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"Hey, Muffy."
Pony's steps clunk against the wooden bridge as she approaches her friend and sits beside her. Muffy often comes here to cry, usually after getting her heart broken by a man who isn't worth her time.
Muffy sniffles and looks up. "Oh, hey Pony. Come to check on me again?"
"I always come when I see you on the bridge. It's kind of our thing. You get home from a date looking ... gorgeous," Pony swallows, ignoring herself and hoping Muffy does the same, "And needing support. And I come over and offer to kick somebody's ass."
Muffy laughs. Pony brushes her thick blonde hair behind her ear, fingers tingling from the brief contact with Muffy's cheek. These feelings are getting harder to push away, but what can she do? Their friendship is too important. Muffy is Pony's best friend in this town, and she knows Muffy feels the same. And with neither of them having a great track record of maintaining relationships, it wouldn't be wise to risk it.
"That's not completely true," Muffy says, smiling. "You let me talk. You listen. You always listen." She looks out over the water, the sun setting over the horizon, where clear-blue river meets the ominous sea. "I'm so lonely, Pony. Why do men think they can walk all over me? Why do I even try? They think they're so great, but really they're not so different from one another. I just want someone to love me. I feel like I'm doing everything wrong." Muffy puts her head in her hands.
"You're not doing anything wrong," Pony says, putting her hand on Muffy's back. "You're every guy's dream. Every girl's dream, for that matter."
Muffy looks up. "Every girl's dream?"
Pony laughs nervously. "Uh, well yeah! You're a catch, Muffy. I know you know that."
Muffy smiles. "Yeah. You know what, maybe you're right. Maybe I should start dating women, stop wasting my time on these non-committal baby boys. I met a nice lesbian couple in a bar in the city a couple weeks ago - they seemed happy together. I've always kind of envied people like that." There's a silence, until Muffy adds, "Maybe it's silly. I mean, I've been looking for a husband for so long. Imagine what people would say. They already think I'm easy."
"Wait - Muffy," Pony's expression drops. "I mean, are you... attracted to women?"
"Isn't everybody?" Muffy looks genuinely baffled. Pony laughs.
"No, actually. Not everyone. It's okay if you are, though," Pony says.
"Are you?" Muffy asks.
"What?"
"Are you attracted to women?"
They stare at each other for a moment, Pony panicked and unblinking. Finally, she stops holding her breath.
"Yes. I am. Attracted to women."
Muffy nods. She looks out at the water again, but Pony can see a smile forming at the corner of her mouth. They're silent like this for a few minutes. The sunlight fades, making it easier to spot the green glow of fireflies. "Have you dated girls before?" Muffy asks.
"Yes, back in the city," Pony says. "Have you?"
Muffy laughs. "I've kissed girls," she confesses, blushing. "But I've never tried to date them like I would a man. I don't think I ever realized I could. Isn't that silly?" Muffy isn't looking away anymore. Her eyes, grey like the stones bottoming the river, bore into Pony with more intensity than she's ever seen from Muffy.
"Have you ever thought about going there with anyone from town? With.. with me, maybe?" Muffy takes Pony's hand and places it on her bare thigh, Pony's thumb just grazing the hem of her skirt. "I've thought about it," she says.
In that moment, Pony loses access to her heart, lungs, and soul. All that remains of her is an overwhelming warmth between her legs and full-body, deer-in-the-headlights panic. Somehow, she finds it within her to lick her lips and say, "I've thought about it, too."
Muffy smiles wide, but Pony, remembering what's at stake, pulls back.
Muffy looks dejected, making Pony wince. "What's wrong?"
"What if something happens?" Pony tucks her wispy babyhairs behind her ears. "I don't want to ruin our friendship," she says.
"Pony, I see the way you look at me -" Pony blushes and looks away, but Muffy grabs her hand and puts it back on her thigh, "- and I know how I feel around you. Aren't you curious? We could take it slow. And promise to stay friends no matter what." She pauses, then adds, "Doesn't this feel exciting to you?" Muffy's eyes are bright and gleaming in the moonlight. She looks alive, happy, like how she is when she meets a new guy. Except, this time, Pony is feeling it too, and this time, Muffy's smile is bigger, and her cheeks are flushed, and Pony's hand is squeezing her soft inner thigh. Finally, Pony leans in and kisses Muffy with more desperation than she planned to show. She pulls her close with a hand around her waist, melting into her, fighting to urge to move her hand further up Muffy's thigh.
When they break apart, Pony glows. "You're right, Muff," she says. She rubs her thumb across Muffy's cheek, who stares, dumbfounded, lips parted with disbelief. "This does feel exciting. Actually, it has for a while now."
Muffy smiles, grabs Pony by the straps of her overalls, and pulls her in for another kiss. Pony smiles against Muffy's lips, pulling her into her lap. Finally.