WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

5. Unspoken

When Astra and Vanessa finally reached the college campus, the night was still and quiet, the cool air wrapping around them as they made their way through the winding paths. The buildings loomed above them, bathed in the soft, yellow light of the lampposts. Vanessa walked a little slower as they approached her dorm, savoring these last moments of the night with Astra by her side. When they reached Vanessa's door, she hesitated, turning to Astra with a look that was both pleading and sincere. "It's already late... and I don't want you walking back alone. Why don't you stay over? Just... stay with me tonight?" Her voice softened, and there was a vulnerability there that Astra hadn't seen before. Astra shifted on her feet, her eyes darting to the floor for a moment. "I don't know if that's a good idea, Vanessa," she said gently, her voice wavering with uncertainty. "I don't want to mess things up between us... not again. Last night was.. well, it was intense, and I just... I don't want to rush this. "Vanessa's heart clenched at Astra's words, anybody else would have just used her and slept with her again, but Astra was different. She hit on the wrong girl last night...Or maybe she was just the right one. A pang of frustration and longing surging through her. But as she looked at Astra's face, the genuine care in her eyes, it wasn't just a brush-off. Astra actually wanted to protect whatever fragile connection they had managed to build between them. But right now, Vanessa didn't want to think about tomorrow or the complications. She didn't want to think about how the morning would look or how messy things might get. She just wanted Astra close, to drown out the mess of feelings swirling inside her. So, she leaned in and kissed Astra, hard and desperate, pouring all her uncertainty and need into that kiss. Astra stiffened for a moment, caught off guard by the intensity of Vanessa's lips against hers. But then she melted into the kiss, her arms wrapping around Vanessa's waist. She could feel the urgency in the way Vanessa's hands clutched at her, the way her body pressed closer as if trying to erase the space between them. It was impossible not to feel the longing and the need in every touch, every breath they shared. When Astra finally found the strength to broke apart, she was already missing vanessa's lips in hers and the mixed test of nicotine and alcohol on her. Vanessa's lips were slightly swollen, her eyes dark with a mix of emotion and desire. "Vanessa you're still drunk and maybe also high.. This is not right, besides, if you really want this tomorrow you'll still gonna know where to find me. I'll be waiting." Astra said.

 "Please, just stay," she whispered, her voice barely holding back the desperation she felt. "I'm not drunk anymore, I swear, but... I just don't want to be alone tonight. Just for tonight, forget everything else." Astra looked at her, breathing heavily, her mind waging a war between what she thought was right and the pull of the moment. She could see it in Vanessa's eyes, this wasn't just about the physical connection, but something deeper, something both of them were afraid to fully name yet.
With a quiet sigh, Astra cupped Vanessa's face in her hands, pressing her forehead against hers for a moment. "Vanessa... you make this so hard," she whispered, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips despite herself. Then, she took a deep breath and nodded, a flicker of resolve melting away in the warmth between them.

Astra studied Vanessa's expression, reading the eagerness and hope in her eyes. She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, though she kept her tone firm. "Alright, just for tonight. But nothing will happen... clear? I don't want to have sex with you if you're drunk, even if you say you're not, you still look tipsy to me, and I don't want either of us to regret anything tomorrow morning."

"Crystal clear," Vanessa replied, her face lighting up with relief and gratitude. She took Astra's hand, pulling her gently inside. As the door clicked shut behind them, the world outside faded away, leaving them alone in the comforting shadows of the room.Once inside, Vanessa glanced over, a hint of shyness in her voice. "Can we at least... sleep holding each other?"Astra felt a warmth spread through her chest at the simple request, and she nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that. But just holding, okay? Nothing more." She shot Vanessa a playful but serious look to make her point clear, and Vanessa answered with a smile, pulling out an oversized t-shirt from her drawer and handing it to Astra.Astra took the t-shirt with a small laugh, appreciating its worn softness. "Thanks. I'll use the bathroom first, I'll be real quick." She disappeared into the bathroom to change, and when she came out a few minutes later, Vanessa couldn't help but stare. Astra's hair was a bit tousled, and she looked effortlessly beautiful in the loose shirt that hung just right on her.As Astra walked past, Vanessa moved closer, caught in the pull of the moment, her heart quickening as she took in the sight of Astra. But before she could do anything more, Astra stepped to the side, raising a playful eyebrow. "Bathroom's all yours."Vanessa chuckled softly, trying to shake off the tension and her own unsteady thoughts. She turned toward the bathroom, but in her daze, she misjudged the distance and bumped her head straight into the doorframe with a soft thud. "Ow!" she exclaimed, rubbing her forehead with a wince.Astra's eyes widened, rushing over to steady her. "Are you okay?" she asked, her hands gently holding Vanessa's shoulders as she looked her over. Vanessa tried to laugh it off, waving her hand dismissively, but Astra wouldn't hear it. "You're not fine. Come on, let's get you sorted out." She led Vanessa inside the bathroom and, with a mischievous grin, turned on the cold water, splashing a little onto Vanessa's face.Vanessa gasped at the sudden chill, letting out a breathy laugh. "Oh shit! That's freezing!" She spluttered, trying to back away but failing. The cool droplets dripped down her cheeks, and Astra couldn't help but laugh along, shaking her head at Vanessa's exaggerated protests.As the laughter died down, the space between them seemed to shrink, the air growing heavier with a tension that neither could ignore. Their smiles faded into something more serious as they gazed at each other. Astra's hands lingered near Vanessa's face, her fingers brushing away a stray drop of water from her cheek, while Vanessa's breath hitched at the contact, her pulse quickening.Their eyes locked, and it felt like time slowed. Astra's pupils dilated slightly, the reflection of the dim bathroom light dancing in the depth of her gaze, and Vanessa could see the way her own emotions were mirrored there. She took a step closer, and Astra's breathing hitched, her own lips parting as if to speak, but the words never came.In that charged silence, something shifted. Vanessa leaned in, closing the distance between them, and Astra, for just a moment, closed her eyes as their lips met, a kiss that was gentle but filled with all the unspoken feelings that had been building between them. It was a kiss that neither of them planned, but in that moment, it felt like the only answer to the questions that hung between them.