Just One Of Those Things

Part Seven

By Mavis Applewater

For disclaimers see my previous installments

Thank you to my beta reader Diva

As Always For Heather

Chapter Seventeen

Karla awoke in a slightly startled state. "Where in the Hell am I?" she wondered as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Feeling the sleeping form that was lying on top of her shift slightly, she smiled at the knowledge that Olivia's body was pressed against her own. Shyly, Karla wrapped her arms more tightly around Olivia's waist. Karla’s smile broadened as she relaxed into guilty pleasure.

Finally, she allowed herself to take in her surroundings and recalled where she was. "Funny, I forgot where I was or how I got here, but I knew without question or confusion that is you that I am holding." Karla’s smile grew even bigger as she tenderly allowed herself to breathe in the herbal aroma of Olivia's shampoo. "Oh no, I've got it bad." Karla finally admitted aloud. "So this is what everyone talks about. This isn't so bad," Karla admitted as she stole a quick glance to ensure that Olivia was in fact sleeping.

Karla allowed herself to relax and enjoy the complete feeling of joy and silliness that seemed to be attacking her senses. One moment her emotions were raging, crying out to satisfy her carnal fire. Then, upon witnessing the complete look of vulnerability written on Olivia face, all she wanted to do was protect and comfort her. "Miss Davenport what have you done to me?"

Olivia squeaked and shifted once again, this time completely molding her body to Karla's larger form. Karla's breathing halted for a moment, fearing that Olivia had heard her speaking her heart so freely. "Phhhhbbbb," was the sound that escaped Olivia's lips. Karla choked to hold back her laughter as Olivia continued to squeak nonsensically in her sleep. "Could you possibly get any cuter?" she asked the slumbering blonde. "I absolutely adore you, Olivia. Don't worry, we'll find someway to make this work," she promised, hoping that she would be able to keep this promise. She also prayed to be brave enough to say all of this to Olivia someday when she is awake.

Karla snuggled contently, enjoying the feel of Olivia's beating heart and her gentle breathing gently tickling Karla's skin. She was never happier than she was at that moment in time. The bliss surrounded her as she drifted back to sleep; all the while she was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning.

Several hours later, the morning light crept over Karla, nudging her gently in consciousness. This time she awoke with feeling of uneasiness. "Something is different... something is missing," her sleepy mind tried to reason. A sudden chill ran through her as she pulled her coat up over her body, jumping suddenly as the realization struck . She was alone.

Feeling slightly disorientated, she looked around the tiny apartment. "Good morning," a sleepy, raspy voice offered from the doorway leading into the kitchen. Bleary-eyed, Karla's gaze turned towards the voice. Her silly smirk returned full force as she took in the vision standing in the doorway. Olivia's short blonde locks were mussed; her body was covered in a teal terry cloth robe that would have been enormous on Karla's body. Her hands wrapped tightly around a steaming mug of coffee.

"You're adorable," Karla said softly, the smile never leaving her face. Karla watch as Olivia blushed and shifted uncomfortably. "Ah oh. This doesn't look good," Karla noted mentally as she struggled to sit up; the aches and pains brought on by her awkward sleeping situation caused her to groan. "You know these things are on my list of furniture not designed for normal sized people." Karla grunted as Olivia continued to focus on her coffee. "Are you just not a morning person or is it me?" Karla asked bluntly as she stood and stretched out her long frame.

"I ... uhm ..." Olivia stammered. "It's not you ... it's just that ..."

"Peachy," Karla grumbled as she looked down at the very uncomfortable blonde standing in front of her. "Well I guess that's my cue then," Karla offered, hoping that Olivia would prove her wrong.

"Karla," Olivia uttered softly. "It just wouldn't work out. I'm probably already on my way out. God only knows what Rob saw or heard."

"I don't think he knows anything," Karla offered hopefully. "I think he was just fishing."

"Still ..." Olivia began to tug on her bathrobe nervously as she averted her gaze, "... the way the job market is at this moment, do you want to GO looking for work, just for a fling?"

"No," Karla responded firmly. "Not for a fling. But that's not what I'm talking about."

