Title: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - The First Noel

Author: Carla

Email: cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

Part Five

Week Four: Thursday 6:10 PM

"Nic"

"Carmen"

"How'd your Pre-Calc test go?"

"Alright I guess, probably should have studied more"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept you out so late"

"Don't be sorry. I'm not. Truth is I don't ever really study the night before an exam. The way I see it, if I don't know the material by then, then cramming isn't going to work. Night before I go over my notes, a brief review and that's it. An hour tops."

"Oh no not me I am definitely the type that procrastinates then crams and stresses out big time."

"Enough about school…I'm starved what's for dinner?" Carmen grinned down at Nicole.

"Soups are Beef Barley and Cajun Chicken Chowder…" the waitress leaned down and whispered "Go with the chowder, you won't be disappointed"

"You haven't disappointed me yet"

"I try"

"To disappoint me?" the blonde teased "why would you want to do something like that?"

"Not that silly, I never want to do that" (( Did I just say that? Oh God, help me why don't I just put a sign on my back that says `KICK ME'. How could I be any more obvious? ))

"Really" one perfectly shaped eyebrow arched upward as Nicole smirked.

"Really, `cause if I do there goes my tip" with that the brunette flounced off as a pair of appreciative blue eyes watched.

"What are you doing after work?"

"Unpacking, home work … nothing special. What's up?"

"I was thinking…well you know I have my routines and all…and well part of that lately has been…" Nicole ducked her head down trying to hide the blush that was creeping up her face. "Me taking you home and well…I got you a plant as a housewarming gift."

"You did? That is so sweet thank you Nikki. You didn't have to though. Here…" Carmen held out a key to Nicole "why don't you take my very first housewarming gift upstairs. If you need to study you can do that upstairs it's quiet and all. Or you could just comeback down here. It's up to you…I mean assuming you don't have to go home or something."

(( Oh God I'm babbling. Shut up Carmen just shut up. Why don't I just throw myself down on the floor and start begging. I am such a loser))

"Okay I'll take Harold upstairs and…"

"Harold. You bought me a plant and named it `Harold'? Just what kind of plant is Harold"

"An African Violet"

"'Harold the African Violet. Just how did you come up with `Harold'?"

"He's the gardener that grew him from a clipping that my Nana gave me when I was a kid. He's pretty big too."

"Harold the plant or Harold the gardener?"

"Both but I was talking about the plant"

"Nicole?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you…for Harold and for last night"

"Your very welcome…thank you for trusting me like that. I know I don't deserve your trust or your confidence."

"Stop that."

"No, it's true"

"Stop it Nikki. Maybe it's true about School-Nicole but it most certainly is not true about the Nicole I know outside of school. I like Outside-of-School-Nicole very much."

"Uhm I…um I… I'll just take Harold upstairs now. Get him settled in."

"Nicole" Carmen called out to the smaller girl's retreating form "don't forget I get off at ten tonight"

"I know"

Carmen's Apartment – 10:00 PM

Two hours later there was still no sign of Nicole and Carmen was off of work.

((Well, her car is still in the parking lot so she must be upstairs))

She climbed the stairs slowly pushed open the door and looked around. Obviously Nicole had been busy. The small bookcase was filled with her books and videos all in alphabetical order. The cd racks had been set up; her cds too had been unpacked and alphabetized. Flattened empty boxes were neatly taped into one bundle and leaning against the wall by the door. Peeking behind the sheet she had hung to separate her sleeping alcove from the rest of the room she saw Nicole. The blonde was fast asleep a European history text book her pillow.

(( She is so beautiful. She looks angelic even. Sam, Lily no one would ever believe it without pictures as proof. She's such a bitch at school and so different away from it. She looks peaceful. I wonder how long she's been asleep, I hate to wake her but she probably needs to get home. ))

Carmen sat on the edge of the futon, reaching out she pushed blonde hair behind one perfect ear softly calling "Nicole, Nic wake up"

Nicole opened her eyes, yawned and stretched.

