Something New

She began to pursue me almost immediately after I met her.  To this day I don't know why...she says it was initially because she found me "sweet and cute", but then she just couldn't get enough of me.  Truth be told, she could have had almost any other girl, or guy she wanted.  There were so many to choose from, all of them better looking than me.  But she chose me.  
I'd never been pursued by a woman before.  
She knew it, therefore she was different with me than she ever was with any other.  I met her in August, after school started for the semester.  She offered me a smile and a hug upon our first meeting.  That was nothing unusual; I'm a huggable person, willing to hug anyone who wants one.  
For the rest of our time at the student center she sat next to me, wearing ripped blue jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt which was a bit too big for her, for it hung down off one shoulder.  Her hair was long and dark brown with blond streaks.  Her smile was wide and cheeky.  I remember thinking she was beautiful, but not really thinking much of it.  I think a lot of girls are beautiful, but I don't feel any stirrings for them.
You see, I've always thought of myself as straight.  I've had the odd girl crush before, but never a serious one.  That's why when she began flirting with me a couple weeks later in a friend's dorm room, it bewildered me that I should feel a quiver in my heart for her.  Or perhaps it was my loins, at least at first.  
During the first two weeks we'd known each other she always had a smile and a hug to offer me, and she always chose to sit next to me.  Sometimes she would massage my shoulders, which felt wicked good.  I naively thought that just meant she liked me as a friend.   I realized it our friend's dorm room that she felt more than that.  
We were there for a video game session; I was there to hang out, but I'd never been much of a gamer.  Neither was she.  Later she admitted that the only reason she was there was because she'd heard I would be there.  
I showed up about five minutes late to find her sitting on my friend's futon, looking bored out of her skull.  Her hair had been cut short and bleached blond.  When I arrived, her face lit up and she said, "Misty, thank God! I was afraid you weren't gonna show!", jumping up and hugging me.  My friend Bethany made an offended sound and said, "Well, Hadley, you really didn't need to come if you were just gonna be bored!" Hadley blushed and apologized, which made Bethany calm down.  
Hadley pulled me to the futon and sat me down before sitting down next to me.  The rest of the gamers trickled in slowly, most of them sitting on one of the beds or the floor in front of the game.  Luckily the game they were playing was Fatal Frame, which greatly interested me.  I'm not a gamer, but I enjoy watching a good horror game being played.  I love being scared as long as it's in a safe environment.  To add to the scary mood, one of the guys turned the lights out, earning praise from the rest of the group, including myself and Hadley.  
They began to play, the two of us on the futon watching with great interest.  Pretty soon I became acutely aware of Hadley moving closer and closer to me, until our thighs were touching.  She was wearing the ripped jean again, which revealed her toned legs.  They put my lumpy legs to shame, but she didn't seem to notice them.  
About twenty minutes in I felt her put her arm around me and pull me even closer.  I tensed up a bit, worried that somebody would notice and shout attention to us.  After no one did, I began to relax and wonder if she was just being extra friendly.  
Five minutes later she pulled me closer and whispered in my ear, "Is this too weird for you? Do you want me to back off?"  Her voice was thick with what sounded like longing.  I turned my head and looked into her eyes.  My heart surprised me by leaping into my throat and I gulped and shook my head, "N-no...you're fine." I stammered softly.  She brought a hand up and began stroking my face with a finger, a smile playing on her lips.  
I felt bad about this later, but at the moment I was afraid she was going to kiss me; my fear was brought on by the other ten people in the room.  I was afraid they'd see the PDA that was happening behind them.  In a rural college, something like this, especially between a bisexual girl and a straight girl, would certainly elicit talk.  
It wasn't that I was afraid I was somehow not straight anymore.  I was afraid people would think me a poser; someone who was only following a "trend", as so many people think it is.  I also found myself wanting to protect this girl, keeping her from hurt.  She was three years younger than I, yet she was so much more sure of herself.  Staring into her eyes, I suddenly felt safe.  
She brought her face up and kissed my temple softly before whispering, "This is enough for now...we can do more when we have more privacy....and only when you're ready....ok?" I nodded, biting my lip.  We sat there side by side on the futon, her arm around me, her other hand playing with mine the rest of our time in that room (three hours).  No one noticed at all.  
She took her arm from around my shoulders as the lights came back on.  
I needed to use the restroom, and so did Hadley, and so we went to the bathroom together.  It felt a little strange using the toilet in the stall right next to a potential love interest.  After finishing, we went to the sinks to wash our hands and she smiled at me in the mirror.  There was no one else in the bathroom, so I tentatively asked her softly, "Are...are you serious...about me?" She nodded slowly, "Yes...you're sweet and have a pure heart...well it seems pure to me...I would love it if...you gave me a chance." she said softly.  
I bit my lip, "I've never been with a girl before...I've...never..." I wanted to tell her I'd never wanted to be with a girl before, but I was afraid of hurting her feelings.  That was the last thing I wanted to do.  
She smiled, understanding evident on her face, "I know...I understand that you've never been seriously attracted to a girl before...but I think you're attracted to me...are you?" she asked, a small smile playing on her full lips.  
Wordlessly, I nodded.  I imagine I had a helpless look on my face, because Hadley chuckled a bit and said, "That's the way I was...I didn't realize I had the capacity to love a girl that way until a girl in high school got a crush on me.  I was flattered at first, but then I began having feelings for her.  Her parents moved her to Florida after high school was over, though...I still miss her, but I've moved on."
I laughed a bit lightly, "Moved on....to me?"
Hadley grinned, giggling, "Yep...Misty, you just....I don't know...you're so quiet and sweet...and so humble.  I bet you don't even know how beautiful you are." she said, stepping closer to me.  I blushed a bit, "Oh...I'm not beautiful"
"Yes you are...your smile...your laugh...you're just...golden." she said, her voice becoming a bit softer as she grew more serious.  It was like the tinkling of bells as she once again cupped my cheek in her hand.  
"Misty...may I kiss you?" she asked, her brown eyes once again longing.  
I nodded, "Yes."
Slowly she moved closer and softly pressed her lips against mine.  I could feel the pressure of her lips and I added my own pressure, surprising myself again.  I liked the way her lips felt; so much softer than a man's.  The kiss lasted about half a minute before she pulled away, her eyes questioning.  It was a second or two before I realized she was wordlessly asking if I was okay.  
"That was...nice." I said breathlessly, my face growing warm.  
Hadley smiled, "I'm glad...so...could we...could we try it? Being together, I mean." she asked, for the first time since I met her seeming unsure.  
I bit my lip, thinking it over.  It was something I'd never actually considered, so I didn't want to make any rash decisions about it right away.  Hadley sensed my hesitation and she visibly drooped a bit before perking back up.
"It'll just be a trial run, you know? To see how you feel about it...just...please give it a try...give me a try?" she asked, her voice seeming to plead with me.  I felt my heart melt at her longing.  No one had ever longed like that for me before.  No one had wanted my body as it was; no one had loved me like she seemed to before.  
I looked at her, gazing at her face, her hair, her eyes.  I wanted to do this; I wanted to give Hadley a try.  This would be a new experience for me, and I was curious to see how it would pan out.  
I slowly nodded, "Yes...yes I will."