Authors note: it's been a while since I wrote for this category. I hope you enjoy the story. Please feel free to rate it and comment. It's your ratings and comments that keep me writing.
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I first saw her in the airport. We were waiting for the same flight. I admit, I was checking her out. She was cute. She was probably college aged, 5'4" maybe 120 lbs, brown hair down between her shoulder blades. She was wearing a pair of loose gym shorts, a t shirt, and flip flops. Obviously ready for comfort travel.
I laughed to myself. I often wondered what young women would think if they realized they were being checked out by a lesbian. I mean, we grow up being told by every media outlet we are going to be checked out by the opposite sex, but no thought is really given to same sex, and when it is, it's usually some kind of joke.
But here I was checking her out. We were flying from Chicago to Austin. I was bored, between reads, (saving my book for the plane), she was talking to the young man obviously traveling with her.
He was a good looking guy. What? I'm gay, not blind, I can tell a good looking guy, sheesh...
Anyways. He was a good looking guy and they were leaning close to each other talking.
Finally it was time to board. I was in group A so I got to board first. I had the aisle seat. I boarded, stowed my carry on, and took my seat. As I sat there I watched people board the plane. There were two empty seats next to me, I wondered who I'd get. My luck it was going to be a very large person who didn't quite fit in their seat. I hated that. I saw a large person get on and silently hoped they wouldn't sit next to me.
As people boarded I noticed the little brunette board also. I watched her come down the aisle, trying to make sure I didn't stare. She wasn't drop dead gorgeous, she was the cute girl next door.
As she got closer to me I turned away so she wouldn't think I was staring.
"I think we're in here," she said.
"Oh, hold on," I said as I stood up and exited the row so they could get in. I silently hoped she'd choose the middle seat.
I got lucky. Not only did the cute girl sit in my row, but the guy got in first and took the window seat. That meant the girl took the middle next to me. At least I'd travel in comfort. I thought. She wouldn't be in my space. I guess you should know, I wouldn't be in hers either. I also thought, too bad she's straight, but I'm used to thinking that.
A little about me. My name is Karen. I'm 25, 5'7", and 135 lbs. I have black hair down to my shoulders. I was a marketing manager for a high tech company.
Manager, I always laugh. Everyone is a manager. I didn't manage anyone. It was my first job out of college, but it was a good job and great experience to use as a springboard for future positions. I'd already been promoted once.
And, just for the record, I'm gay, in case you haven't figured that out yet.
We settled into our seats and, as per custom, minded our own business. Well, kinda, she was talking to her boyfriend, his name was Mike, I was kind of eavesdropping but trying not to.
They weren't talking about anything exciting. They were in Chicago visiting his parents. She was complaining about having to get back to her classes. She was obviously a college student. He was agreeing school was a pain.
I pulled out my book and started reading. The girl next to me pulled out her book as she settled in. I was surprised when I saw it. It was a graphic novel by a woman named Alison Bechdel called Fun Home. I was surprised as this was a pretty famous book about coming of age, coming out as a lesbian, and growing up. The book actually came out about the same time I was realizing my sexuality. Not your standard fare flight reading.
Curiosity peaked, I had to ask her about it.
"Interesting choice of reading," I said casually.
She looked at me and smiled. "Oh, have you read it?" She asked.
"Years ago," I replied.
"Well it's for school," she told me.
"School?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied. "I'm taking a course on human sexuality. I'm a soc major. My term paper is on understanding the issues of coming out as a lesbian.
"Unusual choice," I responded.
"Well yes," she replied, "but I have a few gay friends and thought it might be interesting as a straight person to try and understand their experience."
"Sounds pretty ambitious for a term paper," I mused.
"Yeah, it is," she answered, "but interesting."
Then she asked what I was reading. I was a little embarrassed. It was called The Gravity Between Us, basically a gay romance novel. Kind of pulp airplane reading. I'm not sure why I was embarrassed. I'd been out as a gay woman for years. I wanted to tell her what it was but I kind of figured that it would be like screaming "I'm a lesbian" to someone I'd just met on a plane.
I told her it was a romance novel and we moved on to other small talk. Her name was Lisa. Turned out she lived with friends in an apartment about three blocks from me. She was twenty, a student, and worked at a coffee shop near my apartment. It was interesting because I'd actually never been to her shop. I usually walked the other way and there was a coffee shop out that way as well.
Small talk fizzled out and we returned to our reading.
The flight was uneventful and we soon landed. As we were getting ready to leave I wished her good luck with her paper. She said it was a pleasure meeting me and maybe she'd see me around. We disembarked and went our own ways.
I thought nothing of it until a few weeks later. A friend wanted to meet for coffee. We started to make plans and she chose a coffee shop nearby. I'd never been to it. It took me a minute to remember the girl on the plane worked there and a minute longer to remember her name was Lisa. I wondered if she'd be there. A little bit of eye candy.
I got ready to meet my friend. As I got dressed I thought of Lisa. I wondered if she'd be there. I decided to upgrade my outfit a bit. Nothing too fancy, a better pair of jeans, boots, a white cream blouse that showed a bit of cleavage, a bit of jewelry. I checked myself out in the mirror. I looked nice. Not too fancy for coffee, but fancier than most going out for coffee people.
I arrived at the shop a bit early. My friend hadn't arrived yet. I expectantly looked around for Lisa. I didn't see her either. I pulled out my phone and started checking emails. I got a text from my friend saying she was running ten minutes
late. I told her I could amuse myself.
Then from behind me I heard, "Hi, Karen, right?" It was Lisa.
"Oh, hi," I said. Then, as if to cover up I said, "I forgot you worked here. I'm meeting a friend."
We chatted a bit before she said she had to get back to work.
My friend arrived. First thing out of her mouth, "Who are you dressed up for?"
I blew it off. "What? A girl can't look nice?" I countered.
"Well," she laughed. "I know it's not for me."
She and I were just friends and although she was gay too, we did have a different dressing style. I tended to dress more feminine than she did. She let the subject drop and we chatted a while. At some point she noticed Lisa.
"Check out the little girl behind the counter," she said.
"I was here ten minutes before you," I laughed. "What do you think I did with all that time."
We both laughed and went on with our conversation.
It was time to go. We got up to leave. As we did Lisa waved at me. "By Karen," It was nice to see you again."
"You too," I replied.
