she's smarter than she looks
Ali could not, for the life of her, figure out why she couldn’t stop thinking about those two women. As the day ran it’s course, she missed phone calls and meetings, dropped pens and misspelled countless words. She had a reputation within the office as the preppy, well put together, organized one, who colour coded everything and never ever missed anything. At this point, she may as well kiss that goodbye.
“What’s up, klutz?” A familiar voice sang from behind her. Without even turning around, she could all but picture Becky’s braid swinging back and forth, as she snaked an arm around her shoulders. “You seem a little off today, you feeling alright Kriegs?”
“Yeah, a little bit of a headache I think,” she lied, “nothing a little Advil and water won’t fix, right?” She smiled as genuinely as she could muster, feeling Becky’s eyes searching her face. The two had known each other forever. After being roommates in their freshmen year at university, they and a few other girls had bought a small house together, and lived there for the rest of it. Becky had secured her job in her junior year after doing one co-op term, so she pulled a couple of strings on the inside to get Ali a job; and it paid off. Ali was currently one of the highest ranking females working for the Capitals, although today, she was sure not feeling like it.
“Okay Als, take it easy for me, okay?” Becky looked honestly concerned, so Ali pressed a light kiss to her cheek with a smile and promised to call her if she needed anything. Quietly, she gathered her things before racing down the stairs towards the subway station. For whatever reason, today she wanted to get home as fast as possible.
.:.
The night came and went. The sun set and the sun rose. Ali was simply going through the motions as usual, but today, felt different. She did her laps, watered her tomatoes and walked Dallas, who had decided to go back to being well behaved. She showered, paying extra attention when blow drying her hair and for some reason, payed even more attention when curling her hair. Today, she picked a black, high waisted pencil skirt, with a sheer white blouse and a push up bra. What has gotten into me, she moaned to herself. She applied her regular make up, but strayed from her normal routine, taking the time to apply a thin line of black on her eye lids and spending the extra minute to contour her face.
“Alright,” she slipped into tall, painful stilletos, wincing at the contact, to which Dallas whimpered. “I’m okay baby, pretty hurts sometimes,” she laughed at herself, “you be a good puppy, I’ll see you later.” She kissed his head and strutted out the door, her phone ringing, as if it was on cue.
“Hey ladykiller, how’s it hanging?”
“Hey Ky, good and yourself?”
“I have a really hot subject today,” and even through the phone, Ali could see him smirking, “so, it’ll be fun you know?” Kyle's recent occupation has been photography, which was honestly a perfect choice for him. It probably also didn't hurt that all of his 'subjects' are usually naked men, around his age.
“Oh I know,” she laughed in response.
“So, you gotten laid yet?” Ali basically choked on her own spit.
“Have I what?”
“Oh don’t play dumb, you know what I’m asking. I haven heard about any excitement in your life in ages. Guys or girls. You should probably get on that you know. Love yourself, girl.”
“Ew, ew okay Justin Bieber chill,” Ali fake gagged and then joined in Kyle’s laughter.
“Okay, I have to go Alibean, chat you later, yeah?”
“Yeah for sure, I love you!”
“Love you and your cobwebs more, you goof.”
Ew, ew, ew. Ali loved Kyle, with everything in her, don’t get her wrong, but sometimes she could do without his sassy remarks.
And that morning, at 6:55 a.m. Ali made the maybe not so educated decision to skip the 98X and wait for the 98 via Beacon Hill.
.:.
As the subway stopped for the third time in Beacon Hill, the same familiar faces hopped on. Ali had subconsciously picked the same spot she had occupied yesterday and today, the two women had stumbled into their previous position as well; and as far as Ali could see, it wasn’t exactly calculated.
