Amber Deen Leska

Amber Deen rushed to the side of the frosted glass upon hearing Erind's rough cough. “Are you okay, Erind?” Deen opened the shower door about an inch before Erind forcefully pulled it back shut. Fortunately, Deen let go of the latch in time, or it would’ve broken with two of them tugging it. “What’s going—?”

“I’m fine!” Erind replied. She coughed a couple of times more. “Stupid water got into my mouth while”—she cleared her throat—“I was laughing.”

Deen chuckled as she gazed at the blurry form of naked Erind through the glass. It almost looked like there was only floating black hair, with Erind’s pale complexion blending with the white tiled walls of the bathroom. That made Deen laugh even more. Ghostly hair—the haunted spirit of Erind, who choked while in the shower.

“Laughing at my misfortune?” Erind said.

“Be careful,” Deen said, trying to control her giggling. “I don’t know what to tell your Mom if you suffocated.”

“Drowned to death by shower water?” Erind said. “I don’t think I’ll die from that… well, maybe if the airflow got blocked and I can’t breathe. Then my brain will lose oxygen and—”

“I was just joking,” Deen interjected. “Sheesh, don’t turn it all dark. Let’s go back to the cheerleader talk.”

“Fine, if you really want to talk about that. But scoot back to the sink.”

“Why? You don’t want me beside you?”

“Shoo! You’re too close.”

“Grumpy, grumpy, Erind. Are you shy about—”

“If you won’t move, I’m not talking.”

[Move to sink.]

Deen smirked after hearing Gabe’s voice. This was the signal to tease Erind further until she snapped and did the thing Gabe was warning about. “I’m also fine standing here,” Deen said. “I’ll just go over this photo album, commenting on your pictures.” She had her finger in between the pages of Erind’s high school pictures. “You looked adorable in your cheerleader uniform.”

[Close album.]

Deen followed the instruction, continuing to speak. “The gold and black pop with your pale—Aah!” Water splashed down on Deen. Erind threw water over the glass wall. “Erind! You’re getting my clothes wet!” Deen backed away as Erind continued to scoop water out of the shower like she was on a sinking boat.

“Did the album get wet?” Erind asked.

“Only the cover. Gabe told me to close it.”

“I bet your Guardian Angel also told you to stop teasing me.”

“Nope! Just that I should move to the sink—meaning, the future accepts me teasing you.” Deen opened the album again. “Enough of the future. Let’s go back to the past. When I first saw your cheerleader picture, I thought it was a Halloween costume.”

“Do beautiful gals have a monopoly on cheerleading and being prom queen?”

“Firstly, I think you’re plenty cute,” Deen said. There was a gargling noise that could’ve been Erind’s response or the water draining. “And secondly, as I’ve told you, I wasn’t a cheerleader.”

“You were serious about that? I just assumed you were the first time I saw you.” Erind continued to shower, her black hair swaying behind the glass, the most noticeable thing Deen could see. Erind probably wanted to relax under the warm water after the stuff they’d been through hours ago.

Deen felt slightly guilty about barging into Erind’s me-time, but Deen just got so excited when she saw Erind’s high school pictures. It made Deen feel closer to Erind. Perhaps, with this, Deen could get Erind to open up. There was already plenty of progress. Now wasn’t the time to stop.

“I was a prom queen, yeah,” Deen said. “But no way I could’ve been a cheerleader.”

“Scared to have your beautiful face injured if you fell from the pyramid?” Erind asked, her soft voice partially muffled by water hitting her body and the floor.

“I’m too tall for the pyramid,” Deen said. “Actual reason I was turned down.”

“Oh, that’s true. It became second nature to think you’re a fit for everything that I forgot there’s a height limit for cheerleaders—not a real rule, more like a hidden guideline. I’m around the normal height for a cheerleader, like for base, but already a bit on the taller side for a flyer.”

“Have you been a flyer in your squad?”

“Towards the end of high school, I became more of a flyer, filling in the shoes of those who graduated. Just a few competitions, though. Coach put me back as a base because of my experience. I may not look like it in the pictures, but I was plenty strong then. And I don’t want the attention as a flyer, so it was fine with me.”

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“I want to see that!” Deen excitedly gushed. “Do you have a video?”

“Yes. But I will fight you if you’ll look for it,” Erind said in a deadpan tone.

“Hmmm… want a round two?”

“I swear, I’ll turn into Blanchette and—"

“Relax, I won’t bother you about it… I’ll ask your mom.”

“Deen!”

“Just kidding. So, how about what I said earlier?” Deen flipped through the album. “Teach me how to split.” Erind had plenty of pictures with her friends in high school that made Deen feel a pang of jealousy. The Erind in the photos looked different than the one Deen knew. What happened that Erind decided to retreat into her shell in law school?

“I really don’t know how to anymore.”

“I’m sure it’ll return to you if you try. It’s like riding a bike or swimming. Just do it again.”

