Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

If Geri had to summarize her life in one word, that would be easy.

Chaos.

And she loves every fucking minute of it.

Right at that moment, while she stretches out on their worn sofa that had been broken in enough to be comfortable in all the right places, she can hear Melanie C coming down from upstairs taking the steps two at a time, Emma in the kitchen arguing with the toaster, Mel B shouting that she couldn’t find her favorite vest, and Victoria muttering to herself from the hall bathroom as she applied her eyeliner for the third time - the first two attempts having apparently not been good enough, Geri presumes.

For the first time in the two year history of the Spice Girls, Geri was finally the first one ready for the day. Normally she’d be rushing to get dressed after changing her mind on what to wear, or goading Mel into an argument just for the fun of it. But today was too important to her.

They were finally going to be on television. Actual, live, television.

“At the rate those girls are going, we’re going to be late, and we’re not going to be on television after all,” Mel C says as she reaches the foot of the stairs, groaning. 

That spurs Geri into gear. “Right, you go sort Victoria out in the bathroom - she’ll lose an eye if she tries any more eyeliner. I’ll deal with the other two.” 

Melanie nods, and Geri hauls herself up from the couch, twisting a little in her red leather minidress. "Mel, your vest is in your suitcase, you were going to bring it to Barcelona, remember?” she hollers up the stairs, on her way into the kitchen. It takes her two seconds to retrieve the burnt toast from the toaster that Emma was all but ready to shove a knife into, and offers up a muesli bar instead. “Gotta go, Em, car’s leaving,” she says with a grin. 

“Thanks, G,” Emma replies, grinning back as she takes a bite of her granola bar, following Geri back into the living room. “Bags the front seat!”

“You can’t bags the front seat, you gotta wait til you’re outside where the car is to call it!” Mel shouts, as she comes hurriedly down the staircase. “Besides, even if you could bags it inside, it doesn’t matter ‘cause I’m sitting up front, Geri already promised me - she owes me for eating my last Mars bar that I was saving.” She gives Geri a light punch on the arm, who attempts - and misses - to swing back.

“Actually, you owed me that Mars bar from when you used up the last of the hot water on Friday and I had to take a freezing cold shower,” Geri argues back.

“Hey, I did say you could join me in the shower,” Mel tells her, grinning, and offers a saucy wink.

“Excuse me, I thought we were running late?” Victoria cuts in exasperatedly, as she finally comes out of the bathroom.

“Right. Everyone in my car, let’s go,” Geri announces, clapping her hands. She swipes her car keys from the hook by the front door, expertly side-stepping the swat that Mel aimed for her butt, and hustles outside to the car.

___

The day passes in a blur. Mel remembers snippets - harmonizing with the other girls into the microphone as they sang acapella, feeling Emma’s nails dig tiny crescent moon marks into her arm from nerves, and echoing Geri’s shout of ‘world domination’ during the interview. It was hectic, and fun, and stressful, but she’s glad to arrive back at the house with the rest of the girls.

“I must say, that was one of the most fun interviews we’ve had,” Emma says, collapsing into one of the beanbag chairs.

Mel drops down onto the sofa, reaching out to snag Geri by the wrist to tug her over as well. Geri comes willingly, stretching out next to her and draping her legs over Mel’s thighs. “It really was,” Geri agrees.

“Just a shame we couldn’t stay at a hotel in the city for the night, considering we’ve got to be at ITV for seven o’clock in the morning,” Victoria says, settling into the other sofa with Melanie C.

“Yeah, but that’s half the reason Simon got us this house, I bet,” Melanie says, gesturing around vaguely. “Saves himself on hotels for when we’re super famous and have hundreds of interviews to do in the city.”

Privately, Mel’s not complaining at all. She loved living with the rest of the girls a few years ago when they’d first gotten started and their old management company had set them up in a house in Maidenhead. It had been tiny, and she had to share a bedroom with Mel C, and the oven hardly worked, but it had been great being able to live with her best friends. It was an adjustment when they switched management and had to return to living with family and tiny apartments - though, she and Mel C and Geri had managed to find a place to rent for dirt cheap for some of the time. That being said, the place was tiny and the cramped quarters led to her and Geri coming to blows more often than not.

But now, they had a spacious house in London thanks to their new management team, with enough space to have their own bedrooms, even if they did spend a few nights a week crashing in each other’s beds, slumber parties whenever they felt like it. Emma, Victoria, and occasionally Melanie still went home most weekends to see their families, but Mel didn’t mind - weekends were for her and Geri to dress up and go out to clubs, or to stay in with a takeaway and laughingly criticize the contestants on Stars In Our Eyes.

Almost as if she senses Mel thinking about her, Mel feels Geri’s legs twitch in her lap, and she absently brings a hand to lightly stroke the creamy skin of her calves as she tunes back into the conversation. Emma’s moaning about the early start they’re going to have the next day, and Mel grins.

“Yeah, but just think - when we’re really rich and famous, it’ll all be worth it,” she says, and accepts Geri’s offered high five for the statement.

“If these interviews don’t blow us up, I bet the music video will,” Melanie C adds in. “Still bummed we’re not going to Barcelona though.”

Mel had to agree, she’d been looking forward to the trip - it would have been so exciting and exotic to tell people that the Spice Girls filmed their first video in a different country. However, she wasn’t complaining that the location fell through and now they were filming it in London - the new concept sounded fun enough, and they would have had to have missed out on tomorrow’s events to make it work.

Emma cocks her head, considering. “True, but I vote next chance we get for a proper break, we do a group trip,” she suggests. “But first, we need to figure out dinner.”

After only a minute of arguing who should cook, dinner is sorted when Melanie C gets up to order pizza from the local place down the street. It’s delivered soon enough, and the girls dig in. When it’s finished, the empty box cast aside, someone puts the television on, although they spend more time talking and laughing rather than actually watching anything.

One by one, the girls start heading upstairs to bed, until it’s just Geri and Mel left. Geri still has her legs in Mel’s lap, but brings them down so she can stretch out.

“Heading up to bed as well?” Mel asks.

“Not unless you are too,” Geri replies easily. “Just needed to stretch my legs out. I’m knackered from today, though not sleepy yet.”

“Same,” Mel agrees. “Great day though. Tomorrow should be fun, hopefully.”

They fall into easy conversation about the upcoming few days they have scheduled, and it’s not until Geri lets out a yawn that Mel realizes a half hour has passed.

“C’mon, we better get to bed, or the other three will be moaning at us in the morning for being tired,” Mel says.

Geri nods. “True. Doubt I’ll have luck enough to be the first one ready two nights in a row.”

They turn off all the lights, and head upstairs. They end up in the bathroom together, taking off their makeup and brushing their teeth, then Geri pauses on her way out. “Come crash with me tonight if you want,” she offers, and Mel grins.

“Give me two minutes,” she replies. Geri nods and disappears down the hall, and Mel spits the rest of the toothpaste into the sink, rinsing it down the drain. It only takes her a minute to hurry to her bedroom, stripping out of her leopard print pants and bralette and into her favorite oversized shirt that she stole from Emma, and pad down the hall to Geri’s room.

Geri’s already in bed, wearing one of Mel’s old shirts. “Hey, that’s mine,” Mel says, plucking at the thin fabric as she slides under the covers next to Geri.

“Hmm, and I recall Emma wearing that shirt last week,” Geri says back with a grin, and Mel has no comeback to that.

“Shut up and turn off the lamp already,” she says instead, and snuggles under the covers. Even though it’s April and meant to be spring, there’s a real chill in the air still, and Mel’s glad when Geri’s warm body twists closer. Mel slides her arm around her waist, pulling Geri’s back to press against her front, and she catches a note of Geri’s vanilla shampoo. It’s comforting, and relaxing, and within minutes, both women are fast asleep.

___

“Oi, you two! If you don’t get out of bed now, you’ll be late! And Ger, since you’re driving, that means we’ll all be late.”

Geri groans as she cracks an eye open, seeing Melanie C in the doorway, tapping at her watch. Geri nods, and once Melanie heads off down the hall, Geri twists in the bed. She’s still wrapped up in Mel’s arms, and secretly, it’s her favorite way to wake up. Sure, she spends half her nights alone, and will share a bed with pretty much any of the girls, but being held by Mel makes her feel safe, and calm, and like she can handle anything.

“What time is it?” Mel says as she wakes, releasing Geri so she can rub at her eyes. 

Geri lets out a matching yawn as she glances at the alarm clock on the other side of Mel. “Shite - it’s already six. I forgot to set my alarm last night. We’ve gotta be out of the house in fifteen minutes, and I was going to shower this morning.”

Mel also lets out a groan. “Same. Guess it’ll be extra deodorant and dry shampoo this morning, and a fight for the shower when we get home, huh?”

Geri can’t help but laugh, and rolls out of bed. She digs through her closet, changing into her favorite red tank top and black pants, then charges into the bathroom. Mel’s already there brushing her teeth, and they playfully elbow each other for space in front of the mirror.

Somehow, they’re downstairs before Melanie’s stopwatch beeps that it’s absolutely time to leave, and they pile into Geri’s car.

It’s an easy drive to their first stop, an interview and performance of Wannabe . It’s a tiny studio with too-bright lights and lukewarm tea, yet they go all in, singing and dancing like they’re on Top of the Pops . The producer seems pleasantly surprised by the energy and says they’re welcome back “if this thing takes off.”

“If this “thing” takes off,” Mel scoffs on their way out. “Does he not realize who he’s talking to?”

“Obviously not. We should tell Jo to add him to our ‘do not interview’ list for when we’re super famous and in demand,” Emma replies with a smirk.

“What’s the next one, a radio interview, right?” Melanie C asks.

Mel nods. “Yep. About a fifteen minute drive away, and we have an hour to be there.”

“Plenty of time to stop for coffee,” Emma says, already perking up at the thought. “Or tea. Or cake. Or all three.”

“Oh yes,” Geri groans. “Caffeine or I’ll start throwing things.”

Mel leans around her with a grin. “Bit dramatic there, Geraldine.”

“I am literally running on three hours of sleep and dry shampoo,” Geri shoots back. “Don’t test me, Melanie.”

Victoria yawns without opening her eyes. “Just feed her before she murders someone. Preferably not in my direction.”

“Right you lot, back in the car,” Geri demands, but she’s grinning. They make it to the radio station first, then find a little cafe a few doors down the street. There’s no queue, and the woman behind the counter eyes them all like they’re a little too loud for her liking, but she takes their order anyway.

They get their coffees to go, and settle at the rickety table outside to drink. There’s an abandoned newspaper on it, and Emma entertains them by reading out their horoscopes.

When they make it into the radio station, the DJ greets them cheerily. They cram into the little recording booth, and the DJ starts throwing out random questions, like “So what exactly is ‘girl power’?” and “You’re all friends, but be real here, who gets on each other’s nerves?”

Mel B shoots a look across the group, smirking. “You don’t want that list.”

“We live together, share a car, and argue over who finishes the milk,” Geri says sweetly. “Take a guess.”

The DJ laughs. “And yet you all seem to get on. That’s rare.”

Victoria nods. “We’re like a family. A dysfunctional one.”

“Speak for yourself,” Emma says indignantly. “I’m perfect.”

They wrap the interview in good spirits. As they file out the door and back down the stairs, Geri lets out a long yawn and leans against the railing. Clearly, the coffee did nothing to help her wake up.

 “G, you look tired - want someone else to drive?” Emma asks, while Geri fumbles in her purse for the car keys.

“Oh - I mean, sure?” Geri replies, not complaining. “As long as it’s not you Em - I mean, I love you to death, but I don’t think my car’ll survive another ‘tap’ getting backed into a sign post.”

“Okay, first of all, the car was fine, barely a scratch,” Emma insists. “Second, I still think someone was playing a joke on me, because that sign was not there when I’d checked the rearview mirror a moment before.”

The rest of the girls laugh, and Geri hands the keys over to Melanie C, who volunteers to drive. Mel takes Geri’s hand and tugs her into the backseat after her, and Geri lets her pull her in. She settles into the middle seat, Mel on one side and Victoria on the other, and once Emma’s seated in the front passenger seat, Melanie starts up the car.

Geri can feel the tiredness catching up, and a couple times she has to blink to stop herself from dozing off. But as if she can sense it, Mel’s right there next to her, wrapping an arm around Geri’s shoulders, lightly pulling so that Geri can rest her head on her chest. She lets her eyes close, enjoying the feel of Mel’s arm securely around her.

“Honestly, do you two need to get a room?” Victoria mutters from Geri’s other side.

Geri doesn’t reply, because she doesn’t need to - Mel’s grip tightens slightly around her shoulders. “Give her a break, she’s worked hard and she’s tired. She didn’t get to nap in the car this morning while the lot of you did, she was busy driving.”

Geri doesn’t open her eyes, but she smiles. She loves how Mel defends her, all fierce and automatic, even over little throwaway comments from the other girls. The two of them bicker, they push each other’s buttons, they probably need to have a go at each other just to function properly. But if anyone else so much as teases Geri? Mel’s there like a shield, all teeth and sass, throwing back a cutting reply. 

She doesn’t hear if Victoria replies at all, because she’s already drifting, lulled by the sound of the car engine and Mel’s steady breathing. She sleeps the whole way home, only rousing when they’re parked out front and Mel’s gently shaking her shoulder.e.

“We’re back already? Mmm, something smells good,” Geri says, as she struggles to unbuckle her seatbelt while waking up.

“Yeah, you slept the whole drive. Snored too. We stopped at the chippy on the way as well, Em and Vic picked up fish and chips for dinner,” Mell tells her.

“Sorry for the snoring,” Geri says, but she doesn’t really mean it - Mel snores just as much. Mel knows this, because she offers up a grin.

“Food’s getting cold!” Emma hollers from the front door at them, then disappears inside. This triggers Mel and Geri to hurry up and exit the car, following the smell of fresh fish and vinegary chips to the kitchen. The five of them squeeze around the kitchen table, diving in to eat, and by the time the food’s all gone, Geri’s wide awake.

“Shooting starts at ten tomorrow, yeah?” she asks, as she glances over at their shared calendar stuck to the fridge, currently surrounded by a hodge-podge of magnets, sticky notes, and polaroids of the group.

“Yep,” Melanie C replies. “I think Jo’s coming over in the morning, not sure what time though - I think she said something about briefing us for a photoshoot later in the week.”

Geri nods at that - she’s gotten fond of Jo Moss, their publicist, so seeing her is always fun. Their manager Simon can be a bit of a stick in the mud at times, but Jo’s always up for a cup of tea and a chat. “She’s got the bus sorted for tomorrow as well, right?”

“Yes, so we don’t have to worry about your crazy driving for three days in a row,” Mel cuts in with a laugh, and ducks when Geri aims a swipe at her.

“Alright, on that note - I’m going for a run before we lose the last of the daylight,” Melanie interrupts, getting up from her chair.

“Can anyone redo my nails? I chipped a couple today,” Emma says, inspecting her hands.

“Only if you do mine after,” Geri tells her.

The group gets up to head out of the kitchen. Emma retrieves her nail kit from her room, while Victoria claims one of the bathrooms to shower.

Geri settles down on the floor of the living room, Emma across from her, and they chat about the day’s events as Geri carefully removes the polish from Emma’s fingers and starts applying a new color. Mel joins them, not really saying anything, just draping herself over the sofa, and joining in on the conversation. By the time Emma’s screwing the lid on a bottle after finishing Geri’s nails, Melanie and Victoria have joined them, and someone’s found a movie on the television.

The evening passses quickly, and one by one, the girls head up for the night. Geri’s third, leaving Melanie and Victoria behind, since she has to shower before bed. Just as she reaches the top of the landing, Mel steps out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam, a towel wrapped around her body, another around her hair.

“Going to sleep already? It’s only just past nine,” Mel says, grinning easily.

