Sunning by the Lake

"Come in, Bee! The water is so fine," Tinny yelled, giggling as a hand pawed at her tiny, tight ass.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's the water that's fine," Bridget laughed from her spot on the dock.

"Oh, other things are more than fine. They're hard too!" Tinny replied from down below in the lake water as she played hard to get with a blond college guy. Bridget couldn't remember exactly which of Rusty's roommates the handsome blond was, but Tinny's playmate wasn't from Honey Hollow. Instead, he traveled down for Shelly's party, along with several other guys that currently frolicked in the hot summer water with her friends.

With the sun setting over Canary Lake, Bridget watched the forty-odd people splashing, diving, and swimming around in the warm water. Most of the partygoers were her current or former classmates at Honey Hollow High School, while the rest lived in the region and attended Zurbrugg College. An equal amount of people littered the lakehouse or its grounds. A pool and hot tub sat up on the hill, next to the vacation home. Shelly's parties had a reputation. One that caused college students on summer break to make the drive over to Honey Hollow.

They even came to be considered neutral ground between the cheer squad and their dance squad rivals. A game with a beach ball had broken out between Tinny, Lauren, Shayla, and several Sugarbees. The rival units appeared to be fighting over a selection of extraordinarily hot college men. Glancing up and down the shoreline, Bridget was thankful for the sparse collection of vacation homes. Canary Lake didn't compare in popularity to Wasp Lake, but it was closer to Honey Hollow, which played prominently in the Penfold family's decision to build their lakehouse at this spot.

"What is this? Are you moping around at one of Shelly's parties? I had better not have made a poor decision when I chose you as my little cheer sister. I have a reputation to uphold."

"You make poor decisions every single day, Gabby," Bridget replied without looking at the approaching voice. "And your reputation is that of a wild child."

"It sure is!" Gabriela agreed, plopping down next to her friend. The sharp movement nearly caused one of her impressive breasts to bounce free from her barely-there silver bikini. "Now, tell your fairy godmother what is wrong, child."

"Nothing is wrong. I'm taking a break," Bridget replied. Seeing that her family friend didn't buy it, she added," I'm serious. Why would you think something is the matter?"

"Hmm, let me see...maybe because the Bridget Fallon I know would be off trying to score the hottest guy at this party. But instead, she's sitting on her ass, watching others have fun," Gabby replied, putting her hair into a ponytail. "If you want to sit around and be a bore, then go over by Cassie."

Bridget followed the older cheerleader's gesture, glancing at a spot under a clump of trees near the fire pit. Cassandra appeared to be rummaging around in her camera bag. Next to her on a beach chair, Kimberly Goose watched as her fellow cheermate, Rain Onishi, engaged in a spirited discussion with Larry Lufflutz. They're probably arguing over some current events in the Balkans or Central Africa.

"Cassie's not sitting around. She's getting ready to take more pictures," Bridget defended her friend.

"Maybe she should live a little rather than capture everyone else's fun," Gabby responded. "At least Kimmie has the right idea."

"Right idea?"

"Yeah, she's scoping out Larry."

"Oh, please. Kimberly wouldn't know what to do with a guy," Bridget chuckled. "You should go help her out rather than bother me."

"But she's not the one moping over a lost love," Gabby stated with all her humor suddenly gone from her voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Bridget replied, turning her body away from the dark-haired girl.

"Sure, play dumb. But we both know you're far smarter than people realize. And I'm not always a party girl," Gabby said, wrapping her arm around the other teen's shoulder. "I know what Shelly's parties bring up and who. I thought you moved on, Bee."

"A person doesn't move on from their first love, even if they move away!" the younger teen snapped out, more harshly than she intended.

"Charlie moved away a year ago. You've certainly played the field since then. Made this mama bear proud of her cub."

"I have moved on!" Bridget nearly screamed. Quickly recovering, she wiped a tear from her eye. "It's just that we had our first kiss at one of Shelly's parties back in town. I can't forget that. Ever."

"And you shouldn't," Gabby told her while adding pressure to her side hug. "But there are other fish in the sea...or in the lake today."

Her mentor's dumb joke lightened Bridget's mood. Giggling, she relented, "Look, I want to reminisce about my first real boyfriend for a few minutes. Is that so bad?"

