********** Stage Eight: Holly's Bliss/Cassie's Heartbreak ********** The morning after the night that two people make love was always important. For those who slept around and mislead others into believing that one night of sex meant something, their sudden absence was proof of the opposite. Harsh but informative. However, when two people really cared about each other; the morning after was completely different. This was the time when you reflect. When you think about how lucky you are to be where you are. To look on the one you had been so close to and contemplate what the future would hold for the two of you. The morning after Debbie and Linda had resolved their issues... was no different to that at all. The two lay amid the lengthy snowy white spread over Debbie's bed. Naked bodies and limbs interlocking, pressed together, holding each other, sharing each others warmth. By now Linda had awoken. It was clearly morning. Light peered between the slight gaps between the curtains of the far window. But unlike her, Debbie was still asleep. She was tired, even from before their lovemaking last night. But that was understandable. This whole thing had been hard on the two of them. Even more so for Debbie. Something that the other woman could see quite plainly. Linda rolled over slightly so she could take a better look at her other half. Debbie's long black hair fell in strands over her pale milky skin so elegantly. Even in this bright morning, after their long, long, *long* night of soul-shattering love making, Debbie Harding still retained that wonderful air of dignity and sophistication. And it made Linda wonder why she needed to think so hard about her choice of commitment. To simply look at this beautiful, intelligent woman made the answer so obvious. But that was for the past now. Now all they had to think about was the future. How they would handle things from now on. That would be their focus. If through nothing more than playfulness, Linda smiled softly and brought her hand over to the left cheek of her lover. Then began a slow stroking motion, pushing back the stray strands of Debbie's raven hair until it was nestled peacefully behind her ear. Though she didn't intend to wake the sleeping historian, that was the outcome. A small moan of stirring was released from her throat. And Debbie's eyelids fluttered open to see that glorious image of a naked Linda lying beside her. Linda widened her smile and let her soft hand come to rest on Debbie's cheek. "Sorry, Debs. Did I wake you up?" "...It's okay," The History teacher replied gently, "...I'm just glad that we worked everything out. And that you're here with me now." Linda looked upwards to the ceiling for a second. "Not everything. We still haven't decided who's going to live with who yet." That had actually been a thought on Debbie's mind. "...Yes. I don't know how to say this, but... I feel a lot more comfortable here. And I don't think moving Edward to a new home so soon would be a good thing." "...Right," And Linda had actually forgotten about that cat, "I guess I'll be moving here then. It's a nice house. And we could have a nice set up here. You could make me breakfast in bed and service me anytime you want..." Debbie chuckled and playfully tapped Linda on the shoulder. "I don't think so. If you think I'm becoming your housewife then you've got another thing coming." To that Linda laughed back. But such light-hearted moments would always remind her of how close she came to losing it all. "..I'm so sorry I put through all that." And somehow Debbie could see how much that guilt was effecting Linda. But that was in the past now. She had to know that that was where it belonged. In the past. "...Let's just forget about that for now. All I care about is you. And how we can make this work between the two of us. Okay?" That was all that mattered in the end. Linda pulled another smile to eliminate her frown. And she touched her love in a soft caress of the cheek. They had each other. Forever. Everything that had happened before to un-shake this moment was over and done with. "Okay." ********** Shannon Marson heaved another sigh. It had been a long day yesterday. After that 'Alyshia' had called her a bitch, she had been in one hell of a funk. Taking most of it out on those around her. Which continued when she went home and had to hear her sister Terri's overabundant stereo system blaring out rock tunes throughout the night. But today she felt no better. When she awoke this morning she felt like just skipping school all together to hit the mall with whomever would be willing to skip school to join her. But something told her to just swallow her pride and come in today. If not to show her face then to spite Alyshia, whom she had more than a few nasty words to exchange with. In the end it was a good thing that she did show up for school today. Because someone was about to come in. Someone who completely turned heads. And little to the immediate knowledge of those who dared to look... ...she had been there the whole time. Shannon eased back on one of the five wooden benches that were erected against the far wall of the outer courtyard. Alongside her were her friends, Chloe and Michelle. If you could consider Shannon as some sort of 'queen' of Atlantic High School's popularity caste, then Chloe and Michelle had to shortly below her as the barons of the shire. But while Shannon was mildly conceited, Chloe was far more narcissistic and had no small sense of self-expression. Though her overall attitude was far less arrogant than Shannon's was. And Michelle? Well she was the rare kind of popular girl in this school who had a caring side to her. Often she stood at the sidelines, tempering Shannon's bitchy qualities towards those that actually deserved it. In this aim, Michelle was largely unsuccessful. But she still stuck by Shannon's side through nothing more than her own feelings. It was *not* common knowledge, but... Michelle had her own little thing for Miss Marson. Hence her apparent jealousy toward Ella, the star Spanish cheerleader who was, supposedly, Shannon's 'favourite'. This was by no means the limit of Shannon's posse. At the very least she had around ten girls in her Trendies clique, but these two, Michelle and Chloe, were the cream. The rump. Those that Shannon could truly call friends in any situation, good or bad. Chloe absently tugged on one of the curled locks of her sandy brown hair, whilst