20

"Get in loser, we're going paddle boating," Romee shouts from where she stood in her car. She of course, stylish as she is, insisted to cruise with the top down. "It's good to see you, haven't seen you in what, nine hours?"

"Good to know you're not sick of me yet," Taylor places her things at the back seat where the rest of the blonde's things were and heads over to the passenger's seat. "You know riding shotgun isn't all that fun when you have no one to fight it over with."

Adjusting the volume of vehicle audio, Romee motions to the back nonchalantly. "You know, you're always welcome in the trunk. I'm sure five hours' worth of driving would give you the best time of your life."

"Hmm...your trunk would probably be a far better company than yourself," Taylor counters and smirks when she sees Romee struggling to hide a smile. "But I'm sure I'll manage and think of a few things to entertain myself with."

"What, like staring at me?" the blonde teases as she starts the car.

"Maybe," Taylor replies with fake confidence. "You're quite easy on the eyes."

"Interesting." Romee hums and begins to drive.

Taylor doesn't respond and they're silent for a moment but it wasn't awkward. They just, let it be. The brunette couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that she had blatantly just flirted with Romee. They joked around a lot for sure and had playful banters every now and then. But she knew if Romee kept on pushing her, that there'd be more of that in the mountain cabin. Both bantering, and flirting. And then maybe even more playful banters.

Romee's music choice was pretty good. Taylor loved anything before the 21st century, and modern songs that sounded like the 80s. Earth, Wind & Fire, Fleetwood Mac, Tame Impala, and St. Lucia. The blonde had asked her earlier on if the songs were okay or if she wanted to take charge of the aux. But Taylor had simply said they were okay, nothing more, nothing less. Romee was quick to figure out she actually loved them, but she was holding back on anymore comments to prevent her from giving out more compliments.

Taylor realized they were nearing the area once she could no longer see any buildings. Tall and seemingly sky-high trees enveloped their surroundings and just to the left of the forest was a barely noticeable narrow road where Romee took a sharp turn. The blonde kept her silence as she waited for Taylor to figure it out.

"Wait, I think we missed the trek point." Taylor lets out as she looks behind them, she was pretty sure they did. She remembers a fading no trespassing sign, and she had been reluctant to go were it not for everyone convincing her it was safe. "You're going the wrong way."

"Uhm, I'm I beg to differ." Romee laughs as they get deeper into the woods. "You're looking at me like I'm going to murder you any second and discard your body in the middle of nowhere only to come back tomorrow and share another sweet dinner with your family."

"That was oddly specific, definitely raising more of my suspiciousness."

"Well, I'd be a good serial killer. No one would dare to suspect, aren't I how did you say it, easy on the eyes?" Romee smirks and makes another turn. The lake was now visible.

"Oh my god," Taylor mumbles as she stands and looks around at the exact same place they've been to before. She then spots the end of the trek where they emerged from. "Romee I can't believe there was a shorter way to get here. A way where you could take your vehicle and you had us walk the entire time the last time. All with the risk of snake and insect bites."

"Oh come on, you had fun with your camera. I'm sure you had a wonderful time."

Romee parked the car and immediately got off, she made little to no effort to hide her excitement. She obviously loved this place and thought of it as her own personal safe haven, it was pretty sweet of her to bring Taylor around. It was actually nice to know she wasn't of disturbance to Romee's peace.

"Home sweet home," Romee announces to no one in particular when they enter the mountain cabin.

It was only one in the afternoon and she suggested they take the boat and go for a swim before the water begins to feel ice cold. Romee was quick to change and she was already down by the dock in ten minutes, Taylor on the other hand took her sweet time. She tells herself it's because she's still a little wary about whatever could be lying beneath the waters, and the fact that she still can't swim, but really she's just nervous about being in a boat with the blonde away from everyone and everything in only her bikini.

"Fuck it," Taylor mumbles as she puts on shorts over her bikini bottom and grabs two towels because she's just about confident Romee didn't even think to bring them.

"You took forever," Romee complains and pulls on the ropes to bring the wooden boat closer to them. "You can get in first."

"Yes ma'am." She salutes and walks over the board and finds a seat fast. The wobbling motion of the boat didn't sit well with her. Romee followed suit and unhooked the ropes. Taylor obviously tried hard not to stare at her bare skin. She didn't want to be classified as one of the many teenage boys looking at Romee like they want to fuck her.

"Have you gone on a boat before?"

"Yeah, a couple of times when I was like seven and my father needed company while he tried to fish." Taylor shares as the other girl begins to row them further away into the dock. "Come to think of it, he rarely got any fish. I think he got distracted, I made quite a good company. Lucky you."

The blonde chuckles as they come to a stop, "Truly, lucky me." From where they were, the cabin looked significantly small so they were quite far. But the water was warm and clear and totally inviting. Romee begins to take off her clothes and Taylor tries to make small talk to busy herself and look anywhere but at her.

"You know this is the beginning to every slasher film," Taylor jokes.

"I think you watch too much films." Romee replies as she stands up, her toned stomach in full view. She raises her arm to pull on her messy bun and her hair comes flowing down like waves. Not that Taylor watched her every move.

"No," Taylor disagrees and removes her shorts. "You just don't watch enough." She jumps from the boat moving it slightly to the left and away from her. Romee follows suite but the brunette resurfaces first and finds the other girl nowhere in sight.

Taylor didn't know how to swim, but this side of the lake was only five feet. Romee made sure to inform the brunette prior to the trip. She even insisted to bring floaters but Taylor was quite prideful and didn't want to look like an actual loser.

"Romee?" She knew the girl was probably just fucking with her but she didn't anticipate being pulled down the water by her leg.

This time around the pair resurface at the same time and Taylor is quick to slap Romee's arm. "You are such a jerk."

