Author's Warning: I might be in an evil mood today. Pam and Jan both said I could post unfinished stories and isolated chapters. Instead, here's the next chapter to A Simple Beginning. I promise even at 654 words, this is a full chapter, and will advance the story a TON. All kinds of romantic interaction between our newlyweds. I promise.
Did I mention I might be in an evil, sarcastic mood?
I am trying. I've just been really busy. I have so many unfinished stories I want to post, but I don't like posting unfinished stories. It's so hard to finish things sometimes! I did finish a challenge story Diana tossed out to our Facebook group. That should be out next month.
Oh…now we have two facebook groups. New World Zorro Fanfiction you can search and find us, but it's now rated PG-13. The mature group is secret and by invite only, so contact me or Pam if you want to join. You have to join the first group first. We have lots of fun. Diana is also working on a website for me.
Back to Simple Beginning. We left Diego and Victoria at the tailor's, and they had plans to go swimming. Really this is just a bridge, doesn't say much. I'm trying to finish the entire story. I have over 30,000 more words written. It's hard. I care about this story, want you guys to like it, and I'm trying to make sure it's right before I post more. It will still be a slow build, cause that was my plan. I also have to decide what the rating of the next chapter is, cause I think I'll have to change the rating with the next scene. Teen version here, MA version on my LJ only. And as I said, I have more stories in the works.
Thanks to those who review and keep me writing, and to my friends in the FB Group. Also to Marla, who beta'd this scene months ago. It's her fault it's so short. (And so much better.)
zzz
Victoria peeked out a window at Diego, who was waiting for her on the beach. He bounced on his feet and dug his toes into the sand. She was excited, too, but she was still hiding in the kitchen.
He wore pants cut off at the knees, and a shirt cut off at the elbows. He obviously didn't feel exposed at all. She leaned closer, but she couldn't see his feet. She blushed and stepped back when she realized she was looking rather too closely at his body.
Her hands tightened on the blanket she had wrapped around herself and she turned around to face the kitchen. Opening the blanket, she looked down at her pants…too big in the waist, but tight around her hips. She pointed a toe out. Were her legs pretty? Would Diego think she looked ugly in a man's clothes?
"You're not gone yet?" Rebecca asked as she came into the kitchen.
Victoria rushed to cover herself again. Rebecca shook her head as she approached Victoria. "Let me see."
Victoria's hands tightened on the blanket, but slowly she opened her arms and let the blanket fall behind her. She twisted and turned her legs to look at the ugly brown pants as Rebecca walked closer to kneel in front of her.
"What do you think?" Victoria asked.
Before Victoria could stop her, Rebecca had taken scissors and made a giant cut above the knee of her pants. Victoria stepped back. "No! Why would you do that!?"
Rebecca patiently sat back on her heels and motioned Victoria forward again, waving the scissors in one hand. When Victoria only stepped further away, she glanced up at Victoria's face.
"Why would you ruin my pants? You said it was normal for women to wear pants in the water!"
Rebecca shrugged. "Short pants. Come here. If you wear pants down to your knees you will still be perfectly decent."
"What?"
Rebecca laughed at her horrified expression. "Shorter pants will be more comfortable. Victoria, come here. You trust me, don't you?"
Victoria's hair swung back and forth as she shook her head.
Rebecca scooted forward on her knees until she cornered Victoria. She patiently went about cutting Victoria's pants into shorts, then stood to put everything on the counter. Rebecca took Victoria's shoulders and met her wide eyes.
"So you're a little skittish, am I right?" Victoria stared at her blankly. "You seem to be afraid of Diego," Rebecca clarified.
Victoria ducked her head then forced herself to look at Rebecca again. "No. He's been nothing but kind to me."
"But as a man, he still scares you," Rebecca cupped Victoria's cheek and slowly lifted her chin. "Can I give you some advice?"
Victoria resettled the blanket around herself so she was hidden again, and protected from whatever else Rebecca wanted to say or do. She nodded.
"You are still well covered. So you're not in an ankle length dress. Your body is covered, right? All the scary bits?" Rebecca grinned encouragingly.
Eventually, Victoria nodded slightly.
"So let him look. What harm can it do?"
Rebecca stepped back and held out her own arms. "He's seen your arms." Rebecca lifted her skirts. "He hasn't seen your legs, but you haven't seen his legs before, either, have you?"
Victoria glanced up at the window where she'd risen on tiptoes to try to get a better look.
Rebecca grinned. "Ah…you were looking, weren't you?" Rebecca nodded when Victoria stammered. Rebecca stepped forward and straightened Victoria's hair. "He's just as curious about you as you are about him. Men are more forward about what they want, but trust me, honey, women enjoy it just as much as the men. Tell him what he can and cannot do. It's that simple."
Rebecca turned Victoria around and started pushing her toward the door. "And have fun," she advised before she shoved Victoria out the door and slammed it behind her.
Zzz
Author's Note 2: so yeah, they have a long afternoon ahead of them at the beach. I'm sure it will be very boring 3:-). I just wanted to say hi and happy new year. It's been so long since I posted. Trying to get some stuff ready for you guys. Wish me luck. If you're not too angry about the short chapter, you could post a review. Not much to review, but … well …