C.C. McKenna

Inexperienced Love

Chapter Five

Rachel was not quite sure about what exactly she had to do to approach Lexie, but she did have only one thing in mind; 'Kevin', and she was going to do whatever it took to try to convince her 'beloved' team-mate to go to the beach that night; just to please him.

Rachel smiled as she entered the field. She ran towards Lexie and laughed, seeing just how nervous she looked. "Don't worry... my lips are sealed" she said trying to be friendly. Lexie frowned, not quite understanding what Rachel meant and ran with the ball when she heard the Coach shouting at them. Samantha wanted them to quit the chitchat and to go on with the practice. Rachel quickly followed Lexie; she ran faster, until she reached her, eagerly chasing the ball and trying hard to take it away from her. Lexie shuffled her feet and skillfully tricked Rachel, ending up running a lot faster and finally getting away with the ball. Rachel's blood started boiling, so she quickened her pace trying frantically to catch up with Lexie; when she finally reached her; she elbowed Lexie's ribs and pushed her harshly onto the green humid grass. Due to Lexie's running speed she rolled a couple of times before bringing herself to a halt.

"Bitch" Sophie stood up on one of the benches and glared ath Rachel. Sophie had been seated on the bleachers for quite a long time now, first waiting for Lexie to arrive and then watching how a girl that wouldn't last a minute under her grasp was badgering her friend. She wanted to go to Lexie's side to help her, but she knew she couldn't; she had to remain hidden; she was still afraid of being spotted by the police. She tightened her fists and impatiently waited for Lexie's reaction.

"Hey!" Lexie was quick on her feet, looking up at a taller Rachel and narrowing her eyes with anger.

"Sorry!" Rachel reached out and softly gripped Lexie's shoulder. "Really, I didn't mean to hurt you... are you ok?"

"Well...Yes" Lexie whispered, obviously taken aback by Rachel's sudden change.

"I know what you're thinking, but believe me, I really didn't want to hurt you, Kevin made me realize that we shouldn't be enemies, we are on the same team and we should be acting like real team-mates" She bent down to dust Lexie's uniform and stared back at her. "What do you think", She smiled.

Lexie narrowed her eyes and stared warily at a smiling Rachel. "I don't know; although I have to admit that you're right; but then again, it doesn't mean that I have to stop thinking about how odd this situation is" Lexie spoke cautiously.

"Oh please Lexie, stop being so paranoid" Rachel rolled her eyes. "I just want us to be friends" Rachel shook her head. "Jesus Christ"

"Ok, but... do you really mean it?" Lexie asked suspiciously, still rubbing her elbow to ease the pain from the fall.

"Yes" Rachel laughed and playfully slapped her shoulder, drawing a big charming smile on her face but thinking seriously about the next step she had to make.

"All right then, lets give it a try" Lexie stretched out her hand and Rachel held it tight.

"Damn it Bond... I thought you were a lot smarter than that!" Sophia muttered to herself slowly going back to her seat. "She's bad news, bad, bad news" She hissed, rolling her eyes, not believing her friend's lack of common sense.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Erm...Lexie... about tonight's party" Rachel finally brought the subject up while sitting on the field, beside Lexie, after two hours of extenuating training.

"Yeah?" Lexie took a deep breath. "What about it?" She leaned back on the grass, blocking the sun on her eyes with the back of her hands.

"I think we should go...it will be fun" Rachel leaned back as well, very close to Lexie. "Come on...say yes" Rachel lifted Lexie's hand from her eyes and playfully gave her a cross-eyed gaze.

Lexie laughed and playfully shoved Rachel away. "You are crazy dude!" She kept laughing.

"Should I take that as a yes?" Rachel insisted.

Lexie sighed. "Ok...I'll see you there" She slowly stood up. "I'll take a shower and go to classes, I still have three more to attend"

"Great, see you tonight then" Rachel got up and walked towards her friends; Sabrina was very upset and deliberately ignored her; but Lexie walked closer to her and tried to smooth things over.

"Sabrina, stop acting like a stupid kid" She rolled her eyes trying to find her friend's face, but Sabrina turned her back on her. "Sabrina!"

