High As Hope
Therese was feeling the pressure of having her work completed as the deadline was fast approaching. She was supposed to submit her photos to Gen by the end of the month, but as always, the brunette had not been satisfied with her work.
The focus of her exhibit was on the human body, with its complexity and rawness. She wanted to prove that it was a mistake to associate nudity exclusively with sexual activity or sexual concept. The brunette was a firm believer that a nude could be highly sexual or not at all sexual, just as a clothed figure could be highly alluring or non-sexual as well.
Looking at the photos scattered on her table, Therese suddenly thought, nudity certainly can be used in such a way as to highlight sexual thoughts, but it doesn't need to do so at all or may do so only to a limited extent.
The young woman didn’t realize she was talking to herself and said aloud, “Well, that’s the point of my exhibit. I want the audience to know that nudity shouldn’t be a taboo.”
Feeling frustrated by her progress, the brunette grunted and looked at the door, as if she were waiting for someone to save her.
Startled by the sudden knock on her door, Therese tried to rub the fatigue off her eyes. Genevieve entered her sight, “Hey, Ther, you mentioned the other day that my album would arrive today, can you get it for me later? I have this meeting I can’t miss with the board.”
The redhead woman stopped talking when she felt the ambiance of the room, it felt heavy and negative. “Oh, shit. Are you doing something? I’m sorry, I didn’t consider you might be working all day”
Without uttering a word, Therese just waved off her concern. “Don’t mind me, I’ll be alright. Just tired with all this fuss.”
“Well, don’t stress about it. I’m sure your photos will look great.” She winked at her. Although their affair had ended already, Therese couldn’t help but still feel warm whenever the woman tried to woo her.
The young woman just smiled at her and reassuringly said “Don’t worry, I’ll get it later after I’m done with this.”
Therese went back to her work and tried to be as productive as possible. She was scanning endless nude photos of women when her mind started to drift away again. She wondered what it would be like to see the blonde’s whole being, to be able to touch her without restrictions, to know whether their bodies actually fit together. Then her mind went to thinking what it would be like to have the older woman’s lips on hers, to taste her essence until she was crumbling in her ministrations. The young woman tried to shake the fuzzy feeling that had started to build in her groin; being aroused while on work wouldn’t help her and looking at naked bodies certainly didn’t help her quench for the blonde.
The brunette tried to focus on her work, she really did. But knowing that she’d see Carol again destroyed her momentum. There was just a little progress on her work, she concluded she needed to do another shoot.
Therese decided to take a break and be done for the day. She left the gallery early and wandered aimlessly. Her feet took her to Fairfax Farmers Market. It was a historic semi-covered market that included tons of great dining options and stores. With its dancing fountains, good restaurants, a working vintage trolley car, and a movie theater, she felt like she was destined to be there at that moment. The vintage ambiance of the market captivated the young woman and it reminded her of a certain blonde.
Hearing her stomach grumble, the brunette stopped walking and decided to finally have her lunch. The restaurants there were informal: you simply walked up to the counter, placed your order, and took your food on a tray to one of the tables nearby. It was definitely not a high-end date place but it was fun and spontaneous. It’s not like I’d actually bring Carol here.
Therese didn’t notice how the time had flown by. It was past 5 o’clock already and she still had one more thing to do. After the impromptu date with herself, the brunette headed to the record store.
Flagging a cab was a challenge for Therese. With her small height, she had to tiptoe to be seen by the yellow cab drivers. “Melrose Avenue, please.”
Getting there in rush-hour traffic was a chore, but she finally made it. For the third time this month, the brunette was once again standing in front of the store. Well, at least this time I have a proper reason.
The brunette was styled in a casual half-up, half-down hairdo, accenting her face’s exquisite bone structure. She was wearing simple black jogger pants and an oversized white shirt and kept her belongings in a black leather purse that was slung across her body, making her look even younger than she was.
Entering the premises, Therese felt a shift in the environment. All the stress and worry she had carried all day suddenly vanished as if La Pavilion was her safe haven.
