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The concrete under her feet was hot, almost painfully so, as she hurried to the last empty bench she could spot.
Gosh it really was almost unbearable to be outside during this heat. But after having stayed inside the past five days, locking out the sun, Mirabelle had decided it was time to try and get out and prove to the world that she’s indeed not a vampire and won’t turn into ashes as soon as the sun hits her.
She plopped down on the bench, the wood warm but still comfortable. She pulled her feet off the floor, careful not to flash people walking by, internally cursing that she wore a skirt. Pants were just simply too warm though.
The harbour, less meant for boats and more for days like these so people could go swim in the river, was busy. Teenage boys running around, constantly accidentally kicking their soccer ball into the water and then dramatically jumping after it. Dog owners trying to get their dogs to move. Parents with little kids trying to get their toddler out of the burning sun.
A pinch of loneliness pulled at Mirabelle. She debated if she should buy herself some ice cream but decided it wasn’t worth loosing her seating spot.
So she sat there.
Music playing in her head even though she forgot her headphones, watching people, wondering about their lives. Smiling at how whimsical and summery the whole scenery looked with the weeping willows across the bay, appreciating the both sweet and slightly savoury scent of the air.
It’s only when she started getting dizzy, realising how long she’d been sitting, that she thought she should probably get out of the sun.
Gathering her things, glancing at her phone before throwing it into her bag and reluctantly putting her feet on the hot floor again she slowly got up trying to figure out where to go.
She didn’t want to leave yet.
This place was the most magical in the evening, always making her feel like she was in a coming-of-age movie.
But all the shadow spots on the grass were taken, people on towels covering the dried out lawn.
The heat of the ground didn’t bother her as much now, her body somehow having slightly adjusted.
She walked at the edge, hoping no stupid teen boy would push her in the water, then balanced on a log, then tried to make her way across the lawn without stepping on anyone laying there near the water. She put a hand on her head as if that’d help shielding her from the sun, only to be shocked by how hot her hair had gotten. She really needed to find a spot in the shadow.
The weeping willows and bushes stood out to her again, glowing hundreds different shades of green. Maybe she could climb into one of the trees? Deciding it was worth a try she walked towards the wall of green.
She almost tripped over a bag and profoundly apologised to the girl it belonged to. She looked up with a raised eyebrow, not moving from her spot it her lovers arm. Embarrassment and a deep craving for someone to hold her like that spread through her as she quickly walked on. Was a little bit of actual real life connection really too much to ask for?
Internally she was having a discussion with herself how it didn’t even need to be a lover but simply a friend to spend time with but her thoughts went quiet immediately when she finally reached the trees, pushing past the curtain of one of the willows.
It was stunning. The way the light filtered through the leafs, casting soft shadows on her warm skin.
As she spun around taking it all in she spotted a little path. It looked regularly used, the whole place not as hidden and untouched as she thought even though there were no other people around as far as she could see.
Slowly she stepped down the path, cursing under her breath as her skirt got caught on a low branch. She realised that the ground she walked on reached out into the river, water glittering through the bushes left and right.
She supposed it was a river branch on her right, observing how it was even calmer than the water on the other side. It felt magical, a welcomed escape from the world.
But right as a big smile formed on her face, seeing a little dragon fly pass by, she suddenly realised she might not be as lone as she thought.
She could hear a low hum of music.
In every other instance she would’ve turned around and left. But the way the blue sky reflected in the water, the way the smell of the trees mixed with the one of the hot air, the way her heart refused to acknowledge the possibility of a very awkward encounter with some stranger, kept her walking forwards. And really, she’d rather have one awkward interaction than go back into the field of people on towels anyway.
Carefully she stepped over the root of a tree, the smile finding its way back onto her face.
The more she walked the clearer the sound of the music got. It sounded familiar. Mirabelle thought for a second trying to figure out the song.
The chatter of the people on the grass and the subtle wind was really not helping but as the chorus hit she finally recognised it.
Naked in Manhattan by Chappell Roan.
Mirabelles smile widened. A chappell fan in the wild?
She stopped walking, not really knowing why, enjoying the sound, wondering who was listening to this music. A pout pulled at her lips as the song ended just to disappear again immediately when the next song that came on was Willow by Reneé Rapp.
Willow.
How fitting.
Mirabelle grinned looking at her surroundings. Curiosity about this person listening to music from two of her favourite artists filled her, making her skin prickle.
She slowly started going down the path again, having to duck under a branch, careful of her brown and blonde hair not getting stuck on it.
She focused on the little birds chirping, on a little butterfly flying by, on the flowers groing at the edge of the water but when she once again pushes past the curtain of leafs all her focus shifts.
There, reaching out into the calm side of the water, was a small wooden dock. Beautiful, overgrown on the sides, the sun hitting it through the leafs.
