Description
Finally finished! Story now added! Apologies for any typos or spelling mistakes.
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Story:
After having had an amazing afternoon relaxing at the hot springs the day before Anita awoke with a huge smile on her face remembering how the evening ended, she ran her fingers against her lips trying to remember the feeling of his lips on hers. Ariella, who woke up with a smashing headache from the alcohol, noticed Anita’s huge smile and odd behavior and moved closer.
“What’s got you smiling from ear to ear?” Ariella asked teasingly “Wait don’t tell me, that Desmond guy asked you to marry him! Oh how romantic!” Ariella continued with her playful teasing but the lack of response from Anita’s expressions made her question if she’d actually guessed it in one “He didn’t! Right?” she queried worriedly.
Anita snapped out of her daydream at Ariella’s concerned tone “Huh? Oh no” she shook her head “He didn’t ask that no” she confirmed as she gazed off into space momentarily “He, uh, he kissed me” she explained with a huge smile on her face as she glanced over at Ariella.
“Phew, you had me worried for a second” Ariella teased before realizing what Anita had told her “That makes more sense as to why you're so happy then” she added “How was it? Is he a good kisser, or a slobber machine? Come on girl, give me the details!” Ariella insisted feeling excited for her friend to have potentially found love.
Anita giggled at Ariella’s joke “No he is not a slobber machine!” she exclaimed while laughing “ He was a superb first kisser in my humble opinion” she declared before looking off into space “He was probably just drunk, you guys did have a few to drink and altitude can also have an effect” she noted a tone of worry creeping into her voice.
“Well, there's only one way to find out” Ariella replied “If it was just an impulse reaction to the alcohol then I’m sure if we ask if he meant anything by the kiss he’d tell us, right?” Ariella suggests softly realizing Anita’s change in tone “If you really like this guy then there isn’t room for doubts, if you doubt his feelings ask him!” she reaffirms “At least then you’d know where you stand with him, right?” she adds trying to comfort her friend.
Anita smiled over her shoulder at Ariella “Yeah, your right” she responded firmly “but maybe I’ll text him and ask, avoid the awkwardness” she adds as she reaches for her phone but Ariella reaches her hand out and stops her.
“Somethings are better dealt with face to face” she explains “maybe just not with your lips touching because I doubt either of you could talk like that” she teases playfully and the girls both start to laugh at the thought when they suddenly hear a knock at the door they both look at each other for a moment before Ariella went to open the door. Stood on the other side was to their surprise Hendrik.
“Hey, I think I must have gone out for a walk at some point last night and passed out for some reason in the horse trailer” he explained in a groggy voice “ You don’t happen to have brought pain relief with you did you? My heads killing me” he added as he stepped inside the girls can’t help but laugh at Hendrik’s story. Anita hands him some pain relief and he takes some before handing them to Ariella “Need some?” he asked as she took them from him.
“Yeah, I could do with some too, thanks” she replies as she takes some too. “How about I fetch us some breakfast?” she suggests but before she can take a step Hendrik heads towards the door.
“That’s my job, after all I’m here to help you be ready for the event” he explains as he heads out to get them all some breakfast. It didn’t take long for him to return with full breakfasts for each of them, they all sat down together to eat and discuss plans for the day and for the course itself, planning where they intend on conserving their horses stamina and where they will pick up the paces to try and be prepared for the event the next day.
Later on, Hendrik suddenly remembered the dare Ariella had dared him the night before, and quickly headed to the trailer to grab his extra bag before ushering the girls out of the glamping hut so he could go through the bag and bring the surprise out once he was ready. A few moments passed and the girls were starting to get bored of waiting when Hendrik suddenly emerged.
“Tadaa!” he exclaimed excitedly with a big grin “What do you think? Flamingo-y enough to fool an actual flamingo?” he asked playfully as he pointed up at the strange hat on his head. The girls stood speechless for a moment trying to digest exactly what they were looking at, they then looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“Hendrik, what the heck are you wearing?!” Ariella burst out through her fits of laughter “There’s no way this is going to work!” she added as she tried to catch her breath from all the laughing. Hendrik loved to see how much he’d made the girls crack up, he knew that his ridiculous outfit wouldn’t fool a flamingo but it was making the girls laugh and that was enough for him.
“Right, now I just have to find a willing flamingo to test this outfit on!” he exclaimed, pretending to be full of confidence that his outfit will do the job, as he walked towards the nearest lake in search of a flamingo.
“There’s one!” Anita pointed out as she gestured toward a lone near white flamingo resting on one leg with its head tucked under its wing while the rest of the flock danced around in the deeper water. Hendrik looked in the direction indicated to him before looking back at the girls and giving them a thumbs up with a smile before he started to creep towards the resting bird.
