2031
Sitting in the passenger seat, music playing, Jill was relaxed, a small contented smile on her lips as she watched the snow covered hills and trees pass them by.
And the worry Jacinda felt began to leach away. Nothing really had changed. She had just discovered something new about herself, that was all. Over the years, there had been many men she had felt attracted to. But she wasn't some insatiable beast, unable to control herself, simply because a guy was hot. Many of them- she would say even most of them- drifted off past her on into the great wide world, not so much more than a single word between them the only interaction they'd had.
The flickering of sky through the tunnel of trees they drove through felt hypnotic, almost the same as watching flames of a campfire dance and play above the logs. She too felt peace. And maybe a bit of interest, curious to see what this new discovery might mean for her.
Jill looked over at her, grinning widely, and spoke, warmth in her voice. "Thank you, Jacinda."
She felt a blush come on and waved it away. "Nah. That was all you. I knew you could do it." And she patted her friend on the hand.
It was late afternoon when they got back into town and to the hotel. A change of clothes would be nice. The snow had soaked them in a few places and she definitely could do with something warm.
Now that she was aware, though, she found herself more careful with Jill in one respect. Showers and changing and the like. More specifically, that she wasn't looking. True, if Jill had been a beefy dude all Thor-like, sure she would have oogled him. But she doubted she and Thor would be together long. Or that they'd have much in common beyond the physical.
But Jill was her friend. And somehow she knew...you just don't stare at your friend's lips like that. Especially if you have a thing for them.
That night, they drove down Butler to the NAU complex. Beaver Street Brewery was on the cross street. Despite its proximity to the school, it was not simply a student hangout. A brewery, of course, so everyone interested in a chocolate orange or a pilsner negro modelo style blend could be satisfied. She preferred the simpler stuff, same as coffee. Beer was beer. She didn't need notes of caramel and hibiscus or lilac or whatever.
But the food was upscale. At Jill's suggestion, she tried the meatloaf sandwich. She wasn't exactly excited, but hey, Jill had jumped out of a tree based solely on her trust. The least she could do was try a sandwich.
And yeah, she wasn't wrong. Seriously. If this was meatloaf, then she had only ever eaten dog food out of a can, it was that good. She wasn't a foodie enough to know how to describe it except to say "wow" over and over again.
The sky was clear this high in the mountains, the moon bathing the cobalt night with an angelic blue, like fairy wings or something. They walked past the vehicle, Jill eager to show her the campus. Jacinda had never been to school, as a kid or an adult.
The snow covered ground crunched beneath their feet, large red stone buildings rearing up from the earth like rocks, mammoth trees providing shade and protection. Vines, now dormant, climbed the red walls, ran along windows and over doorways.
Pathways snaked off from various buildings in every direction, the land sloping down toward the quad there in the distance.
It was magical and Jacinda felt a stab of whistfulness. She had done much in the last 10 years. But in many ways, she was still a child. What would it have been like to be here? To go to school, where your only worry was your friends or someone you liked: a protest or a march; oh, and of course, your classes and grades. Jacinda wasn't book smart, but she wasn't dumb. School would have been nice.
If only....her mind sarcastically finished that for her. If only things were different, then things would be different. Heh. Yep. Exactly. Life was what it was. No sense in whining.
Still, she did like imagining, now that she had the chance.
She realized she had been lost in thought as she walked. And Jill wasn't next to her. She turned around just in time to feel a snowball hit her in the chest, showering her and filling her nose with cold. Jill stood there laughing playfully.
Jacinda wiped her face off, a grin forming. "Oh ho! Is that how it is?" She scooped up snow in one hand and was running toward her. Jill dodged one way, then the other, narrowly missing the toss. All in fun. There were no hidden rocks or hard throws.
Back and forth they played, each of them having staked out a position next to a large juniper bush. Finally, Jacinda went all full kamikazi, running at Jill head down, sometimes feeling a hit and the cold trickle down her back. Jill didn't seem to try to get away, though, and Jacinda bent low and scooped her up at her waist onto her shoulder, standing and spinning her about. She seemed to alternate between laughing and screaming and Jacinda found it hard to breath herself, she was laughing so hard.
And she was getting dizzy, finally dropping her to her feet in front of her. She started to move, a bit woozy, and Jill caught her and held her steady.
The moment stretched out and neither let go even as both of them eventually stopped feeling the world shift. Jacinda remembered what she'd decided. Remembered what she'd thought.
And yet somehow, she couldn't make herself release the woman.
A thought skittered across her mind Why doesn't she let go?
Jill's fingertips touched her hair gently, as if she were brushing out snowflakes. Jacinda felt her heart race at the connection and her legs felt weak. Maybe her grip on Jill tightened slightly. Jill looked up at her, staring, and her heart stopped its racing. It froze.
She was lost, drifting, as she gazed into those eyes. Her hand came up as if by itself, gently caressing her cheek, finger going under her chin, gently lifting her face up- Up. So different and so amazing, to be looking at her like this- saw those lips, full and inviting and slightly parted, tongue lightly whetting them, her eyes darting from them to her eyes and back again, Jill, hands somehow felt at the back of her head, offering, Jacinda, arms around her waist.....and finally......finally, Jacinda stopped fighting and gave in, pulled her close, felt their bodies press together, and kissed her.
Soft. It was soft.