“Nah, just need to shower - someone kept me up late talking last night,” she replies, grinning back.

Mel puts on a complete look of innocence. “Why, how rude of them,” she tries in a posh voice, but they both break into laughter. “Come find me when you’re done, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Geri replies. She lets herself watch Mel strut down the hall towards her room for only a second, before forcing herself to turn towards the bathroom. It’s still warm and steamy, and Geri rubs a hand on the glass of the mirror. She stares at herself for a moment, sighs, then hurries to shower.

___

When she’s finally done and in her pajamas, hair towelled dry, she exits her bedroom, and almost bumps flat into Victoria, who’s about the enter her bedroom right next to Geri’s.

“Sorry, V. You heading to bed? I’m about to make me and Mel tea, if you want a cup?” Geri offers.

Victoria offers up an appreciative smile. “Thanks, but I need sleep. Night, Ger.”

“Goodnight,” Geri replies, and hugs her. She then steals downstairs, which is now dark - Melanie must have also gone to bed. She makes two cups of tea, making sure to fix the second one just the way Mel likes it, then carefully carries them upstairs.

Mel’s door is cracked, and she uses her foot to kick it open. Mel’s lounging on her bed, only wearing knickers and the oversized shirt of Emma’s she’d been wearing the night before. She’s scribbling in a notebook, which she closes and tosses on the nightstand when she sees Geri come in.

“Finally, I thought you forgot about me,” Mel tells her, gratefully accepting one of the cups.

“Never,” Geri tells her, though throws in an eye roll to lighten the intensity of her reply. “As if you’d ever let me forget you.”

“You got that right - my plan is to ruin you for anyone else,” Mel quips back, and takes a slow sip of tea. “‘Specially if you keep making such a good cup of tea.”

They sit side by side on the bed, cross-legged and shoulder to shoulder, sipping their tea in the soft glow of Mel’s bedside lamp. Moments like these are some of Geri’s favorites, when it’s quiet and still, and just the two of them. They’ve surpassed the need to have to fill silences, and to Geri, it’s comforting to have a part of her life that doesn’t have to be so loud.

“Alright,” Mel says, breaking the silence as she finishes the last of her cup. “Help me pick what I’m wearing tomorrow. I need something that says ‘cool girl group on the rise’ but also ‘don’t you dare ask me to sing jazz.’”

Geri snorts and sets her cup down. “So… not the neon orange trousers, then.”

They get up and open the dresser, rifling through Mel’s chaotic wardrobe, where everything is either folded or flung in there. Geri starts pulling out options and tossing them on the bed: a metallic crop top, leather trousers, the black jacket with leopard print cuffs that Mel’s in love with.

They bicker over boots and belt choices, laughing and elbowing each other. Mel insists on pairing mesh with denim, and Geri nearly has a fit at the suggestion of socks with platform heels.

But underneath the banter, Geri feels a soft pull. That low, steady warmth that only seems to exist when it’s just the two of them like this. She steals a glance at Mel, who’s holding a shirt up to herself and striking a silly pose. And something catches in Geri’s throat.

Because Mel wasn’t kidding. Maybe not about the “ruin you for anyone else” part - or at least not consciously - but about how easy it is to be ruined when you feel this much.

She’s never had a friendship like this. Never had someone who sees her in the messy, sleepy hours of the night and still wants to sit close and share tea and ask for help picking out outfits. And if there’s a blurred line between friends and something more… well. She’s standing on it. She has been for a while, wishing she could step all the way over.

Mel tosses the shirt aside and flops backward on the bed, arms outstretched.

“This one’s too hard,” she groans. “Can’t I just wear what I’m wearing now?”

“In public?” Geri teases, but her voice is gentle. She lies back beside her, close enough to feel the warmth of Mel’s skin where their arms touch.

“I’d do it if you dared me,” Mel says with a grin.

Geri meets her gaze, then distracts herself by pulling the duvet over them. “That’s the problem. You’d do anything I dared you to.”

Mel grins. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Geri doesn’t reply to that. She just shifts slightly so that her head rests against Mel’s shoulder, while Mel casually tangles their legs together, and lets the soft pull of sleep gradually take her away.

Chapter Text

Mel wakes up slow, feeling cozy and warm with Geri’s arms wrapped around her waist, head nestled into her neck, their legs tangled together. If she’s being honest? This is her favorite way to wake up. Sure, she’ll happily share a bed with any of the other girls, and she’s also had her share of boyfriends that she’ll cuddle up with - but being completely honest? Geri just fits .

Sunlight is filtering in through the blinds, but it still feels early, and the house is quiet. Mel shifts a little, feeling Geri’s grip tighten a fraction, and lets her eyes close…then they open a second later to the sound of a car door slamming. A second later, the doorbell rings.

Mel groans, but Geri’s head pops right up. “Someone at the door?” Geri asks, her voice low and husky with sleep.

“Yeah. I’m sure one of the other girls will get it,” Mel replies, but to her disappointment, Geri’s already pulling away.

“I bet that’s Jo - which means it’s finally Wannabe day! Mel, we’re literally filming a music video today!”

The realization hits Mel at the same time, and she can’t help but grin - they’ve been counting down for this day for ages. The interviews, and gigs at local places have been fun, but this is a real production. They’re really going to be pop stars (hopefully) after this.

Mel lets Geri’s enthusiasm catch her, and she gets out of bed, following the redhead out of the room and downstairs. Geri lets Jo in, and there’s a quick exchange of hello’s, as the rest of the girls come down - Victoria being the only one already dressed for the day.

“Alright ladies, I brought breakfast - er, though you might want to get dressed first and then we can all chat about the next few days?” Jo asks, her gaze trailing pointedly to Mel’s bare legs - reminding Mel that she’d only thrown a shirt on over her underwear last night.

Mel grins. “What, you can’t handle all this sexiness?” she jokes, but heads upstairs anyway. She changes and spends a few minutes in the bathroom taming her hair down, then heads back downstairs. The rest of the girls were clearly quicker than her, and are already tucking into the croissants, Chelsea buns, and crumpets.

“You guys better have left some for me,” she says, glaring as Emma takes a big bite of a croissant. 

Wordlessly, Geri slides over her plate, with two extra buttered crumpets on it - just the way Mel likes them. She grins and blows her a kiss, then settles into the stool next to Victoria to eat.

Jo starts running through the schedule for the next few days. “The only thing today is the music video, but that’ll take the entire day, easily into the evening. You’ll be doing repeated run through’s during the day, no recording til tonight. You can rest tomorrow, but then you’re booked for a photo shoot and a magazine interview, as well as more dance practices over the following days, before another day off.”

“What do you think, Jo, think this music video might mean our big break?” Melanie C asks curiously, as the girls start finishing up and clearing their plates.

“Honestly? Yes. And I’m not just saying that because you lot getting big would mean better job security for me,” Jo replies, and gathers her clipboard and purse. “Alright, you all ready? We need to be in the van in five minutes. And don’t forget, it’ll be late tonight when we’re done, so bring extra warm clothes, and anything else.”

The girls pile into the van, Mel squashing in next to Emma in the back row, and chat the entire drive to the hotel. Despite being a band for two years, and having written dozens of songs, they’ve never recorded a music video, so they’re all extra hyped.

An hour into the day, however, the buzz starts to fade a little.

“Gotta say, I wasn’t expecting this much sitting around,” Mel says, dropping down next to Melanie C on the marble staircase when the director called yet another break to adjust lighting, and chugs down half a bottle of water.

“Same, to be honest,” Melanie agrees. “But it’s fun, at least.”

And Mel has to agree, it is. She loves the director’s goal of getting the entire video shot in one running take, even though it means they still have hours ahead of rehearsing to get the exact positioning down.

Geri joins them, nudging Mel’s legs apart with her foot so she can settle between them on the step below, casually draping her arms over Mel’s knees. Me grins, and offers up the rest of her water bottle.

“Thanks,” Geri tells her, after taking a long swig. “Didn’t realize I’d be so thirsty, since I feel like we’ve just done a lot of sitting around.”

Melanie C snorts. “Mel just said that. I bet you’re both going to regret that in a few hours.”

Mel shrugs. “Bring it on. We’ve got this.”

___

She regrets those words three hours later, when they’ve been practicing the sequence of the video non-stop, and had only managed to successfully complete the full run four times. Jason wants the camera to glide from girl to girl smoothly, so every beat has to hit. If even one of them misses a cue, they reset.

Again. 

And again.

Anything that could go wrong, does. Emma manages to knock over a light stand, which almost takes out Mel. Victoria spills the prop champagne over herself, needing the rehearsal to pause for fifteen minutes while she changes. Geri manages to accidentally smash a tray of glasses at the table part of the video, which a prop designer replaces only for Melanie to fall out of her backflip the very next take and take them out again.

However, despite the mishaps, there’s plenty of great moments as well. Victoria whips a table cloth from a table at one part, which would normally send the items on top flying. She somehow manages to do it with everything remaining on the table, resulting in the rest of the girls breaking the take just to cheer for her, before having to reset again. Melanie manages to go five takes in a row of perfect backflips, and Emma manages to catch Geri from falling down a step, ad-libbing a twirl that allowed the take to continue.

It’s sweaty, chaotic, and full of laughter and groans in equal measure. Mel’s having the time of her life.

However, she does notice Geri’s shoulders starting to tighten - a very subtle tell that something’s bothering her. When the next break comes for one of the lights to have a bulb changed, Mel waits for the other girls to start chatting, to casually head over and give Geri a light hip check.

“You doing okay?” she asks, and Geri offers up a grin.

“Course I am,” she replies confidently, then falters slightly under Mel’s raised eyebrow. “Okay, damn you Brown for knowing me so well. What gave it away?”

“Your shoulders,” Mel tells her, reaching up to rub some tension out of one of them. “What’s up?”

Geri sighs. “I think I’ve ruined more takes than the rest of you, combined. It’s just bugging me a little, and I can’t get out of my head.”

Mel’s hand stills, and she waits for Geri to glance over. “Don’t do that. You’ve been smashing it. Who cares how many takes you’ve missed - you’ve also easily got the hardest transitions. You’re the heart of this video, babe.”

Geri rolls her eyes, but a faint smile pulls at her lips. “You’re just saying that.”

“Nah,” Mel says, then lowers her voice, just a bit. “You make the whole thing fun. Don’t stop now. Seriously.”

Geri seems to really listen this time, and reaches forward to press a kiss to Mel’s cheek, right as the director calls for them to take their places. Mel grins, grabbing her hand, and they skip their way back outside for yet another run through.

___

By the end of the shoot, Geri is exhausted, but also high on a rush of exhilaration. She loves the concept that the producer had ended up going with, and although she’s going to have a bruise the size of a baseball on her thigh from falling on the marble steps, and she broke one of her favorite necklaces, she’s loved every second.

“Can’t wait until we do the Two Beccome One video, huh?” Melanie says, as if she’s reading Geri’s mind.

“Oh totally,” Geri replies eagerly. “I wonder if Simon can get us the same producer, this one was great. I can’t wait to see the final result.”

Emma, Victoria, and Mel join them, all with matching grins on their faces.

“That was so fun. You know what, we should totally make a movie!” Emma squeals.

“Like, Spice Girls: The Movie! ” Geri adds, instantly swept up in it. She and Emma beam at each other.

“Perhaps we wait until the album comes out first?” Victoria says dryly, arching an eyebrow.

Geri sticks her tongue out in mock offense, but she’s grinning. Obviously they’re not quite ready for the big screen… yet.

“Alright ladies, you did awesome today,” Jo says, as she joins them. “Still needs some editing, but the shot’s looking good. Do you want to go change into something warmer, and we’ll head into the van and get you home?”

The girls agree, and head to one of the rooms that was doubling as their change room. Geri’s relieved to finally take off her costume, gratefully slipping into more comfortable leggings and shirt. She tugs Mel’s hoodie on at the end, and Mel doesn’t try to stop her - just takes Geri’s red jacket and zips it over her crop top. They share a smile, and when Mel reaches to take her hand, Geri doesn’t hesitate.

She lets Mel lead them to the van, taking over the back row. The rest of the girls settle into seats of their own, while Jo takes the front.

“Alright ladies, it’ll be a half hour til we’re home, so get some sleep if you need it,” Jo announces, as the driver starts up the van.

Mel still has hold of Geri’s hand, and Geri offers a quick squeeze. “Today was incredible, hmm?” she says softly.

Mel squeezes back. “It really was. You rocked it today.”

Geri lets out a quiet, dry laugh. “Right, especially when I fell on my arse on those steps for the fifth time. But thanks for having my back today. You made it amazing.”

Mel grins, but instead of replying, lets out a yawn. The back seat is wide enough that Geri slides over to the window and lightly tugs on Mel’s hand, gesturing for her to lay down.

Mel does, settling her head in Geri’s lap, and Geri absently uses her free hand to start running her fingers through Mel’s curls. They remain that for the entire car ride home; Mel dozing and Geri stroking her hair as she gazes out the window, replaying the day in her head. She can’t wait to see the final footage - if it’s as good as she’s picturing, she knows they’re going to make it big.

They arrive home faster than she realizes. When the van parks in the driveway of the Spice house, Geri and Jo are the only two left awake, to which Jo grins as she glances over the sleeping girls. “Anything I can do to help get them inside?” she asks.

Geri shakes her head. “Nah, they’ll be right. I’ll just make sure they all get to bed fine. You’ll be back in a couple days?”

“Yes, for the photoshoot. Great work today, Geri. Enjoy the day off tomorrow.”

Geri shakes Mel’s shoulder gently to wake her, then starts cajoling the other girls to get up and head inside. The girls stumble their way off the van and into the house, half asleep, and after helping Mel get her boots off, unzipping Emma’s babydoll dress, and getting a paracetamol for Victoria’s headache, Geri makes sure they all make it to bed fine. She then settles into the kitchen with a cup of tea and her book.

She’s distracted though, replaying the video in her mind, and the scent of Mel’s perfume around her - making her realize that she’s still wearing her hoodie. The smell tempts her enough to want to go and cuddle with Mel in bed - but she resists, thinking three nights in a row is probably pushing things - the last thing she needs is more teasing from the other girls.

Instead, Geri makes her way upstairs, taking her makeup off in the bathroom before heading to her bedroom. The moment she lands on her bed, the wave of exhaustion washes over her, and she barely makes it into her pajamas and under the covers before she’s fast asleep.

___

When Mel wakes, she finds herself tucked in bed, in just her green leggings and crop top. Her jacket  - more specifically, Geri’s jacket that Mel wore the night before - is hanging on the back of the door, her boots lined up neatly to the side, and Mel can’t help but smile at Geri’s attention to detail.

She almost wishes she’d woken up with Geri in her bed - those were the best kind of mornings - but this thought is quickly forgotten when she catches a whiff of coffee and pancakes wafting up from downstairs. Grinning, she hurriedly changes into jeans and a clean crop top, then charges downstairs.

“Ah, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence,” Melanie C announces with a grin as Mel enters the full kitchen. She’s at the sink trying to scrape a heavily charred pancake off their only frypan, while Geri’s making coffee, and Victoria and Emma are at the table eating.

“Yeah, whatever - can’t help that I was extra tired from carrying the weight of the group with my amazing performance last night,” Mel replies with a cheeky smirk, and steals a pancake off of Victoria’s plate.

“Hey, get your own!” Victoria cries, tugging her plate away. “Melanie made tons, you don’t need to steal mine.”

Mel just laughs, then turns her attention to Geri, who’s just stepped over with a fresh cup of coffee. Mel accepts it from her with a smile, and the first sip is absolutely heavenly.

“So, the whole day off today - anyone got any plans?” Melanie asks the group, as she gives up on the burned pan and tosses it into the sink.

