I’ll have a break in about 30 minutes. See ya then.
That was the last message Michelle received from Javi. Forty-five minutes ago, and still no sign of the tiny basketball player. Michelle sat by herself in the packed banquet hall at a table not far from the dance floor. Adorned in a coral pink dress, the portly woman stared off into the distance, resting her head on her hand as she leaned on the table. A fight broke out on the dance floor between a mixed-size couple, a brief respite in Michelle’s marathon of boredom.
Sucks for them, she thought, but better to have loved and lost then never love at all. Why’d I even come to this thing? She checked her phone for the hundredth time. Nothing. She considered texting Javi back, asking where he was or what happened to him, but what was the point in that? If he did respond, it’d just be some lame excuse on why he stood her up. I should leave. Quit while I’m behind.
“May I have this dance?”
Michelle lowered her hand and turned her head. A tiny stood on the table beside her, politely bowing with an arm outstretched. They wore a violet vest over a white dress shirt and a matching pair of violet slacks. Their snow white hair was slicked back neatly.
“Excuse me?” Michelle glanced around the room, as if this tiny fellow could be talking to anyone else. “Do I know you?”
“I’m Sam. They/them. We haven’t had the chance to get acquainted before, but I’ve seen you around school.” Sam grinned up at the mountain of a woman. Beneath the formal attire, they managed to bury the bundle of nerves eating away them, grateful the loud music drowned out their rapidly beating heart.
“Michelle. Uh, she/her.” Michelle glanced around again, making absolutely sure they weren’t speaking to someone else. Another student? Do we share a class or something? “I’m sorry, did you ask me to dance? With you?”
“If you would do me the honor.” Sam straightened themself and held their hand out. “I hope my size isn’t an issue for you.”
“No, it’s not that.” She glanced around a third time, checking for hidden cameras. “This isn’t a prank, is it?”
“A prank?” Sam raised an eyebrow, perplexed by her response. “Why would you think that?”
“Oh, come on. A suave cutie I never met appears out of thin air to ask lonely ol’ me for a dance like I’m the princess in some schlocky fairy tale?”
Sam’s face burned bright red. C-cutie?
“You aren’t the first to pull this crap, so don’t even bother. Whether your friends are going to jump out and laugh in my face or your filming this to upload online for sympathy likes, I don’t want any part of it.” Michelle heaved a frustrated sigh, nearly blowing Sam over.
There was a lot to unpack there, and Sam hadn’t a clue where to start. But hearing they were a “suave cutie” gave them enough confidence to try. “I promise I don’t have an ulterior motive. I just want to dance with you.” They racked their brain on how they could prove their sincerity. “I’ll stake my life on it. If you ever feel betrayed, you have permission to squish me!” The nerves bubbled up to the surface, corroding their gift of gab. They just spit out whatever came to mind.
“What? I’m not going to squish you.” Michelle rubbed her temples and mumbled something under her breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to accuse you of anything. A friend left me hanging, and now I’m on edge.” She mulled things over in her head. It didn’t seem plausible for a handsome stranger to arrive and whisk her away in her moment of need , and what if Javi showed up mere minutes later? No, I can’t bank on that. He would have been here by now. I suppose one dance can’t hurt. They are cute, and if Javi does show up, then perhaps seeing me with them will make him jealous. “Maybe I’ll take you up on your offer. It beats sitting here, wasting away.” She lowered her left palm flat onto the table for the tiny to climb on.
Sam breathed a heavy sigh, relieved they stumbled into success without it costing their life. They stepped onto the platform of a hand, their rapid heartbeat soothed by the equally rapid pulse traveling just beneath the woman’s skin. Michelle stood up and carried the tiny to the dance floor just as another slow song began.
Both had attended enough dances at their inter-size high schools to know the proper etiquette for dancing together despite their lack of personal experience. First, Sam bowed while standing at the base of the fingers, met by Michelle with a curtsy. Michelle then proceeded to stretch out her arms and plant her right index finger in the center of her flattened palm, so it stood opposite Sam. She rested her thumb perpendicularly on the side of it, allowing Sam to wrap on arm around the forefinger and grab onto the tip of the massive thumb with their other hand, emulating a waltz to the best of their ability given the vast difference in height.
Michelle stepped to the beat of the music, relaxing her right hand so that Sam could guide it around her palm. She tried matching her movements to her hands as if Sam was actually leading the entire woman around the dance floor, all the while keeping her hand still enough not to drop her partner. There were a few close calls, and Sam clutched the finger tightly to maintain their standing, which was not helped by the fluttering in Michelle’s heart every time that occurred. But when the palm was steady, Sam showed off the moves they had in them, completing half-box turns and dipping Michelle’s finger until it was near horizontal. They even attempted a twirl, leading Michelle to spin herself around given that her wrist prevented her finger from actually twirling.
