Author's note

Thank you to everyone who read/reviewed/favourited this story when I moved it over from Tumblr. It's always so lovely to hear what you think!:)

Chapter 2

Sybil sank into the back seat of the yellow cab as it sped away. Her mind was whirling, her body aching and spent, as she pulled her phone from her bag – four missed calls.

"Sybil? Oh thank God it's you, I've been worried sick. Where have you been?"

"It's a long story, Gwen. Really sorry to mess you around. Can I ask you a huge favour? Can you bring my bag out to JFK and meet me there? I won't have time to get back to Brooklyn and pick it up."

"Sure, sweetie, no problem. I was going to take you out there today anyway. I'll be there soon and I expect you to tell me everything!"

Sybil put her phone away and closed her eyes, memories of the night before running through her mind on an endless loop.

His mouth on her after he dropped to his knees in the stairwell and lifted her skirt...

Her legs around his waist as he pushed her up against the door...

His lips kissing every inch of her skin once they made it as far as his living room floor...

Her arms braced against the head of his bed while he drove into her...

His hands on her hips as he guided her onto all fours...

Her screams for more which were loud enough to wake the neighbours...

Overwhelmed with longing, she felt something uncoiling deep in her belly. She forced herself to look out at the grey streets of Queens as they flashed past, forced herself to rejoin a black and white world that seemed less real to her now than the world in colour she had discovered with him, with Tom.

The trip to the airport was over sooner than she expected. As she came through the door of the terminal, she saw Gwen, whose eyes lit up as she ran over to give Sybil a hug.

Soon, check-in formalities were complete, and they had settled with cups of coffee in the airport cafe.

"OK, what the hell happened to you last night? You tell me you are leaving with a guy you have just met, and then nothing? I had no idea where you were, if you were OK..."

Sybil held up a hand – "Gwen, I know, I'm really sorry. I should have sent you a message. Can you forgive me?"

Gwen smiled at her. "Don't be daft. Of course! I was just worried about you, that's all."

"I get that, I really do. I don't know what the hell happened to me last night. After we left..." Sybil's eyes half closed and in spite of herself she was about to let the images of last night play through her mind again when Gwen spoke.

"Sybil, what's got into you? I've never seen you like this before."

"Nothing like this ever happened to me before, that's why! I don't even know his last name, but somehow... I made a mistake, Gwen, such a huge mistake!"

"What do you mean, a mistake? Do you mean having a one night stand? Don't beat yourself up about that. Probably post-exam stress, you needed some kind of release."

"No, that's not it. I know it sounds totally insane, but somehow I think... no, that's crazy." She shook her head, trying to clear it. "Don't mind me, I'm just sleep deprived."

They hugged, and then Sybil pulled away, leaning down to pick up her bag. "I'd better go. I'll be cutting it fine getting through security as it is."

"Call me when you get home, yeah? It's been so lovely having you to stay."

"Thanks, you're a star. It's been brilliant, all of it."

An hour later, Sybil was staring out the window of the plane. She could still taste Tom's kisses on her lips, mingled with the salt of a tear that slid unnoticed down her cheek as she remembered her last sight of him that morning. His face boyish and peaceful, his beautiful eyes closed as she pulled the door shut behind her.

Finally, she let herself finish the thought she'd been unable to voice to Gwen earlier.

I think – I know it's crazy but I think I'm falling in love with him, and now I'll never see him again because I was too afraid of what I was feeling and ran away! Oh God, what have I done?