Obvious
This is my first Bring it On fic, so please be gentle. It just jumped out at me when I saw the movie repeated on Sky for like the 15th time. It's Missy/Jan with and touch of Jan/Courtney and Cliff/Torrance. Please review so I want to write more as I think this could be a series!
Torrance and Cliff were obvious from the beginning. From the moment they met there was a connection, a vibe, a something. A something that was obvious from the moment he held the door open, to the first football game he made it to in his life, from the guitar wolf whistle, to the hours he spent making her a tape. It was obvious, expected, and I felt little surprise when he finally turned up in Florida and cheered us (though it was blatantly more for her) on.
I asked both of them, different times of course, but I asked. And man, how far into denial were they? I mean it's a river in Egypt, not a waterfall or an inland sea or whatever.
But anyway, as I was saying, it was Cliff and Torrance were obvious. Predictable.
Jan and I, well, that kinda blindsided me. And Jan. And Courtney. Basically everyone.
I'm not sure when it started. There was a vibe, and then there wasn't. He's complimenting me, then he's telling me how his fingers just slip sometimes. When he held me in the air his fingers never slipped. At times he nearly dropped me, but his fingers never slipped anywhere. I never bent over to give him a view of my ass, I never gave him a show, never shoved him up against a wall and -
Nevermind.
No, I don't want to talk about it.
No, I don't. I won't.
Well it was that damn car wash. Yeah, the "guys ogling my goodies" car wash. The making money to pay Sparky car wash. Damn Sparky. But that's a different rant. This one's the car wash.
The bikini-clad-water-fighting-car wash.
The Courtney and Jan against a Chevy car wash.
When he hits her with water and she shrieks and chases him with a sponge. When he laughs as the water soaks her suit, and she threatens him with a certain look in her eyes. And he backs her into a car with the hose and move in on her and they seem to be about a second away from making a porn star blush when Les dumps a bucket of suds over Jan and he's suddenly more interested in assuaging his male pride with his best friend than screwing his almost girlfriend against a Chevy.
I could add more details but what would be the point. It's the past.
From my point of view history started after the California State Championships. After the Torrance Vs. Courtney & Whitney showdown. When the gauntlet was thrown. When it was me and Les against everyone else.
"Why'd you do that?"
And I'm turning. Very quickly. And holding the towel around my chest. Very tightly.
"What?" I'm eloquent when I'm in shock.
He leans back against a locker.
"So this is what the Girl's Locker Room looks like." He's grinning at me. "It smells better than ours."
"I wouldn't know." Just call me ice; I'm totally chilled. I'm not at all freaked out about the fact that I'm wearing nothing but a towel and talking to Jan. "I've never seen 'em."
"These're better," he shrugs, "trust me."
"I do."
He grins.
"You do what?"
"I trust you." I turn away to start drying off. "I kinda have to. You throw me in the air on a regular basis." I'm not looking, I'm not looking. I'm just drying off. I am in no way curious to see if he's checking me out.
"I don't," he says.
"Huh?"
"I don't throw you anywhere. Steve lifts you. Torrance paired me with Courtney."
"Right." I pull on my jeans under the towel. Least I'm not naked anymore
"Right." There's something in his tone, something I'm not sure I want to hear. I've almost got my bra on and I don't want to think about what he might be saying.
"So."
"So," I reply. I'm done with the towel now and pulling a top over my head and.
And -
And it's stuck on something.
Dammit.
Why does this always happen to me! Why! I was so close to Ice Princess I had chill blains and now - NOW - I've got my top stuck over my head, my arms trapped and my chest visible to the world. The world, that right now, includes Jan.
Jan.
"Jan?"
"Yeah?"
Shit. He's still here. He's still watching. He's -
Wait. Why's he not laughing?
Cliff laughs at everything. Cliff's probably off laughing right now coz his sister's on a Cheerleading Squad. Probably having a ball with just the thought of it. Of me. He'd be in hysterics if he could see me now. So would Les. Probably. He'd laugh it up.
But Jan's not laughing. He's just watching me. Suddenly I can feel my skin burning.
