Meaning in Numbers
"Never pretend to a love which you do not actually feel, for love is not
ours to command."
Alan Watts
Maggie awoke suddenly to the sound of the creaking stairs above
her cupboard under the staircase. Leaning over, she grabbed at her
watch sitting upon a stack of three books.
02:59
The digital numbers glared at her through the thick, blanketed
darkness and the tall woman rubbed at her eyes, a little annoyed that
she was woken up so easily and at such an hour. For a moment, she
pondered who could be up this early in the morning, but quickly
remembered that sensei kept odd hours because of her writing.
Putting her watch back down on the books, Maggie readjusted
herself in the tiny space, trying to find another comfortable position
so that she could get back to sleep. Magenta eyes closed themselves
unconsciously as long limbs moved themselves effortlessly through the
myriad of books.
When finally, the tall girl managed to get completely readjusted
and comfortable, her mind had already completely forgotten the reason
she was roused from sleep in the first place. Several moments later,
her breathing had become steady and her body stilled, Maggie felt
herself drifting back into a peaceful slumber.
The dark haired girl was almost asleep again when the door to her
cupboard opened suddenly, spooking her back awake. She cried out softly
at the suddenness of the movement.
"Ah, gomen." A soft voice whispered through the dark.
Magenta eyes blinked rapidly, attempting to recognize the dark
figure in front of her.
"Honestly Maggie-chan, I don't know how you manage to sleep like
this, don't you get sore?" The figure was now crawling her way through
the books and across the tall girls' legs.
A blush crept up Maggie's neck to her face and she realized who
the voice belonged to.
"No, Onee-san," magenta eyes lowered to a book that was currently
being clutched. Maggie briefly wondered for a moment when she picked up
the book during her sleep, but quickly dismissed the thought when she
became conscious of the fact that Michelle was still crawling towards
her.
"Onee.san."
Smiling, the blonde haired woman stopped a moment, taking in a
small breath, "I couldn't seem to sleep, and thought I would come down
here to keep you company," brown eyes frowned slightly, though not at
all noticed by the taller girl because of the dark, "but it seems there
isn't much room down here for both of us."
The dark haired girl sensed the drop in the older woman's voice,
and began to feel bad for confining herself to such small spaces.
Maggie began to shift her body and move several books for her
counterpart, "Its okay Onee-san, you can come in here."
"Really?!" Michelle squealed out of delight and leapt forward
hugging her tall companion.
Several books were jolted from their resting spots on the shelves,
falling around the two girls. Magenta eyes went wide, surprised by the
sudden physical contact, and watched as her watch went falling to the
ground along side the other books.
03:27
Maggie's body relaxed under the weight of her sister; she
unconsciously let go the book she'd been clutching and wrapped her arms
tightly around Michelle. The two stayed in that position for several
moments, enjoying the contact from the other.
"Ah, oh, gomen Maggie-chan!" Brown eyes shot open and pulled back
away from the dark haired woman. Michelle bowed her head down and spoke
in a hushed tone, "I woke you up didn't I?"
Shaking her head slightly, the tall girl replied, "Eh, oh, it's
alright. I don't mind."
Blonde hair danced in the faint glow from the digital watch and
Maggie became mesmerized by it. She watched intently as Michelle fit
her body practically right on top of the younger woman's in order to fit
in the small space.
Michelle began to speak while making adjustments to sit next to
Maggie, "You never mind, do you? Not that I want you to mind. I like
the fact that you're so accommodating to everyone. Not that you allow
people to walk all over you, because you don't at all. You're pretty
intimidating when you want to be."
Maggie felt a grin creep onto her face as the blonde haired woman
babbled on.
"And the way you handled that dirty paper user, I bet he was
surprised to find his self an even match in you." Michelle had decided
to sit half on, half off of Maggie's legs and leaned against the younger
woman, sighing contentedly.
The two women settled into a comfortable silence and enjoyed the
physical contact of being close to one another. Blonde hair began to
nod off a bit and Maggie unconsciously rubbed her sisters' arms
soothingly, helping her get back to sleep.