watching most of the other student pour into school from the far gates. "Meh. I didn't finish that English essay thing we were given by that butt-ugly substitute yesterday. Think that Miss Blake'll show up for school today?" "Who cares?" Shannon shot back, resting her cheek on her palm, "I can't believe I came in today. Man, I am so totally bored of this dump. I should have just stayed home all day like my sister does. That lucky pot-smoking headbanger." Michelle looked over at the irate Shannon, from her standing position on the other side of the lengthy wooden bench they gathered around. "...Is this about what that girl said to you yesterday?" "Screw her!" Shannon responded, reprimanding, "I couldn't care less about that stocky loudmouth. Just don't feel like working today. I shouldn't have dragged myself here again." And so Michelle silenced herself. "Okay then..." But it was when Chloe noticed someone at the gates that the focus of their conversation changed completely. She was not someone they didn't know... but they themselves weren't aware of that at the beginning. Chloe abandoned playing with her more-than-well-kept hair to point out what she saw. At the gates of the far wall was a pack of young men. Guys who obviously went to the counterpart school to this one, Saffron-Jameson, which was just a short ways away from here. There was about four of them. And they huddled around a cute young woman who had been having this effect all morning. The men did not follow her inside the school (that would technically be trespassing) and so she waved them a fond goodbye as she went inside the school walls. Shannon stood up to get a better look at this girl. Though she didn't want to admit it to herself, whoever that girl was, she was... really pretty. Really, really, REALLY pretty. She travelled in swift (and yet adorably awkward) steps across the stone of the courtyard on black club heels shoes. They were not necessarily very graceful, but they actually complimented her smooth, bare legs. The mystery girl also wore a mid-length denim skirt that cut off around her knees. And her upper body was enswathed with a simple white blouse that had a wide pink heart at the front. Her beach sand blonde hair was primed upwards in wavy curls, no bangs, allowing her dark sapphire eyes to be observed without any sort of constraint whatsoever. Shannon couldn't recognize her. She had to be a new girl. But whoever she was, the Marson girl found herself kind of liking her. So she told Chloe and Michelle to stay put while she went over there to see who this was. Which Shannon did. After easing herself off the bench she walked over to the new girl and stopped just when they came into reach of each other. "Uh... Hi there..." Shannon spoke, disturbingly polite. The moment the new girl saw Shannon, her expression changed from blushing and shy to angry and downtrodden. Shannon watched as the mystery blonde's brow creased, looking away with spite. "...What do you want? What did I do wrong now?" Suddenly the vocals that went behind the new girl's image gave away the fact that she wasn't so new. Shannon froze, almost paralysed, knowing full well to whom that timid voice belonged. And it confused her to no end. "...Cassie?" And sure as hell, it was. The taller blonde couldn't believe it. It was like some sick spin-off of 'She's All That'. Gone were the braces. Gone were the thick nerdish glasses. The normally unkempt hair was now tidy. The fashion disasters that had been Cassie's main bag had been binned along with the lack of make-up. The young woman had made an entire switch around that had changed her image radically. Her face had gone from (at the best) quaint; to (at the worst) very cute. She wasn't necessarily a supermodel now... but Cassie had changed herself in such a way that Shannon could hardly recognize her. The only thing that resembled her previous look was the voice itself. Aside from that... When the new and improved Cassie saw that Shannon was too confused to say anything more, she walked off as quickly as she could. Different look or not, she still felt intimidated by her trendy-borne nemesis. There was nothing she could do to get over that. But Cassie did have to admit; she felt a lot more confident like this. Not because she looked great. At the end of the day, Cassie felt as she always did, regardless. But because... for the first time in her short life, people were beginning to actually notice her. She no longer felt invisible or obscure. And that feeling was really welcomed. It was a clear change that was long overdue in her own humble opinion. She just hoped that it would work with Holly-Raine. And that was who all this was really for. Dear sweet Holly-Raine. Talking with Linda/Miss Blake yesterday had helped Cassie out in a lot of ways. Now she really felt like she could do this. She truly felt like she was ready to admit her feelings, even if a little nervousness was there. The young girl walked around one of the main buildings to a quiet side area where there were a couple of vending machines. She knew that Holly liked to come here in the mornings and buy a little candy bar for herself before she went to class. Cassie's plan was to wait there until Holly arrived. But thankfully, Holly-Raine was already there. Looking as cute and gorgeous as she always did, but with an extra special smile on her face. Acknowledging that this was the time for action... Cassie strode over there and swallowed the lump in her throat. If she could have controlled her heartbeat she would have, but for now it would just have to wait. Holly didn't look up from the vending machine until she felt a tap on her shoulder a few seconds later. The shoulder-length hair on the beauty swung around whilst she turned to see this person. And she looked Cassie up and down with a pleasantly approving smile, which, had of Cassie understood it, would have made her blush. But Cassie was the first to speak. "...Hi." "Hey..." Holly spoke back, "...Do we know each other? You look sort of familiar... but I can't remember seeing you before-" "I'm Cassie Robbins," The blonde girl answered swiftly, "Were in Miss Blake's English class together. I guess... you didn't really notice me all that much..." Truth be told, Holly-Raine could hardly picture herself ignoring someone as cute as this... but she had no idea what Cassie looked like previously. Again, because she paid very little in the way of attention towards