Nocturnal Obsession

Teresa had noticed that Sabrina seemed to pass by hourly. Assuming she was at the guard station when she wasn’t out walking, that’s where Teresa decided to head. She walked briskly. Not a soul was in sight. When the station came into view, her heart felt like it had lurched up into her throat. She quickened her pace before she had a chance to lose her nerve. The dimly lit guard station was small. There was just enough room in it for a place to sit at the built-in table. There was a phone on the wall of the booth in which Sabrina now sat on a stool, mostly facing the little doorway to her left. She appeared to be sifting through an assortment of papers that were strewn on the table and didn’t notice Teresa heading toward her until she was just a few feet away. “Hey, what are you doing out so late?” she asked, glancing at her, then back toward her papers. “I—well…” She glanced back at Teresa with a slight look of concern. “Everything ok?” “Well, yes, but you see…” Teresa ran her hand nervously through her hair while Sabrina glanced at her paperwork for a moment, then back at her. Damn, she looked good! thought Teresa. So good it almost hurt. How she wanted her so! Never before had she experienced such intense longing and desire. Sabrina placed one elbow on the table on her right and rested her other arm on her thigh. Her long legs reached the ground easily despite the elevated stool she sat on. She continued to gaze at Teresa with a mixture of curiosity and concern. “You’re not in a hurry, are you?” Teresa asked. “No,” Sabrina said, shaking her head. “I’ve got a little time. Why? What’s up?” “Well, for starters, it isn’t every day that I bare my soul to someone I’ve barely known for seventy-two hours.” A slight smile formed on Sabrina’s face, then her serious expression returned. “You see, I’ve never actually been with a woman before, though I’ve thought about it for as long as I can remember.” A knowing smile crossed Sabrina’s lips as she turned her head and shuffled through a few papers with the arm that had been resting on the table, while Teresa marveled at the way her silky hair shimmered in the light of the station as she moved. “And then I saw you and was like, oh my God.” Sabrina turned back toward her, smiling softly. Her smile was the sexiest smile Teresa had ever seen. She loved the way the corners of her glossy pink lips turned upward. “Please believe me when I say I don’t mean to offend you or anything.” “No, not at all,” Sabrina said softly. “Oh, good,” Teresa said, releasing a relieved breath. “You’re not going to mace me or use your stun gun on me then?” Sabrina laughed. “Of course not. We can’t help what we feel.” She shuffled more papers, then turned back to face Teresa, the serious look back in place. Teresa’s heart felt like it’d burst forth from her chest. “Teresa, you’re a very beautiful girl. Very beautiful. Probably one of the best-looking ladies I’ve ever seen, and I’m very flattered by your attraction. However, I am spoken for.” Teresa had just learned the true meaning of what it was like to have your heart sink, for it literally felt like that was exactly what it had done. Still, she tried her damnedest to hide her disappointment. “Now, Carly and I may not always get along, but we go way back—like to when I first came out here—and, well, that’s not something you just throw away no matter how stormy things sometimes get, you know?” Teresa nodded, swallowing the lump that had risen in her throat. She felt her eyes water. No, no, no! she thought. I will not make an even bigger fool of myself by being a little crybaby! “I understand,” said Teresa. “Can I ask you one thing, though?” “Sure,” said Sabrina. “If you were single, would my being so short bother you?” “Absolutely not,” assured Sabrina with a smile. “In fact, Carly’s right around your height.” “Oh? I’m four-ten.” Sabrina shrugged. “She’s only topped you by an inch or so.” Teresa mustered up a quick, tight-lipped smile. “If I were single, I wouldn’t think twice, Teresa. You’re a cutie. But hey, I’m not the only one, you know? You’re young yet, and you’re going to meet a lot of people.” “I doubt any of them will be as good-looking as you,” said Teresa. Sabrina smiled. “Oh, I think you’ll be surprised.” “Sabrina?” “Yeah?” “One more thing before I get out of your hair and head back.” “What is it, hon?” Teresa took a deep breath. “Do you think we could be friends? I mean, not the kind who go out shopping together or to the movies, but while you’re here.” “Of course, sweetie,” Sabrina answered, empathy in her eyes. She could sense just how lonely the girl truly was, especially since she hadn’t been here long enough to meet many people. “Tell you what.” Teresa pulled her gaze from the road and looked back at Sabrina, some hope evident in her eyes. “I promise I’ll make a point of stopping to chat with you whenever I work. Or better yet, why don’t you come to the station once or twice a night?” “You got it, Officer,” Teresa said with a smile. “Just try to make it at around a quarter to the hour when you do, ok?” “Sure,” said Teresa as she began backing away to head home. “Do you have a little can of mace or anything?” Sabrina asked. Teresa shook her head. “Sorry, no weapons.” “Not that this isn’t a relatively safe place, but if you’re going to be out and about at night, you should carry something. I’ll bring you a spare can tomorrow.” “Ok.” “For now, I’ll walk you back myself.” “Thank you,” Teresa said, honored to have such a gorgeous creature by her side, guarding her. It made her wish Mark would start his shit when they got to her door. Teresa glanced over at Sabrina’s profile. “Gosh, you’re tall.” “Five-ten,” she said, smiling down at Teresa. At a loss for any more words, Teresa walked silently beside Sabrina during the two-minute stroll to her door. Mark remained in bed as he always did at this hour. “Good night, Teresa. Sleep well.” “I will. Have a good night,” Teresa said. Sabrina smiled, then turned and walked off, leaving Teresa with conflicting thoughts. Yes, it was horrible to learn that she was taken, but the fact that she’d agreed to chat with her gave her a slight spark of hope. Maybe she could win her over in the end, after all. It might take time, but she had to try. Sabrina admitted she was attracted to her, so that meant that all she had to do was show her that she was a much better person for her than this Carly girl she was with. “That’s it,” Teresa told herself. “I’ll just be so much more interesting than Carly, and when she sees just how much more I have to offer than the bitch she’s with, she’ll be quick to dump her for fun, exciting, sexy little me.” Curious, Teresa fired up her computer and searched the internet for local phone directories. Sure enough, she found a listing for a Sabrina Garrett in Phoenix. She waited for half an hour after Sabrina’s shift ended, then dialed the number, making sure to hit the proper numbers first to ensure that her number would be blocked out should she have caller ID. “Hello?” said an unfamiliar voice after the second ring. “Carly?” asked Teresa in a husky whisper. “Yeah, who’s this?” Teresa hung up.