On it there was a girl laying on her back, holding an open book into the air over her face.
Mirabelle stood still. The girl was absolutely gorgeous. Her hair, read and curly, spread out on the wood, her face ethereal and her energy radiating comfort.
The music makes the whole scene laid out before her even more cinematic.
Embarrassed, Mirabelle realises she’d been quietly watching the beautiful stranger like an absolute creep.
Carefully she fixes her hair and clothes before taking a purposefully slightly louder step and mumbling a shy “hi”.
The girl, around the same age as Mirabelle, startled before quickly turning over to look at the girl stood in front of her.
“Hi” she whispered back, taken aback by how absolutely stunning this seemingly lost stranger was.
“I’m- I’m Mirabelle. You’re uhm..you’re really pretty” She introduced herself, suddenly flustered and not sure what to say.
An adorable pink blush crept up the other girls neck at her words.
“Aw thank you” she said, her voice slightly pitched up. She cleared her throat before shyly introducing herself as well. “My name’s Ruby.”
For a moment they stayed like that, carefully watching each other with big admiring eyes.
Ruby batted her lashes, looking up at the still standing Mirabell and added with a coy smile
“You’re very pretty too.”
The standing girl grinned at that.
The song came to an end and something by Lana del Rey came on.
“I uhm, I really love your music taste, I could kinda hear what you were listening to while walking here and uhm yea” Now it was the red haired girls turn to grin. “Thank you!”
Between them the air shifted. Subtilely. Slowly. Almost unnoticeable at first but obvious at the same time. The way they didn’t move, looking at each other as if they’re precious flowers, the music, now mentioned and undeniably queer but nothing said directly.
“Do you wanna sit down and listen to it some more?”
Rubys offer was simple. Still it took a moment for Mirabelle to register the question before telling her yes and carefully sitting down next to her at a respectful distance. Their voices were still hushed for no real reason.
After staring out onto the river branch, admiring the glittering and now the surface reflected the trees reaching over the waters edge, Mirabelle finally mustered up the courage to break the silence again.
“Do you come here often?”
The girl next to her, skin fair, hair like fire, leaned back to turn the musics volume down to a minimum before turning back to her taking a second before replying.
“I do. I like the quiet out here. The heat is more bearable. And there’s no people staring at me in my bikini.” Mirabelle tensed at that, knowing the feeling too well, desperately hoping she hasn’t made the just met girl uncomfortable by looking at her.
After a moment of silence Ruby continued. “And no one will judge me for the music I like”
She giggled slightly saying that, thinking about Mirabelles immediate comment on it earlier.
“How ‘bout you, you looked a little lost earlier, have you been here before?”
“No I haven’t, to be honest I was just trying to escape the sun and the many people”
“Fair”
Once again a moment of silence fell over them, the now quiet sound of the music mixing with the sound of a small boat going past on the main river.
The brown haired girls voice was soft as she spoke again.
“You can call me Mira by the way”
Ruby smiled, a warm, infectious smile.
“Mira” She whispered as if testing how the name rolled off her tongue
“Do you not like your full name? I think it’s quite beautiful”
At that Mira blushed.
“Thank you. I’m honestly not sure it just… feels so formal sometimes.”
Ruby cocked her head to the side “I get that. Mira it is then.” She smiled at Mira, that gorgeous warm smile again that the brown haired girl wanted to engrave into her brain and remember forever.
For the first time she allowed herself to look at Ruby a little closer other than her face. Her legs looked incredibly strong and her soft curves looked magnificent. Her skin, pale as her own, looked flawless.
Only then she realised that the girl is just sitting on the bare rough wood.
“Is the wood not too hot to sit on in just a bikini?” she asked quietly, once again scared to make her uncomfortable.
A soft smile tugged at Ruby’s lips once again, in awe of Mira’s soft tone.
“It is a little uncomfortable to be honest, I’ve been worrying about getting splinters but silly me forgot her towel at home.”
“Oh wait I have a towel you can have it!”
“Oh don’t worry about it, I’ll be fine really-“ she tried to argue but Mira was already digging through her bag.
“Here you go!”
Ruby chuckled at her enthusiasm, taking the towel gratefully.
“Thank you Mira”
Her name in the other girls mouth almost made Mirabelle melt. Gosh she’s only known this person for approximately eight minutes and was already hypnotised by her.
“I feel bad taking it all to myself though” Ruby looked at the bunched up towel in her hand like she was considering something.
Then a murmured “Would you wanna share it?”
It took Mira a second to register the question. She would’ve been stupid to say no, still it took her a moment to slightly nod and hum in agreement.
