Drenched to the bone I wait at the bus stop. Rain soaked newspaper my only shelter from the elements poorly protecting me from being further drenched. I begin clenching my fists to prolong the inevitable loss of feeling in my fingers as I stand waiting turning to the right in search of the bus. I check be pamphlet for the next bus, now mush in my hands I compress the mound and toss it in the trash next to me. My elbows glued to my side shoulders hunched over I just want to go home, I would not like to drown. I see the buzz of the florescent bulb from bakery across the street saying it's open. Weighing my options the window of the bakery had a perfect view of the bus stop so I decided to make my way.

I entered to Bakery to the smell of stale bagels, the afterbirth of an oven's heat and coffee. This was a small intimate corner shop with two tables to the right, a bathroom to the left, and a menu with simple instructions of how to order their small assortment of doughnuts and coffee behind the counter. I slick my hand through my hair ringing out water between my fingers. Rubbing my hands exhaling warm breath to regain the feeling back, I reach for napkins and begin to dry my hands and face.

From behind the counter pops up a small short haired redhead holding a box of napkin and a smile meets my eyes with a smile. Soft oval face with gentle eyes relaxed slightly larger then what would be proportional to her face. Freckles lightly brushed under her eyes and across the bridge of her nose, which was small and round with a slight point that was directed upward. Plump lips with a slightly larger bottom lip pouted out as she smiled. Slender neck on boxy shoulders down her 5 foot 4 frame, made slightly smaller looking as her slender body curved out at the hips. Her thighs thick leading up to a crease where it met her ass, and her tits slightly smaller than a handful as they were covered by a tight purple shirt pressed against her chest as she pushed against the counter with her body to rest.

"Forgot your umbrella?"

"Yeah I really wasn't planning on leaving; I actually just got kicked out of my friend's house, and I'm pretty sure I missed the last bus home"

"Ouch that sucks, how about a doughnut on the house, whatever you want"

"Really? Thanks I'll take anything"

"Hmm…..well to tell you the truth their all pretty stale, I was just going to throw them out, so take everything if you want"

"Wow, you really know how to sell a doughnut, how about just a Long John"

The corners of her mouth begin to spread apart as her lips slowly peel back showing her teeth, eyes still relaxed but slight wrinkles matching the corners of her mouth. I could tell she was ready to leave, but wasn't in a hurry to kick me out. She runs her hands threw her hair down the back of her neck where it rested as she tilted her head to the direction of the doughnuts.

"I would feel terrible if I didn't tell you this beforehand but," she licked her bottom lip slowly dragging it into her mouth with her tongue now pressing it between her teeth, eyes tracing the outline of my the octopus stitched onto my shirt, "the Long Johns have been there since Tuesday, you are better off with a Bear Claw or maybe a Marble Glazed?"

"Well you're the doughnut expert I suppose you wouldn't steer me wrong, would you now."

"Of course I wouldn't, darling you're using my napkins to dry off, we're practically one step away from renting a row boat together"

I laughed as I could see how loose she was becoming with the conversation, as she slowly rocked back and forth now playing with her belt loops on her bands waiting for my response.

"I think that we should take a rain check on the boat, how about settling for s'mores under a canopy?"

Fingers now playing with the neck line of her shirt, smiling with her whole face, eyes almost closed she makes small circles in the center of her chest.

"My goodness Casanova you really don't waste any time, do you."

"Well I have a thing for pastries, what can I say?"

Hand reached to brush the hair resting over her hair paused leaving her hand fixed against her head like she is answering the telephone. Turning away now her face begins to turn the color of her hair, looking at me now from the corner of her eyes she puckers her lips to further hold back she smile now sliding out slowly.

"I'm almost done closing up, do you just want to wait outside for a minute while I count the money?"

"Sure"

Her eyes slowly fell to the counter like stars from the sky. Arm across her waist resting using her hand to hold her elbow for her other hand to cradle her chin as she slumps over rocking ride to side. As I turn to my the exit she says,

"Oh! Umm…..I forgot your name."

"I don't think I ever told you my name"

"Oh that's right, got all caught up in the moment of stale doughnuts and boat rides."

We paused for a moment; I felt we both knew our name was not going to change what was going to happen next. He both looked at each other and enjoyed the silence as the tension grew.

"Well my name is Natalie"

"Nice to meet you Natalie"

I reached out my hand and she obliged as she reached hers as well over the counter. I made her work as she now on the tip of her toes and we as we shook hands. Her head began to bobble back and forth and reached with the other hand placing it on the back of mine. As the shaking went on longer then it should I pull away, brushing fingertips against hers as she brushed her fingertips against mine. Her soft hands slowly float down to her sides. Once again enjoying the silence filled with tension of potential.

