"Where the hell is everyone?" Cosima asked loudly as they reentered the house. Delphine was huddled closely to her, their fingers laced.
"Well besides those so-called 'straight boys' who are all out there skinny dipping together… I think everyone else has either left or has snuck off for some alone time. It's almost 3 am anyway," Tony said as he came in right behind them, looking at his watch.
"Holy watershed! 3 am?! I have to be home by 4!" Cosima panicked, dropping her clothes and pressing a worried hand to her forehead. Sarah chose that moment to stumble none-too-quietly out from one of the coat closets. She was trying to adjust her hair and her shirt while Cal was leaning against the doorjamb looking very rumpled and out of breath.
"Fuck, I owe Felix twenty bucks now," Tony slurred, looking a bit unsteady on his feet. He then promptly plopped down on the couch, burping loudly as he reached for a beer sitting on the coffee table. The alcohol (and whatever else he'd consumed) was finally catching up to him.
"Well I can already tell by looking at you that you're in no shape to drive me home," Cosima said as she scowled at Tony, hands on her hips. "Maybe Felix will be able to drive you in YOUR truck… if and when he ever turns up."
"I can drive you," Delphine finally spoke up. Cosima turned to look at her, a smile tugging at her lips. Delphine was just standing there awkwardly, damp and shivering with the towel still around her shoulders. Still, Cosima thought she'd never seen anyone as beautiful. Had she really just been making out with this girl?
"Are you sure? I don't want to like… inconvenience you or anything."
"Judging from what I saw out in the hot tub, I doubt anything that lets the two of you be alone together could be viewed as 'inconvenient,' dreads," Tony cracked dryly. Cosima glared at him. She didn't know why she was finding him annoying at the moment, but it probably had something to do with her having the female version of blue balls.
"It wouldn't be inconvenient," Delphine reassured her, reaching out to take Cosima's hand again. "I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to help. But maybe we could get into some clothes that are… less wet and cold before we leave?"
Cosima giggled and squeezed Delphine's hand. "Yeah, that sounds good. I'll just go change in the bathroom real quick."
Granted, she didn't really have anything to change into. She just took off her undergarments and put the rest of her clothes back on. When she came back out, Delphine was waiting on one of the couches in some cut-off jean shorts and a tank top. She looked amazing, but Cosima didn't think that outfit was particularly warm looking.
"You're not cold in those?" she asked as they walked out to Delphine's car, stopping along the way to get Cosima's things out of the back of Tony's truck.
"Non, once I got out of the wet clothes I was fine. It's much warmer here this time of year than it is in France, actually." Delphine smiled and opened the door for Cosima.
"Merci," Cosima said gratefully, with a teasing grin. Then she leaned up to press a soft kiss to Delphine's lips. Delphine responded with a blissful sigh and stroked a hand along Cosima's hip.
"Avec plaisir," Delphine murmured against Cosima's mouth.
"Mmm, yeah… definitely," Cosima practically purred before giving Delphine one more lingering kiss and hopping into the passenger's seat. To Cosima's pleasure, she saw Delphine draw in a steadying breath and shake her head before shutting the door and walking around to the driver's side.
"So where am I going?" Delphine asked once she started the car. "You can type your address in the GPS if you'd like. I still have trouble figuring it out."
"Okay, I'll try and work my magic here," Cosima said. She started fiddling with the navigation system and after a couple of minutes, managed to have her address typed in as the destination. "Voila!"
"Show off," Delphine muttered with a smirk. "And if you're going to keep speaking French around me, we will have to work on your accent."
"Unless you plan on teaching me, you've heard about the extent of my French. I take German," Cosima admitted. She had to laugh at the exaggerated expression of horror on Delphine's face.
"German?! Merde, you are the enemy!"
"Vielleicht. Aber eine heiße feind," Cosima replied, loving the skeptical look Delphine was giving her. "I said 'Maybe. But a hot enemy.'"
"Hmm… c'est vrai," Delphine mused.
