Hello there, everyone!
I've been reading stories here on Literotica for a very long time, so when I made up my mind about writing one myself it took ages before I started it, and even longer until I was happy with the end product that was the first part of The English Roomie.
The sheer amount of practice time that gave me combined with the feedback I received was very educational, and I would like to thank everyone who commented whether they were praising or criticizing, since both of those types of comments help me improve.
So now that I, hopefully, have taken a good step forward, I introduce to you Big Cousin Obsession, which with any luck you'll enjoy reading as much as I did writing it.
As always, give me your feedback, as I always appreciate it, and enjoy the read. :)
Hugs and kisses to you all,
DinaParker69
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PART ONE
The alarm clock was Derek's worst enemy. He had bought it when he was 12, and maintained it at his bedside table through the years for reasons he still didn't quite understand. It was supposed to start playing the local radio when the alarm time came, but due to some malfunction it gave a crack before that, which made Derek wake up startled by the noise rather than the music.
He hit snooze once, as per usual, before actually getting up when it erupted again. He didn't stop it immediately because Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" was on. He got himself dressed for work, and made his way to the kitchen, still mumbling along to the lyrics.
'Are you seriously still waking up to that radio station?'
The voice startled him momentarily, but he was becoming used to Sarah doing that when she saw the opportunity.
They used to be in the same class in secondary school, and became friends with ease. She was 5ft1 (and Derek took every opportunity he could to remind her of it...), with bushy dark hair, a curious mix of brown and green in her eyes, and, much to Derek's pleasure, didn't go for the anorexic look, but had a bit of meat in her features. He had had feelings for her for a period of time, but Sarah didn't reciprocate and, after a couple of months of awkwardness, they returned to being their usual selves around each other. That was 8 years ago. Now they were each other's best friend.
'Yes, Sarah, I do enjoy waking up to the best funk that ever existed.'
'Everyday?'
'And you enjoy trying to scare the shit out of me. Everyday. So what's your point?' Derek replied, as he poured milk in a bowl, and grabbed the cereal to follow up.
She stuck her tongue out.
'Very mature.' He replied, before changing the subject. 'Can you make it tonight, or am I going to have to put up with family conversations?'
Derek enjoyed swimming since he was 8 years old, and what at first was something his parents forced him to do, became, after a few years, his favourite hobby in the world. So much so that he started going to the local club's swimming pool everyday when he went to college, and never stopped doing it since then. Every 6 months there was a competition between the swimmers that didn't go pro, and one of those was that night.
'Uh, I still need to ask Kath and Meg if they're going as well, but I'll make it. After all, how could I miss seeing your grandmother again? Remember when I first saw her?'
'I try not to.'
She cleared her throat and made an erringly similar voice to his grandmother.
'Oh hello, honey! Have you seen how strong he's looking with all that swimming? Oh don't shy away, Derek, I was just complimenting you in front of your friend. Your arms really are quite muscled now...'
'And with that, I'm off.' Derek said, swallowing the milk that remained on the bowl, and placing it on the sink.
'Not to mention that Lauren's coming, isn't she?'
'My uncles are coming, so I expect she is.' He replied, noncommittally.
'So I'm expecting the cousins Palmer to ignore everyone else and just talk for the entire dinner after the competition...' she said, smirking.
'Jealous of my cousin, are you... I never thought I'd see the day.' Derek replied, with a laugh.
'Ha, ha. I'm just teasing you. It's kind of cool the way you guys are around each other.'
'Well, we're both only childs. We've basically been treating each other like brothers since she was born.'
'I know, but not completely like brothers.' Sarah seemed to reflect. 'Since you don't have to always live together and share stuff, you basically never fight or argue.'
'Oh, so you're not jealous, you just wish your sister was more like Lauren...'
'I guess.' Sarah laughed.
'Anyway, you're making me late for work. Catch you later.' He said, kissing her on the cheek.
'Laters.' She replied, kissing him on the cheek as well.
///////////////
Let's go!
Derek was in the changing room at the complex where the swimming pool was, putting on his white swimming cap over his messy brown hair, making sure that it was entirely beneath it. The goggles, though, he just put over his head, since he still had to wait for his turn.
As he walked out, he looked up to the stand, where even in the absence of his contacts, he could tell where "his" crowd was, and waved at them, before going to meet two of the other swimmers he had lessons with. Felix and Amanda were chatting between themselves when he joined.
