“You didn’t think to text first? What if I was still sleeping?” she asked, propping the door to her apartment open with her hip. She was giving him a hard time –– something she had always enjoyed. “I mean, you’re here now so I can’t exactly say no,” she added with a small smirk. Letting her head drop down and swinging it around to the side, she pushed open the door further. “Come in,” she told him, gesturing him in with her hand. “Are you done for the day or do you just have a break?”

“Texting leaves me with a higher chance of being rejected. Figured you would have to spend time with me if I just showed up, which clearly worked,” he joked back, gesturing over as he referenced her comment. A smile broke and he shook his head. “Honestly I just wasn’t thinking much. Just came over but I probably should have texted. Sorry if I’m disrupting anything.” He stepped inside, thanking her. “Never really feels done but for my sanity I am calling it a day.”

Saige didn’t hear Brad at first. She had headphones in, blasting music loud enough to drown out the world after a long meeting. The waving finally snapped her out of it. “Brad!” She was excited as normal of course but it also felt weird. Neither of them had brought up what happened since the party and now they were running into each other on the street. “I’m sorry, I was totally in my own world. What’s up?”

“No, you’re good. I just got done studying at the cafe for a bit. Was heading to my car when I saw you,” he explained. It wasn’t like things were awkward really but it admittedly felt different. He didn’t know if it should or if he was just overthinking things. If it had happened with anyone else it probably would have just been something to laugh about. “What are you up to?”

“I remember the last time we did this,” he held her hand in one of his own, the other holding the bag of apples they had been picking. “It was so muddy I think it took three scrubbing sessions to get the truck clean.”

When he saw her across the street, he felt guilty like he should have texted or something. He just didn’t know what to say. Waiting for a couple cars pass he jogged across the street. He waved getting her attention. “Saige, hey.”

“Think that you can handle carrying this back?” He smiled handing her the pumpkin.

“I got done class a little early. Thought I stop by but if you are busy just say the word.”

@renee-iglesias

∗ 11﹕ a  text  sent  from  across  the  room .

text: You look like you are needing a savior over there. Say the word and I'll come interrupt. Bonus points if we can just leave and go get some food.

∗ 29﹕ a  supportive  text .

text: You gotta stop holding yourself to a standard that you wouldn't hold anyone else to. You have had a tough year with redefining your life and finding your love for acting for yourself and not for someone else. I would be worried if you were perfectly adjusted even if it has been months. Give yourself grace. You deserve that.

∗ 3o﹕ a  random  text .

Saige: I mean... I guess but just with some more fire? I don't know

Saige: I'll have to talk to her then she'll understand

Brad: Idk if there is more or you're just actively looking for it during that time.

Saige: Not on purpose. The universe just likes to throw things at people to make their lives chaotic

Saige: Your sisters aren't into any of this?

Brad: I feel like that is just life in general.

Saige: No... it just means everything is probably going to get chaotic

Saige: Super bad news... Mercury retrograde is about to start

Saige wanted to close the gap between them again, but she knew they had already crossed a line even if neither of them were saying it. She was used to being in hot water, but she knew Brad wasn’t. She wasn’t going to add to it. Not tonight any way. “I mean, it wasn’t mine but it was definitely the best experience so far.” A little blush rose to Saige’s cheeks at Brad’s admission. “I did too.” She responded softly even though neither his statement or hers should have been spoken out loud.

Brad wasn’t sure what he was going to say to Jack or anyone about this. It wasn’t like he had done something wrong by any means. But if he found out they had kissed later on it might make things awkward. Awkward was what he had expected this moment to be with her but it wasn’t. “Ah, well I was in a relationship all through high school so never really played these games but I’m glad you feel that way. If you play again later tonight with someone else and they are even better, I don’t want to know.” He hadn’t really ever seen her blush. It was sweet. “You gotta stop looking at me like that,” he chuckled.

