Title: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - The First Noel

Author: Carla

Email: cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

Part Thirteen

Week Seven: Wednesday 5:00 PM
Kennedy HS – Girls Locker Room

"So are we still on for tonight?"

"You bet"

"Good. Dad and Jane come back tomorrow…gotta live it up tonight."

"About that…"

"C'mon Nikki" Brooke gave a small pout "Toby said he and Kyle would be there. I know Kyle would like to see you again."

"Let's just do something you and I"

"I want to go dancing Nic"

"Okay we'll go dancing but let's leave together okay, alone."

"What's up with you?"

"I just…I don't want to get drunk…or high and I don't…I made a promise to someone okay?"

"What kind of promise?"

"The one on one kind…you know I like you, you like me…"

"NO" Brooke snorted "Really…are you serious? Who?"

"A friend…myself"

"Which one is it?"

"Both"

"You're not speaking metaphorically are you?"

"No. Look I just…this is something new. I don't want to jinx it or fuck it up somehow by doing something stupid. You and I both know what happens when we go out and we get drunk. I don't want to do that tonight okay?"

"Okay, no one's forcing you to do anything…relax"

"I just wanted you to know where I stood"

"Position noted" winking the statuesque blonde saluted her diminutive friend. "So who is it?"

"Brooke"

"Right no jinxing. Later then pick me up around 9:00PM"

"Make it 9:30PM"

"Works for me. What about you, Carmen, what are you doing tonight?"

The question posed as suddenly as it was surprised the lockerroom's third and sole remaining occupant. Till then she had been fairly certain that Brooke hadn't registered her presence at all.

"Excuse me"

"What are you doing tonight? Come out with us."

"Uh…um…sure why not?" Carmen shrugged

"Brooke…"

"Nic…"

The two blondes stared at each other in a silent battle of wills. Nicole was the first to blink and Brooke took it as a sign of her acquiescence. Turning her attention back to the brunette cheerleader Brooke spoke.

"It's settled then. Nikki will pick you up, see you at 9:30PM" with that she swung her gym bag onto her shoulder and left.

"Hurricane Brooke: A Force of Nature. Next on The Discovery Channel" Carmen intoned.

Nicole chuckled, shaking her head as she did so "She can get like that sometimes".

"I don't have to go you know. If you'd rather I not just say so."

In the minute, minute and a half, since Brooke's departure they had slowly drifted towards each other. Now Carmen stood in front of Nicole who reached out sliding her hands up the taller girl's arms, across her shoulders, behind her neck burying her hands in the thick silken tresses. She guided Carmen backwards till the brunette was forced to sit on the bench. Carmen did so; settling her hands around the petite blonde's waist as the girl straddled her.

"We probably shouldn't do this here"

Blue eyes heavy lidded with desire, focused on full lips, before locking with dark chocolate bedroom eyes.

"Probably not."

They kissed deeply moaning into each other's mouths. Carmen's hands slid down to Nicole's ass, kneading the firm cheeks as she drew the girl even closer to her if that was at all possible. Soft breasts pressed into each other, nipples hardening at the sensation even through their clothes.

"Home"

"Home"

"Your place first. We'll pick up some clothes for you then go to my house."

They kissed again.

