The First Noel

Title: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - The First Noel

Author: Carla

Part Twenty One

Week Ten: Saturday – 4:00 PM
Carmen's Apartment

Carmen sat on her sofa, Nicole's head in her lap, talking on the phone as she ran her hands through fine blonde hair.

"Sure Lily why don't you meet me here this way you can see my humble abode and we can catch a bus from here…what time does the movie begin? Uh-huh. What if we caught a later show I could make dinner…okay so I'll see you in about an hour." Carmen hung up the phone, smiling down at Nicole as she did so.

"Did you hear that, sleepyhead? You are still going to that Museum thing with what's his name…Tim?"

"Yeah, I should get going shortly."

"What's this for tonight?"

"It's the opening of the new portrait photography exhibit, The Golden Age of Glamour: The Art of Hollywood Portrait Photography. Tim's family is a major contributor and he's expected to show up at least for a couple of hours. Mother's out of town…"

"Wake me"

"You need to sleep you have work at six remember?"

"Wake me it doesn't matter what time"

"What are you going to go see?"

"We're just gonna go to the three dollar theater and see whatever is playing. They have six screens something will call to us."

"Is that that really skanky looking place over on 5th and Delridge"

"That's the place."

"Why go there? Why not go someplace downtown it's safer"

"It's also more expensive"

"If you need money I'll give it to you"

"No I don't need or want your money Nikki" there was a hint of anger in Carmen's voice.

"I didn't mean anything by it…just that I have it if you need to borrow some or…" seeing the scowl on her girlfriend's face Nicole faltered "let me just stop talking now…why don't I?" Nicole sat up and kissed Carmen on the cheek. "You have a good time with Lily tonight okay. I'm just going to leave now. I'll see you tonight right?"

"No don't…Nic please let's talk about this" Carmen reached out placing her hand on a well, muscled thigh she gently squeezed. Then turning her hand palm up so that Nicole could lace her fingers with her own she continued talking. "I know you meant well but it's just I…I need to take care of myself, pay for things on my own. It's important to me to be able to do that. I make enough money to pay my rent here, the phone bill and for whatever food I don't get from the diner. I'm trying to save whatever is left over for college. My mom told me I could kiss her ass as far as getting any money for school out of her goes. So I go to the cheap movies and I sneak in my own drinks and snacks."

"I know it's just that if I have it and I want to spend it on you what's the big deal?"

"It's one thing to spend money on me when `we', you and I, go out together. It's quite another for you to give me money so that I can go hang out with my friends."

"I didn't… I wasn't…" Nicole hung her head, her eyes focused on their joined hands "I have money and I want to share it with you but I also hear what you're saying." She raised their joined hands to her mouth and brushed the brunette's fingertips with her lips. "You know I am here three sometimes four nights a week…I could help pay for some of the rent and the food don't you think?"

"You don't have to do…"

"No it's only fair and this way you can save even more money for school. I could give you a third does that sound fair?"

"Sure Nikki"

"I better get some closet space though."

"Closet space is extra, there's barely enough as it is"

"How much extra?" Nicole raised an eyebrow at the answer.

"I'm sure we can work it out in trade"

"You think so?"

"I know so." The answer, whispered in Nicole's ear, sent tremors through the slighter girl's body and as her lover's tongue traced the delicate shell of her ear, Nicole moaned.

