"The Sleepover"
I am writing a one shot to get my creative juices flowing. I have found a way to sit somewhat comfortably to type so I'll see how long I can manage. I know you all want 3,000 word plus chapters but I'm not sure I can give that to you. It takes hours to compose them. But, nonetheless, I will give it a try. So here's what might've happened after Emily's mom invites Maya to stay over in Emily's room for a few days. She did say a few days, it's too bad on the show they only gave us one…
Rated T for Teen.
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Chapter 1: Who Am I?
Emily POV
I'm standing at my locker looking into it but not really sure what I'm looking for. I'm so confused I slam it shut when he kisses my lips startling me. I back away quickly.
"What's wrong?"
"You surprised me," I smile that fake smile that just comes naturally when I'm with Ben.
"We still on for the movie?"
"I can't. My mom invited Maya to stay with us tonight."
And as the words leave my mouth; my thoughts are clouded with images of her.
"Ohh, what kind of jammies do you think new girl wears?" he asks jokingly.
"How would I know?" I respond with a defensive smile, though I'm wondering that too!
He laughs, "I'll see ya at practice.
And when he brushes by me with the sweep of his lips against my cheek I see her. She's smiling, chatting with a group of friends. She's become popular without even the slightest effort. Look at her, laughing with guys and girls. Ughh, girls. Why does she have to have so many friends who are girls? I can feel myself heating up with jealousy, a feeling I never experienced with Ben. I don't know these feelings. My heartrate rises and my breathing escalates as I can't take my eyes off her smooth mocha skin, her straight black hair, that smile, it's so intoxicating. I find it difficult to look away. Her teeth sparkling white even from this distance, her lips so kissable. I clear my throat; did I just fantasize about kissing her full lips? I shake my head smiling with a touch of embarrassment, searching through my bag then opening my locker again, but for what, I have no idea. I stare into it blankly…
What am I doing?
As I'm contemplating why I'm looking into my locker, I feel hands slip over my hips causing a whoosh of emotion to flow through my body. It's definitely not Ben. It's her…
I feel her chin rest on my shoulder as she speaks softly into my ear, "Come by my house after school and help me pack for the sleepover? You know, before swim practice?"
My heart is pounding so hard through my chest right now I'm pretty sure I can see it! My breathing escalates, I can't think straight and I don't want to sound stupid. So, I inhale sharply, "Yeah sure, I can do that."
I don't even look at her. I'm too afraid to.
"Great. I'll meet you out front after last period."
I nod my head in agreement because that's all I'm able to do at that moment. I can feel my body temperature rising and then without any warning she nuzzles her nose against my ear and whispers, "Later Em," and walks away.
I collapse my shoulder against my locker and my head falls to the side leaning on it. What am I doing? I have a boyfriend. But when she touched me all I could think about at that moment is—I'm pretty sure I'd rather have a girlfriend…
It's two o'clock and I find myself rushing to my locker shoving my books in it so I don't have to carry them to Maya's. I'll get what I need later when swim practice ends. I slam my locker door shut and rush outside to meet Maya who once again is surrounded by guys and girls. Ughhh!
I compose myself holding onto the strap of my practically empty messenger bag and try as hard as I can to walk nonchalantly over to her and her groupies.
I don't say anything I just wave.
"Emily, hey. Are you ready?" she asks with her big brown eyes.
"Sure."
"We'll see ya tomorrow Maya," one of them says.
"Yeah, I'll see ya guys," she says as the crowd disperses leaving just me and Maya and my racing heart.
She nudges me with a flirty smile at least I think that's what that was.
"Ready to walk me home?" she winks.
Oh my god! My eyes widen and so does my smile!
She tilts her head narrowing her eyes as if she just figured me out with one hundred percent accuracy.
Shit!
I say nothing. I'm caught in her gaze. She's mesmerizing.
Then she hooks her arm through mine and we walk to her house. It's as if we're the only two on the planet. And I wish that were true! I think I hear my name as we stroll down the sidewalk away from the school but I ignore it cuz I think it's Ben. And then the voice fades away as quickly as it started.
Maya is talking about how different it is on the East Coast compared to California. She misses the beaches and then she says something that brings me back to reality.
"I bet you look hot in a bikini."
"Huh?" I swallow hard.
"Em, you have an amazing body. I bet you look hot in a bikini."
