Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 20:16:25 +0100 From: Vesuvius Subject: Christmas Magic (Revised) Authors word: This is a translation of a Swedish story I wrote a few years ago. I've been thinking for a good while that I wanted to get a bigger audience so now I'm trying to get one. I'm writing on more English stories and I hope to have them ready in a not too distant future. Please do not post this story on other sites without my approval. Feedback is most welcome. E-mail: vesuvius83@gmail.com Christmas Magic *************** Christmas... the holiday I hated the most. So alone... and it shouldn't be that way. And for most people it isn't. It was Christmas now, today. And who did I have? No one! I had just moved from home. From a family that didn't care the least about me... Not the least. I had really chosen the wrong season to move, but I couldn't take it there. I wouldn't have survived another day. I hadn't even put any advent lights in the windows, and definitely not decorated with elves, gnomes or glitter. I satisfied myself with my own red hair. The TV was on and I just lay in the sofa watching it, searching desperately for a channel where you weren't reminded of what a wonderful and fun family holiday it was this day. Everybody gathering around the table and eating good food and sharing Christmas gifts by the Christmas tree and just being so damn happy. I turned it off and threw the remote across the room. Unfortunately it landed on a carpet and didn't break. I looked outside. All the roofs were coated with a thick layer of snow. Down on the street the trucks were clearing the road from the night's snowfall. They were the only ones out so I though I'd keep them company. It doesn't matter if I'm in my apartment or out there, I'm alone anyway. I put on my winter jacket and went out; it didn't feel too cold even though it was several degrees below zero. But I knew that if I stood still long enough the cold would chill me to the bone. I walked on the sidewalk, they had actually managed to gravel it so I wouldn't slip and break my neck. I actually got quite far, almost to the grocery store, before a truck drove past me and splashed me with very dirty snow. A grey goo mixed with snow that were brown from the gravel. I cursed more than I had ever done before in my life. Despite that, I didn't have the energy to walk back home just yet so I continued to walk, thinking I'd take care of it later. I didn't get further than to the next intersection before a car came and did the same thing. I though I'd have a break down. But not until I got to the next staircase into a building where the radio store was and I saw a family load a bunch of Christmas presents I did just that. They looked so happy and expectant. As they drove away I sat myself down on the freezing stairs and began to cry. An older man walked past and looked unsympathetically at me as if I were a bum... which you actually could've thought with the state my pants were in. I cried more when the thought of my grandmother that passed away the year before came into my mind. We always used to be at her home on Christmas and she was the only one of my relatives that I actually liked, apart from my sister that is. I came to the conclusion that my life sucked... "Oh dear, what's happened to you?" Asked a female voice. I looked up and saw a women whom I guessed were about twenty-six years old, slightly dark skin, she had short black hair that had been nicely arranged and was really beautiful that had now squatted down before me. I just shook my head and continued to cry. She took off her glove and put her warm hand on my cheek to make me look at her again. When I did that she gave me a warm smile... it was totally disarming. My cry went over to sobs and she produced a small paper napkin she used to dry away my tears. "Alone, eh? Come. You can't sit here or you'll be sick." She grabbed my hand and led me up the stairs, pushed in the code and walked into the building. She lived one floor up, a really nice apartment, had to be expensive. The entire place was nicely decorated, maybe a little over-decorated. "You look frozen to the core, come on into the kitchen and I'll make you a large cup of chocolate. If you like that of course?" "Um... Yeah, sure." "Oh, so you can talk." She pulled me into the kitchen and put me on a chair by the radiator and now that I was near a heat source I noticed that I was really cold. Quickly she began to heat milk on the stove and poured in some chocolate powder. She talked on the same time. "Do you live near here? I haven't seen you around before." "Just moved in. I live four blocks away." "How long?" "Three weeks." "Ok, that's not very long." She came up to me while the chocolate milk was heating up. "Have you got a name?" "Oh... Ann-Kristin... But I'm usually called Anki." Her smile appeared again. She extended her hand and we shook hands. "Nice to meet you Anki, my name is Cecilia. Pretty unusual for someone my age, I know." "It's nice." "Thank you, Anki is too..." When I didn't say anything and were just shifting my eyes she continued. "How come you are alone and not at home with your family?" "I don't have any family anymore... they haven't been for eight years." "Hmm... I don't mean to snoop, but is there a