Noa admits she has feelings for Reese

Noa looked... strange. Something was clearly bothering her: she looked serious, concentrating on something Reese couldn't see... but they could see the flush of her cheeks, the furrowing of her brow... She rolled onto her side, facing away from Reese, and wrapped her arms around herself.

Reese was about to say something when Noa sat up and scooted to the edge, dangling her feet over the side. "Umm," Noa said, voice soft. "I think I should probably go."

"What?" Reese scooted closer. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"No, I just..."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No!" Noa looked at them over her shoulder. She was chewing her lip, but not in her usual I'm-about-to-say-something-goofy-as-hell way. "It's just... I dunno."

"Are you okay? You can... talk to me... you know that, right?"

"I do." She sighed. "I just... okay, look." She turned her body a little so Reese could more easily see her face. "This was supposed to be, like, a one-night stand, right? Like, we fuck, we cuddle for a bit, and then we never see each other again. Or, I guess, you see me at work. I dunno."

"I guess..."

"But now, it's like -- okay, I've only known you for, like, a day and a half, but I'm already worried I'm getting... too attached..." She blushed.

"What do you mean?"

"It's really stupid. I don't want to make you feel weird."

"You can tell me," Reese said, offering Noa their hand.

She didn't take it. "I just, umm... I already have a total crush on you, and I know that's not what you want."

Suddenly Reese's face felt hot, their throat was tight and dry... "Oh."

"You have, like, your own thing going on -- and that's cool! -- I just... I can't help it."

Reese scooted a little closer. "How do you know that's not what I want?"

"Because... it's not?" Noa turned away from Reese. "Ugh. I'm so stupid."

"You're not --"

"I'm like... one second I'm like, 'oh, I know this isn't going to last, and that's okay,' and then I'm like, 'but actually I want a friends with benefits kind of thing' and then 'but actually actually I wanna go on a real date with them.' And it's stressing me out and I was thinking about it a lot at work and I didn't want to say anything because you'd be weirded out."

"I wouldn't be... and, umm..." They swallowed. Anxiety welled up within them, made it hard to concentrate. "You didn't ask how I feel."

"But --"

"Maybe you should ask me..."

Noa sighed; Reese could hear the stress in her voice. She turned back to Reese. "Okay... do you feel the way I think you do? About, umm..." The blush coloring her cheeks darkened. "About the whole... crush... situation?"

Reese smiled. "I feel pretty much the same way you do."

"Oh." Then: "Wait. What?"

Reese blushed. "I may or may not feel the same way about you as you do me."

"Really?"

"Mmhmm..." Reese buried their face in the blanket, nodded, then looked back up at Noa. "I was thinking about it a lot last night, actually. Just, like, 'I don't know where this is going to go but it feels different and I don't want to lose it.'"

"It feels... different?"

"From the usual -- umm, one-night stands, as you said."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Really really?"

"Really really really." Reese giggled. "But yeah, if I have to be totally high school about it, I like you." They snorted. "Jesus, how old am I?"

"Really?" Noa's glasses were sliding down the end of her nose. She looked so fretful and cute.

"How many times do I have to saaaay it?" Reese giggled. "I wanna hang out with you more. I want to, umm... I wanna see what happens. Even if it's nothing." They offered her their hand again. This time Noa took it.

"Yeah?"

"Mmhmm..." They kissed her hand. "I know it's easier said than done, but... don't worry about it, okay?"

"I'll try."

"And I'll work on my witty repartee."

She snickered. "Okay."

"We should get dressed," Reese said after a beat.

"Why?"

"'Cause we're going on a date!"

Noa blushed. "O-oh. But I'm a mess."

"Naw."

"I haven't washed my hair."

"So?"

"So I won't look cute."

"I don't know if that's possible. Now c'mon!" They rolled off of the bed, stood, and offered Noa their hand. She took it and stood, giggling, and when Reese pulled her into their embrace she sighed happily against their chest. Then their lips were upon each other, and everything felt right again.

