Outcome

'Ohhh, you are a cruel woman, aren’t you,' I murmured, my eyes on the cake. Haley grinned, handing me my plate.

The movie finally began after a string of trailers for movies that had long since come and gone. It always amused me how movies dated themselves by their trailers.

Dessert plates put aside, I laid back against two pillows, hands behind my head. Haley copied my position, not a hand’s width away.

'I love this movie,' she said, a contented smile on her face.

'Me, too.'

'I always had the biggest crush on Meg Ryan.' I looked over at her, surprised.

'Really?'

'Yep. Who doesn’t? She’s beautiful, adorable, beyond cute.'

'Yeah, I could see what you mean. Would you do her?' Haley’s head whipped over as she looked at me. I was grinning.

'No! She’s far too innocent for that.' I laughed out loud.

'What? That whole business with Russell Crowe years ago?'

'Eh, I think she was just trying to shed her image. I mean, that must be terribly exhausting to be so damned cute all the time.' I grinned, turning my attention back to the screen.

'Oh, her friend Marie. Now there’s a woman I’ve had a crush on for years.'

'Carrie Fisher?'

'Yes, ma’am.'

'Really?' She turned onto her side, looking at me. 'Why? What is it about her that caught your eye?'

'Oh,' I sighed as I thought about it. The crush had been there for so many years, I had no idea how it started now. 'Well, for one, she’s cute as hell, I love her eyes. They can look so puppy dog. She’s very intelligent, and is extremely talented as a writer and a comedienne.'

Haley glanced at her as she and Meg Ryan’s character talked in the bookstore right before Billy Crystal’s character shows up.

'You know what I think is amusing?'

'What’s that?' Haley asked, scooting over, closer to me, basically sharing my pillow now as we watched.

'This movie is actually relatable. You figure, they met when they were young, didn’t like each other because they were just too young, and it wasn’t the right time. So, they go their separate ways. Meet up nearly twenty years later, and voila. It all just fit then.'

'Hmm, yeah, I can see it. At least we liked each other when we were young.'

'Isn’t that the truth.'

Haley moved, sticking her legs on me, particularly her feet, which blocked a lot of my view of the screen.

'Um, excuse me, Haley?'

'Yes, Andi?'

'Your feet make a fantastic door.'

'Oh, good.' She wiggled her toes. Getting an evil thought, I lunged up, grabbing her legs, and began attacking her feet, Haley yelling the entire time, trying to get me off of them, but unable to as she was wracked with laughter. 'Stop!' she cried, pulling weakly at my hands and arms.

'Nope,' I tickled harder, trying to keep up with the struggling bull beneath me, when finally we fell off the mattress, which gave Haley a chance to get away, and turn back on me, her fingers digging into my sides. 'Oh, god!' My eyes squeezed shut, trying to breathe through my laughter as I struggled to get away or get even.

We ended up rolling nearly across the living room, headed toward the back wall where the coffee table was.

SMACK!

'Shit!'

Haley rolled over, curled up into a ball on the floor, cradling her head, and groaning.

'Oh, Haley. Oh, man. Are you okay?' I quickly made my way over to her, gathering her head gently onto my lap. She held her upper forehead, eyes closed in pain. 'Ah, jeez. I’m sorry,'

'Oh, man. That table is hard,' she whined.

'Do you want some ice?' She took her hand away, looking at it.

'No. I think I’m okay. No blood, just a good bruise, I’m sure.'

'Yeah, I imagine you’ll have a nice goose egg in the morning. It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Or a head.' She grinned, her eyes still closed. 'How about some Tylenol? Stave off the pain now?'

'No, thanks, Andi. I’ve got a hard head.' She exhaled a breath, feeling around. 'Yeah, I can already feel a small bump.'

'You poor thing.' I held her to me, rocking her gently. She grabbed my arm, hugging it, a smile on her face. She turned herself so her head was laying in my lap, staring up at me.

I looked at her, taking in her features, those incredible eyes. So blue.

'Did you know that you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen? Hell, I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.' She smiled up at me, shaking her head. 'It’s true. Look at those eyes. Wow,' I whispered. 'I bet you use them as quite the weapon, don’t you?'

She looked up at me with the most sensuous look, her eyes half-lidded, burning into mine with such intensity.

'Whatever do you mean?' she asked, her voice a mere purr. A shiver shot through me. She smiled, looking up at me.

'You vixen.' She smiled.

'You should talk, though, Andi.' She reached a hand up, caressing the side of my face. 'You’re so beautiful. You know, I feel rather stupid admitting this, but during my last year of grad school, some friends and I managed to scrape some money together, and during spring break we took a three-day cruise around the Caribbean. One morning I woke particularly early for some reason, so I got up and went to the deck of the ship. My hands on the rail, I looked out into the water. As I did, you came to mind, and for a moment I was confused. I hadn’t seen you in a long time by that point, but still, there you were. It took me a moment, but then I understood. It was the water, that beautiful, calm, blue-green water. It matched your eyes so perfectly.'

I smiled down at her, never wanting to be anywhere else. I felt drawn to her, that beautiful face, and even more beautiful heart. Our lips touched, gently, just a taste. Haley pulled away, sitting up, and turning to face me. She sat in front of me, our knees touching. She looked at me, her eyes traveling from mine to my lips, then back to my eyes. I leaned in, and so did she, until we met halfway. Her hand came up to me, her fingers losing themselves in the hair at the nape of my neck, mine resting against her knee, kneading the skin it found there.

The kiss was sweet, our lips opening to each other, hot breath being exchanged as our mouths moved together. I could feel my heart pounding, my body pulsing, matching the beat. I tingled all over as my fingers began to caress her leg, Haley’s hand pushing on my head, bringing me in as close as possible. Haley tilted her head slightly, allowing our lips that much more contact.

But, just as suddenly as the kiss had began, it ended. Haley slowly pulled back, her eyes still closed, a soft smile on her face. She finally opened her eyes, looking at me.

'Let’s finish the movie,' she whispered. I nodded, forgetting the movie had even played on.

We made our way back to the mattress, Haley laying on her back, her hand on her head indicating that it still ached from the hit she’d taken. I laid next to her, my head on her shoulder, arm across her stomach, fingers tucked underneath her side. I marveled at the fact that she was the only woman I had ever laid like this with. I wasn’t much for being the cuddler. If someone wanted to lay on my shoulder or whatever, so be it. But, I never felt the need for the comfort and security such a position offered.

Until now.

We watched as Billy Crystal , finally realizing he is in love with Sally, runs toward the New Year’s party where she’s at.

'Oh, I love this part,' Haley said, her arm around my shoulders tightened its grip, hugging me closer. Finally