The two girls looked at each other as they crossed paths in the corridor, passing one another as they made their way through the crowd of students towards their own classes. Their eyes connected for a brief moment, looking at each other as if there was no one else around, before the smaller of the two looked away, clutching her books to her chest. They had never spoken, but the smaller girl had often felt the taller girls eyes on her. She dared a peek over her shoulder, looking back to see the dark eyes that followed her. A blush coloured her cheeks as she looked away, narrowly avoiding bumping into other people that rushed around to their classes and lectures.
For 18 year old Cali, it was nearly the end of her final year of school. And it couldn't come fast enough. Only two more weeks and she would be done with schooling forever. Done with students, done with teachers, done with hiding her true self day in and day out. She would be done with the small town she sheltered in, eager to move as far away as possible and start a fresh life. But more than that, she would be done with secrets.
Thankfully none of the students had ever been forced to wear uniforms, and she was able to wear full length dresses like the white, shoe strap, loose fitting dress she had on now, and a beret to cover her head, long, vibrant red hair flowing down over her shoulders and back.
Cali was shorter than most of the other girls in her lectures, even her school, but she used it to her advantage. It made it easier to keep away from people, to stay off their radar. She spent her time alone, barely being noticed.
Well...most people. It hadn't stopped her from getting the attention of a mid year transfer, Rochelle.
Ever since the taller, marginally older, blond headed girl had arrived at the school, Cali had felt eyes on the back of her head. During their classes, during lunch breaks, and even as she walked to the bus in the afternoons. At first the feeling had made her worried, but everyday it grew, making her more and more nervous. For the first few months, Cali had never been able to catch the bigger girl watching her, but over the past two weeks, every time she looked up she saw a smouldering, heated look piercing into her.
It made her flush, her cheeks tint pink before she would find something else to draw her attention away and pretend the hairs on the back of her neck, and other places, weren't standing on end.
Reaching her locker, Cali dropped her books inside and grabbed her bag. She had a free period for the rest of the day and decided to outside, getting out of the confined classroom and away from people. The bell rung out as people made their way to their classes, some quick, others lagging behind. Cali waited until she was one of the last standing in the corridor before ducking out into the sun. The sunshine was warm on her arms, on her hair, and on her body through the pale summer dress.
A relaxing five minute walk took her off school property to a secluded spot by the lake, where she could sit under the shade of the trees in the cool grass, yet still hear the bell from the school so she could get back in time to take the bus home. The sun shining off the lake sparkled and shimmered as she dropped her bag, slid off her sandal shoes and sat down in the shade of an old oak, her back against the tree. Closing her eyes, Cali gave a sigh of relief, feeling safe and alone as she relaxed with the sun warming her toes.
"So, this is where you crawl off too during the days." A happy, feminine voice spoke softly, close by, making Cali jump at the surprising sound. Her eyes opened wide as she looked up, finding Rochelle leaning against a close by tree, her arms crossed over her ample breasts. The taller girl wore a flowing skirt and tank top, her heeled boots knee high, one leg bent behind her, resting on the tree. Cali was only around 5'0" tall, while Rochelle towered over her by almost a foot, her body holding more feminine curves, larger breasts and much better built than Cali's small, petite form.
"How...What are you doing here?" Cali asked, startled at having someone else in her secluded, secret hideaway. Her wide eyes looked up at the smirking girl before her, her hands clenching at the grass beside her. She didn't move or stand, hoping the other girl would be leaving as quickly as she had arrived.
"You disappeared from school, I was worried and wanted to make sure you were okay." Rochelle said as she slowly looked over the redhead, her eyes travelling up and down her body, not hiding the look of desire in her gaze. Cali blushed harder as she pulled her feet closer to her body, tucking them under the hem of her dress as she pulled her knees up to her chest.
"I had a free period." She replied quietly, her voice soft. "It was too nice a day to stay inside and read."
"Oh please, don't let me stop you. But you might actually need a book to read if your going to go with that story." Rochelle said as she pushed away from the tree, taking a step closer.
Cali quickly jumped up, her back against the tree as her eyes widened. She had gone most of the year, heck, most of her school career without making small talk with anyone. She was becoming uncomfortable with the level of attention this girl was showing her.
"I haven't gotten it out yet. I was enjoying the sun and you surprised me before I could." She said, looking down at her bag which seemed further away from her as she found herself moving slowly around the tree as the blond moved closer.
"You don't have to hide from me, Cali. Your secret is safe with me." Rochelle ducked around the other side of the tree, hiding on the other side of it. Cali pushed away from the tree and looked slowly around each side, trying to spot the girl.
"I don't know what your talking about. I don't have any secrets, Im just here to enjoy the sun." Cali said, her voice soft as she backed away from the tree, her feet tripping over the hem of her dress. She landed on the grass, the sun shining down on her.
Rochelle poked her head around the tree, moving slowly towards her. "Are you sure, little kitty?" She laughed as she looked down at Cali, whose face instantly went pale, her hand instantly moving to her hat. The redhead gave a small whimper as she felt the top of her head, the beret having fallen off her head revealing the vibrant red cat ears sitting on her head. She had hidden the fact that she was a catgirl from everyone, and in one moment, this stranger had uncovered her secret.
Cali scrambled for the hat, pulling it back on her head as she crawled backwards, trying to hide the tell-tale sign of her inhuman side while trying to move away from the advancing, imposing figure.
"It's okay, little kitty, you don't need to hide from me. I've known you had a secret since the moment I met you. Tell me, is Cali short for anything? Calico perhaps?" Rochelle grinned as she crouched just a few feet away from the seated kitten.
"H...how?" Cali asked quietly, still shielding her ears. "Yes, Calico is my full name, but I changed it when I was moved here." She looked down at the hem of her dress, seeing it riding up her leg slightly. She reached to tug it down, but Rochelle's hands were quicker, gripping the hem of the dress, startling Cali into freezing.
"When a girl as cute as you spends all of her days completely covered, never going to gym and her head always covered, it was easy to guess you had a secret." Rochelle's hand moved the hem of the dress slowly up the slender, pale legs of the redhead, who finally unfroze and gripped the dress, trying to stop her.
"Don't worry, I wont tell anyone." Rochelle whispered. "If you let me see your secret, I'll show you mine." She teased, smiling eagerly down at the smaller girl.
"Your..secret?" Cali asked, her hands gripping the dress tight. "Your not like me." Cali could plainly see the blond had no cat ears, she wasn't a Neko catgirl like herself.
