Running From Forever

by K. Aten

  Leveling worried blue eyes at her lover, Keller pleaded. “Sarah—”

  “No, I’m not going to change my mind. The cops patrol our area pretty good and the hit and run happened in the early hours of morning. I’ll be out of there by nine-thirty. Even the coffee shop two doors down will be open later than me. Its fine, Keller, stop worrying so much.”

  Keller walked over to her and took her hands. “I worry because your life is my life. I told you that already. If something happened to you, I wouldn’t survive it.”

  Sarah jerked her hands free and stepped back. “This? You’re going to bring this up again? I’m not saying it wouldn’t hurt but if something happened to one of us, we’d eventually get over it just like everyone else. I will not let you pressure me into letting you turn me into—” She stopped, out of words at last. But Keller was just getting started.

  “Into what, Sarah? Turn you into whatever I am? What do you think I am exactly? A monster?” Her anger was growing the more she thought about Sarah’s stubborn refusal to see exactly what was going on between them.

  Sarah’s stomach was twisting with her lover’s anger. “Keller, no! That is not what I meant at all. We’ve discussed this multiple times and you know how I feel about being infected. I will not be taken from Annie!”

  Keller’s voice was like steel when she spoke. “No, that’s not it at all. Because you know that being infected wouldn’t take you from anyone. You’re just afraid of losing Annie, afraid of her growing old and leaving you behind. But I meant what I said, we are connected now. Your death is my death and you need to start facing some facts about the reality of our situation.” With that she turned and stomped off to their bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

  Sarah just stood there, heart hurting and unsure where to go. Finally, she whistled to Duke. “Come on boy, let’s go see your aunt Annie.” She texted Annie when she got to her RAV4.

  Keller and I had a big fight. Can I come over to talk?

  Annie responded less than a minute later.

  Always, I’ll be waiting with the cookies.

  When she arrived at the house, Jesse was just leaving with her laptop case and a box of electronics. “Hey, Sarah, Annie’s inside. You girls have fun!” She scampered off to her car before Sarah could say anything to her.

  She found Annie in the kitchen, pouring two glasses of milk. Then she glanced at the blue and white bag on the counter. “Ooh, double stuff!”

  “Well, I figured I’d call out the big guns since it sounded kind of serious. First fight since the move?”

  Sarah sighed. “Yeah. And my stomach still hurts. Did Jesse have to work today?”

  Annie gave her a curious smile. “No, she had some stuff to take care of at a friend’s house. She said she’d be back in a few hours.” She reached down to pet Duke, missing the big ball of fur since Sarah had moved out. “So, are you going to tell me what happened?” Sarah finished chewing her cookie and grabbed another. They were quiet for a few minutes, just content to dunk and chew. Annie didn’t push. She knew Sarah would talk when she was ready.

  “We’ve had an ongoing disagreement and I thought she was finally going to back off about it. But today’s headline set her off on some overprotective streak and now she’s bringing it up again. She wants me to cancel my lessons tonight, or have her follow me everywhere.”

  Annie cocked her head. “Wait a minute, first, what is this ongoing disagreement? And second, what headline? Wait, I’ll be right back!” She jumped up and ran into the living room, returning a minute later with the current paper in hand. After scanning the article, she looked back up at her sister. “Isn’t this right around the corner from your studio?”

  Irritated, she answered. “Yes, but that happened in the middle of the night! My last lesson is from eight to nine, and there is a coffee shop that’s open later two doors down. I’ll be fine!”

  Annie set down her half eaten cookie. “Sarah, I don’t blame her for being concerned. These guys have hurt a lot of people and killed one now. It’s no joke. So what is the ongoing disagreement and how does it relate to the hit and run?”

  “Do you remember when I told you all about Keller’s condition and how she kind of feeds on emotions so she doesn’t have to feed on blood all the time?” Annie nodded and continued to dunk her cookies. “Well, from almost the beginning she’s been saying we’re connected, that we are soul mates. She’s convinced that when I die she will as well. And she’s asked me a few times if I would consider letting her infect me with the same thing she has. Now she’s even more afraid for me because of the article.”

