Chapter 2: Why don't you come over
It had become a habit. Almost every weekend the cast would gather at Naya's for a late supper on a lazy Saturday. It was so engraved in her skin, that she had to shut down the burning disappointment every time her boyfriend would fly for a visit making Heather miss her cherished ritual.
Now they lived together. Maybe it was time to start bringing him too; maybe it was time to stop the ritual. She chose the best rational option: still go without him because they can't always be together. It's not healthy, she would remind him.
Yes, she saw the cast every day of the week for hours on end. One dinner less shouldn't be such a big deal. But this wasn't just a dinner. A dizzying mix of spices and herbs whose smell alone made her mouth water - wasn't just a dinner. The way Naya effortlessly moved around the kitchen preparing colorful meals with such care - wasn't just a dinner. The way the heat from the kitchen would surround the living-room making her relax so completely after a week of hard work - wasn't just a dinner. It was her Saturday bliss.
This weekend most of the cast had other plans, leaving only Telly, Heather and Kevin to enjoy her delicious cooking skills. Heather was now sitting on a stool by the kitchen island, watching her friend as she meticulously cut thin slices of onion. She could feel the smile on her own face, her cheeks hurting from holding it for so long but unable to make it stop. Naya glanced her way, a knowing smirk adorning smiling lips.
"Someone can't enough of my enchiladas."
"I know! I'm in love…"
"With the cooker or the cooking?"
The voice caught Heather's attention. She looked over her shoulder acknowledging the new presence.
Telly entered the kitchen, drink in hand.
"I love Naya, but it's the food that keeps bringing me back."
"Isn't it delicious?" Telly pressed on, a teasing look on his devilish face.
Kevin joined them still scrunching the salty appetizers left in the other room.
"Where did you guys run off to? You know you can't leave me alone with these crackers."
"I came to check how the food was going and found Heather ogling the cooker."
Kevin burst out laughing. Heather slapped Telly's head lightly, trying to ignore the usual innuendo behind her friend's comments.
"She's practically married, what are you saying?"
Heather's eyes quickly shifted back to the girl in front of her who seemed completely unaware of the conversation going on.
"It's not ready, guys. You'll have to wait a couple more minutes."
"Do you need any help?" Heather asked standing up and moving toward the brunette.
"You've been here for the past fifteen minutes and only now you're offering?" Telly noted nudging Kevin.
"Like you guys did anything besides drinking…"
"Hey, I set the table!" Kevin replied walking over to Naya to take a whiff of the delicious smell already brewing from the pan.
"And I brought dessert." Telly added. "What did you do, besides staring?"
"Guys!" Naya stopped them. "I don't mind the company." She added throwing a soft smile at the blonde on her left, before finishing her chopping.
Heather smiled, the blush slowly leaving her ears. She watched her friend's profile for a second more before convincing her legs to move away and return to her original spot on the stool.
Kevin rested his chin on Naya's shoulder, jumping back as the sting of the onion's smell invaded his nostrils.
"Argh, bee! That stuff is heavy! Damn!"
"I know! Look at me, it's senior prom again and I'm crying my eyes out."
The room laughed easily. Everyone but Heather. The reference to the girl's broken heart due to some overrated jock, who clearly had no taste, made her a little uneasy and again surprisingly guilty.
"That guy was a jerk." She couldn't help whispering.
"Well, he's married now. So I guess he was right. Stephanie really was his one true love." Naya responded, a hand over her heart in mock emotion.
Heather forced a smile before stealing Telly's glace and taking a long swig of red wine, all the while ignoring his probing look.
Unsurprisingly, the food was fantastic. Heather was lying on the couch, her bulging stomach well satisfied, while her groggy eyes watched as the ice melted on her Long Island Ice-Tea. Kevin sat on the floor, his head resting on her knees, skipping through channels with Naya's remote, cracking up loudly at the mid-sentences he would get.
Yes, they were a little drunk.
Looking back at her other friends, she caught Telly shaking his hips to an improvised choreography commanded by Naya. The laughter erupted from Heather's throat, gaining Naya's attention, who pointed at her devilishly.
"Your turn!"
Heather stood up immediately; her buzzed body regaining energy with the thought of dancing. She moved next to Telly and started going down on him waving her arms goofily. The sound of Naya's rising laughter urged her on. She twirled and jumped around Telly gaining Kevin's attention too, who changed to a music channel before throwing the remote away, already excited with his new entertainment. Telly grabbed Heather and they waltzed around the living-room before doing an exaggerated tango. Naya and Kevin were already crying with laughter.
Heather looked at her brunette best friend, a large grin on her face as she watched her applaud them. Impulsively she walked up to her, her dancing turning more predatory as she stepped closer. Naya's laughter died in her lips, turning into a full-on smirk. Naya opened her arms welcoming Heather who bent down in front of her, displaying her toned legs and firm butt. She sat on the smaller girl's legs, rolling her shoulders as she brought her cleavage to the brunette's face. She couldn't hear the boys cheering behind her, as she focused solely on the accelerated breathing of the brunette. Naya was good at shielding her emotions, much better than Heather – that's for sure. But the blonde knew her long enough to watch her body instead of her apparently controlled expression.