"Do you normally make out with your enemies?"
"Only if they're hot," Delphine said with a sideways glance and a wink. Cosima felt herself blush. She'd only made that comment as a joke. Delphine was easily the most beautiful girl Cosima had ever known and to have her say that she was hot was beyond awesome.
"Thank you," Cosima said quietly. "I think you're like… insanely gorgeous. In case you hadn't already guessed." She wasn't normally so shy about flirting. Hell, she'd been ON POINT in the hot tub. But they were in the heat of the moment then and for some reason actually expressing feelings was a lot different.
Delphine must have sensed her shyness, because she reached out to take Cosima's hand in her own, bringing it up to her lips. "I had an idea, but hearing you say it is even better," Delphine said comfortingly and with a sincerity that added an extra punch to the butterflies currently swarming in Cosima's gut. Then Delphine started playing with her fingers in her lap, which probably wasn't the best idea since she was driving. But Cosima didn't want her to ever let go.
Along the way to her house, Cosima let herself study Delphine openly for the first time, without worrying about getting caught or other people watching. The streetlights of the city were especially bright, illuminating Delphine's face for Cosima's gaze. She was so lovely. Cosima couldn't even begin to describe the exact color of her eyes. They were a breathtaking mix of green and brown that ended up looking exquisitely golden. Those eyes with her golden blonde ringlets and achingly perfect bone structure… not to mention a sinfully gorgeous mouth… Cosima heard herself sigh. This woman was going to be the death of her.
"That's not fair, you know," Delphine said suddenly, smiling.
"What's not fair?" Cosima asked dreamily.
"Looking at me like that when I can't look back at you," Delphine explained.
"Can't help it," Cosima said unapologetically. "You're beautiful and I like looking."
Delphine blushed and flicked her gaze towards Cosima for a second. "Merci. But so are you and so do I. That's why it's unfair."
Cosima grinned, brushing her thumb against Delphine's wrist. "Luckily we're almost to my house, and we should make it with a few minutes to spare."
They did, in fact, make it to Cosima's house very soon. It was 3:45 when they pulled up.
"Welcome to casa de Niehaus," Cosima said. "Or at least to the driveway de Niehaus."
Delphine giggled and unbuckled her seatbelt, looking at Cosima the way Cosima had been looking at her before. Cosima felt a shiver run down her spine and it was a very, VERY good kind of shiver.
"Okay, now I totally get why you thought it was unfair," Cosima whispered. Delphine nodded and reached up, brushing her fingertips against Cosima's cheek. Cosima leaned into that touch, her eyelids fluttering. Then Delphine was leaning in slowly, and Cosima was moving towards her as well, and their lips met.
This kiss was different than the one before. Still hot, but the intent was slightly different. This kiss was sweet and exploring… almost tentative. Cosima whimpered, slipping her hands into Delphine's thick curls. Delphine hummed into Cosima's mouth in return, a soft noise that sounded a lot like "Mmmm."
"Kissing you is…" Delphine murmured as she broke the kiss, looking lovingly at Cosima as she ran her thumb along the curve of Cosima's lower lip, "so different."
"Yeah?" Cosima said, giving Delphine's thumb a tender kiss. Then she pulled Delphine's mouth back to hers again, her tongue dipping past the other girl's teeth and flicking up to trace along the roof of her mouth before pulling back again, but only by a little bit. "Good different?" she asked, smirking.
That smirk only lasted a split-second because then Delphine's mouth was there again, kissing her fervently. "Sooo good," Delphine breathed against her lips in a husky voice, making Cosima's skin flush and prickle with heat.
Cosima had to get inside, she knew that. She didn't know if her parents had waited up for her or not, or if they'd already gone to bed. She considered asking Delphine to come in with her, just in case they had gone to bed. Thinking of that made her groan. There was no way they could be quiet. Both sneaking into the house and if/once they got to her bedroom. Then there would be the next day to deal with. Plus, if she was being honest with herself, she really wanted to do it right with Delphine… not just have some hookup after a party.
