Anonymous asked: can you please write a second part to the story which Gail tells Holly she can't keeping doing this? Pleaaaaaase! Thank you!
It's only when the cool air hits her face that Holly grasps the magnitude of what she's done - that she has in-fact kissed her straight friend; on the lips, multiple times.
She's pretty sure she felt her up too, now that she's thinking about it.
The thought alone is enough to make her freeze as the panic sears through her body unceremoniously; a myriad of emotions working to disable the remnant of lust spreading throughout her system. But she doesn't have time to dwell on this matter, not when Gail is exiting the premise and slipping her hand readily into her own.
And just like that she knows that things are different, that they have changed.
She wants to ask what this means for them now. She wants to know how long Gail has envisioned her in this way; whether she's perceived as some sort of experiment like she mentioned before..
"Stop thinking so much, Lunchbox."
The flinch does not go unnoticed by Gail, who swiftly drops her hand in favour of stepping in front of her on the sidewalk.
"Hol?" She's not entirely sure why the nickname unnerves her; biting into her heart like a thorn, except it does. Maybe because it just goes to show that all of this really is meaningless, a mere joke..
"Holly?"
"I'm sorry, I just- I need to stop."
"Stop what?"
"My thoughts." She watches Gail reach out then as she delves her fingertips through her tresses before sinking them mellifluously into her left temple. It's so incredibly tender, and Holly can't help but be hypnotised by the gesture – her eyes observing Gail who's looking ardently at her, intent in her ministrations.
"Probably." She gently massages the spot about a dozen times before dropping her hand altogether. The loss of contact makes Holly exhale softly, her bottom lip protruding in protest.
Until Gail starts to speak, and all she can focus on is her words.
"I've had thoughts in passing, but I've never.." She can see the way Gail's lips flatten to form a stern line, one full of trouble and feeling. It makes Holly want to kiss her again, to remove it - to eradicate the perpetual frown working it's way into her features.
"What?"
"This is so much more. I'm feeling things I've never had to consider before." Holly can witness the fear in her eyes, even though she's trying hard not to let it show. It's minute, and with the blink of an eye, Gail has it under control. Except Holly knows that it happened and that it still exists, regardless of whether Gail decides to let it be known or not.
She goes to respond, but finds herself stumped by Gail's abrupt suggestion:
"Let's get out of here." She wasn't expecting Gail to be so forthright, to suddenly let go of her trepidations in favour of something she knows will only cause turmoil down the line. It's why when Gail tugs on her hand she pulls her extremity away, refusing to comply with her.
Her previous thoughts dull in order to embrace her friend's concerns, because what matters right now is being here for Gail. What happened between them tonight; what she may even mean to Gail - that can wait.
What Gail needs right now is a friend to help her understand the rest of it - not someone who is looking to take advantage of her when she's confused.
"I don't think that's wise, Gail." She wraps her arms around her midsection, and peers at Gail, watching as her friend reacts in disbelief.
"To talk. Geez Holly, I can keep it in my pants, you know." Her eyes rack over Gail's body, taking in her attire before she looks away, mumbling:
"Says the woman in a dress."
"Says the Pathologist that jumped my bones numerous times tonight." Holly's eyes dart back to Gail then, her mouth opening to expel the words on the edge of her tongue.
"Didn't look like-"
"Okay, let's just go somewhere neutral and talk."
She's grateful for the little respite, the usual banter that they are accustomed to – it goes to serve how even during heights of tension, they still know how to work. They still do work. It's a connection Holly's never really had before, at least like this one. It's startling and amazing and everything she's ever wanted yet never believed was possible.
It's also why she's doesn't particularly want to talk about them, at least right now. And judging by the way Gail is looking at her, that's probably what she will want to do.
The thing is; she can be a friend. She can listen and provide whatever support Gail will need during this difficult time, whether it's an ear or a bottle of Tequila. But to actually converse and speak of what's happened?
There's no denying the fact that she's terrified.
She's grown quite fond of this woman, and to be honest this could go in so many directions. She's afraid that even broaching the subject of their encounter will change what they've only just recently established - and she's not ready to lose that, not if she can help it.
"You want to?"
"What?"
"Talk?" She can tell that Gail is flabbergasted by her words because she's giving her that look, the one that tells her she's being silly and weird – and not in 'an us kind of weird'. It's so odd being able to detect all of that from just one look, but as Holly continues to stare at Gail, she knows that's what's happening right now.
