Now that they're not enemies anymore, Kristy can finally admit it: Shannon Louisa Kilbourne is gorgeous. She always was, but now that the snob aura's gone away (or Kristy's learned a lesson about labeling people as snobs right off the bat...but probably the first thing) she doesn't have to feel funny about staring at those long golden curls and that fantastic body. Well, as fantastic as you can get at thirteen. She has boobs, something Kristy basically lacks, and that's enough.
Kristy's always been attracted to girls, so this is nothing new for her. But in the beginning, being attracted to this girl? No, absolutely not. She'd run into Shannon on the street, during babysitting jobs, forcing herself not to look at those curls or that body or into those eyes. You hate her. It's easier to hate someone if you're not constantly wanting to kiss them or touch their boobs.
But that's in the past. They bonded a little over a pizza prank, Shannon came to Louie's funeral and gave the family a new puppy. The first two things would've convinced Kristy, but the puppy put her over the top; Shannon the puppy's just what the family needed to ease the sting of losing Louie.
Then Shannon joined the BSC as an associate member and all was well.
Almost.
Kristy still hasn't made out with Shannon yet, and now that they're not enemies anymore she really really wants to. The problem is, Shannon could be straight. She's never mentioned boyfriends, but most people tend to assume a person's straight until proven otherwise. And trying to grope someone who's straight is the quickest way to sour a new friendship.
Except sometimes Kristy's sure Shannon is looking at her that way, too. More subtly, of course, Shannon's well-practiced in the art of subtlety and manners, but it's there. To Kristy, anyway. And she wonders if she's imagining things and if she's not, which one of them's going to make the first move.
And then one day while they're alone by the swimming pool, Shannon kisses her. So much for wondering. Kristy kisses back so eagerly that from a distance it doesn't look like a first kiss, that two teenage girls just arbitrarily started making out mutually. And it's not Kristy's first, either, she's practiced with Mary Anne and Claudia. But it's the first one with Shannon.
"I have always wanted to do that," she says after she catches her breath. Shannon's eyes twinkle knowingly, and it's like kismet. Whatever that means, she's only ever heard Stacey say it before. But this is a moment Kristy will remember for the rest of her life.
"So what're you gonna tell your friends?" Shannon teases. Kristy laughs, trying to imagine the BSC being shocked by their president kissing a girl. Obviously they wouldn't be.
"They'll probably figure it out on their own," she says. "Especially Stace. She has a radar for this sort of thing." The sunlight catches the golden highlights in Shannon's hair, and her dark blue bikini hugs her figure in all them right ways.
Shannon's parents won't be home for a while now. Her sisters are at a friend's house studying.
So Kristy leans over and kisses Shannon again.