Title: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - The First Noel

Author: Carla

Email: cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

Part Nine

A/N: Thanks to all those who have encouraged me to continue this. I hope this chapter makes sense.

Week Five: Monday 7:30 AM

"Nicole" Carmen stroked the sleeping blonde's hair away from her face "Nikki time to wake up."

"No, come back to bed."

"We can't. We have school today remember? Chemistry quiz at 10:00 AM ring a bell?"

"Crud…ten more minutes…just ten more minutes" Nicole turned her face into her pillow and pulled the blanket over her head.

"Okay but if you don't get up now then there's no time to do other things"

"Other `things', what type of other `things' are we talking about exactly?" Nicole's voice was muffled through the blanket.

"Things, you'll like"

"Yeah"

"Oh Yes" Carmen's voice purred in the petite blonde's ear. It sent shivers down Nicole's spine and her nipples hardened instantly.

"Okay" Nicole sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She stretched, arching her back as far as she could, thrusting her breasts against the thin cotton fabric of the Snoopy sleeping-shirt knowing all along that the other girl was watching her. ((Tease me will you? I'll show you how to tease))

"Now about those `things' you were talking about…"

" `Things'…oh `things'…uh um…yeah I …ah…I made French toast. For breakfast"

"French toast? You made me French toast?"

"Well they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and besides you're going to need the energy later…" brown eyes, made even darker with desire, raked over the other girl's body. A slow lascivious grin made its way across Carmen's face, once again her voice lowered, becoming richer huskier. "…Trust me" leaning forward she claimed the other girl's lips in a searing kiss that left them both weak and breathless.

"That was…Wow…um did I ever tell you I love French toast?"

"You might have mentioned it…now hurry up and shower. I'll keep the French toast warm do you like maple syrup or would you prefer warm blueberries, I got fresh ones at the market yesterday."

Nicole headed for the bathroom and called over her shoulder "Syrup is fine. Come talk to me while I shower."

"Sure I'll be right in"

Carmen sat on the vanity counter in a cloud of steam; she could vaguely make out the contours of the cheerleader's body through the fogged up glass shower door.

"So what are your plans for the day?"

"School, after school Sam, Lily, Harrison and I were maybe going for coffee or maybe a movie…not really sure. Then here, homework and studying I guess. You?"

"I have therapy today then Brooke and I were going out tonight."

"Where to?"

"Some club she wants to go to downtown…you know Mike and Jane are out of town again…"

" `I see' said the blind man…I guess this means I won't see you again till tomorrow night huh?"

"We could cut out after the chemistry test…spend the day together."

`No. I have an English test sixth period and while you may be a whiz at math it is not one of my personal bests shall we say."

"Tonight?"

"If you want sure."

Week Five: Tuesday – 6:10 PM

"Nicole"

"Carmen"

"Soups of the day are Cream of Broccoli and Beef Barley"

"Carmen?"

"Not now Nicole"

"About last night…"

"I don't want to talk about it"

"Carmen…"

"You don't owe me any explanations"

"But I do."

"Do you want to order or what?"

"Whatever you bring out is fine. Carmen, please, I want to explain to you."

" I'll be back with your dinner in a few"

Nicole looked up as Carmen placed her dinner on the table.

"I thought you might like the Cream of Broccoli in a sourdough bread bowl…I toasted the extra piece from the cap sorta like croutons you know?"

"Carmen, sweet…"

"Don't not now. I get off at ten pick me up."

Nicole's Journal

I don't know why I did it or what I was thinking even. I was just going to hang out with Brooke for a little while, only a couple of hours. Everyone thinks Brooke's this sweet innocent thing and they don't know the half of it, it's like she's a completely different person. The next thing I know we're both drunk and I'm watching her blow some guy in the back of a limousine while I'm making out with his buddy. Presumably she made it home okay `cause she was in school today.

I don't know why I took him home. So the sex was okay, good even, but I wasn't really into it. I know where I wanted to be. I know why I took him home just like I know why I got drunk. Because Brooke noticed, noticed that I was distracted noticed that I wasn't drinking or flirting with the guys or even noticing the guys. And I got scared. I'm Nicole Julian I'm not supposed to like girls and if I do they're supposed to be girls like me, like Brooke. I'm supposed to like guys. I do like guys. I like sex with guys. But last night I couldn't get into it until I thought about her, pretended it was her. Her mouth on my breast, her hips I was straddling her body I was riding. That's all it took just imagining how she would touch me.

