On The Rebound Ch. 01

Kate just stared at the card as if it were some kind of talisman while possibilities flashed through her head. Finally she picked up the phone again and dialled the mobile number on the card. Another answering message, bloody great! and she slammed the phone down feeling thoroughly pissed off and dejected.

She decided to lift her spirits with a bubble bath and just as she was stepping into the water she heard her phone trill from the living room. She assumed it was Debs who having returned to her flat and realised Kate's stuff was gone, knew that she'd been caught out in her lies. She was tempted to ignore it, but she thought she might as well get the row over and done with, so she ran and grabbed her phone, hitting the answer button without even glancing at the display and spitting a gruff 'Hello' into the handset.

'Erm hi, I've just had a missed call from this number, this is Alex Turner.'

'Alex! Lex! Hi! God I'm sorry, I thought it was going to be Debs and was already in combat mode, how are you?'

'I'm good, you sound like you're having a rough day though?'

'I've had better but I'll survive as the song goes. I was wondering about dinner; I know it's short notice but there's a Turkish restaurant down the road that I've never tried and I was wondering if you fancied it tonight? Eating I mean!' Kate was blushing violently at this point and very glad Lex couldn't see her.

Lex in turn was grinning into her phone like a Cheshire cat. She'd been hoping for a call but didn't really expect it to happen, let alone so soon.

'That sounds lovely, but only on 1 condition. I've also had a run-in with my ex today -- lets agree not to discuss either of them even once for the whole evening.'

At 7.30 that evening Kate was just walking out of her front door as Lex's Jeep rolled up outside. They hugged a quick hello and wandered the short distance to the restaurant where they were seated next to the window.

They ordered a selection of dishes to share, pleasantly surprised that they had very similar tastes in food, and proceeded to talk about the people walking past the window. They tried to guess their occupations, hobbies, marital status, sexuality and soon found themselves in fits of laughter at the ridiculous conclusions they reached.

'OK so here's a question. How come you teach people to ride bikes but you drive your Jeep everywhere?'

'Hmmm good question' answered Lex with a mouthful of cheese and spinach pastry 'I love bikes, always have, but I guess because I ride them for my job it actually makes a change to drive. Plus Sandra hates bikes and refused to ride pillion.'

'If Sandra is your ex you've just broken your own rule! Come on, you've helped me, why don't you tell me about her, it might help you.'

Lex sighed at her own mistake. She had been determined that they wouldn't do this tonight but had slipped up big time, however she could do with talking to someone and Kate was happy to listen, so why not.

She explained how they had been together for 2 years when 3 months ago Sandra had suddenly decided she needed to have children. Lex didn't really want kids but was prepared to go through with it for Sandra's sake. They looked at the options and finally settled on an anonymous donor to reduce the possibility of paternity complications in the future, and started to do some research.

Everything was looking rosy until one day Lex had come home to find Sandra in tears. She said that the more she thought about it the more she wanted to be with the father of her children, and that she and Lex had to split up.

They'd talked long into the night but Lex was unable to sway her decision, despite the fact that Sandra hadn't had one single heterosexual relationship in 10 years.

Sandra moved out 2 days later and Lex hadn't seen or heard from her since, until she bumped into her in a shop today. Sandra had been with a man and they were obviously a couple, bringing the hurt of their break up flooding back. They'd greeted each other awkwardly and Sandra had reluctantly introduced her to the man, calling her a 'friend' which had hurt Lex more than anything else.

Lex looked up from the napkin she was shredding and looked at Kate, who was frowning.

'You poor thing, come here' and she enfolded Lex into a tight and comforting embrace 'You've been through your own shit and yet you still helped a stranger last night; I think you must be a very special person.' And she kissed her on the cheek.

Lex laughed sarcastically 'listen, there's something you should know about last night. I wasn't being as altruistic as you think. I'd been eyeing you up for a while until I realised you were with Debbie, that's how I happened to notice you having the argument.' Lex expected Kate to be cross, but she couldn't have been more wrong.

'Really? You were going to hit on me?'

Lex was embarrassed but there was no point in denying it now, so she nodded guiltily.

