"Hols, it's me." Steve said as he threw another rock into the lake. He shook his head as it didn't skip like he wanted it to.
"I want to tell you but I don't know if I'm ready for you to know." Holly replied as she watched her rock skip three times and sink. Turning to Steve who was pouting now.
"It's unfair how good you are at this, I have no chance of winning."
"You only find it unfair because you suck." She stuck her tongue out and he pushed her shoulder. Which set her off balance and Holly went tumbling into the water.
"Steve" Holly yelled when she caught her breath. The blonde bent over laughing. "You have to the count of three to jump in before I make you." Holly warned as she trended water.
Steve didn't move, "you're all talk Stewart."
"One." She spoke firmly.
"Two."
He raised his eyebrows and lost his smile as he noticed her seriousness.
"Three." She yelled and swam towards the dock. But before she started the climb there was a huge slash beside her and then Steve was pulling her under.
Swimming back to the top she splashed the blonde, "you are such an ass."
"A fine ass." He gleamed and rubbed his eyes
"Case and point."
"If you had such a problem with it you'd have left a long time ago." Steve winked and started to swim away from the dock. Holly was pushed in while still wearing her shirt so she pealed it off and threw it onto the dock with a loud thump. Then she heard a whistle.
"I admire your bravery Nerd, people usually wait until dark to skinny dip." Came a very familiar voice from atop the dock, she was out of view but Holly knew who it was.
"You wish I was." Holly said and shifted to float on her back, bathing in the heat from the sun. When she opened her eyes again she saw a certain long haired blonde sitting on the the edge of the dock, dipping her toes in the water and starring intently at her. Holly smiled when Gail blushed and looked to the sky, averting her longing stare.
"Going to join sis or are you just going to stare?" Steve yelled from the middle of the lake.
"I'm good here." She yelled back.
As time went on, Holly and Steve playing in the water, racing, breath hold contests, swimming around, Gail just watched. Surprised really that she hadn't been pulled in, yet. She decided to sun bathe, maybe add a little colour to her pale white complexion. So she laid out Holly's towel and took off her clothes, revealing her new bathing suit.
Holly tried not to stare, she tried to stop the heat that ran through her, tried to stop her wandering thoughts but it was of no use. She dunked her head under the water to try and clear her mind but when she came back up for air the blonde haired girl was applying sunblock.
Gail caught her stare and smirked. Holly could feel her face flush as her ears began to burn.
"Hey nerd could you get my back? I can't reach." Gail asked holding up the bottle of sunscreen.
"Uh. Yeah. S-sure."
Holly swam to the dock and pulled herself up, Gail licked her lips. She took a second to dry her face and hands on Steve's towel. Gail laid down, closing her eyes. Don't check her out and don't be a creep, she's your best friends sister. She's innocently asked for help nothing more. Be cool and don't be a creep. Holly picked up the cool bottle and squeezed some of the lotion into her hand. Looking back to Gail she swallowed. She bend down to her knees and started to rub the sunblock into Gail's back, her very soft back.
A pale hand reached back and undid the string, "tan lines right?" Gail smirked.
Holly looked up, sending a prayer to any god listening. Her mouth was dry and she could feel her palms starting to clam up so she stood.
"All done." She managed to say before diving back into the water. She needed to cool off, and not just because of the summer air.
The rest of the day was spent at the lake, in and out of the water until after sunset when they walked back to the house. Gail went to bed early so Holly and Steve decided to hang out on the deck with a couple of beers.
"You have no chance with her." Holly laughed.
"Have you seen me? Of course I have a chance." Steve said gesturing over his body. That only brought on a new round of laughter from the brunette.
"Yes I've seen you but you still have no chance. She's been with Derek since the beginning of time, there's no way she'd throw it all away for a fling with you. Even if you are hot."
Steve held a hand over his heart, "I can die having lived a full life. Holly Stewart called me hot."
She hit his arm causing him to spill a bit of beer onto the hardwood. "Oh shut it Peck."
"Make me."
"This is how kissing begins in movies, no thank you." Holly held her hands up.
"I would have to agree on that. No offence." Steve replied with a chuckle.
Holly smiled, "absolutely none taken."
They fell silent, looking at the starlit sky. Holly was in awe, she had never seen so many stars in her life.