"You'll love the shower at my house."

~~~~~

Week Seven: Wednesday - 11:30 PM

Brooke finished touching-up her makeup, closed her purse and looked at Nicole in the mirror as she too finished reapplying her lipstick.

"I think we may have come here on `alternative lifestyle night'"

"So…music's good…"

"True…Carmen seems to be enjoying herself."

Nicole grunted and tried to look nonchalant. Brooke continued not even registering Nicole's lack of coherency.

"Did you see that girl that was talking to her at the bar?"

"No"

"She was hot if I must say so. If I was going to do a girl…"

"You know what you were right let's get out of here"

Nicole pushed open the bathroom door nearly mowing down two unfortunate souls on the other side of the door. Brooke hurried after her calling out as she did so.

"Nikki are you all right? You've been acting kinda weird all night?"

"I'm fine really I just have a headache." She scanned the room looking for Carmen and spotted her by the bar talking to a tall auburn haired woman with café-au-lait skin. She felt her chest constrict as she watched the woman write her number on a business card and tuck it into Carmen's pants pocket.

"See I told you she was having fun. Looks like Carmen got her phone number."

"Why don't you get our jackets, I'll go get Don Juan over there and we'll meet you outside"

Carmen smiled as Nicole approached and waved at her.

"We're heading out. I have a headache."

"Okay. Nikki this is Paula, she was telling me about this cooking class she's taking at the community college on Thursdays. She says the next class starts in a few weeks, what do you think should I do it?"

"Yeah totally." Nicole stepped closer to Carmen putting her hand on the small of her girlfriend's back in a silent show of possession.

"I'm sorry I'm being rude. Paula Lord Nicole Julian, my girlfriend."

"A pleasure" Nicole stuck out her hand and tried not to bare her teeth.

"This is Nicole then." Her smile was wide and white. She winked at Nicole as she shook her hand "You and cooking are all she's talked about for the last ten minutes." She gave Carmen a long slow look from head to toe that caused Nicole to bristle once again. "You're quite the lucky one"

"I know"

"Well call me some time, we can exchange recipes or something…" she slid off the barstool and disappeared into the crowd.

"I'll `or something her'…" Nicole muttered.

"Nikki, she didn't mean anything by it."

"Yes she did."

"Are you jealous?"

"A little"

"Don't be. I go home with you. You have nothing to worry about okay."

"I'm sorry I shouldn't…"

"Shhh…don't apologize I liked that you got all `grr' and everything. Come on your' not feeling well let's go home."

They found Brooke outside waiting for them.

"Finally I thought I was going to have to send in Search and Rescue"

"Sorry, my fault, I was talking to someone."

"I saw. I saw you got a phone number too. I had no idea you were doing the Tammy Lynn Michaels thing."

"It's not what you think. She gave me her business card look" she passed the card to Brooke:

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Erotic workshops by and for women
Because a vibrator in the hand is worth two in the bush

The name, Paula Lord, had been written on the back with a phone number.

"Carmen you stud" Brooke nudged Carmen playfully.

"Whatever"

Later, after they had dropped Brooke off at another club, they lay in bed cuddling and talking.

"Are you going to call her?"

"Who, Paula?"

"Yeah"

"Yes. That cooking class she was talking about…"

"Uh-huh"

"It's for couples. It's called `Dinner for Two: Cooking for Couples"

"I'll pay"

Part Fourteen

A/N: Sleep deprivation, liberal use of recreational herbal essences and 14 cans of Diet Pepsi in a 4 hour time period are the sole explanations for todays drivel. Enjoy... other wise the stoning will commence out back around 3:00PM PST ;)

Week Seven: Thursday – 6:00 PM
Memorial Medical Arts Building – Parking Lot Level Six

Carmen leaned backwards on the hood of Nicole's Porsche back arched, head thrown back, eyes closed face turned towards the sun.

"Carmen"

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of her name and saw Nicole standing there tears streaming down her face. She opened her arms and the shorter girl fell into them.

"It's going to be okay I promise you. Don't cry. I know…shh…it's hard I know. I'm here…I've got you…I've got you"

She continued murmuring words of comfort, rubbing the crying girl's back as she did so. Pulling back slightly she looked down at Nicole, cupping the slighter girl's face she wiped away tears with her thumb.

"What are you doing here?"

"I figured today would be really hard for you…I took the night off…"

"You remembered" Nicole's voice held a note of wonder.

"It's a big day, of course I remembered. It's not everyday that you have your last session with your therapist."

"Thank you"

"I want to take care of you Nikki. I like taking care of you."

"Still"

"No `still'. You would do the same for me. Right?"

"Right"

Nicole turned in Carmen's arms so that her back was to the other girl. She drew Carmen's arms tighter around her and sank backwards into her girlfriend's embrace. She tilted her head back placing a kiss just below Carmen's ear.

"I always park up here so that I can look at the view"

"It's beautiful like you" Carmen whispered in the blonde's ear causing her to shudder.

"Hmmm…at night all the lights from the office buildings make everything seem hazy and silvery. Almost surreal"

