“So how much longer until you go back?” Shane asked softly, her fingers gently sliding through the length of Lara’s ponytail. “Chef school can’t wait forever, y’know.”

“Maybe it can’t, but neither can you,” Lara said pointedly as she lifted her head and rested the tip of her index finger against Shane’s chest. “And don’t think I don’t know that.”

“Wh – I don’t know what you mean,” Shane stammered quietly, biting her bottom lip as she looked away.

“Are you trying to get rid of me, Shane?” Lara whispered, her expression hurt as she looked up at her, face pinched and sad. “If you want me to, I’ll just go –”

“L –” Shane began hesitantly.

“All you gotta do is say the word and you know I will,” Lara finished, still looking wounded. “I mean, we had a deal, didn’t we? If you want me out of your hair or you want some time alone – even if it’s just for one night – all you have to do is tell me –”

“L, it’s not – it’s not that,” Shane replied, sighing a bit as she crushed her cigarette out in the silver urn and scrubbed her hand over her face. “I just… my head’s so full and there’s so much shit I gotta think about, it’s just hard finding time for… you know, everything.”

“Do you want me to go?” Lara asked point-blank, brows furrowing.

“I didn’t say that, did I?” Shane replied, though that wasn’t exactly an answer.

“No, but so what was all that about chef school not waiting forever?” Lara asked, arching her eyebrow.

“L, you’re so fucking good. You’re so good at what you do, baby, but you need to finish school. You shouldn’t be… wasting your time, fucking following me around everywhere,” she muttered with a frown.

“Hey, look! I don’t follow you around! I go where you go because I want to, you got it?” Lara said, poking her finger at Shane’s chest again. “I like being with you and I wanna be with you and maybe chef school can’t wait but I don’t…” Lara’s words trailed off and she ducked her head. “I don’t – want you to forget about me.”

“Lara,” Shane whispered, shifting a bit in her seat to face Lara, her arm still draped around her shoulders as she reached up with her free hand and hooked her finger under Lara’s chin, tipping her head up just enough so that Lara would meet her eyes. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“But…?” Lara whispered, her eyes still downcast even though Shane had lifted her head.

“But… maybe you should forget about me,” Shane finished softly.