Chapter Eleven - Breathe In And Get A Bit Higher
Everyone had been back at Pony's and Eph's house for about an hour. Everyone was hanging out around the pool in the back. Jay and Terry were chasing each other in the pool. Pony, since she was pretty sober, had the grill going. Jake was kicked back in a lounge chair, wine glass in hand. She had been watching Mandy since they got back to the house. She just couldn't tear her eyes away. Mandy was sitting in a lawn chair next to Eph and the two women were talking amongst themselves. Every once in a while, Mandy would look over and smile at Jake.
Pony looked over at Jake out of the corner of her sunglasses and whispered to Mandy, "Ms. Sexy is checking you out again. Damn girl, you definitely managed to catch a hot one!"
Mandy slapped her friend on her arm. " I haven't caught anything, yet!" Mandy said carefully, trying not to slur her speech.
Eph rolled her eyes. "The Hell you haven't! You need to listen to Pony, Red. Jake keeps looking over here, checking you out."
Finally, with an air of confidence Mandy smiled. "Well then good..." Mandy began as she took a sip from her glass. "Cause I've been checking her out pretty hard myself." Mandy smiled and winked at Eph and then stood up to walk back over by Jake.
Jake lowered her mirrored aviators onto the bridge of her nose as Mandy walked closer. Jake shifted her position on the lounger so Mandy could sit down."Have a seat, Green Eyes."
Mandy smiled and sat down so she was facing her friend. She reached over and laced their fingers together. "How're you doing? Having fun?"
"I am now." Jake answered as she stroked the back of Mandy's hand with her thumb and replaced her sunglasses.
"You're sweet. So... are you feeling as lightheaded as I am?" Mandy felt as if she had been on a roller coaster. Was it from the wine? Maybe the long exposure to the sun all day? Or was it from her close proximity to the tall woman stretched out next to her? Mandy was unsure. But she knew she enjoyed the feeling.
Jake laughed in reply and Mandy thought it was the most melodic sound to ever grace her ears.
"If you're asking me if I feel any pain, the answer is 'No'. I'm feeling pretty good right about now. Not sure if it's the alcohol or the company but, I'm not complaining about either."
Just then Mandy noticed one of her favorite songs playing on the radio."Eph, turn this up," she turned around and yelled to her friend. Turning back to Jake, she offered, "I really like this song!"
As Mandy closed her eyes and sang along, Jake sat up in the lounger and placed her wine glass and sunglasses on the table next to her chair. She wanted to be closer to the singing woman and watched on, almost mesmerized by her presence.
"Come stand a little bit closer, Breathe in and get a bit higher. You'll never know what hit you when I get to you"
Jake placed her lips next to Mandy's ear and whispered, "Who says you're going to get to me first?"
Mandy opened her eyes and looked deep into Jake's as she sang the next line; "Ooh, I want you I don't know if I need you but, ooh, I'd die to find out..."
Both women stared and smiled at each other. Apparently, the "game they had begun at the wine festival was still on. Mandy gave her friend a hug and tackled Jake back onto the lounger. The wine was definitely curing her shyness around the tall brunette. She straddled Jake's hips and placed her hands on the strong shoulders below her. Mandy noticed that Jake was wearing a sports bra, barely visible through her white shirt. She gave Jake an extremely mischievous grin as she ran her fingers straight down Jake's chest to grab each side of the white shirt and rip it open. Buttons went flying, exposing solid toned abs to her touch and gaze.
Jake looked down at her shirt, arched her left eyebrow and looked back up to Mandy. She couldn't believe Mandy had actually ripped her shirt open, let alone what happened next.
Mandy began scratching lightly up and down Jake's stomach; from the bottom of her sports bra to the waist of her jeans. She closed her eyes at the feel of the muscles contracting underneath her touch.
Jay and Terry had quit chasing each other when Jay noticed Mandy throw Jake back in the chair. Pony and Eph watched on in shock at their friend's antics.
Mandy leaned in closer to sing the next few lines to Jake and closed her eyes again as she smelled Jake's cologne. "I'm the kind of person who endorses a deep commitment, Getting comfy getting perfect is what I live for but a look, then a smell of perfume... It's like I'm down on the floor and I don't know what I'm in for..."
Mandy licked her lips and leaned in closer, her breath hot on Jake's ear as she whispered, "You'll never know what hit you when Iget to you... I think I got you first."
Mandy pulled away, reluctantly, and stopped herself just before she actually had the nerve to run her tongue along the shell of Jake's ear.
