| |
|
"All right, pencils down."
The teacher on the television screen smiled at her students. Her students smiled back, putting their pencils and test papers down in unison. There were no stragglers. No kids trying to scribble down a final answer or to sneak a quick peek at their neighbor's paper to try and change something in two seconds flat.
In fact, the sound of the pencils hitting the desks had almost been in perfect chorus.
"Very good, class. Now, I will collect your papers."
Again, the students complied with the utmost enthusiasm. Almost as if they were waiting for something.
The scene flash-forwarded, showing a pile of newly marked tests on the teacher's desk. "Perfect scores, all of you!" she beamed with pride. "Pizza party tomorrow, as promised!"
The classroom erupted into a blend of cheers and whoops as music swelled in the background. Then after a few seconds, the scene faded away, and the teacher reappeared on the screen, back-dropped by a blue tapestry, alone.
"See how easy it is? By giving the promise of rewards to students, you can ensure maximum performance from each and every one of them. We don't truly recommend you start with money or expensive foods--but perhaps some praise, or some candy, or *anything else* that your class may find... appealing. Remember, never, *ever* be afraid to experiment... or try new things. You might be glad you did.
"That concludes this instructional tape, but be sure to order the rest of the exciting 'Alternative Instruction' video collection! Volumes Two through Fifteen are only $19.95 each. So long, and good teaching!"
* * *
_An Abandoned High School -- Somewhere In The United States_
Back in the real world, the video ended, and was cut off.
"I'll turn the lights back on now," a teacher-in-training said to her lone practice "student". Said student did not look very interested in much of anything that was going on at the moment.
"All right," the beautiful blond teacher said after re-illuminating the classroom. "Alice, is it?"
An equally attractive teenage brunette sitting at a desk in front of her nodded.
"We're going to practice for a bit. Every time you get a question right, I'm going to reward you. Okay?"
A reward, hmm? Well, maybe there was something to playing along with this after all. Still, compensation or no, this was so boring.
Whatever.
"Spell 'antidisestablishmentarianism'," the teacher said.
The heck? Wait, wait, okay, Alice knew this one. She had to do it slowly, but she ended up spelling it correctly.
"Correct! Very good, Alice."
"Thank you, Miss Roberts."
My, this teacher was... nice. Perhaps Alice had her figured all wrong. Now on top of everything, she was beginning to feel guilty about it. If there were only some way she could express an apology.
"You're quite welcome," Miss Roberts replied as she walked--sauntered, even--over to where Alice was sitting. And now, for your reward..."
Alice stood up to intercept. "Wait! Before you do, I have something to-"
She never got to say "I'm sorry," because her interception had failed. Miss Roberts simply stepped directly in front of Alice, cupped her face in her hands, and gave her make-believe student the longest, deepest kiss she had ever given anyone in her life.
"...mmm..."
Alice, now at a loss for words, decided to let her lips do the talking instead--kissing back with talent that inexplicably belied her experience.
As the liplock continued, Miss Roberts stepped slowly backward, and Alice pursued. Once they were close enough to the teacher's desk, the teacher lowered her pupil onto it...
"Lesson Two begins now," Miss Roberts purred.
* * *
Nearby, in the audiovisual room, a man paid close--oh, so *very* close-- attention to the scene that was unfolding before him, via a television screen that relayed a simple hidden camera feed from the classroom. The VCR which had been playing the educational video that both "teacher" and "student" had been watching minutes earlier lay to the side, now powered down.
These results... he had theorized that they would be along these lines, to be sure, but nothing could have prepared him for an outcome to *this* extent.
From what he could see, Teacher and Student were, at the moment, both situated at the front desk. The younger girl sat at the edge of it, with her legs spread wide, sighing and gasping as her seductive instructor smiled up at her while flicking a common classroom ruler back and forth across her exposed and sensitive clitoris.
From quiet and reserved to on top of one another in the space of three minutes.
On all the other screens in all of the other rooms he was spying on, things were going similarly... or better. Especially in the rooms with *more* than two people in them.
This... this was wonderful.
"Yes... yes... a thousand times, yes! It actually works!" the man watching the feed said to himself. "Soon, so very soon, I shall have my revenge. My revenge against those who spurned me... *scorned* me... and against those who aided them in doing so! All shall once again remember my name, but unlike years past... this time... they shall *respect* it!"
At that, he laughed like a crazy man.
Because, hey, when you get right down to it, that's exactly what most supervillains are...
* * *
(Innocence is SO over!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Racewing Productions (ghatch@panix.com) Presents: "'Friendship' Experimental: Cinematic Chaos!" A Totally Spies Lemon (betcha didn't see *this* one coming.) Part 1
This story contains sexual scenes, yadda yadda, and all that good stuff. If you're not over 18, or haven't read one of these things before, I strongly suggest you turn back now.
