Free

[SilverBullet]

Josh smiled while he rubbed Elaina's hand. They say quietly for the next few minutes until the bus driver shouted...

"Next stop in 15 minutes!"

Suddenly a streak of fear shot through Josh's spine. This was it. This was the moment that he would begin to be free of his past. Yeah, it really started when he got on the bus, but the bus stop was the 'big' event. Now he had a companion. At least he wasn't going to do this alone.

"You ready?" Josh turned and looked at Elaina.

 

[Honey_B]

Elaina

"As ready as I'll ever be."

It seemed to take forever to get to the next stop. When it did, Elaina bounded of the bus with enthusiam and her skirt floated up to reveal a long length of leg. She looked over her shoulder to see if Josh noticed.

My! I'm getting bold. I almost wish he did see

They had to wait for the driver to retrieve Elaina's luggage out of the storage compartment below the bus.

"Maybe we can get a locker to put this," Elaina said picking up the heavy suitcase. She looked towards the bus stop.

 

[SilverBullet]

Josh watched as Elaina darted off the bus. She was so energetic that her skirt flew up to reveal a long length of leg. Josh couldn't help but notice. As she looked back he quickly moved his eyes to hers so that she didn't see what he was staring at.

"This woman is sexy as hell," Josh thought to himself as walked down the steps. "I always thought she was pretty from when I bumped into her, but I didn't realize just how sexy she is."

"Here let me take your suitcase. All I have is just this little bag with some of my stuff in it. I left everything else behind. Did you catch what the name of this town was? I was too busy thinking and talking to you to pay attention to what the bus driver said. Anyways, since this is our first stop why don't we get a hotel room to put our stuff in."

Josh looked up at the red sky and saw that the sun was beginning to set.

"We don't have much of the day left. We'll catch so dinner, maybe go out and see what kind of night life this place has to offer if we're not too tired. Tomorrow we'll get up and see if we can't find something to get ourselves into."

 

[Honey_B]

Elaina

"I guess that makes a lot of sense."

Elaina tried to sound casual, but she felt completely out of her league. She had never been with a man before and now she was planning to go to a hotel with a virtual stranger. At the ripe old age of twenty four, it was a matter of acute embarressment for Elaina. She hadn't mentioned it when she listed some of the things she had always wanted to do, but having losing her virginity was right at the top.

Looking up, Elaina notice the beauty of the setting sun. The soft pinks and reds made her remember somehing else she had always longed do. Elaina knew Josh would be surprised, but she did it anyway. She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. She gasped softly as their lips met. A perfect kiss at sunset. It was more than she could have imagined.

 

[SilverBullet]

Josh's stomach seemed to cave in as Elaina wrapped her arms around him. While he had wanted her all along in his mind, this was very unexpected, but it was ... perfect.

Josh smiled after their brief moment of passion. It was a smile made up of many things: new places, a beautiful sunset and of course, Elaina.

Josh called out to a taxi driving by.

"Take us to a hotel at.. um.. the center of the city." Josh offered his hand to his new partner, "Shall we?"

 

[SilverBullet]

The taxi pulled into the hotel parking lot. Josh grabbed both of their bags and walked in.

"We'd like a hotel room please," he said to the clerk.

"OK. We have a few openings. Will the third floor be alright?"

"Sure that would be fine."

"Now is that going to be a single or double bedroom?" the clerk asked Josh.

Josh paused and turned to Elaina.

 

[Honey_B]

Elaina

Elaina didn't hesitate. She knew this question was coming, had known it since Josh had first mentioned a hotel. Her decision had been made before she had even met him.

"One bedroom."

She said the two words with more confidence then she felt, but she was glad she said them. There was no turning back now.

You'll be in room 39. Through those doors and take the elevators to your right.

Elaina took the key the clerk offered. It was hard to think of something to say on the way to the room. Elaina had never felt so awkward, but when they stepped into the room and sat down, Elaina knew they had to talk.

"Josh, I've got something to tell you. But before I do, would you mind seeing if there is anything in that minibar. I think I'm going to need a drink."

 

[SilverBullet]

"Sure, I wouldn't mind a drink myself," Josh said, then squeezed her leg gently before he got up to look.

Josh kept wondering what could she possible have to tell him. Of course it could be anything since he doesn't even know that girl that well.

"I might need more than one drink," he thought to himself.

"Let's see.. well there's not a great selection. A few bottles of Jim Beam and Jack Daniels. Some vodka, a few bottles of Jose Quervo and some wine coolers... strawberry. Oh... here's some beer too." Josh smiled back at Elaina. "There's also some mix to make whiskey sours."

"So what will you have? I think I'm going to have one of the bottles of Jim Beam and a beer."

 

[Honey_B]

Elaina

"Vodka and whatever you can find to mix with it."

Elaina watched as Josh mixed a glass of cranberry juice and vodka, happy to have a moment to collect herself. When he handed her the glass, she took a sip thoughtfully.

"You may be wondering what kind of girl would come to a hotel room with a virtual stranger. Some kind of slut, right? Well, I'm not. Far from it. Even though I'm twenty-four years old, I'm still a virgin."