"Oh yeah, sorry to make you wait outside but I'm not allowed to have people in the store when I do the register"

"It's no problem I can just wait in the corner and freeze"

"Don't worry I know ways to warm you up," resting her elbows on the counter head slumped over, "I mean…well let me finish up in here. I'll be done in a minute"

I exit the front door gluing my back to it as I wait. My shirt still damp sticking to my chest I peel it away for a moment before it sticks back to my body cold like a sheet of ice. The smells of rain rushes into my lungs as I breathe deep take my mind off the cold downpour over me. Arms crossed rubbing my sides, head hanging low hold heat in the center of my chest. The street empty of any activity, gutters overflowing, flyers and newspapers glued to the sidewalk and still no car in site. I feel a thump against my back, turn to see her smiling face waving. I pull away to as she pushes open the door.

"Hello there, do you mind if I step inside?"

"This is kind of awkward but I one of my pipes burst so it's kind of a disaster in here"

"No problem my uncle was a plumber so I know a thing or two about pipes"

Curing her lips inward she rolls her shoulders forward hand straight down clasped tight. Her fingered laced holding her wallet in between her hands. Turning around quickly she locks the door behind her franticly looking for the right key, sliding each one along the ring as she whispering to herself. Finally she found the right one with joy now trying to insert the key she misses with each try before she delicate moves it forward like a thread to a needle. Now ready she exhales deeply and turns with a face full of life still her eyes stay gentle and relaxed though her brow now raised up slightly, the subtle movements only add to her charm.

"You look a lot colder than I do, come here"

I drape my arm across her shoulder, and she leans in and rests her head against my chest and grabs my arm to pull it closer tight around her.

"At least I don't have to worry about you being dirty now"

"Baby look at me, I'm clean as can be"

Nudging my chest with her head she smiles.

"So where exactly are we going, I mean….at this point you can probably turn into any dark alley and I wouldn't hesitate"

"Your too far to handsome for that sort of thing, I was actually just thinking we could go back to my place"

"Sounds like a plan"

"Yeah its right around the corner," giggling with the side of her face pressed into my side, "it's actually in a dark alley"

"I should have known"

We walk around the corner of the block into the alley. The smell of wet steaming garbage clouds the space, as we approach a large red door illuminated by the flickering of a light bulb surrounded by darkness from all around. This time she is more prepared as she fishes her pocket to pull out a key, eyes fixed with certainty she quickly inserts it and turns the doorknob. She places all her bodyweight forcing the door to nudges and slowly ekes open. I push the door open as she moves past under my arm and I enter after her. She grabs my hand and we turn the corner to the stairs, each step a piano key playing tonight's theme song with each step closer to her room. I watch as her waist moves from side to side with each step. She turns her head over her shoulder smiles with her eyes.

"Almost there"

"So this is how you keep your rock'n bod"

Now at the third floor, she reaches for her keys again to open a door covered in tacked on post-cards and stickers.

"Have you been to all these places?"

"No it's my neighbor's, she is always traveling around so I take care of her cat. Since she doesn't carry around a phone or anything she just sends post cards. I like it. I feel like in some way I went there too. Anyways this is my place, sorry if it's a little messy, I'm working on a project."

She turns the knob to open me to her apartment, with a flick of the light switch it revealed a clutter all over the floor, walls hung pictures of flowers painted on road maps, wind chimes hanging of the corner of her shelf to the wall furthest from the door. The floor covered in magazines gutted of body parts, music sheets, ribbons and glue sticks. The only furniture in this main room is a couch, coffee table, two manikins covered in; purses, jewelry and scarves along with a bookshelf. The smell of sandalwood lingers the air in a thin layer of smoke mixed with glue. The left the kitchen is connected to the main room the counters lined with potted plants.

"Yeah like I said it's a little messy"

"What? Well word on the street is that dirty is the new clean"

"Well I guess that makes this the cleanest apartment around"

Clothes sticking to my chest I begin to peel it away as it falls back against me again. She looks to me tilting her head with a smile.

"Yeah we better get out of these clothes; we might end up catching a cold."

She tip toes over the magazines with a majestic leap across the room he disappears through the hallway on the other side. I hear the sounds of rustling and plastic bags then crunching, she does not keep a tidy apartment but from her personality it matches her perfectly. She reemerges from the doorway with two towels, now she is wearing glasses with thick frames. She hands me one of the towels with flower patterns across it. I take off my shirt, she reached her hand for my shirt with the other towel hanging on her arm. I hand my shirt over to her when she once again disappears into the hall across the room returning again now wearing a tank top and shorts. Holding in her hand a pink shirt with the words "Girls Rule" across the front, and tosses it to me. I catch the shirt and begin to dry myself off with only the sounds of silence ringing to only be broken up by the ticking of a clock somewhere hidden in the room.