"Ohhh I must have fallen asleep…" yawn "what time is it?"

"Ten fifteen"

"I was supposed to pick you up" (( way to go Nicole, nothing says `hey I'm interested in you like' like falling asleep on someone's bed when you are supposed to be picking them up at work ))

"That's okay, it wasn't that long of a walk from work"

"I guess I should go huh?" Nicole sat up and started to slip her shoes on.

"Stay…that is if you want to…stay that is. I'd like it if you'd stay. I didn't sleep so well last night first time jitters I guess or something I don't know…just…please stay."

"Kinda scary huh?"

"Yeah, I thought I would be fine with it but…maybe `cause it was the first night I was here and by myself. There was always someone at my mom's, either her or Leo you know. Even when they weren't there they were there, you know what I mean?"

"Can I borrow a T-shirt?"

"Sure would you like Snoopy or Iron Maiden"

"Iron Maiden?"

"It was Leo's. Trust me I would not voluntarily spend my money on an Iron Maiden T-shirt"

"Snoopy you're much more `Valkyrie' than I am"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing…just that you know I always pictured the Valkyries as being these tall, taller than me at any rate, big strong beautiful women"

"I get it Nicole" Carmen turned so that her back was to Nicole.

"Do you?"

"Yeah I do I'm not stupid. What's the saying…'it any over `til the fat lady sings'"

"You didn't `get it' at all did you? Did you even hear the rest of what I said? Carmen, you are a wonderful person, a strong person maybe even the strongest person I know. Look at all the shit you took at home and you stood up for yourself and did what you needed to do. I couldn't do that. I couldn't stand up to my mother like you did to yours. I admire you so much for that. And for the record I also said that Valkyries were beautiful and, Carmen, you are…you are so beautiful and I…your mother, me people like me and her we had no right to ever say differently. And I wish…I wish I could take back every time I told you differently because I was wrong, so wrong and I am so sorry."

"Do you really think I'm beautiful?"

"I do and I'll prove to you that I'm not just saying that"

"How?"

"Easy we'll go to a club this weekend. I guarantee you'll get hit on, more than one girl will try to give you her number and get yours too."

"Yeah right, good one Nic. Just for that you can have the Snoopy-shirt."

They undressed and dressed in silence then crawled into bed. They lay on their backs, side by side, not quite touching. Then Nicole felt Carmen's fingers slide over her wrist, she turned her palm up and the other girl's fingers entwined with Nicole's.

"Is this okay?"

"Very"

They fell asleep that way.

Part Six

Week Four: Friday –5:30 AM

Nicole's Journal

What did I agree to do? Why did I tell her we'd go to some club so that she could meet someone? I don't want her to meet someone; I want her to meet me. But I suppose it really is too late, she's already met me. Even the me outside of school couldn't possibly make up for the `me' at school. The `me' that goes out of my way to make other people's lives as miserable as I can. The funny thing is I remember being the one the popular kids made fun of, I was the dork with the glasses and I hated it. Now I'm `popular' and I use it like a club, indiscriminately hurting people for no reason other than I can.

I'm not strong, not like she is, not at all. I may be overbearing sometimes but its all an act. Brooke knows it Carmen knows it too. I'm lucky she even speaks to me…that I got this chance to become her friend. I know that if positions were reversed and I was in her place… hell I was in her place and I've never been able to get past that.

I wish that I could say to her how I really feel. I wish she believed me. She IS strong, brave, beautiful and just the most amazing person I've ever met. I thought I was never going to fall asleep my heart was racing. I'm sure she must have heard it but the most amazing thing was when she reached for my hand. It was like every nerve in my body was on fire; but at the same time the only place I had any sensation was my wrist where her fingertips touched me. When I turned my hand over and she slid her hand down and into my palm I thought I would die. I could feel it all through my body it was like sex but better. Erotic that's what it was, sensual in a way that I've never experienced before. I would have never thought that just holding someone's hand could be like that.

