Awakenings - SF1

by Meagher, Susan X

  "Are you aware of her marital status?" a deep voice breathed in her ear. Her blush climbed her face so fast that she almost passed out from the rush.

  She gathered herself with as much grace as possible and shrugged her older brother off. "Get a grip, Conor," she snapped as she went to the line and rolled the first gutter ball of her adult life.

  Unbeknownst to Ryan, Conor and the boys had been buying Jamie rounds of beers and she had gamely tried to keep up with the much larger men. By the time the match was over her small friend was toast. "Thanks, Conor," Ryan grumbled as a giggling Jamie came over and plopped down on her lap. "Tell Da I had to take Jamie home," she instructed. "I'll just stay at her house so I don't have to come back across the bridge."

  "No problem Sis," he said with a smile. "But I could take her home if you want."

  The giggles had stopped and now Jamie was sound asleep against Ryan's chest. "Yeah, sure, Pal," she scoffed. "Like I'd trust you with her in this condition."

  "Are you sure you're entirely trustworthy?" he challenged. "I can read you like a book, Sis, and you've got it bad." He was smirking widely with his arms crossed against his broad chest.

  "You're delusional, Conor," she snapped. "Now help me get her to the car, you big dope."

  As they pulled up in front of the house Ryan noted with dismay that the lights were on in both roommates rooms. Oh boy, another fun night with Cassie, she groused.

  It took a lot longer than Ryan would have predicted but she finally got Jamie's half-awake body out of the tiny, low slung car. She was able to walk with assistance but when they got to the door she was unable to produce her house key. "None of these keys work," Ryan complained as she tried each of the 3 keys on the ring.

  "Those'r for the car," Jamie mumbled.

  "Where are your house keys," Ryan enunciated clearly.

  "Pocket," she mumbled back.

  "Can you get them?" Ryan patiently asked.

  "Uh uhh," she said as she shook her head and nearly fell over. Ryan rolled her eyes as she began to pat her down. The key was in the small inside pocket of her 501's and Ryan gamely snuck two fingers down into the tiny pocket. She got her fingers around it but had a tough time actually getting it out. Jamie picked that moment to lose the ability to support herself. Her knees buckled and Ryan had to grab her with one strong arm just under her breasts. She dug into the pocket more forcefully and extricated the house key on its tiny silver ring. A minute fumbling with the lock while trying to balance the limp woman eventually allowed them to stumble into the house.

  I've gotta get lighter friends, she grumbled as she stooped and swept her friend into her arms and steeled herself for the long climb up the steep staircase. She was nearly at the top when the ever pleasant Cassie Martin emerged from her room and glared at Ryan in outrage. "What have you done to her?!"

  "I haven't done anything to her, Cassie," she said with as much patience as she could gather. "I'm trying to keep her from getting hurt. You can help or you can get out of the way." She glared right back at the tall, thin blonde.

  She won this round, for Cassie's expression mellowed and she asked, "What can I do to help?"

  "Well, I've got to get her undressed and then into bed," Ryan stated.

  "I'll undress her," Cassie said firmly.

  "Fine," Ryan snapped, unable to tolerate this annoying woman any longer than necessary. "If you can handle this, I'll take off." She placed Jamie on the bed and started down the stairs only to be stopped by Cassie's startled voice.

  "I can't lift her!" she cried.

  Ryan rolled her eyes and trudged back upstairs. She stood next to the exasperated woman and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

  "Um..." she mumbled as she assessed the situation. "Can you pick her up so I can get her jeans off?"

  "Yes, but aren't you afraid I'll rape her if I see her in her underwear?" she snapped, unable to control herself.

  "Look, Ryan, I'm sorry I said that. I just..."

  "It's okay," Ryan said, her own voice gentling. "Let's just get her undressed." They worked together, awkwardly but effectively getting her into a pair of flannel pajamas. Ryan carried her into the bath and stepped outside while Cassie guided her to the commode. When she was finished relieving herself Ryan came back in and carried her to the neatly turned down covers on the bed as Cassie hovered.

  "I'm afraid to leave her here alone," she mused.

  "Why don't you sleep with her?" Ryan asked, thinking the solution was obvious.

  "My boyfriend is here," she said, as though Ryan could have known that.

