The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas break sped past at lightning speed and CJ was looking at only 2 days left of classes before the holidays. It had been some time since 'the three musketeers' had pulled a practical joke and CJ felt that just before the year ended they should do something. Steven and Ainsley were only slightly hesitant but in the end they too agreed that a bit of stress release was necessary. CJ combed her memory data banks to come up with something that would be both funny but safe. She may not have learned to stop pranking, or the best time and place but she had definitely learned the safety side of things.
CJ handed several packets of ketchup and mustard to her very confused friends smiling. "What are we supposed to do with these?" Steven asked holding the items out on his outstretched hand as though they might explode any moment.
"We are going to place them between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl under those little feet things. Then when someone sits down they'll pop squirting ketchup and or mustard all over!" CJ explained excited.
Both of her friends chortled. CJ could be counted on for ideas and suggestions that was for sure. The trio decided to limit their escapade to two bathrooms, one of each gender and to do it in the gym wing so that it was the farthest away from prying eyes.
Before classes they quickly set up their prank and hurried off to homeroom. They had decided that although some of them would be set off during the morning most 'explosions' would happen at lunch time and they could easily 'hang out' near the bathrooms without being suspicious because it was a large corridor where many kids spent their lunch hour.
The morning took forever to end. Not only was CJ looking forward to their lunchtime plans but with the last day before break no one including the teachers were into the material and so each class dragged on. When the bell finally rang CJ almost knocked over her chair she stood up so quickly. Steven stared at her shaking his head. 'Calm down' he thought to himself, 'you'll give yourself away'.
It took longer than expected to get through the cafeteria line with everyone and their brother buying something to eat. Finally with food in hand they parked themselves against the wall with dozens of other kids eating their lunches. The small group got a few stares as this was not their usual lunch time locale but no one said anything to them.
They didn't have to wait long until a loud "Shit… what the HELL" could be heard coming from the boys bathroom. All the heads in the hallway turned to the bathroom door to stare at the disembodied voice. Smiles slowly crept onto the trios faces. By the time the body that belonged to the voice appeared he had wiped himself up and calmed down enough that nothing more was said.
Over the next hour several more people were "squirted" with condiments. Both boys and girls reacted very much the same. Yelling, swearing and sometimes a door slam or two could be heard from their hallway vantage point. The most exciting was when one of the big football guys began yelling and screaming and one of the coaches was walking past in the hallway. Recognizing his player's voice and expletives the coach entered the bathroom to offer a good dressing down to the student.
Having witnesses enough mayhem the three musketeers return to classes for the afternoon with a lightness to their step and a smile in their eyes. The afternoon took longer than it should have but was at least bearable with visions of ketchup and mustard dancing in their heads.
Steven and CJ walked to the city bus stop together, side by side, each one with their hand in the other person's back pocket. This particular configuration of mobility was forced a slow gait as CJ was so much shorter then he was. But it allowed for meandering and a few extra minutes together. Using his pocketed hand Steven directed CJ into an embrace as he leaned forward and planted a delicate kiss on her lips. Raising herself onto her tip toes she wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, looked deep into his eyes before kissing him passionately in return.
The bus' arrival forced the physical separation of the two teens and CJ boarded with a coy wave as the bus drove away.
Steven stood watching as the bus became smaller and smaller. An internal battle continued to rage inside of him. He had been granted and interview at Annapolis Naval Academy and was really excited. More excited than he thought he'd be. And so now he had the overwhelming urge to share the news with someone but not just anyone someone important to him. But that would mean telling CJ where he'd applied and he'd been really good to this point of keeping all of his college selections to himself.
CJ arrived at headquarters and headed immediately to Abby's lab. Grabbing a lab jacket and getting to work immediately CJ didn't notice when Abby finally returned.
"What are you smiling about?" Abby asked, noticing that the teen has a rather unusual grin about her.
"Ah… I was…" CJ started, what she had been thinking about was the little lunchtime escapade she had been involved with and wasn't sure she should share that information. Her quick expression change of happy to guilty told Abby a lot more than CJ wanted it to.
"What did you do? Does your dad know about it? And will this affect our work here this afternoon?" Abby said with concern in her voice.
"Nothing?... No… and absolutely not!"
Abby tilted her head to the side questioning all of CJ's answers. CJ for her part calmly returned to her work at the table trying to piece together some shredded fabric found at a scene. Not believing a word of her assistants answer but wanting the gossip so badly Abby quietly shuffled to beside the kid and gently hip checked her looking down into her face with a childish grin of her own. "Com' on CJ you can tell me I won't tell no body nuttin'" Abby whined.