"I…" Cosima started to say, forcing herself to pull away from Delphine's luscious mouth. But then that mouth was finding its way down her neck, and Cosima let out a breathy sigh. She tried again. "I… I need to get inside. But just so you know I really, REALLY don't want to."
Delphine looked at her with a face that read equal parts aroused and understanding. "Oui… yes, you need to get inside. I don't want to get you in trouble." She paused to think about that for a second, and then smiled. "Well, I do. But not REALLY, you know?"
Cosima grinned and nodded. "I know exactly what you mean, believe me." Then she sighed, pressing her forehead against Delphine's and trying to will herself to move. She was afraid that once she got out of the car and went inside, somehow all of it would cease to be. Everything would just go back to the way it was before. For some reason, she was very scared of losing Delphine. Cosima had never really had her heart broken before, but she instinctively knew Delphine could hurt her like that.
She felt Delphine's nose brush against hers and she sighed again, opening her eyes to meet Delphine's gaze. The way Delphine was looking at her said she knew something was wrong… she sensed Cosima's hesitation and was worried. "What's wrong, Cosima?"
"Sorry," Cosima said. "I'm just… "
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I want you to know that you can trust me," Delphine said, giving Cosima a heartwarming smile that made her want to tell Delphine absolutely everything about herself. But for now, the truth about how she felt was enough.
"Well, girls like me sort of dream of girls like you falling for us and saying 'To hell with it!' to all stereotypes and everything. You're this perfect 10 gorgeous French cheerleader and I'm the geeky president of the science club. Usual odds would say we'd probably never exchange words, let alone be making out in a hot tub. And if we did by chance have a thing or whatever, it would be an experimental thing on your part and I would end up being heartbroken and humiliated when you decide you're straight and would much rather have someone like… I dunno… Paul Dierden. And it's even worse because you're also super sweet and wicked smart and okay yeah, I'm babbling now. I'm super sorry… it's not even like we're TOGETHER or anything. Guess I'm just sort of trying to be proactive about it…" She broke off with a nervous chuckle, hoping she didn't seem like a total spazz.
Delphine studied her for a few seconds that seemed a lot longer than what they were, nibbling adorably on her lower lip before saying, "Well I'm not much of a… how do you say it? A… gambler?" Cosima nodded. "But I think I would bet on this… whatever THIS is. No matter what the odds were supposed to be. People are always so much more than what we label them as. You're so much more than the 'geeky science club president' and I would hope I am more than the French cheerleader. I've never considered bisexuality for myself. But I don't have a problem with how I feel about you. And just so you know how I feel about you… I really, really like you, Cosima. It's quite scary how much. Especially since we only just met."
Cosima thought her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. "I… really, really like you too, Delphine. A whole hell of a lot, actually," Cosima said nervously. Delphine beamed at her, reaching out to stroke her cheek.
"So… would you like to be, as you said… together?" Delphine asked with a hint of shyness in her voice that Cosima hadn't heard before. "I've never really asked anyone this, especially not in English, so I don't even know if I'm saying it right."
It was Cosima's turn to flash her brightest smile, placing one of her hands over Delphine's that was still on her cheek, turning her face to press a kiss to Delphine's palm. "You're asking me to be your girlfriend? Like… exclusive and official and all that stuff?" She gave Delphine a hopeful look. She couldn't even believe this was happening.
"Oui, I am," Delphine said, nodding.
"Hmmm… say it in French," Cosima teased, leaning in closer to Delphine.
"Veux-tu être ma copine, Cosima?" Delphine purred, and the seductive tone of her voice practically made Cosima squirm in her seat as she leaned the rest of the way into Delphine.
"Mmm… oui," Cosima sighed as their lips brushed. "Yes, definitely yes…"
"Dieu merci," Delphine moaned as she pressed her lips more firmly against Cosima's. "Because pretending at school would be terrible."
