Lucy's and Ryley's Search for Love

Author's Note: I must thank LittleAlison for unlocking and guiding me through the door to the world of writing almost five years ago. Her constant support is my motivation to write.

I also need to thank the wonderful THBGato for stepping up and giving me editing advice and offering their point of view. This story is much better because of their involvement.

Lastly, this story is a slow burn. My favorite kind of story.

Lucy's And Ryley's Search For Love

Lucy's And Ryley's Search For Love

My parents let me rent the cute two bedroom ranch as my off campus housing. But only if I promised to find a roommate to help with the rent. A female roommate they emphasized. Why is beyond me. They know how shy and introverted I am around boys.

I'm not sure why I completely shut down around guys. It's not like any boy ever hurt me or treated me badly. For better or worse, guys just ignored me. Admittedly, I ignored them as well. I was very neutral about their existence.

My shyness wasn't exclusively reserved for guys. Any large group of people and I could often be found looking for some place to hide. If I couldn't do that, I'd just stare nervously at the floor hoping no one would notice me.

Many people don't understand shy, introverted people. We don't necessarily want to be shy. We understand that it holds us back from meeting new people and socializing. We just can't help it.

Yes, we sometimes get fed up with being shy. That's why, every once in a while, you'll notice a shy person doing something completely out of character. Something extroverted.

All of a sudden we'll make eye contact with you, or reach out and touch your arm, or both. Sometimes an unexpected burst of boldness occurs and we'll tell a dirty joke.

That's us trying to break out of this box we put ourselves in. If things go badly, then right back in the box we go. If things go well, it will give us that much needed, much sought after, boost of confidence.

I did end up making friends with a small group of girls here at the university. One friend often over shared about the things she did with her boyfriend in bed. Some of the details got fairly graphic. While the other girls thought her exploits were exciting, I didn't.

I've long struggled with thoughts about who I might be attracted to. But I often pushed them aside. I had a hard enough time dealing with being shy and introverted. I didn't need to add possibly being gay to my list of social anxieties.

Oh, sorry...I got off on a tangent...where was I? Oh yes, the house. It was an older home in a nice residential neighborhood. Lined with mature maple trees. Yeah, it was further away than most off campus houses. But after living in a crowded dormitory my first two years here at Northern University, I was happy to get something at least semi-private.

The primary bedroom had its own bathroom, so you could say, for me, it was fully private. No more scurrying down the dormitory hallway wrapped in a damp towel with wet hair for this girl.

I posted an ad on the electronic billboard at school that I was looking for a female roommate. I gave a brief description, the rent, the address and my email address. Two weeks in, not a single response.

My parents were starting to give me a hard time because they couldn't afford to pay the entire rent by themselves. They told me that if I didn't find someone soon, I'd have to go back to the dormitory.

I reposted it, but with flattering pictures of the house this time. I mentioned that it was fully furnished, a safe quiet neighborhood, and that since I had my own bathroom, the main bathroom was pretty much theirs.

Two more weeks went by and no takers. I thought about dropping the rent a little. But I did my research and $500 a month was more than reasonable for what I was offering.

Then I got an email... from my father. That's how I know he was serious. He hates giving me bad news over the phone. He told me to start making arrangements to move into the dorm.

As I sat there, half staring at the screen, my eyes welled up. I thought to myself, I really can't go back to the dorm. Some of the girls were less than nice and often made fun of me.

See, I'm not only introverted and shy, I'm also a nerd. My major is mechanical engineering with a minor in computer science. I just love numbers and I love to figure out how things work.

The only male crowd I didn't feel inferior to or shy around were my engineering classmates. I was getting so desperate to find a roommate I thought about asking one of the guys in my class. But again, my parents insisted my roommate had to be female.

I was about to give in when a happy sounding 'Ding' came from my phone. Someone responded to my post! I was thrilled! At that point, I didn't care who it was, as long as it was a girl.

It was from a student named Ryley Stevens, asking me if she could see the place. We settled on 7pm that evening. I know I jumped the gun a bit, but I quickly and happily responded to my father that I found a female roommate and that I would send him the details soon.

