Corrine was laying in bed, asleep, while Ashley lay beside her, her eyes never leaving her sight. Truth be told, Ashley wanted to cry. She wanted to cry harder than she'd ever cried before. Corrine felt...well, like a secret, and she was, and that was something Ashley never wanted her to feel like. She felt as though she were ashamed of her, and it was starting to eat away at both of them. The last thing in the world Ashley wanted Corrine to feel like was a shameful secret of some sort, because she was anything but. She could never be ashamed of this woman, in any way, shape or form. Ashley leaned back against the headboard and anxiously chewed her nails. She finally reached over and shook Corrine awake, who roused rather violently, confused. Corrine wiped the sleep from her face and stared at Ashley.
"You're right," Ashley said, "this...this isn't fair. I don't want you to feel like this. I can't claim I'm being honest about myself if I'm hiding the person I love."
Corrine sat up on her elbows, still half asleep but listening.
"So you're right," Ashley continued, "and...and today we'll come clean, okay? Because you deserve so much better, and I...I don't wanna make you feel this way, like you're something I can't share with the world, when you have become my world."
Corrine blushed and pushed herself against Ashley, burying her face into her neck, hugging her around the waist, snuggling up. Ashley giggled and ran her hands through Corrine's hair. Ashley had come back from the brink of death, and really, coming out couldn't be anywhere near as frightening as that.
***
"I really need to store this stuff somewhere for the time being, so I appreciate you letting me use your garage," Nat said.
She and Stephen had gone out to lunch, her treat, as payment for him letting her store some of her work equipment until she could get an actual studio set up outside the home. Sitting in the BBQ restaurant, chowing down on a plate of spareribs together, Nat couldn't help but feel like, not too long ago, this had been her entire life. Doing things with this man, a man she loved, and now here they were, as if nothing had changed. Stephen licked his fingers clean and picked up his glass of soda, taking a long drink while shaking his head.
"Don't worry about it, man," he said, "I got plenty of space in there. Besides, you'll be moving it back out soon enough, so it's not in an inconvenience in any way."
"I hate looking for studio space," Nat replied, "I really do. It's so frustrating. And then I feel like I'm going too commercial on top of that. I like doing things in the house because it still feels personal, ya know? But once you're in a studio, you feel so corporate, and that's how people view you."
"Trust me Natty, no one thinks you're corporate," Stephen said, smirking, making her laugh.
"Anyway, it's just some lights, cables, a few smaller cameras, stuff like that. It's all in my trunk, I just don't have anywhere to store it in the house proper. Though, I do like the idea of removing all aspects of the work from the house so Violet doesn't feel as interrogated. She's been having a lot of trouble adjusting lately."
"Really?" Stephen asked, picking up another sparerib and biting into it.
"Yeah, she says people, mostly older women with daughters, are coming up to her and talking to her and it's making her very uncomfortable so I figure, ya know, best I can do is just remove some of the stuff that reminds her of what it is I'm doing, what she's a part of, and maybe make the house feel more like a home."
"That's admirable," Stephen said, "she can also always come stay with us anytime she wants. She's always welcome."
"That's a nice gesture, and she should see her father more often, but seeing how she is I just don't see it happening much," Nat said, laughing, as Stephen joined her. It was true, and he knew it wasn't personal. Violet was just a person who liked her privacy in the comfort of a familiar space, and her bedroom was that space. When she'd lived with them before, she'd never really felt 'at home', so the last thing Stephen would ever want to do is make his daughter feel even more uncomfortable for the sake of his ego. He loved her to death, and only wanted her happy, and right now...right now she was very happy.
***
"Okay, so, uh, so they have, I got, ya know, lots of different candy and chips and stuff, they have a lot in the machines," Violet said as she re-entered Courtney's bedroom. Courtney was still in bed, recovering from surgery, and Violet was keeping her company. She sat down on the side of the bed before Courtney tugged her on the arm, insisting that she get fully onto the bed, which she happily did, laying beside her. Together, the girls watched TV on mute and chowed down on junk food.
"It's weird," Courtney said through a mouthful of nouget, "I don't feel different at all. I always heard some girls say they felt different after getting it done, but I feel like the exact same person, more or less. I guess that's just because I AM, but still. Though I do hurt a lot, and it's going to take a bit before I can walk again."
"Who's helping you do, um, like, the dilation?" Violet asked.
"A female home nurse comes in to do it," Courtney said, "because my dad doing that would be fucking weird."
The girls laughed as Violet laid her head on Courtney's shoulder and they continued to snack.
"I'm glad you're okay," Violet said softly.
