A/N: Credit to WyvernInk  for the character manipulation!

Roxy Adams, will you by my girlfriend? The words blared through Roxy's brain like an alarm. Taking a deep breath, pushing her thoughts aside, Roxy grabbed her mitts again. She jumped up and down and let out a few practise shots before turning to her coach, ready to go.

But Jebb just stood there, hands by his sides. Roxy lowered her stance.

"Ready?" She asked. He stared at her.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" He asked, taking Roxy by surprise.

"Excuse me? None of your damn business." She responded and he snorted.

"Bullshit. This girl comes in here, and lays out her heart for you, and you just... throw it away." He flicks out his arms, real anger in his eyes. Roxy was taken aback. Jebb was the calmest person she knew. He never gets upset or emotional, and she could always count on him to be hard as a rock.

"You don't even know her. Don't know anything about me and her." Roxy fired back, heating up.

"But I know you. And I know that over the last couple months, you've never been happier. And I know last week, when you texted me to come sparr with you, how upset you were over that girl. How much it hurt you. And here you stand, deciding she's not good enough." His words were cold but honest, no cruelty there.

"I did not say she's not enough, I said it was too late."

"Too late for what Roxanne? Too late to heal your wounded pride? Or too soon for you to be vulnerable enough to get hurt again?" Roxy stayed quiet, staring at the man. Maybe he's right, maybe I'm just afraid of getting hurt.

"You can't come out to the rink, can't box, if you're not prepared to get hit. It's the same with love Roxy." Jebb said simply, and the words hit home. He's right. I've been a fool, letting my insecurities and my pride fester this last week. Determined not to let myself get hurt like that again, even if it meant hurting Evie.

She stared at Jebb and he saw the dawning in her eyes. He raised an eyebrow. "Well? Go after her."

And Roxy did. At the door, she turned around and smiled her thanks at her dad. Jebb just nodded. Roxy ran to her car, dialling Evie's phone on the way. Three consecutive attempts, all straight to voicemail. How do I find her? Roxy tapped her fingers on her steering wheel impatiently at a red light. An idea came to her, and she quickly shot off a text to someone she'd never met.

You don't know me, but I'm a friend of Evie's. And I've screwed up and need to make things right. Do you know where she is? Roxy

A couple moments later a response came through, giving her a familiar address. Roxy hooked a sharp illegal u-turn and sped off. What felt like an eternity later, she arrived at the Jose's mansion, teeming with people.

Roxy got out of her car and pushed her way inside, scanning the crowd for Evie. And there, in the middle of the room, dancing on top of a table, was Evie, a bottle in hand. Roxy pushed closer, and saw it was a bottle of tequila, and it was more swaying than dancing.

"EVIE! EVIE!" Roxy called out but she was swallowed by the music. She struggled to push forward, and was almost there when Evie stopped.

"Everybody, I have an announcement to make." Evie half screamed half slurred, and the music softened. Oh no. "I just got rejected by the person I asked out. But, it's okay," she giggled and took a sip of the bottle, "because I'm ready for everyone to know. I'm GAY!"

Roxy held her breath in anticipation and horror, as the crowd stilled. You could hear a penny drop on the floor; nobody breathed. And then a girls voice called out:

"MARRY ME EVIE!" And the spell was broken. Suddenly everyone was cheering and fist pumping and Evie threw both hands over her head in victory. The music started up again, a perky blonde hopped on the table and started to drop it low, and the crowd moved on. Evie hopped off the table, forgotten.

Roxy used that moment to push through the crowd and reached a swaying Evie. She grabbed her just as she tipped forward, wrapping her arms around her. Evie looked at her, eyes foggy.

"Rox? Did my speech summon you? I just came out of the closet." She giggled again, and each word was slow and exaggerated. Evie reeked of alcohol and when she tried to take another swig, Roxy grabbed the bottle.

"Let me take this. I'll keep it safe for you."

"You're so sweet." Evie drawled, leaning into Roxy.

"You must be Roxy." A voice spoke, and Roxy turned around, turning Evie around with her, to see a beautiful girl with hair the colour of burnt caramel.

