Emily and Maya, a yuri romance (IsabellaRose & WritesNaughtyStories)

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Originally posted by @IsabellaRose

The rhythmic clacking of the train wheels against the tracks provided a soothing backdrop to the boring daily ride, and almost hypnotized Emily as she sat by the window, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery, book open on her lap, lost in her own thoughts. She was a shy girl, quiet and uncertain in social situations, preferring the comfort of solitude and the company of books. It didn't mean she didn't notice others around her, just that she rarely knew what to say or how to talk to people. Today she had definitely noticed someone else, and despite her awkwardness, she couldn't stop looking at the girl seated across the train.

She stole another glance across the train car, her eyes again falling upon the girl with the cute skirt sitting a few seats away. Emily's heart fluttered slightly as she admired the girl's style, the way her outfit seemed to have been effortlessly assembled, and the way it seemed to imply a vibrant personality. The girl's hair was a cascade of curls framing a pretty face with porcelain skin, and her eyes sparkled as she scrolled through her phone. Emily couldn't help but steal glances, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and admiration. She had always been drawn to beauty, not just in outward appearance but in the way people carried themselves, in the expressions and gestures that spoke volumes about who they were.

Every time the girl looked up from her phone, Emily quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be engrossed in her own book. She felt a rush of excitement and nervousness whenever their eyes briefly met, but never held the girl's gaze for too long. There was no way she was noticing Emily with quite the same interest, she was certain of it. Emily wasn't the kind of girl to draw attention.

Minutes turned into what felt like an eternity as the train continued its journey, and Emily found herself unable to read her book, lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She wanted to say something, to compliment the girl on her outfit or strike up a conversation about something, but fear held her back. Instead, she continued to steal glances, hoping against hope that the girl would notice her too and be the brave one to start up a conversation. She imagined scenarios in her mind, a playful banter or a shared smile that would break the ice between them. But each time their eyes met, Emily's gaze darted away, her heart racing with uncertainty.

The sound of the brakes indicated that they were nearing her stop, and Emily knew that this fleeting moment would soon come to an end. She couldn't shake off the regret building within her, the missed opportunity to connect with someone who had unknowingly captured her attention and curiosity. That face would appear in her dreams, and like every other girl who had caught her attention before, she would need to accept that dream version of the girl as the one she would get to know. Her own awkwardness would mean that no one would ever notice her as a possible romantic partner. She had resigned herself to that a long time ago, but for a brief moment across a crowded train, she imagined it might have been otherwise.

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Maya scrolled idly through the digital edition of a fashion magazine, looking at beautiful women in stylish clothes she didn't have the courage to wear. Her grandmother called her "svelte" but Maya felt more like "gangly". She gave up on the phone quickly, it wasn't the same as an actual magazine.

She turned the phone face down in her lap and looked up from the peach colored fabric of her skirt.  A few seats away and attractive woman looked back down at her book. Had she been looking at Maya? She reached reflexively for her shayla at her shoulder and looked back down at the back of her phone.

Maya glanced up without raising her head and thought the girl was looking at her. Her heart beat quickly - the woman was about her age and had the kind of graceful, natural beauty that Maya envied.  She looked away quickly, afraid the woman would think she was staring at her..

She fingered the lace fabric at her shoulder. She wore her shayla at the crown of her head, more a nod to her grandmother's wishes than any commitment to tradition. The fabric matched her skirt and she thought about tugging it down and wearing it as a scarf. It felt like a cop out though - it was pretty and the trim wouldn't show if she took it down - besides, it was pinned. There was no way to be subtle about taking it down.

Maya sighed and fidgeted with her phone for a second before she looked up again, this time raising her head. When the girl glanced at her - and she definitely did - Maya tried to smile but chickened out and looked away.

As the train slowed, Maya glanced back at the woman, trying to decide if she should ask what she was reading. Instead, she tried to look at the book as the other girl got up to leave the train.

"Oh God!" Maya thought. I need to get off to. "She's going to think I'm following her!"

Maya waited until the last possible moment to get off the train and walked down the platform stairs, scanning for the girl.

