Virgin Writer 2.
The taxi pulls up splashing water over the pavement. Jane and Becky stand waiting in the doorway to Artisan Café sheltering from the rain. Jane feeling like a schoolgirl with her best mate.
"That's our ride," Becky gleefully says, "The last one in is a soggy moggy."
Jane sprints to the car door, splashing puddles as she goes. Becky elbowing Jane as she tries to get there first. Jane grabs the door handle beating Becky, out of breath but feeling triumphant.
"Beat you, nar nar na nar nar," Jane wiggling her bum and giggling.
Becky pouts playfully slapping Jane's bottom then chuckling uncontrollably.
"Are you two getting in or just having a water fight?" The taxi driver calls leaning out of his window.
"Awe who's Mr. Grumpy shoes," Becky taunts.
"Is that you Becky? You little minx," He asks.
"Aye bloody well is and who's is asking?" Becky replies.
"Sidney you cheeky bugger, now get in before I slap your arse," he jovially responds.
Sidney a bald 30 something with a few wrinkles, ruddy face, and a cheeky grin.
"Promises promises Sid," Becky cheekily wagging her finger at him.
Pulling open the door Becky bows waving Jane into the back seat of the cab. Jane slides along as Becky plops down next to her shaking her hair like a sodden cat.
"Oi mind those seats, I just cleaned them this morning," Sid chivvies.
"You missed a bit," Becky responds pulling out her tongue.
"You should behave when you are with your mum," Sid grins, looking at Jane.
"Me mum, you should know better, this is my new best friend, Peter," Becky giggles.
"Peter ...Peter ..looks like a fine lady to me,"
Sid looks quizzically.
Jane blushes bright red feel her secret being exposed. Becky sensing Jane's unease slips her hand in Jane's squeezing it gently. Jane glancing down at her hand feeling a warmth provoking a memory of that first kiss with her best mate in the changing rooms at school. Her body tingling with the memory of that long-ago pleasure.
"It's alright Jane, Sid is my brother and sworn to secrecy or else," Becky whispers.
Moving her fingers across her neck.
Sid glancing back in the mirror eyeing Jane up.
"Well, Peter I would ask you out if Becky hadn't beaten me to it."
"Stop flirting Sid," Becky chides.
Jane squeezes Becky's hand gently. Becky glances across at Jane seeing Jane's eyes smiling back full of hope and yearning.
"You are all mine," Becky whispers.
"I am," Jane softly responds.
Jane leans towards Becky her lips gently touching. Closing her eyes her mind casting back to the changing rooms and those sweet cherry lips of that first kiss.
The car lurches to a halt as Sid blows the horn avoid a pedestrian stepping casually into the road.
"Stupid wanker," Sid bellows.
"You ladies alright in the back?" Sid asks meekly.
Jane and Becky picking themselves up from the sudden stop.
"Nice footwork Sid, next time warn us," Becky giggles.
Jane's heart racing as much from the hard braking as the tenderness of Becky's kiss. Jane looks out of the window wondering if she has done the right thing coming to see Becky. Her mind racing about love lost and all those suppressed desires that seem to be reawakening within her by Becky. She thinks,
'A chance meeting online is it fate.'
The rest of the journey is uneventful. Jane lost in her thoughts as Becky catches up with family matters with Sid. The car pulls to a halt.
"Right you two, your stop," Sid calls.
"How much Sid?" Becky asks.
"No, I'll pay," Jane interrupts.
"For you Jane it is gratis," Sid beams, "look after Becky, is all I ask she needs a lovely lady like you," winking.
Jane averts her eye feeling her face blush red and a small smile on her lips thinking,
'I wonder if you know what kind of loving I have in mind.'
Jumping out of the car both scurry to the porch of the small red brick terrace house with a bright blue door and net curtains in the bay windows giving it a homely demeanour. Becky rooting in her handbag for her keys. Jane sheltering from the rain admiring Becky's soft skin and slender neck.
"There are the little buggers," Becky triumphantly exclaims.
Holding up the keys then opening the door Becky bursts into the house. The dry warm hall welcoming them, a deep red carpet leading to a Lounge dining room on the right and Kitchen at the back. A pile of paperback books leaning against the hall wall which is covered with a red and cream vertical striped wallpaper. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread. Jane smiles as a warm feeling of home envelopes her body thinking,
'Feels so homely.'
Becky shouts out," Michelle, Michelle."
There is no reply, Becky shrugs and wrinkles her nose. Turning to Jane smiling bright,
"We need to dry out a bit and have a warm brew."
"Yes, I am soaking, and a cuppa would be spot on," Jane smiles back.
Jane looks questioningly at Becky,
"Michelle is your.....?" Jane asks tentatively.