They both stood up, placing their things out of the way and putting the towel down before awkwardly sitting down again. Closer to each other than before, Mira felt Rubys presence radiating and clear. It sounded silly in her head but in that moment she thought the girl next to her must be magical.
The birds filled the nervous silence between them by chirping in a simultaneously loud and beautifully soft singing voice.
This time it was Ruby who broke the quiet, slightly turning to look at Mirabelle.
“So is this actually your music taste or was that just a conversation started earlier?”
The song playing at that moment was called “a party” by Towa bird. Mira recognised it instantly after having learnt it on the guitar just few weeks prior.
Her cheeks reddened at the thought of lying or making something up just to talk to this angel, even though honestly it would’ve been kind of valid.
“No no this is actually my music taste I swear” a bright giggle escaped her throat “Just look at my bag!” She slightly lifted her Reneé Rapp Tote bag. Snow angel merch she’d gotten from ebay cause the shipping for the original had simply been insane.
“Damn I love that bag omg. What’s your favourite song?”
And just like that all the awkwardness was gone. The conversation flowed from songs and melodies to lyrics then artists. Both gasped in excitement realising they both knew their smallest favourite singers.
Then the topic of relating to artists came up and suddenly the subtle tension came back. They shyly shared some of their struggles but the most obvious similarity between all the singers hung silently in the air.
“Reneé’s music really means a lot to me because Uhm..”
The two girls locked eyes. It was silly, really, how scared they were to say it, but the fear of ruining their new found connection was very real.
“Cause she’s…?” Mira posed the question without actually saying it.
“Cause she’s gay!” Ruby bursted out, giggling and throwing her head back in relief seeing the happy look on Mirabelles face.
“Same girl. Same.” Light chuckles escaped both of them, amused by how scared they were to put it into words. Glad to realise they’re so similar to each other in that sense.
Mira stared at the girl next to her, now a little more comfortably, appreciating her beauty.
“I hope this doesn’t come off as weird but you kind of look like Chappell!”
Rubys eyes widened in surprise.
“Really? Well I sure hope you mean that as a compliment cause I’m absolutely taking it as one!”
“Of course it’s a compliment, she’s fucking stunning!” And then in a more hushed tone “Just like you.”
Ruby turned her head trying to hide the blush spreading on her cheeks but failing miserably making Mira giggle. Quickly though she composed herself, a smirk slowly appearing on her still slightly flushed face.
“You know, you actually remind me of a Reneé song! Well at least regarding the title”
The brown haired beauty next to her suspiciously raised an eyebrow.
“Is that so huh?” Ruby just hummed a gentle yes making Mira awfully impatient.
“Well which song are thinking of! Tell meee!” She almost sounded a little whiny but couldn’t bring herself to care.
Ruby let her wonder more for a couple seconds before smiling sweetly two simple words slipping through her lips.
“Pretty girls.”
Now it’s Mirabelles turn to blush furiously and try to hide. She felt so flattered being called pretty by the, in her opinion, most gorgeous girl she’d met, she couldn’t force herself to act cool.
“Ah ah don’t hide your pretty face baby”
The nickname slipped past her lips and she tensed hearing herself say it. It felt natural and fitting but now she was scared she went too far. Thankfully the look on Mira’s face proved that she indeed hadn’t gone too far. Her eyes had a glimmer of excitement and adoration in them.
“Baby” She whispered back, mirroring Rubys expression, carefully, testing, but with more intention than how it sounded in the other girls mouth.
Subtly, almost instinctively, she scooched a little closer to her. In response Ruby leaned in a little. The air between them felt new and warm, almost like in a magical dream.
She noticed Miras sweet scent, stunned by how perfectly it matched the girl who was now looking at her with big eyes.
Their eye contact grew stronger, more intense and almost wanting.
Slowly, wanting to give Ruby the chance to stop her, Mirabelle raised her hand, her rings on her slender fingers reflecting the sun. Gently she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, slightly stroking her flushed cheek while doing so.
After lingering for a second she pulled her hand away again but Ruby stopped her, tenderly but confidently taking her hand into her own, guiding it to her lips, pressing a soft kiss to it before letting go and looking up to make sure she wasn’t going too far.
Mira revelled in the feeling, the ghost of the action making her whole body tingle.
“Ruby?” ,her sound low, almost a little breathless, trying not to loose herself in the others girls eyes, “may I kiss you?”
“please” was the only word she managed to breathily whisper before their lips met.
It was uncertain at first. Careful and warm like a dance that still needed to be learned.
But soon the warmth turned into heat, their hands once limp at their sides now holding each others waists, caressing their faces, resting on each others necks.
Miras hand slid up from it’s spot on Rubys shoulder to her defined jaw, gently stroking it with her thumb, pulling away from the kiss for a second to feel her lower lip under her finger before connecting their mouths again.