“I’d been thinking that we could get outside and go for a walk, - but it’s raining today,” Emma says glumly, gesturing outside to the window, where it’s currently pouring.

Geri grins. “Who cares about a little rain?” she says. “Em, I’ll walk in the rain with you. I was also thinking, if anyone’d be up for the pub this afternoon for drinks? Who knows, could be one of the last times we can go to a place like that without being mobbed for our fame.”

Mel laughs at that - that would be the dream , reaching fame and popularity like that. But an afternoon at the pub with Geri is always a good time, so she catches her eye and nods in agreement.

They all finish up and mosey around for the morning, and Mel heads upstairs to shower. The hot water does wonders for her sore muscles, and it makes her realize how much of a workout the day before had been. But totally worth it.

Once she’s dried and dressed, she heads downstairs, and finds Melanie in the living room, about to start an aerobics workout. “Oi, help me move the sofa, will you?” she asks, and Mel nods. Together, they slide the sofa back against the wall, leaving a wide enough space in the middle.

Melanie’s picked a yoga video to follow along, and it doesn’t take much for her to convince Mel to join in. They stand side by side, going through the stretches, and it becomes a contest to see who can do the stretches bigger or more elaborately.

“Man, this was not the best idea after yesterday,” Mel says with a laugh, as she falls out of the crow pose. She knocks into Melanie, who tumbles on top of her. “Oi! Get your foot out of my face!”

“Wouldn’t be there if you didn’t fall - can’t help that you’re out of shape,” Melanie teases back. It turns into a contest for who can make the other fall over first, and by the time the video ends, Mels’ properly sweaty, her cheeks flushed.

Melanie had thought ahead to have her water bottle, so Mel heads into the kitchen, where she finds Geri pulling a tray of fresh scones out of the oven. “Mmm, they smell great,” Mel says, leaning over Geri’s shoulder.

“Glad you think so - they’re for afternoon tea, figured it’d cheer Emma up about the weather,” Geri replies, and sets the tray down on a cooling rack. She then hands a glass of ice water to Mel. “Sounds like you and Melanie had fun?”

Mel accepts the water - she appreciates Geri so much, for knowing her so well. She takes a slow sip, nodding. “Yeah, although a workout after running around a hotel and slipping on marble? Not a great idea.”

Geri grins, and tugs down the side of one of her leggings, revealing a black bruise the size of a baseball on her thigh. “Trust me - I know.”

Mel hisses lightly - that looks painful - and she reaches a hand out to gently caress the soft skin around the bruise. “Yikes. Need any ice?”

“Nah, I’ll be right,” Geri replies, but her eyes sparkle with appreciation. She takes Mel’s hand so that she can tug her waistband back up, then tugs Mel into a hug. “This helps though.”

Mel grins, and hugs her tighter. She lets it linger, letting go only when they hear footsteps in the hall, and Emma and Victoria appear. Mel uses the distraction to reach around Geri and steal a bit of scone, and when Geri realizes, she smacks Mel’s hand away. “Oi, you tosser! I told you those were for the afternoon!” she shouts.

Mel can’t help but grin at Geri’s feisty side. “Mmm, you did. I’ll make it up at the pub, first round’s on me?”

Geri glares at her. “Second round as well, then deal,” she mutters. Mel laughs, and impulsively kisses her on the cheek.

“Deal,” she agrees.

Since they’d all eaten a late breakfast, they turn lunch into afternoon tea in the living room. Emma makes up a plate of ham and cheese sandwiches, and Victoria spreads out some blankets to make it a proper picnic in the living room. They share their favorite moments from the video shoot as they lounge around, and about ideas for a video for their next music video. 

Eventually, when the food’s gone, Mel stretches, and stands. “Alright, I need a walk after all this food. Geri, you still up for drinks? Anyone else want to join us?”

The others beg off, claiming the need for a nap or not wanting to go out in the rain. Mel’s not complaining - she loves the girls, but also loves time with Geri all to herself, so they don rain coats and boots, and head out into the street. The rain’s settled to a drizzle, and Geri takes Mel’s hand as they walk, lightly swinging it between them.

They find a quiet table at the back of the pub, and Mel ducks up to the bar to get their drinks. They nurse them over conversation, about everything - their favorite moments from the band, their childhoods, their hopes for the future.

“Makes me glad, I think, that we’re still on the verge of making it,” Mel muses, after finishing her second drink. Geri cocks a head at her. “I mean, I can’t wait to make it, I just - we have a whole future ahead of us. We’re not two girls from some band that got big and then the fad died, and it’s all behind us.”

Geri nods slowly. “I think I know what you mean. Sometimes, the anticipation is enough, right?”

“Yeah, I knew you’d get it,” Mel replies, grinning. “I’m glad we’re doing it together.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Geri replies offhandedly, and Mel feels a soft pull in her belly. They share a look, then the back of Mel’s chair is bumped by a man walking past trying to carry too many drinks. She barely manages to avoid getting splashed, and groans.

“Come on, maybe that’s our cue to head home?” Geri asks her, and when Mel nods, they rise and put their jackets on. Geri slides her hand into Mel’s, and Mel lets her lead the way out of the pub.

It’s raining harder now, and they start hurrying down the footpath, dodging puddles when they can. It’s useless though, so Mel takes advantage and jumps in a puddle, sending a neat spray of water right over Geri’s legs.

“Oi, you bitch! I’ll get you for that,” Geri yells, and kicks at another puddle, but misses.

Mel lets out a cackle, and their walk turns into a full blown water fight. By the time they arrive home, they’re completely soaked head to toe, but laughing hard. They step into the house but pause, not wanting to drip water everywhere. “Anyone nearby, a little help please?”

“Look who’s back!” Melanie calls from the living room, laughing at how wet they are. “Have a good little date?”

“Yeah, she tried to snog me behind the bins,” Mel deadpans, as Emma hurries to the bathroom and grabs them dry towels. 

“Only cause you begged,” Geri shoots back, and Mel has to grin at the smooth comeback. She finally lets Geri’s hand go to accept the towels from Emma, and passes one to her so they can each dry themselves down.

“I’m freezing - I need a shower,” Geri says, her teeth starting to chatter, and hurries upstairs. Mel watches her go, then uses her mostly damp towel to dry the drips on the floor.

“Melanie, you cow! You used my towel this morning!” comes a shout, and a moment later, Geri reappears, holding the offending item. It’s crumpled in a ball and still visibly damp.

“I meant to hang it to dry - I forgot,” Mel admits, wincing slightly. “Sorry, yeah?”

“Sorry’s not really going to help me much, huh?” Geri snaps. “What d’you want me to do, drip dry?”

“No, but I’ll make it up to you - I threw my laundry in the dryer before we left for the pub. I’ll have a hot, clean towel ready for you when you’re done,” Mel offers, grinning.

Geri narrows her eyes. “Fine. But you owe me one.”

“Deal,” Mel agrees, and watches Geri hurry back up.

“Well, that was a quick lover’s spat,” Melanie remarks, and Emma and Victoria laugh. Mel just sticks her tongue out at them, then heads to her room to change.

___

When Geri steps out of the shower, she sees one of Mel’s towels hanging on the rack. It’s warm - Mel must have run it through the dryer a little extra to heat it up for her - and she grins to herself as she wraps up in it.

As she heads through the hall to her bedroom, she can hear the other girls talking downstairs. It only takes a moment to change into pajama shorts and a shirt, then her eyes cast upon Mel’s hoodie that she’d put on the night before at the shoot. It’s one of her favorites, so she tugs that on as well, then heads downstairs.

The girls are in the living room, Mel and Victoria stretched out on the sofa, Emma on the beanbag chair, and Melanie on the floor leaning against the coffee table.

“Hey, that’s my hoodie!” Mel says, glaring at her, but there’s no real malice in her eyes.

Geri grins. “Consider us even. Besides, you never gave me back my jacket from last night. Now budge over.”

Mel doesn’t hesitate to shift up, lifting the blanket on her lap so Geri can join her. Mel’s thigh is warm against her, and she has to actively hold herself back from cuddling in closer - she wouldn’t hesitate when it’s just the two of them, but she’d rather not with an audience.

“Here, Ger,” Emma says, lazily reaching over to hand Victoria a mug, who passes it to Geri. “I poured one for you. We figured wine and some hanging out was in need. Maybe some truth or dare, if anyone’s up for it?”

Victoria’s the only one who groans, but the others quickly talk her into it without any real pressure.

“I’ll start you off, Vic - truth or dare?” Emma asks her.

Victoria rolls her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitch. “Truth.”

Emma thinks for a second. “Who’s your celebrity crush right now?”

Victoria blushes slightly. “Alan Shearer.”

“The football player?” Mel asks curiously.

“Yes,” Victoria confirms, and sips her wine. “I’m not particularly into football, but I might have a thing for football players.”

The girls all laugh at that, and Victoria ducks her head good naturedly, before reaching forward to spin the empty wine bottle. It lands on Melanie, who picks dare.

“Call Simon, and let him know you’re thinking of getting a tattoo sleeve done,” Victoria says after a pause, and they all burst into laughter - except Melanie.

“He’ll kill me!” she exclaims, but still stands to grab the landline and dial his number. “Er, hi Simon - it’s Melanie…Melanie C, come on. Er, just wanted to let you know, I’m thinking of getting a tattoo sleeve if that’s right by you? …Nah, course not. Just trying to think of things to give me a bit of an edge in the group…” 

She hangs up, gasping with laughter. “He asked if I was drunk, then threatened that if we call him one more time for a stupid dare, he’s cutting off the electricity to the house.”

That makes the girls laugh even harder, and takes a moment for Melanie to settle back down to reach over and spin the bottle.

“Dare,” Geri replies confidently when the bottle lands on her, and takes a sip of her wine while Melanie considers.

“Okay, I dare you to pick someone in the room, and whisper something in their ear that will make them blush,” Melanie says, grinning.

Geri grins. “You could have given me a harder one,” she says, eyeing each girl. Emma’s already blushing, and Geri knows she’d be too easy. Victoria and Melanie are options - but then turns to Mel. Payback for using her towel earlier. She leans closer, taking care to make sure her hand presses into Mel’s thigh under the blanket, and whispers into her ear.

Mel goes absolutely still, her mug of wine frozen halfway to her lips. Her eyes flick to Geri’s, wide and caught off guard, before a slow flush creeps into her neck and spreads to her cheeks.

“Too easy,” Geri says lightly, and takes a satisfied swallow of wine.

The girls erupt on teasing laughter and dramatic gasps as Mel covers her face with one hand. “Jesus, Geri!” she says, her voice a little too high to be casual. “That’s not fair!”

“What’d she say?” Emma asks, practically bouncing on the beanbag chair.

Mel shakes her head, laughing. “Not telling. You lot would combust. Come on, Geri, spin already,” she orders, and Geri winks at her, before leaning down. She spins, and it lands on Victoria. 

“Alright Vic, what do you choose?” she asks.

“Dare,” Victoria says, after a pause, and then Geri grins. “Wait no, truth. I don’t trust your dares!” Victoria exclaims.

Geri cocks her head. “Who’s the worst one out of us all to share a room with when we’re traveling?”

“Emma,” Victoria replies immediately, and Emma lets out a squeal of indignation. “Sorry, Em, but it’s true! You talk in your sleep, and steal the duvet, it’s like rooming with a needy puppy.”

“I do not!” Emma yelps.

“You do too,” Geri and Mel reply in perfect unison, then crack up again. 

Victoria reaches down to spin the wine bottle again, and it lands on Mel.

“Okay Mel, truth or dare?” Victoria asks, and grins when Mel chooses truth. “Okay, tell us - out of all of us, who gives the best hugs?”

Mel smirks, and shrugs. “I love the lot of you…but it’s gotta be Geri.”

Geri grins, throwing an arm around Mel and pulling her close, before they both start laughing.

“Yeah, I could have put money on her picking Geri,” Melanie remarks, grinning.

Emma laughs. “Would have been a pointless bet, since I don’t think Vic or I would have bet against you - that’d be an obvious loss.”

“Hey!” Geri says indignantly. “What are you guys trying to say?”

“Oh, Geri,” Victoria says dryly, but not unkindly, “it’s not a bad thing - but the two of you have the most codependent friendship in the world. In the entire time I’ve known you and Mel, I don’t think I’ve literally ever seen a single day where the two of you haven’t ended up cuddled up on the couch, or holding hands-”

“-or flirting with each other,” Emma adds, to which Victoria nods emphatically.

Mel lets out a loud laugh. “What are you lot on about? That’s literally just friendship.”

“Mmm, except I’d say you and I are friends, and you certainly don’t sit on my lap at rehearsals when we have a five minute break,” Victoria points out.

“Hey, I can’t help it if I’m just more cozy,” Geri cuts in with a wink. She hopes they can’t hear the edge in her voice - because this conversation is approaching a dangerous territory. She’s feeling awkward enough that she wants to take her arm off Mel’s shoulder, but Mel’s hand is on her thigh under the blanket, keeping her grounded, so she waits.

“I gotta say - I bet the two of you couldn’t go an entire week without cuddling, or flirting, or touching each other,” Melanie says, and the group pauses, considering this.

“Actually yeah, I’m with you on that one, Melanie,” Emma agrees. “Sorry, Mel and Geri, I love you both - but you two would stand no chance at that.”

“What? Course we would,” Mel insists, and catches Geri’s eye. “Right?”

“Who would crack first, do you think?” Victoria muses, and Emma and Melanie laugh.

“Well, if you’re pitting us against each other, then obviously Geri would crack first - hard to resist all this,” Mel says with a grin. She brings her hand up to seductively run it along her chest, lingering at her cleavage, and Geri uses the opportunity to withdraw and lightly shove Mel away, laughing to cover herself

“You wish,” she says snarkily, and stands to get a little more space. She poses, popping a hip. “You literally just said I’m the best hugger, you couldn’t go without.”

“Hmm, pretty sure I might surprise you,” Mel replies, winking. “Too easy.”

“Oh, I think we might have an actual challenge on our hands here,” teases Melanie, glancing between the two of them.

Geri snorts. “This is ridiculous,” she says. She’s already regretting goading Mel, since it only managed to spurn her on more.

“Why, scared you’ll lose?” Mel teases back.

Geri hesitates. No matter what, she’s not winning this. Because yeah, she can disagree right now, and go against Mel who clearly thinks it’s going to be fun, and cause an issue with their friendship immediately. Or, she can go along with it, and let her heart get bruised. Because honestly? She’s fallen completely in love with Mel. She’s become Geri’s everything, the one person who can keep her completely grounded, and she’s pretty sure Mel has no idea.

“You’re on, Brown,” she says, wishing she could take back the words almost immediately, when Mel breaks out into a wide grin.

“Alright Halliwell, you’ve got a bet,” she replies, and winks. “Good luck.”

The girls laugh, and Emma and Victoria quickly come up with the rules - no touching of any kind unless directed to in a photo shoot, no flirting, no suggestive comments. The bet will last a week, and if both Mel and Geri can last, then the other three will be on kitchen duty for the next month. If one of them gives in, that person will do it for the whole house for a week.

Geri groans internally. This week is going to suck.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Mel wakes to her alarm, and yawns. She’s almost disappointed for a moment that Geri’s not in bed with her - then the memory of their bet from the night before comes back in a flash.

She groans.

Why she had to be so stubborn, and insist on making it a thing , is beyond her. Geri’s literally her best friend, and they thrive on how tactile they are with each other. A week without sharing a bed, and cuddling on the couch, and flirty, snarky comments at each other - that’s going to be rough.

But she’s not about to lose face in front of the rest of the girls, especially not after making such a big deal how it’d be easy to win. So she decides to suck it up, and go face her best friend - really, how tough could it be?

