Dean was engrossed in her reading that she didn't notice Sam coming up beside her until a dark shadow fell on her.
"Hey, babe…" she said looking up.
Sam motioned for her to move her legs. Dean curled her legs under her as Sam sat down at the end of the lounge. "Do you think it's wise to still call me 'babe'?"
"Oh… You don't like to be called 'babe'?" Dean asked. "What about sweet cheeks then? Or pumpkin?" she made a face at her last suggestion. "Wait, my last ex called me pumpkin, so that's out…"
"What would Nicole say…?"
Dean raised her trademark-questioning eyebrow. "Nicole?" she asked. "Since when does the two of you are on first name basis?"
"Dean, I'm serious…"
"Well, she's not…" Dean said as she raised her book again.
"That's not true…" Sam said, grabbing hold of her book and lowering it, wanting to look into Dean's eyes while they talked.
"Sam, she made it clear to me that there's nothing between us…" Dean sighed. "She doesn't want to have anything to do with me… Why should I care about what she feels?"
"You have to understand, Dean. She's one of the most popular girls in school. Popularity is what she lives for…" Sam reasoned. "Dating a dyke is not exactly a popularity campaign booster is it?"
"She should have thought about that before she jumped my bone…"
"Dean…" Sam said exasperated, knowing that Dean's stubbornness can be really irritating. As much the same level as Nicole's bitchiness. No wonder they're perfect for each other…
"Hey, I'm not gonna say anything about it and ruin her popularity… You're the only one who know about us…" Dean said. "In the mean time, I get free conjugal visits… Fine with me…"
"Conjugal?" Sam laughed.
"Boink time – whatever…" Dean huffed.
She was about to return to her reading and ignore Sam when Nicole came waltzing pass. She had changed into a two-piece bikini, showing off her compact body and around her waist, she had wrapped a beautiful batik print blue sarong, which stretched taut over the firm contours of her hips and derriere, providing a very delightful view.
"Close your mouth, honey…" Sam said as she pushed Dean's gaping lower jaw shut.
Nicole knew her eyes were on her and she refused to acknowledge the look but she can't deny the bubbles of excitement floating in her heart at the thought of Dean staring at her. She headed towards Brooke who was sitting at the opposite side of the pool with her feet dangling in the water. She handed her the bowl of ice cream she had been carrying.
"Thanks, Nic…"
"Uh-huh…" Nicole sat on the chair behind Brooke.
"Where's Mary Cherry?" Brooke asked.
"She went home…" Nicole said. "She said something about picking up some supplies… I gave her my car… She'll be back later…"
Nicole let her gaze wander and surreptitiously glanced towards Dean. Silently she cursed her for not wearing a swimsuit. While everyone was in their respective suits, Dean was fully garbed in a brown khaki shorts and a black soccer jersey – BLACKBURN ROVERS – the emblem stated. Nicole didn't have a clue which team that was but she was not interested in the jersey, rather the package underneath the clothes… Hey, isn't that a title of a song?
I haven't slept at all in days
It's been so long since we've talked
And I have been here many times
I just don't know what I'm doing wrong
What can I do to make you love me?
What can I do to make you care?
What can I say to make you feel this?
What can I do to get you there?
"Hey, I like this song…" Carmen said as she went to the stereo to turn it up a notch.
"The Corrs?" Dean asked. "I used to like them too…"
"You?" Sam asked skeptically. "The Corrs?"
"Yeah… But with the sound turned off…"
All heads turned to her as if she had grown horns.
"How can you listen to a music group if you turn the sound off?" Carmen asked.
"I never said I listen to them…" Dean said. When she saw the confused looks, she chuckled. "It's sort of a physical thing…" she said. "One of the sisters had a great bum…"
"Which one?"
"Don't remember her face…" Dean said. "Just remember her bum…"
Sam boxed her shoulder. "You have a thing for butts don't you…"
Dean grinned. "Hey, you've got a set that would turn heads too…" she said. "Don't you think so, Brooke?" she turned to look at Brooke whom she knew had been watching her and Sam all along.
Turning red at the unexpected question, Brooke immediately dropped her gaze to her bowl of ice cream. Was she too obvious?
"I wouldn't know, Dean… You're the expert…" she managed to mumble.
"Carm? Lil?"
"I guess so…" Carmen said while Lily nodded.
"I guess you've noticed how her suit emphasizes her curves…" Dean tugged Sam up to stand beside her. Her hand gestured down the length of Sam. "Come to think of it, don't you think she looked a tad too beautiful just for a dip in the pool…?"
Sam squirmed in Dean's hands but she kept a firm hold of her shoulder.
"Do any of you know why she looked so beautiful today?"
"Ooh!Ohh! I know…" Lily yelled from the water, raising her hand like she was waiting for a teacher to call on her.
"Yes, Miss Esposito…?" Dean asked, pointing.
"I think cause she wants to attract a certain someone's attention…" Lily said.
Sam shot an alarmed look at her, panicking at the path this conversation is taking. Her friends wouldn't really blow her cover would they? After years of friendship, they would allow Sam just the smallest scrap of dignity right?
"I think Sam was hoping that someone would finally notice her…" Carmen said. "A special someone…"
"And do we know the name of that special someone, Miss Ferrera?" Dean asked.
Sam shot her hand up to slap the back of Dean's head but she was quick to duck and grinned mischievously at her.
"I don't remember…" Carmen said, biting her nails thoughtfully. "Let's see, could it be…"
"You guys…" Sam begged, while her eyes darted to see Brooke was eyeing them curiously.
"I think it rhymes with hook…"
"Crook…" Lily said.
"Shook…"
"Book…"
"I'm back!!!"
The nasal announcement from inside the house interrupted them. A few moments later, Mary Cherry appeared with a full laden bag draped on her shoulder.
"What have you got there, Mary Cherry?" Sam asked; for once in her life felt like kissing the blonde Texan's webbed feet for her impeccable sense of timing.
"If we're gonna have a party…" Mary Cherry dumped the bag she had been carrying on the table. "We gotta have the spirits…" she began to retrieve various type of liquor from the bag. "Any special requests?"
Hours passed, bottles emptied and the sun began to settle in the far horizon casting a yellow shadow over the landscape. The pool lights were lit, giving the water an iridescent green glow, and someone had put on a disco tape into the stereo.
Brooke opened her eyes groggily. She rubbed her eyes and then her temple, as she could feel the hangover taking over her. She looked around and saw Carmen asleep in her seat, Lily staring up into the sky, counting the stars, Mary Cherry sitting on the edge of the diving board, singing to herself, Nicole watching something in the distance and Sam between Dean's legs.
What?
-To be continued -
Citation:
What can I do
[The Corrs; Lyrics: Andrea Corr (1997 Songs of Polygram International, Inc./Beacon Communications Music Co.), BMI]
Produced by Jim Corr/Recorded by Leo Pearson at Peak studios; Dublin, Ireland /
Keyboards by Jim Corr / Guitar by Jim Corr, Anto Drenman / Violin by Sharon Corr /
Bohdram by Caroline Corr / Tin Whistle by Andrea Corr.