The pair were joined by other couples of varying size dynamics, though tiny on tiny couples stayed on their platforms, all gliding around the dance floor in a resplendent showing. Photographers stood off to the side, capturing shots that would last a lifetime on the college's social media pages and promotional material. And for a brief moment, Michelle forgot all about Javi, swept off her feet, er, finger by the suave cutie in her hand.
As the slow song faded, the opening beats of the “Macarena” blossomed to life, signaling to Michelle to vacate the dance floor.
“Done already?” Sam asked. “I love this song!” A popular trend among mixed-size couples was to dance the “Macarena” with their partner on their shoulder. To do so successfully without hindering either party's flow was exceedingly rare, most big's movements stilted and most tiny's footing unbalanced, but when a couple pulled it off, the scene was magical. It was said a couple dancing perfectly in sync were destined to love one another beyond the end of time.
“No thanks. I suck at this dance enough as it is, let alone with you on my shoulder. It'll just end in disaster.”
“Come on, it can't hurt to try. No one's gonna judge you. They're all too busy focusing on their own moves.” Michelle saw the people around her get into position, a few men and women with tinies on their shoulders.
She sighed. “Fine, but please be extra careful. And don't you dare laugh at me.” Michelle got into position, standing a safe distance from the other dancers, placed Sam on her shoulder, and bobbed to the beat. Sam got into the rhythm, timing their swaying to match their partner's and keep themselves balanced. Once the lyrics kicked in, the pair started swinging their arms.
Michelle danced extremely slowly, immediately losing pace with the song as she moved her arms in deliberate strokes. Her head was permanently eschewed, so as to keep Sam in her peripheral vision. The tiny was much better at keeping to the beat, unphased by the slowly swaying shoulder beneath them. To Michelle’s credit, none of the mixed-size dancers around her were on tempo either. Combined with the solo dancers far outpacing the others, it was an ugly display in the ballroom. But as Sam correctly predicted, no seemed to mind, smiles dotting the dance floor.
After an eternity, the song ended, and Michelle returned to her seat. She hoped her sweating wasn't noticeable to her partner, setting the tiny back down on the table. It was, but Sam didn't mind. They did have to be extra careful not to slip towards the end of the Macarena though.
“Thanks, Sam,” Michelle said between heavy breaths. “That was fun, and I kinda needed that.”
“It was my pleasure!” Sam gave the woman a thumbs up and checked their phone. “Shoot! I gotta get going. Hey, if you get bored later, you should come check out our escape room. We're running it all night. See ya!” The tiny scurried towards the lift on the other side of the table, but was stopped by Michelle’s voice.
“Wait, did you say an escape room? Like that thing Javi is running?”
“The very same.” Sam continued walking backwards towards the lift, wanting to stay and chat but needing to get to their shift before anyone got mad. “We've been receiving rave reviews, and it's free admission.”
“Would you know where Javi is at?”
Sam froze, caught off guard by the question and unsure how best to answer. “He's, uh, preoccupied.”
“Is he with a woman? A redhead or a really tall blonde?”
“How'd you know she was a redhead?” Sam asked innocently.
The merriment garnered from dancing with the tiny drained from Michelle in a flash. She rested her cheek on her hand and leaned on her elbow. “Oh.”
In one foul swing, Sam unwittingly killed the mood, and they had no time to attempt a hasty repair. As they made for the lift, they looked over their shoulder to see Michelle sulking just as she were when they arrived. In hindsight, they realized Michelle made the wrong assumption regarding what they said, but they felt uncomfortable explaining the real reason Javi was preoccupied.
******
Heather bolted out of the student center into the crisp autumn air blowing beneath the stars. She had to get out of there as soon as possible, vacate to someplace she could be alone.
Shortly after Alena ran off in the ballroom, Justine and Naila arrived to check on their friends. Heather explained the situation as best she could in her manic state, dropping plenty of expletives aimed at herself. Naila chased after Alena to recover her roommate, and Justine took off after Lynn to console her friend and coworker, leaving Heather by her lonesome to stew in her frustration.
Heather barged into the adjacent building and headed down a long hallway tucked deep inside. There was a woman’s bathroom at the end of the hall that went seldom used, the perfect spot for dropping embarrassing business or to scream profanities at one's image in the mirror.
On her way there, a woman in a black polo shirt passed her by, putting away what looked like a miniature smart watch into a charging case as she headed in the opposite direction. Heather didn't pay her or the Beanstalk logo on her chest much thought as she stormed into the bathroom.
