The music festival

As per Leah’s request she hadn’t overdone it on the drinking department. She had enjoyed a single Cuba Libre and had switched to just a diet coke after the fact. It hadn’t stopped her from feeling groggy this morning. The mix of **** and the singular cigarette had left a foul taste in her mouth.

The sensation of her finger occupying the corner in her mouth had almost become one that she didn’t think about anymore. Her transition into acceptance of this new routine had gone rather smoothly.

She grunted with discomfort as she got out of bed. A shower and a coffee were required before she would be able to do anything else. The person regarding her in the mirror looked like she needed much of the same, and maybe then some. Sarah rid herself of her shirt and panties before she dared to look again.

There had been times during her relationship with Kevin that she had done this. That she had looked at her naked form in the mirror and imagined a future where Kevin would look at all of it with reverence. She cupped her breast with one hand and started to routinely examine it. Part of her felt stupid of investing all this time waiting to give herself, to wait for that type of admiration to be granted to her.

Even now, she could feel her body respond to the desire of being admired as she switched her routine checkup to her other breast. Flashes from the night before, of how she had felt and what she had been thinking about when she was looking at Leah washed over her. Her arousal was palpable under her own touch, but she shook it off and stepped into the shower instead.

The shower worked wonders to refresh her mind. She spent a good amount of time standing there facing the showerhead, feeling the water all over her face and lips, trickling into her mouth and running over her chin. It was a soothing experience, but one that did little to quench the fiery heat that was still roaring within.

She moved to brush her teeth incessantly. Both to combat the foul taste and to further occupy her mouth. Bit by bit, she was rebuilding herself to a state in which she could function normally again.

Wearing a modest blue sundress and sneakers for comfort she went to the kitchen to make herself come coffee. She sucked on a toothpick as her machine was warming up and picked up her phone.

(Leah): Good morning there! If you’d like to grab lunch before we head over there... I know a good breakfast taco place close to where we need to go.

(Leah): I for sure need something after yesterday, my head was pounding when I woke up this morning! :D

Sarah was filled with warmth seeing the messages that popped up on the screen. She enjoyed the feeling of being seen, of being cared for. Leah had not only proven to be a great coworker, but a good friend as well.

(Sarah): Oh, for sure! Send me the location and I’ll meet you in an hour?

(Sarah): I’m also struggling a fair bit this morning…

(Sarah): [Picture]

She had snapped a picture of the coffee cup in front of her and was just about to take another sip when her phone buzzed once more.

(Leah): [Location]

(Leah): Oh I really could use some of that right now. I ran out of coffee and haven’t been able to run by a shop to fetch one. I really feel like a mess without.

(Leah): [Picture]

It was a picture taken in the bathroom mirror of her face. Leah might have looked a bit tired, but Sarah fully disagreed on the account of her being a mess. Her hair still seemed to flourish like it always seemed to do. Sarah’s eyes wandered, from the bra strap barely visible in the picture to Leah’s lips.

The memory of those lips pursed around the end of the cigarette, sucking on the straw of her cocktail, talking.. She felt the simmering heat flare up once more as her mind **** her to focus on that. Thoroughly confused with the sensation she again forcefully shook off the thoughts.

(Sarah): You look just fine! Take your time to wake up and I’ll see you in an hour or so!

Despite the remaining grogginess Sarah managed to enjoy the sunny walk to the bus stop. Leah was already waiting for her at the food stand by the time she arrived. She wore jeans with a white shirt, sandals and her jacket draped around the shoulders.

They greeted one another with a quick hug, during which Sarah again momentarily lost herself in the scent and warmth of the other woman.

“Let’s get some breakfast shall we?”

Timewise, it might have been closer to having lunch, but the two of them had their breakfast regardless of it. The sun shone brightly as they sat and ate outside on a picknick bench. They dared one another to put a little too much hot salsa on top of their burrito’s and just talked about life for a while.

During their conversation Sarah learned to her great shock that Leah had been married before. She had once married her childhood sweetheart right as they both turned 18. The marriage had lasted for three agonizing years before they had split. Leah’s family had broken contact shortly after and she had been **** to move here to start a new life.

Sarah couldn’t help but think that this could have been her. What if she had married Kevin immediately when she had been able to? Would life had been different then? Or would she be sitting here with a similar story to tell? She took a big swig of her iced coffee and tried to push those thoughts to the back of her mind.

“Did you enjoy yourself yesterday? I know Sascha, Emily and Oscar were kind of absorbed in their own thing. They often take the opportunity to debate whatever topic is available to them. I for one was glad that you joined me…”

“Oh absolutely! It’s like I said. I wouldn’t have wanted to be alone with my thoughts yesterday. It was a very welcome distraction. Happy to hear that my being there was helpful to you too”

The two of them enjoyed the sun for a little while longer. Leah smoked a cigarette in peace and Sarah just watched her intently. She had been offered one too, but had declined. While she hadn’t didn’t hate the experience, she was enjoying the lingering taste of her iced coffee way too much. Leah flicked the cigarette butt into the ashtray and looked at Sarah expectantly.