[IsabellaRose]

Emily gathered her belongings, her mind replaying the brief but captivating moments of stolen glances with the girl in the peach-colored skirt. She couldn't shake off her curiosity about the girl, and she felt a hint of regret as she stood up to leave the train. She wasn't brave enough to strike up conversation, but as she made her way towards the exit, she couldn't help but steal one last glance back at where the girl sat. She was hoping to catch another glimpse of her before they parted ways, but the crowd moved in such a way that she couldn't get view of the girl's seat. She felt her heart sink a little. Her life seemed to be full of missed opportunities.

As Emily walked down the platform stairs, her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the familiar peach-colored fabric or the graceful figure of the girl who had unknowingly captured her attention. She felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness, wondering if fate would be kind enough to give them another chance encounter, but the girl was gone, lost in the crowd. Emily stood still for a moment, wondering why fate would put someone so captivating in her path but then keep them apart, the whole time unaware that the girl was only a few paces behind her. 

She began walking the few blocks to her tiny apartment. She crossed the street to the north, and then crossed again to the west. Her eyes searched ahead but saw no sign of the beautiful girl from the train. She glanced sideways to the other side of the street, searching for a familiar peach-colored skirt or a glimpse of the graceful figure she had admired from afar on the train. But amidst the crowd, the girl seemed to have disappeared completely.

Despondent, Emily looked at the crowd across the street, those who hadn't crossed to the west side, and almost a block ahead through the bustling crowd, Emily caught a whisper of peach peeking out from between grey business suits. She quickened her pace, trying to navigate through the crowded street while keeping the singular color in her line of sight. 

Sure enough, at the next crosswalk, Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the girl with the shayla draped gracefully over her head crossing in the same direction. Soon she was directly across the street from the other woman, and her gaze was directed across the street more often that it was in the direction she was headed. As the both waited at the next crosswalk, their eyes met briefly through the sea of people and cars, a fleeting connection that sent a rush of excitement through Emily's veins. Emily couldn't help but smile, a mixture of shyness and excitement dancing in her gaze.

Now that they had seen each other, the occasional glance turned into a silent game of hide-and-seek amidst the urban chaos, each stolen look fueling Emily's desire to bridge the gap between them. Their paths led them past colorful murals adorning brick walls, aromatic bakeries tempting passersby with freshly baked goods, and cozy bookstores displaying enticing titles in their windows. She marveled at the serendipitous journey they seemed to be taking, guided by a chance encounter and unspoken desire.

As they neared a bustling intersection, Emily's heart raced with anticipation. She caught the girl's gaze once again, and this time, she mustered all her courage to offer a tentative smile across the busy street. As the girl looked, Emily turned and headed into the bookstore on the corner. She stole one last glance over her shoulder, wondering if the other girl would take the chance and enter the store. Excitement filled her with adrenaline as she wandered back into rows of shelves, filled with hopeful anticipation.
 

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Maya thought she saw the stranger ahead - a flash of a blouse and a glimpse of hair - and hurried to catch up. As she worked her way along the crowded sidewalk, slipping between gray business suits and dark, work appropriate high heels, Maya approached the woman and her heart sank, Her hair an blouse were similar but she was carrying a briefcase that the woman on the train had not had, The young, dark haired woman sighed dejectedly and slowed her gait, looking around for some sign that she hadn't lost her.

As she scanned around, her hopes sagged and she made her way toward home on slow, suddenly heavy, feet. She crossed the street and glanced ahead, hoping for the universe to give her a break. Again, she saw nothing and continued along the block, idly looking at the shops as she passed. As she came to the next corner she thought about stopping at the bodega for an ice cream to cheer herself up, She shook her head at herself and stopped at the crosswalk, She wondered, again what the girl had been reading, and looked over at the bookstore across the street and up the block.

There she was! The girl from the train!

Maya matched the other woman's pace and kept glancing over - she was definitely looking back - and walked past her building, trying to see where she went. When their eyes met again the girl definitely smiled. Maya smiled back, but quickly looked away shyly. Maya was surprised, despite the woman having been reading a book on the train, when she turned into the bookstore. Maya looked around in a panic - the store was in the middle of the block! She hurried through the crowd to the corner - trying hard not to push, and squeeze past people, but this was important! When she got to the corner the light was against her and she started to jaywalk, but stopped herself, "Please... wait." She whispered, willing the light to change as she mashed the "Push to Cross" button.

Time felt frozen as she waited for the light to change. Thoughts of just rushing across kept bubbling to the surface, but she resisted. Barely. Her heart raced in her chest as she tried to convince herself that the time was only a couple of minutes, not the hours it felt like. She'd be there. Even if she knew what she was getting and went straight to the shelf, got it and went to the register. She'd see her coming out of the store.

