My Story 46 By Corbin How life tests the endurance, patience, and sometimes faith of one young woman. ********** "Woo hoo!" Jenn piped up when we went back into the house, "Now that Corbin is officially playing on the girls team, I don't have to compete with her for guys on the beach!" "That's right." I laughed, in fact everyone got a good laugh out of it. Thankfully there wasn't much more time to dwell on this as Tina had just pulled up into the driveway. It was a real spectacle as Sharon, Kelly and Rachel each hurried down the stairs to greet our new guest, like some damn dignitary visiting. I had just sat down next to Jenn, handing a glass of Wine to Vera when the whole gang came up the stairs, "Damn, they're in full chatter mode now." I moaned, it was nauseating the way the whole group was giggling and carrying on. Tina was loving every bit of the excited attention she was getting, Sharon led her by the hand upstairs with Kelly and Rachel hot on their heels like two little Schoolgirls. "This is going to be so great! It's been forever Tina!" Sharon gushed while I had to keep from gagging. "Wow, this place is nice Sharon, I like it allot." Tina praised. I did raise an eyebrow and must now admit to you kind readers, Tina was a stunner, a real beauty of a woman, more so now then from when I remembered her in High School. She had an imposing stature, her almost six-foot frame and long blonde hair (BITCH! A real blonde too, Damn! I can be so petty), her face was long and angular, with almost model like structure with slightly sunken cheeks. Her body was already a golden tan and she carried a charismatic air. I now understood why she was so revered in school and in some cases...feared. She had socially ruled the school, with close inroads and family influences on the Board of Supervisors. So if Tina couldn't take you down a peg or two, she could make life miserable for you in other ways. Gee, sound like someone else I know? "Tina, do you remember Corbin?" Sharon pulled the girl in my direction. Now I was felling a bit nervous for some reason, Tina eyed me suspiciously but then leaned over to give me a warm hug. She gave me a nice rub and pat on the back and then looked straight over to Sharon, "You weren't exaggerating Sharon." And then looks back at me, "Your a solid piece of muscle." What the hell? Like, just stick me back in the closet or something now that you're your done sizing me up...'A solid piece of muscle?', oh never mind, I'm just being bitchy, but I think it all had a very condescending tone and sound to it. So what did I do? Well I really showed her! :) I just smiled like an idiot and thanked her for that compliment. "I was going to bring my fiance along, but then I remembered you mentioned that you wanted this to be a 'girls only' vacation." Tina said before giving Sharon another hug. Tina was 25 at that time, a bit older then the rest of us and I noted her air of confidence and comfort with being the center of attention, I was a little surprised at how even Sharon seemed to cater to this girls every need. "What a spectacle." Vera groaned into my ear while giving me a slight nudge on my arm. "Yeah..." Sipping my wine, "...that's why I never joined a sorority in College, I can't take all the giddy, giggly, hyper-girly activity." All during dinner Tina kept giving me the once over, but I knew what she was doing, she was trying to figure me out, how to 'handle' me. You see, I just tend to sit back and smile at everyone's conversation while politely eating. So, because I can be quiet during first introductions I can be a bit hard to figure out, at least that's what I am told. "So, Corbin..." Tina suddenly spoke up, she was sitting at the head of the table and everyone got quiet, all eyes went to Tina and then gazed in my direction. "...I didn't know you in High School, but Sharon has told me allot about you" "All good, I hope." I smiled and looked across the table at Sharon. "But of course." Sharon smiled back. "I know you used to compete in High School and in College, you still play any sports?" Tina leaned in a bit, reaching for her glass of white wine. "Well, not really, I mostly just workout for my own interests." I shrugged and gave a faint smile. "Really?" Tina lets go with a big smile of her own "That's not what Sharon told me..." Tina purposively pauses letting the moment drag out and build a bit more. "What?" I tensed and look back and forth at Tina and Sharon, feeling caught off guard. "Sharon says..." Looking over at Sharon with a big smile, while