Reluctant Diva 27
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 27 – Poolside
Working several days each week at the salon entailed long hours, but all in all I enjoyed myself there. Delia and the other women that were employed in the hair studio and beauty parlour were friendly and fun. We had a lot of laughs, often at the clients’ expense. Of course that was after they had gone and when the manageress wasn’t within earshot. Though the staff were aware of my ‘secret’, the customers generally remained oblivious. Madeleine would often look in and spend time with me which made me feel special. In particular she was instrumental in helping me learn new make-up skills.

When I began I was restricted to working at the nail counter. That was an area where I was already quite proficient and I soon progressed further. Gradually I was given more scope and under expert tutelage I learned much about make-up, both in selecting the right products to use and the finer arts of their application. Whereas dramatic make-overs were preferred by many of the clientele, particularly the older women, the lightest application could achieve a more subtle look. I gained both knowledge and skill to become confident enough to recommend to them how best to bring out their natural skin tones. I applied the same techniques with my own make-up.
My mentor often reminded me, “Your young complexion only needs the gentlest enhancement. I envy you your charms.”
I was allowed to take home any partially used cosmetics that I had a fancy for so both my vanity at home and Mom’s became well stocked with a wide range of expensive items.
Madeleine herself was frequently my practice subject. Though she preferred quite a heavy foundation there were subtle techniques to learn to achieve a seemingly artless glow. Before long I was judged sufficiently capable to perform all but the most delicate tasks. When she finally informed me that I was allowed to work anywhere within the beauty parlour, I really felt I had achieved something. Flushed with my success in attaining this level of proficiency, my feet trod on air.

Although my summer vacation was no rest-cure, it gave me a welcome break from school, providing me a respite from the continual watchfulness I exercised there. This was dictated, rightly or wrongly, by my well-developed survival instinct. I had been successful in avoiding the inevitable bullies and I’ll never know how much my vigilance had really been necessary. In the event I’d had nothing worse than dirty looks and name-calling to deal with. I could now let my guard down and I could let myself be me, whoever and whatever that strange person might be.

The summer wasn’t all work of course. There were days when I wasn’t working and every Sunday I was free. I had some pleasant days out with Marty and evening engagements with Madeleine. Both were enjoyable in their different ways. I enjoyed getting dressed up for a special occasion with my mentor and being taken to some stylish venue, there to be treated and made much of by her and her friends. With my boyfriend I could look forward to outings and fun times, even if I had a delicate balancing act to perform. I needed to keep his interest in my physical attributes but was anxious to preserve the limits to intimacy I had set for our relationship. I found it flattering that I could always count on his eagerness to push those boundaries beyond my comfort zone, even if it meant keeping my guard up. Occasionally I would let things go a little further, but I managed to ensure that everything below my waist remained out of bounds, even when that meant fighting my own inclinations as well as his!

Best of all I had my friends to share the summer with. Not only Rachel, whom I regarded as my best friend and confidante despite the gap in our ages, but others that I could choose to spend any day with. I guess as a final resort I might even have hung around with Dennis and his sister if the mood had taken me, though it didn’t. The reality was there was no longer any attraction in playing dress-up with Dennis when I was dressed twenty-four seven already. No, it was my ‘sisterhood’, Shirley and her cronies, who were my preferred companions.

We’d meet at the park on fine days and there seemed to be plenty of those. Sometimes we’d have a picnic. I’d bring sandwiches and Paula would bring drinks. Shirley would usually forget but then make up for it by calling at the store for cookies and fruit so we did ourselves well. Mostly we just sat and talked. What about? Well you can guess. There was one topic that predominated over all others. Yes, you got it! Boys!

Naturally I had to play along with my friends and the boys they fancied. I mean, I wasn’t interested in boys myself. Well, perhaps a little. Okay, I admit it, I was interested! Why not? Some days it was all I found myself thinking about, despite remaining interested in girls as well. It was confusing! I already had a boyfriend, but that didn’t limit my imaginings. My relationship with Marty was a matter of great curiosity among my friends, naturally. His being so much older, as it seemed to us at our young age, was deemed to be very much in my favour and it was an open secret that I was to be envied. Yes, boys were a frequent subject of discussion. Clothes and make-up featured prominently too and together with cheerleading, we were never short of things to chat about.

On one occasion Shirley broke a lull in the conversation by remarking out of the blue, “Isn’t this weather gorgeous?” She eased the straps of her sundress off her shoulders. “Wouldn’t it be amazing to be tanned all over? I’d give anything to go topless!”

