Break up with your boyfriend!

by NovemberFlowerz

Summary:

Simone decides to be honest during that scene where they're in Simone's bed together.

Notes:

this is obviously not a healthy relationship dynamic okay, its fictional though, enjoy

Chapter 1

“I can’t shake this feeling that there’s something you’re not telling me.”

Simone looks away, her blue eyes darting from Kiki’s face down to their hands, intertwined on the bed between them. 

“Kiki...”

“Hey, hey.” She gently puts a finger on Simone’s chins and lifts it up so their eyes meet again. There’s a pain in her chest when she thinks about all the parts of Simone’s life she doesn’t know, all the things Simone is too scared to share. “You can tell me anything.”

Simone takes a deep breath, steeling herself. “I’m dating Ethan.”

Michaela is sure her heart stopped at those words, if only briefly. The silence between them must have only lasted a few seconds, but it seemed miles wide.

“Break up with him.”

The words came out as though someone else were speaking them; Michaela was floating outside herself, unable to heed the rational part of her brain.

“What?” said Simone. She forced a slight grin, as though acknowledging the command as a joke.

“Break up with him,” Micahela said again. 

This time, it was a clear order. Simone didn’t try to laugh it off this time--she knew her place. When Michaela said jump , she said how high . Or in this case...

“Right now?”

“Ideally, yes.”

Simone reached behind her and grabbed her phone from her nightstand without ever removing her eyes from Michaela. “Why?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course,” said Simone softly. She didn’t ask any further questions or try to argue. She pulled up her chat with her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend and typed an aloof and succinct break up text. Neither of them spoke until the message had been sent.

“Thank you,” said Michaela. “Do you still want to know why?”

Simone nodded.

Michaela came closer, her arm sliding around Simone’s waist. Simone instinctively mirrored the gesture, putting the two of them nose to nose.

Michaela lifted her head and pressed the ghost of a kiss to Simone’s cheek. “Because,” she murmured into Simone’s ear. “You’re mine.”

Chapter 2: Longer/more wholesome version

Summary:

wholesome might not be the right word. They don't explicitly get together, but takes place in an AU (in my mind at least) where they eventually do, but Micaheala is careful not to be manipulative and make sure she and Simone only come together as equals.

“I can’t shake this feeling that there’s something you’re not telling me.”

Simone looks away, her blue eyes darting from Kiki’s face down to their hands, intertwined on the bed between them. 

Her eyes are almost always darting, or wide with panic, or hiding behind brows knitted with worry. Only on a few precious occasions has Michaela seen them twinkle with a true joy, a lightness taking over them while her lips form a smile that could win awards. Michaela plays those moments over and over in her head. She can’t help it. Sometimes, when she can’t sleep at night, she thinks about ways she could see that smile again. 

Most recently, a few days ago when they were finalizing Simone’s outfit for the gala. She had stepped out in that silver dress, a small, unsure smile adorning her face. 

“I think this one would be okay. What do you think?”

Michaela looked up from her phone and felt her mouth drop open. “Oh my god.”

Panicked, Simone looked down to see if she had spilled something. “What is it?” She turned around a few times, checking herself in the mirror.

“Simone, you--” Michaela had to stop and swallow; her mouth had suddenly gone dry. “You look absolutely stunning.”

Simone stopped turning, a blush creeping onto her face. “Is it too much?”

“No, never.” Michaela tossed her phone aside and stood. “Never, ever dull yourself for someone else. Not a man, not the gala guests, and certainly not me.”

Simone didn’t quite make eye contact. “It wouldn’t be possible. To outshine you, I mean. You’re--”

Michaela didn’t need to hear that she was beautiful--she already knew it, and she knew Simone knew it. “Let’s dance.”

Simone was thrown off by the sudden shift. “What?”

“For practice. Come on.” Michaela held out a hand.

Simone took it, her cheeks returning to that pleasant pink hue. Michaela asked the digital assistant to put on some music and led them in a waltz around the room. She spun and twirled Simone until her girl was giggling, leaning on her for support. Simone was completely in the moment. She wasn’t thinking about her dark past, or worrying about the future, or obsessing over her own inadequacies. That was what Michaela strove to see. 

“I want to tell you everything,” Simone murmured. “But I’m scared.”

“You don’t trust me?” Michaela asked.

“It’s not that. It’s just...”

Michaela put a finger over Simone’s lips as she realized how stupid the question was. The gulf between them--her, a wealthy lawyer, owner of a charitable foundation, wife of an old-money socialite; Simone, a college dropout, daughter of a drunk, not a penny to her name until she took a job with Michaela--was not something that could be overcome by friendship or love. Michaela knew about power imbalances. She was a woman, after all, and didn’t even the most privileged among them find themselves second to a man at some point? Before she married she might have, naively, thought this not the case. 

Everything she had, all of the things that put her in a position of power over Simone--it was in Peter’s hands. It didn’t matter if he was malicious or not. It didn’t matter if he was aware of what he held.