The light changed. Maya charged out into the street, forcing a car to screech to a halt. She waved apologetically and scurried across the street. She fought the urge to run down the block; as much afraid of running into people as running into the girl too winded to speak. As Maya came up to the store she peered into the window, hoping to see her. She caught her own reflection in the glass. Her face was flushed, her hair a mess and she was breathing hard. She pulled herself up straight and took a deep breath. It helped a little and Maya used the reflection to tidy up her disheveled hair. She looked through her reflection into what she could see of the inside of the store, her chest tight with the dame excitement as when she was a little girl and grandma took her to get new shoes.

And that memory panicked her. She could feel the harsh correction of her girlhood when she said she would marry her friend Jenny from school. Her father had been angry but measured, her mother and grandmother more gentle, but every bit as unyielding. Maya had aged, quietly pushing her thoughts about romance aside until she almost forgot them. Yet here Maya stood, hand on the door to a bookshop where an attractive woman - and being attracted to her - had brought her. "The truth is inescapable." Grandma often said. The thrill of her excitement had been replaced with an uncertain nervousness that seemed to vibrate through her being, but Maya pulled the door open with a nod to her grandmother's wisdom.

The shop was small and tall shelves crowded as close together under the warm, almost orange lights, as the people did on the sidewalk outside and Maya cast about for the girl. She saw her, about halfway down an aisle, her book in her hand and an eye turned toward the door. Maya tried to smile, and her hand went to her shoulder and tugged at her shayla. Her smile wavered as she wondered what to say. "The truth is inescapable." she heard it again and Maya's smile brightened.

"Hi," she began uncertainly, "I saw you reading on the train and wanted to ask what." she said truthfully. Suddenly Maya wished she had stopped at the magazine rack to pick up a fashion magazine so she looked less like she'd chased the poor girl here. They smiled at each other across the street, hadn't they? She wasn't being weird. Was she?

 

[IsabellaRose]

Emily had chosen an aisle at random and had picked a book off the shelf just to look like she'd come in here on purpose. When she saw the girl from the train at the end of the aisle her heart stopped for a moment, then began racing with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as Maya approached. Emily was gripped with inner turmoil, her emotions swirling like leaves caught in a gentle breeze.

When Maya finally stood beside her, Emily felt a rush of warmth spread through her cheeks, betraying the nervous fluttering in her chest. She's just being polite and friendly, she thought. She's not interested in you the way you are in her. She tried to steady her breathing, to appear composed and collected, but the blush in her cheeks betrayed her and she felt exposed and vulnerable in Maya's presence.

Maya's voice, soft and inviting, reached Emily's ears like a gentle melody. Emily's lips parted in surprise, her eyes widening slightly as she met Maya's gaze. She tried to respond, to form words like any normal person would, but the whirlwind of emotions within her made her voice falter. She was frozen, caught in the grip of uncertainty and embarrassment.

"Hi," Emily managed to utter, her voice barely above a whisper, her cheeks tinged with a delicate shade of pink. She averted her gaze momentarily, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the book in her hand, a futile attempt to distract herself from the intensity she was certain only she felt in this moment. The other woman's presence was both comforting and electrifying.

She longed to reach out, to touch Maya's arm, but fear held her back like an invisible barrier. The desperate longing to bridge the gap between them warred with the self-doubt that plagued Emily's every interaction. Their eyes met again, and Emily thought she noticed something similar reflected in Maya's gaze. Was that an echo of uncertainty mingled with a subtle longing? No, it was wishful thinking.

"I was reading, um..." she set the book she was holding down and opened her bag, pulling out her copy of Annie on My Mind and held it up for Maya to see. 

"This." She doesn't want to say the title out loud, and she hopes the girl from the train doesn't know what it's about. Or maybe she hopes she does know what it's about. Her eyes flick from meeting Maya's gaze to the carpeted floor and back, her uncertainty clear.

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Maya looked at the book. There were two girls, their heads pressed together, holding hands on the cover. Annie on My Mind. Maya had never heard of it but it seemed clear what it was about.

