"Oli... Oli!" she shouts, waving her hand around to get the attention of someone in the crowd. Rachel joins in to, whistling with her fingers before shooting me a broad and excited grin. I look around in confusion, my gaze darting between the two older woman as they both seem more like giddy gossipy school girls rather than the aging matriarchs they were.
"Yes, you!" shouts Victoria, rolling her eyes as she sighs a little. "Are there any other Oli... Look who it is!"
"Bring
a glass would you?!" Rachel shouts, her gaze meeting my own as she
seems to watch me with predatory intent. "I'm sure she would really appreciate the favor. She's been dying to see you again after all this time."
I hastily whip my head around, my hair quickly falling around my face like a wild mane as I look into the crowd in a panic. I watch as various guests, none of whom I know look at me with some faint sense of recognition before returning to their conversations.
Suddenly, I catch someone moving in my peripheral vision as a glass of cold bubbling wine is held out in front of me. Staggering back slightly I spin in place, catching myself from tumbling head over heels as I stare in shock at a lightly tan dark haired athletic young man holding out a glass of champagne for me.
My jaw hangs open as I gurgle an impossible to comprehend response. My eyes go wide and my heart flutters like a humming bird, my stomach twisting and turning as it fills with innumerable butterflies as I stare up at the dark haired young man.
His short ear length black hair hangs around his head in a ruffled mess, the wind from the dock and the deck having swept it out on any styling it had gone through. His masculine features leave my lips quivering, his strong jawline and slightly dimpled chin quickly stealing my body's attention.stubbly black hairs cover his muzzle, framing his sparkling hazel eyes along with the mop of black hair like they are works of art.
I feel my body shudder as I glance further down. Broad shoulder and defined pectorals strain slightly as what must have once been a well-tailored white button up shirt. The top looks almost uncomfortable to wear, like it had been purchased some time ago and was only hastily chosen despite the young man having grown since its last use. My slender dainty fingers twitch as I stare at one of the straining buttons, an errant thought of helping to ease the strain via undoing the shirt entering my mind as quickly as I manage to swat it down.
Drifting even lower, my gaze shifting over his firm V-shaped waist, I find myself glancing over his legs. Sturdy and firm thighs and calves stretch the thankfully slightly elastic creased black dress pants, the athletic limbs evidencing some serious training to get them into such great shape. For a second my attention is stolen by his shoes, a set of hastily cleaned soccer shoes still sporting some streaks of mud and dirt, only for my attention to snap to his groin as I notice something firm and thick twitch beneath the black fabric.
Suddenly I'm broken from my stupor as I feel a cold glass stem pressed into my quivering palm, my fingers rapidly wrapping around it as I brush over a warm and inviting hand. Glancing down at the glass I quickly whip my head back up to the strange young man, a squeak escaping my lips as he leans in to gently kiss me on the cheek.
I feel my heart rate quicken, my knees shake and my legs turn to jelly as his hand shifts away from the glass and snakes its way around my waist. My face burns, an inferno spreading across my cheeks as the man pulls back up to stand at his full six foot three height with a broad smile across his lips.
"Holy shit, Lucy?" he chuckles, his low voice sending a chill up my spine as his words worm their way into my ear. "It's been forever, you..." he states, pausing for a second as he adjusts himself and swallows hard. "Finally got over that bad case of ac..."
"Oli!" chirps Victoria, smacking the young man on the arm as he smiles nervously with a weak grin. "You haven't seen Luci in how long? Is that a proper..."
"Hi..." I mewl weakly, my soft yet husky voice catching in my throat. My body feels like its revolting against me, every inch of skin, muscle and bone bombarding me with a sense of longing. I feel pent up, a desperate need for closeness and affection almost hurting me as I'm left to linger. "Oli... it's nice to see you again." I manage to whimper out, taking a deep sharp breathe as I try to get my bearings.
The two older women quickly exchange a knowing glance, thin mischievous grins spreading across their lips. Rachel takes a step back, moving around to the other side of smaller friend in a feigned effort to look Oliver over. Both he and myself are forced to shuffle slight, his hand being still around waist leading me to lean in closer towards him in the conversation.
"You certain have grown" Rachel chuckles, looking the young man up and down. "I remember when our little Luci was easily a head taller than..."
"Oh exactly..." Victoria states, snapping her fingers. "Exactly. You know, I tried to find the old pencil markings... Remember? The ones by the..."
