Rose looked out at the sky. It was a clear, late summer night, and she could see the moon glowing above the trees. Although this image would calm most, standing under the stars brought her back to a night many years ago, one that still remained unresolved.
The summer after she turned 18 had been the greatest of her life. Rose had spent it backpacking far from her home. Although she had met many people along the way who were special to her, even romantically, there was one person who had meant more to her than the others combined. His name was Noah. He was an 18-year-old cello player with dark green eyes and an air of intelligence. Although Rose had been free, Noah had a girlfriend at home. This did not keep them from becoming travel companions, spending hours walking together talking, leaving no topics unturned, including their sex lives.
One day, Noah and Rose played The Secrets Game.
"What's the craziest thing you've ever done?" he asked her.
Rose smiled slyly. "I hooked up with a girl once," she began.
Noah's interest had been provoked. "Serious?"
Rose nodded.
"Tell me everything. Every detail."
Rose thought for a moment.
"She was sleeping over at my house and at about 2 in the morning when I was half asleep, I felt her start massaging my back..." Despite her trust in Noah, she was reluctant to tell him more.
"Come on. I'm dying here!!"
"Um...She was kissing my neck and whispering to me to relax. We started making out, and undressing each other...." Rose hesitated again, despite knowing that Noah would more than just tolerate her story.
"We played with each other's boobs while we were still in our underwear, and then she took off my bra and sucked on my nipples until I lay her down on her back. I took her bra off her, and kissed her breasts, flicking her nipples. After a while she was pretty turned on so I kissed my way down her body and ate her out until she came. After a few minutes she took my panties off me, and I rolled on top of her, moving our legs into the right position. I ground my pussy against hers--"
Noah interrupted. "And how did that feel?"
"It's a really awkward position, but it was amazing. It was so hot and wet, and she was moaning even though she'd just cum a minute before. I felt her swollen tits against mine, all soft and warm, and after a while I came really hard, and I fingered her until she came again, and we fell asleep, and we got up the next day and...went shopping, or something...I can't remember." Rose smiled. She was surprised that she had shared her experience in such detail, thinking that it would have made her feel like a slut. But she felt liberated and happy that she had told Noah. She liked knowing that she had turned him on. She hoped that he would reciprocate with something good.
"So I guess it's your turn now. What's the craziest thing you've ever done?"
"I slept with a guy once." He smiled.
"Somehow, as pro-gay as I am, I don't really want to hear the details of that one!" Rose laughed.
"No, you really don't. It would have been really fun...if I was gay."
Another day, they played the game again.
"How big are you?" Rose began.
Noah gave her a sly grin.
"Maybe you'll find out some day,"
She tried to protest, he touched her hand.
"Tell me your biggest secret ever."
Rose looked into the depth of his green eyes. Her heart raced and she longed to tell him the true secret. "I am in love with you." But she stayed silent, gathering courage, until the two were interrupted by some a couple they had met the previous day.
By the end of the summer, they had reached an unsaid understanding that in another time and place, their friendship would have been more. The night Rose left Noah had been one of the most bittersweet memories of her life. As they walked along for the last time, she had felt a rush that compelled her to grab him into her arms, and he had reciprocated. As he held her in the moonlight, Rose wondered what she would do when she returned to her normal life. They looked at each other, then looked down, knowing that they were dangerously close to a kiss, and that they could not allow Noah to stray. It was time for Rose to leave. The path they walked was dark, and they held hands. The world was waiting as Noah kissed Rose lightly, and held her for the last time before she walked away, alone. They had not seen each other again.
Rose and Noah had corresponded regularly and happily despite the 10-hour distance between them. They remained interested in each others' lives. They discussed problems and triumphs in late-night phone calls. Their inside jokes survived. They often said the exact same thing at the exact same time. They graduated from high school, and Rose attended college 2 hours from his home. She knew that she would see Noah again some day, but she often wondered what their reunion would be like.
One day Rose received a phone call from Noah as she was on her way to class.
"I'm coming to see you," he said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I have no classes next monday so I was thinking I could come down for the weekend."
Rose was startled. "I haven't seen you for years. And what about Jessica?"
"Jessica's been gone for a while. I'm sorry I didn't say anything about it. I wanted to recover on my own first, if that makes any sense. In fact, we can talk about it when I get there." If Noah was still grieving, his voice left no indication.
She took a deep breath. "I would love to see you this weekend. My roommate and I even have sleeping space for you. Do you need me to pick you up from the train station?..."
When Rose hung up the phone she felt different. She was excited, but also extremely scared. What would happen during this visit? They were both single. They were not too far away from each other. Were these the different terms that their relationship had lacked before? She thought of all the nights when she had fantasized that he was with her in her bed. Noah kissing her the way she had wanted him to kiss her the night they said goodbye. "Would he take off his glasses?" Rose wondered, as she imagined running her fingers through his dark brown hair, feeling his musician hands exploring her body, feeling his cock grow, feeling it inside of her. She shivered, thinking of the futon she and her roommate kept for guests, wondering if maybe they wouldn't need it this time.
On friday, Rose finished her lab and headed to the train station to meet Noah. As she entered the building and stood waiting for him to arrive, she felt her heart beat out of control. Every nerve in her body was in panic mode, and her palms were so sweaty she had to wipe then on her jeans. She saw the train pull into the station, and watched as people exited, wondering if maybe he looked different from when she had left him. Noah climbed off the train and Rose ran to him, jumping into his arms. It was a cliche reunion at best, but as she felt his arms around her again, knowing that her friend was back, it didn't matter at all.
"So, what should we do first? Are you hungry?" Rose asked as she drove Noah back to her dorm.
"Actually I'm starving. Let's catch up while we eat."
Rose looked sideways at him. "Yeah...you can tell me what the hell happened with Jessica that you didn't seem was necessary to mention."
Noah looked sheepish. "It's not very interesting, but if it would make you happy..."
