Chapter Four #2
A fancy presentation followed the brief introductions, detailing their days, workshops, and extra-curricular activities for the upcoming weeks, including trips to the island ruins, surfing, and painting.
Most days started with yoga, followed by sessions with their guidance counsellors.
Spread throughout the week were energy-alignment courses with a guru—Faye hoped she landed Senhor Arenoso.
Unfortunately, she missed a lot of the details, her focus sneaking back towards Diana and Molly.
Molly leaned on her elbows, cradling her face in one hand and looking as though someone had told her Christmas was cancelled.
Diana’s mouth wore a hard line, giving nothing away.
Faye wondered what had happened in the time since they last saw each other.
Thankfully, Molly and Diana weren’t talking; Faye would find that weird.
Diana’s gaze flicked to her, catching her staring, and all of Faye’s insides pulled taut. Remembering the feel of her lips on Faye’s and that slick, silky tongue in her mouth sent a shiver of pleasure between her legs. She glanced away at the screen, but the words blurred.
What did Diana think about last night? She needed to talk to her and explain. Maybe then—
Her brain couldn’t finish the other half of the sentence. Someone like Diana would never be interested in her. People her own age weren’t interested, let alone someone as smart and put together as Diana.
Her earlier arousal withered and died. She’d missed her chance, but she could still apologise. It’d definitely make the next few weeks less awkward.
Riley switched slides, and Faye’s attention moved to Molly. As for what to do about her ex-girlfriend, she was more unsure. Diana was the easier fix of the two; she’d be brave and speak to her once the introductions finished. She needed to know where Diana’s head was at.
She tried to focus on Riley, but anxiety flooded her veins, making her palms damp.
What did she say? Something about the ruins?
Her attention kept pinging back to Diana.
Her low-cut baby-blue blouse showed a delicious amount of pale skin, and Faye found her eyes dipping lower, trying to undo the buttons with her gaze.
Everyone brought their hands together, and she startled at the applause. She blamed her hangover for her poor concentration, but she knew it was the presence of the two women sitting across from her.
People stood, collecting their information packs on the way out.
Faye avoided eye contact with Ella, afraid she’d pry for details about her earlier awkward encounter, and stepped out into the sunshine.
A quick scan of her surroundings found Molly trudging back up the path and Diana standing alone by the fountain.
Faye blew out a breath. Diana’s hair tousled in the breeze.
Her shorts freed the elegant line of her calves, her sandals revealing manicured toenails.
Something about her made Faye want to drop to her knees and kiss her feet.
That powerful enigma. Diana had bucketfuls of the stuff.
She forced out another breath and crossed the stone paths towards her.
“Diana.” Her voice came out tentative, not confident like she’d practised in her head, but Diana turned towards her regardless.
Fuck. Here we go.
Someone tapped her on the shoulder, then stepped into view with a huge grin.
“Hey. I’m Quin.” Faye noticed the they/them pin attached to their bag strap.
“Do you wanna buddy up for the walk to the ruins tomorrow?” They ran a hand over the long black Afro curls falling over their eyes.
“Sorry. I’m Quin,” they said again, bouncing from one leg to the other like they’d drunk five litres of coffee.
“I can’t remember if I said that or not. ”
Faye blinked, a little taken aback by the bundle of energy in front of her. “I’m sorry. Buddy up?”
Quin nodded, their bouncy coils flying. “Yeah. Riley said we should find someone to pair with for the walk tomorrow. Didn’t you hear?”
Faye shook her head. “No. I guess I missed that.”
“Apparently, the path disappears when the tide comes in. I’d hate to get stuck out there; I’m scared of the dark. What are you scared of?”
Faye didn’t know where to start. “Sorry. I need to…” She sidestepped them, trying to catch Diana’s attention, but the fountain was unoccupied. She left. Dammit.
“I like your sunglasses,” Quin continued, their black brows rising. “They’re…unique.”
“Thanks.” Faye glanced over her shoulder, but other than a group of seagulls pecking at cracks in the masonry, there wasn’t another soul around.
“Sorry. Am I bothering you?” Quin stilled. “My dad says I’m too much. That I’m like a frog in a sock, bouncing around and not knowing which way is up.”
Faye caught the chink in Quin’s expression as their hands slid into the pockets of their grey shorts. Faye was being rude.
“No, you’re not bothering me. Sorry, I’m just…hungover.”
Quin’s loud crack of laughter made her wince, and they smiled sheepishly in apology. “I’ll try to talk quieter then. My bad. Do you fancy exploring the beach together?”
Faye’s bed called to her, but she remembered her dads’ words about hiding away in her room. She wasn’t used to someone being so forward, but she could hardly look a gift horse in the mouth. Though Quin’s chatter crawled inside her skull, getting to explore the island would make a nice distraction.
“That sounds nice.”
They strolled across the courtyard, the warm sun on Faye’s skin giving her an encouraging push—towards the opportunity to make a friend, or towards Diana, she couldn’t tell. She walked a little faster, hoping her new start waited around the corner.