I always appreciate all the comments. Life is feeling very complicated right now for me so writing is my sanctum. The quote is hitting a home truth and I feel like it represents this chapter well.. I have been planning this chapter in detail since the beginning.. I hope you enjoy xx
"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth."
-Buddha
Chapitre cinq
Caroline woke early. She put on some casual clothes and begun her schoolwork at once. Laurence and William tapped on her office door at 8.30. "Mum?" "Why are you up so early on a Saturday?" asked William. "Yeah, I thought it was 'against all dictum for anyone to wake before eight on a Saturday let alone make any noise before that hour,'" said Laurence in his best high pitched voice trying to imitate his mother. "Yes, yes, well I thought it would be best to get all this done so I can enjoy the weekend! she said sighing. "Anyway Laurence I thought you liked breaking rules.. fancy your mother being a rebel huh?" Caroline joked. "Mum!" Both boys rolled their eyes yet William laughed as Laurence looked horrified.
After finishing her school work she took Laurence to sport whilst William stayed at home and studied. The pair picked Angus up on the way. The game was a 20 minute car ride away. Caroline glanced her big blue crystals up to the rearview mirror. She saw the two boys giggling on the back seat. "What's so funny boys?" she asked brightly. "Noth- nothing mum," Laurence giggled. "Well if you won't tell me i'm sure Angus would love to enlighten me. Won't you Angus?" She was playing to her strengths - she knew Angus was slightly intimidated by her. "Umm.. yes Dr Elliot," he answered hesitantly. "We were um just.. talking about things we've heard about the teachers at school." "Like rumours?" she fired back. "Well uh I guess so.." Angus was more intimidated than ever. "Well, go on, lets hear it then!" Caroline was curious, after all she was the head and she liked to be kept in the loop no matter how false the information was. "Well ..we heard that Mr Harris likes to buy naughty r18 movies… Mrs O'Bryan has been cheating on her husband oh and Laurence just told me another one.. " Laurence blushed as he felt his mother's stare in the rearview mirror, "Apparently Miss McKenzie was seen full on making out with another woman." Caroline gripped the steering wheel tighter as suffocating silence filled the car. The boys awaited Caroline's reaction. "I see. Well is there any about me?" Laurence piped up, "There was one awhile back… someone said that when people are sent to your office for not behaving you hypnotise them into being good and then you steal their wallets and phones." Suddenly the car roared with laughter.
Kate, like Caroline, woke early too. Except she spent an extra hour in bed playing out all the possibilities of that evening in her head. She wondered what her and Caroline would discuss, how they would interact and how late into the evening their catchup last. Eventually she pulled herself out of bed and completed her school work by early afternoon. The rest of the afternoon Kate spent getting ready to met Caroline. She wanted to look perfect. Kate showered and put on a white dress that had a red and pink floral pattern to it. Her makeup was luminous and she pinned the hair around her face back but left the rest of her hair down which was wavy like a goddess'. The nerves begun again. She poured herself a glass of water to calm herself down. The nerves almost got the better of her and she nearly slopped it down herself. "Shit," she proclaimed. By the time Kate had cleaned up the water and finally gotten that glass of water it was nearly time to leave. She placed on some shiny red kitten heels and made a dash for the door.
Finally after an eventful visit from John, the boys had left. "Oh shit." It had suddenly occurred to Caroline that Kate would be arriving in a short half an hour's time. She raced up the stairs to her bedroom and quickly pulled all her clothes off. Caroline was left standing in her bra and underwear in-front of her wardrobe. Time was quickly passing. Making a bold decision she decided to dress up nicely for Kate wearing a casual yet stunning lilac dress made from chiffon. On her feet she wore nude coloured heels which highlighted her sexy legs. Five minutes left. Caroline darted around the house moving objects back into place and sparing a glance in the mirror to fluff up her hair and double check her makeup.
A soft knock at the door interrupted Caroline's last minute cleaning. She smiled. Kate. Although she confidently strutted to the door she felt nervous fireworks exploding inside her. Caroline swung the door open to see a breathtaking Kate. "Hi," Kate said positively. "Hi." Caroline gestured for Kate to come inside whilst smiling. "I bought some wine on the way over here," spoke Kate as she handed the bottle to Caroline. "Thank you." She placed the bottle on the black bench top as they entered the kitchen. Kate placed her handbag on the bench also. "You look absolutely beautiful," whispered Caroline into Kate's ear as she pulled her in for a hug. "As do you," Kate whispered back in an equally alluring tone. "Might I add that you smell amazing," she laughed. "You never cease to make me feel like i'm glowing."
The two women moved into the lounge with two glasses and the bottle of wine. Caroline switched on some soft music and both women relaxed into the couch at opposite ends. They could both feel the magnetic pull between each other yet they didn't act on it - much like the Earth's gravitational pull on the moon.
