AN: Hello! I know this one is also very short, but the next few will be longer. This is actually my favorite so far, regardless of the length.
"Fucking. Rain."
Ellie wrung the water from her ponytail in a decidedly furious manner, watching the droplets fall from the end of her hair and land on the dull linoleum, joining the puddle of water that had formed around her boots.
Riley chuckled, her face obscured momentarily by her towel as she wiped the water from her hair.
"You're going to have to get used to it at some point, Ellie."
"I am used to it. I just fucking hate it."
"Don't be a baby. It's just water."
Ellie just growled something under her breath that Riley assumed was an insult.
Lifting her hands in a whatever gesture, she let the matter drop, tossing her towel over the back of a chair beside her jeans and then pulling her soaked tank top over her head, leaving only her sports bra and shorts on.
Ellie, who'd settled down on the bunk in an oversized T-shirt, stared, wide-eyed, as Riley dropped down next to her and stretched out her long legs, seeming utterly at ease as she did, meeting Ellie's nervous gaze curiously.
Ellie had seen Riley in various states of undress before – they often would stow clothing in Ellie's room before they took off for the night, in case what they wore out showed evidence of their adventures, and they needed to change quickly before anyone ran across them– but that didn't stop Ellie's cheeks from heating up as she carefully tried to avoid looking at Riley, keeping her eyes from lingering on her slender frame.
Riley raised an eyebrow.
"You okay there, Ellie? You look kind of… tomato-ish." Her tone was innocent, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes, in the upward curve at the corner of her mouth.
Ellie nodded quickly, too quickly.
Riley watched her for a moment, and then glanced down at herself, as if suddenly becoming aware of her state of dress.
"You don't mind or anything, right?" she asked suddenly, sounding slightly self-conscious.
"No! You're fine." She paused when Riley laughed, and then realized what she'd said, and stuttered. "I mean it's fine, not you're fine. Well, I mean, not that you aren't – I mean… shit." She groaned as Riley continued to laugh, her hand covering her mouth.
"Okay, Ellie, I get it. It's… fine." She emphasized the last word with a smirk, and Ellie smacked her on the arm.
"Fuck off." Ellie was sure her cheeks would actually catch fire.
"Whatever, babe. Whatever."