24 Weeks...
Chapter Three
Just as the two women were unable to not look away from each other the first time their eyes had met, it wasn�t long before they actually bumped into each other for real. The first time, as faith had it, was actually accidentally but every time after that was pre-conspired to look accidental by either one or the other. And before Olivia could make sense of why or what was happening, it was Friday night, and Olivia had decided to stay behind at the Academy for the weekend and was now getting ready to go to dinner with a woman that she had stolen few moments here and there in their �accidental� meetings through out the week.
Olivia refused to make too much of why her heart pounded faster than she ever remembered it doing so as she tried to decide if or not she should put her hair up. As soon as she saw the headlights of her car approaching through the window she hurried out.
�Wow!� Jena said aloud the second she saw the dark haired beauty come out with semi formal black pants and loosely hung string top with her hair falling on one of her cheeks tempting the on looker to want to touch it and tuck it behind her ear.
�No, wow yourself. Look at you.� Olivia said instead as she stared at the woman clad in tight black jeans with cream silk shirt, that wasn�t tucked inside and hung only to the buckle of her pants, complemented with her short hair that looked silkier than usual as it laid flat on her head and managed to cover most of her forehead. Every time Olivia�s eyes fell on that hairline, all Olivia wanted to do was run her fingers through it and let it go just to watch it fall back exactly on its place again.
�Ready to go?� Jena asked as she stood next to the open door for Olivia.
�Definitely.� Olivia walked up to the open door and stood for a second as the temptation to touch the hair completely overtook the motor function of her hand as it made an automatic ascent nearing the few floating strands when abruptly her mind kicked in and she diverted the direction of her fingers to her own hair and tucked it behind her ear. Exactly at the same time Jena pulled her own front hair back from her forehead and let it go, letting the strands fall back in the exact motion that Olivia was yearning to do.
A comfortable silence accompanied them on their ride as neither of them felt the need to make small talks. But, one can only replay the motion of the Jena�s hair falling back on her forehead for a million and a half time, so Olivia finally decided the murder their companion and speak.
�So where are we going?�
�It�s just a small sea food place called Catch of the Day. It�s nothing fancy but the food is good, and if you are lucky sometimes John actually will serve you his catch of the day.�
�Who is John?�
�He is the owner slash chef slash waiter slash everything. Now when I say small this is really small, like about 20 seat restaurant. They are a retired couple that owns it, and they are really sweet. They have the place for company rather than business.�
�How far is it?� Olivia asked surprised that Jena had already made herself home in the little town.
�Not far.� Jena said as she made a quick turn at a road that had no name.
�You really know your way around the town.� Olivia noted seeing that Jena had taken a short cut to reach a street that otherwise would have taken at least few minutes longer to get.
�Well, when you are about to make an investment in a town you have to make sure you know the neighborhood and your way around or else you�ll be lost in business and in direction.� Jena explained as she pulled onto a public parking lot. �I hope you don�t mind walking.�
�You mean you want me to walk in my heels?� Olivia teased as she pointed to her half an inch heals on shoes.
�Yeah right.� Jena remarked unbuckling her seatbelt.
�This might be the worst mistake you both made but hell I want to capture it forever so now move closer.� A sumo wrestler look a like man in his mid sixties said to the two women who even though were standing next to each other were very careful not to touch each other.
�This is it John, so if you want to click a picture make it fast.� Jena said trying to stop her friend from embarrassing her more. �I am sorry I should have warned you about him. He is a little crazy.�
�That�s ok.� Olivia said trying not to break from her pretend smile.
�No picture, no table, no food that means no wining and dining, in other words no date.� John juvenilely threatened and stood put smiling at his favorite customer and her date unaware of what he had done.
Whereas hearing John�s words, Jena immediately froze and Olivia�s smile frowned a little. Even John noticed the change in the mood and quickly snapped a picture and showed the ladies to their table.
