A Gasp of Air

She yelled aloud jerking out of her sleep. For a moment everything was silent. And then there it was again; the ringing, the ringing of the phone. Annoyed she jumped out of her bed and yanked the handset.

She remained smiling as the news warmed her heart even after she had hung up. It took her several seconds to realize the direct outcome of it. �She had to go back.� Just as soon as the realization hit her brainwaves, her smile disappeared. Gloomily she walked to her couch, and stared blankly at nothing. She didn�t even dare to blink as her mind traveled hundreds of miles and years back in time.

The first thing she wanted to do on the day that she had signed the lease for her first place and got the keys, was run to Jen and scream with joy.

Jen was Sally's best friend, even though she was a complete opposite of Sally in more ways than one. Sally was ambitious, smart, and practical. Jen on the other hand was a little of a spoilt brat. She was a party girl who only needed an excuse to throw a party. Due to which Jen was one of those popular kids in high school. And because Sally was always around Jen, automatically she was popular too. Jen�s friends were her friends and every where and everything Jen wanted to do, Sally was right there with her. But Jen�s habits had its downfall. Even though Jen and Sally managed to get through high school together but in college, Jen completely ignored school work. Due to which Jen was still in College while Sally had already graduated a year earlier.

Sally walked to the cafeteria where she was supposed to meet Jen. She scanned the room, looking for her friend, but she couldn't find her.

�Damn! Just like her to be late!' Sally thought gallingly as she scanned the cafeteria for the second time. This time around a female student waving caught her attention.

She squint her eyes and pointed to herself, and the girl nodded. Uncertain, if she was supposed to or not. She walked up to the girl. Before she could voice out her doubt�

"Hi. I am Angel, Jen's classmate. Jen had to attend a Math tutorial session, because she was failing Algebra. She told me to tell you that she'll find a ride when it's over so you can leave if you want."

"She could have called me. I have a cell phone." Sally snapped as though Jen's oversight was her fault.

"She said she forgot her cell phone and she didn't remember your new number." But Angel didn't mind. Jen had already warned her that Sally won�t be very positively receptive to the last minute change in plans.

"It is just like her to make me come all the way just so that I got to go back for nothing." Sally was still upset.

"Well, it doesn't have to be for nothing, if you want to make the trip worth it, you could give me ride." The short bookish looking girl was smiling as she proposed.

"Was that a request or did you just assume I would give you a ride?" Even though the question would otherwise seem like Angel's suggestion was unwelcome. But the mischievous smile on Sally�s face said otherwise.

"Well, it was a request based on assumption that you would oblige." Angel countered Sally�s comment cleverly worded rebuttal.

Sally�s smile brightened with a mix of relief for not being misunderstood and impressed that it was wittily answered. But then again she had to ask another.

"Did you wait here just to give me the message or you were here for your own thing?"

"Ah! So you are going to decide if or not to oblige, based on if or not I did Jen, or you a favor." Angel assessed.

"Have to. Don't want people to think they can take advantage of me." Sally made her ever-precautious confession.

"Well, then Miss Rogers. I will take back my assumption and request you if you could give me a ride. The only reason I repeat is because I like you." Angel said giving in graciously.

Sally laughed feeling unusually happy. Her mind highlighted Angel�s later confession that was casually slipped in and saved it in her heart with archive only file parameter, with no read and write access granted.

"Now that, it's a request, I shall oblige. The only reason I do is because �� Sally wanted to say she liked her too but paused her thought. �I think you are cool." She said instead.

But the only thing wrong about her fill in after thought was that Angel was anything but cool. She didn�t look cool or acted cool or even cared to be cool. She was one of those people in the college hallway that you would never notice.

But Sally had more than just noticed the witty woman on her first encounter. She actually liked her. The realization that surprised and shocked her at the same time. Nevertheless, she gave Angel a ride and enjoyed more lighthearted conversation. By the time they reached Angel�s place the two women had exchanged phone numbers. When Sally zoomed off, for the second time that day she yelled out �YES�

Later that night when Jen finally came home, and after Sally had given her hell about standing her up, she masterfully turned the conversation to Angel. The woman she couldn�t wait to see again.

�Because she is just a classmate. A nerdy one on that. You know me and nerdy kind don�t go together.� Jen replied.

�I thought she was witty and fun. I was thinking about inviting her to my house warming.�

�No� don�t.� Jen said it, because anything Sally did, she had a say in it. That�s just the way their friendship was.

�Why not?� Sally asked a little annoyed that Jen did not share her enthusiasm towards Angel.

�Because � I don�t know her. I mean we are not even friends. She would be an oddball.� Jen had reasoned.

Jen glared at her best friend wondering what was different about her. She knew something had changed but then again she couldn�t put a finger to it.

The next day at work, Sally was still thinking about Angel. She could not explain why she kept lingering over every word exchanged between them. She just assumed that she was really impressed by this woman. The other weird thing she found herself doing was getting an enormous urge to call her. Yet she waited.