"Holly, I know you said you might not be ready to tell me but I just want you to know that nothing you tell me will change anything." Steve said low, not looking away from the night sky. "Unless you killed someone, I might have to turn you in. But on the other hand, no. I'd be happy to help expose of a body for you."
Holly laughed, the alcohol must be kicking in real nice for her friend. After the joke settled she replied seriously.
"I know but once I tell you it'll be real." She almost whispered.
"I understand."
"I feel really bad about it though and kinda want to talk about it but it'd be weird. You know?" Holly gushes as her thoughts raced.
Steve smiled and turned to her, "no I don't know."
Holly's face scrunched up in frustration.
"Well I'm going to go to bed and let you huff this out in pease. Goodnight Hols."
"Night Steve. Remember to grab some water to counteract the alcohol."
When the blonde was out of ear shot she groaned. Loudly. Why was this happening to her? She was a good person right? So what did she do to deserve this!?
"Why?" Holly groaned to the sky, dragging out the syllable.
Holly was the first one up, -or so she thought- and decided to be nice and make breakfast. Eggs, bacon and toast for herself and Steve and waffles and bacon for Gail.
She took a tray into Steve's room to find the bed empty, guess he's out. Looking at the time -10 am- she thought if she should wake the blonde haired girl. On one hand it was too early and Gail would have her head if woken before noon, on the other hand it's for food and it's not terribly early.
Slowly opening the door Holly tip toed into the room, with a quick glance she took in it's inhabitants.
Gail looked so peaceful. Her cheeks were rosie, her long blonde hair was all over the place and she was cuddled up with a pillow. Gail looked like a sleeping toddler. A very adorable, very beautiful toddler. This is the kind of thing creeps do Holly. With a shake of her head Holly placed the tray on Gail's night stand and walked out.
She was in the middle of doing dishes when she felt someone press their body against hers. As pale arms wrapped around her midsection it clicked that the hugger was Gail and she froze. The blonde laid her head on Holly's shoulder with her nose buried in her hair.
"Thank you for the food, it was very tasty." Gail's voice was small, still laced with sleep.
"You're welcome." Holly mumbled. Gail took one last breath before letting go and taking place beside the brunette to dry and put away the dishes.
Steve came in the door as Gail put away the last dish.
"Is that my sister putting away dishes? Moms never going to believe it." He teased. Gail glared daggers at him.
"I made you breakfast but you were out so it's cold." Holly gestured to the plate on the counter. Gail hadn't noticed the plate earlier or else she would have taken the bacon.
The blue eyed girl smiled, "she made me breakfast too."
Steve's brows furrowed. "You look happy that she made you eggs. Have you changed your mind about them or something?"
Her smile grew, "god no. Holly made me waffles." She said fondly.
Holly's cheeks grew hot at the sound of Gail saying her name. She loved the nicknames -Gail only gave nicknames to things she really liked- but there was something about the way the blonde said her name.
"I missed out on the famous Stewart waffles?" Steve exclaimed. Gail nodded excitedly.
During the many hours of video games Steve noticed the looks the girls shared, he had caught the stares before but never this many. The two flirted all the time, for years even, so at first he didn't think anything of it. But lately it felt different. Like it wasn't playful when they flirted anymore, there was meaning behind it. So when Holly announced she was going for a walk or something of the sorts he jumped at the opportunity to be along with her. Knowing Gail would never volunteer to do such a thing.
The walk turned into more of a hike, the two friends got lost in time as they joked and talked about nothing in particular. It fell into a comfortable silence as they took in the view of the lake and forestry.
"Is it Gail?" Steve asked and took a drink of his water. Holly's eyes got big and her breath caught in her throat. How did he know?
He chuckled, "future detective. I'm not blind or stupid."
Holly turned to face him, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Steve asked confused.
"For liking your sister, it makes things weird." she explained looking away, unable to keep eye contact.
"It doesn't make things weird, Hols. I'm not upset. I've actually been waiting for over a year now for you two to realize this, the long lustful looks and flirting is getting ridiculously out of hand. Especially as of late."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Steve smiled, "I'm talking about things like the sunscreen and Gail doing dishes, the batting lesson, you playing video games. But most of all, the stares. Good god do you two need a room." Realizing what he had just said his face scrunched up, making Holly laugh.
"Well it's never going to happen so you don't have to vomit at the thought Detective." Holly started back down the path they had just come up from. The sun was starting to set so if they started back now they would probably make it back to the house before dark. Steve took one last long look at the view and then ran to catch up with the brunette.
