Notes:  Vic, have you noticed that our lesbians are getting a big more… um, *thinks* into each other recently?

Chapter 9:  Tell Me More, Tell Me More

By Star

Maya's POV

      I glare warningly at Taz.  "No."

      She grins back, then leaps forward tugging at my sarong.

      "Leave it!"  I chide.

      She pouts.  "I don't see why you're being paranoid.  It's not like this lot haven't seen you in a bikini before.  And I've seen you in even less…"  She gives me a devilish look.

      Actually, there are two people here that haven't seen me in a bikini.  Damien and Connie.  I have no idea why Adam invited either of them.

      Ok, so Connie's being nice and actually seems genuine, but let's not forget that she spent a good part of last year trying to destroy the Queertet.

      And Damien?  A week ago we hadn't even heard of him, now he's Adam's little shadow.  I mean, what are they, best friends?

      Taz snaps her fingers in front of my face.  "Hey, Minx, you were spacing."

      "No I wasn't."  I reply quickly.

      "Yes you were."  She insists.  "I just said something so kinky it deserved an NC-17 rating and you didn't even blush."

      I give her an apologetic smile.  "Caught me.  I'm sorry."

      We sit down on the loungers around the pool.  I make sure that my sarong stays put, despite Taz's attempts to remove it.

      "Nymph!"  I grin.

      She grins back and starts bouncing excitedly.  It's moments like these that make me miss Julie.  Taz is so hyper right now, she's on overload.  Adam's house scares the life out of her and it didn't help that Charlie gave her two cans of soda.

      If Julie were here I could have a nice calm conversation while Taz worked off her excess energy by tormenting Charlie.

      But she isn't here, and the only other option is Connie, but I'd rather talk to the wall… also, she looks kinda busy cozying up to Guy.

      "I need to swim."  Taz says.  "I'm far too hyper."

      Taz is growing as a person.  She now tries to get rid of her hyper-ness elsewhere before subjecting us all to it.

      "Can you help me put this on?"  She holds out a swimming cap – naturally, it's purple.  She has to wear it otherwise the chemicals in the water turns her hair green.

      "Come here."

      She takes a seat between my legs while I start gathering up her hair.  She bounces agitatedly so I drop a kiss on the back of her neck and she quiets down and keeps her fidgeting to a minimum.

      "Thanks."  She drops a kiss on my lips and playfully pinches my rear end.  "I must go torment Charles now."

      "Go forth and torment."  I say with a grin.

      "Charles!!"  She bellows and takes off at a run at him.  Not to him.  At him.

      He turns and sees her running and quickly pushes Adam and Damien out of the way to safety.

      She leaps into his arms, momentarily locking her arms around his waist before they both fall into the pool with a tremendous splash.

      I feel my expression flicker from amusement to annoyance.  I know Taz is gay, and I know she doesn't think of Charlie that way, but honestly, how am I supposed to feel when I see my girlfriend – wearing only a bikini – with her legs wrapped around a half-naked guy?

      I push my irritation to a side.  Adam doesn't look bothered, he's busy joking around with Damien.  After a few minutes discussion, they jump in the pool and join Charlie in what looks like a rather genuine attempt to drown my girlfriend.

      I switch my mind off for awhile, watching everyone fool around.  Fulton and Portman look happier than I've seen them for a very long time.  They're so coupley it goes beyond cute, or nice, and way into the realm of 'that's so adorable I could hurl'.

      I take off my sarong and jump in the water.  I'd better go save Taz before someone succeeds in killing her.

      "Yo!  Fulton!"  Portman yells on seeing me.  "How about a game of Munchkin Deathmatch?"

      Fulton grins and stops trying to drown Taz.  "Ok."

      Taz spits out a load of water and coughs several times.  "I don't want to play.  I can barely breathe."

      "Who cares?"  He picks her up and sets her on his shoulders.

      I try to escape, but Portman catches me first.

      Sigh.  Here we go again.

      I give ten-to-one odds that Taz doesn't keep her top on.

*~*~*~*

      I wipe my face on a towel and collapse in an inelegant heap on one of the loungers.  Taz plays dirty in Munchkin Deathmatch.

