Title: Timing Time
Genre: Character Development, Romance (?)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing(s): Jessica/Tiffany
Summary: And they wonder about the concepts of time.

---

Tiffany had always been a late bloomer.

"You still count with your fingers?"

Jessica could only stare, aghast as Tiffany looked at her with a sour frown. Jessica couldn't believe the fifteen year old still relied on her hands to count.

"Of course! Why not?"

Jessica merely rolled her eyes at Tiffany's defiance. She should have known that out of the two of them growing up together, Tiffany would be the one who still retained such immature methods.

They needed to grow up.

"It's too slow," Jessica stated calmly, the more wiser of the two. "I prefer counting in my head."

Jessica ignored the husky scoff that emitted beside her; feigning ignorance as she combed her hand through her brown hair.

She wondered then how the color blonde would look on her as she fiddled with a thin strand.

"Why?" Tiffany inquired as she sat beside her on the cold pavement; water pouring relentlessly above them as they waited for the bus.

"So the countdown will be faster."

Jessica hid behind a curtain of brown when Tiffany came closer for inspection. Jessica didn't like how her cheeks grew hot whenever Tiffany came too close.

It was embarrassing.

"But then I wouldn't be able to know how you count if I can't hear you." Tiffany murmured lightly, her husky voice caressing the moist air as Jessica listened to the drops of water slap the concrete floor; plop, plop, plop.

"Why would you need to hear me count?" Jessica muttered quietly, pulling her legs closer against her chest as she hid her flaming cheeks behind long brown hair.

She was feeling nervous because Tiffany had her hand on her shoulder.

"Because then I would know if I still have enough time to make it to you,"

Jessica hated how loud her heart was beating. Her ear drums were ringing, incessant pounding strumming against her skull and she winced from the sheer intensity of it. Jessica didn't like how she was feeling.

It was so annoying.

"Then you'll just have to be fast enough to make it in time." Jessica replied, hearing Tiffany scoff once again as she peeked through strands of brown.

Jessica lifted her head when she heard the bus coming to pause in front of them. When Tiffany's hand withdrew from her shoulder, Jessica looked up to see what the younger girl was doing.

"Tiffany?" Jessica asked, bewildered as her friend abruptly stood with shock painting her face.

"I forgot my bus pass!" And Jessica couldn't reach out to hold the younger girl's wrist in time when Tiffany sprinted back towards the school.

How Jessica still tolerated her, the older girl didn't know.

Tiffany even tended to realize things a little too late.

"But the bus is already here!" Jessica yelled after her, unsure of whether to wait for the girl or step into the bus and hope she would make it in time.

She watched Tiffany wave to her over her shoulder, a confident grin plastering her lips.

"Count up to ten and I swear I'll be back before you know it!"

Jessica was worried despite the younger girl's optimism as Tiffany ran into the building. When the bus honked for her attention, Jessica looked up in hopes of being able to convince the driver to wait for a few seconds.

"Please mister?" Jessica hoped her pout was convincing enough despite hating the very action herself, and thanked up above that the driver agreed; nodding.

"I'll give her ten seconds. I have a schedule to follow, so if you'd like, you could wait for the next bus coming in a few minutes."

But Jessica needed to get home.

There was no way she was going to wait for another bus out in the rain. Her parents, as well as Tiffany's dad, would kill them.

"She'll make it." Jessica stated firmly.

...I hope.

Turning around, Jessica began to count as she stared through the open doors; hoping to catch a glimpse of a faded figure.

One, she thought to herself, hating how slow she was counting. Two...

"What's with the hold up old man?" Jessica turned to the sound of the hoarse voice to find a haggard-dressed man stare at her with disapproval. "I need to get to work or else I'll lose that promotion!"

Jessica merely glared and was thankful when the bus driver gave him a blank stare.

The bus driver obviously didn't care.

"I'll give your little friend an extra ten seconds just 'cause I feel like it." The driver whispered, ruffling Jessica's hair lightly before settling comfortably in his seat.