“Shall we go?”

The festival had just started, a crowd of people was slowly moving towards the music as they came near. They bought some drink tokens between the two of them and slowly moved towards the stage. The festival was spread out over the park, with two stages at either side and stands for food and drink in the middle.

In these early hours of the festival there were plenty of families with children and the music would be a little more mainstream. Later on in the evening there would be a bigger focus on electronic music and the crowd would no doubt get younger on average.

For now the two of the enjoyed a little bit of soft rock that was playing at the main stage. They sat down at the foot of a small hill to the side and lounged whilst sipping a drink. The cheap plastic festival cups didn’t exactly make the wine shine, but the atmosphere sure made up for it. Sarah enjoyed looking at Leah as Leah in turn was looking at the crowd of people. There was something comforting about watching her studious gaze.

The performance on the main stage was close to being finished. Leah suggested they sauntered over to the other stage, a band that she enjoyed quite a bit would perform there during the next timeslot. They could get a refill on their way over there and make sure that they had a pretty good spot in one of the front rows. Sarah happily trotted along, following her friend through the mass of people that were now inhabiting the festival terrain.

“Oh by the way Leah, I got you something”, she said after they had gotten a refill. She opened up a bag and fished out a small rectangular pack of red and silver. Leah laughed as she saw what it was. “You said that you didn’t have any coffee left, now you won’t have to do without a cup in the morning!”.

Leah inclined her head as she grabbed the pack of coffee with both her hands and curtsied jokingly. “My savior!”, she exclaimed before fitting it in her bag. “No, but in all seriousness, that is super sweet of you. Thanks Sarah!”

They had to stick together navigating the crowd as they got near the second stage. Leah had underestimated how popular this band was given just how many people had already lined up in front of them.

“Fuck, we will have to push through this crowd if we want to stand near the front. Are you with me?”, Sarah nodded in response and Leah then grabbed her by the hand and dragged her along behind her through the crowd.

Sarah followed like a meek little sheep, herded through the lines and lines of people as they got closer and closer to the stage. On stage, the band was already finishing their setup and were ready to start playing. Leah kept steadily moving, dodging people left and right and slowly moving up and up with Sarah in tow.

Ultimately Leah got to a good spot and pulled Sarah beside her. Just like that the music started up and people around them immediately began dancing in response. Sarah only needed to see Leah’s big smile to have a similar desire to dance well up inside of her. Soon the both of them were happily dancing to the music. Leah often sang the lyrics out loud whilst Sarah tried following along as best as she could.

Sarah was eating up this experience, with her drink in her hand, her friend beside her and the music spurring everyone to dance. It was all the good vibes she needed in this moment, and she was thankful for Leah for the idea and companionship.

As the band kept playing more and more people joined the crowd and the girls were pushed closer and closer together near the front of the line. Leah kept dancing without a care in the world, moving her body up against a more troubled Sarah. Where the heated feeling of this morning had initially ebbed away, Sarah now felt as if her body was set ablaze once more. She felt the warmth of Leah pressing up against her as they moved and danced, and danced, and danced.

Leah shifted somewhat, allowing Sarah even closer and instead of dancing separately they were suddenly dancing together. The two women moved with the beat in unison as they were now up close and regarding one another. Around them the crowd of people just paid attention to the stage, whilst the two of them now only had eyes for one another and let the music take a back seat.

Her breath was stuck in the back of her throat. Cheeks were flushed and she could feel her heart pounding. Sarah’s body was lit up like nothing she had experienced before while Leah was this close and her scent was intoxicatingly strong now. The brunette was looking at her with a hint of something that Sarah couldn’t quite place. Her heart was drumming loudly in her ears as the music seemed to fade when she felt Sarah’s lips on hers.

For a moment she was electrified, every sensation in her body increased a tenfold before she felt the comfortable heat spreading through her. She kissed back, hungrily, as if kissing Leah was her only source of nourishment for miles on end. Leah’s hand moved to the nape of her neck as she tilted her head slightly.

There was no more static in her brain, there was an uncanny clarity residing there now. She hungered for more, more of Leah’s lips, her mouth, everything about her. Leah took the lead, pushing her tongue inside of Sarah’s mouth who was overcome immediately with the new sensation.

It was as if something had been flipped inside of Sarah. She felt her arousal increasing by so much more that an involuntary moan escaped her mouth. Her lips enveloped the warm tongue and suckled on it before Leah broke the kiss and smiled at her before turning around and continuing to dance.

Sarah stood there for a second, trying to comprehend what in the name had just happened. There was so much adrenaline and arousal in her system that it took her a while to get her bearings. Leah must have noticed something because she turned around to regard her. Their eyes found each other once more and Sarah felt the comfort wash over her as Leah said something in her ear. She didn’t hear what it was because of the music. Noticing this, Leah instead mimicked a dance and pointed at her, to which Sarah responded with a dumbfounded nod.

Music filled her ears once more and she could feel Leah's body moving in its rhythm. Following her lead she too started dancing again. Close to Leah, their kiss still lingering on both her thoughts, her body and her lips.