"The New Girl"

Maya knew! Too bad IMK didn't get that's what Mona meant!

Rated T for Teen.

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"I want you to," she purrs.

My lips part to breathe. And I feel it. I feel her bottom lip between mine. I feel her upper lip above mine. I feel a slight pressure from her mouth. I pucker, applying a slight pressure to her lips.

Mmmmm, vanilla but kind of minty too, so yum!

Her lips part more, making mine part more for a firmer lip lock. And I know she's going to sneak her tongue into my mouth and I want her too!

CLAP!

We're startled by the thunder which vibrates the glass she's leaning against! It makes our hearts pound through our chests! It makes us laugh! We're laughing! I'm relaxing! She can keep a secret! She knew! She knew this whole time!

But then a nasty streak of lighting lights up the sky! And a horn wails behind us! Scaring us half to death! It's Spencer! Oh my god! Did she see? Oh no! She can't know! I'm not ready for anyone to know!

Except for Maya!

Extreme Happy Face!

Chapter 10: Who Really Knows About Emily?

It's Monday, my first day of training, I haven't seen or talked to Maya since we kissed. I can't help wondering, was I that awful? The only person I ever kissed before Maya was Ben. I didn't like kissing Ben. When he would go to kiss me it was like all the muscles in his face went droopy and his lips got all squishy and limp. He'd open his mouth and sort of lay his squishy lips all over me drooling with his ripe cantaloupe juice spit right into my mouth. It was horrible. I don't mean to criticize him, I'm sure lots of other girls would think he was a totally amazing kisser; it's just sometimes I had to pretend. I pretended a lot! Then when he got too powerful and intense I'd push him off me, but really I was pushing him off me because he was getting too disgusting. It was like your dog licking your face. He slobbered. I let him slobber all over me for almost a year! Now, I'm not sure if I even know how to kiss! And if Maya not being around is any indication, then maybe I'm the worst kisser ever to walk the face of the earth!

Sad face…

Then there's Spencer. I tried to get a read off of her over the weekend but she was preoccupied with talking to Alex on the phone. She didn't say anything about it so I'm guessing she didn't see us kiss, just us shielding ourselves from the rain. At least I'm hoping that's what she saw…

And when Spencer wasn't talking to Alex we were talking about the sleepover. It's this Saturday night and then on Sunday we'll be hanging out at the town pool with everyone before school starts. Spencer told me Maya was in Philly with her parents for some music thing but I'm wondering why Maya didn't tell me herself. I must seriously be the worst kisser her lips have ever kissed! Damn Ben for his slobber! So how the hell am I going to get good at it! Kiss the back of my hand? Kiss my teddy bear? Kiss my pillow? I'm not sure I can even look her in the eye! Being gay is hard! Stupid Ben!

The beeping of a car horn shakes me out of my thoughts. My mom is waiting to take me to swim practice at Rosewood High on her way to work. So I hurry with my stuff, rush out the door and hop into her car. I'm really looking forward to being in the pool. I need this. I need to focus on something other than Maya…

Once I arrive, I immediately walk to the girl's locker room to change then head out to the pool where Paige McCullers has already begun her first lap. Ugh, wouldn't you know it! The only lane open is next to her! I have to take it. I make sure my cap is holding all of my hair under it before I dive in. This, honestly, is the only place I can concentrate on me. It's the only place I can let everything else go. It's the only place I won't think about that kiss…

I block it from my mind swimming effortlessly down my lane. My arms slice through the water while my legs power me forward. I can tell I'm passing Paige and I can tell she's trying to stay ahead but I'm too powerful for her and she knows it! I flip and push off the wall of the pool weaving through the liquid glass with ease until I need my arms to muscle me ahead which I know is pissing her off. I smile into my breaths knowing I'm about to beat her! My arm stretches through to my fingertips which tap the side of the pool rendering me victorious! God that felt good!

I can feel her sneering at me but I don't care. She can do what she wants. She is no concern of mine! I can put up with her evil stares for another hour or so. I keep my face down in the water and just keep swimming! Just keep swimming! I'm free and I'm invincible and she knows it!