Immediately looking at the counter, she saw Carol attending a customer. Even without trying, the woman was just as gorgeous as ever. She was dressed in a yellow, floral-print dress and black blazer, the woman definitely made everyone else look mundane.
After the transaction was done, Carol faced the next customer she was going to assist. To her surprise, it was the brunette again. She looks so young , the blonde thought.
Those tantalizing emerald eyes instantaneously met Carol’s.
The older woman’s breath quickened, catching up to her racing heart. They gazed at each other for what seemed like an eternity— neither of them looking away from the other.
“To what I owe this pleasure?” Carol mustered to say but she felt like her words were too forced.
The brunette moved closer to her. With every step Therese was taking, she felt the beats of her heart amplifying louder and louder as she got closer to the blonde. Carol, on the other hand, needed to steady herself as she held onto the counter in front of her.
“I’m here to get my friend’s order, the Amy Winehouse album. It’s finally here, isn’t it?” the young woman inquired.
The blonde wanted to say that it hadn’t arrived yet as she expected that the brunette wouldn’t come back again after this. There was no reason for her to visit the store again. “Well, yes. It’s been sitting idly at the corner, waiting for its owner to be picked up.”
Therese found the woman’s answer amusing. “And I’m here to take it home,” she winked.
The blonde went to the back of the store and took the album with her.
The young woman was expecting her to just hand the album, but she went over the counter and was seemingly too close to the brunette.
Carol involuntarily touched Therese’s hand while giving the record. A blush crept up her cheeks and she immediately halted her hand.
The brunette noticed the blonde’s hand and smiled at her awkwardness. Without saying anything, she looked through her purse and took a business card out.
“Here, call me when you have new albums or anything interesting,” Therese offered.
Carol meekly took the piece of paper and looked at it:
Therese Belivet
Freelance Photographer
213-509-6995
“It’s great seeing you, Carol. Hope to talk to you soon.”
“It’s great seeing you too, sweetheart.” Sweetheart. The slip of that word made her blue eyes grow wide. She had let a term of endearment slip. But in her head, this term was Therese’s and Therese’s alone. She felt the rush of blood and heat towards her face. Why did I say that? But then she saw Therese nod as if unfazed with the use of the term.
“Enjoy your evening, Carol.” She felt Therese’s arm wound around her shoulders before she left a graceful peck on her cheek. And just like that, the brunette left her shocked and trembling.
After staggering minutes, Abby showed up at the counter. “Who was that? I thought I heard voices.”
“Oh, that? That was just Therese,” the blonde smirked.
“Therese, huh? I bet she came back just to hit on you again,” her friend bantered.
“Whatever you say, Abby, whatever you say,” Carol dismissively waved.
After checking that day’s sales and orders, the two, then, closed their shop.
Later that night, at the comfort of her room, the blonde effortlessly laid her tired body on her bed, simply staring at the calling card Therese had given her.
Her bedroom looked like an apartment already with premier views, a seating area with a fireplace, and a terrace. It even had a wall of built-in closets for abundant storage and a huge bathroom with marble tile flooring.
Carol grew up in money. Even though her parents had disowned her, they still had given the blonde this penthouse she now called her home.
It featured an elegant entry leading into an enormous living room with a fireplace and terrace. The sprawling interior had been transformed into a stunning palette of textures and colors that were both contemporary and classic. Carol’s place featured three bedrooms, a grand living room, and a seductively plush screening room.
She was too tired and lazy to make dinner. Instead, she indulged herself in imagining what it would be like to be with the brunette. Just thinking about it made her entire body excited, she could feel the warmness pool between her legs. “When is the right time to call? Wouldn’t it be too late for me to text her, it’s almost midnight already anyway,” the blonde asked herself.
Carol tried to calm herself and think about something else. She didn’t want Therese to be a warm body to sleep with, she craved for something more. With no one to answer her rhetorical question, the woman decided to call it a night and went to a good night’s sleep.