Sabrina swiftly turned to face Rachel. "Oh, so now you've finally realized that it was ok to leave your pretty new friend over there and come to look for me" She spoke with sarcasm.

Rachel shook her head. "Oh please, it's all a stupid scheme...nothing more nothing less" She raised her voice with annoyance. "How could you think that I... Jesus Sabrina!...I could never, ever, be her friend!" She shook her head and started walking away from her.

"Wait!" Sabrina quickly grabbed her friend's arm and stopped her. "I'm sorry...I really thought that..."

"Forget it!" Rachel sighed. "Lets just go change...we have a very important Science test...and, I have a surprise for you" Lexie wrapped her arm around Sabrina and guided to the showers. "...We have a very important party to attend tonight..."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Lexie had been waiting for Phoebe, sitting on her bike, and as soon as she saw her sister coming straight towards her motorcycle she quickly tossed the helmet over, startling her. Phoebe dropped her bag and clumsily juggled the helmet with both hands. Lexie laughed at the awkward scene and quickly jumped off the bike; she walked to her sister and lovingly wrapped her arms around her, kissing her forehead at the same time.

"Phoebe...you're funny dude!" She smiled widely.

"Funny?... ha!...'now' I'm funny" She rolled her eyes. "Hellooo... you scared me!" She playfully slapped her sister's shoulder.

"Sorry" Lexie laughed again. "Let's go home, I need to do some studying before I go to the beach" She hoped on the motorcycle, strapping the helmet on.

"Uhm...Lexie, it's five o'clock, by the time you finish studying, and have dinner, the sun will be gone"

Lexie nodded. "But it won't matter, cause I'm going to a party, not to get suntanned" She turned on the ignition and accelerated several times with promptness. "And Kevin is going to pick me up at eight"

"A Party huh?...with 'Kevin', nonetheless" Phoebe wrapped her arms tightly around her sister's waist. "That should be interesting" She smirked. "Have you told Prue about it?"

"Nope" She replied, driving away at high speed.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Are you serious Prue?" Piper shouted with amazement. "He, he... he could be her father, for crying out loud!"

Prue rolled her eyes. "Piper... Take a chill pill, will you?"

"I can't believe you just said that!" Piper shook her head; her eyes wide open.

"You're worrying too much" Prue tried to keep her coolness.

Piper bit her lower lip and cocked one eyebrow. "Ok, who are you and what have you done to my sister?"

"Piper; the girl is going to a freaking beach-party with Kevin; a P A R T Y, Piper, she's not marrying the guy; so get over it will you" Prue shouted and threw her hands to the air, looking more upset than ever. "Drop it!"

Lexie cringed a bit when she heard her big sister raising her voice at Piper. She hated being the one responsible for that unpleasant argument between them, but there wasn't any other way to obtain what she really wanted, which was to date Kevin. She covered both ears with her hands and slowly stood up from the stairs. She had been sitting there for quite a while, listening to her sister's quarrel. And it was now time to get away from there, before her sisters noticed she had been eavesdropping.

Piper fixed her eyes on Prue's angry ones and took a deep breath. "You know I won't get over it, not now not ever, but if you've decided that it's ok for Lexie to date an older man, then I don't have much to say anymore, do I?" Piper wiped a single tear from her cheek and gulped down the knot in her throat. "You're the big sister here, we are supposed to do what you order, and don't worry, I will accept your decision, but that doesn't mean I agree with you, 'cause I don't! ...I will never accept that stupid relationship"

"Piper...." Prue tried to hold her sister.

"No Prue... not now" She stormed out of the kitchen and headed up the stairs, she wanted to get away; she wanted to hide her frustration, to be some place else, as far away from the eldest as she could. Prue did nothing to stop her; as always, she thought she was right.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Kevin's black Jaguar arrived at the beach. He got out of the car and quickly went around to open Lexie's door. Her eyes sparkled with happiness and unexpectedly started feeling like a dozen butterflies dancing freely inside her stomach. He smiled and gently helped her out.

"I'll be the envy of every guy tonight" She was wearing a white miniskirt and a perfectly matching white sleeveless tank. He kissed her hand and politely guided her to the big fire on the sand, where everybody else was.

