Sophie's mother did not hide her disdain for Avni from that point onward.

She did not come anywhere near Sophie's room for the rest of the evening, she kept a wide berth from the girls in general. After an hour of studying, the pair went down for a quick snack. Her mother did not speak -she didn't even snark- she simply watched them rummage through the cupboards, their every movement silently scrutinised by her gaze.

If Avni noticed, she made no sign of it.

On the other hand, Sophie could feel that stare under her skin. She didn't want Avni to leave. As long as she was here her mother would remain civilised at least, but as soon as she was gone and the door closed behind her to keep prying eyes away...

Sophie shuddered at the thought. It was kind of Avni to defend her, but she didn't recognise the long term consequences her kindness would inflict upon Sophie. At the very least, Sophie could keep what Avni had said about her close to heart where no one could take it away. For the first time, Sophie's efforts had been recognised and she would hang onto that for as long as she could.

"Do you always think?" Avni asked.

"Huh?"

Avni was lying on her side, reclined on Sophie's bed. Her physics textbooks were haphazardly scattered around around her body and her dark hair splayed out across Sophie's white pillows. Sophie became strangely lost in the sight of her. Something about her was always so calm, so relaxed and in that moment she also seemed regal within the assurance of herself. What was it like to feel like that?

An urge swept over Sophie so quickly in that moment she had no time to restrain her thoughts. She thought of getting up from her desk and climbing on top of Avni. Would she still stay so relaxed if that happened? If Sophie were to take Avni's face between hands and pull it close, would she still be able to maintain that easy smile. If Sophie were to strip her, layer be layer until she was completely exposed, her nude form only for the pleasure of Sophie. Would she still be so self-assured then?

Or would she crumble?

Would those dark brown eyes of hers lower in a pleasurable shame and would she drape an arm across her breasts and close her legs to maintain whatever dignity she had left once Sophie stripped her.

"Sophie." It sounded like Avni was calling for her attention, but one look at that smug face and Sophie had silently confirmed to Avni that she was thinking about her. She smiled that easy grin of hers and lounged across Sophie's bed like a spoilt cat. So cocky, so arrogant.

Sophie was consumed by thoughts of taking control of the situation for once. Three steps was all it would take to get from the desk to the bed. From then, Sophie wouldn't care whether Avni did become bashful in her forced exposure. For once, she would do what Sophie wanted and no amount of pleading to be forgiven would make her stop.

Although, Sophie doubted that Avni would be shy. That look. There was something about the look. The eyes, the smile, the posture. It was as if she knew exactly what Sophie was thinking and was daring her to fulfil her fantasy. For all the happy-go-lucky attitude of Avni, something about the way she leaned slightly towards Sophie and the way her chest rose and fell in a way that betrayed her own anticipation. She was eager. She was waiting for Sophie to do something.

Wasn't that what she had been saying to her for the past week now? Daring Sophie to Acton her own desires.

Sophie stood up from her desk and walked towards the bed. One step. Two steps. Three.

So cocky, so arrogant. Avni rolled onto her back and looked up at Sophie. That smile never faltered, if anything, it grew wider. She wouldn't break eye contact with Sophie who only looked down at her. So cocky, so arrogant. Avni's hands played with the collar of the shirt she was wearing. Sophie almost thought she was imaging it, but observing Avni longer confirmed it to her. She was pulling her shirt down.

Sophie knew she wouldn't be shy. She was eager. The light danced across her collarbone and Sophie was given peeks of Avni's naked form.

The bed groaned under Sophie's weight as she moved onto the bed.

Avni's movements stopped when Sophie sat upon her waist. Ah, was she not expecting Sophie to actually do it? That easy smile faltered and her eyes fluttered. There was an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction at having the ever so confident Avni underneath her on her bed and dropping the cocky attitude in front of her.

Avni began to lean upwards, her eyes not meeting Sophie's but looking slightly lower. Now that just would not do. Sophie stroked her hand down Avni's face then wrapped it around her throat. She pushed Avni back down and held her there.

Always preaching to Sophie about doing things that she wanted to do not what others wanted her to do. She would see where that would get her now.

She leered just over Avni's face, admiring the beauty of it as she had done at the sleepover before. This time was different now. Sophie was in control and Avni would be the one to play along for once. She brushed her lips against Avni's and heard Avni's breath catch in her throat and come out stammered. She feigned leaning in for a kiss then pulled back to see the reaction. How satisfying to see Avni attempt to chase Sophie only to be held down still by her.

"Don't be mean." Avni whispered, her hands gripped Sophie's thighs and she ground her hips upwards into hers, moaning quietly as she did.

Sophie held down Avni's hips with her other hand and whispered back. "But I want to be."