“Uh, I don’t think it works like that,” Erind said. “My flexibility won’t immediately return just because I’ll try to split. Unless you want me to force my legs apart, tear my muscles, and just regen—”

“I didn’t mean that,” Deen said. “You’re so grouchy, you know? Is it because I’m watching—not really, but kind of—you shower?”

“What gave you a clue?” Erind grumbled, her voice barely audible.

Deen grinned, enjoying their whole banter. Yes, she knew she was irritating Erind. But it was a badge of true friendship that they could push each other’s buttons, and it wouldn’t spiral into an actual fight. In a way, Deen was interested in what it’d take to make Erind actually angry at her—Deen was sure Erind would tolerate almost all of her antics.

“You should lighten up.” Deen returned to the shower divider and wiped the condensation, drawing a smiley face. Would Erind be able to see this on the other side? “Stay there for a few more minutes while I thumb through your album. The water should cool your head so you won’t be grouchy Erind anymore.”

“I’m done.” Erind turned off the shower. “I better get out of here before you dig up something else. Can you hand me my towel?”

Deen turned left. Right outside the glass door were towel rails, with Erind’s pink towel peppered with cute bunny designs hanging on them. Deen yanked the towel and retreated. Erind opened the door a smidgen, just wide enough for her wet arm to poke out, trying to feel for the towel, but only grabbed air.

Erind’s head poked out next. Her small face, strewn with webbing of black hair, contorted into an angry face less threatening than a feral cat. “Deen! Give me back my towel.”

Deen placed the towel and the album on the sink. “Come out here and get it.”

“What are you up to this time?” Erind asked with a raised brow.

“Nothing… Just walk a few feet to get it.”

“You’re definitely up to something. Leave so I can get my towel and dry myself. We’ll continue our photo album storytelling outside.”

“I don’t think there’s any problem if I stay here?” Deen twinkled her eyes like an innocent puppy while her mind was filled with plans of tickling Erind once she came out of the shower. “I’ve already seen you—”

“Seen me naked, yeah, yeah, whatever.” Erind narrowed her eyes.

[Go out.]

No way, Deen shot back at Gabe. From its tone, she could tell she wasn’t in grave danger. At the back of her mind, Deen was concerned that annoying Erind too much might accidentally draw out her Adumbrae side. Deen wasn’t sure if it worked that way, but she wouldn’t dare try—her indicator was the urgency in Gabe’s warnings. No problem here so far.

Suddenly, her very naked best friend stormed out of the shower.

Deen was prepared to play goalkeeper with the towel. But instead of the towel, Erind grabbed Deen’s right arm, then the left. Erind’s tiny hands, powered with super strength, enclosed Deen’s wrists like heavy manacles. Then Erind dragged Deen into the shower with her.

“Wait!” Deen tried to pull free, but she couldn’t do anything against Erind’s strength. She also didn’t want to thrash about too much, fearing she’d break the glass. The two of them stood inside the shower.

Erind, barely coming up to Deen’s chest, swiped the strands of hair covering her eyes and glared up at Deen.

“Um, what are you going—?” Deen started to say.

Instead of responding, Erind reached for something behind Deen. The water came on.

“Hey! Don’t!” Deen tried to leave, but Erind held her in place, holding Deen’s upper arms and pushing them against her body like a giant vice grip. “Erind! Cut that out. You’re getting me—blergh!” Deen spat out the water that flowed into her mouth. “You’re getting me wet.”

“This way, we’ll both need a towel.”

“And there’s only one towel outside.”

“Oops… I didn’t think this through.” Erind grinned. Then the two of them laughed at the ridiculousness of the whole situation. Then Erind pushed Deen back so the shower would shoot into her mouth. “Got you!”

Deen coughed while craning her head to move away from the water. “No fair! Let go of me.” She tried to extend her arms, but Erind wouldn’t allow her to budge. “Erind, don’t be such a bully.”

“May I remind you that you started it?”

“You’re forcing me to take drastic measures.”

[Don’t turn around.]

What’s that supposed to mean? Deen thought Gabe would advise her how to break Erind’s hold. Not that she needed it because she already had a plan. Deen reached for Erind’s boobs and groped them.

“Deen!” Erind squealed, almost comically. She let go of Deen’s arms, quickly covering her chest.

Deen took the opportunity to escape. But as she stepped out of the shower, a sharp crack echoed in the bathroom. I turned around, she suddenly realized. Stinging pain quickly radiated from her left butt cheek. “Ouch! Oh my gosh, Erind!” Deen slowly knelt on the floor, her behind inflamed and throbbing. Tears pooled at the sides of her eyes. “You used super strength? Mother Core, it hurts! My parents never did—”

“Yeah? Well, I’m disciplining you in their place,” angry and naked Erind huffed as she stepped over Deen to get her towel.

“Not fair,” Deen pouted. “I only groped your boobs, and you spanked me in return? Ow…”