Reluctantly Crystal moved away from the zipper, assuming a fetal position facing away from Laura but well aware of the heat of a body resting just inches from her own. It was an odd feeling, having not slept next to anyone since she was a child but at the same time she took a sense of comfort in having Laura next to her since there was no way to lock the entrance to the tent. Not that Crystal feared any of the women settling into their own tents but the ingrained fear was still there.
"Better?" Laura asked in a low voice.
"Yes. You sure I'm not crowding you?"
"Not at all. There's still some more room if you need it."
"No, I'm all set," Crystal said, adjusting her makeshift pillow. "Good night, Laura."
"Night hon," the writer replied, reaching out in the dark to gently squeeze Crystal's shoulder.
Their attempt at sleep would be interrupted minutes later when a clear, unmistakable moan cut through the air followed by giggles from the other tents. "Sounds like someone is having fun," Crystal said, smiling in the darkness.
"Mmm," the sleepy Laura replied. "I just hope they quiet down."
"Doesn't sound like it," Crystal said after louder moan cut through the night. "Who do you think it is?"
"I don't know. I wasn't paying attention to whose tents were around us." This time the moaning woman gave a mix between a gasp and a cry and another, lower voice groaned. "Sounds like Alex."
"You think?" Crystal rolled over until she was facing Laura, then propped herself up on one elbow. She listened again. "Maybe. Sounds too deep to be her."
"Oh Alex, yesss,"
"Guess you're right," she said. "Who do you think she's with? I didn't see anyone hanging on her tonight."
"Probably Donna. I've heard she's rather vocal when it comes to that," Laura said.
"Hey Duncan," a voice from another tent yelled. "Keep it down. Some of us are trying to get some sleep."
"Yeah, I don't want to have to take matters into my own hands here," someone else yelled, causing more muffled giggles from some of the tents. "I thought you took matters into your own hands every night." This time they recognized Jenny's voice.
"Fuck you and the horse you rode in on, Foster," the voice responded playfully.
"Is that an offer or an insult?"
"Whichever way you want to take it, Jen. My tent is big enough."
"We're never going to get any sleep," Laura complained.
"Well at least someone is having fun," Crystal said before rolling back over and settling down.
"I just wish they were quieter about it."
"Or pitched their tent further away."
"I think they could be on the other side of the house and we'd still hear them," Laura said before giving a long yawn. "I should have packed ear plugs."
"Well they have to settle down eventually, don't they?"
The writer chuckled. "Hon, you're talking about lesbians. They're like that commercial. They can keep going and going and going."
"Oh wonderful," Crystal said sarcastically, punching her makeshift pillow. "I suppose I should be grateful you don't have a girlfriend or I'd never get any sleep at home."
Laura laughed. "Actually I'm very quiet." She paused as another series of moans cut through the night. "Definitely Donna." Crystal shook her head and closed her eyes, trying hard not to think of the mental images the sounds were creating.
Crystal woke immediately at the touch. It took a few seconds in the pitch darkness to remember where she was and who was sleeping next to her or rather, who was sleeping against her, Laura's arm wrapped protectively around her belly. It was that touch which had woken her up. It was the middle of the night, the only sounds were snoring from the nearby tents and the occasional crackle of the dying bonfire. Realizing Laura was sound asleep, Crystal debated about removing the warm arm pressing against her, not wanting to wake her roommate. She laid there for several minutes, listening to the deep breathing next to her, close enough for her to feel the warm breath against the back of her neck. Just as she took comfort from the occasional hugs Laura gave her, Crystal found herself feeling that same comfort in the unconscious embrace. Relaxing into the gentle hold, she fell back to sleep.
Laura blinked and looked around, the morning sun lighting the interior of the yellow dome tent. To her surprise she found herself curled up around Crystal. I should have known better, she thought. I've always been a cuddler. But it felt too good for her to move right away. She inhaled the scent of Crystal's shampoo and had to resist the urge to nuzzle the soft blonde hair. Who am I kidding? Propping herself up to look upon the sleeping features, Laura privately admitted to herself that she had deliberately refrained from mentioning her habit of cuddling to Crystal for just this reason. It felt so good to hold the younger woman in her arms, to feel the soft warmth against her. Laura laid there for several minutes, just enjoying the feeling. When she heard the sound of others awakening in the nearby tents, she reluctantly moved over to her own side of the sleeping bag. As much as she took pleasure in the embrace, she knew better than to be in the same position when Crystal woke up. She'd probably think I was trying to take advantage of her. There was a soft scratching on the tent flap. "Laura, you awake?"