particular reason for that?" I turned my back to her and hiked up my sweater. She gasped. It was full of ageing bruises and old scars after beatings and whip marks. "I wish I had brought my sister with me..." I said and began to sob again. She didn't say anything more but came around and sat before me and took my hands to comfort me. It worked very well, she radiated some kind of security. "Do you know why I'm home alone?" She asked. I shook my head. "My car broke down before I even got out of the city; I just came from the repair shop to where it had been towed when I found you down there." I looked up in her warm brown eyes. "Come on; let's get you some hot chocolate." A little steam was coming from the saucepan so she turned of the plate and poured the chocolate into a big cup. She brought me with her into the living room and sat me down on the couch. "Your pants are dirty and soaked through. If you want I can wash them for you." "Well... but I don't have anything else to put on." "You can borrow a pair of mine if you want. They might be a bit longer than yours but that shouldn't be too big of a problem." I didn't really know what to say but she smiled and took that as consent. She went into her bedroom and fetched a pair of grey cosy pants. "Take these, they are warm and soft. You can change in here if you want while I slip into something more comfortable. Is that ok?" I nodded and she offered me the remote control that I accepted. "You're welcome to watch TV if you want, I've got loads of channels." I hadn't really thought of it but she actually was kind of dressed up. She had a short glittery black dress that was low cut and was carried by her pretty large bust. She left me for a while and went into her bedroom again. I quickly removed my pants and put hers on. I pulled my legs up on the couch so I was half lying in it. Cecilia had put the cup in front of me so I tried to drink a little but it was still too hot. When she came back she had a pair of red tights and a red shirt with white fluff on the edges, pretty low-cut at that. Didn't see any sign of a bra so I don't think she had one. If she had only put on a Christmas cap she would have looked like a very sexy elf. She took my pants and went into the bathroom where she turned on the washing machine. After that she came into the room again and sat down on the couch after she put a blanket over me. "I... I'm very grateful for what you're doing but... I don't want to be any trouble." "It's no problem, I promise. I couldn't let you sit there and get frost-bitten and feeling low, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did." She patted me reassuringly on the leg. "So, what do you think of my apartment?" "Yeah, it's nice..." "That didn't sound all that convincing." "No, it's just that... all Christmas stuff and such..." "Is it really that bad?" I didn't answer, just nodded. "Don't you have any at home?" "No." I said and shook my head. She smiled at me and had a slightly sympathetic look about her. "How old are you?" "Twenty." Cecilia was silent for a good while, we both watched the TV but she didn't seem to care much but sat emerged in thoughts. Her stomach suddenly decided to grumble and only then did she wake up again. It sounded pretty funny and I had a hard time keeping me from laughing. "Oh, apparently my stomach thought it was getting to quiet in here. I'm actually hungry, are you?" "Yes... Yeah, but..." "I'm going to have a party for my friends tomorrow so I have a lot of food that's already made; we only need to heat it up. Do you want some? There's enough, we're never going to eat it all anyway so that way I wouldn't have as much leftovers that I'll have to force myself to eat until after new-year." Her cheerful mood was irresistible. I discovered it was impossible to stay sad when you were around her. I smiled and nodded. "Awesome! Come." Cecilia brought out a whole lot of food from the refrigerator and put it on the table. Some of it was supposed to be cold so I waited with picking that, instead I took some sausages, meatballs, potato gratin and some other stuff. She heated it for me and told me I could sit in the living room if I wanted to. I went there after taking some ham and calf brawn and she joined me a few moments later. I studied her a little as we ate. I hadn't really thought about it before but she was actually really beautiful. I couldn't remember actually thinking like that about someone before; I had been too busy with my own problems. Her hair was pretty thick; her lips were full; pretty small nose and soft, light chocolate brown skin. "Can I ask you something?" I asked her. "Sure, go for it." "How old are you?" "Fair question. I'm thirty-two." "Really?" I said a bit surprised. She smiled at my reaction. "Do you think I look that old?" She asked jokingly. "No no, not at all. Quite the opposite." "It's cool, I was just joking. I'm flattered that you think that." I already began to feel a strong closeness to her. Never before had I met anyone that was so open and straight forward to a stranger. She was already joking like we had known each other for a good while. "Do you like dogs Anki?" "Umm... yeah, sure... why?" "Well, my neighbour is watching my dog until tomorrow but if I'm already at home he wouldn't have to... if