janeyseymour

[janeyseymour]

GUYS. GUYS. GUYS. 🗣️🗣️🗣️

i went to nyc with my boyfriend this weekend

AND WE SAW AUDRA GYPSY FRONT ROW

and then OH AND THEN

TODAY WE WENT TO FANATICS FEST AND SAW SOME PHILLY LEGENDS AND THEN FUCKING MET THE EAGLES BRANDON GRAHAM

THANK YOU I WILL BE SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP FOR THE NEXT 7-10 BUSINESS YEARS

[janeyseymour]

lol i didn’t get the job guys time to fall into a pit of existential crisis and depression

job interview on thursday for first grade wish me so much fucking luck thank you

[janeyseymour]

job interview on thursday for first grade wish me so much fucking luck thank you

[janeyseymour]

Drinks and Jealousy

Summary: It takes one flirty woman at the bar for Melissa to finally make a move on you.

WC: ~3.9k

When you start at Abbott Elementary, you try to keep to yourself and stay as professional as possible. When you start at Abbott Elementary, you don’t expect to become a part of that little core team that the principal adores. When you start at Abbott Elementary, the very last thing that you expect to do is fall for the redheaded second grade teacher that everyone warns you about.

As your time at Abbott Elementary continues though, you find that you end up doing everything you said you wouldn’t.

Since the beginning of the school year, you’ve shown to work each and everyday with a travel mug filled to the brim with coffee and a smile. Adorned in respectable teaching clothes and hair done nicely, makeup on, you choose to keep to yourself. Sure, you sit in on staff meetings and offer your opinions when asked, but that’s about it. Other than that, you eat in your classroom for lunch, you stick to your lesson plans, and you never pry about your coworkers’ outside lives. It’s not your business what they’re up to, and it certainly isn’t their business what you decide to do in your free time. You hear the talks of the school, but you don’t participate in any conversation or gossip. Why would you? You have a job to do, and it is certainly not to wrap yourself up in workplace drama.

But then one day you decide to bring something that needs to be heated up in the microwave, and you have to venture out of your little safe space and into the staffroom. As you walk through the halls, you make a mental note to bring that extra microwave that you have at your apartment to school.

“Y/N!” you hear one of your more cheery coworker’s voices. “You decide to come down for lunch today?”

You shrug and offer a friendly wave. “Just have to use the microwave.”

You see the way that she shrinks down just slightly before perking back up. “You should join us for lunch!”

“I really should be getting back to my room to do some work,” you try to decline politely.

“It’s lunch time, kid,” you hear a lower, more gruff, voice tell you. “Don’t burn yourself out.”

“I won’t, I just have to-”

“There will always be some sort of excuse. Don’t do that to yourself,” Melissa tells you again. “You’ll burn out, and we can’t afford to have any more half-decent teachers leave because they try to do too much at first and find they can’t keep up with it all.”

As the microwave goes off and you pull your meal out, you turn to the redhead. When you expect her to be snarky and look as though she couldn’t give half a shit though, you see how genuine she is in her statement. And so, with somewhat of a heavy sigh, you give into their simple request and join them for lunch.

What you don’t realize is that one little action will become a ritual for you- something that becomes a part of your routine. On the rare day that you genuinely are up to your eyeballs in lesson plans and paperwork and can’t make it down to the staff lounge, you feel miserable. At that point, you yearn for the thirty relaxing minutes that you get during your work day.

Slowly, you become a part of their little group. They begin to include you in more conversations not based around school and work, and you find that you don’t necessarily mind them asking you about your personal life. It’s interesting to learn what you do about them as well.

You make your way into the staff room one day for lunch, only to see a substitute sitting in your unofficial assigned seat at the table with Jacob, Gregory, and Janine. You pop your food into the microwave and look around curiously, trying to figure out where you should sit today or if you should just head back to your classroom.

Your thoughts are interrupted by the beeping of the microwave and the sound of a chair being kicked out by none other than Melissa Schemmenti.

“Sit with us today,” the second grade teacher smiles and gestures to the chair. Silently, you oblige her request. From that day on, you claim your place among the two veteran teachers.

As time goes on, you finally decide to accept their invitations to events and gatherings outside of work. You find that you quite like being in their company. Everyone is a little different, has their quirks, and generally just exists together. The group somehow works despite everyone having such different personalities.

And as even more time passes, you find yourself leaning on Janine for emotional support. The two of you grow quite close- you would even venture to say after some time that she’s your best friend. You’re more than happy for her when she and Gregory finally get together- going as far as giving him the best friend spiel about how if he hurts her, you’ll find a way to make sure he was never born. 

You tell him that you know a guy, to which he snorts.

“The guy you know is Melissa,” Gregory laughs.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the woman in question appears next to you. She lays a gentle hand on your shoulder. “Yeah, and I know a while ago I said I’d only kill for Barb, but I think I’d kill for any o’ youse now.” She frowns. “Shit, I’m getting soft.”

“You’ve been soft,” you tease her.

“Only for you,” she mumbles. And then she’s off to do whatever it does that Melissa Schemmenti does. You can’t help but follow her with your eyes as she goes.

Janine turns to you. “Okay,” she whispers excitedly. “So now that I got my head out of my ass, when are you going to get your head out of yours?”

“What?”

“When are you finally going to admit that you have a thing for Melissa?” the second grade teacher bounces on her toes. “We could go on double dates!”

You chuckle. “Even if we did ever get together, I don’t know that she would want to go on double dates.”

“So,” your friend completely misses what you just said. “You do have a thing for Melissa?”

You sigh heavily. “Even if I did,” you mumble so only she can hear. “I doubt that someone like her would have a thing for me.”

And then you walk away from the conversation in favor of actually getting something done in your classroom.

You don’t know that one little quip of yours has Janine’s brain going a mile a minute with ideas of how to get the two of you together.

“Janine, I think that they’ll figure it out eventually,” Gregory states over dinner one night. “If we could figure it out, so can they.”

“So you agree that they like each other?”

The man nods firmly. “Even a blind person… or Jacob, could see that.”

“Then we have to help push them along! Like Jacob did for us,” Janine argues.

Gregory sighs quietly. “Maybe we could just keep going out all as a group. I’ve noticed that the two of them seem to gravitate towards each other when we’re all out.”

“Yes!” the second grade teacher grins and claps her hands enthusiastically.

And so, the gang has many outings in hopes that the two of you will finally just pull your shit together. There are days at the bar, more karaoke outings, a few get togethers at a coworker’s house. The two of you always seem to be seated together, and if you aren’t initially at her side, someone moves in order for you to sit next to her. Nothing ever happens though.

But then one night, you’re out at Ruby’s. And when you sit down at the bar and Melissa runs to the bathroom upon her entrance, another woman very clearly eyes you up.

“You come here a lot,” the woman tells you as she sets her bag down next to you.

You turn on your stool. “Oh, uh, yeah.” Wow. She’s really pretty. “With my work friends.”

“Just friends?” she asks. At your nod, she continues. “I’ve been wanting to come over and say hi, but I couldn’t tell if you were with the redhead or not.”

“Oh,” you chuckle softly, cheeks tinting red. “That’s not… no. We’re just, uh-“ you cough a bit awkwardly. “Friends.”

“So, it’d be alright if I bought you a drink?”

You bite your lip a bit nervously. “I suppose that would be alright.”

“Mika,” the woman smiles at you charmingly before waving over the bartender and ordering. The drinks are made, and then you’re being handed yours with a warm smile.

You speak with Mika for a bit before Melissa emerges from the bathroom and over to your side. Her eyes narrow immediately when she sees how close this new, gorgeous, woman is to you.

“Hey,” you smile at your favorite coworker gently.

“What’s this?” the second grade teacher asks through practically gritted teeth.

You introduce the two. “I was just waiting for you when she came over to talk to me.”

“Interesting,” Melissa nearly snarls out. “Well, I guess if you’re ever done flirting, I’ll be over with our friends.” She storms off.

“Are you sure the two of you aren’t together?” Mika asks as her eyes follow in the direction of loud boots against the floor.

You nod your head once as you watch the redhead make her way over to your group of friends.

“What’s making you look like someone told you your gnocchi wasn’t good?” Janine asks.

“Is it that very pretty woman flirting with Y/N?” Barbara asks knowingly.

Melissa’s eyes squint as she looks over to you and Mika. “Hmm. I don’t think I noticed that woman there before.”

“Like Hell you didn’t see her,” Barb calls her friend out. “You spoke to them, and then you should’ve seen your face when you turned around to come over to us.”

“Well, now I’m pissed that I forgot to order a drink,” the redhead huffs out.

“And would that be because you were distracted by your blinding jealousy?” Jacob cuts in.

“Shut up, Hill.”

“I’d love to stay and chat with you,” Mika tells you as she lays a gentle hand over your arm. “But I think your friends are waiting for you.” She points in the direction of your table. All of your coworkers are practically staring at the two of you. Melissa’s eyes look like stone. If looks could kill, you’d both be dead.

“I guess I should go over there,” you half chuckle, half sigh. “But it was really nice talking to you, and thank you again for the drink.”

“Of course,” your new friend smiles.

You go to turn away and head for your friends, but you notice that your favorite redhead doesn’t have a drink in her hand. You turn back to the bar, and you don’t know it, but the second grade teacher clenches her fists and locks her jaw when she thinks that you’re going to stay with Mika. Instead, you order Melissa her preferred drink, receive it, and head over to your colleagues. You settle in next to Melissa with a smile on your face, and you can see the way that she physically relaxes when you hand her her drink.

“Thanks, hun,” the second grade teacher sighs softly.

“You know I always have you,” you tell her quietly.

“Do you think Mika worked?” Jacob asks Janine once they finally get a moment alone.

“We all saw how pissed Melissa was while she was talking to her,” the shorter teacher grins. “I can’t believe our plan might work.”

“And it only cost me to buy her her drinks for the night!” the social studies teacher exclaims.

