Page 25 of Learning Curves
Audrey never expected to have so much fun at a student party.
Even Michelle, who had been initially reluctant to join her on the dance floor, looked like she was enjoying herself.
Someone had queued up an energetic playlist, heavy on Hayley Kiyoko, Sam Smith, Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, Anna Moss, and other young, queer artists.
Audrey could tell that Michelle didn’t recognize a single song, but it was worth it to see Anne Lister grooving to “Lunch.”
Michelle’s skirt swirled as she moved, black satin brushing against the thin leggings Audrey wore beneath her dress, and oof .
It took effort to keep from reaching out and gathering a fistful of that satin, then using it to haul Michelle in for a kiss.
Their eyes locked, and before Audrey could worry that her desire was visible on her face, she saw the heat simmering in Michelle’s dark gaze.
She stared at Audrey with such raw hunger, Audrey felt an answering clench low in her belly. Michelle blinked, and it was gone, replaced with the slightly aggrieved expression she’d worn since Audrey had asked her to dance. Had she imagined that flash of heat?
Because she was watching Michelle so closely, Audrey saw the exact moment she realized what the song was about, that it was an unabashed celebration of sapphic oral sex.
Michelle’s steps faltered, and embarrassment flitted across her features.
She rested a hand on Audrey’s shoulder as she leaned in to murmur in her ear, “Is this appropriate for a university-funded event?”
“Of course it is! I’ve heard much more graphic lyrics on the radio.” Audrey ignored the way goose bumps rose on her skin from the gust of Michelle’s warm breath against her neck.
“I suppose. Still, I wasn’t listening to anything like this in college.”
“That sounds like a you problem,” Audrey said with a playful wink. “Prince was singing about oral sex before I was even born. So was Madonna, and—”
“Okay,” Michelle interrupted. “Enough of that.”
“Oh, come on. Surely you’re familiar with cunnilingus.” Audrey thought she must be having an out-of-body experience, because surely she hadn’t just said that.
“Of course I’m ...” Michelle drifted off, giving her head a quick shake. “Why are we talking about this?”
“I have no idea.” Audrey waved her hands in front of her face. “Immediate change of subject.”
Michelle glanced around the room, seeming to notice all the students singing along to the song, and then she tugged at the collar of her shirt. “I need something to drink.”
“Good idea.” It was warm in here, and Audrey was thirsty too. She followed Michelle to the refreshment table, where they both grabbed bottles of water. Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go!” began to play, much to Michelle’s obvious relief.
She headed toward the patio, and Audrey started to follow, but then she stopped.
Michelle hadn’t invited her to tag along.
Maybe she needed some time to herself. And anyway, one of them ought to stay inside the party.
Their presence tonight was required for the students to be able to host a party this size on campus.
Audrey drank her water, watching students enjoy themselves on the dance floor. The kids gathered here tonight were a beautiful array of genders and sexualities, decked out in equally colorful costumes and having the time of their lives.
Not everyone was celebrating, though. Her gaze caught on a student dressed as a pinata, their costume covered in colorful paper fringe, complete with paper horns on their head.
She’d noticed the student peripherally a few times tonight, always standing off to the side, observing the party.
Maybe they were shy or new to the group.
Maybe they needed a friend here tonight.
Audrey walked over to stand against the wall nearby. “Hey. I’m Professor Lind, she/her. I don’t think we’ve met yet.”
The student gave her a hesitant smile. “Hi. I’m Kayley, also she/her.”
“Love your costume, Kayley.” Audrey gave her a warm smile. “I’m not sure I’ve seen one like it before.”
“Thanks.” Kayley looked down at herself. “My mom made it for me.”
“Oh, are you local? Or did she send it to you?”
“I’m local.” Kayley ducked her head. “I’m living at home for college.”
“Cool,” Audrey said. “I would have loved to do that. It was really hard leaving home. My family and I are close.”
“I’m close with my family too.” Kayley paused, eyes darting everywhere but at Audrey. “I haven’t told them I’m here , though. They think it’s just a regular Halloween party.”
“Hey, no worries. There’s no timetable on coming out. Do what feels right for you ... even if that means you never come out to them,” Audrey told her. “I’m really glad you’re here tonight, though. Is this your first Pride Coalition event?”
“I’ve been to one meeting before this, but ... I haven’t really talked to anyone. I’m not really out, like, at all.” Her cheeks were bright pink now, hands clenched behind her back. “I’ve never even said the words out loud. I’m just ... here.”