Karla felt the silence surrounding them almost choking her. "How much should I tell her? She's right. But damn it so am I." Karla was beginning to feel her world unravel as she watched Olivia fidget nervously. "Olivia, I can think of a million reasons why we shouldn't even look at each other," Karla said, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence. She hoped that the softness of her tone would offer comfort to Olivia.

"Then you agree," Olivia responded with hint a pain in her voice.

"No," Karla answered bluntly.

Karla released a heavy sigh as she realized that her honesty was only going to be answered with silence. "I don't agree," Karla said more firmly. "I have never felt this way before."

"Its just lust," Olivia protested weakly.

Karla felt a twinge gnawing at her heart. "Is that how she feels?" she wondered. "Not for me," Karla said, deciding for the first time in her life to allow her heart to speak for her. "I awoke earlier to find you in my arms; what I felt at that moment had nothing to do with lust or desire."

"No?"

"No," Karla confessed as a feeling of uneasiness ran through her body. "Please don't let me scare her off!" She paused for a moment trying to find the one way to express the joy she had felt just a few hours earlier. She needed to be careful and not overwhelm or frighten Olivia. "Happy."

"What?" Olivia asked in a lost tone barely above a whisper.

"Happy," Karla repeated. "I felt happy. For the first time in my life, I felt truly happy just knowing that it was you that I was holding."

Karla just stood there her knees trembled slightly, as she watched Olivia tugging nervously at the collar of her bathrobe. Karla wet her lips as she waited for Olivia to say or do something, but the blonde kept staring at the floor as she fiddled with her robe. "Relax, give her a moment to think. Don't push her," Karla warned herself. The longer Olivia remained quiet, the more Karla's heart began to race and her palms began to sweat.

"Karla," Olivia said, finally breaking the silence. Karla found herself startled by Olivia's sudden utterance. "I've ... worked very hard to get to where I am." Karla felt her heart stop as Olivia's voice struggled to get the words out. "NO!" Karla's mind screamed out as she fought to remain standing. Everything started to spin slightly as Olivia's gaze finally met her own. The tears welling up in her eyes breaking the older woman's heart.

"I can't ..." Olivia choked out weakly.

"You've made your decision," Karla cut her off bluntly. She had to stop her she just couldn't bear to hear her actually say the words. "I will respect, your choice," Karla finished slowly. "I'll go."

She turned quickly before Olivia could see the devastation that was clearly etched across her face. Gathering up her coat and briefcase, she headed towards the doorway. The walk to the doorway seemed to be endless. Pausing for a moment as she reached for the doorknob, she silently prayed for Olivia to say or do something to stop her from leaving. When Olivia failed to say or do anything, she gathered up her last drop of courage and opened the door. Stepping out into the doorway, she left the door open, unable to look back. Karla forced herself to walk down the staircase and out the front doorway and out of Olivia's life.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Olivia stood there in shock trembling uncontrollably as she stared out the open door. She found herself unable to walk the few feet to close the door Karla had left open. "I did the right thing," she lied to herself. "I did the right thing," she repeated in hopes of convincing herself that the lie was true. Her breathing became ragged as she began an internal battle. She kept telling herself that she had done the right thing, but her heart was screaming to run after Karla before it was too late.

Her heart was pounding violently against her chest. The agonizing pounding intensified as her ears began to ring. Olivia clutched her chest as she suddenly gasped for air. Her lungs were burning as she suddenly found it impossible to breath. Holding onto the wall, she steadied herself. She managed to calm herself as she began to breath in a more controlled manner. The moment of clarity overwhelmed her self-control as she found herself racing out the door.

She was so focused on reaching Karla she never heard the apartment door closing behind her. Olivia found herself standing on the icy pavement of the sidewalk in the frigid morning air. She pulled her robe tightly around herself tightly(OVERUSE?) as her eyes scanned the empty street, desperately searching for some sign of the raven-haired beauty. Her heart sank as she realized that Karla was gone. "Of course she's gone. You sent her away," Olivia mentally berated herself.

"Nice look," a familiar voice called out from behind her.

Olivia's shoulders slumped knowing that it was not the voice that she wanted, nor the voice she needed to hear at that moment in time.

