AN
Hey guys! sorry about the long wait. Like i said i've been having some drama problem and its still goin on so i couldn't update as fast as i'd like. I actually just finished writing this chapter not even 5 mins ago. it's pretty long and i hope you guys like it. let me know what you think eh?
FoF
areader97 - Hey! i'm glad u like this story. let me know what you think about this next chapter. lol.
lalalalee - yes, girl r definelty ridiculous. lol but i love 'em. hehe
wannabebo352 - lol aiden's a douche... but hey he's not on the next chapter. YAY!
Corker42 - I'm glad you like this story! the books name is Other Girls, by Diane Ayres.
Chapter 7
One afternoon, Spencer became so aggravated by the Nerves of Steel event in Ashley's tutorial that she toppled the device, accidentally, during a rare display of explosive temper. She had a long fuse, she explained with effusive apologies, but when she reached the end of it-- well run for your lives. Carmen remained calm throughout. She was after all, on the job.
Spencer blamed her own hypersensivity on claustrophobia here in the cube, which Carmen then duly noted on her clipboard.
"Closet-phobia. Hm. Ok. How do you spell that?"
You had to love her. Like a sister, which spencer did, quite literally, because her younger sister, Z, also had a wide-eyed way with words.
"Boy, you are like, just really giving off a lot of negative vibes right now, Spencer. You should eat more yogurt."
"I don't eat any yogurt. I hate yogurt."
"Well you gotta do something to get read of those babe vibes, man."
"Babe vibes?"
"Huh?"
"You said babe vibes."
"I did? Oh, I meant bad vibes. Oh my god, is that like one of those things?"
"A Freudian slip?"
"Yeh."
"I dunno. I think you better save that question for Ashley. And that's f-r-e-u-d-I-a-n," she added because she knew that would be the next question Carmen asked.
"Well you gotta do something to get read of those vibes man. Like how about exercise? What do you do for your workout?"
"My workout? What's a workout?"
"Exercise, dumb bunny. Where did you come from anyway? Outer space?"
"You guessed it."
"You always do that, how come?"
"Do what?"
"Teasing, like jokin around about everything."
"I dunno Carmen, maybe you should jot that down."
"See? See what I mean? you just did it again."
Carmen was on to something. Her open-faced and genuine concern made Spencer strangely compelled to spill her craw.
"I'm serious here, little sister. I'm older ok? And I'm a model you know. So I know things."
"Carmen, you're a year older than me."
"Exactly. So I'm just warning you. If you don't take good care of your body right now… like today, don't come cryin to me when you're like thirty and your boobs are down to here."
"I understand and will obey. I read a lot of big books. Does that count as exercise?"
"Huh?"
"Big? Heavy? Carrying? Lifting? Like up and down on shelves?"
"Ohhh, ok… like pumpin iron?"
"Yes Carmen, its exactly like pumping iron."
"And that's how you got like muscles in your legs too huh? Pretty amazing."
"No, none of the above. I'm telling you; the only exercise I ever get these days is from faking orgasms. Really incredible orgasms too. And it's quite a workout."
Carmen actually got that one. "I never did that," she said.
"You never faked an orgasm?"
"Nope."
"Wait a second here. Are you saying that you always have an orgasm when you have sex with somebody?"
"Oh no, no way. Is that what you thought? Are you kidding? I never ever have orgasm with a guy. Ugh. And a lot of girls aren't great either, but at least you can make 'em get better. You can like show 'em you know? And they don't go all limp on yah like totally useless… but I never fake it. Uh uh. No way. I got no problem telling 'em they cant do it for shit."
"And how do they react?"
"Ah, you know guys, they always wanna go out again. Yeah you know right. You can kick 'em in the teeth and they keep coming back."
"Yes. Well…"
"Are you surprised I dated a guy? Me too. But thank god for Ashley. That woman saved me from those jag-offs. First time she kissed me? Wow, it was like… whoa you know? Nobody is ever gonna kiss you like Ashley. Ask anybody."
"Really Carmen? Anybody?" Apparently Ashley was a popular guest for spin-the-bottle.
"Yeah. But anyways, you know what you need? You need to work off that negativity. Come to fencing practice with me."
This was an invitation that Carmen extended every week. But today, for some reason Spencer accepted.
Carmen and Spencer ran towards the House. Onward and downward, Spencer was breathless from cigarettes because Carmen insisted on showing her a "secret" shortcut. Leaving all of civilization behind, they stepped off a lovely landscaped sidewalk into the wilds, straight up the Cliffside bolstered by boulders the size of truck, obscured by the overgrowth of moss and weeds, an impressive variety of ivy, and probably rattlesnakes indigenous to the area.
