After two months of dating, Angela thought she knew what Lottie's love language was.
But clearly she didn't.
It started slowly at first, it was flowers, or chocolates, then it quickly turned into more extravagant gifts like books or even vinyls.
It seemed insignificant, it was mostly occasional and that was why Angela didn't immediately make the connection.
Until something suddenly changed that afternoon.
"Want to go shopping ?"
Angela looked up from her phone and raised a doubtful eyebrow. "Do you wanna go shopping ?"
"I do what you want to do." Lottie shrugged with a smile.
The blonde thought for a moment. "I mean I wouldn't say no to a Starbucks but-"
"Let's go to Starbucks then." She cut her off immediately, turning to the driver. "Drop us the nearest Starbucks please Alfred."
Angela giggled and grabbed Lottie's hand. "What ? You want to be forgiven for something ? You cheated on me ?"
"No." Lottie shook her head sharply. "I just want you to be happy."
"Right..." Angela tilted her head to the side with a playful smile.
The car parked, and Lottie rushed to open the door for Angela.
The blonde got out of the car and put her hand on Lottie's shoulder dramatically. "You can tell me anything, you know ? Who were you cheating on me with ? Laura Lee ?"
The dark haired girl rolled her eyes and closed the car door before following Angela inside.
The two took orders and another thing changed.
Lottie rushed to pay for Angela. Not even giving her time to search through her purse, which was in Lottie's hands by the way.
"Okay, I was joking at first but it's not funny anymore. Who was it ? Mari ?" Angela gasped in realization as she brought a hand to her mouth. "Gen ? Misty ?"
Lottie scoffed as she released her straw. "You're just quoting my whole team-"
"The gayest people on this planet." The blonde chuckled before getting serious again. "But seriously, who was it ?"
"I didn't cheated on you Angela I-" Lottie cleared her throat, now uncomfortable.
She was about to tell her that she loved her without even realizing it.
"-I would never do that."
"Hm mm." She nodded as she ate her Starbucks lollipop. "I'm sure it's Nat now."
"W-W-What w-why would-"
"I'm just kidding, relax." Angela interrupted her in her stutter. "Thanks for paying by the way."
"You're welcome." Lottie replied now more relaxed as she sat up better in her chair. "It makes me happy to make you happy. You're happy, aren't you ?"
"Oh yeah I'm very happy." The blonde nodded. "I'm always happy with you anyway."
Lottie smiled even brighter and watched as her girlfriend scrolled down on her phone and chuckled her drink in her hand.
Angela lifted her phone to her mouth to record a voice message. "I know, right ? I absolutely want this. At this point this is not a want but a need."
A notification sounded and she chuckled at the person's response before she started typing again.
Lottie's attention was captured immediately and Angela didn't even know that she had started a huge investigation by just joking around with Jackie.
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"My password ? It's 1989." Angela shrugged, continuing to tie her hair in front of her mirror. "Why ?"
"Mine is out of battery, I just want to text Nat." She replied simply trying to sound as casual as possible.
Angela checked herself in the mirror one last time before turning to Lottie. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Cool." She unlocked the blonde's phone.
"Do you want to come with me ?" She offered the doorknob in her hand.
Lottie flicked her eyes back and forth between Angela and the phone, biting her tongue hard. "Nah I'm good thanks."
"Too bad, I love it when your hair is wet, it's always turning me on." She said with a smirk before disappearing into the bathroom.
As soon as the door closed Lottie groaned and rolled her eyes. "It better be worth it."
She went straight to Instagram. Angela was addicted to this application.
Lottie racked her brain trying to figure out who she was talking to. A notification rang.
@jackiefrost
She rolled her eyes again.
Lottie didn't want to be intrusive or indiscreet, but she really wanted to know what made Angela smile so she could buy her it.
Then a flash crossed her mind, if her girlfriend wanted something. She had just sent the picture of it or something like that. Lottie left instagram to go to her gallery.
The first image that appeared was a pink cowboy hat. It was a screenshot from around the time they walked out of class.
Lottie didn't quite understand but hey, that was what Angela apparently wanted so she was going to get it for her.
She pulled out her own phone and took a picture of the screenshot before quickly getting out of bed.
