Who: Meg and Tess What: Sketching, talking, a walk, and enjoying one’s company When: August 3rd, 2019 Where: Tess’s apartment Rating: Mild Status: Complete
Fully healed, Tess was happy to be able to do pretty much anything. She was back to all of her duties at Josie’s. That was the best place to work. Yet she still wanted to go back to the bike garage, mostly to work with the bikes but a bit to stick to that guard. In t-shirt and capris, Tess settled on a pillow on the floor next to her large round coffee table.
Meg was perched upon Tess’ couch, legs drawn up and feet planted gently, albeit firmly upon the cushions. Cradled in her lap against her legs was a large, spiral bound sketchbook. It was one of the few personal items she cherished as they were hard to come by. Trying to obtain a canvas of any good size was a challenge and the only one more of a headache than her sketch pad.
In her right hand she held a charcoal pencil delicately. Lithe fingers wound around the instrument which was busy shading through a bit of lowlight on the figure she was drawing. Once in a while Meg would peek over at Tess, study her for a moment, then nod and go back to her drawing.
Clothes were casual, suited for art. A cropped tee shirt which began to slide down a shoulder at the neck, denim shorts. Her hair was pulled up and tied with a floral scarf that she had traded an elderly woman for years ago.
Tess had arranged a plate of blueberries, sliced strawberries, peeled tangerines, peeled and sliced kiwi fruit. It was a quiet day as the blonde had a blue-covered spiral notebook. She had taken some Josie’s work home with her - inventory, supply wish list (music, alcohol), event ideas.
Lightly tapping her pencil on the coffee table, Tess turned a little to look over at Meg - catching her taking a peek over at her and then going back to her sketch pad. “You good up there?”
“Fantastic,” Meg murmured in reply. A soft, capricious laugh would find her moving back to the sketch pad after another small peek at the woman on the floor. Tess had been one of the only people she could rely on besides Daniela, and now that they’d taken this step together toward something new and exciting she had to admit her mood had changed for the better.
Tess’ birthday had been the previous Wednesday, Meg had made her a special cake and dinner. It had been memorable for her, something she would cherish for a long time.
“Hold still…” Meg’s eyes would wander back to Tess, brow furrowed as she studied what she was looking at, before she would once more disappear behind the book.
Arching an eyebrow, Tess watched her and then smiled at her laugh. It was music to her. She was giddy with excitement at the the step they had taken toward this new existance in their friendship, relationship.
She loved how Meg celebrated her on her birthday. So lovely, memorable, comfortable. A bright grin spread across her face.
“Okay,” she blinked - catching Meg’s eyes. Tess wrinkled her nose at her with mirth. Once her friend disappeared behind her pad, Tess turned back to her notebook and her pencil.
“Almost done with my masterpiece,” she breathed, tongue finding its way to settle between lips as she finished a bit of shading. Another peek around the sketchbook would be taken and a nod of satisfaction would come. “Perfect.”
Moving back to the task at hand she fussed with it and finally found it to her satisfaction. With a soft squeal of delight Meg signed the bottom of the sketch as she always did, and then she clutched the book against her breast.
“Wanna see what it is?” A wink would come as she waited for an answer.
“Really?” she replied as she kept still but for her eyes on the page where she was writing some more. “Sounds lovely.”
Then Tess sat her pencil down and moved, turning fully at Meg’s soft squeal. Blinking, she watched as her friend clutched the book.
“Yes, definitely.” Tess grinned and arched an eyebrow again. “Are you drawing French girls?”
“It is lovely,” Meg replied. She was excited to finish it up and eventually show it off. Her subject in question was the loveliest, sketching a profile really didn’t do it justice. But it would have to do for now.
“Only my most favorite French girl,” came the reply with a wink. The book was turned around and she showed Tess the picture.
“Well? What do you think?” Chewing at her lip she waited for the critique.
“Good,” Tess nodded. She loved seeing Meg happy and excited.
“Oh?” she wiggled her eyebrows as she inched closer, slipping off the pillow. Then she stopped as Meg turned the book around and she saw the picture. It was of Tess. The blonde woman was sure she hadn’t seen a drawing of herself before. This was beautiful.
Faking a frown and tilting her head to one side, she stared at the picture for a few moments and then crawled over to Meg and getting up on her knees. “I like it,” Tess smiled softly.
Her eyebrows would arch as she waited nearly with baited breath. Would Tess like it? Would she hate it? As the woman neared Meg waited for the verdict.
