Chapter Four

Monique and I left our residence that late evening and followed Shane McCutcheon two houses down to where a handful of girls were partying, having fun. Monique and I kept our cools, acting as if nothing was going on. I began to wonder how they would react to us… if, by some weird and cruel twist of fate, they found out. We get there and when they see us, they are smiling. Bette, Tina, and Bette's sister, Kit Porter, were sitting in chairs by the pool. Alice was in the pool, rubbing Dana's feet as she sat on the edge of the pool. Jenny and a girl named Carmen de la Pica Morales were swimming the length of the pool. They appeared to be racing and all of the women appeared to be having fun.

"Hey guys. These are the neighbors, Ziva and Monique." Shane greeted, gesturing towards us.

They all said their little greetings and went back to what they were doing. Carmen eyed us curiously and then smiled and Alice quickly got out of the pool, rushing towards us. It startled me rather a lot.

"Hi!" The bubbly woman greeted. "I'm Alice Pieszecki. That's Dana Fairbanks, Kit and Bette Porter; they're sisters; Tina Kennard, Carmen de la Pica Morales. Phew that's a mouthful!"

I noticed Carmen blush before she went back to swimming.

"That's Jenny Shecter, and you've met Shane."

Monique smiles and shakes hands with Alice, keeping a pleasant attitude. I, on the other hand, was a bit of a nervous wreck. I was not really used to this sort of thing, nor was I used to this place but I kept a straight face and got through it.

"Would you like a drink or something?" Bette offered.

We both nodded and she fetched us some white wine. We sipped from the glasses, hoping this would keep us from having to speak or at least loosen us up a bit, make us relax. Of course, this logic was rather flawed. Music boomed out from a stereo on a large table just ten feet from the pool.

"So, you two live together?" Tina asked.

I nodded.

"Yes."

"So, you're friends?" Bette asked, now herself curious after what she had seen.

"Well, yes." Monique spoke up. "We worked together back in the day when I was an Interpol Liaison and she worked for Mossad… but now I translate and she's a special agent, both of us work at the Los Angeles branch of NCIS."

"Ooh, interesting." Kit said.

"It has its moments." Monique and I say at the same time.

We share a chuckle with the other ladies and the way some were looking at us, it was as if they knew something I did not. It made me a little self-conscious.

"I am like her mentor… sort of like a sister to her." Monique said.

"It's more than that." Alice said under her breath as we were sitting down.

Shane thwacked Alice in the arm before shaking her head.

"Leave 'em alone." Shane muttered.

I furrowed my brows and sat down on the edge of the pool, putting my legs in it. The water was so soothing.

"Monique, join me." I said, looking to her. "Please?"

I must have been batting my eyelashes for several moments before she finally did it. When she sat beside me everyone flashed smiles in our direction. It was rather uncomfortable.

"They are together, right?" Kit asked Bette in a whisper.

"Right." Bette replied aloud.

Kit smiled too. I moved my legs back and forth, back and forth. It was not until about half an hour into our visit when finally Alice asked it.

"You're together, right?" Alice asked, eager, hopeful.

My eyes widened and I am left speechless. Monique too did not know what to say. Our mouths are slightly agape as if we are in search of what to say. Shane flashes us a look of disbelief.

"They don't know about West Hollywood!" Shane exclaimed.

I furrowed by eyebrows. West Hollywood? What else was there to know?

"Ziva, Monique, all of us ladies here except for Kit…" She started, gesturing around to herself and the other girls. "Are lesbians,"

My eyes get wide again, not expecting to hear that. I smile afterwards, happier than before.

"Really?" I say, sounding incredibly thrilled.

"Yes, really." Bette assured.

"We are together." I told them, beyond nervous by this newness.

Alice, and even the others, smile and clap and make various other hoopla. I couldn't help but blush. Monique noticed this and hugged me. To be brutally honest, it felt good to be this way, so open. I smiled to the others, soon calling it a night and going back home.

"That was…" I started.

"Uh-huh." Monique replied without me even finishing.

She hung her jacket back up before making her way over to me, caressing my cheeks so gently. I could not help but lean into her touch.

"Baby, you look tired. Shall we get you to bed?" Monique asked.

I nod sleepily, letting a tiny yawn slip past my lips. Monique then picked me up and carried me upstairs and we went to bed, lying in each other's arms. When I woke up the next morning she was gone. She must have been at work because I could not smell any breakfast cooking. She always cooked breakfast. I let out a breath and got out of our bed. It was so warm but so was the weather outside of the bed. I felt warm air brush across my body when I stood as it flowed in through the open window. It was at that moment that I decided I should take some time for myself, walk around and see more of the city. I wanted to try and understand more about the culture of West Hollywood and Los Angeles. If it was as… interesting as the ladies had made it sound the night before then I surely would learn to enjoy it here.