(3) Observations

Shawn sat next to the two love birds Philip and Chloe. They were in a drawn out lip lock and Shawn was about to puke. Unable to bear it anymore, he poked Philip in the ribs. “Uh, hello Kiriakis. I know you’re the man and all, but did your parents happen to enlighten you on social graces?”

“Would you fucking speak English Shawn!”

“Could you like not make out in front of me? Or get a room, something, anything besides carry on like you do right here!”

“What the hell?”

Chloe blushed and apologized, “I’m sorry Shawn.”

Philip interrupted, “What the hell is it to you?”

“Oh chill out Phil. All I’m saying is that we’re at a freaking pep assembly. That shit is gross,” explained Shawn.

“Whatever!” implored Philip.

Shawn winked at Chloe. Chloe batted her eyes at him playfully. This infuriated Philip. “What the hell is going on between you two?” Shawn and Chloe broke out into a laugh. Chloe grabbed Philip’s hands, “Honey…” Shawn pulled backwards, “We’re just kidding Philip, relax.”

“Screw you Shawn Brady,” volleyed a jealous Philip.

“Shut up Phil. Stop being so insecure.”

“Whatever,” answered Philip, irritated by what he implied.

“Guys, please. Can’t we just get along?” begged Chloe.

Shawn peered over Philip’s shoulder, “Yes Chloe, I can. Cuz I’m a man.”

Philip shook his head at him, “Meet me in the parking lot after school ass wipe.”

“No problem asshole.”

The student body president ended her speech and the cheerleaders entered the scene. Belle was positioned on the far right. Philip broke the argument to nudge Shawn. “Dude, check out Belle! Hey.” Shawn looked up wildly, “Where?” Philip pointed in Belle’s direction, “See, she’s right here on the end.” Shawn followed the path of his finger. He approved! He raised his eyebrow and muttered, “Damn.”

Philip clasped Chloe’s hand into his. “Check out Shawn,” he kidded, “He’s got a crush.”

“Shut up Kiriakis. I do not !”

Chloe marveled at Shawn’s denial, “Oh yes you do. It’s so obvious.”

“Oh come on Chloe. We’re just friends.”

“Uh huh, sure.”

“What, we are.”

Chloe shrugged innocently, “I know that.” Chloe bit her lip and gazed knowingly at Philip. Shawn averted his attention back to Belle. She was looking good. REAL good. He found himself smiling as he admired her thighs and breasts. Aye, aye, aye. Now he was blushing. He propped his foot on the bleacher in front of him and covered his mouth.

The cheer stopped and the music pumped as they started their little dance number to Christina Aquilera’s “Come On Over.” Shawn blushed even harder as he watched Belle getting into the rhythm of the music. She had to know she looked good. She had to with the way she was working it. There had to be some weird law out there for cheerleaders. Some kind of conspiracy. They knew exactly what they did to guys like Shawn…They milked their hormones for all they worth.

To make it worse, Isabella looked right at him and winked. She wasn’t even discreet. Philip had a hay day with this. He was cracking up, “Awww, Shawn. Did you see that?”

“See what?” he kidded.

“Oh fuck you. You know what I’m talking about. Belle looked right at YOU and winked.”

“No she didn’t.”

“Yes she did. Didn’t she Chloe?”

Chloe nodded, “I saw it too Shawn.”

“No way. It was part of the dance. It wasn’t for me.”

Chloe wrapped her arms around Philip’s waist and rested her head on his shoulder. “Shawwwwn.”

“Chloeeeee.”

Philip leaned back and slipped his arm possessively around Chloe. “You got a case of denial Brady.”

“No I don’t Kiriakis. You just read too much into things.”

“Why don’t you just admit that you want her?”

“Just drop it Kiriakis. I got to take a piss anyway.”

“Yeah I bet you do,” Philip retorted.

Shawn rolled his eyes and stood up. He weaved his way down the bleachers. He headed towards the open door of the gymnasium-much to the scorn of his vice principal. “Sorry Mr. Foster. I really have to use the restroom.” Mr. Foster waved him past and resumed his conversation with the volleyball coach. Shawn stole a quick glance back into the gym. Belle was facing him now. She caught his eye and delivered yet another seductive wink. Shawn did a double take and froze in his tracks with his jaw hung open. Belle turned around so her back was to him.