"Charlie Otterson wasn't your first boyfriend. You had plenty of boyfriends before high school," Gabby started. "Now, if we're talking about the first dick you had in you...OWW! That hurt, you little brat!"

"Then don't demean my first time or my first love," Bridget grinned back. "And you should be proud of my relationship with Charlie. You got us together."

"And that's why you should let me find you another boyfriend. Or at least a fuck buddy," Gabby said animatedly.

"No, thank you. You've struck out with the last several guys."

"Aw, come on! They weren't all bad. You're just getting picky," Gabby protested until a loud male voice drowned her out.

"No, my father told me. Big plans are coming for Canary Lake. We're talking about the middle-class version of Wasp Lake; no more dealing with those snobs over there. Imagine the Frog Lake cabins but more modern. You should tell your father. The land is still very affordable, and prices will skyrocket once the new developments begin," a young man that Bridget found annoying was telling a young woman that she also disliked.

"Thank you, but I don't think my dad is interested, Morgan," Carmella Bruno responded, appearing bored out of her mind. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to join my friends in the lake."

"How about I join you?" Morgan Barrow didn't ask. "It sounds like a fun idea."

"Whatever," Carmella replied, rolling her eyes at Gabby and Bridget.

Bridget waited until the black-haired beauty dropped the wrap she wore, exposing her skimpy, bronzed tiger-striped bikini, and wadded out into the water. Barrow hurriedly followed, oblivious to her lack of interest.

"See, that's the kind of guy you tried to fix me up with. The date from hell, and he kept expecting another for almost three months."

"Hey, Barrow's dad is a state assemblyman! I thought a girl like you wanted a go-getter," Gabby defended her matchmaking skills.

"I don't want a loser. But I also don't want a boring-ass guy that only talks about himself or his career. I want an outgoing guy who loves to have fun," Bridget explained in frustration. "And Morgan still gives me the eye in the hallways at school."

"Well, I wouldn't worry about that for much longer," Gabby said with a wave of her hand. Bridget's confused face led her to explain. "When Benny Zuccaro hears that Morgan's making moves on his girlfriend, he's going to drive back from Breakwater and kick his ass so hard that Morgan won't be able to hit on anybody."

"That actually sounds like the only time I'll be rooting for Benny and Carmella," Bridget said, grinning.

"You know who's looking especially hot today?" Gabby questioned, but Bridget gave her an annoyed look. "Come on! Guess at least one name."

"Nope. I'm not playing this game."

"Argh! Sometimes you drive me nuts. Fine! It's McCoy Quarry."

"So?" Bridget asked.

"Sooo, the star quarterback and cheerleader captain are almost required to date!"

"I'm not a lock to be captain," Bridget pointed out.

"Of course you are!" Gabby exclaimed. "No one in their right mind would put Tinny in charge of anyone. Kimberly barely even yells her cheers, and Annette's a slut. There is no way Rachel lets her be her successor."

"Gabs!"

"What? Annette's a slut. Everyone knows it, and she even admits it. If Rachel thinks Tinny is too wild to be captain, then Annette hasn't even been considered. Sela would never allow it either."

"Maybe Miranda or Rain want to be a candidate."

"Rain won't give up any more of her study time than she has already. Miranda could be a compromise as co-captain, but she's not as popular with the girls like you are," Gabby evaluated. "Especially with last year's JV squad."

"It doesn't matter even if I am captain this fall. Coy and Gemma seem to be circling each other of late," Bridget revealed.

"Gemma Harlow! You are not fucking losing the starting quarterback to your Sugarbee rival! Not on my watch, no fucking way," Gabby insisted, growing heated over the idea.

"How can I lose a guy that I'm not even interested in?"

"Oh, you will be. You will be."

"You've been watching Star Wars again with your little brother, huh?" Bridget challenged with a shake of her head. "You always do when you're grounded."

"I don't know what--"

"Tinny, did you use up all my rolls of film?" Cassie yelled across the shoreline.

The anxious, guilty look on the short brunette's face and the swearing under her breath revealed her answer. She gently tossed the beach ball to Lauren.

"Um, maybe!" she yelled back.

"Why do you always have to waste my film?" Cassie demanded in a rare moment of anger as she marched toward the water.

"Who said I wasted it? I get better pictures than you."

"Your pictures are of drunk, horny teenagers acting like idiots!"