None of the guys who were drinking around the fire and listening to Metallica were in College; they were all mommy's boys, with no jobs, but they did have lots and lots of money, and obviously, they were older too.

"Hey Kevin!" Every single soul out there shouted, and some of them even whistled when they saw Lexie. "We were waiting for you man!" They all seemed very happy; except for the girls, which by the way, furrowed their brows and rolled their eyes before they started whispering among them.

"I know you were!" Kevin smirked and raised his hand, asking for a bit of silence. "Everybody...this is Lexie" He smiled with arrogance, "My date". He nodded. Lexie also smiled and managed to mumble a very shy hello, which nobody seemed to have listened, because everybody remained speechless, keenly focusing on the new girl and scanning her thoroughly from head to toes. Paul Hudson, Kevin's junkie, 30 year old best friend, finally broke the silence. "Wow buddy, aren't you going to tell me where did you find this beauty?"

"Hey, I'm warning you 'punk'" Kevin frowned. "You better keep your hands off...this beauty is mine!" Paul laughed.

"Welcome Lexie" Rachel walked to her and handed her a Miller light. "I was wondering if you were going to show up" Lexie smiled with nervousness and hesitantly took the beer. "Well, I'm here now; Thank you Rachel" She took a deep breath and immediately searched for Kevin's eyes, hoping for him to diverge everybody's attention from her. Kevin got the hint and swiftly pulled her away from that tensioning spot.

"Come over here baby...I wanna show you something" He wrapped her arm around her, turned to face Rachel and swiftly snatched the beer she was drinking. "Sorry guys, I need to take Lexie to the 'wish rock'" He cheekily winked an eye to Rachel. "Thanks for the beers Rach" He muttered as he walked away with Lexie. Rachel just had to fake a friendly smile.

After an hour or so, Rachel finally decided to go to the top of the rocks, where her new friend and Kevin had been sitting, giggling and chatting.

"Hey guys, what you up to?" Rachel asked as she sat down beside Lexie. "Is this girl boring you with her soccer stories by any chance Kevin?" She asked as she rolled her eyes and handed both another beer. Lexie bent down her head and blushed; good thing it was dark and not even the soft silver glow of the moon was enough to illuminate her red face.

"Hey...there's nothing wrong with that; I'm actually starting to like soccer myself" Kevin smiled and lifted Lexie's chin. "And besides, she could never be boring, not even if she tried". Kevin smiled conceitedly. He was obviously flirting.

"Oh, how romantic!" Rachel rolled her eyes. "I think he likes you Lexie" She pretended to be thrilled, but in fact, she was dying from jealousy. She searched for Lexie's hand and squeezed it with excitement to show her just how happy she was.

"Rachel please, stop this" Lexie pulled out her hand free from her friend's grasp and quickly stood up. "I'm sorry Kevin...I guess I better leave"

"No!" Kevin was quick standing beside her. "I mean, you can't leave yet... we just got here; come on Lex, stay for a little while longer". He held her hand and softened his tone of voice. "Just finish your beer and I promise I'll take you home"

Rachel also stood up. "Sorry Lexie; I was just joking" Rachel spoke softly. "I think I'll go find Sabrina"

"Yes, that's a good idea; Lexie and I need to talk...ALONE" Kevin smiled with hypocrisy and grabbed Lexie's arm. "Come on, lets go for a walk" He took the beer bottle from her hand and helped her getting down from the high rocks; while she was walking in front of him, he slid an ecstasy pill inside her beer.

"Here you go" He handed the bottle back to her and smiled. "Just a little walk and I'll take you home...I promise" He smiled. "Just as soon as you finish your beer"

Lexie smiled shyly. "This is so embarrassing... but I don't drink"

"Come on" He smiled. "Don't act babyishly, one beer, and we're gone"

"But I've already finished one" Lexie insisted.

"Well, ok, let's go!" He spoke angrily.

"I'm sorry, please don't get upset" Lexie hissed. "I'll have that beer, but promise to take me home when..."

"Promise" He softly kissed her hand. Rachel watched with amusement the whole romantic scene, elbowing a chuckling Sabrina at the same time, to keep her quiet.

"Under the shadows, a too familiar face watched them closely, carefully following each and every one of their moves; even the slightest one.

TBC

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o