Nocturnal Obsession

Later on, Teresa fixed herself some cocoa. She wanted desperately to catch Sabrina on her rounds, but she didn’t want to come off as desperate either, despite the fact that, for the first time in her life, it was exactly how she felt. With the pervert next door tucked in bed for the night, she decided to sit out on her porch. Twenty minutes later, she saw the object of her desire approaching from the front. Even her silhouette turned her on—the way she walked, the way her hair swung with her movements. “Hi, Sabrina,” said Teresa, just as she glanced her way. “Hi,” she said, coming closer. Once she was just a few feet away from the wooden railing that enclosed the porch, she asked, “What are you doing sitting out here in the dark?” “Keeps the bugs away if I keep it dark.” “That’s true. You got a point there.” Sabrina studied her. “You usually a night person?” “As nocturnal as ever,” replied Teresa. “When do you work, and what do you do?” “I work right here. Computer work is a wonderful thing. That way I could move my job right on out with me when I moved out here from Maine.” “Maine, huh? You’re a long way from home, girl.” “That I am.” “What brought you all the way out here?” “I guess I just wanted a change. My friend moved out before I did, and she’d always tell me how wonderful it was.” “How long’s it been now?” “Six months. What about you? You from here?” “No, I’m from California. Been here quite a while, though—like seven years. My father and one of my sisters live here, too.” “That’s nice,” Teresa said. “So, just what is it you do with the computer?” “Well, different things, I guess you could say. It’s complicated.” The girl’s hesitancy sparked a flicker of curiosity and suspicion in Sabrina’s eyes. “Well, don’t get into any trouble,” she said with a smile as she turned to continue on her way. “Want some coffee to take with you?” “No thanks. See you later.” “Bye,” said Teresa, leaving Sabrina to wonder if she had been sitting outside deliberately waiting for her to walk by. Teresa was left feeling disappointed. The attraction must not be mutual, she thought. Wouldn’t she make more time for her if it were? She stood up and went inside, clicking the lock on the sliding glass door. “If it’s any consolation to myself,” she said aloud, “I can still spy on her. Oh, yes, all night long I can keep watch on the object of my lust.” Keeping the lights off, she headed into the bedroom and pushed her foam mattress close to the window. Then she sat down to wait for Sabrina to pass by. When she did, Teresa noticed that she made not even the slightest glance towards her place. Not the slightest. This sort of hurt Teresa’s feelings. I’ll make her care, Teresa thought as her eyelids grew heavier. I’ll make her notice. She yawned and soon was off to dreamland. The next evening, just as the sun was setting, Teresa headed out to meet Sasha and Kate by the pool. “Hi, sweetheart,” she heard Mark say from his porch. “When you gonna bring that snug little ass over here?” “Maybe sooner than you think,” called out Teresa as she ambled off. Sasha and Kate sat on lounge chairs, their suits and hair wet from swimming. There were only a few others at the pool. An older couple sat on the other side of the pool, sifting through magazines, while a younger guy hurriedly swam laps. “You’d think a shark was chasing him,” said Sasha. “So what should I do?” Teresa asked as she took a seat next to Sasha. “I am so, so madly attracted to her like you wouldn’t believe, and like I don’t even believe it, so what should I do?” “Let her know how you feel,” suggested Kate. “I don’t know,” Teresa said, contemplating the idea. “I was never one to be shy, but I don’t know if I could look her in the face and tell her without my knees buckling.” Kate made another suggestion. “Write her a note.” “Oh, please, Kate,” said Sasha. “That is so impersonal and so tacky.” “Yeah, I suppose it is,” she agreed. “It’s simple,” Sasha continued. “Unless she’s got a thing against redheads, she can’t possibly not be attracted to you unless one of two possibilities is the case—and that’s that she’s either taken, or we’re wrong in assuming she’s a lesbian. There are, after all, some straight women who aren’t exactly Miss Ultra-Fem of the century.” “There she is, there she is!” said Teresa in a hushed yet excited whisper. They watched as she strode towards them, saying hello with a friendly smile to a couple that passed her by. “Damn,” said Kate, “she really is a looker.” Sasha gave her a chastising look. “Well, that is only if you like that type,” Kate quickly added. “She’s a lesbian. I tell you, she really is,” Sasha said with confidence. “That was my first impression, too,” said Kate. “And mine three,” chimed in Teresa. “Just take her aside and get right to the point, girl,” said Kate. “I don’t know,” Teresa said with hesitancy. “She only just started working here.” “That’s true, Teresa. Give it another hour or two.” They giggled. Just then, Sabrina spotted them. Her expression didn’t seem to change at all. She came forth with the same professional politeness she’d shown the couple. “Hi there,” Sasha called out. “Good evening, ladies.” “You the new security guard, huh?” “That I am,” she said. Nodding towards Teresa, she said, “Oh, well, you might want to stop by my good friend’s place when you can and…” Teresa bopped Sasha in the arm and gave her a look of reprimand just as Sabrina looked downwards with a smile, hands on her hips. Then she looked back up as if to say, Yeah, yeah, whatever. I don’t have time for this immature kiddy shit. Instead, she said she’d “keep an eye on things” and headed off. “You jerk!” Teresa chastised. “That’s only going to make me look like a sissy who can’t speak for herself.” “Really, Sasha. You shouldn’t have opened your mouth,” Kate agreed. “Ok, so I’m not perfect. Bad judgment call. Sorry, Resa,” Sasha said, using Teresa’s nickname. The three sat together a while longer. Sasha and Kate noted that Teresa had become rather solemn and quiet. “You ok, pal?” Sasha asked. “I’ll live,” Teresa said, rising to her feet. “I think I’ll go back and put up with Mark’s shit for a while before I make some phone calls.” Feeling like a fool, Teresa headed home. She expected to find Mark waiting in front, but he was nowhere in sight. Teresa glanced at the clock. It was now almost midnight. She walked into the bathroom and gazed at her face in the mirror. “Face it, girl, she’s not interested. And don’t even try to suggest to yourself that she could be shy and that that’s why she hasn’t come around. Don’t fool yourself like that. She didn’t do or say anything to suggest she was the least bit shy, and you know it. Admit it, accept it—you can’t have her.” She picked up the brush that lay on the counter and began running it through her long red tresses. “On the other hand, you don’t have to bow out that gracefully. At least take the honor of informing her of how you feel. Yes, that’s what I’ll do,” Teresa said, nodding at her image. “I’m going to let her know just how attracted to her I am, even if she laughs at me and tells me to go to hell.” Out she went, locking the door behind her. The temperature was perfect now—not too cool, not too warm.