The pissed off heiress was ready to punch a hole in the mirror, damage to it or herself be damned, but stopped short at seeing a certain redhead standing by the counter. Oh, great. As if my night couldn't get any worse. She centered herself, momentarily subsiding her self-loathing, and walked up to the sink adjacent to Shawna's.
“Fancy meeting you here, Miss Suzuran.” Shawna said with playful surprise. There was a subtle bubbly quality to her tone, a smug satisfaction, which only irritated Heather further.
“‘Sup Shawna.” Heather leaned forward on the counter top, her head sunken, and noticed Shawna wasn't alone. “Javi? What are you doing in the ladies’ room?”
Javi sat on the sink's porcelain lip in nothing but his boxers, futilely attempting to dry the fluids off the rest of his costume. It took him a few seconds to meet her gaze.
“Don't mind him. He's with me.” Shawna smirked at the tiny, a gesture he did not return. “Inside me, to be specific. I came in here to get him out.”
“In her stomach,” Javi quickly corrected. Heather could tell something was off by the sound of his voice. It was devoid of his usual energy and charm. Also, did he say stomach?
“Sounds like you two had an eventful evening.” Heather wasn't in the mood to question it, at least not with Shawna here. And if Javi was in a bad mood, then so be it. The only thing Heather could do right now was make it worse.
“We sure did. We're just wrapping up, so we won't keep you any longer.” Shawna lowered her hand to the counter. “Let's go, Javi. That's as dry as you're going to get it.”
“Actually, could you wait outside for me. I want to talk to Heather for a minute.” Shawna's eyes darted between the two, the smirk wiped off her face.
“Sure thing,” she said apprehensively. Retreating her hand, Shawna backed towards the bathroom exit, never leaving Heather out of her sight. “Let me know when you're finished and I'll come grab you.” The moment she left, life returned to Javi's expression.
“So, what's got you all worked up?” he asked, leaning back on the edge of the sink.
Heather shook her head. “Nothing. I just wanted a break from the crowds.”
“Really? You looked like you were about ready to punch that mirror when you came in here.”
“Huh? How did you …?” Heather stepped back in shock, eliciting a snicker from the tiny man. Seeing him smile caused her to do the same, lightening her dour mood if only just a little. “Okay, you got me.” She crossed one arm over her chest and rubbed the other. “I may have ruined my best friend’s relationship.”
Javi leaned forward. “Oh shit. Alena and Lynn? Did they break up?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but they had a big fight, and they’re pissed. Mostly at me.” Heather stared daggers at her reflection. “Ruining relationships seems to be all I’m good for these days.”
Javi contemplated on that, wondering if she was referring to their failed outing as well. “Back up. How is any of this your fault?”
“Because I failed to hide Lynn from Alena’s sister. Because I failed to hide my texts with Alena from Lynn. Because I kept butting in to defend my best friend. Because I said all the wrong things in all the wrong ways. Because I screamed at a tiny and threw her to the ground. Because I’m a massive fuck up who goes around hurting everyone I care about.” Heather leaned over the sink and stared at the drain. She couldn’t look at her reflection any more. It made her want to cry. She would have punched it, but knowing her luck, a shard would fly off and strike Javi. Just envisioning that made her hate herself more.
“I see.” Javi rubbed his chin, evoking the image of a counselor working through the tangled vines of their pupil’s troubles, or at least attempting to. “I hope you realize no one sees you like that. You mess up at times, but you’re not as destructive as you make yourself out to be.”
“Really? Tell that to my friends who ran away from me in tears!” Heather screamed. Javi rowed his arms in the air like oars to keep from falling backwards into the sink, knocked back by Heather’s sudden shouting. As soon as she saw what happened, Heather covered her mouth. “Fuck! What is wrong with me?”
“You’re just agitated. Take a deep breath and calm down.” Javi regained his balance and reassured Heather with a thumbs up and a toothy grin. Heather lowered her hands, but she backed a couple steps away from Javi, afraid of the threat she posed to him. “I don’t have the full picture, but it sounds like Alena and Lynn’s problems are rooted in something much deeper than whatever you did tonight. They were bound to surface eventually without your help, so don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“I guess you have a point.” Heather glanced at herself in the mirror, rage giving way to despair.
“But I’ll be real with you: I can’t sympathize,” Javi said with a smarmy tone. “Pierce and Jackie are stronger together now then they ever were, and it’s all thanks to me. Hell, they wouldn’t even be together without my help.”
Heather smirked. “That so? Mind shooting me with your Cupid’s arrow?”
“Kinky. That’s not the only thing I can shoot into you, if you’d like.”
“Javier!” Heather tried to sound admonishing, but she couldn’t hide the smile forming on her lips.
Javi chuckled and sighed, and then returned to sulking, using up what little energy he had to raise Heather’s spirits. “Sorry, that was inappropriate. I swear I’m smoother than that. I’m just not on my game tonight.”