It was true, but those brilliant eyes had gone from cocky to pleading and Sophie wasn't a monster. She kissed Avni properly that time. She felt soft lips like she had at the truth or dare game at Netra's, but this time they had no audience. Avni was for Sophie's private pleasure. She dove her tongue into her mouth and explored every corner of it. It was Sophie's in that moment. She tightened her grip around Avni's throat, not enough to restrict breathing but to send the clear message that for tonight she was Sophie's.

Avni writhed underneath Sophie, her relaxed feline facade completely gone. She gripped Sophie's thighs tighter and attempted to grind Sophie again. Well, that just wasn't going to fly. Instead, Sophie began to grind her own hips downwards into Avni, adjusting her position until she found the position that had Avni moaning into her mouth the most.

It was exhilarating. She'd never done anything like this with anyone. Not even Joanna.

Both her hands slipped under Avni's shirt and she began to grope at the boobs she'd been teased with earlier. They were larger than Joanna's. Sophie would never have guessed. Avni was always in baggy tops and Joanna was always form fitting with push up bras. The saying 'my cup runneth over' came to mind, though she was fairly sure the original writer probably didn't mean it in the way Sophie did. Her fingers found Avni's hard nipples.

What colour were they? From Avni's skin tone, she could guess that they'd be an ever richer brown. She'd never seen nipples like that and she was dying to take a look. She was about to lift Avni's shirt and appease her fantasy until she heard a rush of footsteps flying up the stairs. As if Avni's body had been set alight, Sophie flung herself back and moved far away, back to the desk and picked up a random book and began to "read" it.

"Wh-" Avni began to say, but once the door flung open she swiftly followed suit and became very interested in one of her textbooks.

"What the fuck is she doing here?" Out of all the people that could've come in. She would've preferred her father to actually catch her in the act of kissing Avni than have her at her door.

Sophie turned in her desk chair and innocently looked over her shoulder. "Oh, Jo. What are you doing here?"

"I asked why she," she pointed an accusatory finger at Avni, "was here, first."

Avni rolled her eyes and threw away the book, it bounced on Sophie's bed and smacked the floor. "We're partners for the Physics assignment, remember?" She drawled.

Joanna finally turned towards Avni and glared. "And what? You just had to come round and get comfortable money her bed?"

Avni stroked a hand far too sensually across her chest, her easy smile and cocky eyes making one hell of a comeback. "I just have a feeling that I'm going to need become... very familiar with it."

Why would she say it like that!

Joanna and Sophie had never done it on Sophie's bed. Joanna was incredibly uncompromising, but if there was one thing she was understanding of, it was Sophie's relationship with her parents. She reluctantly understood that they couldn't even have sleepovers round Sophie's house in case her parents perceived it as queer -in both its meanings. And yet, here was Avni, lying there like the spoilt princess she was.

Even with Joanna in the room, Sophie couldn't help but wish she had got to finish what she started with Avni. Was it bad to think that? It's not really like her and Jo were committed to each other. It wasn't a real romantic relationship, she wasn't stupid. She personally perceived it as a very close friendship that consisted of two people in desperate need of actual physical affection from someone who cared. Not that Sophie didn't want romance, but that a stupid dream she was never going to get.

Joanna slept with other people all the time. In a way, they had an open relationship. So she really couldn't say anything if Sophie wished to pursue something similar with Avni. She braced herself for the fallout of Joanna's rage. Ready for accusations of cheating and not loving Joanna.

Instead, Joanna turned away from Avni and faced Sophie. Her cheeks were mottled red and her eyes were becoming more watery by the second. She swallowed and asked. "Can we talk? Privately."

Sophie was caught off guard by the reaction. "S-sure."

Joanna replaced Avni's spot on the bed as Sophie escorted Avni to the front door with all her books. She didn't really know what to say to her once they were on the front door step and out of earshot from others.

"Um, well thanks for coming round today." Said Sophie. "I had... a lot of fun."

Avni had lost the smile since Sophie had asked her as politely as possible to leave. She hadn't meant to upset Avni, they were going to far in a very high risk area anyway, it was probably a good thing they were stopped before things went too far. Because they would've. God granted, Sophie would've taken that chance without thinking of the consequences for once.

"I'm not sure what you're used to with Joanna." She spat the name as if it was poison in her mouth. Sophie didn't bother with her usual speech of 'she's not so bad once you get to know her', it wasn't necessary nor would it work. "That," she paused, "that didn't mean nothing to me. I don't do that sort of thing with just anyone, it means something to me."

Sophie was too stunned to speak. It had been a day of firsts for her. First time she had had a girl on her bed. First time she had been intimate with a girl in her house. First time it had meant something to the other girl.

"Jesus, I'm cringing at myself here." Avni laughed but it lacked her usual character. "I'll see you around." She trudged through the snow and off into the evening, leaving Sophie speechless.