After over an hour of chatting and several glasses of wine been drunken the conversation moved forward. In the soft lighted room the women discussed the week just past and how they spent their first day of the weekend. Several white lies were shared from both parties as they sipped their wine. This discussion sparked a memory in Caroline's beautiful brain, "You'll never guess what Laurence and Angus were discussing today as I took them to sport… " "Oh no, where's this going?" "So they were sat in the back of the car laughing their heads off and I asked them what was so funny and after a little persuading Angus gave up and spilled. Hmm let's see he said: Mr Harris purchases you know 'R18' films, Mrs O'Bryan is having an affair…. and then there was one about you," Caroline flashed her eyes up to Kate's before looking away. "Apparently, you were seen mmm.. kissing someone… a woman." Their eyes met. Caroline scanned Kate's perfectly dark eyes that compared to the depths of outer space. She tried to find a reaction. Kate's poker face was fixed. "Well I have to say some of the students have a very active imagination.. but uh.. I haven't been kissing anyone not that I wouldn't want to kiss a w-.." Kate cleared her throat.
Caroline felt the sexual tension rise. They were both beginning to feel drunk as they hadn't yet fulfilled the promise of a takeaway. Yet Caroline continued to drink to take away more of the nerves. "Hang on - i'm just going to get another bottle," she said winking to Kate. A few moments later she returned with another bottle and refilled both glasses. "Mmm we need some more upbeat music," Caroline said as she reached for the stereo remote. She found a radio station playing a mixture of old and new pop songs. A new song just began - Madonna's Into the Groove. "Kate! I love this song. Let's dance!" She saw apprehension in Kate's face. Kate didn't know whether she could control herself letting go like that with Caroline. Caroline couldn't resist the urge to pull Kate off the couch, "Come on we're drunk! Why not have a little bit of fun!"
Their hands intertwined and Caroline began to move to the music, encouraging Kate. Eventually Kate gave in and let go. Suddenly, when the first chorus ended and their eyes met Kate blurted out, "I have a crush on you." Their hands stayed locked together. Caroline fell to the floor giggling. As she fell she pulled Kate down with her. The two sat closely together on the floor still with their hands clasped together. "Mmm, you're very pretty," said Caroline raising her spare hand to Kate's face then through her gorgeous wavy hair. Kate ran her spare hand over Caroline's thigh. The gap between them began to close. A quick thumping sensation moved from Caroline's chest to her throat. She fluttered her eyelashes as she spontaneously decided to act. Her crystal blue eyes fixed upon Kate. Caroline moved forward. She moved slowly. Kate mirrored her. They could almost hear each other's quickening pulse. The gap closed completely and their soft lips interlocked. Nothing was spoken. Kate's hands moved their way to Caroline's perfect waist. She inhaled sharply at this touch. Caroline, now with both hands traced the outline of Kate's face as they kissed. Their tongues gently met and twisted together to make the perfect puzzle.
After many minutes they broke apart and surveyed each other's reactions. "Are you okay, Caroline?" "Mmm?" "Did I.. I feel like I may have taken advantage of the situation.." Kate stated worriedly. "No, I may be a bit drunk but not that drunk. I'm just trying to process everything," she said honestly while rubbing her head. The alcohol was beginning to wear off. "I've been feeling like the world hates me. People hate me. But then there's you and you're so kind and YOU always know the right things to say-" Kate interrupted, "Hey sweetheart, you're just going through a rough patch, the world doesn't hate you; and I know that people don't hate you because I like you.. and I thought I just made that obvious," said Kate lightly in her warm reassuring voice. As tears rolled down Caroline's face, Kate kissed her cheeks and wrapped her arms around Caroline. She held Caroline as she cried softly.
"You're proving my point you know- about you always being kind and always knowing what to say and do to make me feel better.. Can I tell you something?" "Of course," Kate insisted. "I think I have a crush on you," smiled Caroline. "And can I kiss you again?" Caroline asked while Kate wiped the tears away. "Need you ask?"
Caroline gently lifted Kate's chin. Their lips met for the second time. They still sat on the floor together almost intertwined. At each other's touch they deeply inhaled. The spent the best part of an hour touching each other's face softly and sprinkling the odd kiss here and there. They scarcely spoke.
After the perfect hour of soft intimacy Caroline asked cheekily, "What ever happened to dinner?" "Better things to do," Kate replied and sealed with a gentle kiss. "What's the time anyway?" she added. "Gosh it's half twelve," answered Caroline after catching a glimpse at her watch. "I really should get going, you said that you were going out with your mother for brunch." "Kate are you sure you're okay to drive? You seemed quite drunk before.. admitting you had a crush on me…" Caroline blushed. "You have that effect on me. I should be fine, I haven't drunken anything for almost two hours."
At last the women got off the floor. Kate pulled Caroline up and quickly into a hug. "Please text me tomorrow," Kate insisted. "Uh huh." "Caroline," she said with a tone of seriousness in her voice, "I really hope you won't come to regret any of this tomorrow.. but if you don't want .. well.. please text me okay?" "I will. Promise." Caroline opened the door revealing the moonlight. Kate's effervescent skies met Caroline's sapphires. "You make me happy Miss McKenzie and I hope I have the pleasure of kissing you another day." Caroline spoke softly. Kate smiled. "The pleasure would be all mine Dr Elliot." The two women hugged before breaking apart reluctantly. Caroline closed the door as Kate made her way to her car.
Caroline rested her back against the door and exhaled. She was above cloud nine, making her way through to the stars. It had been a perfect evening.