"May?" Roxy guessed and the girl nodded. May looked at Evie and her eyes softened. Oh. Takes one to know one. Wow, I'm surprised Evie didn't pick up on it.

"Thanks for the directions," Roxy said, holding up Evie's weight, who had decided to snuggle. May looped one of Evie's arms over her shoulder and together they made their way outside.

"No problem. What are friends for?" It was much quieter outside, cooler too. May laughed, the sound harsh. "It's fitting actually. I confess love for her and get rejected, then she goes and confesses love for you and gets the same." Roxy winced at the fair accusation.

May sighed, the sound weary, like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She detangled herself from Evie, who was asking about her bottle of tequila.

"I'm sorry," Roxy offered genuinely. She felt sympathy for May, she could relate. A long time ago, she was May. A string of lovers and flings later, and she was trying to undo her self-induced damage. But May just shrugged, eyes closed off.

"Plenty of fish in the sea," she said and turned around, disappearing back into the throng.

"You're so pretty. Has anyone ever told you that?" Evie slurred, one hand coming up to cup Roxy's cheek. "You look like if Ruby Rose and Kristen Stewart had a baby."

Roxy frowned, trying to usher Evie into the car. "Why? Because they're both gay?"

"No." Evie giggled, as if it was obvious. "Because they're both smoking hot. Where are we going? I wanna dance."

Roxy couldn't drop Evie home, her mom would kill her. And Roxy still had a lot to say to Evie, but she had decided to wait until she'd sobered up.

"I'm taking you to my apartment." Roxy said, turning onto the highway. Evie pouted and frowned. Then, as if remembering the last thing Roxy said to her, she crossed her arms over her chest.

"No. I'm not going anywhere with youuuu. We're not together. We're not even friends." Evie pointed a finger at Roxy accusingly, and Roxy was about to explain everything right then and there while driving, when Evie opened the passenger door.

Roxy screamed. "What the hell Evie?" And before she could blink, Evie had ripped off her seatbelt and launched out of the car. Roxy slammed to a stop, and stared at Evie, who was brushing the grass off her jeans.

"Evie, get back into the car please." Roxy spoke slowly, as if to a child. Evie wobbled forward and stuck her tongue out at Roxy.

"No." Evie giggled and started running, stumbling through the grass towards the nearest building. Roxy took a deep breath and pulled off the road. Remember how much you like her, and that this is all your fault. She repeated to herself, over and over.

Roxy followed after Evie, who scaled a broken window with surprising ease.

"Evie?" She called out, voice echoing through the abandoned warehouse. It looked like it used to be a paper mill, with a bunch of conveyor belts and compressors. But in the fading light it was too dark to make out any logos or specific machinery, only their outlines.

"Boo!" Evie yelled, leaping in front of Roxy from behind a thick column. She tilted her head to the side, eyes vacant.

"Come on, lets go sit down," Roxy said soothingly, gently taking Evie by the hand and leading her to a balcony on the mezzanine. They sat with their feet dangling over the edge. Evie tried to pull her hand away, but Roxy held on.

"Yes," Roxy said simply, and Evie looked at her, dazed.

"I'm sorry E. I didn't mean what I said. I was terrible to you, but it was because I was scared. Scared to trust if your feelings were true, if you were actually into me, if you meant what you said. Scared to trust my own feelings for you, as more than just attraction or friendship." Roxy confided, hanging her head in shame.

"I hope it's not too late." She whispered, sneaking a glance at Evie. "If you're still keen, I'd love to be your girlfriend."

She watched as Evie's eyes widened, and she leaned back slightly. As her mouth parted into a perfect O.

"Okay," she dragged the word out and a hesitant smile crept over her face. Roxy grinned back and Evie squeezed her hand. "Evie and Roxy. Roxy and Evie. Evie and Adams!" Evie giggled and Roxy laughed too.

They sat there for a long time, peaceful and content, hands interlocked. At one point Evie pulled Roxy into a hug from behind, and Roxy rested her head on Evie's chest. Felt her heartbeat and her body beneath hers, a steady, repetitive force.

