Story: Two students and a cat (chapter 11)

Authors: Anarya

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Chapter 11

Title: Chapter 11: Healing Kiss

[Author's notes: This will be a short chapter, for I haven't had time to finish the next scene, but since I was able to get on the Internet today, I wanted to update in case I am unable to get on again next weekend. Plus this is a pretty intense entry, and I bet my readers have been waiting for this to happen!]

Shari leaned her crutches against a tree and balanced on her good leg.  “Here it is.”  She gestured to the a round stage in front of a section of seats.  It was an open theater modeled after the original Shakespeare theater.  The thick walls that surrounded the back of the stage held a door on the left and it was cracked open.  Shari led the way up the side stage stairs and hobbled over to the half-cracked door.  “I sometimes go here with my suitemate, she’s a theater major.  I asked her to open this for this hour.”  Shari winked.  “So we can have some fun.” 

Lyn stepped onto the stage in wonder.  She hadn’t known this place existed.  It was hidden deep within the park amongst thick willows that lined the river.  All during the walk through the park, she had wondered if where Shari was taking her, for she thought she had seen all of the park.  Stooping, she brushed her fingers against the rough wood in wonder.  Obviously she had not seen everything yet.  “What kind of fun?”

“Dancing.”  Shari stepped into the room and adjusted something out of sight.  Soft music flowed through the doorway.  Music Lyn recognized as one of her favorite artists. 

“How did you know?”  Lyn stared at Shari in surprise. 

Shari smiled.  “I’m perceptive.”  She leaned her crutches against the side of the stage, and gently grasped one of Lyn’s hands.  The other grasped her shoulder.  “It’ll be awkward with my boot cast, but we can manage.” 

The music swirled through Lyn, the sharp edge of the violins piercing her soul as the trills of the flutes and the echoes of cellos flared through her senses.  Shari’s touch intensified the desire to kiss, and the music highlighted the passion sevenfold.  Lyn slid her hand onto Shari’s shoulder, her fingers brushing her neck.  They slowly turned in a circle with Shari leaning against Lyn to balance more on her uninjured leg.  Drums rumbled, cymbals crashed, and the tide of harmony rose to a vibrant counterpoint.  Her face flushed, a wild smile on her lips, as she leaned closer to Shari.  The torrent of sound left her breathless and excited.  Shari’s hand released her own and moved to her waist as her other hand stroked Lyn’s shoulder and part of her neck.  The touch left her tingling and her breath quickened as she placed her free hand against Shari’s waist.  Blue eyes bored into her own, and the world rose in a cacophony of sound that flushed her with pleasure.  She was barely conscious of stopping, of Shari’s hands stroking her sides and face.  The musical euphoria caught all her senses, and she leaned forward to brush Shari’s lips with her own.  Everything else faded as the sensation of kissing overwhelmed all of Lyn’s mind and body.  Her hands seemed to move of their own accord and touched Shari’s hair, breasts, sides.  The soft touch of her friend ignited her senses and she leaned into the kiss, tasting her, unable to keep her hands away.  Shari’s hands stroked her breasts, and warmth washed over her.  She felt wood press into her back, and suddenly as it began, the kiss was over.  They pulled away and stared at each other, breathless. 

“Did… we?”  Lyn began to shake as the realization of what just happened broke through the blissful state the music instilled in her.  “Just, you know?” 

Shari stepped away, one hand against the stage wall, and somberly met Lyn’s troubled gaze.  She nodded once. 

Lyn touched her lips and crumpled against the wall.  It had happened so fast.  So unexpectedly.  Had she dreamed it?  Yet Shari stood before her, and her body trembled from the passionate kiss, her lips warm from Shari’s touch.  “I… liked it.”  Tears stung her eyes and she bowed her head in defeat.  “But it’s wrong.  Wrong, Shari.  I… can’t do this.” 

“Why?”  Shari grasped her shoulder and gently slid a lock of Lyn’s hair away from her face.  Her touch was so soft, so tender. 

“It’s against the rules.  They’ll be upset.  Take me away.”  Her eyes felt hot and she abruptly realized that her cheeks were wet.  “They took Mary away,” she whispered as she bit back a sob.  “Just one kiss, and it was all over.”  Her chest heaved and she tightly shut her eyes.  “Dad sent me to Acts of Love to be cured.”  The story flowed from her trembling lips as the tears stung her cheeks and nose.  “I never got to say good-bye, they wouldn’t let me.  She was my best friend.  We were inseparable, but one day we crossed the line.  Kissed. Dad found us.  I never saw her again.”  She gasped and shivered.  Shari’s hands grasped her shoulders, the right straying to stroke Lyn’s cheek.  “I spent five years with them, Shari!  Five!  Nothing they did helped.  I came here for freedom.  Some freedom, but my promise binds me.”  Her tears choked her.  “I… I don’t want to lose you.”  She gasped and shuddered, her tears salty against her lips.  “Like Mary.  I… I really like you.  A lot.” 

There it was said.  Lyn bowed her head, her eyes tightly shut, and waited for the condemnation.  It was finished.  The program would soon learn of this, and she would be taken away.  They would separate them, and she’d never see Shari again.  The tears burned her eyes as what felt like a thunderstorm of emotion rocked her body.  Shari’s arms slid around her trembling body, sheltering her from the maelstrom of feelings that threatened to tear her apart.  Fingers stroked her hair, lips touched her forehead – each touch Lyn clung to as if they were her only anchor in the hurricane of pain and crushed hope that assaulted her.  All of the verses, the prayers, the speeches the program gave her stung her like a swarm of angry bees.  She had to break away from Shari.  Leave, escape, be cured, but the warmth, the comfort, the empathy that Shari freely offered overwhelmed her defenses, and she collapsed into Shari’s arms. 

“You won’t lose me,” Shari whispered, her breath warm against Lyn’s ears.  “I won’t let them take you away.  You’re safe here.” 

“How can I be?”  The words exploded from her mouth.  “They’ll come.  They always do.”  Hopelessness threatened to choke her.  “So lost, alone.  All the time.  Night and day.”  She desperately tilted her head to look Shari in the face, her vision blurry from the tears.  “I can’t take it anymore, Shari!  I can’t.” 

“You don’t have to.  I’m here.  You’re not alone.”  Shari tenderly wiped away the tears, and pulled her into a tight embrace.  “I care about you and I’m not going to let anyone steal you away.  I’m going to take care of you.  You’re safe with me.  I promise.” 

Her lips brushed Lyn’s head, and tentatively, Lyn leaned her head against Shari’s shoulder.  She wanted to believe her friend.  Desperately wanted to believe her, but her memories were too vivid, the threat too stark.  Even Shari’s warmth couldn’t block her rising tide of despair.

[End notes:

As each scene unfolds, we come closer and closer to the end of the story. The moment where Lyn must make a choice.

I have the idea for the next chapter in my head, and part of it written, but it may take a bit to solidify it. I hope to update soon, but due to limited Internet access, it may take longer than I wish. Also, the next chapter will probably be a lot longer than this short scene. (Short but cute! I just love this pair!)

]

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