Chapter Text
Carol sat in an armchair with a graceful smile. But she couldn't hide her nervousness as her hands were shaking slightly. Carol clutched the armrest of the chair, tried to steady her hands.
Therese sat opposite to Carol. She looked down to a small cup which she has been holding for a long time. Her finger moved up and down to the handle of the cup. Carol stared at Therese intensely, clocked her every move.
Finally, someone breaks the silence.
"Would.. do you want to take a look at this apartment?" Carol gathered up her courage and asked. She tried to figure out Therese's thoughts as Therese didn't say a word since she entered the apartment. Carol hated this feeling as if there is a distance between Therese and her that she can never stride.
Therese moved her sight from the cup to Carol. She saw Carol smile shrinkingly but dodging her gaze at the same time. The action clutched her heart. She wanted to say something but she can't. She can't say yes or no to Carol. She remembered Carol's disappointed face when she said no to Carol at Ritz. She does not want to hurt Carol.
Therese stared at Carol until Carol looked back to her. She nodded and stood. She can only nod.
Therese wandered to the hallway. Carol followed her. Therese stopped at the door in front of her. By the time she was guessing which room would be Carol's bedroom, Carol opened the door for her. Therese saw a well-decorated room with a pale purple painted wall, two dressers and a huge bed.
The bed is obviously too big for one person. What if this is not only for one? It might be made for two, for Carol and her...
Therese shook her head to get rid of this thought. She'd loved to share the bed with Carol. However, she does not know whether it is a good idea or not at this moment.
Therese kept looking around the apartment. Carol opened every door to let Therese visit and quietly close them after Therese had left the room.
At the end of the hallway, opposite to the large bedroom, there is a small room which has a black-coloured door. Therese opened the door and stepped in. The room is not decorated like other rooms in the apartment. There are no decorations at all. A table leaned against the wall of the room. Some papers, basins were placed on the table. Underneath the table, there is an icebox. It looked like a store room, nothing special. However, Therese knew it's not.
She walked slowly to the table and crouched to pull out the icebox. She opened the icebox and found couples bottles of chemical. Therese realized that it is a darkroom, a darkroom for her.
She turned around and saw Carol stood by the door. She walked toward Carol. Carol fixed her eyes on Therese. She doesn't know what Therese thought about the darkroom. Perhaps she would like it, perhaps she would just walk away.
"I should go now." Therese said, walking to the entrance of the apartment. Carol wished she could stop her. She wished she could ask Therese to stay with her. Instead, she followed Therese to the entrance.
"Therese, I thought you may need a place to work, outside The Times. And... maybe you can stay here to develop your photographs. I... you welcomed to use the darkroom anytime."
Carol said, looked down to her feet. Her voice was shaking. Carol was holding a key in her hand and she extended her arm to Therese.
Therese looked at Carol, their eyes stay locked. Carol tried to smile, "you know...it is totally up to you."
Therese wanted to say something but suddenly she became ineloquent. She could not make up her mind. Their eyes stay locked for a long time and then, Therese moved.
She took the key from Carol's hand. Carol released a breath that she didn't realize that she was holding.
"Goodnight, Carol."
"Goodnight."