Thursday
May262011
Flirting
Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 2:13PM 
This week’s Red Writing Hood prompt was to write a short piece that begins with the words, "This was absolutely the last time" and ends with "She was wrong". My offering is fiction and I hope you enjoy!
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This was absolutely the last time she would ever attend a conference without first researching its prospective speakers. What the heck was she thinking? This seminar had turned out to be a short nap shy of a coma. She was bored to tears. Her feet started shuffling under her chair, back and forth, up and down, covering every inch of allotted foot-space. She was having an anxiety attack and had to get out of that meeting hall. She reached down to find her shoes, found one, slipped her foot into it and felt around for the other.
She promptly knocked over a can of her neighbor’s Pepsi, which produced much noise and a few annoyed looks. She glanced at the woman to whisper an apology and was met with lovely green eyes and a warm smile. “It’s ok. I’m restless too. Want to go for coffee?”
She was intrigued, found her shoe, and while slipping into it, replied, “As if we really need any more caffeine, right? But, yes, I would love to! Let’s go.”
They gathered their things and tried to slip out without much drama. Unfortunately, she wasn’t built that way and tripped over her own coat just a few rows from the door. She plopped down quite unladylike and while trying collect her wits, her new friend offered her a hand. She gratefully took it and they finally made their way to freedom.
“Are you always so graceful, or just showing off for me?” asked her lovely green-eyed rescuer.
“I like to make a splash, an entrance, a first impression not soon to be forgotten! How’d I do?" she said, clearly up for this flirty rhetoric.
“I have chills. Your command of the preposterous is commendable, your clumsiness enviable, but quite frankly, your recovery techniques need a little work.” There it was again, that lovely, amused smile. “My name is Addison, by the way. Yours?”
“I’m Sandra and if I don’t find a comfortable chair in which to collapse, I may just get cranky. Trust me, I don’t do cranky well. People tend to back away slowly. You might want to stay at the ready.” Why was she flirting so profusely with this stranger? She didn’t even know if the woman preferred women. What a shame if she didn’t!
Addison, not deterred for a second, said “I know where we can get some well-deserved comfort.”
“Oh really? Your room perhaps? Or mine?” Sandra thought. Oh God, she had to snap out of it. This woman was only trying to befriend her. But still, thoughts were running through her head, of candles and wine and a long interesting night.
Addison led them to the hotel’s retro bar and they were seated in a cushy booth that provided privacy and was surprisingly void of loud music, to Sandra’s delight. She took her shoes off, making a production of it for Addison’s entertainment. Addison giggled and mimicked her new friend by shaking her own shoes off, with one flying across the room to the next booth. They both broke into fits of laughter as the waiter arrived to take their drink order.
“I’ll have a margarita rocks, and my shoe, which is right over there, if you don’t mind. Thanks!” chuckled Addison. Sandra ordered a dirty martini and they settled in to get to know one another.
The afternoon flew, many drinks were ordered and much wit and wisdom was exchanged. Sandra still hadn’t a clue as to Addison’s sexual orientation, but was more determined than ever to find out. However, since Addison had made no clear indications, Sandra was coming to the conclusion that her friend was not interested in her romantically.
A little later, when Sandra excused herself to go to the ladies room, Addison accompanied her. Once inside, Addison turned to Sandra and said,"I was waiting for you to make the first move, but looks like it's up to me". With that, she pulled Sandra close and kissed her.
Smiling, Sandra remembered that earlier, she had thought this would be a boring conference, but turned out, she was wrong.
Reader Comments (37)
Wowsers woman! This was sexy, intense, provocative. Perfect!
I loved lines like "a short nap shy of a coma" and the details like the Pepsi, the drinks, the shoes.
Great job!
Definitely NOT a boring conference!!
I love the playfulness of this piece, and I love the way Addison talks.
