*Last Night*
"Hey, what's up Jenna!" Mari said happily, putting one hand up to her ear in order to hear better. "You haven't called in a while, girl! What's been going on?"
"A-A lot, actually. What's been going on with you?" Jenna asked, her voice sounding a bit sad. Maybe it was just the spotty cell reception.
"Just a whole lot of fun!" Mari grinned, hoping her enthusiasm carried through the phone to her best friend on the other end. "This has been one of the coolest months of my life, actually! N-Not that I'm saying the fact that you've been too busy to hang with me made this month cool or anything. Don't read into my awful failure at wording things!" Mari laughed, surprising even herself at just how happy she sounded.
Beside her, Selena Morrow grinned, the silver-haired beauty's own good mood buoyed by that of Mari's.
The two girls were lying side-by-side on a grassy hillside with only a spread-out comfy towel beneath them. The local park was having a big music and fireworks festival, and Mari had been all-too-happy to attend if it meant making more great memories with Selena. She'd been surprised that Jenna had called right before the show's big finale, but as her bestie had been radio silent the past few days, Mari felt compelled to answer, especially as Selena had said she didn't mind.
Selena...just the thought of her made Mari blush.
W-With happiness, o-of course! Because they were j-just friends, of course! Friends who did basically everything together!
The proudness Mari felt when you accepted a job with Selena's mother, Cynthia, had lasted only a few days before she realized that she'd now be a lot more bored without you around to hang out with. Thankfully, Selena had been more than willing to step up, and so for the past month Mari and Selena had been practically joined at the hip. They'd gone to a few amusement parks, went out to see multiple movies, tore it up at the Ally Gator arcade by besting all the high scores, explored some scenic nature paths, and did so much swimming Mari felt like she might develop gills. This nighttime music and firework festival was the icing on the cake that was one unforgettable month.
It was such an amazing month that Mari, somewhat ashamedly, realized she hadn't texted or called you at all to check up on you. Selena assured her that you were a mature adult and were perfectly fine, but Mari did feel at least a tiny sting of guilt.
She also felt said sting of guilt each time her gaze lingered on Selena a second longer than it should have. Each time Selena said something flirty and Mari reciprocated instead of shooting it down. Each time Selena called their outings 'dates' and Mari didn't correct her. B-But they were just friends, so there was no harm, right? You would understand, whenever Mari next saw you. She and Selena were just best buds!
Mari, in less words, told all of this to Jenna, becoming breathless by the end. "But, Jenna, enough about me. How are you, and how's Matt? Has Cynthia given my little trooper a break yet, or is he still trucking along?" Mari asked, the low nighttime lighting preventing her from seeing the way Selena's enthusiasm dimmed a bit when your name came up.
Jenna's voice came through even more ragged. "He's...not good, Mari. You really need to stop by the house tomorrow."
"Aw, does my little man miss me that much?" Mari teased. "Don't worry. I'll rock hot stuff's world tomorrow! Can't have him forgetting how much fun we have together by spending his days around other giant ladies like Ashley and Cynthia." Mari laughed, envisioning in her head the accidents her accident-prone and cute-but-sometimes-unreliable boyfriend had surely gotten himself into.
Jenna didn't share her mirth. "Mari, I'm serious. Please, come over tomorrow morning. I need to talk to you, and so does Matt."
A strange dread settled in Mari's gut. "O-Okay, sure thing, Jenna. Will do. Um...how serious are we talking? Did something bad hap--" Mari's next words were cut off by an extremely loud firework explosion, signaling that the end of the show was coming up. The big finale.
Jenna said something or other in reply, but Mari couldn't hear her anymore.
Your girlfriend shouted into her phone. "I can't hear you anymore, Jenna! Tell you what, call me in a few hours when I get back home, to prep me for tomorrow! I'll talk to you then!" She then shut off and pocketed her phone, hoping Jenna had heard her enough to get the message. If it was something serious that she was supposed to talk about in the morning, Mari wanted time to think over it before being blindsided. She was, at some level, aware that she could get defensive when confronted with something unexpected, especially if it involved her at a personal level.
