Tuesday lunch was fairly typical, though Bess now got to enjoy it with others. Specifically, Kaia and Lily. The three girls ate and chatted happily when another girl approached the table.
Bess looked up at the striking presence of Carrie Walsh.
"Are you Bess?"
Bess froze in shock and alarm. The other two girls looked at Carrie. She was medium-height, athletic, and well put together. She had long, red hair that cascaded down in thousands of ringlets, and hazel eyes. Her skin was freckled and pale. She looked like a real-world version of Merida from the Pixar film 'Brave'.
Bess nodded dumbly. Carrie asked, "Can I sit?" Bess nodded again.
Carrie seemed...not angry...but agitated. She looked at Bess, then to the others. "I'm Carrie."
"Oh! Carrie, this is Lily, and Kaia."
She nodded to Lily, then looked at Kaia. "You're on the volleyball team, right?"
Kaia smiled. "Yes, that's right."
"I've seen you play...you're really good."
"Thank you."
Lily said, "Your hair is beautiful."
Carrie blinked. "Oh...thank you!"
"Is it naturally that curly and red?"
"Yeah...sometimes it gets out of control."
"So very beautiful."
Carrie was so pale, any color change was very noticeable, so when she blushed slightly, it was VERY noticeable. Lily smiled, then said, "I'm sorry...I do not mean to embarrass you."
"No, it's okay. You're very kind."
She looked back at Bess.
"So, you know my boyfriend, Leroy?"
"Yes...we're in class together. Along with Lily and Kaia."
"So, he told me that it might be...fun...for the three of us to go out sometime."
"Um...yeah?"
"And that you bring something special to the table."
Kaia said, "Wait...that's all Leroy said to you?"
Carrie looked at her and nodded. "Right? That's it!"
"That's not fair to you OR to Bess!"
"I agree! So, what is Leroy talking about, Bess?" She looked directly at Bess, and Bess looked right back.
For a long moment, Carrie was struck by how attractive Bess was. Not on the surface, but just under. Was that it? Carrie was never into girls, but Bess had something about her that made Carrie breathe a little heavier. Was this what Leroy was talking about?
Bess then looked at the other two. They both nodded back to her, and she sighed. "Carrie, I can answer your question, but it's kind of a secret. Only a few people know about it, and I want to make sure of that."
Carrie frowned. "Okay..."
"Can I ask you to promise me that you won't tell anyone?"
"I won't tell anyone."
"Promise?"
Carrie wanted to be aggravated by this, but the look on Bess's face was so full of concern. Whatever 'this' was, it was incredibly important to the girl.
Carrie nodded solemnly. "I promise."
"Okay. Come sit over here next to me."
Carrie walked around the table and sat next to Bess.
Bess breathed in. "Is that vanilla?"
Carrie nodded. "Do you like it?"
Why did I ask that?
"It's great."
Carrie smiled and her face colored a deep red.
What's going on?
Bess looked at Carrie. "Do you know Katy Jenkins?"
"Katy? Sure!"
"So she knows about me...I'm going to show you the same way I showed her. Can I have your hand?"
Carrie wordlessly lifted her hand and Bess took it. She looked at Carrie again. "Here we go."
Bess brought Carrie's hand below the table.
"What...what ar..."
Carrie gasped.
"What...is that...Bess...do you...?"
Carrie looked back up at Bess. Bess's eyes were so scared. Carrie almost melted when she saw those eyes.
The other two girls were quiet and still, watching the interaction.
Carrie removed her hand but stared down at where it had been. "Is it real?"
Bess nodded. "100 percent."
Lily interjected. "And very big. It wouldn't completely fit inside me."
Carrie's eyes were like saucers as she looked at Lily. She looked back at Bess, who blushed a bit and nodded.
Carrie then looked at Kaia. Kaia shook her head. "Not yet. Soon though. Hopefully very soon."
Carrie looked back at Bess but was speechless.
Bess smiled. "It's okay. It's a weird thing to find out. I think Leroy thought you might like both he and I..."
Carrie blinked. "So...do YOU want to...?"
Bess actually laughed out loud. "Are you kidding me? Not to be too crude Carrie, but you are HOT. You felt me...I'm that way because you're sitting next to me."
Carrie blushed some more. "Umm...I...it's crazy. I'm not into girls, but you...I think...sitting here...it's nice, Bess."
Bess smiled. "We should hang out. Though, Leroy is still your boyfriend. I don't want to disrupt that."
Carrie smiled back. "Don't worry. Though I may have to tell Leroy that you and I might need to have a practice run...or two.... You know, just to be sure."
Bess gulped. "That would probably be important."
Carrie smiled.
Bess straightened up. "I have one question, one that I've wanted to ask for a while."
Carrie frowned. "What's that?"
"Are you, like, a natural redhead...everywhere?"
A slow smile crept across Carrie's face. Both Lily and Kaia leaned in.
"You want to know if the carpet matches the drapes?"
Bess swallowed. "Yes."