Carmen scolded spencer for being so out of shape all the way up and into the house, then the staircase and into the master bedroom. Spencer collapsed into the nearest chair, while Carmen disappeared into the closet .
Spencer was not so much snooping as taking a little stroll about the big room with the high ceiling.
"Girlie" was the word that came to mind when she found herself standing at Ashley's dresser, surprised that her personal effects were pretty typical girl stuff.
When Carmen followed, she found Spencer studying one of several photographs Ashley had of several handsome man.
"Ashley's brothers," Carmen said.
"She has four brothers?"
"Yep. The best part is she's the baby."
"Ashley has four older brothers?"
"Yep. How spoiled is that huh?"
"She doesn't strike me as a spoiled."
Carmen did a dry spit take.
They stopped by Spencer's room to pick up her white tennis shoes, T-shirt, and whatever stuff she had that was suitable for swordplay. Carmen caught a glimpse of Spencer's "wet bar".
"Whoa look at that. Cocktails. Party!"
"Guys, they come bearing gifts of drunkenness."
"Can I have some?"
"I dunno carmen…. isn't there a warning on the label about operating heavy machinery and swords?"
"Not swords remember? They're called foils."
"I wont get drunk. Come on, don't be such a bore some."
"Hey be my guest."
Two and a half of strong liquor later, Carmen was spilling her craw about her girl trouble.
"I love her so much. And she won't even try. Can't commit. Nope. Sorry. Wants to be with other women. Can't live with me. I'm not smart enough for her. Won't take me out. Doesn't wanna be seen with me. It's just killing her right now you know cuz everybody knows about me. She hates that. She wanted me to be a secret."
Somehow that one statement seemed hard to believe, though Spencer had no idea why. She was getting a different take on Ashley.
"I tell her I love her and she just pushes me away… yeah, right. She doesn't push me away when she needs to get laid. Then it's all oo baby baby baby can't get enough of me… whoa man. I mean wow, you just have no idea." Big sigh. Bigger swig. "You're lucky you don't like woman. They're way worse than guys, I mean they will eat you out alive."
"I dunno, carmen, I don't…"
"That's right little sister." Carmen was looking back at her right now pursing her lips on the bottle for one more swig. "You do not know. You have no fucking idea."
At the gym, Carmen led Spencer into the equipment room, where not only did they find a jacket that fit her but breeches too.
"Hello Carlin."
Spencer was surprised to see Ashley. Ashley turned to Carmen and asked where she has been. She sounded kind of pissed. Maybe even jealous.
"We were just hanging around, me and my little sister here. Talking, like some pretty heavy shit too right little sister?"
"Uh, yeah."
"You know, Ashley, like a deep conversation? With like topics?"
Staredown.
Carmen was pleased with herself for securing Ashley's complete attention. In fact, Ashley's unblinking regard was unnerving as she said: "You're doctor called. You missed your appointment."
"Oh shit!" she cried, "Shit. I forgot. Shit. Daddy's gonna be so pissed."
Her psychiatrist charged for no-shows, and reported any absenteeism to her father, who happened to be his golfing buddy. As Carmen yammered on about the doctor, Ashley redirected her attention to Spencer, asking her if she had ever fenced.
"No."
"Shut up."
She stood up, yes, ma'am. Ashley looked her up and down, supremely amused or something, she was chuckling either way. "You wear the whites well."
"Thank you," and because Ashley was still scrutinizing, she asked, "What?"
"Why did I think you were taller?"
Spencer directed Ashley's eyes downward to consider her lowly white leather tennis shows.
"Flat. Actual size. Does it matter?"
"Not at all. The smaller the target, the harder it is to hit. And, if you also happen to be fast, then being petite is an advantage. In fact, I have never lost so badly as I did to a woman who was about your size."
Ashley extended her open palm, asking for Spencer's hand. It wasn't until she had it nested in her own that she seemed to realize she was still wearing her leather glove on her other hand.
"First rule," she said, putting her fingertips to her mouth for the purpose of removing the glove with her teeth and then just letting it drop to the mat:
"Don't do that."
Spencer seemed entranced by the gesture but she was really scrutinizing Ashley's sensuous lips remembering what Carmen had said about her kiss. She was roused from the reverie when Ashley traced lightly up and down her thumb and forefinger causing a tremor along Spencer's fault line.
"Manipulators," Ashley said, "These digits are called manipulators."
"Uh-huh."
Then Ashley touched the other three fingers. "These ones are Aids."
"Will you name my toes, too?"