"We can work out the details later"

~~~~~

Nicole had been gone almost fifteen minutes when Lily arrived at Carmen's little apartment over the diner. Now she was walking around the room, looking around as she and Carmen talked. Carmen was putting a pot of water on to boil for pasta.

"So now what's the deal with this place again?"

"I work at the diner, two days a week and on weekends. The owners let me rent this place dirt cheap in exchange for coming in on short notice and keeping an eye on it when its closed. In other words I get to dial 911 if there's a problem."

"How much?"

" $150 and it includes utilities and cable"

"Wow that is cheap"

"I know its way less than what they could get for it but they're really nice people. Lucille's become almost like a mom to me and Frank well he's like the big lovable uncle type that I've never had."

Lily continued her perusal of the room noting the shoes by the door that were clearly to small to be Carmen's and were not her own, since her sneakers were on her feet. (( Kenneth Cole, now I know those aren't hers. And that leather jacket on the coat tree, not hers' either. Someone else lives here or practically lives here too. ))

"Sounds great…so tell me really why did you leave home?"

"I told you already"

"The seriously shortened version…it went something like `Mom, drinking, misery', care to elaborate a little."

"How does angel hair pasta in garlic and oil sound. We could steam some broccoli too and I have some garlic bread left over from last night if you want to have that as well."

"Yummy"

"You want something to drink? I have soda, juice I think and bottled water… oh and milk."

"What sort of juice?" Carmen opened the refrigerator and looked inside.

"Apple juice or peach nectar"

"Since when do you like peaches?"

"I don't really but Nic likes it so I keep some on hand for her."

They looked at each other from across the room, which suddenly seemed much smaller than it was.

"Nic? Nicole…Nicole Julian?" Carmen nodded and Lily continued "Those are her shoes, that's her jacket?" The petite Latina motioned towards the items in question. "Is this why you left home?"

"No…Yes…both" she sounded sheepish even to herself and at Lily's quirked eyebrow she answered more definitively. "No."

"What then?" Lily took the glass of juice Carmen handed her "Thanks"

"Sit down. Let me turn the oven on"

Lily sat down at the table and waited for Carmen to join her.

"I'm gay Lily"

"Okay"

"My mom she…"

"She kicked you out," Lily said indignantly.

"No I left. The last year or so her drinking has gotten much worse and then when she found my diary and read that I was gay…well she didn't handle it well. She didn't kick me out but she started calling me names, worse than before even. The last straw was when she brought some guy home and told him that he was welcome to try and `cure me'. I knew then and there that I had to get out of the house. I met Lucille here at the diner that night, she offered me a job and a couple of weeks later the apartment."

"Oh"

Carmen stood up from the chair she was sitting in, across from Lily, and checked to see if the water was boiling yet.

"Nicole…how does she figure in this?"

"Nicole and I we're friends"

"And more than friends"

"Does anybody know?"

"About what exactly, me living here, me being gay or me dating Nicole?"

"All of it I guess"

"You, me and Nicole are the only one's Lily. I'm trusting you with something big here. I told you before no one can know about me living here `cause it's out of the district, right?"

"Sure I remember"

"Well I don't really care all that much if people find out that I'm gay but I think it would be fair to say that Nicole would much rather no one know about her. I probably should have spoken with her first before telling you but…"

"I had a hunch"

"How?"

"The other day that song you were humming… I went and looked up the lyrics online. Then you went and talked with her in class and I don't know something about the way you were standing…close but like you wanted to be touching her not just talking to her. I thought you were crushing big time."

"That obvious"

"Only to someone who knows you and cares for you."

"You think Sam noticed?" She hoped not, it had only been a few months ago that the brunette reporter had told Carmen of her feelings for her, told her that she was gay. Carmen had told her she was flattered but that she did not reciprocate the feeling. For some reason, she wasn't sure why, she had not told Sam that she too was gay.

"I doubt it. I love her but she can be pretty self centered at times."

"Yeah…" Carmen chuckled, "What else?"

"Well then today the shoes, Kenneth Cole, obviously not yours. And the jacket, again price aside, the size alone tells me it belongs to someone else."

Carmen put pasta in the now boiling water. She quickly cut the broccoli put it in a bamboo steamer and used the steamer to cover the pot of pasta. She talked to her dinner guest as she went about preparing the rest of the meal, chopping the garlic, wiping the inside of the serving bowl with an open clove of the pungent stuff, drizzling some olive oil into the bowl as well.

Lily it's important to me that you keep this between us, not because I am ashamed of being a lesbian and not because I am ashamed of my relationship with Nikki. You have to understand, she is different away from school…I love her, very much. It would hurt her, cause her pain if people knew…"

"Sounds to me like she's ashamed of being with you. Why would you want to be with someone like that? You deserve better than that."

"She's not ashamed and I know that she loves me. Nic just isn't in a place where she can…it's complicated, her mother, money all of it; it's not a good time for her. So I'm asking you, as one of my closest and oldest friends, to please respect our privacy, Nicole's privacy, and not say anything to anyone. Please?"

"Of course"

"Thank you." She checked the broccoli for tenderness, pleased to find that it had not been over steamed to the point of limpness. "Could you get the plates down, there in the cabinet over and to the left of the sink."

"Sure, where's the silverware"

"In the drawer over there." Carmen drained the pasta, dumping it, the broccoli and the freshly chopped garlic into the serving bowl she tossed everything together.

They sat down to eat.

"Oh this is terrific. You know Carm you really should be a chef."

"Nikki says the same thing."

"How long have you and she?" The Latina waved her fork in the air.

"Almost two months"

"Wow…and its been good?"

"Very good, better than good even."

"You going to tell her about our little conversation here tonight?"

"Of course"

"Tell her not to worry my lips are sealed"

Part Twenty Two

A/N: Well folks you all can thank Hope Libby for this one. She asked me to write something while she went to class. So here it is blame her.

