Chapter 22: Faithfully
"Oh girl you stand by me, I'm forever yours, faithfully."
"Have I really influenced you enough to fall in love with this country's food?" Kay looked across the table, watching Darjeeling eating a French fry.
"Maybe." Darjeeling looked out the window, seeing the dark clouds slowly moving in above them.
"You know I'm glad you put it down this time." Kay watched Darjeeling's hair slowly waving in the moment, the light from a streetlamp outside making it shimmer.
"Oh you like when I do this?" Darjeeling swung her head around, her golden strands waving like an ocean.
"No, don't do that to me!" Kay put her head down on the table, not wanting to show herself.
"All you had to do was ask me, you know. I've could've done this ages ago and yet now this is when you do it?"
"Well, you did it when we were in Hawaii that one time."
"Yeah. You loved it when I did that. You tackled me to the bed, going on and on about how hot I was."
Kay looked up, her face revealing how embarrassed she was feeling. "Did you really have to say all that?"
"Would you have wanted me to talk about what we got into that night?" Darjeeling teased.
Kay let her head fall back against the seat, defeated by the one she loved. "No, you can't talk about that in here."
"Good. I'm sure the people in here would have loved to hear that story."
"Just stop, please." Kay put her hands on top of Darjeeling's, slowly stroking with her thumb. "I wanted this to be special, but I don't want to bring that up again."
"So what do you want to do now?"
Kay looked out the window, seeing that the clouds had grown darker since they got there. "I think we should make our way back to the garage for now."
"Will it be warm?" Darjeeling asked as she put her hat back on, the same one Kay had given her all those months ago.
"You're gonna make me pass out one day if you get any hotter." Kay sat up from the table and stuck out her hand, offering Darjeeling a hand to help stand up. Once they were outside it was clear that they should have brought a jacket. The clouds had turned into a dark grey, something you might see on a battleship.
Kay felt something wrapped tightly against her arm and looked over, seeing Darjeeling holding onto her arm tightly.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't like hurricanes. They scare me."
"It's not going to be a hurricane, and even if it was one, I would be here to protect you."
"Can we just get there before it starts to rain?"
They had made it about halfway back by the time it started to drizzle. Little wet spots started showing up on Darjeeling's t-shirt as the pair continued walking. Soon the heavens opened up, and the two of them were drenched in water.
"It's so cold!" Darjeeling could barely see in front of her.
"Just hold onto my arm." Kay led them over to the entrance to an alleyway, where it was still dry.
"Thank you." Darjeeling wrapped Kay in her arms trying to get any body heat she could find.
"I know a better way of getting warm if you want to know."
"Really?" Darjeeling was both surprised and curious by Kay's sudden confidence.
"Yeah, let me show you it." Kay gently put against Darjeeling against the brick wall of the building next to them and turned around.
"What are you doing?" Darjeeling cocked her head, trying to get a better look. Kay swung around and pressed her lips deep against Darjeeling's, the cold water still dripping from each other's faces. Darjeeling started to feel the warmth of the moment, Kay's kiss somehow warming her all over her body. The world's noises melted around them, the only thing that could be heard was their lips crashing together and their hearts racing, wanting to keep the moment going.
Kay broke off the kiss and ran a finger down Darjeeling's cheek. "You're always the perfect one for a moment like this."
"Stop saying such cheesy things."
"Are you at least warm now?" Darjeeling responded by giving her a light kiss, all the answer she needed.
"Shall we finish our journey, darling?" Darjeeling half asked, half teased.
"Only after you madam." Kay did a sarcastic bow, enjoying their little adventure. Darjeeling grabbed her hand and pulled her out into the rain again.
"No hurricane is ever gonna break us." She triumphantly looked up, watching the raindrops fall into her face.
"Once again, it's not a hurricane."
The media center was a better option for sure as a place to hang out while the weather continued. A few of the camera operators were sitting around a table, Rosehip was trying to beat Assam in a game of blackjack, and Naomi was trying to read a book to a sleeping Pekoe in her lap.
Kay leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. "So we just have to hold out in here?"
"Would you like to go outside and get even more wet?" Darjeeling was sitting in a chair next to her.
"Maybe..."
"I don't think you having a cold for a week is worth it only to go outside for 30 minutes."
"But it's so boring in here. There's nothing to do."
"Then find something to do."
"I mean we could go back to that closet and have some real fun."
"I'm not doing that in a crowded building. Maybe when we can get back to the room."
"Ughhhhh. I just want to have some fun!"
"Maybe if the author was more creative and came up with ideas, we'd actually be doing something interesting for once."
"Way to be subtle."
"I mean I do have this if you want to share it." Darjeeling pulled out a chocolate milkshake and a couple of straws.
"When did you get this?"
"While you waited outside for me at the diner." Darjeeling put her own straw in and gave the other one to Kay. "So?"
"You really know how to play my heart." Kay put her own straw in and looked over at Darjeeling. "I'm surprised we haven't done this before. You'd think so with all the times stuff like this is in a movie that it would happen often in real life, but I guess not."
"Just stop trying to be philosophical and enjoy the moment." The two of them moved in unison, their foreheads softly touching as the enjoyed they coolness of their little treat.
By now Rosehip had given up trying to win at cards and had managed to drag Assam outside into the absolute downpour outside. Naomi had managed to fall asleep while reading, creating a peaceful scene on the couch as Pekoe slept, curled up into a ball while holding onto Naomi's shirt.
"They look so cute, don't they." Kay pointed over at the sleeping couple.
"They really do."
"Reminds you of us doesn't it. The countless days where we would curl up together and snuggle."
"Yeah." Darjeeling leaned over and gave Kay a kiss, feeling the warmth once again rolling through herself. "Want to just go back to the room? I doubt the race is gonna get started at this point."
"Sure. I'll drive this time."
"Now what?"
"Hey, you're the one that wanted to come back here."
"I know, I know. Want to just read something together?"
"Only if I get to snuggle up beside you," Kay teased.
Darjeeling reached over to the table and picked up an old green book with a black spine. It had a distinctive smell, usually a sign of the books age. She beckoned Kay to follow her as she lied down on the bed. Kay trotted over and jumped in next to Darjeeling, already feeling each other's heat.
Darjeeling found her page and started going, feeling Kay's hand on her shoulder. Kay switched positions after a few pages, gently shifting her hand underneath and around Darjeeling. Darjeeling had begun to love when they were in this position, the safety and comfort made her love it even more.
"It's so nice and cozy when you do that." Darjeeling felt Kay's arms wrapped around her waist, bringing the two of them closer and closer.
"I try my best to do what you want."
Darjeeling could feel their skin slowly sticking together as laid in the comforting warmth of the blanket. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure thing."
"Did you like it when I purred next to you?" Kay looked at the ceiling, trying to make her mind up.
"Uhhhhhhh, maybe?" Kay nervously responded. Darjeeling could tell from the way she responded that she really had enjoyed their little noises.
Darjeeling flipped over and ran her face against the fabric of Kay's shirt, slowly making the noises Kay had fallen in love with. Soon Darjeeling's fatigue from their adventures lulled her off to sleep as Kay slowly fell into the drone of her lover's noises. She fell asleep as she held Darjeeling tight to her chest, not wanting that contact to ever break.
End of Chapter 22