"You're not laughing."
"No."
I struggle a bit more to get lose.
"You're blushing" he says, finally.
"Am I?" It's a weak shot, but I'm just hoping -
"Yeah".
Even with my eyes covered I can feel him move closer.
"Jan, I -"
"Shh." His finger brushes my lips. "Don't."
"Jan?"
"Do you trust me?" I can feel his breath against the back of my neck.
"Yeah." My voice shakes a little
"Then trust me."
His hands are in my hair, gently untangling locks still wet from the shower. He takes his time, moving slowly, but I can feel the heat of his breath on my skin as it speeds up. He runs his hands through my hair, and suddenly this has nothing to do with cheerleading or winning or even getting out of this bind I'm in. This is purely about touch.
And he touches me. Running his fingertips down my arms so gently it's as if he never quite hits skin, just brushes along past my elbows with this feather-light touch that causes my breath to catch in my throat.
His hands reach my shoulders, and I let him turn me to face him, as one hand rises to drift along the edge of my jaw. The other slips down past my breasts to caress the skin of my stomach, then slips around my waist as he steps in close.
His breath warms my lips now as I shiver in his embrace. We're so close - so close - as his hand reaches round behind my head, pulling my mouth towards his and -
His hand frees my shirt from the clasp of my necklace and I'm free.
I hesitate, and in the second it takes me to pull my shirt down and make a decision to kiss the boy now, he's back leaning against the lockers as if nothing had happened.
"So," he says, and something inside me grins as I register that he's trying to disguise the fact he's breathing hard.
"So," I reply, trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible.
"What was all that about? In the Gym."
"Huh?" I'm pretty sure we're in the Locker Room. The Gym, what Gym?
"The showdown with Courtney and Whitney. You and Les."
Oh that Gym.
"That was, well. You were there, right?"
"Yeah. You and Les, your show of support."
I shrug.
"I was right wasn't I. We're gonna stick by Torr, go over to Florida and win."
"I know, it's just, I don't know. I thought you trusted me."
"I do." I falter, "I mean, we just -"
He dismisses my words with a gesture.
"If you trusted me you'd have told me."
"I do trust you." Okay that sounded plaintive even to me.
"You don't. You just dismissed me. Like only you and Les can have a conscience about this shit."
I don't know what to say because if I'm being totally honest, he's kinda right.
"We just thought that given you and" - must say her name without hatred - "Courtney, you'd already chosen, like, a side in this."
"Courtney." He says it without emotion - like it's just another word.
"I'm sorry Jan," I'm floundering, sinking in the deep water, "We didn't think you - "
"Courtney," he says again.
"And her spanky pants" I try, going for the cheap laugh at the blonde bitch's expense.
"Courtney."
I'm on a level so far beyond uncomfortable right now that it's not true. Fifteen minutes ago he was watching me dress, five minutes back he was writing his name with his fingers across my skin and this close - this close - to kissing me. And now? Now we're talking about his damn almost girlfriend.
I look away. I just can't stand it anymore.
"Missy." I can't help but notice that he whispers my name with a hell of a lot more emotion that hers.
"I don't think you're allowed in here" I say, staring at the floor.
"Missy." He's stepping closer again, his hands reaching out for me.
I step back.
"Just go." It's barely above a whisper, and I'm not looking but I can hear his retreat. I glance up in time to see him standing at the door, myriad emotions playing across his features.
And then he's gone. And the door swings closed behind him.
After a moment I start to pack up my things, wrap up my towel and dirty practice clothes, throw toiletries into my bag. I already know I'm not going to tell anyone about this, not Torrance, not Les and certainly not Cliff.
If I don't tell anyone, it didn't happen.
I walk out of the Locker Room, carrying my bag, holding my head high. Nothing happened today. I didn't just let a guy I like touch my skin but leave before he kisses me. I didn't just bring up his semi-girlfriend after the event. I didn't savour every tiny touch of his hands and the warmth of his breath of my skin.
Nothing happened just now. Nothing at all.
Now if only my skin would stop tingling.
