"Oh my God," the view takes my breath away and those three words are all I can manage. The sky stretches for miles and in it, shining brighter than anything I can see in the States, are millions of stars. I'm sure I'm a funny sight, standing with my mouth wide open, head tilted back, and eyes as wide as they'll go.
"You know, if you move, they don't go away," she smiles at me and I move out of her way so she can step onto the deck.
"I know that, smart ass," I watch her take a seat before leaning against the railing. "There are always so many lights that take the awe out of the stars where I live." Venturing a look at her, I try not to show that I'm a bit nervous, "There are places in the country where you can see them better, but this view," I look up again, "is amazing."
"Thank you," she starts, then stops smiling, pretending to be slightly hurt. "Oh, you didn't mean me."
Walking towards her, I smile, "Aww, come on. You know you're the brightest star out here." I take a seat next to her on the bench and elbow her in the side.
She catches me off guard by shaking her head slowly as she looks at me, "No, I'm not. Trust me."
"Okay," I sigh, "you're not going to point up at the North Star and give me some bullshit about how it's the brightest, are you?"
She smiles slowly, and is very fucking sexy, "No." She brushes hair off my shoulder and her smile falters just a bit, "Is that a scar on your eyebrow?"
As if I've been burned, my hand flies to cover my eyebrow, "Yeah." I can't make eye contact, "It's from the..." my voice trails off.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see her leaning towards me. When her lips touch my face, I clinch my eyes closed and bite my lip. Her face is close to mine when she whispers, "I'm sorry for pointing it out. I didn't know."
Turning to face her, we're now impossibly close, but she turns away before I can even say anything, "I know you didn't know." I reach out and turn her face back towards me, "You didn't hurt me. I promise."
Nodding quickly, she takes my hand and smiles, "Ok." Standing abruptly, she announces, "I'm going to get something to drink. Would you like something?"
"Um, yeah," I mumble, "a soda is fine." As she turns away from me, I can't help reprimanding myself for making her feel uncomfortable.
She returns with a drink for me and as I grab it, she doesn't let go until I look at her. I watch her visibly swallow and she almost whispers when she talks, "You didn't say anything or do anything bad."
Unsure of what to say I just nod, "Okay."
She smiles quickly and looks away, "Those fucking eyes, though, shit."
"Oh," I breathe with a smile. Looking down at the deck, I can't stop the grin, but make a half-hearted offer, "I could close them if you like."
"What, and walk around blind?" She laughs out loud and turns away from me, "No. I'll get accustomed to them. I'll be fine." She takes a long swig of her beer before adding, almost so quietly I don't hear, "Maybe."
I stand and slowly walk over to her. Once I'm a step behind her, she reaches out and grabs the railing, as if she's anticipating a touch before it comes. There's something about this little show of vulnerability that brings out the confidence in me. I guess I just needed to see that I'm not alone with the nerves. That my being here is affecting her the same way being here is affecting me. Not sure what to do, I decide to go slow and I don't touch her, "Do you know any constellations?"
She takes a shallow breath before looking up at the sky and pointing, "That's the Southern Cross right there."
Squinting, and genuinely interested, I lean closer to her, "Where?"
With something to focus on other than my body right behind her, she tries to get me to see what she's pointing at, "Just there. Do you see that big star with the three small ones around it?"
Chuckling softly, I answer, "Yes. Right next to the bigger star with the four other small ones around it?"