her. "Oh. I'm sorry about that. So... did you want something from the machine or what?" The timid Cassie shook her head for a no. "...Uh... no. Um... I was wondering... if I could just talk to you privately for a few minutes? Please?" It was the 'please' in that statement that made Holly think that this was important to the other girl. So she really didn't want to upset her about it by saying no. "Yeah, sure." And so the two of them walked over to a more secluded area behind the building. Not many people came around here unless they wanted some kind of privacy to say something. So it was quite empty. Holly and Cassie stopped in this area and turned to each other. And during this moment the blonde student couldn't help but take a few lengthy glances at the girl her heart had been desiring for so long. Holly-Raine was still so devastatingly adorable. She still had the innate power to turn Cassie's knees and heart to mush, regardless of how ignorant Holly actually was of it. And when Cassie did nothing BUT stare at her, Holly opened up the waning discussion again. "...You wanted to tell me something, right?" Cassie shook herself out of her stupor and concentrated on the task at hand. Presenting what she felt once and for all. "R-right. I'm sorry, I'm... kinda nervous... about saying this. But I wanted to tell you this... for so long now... I just have to say it..." "Then spill it." Holly muttered simplistically, shrugging. Crunch time. "...I...I...I... like you. A lot. I... don't just... like you... I think... that I... might... sort of... be... kinda... in... love... with you..." Following that there was a silence. A kind of throbbing silence that hung so thick in the air that the breeze of the wind sounded like the loudest thing on earth. And Cassie's heart sank violently when she looked into the vacant expression pasted over Holly-Raine's face. There was no freak-out, no acceptance of love and equal expression of it; just vacuous silence. The first tear started to well in Cassie's eye. And they were about to be followed by a hell of a lot more. She turned away in embarrassment and heartache, until Holly clasped her hand to prevent her from leaving. And now Cassie didn't know what to think. "...I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm a freak..." "Hold up a second," Holly said, "...You're in love with me?" She couldn't bear to say it again so she just nodded, straining in vain to hold back her tears in front of the girl whom she had loved for so long. Holly released Cassie's wrist and her eyes widened in surprise. "...Wow... I didn't know... this is the first time someone's ever said that they're in love with me..." Cassie swallowed nervously with watering eyes. "...You... hate me... right?" "Why would I hate you?" Suddenly things just started seem less important around here. Cassie focused on Holly-Raine and only Holly-Raine, to adjust to the words that she just heard from those beautiful, parted pink lips. Holly didn't hate her. And when the words sunk in the tears were held back. But for Cassie to believe that that was the tip of the iceberg of happiness... would have been very premature. But Holly smiled one of those dazzling, alluring smiles as she spoke again. "Look, I'll be honest," She began, "I've never been interested in guys. Not in the least. Why buy a hotdog when you can have a cherry pie, right?" A small smile was finally pulled onto Cassie's lips. And Holly continued. "...I'm really flattered. No one's ever told me that they love me that way before. I guess I was just a little... shocked. And you're a really pretty girl... if you told me this just a couple days ago... I would been all over you, but..." The word 'but' suddenly burst Cassie's bubble. "...But...?" "...But last night," Fond thoughts of Holly's ruthlessly intense night with Sharon Daniels now made one hell of a comeback, "...I was with this girl who really did a number on me. I guess I'm starting to feel about her... the way you do about me, so... I really don't think... that anything can happen between us. At least not now. You... do understand, right?" Any brief reprieve Cassie had gotten from the tyrant of heartbreak was now all forgotten. The beautiful words coming out of Holly's beautiful mouth in each beautiful decibel had an opposite effect to the way they were intended. Each sentence struck Cassie down like a deer in the crosshairs of a poacher's gun. Not only had Holly slept with someone else, not only had she fallen for this person, not only were Cassie's feelings unrequited; but the dull, nasty, ironic joke of it all was that... if she had spoken her feelings earlier... this could have all been avoided. The rush of shock that infected every inch of Cassie Robbins' being was completely immobilizing. She was so stunned by her agony that she could hardly speak. And guilt (something that was usually quite foreign to Holly) had a manifestation. "...I'm really sorry, Cassie... I know that you probably didn't wanna hear that. But... I'm sure that you'll find someone else... and... I wouldn't mind being friends if you don't." Cassie said nothing. Feeling that the offer of friendship just wasn't quite enough (then again, nothing really would be) Holly-Raine exhaled and stepped just a little ways closer to the stunned blonde. Cassie's own frozen nature ended for the production of a tearful gasp, as Holly leaned over to her cheek, and placed a tender, affable, friendship kiss on it. One that both warmed Cassie's heart and chilled it. Upon that overt realization that that was ALL she would ever get. Holly stepped back with a sheepish half-smile on her face. "I'm really sorry. I think I should be going now." Which she did. Cassie silently watched the love of her life, Holly-Raine, back-step and then walk around the side of the building, probably towards its front door. Classes started soon. She was probably heading for her first one. The silence she left behind was short. Wracking sobs filled the vapour of the air. Cassie did nothing to hide them. She simply let her head lull and emptied her heart in the only way that she could. But what she didn't realize was that she was not alone. A third voice came. "...I'm so sorry, Cassie..." The tearful girl turned around to see Alyshia standing a short ways behind at the side of the building. But Cassie didn't respond to it. Just looked at the taller woman with eyes that so clearly reflected her disappointment. Before