~~~~~

Week Eleven: Monday – 11:45 AM
Kennedy High School

"Lily can I talk to you?"

Lily Esposito jumped, hitting her head on the shelf in her locker as she did so. "Owww, crap that hurt" she rubbed the top of her head and turned around. "Oh it's you"

"You okay? Let me look at that?" Nicole reached out pulling Lily's head down till she could see the top of the other girl's head. "You're not bleeding"

"Thanks it just hurt…more of a shock than anything else. You wanted to talk?"

"Yes. Carm told me about your talk the other day at her place." Nicole looked around to see if anyone was near. "I uh…I appreciate your, shall we say, discretion."

"Yeah well I'm not doing it for you I'm doing it for Carmen, because she asked me and obviously it means a lot to her. But consider this a warning okay Nicole, you hurt her and I will see to it that this entire school and your mother know about it, everything."

"Lily, this is not a game for me. I would never hurt her. I love her. And I know…" Nicole held up a hand forestalling Lily's interruption "I know you're probably thinking `Nicole Julian what could she possibly know about love'. Bitch Goddess of Kennedy High, Satan…whatever you want to call me is fair enough but it doesn't change the fact that I love her, everything about her and I would rather die than hurt her in anyway."

"I just wanted you to understand where things stood with me and you. You say you love her and well, I don't know…something in your eyes makes me want to believe you but I'm keeping my eye on you." The petite Latina picked her knapsack up off the floor and began walking down the hall away from Nicole.

"Lily wait up" Nicole fell into step beside the activist "One other thing?"

"What Nicole?"

"Um well you see it's our anniversary next week, two months, and Christmas is a couple of days after and well I was wondering if you could help me pick out a gift."

"I'm sure you'll manage just fine Nicole after all you have Mommy's credit cards"

"That's just it Lily. I know that she's sensitive about the money thing I just need some help getting the right thing…something she won't be uncomfortable with. I'm worried that if I get her something that she thinks is too much then she'll feel bad and it'll ruin everything."

"Well what were you thinking of"

"I wanted to get her a ring, nothing fancy really. Do you think that's a good idea, maybe you could help me pick one out? You know what sort of jewelry she like's don't you?"

"I think it's a sweet idea. Sure I'll go with you, how about Thursday after school?"

"Whenever you want. I appreciate this Lily"

"Sure Nicole, look I have to meet up with Sam…why don't we just meet after school in the parking lot on Thursday?"

