by Angela Peach
We all laughed loudly. Me in complete surprise at his off the cuff comment, and Phil in disbelief at what was happening!
"Well, thank you for letting me take her for a test drive tonight! I promise to have her back to you by the morning."
"Just don't wear her out completely. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
I wasn't sure how much longer this would have carried on for had we not been interrupted by a lad who'd obviously just graduated as well.
"Phil, dad wants you to come and get in some photos" he said, oblivious to what he had walked into. "Oh, hey, Darcy. See you later at the party!" he said as he tugged a reluctant Phil away for a family photo.
After he'd gone, Nicki came running up and dragged Darcy off for pictures as well, leaving Gray and I alone.
"Thanks, Gray."
"What for?"
"For going along with all that."
"Going along with all what?"
"Winding up Phil?"
"Huh? Did I miss something?"
I looked at his puzzled face.
"Um, no, not really." I might have though.
"Does Phil fancy Darcy?"
"Come on" I said, taking his hand. "Let's go and check we've packed everything."
Because the weather was wonderfully warm, I decided to wear a short blue summery dress with a pair of white Gucci sandals I'd dug out of my wardrobe, and topped the outfit off with a cute cardigan for when it got cooler. I also threw a couple of blankets into the boot, just in case it got really cold, then went to find Gray to say goodbye.
"Have a nice time, but make sure you're home by six am, no later" he warned, giving me a hug. The only reason I was able to attend the students graduation party in the woods tonight was because we'd cancelled our hotel reservation at the airport. Luckily we'd booked an early flight which left at eleven the next morning, making it easy for us to rearrange our travel plans. Gray had been amazing and said that I could go with Darcy to her celebratory party, so long as I was back by six to drive straight to the airport with him. This meant a lot to me that he recognised the importance of Darcy in my life enough to allow me to spend tonight with her.
"Okay, I'll be back way before then" I said, hugging him back. "I've got a full battery on my phone if you need to call me, and I'm not drinking so I can come straight back if there's an emergency…"
"Ali, darling, just go! And have fun!"
"I will! Love you!" I called back over my shoulder, even as I was texting Darcy to let her know I was on my way. She sent a message straight back saying she was ready and waiting, so I jumped in my jeep and sped off.
She was sat on the wall outside her flat with her guitar case in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other. As I pulled up, her mouth stretched into a wide, warm smile. She looked so beautiful sat in the sunshine, my breath caught. I was really going to miss her over the next four weeks, and was determined to enjoy our last evening together. Her hair was in two plaited pig tails which looked very cute on her, and she'd opted to wear an extremely small pair of shorts (which made her legs look longer than normal if that was even possible) and a tight blue t shirt with the number '47' in big red characters emblazoned across the front. She got in the jeep and I tried not to stare at her legs, failing miserably.
"Wow, you've spent a lot of time sunbathing" I said, my face warm. "Your legs look amazing!"
"Just my legs, huh?" she teased.
"Well, no, I mean, you look amazing! But your legs look great! They're really tanned" I said, trying to quell the urge to caress them and see if they were as silky smooth to touch.
"Um, Alison? Hello? Are you going to acknowledge the rest of my body, or do you and my legs want to go get a room? It's just that I'm kind of attached to them, so…"
"I'm so sorry!" I forced my eyes up and met hers, time freezing as something unspoken passed between us. "You look amazing" I said softly.
"So do you" she replied. We stayed that way for a while, just staring at each other dreamily, until a teenage mother walked by the open window swearing loudly at her child, snapping us out of it instantly.
"Okay, so where is this party then?" I asked brightly.
"Oh…er, it's a hidden party in the woods, so I'll give you directions as we go."
I smiled as we pulled away, not really caring where it was or who would be there. As the sounds of Eeek filled the jeep, I knew it was going to be a magical night.
After an hour and a quarter of mingling, Darcy caught my eye.