Ashley smirked, rolling her eyes, and then turned to Carmen, commanding her to assume the position, lower her mask and help her demonstrate the basics. She was surprised to see her stagger.
"Have you been drinking?"
"Who are you? My mother?"
Ashley sighed heavily, lowering her foil to indicate she would not proceed with Carmen in this condition.
Unmasked, Carmen was mopey. She shuffled away, headed for the water fountain. Ashley looked after her for a moment, as if she might follow, but returned instead to Spencer, who braced herself, expecting some sort of reprimand.
"Cocktails before dinner?"
"Not I."
"She can't drink, she's on medication."
Although Spencer perceived a certain underlying hostility in Ashley's tone, she couldn't tell to whom it was directed.
"You seem fairly… flexible carlin. This shouldn't be too difficult for you. Here," Ashley said, sidling up to her fencer's poise, back foot at a habitual right angle, "this is how we stand." Spencer noted Ashley's use of the royal We. Ashley assumed the position and Spencer attempted to mirror it. Ashley raised her foil. Spencer raised her foil. But she could not get the grip right.
"Fingers up," Ashley said. "Here…"
She stepped behind her, placed her hands on Spencer's shoulders and turned her.
"Real rule number one. Fence forward. Never sideways like you see in the movies."
"Fence forward," Spencer repeated the rule obediently like a good little dink.
"I fence left so I'll have to… reach across, if you'll pardon me…"
"Ah, yeah sure."
Spencer tried to be a pliable doll but she was not accustomed to being handled by a woman.
"See, it should be like this."
Because Ashley was half a foot taller, Spencer felt challenged to outreach her grasp. The formidable senior cupped her steady hand, still ungloved, over the frosh's tremulous one, enclosing her fingers around the foil grip firmly before twisting her wrist ever so slightly thumbs up.
"It feels awkward at first."
"Yeah well…"
"but it becomes second nature."
"Uh-huh."
Ashley sniffed, curiously; "Your perfume… do you wear romance blue?"
"Uh…. Yeah."
Ashley turned spencer effortlessly toward the mirrored wall so she could see for herself the proper form. Ashley proceeded to demonstrate the most basic moves in very slow motion. Spencer caught on quickly. All the while, she was aware that Carmen was keeping a petulantly watchful eye on them. When Spencer chanced a glance in Carmen's direction one more time, she found the tip of Ashley's foil at her breast, but held her ground, feeling the pressure of the boil against her heard, despite the padding.
"See how the blade bends about five or six inches? That's how deeply it would penetrate your flesh."
She looked down at her breast.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent Carlin."
"Yeah well, I'll try to remember that Captain Blood."
*****
Spencer automatically followed Ashley into the locker room where they passed Carmen on her way to the shower. The way she glowered at Ashley made Spencer feel politely obliged to step aside, allowing them of private conversation. But even though Spencer found her new locker far away, she couldn't help but overhear:
"Look I'm sorry about that Baby C, but I'm not fencing with you if you're drunk. You could get hurt."
"You mean worse than this? I don't think so."
"You shouldn't be drinking."
"Fuck you. Who are you? My mother?" Carmen stalked of to the shower, tossing her towel over a hook outside the entranceway, shaking her ass as she always did when she was in high dudgeon.
Ashley's appearance around the corner startle Spencer, who felt more naked than she actually is.
Impact noted in Ashley's wan smirk as Spencer reached for a towel and wrapped it around her torso. Ashley regarded her for a second, absently unbuttoning her fencing jacket from the high line on the right down the inside line, exposing a white cotton t-shirt underneath, which she peeled off unabashedly.
Spencer was intent on averting her eyes as she headed for the showers, feeling so self-conscious, thinking: if Ashley and Carmen were attracted to women, then this was no different from being naked in a locker room with naked guys.
Ashley was used to awkward reactions from straight women and smiled to herself, sauntering into the shower.
Carmen was in the conditioning phase of her daily hair care ritual, chattering to Spencer about which shampoo and rinse she preferred and why. Ashley chose a showerhead on the opposite wall and turned her back on them both. Carmen got soap in her and cursed, rinsing frantically soliciting assistance, but neither Ashley nor Spencer would indulge her. Unable to milk her crises any longer, Carmen fell silent and sulked, soaping her breasts. The weird sensuality of the misty scene proved too much for Spencer. She was out of there and dressed in record time.
Passing the showers on her way to the door, she overheard Carmen speaking sharply to Ashley: "You're unbelievable man. You're, like, what? Jealous now? You're actually jealous, aren't you? Un-fucking-believable."