You see the way that Mika’s eyes linger on you the entire night- how she wants to come over and steal you away from Melissa. But you also notice how the redhead constantly has her eyes on the pretty woman across the bar; how she’s staring daggers at the woman and daring her to come over so Melissa can fight. You notice the way that your coworker has her hands all over you at any given time.

Maybe it’s the drinks that are giving the second grade teacher this confidence. That’s what you let yourself believe in the midst of your somewhat drunken haze. You also allow yourself to enjoy it- to pretend that this is what your life is: having the most beautiful woman at the bar hanging off of you and making you feel like you’re the only thing that’s ever mattered in this world.

Soon though, your bladder wins out the fight of wanting to dance with Melissa all night or use the restroom. You excuse yourself with a smile and a promise to bring back another drink while the redhead tells you that she’ll keep your spot on the dance floor open.

Y/N, Jacob texts Mika. Bathroom. Go.

Janine takes over. Get her number and wait to text until she’s back with Melissa to fuel the fire.

And so the woman does. She slips into the bathroom and pretends to fix her makeup as she waits for you. And when you come stumbling out of the stall, you see the pretty woman that bought you a drink earlier in the night.

“Funny running into you,” you chuckle as you wash your hands.

“Almost like it’s fate,” Mika tells you suavely. Oh if only you knew how orchestrated this meeting was. “Since we’re here again and I didn’t have the courage to ask earlier, do you think I could get your number?”

You blush. “Oh, I don’t know. I uh-“ you stumble over your words. “I honestly probably shouldn’t have even accepted that drink from you.”

“Why’s that?” Warm eyes meet your own with fake curiosity. She knows exactly why.

You bite the inside of your cheek. “I kind of, uhm… the redhead you thought I was with? I kind of have a thing for her.”

Mika’s face falls just slightly, despite grinning on the inside. She just got you to admit that you have feelings for Melissa. “Well, you told me that there wasn’t anything going on there, so… why don’t you give me your number and I can text you? And if you regret it tomorrow, all you have to do is text me and tell me that it isn’t going to work out. How about that?”

Your cheeks turn red as you toy with the idea in your head. “Uhm… I guess that would be okay.”

The woman hands you her phone with a smile, and you clumsily put your number in.

“I’ll text you,” Mika promises you with a wink, and then she’s off and back to the club.

The pretty woman that you met twice tonight does indeed text you. She texts you as your dancing with Melissa. Your watch goes off with the notification, and you glance at it. Green eyes look at it too. 

“Who’s texting you?”

“Mika,” you say as you continue to dance to the music.

“Who?” The redhead removes her hand from your body and halts her own dancing.

“The woman from earlier,” you say, although it sounds like more of a question. “I ran into her in the bathroom, and she asked for my number.”

The woman in front of you frowns. “I need another drink.”

“I just got you one,” you point out.

Melissa downs it in one go. “I need another one.” 

She walks away from you, leaving you entirely confused on what just took place. With a sigh, you make your way back to the table that some of your friends are still occupying.

“Done dancing for the night?” Barbara asks you.

You nod, wiping a bit of sweat from your forehead. “I think I’ll stick around to finish this drink, and then probably head out.”

And you do. Once you finish your mixed drink, you make your rounds and go to head out on your own.

“You’re really going to let her go by herself?” Jacob asks Melissa as she watches you go.

“I ain’t done my drink,” the redhead grumbles. She sips from it slowly.

“What if something happens to her?” Barbara asks.

“So why don’t you go?” the second grade teacher mutters.

“Gerald’s on his way already,” the kindergarten teacher states. “Just go.”

“Fine.” Melissa downs her drink and then follows in your direction. On the small trek to the outside, the woman makes up her mind- she’s going to tell you how she feels tonight. But by the time she gets outside, she sees you getting into an Uber, and she sighs with defeat. She turns back into the bar.

“She already left,” the redhead says quietly as she sits back down next to her friend. “But I think I’m going to call an Uber for myself anyway.”

“Would you like a ride, dear?” Barbara offers her best friend.

“It’s fine,” Melissa waves her off. She doesn’t want the woman to know that she isn’t actually going to head back to her own house. No- she’s going to get a ride to your little townhouse.

You’ve just finished brushing your teeth when you hear your doorbell ring. It’s best not to answer though- not when you’re home alone. So, you ignore it. Only then you hear whoever is at your door begin to knock rather aggressively. Slowly, you make your way to your room and grab your phone and the baseball bat that you keep by your bed. And then of course, because in the middle of someone trying to get into your house, your phone begins to ring loudly. Quickly, you glance at the device, and.. why is Melissa trying to call you?

“Melissa, I can’t talk right-”

“Will you just come open your door?” the redhead asks rather aggressively.

“Th-that’s you?” you stutter out.

“Yes! Who else would be pounding on your front door at this hour?”

With your bat in hand, you go to your front door and lo and behold, Melissa is standing on your front step. You open the door as you lower the bat.

“H-hey,” you breathe out a sigh in relief. “Wh-what? Why are you here?”

“Don’t go out with that woman,” the redhead tells you urgently.

You know in your heart that you were going to let her down easy tomorrow anyway, but you can’t stop the question from spilling out of your mouth. “Why?”

“Because…” Melissa forces herself to take a deep breath. And then before you know it, her arms are wrapped around your neck and her lips are on your own. When the two of you pull back, the woman continues. “I want you to go out with me. Not her. Me.”

“Are- are you being serious?” you ask nervously. “Because I always thought that… that you wouldn’t want someone like me.”

“I don’t want someone like you. I just want you.”

The next morning, Melissa is right next to you, and nothing has ever felt this right.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” you whisper as you kiss her softly.

“I’m here,” the redhead smiles. “I do think though that we shouldn’t tell our work friends yet about… this. Give us some time to adjust.”

“I agree.”

“I also think you need to text that girl that was trying to hit on you last night and tell her you’re off the market now.”

So, with Melissa in your bed, you text Mika.

Hey. It really was great meeting you last night. But I don’t think it’s going to work out. The redhead and I… we ended up getting together last night.

The text back is almost immediate. Hey, that’s great for you. Best of luck.

And then Mika opens up the text thread with Jacob and Janine. Your friends finally got their heads out of their asses.

You’re the best, Jacob responds. Thanks for your help!

Janine responds with a series of emojis that show just how excited she is about this.

On Monday morning, you’re sitting in the staff lounge as you usually do. It’s nice and the calm you need before the storm that you (lovingly) call your students. Nothing is out of the ordinary really. You just sip your coffee from your mug as you look through your plans for the week. The only difference is that every so often you glance up from your laptop and papers to steal small glances at your now girlfriend. You can’t help but smile each and every time.

But then the bell rings to signal the beginning of the school day, and you sigh. Still though, there seems to be this glow around you, and you have a pep in your step that usually is only reserved for Friday afternoons when you can see the weekend.

Monday afternoon, you have a staff meeting to sit through. It goes by as each one does, although you can’t find it in you to even pretend that you’re listening. Instead, you spend your time trying to figure out how much you can look at the redhead without it being obvious.

When you’re dismissed from whatever Ava was droning on about, you gather your things and head back to your classroom to pack your things for the day. What you don’t know is that while Melissa is walking out of the library, Janine jogs to catch up with her.

“Hey, congrats on the two of you getting together,” the shorter teacher says. “I wanted to tell Y/N congrats too, but she kind of booked it out of here.”

Melissa rolls her eyes with a fondness. “I told her not to say anything yet.”

“She’s my best friend,” Janine tells the redhead. “She doesn’t need to say anything. I can just feel that she’s happy. I don’t even need to see her to know.”

“She didn’t tell you? Really?”

“Nope,” Janine pops her ‘p’. “I can just tell.”

“Well, thanks kid,” Melissa smiles. “Don’t say nothin’ though. I gotta run too. The two of us are having dinner at my house tonight.” With those words, she’s off.

Jacob finds his smaller friend a few seconds later. “So, what Mika said is true?”

“Melissa confirmed it herself,” Janine grins.

“It’s about damn time the two of them pulled their heads from their asses and started dating,” Jacob smiles as he high fives the second grade teacher. 

That night, over dinner, Melissa tells you that Janine knows about your relationship.

“How? I didn’t tell her, did you?”

“She told me that she could just tell that you’re happy,” the redhead sighs.

You hum. “I am happy with you. I can’t believe it took another woman flirting with me for you to make a move.”

“I guess if we ever see her out again, we’ll have to thank her for helping us get here,” Melissa laughs. 

Oh, if only the two of you knew that Jacob and Janine were the masterminds behind the two of you finally getting together- that Mika only came to flirt with you to make Melissa jealous because of them. But for now, they keep it a secret. 

TAGS: @schemmentis @thesapphictimelady @marvel210 @itisdoctortoyousir @morgana-larkin @doesthatsuggestanythingtoyou @sweetcheeksschemmenti @megamultifandomtrashposts @lemz378 @http-sam @melissaschemmentisbranzino @imaginesmultifandoms @sexysapphicshopowner @lilfartbox1 @maybe-a-humanbean @imlike-so-gaydude @a-queen-and-her-throne @notinmyvocab @melanielaufeyson @dvrkhcld @cosmichymns @sasheemo @m1lflov3rrr @ricejucie @temilyrights @emilynissangtr @squinnchy @emeraldoceansstuff @shinyfaerielights  @blkmxrvel @marvelwomenrule @casualfoxwitch @babytakeittothehead @schemmentits @eliscannotdance 

[janeyseymour]

i’d like to know if you have any headcanons on if you think melissa has tattoos and if so, where would she have them and what would they be of? thanks :3

does melissa have tattoos? i don’t know honestly. we all know that she is down bad for a woman who has tattoos.

i think if she did have one, it would be hidden- maybe on her rib cage. and it 100% be some sort of quote in italian about family

[janeyseymour]

*places a box of hugs and a bottle of water* been a while, hope you're doing good right now! also, ouch to that wrist. hope it heals smoothly! -⭐

this is from forever ago but i love u

[janeyseymour]

Newest fic is perfect as always. Fluff was top notch and the exact thing I needed today. Thanks for writing, and I hope all is well.

