Stressed
A harmonic and constant rhythm takes Claudine out of the fantasy world she was immersed into, to take her back to reality.
She raises her eyes from the book she's currently reading to observe her beautiful girlfriend engrossed on the script in front of her, her eyebrows knitted together and her jaw set as one of her hands drums an unknown rhythm against her thigh in perfect synchrony with the tapping of her foot against the floor.
Claudine can't help but sigh and close her book, placing it over the small coffee table close to her, before she rests her head on her hand, looking at her girlfriend for a while.
- Maya.
She calls her girlfriend's name in vain, noticing how she's so engrossed on the script in her hand or maybe on something else to have even heard her, noticing the distant look in her eyes and the evident tension in her features.
- Maya.
She calls her girlfriend's name once again only to be, once again, ignored.
The ash-blonde can only sigh heavier this time and get up from the couch to walk towards the entrance, putting her jacket and sneakers on.
- Maya, I'm going out for a moment.
She says aloud, getting nothing but silence in return, before she shakes her head and opens the front door, closing it behind her to sprint out down the street.
Barely 20 minutes later, Claudine is coming into their apartment with a bag in hand, leaving her jacket and sneakers at the entrance, before she crosses the living room directly to the kitchen.
On her way, she observes her girlfriend in the same position she left her minutes ago, looking absent-mindedly at the script in her hand while she's still drumming her fingers and tapping her foot at the same rhythm as stress takes more over her features now.
Claudine sighs for the nth time in the afternoon while she begins to brew an herbal tea she knows Maya loves and that will help her to calm down, before she takes the medium baumkuchen she just brought and places it on a plate along with a fork and a knife.
She hums in satisfaction before she walks into the living room, positioning herself behind her girlfriend sat on the couch.
Careful to not scare her, she leaves a kiss on her temple and leans over to take her "drumming" hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. She can't help then but notice Maya jumping slightly startled, making her giggle at it.
- Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you – she whispers in her ear, leaving a light kiss on her cheek.
- Ah, I apologize ma Claudine, I didn't notice you.
Claudine can only click her tongue because her girlfriend obviously didn't notice her, not even when she yelled she was going out, neither when she passed in front of her with her beloved baumkuchen in hand.
- Come with me – she exhales, pulling Maya by the hand to the kitchen, and the brunette can't help but follow her confused – Now sit.
She commands her, forcing Maya to sit by the table to slide the plate with the baumkuchen on it and a cup of steaming tea in front of her.
Maya can only gaze up at her with a soft smile on her face and a happy glint in her eyes.
- When did you…?
She trails off looking down at the dessert in front of her and Claudine can only snort, taking a sip of her tea.
- When you seemed to be so engrossed on the script you had in your hand that failed to actually notice I was leaving.
Claudine can already see the guilt taking over Maya's features, before she takes one of her hands in hers to rub her knuckles.
- It's okay, Maya. Now please eat it, it'll help you to relax.
Maya smiles softly once again placing a kiss on Claudine's hand, making her blush, before she stands up and goes for another plate and a fork to cut the baumkuchen in two.
- Maya…
- I must insist ma Claudine, after all you did it's only fair you have the other half.
Claudine sighs but gladly accepts it, taking a bite of it.
- Care to tell me why you look so stressed?
The small smile on Maya's face fades as a frown takes over her features, and this time is Maya who sighs.
- I guess I can't hide anything from you, can I? – she exhales, before taking a bite of her beloved baumkuchen to calm down – I'm… I'm just a bit stressed and unsure about getting the lead role of this new play…
Claudine can't help but open her eyes widely, surprised. She never once saw Maya doubting about it or about herself, nor once voicing it out.
- Why?
Claudine asks her as she takes her hand in hers and Maya can only squeeze it back with a soft smile on her face again, explaining her girlfriend about how she's competing for the lead role with one of the best performers in the theater world, and Claudine then understands about her hesitation and the stress of pushing herself to be better.
She leaves her seat to then sit on Maya's lap, encircling her neck to pull her into a tender kiss, before she cups her cheeks and caresses them.
- Don't stress over it, it'll go well and if it doesn't, I can assure you that I'll still love you the same or even more.
Those words manage to draw a laugh from Maya, before she hugs her tightly.
- Thank you.
It's all Maya can whisper, kissing her Claudine, before they go back to keep eating their baumkuchen and talking about the audition and preparing it.
Needless to say Maya ends up getting the lead role for the play.