"Of course I'm okay! It's just some surgery," Courtney said, "I mean, yeah, it's kinda major, but it's not life threatening in any way. Did you...did you think I might not be?"
"I don't know," Violet said, shrugging, popping candy into her mouth and chewing as she added, "I guess I just have gotten, ya know, like, really uh, really used to people going away unexpectedly. I'm just glad you didn't go away."
Courtney smiled and rested her head against Violet's, her free hand lacing its fingers through hers, causing Violet to blush deeply. Violet had never had these feelings before and now they were so incredibly intense, and she didn't know how to handle them. Courtney turned her head and planted a kiss on the side of Violet's, making her breath catch in her chest, her heart beating rapidly.
"You're my best friend," Courtney said, "I'm not going anywhere."
Friend. That word used to make Violet so very happy. Now it just made her so deeply sad.
***
"Why do you have seven boxes of Christmas decorations?" Misty asked, standing in the garage, setting a box of cables down. Stephen turned away from her and towards Nat, jerking his thumb towards Misty.
"Does she have to be here?" he asked.
"She keeps me entertained, she's like a jester," Nat said.
"I've often been called a clown, but never a jester. I like that," Misty said.
"Besides," Nat continued, "she's taking notes on every aspect of my life so that this book can be perfect. That means she needs to get to know you, know our dynamic. You were my husband, Stephen, the father of my child, you're kind of a crucial point of understanding here."
Stephen unloaded the last box and, together, the three of them headed into the house. Once inside the kitchen, Stephen opened the fridge and pulled out some bottles of water for everyone, which they gladly took. Misty sat down at the table as Nat hopped up onto the counter, Stephen still standing in the center of the kitchen, all of them taking nice, long drinks.
"Boy," Stephen finally said, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, "been a while since I did some grueling physical labor."
"You moved 3 boxes, Stephen," Nat said, "that hardly qualifies as 'grueling'."
"Hell it hardly qualifies as 'labor'," Misty added, making Nat laugh.
"Look, I don't need to stand here and be insulted by my ex wife and her fanfic author," Stephen said, making both women laugh as they continued relaxing from the labor, drinking their waters. Truth be told, things between Stephen and Nat were so good lately, and she thought part of that was just because of the livestream. He'd seen, firsthand, what her family, him included, had meant to her, and taken it to heart. They had no interest in getting back together of course, but it was better than it had been in a long, long time. Misty finished her bottle then stood back up.
"So, where is your bathroom?" she asked.
"It's the third down on the right down the hall," Stephen said, and Misty thanked him, then excused herself. Once she was out of earshot, Stephen looked back at Nat and grinned, shaking his head, saying, "she's weird."
"I know, I like her," Nat said, laughing.
"Aren't you worried about this book she's writing though?" Stephen asked, "I mean, seriously, what if it winds up being an unintentional hit piece?"
"At this point, I think I'd deserve it," Nat replied, shrugging. Just then a scream came from the hall, and Misty came quickly back out, stopping at the kitchen and looking at the ground as both Stephen and Nat looked over at him with confused looks on their faces.
"Um," Misty said, "uh, not to alarm you but there's two naked women in your bed. I think I picked the wrong door."
Stephen and Nat glanced back at one another briefly before getting up and briskly walking back down the hall, Misty a bit behind. Once they entered, they saw what she meant. Sitting there in the bed, the sheets pulled up around her, was Corrine, and beside her, partially dressed, was Ashley.
"...this doesn't go in the book, got it?" Stephen asked, looking back at Misty, who nodded with vigor.
***
Violet and Courtney were still laying on the bed, in the same position as they had been for the last few hours. Violet had dozed off a few times, and when she awoke, she was surprised to find that Courtney was squeezing her even tighter, as if she were a plushie of some kind, bringing her great comfort, and this made Violet happy. After a bit, Violet sat up and yawned, then looked at Courtney.
"You gonna go home?" Courtney asked, "my dad can drive you."
"I don't want to, but, um, well, it's late, and-"
"You could just stay the night, we could have a good ol' fashioned slumber party," Courtney said, sitting upright a bit, "when I was little, I was always so jealous of the girls in my class getting to do things like that, and I always wanted so desperately to be included. Now we can."
Violet wanted to stay, but she also felt as though that would be crossing some kind of boundary, with how she felt towards Courtney these days.
"You don't have to," Courtney said meekly, "it was just a suggestion."
"No, I, um, I want to, but uh...but, well..." Violet stammered to find the words, "I don't..."
Violet felt her eyes swell up with tears, and she bit her lip to keep herself from crying. Suddenly she felt a hand reach out and grab hers, squeezing gently. She looked up and saw Courtney's face, smiling warmly back at her.