🥰🥰

[janeyseymour]

guys i’m bored and looking for motivation to write for melissa so send me asks or my thoughts on headcanons for that redheaded bitch

[janeyseymour]

Dumbass Kids

idk anymore. i present you with this- utter fluff.

Summary: It's funny the way that you and Melissa accidentally seem to adopt two dumbass kids- aka, Janine and Jacob.

WC: ~3.3k

Melissa Schemmenti never planned on the way her life turned out. If you had told her as a teenager that she would end up married right out of college, end up teaching at a poorly funded school in the city, have no children of her own and get divorced to what was supposed to be the love of her life, only to wind up dating and married to the real love of her life, a woman? Well, the fiery redhead would probably come up with quite a few names to call you in Italian before telling you in English that you were absolutely bat shit crazy. But here she is. She has you in her corner, alongside her as a third grade teacher. It’s… perfect.

The second grade teacher is naturally a closed off woman, but once you realize that she’s mostly tough in order to protect herself- that is her fight or flight instinct- you find that she is incredibly kind and compassionate for those she deems worthy enough to let in. You don’t begin to realize how special you are to her until she’s asking you to go out on a date with her.

“What?” you ask, having to do a double take.

“You and me,” the redhead smiles at you softly. “We work well together at work, but I think we might work well together outside of school too. So, what do you say? Go out with me?”

“I… I say, I think I’d like that.” You can’t quite keep the blush off your face. You had thought she was pretty for some time now, and you knew she was softer for you than most of your other coworkers, but… you didn’t think she reciprocated the feelings that you had for her.

Fast forward to years later that the two of you are married and happy as can be. There’s a nice core circle that you and your wife find yourself in, although it does make you chuckle when you realize that they may see her as more of a mother than a simple coworker.

Janine Teagues, for as odd as she can be and for as much as she annoys your wife with her can-do attitude, holds a special place in Melissa’s heart. And Jacob Hill, the pessimistic Social Studies teacher, somehow manages to wiggle his way into your wife’s tough heart.

Up until your wife sees the way they eat and then begrudgingly (with a nudge from you) invites the two over for a cooking lesson, it was hard for your wife to tolerate them. But when the evening is upon you all, you realize that maybe they’ve been trying to search for validation and care from the redhead when they can’t receive it from their own families.

The four of you are standing in the kitchen, you with a broad smile on your face as you tie your apron around you. Melissa just rolls her eyes- an action she’s always done.

“Do either of you want an apron?” you offer. “Lis won’t wear one, but we have a few-”

“I do wear one occasionally,” your wife huffs. “Just don’ need to to cook this.”

“What are we cooking?” Janine asks.

“Pasta,” you chuckle. “What else?”

“On second thought,” the redhead takes the apron out of your hands and takes it upon herself to wrap it around the younger woman. “We don’ need you ruining your shirt because you drop tomato sauce on it.” She turns to Jacob. “You too, Hill. Grab one.”

You don’t miss the way that Janine has this odd look on her face, but it’s clearly one of fondness. 

When Melissa pulls out the shallot that Janine had brought over, you see the nearly murderous look in her eye. But when she sees the way that once she’s explained why it is so crucial to get an onion as opposed to a shallot- less about the actual ingredient and more about the integrity behind the cooking- Janine seems to understand. And she’s apologizing up and down. It’s… if you’re being honest, it’s actually quite sad to see the way she reacts. The shorter woman’s shoulders tense up, and you can tell that she is so genuine in her apology- fearing that she’s in more trouble than she actually is. It’s as if this reaction isn’t necessarily an uncommon thing for her body to go through- it’s more visceral than anything. And your wife takes notice. Her green eyes go from anger to a look of sympathy in an instant.

“Hey,” Melissa sighs softly, reaching a hand out to rest gently on Janine’s forearm. “It’s an honest mistake. It’s alright.”

As if Jacob understands the strange gravity of the situation, he hops off of the counter top as he undoes his own apron. “Ooh! Now I get to patronize a local vendor… B.R.B!”

With a glance and a telepathic, ‘I’ll go with him,’ you too slide yourself off of the surface you’re sitting on and go to grab your jacket.

You only catch the tail end of the talking head Jacob is giving the camera.

“We aren’t doing that,” you can’t help the laughter that bubbles through you. 

“If you get a white onion, I swear t’God,” your wife yells after you.

You roll your eyes. “I know what to get, my love.”

When Janine starts to talk about her sister, and there are tears in her eyes, claiming it’s the garlic… Melissa feels for her. She misses her sister. “Yeah, garlic doesn’t do that. Do it like this.”

Your wife shows the younger teacher how to hold a knife the proper way, how to cut the proper way, tells her about the right knife to use for different things all in the time that it takes for you to convince Jacob he doesn’t need to ‘up-buy’ the onion.

If you’re being honest, you expect to come home to complete and utter chaos. But there isn’t that. Instead, there’s a quiet calm throughout the house. You can tell from the various aromas that the two had chopped up most of the ingredients before pausing to wait for the onion.

“Honey?” you call as you haul a few bags in. “I know that we only went to get onion, but I did notice that there were a few things that we were low on, so I just grabbed those too while I was trying to convince Jacob not to ‘up-buy’.”

They aren’t in the kitchen like you expect them to be. You drop the things on the counter before venturing a bit further into the house with the man. You find Melissa and Janine sitting on the couch quietly. Your wife has a protective arm wrapped around your colleague. She turns to you.

“Hey hun,” the redhead says softly. “We were just waiting for you.” 

You tilt your head to silently ask if everything is okay, and when she nods and stands- extending a hand out to her grade level partner, you go along with it.

The four of you end up creating a very basic, but very lovely, meal together. Janine even shows off the new skills that she’d learned while the two of you were at the store. You and your wife send the two off with a few Tupperware containers filled with the meal and a smile. Janine leans in to hug you, to which you reciprocate with ease. 

And then she reaches for Melissa. When you think your wife will decline, she doesn’t. Instead, she simply holds the woman with such a warmth that it makes your heart practically beat out of your chest.

“I’m always here for you, kid,” your wife whispers softly.

While the two of you are preparing for bed that night, you can’t help the curiosity inside of you.

“So, what happened while Jacob and I were at the store?” you ask as you slide into bed.

Melissa sighs softly. “That… that kid’s more broken than I thought. And I could tell she just needed some extra love tonight.”

“Just tonight?” you raise a brow. “You sure you ain’t gettin’ soft for her?”

Your wife huffs dramatically as she lowers herself into the bed. “I’ve been soft for her. She just knows it now… which may bite me in the ass, but… whatever.”

That’s the beginning of this odd little family the four of you start. And it only progresses. The two continue to come over for cooking lessons, searching for the praise that they’ve been looking for for so long but failed to receive in the past.

In fact, when Jacob breaks up with Zach, you two are the first people he ends up calling to tell after school.

“Come over,” you and your wife both immediately say into the phone.

“I- I wouldn’t want to impose.” That’s what the man says, although you can hear in his voice how desperately he wants to accept your offer.

“You can either wallow in self-pity by yourself, or you can wallow in self-pity with a good meal and glass of wine in hand,” Melissa rolls her eyes. “I would choose coming over if I were you.”

“I- I’ll be there in ten,” Jacob says softly before hanging up.

The redhead stands from her place on the couch and heads into the kitchen to pull out ingredients for dinner.

“Am I calling Janine?” you ask as you head for the wine cupboard.

You see and hear the low breath your wife lets out before she nods her head. “Yeah.”

“Hun,” you chuckle as you try to convince her for the fourth time that this ‘Lester’ is Jacob in disguise. “I’m telling you: I think it’s him. Based off of the emails I’ve seen and his texts, it’s very similar and would not be shocking if it was him.”

“Nobody would use a fake name.”

“You did,” you fire out with a laugh. “I didn’t know your real name was Melissa until our third date,” you remind her.

“Okay,” Melissa sighs. “I did, yes. But Jacob? He ain’t smart enough to do that.”

“He’s been hanging around an awful lot with us lately,” you remind your wife sweetly. “I wouldn’t be shocked. And besides, if we’re looking for a tenant, would it really be the worst thing in the world if it was him? We know him, we like him, we-”

“We tolerate him,” the redhead tries to correct, but when you give here a stern look, she backs down. “Okay. We like him.”

“We know he’s relatively good with his money and would pay his rent on time.”

So when it’s revealed at work that it is indeed Jacob trying to secure the rental, you smile inwardly to yourself. Melissa puts on a big show about how she can’t believe it’s actually him, but you know there was a small part of her hoping you were right.

As it turns out to be, Jacob moving in with the two of you isn’t much different than when he’s just shown up to cook with you and your wife. It’s honestly quite nice to have him around. He’s quick to learn what makes your wife tick in your home, and he’s all too eager to help out with chores and grocery shopping (he now knows when to buy red onions and white onions or shallots).

It’s endearing the way that he lingers in the kitchen after school to just catch up about your days, but he also is respectful of your boundaries. When he notices that things may be a bit tense between you and your wife, he makes himself scarce.

Even on days when the four of you haven’t arranged to do cooking lessons, Jacob is asking about the methods and different skills the two of you are using in the kitchen. Janine frowns when she realizes that she’s not also privy to the specialness of eating Melissa’s cooking every day or enduring the sometimes brutal impromptu cooking lessons.

“He’s paying me rent, Pipsqueak,” Melissa snorts the one day.

Although you do notice that the next day, she packs an extra portion of lunch and quietly passes it to the second grade teacher with a smile.

With Jacob living with you, the three of you learn a lot about each other. There are some things that you’d rather not know (or hear) when it comes to the quirky teacher. It goes the same way for him.

“Jacob Hill, you seriously took him to the roof?” Melissa is currently in the middle of grilling the man that lives with you.

Jacob shrugs.

“I thought those were the raccoons,” you groan.

“Y/N,” Jacob groans at you early in the morning. “You have to fully wake up before you grab the cereal… you keep stealing mine.”

