Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 23:47:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Cassandra Whitehead Subject: Garden of Eve (4) Mike drove into his driveway, and saw that Eve's car was the only one still there. "I guess things didn't go to well." He said to himself as he walked toward the house. He walked through the house until he found Eve in the den, lying on the couch, pretending to read a book. He lifted her legs up from the couch, sat down, and placed them in his lap. "So?" "So what?" Eve was still staring into the book, not even realizing that it was upside down. "You know that book would probably be better if the words were right side up." Eve closed the book in frustration and looked at Mike. "Tell me what happen." "I kissed her." "Okay, that doesn't sound like a bad thing to me, but I'm guessing that it was." Eve got up from the couch and started to pace across the floor. "I didn't think it was either. I mean there we were, enjoying each other, and she pushes me away and runs out the door." "Maybe she wasn't expecting you to kiss her." "I gave her time to move away. If she didn't want it she could have left before it even happened." "Okay, maybe she was just curious and had to see what it was like." "It was curiosity Mike. She wanted to kiss me just as bad as I wanted to kiss her, at least I thought she did." Eve flopped back down on the couch and closed her eyes. "It was wonderful Mike. Touching her, kissing her, it felt so right. It was like all the kisses I had before were just practice for this one special kiss. She's a perfect fit in my arms. And those lips and that tongue, she was killing me." Mike reached over and pulled Eve into his arms. What was he going to do with these women of he's? "So what do you plan to do, sweetheart?" "Nothing. She needs time to figure out what she wants and she can't do that with me all up in her face. She needs space to think and that's what I'm going to give her. Space." "So does that mean you're not going to her audition tomorrow night?" She had almost forgotten about Jackie's audition. Some ballet show was having open auditions and Jackie had been preparing for the past two months for it. As much as she hated to admit it, there was no way she was going to miss something that important. "I'll be there. I just sit way in the back." "Yeah right." Mike knew Eve better than anyone, and he knew that right now she was really hurting. It's always hard when you fall in love with someone, who may never truly love you back. ** "Hello." Jackie's phone had been ringing all morning. She had been afraid to answer it, just in case it was Eve. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to her, she just didn't know what she would say to her. Yesterday was the best and worst day of her life. Being that close to Eve and kissing her had opened another window for her. It was like she was seeing everything new. But she also saw reality, and reality was that many people wouldn't accept her having an intimate relationship with another women. Even if that woman was as wonderful as Eve. "Why haven't you been answering your phone?" Jackie recognized Mike's voice. "I was busy." "Yeah right, busy avoiding me. Or is it that you're trying to avoid someone else?" Jackie rolled her eyes. Mike always thought he knew everything, and to be honest, most of the time he did. "What's up Mike?" "You tell me. What's up with you and Eve?" "Nothing. We're fine." "Really?" "Yes, really." "Then I can call her right now on three way and we can all have a great conversation." "Don't." "What's up Jackie?" "I can't do this Mike. I like Eve a lot, more than a lot, but I can't be with a woman. My family would never understand." "That's your problem Jackie, you're looking at this as being with a woman, when you need to look at it as being with Eve. Let me tell you a little something about Eve. She has always dreamed of finding true love, but of course she was only looking at men. Then she had her first lesbian experience and now she's looking at both sides. Eve is looking for the person, whether male or female, that will truly love her and be there for her. Isn't it wonderful how she chose you? People always say, you're the only person in the world for me, but if they're only looking at one side of the world how do they really know. Eve has looked at male and female, and out of all of the people she has met, she chose you. Not because you're a female, but because you make her feel loved and special. You give her this type of charge that I can't explain, only she can." "What do you want me to do Mike? I'm kind of lost right now." "Jackie, all I want you to do is think. Not think about other people or other ideas. Don't think about the fact that is a woman you're falling in love with. Think about Eve. Think about who is she and what she stands for. Think about how wonderful she is, and how she treats you. Just really think. Can you promise me that?" "Yes, I promise." "Good. Gotta go." Jackie return the phone to it's base, and went to look out the window. Mike was right, she really had a lot to think about. **"We are not sitting all the way back here. Let's at least move to the middle." Eve walked farther down the aisle with Mike, until they reached the middle of the auditorium. The place was huge. There were crimson curtains hanging from the ceiling, draping around the room like an arch. The stage itself was awesome. The setting was that of a forest. The back wall a night time sky design, with stars brightly shining. There was a slight midst rising from the stage floor and a make shift moon hanging in the middle of all the scenery. Eve and Mike had only been sitting for about 5 minutes, when Jackie's name was called. Eve quickly inhaled, when she saw her enter from the back of the stage. Her hair was up in a bun, but she had pulled strings out, and they where in Shirley Temple curls. Her leotard was a simple body suit that showed every curve of her body. Eve realized that she must not have been paying enough attention the night she bathed her, because she didn't remember her body looking that wonderful. The suit was like a second skin, hugging her in all the right places. She had a small frame, what must have been C cup breast, slime waist, and the cutest bottom she had ever seen. Eve could imagine running her hands down that leotard and feeling every single curve. Eve shook her head to try and get herself under control. She shouldn't be imagining anything at all about Jackie. She was here to support her, not fantasy about her. Jackie began to dance to slow music being played by a piano player who was on the side of the stage. Once she started dancing, Eve found that she was completely lost. Every move was graceful and smooth. She used every muscle to emphasize the moves and stretches that she made. Soon Eve found that she couldn't take her eyes off of her. It was as if everyone in the room had faded away, leaving just the two of them. Eve felt like Jackie was dancing just for her, and it seemed as if their eyes met every time Jackie looked out toward the audience. All too quickly, the dance was over and Jackie walked off the stage. Everyone in the room reappeared and Eve began going through the dance again in her mind. ** Jackie tried to catch her breathe while she put her sweat pants on. She had not expected Eve to be there. She figured after yesterday, Eve probably didn't even want to speak to her. But there she was, sitting with Mike, watching her every move. At first Jackie had thought it would be hard to dance in front of her, but having Eve there had actually relaxed her. It was as if she was dancing only for her. She had looked at her from time to time while she danced, excited by the fact that she had her full attention. The judges called all of them back out to the stage and began calling out the names of the people they would be accepting. Jackie felt her heart stop for a moment when they called her name last. She looked over at Eve and Mike and saw them both silently applauding her. ** Mike and Eve waited in front of the opera house for Jackie. Eve was facing Mike talking about nothing, when she felt two arms come around her waist. Jackie placed her chin on Eve's shoulder and softly kissed her neck. "I didn't think you were going to come, but I'm so happy you did." Eve was completely speechless, this was the last thing she expected Jackie to be doing. "Yesterday I was, I don't know, I guess scared. But not of you, I was scared of me. I was scared of the feelings I have for you and the way you make me feel. But I had a really good conversation with this all knowing wizard, who told me to think. And I've been doing nothing but thinking about you all day. I don't know what will happen between us, but I do know that I would forever regret not trying." Eve turned around in Jackie's arms, facing her, and hugged her. Try as she might, she couldn't stop the tears from coming to her eyes, and rolling down her face. Jackie pulled away and placed a small kiss on Eve's lips. "Come on. Let's get outta here." Jackie said, taking Eve by the hand. "Let's go wizard." Eve called to Mike as they began to walk toward his car.