Start and
End
By
TC
Yes, friendship they shared, after all what could Sally do? She didn't want to be ignored again. She wanted to be able to pick up the phone and call Angel whenever her heart desired. Unfortunately her heart desired it a lot. In her lame attempt to be around Angel she even volunteered to help both Jen and Angel for their play. In the meantime Sally finally had the guts to end anything that was still between Alex and her. She had to do it, because she didn't feel honest about herself when she was with him.
And when she was with Angel it was another story. Sometimes talking to Angel was like a Chinese torture to her. Slow death as her heart never understood the distance. And sometime she even thought she saw the same pain in Angel's eyes, but she always brushed the thought aside thinking it to be her imagination. After all Angel was such a bad actress if she had any feelings towards her she could not hide it so well. Jen was right, like all great love story hers was a tragedy too.
The grand opening night of the play arrived. It was a hectic Saturday afternoon for everyone. She hadn't seen Angel at all that day. Somehow that always bothered her. She needed to see her everyday, even though they were just *friends*; a word that Sally constantly reminded herself.
The curtains were up and she stood backstage on one of the sides to watch the play unfold. As the audience applauded and laughed with the actors, she saw a silhouette on the other side of the stage. She knew it was Angel. She smiled and took pleasure in just watching the beautiful woman that made her heart jump. When the curtain came down for a change of scene, she helped the prop people put the new scenery and crossed to the other side of the stage.
"Don't tell me you are getting a stage fright." Sally said sneaking up on Angel.
"Wow! How come you are here? I thought you were on the other side." Angel replied startled.
"I was. After the scene I decided to come to this side. How did you know I was on the other side?" Sally asked wondering if Angel was watching her too.
"Because I was watching you." Angel said in an almost flirty tone.
**Don't flirt with me Angel please, don't flirt with me. It hurts. You don't even know you are hurting me. How can you not know?**
She closed her eyes and ignored it as best as she could, managing to say, "So, are you nervous?"
"Of course, feel my heart, how fast it is beating." Angel said as she pulled her waist jacket to the side.
"It's ok, I'll pass." Sally declined unable to decide what game Angel was playing.
"No, come on please. Here, feel it." Angel insisted taking Sally's hand and putting it next to her heart.
Sally could feel that it was beating fast, and her breathing was heavy too. But was it because of the stage fright, she wondered. She watched her hand on Angel's chest or breast to be exact. For a moment, she dared not look up. But, eventually she had to. Just as she lifted her head a little. Her lips were met with Angel's. She had no idea what had transpired the kiss but she made sure she held on to it. She grabbed Angel with both her hands and didn't let go of her lips till she could unleash some amount of all her wanting through her mouth. To her surprise her rush of desire was met with almost same intensity from Angel's side. This certainly was not the same girl who had refused to answer her calls. She had so many questions in her head but they could wait. They could wait till she could make the most of the moment.
Their bodies were entangling themselves with such urgency that the curtains of the stage certainly didn't seem to hold their weight; to which Angel took charge and pulled Sally to one of the empty dressing room and closed the door. She smiled as she walked towards Sally. The same smile that Sally had expected a month ago. She slowly removed the hair from Sally's face, cupped her chin within her hand and was just about to kiss her again but Sally turned her face. Rather she soothed Angel's face with the back of her hand and said, "Tell me this is what you want." Sally needed Angel to voice it out. She could not go through the pain that she had gone through if Angel refused to accept her feelings later on. She needed a verbal confirmation.
Angel moved right next to her ears and said almost under her breath, "I want you."
Sally finally took a long breath as she could feel a hint of tears in her eyes with happiness. She had wanted to hear those words for so long that it was almost hurtful when her wish came true. While Sally was thanking her stars, Angel was claiming her, showering her with wet kisses on her every little exposed skin. Angel's hands were slowly tracing between her legs making her moan with desire. But, she had to stop. She had to stop Angel.
"Stop! Ang�ahhh�please stop." She said holding her hand.
"No, please." Angel begged.
"Your scene. You got to go on stage." Sally pushed Angel to bring her back to reality.
Angel stopped and allowed a little distance between their bodies that was squeezed together.
"I'll still be here after the play. That is if you don't change your mind till then." Sally said coldly, even though she hated sounding so. But that was her only defense system. She couldn't be hurt twice, especially not in the same manner.
"Sal� I can try and explain�" Angel started with almost the same hesitant way as she had the afternoon when they had decided to be just friends.
"You have to go. After the play." Sally said letting Angel off the hot waters.
Long after Angel left for her scene, Sally stood still pressed on the same wall, wondering what would happen after the play. She didn't know Angel at all. If this was Angel; then who was the girl that she was just friends with? And if that was Angel then who was this girl. She needed some answers. But would Angel give her answers? Or would she just prefer to deny this moment too?
Sally decided not to wait till the play was over. She couldn't take another uncertain �Let's be friends� sentiment so she went back home.
She made herself a drink and stared at nothing in her kitchen. Time certainly must have passed soon as she hadn't taken a second sip and the door bell rang. It was already after 9pm.
She answered the door. It was Angel.
"I thought you were going to stay till the play ended." Angel asked walking right inside towards the only lit room.
"I just didn't feel like it. Sorry. I had a hectic day." Sally explained as she closed the door and followed Angel to the kitchen where her bottle of Burbon lied next to her almost empty glass.
"I know right now you might not even want to talk to me. But, if you give me a chance I could explain." Angel said in a very low voiced as she neared Sally who was pressed against the wall.
"Explain what?" Sally asked almost inaudibly as her stared into the ones that was eying her with pure lust.