I looked her up on the student database. She looked older, say early thirties, or what the university calls, a non-traditional student. Typically, people like Ryley start college later in life because they joined the military right after high school. Which turns out was the case with Ryley.

Not that it matters but she was also in her senior year. My heart sank as I realized, she's probably going to want to have guys over some nights. Why I didn't think of it before I don't know, but any roommate is probably going to want to have a guy over once in a while. Oh well. I'll just lock myself in my room when that happens, I told myself.

The database said Ryley was a psychology major, and on the swim team. I didn't think non-traditional students were allowed to compete in sports. Maybe she was a student coach or something.

An hour before Ryley's arrival, I was fluttering around the small house like a butterfly on six cups of coffee. I must have rearranged the colorful pillows on the large sectional a hundred times. Not to mention, checking my look in the hallway mirror every five minutes.

I even straightened my wavy red hair. I felt like this was a special occasion so I wanted to look my best. Ryley is my one and only chance to stay out of the dreaded dormitory, so everything had to be perfect.

I jumped when the doorbell finally rang, then gave myself one last look in the mirror. I was dressed to impress with my high waisted, mid thigh, light blue dress and matching heels. It was my favorite dress.

Between my bra and the cut of the dress, I was showing a little more cleavage than I liked. Not that I had THAT much to show.

I opened the thick wooden door to see Ryley, looking better than her picture. She was wearing a green baseball cap with her short ponytail looped through the back. A flattering white tank top with a small sports logo, form fitting black runners shorts with the same logo and slightly worn Vans.

Although she wore very little makeup, the gentle curve of her full lips caught my attention. The hint of gloss was a nice touch too. Ryley was on the thinner athletic side, yet still curvy. If that makes any sense.

"Hi... Lucy?" She asked, as she extended her hand with confidence.

Ryley's hazel eyes sparkled in the orange-yellow glow of sunset. Her mature attractiveness threw me for a loop. My mouth had difficulty forming words because my eyes were busy drinking all of her in.

My visceral reaction confused me. A mild nervousness, not shyness washed over me. I got this spooky feeling...like we already knew each other. I don't believe in 'past lives' but that's exactly what it felt like.

I eventually shook loose from her hypnotic gaze and put my hand out, palms clammy as they were. "Hi... Ryley? Um, nice to meet you," I said as we shook hands. Her grip was tighter than I expected. But it quickly slackened when I didn't return her extra firm grasp.

"Come on in, I'll show you around," grinning happily as my heart fluttered. At the time, I didn't know why.

I gave her the full tour of the 70's rancher, even my room.

"Lovely little place you have here honey." She smiled broadly. "Any paperwork I need to fill out?"

"You mean, you'll take it.. I mean the room?"

"Sure, it's very... um...um... nice." Her demeanor changed on the last word.

"But there's something I need to tell you. And I really hope that you're okay with it... I'm gay."

"No, that's fine!" My voice cracked. A big smile bloomed upon my face. For two reasons. First, I realized I wouldn't have to deal with guys coming and going.

Second, I thought she might be able to help me figure out my, am-I-gay, am-I-not-gay situation.

"Thanks, that's great... one more thing though. I'm currently unattached and searching miss-right... Or 'miss right now' if you know what I mean."

A crooked naughty smile popped onto her face before she continued. "What's your rule on... overnight guests, let's call them?"

I guess I should have thought about coming up with rules. As far as Ryley knew, this could have been my house. I mean, my name, and my parents' names are on the lease.

I sat down on the big cushy sectional and waved my hand to invite her to sit down too. I felt very adult at that moment.

Ryley sat close to me as more thoughts ran through my head. I'm really not in a position to make any rules. Ryley was the only person who answered my ad. Plus, it felt very strange talking to a woman at least ten years older than me like I had some kind of authority over her.

"Look Ryley, to be honest, I never really thought about... any rules. I lived in the Dorms the last two years where I was the butt of many jokes."