  "Why didn't you have him help you get her into bed?" she snapped.

  "I don't want him to see other women naked," Cassie snapped back. "It's inappropriate!"

  "Great. So should I sleep with her or with your boyfriend?" she asked wryly. "I'm can assure you, he would be safe with me."

  "You're hardly his type," she scoffed.

  "That's a relief," Ryan muttered, just loud enough to be heard.

  "Do what you want," Cassie fumed. "Besides, I think you're just what Jamie's looking for, anyway!" She stormed from the room, slamming the door and startling the half-unconscious woman awake.

  "Wha... what happen'd?" Jamie muttered.

  "Nothing," Ryan murmured softly as she sat on the bed and soothed her friend. "Nothing at all. You just lie down and go to sleep. I'll be right here," she promised.

  "Are you stayin' with me?" she asked shyly. "I'm a little drunk."

  "You're more than a little drunk, Pal," she chuckled. "I'm gonna stay right here to make sure you're okay."

  "'Kay," she said happily. She pushed the covers back and demanded, "Get in."

  Ryan shook her head firmly, remembering the earlier flush of feeling she had at the bowling alley. "I'll just curl up on the love seat or the floor."

  "Don't you trust me?" Jamie asked with her face contorted into a sad little pout.

  "Of course I trust you," Ryan soothed as she sat on the bed and ran her fingers through her friend's pale hair.

  "Well?" she demanded, not verbalizing the obvious unasked question.

  Ryan just nodded as she kicked off her running shoes and unbuttoned her jeans. She noticed that Jamie was staring at her intently as she did so and she briefly missed the unconscious phase of the evening. She shucked her pants and slid into bed, still in her salmon colored polo shirt and sports bra.

  But even through her drunken haze Jamie was still able to make her uncomfortable. "Don't you have to wear that shirt tomorrow?" she asked lazily.

  "Um...yeah, I guess I do."

  "Why don't you put on one of my tshirts," she offered.

  Knowing that the idea was sound Ryan got to her feet and went to the dresser. A small voice floated over to her. "You don't have to keep your bra on, Ryan. I want you to be comfortable."

  "I think I'd be more comfortable on that floor, fully clothed," she mumbled to herself, but did as her friend asked. She found a t-shirt that looked like it wouldn't be skin tight and stripped off her polo and then yanked her sports bra over her head, demurely turning her back to Jamie as she did so.

  That soft voice again commented, "You have a really nice back."

  Great! Just great! Every one of my senses are on full alert, I'm unreasonably attracted to my best friend tonight and she's watching me undress like a guy at a topless bar!

  She gingerly approached the bed and slid in to the small space her friend had left for her. "Umm, can I have a little more room?" she asked in a voice that hardly sounded like her own.

  "Sure," Jamie mumbled as she scooted even closer and curled up against Ryan's side. She snuggled her head up against her friend's broad shoulder and let out a deep sigh. "This doesn't bother you does it?" she asked softly.

  "No, no, it's fine," she squeaked as Jamie's arm curled around her waist.

  "Good," came the mumbled response. "I need to be close tonight."

  Oh God! Ryan cried to herself. Please, please, don't want to be any closer, 'cau
se I don't think I can resist!

  She lay still as a statue for a few minutes until she felt a gentle bump against her side. "Relax," Jamie mumbled. "It's okay, Ryan. I want this."

  Want what?? her internal voice screamed.

  As though she could hear that voice Jamie replied, "I want to snuggle a little. No big deal between friends, huh?"

  A small smile curled the edges of her mouth as Ryan felt her own body begin to relax as she indulgently replied, "No big deal at all, Pal." She brought her right arm around to tenderly rub her friend's back, slowly and smoothly urging her into sleep.

