Caitlin lay in bed unable to sleep. She kept thinking about the way Freya had looked at her as she left earlier that day. It's nothing. She kept telling herself. You just imagined it.
But her mind kept wondering back to the way Freya had stepped forward just before leaving her house. She looked like she had wanted to say something, but instead just stared into Caitlin's eyes. Then she had turned around and left. Glancing back once more before she vanished around the corner.
It looked like she was going to kiss me before thinking better of it. Caitlin thought. But why now? They had been friends for years. True, it had been a while since they last met. Freya had gone to university, while Caitlin had found work close to home.
Freya had recently dropped out and found a job. Today had been the first time they met since she started.
She never showed any signs she was interested in me before now, had she? Caitlin thought. They had always been close, sure, but as best friends.
But as Caitlin lay in bed, thinking, she began to remember all the times Freya had held her hand, or hugged her a little longer than anyone else. Was Freya interested in being more than just friends?
The more Caitlin thought about it, the clearer it became. How can I have been so blind? She thought. It was obvious now she thought about it. There were often moments where Freya looked torn about whether to say something or not. It made sense now.
Freya was obviously afraid that if she said something, it could ruin their friendship. How long had she had feelings for me? Caitlin wondered.
Her sleep was restless that night. She couldn't stop thinking about Freya. She must feel so torn all the time. I have to make it up to her. But do I have feelings for her? Caitlin asked herself.
Freya was very pretty. There was no doubt about that. Her tall slender figure, with long luxurious auburn hair and a smile to die for. She was funny, kind and the best friend Caitlin had ever had. But am I attracted to her? Caitlin imagines holding her, kissing those sweet lips of hers. It made her feel warm and tingly inside. These thoughts hadn't even crossed her mind before, but now she was curious.
Caitlin got up and put some clothes on. Then she grabbed her phone and dialled Freya's number.
"Hey, Cait! How are you today? Yesterday was fun. It was nice catching up with you, it's been a while." Said Freya.
"Are you free today?" Caitlin asked.
"Sort of. Why, what can I do for you?"
"Do you want to go out with me? On a walk I mean." Caitlin adds quickly. "Into town or the woods, whatever you want."
"I'd love to! When was you thinking?"
"Umm, soon? I'm ready when you are."
"Okay." Freya paused for a moment. "I'll be over as soon as I can."
"Are you sure you aren't busy?"
"Nothing that can't wait. I'll be round in half hour. See you then!"
Caitlin went down to breakfast with a smile.
"You look happy this morning." Says Caitlin's mum. "You meeting Freya today?"
"Yes, how did you guess?"
"You've got that look in your eyes."
"What look?" Caitlin asked
"The one you always have before you meet Freya." Her mum gives her a knowing smile. "I've seen the way she looks at you."
So even her mum had noticed. Why had it taken Caitlin so long to realise?
After eating breakfast, Caitlin paced back and forth in the living room, waiting for Freya to arrive. What was she going to say? Was she even right about Freya?
I'll keep a look out for any signs that she's interested in me, and see where it goes. She thought.
When Freya arrived, Caitlin threw open the door and pulled her into a firm embrace.
Freya seemed a bit taken aback with Caitlin's enthusiasm, but she returned the hug, squeezing Caitlin tight.
"Come on, let's go." Said Caitlin, taking Freya by the hand. Freya gave a questioning stare, obviously noticing Cait's eagerness.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"Anywhere you want." Caitlin replied. "Shops or the woods?"
"Woods. It's too much of a nice day to miss out."
"Let's get some snacks on the way there. We could have a picnic." Caitlin suggested.
"That sounds fun. Umm, Cait, is there something you want to tell me? You seem... I don't know, excited about something."
"I guess I'm just glad to have you back."
"So am I." Freya squeezed Caitlin's hand and walked closely beside her.
After visiting the local shop, they head towards the woods together. Caitlin put an arm around Freya's shoulders, watching for a reaction. Freya wasn't sure how to react at first. Caitlin had never been this bold before. After a moment, though, she put her own arm around Caitlin's waist.
They talked about everything that had happened since Freya went to university. In the end, she didn't think it was worth it, and dropped out. She missed home too much and didn't really get on with her roommates.
"They were nice." Freya had said. "But I never really felt like I fit in. I missed having a friend like you."