After practice we head for the showers. As I said before, I don't use the gang showers anymore after Paige's disparaging comments. She makes me uncomfortable so I shower in the single shower stalls. But she still seems determined to disrupt me while I'm naked and vulnerable. She makes me feel so icky. I don't like it. I try to block her out but instead I hear that manly voice,

"What's the matter Fields? You're afraid to shower in front of girls? Is that because you're afraid you'll want to more than just shower with them?" she laughs and I can hear some other girls laughing too.

But worse, I can hear her shower shoes sliding my way. What the fuck! I'm still rinsing my hair! Hurry Em! Hurry! I look over and see a shadow on the other side of the shower curtain, the only thing that separates me from her! My heart begins to pound! She wouldn't dare! I see a pale hand grasp the curtain ready to expose me in a most humiliating way!

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice warns.

I'm frozen with only my heart beating through my chest! The hand is still there.

"I said, I wouldn't do that if I were you," the voice sounding a bit more threatening.

"Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?" Paige bunches the curtain in her hand ready to defy that voice.

"I'm so glad you asked. I'm Maya St. Germain." Maya? Maya!

"Okay. Who the fuck is Maya St. Germain?"

"Someone who respects the privacy of others. Let go of the shower curtain and leave Emily alone," her voice sounds so protective. She's defending me!

"What are you? Her girlfriend?" Paige remarks snidely.

All the girls are laughing empowering the bully in Paige.

"What are you? Jealous?"

My hand covers my mouth cuz I want to burst out laughing so badly but that would just make matters worse! Yay Maya!

Now I hear the girls in the background shout, "Ohhhhh!" and I know Paige must've just glared at them cuz they stop.

Finally she lets go and finally I feel relief throughout my body and maybe a little something else too!

While I'm quickly drying off I hear, "You need to shut the fuck up Maya St. Germain!" She stresses each syllable in her name.

"And you need to grow up!" her voice isn't playing. My head drops while my mouth smiles to the side, a huge victorious smile!

But before things get out of hand I hear, "Girls! I don't know what's going on in here but you all need to move it along and get dressed. There are other sports teams that need the showers! Let's go!"

I wrap my towel securely around me and slide the shower curtain open, just in time to watch Paige brush against Maya and if you could've seen the look on Maya's face you'd a thought she was gonna finish what Paige started! I'm blushing! She's here! She's defending me! Maybe I am an okay kisser after all! Maybe…

"Em, are you okay," she reaches for my bare arm caressing it gently. I can't help but watch as she does it. I wish you would do that to me all the time!

I clear my throat, "Yeah, I'm used to it."

"Used to it! She can't be doing shit like that to you. You need to tell someone."

"No Maya. It will only make things worse. I have to change with her. I have to swim with her. I have to shower in the same room with her. I need to ignore her otherwise…"

"Otherwise what?" She presses.

"Nothing. Just forget it. What are you doing here anyway? Joining the swim team?" I smile as I walk towards my locker with her following. Oh no! I have to change in front of her!

"Saving you it looks like."

I look over my shoulder and she's smiling. God I love her smile! She makes me smile.

"And I thank you for that. But seriously how did you end up in here at that moment?" I need to know.

"Well, orchestra started today. We played a bit so the teacher could get a better feel for our level of play."

"And yours is really high, isn't it?"

"I guess."

"He was impressed. Right?"

"Yes. So anyway, I got my music and since I didn't get to see you all weekend I thought I'd see if you were still here and I'm so glad I did." I'm so glad you did too! "I overheard some girls saying something about Paige bothering you so I decided to see for myself." Thank you…

I open my locker taking out my panties trying to block her. I think she senses my insecurity cuz she says,

"I'll turn around so you can change. I'm not a perve like some people around here." She said that loud enough for Paige to hear cuz her locker slams so hard it sounds like the door fell off its hinge! That makes me cheer inside! Yay!

I quickly pull up my shorts and as I'm pulling my top down I say, "Okay you can turn around now."

But what I don't expect is to feel her slipping her hands behind my neck and under my hair lifting it out of the back of my shirt. I sigh cuz that was so sweet! So incredibly sweet! Now I really do want Maya to be my girlfriend but she'll never settle for someone who kisses like a Slurpee!

