CHAPTER 15

     Dylan didn't know what to make of what had just happened between her and Carly in the locker room.It had happened so first,she had answered without thinking and it was after she had said the words that she realized what she had done.Carly had her eyes tightly closed but looking upwards.She had panicked,out of fear of what could have happened the moment she told her the truth.Their friendship had come so easily,they had clicked.She didn't want to scare her away because of her raging teenage hormones.She wasn't sure if Carly would want to hang around her after she confessed about her feelings.Not that she was afraid she wouldn't get another friend,but because she wanted her to remain her friend even though she doubted her feelings would go away.Had she been looking at her,she would have noticed the look on Carly's face,she would have seen that Carly wasn't asking this because she was afraid of her.She was asking it because the same thing was happening to her and wanted to sort things out.Now it was too late because Carly now probably thought that she had been playing with her all along.And she felt stupid for that.Even more because she hadn't tried to ask further why Carly had asked that.Of course she knew why,she had seen the look,she had seen her reaction whenever they touched.At first she had thought that by pulling her hand away,Carly was seeing through her,that she knew she was gay,and was trying to avoid anything from happening but now after Carly's question she realized that she was just as confused and as questioning as she was,which could only mean one thing.

    They tried really hard to make the next minutes they spent together less awkward,especially Carly.She was acting very dismissive of what had happened,trying to involve her in her jokes.She went with it but she didn't fail to notice the struggle on Carly's face and the way she didn't want their eyes to meet for more than a second.At some point she had thought of taking action,do something that was probably stupid especially since they were in public so she had settled for a talk. They were walking along the road that would take her to her house which they got to first since Carly lived a little further away.

 "About what you asked me earlier,"she said when they were just about to get to her house. "I didn't know what to say.You caught me by surprise and a thousand thoughts ran through my head."

 "We don't have to talk about it Dylan.It was a stupid question.Of course we are friends and that's all that matters."

 "Are you sure?Because I..."

 "Just forget I asked and let's just move on," Carly replied then bit her lower lip as if in pain.That was when she looked up and met her eyes and held a little longer then added in a low voice,"Please,I don't want to complicate our friendship.Its so new and probably the best I'll ever have.So,please,let's just put this behind us."

Dylan swallowed then nodded slowly but reluctantly.Her chance had slipped right past her because of her stupidity and now she needed to respect her wish.The look in her eyes wasn't a look she wanted to see again and so she agreed to maintain their friendship.

 "Do you want me to give you a ride a little further?" she asked tapping on her bike.

 "As much as how fun it was yesterday,I think I'll walk for the remaining distance,enjoy the nature and all," Carly replied with a smile."It's not too far anyway.But we can do it tomorrow," she added when Dylan seemed to have taken the reply to heart.

    "Okay,see you tomorrow then?"

    "Yeah,"Carly  replied and started off to the direction of her home.

Dylan pushed her bike along their driveway,left it lying outside on the lawn and went up their porch.Knowing her mother wasn't back from work yet,she  took the key they always left in a  small leather like pouch that had been embedded on a swing chair just outside so that it looked like just a style made on it.She took a quick snack once she had taken her bag in her bedroom then headed out again with her ball,this time to her back porch.She dribbled it down the steps then towards the area her mother had chosen for her practice.A long pole with a basket ball loop had been erected there once they bought the house.Her mother had chosen this particular one with enough space in the back just for that purpose;so she could have enough room for exercise.There was a swimming pool just beside it;not large like her next door neighbor's which she had seen through her bedroom window upstairs but it was enough.Back in Louisiana they didn't have one,so she was content with just that. 

Today she was using a lot more energy than she used every other day.Her brain was working like a machine and she needed it to stop.Thoughts about Carly,about how she had stupidly ignored the the flags,the signals until it was too late.About how she had just declined her offer to walk or rather,ride her to at least halfway home.About how she might just as well have created a reef between them.The only good thing was that Carly still wanted to be friends.But how would the following days be like?Would they joke around as always? She dribbled the ball,passing it from one hand to another past the pool and when she neared the pole,she leapt up with as most energy as she could and tried to score,only for the ball to hit rim of the metallic hoop and come back rolling towards her.She kicked it with her leg in in frustration,so hard that flew over  the gate that separated them from their neighbors where it landed with a thud.A dog barked.She walked towards the gate and peeped to see if there was someone who could pass the ball to her.

    "Nice shot,peeping tom," she heard someone say.She recognized that voice.Even though they hadn't said a word to each other despite them being neighbors,that voice was iconic and no one would miss it.It wasn't surprising that those were the first words that came from her  mouth.

    "Hi Emily,"she greeted with the most polite tone she could gather.

Instead of replying,Emily threw the ball over the gate.Dylan caught it before it went past her and into the pool. "Thanks."