Is that horrible? I mean she didn't mean it like that, does that make me a bad friend? I just I never felt anything like that before, Marley wasn't even close.

Carmen lay in bed her eyes closed listening to the sound of pen on paper as Nicole wrote.

(( I wonder what she's writing about? I wonder what she was dreaming about? What made her smile in her sleep? I know one thing it certainly wasn't about me. The Nicole Julians of this world do not find the Carmen Ferraras of this world attractive. They find the Brooke McQueens the Sam McPhearsons of this world attractive. It's like a cosmic rule or something `Beautiful People May Only Go Out With Beautiful People'. But she said I was beautiful too. ))

Carmen opened her eyes as Nicole closed her journal. She stretched and rolled over to face the other girl sitting cross-legged next to her.

"Hey there sleepy head"

"What time is it?"

"A little after six"

"You should get going I guess. Unless you planned on wearing the same outfit two days in a row and we all know that would be a first."

"God no… I have a reputation to keep up you know."

"Which one are you referring to?"

"Ha-ha very funny."

"Seriously though…you're so different with me…here outside of school. Why can't you be like that all the time?"

"Because I trust you…because people always hurt you…because I'm never going back to being some los…" she swallowed hard trying to control the tears she felt threatening to spill over "…because I am never going back to junior high…to being nobody."

"I take it this is one of those issues you've been discussing in therapy."

"Amongst others"

"Nic?"

"Yeah?"

"I meant what I said yesterday…about liking you…outside of school you know?"

"Just not in school huh?"

"Not when you're channeling Satan, no not then I don't. I don't like you then."

"I don't know how to be any other way anymore"

"That's not true, you show me that here when it's just the two of us. You show me at school too but only when we're alone. Like in the locker room the other day."

"What do you want me to do make nice with Spam and the tree hugger?"

"I'm asking you as a friend to respect my friends at least in front of me. Please can you do that…no name calling, no crushingly evil verbal exchanges?"

"I'll try…but only `cause you look so cute asking?"

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were flirting with me." Carmen stood up and headed towards the bathroom. "Give me a few minutes to get showered and dressed and then we can head over to your house so you can get ready for school."

"Maybe I was flirting with you."

"Well then I appreciate the practice but I think I have a handle on it."

A pillow flew through the air hitting the brunette in the head.

"That was uncalled for and mature I might add."

"Go shower"

"Remember `Revenge is a dish best eaten cold'" with that Carmen closed the door to the bathroom.

Nicole took off the oversized Snoopy sleeping shirt she was wearing, put her own clothes on and sat down to wait.

Thirty minutes later they were in Nicole's Porsche headed towards the Julian residence when Nicole's phone rang.

"Hello…yes mother…I'll be home in a few minutes…I spent the night at a friends…I told you I didn't want to go…fine yes I know…no I won't be home till after the game…about 9:00 tonight…no I can drive myself this way I can come back…what do you mean the weekend you never said anything about the weekend…I have plans already…no…fine okay…okay already I said `yes'… alright bye."

"Problem?"

"Yeah she has this big shindig going on this weekend. I have to go you understand how it is?"

"Oh sure my mom always throws small weekend gatherings in other cities that I am forced to attend."

"I'd rather go out with you, you know that don't you?"

"It's better this way anyhow. I have to be at work at six AM on Sunday."

"I forgot about that. Some other time then."

"It's a date"

"Are you flirting with me again?" ((Please, please, please say `Yes'))

"You wish"

"Were you?"

"No, I wasn't don't worry okay, I wasn't flirting with you."

Nicole pulled into the drive leading up to the Julian mansion and put the car in park. She turned in her seat to look at Carmen. Reaching out with her right hand she turned the other girl's head so that she could look directly into dark clouded eyes as her thumb lightly stroked Carmen's cheek.

"My loss then"

"Don't play with me I'm not some conquest"

"No you're not you're the conqueror." The softly uttered admission hung in silence between them.

Carmen turned her face into Nicole's palm, placing a feather-light kiss on the blonde's wrist as her own hand reached up to touch Nicole's face.