  The younger sister swallowed her bite of cookie and stared. “Wow. Uh, that is a lot to take in.” She waved her hand through the air. “I mean, the whole vampire succubus thing is a lot too. But my question for you is why does the idea bother you so much?”

  Sarah grabbed another cookie. “Which idea, her suggestion that we are soul mates and are bound together for life, or the suggestion that I should let her infect me?”

  “Hmm—let’s start with the easy one. Why does the idea that you’re bound for life bother you?”

  The singer glared at her younger sibling. “You know why, Annie. That’s just a lot of metaphysical crap. No one is bound to another person for life. Please!”

  Annie burst out laughing, spraying cooking crumbs onto the floor. However, any mess that may have occurred was quickly cleaned up by a bushy-tailed dog. “Really, Sarah, metaphysical crap? And vampires are everywhere today, am I right? I mean, it’s completely normal and natural to have speed healing, be able to manipulate people’s memories, feed off an entire club full of sexual energy, and—oh yeah, have pointed teeth to drink blood! Why are you quick to accept those things yet be just as quick to deny that there could be more? That’s just bullshit.” She leveled a gaze at her sister. “You don’t want to admit that you could be connected to anyone in any way. You are so afraid of commitment that you’re letting it prevent you from opening your mind and accepting something that is completely wonderful!”

  Sarah scowled. “Wonderful? So it’s a good thing to be told that you’re bound to someone forever and oh by the way, you won’t outlive the other person!”

  Annie laid her hand across her sister’s. “If she’s your soul mate, do you really want to?”

  “I…it’s…hell I don’t know. It’s just so confusing! It’s a lot to deal with right now.”

  “Okay, so that’s a better answer. Now what about the other thing?”

  Sarah gave her a surprised look. “Are you seriously asking me why the idea of being infected bothers me?”

  Annie grinned. “Frankly, yeah. Let’s see, increased strength, healing, and health, and you live practically forever. All in exchange for a little aversion to the sun and mentally sucking in some sexy vibes? Why in the world is that a problem?”

  Sarah slapped her arm, not lightly. “Be serious! You’re telling me you would want to grow old over the years and watch me stay exactly the same? That wouldn’t bother you at all?”

  Annie sighed and drained the last of her milk. “Honestly? It’s something I have thought about ever since you told me about Keller. I think I’d be jealous more than anything else. But if it meant never having to lose you the way I lost Mom and Dad—I would take it, Sarah—in a heartbeat.” She took her sister’s hand in her own. The musician’s fingers were long and graceful with callouses on her fingertips. “I think this is something you should really consider.” When Sarah began to protest, Annie held up a hand to stop her. “No, I’m not saying right now, or even soon. But sometime in the future you should give it some consideration. And as for being careful in the meantime, I always agree with that advice.”

  Sarah met her sister’s eyes, taking in Annie’s words. At last, she nodded to the younger Colby and Annie smiled. “Now how about this? I don’t work tonight, how about if Jesse and I meet you for coffee after you finish with your last lesson? We haven’t really
seen you since you moved out and Jesse just said something the other day about getting together to catch up.”

  Sarah sat there, unable to speak. Annie started cleaning up, letting her sister have a few minutes to digest what she had said. When Sarah finally spoke, her eyes were slightly damp. “I’ll think about it, all of it. And I’d be happy to meet you two tonight after my lesson. Thanks, A.” She stood and threw away the paper towel she had used to wipe her face. “I think I’m going to take Duke to the dog park down the street, want to come with us?”

  Duke’s ears perked up when he heard the word park and Annie laughed. “I’d love to. Let me grab my coat.”

  TWENTY MINUTES AFTER Sarah left the condo, Keller got a phone call from Jesse. “Hey Keller, I got that stuff for the new entertainment system and I’ve got some free time today. Are you going to be home so I can install it?”