Great story. I too loved "A short nap shy of a coma".Been there done that. Never done the bar thing during a conference, but I have left and went to the casino. Unlike Sandra I never won. Hugs Mary
I love the flirting. Totally natural and fun! Oh, if life were always this easy!
As you know, there's this thing in writing called "voice". It's as individual as the writer, and most come out flat. Your writing resonates with a voice that is fascinating. You constantly surprise me. Well done!
Snort - "a short nap shy of a coma" - I love that expression!
Ha!! That little minx. Love your take. Your dialogue is quick and rings true. Very nicely done my friend.
What, no sketch? ;)
That was excellent, Terri! Quick and snappy dialogue; great job!
@Galit, Tracie and Mary.....Thanks so much ladies. It was lots of fun writing this one. I could have added some more fun stuff, but for the length limits. I still went over a bit. Appreciate your stopping by!
Hi Joan... Glad you enjoyed the story!
This comment was just the Best.Comment.Ever! Wow and thank you. I was humbled by your words as I don't take your criticism or praise lightly. Lovely. Thank you.
Thanks Ash. Much appreciated! I wanted to do a sketch, but my artistic and creative side was a bit "sketchy" yesterday. (get it?) LMAO. I crack myself up. No seriously. I honestly couldn't think of a thing to draw. Sketchers block?
Thank you my sweet friend. Hope all is well on the home front? HUGS
I loved this! I laughed at her spilling and tripping and felt so bad for her for a second, until this sweet and friendly person took it all in stride. And the flirting, what fun! Even not knowing how it would end, I had hopes.
This line was my fave: "Your command of the preposterous is commendable" It just made me giggle and like Addison immediately. And I love, for some reason, the innuendo of Sandra ordering a dirty martini. It was flirting without being obvious, to me.
I really liked this line, too: "much wit and wisdom was exchanged." It just put me in the character's head, how she felt the whole thing was going, and the hopes that followed, with my own hopes they wouldn't be dashed. Well done!
Andrea, thank you so much for taking the time to specify your favorite parts of the story. That really does help me when I write future pieces. Well, and the fact that I love the compliments! hehe
My writing with a gay theme has been very well-received and for that, I am very grateful. It is not my intention to embarrass, but rather just be myself and entertain. When people get something from it, as you have, it's all the sweeter. Thanks again!
“I’ll have a margarita rocks, and my shoe, which is right over there, if you don’t mind. Thanks!” ... something that I would totally do ;)
I love the flirtation. You did a fantastic job with this prompt.
Thank you Kimberly. So happy you came back to visit me! And thanks for the kind words. I love your blog, hope you know that.
Nancy……I loved the flirting part, too. I’m a big flirt myself (who knew?) but I’m not near as smooth as these ladies. Glad you enjoyed !
Both of these women strike me as the writerly type I wish I were...I felt their personalities and dug the flirting....well done
Thank you Julie. I so appreciate your visiting and kind comments. Awesome!
1. I love shoes (what kind were they?)
2. Too many Margarita's got me into my hubby's bed! HA
3. Flirting is Fun!
4. I love your writing
5. I love your writing.
Kiss from MN>
Hey sweet Kim!
1. I didn't imagine that far. I'm a purse whore. So since imagination is free, I will imagine that Sandra was carrying a Kate Spade hot little bag and Addison a Tory Burch. How's that? (evil grin)
2. Been there. Regretted that. It's not the tequila, it's the worm.
3. Hells Yeah
4 and 5 Thanks friend. Much love from Vegas!'
xoxo
I love that you nailed the flirting on BOTH sides! Loved the dialogue, the shoe details, and of course - my drink of choice - the margarita rocks!!
Hey Chica! Was wondering where you were. Yea, flirting dialogue is a piece of cake. Easy to write about what you do best. LMAO I swear.
Loved this! I love your opening - the meeting was a nap shy of a coma. I have been to many a meeting like this. If only every meeting had turned out this fun and romantically. Who am I kidding, if only one of those meetings had turned out this way.