'Two girls, one who thinks about the other...' Maya thought. Could it be? Her eyes risked a glance at the other girl's face, hoping for confirmation, but she was looking at the floor between them. If Maya were wiser, she might have realized the downcast gaze was exactly the confirmation she hoped for, but she was barely aware of her own attraction. It felt more like a nameless doubt that hung on her. Had hung on her since her youth.

Maya started to reach for the book to look at the back, but changed her mind mid-reach and brushed the girl's hand with her fingers as she gave in to her doubt about the book being offered to her to examine.

The touch was electric and her hand recoiled. Never had something felt so powerful and profound. The manicured hand, soft with perfectly lacquered nails, belonged to a woman who was holding a book about two women who seemed to be in love.

Panicked that the stranger thought she touched her as a way to flirt with her, Maya snatched her hand away. Maya raised her eyes from the book cover and looked at the other girl's  face again. She was looking right at her and Maya had an instant of pure terror before she looked to the floor. Even as Maya turned her large, dark eyes downward, her hand flew to her shoulder and pulled up her shayla.

She hid behind the pink-orange fabric, blushing, but the girl's stylish heels remained unmoving. Maya's eyes roved up the stranger's legs, aware of how very shapely the were, and how her high heels accentuated the curve of her calves. Maya had seen it countless times in magazines and photos, but this was new and powerful.

She raised her eyes to the woman's face again, but she still wasn't looking at Maya.

Maya pointed with a modest, clear-coated nail , at the copy of Annie on my Mind, "Do they have that here?"

She looked away, to the book Emily had pushed back onto the shelf, but her hand  hand still rested on. Her Amish Dream. Maya could not guess what that might be about and wondered what the woman's interest in it was.

God, she wanted to touch her hand again.

[IsabellaRose]

Emily's heart would have skipped a beat had she seen Maya's hopeful, searching reaction to the book, but she didn't look up in time. By the time she did, Maya was looking at the book again. Emily's eyes lingered on Maya's features with a mixture of longing and uncertainty, but flicked away again before Maya might notice. 

As Maya's fingers brushed against hers in a fleeting touch, Emily felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her body, igniting a firestorm of emotions within her. It was as if time stood still in that moment, and all she could feel was the warmth of Maya's touch and the overwhelming desire to... do... something. But as Maya recoiled, panic flashing across her face, Emily's heart sank with disappointment and self-doubt. She had obviously misinterpreted Maya's actions. The chances of that were so slim it was practically impossible. She looked away again. She couldn't bear to face Maya's rejection.

Yet, even as Emily's gaze remained fixed on the floor, her thoughts raced with images of Maya's captivating eyes, deep pools of darkness that held a universe of untold stories and hidden desires. Whenever Emily looked into Maya's eyes, she saw a reflection of her own longing, her own yearning for connection and understanding. Or maybe she was just imagining the whole thing. The memory of their hands touching lingered in Emily's mind, a tantalizing reminder of the fleeting intimacy they had shared. She couldn't shake off the lingering warmth of Maya's touch, the way it had sparked something within her.

Emily wanted nothing more than to reach out, to take Maya's hand in hers. She imagined the thrill of their fingers intertwining, the electricity that would surge between them with each shared touch. Summoning all her courage, Emily lifted her gaze once again, and this time her eyes locked with Maya's. In that moment, she saw something flicker in Maya's eyes, a glimmer of uncertainty, perhaps, or a hint of longing that mirrored her own. 

Emily made a decision then, after Maya asked if the book was here. She reached out and gently took Maya's hand in hers, like when she used to hold hands in line in grade school. It wasn't romantic, or sexual, just a comfortable, guiding hand. And as she led Maya towards the shelf where "Annie on My Mind" awaited, Emily dared not think of what she really wanted. Instead, she decided to treat this as if Maya were any other friend. Maybe, just maybe, they could begin a shared journey later, but for now, she wanted to share something with this enchanting woman who had captured her attention.

"Here," she said, pointing to the book on the shelf. She didn't let go of Maya's hand, just letting their arms hang between them, hands clasped, hoping that it might last forever, because it was the bravest thing she'd done in as long as she could remember, and she didn't think she had the courage to do it again if Maya let go.

[WritesNaughtyStories]

When the girl took her hand, Maya's brain seized like she'd been struck by lightning. She stood, blinking, looking at their hands, bewildered by the sight and unable to reconcile the pleasure and excitement with the shock. Only a moment ago simply brushing the stranger's hand had set butterflies loose in her stomach. For an instant before Emily started to walk the other way, even the butterflies froze.