Very, she ends up determining. Once she’s dressed and heads downstairs, she finds Emma and Geri in the kitchen, singing together as they spread butter and jam on stacks of toast. Geri’s face brightens when she sees Mel, but Emma then lets out a grin, as if she’s waiting to catch them out, and Geri falters.

“Morning, Mel,” she says instead, and Mel has to stop herself from instinctively stepping closer for a hug. 

“Geri, good morning. Thanks for the toast,” she says, a little awkwardly. She covers by heading to the counter to sit. “Any idea what time we have to leave by?” she asks Emma, just as Victoria comes in behind her.

“In twenty minutes. It’s on the calendar, if you bothered to ever look at it,” Victoria remarks, tapping a manicured nail on the group calendar affixed to the fridge.

Mel rolls her eyes, and shoots a look at Geri. Her back is turned, buttering more toast, so Mel turns to her breakfast with an internal huff and takes a bite.

When it’s time to leave - five minutes early, surprisingly - they head out to the Fiat. For once, Mel doesn’t rush to claim the front seat, and lets Emma have it insead. She squashes into the backseat with Melanie and Victoria, and engages them in conversation about the Wannabe shoot from a few days earlier. 

Emma and Geri occasionally chime in as well, Emma twisting around from the front to see them as she gesticulates wildly. At one point, her elbow knocks into Geri’s shoulder, and she apologizes with a laugh, reaching to cup Geri’s face and plant a kiss on cheek, despite Geri shouting that she’s driving and trying not to kill them all. She’s laughing about it though,but Mel frowns a little - she’s never been jealous of physical touch between Geri and the other girls before, but right now? She kind of wants to tell Emma to back off. 

It’s probably only because she knows she can’t touch Geri herself, so she overcompensates to hide it. She slings an arm around Melanie, resting her other hand casually on Victoria’s thigh, and when they get to the studio, she grabs Emma’s arm to drag her over to sit with her on the loveseat, leaving the longer couch for the other three.

She does catch a quick flash of…something on Geri’s face, but it’s gone too fast for her to analyse it.

The interview goes well, and Geri still plays off Mel’s joking around like she usually does. However, when it wraps up and they head out to drive to the studio where the photoshoot is being held, Mel can sense a slight…vibe coming from Geri. She doubts the other girls could tell, but their friendship is so close that Mel picks up on it right away. She’s a little off, probably overthinking something, and normally, Mel would pull her aside, cajole it out of her, maybe wrap her arms around her.

But she doesn’t. Not just because they’re not alone and on the way to the photo shoot, but the stupid bet - the girls would be on them in an instant. “All good?” she asks lightly instead, just before they climb into the car.

Geri offers up an appreciative smile, and her eyes spark again. “Yeah. Thanks, Mel,” she says, and it’s like they’re back to normal again.

However, that vibe is ruined at the photoshoot, where Emma, Victoria, and Mel start to tease Geri for going to stand next to Mel when the photographer directs them to get into a group. Mel can see Geri get visibly flustered, and she shoots a glare at them - not that it helps. 

So Mel fakes a quick coughing fit, stepping away to get some water. When she comes back, Geri’s on one side between Melanie and Emma, so Mel joins the other end next to Victoria. They’ve had dozens of photo shoots where Mel and Geri don’t end up next to each other, so this normally would be fine. But Mel feels slightly off, like she’s missing a beat in a song she’s practiced a million times before. For the first time, the posing feels a little less fun and a little more like work.

Therefore, she’s not entirely upset when they pile back into Geri’s car and head back to the house, where the usual chaos takes over.

Victoria starts talking about ordering Thai food, while Emma’s trying to convince everyone that they should bake chocolate chip biscuits and have a movie night. Mel notices Geri disappearing upstairs by herself for a bit, but just when Mel’s considering going up to check on her, she returns in a soft jumper and joggers, her hair tied off and her make up removed.

She still looks gorgeous - Mel’s always admired Geri’s unique beauty - and normally she’d give her a wink or a flirty comment, just to see Geri smile. But she doesn’t, turning to the kitchen instead to offer to help bake with Emma, and Geri joins Melanie on the couch instead to review what interview questions they’d been asked that day.

Later, they settle in the living room with the Thai food Victoria had convinced everyone to get, and a variety show on the television. It’s relaxing, and fun, or at least Mel thinks it is, until the topic of the bloody bet comes up again.

“I’m honestly impressed you two haven’t caved yet,” Victoria says, after a few moments of comfortable silence

Mel turns her head. “What?”

“The bet,” Victoria says, picking a bit of rice off her top. “You and Geri. Thought one of you would’ve cracked by now.”

Mel C snorts, which causes Emma to break out into giggles. “Yeah, the touching ban’s messing with the Spice Matrix.”

“Mel tried to climb on me earlier. She’s clearly suffering,” Emma adds.

“Yeah, whatever, you lot,” Mel scoffs, and throws a poorly aimed pillow at Victoria, which hits Melanie instead. “I just like affection, what can I say?” 

She happens to catch Geri’s face when she says that, who’s staring at her plate of empty food. Geri doesn’t say anything, but she lets out a slight wince, and Mel frowns.

The conversation moves on, and one by one, the girls clear their empty plates and head up to bed. Mel’s the last to go, and as she flips off the last of the lights, she sighs. For the first time since the bet started, Mel wonders if she’s the only one who actually misses it.

___

7The following morning, Geri wakes early, still tired after having not gotten enough rest. She had trouble falling asleep, her mind replaying Mel’s statement over and over from the night before - ‘ I just like affection, what can I say?. ’

It’s true, Geri knows Mel loves affection. However, so does she. And the two of them had always been far more tactile with each other, than the rest of the Spice Girls. But seeing how easily Mel’s been able to switch that affection to them, has Geri questioning their friendship for the first time. Could Mel be replacing her? Does Mel not miss Geri’s touch at all? Maybe, all this time, could Geri have made their friendship something more in her head than it’s actually really been?

She tries to dismiss the thoughts, and after getting ready for the day, she heads downstairs to the kitchen. She makes a cup of tea and toast, eating in the quiet, but her thoughts start getting a little too loud again. Her walkman’s in the living room though with fresh batteries, so once her breakfast gets cleaned up, she settles in on the couch with music blasting through her ear buds. She’s able to focus on that instead, letting her eyes close, and it’s a bit of a shock when she eventually feels a hand on her shoulder.

“Whoa - didn’t mean to scare you,” Melanie C tells her, grinning sheepishly.

“Sorry,” Geri apologizes, turning the Walkman off. “I had it kind of loud, didn’t even hear you.”

“We didn’t want to bug you, but we do have to get going soon,” Melanie replies. “It’s nearly nine, and we need to be at the studio for half past.”

She gets up, throwing on a jumper and some make up, then piles into the car with the others. Melanie's riding shotgun, flipping through radio stations with quick little flicks of her fingers, while Emma, Victoria, and Mel B squeeze into the backseat, already mid-banter.

“You were supposed to bring those banana mini muffins,” Mel accuses, nudging Emma with her knee.

“I was going to bring them,” Emma replies, and points her finger at Mel. “However, you ate most of them before breakfast.”

Mel scoffs. “Lies and slander.”

“You’re a muffin thief, Mel. Own it,” Victoria says, rolling her eyes.

Geri smirks faintly. “Well, in her defense, they were good muffins. I’d have nicked an extra one too.”

Mel huffs out a laugh, clearly pleased, and their eyes meet briefly in the rearview mirror. Geri offers up a smile and Mel grins back, and it’s enough to tamp down the anxieties in Geri’s mind, at least for a little while.

They get to the studio, bags dropped in a heap, warm-ups starting almost as second nature. Melanie leads them through some deep stretches, before their dance coach arrives and gets them together to start going through choreography.

The first few run-throughs are smooth, but during one pass at a faster routine, Geri steps left when she should’ve pivoted, nearly colliding with Emma.

“Oof - sorry!” she blurts, correcting herself quickly.

Emma catches her arm, steadying them both. “You all right?” she asks gently, eyes searching.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit knackered,” Geri says with a sheepish grin. “Didn’t sleep great.”

“Same,” Melanie adds. “Sometimes, the house has weird vibes at night.”

“Probably Mel’s fault,” Victoria teases from behind them. “She radiates chaos.”

“ You’re welcome,” Mel B quips, bowing theatrically.

The group laughs, and Geri laughs with them, the tension in her chest momentarily lightened. She focuses harder for the rest of the session, determined not to let her mood trip her up again. Her limbs respond better now, muscle memory taking over. And when they break for water after a full run-through, Victoria gives her a nod.

“Nice sharp turn on that last bit, Geri,” she says. “You really hit it.”

“Thanks,” Geri replies, smiling at the unexpected compliment. “Just trying to keep up with you lot.”

“You’re doing more than that,” Victoria replies, and Geri gives her a half hug, before reaching for her water. She glances toward Mel, hoping for a flash of that proud little grin they used to trade whenever one of them hit something - those small, wordless affirmations that always meant more than they let on. And for a split second, she catches Mel looking her way too, something unspoken flickering between them. But before Geri can say anything, Mel spins suddenly, tossing her towel at Emma with a shout, and the two of them dissolve into laughter.

Geri sighs, then her attention is pulled to the side door. Jo comes through, pushing her oversized sunglasses to the top of her head, and she holds up a white bag for the girls to see.

“Pastries, for when you’re finished,” she calls. “Don’t mind me, just checking in on rehearsals, and have some work to catch up on.” Geri grins. Jo’s always thinking of them, which is nice - she’s heard horror stories of managers and publicists and PR teams, but they definitely got a good one somehow. Jo occasionally shows up to dance practices and photo shoots and other events, to keep an eye on the girls, as well as do her job. Today though, Geri can feel her eyes on her a little more than usual. 

Therefore it’s no surprise that at the end of practice, as the rest of the girls head over to flop down with their water bottles, Jo catches Geri’s eye and nods towards a quiet corder. Geri nods back and follows her over, dread filling the pit of her belly. Is this going to be the moment that Jo tells her that she’s not quite the right fit for the Spice Girls anymore? She knows that out of the lot of them, she’s the worst dancer and struggles the most with the choreography, but damn it, she’s trying her best .

“Hey, so I just wanted to check in - what’s going on between you and Mel?” Jo asks, and Geri can’t help her eyes flicker over to where the girls are. Mel has an arm flung around Victoria’s waist, both of them laughing hard at something Emma said, and Geri turns her gaze back to Jo, ignoring the pang of discontent.

“What do you mean?” Geri asks, playing dumb. She’s actually a little surprised Jo noticed anything, she thought she and Mel had actually been fine during rehearsal.

This doesn’t work on Jo; she rolls her eyes. “Come on, Ger. I may not know you as well as Mel and the rest of the girls do, but I’ve seen you and Mel together so much that I can tell something’s up. Spill.”

Geri groans. “So, we were all playing truth or dare the other night, and Mel and I were kind of cuddled on the couch during it-”

“Naturally,” Jo cuts in, smiling.

“-and the girls ended up making a bet that we couldn’t go a full week without touching each other,” Geri finishes. She sighs, knowing Jo will at least get why Geri’s bothered about it - Jo’s the only one that has an idea of Geri’s feelings, admitted in a medication-hazed night that Jo stayed at the house when literally all the girls had gone out for a charity event while Geri stayed back recovering from the flu. Jo had understood at the time, although warning her to be careful, and Geri appreciated her gratefully for her concern.

Jo’s eyes widened. “And you agreed to this? Why on earth?”

Geri shrugs. “Come on, how was I supposed to say no without it seeming weird? Like ‘sorry guys, I can’t do this bet that you’re all thinking is fun and even Mel is bragging she could win it, because I like hugging my best friend too much?’ I had to go along with it.”

Jo nods, considering that statement. “True. Well, I’ll be honest, I don’t think anyone else picked up on it today, but babe, I wish you luck, yeah?”

“Thanks, I’ll need it,” Geri replies, letting out a heavy sigh, as they head back over to the group. 

Geri realizes that Mel was watching them, and she gets a pang of nerves - although there’s no chance she could have heard anything she and Jo were saying. Their eyes catch for a moment, and Geri offers up an unsure smile. Mel smiles back, but it’s definitely not her usual grin she reserves for Geri, and that makes Geri nervous. She watches Mel turn back to Victoria, and sighs to herself. Five more days of this stupid bet, and it’ll all be over. 

___

The following day ends up being quiet. They have an eight o’clock radio segment in London, but nothing else planned for the rest of the day - a fact that none of them are complaining about. 

They pile into Geri’s Fiat at seven, all dressed and ready, but in various shades of consciousness. Mel’s wired from too much coffee and not enough sleep. Geri’s pulled her hair into a quick twist and shoved on sunglasses despite the overcast morning, and even Emma looks slightly wilted.

Still, they rally.  They talk about the Wannabe video shoot (“Chaotic, but amazing”), about girl power (“It’s not just a slogan, it’s who we are”), about what they’d do if they weren’t in a band (“Don’t even joke,” Emma says). 

The host closes with, “Big things coming for the Spice Girls, I can feel it.” Mel grins at that - she hopes he’s right.

They make it back to the house by nine thirty, the entire rest of the day open. Melanie gets picked up a little after they return, having made plans to visit with her mother for the rest of the day. “Don’t be surprised if I don’t come home tonight, I’ll probably just stay the night and meet you guys at the team meeting tomorrow,” she says, one foot out the door with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder.

“Sounds good. Don’t have too much fun without us,” Mel replies.

When the door shuts behind Melanie, the house falls quiet. Emma had gone to take a bath in the downstairs bathroom, and Victoria was in her room painting her nails. Geri had gone into the kitchen, so after a moment’s hesitation, Mel heads in to see what she’s up to.

Geri’s standing at the counter, slicing an apple onto a chipped ceramic plate, a spoonful of peanut butter resting on the side. Her movements are slow, methodical, precise; Mel leans against the doorway watching her before stepping in. “Hey,” she says casually, and Geri glances over.

“Hey,” she replies, smiling, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Want some?”

Mel’s grateful for the connection. “Sure,” she says, maybe a touch too eagerly, but Geri doesn’t seem to notice. She does move her hands back a fraction as Mel reaches into the bowl to grab an apple slice, and Mel pretends like she didn’t notice, ignoring the stabbing in her chest.

They stand there in silence for a moment, Mel chewing, Geri slicing. Mel wishes she knew how to bridge the divide between them. “You knackered?” she asks eventually.

Geri shrugs. “Little bit. It’s been a long week.”

Mel nods. “Tell me about it.” The silence that follows isn’t hostile, but it’s not comfortable, either. The kind of silence that used to be rare between them.

So Mel tries a different approach. “Feels like… I dunno. Things are a bit weird this week, yeah?”

Geri pauses, the knife hovering over the bowl, a half cut apple in her other hand. Her gaze stays down, but Mel knows she has her full attention. “Weird how?”

“I dunno.” Mel picks at another apple slice, weighing her next words. “Just feels like we’re… off.”

Another pause. Then Geri says, too quickly, “Yeah, we are, but it’s just because of the no touching bet, right?”

“Is it, though?” Mel asks.

Geri finally meets her eyes. There’s a flicker of something uncertain in her eyes, but then she shrugs. “You’re the one that said you’d win it easy.”

Mel snorts, but it sounds flat. “Yeah, well. Didn’t know I’d miss you this much.”

Her words seem to finally make an impact, and Geri puts the knife down, turning to face her. “Really?” she asks, and Mel can detect a touch of rawness that nearly breaks her.

“I do,” Mel replies, quietly, but she feels like the intensity of her words are going to drown her. “Besides, you better miss me too. Otherwise I’m revoking best friend privileges and claiming Emma,” she adds, letting out a light laugh.

There’s a pause. It lasts just a beat too long, then Geri huffs a small laugh, but it feels almost forced. “She’d never survive the chaos.”