Sharon is now tensing up and is giving Tina this cutting look of 'I can't believe you and your big mouth!' "...that you are going to be competing in a Fitness Competition. Is that true?" Tina relaxes in her chair and takes a sip of wine, smiling behind the glass while watching me stare daggers at Sharon. Sharon quickly shrugs in her moment of nervousness and tries to explain, "I...I uh well I just mentioned, that I...you MIGHT be you know...well...looking..." Sharon was having a hell of a time wiggling her way out of a tight spot. But I jumped in, cutting my eyes from Sharon back over to Tina, "Actually that is partially true. I am thinking about it and may...I repeat..." Looking harshly back at Sharon, "...MAY be competing, but haven't decided." Actually I had decided not to, but was too distracted by everything as I just sat back with an irritated look still aimed at Sharon. "Wow, that's really cool." Kelly leans in with wide-eyed interest. I have to say, Kelly is a really sweet girl, she is one of those peppy, happy very positive people. "Oh don't be too harsh with Sharon Corbin," Tina interrupts, putting her glass down, "You should have heard her on the phone, I'm serious, she sounded really proud of you, because it is something to be proud of. Those competitions are really tough I hear and take allot of endurance." Tina calmly states. "Yeah...see," Sharon points at Tina while looking at me, leaning forward, "All I did was try and pay you a compliment." I fought back a smile, but it came no matter what, my face blushing a bit more, "Okay...alright, It just caught me off guard a bit." "So do you?" Tina suddenly asked. "Do I what?" I paused midway thru raising a fork to my mouth, what damn question is she getting ready to ask now! "Have allot of endurance?" Tina smiles, looking straight into my eyes and takes a quick bite of her own salad. Now I'm picking up a little vibe from Tina, maybe she was taunting or having a little fun at my expense. Great a battle of the blondes now, or some corny crap. Now I felt all eyes on me as I sat staring at Tina, who was enjoying this commanding presence, heightened by her slight age advantage and her position at the head of the table. Now I was feeling my back muscles tighten a bit and I straightened up in the chair to square my shoulders just a tad. "Well, I'd be willing to bet, I have more endurance then most." And I gave as friendly a smile as possible. "Hmm..." Tina gave me a slight hum, almost a purr as she smiled, leaning off to her right in a casual manner allowing her right elbow to find the chairs armrest. The only person oblivious to our little banter session was Kelly, she seemed a bit oblivious to the whole exchange and was pouring herself another glass of wine. It actually made me smile a little, "Gheesh Kelly, go easy on the booze!" Sharon looked over at her while keeping an eye on Tina and me. "Are they real?" Tina suddenly blurted out. "What?" Sharon and I almost said it at the same time, looking at each other then Tina and back to one another with a perplexed look. "Your breasts, are they real?" Tina raised her eyebrows in a casual manner. Rachel's metal fork clanged against the rim of her salad bowl, falling from her hand. "Sorry" She squeaked out and nervously retrieved her fork. "Tina!" Sharon's mouth hung open in shock. "What kind of question is that? That's not nice!" Sharon gave Tina an offended look. "Well are they?" Tina smiled and leaned forward. I felt my face turn a bright red and fought to keep my composure as my left hand came up, palm facing Sharon's direction to stop her from speaking as Sharon looked ready to go off on Tina. "It's okay" I said in a quiet calm tone. "No...no...it's not OKAY!" Sharon protested. I smiled and forced myself to deal with the embarrassing question, I slowly turned and looked at Tina who appeared to be having the time of her life with this nice line of taunts. "They are real" I kept it simple and short and even glanced down at my chest for example. "Why? Feeling a little intimidated?" I leaned my strong arm on the table and smiled, staring directly into Tina's direction. Tina's mouth simply curled into a tight smile and tapped her fingernails along the rim of her plate. "Well, I guess I had that one coming." Tina sighed. "Yeah, I guess you did." Sharon leaned in with an angry tone. "Please forgive me Corbin, I'm just messing with you, I guess my mouth gets the better of me sometimes." Tina giggled a little. "Sounds like you and Sharon have allot in common." I relaxed and