“Shut it,” you grumble as you rub at your temples. You shift in your seat uncomfortably.

“So, the raccoons were pretty loud last night, huh?” the man remarks with a smirk on his face.

While your face heats up and you wake up immediately, your wife just shouts, “Jacob!”

“God, I didn’t realize how thin these walls are,” all three of you mumble under your breaths.

“Maybe we should take it up to the roof next time,” you mutter.

“We all saw how that worked out for Avi and me,” Jacob huffs. “You thought it was the raccoons, so clearly you could still hear us.”

“I don’t need our pervert neighbor catching on and trying to watch either,” Melissa sighs as she puts coffee on the table. You eagerly reach for yours. 

“Your neighbor is a pervert?” the man asks nervously.

“Our neighbor,” your wife corrects with a heavy breath. She sips her coffee. “C’mon, you two. We need to start getting ready for work.”

When Janine decides to take on the full-time position at the district, it’s Barbara who is the first to congratulate the now former second grade teacher. But you don’t miss the way that your wife is the second one to leap up from her chair and hug the woman, claiming she doesn’t need to know her name anymore. Everyone there knows from the wobble in her voice that this declaration will hit Melissa much more than she is ever willing to admit. You’re quick to congratulate her too, with a smile on your face. You know how hard Janine has worked, and she deserves to know how proud of her you are.

That night, you, Melissa, Jacob, and Janine have a small celebratory dinner to highlight just how hard that woman has worked. It’s soft, it’s warm, it’s sweet- it’s domestic. 

When the woman who works in the administrative office decides to announce at AvaFest that she’s planning on returning, the two of you are the first to give broad smiles and clap your hands on either one of her shoulders.

“Abbott hasn’t been the same without you,” you whisper to her warmly. You even dare to press a soft kiss to her temple.

“I don’ even wanna admit how much I’ve missed you, Lowercase,” the redhead mutters as she too kisses Janine’s hairline.

“I still see you two at least twice a week,” Janine reminds you both.

“Not the same,” Melissa whispers. “I’m so glad to have my pain in the ass back.”

Janine’s end of the year party is… it’s going to be interesting for sure. Many of your coworkers have tried to convince the short woman to have the party and Barbara’s instead due to space, but Janine had been adamant. So you end up showing up to the party an hour early in order for your girlfriend and Barb to help clean up before hand.

“Luck? I don’t know her,” you hear Janine tell the camera. You have to stifle your laughter as you hear her impersonate Melissa and the kindergarten teacher. 

“You planned this?” you ask once she’s finished.

Janine just nods proudly.

“And what do you have planned for me?”

“Honestly? Nothing. I know you just like to go with the flow, so… I’ve prepared for you to just sort of wander. So long as you take Melissa home at the end of the night, everything should go according to plan.”

Her party is, in the strangest of ways, an absolute hit. 

Summer goes by, and the two of you know that Janine is hiding something from you- or rather someone.

“Do you really think she doesn’t think we know?” you ask your wife as you sit outside together.

“If she doesn’t think we know, she’s a dumbass,” Melissa quips as she cracks open another beer. “Jacob knows too. He’s terrible at covering for her.”

“He really is,” you laugh. “His last excuse for her not being at cooking lessons was that she was ‘washing her cat’.”

Green eyes turn to you with a fondness. “Those two really are like a weird brother and sister. Sharing secrets and covering for each other.”

“You mean like when Janine told us that she’s pretty sure the raccoon rabies outbreak was beginning, and it was just Jacob and Avi on the roof again?” you smirk. “Two dumbass children.”

“And somehow, they’re our two dumbass children,” your wife sighs with fake exasperation.

“Our?” you lift a brow.

“We’re married. If I choose to adopt two dumbass kids, you automatically get them too.”

“You understand that they’re not actually your children, don’t you?”

“Yes, but apparently I’m parent-shaped, so I don’t think it matters all that much,” the redhead tells you. After a breath, she continues, “You know, I kind of figured Jake would somehow become ours, but I swore Janine was going to be Barbara’s issue.”

“She somehow is all of our issue,” you reply back with a gentle nudge.

Melissa takes a sip of her drink. “And we still love her.”

“That we do.”

When school starts back up for the year and development days are upon you, you see the way that Janine and Gregory dance around each other. You also see the way that Jacob is constantly trying to cover for them. It’s quite funny, you have to admit. Their lies are just getting worse and worse, and there can’t be any possible way Janine thinks she’s being secretive about this relationship. But, as Janine does, she does the impossible and truly does believe she and her boyfriend are doing a great job of hiding it.

During the yearly goals meeting, the truth comes out. Melissa just high fives you and Barbara at the news. 

Because you, and with some coercion of your wife, know not to bring it up at work though, you wait to interrogate her when she comes over for another cooking lesson.

“So, how long did you really think you could keep that up, Pipsqueak?” your wife asks.

The second grade teacher shrugs. “I kept it up over the summer.”

“You absolutely did not,” you laugh as you hand over an onion.

“What?” You’ve never seen eyebrows rise up so quickly and so high.

Melissa just rolls her eyes. “It’s a mother’s intuition. We both knew, you dumbass.”

Janine turns to Jacob. “Jacob, you told!”

“I did not!”

“Then how did they-”

“I swear, you two fight more and more like siblings everyday,” you chuckle. “Nobody had to tell us. We just knew.”

“And now that you ‘told’ us,” Melissa starts. “No, you and Gregory may not use my roof to make out.”

Janine glances to the camera. “What if…” she drawls out. “I said we already did?”

“Janine!” both you and your wife scold.

The woman throws her hands up in surrender. “Sorry Moms!”

TAGS: @schemmentis @thesapphictimelady @marvel210 @itisdoctortoyousir @morgana-larkin @doesthatsuggestanythingtoyou @sweetcheeksschemmenti @megamultifandomtrashposts @lemz378 @http-sam @melissaschemmentisbranzino @imaginesmultifandoms @sexysapphicshopowner @lilfartbox1 @maybe-a-humanbean @imlike-so-gaydude @a-queen-and-her-throne @notinmyvocab @melanielaufeyson @dvrkhcld @cosmichymns @sasheemo @m1lflov3rrr @ricejucie @temilyrights @emilynissangtr @squinnchy @emeraldoceansstuff @shinyfaerielights  @blkmxrvel @marvelwomenrule @casualfoxwitch @babytakeittothehead @schemmentits @eliscannotdance

[janeyseymour]

hi, as you can probably tell from the likes, i've been absolutely BINGEING your abbott five, any chance i can be added to the tag list? you write melissa so damn well, i can hear her voice in my head!

yes! my writing comes few and far between now but yes! ❤️

[janeyseymour]

sometimes i reread the shit i wrote and then see how fast i used to put shit out and i’m like damn what the hell was i on

[janeyseymour]

Like Other Girls

summary: melissa schemmenti has always been told to be like the other girls. she isn't.

WC: ~4.15k

also, me, craving validation, so pls lmk what u think bc my brain is NOT chillin rn 🥺

Melissa Schemmenti has always been tough. She’s always had a fire in her eyes that yearned for more than what life was giving her. From the time she was young, the girl knew that she had to be tough to survive. That’s how it works when you grow up with more siblings than you can count. And to be a Schemmenti, you had to be tough. 

But then as she began to blossom from a little girl to a young woman, things changed. Nobody wanted her to be tough anymore. No, now, she was expected to change her entire personality to fit what society wanted her to be: a soft, mild, meek little lady. Time and time again, she would be berated for being loud and rambunctious or for not giving half a damn what she looked like at the time. 

“Can you be quiet for two minutes?”

“Why can’t you be like other girls- sweet, quiet, polite?”

“If you spent time putting effort into your looks the way you spend your time yapping, maybe you’d actually have a boyfriend.”

“Just… stop caring so much. It isn’t that big of a deal.”

Most of those words were spoken by people the redhead truly cared about- namely, her mother. 

Theresa Schemmenti was a hard woman to get into good graces with, and it was far harder to stay on her good side. And as a woman with so many children, if Melissa was in her mother’s top five at the end of the day, she would call it a win.

And growing up with someone so opinionated about her being, those words began to ring true for the girl turning into a young woman.

And then came along Joe- the man who she would ultimately end up marrying and divorcing. But between him, their marriage, and the then blonde’s mother, Melissa made herself far smaller than she had to be- smaller than she truly was. Gone was the boisterous and hardheaded little girl, and in came a quiet, never one to speak her mind, woman.

As his girlfriend and wife, Melissa’s life consisted of teaching second grade, coming home to cook (a chore she’s never minded), cleaning, and acting as the perfect trophy wife for Joe. Melissa lost sight of herself. She didn’t even just lose sight of herself, she became the one person she never thought she would be nor wanted to be. 

But once she broke her marriage off, Melissa Schemmenti vowed to herself that she would change. She would never make herself small for a man or anybody else again. Gone was the blonde hair that her mother and Joe nearly insisted on her having, and in came the red hair that she would become famous for. Melissa Schemmenti found that her brain still operated in the way that it always had- thoughts coming a mile a minute, smart comments popping into her head at any given moment. But now, instead of having to bite her tongue, she was free to say what was on her mind. And she absolutely adored it.

Those who worked with Melissa at the time were used to the blonde, shy, quiet woman. When she came in louder than they had ever seen or heard her with the red hair and larger than life personality that she had once buried, it was safe to say that they were shocked. It was an adjustment period for those who knew her, but they loved her all the same. Barbara Howard found that she thought she liked the more outgoing and stubborn version of Melissa Schemmenti more- another strong independent woman in a sea of women who rarely spoke their minds.

Years and years pass by, and eventually, it’s just the dynamic work wives who are still left from all those years ago- although Mr. Johnson is still employed with the school as well. Teachers have come and gone, and for the first time in years, the second grade and kindergarten teachers think that they may have a core group who might stick around for longer than a year. 

So when you finally come around and begin to work at Abbott, it’s safe to say that Melissa Schemmenti is back to where she was when she was younger- loud, brash, outspoken and tough. Or at least that’s what you think.