"Sorry it's the only thing I have that I think might fit you."

"Yeah I'm not so sure a small for girls would fit someone who is a medium in men's"

"True but I just wanted to see what you would look like"

Smiling she making her way over to the fridge he grabs two glasses.

"Do you want anything to drink?"

She pulls a large bottle of cranberry juicy from the fridge, opens the freezer to grab an ice tray.

"I'll have whatever you are having."

"Vodka cranberry it is"

Now she reaches deep into the freezer to pull a bottle of vodka from the back more than half-way full. Bends back the ice tray to release some cubes that pop up in the air, grab two in each hand and place them in each glass. With her back turned I notice her shorts slightly higher on the left leg showing of once cheek lighter shade then the rest of her leg. As she shifts and reaches around the counter her shirt slowly rises up slowing a small dove on her lower back met be the crack of her ass. She shakes the cranberry juice before pouring it half way up the glass, then grabs the vodka and pours it the rest of the way just below the rim of the glass. With a glass in each hand she makes her way to me, still awkwardly standing in the front of the doorway.

"Why are you still standing?"

"Still pretty wet over here, just didn't want to get anything wet"

"Well just take it off then, if you want, if not I don't mind. Just sit somewhere"

She hands me one glass as I take a deep breath and sigh as I sit on the couch and begin to sink into it, feeling the frame press into my back as I leaned into it. I ran my fingers through feeling its texture, smooth and fuzzy but damp. She now satisfied takes a sip of her glass licks her lips and smiles, content with the perfect balance of alcohol and juice. She then moves to sit next to me, legs curled under her body throwing her arm over the back tracing circles she gazes at me with her gentle relax eyes. I take a sip from my glass to feel the rush coming back up the back of my throat. I was never much of a drinker, so I put on my bravest face and smiled as I held my breath to dissipate the taste further.

"So where do you live"

"The suburbs, just outside of the city, about 45 minutes away"

I knocked back two more gulps from my glass, to begin feeling the sensation of my throat run up through my mouth as I paused to once again hold my breath, to prevent the taste to rush though my mouth and nose.

"So has art always been your passion? I mean you obviously are a creative person with a very particular still from the looks of it."

"Yeah thanks, I actually am planning on going back to school to be a social worker, help counsel troubled youth, but yeah this sort of thing has always been my outlet"

"That's really noble of you"

She casually sips her glass, licks her lips again. Raising her hand to her ear she runs her finger tips through her hair resting it on the back of her neck again.

"I don't want you to think I am a slut or anything but I really think you're a nice guy"

"Why would I think that, I have standards you know."

Swirling the glass in my hand the ice cubes slowly disappearing I take one more gulp before I put down the glass on the coffee table in front. My face now tingles, mouth tingles, ands slightly looser as though they have been stretched in all directions for hours before now. Head on a wobble I begin slowly rock back and forth. I knew I was a lightweight I just didn't realize how long it has really been. She now looking down at her side resting her head against her arm draped over the side of the couch smiles.

"Iss been awhile since I've drunken"

"Well…..I will tell you a secret, it has been a while for me too"

All smiles she leans into my face, forehead pressed against the side of my ear.

"I wanna tell you a secret."

My head falling to my right I smile attempting keep my vision focused

"What?"

"I was watching you at the bus stop for awhile….I was really hoping you would walk in"

She pulls away throwing her back to the other side of the sofa and smiles. Her body lay slung over like sheets now trying to sit up she digs her feet under cushion I am sitting on. Glass clutched tight between her fingers she takes another small sip before placing it on the coffee table. She lifts her arm and reaches for me. I grab her arm and pull her close. She slides towards me and quickly wraps on leg around my body arms locked at the fingers and head cocked back. For a moment she begins to examine my face. All my eyes are fixed on are her lips slightly open. I can smell fruit spray on her, possibly pear, or peach. She learns in pressing her cheek to mine, holding me tight. My heart begins to race, her chest against mine, I can feel her soft tissue roll against me. I grab her leg and slide her to center her on my lap. Inching my crotch directly under her pelvis as she begins to slowly rock back and forth, slow dancing as we sit. She breathes heavy into my ear, rubbing my back with one hand then stoking my hair with the other.

"Hey I don't think I gave you a tour yet"

"I don't think you did"

"Here, come here"

She pushes up of with the arm rest and stumbles backwards over her magazines before catching herself arms out like she is on a tight rope. My body now feeing glued to the couch feel my legs wobble, as my body feels like it's being smoothed over with a million tiny fingers but still a sensation of feeling numb over my body. She reaches out and clenches my wrist tight pulls me up. Slow and lethargically I rise. Her eyes now more crescents moons, her mouth stretched open she pulls me through her doorway.