All we've done is kiss so far and I love it, kissing her is better then anything else. I have never been more turned on by someone, just by kissing them, just by their voice. So why can't I just enjoy this? Why did I have to go and fuck it up? Because I'm scared, I'm Nicole Julian. I'm rich, I'm beautiful, I'm young and I'm `Popular' and I don't want to give any of that up. I'm scared and excited and confused and I just want to be with her.

How do I explain all of that to her without sounding desperate or like some psycho? Worse how do I tell her about last night without coming off like a complete slut? I wanted to call her after he left but it was late and I didn't want to wake her. No, that's not entirely true. I didn't want her to know I was drunk. I didn't want her to be disappointed in me. Of course now she's disappointed in me anyway. God I fucked up.

Tuesday – 10:00 PM

"I like a girl who's prompt"

"I like being prompt"

"I know, you're the girl I was referring to."

They went upstairs to Carmen's apartment.

"Come talk to me while I shower"

"Okay"

Carmen stepped under the water, letting the strong spray soothe her as the water's heat seeped into tired and sore muscles. Nicole sat watching Carmen much the way the other girl had watched her just the day before.

"I wanted to explain"

"You don't have to explain anything. It's not like we're a couple, right? You don't owe me any explanations. I just want you to know that I'm disappointed. I thought you would have more consideration for me than that…you didn't even call Nicole. That hurt. A lot."

"I went out with Brooke"

"Did you have a good time?"

"I…we went to this club…we met these guys and we got drunk. We danced, a lot, that was fun"

"Except for the drunk part sounds like fun" Carmen hoped the jealousy she was beginning to feel wasn't in her voice.

"It was. The guys we were dancing with, Kyle and Toby had a limo. They gave us a ride home…" Nicole's voice drifted off as Carmen stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself.

"You don't owe me…"

"I need to tell you this. I took Kyle home with me and I slept with him. I slept with him because I was scared. I was scared that Brooke would notice that Brooke had noticed that I wasn't interested in him, in any guy. That she would notice and she would call me on it."

"I can understand that"

"Can you?"

"Yeah. Listen you're not the only one whose friend's believe her to be firmly heterosexual."

"You're right…I shouldn't have said that…I'm sorry"

"S'okay"

"It didn't mean anything"

"And this is supposed to be comforting, how? I should take comfort in the fact that you would want to fuck some moron you just met rather than have someone, Brooke, think you were practicing discretion?"

"No, that's not what I meant"

"Or is it that you're ashamed? Ashamed of wanting a girl of wanting me."

"Do you remember what I said to you Friday night, Saturday morning really?"

"What part exactly, the one where you told me how gross all those guys and their sons were or the part where you told me that you thought about me all day, about kissing me and tasting me. Or perhaps you were referring to the part where you told me the earth stood still for you Nicole."

"Remember the night you moved in here and you asked me why all those guys?"

`Yeah'

"Remember what I said?"

" `Sometimes you have to go down the wrong road in order to know the right one'"

"I had another detour. That's what I meant by `it meant nothing'. I meant every word I said…kissing you is, without a doubt, the most incredible most fantastic thing I have ever done. I can't even describe the feeling, what kissing you is like…I can tell you this it's better than any thing I have ever felt, it reaches places inside of me I didn't even know existed. Kissing you fills me to overflowing; the only reason last night was even mildly pleasurable, despite Kyle's enthusiasm and skill, was because I pretended he was you. You kissing me, your tongue on my body…that's what I thought about."

"Are you staying tonight?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Yes."

"Can I kiss you?"

"You don't ever have to ask that?"

They kissed gently somewhat hesitantly. They broke apart, the taller girl drawing the shorter one deeper into her embrace and burying her face in blonde hair.

"I lo…like you, Nicole. I like you SO much. It scares me too, sometimes and I appreciate your telling me about last night. You didn't have to I meant what I said you don't owe me any explanations. I have no claim on you."