  Just before first light Ryan slowly blinked her eyes open and tried to order her thoughts. Where am I? she wondered. And who's this? Her face was burrowed up against a very soft, very warm back. Her right arm was wrapped around a small waist, and an arm rested upon her own with a soft hand covering hers. Suddenly, all of her senses shot to full alert. My God! I'm wrapped around Jamie! Shit! Shit! SHIT!! She fought with her mind to think clearly and help her extricate herself from this predicament. Okay, okay, just calm down, she soothed herself. She wanted to cuddle, remember? This was her idea. It's okay if she wakes up and you're touching. But her rational mind reminded her, She wanted to cuddle you, but she didn't ask you to plaster yourself up against her like a wall to wall carpet! She took a deep breath to speed the flow of oxygen to her brain. You've got to pull away before she wakes up but you don't want to wake her when you do it, she instructed her body. You've got to be smooth and gentle! She took a few more calming breaths and let her mind wander for just another moment. I wonder if Tracy will feel this good when we sleep together. A deep sigh sprang from her chest as she thought, I wish I could have this with Jamie. I just feel so comfortable with her. Yeah, yeah, her conscience interjected. You feel comfortable with Duffy too, and it would be just as morally wrong to sleep with him! Get up, you lazy bum, and stop trying to cop a feel from your best STRAIGHT friend

  She began to remove her arm as slowly as possible, but she was pulling Jamie's hand right along with it. Going for another tactic she moved back to her original position and lifted her head until it was hovering over Jamie's shoulder. She pursed her lips and blew a forceful stream of air right onto the mussed locks of hair trailing over her forehead. Jamie's face scrunched up into an adorable frown and finally her right hand lifted to brush against her hair, freeing Ryan's arm in the process. A satisfied smile came over her face as she checked her watch alarm and reset it for 7. No clothes to run in anyway, she thought to herself as she rolled over onto her side, back to back with her deeply sleeping friend.

  "You awake?" a soft voice tickled her ear.

  "I am now," Ryan's sleep roughened voice replied. She turned onto her back and gazed up at the surprisingly bright green eyes that faced her. "You look pretty peppy for a drunkard," she teased.

  "Oh God, was I really bad?" her blushing friend choked out.

  "No, not at all, but Cassie and I had to undress you."

  "Cassie? Did you need help?"

  "No, but she thought I would molest you so she wanted to supervise," she informed her with a tight smile that could double as a grimace.

  Jamie flopped onto her back and draped her forearm over her eyes. "I've got to get rid of her," she grumbled. "I cannot have her insulting my friends like that. It's just not acceptable."

  "It's okay, Jamie. She generally doesn't bother me and now that I know you don't care how I respond I'm perfectly capable of defending myself."

  "You have my permission to deck her," she grumbled as she rolled over and got to her feet.

  "How do you feel?" Ryan ventured.

  "Fine," she replied easily. "Why shouldn't I?"

  "Don't you have a hangover?"

  "Unh uh," she replied with a shake of her head. "I don't think I ever have."

  "Do you do this often?" Ryan asked suspiciously.

  "Of course not! I must just have a strong constitution."

  Ryan's gentle smile beamed back at her from across the bed. "That's not how I would describe you," she admitted. "I feel like I'm carrying you up those stairs every third day!"

  Jamie sat down on the bed and gently trailed the tips of her fingers down Ryan's arm, starting at her shoulder and continuing on to her fingertips. "Lucky for me that my best friend is stronger than Atlas, huh?"

  "You're always unconscious," Ryan reminded her. "You don't hear me gasping for breath by the third stair."

  "Not a chance, Buffy," she admonished her with a playful tweak of her nose. "You've got muscles for days."

  "I've also got an 8 o'clock class that I can't be late for," Ryan reminded her. "Let's get shakin'."

  "Hey," Ryan said as she responded to Jamie's page on the following Tuesday. "What's up?"

  "My father offered me 4 tickets to the Warriors tonight. Wanna go and bring a couple of brothers?"

  "Ooo, I'd love to," she said quickly. "But I've got a date."

  "That's okay," Jamie said, a little disappointed.

  "I could ask Tracy to go too if it's important to you," Ryan offered.

  But the thought of sharing Ryan's attention made the evening seem much less attractive. "No, she doesn't look like the basketball kind of girl," Jamie admitted.

  "No, she kinda doesn't, does she?" Ryan agreed. "Tennis, maybe, or even the LPGA, but probably not basketball."

  "That's okay. Maybe I'll call Conor and see if he'd like all 4."

  "He'd love to have you go too, Jamie," she reminded her. "He thinks you're fine."

