Silently Falling in Love: Race - #Wattys2017

Chapter 11 - March 1991

Hi everyone - so hope you're all doing well and enjoying the Fall.  Just like last time if I get 10 comments from 10 readers I'll post the next chapter otherwise you'll have to wait until next Tuesday for an update.  I know this chapter is short but I have the next couple of chapters written so we can keep the story moving with your encouragement.  I really do want to wrap up the story before 2016 is over!! Well that's my goal.  Your feedback and support really does help and encourages me to focus on my writing.  So I do hope you'll vote and comment.  Best, G.D.

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Anjali:

We were lying on the grass on our favorite spot on campus. We had found a grassy area with a few trees away from the main part of campus. We always came here whenever we needed to talk. This was our sanctuary.

"Do you think we should try again?" Arjun asked.

"You want to try right now right here?" I asked surprised.

"Yeah why not? This is the perfect place; it's our place."

I turn towards Arjun and placed my hand on his chest, "Okay, if you're up for it."

"Yeah I'm up for it that is if you're up for it."

"Yeah, I think I'm ready," I say as I look into Arjun's eyes. He puts his hand on my cheek. "This has been a hard few months."

"It's been hard for me too," I say and I mean it.

"I really want this to work," Arjun says as he buries his head into my shoulder and pulls our bodies closer. "Everything is so perfect except this one thing," Arjun continues.

"I keep thinking how can life be so cruel. How can so many things line up but this one thing doesn't?"

"Do you think we can get past this or get it to work?"

"There's only one way to find out," Arjun says as he runs his hands up my body.

"I've missed you," I say as I touch my lips softly to his lips.

Arjun deepens the kiss and takes his tongue and explores my mouth as our hands explore each other's bodies.

Arjun rolls on top of me and we fit our bodies together and align them up so we're touching completely.

For the next ten minutes we explore each other like it's our first time.

I push Arjun away a little so that I can grab a breath. We've been making out for the last ten minutes and I need some air.

Arjun rolls over on his back and now we're both staring into the sky.

"Was that any different for you?" Arjun asks.

"Not really. What about you?" I ask.

Arjun closes his eyes and takes a long breath before answering. "No it was about the same."

Now I take a deep breath. "I was hoping it would be different."

"Me too," Arjun said.

We both stared into the blue sky and let the silence settle over us.

"Anjali, did you do what we agreed on?"

"Yeah I did. Did you?" I asked back.

"I did."

"Did it feel differently with others?" I asked nervously.

Arjun turned to face me, "Look at me Anjali."

I turned to face him trying to make sure I didn't start crying. "Did it feel differently for you?"

"Honestly, Arjun, yes some of the time it did feel differently. Not all of the time but some of the time."

"As in it felt better or it felt worse?" Arjun asked curiously.

"Better. A lot better in some cases. It's the same with you isn't it? That's why this is so hard isn't it?"

"Yeah this really sucks. Why couldn't this be different?"

"I really thought having other experiences would make this better and it would solve our problem."

"I thought experimenting with other people would help with the lack of chemistry between us. I can't believe there's really no difference," Arjun said sadly.

"So what now?" I asked.

"Anjali you and I both know the answer to that. How long can we go with no chemistry between us?"

"Do you think it's because we're both virgins? I mean maybe if we had a lot more experience with other people we'd know what to do with each other."

"Come on sweetheart, if there was enough chemistry wouldn't we want to sleep with each other. Are you telling me that you had no desire to sleep with any of the guys you kissed?"

I couldn't look at Arjun directly and looked away. Arjun turned my face back towards him, "Come on, it's me you're talking to, we've always been honest with each other on everything. This can't be the exception."

"Okay you're right, yes I wanted to sleep with some of the other guys."

Arjun winced a bit when I said that.

We both were quiet as we heard the birds above us chirping.

"Anjali, we stay friends, like best friends but we date other people. Just know I'll never let a girlfriend get in between us and you better not let any boyfriend get in between us."

"So we continue hanging out together but we're not a couple."

"No, we're not a couple," Arjun says softly. "We need chemistry for a relationship to last otherwise one of us is going to end up hurting the other. We both know it's true."

"I know you're right, but it still hurts," I say trying to stay strong.

Arjun laughs lightly, "Maybe we'll be like When Harry Met Sally and somewhere later in life this will work itself out."

I laugh, "Wow we're going to have to wait a long time then."

I put my forehead to Arjun's, "You're perfect in so many ways, how is it we're not perfect in this way?"

"I don't know. I wish I knew because if I could fix it, I'd fix it in a heartbeat."

We lay there in each other's arms for another thirty minutes or so; it wasn't until the evening chill settled in that we got up and went back to the dorms.