“Ava!”came her mother Patricia’s voice. A tone so shrill, Ava knew she had done something wrong.
“You put out the wrong plates!”
Damn. “Sorry!” she called from the bathroom where she was finishing her makeup. Nothing too fancy. After all, it was just dinner with her family and their oldest friends. But, as evidenced by her mother’s admonishment, Ava was distracted. Normally, the thought of all this hoopla for a family they had known for twenty years would drive Ava insane, but now she found herself fluffing her top and rechecking her makeup as the doorbell rang.
Ava raced down the steps, which led up to the bedrooms, and checked herself before opening the door. There stood the Masons and she welcomed them into the house one by one. Frederick Mason, his wife Lois, son Eric and daughter... Jasmine. Jasmine embraced her without a word, and they clung to each other for a moment before skipping the small talk in the lounge to venture into the kitchen. It was only a second, perhaps two, before Jasmine pushed Ava against the fridge and took her lips in a silent, yet deep, kiss.
“Hi...” Jasmine whispered.
“Hey.” Ava smiled, tenderly brushing a strand of Jasmine’s hair away from her face.
“Come on,” Jasmine said, brushing her lips against Ava’s palm, “before they notice anything.”
They each picked up a small plate of finger food and walked out to the others. The Masons were glowing about their son’s academic achievements, sure he would soon be the finest lawyer in Australia. As Jasmine came into view, she also garnered praise for her study habits and work ethic. She flashed a tight smile as she waited for them to select what they wanted from the plate she presented.
Ava’s father. William, joined the conversation as she stopped at his side. “Wonderful to hear,” he said, his hand hovering over her plate. “I wish we could say the same for our little miss sassy. She’s got great potential if she would apply herself.”
“Gee, Dad, thanks,” Ava replied, playfully yet with a hint of annoyance.
“Well, he’s right, darling. You have to sort out your future.”
“It is sorted, Mum.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.” Her mother scoffed with a laugh.
“You have an idea of what you want to do, Ava?” Lois asked, her mouth half full with a spring roll.
“I want to be a personal trainer,” Ava replied as her mother motioned for the group to move towards the dining room. “Help people stay fit and healthy.”
“Well that seems like a...” Frederick paused, looking from William to Patricia, struggling for the right words. “Worthwhile career?”
Patricia laughed as she led the group into the dining room to sit down. “She wants to get paid to hang out at the bloody gym, trying to get the fattys to walk faster. No. She can do much better.”
Ava was about to retort when, under the table, her hand was gripped by Jasmine as the latter spoke up with a pleasant, light tone. “Well, I think she’ll be great at whatever she does.”
As she always seemed to, Jasmine put everyone at ease, and the conversation changed track. The adults once again busied themselves talking business and politics with Eric. The change provided the best opportunity for the girls to speak softly amongst themselves.
“You look so good,” Jasmine said, stroking Ava’s hand.
“How good?” Ava replied, gently circling Jasmine’s knee with her fingertip.
“Good enough to eat,” came the reply, a breathless hitch in her voice.
Ava removed her hand and casually stood, giving an apologetic smile as she excused herself.
“You going to the loo?” Jasmine asked as if she didn’t know. “I’ll come with.”
“Honestly,” Frederick said, addressing the room. “What on earth could you girls want to go to the bathroom together for? Must all women do it? Is it something that’s ingrained into you?”
“Saves time.” Jasmine replied.
The girls didn’t wait for a response, hurrying up the stairs and managing to close and lock the bathroom door behind them before they stumbled against the sink, their hands roaming each other’s bodies as their tongues shared a feverish, passionate kiss. It had been this way for just over two months.
Harmless, playful flirtations, after being being best friends since middle school, had resulted in an impromptu, heated make out session.
“We gotta get back. They’ll suspect something,” Jasmine said in between their lips meeting.
“Let them. I don’t care,” Ava replied, holding the side of Jasmine’s face and pressing her lips into her neck.