CJ rolled her eyes exaggeratedly and grimaced. Abby knew the moment that look crossed her face she was going to spill the beans she just had to press gently until CJ caved. This push and pull continued for another few minutes before CJ threw down the pieces she was holding and turned to her mentor. "You promise you won't say anything?"
"Yep. I pinkie promise." Abby said holding up her hand her pinkie finger extended for the shake. CJ slowly raised her own pinkie to meet Abby's and once the small digits were interlocked she began to tell her story. CJ had become really good at telling stories and so with hand waving and change in voices she described the few moments of mishaps that had occurred that day.
Shaking her head, her pig tails twisting, Abby simply patted CJ's shoulder before they both attacked the evidence together.
There were a few days before Christmas itself once break began and CJ along with Steven spent the time relaxing. No school work, no college applications, no need to worry about the world outside the window. For years these two kids had been friends and for years they had always hung out at CJ's house. Looking back neither could state why that tradition had begun but it was something that was just a given. But over the past few months they had spent more and more time at Steven's place. Now this they could easily articulate that reason. Steven's house was often empty; his mother kept a very regular schedule and his house had an alarm system so when someone opened any of the outside doors there was a beep. This allowed for uninterrupted privacy and notification when that privacy was compromised.
On the eve of Christmas eve Mrs. Arnott was out visiting friends and her husband was working late as usual. That left 2 teens in the basement alone with each other. They had recently taken to laying blankets on the floor to watch movies as the ancient settee was very uncomfortable and they both didn't easily fit on it together.
With 'Miracle on 34th Street' playing in the DVD player CJ and Steven were laying on their stomachs heads propped up with their hands, elbows on the ground. The lights were off and their faces were only illuminated by the tv screen.
Every few minutes Steven would tip towards CJ and kiss her face or head, whatever was closest at the time. CJ would smile and gently bat him way saying "I'm watching a movie here" pointing to the screen. On one such occasion Steven gently knocked her with his arm and she tipped over rolling onto her side. He moved in closer so that they were now chest to chest each with their head cradled in their bent arm. With his free arm he pulled her body closer and leaning into her kissed her full on the mouth. Giggling CJ ran her fingers through his hair and then left her hand resting on his cheek. His arm draped across her hip he kissed her again.
Slowly their hands began to explore the body laying in front of them. Touching each other with a tenderness not sensed in many teen romances. With the weight of his own body Steven carefully guided CJ onto her back and he gently laid across her the majority of his own bulk resting on his one knee and forearms laid on either side of her head. While he kissed every inch of her face affectionately CJ hooked both of her hands under the back of his shirt and caringly pulled it up towards his shoulders. He paused his affections long enough to assist her with the removal of his T but quickly returned to placing a kiss on every inch of his girlfriends face.
As CJ caressed his now bare back he nibbled on her ear lobe causing goose bumps to erupt all over her arms. CJ shivered involuntarily at her body's own response. His kisses descended to the crook of her neck and her body pushed upwards meeting his, her head tipped backwards inviting the kisses. Steven's right hand stealthily slid up the back of CJ's shirt as her back was arched and the two shifted to and fro to liberate her from it.
His kisses migrated from her neck down the center of her body coming to rest at the top of her jeans before heading back up to her ear and then across to his waiting lips. CJ's hands played with his hair and then danced across his back coming to rest on his ass. Curving them around the front of his body, CJ fumbled slightly with the button on his jeans before it finally let go. Her hands slid into the back of his pants so that her hands rested on his half exposed posterior.
Steven tried without success to undo CJ's jeans and while nibbling her ear once more he whispered "can you help me". His hot breath in her ear sent a shiver through her spine, causing her once again to arch her own body into his.
Her hands left their station and she slowly undid her own button and fly leaving everything in place she caressed his back and once again ran her fingers through his dark hair.
Days later when CJ was running the scene through her head she still couldn't recall the 'ding' of the backdoor opening, or the footsteps across the kitchen floor. But the basement door being pulled open and the footsteps on the stairs rang loud and clear in her ears. As did the "Steven, are you home?" and the "What in heaven's name?" that Commander Arnott's gasped as he flicked on the light and entered to the room to find 2 half naked teens on the floor.
CJ could easily picture the back of the Commander's uniform as he stormed back up the stairs without another word.