---

"You really like watching me get dressed, huh?" Noa asked, peeking over her shoulder. She was pulling on her thong, making her butt jiggle more than was absolutely necessary, grinning as she watched Reese's expression change from "oh man she's so cute" to "fuck!" to "I'm going to pass out."

Reese blushed. "It's part of my kink! Don't kink shame me."

Noa rolled her eyes. "Just making an observation... I didn't say I don't like it." She winked and slapped her ass, causing her fat cheeks to ripple and sway against one another.

"Do you?"

"Like it?"

"Mmhmm..."

"Maybe..." Noa giggled.

"Tell meeeeee."

"But," Noa said, tapping her lips with her index finger, looking coy, "I'm just not sure..." She ran her finger up her g-string, over one cheek. She cupped her cheek, jiggling it a little. "I'm just so torn, I don't know if I like it..." She bent down, angling herself so Reese could get a view of her breasts and butt, and picked up her t-shirt. It took her an awfully long time to pick it up. Then she stood, pulled on her shirt -- slowly, slowly, letting Reese savor the view of her breasts struggling to fit into the fabric -- and tugged at the bottom, making sure it was comfortable. "Hmm..." She bounced on her heels, causing an earthquake of ass-flesh. "Maybe I do like it!" She giggled and looked back over her shoulder.

Reese thought they were going to get a nosebleed. "I'm dying," they muttered, "you've killed me."

"Oh no!" Noa scooted backward until her butt was just at the edge of the bed. "Here, this will help you in an emergency." She giggled as she said, "Grab on!"

Reese "weakly" groped Noa's buttcheeks and squeezed. "It's too late for me, I'm afraid."

"But Reeeese," Noa groaned. She climbed onto the bed. "I'm hungryyyy!"

"That's all I ever meant to you," Reese lamented, "a free meal..."

"We went halfsies on a pizza and I've swallowed, like, five droplets of your cum. Those don't count as free meals."

Reese was beet red.

"Sorry, was that too far?"

"Why does it matter? I'm dead."

"But who's gonna suck on my titties?"

Reese throbbed in their jeans. "Umm... you?"

Noa snorted. "Touché." She brought her face to Reese's. Her hair tickled their nose, their cheeks. "C'mon... I wanna spend more time with you."

"Yeah?" Reese reached up and cupped Noa's face. She purred happily, leaned in toward their palm so she could give it a kiss.

"Yeah." She rested her forehead against theirs. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Making me feel normal."

"I could say the same to you."

They kissed.

"Reese?"

"Yeah?"

"I need french fries."

"That sounds heavenly."

---

It was a brisk day; eating outside felt like the superior option. Reese and Noa were sitting side-by-side on a wrought-iron bench outside of MacBeth's, the best burger place in the area. Plus it was cheap, considering the hillocks of food they'd ordered.

Reese licked their finger, swallowing a droplet of vegan mayo that had almost hit their shirt. "Umm... are you sure this is okay?"

"Uh, yeah?" Noa reached into the bucket of fries. "I fucking love this place."

"I mean, like..."

"We could have gone somewhere fancy?"

"Eh. Yeah. I'm just worried this doesn't feel like, y'know, a date."

"It does to me."

"Really?"

"Mmhmm." She nudged Reese's cheek with the top of her head. "This is more my speed. Also, I hate to break it to you, but we reek of sex. And look at my hair!" She playfully tugged on some of the wild strands that poked from beneath her beanie.

Reese ate some more of their burger. "Noa?"

"Mmhmm?" She bit into her vegan cheeseburger.

"I fucking hate fancy food."

Noa nearly choked on her food. She swallowed and giggled. "Me too."

They watched the passersby, these people on their way to and from places neither Reese nor Noa would ever see, whose names they'd never know... Reese wondered where they were going, where they'd been.

---

"First date accomplished," Reese said, taking a sip of their Arnold Palmer.

"First date?" Noa teased.

Reese blushed. "I meant, umm, 'date accomplished.'"