  "Yeah," she laughed. "I think he thinks I'm too fine," she admitted with a little chuckle. "I'm having a hard enough time with Jack. Going to a game with Conor probably isn't in my best interests."

  "Well, let me give you his pager. I'm sure he'd be happy to take the tickets if you don't want to use them."

  "Okay," she said when Ryan had related the number. She knew she should hang up, but she just didn't want to. "Where are you going tonight?"

  "Tracy's having me over for dinner," she replied with a laugh. "But I have a feeling that someone else is doing the cooking. She's not very domestic."

  "Where does she live?" Jamie asked, just trying to prolong the contact.

  "The Marina. She has a nice little apartment...and no roommates," she added with a deep chuckle.

  "The perfect woman," Jamie laughed gently, trying to get the image of Ryan and Tracy locked in a passionate embrace out of her mind.

  "Yeah, so far so good," she conceded. "It's still too early to tell, but she's pretty special."

  "She'd better be, Buddy. You deserve the best."

  "Thanks, Jamie. I've got to run, but thanks again for the offer. Ask me again, okay?"

  "Count on it," she promised.

  On Thursday afternoon Jamie went to the gym to get in a little cardio. Ryan was just finishing up her last client of the day. "Hey," she said by way of greeting when she spotted Jamie on the stairclimber.

  "What's up?"

  "Not much. I just finished for the day."

  "Wanna hang around for a few? I could make you dinner?"

  "Oh, no can do. I'm going to the opera," she said as she rolled her eyes rather dramatically.

  "The opera? I didn't figure you for the type."

  "I'm not, but apparently Tracy is. The things we do for love," she said with a shudder as she considered how long the evening would probably be. "I'd rather be eating your delicious food, but I've got to make some sacrifices I suppose."

  "Well, have fun," Jamie said in a much lighter tone than she truly felt.

  "You okay?" Ryan asked as she came closer and gave her a penetrating gaze.

  "Fine! Just trying to keep up a conversation when I'm laboring on this machine," she said, slightly out of breath.

  "Okay, take it easy, Buddy," Ryan said as she gave her a sweet smile and took off for her date.

  "I liked her better when she was a slut," Jamie grumbled to no one in particular.

  Chapter 11

  She's turned you down t
wice, Jamie. Twice in a week. Of all the times you've seen her, she has refused you just twice. Don't be such a baby. She has a girlfriend now. She can't be sitting by the phone just waiting for your call. Tracy is everything that you say you want for her. She's smart, she's sweet, and she's very funny. Ryan seems awfully cute with her. Do you want her to be happy or not?

  At least Tracy is going home to visit her parents for a couple of weeks during winter break, she thought selfishly. That's nice, Jamie, very generous of you. Do you think Ryan would wish the same for you? She has been nothing if not supportive of your relationship. You have to do the same for her. She knew that her conscience was correct but she really did not want to share Ryan with another woman. But that honest reaction made her feel quite ashamed of herself. Do you really want Ryan to be fulfilled or do you just want her to be available to you when you call? You can't have it both ways, Jamie. Either be her friend or admit that you're just using her to satisfy your own needs!

  After class on Friday Ryan popped over and asked, "What's the earliest you're free today?"

  "Ahh, I'm free after 2, why?"

  "Let's have some fun before you have to go down to Palo Alto," she suggested with bright eyes. "I thought we could take our workout outdoors for a change of pace."

  "Okay," Jamie said cautiously. "Where should we go?"

  "Let's meet at the football stadium at 2:15. But first let's get some juice. I've gotta tell you all about this opera thing!"

  At 2:15 sharp Ryan climbed out of the small set of bleachers set up next to the track and jogged over to meet her friend. "Been waiting long?" Jamie asked as she trotted over to meet her halfway.

  "Nope. Just got here," she said happily. She carried a small nylon gym bag which Jamie eyed suspiciously.

  "We're gonna duplicate our workout with the things you have in that little bag?" she asked as she pointed at the kelly green bag that read, 'Lady Dons'. "And what in the heck is a Lady Don?"

  "Oh," Ryan said rather absently, "That's my old school, U.S.F. And to answer your question, yes we can duplicate your workout with even less than I have in here. I'm gonna work out too, and I bet I use less of this stuff than you do," she said, in a challenging tone.