"Maggie-chan."
Magenta eyes closed softly at the sound of her name, "Yes,
Onee-san?"
The older woman picked at a loose thread on the taller girls
shirt, as she debated silently whether or not to go on. After several
moments, the thread looked like it was not going to come out without a
pair of scissors, and Michelle gave up, resting her hand atop of
Maggie's stomach.
Another blush crept up the tall girl's neck and face, feeling the
warmth of the blonde woman's hand lying on her belly. Michelle took
another deep breath, deciding she was going to talk, once and for all.
Brown eyes peered into the darkness, seeking out magenta eyes.
"Maggie-chan; you're not going to leave me, ever. right?"
The tall girl felt her body freeze at the hesitancy in Michelle's
voice. Maggie was at a loss for words; she'd never heard her onee-sama
sound so unsure and almost frightened. Magenta eyes closed, fighting
back a tear that was threatening to spill. It hurt her so very much
that her older sister was feeling such pain.
Fingers gripped tightly at the tall girl's shirt, lightly pulling
at it as Michelle leaned her head against Maggie's chest. Taking a deep
breath, the blonde girl pushed away any thoughts of tears; in fear of
making Maggie cry.
And over something this silly. Michelle didn't know why she'd
said it. But at that moment, she felt so right in the dark haired
woman's arms; she didn't want to lose something so wonderful. Letting
go of the shirt, Michelle pinched at her cheek and looked up again into
the dark, trying to find those magenta eyes that were so magnetizing.
"I'm sorry Maggie-chan. I didn't mean to make it sound like that.
We're always going to be together, neh?"
The tall girl's eyes widened a little bit. Onee-san. always so
cheerful and strong. Maggie didn't know what to say. She just stared
back at brown eyes, admiring how large and beautiful they were.
She can't see me through the darkness, Maggie thought. As she
watched the blonde girl's eyes, they didn't seem to know where to look.
Magenta eyes were used to being in the dark; Maggie had no problem
seeing her older sister. Closing her eyes, the dark haired girl seemed
to take on a grimace of frustration for a moment. After taking a deep
breath, Maggie reopened her eyes and smiled slightly.
"I can't see you that well Maggie-chan, so you're going to have to
say whatever's on y--.. mmph!" The older woman was silenced as soft
lips met her own.
Unconsciously, Michelle closed her eyes, reveling in the feeling
of those soft lips. She leaned closer against the taller girl and
lazily brought an arm up around Maggie's shoulder.
Magenta eyes were closed tightly, afraid of her sister's reaction
at such a bold step. She just held her lips against Michelle's until
she felt the blonde woman's arm move around her shoulder. Taking her
cue, Maggie pushed a little harder against the older woman's lips.
After several moments, the taller girl felt a little dizzy and
opened her mouth slightly to take a breath, only to get another shock.
Michelle mistook the dark haired woman's mouth opening as an invite and
slipped her tongue into the younger woman's mouth greedily.
Maggie tensed a moment, feeling the tongue pushing itself in. It
was soft, warm, and strong. Like onee-sama. Relaxing a bit, the taller
girl allowed the other woman's tongue completely into her mouth and
pulled at it softly, wrapping her arms even tighter around the blonde
woman's curvy body.
The two women kissed for what seemed like an eternity, as time
slipped quickly by both.
It was Michelle who pulled away first, desperately seeking the
oxygen she didn't know she was missing. Maggie grinned, breathing
heavily as well, and continued to hold the older woman against her.
Blonde hair spread out across the tall girl's chest as Michelle rested
her head upon Maggie's shoulder.
The dark haired woman tilted her head slightly and kissed the top
of the other woman's head, reveling in the new feelings.
"I'm glad I came down here Maggie-chan."
Still grinning, the taller girl simply nodded in her reply and
looked towards the floor where a bit of light caught her eye.
03:48
"Time is a gift, given to you, given to give you the time you need, the
time you need to have the time of your life."
Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth.
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