Chapter 20: Hot Coffee

I admit, I was pretty certain I was wasting my time waiting on Griselda. She hadn’t actually agreed to anything and she’d have to be willing to take a chance on a complete stranger. I didn’t think that was too likely, I also remembered it was the same stupid leap of faith I’d made which had brought me to the homework club, so there was dumb lesbian precedent.

So when she did show up, though obviously nervous, it left me feeling a bit cold. I’d been in her exact shoes, and I knew all too well the desperation it took to lead someone like her to such a gamble. ‘oh and you’re just going to exploit it?’ Yeah, Probably. I mean it would always be her choice I’d never force her to do anything but… this felt very sketchy. I mean what was I? Some kind of sex pest trawling for young girls on behalf my much older lover? Yeahhh… Pretty much. I mean I’d always known Lauren was using my desperate need for approval and validation to satisfy her fetish. I just… really enjoyed that? What can I say? I love being dominated and exploited by a woman I trust so completely. If anyone was guilty of wanting to take it too far it was me not her…

Anyway, back to Griselda!

She certainly looked as if she’d made an effort to clean herself up. her hair was neatly pinned behind her ears, she wore a powder blue blouse with dark slacks with a navy canvas backpack slung over her shoulders. It was more functional than fashionable, a pretty good cover for a girl, I suspected who was still in the closet. I was in jeans, a band shirt and flannel tied around my waist, I might as well have had a sunset flag draped over my shoulders… Look I don’t wear flannel because I’m a lesbian, I definitely am a lesbian but I get cold sometimes and I need something to cover my arms when the AC is popping off, alright?

I didn’t have very long to feel conflicted as we arrived at the coffee place. I took her order and placed it. She was certainly nervous but a part of her was absolutely glowing and it eased me greatly. I gathered up our drinks and snacks and set them down at the table.

I handed her drink to her and I could see the flush in her cheeks. I had to wonder if I had ever been so innocent. She was cute, eyes were bright and intelligent behind her glasses and her weak little nerd arms all pale and dainty. If I was the same girl I had been before last year I would have had such a crush on this girl and would never have been able to work up the nerve to tell her that.

“How is it?” I asked weakly, settling into my seat.

She took a tiny sip and recoiled. “Still too hot.”

I chuckled and sipped my own drink. I had gotten a cold drink because it was a boiling hot day out there and the AC was more than welcome for the moment.

“Yikes, it's hot out there.” I asked, fanning out the fabric of my tshirt. This wasn’t an intentional lewd advance so much as me legit trying to cool myself down but it seemed to have a positive impact nonetheless as it looked as if she got a little red in the face pretending not to watch. Excellent, My gaydar was properly calibrated.

“So have you had Ms.Voight before?” She asked, setting her cup aside and reaching for a muffin I’d gotten her.

“Yeah I had her last year. I love her.” I said not really thinking about it but maybe letting a little too much affection into my tone. I internally screamed at what my mouth had done when my stupid brain finally caught up. From the looks of it she hadn’t heard anything off.

“Is her class hard?” She asked, sounding a bit hesitant.

“Yeah.” I admitted truthfully. “But it's certainly rewarding if you can take it.” That was only slightly a double entendre, Laurens classes were legitimately challenging work even for the most capable students by design. Unlike normal classes you were not guaranteed a passing grade so long as you put enough effort in to complete the work. There were no freebie points for class participation, you started at a zero and had to battle your way up from there.

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I really didn’t pull any punches in my description and II could tell from Griselda’s reaction there was that mix of dread and anticipation that was pretty common among the AP students. If you took the higher difficulty as an obligation and not as a challenge to overcome you’d burn yourself out pretty quickly. Contrary to how it might appear the AP program wasn’t necessarily a home to the most intelligent students, but usually those who were both quick on the uptake and had a willingness to push themselves… or just plain old severe and often traumatic parental pressure.

I got her talking about her summer and she pulled out her phone.

“This is Rosie.” She showed me a short video of her pet turtle walking across her desk.

“That’s adorable.” I admitted as she swiped to another video.

“Do you have any pets?” She asked, taking her phone back.

“My dad has Jorge, he’s a big old dog and he doesn’t really care for anyone else.” I put my hands up. “I can never tell what the two of them are talking about…”

Griselda’s phone dinged and she peeked at the screen. Her expression turned conflicted as she locked the screen.

We had a good few minutes mostly talking about class schedules and things of that nature before she finally stopped me after catching a text on her phone.

“I’m really sorry but, I do have to go, my Dad just got off the boat.” She said picking up her stuff and looking apologetic.

“Boat?” I was suddenly curious.

“Yeah. He works on a cargo ship and he isn’t home too often. I have to get home to start dinner.” She slugged back the last of her drink and tossed the cup in the waste bin behind her.

“Do you need any help?” I asked, getting up to follow.

“Oh no.” She waved me down. “I don’t get to see my dad very often, but I had a…” She blushed, a mix of embarrassment and warmth. “A very good time and I hope we can do this again…?” Her voice went kinda squeaky around the end.

“Sure… Can I at least walk you home…?” I asked, waving to the door.

“I actually need to go to the grocery store on the way but sure?” She made it sound more like a question. I packed up my stuff and we headed out.

“So do you live on your own?” I asked as we stepped out onto the street.

“Usually.” She shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

“You have any…. ya know… girlfriends over while he’s gone?” I regretted asking immediately. I knew I had to work the topic in but why did it have to be like this? I was arguably a girl, why wasn’t I better at girls? I really hoped a meteor would just smush me from on high.

“No!” she swung an arm at me embarrassed and nearly dropped her muffin. “I’ve never even been on a real date before.” She muttered only half to me.

We reached the entrance of the supermarket, it was in the same small shopping center so it wasn’t far at all.

“Well...” She looked down at her muffin blushing.

I coughed trying to say what I had to and not wanting to at all. Every fiber of my being wanted to puke at once with the sudden anxiety but somehow I managed. “Well if you ever wanted to… get more personal...” my mind was shrieking begging me to stop. “I know a place for girls like us…?”

Griselda dropped her muffin.

“Oh. Well. Look at my wrist, I gotta…ya know… seeya!” I practically sprinted in the other direction and I did not look back. Where was a runaway truck to isekai me across the pavement when I really needed it?

Well… now that I’d thought about it there was still a chance for me to get magic powers without truck-chans assistance. My life was certainly getting… a heck of alot more interesting.