She turned to see Chase approaching her with an amused look clearly written on her face. "Should I ask?" Chase teased her friend as she came up beside her. Olivia watched as the smile vanished from her friend. "God, I must look like hell," Olivia noted as she stared up at Chase.

"I took your advice," Olivia offered weakly, hoping that she could maintain some shred of her dignity.

"You slept with her?" Sydney asked hopefully.

"No," Olivia flared. "Your earlier advice, you pig. I told her that I couldn't risk my job."

"Idiot," Sydney retorted with a scowl.

"Thank you," Olivia snarled angrily.

"Come on," Sydney offered sympathetically as she wrapped her arms around her young friend.

Olivia allowed herself to be led back into the apartment building and up the staircase. Olivia was surprised to see the apartment door locked. She reached for the knob and twisted to find it locked. She looked up at Chase with a pleading look.

"It's a good thing I came along when I did," Sydney teased.

Olivia felt her face burning as she glared at her dear friend. Sydney gulped fearfully. "Why don't I just shut up and open the door," Sydney stammered.

"Good call," Olivia growled.

Once inside, Olivia allowed Chase to lead her over to the bed. "Rest, I need to take a shower," Chase offered as she tucked Olivia into the bed. Leaning over, she handed over the remote control for the television and ruffled her hair before leaving Olivia on her own. Olivia pulled the comforter around her body. Not wanting to think about just what had happened only a few short moments ago, she flipped on the television.

By the time Chase emerged from the shower clad in a pair of boxer shorts and a raggedy t-shirt, Olivia had managed to find something to watch. "Anything on?" Chase inquired as she finished drying out her long, curly hair.

"The Apartment," Olivia responded sadly. "In fact they’re running a retrospect on AMC."

"Ohh," Chase pouted slightly. "Your favorite movie . . . I still can't believe that Jack Lemmon died."

"I know and The Wizard Of Oz is my favorite movie," Olivia corrected her. "This does run a close second." She was forced to shout the last part since Chase had retreated into the kitchen. "What are you doing out there? The movie is about to start," Olivia shouted impatiently. "Don't get your jammies in a bunch, kiddo. I'll be right out," Chase shouted in response.

Olivia watched as the movie began, feeling a deep need to escape from her life at least for a couple hours. Chase emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray. "What have you got there and is that my t-shirt?"

"Hot Chocolate and probably." Chase laughed lightly. "Scoot over."

Olivia complied as she made room for Chase to join her in the bed. They snuggled up and watched the movie while they sipped their hot chocolate. To Olivia it was just what she needed, almost. Being held by Chase felt good, comforting, and warm. But it just didn't feel the same as it had when Karla had held her.

"Ready to talk about it?" Chase inquired casually. Olivia smiled, knowing that her friend was trying a little too hard to act like she did not care.

"The movie?" Olivia asked knowing that was not what Chase was driving at.

"No , you brat." Chase nudged her from behind. "Come on cut me some slack here, I'm trying to be sensitive."

"You’re doing great." Olivia sighed. "I uhm ... I told her that ..."

"If you're not up to talk about it, it's okay." Chase offered gallantly.

"I really need to talk about it." Olivia sighed deeply as she allowed her friend to hold her tighter. "Basically, I told her that my job was more important than anything we felt for each other," Olivia tried to explain.

"Ouch!" Chase grimaced. "Now do you want to fill me in on everything that led up to that point?"

"Nothing," Olivia lied.

Chase nudged her gently from behind. "Come on ... when I left the two of you last night I would have laid odds on the two you ripping each other's clothes off," Chase said with a slight hint of admiration.

"Maybe we should have." Olivia smiled briefly as the image peeked into her imagination. "It was electric ... I was standing there wanting her, knowing that she wanted me just as much, and suddenly it was all too much."

"What do you mean?" Chase asked softly.

"I don't know how to explain it," Olivia pondered. "Everything suddenly… I felt everything and it was too much. I ... I was ..."

"What?"

"I was afraid."