  One part of the bar manager didn’t want to be disturbed. She just wanted to sit home and worry and not have to talk to anyone else. But the other part wanted to have a distraction so she didn’t sit home and worry about Sarah. She sighed and gave in. “I’m home until I leave for the club at seven. Stop by any time.”

  Jesse laughed over the phone. “Oh, uh, well how about now?”

  Keller paused and shrugged though the other woman couldn’t see over the phone. “Sure, come on over.”

  “Okay, great! Now come down and get me, I’m right outside.”

  The bar manager shook her head again and grinned. “Sure, I’ll be down in a sec.”

  Despite the day’s bad start, Keller actually had a decent time hanging out with Jesse. Annie’s girlfriend was mature for her years, intelligent, and could carry on a discussion about almost any topic. Keller thought of Jesse much the same way she thought of Annie—they were both friends who felt more like little sisters. Before Jesse left to go back home, she leveled a gaze at the younger woman. “So did Annie ask you to come over here and hang with me today or did you really just get the parts in and want to set up my system?”

  Jesse gave her a smile that carried a hint of shyness. “Honestly? I picked up the parts yesterday but when Annie said that you guys had fought and that Sarah was on her way over—well I decided I’d rather hang with you. Keller, I think you’re fun and good people, and we always have interesting conversation. And—I can never have too many friends.”

  Keller smiled back at her with affection. “Thanks J. That means a lot to me. I too can always use more friends, and well— you’ve really helped me take my mind off some stuff. And you are welcome any time, not just when Sarah and I have a disagreement.”

  As she was walking out the door, Jesse glanced back at Keller with a worried look. “You guys are solid, right?”

  Keller gave her a sad smile. “I hope so. She means the world to me.” She shook her head to clear the melancholy. “Have a good day, Jesse, I hope I see you again soon.”

  “Same here. Hang in there, she’ll come around. Bye, Keller!”

  THAT EVENING SARAH, Annie, and Jesse were sitting in lounge chairs at the coffee shop two doors down from Sarah’s studio. They were laughing uproariously at Sarah’s story about one of her clients and his banjo lesson. When they caught their breath, she finished the tale. “…so after all that, he says to me ‘Do yah thank yah can show mah good friend Clem how tah play the washboard?’ and it took every ounce of professionalism I had not to crack up. He was dead serious!”

  Annie snorted. “He did not!”

  “I swear he did!”

  Jesse looked back and forth between the two women. “I don’t get it, what’s a washboard?”

  Annie looked at her girlfriend. “Babe, just google hillbilly music.” Jesse’s mouth made an O shape then she immediately got her phone out of her pocket. Annie turned back to her sister. “So what have you got going on tonight? Any plans?”

  Sarah shrugged. “Nothing really. Keller has to work so…”

  “Well I’m all wound up from this mocha latte, why don’t we go down to the club for a while?” Annie leaned closer and whispered in a conspiratorial manner. “I’m in real tight with the manager. I can get us in without cover.”

  Sarah leaned over and whispered back in the same way. “I’m frequently in the manager and I can confirm that she’s real tight.”

  Annie’s face turned scarlet. “Oh my God, you’re such a perv!”

  Jesse looked up from her hillbilly education. “Who’s a perv?”

  Annie jerked a thumb in her sister’s direction. “Her! We were actually just talking about going to the club.”

  “You were just talking about the club, I was talking about my girlfriend.”

  Jesse’s face fell. “Oh man! Of all the weekends I volunteer to help someone—don’t you remember? I told Jon I’d come over and help him set up his HD system and surround sound before the big game tomorrow. I promised I’d be over first thing in the morning, and his wife is making us breakfast. I still have to sort out all the gear I’ll need for his place tonight!”

  Annie gave her a sweet smile when Jesse mentioned her brother’s name. She knew that having Jon extend an olive branch was a big deal to Jesse when the rest of her family had disowned her for coming out. “Hon, it’s okay, as long as you don’t mind me going with Sarah tonight. We can do something fun tomorrow after you’re finished at Jon’s.”

