Tara looked her in the eyes. Beth looked down and played with the hem of her shorts. She spoke with a small voice, silent tears emerging from her eyes, "I thought you were leaving…" Tara took a deep breath. "I was planning on going… I changed my mind at the last minute."
"Is that why you left the room so fast the other night?" Tara smiled, "Yes." Beth wanted to know why; but she knew why. She could feel the energy bouncing around them. Goosebumps grew on Tara's arms. Beth licked her lips causing Tara to blush. They sat across from each other, not saying a word, until sundown. Beth's face contorted, she didn't know how to say what she wanted to say. She settled. "I don't know. I'm scared."
Tara came closer, "Why?" Beth shrugged, "I'm not… not gay." Tara laughed. Beth shrunk, offended. "You don't need to laugh."
"Beth, this isn't exactly a society where labels matter anymore. You're either: dead, undead, or alive. We are fortunate enough to be alive. People turned so evil. I didn't think there was any good left in the world. I was sure love and beauty didn't exist…" Tara put her hand on Beth's; causing her to look into the brown eyes, "until I met you."
They laid side by side, fingers intertwined, looking into each other's eyes until almost dawn. Beth jumped out of bed quickly. "I want to show you something." Tara followed her into the chapel. Everyone still asleep, the girls crept passed them. "Where are we going?" Tara whispered.
"It's a surprise." She grabbed a blanket and headed towards the door. "Are you sure about this Beth?" She rolled her eyes her hand on the knob, "Trust me."
The space in front of them looked clear of movement. Beth led her around the corner of the church. A ladder had appeared and with no hesitation Beth ascended. Tara looked up, it appeared the rungs lead to the roof of the church, away from the bell tower. "Come on." Tara obliged trying not to look down. She did anyways, her stomach became woozy. They had both reached the top. Beth sauntered across the roof and laid out the blanket. She sat leaning back on her elbows, ankles crossed. Tara sat Indian style. The sun had broken the horizon. Tara admired the way the golden sun reflected off of Beth's skin. Her hair glowed, a shining halo around her.
Beth turned to her. "You were looking at me at the feast." It wasn't a question, just a fact. "I'm sorry."
"I liked it." Beth held her hand, drawing small circles with her thumb. Tara confessed, "I like looking at you."
Beth smiled, bringing her face closer, "You know I always wondered something…"
"What's that?"
"Close your eyes." Beth observed Tara for a moment, watching the way her cheeks flooded with red. She pressed her lips to Tara's, questioning at first. Tara broke away and looked into Beth's eyes, asking the unspoken question. Beth didn't answer; instead she closed her eyes and placed her lips on Tara's once more. She returned the kiss. Beth's hands had found their way to the soft skin around Tara's waist. She needed to breathe, but she didn't want to. She had felt nothing like this ever in her life. Beth needed Tara, she needed her now.
Tara felt the same need, deep inside of her chest. She felt Beth fumbling around the buttons of her shirt. She needed to breathe. She pulled away, out of breath. Beth's lips discovered her neck. She put her hands on the other girl's shoulders and pushed. "Beth…" Tara said breathless.
"I know, I know. I want to go slow too but I don't think I can control myself." Tara knew how she felt. Tara felt something else too, she couldn't quite put her finger on it until her stomach rumbled- answering her question. They left the roof, but before they went back inside the chapel Beth stopped Tara. "Listen, I really like you, I do…"
"But…?"
"But, I want to wait to tell everyone."
"Any particular reason why?"
"Just trust me, please." Her answer satisfied Tara- though she was certain the happiness on her face would be a dead giveaway.