All characters featured herein are trademarks of Marathon Animation, with the exception of those (reluctantly) created by the author himself. This story is copyright Racewing, October 2003. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
_11:37 A.M. -- Clover's House_
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Right now, however, Samantha would take any sort of quiet she could get her hands on.
It was the final weekend before a new school year was to to start once again at Beverly Hills High School. With Clover's family out of town for a last-minute vacation, Sam and her friends, Clover and Alex, were "busy" conserving their energy, so that they could blow it all--starting this very night, and into the weekend.
Well, Sam was, anyway. She had no idea if that was what the others were doing.
Right now she was sitting at the head of Clover's bed, with her nose buried in a drama digest. Alex was parked at the foot of the bed and in front of the tube, lying on her stomach and resting her chin in her hands. Clover was lying down, holding the latest issue of "Impressionable Teen" Magazine above her head--one of those frivolous 'teen scream' magazines, that Sam always found funny, if nothing else.
Yes, right now, save for the drone of the television, things were nice, quiet, and tranquil.
"...EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"
Unfortunately, with Clover around, "quiet" is forever a relative term.
Instantly, the other two girls jumped where they were, and ended up hitting their heads for their trouble; Sam against the wall behind her, and Alex... well, right now Alex was halfway buried in the wall-to-wall carpeting.
"*Geez*, Clover," Alex's carpet-muffled voice floated up. "I've heard *smoke detectors* that are quieter than your screams!"
Sam, while in agreement, simply saw fit to growl in frustration while nursing her throbbing head.
"Okay, you guys, I'm sorry, I really am," Clover began, "but... this is an emergency!" She flipped the pages of her magazine, and, after finding out what she was looking for, spread it open for her friends to see.
Sam was the first to look. Upon viewing it, most of the pain in her head seemed to simply float away.
"Is that what I *think* it is?" she asked, an excited smile forming on her face.
"It is, it IS! Brandon Johnson's latest movie is out! It's here! It's out! Did I mention that it's *here*? I can't believe this! It's like it just snuck up on us!"
"'Wire-Crossed Lovebirds'?" Sam asked, referring to the upcoming movie starring him. The plot was reported to center around two starving artists who met online, then met each other, then fell instantly in love, and finally, found out that reason the both of them were so very linked was that they had both been the victims of a failed cloning experiment.
It was set to blow the lid off of every romance movie ever made, and with Johnson as the lead role, it was sure to sell millions of tickets.
Except to the people who hadn't a clue as to who he was.
Alex, by this time, had climbed back onto the bed. "Who's Brandon Johnson?"
A gasp followed. In stereo.
"WHO'S BRANDON JOHNSON?" Sam and Clover exclaimed together.
Alex sighed. Looked like she was going to find out, whether she wanted to or not.
"You know, you need to stop fawning over TV stars and get into the *big* screens, Alex," Sam said. "Brandon Johnson is only the *hunkiest*..."
"The *dreamiest*..." Clover continued.
"...the *coolest*..."
"...the *yummiest*-"
"All right, all right, I get the point!" Alex said, finally. "So... he's even better than David?" she asked, referring to the on-again-off-again love interest of the three of them.
"Um, hel-*lo*, Alex," Clover said with a scoff. "One Brandon Johnson is, like, equal to at least fifty Davids."
"Maybe fifty-*one*," Sam said after some thought.
"...wow," was all Alex could now say in awe.
"It's more than a 'wow'," said Clover. "It's a 'now'! The movie's playing near us!"
Sam's eyes went wide at the news, and she snatched up the magazine. "What? I thought it wasn't coming out until tomorrow!"
"Like, that's the beautiful part! For the rest of the country, it isn't! But Beverly Hills gets an early release! It's already being shown at movie theaters across town!" Clover was positively squealing with delight now as she imagined herself in a climactic love scene from one of Brandon's movies...
* * *
[Clover, I've met hundreds of women in my time, but you... you outshine them all, my wonderful princess...]
(Oh, Brandon, do you really mean it?)
[Shut up and kiss me.]
(Whoa. Okay!)
Their lips drew closer...
[Hey.]
(Huh?)
Closer...
[Hey.]
(...what?)
Ever closer, but never quite touching...
[*Hey*!]
(What?)
...
* * *
"...*hey*! Clover! Earth to Clover!"
"WHAAAAAT?" yelled Clover, finally, snapping out of it. "Saaaaaammm! You *know* to, like, never, *ever* wake me up from a daydream!" she wailed, and flopped back down on the bed. "I think my brain pulled a muscle..."
"Sorry, but this is one of those rare times when I need a straight answer out of you," Sam shot back. "We still need to figure out a way to see this movie."
Clover blinked. "Like, what do you mean? All we have to do is get over to the theater, and boom, Brandon city!"
"Uh-huh," Sam said. "Great plan. Except for one thing."
"Every *other* teen in Beverly Hills probably has the same idea!" said Alex. "It'll be a mob! Especially if this Brandon guy really is as dreamy as you say."