But what could Matt want to talk about? Mari mused, her thoughts clouding. Not...about breaking up, right? That would be kinda outta nowhere. And I love him! He knows I love him, right?
Suddenly, Selena's hand found its way to Mari's, and the silver-haired girl squeezed reassuringly. Mari glanced over, and Selena smiled warmly. For a brief second, Mari got lost in Selena's incredibly beautiful eyes, only for the fireworks overhead to draw her attention back right as Mari found herself surprisingly evaluating how kissable Selena's lips looked in that moment.
Sighing, Mari let the troubling thoughts fade. She'd deal with them later. For now, she just wanted to burn the memory of this beautiful Selena...o-or rather, this beautiful moment with Selena into her mind for all time.
*****
*Present Day*
Jenna stepped aside, allowing your girlfriend to fully walk into the room. While the sight of your girlfriend would normally fill you with happiness, love, and arousal all at the same time, different feelings were rising to the surface this time.
To be sure, your girlfriend was still as beautiful as ever, if not more so given the now goddess-like visage she had in comparison to your itty-bitty new size. Her beauty and her curves had always been substantial, but they were now a million times bigger and that much more irresistible. You found it nearly impossible to not stare at the swell of her chest, the perky pronounced rear, her toned thighs, her tight abs on full display (she was wearing a sports bra and leggings today), or her angelic gorgeous face.
But then you took note of other things. Like how demure and soft Mari looked in that moment, a far cry from your typically passionate and extroverted girlfriend. She was wringing her hands nervously, avoiding looking you in the eye, and kept biting her lip. Her steps approaching the bedside table you were on were slow and deliberate, like each one was more painful than the last for her to take. A faint tear streak down her cheek indicated she'd been crying recently.
Somehow...you knew deep in your heart where this inevitable conversation was about to go even before it began.
Finally, Mari knelt before you, and leaned in close enough for her face to dominate your entire vision, but far enough back that when she spoke her breath didn't completely knock you over. Piper dutifully came to stand by your side to translate for you.
"H-Hello, Matt." Mari began. "I-I don't really have a funny joke or cute flirt this time. Sorry."
Piper cleared her throat. "Matt says it's fine. He's just happy to see you after so long. He wants to know how you are."
"H-How I am?" Mari asked in stunned disbelief, her eyes welling up. "You're asking how I am, and yet you're the one wh-who...who..."
Mari's face screwed up, and even before her first hiccupping sound you knew she was about to start crying. You quickly rushed into the shadow of Piper, hiding behind the pinkette as the waterworks broke and your girlfriend began sobbing. The tears fell fast and hard, splattering onto the desk and soaking you despite your efforts to stay dry. Piper weathered the storm, and by holding onto her ankle you avoiding being washed away in the flood.
Jenna crouched by Mari and stroked the other girl's hair, whispering soft words of assurance into her ears until Mari finally stopped crying. She still sniffled and wiped at her wet eyes, but she otherwise mostly composed herself and resumed speaking.
"You really are the most selfless and incredible guy in the world, Matt. The fact that you'd ask about me after what you've been through this past week? God, hot stuff...you're just amazing. And you're so much better than someone like me. All I did the past month was spend time with other people and not even check up on you, and yet here you are asking about me when I've been so insensitive? That's so mature of you, Matt."
Piper picked back up. "Matt says that you shouldn't sell yourself short. You're amazing too."
Mari smiled sadly. "You don't have to flatter me, Matt. I've been a shitty girlfriend. For more than just this past month, honestly. How many times have I just assumed you'd be okay with something without checking? How many times have I ignored you to prioritize my own fun or well-being? How many times has my stupid memory screwed up your life? More times than either of us could hope to count, is the answer to all of those questions. I'm a terrible girlfriend."
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