Heather's eyes were pulled to the rise and fall of her friend's bust chest. She blinked away fast, noticing her dancing had slowed down, and pulled Naya up with her. They grinded against each other turning Naya's house into a temporary dance club.
"Steamy." She heard Telly comment in his slurred speech.
Naya heard it too, suddenly moving next to him changing dance partners. Heather's stomach burnt, her drunken possessive side taking the best of her, but she continued dancing. Kevin joined her in a robotic dance that had everyone laughing again.
They had been unstoppable until Telly shouted.
"Cocktail time!"
Two Cosmopolitans and a Piña Colada later, Heather was back on the couch. Her rosy cheeks and messy hair gave away her already pretty drunk state. Too tired to play any more games or even go home, the group decided to watch movies.
Kevin and Telly sat in big puffy pillows in front of the TV, while the girls cuddled cozily in the couch. Watching classic horror movies caused more laughter than actual fear, still the blonde found Naya in her arms, her head on Heather's shoulder, gripping the dancer's arms tightly whenever the scary music would start. It was beyond adorable how the anticipation seemed to scare her more than the actual shocker moments. Heather glanced down, watching Naya's forehead furrow before brown eyes met her own. She would always catch Heather looking. Blushing, the blonde turned back to the tv screen, but not before Naya gripped her arm comfortingly.
As the movie played in front of them, Heather let her nose brush Naya's hair, taking her time feeling the fresh smell of flowers invade her nostrils. It was such a Naya smell. It felt like Heather had entered an exotic garden, the mixture of aromas leaving her light-headed. She shifted slightly to peck the girl's temple, her lips remaining on her skin for longer than they should have.
Naya adjusted on the couch, moving further into Heather's arms without her eyes ever leaving the horror flick. Her hands traced patterns on Heather's clothed stomach causing a familiar, yet uninvited, heat on her skin. The chills were starting. Soon the butterflies would turn into something much more uncomfortable, something that would make her have to move away. Sometimes she would even discreetly go to the bathroom to spill cold water on her neck and chest - relieving the tension - pretending she didn't notice how her veins boiled, how her center ached.
Heather really didn't want to move, or deal with that, so she interlaced their fingers over her stomach ceasing Naya's movements.
This notion bothered her. Her usual almost lovesick behavior never bothered Naya. The girl either found it cute or smirked knowingly while purposefully ignoring her intense stares. Still, Heather felt inappropriate when she was aware of her own behavior. If people didn't point it out, she wouldn't give it a second thought. But as soon as the voices got inside her head, she second-guessed her every action. That's part of the reason why she stopped watching her own interviews. It was cringe worthy how forced she sounded every time she ordered herself not to mention the brunette. Ashley seemed to find it hilarious; only her roommate would find humor in something as embarrassing.
It's all Telly's fault, she thought snorting.
Naya looked at her questioningly.
"So, anyone up for another round of horror?" Kevin interrupted as the credits rolled behind him. "We still got Friday the 13th."
"Oh no, not Jason." Heather quickly replied making Naya laugh. "It's not funny. I thought we established that."
"It isn't, it absolutely isn't." Naya grinned, leaving a quick peck on Heather's cheek.
"Well, I'm too drunk to drive. So Naya, you're sheltering me tonight." Telly warned her.
"I knew you would say that. I changed my sheets today just for you."
"What about me, bee?"
"We can't all fit in my bed but you can have the guest-room. I'll make it extra comfy for you."
Naya looked at the blonde excitedly. "Why don't you all stay? I'll kick the boys to the other room and we can stay in my bedroom."
"Wow, how quickly can one be dumped?" Telly joked.
"I'm sorry, Nay. I can't. He's waiting."
Heather's chest was burning as she answered, sadness staining her usual happy voice.
"Oh, sure. I forgot. He lives there now."
Naya disentangled from Heather so quickly that the cold hit the taller blonde like a punch.
"I wish I could." She added, grabbing Naya's hands before she completely left the couch.
"I know." Naya said with a sweet smile unsteadily fixed on her lips. "But you're not driving. You'll have to catch a cab. Or… Call him, I guess."
"I'll call him and tomorrow I'll come over and get my car."
"Ok." Naya stood up and held out her hand for Kevin. "Come on, bee. Let's find you some jammies while Heather makes her call."
"Woohoo! Can I have the astronauts one?"
Naya laughed easily, happiness back in her chocolate eyes. "They're yours."
Heather was left in the living-room with an observant Telly. He stood up, grabbing her purse on the way to the couch and setting it gently on her legs.
"It's ok, Heather. You have to go home. We all do at some point."
Yeah, home.