'So why didn't you? I was with you for hours and you behaved impeccably. Did you change your mind about me once you'd met me?'

'No! god no! it was all I could do to stop myself kissing you, I just didn't feel the timing was right.'

'Which is in itself a noble act. You did the right thing, I would have rejected you last night because of the situation, but I'm very glad I met you and I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, and once I do, and once this crap with Debs is sorted out, who knows?'

Kate gave Lex a big wink and a fleeting kiss on the lips just to let her know that all was ok between them, and then paid the bill.

They left the restaurant they decided to pop into a quiet pub just down the road.

Kate was sat in a quiet corner table while Lex went to the bar, quietly smirking to herself about Lex being attracted to her, when everything went wrong.

She glanced up at Lex as she walked back from the bar and noticed someone very familiar in the background.

Lex sat down with the drinks and noticed the agonised look on Kate's face. Following her gaze she saw Debs sat at a table on the other side of the pub with a gorgeous woman with long blond hair, and if that wasn't enough their hands were all over each other.

They couldn't help but stare as Debs' hand travelled slowly but deliberately up the blonde's inner thigh, stopping only when it could go no further.

At this point another pub customer said 'Jesus, get a fucking room you 2' and Debs looked up & noticed Kate.

She did at least have the decency to look embarrassed at being caught, but offered no words of explanation. She just grabbed the hand of her companion and walked out of the door.

Kate was floored. She sat there with her mouth open just looking at the chair where Debs had been sitting. She didn't cry, she didn't blink, she didn't shout, she just sat -- and stared, until eventually Lex's voice entered through the fog and she became aware of a gentle hand squeezing hers.

'Come on Kate, you didn't need to see that, lets get the hell out of here.' And Kate allowed herself to be pulled up from her seat and led out of the pub by her hand.

Once outside the shock wore off and emotions flooded her, making her slump against Lex for support as she succumbed to wracking sobs. There was no denying it now, her and Debs were over; Lex had been right all along. Her temptation to run after Debs and punch her in that oh-so-lovely face was almost overwhelming and startled the usually peaceful girl, but instead she turned and looked Lex in her beautiful blue eyes and just asked 'why? Why does she do it Lex? What did either of us do wrong other than love her?'

'I don't know Babe, I think she's just wrong somehow. I think she gets some sort pf perverse pleasure by taking the ultimate control, it's as if she needs to let us know that we don't matter to her. Like I said, you're not the first and I'm damn sure you won't be the last' and with that she enfolded the sobbing girl into her arms and held her close until her crying subsided.

Lex walked Kate back to her flat, settled her on the sofa and poured her a generous brandy before sitting beside her.

Kate's mood had turned to anger now and she railed against Debs violently, swearing she would get her revenge and make her pay for treating people the way she did, however she knew she would never really carry her threats out -- that just wasn't her style, so instead she fell into the arms of the one person who had been there for her -- Lex.

She brushed her lips against Lex's who responded cautiously, but when she tried to deepen the kiss Lex pulled away and stood up.

'What's the matter? I thought you liked me!' she cried

'Oh Kate, of course I do! but this isn't the way to start any relationship. I don't want you to get over your hurt and think I'd taken advantage, or regret anything that happens just because you're on the bounce from Debbie.

I'm happy to stay here with you and keep you company; I'll hold you in my arms and comfort you, but we can't take things any further -- not until the time's right anyway.'

Kate's eyes were shining with tears but they weren't sad tears this time. Much as her drunken brain wanted to ravish Lex she was also aware that part of her only wanted the comfort of someone else's arms -- to feel wanted and needed, and the other part just wanted to get back at Debs.

Lex was right and she knew it. How many other girls would have shown such restraint and consideration? How many other girls would have just jumped at the chance of a cheap lay and bugger the consequences?

Kate stood and crossed the room to where Lex stood and looked into her amazing blue eyes as she slipped her arms around her waist 'You're a very special person you know. I think you're very wise and I'm glad it was you who rescued me -- again -- thank you Lex.' And she kissed her softly on the cheek.

Kate woke to sunlight streaming through the window; the bright light hurting her foggy brain and confusing her, because she always closed the curtains.