And Jessica giggled, bowing gratefully for the driver's kindness.

Three, four, five, six...

Jessica continued on, feeling restless as she sped up her counting.

She figured that the faster she counts, the faster the younger girl will have to arrive, therefore the faster she'll see Tiffany.

...Would it work?

"I made it!" Jessica jumped, startled as Tiffany huffed at the door, her right hand clutching the railing as she lifted her free hand to reveal her bus pass.

Tiffany was soaking wet from head to toe as the driver chuckled and nodded at them to take a seat. Jessica merely rolled her eyes as she gripped Tiffany's left wrist and dragged her towards the back of the bus.

"So—so how did I do?" Jessica heard Tiffany rasp out as she pulled the younger girl to sit beside her.

"Terrible," Jessica mused as she pulled out a handkerchief from her skirt's pocket, "I counted up to twenty; four times."

And Jessica had to hold Tiffany still when the younger girl couldn't believe her; Tiffany motioning to stand in defiance.

Jessica could only giggle lightly as she wiped away the mixed beads of rain and sweat from Tiffany's face. She trailed gently against Tiffany's arched brow, pushing away the strands of brown covering the younger girl's bright eyes as she meticulously tended to her.

"I'm kidding, Tiff." Jessica quirked an amused brow when the younger girl released a sigh of relief, "I made it to one hundred."

And fifteen year old Jessica couldn't keep the heat from rising to her cheeks as Tiffany loomed closer with a frown. Jessica still hadn't withdrawn her hands; her right still against Tiffany's brow while the other kept the younger girl's side bangs from dropping to her face.

"Next time then," Tiffany began, her breath tickling Jessica's warm lips. "I won't be late next time."

And Jessica believed her as Tiffany's eyes disappeared into smiling crescents.

Tiffany may tend to be late, but she would always make it.

---

"Why do you keep staring at the clock?"

Jessica had asked during one of their study sessions. Tiffany had merely shrugged as she kept her eyes trained on the moving hand. Jessica noted the furrowed brows crinkled above her eyes, her lips turned into a frown.

"Don't you notice that time seems to move faster than before?"

Jessica arched a questioning brow as Tiffany rested her chin atop her palm; elbow sitting comfortably against the table. Jessica wondered why Tiffany would think of such a silly little thing like that, but kept her lips sealed as she looked over her notes again.

She needed to be prepared for the upcoming exams next week.

"...But the pacing is still the same." Jessica heard Tiffany mutter under her breath, and Jessica couldn't help but look up again.

"Why so fixated on time, Tiff?" Jessica closed her notebook gently as she set it aside, "because before you know it, exam time is here and you won't be ready for it."

Tiffany merely clucked her tongue in wonder as she continued to stare at the white clock above Jessica's bed.

"That's the thing," and Jessica watched as Tiffany laid down on her mattress, her strands of black hair spreading messily on the soft surface. "it just ticks so fast that I wonder if I can keep up with it."

Jessica wondered if she should be worried.

"Tiff?" Jessica called out, crawling towards her with apprehension. "Is something wrong?"

She watched Tiffany lightly laugh as the younger girl rested her hands behind her head, just staring at the white ceiling. Jessica's curiosity peaked as she settled herself beside Tiffany, slightly hovering over the younger girl as if to make sure.

"Geez Jess," Tiffany chuckled, pushing away the blonde strands that fell onto her face. "your hair is really long; it's tickling me."

Jessica only frowned, unsure of what to feel. There was something else that was bothering Tiffany, and the younger girl wasn't willing to spill it.

"Does time move as fast as you think it does?"

Jessica watched as Tiffany pondered on words to say; her dark eyes distant.

"It didn't before," twenty year old Jessica crinkled her brows in confusion as Tiffany laughs it off with a wave of her hand. "but don't worry about it, it's nothing."

"Why does it seem faster now than it did in the past?" Jessica questioned again, shifting closer to Tiffany as the younger girl lifts a hand to rub her temple; her eyes shut tight.