On the outside, the woman that you’ve fallen for is a hard ass. But as you peel away at her layers, you find that she’s as soft and as fluffy as a marshmallow. And then you start to date her. And you find that for as hard as she plays, she’s… a lot more insecure than you thought she might be.

—

The two of you are walking through historical Philadelphia as a date, and you’ve come to find out that your now girlfriend is quite the history buff- at least when it comes to her city. In actuality, it’s both of your city. You continue to let her ramble on with all of her little fun facts and tidbits about the place that has your heart despite the fact that you already know most of the things. You nod along with a smile as your intertwined hands swing in between the two of you. But then something strange happens. She’s in the middle of a sentence about the Liberty Bell when she suddenly goes quiet. You turn to her with furrowed brows.

“Babe?”

Your girlfriend’s cheeks tint red. “Sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?” you ask as you kiss her temple.

The nervous bite of the lip and shy shrug of the shoulders only have you more confused. “Just… I’m sorry I’m rambling. I know you already know most of this.”

“And?” you ask the redhead. “I love that you love our city so much. And I love hearing you talk about what you’re so passionate about.”

You see the look of confusion cross her face before she smiles at you in a way you’ve never seen- almost as if she’s nervous to be around you and speak like this.

“Keep going,” you encourage her. “I love hearing new facts about this city.” You refuse to tell her you already know everything she’s said.

With a bit of hesitation, she continues. You just continue to listen as intently as you can with a broad smile on your face.

It’s only later that you can tell something is still bothering her.

“Lis,” you sigh softly as you hold her that night in bed. “I can practically hear the gears turning in your head. What’s going on?”

Melissa turns to face you with a look that tells you you’re absolutely correct in that she’s thinking intently about something. “Nothin.”

You gently take her by the chin. “Babe, c’mon. I’m not dumb. I know something’s up.”

“Didn’t… didn’t you get annoyed when I wouldn’t stop talking today?”

You shake your head immediately. “No. I thought it was quite endearing, why?”

“I don’t know,” she sighs with a shrug of the shoulders. “I guess it’s just… I was always told to stay quiet as a teen and as a young adult… to be like other girls.”

“Well that’s not what I want,” you promise her quietly. “I want you- no one else.”

You can tell your girlfriend isn’t quite convinced, as she worries her lip between her teeth.

“Mel,” you force her to look you directly in the eye. “I don’t know what you were told growing up, but I don’t want the quiet woman. I want the woman who is who she is and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. The one who cares so much about what she loves and isn’t afraid to information dump on me. If it’s important to you, it’s important to me. I don’t know who told you to make yourself smaller than you are, but that is not what I want. I want you, Melissa.”

Something in her mind clicks, and a relieved smile washes over her face. No longer are her brows furrowed in worry and confusion.

“You’re… amazing, you know that?” the redhead hums.

—

For the most part now, Melissa isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She freely spits out her thoughts on the things that she loves most. And it’s wonderful to see her comfortable around you.

But then budgeting issues come up, and she is far from soft spoken about it. The issues of women’s health care come to the light politically. Your girlfriend goes on tangent after tangent about it in the privacy of her house and your apartment. And then when you’re scrolling through social media one day, you see that there’s a march being organized on Broad Street. 

“Did you see this?” you turn your phone to face her.

Melissa hums as she reads. “That… that’s cool.”

You find it a bit odd that she doesn’t have more to say about it considering how passionate she is about women’s rights. But you let it slide.

The second grade teacher doesn’t bring it up again, although you do see her laptop the one day when she steps away to use the bathroom- a tab about the march.

Instead of confronting her about it, you simply smile and take a seat back on the couch. When she returns, you pull up an Instagram post about the march and approach the topic that way.

“Hun?”

“What’s up, mi amore?”

“How would you feel about going to the march with me?”

Melissa perks up immediately. “The women’s rights one?”

You nod with a smile on your face. “I think it would be good. And I know how passionate you are about it.”

When you expect your girlfriend to perk up even more and agree, she shrinks just slightly. You frown. “What?”

“I- I don’t wanna do it if you only are going to do it for me,” the redhead admits quietly as she plays with one of the rings on her finger.

You let out a soft sigh. “Baby, I want to go because I also believe in women’s rights. And I love that you are so passionate about this issue. If you weren’t, I might be a little concerned.”

You watch as those green eyes go from nervous to something you’ve only ever seen one other time- when Melissa was rambling about the history of Philadelphia. You know immediately that someone’s words, probably Theresa’s, are replaying in her head.

“Who said what?” you ask her softly as you wrap an arm around her.

Her head drops to your shoulder as she mutters out, “My ma always told me to stop caring so much… that it’s not that big of a deal about whatever I had big feelings about.”

You nearly feel your blood boil at that soft admission. You’ve yet to meet the opinionated woman, but there are some things that your girlfriend has told you about her mother that almost make you want to detest her.

“You’re allowed to care very strongly about things, especially issues as important as this one,” you promise her. “We’re going to this march, and we’re going to make our voices as loud as possible.”

Melissa only nods.

The two of you do end up going, with a few of your friends from work, adorned with big signs. Being in that crowd of women and those who also believe in women’s rights like that makes the two of you feel more empowered than you’ve ever felt. There’s something special in the air that day as the two of you make your voices heard loud and clear.

—

You knew the day would come that you would have to meet Theresa Schemmenti, but what you weren’t expecting was for your girlfriend to be far more nervous for you to meet her than yourself.

Melissa is up and out of bed far earlier than you expected. Actually, when you wake up, she’s already showered and standing in her towel in front of the closet trying to figure out an outfit to wear.

This is a far cry from what usually occurs on a lazy Sunday morning. Usually, you wake up in her arms and spend a much longer amount of time lounging in bed than you probably should.

“Honey?” you yawn out. “What on Earth are you doing?”

“Getting ready for dinner with Ma,” she tells you.

“Lis, it’s… eight in the morning. We don’t have to be at her house until three.”

The redhead turns to face you, and she has that look again that tells you she’s about to tell you something her mom said that stuck with her.

“What did she tell you?” you ask knowingly.

“If I spent time putting effort into my looks the way I spend my time yapping, maybe I’d actually have a boyfriend,” Melissa relays quietly.

With a heavy sigh, you push the warm blankets off of you and go to wrap your arms around your girlfriend. You kiss her softly. “You are stunning no matter what. And… you don’t need a boyfriend when you have a girlfriend who loves you exactly the way that you are.”

She just looks into your eyes, searching for any hints of ingenuity.

“Melissa,” you mumble as you kiss her temple. “I love you for you. Every single bit of you.” You kiss her cheek, then her jawline, and you slowly make your way down until you reach the hem of the towel still wrapped around her.

It’s safe to say that your girlfriend doesn’t get dressed any time soon after your affirming words. But then you know that the two of you really do have to start getting ready… Melissa needs another shower after the morning that the two of you had.

Because of the time that you spent this morning back in bed… and then in the shower, your girlfriend doesn’t have the time to curl her hair the way that she was hoping to. It’s not that you care- her hair is stunning no matter how she wears it. And the shirt that she was hoping to wear over is dirty and has a stain on it from the other day in the classroom- she’s pissed.

“Baby,” you sigh as you kiss the slope of her neck softly. “You look beautiful no matter what. And besides, it’s just your mother.”

“That’s the problem,” Melissa huffs as she tries to find another shirt to wear. “It’s my mother, and she’s already going to have something to say about my hair and the few new wrinkles I have around my eyes… the less ammunition I can give her the better.”

You nod against her shoulder. “Okay, honey. But just… know that I love you for who you are- not for the way your hair is or the things you wear.”

“I know,” the redhead sighs quietly, and she does reach one hand back to affectionately pat the top of your head. “Thank you.”

“I’ll go downstairs and give you some time to get yourself ready, okay?” Melissa nods, you peck her cheek, and then you head downstairs and pray to God that Theresa doesn’t say anything to your girlfriend that will have you fighting like a Schemmenti. 

The drive there is quiet. You can tell that it’s taking everything in the woman next to you to not turn the car back around and opt for a nice night on the couch with you. You hold her hand and squeeze it gently every so often so that she knows you’re here for her. You aren’t going anywhere. 

Still when you pull into the driveway, you can practically feel the nerves radiating off of your girlfriend. With a few deep breaths, Melissa gets out of the car and leads you to the front door.

“It’s about time you got here,” Theresa greets the two of you brusquely. 

“I had to finish getting ready, Ma,” your girlfriend rolls her eyes as she hugs her mother and plants a quick kiss to her cheek.

“And you still couldn’t make your hair look presentable,” the matriarch of the family sighs heavily at the straight hair the second grade teacher is sporting. Then her eyes turn to you. “You must be the girlfriend.”

“Ma,” Melissa says in a warning tone.

“I thought you were fake when Melly didn’t bring you around until now,” Theresa states as she looks you up and down. “You clean up well, dear.”

“Thank you,” you blush slightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” It’s… not necessarily a pleasure though. Based on how she greeted your girlfriend, you can’t say that she’s making a great first impression. 

The two of you are ushered in and greeted with a few bottles of wine already set out. Your girlfriend pours you a glass of white before pouring herself a glass of red.

“Still with the red wine, Melissa?” Theresa raises a brow.

You see the redhead fight the urge to roll her eyes. “You know white gives me a headache almost instantly, Ma.”

Dinner is set out on the table and as the three of you eat, topics are kept generally light. And then Theresa asks what the two of you have been up to.

“Still just teaching, Ma,” your girlfriend sighs. “Both of us are.”

“I still can’t believe you became a teacher.”

“Why don’t you give Kristen Marie shit for becoming a teacher?” Melissa asks, and you can tell this is an argument they’ve had before.

“Because when you took the job at Abbott, a poorly funded school, I figured it was a way to gain experience. But you’re still there while Kristen Marie is at that fabulous new charter school.”

“I- I also work at Abbott,” you cut in softly. “And Melissa is one of the best teachers we have there. She’s a vital part of the school and making sure that it stays afloat.”

