by Kiki Archer
Marcus looked up to a daze of pink. Amber was crouching down and whispering something in his ear. “Just calm it down, mate, it’s only a dare.”
“A what?” he asked frowning.
“A dare.”
Marcus found his feet and stared up at the advanced group who were almost ready for their afternoon adventure. “She’s not a lesbian?”
Amber signalled him back down to the picnic bench and whispered. “Yes, she is, but she’s not coming back on your bloody bus. I know that for sure.”
Marcus glanced down at his lasagne that already looked cold. “So what was the dare?”
Amber ripped open her packet of sandwiches. “Just how slow are you? Jenna and I do it with all of her teachers. She’s a legend on the slopes. She gets a C for a snog, a B for a shag, and an A for sex in the snow.”
Marcus was shaking his head. “No, my poor Susan.”
“She’ll use anything she can to gain someone’s trust, and if that means declaring her love for someone more prudish, just so she can get into their pants, then that’s what she’ll do.”
Marcus gasped. “What can I do?”
Amber smiled. “You can tell her.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Susan reached up to the top shelf in Sylvie’s heated boot room and took down her trainers. She dropped them onto the bench and bent down to lift her damp ski boots. The afternoon on the Indian Run had been full of giggles and Susan was pleased that Champagne and Priggy had seemed far too obsessed with their Phats and Mischa dilemma to notice the way that Jenna had been brushing her leg on the lift and stealing secret glances on the slopes. Susan leaned forwards, fastened her trainers, and smiled.
Champagne plonked herself down on the bench next to her. “And don’t think we don’t know why you’re smiling, Susie…”
“Yeah,” added Priggy, unclipping her ski boots on the other side, “you two are so obvious.”
Jenna peeped out from the sliding ski racks. “Yeah right, says you two who hang around the toilets for hours hoping your chav-tastics will flash you their gold-plated grins.”
Priggy kicked off a boot. “Mischa’s got a couple of sparkling tooth gems, actually, not a gold grill.”
“And it’s good that Phats is well off enough to afford all of those gold chains,” added Champagne.
Jenna reached for her trainers. “So what’s the decision then? You’ve spent the whole afternoon debating it, so you might as well tell us your plans.”
“Will you tell us yours?” smiled Champagne.
“We believe them,” announced Priggy, not quite ready to have Madam Quinn’s new found lesbian happiness rubbed in her face. “They said their teacher caught them sneaking out at midnight and sent them back to bed.”
“So you’re giving them another chance?” asked Jenna.
Priggy blushed. “They’re tobogganing like us tonight and they said we could share sledges if we wanted.”
“Ooo well you’d better hurry up and get ready then,” laughed Jenna. “We’ve only got an hour and a half until dinner and then we’ll be heading straight out.”
“Are you two going to be sharing a sledge?” teased Champagne.
“We’ll be sharing more than sledges if I have my way. Now scram, we’ll see you at dinner.”
“Woo!” Champagne was laughing. “You’re so cool, Jenna, and you’ve definitely made Madam Quinn my new favourite teacher. I can’t believe I didn’t hang out with you on the other ski trips, Susie. You’ve been so much more fun this year.”
“Thanks for that honour, Champagne,” said Susan, not quite believing a word. “We’ll see you at dinner.”
“I think they’re trying to get rid of us, Priggs. Come on, let’s leave them alone in this damp and dusty old boot room.”
“Are we okay to go?” asked Priggy.
“Of course.” Susan pointed at the row of skis. “All of the other groups are back; we’re the last ones home.”
Champagne was standing at the door. “Come on Priggs, I want to try on all of my outfits.”
“We’re tobogganing,” said Jenna. “It’ll be salopettes tonight.”
“Ugh, but those things don’t show off my figure.”
“It’s a good job tomorrow’s the disco then; you can wear what you want to that.”
Champagne pouted. “But that means it’s our last night.”
Jenna waved her hand at the two girls. “So make it a night to remember and go and sort out those outfits.”