she knew it, Alyshia was jogging over to her, wrapping her in a hug to help her through it. Cassie hugged her back, holding her friend with sobs that broke into the outright wails of crying. And the two remained that way. Cassie had revealed her feelings to Holly-Raine, finally... ...but without the result she so desperately wanted. ********** Summer was in a bad mood. Yesterday she had bought three albums and two singles that she really liked. She went home and listened to all of them whilst finishing up some homework she had to hand in to Miss Harding for History Class. A report on the 1920's Market Crash. Boring as it was on the whole to her, Summer managed to get through it with some music in the background. And she ordered out (like she normally did when she didn't feel like cooking), she called Jenny and spoke with her a few hours before hitting the sack. But through it all, a typically normal day, Summer was not happy. It didn't show much, even Jenny couldn't notice it, but it was there. Like a chip on her shoulder. Summer could feel something... bothering her. The more she thought about it, the more she saw Holly. And this picture she had of Holly wasn't one that Summer enjoyed. Because right next to Holly, in that picture, was Sharon. The image of the two of them. Not as friends, not as acquaintances, but as lovers. Acting together in the same way that Holly and Summer had been during her party. And that image was really affecting her. Even as she tried to sleep last night, this idea, this notion, that Holly-Raine and Sharon were a couple, invaded her mind each moment. And it... disturbed Summer in so many ways. Seeing the two of them together bothered her. It bothered her that it bothered her. And it was the idea that this might actually mean something that was the hardest to accept. But what DID it mean? Surely... she couldn't actually have... romantic feelings for one of her best friends... could she? But then what else would it be? Summer and Holly had agreed that what happened between them at the party would just be one night. Nothing more, no pressure, no baggage. And at the time, Summer really did feel that way. But now... the idea that Holly might be doing to someone else what she did to Summer herself was alarming. It set off danger bells inside the pretty platinum-haired teen that did not bode well. And more worrying was the fact that the other third in this equation was Sharon Daniels. Sharon had this disturbingly frequent habit of getting whatever she wanted. And sure, Summer wasn't completely sure about what Sharon's sexuality was, but from what Jenny had said yesterday, there was a closeness she was forming with Holly. Summer didn't like that idea at all. But what could she really do about it? It wasn't like she had any REAL proof that something was going on between Sharon and Holly. And even if there was, Summer could not stand in the way of it. At least not willingly. Holly was one of her best friends above all else. That mattered most. ...Still... ...Summer wasn't prepared to let this rest. The young woman walked alongside Jenny and, believe it or not, Sharon. Summer and Jenny normally walked to school together but they had run into Sharon on the way. Holly had left her house early, and had called Jenny in the morning to confirm that. So they all expected to meet up with her at school. And as soon as Sharon joined she and Jenny, Summer began taking oblivious, mental notes of the dark-haired newbie. One most conspicuous was the first thing that Sharon asked upon seeing Summer and Jenny. Something along the lines of; 'Hey, guys. Where's Holly...?' Though Summer knew that was very little to base her suspicions upon, her own personal confusions were now moderating the forum. She couldn't have held them back even if she wanted to. The three girls walked down the quiet residential street that was their shortcut to Atlantic High. But as they moved on Jenny saw a certain someone she was more than happy to see. Nathan. The charismatic football player whom had made quite the impression on little Jenny during Summer's party. "Nathan!" Jenny yelled as she saw him, "Over here!" He looked back and delivered one hell of a favourable smile. Though Jenny was the one to call him, she quickly crossed over the road to meet up with him. They soon began to talk between themselves, well out of earshot. Sharon and Summer stopped to wait for her to finish her conversation with the guy. Just until they started making out. Sharon grinned childishly. "That guy her boyfriend or something?" "...I guess so," Summer said with a sigh. But more important questions were on her mind now. Ones that were sensitive... but needed to be answered, "...Look, Sharon, can I ask you something...?" The black-haired woman looked over. "If this is about that Green Day CD I borrowed from you then I'll give it back as soon as I make a copy of it." "It's not about that," Summer said, shaking her head, "it's about you and Holly-Raine. Is there something going... that I should know about?" A satisfied grin came from Sharon's face when Holly's name was spoken. Summer did notice this but at that point did nothing to address it. "She's a nice girl. Just like you said she was. And we saw a movie last night, but it sort of freaked her out, so I took her home. Why?" Summer looked away uneasily. "...I'm just asking. Jenny said that something might be..." "What are you getting at, Summer?" Sharon questioned. "I was just thinking..." "What?" The dark-haired teen asked, "that I'd lead her 'astray' or something?" Summer shook her head. "...I just get worried about her sometimes, alright? It's not that big a deal. She's one of my best friends. We look out for each other." Sharon took that comment at face value. She stuffed her left hand into her jeans pocket and exhaled, looking off into the distance. She herself wasn't ready to tell anyone about what happened last night. She was in no way ashamed of what she and Holly had done, but she didn't know if Holly-Raine was being open about it. And Sharon wouldn't say anything unless Holly wanted her to. Plus, she was now getting the accurate feeling that Summer might not be too pleased with the whole idea. Which was understandable in its own way. How could you go up to someone and say; 'hey, I fucked your best friend silly all night!' to them? For now Sharon would keep quiet. But for how long? That remained to be answered. ********** "How's your