"And he is. But no worries," Clover said with a smile. "I've got it all figured out. Now, Alex, you have to come with us and witness the wonder and glory of Mr. Johnson for yourself. Sam, can you call and find out what time the show starts, so we can, like, actually *get* there and stuff?"
"No problem."
"Wait, I can't go!" Alex said as Sam got off of the bed to get to the phone. "Someone's going to have to pick up the munchies for this weekend!"
"Oh, that's no big, we'll all go together after the flick," Clover said, waving her hand dismissively.
Alex shook her head. "Clover, do you know what this is? It's the weekend before school starts. *Everyone's* going to be partying. And if I don't get there soon, everybody'll take all the *good* junk food and we won't get any. Do you really want them to run out of Crunchy Crispies?" she asked.
"No... no Crunchy Crispies?" Clover said in a weak, almost whimpering voice.
Alex shook her head somberly. "No Crunchy Crispies. That is, if I don't get to the market soon--*whoa*!" she exclaimed, as Clover jumped energetically to her feet, sending Alex sprawling onto the carpet again. "Owww..."
"Alex, the decision is made!" Clover said with conviction and just a little bit of psychosis. "Your mission is of the utmost importance, and failure is *so* not an option!"
"Yeah, I figured," Alex muttered, picking herself back up.
Clover wasn't listening, instead pushing Alex towards the front door. "Your mission is to get, like, every single ooey gooey treat under the sun that you can find at Beverly Hills Supermarket... but *especially* my Crunchy Crispies! Now go! And let the force of hunger be with you!"
"But I-"
Clover opened the door, and pushed Alex through it. "No buts! We're counting on you, soldier!"
"But it's still too ea-"
(*SLAM*)
"And that takes care of that," Clover said, dusting her hands. Turning back around, she said, "Sam?"
"The next showing is in less than an hour!" Sam said, hanging up the phone. "If we hurry, we can make it!"
"Hurry? Are you *kidding*? I have to figure out exactly what I'm going to *wear* to such a huge event! And then I have to get all, like, prettied up, and work on my impressions of all the famous actresses who've fallen for Brandon over the years--you know, just in case a cute boy wants to re- enact a scene-"
Sam sighed as Clover babbled. Prettied up? For *what*? This always happened. For crying out loud--right now, Clover was wearing a red knee-length designer dress, red sneakers and matching socks, and her usual shoulder-length blond haircut. Every one of those items, including the haircut, had cost a small fortune. For Clover, however, it was way too simple and practical--as was Sam's current getup, no doubt.
Sam, however, was happy with what she had: long red hair that reached halfway down her back, a long blue shirt and matching slacks, the latter rolled up to just below her knees, basic white socks, and a pair of Clover's running shoes--because, heck, to get to that movie and back, she pretty much had no choice.
Were it up to Clover, they'd probably be heading to the theater in sequined gowns by now. Something had to be done.
"Ohhhh, no you don't. This might be our only chance," Sam said, and Clover now found *herself* being pushed towards the door. "This is one time I'm overriding you. Move it, Clover!" Sam opened the door.
"But Sammieee! I really need to practice my swoons! They're, like, important to the ensemble, and... aww, come on, Saaaaam-"
(*SLAM*)
* * *
_12:25 P.M. -- Beverly Hills Cinemaplex_
"Oh, my *gosh!*" Clover said, looking up at the marquee. "They're showing 'Wire-Crossed Lovebirds' on *five* screens! We're getting in for sure!" Dramatically, Clover put her hands on her friend's shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. "Sam, this just might be the happiest day of my life," she sniffed.
"Don't go all puddly yet," Sam replied, gesturing out to the crowd surrounding the theater. "Alex was right, this line is stretched throughout the entire block! Outside of divine intervention, we'll never make it!"
"Sam, like, *chill*. I told you, everything's well in hand." Clover dug into her purse, and pulled out a very familiar-looking piece of plastic. "Ta-da!"
"...a credit card?" Sam deadpanned.
"Exactly! Look. While everyone's waiting to buy tickets the old-fashioned way, you and I are going to take advantage of modern technology!" Clover led Sam to the front of the line. "This place has automated machines for buying tickets with your credit card! We are *so* in!"
"Sure you don't want to use *my* card?" Sam said with a giggle. "It probably has less of a chance of getting spit out in little tiny chunks because its owner bought three new expensive dresses that she'll only ever wear once in her life."
"Oh, ha ha. I am *not* that frivolous, you know. Besides," Clover said with a flip of her blond locks, "this card's new. Now where is that machine..." she ran a bit further up, looking for it.
As she waited and looked around, wondering what it was like to camp out overnight waiting for a movie to open like some of these people apparently had been--she saw quite a few sleeping bags--Sam noticed something.
"Hey, Clover!" Sam called out.
"Yeah?" she heard her friend faintly call back.
"This line... it's going *past* the box office. In fact..."
Sam was cut off by a scream.
Never mind. It looked like Clover had just found out.