BA DUM. BA DUM. BA DUM.

Roxy focused on the rhythm, and felt herself being pulled to oblivion.

——————————————————————

"E. Evie, you need to wake up." Evie heard a sweet voice call, pulling her from her sleep. Evie opened her eyes slowly to see Roxy standing over her, hair tousled and clothes wrinkled.

"Where are we?" Evie asked and sat up, immediately regretting the action when her head starting pounding like a drum. She winced and placed a hand against her forehead, groaning. "What happened?"

"We're in an abandoned warehouse. The one that you dragged me to last night when you leapt out of a moving car like a superhero." Roxy said, humour making her eyes shine. Evie groaned again. Last night... she could only recall fragments, like clips of a movie in rewind.

"How much do you remember?" Roxy asked nonchalantly, leaning back on her heels. She raked a hand through her hair, causing the ends to stand up like she'd stuck her hand in a power socket.

"Not much..." Evie trailed off, trying to sort through the alcohol-induced haze. "But..."

Evie reached over and grabbed Roxy's hand, intertwining their fingers. "I remember this. Girlfriend." Evie blushed, and Roxy smiled a happy smile, that was surely reflected on Evie's own face.

"That's a relief. Can't have my girlfriend having amnesia now could I?" Roxy teased, pulling Evie up into standing position. The movement made Evie dizzy, and she fell forward, barely caught by Roxy's strong arms.

Bile rose in Evie's throat, and the next thing she knew she was hurling all over the floor. Roxy held back Evie's hair and cooed soothing sounds, one hand rubbing her back. It sent shivers of pleasure up Evie's spine.

Roxy whistled as Evie wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "You're gonna have one bitch of a hangover, after the amount of tequila-"

At the mention of tequila, Evie pitched forward and chucked again, heaving lumpy bile all over the metal grate floor. She heard Roxy mutter an apology, and let herself be guided down the steps and out the building.

"I'm surprised the cops didn't bust us last night." Evie mused as she got into Roxy's car and rolled down the window.

"Yep." Roxy agreed dryly, starting up her car. "Last thing I needed, another mark on my record." Evie resisted the urge to ask, deciding this was not the time to abate her curiosity.

Evie looked at herself in the passenger mirror. Yesterday's crinkled clothes, pale, clammy skin, bloodshot eyes and greasy hair. She looked a fright.

"I can't go home like this." She pleaded with Roxy, who somehow still looked naturally beautiful. Maybe Evie was biased. Or the lack of drunkenness shows.

"Don't worry E, I'm not taking you home. Gotta cure that hangover first." Roxy said as she drove. Evie recognised the route, and before long they were seated at Mamas. Roxy went up and ordered, and when the plates of eggs, bacon, toast, beans and hash browns were set down in front of them, Evie almost chucked again.

She pulled a face when Roxy pushed a plate at her, loaded with the works.

"Eat," her girlfriend commanded and Evie did as she was told. At first, the grease and butter made her stomach feel worse, but after a while the nausea subsided. Roxy ate too, watching as Evie drank water with painkillers.

"What?" Evie asked, touching her face. "Do I have food on my face?" But Roxy just shook her head.

"I'm just looking at my girl. That's all." She said causally, and Evie sighed, content. This is bliss. It took a week, an "I love you" from Mary, a party and two cases of rejection, but they got there.

"Whatcha wanna do today? Run a marathon, scale some buildings, go skydiving?" Roxy asked, flexing her guns.

"Sleep." Evie croaked, rolling her eyes and dropping her chin into her hands. Roxy chuckled. Once they'd finished their brunch, Roxy dropped Evie home.

As Evie hopped out of the car, Roxy called her name. She turned around and Roxy leant forward, kissing Evie on the mouth. "Sweet dreams Juliet." She called as she sped off.

Evie stood there, mouth tingling. Her fingers brushed her mouth, the ghost of Roxy's lips still on hers. Then she let out an excited squeal and spun around, before heading into the house.