'I'm so nervous!'
'Why? You always win the girl's competition...' Felix answered her, pretending to be annoyed.
'Without any competition, I might add.' Derek said.
'Well, you never know!' Amanda replied, trying to seem upset at them, but blushing in the process.
'Yes, we do. It's us who should be worried...' To prove his point, Felix lowered his voice slightly and turned to Derek. 'I mean, have you seen that guy, who just left the competition class? Got bored apparently, but he still goes like the fucking devil! I think the best we could is to only go for it near the end, because he...'
They continued analysing the competition, but soon, as they always did since they had started dating, Felix and Amanda started getting all mushy with each other, and it was with a little relief that Derek said:
'Sorry, need to warm up before I go. See ya in a bit.'
He knew they didn't mean anything by it, and he liked the both of them, but sometimes it really got too much for other people around the two of them. He did the warm up and got out just in time for his turn.
It was time for the 25 meter butterfly trial. The pool had 25 meters of width so it was a sprint from one end to the other. He got up onto the block, having stretched for a few seconds and waited.
Attention.
He grabbed the block with his hand, and shifted his legs into position.
And... Hop!
He stretched himself fully, and as he entered the water he started to kick his legs to return to the surface. He hadn't gone too far in, so it was a good jump. As his face broke the surface, his arms had already started the stroke. He got into rhythm. One kick of his legs when he started the arm stroke and another when he finished. He continued for just about 15 seconds or less, when he touched the wall. Derek immediately looked around. Nobody had arrived yet. First.
Get in!
He thought as he climbed off, and gave Nat a high-five. Nat was his swimming instructor, and because she was just 35 she had all her students call her by her name, Natasha, rather than teacher or anything formal like that. Derek saw her make the "Loser" sign to the other instructors in mock-arrogance, and couldn't help but laugh as he got quickly congratulated by Amanda and Felix. Wishing them luck for their trials, he went to the changing room and went to greet his "crowd" that had gathered at the entrance on the other side.
'There's the champ!' his dad bellowed.
'Awesome, kid!' his granddad said, visibly proud.
'Thanks, guys!' he said, making a joking bow.
'You're the best, Derek!' he heard, as he got a very tight hug. It was Lauren.
'Thanks, Lara.' He said, a reference to an inside joke they shared. When Lauren was learning to speak she never got her name right, and at first at came out something similar to the Tomb Raider character, and Derek had gotten into the habit of calling her by it.
He hugged her back as well. Derek still hadn't gotten used to seeing her at nearly the same height as him. Being 9 years older, he always had the habit of looking down to her but not anymore. She was thin, not because of starving herself, but just because of her body type. Even as a baby, she never had the chubby look. He could feel her breasts next to him. They were soft and a little smaller than "normal" but they suited her thin figure perfectly. 'You're getting your clothes wet by the way...'
'Shit!' she said, keeping her voice down because of the family presence.
Derek laughed, as he looked at Lauren. Her face was slightly more round than the rest of her body, yet not so much that it looked out of place, her hair being completely straight and brown, with a few patches of blonde appearing as well. Her eyes though were like looking at a mirror, as the brown in Lauren's was a carbon copy of Derek's own.
The rest of the family followed, as well as Sarah and a few other friends. After 5 minutes though he reminded them that he had 2 trials, so he probably should get back to get ready for the remaining one. He was about to re-enter the changing room when he noticed Lauren had stayed behind.
'I know, I know,' she said, jokingly putting her hands up. 'I just wanted to wish you luck.'
'Thanks, I think I'll need it in this one. There's more competition and Felix is in this one as well, so I'm probably not gonna get first...'
Lauren hugged him again, kissing his cheek tenderly.
'Just do your best. I believe in you.'
///////////////
'You were good.'
'I know.'
Sarah rolled her eyes.
'I didn't mean it like that...' Derek quickly added.
'I know.'
'It's just annoying that I didn't make the podium on that final one.'
'You gave it your best, and nobody was any less proud of you.' Sarah said, looking at him while they were stopped at a traffic light on their way home. When it went green again, she made a grimace. 'And this is the last time I'm driving whilst you're in the same car!'
'I will ask again: if you hate driving, why did you get a license?'
'Because if I didn't we'd be paying a cab.'
'Or I would have had to not drink for thousandth time.'