A breath would escape her. Meg smiled and set the book aside, “Really? It’s hard to capture you. You’re too beautiful for paper.”
Tess smiled. It seemed that everything Meg created was beautiful.
“Yes, I do. Mmm. I think you were looking in a mirror,” Tess replied as she inched closer to Meg. “You’re beautiful,” she winked and reached up to cup the other woman’s face in her hands.
A giggle. Soft yet sprightly. Her hand would creep across Tess’ face and into her hair. “I get it from you.” A grin would split her face and she batted her eyelashes at the other woman.
Everything about Tess was beautiful, she was dynamite.
“Right. I think I get it from you.” Tess leaned into Meg’s hand. Someone who could move the earth with those pretty eyes and gorgeous hair, the blonde didn’t know what she’d do if Meg wasn’t on this island.
Meg couldn’t help her smile. Tess was one in a million. She adored the other woman more than she should.
“I really want to kiss you,” she confessed, biting at her lip. “If that’s okay?”
Tess was sure of her feelings - not having felt this much for anyone. It was strange, beautiful, and wonderful. Meg was amazing!
She smiled as she gently brushed her thumbs over Meg’s cheekbones. “It’s okay,” Tess grinned. “I want to kiss you.”
She was glad for the positive answer. It was understood that Tess hadn’t been with another woman before. Meg had, but she didn’t want to move too fast for the other.
Leaning forward she caught Tess’ mouth gently. It felt good kissing her. “You taste good. It isn’t fair,” would be mumbled upon lips.
Tess was moving slow with Meg. She understood the need to do so from Meg’s breakup with Ehren. She didn’t want to rush things, push and possibly go too fast either.
She exhaled a moment before Meg caught her mouth. Tess kissed her back gently. “But it is,” she whispered against the other woman’s lips. “You taste wonderful.” Tess’s felt her heart flutter.
Whatever happened with Ehren was in the past - Meg had a few choice words for the man should they cross paths, and what they had wasn’t exactly a relationship or dating. But she genuinely liked Tess and trying to ruin a friendship over a couple of days of being physical didn’t seem like a good idea.
A small laugh escaped, fluttering against Tess’ mouth. “You’re wonderful.”
Pulling back slowly Meg sat back and smiled at the other woman.
Letting her hands fall away from Meg’s face, Tess sat there and smiled. She wondered how she had become so happy, so cheerful in a way she hadn’t been before.
“Would you like for me to sit for another drawing or perhaps a painting in future?” She asked with a wink.
She couldn’t help the grin that betrayed her attempt at a neutral, perhaps thoughtful expression. A nod would come, “Yes! Ooh, profile. I’ll hang it up in my apartment and it’ll be the envy of the block.”
Tess was a lovely subject, there was no doubt the painting would be paltry in comparison to the real thing. But she would do it because it needed to be done.
Tess snickered and smiled. “Your own private gallery.” She was all smiles, calm and happy as she leaned back to look up at Meg more. Thank goodness she was able to without much pain since her ribs had fully healed.
Meg was so wonderful and kind. Tess was taking each moment in, excited for whatever happened next.
“Oh, don't tempt me. I will turn my apartment into the Tess Gallery and make everyone super jealous.” Her fingers would wiggle in kind as if she were plotting something mysterious or dangerous.
And then she emitted a laugh. “Or maybe I won’t tell anybody and just keep you all to myself.” A wink was offered.
Tess laughed, smiling brightly afterward. “I will tempt.” She winked and tilted her head.
“Oooo, maybe,” she smirked. “Maybe...one of these days when we’re away from this island we could set up a studio and a gallery next door overlooking the ocean.” It was a dream of hers to take Meg on a road trip, traveling along the California coast on a Harley.
Her eyes widened and her expression softened, “Oh, yes! I would love that, awww.” Hands would clasp together and be clutched against her breast as she daydreamed, fantasized about something like that. She knew it would probably never be anything more than just a daydream but at least she had that.
They wouldn’t go anywhere near her family home, though. Meg flat refused to set foot on the property. But everywhere else was fair game. California had a lot to offer though she figured they could go anywhere.
“We could even fly away to Hawaii and have it there - loads of sun, waves, breezes.” She smiled and sat a little taller on her knees. They could go anywhere - travel, set up the gallery and studio. Perhaps there could be a garage in the back for her bikes. And an apartment above the gallery. Something nice. She had dreams and often the determination.