"Sorry, I think I need to tone down my Michael Phelps a little bit."

Romee swims around for a while before she suggests she teach Taylor how to float. The brunette was a little reluctant with the idea, mostly because she didn't want to feel embarrassed if she ended up really messing up.

"It's pretty easy, I'm sure you'll get a hang of it soon." Romee grabs her hand from under the water and pulls her further from the boat so Taylor wouldn't end up hitting it later on, "Okay so you just have to face the sky, like a starfish and just relax."

Romee demonstrates for her to see what she meant. Taylor follows the first step but she can't seem to relax. "Okay rigor mortis, you're too tense." The blonde laughs as she moves closer and settles her hands behind Taylor's back. She feels Taylor tense more under her touch but doesn't say anything about it.

"Just relax," Romee whispers into her ear once they're head level. "Relax and just let the water move you, be one with it."

Taylor doesn't feel Romee withdraw her hand, doesn't feel herself moving away from her. Doesn't actually feel anything at all until she realizes all this time she's been floating. She flaps her arms softly in delight and she stops and stands, a big grin on her face.

"Would you look at that," Romee says proudly and walks closer to where she was. "Good job, I couldn't even float on my first try."

"What can I say? I have a pretty decent teacher."

"Only pretty decent?" Romee says incredulously. "I expected more than that to be honest. I'm quite hurt."

"Well," Taylor pretends to think hard. "You're very pretty, and decent. Sorry that's the only thing you're getting."

Romee shakes her head and feels her heart begin to warm. She knew she was truly and genuinely happy. It didn't really take much to make her happy, anyone with a quarter of a brain could do it. It just so happened that Taylor did just that and most of it.

"You compliment my appearance a lot, and while I'm not a narcissist I do appreciate it."

"I wouldn't even mind if you were a narcissist, you'd have every right to be. Jesus Romee have you seen yourself?" Taylor laughs when Romee moves her arms to splash big waves of water at the brunette.

Romee suggested they go deeper but she knew Taylor would be reluctant to go. "As long as you give me a piggyback ride."

"Of course you'd ask for that," Romee rolls her eyes playfully and gestures for her to come closer. "Okay get on."

Once Taylor was situated properly behind her, the pair begin to traverse slowly past the boat and to the other side. The one of greater depth. The water here was colder to say the least and she feels Taylor wrap her arms around her shoulders tighter from behind.

"Cold?" the brunette hums in response. "Okay this is deep enough," Romee announces when she can no longer feel her feet touch anything and the water was too dark to see anything beneath them anymore.

Romee pulls Taylor from behind softly so they could face each other. She holds the younger girl's arms to steady her. "Holy shit, I can't feel the ground." Taylor says both nervously and excitedly.

There was something about doing dangerous things and risk-taking that made people more inclined to do them. Cliff diving and riding rollercoasters among other things. Some were just naturally attracted to danger and while Romee didn't think she was one of those people, she was yearning for the preference of the unexpected and new just as of this moment. It wasn't generally a bad thing, risk-takers were important to push boundaries. In the society, to make a stand, to fight for what was right and just.

For Romee, she wanted to know. There's been an unanswered question dancing around in her pretty little head and she just had to know, right now. And she was nervous and scared but excited. So she is attracted to danger, she'll certainly have to deal with the consequences later but the moment felt right and she didn't want to regret not doing this later on.

So Romee takes a deep breath and settles one hand behind the small of Taylor's back and pushes the younger girl to her. The brunette instinctively wraps her legs around Romee's waist at the sudden movement, and Taylor looks at her quizzically. Romee looks at Taylor for a long time. She moves a strand of dark locks behind Taylor's ear and she traces the outline of her brows, and the younger girl closes her eyes at how gentle she was.

"Can I kiss you?"

Romee speaks barely above a whisper Taylor wasn't sure if she heard her right. But the blonde's baby blue eyes were trained on her lips so a part of her was sure she wasn't crazy. Taylor swallows hard and nods her head nervously, nothing else mattered right now to her. Just this.

Romee finds herself slowly leaning in, until she was only an inch away from Taylor's face. Romee had always known Taylor had beautiful eyes but from how close she was, they were forest green, like the needles of a pine. And when Romee finally closes the gap between them and their lips meet, she feels lightheaded - like she might faint in any second.

The kiss felt like all the good feelings she has ever experienced in life meshed up into one beautiful moment. She doesn't think she's ever wanted something more in life. Taylor is, surprised, she hasn't anticipated this moment. Didn't even think it would possibly happen. But how the waiting, the wanting, and the urge has all led to this felt surreal. Her heart pounded hard against her ribcage, she was scared it would tear through her skin and actually just come out. Her body warms, it starts from the pit of her stomach all the way down to her toes and back up to the top of her head. And it seemed like the kiss went on forever until Romee pulls back slowly, biting Taylor's lower lip when she pulls away.

What a tease, Taylor thinks.

"Wow," Romee breathes out and her face is flushed and warm. "That was quite something."

Taylor laughs lightly in astonishment, still unable to believe what had just happened. "I know, I mean I never expected my first kiss to be...wow." Taylor gives up trying to explain and shrugs.

"I'm your first kiss?" Romee asks, and her heart softens but she's a little annoyed at herself. Taylor could have had a better first kiss circumstance. Like for instance, when her partner isn't in a relationship with someone else.

Taylor nods, "I'm glad you're my first kiss, Romee. Because I know you're a good person, and that you care a lot about me. I always thought it was going to be with some guy and it would be sloppy, and weird, and rough. So it's nice not to have to think about that anymore I guess."

And listening to Taylor ramble on and on, Romee finds her answer and she doesn't know what to do with the information at hand yet. Doesn't quite know what to do with her feelings for the young brunette.