"Okay"

~~~~~

Week Eleven: Thursday – 3:30 PM

Nicole tapped nervously on the steering wheel, they had been sitting in traffic for the last ten minutes and the silence was becoming unbearable. She glanced at Lily seated in the passenger seat who was fidgeting as well. "You want to listen to some music?"

"That'd be great" Lily reached over her finger hovering over the buttons on the dash, that controlled the CD player / radio. "May I?"

"Be my guest"

Lily pressed a button and classical music filled the air.

"Oh I love this piece Vivaldi, The Four Seasons. This is Summer I believe."

"You know this how?"

"I've played it on the piano. I've listened to it countless times. I bet you never figured me to be the classical music type huh?"

"Not really, but then I guess I Carmen is right and I really don't know you at all."

"There are some other CDs in the glove compartment if you want to listen to something else. Or the radio if you'd rather?"

Lily opened the glove compartment flipped through the CDs there "How about Billy Joel?"

"That's Carmen's"

"We went to see him in concert last year, he was great."

"She told me, why don't we listen to that?" Lily switched the CDs and pressed play.

They drove on listening to the music occasionally singing along.

"I love this song it always makes me think of Carmen" the opening chords of She's Got a Way, faded and Nicole sang along softly.

She's got a way about her
I don't know what it is
But I know I can't live without her
She's got a way of pleasin'
I don't know what it is
But there doesn't have to be a reason…anywhere
She's got a smile that heals me
I don't know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She's got a way of talkin'
I don't know why it is
But it lifts me up when we are walkin'…anywhere

Lily watched the blonde; her features softened a smile playing across full red lips, as she sang on. (( I hope Josh looks like that when he thinks about me ))

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me and I get turned around

"That's exactly how I feel about her Lily and more so much more"

She's got a way of showin'
How I make her feel
And I found the strength to keep on goin'
She's got a light around her
And everywhere she goes
A million dreams of love surround her…everywhere
She's got a smile that heals me
Oh I don't know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me…anyway

"It really is a beautiful song, sad in a way though?"

"I never really heard it till Carm played it for me one night. So I've always equated it with her. Though I can see where one might consider it very melancholic."

They finally arrived at the mall and Nicole began looking for a parking spot.

"So did you decide on a ring for sure or did you decide to go with something else"

"Ring for sure and maybe one or two other things, a CD and a book maybe."

Part Twenty Three

Week Eleven: Saturday – 5:40 AM

"Nico…sweetie" Carmen leaned over the still sleeping girl to place a kiss on her cheek. "Nikki love."

"Hmmm"

"I have to go to work now"

"Uh-huh"

"I love you" at this, Nicole opened her eyes to look at Carmen, sitting next to her on the bed.

The sleepy blonde reached out, grabbed the lapels of the brunette's shirt and drew the girl to her for a kiss.

"I love you too, sweetheart"

"What are your plans for today?"

"Sleep, breakfast, you"

"Does that mean I'll see you after work?"

"With bells on"

"Oh I like"

"Would you like to go to the lake today?"

"Maybe, I dunno."

"There's this place I want to show you"

"Okay. I get off at 2:00PM"

"See you then"

"With bells on?"

"With bells on"

~~~~~

"Uh…Nicole, love, just where are we going again?"

"The lake"

"Which one we've been driving for almost two hours. We've passed quite a few lakes, I know I saw signs. Look!" Carmen pointed out the window "…there's another one, see the sign?"

"Next exit is ours"

"Finally"

"Then its another thirty or forty miles"

"Nikki!"

"Just kidding, no really it's another three…four miles tops"

"Good, so tell me what's so special about this lake?"

"I use to come to the lake when I was little, my grandmother would bring me. The land has been in my family for generations, my grandfather built the house. It's so quiet, the air smells clean and at night you can see the stars. I used to go down to the dock late at night and just look at the stars and think. We'll have to come back some other time when we can spend the night. It would be nice to sit on the dock with you." Nicole reached over lacing her finger's with Carmen's as she gave a gentle squeeze. "I love you, you know that right?"

"I do but I really like hearing you say it…" Carmen looked down at their joined hands "I wish…" she sighed, shook her head "Nevermind…I love you too."

"We're here"

The house was hidden from the road, the drive to it a half-mile that twisted through trees that towered 50 – 60 feet high. At the end of the driveway stood the house in a clearing. Behind it a small lake with a wooden dock extended out over the water, a small boat moored to it. Across the lake was another house, with large floor to ceiling picture windows that reflected the sun as it set.

"Oh my God it's…wow…it's beautiful here" Carmen said as they got out of the car.

"C'mon I'll give you the grand tour. How do sandwiches and salad sound for dinner? We could eat on the dock…finish talking."

"Sure…you use to spend the summers here when you were little? That must have been great, were there other kids around to play with?"

They entered the house and Nicole took Carmen's hand in hers as she led her through the house to the grand sitting room, its far wall made up of floor to ceiling windows, overlooking the lake.

"Not really, just one. I didn't spend the whole summer here just two – maybe three – weeks till I was twelve and Nana died. Now my mom has parties here in the winter and barbecues in the summer, that's pretty much the only time it gets used, unless I come up here for some reason."

"I'd come up here all the time, if I were you"

"We could come here next weekend, for our anniversary. Two months and the end of the semester, what do you think? I think that calls for a celebration don't you?"