"I was SO flirting"

"I know"

Their faces were inches apart and each could feel the other's warm breath on their lips.

"This is the part where you're supposed to kiss me"

"Oh…Oh well then I guess I better…" the brunette's last words were cut off as the blonde claimed her lips in a soft kiss.

Carmen whimpered slid closer to Nicole and drew the shorter girl closer into her embrace. Carmen's tongue ran across Nic's lower lip seeking receiving permission to deepen the kiss when a tap on the car window made them jump apart.

"Hey Miss Nicole did your friend like the…"

"What the hell…"

"Never mind I can see for myself that she did"

"Oh God Harold you scared the crap outta me and yes she did like your namesake."

Nicole got out of the car and indicated to Carmen that she should do the same.

"Harold Carmen, Carmen Harold. Harold here is the proud papa so to speak of your new roomie."

"Well then I must say thank you, you did a lovely job I've never seen an African Violet that big before."

"Thank you"

"Well I'd better get inside and get ready"

"You didn't come home last night?"

"No, I stayed over at Carmen's"

"Your mother know?"

"Yeah"

"Everything?"

"No"

"Be careful"

"I know"

"Your Nana told me to look out for you, you know?"

"I'll be careful"

"Well you girls have a nice day today."

"Bye, nice to meet you Harold."

"You too Miss" he leaned towards Carmen slightly and lowered his voice "You take care of her she…well let's just say money isn't everything and it certainly doesn't make you a good parent."

"That's very true." She looked at Nicole and smiled "I promise to be careful with her."

"She's here, you two okay. C'mon I've got to get ready."

Part Seven

Week Five: Sunday – 11:00 PM

Nicole had been driving for almost two hours and she was still almost 30 minutes away from home. She'd spent the entire drive thinking about what had happened Friday morning, the feel of Carmen's hair thick and heavy in her hands, the way her stomach had dropped down to her feet at the mere touch of the other girl's tongue. Thinking about what it all meant.