"I know," she said.
"You...know?" Violet asked, "you know, um, like, that I should go home or?"
"No, I know," Courtney said, "I know how you feel. You're not very subtle, hah."
Violet felt her stomach churn. She was afraid of whatever words were going to come next.
"Why don't you stay here tonight, we can have a slumber party, eat snacks and watch movies and stuff," Courtney continued, "and...and maybe talk about it, cause...I don't feel that different from you."
Violet's eyes widened, and she nodded, slowly. She then nuzzled up against Courtney, the way she had been just a minute ago, and felt her anxieties melt away as Courtney's fingers ran through her hair once again. Within minutes, she was asleep, a real dream come true.
***
Misty in the backseat, Corrine in the passenger and Nat driving, they were on their way back to Nat's home after the incident earlier, and nobody thusfar had said a word. Corrine had her arms wrapped around herself, thinking about what Stephen and Ashley were discussing. Nat seemed fuming, but without really saying anything it was hard to tell. Misty leaned up between the seats and cleared her throat.
"For what it's worth," she said, "you're in fantastic shape."
Corrine turned her head and looked at Misty, one of her eyebrows raised.
"...thank...you?" she asked.
Nat finally pulled up to the house and Misty immediately exited the car, needing to rush inside and finally use the bathroom. Given all the hubub that had happened back at Stephen's, she never did manage to get the chance to go. Sitting now in the car alone, Corrine looked at Nat, who still had her hands gripping the steering wheel, and she sighed.
"You must hate me, and...and I understand, and if you don't want to be my friend anymore and you want me to move out, please just-"
"Why would I hate you?" Nat asked, finally turning her head to face Corrine, "...he cheated on me with my own sister, then left me for her. And now, you've stolen her away from him, doing the exact same thing, but to him. It's like the most fucked up but acceptable form of karma I've ever seen. If anything, I'm thankful for you, Corrine. You just got back at him in a way I never could, and god I'm thankful for you."
This...wasn't what Corrine had expected.
"But...but what I did was totally inexcuseable," Corrine said, "like, I think I broke up a marriage."
"Yeah, well, so did he," Nat said, "if anything, I'm more shocked by my sister being into women than anything else."
Corrine and Nat sat there for another minute, and then Corrine leapt towards her and hugged her so tightly, surprising Nat, making her laugh. Nat had spent her entire life helping others, pushing them to be themselves, to do what makes them happy, so why did Corrine possibly think she might be judgmental towards her for following her exact advice? If nothing else, Corrine was happy it was all out in the open now, and they could maybe move together normally now, as a group.
Course...that was if Stephen could ever get over the betrayal.
"You're right," Ashley said, "this...this isn't fair. I don't want you to feel like this. I can't claim I'm being honest about myself if I'm hiding the person I love."
Corrine sat up on her elbows, still half asleep but listening.
"So you're right," Ashley continued, "and...and today we'll come clean, okay? Because you deserve so much better, and I...I don't wanna make you feel this way, like you're something I can't share with the world, when you have become my world."
Corrine blushed and pushed herself against Ashley, burying her face into her neck, hugging her around the waist, snuggling up. Ashley giggled and ran her hands through Corrine's hair. Ashley had come back from the brink of death, and really, coming out couldn't be anywhere near as frightening as that.
***
"I really need to store this stuff somewhere for the time being, so I appreciate you letting me use your garage," Nat said.
She and Stephen had gone out to lunch, her treat, as payment for him letting her store some of her work equipment until she could get an actual studio set up outside the home. Sitting in the BBQ restaurant, chowing down on a plate of spareribs together, Nat couldn't help but feel like, not too long ago, this had been her entire life. Doing things with this man, a man she loved, and now here they were, as if nothing had changed. Stephen licked his fingers clean and picked up his glass of soda, taking a long drink while shaking his head.
"Don't worry about it, man," he said, "I got plenty of space in there. Besides, you'll be moving it back out soon enough, so it's not in an inconvenience in any way."
"I hate looking for studio space," Nat replied, "I really do. It's so frustrating. And then I feel like I'm going too commercial on top of that. I like doing things in the house because it still feels personal, ya know? But once you're in a studio, you feel so corporate, and that's how people view you."
"Trust me Natty, no one thinks you're corporate," Stephen said, smirking, making her laugh.
"Anyway, it's just some lights, cables, a few smaller cameras, stuff like that. It's all in my trunk, I just don't have anywhere to store it in the house proper. Though, I do like the idea of removing all aspects of the work from the house so Violet doesn't feel as interrogated. She's been having a lot of trouble adjusting lately."