“You did seem down earlier. Want to talk about it?” Heather stepped in closer. “You mentioned something about being in Shawna’s stomach? What was that about?”
Javi leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand. “Shawna thought it would be a funny prank to swallow me without a Vore Suit.”
“She did what to you?!” Heather knelt down on the bathroom floor, putting her face inches away from the tiny man. “Javi, are you okay?!”
He could feel her breathing on him, her eyes beaming down on him like concerned spotlights. He was a bit taken aback by how close she got, but he was far from finding her proximity uncomfortable. “She took a drug beforehand to quell her stomach acids. I'm not hurt.” He raised his arms, showing his unscathed, muscular physique. It was just then he remembered he was in nothing but his boxers, but that seemed trivial in light of what led him here. A couple laughs eked out from his throat, more reminiscent of coughing than anything joyous. “But I didn't find that out until I was past her esophagus. I've never been more scared in my entire life. I thought I was going to die.”
Heather reached out to comfort Javi, to sooth his pain with her touch, but she recoiled her hand. She knew all she could do was worsen his pain. She’d press down to hard, or pinch him, or knock him over, or choke him with her breath, or … Frustrated, Heather scowled and stood up, carving a war path towards the exit.
“Heather, wait! Where are you going?” Javi hopped off the porcelain onto the counter top, his arm outstretched as if it had any hope of reaching Heather.
“I'm going to give her a piece of my mind. What she did to you is beyond fucked up. It's unacceptable!” Heather couldn't believe her own audacity, to vent about petty drama after what Javi had been through. She had to unleash that rage on someone lest she continue to direct it at herself, and Shawna was certainly deserving of her ire.
“Please, Heather, don't! You don’t have to ...” Fresh memories returned to the forefront of his mind. Javi's breathing quickened, and he struggled to keep the dark thoughts at bay.
“No way! She is not getting away with this. If you won’t tell her off, then I will.” Heather made it to the door when she heard sobbing come from behind her.
“Heather, please don’t leave me here! I need you.” Javi stood at the edge of the counter top with no safe way down. His eyes were puffy and red, flushed enough for the giant woman to see from the other end of the room. “Please, don’t leave me alone. I don’t want to be alone again.”
Heather rushed back to the counter, kneeling once more. She lowered her index finger behind the tiny man's back and gently stroked it until his breathing returned to normal. Heather guided him from the edge closer to the sink, ever so careful with how she handled him. Her touch pushed away the pain, filling the void in his heart with its embrace.
Javi sat down on the counter and brushed his hand through his hair. Heather’s gigantic eyes remain trained on him, hyper focused on any changes in his behavior. “Feeling any better?” Javi nodded, fighting back the tears, occasionally succeeding. Heather continued rubbing his back. “It’s okay. I'm not going anywhere.” Javi's words echoed in her head. Such a simple declaration cleaved through the doubts plaguing her. Even after all she's done, he wasn't pushing her away. He needed her. “I'm here for you.”
“I'm sorry. I felt so alone in there, isolated from people I never thought I'd see again. I don't want to feel that again.” Javi wiped the water out of his eyes with his forearm, though plenty still ran down his cheeks. He hated crying in front of others. As warm gusts of Heather’s breath washed over him, he felt so embarrassed she had to see him like this.
“Don't sweat it. I'm staying right here with you. Take your time.” The pair sat there in silence for a minute while Javi processed his emotions. Heather didn't move at all save for her finger, patiently giving Javi the chance to recover. In that moment, nothing else mattered to her. The world outside the restroom ceased to exist, Javi the only remaining person besides herself. Eventually, Javi took a deep breath and patted the massive finger, signaling he was ready to move on.
“Alright, enough of that. I've got an event to run.” Javi stood up, straightened his back, and wiped the last remnants of crying from his face.
“Are you sure?” Heather remained kneeling. “You can close it early if you need to, or leave it in your friends’ hands. No one will think less of you for it.”
“No, I need to stay occupied.” Javi cycled through a routine of stretches, eliminating the stiffness he felt physically and emotionally. “Moping is just gonna keep the memories fresh. I need to get my mind off that and onto more productive ventures.” Javi shot Heather a wide grin. The energy she was used to seeing from him finally returned. “But before that, I came up with an idea to cheer both of us up.”
Heather raised an eyebrow. She forgot about her own problems, so focused on Javi's which in her eyes were much more pressing. “Oh? And what would that be?”
“I'll tell you on one condition. You gotta sneak me out of here without Shawna noticing.” The last thing he wanted was to spend any more time with her. Not tonight. Not for awhile.