"Morning Jen," she said in a low voice. "Crystal's still asleep."
"Carmen has coffee made."
"All right, I'll be out in a minute." Now faced with the problem of trying to get out of the sleeping bag without waking Crystal, who was sleeping on the side with the zipper, Laura tried to slowly crawl out the top.
"Hmm?"
"Shh, it's just me," she said, moving the rest of the way out of the sleeping bag. "Go back to sleep, it's early."
"What time is it?" Crystal mumbled, rolling onto her back and rubbing her eyes.
"Probably around seven or so." She found her watch stuffed into her sneaker. "It's seven twenty. I'm going inside for some coffee. Do you want me to bring you a cup?"
"No, I'll get up. Besides, I have to use the bathroom." Crystal sat up herself, revealing to Laura something she had not known the night before as the tops of bare legs were revealed. It was only then that the writer noticed the pants being used as a pillow.
Oh thank God I didn't know that last night, Laura thought, noticing also the twin points pressing against Crystal's shirt. "I'll get out so you can get dressed," she said, crawling to the tent flap and pulling the zipper up.
"I'll be there in a minute," she heard as she stepped out onto the dew covered grass and blinked against the bright morning sun. "Okay." Laura pulled her sneakers on and headed for the house.
Carmen, Wendy, Jenny and several others were in the kitchen when Laura arrived. "Good morning," she said, taking two empty mugs from the dish strainer and walking over to the coffee pot. She just finished making the cups up when Crystal walked in, her hair mussed from sleep. "Oh thanks," Crystal said as she handed her the mug.
"I thought maybe we could stop for breakfast on the way home," she said, leaning against the counter and ignoring the box of donuts sitting there. "There's a nice clean diner just a few minutes from here."
"Sounds good," the blonde said, setting her coffee down and making a beeline for the bathroom as Alex exited it.
"There's donuts right there," Jenny said.
"I'm not in the mood for something sweet," she said. "Besides,e.g.benedict sounds really good right now."
"What's this?" Carmen said. "You're taking off this early? I thought everyone would stay for a while longer."
"I have things to do today," Laura said apologetically, fully aware it was a bold faced lie. Other than writing, there was nothing else that had to be done today. "Besides, Crystal's never had breakfast at Ruby's. I'm sure she'll enjoy it."
"Oh yes, just you and her tucked away in the a booth, eh?" Alex teased.
"Behave," Laura warned. "Besides, we deserve a good breakfast after being kept up half the night thanks to you and Donna."
"Hey, it's not my fault you didn't get any last night," the cop said with a smug grin as she refilled her mug and exchanged a knowing smile with Donna. "So how's the book coming along?"
"The end is in sight but it's just getting the last fifty pages written," Laura said. "You know how hard it is for me to wrap things up." "Yeah, that's why your books are all three hundred pages or better," Carmen said. "Oh but those love scenes are enough to make me sit on a block ofi.e.You will have at least one in there, won't you?"
"Don't I always?" Laura replied, bringing the mug to her lips and tasting the strong brew. "It's just a matter of getting the main characters together." She noticed Crystal coming out of the bathroom and privately wondered why life was not as easy as a fictional story. Why she found herself falling for what she could not have but unable to walk away or stopping her heart from becoming more attached to the beautiful young woman who shared her home. "I have to get the tent broken down. I'll be back in a few minutes." Setting her mug on the counter, Laura brushed past Jenny and stepped out into the morning air.
She was neatly folding the nylon tent when Crystal approached. "You want some help?"
"No," she said. "I'm almost done."
Crystal knelt down and put her hand on the storage bag, forestalling Laura's attempt to put the tent away. "Hey." The softly spoken word forced her to look up into concerned blue eyes. "You all right?"
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "I'm fine. I guess I'm just tired or something."
"You sure? It seems like something's bothering you."
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