Friday had flown by in a whirlwind of activity and they had not had the opportunity to be alone together before Nicole had had to leave to attend her mother's weekend gathering. Carmen had called Nicole's cell phone as soon as she had gotten home and they had talked all through the long drive, a long winding conversation that had touched on everything and nothing. They had spoken of Nicole's mother, of her distance and her anger. And of Nana who had loved her unconditionally and Marley who had left her the same way. They spoke about Carmen's mother, her drinking, and of the men she brought home and why she brought them home at all. They had spoken till Nicole had reached her destination and then again before she had gone to bed.

~~~ Flashback ~~~

"Hmgfh"

"Carmen"

"Nic?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry…I know it's late..."

"No it's okay. Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine. I just wanted to hear your voice one more time before I went to bed."

"What time is it?"

"Almost 3:00 AM"

"Isn't that a Simon and Garfunkle song?"

"Wednesday Morning 3:00 AM"

"That's the one or is it some other day of the week"

"I'm pretty sure but I could be wrong"

"How was it?"

"Gross. All these old guys practically drooling on me and their putrid sons who were."

"Nice"

They had remained on the phone just listening to each other breath for another fifteen minutes before Carmen spoke up.

"Nic…Nikki about this morning…"

"I've been thinking about it all day. At school, during the game, on my way down here while we were talking…I thought about you, what your lips tasted like while all those guys were hitting on me. I thought about your tongue and how the world stopped when you were in my mouth."

"Well…um…I like your way of saying it much better. Much, much better."

"I'm glad"

"Me too"

Once again they didn't speak.

"You should go back to sleep you have to get up soon enough for work."

Carmen looked at the clock radio, the display read 3:45 AM.

"I've got another two hours."

"Go to sleep I'll talk to you tomorrow sometime. Call me when you're done with work."

"Okay. Nikki, sleep well"

"I'd sleep better with you"

"Me too"

"Night"

"Night"

Part Eight

A/N: Once again the use of recreational stress relievers may have influenced the outcome of this chapter. In fact it is entirely responsible for it. So if it sucks I apologize profusely and if it actually works then bonus points for me. and heeded

Week Five: Sunday – 11:30 PM

"Hello"

"Hi"

"Where are you?"

"About 10 minutes from your house"

"Would you like to come over?"

"Yes"

"See you in a few"

Carmen hung up the phone and began tidying up. She was nervous, her pulse galloped as her mind raced. (( Shower I should go shower. That always helps me calm down and besides I want to smell nice. Or is that presumptuous of me. Maybe she just wants a friend? Maybe she thinks that Friday was a mistake? Okay Carmen calm down. She thought about you all day Friday, she even said so. And she called every day and she's coming here first, not home. She could see you at school tomorrow or come here after her session. She wants to see me. I gotta believe that. Oh crap who am I fooling here Friday was a fluke. Nikki will realize that, she's not going to want to screw up a good friendship and we definitely have that. ))

She stepped under the shower spray and immediately felt the tension in her body diminish. She loved showering, the feel of warm water as it cascaded down her body; she especially loved the removable showerhead she had installed herself that very afternoon. She had sorely missed the one at her mother's.

She wrapped a towel around herself, stepped out of the shower and opened the door to the bathroom.

"AAAGGGGHHHHH !!" Carmen jumped, startled, as Nicole knocked loudly on the front door.

"Be right there"

"Okay. Are you alright?" Nicole heard the door being unlocked.

"Yeah, come on in"

Nicole entered the apartment and stood by the entryway waiting for the other girl to come out from behind the curtain to her sleeping alcove. When she did the blonde's eyes widened in appreciation and a huge smile covered her face. Carmen was wearing a long sleeved buttoned down men's shirt, the top three buttons undone. The white shirt was tucked into a pair of black jeans that showed off the lush curves of Carmen's hips and ass. Her wet hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

"Hey you"

"Hey"

"What are you smiling at?"

"You…it's you…you look cute like that"

"Whatever" the smile and the bright red blush she couldn't hide betrayed the brunette's pleasure at the compliment. "Have a seat…would you like something to drink?"

"Some water would be great. I see you got a sofa…I take it tips were really good this week"

"No Frank and Lucille gave it to me. They just got a new one for their rec. room and offered me this one. It's a sofa-bed actually." Carmen handed Nicole a glass of water and took a seat next to the blonde on the sofa.

"Well at least now I have a place to sleep"

"You already have a place to sleep"

"Well yeah sure at home but you know when I stay here…"

"Like I said `You already have a place to sleep' unless of course you don't want to. Sleep there I mean…with me you know?"

"I want"

"Me too"

"Tonight?"

"I'd like that"

"Can I kiss you?"

At Carmen's nod Nicole stood. She wore a classic black cocktail dress and heels that made her a good three inches taller than usual. She looked down at the Carmen who was staring at her, lips slightly apart.

"You like what you see?"

"Very"

"Good I did it for you"

"Huh?"

"What? You think I drove for over two, almost three hours, dressed like this?"

"You didn't"

"No if I'd started out like this I would have been way to wrinkled by the time I got here."

"I guess"

"Trust me I know. I changed at the rest stop just outside of town"

"Oh"

"That's all you have to say?"

"No…you look gorgeous you look like an angel"

" `Angel' I don't know that I was thinking all that angelically you know"

"No"

Nicole straddled Carmen's lap and gently pushed her shoulders back. Leaning forward she brushed her lips against the other girl's in a teasing kiss. Then with one hand she traced the vee of exposed skin where the shirt was unbuttoned and with the other she drew the brunette's head closer deepening the kiss. Carmen's arms slid around the blonde's waist, her hands rubbing up and down Nicole's back before settling on her hips. After several minutes spent reacquainting themselves with the other's mouth they broke apart. Nicole's dress was hitched up several inches barely covering her firm, round ass and Carmen's shirt had been unbuttoned even further and was pushed somewhat off her shoulders.

"Definitely not angelic"

"No definitely not"