"Hey, do you want to go for a walk? There are some trails around here that lead to clearings like this one" she asked quietly.
"That sounds nice" I replied, relieved. I hadn't wanted to drag her away from her own graduation party, but was desperate to spend some time alone with her. I could feel our time slipping away and just wanted her to myself for a while. Plus, I had something that I wanted to give to her in private.
We walked away quietly, waiting until we were out of sight before our hands slipped into each other's. I wasn't sure whose made the first move, but it felt good to have her soft hand in mine. Really good. Like, flip flops in my belly good. Neither of us spoke as we walked, and I trusted her to lead the way as she seemed to know where she was going through the dark trees, although she was using her phone as a torch to navigate. After about fifteen minutes, we suddenly stepped through the trees and into a beautiful clearing with a single large oak tree in the centre. We headed for it, admiring the clear sky as we did and taking deep breaths of the fresh night air. We released hands to sit down, but kept our bodies close.
"Daneka, I…I got you a graduation present" I said nervously, pulling my bag onto my lap.
"Alison no, you shouldn't have! You've already given me a car."
"Exchanged a car, and look how far my playing has come! It was worth every penny! I actually have two gifts for you, but we're sharing one of them" I said as I opened up my bag.
"Is one of them the bag?" she asked cheekily, nudging me with her shoulder. I looked down at my favourite three hundred and fifty pound Chanel bag and caressed the soft cream leather.
"Then make that three presents" I said decisively and held it out to her. "She's all yours. Apart from the keys and mobile phone, I'm going to need those back" I added hastily.
"Oh no, I was only joking! This is your favourite bag!"
"Now we can share it! Look inside."
It wasn't quite a full moon, but there was sufficient light to see. With shaking fingers she opened the clasp and pulled out the contents. There was a miniature bottle of champagne and two plastic flutes to drink it from, and a small box with a blue ribbon around it. Ignoring the champagne she picked up the box.
"This looks expensive" she joked nervously, but I was certain I was more nervous than she. I'd spent a long time searching for the perfect gift and I desperately hoped she was going to like it. I held my breath as she pulled off the ribbon and opened the box.
"Oh, Alison…oh my god, it's beautiful!"
"You like it?"
"I love it! Thank you!" She held up the delicate gold watch to look at it closer.
"The back's engraved too."
"I can't see, it's too dark. What does it say?"
"It says 'Daneka, Love Always, Alison' " I said, my voice shaking. She looked up at me and I saw she was close to tears.
Thank you" she whispered, then leaned forward and kissed me softly on the lips, lingering a second longer than she should have. She pulled back quickly. "I'm sorry."
I swallowed, breathing fast.
"Don't be."
"No, I'm sorry because I think I'm going to do it again."
She leaned in slowly and I closed the gap, pushing our lips together. Dear god I was so helplessly in love with this girl! Her mouth was soft and sweet and perfect against my own, and I felt something inside ignite from our kiss. It deepened and I held onto her as I tried to lie back on the grass, pulling her down on top of me. Instead she pulled back, leaving me confused on the ground.
"Please? Stop? I don't think I'll be able to stop if we carry on" she whispered, her voice catching. I wanted to ignore her but she looked so anxious, I knew I had to respect her wishes. I closed my eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.
"Maybe we should head back?" I suggested, not trusting myself to keep hold of my shaky self-control.
"Yeah. Maybe we should." She put the watch carefully back into the box and then replaced everything back into the bag before hanging her head down. "I'm going to miss you so much. Four weeks is a lifetime."
"It'll fly by. I'll be back in no time."
She hesitated.
"Alison, I have to tell you something. I haven't been completely honest with you. My mum…the reason she couldn't come today was because she's an alcoholic. I've been phoning her all week to remind her about today, and…she just decided to get drunk instead. When I spoke to her this morning, she just got angry at me for hassling her!"
I took her hand.
"Oh, Darcy. I'm so sorry."