Shawn entered the vacant bathroom in a daze. He warmly recalled their kiss in his parent’s driveway, dripping wet. Even better, their unforgettable shower after covering themselves with paint in Mimi’s home…The erotic outline of her breasts in the moonlight. If they only knew…Shawn stepped to the urinal and unzipped his pants. Shawn laughed to himself. Way to go Isabella. We have lift off.

*********************************

Belle lowered herself off the hydraulic tug of the stairmaster. She grabbed her towel off the handle bars and wiped the sweat off her forehead. She waved to the other workout regular in the Penthouse fitness center. Mrs. Cabuzzi was at it again on the treadmill, “trying to loose those last five pounds” after having a baby three months ago. Belle placed herself on the exercise mat and broke into a series of crunches. She closed her eyes, trying to meditate to the music.

The last thing Belle felt like doing was crunches. But today at the assembly, she felt so BLOATED. She took a break, abs burning. She closed her eyes, listening to () from Third Eye Blind croon “Deep Inside of You.” Ok Belle, think Christina Aguilera. Christina Aguilera. Killer abs. Tiny abs. Non-bloated abs. Hell yeah! Belle broke into another set, nearly screaming at the last rep. “You go girl!” shouted Mrs. Cabuzzi. Belle let out a deep exhale and smiled.

“This is torture. I hate being a woman!”

“Girl, don’t I know it.”

Belle stretched out on the mat. She slid into the splits, leaning forward into the mat. She held her stretch for a count of ten. She snapped her legs together and jumped up. “I’ll see you on Sunday night Mrs. Cabuzzi.” “Stop calling me that. My name is Rachel,” she shouted. Belle smiled, “Ok Mrs. Cabuzzi, I’ll see you then.”

“Girl!”

“Girl!” mocked back as she exited the fitness center.

Belle put her headphones back on as she walked towards the elevator. She was singing along quite animatedly when the hand reached out to grab the towel off her shoulder. Belle let out a yelp of surprise. She spun around and struck out at the perp. Shawn flinched as Belle delivered a series of defensive blows. When she realized who it was, she grew even more infuriated. “SHAWN DOUGLAS BRADY! Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Try to scare me like that!”

“I guess I was just trying to get your attention. Besides, why were you walking around with headphones on like that? You’re lucky it was just me that grabbed you.”

Belle hit him again playfully, “Still.”

“I could have been anybody. A REAL psycho.”

“You are a real psycho.”

“And you’re a flirt,” he replied, catching them both off guard. Belle felt herself blushing-luckily it was hidden by her post-workout flush. “How you figure?” Shawn leaned against the wall, “I don’t know. You just…” He circled the air with his head and held his hands up as if clueless. Belle mimicked his gesture, “What is that?”

Shawn rolled his eyes. Belle tapped her foot and crossed her arms. “I’m waiting.”

“Forget it.”

“Fine,” she muttered and walked off. She approached the elevator with Shawn tagging along behind her. She grinned sheepishly as she hit the up arrow. “So what brings you to this neighborhood Brady?” Shawn paused, hesitating. Shit! Why did she have to ask? “Well, you know, I was just thinking…”

“How remarkable, Shawn” she said sarcastically.

“Don’t go there, Belle.”

“You were saying.”

“I was thinking that maybe you and I could…you know, go out or something tomorrow.”

Ding! The door opened and Belle turned around. “Are you asking me out on a date Shawn?”

“Well, yeah Belle. That is a very non-blond observation, by the way.”

Belle rolled her eyes and stepped into the elevator. “Oh yeah? We’ll see about that.”

“Is that a yes?”

Belle nodded shyly and hit the button to her floor. “Sure Shawn, I’ll go out with you. Tomorrow, eight o-clock. Pick me up here.” Shawn smiled at her and took in the view one last time. “So. Are you going to take a shower now, or whatever.” Belle leaned back against the elevator wall and shook her head. “Now that, my friend, tough guy, is a very non-blond observation.” On that note, the elevator doors shut. Shawn bit his fist. Belle waited another floor before letting out a shriek of joy.

Once she entered the penthouse, she found her mother and father in the living room. “How was your work out dear?” “Killer mom.” “Remind me to go with you the next time.” “Sure mom.” Belle went into the kitchen to grab as glass of water. Brady was there eating out of an ice cream container. “You want some?” he mumbled. Belle eyed his spoonful lustfully, “I’ll get the bowls…”