The Sinister Screen Queen

"Ugh… what even was last night?"

Tanya woke up slowly, the world heavy and sweet with the lingering taste of last night's sugar binge.

Her head throbbed in lazy pulses, and when she tried to stretch, she realized she couldn't move.

She was pinned.

She tilted her head down.

Ming was sprawled half on top of her, breathing softly, her arm draped over Tanya like a clingy cat.

On her other side, Allegra lay snuggled up in a pink lace camisole, hair a tousled mess.

Tanya stared at the ceiling. "Of course."

Well, well… did you three finally have your steamy first sleepover scene? Casey's voice buzzed in her mind.

"Shut up, it's not like that."

Hey, I'm not judging. But the lingerie? The cuddling? The alchol?

Tanya rolled her eyes. "We were too drunk to tell the floor from the ceiling, let alone do that."

Still, she was uncomfortably aware they were mostly in lingerie, and she herself wasn't exactly in full pajamas either.

She shifted gingerly, trying not to wake them as she extricated herself from the pile of limbs. Allegra grunted but didn't wake, and Ming simply rolled over with a sigh.

Finally free, she stuck out her arms and yawned.

Her memory was hazy, a fog of bright lights, fizzy drinks with a sharp burn, and laughter that didn't seem to end.

They'd slipped brandy into their sodas, thinking it would be fun… a little bit of mischief.

Big mistake.

Tanya staggered out of the bedroom, quietly stepping over the remnants of snack bags, party cups, and a suspiciously glittery pillow.

"Where the hell is Emilia…"

"Uurrrgh... hhhggkkk... krrkkk."

Her answer was the faint sound of retching.

Tanya followed it to the bathroom, the door was cracked open.

Inside, she found Emilia curled on the cold tile floor next to the toilet, one arm draped over her stomach and her hair stuck to her cheeks.

The air reeked of bile.

"Someone's still learning the ropes."

She knelt beside the girl, checking her pulse and gently shaking her shoulder. "Emilia. Hey, wake up. You're not dying today."

Emilia's eyes fluttered open. "I feel... awful."

Tanya sighed. "That's what happens when you chug fizzy brandy like it's peach soda."

"I didn't know it was that strong…" Emilia blinked at her. "Why are you glowing?"

"I'm not glowing. You're just hungover. Or dying. Maybe both."

Tanya was already regretting being the most sober of the group. "Alright, come on. Let's clean you up."

Dragging Emilia upright, she half-carried her into the shower, grimacing at the stench.

Tanya stripped off her own wrinkled clothes, then pulled off Emilia's vomit-stained shirt with a wince.

"Ugh. I hope you appreciate my rare moment of care, Emilia."

Emilia mumbled something like "thank you" before resting her head on Tanya's shoulder.

Tanya turned on the cold water and shivered. "Brutal wake-up call coming in 3… 2…"

The icy stream hit them both.

"Aaaaahhh!" Emilia shrieked.

Emilia jerked, instantly alert as the freezing water hit her skin.

She scrambled toward the edge of the shower, but Tanya held her by the wrist.

"Let me go! I'm dying!"

"Just a moment." Tanya replied unfazed by the icy cascade. She'd taken plenty of cold showers before, late night shifts had trained her well.

Emilia squirmed, teeth chattering. "You're abusing me!"

"Hold still." Tanya demanded. "I need to get the gunk off you."

"I feel like I'm being punished."

"You kind of are." Tanya said dryly, "For throwing up on yourself and now I need to clean you like a baby."

Emilia groaned. "I didn't mean to."

"Yeah, yeah. Ten seconds and I'll consider your repentance complete."

Reluctantly, Emilia stopped resisting. She held her there for the count.

Once Emilia calmed and stopped squirming, Tanya let go. "Alright. Let's clean the mess off you."

Emilia blinked, her brain catching up. She glanced down… then really looked… and froze. "Wait… we're… we're both…?"

"Naked? We're showering." Tanya stated the obvious.

Emilia stiffened, her arms wrapping instinctively around her chest.

"Relax," Tanya said, eyeing her up and down. "Nothing I haven't seen before. And honestly, you don't have much to show."

"I—I have plenty!" Emilia gasped.

"You do? Mmhmm…" Tanya said with a faint smile as she turned away to grab the soap.

The words stung more than Emilia expected.

Wounded, she tried to shift her posture, subtly tilting her hips, raising her arms, trying to look less awkward and a little more... umm… something.

Tanya didn't bite. "Come here."

Emilia hesitated. "You're not going to make fun of me again, are you?"

"No promises."

What followed was a somewhat awkward dance, Tanya reached out to help soap Emilia, but Emilia skittered away, a nervous laugh escaping her.

After that, an unspoken agreement passed between them… hands to themselves.

Tanya turned away and focused on thoroughly washing herself, making sure to lather every spot.

Emilia, glancing over despite herself, let her eyes linger for a moment, taking in the curve of Tanya's figure, the way her hair clung wetly to her shoulders.

"You missed your back." Tanya noticed.

Before Emilia could respond, Tanya gently turned her around. "Don't move."

Skin met skin.

Tanya's fingers moved in slow circles across Emilia's back, slick with foamy soap.

The touch was oddly tender, and a warmth stirred beneath Emilia's skin. Her breath hitched. Her body tingled in ways she hadn't expected.

Her eyes fluttered closed, leaning into the touch.

Tanya noticed.

A slow, mischievous smile curved her lips. She leaned closer, brushing her lips near Emilia's ear, whispering something low and wicked.

Her hand slipped around Emilia's hip, fingers resting just above the curve of her thigh.

Emilia gasped, her spine arching instinctively, pressing back into Tanya.

The teasing contact, the cold, it overwhelmed her.

"Hnnn..." A soft moan escaped her lips.

Tanya chuckled, then pressed a kiss to Emilia's cheek before stepping back.

"See you downstairs." Tanya walked out without a hint of shame.

Left alone, water running down her trembling body, Emilia clutched the tiled wall, desire burning unsure whether she wanted to scream or chase after her.