"Most definitely" the brunette tugged the shorter blond into her embrace. They kissed gently, softly at first and then with greater ardor as the kiss deepened. They broke apart, Carmen continuing to kiss across Nicole's jaw line till she reached her ear. With the tip of her tongue, the taller girl traced the perfect outer shell of her lover's ear, eliciting a deep-throated moan. Nicole shivered in her arms and Carmen tightened her embrace as she whispered "We should most definitely celebrate."

"God I love how you say that, how your voice gets so low and silky warm. It turns me on just listening to you. Sometimes in school, I hear you talking and it just…I get chills."

~~~~~

"That's funny sometimes at school, especially during cheering practice, I think about going up to you and whispering in your ear about all the ways I want to touch you, all the things I want to do to you."

"Like what"

"I could show you"

"You could" Nicole fairly purred.

"Here? Now?"

"Can you think of a better time and place?"

"Your bedroom, the bed …as soon as we get there."

"You don't want to see the rest of the house?" the blonde teased as she stepped out of the circle of her girlfriend's arms. Still holding Carmen's hand Nicole walked through the great room back into the main entryway towards the staircase that led to the bedrooms upstairs. "There's a European style kitchen, makes the one at the diner look tiny."

They were at the foot of the staircase, Nicole on the first step Carmen right behind her running one hand over the firm tight globes of the blonde's ass, sliding further down to slip under the hem of the tight mini skirt the girl wore.

"Later, I'm only interested in one room right now"

"God Carm…" she stopped short and whirled around, dropping her arms around Carmen's shoulders as their lips met in a searing kiss. Small hands fumbled with the buttons on Carmen's shirt, sliding in to cup the rich satin covered mounds of her breasts. Carmen's hands continued kneading Nicole's ass, causing the skirt to slide up further exposing the blonde. They broke the kiss when the need for oxygen became overwhelming, the brunette laying her head on her companion's heaving chest.

"I should call work…try to find someone to cover for me tomorrow so we can spend the night."

"My cell is in my purse…by the door" Nicole kissed Carmen's forehead before physically turning her and giving her a nudge in the direction of said purse.

"Okay" Reaching into the black leather bag Carmen pulled out the cell phone and began to dial.

"Hello may I speak with Karen please…Hi Karen it's Carmen listen how are you doing for cash these days? Well see I was wondering if you might be interested in working for me tomorrow…6 AM to 2 PM…well it's…I know it's short notice but believe me I wouldn't ask if I didn't really need you to…Thanks Karen I appreciate it…I'll tell you all about it on Monday."

"There's a message on this thing. Did you know?"

"Really…I wonder who called" she looked at the display showing the incoming phone numbers. "Let me just listen to this and then I am all yours for the taking."

They began walking up the stairs hand in hand as Nicole listened to the message on her cell phone. Halfway through the message she stopped climbing the stairs "Shit!"

"What, what happened?"

"Fuck"

"Nikki?"

"We have to go back"

"Why?"

"I have to do something…I …I can't explain…lets just say a friend needs help ASAP"

"A `friend', Brooke right"

"Yeah"

"What's she done now?"

"I'm not sure" ((( I have a good idea though )))

"And you're supposed to help her how?"

"I have to go post bail"

Part Twenty Four

A/N: You can all blame Aeryn for this one or actually for most of it. Hope Libby is to blame for the rest.

~~~~~

"What!"

"I know"

"Why doesn't she call her parents or Sam?"

"Mike and Jane are out of town for the weekend and no way is she going to ask Sam, you know how it is with them."

"True. Where is she?"

"The message said that she was down in central booking and gave a number for me to call for the details."

"Why don't you call then. I'm just going to go to the bathroom before we head out."

"Okay"

They were back on the road in less than twenty minutes.

I'm sorry about this…"

"Don't worry I would go to if Lily or Sam called. Any ideas as to what she got picked up for?"

"I'm not even going to hazard a guess really."

"She's got a bit of a wild streak in her doesn't she, something only you really know about her huh Nikki?"

"Yeah"

"So you have no idea what for?"

"No"

"Not even a little one, not even a hunch a suspicion whatever you want to call it?"