Michaela wouldn’t be Peter. 

Simone was looking at her questioningly. 

“Nevermind that,” Michaela said softly. “I promise you can tell me anything. Nothing will threaten your position here. Hell, if you murder someone, I have a few places we could hide the body.”

This got only the slightest of grins out of Simone. 

“But if you aren’t comfortable, you aren’t obligated. I guess I just want to be here for you. If you let me.”

“Thank you, Kiki.” Simone was unable to hide a sob that wormed its way into her voice as she said the nickname. “I...I...”

Michaela opened her arms, and Kiki crawled willingly into them, nestling against her chest. Michaela held her tight. 

“Shh,” Michaela murmured. “It’s okay.”

“Remember when I was hired and you said I should avoid dating anyone from the major families on the island?” Simone asked, her voice braver now that she wasn’t making eye contact with her boss. 

“Yes.” Her heart skipped a beat. But no, her first assumption was just wishful thinking, even if Simone wanted to date her, she would hardly say so here and now, would she? She forced her voice to remain even. “Why?”

“I’m dating Ethan Corbin.”

It took a minute for Michaela to process. She felt her grip on Simone tighten, unfairly possessive. She shifted her position as she loosened it, aiming to keep Simone from reading too deep into it. “I see,” was all she managed to say.

“Are you mad?”

“No, no. Of course not. I only told you that for your own protection, Simone. I don’t want you to get hurt. The men on this island... they view women as trophies and accessories.”

“I don’t think Ethan--I mean, it’s not like he parades me around on his arm. No one even knows about us.”

“He doesn’t want to go public?”

“Well.”  Simone paused, and Michaela could practically hear the gears in her head turning. “He’s just tired of hiding. Besides, who would show me off like a trophy? I’m--”

“Young and beautiful,” Michaela interrupted. “That’s not just my opinion. It’s a fact.”

There was silence, and Michaela wondered if Simone was blushing in the dark.

She took a deep breath. “If Ethan makes you happy, then I’m happy for you,” she lied. “There’s nothing wrong with a summer fling, if that’s what you want. And if it’s something more serious, just... be careful. Ethan has a different girl every summer. And maybe your different--but maybe you aren’t. I can’t really say.” She paused. “Do you trust him?”

“As much as as trust anyone.”

So, not much farther than she could throw him. The possessive, manipulative part of Michaela’s brain took this news with glee--her competition wasn’t tough.

Simone shifted, shuffling downward, so her head was against Michaela’s chest. She imagined she could hear her heartbeat with her ear against her skin like that.

“Do you love him?”

Michaela didn’t mean to ask that--but the words were out, too late.

“I don’t know what love is,” Simone admitted, the kind of thing she would only admit in the dark, in the middle of the night, away from the pressures of her job and social obligations. “He’s a contingency plan.”

“For if I fire you?” Michaela guessed.

Simone shrugged; Michaela felt it more than saw it.

“Do you care about him, or is it purely strategic?” Michalea realized how demanding her questions had become and added. “If you don’t mind me asking.

“I don’t... not care about him,” said Simone. “He can be... fun. He’s not my first choice.”

Once again, Michaela couldn’t resist asking. “Who’s your first choice?”

The silence after this question stretched for so long, Michaela thought Simone might have fallen asleep.

“It doesn’t matter,” Simone finally whispered. “I can’t have her.”

Michaela didn’t react externally, but the feminine pronoun had her heart racing. She hoped Simone couldn’t hear it, her ear still pressed against her chest as it was. Me neither, she thought. She wanted to say it out loud--but no, she shouldn’t push her luck. Simone could be talking about anyone, and she would rather die than put that kind of pressure on her. 

If she ever had Simone--and the logical part of Michaela’s brain knew she wouldn’t--she wanted no ambiguity, no remote chance that Simone was picking her out of a sense of obligation, or self-preservation, or any of the things that made her pick Ethan-- Ethan, who she was trying very hard not to hate at that moment.

“I should get back to my own bed,” Michela said. She wished it was out of propriety, but she knew it was out of a sense that she would lose control of her actions if she stayed any longer.

“What?” Simone turned over quickly to look at her. “Did I--”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Micahela said gently. “It’s me. I shouldn’t be here. I’m sure your sister wouldn’t approve. But Simone--I promise your job here is secure.” She rolled reluctantly away from the blonde, trying not to look in her wide, sad-puppy-dog eyes, lest her resolve be weakened. “You don’t need a contingency plan. But if you feel better with one--you don’t have to hide it. Okay?”

“Okay,” Simone whispered.

“Hey-hey. Goodnight, sweet girl.”

The term of endearment was inappropriate, but she couldn’t resist. The smile Simone gave was worth it.

“Hey-hey. Goodnight, Kiki.”

Notes:

this version isn't entirely canon compliant because this version of Michaela would NEVER fire Simone

Notes:

longer and more wholesome version coming soon I think?