"I didn't tell you before because…it sounds so stupid now!" She covered her face with one hand. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want your pity!"
"It doesn't sound stupid. I understand completely" I said truthfully. After all, wasn't that the reason behind my not telling her about Gray's cancer? Because I didn't want her pity?
"I don't want us to have secrets. I've hated keeping this from you, but it was nice in a way that you didn't know. It was nice that I could just be happy and relax around you. Sort of like escaping from my problems in a way." She sighed. "Look, I'm not stupid. I know there's something going on with you and Gray, and I know you're not ready to tell me yet. At first I thought it was because you were ill or something."
I was shocked to hear her admit this, but she carried on.
"But I think we've both been escaping with each other, if that makes any sense?" She sighed again. "I know you'll tell me when you're ready, but I want you to know that, well, you can. Okay?"
"Okay."
She stood up and held out her hand to me.
"Come on. Let's head back."
I took her hand and let her pull me up, then after dusting our bums free of dirt we started walking back the way we'd come.
I wasn't quite sure what possessed us to keep holding hands when we reached the party. I couldn't tell you if we simply forgot we were still connected, or if it was because it felt so natural that we didn't give it a second thought. But when we walked past a group of lads near the fire, they erupted into whoops and cheers.
"Oi-oi! Where you two been then?"
"Get lucky did ya, Darce?"
We dropped hands immediately and carried on walking, hoping they'd drop it. They didn't.
"Nicki, I thought you said they wasn't shaggin'?" one of them shouted out, loud enough to attract the attention of quite a lot of people who instantly turned to stare.
"Trent, you're a fucking arsehole!" Darcy suddenly said, her voice shaking with anger.
"Oo-ooh, someone's defensive!" Trent taunted. A few people tittered, but now everyone's eyes were on the drama unfolding before them.
"Guys, come on, leave it? This is meant to be a celebration" Nicki said, sounding extremely drunk.
"Yeah, come on guys, lez-be friends?" one of them shouted and more than a few laughed at the crappy joke. My face burned with the humiliation, but Darcy just pulled me away from them, heading for the guy who'd been strumming on her guitar. She took it from him without a word, then led me out of the clearing.
"Darce? Darce, where you going? Come on babe, don't listen to them, they're arseholes" Nicki shouted, backed up by quite a few others, but she ignored them all.
"Can you drive us somewhere else? So it's just the two of us?" she asked. I nodded, wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible. Behind us I could hear everyone giving grief to the lads who'd jeered at us.
I sipped my small glass of champagne and watched as Darcy picked and strummed expertly on her guitar. At this particular moment I was glad we'd been caught holding hands and been teased out of the party, because we were now relaxing on a blanket on the same private beach we'd been to before, listening to the waves. I felt truly happy, and for once I was allowing myself to without feeling guilty about it.
After Darcy had played a few songs, I put my glass down and held out my hand.
"May I?"
"Sure."
She passed the guitar to me and waited patiently while I warmed my fingers up over the strings. When I felt ready, I placed the capo on the correct fret and took a few deep breaths, trying to feel the song before I sang it.
"Quand tu es pres de mois…" I sang, my voice quiet and shaky. Even though I'd played in front of her many times, I'd never sung for her. But I'd practiced this song almost obsessively over the last month, until my fingers moved over the strings without my having to concentrate. It was our song and I was finally playing it for her, playing my love for her, letting the emotion in my soul flow through me and into the song.
I got through it with only a couple of very minor stumbles, but they were easily covered up. I was almost afraid to look up when I'd finished, but I had to see her face. Still, I wasn't prepared for the look of pure awe on it. As I watched her struggle for words, I felt my resolve disappear and I knew. I knew what was about to happen, and from the way Darcy was looking at me, she knew too. The air around us was charged and almost tangible with our heightened emotions. I put the guitar carefully to one side.
"Lay with me a while?"
