"Swimming Suits and Almost Kisses"
It was almost exactly two-thirty on a Saturday afternoon when Peyton Sawyer looked up to see two girls walking on the opposite side of the pool. One of the girls, the taller of the two, had bright red florescent hair. The other one, the one that was drawing the most attention from the blonde, was a brunette. A stunning brunette that if she hadn't of caught herself, she would be gaping at- mouth wide open. But how attractive and punk rock would that be?
The blonde looked to her left. Her best friend since Elementary School, Haley James, sat tanning right beside her. The two had started coming to this pool every Saturday in the summer since the sixth grade [now the two were in their sophomore year of college. It was just like them, pick a routine and stick to it. Haley liked order and routine, and Peyton feared changed… even though she had recently gone through the biggest change in her life. One that only her best friend knew about… that she rather kiss a girl than a boy.
Peyton glanced back up, only to find that the brunette was staring back at her. The blonde quickly averted her eyes and pretended to be interested in what a little brunette haired boy was doing in the pool.
"Oh, god, just go talk to her!"
Peyton snapped her head back around to a laughing Haley, "What?"
"Go talk to her, that girl you've been googly-eyeing for the past ten minutes," Haley said, grinning like mad. She hadn't exactly been oblivious to the fact that Peyton swung the other way. In fact, she was pretty sure she knew before Peyton did.
"No, I can't…" Peyton stuttered out, stealing a quick glance back to the other side of the pool. The brunette was applying sunscreen to the red head's back and for a second Peyton desperately wished to be that girl.
"Why not?" Haley asked.
"Look at her, she's completely out of my league! I mean, she's gorgeous… not to mention her friend slash maybe girlfriend slash she probably isn't even into girls!" Peyton argued, trying to defend herself.
"So?"
"So, I haven't even gone through… I don't know, gay puberty!" Peyton said.
"Gay, what?"
"I saw it off Gray Matters last night. She was just outed and was going to her first girl bar and she didn't want to talk to anybody there and her friend said she hadn't even gone through gay puberty yet!"
Haley stood still for a moment then burst into hysterics.
"What?"
"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!"
Peyton couldn't control her giggles as she realized that it had probably been one of the weirdest things she had ever said.
--
On the other side of the pool, the two girls had begun to sun bathe as well. Brooke, the brunette, had been checking out Peyton as well. There was something about her. Normally a girl with curly blonde hair in a black bathing suits with while skulls would turn her off. But the way the girl laughed, how her lips moved when she talked seemed to mesmerize Brooke.
"Psst, Rachel," she whispered over to the red head.
"Hmm?" Rachel answered, putting on a gentle layer of Chap Stick on her lips.
"What do you think of that blonde over there?" Brooke said, nodding in the direction of the girl that had caught her eye. Rachel sat up on her elbows and lowered her sunglasses.
"The one in the pink? She's a babe," Rachel said, "Do you think she likes red heads?"
Brooke rolled her eyes, "Not that one. Her friend. The curly haired one."
She watched as Peyton met her eyes again, then as if she were caught, she watched as Peyton bashfully turned her attention elsewhere. Rachel, however, broke the silence, "I didn't think you were into the whole, skulls and eyeliner thing."
"I'm not, but on her… it works, you know… it's kind of," Brooke paused, biting her lip, trying to think of the best word to describe the blonde, "it's… kind of sexy?"
Rachel rolled her eyes at her friends, "Whatever, loser, she's cute, but not my type. Plus, dare I mention you just broke up with the 'slutmachine' a few days ago? She totally cheated on you, girl."
A pain stabbed through Brooke heart. She had been trying to think of that. "Thanks for the reminder," Brooke said, rolling her eyes.
"Sorry, babe. How about a drink? Totally on me!" Rachel said, it was her way of apologizing.
Brooke smiled, "You know I can never resist a free drink."
Rachel smiled, knowing her best friend all to well, "What's your flavor today?"
"Surprise me," Brooke said, lying back down on her pool chair, but not without sneaking a peek at her eye candy for the day.
--
"Please, Haley? Please?" Peyton begged.
"Fine, I'll go get you a damn root beer." Haley submissed, sliding on her jeans and stuffing her wallet into her back pocket. Her hips swayed back and forth before she finally got to the lobby. It was nice they served refreshments to the outdoor pool. Or else, she wasn't sure how the two girls would have survived the summer they had discovered pink lemonade.
Haley finally reached the end of the girl's locker room and was about to walk into the lobby when she felt herself collide with a warm someone. Haley, of course, being Princess Klutz fell to the ground, accidentally pulling her partner in crime on top of her.
