I do not own these characters!
Chapter 4 - Last Saturday Night:
Imogen was already down there pouring the wine when Constance arrived, giving the late comer a slight advantage as she had a very brief opportunity to observe the object of her affections without being noticed. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, her skin as flawless and golden as ever, her hair soft and endearingly messy. Constance was pretty sure she was wearing lipstick and her heart started pounding at the realisation, "She never wears lipstick", she thought giddily to herself.
Imogen could sense another's presence and looked up to lock eyes with the witch.
"Staring at me huh?" she smiled, "You've been doing that a lot this week Constance", Imogen teased playfully.
"Have I got something embarrassing on my face?" she added quickly in an innocent tone when she saw the mortified look pass across Constance's porcelain features.
Constance reminded herself to relax and accept the playful banter that normally occurs between adults who are friendly with one another.
"Only that hair cut!", Constance joked back with a quirk of an eyebrow and a smile, causing Imogen to roll her eyes in exasperation.
"Yes, yes, well we can't all have luscious locks like your Miss Hardbroom!" she beamed back, handing her a large glass of wine and taking a huge sip of her own. She felt somewhat calmer.
Constance walked over to the fireplace and lit it with magic, settling down onto the sofa they'd moved down there a few moths ago. Imogen watched her as discretely as possible while she walked over with the bottle and her own glass. She looked prepossessingly beautiful. Several strands of hair fell across her face in the most beguiling way causing Imogen's heart to flutter. She joined Constance on the sofa and they both got comfy underneath their respective blankets, each taking up residence at opposite ends.
"So, how has your week been Imogen?" Constance enquired, cursing herself for the small talk but knowing Imogen would have asked the same if she hadn't.
Imogen smiled internally at the use of her first name. They always began their night like this, talking as though they didn't work at the same school and therefore didn't see each other every single day! It was like there were two different Imogens and Constances, ones for the week days where they would still occasionally disagree over school matters and address each other oh so formally, and ones for the weekend where they were allowed to call each other by their first names and drink wine by the fireside.
They spent the next hour exchanging amusing and unusual things that had happened to them during the intervening days, there were always unusual things happening at a school for young witches so they were never without conversation.
They were both drinking faster than usual and before they knew it, they'd nearly finished the bottle of wine. Imogen was starting to worry that this would signal the end of their evening as they normally only had one bottle between them. Just as she was trying to form a plan to get more alcohol on the go, Constance magically summoned a bottle from her room.
"Very smoothly done Constance", Imogen observed, "I bet all the women found you irresistible at college", she teased flirtatiously, buoyed by the alcohol.
Constance broke out into laughter, blushing heavily.
"You've got to be kidding", she giggled. They both chuckled, Imogen loved her laugh and the more informal way she was conversing.
"There was only one woman anyway and she was NOT impressed by cheap tricks like that", she admitted once her giggling had died down.
Both women moved a little closer so Constance could pour more wine into Imogen's empty glass, neither one of them bothering to return to their original positions.
"And why was that?" Imogen inquired, "She doesn't sound like much fun!"
"Well we were both very young and serious at the time and she adhered strictly to the Witches Code, even more than I did", Constance explained feeling slightly nervous over the direction the conversation was taking, the alcohol was helping her loosen up however.
"You're the only person I've ever spoken to about her", Constance realised suddenly.
"So no-one knew about the two of you?"
"No", Constance shook her head solemnly, "She was from a very wealthy and privileged magical family, very traditional like my own. It wouldn't do to have brought about a scandal so…we kept it a secret".
"How did you meet?"
"We shared a room at Weirdsister, we were both very similar I suppose and became very close very quickly."
"Was that the first time you'd… you know…?"
"Yes", Constance understood Imogen was asking about being with a woman, "But it didn't last long", Constance admitted with a brief expression of regret.
Imogen remained silent hoping she'd continue.
"She was betrothed to be married to a wizard her family approved of and she got married and left", she stated in what she hoped was a rather matter of fact way. There was nothing matter of fact about it at the time, Constance had left like her whole world was imploding.