"I want to owe them to you. You have every right to them"

"Thank you. I'm emotionally exhausted and ready for sleep now what about you?"

"I have to get up early so I can go home and change"

"Okay. Snoopy again or did you leave your nightshirt here the other day?"

"It's either Snoopy or my bra and panties your choice"

"Snoopy" Carmen tossed the item in question to Nicole and turned to give her some privacy while she put the nightshirt on.

"Pity, your loss"

"Don't. Don't demean yourself that way" Carmen turned to face Nicole "You are so much more than that to me. Yes you are beautiful, you have the most amazing body and I like the whole package but that's just it, Nicole, I like the `whole package'. All of you okay?"

At Nicole's nod Carmen continued "Will you hold me?"

"You bet. Will you hold me too?"

"All night"

"Sounds nice"

They fell asleep in each other's arms. Morning found them the same way.

Part Ten

Week Five: Friday -9:00 PM
Kennedy HS Gymnasium

Brooke McQueen zipped up her gym bag, slung it over her shoulder and headed over towards where Nicole was sitting still in her uniform.

"Feel like going out again tonight?"

Nicole looked up at Brooke, she was keenly aware of Carmen just a few feet away. When they had parted company this morning they hadn't made any concrete plans. In fact things had been pretty open ended, if nothing else they would speak on the phone.

"I have plans already"

"That guy from the other day, what's his name?"

"Kyle. No, someone else"

"Well I'm sure you'll have a fun filled time" one slim eyebrow arched upward suggestively. "Call me if you have a change of plans."

"Will do"

At the sound of the locker room door closing behind Brooke Nicole spoke "I hope that wasn't presumptuous of me"

"Not at all"

"Did you think I would rather go out with Brooke than be with you?"

"It crossed my mind"

"Not mine" Nicole began to strip "How about a movie?"

"I have to be at work at six. I need to get to bed early"

"How about we get a pizza and watch some TV?"

"Sounds good."

"Shower?"

"We could do that at my place"

"No, that's a whole other fantasy"

"Funny, mine too"

Week Five: Saturday – 2:30 PM

Carmen found Nicole's note taped to the refrigerator door when she had gotten off of work. Now, after a long shower and the judicious use of the removable showerhead, she sat on the sofa reading the note.

C –

I missed you when I got up this morning. I missed your arms around me. I missed your scent, waking up with my face in your hair. Like it or not my mother has plans for me today and tomorrow so it seems unlikely that I will be able to see you again this weekend. Call me when you get the chance. I want to speak with you, listen to your voice and get lost in you.

I'll see you Sunday night.

Nic

Carmen smiled to herself, folded the note and slipped it into the breast pocket of her shirt. She reached for the phone, dialed the familiar numbers and waited for Nicole to answer. She was disappointed to get the other girl's voice mail but nonetheless left a message, one she knew would make the other girl smile.

"For pasta, garlic bread and Italian style cheesecake press 1 followed by the pound sign. For classic, American diner food press 2 followed by the pound sign. For hot girl-girl action press 3 followed by the pound sign. For dessert, no dinner, press 4 followed by the pound sign. For snuggle buddies press 5 followed by the pound sign."

With that she hung up the phone confidant that Nicole would call when she had the opportunity to do so. Picking up the phone again she dialed another number.

"Hey Lily. How about a movie?"

When she arrived home that evening the answering machine showed two messages. She pressed play, smiling as she heard Nicole's voice.

"How about I take you out to dinner instead?"

The second message made her smile even larger – if that was at all possible. A sound like that made by pressing a phone button several times in succession could be heard. Then Nicole's voice again.

"Beep, beep, beep. I leave it up to you to decide what my selection was…One hint though it wasn't 1, 2 or 4"

Week Six: Monday – 7:00 AM

They had been awake since 6:30 cuddling, kissing and just generally enjoying each other.

"For the record I didn't press five"

"Yeah but I'm not making lasagna for you at this ungodly hour"

"Tonight then?"

"Lasagna it is"

"We should get up soon"

"Will you stay tonight?"

"I can't my mother's been making noise. It's not as if she's there most of the time anyway but she does expect me to be at her beck and call when she is."

"Okay. Just dinner then."

