Disguised In Lavender

Part 16

Feeling the soft polyester of her own sweater now on Ann's body brush her, a tingle ran up her spine. A twisting feeling started in Lauren's stomach and she stepped back, swallowing the lump in her throat, she needed an excuse. "Zack said he saw you walking here, I was sure you'd drowned." Her voice was smaller than she'd meant it to be, biting her lip as she glanced into Ann's worried gaze. "Am I going to regret this?" Ann crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back on her heels, rocking curiously without breaking eye contact. Uncertain of what the trainer was asking, Lauren tilted her head and broke her glance, looking around for an empty table.

"No one's here, it's rare they ever are but the rain doesn't help." Ann sighed, sweeping her hair back and filling her flushed cheeks with air, stepping around Lauren and pausing. "I have a table, it's just us." The second half of her words were stressed and sent a tingle up Lauren's spin, she suppressed a shiver. Ann hadn't changed since accompanying Lauren to see Ducky that morning, the musty scent of the barn still clinging to her leggings. The only difference was the sweater around her shoulders that had once belonged to the rider.

An array of books were spread around the polished oak table, the satin covers scratched from years of use and with a strip of silver tape along the spine reading 'equestrian use only'. In a million years maybe, Lauren would have had the guts to open one of those books like Ann did with ease. "The rain's nice." Lauren glanced up to see Ann's longing eyes glued to the wall length window criss crossed with gold bars. Through the purplish stained glass a blurry image of the other side of campus facing away from the school was drenched. Water made a clattering sound against the roof and smoke colored clouds hid the sun that would just be hitting its high point.

That wasn't where Lauren's eyes laid though, her russet fox-like orbs had glued themselves to the side of Ann's face. Her rounded side profile glowing with a soft smile that made her eyes crinkle at the edges and the faint dimples dip into the cream colored skin. A wreck, if anything could describe how Lauren felt herself melt into a smile, that was it. There were thousands of words her mind pressed against her lips but she stayed silent, immersing herself in Ann's presence. Slowly, she sunk into a chair, never letting her eyes stray from Ann, and placed her chin on her palm, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "I want to go see the forest in the rain." The confession was more to herself than to Lauren but it broke the rider's trance with a blink of consciousness.

Banging thunder made Ann lose the air of eternalness she'd held and caused her to jump, laughing sheepishly at herself. "I don't think it'll let up for years." Lauren admitted with a shake of her head, pulling a book towards her and trying to distract herself. It was stupid that she thought Ann was anything more than a friend, talk about losing your mind, she scoffed sourly. Her fingers ran in line with the spiraling pattern carved into the table's slender legs, collecting her thoughts to look back up at Ann. "Maybe not, have you had lunch?" The trainer shrugged and plopped down into her chair, opening one book and absently flipping through it. "I was studying, Zack ate all the snacks from last night." Lauren grumbled, making a face as Ann laughed to show her she didn't find it funny at all that her roommate was practically starving her as is.

"I don't know which is funnier, you studying or thinking Zack stopped chasing Madge around long enough to steal our snacks." The news of Zack seeing Ann's roommate hit Lauren as if it were a physical attack, eyes widening as she leaned in. "He's seeing someone?" She clasped her hands in front of her as if begging Ann for more information. Ann drew her finger across her lips, sealing them with an imaginary key and turning her head. "Oh come on, you have to tell me!" Lauren whined, slumping back against her chair and glaring playfully at Ann who couldn't hide the smile breaking her lips.

The Library was silent as Ann leaned close and grabbed Lauren's hand, squeezing it in hers and pulling her in. "Okay, don't tell either of them I told you this." She made the rider promise but Lauren was more focused on the way her hands fit so neatly in Ann's. Even if the trainer was shorter and younger, Lauren had small hands that could be cupped by her. "I saw them together in the dorm when Madge picked me up, the first night I was at your dorm. She made me promise not to tell anyone." Ann trailed off as she realized she was telling someone but blinked the doubt from her eyes, shaking her hands balled around Lauren's in glee. "We can't tell anyone, I promise not to. Oh this is good enough to make a documentary out of." A distant shine covered Lauren's eyes as she thoughtfully considered the information, comfortably relaxing.

Ann let her hands open and cradled back around the book she returned her focus to, drawing Lauren's attention at the cold air wrapping her hands. "What is this anyway? Suddenly thinking of entering the show against me?" She clutched her chest in mock betrayal, gaping at Ann who glanced up and snorted in amusement, flipping the book towards Lauren. "So about lunch." Deciding the lines and lines of graphs and paragraphs of analysis was far less important than her growling stomach, the rider quirked an eyebrow. Laughing quietly so as not to alert the librarian, Ann closed the book and nodded, pointing towards the door. "How about the cafe? It shouldn't be crowded in this downpour." Lauren pumped her fist at her waist, leaping to her feet and cringing as the librarian glared over at them, Ann covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.