Chapter 2
The two women sat in the car, waiting for the man waving the flags to let them pass. Carla sat in silence, words seeming to fail her. Cecil hummed along to some vague song, and kept turning up the radio dial, even though no music (or noise at all) was playing.
“So...where are we going?” Carla asked, breaking the awkward humming/silence. Cecil seemed surprised by the question, as if it had never occurred to her until that moment. “Oh well…” She trailed off “I was just planning on showing you around town, I suspected that you were more interested in the town than me.” Carla flushed a deep violet. Did she really come off that way? Like she didn’t care about people?
Carla, feeling flustered, spluttered for an answer but could only come up with odd gasping sounds. She was nearly positive that it wasn’t the town behind her sudden incapability to speak. Cecil seemed unbothered by Carla’s spluttering and began talking.
“I have a cat ya know. Well he’s not really mine, but I like to think that he’s emotionally mine. His name is Khoshekh, and he floats right above the 3rd sink in the women’s bathroom in the Radio Station. I guess that makes him the Radio Cat!” Cecil flashed a brilliant grin at Carla, and she felt herself unravel. Carla wanted to ask questions about the floating cat, but for some odd reason a little tugging in her chest told her not to. Instead she let out a little laugh, sticking her hand out the open window as the car started again.
The car ride seemed to span forever, not that Carla was complaining it was a every fun trip, but when they finally reached Big Rico's she was aching to stretch her legs.
“Wait, isn’t this the place right next to my-” Carla turned her head 90 degrees, a little green house catching her eye.
“Yep! That’s your house! It’s only proper to drive around the entire town on a first date my dear Carla, everyone knows that.” Cecil crooned, lifting her long legs out of the small car, running a hand through her white hair. Carla really was confused, and didn’t know you were supposed to drive around the entire town. It wasn’t until much later that Carla realized how stupid her own thoughts sounded.
Cecil held out a manicured hand, yanking Carla into a run. The hot sun glinted off Cecil’s brow, a deep laugh rumbled in Carla’s chest, her sneakered feet slapping the sidewalk. They were inside the air conditioned bowling alley all too soon for both the girls. Cecil dropped Carla’s tanned hand, swiping it across her forehead and flinging the sweat at the man sitting by the shoe rental desk. The man through two mismatched pairs of shoes at the two women, and Cecil was off again.
In less than 10 seconds it seemed that Cecil had set the lane and got her shoes laced. Carla lowered herself onto the sticky bench, and attempted to tie her too-large shoed in the dim light. She would never admit that the reason for her fumbling fingers was only a few feet away.
“May I help?” A soft voice called out, intense purple eyes meeting Carla’s own brown ones. Her breath caught in her throat, all she could do was nod and watch. Cecil kneeled down, her long fingers wrapped the long laces into a bow.
“T-tha-thank you” Carla stuttered out.
Cecil let out a laugh, holding out a hand. “Wanna tell me about that science thing?”
***
Carla had draped her lab coat over her arm, and stared after the retreating woman. Their date had been amazing, perfect really. Carla would gladly go through 100 more of them, and never get bored. Cecil was a strange woman, but she knew just how to make Carla laugh. Thinking back Carla hadn’t laughed that hard since...well ever.
Carla hadn’t wanted the night to end, but curfew had called and Cecil had reluctantly dropped Carla off at home. They had stared at each other awkwardly for a few moments, but then Cecil was moving, her thick lips clashing with Carla's. Carla had never felt as alive as she did when her tongue was playing with the other woman's.
She could still feel the affects of the kiss as she fell asleep, her hand tracing her lips.