I looked down for a moment, then caught her gaze. "But I understand it, there's lots to make fun of. I'm petite... who am I kidding... I'm so short, I'm often mistaken for a pre-teen child. I've got this naturally wavy, bright red hair that some people think I dyed this color for attention. But attention was the last thing I want. I have more freckles than stars in the sky, and I'm a tad overweight. Not a lot, just the normal freshman fifteen. It just looks like much more on my, let's say, diminutive frame."

Ryley listened quietly until I was finished, then put her hand on my knee. "Oh honey, I'm sorry you had to go through that, And I know what it's like to be picked on, or made fun of. You have my sympathies and don't worry about any of that kind of talk coming from me."

I smiled softly at her as she continued.

"But I have had roommates. And what's worked in the past is just being respectful of each other's study and sleep time. I'm kind of a clean nut, so I'll never leave a mess behind. And when I bring a guest back here, I'll try to be as quiet as a church mouse... Okay?"

"Okay!" I replied. Happy that I was finally talking to an adult that understood things.

Looking delighted, Ryley said, "great! Where do I sign!"

I showed her the sublease agreement on my tablet that my dad drew up. She signed it with her finger, barely looking at it. I quickly hit, 'send.'

"When can I move in?" She beamed. Which made my heart skip a beat.

Before I could answer. "Could I move in tonight? I got most of my stuff in my car!"

"Sure, I guess... I mean yeah! Fine with me!" My smile was so wide, my lips touched my ears. It's done, no more dorms for sure.

"Thanks Luce!" she practically shouted, while giving me a hug. I instinctively hugged her back with the same excited energy. It was a long, tight hug. The kind of hug only close family shared... but it felt right. And that feeling that we somehow previously met, came rushing back too.

I thought to myself. I didn't even know we were on nickname terms yet. I didn't even know we were on hugging terms yet. I didn't even know I liked long hugs... with older women... pretty, outgoing older women... with toned athletic bodies. But apparently I do because I enjoyed the pulse raising goosebumps that lightly danced... all over my body.

As she pulled away, she let her fingertips trace down my arms, enticing even more goosebumps from my freckled skin. My arms instantly longed to feel her firm fit body again... why? Then her sparkling eyes locked on to mine once more, I felt a bond forming between us.

She gave my shoulder a squeeze, then practically bounced away shouting. "We're going to be great friends... I just know it!"

She was right. Over the next couple of weeks things went better than I expected. We instantly clicked. The bond created between us made me feel more relaxed and comfortable than with any friend I've had before. Being an only child, I imagined this is what having a sister would feel like.

There was one peccadillo of Ryley's I had to deal with on occasion. She was, as I suspected, in the military for a few years. I figured it was there that she picked up her, let's call it, 'salty language'. None of it was ever directed at me however.

It also wasn't difficult to hear Ryley anywhere in the house. My dad would have put it politely by saying... 'her voice tends to carry'.

I overheard Ryley many times on the phone with her friends. Calling whoever she was talking to, bitch, or slut or whore. But it was often followed by laughter.

I heard her, in a playful tone, say things like, "Hey my bitch! What's up?" Or, Hey, slutty Susie, how you doin?"

But the one sided conversation I heard recently had me wondering just how wild some of her friends were. It went something like this;

"Oh hey Ava, my favorite whore. How ya doin?"

"Ya, I gotta new place... Ya, my new roommate is really nice"

"Shut up, it's not like that."

"What about you? Find any special friends lately?"

"Whada mean you stumbled into a three-way? How does someone 'stumble' into a three-way?"

"Sisters! Really! You are such a naughty slut."

"And one of them did what to you in the shower the next morning?"

That's the last of the conversion I heard as Ryley went outside to continue talking to her friend Ava.

When she came back in, she knew I heard her. She explained that her name calling was more of a term of endearment or inside jokes between friends.

She continued to explain that many men in the military believe women shouldn't be in the Army. And those words were often directed at her and her friends behind their backs or right to their faces.

"See Luce, if me and my friends use those words toward each other, then it takes away the power those words have. And at the same time it brings me and my friends closer."

I guess I understood. I was content to know that it made sense in her world. Plus It didn't bother me at all. I mean it was nothing I hadn't heard before.

I also understood Ryley wasn't the type of woman to mince words. Around me though, she was more than polite.