"Study in your eastern wing!" laughs Rachel, throwing her head back as she drinks from her wine. The shorter of the two clicks her fingers yet again, obviously agreeing with the answer.
"Exactly! I was hoping to bring pictures of that damned thing, for old times sake. However, I could only find Oli's height marked on the frame. I could have sworn we did it every Summer when you and Luci..."
"Came down for the holiday break" Rachel interrupts, her eyes darting to me as her lips shift into a nervous grin. Exhaling through her teeth she clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth, her shifting gaze soon moving back to her friend. "I had only marked it lightly dear" she chuckles, waving her hand dismissively. "And I mean, no offense dear, but your eyesight isn't what it used to be."
Victoria scoffs at the remark, turning her gaze to me with a smile.
"How tall are you these days dear?" Victoria asks, her hazel eyes glancing up and down over me as if to appraise my temporary form.
I'm left hemming and hawing for a moment, the realization that I had never actually measured any of my borrowed bodies quickly sinking in. I quickly try to do some mental napkin math, measuring myself in my head against Rachel and various objects around the apartment building in the hopes of getting a rough guess to my height.
"I think... maybe five foot eight... five nine?..." I muse, looking to Rachel for confirmation as she gives me a little shrug.
"A bit on the taller side" Victoria states with a nod before laughing under her breath. "I mean, that's obvious enough. Thankfully Oli's on the taller side as..."
"Oli!" Rachel chirps, cutting off her friend before she can finish her thought. "I must say, you've certainly grown into a strapping young man. I presume we can blame your time on the soccer team for this?"
"Thanks" the young man chuckles, his arm subtly pulling me closer to him as if for comfort as he shifts awkwardly at the compliment. "I mean, thank you Ma'am. We recently went to nationals, so I have definitely been spending a bit more time..."
"So your grandmother told me" Rachel coos, shooting me a quick glance before returning to the young man. "Captain of the team, leading the charge to states and nationals. Shame you didn't manage to come through with the gold, it would have been a wonderful way to cap off your final year."
Oli chuckles awkwardly, quickly taking a sip from his wine as he takes his time to answer.
"Well it's a cup, but yeah, can't say I'm not a little frustrated at the loss" he explains, wincing slightly. "Fairview has a great team and program though, besides, there's always next year" he states, pausing to take another sip before blurting a quick addendum. "Presuming I make the team that is."
"Oh Oli" Victoria states, shaking her head with pursed lips. "You make it sound like that's up to chance, they'd be fools to not bring you even if you're a first year" she states, her gaze turning to me. "And how about you dear, have you been keeping up with your ballet?"
My blood runs cold, my eyes going wide as I stare at Rachel. I silently beg for help, the older woman only speaking up after finally catching on from the awkward silence.
"She's a runner now" Rachel croaks, spluttering out her answer.
"Oh?..." Victoria mutters, looking me up and down as she sips at her own wine. "But you were so wonderful on the stage my dear, why ever would you quit to do... running."
"She... grew out of it" Rachel states, glancing down at the generous perky mounds filling out my sweater. "Still as fit and flexible as ever, but she needs a little more support than ballet could..."
"Nana!" I squeal, looking down at the floor as I find my view partially blocked by the large soft mounds tenting out my green cashmere turtleneck sweater.
"It's a shame really, she could have gone so far with those looks and natural talent" Rachel continues, waving her hand about as she downs the last few dregs of her drink. Victoria glances at my chest before looking up at Oliver's face, a smirk spreading across her lips as she catches him doing something.
"Oh of course, such a shame. Wouldn't you agree Oli dear?" Victoria coos, needling the young man with a delighted grin. I suddenly feel his hand retract from my waist, the young man taking a step away as his own face appears to shift to bright embarrassed red. Looking up at him I quickly chug down my drink, the sting of bubbles and alcohol burning my throat as I try to dull the sensations wracking my temporary body.
"Yeah it... I mean no, she... I..." Oliver blurts out, his panicked mind shifting tracks to quickly for his mouth to keep up.
"Vicky, be nice to the poor thing" Rachel chuckles, pacing over to me as Victoria slinks up beside her youngest grandson. "Besides, it's not as though she needs any extracurriculars to bolster her college applications" Rachel states with a proud expression sweeping across her face. "her grades speak for themselves... Now, Luci... Lets find another drink..."
In a sudden motion I feel Rachel slide her arm around my own, the older woman pulling me away as I stagger alongside her. As we leave Oliver and Victoria behind I feel a sense of longing and desire to not go grip me, my heart aching for a moment like some love struck school girl. As we approach one of the tables I snatch up another glass of champagne, downing it in a single gulp before grabbing another.
