Ross sat on his bike, feet planted on either side and leaning on his handlebars as he watched Demelza hit the ramp and come off the top, executing a perfect 360 before she landed. He was still feeling a bit sick from the extra large Big Mac meal he's consumed before they had come to the skate park and every time he rode he felt a little lurch in his stomach. It probably hadn't been a good idea to try and shove that much food in there with all those butterflies already in residence.
He still couldn't believe that he'd behaved like such an idiot. It wasn't like he even knew the guy, all that had happened was that he'd had the bizarre fortune to nearly be run over by his friend. But in spite of that, Ross couldn't kick the feelings that had him completely unfocused and screwing up even the most basic tricks. He had never felt like this before. Sure, he had had a couple of girlfriends and snogged plenty of people (including a few sneaky encounters that he'd only told Demelza about) but this was a far more severe reaction that he'd ever had.
'Hey.' Demelza's voice broke him out of his thoughts. 'You going to stand there and daydream or are you going to ride.' Her smile was teasing. 'Although I think it's hilarious.'
'It's not hilarious.' Ross said, his glum expression not changing. 'It's pathetic.'
'God, you're so bloody dramatic.' Demelza said. 'So what if you like a cute guy? So what if you like a cute girl? Although in this case I think Jim definitely trumps Elizabeth.' She took a pack of Juicy Fruit out her pocket, extracted one and unwrapped it, folded it in half and then popped it in her mouth. She offered the pack to Ross who did the same. He chewed meditatively for a few minutes.
'Dem?' he said and she raised her coppery eyebrows at him. 'I think I like him.' Demelza snorted loudly and almost swallowed her gum.
'You think?' she said, grinning. 'You were practically drooling on the ground when we were talking to them. You took an hour to put up a tent that should have taken fifteen minutes because you were too busy checking him out to actually concentrate on what you were doing. I'm amazed you didn't hump his leg while you were at it.'
'Fuck off.' Ross sniped. He leaned forward, chin on his arms and looked utterly disconsolate. 'How is this even happening to me?'
'Well, you're supposed to be busting your cherry this weekend.' Demelza said. 'But no-one's specified with who.' She was looking positively maniacal with glee. Ross stared at her.
'You are not fucking helping.' he said. He knew he was blushing again and cursed his easily stimulated circulatory system. 'And to be fair this is not how this weekend was supposed to go.' Demelza sighed.
'You know there's nothing wrong with being a virgin right?' she asked. 'You shouldn't let Francis and George get to you like that. And I know you like Elizabeth, but is trying to shag her really the best way to start things?' She turned her bike opposite to his and then copied his position before reaching out and booping him on the nose. 'I still think you're the coolest guy I know, regardless of how much action your dick has seen.'
'That's probably because you don't like dicks.' Ross said, but he was smiling again. 'So what do I do?'
'Nothing.' Demelza said. 'Just see what happens but don't make yourself do anything you don't want to do.' She looked at him speculatively. 'What is it you want to do?'
'I am not telling you.' Ross said while his head filled with thoughts of just what Jim looked like under his wetsuit.
'You don't need to.' Demelza said. 'It's written all over your face. I bet by tonight you'll be snogging.'
'No, that's you.' Ross replied. 'I can't believe you sometimes.'
'She's hot as fuck.' Demelza said. 'I am not turning that down, not when it's being offered. Besides, unlike you, I know what I want and I go get it.' She grinned. 'And with any luck I am so not sleeping in my tent tonight. And by sleeping I mean absolutely not sleeping.' Her face grew thoughtful. 'I bet she's fucking brilliant with her mouth. And she has a tongue stud. Do you have any idea how good that makes it?'