This morning, they were not as well put together. The freckled girl’s pantsuit wasn’t ironed and the lace of her black bra was peeking out, along with a healthy amount of cleavage and a the faint edge of a light purple bruise. Her mascara was smudged, her foundation wasn’t thoroughly blended into her neck and her hair was messily in a bun on top of her head. The only signs that she generally knew what she was doing were her feet which were tucked into tall red stilettos, her matching purse and diamond earrings dangling down to her shoulders.
Ash was buttoning up the second last button still, grumbling about something that Ali couldn't make out. Her rose button down was tucked into slim black dress pants (which weren’t ironed), accompanied by a thick black belt, which hung loosely around her hips. Ali watched Ash as she tried to put herself (back?) together, tucking in her shirt, tightening her belt and rubbing some dirt off of her leather shoes.
Ash checked her fat, golden watch. “Kel, you’re so damn lucky we made it here on time.”
“Listen here, Ashlyn,” the younger one smirked, positioning herself right in front of Ashlyn, placing two hands on her collar. Ali now, had a full view of Kelley’s ass and, unfortunately, (because Kelley’s heels weren’t nearly tall enough) Ashlyn’s face. “It’s not my fault that I tried to get undressed, quite innocently, and you, being you, got distracted.”
Ali gulped, her eyes raking Kelley’s legs and lower body, before noticing Ashlyn’s hands, sliding down to Kelley’s butt, grabbing it possessively. Slowly, she raised her eyes to the back of her head, then higher. Literally right into Ashlyn’s eyes. Her whole body visibly shuddered, but she couldn’t bring herself to break the stare between herself and Ashlyn. Thankfully, Ashlyn did that for her.
“You must be right, babe, my apologies.” She glanced up in Ali’s direction with a smirk before leaning down to kiss her girlfriend right on the mouth.
The rest of the ride, Kelley had the decency to sit down beside Ashlyn to spare Ali, but when Ashlyn drags her hand up Kelley’s thigh with a little innocent smirk, it doesn’t really help the situation. Or maybe it does help, but honestly Ali has no idea what’s right and what isn’t. She also can’t figure out how a 15 minute subway ride into the downtown core takes two hours in the presence of these two. And then slowly but surely, her thoughts somehow drift to other places.
Places like Kelley waking up in Ashlyn’s shirt and a thong from the day before, ‘innocently’ peeling both of these items off before waltzing around the room.
Places like Ashlyn’s hands grabbing her waist, her ass and her boobs, before teasingly throwing her on the bed.
Ali imagines their house to be airy and spacious, minimalistic, with white, grey and black hues. She imagines their bed to have fluffy white covers and an excess amount of pillows, with tall ceilings and windows that extend to the floor. Ashlyn seems to be the more dominant figure in the relationship; she probably barbecues, drinks something hard and gets Kelley aroused when she wants, where she wants. Kelley seems to be sneakier, and seemingly more ‘innocent’ (though Ali hardly believes that is true); she probably drinks wine with everything, watches Netflix series about white collar crime and gets her way (somehow) with Ashlyn in bed. She imagines they have an abundance of toys, for Kelley seems like the type who wants to experiment with that type of thing. Ali also decides they probably have some sort of pet, probably a dog, and a large backyard. They both seem to have played a sport in university and based on how toned Kelley’s arms are, she can assume that they are both still active.
“See you at home baby,” Ali snaps her head up to see Ashlyn kissing Kelley’s head and then staring right at her.
“Love you!” Kelley called, as she scampered off the subway, heels clicking incessantly.
Ashlyn never broke her stare with Ali, and she gulped again. The warmth between her legs seemed to grow, for something about how Ashlyn’s stare seemed to go straight through her turned her on.
North Glebe, the sound system dinged as the subway came to a stop. Ali eagerly raced towards the metal doors, anxious to get away from this situation (even though she wanted to stay).
“She’s quite something isn’t she,” a voice singsonged from behind her, “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if we shared her.” Ali almost, almost, dropped her phone and her purse. She had to remind herself to pick her jaw up off the ground as she stepped onto the platform and then turned around. “Oh, I’m just joking, you can untie your panties,” the blonde smirked.
