It was past midnight but just before the drunk crowds began their shuffle towards anywhere that still had an open sign blinking against the winter darkness.

Anita shivered, hugging her coat closer as she entered the quaint little bubbletea house on the fringes of Chinatown. It had taken her all night to finish writing her thesis before the library finally kicked her out for the weekend, and she just wanted somewhere warm that had a wifi connection to send in her papers. She sighed in relief as she saw only a handful of patrons and one bored Asian girl behind the counter texting away. The girl barely gave Anita a half second of a glare and a mumbled “Welcome.” before turning back to her little screen.

The lukewarm treatment didn't really bother Anita. She didn't really come here for tapioca pearls anyway, and she scurried past the bar with only a hint of shame at not ordering. She went past a hanging, beaded curtain door and into the main sitting area of the teahouse, relieved to see that it was almost as empty there as it was at the storefront.

Her only competition was a thirty-ish something woman typing away on her own Macbook. Anita stared at the woman for a moment. Not that Anita would ever admit it, but she did have an overactive fantasy and already she was making a story up for the woman in her head. A thick winter coat, maybe she was an introvert? Her auburn hair pulled up in a messy bun, she must mean business. Those thick glasses, she might be an intellectual too, a pretentious one. And that Macbook... she's either a hipster or she's made it...

Anita laughed and shook her head. Half of those theories didn't even make logical connections. She knew she was just projecting herself on to the woman. But as she took her seat on one of the empty sofas, Anita couldn't help but glance at the woman again. She really did look like how Anita imagined herself in five or six years. A professional, a workaholic, an academic hopefully and, and this was just vanity, able to pull off that aloof, sexy professor look that she always found cool on some of her more liberal teachers. 

As if on queue, the lady turned her head just in time for Anita to come out of her daydreams. Anita froze for a moment, shocked to have been caught in her voyeurism, but instead of the slight scowl and dismissal that she thought was going to come from the woman, instead there was a warm smile and a little wave. In spite of herself and her reluctant nature, Anita felt her hand rising and giving a wave back. That was about all she could muster for her out of character courage, and she lowered her head, trying to make a big deal about taking out her laptop and books from her bag.

“Why did I do that?!” she heard herself scream in her mind.

She felt a bit of panic from that unexpected bit of personal contact, but eventually Anita calmed down. It was just another human being. What was she so nervous about? She was surrounded by other people all day in classes and in the dorms. Just because she never talked to anyone other than her professors and the few study friends that she had didn't mean that she should be this bad at just noticing another person.

Anita found herself more and more relaxed as she rationalized away her anxiety. The other woman, as intimidating as she was starting to be in her head, probably just smiled out of being nice. That wasn't unheard of, was it? The lady must have already forgotten about Anita's presence by now anyway. As if trying to prove a point to herself, Anita looked up from her computer screen and back at the woman again.

The lady was still there, glasses and laptop as they were before, typing away. But then, those long, manicured fingers suddenly paused in the air, and Anita felt her heart catch in her throat. Anita' eyes snap back to her own screen, but not before she caught the gaze of that woman again for another agonizing second that felt like it stretched on for eternity.

“Crap crap crap... calm down...”

Anita felt like she was about to cry. She wasn't used to being so interested in anyone before. Not even that guitar playing douche that she felt herself attracted to on the quad grounds ever captured her attention as much as this woman. And what's worse, this lady apparently knew she existed. Anita started wishing fervently that she would just turn invisible that very second, and she was half debating taking the five point hit on her grade just to wait for the library to open the next day to turn her paper in late.

	“The Kalavela and the Eddas... you're a lit major?”

The voice was kind, and as warm as the woman's smile. Of course she wouldn't have her wish granted, and Anita had no choice but to look up.

“Y... yeah. Just research.”

She was even more composed close in person than across the room. The smell of cinnamon hit Anita, and she couldn't tell if it was the woman's perfume or the teahouse. Even the stray locks that weren't captured in her bun seemed to just bounce with charm, and the lady's light pink lips seemed to glisten with something that couldn't have been just gloss. 

	“This type of reading... you have Schumacker, I'm guessing?”

That gaze was intense. Anita felt like she was back outside in the wind. Instead of just a light blue that she thought she could see from a distance, Anita now saw that the Lady's eyes were a clear gray. She was speechless for a moment, and the Lady smiled again, taking a seat next to her.

	“Sorry. That's a little rude of me. Neve.”

Anita looked at those elegant fingers being offered to her and gulped, shaking Neve's hand curtly.

“Anita. Yes. I'm in his class.”

Anita was surprised again. Usually she would have been stuttering or going on too long to give a precise answer, but Anita was proud of her straight to the point she was for once.

	“Mmm... I bet you're enjoying his class. He was always so funny when I had him.” Neve said, drawing her hand to her lap.

“Yes. I'm enjoying his class. Some of his jokes are a little forced.” Anita said. Anita felt that she really must have felt a connection with this woman. She had never said anything disparaging about a professor ever just in case and for her paranoia's sake. Neve was probably just one of those people that you felt you could open up to...

	“Yes, they can be...” Neve said, the smile never wavering from her face. “... and I hope that he isn't putting too much of a workload on you? I remember that about him as well. I hope you aren't stressed.” 

“His assignments aren't that hard. I'm the one taking on too much. I think I'm on my way to a nervous breakdown.” Anita found herself answering before she noticed what was coming from her mouth. Her eyes widened a bit in amazement. Had she ever been so open before?

	“A breakdown... why are you working too hard? You must want to take a breather?” Neve said, her smile dropping and replaced with a look of concern, and Anita felt the older woman's hand on hers.

“I've always been afraid of failure. I want a breather so badly.” Anita said. Distantly, she wondered why she was being so open with Neve, and why the Lady was so close to her. Especially those eyes. Those striking, silvery eyes.

	“No boyfriend to help you with all that? I'm sure a little activity would relieve some of that tension.” Neve said, inching closer till their hips touched.

“I don't have a boyfriend. Sex would be a relief.” Anita said, feeling herself lean in to Neve's shoulder. Again, she felt dim sense of alarm, but looking back at Neve, it wasn't important at all.

	“Ah... sex already. I guess you don't have any patience for innuendo. Or you're just a straightforward girl. I like that in you.” Neve laughed, and Anita felt herself melt at the sound. “So you want sex? Is that what you really want?”

“I want sex. I'm frustrated since I lost my boyfriend and I really want sex.” Anita said quietly, and she felt her eyelids getting heavy. That little voice crying out that something was wrong was just so far away now, and all she could really hear was Neve's perfect whispers.

	“A frustrated intellectual? That's delicious.” Neve chuckled, and Anita was lost in the notes of her laughter. “Sex... would you like to have sex with me, Anita?”

“Yes, sex with you. More than anything.” Anita stumbled. There was still fear in her heart, but it no longer had anything to do with how she was behaving, but more for the woman in front of her.

	“Good girl... go on then, take your clothes off. Have sex with me.” Neve smiled, giving Anita a little nudge.

“But... people.” Anita said in her fog.

	“Not a single worry, now. They won't notice anything, just like you.” Neve said reassuringly, the Lady starting to undo the buttons of her coat.

“Ah... okay.” Anita sighed, happy as she began to strip her clothes. It was nice not to worry about anything.

	“It's been winter for far too long, Anita, and I'm cold... warm me...” Neve said, and Anita was could only follow her voice.