Page 28 of If We Meet Again

Ashley pointed towards the back of the door. “Underneath my leather jacket, I think.”

“Seriously?” She stomped over to the door—if looks could kill. “You couldn’t have told me that 5 minutes ago?”

Madison hurled the jacket at Jason before making aswift exit.

“Thank you for letting me borrow that.”

“You’re always welcome. Just next time, give it back sooner so I don’t have to come and hunt you down whilst you’re making out with gorgeous foreign girls.” He winked in Megan’s direction, causing her to blush.

“You can leave now.” Ashley stood, edging him towards the door.

“I see when I’m not wanted. Call me tomorrow.” He slung the garish denim jacket over his shoulder. “Actually no, call me Saturday because tomorrow I have a date and you know I’ll be preoccupied all evening.” He glanced back at Megan, “Bye, honey.”

They were finallyalone again.

“I’m sorryabout that.”

“Don’t worry, your friends seem great. It must be nice to have close relationshipslike that.”

“It has its pros and cons, like anything.”

She lay back on the bed, her arm outstretched, Megan tucked in beside her. The moment had passed. Maybe she should have been more disappointed in the unsolicited appearance of her friends; they had ruined the moment after all. Instead, she found herself holding a girl she had known for less than a week in her arms as though it was a regular occurrence, a habitual embrace. What did that mean? That part she hadn’tfigured out.

“Can we watch something on TV?”

“Sure, youcan choose.”

They searched for a movie, instead settling on a highly anticipated series titledOrange Is the New Black—a choice they were bothhappy with.

There was a brief chatter around what Megan could wear to bed, the spare toothbrush that Ashley would provide and the quick text to her aunt to let her know she would be staying out. The sleepover had been unforeseen, therefore the preparation was poor. It left Ashley unprepared, in more ways than one, if anything was to happen between them. To get a shower would have been too presumptuous, so she opted for a more virgin-likeexperience.

Megan, now firmly snuggled under Ashley’s arm, moved into a more comfortable position, placing her right hand on Ashley’s chest and overlapping their legs. The manner in which they lay together made Ashley question again the differences between the encounters. She vividly remembered the first dates of previous partners and they were nothing in comparison. They had been awkward at times, intimidating and nerve-wracking. The date with Megan had been none of the above, at least, not to the extent they should be.

She felt Megan’s breathing slow, the movement in her chest coming to a steady rhythm. That indicated sleep, but Ashley had never beenmore awake.

Sparks didn’t fly; there was no initial thrilling experience, but it was entirely different somehow. Ashley struggled to gather her thoughts, to make sense of the feelings deep inside. There was attraction definitely, but there was also a connection, an emotional bond created in such a short period of time.How was that possible?she asked herself.How was it possible to feel as though you had known someone your whole life? To be content in their presence, as if that very presence was always going to present itself to you?

6

Ashley

The morning sun peeked through Ashley’s window, creating a stream of light in a perfect line across the bed where they both lay. Half-conscious, she attempted to wriggle her arm free from underneath Megan. The position they had maintained for the whole night had caused the numb, tingling sensation in her arm that she now founddistressing.

Megan rolled to the right, reaching out her clenched fist in a punch-like motion as she stretched, almost catching Ashleyon the chin.

“Woah,easy tiger.”

Megan peered through her partly exposed left eye, “Sorry.”

“I didn’t mean to wake you. I just couldn’t feel my arm.” She prodded and poked at the dull limb without sensation.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying sorry,” Ashley laughed.

“Okay, sorry.”

“How didyou sleep?”