Mel’s not sure why her joke didn’t land, what changed the mood, but before she can say anything else, Victoria comes into the kitchen, humming Wannabe under her breath. Geri tenses, and turns back to her apples.

“What are you guys up to?” Victoria asks.

“Nothing much,” Mel replies. “Why?”

“It’s so nice out - I was thinking the four of us could head out?”

“Out where?” Geri asks, raising an eyebrow. 

Victoria shrugs. “Anywhere that isn’t here. Maybe shopping? Or we can get coffees, maybe walk around the park? Emma’s already in, and she sent me to convince you both while she blow dries her hair.”

Mel glances at Geri, hoping she says yes. When she does, Mel grins, and nods. “I’m in too.”

“Great. We can head out in about twenty minutes?”

They agree, and Mel follows Victoria out of the kitchen, leaving Geri some space to eat her apples. She flops on the couch, absently flipping through a magazine she finds on the coffee table, until the girls are ready.

They end up at a row of shops across from a park, where they poke through a few clothing stores, finding nothing. Next door is the newsagents, where they linger over the magazine rack, Emma flipping through one and sharing articles, then pauses to hold the open page for them to see.

“Ooh, Mel, Geri, check this one out - it’s one of those ‘Are You Soulmates?’ quizzes. Maybe it’ll help with your little bet.”

Mel rolls her eyes. “Please. It’s been, what, three days? Piece of cake.”

She glances over at Geri, hoping to catch her eye and offer up a conspiratorial smile as if to say ‘hey, we’re in this together’, but Geri doesn’t catch her eye. Her eyes are glued to a pack of gum that she picked up off a rack.

Emma, oblivious, grins. “Oh, I so thought Geri would be the one to crack first.”

“Hey, give me some credit here,” Geri interjects, but there’s no spark in her voice, and her smile doesn’t even come close to reaching her eyes.

Victoria smirks. “Give it time, it’s only the third day. They’re both unraveling, they just don’t want to admit it.”

Mel laughs, too loud and a little too forced. “I’m not unravelling. I’m thriving.”

Geri takes a step away. “Give me a sec, I’m just going to buy this. Then maybe we can get some coffees?”

“Oh yes, I could definitely use a coffee right now,” Victoria agrees.

Mel watches Geri walk away, and sighs internally. Not for the first time, she curses herself for agreeing to go along with the stupid bet.

When Geri returns, they get their coffees and settle on a bench outside the café. Emma and Victoria keep the conversation going, and Mel joins when she can, cracking a few jokes. But her eyes stay most on Geri. She’s worried about how quiet she is, how her eyes look everywhere but at Mel.

They wander through the park after their coffees then head home, arriving just as dusk starts to settle. As soon as they’re inside, Geri peels off her coat and offers up a small smile. “I’ve got a bit of a headache. Gonna lie down.”

“You okay?” Emma asks.

“Yeah, just tired. Goodnight.”

Mel watches her go, debating if she should follow her upstairs and check in. She wants to - but would Geri want that? Never  in their friendship has she ever questioned if she’d be welcome in Geri’s room, until now. With a sigh, she follows Emma and Victoria to the kitchen, where they heat up leftover Thai food for dinner, before moving into the living room to hang out.

Mel’s not really in the mood though for hanging out, and her answers are short whenever Emma or Victoria try to include her in the conversation. When she feels like she’s about to get snappy, she excuses herself, then heads upstairs.

She pauses outside Geri’s room, the door firmly shut. Her hand actually hovers over the doorknob for a moment, but then has another thought, something faint and unwelcome.

What if Geri’s getting used to the distance?

What if, after this week, she doesn’t want to go back to how they used to be?

Mel lowers her hand, and goes to her room. 

She doesn’t sleep well that night.

Chapter Text

When they arrive at the management team meeting the following morning, Melanie C is already there, perched on the edge of the conference table with a coffee in one hand and her overnight bag tucked beneath her seat. She gave them a quick wave, her smile crooked and familiar.

Geri returns the smile that Melanie offers, then sinks into one of the conference chairs. She didn’t purposely choose the one furthest away from Mel, but she’s also not put out by it - with how all over the place her emotions are at the moment, a bit of space couldn’t hurt.

Their manager Simon strides in, closely followed by Jo, and a few other label executives. “Good morning, Spice girls,” he says in his booming voice, and settles down at the head of the table. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

The meeting is mostly logistics. A full run-through of the month ahead: promo appearances, photoshoots, press interviews, radio segments, and dance rehearsals. He also floats the potential of going to Tokyo next month for some album pre-release buzz.

Geri takes notes throughout the meeting, although mostly just to keep her hands busy, and give her something to look at. She commits everything to memory anyway, she has ever since the band was still forming and called Touch. She’s determined to be prepared, and ready, for when their big break comes.

Still though, she finds her mind wandering during the meeting. Mel’s sitting next to Melanie, her curls falling into her face every time she leans over to whisper something, her carefree smile crossing her face when Melanie whispers back. But then Geri catches Emma watching her with a small, knowing grin, and that forces her gaze back down.

“Still kind of rough, hmm?” Jo murmurs from next to her, and Geri sighs.

“Yep,” she mutters back. At least she has Jo to understand her inner turmoil. Well, at least the week is halfway over.

The meeting wraps with the usual chorus of reminders from Simon - stay rested, stay professional, be yourselves but polished.

Geri considers these words as the girls head out to the Fiat - if anything, the bet’s at least helping her maintain a touch more professional and polished. No one could derail an interview faster than she and Mel when they were on point with each other, laughing and joking around. Just three weeks earlier, they had been in an interview where Mel told the host she astral projects when she’s bored, and Geri had nodded solemnly like it was a shared hobby. The poor man hadn’t known whether to laugh or call for help, and it had caused them to dissolve into laughter for a solid two minutes straight.

“Whatcha thinking about?” a voice cuts in, startling Geri - she turns to see Emma’s smiling face. Geri smiles back.

“Just Simon’s words - all that ‘ be professional’  stuff he’s constantly telling us. We’re probably not the best group for that, hmm?”

Emma laughs. “Definitely not. Remember when he got that intern? And we told him every time he saw Victoria he had to compliment her shoes, and he did it so much she threatened to throw one at him?”

That memory makes Geri laugh, really laugh, for what feels like the first time in forever.

“It’s nice to see you smiling,” Emma says quietly, nudging her with her shoulder.

Geri’s smile softens, and she appreciates Emma more than she could realize. “Thanks. It’s nice to be smiling. I’m sorry, I know I haven’t been the most fun to be around lately.”

Emma glances over at Mel, who’s laughing at something Melanie said. “Nothing to apologize for. This whole bet thing…teasing aside, I know it’s been hard.”

This sobers Geri a little, and she gives a half shrug. “I mean, kinda. But hey, halfway there.”

Emma nods encouragingly, but doesn’t get the chance to say anything else, as the other three finally catch up and start clambering into the backseat. Instead, she reaches a hand out to pat Geri on the knee, letting it rest there for a moment while Geri starts the car up.

She twists to check out of her blind spots before backing out - and catches sight of Mel for a brief second. Mel’s staring at Emma’s hand on her thigh, eyes narrowed, and it catches Geri off guard. Mel realizes, and immediately pulls her gaze out the window, and Geri turns back to the road, focusing now on driving them to the next interview.

But she’s distracted. Her mind mulls the moment over and over - is Mel mad at her, because of Emma? Could she seriously be bothered by the fact that Emma had her hand on Geri’s thigh, because if so, that was quite hypocritical of her. And again, it’s not like Geri didn’t want to be Mel’s hand on her instead, it just wasn’t allowed - Mel’s the one who encouraged the bet, not her.

The interview’s across London, in a small magazine office. They arrive a little early and settle in for the interview, and the host puts them at ease right away. It goes fine, lots of routine questions, a few cheeky stories, plenty of smiles. Mel is lively and magnetic as ever, all big gestures and confident laughs, but something feels slightly… restrained. Or maybe that’s just Geri’s own nerves warping the moment. Was it really about Emma’s hand on her leg? It couldn’t have been. Not really. But Mel’s expression had been… something. Like a flicker of hurt. Or maybe disappointment?

Geri speaks up when needed, and jokes with the host about girl power. But once it wraps and they’re back in the car heading home, Geri finds herself looking forward to a bit of space. 

They’re home early afternoon, and Geri claims the upstairs bathroom, taking a long shower. Usually the hot water helps when her mind is overworking, but this time it does nothing. So she gets out, changing into joggers and her softest sweater, and heads downstairs.

Emma, Victoria, and Melanie are in the living room, not quite whispering, but they definitely pause their conversation when she walks in. Geri’s curious for a moment what they were talking about, but doesn’t press, and then wonders for a moment where Mel is. “Hey, I’m going to walk to the store,” she says instead. “I’ll cook dinner tonight. Do you guys need anything while I’m there?”

“Oh, can you grab bananas? We’re almost out,” Melanie replies. “We only have two left, and they’re really only good for banana bread at this point.”

Geri nods, and slips her feet into the boots she keeps by the door.

“Want some company?” Emma asks, and Geri shoots her a small, but appreciative smile.

“Thanks, but I’m okay,” Geri says. “Just need a walk to clear my head. See you guys soon.”

She heads out before any of the girls can press her further about what she means by ‘clearing her head’. 

The store is only a few streets away, but Geri takes the long way, winding down side lanes just for the sake of it. The air is cool, the sky beginning to blush with the soft pastels of late afternoon, and for a moment, she just breathes.

There’s comfort in the quiet, in the rhythm of her boots on the pavement, in the familiar shopfronts and overheard chatter from passing strangers. It grounds her. Or tries to.

She can’t get her mind off of Mel, and the stupid bet, and how much emptier her life has become, literally in the space of just a handful of days. She wishes she could have the courage to end the bloody thing - just accept the teasing, and extra chores, and be able to take Mel by the hand, or lean against her in the car, or have Mel’s firm grip on her thigh while she’s driving. But if Mel doesn’t feel the same anymore? It could ruin her.

Geri swallows hard, tugging her jacket tighter. It was easier when Mel was the loud one, the one cracking jokes and grabbing her hand without a second thought. When the lines were blurred and they didn’t have to explain themselves to anyone, and especially not even to each other.

At the market, she wanders around a little aimlessly, picking up a head of of broccoli to inspect, putting it back down, then considering the same for asparagus. But then she sees button mushrooms, and it triggers a memory of the previous Christmas, being taught a recipe that she hasn’t had since, but had been one of the best meals she’d ever had.

So she moves through the store, collecting ingredients from memory, piling them into her basket. She almost forgets the bananas for Melanie and has to duck back to the produce section, but it’s not long before she’s checking out and strolling through the quiet streets, grocery bag hanging from one hand.

When Geri arrives back at the house, she heads into the kitchen, waving away Emma’s offer to help. She grabs her Walkman and slides in a Pearl Jam cassette, and turns up the sound for her headphones.

Between the music and the cooking, she’s finally able to put her thoughts of Mel aside. She’s able to focus just on slicing the mushrooms, measuring wine for the sauce, and her hands staying busy is calming in a sense. 

Geri’s draining the pasta when the others wander into the kitchen, laughter trailing behind them. She turns off the music, and hip checks Emma away from stealing a piece of chicken.

“Oh my God, that smells unreal,” Melanie says, already peeking over her shoulder.

Mel follows close behind, eyes lighting up. “Wow. It smells just like something my mum would make for me growing up.”

Geri shrugs, giving the sauce a stir. “Your mum taught me last Christmas. You were off watching telly and I was in the kitchen with her.”

Mel stops for a beat, eyebrows raised. “That’s right. I forgot you two hit it off.”

“Well, full disclosure, this is all I really know how to make. Can someone grab the plates?” Geri asks, and turns away from Mel’s gaze. She’s not really sure how to interpret her right now.

They all sit down, chatter resuming around the table. Geri picks at her meal, her smile faint, eyes on her plate.

“You okay?” Emma murmurs.

“Fine. Just tired.”

After a few more quiet bites, Geri stands, pushing her chair in. “I think I’m gonna call it a night. Bit of a headache.”

“Thanks for dinner,” Victoria offers.

Mel adds, “Yeah. It was perfect.”

Geri just nods. “You’re welcome. Night.” She heads upstairs,and slides under the covers still in her jumper and jeans, facing the wall. The ache in her head isn’t from hunger or exhaustion. It’s from wanting too much - and not knowing what to do with it anymore.

___

Mel wakes up already in a mood.

There’s a knot behind her eyes and a sharp ache in her shoulders, probably from tossing and turning in an empty, cold bed all night. She’d almost gotten up in the middle of the night to go join Geri in hers, their usual method when one of them has trouble sleeping, but she refrained.

This goddamn bet is ruining her life.

Logically, she knows she could just end it now - a week of extra chores around the house, and lots of teasing from the other girls, but it would be worth it to have Geri back. She’s beyond tempted to do it too, because not getting to touch Geri makes her feel like she’s missing a limb, and she hates it.

But being logical, and quitting, have never been things she’s strong at. Give her a challenge and she’s a bull to the horns until it’s finished, even if it means dragging herself down in the meantime.

Besides…what if Geri thinks less of her for giving in? Mel’s not quite ready to be that vulnerable.

Not to mention, she’s beyond confused from the mixed messages Geri sent last night - making Mel’s favorite meal, then not even staying in the kitchen to enjoy it. 

So she gets up, dresses in leggings, a crop top, and a loose long sleeved shirt over the top. Downstairs, the scent of coffee drifts from the kitchen, and she follows it like a moth to flame, passing Victoria and Melanie fighting over counter space in the bathroom. She reaches the kitchen, only to find Emma perched on the counter, scrolling through the paper while sipping from her favorite mug.

“Morning,” Emma says brightly, though she eyes Mel a little too closely, a small, knowing smile twitching at the corners of her lips. Mel has to fight the urge to flip Emma off.

“Hi,” she replies instead, more of a grunt than a proper greeting. She pours herself a cup, then hesitates. “Where’s Geri?”

“She went for a walk, about ten minutes ago,” Emma says.. “Said she needed some air.”

Mel nods, but her jaw tenses. “Right.” Does Geri actually need some air, or is she avoiding Mel? At least she didn’t ask one of the other girls to go with her. Mel thinks back to less than a week ago, when she and Geri walked to the pub, and had an epic water fight in the rain on the way home.

Mel’s heart aches a little at the memory.

Emma raises an eyebrow. “You could go meet her, you know.”

Mel snorts, hardening her face a little. “Yeah, I could. Could also walk straight into traffic. Both options are about as smart.”

Emma gives her a look, shaking her head a little. “You know, you don’t have to keep doing this.”

Mel leans against the counter, taking a long sip. God, if only it was that easy. “Yeah, I do.”

Emma lets it go, but Mel can feel her watching.

___

Mel’s in the living room when Geri arrives, stepping in quietly as she pushes her sunglasses up to rest in her hair. She startles a bit to see Mel right there, but offers up a tentative smile.

Mel smiles back. “Hey,” she says softly. “Did you have a good walk?”

“Yeah,” Geri replies. She comes over and perches on the edge of the armchair - not as close as Mel would like, but she’ll take it. “All good here?”

“Yeah,” Mel says again, softer. She swirls the coffee in her mug, glancing over at Geri. “Just…quiet.”

There’s a pause, that’s not really heavy or awkward, just just loaded. Mel can feel her own pulse in her throat, feels the tug in her chest like something magnetic and impossible. Geri’s looking at her now, properly, and Mel meets her eyes.

“I miss you.”

Mel freezes, as her mind processes Geri’s words. They hit her chest with the force of a freight train, and she doesn’t know what to say. Something cracks in her ribs at the sight of Geri looking at her like that, open and vulnerable, but also like she’s not sure if she wants Mel to reply or forget she said anything at all.

