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Penny was never one to get her hopes up too high. She always tried to keep a level head and approach everything practically, which included matters of romance.
But these past hours had sent that mentality flying at the window. A trip to the local amusement park, a leisurely stroll around town, and dinner at the best burger joint in town— all with Maya Fey. The girl she’d had a crush on since their first meeting at Global Studios. It wasn’t a date date— or at least, it had never been confirmed to be one. Officially, it was just an opportunity for two old friends to catch up, but Penny’s hopes ran irrationally high that something more could happen.
They had stayed in touch through letters over the past few years, so Penny knew about most of Maya’s escapades. But seeing her in person was totally different— she hadn’t changed all too much, but there was a little more sadness in her eyes, and noticeable bags beneath them. She knew it would be insensitive to bring it up, so Penny kept quiet and let her concern fade to the background.
Now, they were sitting on a picnic blanket in People Park, stargazing. Few words were, but despite all the fun they’d had today, Penny thought this was the most exciting part. The closeness was almost too much to bear. Her heart raced, and the indecision of whether or not to make a move that she had carried with her all day grew stronger and stronger.
Maya must have felt the spark, too, because she drew her hand nearer and nearer to Penny’s. Finally, their hands touched, and Penny felt her heart flutter. Maya’s hand was soft and warm, slightly smaller than her own. Holding her hand felt so right, so perfect.
The fuzzy feeling in her chest intensified further when Maya began gently stroking the back of Penny’s hand with her thumb. Everything else be damned, Penny thought— she could stay like this forever.
The two young women sat together, hand in hand, making small talk and enjoying each others’ presence until the fog of tiredness began to set in. They parted ways, leaving Penny’s mind buzzing. It took hours for her nervous energy to fade, and she drifted into a floaty, dream-filled sleep.
The next day, she woke up to two missed calls and a text from Maya.
“Does Thursday work for our second date?”