Fluidity
by Céline
Part 1
Timeline: Episode
45
Terry thought he looked like a wet rat
and smelled like fish. That quick swim in the lake to save Eliza had cooled him
down physically but emotionally, he was boiling. The way she treated Candy was
despicable and seing Candy take it like she deserved it made him want to
strangle someone. He didn’t feel comfortable acting out in front of everybody
else and chose to leave. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he should have dragged Candy
with him to his vila. Show them who he really wanted to be with but he did not
and now it was eating him. Somehow he hoped she could defend herself against
those nasty relatives of hers, if the Cornwell boys were men and if he was right
that the Dandy had feelings for Candy, he guessed that they would stand up for
her like they should.
He felt like getting out of his clothes as soon as
possible not only because they were soaking wet but he still smelled Eliza’s
parfume on him and he was starting to get nauseous. Didn’t feel like having the
maids fuss all over him so he went to the kitchen, got two large buckets of
water on the stove. When the water felt comfortable, he went outside behind the
shed thinking that someday soon, he’d have to show Candy and four eyes what was
in it. Probably score big points on the popular scale not that he cared what
they thought of him but he knew it would make Candy happy. He would do anything
to make her smile.
He stripped completely, no one in sight. Good. The
warm water felt so good on his skin, like being wrapped in a velvety blanket.
The sun was hot on his flesh, he wondered how come he didn’t tan well. He was
not as pale as a certain young freckly girl but still, he would have hoped for a
darker complexion. There were still a few weeks left to this summer vacation,
and time by the lake with Candy is more important than tanning. Although, next
time there’s drama in the Leegan’s family, he’ll run away and won’t forget to
bring Candy with him that time. Where were she now? What was she doing ? Were
they bugging her? How come Candy wasn’t even welcomed in their estate? Why was
she living at the summer school dorm?
He picked up his soap and started
to lather up his chest, his neck, decided to wash his hair eventhough he did it
this morning. Soaped his arms, tried to reach his back the best way he could,
rubbed the small of his back and his buttocks. As he bend forward a little to
reach his knees and calves, he heard a soft whisper, like a strangled hush
coming from the large bushes that were surronding the house. In a split of a
second, rage and anger managed to wash away all feelings of calmness he was
enjoying but in the corner of his eye, without completely turning his head
toward the hushed sound, he recognized the tip of the hat worn by the object of
his affection. He had to admit it right there but knowing that it was Candy
somewhere in those bushes made the intrusion of privacy feel not so “intrusive”.
He even felt that the wheel had turned on him in a way, great way to get him
back for watching her change costumes at the May festival. Of course, she hadn’t
shown that much flesh, to his chagrin he might had. How cocky of him to say that
he wasn’t watching her, that he was marely seing her while he tried to contain
his excitement and heartbeat. Just like right now, he had to stop thinking of
how great it would be, if she could come over and properly wash his back, help
him rince out the soap from his hair and maybe she could wrap him in the big
towel he brought and dry his skin. He would be completely at her mercy and the
total control freak he was could finally surrender to her touch.
He
poured the whole bucket of now lukewarm water over his head, thanking the
heavens for the fresh water to tuned down his awakening arousal. He certainly
didn’t feel like gowing full frontal on her and send her screaming all the way
to the dorm. Candy was innocent at these truths of life. If she only knew how
much she was desired and wanted but she was not to be treated that way. She was
a good girl, the best he ever met. She was his only friend and deserved to be
treated with respect. That didn’t mean he couldn’t play with her a little bit
though. They were friends after all.
“Enjoying the show?”
He got
near the bushes, tying the towel around his waist, trying to not burst out
laughing when he saw her try to go deeper into them and cursing a little when
what must be a branch whipping her skin.
“Come on, get out of there, I
can still see your hat.”
She got out, a furious blush on her skin,
robbing the red mark on her arm where the branch hit her.
“You left
without saying a word to me, I-I just wanted to know if you were mad at me or
something.”
“No, I was not mad at you, I guess I was a little mad at
myself for being played like that by that witch of Eliza. I’m sorry you thought
I was mad at you.”
“It’s all right. She gets away with lots of things.
She plays the damsel in distress act perfectely doesn’t she?”
“Yes, she
does. But she’s no damsel to me.”
“You on the other hand have all the
chivalry of a prince in shining armor.”
“Maybe I do, but only you can
see me without my armor.”
That statement mad her blush even
more.
“Come on Candy, it’s ok to be curious. And I don’t blame you one
bit for it. If it was the other way around, well you know, I did the same thing
to you before.”
Terry could close to her and gently tucked a tuft of her
hair behind her ear.
“You’re shivering. You must go inside and get some
clothes on or you’ll catch a cold.”
“I am shivering but it’s not because
I’m cold Candy…”
She brought her hand up to his chest to wipe a drop of
water that was rolling slowly down to his belly. Terry gasped at her touch and
she withdrew her hand like she got burned on a hot stove. They stayed like that
for what seemed hours, looking intensively at one another. The blue in Terry’s
eyes darker, drops of sweat coming down Candy’s neck. Terry finally smiled at
her.
“Would you like to come inside for some tea?”
“No, no thank
you but it’s getting late and I sure don’t need to miss another curfew. The
girls can’t actually come out with another excuse for me, I think we’re all
out.”
“When will I see you again? Maybe we should plan these things ahead
and stop catching ourselves off guard like that.”
“You mean like a
date?”
“Well, yes a date. Or a secret rendez-vous.”
“Aren’t they
the same?”
“A date in the correct way between two young people like you
and me would require a chaperone and don’t say that your friends and cousins
could accompany us because, I don’t want that. I want to be alone with
you.”
“We’re alone together all the time, although I never thought it was
improper. Is that why you left so quickly when everybody started to talk about
gathering at the Andrew estate? You don’t like company much do you?”
“I
like the company of you. And she dismissed you so vehemently…I swear I wanted to
throw her back into the lake.”
“Ok then, no group date mister, I might
just want to see you throw her anywhere…”
“See, this is why just you and
me is a good thing. You calm me and let me be the charming man I really
am…”
“Aren’t you a little full of yourself, Terrence
Grandchester?”
“I guess I am but you keep wanting to be my friend so it
must mean that you like me that way”
“I do, you know?”
“Do what?
Like me?”
“No silly, I mean yes, I mean that I do want to be your
friend!”
“I think we’re more than friends Candy.”
“Maybe… I
really have to go Terry, I’ll see you soon.”
Terry watched her leave in a
hurry. She ran holding on to her hat with one hand. Maybe he’ll see her sooner
than later. Maybe they could relive another one of their impromptu encounters,
maybe he could arrive on her dorm balcony by mistake tonight…