Squeals of delight greeted this shocking, for those times, remark. After their mirth had subsided one or two of the others bared their shoulders likewise. My button-down top didn’t lend itself to similar treatment but our leader was undeterred.
“Come on Jennifer. Don’t be shy!” she encouraged me. “Don’t you want some tan lines?”

Shirley leaned over and undid the top buttons of my top. I tried to stop her but Paula pulled my hands away.
“There! Isn’t that better?” as she tugged the top down.
It fell away revealing my bra for all to see and I covered myself with my arms. I didn’t mind their horsing around but tried to look cross. “Give me back my blouse!”

She shook her head absently, her attention completely absorbed by my underwear. I had on one of the pretty bras which Mom had passed over to me. A particular favourite of mine, it was from Italy, hand-made of a cerise-pink silk trimmed with ivory coloured lace. It looked (and had been) expensive.

“That’s so beautiful! How come you’ve got such fancy bras? I’m green with envy.”

I explained the origin of my ‘trousseau’, Mom’s collection of lingerie that she had passed on to me.

“You mean you’re even wearing briefs to match?!” She flipped my skirt up to reveal the said panties. “Wow! Lucky you!”
Occupied as I was trying to cover my bust, I was defenceless against her playfulness. I declined to answer, but was immediately besieged by requests from the others.

“Would any of them fit me?” “Or me?” “Oh please, me?” my audience pleaded. This was crazy!

To regain some semblance of modesty I managed to pull the hem back down with one hand and retorted “No. But I promise I’ll share them with you; when any of you are big enough to fill them!”

I giggled at their crestfallen looks. The incongruity of my situation as the best ‘endowed’ girl there seemed hilarious to me! They all laughed with me but perhaps not as heartily and I was allowed to make myself decent again. Not long after, we packed up our lunch things and started to make our way out of the park.

“I’m so hot” complained Paula as we walked along. “Wouldn’t it be delicious to be able to swim? Who do we know who has a pool?”
Not wishing to gloat, I refrained from mentioning that I had a standing invitation to make use of the Bennetts’ pool. It occurred to me that Rachel wouldn’t be working today, if I remembered correctly, and I wondered if I might take her up on her offer, and possibly include my friends too. As we passed the drug store I came to a decision.

“I have to make a telephone call” was all I told the others, unsure whether my idea would be a success. I tried not to assume an air of mystery, but their curiosity was instantly aroused. I didn’t let on however. “Just wait for me, please.”

I squeezed myself into the little booth and dialled the number. I was lucky. My friend was at home and yes, she would be delighted if I came over this afternoon.
She had the place to herself and anticipated my next question. “Bring your bathing suit. It’s perfect for the pool!”

“Well, that’s what I wanted to ask” I continued tentatively, “but I’m with Shirley and her friends by the park. Could I bring them too? Say no if you don’t like the idea.”

“I don’t see why not. How many are there of you?”

“Five of us altogether.”

“That’s great.” Rachel was thoughtful as ever, “Oh I can probably find some swimming things if you want to come straight here. It would be out of your way to go home first.”

I thanked my friend profusely and made my way out of the booth to where the group were thumbing through teen magazines. “Who’s for a swim?!”
Their reaction was predictable; squeals of surprise and delight. It was only a ten minute walk to the Bennett’s house but Shirley with typical independence decided she wanted to wear her own bathing suit rather than a borrowed one, as did Rosanne, so by the time we had called at their respective homes half an hour had passed. When we got to Rachel’s we were greeted by my friend at her door. She was wearing a white bikini top, which did nothing to hide her generous curves, over a pair of jeans. She looked stunning as ever without even trying.

Everyone including Shirley looked slightly awed to be invited into the home of someone they had heard so much about, even though they had met her at my party. I reckoned that my standing in the group ought to have risen appreciably in consequence. It wasn’t long however, before Rachel had put them all at their ease. She made us drinks and took us through to the pool. There were a variety of swimming costumes laid out on the side and Audrey and Paula soon found items to suit them. The others went inside to change, so that left just me. My idol beckoned me over to her. She had slipped out of her jeans and her bikini-clad figure looked even more sensational than ever. Its effect on my body was a muted tingling down below which I seldom experienced these days.

“Here, sweetie. I’ve kept aside this bikini just for you. It’s one I bought only a couple of years ago.” She smiled and continued playfully, “You can see it’s made for real women like us! I can only just squeeze into it, so I reckon it ought to be just right for you!”