"Ow, I'm so sorry," she heard the person mumble. Haley slowly opened her eyes to look into the deepest chocolate eyes she had ever seen. For a moment, she was lost.
"Are you okay?" Haley was broken from her trance.
"Oh yeah, fine. Sorry. It was probably all my fault. I think I was dropped on my head one too many times when I was a baby," Haley laughed lightly. Rachel smiled at the girl beneath her. For a moment, the two laid there before someone coughed.
Haley blushed and Rachel quickly got off her. She extended a hand to help Haley up. It was then she realized where she knew the girl.
"Hey, you're sitting across the pool from us!" Haley gasped. She was the friend slash maybe girl friend of the brunette that Peyton couldn't stop staring at.
"I'm Rachel," the red head said slightly giggling.
"I'm Haley," she replied, "So I know this is a totally weird question and you might think I'm a freak, but what the hell… is your friend gay?"
"What?" Rachel asked, no one had been quite THAT literal about asking their preferences before. Most people didn't catch on until they were told. Rachel's face fell, she wanted to know if Brooke was gay. She probably liked her. Damn, what a loss.
"You probably think I'm a freak."
"No, it's not that… being gay isn't a freak thing." Rachel said.
"Oh," Haley laughed, "I'm not gay! My friend is…" she trailed off. Peyton hadn't exactly explained if she wasn't supposed to tell anyone but she had opened up to her which probably meant she was open to anyone knowing, "… and she thinks you friend is gorgeous, and she is too chicken shit to got talk to her… something about not going through gay puberty?"
Rachel laughed, with a grin. So she wasn't after Brooke after all, "Yeah, we both are gay. My friend… she kind of just got out of a messy relationship though."
"Oh," Haley's face fell. Peyton would be sad.
"But she was totally checking out your curly hair-ed friend," Rachel dragged, "so maybe there's hope? She said something about her skulls, being sexy?"
Haley grinned, "Maybe there is, after all."
"What about you? Are you seeing any girl?" Rachel asked, biting her lip.
Haley laughed, "Not gay, remember? I'm actually seeing a boy."
Rachel's face nearly fell. Her gaydar was good, maybe it was off today. Rachel shrugged, then leaned in, whispering to Haley.
"Your loss," Rachel's hot breath hit against Haley's ear making her shudder. Rachel smirked and walked behind her towards the pool. Haley turned around to stare at the red head. After a few seconds, Rachel turned around and saw Haley staring at her. She blew her a gentle kiss before turning around, but not before she saw the heat rise up to Haley's cheeks. Oh yeah, Rachel was sure she could hook the girl around her finger.
--
"How much do you love me?" Haley said, setting the root beer by Peyton.
Peyton squealed. "SO much!"
"No," Haley said, grinning, "You're going to love me more."
Peyton gave her best friend a quizzical face.
"The brunette you've been gawking over?" she grinned, "May think your skulls are sexy."
Peyton's mouth dropped open.
"And she may or less has been checking you out as well." Haley grinned.
"How- what, when huh," Peyton stumbled out, "How did you find this out?"
"I ran into her friend in the lobby… quite literally, I think I may have a bruise, but yeah. She's gay, Rachel's gay," Haley paused, "I feel so out of the loop."
Haley had been so distracted by her own thoughts she hardly had noticed the giant grin spreading across her best friend's face.
It was then they heard a soft voice.
--
"Oh bestest friend ever!" Rachel called, "No alcohol, apparently it's against the law or something to serve alcohol when there are minors around. So I bough you a coke," Rachel continued, glancing over at Haley who was undoubtly telling her friend about their encounter.
"Damn, I was thinking maybe if I could get some liquor in me I might go talk to Blondie over there." Brooke said, sighing in the direction of the now grinning blonde.
"You might not need any liquor."
"What are you saying?"
"I have a little run in with the girl in the pink who may have let it slip that the blonde in the skulls you think are sexy might have been checking you out," Rachel said, sipping her own Coke.
Within two seconds, Brooke was already out of the chair.
--
"Hi," Brooke said softly. She had practically jumped out of her chair with joy to come sweep the lovely blonde off her feet and when she finally got to her desire, she had completely forgotten to think of something to say.
"Hi," Peyton said slowly, taking in every inch of Brooke. Now that she could see the girl up close, she was even more beautiful than Peyton had thought.
"Well, it seems that you left your friend Rachel over there by herself, so I think I'm going to keep her company while you two… get better acquainted." Haley said, watching the two never take their eyes off of each other. Was that what love at first sight looked like? Haley smiled content with herself before she went to give her new friend Rachel company.
