Snow in California

Heartbeat

The morning after:
The first thing both Maya and Carina did when they looked outside was checking if the flight was delayed and as Maya wished it really was delayed but for a whole day. She let body fall back into her bed relaxing.

Seems like Carina had the same wish, she smiled when she read it but the thought of Maya being at a camp couple hours away during the storm didn't let her joy last long.

Andy sent a screenshot into their group. A screenshot of Maya's message.

Maya:
Hey Andy. Just wanted to let you know that I am good and I hope you all are too. Hope you were all safe this morning!

Andy:
Good morning. We are good, I haven't heard anything bad you're out there in a camp. Are you coming home now? Please!

Maya let Andy's text on read. She needed to plan exactly what she is going to do today. One option is trying to act pretty normal and not talk with Carina about that beautiful and amazing night or she let Carina say whatever she wanted to say. She spent a few more hours at home sleeping.

When she woke up again she went for a good run in the forest and afterwards she had a great breakfast. She was in a good mood. When Vic called her she picked up.

„Maya ? Christmas in four days and we're still not done with your house.. the star on top of the tree is still missing. Let me know when you're back home. Christmas is slowly losing all of his good sites.."

„Hold on hold on. Christmas has no place for negativity I am home just come over and we talk about the last four days before Christmas."

Vic packed her stuff and made her way to Maya.
„You're baaaack.. finally!" she hugged Maya as tight as she could. „First of all welcome back and I am glad you're not running away anymore. I talked with Carina the next morning when you left and she felt really bad and she said that she didn't saw the way you felt about her but you know that's something she should tell you herself!"

„We will see what time brings. All I know and want right now is planning the rest days. Deciding which movies and games we're going to play. If I see Carina I will decide at that moment if I wanna talk about that night or if I just focus on the moment right now."

Some hours had passed and Vic and Andy where at Carina's house. Vic started explaining their plan for the next days.

„I thought Maya is the one planning this whole Christmas thing between you.." Carina said.

„Yeah she is and she did plan it again this time." Vic answered.

„Is she finally home?" Andy and Adriana asked excited.

Vic nodded and when they finished going over the plan only Vic and Adriana where left and Vic took this opportunity to tell her where Maya would probably go this afternoon.

Hours has passed and Carina started getting ready to go out. When her cousin asked she just said she would go drink at the bar.

„You still have a few days for the drink alone at a bar!"

„Nah I am just going for a drink without planning where to go. Vid said there is this little place called 'Heartbeat' I wanna see what it is with that place and I am going alone so if I don't answer my phone calls it's because it's not alive anymore. Don't worry. It's not that drink."

She took her keys and left. She still knew the streets of her home town so it didn't took her long to find the bar.

Heartbeat was known for his delicious drinks. It wasn't always called Heartbeat but the owner changed it 9 years ago when he looked at all those Men and Women dancing together increasing their heartbeat with every step they made.

She walked in and the Christmas tree shone in the round center. It smelled of roasted almonds and mulled wine. Christmas songs playing in the background and for the first time in years there was a Christmas feeling in Carina.

Both Maya and Caria were looking at all those couples and strangers dancing together until Carina's eyes suddenly met bright blue ocean-like eyes. Those were familiar. She walked towards the bar.

„I heard that saying 'no' in this bar if you are invited to a dance, especially shortly before christmas isn't allowed." Carina said inviting her to a dance.

Maya, whose consciousness was still busy processing that Carina was with her and also very close, watched overwhelmed as the Italian grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the narrower ring of visitors, a little away from the Christmas tree, where other couples were already dancing to the sounds of Christmas music.

Maya stumbled into Carina's open arms and bumped into her chest, hurriedly leaping back a step so as not to be too clingy, and held her breath as Carina held up a hand in which Maya's hand was and put the other arm around her waist. She pulled her gently back to her and began a few deliberately chosen steps to the beat of the music that weren't too complicated. Maya, too disturbed by all the thoughts that had dragged her down earlier and too overwhelmed by Carina's sudden appearance, struggled to keep up with the movements. She stumbled more than she danced.

Nervously, she cast an inconspicuous look at Carina's face to see if that bothered her. She quickly bowed her head again when she saw Carina staring at her. Her hand ran down Maya's lower back in gentle, soothing circles. They exuded a heat that warmed Maya's frozen bones and radiated into her limbs. Then there was that strange, excited tingling sensation that she always felt when she was around Carina. This very special magic that emanated from the woman and which completely cast a spell over Maya.

„I am sorry Maya. I didn't realize the way you felt for me and it wasn't my best decision, still I don't regret any second of that night with you."

When Maya wanted to interrupt her she squeezed her hand gently „let me finish please." Maya nodded „It was the most beautiful and amazing night I had for a long time now and then when I woke up I was searching for you and when I realized that you left it hurt. I felt bad and then you went into that camp it only got worse."

Maya had a little smirk and some wet eyes, ready to let out a few tears. She was listening to Carina without interrupting her even tho she wanted to explain why she left.

„I had some bad times during Christmas but from the day that you bumped into me and through all the times that I spent with you I forgot about those bad things that happened."

Maya could hold it in longer. „Carina I know what I want, what my heart, my mind and my whole body want and that's you but you're leaving tomorrow, if it gets better with the weather. I don't know what this conversation is going to bring us. Everything you said made me really happy I won't lie and that night with you? I wouldn't even think about leaving the next morning I would dream about spending the rest of my days with you but this all makes it harder for me to let you go. So maybe it's better if I go finish my drink and then go home." Maya said as she let go of Carina's hand and slowly separated from her body.

But Carina held her tight and pulled her closer again. As Maya's arms were around Carina's waist, Carina's hands wandered up to her face. Her thumbs gently caressed Maya's cheeks as she pressed her lips against Maya's.

She interrupted the kiss with a smile and whispered "Neither you nor I are going anywhere. Only through you and your presence I got back into harmony with this city and christmas. Maya you are my christmas miracle and I want to stay here with you.. if you want it too."

With tears running down their faces Maya kissed her releasing for a hug and replied „Of course I want to."