The top was a halter and the material was navy blue with tiny white spots. It was very stylish, like Rachel herself, and I was dying to try it on. The thought of wearing something my friend had been “squeezing into” increased my incentive. That and the proximity of her scantily clad body was giving rise to random thoughts in my head which didn’t bear investigating. I was glad she couldn’t read my mind!

I stammered my thanks and took the proffered set from her. The other girls had emerged by this time so I was able to slip into the house to perform my own change of clothes as discreetly as was necessary. Glancing in the mirror I was startled to see how curvy the bikini made my bust look and how rounded my butt and thighs were. More importantly I could see that the pants were tightly elasticated and provided sufficiently full coverage for my needs. It reassured me that everything would remain safely tucked away even in the pool. When I reappeared my friends were already engaged in playing water polo.

I went over to sit with Rachel who wolf-whistled at me. “Nice curves!” she complimented. To cover my blushes I posed pinup-style for her before seating myself beside my friend.

It was nice to know she approved my looks, though I remained wary of trying to attract too much attention. That was a sure way to lose friends, I’d found, but there need be no worries on that score today as my glamourous friend easily outshone the rest of us.

Rachel grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet “Come on. We’re missing all the fun!”

I allowed myself to be drug over to the pool where I was unceremoniously pushed into the water. Another splash as I spluttered to the surface told me that she had dove in beside me.
It was much later before we had tired of our game. We all towelled off and lay in the strong sunshine, chatting and relaxing. Our hostess found us sunhats and we played around with them, swapping the different styles amid much laughter.

It wasn’t long before Paula declared she was beginning to burn.

“Me too!” Audrey’s skin was very fair.

Instantly Rachel the trained nurse went into action, applying generous amounts of sunscreen and lotion to Audrey, while Paula followed her lead in doing the same for Rosanne. That left Shirley and me and naturally she decided to take charge.

“Ooh, Jennifer, hurry! I can feel that my skin’s catching.” Handing me the lotion bottle she lay on the towel on her tummy. Then before I could start, “Wait a moment.”
Arching her back she deftly reached behind her and undid the ties of her bikini top before instructing “Okay – all over please!”

With eyes wide I complied with her command. She flinched as I squirted a large dollop of cold goop onto her back before starting to rub it in. I began on her neck and shoulders and worked my way down. I reached her waist and hesitated. Impatiently, she gestured me to continue. I took a deep breath and continued applying the lotion, this time starting at her ankles. By the time I reached the top of her legs I was ‘glowing’ and not with the exercise. “Don’t stop there!” Her skin shone like satin in the sunlight as I obeyed and massaged the top of the girl’s thighs. Glancing round I could see her friends had stopped and were watching me. Rachel too! This was highly embarrassing.

Once Shirley’s exposed skin had been covered, then unconventional as ever, she wordlessly flipped onto her back, positioned her hat over her face and wriggled out of her top. Though such extrovert behaviour wasn’t totally unexpected from her, there were gasps of shock from the other girls. I simply froze, but was coolly instructed to “Carry on!”

I obeyed and judging it best to address the ‘danger’ zone first, I squirted another generous dollop between her firm little breasts and rubbed it all over them before going on to cover her shoulders, arms, neck and face. There was an almost audible sigh from the others when the Rubicon had been crossed and they turned to get on with anointing each other once more. It was noticeable that none followed Shirley’s lead in going topless.
One matter for thanks was that although I found the experience extremely sensual, my body’s response was minimal. I somehow knew that if she had been Rachel then things might have been markedly different.

Perhaps envious of all the attention Shirley and I had been getting, Paula clamoured for her best friend to leave me and ‘do’ her and, though still provocatively only partly clothed, she complied. That was okay by me. I was even happier when my own best friend brought her bottle of lotion over to me, instead.

“Are you going topless too?” she teased.

I shook my head laughing, “Only if you do!”

“It’s all right for these little girls” she giggled, whispering so only I could hear. “Real women like you and me have got too much to put on display. We know when to stay covered up!”

She reminded me of my visit at the end of the previous summer. Then my mother had made me wear a skimpy tie-side bikini. It was astonishing to consider how tiny it was and how much my figure had developed since then. There was no way I could have decently worn anything so minimal now. On that occasion I’d been appointed the task of putting lotion onto both Rachel and her mom, not to mention onto my mom as well. Both of the former had dropped their tops and I’d had to rub lotion over their semi-nakedness. How I’d managed to perform that feat on my friend’s nineteen year old movie-star body without shaming myself, I never knew.

