Chapter 13

The contented sigh which escaped her lips was muffled by Emma's neck. She blew a soft kiss beneath Emma's ear, careful not to wake her, her arms still safely wrapped around the petite blonde. Jenny smiled as a stray strand of Emma's hair tickled her nose, nuzzled her face even closer against Emma's neck and deeply inhaled her scent. 'Emma.' If anyone asked her to point out the happiest day in her life, she wouldn't hesitate even the tiniest moment. Although the day had started out like a real nightmare it had performed an unexpected volte-face. In the morning she'd still been convinced that she'd ended things with Emma for good and that it would take her ages to get over her. And only a couple of hours later Emma had declared her love for her so wonderfully that she thought at first that she must be dreaming, but Emma had remained real, standing in front of her with that pleading look on her face, begging her to stay with her in Cologne. Jenny still couldn't believe her luck. 'She wants to be with me. Although she's so afraid of being different from others. Although I've fucked things up so badly.'

Despite all this Jenny had yet to decide what surprised her more – the fact that Emma was in love with her and had finally found the courage to admit her feelings or the way her own heart did somersaults inside her chest whenever she laid eyes on Emma. No one had ever broken so easily through the armor she'd carefully built around herself. 'You jinxed me.' Jenny thought lovingly and allowed her fingers to slowly trace an invisible line from Emma's hands up to her elbows and back down again, quietly enjoying the victory of having elicited goose bumps on Emma's skin. Jenny wasn't used to lose her heart to anyone just like that, but one look from Emma and she'd been done for.

'How could that happen?' She honestly didn't know. Although it had been obvious right from the start that Emma was special in any possible way. Whereas their female classmates were mostly annoyingly gossipy and ridiculously blasé if not even dumb as hell, Emma was just….Emma. Honest. Intelligent. Funny. Enthusiastic about anything that was important to her. Always helpful. With a distinctive sense of justice. And a wonderful voice. And the cutest smile. And the most beautiful eyes, especially when they were grinning at her mischievously. Surprisingly passionate. And sexy as hell even if somehow Emma refused to agree with her on that point. Jenny smiled and bit her lip. She hadn't intended to be too demanding tonight, but when Emma had kissed her like that – good God! Her hormones had got the better of her. She'd had to touch her, feel her silky skin beneath her fingertips and had been almost shocked by the bolt of electricity that shot through her body at the first contact. She could have hit herself for having lost control like that when she'd seen the fear in Emma's eyes. Of course she wasn't ready. How could she be? Emma had only just figured out for herself that she'd fallen in love with a girl which must have been disturbing enough for her. 'I'll wait for her. No matter how long it takes.' Jenny smiled and rolled her eyes. 'Since when are you into cheesy lines like that? Where did bitchy, cold-hearted Jenny Hartmann go? The one who wouldn't take no for an answer and who preferred a night of easy fun to a seemingly complicated relationship at any time?' Jenny pondered that thought while she felt Emma budge in her arms. 'I guess she's gone on holiday. Indefinitely.' Emma turned beneath the blanket until they were lying face to face and linked their hands between them.

"Are you still awake?" Jenny whispered although the answer was kind of obvious.

"Yes." Emma smiled. "I'm awake. And you?"

"No. I'm just talking in my sleep." Jenny dead-panned and giggled. "You should get used to it."

"You're silly!" Emma retorted with a smile.

"Ey, I am silly?" Jenny mockingly complained and playfully nudged Emma's elbow before she broke into a smile again.

"No, you're not silly." Emma conceded.

"Ohh…" Jenny commented with a victorious smile and shuffled closer towards Emma.

"You're great." Emma continued, all playfulness gone from her voice.

Jenny felt her smile falter as the true meaning of Emma's words sank in. She was still surprised what such simple words could do to her. "You're great, too." Jenny replied quietly.

"Jenny?"

Jenny had to smile again, She knew that tone of voice already too well. And she already guessed what was bothering her.

"Emma?" she asked, playing along.

"Is it really okay for you that we…wait?" Jenny bit her lip. 'Her cuteness will kill me one day.' Nonetheless Jenny decided to tease her a bit.

"Wait for what?"

"Well…you know what I mean."

"No, I don't know. Tell me." Jenny fought hard to keep an earnest expression but failed miserably after a couple of seconds.