“And how did you end up there, dear?” Theresa asks you with a lifted brow.

You smile. “I’ve always done better with the kids who need some extra love. Abbott is like home to me.”

The matriarch of the family gives you an impressed look. “That’s wonderful dear. Abbott is lucky to have you.”

You essentially had just given Melissa’s mother the same reasoning to work at Abbott as her daughter, and yet she approves of your choice? What the hell?

“Don’t you think Melly could’ve done better for herself though?”

“I think she’s done perfectly well for herself,” you state in a tone that is soft yet still leaves no room for argument.

Theresa hums in thought but doesn’t press any further on that issue. “And what else have the two of you been up to?”

Knowing that you may just stir the pot with this topic, you smile broadly. “We’ve been going to women’s rights movement marches when we can find them. I find that it’s extremely important for women like us to be using our voices to show that we care about such vital issues in our country at this point in time. And I love that my girlfriend is just as passionate about these issues that I am.”

“You would be right,” Theresa tells you through almost gritted teeth. “Although I do remember telling Melissa that those issues would be taken care of without the protests… that it wouldn’t much matter.”

“And they still haven’t been ‘taken care of’, Ma,” the redhead grumbles. “And they very do much matter. They won’t just affect me an’ Y/N, but our students as they grow. It’s important to show them that they have a voice and that it matters.”

The mother hums slowly. “I suppose you were just ahead of your time.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Melissa counters.

Theresa just shrugs.

Conversation comes to a bit of a lull after that, and you turn the topic back around to Theresa and her interests.

Somehow, it turns into fashion. And she’s offering Melissa to take a look at some of the jewelry that she owns but doesn’t wear much anymore.

“I figured I’d offer since you don’t seem to have much to wear other than those same three necklaces and the two rings.”

“I quite like how she looks everyday,” you defend your girlfriend. “She always looks gorgeous.”

“Still,” Theresa sighs heavily as she pushes herself away from the table. “Come take a look with me, Melly.”

Your girlfriend glances to you, and you nod with a smile, already standing to begin clearing off the table.

You’re in the middle of drying the dishes when the two of them make their way back down. Melissa has quite a few different accessories that she’s brought down, although she doesn’t look thrilled in the slightest. 

“Well,” Theresa prompts. “Show your girlfriend the different jewelry.”

The redhead just holds them up, looking less than enthused.

“Put them on, dear!” the matriarch grins. “Show her how pretty you can look when you’re quiet and dressed nicely.”

You can feel your own blood boil at the incessant need for Theresa to quiet Melissa. You look to her with nearly murderous eyes. 

“You know, I actually love Melissa just the way she is,” you cut in with fire. “I like the way that she’s smart and loud and outspoken and cares about things that are important. I love the way that she dresses and how she wants and styles herself the way that she wants. I think she’s perfect, just the way she is.”

“Well, I’m sure you’re just saying that.”

“I can assure you, Theresa,” you practically spit out. “I am not just saying that. I wish you would accept your daughter for who she is, because who she is is nothing short of a dream to me.”

With that, you drop the dish towel that you had previously been holding and make your way to your bag. You sling your bag over your shoulder before grabbing your girlfriend’s and taking her hand in your own. “I think perhaps it’s time that we head out for the night.”

Melissa begins to lead you out of the house before she drops your hand and whips around to face her mother once more. She sets the jewelry on the table and stares at her mother, a look of heartbreak and fury present. 

“Is it so horrific to you that someone might love me for who I really am?” Melissa asks her mother in a desperate tone. “Is it so awful that someone might like me for me, instead of this person that you so desperately wish I would be?” You hear her voice crack on the last word. 

Theresa flounders for words, her mouth opening and closing a few times as she tries to get her words out. When she finally does speak, Melissa simply holds up a hand.

“If you can’t find the words immediately to apologize, I don’t want to hear what you have to say,” your girlfriend sighs softly. She picks your hand back up and attempts to lead you out of the house once again, but you have to say something- anything to let Theresa know that you girlfriend is just what you want her to be.

“You know,” you say quietly. “When I was growing up, I never imagined myself getting together with someone that you so desperately want Melissa to be. I saw myself dating a strong woman- someone who could hold their own. Someone who wasn’t afraid to be themself and could own that. Your daughter… she’s everything I could have ever wanted. She cares so much, and so freely. She stands for all of the things that I do, and is somehow even more passionate than I am on those issues. She’s drop dead gorgeous no matter if she’s dressed to the nines to go to an event for the district or if we’re simply lounging on the couch in our sweatpants. I- I wouldn’t change her for anything.”

With that, you exit the house. And when the two of you do, the walk to the car is silent. The silence is only broken once you’ve pulled out of the driveway and have driven down the street. She sniffles, and your heart breaks. In one swift motion, you pull the car over and put it in park before looking over to her. Her green eyes somehow both shine and dull simultaneously, at it absolutely shatters you. You simply gather her in your arms the best you can given the arm rest is in your way. She just pushes you away gently, but she keeps her fingers intertwined with your own. Melissa gestures for you to continue driving, and so you pull away and in the direction of her house.

The only words she says to you as she unbuckles her seatbelt are, “Come in. Stay.”

And you can only oblige that simple request after what she’s been through tonight.

tags: @schemmentis @thesapphictimelady @marvel210 @itisdoctortoyousir @morgana-larkin @doesthatsuggestanythingtoyou @sweetcheeksschemmenti @megamultifandomtrashposts @lemz378 @http-sam @melissaschemmentisbranzino @imaginesmultifandoms @sexysapphicshopowner @lilfartbox1 @maybe-a-humanbean @imlike-so-gaydude @a-queen-and-her-throne @notinmyvocab @melanielaufeyson @dvrkhcld @cosmichymns @sasheemo @m1lflov3rrr @ricejucie @temilyrights @emilynissangtr @squinnchy @emeraldoceansstuff @shinyfaerielights  @blkmxrvel @marvelwomenrule @casualfoxwitch @babytakeittothehead @schemmentits 

[janeyseymour]

you’ve been missed! i hope life’s been treating you well <3

stop you're so sweet. life has been a lot of ups and downs, but i have a new boyfriend who is absolutely my dream. and the funniest part is i'm living out a lot of my fics by showing up to this school and starting to date the third grade teacher 😭😂

[janeyseymour]

Both Sides Now

yo tumblr, it's been a hot minute but i am back with this lil' bitch for you. i hope you enjoy her.

Summary: Melissa Schemmenti has looked at life, not just from two sides, but from practically every aspect she possibly could. from up and down, give and take, wins and loses... but you're her biggest win.

Life is nothing but a series of dreams, it seems. For every person, there are always dreams that we have. And some come true, and some don’t- that’s just how life goes. 

But for Melissa Schemmenti, it always seemed that those dreams rarely came true. If they ever came close, they would float off into the distance after so long. And in the years that she’s been somewhat of a lost soul roaming this earth, ruminating in her own thoughts, doubts, fears, delights, she finds that there are two sides to life. And she’s looked at life from both sides now, as much as sometimes she wishes she wouldn’t.

Rows and floes of angel hair, and ice cream castles in the air, and feather canyons everywhere. I’ve looked at clouds that way.

As a young child, Melissa Schemmenti grew up with her head in the clouds. Dreams were a reality, as they so often are for a child who hasn’t had their innocence ripped away from them just yet. Life was full of bright colors and wonders. It wouldn’t be until later in life that she would dye her hair red, so the angel like hair that she once had would billow in the breeze as she ran through the streets of Philadelphia without a care in the world. She would see the different shapes in the clouds and imagine that the clouds were ice cream castles… feather canyons. That’s how she saw the clouds as a child.

But now they only block the sun. They rain and snow on everyone. So many things I would’ve done, but clouds got in my way.

But now that she’s older and more jaded, she views clouds in a different way. Life doesn’t present itself in technicolor the way it used to. The clouds only block the sun, and once they’ve filled and can’t quite hold the weight of the world on their shoulders, they release their pent up frustrations on the earth in rain and snow. The now redhead finds that she does the same thing. Life has been full of challenge after challenge that she’s expected to triumph over, and every so often… the clouds over her burst. 

Those are the days and nights where she finds it hard to pull herself from the warmth and comfort of her bed. Those are the days where she’s consumed with the thoughts of what she could’ve accomplished had she not let the clouds get in her way. She used to be a daydreamer… a believer. 

But not anymore. Now, Melissa sighs as she prepares to throw the covers off of her to face the day with a job that, while she loves it, she knows she could’ve done better. She should have done better. If she had the chance to do it all over again, she would do better.

There is only one life to live though, as the redhead has discovered time and time again. So here she is, doing what she can to make the best of the rest of her days.

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now. From up and down and still somehow, it’s cloud’s illusions I recall. I really don’t know clouds at all. 

After living on this earth for as long as she has with the adventures that she’s taken, she’s seen the clouds from all sides. She’s been up in the air and over the clouds, able to look down on them while flying to Italy. She’s seen them from down below, when her feet were on the ground. Her nonna used to joke that Melissa’s head was always up in the clouds… so she supposes she’s seen inside the clouds even. And yet… it all comes back to her as some illusion. Melissa supposes she really doesn’t know clouds at all.

Moons and Junes, and ferris wheels- the dizzy dancing way you feel. As every fairy tale comes real. I’ve looked at love that way.

When Melissa was sixteen, life was looking up. Sure, her parents were divorced now, and that whole ordeal had sucked, but now she had the freedom to do what she pleased for the most part. Theresa chose to fall into the arms (and beds) of man after man and left her children to their own devices. So when the carnival came into town in June, the now redhead had a boy to go with. And as they stepped onto the ride, the moonlight lit up the sky, and the street lights began to turn on. It was almost as if there was a real magic in the air. Melissa felt giddy with joy- that same delightfully dizzy feeling she got when she danced. And then, her fairy tale began to come true. At the top of the ferris wheel was a stunning view of the skyline of the city. And that was when what she thought was her fairytale would begin to come true. Joe kissed her.

