Chapter Ten: Burn Baby Burn
Analise went through her day in a fog, her thoughts misting in and out of her consciousness like gray phantoms in the cool night. She barely noticed when people spoke to her and when she did notice, most of them had decided she wouldn't answer and moved on to someone more attentive.
Analise sighed about the sixth or seventh time this happened, slamming her locker door in frustration. What was wrong with her? She needed a serious wake up call, something to get her mind out of the clouds.
"Hey, you're Analise right?"
The girl in question turned slowly, surprise written on her face as she met the gaze of a girl around her height if not a little taller, which was pretty amazing on it's own, with a half smile on her face.
"That's me. And you are?"
The girl laughed lightly, an almost mischievous sound. Analise studied her in silence for a moment waiting for an answer. She was about 5'5, taller than herself by a good inch, with strawberry blonde hair highlighted with both dark maroon and blood red streaks but it was her eyes that were the most unusual. A dark, dark blue. As blue as blue could be without a hint of blackness. She'd never really seen eyes that color.
"I'm Rowen Davis. Most everyone calls me Ro, well at least the people I like anyways." She winked. "Our moms are buds and so I figured I should come introduce myself, see if you wanted to hang out at the swim meet today."
Analise blinked in surprise. Well, she'd heard of the Davis' but she hadn't actually met any of them. Hm. What could it hurt? She hadn't had any girlfriends in... Who knew how long? Why not?
"Sure. Sorry, I'm a little out of it today."
Rowen smiled at her patiently and motioned down the hall with a quick point of her head, "So are you heading that way now?"
Analise shrugged, tossing the strap of her bag of her shoulder. "Probably. I mean, it starts pretty soon doesn't it?"
Rowen seemed thoughtful for a moment, her rose-red lips twisting in thought as they walked down the hall. "I think so. I'm pretty sure the swimmers have to head to the locker rooms now so we might as well head over to the pool. At least we'll be able to find decent seats. I don't know if you've ever been to a meet before but front seats are not always the best. But," She added slyly, "Any seat where we can have a good view of all the man cake this school has to offer is good enough for me."
Analise laughed, she couldn't help it. "Oh and there is just so much cake to go around here." She grinned at the other girl who returned it wholeheartedly. "Oh, do you know the guys?"
Rowen shook her head. "I mean, I know Pogue kinda and I've met the other guys kind of in passing but I don't really know any of them."
A grin split Analise's face and she couldn't help herself. "Well. This will be a wonderful experience then. Not many can say they get to meet three, four if you want to count Pogo, really hot guys half naked for the first time."
Rowen laughed, giving her pretty shoulder length hair a toss. "Oh no darling, it usually takes much hard work and dedication on our parts."
The pair walked laughing over their own silliness as they headed for the outer building that house the pool.
The smell of chlorine assaulted them as they walked through the doors, noting that the mild roar that they had heard from the outside was just the sound of the small crowd magnified and that there weren't nearly as many people there as they'd thought. They were, by all accounts, still pretty early.
"Baby Girl!" Analise turned in time to see Tyler carefully trotting up to drape an arm around her shoulder. "I was worried that you were going to change your mind and not come."
Analise rolled her eyes, not sure where to put her hands, considering that the little black swimsuits only covered the bare necessities, and finally thought screw it. She'd pretend he was wearing clothes. She wrapped her arm around his waist and bumped her head against his shoulder. "I told you I'd come this morning Baby Boy. You shouldn't doubt me." She turned back to Rowen, who looked briefly surprised, before smiling. "Oh, by the way Tys. I don't know if you've met Rowen. Ro, this is Tyler Simms."
Rowen laughed, an abrupt trill of sound that made Analise looked back at her in surprise. She glanced up at Tyler who was grinning as well. "Yeah doll. We've met." Rowen laughed.
Tyler grinned. "Ro's my Spanish partner. Remember? You met her at Fall Fest."
Oh. Duh.
Analise grinned sheepishly, "My bad. I completely forgot. Ro you said you didn't know the guys."
Rowen laughed again. "I didn't know you were talking about Tyler. I thought you mean the other two. Reid and Caleb. I really don't know them. And I only know Tyler because of Spanish class."
Analise rolled her eyes, giving a shrug. "So, where are my other boys? I came to cheer all of you guys."
Tyler nodded his head back in the direction he'd come from and Analise had to tiptoe a little to see where he was pointing. There they were, her other three boys, seeming to be locked in some kind of heated conversation.
Or rather, they looked like they were grilling Reid over something and he was getting pissed.
Not many other people would see it, but she knew the signs. The tension in his jaw, the finest lines around his eyes, the way his mouth was set in an almost straight line, the faintest curving to the side that made the motion a smirk instead of a grimace.
"Well darlings, let's go see what everyone is up to. And I can introduce you to the others," She fixed the girl with a reproving smile. "Unless you want to tell me anything?"
Rowen laughed, her eyes shone with it as she gave the younger girl a smile. "I only know the others by reputation. Scout's honor." She even had the nerve to hold up a little salute.
