Everything Has Changed

You hear her before you see her, a laugh so familiar you can recognise it in the loudest of rooms. It calls for you, and you turn around, watching her for a few seconds. A smile begins to form over your face as you see her getting excited over the conversation that she is having with her friend Tracy. It feels as if life has slowed down deliberately so that you can take her in. Her skin is glowing, and you wonder for a moment how a person could be so radiant, so luminous. She's wearing a simple jumpsuit that shows off her toned arms, black with a gold belt, matching her gold shoes perfectly. Always so stylish. She must have felt your eyes on her, as the next thing you see is her eyes widen and her mouth your name. She walks over to you with such grace, those golden arms reaching around your middle and pulling you into her body. Her smell hits you, that sweetness mixed with the tiniest hint of cigarette smoke that others might have missed.

"How are you doing, babe?"

You take a step back and tell her you're good, that you've been back home visiting your parents, and that you got back late last night.

"How's filming going?" You ask, genuinely interested in her response, your ears open to her husky voice as she recounts the latest on-set drama.

It still surprises you that you only met a short few weeks ago; her presence brings you a comfort you did not realise you were missing. It was easy to be Dianna's friend, and you knew she felt the same way about you. The trip to the flea market last week ended with a 4 hour dinner where the two of you shared meaningful conversations with an unspoken trust that neither of you worried would be broken.

"I love this song!" Dianna squeals, grabbing your hand and pulling you into a square of the kitchen that has become the unofficial dance floor. Dianna drops your hand and moves hers to your waist, pulling you closer than you've been before. You wonder if she deliberately pulls your hips to hers, if she felt what you felt when they touched. As you look at her, the glint in her eyes and smirk on her face tell you that yes, she did. Getting lost in the music, hands moving from the air, to behind each other, Dianna continuing to pull you in, her hand resting on your lower back, and you feel like you are spinning in these heels just for her. As the music changes, you remember there are other people in the room, and it surprises you to find that no one else seems to have noticed you both.

"It's okay, don't worry" she whispers, noticing the change in your body language. You smile at her and excuse yourself, heading down a corridor where hopefully you'll find a bathroom, berating yourself along the way for getting so lost in her that you forgot yourself.

Once inside you sit down, suddenly struggling for breath. You have tried really hard these past few weeks to ignore this feeling. There's only one girl you've loved before, and things didn't end well there. Your Dad found out, and your love story with Emily ended far too abruptly. You think of her often still, knowing that the worst thing you did was what you did to her - cutting all contact and never speaking again.

You walk over to the sink, and take a look in the mirror, wiping a smudge of mascara from below your eye. You compose yourself, getting ready to head home and pretend none of this happened, when you open the bathroom door to find Dianna leaning against the wall.

"All good, Tay?" she asks, and you know she is being sincere.

"All good", you tell her, but mainly you're telling yourself.

"Wanna get outta here, babe?" She enquires, and you nod confidently in response.

She takes your hand, while texting on the other for a car. By the time you have made your way through the crowds and down the drive, there is one waiting. As the car drives through the LA streets, it's just you and her. Taking advantage of the quiet, you rest your head on her shoulder, realising the enormity of being so open with your feelings and hoping you're not falling too quickly. Dianna responds, resting her head on top of yours. As you both breathe the same warm air, there is a lingering feeling of tranquillity, mixed with a desire for a lot more.

Dianna unlocks her door, shuts off the alarm system and holds it open for you. As you take your coat off you hear the click of the lock and realise that you have the rest of the night, alone. You sigh, feeling the weight of the world fall off your shoulders, and you follow her through the hallway and into the living room.

"Do you want a drink, babe?" She calls to you as she makes her way towards the kitchen.

"Sure. Whatever you're having", you reply. You take the time to really take in her home in all its elegance, the dark tones brightened by incredible artwork on the walls. Dianna walks through with 2 whiskeys, hands you one and watches you as you take a sip. The strong smoky liquid makes its way down your throat as you try not to wince, but she giggles anyway. She's always had such a taste for the expensive, old bottles that you usually wouldn't take a second look at. You put your glass on the table and lean back into the sofa, your legs crossed. Dianna mimics your action, facing you, searching your face for clues.

"I'm glad you came back with me", she says, as she reaches her hand over and touches your cheek. Your eyes close as you reply, "I'm glad you asked me".

Your eyes open slowly, and then you watch as she leans towards you, your eyes automatically closing again as her soft lips touch yours for the first time. Your lips open, inviting her in. She accepts the offer, her tongue making its way into your mouth, causing a soft groan to escape. You pull her into you, and explore each other for a few minutes, until you both rest your foreheads together, smiling, eyes open now with a hunger that you have never experienced before. Dianna puts her hand out, which you accept, and she leads you towards the bedroom.

"Are you drunk, Di?" you ask, eyes on the floor of her room, suddenly concerned that this might not mean as much to her as it does you. She turns to you, her finger comes to your chin and brings your face up until your eyes meet once again. In that moment, you sense the vulnerability in her. She speaks in the softest voice; "Tay, when we met, I knew you were special. I know you know that, and I know you feel this too." You kiss her first this time, and begin to move her jumpsuit down her arms and over her breasts. You pull her into you, giggling as you both hit the bed, your lips never parting.

When you wake up in the morning, you sit on her window seat wearing nothing but one of her old cardigans and you look out at the city. She joins you, sitting on your lap and kisses you softly on the cheek. You look into her eyes, and feel like you are home. You know in your bones that everything has changed.