Jake stood up, lifting Mandy along with her. The smaller woman locked her legs tight around Jake's waist. "It does seem that you got me first, doesn't it? And I thought it was hot out here before... I think I may need to cool off... "
Mandy grinned and placed her forehead against Jake's. Jake's breathing noticeably quickened. Everyone could see what Jake was doing but Mandy. Jay and Terry moved out of the way as Jake walked them closer to the edge of the pool. The brunette pulled back just far enough to be able to focus on Mandy's face and look into her eyes.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah... and... I think... you... are... coming with me!" Jake finished in a rush as she ran the last few feet to the pool and jumped in.
Everyone shielded themselves from the splash of water that left the pool when Jake did her impromptu cannonball. Upon breaking the surface of the water, Jake smiled at the smaller woman in her arms and watched as Mandy leaned her head back and pushed the hair out of her face.
"Who's got who?" Jake asked as she moved the two of them around in the water.
"You know, it's a good thing I have an extra set of clothes here or I'd kick your butt." Mandy replied as she slid Jake's shirt off of her shoulders. Jake reached down and helped Mandy out of her t-shirt, leaving both women clad in only their bras.
Terry and Jay got out of the pool. Pony turned the grill off as she handed the plate of burgers and chicken to Eph to take into the house. "Hey guys, we're going to go eat in the house to avoid bugs and shit. Dry off and come inside when you get hungry." Pony called from the door as everyone went into the house to enjoy their dinner and give the new friends what little bit of privacy they could.
Everyone really liked Jake and especially liked the way their friend opened up when she was around her. They had all known Mandy for a long time and wanted her to be happy. They were ecstatic that she was finally starting to realize what they had known all along and were more than willing to help her out any way they could.
Jake watched everyone leave and turned back to the woman in her arms. She wasn't kidding when she said, earlier, that she wasn't sure about the cause of her lightheadedness. She was just as uncertain now but had a feeling it had more to do with the woman holding onto her than the alcohol they had been drinking that afternoon. Both women were content to just float around the pool together, enjoying the closeness of the other.
They chased one another around the pool for a bit, tackling and dunking each other under the water. The sun had set and the moon was starting to rise into the October night sky. The air got a bit cooler but neither woman noticed due to the heat radiating off their bodies when in close proximity to the other.
Jake had just dunked Mandy under the water again and as she came back up, sliding her body against Jake's, Mandy noticed another of her favorite songs playing on the radio.
"I dunno, Blue Eyes. I think I ripped your shirt off to the wrong song."
"Oh yeah? You ruined my shirt, ya know." Jake replied as she wrapped her arms tighter around the small body.
Mandy tightened her grip around Jake's shoulders. "Don't worry... I can sew the buttons back on, ya big baby."
"Okay, I'll remember that. Why do you think that was the wrong song?"
Mandy rolled her eyes, playfully. "Jake, listen to this song! It's much more sensual."
"That's it... no more drinking for me tonight. I'm getting way too bold here," Mandy thought to herself.
"Sensual... Is that what you were going for?" Jake asked as she maneuvered them over to a corner of the pool.
"Oh yeah... this is much more appropriate."
"How so?" Jake had managed to pin Mandy against the corner of the pool, leaning into her body and closing her eyes briefly as Mandy ran her hands through the dark mane of hair. Mandy began to sing again and Jake opened her eyes to stare into the emerald green awaiting her.
"...My body aches to breathe your breath, your words keep me alive. And I would be the one to hold you down..."
Jake pressed her body impossibly closer to Mandy's and held their bodies tight against each other. She lightly brushed Mandy's cheek with her lips, then pulled back a bit, brushing her cheek along Mandy's as she did so.
"Kiss you so hard... I'll take your breath away..."
Once again, they were close enough to breathe the same air. Mandy looked from Jake's eyes to her lips and back. She tilted her head and leaned in closer. Their lips hadn't even touched yet but Mandy could swear she could already taste the tang of the chlorine in the pool water against them.
"MANDY! Gellar's on the phone," Pony called from inside the house.
Mandy slammed her head against Jake's shoulder and groaned. "Are we ever going to get to do this without being interrupted?"
Jake laughed a little to hide her own disappointment at the interruption. She ran her hand gently up and down Mandy's back. "Soon... I hope"
Mandy lifted her head and they giggled like a couple of teenagers when their eyes met.
"Go on, go talk to your daughter."
Mandy untangled herself from Jake's embrace and climbed out of the pool to go get the phone.
"Give her my love."
Mandy stopped at the door and turned around to look at Jake. "Yeah?"
Jake looked back as she, herself, climbed out of the pool and went looking for her battered shirt. "Yeah!"
Mandy smiled one last time as she disappeared into the house.
Jake could hear her through the window and smiled to herself as Mandy began talking to her daughter.
"Hi, Sweetpea! AJ says hi and she loves you."
Jake walked with Mandy to the front door, both of them giggling as Mandy tried to slip the key in the lock. Jake knew she had drank too much to drive them back to Mandy's on the bike so, she left it locked up in Eph and Pony's garage and they took a cab back to Mandy's.