Analise regarded her speculatively with a single raised brow as she slipped out from under Tyler's arm. "You were never a scout."
Rowen grinned, looking very mischievous indeed. "Nope. Never was into faith, trust, and pixie dust." Her grin grew and Analise couldn't stop laughter from bubbling up out of her throat.
"That's Peter Pan you dork." Analise rolled her eyes, wrapping an arm around Rowen's waist. "Come on. I'll introduce you to my boys and then we can go sit down and ogle them." She dropped her voice at the last and the pair of them simultaneously looked over at the brunette beside them who looked confused.
"What?" He demanded and the two of them burst out laughing.
"Nothing. Nothing Baby Boy. Come on. I'm sure you guys have warm-ups you need to do."
The three of them crossed the room and Analise hopped up to wrap an arm around both Pogue's and Caleb's necks. "Can't they make you guys wear clothes? I mean Jesus!"
Caleb laughed, draping an arm around Analise's shoulder as Pogue grinned down at the younger girl.
"How do you think we pick up chicks Ana? Girls trip over themselves to get at this."
Analise rolled her eyes. "I wish you would pick up chicks Pogo. Anything is better than what you've got."
Her brother gave her a half-hearted glare, but didn't say anything otherwise. That just wasn't a debate he wanted to get into with Analise. "Hey Ro. Long time no see. How's your Ma?" He said after a moment, catching sight of the blonde beside Tyler.
Rowen grinned, returning the one armed hug easily. "Probably out with your Ma causing chaos and destruction. You know the usual." She shrugged and smiled again.
Analise jumped a little, "My bad. Caleb Danvers, Rowen Davis. That butt head over there that is ignoring all of us is Reid Garwin." She wasn't use to giving introductions. It was a little awkward really.
Reid spared them a glance, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment before he returned to staring out into space.
Analise cocked her head to side ever so slightly as she watched him. She found herself tuning out the conversation as she studied him. He had dark circles under his eyes as if he hadn't been getting much sleep, and there was a tension to him that made her wonder if he was alright.
She ducked out from under Caleb's arm and slipped over to where the blonde was hanging on the metal bars that led down to the steps. "Hey Reid, are you okay? You don't look like you're feeling too well." She lightly touched the back of her hand to his forehead before moving it to her own. "You don't have a temperature. What's the matter?" She moved to where she could look at him directly, putting herself dangerously close to the pool. She silently hoped he didn't do something stupid, like push her in. She'd kick his ass for sure.
Reid took a deep breath, letting it out in a soft sigh before he turned to look down at her. "Yeah Lis, I'm fine. I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night." He let his gaze drift away again and he could hear her sigh of frustration beside him.
"Well, if you're not sleeping well I have some chamomile tea in my locker. I can wait for you after the meet and we can go grab it. Or I'm sure Tyler has Benadryl up in the room." Analise tilted her head again, considering, as she looked at him.
She brushed the hair out of his eyes and gave him a small smile when he looked back at her. "If something is bothering you Reid..." She took a deep breath and sighed. "Look, I'm here if you need to talk to someone that isn't one of the guys." She nodded towards the group that was just a little ways away.
He gave her the barest smile, a little quirk of lips more than anything. "Thanks Babe, but I'm really okay."
Analise rolled her eyes, giving him a very pointed look. A look that said that she knew just how full of shit he was. "Just think about that. You're one of my best friends Reid. I'm worried about you." She gave his shoulder a little squeeze and gave him a small smile before turning and heading back to the group.
"Let's go grab our seats A." Rowen suggested when she finally came back to the group. "These guys gotta start their warmups and we have things to do remember?" She gave her a wink and mischief was written plainly all over her face.
Analise felt her own mischievous smile, dubbed by the boys as her 'pixie smile', as looped her arm with Rowen's. "Oh yes. We have tons to do."
The boys laughed and Pogue was the one that gave her a little shove. "Don't let her rub off on you too bad Ana. And if she tries to convince you to hide in the locker room... Just say no!"
Analise smiled, a slow curving of lips that made him worry more than anything. "Don't worry Pogue. She can't convince me to do anything." He looked almost relieved before she glanced at him over her shoulder. "I'll more than likely go along with it the first time she suggests it. No convincing needed."
She didn't wait for his reply, simply followed Rowen to the seats they'd staked out.
"So, come on. Tell me, do you have your eye on any of those scrumptious guys?" Rowen demanded with a playful smile as Analise dropped her bag off the seat next to her.
Analise shrugged. "Not really. I mean, Caleb swears that I'm toying with Tyler and Reid but I'm not. They're all like my best friends." Besides, I can't have what I want anyway.
Rowen pursed her lips, her expression considering as she slowly perused the scantily clad boys of the Spenser swim team. "I wouldn't say toying is necessarily a bad thing hon. There's nothing wrong with a little teasing. Especially if you have your eye on one or the other. Blondie there seems to have his eye on you."
Analise turned to look but stopped herself half way. Number one rule. If you're talking about someone, don't look at them. At least, don't make it obvious. She gave a little toss of her hair, glancing over her shoulder in the direction that Rowen indicated. She scoffed. "He's probably checking you out Doll. He can't figure out if he wants to be my friend or have nothing to do with me."