"Tell you what I'll stop by home on my way to therapy today and pick up a change of clothes anyway. I'll call the house after dinner and if she's not home then we're in like Flynn"

"Huh?"

"I'll stay"

"Oh. Whose `Flynn'?"

"Errol Flynn, he was a film star in the 30's and 40's. My Nana loved him, she made me watch all his movies with her. He had a habit of sleeping with teenage girls and was quite the ladies man according to Nana."

"And just how many teenage girls have you slept with?"

"Let's see sleep `sleep' there's you, Brooke and Marley so that makes three. In the `biblical' sense none."

"Really"

"Yes, really" she slapped the brunette's shoulder playfully.

"Good"

They spent the next couple of minutes just basking in each other's presence before getting up to begin their day.

Part Eleven

Week Six: Thursday – 6:10 PM

"Hi Nic"

"Carmen"

"Good session"

"Hard session"

"Wanna talk about it later?"

"Maybe"

"Frank made meatloaf today, interested?"

"Not really"

"How about chicken salad in a pita and a cup of soup?"

"That sounds good, listen I really need to get some hardcore studying done is it okay if I go up when I finish eating?"

"Of course…which reminds me" Carmen placed a shiny new key in front of the blond "I had this made for you."

Picking up the key Nicole looked up directly into anxious brown eyes "You didn't have to"

"I know" Carmen reached out and traced the line of Nicole's jaw with a fingertip "I wanted to. I trust you, Nikki"

Nicole's eyes closed in pleasure and she swallowed convulsively, her eyes when she opened them once again locked with Carmen's.

"I'm honored"

Week Six: Friday – 12:20 AM

Nicole studied till Carmen returned. She helped the other girl with her math homework and then together they reviewed their chemistry notes. Assignments done, tests reviewed for they had dressed for bed and now lay side by side hands entwined talking quietly.

"What are your plans for the weekend?"

"Mother wants me to play tour guide. Some politician type friend of hers' has a granddaughter who's in town visiting the old man. I'm supposed to show her the sights so to speak."

"That bites. I was going to ask if you wanted to go out with Karen, and me you remember her don't you, from the diner; anyway she asked me to go with her to this coffeehouse. This girl she's into is going to be playing there tonight and Saturday."

"Sounds fun, unfortunately duty calls"

"Where do you think you'll go?"

"Not sure really, guess I'll wait and see what she's like and play it by ear."

"Maybe you could join us"

"Maybe. What's the name of the place?"

"The Rose, it's the coffee house over on the corner Beaver and Broad, you know the one?"

"The one with the humungus rainbow flag in the window?"

"That one"

"Gives the street names a whole new twist doesn't it?"

"Pervert"

"Am not"

"Are too" Carmen stuck her tongue out.

"Promises, promises."

"You wish"

"I do"

"I know…I'm sorry"

"For what?"

"You know. It's just that…well I know you've seen me naked in the shower and all but…I don't know. It's different somehow."

"I can respect that. No rush, no pressure whatsoever. I wasn't trying to imply otherwise."

"Thanks"

"Way I see it; kissing you, holding you heck just sleeping and waking up next to you is incredible so anything else has just got to be gravy. The icing on the cake so to speak."

"The only thing better than falling asleep in your arms is waking up in them"

"Flattery will get you everywhere"

The taller girl turned to lie on her side as close to the blonde cheerleader as she could. Her voice in Nicole's ear was the lowest of whispers rich and thick with unspoken promise "Will it now?"

"Now who's the pervert"

"I prefer the word flirt myself"

"Were you flirting with me?"

"I was so flirting with you"

"That's what I thought"

"Thank God"

"You're welcome"

"Ha-ha"

"Seriously" Nicole turned her head so that she could look directly at the other cheerleader. "Seriously, love, I've thanked God every day since."

"Well then it's time we said our prayers and went to sleep."

Nicole softly sang "As I lay me down to sleep…yes I pray that you will hold me dear"

"Sophie B. Hawkins"

"You know the next line"

"Something like `As I fall away I whisper your name into the sky and I will wake up happy'"

"Give the beautiful young lady a prize"

"And just what type of prize are we talking about here?"

"This kind" with that Nicole rolled Carmen onto her back, straddling her before bending down to capture the brunette's already kiss swollen lips with her own.