There. She''d said it. Elaina had tried to keep her gaze steady as she spoke but her eyes fell with the last admission. She couldn't bare to look at him and she felt her cheeks grow warm. The silence of the room seemed to close in around her as she waited for Josh to speak. Elaina took another sip of her drink and almost drained the glass.

 

[SilverBullet]

Josh drank most of the Jim and Coke down in one drink. He didn't know what to say. Although it was hard for him to believe that a twenty-four year old girl was a virgin, it wasn't impossible. He had been lied to many times before about this subject. It got to the point where he didn't even ask girls that he had been with before how many people they have had. He had learned not to worry about that.

Josh grabbed Elaina's glass and gave her a refill. He placed his hand on her thigh and began to rub her slowly.

"That didn't even cross my mind. I was alone and going somewhere new. You were doing the same. I always enjoy company over being alone. I would much rather be here in this hotel room with you than to be lying here by myself, wouldn't you?"

Josh then placed his hands on Elaina's shoulders and pulled her towards him.

 

[Honey_B]

Elaina

Elaina jerked away from his touch, almost as if she'd been scalded. She felt crushed and her eyes began to feel with tears. His words seemed to suggest he was only with her because it was preferable to being alone. She was a warm body to him and he didn't seem to care what this night meant to her. The refill he had given her was a memory as she drank it down in one gulp.

"I wouldn't expect it would cross your mind. That's why I told you, difficult as it was. And yes, I think I would rather be alone. I'm sorry if I mislead you, Josh. I'm looking for far more than just someone to share a bed with, so I don't have to be alone tonight. After all, I've made it through twenty-four years without feeling the need to have that kind of company. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for a relationship or even anything that might last beyond tomorrow, but, I was hoping to find someone who wouldn't brush off my admission like I had just spoken about the weather. I wanted someone who was willing to make this night special."

Elaina got up and headed for the door, her walk a little shaky. Even she couldn't say whether it was the alcohol or the disappointment.

 

[SilverBullet]

"You do mean alot to me. I have just met you, yet I can't explain this feeling I have towards you. I didn't expect to meet anyone on this trip. I was planning to be alone and I wanted it that way. This was the last thing I had expected to happen, but I couldn't just let you go off knowing that something inside of me told me not to let you get away. I don't always say the right things or know how to put my thoughts into words correctly. I didn't know how to respond to what you told me a few minutes ago. That was the last thing I had thought that you were going to say. Please stay. I promise you I will make this night special. This will be a night, no not a night.. this will be a journey that you will never forget. It's not going to be just one night, but many unforgettable nights if you want it to."

Josh looked at Elaina although she had her back turned to him. He had mean't everything he said.

 

[Honey_B]

Elaina turned around. The sweet sincerity in Josh's voice made her do it. She had wanted to hear words like those. The look in his eyes matched what he said.

"You've said exactly the right words, Josh."

As she said the words, she hugged him, wrapping her arms around him in a tender embrace. Suddenly Elaina wanted to know all about Josh. What was he running from? What had given him the hurt look that darkened his eyes. Elaina didn't want to pry. After all, she always found it difficult to talk about her past. Elaina would wait until he was ready to tell her, dispite her curiosity.

"I will stay. Perhaps it would do us good to get out of this room for awhile. You mentioned going out dancing earlier. Could we do something like that?"

 

[SilverBullet]

Josh

Josh sighed with relief as he held this beautiful woman. He stroked his hands down her soft hair. He had never been able to say the right words to anyone that had ever meant anything to him. Only when the time was too late did he realize what he should have said. He had always seemed to screw things up. Hopefully, he would be able to keep this together. He held her for a few moments more then replied.

"Yeah, that would be great. I always love to dance, but only when I've had a few shots of courage down me. People say I'm not that bad of a dancer, but I can't seem to get my feet out there unless I've had something to drink. I'll call down to the front desk and see what kind of dance clubs are in this town."

Josh waited until Elaina let go then leaned over to grab the phone. He spoke to the receptionist for a few minutes and hung up the phone.

"Ok, there is a club just a few blocks down the street called 'Memories.' That's where she recommened. She said the crowd there is just about right. There is another on the other side of town that is a little bigger as well. She said it was under a five minute walk to get to 'Memories.' We'll go there if that's alright."

Josh checked his watch. Was it already 11:15? The clubs close at one the receptionist had said. Well that gives a little over an hour to loosen things a bit. Besides, he hadn't had fun in a long time. He was going to have fun tonight.

 

[Honey_B]

Elaina looked down at what she was wearing. The skirt and sweater set screamed frumpy.

"Just give me two minutes."

She opened up her suitcase and picked out something, then disappeared in the bathroom. When she came out she was wearing a forest green dress, its surplice neckline subtly hinting at her softly rounded breasts. The color brought out the rich tones of her hair, which she had undone from its braid. Her wavy red tresses fell down her back, reaching almost the small of her back.

"I'm ready."

She smiled and the light caught the sparkle of excitement in her eyes.