"Sounds nice"

They stayed for some time enjoying the view and the sense of peace they found in each other.

"Did you ever read Harold and the Purple Crayon when you were little?"

"I don't think so what's it about?"

"This kid, Harold obviously, doesn't speak he draws everything with his purple crayon. He has all these adventures – like he goes to the moon, dives underwater all sorts of stuff. Any way it's this whole thing about imagination and possibilities and …I was thinking the other day, imagining the future. I have all these questions, you know? And I feel like so many of the answers depend on you, where you are? Will you still want me? Will you wake up one day and think what the hell is going on? What am I doing?"

"Big questions"

"What happens when it's time for college? What happens this summer? What happens over semester break? What happens now that you won't already be in the area? What happens with us?"

"I love you"

Silence.

"I love you too"

Silence

"I was thinking of maybe taking guitar lessons. That cooking class starts right after the New Year, I called and registered us this afternoon."

"How much I'll give you half?"

"Forget about it. My treat"

"Nicole…"

"Shh…I have it and I want to share it with my girlfriend. Nothing changes with us, except maybe now instead of therapy I'll take guitar lessons or some other thing that catches my eye. Maybe I'll learn how to play bridge. In January we'll take that class together…"

"And the rest of what I said?"

"I don't have the answers to those. I know what I want the answers to be. I want you to be with me always. I want you to kiss me under the mistletoe and as the clock strikes midnight. I want you to go away with me over the semester break. I want to spend the summer with you, drive up the coast, maybe, in mom's convertible. I want to take care of you and be taken care of by you. I want to explore all my possibilities and futures, all my dreams with you. I want you to read Harold and the Purple Crayon to me."

"Your wish is my command. But first we have to go to Barnes & Nobles."

"Uh okay…why?"

"Because, my love, Harold and the Purple Crayon is a children's book and I haven't had a copy of it since I was about seven."

"Ah well then we'd better hurry before they sell out."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Get in the car"

"Were you?"

"A little…Hey, did you ever read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein? We should get that one too."

Part Fifteen

Week Eight: Tuesday – 10:30 PM

Nicole was flipping through the catalogue of courses being offered at the Community College. She was sitting on the vanity countertop steam swirling around her as she read the course descriptions aloud.

"So I'm thinking that along with basic classical guitar…"

"Can you sight read"

"Yes. I'm rusty but it should come back. I took piano lessons."

"I didn't know you played the piano"

"I'll play for you sometime"

"When?"

"We'll have dinner at my house next week, when my mom is out of town. I'll play for you then."

"Okay. Any way you were saying…"

"Oh yeah well I'm thinking I'd like to learn how to play bridge."

"Are you sure you don't want to learn how to play Mah Jong too?"

The water stopped and the glass shower door opened in a last burst of steam.

"God that felt good"

Handing Carmen a towel as she stepped out of the shower enclosure, Nicole continued "What I like numbers and card games. Besides Nana played bridge and it seemed very social. I use to like listening to the old ladies talk they told good stories you know?"

"How old are you?"

"Old enough"

"Old enough for what?"

"For whatever you have in mind" Nicole dropped the catalog on the counter beside her.

"Let's see…" Carmen pretended to be deep in thought "what do I want?"

"Oh Please! You are so obvious"

"What? What do you think I want…other than you of course?"

"First…" Nicole tugged the taller girl to her so that she was standing in the vee of the blonde's legs. "Nice recovery there" she pulled the brunette's head down for a kiss. "Now as for what you really want. You want a massage but first you would like me to brush your hair." She reached for the towel lying on the counter top and began to dry her girlfriend's hair.

"I like when you do that" it came out a low growl, an almost purr of pleasure.

"Turn around so I can finish drying your hair…thanks. I love your hair. I love kissing you and having it hang all around us like a curtain." She bared the taller girl's neck and shoulder, and leaned forward to nuzzle behind Carmen's ear, the crook of her neck. The blonde inhaled deeply "You smell nice like the green house with a hint of vanilla"

"Must be the new soap you gave me"

"You liked?"

"Very much" She turned her head to smile at the blonde cheerleader. She had been surprised to come home yesterday and find a package waiting for her at the top of the stairs. Inside had been a gift box from L'Occitane containing six bars of soap of varying scents as well as the accompanying body lotions for each scent. There was a note inside:

C~
Everything about a shower should be a sensual experience.
~ N

"I should try it tomorrow morning then" Nicole murmured as she brushed Carmen's lips with her own.

"So you're staying the night?"

"God yes. I missed you this weekend." The petite cheerleader began to brush the other girl's thick mane of hair.

"You should have come last night?"

"It was really late and I didn't want to wake you. Besides my mother would have said something."