Just then Desmond approached the girls having spotted them and wondering what was going on, he positioned himself and looked out at the water watching Hendrik with confusion. “What is he doing?” he asked as he looked over to the girls for answers.
“Ariella dared him to try and touch a flamingo” Anita explained as she glanced over at Desmond with a smile, she wanted to ask him about the kiss but didn’t feel this was the right time plus she wanted to see how this would end. So instead she flashed him a small soft smile before tucking a piece of loose hair back behind her ear. Desmond shuffled in place he to wanted to talk about the kiss last night but was a little nervous talking about it with the others around not knowing that Ariella already knew about it. So he returned her smile before looking back towards Hendrik who was closing in on the flamingo.
Hendrik crept closer and closer trying to be quiet through the water which wasn’t easy in his outfit, inch by inch he got closer and closer the others could hardly believe he’d gotten so close already. When suddenly the flamingo raised its head and looked at Hendrik in confusion and shook, Hendrik slowly reached a hand out to try and touch the bird.
“Easy, Mr. Flamingo. I’m not going to hurt you I just need to touch at least one of your pretty feathers to complete this dare” he whispered softly, the flamingo shuffled away slightly before pecking Hendrik on the head with its hard beak “Ow!” Hendrik exclaimed as the flamingo then squawked loudly before taking a running start and taking off into the sky. Hendrik looked back at the others with a smile as he rubbed his head where the bird had peaked him.
After a short walk Hendrik returned to the others with a triumphant grin “I’d call that a success!” he beamed as he put his hands on his hips. The girls burst out laughing “What?” Hendrik exclaimed with a chuckle.
“The dare was that you were to touch the flamingo, not the flamingo to touch you!” Ariella explained through her giggles and laughs. Hendrik grinned before bursting into laughter too, even Desmond couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well I still got closer than the lot of you did” Hendrik states proudly with a chuckle “and I have the bump on my head to prove it!” he adds as they all continue to laugh.
Later that evening Anita, Ariella, Hendrik, and Desmond decided to sit by the hot springs and watch the sun set. Ariella smiled as she watched Anita gazing happily up at the sky. “Hey, have you asked him about that kiss?” she whispered quietly to Anita who looked back at Ariella and shook her head. Ariella gave a soft smile before getting up and stretching.
“Right, I think it’s time for Hendrik’s bedtime after his traumatic run in with a rabid flamingo” Ariella states teasingly as she looks at Hendrik “I better walk with you to make sure the naughty flamingo comes back to finish you off” she teased playfully as she gestured for them to leave. Hendrik raised an eyebrow confused at first but then realized she was trying to give Anita and Desmond some space.
“OH! Yes!” Hendrik replied “Maybe you could kiss my boo boo better?” he added jokingly as he got to his feet, the pair continued to tease each other playfully as they walked back to the glamping hut. Anita watched them go for a moment before looking back at the sky, feeling a little anxious to ask in case he tells her something she doesn’t want to hear. Desmond was also a little apprehensive, his stomach feeling like it was tied in a knot.
“I, uh…” he stuttered awkwardly “I’m sorry about kissing you last night…” he continued anxiously rubbing the back of his neck “It was quite sudden, I know…” he added. Anita gave him a soft smile.
“About that kiss…” Anita pauses, unsure of how to voice her worries “Did you mean anything behind it, or was it just the drink?” she asked softly, trying to cut to the question quickly. Desmond looked at her with surprise at her question, a subtle blush reddening his cheeks.
“Well, I do find you attractive” he admits sheepishly the blush on his face darkening “so to answer your question, yes that kiss did mean something to me…” he confesses “though I hadn’t planned to do anything like that till we had gotten to know each other a little better, which is why I wanted to apologize, I just hope it doesn’t make things awkward between us… as I’d really love to get to know you better and see where things go.. If you’d like that too?” he adds softly looking down at his feet nervously before glancing over to her with a soft yet worried expression.
Anita looked up at the sky and smiled “I’m glad that you kissed me, if you hadn’t I may have never found out how you feel about me…” she replies as she looks back at him with a warm smile “I will admit it did take me by surprise, as I wouldn’t have expected a kiss so soon” she continued “but for the record I find you attractive too, and I would also love to get to know you more and as you said see where things go from there” she concluded as she looked back at the sky moving her hand slightly closer to him. Desmond smiled at her reply and placed his hand on hers. She smiled and leaned into his side gently, as he wrapped his arm around her lightly as they both gazed up at the sunset together.
Word Count: 1,987 words