Tess had no ties on the mainland. So she was a nomadic, sleep in barkeep grease monkey. Deep down, she would follow Meg anywhere.
Something nice. Whatever happened she wanted something nice for Tess. The other woman deserved a happiness that this place only served to suck you dry of. Megan wanted to see the way the sun shone in her eyes, the smell of the ocean in Tess’ hair.
“Oh, lovely! Tropical!” Meg smiled, looking down at the other woman before she crept down onto the floor with Tess. “I’d be happy in a cardboard box as long as you were there.”
Tess wanted so much for Meg - the freedom to create her art and carry on in nature. She wanted to see all the colors the other woman would use with her fingers stained with pigment and her hair bright with color.
“Yes! And loads of places to explore and relax.” Tess smiled and watched Meg creep down onto the floor to be with her. “Me too. An old shower curtain draped over two barrels.” She inched closer to Meg and rested her head on the other woman’s shoulder.
The sand warm beneath her feet, water rushing over her toes. Being somewhere the sun always shone with a woman like Tess seemed akin to a fairytale.
Arms would wind around the other woman. Gently she would draw Tess close, laying her head down upon Tess’. Meg’s eyes closed. “An old tire and a paper bag for warmth. It sounds perfect with you.”
Mountains and trees that went on and on with waterfalls cascading. She would love the freedom to make a home somewhere they could be alone. A place where they could walk into a town, buy what they needed, walk hand in hand perhaps barefoot and in clothing that lightly fluttered in the breeze. That would be lovely as long as it was with Meg.
It was a bit surreal as embraced the other woman. Tess breathed as she was drawn close and felt Meg’s head rest upon hers. “It does sound perfect. Rain water showers and beach towel robes.”
The shadows of her closed eyes erupted with color. Her fingers itched to illustrate the visions she saw, but she would wait until she was back at her own place before letting her imagination soar.
She continued to hold onto Tess. “Perfect,” she breathed, unable to hide the smile. Eyes would flutter open. “You’re perfect.”
Tess breathed in Meg’s scent, loving the hint of earth, baking, flowers. She was the combination of images they had described to each other.
She sighed as she gently ran her fingers along the other woman’s back. “You’re perfect. I wouldn’t mind whisking you away, off this island to those tropical ones...or just go off in the woods and build a hut.”
A little laugh of delight would flutter from her lips like a butterfly lifting from the petals of a flower. Her embrace on Tess tightened gently, still mindful of the healed area. She released the other woman from the hold and went back to just holding on.
“Definitely not perfect, but thank you.” Building a hut in the woods sounded grand. At least they’d be living a life and not existing here on this pitiful scrap of land.
Tess smiled, turning her head a little towards Meg’s neck. The other woman’s laugh was so magical to her. The blonde gently tightened her hold on the pink-haired woman and released as well.
“You’re welcome and yes perfect.” She smirked and slowly pulled back so she could look Meg in eye.
A giggle and Meg leaned forward, nipping playfully at the curve of Tess’ neck emitting a soft growling noise. “You hush now.” End of her nose crinkling with amusement she pulled back and smiled with adoration.
“What do you wanna do? We have the rest of the day!”
Tess let out a small and playful yelp at the growling noise. “Pfft,” she uttered and smirked.
“I don’t know. Don’t want to go outside. We could go back to your place and I could watch you paint and stuff. What do you wanna do?”
Laughing, she tipped her head backward with delight. Eyes would squeeze closed and she basked in the moment - jovial. And then a sigh of delight would come after her eyes opened, and Meg would cast a glance at Tess.
“My place is boring, I swear,” she assured the other woman. “But you’re always welcome to come over.”
She closed her eyes at Meg’s laughter, loving the sound. She sighed and opened her eyes to catch that glance.
“I could make not boring,” Tess smiled with a wink. “I have fruit over there where I was working. We could always pile on my bed and just take a lazy nap. Or we could go outside,” she continued and gently took the other woman’s left hand in her right. “And go for a walk.”
Her lips would twist into a smirk; Meg leaned forward, interested and eager to know more about the temptation in those words. “Walk, and then maybe a nap.” Those were the directions laid out at Tess’ feet for her to do with as she pleased.
Fingers would curl around Tess’ own. She moved to stand, rising gracefully and taking a moment to adjust her clothes before her other hand would extend down to Tess. When the other woman was on her feet Meg smiled and began to head for the door.