"It… I… there are…"

"It's alright I don't need to know really"

"No I have my suspicions, you're right about that, but I don't want to betray Brooke's confidences either and I can' t talk to you about my suspicions without doing that."

"I can certainly respect that"

"Her timing sucks though"

"Yes it does big time."

"We could pick up where we left off tonight"

"I take it you plan on coming home tonight then?"

"I planned on spending the rest of the day with you"

"I figured in light of these new developments we would be parting company, so to speak."

"No come with"

"And how will we explain my presence there"

"We won't"

"We're going to have to don't you think? After all it's not like you and I are known to be friends or anything." There was a hint of bitterness in Carmen's voice that made Nicole wince.

"We'll tell her I was tutoring you in math. Helping out a fellow cheerleader and all that" Nicole tried to keep her tone light teasing but the silence that followed was awkward at best.

Nicole glanced over at Carmen in the seat beside her, head resting on the glass of the passenger side window, silent tears collecting in her eyes almost but not quite spilling over.

"Car…"

"The other day when I told Lily about us she said maybe you were ashamed of me, of being with me"

"No sweetheart that's not true"

"Isn't it. Nicole you're close enough, a good enough, friend to Brooke that she feels comfortable calling you to come bail her out of whatever mess she's gotten herself into. She knows that you will keep this between the two of you and she's right to believe that. You have your suspicions and you won't share them with me. I bet you anything Brooke would do the same for you, keep your secrets. And I think I know Brooke well enough to state that your coming out to her would not change her feelings for you in the least. She would still be your friend. She wouldn't run off and tell the world."

"That's true"

"Are you ashamed of being gay?"

"No…but then sometimes I don't know if I am you know. Maybe I'm bi."

"Okay, fair enough. Either way you're not ashamed of the fact that you're attracted to women right?"

"Right"

"So then it must be me that you're ashamed to tell her about, it's the only logical conclusion as far as I can tell. `Cause what else can I think Nic, I know you want me and I know you think you love me…"

"Stop I do not want to have this conversation while I'm driving."

"When Nikki?"

Nicole made her way to the right hand side of the freeway and pulled onto the shoulder of the road. She put the car in park, turning on the blinkers as she did so. Carmen continued to stare out the window as Nicole unbuckled her seat belt so that she could turn to face the brunette.

"Look at me" Carmen blinked back tears as she shook her head no. "Please look at me"

"I can't" the words came out in a sort of strangled sob, oddly pitched and tight.

"Fine" Nicole got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. She got in, straddling the brunette in the passenger seat as she fumbled for the lever on the side of the seat that would lower the seat back some. "Now you have to look at me." Reaching out, she cupped Carmen's chin gently turning her head till she faced Nicole and their eyes could meet. Nicole stroked her thumb over Carmen's cheek repetitively as she spoke with a quiet intensity.

"One, I am not ashamed of being attracted to other girls, other women. Two, I don't `think' I love you I `know' I love you. I am not ashamed of that, not at all, in fact loving you and being loved by you is probably the single biggest accomplishment of my life. Three, I am not ashamed of, nor embarrassed by my attraction to you. If I am embarrassed or ashamed of anything it's my behavior in the past, how I treated you, the things I said. I can't explain why I haven't told Brooke really. They only explanation I have is this: you and I" Using her free hand the blonde gestured back and forth between them "Us, our relationship is special, pure untainted by school… life there, who and how I am. I want to keep it that way you know? I'm not ready to share it with that part of my life not yet. I know you told Lily and I know she promised and I'm fine with that, really I am but …it's just…I am constantly amazed and grateful to be loved by you. I know it's selfish but I just want something that isn't, hasn't been corrupted by my mother, by Bitch Nicole, by popularity…I just want us for me. Can you understand that?" by now both girls were crying.

The heaviness that had seemed to weigh Carmen down before lifted and she wrapped her arms around Nicole's slighter frame. She leaned back as far as she could in the seat bringing her lover with her, enjoying the feel of the other girl's weight pressing into her. "I can understand that Nikki I can. I just…I hear the talk, the things the guys say when you walk down the halls and it makes me want to scream. I want to shout at them to stop looking like that at you, that you're taken …that you're with me, that you love me. I don't want it to always be like that Nicole, promise me it won't always be like that"

"I promise. I don't know when but I swear it won't always be like that."