“I…” Mel starts, but doesn’t get to finish her sentence - Emma comes barreling down the stairs and trips over her platform shoes on the last step, grabbing at Geri to save herself from landing on her face. 

“Whoa, Emma, you okay?” Mel asks, silently cursing her for ruining the moment.

“Yep - all good! Just ready for rehearsal. You guys ready to go?”

Geri nods, releasing Emma now that she has her footing. “Yep - I’ll meet you guys in the car. Just need to grab my bag.”

Mel watches her go, sighing, then follows Emma outside. Well, at least Geri misses her, that’s a start. There’s hope that things might get back to normal after all.

The drive to the dance studio is quiet, and once they’re settled, Mel relishes in throwing herself into the music, getting her frustrations out through her dancing. Even so, she feels a little off-kilter the whole time, too aware of Geri’s movements mere meters away, but it might as well be a football field away.

They’re hard at work for several hours with only the occasional water break, when the door swings open and Jo arrives, dressed sharp in black trousers and a tailored jacket, sunglasses pushed into her hair.

“Ladies, hi. Sorry to interrupt rehearsal - can I grab you all? Just a few schedule changes to go over,” she calls. 

Their dance coach calls for a break, so they head over, gathering in a sweaty circle.

“So, tomorrow you were supposed to have a TV interview - that’s been canceled, the host went into labor three weeks early so that show’s going to have reruns for a week now,” Jo explains. “And then you were going to be at the recording studio - the studio was double booked so you got moved to the day after. So bonus day free tomorrow, but Thursday is going to be packed. That okay with everyone?”

The girls all agree - it’s been a long week and they could all use the bonus day off tomorrow. Jo nods, dismissing them, and Mel heads over to find her water bottle that she’d tossed on their pile of stuff. Once she does, she glances around as she takes a sip, and pauses. 

Geri had stayed standing with Jo, and the two were currently engaged in conversation. Their voices are too low for Mel to pick up at all, but she does clock Jo reaching out to give Geri’s arm a squeeze, the soft smile Geri gives her in return. Mel’s stomach clenches, a bolt of jealousy shooting through her. However she sees them turning to rejoin the group and Mel looks away like she was never watching to begin with.

The rehearsal resumes, yet Mel now struggles to keep herself on task. She wants to glance over at Geri, but forces her face forward. She’s never been more relieved to finish a rehearsal when their coach calls it for the day. 

“Alright ladies, great job today,” Jo announces. “Melanie, any chance you’d be up for driving the girls home? I need to steal Geri for a bit, I’ll drop her home after.”

“Sure thing,” Melanie says easily, and Geri drops the keys into her hand.

“Thanks, Melanie,” she replies. “I’ll bring dinner home - Indian food work for you lot?”

The others grin, thanking her, and Geri doesn’t seem to notice that Mel didn’t reply. 

___

By the following morning, Geri’s a mess. She wakes slowly, but sighs, dreading the day ahead of no plans - nothing to keep her busy, nothing to distract her from her thoughts of Mel.

She keeps replaying the previous day, when she and Mel had been in the living room, and she spontaneously confessed to Mel that she missed her. She meant it, and she’d been momentarily buoyed by the soft look in Mel’s eyes. However, Emma ruined the moment (accidentally) before Mel could reply, and they never got that moment back. When she returned to the house after getting coffee with Jo, Mel had definitely been off -  hardly joining into any conversation. That being said, Geri couldn’t really talk, having been quiet herself.

It helped to spend time with Jo the afternoon prior. She appreciated Jo checking in with her, offering to take her for a coffee to get some breathing room and to talk it out. Geri took advantage, spilling out the events of the previous days and how stressed she was, and Jo was a great sounding board. However, Geri’s still never felt lonelier in her entire life. She regrets making the bet, she regrets not speaking up, she regrets not giving it a few hours to satisfy the other girls then just going back to her regular ways.

But it’s too late now. She sees Mel being breezy and fun with the other girls, and Geri honestly has to ask herself, was their closeness really just all in her head? Was it that easy for Mel to just remove Geri from the position of best friend and insert Emma, or Victoria, or Melanie - whoever took her fancy at the time each day?

Breaking the bet now would be the worst thing she could do. She’d be showing Mel that she’s too needy, and can’t last a week, and Mel’s probably realized at this point that the other girls can be just as fun. If anything, Geri figures that breaking the bet at this point might turn Mel off enough to completely ruin their friendship - if it’s not already too late for that.

Instead of heading downstairs for breakfast, Geri stays in her room, huddled up in bed with her journal, and her record player, and her sorrows. She doesn’t think she can take another day with the girls, acting like everything is fine.

When there’s a tap at her door a little while later, Geri almost flinches. “Yeah?” she calls out after a moment, making no move to get up and open the door properly.

“Geri, it’s Melanie. You okay?” calls Melanie C’s voice, and Geri appreciates that her friend cares to check in.

“Yeah, all good Melanie, just tired,” Geri replies, just loud enough that Melanie could hear her through the door.

There’s a quiet pause. “Alright. Emma’s popped home to see her mum, and Mel, Vic and I are heading to Notting Hill. Want to come with us?”

“Nah, I’m right here. Thanks though, Melanie. Take my car if you’d like,” Geri calls back. Although she appreciates the check in, she hopes Melanie doesn’t press it further. To her relief, she hears footsteps heading down the staircase, and she turns back to her journal. She doesn’t write anything though, just stares blankly at the pages, until the slam of the front door shakes her from her reverie.

She crawls over her bed to peer outside. She sees Mel, Victoria, and Melanie climbing into her little Fiat, and she lets out a soft sigh. At least she has the house to herself for a bit.

Once she watches the car drive away, she heads through the still house, making her way to the kitchen. She doesn’t actually have much of an appetite, but knows if she doesn’t eat anything now, she’ll probably binge later, and that’d be worse. Slowly, she flicks on the kettle, buttering a couple slices of toast while it heats up, then fixes a cup of tea. She sits in the silence, finishing her breakfast, but can’t keep her mind straying to Mel. 

It’s always Mel.

When she finishes, she cleans up, then heads upstairs. She showers, taking extra care to blow dry her hair after, then heads to her closet. She throws on a shirt and pants, then almost reaches for Mel’s hoodie - one she’d stolen years ago, that they’d trade back and forth every week or so. Geri loves it, because it always smells like Mel, and a little like her, and the combination is comforting. But not today.

“This sucks,” she mutters, throwing herself on her bed. She doesn’t understand how she can feel such heartbreak for someone she was never even dating. It wasn’t fair.

Miserably, she buries her face in her pillow. Somehow, she drifts off to sleep, but her dreams aren’t pleasant, and when she wakes, there’s tears running down her cheeks. There’s no hope stopping it - she just lets herself feel , and cries.

There’s a tap at her door, and Geri stills - the girls must have come home while she was asleep. The absolute last thing she wants is for anyone to see her upset, but she doesn’t get a chance - the doorknob twists and Emma pokes her head around the wooden frame.

“Geri? It’s just - oh, love, what’s the matter?”

Emma opens the door a little wider so she can slip inside, and hurries to the bed. She settles down next to Geri, and gently reaches up to wipe the freshly fallen tears on her cheeks.

“It’s nothing, Em, I’m fine,” Geri tries, but Emma just rolls her eyes in a way that’s so reminiscent of Mel, that Geri almost does a double take.

“I’m sorry, hun, but you’re one of my best friends, and you’ve been locked up in your room since last night, and now I’m finding you crying,” Emma says, firmly but gentle. “Please, you can’t get rid of me that easily.”

Geri nods, and she’s not sure if she’s embarrassed or grateful. Another tear slips out, and she hastily brushes it away. “Sorry Em, I’m just having bit of a shite day. I’ll be fine later,” she tries.

Emma cocks her head. “G…is this about the bet? With you and Mel?”

Geri’s breath catches, and it’s already too late to deny it - Emma’s eyes are dawning with realization. 

“Oh, sweetheart, we never meant this stupid bet to go this far,” Emma tells her, her voice a little stronger as if to convey the truth in the statement. “I’ve been regretting it for a few days now, seeing how hard it’s been on you and Mel.”

“Mel’s been fine with it,” Geri cuts in, shaking her head. “I just…I’m not, I guess.”

Emma reaches out to take her hand. “Geri, I don’t know how you got the idea that Mel’s doing fine, because I promise you, she’s not . She’s irritable, and short, and much more reckless. You haven’t noticed?”

Geri tries to think back, but it’s hard. “Honestly, I’ve been avoiding her the past day or so,” she confesses. “But before that, she seemed fine, playing around with you and the girls, it didn’t seem to bother her at all that much, that we - that I-”

“Oh no, I think she’d just been putting on a show in front of you,” Emma says seriously. “She’s been staring at you more when you’re not looking, but then when you’re out of the room, it’s like a personality switch. She’s not herself - she’s moody, snappy with us, sulky. She misses you, Geri. More than she even realizes.”

“But even if that was true, the fact that she can just put the act on so well - I can’t mean that much. And that’s a hard pill to swallow because…I just…”

“Maybe, you feel a little more than just friendship for her than you’ve ever admitted?” Emma asks quietly, gently, as if she’s trying hard not to spook Geri with the words.

Geri just stares at her - Emma’s more intuitive than she realises. She doesn’t reply though, and just glances away.

“Honestly, Ger, just end the bet now, it’s not worth this.”

God, she’s tempted. What she wouldn’t give to be able to just march right up to Mel and pull her into the biggest hug…but then her mind second guesses, and she sighs. “I can’t,” she says, barely above a whisper.

Emma lets out her own sigh, then claps her hands together. “Right. That’s okay, love. But, I’m not letting you mope in your bedroom all day. C’mon, downstairs, we’re going to do a movie marathon.”

Geri tries to say no, but Emma is like a dog to a bone when she gets an idea. She half drags Geri down the stairs, shoving her toward the couch while she pops into the kitchen to microwave a bag of popcorn and grab a couple cans of Coke from the fridge. They settle together on the couch, and they’re halfway through Clueless when the front door bangs open and Mel comes in, followed by Victoria and Melanie.

They only get a few steps in before Mel’s eyes lock onto Geri’s, and she stops short, causing Victoria to walk right into her.

“Oof - watch where you’re going,” Victoria tells her, but it’s light, and she sidesteps around. “Hi Emma, Geri - honestly Em, Clueless again? We just watched that last week.”

“What can I say, it’s my favorite,” Emma replies, grinning. “You guys want to join us?”

“Sure,” Melanie replies easily. She takes the beanbag chair, but bumps Mel on the way past, breaking Geri’s eye contact with Mel. Geri moves her eyes back to the television, staring at it hard but taking nothing in. She’s too focused on Mel’s presence, who stays in the doorway for a couple of quiet seconds, before coming around and settling in on the opposite end of the couch. There’s a meter between them, but it could be the length of a football field between them for all that matters. 

Geri tries her best to focus on the movie, but with Mel so close - yet so far - it’s a lost cause. She can feel a quiet tension coming from Mel, and normally, Geri would just crawl over into her space, or get her a chocolate, anything to help her relax. For the thousandth time, she curses the bet, and sighs.

“All good?” Emma murmurs from her other side. Geri catches her eye and nods, then turns to the TV, then sighs again.

“Actually, I have a headache, I think I’ll call it a night,” Geri replies. She’s glad Emma doesn’t call her out on the fact that it’s only five in the afternoon.

“Okay,” Emma replies. “There’s shepherd’s pie in the kitchen, Mum made it for us for dinner, help yourself whenever you’re hungry.”

“Thanks, maybe later” Geri replies, and gets up. “I have a headache so I’m heading up, see you guys later,” she says louder to the rest of the group, but avoids eye contact.

“Bye Geri,” Melanie and Victoria chorus together, but Mel’s voice makes her pause.

“You okay? Need any paracetamol?” Mel asks, her voice soft, and Geri can’t help but catch her eye. Mel’s face is concerned, and despite everything, Geri appreciates it.

“No, I have some. Thanks though. Night Mel.”

She turns, and heads upstairs. Once her door is closed, she flops on her bed and sighs. Everything’s ruined, and she doesn’t know how to fix it.

__

Mel can’t help but watch Geri leave the room, her eyes trailing her all the way upstairs until she disappears. With a sigh, she turns back to the television, to see that the movie’s paused. Emma, Victoria, and Melanie are all sitting up, watching her.

“What? I wasn’t flirting, I was just asking if she needed medicine, jeez,” she says, probably a little more rudely than she needed to, but she can’t help it.

“Mel, I think we need to talk,” Emma says. Her tone is gentle, but firm, and Mel can see Melanie and Victoria nodding. “Can we move to the kitchen, please?”

Mel’s already dreading what’s coming, but she can also acknowledge that she’s been kind of a bitch lately, and really should apologize. She follows them to the kitchen, taking a seat while Melanie bustles around making them cups of tea. She accepts her cup with an appreciative nod and takes a sip - it’s not as good as Geri’s. That being said, she’s spent the whole week realizing, not much else even comes close to comparing to Geri for her.

“So, we want to start by saying sorry,” Emma begins, and Mel’s eyebrows shoot up. Emma sees she’s about to interrupt, and holds up a hand. “Give us a sec. We’re sorry about the bet.”

“I wish I never made that comment about you and Geri last week, honestly,” Victoria adds. 

“We just meant it as a bit of a joke at first, how close the two of you are, but the way you’re both handling it this week…” Melanie continues, but drifts off as if she’s trying to figure out the right words to say.

“I know, I’ve been kind of a bitch to you guys, and I’m sorry,” Mel says, and she really is. They hadn’t meant any harm by it, and Mel had been the first to agree to it to begin with. That being said, she didn’t realize how much she relied on Geri’s closeness - not just the friendship, but having someone who just gets her . Geri knows her better than she even knows herself, and that’s been a difficult loss this past week.

“Mel, what’s been the hardest part of it?” Victoria asks curiously.

Mel has to bite back her first instinct to make a sharp remark, and thinks about it. The answer comes to her quickly though. “Seeing Geri have a rough go of it and not helping her,” she admits. “Like, today, I’d normally be the one to have asked her to come to Notting Hill with us, and if she begged off, I probably would have as well and stayed home with her. I’d be taking her tea and paracetamol right now, to help with her headache. But instead, I’m avoiding her, and I absolutely bloody hate it. And not being able to be close to her - it’s like I can’t breathe properly.”

“I had a chat with Geri today,” Emma confesses. “And she is as well. Mel…she thinks that you don’t even miss her.”

Mel stills. “She’s got to be joking, right?”

Emma sighs softly. “I wish. She’s been trying to cover it up, to save face with all of us, but Mel, she’s…miserable. She cried in front of me today. She feels like she’s lost the most important person to her, and doesn’t even know if it was a mutual feeling or not.”

Mel’s heart drops at Emma’s words. She feels horrible that she has made Geri feel that way - the one person in Mel’s life that she cares about above all. Geri basically means the world to her, and she let her pride, and recklessness come between them. She can feel her eyes welling with tears, and she buries her face in her hands, not wanting the others to see.

There’s a sound of shuffling around her, and when she finally straightens up, she sees that Victoria and Melanie have stepped out, leaving only Emma.

“Mel, look,” Emma says gently, reaching out to touch her arm. “Don’t bite my head off when I say this. But…is there any chance you’re feeling so much about this bet, is because maybe when it comes to Geri, you actually might love her - more than a friend?”

Mel stares at her. Of course she loves Geri, she always has. But she can tell that’s not what Emma means, and she thinks back to the previous weeks, months, years. Every time she’d see Geri close with someone else, she’d get a flash of jealousy in the pit of her belly. She wanted to be the reason Geri had a smile on her face, and she wanted to be the one to comfort her after a long day. And honestly? She couldn’t picture her life without Geri. She thought it was just friendship…but maybe that wasn’t all.

“I think I need to go talk to her,” Mel finally manages, and Emma offers up a warm, genuine smile.

