Sapphic Embrace: The Housewife by Kathleen S. Molligger

Wherever Jen went for break she hadn't come back yet. As the hours ticked by, her never bled away. What if Jen was with Shamika? What if something happened? What if her friend couldn't forgive her for disappearing? What if she did forgive her? Jen still felt uncomfortable with the potential budding relationship between them but she was keeping an open mind.
    It was nine and dark outside before the door finally swung open. Thankfully she was alone. If that girl had been with her... Amy took a deep, calming breath and stood up.
    "Jen?"
    "Holy shit!" The girl jumped back, hand against her chest and bag hitting the floor. "Jesus Christ you scared the shit out of me!"
    Amy raised her hands apologetically. "Sorry, I didn't mean to I... I thought you saw me."
    "In a dark room?"
    Oh, right. She hadn't actually turned the lights on yet. She'd been sort of half napping on her bed and didn't bother with the lamp.  Sheepishly, she shrugged and struggled to figure out what to say. There was this uncomfortable wall between them, a barrier that hadn't been there before the kiss. And Amy had absolutely no idea how to break it down. Jen had confessed an incredibly personal secret to her, albeit unplanned, and she'd don the equivalent of spat in her face. One of her unpleasant realizations over break was that she was the one in the wrong.
    But she had no idea how to make it right.
    "I suppose saying I'm sorry isn't good enough?"
    Jen gave her a tight smile. "It's a good start."
    "Look Jen," Amy collapsed back on her bed and patted the space next to her. Jen tentatively sat down next to her. "I know I screw up. I do. Just... Seeing you with her It just... I don't know, I was so mad and I couldn't face it and then you kissed me and I was so confused I just... I needed time to think. And I know that wasn't fair to you. I've been kicking myself for doing something so stupid."
    "What was there to think about?" Jen said, still looking suspicious.
    "My best female friend kissed me. Would that at least give you a bit of food for thought?"
    Jen frowned. "I suppose I might have been a bit rash," she admitted. " I just... I like you Amy. And you were so angry and you were yelling and I just.... I didn't know how else to tell you. I've never been as good with words as you. Do you think we can just.... forget it ever happened? A do-over?"
    "No."
    "What?"
    "I said no, I don't want a do-over," Amy wrung her hands nervously. "Look Jen, I've spent the past three weeks thinking about this and... and I have no idea what the hell this is. But kissing you felt... it felt good. So whatever comes of that I think I'd like to see where it goes. But I need you to promise me something."
    "Anything," she replied instantly.
    "I need to promise that you won't hide things from me anymore. That... that you'll talk to me before doing rash things. I don't like people keeping secrets and lying to me. If you'd have just said something we could have avoided all of this."
    "I promise," she said sincerely, a wide grin on her face. The past had already been forgiven. "Does this mean I can kiss you? You're not the only one whose been thinking about that kiss, you know."
    Grinning back, glad that the tension seemed diffused, she nodded and leaned forward with her eyes closed. The first, light brush of lips was just as wonderful as she remembered. It sent an electric rush through her and made her heart skip a beat. It was still awkward as they tried to work around each other, figure out how to make parts fit together. But eventually she tasted mint and was indefinitely glad she'd brushed her teeth earlier.
    When she was in high school, Amy always wondered about the allure of making out. Every time she'd don it all she felt was wet and gross. Boys slobbered on her with overactive tongues and onion-scented breath. Meanwhile, they came in with a hand up for a grope without even trying to make her feel good. It always seemed like a pointless and unpleasant exercise.
    With Jen it was