She closed her eyes and pictured it, Jethro's arms protective around her; Jethro's soft and private half-smile; the way Jethro gets more tactile when he's tired; the quiet and sweet kindness that takes over Jethro when he's talking to or playing with his little siblings or cousins or Clark's sister. He would be good for her.

But it still didn't seem right. Keres has never seen or experienced that side of Jethro, only ever heard of it. Only ever heard of it from the boy beside her, who was currently radiating a familiarly resigned sadness though he would deny it.

"No, it's not him either." She dismissed softly and respectfully ignored the flood of relief that Clark felt. "And I don't think it's Geo either, he'd be much too sad without Kiri." She then added.

"Apart from your dad and your manager - which would be weirdchamp but you love who you love I guess - I think that's all the guys you know..." Clark was careful to think through his next words after Keres nodded, knowing that it would likely be a difficult realisation to go through. "...could it be Ophelia?"

At first, Keres was certain of her answer. "No, she's a girl." But then she began to think.

"Remember what you've learnt with Darryl, Ker. Anyone can love anyone, and they will. That includes you." He reminded gently, watching the way Keres' face fell.

She remembered Ophelia's laughs first, every one of them. The loud, obnoxious one she did when she simply knew some old fart was judging them; the raucous one that always lead to snorting, and more laughs because of the snorting, that ended with aching faces and sore stomachs; the quiet one, repressed and hidden by a fist that she'd usually bite because she really shouldn't be laughing right now; the embarrassed flustered one that seemed to tumble from her lips when words wouldn't and the soft, quiet giggle of when she's much too tired to be awake but much too happy to fall asleep. No matter what laugh it was, Keres was usually laughing too.

She remembered the smiles that always followed and always made her nervous or happy or even flush pink. Ophelia's smile made Keres blush.

She remembered the protective way in which Ophelia would tuck Keres in under her arm, catch her eye across a room and hold up a thumb in question, wear too many layers or bring an extra jacket so that she always had one when Keres inevitably got cold or how she'd make sure Keres felt comfortable and involved, no matter who they were with. Keres remembered how much Ophelia genuinely cared.

She also remembered a moment that had been stuck in her head since it had happened some few days ago. Ophelia had called some time late in the evening for her and sounded shaken and distant. She explained that she hadn't intended to call, that it had been a natural reaction, and that she was sorry for calling without messaging first. After Keres had assured her that it was more than just fine and that she loved hearing from her, Ophelia had eventually explained that they were going through a thunderstorm and that Geo wasn't home.

Keres remembered the quiet way in which Ophelia had admitted that she was scared of thunderstorms, regardless of how irrational or silly that was, and that Geo usually helped her through them by simply talking to her. Keres remembered the almost insecure way Ophelia had asked her to tell her a story, if she was free, anything to fill the silence.

Keres remembered talking aimlessly, making up storylines about two princesses living in a cottage home with their cat, until Ophelia fell asleep with a whispered 'thank you'.

"Oh shit."

////:\\\\
Big Booty Muffins

Clark
I have ✨ news ✨
4:12pm

Keres
YOU SAID YOU WOULDNT TELL ANYONE
4:12pm

Clark
NOT THAT NEWS DUMBY
4:12pm
Different news
4:13pm

Keres
Oh
4:13pm
Continue :0
4:15pm

Clark
Firstly, Damien now has access to my phone camera roll so feel free to send me some weirdchamp pics and vids
4:15pm
I uploaded everything to my laptop and deleted it so we should be fine
4:15pm
But I thought you'd all like to know that I have rickrolled that numptymuffin nine times now and it has only been a day
4:16pm
Selene said she heard him scream at around the seventh one
4:16pm

Nick
Nice
4:17pm

Vincent
Nice
4:17pm

Geo
Nice
4:17pm

Zak
nice
4:18pm

Darryl
Nice >:D
4:18pm

Clay
Nice
4:18pm

Jethro
Nice.
4:19pm

George
Nice
4:19pm

Keres
Nice!
4:19pm

Ophelia
DOUBLE NICE BLAZE IT
4:20pm
Seen

////:\\\\

"So you think he's on his way now?" Clark asked, receiving an affirmative hum in reply.

"His things are gone and there's a cheque on the kitchen counter, I'm pretty sure that means he's gone back." Selene confirmed softly, picking up Aurelia's pyjamas from the bedroom floor and making her way to the bathroom.

"Alright, thank you for warning us." He replied, running a hand through his hair and smiling gently at Keres' concerned face. "How are you two? Are you both okay?" Selene's chuckle was sad and fond.

"We're fine, Clark. Auri keeps asking whether I can call you and ask you to read her a bedtime story, though." She relayed and Clark laughed softly.

"Of course, I'd be more than happy to."

—————————————
1.5k words

Keres: gays are fine! I'm just not one of them
Ophelia:
Keres: OH NO

Feedback is welcome and appreciated!!

Yours, Dandelion