"Really?" Stephen asked, picking up another sparerib and biting into it.
"Yeah, she says people, mostly older women with daughters, are coming up to her and talking to her and it's making her very uncomfortable so I figure, ya know, best I can do is just remove some of the stuff that reminds her of what it is I'm doing, what she's a part of, and maybe make the house feel more like a home."
"That's admirable," Stephen said, "she can also always come stay with us anytime she wants. She's always welcome."
"That's a nice gesture, and she should see her father more often, but seeing how she is I just don't see it happening much," Nat said, laughing, as Stephen joined her. It was true, and he knew it wasn't personal. Violet was just a person who liked her privacy in the comfort of a familiar space, and her bedroom was that space. When she'd lived with them before, she'd never really felt 'at home', so the last thing Stephen would ever want to do is make his daughter feel even more uncomfortable for the sake of his ego. He loved her to death, and only wanted her happy, and right now...right now she was very happy.
***
"Okay, so, uh, so they have, I got, ya know, lots of different candy and chips and stuff, they have a lot in the machines," Violet said as she re-entered Courtney's bedroom. Courtney was still in bed, recovering from surgery, and Violet was keeping her company. She sat down on the side of the bed before Courtney tugged her on the arm, insisting that she get fully onto the bed, which she happily did, laying beside her. Together, the girls watched TV on mute and chowed down on junk food.
"It's weird," Courtney said through a mouthful of nouget, "I don't feel different at all. I always heard some girls say they felt different after getting it done, but I feel like the exact same person, more or less. I guess that's just because I AM, but still. Though I do hurt a lot, and it's going to take a bit before I can walk again."
"Who's helping you do, um, like, the dilation?" Violet asked.
"A female home nurse comes in to do it," Courtney said, "because my dad doing that would be fucking weird."
The girls laughed as Violet laid her head on Courtney's shoulder and they continued to snack.
"I'm glad you're okay," Violet said softly.
"Of course I'm okay! It's just some surgery," Courtney said, "I mean, yeah, it's kinda major, but it's not life threatening in any way. Did you...did you think I might not be?"
"I don't know," Violet said, shrugging, popping candy into her mouth and chewing as she added, "I guess I just have gotten, ya know, like, really uh, really used to people going away unexpectedly. I'm just glad you didn't go away."
Courtney smiled and rested her head against Violet's, her free hand lacing its fingers through hers, causing Violet to blush deeply. Violet had never had these feelings before and now they were so incredibly intense, and she didn't know how to handle them. Courtney turned her head and planted a kiss on the side of Violet's, making her breath catch in her chest, her heart beating rapidly.
"You're my best friend," Courtney said, "I'm not going anywhere."
Friend. That word used to make Violet so very happy. Now it just made her so deeply sad.
***
"Why do you have seven boxes of Christmas decorations?" Misty asked, standing in the garage, setting a box of cables down. Stephen turned away from her and towards Nat, jerking his thumb towards Misty.
"Does she have to be here?" he asked.
"She keeps me entertained, she's like a jester," Nat said.
"I've often been called a clown, but never a jester. I like that," Misty said.
"Besides," Nat continued, "she's taking notes on every aspect of my life so that this book can be perfect. That means she needs to get to know you, know our dynamic. You were my husband, Stephen, the father of my child, you're kind of a crucial point of understanding here."
Stephen unloaded the last box and, together, the three of them headed into the house. Once inside the kitchen, Stephen opened the fridge and pulled out some bottles of water for everyone, which they gladly took. Misty sat down at the table as Nat hopped up onto the counter, Stephen still standing in the center of the kitchen, all of them taking nice, long drinks.
"Boy," Stephen finally said, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, "been a while since I did some grueling physical labor."
"You moved 3 boxes, Stephen," Nat said, "that hardly qualifies as 'grueling'."
"Hell it hardly qualifies as 'labor'," Misty added, making Nat laugh.
"Look, I don't need to stand here and be insulted by my ex wife and her fanfic author," Stephen said, making both women laugh as they continued relaxing from the labor, drinking their waters. Truth be told, things between Stephen and Nat were so good lately, and she thought part of that was just because of the livestream. He'd seen, firsthand, what her family, him included, had meant to her, and taken it to heart. They had no interest in getting back together of course, but it was better than it had been in a long, long time. Misty finished her bottle then stood back up.
"So, where is your bathroom?" she asked.
"It's the third down on the right down the hall," Stephen said, and Misty thanked him, then excused herself. Once she was out of earshot, Stephen looked back at Nat and grinned, shaking his head, saying, "she's weird."
"I know, I like her," Nat said, laughing.
