Roommate Wanted

The Date

-Mariah-

When Mariah had finally made it out of the studio, she had been exhausted. Hilary was never truly satisfied unless everyone around her felt that way. She looked at her phone, which she hadn't been able to do for hours. Mariah noticed a text from Tessa stating that she would be a little late. She had taken a last-minute guitar lesson, and couldn't pass up the money it entailed.

So, on the drive home, Mariah picked up two burgers and fries from Tessa's favorite burger shop. She texted her, and let Tessa know it would be waiting for her when she got home. It all felt so domestic that Mariah was taken aback by her own actions. The idea of sitting down, and having a meal with Tessa; talking about their day, and then relaxing together made her smile uncontrollably.

Mariah let herself into the apartment and dropped the food off in the kitchen. She made her way down the hall and changed into something more comfortable. She pulled her hair up so she could wash her face. The sound of the front door closing brought Mariah back to the reality of what was about to happen. She quickly applied some lip balm with a little color, realizing she looked way too pale without it.

As she stared into the mirror at her reflection, she worked up the courage she knew she was going to need to have this conversation. Tessa's bedroom door opened and closed. There was a quiet knock on the bathroom door.

"Come in." Mariah replied.

The door opened slowly. Tessa stood on the other side, her mouth caught somewhere between a smile and fear.

"I am done in here if you need it." Mariah turned to leave.

"I'll just be a minute." Tessa replied.

Mariah shut her bedroom door behind her and sighed. The tension between the two of them was palpable. They both had looked like two skittish cats ready to run at the first loud noise. She was not ready for this.

To distract herself, she headed to the kitchen, and pulled down a couple of plates from the cabinet. She then grabbed two wine glasses and opened a bottle of red. Mariah busied herself with arranging the burgers and fries on plates and pouring two glasses of wine. Tessa's bedroom door opened, and Mariah froze for a moment.

As Tessa walked into the kitchen where Mariah stood next to the counter, Mariah was taken aback by her beauty. She had put on a white Rolling Stones t-shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, showing off her very toned arms. Torn and faded jeans hugged the raven-haired beauties hips and thighs leading down to bare feet. Mariah chuckled at the dark purple nail polish on her toes. The color was almost black, and Mariah had picked it out for her one-night last week when they had decided to do pedicures in the living room.

"What?" Tessa said with a smile.

"It's almost time to do our toes again." Mariah slowly let her eyes drift up from Tessa's toes, to her eyes. Trying to memorize every curve and bit of exposed skin along the way. She shook her head as she made eye contact with Tessa. Mariah was going to need to focus if she wanted to get through this conversation.

Grabbing the plates off the counter, she motioned with a slight head tilt for Tessa to grab the wine and glasses. Mariah tried to fake the confidence she felt she needed.

"Let's eat dinner, then we can talk." Mariah took her place on the couch, as Tessa sat down the wine and took her plate.

"Thank you for getting dinner. I haven't had much to eat today, and I am famished." Tessa stuffed a fry in her mouth. She pulled her legs up under her as she sat on the opposite end of the couch.