The Bonds of Friendship

Kate breathed a relaxed sigh as she shuffled through the tiny airport. She'd made it; her plane had landed. Normally that wouldn't have been anything extraordinary, but twice the pilot had announced they'd be delayed due to weather. Even now as she walked through the eerily empty airport, she saw and heard plenty of announcements for canceled flights.

Stepping outside made her arrival feel all the more magical. A serine blanket of snow covered everything in sight and more flakes danced above in their spiral descents. Kate found herself smiling despite the chill nibbling through her thin jacket.

As she waited, the wind grew more persistent, wriggling through her clothing until it blew gently onto her bare skin. She shivered slightly as goosebumps speckled her flesh. Fortunately, Delia's Toyota soon appeared around the bend.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," Della exclaimed as she rushed out to hug Kate. She quickly helped her friend load her luggage. "I didn't realize how bad the roads were until I left."

"I'm fine." Once her suitcases were loaded, Kate got into the passenger's side. "I still have ten fingers." She rubbed her hands together before spreading them in front of the vehicle's heater.

"It's really coming down out there," commented Della as she carefully steered. "Good thing I got the sauna fixed."

"Sauna?"

"Didn't I tell you?"

"C'mon, We hardly talk since I left town." Kate gave her friend's shoulder a reassuring rub.

"I know, I know, but it's going to take us some time to get home. Why don't you catch me up with you."

As Della slowly drove through the thickening storm, the two women flitted between various topics: career prospects, what highschool acquaintances were up to, and even videogames. There seemed innumerable opinions to share and developments to relay. Despite Della's cautious speed, it felt like no time at all had passed when she pulled into her driveway.

"Brrrr," Kate shivered as she stepped out into the dancing wind. "I forgot how cold this town could get."

"Come on," Della took her hand and rushed her towards the door. "I'll get the sauna up and running."

"Um," mumbled Kate, "I didn't bring a swimsuit. Can I borrow one of yours?" She felt surprisingly awkward asking this, despite sharing so much with Della over the years. Had living in another city for three years eroded their familiarity that much?

"Actually, it's not that kind of sauna," replied Della.

Kate pursed her lips trying to think of what her long-time friend meant. Hopefully she wasn't talking about a figurative sauna or something like that.

"It's a European sauna," explained Della, "I'll be nude, and I think you should be too. It really enhances the experience."

Nervously Kate nodded, wondering what she was getting herself into.

Kate felt naked even with the towel wrapped around her. She nervously walked down the hall feeling the distinct lack of a bathing suit or underwear under her sole garment, a garment that did nothing to stop the air from curling up to kiss the most intimate part of her body. The thin steam of the sauna beckoned her, but Kate felt like she was about to jump into an icy lake. Every part of her that cared about decency and society's rules demanded she rush back to Della's guestroom and get her clothes back on. But Kate was no prude, probably. At the very least, she didn't want Della to think she was some hopeless virgin, so she tentatively stepped towards the sauna.

Quivering imperceptibly (hopefully) Kate removed her towel and set it on the bench like Della had. This would be a lot easier if her highschool friend didn't look so pretty. She had a slender figure that complemented her striking face well. Sure her breasts weren't as big as Kate's, but that only made her feel chubby as she looked at the friend relaxing so confidently. Della even had a well groomed postage stamp of pubic hair that made Kate feel lazy for just shaving herself bare down there. She settled opposite her friend much more slouched. "So did you see that new Stars War?" she asked, her throat getting dry despite the humidity.

"Feeling a little nervous?" Della asked

Kate blushed as she tried to think of a way to deny it.

"Nothing to be ashamed of," laughed Della. "I have an idea that might help, if you trust me."

"S-sure."

"Okay, stand up and face that wall. I'll be right back."

Kate did so, hearing her naked friend dash out of the door behind her. The seconds ticked by and she managed to resist the urge to cover herself.

She heard Della rush back into the Sauna, and she again asked, "You trust me, right?"

"Hell's Dells," snapped Kate, not realizing how on edge she actually was, "just do it."