that's ok with you?" I began to feel a bit insecure. Why did she ask me? It's she that lived there, not me. I was just a stranger she had dragged in from the street. "Sure, no problem..." "You will love him. Be right back." She quickly left the apartment. I was still there, feeling very confused. I thought seriously about leaving before she came back. I felt uncomfortable with the situation, these things doesn't happen in real life. Only on movies. Why is she so nice to me? How could se trust me so fast? I might as well have stuffed my pockets with all the valuables I could find and run away from there. Not that I would, but I definitely had the chance to. I rose from the couch and went over to the window facing the street. The snow had begun to fall again and a fresh thin layer had already accumulated. I stood there looking for a while but then her bookcase caught my attention. She had many photos, most of them in black and white and very beautiful. They looked really professional. It was mostly pictures of landscapes and motifs but also of people. Four of the photographs were of an elderly couple that I guessed were her parents. One frame had been turned down though, and I couldn't resist the temptation to look at it. It was a light-haired woman; she had beautiful eyes and freckles on her nose. She looked so happy and full of life. "It's been a long time since I looked at that picture." Said Cecilia behind me. I jumped from the surprise and almost dropped it. "Oh Jesus, I didn't hear you come back." "I didn't mean to scare you." "It's ok... W-who is she?" "It was my girlfriend." She said. The sadness in her voice hit me with full force. "Girlfriend as in... female friend?" She smiled absentmindedly and shook her head. "No, we were together for seven years... b-before she died." The last she said with a broken voice. I could imagine it was a sensitive subject so I didn't push it further. Besides, I guess I didn't have the right to do that either. She understood I was wondering though. "She got killed by a man on drugs two years ago. He robbed her and stuck a knife in her." "Oh my God..." I whispered as the goose bumps erupted all over my body. She came up to me and took the frame from my hand. She looked at it for a while and then put it on the shelf again, this time with the picture visible. "I shouldn't have hidden from her in the first place, she doesn't deserve that. It's just that the pain was too great..." I put my hand on her arm as a slight comfort and she smiled at me. She then proceeded to tell me who the others were; I was right about the old couple. She also had a little brother and a little sister. She then went on telling me where the rest of them were taken. "Did you take all these?" "Yes, I am a photographer. These are just a few of the ones I've taken... Privately that is. There's many many more if you count the ones I've taken for work." "They are fantastic." "Thank you. I really love to photograph. What do you do for a living?" "I'm studying at the university." "What are you studying for?" I began to blush, more of nervousness than out of embarrassment. "Umm... I don't know if I can bear to tell you..." "Oh, come on." "Doctor..." She looked bewildered. "Is that something to be ashamed of?" "Gynaecologist..." She broke into a laugh. "Wow, that's so cool! I've always wondered how people that studies to things like that are in real life. Well, besides the guys because that's a dead giveaway." I giggled a little. "I'm just kidding. Paediatrician actually." "Oooh, the doctor has a sense of humour." She grinned. "Don't you have to have really high grades for that?" "Yes. The studies became my refuge when I wanted to get away from my family. I sat for hours and studied just to prove to everyone that I was better than my parents." "You sound like a very strong person." "Oh, I don't know..." I said and shook my head. "Sometimes I just feel so... so worthless." She put a hand on my shoulder. "Believe me when I say that I know exactly how you feel. Now days I don't have as much problem with my family as I used to, but they were very condescending and didn't want anything to do with me at all after I came out. I wasn't in very good shape when I met Fredrika but she got me back up again." "She must have been very special." "She was. And so are you, in your own way." She got something dreamy in her eyes and suddenly I felt her hand caress my cheek. I felt my skin heat up instantly and pulled away. "Oh... Sorry... I'm so sorry... I was thinking of..." "It's ok..." I said and smiled uncertainly. "I've never thought about that two girls can be together. I've never been in contact with anything like that before." "Do you... Do you find it disgusting?" "No, can't say that I do... It's like any other love I guess." She looked into my green eyes for a moment before I looked away. I didn't really know what it was I was beginning to feel in my stomach, but it scared me. "M-maybe I should go home..." "Do you really have to?" "Well, I don't know... It feels weird to be with a stranger like this. Don't get me wrong, you are incredibly kind and all that but it feels like I'm intruding..." "That's not a problem, I dragged you up here. But if you want to go I will not stop you..." She looked at me for a moment