Moving Day (short story)
"Moving Day"
"This is just like a dream," Emma said suddenly, breaking the contemplative silence of the room. She brought her head up off of Jason's chest, looking into his deep brown eyes. They laid together, the soft glow of the computer screen illuminating the nothingness of their surroundings. All they had was the mattress they rested on, broadband internet access, and each other. Emma held her gaze on Jason's eyes.
"This is just like a dream," she repeated, "and I'll wake up as soon as I get to the good part."
Jason cocked his head to the side, staring back into Emma's bright blue eyes. His gaze wandered down her brown hair, across her cheek, to her lips.
"And what happens in this dream?" he questioned lazily, glancing back up to those surprising eyes. Emma's cheeks burned at the question.
"I think..."
She leaned in closer to him, her words carefully marching from her mouth.
"I think, in this dream, I kiss you."
And she did, nervous, trembling, his moustache tickling her lips and his long, elegant hand pressed against her back. They kissed, giggled and rolled until Emma was pinned beneath him and their lips finally parted. Emma searched his brown eyes for something desperately needed... but not present to be found. She inhaled sharply.
"Jay, this is wrong."
"It is, isn't it..."
"Not yet. Not tonight. This is too..."
"Sudden?"
Emma gazed at him, her voice and eyes steady.
"No... too important. You're too important to be another..."
Jason nodded. They lapsed into silence once more, illuminated by the steady glow of the computer screen.
"Jay. You're not mad at me, are you?" Emma's soft voice crept up, ambushing the silence. Jason sternly shook his head.
"I've been waiting for you to say that to someone, Em."
"You just wish I had said it to someone else."
"Well... yes. No. I'm just proud of you."
"You shouldn't be proud. It was easy, with you." Emma's voice held a tone of indignance.
"Easy with me? Why? Am I not worth a notch on your bedpost?"
"That's not it at all, Jay."
"Well then, why-"
"Because I love you!"
The words charged forward, each syllable a reckless soldier rushing into No Man's Land. Emma was surprised - Jason was not. He hugged her tightly, a faint smile caressing his lips. Tears stung Emma's eyes, and Jason responded to them without seeing them.
"I'm proud of you, Em. I always knew you had this strength."
Emma hugged him silently, clinging, before resting back against the lonely mattress and staring up into his face. One of her hands absent-mindedly toyed with his long black hair. She caught this hand, and, scolding it mentally, put it to rest above her head.
"Jason." Her voice was deliberate and calm, as if the lone survivor of the furious battle.
"Do you think you'll ever love me?"
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