Morning. Moira groaned, cursing the light that streamed merrily through her window. It was at least eight o' clock. She yawned and stretched painfully, reminding herself mentally to buy new pillows. After a brisk shower and pulling on some thick leggings and a beige cable-knit jumper that had seen better days, she headed through to the large farmhouse style kitchen downstairs. After flicking on the kettle she wandered over to the fridge, working her shoulder-length pink hair into a loose pony tail while she thought vaguely about breakfast. Removing the small carton of milk and sweeping her gaze over the wilted salad and slightly mouldy cheese in her refrigerator, Moira decided quickly on the Cheerios sat in the cupboard.
After finishing her cereal and armed with a still piping hot mug of tea, Moira made her way to the small guest bedroom she used as her office, her thick socks padding on the sanded Oak floors. Setting her cup down on the desk, the slim twenty-eight year old sank into a worn office chair and switched on her computer. She gulped the tea down gratefully as she skimmed through her e-mails. She grimaced, wondering if the shameless advertisements for Viagra ever actually
worked
. One e-mail looked promising, and she clicked on it eagerly. Her eyes narrowed as she read through what was in fact a very jovial rejection letter. 'Why can't they just put "rejected" in the subject heading?' she thought huffily. Sighing, Moira thought back to the last time she had woken up with a truly positive attitude. The last time she had switched on her computer or collected her post expecting good news. She couldn't even remember. It must have been over a year, at least. She was sick of going through this every day. She needed something new. Her life seemed like an endless cycle of failures, the only bright spots being when her family came to visit. Since she was nineteen she had lived alone, in a house that was too big for her, co-owned with sisters who had inherited the place after the death of an elderly relative. Those sisters had long since found their own lives and moved on. She was the only one still desperately trying to find her niche, and wondering how on Earth other people seemed to have it all together.
After several fruitless hours spent researching something to write a half-decent article about she was interrupted by a short burst of buzzing. She looked at her phone tiredly. As expected, it was Taylor. A failed relationship with the perky blonde had ended abruptly after only a few weeks, but in the years that followed an irreplaceable friendship had blossomed, and Taylor Daniels had become her lifeline that broke up the monotony of being alone and unemployed. Opening the text from her friend, Moira laughed quietly.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself loser, I'll be over in a few hours to get smashed and go clubbing!!
'So I'm
that
predictable?' She thought sardonically. However the thought of seeing her friend soon did cheer her up considerably, and she set about trying to find something to wear, and rounding up the alcohol hiding around the house from previous binges with Taylor.
Two hours later Moira was stood in her bedroom in a short faux leather skirt and a delicate black lace bra with a glass of cheap Asti in one hand, riffling through the clothes in her floor-to-ceiling wardrobe with the other. Party hits were blasting though the house and her front door was unlocked in anticipation of Taylor's arrival. On a table by the front door was a glass of wine and a note telling Taylor to find her upstairs.
At around five-thirty Taylor pulled up outside. Walking in and seeing the note she smiled, reminding herself that Moira seemed to be completely incapable of dressing herself for an outing. She deposited her bag in the kitchen and took her glass of wine - as well as the rest of the bottle - upstairs to see her friend. She was amused to find Moira still half-dressed and mildly tipsy holding different tops in front of her and studying her reflection in her full-length mirror. As Moira turned to the bed to discard the clothes Taylor snuck up behind her and covered her eyes with a hand.
"Guess who!"
Moira giggled.
"The woman of my dreams?" she ventured mischievously. Taylor laughed and pulled her hand away.
"Got it in one!" Taylor released her hold and proceeded to refill her friend's empty glass. Looking Moira up and down appreciatively she asked how she was.
She was answered with a shrug. "Fine really. Nothing's changed since the last time I saw you."
"That's a depressing thought babe. Have you tried out the dating site I signed you up to?"
Moira grimaced, slumping on the bed. "I tried it once and that was enough to put me off. The minute men realise I'm bisexual they start asking for threesomes, and the minute women find out, they go off me because they presume I'll leave them for a guy."
"Bummer. So you've gone a good year without a shag then?"
Moira threw a pillow at her. "Thanks for reminding me! We're not all out for sex you know! Though I am starting to suspect that my virginity is planning on growing back soon." She laughed.
Carefully putting down her drink on the cabinet next to the bed, Taylor moved closer to her and winked. "I could check that for you." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively and buried her face in Moira's generous bosom. Laughing uncontrollably at her friend's lewd behaviour she tried to shift the girl off her. Despite the ridiculousness of the situation she still felt vague stirrings of desire at the warm contact, and the feel of Taylor's breasts pressing against her stomach.
"Stop it dude," she laughed weakly, "you're getting me wet already it's been so long!" Taylor sat up, red-faced and merry. Gulping down half a glass of wine she turned to face Moira.
"Promise me you'll talk to some new people tonight, you're not even trying to socialise anymore, it takes me forcing you out of the house!"