“We’re gone,” shouted Champagne, leaving the room.
Susan smiled. “Do you think they noticed I took three attempts to tie up my laces?”
“No, but I did spend far too long standing in that ski rack.”
“Twenty minutes, you say?” asked Susan, standing up and making her way to the door.
“Tops,” said Jenna, peeping over her shoulder and glancing out into the hall, “Lisa’s covering for us in the bar and if Marcus asks she’ll tell him we’ve nipped to the first aider’s office to sign some forms about Daisy.”
Susan shook her head. “He always spends this hour resting in his room, we’ll be fine.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I’m the one driving.” Jenna crept out of the boot room and dashed across the hall, sneaking out of the side exit and back out onto the snow. She pointed at the black Ski-doo parked up next to Sylvie’s decking. “My only advice,” she turned around and looked excitedly at Susan, “is to hold on.”
“You’ve done this before, right?” giggled Susan.
“I’ve done everything before,” said Jenna, taking hold of Susan’s hand. “Follow me.”
****
Marcus lay on his bed replaying his speech. It had taken great restraint not to wait in the boot room for his beloved colleague and blurt it all out. He’d convinced himself to take some time and plan his response to perfection. He’d be sympathetic without sounding condescending, firm without sounding strict, but most importantly he’d understand without appearing to judge. His mon amie had been caught up in some sordid sex game and who’d blame her for believing the lies. She wasn’t used to attention, and she wasn’t versed in the laws of love. Marcus sighed and stared at the ceiling. It really was rather ridiculous to think that someone of Jenna’s looks and expertise would fall for a Plain Jane like Susan. He shook his head. He wouldn’t scoff and he wouldn’t gloat, he’d just comfort her tears, insist she cut all ties, and reassure her that she wasn’t to blame. Yes, he thought nodding to himself, that was the way to play it. He’d be that shoulder. That strong, supportive, sexually-open, shoulder.
****
Jenna sat down in the driver’s seat contemplating how she’d play it. She’d driven a Ski-doo many times before, but sometimes the thrill of the unexpected intensified the rush. “Now, let’s see if I can remember, where’s that brake pedal?”
“Stop it!” squealed Susan, clinging onto her waist even tighter.
“You’re squeezing me and we’re not even moving.”
“I’m scared.”
“Really?” asked Jenna, twisting her head over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, I’m just teasing you. I know how to drive it. You’re totally safe with me.” She revved the engine. “Just hang on,” she screamed.
Susan felt her stomach lunge as the machine roared forwards on its skis. “Ahhhhh!” she wailed as it zoomed up the small incline onto the main slope. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere beautiful,” shouted Jenna.
Susan held on tighter, gasping as the cool air caught in the back of her throat. They were picking up speed and Jenna had started to rise from her seat. “What are you doing?” she wailed, trying to pull her back down onto her bottom.
“Lift yourself up like me. It helps when we’re climbing the slopes.”
“Really?” asked Susan, keeping her bottom firmly on the seat.
“No, but it makes us look cool.”
Susan glanced around the empty white slopes. “There’s no one here.” She looke
d at the stationary chairlifts that were hanging silently in the sky. “What if we get stuck?”
“We won’t,” laughed Jenna, using her thumb to ramp up the throttle. “It won’t take long. Just sit back and enjoy the views.”
Susan turned her head to the left and tried to absorb the picturesque scenery, before feeling a bump underneath them and closing her eyes instead. She buried her face into Jenna’s back, comforted by the warmth that was seeping out from her jacket. She inhaled deeply and found the courage to tilt her head once more to the left, keeping her cheek pressed into Jenna’s back for reassurance. She opened her eyes properly and gasped; the scenery was stunning. They were climbing the huge red run that led to the top of the Pointe de Nyon and the rugged grey rocks framing their route looked so tranquil and serene covered in their white downy blanket of snow. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
Jenna didn’t hear her; she was too busy pressing down on the throttle for the big reveal. “Get ready,” she shouted. “Look straight ahead.”