Part Twelve

A/N: One of Mel's muses asked for angst. Hope this fits the bill.

Week Seven: Sunday 1:00 AM

Carmen sat on her sofa in a daze, absentmindedly playing with the tails of her shirt. ((Shit what did I do? I must be crazy, what am I gonna tell Nic. Oh God I can't believe I actually had sex. With a stranger at that, shit what's her name…Toni…Tawny…Tory that's it))

She was so lost in thought it didn't register with her right away when she heard the key in the outside lock. Then the door was opening and Nicole was stepping into the room. Carmen jumped up panic stricken.

"Nic…Nikki what are you doing here? I thought you said you wouldn't be able to come over till after the weekend?"

"We went to the Lakers game, ran into Sugar of all people. They hit it off so I ditched them as soon as I could. Your shirt is crooked"

"Huh?"

"Your shirt buttons, they're not lined up correctly…" the petite blonde stood in front of the taller brunette and began to undo the buttons in question. "…Let me fix that for you?"

Carmen jumped back slightly, her hands shaking as she held the partially unbuttoned shirt closed. A tremor could be heard in her voice "It's okay you don't have to"

"Were you going to take a shower?"

"Ah…um…"

"Is that a hickey?" Nicole pointed to a mark just below the other girls left collarbone.

Just then the shower stopped.

"Is someone here?"

"Um…"

The door to the bathroom opened and a young woman, wearing leather pants and a spaghetti strap top that looked like it had been spray painted on, emerged from the billowing steam.

"By any chance do you have a hairdryer…oh hello."

"Who the hell is this?"

"Tory, Victoria really. Victoria Landon." She stuck her hand out in introduction only to be met by Nicole's incredulous stare.

"I don't give a fuck who you are…" the furious girl turned her gaze back on Carmen "What happened here? Wait don't answer that…let me guess…you slept with her"

"I think I'll be going now. Carmen it was a pleasu…" a low growl from Nicole cut her short "I'll just put my shoes on outside"

Tory scooped up her shoes and jacket and fairly ran out the door.

"You slept with her…how could you? I trusted you"

"Nikki"

"Don't"

"Nicole. Please?"

"WHY! Why?" Nicole sobbed

"I don't know why…I just…I was flattered. We talked at the coffeehouse yesterday, just chatted really and she was there again today. She gave me ride home…"

"So you fucked her? I never got paid that way"

"Oh what it's okay for you to go fuck some random stud if you feel like it but not me? I made a mistake…I'm sorry"

"A mistake"

"Yes, a mistake. I was…I was…flattered okay? You saw her, she's beautiful and she's older…"

"I think you're beautiful. I think you're so beautiful. You know that."

"I do but you know what, it felt good to have someone else say it. Nicole you take being told you're beautiful as your God given right, your due. But me, me I hear my mother, I hear you what you used to say to me at school. So yeah I was flattered and I got carried away and I made a mistake. Because while it `felt' good physically, ultimately it `felt' hollow"

"I know what you mean" Nicole sat for the first time since her unexpected arrival. Carmen took a seat on the far end of the couch opposite, the still teary eyed Nicole.

"Where you going to tell me?"

"Eventually"

"When?"

"Tonight most likely. I thought that was the soonest I would be seeing you."

Silence thick and heavy like an ominous fog hung in the air.

"Please forgive me…I know not what I do" Carmen sang softly, so softly that Nicole barely heard her.

"Bryan Adams"

"Uh-huh"

"Can we go to bed now?"

"You really want to stay?"

"Yes but the outfit" she indicated Carmen's attire "goes and we have to change the sheets. Oh and you have to `spoon' me all night"

"Okay"

"Oh and just so we're clear on things okay?"

"Shoot"

"This counts as our first official fight as a couple right?"

"If you say so. Okay."

"Well are we a couple or aren't we?"

"Yes"

"Okay so this was the first official fight"

"First official fight, check."

"Well then after we change the sheets we can have our first official making up make out session."

"Don't just sit there help me change the sheets."

"Also, you have to shower. I don't want to smell her on you."

"Of course"

"Ever"

"Of course"

"Or anyone else for that matter"

"Of course…Same goes for you"

"Of course"

"Ever"

"Ever"