But now it’s just another show, and you leave ‘em laughing when you go. And if you care, don’t let them know. Don’t give yourself away.

Melissa knows now though that most of those boys, and even the girls that she’s dated throughout the years usually leave, just like any other show or carnival coming through town. Hell, even her husband left. And if she’s being honest? She let them leave, all with a laugh in her chest. Sometimes it was a real laugh, not believing how foolish she was to let this person into her life at all. But sometimes that laugh was a bitter laugh- one that, even though she truly cared that they were leaving, they would never know was fake. She refused to give herself away and let them know.

I’ve looked at love from both sides now; from give and take, and still somehow. It’s love’s illusions that I recall. I really don’t know love. I really don’t know love at all.

Melissa Schemmenti has seen life from what she thought were both sides. She had given, she had received- taken even. Neither seems to hold truth in itself. The redhead realizes that when she truly thinks about love, it’s all just the illusions that she remembers. She sees the good times and the way that, even though she believed she was a realist, her rose tinted glasses perhaps got in the way. Melissa Schemmenti knows: she doesn’t know love at all. And if she’s being honest with herself, she’s not quite sure she’ll ever know. She tries to make peace with the fact that maybe the fairytale ending she had dreamed of as a child just would’t come true for her.

But then you come along. And you shake up her whole world. You don’t even mean to. You just start teaching at Abbott alongside her and manage to make your way into her little core group. Somewhere in the midst of all of the chaos that comes along with working in an, at times, poorly managed school, you find love. You find love in Melissa Schemmenti. And she finds that she falls just as hard. It terrifies her beyond belief. It scares her so much that neither of you say anything at work to your coworkers- not even Barbara Howard knows. 

Tears and fears and feeling proud, too say “I love you” right out loud. Dreams and schemes and circus crowds- I’ve looked at life that way.

Your girlfriend of a few months has been awfully quiet this morning as the two of you lounge around her house on this serene Saturday morning.

“Babe?” you question quietly. She turns to look to you with a brow quirked. “You alright?”

Something inside of the redhead strikes a chord. Her green eyes fill with tears and shine brightly.

“Honey?” your voice goes up an octave at this sudden show of emotion. You wrap an arm around her midsection, but she brushes you off and sits up straight. The way that she frantically wipes at the tears brimming in her eyes only gets you to furrow your brows further.

“I’m okay,” Melissa tries to tell you, but you can hear the way her voice catches in her throat.

“You clearly aren’t,” you smile sadly. “Wanna tell me what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”

“I just-“ your girlfriend pauses to wipe the tears away from her cheeks. “I’m so proud to have you in my life. You know?”

You chuckle softly. “So these aren’t sad tears?”

“Not in the slightest,” Melissa assures you. “I just… I can’t believe that I’ve looked at life through dreams and schemes and all that shit, and I somehow managed to get you to walk into my life. I- I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

“I’m nothin’ special, babe,” you laugh as you pull her into your arms once again.

Your girlfriend rolls her eyes and smiles at you through long lashes. “You are… everything. I- I love you.”

Wow. That was the first time she had uttered those words- the first time either of you had breathed those words out.

Your eyes go softer than they already were at the three most powerful words your girlfriend could’ve said in that very moment.

“I love you too.”

But now old friends, they’re acting strange. They shake their heads and they say I’ve changed. Well something’s lost, but something’s gained- in living everyday. 

It’s been a few more months since you and Melissa have said that one special word, and still no one at your job knows. No one knows that the two of you are as close as you are, much less dating and in love. To them, you’re just two grade level partners who seem to have similar takes on how the children of the greater Philadelphia area should be taught. 

But some of your coworkers are starting to get suspicious. The two of you have started staying over at each other’s houses more and more, and it’s getting to a point where you’re wondering when the two of you are just going to out yourselves to your work family.

“I mean I just don’t see why we keep this charade up,” your girlfriend shrugs as she’s making dinner. Then she glances to you. “I think it’s funny how fuckin’ oblivious everyone is to it.”

You can’t help the chuckle that escapes your lips. “It is quite funny. Maybe we just let it go.”

A few days later, you’re sitting in the staff room with your work crew, a smile on your face as you eat your lunch and bask in the quiet of the staff room for once.

“Oh, Melissa,” Barbara starts. “I was thinking that today we could go to the mall?”

Green eyes flit over to you, who just shrugs ever so slightly- but just enough for your girlfriend to pick up on your subtlety.

She shakes her head, an action that somewhat shocks you. You had expected her to accept the older woman’s invitation. “I have plans tonight actually. Sorry, Barb.”

“Oh, doing what?” the kindergarten teacher asks.

“Making dinner,” Melissa smiles as her cheeks tint just slightly red.

“And you can’t put that off for just a bit to go find a new shakedown sweater with me?” Barb lifts a brow curiously.

Green eyes look to you again. You just give her a smile and a head nod.

“Maybe tomorrow?” the second grade teacher suggests instead.

Barbara, even though her lips are turned in an upward fashion. shakes her head gently. “My, my, how things have changed… but yes, tomorrow is fine with me if your dinner is that important to you.”

Melissa sees the hurt that her work wife is trying to conceal. “No, no, it isn’t that. It’s just that… I’m not just making dinner for me.”

Perfectly sculpted brows are lifted. “And who else might you be cooking for?”

You can see the way that your girlfriend mulls over in her head if she’s going to out the two of you or not. “My girlfriend,” is ultimately what she chooses to say.

“Girlfriend?” Jacob immediately chimes in, voice piqued with interest.

Those green eyes are rolled immediately. “Yes, Jacob. I have a girlfriend.”

“What’s her name? Why am I just hearing about her now?”

“I don’t report to you, Hill,” Melissa replies with a bit of snark. “But her name is Y/N.”

Immediately, the focus in the room switches to you, who turns bright red. Your lips quirk to the side as you chew on your cheek before settling to wave shyly.

“You two are dating?” Janine pipes up.

You give a small nod and a smile, while your girlfriend chooses to roll her eyes and quip, “Great job piecing it all together, lowercase. You want a prize?”

“I suppose I should’ve known,” Barbara chuckles with a happy look. “Tomorrow will do just fine, Melissa. Enjoy your dinner tonight, Y/N.”

And the two of you do. Although, as the night is winding down and you’re laying on the couch, you can’t help but wonder. Eyebrows are furrowed as you sit there deep in thought.

“What’s on your mind, babe?” Melissa asks you gently.

Your lips quirk to the side. “Just… aren’t you upset that you had to miss going to the mall with Barb today?”

Her head shakes so quickly you’re shocked your girlfriend doesn’t give herself whiplash. “Why would I be upset about getting to spend a night with my girl? And ‘sides, I can always go tomorrow.”

“I don’t know,” you shrug shyly.

She takes your hands in her own. “I’ll put it to you this way: everyday that I live, I’m going to gain something, and I’m going to lose something. And today, while I lost our privacy and a few hours at the mall with Barb, I gained getting to relax here with you and loving the life that we’ve built together so far.”

You can’t help the lovesick smile that crosses your face as you lean in just slightly to kiss her. “I don’t know how you always know just what to say to make me feel better.”

“You’re my girl, Y/N,” Melissa tells you simply.

I’ve looked at life from both sides now- from win and lose, and still somehow, It’s life’s illusions I recall. I really don’t know life at all. It’s life’s illusions that I recall. I really don’t know life. I really don’t know life at all.

Melissa Schemmenti really has seen life from every side. She’s seen the ups, the downs, the gives, the takes, the wins, and the loses. And while she’s seen life from almost every aspect, she’d still tell you: Life is but a dream. It’s all an illusion. Some illusions are good, and some aren’t quite as such. While she’s lived many lives all rolled into one, there is one thing that she’s sure of: she really doesn’t know life at all. And oddly, the redhead is okay with that. 

TAGS: @schemmentis @thesapphictimelady @marvel210 @itisdoctortoyousir @morgana-larkin @doesthatsuggestanythingtoyou @sweetcheeksschemmenti @megamultifandomtrashposts @lemz378 @http-sam @melissaschemmentisbranzino @imaginesmultifandoms @sexysapphicshopowner @lilfartbox1 @maybe-a-humanbean @imlike-so-gaydude @a-queen-and-her-throne @notinmyvocab @melanielaufeyson @dvrkhcld @cosmichymns @sasheemo @m1lflov3rrr @ricejucie @temilyrights @emilynissangtr @squinnchy @emeraldoceansstuff @shinyfaerielights  @blkmxrvel @marvelwomenrule @casualfoxwitch @babytakeittothehead @schemmentits

[janeyseymour]

“mostly straight” -OKAY MELISSA

[janeyseymour]

yall i saw and met jessie mueller in chicago and she talked about her kid and this woman is truly living her best life and i love that so much for her

[janeyseymour]

Two Roads Diverged In A Wood

summary: a great valentines day prompt for @jeridandridge

WC: ~2.25

When Melissa broke up with Gary, you couldn’t necessarily state that you were shocked. Were you happy this might mean that you could have your shot with the gorgeous redhead? Perhaps. Did you enjoy seeing the shift in her attitude since very publicly rejecting his proposal of marriage? No. It was quite clear to you that the second grade teacher was miserable. Did she regret her decision? Not in the slightest. Did that make it any easier on her heart? No.

“For what it’s worth,” you lean in and tell her softly. “I think you did the right thing following your heart.”

“Thanks,” Melissa sighs, lips quirked to one side. “Doesn’t make it any easier.”

“I know,” you pat her arm affectionately.

“I gotta pay for the vending machine now too,” the second grade teacher grumbles. “You know how much I was saving not having to pay?”

You can’t help but laugh at that question. Melissa Schemmenti could quite possibly be the only person who would think about something as trivial as paying for her snacks and iced tea after going through a breakup.

“Probably a lot,” you chuckle.

“My body is used to having at least two iced teas a day now,” the redhead rolls her eyes. “I can’t afford that.”

When there’s an iced tea sitting on her desk for the next two weeks when she gets in, she just smiles softly to herself and thanks you quietly once she enters the staff lounge. 