Memories started to filter back of the night before; Lex sitting with her and listening to her rant, filling her brandy glass up frequently before helping her to bed.

She glanced under the covers to find that Lex had managed to get her out of her jeans but had stopped there. Memories filtered through of how nice it had felt to slip into blissful sleep with Lex spooning her closely from behind.

She turned over to find the other side of the bed empty and felt suddenly lonely. She even felt slightly miffed that Lex hadn't tried to take advantage of her until she hauled herself out of bed and wandered into the kitchen for a glass of water and found the note Lex had written her on the back of an envelope.

Good morning beautiful,

I'm so sorry I had to leave before you woke this morning but I have a client who's taking their advanced test tomorrow and I promised them a lesson this morning as final prep.

You looked so adorable as you slept I wasn't sure I could keep my hands off you and I didn't have the heart to wake you, so thought it better that I slip away quietly.

I hope your head isn't too sore and that you're not too upset this morning? Just remember that people like Debbie don't deserve people like us!

I should be done by about 11 and I'll give you a call to see how you are. If you don't have any plans maybe I could take you to a pub I know that does a wonderful Sunday roast?

Big hugs,

Lex

xxx

ps I filled the coffee machine up -- you just need to switch it on!

Kate read the letter 3 times. It was a short letter but oh so sweet and Kate's former loneliness was instantly gone.

She sat and thought about Lex and realised how much she'd come to like her in the short space of time they'd known each other. Kate was 5ft 4" and usually didn't like to go out with girls that were much taller than her but Lex was definitely an exception and Kate admired her 5ft 11" frame. She definitely had the air of a tomboy about her and yet still came across as feminine in her manner, but her most striking feature had to be those clear bright blue eyes that seemed to penetrate beyond the surface. Sometimes she felt like Lex was trying to look directly into her soul and although she found this slightly disturbing at first, she had come to like it.

After Kate had drunk enough coffee to clear the fog in her head she showered and dressed and found herself sat waiting for the phone to ring.

11 O'clock rolled by with no call and Kate found herself starting to feel let down and had to mentally chastise herself for being such a bunny boiler -- it's not like her and Lex were even a couple, and she wasn't usually so impatient. Even so, when it got to 11.45 she was starting to think that Lex wasn't going to call, or that maybe she should call her, when the silence was interrupted by a loud rumble coming through the open living room window.

Kate stood back from the window, obscured by the curtain, watching as Lex climbed off a big black motorbike and removed the crash helmet that was squashing the soft blonde spikes against her head.

Lex locked the helmet into a top box, used the mirror to refluff her spikes and jogged toward the front door. Kate couldn't help but admire how those long legs looked in tight black leather jeans & she ran to the front door and pulled it open just as Lex was about to knock, grabbing her raised arm and yanking her into the flat and into her arms.

Standing on tip toes she planted a big kiss on Lex's lips before the leather clad amazon even had a chance to say hello.

'Well that was a very nice welcome!' as she slid her arms around Kate's waist and pulled her in close, inhaling the scent of her shampoo.

'That was a thank you' replied Kate as she snuggled into Lex's embrace 'for rescuing me on Friday night, and again last night, for putting me to bed, for making me coffee and for just being so damned wonderful!'

Lex was overawed and didn't know what to say, so she did what felt right and returned Kate's kiss. It was a soft and gentle meeting of lips but it conveyed how she'd come to feel about Kate, who couldn't help but respond by opening her lips and inviting Lex's tongue to deepen the kiss explore further.

This was no longer a kiss between friends, this was a kiss that spoke volumes about how they felt about each other and what their future could hold, and it blotted the rest of the world out completely.

Kate pulled back as she felt moisture on her cheeks and gasped as she saw the tears coursing down Lex's cheeks, making the blue of her eyes shimmer and sparkle.

'Oh my god, what's wrong?'

'Oh nothing' sniffed Lex 'just a whole lot of good intentions flying out of the window. I promised myself that I'd behave, give you time, but I blew it - that was a wonderful kiss though' she smiled ruefully.

'I'm not sure I liked it, I think we should do it again just to make sure' grinned Kate as she raised her face for Lex to claim her lips once more.