"Aren't you worried about this book she's writing though?" Stephen asked, "I mean, seriously, what if it winds up being an unintentional hit piece?"
"At this point, I think I'd deserve it," Nat replied, shrugging. Just then a scream came from the hall, and Misty came quickly back out, stopping at the kitchen and looking at the ground as both Stephen and Nat looked over at him with confused looks on their faces.
"Um," Misty said, "uh, not to alarm you but there's two naked women in your bed. I think I picked the wrong door."
Stephen and Nat glanced back at one another briefly before getting up and briskly walking back down the hall, Misty a bit behind. Once they entered, they saw what she meant. Sitting there in the bed, the sheets pulled up around her, was Corrine, and beside her, partially dressed, was Ashley.
"...this doesn't go in the book, got it?" Stephen asked, looking back at Misty, who nodded with vigor.
***
Violet and Courtney were still laying on the bed, in the same position as they had been for the last few hours. Violet had dozed off a few times, and when she awoke, she was surprised to find that Courtney was squeezing her even tighter, as if she were a plushie of some kind, bringing her great comfort, and this made Violet happy. After a bit, Violet sat up and yawned, then looked at Courtney.
"You gonna go home?" Courtney asked, "my dad can drive you."
"I don't want to, but, um, well, it's late, and-"
"You could just stay the night, we could have a good ol' fashioned slumber party," Courtney said, sitting upright a bit, "when I was little, I was always so jealous of the girls in my class getting to do things like that, and I always wanted so desperately to be included. Now we can."
Violet wanted to stay, but she also felt as though that would be crossing some kind of boundary, with how she felt towards Courtney these days.
"You don't have to," Courtney said meekly, "it was just a suggestion."
"No, I, um, I want to, but uh...but, well..." Violet stammered to find the words, "I don't..."
Violet felt her eyes swell up with tears, and she bit her lip to keep herself from crying. Suddenly she felt a hand reach out and grab hers, squeezing gently. She looked up and saw Courtney's face, smiling warmly back at her.
"I know," she said.
"You...know?" Violet asked, "you know, um, like, that I should go home or?"
"No, I know," Courtney said, "I know how you feel. You're not very subtle, hah."
Violet felt her stomach churn. She was afraid of whatever words were going to come next.
"Why don't you stay here tonight, we can have a slumber party, eat snacks and watch movies and stuff," Courtney continued, "and...and maybe talk about it, cause...I don't feel that different from you."
Violet's eyes widened, and she nodded, slowly. She then nuzzled up against Courtney, the way she had been just a minute ago, and felt her anxieties melt away as Courtney's fingers ran through her hair once again. Within minutes, she was asleep, a real dream come true.
***
Misty in the backseat, Corrine in the passenger and Nat driving, they were on their way back to Nat's home after the incident earlier, and nobody thusfar had said a word. Corrine had her arms wrapped around herself, thinking about what Stephen and Ashley were discussing. Nat seemed fuming, but without really saying anything it was hard to tell. Misty leaned up between the seats and cleared her throat.
"For what it's worth," she said, "you're in fantastic shape."
Corrine turned her head and looked at Misty, one of her eyebrows raised.
"...thank...you?" she asked.
Nat finally pulled up to the house and Misty immediately exited the car, needing to rush inside and finally use the bathroom. Given all the hubub that had happened back at Stephen's, she never did manage to get the chance to go. Sitting now in the car alone, Corrine looked at Nat, who still had her hands gripping the steering wheel, and she sighed.
"You must hate me, and...and I understand, and if you don't want to be my friend anymore and you want me to move out, please just-"
"Why would I hate you?" Nat asked, finally turning her head to face Corrine, "...he cheated on me with my own sister, then left me for her. And now, you've stolen her away from him, doing the exact same thing, but to him. It's like the most fucked up but acceptable form of karma I've ever seen. If anything, I'm thankful for you, Corrine. You just got back at him in a way I never could, and god I'm thankful for you."
This...wasn't what Corrine had expected.
"But...but what I did was totally inexcuseable," Corrine said, "like, I think I broke up a marriage."
"Yeah, well, so did he," Nat said, "if anything, I'm more shocked by my sister being into women than anything else."
Corrine and Nat sat there for another minute, and then Corrine leapt towards her and hugged her so tightly, surprising Nat, making her laugh. Nat had spent her entire life helping others, pushing them to be themselves, to do what makes them happy, so why did Corrine possibly think she might be judgmental towards her for following her exact advice? If nothing else, Corrine was happy it was all out in the open now, and they could maybe move together normally now, as a group.
Course...that was if Stephen could ever get over the betrayal.