ice cream?" "...It's okay... I guess..." She was still a little shaky. Which was to be expected. Alyshia sighed when she looked at this sight. Dear sweet Cassie, so heartbroken and shattered. The spirit-dampening frown didn't suit her pretty little face. Not even in the least. Once Cassie had calmed down enough from crying to tell Alyshia that she couldn't face anyone else the way she felt, the decision had been made. Alyshia helped sneak Cassie back out of school. Though the shorter blonde was not the type of person to skip school ( a well established fact) even a blind man could see that Cassie was in no fit state for schoolwork. They'd have to make their excuses somehow later on. But for now, what mattered was making things as easy as possible for Cassie. It was obviously no consolation to be taken to an ice cream parlour. But it was a relatively hot day out. And it was better to start somewhere. As soon as they got to the nearby ice cream place (and they were surprisingly rare in Victoria) they sat down and ordered a couple sundaes. Cassie obviously wasn't hungry. By the time the sundaes (strawberry and vanilla with chocolate sprinkles) had been brought over to the two of them, Cassie had a little more control over herself. Though there were tear tracks ruining the little make-up she had applied to herself, and she was still a bit shaky, the blonde was doing better than before. Her sobs had ended as did her erratic breathing. She couldn't truthfully say that she was feeling better but it was a start. However Cassie didn't eat her sundae. She swirled it around absently with her elongated spoon, throwing longing glances out the window every now and again. She didn't eat. Much to Alyshia's dismay. But to keep things moving, she opened up speech between the two of them. "So how long have you... felt that way about that girl?" "...Six months..." Cassie replied. It was probably a bit longer than that. But it was six months ago when Cassie realized how strongly she felt, "...six whole months..." Alyshia tried to smile a bit. "...Well... I know it probably doesn't help much, but, I think that girl's crazy to pass someone like you up. You know?" She was right. It didn't help much. Cassie cast an expressionless gaze down at the rim of the tall glass that held her ice cream. And gave off a little shrug. Something that didn't exactly look like a good sign. But Alyshia was sure that getting Cassie to open up *would* help matters. The challenge would be to get her to do that. After taking another swift bite out of her sundae, Alyshia spoke again. "...I really like the ice cream here," Irrelevant as that comment was, it was certainly better than not talking at all, "...cheaper here too, better than most places. I guess that's why I brought us here." Cassie didn't immediately reply. She said nothing at first. Then, a few seconds later, she looked over at Alyshia across that window side table with a inquiring gaze on her face. "...I've been wasting so much of my time, haven't I?" Alyshia blinked. "...What do you mean?" "...Doing all of this," Cassie looked down at herself scornfully, "...dressing up... the make-up... spending half my pay check on a hairdo I don't even like... wearing an outfit I'll probably never put on again... what was the point...? When Holly doesn't feel the same? Linda was right... I should have waited... or said something sooner..." Again Alyshia was a little confused. "...Linda?" "Miss Blake," Cassie answered, "I saw her before I got my braces removed. She said that I should tell her only if I was 'prepared for the consequences'. And I wasn't. I wasn't at all. And now I just... I just..." The large spoon in Alyshia's hands was put down. "...You don't have to say anything if you really don't want to. And the way you feel right now... you probably just wanna go home. After we're done here... do you want me to take you home...?" Cassie just nodded, rubbing her hand over her eyes to ease away the moisture that was gathering up there. At this point, the only thing she could think about was how lousy she felt. But it was lucky that she had someone to rely on now. ********** Summer, Sharon and Jenny (whom had a brilliant smile on her face from the little time she recently spent with her boyfriend) approached the gates of Atlantic High. And none too early. Classes were just about to get underway. The final bunch of girls on their way came through alongside them. The three walked across the school courtyard straight into the main building at its centre. First class for Summer and Jenny this morning was English. Which didn't apply to Sharon because her opening class was Math. Jenny opened the door of the stairwell that led up to the English department, and there were mixed reactions as all three girls saw Holly-Raine standing at the top of the stairs, a few other students passing her by. Jenny gave a normal 'hey holly' as ever she did. Summer and Sharon were not as bland. But while Summer's reaction to seeing her was somehow uncomfortable, Sharon pulled somewhat of a lustful smile. Holly-Raine was just as pleased to see her. But not as talkative as usual. Sharon just took that as a harmless reluctance to admit their relationship in front of her friends. Simple enough. "Hey guys," Holly said briefly, "You're kinda late." Jenny winked at her. "That's kinda my fault. We ran into Nathan on the way here and well, you know that a girl has her needs, right?" Holly-Raine probably understood that better than anyone else. And while Summer began to follow Jenny towards the English department, she looked back when she realized that Holly and Sharon weren't moving an inch. Suspicions began to run high again. "...Holly? Aren't you coming?" "I'll catch you guys up," The brown-haired vixen replied, "I have to steal Sharon for a little while so I can talk to her about something. If Miss Blake's back then tell her I'm just finishing up that book report I owe her, alright?" Summer's eyes narrowed. "...But..." However Jenny prevented her from saying anything more out of nothing more than a sheer reluctance to be late. So she grabbed her friend but the arm and made a quick stride for Miss Blake's English room. Once all eyes were gone and all ears were absent, Sharon walked up to Holly and swiftly claimed a kiss for her own. The slighter shorter youth moaned delicately into the kiss and remained perfectly still as Sharon wound her thin but strong arms around Holly's waist. She pulled back a few long seconds afterwards. "...Sharon..." "I couldn't wait to see you again," The dark-haired beauty began playing with a strand of Holly's shoulder-length auburn hair, "when I went home last night I couldn't get you outta my head. How come you walked by yourself?" "...'Cause you're a friend of Summer's," Holly-Raine spoke, "I don't want her to know anything about us just yet. You're the first girl I've ever wanted to really be with... but I don't want Summer to think I'm just... 