The Art of War
11: We've Got the Land, But She's Got the View
As soon as I got home that afternoon I began to put my plan into action, immediately hopping on my computer and looking up the articles that had kept up a steady steam through the local newspaper all of last year about St. John's Hospital, then printed them out and left them on my nightstand. That was phase 1, phase 2 would be initiated when Mom finally got home. To tie myself over until then I popped in Coach Lewis's damn DVD and slipped into a sports bra and some sweats, ready to practice until I dropped. An hour and a half later I finally got the call for dinner and eagerly showered and changed back, then bounded down the stairs and to the kitchen.
"Good evening dear, I hope you're ready for Dad's famous homemade spaghetti!" Dad exclaimed happily and I nodded and smiled absently, looking around for mom. Ha! I found my target buried in her PDA, tapping away with the stylus at the tiny screen and I looked over her shoulder, a sure way to get her attention.
"May I help you?" She asked in a slightly irritated tone and I nodded.
"Well yes actually, it has to do with my upcoming election…" I started and she jumped right onto the bait, putting away her phone and looking at me.
"What is it? What do you need?" She asked, suddenly animated as Dad jovially set up table and called for Glen and Clay again.
"…it's about the upcoming blood drive."
"The one with St. John's?" She asked, looking a little confused.
"Yes, see as head of Student Council I have to be there and everything…but I just don't think St. John's represents the Carlin family values." I started, putting on my concerned face.
"Tell me more." Mom demanded and I proceeded to over the course of dinner, then again had to resist the urge to break into maniacal laughter at how perfectly she fell into my hands. That night I went to bed and fell right into my typical Ashley fantasies, my mind and heart lightened considerably…
"Morning Spencer!" Shannon greeted as I skipped to my locker the next morning, all smiles and sunshine.
"Morning Shannon!" I replied excitedly, going through my usual routine book exchange.
"Coach's practice later this afternoon so don't be late." Madison warned, studying her face in her compact as she spoke and I promptly dropped my African Lit. textbook.
"Did everyone practice the DVD?!" I asked, a bit panicked until my cronies all nodded enthusiastically and I released a sigh of relief. I picked up my book, sliding it into my bag before slinging that over my shoulder and marching off to homeroom, flanked by my cheerleader security team. The rest of the day was abuzz with chatter from the other students about the Coach's practice. It was an open practice, since Coach Lewis always seemed to think that a crowd would make us perform better, and a lot of people always managed to show up. I tried not to get nervous though, sneaking off again during my breaks to brush up on the routine, and constantly shooting my Squad-mates meaningful looks when I saw them.
Eventually final period came and went and I found myself back at my locker, gingerly extracting my Pinkerton Prep sports bag that held my real uniform, instead of the gold and red short shorts and half shirts we used for practice. The atmosphere inside the locker room was one full of anticipation and anxiety as I changed into the genuine article, then surveyed myself in the mirror. Despite how prudish our school uniforms were, or maybe because of it, the cheerleading uniforms were good and slutty. The red with gold accenting halter style shirt stopped an inch or so shy of my belly button and the bright gold skirt was at least four inches above my knee. The only thing I was glad for when I wore it was the fact that all the frequent practices kept me in good shape. There was nothing worse than overfilling a cheerleading uniform.
"Alright girls, everybody ready?" I asked, grabbing my red and gold pom poms and holding them tightly in one hand.
"Ready." Madison declared determinedly and corresponding nods came from the rest of the Squad. We headed out of the locker room with our heads and pom poms held high, ready to put out, that is, until I noticed a certain someone in the crowd.
"Uh…let's s-stretch out." I commanded and everybody looked at me, but started in on it anyway. I meanwhile, waved to the crowd, then snuck over to the side of the bleachers where Ashley leaned against a wall.
"What're you doing here Davies?" I asked curiously, honestly a little happy that she'd showed up, (okay, a lot happy, so sue me).