"Hmmm…that feels good. Next time just come home, doesn't matter what time it is wake me. It's not like I sleep all that well when you're not there any way"

"Me either…speaking of sleep, I'm beat. You still want that massage right?"

"If you feel up to it"

"How about if I just rub your back as we fall asleep"

"Sounds wonderful…I missed you too. I missed you very much"

Disclaimer: Song lyrics to Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus used without permission but much gratitude.

Week Eight: Friday – 8:30 AM
Kennedy High School

Carmen closed the door to her locker. She jumped at the unexpected sound of Lily Esposito's voice from behind her.

"Hey Carm long time no see"

"I see you every day at school Lily"

"That's not what I meant and you know it"

"Look I know I haven't had a lot of time for you lately…"

"I just miss you is all. I miss my friend. I tried calling you last night did you get my message"

"Not till this morning, though. I worked last night Lily. I didn't get home until after ten."

"Oh. When were you going to tell me you weren't living at home anymore?"

"Beg your pardon?"

"Where is home? Where are you living? Your mother said you moved out a month ago. Where are you living?"

"I'm renting a studio not to far from the Medical Arts Center on Memorial"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's a long story Lily, we don't really have time" thankfully the bell to start classes rang at that moment. They started walking down the hallway towards their next class, gym.

"How about the short version?"

"Mom…drinking…misery"

"That bad"

"That bad"

"I'm sorry. You should have come to me, that's what friends are for."

"Thanks but it worked out okay. I like having my own place. It makes me feel like a grownup."

"Cool"

"Lily?" Carmen put her hand on the shorter girl's elbow and pulled her aside out of the flow of students rushing to class. "Please don't tell anyone. Technically I live out of the district and can't go to school here. More importantly though, it's nobody's business. No sharing okay…not even with Josh, not even with Sam. Please?"

"Okay if that's how you'd like it."

They continued in the direction of the gymnasium and the girls' locker room, Carmen humming as they walked.

"What's that you're humming?"

"Huh?"

"You're humming. Sounds familiar, like something I heard on the radio recently"

"It's that song, "Teenage Dirtbag", I can't get it out of my head."

"I know that one…yeah it is kinda catchy. I can see where it might stay with you" Lily said as she pushed open the door to the locker room.

They changed quickly and joined the class already in progress.

"Hey Lily, Carmen. God but I hate gym class at this hour. Don't you?"

"I could do without it that's for sure."

"It sucks for me on Friday's especially. I work till ten on Thursdays then I still have to do homework and study. By the time I'm done with everything it's late."

The whole time she was talking Carmen had been looking for Nicole; spotting her she gave a small wave. She turned towards Sam and Lily "I have to talk to Nicole about something…um…yeah cheerleading stuff. I'll be back in a minute." Without waiting for an answer the brunette cheerleader headed towards Nicole, never realizing that she was once again humming "Teenage Dirtbag".

"Well I wouldn't voluntarily talk to Satan but go ahead" Sam continued talking to Lily as Carmen approached the petite cheerleader. "What's up with her, you know?"

"Nope"

"What was she humming anyway?"

"Don't know." But Lily knew and she had a vague idea as to why Carmen kept humming that particular song.

"Hey"

"Hey there yourself"

"Someone seems pretty happy"

"I wish I could kiss you right now"

"Hmmm…I wish you could too"

Carmen looked down at Nicole, feeling her chest constrict as she did so. "I love you so much Nikki, you know that don't you?"

"I do. I love you too… I knew from the moment you kissed me a month ago"

"I kissed you" Carmen teased "You kissed me I'll have you know"

"And it's a good thing that I did. Who knows how long I would have been waiting for you to make the first move." Nicole teased back.

"This is true, very true" Carmen began singing softly

"Her name is Noelle // I have a dream about her // she rings my bell // I've got gym class in half an hour."

"Actually you have gym class now and judging from the looks that Ms Butch - I mean Birch – is throwing our way I'd say we need to find our assigned places."

"Oh how she rocks in Keds and tube socks"

"Two items of clothing I wouldn't be caught dead wearing but speaking of Iron Maiden come with me to San Francisco next weekend. I got tickets to the opera, La Boheme, we can stay at the corporate apartment my mother keeps there."

"Let me see if I can get the whole weekend off"

"Okay"

"Are you coming home tonight?"

"It's our one month anniversary of course I'll be there"

"Thank you"

"For what?"

"For one month"

They were interrupted by the PE teacher calling out, "Ferrara, Julian care to share with the rest of the class…No. Then I suggest you take your places"

"Tonight, I'll make dinner"

"Tonight"

Carmen went to stand by Lilly and Sam while Nicole rejoined Brooke and Mary Cherry.

"Nic I love you but you can't carry a tune for your life"

"What are you trying to say Brooke?"

"Stop humming"

Nicole blushed. "Sorry"

(( // I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby // Come with me Friday don't say maybe // cause i'm just teenage dirtbag baby, like you // ))