looked back at Tina, feeling the complexion of my cheeks returning to normal. "What's that suppose to mean!" Sharon gave me a sharp look and scoots on her chair to try and give me a kick under the table with her foot. "Haha!" Tina leans back laughing. "Damn Corbin, once you get rolling your good!" Now my face turned bright red once again and I slump into my chair, seeing that this was Tina's plan all along, to get me to come out of my shell. "Okay...okay...Hahaha...have your fun with me!" I smiled to myself, picking at my food. After dinner, everyone made plans to go out for the evening, but Sharon pulled me and Tina aside so the three of us could sit upstairs while Vera, Kelly, Jenn and Rachel all were getting ready downstairs. "Tina, I want you to know something, it's really important, " "Really? What is it?" Tina leans in, interlocking her fingers around her left knee, as she looked over to her left watching me nervously knock my knees while my left hand nervously twirls a lock of hair, for crying out loud I looked ridiculous as I sat there, being all nervous. I mean I am a grown woman! "My friend Nikki is coming into town on Wednesday, but she and I are more then friends. We're both in a serious, committed relationship with one another." I said, and found myself more confident and empowered as the words rolled off my tongue. Tina cocks her head to the left and her eyes narrow, "Well that's cool with me, as long as you two are happy, that's most important." Tina smiles and I believed her. I just hope that everyone I come across will be as understanding and supportive as my friends being now. We all stood up to leave and join the others when Tina wrapped her left arm around my shoulder and squeezed, "I'm sorry about my comment during dinner, it's just that," And she boldly reaches over with her right hand and pulls open the collar of my shirt to look down at my boobs, "Your breasts are so perfect that I was just wondering. I have a hang up about implants and women that try to pass off nice breasts as being real when they are not." "Oh, well, thanks." Huh, that's an odd way of paying a compliment. ********** That night we all went out dancing, it was nice, and we ALL were pretty conservative and even came back early to turn in. I think Tina was tired from the drive and it had been an exhausting day for everyone. Honestly, I had another reason for coming back a little early; "Hello my love." I heard Nikki sigh into the phone, her voice had that rich tone, it told me she misses me terribly. "I told everyone about us." I blurted out the news in my usual tactful manner, "So that when you come on Wednesday, it will be all out in the open." "Oh my god, really? Are you serious?" Nikki's voice rose and lowered with excitement, I could tell she was processing everything in real time. "Are you mad with me for telling everyone?" I urgently asked, not sure why, there wasn't the slightest bit of irritation from Nikki. "What? Why in the world would I be mad?" "Maybe you might have wanted us to tell them together, maybe? I don't know." I babbled some reason out that made the most sense. "No way, I love the fact you told them, it makes me feel so good inside Corbin. This is all really happening, this is something I've dreamed of for so long with you." "I told them I loved you so much." I cried into the phone and that just pushed Nikki over the edge as she started to ball too. Well just great, this is getting all mushy and stuff, so don't gag on me. ********** Tuesday I wasn't in much of a mood to hang out at the beach, I was able to snag Jenn and walk into Duck to scout out some places to eat for dinner and maybe hit a few surf shops (although I chuckle at that, surf in duck? More like a giant lake). Besides, the other girls were already getting very cozy with some of the guys at the other Houses, and that just wasn't my scene. The heat and humidity had not let up, so we were good and drenched with sweat by the time we started walking back. "Thanks Corbin." Jenn said, patting me on the back, "This was a great idea, getting all hot and sweaty, trekking up and down the road here." "Suck it up wimp." I said with a smile. "You wanna get some lunch?" I pointed to a Cafe and Raw bar nestled in a tiny shopping strip. "Yeah, at least it will get us out of the heat." Jenn was right about that, the cool air in the restaurant was nice and we even decided to sit at the bar. Being close to lunch the place was starting to fill up, there wasn't much to brag about, it was a nice little place with your