"Aw, you're silly!" Emma repeated and joined in Jenny's laughter. Jenny hugged her shortly before she took hold of Emma's hand to get her attention.

"Hey….honestly, it's not a problem. Please don't worry about it." Jenny said while she caressed Emma's arm reassuringly and slowly progressed to her cheek. 'God, I just can't stop touching her.'

"I love you. And I know that this is all new for you. We'll wait until we both want it. Okay?"

Emma smiled and nudged Jenny's nose with her own. Just as Jenny leant in to kiss her Emma gave a start.

"Do you think that your parents told Ben's father? About us?"

"No, I'm one hundred per cent sure of that. They'll have to figure that out for themselves at first."

"And what are we going to do about school? Are we going to tell the others or aren't we?"

"Hey, don't worry. I'd say we just wait and see how it goes." Jenny said with a shrug. "Okay?"

Emma looked at her as if she were weighing the pros and cobs of Jenny's suggestion before she relented. "Okay."

Jenny took Emma's hands in her own again and kissed her knuckles. 'How could I not love her?'

ooooo

"Cool that the door is open. Is it always open?" Jenna asked as she followed Emma into the auditorium.

"Usually not, no." Emma replied absentmindedly, chucked her bag to the floor and took Jenny's hands in her own to pull her eagerly behind herself. Jenny felt her stomach flip as Emma pushed against her until her back hit a pillar and started to kiss her hungrily. "Wow."Jenny couldn't help but gasp into Emma's mouth. The feeling of Emma's body pressing against her own, her contours clearly palpable even through the several layers of clothes that still separated them, her hot breath on her cheek, Emma's lips which explored her own almost dominantly sent a gush of blistering heat straight south and her mind spiraling out of orbit. 'God, I want her so much.' The whole day the blonde had been driving her crazy with fleeting touches, meaningful looks and the occasional secret hand-holding.

"What?" Emma whispered through her open-mouthed kisses.

"Nothing." Jenny choked hurriedly, her mind on over-load, her fingers itching to get rid of Emma's clothes, to touch her, feel her, hold her, rake her nails against her velvety skin. 'No. Don't think about this. Not here. Not now. You promised to wait until she's ready, remember?' she admonished herself, trying hard to get a grip on her overpowering emotions. Nonetheless she couldn't stop touching her, running her hands through Emma's silky hair, caressing her cheek, her shoulder, her arms. "I could keep on kissing you forever. All day long." she mumbled against Emma's lips and almost groaned with frustration when Emma broke the kiss and looked at her with worry in her eyes.

"Even if it has to be in secret for now?"

"As long as you don't push me away again because someone has seen us." Jenny whispered between kisses. "That hurt a lot."

"I know." Emma whispered and kissed her again, her lips, her cheek…

"Oh. Sorry." Both girls gave a start at the unexpected intrusion and stared at the boy with a beany on his head who smiled at them apologetically.

'Oh no.' Her gaze flew to her girlfriend who looked shell-shocked and utterly lost for words.

"I was looking for the STAG." the boy continued a bit awkwardly.

"We start at ten o'clock." Emma replied, obviously struggling to regain her composure.

"Well….it is ten o'clock?"

"Erm…."

Jenny almost laughed as Emma started a desperate attempt to pass their heated kiss off as a rehearsal for the musical they were currently working on. The boy – Bodo, as Emma had finally introduced him – was kind enough not to tell her straight away how lame her excuse sounded.

"Emma." Jenny finally interrupted before it could get even worse. "I don't think he believes us."

"No?" Emma looked at him almost pleadingly, but Bodo shook his head and smiled. "No. Sorry."

Jenny smiled as well. She had to admit he was kind of cute, although she couldn't quite figure out why he'd feel the need to wear that stupid beanie even inside the over-heated auditorium. "How about a deal then? You keep our little tête-à-tête for yourself and we…I don't know…is there anything we can help you with?"

Bodo thought about Jenny's suggestion for a couple of seconds and finally nodded. "Yes, actually there is something you could do for me."

Jenny glanced at Emma again and noticed with relief that she'd visibly calmed down, she even met her gaze and smiled at her a bit hesitantly. 'She didn't push me away. She panicked a bit at first, but that's alright. Everything's going to be alright.' She'd have loved to kiss Emma again just for not having run away again, but she didn't want to push her luck and opted for a reassuring squeeze of her hand instead. 'We can do this. I know we can.'