This time I look at her and she winks again. Am I blushing like a school girl? I am a school girl!
I swallow hard and I think she senses my nervousness as she releases me from her hold.
"I mean, cuz that's what you would wear at the beach, a bikini, right?" she asks so innocently but I'm not so sure she's being innocent at all.
"Yes. If I were going to the beach I would wear a bikini."
"Are there any beaches around here?" she raises an eyebrow.
My mouth parts for a fraction of a second as my head dips and my smile expands across my face.
"We have lakes. You'd have to drive quite a ways to hit a beach."
"Don't lakes have beaches?"
"Umm, I guess they have dirty sand."
She laughs, "Dirty sand is better than no sand at all."
I laugh too.
"So, when are you taking me?" she asks with another head tilt.
Gulp.
"When am I taking you where?"
"To the lake silly," she bowls into me with her shoulder knocking me a bit off balance.
"I—I don't know. You really want to go?"
"Em, it's nearing the end of summer. There's only like two days left and I hear it's going to be a scorcher this weekend.
"I—"
"Unless you have plans with that boy I saw you with earlier today."
"You saw me with Ben?"
"Oh, your boyfriend. I remember you telling me the first day we met."
"Yeah, well, no I don't."
"You don't have plans or you don't have a boyfriend?" she narrows her eyes at me pressing me to confirm or deny.
"Umm, no I don't have plans," I leave her hanging with the boyfriend part because I don't even know for sure myself.
She stops in front of her house, "Well, since I'll be at your house anyway," she takes a strand of my hair, slipping it through her fingertips, watching as she does it, keeping her eyes away from mine, "will you take me to the lake?" And then her eyes shift to me. I see all sorts of things going on within them. They glisten, they sparkle, they light up. They make me feel alive!
"Okay, okay, I'll take you to the lake."
"Sweet!" she leaps towards me wrapping her arms around me and then I think she tries to brush her lips against my cheek but I don't know what I'm thinking, I move my head a smidge towards her and my lips land against hers brushing slightly.
I'm frozen. She backs away. We're both giggling and smiling.
"Let's get my things packed for tonight."
"Yeah, let's," I let out the breath I've been holding hostage inside.
I follow her through the front door up the stairs to her bedroom. It's more girly than I would've thought as I hadn't seen it finished before today. There are light purples and greens and whites and blacks decorating her room. On her walls she has some posters, one of which is of a gorgeous woman posing nude but covering her lady parts. She looks Indian.
"Oh, you like her?"
I blush, "She's very beautiful."
"She's a model who just started acting. Her name is Jessica Clark."
"What has she done?"
"There's a movie called, 'A Perfect Ending', we should watch it at your house. Do you have Netflix?"
"Who doesn't have Netflix?"
"So, we can watch it?"
"Sure, let's watch it."
Good, a movie to distract me from these feelings I'm feeling. I wonder what it's about. I guess I'll find out tonight.
She digs in her closet for a bag while I continue to check out her room. There's a desk with a laptop and usual desk clutter. And there's a dresser with a mirror and an LA Dodgers baseball cap hanging at one of its corners. I notice the curtains are drawn as if to block out the light or maybe prying eyes.
I also notice there are other things hanging from her walls like sayings such as, 'Love who you are.' And 'Be honest with yourself.' And then there's a black and white photo of two girls kissing. It's sweet, not dirty in any way. It's speaking to me. These words and this picture whispering in my ear that it's okay to be me…
I take a breath as she throws her bag on her bed and starts rifling through her drawers to pack.
"So, your mom said I could stay a few days. What do you think a few means to her? Two, three, maybe four," she tilts her head as she says four.
She's such a flirt!
"Umm, let's pack for three but assume two. Let's not overstay your welcome. Let her be the one to suggest a third night."
"Emily, you've really thought this out. Have you done this before? Invite girls into your bed you've known for only a month?"
I smile with a laugh. She's calling me out on everything I say! But it did kind of sound like I do that.
"Has it been that long?" Did I really just say that! It feels so easy with her!
"Oh, you think that's a long time?"
"Isn't it?"
She strolls over to me, "Yeah, it is, I think," she winks.
I bite my lower lip out of nervousness. And of course she catches me doing it. Her eyes connect with my lips watching as my teeth release it and then she licks her lips purposefully.