Finally Saige laughed. “That’s one word for it.” There were several words running through her head, but unexpected was one of them. She looked at Brad trying to read his mind. He looked shocked, confused, but part of him looked confident and happy. A bigger smile split across Saige’s face as she realized that that reaction was about her. He hadn’t wanted to stop either. Unexpected indeed. “I kind of get the appeal of Seven Minutes in Heaven now.”

His eyes were drawn to her smile and it caused his to be more defined as well. There was a part of him that felt like he had to keep some distance. Like otherwise he’d close the space and be tempted to steal another kiss. That pull was there but he was fighting it. “This is my first time,” he admitted. “Not a bad experience,” he teased. “But really. That was... I liked it.” He didn’t know why he felt the need to confirm it. Probably would have been less complicated not to.

“You haven’t figured out by now that I’m repulsive? Room temperature water, pizza dipped in ranch, icky dancer feet. It’s a wonder we’re even friends. You’re too good for me,” she spoke, giving him a nudge with her elbow. “It’s not bad, it’s just kinda boring. I get to see everything that’s going down. Who’s fighting, who’s sneaking off with who, but it’s not the same. Everything else in my life is extra extra, so it’s nice to have a moment to be still. Even if it is boring.”

“I can’t judge on feet,” he put his hands up in surrender. “Ever since boot camp I don’t think my feet will ever go back to not being disgusting. So really I think that just puts us back in level playing field.” Even if it was a teasing comment he never liked hearing her talk less about herself. There was so much about her that deserved recognition. “So you want drama. You just don’t want that drama to be yours,” he clarified with a smile. “I get that though. Needing the dullness to sometimes reset and have a moment to catch your breath.”

Anyone watching form the outside surely would have thought they had been together, or at the very least been fooling around for a long time. It felt so natural, even Saige wondered how this could be the first time. She didn’t know that Brad had it in him to be so firm, so wanting of anyone let alone her. The touch of his fingers on her skin set her body on fire. And just as Saige was moving so that she would be pressed against the wall and Brad pressed against her, Brad pulled away. Saige leaned against the wall anyway with a look of surprise but happiness on her face. “Don’t apologize.” She insisted, breathlessly. “Yeah.. it happens.” Suddenly Saige was, possibly for the first time in her life, at a loss for words. “You’re um.. yeah. Wow.”

If it was anyone else in that room with him, Brad could have just laughed off the moment. But it wasn’t just anyone and it left him feeling confused. Why it felt that good when nothing between them had happened before. Truthfully he hadn’t wanted to end the kiss. He just felt like he should stop it before he let himself get carried away. “Yeah, wow,” he repeated running a hand through his hair as he looked at her. He felt worried at first but the look on her face didn’t seem like he should be. “That was... Unexpected,” he let out because he didn’t know what else to say.

Saige had genuinely assumed that the kiss would last a few seconds and then one of them would start laughing and it would end. She hadn’t expected Brad to actually be into it. She knew that she would be to some extent, but even she was surprised with herself. Kissing Brad was nice, really nice. And easy. It seemed almost like the universe was throwing its hands up and saying ‘finally.’ Maybe it was the thrill of the surprise that he seemed to want more from her than just a chaste kiss, but Saige felt her stomach flip in excitement as his grip on her tightened and she parted her lips to let him in. She wrapped her arms around his neck to keep close as her tongue slipped into his mouth. 

His tongue only grazed against hers at first, as if testing the waters but that didn’t last long. Their mouths moved together so effortlessly, like this was hardly the first time he had kissed her. Brad kissed her with a craving he never even thought that he had, but it was obvious in the way he was completely wrapped up in her. His hands rubbed her sides fingers accidently slipping under some of the fabric. When he felt her skin a little alarm went off in his head and he pulled back abruptly. “Sorry,” he let out the apology, a bit breathless. “I got carried away,” he laughed a soft nervous laugh. None of this was what he expected. Going through with the kiss, and how it felt to kiss her.