Slowly, she came and lowered herself down onto the blanket beside me and for a moment, we both just watched the night sky, neither of us eager to force things. We just knew and accepted that whatever would happen, would happen naturally.
“Alison? What’s your favourite piece of sky?”
“Hmm, tough question. It’s all so beautiful. But I guess if I had to choose a piece, it would be…that bit there.” I pointed to a section above us and she leaned her head close to mine to see.
"Why that bit?"
“Well, I think because there’s all that darkness surrounding it, but then there are just two bright stars huddled together in the centre, ignoring the rest of the sky. Sort of like us, tonight."
She raised her arms and used the index finger and thumb of each hand to create a frame around the two stars.
“I am going to buy that piece of sky from the universe for you!” she said. “Would you like it gift wrapped?"
I smiled, glancing sideways at her.
"Sure, why not?"
With her hands still in the air, she cupped them around the area of sky as if it were a delicate butterfly, then lowered them down.
“Where would you like to keep it?”
“Um, here.” I tapped my heart and she gently placed her hands over it, as if releasing it into my chest. I put my hand over hers, and she sighed.
"Was that too cheesy?" she asked, smiling. I shook my head, turning to face her.
"No, it was perfect."
She stroked my cheek.
"I can't believe you learned our song!" she whispered. Then, before I could reply, she leaned forward and put her lips to mine. It started slowly, our tongues caressing as our lips moved sensually together. But, as before, it deepened quickly into something more, something hungrier. Full of longing and feeling bold, I rolled onto my side and placed my leg between hers, nudging my thigh gently up until it was touching her warm groin. The contact of our bare legs was just exquisite and I moved mine against hers, teasing her as her hips rocked, trying to create much needed friction, but not giving her quite what she wanted. She moaned in frustrated pleasure. I drew back to look at her, mesmerised by her beauty as she frowned, her flushed cheeks evident even in this light. Then suddenly, I found myself being rolled onto my back and Darcy straddling me. We both seemed to be gasping for air as we stared deeply into each other’s eyes and I strained my neck forward to reach her mouth for another kiss.
“No more teasing” she sa
id huskily.
"No more teasing" I whispered back.
Satisfied, she pressed her lips to mine, devouring me gently as I finally gave my hands free reign over her body. But her clothes were getting in the way and I tugged at them. Darcy sat up and frantically removed the offending articles then, much slower, lifted my dress up and over my head, relishing what was underneath as she gently undid my bra and discarded it to one side. My underwear was tugged off my legs and then we were both finally naked, staring hungrily at each other. Darcy closed the gap between us, lowering herself down on me. An intense thrill of pleasure coursed through my body, creating a pulsing that consumed me and made me gasp. I’d always imagined her skin would be soft, but my previous musings paled in contrast to the reality that was currently writhing gently on me. I ran my hands up and down her back, marvelling at the smooth skin that felt like the softest satin.
Every nerve in my body was sparking and I rubbed my legs against hers, loving how perfectly we fit together. Raising my hips, I tried to find some relief by rocking my swollen wet lips against her thigh, feeling her do the same on mine, and oh! The sensation of her hot silky wetness rubbing up and down on my leg was just incredible!
“My god, I can’t believe how good you feel! I want to taste you” she gasped, her eyes dark with lust as she seemed to check I was okay with this. As if I was going to say no! I nodded and she kissed me passionately. Then her soft wet mouth was on my neck, a mixture of whispered and devouring kisses that made my eyes roll and my jaw fall open. The anticipation that was building inside was a completely new feeling for me. I’d never felt this aroused before, nor such a burning and overwhelming desire to touch and be touched. Jesus, if the coastguard were to rock by now, they’d be free and welcome to watch because there was no way I was going to be able to stop now!
Darcy’s mouth had reached my breasts and was savouring each one. I held her head firmly with both hands as I moaned and gasped. I pushed my fingers through her hair as she sucked and swirled my nipple with her tongue, causing small eruptions around my groin. I was so turned on it was almost unbearable.