"I missed you too. I didn't realise how much your friendship meant to me until you were gone."
Freya stopped and gave Caitlin a long hug.
"We're back together now. Just like old times."
They found themselves walking off the main trail, and before long were completely lost.
"Have we been here already?" Freya asked, looking around.
"I don't think so." Caitlin replied.
"I thought I recognised that tree. That bent one over there." Freya pointed to a bent twisted tree off to the side of the path.
"It does look familiar now you mention it. I think we go this way." Caitlin chose a small path and headed up it.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Freya asked after a while.
"I don't know. It must come out somewhere." Caitlin replied. Just then came a low rumble of thunder in the distance.
Freya stepped closer to Caitlin, brushing against her. "I think we should go back." She said, a little nervously.
Freya wasn't usually scared of thunder. Caitlin thought. Was she acting scared so I would comfort her?
Caitlin put an arm around her and drew her close. "Let's keep going and see where we end up."
"It's going to rain." Said Freya, looking up at a dark cloud.
"Well there's no shelter back the way we came. Hopefully this path will take us back to the main track."
As they continued up the path, the sky got darker and the first few drops of rain started to fall.
"We're going to get soaked." Said Freya.
"What's that up there? Looks like some sort of old building. We could shelter in there." Caitlin said, pointing.
By the time they got there, the rain was pouring down, soaking them through. The building used to be a log cabin, but was now in a state of ruin. Most of the roof still held, but rain leaked though the many holes.
"It's better than nothing." Said Caitlin. They stood together, watching the rain pelt down outside.
"This is a nice little adventure, isn't it?" Caitlin said after a moment of silence.
Freya opened her mouth to reply, when a crack of thunder cut her off. She walked into Caitlin's arms, seeking comfort.
Caitlin hugged her, then drew back slightly to look her in the eye. Freya met her gaze, uncertainty in her eyes. Caitlin leaned in, just a little. Freya hesitated before moving a little closer, her lips almost touching Caitlin's.
She's waiting to see what I will do. Caitlin thought. I was right! Not wanting to waste the moment, Caitlin quickly kissed Freya on the lips. It seem to catch her off guard. She took a step back, staring at Cait with longing in her eyes.
Caitlin went in for another kiss. Freya took another step back. "Cait..." she started. Then she couldn't hold herself back anymore, and flew at Caitlin, kissing her hard.
Caitlin returned the kiss passionately. It felt so natural, as if they had done this a thousand times before.
Freya eventually pulled away, looking deeply into Caitlin's eyes.
"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this?" She asked in a soft voice.
"I'm sorry, I never realised." Caitlin replied.
"I've always had eyes for you. I've turned down so many boys. And girls. I could've had any one of them, but I wanted you." Freya had tears in her eyes now. "So many times I almost told you how I felt. But I couldn't do it. What if you had rejected me? Then I would've been left with nothing."
"You should've said something. I would never have turned you down."
"How could you not have noticed? Wasn't it obvious I loved you?" Freya had started to sob. The tears mixing with the rain pouring down her face.
"When you went out with that boy, it broke my heart. I cried almost every night."
"I didn't know. I'm so sorry." Caitlin felt like crying now. How could she have been so stupid?
"Why do you think I cried when you kissed him that time? I thought you didn't care."
"I thought it was because of something else. I would've comforted you, but you ran away. I was so dumb and selfish."
"You hurt me so much. I almost gave up at that point. But after you got out of that relationship, we started to get close again. But still you couldn't see or care about how I felt about you. In the end I accepted that I would never have you as anything more than a friend. I always loved you though."
"If only I had known... I'll make it up to you, I promise." Caitlin took Freya's hands in her own.
"But do you really love me? You aren't just saying that to make me feel better?"
"I didn't realise it before now. I think I've always felt it deep down though. Come here." Caitlin grabbed Freya and pulled her in tightly.
Freya sobbed into Caitlin's shoulder.
"Why are you crying? It's okay, I'm yours now." Caitlin comforted.
"It's just... I've been dreaming of this day for so long. But I never thought it would happen."
"Oh Freya, it's my fault. I should've been more observant. It's so obvious now. I don't know why it's taken me so long to finally see how much you love me."
"Kiss me again. I've almost kissed you so many times in the past, but never had the courage." Said Freya.
"You can kiss me whenever you like now. I just wish you'd done it before."
