(Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin)
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin sat side by side in a small café, nestled away from the bustling streets of Melbourne. The world outside was a blur of rain-soaked pavements and the occasional rumble of thunder. The ceiling of the café was an old plaster, cracked in places, but somehow, it added to the cozy charm of the place.
Kyra glanced at the window, watching the raindrops race each other down the glass. "Can't you just make it move faster?" she muttered with a hint of frustration, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.
Courtney chuckled softly, her gaze fixed on Kyra. "The rain? Or time?"
"Both, I guess." Kyra's lips curved into a smile as she turned back to Courtney. There was something comforting about being here, in this little bubble, away from the world. "It's kinda lovely, though, sitting here with you."
Courtney's cheeks flushed slightly. She was never good at hiding her feelings, especially around Kyra. "You're kinda cute, you know," she said, a playful tone in her voice, though it was accompanied by sincerity. But before Kyra could respond, the rain picked up, pounding against the windows harder.
Kyra looked down at her shoes, now soaked through. "Lovely to be rained on with you," she mused, shaking her head with a laugh. "But also, kinda inconvenient."
"It's a short moment," Courtney agreed, but there was a wistfulness in her voice. "I wish it could last longer."
As the evening darkened and the rain persisted, the two finished their drinks and reluctantly made their way outside. Courtney had driven them there, so they dashed through the rain to her car, their laughter echoing in the night. They were drenched by the time they slid into the seats, but they didn't care. Kyra's heart raced as she buckled her seatbelt, a strange mix of anticipation and reluctance swirling within her.
Courtney turned the key in the ignition, the car rumbling to life as the windshield wipers swiped rhythmically back and forth. The drive home was quiet, but not uncomfortable. The silence was filled with unspoken words, shared glances, and the sound of raindrops on the roof.
Kyra didn't want to leave. She didn't want the night to end. There was something about this—about Courtney—that made her feel like she was on the edge of something extraordinary. But all too soon, they pulled up outside her apartment. The car idled as they both hesitated.
"I guess this is it," Kyra said softly, unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Yeah," Courtney replied, her voice almost a whisper. But as Kyra reached for the door handle, something inside her snapped. She couldn't let it end like this. Without thinking, she leaned over and pressed her lips to Kyra's.
The kiss was soft, tentative, but it sent a jolt through both of them. It felt like the start of a movie Kyra had seen before—a perfect, fleeting moment suspended in time. But as she pulled back, reality crashed in. She knew it was just a moment, a beautiful one, but one that would soon fade.
With a sigh, Kyra opened the door. "Goodnight, Courtney."
"Goodnight, Kyra," Courtney echoed, watching as she stepped out into the rain once more. The door closed, and Kyra walked up the steps to her building, her heart still racing, her lips still tingling.
That night, as Kyra lay in bed, the events replayed in her mind. The feel of Courtney's lips on hers, the warmth of her touch, the way it felt like the beginning of something magical. But it was just a moment, and now it was over. She couldn't help but feel like she was living in a dream—a beautiful, bittersweet dream.
The next morning, Kyra awoke to a sense of emptiness, as if something important had slipped through her fingers. She couldn't shake the feeling, even as she went about her day. It wasn't real, she told herself. It was just a kiss, just a moment.
But deep down, she knew it meant more. It was the end of a movie she had seen before, but one that had never felt quite so real. And as the days passed, she found herself yearning for more moments with Courtney, even if she knew they could never be anything more than fleeting.
