Diary on The Shelf!

Chapter 22

THE NIGHT embraced them in a symphony of sound, as they made their way back to the house. The enchanting melody of night birds, hidden in the shadows, serenaded the world around them. Each note seemed to carry a secret, a promise of the mysteries unfolding under darkness.

Halima's fingers intertwined with Lorna's, the way it just seemed to fit hers was endearing. Lorna held her hand tightly, not just out of a desire to protect, but because she longed for the reassuring touch of Halima's soft hands. The sensation was like a balm to her own conflicted emotions, an unspoken solace in the silence of the night.

"Are you sleepy?" Lorna asked as they got ready for bed.

Halima had grabbed a towel, and was walking to the bathroom, she stopped and looked back, "Not right now,"

"Okay, we could watch a movie if you're down for it."

"Yeah sure," She grinned and went to take a bath while Lorna used the bathroom in the empty room. 

The sound of water cascading down her body echoed in her ears, almost drowning out the relentless thoughts that consumed her. Once a sanctuary, the bathroom now felt like an echo chamber for her inner turmoil.

Her mind couldn't escape Catherine and the fight that had driven her away. The memories played like a broken record, each word exchanged etched in her mind like a scar. Guilt gnawed at her, making her question her actions and words, wondering if she could have handled things differently. Sadness, like a heavy fog, clung to her, its tendrils seeping into every corner of her heart. Anger simmered beneath it all, directed both inward and outward, a turbulent storm of emotions.

Halima bent over, clutching her stomach as the weight of her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. The bathroom tiles felt cool against her flushed skin as she tried to regain her composure. The water's relentless rhythm acted as a soothing backdrop to her internal turmoil, offering a brief respite from the storm within.

The weight of what happened suddenly rushed in, crashing over her like a relentless tide. Halima could feel the sting of tears threatening to escape the corners of her eyes. The bathroom's cool air seemed to penetrate her skin, adding to the cold shivers coursing through her.

Taking a shaky breath in, she willed herself to stand tall and wiped her eyes with determination. Droplets of water glistened on her skin like tiny diamonds as she reached for her towel.

Halima dried herself meticulously, each swipe of the towel a deliberate attempt to chase away the lingering sadness that clung to her like a second skin. She moved with practiced precision, her reflection in the bathroom mirror reflecting the storm of emotions within her. The sadness in her eyes stared back at her, a silent witness to her inner turmoil.

Halima took a deep breath, her reflection a fragile mask concealing the tempest inside. She repeated this ritual—a breath in, hold, release—like a whispered prayer, struggling to regain her composure. She couldn't find peace until she knew Catherine was safe and their friendship intact.

Returning to their room, she sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in nothing but a towel, her phone becoming her lifeline. She dialed Catherine's number repeatedly, each unanswered call a dagger to her heart. Frustration etched lines across her forehead as her concern grew.

On the umpteenth try, someone answered, but the loud music and chatter in the background drowned out any meaningful communication. Halima tried texting instead, her message a blend of hope and apprehension.

"Hey, I hope you're safe and having a good time. Can we please talk before the game tomorrow?"

With no immediate response forthcoming, Halima sighed, placing her phone to the side. Just then, Lorna entered the room, her gaze locking onto Halima, who sat in her towel. A shuddered breath escaped her lips involuntarily. Tension hung in the air like an invisible thread, a palpable force that neither of them could ignore.

Halima's cheeks flushed with a vivid hue of red, her embarrassment evident as her gaze met Lorna's intense scrutiny. She cleared her throat, the awkwardness of the moment clinging to her like a heavy cloak. Her hands fidgeted slightly, betraying her internal turmoil.

Lorna, on the other hand, felt a battle raging within her. Her attraction to Halima was undeniable, and every fiber of her being longed to bridge the gap between them and kiss Halima senseless. She stared at Halima as though she were a masterpiece, her eyes tracing the contours of her form with an intensity that left no room for doubt.

Her heart raced, a relentless reminder of how deeply Halima affected her. Yet, she fought valiantly to restrain her desires, to keep her emotions from spiraling out of control. 

With a deep inhalation, Lorna tore her gaze away from Halima's figure, allowing her privacy as she contemplated whether to change in the bathroom or the room. Halima'shands shook as she dressed in her pyjamas, yet she couldn't escape the sudden flood of thoughts about their sleeping arrangements.

Would they share the same bed? Was it large enough? Or should they sleep separately? A million questions swirled in her mind like a whirlpool threatening to pull her in.

Halima took a final deep breath and applied a touch of Vaseline to her face before hanging her towel by the bathroom door. Her nerves still tingled, "I'm done," she announced.

Lorna's gaze shifted back to her, and she couldn't help but smile at Halima, dressed in the cutest pair of blue pajamas adorned with playful animal prints. It seemed like blue was her favorite color, a detail Lorna had picked up on from previous encounters.

"Okay, great, so um, which side do you like sleeping on?" Lorna inquired, her voice laced with a teasing undertone.

Halima hesitated for a moment before answering, "Right side."

"Perfect," Lorna responded with a sly grin as she pulled back the duvet and settled into the bed, retrieving her phone from the nightstand. Halima stood by the bedside, gently rubbing her arms, her internal turmoil now giving way to the anticipation of the moment.

In the quiet of the room, Halima closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Her thoughts swirled, and she reminded herself, 'This doesn't mean anything, we're just sleeping.' But beneath the surface, an unspoken tension simmered, leaving both women to grapple with the uncharted territory they found themselves in.

Lorna's voice broke the spell. "Aren't you getting in?" Her tone carried a knowing smirk.

Halima laughed nervously and climbed into bed. As she nestled under the covers, she couldn't help but wonder about what the night held.

"What are we watching?" She asked in an attempt to regain some semblance of normalcy.

"I was hoping you had an idea," Lorna replied, her laughter dancing with uncertainty. She scrolled through a free movie site, her eyes searching for something that could both distract them and reveal more of their unspoken desires.

An idea struck her, she could test the waters and get some answers to her lingering questions.

"Okay, have you watched Bound?"

Halima looked away for a moment. "Nope."

Lorna gulped, "It's a crime romance movie, it's really good. But.." She hesitated. "It has um. . .  intimate scenes between... girls." She added exhaling. "Is that something you'll be comfortable with?"

Halima gulped, her heartbeat increased. "Uh-." She stuttered. "Um-I yeah." She exhaled scratching the back of her neck.