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Karla walked into her apartment feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. Howard wrapped himself around her feet and purred. Karla slumped down onto the floor next to the purring tabby. As she absently patted her cat, she felt exhausted and exposed. Every part of her body ached. "What was I thinking?" she asked the cuddling feline. "I almost told her that I loved her ... how could I've been so stupid?" Howard just continued to purr and beg for affection. "You are no help at all," she growled as she continued to scratch him.

Wearily, Karla pulled herself up off the ground groaning as she felt every muscle rebel against her movements. "Don't grow old, Howard, it sucks," Karla groused. "Today I feel about one hundred and five. I love her, Howard. You would think that would be a great thing. I'm finally in love. One problem; she doesn't love me back." Karla removed her coat and collapsed onto her futon.

Howard jumped up on her lap begging for more attention. "You're right, I need to talk to Sis," Karla mused absently. "First a shower then I'm calling Auntie Maureen, so she can call me an idiot." Karla lifted the feline up off her lap and began to undress as she walked to the bathroom.

After a long hot shower, Karla found herself curled up on her futon, clad in an old t-shirt and a raggedy pair of boxer shorts. Sipping a hot cup of hazelnut coffee, she fiddled with the telephone as she debated on whether or not to call Maureen. She was so messed up she knew she needed to talk to someone. Her sister was always her first choice. Her Mother was always less than sympathetic when it came to her love life. Tom, her stepfather, was more understanding but still she could feel that he was never comfortable talking about her sex life. He was her father after all. Then there was Harry, her real father; he was a good listener and always willing to offer advice. The only problem with Harry was finding him when you really needed him.

So Maureen it was. Now all Karla needed to do was build up her confidence to call her sister. After her second cup of coffee she found herself dialing her sister's telephone number. "Hello?" a very sleepy voice greeted Karla.

"Sorry, Sis," Karla apologized instantly. "I forgot about the time difference."

"Karla?" Maureen's groggy voice questioned. "What's wrong, kiddo?"

"Nothing," Karla lied.

"Right," Maureen groaned in disbelief.

"Look I'm sorry I woke you," Karla began to babble. "I'll call later."

"Don't you dare leave me hanging," Maureen yawned. "Besides, your nieces will be banging on the door any minute now."

"It's well ... oh, Sissy, it's all so confusing ..." Karla began to sob.

Karla managed to tell her sister the entire story all the while crying her heart out. Maureen listened patiently until Karla had choked out every last detail. "Oh, Karly sweetie," Maureen offered in a hushed tone.

Karla squeaked out a few more sobs as her older sister offered words of comfort. "I'm okay now," Karla cleared her throat as she wiped away the last of her tears.

"Really?" Maureen asked carefully. "All cried out?"

"Yeah," Karla confirmed.

"Good," Maureen said gently. "Then all I need to know is are you an idiot? How could you waste your time on this thoughtless harpy?"

"Oh boy," Karla sighed. "Here it comes."

"Let me tell you something, if I ever get my hands on this woman ..." Maureen began to rant, " ... no, honey, go back to sleep. Hold on, Karly, I need to go in the other room ..."

Karla held her breath as she heard her sister moving about her house. "Now where was I?" Maureen began again. "Oh yeah, let me tell that I am going to ring this woman's scrawny little neck. How can she do this to you?"

"It's not her fault." Karla tried to defend Olivia's honor.

"Excuse me!" Maureen shouted. "How can a job be more important than my baby sister's feelings?"

"Maureen, it's not her fault..." Karla tried to argue.

"Oh it so is." Maureen scoffed at the notion that it wasn't somehow Olivia's fault. "I have never heard you cry, not even when the whiskers died."

"But ... but ...but ..." Karla fought in vain.

"If she can't see just how special you are, then she isn't worth your time," Maureen fumed.

"Crap," Karla muttered.

"Karly sweetie, she isn't worth it," Maureen insisted.

"I love her," Karla asserted firmly.

"Karla?" Maureen voice betraying how stunned she was at hearing those words.

"I love her," Karla repeated.

"How?" Maureen asked in a shocked tone.

"Excuse me," Karla responded in a terse voice.

"How do you know?" Maureen asked in a softened tone. "You haven't known her for that long. In fact I don't think you know this girl at all," Maureen cautioned her younger sister.