Cosima grinned into Delphine's kiss. "Everyone's gonna be wondering how I got the hottest chick in school."
"Second hottest," Delphine murmured. "I have the first."
"Smooooth Cormier. I'm impressed," Cosima teased, forcing herself to pull away from Delphine's lips for the time being. "Shit, I really don't wanna go inside now. But on the bright side, my dad will have an interesting story to tell his coworkers about me." The look on Delphine's face was priceless and Cosima succumbed to a fit of the giggles. "No, babe… not in a bad way. I just don't usually provide the most interesting rebellious teenager stories for him. But I think leaving home single and coming back with a sexy French girlfriend qualifies as interesting, don't ya think?"
"Hmmm… oui. You get interesting and I get rebellious. My parents will be very surprised at me having a girlfriend," Delphine said. Cosima automatically looked worried but Delphine reassured her. "But they will be fine with it. It will just surprise them because I've never liked girls before. They have gay friends, so it should be no problem. Plus how could they not like you?"
"True, I am pretty great," Cosima agreed, poking out her tongue. Then they both sighed at the exact same time, prompting simultaneous giggles. "I guess I better get inside."
"Yes… oh, but wait!" Delphine opened her door and was around to Cosima's side in an instant, opening the door for her and grabbing her bag out of the floorboard.
"Oohhh beautiful AND chivalrous? I could definitely get used to this," Cosima said playfully as she hopped out of the car.
"At your service, ma cherie," Delphine replied as she shut the door. The French endearment brought a dreamy smile to Cosima's lips.
"Be careful with that 'at your service' stuff. You might just give me ideas," Cosima warned in a faux-menacing tone, looping an arm around Delphine's neck as she leaned back against the car.
"I doubt you need much help," Delphine teased, giving Cosima a kiss that was just deep and long enough to make her want more, before pulling away. "Should I walk you to your door?"
"I think I can take it from here, baby," Cosima said.
Plus if I get you that far, I doubt I'll be able to stop until I get you to my room.
"I like that," Delphine said shyly, blushing and looking down at her feet for a second. "You calling me baby." Then they were standing there smiling at each other like a couple of idiots… until Delphine sighed and handed Cosima her bag.
"Text me when you get home?" Cosima asked. "So I know you got there safely."
"Oui," Delphine said happily, leaning in to kiss Cosima quickly. "See you soon, ma cherie."
Then Delphine was getting in her car, and Cosima was walking up her driveway, trying her hardest not to skip with glee. Had all that really just happened? It seemed too perfect to be real. As she got to her front door, she turned back around to see Delphine still there, making sure she got in okay. She turned the key in the lock and blew Delphine a kiss, which Delphine returned automatically.
Cosima went inside, closing the door behind her and leaning against it. A completely content smile slowly spread across her face and she let herself do a little dance. I'm dating the hottest, most amazing girl in school! She sang it to herself under her breath.
"Pics or it didn't happen."
"HOLY SHIT DAD, ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK?!"
Malcolm was just coming out of the kitchen with a glass of water, one eyebrow quirked at Cosima.
"No, I'm saying I want proof, Miss Goody Two-Shoes. What is my future daughter-in-law like?"
Cosima groaned. "Oh come on dad, you're not gonna be one of THOSE parents, are you?"
"It's every father's right to make his child's dating life Hell. But probably not. I just want bragging rights. Anything worth bragging about?"
"Umm… well she's a cheerleader, she's French, and she thought she was straight until she met me…"
Malcolm took a long, contemplative drink of his water before walking over to Cosima and sticking his hand out. At first Cosima was confused but then she realized what he was doing. They fist-bumped.
"That's my girl. You got that irresistible Niehaus charm from me." He started to walk off but then he stopped and looked back. "You were like 2 minutes late, by the way. But I'll overlook it this time." Then he shot her a wink and went upstairs.
Cosima shook her head and smiled. Yeah, this year is starting off amazingly!