Tess let a smirk tug at her lips and rested her free hand on her own knee. Yes, temptation. But choices all the same in this gradual-going relationship. She was still felt that squee-like giggle in her chest at the them being girlfriends.
“Sounds wonderful.” She smiled and stood up as she took the extended hand. Tess followed her, smiling, slipping her shoes on as she breathed.
A pause to slide into shoes though she would rather face the world without, she moved alongside Tess to the door and then outside. Her fingers squeezed gently and she strolled along, keeping her eyes open for danger.
“Nice day,” she smiled, taking in the sun.
Tess was sure to close the door behind them before they ventured outside. She smiled as she squeezed Meg’s fingers in return. There was danger all around them, hidden. Why not enjoy what they could.
“It is,” she smiled and breathed in the fresh air. “I can see us zooming off down the road on a sports motorcycle with the wind in our hair,” Tess added as she urged Meg towards the paths away from the busy Marketplace.
“Ooh, that sounds dangerous,” she purred, looking over at Tess as they moved away from the Marketplace. It was fine with her, leaving the bustling place behind them. The less they had to deal with the better off both of them would be.
Plus this was the kind of day you stopped to appreciate. She craved the slower paced life, the lazier days.
“Danger can be good in small and controlled doses,” Tess rasped back, Meg’s purr sent a shiver down her spine. It was still an exciting dream walking hand in hand with her friend. She was eager for inspiration and fresh air. They could enjoy it.
“Forest or ocean view?” Tess asked as she looked over at Meg.
“Only when I can be dangerous with you,” she retorted playfully. Along she let Tess lead her, uncaring as to the destination. “Surprise me!” Meg was doubtful that anything that intended to delay or upset their small adventure would be short lived. She wasn’t in the mood today for interruption.
“Okay.” Tess winked. She knew an area along the edge of the forest that was flat but with some nice grass to sit on with a view of the ocean and still wild areas of the island. Carefully and with smiles and gently shoulder bumps, the blonde woman led Meg there and gestured to the lush area that hadn’t gained pools of water or mud.
Quietly Meg followed along. A soft tune would be hummed as she did so, arms swinging gently back and forth as their hands remained clasped. She felt freer in that moment than she had in a long time. It was refreshing in a way that she hadn’t expected.
When they reached the destination Meg nodded with approval. She sat easily in the grass, stretched her legs out before herself and leaned easily against Tess. “What a view!”
Tess smiled brightly at the humming and arms swinging. It felt like a calmer and simplier time where the both of them could have been on the mainland - enjoying life leisurely and without worry. If only they were away from here.
Nodding in return, then sat down and settled. Tess wrapped an arm around Meg and sighed. “I know, right? All of that green and blue...and nothing else - just us.”
Leaning into that embrace her hand released Tess’ to better close the distance between them comfortably. Her palm would fall to land on one of Tess’ thighs, resting there with no intention.
“Beautiful. It’s like a daydream. And even better because you’re here too.”
Tess looked down to watch Meg’s hand move and come to rest on one of her thighs. Carefree and away from it all, she was happy with them.
Turning her head, she smiled, “Right back at you. And guess what...it’s a daydream come true.” The blonde woman pressed her lips to Meg’s pink hair.
Another soft laugh and Meg nodded. Her eyes would flutter closed when Tess kissed her hair. She had never felt so adored in her life and if she wasn’t careful she would become swollen with it. Looking at the other woman she smiled.
“A daydream come true.”
Tess hadn’t really entertained the thought of pursuing her feelings for a woman, but she always knew she was attracted to them as well as men. And with Meg, she is her best friend and things seemed to be moving in a real organic and free way. She was excited and loved how they were together.
Gently she leaned in and captured Meg’s lips with her own, kissing her softly. “Thank you.” she whispered as she slowly released the kiss.
While it was nice to kiss, Meg hadn’t been expecting to receive such a delight, though it warmed her when the connection came. Leaning into the gesture her eyes would close for the duration, and she savored it. It felt Electric and it lit up every nerve in her body.
“For what?” Came the quiet question, curiosity evident in her gaze as she looked into Tess’ beautiful eyes.
Tess’s excitement was almost insatiable, but she promised to take things slow. Her attraction towards Meg was new and exhilarating. She sighed and smiled as she pulled away and looked into the other woman’s eyes.