    "Just be glad it didn't hit a window or my dog.Anyway,just be careful doing whatever boring thing you are doing.I  like getting along with my neighbors."

'Sure you do.' Dylan almost said it out loud but she didn't want to awaken the wrath of a goddess she didn't know much about.And also because she didn't want her to stay longer.

 "Okay,I will me more careful,thanks for returning it," she replied dismissively.When Emily left,she bounced the ball lazily then sat in the middle of the court with placed it in between her legs and held her head in her hands.She sat there in that position for along time until it started getting cold.That was when she moved back into the house,took a bath and went to start preparing dinner before her mother arrived.

     *****

   For the first few days,they had struggled to bring back their playful conversations and it got easier later after a while.She made sure she was careful of what she said or did every time they were around.Sometimes Carly would walk with her home whenever her brother had practice.The soccer practice always ended after every other sport in the school,other times she would go with Carl and Dylan would take a long solitary ride home.The best times were when they went for practice together.When Carly wasn't looking,she would steal glances at her,watch her as she went through the routines that Emily came up with like almost every time but Carly would go through them so perfectly.Her body was so swift and so flexible,especially when it came to the leg 'thing' as she liked calling it.The girls would lift their leg in a very straight position in front of them within a second then change into another routine,some that looked more like ballet dancing. She had once tried it but had only made it halfway and when she tried to go further,she had developed a cramp in the leg.Carly had ended up laughing at her then massaged her until it was better.They had shared a moment then,the first time Carly had touched her after they had agreed not to again.She had watched her hand move slowly and gently on her skin and it had taken all her willpower to refuse the urge to touch her,to place her own hand on hers.To steer her mind away from that,she had pulled her leg free even though she wanted it to remain in that position forever and cleared her throat.

 "So,how comes you are so good at all the routines yet you told me it wasn't your choice to be a cheerleader?"

 "I guess I'm just naturally flexible," Carly replied after a sigh. "Will you be okay going to the showers on your own or should I help you?"

Dylan panicked.Of course Carly meant it as just a friend,to support her so she wouldn't fall and break her leg or something but the thought of coming into contact with her again made her unsure if she could manage to keep up with the false pretense of a friendship.She rose up and walked a few steps.

 "I think I  can manage," she replied.Or should she have let her,whatever may have come.No that was okay for the minute and her keg was actually quite fine.So she led the way to the showers.However when they got there,the scenario was much different from the other days.The shower stalls were all occupied except for two that stood next to each other.It was always easier the other days because they didn't have to shower next to each other.They both stopped and looked at each other.Dylan's first thought was to wait until someone else was through or go home to take a shower there,but she was reeking from all the sweat acquired during practice.At that moment,a girl noticed their hesitation and decided to tease them.

 "You two shy to take a shower in in front of all of us?" The other girls laughed loudly.It was Carly who replied.

 "I take a shower even with a lot more than you,why would I be shy?" With that she proceeded into one stall with her towel and began to strip.

Dylan's eyes flew wide open.She hadn't been in a situation like this.It would have been better if it was someone else,but the girl she was having feelings for stripping naked right in front of her,that was something else.She quickly grabbed her towel and entered into the other stall,her heart racing.She stripped then turned on her shower.When the cold spray hit her,she closed her eyes and let the water cascade down her body.She did it also because the urge to turn right to the next stall where Carly was, was so strong.When she opened her eyes,she found Carly looking at her but looked away quickly when their eyes met.To make matters worse,everyone else left and they were alone.None of them uttered a word for the few minutes it took to shower and head back to  their lockers to dress.At least they were a few paces away from each other's.

 "Shit!" she heard Carly curse.When she turned,she was frowning at her locker.

 "What is it?"

 "I didn't remember to carry extra moisturizing cream and I used the last bit yesterday."

 "You can use my lotion," she replied and went forward to hand it to her.

 "Thanks," Carly replied then brought it close to her nose. "Lavender?"she asked with a smile.

 "Yeah,always my favorite."

 "Damn,that's why you always smell so good." 

The comment was said so innocently and probably Carly meant it in the same way but Dylan couldn't take it anymore.By then,she had already worn a tee shirt but Carly was still in a towel.And she looked so enticingly beautiful in it.She moved closer to her without a word.Her eyes not blinking and never leaving hers.Carly's smile slowly disappeared when she saw and realized what was happening.She saw her eyes move from side to side rapidly in confusion but proceeded forward.She stopped right in front of her,shifting her gaze from her eyes to her lips then back to her eyes again.She raised her hand slowly then let the tips of her fingers trail down Carly's exposed arm.At this point,she didn't know what she was doing but adrenaline surged with desire took hold of her,causing a surge of electricity to run through her.Her heart was racing a thousand miles per second and she could hear it's sound as it pumped what felt like gallons of blood through out her body.