There was no hurry and the kiss remained soft and gentle and full of emotion until Lex pulled back and fastened her gaze on Kate's beautiful face.

'How about I take you to lunch now before all of my good intentions go west?'

Suddenly Kate was ravenous and much as she wanted to kiss Lex again she allowed herself to be taken by the hand and guided from the flat.

It was only when they reached the street that she remembered that Lex didn't have her Jeep. She was fishing in her handbag for her car keys when Lex handed her a crash helmet, gloves and jacket from a pannier and she was instantly glad she'd plumped for jeans when she got dressed.

'I should warn you, it's been a while since I've ridden pillion and I'm not very good at it. I have a habit of leaning at inappropriate moments, I'm much better riding than being a passenger.'

'You didn't tell me you ride bikes.'

'I haven't had one for a while but I passed my test when I was 18. No one else I knew was into them so after a while driving just became easier and more sociable.'

'Oh you just get better and better, the more I find out about you the more I like you!'

The journey was exhilarating and Kate started to remember how much she enjoyed being on 2 wheels. Lex rode much faster than Kate would ever have done but at no point did Kate feel unsafe as Lex guided the beautiful sleek black Harley through the country roads with such ease that Kate felt totally relaxed as she sat with her arms encircling her new friends waist.

Kate could be analytical in nature and couldn't decide if it was a positive or negative trait, but her mind started to wander as the scenery flew past and she thought back over everything that had happened in the last couple of days.

Questions flew into her head, some with easy answers, some not so easy:

Had she really only met Lex 2 days ago? Yep, Friday night.

Did she really like her as much as she thought or was she just on the rebound. Definitely on the rebound, however she definitely liked her -- a lot!

Could Lex really be as perfect as she seemed? Probably not, but we all have faults right, and there didn't seem to be anything worth worrying about.

What to do next?

This question would have to remain unanswered for now as the Harley rumbled into the car park of a beautifully quaint country pub and rolled to a stop.

Before they even removed their helmets they could smell the aromas of roasted meats and potatoes wafting out through the open door and their mouths began to water.

They spent a pleasant couple of hours drinking ginger beer and eating wonderfully succulent roast beef with fiery horseradish and crispy roast potatoes, while talking about everything under the sun.

Sometimes their hands would touch, or an arm would be stroked, or their feet would touch and often they found themselves gazing into each others eyes and Kate couldn't help thinking that this was the most gentle courtship she had ever been part of.

What are your plans for the rest of the day?'

'Absolutely nothing' replied Kate with a satisfied smile 'usually on Sundays I'd have to spend the evening watching films with Debs but I'm a free agent now so I can do what I like!'

'Surely you didn't have to watch films every Sunday?'

'I did if I wanted to see Debs, she can be strangely set in her ways about some things, in fact some of her routines are downright bizarre!'

'Hmmm I remember. Does she still do that thing in the shower where she has to get washed in a particular order?'

'Yes she still does that!' Kate laughed 'and did she used to do that thing with the car wing mirrors?'

'Oh yes -- has to reposition them every time she gets in the car, even though they haven't moved since the last time she drove it!'

They spent some time laughing at Debs' idiosyncrasies and it made Kate feel good to be able to talk to someone who understood and also found them funny.

'So Miss Turner, what strange habits do you have that I should know about?'

'Oh you'll have to decide if I have any of those, but I do have a couple of obsessions and I'd love to share them with you if you fancy coming back to my place?'

Kate was surprised when Lex pulled the bike off the road onto a dirt track and had to hold on tight as they bumped over the uneven surface. When they pulled up outside of a barn Kate was beginning to think that Lex had some very strange living arrangements until she swung the door open to reveal her obsessions.

'These are my babies, if you're really nice to me I'll let you play sometime.'

Kate stared in awe at the beautiful machines parked in the barn. There was a Norton Commando, a Triumph Tiger 100, an Indian and a couple of old WW2 army bikes -- all in pristine condition. There was also a modern Honda Pan European that Lex used on a daily basis but it paled into insignificance beside the others.

'Oh my god Lex, these are beautiful!'