* * *
"But it's not faaaaaaaaaaaaiiiirrrrr!" Clover cried into Sam's shoulder. "This entire line is full of people who *only brought their credit cards*?"
"Looks like everybody had the same 'foolproof' plan you did," Sam observed. "Then again, who still uses *cash* in Beverly Hills? That's probably why the box office is split from the credit machines. It saves the clerks from stress-related work injuries. Carpal tunnel and such..."
Clover didn't seem to be interested in all of this. "To heck with that! What are we going to do now? My entire emotional balance is at stake here! I must see this movie! You don't *understand*!"
Clover turned away from Sam, clasped her hands together, and looked up at the bright, blue sky.
"There are, like, certain events in every girl's life that she waits for since the beginning of time: first credit card. First date. First kiss. And most importantly, first in line for two hours of staring at a really hot guy without shame!"
Her hands unclasped, the right one now pointing at the sun. "I *refuse* to let this momentous occasion be denied me-"
"Two for 'Wire-Crossed Lovebirds', please."
Clover's monologue stopped on a dime. She turned around. "Wha..."
Sam held up two strips of paper. "We've got our tickets. Let's go in, Clover."
Clover did a double-take, and blinked twenty-eight times in the space of a second. "Wait... wha, like, *how*, but... okay, Sam, *what did you do*?"
"I used the box office. Had some spare cash on me that I was planning to use for snacks. Guess we're watching this movie without them, though. You coming or not?" Sam walked through the large double doors, and into the theater.
"...sure." Clover walked in after her, muttering, "Yeah, like, 'who still uses cash in Beverly Hills', indeed..."
* * *
Another crowd waited for them inside--a smaller one to be sure, but still significant, and still just as restless as the one outside.
"You know, now that we're, like, *inside*, you'd think our problems would be over," Clover said.
"Wonder what all the ruckus is about," Sam wondered as the two went closer to the gathered masses.
"People, people!" a lone usher was saying. "We'll try to accomodate as many viewers as we can, but the fourth theater is already half full, and once that's gone, that's it. I'm terribly sorry."
"But I thought it was playing on five screens!" Sam said, now confused.
"Oh, it is."
The two girls looked around towards the source of the voice, and found a third girl--a brunette, wearing a purple blouse, a matching purple dress, and a smug grin. Her hands were on her hips as she glared at Sam and Clover with all of the fierceness of a long-time rival.
Just great. This was *all* they needed.
"Mandy!" Clover said, her voice tinted with annoyance.
"Hello... Clover," Mandy replied with disdain. "To answer your question, it *is* playing on five screens," she said, "but I had my daddy rent one out especially for me so that I wouldn't have to struggle to find a good seat. I *am* above such things, after all. So when the movie starts, I'll have my very own theater where I can watch *my* husband-to-be all by myself. Isn't that wonderful?"
"*Your* husband-to-be?" Clover scoffed. "As *if*! Look, Mandy, like, even *I* know that something like that could never happen. Haven't you seen his other movies? Brandon falls for nice girls. And sometimes for *bad* girls. But never for *evil* ones!"
Mandy simply "hmph"ed in response.
"And that's so not fair on top of it!" Sam added. "You're sacrificing a few hundred seats all for yourself. So many more people could get to see this movie."
"Hey, it's not like they're not paid for." Mandy shrugged without a shred of remorse. "Well, Clover, I'd stick around and point out the one- thousand-and-one reasons *no guy*, much less *my Brandon* would *ever* fall for you... but I've got a movie to see. And don't be jealous, Sam. Green just isn't your color," she said just before turning around and sashaying towards the fifth theater entrance.
Sam shook her head. "Sometimes, I think she just goes too far. Clover? ... Clover?"
Clover didn't answer. She was too busy fantasizing about what would happen if she were somehow able to fasten a rocket booster under whatever seat Mandy happened to sit at inside that fifth theater.
In her mind's ear, she heard an anguished scream. And she smiled.
"Hey, Clover! I think they're going to let us in! We're at the front of the line!"
The usher nodded. "And you're the last two. Hope you don't mind front row seats."
"Well, it's better than nothing," Clover said. "Come on, Sam! I think we've earned this. Whoo!"
Rolling her eyes and chuckling, Sam walked into the theater with her friend.
* * *
_1:15 P.M. -- Beverly Hills Shop N' Save_
After some thought (and a nice leisurely window-shopping session at Beverly Hills Mall. She'd have to tell Sam and Clover about the hat sale she'd found at that one shop), Alex decided that perhaps it wasn't too early to start munchie shopping after all. After walking to the bank and taking out some cash (lest the lull of her credit card tempt her to buy more than they needed), she headed to the supermarket, grabbed a cart, and set to work.
Good, it was just after one. That was the time when the stockboys refilled the shelves. Shopping was always best then. She'd learned this valuable secret earlier in the year when she'd had a crush on one of them, and had been secretly following his daily routine so as to get to know him better. Sadly, he'd quit some months back, moved away, and she'd never seen him since.
