Sisterhood

She wakes up to the sound of her alarm. Checking the time, she sees she's running late to her class. She writes a hasty message on the computer, and curses while closing it; realizing she didn't even write a proper goodbye.

Sitting in the train she looks out the window and studies the gray clouds, remembering the horrible storm of that morning. She starts to wonder what the weather is like elsewhere in the world.

Her exam was fine, and she feels a little relieved it's finally over. With her mind finally able to get distracted by something else than school, work, and family, she starts to think about them.

It's something she has become accustomed to now. More frequent than before, she finds herself tuning back to the world on the other side of her computer screen. When it's open, it's like she's sitting in a train much like the one she's on at the moment. The rest of the world just passing by in a blur. It's not that she forgets her life outside in the real world, but she feels a need to make them part of hers somehow. They've become so close, that it almost seems unreal.

Without the constant reassurance of their existence, they need to make their own version of jeans to share. They make their own sisterhood.

There's the insightful ring leader, who unknowingly has become the glue that holds them all together. An older sister in a way.

They have the perky, cute one; whose sneaky antics never fail to make them smile.

The sweetheart. The kind and angelic one with a heart of gold.

Then, there's her; the one sitting still in the train, wondering which one she is.

She makes her way out of the train station and gets inside the car that's come to pick her up.

Making small talk with her boyfriend on their way to his house, she looks down at her phone and starts browsing the internet. She smiles widely as she sees what her best friend has written for her; for them. Suddenly, she can't wait to go home later that night.

Glancing at the clock she hears him ask her "Are you running late for something, bunny?"

"What?" she asks, all flustered and hears his laugh. "Can I use your computer when we get to your house? I need to write something."

"To someone special?" he teases.

"Yes," she murmurs softly. "Three."

AFTERGLOW

The moon provided the only light in the room as it crept inside through the window by his bed. He looked over at the body laying next to him. She was lying on her stomach with the sheets up to her waist. Her brown hair cascading around his pillow, leaving her bare back in clear view. He watched as the moonlight made her skin glow, lifting his hand to trace the tiny freckles splayed all over her back.

Her dress was on the chair by his bed, his own clothes splattered all over the floor of his bedroom, placed as evidence of what transpired hours before.

The girl was beautiful in her form-fitting red dress, her hair in loose curls framing her stunning face with the most glorious of green eyes and long eyelashes that curled at the end. Her bow-shaped lips displayed in a sensuous pout as he remembered asking her to dance. As her body swayed against his, he knew he had to bring her back to his place. She conceded by the end of the night, and he found himself coming in to his home with the girl at his side. He offered her something to drink, and only gave her one glass of wine. She wasn't completely trashed, but he knew she had a lot to drink at the club. He wanted her full attention.

Outside of the dim, foggy room with the loud noise, the girl looked sadder. Her smile didn't reach her eyes anymore, and the sparkle he'd seen before disappeared. He asked about her life, but she skillfully evaded the questions. She didn't ask him about his life either. It was as if she wanted to forget her past tonight, and not remember this the next day.

Their kisses were slow at first. He savored her lips in a way he never did with anyone before. She tenderly opened her mouth to give way for his tongue, and as it tangled with hers, her body molded to his. He placed a hand at the back of her head, wrapping his fingers in her hair. His other arm snaked around her small waist. He swallowed her moans, and eventually, they made their way to his bedroom.

As he landed on top of her on the bed, he thought she was about to protest; but his mouth on her neck soon stopped her. He didn't notice how her hands were trembling as she tentatively touched his skin. He didn't feel her skin shivering as her dress came off. She held on to his shoulders, with her face buried in his neck. It wasn't until he heard a faint whimper as he prodded a clear barrier that he pushed her hair away from her face to look at her. Her eyes were glittering, and he gently cupped her face as he bent down to kiss her. She gasped in his mouth as he cleared his way through the barrier.

He kept tracing along her skin, and he gently placed his lips on her shoulder as he palmed the heart-shaped birthmark on the small of her back. He felt goose bumps start to form under his fingers and lips. Thinking it was from the wind coming through the open window, he picked up the sheets and wrapped it around her.

His heart picked up pace as she started to stir next to him. She turned her body to face him, her eyes still closed. He touched her cheek to wipe away her tear, wondering what a girl as sweet as her was running away from. She had looked so free at the club, laughing loudly and moving her body to the music. Now, lying on his bed, she looked so fragile that he glided right beside her and cradled her head on his chest. She didn't wake up, but her body seemed to welcome the embrace in the dark.

She was practically a stranger to him, but as her head lay atop his heart, he couldn't stop himself from wanting to keep her close. He placed his lips on her forehead, and as he closed his eyes, he found himself wishing she wouldn't forget this night.