To my undying embarrassment, my teasing friend had then undone the ties of my suit bottom and pulled it away, despite my tears, so my poor butt was exposed to the sun for all to see. I bore her no ill-will but I’d ended up with a red behind that day which matched the present colour of my face as I blushed to recall it.

When it came time for my friends to go Rachel asked me to stay a little longer. Arranging to meet again soon, I said my goodbyes to them, conscious that I had risen some way in the estimation of all. That was a good feeling.

“That’s a nice little gang you’re part of” commented Rachel as we returned to the back-yard. “Quite the bosom buddies, in fact! Shirley’s a head-case, I can see. You don’t think they thought me a prude, do you?”

“Of course not” I reassured her. “They thought it was awesome just to be invited here.”

“Well I can assure you, I’m really not. A prude, I mean.” She seemed unduly concerned over this. To me it was no big deal, so I was surprised at her next action. Reaching behind her back she undid her top and let it fall. Next, her bikini bottoms were around her ankles and stepping out of them she stood before me in her birthday suit. I stood there open-mouthed, in disbelief.
“It’s okay. No-one will be home for ages yet.”

She put her arms around me and enveloped me in a hug. My arms were suddenly filled with her wonderful body and she hadn’t a stitch on. Her intoxicating flesh was all I was aware of. When she pulled away I caught a mischievous look in her eye before my own top fell to the floor! I was just congratulating myself that at least this time my bathing suit pants hadn’t ties at the sides, when I was pushed down onto the towel and they were swiftly whisked off me and tossed away.

“Just girls together! No secrets!” she laughed at me as I rolled onto my tummy to hide the beginnings of an erection which had taken me unawares. Triggering my body’s reaction in this way seemed to be reserved for the proximity of just herself and very few others. Laughing at my shame, Rachel sat herself beside me. Unashamedly nude she picked up the bottle of lotion and started rubbing it into the areas she hadn’t been able to access before, my butt and across my back and shoulders. I was loving this but when she rolled me over without warning I had only just time to grab a towel to try to cover up my semi-aroused little member. Undeterred she knelt herself beside me and started to massage lotion into the swollen mounds on my chest.

“We mustn’t let these burn now must we?” she teased. I was busy trying not to look at her own astounding pair but it seemed that she wanted me to. She took one of my hands and squeezed a generous dollop of lotion into it so I could anoint her own magnificent breasts. While I was so occupied, she grabbed my towel and flicked it away. “Don’t stop!” she commanded. She gazed into my eyes as I obeyed. This was heaven, or was it torture? I wasn’t sure.

When I had done, we were both breathing heavily. I wanted to tell her that if this went on I wouldn’t be able to contain myself, but she laid a finger on my lips and turned around to face my toes, kneeling beside me. “You missed a spot!”

As bidden I reached up and anointed the bikini line across her back. That only left her butt.

“Don’t stop!” she said again and she waved her shapely hips provocatively from side to side. I obeyed her, wondering at the softness of her skin under my hands and the luxury of her curves. She glanced over her shoulder at me, her eyes full of mischief. “Just checking that everything is in working order!”
She returned my towel before turning over to lie down next to me. “All correct!” She grinned at the small tent that the towel formed. “I can report that we’re both perfectly healthy!”

The explosive situation was defused and we dissolved into helpless giggles. Then she was suddenly serious again. “You know, you told me how concerned you felt about your… responsiveness… down there. I can see why.”

I was staggered by this directness of approach to such a tricky subject. I stared at her wide-eyed, but her sympathy was genuine.

“I’ve done a little reading and, if you aren’t happy with the way things are, you might want to reconsider those meds that you’re taking.”

She went on to explain that she’d done some research into their likely effects, although this was such a new area of treatment that the data was limited. “Your body has undergone a lot of changes in the last couple of years. What it looks like is that while some of these will be permanent, others may be reversible. That means you have choices.”

She reached out and gently cupped one of my breasts. “One thing you can count on is that these are here to stay. You are going to continue looking like a woman. Where you might want to go with that depends on you. It’s you that needs to decide what it is that you actually want, instead of others deciding for you.”

She pulled my head down to rest on her chest and we lay close like that for some time. While she stroked my face and played with my hair, I tried to take in the import of her words. There was a lot to think about. I wasn’t sure I was ready for these big decisions. What, actually, did I want?

After laying in the sun some more it was time for me to leave. We returned to the house to get dressed and when we were both clothed again, she put her arms around me. “Don’t stop believing in yourself. Just keep telling yourself that you’re special. You are very special to me.” She hugged and kissed me.

As I came away doubts occupied my mind. I felt more confused than ever.