Rowen rolled her eyes, looking at the younger girl as if she was completely missing it. "You don't think that maybe he has feelings for you and he can't figure them out himself?" She examined her nails, which were lovely French manicured ovals.
Analise shrugged, her attention drifting over to where the Sons' stood. Tyler grinned her way and she grinned back. "I honestly don't know. I know Reid, probably better than most, but he still confuses the hell out of me. I feel so out of my depth around him sometimes." She shrugged as the crowd erupted into cheers around them as the meet began.
Conversation was suspended for a long time. The Sons won their swims. No surprise there. And with the completion of three of the other members, Spenser moved one step closer to the semi-finals.
"Hey Ana!"
Analise turned, Rowen at her side, towards the voice calling her. It was Caleb. He scrubbed at his face with the towel on his shoulder before giving her a grin. Swimming was invigorating, and the fact that they'd won would have all the guys in high spirits.
"So I guess we're all coming over after a while here. Pogue was hoping you could take his bike home for him and he'd catch a ride with me."
Analise tilted her head to the side. She glanced back at Rowen with a smile. "Can you drive a stick?"
Rowen rolled her eyes. "Of course. What do I look like? A Neanderthal?"
Analise smiled and turned back to Caleb. "Tell Pogo I'm gonna go drop my stuff off in my locker and then I'll be waiting outside of the locker room."
"Good idea," Rowen added, her eyes widening. "I almost forgot my notebook for Music class. A? Can I meet you outside? I gotta run up to the dorm really quick."
Analise nodded. "Yeah. I'll meet you out front in about 20 minutes?"
Rowen nodded, sprinting off while Analise gave Caleb a wink and headed towards her own locker.
It took her five minutes to drop her things off and another five to circumnavigate back to the locker rooms. She could hear the random chatter from beyond the heavy doors but once the girl's locker room cleared out and still no one had appeared to give her the keys to Pogue's bike, she was seriously tempted to break in, regardless of Pogue's warning.
If it hadn't been for the likelihood that she'd run into Aaron, she probably would have done it by now. That thought alone had her heart start to drum an unhealthy rhythm. She really didn't want to get caught out here alone when he came out. She was just about to leave, to hell with Pogue and his bike, when the door opened and a mussed white-blonde head came into view.
Reid's uniform was mussed, thrown on too quickly, and his hair had that half-dried look to it that said he probably hadn't done a thing to it.
"Hey Blondie. Congrats on the win." Analise said excitedly, a smile on her face as he turned to smile at her.
"There you are Baby Girl. I'm supposed to give these to you." He dropped Pogue's keys into her hand before turning to leave.
Analise's brow furrowed. What the-? "You coming over later?" She asked, half-knowing the answer before he shrugged.
"Probably not. I'm probably going to just go crash."
She crossed her arms underneath her bust and watched as he readjusted the backpack slung over his shoulder. He wasn't looking at her, just staring across the hall. "Please," She said, waving him off with one hand, her tone so sarcastic that he looked at her in sheer surprise. "Don't stay on my account. You're obviously going out of your way to avoid me as much as possible. I won't keep you. See you around."
Analise spun on her heel and stalked towards the front of the school, not waiting for a reply. It seemed like only moments before she found herself out in front of the school. The air was chilled with an edge of moisture as a heavy fog rolled in.
Rowen burst out of the doors a few moments later, looking breathless but smiling. "Sorry, I had to change really quick. I can't stand that stupid uniform." She'd traded the normal Spenser uniform for a pair of dark blue jeans that looked like they'd been strategically shredded and a thick knit sweater that hung ever-so-slightly off one pale shoulder.
Analise grinned. "Neither can I." She nodded her head towards the parking lot. "I'm gonna freeze my ass off riding this damn thing too, let me tell ya." She said as the two of them weaved their way through the left over cars strewn around the parking lot to where Analise and Pogue had parked early that morning.
"Tell me this is yours." Rowen said, a note of awe in her voice that made Analise look.
"Yep." She replied, her voice ringing with pride as she dug her keys out of her bag and tossed them to the blonde at her side. "She needs to warm up for about 10 minutes before you go and she turns on a dime. So be gentle with her. That is my baby."
Rowen stroked the hood of the Mustang lovingly. "I'll treat her as if she was my own." She swore.
"Good. Because I like you. I'd hate to have to kill you because you scratched my baby." She laughed, the other girl joining in after a moment. "Follow me. It's not gonna take that long." She hopped on the black and yellow bike quickly, pulling on her helmet and glancing at the dials silently.
Analise revved the engine, glancing back as Rowen did the same. The two girls grinned at each other before speeding off into the darkness.
Analise had never had a friend like Rowen. The two of them just clicked. She smiled in the darkness as she gunned the engine, hearing the Mustang respond right behind her. Well, if Reid Garwin wanted to bounce out on her like they were never friends at all... Well, maybe Rowen could be her new best friend? Yeah... She liked the sound of that.