and I didn't know what to do. "Can't you just stay for a while, please? It's Christmas and we're both alone..." For some reason I began to blush furiously, worse than I had ever done before. I couldn't understand why I stood there totally paralyzed by what I thought was fear. But when she once again put her hand on my cheek to get me to look at her I slowly began to understand what was going on. "Anki... You don't have to stay if you don't want to... Obviously it makes you uncomfortable to be here so..." I got the feeling of Now or Never. "No, not at all. I... I'd like to stay." "Are you sure?" She asked and I nodded. "Sounds good because I don't think your pants will be dry for a while yet." The last thing she said mostly as a joke. "By the way, where is the dog?" "Oh yes, the neighbour would take him for a walk and then bring him back here." Just as she had said her neighbour came with the dog a while later. He had been kind enough to wash away all the snow before bringing the dog over. A beautiful Golden Retriever came into the room waving his tail and greeting me. "Anki, meet Rally. Rally, this is my new friend Anki." "What a cute name. Hello Rally... Hello boy." He did his best to dig his nose into my crotch but I kept him away by lifting his head and cuddle with him. "He likes you." "It sure seems like it." "Ok Rally, go and lay down." He obeyed instantly and walked to a small fur that was placed in a corner. "He can go on forever if you don't tell him." Around eight o'clock I once again announced that I should be leaving. After a quick look outside we could both tell that it would be a tricky undertaking. The snow had fallen without pause and the trucks that were clearing the snow had their work cut out for them. The snow banks were a good bit over half a meter high and only the little way I had to go to come home would be an adventure. With a low voice Cecilia attracted my attention. "W-would you like to spend the night? They'll probably not get all the snow away properly until tomorrow morning." "I-I don't know... I don't want to intrude. Besides, it would feel a bit strange to sleep over at someone you met just a few hours ago." "Where will you go?" All the feelings were getting too much for me. I didn't want all this kindness, I hadn't asked for it. No one that cared for me had ever been this nice to me before so why should it be different now? I couldn't help but sit down heavily on the couch and begin to cry again. Nothing were as it should be, everything was against me... Or so it felt at least. "Please Anki, what is it? You don't have to sleep over if you don't want to. You're can go home if you want." Cecilia said with worry in her voice. "It's not that..." I managed to get out of me. "Then what is it?" "All the feelings..." She didn't say anything for a while, instead she sat beside me and hugged me, and she began to caress my hair. At first it only made me cry harder but after a while I calmed down again. But I still remained in her embrace and didn't make any efforts to get out of it. It was a long time ago since anyone held me like that. I just wanted it to last forever. "What feelings is it that you're so sad about? Please, you can tell me." "It's hard to explain..." "You need to get it off your chest." "I guess I can try..." I said and tried to find a way to start. "I-it was so long ago since anyone was so nice to me that you, a stranger, have been to me today. I haven't had a happy Christmas since I was eleven years old... Dad began to drink around that time and began to get violent. Not so much against my sister as to me fortunately." I could see that Cecilia wanted to object but she still abstained. "I don't know how to deal with all that's now welling up inside of me thanks to you, or because of you, I don't really know which. It's not all, but that is what I can put words on..." "S-should I say sorry?" She asked dejectedly. I slowly shook my head. "No, you're not. Not at all. I need it." "Ok. Then what do you think about helping me bring out a mattress you can sleep on?" She said. "I'm afraid that you have to sleep here in the living room because my bedroom is full of camera equipment at the moment, I don't even know how I will fit in there." I actually managed to chuckle a little. "Sure." We went out into the hallway and she opened a wardrobe from whish she managed to procure a mattress that were placed at the back. I took it from her and brought it into the living room. She had fetched some bedclothes to make the bed with. "It would probably be best if we moved the armchair so you can sleep by the radiator, you'll probably get cold tonight otherwise." "That's fine by me." "It's kind of funny actually." She said suddenly. "I've never had a guest that is as manageable as you." "No?" "Nope..." Further than that she didn't get before she tripped on the carpet and almost fell backwards on the Christmas tree. She only hit one of the lowest branches and several ornaments fell off. She groaned a little by the pain and I was quickly there to help her up. "Are you ok?" "Yeah, just hurt my butt a little." "It isn't the caudal vertebra is it?" "I don't think so; it doesn't hurt enough for that." "Good." We began to pick up the ornaments and put them back where they belonged, only one had