  Jesse stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. “Promise?”

  Annie leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “How about a trip to the comic store, Thai Guys takeout, and a movie?” The pout immediately turned into a grin. “You have a deal!” She turned to Sarah. “I’ll drive Annie’s car home if you can drop her off later.”

  “Sure J, I’d be happy to.”

  It was nearly eleven by the time the Colby sisters arrived at The Merge. Big Teddy greeted both with a hug before they made their way across the packed bar. Annie waded through the crowd for drinks while Sarah went in search of her girlfriend. Not seeing her anywhere obvious, she decided to try the back office. She knocked and pushed her way in, speaking while stepping through the door. “Excuse me, I have a complaint for the manager—”

  Keller looked up and delighted surprise washed over her face. “Sarah! I didn’t know you were coming down tonight!” She immediately crossed the room to the singer and wrapped her in a full-body hug.

  When the embrace ended, Sarah pulled back far enough to gently cup the shorter woman’s cheek. She whispered “I missed you” before claiming Keller’s lips with a series of sweet kisses. It didn’t take long for the sweet kisses to escalate into something that had both women moaning.

  When Annie pushed her way into the office carrying two beers, she found the long leg of her sister planted firmly against Keller’s crotch. A quick look confirmed Keller’s hands were busy as well. She tried clearing her throat to distract them. “Ahem.” When that didn’t work, she slammed the door shut. The loud bang immediately startled the passionate women and they jumped apart in surprise. Keller blushed at being caught losing control in her office. Sarah had a different reaction.

  “You’re such a brat! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

  The younger sibling chuckled and handed her the extra beer. “I think you’re gonna make it.” Still grinning she looked over at her boss’s flushed face and couldn’t resist teasing the woman. “Hey, Keller, how’s it hangin’? Good crowd tonight, it’s pretty hot out there, hmm?”

  Keller groaned and scrubbed a hand through her hair. “Are you two just here to torment me, or what? Where’s Jesse?”

  Sarah smirked and took a swig of her beer while Annie explained their impromptu night out. “She has an early breakfast with her brother and sister-in-law tomorrow morning, and some work to do tonight, so it’s just me and this one.” She aimed a thumb toward the other Colby sibling. “Now if you two are finished making out like teenagers, let’s go dance!”

  Keller laughed. “I’m supposed to be working.”

 
“Pshh! I saw Lynne on my way in and it’s not like you’re leaving the building. You’ll be fine!” Annie turned to head back out the door and called over her shoulder. “I expect you two to be right behind me!”

  The bar manager shook her head at her employee’s antics. “Well, we wouldn’t want to incur the wrath of Annie now, would we? Shall we go dance?” She held her hand out to Sarah, who immediately took it and moved them into another embrace.

  “It’s almost worth it if you keep kissing me.” Keller smiled tenderly and did exactly that. The kiss was slow and deep, leaving both women reveling in the heat of their connection. When they pulled apart again, Sarah looked into her lover’s blue eyes.

  She loved the way they looked, loved the way they seemed to pull her in and hold her. “I’m sorry I keep running from you. I really don’t know why I’m doing it.”

  Keller ran a finger over the taller woman’s bottom lip. “It’s okay. Things have been going really well with us. I love—spending time with you and waking up with you every morning. It’s a very different and special feeling for me.”

  Sarah could read between the lines of what Keller was saying. She stared into the eyes that carried so much hope and finally acknowledged the emotion between them. It filled her with light and took away that ache that had been in her chest for so long. It took everything she had to say the words aloud and not bolt for the door, but it was time to take some of the weight off Keller’s shoulders. It was time to reassure the woman that had come to mean everything to her. “Keller, you don’t ever have to worry about me.” She kissed her lover lightly on the lips and continued. “I love spending time with you too, I love going to sleep each night and waking in your arms in the morning. I love that we laugh at the same things, and how amazing our sex is. It’s like each day is brand new. Does that make sense?”