"This is my bathroom"

She then tugs me into the opposite direction away from the bathroom now to face another room.

"And this is my bedroom where I sleep," brushing her hands against her face like the habit of once long hair, "It's a really nice bed, want to see"

She pushes me onto the bed and proceeds to lie on top of me, pulls my hair towards her and lips reach for my mouth. Soft and gentle kisses, with tongue caressing mine, faces pressed against each other she grip my hair tight. Slowly with the other she runs nails across my chest like a needle against a record, before pausing at my pants, she does no skip a beat as they slowly crawl under. I hold her face with one hand on a fixed position as I begin to take my other hand slowly move down her back before my fingers are swallowed by her hips. Her legs begin to inch their way closer to my body before she mounts me completely, still rubbing me slowly down below. I now begin to slide her out of her shirt with ease, her body tight, but soft, with her small perky mounds sway side to side like chandeliers. My hands immediately cup them softly rolling them in my hands like dough softly kneading them. From between her legs she looks down at me still wet she sparked in the moonlight.

I lean forwards as she begins to bend back, I slide my hand from her neck down to her navel, as I do this she arches her back further as though an offering to this life. I bite her neck then slowly graze it pulling away before I lean in to do it again, she swingers her head forwards to begins to kiss me gain now forceful kisses pushing mouths against teeth, digging her nails into my back, peeling away my skin leaving me raw. I twisted her spine and she fell beside me, and I climbed on top of her. She pressed her hip up against me; I began to push back like we were trying to move through each other. I slid from my pants like a snake shedding its skin; they no longer fit who I was becoming. She lifted her legs as I slowly stripped her of her shorts, presenting me with a set of lips salivating for my touch. I run my hand across its slick surface as she begins convulse uncontrollably with excitement.

This room was no longer a room, as it became our stage, becoming more ourselves when we are not. Heavy breathes and rain drops in the backgrounds become our theme music. The storm outside these four walls only set the tone for the evening, passion and fury as I held her delicate fragile features in my hands. Consumed my lust I could no longer control my manners as thrust into her body he let out a gurgle from hell as life slowly seeped into her. Running hands across her body feeling goose bumps all over. Legs spread I pounded meat against meat, until tender. Her eyes wonder lost in pure bliss as I begin to posture up she pulls me closer to her. I couldn't help but feel her soul slowly leaving her body as I pushed harder and harder into her. A thunder crack awaked her from her trance as she turns from me to flip to her back. I reacquainted myself to her inside as I rushed through again. I paused to take a mental picture of her back mapping out her dips and curls, the birthmark under left shoulder blade. The dimples on her lower back, her spine the back bone of a harp beautiful. Palms flat raised to the ceiling she is surrenders to something more holy. I pull her hair back and begin to kiss her lips. I pulled away, she rolled over then rolled over on top of me, now resting between her lips she slowly slides me between them before placing me back inside. As she bounces on top I move closer to ecstasy, she breathes heavy as she cannot catch it rushing away from her faster then she is moving. I no longer scared empty myself into her with the rush of life passing through me.

She slides over and lays on her side still chasing her breath, she leans over to my side and bites my neck leaving a map on me. She wraps her body around me becoming the bed sheets as our naked bodies lay bear unashamed and raw. We contributing heavy breath to the storms audition to this rehearsal, as we slowly slip out of character into our skin that no longer fits. She makes circles against my shoulder as she hums, skin moist with sweat sticking us together like Velcro.

"Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

She only smiled back and gave gentle push to me out of bed. As I look at the sheets I see my outline as if there was an old me murdered here, maybe I a phoenix reborn. She pulled a white bed sheet over her and curled into a ball over her black bed cover she looked like the yin leaving me to wonder "were is the yang?" I slide my pants back on out of habit to use her bathroom right across the hall. I expel what was left inside of my body; vodka cranberry and sweat. Look to the mirror holding both sides of the sink I see my reflection looking back at me, it looks like me and moves like me, but I feel changed. I wash my hands and make my way back to her bedside pressed between the bed sheets; I slide next to her cradling her with my body like it was muscle memory.

"I'm glad you walked in tonight"

"I'm glad too"

With the nights events through we once again are enjoying the sounds of rain bouncing off the surface like fingers to a piano, no tension to be felt just the space between the four walls to hold the memory of what transpired. Her soft neck, a backbone, relaxed in my arms as she slowly begins to drift into sleep. I close my eyes and begin to rock slowly. The night was over and it was safe to say we got it right.