"I'm so sorry Constance", Imogen sympathised, reaching out to place her hand on top of her companion's. Their hearts began beating a little faster.
"Don't be, it was a very long time ago" she reassured, "Things were very different then, it wasn't unusual to be married off so young. The magical community is rather more traditional than general society, as I'm sure you've noticed." Constance felt like the conversation was getting too heavy.
"Tell me more about your first girlfriend!"
Their hands remained touching and Imogen smiled shyly.
"Well, it was during my first year of teaching, she was another P.E. teacher in my department", Imogen explained, "Very clichéd I know!"
"Go on", Constance encouraged, stroking her thumb against the back of Imogen's hand sending a shiver up Imogen's spine.
"We were together for about a year and a half, eventually I ended it", Imogen confessed.
Constance squeezed Imogen's hand a little more, urging her to continue
"Why?"
"She didn't like the fact I'd had relationships with men previously", Imogen stated simply.
Obviously Constance knew Imogen had been with Serge for a few years so this wasn't a surprise to her, but she couldn't help the irrational pangs of jealousy.
"She kept thinking that I preferred men and that I was going to cheat on her and leave her for one, she was a very possessive woman", Imogen said taking another sip of her wine, "I never cheated on her… I'm a very faithful person Constance", she finished sincerely, looking Constance directly in the eye.
"Eventually I couldn't stand the lack of trust and suspicion, so… it ended."
Constance debated whether it was appropriate to ask the next question but she just had to know.
"Do you prefer men Imogen?" she asked nervously.
Imogen was dumbfounded, she hadn't expected to stray into this territory, it was her own fault for divulging the reason why they broke up. She had to proceed carefully.
"I … don't really like labeling who I am Constance", she continued hesitantly, "I don't think I could say I was gay or bisexual… I fall in love with the person rather than their gender… but …. that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of things I love about women BECAUSE of their gender!" she finished finally with an imploring expression.
"Am I making any sense?"
"Perfectly", Constance nodded with an understanding smile, her heart rate going up another notch from hearing the word "love". She decided to probe further.
"Were you in love with Serge?"
Imogen took a moment to ponder the question and felt the need to turn her body so she was facing Constance full on. Her heart was hammering in her chest now.
"I loved him … but I wasn't in love with him. It ended because I was… well AM in love with someone else", she said speaking more to Constance's hand than to her face.
"Oh… he must have been heartbroken", Constance suggested with a heartbroken look on her own face. "How could I have been so wrong?" Constance berated herself internally.
"She thinks I'm talking about someone else!" Imogen thought after seeing the sad look. She could have laughed out loud if it hadn't been so tragic, she had to set the record straight.
Imogen lifted up her free hand to gently stroke Constance's cheek, looking into her eyes with what she hoped was a look of utter devotion. Constance's eyes widened in surprise and then fluttered shut at the contact, but more importantly in relief, relief that she finally had confirmation of her heart's deepest desire.
She opened her eyes and lost herself in Imogen's piercing green irises. The flickering soft glow of the fire light danced across their faces. The moment could not have been more perfect. Imogen slipped her fingers ever so slightly into Constance's hair as they both leaned in simultaneously to press their lips together in a chaste kiss.
Both women's brains seemed to temporarily stop functioning and they stayed frozen still for what seemed an eternity. They gradually broke apart and slowly opened their eyes, regaining consciousness as it were.
"I've been in love with you since the day I met you Imogen", Constance professed after several moments silence, her eyes filling with tears. She thought she might pass out from the feeling of her pulse pounding in her head.
"I've been in love with you for just as long Constance", Imogen declared, a single tear rolling down her cheek, "I am truly yours."
"Kiss me again", Constance pleaded gently.
Again they reached for each other but this kiss was not as chaste as the first. Their lips parted and moved sensuously, each woman determined to express years' worth of repressed longing. Their hands began to explore each other's curves as Constance's lips moved to Imogen's neck.
The non-witch begged her partner to get them to her bedroom as fast as possible. The two embracing women were gone in a flash.