Girlfriend On Mars

22. "Naked"

Twenty Two.

"Naked." 

There wasn't much time wasted. After lips parted, Jen returned to her regular, relaxed self, walking ahead, opening the door to her car for Marley to get in, teasing as she would. She watched the way the younger girl smiled, the way she walked—closely, so that often their hips would bump softly. Even in the car, Jen noticed that she wasn't sat like she usually would; knees angled towards the door. Instead, her body was nearer, laughs prettier, happiness radiating so strongly that Jen swore she could taste it.

It was all flowery, delicate, and Jen knew something was different. Everything felt more intimate, a bit too intimate and Jen asked herself when things changed, when she allowed herself to become so weirdly attached to the friendship, to Marley. She knew it wouldn't end well in the long run, she wasn't supposed to do the things she was doing, she wasn't supposed to be thinking the way she was. Marley's innocent happiness had to be from their recent reconciliation, it had to.

But then she looked back, saw the blonde humming absently at the radio, freckled face happy and flushed. It seemed that their previous awkwardness and all the bad feelings that had lingered in the week had dispersed. It seemed that Marley was relieved.

"What?" The blonde girl said suddenly.

"Nothing. What, you?" Jen teased, smiling slowly.

"What were you thinking?"

"Absolutely nothing important," Jen lied, then turning her head to glance at Marley. "You sure you're good with staying at mine?"

"I'm good with it, it's fine."

"I should really get my own place soon, I legally can, and my family can be annoying probably. You're okay with that, right?"

"I want to, it's okay." Marley smiled widely, watching Jen ramble and grumble. "Are you okay with me staying?"

"I am, I want you to."

"Good, I'm glad."

"I'm glad too."

"Good."

Jen grinned, "and when I get my new place, you can stay there as much as you want." Then she internally cringed, barely knowing what was leaving her mouth and what wasn't. She was promising future friendship, closeness, and she didn't know if she was okay with it. As long as it was only friendship, friendship and that only.

"I'll think about that one." Marley said quietly. "Good luck getting a place first."

"I'm working on it!"

It wasn't long before the two were up in Jen's room, hidden away in a corner of the world that smelt of old cigarettes and cheap detergent. Marley could feel herself slipping, her joy so overwhelming and weighty that she could feel herself falling asleep, eyelids heavy. Jen was reading, back pressed up against the wall, Marley lay at her side, arms curled around a corner of the comforter.

It was still; Jen silently reading, fingers unconsciously running up and down Marley's back over her shirt. To be apart, even for a moment, even though they were so close, felt odd to Jen. She liked the connection, like she was making sure Marley wouldn't disappear if she retracted her fingers.

She leant forward gingerly, trying to see the younger girl's face. "You're not asleep, are you?"

"No," came Marley's reply, thick with her obvious tiredness, "just comfy."

"Just say when you're gonna fall asleep."

Marley chuckled. "I'll try. What are you reading?"

"A book." Jen said, flipping the book to look at the cover as if she'd forgotten halfway through. "It, by Stephen King. It's creepy."