typical beach type decorations and such, some slow moving overhead fans did an adequate job of circulating the air and of course the bar had some TV's tuned into the usual sports news. "Hey, mind if I ask some nosey questions?" Jenn taps me on the wrist with her straw and I know where this is going. "Fire away." I say and raise a knowing eyebrow at her. "So who came onto who first?" Jenn was now giving me this gossipy, curious smile she gets as she leans over to sip on her diet coke. "Nikki hit on me." I said and did my best to keep from grinning like some idiot. "How did that go over? I mean, were you both sober and were you offended when she made a pass at you?" Jenn asked. She seemed really interested, or maybe it was just nosey gossip, but either way I didn't mind sharing a few things with her. Might as well get used to it, it wont be the last barrage of questions before the week is out. "Yes we were both totally sober and no I was not offended, just freaked out, we both were afraid of what the impact on our friendship would have." As with any occasion, whenever I try to have a in depth conversation I get interrupted. I am looking to my right, talking with Jenn when I sense someone is standing to my left, very close to my left. The second I glance over to my left he is now speaking... "Can we buy you girls a drink?" Oh what the hell!? Can't I sit down and have a minutes peace!! I casually leaned back in my chair and didn't even crack a smile, "Thanks, but were just hanging out and trying to have some lunch." He wasn't too happy with that and thankfully Jenn just looked away, not giving him the time of day. I really was more annoyed then anything. When we left the restaurant my mood perked up tremendously as I realized that it wouldn't be that long before Nikki would be here. We text messaged back and forth several times and talked later that night. ********** The idea to go out to dinner was scrapped because the girls had invited some guys over to dinner at the house, dinner as in ordering pizza. Such a healthy selection of food! *Yuck* Well, I don't mind pizza all that much, it's just that it always tastes like I am chewing on a big wad of dough, that's all, as my anal mind begins processing the calorie intake. I had a small slice and then had some fruit and some left over baked chicken. I cannot stress how eating small portions is so important, don't buy into these bullshit news articles that there are FAT genes or a FAT virus going around, the responsibility resides with YOU AND YOU ALONE! Eat less and exercise more, it's a easy as it gets. The guys that showed up were from that first day on the beach, that Sharon and everyone else played volleyball with. I say 'everyone else' because if you recall I had little *fit* and stormed off to the house. These are all nice guys and wouldn't you know it there was at least one guy for every girl, how in the hell did that happen, did these morons invite the whole street! Kelly has a serious boyfriend back home and did nothing to lead any guys on, I really like Kelly and was glad to see how respectful she acted. "You have a guy back home?" I was asked early on in the night. Most of the guys didn't even ask, they could care less, it was vacation time and the attitude of what happens 'here' stays 'here'. I hate that sluttish mentality. "A girl." I said with a smile as I sat down on one of the bar stools. That's a tactic I use to keep people for standing right in my personal space, by sitting down at the counter, I puts more distance between myself and the guys around me. Well, at least it makes it more awkward. "Really!" came the reply, a reply that was coated in intrigue and shock. "So have you always been gay?" Came the next question. "I'm bisexual." I said and was rather shocked that the admittance came out of my mouth so casually, so comfortably even. "She dated one of the hottest guys back in college, he was the Duke football quarterback and all." Said Kelly who was now at my side. "So does that mean you might go back to dating guys?" "No, Nikki and I are solid, she's the one." I smiled and took a sip from my wine glass. Seems I was a bit of a puzzle to these guys and I finally started to see what Sharon meant by a 'people magnet', they either wanted to hang out with me, befriend me or date me, usually in the reverse order, but regardless the ultimate call was to get intimate and have sex with me. Unfortunately this can illicit jealousy, very irrational jealousy from other women, as the kind Tasha exhibits towards me.