“I think you should. And for what it’s worth - the bet’s over. Vic, Mel and I forfeit. So forget about the rules, and just go help your girl, okay?”

Mel finally smiles at that - she’s probably called Geri ‘my girl’ at least a hundred times, and she has to shake her head at this point to have not realized what she felt. “Thanks, Em,” she says softly, and pushes out the chair. “I’m going right now.”

Chapter Text

Geri has no idea how long she’s been laying on her bed, staring absently out the window, when there’s a tap at the door. She doesn’t have a chance to call out before it’s slowly creaking open, and she glances over - then freezes.

Mel’s peeking her head in, and as soon as they make eye contact, Mel pauses, but for only a second. Then it’s as if she gets a push, because she steps in further and shuts the door behind her.

“Hey,” Geri manages, her voice a little husky from disuse. She clears it awkwardly. “Um, everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Mel says, and sighs. “We need to talk. Can I sit?”

Geri nods, gesturing to the rest of the bed, and sits up straighter as Mel purchases on the edge of the mattress. She can see Mel fidgeting with one of her rings - a sure sign that she’s anxious - and just waits in silence, giving her time to sort out her thoughts.

“So, I just had a long chat with the girls,” Mel finally starts, and hesitates. “This past week, it’s…it’s been hard, having things not right between us. And I had convinced myself that maybe our friendship meant more to me, than it does to you.”

“What? How on earth could you possibly think that?” Geri cuts in. She’s genuinely shocked, but she can see the fear and anxiety and honesty in Mel’s eyes, and her heart breaks a little, knowing that she’s the reason those feelings are there.

Mel offers up a wry grin, and shakes her head. “Don’t worry, Emma kind of talked me off the ledge just now. But I saw you with the other girls, even just regular hanging out that you’ve always done with them, and I was jealous. And you started talking to Jo more. And I got kinda scared, I guess, when you started pulling away? So I’ve been overcompensating with the others, but I’ve been anxious that maybe you didn’t need me.”

“Mel, no,” Geri says softly. “This has probably been the worst week of my life since we started the Spice Girls. You mean more to me than you’ll ever know, and not getting to just be myself around you, has been horrible. Since we’re both being honest, I also had a chat with Emma earlier. You’ve been so… fine , I guess, especially with the other girls, I felt like maybe you were realizing you didn’t want me, and you were good with the others. So yeah, I guess I pulled away, because I need you more than you could ever imagine.”

Those words break Mel. She’s not sure if she reaches out first, or Geri does, but they fall into each other’s arms, and suddenly, she feels like she’s home . She clings to Geri, breathing in the scent of her floral perfume and vanilla shampoo, relishing in the feel of their arms wrapped around each other. God, she’s missed this.

When they finally pull apart, Geri’s pretty sure she’s crying, because Mel doesn’t hesitate to reach up to wipe away the tears. 

“So, my talk with the girls - it helped,” Mel continues, softer. “Essentially, they helped me realize that I’ve been an idiot. I haven’t just been jealous during this stupid bet, but I’ve been feeling it for a while - anytime you’re close with someone else, or you pick one of the other girls for literally anything - hell, even when you make their tea perfectly, and I think it’s not special when you do mine so well.”

Geri doesn’t know what to say. Her fingers curl into the duvet. “Mel,” she starts, but Mel shakes her head.

“No, let me finish, please. I went along with the bloody bet to save face, but it’s just…I’ve had to pretend like it doesn’t mess me up not being near you. I’ve been trying to figure it out all week. Why it feels like something’s missing every time I look at you and can’t touch you. Why it’s not just annoying, it’s painful .” 

Mel hesitates, considering her words, and Geri remains quiet, letting her think. “I thought I was fine with this,” she finally continues. “That we’re just close friends, that it didn’t mean anything. But G… it does. It has meant something. For a long time, I think. I just didn’t want to admit it, but I think I’m in love with you. I have been. And I don’t want to go another day pretending I’m not.”

Geri’s breath catches, and she takes hold of Mel’s hands. “So, we’ve both been bloody idiots then,” she says, and grins through her tears. “Mel, I’ve had feelings for you forever.”

Mel freezes. “What?” she manages.

“I thought you didn’t feel the same. I thought maybe you were just…naturally affectionate. And maybe I was reading into things. And I didn’t want to agree to this stupid bet to begin with, but I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t fun, or that I’m too codependent on you. I was worried that maybe you might read into why I didn’t want to do it, and I didn’t think you felt the same.”

Mel just shakes her head slowly, processing Geri’s words, but then she forgets everything, because Geri drops her hands, and grabs her face, and kisses her. And it’s incredible , and mind blowing, and it’s all Mel can do to kiss back, completely lost in Geri and the taste of her and knowing that right now, in this very moment, Geri is hers.

They pull apart when the need for oxygen becomes too great, but Geri doesn’t pull far away. She rests her forehead against Mel’s, both of them breathing heavily, staring into each other’s eyes. Mel thinks she could drown in Geri’s blue eyes, could never get enough of her kisses, her touches. She knows in this instant, she is ruined, and no one will ever even come close to Geraldine Estelle Halliwell.

“I don’t care what anyone says ever again about us,” Mel murmurs. “I’m never going to be apart from you again. You’re my Geri.”

Geri grins, and tips her head forward to kiss Mel again. Mel kisses back with vigor, and Geri thinks she could quite easily get drunk off of Mel’s lips on hers. She tugs at Mel, twisting on the bed, until they’re both laying down.

They spend the next few blissful hours together, just the two of them. They talk, discussing their feelings in more depth, and sharing their favorite moments they’ve had together over the past two years. And they kiss.

Lots of kissing.

It’s not until the quiet is disrupted by a rumble in Mel’s belly, causing them both to laugh, for them to realize it’s well past dinnertime and they’re both starving.

“Want to go get some of Emma’s mum’s shepherd’s pie?” Mel asks, and Geri nods, then pauses.

“What if….if the girls are downstairs, what do we want to tell them?” she asks hesitantly.

Mel grins. “I’m happy to tell them that you’re the love of my life and to keep their hands off, but I’m also happy to default with whatever you’re more comfortable with.”

Those words send a fizz of happiness through Geri, and she steals another kiss. “Nah, that sounds kind of perfect to me,” she confesses, and matches Mel’s grin. “Come on.”

She takes Mel’s hand, and they head out of the room and downstairs. Only Emma’s awake, stretched out on the sofa watching a movie, and she glances up as they enter the living room. Her eyes lock onto their hand holding immediately, and she grins up at them. Geri appreciates her not making a bigger deal about it, and grins back at her. Thank you , she mouths, and Emma winks back.

They continue to the kitchen and heat up two bowls of shepherd's pie, leaning against the counter to eat. Geri still won’t let go of Mel’s hand, almost as if she’ll disappear if they lose contact, and it means Mel has to eat with her other hand, but she doesn’t complain.

When they finish, they head back into the living room. Emma’s gone, the TV’s off, so they continue their way upstairs.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” Mel asks cautiously. She’s praying that Geri says yes.”

“Yes,” Geri breathes, relieved that Mel offered. “But I need to shower and stuff - give me twenty minutes?”

“Deal,” Mel says. She lets go of Geri’s hand, and Geri immediately feels the loss - but she just offers up a smile, and retrieves her shower stuff from her bedroom

She enters the bathroom and startles Emma, who’s in the middle of washing her face. “Oh! Sorry, I thought you went to bed,” Geri apologizes.

“All good,” Emma replies, and beams. “I’m not going to grill you tonight - we can save that for tomorrow - but can I just say, how wonderful it is to see you smile. I’ve missed that this week.”

Geri grins at her, then pulls her into a hug. “Thanks for the talk and the support today,” she murmurs.

“Anytime. I’m so glad you guys are better. Promise you’ll fill us in tomorrow, yeah?”

Geri promises, and Emma plants a kiss on her cheek then heads out. Geri watches her go, smiling softly - she’s so grateful to have Emma’s friendship.

___

Meanwhile, Mel had gone to the downstairs bathroom, had the world’s quickest shower, and hurried back to her room. She sits on her bed now, in sleep shorts and a shirt, glancing at the door every thirty seconds. She knows that’s pointless - she can still hear the shower running - but the thought of Geri coming is like a drug, and the anticipation almost drives her to interrupt her in the bathroom.

She doesn’t though, and when Geri finally does make an appearance, slipping through the door in Mel’s shirt, damp hair braided back, Mel lights up.

“Get over here. I missed you,” she orders, and reaches to tug Geri by the hand.

Geri laughs, falling on top of Mel’s legs, but doesn’t let go of her hand. “I wasn’t even gone a full twenty minutes, how could you miss me?”

Mel grins, but her voice turns a touch more serious. “C’mon, G, after this past week, and then learning that you thought I didn’t need you? I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to prove it to you.”

Her words bring a softness to Geri’s face, and Mel can’t help but lean down to press a soft kiss to her lips. Geri responds eagerly, and as they start heating up a little, Mel pauses just long enough to twist them around and pull the covers up so they’re in bed properly.

Mel doesn’t plan to go too far beyond making out - not after such an emotional evening - but she doesn’t hesitate to let her hands slide under Geri’s shirt, caressing the soft skin and tugging her tighter. Geri moans softly into her mouth when she does, and Mel nearly combusts at the sound.

“I can’t believe,” she murmurs, when Geri finally pulls back to breathe, “that it took me two whole years to learn what an incredible kisser you are.”

“Wait, we’ve technically kissed before,” Geri says, raising her eyebrows.

Mel waves a hand dismissively. “Yeah, but those were playing truth or dare, or drunken nights out. This, however,” she says, pausing to lean forward and press a fiery kiss to Geri’s lips, “is a million times better.”

Geri hums into the kiss. “It really is,” she agrees, when they pull apart, but her face turns touch serious.

Mel can read her like a book, and she raises her eyebrows expectantly. “What’s on your mind?” she asks gently.

Geri pauses, clearly choosing her words carefully. “I think…I want to make sure we do this right, the two of us.”

Mel smiles to herself, relieved. She couldn’t agree more. “Same. I want this to be it, for us. I mean, I don’t want to scare you, since we’ve literally only been a couple for what, a few hours? But seriously, Ger, I’m all in.”

Geri grins at that. “Good. I am too. I just think - obviously we’ll tell the girls. Jo too, I suppose, and maybe Simon. But I kind of want to keep it from the press, at least for a bit, until the Spice Girls have made a name for themselves.”

Mel can see where Geri’s coming from, and nods slowly. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Might make the girls feel better about it - not that they wouldn’t, but so they know we’re taking the band, and our relationship, seriously.”

Geri cocks her head. “I’m glad we agree. But you totally just made a face when I said Jo’s name?”

“Jesus,” Mel groans, blushing, but she’s grinning. “Yeah, I may have been kind of jealous this week, with you and her off in the corner at rehearsal, and then the two of you going out to coffee. I wanted that to be me, and I worried Jo was replacing me.”

Geri lets out a surprised laugh. “Oh wow, Mel, no - so full disclosure, Jo’s actually known about my feelings for you for ages. She thought we were crazy for starting the bet, she’s basically been my sounding board this week while I dealt with not being able to touch you.”

That actually makes Mel feel much better, and she grins into Geri’s shoulder, dropping a kiss there. “Wow. Alright then. I will take her back off my shit list.”

That makes Geri laugh even more, and she cups Mel’s face, bringing it up so she can press a soft kiss to her lips. Mel responds eagerly, kissing back with fervor, and thinks, once again, how lucky she is.

___

Morning light filters into the room through the closed blinds. Geri stirs, blinking slowly in the warmth, then realizes the sun isn’t the reason she’s warm - it’s Mel.

She tilts her head slightly and finds Mel still fast asleep beside her, one arm slung around her waist, the edge of her sleep shirt ridden up. Geri thinks that she’s never looked more beautiful. And she’s hers .

As if she can tell Geri’s thinking of her, Mel lets out a soft groan and cracks one eye open. She takes in Geri’s face, inches from hers, and a slow, sleepy grin spreads across her face.

“Morning,” she says, her voice a little croaky from disuse. “You’re still here.”

“Course I am,” Geri replies softly. “As long as you’ll have me.”

“Forever, then,” Mel murmurs, and tugs Geri closer. “But right now, it’s still early. Sleep.”

Geri grins, and willingly lets herself be pulled closer in. She relishes the feel of Mel’s body against her, knowing that if they want, this is how they can spend every morning waking up.

However, the peace doesn’t last long - the shrill beeping of Mel’s alarm clock cuts through the silence, and Mel groans.

“It’s too early,” she moans, pulling away to slap her hand around on her nightstand until she hits the alarm and the sound cuts out. “Can we just stay in bed together longer?”

“Mmm, I wish,” Geri says with a longing sigh. “We have an interview today though, and a photoshoot, remember?”

Before Mel can reply, there’s a sharp knock on the door. “Just a heads up, Melanie’s frying up sausages for breakfast!” Emma’s singsong voice calls. “Consider this your warning, that you may miss out if you take too long!”

Mel groans again, but she releases her hold on Geri, so the two of them can get out of bed. Geri returns to her own bedroom so that she can get dressed, then meets up with Mel in the bathroom while they brush their teeth and freshen up.

At the top of the staircase, Geri slips her hand into Mel’s. “Still willing to tell the girls today?” she asks, a touch hesitantly.

Mel grins. “Try and stop me.”

Geri grins back, and leans forward to give Mel a rough kiss, before tugging her hand and starting down the stairs. She bites her lip, loving the soft little gasp that Mel made when she kissed her, and she gets a thrill in her belly that she can do that whenever she wants now.

When they enter the kitchen, they see Melanie at the stove cooking up a pan of little sausages. There’s a stack of buttered toast on the table by Emma, and Victoria’s pouring herself a cup of coffee.

“Good morning!” Emma trills, grinning at the sight of them holding hands.

“Morning,” Mel replies, grinning back

Melanie glances at them, and lets out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Thank god, the bet’s over,” she says with a mock groan. “The two of you were even more unbearable the last few days being apart like that.”

“So wait, does this mean we won the bet, then?” Victoria asks, a slow grin spreading on her face.

“Actually, I might have forfeited on our behalf last night,” Emma admits sheepishly. At Melanie and Victoria’s incredulous looks, she throws her hands up in defense. “Oh, come on! You saw how miserable they both were yesterday. I wasn’t about to let a bet come in the way of true love, now was I?”

“Wait - love? Is that a word that’s being used?” Melanie asks curiously. 

Geri hesitates for a second - because yes, she loves Mel, she has for two years. But they’ve literally only been a couple for one night. The last thing she wants to do is stick her foot in it and mess things up this quickly.

But she doesn’t need to worry, because she feels Mel give her hand a soft squeeze. “Yeah, it is,” she says, and they share a glance. It’s soft, and full of intimacy, and neither one has to declare it in that moment - they know.

“So, I suppose I’ll address the elephant in the room,” Victoria says, and awkwardly clears her throat. “What if the two of you break up? What about the band?”

Geri can tell the question immediately rubs Mel the wrong way, and she subtly slips a hand to her thigh, squeezing gently. “We talked about that last night. The band is still our goal, despite our relationship. We’re determined to make both work. And we agreed that we don’t want to go public with us, until the band is firmly established. Honestly, we don’t even know how a relationship with two women would be received in the media, so we’d like to avoid that.”

“Makes sense,” Melanie says, nodding.

“And as far as breaking up? It’s not happening,” Mel adds firmly, and Geri grins, giving her thigh another squeeze.

“I mean, we’re always going to have fights, and some proper epic ones at that,” she says, then grins at Mel’s expression. “Oh come on, it's the two of us. Course it’s going to happen. However, that’s been our dynamic for two years, and we’ve always overcome that. Now, we’ll have even more reason to figure ourselves out.”

