The sun glared down on us as we made our way to the swimming hole. I could feel my pale skin sizzling already. I draped my towel over my shoulders in attempt to stop from burning too much and Norman smiled. “Did you bring any sunscreen?” he asked. I bit my lip. “I don’t know, I didn’t even think,.. Lauren?” I asked turning my attention to her and Steven. They had been bumping each other around laughing and teasing, in their own little world until now. Lauren pulled herself away from Steven laughing, “Sorry Ronnie what was that?” Norman and I laughed at the two of them and I asked her again. “Oh yea! Of course! It’s in my bag, I burn just as easy so I’m always prepared.” I smiled. That was a relief. Last thing I needed was to look like a lobster in front of my new friends. “So what’s the go with the water guns Steven?” Norman piped up. “All for one or teams?” He glanced at me and grinned. Oh no what was he up to now? I secretly hoped teams so I could pair up with him, but then being hunted down by Norman Reedus had a certain exhilarating quality about it. As a naughty smile spread across my lips and Lauren shouted out, “ooh teams, girls vs boys, we’ll show them whose boss won’t we Ronnie?” I grinned and nodded. This was going to be interesting.
We reached the swimming hole and decided a swim was in order before we started shooting each other. Norman peeled off his shirt and I looked away as I could feel a blush creeping onto my face. Lauren and Steven were obviously comfortable around us (and especially each other), so just stripped off their clothes, swimmers already on. As Lauren pulled out the sunscreen and sat it between us, I faced away and took off my own shirt. Feeling very self-conscious I took a deep breath and turned around facing Norman again, who was occupied with the button on his jeans. While he was looking away I did a quick, awkward dance getting the clingy shorts off and adjusted my bather bottoms. I sat down beside the others and averted my eyes as Norman removed his pants, board shorts already underneath. Dam. I felt my face flush at this after thought. I looked away and turned my attention to the others. Steven was rubbing lotion on Laurens back as she did her legs. I sat down beside them and pumped a big circle onto my palm and began lathering it onto my legs.
Norman approached silently, bent down and took a pump of his own before sloppily applying it all over his torso and chiselled arms. I tried to keep my eyes to myself as he did this but with obvious difficulty. I mean come on he’s gorgeous can you blame me? The sun glistened over the mixture of lotion and sweat as he rubbed it in, emphasising every muscle even more. I bit my lip as he rubbed it across his lower abdomen, his fingers brushing the small patch of hair there and I looked away. I tried to hide my red face behind my hair and focused on putting my own on. I finished covering my arms and smeared a little over my face before realising I’d forgotten my back. I turned to ask Lauren but she was doing Stevens. Shit, I was going to have to ask Norman. But I can’t. Not giving in to my stubbornness (and also the fact I was terrified of asking Norman to touch me, thinking I’d overstep some kind of boundary), I decided to attempt to do it myself. I squirted a large circle of lotion from the pump into my hand and tried to reach the small of my back.
Obviously I was doing an awful job of it and looking like some sort of flailing loon, because Norman quickly came to my rescue. “Here let me help, it’s painful watching you” he laughed and reached toward me. I panicked and pulled my hand away quickly. “No! ... I mean no, it’s fine, thanks, but I can manage.” A twinge of hurt flickered in his eyes. I felt so rude, I sounded so abrupt. “Norman.. thank you I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable is all..” I trailed off looking at the ground. He crouched down so he was at my level and I had no choice but to look him in the eye. That twinge was gone and replaced now with only kindness and a glimmer. “Veronica, that won’t make me uncomfortable, really” he began, “but if it will make you uneasy then don’t’ worry, you just looked like you were struggling.” He smiled and I laughed gently. “Are you sure?” I asked tentatively. “Yea Squeak, it’s cool” he replied laughing, and wobbled my knee playfully, “besides we can’t have you getting a bright red triangle on your back can we?” I relaxed and agreed to let him help. But my heart was pounding. Why was I so nervous for him to touch me?