"Just taking in the scenery." She replied disinterestedly.
"How come you're not sitting in the bleachers?" I asked and she shrugged, looking me up and down.
"I like the view from here thanks." She responded silkily and I turned around, starting back for my Squad.
"Enjoy the show." I tossed out over my shoulder and she grinned, eyes sparkling from behind me. Music instantly started to thump through the loud speakers as we stepped into formation and the crowd started to cheer immediately.
"Baby where'd you get yo body from? Baby where'd you get yo body from? I got it from my mama, I got it from my mama." The heavy guitar and bass lines could be felt through the floor as we jumped into the routine, the stars of Pinkerton Prep, and the crowd responded by cheering even louder.
A good half an hour later we were sweaty and hot but the routine had been finished nearly to perfection (Shannon had overstepped one of the dance moves but oh well). The girls waved and started for the locker room but Coach Lewis held me back, trotting me out to meet some rival coach who had sat in on the show as everyone left. By the time I finally escaped from her clutches the entire crowd was gone, and all of my Squad was leaving as well. Pretty soon the only person left was Ashley, who took a seat on the first bleacher as I watched Coach Lewis offer to walk the other coach to their car, leaving us all alone.
"Like what you saw?" I asked, walking over to where Ash sat. She gave me a look, then slowly stood up and took my hand, starting silently for the empty locker room. I followed obediently, my stomach starting to do flip flops. As soon as we got inside she buried her fingers in my hair and pressed my back into a locker, looking deep into my eyes as she hiked up my skirt and slipped a knee between my legs.
"…w-whatever happened to…holding out?" I whispered, my hands involuntarily landing at her shoulders as I started to tremble.
"…fuck that…I want you." She murmured, tangling her fingers in my hair and slamming my head backwards, then nipping my bottom lip just as harshly. Her hurtful kiss quickly migrated to my jaw line and lower. I started to protest but she kissed my throat, causing the words to dry up and die there, and there was nothing really I could do. As she brought her lips back up to mine and parted them I let my hands drift away from their position and down her chest and the rest of her shirt, landing at the hem. After a moments hesitation I slowly undid the bottom button, then the next one up, and the one above that, letting my thumbs glide wondrously over the newly exposed taut bronze surface, then hooking them into the waistband of her skirt, pulling her ever closer into me. She growled in response, tightening her grip on my hair and deepening her kiss so that I began to feel like I just might pass out, starved for oxygen but not really caring one bit, just kissing her back just as passionately.
My fingers, who seemed to have stopped taking directions from my brain and instead functioned entirely on their own, hastily unfastened the front clasp of her skirt and wandered even lower before she pulled away a little.
"…what's wrong?" I asked in a voice drunk with lust and she shook her head slowly.
"Absolutely nothing…" She replied huskily, taking my right hand and bringing it up to her lips. She kissed my palm, then licked at the spaces in between before nipping at my index finger and slipping it into her mouth. I closed my eyes, my left hand tightening on her skirt, then…
"Still here Spence?" A voice echoed across the locker room and Ashley and I broke apart, with the brunette sliding quickly into an empty stall as Coach Lewis bounded up to where I was standing.
"C-Coach Lewis!" I squeaked, yanking my skirt back down and smoothing my hair.
"Well there ya are dear, Madison said you were still on the bleachers havin' a little chat with your opponent, that Davies kid, I see you guys are finished." She rambled cheerily and my face turned even redder. Yeah, but we wouldn't have been finished if your ditzy ass hadn't waltzed in here dammit!
"Well come on sweetness, I need you in my office ASAP so you can get my report on today's practice."
"Coming…" I mumbled, wishing I'd have been saying that exact same thing to Ashley instead. I lethargically picked up my stuff and exited the gym, still in my uniform, and could've sworn I heard a raspy voice utter,
"Fuck!" just as I left. If only…
tbc
r&r
Ash gets into election mode, comin' up next…