Alex sighed as she reminisced. A shame to let such utter cuteness go to waste... and she'd never even found out his name! Sam and Clover had been laughing at her for a week.
Sometimes Alex wondered why she always volunteered (or even worse, *got* volunteered) for the grunt jobs. She'd sort of wished she could have gone to the movies with her friends today. But someone had to keep things running smoothly, and the plans coming together. If no one else would, then she was glad to do it.
At least, that's what she kept telling herself.
{Okay...} Alex thought to herself as she scanned the aisles and picked up various items. {Soda, bottled water, juce, chips, salsa... hot for me, mild for Sammie and Clover. Heh heh heh. Ooh! Maybe we can bake a cake! Now, what was I forgetting... oh, right! Clover's Crunchy Crispies! Where are those things...}
Alex finally found them in the candy section. {Hmmm. Chocolate, caramel... and a 'New Mint Flavor'. Gah. Clover *hates* mint. I think I'll buy a box and not tell her. It'll be fun!}
Alex picked up one of each flavor and wheeled towards the checkout line. As she looked out of the window of the building, she spied a small group of people approaching the market, fully covered in clothing, to the point where even their faces were concealed.
{Odd. It's awfully hot to be wearing all black...}
* * *
Back at the movies...
"Just tell us, Doctor. Whatever it is, we can take it."
"Yes, please, tell us."
"All right. Charles, Amanda, according to my data, the two of you share almost the exact same DNA."
"You mean... we're brother and sister?"
"No, even closer than that. It's almost as if you're... clones."
"Clones? Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am."
...
"...well! No *wonder* we like the same foods!"
"And the same movies!"
"And both hate kids!"
"And have the same kinky fetishes!"
"This is wonderful news, Doctor! Thank you! Oh, God, Amanda, I love you more than ever now!"
"I love you too, Charles! Come on, kiss me. Kiss me the only way I know how to kiss myself..."
* * *
"God, this is, like, so romantic," Clover whispered. "I'm choking up."
Sam nodded. "It certainly exceeds expectations."
Truly, it did. While Sam had seen tons of these types of movies--often due to Clover dragging her to them--this was the first time one of them was... actually reaching her?
Impossible. Romance books and movies were full of fluff, and thus, quite amusing, but never anything more.
Yet, this one had... some sort of effect. A feeling tugging at the strings of heart like nothing she'd felt before. Even when she'd gotten crushes on a cute guy, it'd never been *this* intense.
There was just something about the concept of this movie--a friendship lasting for years before love ever bloomed in its place; and even afterward, being able to keep that love going no matter what stood in one's way; no matter how the other person acted; no matter what disagreements were ever had...
...and no matter who that other person truly happened to be.
Sam looked to her right, directly at her best friend sitting in the seat beside her.
Noticing, Clover looked back.
Sam smiled.
Clover returned it.
And as the much-lauded bedroom love scene chose that moment to take place, the two of them clasped hands, watching it together, both of them sorely and silently wishing that *they* were the lucky ones on-screen.
* * *
The strange people in black that Alex had seen outside of the market didn't stray away from the building. In fact, once they got close enough, all of them threw bricks through the store windows, and jumped in.
In perfect tandem.
They were dressed in black jeans, hooded gear, and sweatshirts; or leotards, for the errant woman among them. Their faces were covered with what looked like carpentry masks painted over with black magic marker.
They didn't look happy.
Amidst a crowd of frightened and screaming shoppers, the six people in black took the time to pose.
"All right, nobody move!" the, man in front called out. "We are ninja! The deadliest of fighting warriors!"
"We demand all of your cash, jewelry, and anything else that's shiny!" another--the female--said.
"And all of your frozen pizzas!" demanded a third.
"Damn it, I *told* you, we're not getting any pizzas!"
"But I'm hungry!"
"You're always hungry!"
"Hey! We told you guys to hurry up with that money! We're not playing! Don't force us to get *nasty*," the lead "ninja" said, striking a martial arts pose that looked very...
...well, "fake" was the best word that Alex could think of to describe it.
Oh, good. The guards were coming. Apparently they weren't taking these folks very seriously.
"All right, you asked for it!" the head robber said. "Ninja Force, prepare to kick butt!"
The others cried out in agreement. "HOOOOOOOOOOO!"
* * *
Twenty minutes later, it was all over.
When market security had arrived (market security consisting of three rent- a-guards and an overweight store manager), the first ninja had tried to throw a punch. It was slow and ineffective. The rest tried bad imitations of chop-socky kung-fu moves. Those also didn't work very well.
Oddly enough, all were weaponless.
They were all taken down rather handily by the guards, which had only been two-thirds their number. Then the police had come and taken them away.
Which meant that Alex was now happily on her way home with the groceries, and cutting through the local park so she could save ten minutes on walk time.