Noa giggled. She swished her tea around. They'd stopped by a street-side tea vendor on their way back to Reese's place, and had spent the last few minutes walking aimlessly around their neighborhood. "I'm teasing," she said softly, before taking a sip. "I, umm..." She blushed. "I wouldn't mind if it's just the first..." She rolled her eyes. "This is how normal people talk, right? I am a normal person."

"Yes!"

"I am a normal, carbon-based meat person with normal thoughts and feelings."

They snickered. "100%." They blindly reached for Noa's hand, found it. They gave her a little squeeze, saying nothing.

She sighed happily and squeezed back.

They walked, hand-in-hand, in a meandering circuit around Reese's neighborhood. The sun was going down. The day was not yet done.

---

"My favorite album of theirs is Painful, in case you're wondering," Reese said, kicking a stone into the creek.

The pair stood at the edge of an embankment between the rows of houses and the seemingly infinite expanse of trees beyond.

Noa was holding Reese's hand, which they'd stuffed into their hoodie pocket. "What?" It dawned on her -- she looked down at her shirt and rolled her eyes. "Not I Can Hear the Heart...?"

"It's so long!" Reese stretched, popping their back. "It's a great album, but it's, like, movie-length."

"I guess." Noa swayed in place. "Umm... Reese?"

"Hmm?" Reese smiled, looking down at her. She was so beautiful, resting her head against their shoulder in the dying light, looking like someone who'd found peace at the end of the world.

"Nothing. I just wish I'd packed a bag."

"Yeah?"

Noa nodded, tugging at the fabric on Reese's shoulder. It was an unfamiliar sensation that they were suddenly grateful to experience.

"I'll drive." They squeezed her hand. She squeezed back; their hand felt safe and warm in hers, in their pocket.

"I feel like I'm inviting myself over."

"I was about to invite you anyway."

"Really?"

"Mmhmm." They kissed the top of her head. "But if it makes you feel better: would you like to spend the night?"

She nodded again. "I do," she said, and it sounded like for a moment -- just a moment -- all her anxiety spilled from her lips and was scattered by the wind.

"Umm. How long would you like to stay...?" When Noa looked up at Reese she'd see the bright streak of pink coloring their cheeks.

She blushed, too. "Umm... oh."

"Sorry, was that too --"

"No! I just... umm... I have tomorrow off..."

"I see." Reese's attempt at coolness was betrayed by their goofy smile. "Then, umm, maybe you should... pack a lot."

Noa grinned. "I see."

They lingered and watched the sun set over the treeline.

"I love it here," Reese said, unsure where "here" was.

---

"...Steely Dan." Reese's eyes were fixed on the street ahead.

"Wait, really?" Noa pursed her lips and looked out the window. "Actually, in a weird way that kind of makes sense."

"Is it because I have great taste in music and they are great?"

"Well --"

"'Doctor Wu' is a pop masterpiece. 'Your Gold Teeth.' 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number.' 'Your Gold Teeth Part II!'"

Noa snickered. "I'm just saying --"

"I will not countenance slander against Fagen or Becker." They swallowed their smile, trying to look serious, failing miserably.

Noa laughed into her hand. "Okay, well I un-ironically love Neil Diamond."

"Really?"

"Lyrical, musical genius."

"Well --"

"C'mon, Reese. 'Yesterday's Songs.' 'Song Sung Blue.'"

"I'm just --"

"'Desiree!' 'You Don't Bring Me Flowers!'" She giggled. "And the deep cuts are great, too!"

"I am just... shocked."

"Okay, Rikki."

"Neil Diamond, huh?" They turned to Noa, giggling. They were at a four-way stop.

Noa stuck her tongue out at them. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"When we get to the apartment -- or when we're leaving, actually -- would you mind, umm... checking it again?"

"Of course not."

"Are you sure? I know it's weird."

"It's not weird and I'm happy to do it. And even if it was weird I would still do it."

"Yeah?" Noa was fiddling with her beanie, tugging at a frayed bit of fabric.

Reese blushed. They shrugged as they said, "I really like you."

"Yeah?" Noa's face lit up.