This is my first Bring it On fic, so please be gentle. It just jumped out at me when I saw the movie repeated on Sky for like the 15th time. It's Missy/Jan with and touch of Jan/Courtney and Cliff/Torrance. Please review so I want to write more as I think this could be a series!
Torrance and Cliff were obvious from the beginning. From the moment they met there was a connection, a vibe, a something. A something that was obvious from the moment he held the door open, to the first football game he made it to in his life, from the guitar wolf whistle, to the hours he spent making her a tape. It was obvious, expected, and I felt little surprise when he finally turned up in Florida and cheered us (though it was blatantly more for her) on.
I asked both of them, different times of course, but I asked. And man, how far into denial were they? I mean it's a river in Egypt, not a waterfall or an inland sea or whatever.
But anyway, as I was saying, it was Cliff and Torrance were obvious. Predictable.
Jan and I, well, that kinda blindsided me. And Jan. And Courtney. Basically everyone.
I'm not sure when it started. There was a vibe, and then there wasn't. He's complimenting me, then he's telling me how his fingers just slip sometimes. When he held me in the air his fingers never slipped. At times he nearly dropped me, but his fingers never slipped anywhere. I never bent over to give him a view of my ass, I never gave him a show, never shoved him up against a wall and -
Nevermind.
No, I don't want to talk about it.
No, I don't. I won't.
Well it was that damn car wash. Yeah, the "guys ogling my goodies" car wash. The making money to pay Sparky car wash. Damn Sparky. But that's a different rant. This one's the car wash.
The bikini-clad-water-fighting-car wash.
The Courtney and Jan against a Chevy car wash.
When he hits her with water and she shrieks and chases him with a sponge. When he laughs as the water soaks her suit, and she threatens him with a certain look in her eyes. And he backs her into a car with the hose and move in on her and they seem to be about a second away from making a porn star blush when Les dumps a bucket of suds over Jan and he's suddenly more interested in assuaging his male pride with his best friend than screwing his almost girlfriend against a Chevy.
I could add more details but what would be the point. It's the past.
From my point of view history started after the California State Championships. After the Torrance Vs. Courtney & Whitney showdown. When the gauntlet was thrown. When it was me and Les against everyone else.
"Why'd you do that?"
And I'm turning. Very quickly. And holding the towel around my chest. Very tightly.
"What?" I'm eloquent when I'm in shock.
He leans back against a locker.
"So this is what the Girl's Locker Room looks like." He's grinning at me. "It smells better than ours."
"I wouldn't know." Just call me ice; I'm totally chilled. I'm not at all freaked out about the fact that I'm wearing nothing but a towel and talking to Jan. "I've never seen 'em."
"These're better," he shrugs, "trust me."
"I do."
He grins.
"You do what?"
"I trust you." I turn away to start drying off. "I kinda have to. You throw me in the air on a regular basis." I'm not looking, I'm not looking. I'm just drying off. I am in no way curious to see if he's checking me out.
"I don't," he says.
"Huh?"
"I don't throw you anywhere. Steve lifts you. Torrance paired me with Courtney."
"Right." I pull on my jeans under the towel. Least I'm not naked anymore
"Right." There's something in his tone, something I'm not sure I want to hear. I've almost got my bra on and I don't want to think about what he might be saying.
"So."
"So," I reply. I'm done with the towel now and pulling a top over my head and.
And -
And it's stuck on something.
Dammit.
Why does this always happen to me! Why! I was so close to Ice Princess I had chill blains and now - NOW - I've got my top stuck over my head, my arms trapped and my chest visible to the world. The world, that right now, includes Jan.
Jan.
"Jan?"
"Yeah?"
Shit. He's still here. He's still watching. He's -
Wait. Why's he not laughing?
Cliff laughs at everything. Cliff's probably off laughing right now coz his sister's on a Cheerleading Squad. Probably having a ball with just the thought of it. Of me. He'd be in hysterics if he could see me now. So would Les. Probably. He'd laugh it up.
But Jan's not laughing. He's just watching me. Suddenly I can feel my skin burning.