“That'll be a cinch.” Heather stood up, her towering physique stretching far above the man on the counter. “I can fit you snugly in so many places.” She sashayed closer to where he stood, emphasizing the sway of her hips. Javi blushed, hypnotized by their pendulating. “I'm sorry, was that inappropriate?” she teased, high on the elation of getting him to blush.
Javi snapped out of his trance. “Not at all. I'm just kicking myself for not sooner complimenting your new hair. You wear those colors splendidly.”
Now it was Heather's turn to blush. “You like it? Black's actually my natural color, but I don't usually keep it like this.”
“It's a stark difference from the blonde and blue while remaining quintessentially ‘Heather.’ And it pairs perfectly with that stellar dress your wearing.”
Heather giggled, twirling the black half of her hair with her finger. She peeked over her shoulder towards the exit, grateful Shawna at least had the decency not to barge in on their alone time. “I can sneak you out of here, but I have a condition of my own.” Heather lowered her left hand to the counter top, palm open. “Answer me truthfully. Do you trust me? I want you to be honest with me. After what you've been through tonight, you have every right not to. I won't hold it against you if you say no. Do you trust me?”
Without hesitating, Javi stepped onto the woman’s fingers. “I do.”
“Awesome.” Heather curled her fingers up, pushing Javi into her thumb where he was softly pinched on all sides. She lifted him to chest level and raised her other arm, revealing her freshly shaved armpit. Javi gulped as he was brought ever closer to the musky pit, painfully aware how poorly his boxers hid his excitement. Heather smirked and mashed him into the soft flesh, dampening him in a light coat of sweat. She positioned him horizontally along the crease and lowered her arm, sealing him safely within the pocket of perspiring skin. “All set?”
Unable to suppress the urge, Javi licked Heather’s pit. He started gingerly, savoring the salty flavor tucked away, but it proved too addicting, leading his fervor to increase with every lap. Heather couldn’t believe how quickly he got down on her underarm, nor did she realize how much she missed the soothing sensation of his tiny tongue worshiping her titanic body. His hardened member prodding her tickled, but she held in the laughs, not wanting to send the wrong message. “I’m going to take that as a yes.” Truthfully, Heather had half a mind to lock herself in one of the stalls and shove a hand down her panties, but Javi trusted her, so she would do the same, eager to find out what the tiny had planned for them.
After grabbing Javi’s discarded costume off the counter and enclosing it in her fist, Heather stepped out of the ladies’ room into the long hallway. As before, the entire corridor was empty save for the redhead patiently tapping her foot as she leaned against the wall. “Finished with your little chat?”
“Yep, I’ve heard everything I need to know.” Heather held her chin up as she passed her, not once looking in her direction. She kept her right arm stiff as she walked, empowered by the act of stealing Javi away from her.
“Ok?” Shawna thought to question what she meant, or why she was walking so strangely, but her desire to get back to Javi outweighed such sensible reactions. The moment Shawna dipped into the restroom, Heather sped off as fast as she could while keeping Javi secure, knowing she had to vacate the hallway before the jig was up. Heather didn’t have time to glance back, but as soon as she turned the corner, she heard indiscernible yelling in the distance.
Heather scuttled past Halloween decorations and costumed students selling treats and spooky swag. With the surrounding commotion, it was impossible to tell how hot Shawna was on her trail, but she wasn’t taking chances. She ran to a photo booth sitting between a tattoo artist’s station and what looked like the entrance to a history lecture on the origin of All Hallow’s Eve and jumped inside, closing the curtains.
Once she was sure they were safe, Heather held up her arm and peeled Javi off her skin. “How does that compare to Shawna’s stomach?” She hoped her question didn’t come off as distasteful, but she was coasting off a recent surge in self-esteem and couldn’t help herself.
“Like the difference between Heaven and Hell. I’ll take your deodorant over the smell of kimchi any day.” Javi beamed up at Heather from within her grip, happy to make light of Shawna’s unpleasant prank to flatter the heiress.
“I’m glad to hear.” Heather pulled Javi in and kissed him, planting her lips on his head and chest. Just a quick peck, enough to make both their hearts flutter. She didn’t know if that was appropriate. She didn’t care. It just felt right, and Javi sure didn’t protest. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We’re heading back to the escape room, but first, we need to make a quick pit stop.” Javi gestured for Heather to pull him in closer and then whispered his idea into her ear, lighting up her face.
“Count me in. But while we’re here, want to snap a picture? Immortalize the moment?”
“Sure. Why not?” said the man who forgot he was wearing nothing but his boxers. Heather held her hand out flat beside her face, forming the peace sign with the other as Javi posed alongside her. The pair smiled for the camera, each competing for the biggest grin. The snapshot represented but a sliver in time, but it was how they chose to remember that eventful night for years to come.
