RaStro FicS

She keeps me warm (8)

Glaiza turned off the engine after pulling up in front of her friend's apartment. Neither woman moved as they sat there in the car, both deep in thought. The red hair pondered what had transpired between them on the dance floor, while Glaiza wondered about the implications of their near kiss.

As Glaiza gazed at Rhian's profile silhouetted against the bright moonlight, the short hair felt herself falling. It scared her and exhilarated her entire being all at once. But the sullen expression on the red hair's face prompted Glaiza to ask. "You okay?"

The red hair only nodded slightly as she looked thoughtful for a long moment, contemplating Jules and Bianca's relationship. Their love had traveled a long and winding road and that was once filled with passion now dulled into accepted tolerance as each oh her friends busied themselves with their own wants and desires. Rhian asked herself if she was ready to face that kind of challenge in a relationship and prove her love for another would never be destroyed. Realizing that Glaiza was looking at her, she offered the short hair a small smile that did not reach her eyes.

"What's on your mind?" Glaiza asked after noting a far away look in her friend.

"Nothing."

"Uh huh." Glaiza wasn't convinced.

Rhian thought back to the circle booth her two friends had occupied earlier in the evening at the bar. She remembered the hurt look on Bianca's face. The red hair gave a nonchalant shrug. "Wondering how two people who used to love each other can end up hurting each other so much."

Nodding thoughtfully, Glaiza asked. "Your friends?"

"Yeah." Rhian let out a deep sigh. "When I first met them, they were so in love." The red hair turned in her seat and looked directly into Glaiza's brown eyes. "You wouldn't be able to tell it now."

Not knowing what to say, the short hair touched Rhian's forearm.

"Oh, they have their good moments. Don't get me wrong." Rhian explained. "But it's like they forgot how to care for each other. Like they forgot the most important thing in relationship."

Glaiza ducked her head slightly as her eyes asked the unspoken question. Her fingers brushed lightly over Rhian's skin.

"Love."

Glaiza jerked her hand back and quickly looked away, as painful memories flooded her mind. Shaking her head, desperately trying to push back the haunting, hurtful memories of her first love, the short hair renewed her vow. Never again!

Rhian immediately sensed the change in her friend. "You okay?"

Glaiza grabbed a hold of the steering wheel with both hands. Without looking at Rhian, she noted. "It's getting late."

Recognizing the obvious cue being sent her way, Rhian hesitantly asked. "Did I do something wrong?"

Feeling bad now, Glaiza let go of the death grip on the steering wheel. Hastily, she shot a look at the red hair. "No." Wanting desperately to lighten the mood, Glaiza teased. "I've got an early morning appointment with my massage therapist and she might not like it if I'm late."

"I see..." Rhian played along. "Maybe she'd consider pushing the appointment back a couple of hours if...she got something in return for the inconvenience."

Glaiza smiled at that comment. "Oh, and exactly what do you think she'd want?"

Rhian crossed her arms before bringing up a thoughtful finger to her lips. "You tell me..."

"I guess, it will have to be something good. Maybe go tattoo shopping?" Glaiza wiggled her eyebrows.

"Or maybe...just spending the afternoon together doing something fun." Rhian suggested.