I almost think she's going to kiss me. I swear she is but then she turns around and finishes packing her bag.
"Don't forget your bikini," I remind her.
"Emily, I like how you think! I'm so glad you remembered."
"Well, if I'm wearing one then so are you."
Wow! Did I really just tell her what she's going to wear!
"I'd prefer to wear nothing at all while I swim but I guess a bikini will have to do," her eyelashes roam up and down my body. I think there's a name for that. Oh my god! Is she eye sexing me?!
Shit! I'm all a flutter. I think I just dripped in my panties! Day-um!
"Ahem," I clear my throat.
"Is everything all right Em?" she asks but she already knows she's getting to me. She's so good at this!
"Yeah, of course."
I need to change the subject quick!
"Do you have everything?"
"Yeah, I think I do but it's still early. You don't have to go back just yet," she zips up her bag tossing it on the floor. Then she hops on her bed lying on her side propped up on her elbow patting the top of her mattress looking right at me, "Do you?"
Oh my god does she want me to lie down next to her?
"Come on Em, let's see if we can sleep together when we get to your house."
"I'm sure we can," I say as I sit on the edge of her bed with one leg under me and the other hanging off the side.
"You were quick to answer Em. But I'm not so sure. Lie down next to me."
It's like she put a spell on me and I do exactly as she wants me to. I lie down next to her but on my back so I can look at the ceiling and not at her. My heart is racing.
She scoots closer to me. She takes my arm extending it behind her and lays her head on my shoulder. Without a cue from her, my arm holds her with my hand at her waist.
She looks up at me, "You've done this before?"
"Huh? No," I quickly take my hand away.
"Why'd ya do that?" her hand reaches for mine placing it back where it was. "There, perfect," and her head rests on my shoulder again.
Her arm settles over me with her hand on my opposite shoulder.
"Relax Em, it's not like I'm going to jump your bones, I'll wait til we're in your bed," she giggles.
"What!"
"Em, I'm kidding. Just chill. This is nice. Don't spoil it by thinking too much," and I feel her breath against my neck and all I can think about is how I'm going to sleep in the same bed with her for two nights or possibly three!
But we lie there silently and fall asleep. I only wake when I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. It's then that I feel her lips against my skin and—shit! It's Ben!
"Maya! Swim practice started I have to go!"
I slip out from under her and race to the door grabbing my bag as I go. I rush down the stairs and out the door running like hell back to school. My phone buzzes again. It's Maya this time. She's texting me.
"Hey baby, see ya tonight." With a winky face! She has to add the winky face! But all I have time to respond is "Later."
Damn! I hope I didn't just hurt her feelings. I'm just late. Shit! I'm never late!
I quickly change into my suit and bathing cap and hit the pool deck.
"Fields your late. Ten laps now!" Coach says.
I need those ten laps. I have all kinds of surges in my body that I need to release before I go home. Go home to my parents and Maya. Go home to sharing my bed with her.
I dive into the pool swimming with a power and perseverance I've never swam with before! I'm making perfect flip turns without missing a beat. And when I'm done coach is waiting for me.
"Emily. I've never seen you swim like that before."
"Is that good?"
"Good? That's incredible. You just swam your way into the anchor position in the four woman hundred meter relay."
"The what?"
"You heard me Fields. You're our new anchor."
That means I've bumped someone. Shit. That crazy Paige McCullers who I think checks me out when I'm showering and changing. She's so creepy!
I lift myself out of the pool grabbing a towel being congratulated by my peers and Ben. Oh Ben. He hugs me and it feels so—yucky. And at that moment I finally understand why. 'Be honest with yourself.' 'Love who you are.' Those words on Maya's bedroom walls, I know what they mean, it's like those words really were talking to me. I don't want Ben to hold me. I want Maya to!
As soon as swim practice ends I shower and dress and race out the door to my parent's car they let me borrow while my father is in Texas. I hear my name again. But again I ignore it. I need to get home. I need to love who I am. I need to be honest with myself.
I need to be with Maya…
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Maybe this isn't a one shot but it will be a shorter story than my others.
But please don't expect an immediate update. This wasn't easy for me as far as typing in this position on my bed. I'll do my best but if you think I'm creatively okay then I'll attempt to start updating the other stories.
Thanks,
salsa