"I feel like I've known her my entire life," Karla replied with simple honestly.

"Perhaps..." Maureen began slowly in a fearful tone, "... but in reality you really don't know her."

"That's just it! I do know her," Karla finally snapped. She paused for a moment a she blew out a cleansing breath, before continuing. "I mean I don't, but I do. You know?"

"Huh?"

"She's the one," Karla asserted. "I know it in my heart."

"And just when did you reach this epiphany?" Her sister accused her.

"This morning," Karla mumbled reluctantly.

"I see," Maureen grunted smugly.

Karla rubbed her now throbbing temple and she searched for the right way to explain things to her older sibling. But how can you explain to someone what your heart feels, when things don't seem reasonable to yourself much less to anyone else. "Maureen, it's the truth," Karla found herself saying. "I knew that I felt something for her and I've been fighting it." Karla paused, feeling some of the tension lifting, knowing that this was what she needed to tell someone. "I found myself holding her this morning and as I felt her wrapped up in my arms, I knew. I'm not explaining this very well . . . I just knew," she repeated. "Somehow, I knew that I was where I belonged," she said, finally voicing what her heart had been whispering.

Karla now found herself listening to dead air. "Maureen?"

"Yeah, I'm here," the strain evident in Maureen's voice. "I'm worried about you, Karly," Maureen confessed quietly. "I've never heard you talk like this about anyone. Not even that supermodel, Tamara."

"Oh her," Karla chuckled. "She's the one you swore that even you would hop the fence for."

"Now that was one hell of a woman." Maureen laughed lightly. "So what is it about this Olivia?"

"I have never felt this way about anyone before," Karla admitted.

"So, little sister… what are you going to do?" Maureen inquired carefully.

"I have no idea," Karla whimpered. "Olivia has made it perfectly clear that there cannot be anything between us. My head heard her loud and clear, yet my heart isn't listening."

"Walk away, sweet pea," Maureen advised sternly. "If you pursue her now, after she's told you not to… you're just asking for trouble."

"I know." Karla feeling her heart aching just a little more. "There's nothing I can do. This sucks," Karla growled.

"That's it!" Maureen snapped. "I'm flying out there and kick her scrawny butt! If she thinks she can hurt you like this… I've got news for that floozie ..."

"Sis!" Karla managed to cut her off. "Jeez switch to decaf, will ya."

After a brief silence Karla relaxed as she could hear Maureen lightly chuckle. "Sorry, Karly," Maureen apologized. "I just can't stand to hear how unhappy you are and I just know it's her fault. Hey, kiddo, you're my baby sister and it's just works my nerves that I can't do anything to fix this."

"I know," Karla responded thoughtfully. "And I love you for all of your good, albeit misguided, intentions. I am hurting more than I thought possible. I know that Olivia has made her choice and I just have to live with it. But it still hurts and I guess I just need someone to talk to about it."

"You can tell me." Maureen offered gently. "Tell me about Olivia."

It was the invitation that Karla had been waiting for. "Are you sure?" Karla questioned carefully. "You're not going to go off the deep end again?"

"Tell me, Karly," Maureen offered once again in a softer tone.

Karla paused for a moment not quite knowing what to say… then it came to her. "She is amazing," Karla began unaware of the silly grin beginning to emerge on her face. "She has more energy than any person I've met in my life. Oh and her enthusiasm is ... well it can be overwhelming at times. I mean she just gets carried away sometimes and I don't know what to do. I find myself getting caught up like I'm trapped in some kind of whirlpool. Her eyes are the deepest shade of green and when she gets excited about something, I swear they sparkle."

"You're not talking about sex?" Maureen interrupted absently.

"No," Karla responded feeling slightly miffed.

"Don't get upset," Maureen groaned. "It's just that after the way you two met ... I think that I've been assuming that was the main draw. But it's not is it?"

"No," Karla said firmly. "It's her not her body."

"I'm still worried about you."