"Well, duh, that's what we are. And they're better than your shots of the setting sun or a tree," Tinny responded.

"I wanted to get pictures of us girls together. We might want the memories for the future," Cassie explained in a sad tone.

"Oh...I'm sorry, Cass. I didn't--wait, I didn't use all of them! I hide an extra roll in my shorts," Tinny tried to remember where her shorts went after they dried. "Uh, they're in the house somewhere."

"They're in the upstairs bedroom with the rest of our clothes, Cass," Bridget supplied, having been the one that sent Tinny's clothes back to the house with Shayla.

"That's it!" Tinny exclaimed. "Good job, Bee."

"Sometimes, I already feel like I'm teaching grade school kids," Cassie mumbled as she walked toward the house.

"How about Cody Higby? The starting point guard on the basketball team. I bet he's got some sly moves in bed too," Gabby suggested.

"He's dating Lucy!"

"So? What have I told you about girlfriends?"

"That they don't matter," Bridget repeated Gabby's mantra that she'd heard repeatedly over the past two years.

"Not if you're hotter. So what's the real issue with Cody? Too short for you? Maybe you want someone taller and bigger. Especially where it counts," the dark-haired vixen speculated. "What about Anton O'Dell? Shayla's friends with his family. Maybe she can hook you two up?"

"Just let it go, would you?" Bridget sighed in frustration.

"So, Graham's arrived," Gabby informed with a twitter to her voice.

"Not this again. Stop, just stop, Gabriella."

"Why? You know he has a crush on you."

"And I've told you that while Graham's a nice guy, he's not my type," Bridget explained for like the twentieth time. "Besides, everyone has been awkward since Beverly dumped Harvey."

"Well, he's heading out already, I suspect." Gabby speculated. "He brought that little sidekick of his, and Harvey blew up."

"Sidekick?"

"That little girl with the long, black hair."

"Frida? Oh, she follows Graham everywhere. Her grandmother works for Harvey and Graham's grandparents. And she's not a little girl," Bridget explained.

"Isn't she like three or four years younger than you?" Gabby questioned.

"Nah, she's about two and a half years younger."

"Anyway, Harvey saw her and flipped out, yelling that she was too young to be here. He even ordered Graham to take her home, and a scene broke out."

"Let me guess; Frida wouldn't go home," Bridget guessed while watching as Tinny and her Sugarbee counterpart escalated their beach ball war.

"I've never seen anyone talk to Harvey Diamond as she did. That Frida stormed right up to him, backing him up, and unleashed quite a tirade," Gabby relayed. "And I thought I knew some imaginative curses. Harvey seemed on the defensive until she said he's not her father, and he warned her that if he were, then he'd spank her."

"Oh, no."

"Yep, Frida dared him to, and Harvey scooped the tiny girl up like nothing," Gabby recalled with a strange smile. "He gave her ten hard spanks. I don't know about him, but I'd be on edge based on the threats that girl shouted back."

"Wow, I bet that was something to see," Bridget remarked, eyeing up the standoff between Tinny and Didi Bing, the resident daredevil of the dance squad.

"Wow indeed, I hope I get spanked someday by Harvey Diamond," Gabby huskily wished.

"Poor Frida. She doesn't understand yet, but he is only concerned about her. He knows what guys want from a girl," Bridget commented.

"Yeah, I could see some of the guys in the living room checking her out, clammed up once Harvey went off. Well, shit, there goes Graham and your chance."

"Oh, stuff it, Gabriela. Or I'll give you a spanking to shut you up," Bridget threatened.

"Ooh, don't talk dirty to me yet! At least wait until we're under the sheets," Gabby playfully responded.

Shaking her head, Bridget started to say a comeback but stopped when she heard shouting.

"Chicken fight!"

"Hell, yeah!"

"Chicken fight. Chicken fight. Chicken fight!" chanted an increasing number of swimmers. Tinny rallied support for her effort to show up Didi.

"It looks like our little hyper ball of fun has found a game to play," Gabby noted with a chuckle.

"Bee, Gabs, get your asses in here. It's tournament time!" Tinny yelled over as she left Lauren to organize the game. "We need more girls for our side."

"Let's go kick some sugar ass," Gabby said, motioning for Bridget to join her as she stood up.

"I'm going to sit this one out!" Bridget called out to her best friend.