"Slow down there sweetheart" Rachel states, her tone turning saccharine sweet and forceful as she coos the pet name. "I can't remember the last time you drank, we have no idea how this will effect..."
"What the hell was..." I blurt out in a gasp, sipping at the newly acquired wine. Rachel simply chuckles to herself as she gracefully takes a glass of red, swirling it calmly before giving me a knowing glance.
"I'd say a mixture of dealing with a first love, teenage hormones, and years of pent up longing" Rachel explains, finally taking a sip before letting out a satisfied sigh. "At least if these memories are anything to go by dear".
I feel like I'm going to be sick, my stomach twisting and turning inside me as I feel myself grow flushed and deeply embarrassed. I quickly finish the drink, grabbing one of the larger glasses of red wine and sipping at it before retching as the tannic flavor.
"Sweetheart, I understand trying to drink away your feelings..." Rachel coos, slowly taking the glass from me as she soon finds herself sipping from both glasses. "However, your palette is certainly not equipped for..."
"We need to go..." I whisper, my eyes darting around as I try to keep an eye on the crowd around me. "I... I can't feel like this... it's like I'm going to go mad if I..."
"We will do no such thing Lucinda" she states in a matter-of-fact tone, her nose wrinkling up at the suggestion. "Firstly, how do you expect we leave? Swim back across the water until we reach the docks again? Secondly, it's only for a week. I'm sure you've kept it in your pants for longer..." she grumbles, her lips twisting into a devious grin as she looks out into the crowd for someone. "However, if you'd like to make up for lost time with Oliver I'm sure he wouldn't..." she begins to laugh, a loud horn soon calling out over the din of the crowd.
With my heart hammering inside my chest, sweat pooling on my smooth sensitive skin and worst of all a damp warmth building inside my pants, I barely notice the crowds around the party quickly heading out onto the deck.
"Already?" Rachel sighs, clutching at my arm again before pacing away from the drinks table. "And hear I thought we'd have a bit more time to show you around, this is your first appearance since growing into such a fine young thing."
We are some of the last out onto the deck, my mind running in loops as Rachel is forced to push our way towards the railing and the front of the ferry. I suddenly feel myself being shaken, my head whipping about as I look up towards the elderly woman by my side.
"You can day dream about your boyfriend later" she chides, eliciting a pathetic whimper from me. "Land ho" she chuckles, gesturing ahead as I'm forced to squint at the island in the distance.
Pure white sand stretches as the length of the curvy shore, large stretches of it running back up towards a large wooden structure towards left of center of the island. People move about the large central building in the distance, carrying things to and from the building as they seem to set up something along the enlarged area of beach.
Lightly packed trees create a well curated garden of a forest that stretches from the back of the building to the right side of the island, small stretches of land and mowed lawns keeping the treeline from running all the way to the white sands. Any hills or features of the land are somewhat lost in the foliage, the tall trees making it hard to really make out just how flat the island actually was.
Dotting the right hand side of the island sit various small little cabins, the private accommodation being rather sparsely spaced as to create a decent amount of distance between them. The small wooden buildings do not seem enough to house the entire party, the cozy private rooms likely only having a single bedroom presuming they had some basic amenities alongside it. Each have a small deck leading onto the beach, a perfect little haven to enjoy the sun despite the crowded party atmosphere.
I'm snapped from my thought with the jingle of metal beside my ear. Turning around I look over at Rachel, the elderly woman jingling a set of keys at me with a grin spread across her lips. Cocking an eyebrow my gaze darts between her, the keys and the island as I try to work out just where I would be staying.
"Are those..." I begin to ask, pausing as Rachel rolls her eyes.
"Your room keys? Yes, and you have no idea how difficult it was to get them" Rachel sighs, placing the shimmering silver key into my palm. I look at the elderly woman in confusion, my eye twitching slightly as I try to wrap my head around her words.
"Difficult?..." I muse, looking down at the key before looking for Victoria in the crowd amassed around the railing. "I thought you said Victoria was desperate to have Luci come" I hiss through gritted teeth, watching as the older woman shrugs her shoulders slightly.
"She did..." she says with a croaking giggle. "We just didn't RSVP in time. Don't worry though, we found space for you... barely..." she explains, sighing a little.
"Where..." I begin to grumble, only to be cut off by Rachel.
"Oh Luci, with such late notice..."
No comments:
Post a Comment