Karla smiled knowing that no matter what the situation, Maureen was going to worry. "Thanks, Sis," Karla said quietly as she could hear the sounds of her nieces looking for their mother. Karla thanked Maureen for listening to her and being there, then she hung up. It had felt good to talk to Maureen; to finally be able to voice the emotions that had been gnawing at her since that day she and Olivia had lunch in New York. The day before had been what it was, but the morning after was something different.

Even though it had felt good to vent a little, the dim reality that she had no chance to be with Olivia was looming over her. Disgusted with herself and the situation she had allowed herself to fall into, she plopped down onto the futon. Switching on the television set she began to scratch Howard on the back of his head while she search for something to take her mind off of things. Finally she was pleased to happen across 'The Apartment' . "I love this movie," she confessed to Howard. "I still can't believe that Jack Lemmon died." Absently she continued to scratch the sleeping feline. "Oh this is a great scene ... Jack is about to tell his boss, Fred MacMurray that he's in love with Shirley McClain. Unfortunately, for Jack, Fred is a big stinker in this movie."

She continued to narrate the story to Howard who continued to sleep. As the last scene unfolded, Karla held her palm over her chest as Jack confessed his love for Shirley. "Shut up and deal," Karla said along with Shirley. Unaware that not far away Olivia was mirroring her actions. The closing credits began to roll as Karla sighed deeply. "They just don't make movies like that anymore, Howard."

The sleeping feline failed to move, although he did purr encouraging Karla to keep up her ministrations. "Fine, be that way," Karla snarled as she continued to channel surf. "Great. Hundreds of channels and there's still nothing on," Karla scoffed as she decided to give up her search. She clicked off the television and tossed the remote down onto the end table. Karla sat there pouting slightly as she tried not to think about Olivia. Her efforts were failing miserably.

Suddenly something occurred to her. "I forgot about that," she said to herself, finally accepting that Howard wasn't paying attention. Jumping up off of the futon she retrieved her briefcase and began to rummage through it. Her heart jumped into her throat as she found the envelope she had intended to give to Olivia the night before. She crammed the package that contained her assistant's underwear back into her briefcase and resumed her search.

She smiled brightly as she found the object she was looking for. Tucking the manuscript under her arm, she padded her way into the kitchen, her feet tingling slightly on the cold tiles. "Well, if I can't win the girl ..." Karla mused as she opened the freezer door, "... I'll just have to settle for my two favorite boys, Ben and Jerry." Snagging the pint of ice cream and a spoon she made her way back into the living room.

Grimacing as she found Howard now sprawled out on the futon in an apparent effort to take over, Karla nudged the furry little beast aside and dropped down onto the futon. "I'm all set," she sighed. "Chocolate and a smutty book. Now this is the only way to heal a broken heart." She flipped open the pint of ice cream and took a healthy spoonful of ice cream. "Chapel Hill, a novel by Charlotte Hayden Smith," Karla read aloud from the title page. "I wonder how Olivia got her hands on this?" she muttered as she began to read the unpublished manuscript. "Oh well," she shrugged as she began to read the story.

Hours later, darkness had descended. The only reason Karla James noticed was because she was forced to flip on the living room lamp, licking her lips as she closed the manuscript. "Oh my," Karla stammered as she swallowed hard. "Well that was … interesting." Karla glanced around looking for more chocolate. She frowned as she noticed the empty ice cream carton, which was now being kept company with the remnants of a package of Oreos.

"What was I thinking? Reading something like that." Karla could feel her pulse racing. "Of course it didn't help that one of the main characters reminded me of Olivia ... Oh boy ..." Even though it was still a little early, Karla decided to go to bed and take matters into her own hands.

Slowly she pulled the beding back and layed on her back slipping her fingers under the band of her boxer shorts. All she could focus on was Olivia's face and her smile. Reaching down slowly she slipped her fingers between her thighs, gasping as she discovered how wet she was.

Olivia had captured her heart but she had also claimed other body parts as well. Karla played out the fantasy of loving Olivia as her own fingers teased her clit. Unable to control herself she slid her fingers inside of herself, coming instantly. "Whew !" She blew out a heavy breath as she stopped trembling. Never in her life had she climaxed so quickly. "This time I'm taking it slow." She told herself as she realized this was going to take all night long.

TBC

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