“Here is the perfect place to be,” Audrey said. “You’re in a safe and welcoming space. No need to put labels or pressure on yourself—just have fun. Have you tried the food yet? The zombie-brain cupcake was my favorite, but it’s a little messy.”
Kayley grinned as the tension drained from her posture. “I had my eye on those.”
“Come on. Let’s go get you one.”
“Hey, Dr. Lind! We miss you on the dance floor.” Gia bopped by with several of her friends, waving her arms for Audrey to join them.
Kayley watched them with a wistful expression.
“I was just taking a breather. Gia, have you met Kayley?”
“Nope.” Gia approached with a wide smile, hand extended. “I’m Gia, she/her, trans lesbian, and a communications major.”
“Hi.” Kayley gave her a bashful smile as she took her hand. “I’m Kayley, she/her. I’m premed and, um ... also a lesbian.” Her expression was a mixture of wonder and vulnerability for having spoken those words out loud, and Audrey held her breath, waiting for Gia’s response.
“It’s awesome to meet you, Kayley.” Gia gave her an enthusiastic handshake before sashaying her hips in her flapper dress. “Want to dance with us? We’re having so much fun.”
“Oh, um ...” Kayley swallowed, and then a wide smile bloomed on her face. “Yeah, I’d love to dance.”
And then she was off. The next time Audrey caught sight of her, Kayley was grooving in the middle of the dance floor with Gia and her friends, pinata tassels bouncing. Audrey felt like a proud parent.
The last hour of the party passed uneventfully. The kids all seemed to be having a good time. She’d seen Michelle here and there, but Audrey hadn’t talked to her again since the cunnilingus incident, which she was both disappointed about and grateful for.
When they clicked, they really clicked. They had the kind of conversations that left Audrey’s mind buzzing with an intellectual high, but they seemed to get off kilter with each other just as frequently, always toeing the line between friendship and awkwardness.
Had that moment on the dance floor actually happened? Or had Audrey’s lust-struck brain imagined the heat in Michelle’s eyes?
By the time she walked to her car after the party, she was sure she’d imagined it.
She slid behind the wheel with a sigh, but when she turned the key, nothing happened.
Not even a groan from the engine. It wasn’t the end of the world.
Audrey’s rental house was only a fifteen-minute walk from campus.
On nice days, she often walked to work, but right now, she was exhausted.
Not to mention, she couldn’t afford car repairs this month.
She slapped a hand against the steering wheel in annoyance.
Someone tapped on her window, and she looked up to see Michelle peering at her through the glass. Audrey’s heart kicked against her ribs as she fumbled with the window, confused about why it wouldn’t lower until she remembered the car was dead.
She grabbed her bag and stepped out of the vehicle.
Michelle gave her a questioning look. “Car trouble?”
Audrey sighed. “Yeah. It was threatening trouble earlier, but now it won’t start. Luckily, I live close enough to walk home.”
“Would you like a ride?”
“Um, yeah, that would be great, actually. My feet are killing me.” And she was secretly thrilled to spend a few minutes alone with Michelle before they said good night.
“So much dancing.” Michelle rolled her eyes. “Come on. I’m just over here.”
Audrey followed her to a sleek black BMW. The car was so perfectly Michelle, Audrey had to smile. Michelle had taken off her top hat, revealing damp flyaways that had escaped from her bun. That outfit was going to be in Audrey’s private fantasies for a long time.
“I’m about a half mile down East Street, just past the gas station,” she told Michelle as they got into the car.
“Perfect. That’s right on my way home.”
“Where do you live?”
“I’m a few miles outside town on Middleton Hill Road.”
“Oh, the views are so pretty out that way,” Audrey said.
Michelle nodded. “Exactly why I bought a house there. It’s got all the privacy I could ever want, plus a view to die for.”
“Sounds nice.” And Audrey had no business wondering if she’d ever see it in person. “Got plans this weekend?”
“Not really. I’ll probably be working on that book. Can’t seem to get it off my mind.”
“That makes me very happy to hear, since I’m dying to read more of it.
” Audrey settled back in her seat. The car smelled like Michelle, that fresh, woodsy scent Audrey had come to associate with her.
“I’ll be working on my passion projects this weekend too.
I’ll probably spend most of it at the pottery wheel. ”
Michelle darted a glance at her as she drove. “I’d love to see you work sometime. You use the studio on campus, too, don’t you?”