“Yeah, um I was just-” Ali searched her mind high and low for words, and her brain seemed to be unable to provide anything useful. Thankfully, the blush was slowly fading away from her face, until she realized the blonde was still standing right there.
“But, if you think she doesn’t notice you shamelessly checking her out, you’re wrong.” If Ali had been paying more attention, she would have said it came out as a snide remark. “She’s a Stanford grad, she’s smarter than she looks.”
And then the blonde hair, pink shirt, black belt and leather shoes were gone, and Ali was left to pick herself off the ground and put herself back together.
.:.
The first order of duty when she got to work was the bathroom, because, well honestly, she couldn’t go a whole day with that in between her legs. When she stepped out of the stall however, she was unfortunately met with a rather confused Becky.
“Alex, are you sure you’re doing alright?”
“Yes, yes I promise, I was just a bit rushed this morning so I needed to get myself together,” she lied. Ali hated lying, especially to Becky, her best friend of all people, but for some reason she felt like Becky would judge her or think less of her if she told her about them. So, she decided not to.
“Hmm,” she paused, turning away from Ali to dry her hands, “so tonight would you come with me then? It’s a home game and we are in one of the suites with some clients.”
“Oh joy, I’m not feeling my best so you drag me out with clients? I’m already thrilled,” she snipped back sarcastically, laughing when she saw Becky toss a hand over her heart in mock offence.
“How dare you think of our clients this lowly, Alexandra Krieger.” Becky tried her best to keep a straight face as they looked at each other in the mirror, to no avail. “But seriously Kriegs, I think it’s just two of the soccer players who want to come see a hockey game. Crystal and… oh damn well, I’ll have to go check who the other one is. They both are bringing plus ones so it’s not like we will have to entertain them.”
“But, it’s Friday and-”
“Since when do you do fun stuff on Fridays? Your books and your tomatoes will be there tomorrow.”
“Okay well, I don’t want to leave Dallas alone.”
“Krieger, do not start. Bring Dallas to my place and then all the dogs can hang out together. Wear a jersey and skinny jeans or something and- wait if you don't have a jersey I have tons, just grab one of mine. Come to my place first, how’s that?”
“But-”
“Nope. See you then!”
Ali just groaned, staring at her eyeliner in the mirror, making a mental note to wear it more often.
For a minute, she regrets ever taking the subway in the first place.
.:.
That evening, for the second day in a row, she takes the non-express subway home, in hopes to see either of the two again. Yesterday she wasn’t lucky, but she also decided that she was being far-fetched and probably really creepy. But, as usual, her curiosity got the best of her and she decided that she would try one more time. Thankfully, the non-express route was less packed and even then, all the people on it were all well-dressed, pleasant smelling and quiet, so it wasn’t half as bad as her normal trek.
Ali assumes her usual spot, looking up to the transit map across from her, when the subway comes to a stop at Kelley’s stop. She tries (not too obviously) to crane her neck to see the sliding doors, but visibly falls when she sees no black pantsuit with red heels. She sighs, reaching into her purse for her phone, before beginning to amuse herself on Facebook.
Someone takes the seat next to her, so she moves her bag to her lap, not even thinking twice. Besides, who could be more important than a post about really cute puppies? She scrolls through pictures and updates from her friends, stopping to look at pictures of #flashbackfriday. Her friend Alyssa had posted a good one from the Penn State days, and Ali clicked to enlarge it, laughing quietly to herself at the mud spattered all over her, as she goofily held her captain’s armband out for the photographer.
The subway dinged, signalling their arrival to Beacon Hill and the person beside her rose to a stand. She looked up in shock, as a flash of red leather went by her head and an all-too-familiar freckled face smiled down at her.
“It’s funny, Ashlyn or I never really pegged you for a soccer player,” she bit her bottom lip, “let alone one from Penn State.”