CHAPTER ONE
"Well, finally," she thought as the moving truck pulled away. It had certainly been a long and arduous process, but she hoped and prayed the decision she came to was the right one. A change was as good as a rest they say, and Kansas was sure a change. A new beginning. Knowing no one--well, almost no one. She hadn't even told him, but he would find out soon enough. First things first, she began to slowly unpack. Monday would come soon enough and then back to the real world and looking for work and all that. Not sure where to even begin, one by one she began to go through the items that were all she had left to call her own.
Taking a break sometime later, she made her way to the front porch and sat to sit and listen, and look and get a feel for her neighbors. Not really anyone around, the weather had everyone snug inside. She was left alone with her thoughts and dreams--if that's what they were called. Half of her wanted so bad just to march across the street and announce her arrival. But, she knew she couldn't do that. There was far too much at risk, and hurting him was not on her agenda. Patience. Lots of patience. At the very least she hoped the friendship they had begun long ago online could become something real, something tangible. More than a little afraid his reaction to her moving here would be less than positive, she really didn't know what to do or what to say, so she decided to just let time deal with it.
Back inside, she figured she would attempt a task she had no clue how to do--hooking up her computer. She knew the computer was her one 'out,' her way to leave all the worries and close out the reality of life and all the crap it seemed to dump her way. She also knew he could very well be wondering where she had gone to, as it had been several days since she was online. Sure enough, once it was all hooked up she saw he had emailed and left offline messages. As much as she couldn't admit to him, she looked forward to hearing from him far more than she should. The somewhat innocent flirting always ended because they both knew there was a line--easy, so easy to cross--but, nonetheless, a line.
She was never sure just where his feelings were or was never sure she wanted to know. The ease and comfort she felt talking with him, she didn't want to jeopardize for anything. So, once again, the move made her worry that maybe the line was crossed and he wouldn't be as happy as she was that she was here. Determined not to worry and try her best to let it play out over time, she responded to his mail holding back the urge to fill him in on where she went and where she was.
CHAPTER TWO
A few days had passed and their paths hadn't crossed. All the unpacking and adjusting to all the changes hadn't been enough to take her mind off of him. And trying to continue with this faΓ§ade online with him felt more and more like a lie. Every time they said goodbye she felt worse and worse for not telling him. Being so close now was beginning to literally hurt inside. She watched from the window as the time neared that he would be driving home from work. She had seen the coming and goings of some of the neighbors and had determined which house was actually his. Going outside to check the mail (again), or to check for something in her car (again), was getting monotonous. Not to mention what the neighbors may be thinking. As he pulled up, she latched on to whatever courage she had and headed straight out the door. Trying to contain her excitement she cautiously called his name. Not hearing her she called a little louder--a little more anxiously too. He turned and looked as she continued to approach him. Nerves started rattling the closer she got, wondering maybe he wouldn't even have a clue who she was! Refraining herself from embracing him in a zealous hug, she smiled rather shyly and said hello. He looked at her reservedly, staring in her eyes as if they held the answers. All she had to do was nod her head, and finally she got the response she was waiting for: a knowing smile.
" What are you doing here?" he asked. "You didn't..." She nodded again, this time motioning to her house. He was rather speechless, so she gently took his hand and, with her eyes, beckoned for him to follow.
Closing the door she asked him, "Is she..."
"No, she's not home," he replied, knowing exactly what she needed answered. Her hands reached up, touching his hair, his face. Her fingers tracing and committing to memory what until now was only a dream. She felt his hands reach behind her, caressing her back, pulling her closer. Gingerly, he leaned, their lips barely whispered together, each one unsure, trying to hold back. Gently, they tasted, kissing lips, cheeks, necks, never far from letting their eyes lose contact afraid the dream would end. The tears in her eyes came despite every effort to hold them back, tears of joy and relief, sadness and pain all together.
Kissing them away he whispered, "Don't, please." With that simple cry they unleashed all that had been building for months--all the untold hunger, the ravenousness to know completely and to finally have. Leading him down the hall, all the while they touched, they tasted, they hungered for more. Looking in his eyes she wanted to know it was ok, an approval of sorts, as she slowly lifted his shirt. The twinkle in his eye as in turn he started to unbutton hers was all the answer she needed.