Stay ✔︎

Chapter 13 (Pt II)

Song: Cliff's Edge, Hayley Kiyoko

a/n: mature chapter—i will indicate when the 'mature' part starts with a ↣ feel free to skip it if you're uncomfortable with it 😇

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CHAPTER 13 (PT II) [M]
THE NIGHT THEY MET

IT TURNED OUT Torrey stayed in the same hotel as Luisa and all the other wedding guests. Even though there wasn't single doubt in her mind when she first nodded to Torrey's suggestion, as their hotel came into view, she could feel herself growing anxious once more.

What if someone she knew saw her?

Fortunately, there was no one in the lobby when they stepped in and made their way uninterrupted all the way to the elevators.

Once inside the elevators, Luisa could literally hear her heart thudding heavily against her chest and even feel the blood coursing through her veins—she was that hyperaware. Torrey was standing a few steps away from her and yet she could feel her warmth. She felt cold that she wanted to stand closer to the woman but at the same time she also felt hot, she wanted to step away.

Her eyes flitted around the small enclosure. The button to the fifth floor had been pressed. Her own room was on the third floor and they were reaching the second floor. If Luisa reached out and pressed the number 3 button, she could still get off the lift and go back to her room.

She knew she had the choice to do that, but she didn't. Instead, she watched as they passed her floor with an abated breath.

She was doing this. She was going to have a one-night stand with a stranger she met at her best friend's wedding—her brain pointed out the apparent information she had not quite acknowledged yet. Luisa took a deep breath—she was doing this.

She never had done this before. No matter how well they connected, Torrey was still very much a stranger to Luisa. But that was the whole point of a one-night stand, wasn't it? You did it with a stranger, one who potentially you'd never meet again, and with no feelings whatsoever attached.

No feelings, Luisa paid those words extra attention. No feelings.

"Hey," Torrey's hand at the small of her back broke her out of her thoughts, she nodded with her chin forward when Luisa looked at her, startled.

The lift's doors had opened and Luisa had failed to realise that in the occupation of her thoughts. Luisa stepped out. This was fine. Many people had one-night stands. Luisa could do that too.

But the difference was the no feelings part. Luisa feared she felt something more than that with this woman, although they had only met hours ago. She wasn't even thinking about her best friend anymore and how she had revealed her long hidden feelings—it was of the least concern in her mind right then.

Can I do this?

She stopped abruptly feeling overwhelmed. Torrey had taken few steps ahead before she realised Luisa wasn't behind her anymore.

She turned around, more concerned than confused, "You okay?"

Maybe I should go back, Luisa thought but the words never quite left her mouth and she just stared at Torrey wordlessly. The latter moved close placing her fingers under her elbow.

"You can go if you want to," she stole the words right out of Luisa's mouth, assuring her.

It seemed like all that small reassurance was what she needed for her to be certain once again. Luisa let out a heavy breath, stepping forward, putting her hands on Torrey's arms, rubbing them lightly.