Twelve floors down

Chapter 3 Nothing Happens. Everything Happens

A city-wide blackout traps Joelle and Talia together. There’s no music. No lights. Just the sound of breath, the closeness of skin, and a slow-burn moment that finally breaks open.

The power cut out at 9:43 p.m.

Joelle had just stepped out of the shower when the light snapped off, her apartment falling into instant blackness no warning, no flicker. The heater died with a sigh. Silence followed.

She wrapped the towel tighter around her chest and stood still, waiting for the emergency lights to kick in.

They didn’t.

She fumbled for her phone, used it to light the hallway.

Then, three knocks on her door.

Not urgent. Not casual either.

A loud question came in Who’s at the door? it’s Talia she answered ,Joelle opened the door just enough.

Talia stood in the dim hall with a flashlight tucked under her arm and a bag of takeout in her hand.

“You hungry, or just startled?” she asked.

Joelle blinked. “Did you do this?”

Talia grinned. “I wish. But now the whole building’s out. Grid shut down. Could be a while.”

Joelle hesitated.

Talia raised the bag slightly. “Curry. Still hot. I was on my way up anyway.”

Joelle looked down at her towel.

Then back up.

Talia’s eyes didn’t flinch.

“Give me five,” Joelle said, and closed the door.

They sat on the living room floor takeout between them, candles lit on the window sill, wine in mismatched mugs. The city outside was dark, like someone had erased the skyline.

Talia sat with her knees up, chopsticks in one hand, flashlight lying across her lap like a lazy second guest.

Joelle wore sweatpants and a thin tee, skin still warm from the shower. She felt more exposed than she did in the towel.

“You always show up during emergencies?” Joelle asked.

“I prefer inconvenient timing,” Talia said, mouth full. “More interesting.”

Joelle smiled. “You’re strange.” That’s cute she said in her mind then smirked

“I get that a lot.”

They ate.

And for a while, that was it.

The kind of silence where you could hear every breath, every swallow, every shift in posture.

Then, as Joelle reached for the wine, her hand brushed Talia’s.

Not much.

Just skin to skin.

But she didn’t move it.

Talia didn’t either.

Their eyes met.

And held.

And something in the air bent softly, like warm glass.

Talia’s voice dropped, quiet. “Do …you want me to go?”

Joelle’s throat worked. “No.”

Talia leaned in slowly, giving her every second to stop it.

Joelle didn’t.

Their foreheads touched first. Then noses. Then lips.

The kiss was not practiced. Not perfect.

It was careful.

Warm,slow

Talia pulled back just enough to whisper, “You’re shaking.”

“I know.”

“You okay?”

Joelle nodded, just once.

Talia waited.

Joelle’s fingers curled into her hoodie and pulled her back in.

This time, the kiss deepened soft lips, open mouths, a slow unraveling that tasted like wine and fear and something brand new.

Fingers slipping into each other slowly,caressing ,each other both moaning

When they finally pulled apart, Joelle rested her forehead against Talia’s shoulder.

Nothing else happened.

And somehow, everything had.