Mandy finally got the door open and they walked in and shut the door. Mandy locked it as Jake waited, patiently, in the doorway to the living room.
"I just don't see why I can't go home. I could just as easily take a cab home from here, you know," Jake said as she placed a bag with her change of clothes in the chair. She was pretty smart. When she heard that they'd be back at Pony's after the Wine Festival, she packed a change of clothes in her back pack and carried it with her on the bike.
"I know... but Claudia said she knew we had been drinking and she better see you here when she drops the kids off in the morning. You don't know the woman like I do. Believe me, you don't want to piss her off. So, if she says you're staying... you're staying." Mandy replied as she went into the kitchen to start a kettle of tea. She grabbed two bottles of water out of the refrigerator and handed one to Jake. "Here, drink this."
"Why?" Jake asked as she took the offered water.
"Do you know why people get hangovers? It's because the alcohol dehydrates their bodies. That's why you should always drink some water before going to bed after you've been drinking."
"OK, if you say so." Jake shrugged her shoulders as she removed the cap off of the bottle and took a sip.
"It's true, I've had one hangover. Steve told me about that little trick and I've never had another one." Mandy took a drink from her own bottle. "Come on. Why don't you go take a shower while we wait on the tea. You know where everything is."
"Okay." Jake smiled at the strawberry-blonde and grabbed her bag to head off for the shower.
Not long afterwards, Jake walked out of the bathroom, clad in a clean black t-shirt and jeans. She walked into the kitchen and walked up behind Mandy. Long arms wrapped around Mandy's waist and lifted her up from behind, causing the smaller woman to squeal.
"What are you doing, Goofball?" Mandy asked as Jake placed her back on her feet and hugged her, placing her chin on Mandy's shoulder. Mandy rubbed Jake's forearms as they held her tight.
"Not much. Just noticed the pool out the window, that's all," Jake teased. She noticed that Mandy was freshly showered as well, dressed in a t-shirt and flannel pajama pants. "How'd you get clean so fast when I was in the shower?"
"I have two bathrooms, Silly. Ergo two showers." Mandy answered as she handed Jake her tea. She reached down and grabbed Jake's hand then headed out of the kitchen. "Are you ready for bed there, Stretch?" Mandy asked over her shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm pretty wiped, actually. Thanks for the tea, by the way." Jake started into the living room, towards the couch when Mandy pulled on her hand.
Jake turned around and looked at the woman holding her hand. "Whatcha doing?"
"Where are you going?"
Jake quickly looked towards the living room before looking back to Mandy. "I was going into the living room to sleep on the couch."
Mandy shook her head as she tightened her hold on Jake's hand. "Believe me, Jake... you don't want to sleep on that thing. It's fine just to sit on but it's absolute hell on your back. Come on. My bed is plenty big enough for both of us." Mandy continued on into her bedroom with Jake following, hesitantly, behind her.
Mandy turned on the lamp on the far side of her bed and placed her tea on the nightstand. Jake just stood in the doorway watching as Mandy pulled back the covers on the bed. She turned around and looked at Jake, standing in her doorway. "What's wrong, Jake?" Mandy asked as she walked over and turned off the overhead light.
Jake looked down at her feet and played with her tea cup as she answered. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea, Mandy. I really think I should sleep on the couch if I'm going to stay here."
Mandy took the cup out of Jake's hands and placed it on the other nightstand. She walked back over, grabbed both of Jake's hands and held them in her own. "Why not?"
Jake looked up almost guiltily into Mandy's eyes. "Because, Mandy... I... uhm... I really like you and... I just don't think that I could... uhm..."
Mandy smiled. "Jake, it's okay. I'm not hitting on you. Well, to be honest, I think I have been... but that couch is just really uncomfortable and I... wait a minute..." Mandy stopped briefly as Jake's words finally registered. "...did you just say that you like me?"
"No... Actually, I said that I really like you." Once again, Jake found the floor to be quite interesting.
Mandy placed her hand against Jake's cheek. "Good. Because I really like you, too. Jake... I don't know what I'm doing here but I know what I feel and I know that I like you. We don't have to figure all of this out tonight. And it would probably be better if alcohol wasn't influencing whatever decision is made. You can sleep on the couch if you want but, you won't be comfortable. My bed is plenty big enough for both of us."
Jake looked into Mandy's eyes and saw nothing but honesty and trust looking back at her. She hugged the smaller woman to her and heard the sigh of relief that escaped Mandy's lips. Jake kissed her on the top of her head. "I don't really know what I'm doing here, either. Let's just take our time and see what happens, okay? This decision won't just affect us. We have to think about Gellar and Raven"
"I agree one hundred percent." Mandy looked up and kissed Jake on her chin, causing the taller woman to smile. "But, I can already tell you what's going to happen..."