Then, at the gentle tug, Maya stumbled forward and her heart fluttered. She blinked again and shook her head to clear the sudden fog. By the second step her cheeks were hot as she blushed. Girls held hands all the time but she wasn't supposed to feel this. Maya tried to breathe. To not squeeze the girl's hand. Her hand was warm and soft, gentle in a way not even her grandmother's had been. And Maya failed. She squeezed the woman's hand, ever so softly. Nothing had ever felt more decadent, reckless and brave.

Suddenly, they stopped in front of a shelf and Maya realized two things. She didn't know where in the store they were and she hadn't breathed. But they were still holding hands. Maya looked down at their hands again. It felt like a dream and if she looked away it my evaporate with the blaring of the alarm.

21 hours ago, IsabellaRose said:

"Here,"

The alarm sounded like a girl's soft, pretty voice and Maya looked up, her dark eyes wide. The hand had not evaporated and the beautiful young woman attached to it had spoken. Maya blinked slowly, looking into the other woman's piercing blue eyes. Reluctantly she turned her head to look at the book. Maya took it off the shelf with her free hand and let it fall to her side.

She swallowed hard, trying desperately not to squeak when she spoke, "Thank you." she managed to say in an almost normal voice. She let her eyes fall to their clasped hands again and smiled even as she pressed her lips together. "I'm Maya." She said even more softly.

[IsabellaRose]

"That's a beautiful name." Emily studies Maya's face, wishing she were looking into the girl's eyes, terrified that Maya might look up at any moment and make that wish come true. 

"I'm Emily," she says, still holding Maya's hand. She doesn't dare let go, as if doing so will break some spell and Maya will disappear in a puff of smoke, a magical dream that could only remain through physical contact. She knows the idea is silly, but... she wants so much to... she doesn't dare dream of what she might want. Maya's presence, her voice, her gaze. Those things fill her with such trepidatious joy she doesn't dare dream of more. But somewhere in the back of her mind, there's more.

"Would you..." she has no idea what she's going to ask, she just knows she has to ask something. She has to keep the conversation moving. She can't let it end with them parting ways.

"Would you like to get a cup of tea? Perhaps we could read together..." It was a stupid idea. People didn't get tea and sit and read together. They talked and laughed and did all the things a wallflower like Emily could only dream about but would never experience.

She realized they were still holding hands and looked down to see their clasped hands. She still didn't want to let go, but Maya also hadn't let go. Perhaps she was just being polite. Please, thought Emily. Please let her say yes. I don't want to go home to my tiny apartment by myself again. Please.

She dared to look up at Maya's face, to her eyes. She couldn't hide the pleading look in her own, despite knowing in her hear that it would make the other girl bolt. She prayed it wouldn't.

 

 

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Emily. Such a pretty name. A proper young woman in a regency romance or something. Feminine and cultured...

"Emily," The dark eyed woman whispered. The name felt magical in her mouth. It felt like lace and ribbon. Gorgeous. "It's perfect." Perfect? It was one of the dumbest things she'd ever said. "It's so pretty." Just like you. Maya added silently, grateful she managed not to say it aloud.

Then she asked something. Maya had drifted into her big, blue eyes at some point and barely heard the question. She started to open and close her mouth - a goldfish, a teacher had once called her - as she tried to catch back up.

Tea?! Could it be more ideal? Tea was something she'd grown up with. Something she loved. There was a great Iranian place around the corner that served it strong and sweet. Maya's brain remained frozen for a moment more before she managed to blink and stammer, "Tea?" Before the word had escaped her lips Maya felt the wave of terror and doubt. Why would you say that? Of all things, you couldn't do better than mumble what she just said?

"Uh, I'd love to," she blurted. She did say "to" and not "you", right? "But I need to get home. I'm late." Her heart was racing and her pulse thundered in her ears. She couldn't leave. The confusion grew - she wanted to know Emily. But it felt so different. Behind her panic Maya knew she liked this girl, or wanted to. Emily's soft hand felt so good in hers that Maya couldn't bring herself to move. "Tomorrow at lunch?" She asked, more stunned by the fact that she heard herself say it than almost anything else.

Maya stood on her toes and looked around for the register and sank back to her heels with a nervous laugh before she turned toward the front of the store and took a hesitant step that direction, stilling holding Emily's hand.