'pouncing' on her other friends." Sharon smirked. "I don't think you have to worry about that. She seemed more worried about you than me this morning." "Why? What did she say?" "Doesn't matter," Sharon claimed, shrugging, "...so. Feel like a quick jump before class?" Whatever seriousness Holly had been humbled into by the revelation of Cassie's feelings was now tossed to the wayside. A mischievous smile appeared on her cute features. And before she knew it, Sharon was whisking her off to somewhere different. A storeroom that was just down the corridor. Which usually would be locked, but the janitors around this school could be as lazy as the students, something that Sharon had come to realize in the time she had been here. The two then ambled into the storeroom quickly, closing the door behind them. It wasn't the safest place or even the most romantic; but there was nothing really romantic in what they had planned. Holly backed up against the wall in this small storage room (which was more like a cupboard, only 2x2.5 metres in size) while Sharon secured the door. As soon as she finished she turned to Holly with a look of animalistic lust that so greatly showed the passion that was going on between the two of them. And they acted on it. Sharon quickly drew Holly into herself with a claiming embrace. Their lips were pressed together in another desperate kiss. The emerald-eyed teen sighed against her lover and ran her hands straight up her firm but soft back. Holly's hands slid up the grooves of Sharon's black leather jacket, right until they were entangled in her masses of lengthy midnight black hair. Sharon soon parted her mouth in their kiss. Which signalled a green light for the other girl. Who quickly let her probing tongue slide into the new opening uninhibited. All the while, Sharon's hands found a firm grasp upon that cute little button ass of Holly's. Something she was beginning to realize she had fondness for. Thankfully the storage room they had presently occupied was soundproof. If it hadn't have been, any odd passer-by would have been more than likely to hear the smacking of lips or stray breathless sighs. Holly's breath quivered when she felt Sharon squeeze upon the small, soft globes of her ass. But slowly, one of those hands left their post and began inching its way around the hem of her skirt. Which Holly was even more pleased to see. While Sharon's tongue jousted with Holly's in their kiss, her hand slid itself up the girl's short skirt and pressed against the panties that were covering up her crotch. The minutely shorter girl trembled when she felt Sharon's bare hand against her most private of areas. Sharon couldn't help but think warmly of herself and her work when the wetness that was dampening Holly's panties became oh so apparent. Which was good. Because Holly had the exact same effect on her. Sharon's fingers struggled to pull the article down with one hand alone. So she (reluctantly) abandoned their kiss and brought her other hand up Holly's skirt. She yanked the damp pink panties straight down till they hung at her knees. Holly spoke with lusty delight, "I want you, Sharon." Well she didn't have to wait long. The Sacramento-girl brought her middle and index fingers to the moist labial region, poised for entry into the ever-so-willing vagina. And a hard gasp left Holly's lips as those fleshy pink vaginal walls were parted in one slick thrust. Her hips jerked upwards at that second. And Holly exhaled vocally. Something Sharon also liked. Hearing Holly-Raine's moans and cries of pleasure. Feeling her jerks and writhing. Watching Holly dance upon her fingers for that amazing release. And so Sharon began her skilled thrusting. Slowly at first, moving in small, delicate strides. Then the tempo slowly increased over time. Dragging her fingers out to the first joint then down to the knuckles. Embedding and ejecting. Withdrawing and advancing. All the while, those two fingers became coated with glossy wetness, allowing for effortless motion. Soon Sharon's hand began thrusting in time with Holly's quick, shallow breaths. The skewered teen gripped the smooth leather of Sharon's jacket and held on tightly. While her throat gave out moan after moan, each time Sharon drove those long fingers inside her, up to their hilt. Sharon leaned in and kissed the delicate milky skin at Holly-Raine's neck whilst she did this, feeding herself off her lover's cries and her own zeal. But she didn't last long. Holly's eyes slammed shut and her mouth was wide open. She released one final cry. And her thighs clamped around Sharon's hand, leaving two of its fingers trapped deep inside her. The gush of Holly's sexual fluids ran down it, slithering along the outline of knuckles. Holly then bit her lip and stifled her gentler moans, weathering down the ecstasy of her quick but powerful orgasm. With a satisfied smile of her own, Sharon leaned against Holly's ear and spoke quietly, whispering sweet nothings. Holly remained with a sated and replete expression. It was the beginning of something. She didn't know what, but... something. The two were just so caught up with each other. And yet this was only the beginning. Yeah, life was good. ********** "This is a nice place." The day had gone by quickly. After a brief moment together at the ice cream parlour, Cassie and Alyshia left for home. But of course, they stopped at a couple other shops before hand. It was mostly Alyshia's ploy to prevent Cassie from going home too soon. If she took Cassie home then chances were she'd have to leave right off the bat. Which would leave Cassie all on her own to deal with this. And the taller girl didn't think that the shorter one should have been left alone in this situation. But eventually even Alyshia knew that she couldn't prolong the inevitable for too long. They hopped on the first bus that'd take them to Cassie's street of residence. The drive there was mostly taken in