She headed for the bathroom but she didn't even have time to knock when the door opened to reveal Angela in a towel and soaking in water.
"That's too late for that." Angela chuckled as she made her way to Lottie's dressing room.
"It better be really, really worth it." Lottie muttered to herself as she admired Angela's legs while she walked away.
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"I have a surprise for you."
Angela turned around and kissed Lottie's cheek. "What is it ?"
Jackie who was talking to Angela stood next to her.
"Remember when we were at Starbucks and you talked about that thing you really wanted ?" Lottie pulled out a packet from behind her back. "It's for you."
Angela frowned in confusion and opened the package.
Just at the sight of the color pink, Jackie started giggling.
"Angela I think she read our conversation." She snickered as she saw the blonde pull out the hat.
Angela turned red immediately. "Did you read the conversation I had with Jackie ?"
"No." Lottie frowned, that was definitely not the reaction she expected. "I should have ?"
"Maybe-"
Angela nudged Jackie to shut her up. "No it's okay. Thanks for the cowboy hat, but it wasn't for me in the first place."
This wasn't planned at all.
"Who was it for then-"
Jackie cut her off still trying to contain her laughter behind her hand. "You !-"
Angela slapped her in the back of the head. "We said we wouldn't tell anyone ! Don't make me talk about-"
"Okay ! Okay !" She raised her hands in defense and started walking away.
"Pussy rider-"
"Jackie !" Angela pushed her away with the hat.
"Why did you want me to have a cowboy hat ?" Lottie asked, still confused.
Angela sighed with a smile. "It was just a stupid joke. But you took it literally."
"What should I buy now ? Do you want something in particular ?"
Angela pretended to think for a moment, then gave an exaggerated gasp of realization. "Let's get married !"
Lottie got down on one knee.
"Wait wait wait I'm just joking !" The blonde giggled as she lifted Lottie off the floor. "Let's wait a few years for that."
"Oh right, I mean I know that I lo-"
We were almost there. Lottie cleared her throat.
"-W-we're too young for that."
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"Lottie, what are hinding behind your back ?" Angela asked suspiciously as she saw her girlfriend tiptoe into the bedroom.
"Nothing !"
A high-pitched bark sounded from behind her.
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Show me your hands."
Lottie shook her head from left to right, pressing her lips together. "It''s my surprise for you."
"What-- You did it again ? Lottie, don't you think that's a bit too much. I feel like I'm spoiled-"
"But I love spoiling you !" She interrupted her by pulling the puppy out from behind her back. "Don't you love him already ?"
"Aw Lottie." Angela felt her chest warm at the two pairs of big and sad and glossy brown eyes on her. "He's adorable."
The taller girl's face lit up. "Isn't he ? His name is Angelo !"
"Okay I let it slide this time. Just because he's really cute." She said as she got up from the bed.
Lottie smiled proudly and held the dog out to her.
Angela quickly hugged him with a childish smile. "I always wanted to have a dog."
"He's like our baby." Lottie took her in her arms, the puppy wedged between them.
The blonde chuckled as she lifted her head to look Lottie in the eye. "Thank you Lottie."
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After a week, there wasn't a moment that Lottie didn't buy Angela something. Clothing, make-up, dining out, cinema, snacks. Everything.
The blonde couldn't even have the time to say no, it was like an automatism to the black haired girl.
And Angela was starting to feel seriously guilty.
"It's not the fact that you give me gifts that's the problem ! You just do it too often-"
"Since when is there a frequency for giving gifts to your girlfriend ?" She asked in disbelief on the other end of the line.
"If there was, you would have been out of bounds by now, listen to me." Angela continued to pace in her room. "I'm not blaming you, but Lottie admits you're going too far. You tried to buy me a car !"
Angela heard a sigh on the other end of the line and saw the image of Lottie's sad pout in her head.
She cleared her throat. "I know you have a lot of goods intentions, but I also like just spending time with you. Without your credit card."
"Okay, it's just-" Lottie sighed again and even took a deep breath. "It's like my way of telling you that I love you."
Angela felt her whole body go through an icy chill. She stopped walking with her eyes wide open.
"I love you, Angela."