That night Spencer was awakened by the sound of Ashley's car pulling into the parking lot behind the house. It was 2:20. On a school night. Even half-conscious, Spencer found herself entertain by the prospect of Ashley getting grounded. After a couple of minutes, She dropped back, closed her eyes, and drifted off.
She was aroused again soon after by the sound of Carmen's rage.
"How can you do this to me, Ashley? What don't I do for you? I would do anything for you. Anything you want. And you go out cruising like I don't even exist? Damn you. Why do you have to have other girls? What do they do for you that I can't do? Huh? Tell me. Say something god damn it. You're fucking heartless."
Whoa.
Spencer was having second thoughts about entering into this situation. Ashley wasn't saying anything. She was packing a little duffel bag calmly until Carmen pounced, clawing at her so ferociously, she ripped the breast pocket from her shirt. Ashley was pushing her away when she noticed Spencer at the window. Ashley broke her own rule never to take her eyes off her opponent and got cold-cocked as a consequence.
Carmen slapped Ashley so hard she split her pretty lip. All three of them were stunned. It was Carmen, however, who broke. Sobbing, she threw herself at Ashley's feet, begging for forgiveness.
At the first sign of peace and quiet, Spencer, who already had Ashley's attention also managed to get Carmen's.
"Ah excuse me? Carmen? Hey Carmen? Over here…"
"Oh," said Carmen, snuffling and sniffling, "Hey Spencer…"
She seemed more relieved than surprise to see her, and they both watched her like a couple of kids waiting for direction. Ashley with her fingertips on her bloodied lip and Carmen hiccupping pitifully.
"May I?" Spencer asked, requesting permission to enter, and they nodded in unison.
"You don't mind if I watch do you? I mean, I'm wide awake now.:
"Oh man, I'm really really sorry Spencer," Carmen sniveled.
Standing at a porcelain sink with brass fixtures, Ashley took off her shirt and leaned over the sink to splash cold water on her face. There were fresh scratches on her back. It wasn't until she turned and reached a towel, that she realized she was being observed in the mirror. Her eyes met Spencer's there. Ashley picked up her duffle and an armful of books, looking over at Carmen lying on the bed despondent, she said: "You know where I'll be."
"Go to hell."
Ashley's pained expression indicated that she was already there. Then she turned to Spencer. "I apologize, for keeping you up , Carlin."
"Yeah well… don't worry about it Ashley. I'm a speed freak."
"I hope you're kidding."
"I'm always kidding."
"It's true," said Carmen across from the room.
After Ashley left, Carmen resumed her mewling and puling, making it difficult for Spencer to leave.
"But I love her so much…"
"You hit her."
"Didn't you ever love a guy, like so much , you want to just, like, kill him for being with somebody else?"
"Honestly? No. But I had a boyfriend who felt that way about me. He wouldn't let me break up with him. He followed me around town, every party, every date. If he couldn't find me, he would lurk in my yard, in the dark, waiting for me to get home. He screamed and shoved and grabbed and punched and cried and trashed things."
"Well that's not good."
"No, it's not. But he said he did this because he loved me. He loved me so much, he said, he could just kill me for being with someone else. He broke my ribs, he shoved me downstairs, on two separate occasions.:
"Wow."
"He thought this would make me love him. Do you think I loved him for this?"
Carmen shook her head.
"Do you think you can slap Ashley into loving you?"
"Are you saying, like, you don't think she loves me?"
Spencer sighed. Carmen sobbed.
"Aww come one Carm, you deserve a lot better than this, and you'll have it too. I know you will. Someone who loves you as much as you love her."
Carmen threw herself upon Spencer, needing her shoulder to cry on, but Spencer had never been comfortable comforting anyone like this. She gave Carmen a couple of mechanical back pats, saying "There, there," and then set her off to the side. But Carmen came back for more, clutching at Spencer each time she attempted to pull away gracefully.
"Ah Carmen?"
"Hmm?"
"What are you doing?"
She was nuzzling her neck.
"I have to sleep now," she said robotically, "or I will die. Sorry Carmen. Gotta go. Sleep or die."
But after she stepped through the window, she paused, momentarily framed there.
"Say, uh… Carm?"
"Yeah?"
"Where did she go anyway? At three o'clock in the morning?"
Carmen crawled into bed, pulling the covers up over her head mumbling, "I dunno."
"Then how come she said that you would know where she'd be?"
"I dunno, please don't ask me that, ok."
"I only meant…"
But what had she meant? She stood there a moment longer, watching as Carmen reached for her lamb named Lambikins, and turned out the bedside light. She returned to her own room with out saying another word.