******
“Alena! Wait up!” Naila chased her roommate outside onto the sidewalk where the weeping woman was making her way to the dorms. Against her better judgment, Naila took off her stilettos and ran barefoot to catch up to her friend, wincing every time her soft soles kicked off the rough pavement. Alena, you best believe my pets will be eating good when I'm through with you. I'll make sure to tell them they have you to thank.
Alena stopped and waited upon hearing her voice. “Naila? What are you doing out here?”
“Heather told me about your fight with Lynn.” Naila's pained gait returned to normal as she caught up, her soles growing used to the concrete's bumps and cracks. “I'd be a bad roomie if I left you to dwell on your own.”
“Don't your feet hurt? You want to put your shoes back on?”
“And sully my new heels? No need to fret. My pets will lick my feet nice and clean when we get back. Their motivation balloons the dirtier they get.”
“I though we had a rule you wouldn't invite them over when I'm around.”
Naila leaned on Alena's shoulder and pouted. “Come on, just this once? They'll service yours too if I tell them to. All those puny bodies throwing themselves against your monolithic soles …” Her voice trailed off, the mere image lighting a fire in her libido. “Goddamn, that ought to cheer you up.”
Alena briefly considered indulging, but shook the fantasy from her mind. “No way. That wouldn't be fair to Lynn.”
Naila wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “How are you feeling about Lynn right now? Sounds like she didn't hold anything back.”
“She was right not to. I deserved all of it.” The crisp autumn air bit at Alena's tear-stained cheeks. Her glasses fogged up the moment she stepped outside.
“Are you sure about that? No offense, but you're sort of a pushover.”
“I lied to her. I hid her from my family and kept them a secret from her.”
“And why'd you do that?” A group of tiny frat boys passed by on the sidewalk's tiny path, each of them stopping to gawk at Naila’s promiscuous outfit. She waved and shot them a Cheshire grin, picturing how good they'd look in collars.
“I was going to let it all out eventually. To everyone. But … but I was scared. I already know how my mother will react. Lynn on the other hand, I was afraid she'd hate me.”
“Surely she wouldn't judge you for your relatives’ beliefs.”
“It's not that simple.” Alena froze as another wave of tears poured out. Naila stopped with her and rubbed her shoulder. “They aren't just my family's beliefs. They were mine too once!”
The sobbing wasn't letting up, so Naila found the nearest bench and walked her roommate over to it. Alena had to take her glasses off to wipe herself off. When the stream of tears finally subsided, Alena resumed her story.
“I was taught for as long as I've lived that man was created in God's image, and tinies were created in man's. They deserved the love and respect owed to all of God's creatures, but they were under no circumstances our equals. And I believed that bullshit!” Naila pulled a tissue from her purse for Alena to blow her nose with and then another for the tears. “I went to an all bigs school. I rarely even saw tinies. It wasn't until I met Heather that I started questioning my faith. She never liked my folks; she was too much of a free spirit. She taught me it was okay to be myself. She was the first person I came out to, the only person for a while.” Like an overflowing dam, Alena's face burst into more crying. Naila pulled out more tissues. “And I screamed at her to shut up, all for defending me. I'm the worst!”
“Alright, first, you and Heather are thicker than blood. She knows what you're going through and doesn't fault you in the slightest. And second, you can't blame yourself for your past beliefs. You were a child, of course you'd trust whatever nonsense your parents told you. You don't feel guilty for believing in Santa Claus, do you?”
“We didn't believe in Santa. We were told Santa was manufactured by heretical communists to trick us into worshipping Satan.”
“Jesus Christ,” Naila grumbled.
“We believed in Him.”
Naila groaned. “My point is that it doesn’t matter if a you Lynn has never met would have thought lesser of her. You clearly don't believe in any of that crap now, and that's what counts. You don't have to feel bad about where you came from. Be proud of how far you’ve come.”
“That doesn't change the fact that I hurt Lynn.” Alena stared at her hands, covered in blood as far as she was concerned.
“No, it doesn't, and you're paying the price for that. But Lynn isn't in the clear either. She didn't give you the chance to explain yourself.” Naila leaned forward and forced Alena to look her in the eyes. “Once she is ready to listen, tell her everything you just told me. Open up and be honest with her; that's all she wants. And if that's not good enough for her, then she isn't good enough for you.”
Alena chuckled. “Don't let her hear you say that. There's no one on this Earth too good for Lynn Richards.”
Naila laughed along, glad to see Alena finally crack a smile. “Duly noted. Now, let's go home. There's bound to be good horror movies on Shudder, and we're all stocked up on popcorn and M&M's. We can get our spook on during our foot baths.”
“No. Pets. Allowed. You promised.”
“Argh! Fine. But know that they're gonna be as disappointed as I am.”