Susan moved her body from its sheltered position and was hit with a full face of wind. She wasn’t sure if it was that which took her breath away, or the vision in front of her. The Ski-doo had shot over the peak of the run and was now privy to a far reaching field of beauty. “It’s breath-taking,” gasped Susan.
Jenna pulled on the brake lever and slowed the machine. “And that is Mont Blanc.”
Susan looked into the distance at the huge mountain that was piercing the bright blue sky. “It’s incredible.”
Jenna turned off the ignition and stepped off the Ski-doo. She held out her hand and helped Susan down. “It’s the highest mountain in the Alps.”
“I know,” she said smiling, “and it means white mountain.”
Jenna laughed. “There’s not much I’m going to be able to teach you, is there?”
“Oh I think we’re going to teach each other a thing or two.” Susan allowed Jenna to lead her towards the wooden bench next to the large colour coded sign post. “Like earlier in the boot room, when Champagne confronted me about my smile. If you hadn’t been there I’d have panicked and flustered and got my response completely wrong. Instead you just shifted the focus with one smart remark about Mischa and Phats.”
“It’s called distraction. It works every—” Jenna pulled Susan into her and planted a kiss on her lips, “…time,” she moaned.
Susan shuddered at the power of the embrace. “Will anyone come up here?” she asked.
Jenna shook her head, talking in between the passionate kisses. “No, maybe a snow plough, but there’ll be no skiers: the lifts have all finished.”
“Good,” said Susan, pushing Jenna down into the snow, “I want to take you right here, in the powder with that white mountain gazing down on us.”
Jenna reached up and pulled Susan down with her. “I had planned on sitting on that bench and taking in the views, but fine, I’ll take you instead.” She rolled Susan onto her back and straddled her stomach, sitting up and reaching her hand behind her, quickly finding her way down the front of Susan’s ski pants. “You’re so wet,” she gasped.
Susan reached forwards and unzipped Jenna’s combats, pulling her knickers to the side and sliding her fingers between her legs. “And so are you.”
Jenna was sitting vertically and groaning loudly. “What are you doing to me, Susan Quinn?”
“Giving you pleasure, hopefully,” she said, dropping her head back down into the snow as Jenna’s fingers found their rhythm.
“You’re doing more than that,” moaned Jenna. “You’re changing me. I don’t want to be the person I was.”
Susan gasped as Jenna reached further behind her and pressed two fingers deep inside. “I don’t know the person you were,” she said, mirroring Jenna’s action and angling her fingers upwards. She moaned loudly. “I just know who you are and I like who you are.”
Jenna started to move herself up and down on the fingers, finding it difficult to speak. “You don’t … judge me?”
Susan kept her fingers in position and reached up to Jenna’s back, rolling her over in the snow. “No, but I would have judged you if you’d kept me down here in the snow while you stayed up there all nice and dry.”
Jenna adjusted her position and started to pump her fingers in and out. “I’m anything but dry … and you’re the cause.”
Susan quickened her pace and pulled Jenna closer. “How could I not like this?”
Jenna took a sharp intake of breath, losing herself to Susan’s rhythm. “How could I not love it?”
****
Marcus flattened his moustache one final time and knocked on Susan’s door. “Hello? Hello? Are you resting?” There was no response so he placed his ear against the wood and listened carefully. No movement. He tried the handle. It was locked. Marcus shook his head and marched up the corridor towards Jenna’s room. He knocked loudly. “Are you in there?”
No response.
“Professor,” said Champagne, popping her head out of room ten, “we’re having a fashion show in five minutes if you and the others want to come and watch it?”
Marcus eyed the revealing pink body-contour dress. “How long have you been back?”
“Half an hour, why?”
“I’m looking for Madam Quinn.”
Priggy joined them in the corridor, displaying her too-tight black jump suit. “Can I wear this tobogganing?”
Marcus struggled to remove his eyes from her chest. “That’s a lovely outfit, but it’s ski wear tonight.”
“Boo, that’s what Jenna said.”