“Yeah, fair enough,” Mel agrees, and leans over to give Geri a soft kiss. 

“Aww,” Emma says, grinning, as Melanie leans over her to set a plate of sausages down next to the toast.

“Alright you lot, give it a rest so you can eat,” she says good naturedly. “We should probably head out in about an hour, yeah?”

Victoria glances at the calendar on the fridge, her own neat handwriting filling the small box for the day. “Yes, for the interview. Should be done by early afternoon today, assuming all goes well with photos.”

The five of them settle in, eating and chatting about the upcoming day, leaving the table one by one as they finish eating to go get ready. Finally, they’re hurrying out the door, piling into the Fiat, where Mel claims the front seat with an easy grin. Geri smiles back, reaching for Mel’s hand over the center console, and thinks to herself, I could get used to this . 

She does reluctantly let Mel’s hand go when they arrive at the interview. The host is on the younger side and has clearly done her homework, referencing their music video shoot, and the girls are all in great moods, playing off each other.

They kill the hour between the interview and the photo shoot with coffee in a local park, arriving at the shoot ten minutes early to find Jo already waiting for them.

“Ladies, nice to see you early for a change,” she says in greeting, and Emma crosses her arms in mock outrage.

“Excuse me, we’re almost never late!” she exclaims.

“Right, of course not,” Jo replies, winking. “Head on in, ladies.”

They start heading inside, but Geri immediately notices Jo eyeing her and Mel’s hand holding, and she grins to herself. “Hang on,” she says to Mel quietly, tugging on her hand, so that the two of them fall back behind the other girls. Jo pauses as well, and shoots them an expectant look.

“So, can I assume the bet ended early, hmm?” Jo asks, nodding at their hands.

“It did,” Geri confirms, and she feels Mel give her hand a squeeze.

“I gotta ask - who won, then?” Jo asks curiously.

Mel laughs. “Technically us, since Emma forfeited early. But we don’t really care, it all worked out.”

Jo raises an eyebrow, her gaze flicking between them. “Worked out how, exactly?” she presses.

Geri smiles, knowing that Jo’s really wanting to know how well the bet ended. Before she can reply, Mel answers without hesitation, her voice soft but steady. “We’re together, Geri and I.”

There’s a beat of silence as Jo blinks, then a slow smile spreads across her face. “Well, bloody hell. Took you long enough.”

Geri laughs, catching her eye. “Yeah, no kidding. Er, we’re going to keep it kind of quiet, though. Just you, and the girls know. We want the band to make it before we go public, yeah?”

Jo nods again, her smile gentler now. “That’s fair. Just know I’ve got your backs, both of you. And I’m happy for you, honestly.”

“Thanks, Jo,” Geri says, touched. Mel smiles as well, and leans over to press a soft kiss to Geri’s cheek.

“Alright, lovebirds,” Jo says, stepping back and motioning toward the studio. “Get inside before I get all emotional on you.”

They laugh and hurry inside, Mel’s hand tugging on Geri’s as she leads the way. The girls are already inside, rifling through clothing racks and accessories, trying to coordinate while also having fun with it. It’s a simple photo shoot, just a plain backdrop, but the photographer keeps them there for easily an hour to get as many varieties of group shots, pairs, and trios, as he possibly could.

Jo thanks the photographer at the end, then gathers the girls together. “Aright, I’m sure you lot are ready to go home, but there’s going to need to be one more stop - Simon wants you all at his office at two, a last minute meeting.”

Melanie frowns. “Wait, why? We just had our management meeting this week?”

“Things are moving along, he has some news for you all,” Jo replies, and glances at her watch. “You have just under an hour - go get some lunch,” she adds, and pulls a few notes out of her wallet, handing them to Victoria. “Lunch is on Simon today. Just don’t be late to the meeting, if possible, I really don’t want to deal with him all in a strop, yeah?”

They thank her, and she heads out, while they pile back into the Fiat.  They end up at a tired little café just a few streets over, a place they’ve been to once before that serves huge toasties and thick-cut chips. They pull two tables together and as they eat, they toss out suggestions on what Simon needs them for.

“Boot camp, maybe,” Geri says with a laugh, and Victoria winces.

“I hope not,” she replies, a little horrified. “I’m going to hope it’s another live TV slot.”

“I swear, if it’s a bloody dance workshop again…” Melanie mutters, taking a huge bite of her sandwich.

Emma gasps. “Maybe we’re doing Top of the Pops!”

“Doubtful,” Victoria says dryly. “They don’t even know who we are yet.”

“Speak for yourself!” Mel interjects. “I’ve already given my autograph out to several people.”

Melanie laughs. “Yeah, to your family, and our poor postman who you basically forced to take it.”

Mel shrugs, flicking a piece of lint off her pants. “Can’t help it if you can’t handle my fame,” she says loftily, and Geri grins.

“I suppose I’d better get in line for your autograph then,” she says, then leans a little closer so only Mel can hear. “I might want it somewhere special .”

Mel freezes, and she bites her lip a little, a slow grin forming. She tilts her head at Geri. “Yeah?” she murmurs back. “You’ll have to tell me exactly where. Might need a few practice runs first.”

Geri’s eyes darken, but before she can respond, Victoria clears her throat loudly. “Honestly, the two of you are going to be unbearable, aren’t you?” she asks, shaking her head, but the corners of her mouth are twitching. “Come on, you lot, we better get going so we’re not late for Simon.”

___

When they arrive at the management office, Mel’s glad to see that they’re ten minutes early. She’s never bothered when they annoy Simon - sometimes she’ll purposely antagonize him for a laugh - but she also knows that Jo’s right, punctuality is one of his biggest pet peeves.

He’s already in the conference room, along with Jo, and a few other company executives. The girls settle around the room, and Mel casually drapes her arm on the back of Geri’s chair - not quite touching, but close enough to feel the warmth of her smile.

When they’re settled, Simon clears his throat. “Alright,” he says, clapping his hands together. “Tokyo’s confirmed. Flights are being booked. You’re leaving in two weeks.”

Mel cocks her head - it takes her a second to process what he’s saying. But then Emma’s squealing, and Geri’s beaming at her, and Melanie jumps out of her seat, whooping with delight.

“Tokyo?” Emma gasps. “As in actual Japan?”

“No, Emma,” Simon deadpans. “The Tokyo restaurant downtown.”

The girls laugh, and he starts shuffling through the papers on his desk. “So you’ll be there for six days,” he says. “All promo stuff. Virgin’s making a push to build buzz in the Japanese market, and you’re part of the plan.”

“You mean someone out there’s actually heard of us?” Victoria asks, skeptical but intrigued.

Simon smirks. “They’ve heard about you. There’s interest. Some early press, a couple of radio people. It’s not Beatlemania yet, but it’s movement. If this goes well, it could help launch the single internationally.”

“Oh my god,” Mel says, then grabs Geri’s hand. “Oh my god!”

“This is it!” Geri shouts back, and Melanie C grabs her from behind, swinging her around.

Victoria comes over, dragging Emma along, and they collapse into a group hug.

“Alright, alright, I know it’s exciting but there’s still work to be done,” Simon calls over them. “A little propriety, please?”

The girls settle, reclaiming their seats, and do their best to pay attention as Simon runs through all the fine details. The trip is going to be packed, full of public appearances, photo shoots, interviews, and performances.

“What about the fact that none of us know Japanese?” Emma asks curiously. “Will you be helping us with that?”

“I’m not joining the trip,” he replied. “Jo will be accompanying you, and managing your schedule. And you all should remember Nina, the new hire for PR management, she’ll be attending as well. They’ll be with you at all times, and will have translators to support language barriers.”

He pauses, distracted by his ringing mobile phone, and holds a finger up to the girls as he answers it. Mel tries her best to hide her grin - she appreciates Simon for everything he does, but she can admit that the trip’ll probably be more fun with him staying in the UK. She turns to Geri to mutter a smart comment, but pauses, her breath caught.

Because Geri’s leaning towards Melanie, the two of them whispering jokes or something together, but the late afternoon light streaming in from the bay window is hitting Geri’s hair just right, and there’s something unguarded in her expression, a kind of quiet joy that makes her look ethereal. And Mel wonders to herself for a moment, how the hell she never saw it sooner, how she ever lasted so long without Geri being hers . 

“You know,” Victoria says softly from her other side, catching Mel’s attention and pulling her gaze from Geri, “Emma used to tell me that she always thought Geri had feelings for you, because she’d sometimes catch her just looking at you when she thought no one else was watching. And I wasn’t really sure, but Mel, seeing you just now, the way you just looked at her - I get what she meant. It’s real, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Mel replies, and she thinks her cheeks are flushing a little, but she doesn’t really care. She’s not used to being seen by someone like Victoria just did, but she doesn’t mind it.

“Right, you lot, clearly your attention spans aren’t going to last any longer, so we’ll call it a day,” Jo calls, drawing their attention to her. Simon’s already left the table, having moved to the corner as he barks into his mobile. 

“Thanks Jo!” Emma says, flashing a wide grin, and the girls start rising, gathering their things.

“Please, do your best to not lose your passports in the next few weeks, right?” Jo calls out as they head out, and Mel laughs, because she’d done exactly that only two weeks ago when they thought they’d be going to Barcelona and she had to get a new one rushed.

The drive back to the Spice house is quick, full of chatter about Tokyo, and when they head inside, Mel pauses by the door. She’s brimming with energy all of a sudden, and she wonders if the girls would notice if she and Geri snuck away to one of their bedrooms for an hour.

“We should do something to celebrate!” Emma announces, as she kicks off her boots. “What do you guys think?”

“Yeah!” Geri replies eagerly, shooting a grin at Mel. “A toast to us all, at the very least?”

Victoria heads to the kitchen, then comes back out. “We’re out of wine. What about we head to the pub, get a couple rounds?”

“Sounds great,” Melanie says, and hip checks Mel. “You game?”

“Course I am!” Mel replies with a grin. They put their shoes back on and grab jackets, heading back outside. Their walk to the pub is short, but loud, with the five of them talking over each other and jumping around along the pavement. The pub’s fairly quiet, and they claim their favorite booth, towards the back and closest to the jukebox.

“I’ll grab the first round, yeah?” Geri asks, pausing before sitting. 

“I’ll help you,” Mel says, and slides back out to follow Geri to the bar. She’s pretty sure the other three are likely laughing or teasing them behind their backs, but she doesn’t even care, because it’s the first moment she’s had with Geri, just the two of them, all day.

“Doing alright?” Mel asks her, as they reach the counter and wait for the bartender to come to them.

“Yep,” Geri replies, and grins. “Been hell keeping my hands off you all day though.”

“Oh, I’m not stopping you,” Mel replies with a smirk. “Just wait til we head out of here and get some proper alone time at home.”

Geri’s breath hitches at that, but she doesn’t get a chance to reply, as the bartender reaches them. They order a few pints and a bottle of the house white, and slowly make their way back to the table without spilling anything.

“Cheers,” Melanie says as she helps pass the drinks around. Geri pours two wine glasses for her and Victoria, and once the five of them have a drink in their hands, she holds up hers.

“To us,” she says, grinning around at each of them. “The best group I could ever hope to start an incredible, soon-to-be-famous, chart-topping band with!” The rest of the girls cheer, clinking their glasses together, and they settle into easy conversation about the upcoming trip to Tokyo, and what they want to see and do there.

___

The next few hours pass easily, with the drinks flowing and the conversation never ending. Geri had been sharing a bottle of wine with Victoria, and when it’s done, Victoria suggests getting dinner and another bottle.

Geri considers it, but she’s on the border of almost tipsy - any more wine and it’ll push her right over. Not to mention, she and Mel have been catching each other’s eye for the past hour, so food isn’t quite what she’s hungry for. She catches Mel’s eye, and subtly licks her lips, and winks.

She then lets out a loud, exaggerated yawn. “You know, I think I might call it a night, girls,” she says, and stretches a little as she rises from the booth. “I’ll see you back at home later, yeah?”

Mel grins, sliding out of the booth as well. “Well, can’t let you walk home alone. I’m tired too.” She pulls a ten pound note from her pocket and hands it to Emma. “Here, this’ll cover your next round. Enjoy dinner, yeah?”

Melanie groans. “Oh my god, you two are straight up the worst at subtlety, you know that?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Geri replies innocently, but she can’t help the grin tugging at the corners of her lips.

“It’s all good, you two go home - we’ll give you at least a half hour head start, okay?” Emma tells them, and pockets the money.

“Just no shagging on the sofa!” Victoria says dryly, and Mel just laughs at that, taking Geri’s hand.

The two women head out of the pub, and the quiet of the street is nearly startling to how loud the pub had been. They walk briskly, glancing at each other, but save any conversation until they get home. As they step inside, Geri kicks the door shut with her foot, her hands busy sliding around Mel's waist.

“That was - ooh!” Mel says, her voice rising at the end, because Geri pushes her up against the closed door, and presses a fierce kiss to her lips. Mel kisses back eagerly, and Geri grins into it, before finally releasing her.

“My god,” Mel manages, panting slightly. “Not complaining - but what the hell was that for?”

Geri reaches out to wipe away a smudge of lipstick on the corner of Mel’s mouth. “Just a little something to show you how much I wish I could have been doing that all day to you,” she replies breezily. She has no idea where she got the courage, but then again, Mel’s always brought out the brazenness in her, and really, she couldn’t resist.

Mel grins, looping a finger into Geri’s belt loop, and pulls her back in.

“Oh, you think that’s enough?” she murmurs, lips ghosting against Geri’s. “Just one little kiss?”

Geri hums, teasing. “It was a starter.”

“Greedy,” Mel says, but her voice is warm with affection. She leans in again for a slower, deeper kiss, her hands sliding around Geri’s waist. When they finally pull apart, breathless and smiling, Geri reaches for Mel’s hand and squeezes.

“Upstairs?” she offers with a playful eyebrow raise. “Or do we risk the wrath of Victoria and relax on the couch?”

Mel laughs. “That woman’s scarier than me when she’s angry. Not risking that for anything.”

Geri grins - she can’t help but agree - and pulls Mel towards the staircase. They hurry up, racing each other to make it first, and Geri wins, laughing as she pulls Mel into her bedroom and closing the door firmly shut behind them.

Their shoes are quickly kicked off, and they fall onto the bed in a tangle of limbs. Mel brushes a strand of hair from Geri’s face, letting her hand linger as she cups Geri's cheek, and presses a soft kiss to her lips.

“D’you know,” she says softly, “there were about ten times today I wanted to grab your hand or kiss you or say something soppy, but I didn’t. Because we were being ‘professional’.”

Geri hums, her eyes twinkling. “Well, that was terribly responsible of you.”

Mel shrugs. “I’ll make up for it now, yeah?”

“Please do.”

And she does, slowly and longingly. Thoughts of anything else falls away, because all that matters is the two of them, together.

Eventually, they settle in close, Geri curled into Mel’s side, her head resting on her chest. Geri closes her eyes for a moment, letting herself soak it all in - the sound of Mel’s heartbeat, the rise and fall of her chest, the way Mel’s fingers lightly trace patterns along Geri’s spine.

“Y’know, I used to dream about this,” Geri murmurs softly, ass she lets her own hand drift to Mel’s side and lazily caress her soft skin.

Mel shifts slightly under her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Geri replies. “Just quiet moments, like this, the two of us.” She doesn’t add that she never actually thought she’d ever get to have it.

She feels Mel’s arm around her tighten slightly, and she cranes her neck up to met Mel’s lips, a slow, languid kiss.

“I’ll be happy if we could do this for the rest of our lives,” Mel murmurs back, when they withdraw.

Geri sighs softly, settling back in. She hopes their band gets their big break, she hopes they reach the fame and success they could only dream of. But right now, in this very moment? She’s got Mel, and that’s all she could ever need.