Boy, would *she* have a story to tell when she got... back... to...
...was that a rain drop she felt?
Oh, no. No, no, no, no, *no*.
Frantically, Alex looked around for some type of shelter where she could wait out the coming storm. These trees she was under just weren't going to cut it.
Unfortunately, trees were all that she could see for maybe half a mile. She closed up the bags as she felt more drops--it looked like this was going to get real messy, real fast.
"Stupid Alex," she muttered as both she and the storm picked up the pace. "I knew I should have just taken a cab home. But noooooo. I wanted the exercise..."
By now, she could feel herself getting soaked by the minute. Even if she ran, as she was now, it was still fifteen minutes to Clover's house.
Arrrrgh! If she got a cold this weekend, of *all* weekends, someone was *so* going to pay!
* * *
_2:15 P.M. -- Clover's House_
"Wow," Clover said as she and Sam looked outside the front door. The rain was *everywhere*, and it was coming down in buckets. A sudden boom of thunder and flash of lightning made Clover shriek and jump back a bit. "Okay. It's, like, *really* coming down out there. Total hair nightmare. And Alex isn't back yet..."
Sam nodded. "You're getting worried too, huh? I hope she was able to catch a cab. But if this keeps up and she doesn't show up soon, I'm looking for her."
"Definitely. No matter what it takes. Even if we have to get Jerry in on it." Clover closed the door, and the two of them went back to her room. "Besides that, she's got all the food! I'm starving!"
Sam giggled on the way, then decided to change the subject to keep them both in good spirits. "So... great movie, huh?"
This innocent-sounding comment caused Clover to stop in her tracks, as if someone had used a freeze ray on her. She turned around... very slowly... and looked her friend up and down.
"Okay. Who are you," Clover demanded with a stern face, "and what have you done with my friend Sammie?"
Sam started laughing.
"Hey! This isn't funny!" Clover said. "Every time Sam sees a romance movie, she always has to pick it apart. I think she, like, gets some sick fun out of it or something. 'Oh, this could never happen!' 'But they're acting crazy!' 'Can't they come up with something else other than true love?'" she said in a Sam-mocking voice.
"Oh, and she never, *ever* calls the movie 'great'. 'Amusing', sometimes. 'Interesting', a whole lot, especially when she doesn't want to *really* tell me what she thought. But never 'great'! So, once again, before I have to go into butt-kick mode, *where's my friend*?" Clover went into a karate ready stance to emphasize her threat.
Still, Sam continued to laugh. "Oh... oh, wow, let me catch my breath," she said between giggles and gasps. "Clover, if I were an evil clone out to get you, don't you think I would have killed you during that whole ten- minute speech you just gave me?"
Clover blinked. Twice. "Well... yeah. Okay, maybe. Whatever." She went at ease, but was still a little bit spooked. "So... you actually *liked* this one? How? Why? What breakthrough has Hollywood accidentally stumbled upon to make *Sam* actually *like* a romance movie?" Clover sat on her bed, crossed her legs, and looked up curiously. "Talk to me."
Sam sat down beside her. "Well, you know... it... it just struck a chord with me, I suppose. I found myself wishing that a lot of stuff that happened in that movie would happen to me," she said with a sigh. "And yet, I know they never could."
Clover nodded. "That's why I watch 'em, y'know? It's fun to dream."
"Yeah. I guess I finally get it. I almost feel bad now about all those times I made fun of your taste in movies. Almost," Sam said with a small smile. "Heh. You must think I'm always some sort of stick-in-the-mud. I don't mean to be, honest. It's just..."
"Sammie." Clover put her arm around the redhead, and smiled back at her. "Don't say another word. You really think, like, any of that stuff gets to me? Duh! You're your own person, Sam. And my best friend. I wouldn't do a thing to change you. Well, unless you turned into Mandy Part Two overnight or something. Then, yeah, we might have to go for the lobotomy."
Despite her best efforts, Sam found herself unable to fight a sudden rush of warmth from deep within herself. "Clover..."
Clover didn't stop, however. Something inside of *her* was prodding her on to get everything out in the open, and she'd decided to listen to it. "Sam, you're a great person. You're smart, funny, a killer fighter--literally-- and let's face it. You're..."
It took a little bit of willpower for Clover to get her next few words out, but not as much as she'd thought it would, because the more she thought about it, the more she meant it. "...you're really cute, you know? Sexy, even." Switching to a softer tone, she added, "You've got so much going for you."
None of this was helping to cool Sam down any. The feelings that she had experienced back in the theater came rushing back, in double force. She looked at the ground, unsure of what to do--Clover was usually pretty nice, but right now, she was being so sweet, so kind, so serious.
Sam was both flattered and flustered beyond belief, and she wanted to show her appreciation, but *how*? She couldn't figure it out, and the longer she kept everything inside, the more she felt as if she were going to burst from within.
Her body, her heart--they both were clamoring for her to to do *something*. Only her mind stood in the way.
