(whoops I forgot to say good morning
good afternoon)
Something about pulling a beautiful girl into a small space where they would be alone for a few minutes set Marla's cheeks ablaze and sent her heart running marathons in her chest. "It's really cool here– you'll love it.@
(Good afternoon to you too! I just finished my midterms today!)
“I don’t doubt that.” Gwen smiled, taking the elevator as a small break from the sensory overdrive of the world outside. “Then again, you could probably make a brick wall interesting.”
(Oh awesome!)
Marla laughed nervously, pushing her hands through her hair. “Me? Doubtful.”
“I believe in you. You’ve got charisma!” Gwen teased, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt.
"Me? Charisma??" Marla raised her eyebrows, shifting so that she was much closer to Gwen than strictly necessary.
“Unbelievably charismatic.” Gwen grinned, and in a moment of cocky false confidence, wrapped her arm around Marla’s shoulders.
Marla almost choked on her own spit. Her face went bright red, heart coming to a full stop. The only thing she could feel was Gwen's arm on her bare shoulders, the warmth of her body only centimetres away. She leaned closer to the young woman's side, unable to form words.
Gwen tried to contain herself blush, feeling Marla’s warm skin underneath her arm. Okay, Gwen! You can pull this off. Just be very careful here. You’re in dangerous territory. “S-So… So is uh… this place as beautiful as you described it?” Gwen stammered, desperately trying to come off as calm.
“Oh, definitely.” Marla barely managed to choke out the words. “More so, even. I was thinking— we go up to the Observatory first, get our things settled. Then I can show you around?”
“Sounds perfect.” Gwen released her arm from Marla as the elevator doors opened. She held out her hand for the girl to take again, unbelievably excited to see the rest of this place.
(G’morning)
(Or afternoon
Lol)
Marla happily took it and dragged Gwen out into what appeared to be a huge circular room with a glass ceiling and almost crystalline walls. Couches and beanbag chairs littered the space, occupied mostly by young men and women in their pyjamas. “Okay, so this is the main room. You’re allowed to sleep here, but you can also book a private room. It’s up to you.”
(Good afternoon! Sorry I responded so late yesterday! I fell asleep wicked early!)
Gwen looked around, trying to take on everything at once. “You’re my new best friend for taking me here.” She mumbled, her eyes wide.
(Dw about it! How’re you?)
Marla figured that she deserved a medal for having the self restraint not to pin Gwen against the wall. Or bury her face in her hands. Either one. She shook her hair in front of her eyes smiling down at the floor. “I’m glad you like it…”
Gwen lightly squeezed Marla’s hand. I could totally kiss this girl right now. Gods, not in front of all these people… She used her social anxiety as a deterrent for kissing a girl she’d just met. Gwen chewed her lower lip, allowing Marla to lead her off to the next spot.
Marla had completely forgotten what she was supposed to be doing. Her eyes drifted slowly up Gwen’s lithe form until they landed on her mouth. The temptation to reach out and gently tug the other girl’s lower lip out from between her teeth almost overpowered Marla, but she turned her head away at the last second. “Right. Um. Do you want to— to sleep out here? Or a.. private room?”
“I guess that’s up to you. I’m alright with either.” Gwen smiled softly at Marla. “Maybe private? We’re both pretty terrible at socializing.” She prayed her failed attempt at using logic to keep Marla to herself for a night would work.
“Yes!” Marla suddenly realized how weird that must have sounded. “I mean, um, good idea. Come, I’ll show you the rooms.” And, interlacing their fingers, she pulled Gwen towards a series of doors.
A few minutes later, they had booked a spacious room with carpeted floors and several loveseats. “The best part about this place,” Marla started, glancing up at the dusk through the glass ceiling. “Is that it’s free.”
“I wish I could live in here.” Gwen mumbled in awe, unwilling to let go of Marla’s hand. The other girl looked beautiful in the fading glow of the sun and it was driving Gwen crazy. She had hardly taken note of anything in the room besides on how Marla managed to look flawless in every setting.
Marla glanced at Gwen, and her heart stopped. Their eyes clashed—god, she looked divine with the fading light of the sun playing across her face— and she swallowed. “Y-Yeah.”
“Here, I’ll put down my bag.” Gwen forced herself to pull away from Marla and set down her small bad on one of the loveseats.
Marla nodded hastily and set down her own (which I never mentioned but shhh we can pretend she was carrying it the whole time), biting the inside of her cheek.
Gwen looked up at the sky, still in awe of the sunset above their heads. “I know I already said this, but thanks for taking me here.”
Macha plopped herself down in a loveseat and offered Gwen a bashful smile and a mental invitation to come and sit in her lap. “It’s no problem, I’m just glad you like it.”
Gwen trotted over to Marla and sat oon the floor a few feet away. “Excuse me! No actual relaxation at a sleepover!” She teased, patting the spot next to her.
Marla rolled her eyes playfully, praying that her cheeks only felt warm and weren’t red as a result of it. She slid off the loveseat and next to Gwen, making sure that their legs were pressed lightly together.