Sasha takes a deep breath. The cold air cuts into her lungs. Spring has not won over winter quite yet and the dark is still heavy with it. But it is the right kind to wake her up again, to shake her out of her tipsy stumble.
They are at some fellow student´s hose party. Nia and her.
And Sasha just needed a breather. It is getting stuffy in there with the crowd of people. Overwhelming. Even though Sasha has not had a lot to drink, she feels a bit off.
Nia has been talking to this girl from Contemporary Literature for the last forty minutes. Roughly. They are probably still standing in the kitchen. Hopefully.
Anyway.
Sasha just really needs some air right now. Out here the noise is bearable, the music tinny and the voices just a quiet hum. Calmer. Her thoughts are, too. Barely.
Usually it is easier to force herself to stop thinking for once when she is alone. Or with Nia.
Nia who listens and talks and shares herself. Sasha likes how Nia laughs and how smart she is and how beautiful. How easy their friendship is.
She does not need to take a breather when she is holed up at Nia´s for the weekend; or when they camp out in Sasha´s room for hours pretending to study, but actually just talk about anything and everything.
Being with Nia is never overwhelming.
But sometimes Sasha´s feelings for her are.
Goosebumps spread over her bare arms. Forty seconds, then she will go back in. She takes a look at her watch. Two forty-five. In half an hour she can hopefully justify going home. Luckily it is not far to her flat and her roommate should already be asleep as well.
The noise of the party behind her suddenly increases and spills into the cold night. Someone has opened the door and stepped out onto the balcony.
Sasha looks over her shoulder. It is Nia. They smile softly at each other.
Nia closes the door behind her and the noise settles again. She takes a step closer to join Sasha, leaning against the railing. She looks out into the dark. Takes a deep breath. Then she turns to Sasha.
“I´m getting pretty tired. It´s a bit too full. I guess you agree. Otherwise you wouldn’t still be out here, right?” She pointedly looks at the goosebumps all over Sasha´s pale arms. Her eyes trace over her arms, her chest, up her neck, and then she is looking into Sasha´s eyes again.
She holds the gaze.
A shiver runs up Sasha´s spine and she has to break eye contact. Her fingers start fiddling with the hem of her purple top without permission. She swallows heavily.
Nia´s eyes leave her skin burning.
Sasha looks up again.
Their eyes lock immediately. Nia´s gaze is weirdly intense. It makes Sasha´s skin prickle and her mouth dry. She tries to smile and knows it looks weak.
Nia just takes a step closer, never breaking eye contact. But she does not touch the other. Only when Sasha slowly, cautiously, shuffles half a step closer – because how can this be – does Nia lift her hand. Places it carefully over Sasha´s hip and waits for her to close the distance, the last few centimeters.
When they finally touch, her skin is burning, right through Sasha´s clothes and into her core.
It makes Sasha´s breath hitch.
She lets her eyes travel over Nia´s face, her dark skin, her nose, her full lips parted slightly. Anticipating.
Her eyes are impossibly deep.
Something in Sasha settles. She takes the last step forward, slots her leg between Nia´s.
They both take in a sharp breath at the sensation of finally, finally touching.
Their eyes are fixed on each other.
Sasha lifts her hand and lets her fingers glide softly up Nia´s arm. All the way from where her hand rests on Sasha´s hip up to where her shoulder meets her neck. Her skin is soft there, and warm.
Sasha lets her fingertips dance over the spot before she rests her hand on Nia´s neck, her fingers buried in the locks there. Damp, from the humid air inside.
Like this, Sasha can feel Nia´s pulse under her hand. It is racing. She looks where her hand rests on skin. She wants. Sasha looks back up into Nia´s eyes.
“Okay?” her voice is hoarse. “Yes,” Nia whisper back.
She leans in. Sasha moves with her.
And then their lips meet.
The angle is slightly off and their lips are chapped from the cold air and it is perfect.
Sasha sighs into the kiss and for a second they just stand there on the balcony at 3 am, lips against each other.
Then they finally realize. Sasha pulls Nia towards herself with the hand on her neck and hooks her other arm around her waist. Both of Nia´s hands move to grasp her hips, tightly, warmly, never letting go.
Their lips move together, open slightly, just a taste. Nia gasps and caresses Sasha´s waist with gentle fingers. Sasha clutches the thin fabric of her top and it is not enough and she wants her closer.
They kiss and kiss and kiss.
Until Sasha breaks away. Takes a deep breath.
It still feels like starving.
She moves her hand from Nia´s neck and strokes a single finger over her collarbone instead. Then she meets her eyes. They are still deep, and calm.
Nia is smiling. Softly, secretly.
“Hi,” she whispers. Sasha smiles back, “hey,” she sighs. Then she leans back in. Steals another kiss.
When they part again, Nia does not let her go. She wraps her arms around her and lays her head on Sasha´s shoulder.
Her breath is warm against her cheek. And they just hold each other for a little while.
When Sasha shudders in the soft breeze, Nia draws back and straightens up. Her eyes shine. “Let´s go. It´s an appropriate time to leave now. I want to take you home.” She strokes a hand through Sasha´s hair. “Is that okay?”
Sasha breathes, her skin tingling. Nods. “Yes, god yes. Of course.”
She takes Nia´s hand in hers, lets their fingers tangle loosely and drags her back inside, to go home.
YOU ARE READING
Never Say Goodbye or A Love Story in Hellos
Short StorySasha and Nia meet and meet again. They fall for each other somewhere in between their hellos.