They kissed, reassuring gentle kisses that reconfirmed their bond. Soon though their passion rose and their hands began to wander.

"Nikki we should get going"

**Kiss**

"Brooke can wait its not like she's going anywhere"

**Kiss**

"Nikki"

**Kiss**

"Oh God"

Nicole had by this time unbuttoned Carmen's shirt and reached in pushing the blue satin bra up exposing the brunette cheerleaders full heavy mounds to the chill air of the car. Coffee colored nipples, tightened with arousal and the coolness of the night air, called to Nicole and she bent her head down to draw one into her mouth.

"Nicoooohhhhhhhh"

Carmen slid her hand between them, past the bunched up skirt Nicole wore to brush over the sodden lace of her girlfriend's panties. Fingertips traced the outer edge of cloth, never going underneath till the blonde's deep throated moans told Carmen just how much Nicole wanted her touch. Long fingers slid through slick folds and Carmen's breath caught. It was a moment of perfect clarity one she would never forget, the feel of Nicole's moist heat enveloping her fingers as she touched her for the first time.

"Carmen…Yes." Nicole moved her hips up; reaching down she guided her lover's hand, directed fingers to her opening. Carmen slid inside her, thumb circling the hard nub of the blonde's clit, her arm pumping slightly as Nicole rode her hand.

"Jesus…Goddddd…I knew it, I knew it would be like this…Jesus fuck yes …I knew it I knew it."

With her free hand Carmen reached up to touch her fingertips to Nicole's open mouth, running them over her lower lip. She hissed as her fingers were sucked into the moist cavern of Nicole's mouth, her tongue wrapping around first one then two fingers. Drawing her fingers out with a pop, she brought them down to her nipple, coating it with the other girl's saliva before pinching the rigid peak between thumb and forefinger.

"Car…uuuuugggggghhhhh…oh God…so close"

Nicole let herself fall forward her head on the brunette's chest as she bucked frantically. Carmen's fingers curled inside Nicole applying pressure to her most sensitive spot, sending her over the edge into orgasm.

"Yeeesssssssssssss. Oh God. Oh baby…Carm…oh God"

Carmen stilled her hand between Nicole's legs, feeling the aftershocks that ran through her lover's body, while with her free hand she soothed the girl, running her fingers through fine blonde hair as she murmured "So beautiful, my angel. Thank you for that for letting me touch you like that." She felt a hot wetness on her chest and looked down to see tears falling from Nicole's eyes. "Hey now why are crying, did I hurt you, do something wrong?"

"No" Nicole raised her head and brought her lips to Carmen's kissing her deeply. "God no…you most definitely did not hurt me. Its just…I feel…I feel so connected to you. I love you so much."

"I love you too"

Carmen withdrew her fingers from inside Nicole entirely, the petite girl groaning at the loss of contact. She brought her fingers up to her face, inhaling her lover's scent before plunging them into her mouth to lick every drop of Nicole's arousal off.

"You taste good" the words uttered in a low throaty voice sent shivers down Nicole's spine, the muscles in her vagina contracting as well as lust once again shot through her.

"I want to touch you"

"We don't really have time…we should get going."

"What time is it?" Carmen looked at the display on the dash.

"We've been here almost an hour"

"That long"

"Yeah. You want me to drive?"

"Would you"

They arrived at the diner an hour or so later. They went upstairs and Nicole used the bathroom while Carmen checked her messages.

**Beep**

"Carmen it's Lily I got arrested at a protest downtown, I don't have enough on me to pay the fine and I can't reach my mother. The number is 555-2245. Also Brooke's here. I guess she tried calling Nicole but if you know how to reach her or if she's with you let her know."

Carmen hung up the phone as Nicole came back into the room.

"Any messages"

"Yeah Lily and I think I know why Brooke was arrested too."

"Huh?"

"The number you called to find out where and how much to get Brooke out."

"Yeah what about it?"

"Was it 555-2245"

"That's right"

"Well Lily was arrested this afternoon at a protest downtown, Brooke's with her, God knows why?"

"Ah I see. So are you coming downtown with me after all or do you want to call first and see if Lily's been sprung yet."

"I called she's still there."

"Let's go get the dynamic duo then shall we?"