been broken. The last ball we happened to reach for at the same time. Our eyes met and I looked away while my cheeks reddened as I pulled my hand away. I began to breathe a bit more heavily than before and Cecilia noticed. She put a hand on my arm. I gathered my courage, but I didn't dare to look her in the eyes and looked down on the floor instead. "T-there is a feeling that I didn't tell you about..." "Is that so?" That was more of a conclusion than a question. "I recognize it... I just don't know what to make of it." "Please tell me..." She whispered and raised my head with a finger under my chin. I closed my eyes for a few seconds before I dared to open my eyes to meet hers. She almost looked a little expectant and the butterflies that now ran amok in my stomach told me I wanted to do what she wanted, at least what I thought she wanted, on the same time as they held me back. When I saw her amazing eyes and really saw what she thought about me my courage took over and I slowly got down on all four from squatting and bent forward so our lips could meet in a soft kiss that lasted for a long time. After that long while our lips parted again. "I... think I understand." She said faintly. "I hoped you would, because I don't. I've never thought two girls could like each other that way. You probably wonder how anyone can be that isolated but when you do everything to protect yourself and your sister from being used back home..." She hugged me. "No, I don't wonder if you don't want me to." "The only thing I want right now is to have you close to me. Not having to go to sleep alone and sad for the first time in... as long as I can remember." "Come, let's get ready first." It went pretty fast, she gave me a new toothbrush and everything. She was ready before me and went into the living room to wait for me. She slowly closed the blinds and lay down on the mattress and thought about everything I had told her. In a way she felt sorry for me but had noticed on the same time that I didn't want her to, I just wanted someone to love. She wondered if she really would like to have a relationship with me, although when she really searched herself she could feel the glowing fire inside her than went out three years ago beginning to smoulder again. Slowly I came walking into the room. My shirt and her pants were left in the bathroom. I looked at her to see her reaction and it was as I hoped. First she seemed a bit surprised but her gaze changed to something that seemed to be longing. My underwear was silk with flower pattern, they were the only ones I had that was not in the laundry, but also the nicest set I had. I laid myself down beside her and pulled the cover over us both. She looked smiling into my eyes, though it didn't seem like she dared to take the first step so once again I bent forward and kissed her. At first she stiffened up a bit but soon she relaxed and yielded to temptation. Her hand tentatively began to caress my side, but due to the scars and bruises she didn't dare to move it to my back. Because of it she ended up in a slightly awkward position with her arm so I gave it a push so it got there anyway. At first she hesitated but then began to caress again when she noticed that I wasn't protesting. I began to do the same thing too, first outside her jumper but then I found my way underneath. We lay like that a good while and kind of tried each other in a way, felt how it was to be together like this. It felt good but it was still something that held me back, and probably her too. None of us dared to go further than this caressing, these incredibly wonderful caresses. The nervousness was in the way. I tried to gather up the courage to go further but my hand didn't seem to obey, but kept itself within the limit. It dawned on me that we probably wouldn't get further than this so I decided to do the best of the situation. I scooted closer to her and pressed myself against her. "Wait..." She said. She raised her upper body and took her shirt off; just as I thought she didn't have a bra underneath. Her pants went next and she was now as naked as I was, even a little more so. She lay down again and once again I crept close to her. This time she embraced me, my head just above her breast and her head resting against mine. The closeness I now felt was indescribable. This dark angel, with even darker nipples, that had taken me to her and actually cared. Never before in my life had I had that feeling and it actually made me feel worth something. I found myself wishing that I could be there with her like that for the rest of our lives. Just holding each other, feel the heat from each other. I felt her lips pressing against my forehead in a kiss. I looked up at her and both our lips met again in a passionate kiss. "Can't you sleep here tonight?" I whispered. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise." My thoughts wandered to my sister, I wondered how she had it back home. I decided I would call her the first thing I did in the morning. I didn't get to think much more about it before I sank into a deep sleep close to Cecilia in her arms. --- I woke up pretty early next morning. I wondered for a few seconds where I was but reality soon caught up with me. My gaze wandered though the room and then fell on the empty spot beside me. But I didn't have time to wonder where Cecilia was since she came into the room at that moment. "Oh, I didn't wake you did I?" She asked with a sleepy voice. I couldn't bring myself to answer; I was simply dumb struck by her beauty. I hadn't seen her very good yesterday. Now I had a new perspective and her whole body was in my view. She had also got rid of her panties and was completely naked. As an answer to her question I just shook my head. She smiled to my reaction and lay down beside me. She scooted close to me and I could feel her naked skin against mine. We began to kiss a little and soon also caressed each other again, mostly on the side and the back. Soon I felt that this was very right, not at all as nervous as yesterday. But on the same time I was unsure about her stance, but had she not liked it she would have stopped already. So after deciding that I really wanted this my hand began to slide downwards over her back and soon arrived at the end of her back. My hand slowly began to slide over her butt. Since she didn't have any panties I got to feel her soft skin first hand. She emitted a small moan between the kisses when I carefully began to massage one of her buttocks. She suddenly rose slightly and put me on my back and laid herself down half and half on me. We continued to kiss for a while but soon she began to kiss down my chin and neck and breast. Her hand tentatively reached around my back to unhook my bra. I giggled. "The clasp is on the front." I whispered. She mumbled an excuse and quickly got it open. I took it off me and threw it into the armchair. I gasped when her lips closed around one of my nipples. A fantastic sensation shot through my body, unlike any I had felt before. I had very little experience even with masturbation so this was something relatively new to me. All the while she continued her treatment of my breasts the intensity in my pleasure increased; my moans confirmed this to Cecilia too. "Aaah... Please... Mmmh... c-caress me down t-there..." I moaned out. Instead of doing as I wanted she abandoned my breasts and began to kiss her way over my stomach. I didn't realize at first what she was going to do but when she began to pull down my panties and kissed her way over the sensitive mound above my pussy I understood. "A-are you...? With the mouth??" I gasped. She hushed me. "Just wait..." She said. At first I tensed up when her lips slowly began to follow the slit between my pussy lips. It felt odd in the beginning but when she stuck out her tongue and began to slowly lick I felt an even greater pleasure than I did before. She left that area too for a while and kissed down my thigh and carefully scraped her teeth over the sensitive area. My gasps and moans increased more and more the longer she continued. She proceeded upwards again after nibbling a little around my lips. Up over my mound and to my great dismay she was far from where I wanted her. She began to kiss my waist where the skin was thin and it was very exciting. It caused a tingling sensation in the pit of my stomach, but mostly between my legs. I sighed with happiness when she finally turned downwards again. She played with the hair on my mound before targeting the goal. Her tongue began to slowly glide over my lips and by licking between and around then she got me into an ecstatic state. I moaned and squirmed, didn't really know where to go, what to do. But suddenly her tongue came to a place it had not been before. On my clitoris. When she licked on and around it I could feel one of my legs beginning to twitch ever so slightly and an immense feeling of pleasure was beginning to build up. "Oh... Oh God... something is h-happening... please... stop..." I said worriedly. I didn't get further than that before it happened. Suddenly a powerful spasm shot though my entire body, the pleasure that washed over me was indescribable. I had never felt anything as nice as that before. I could feel my sex pulsating and sending wave after wave through my still tired body. I was only vaguely aware that she put one of her fingers in me to feel how she had affected me. It soon subsided and I could begin to relax. The occasional muscle spasm still twitched a while after that though. Cecilia came back up beside me. "That was so nice. I've never experienced anything like that before." I panted. "You've never had an orgasm?" I shook my head. She kissed me and I kissed back. It felt a little like it was my turn but when I began to kiss her on the neck like she had done to me she stopped me and raised my head again. "Don't you want to?" "Yes... but you are tired, I can see that. Sleep instead, we can play more later." She laid herself on the back to rest. The cover had slid off us when we made love so I could she her totally naked. I still couldn't help myself from wanting to feel her and thus let my hand slowly cup her pussy. She was soft and very moist. She gasped and then smiled at my curiosity. I pressed myself close to her and put my leg between hers. I thought that it could at least give her a chance to help herself but she still didn't. I was emerged in thoughts for a while as I listened to her calm breath. "Am I your girlfriend now?" She looked at me with love in her eyes. "Maybe... If you want to..."