"For starters, why I am such a bad actress?" Angel whispered on Sally�s ear with a little smile as she nibbled on her ear lobe sending shiver through her body. Sally wanted to object to her change of subject but with Angel�s tongue already on her neck tracing a slow and wet path downwards rendering her mind incapable even to put together a syllable leave alone a word for any protest. Instead she slid her fingers inside her soft dark curls and followed her head as it slowly dived between her breasts. Even with her clothes still on, Angel�s hands that were groping her all over was putting Sally on such an edge that she had to put her entire weight on her to be able sustain the standing position. Sensing her weakness, Angel slid her thigh between her legs allowing almost all her body weight to balance on her heat that was pressing against her thigh as she moved it to and fro in such a slow manner that Sally was completely in the airs. For a moment everything went blank, there was nothing, not even Angel, the only thing she felt was the rush inside of her, rush that was almost painful, physically painful. Her face cringed trying to endure it, and at the same time her mind and pelvic moved rapidly awaiting its release, as her hands clutched and blood build up to her lungs, impeding even her breathing. She felt as though she was drowning and her body was automatically reacting for survival when she opened her mouth and a scream escaped unleashing everything including all her body strength.
Angel held her still shattered body firmly as she took her time to slowly come back to reality. �I hope you have a bed in your bedroom.� Angel finally asked to which all Sally could do was nod.
Sally was still in a deep slumber when she heard a ringing and she slowly turned to see a naked figure get out of the bed and searching on floor for its origin. Angel found her cell phone and flipped it open and closed it right after.
�Who is it?� Sally asked as she adjusted her eyes to the brightness of the sun filtrating through her blinds.
�No one, just my alarm.� Angel answered as she started to dress.
�Alarm, what time is it?�
"It�s only 10am. You go back to sleep. I have to go to work, I�ll see you later.� Angel leaned and pecked Sally on her cheek and started towards the door.
"Hey!" Sally said shocked at what she was seeing. �You can�t just leave, we need to talk.�
"Believe it or not I had this whole speech that I had prepared but right now if I said it, it would just sound silly. Breaking down to the basic, I was attracted to you but panicked I guess. I am not homophobic or anything. It's just that I never thought about those things. When I was faced with it, I just took a little more time than you did to come to terms with my feelings." Angel explained at one breath as though it was an unnecessary formality.
�And how do you feel?" Sally asked getting up half way.
"I thought I made that perfectly clear?" Angel was now smiling with the same glee in her eyes as the night before. She sat on the side of the bed and looked into Sally, �Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?� She said as she kissed her.
"Listen I am not seeing anyone. I broke up before you came to the scene. That's why he moved out. Don't ask me why I didn't tell you. It wasn't a very clear cut break up so it took time for me to admit that it was over. I know you broke up with Alex. So, I guess, we can see this through, if you want to." Angel spoke the words that put the sunshine back in Sally�s eyes.
"Ok, why is this all sounding so simple. Aren't you the same woman who stuttered, I am not a lesbian?" Sally asked feeling silly about all her worries.
Angel laughed and pulled Sally and spoke in between playful kisses, "I am. But that was just my first reaction. Don't crucify me for that. I have had a month to think about it, and I am very grateful to you for waiting and having the patience."
She embraced Sally within her arms and squeezed her. Sally felt heaven feeling her heart so close to hers. Then she heard Angel whisper in her ears.
"I love you, Sally Roger."
<<Present>>
"I love you, Sally Roger." were still ringing in her ears when Sally finally shook her head and decided to get up from her couch. Those words spoken so long ago still gave chills to her heart. She needed to stop thinking about Angel, but how could she. Even till today she could not stop smiling whenever she thought about those happy days. And of course all the bright days were followed by the dark nights. Her eyes closed when her heart felt heavy with the remembrance of the night she was packing her bags in the speed of a tornado. Only one thought was in her mind, **I have to leave before Angel comes home.**
What had got into her, even Sally couldn't recall. All she remembered from that night was that she packed and speeded out of the town. She drove for hours refusing to think at all. When she finally reached her destination, she swallowed sleeping pills to rend her body unconscious, scared that if the body stayed awake her mind and heart would start functioning again. Whatever she had done, she had to let some time pass by before she thought about it or else she would loose any sense of sense itself. So she threw herself in the bed and lay there. Almost 48 hours had passed when she realized she had been lying there like a zombie.
Even then it was Jen�s call that had woken her up. Somehow Jen had managed to locate her. Of course at that time, Jen wasn't as pleasant as she was today. Jen was furious at Sally for leaving town without telling anyone. She also told Sally that Angel was leaving too. Sally panicked. That was certainly not what she had anticipated. She rose up and started her car as her mind rambled trying to make sense.
**Angel is not supposed to leave. This is not happening. I leave and she gets angry. I call her and say sorry. And she forgives me and we get back together. She can't leave. She can't' leave me. Of course, technically I left her. But, still she is supposed to wait for me. She can't leave me. She can't leave me. She can't. This is just a ploy. I'll reach there and she'll just scream at me for leaving. It's ok. Jen is helping her out. No big deal. Yell at me, my love. I deserve it**
When she reached her town, it was not a ploy. Angel was gone. Where, she didn't know. When she had walked out, she had thought let Angel walk into a half empty home, but now she had left her an empty home to walk into. She couldn't believe it. Angel was gone.
She had cried for hours before she got herself together. She couldn't stay there a minute. So she started to drive. But, the car decided otherwise. On an empty highway, she stood alone with tears in her heart and stared at the stars. This time she wished the stars did give her the answers. When the night didn't answer, she unconsciously dialed a number. Chris answered.