Jane watched Maura hesitate in the doorway of the bar, having not darkened the doors since that day she snatched Jane from her poker game.
"Jane, my birthday isn't until Wednesday!" Maura still looked shocked. Jane stepped up and put her hand on the small of Maura's back, gently pushing her forward. With the other hand, she took hold of a beer that Korsak handed her. She slipped it into Maura's hand and then grabbed another one for herself.
"Drink up, Maura. This is your last lesson of the summer. We're gonna play some poker after this." Jane clinked her bottle against Maura's then tipped it up and took a long sip.
Maura just looked on, watching with rapt attention as Jane's throat undulated as she drank. Shaking herself from her stupor, she stammered out, "But, I don't drink, Jane! Nor do I play poker." Jane, having learned about Maura's competitive nature, just shrugged.
"Okay, Maura. I've never seen you turn down the chance to learn somethin' new. But, if you want to start tonight I guess that's okay…" she trailed off, knowing Maura would take the bait.
The honey blonde looked chastened for a moment before her face set in determination. "You're right. Here's to...learning new things." She took a large gulp from her own bottle and then proceeded to shiver and cough slightly. Jane slapped her on the back a few times and laughed.
"That's the spirit, Maur. C'mon, they already set the table up for us" Maura for her part, glowed at the nickname as they both walked over to the card table.
FGR-FGR-FGR-FGR-FGR-FGR
Jane was certainly feeling the effect of the several beers she had consumed. She was sitting right next to Maura at the poker table, leaning over often to help Maura place her bets. Maura was feeling the alcohol, too, not used to drinking at all. Everytime Jane got close to whisper the details of her hand, she giggled involuntarily.
Jane leaned back just to take in the sight of her friend. Her hair was mused and face was flushed from the alcohol and the happiness from just winning the latest hand. She watched as Maura stretched over the table, using her arms to sweep the chips toward herself. Jane couldn't help but follow the lines of Maura's delicate fingers, slender arms. Up her shoulders and across her chest. Jane had enough awareness to realize she had been staring at Maura's chest a lot lately.
She tried to feel embarrassed at this realization, but couldn't bring herself to be anything but enamored. Maura had affected her unlike anyone she had ever met. Jane spent her recent days trying to find ways to make Maura laugh, to entertain her. The honey-blonde had quickly become the most important person in her life which Jane struggled to explain. She had never had particularly strong attachments to anyone, even her family at times. But, Maura cut through all of that and had wiggled her way into Jane's life like they had known each other for years.
In a sense, they had known each other a long time in a way. They experienced trauma together that had changed both of them forever. That kind of connection doesn't just go away. But Jane knew this was more than what happened that fateful day on the dam. Her growing affection started there, maybe. But, it had long surpassed a connection between two victims. The raven haired woman had been trying to come to terms with her feelings all summer, but hadn't come to a conclusion besides the one resonating fact: she really liked Maura, liked spending time with her, and she was dreading the day Maura had to go back home. Not wanting to be maudlin on Maura's birthday, she focused back on the scene around her.
Maura was laughing at something Korsak said, her head tipped back in drunken joy. Jane just smiled and spoke up, "Well boys, I think it's about time we taught Maura about baseball. What do y'all think?" The men cheered and rose from the table and surrounding chairs. However, Maura looked put out that they were quitting the game after she had acquired so many of their chips. She whined up at Jane. "Jaaaneee. I was just about to make them all cry like little babies."
Jane snickered at Maura's slightly slurred voice and her whiny tone. She grabbed Maura's hand and pulled her up to a standing position. "I know Maura you really were kickin' their asses. That's why I stopped the game. Couldn't let you do that to 'em on your first time playin'. Plus you gotta learn about baseball. It's the most important lesson of the night." She pulled Maura out the back door of the bar where the boys had already made a makeshift field that jutted up to the river.
Maura grumbled, "Fine. But, if I do good at this, too, you gotta let me beat them, Jane." She gave Jane a stern look, which only made Jane crack up. At Maura's continued sincerity, she straightened up.
"Right Maura. C'mon you can bat first." Jane caught the ball from one of the men and took her place out on the pitcher's rubber.
Korsak, the catcher, stepped up and handed Maura the bat. Then reached out again to turn the bat right-side-up.
"Alright, Marua just step up to the plate there." Jane tried giving the blonde instructions. "No, the other side. There you go. Hold the bat up like this." She mimed holding a bat. "Okay now spread your legs a little and bend at the knee. Nope, too much. Alright, that's good. Get ready I'm about to throw it in there."
Jane went through her wind-up, albeit a little less athletically than normal. The ball went right past Maura and the blonde didn't even swing. Instead she was just staring at Jane.
"Maura? Hello? You're s'posed to swing when the ball comes by." Her arms flailed out by her sides as she spoke. Maura just looked taken aback, then started giggling.