[IsabellaRose]

Emily felt a blush creep up her cheeks when Maya said her name was pretty. She'd always thought it was plain, like Jane, or Elizabeth, or any old name. She could have had an exotic and exciting name, like Isabella, Amara, or... Maya. 

The bewildered look Maya gave her told her everything she needed to know. No one wanted to sit and read together. It wasn't a normal thing to do. Emily was expecting Maya to politely decline, but then she accepted! Emily felt that butterfly inside her ribcage flutter to life again, but then it fell into the pit of her stomach when Maya said she had to get home. But she hadn't let go of Emily's hand, and Emily wasn't letting go any time soon, unless it got more awkward. 

Maya had said something else. Tomorrow at lunch. Goodness. It wasn't the door slammed in her face she'd imagined. It was... wonderful. She needed to stare into this girl's eyes for hours, to...

She realized she was staring into Maya's eyes, holding her hand, saying nothing. She must look like a fool. Say something, say something! Her brain screamed at her, and she finally heard her own voice say, "tomorrow at lunch would be splendid! Eleven thirty?" Where had that time come from? Where were they going? What kind of tea would they drink? What would they talk about? 

While her mind was asking a million questions she couldn't possibly answer, Maya started toward the register and Emily, unwilling to let go of the girl's hand, accompanied her, blushing and looking anywhere but at Maya.

"There's a place around the corner, Shiraz Delight." Would Maya go to an Iranian restaurant? She had no idea whether she would be comfortable or offended by the suggestion. She should have picked something generic. "They have the best tea, if you like it strong and sweet. Or we could go wherever you want." Her words came out in a torrent, all at once, almost tripping over each other to get out.

[WritesNaughtyStories]

At the mention of Shiraz Delight Maya stopped and spun to stare at Emily. "Shiraz," she exclaimed, suddenly feeling like maybe she'd shouted. She lowered her voice, despite the pleasant surprise and added, "I love that place. It's the place I would suggest." She was beaming, completely unaware of how bright her smile was or that it required her whole face. Shiraz was small and cozy and her family had been there for special dinners out since Maya's childhood.

An unpleasant thought intruded on her excitement. What if they recognized her and told her mother about her date with the girl. Her smile flickered as she thought about the owner and his wife talking in Farsi behind the counter with the waiter bringing Emily and Her tea. The waiter with the earring. Maybe she was being ridiculous. Maybe it wasn't a date. She gave herself a little shake and smiled at Emily again.

She nodded eagerly, pressing her lips together to try and control the smile, "Eleven thirty is fine." The radiant smile broke through as she spoke and Maya looked away shyly, her cheeks flushing pink. It took her a moment to gather herself, but she was no longer terrified, just nervous and excited. She raised her face back to Emily's and smiled less intensely, "I'm sorry - I just don't, you know, normally talk to people." She paused awkwardly and gave her head another little shake,  "Well, not like this, or you." She felt herself getting flustered and stumbling over her words and thoughts. So she stopped and tried to take a breath.

Maya squeezed Emily's hand and gestured toward the register with the book, "Let's maybe go to the counter and I'll pay for this before I -" she stopped again and looked away. 'Before what? You say something even dumber?'

Maya turned and gently urged Emily after her to the clerk at the register. She set the book on the counter and the clerk looked at the book then the two women holding hands but said nothing as she let her gaze rove between the pair. Maya felt a little vulnerable, but refused to let go of Emily's hand as she fished in her purse for her wallet. When she found it she laid it on the counter beside the book and tried to open it with one hand, but fumbled it on to the floor. She squatted to pick it up, but had to let go of Emily. She immediately hated it. As she picked up her wallet, Maya looked up with an embarrassed smile and was struck by how beautiful Emily was from this angle. She stood up, opened her wallet and offered the bookseller her card. When the clerk took it with a practiced, professional smile, Maya brushed her hand on her skirt and wondered if she should try to take Emily's again. After she retrieved her card and put her wallet away, she did reach for Emily's hand.

She smiled at the clerk, "Thank you."

Maya turned to look at Emily's pretty face and said, her smile deepening softly, "And thank you for the recommendation."

Outside the store the evening air seemed very cold and Maya turned to face her new -friend? "Really, thank you so much, Tomorrow, Eleven thirty at Shiraz?" She asked.