Ryley was thrilled to learn that I liked to cook, because she hated it. (Part of the reason why I put on extra weight.) She showed her appreciation by setting the table, cleaning up afterwards, and hugging me. Her usual long, goosebump raising hugs.

A mighty battle raged in my head as to why I felt so relaxed around her, why I liked Ryley's hugs so much. I think it was the WAY she hugged me. Our bodies would make contact from head to toe. Her strong arms would wrap all the way around my slightly chunky yet petite body. It made me feel loved.

My head always landed sideways, barely above her modest pillowy breasts. Her natural scent made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. When we hugged it was like our bodies were having some sort of secret conversation.

I could no longer deny the decidedly intimate chemistry we shared. For the first time in my life I had the feeling that I wanted to be more than just friends with someone.

But those feelings also scared me. I liked being the quiet and shy Lucy, it was something I knew well. I was a 'late bloomer' and wasn't used to being attracted to anyone. But yet, another part of me wanted to explore those new feelings.

And what was her reason for giving me long, tender loving hugs. Is she somehow attracted to me? But how? She never told me her age, but she's got to be about ten years older than me. Was there something missing from her life? Did her family not accept her? She'd been pretty tight-lipped whenever the subject of family came up. Only talking about her grandparents on occasion.

And although it was subtle at first, I soon found my self-esteem improving by leaps and bounds. These past few weeks I found myself eating healthier and even exercising. That's the kind of influence Ryley had on me. She made me want to be a better person.

I did some research and found that long hugs will do that. Along with increasing one's oxytocin levels and lowering one's cortisol levels. Which brought me a sense of calmness, contentment and well-being. The article I read also said that hugging helps develop a more intimate relationship between two people. And that was certainly the case. The thing I couldn't figure out was... is Ryley doing it just to me, or was she a naturally huggy type girl?

Ryley was also very respectful when she brought home, as she put it, an overnight guest. Most times I was already in bed when I heard her creep in late at night with another girl. The creaky hardwood floors betrayed her attempt to be quiet on her way to her bedroom.

I often heard soft music coming from her room. I assumed it was to help mask any 'noises' coming from her room. It was only partially effective. Muted wails of ecstasy often pierced the walls. I wondered what exactly was going on in her bedroom.

I'm not stupid or a prude, and I've watched lesbian porn online. But what was Ryley doing? What did Ryley like? I giggled to myself, well I'm sure it's more than long hugs.

Another month went by and we settled into a very comfortable, friendly, an almost 'couple' type routine. Ryley, true to her word, seemed to bring home a different college girl most weekends. While I concentrated on my studies and... um... MY version of self care we'll call it... Masturbation.

It was a skill I perfected over a short time. I could cum as quick as a few minutes, or through orgasm denial, I could make the wonderful tinges last for hours. The full length mirror in my bedroom was a big help. My favorite thing to do was to try and maintain eye contact with myself as I came.

***

One Friday night, I was up later than usual. I got caught up in a rom-com on TV. I had just gotten myself a second glass of Ryley's wine and some popcorn. (Technically I wasn't old enough to drink yet, but Ryley never minded me having a glass or two of her wine.) I was just about to unpause the movie when I heard the door open. Ryley tip-toed into the dimly lit entryway with a cute, long haired blonde freshman in tow.

I normally have the living room lights off when I watch a movie so neither saw me. Ryley shut the door and quickly pinned her date to the door. Within seconds, the sights and sounds of passionate kissing filled the room.

Being just about six feet away, and in the shadows of a tv screen paused in between scenes, I stayed frozen on the couch. The two girls were infatuated with each other.

All of a sudden zippers started unzipping and buttons started flying. It was a display of adventurous sexual abandon like I've never witnessed.

Freshman girls look so childlike, I thought. And they are. Just a few months prior they were barely eighteen and still in high school. I also thought... that young blonde girl could have been me two years ago. Not currently making a meal out of Ryley's neck, but just being fresh out of high school and wondering what relationship scenario was right for me. Looks like she had all figured it out.

I knew I should have said something, or at least cleared my throat. But I had turned to stone, fascinated by the lusty commotion happening right before my eyes.