As it would be, breaking up with somebody you’ve been in a relationship with for a few years sucks. It sucks even more when Melissa remembers that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. The redhead is only reminded of this when everyone is talking about what they’re doing for the holiday.

“Melissa, you’re always more than welcome to join Gerald and me,” Barbara offers kindly, although she knows Melissa won’t take her up on it.

“I ain’t crashin’ your Valentines,” the second grade teacher quips. “I’ll do a lot of things, but I ain’t doin’ that.”

“You always know that you’re able to,” Barb tells her best friend. 

“I… uh, I don’t have any plans other than to paint and watch television if you just wanted to come over and veg out with me,” you offer quietly. 

“That’d be really nice,” Melissa says softly, and she nudges you gently as a thank you.

Once lunch is over, Barbara practically swarms her work wife. “You’re really going to go over to Y/N’s?”

The redhead shrugs. “I think it’ll be a nice reprieve from all of the hectic-ness of Valentine’s Day, especially this year.”

“You think that’s a smart idea? To go over to her house when she’s part of the reason you broke it off with Gary in the first place?”

Melissa bites her lip nervously, but she doesn’t say anything. Again, she just looks to her friend and gives half a shrug in response. 

Valentine’s Day, as it always is, is chaotic as ever. The Abbott crew just barely manages to avoid another Halloween candy fiasco again. You send the sugar-high children off to reign hell on the streets or with their parents with a relieved sigh. Over lunch, you had told your redheaded guest she could head over anytime after 5. And now that you’re leaving, you figure that maybe you should stop by the store to make this significantly more difficult holiday easier to bear for the second grade teacher.

It’s not the most difficult thing in the world to shop for Melissa. You know she prefers red wine, so you grab a bottle of that. Flowers are easy- she likes anything pink, red, or white. You grab a bouquet of roses dotted with a few baby’s breath and hope that she likes them. Chocolate is always a hit with anyone. You do opt for some of the nicer chocolate and grab a pack of strawberries. Maybe the two of you can decorate some together. With a sigh, you throw a bag of white chocolate chips into the basket. If that doesn’t seem like the right move though, you do place a container of tiramisu in your cart as well. As for dinner, you had told her that you were planning on just ordering takeout, and you stick to your word.

By the time you get home and haul your groceries into the house, the clock is reading 4:50. Ready to be out of your work attire, you tell yourself you’ll put everything away while you’re waiting for the redhead. A few moments later, you’re descending back down the steps and into the kitchen with your pink sweatpants on and a comfortable hoodie. Sliding your slippers on as you go, you go about putting everything away. You’re interrupted a few minutes later to the doorbell ringing, and your phone going off with a text to let you know that Melissa had arrived. 

“It’s open!” you call as you finish putting everything away. No sooner do you hear the front door open, and your colleague is kicking off her shoes at the front door. “Kitchen!”

Footsteps approach, and when you turn with the flowers that you had bought for the woman, Melissa smiles softly.

“Those are gorgeous. Who got you those?”

“They’re for you, dumb ass,” you smirk as you hand them over. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” 5She instinctively smells them, the smile on her face only getting sweeter.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Melissa whispers, although you can tell the small act practically made her day.

“I didn’t,” you chuckle. “Now, what do you want to order for dinner?”

Once the two of you have finally decided on dinner (it ends up just being Chinese takeout), you reach for the wine glasses and the bottle of wine that you picked up for the occasion.

“You don’t like this wine,” Melissa notes softly as she watches you expertly open her preferred drink and pour her a serving.

“I don’t,” you chuckle. Then you reach for the cabinet again and pull out your own glass of wine. “But you do, so…”

“Did you pick up this bottle specifically for me?”

You shrug with a smile and lead the redhead to the couch. On the table, there are a few different canvases for the two of you to pick from, different brushes, paints, and old takeout containers filled with water.

“You paint?” the second grade teacher raises a brow.

A bit shy, you point to the elegant landscape above your television. “I painted that.”

Green eyes widen and turn to you with shock. “So what the hell are you doing being a teacher?”

“It’s just a hobby of mine,” you chuckle. “All for fun.”

“Well, I sure as hell can’t paint like that,” the redhead looks to you.

And as supportive as ever, you just give her an encouraging smile. “That’s the great thing about art and painting. It doesn’t have to look like that. As long as you, or someone who is lucky enough to see it, feels something when they look at it, it’s art.”

“You would say something like that,” Melissa rolls her eyes playfully. “And mean it so earnestly too.”

You just continue to smile as you pick up a brush. You silently push your coworker to pick up her own brush, which she does.

“What are you planning on painting?” Melissa asks you.

“I don’t have much in my kitchen, so I’m thinking just some little canvases to hang… think silly home goods sayings,” you chuckle. And with that, you reach for a canvas, reach for a bottle of paint, and get to work.

You only work for a few minutes on one canvas, painting cow-like spots in pinks and browns on it, before moving to another and doing the same to another canvas. And while you’re waiting for your work to dry, you see that Melissa is simply watching you.

“I thought we were doing this together,” you note as you reach for your wine glass and take a sip.

Red hair swishes from one side to the other. “I- the way you work is… wow. I could never do that.”

Your brow furrows. “What do you mean?”

“So freely… in silence.”

If silence is the issue, you can sure as hell fix that. “I’ll be right back.”

You miss the way those striking green eyes are trained on your ass. But you’re back in a  few seconds with a guitar in one hand and a ukulele in another. Perfectly drawn on brows lift.

You don’t give her a verbal answer, only sit down, silently instruct her to pick up her brush again, and begin to play a soft tune on the guitar. Your voice begins to lay over the instruments beautifully, and after a few minutes, Melissa’s canvas is covered in beauty- that’s the only way you can describe it. You set your instrument down with a satisfied smile.

“See? You just needed some inspiration. That’s beautiful,” you compliment quietly.

Your colleague rolls her eyes. “It’s a bunch of colors.”

“But you felt something while I was singing, right?” you ask. “You were moved and let it all flow through you?”

The redhead glances down at her canvas. And it looks… she’s somewhat impressed with how nicely she blended the colors. “Yeah. But now I don’t know what to do.”

It’s then that the doorbell rings, and your dinner has arrived. The meal is pleasant, conversation flowing easily between the two of you. It also gives you a chance to let your partially finished painting dry.

Once you’re finished cleaning up your takeout containers, you smile at the redhead and pour her a bit more wine. Then you pick up your paint brush.

“You’re adding more?” she asks.

“Just the last few details,” you chuckle softly. On one canvas, you paint a few vines before pulling out your sharpie and writing “Love Grows Here” in your loopy script. On the other, you paint a simple line art espresso cup before writing “I like you a latte” underneath of it. You set the two pieces of art down with a satisfied look on your face.

“How?” Melissa asks simply. “How do you just… know how to do that?”

You shrug before looking at her canvas. “What are you going to add to yours?”

“I- I don’t really know,” she admits.

You give it another glance before suggesting softly, “Maybe you could add a few little vines and flowers and write a quote on that underneath.”

Those full lips quirk to the side in thought before it’s clear that an idea strikes her. The woman picks up a brush and gestures for you to pick up your guitar again. You oblige her request, although you’re a bit confused. And then you begin.

By the time you’re finished the first song, Melissa’s tongue is poking out of the side of her mouth in concentration as she paints… two paths?

“I’m just going to start getting dessert ready,” you promise her as you set your instrument down.

You’re able to heat up the chocolates that you bought earlier, bring out the strawberries, and carry them on a tray out to the coffee table when you see that Melissa has now picked up the sharpie and is writing a quote in the middle of her canvas. 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.-Robert Frost

“Frost?” you ask softly as she finishes crossing the ’t’.

Two shoulders shrug up and down. “I always liked that poem.” Then her eyes catch a glance at what you’ve brought into the room. “Chocolate covered strawberries?”

“They are,” you laugh. “But I figured it might be fun to be able to decorate them, or at least dip them in ourselves while we watch a movie or something.”

Green eyes light up as you settle in next to her.

The both of you end up eating your fair share of dessert before relaxing into the couch together. The way that the cushions lay, you’re sitting quite close to each other. Your hip is practically on the edge of her thigh. The blush creeps into your cheeks quickly.

You sit there quietly, as does she. The movie plays softly until you feel a soft cheek rest itself on your shoulder. When you look down, you expect the redhead to be asleep, or at least dozing. But she isn’t. She’s fully coherent and watching the movie with full attention. You can’t help but smile to yourself, your cheeks feeling ever so slightly warm.

“You good?”

“Just… relaxing,” Melissa mumbles into your shoulder. “And you’re warm.”

You can’t help the soft chuckle that falls off your lips as you wrap an arm around her and pull her closer. After a few minutes, you feel an arm delicate drape itself over your waist.

Melissa would never admit it, but this is the first time she’s been held in a long time- longer than she would’ve expected, with the feeling of being safe. Her guard is down, and she has not a care in the world as the movie quietly drones on around the two of you.

At some point, the two of you must fall asleep because the next thing you remember is glancing at the clock and it being two in the morning.

“Lis,” you mumble as you shake her shoulder gently.

Her eyes peel open, and she looks enraged at being woken up before she realizes she’s still with you- she’s still in your arms. “Hey. Sorry I fell asleep.”

You smile. “Nothing to apologize for,” you whisper. “I fell asleep too.”

“Well, I guess I should get out of your hair,” Melissa mutters as she tries to disentangle herself from you. But you keep your hold on her.

“Just stay the night. It’s two in the morning, and I don’t want you out there this late.” Yeah… that’s why you want her to stay the night; it definitely isn’t because she’s warm and loving and…

“Okay.”

And so, the two of you stumble your way up the steps for the night, falling onto the bed unceremoniously as the exhaustion truly seeps its way into your bones. Her head rests in the crook of you neck as the two of you fall asleep tangled together for the first time. You can only hope that it won’t be the last time. Maybe, by next Valentine’s Day, you’ll actually be a couple- not just two coworkers with lonely souls longing for each other.