�Well�I had called up and asked him to save me a table as you can see it�s a small place and its hard to get in on Friday nights. And he had said he would do it only if I had a date, so I said that I had a date.� Jena tried to explain once they were seated on a corner table facing each other. Even though Jena had asked Olivia for dinner and both the women had taken great care to dress for the evening, neither of them had stated nor even hinted at the obvious that they were on a date that was until that moment. But once it was said out loud, an unusual awkwardness enveloped around the two and Jena just didn�t know how to tear it away.
�So, this is not a date?� Olivia finally asked making sure her eyes were looking directly at Jena.
Jena almost choked on the beer that she was in the process of swallowing when she heard Olivia�s question. It wasn�t just the question. It was the way the question was said that hit Jena like a jolt. She quickly struggled to calm herself internally and externally before she looked up and when she saw her eyes staring at her, Jena knew. She would have never guessed it in a million years but right then she knew.
�You are gay!� She exclaimed almost in a same tone as the French guy who said Eureka for the first time must have said, when he found whatever he found.
�Why you only ask straight women out?� Olivia was now enjoying the wide-eyed expression on Jena�s face.
�No�no definitely not� I just thought you were not because of what Jaq said�but hell this is good� I mean� take my words I was cursing myself for asking you out�thinking that you were not.� Jena finished her beer in one long breath but that did nothing to calm her nerves, �God�girl you are something.�
Early in her freshman years in college Olivia had realized her orientation. She hadn�t fallen in love with anyone or even had a relationship per say with anyone in her college years but she had gone out on enough dates with enough women to not have �Oh my God I am dating a woman� look on her face, which of course Jena had failed to notice just until right then.
�I need another beer.� Jena said scooting up a little and signally John for another round.
�You must think I am a fool for not noticing� I mean God�of course you thought I knew right�well�it doesn�t matter I know now but I didn�t know�and I don�t know �and that is good�that is good thing right?� Jena had absolutely no idea what was coming out of her mouth.
True to her words though she didn�t even think that there was even a slight possibility that Olivia was gay. Yes, it was definitely true that ever since she had seen Olivia she hadn�t been able to take her out of her mind, but like Jaq she had also constantly told her disobedient heart that she was straight. She had strapped her heart in such a manner predicting a definite fall, that now that the danger of it plunging to pieces was no more, Jena just didn�t know how to un-strap her restraints and relax.
Jena mouth was still moving on like a race horse without a jockey, and her brain had already fled from the back door when she felt another jolt. This time it originated from her skin, from the touch of her skin with another. She had to look down to make sure that what she felt was really true, and it was. A hand was actually on hers and it was pressing slightly to bring her mind and body back to its right place. Her eyes followed the hand to the arms and the arms to the body, then to eyes on a face with the softest smile that said �fall in love with me right now.� And that is exactly what Jena did.
Just then a flash of light appeared from nowhere and both the women turned to face its source.
�Now that is what I call a Kodak moment.� John said waving his camera. �This ladies, is going to be your anniversary gift.�
The two faces that had just been captured by the camera looked back at each other with a common thought.
*******�As long as I choose the frame.�********
For, they both knew that John had managed to encapsulate the most priceless moment of both their lives; the moment they lost their heart to each other.
�Both of you, REPORT TO MY OFFICE NOW.�
Olivia heard the Matron�s voice loud and clear as she walked into her dorm. She also saw Jaq and Gina both roughed up and on either side of the Matron who had clearly just separated the pair from what looked like a physical fight. Olivia wondered what had happened when she saw first Jaq and then Gina walk out with the Matron closely behind them.
�I can�t believe that bitch�s guts.� Chris was saying punching on the wall with frustration as Olivia approached.
�What the fuck happened?�
�Can�t you just see? Jaq attacked G�
Olivia raised her eyebrow in disbelief as even though Gina was her friend it was hard to picture usually passive Jaq would be attacking Gina, while the other way round seemed more plausible.
�Ok, G kind a provoked but fuck it doesn�t mean she could lung at her.� Chris corrected herself.