silence. Every so often, Alyshia would turn to her friend and peer with soft looks at her. But Cassie still just stared off into the moving distance of the window. Eyes blank. Mouth closed. Her cheek pressed against her palm. There was very little in the way of emotional silence coming from her now. Cassie had sunk into a kind of desolate stillness. It was unnerving. And worrying. By the time they reached their stop, Cassie's home street, it was about 2.30 in the afternoon. School would be over in around an hour's time. Eventually they'd have to go back and explain why they missed a whole day's worth of school... but things like that would have to wait till tomorrow to be answered. When they got off at that particular street (which Alyshia had committed to memory well since she lived not too far away) they made a short walk for Cassie's home. A quiet semi-detached in an equally quiet area. This was where they were now. The second that Cassie got indoors she charged up to her room and began stripping out of the clothes she had been wearing. Soon she was wearing something far more familiar to her, a flower print pink dress that she wore around the house from time to time. Through that period, Alyshia made herself respectfully quiet and took a seat on one of the two sofas in Cassie's lounge. Once Cassie came back downstairs, she started looking more like her old self. Namely the dress code. Her face still looked as pretty as she had made for herself today. But wearing her old clothes gave her a deep look of honesty to go with it. Cassie strode into the living room as she was, then sat down on the opposing couch to that of Alyshia's. But said nothing. And when the silence between the two of them became almost unbearable for Alyshia, she spoke, "...Look, do you want me to leave?" The shorter blonde cast a gaze over at her friend and shook her head for a no. And Alyshia breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to leave but she was prepared to do so if Cassie REALLY wanted to be alone right now. Though it just didn't seem advisable. So Alyshia turned to conversation again. "So... when does your dad get back from work?" "Around 9.00." "And," Alyshia figured if she wanted to get Cassie talking again then she'd need to stop asking brief questions, "...what does he do? I don't think you ever told me." Cassie looked off to the blank TV screen across the room. "He's a mechanic. At a garage downtown. He runs it with his partner... but I can't remember his name." Well that was a little better. Finally Cassie was starting to say more than five syllables. And Alyshia was just about to ask something more when she adjusted her seat. And felt that she was sitting on something. Something that she didn't notice before. The girl shifted to one side of the couch and picked up whatever it was. It happened to be something of Cassie's (though Alyshia didn't immediately notice that). Her poetry diary. It was covered with love hearts that had the phrase 'Cassie 4 Holly' written inside of them. Through nothing but spontaneous action, Alyshia opened the book. Not to intrude, but, just out of a knee-jerk reaction to the situation. And soon she was reading one of the many hundreds of little poems and short stories that had been written by Cassie herself. The heartbroken blonde didn't notice this at first. Until she looked over at Alyshia and saw her reading her poetry diary... which was devoted solely to Holly-Raine. Cassie's sapphire eyes widened with alarm. "Wait... that's..." When she heard the panic in Cassie's voice, Alyshia looked up from the book. But then her expression was stunned. Very much so. The braided-haired blonde looked over at the author of the book in total surprise, blinking vividly. "Cassie... this is beautiful..." "...I doubt it," She didn't think that much of her poems, just the woman behind them, "Miss Blake said the same thing when I handed one... into her. But I get the feeling... she was just being polite." Alyshia closed the book. "...I can't believe how much... you felt for that girl..." "Her name is Holly-Raine," Cassie replied, almost irritably, "...And... my poems really aren't anything special. I just... sometimes I got... anxious, I guess. I had so much to say to her... and... I didn't have the courage... so... I just... wrote down what I felt. It's stupid." And Alyshia just couldn't understand Cassie's negativity about her own work. Or why Cassie sacrificed so much affection towards someone who (in her own opinion) was so undeserving of it. "They're really wonderful Cassie. You shouldn't sell yourself short. Not when you have a real talent for something." It was obvious that the two would never agree on the issue. But it was nice to hear fond words about her poetry diary. It was something that had been Cassie's only method of tension release when her feelings grew harder to ignore. And it was then that Alyshia waved the book at her humble friend with a pleasant smile. "Wanna read me one?" To anyone else it might not have seemed like a good idea. And in a different time and period, Alyshia herself might have agreed with them. But she was caught up in Cassie. In just these short few moments she had realized how intense and passionate the girl could be. About love and her feelings of it, her feelings towards it, and her views about those effected by it. Though she had no idea how much Cassie's personality was touching her, Alyshia wanted to know more about her. To amerce herself inside the hidden well of ardour that existed inside of her modest little friend. Cassie herself didn't understand why she did agreed to it at that point, but she did, perhaps with the intention getting the poetry issue out of the way. The young woman stood off her couch and walked to the other one, taking a seat next to Alyshia. Then she took her poetry diary, opened it, and began a small, private recital. It was nothing very flash in the least. Cassie simply turned to the first page of her book started reading. While Alyshia looked on, almost in a trance. She was hooked on what she was both listening to and looking at. And while Cassie's reading of her poems started off in a mechanical, dispassionate pace... with a glaring lack of vitality... her emotions began to bubble as she read on. Cassie could recall each day on which she wrote them. And how she felt at that point in time. The poems were so full of love, a love that existed behind a locked door. Unable to