"Are you okay, Sam?" Clover asked.
Sam's answer was to finally override rational thought, and wrap her arms fiercely around her best friend. "Clover... thank you so much. For the record," she said, looking up into Clover's eyes, "...I think you're sexy too."
For all of Clover's knowledge of this fact, it still made her recoil a bit in surprise--mainly because this was *Sam's* mouth all of this was coming out of. Her next words came in a near-choked whisper. "You... Sammie, *you* think I'm..."
Sam nodded, and traced a finger along Clover's left cheek, giggling softly. "Hey, with all the money you spend on your looks, you'd better be, right? But even more importantly... you're a wonderful friend. You always have been. It's just like in that movie we saw today. I think everyone wishes that they could have a friend..."
The finger was replaced by a complete hand, caressing the side of Clover's face, which brought forth an expression of wonder from the blond girl, who in turn put her hands on Sam's shoulders.
"...a perfect one..." Sam continued, "...that they could fall in love with..."
Their faces, their lips, drew closer together, and Clover finished Sam's thoughts for her. "...and not care what might happen afterwards?"
Sam's smile grew even wider with happiness and anticipation. Clover knew. And she obviously felt the same way.
Which made their first kiss all the sweeter.
* * *
It was soft and warm; tender and connecting. A silence not often known in Clover's room settled as its owner and one of the people she trusted most in life--and sometimes *with* her life--shared the special moment.
Their mouths opened slightly just before being pasted together, and holding their pose for almost a good minute; no other moves were made, not even tongues, as they concentrated on getting a feel for things... and for each other.
The two pulled apart, gasping--not due to any sort of lack of breath, but from emotions: nervousness, apprehension--and curiosity.
"...Sam," Clover said after a long silence, "did we just..."
Sam nodded. "I... believe we did. But-"
"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry!" Clover said quickly. "I don't know what-"
"But I didn't mind," Sam finished. "It's okay. Really."
"-came over me, and... what?" Clover stopped as Sam's words registered in her mind. "You mean, you didn't..."
Sam shook her head, not quite believing that she was. "Actually, I was going to ask... did *you*?"
After some hesitation, Clover shook her head as well. "It... it was... nice. Almost felt..."
"...natural?" Sam finished.
Clover thought this over. "Yeah... well, sort of. Kind of," she answered, more than a little confused. "I just know that it was a lot easier to go through with than I thought it would be." Clover's gaze shifted downwards, towards the mattress. "Hey, Sam?"
"Yes?"
Clover's face, at the moment, was as red as her outfit. "...can we try it again? Maybe it'll get even easier then," she said with a growing smile.
Sam matched it. "I see no reason why not."
She meant it, too.
Leaning over, Sam took hold of her blond friend's shoulders, and eased her onto the mattress, flat on her back. She then leant even further, until her smiling face was directly above Clover's. A few strands of Sam's red hair fell between them; both girls brushed it aside.
A hand buried itself in Clover's hair, slowly nuzzling and massaging, as Sam's face drew close enough for noses to touch, and for the two girls to be able to hear and feel each others' quickening breaths.
Sam's face stopped where it was, hovering above Clover's questioningly. She was answered with a soft, affirmative nod.
Thus, with Clover's permission, their lips touched once again--and this time, they allowed their tongues to join in as well, slipping, sliding from one mouth to the other; and idly playing with one another as they poured out their affections for each other in the moment.
By the time they pulled away, breathing laboredly, both of them knew what they wanted. Still, neither of them were completely sure how to go about it--much less if the other were truly willing.
"Clover, are... are you sure you want to do this?" Sam huffed, her hands slipping down to Clover's shoulders and rubbing.
"Like, how psychic. I was about to ask you the same thing," Clover replied, just as breathily.
Sam's response was to smile and nod. "I can't think of anyone else I'd rather try something like this with."
"Whoa, double psychic," Clover giggled. "Okay, now you're scaring me again."
"Am I?" Sam purred back. "Guess I'll have to find some way to soothe you..."
In all actuality, Sam didn't have to work very hard to "find" a way. From the time when all of this started, for some unknown reason, everything had just... found a way to flow.
Inhibitions, fears, uncertainties, that she was sure she would have had--*should* have had--had simply decided to not make themselves known; and even though she knew she was flying blind as far as pleasing her friend was concerned, she was apparently doing quite the job so far.
It was almost as if something, or some*one*, that neither of them could see, was pulling strings, telling her exactly what things to try, and *when* to try them. Something was...
Forcing her?
...no. Helping her. *Guiding* her.
Her hands went to the front of Clover's shirt, and while she undid its button clasps with one hand, she allowed her other hand to fall square onto Clover's chest, moving lightly back and forth.
"Th-th-that'll work..." Clover stammered as she felt her left breast being tickled by both hand and fabric. "Oh, Sammie..."
"Is it really working?" Sam asked as she smiled and finished undoing Clover's top.
