Never Say Goodbye or A Love Story in Hellos

Twelve.

When Sasha opens the door again, the flat is quiet. No rustling, no talking to be heard.

Slowly, she steps into the hallway. Boxes are lined up along the walls but all the coats that had been lying around earlier are gone. Their friends had left then. Putting down her own jacket and the bag full of the nails and tape she went out for, Sasha walks further inside the apartment.

No girlfriend in the kitchen, only a mess of open cabinets and boxes. “Babe?” she calls and follows Nia´s answer into the living room.

Her girlfriend sits on the floor, half hidden behind the blue couch still wrapped up in plastic. She is sorting through a box of their books to go up on the shelves they had hung up earlier that day. Sasha doubts all of them will fit. It does not matter. They still have space in their bedroom.

Theirs.

It makes Sasha still giddy, hearing that word. Knowing that they will finally be living together, officially. It feels like at last they both have overcome the chaos of the last few months. Of Nia applying for an endless amount of teaching jobs and Sasha herself trying to fit into her own work post and tasks.

But now.

Now they have finally settled. In their jobs, in this flat and with each other. Sasha is still in awe of how far they have come.

And it always makes her smile. Seeing Nia, her girlfriend, sitting on the floor in their flat is the most beautiful sight. The mess around them does not matter; their ratty clothes and their tiredness do not. They are home.

Sasha feels a bit cheesy and a lot happy as she drops down on the floor next to Nia. “Hello,” she sing-songs and leans in to kiss Nia´s cheek. Her nose scrunches up cutely and she turns to face Sasha. “At least kiss me for real,” she complains. Sasha laughs and complies.

Kissing Nia is not new. It is something Sasha hopes she will never get used to. Something comfortable and sweet and hot and amazing. Even like this, when they are sitting on the fake hardwood floor leaning into each other a bit awkwardly, both tired and wrung out, it is amazing.

Sasha feels herself starting to smile into the kiss and draws back. Only a little. Just so that they can look into each other´s eyes.

“What?” Nia grins, her voice a happy lilt. Sasha chuckles. “I just really, really love you.” At her words Nia´s grin morphs into a smile. Something soft and intimate. “I love you too. Really, really,” she whispers. Shuffles closer and leans against Sasha´s side.

Sasha lets her head drop onto Nia´s shoulder and presses her face into the crook of her neck. Kisses the warm skin there. Nia takes her hand in hers and starts drawing little patterns on the back of it. Swirls and lines and shapes. Content just being with each other.

Nia breaks the silence a while later. “You want to get pizza? We could order in.” Sasha nods. Suddenly, she is very hungry. “Sure,” she agrees, “When did the others leave anyway?” Nia looks at her watch.

“Half an hour ago, maybe. Keira was of the opinion they should give us some space so we can christen the new flat. I think we should follow that suggestion.” Her voice is teasing, and a little bit alluring. Sasha snorts and moves away from Nia in mock offence. “Wow,” she drawls, “That´s the seduction I´ve been dreaming about, Very romantic.”

Nia rolls her eyes but she is grinning. “We only have an old mattress right now anyway. No rose petals and silk sheets today. My deepest apologies.” Sasha swats her away and adds: “Some fine dining beforehand and then we´ll talk. Pizza, you´re thinking?”

Pulling out her phone she waits for Nia´s nod before dialing. They place their order and when Sasha tells the guy on the phone their new address she cannot help but smile again. She squeezes Nia´s hand I hers. Nia squeezes back.

While they wait for their food to arrive, they continue sorting through their books and placing them on the shelves. They do not fit.

In the end they decide, via a shared look and a glare at the still unpacked boxes everywhere that they will do the rest tomorrow. Or at least this week.

The pizzas arrive and Sasha makes her way through the mess of boxes to the front door. When she comes back into the living room, Nia has thrown some cushions on the floor and placed white plastic cups in the middle. God knows where she pulled them from.

Gently, Sasha places the pizzas on the floor in between them and drops onto one of the pillows. They toast with coke from plastic cups and eat from the boxes.

It is the most romantic dinner date they have ever been on, they agree.