Growing more confident she lightly sucked at her lip, making Ruby whine.
The redheads hands started getting more greedy, digging into Miras soft sides.
In response Mira started tilting her head, the kiss getting messier, trailing down the other girls neck, leaving subtle red marks that would soon fade.
A sigh escaped Ruby at the sensation, her body pleading for more.
As Mira hears her name from her mouth “Mirabelle” like a silent prayer she almost loses all composure, internally rethinking how she felt about her full name.
She whispers back, a quiet “baby”, this time not shy or careful but almost needy.
Gosh what was this angel doing to her? Normally so shy, her only kisses inflicted by stupid games of truth or dare, anxiety flaring up by just the thought of touch - now craving this only just met girls hands, ready to give herself over or do whatever she’d ask for simply to please her.
Rubys hands snuck up Miras back under her tank top, warm and eager but slow enough to make sure it was okay.
The kiss felt suffocating in a delicious way, their lips slightly swollen, their tongues starting to intertwine.
Suddenly Mira pulled back, hand still on Rubys jaw who now had a glint of panic in her eyes. “Are you okay, did I go too far?”
Mirabelle chuckled, low, wanting. “No, no you didn’t” Her eyes a mix of desire and tenderness.
“I just need to know that you actually want this.”
The arm length of distance between them felt like an entire mile.
“oh Mira” Ruby breathed “I really really want this. Really want you.” She said the last part with a smirk that made Miras body tingle.
“I want you too. Do you wanna lay down for me?”
With a soft hum Ruby did as she was told, though quickly realising the towel was not near big enough to fully lay on.
Mira quickly noticed her discomfort, furrowing her brows slightly “What’s wrong?”
Ruby felt strange laying there, almost exposed. “It’s just the wood. The towel doesnt cover it fully and it’s kinda hot and rough to be honest.” She had to force herself to say those words, had to force herself to risk ruining the vibe to stay comfortable.
Now she glanced up at Mira, her expression a question if she just made it awkward but the other girl who looked almost ethereal from this angle just giggled and stuck out her hand to pull her up again.
“Well we can’t have that! Come here for a second.” Ruby kneeled next to her, wondering what she had in mind.
“Is it okay if I take my skirt off?”
The question hit Ruby as a surprise. Still she managed a coy “of course”
She watched as Mira took off her skirt, not being able to stop herself from following every movement intently.
As she watched her stepping out of the big flowy garment , slowly and almost calculatedly draping it over the wooden ground, arranging it next to the towel so a big enough area was covered. The care she put into it made Rubys heart flutter.
“There you go, pretty girl. Now it’s at least a little bit more comfortable.” She turned back to the still stunned girl, carefully taking her face pressing another kiss to her lips before guiding her to lay down.
Rubys breath hitched as Mira leaned over her, kissing her once more as their hands found each others bodies again and she felt her trailing her nails down her stomach. Slowly the kisses starting trailing away from her mouth, down her throat, to her full chest, sucking with more confidence this time. The hot sun shone down on them, intensifying every sensation.
Ruby arched her back as she felt Miras soft lips through her bikini top, desperate for more.
“please”
“please what honey?” Mirabelle teased, keeping her mouth where it was.
“just..” She couldn’t find the words. The feeling of the graceful fingers on her waist making her mind foggy. She hooked her fingers under her own top, pulling it aside breathing another “please”
Mira complied, taking the already peaked nipple between her lips, a subtle wave of pleasure and pride hitting her seeing Rubys reaction. “so gorgeous” she mumbled, the vibrations sending a shiver down the girls spine whose hair was messily spread out under her, glowing like fire.
Mira gasped feeling hands on her, guiding her face back to Rubys own.
“Can we please-” a deep sigh escaped her, her eyes half shut from pleasure, “Can we please go further? Somewhere more private?”
Kisses interrupted her sentence but she could feel Mira smiling against her lips.
“I’d love nothing more.” Slowly they pulled apart from each other, Mira once again tucking a strand of curly hair behind Rubys hair before halfheartedly trying to fix her own.
“Do you wanna go now or stay here and then continue later?”
Ruby sat up, thinking for a second. “Let’s stay here just for a little while longer”
They fell into a comfortable silence, still flushed from their heated kiss, excited for what was to come later.
Mira once again tried to fix her hair, struggling without a mirror available while Ruby fixed her bikini so she was a little more covered again.
Once she saw Miras failing attempt at making a simple braid she gently grabbed her wrists, stopping her, murmuring “let me” before taking her soft hair into her hands, putting it into a voluminous gorgeous braid.
The sun beating down now felt a lot more bearable, Mira thought while laying down with Ruby, staring at the dancing leafs above, before gently dozing off with Rubys hand in hers.