      "Hey."  Damien grins at me shyly.  "Do you mind if I…?"  He gestures to the lounger next to me.

      "Oh, sure, have a seat."

      He wrings his hands nervously.  I can't believe how shy this guy is.

      "H-having fun?"  He squeaks out.

      "Tons of.  Sick of being drowned though.  You?"  I reply.

      "It's… uh, nice."  He gives me a sickly grin.  We've really got to work on his confidence.

      Taz hauls herself out of the water and flops down on top of me.  "You know, I liked it better when they just ignored me.  I think they're genuinely trying to kill me."  She comments.

      I push her to the side instead of on top of me.  Aside from the fact that I can't breathe, Damien has gone as red as his hair seeing the two of us so tangled up together.  He politely looks away until Taz and I look more respectable.

      "So… um, what are you plans for the summer?"  He asks, still looking away.

      "Well, there's Casey's wedding to Gordon."  Taz bounces excitedly.  Who'd have thunk you could bounce while horizontal… well… in a non-kinky way?

      "Casey is Charlie's Mom."  I explain to Damien.  "Gordon is their old hockey coach.  It's gonna be a fun day.  Purple here has even talked her way into being a bridesmaid."

      "So you're an old friend of them?"  He asks my still-bouncing girlfriend.

      "Not really.  Wish I was, Mum's really cool."  She grins towards the pool.  "Charles isn't bad either."

      I grin at Taz's obsession with the Conway family.  I wonder if she's noticed the slight resemblance between Charlie's mother and her own.  Taz showed me a picture of her yesterday, they have the same smile.

      "And then we have Taz and Charlie's birthdays, they're pretty close, so there's going to be a joint party."  I bite my lip, suddenly wondering if it's polite to gush about parties that Damien hasn't been invited to.

      "Oh," Damien blushes again.  "Adam mentioned it… he, uh, said I could come."  He seems to go even redder, then hastily adds.  "But I don't know… I mean, I don't know you that well."

      "Oh come!"  Taz grins.  "The more the merrier."

      "What about you?  Any big plans?"  I ask.

      "Well, no, not really."  He gives a shy smile.  "I don't really know anyone, and I can't keep imposing on Adam's hospitality.  I'm sure he has better things to do than baby-sit me."

      I suddenly feel a rush of warmth towards him.  It must be rough changing schools during the second year of High School.  Imagine it, you've just got settled in, made some really good friends, then you have to move miles away.  And when you get there everyone has already made their little circle of friends.  It must be so hard being on the outside.

      "Why don't you hang out with us?"  I offer.  "It's not a chore having you around."

      "Unlike some."  Taz mutters.  Her eyes are narrowed and she's glaring at Connie who is giggling wildly as Guy tickles her.  "Bitch."  She spits out.  "Guy's with Julie.  Why can't she go back to hating us all?"

      "To be fair," I say.  "Guy's hardly fighting her off."

      "He's just missing Julie."

      "Too bad we can't get her back here."  I comment.

      Taz's eyes light up.  "Who says we can't?"

      "Where would she stay?"

      "I have a guestroom.  Daddy won't mind."

      I sigh.  Taz and her parental issues.  Loses her 'Mum' and adopts Charlie's to make up.  Loses faith in her father and actively seeks out new ways to torment him.

      But it is for a greater good.  "Let's call her when we get back to yours."

      "Good plan."  Taz nods approvingly.

      I turn back to Damien, who has been watching our exchange with interest, clouded with bafflement.  "Sorry."

      "No we're not.  We're not letting Connie and Guy get back together."  Taz responds.

      "Why not?"  Damien asks curiously.  "Aside for the fact that what's-his-name – um… Guy? – has a girlfriend.  I mean, they look good together."

      Taz quickly launches into a detailed description of almost all of the events of last year, leaving out the most hurtful and private moments.  I'm sure if she had her sketchbook handy she would have drawn descriptions too.

      Damien has a dazed look on his face, listening to Taz talk at high speed and gesture wildly when she gets to the exciting parts.

      I lean back and grin.  Now that I think about it, last year was really hectic for us.