"I was the one who suggested it, Hol."
"I'm just saying.. This moment right here? It can be an out; if that's what you choose."
The silence she is met with only fuels her, and she finds herself determined to carry on with this train of thought; to force Gail to contemplate the credence of her proposal.
Clearly it weighs heavy on her shoulders for Gail's eyes differ to the ground, seeming lost in her own world as she absorbs Holly's words. Holly takes a step towards her, bridging the gap between them if only to follow through with what's already been done.
"We can forget about what happened."
Except the second Gail lifts her head and looks at her, she realises they can't. She realises that by being this close to her, she can't help but look at her mouth and experience the way Gail inhales a generous amount of air through her parted lips.
How she has never fixated on these lips she'll never know, because right now they're the most beautiful set she's ever laid eyes on. And she wants nothing more than to lean forward and to dip her head just a little..
"Holly, did you not listen to a word I've said? Look, if this is freaking you out-"
"No, no it's not." Holly pulls back, her eyes flitting to Gail's as she tries to steady herself.
She feels like an exposed root in the earth, sensitive to everything. She may stand tall, and she may know who she is but she is terribly vulnerable to environment – specifically to this person right here. And she realises that with one look, she can buckle any second; she could fall if enough pressure is applied.
And she's not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing.
With a great exhale, Holly admits defeat. She can't lie to Gail, and there's no point in trying.
"Okay, a little bit. Kinda sprung up on me there."
"Mm."
"I don't regret it though; I don't regret kissing you." She can see the relief; can even feel it if she concentrates hard enough because she knows that they're in this together. The exchange they share is one full of affection and contentment at acknowledging that neither wants to take it back – that this pleasure is riffling through them both.
For the first time since it happened, Holly doesn't feel so troubled.
"Which time?" The smirk on Gail's face helps to relax her even more, and she can't help but wonder how she possibly ended up getting to know someone so special.
Her days have been infinitely better since knowing her.
"It's easy with you, why is that?"
"'Cause I'm awesome."
"Right." She watches Gail move to her, her eyes roaming over her body before locking in a charged gaze. It's enough to send ripples of desire down her spine once again.
Suddenly she understands why Gail couldn't handle this anymore, because seeing her like this, in front of her…
"If we don't go somewhere and talk, I might just kiss you again." It's a warning - one that's not to be taken lightly in her delirious state, for she can't remove her eyes from Gail's lips. It would be so easy to kiss her right now, to take that tongue that's swiping over her bottom lip and meld it zealously with her own.
"I won't be opposed to it, except.." Her eyes reluctantly rise to glance at Gail, trying to work out what she's trying to say.
"Except I don't see why you get to have all the fun."
"What do you mean?" She barely gets the words out of her mouth before Gail silences her with a kiss, one that takes her by surprise and which she welcomes unreservedly. She receives each stroke, taking delight in how she presses her lips softly, almost tentatively against hers until they begin to move with purpose.
And she eagerly abides.
No longer is Gail capturing her lips with gentle throes but trailing her teeth leisurely across her jaw and grasping at her sides with pent-up frustrations - aggravations she can identify with for the texture her hands impact is doing nothing for her in her current state of arousal. She wants more, wants to seek more.
But she knows, she knows.
She knows it can't happen. It shouldn't.
Yet that doesn't stop Gail from nipping at her neck, once, twice..
"Gail.." She hears Gail make a disgruntled noise in her throat as she jerks back. And Holly really can't help it. She really can't. Not when Gail is looking at her like this. Not when she's licking her lips in the way she does. Not when..
"Right, talking.. We should… Talk." She nods in approval, yet she doesn't move. Her eyes continue to look at her mouth, fascinated with how swollen they've become.
"Just.. Need to do some talking of my own first." She can hardly recognise her voice that has notably dropped a few octaves lower as she leans forward, this time determined to take charge.
But there's this moment - this split second, ineffable slither of time where her eyes catch the sight of Gail smiling. Genuinely smiling with such freedom she finds herself wishing that she never closed her eyes at all, that she never ceased the distance between them to claim her lips with her own – for she wanted to glimpse this vision for just a little while longer.
What she doesn't realise as she loses herself in this nirvana, is that it will still be there waiting for her when she returns.