******
“Welcome new recruits!” Javi greeted the next group with a flamboyant voice. His costume still felt damp, but it was dry enough to appear presentable. “I am Citizen Professor Dr. Javier Delgado, and this is my assistant, Dr. Sam Zeller.
“Hullo! Pleasure’s mine to be havin’ yuh.” This group was much like the first, two bigs, four tinies, and one Pierce decked out in his Vore Suit. Melanie departed after Sam returned to check on the upperclassmen’s exhibits, missing Javi before he made it back. Shawna gave up searching for him and Heather after their getaway and made herself scarce ever since.
“As you know, you all signed up to monitor our state of the art nuclear facility. I hope you are all prepared to bare witness to secrets so extraordinary as to rattle the mind, experiments too extreme for the public to comprehend. You two, the handsome gent and lovely lady,” he pointed up at the pair of bigs. “Could you be so kind as to step into that room over there? That will be your station. An instructional video will play upon entry.”
The bigs complied and the tinies followed Javi as he led them up the platform, going over the basic amenities offered by the fictional facility. He was ever so slightly nervous hitting each of his cues, hopeful that his impromptu plan introduced this round would pan out and leave everyone satisfied.
“… Even the slightest idiosyncrasy would spell disaster for the whole region, so it is our duty to-” As scripted, alarm sirens and blaring red lights interrupted the citizen professor’s tour, signaling the oncoming disaster.
“What’s going on, Dr. Delgado?!” Sam tugged at Javi’s sleeve and recoiled, disgusted by what they knew to be the remnants of Shawna’s digestive fluid on his coat.
A sudden outburst of maniacal cackling echoed throughout the room. Tinies clutched their ears in a vain attempt to block out the dreaded cacophony. Even the tiny committee freshmen, who had acted out this routine so many times before, were shocked by the increase in volume the second voice added.
“By Jove,” Javi uttered in disbelief. “It can’t be.”
Jackie stepped out from behind the curtain followed closely by an even more towering Tyrant. Heather crept up to the platform with the aura of a kaiju ready to make her mark on the hapless inhabitants caught in her path. It was important she give that impression through her monstrous mien because her costume was preoccupied with a different variety of heavy lifting. On their way to the escape room, she and Javi borrowed a spare uniform from the Succubus Cafe, consisting of a black tube top, matching booty shorts, and thigh-high leather boots. Twin devil horns and a pointed tail attempted to sell her as a terrifying demoness, but her exposed chest, midriff, and thighs told another story. It didn’t help the clothes didn’t fit her, the tallest waitress at the cafe a measly six foot even, but that was a problem no one else took umbrage with.
The two Tyrants made footfall on the platform, sending a truly thunderous tremor resonating through the Rumble Board. Heather’s leg straps were obscured by her boots, allowing her to join Jackie in shaking the tinies very foundations.
“What do we have here? A pack of vermin thought they could worm their way into our territory?” Jackie performed in stride, her domineering demeanor unphased by the foot and a quarter height difference with the woman standing beside her.
“How foolish. You’d think they’d realize their insignificance by now. It must be tough having a brain the size of the grime beneath my pinkie nail.” The monstrous duo strode towards the tinies, creating enough shock waves to prevent them from moving. It’d be easier for a drunken sailor to walk in a straight line across their ship’s deck than for the tinies to do the same on the wobbling floor boards.
“Don’t be so hard on them. Perhaps they’ve discovered their true calling and come to offer themselves as snacks. That’s all these mites are good for anyways.” Shaken up as they were, Sam led the tinies to towards the first station, the group tripping over themselves as they fled from their relaxed pursuers.
Javi stood frozen in awe as Heather strutted down the aisle, dominating the space alongside her enthused cohort. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, the confidence exuding from her gait stealing his attention from the game he was running. Each vibration sent up his legs was a reminder of her overwhelming presence, of the power she held over his heart.
“Come on, man! We gotta go!” Pierce had to yank at his friend’s arm to follow him to safely, the citizen professor trailing behind. It proved a difficult task for Pierce, having to ignore his girlfriend’s equally demanding presence, but repeat exposure built up the strength needed to guide Javi through this insurmountable challenge.
They slipped through the first station’s red door just as Heather’s boot slammed down to block the entrance and only exit. She was well aware she couldn’t actually step on someone in her footwear, and that Javi was untouchable until he finished the tutorial. Pierce was off limits entirely; she wouldn’t dare get between Jackie and her tasty treat of a man, especially when she was playing the ravenous monster. But none of that hampered her enjoyment, her excitement rising with every stomp, each one bringing her closer to nabbing Javi once again.