"You're not laughing."
"No."
I struggle a bit more to get lose.
"You're blushing" he says, finally.
"Am I?" It's a weak shot, but I'm just hoping -
"Yeah".
Even with my eyes covered I can feel him move closer.
"Jan, I -"
"Shh." His finger brushes my lips. "Don't."
"Jan?"
"Do you trust me?" I can feel his breath against the back of my neck.
"Yeah." My voice shakes a little
"Then trust me."
His hands are in my hair, gently untangling locks still wet from the shower. He takes his time, moving slowly, but I can feel the heat of his breath on my skin as it speeds up. He runs his hands through my hair, and suddenly this has nothing to do with cheerleading or winning or even getting out of this bind I'm in. This is purely about touch.
And he touches me. Running his fingertips down my arms so gently it's as if he never quite hits skin, just brushes along past my elbows with this feather-light touch that causes my breath to catch in my throat.
His hands reach my shoulders, and I let him turn me to face him, as one hand rises to drift along the edge of my jaw. The other slips down past my breasts to caress the skin of my stomach, then slips around my waist as he steps in close.
His breath warms my lips now as I shiver in his embrace. We're so close - so close - as his hand reaches round behind my head, pulling my mouth towards his and -
His hand frees my shirt from the clasp of my necklace and I'm free.
I hesitate, and in the second it takes me to pull my shirt down and make a decision to kiss the boy now, he's back leaning against the lockers as if nothing had happened.
"So," he says, and something inside me grins as I register that he's trying to disguise the fact he's breathing hard.
"So," I reply, trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible.
"What was all that about? In the Gym."
"Huh?" I'm pretty sure we're in the Locker Room. The Gym, what Gym?
"The showdown with Courtney and Whitney. You and Les."
Oh that Gym.
"That was, well. You were there, right?"
"Yeah. You and Les, your show of support."
I shrug.
"I was right wasn't I. We're gonna stick by Torr, go over to Florida and win."
"I know, it's just, I don't know. I thought you trusted me."
"I do." I falter, "I mean, we just -"
He dismisses my words with a gesture.
"If you trusted me you'd have told me."
"I do trust you." Okay that sounded plaintive even to me.
"You don't. You just dismissed me. Like only you and Les can have a conscience about this shit."
I don't know what to say because if I'm being totally honest, he's kinda right.
"We just thought that given you and" - must say her name without hatred - "Courtney, you'd already chosen, like, a side in this."
"Courtney." He says it without emotion - like it's just another word.
"I'm sorry Jan," I'm floundering, sinking in the deep water, "We didn't think you - "
"Courtney," he says again.
"And her spanky pants" I try, going for the cheap laugh at the blonde bitch's expense.
"Courtney."
I'm on a level so far beyond uncomfortable right now that it's not true. Fifteen minutes ago he was watching me dress, five minutes back he was writing his name with his fingers across my skin and this close - this close - to kissing me. And now? Now we're talking about his damn almost girlfriend.
I look away. I just can't stand it anymore.
"Missy." I can't help but notice that he whispers my name with a hell of a lot more emotion that hers.
"I don't think you're allowed in here" I say, staring at the floor.
"Missy." He's stepping closer again, his hands reaching out for me.
I step back.
"Just go." It's barely above a whisper, and I'm not looking but I can hear his retreat. I glance up in time to see him standing at the door, myriad emotions playing across his features.
And then he's gone. And the door swings closed behind him.
After a moment I start to pack up my things, wrap up my towel and dirty practice clothes, throw toiletries into my bag. I already know I'm not going to tell anyone about this, not Torrance, not Les and certainly not Cliff.
If I don't tell anyone, it didn't happen.
I walk out of the Locker Room, carrying my bag, holding my head high. Nothing happened today. I didn't just let a guy I like touch my skin but leave before he kisses me. I didn't just bring up his semi-girlfriend after the event. I didn't savour every tiny touch of his hands and the warmth of his breath of my skin.
Nothing happened just now. Nothing at all.
Now if only my skin would stop tingling.