Dixison: Roommates

Euphoria

Addison's POV

Dixie's hands rested lightly on the steering wheel, fingers curving around the top, thumb gripping the handle. She reached over, hand traveling through the air, reaching, reaching...

"It feels amazing outside today," she said, slender arm moving in front of my chest. 

I drew a deep breath in, waiting.

Bzzzzzzzz. The window rolled down slowly, and I exhaled shakily. 

Did I want her to touch me? To push my hair behind my ear? To brush over my thigh, fingertips resting on my knee?

"Mhm," I mumbled, lost in my thoughts. 

I did, I decided. I wanted to feel her hand in mine, like I had last night. But she was sober. And didn't think of me that way. And she's straight... and so am I.

"We're almost there," she said, looking at me with a smile. 

I returned her gaze, a smile creeping onto my face. Contagious.

Dixie's POV

"Okay, close your eyes," I said, hopping out of the car, my sneakers hitting the gravel of the parking lot.

I walked around the car, opening the passenger door.

"I can't see, help me!" she pouted, upturned hand reaching for mine.

I took her hand, soft and warm in my own, and guided her out of the car. 

She giggled, eyes closed, and I looked at her in all of her girlish glory. Long, tan arms, with shoulders rolled back, exposing glowing collar bones under the curve of her ribbed tank top.

We walked, hand in hand, to the entrance.

"Okay,"  I said. "Look."

Pink shadowed eyelids opened to reveal sparkling brown eyes, gazing widely at the unfolding scenery.

"You took me to the carnival," she turned to look at me, hand gripping mine.

I met her eyes, searching her face. "What do you think?"

"Dixie..." she said slowly. "I'm so HAPPY!" jumping onto me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I laughed in relief, wrapping my arms around her back. She spun us around, jumping and shrieking in joy.

"I love the carnival! I haven't been to one since I left Louisiana," she laughed, pulling me through the entrance.

6 PM

Dixie's POV

We had sat in the teacups, spinning, as I watched the rest of the world blur around her. We had eaten cotton candy, sticky fingers bumping into one another as we walked side by side down the boardwalk. We'd played games—ring toss, balloon darts, race horse.

I won a fluffy pink unicorn, and she cheered loudly, long blonde hair falling over her shoulders as she threw her head back, laughing. 

When I handed it to her, she looked at me, wide eyes and wondering, and I bashfully ducked my head, "I want you to have him. You'll make him feel safe."

She was quiet for a moment, watching me as I kicked at the gravel on the ground. "Do I make you feel safe?"

I looked up, unable to meet her gaze. 

"Come on," I said, smiling at the ground, pulling her to the next adventure.

Now, we were loading into a passenger car at the ferris wheel. The sun was setting, a bubble gum pink color filling the evening sky. The air was warm, and a soft breeze blew through our hair.

She sat next to me, scooting into me as the ride went up, up, up.

We said nothing as we surveiled the park from below, miles above the chaos and the crowds. She leaned her head onto my shoulder, looping her arm through mine.

"Thank you."

I looked down at the top of her head, wishing I could plant a kiss on the crown. She looked up, meeting my gaze, eyes shining like they had this morning.

Seconds went by, and I realized I hadn't said anything. 

"Um," I cleared my throat. "You're welcome. I'm glad you agreed to come with me."

"So am I. Like... really glad."

She picked her head up off my shoulder, sitting up straight and turning to look at the view below.

"Everything is so crazy down there. I wish I could stay up here forever."

"You'd get bored."  I tried to smile.

She turned toward me, eyes ghosting over my face, briefly settling on my lips. 

"I don't think so."

I licked my lips, subconsciously, my own eyes sweeping over her face and down to her own.

I clenched my jaw, suddenly remembering where we were, who we were. 

Addison and Dixie, famously straight American girls. I sighed, tiredly, bringing my hand and brushing the hair out of my face.

"I think so."

She studied me quietly, and once again leaned her head on my shoulder. "Nah. I couldn't think of anywhere else I'd want to be."