"...definitely," Clover crooned. Said shirt was quickly discarded to the side of the bed. "Got any more 'soothing' techniques in those hands of yours?" she coyly asked, and tugged one of the straps of her bra off of her shoulder.
"Perhaps," Sam said, tugging at the other strap. "But I think you'll have to be the final judge."
"Mmmm... gladly..."
Clover pulled her friend close, and a brief thought regarding just how *perfect* all of this was shaping up to be flashed through her mind...
...when the doorbell rang. Repeatedly.
Serenity took a backseat to worry; in their moment, they'd almost forgotten that a certain someone they *both* cared about was still outside, braving the elements.
"Oh, my gosh!" Sam gasped. "Alex!"
Clover threw her shirt back on, and she and Sam rushed to the door.
* * *
The sight that awaited them when they opened the front door made both girls gasp in shock.
She was drenched to the core. The light green vest, shirt and yellow slacks Alex had been wearing were now darker due to the water. Her sneakers squished on the ground as she shifted her weight from side to side. Her black hair, normally done up in a nice, fluffy bowl, currently hung in a wet mess in front of and around her face.
Yet, through all of this, she was still able to maintain a sense of humor.
"Before you ask, Clover, the food's fine," were the first words out of Alex's mouth as she held out the bags. "Hi, there. Can I come in? The water's great out here, but I'm more of a land person, I think..."
"Oh, of course," Sam said, taking the bags from Alex and escorting her inside. "What happened to you? I mean, besides the obvious?"
"I cut through the park. No cabs around when the storm hit," Alex sighed.
Clover ran back towards her room. "I'll get a blanket. And the hair dryer."
"Bring a robe, too!" Sam said. "She needs to get out of these wet clothes ASAP."
Alex nodded. "No kidding. Let me get to the next room." She began walking... and then slowed down considerably, shivering as she tried to go further. "Air-conditioning on?" she asked.
"I think it is," Sam said, realizing what Alex meant. "It is still summer, after all."
"Great. This would explain why I'm freezing my butt off!" Even though her teeth were beginning to chatter, Alex continued to slowly walk.
Sam rushed in front of her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Alex, stop. You keep going and you'll run the risk of catching cold with those clothes on. Not to mention that wet hair. Just take them off here. Clover's getting a robe for you."
"Well... okay, yeah, you have a point." Alex's hands went to the buttons of her vest, trying to pull the wet mess off of her.
However, Sam could see that with Alex's rapidly cooling clothes, even this small task was giving her chills. She decided to intervene, and tugged off Alex's vest. Sam then went for the collar of Alex's shirt, pulling it upwards. "Here, let me help."
"Thanks, Sammie."
"No trouble at all," Sam replied. {My pleasure, in fact,} she didn't add as she took the opportunity to let her eyes roam along Alex's body.
Of the three girls, Alex usually had the reputation of being the "cute one." Alex herself never could figure out just why that was, but she allowed herself to take the compliments anyway.
She was just a little shorter than her two friends, with a similar figure, a perfectly round face, and skin the color of light chocolate. Even now, half-soaked and with her shirt and slacks freshly shed (leaving her in a blue bra and pair of panties, both of which were the only articles of clothing which had fared well enough during the storm that drying was a non-issue) that cuteness made itself known clear as a bell.
Sam wondered if Clover was thinking what she was thinking right now--and also wondered exactly *why* she was thinking it.
By this time, Clover had run back in with a yellow nightrobe, which she draped around her friend. "Wow, you must have, like, been completely swimming out there," she said, walking Alex to her room.
"Close to it. That'll teach me not to watch the weather report in the morning."
"Well, we *did* wake up after the morning newscasts," Sam said, taking out the snacks and putting them on one of the large living room tables. "Wow, you got everything, didn't you?"
"Sure did!" Alex beamed happily.
Clover's face lit up as well. "Including my Crunchy Crispies?"
Sam looked at the box of mint-flavored Crispies, and smiled mischievously. "Boy, did she ever."
"Woo-hoo!" Clover exclaimed, wrapping Alex in a giant hug. "Hooray for Alex! Braves the harshness of Mother Nature, all for me! Like, how cool of a friend is that?"
"...yeah, that's right," Alex said dryly. "All for you, Clover. Oh, that reminds me, though--have I got a story for you guys!" She walked through the doorway of Clover's bedroom, eager to get under a blanket or two. "See, when I got to the supermarket-"
Clover interrupted, a devious smile forming on her face. "Ooh, let me guess! Your Mystery Stockboy came back, and he wants to marry you and whisk you away to one of those remote island thingies."
"Hey, that's great! Which island?" Sam asked, grinning too.
"That's the thing. *It* doesn't have a name *either*!" Clover replied, and she and... Not enough points to view full story!Please register to read full story!
Featured Heroes:
Related to 'Clover' stuff:
Samples from TOP RATED XXX Famous Toons Sites
New cartoon porn stories:
become an arti$t
|