She could not even understand why she was avoiding calling her. After all what was wrong with a woman calling another woman whom she just met to invite to her to a party. Then she found herself laughing at herself for being so silly. She finally picked up the receiver and dialed her number. It rang. It rang. Then her voice spoke:

"Oh, Hi! Yes, I did. But I didn't leave a message." Sally quickly defended herself like she was caught stealing.

"That's ok; I was just outside and didn't hear the phone ring. Then I saw your number on the caller ID so I thought I would call back." Which was a lie, as later Sally came to know that Angel screened all her calls.

"That's no problem. I just called to invite you to a little get together I am having at my new apartment on Friday." Sally had to make an effort to not sound eager.

"It starts at 8pm and till you want to go home." Simple and short answer was a key.

"No, I am just not into parties. Sometimes I just change my mind at the last minute." Angel confessed feeling a little guilty.

"Not even for me." Sally voice had automatically lowered as though she was flirting.

Angle laughed. "No honey not even for you. So are you going to give me your address, or I have to wine you and dine you for it."

"If not wine, I wouldn't mind a dining though. After all, my new address as a reward should be worth it," Sally replied, laughing in return.

"Nope, Dutch. I am not that rich yet." Angel wasn�t trying to be honest but just drag on the conversation.

"And you actually expect to lure me with that kind of invitation." Yes, Sally was flirting.

"Well, I hope to lure you with a promise of an interesting company over a Dutch lunch bill!" And so was Angel.

"In that case, time and place and you got yourself a date." She said the word. She said �date�. Why? She didn�t know but hoped that she hadn�t spooked Angel by it.

"Have you seen the Subway in the Crossroad Plaza?" No, Angel wasn�t spooked by it.

Once a time was established the phone call ended but not the smile on her face and her heart remained so till the phone rang again. She shook her head to compose herself and answered.

It was her boyfriend Alex. He wanted to drop in for lunch, but due to some reason she lied to him. She told him that she had a meeting so she already had lunch.

It was only while she was driving to the Crossroad Plaza that she wondered why she lied to Alex. After all she could have just told him that she had a lunch thing with a friend and he would have understood. He always understood. Why did she lie? When she got out of the car, she felt like she was cheating on him, or something. She shook that thought out saying she was being silly and walked into the Subway.

To her surprise Angel was already there. She checked her watch. She was on time.

"No, you are not late. I am early. I am always early. I am also hungry. Let�s go and get a sandwich."

'She has brown eyes.� Sally noticed. �It looks black, because it's dark, but its actually dark brown eyes. I wonder if she knew that, her eyes are not black, but it's really brown. Of course she has noticed it. I am sure her boyfriend stares into those beautiful eyes all the time. He must have told her how beautiful her eyes are all the time too. Does she have a boyfriend? Can I ask her that? She should open her glasses though, so that I could look into her eyes better. Should I ask her to open her glasses? Her boyfriend must ask her to open her glasses, and she would do it too. Does she have a boyfriend?�

"So, you have a boyfriend?" Sally unconsciously voiced her thought once they were seated back again.

"I am sorry, I was just wondering and the words just came out. Do you have a boyfriend? If you do, you could bring him to the party too, I meant." Sally was quickly able to cover her question.

"Oh! Well, I do. But he lives out of town and comes to see me once a week, during the week. But thanks for the invitation."

'She does have a boyfriend. Damn. Why am I saying damn? I have a boyfriend too. So, why does it matter if I have boyfriend or not? Why does it matter if she has a boyfriend or not? What is wrong with me?'

"Oh! Here I'll write it down. And please come, it'll be fun." Sally insisted once again.

"What will I get if I come?" This time Angel was the one who had a mischievous smile on her.

"For a girl who doesn�t like to be taken advantage of that was easy." Angel stated proving that even she hadn�t forgotten their previous conversation.

"Well, I trust I am safe when I say that to you." Sally conveyed a very meaningful sentiment without a thought.

"I am glad you feel safe with me. But, don't assume that I won't be holding you to your words." Angel warned.

The lunch ended with a lot of other small talk, and a chance for Sally to study Angel both intellectually and physically. The later came as a surprise but she noticed everything about her. The more she tried to stop herself from looking at her physical attires like her eyes, her short but smooth hair and her perfect fingers. Her hands certainly were beautiful. She was beautiful. She couldn't wait to see her again, but Angel had a pretty filled up week. She had to go to work, then school, so they figured they would see each other at the party.

Sally felt like the time refused to move. No matter how long she stared at the calendar, it wasn't Friday yet. She called Angel couple of times, but her answering machine was on, and this time she didn't call back. So, she just calmed herself down and yet she was so impatient. Finally the Friday arrived, Friday, but it wasn�t the evening yet.

She got busy getting alcohol and food for the get together. She hadn't invited many people, and it wasn't supposed to be dinner so didn't want to spend so much on the food. But like Jen said, alcohol had to be enough.

Slowly the party started and the hours ticked on. It was around 10 and Angel wasn�t there yet. She found her self getting agitated even while she mingled with her friends or danced with Alex. The music was loud, her friends were around, they were laughing, but she wanted to go outside. She needed to be outside. She just had to go right now. Without even a polite excuse me, she rushed to the door, and swung it open. There was no one outside. Did she expect anyone outside? She didn't know.