“I can’t find her either,” said Marcus.
Priggy and Champagne shared a knowing glance. “No clue,” said Champagne smiling.
“We left them in the boot room,” said Priggy.
“Right!” said Marcus, storming off down the corridor.
“What did you say that for?” hissed Champagne.
Priggy shrugged. “They won’t be in there now.”
“You’re the lesbian! Everyone knows that lesbian sex lasts for hours.”
“Does it?” said Priggy.
“Yes! My magazine said it’s one long act of arousal without the obvious start and stop points you get with penile penetration.”
“Oh,” said Priggy, thinking about the length of time she’d have with Mischa at the disco. “Right.”
“Hours,” said Champagne, shoving Priggy back into the room.
****
Susan screamed out. It had taken less than two minutes to make each other come. “You’re amazing,” she shouted, laughing as the echo sounded back at her.
Jenna looked up at the sky that was starting to fade. “You’re amazing,” she screamed, matching the echo.
“You just fucked me,” shouted Susan.
Jenna laughed loudly listening to Susan’s expletive on repeat. “And you loved it,” she screamed.
Susan shouted louder, merging their echoes. “I loved it!”
Jenna waiting for the silence to fall and spoke quietly, “And I loved it too.” She rolled onto her side and propped herself up on her elbow. “Susan, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
Susan tilted her head and looked into the big brown eyes. “I know,” she whispered. “I feel it too.”
****
Marcus stomped down the stairs towards the boot room; maybe he would have to be strict and judgemental after all. Maybe he would have to scoff and pour scorn. Susan had to hear it. She had to hear it all. Jenna was a liar. A predatory lesbian liar, and in his eyes you couldn’t get a worse concoction. He walked through the hall and made his way to the boot room, dramatically throwing open the door. He looked around and sniffed the damp heat. The room was empty. He looked up to the top shelf at the small white sticker that said Madam Quinn and spotted her boots drying upside down. He pulled on his moustache and spun on his heels, deciding to try the bar instead.
“That was incredible,” giggled Susan, stepping into the warmth of the hall.
<
br /> “Mount Blanc was quite good too,” laughed Jenna, closing the door to the small side exit.
Marcus stopped in his tracks and pricked up his ears. He’d recognise those sordid, salacious giggles anywhere. He took a deep breath. This was his moment. This was his moment of glory. He burst from the boot room in a flurry of drama. “Susan, Susan, I’m so glad you’re safe.”
Susan looked up and blushed. “Pardon?”
Marcus spotted the damp clothes and the flushed face. “No, oh no, where have you been?”
Jenna brushed some snow off Susan’s back. “We just nipped up to the Pointe de Nyon. I showed Susan Mont Blanc. Lisa’s covering in the bar.”
Marcus flicked his thin hair and launched into his speech. “Extra-curricular activities? Why wasn’t I invited?” He narrowed his eyes and hushed his voice. “I’ll tell you why not. Because she,” he said pointing at Jenna, “is a fraud.”
“Oh Marcus, please get over this,” said Susan.
Marcus made a low neighing noise as he shook his head. “Oh no, no, no, no, it goes way beyond that—”
Jenna interrupted him. “I’m sorry, Marcus, but I need to go and relieve Lisa. I’m sure Susan will fill me in on the revelations later.”
Marcus grinned with stubby yellow teeth. “Oh I’m sure she will.”
Jenna turned to Susan. “Are you okay? I’ve got to dash, but I’ll see you tonight. I won’t make it to dinner as Amber and I need to set up the toboggans. We’re only using the small nursery slope out here. That’s why we’ve got the Ski-doo. We need to collect the sledges from the ski shop at the bottom and haul them up the hill.”
Susan smiled. “Shall I save you some food?”
“No, I’ll grab something while I’m down there.”
Marcus watched the thoughtful interaction. “How pleasant,” he sniffed. “I’m sure that’ll change.”
“Oh, Marcus,” said Susan once Jenna was out of ear shot. “What on earth’s got into you?”