open. Until now. Memories of Holly-Raine and what Cassie felt for her were now returning in a great inundation. And a solitary tear slipped from her eye when those feelings finally began to overwhelm Cassie. But, at that point... ...Alyshia couldn't imagine a woman looking any more beautiful. To naturally express love like that... to be self-effacing and diffident about the talent she had for that expression... it was almost unbelievable. As great as Cassie looked right now, she possessed something that most people do; but never at the same calibre. It was called 'Inner Beauty'. It wasn't fake, it wasn't staged, it wasn't narcissistic. It was quite frankly the most alluring trait that Alyshia had seen in a woman in all her life. And as fate would have it, Alyshia could not stop herself from acting on the emotions that Cassie had stirred within her. Then there was a brief but dramatic surge of momentum. When Cassie stopped reading for one second to turn the page of her poetry diary, the heat of desperate lips were soon pressed against her own. Cassie's eyes widened and her heart leapt up in beat from nothing more than pure shock. And it took a good few seconds for her mindset to fully register what was going on. Alyshia was kissing her. In every sense of the word, Alyshia was kissing her. And they remained that way until the Alyshia pulled back and sighed, running a blonde braid out of her face and behind her ear. A stunned woman looked back at a surprisingly anxious one, in a short lived silence. Which was broken shortly thereafter. "...I'm sorry... I shouldn't have done that... but... you were just reading those poems and... I dunno... I guess I just couldn't hold it back anymore." "...Hold it back...?" Cassie said in a questioning tone. "...Cassie..." Alyshia leaned back on the couch, "...I... like you. I really like you. Pretty much since I first saw you. Even back then. Then when... Shannon did what she did at Summer's party, I saw how much it hurt you. I had to talk to you. To make sure you were okay. And since we've been friends... I've really enjoyed spending time with you. But when you started reading... those wonderful feelings... I sort of got caught up in all of it. In you, I mean. Damn, this isn't coming out right..." Cassie was still shocked silent. That kiss was not an accident (...which was kind of obvious anyway) Alyshia really did hold... something for her. Why couldn't Holly have felt like that about her? It seemed like such a cruel turnabout. For both Cassie and for Alyshia. But then, a little something else occurred to Cassie. Throughout the day, Alyshia had been there for her. Even though Cassie had been (and quite frankly, still was) upset about Holly-Raine. How strong of a person did that make her? To stand by firmly and comfort the one you cared about when she was broken-hearted over someone else. Alyshia had actually done that. Cassie stared softly at the other girl. Alyshia seemed nervous somehow, as if Cassie were about to drop the executioner's axe anytime now. Cassie had to do something to assure Alyshia that she wasn't... unhappy about this. But what could she really say? Holly had knocked Cassie right off cloud nine today. How could she say anything to Alyshia that wouldn't result in the same outcome? And more importantly, what would it do to their friendship if Cassie actually were to do that? This seemed like a no win situation. But when Alyshia realized that Cassie was having trouble in coming to decision about how to act next, she spoke first instead. Her words however, were a plea for her case. "Cassie... look... it's kind of selfish of me to be springing this on you... right now. And, I know how you feel about that Holly-Raine girl and... I just wanna say that... I could make you happy. Just as much as she would. Maybe more. If... you're ready to give me the chance." Again this made for a tough decision. More so than ever before. Alyshia was really putting herself out on a limb here. And Cassie couldn't bring herself to shatter those emotions. How could she after what happened with Holly? But at the same time... was it really fair on either of them to venture down this road? It wasn't like Cassie could just bring herself to forget all her feelings toward Holly in a couple of days time. What if she NEVER got over Holly? Would Alyshia really wait for her when that was a possibility? And what would it mean for their friendship? If Cassie agreed to this and it ended up not working out... they probably couldn't stay friends. They'd lose each other totally. And Cassie didn't have so many friends that she could risk losing them. It was such a tough decision for her. Nevertheless. Right now Cassie was at her lowest. Even if it all ended horribly, even if it cost her a friend, at this moment in time, she felt like she needed the warmth of another. Someone to lean on. Someone to just... be with. And here was kind Alyshia, so ready and willing to give her that warmth. That shoulder to drape herself on. ...What was the right choice? ...What was the fair one? Questions that Cassie, it seems, did not have the answer to. "...Well...?" Alyshia prodded, "...can you give me an answer...?" She could. It came with stipulations that, for now, remained unspoken. But they could just save that for later. Cassie breathed out slowly then shifted herself over to Alyshia. Taking her time, raising her hand slowly to Alyshia's baby soft cheek. And Cassie's lips parted with speech. "...Alyshia, I..." ********** Chris Angel says, * And there you have it. The last chapter of the Misadventures of Holly-Raine. Riddled with plenty of unresolved issues to keep you all guessing. Will Cassie allow herself to be with Alyshia? And if so, just what'll it do to their friendship? How long can Holly-Raine and Sharon stay an item with that 'roaming eye' of Holly's? What of Summer's apparent jealousy? Will Shannon ever get her comeuppance? I guess those questions give you guys all the more reason to read the Misadventures of Kandi, huh? * I tried REALLY hard not to have Holly come off as a bitch in this chapter. I get the feeling that I didn't succeed. Dah well. * I think I introduced two new characters into this chapter, Chloe James and Michelle Moore. They'll have far bigger roles in the Misadventures of Kandi, I assure you. And there was little in the way of sex this chapter, but M. O. K will make up for it.
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