Jake relaxed her hold around the smaller woman and arched a perfect eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What's that?"
"You're going to drink your tea, carry that sexy ass of yours over to my bed, lose the jeans, because believe me, Honey... you ain't getting in my bed with that much denim on... get in bed and go to sleep."
"Aren't."
"Excuse me?"
"Aren't. You said 'Ain't'. What kind of school teacher are you?" Jake teased.
Mandy swatted her on her rear end towards the bed. "Go, Goofball!" Mandy walked over to the opposite side of the bed and crawled in, waiting for Jake to do the same so they could turn out the light and get some sleep.
Jake took off her jeans, leaving her in her t-shirt and boxers. She pulled back the covers and got in bed next to Mandy. She reached over and turned off the lamp next to her, darkness bathing the room.
Jake lay there with her eyes open for a few moments as Mandy lay with her back to her. After a few more minutes, Mandy turned over facing Jake.
"Jake?" She asked, quietly.
"Yeah?" Jake answered as she turned her head to face the other woman. The only thing Mandy could see in the darkness, was the crystal blue of Jake's eyes looking back at her.
"Did you mean it when you said you liked me?"
Jake ran the back of her fingers down Mandy's cheek. "Yes, I did. Very much so."
"Is it okay if... I mean, can I...?"
Jake opened up her arms and smiled. "Come here."
Mandy slid over closer to Jake and tentatively placed her head on Jake's shoulder. She wrapped one arm around Jake's waist as Jake closed her arms around her. Mandy reached up and kissed Jake on the chin as Jake kissed her back on top of her forehead.
"Good night, Blue Eyes."
"Good night, Mandy."
A key slid into the front door lock after no one came to answer the door. Claudia walked into the quiet house carrying her sleeping grand-daughter, followed by a still sleepy Raven. She placed Gellar's things on the floor by the door after she shut it. She looked down at the dark haired child, whom was barely able to keep her eyes open. She hated having to wake the two children that early but, she needed to bring them back before she left to go to church that morning.
Claudia looked around and noticed that Mandy was not in the kitchen and no one was sleeping on the couch.
"Come on, Raven," she whispered to the child practically leaning against her leg, falling asleep.
Claudia continued on into the back of the house towards Mandy's bedroom. She quietly knocked and cracked the door open to find both women sound asleep, curled up together as they had been the night before.
Claudia smiled as she took in the sight before her. She watched, quietly, from the doorway as Mandy rolled over off of Jake's right shoulder and onto her right side. Jake rolled over and pulled Mandy tight against her stomach. Mandy's arms circled Jake's, lying against her stomach as she placed her head back underneath of Jake's chin. Jake nestled her head against Mandy's. All of this took place without either woman waking up.
Claudia walked over to Mandy's side of the bed and shook her lightly so as not to disturb the other woman sleeping in the bed behind her.
"Mandy? Honey?" Claudia whispered as two sleepy green eyes cracked open to look, unfocused, at her.
"Hmmmm?"
"Sorry to wake you, Honey. But I have to get to church. Where would you like for me to place the kids? Gellar's asleep and Raven's about ready to fall asleep."
"Here." Mandy answered as she closed her eyes once again.
"You want them in the bed with you?"
"Mmmhmm."
Claudia smiled as Mandy rolled over, once again, and wrapped her arms back around Jake. Jake rolled back over onto her back, opened one blue eye and held her arms out towards Claudia.
Claudia grinned, took off Gellar's shoes and walked over to the other side of the bed. She placed Gellar on Jake's chest as, she figured, the sleepy woman requested.
Jake lifted her head a bit and whispered to Raven. "Raven? Come here, Baby."
Raven took off her shoes and climbed up onto the bed next to her aunt. She placed her head on Jake's unoccupied shoulder and wrapped her arm around Gellar as Jake held her tight against her. Mandy had her arm thrown over Jake and Gellar also, her hand resting lightly on Raven's back.
Jake mouthed a quiet "thank-you" to Claudia as she kissed each of, what she realized to be, her three favorite girls on top of their heads. She closed her eyes and was instantly back asleep.
Claudia watched for a moment and, quietly, turned around and walked out of the room. As she shut the bedroom door and walked out of the house, locking the door behind her, she said out loud to herself, "Yep. Definitely need to have a new family portrait taken."
Chapter 11 Title Lyrics and the first song Mandy sings to Jake at the pool party is "I Want You" by Savage Garden. The second song is, "Possession" by Sarah McLachlan on her album, "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" All of the reviews have been quite inspiring. I have new ideas for this story for the first time in a LONG time. Thank you all for the inspiration! :-) PLEASE REVIEW! :-)