"I think you need to get your eyes checked again, you obviously are blind and need a new prescription."
Holly laughed.
Arriving at the house Steve suddenly remembered he had to go for the night, something about a date. Holly didn't buy it but there wasn't anything she could do. She was going to be alone with Gail for who knew how long into the next day.
Gail stayed in the living room, lounging on the couch and playing video games as Holly cooked. She probably hadn't moved since she first sat down that morning. Every time Holly glanced at the blonde she noticed her watching her cook.
Holly made the two of them plates and was about to tell Gail when she noticed her already on her way.
"Do you want to watch something while we eat?" Gail asked walking into the kitchen.
"Sure, what're you thinking?"
She thought for a moment, "I don't really care. You choose."
Holly started flipping through channels and had settled with a random movie when Gail sat down beside her. Close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off of her. Normally she wouldn't have thought anything of it, -maybe just hopes- but now that Steve had planted the thought she was hyper aware of the blonde and what she did.
Holly could feel her gaze and tried to ignore it. She was doing well until Gail brought her hand up to Holly's jaw and swiped her thumb across her tan cheek. She could feel her them redden and hoped Gail didn't notice the shiver that ran through her.
"You had something." She whispered, her hand still holding Holly's jaw. An explosion sounded from the tv causing the blonde to jump and retract her hand.
They watched with few comments. During a commercial Gail got up and grabbed them a few beers and a bag of popcorn. The movie Holly chose was kinda cheesy and very predictable but it was entertaining enough. It was something she could do and just shut down for a while.
"Is it because I'm Steve's sister?" Gail asked out of the blue.
Holly turned her head, Gail seemed deep in thought.
"Is what because you're Steve's sister?"
"Is that why it'll never happen? Because it'd be too weird for you?" She looked at her hands as she began to play with the rip in her shorts.
"You aren't making much sense, Gail. You have to fill me in on the first half of the conversation as I'm pretty sure it was in your head." Holly tried to lighten the air but to no effect. The blonde only grew more nervous now that she had to actually say the words.
"Steve pocket dialled me when you guys were on your hike. I didn't hear much, just a little bit. Particularly the part about needing a room and never gonna happen" she drifted off at the end.
"Oh." Was all Holly could say. Fuck she thought to herself, this was exactly what she was hoping would never happen. Things would never be the same, Gail was going to be weirded out and they wouldn't be able to be in the same room together.
"I'm sorry for ease dropping. I couldn't help myself."
Holly waved her off, "it's fine. I would have done the same thing."
There was a minute of silence before Gail spoke up, asking the question again. "So is it because of Steve or?"
Holly took a deep breath. Screw it.
"He said he's ok, so no. It's not because of Steve. I said that because you and I are friends and I don't want things to be weird, which is now thrown out the window seeing as you know. I don't want things to change, I'm fine and this'll blow over and it's cool. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or anyth-"
Holly was speaking a mile a minute and she really needed to stop so Gail did the only thing she could think of. She kissed her. Which was something she'd imagined happening in many ways but this was not one, not that she'd complain. Gail had finally felt the lips she'd been dreaming of for years against her own. It wasn't long, barely more then three seconds but it sent fireworks through her entire being. Making her heart race faster then it'd ever gone and her lips burned in delight.
Finally opening her eyes Gail was met with a lopsided smile.
"You kisses me." Holly grinned.
"That I did." Gail met the brunette's smile. "You needed to stop talking."
"I'm glad you stopped me." Holly's eye had a new light in them, something Gail couldn't quite place but it seemed like a good thing.
"So I know you said never but-"
It was Holly's turn to interrupt with a kiss so she pulled Gail by her shirt and leaned in. It started out soft, exploring and learning the others lips. Gail brought her hand up to cup Holly's cheek, brushing her thumb over the soft skin. She parted her lips, giving Holly access. Gail moaned as Holly's tongue explored her mouth and her hand tangled in the long blonde hair. Needing air Gail decided to pull away and kiss down the brunette's neck, making a path down to her exposed shoulder. She sucked on her pulse point which elicited a moan from Holly and a tug to her hair. Gail smiled and moved back up to meet brown eyes, which were darker then usual and glossed over with arousal.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes it's a yes." Holly giggled.