Sad face…

I can feel her breath tickle the back of my neck, "So Em, I feel bad that I had to leave so abruptly but music is my parent's baby and so am I. They take it very seriously and I need to respect that. I hope Spencer told you where I was. Don't worry, I was discreet about it."

I feel shaky and I gulp hard. God I hope she didn't hear that!

"Yeah she did. It's all good," I say as I repack my bag and lock my locker. Smiling, feeling all giddy inside!

"Sooo, we should talk. Don't cha think?" she asks as I turn around just in time to see her head tilt. No one can resist that head tilt!

"Yeah. I guess we should." But I really don't want to. I don't want to hear how horrible a kisser I am! Giddiness gone…

"Did you drive?" she asks.

"No, my mom dropped me off. She's picking me up in a half hour or so."

"Well why don't you text her and tell her I'll take you home. I have my car and it will save her a trip," an eyebrow pops up.

So I do and of course my mom is thrilled cuz she loves Maya. It's always Maya this and Maya that. She makes me laugh! She even decided to stay late at work to catch up on some stuff and tells me to order a pizza and invite Maya.

"My mom thanks you and invites you over to have pizza with me so she can work late without worrying." Why can't I look at her!

"Cool. I'll let my parents know. But it's too early for dinner so let's go someplace and talk," she takes my hand leading me to her car. I want to hold her hand but if I do we'll look, you know, together together. I think she senses my nervousness cuz she lets go of me. I'm so relieved…

When we get to my house Maya says, "So, I've seen the inside of your house and the front yard. What's in the back? A pool?"

"Oh, I wish! They didn't know I was going to turn out to be the swimmer I am today when they bought it. That's okay though because I get plenty of practice at school and the town pool."

She turns the knob opening the backdoor, "Your lawn is so green! Oh and I look at all those flowers!"

We step out onto the lawn walking towards the garden, "That would be my mom's pride and joy."

"They really are beautiful," she takes it all in.

"I'll tell my mom you said so," I smile and she smiles back at me making me weak.

She continues to check out the space until she notices a path at the edge of the woods, "What's that?"

"Oh it's a path that leads to a pond and these really huge rocks. It's quite peaceful actually. I go there sometimes when I want to be alone."

"Is it far?"

"Far enough."

"Can you show me?" she smiles with that head tilt. I can't say no to that!

As we walk down the narrow path together our hands bump every so often sending an electrical current throughout my body. But it scares me. What if she doesn't have those kinds of feelings after that horrible kiss!

"Em, about the other night." Oh no!

"What about it?" I play dumb.

She stops. She faces me.

"We danced and danced and we were having such a wonderful time but then you had a panic attack or something. I followed you. And then the rain came pouring out of the sky. I grabbed your hand and we ran for cover soaked and laughing," she says sneaking my hair behind my ear. I'm really nervous.

"I remember."

"Then we kissed." It was a mistake!

"Maya, I'm so sorry! I should never have let that happen! You, you should be with someone who knows who they are and what they're doing! I'm so sorry!"

I run down the path as fast as my legs will carry me! The tears cascade down my face! But the pond and the rocks! There's nowhere left to run!

I can hear her feet stomping down the path behind me! I look to the left! I look to the right! There's nowhere to run! I'm stuck! She's getting closer! My body shakes! My legs quake! I, I stumble backwards against one of those huge rocks! And when I recover my balance, she's there! She's getting closer and closer until she's standing directly in front of me! She can see the panic on my face! She moves closer! There's hardly any space between us! I can barely breathe!

She, too, is a bit out of breath but is able to speak, "Em, it's okay. There's no one here but you and me and the birds in the trees. I'm not going to say anything and neither are they."

She takes my face in her hands gently urging me to look at her. I feel so stupid crying like this as she wipes away my tears. And with that time seems to stand still…

I look into her eyes seeing what I need to see looking back at me, and just for a moment, she gives me the confidence I need to finally say out loud, "I'm gay. Maya, I'm gay."

Uncertain Face…

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To Be Continued…

What will Maya's reaction be to Emily confirming her sexuality with her words…

Please review…