�I don�t understand why G can�t digest her food without provoking Jaq. I mean regardless of what had happened, right now all Jaq does is avoid everyone, why can�t G just let her be.� Olivia found herself saying as she wondered what kind of detention Gina would be getting now.
�So, I guess you already heard the latest news of Academy Class of 1990.� Olivia was flipping through her book lying on the bed, as she watched Jena cut some fruit on the kitchen counter.
�Oh yeah! Jaq walked in here all huffed and puffed saying Gina attacked her and because of which she had to clean the third floor bathroom.� Jena answered from the kitchen.
�If it�s any consolation, Jaq attacked G and G had to clean the second floor bathroom.� Olivia closed the book and walked behind Jena to hug her from behind.
Two weeks after their first date it was only natural that the two women quickly became comfortable with one other.
Olivia stole a quick peck on Jena�s cheeks before she stole a piece of apple that Jena had just sliced.
�Can�t you just wait till I bring the plate to you?� Jena turned to watch Olivia chew on the piece she had stolen. �You know I was cutting it for you.�
�And I am having it.� Olivia replied as soon as she finished swallowing it.
Jena took another piece in her hand and held it right in front of Olivia, �Have it now.� She said putting the piece half way in her mouth. Olivia accepted the invitation as she opened her mouth and captured the fruit and with it Jena�s lips for the briefest second then she pulled back immediately. �I love to kiss you but I don't need help chewing.� Olivia reasoned her action as she chewed the half of the apple that she had bitten off of Jena�s lips.
�Of all the people in the world I had to date the most un kinky woman in the world.� Jena raised her hand and looked up as she turned around and halved another apple.
Olivia responded by turning Jena�s face towards her and kissing her soft at first and then deepening making them both breathless just like the first kiss they had shared but without any hesitation.
�I hope that compensates the un kinkiness.� Olivia asked as she broke the kiss as slowly as it had commenced.
�Oh yeah totally.� Jena replied pulling Olivia for another kiss.
�So, there is no way that you can talk Jaq into not staying over this weekend?� Olivia found herself asking just as they lips were taking a breather for n th time.
�She said she wants to have someone over. What can I say, Jaq who is not even dating gets more lucky than me, who is actually dating?� Jena replied with a pretend annoyance at the slow pace of their relationship.
�Are you complaining?� Olivia certainly didn�t mind taunting the small-faced beauty as she played with her hair just as she had imagined thousands of times before they had gone on a date.
�No, I won�t complain, I�ll just get you drunk one of these days.� Jena replied with no apology in her voice.
�You might be able to do that this weekend if Jaq doesn�t come over.�
�Ummm very tempting.� Jena said but did not accept Olivia�s ploy. �We could still do that if you just let me tell Jaq that we are dating. I mean it�s not like she�ll run off and tell Gina or whoever you are scared she�ll tell.�
�I am not scared. It�s just that things between Jaq and G is so hostile. I just don�t want to get caught up in between. You don�t live in the dorm so it doesn�t matter to you, but I have to face them everyday, and G and Chris are cool, even though they have a hang up against your friend.�
�They don�t have hang-up against Jaq, they have hang up against lesbians. Truly Liv what do you think would happen if they find out you are gay too?�
�Look�G is a little weird ok, for her friends are like family and when Jaq kind a cornered her and told her she was in love with her, she just got a shock. She doesn�t like Jaq, she is not homophobic per say.� Olivia explained reasoning her friend�s behavior.
�She IS per say.� Jena contradicted. �And if she and you are like family, don�t you think lying to her would eventually blow up on your face just like it did on Jaq�s.�
�It won�t as the Academy is only for four more months. And as much as I like them, they are just friends and we will drift away� things are comfortable right now, you know, and I don�t want to spoil it.�
Jena was amazed at the Olivia�s short sightedness but decided not to comment on it, especially since she would rather have her lips doing something else than talk.
This picture composite was made by Marisol.