August Reveries (FreenBecky)

Chapter 9: Horseback Riding

Patricia was racking her brains out to finish a lengthy essay due today when Kirstin sneaked up on her and scared the crap out of the younger woman.

"Bloody Christ!" she exclaimed, causing a few heads to whip at them, some even glaring for making unnecessary loud noise inside the library. Patricia murmured her apologies and shot daggers at her best friend, who was snickering in delight, proud of herself for scaring her.

Kirstin then took the empty seat across from her and leaned in to speak quietly. "It's a miracle you didn't swing by the café this morning, mate," she said in her thick Australian accent.

"Are you still upset with me for chucking that rubber packet in your backpack?"

"Yes," the brunette simply huffed. But that's not why I haven't gone there yet. I have to finish this bloody essay, which I completely forgot about over the weekend." Patricia responded to the blonde girl without a glance. She was tunnel-focused on her Mac, typing frantically as her mind spewed word after word.

"That's the price you pay for putting love before schoolwork, mate," Kirstin smirked as she leaned back in her chair. "You still owe me some gossip, you know. You slept as soon as you arrived last night. Please keep your lovely best friend updated on your blossoming love life, will you."

Patricia rolled her eyes, not giving the girl a glance, and continued typing aggressively.

"Will you chill out, old Nan? Jesus, you're gonna bust those poor keys."

"I am in a hurry. Can you not disturb me right now?"

"Well, I will, but first, I gotta let you know that Miss Pretty Brown Eyes of yours was looking for you."

Patricia paused her busy fingers in mid-air at the mention of the older woman, allowing her poor keyboard to rest from the assault. She looked up at her best friend and noticed a playful grin on her face.

"Yeah?"

The blonde nodded. "She was. You know, you both really like that corner booth. Maybe I should seriously consider charging you both for its reservation..."

Kirstin's voice faded into the background as Patricia's thoughts drifted to the image of the older woman sitting elegantly at the corner booth, sketching and waiting for her. The butterflies that had taken up permanent residence in her stomach began to flutter.

Seeing her reaction, Kirstin leaned in closer, her blue eyes squinting at her best friend. "Are you really finishing your essay or just avoiding the woman? You used to do homework at the café, you know."

Caught, Patricia averted her gaze away from Kirstin's, and the latter simply chuckled as she saw her best friend blush like a freshly ripe tomato.

"Definitely, something happened," Kirstin leaned a little closer, whispering, "Did you use the rubber?"

Patricia gasped a little too loudly, prompting another glare from nearby students. The woman apologizes profusely to them, then smacks her best friend on the head. "Bloody, no! You're crazy."

Kirstin winced, caressing her head, but kept a teasing look at the agitated girl in front. "Then tell me, c'mon. Are you finally gonna have a girlfriend? You know it's about bloody time for you to be in a relationship."

"I'm not in a hurry." Patricia bit her bottom lip and refocused on her essay, skimming through her homework. Fuck it, I'm gonna pass this.

"But you're still planning to be. Is it gonna be with Miss Pretty Brown Eyes?"

"Not now, Tin."

"Obviously, you like the woman, yeah?"

Patricia didn't answer. Instead, the younger woman went over her homework one last time, checking for grammar and spelling errors before dragging her essay file into the submission portal and clicking send.