"Is someone there sweet heart?" Alex asked from inside seeing that she was standing with the door open.

"No, I just need to get some air, I'll be right back." Sally answered walking outside.

She stepped outside, took a deep breath and looked up. She felt like she was looking for answers with the stars. She knew that something was happening to her, and she searched the dark sky for some kind of sign.

It was Angel. Sally didn't even notice when she had come, so she answered in a little bit of a shock.

"If you are searching for answers in the stars, then it'll never tell you. That's what I am saying." Angel said as though she could read Sally�s thoughts.

"Oh! You were and don't lie to me. I know because I was staring at them, before you came outside." Angel confessed staring above.

"So, you were here. I knew I felt something, I mean I heard something." Sally needed to think before she spoke or else her heart�s word slipped out before she could stop herself.

"Yes. I thought it might be you. I was waiting for you. Why didn't you come in?"

"I don't know, I thought I would try my luck with the stars for answers before I went in. Then I heard you come out, and I hid so that I could sneak up on you and scare you." The smile was back in both their faces as Angel revealed her evil plan.

"Who said I was good?" There was a glitter in Angel�s eyes when she asked that question. Almost daring Sally to find out how bad she could be.

"If the stars don't have answers, who does?" This time Sally chose not to indulge in the light hearted flirting that seem to be the natural course of their conversation.

Angel, for the first time since they had met moved a step closer. She touched Sally's heart with index finger and said, "There lays all your answers."

She moved her hand and touched her own heart. "Here lays mine. But I am too scared to ask."

"I am not sure if I�ll like the answers. And remember, curiosity killed the cat."

"Satisfaction brought it back, that's how that saying ends." Sally corrected hoping that Angel would like her answers. Because she sure was liked them even though she had no idea what they were yet.

"I know, but may be satisfaction is not what I seek." Angel answered dampening both their heart�s anticipation.

"Right now, food. I am hungry; tell me you have something to eat." Angel said successfully diverting their conversation.

"I hate junk, but it'll do for tonight. So, lady of the house, do I have the permission to enter your premises."

As they walked into her apartment together, to Sally the party started. The music finally seems to sing to her, the alcohol was also getting to her. She was swaying everywhere, and Alex was doing his best to keep her standing. She could see Angel laughing her head off. At one point she moved over and asked her if she was laughing at her, but Angel said, she was just laughing with her. Everything was fine at that moment. The night ended with most people intoxicated. Alex offered to drive them home, but Angel knew that Alex had had a little more to drink too, so she offered to drive everyone home.

The last stop was Jen's Aunt's house. Angel stopped, and stared at Sally. They both didn't want to say a word. It must have been well over 10 minutes, when Jen from the back seat mumbled from her sleep if they were there yet. They both were startled, like they were caught doing something wrong.

They both put Jen to bed, and as they came down the stairs, Sally exclaimed. "I don't want to sleep here! I hate to do this but could please drop me back, I just so want sleep in my new place today."

They drove back in silence. It was like they both were scared of what they might say.

'This looks bad,' Sally thought. 'Why did I ask her to drop me back? I don't even have a bed in that place. May be I'll tell her to drop me back when I get there. Then she'll really be pissed. I can see she is tired. May be I should piss her off a little? How would she look when she is angry? May be I should make her angry? Will she get angry with me? Why shouldn't she? I am asking for it. Damn, is that my street? We are here already. I thought we just left. Do I have to get out of her car now? I don't want to get out. I love her car. It smells of her perfume. What does she use? It certainly is so alluring. This is funny, why am I concerned with her perfume. It's perfectly all right for a woman to notice another woman's perfume; after all we have keen sense of smell. Why am I justifying my thoughts? After all, who said anything I think or say or do is wrong?'

They walked in. Angel walked a circle in every one of her rooms, and then came back.

"I just wanted to make sure that you noticed like I did, that this place lacks a thing that we humans call bed that is required for a proper night's sleep." Angel made her profound observation.

Angel's whole presentation made Sally laugh till her legs gave up and she was on the floor. The only thing that kept her from rolling was her need to keep Angel in her sight while she laughed her heart out. When she finally calmed down, Angel was standing right on top of her. She gave out her hand and Sally unconsciously complied. She jumped up, but Angel had left such little space between the wall and herself, every cell of Sally's body was in contact with Angel's, except their faces, which were staring at each other.

Sally dared not even to breath. She didn't want this moment to pass by. There were no more thoughts in her head. There were no more questions to be answered. Her heart was beating right next to Angel's and she could hear all the answers she needed to hear. She closed her eyes, opened her lips and moved them closer to Angel's parted invitation. That moment, time stopped. Her heart stopped. Her skin felt a chill through her spine, when their tongue found each other. Her body clasped at Angel's and drew her into her through the entanglement of their lips.

Never had she felt such a need to continue and not stop as she felt at that moment. But her lungs were giving out. She needed to breathe. Her brains kicked back into action and demanded air. She traced her hands through her body, to her face. Gently she separated their union, even though her heart, her body, her eyes, her skin, everything in her screamed not to. With her face cupped in her hands, she gasped for air. So did Angel.