"I'm Brooke," Brooke finally said.
"Peyton," Peyton breathed.
"Can I sit down?" Brooke asked, motioning to were Haley had just been siting.
"Of course," Peyton smiled.
--
"Hey, Rachel," Haley said, sitting in what was once Brooke's chair. "We are genius''"
Rachel grinned when she heard the soft voice coming from the beautiful girl. "What makes you say that?"
"Totally getting Brooke and Peyton together," Haley said, "Have you seen the way they look at each other? I haven't seen anything like it before!"
Rachel nodded; it was kind of how she felt when she was staring into Haley's eyes when they had stumbled upon each other. She highly doubted Haley had noticed that connection. "They look like they're going to hit it off fast," Rachel agreed, "So, who's this…" it pained her, "boyfriend", she nearly spit the word out with venom, "what's he like?"
"Oh, his name is Nathan, we've been together for about two and a half years. Got together middle of senior year in high school," Haley said.
"Yeah, but what is he like?" Rachel asked.
"Oh you know… a boy?" Haley said, not really wanting to talk about Nathan. She wanted to talk about Rachel. She had this urge to get to know everything about her. "What about you? A girlfriend?"
Rachel shook her head, "Nope. Single. Free as a bird." Rachel thought, Hopefully not for long.
--
"Favorite Show?" Peyton asked.
"That would have to be South Of Nowhere," Brooke grinned, "You?"
"You'll laugh," Peyton said, blushing.
"What is it?" Brooke grinned.
Peyton paused, "America's Funniest Home Videos."
Brooke tried to stifle a laugh. Peyton shot daggers at her.
"I told you; I'm such a nerd!" Peyton said, hiding her face in her hands.
"Oh, don't be embarrassed," Brooke said, uncovering Peyton's face, "it's cute… really," Brooke said, gazing into the blonde's eyes. For a moment they were swimming in each other's eyes. Peyton bit her lip, very aware of how close they were sitting and that Broke hadn't let go of her hands. Brooke grinned when Peyton bit her lip, warmth splashed over her. It had to be the cutest thing she had ever seen.
Brooke let out a slow breath and Peyton slowly leaned in. Brooke braced herself when she suddenly felt cold water splash at her. She gave out a yelp of surprise. A nine year old girl had jumped into the water- splashing both girls. In shock, Peyton had jumped back. The moment was ruined.
--
"Damn it," Haley said. "Did you see that? Stupid kids."
Honestly, Rachel hadn't seen the almost kiss between the two girls. She had been too busy staring at Haley, which thankfully, went unnoticed, "Um, yeah. Stupid boy."
"It was a girl," Haley corrected her, looking back at Rachel.
"Oh yeah, boy- girl- whatever," Rachel said.
"Liar," Haley grinned.
"What?"
"You totally weren't even paying attention!"
"Maybe not," Rachel admitted, caught.
"What were you thinking about?" Haley asked.
So the blonde hadn't caught on, Rachel grinned, "A tickle fight," she gaspd, lunging to tickle Haley's sides.
--
"Damn it," Peyton said, checking her cell phone. Normally, she loved her job, but she wanted to kill it right now. She had been talking with Brooke for two straight hours, and she had to go get ready for work. "I have to leave. I have work tonight."
"Where do you work?" Brooke asked.
"Tric, it's this all ages club." Peyton explained.
"Well, maybe I could stop by?" Brooke questioned, "We're new here, and you know. We have to be up to status on all the good club, you know," Brooke said, as if that justified a good excuse to see Peyton.
Peyton grinned, suddenly liking her job again, "That'd be great."
"I'll see you there?" Brooke asked.
"Of course," Peyton replied.
--
"Do I need to start planning wedding invitations?" Brooke asked, she had caught Rachel and Haley in an awkward tickle fight. Haley blushed and immediately jumped away. Rachel frowned.
"I'm straight," Haley declared, more to herself than Brooke.
"Or so you say," Rachel flirted, "Don't act like you didn't want to accidentally want to touch my boobs while in our hot tickle fight."
"You wish," Haley grinned, blushing.
"Well, now that I might be physically sick, Peyton wanted to come and tell you she needs to leave for work," Brooke said.
"Oh right," Haley said, standing up, "I'll talk to you guys later?"
"Definitely," Rachel answered.
Brooke grinned when she sat down after Haley left.
"What are you grinning about?" Rachel asked.
"We're going clubbing tonight."