Every Friday they met, Kristina's eyes had a new light in them, her face a fresh glow. And Parker's smile...Kristina suddenly noticed Parker's smile and she liked it very much. Parker didn't smile like this in class or laugh like this. Rays formed at the corners of Parker's eyes, her tongue was so pink and her teeth in perfect order. With the laughter, a coffee aroma on Parker's breath often traveled across the space between them. Kristina liked that too. She now associated the smell of sipped coffee with her moments with Parker; shared ideas, expanding her mind, challenging her beliefs. Coffee would never just smell like coffee again.
"This one's a Roman Payne," Parker said, reading from her iPad.
"Again?" Kristina feigned boredom.
"Well, it was his quote that caught your attention the first time."
Kristina blushed. No it wasn't. You did.
"It says," Parker read, "'...you must risk everything for Freedom, and give everything for Passion, loving everything that your hearts and your bodies love.'" Parker stopped and her eyebrows raised with surprised. "Oh my. I think you should read the rest of this yourself."
Parker tapped the spot next to her.
They were in their usual seats, across from each other in the booth made for two. It was designed for two people facing each other and, perhaps 1½ people seated side-by-side, but Parker invited Kristina to her side anyway. She shifted over as much as she could so Kristina could comfortably squeeze in beside her. Their light attire left much of their skin exposed so their bare thighs touched - pressed against each other - their upper arms as well.
Like milk. A glass of warm milk.
Kristina read under her breath while Parker read aloud, "'The only thing higher for a girl and more sacred for a young woman than her freedom and her passion should be her desire to make her life into poetry, surrendering everything she has to create a life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in her imagination.'"
Kristina wasn't reading anymore; she wasn't listening anymore. All she saw were the lines in Parker's neck; ageless lines, fluid lines. Kristina counted each one of them by mouthing the numbers on her lips. Her lips were so close to those lines.
"Is everything okay?" Parker asked, suddenly looking right at Kristina.
Their gaze spanned a bridge of longing, the distance of one breath away.
"Yes?", Kristina said with uncertainty, then, "Yes! I just...I just feel so…I don't know. I don't know!"
Kristina trembled with an unfettered zeal. Her eyes. Soft cheek. Her lips. Kiss...
Sitting that close, Parker finally saw the reflection that Kristina saw of her. Through Kristina's eyes, Parker saw herself anew, as light, as inspiration, as promise; attractive. It had been a long time since Parker had someone look at her like that, not since she had met Amanda.
"I don't know either, Kristina but it's written all over your face…" Parker paused to measure the consequence of what she was about the say. "Your honest...beautiful face."