Reese nodded. "I really do. Umm..." They blushed. "It's dumb, but it's really different for me." They swallowed. "And I'm, like, really excited to spend more time with you, but there's a part of me that feels really stupid, like I'm going to fuck everything up because I'm not used to, umm... this kind of thing."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Noa stroked their thigh.

"I've just always been the kind of person who finds it easier to disengage with people than let them in, y'know? 'Cause, umm... this sounds... dramatic, but I'm just... really, really afraid of people. They fuck me up." They paused. "I'm not saying I'm antisocial or anything, I have, like, friends, I just... I've always felt like a supporting character in other people's lives, y'know? Not the... protagonist, or whatever. And I like it that way. I don't get my heart broken that way."

"I think I feel the same way too, sometimes."

"Yeah?" They pulled into Noa's parking lot.

"Yeah, I just, umm... I fixate on things. I get anxious about things. I... I panic about stuff. A lot. I don't know how to settle down, or stop worrying, and it's like... I don't know how to get out of my own head. I've got these intrusive thoughts, and, like, the compulsions that come with them, and it can just be... exhausting. So I don't have the energy to really deal with people sometimes, and when I do I feel like I make a total ass of myself. 'Cause my brain doesn't work right."

"Umm... can I ask... why you wanted to hang out, then?"

"Honestly? 'Cause I thought you were really fucking cute and I was having a good day. Mentally, I mean. So I told myself to just go for it."

"That simple?" Reese smiled.

"That simple. I think I got pretty lucky." She blushed. "Was that... fucked up to say? Sorry, I feel like I'm being really pushy."

"You're really not."

"Are you sure? 'Cause --"

"If I thought you were pushy I would have said something. I wouldn't feel the way about you that I do. And I wouldn't ask you to spend the night. Okay?" They took her hand in theirs and brought it to their lips.

"Okay..."

"I'm serious. I keep worrying I'm rushing things, too, or that I'm being pushy. I dunno, I guess I'm worried I just totally suck at this."

"You really don't."

"Neither do you."

Reese smiled. "I actually don't know if I've been this open to anyone in a while."

"Really?"

"Well, I mean, my therapist, but that doesn't count." They parked the car.

Noa giggled. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Just... thank you." She squeezed their hand.

---

"So how many tracksuits are you packing?"

Noa stopped dead in her tracks. The t-shirt dangled from her fingers. "What?"

"I dunno, you seem like someone who owns multiple tracksuits."

"What the fuck?"

"Velour, probably."

She laughed. "Are you high?"

Reese made a silly face and shrugged. "I just feel like you're dodging the topic."

Noa rolled her eyes and stuffed the t-shirt into her bag. "This is absurd."

"I'm just saying --"

"I was about to pack my underwear. It was going to be cute and you were going to love it. But now I've decided to only pack granny panties."

"You never know, that could be my kink."

"I already know what your kink is, you dork." Noa opened her dresser drawer.

"I could have more than one!"

"I refuse to accept this. The granny panties are going in!"

"Noa, I implore you, don't do this."

"Apologize!"

Reese hung their head low. "I'm sorry for my totally spot-on analysis of your wardrobe."

Noa huffed. "You're lucky you're cute."

"It really helps." Reese wore a smug smile.

"Jesus Christ."

---

They left after Reese confirmed the apartment was safe.

"I locked the door, right?" Noa asked, adjusting her bag. It was slung over her shoulder, though Reese had offered to carry it.

"Yep!"

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Thank you."

"I like doing it for you."

"Really? Why?"

"Because I like you and I am a nice person."

"Oh." Noa giggled. "I see."

"Praise me!"

"You are very nice and cool and you're good at making me cum."

"Thank y-- oh." Reese blushed. "Well, then."

"Well, then." Noa looked smug as she climbed into Reese's car.

---

"Are you kidding me?" Noa asked as the song started.

"What a bizarre, total coincidence I had no hand in," Reese teased.

Noa smiled softly to herself as she rested her head against the window. Her eyes were closed. Reese smiled when they noticed that she was mouthing the lyrics.

"You're so sweet
Horseflies keep hangin' 'round your face
Kentucky moonshine
Could never take your place..."

Noa squeezed their thigh.