"Sorry, Jane. I got distracted. Throw it again." Korsak threw the ball back to Jane and laughed to himself at Maura. Maura resumed her stance and Jane went through the wind-up once more. This time Maura swung and missed.
"Okay, that was better. But you got two strikes so you better make contact this time or you're out." Jane got the ball back and went through her wind-up a little slower, giving Maura time to watch closely. She threw the ball as straight as possible.
Thwack!
Maura screeched in joy. "Jane! I hit it!" She twirled around and hugged Korsak.
Jane called out from the pitcher's mound. "Run, Maura, quit huggin' everybody," she said through laughter. "Run to first!" She pointed at the base to her left.
Maura took a few hesitant steps before she took off to first, hugging the first baseman. This continued as she ran all around the bases. All of the men were very amused and happy to hug a beautiful young woman if that's what she wanted. Jane just shook her head and laughed as her friend made it around the pseudo-diamond. After Maura stepped on home plate, she turned at 90 degrees and made a run for Jane.
Making a leap at the last second, she jumped onto Jane, wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck and her legs around her middle. Jane's arms came up to hold Maura but she was taken too off guard by the blonde. Stumbling a few steps backward, they both fell into a heap on the ground, laughing uncontrollably.
Maura was still giggling when she said in Jane's neck, "I think that's what they call a homerun, Jane." Jane's body under her vibrated once again with laughter.
"Yeah, Maur. That was a homerun for sure." Maura was still on top of her when she lifted her head and looked into Jane's eyes. They were both deadly still for a moment, drowning out everyone around them. But then, from their right, a man started yelling about doing shots and the cheers that followed snapped them both out of their reverie.
The both struggled to get off the ground but made it upright once again. Jane grabbed Maura's hand and pulled her in direction of the river, not paying any mind to the boys behind them. "C'mon Maur. We should finish that poker game."
FGR-FGR-FGR-FGR-FGR-FGR
Fifteen minutes later, Jane had convinced Maura to take a dip in the river. For her part, she stripped off her button up and was swimming in her shorts and tank top. Maura had shed her dress and was left only in her slip. Jane had squirreled away a deck of cards in her pocket, so they were trying, and pretty much failing, at playing another hand.
Jane was sitting with her lower half in the water, while Maura was out a little ways. She swam up and put her cards down. Jane looked carefully, trying to remind herself that they were attempting to play a game. She had been distracted just watching Maura wade in the water. Looking at the cards, she spoke up with glee. "Sorry, Maur." She laid her cards down next to Maura's. "A straight beats three of a kind."
Maura let out an uncharacteristic, "Dammit" before pulling herself out of the water and plopping down next to Jane. Jane just laughed.
"Aren't you always telling me not to curse?" Jane raised her eyebrows playfully. Maura didn't look guilty at all.
"Well, I'm not in my right mind currently because someone got me drunk." She finished off with a small hiccup, which made Jane's chest feel warm because it was so adorable.
"Sorry, Maur, but it was your birthday. Had to celebrate big." Jane didn't look sorry either.
"Well, thank you, Jane. This is the best birthday party I've ever had. Well, it's the only birthday party I've ever had but…" she trailed off.
Jane looked taken aback at this. "What?! You never had a birthday party when you were a kid?"
Maura shook her head slightly. "My parents just don't really celebrate birthdays."
Jane looked affronted then said vehemently. "Well, as long as you know me, I'll make sure every birthday is celebrated. You deserve the best parties ever."
Muara glowed at this and in her state of inebriation, leaned in to give Jane a kiss on the cheek to thank her for always being there for her. Jane was still distracted, thinking how terrible it was that Maura had never had a real birthday party before tonight. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Maura's face growing closer and out of instinct, she turned her head just as Maura's lips were about to make contact.
Their lips met for a few brief moments, before they pulled back. Jane searched Maura's face for any kind of remorse or disgust. Not finding anything but slightly dilated pupils, she made a decision that was instinctual.
Maura, for her part, certainly hadn't meant to land her lips on Jane's but she couldn't help but be pleased with the turn of events. Seeing Jane taking a deep breath before leaning in again, Maura met her halfway.
They were both more prepared this time around. While the kiss started hesitantly, they soon melted into it and fell into a languid pace that matched the way both of their minds' swam. Jane ran her tongue across Maura's bottom lip and breathed sharply through her nose when Maura's lips parted more to let her in. At the first touch of their tongues, both women groaned lightly.
Jane tasted like beer, salt, and the river. Maura thought it was the most delectable thing she had ever had the pleasure of tasting. She snaked her arm up Jane's neck and wrapped her fingers into Jane's wet curls, pulling slightly. Jane groaned loudly and pulled back, apparently needing oxygen.
Maura smiled so widely she thought she must look like a fool.
"Yeah, this is the best birthday ever." She leaned back in.
Finally a longer chapter and their first kiss! Let me know what you guys think! Hope y'all are enjoying reading as much as I am enjoying writing. xx SW