"What?! Dammit, Bee, pull that stick out of your butt and get out here," Tinny ordered.

"Ooh, is Miss Cool, Bridget Fallon, scared to get knocked onto her ass?" a big-breasted redhead challenged.

"Oh, go get knocked up, Gemma," Bridget responded sarcastically to Gemma Harlow. The redhead who'd poured herself into a teeny, tiny white bikini with black polka dots was Bridget's counterpart on the Sugarbees. She'd been a thorn in the Fallon girl's life since seventh grade.

"Give me Charlie's new address, and I will," Gemma smirked.

"Low blow, Harlow!" Gabby exclaimed as Bridget fumed next to her.

"Bitch!" screamed a banshee in an orange bikini as she launched herself onto Gemma's back.

"Tinny! Get off her, right now!" commanded a busty redhead in a gold one-piece. "And watch that mouth of yours, Gemma."

"Don't you dare tell my girls what to do, Rachel," Carmella Bruno ordered back at Rachel McCracken.

"Jesus, here they go again," Gabby muttered, preparing to climb down the deck ladder into the water.

"I'm trying to keep the peace, Carmella. You should be doing the same," Rachel replied in frustration, wadding through the water as Didi and Naomi Fitch dragged the screaming Tinny off their friend.

"Is this going to be another one of your lectures about our responsibilities as team captains?" Carmella responded snarkily. "We've graduated, so those are old news."

"Ladies, let's not fight," a thin, wiry framed young man with short, brown hair.

"Yeah, listen to Calum, girls. Wait to fight until we start the game," added a young man the opposite of Calum Thirlby. He had shoulder-length blond hair, electric blue eyes, and a face that made girls at Honey Hollow High swoon.

"That sounds fine to me," Gemma stated, once she was free of Tinny. "And you can be my partner, Coy."

"Uh, I guess I can be," McCoy Quarry, star quarterback, responded, his eyes flickering to the dock and at Bridget.

"And I'll take your big, bad brother as my partner," Gabriela announced, moving toward Drake Quarry.

Sitting alone on the edge of the dock, Bridget watched as the various girls picked their male partners, ending up with ten pairs. The pairs consisted of four cheerleaders, four Sugarbees, and one present and one past classmate.

For the cheerleaders, Tinsley, in her strapless orange bikini, hopped onto the back of the college guy she'd spent the day with flirting. Next to her, Lauren, in a yellow bikini, had teamed with Alvin Wirch, a friend of Harvey's. Already having chosen Drake Quarry, Gabriela rubbed her silver bikini-clad body against his side. At the same time, Rachel, in a gold one-piece, surprised many by climbing onto Calum Thirlby's shoulders.

The Sugarbees eyed up their cheer rivals as Carmella, flaunting her bronze tiger-striped bikini, found a safe partner in her boyfriend's best friend, Ransom Kittle. Her protégé, Gemma, in a white and black polka dot bikini, wrapped her legs possessively around McCoy Quarry's neck. To her right side, brown-haired Naomi Fitch rocked a turquoise bikini while sighing in disappointment as she ended up with Morgan Barrow. On Gemma's left side, Didi, wearing a light green strapless bikini, climbed atop Elliot Ridge's shoulders. A choice that further enraged Tinny.

"You traitor!" she shrieked at Elliot, her archenemy when it came to childhood pranks.

"You're so going down, Day," Elliot promised, as Didi slapped his outstretched hand in agreement.

One of the final two pairs featured a former lead choir singer in Addison Craft, wearing a blue two-piece with yellow sunflowers. The Zurbrugg College student teamed up with her boyfriend, Glenn. The final pair held a **** Bailey Thirlby, Calum's younger cousin, and her partner, Thane Taulsen. The body-shy Bailey wore a conservative, black one-piece, which did little to hide her considerably large-sized breasts.

"Chicken fight?" Cassie asked, sitting down next to Bridget.

"Yep."

"Tinny's idea, I bet," Cassie said, shaking her head but still pulling out her camera. "I guess this should be worth my final roll of film."

The unstructured tournament started with all ten pairs going at once. A melee that led to several calls of cheating and the breaking of unspoken rules. Finally, those gathered around agreed to let Shayla and Kirk Langley act as referees, while another dozen party guests ventured down from the lakehouse to watch.

"Let's see some titties!" Fred Singer yelled from the growing crowd on the beach.