"...I don't know," Jessica watched Tiffany's lips motion the words as she moves to get a better glimpse of Tiffany's expression. "time just seems to move faster, with you."

And Jessica paused, half of her form hovering over the younger girl as she stared at Tiffany's face. The younger girl had yet to open her eyes as she continued to massage her brow, as if a headache had come on.

"Really?" Jessica whispered, entranced as she eyed the other girl's jaw line, "Because from my point of view, time just stops."

And Jessica held her breath as she looked up to see Tiffany open her eyes, her brows furrowing; confusion etched on her face.

"I can't see the clock, Jess."

"Why so fixated on time, Tiff?"

Tiffany merely chuckled as she brushed away a few strands of Jessica's hair that was falling onto her face.

"Because haven't you realized?" Jessica didn't notice she placed her hand on Tiffany's shoulder as she leaned over closer for inspection, "Time moves slower if you watch it,"

"You want time to go slower?"

Jessica didn't miss the ghost of a smile that took Tiffany's lips as she positioned herself half-way over the younger woman. She didn't realize she already lifted her leg to loop over Tiffany's hips until the younger woman spoke up with a laugh.

"Are you aware that you're literally on top of me right now, Jess?"

But Jessica ignored her words as she fully rolled over her, resting her hands on Tiffany's shoulders as she settled her weight atop her waist. She kept her face close to Tiffany's as she scanned the younger girl's expression, unable to read her.

Something was off between them.

And Jessica knew it even if she couldn't see through Tiffany's dark eyes.

"You constantly watch the clock so time would go slower," she began, unable to keep her gaze from flickering to Tiffany's lips. "but don't you realize that means you're spending time watching time tick by instead of spending it with me?"

Tiffany sighed beneath her as she lifted her right hand to comb her fingers through her black hair. Jessica had to hold back a shiver when she felt Tiffany's breath tickle her lips.

All she had to do was inch nearer.

...So close,

Jessica felt her eye lids droop as she motioned to angle her face.

"You have a boyfriend, Jess."

And Jessica paused, feeling Tiffany's lips graze her own from the words that spilled . Jessica couldn't help but tighten her grip on Tiffany's shoulders, her fingers curling against the soft fabric as she whispered quietly in response.

"Is it wrong to give a kiss to my best friend?"

Jessica didn't miss the fleeting flare that sparked in Tiffany's dark eyes as the younger girl struggled to sit up.

"It is when your best friend sees you more than that," Tiffany murmured quietly as she sat up, Jessica remaining still on her lap.

Perhaps Jessica should have been more surprised, but she had always had a feeling. From the hesitant hugs the younger girl gave her to the way she'd always look at her, Jessica sort of expected it. But of course, she could never be truly sure so she accepted her gentle touches as her tender way of showing affection.

And truth be told, she was rather delighted to hear it.

Jessica tried to gain Tiffany's attention, the latter's eyes avoiding her probing gaze. She didn't bother removing herself from the younger woman, her hands remaining firm on her shoulders as her weight weighed on Tiffany's thighs. Jessica didn't bother moving because Tiffany didn't bother pushing her away.

She admired how bold Tiffany was though, for confessing like that.

Because Jessica knew she never could do the same.

"But that doesn't mean anything because it's too late already, right?" Jessica frowned when Tiffany drew her eyes back to stare at her own pools of brown. "Even though I said I wouldn't be next time,"

Jessica wondered if that was what Tiffany had meant back then.

"Next time then, I won't be late next time."

And Jessica hadn't realized what she had done until her lips were sealed with Tiffany's and her arms were circled around the younger girl's neck, forcing her to lay back on the bed.

Her vision was black, eyes shut tight as caught fire against Tiffany's own. Her body trembled aflame when she felt the younger girl's hands roam down the sides of her torso before outlining her waist.

Tiffany had been late in telling her, she knew. But that did not mean Tiffany hadn't made it to her heart from the very beginning.