Both Tyrants circled the Styrofoam building, spewing taunts at their soon-to-be victims beneath them. The two crouched down and tapped away at the see-through ceiling like piano keys. Heather watched as Jackie licked the plexiglass fervently, now recognizing the opaque marks in it as stains from her spit. She decided she’d leave the one-way make-out sesh to the expert.
In due time, beacons lit up on a distant Styrofoam building, signaling the bigs in the side room had completed their introductory task. Heather followed Jackie towards the light, giving the tinies a chance at a clean getaway.
“I see you.” Jackie crouched down and peered through the camera on the side of the fake building, startling the bigs in the other room.
“Ooh, let me see.” Heather pushed herself into frame, two gigantic eyes overtaking the OLED screen as the ladies pressed their faces together. One big was bad enough, two were downright unsettling, watching the players as they frantically tried to get them off their backs.
“I need three numbers that equal the same thing added or multiplied,” the girl at the monitors asked her partner under the duress of the moving floor board and pair of voices booming through the speakers.
“I don’t know! Just try random numbers until you get it.” The man was studying the map, finding the most optimal points of attack. “Like 1-2-3.”
“There’s no way it’s as simple as- Oh hey, that’s right.” Automatic turrets whirred to life, shooting at the giant women and halting their assault.
“Gah! Annoying pests! Is this the best they got?” Jackie marched towards the mounted guns located opposite the direction the tinies fled towards, swatting imaginary bullets like gnats.
Sam and the others charged towards the next station while Javi and Pierce brought up the rear. The group was inches away from the door when they felt the intensifying footsteps. The boys tripped and fell as the leather tips of Heather’s boots slammed down on either side of them. The scantily clad woman loomed directly over them, her fit body stretching on past the heavens, a wry grin beaming down from the sky.
“Thought you could escape? I commend your efforts at fighting against the inevitable. It's more fun watching you squirm.” Heather's shorts grasped tightly at her crotch, pressing into the skin of her thighs and waist. The skindentation mesmerized Javi from his view from below. At his angle, he could see the bottom curves of Heather's ass spill out from her shorts. Citizen Professor Dr. Delgado was scared for his life; that's why he sat there stunned motionless, mouth agape and wide eyed.
Pierce got up and tried stumbling away, leaving his friend behind. He knew it was too late for Javi, that he lost himself to the siren's spell.
“Not so fast.” Heather bent down and pinched Pierce's sides, swiping him off the ground. “I know a special someone who's eager to play with you.” She scooped up Javi with her other hand and lifted the boys high into the air, eliminating any chance they had at escape. She dangled them over the six-foot drop, Pierce kicking the air in feigned terror. Javi remained limp, a dopey expression stuck to his face. He expected Heather to fill out that costume, but witnessing the real thing put all expectations to shame.
“Oh my, what a handsome pair you caught.” After toppling the turrets, Jackie sauntered over to the other Tyrant, straddling her to get a closer look at their quarry. “You gonna eat him? I bet he's mighty tasty.” Jackie licked her lips, leaning forward so her open mouth sat inches from the dangling tiny. She hadn't heard about Shawna’s prank during their break and wouldn't find out until later, but she had no intentions of putting Javi in her mouth anyway. He belonged to Heather just as Pierce belonged to her.
“Nah, look at him. All muscle and no fat? Too chewy. I'd rather put that body to use, and I know just the place.” Heather handed Pierce to his girlfriend and used her free hand to tug open the upper lip of her tube top. Javi's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull, the woman holding him not wearing a bra. Even Pierce and Jackie gawked at her, drawn in by her brazenness as she lowered the tiny into her top. She planted him directly atop her nipple and released the tight fabric, sealing Javi to her tit. She placed a finger on the outside of the fabric and pressed Javi into her chest, enveloping him in tit-flesh and prodding his abdomen with her nipple. Her finger pulsed as she massaged the man into her breast, purring as she felt him thrust between the firm walls of fabric and flesh. The rest of the players watched the show from the next station's doorway. The group of tiny guys suddenly lost the motivation to keep running from these giant women.
“Now that you mention it, I'm not hungry either.” Jackie held Pierce in her hands, the tiny confused by her sudden declaration. “Besides, I don't want any worms writhing around in my insides,” she lied. “They belong in the dirt beneath my feet.” She lifted her foot and untied her laces before pulling off the shoe. She brought it up to her nose, took one whiff, and gagged. “Aw, that's nasty!” Jackie shot her boyfriend a concerned look, silently asking if he was up for this.
Pierce's expression was unreadable behind the Vore Suit, so he nodded to assure his girlfriend that he was stoked for whatever she had in store for him. Jackie tilted her hand over the shoe, rolling Pierce inside. The insole was soaked in sweat from hours of stomping around, splashing Pierce upon landing. As soon as he had his bearings, he ripped the mask off his Vore Suit to breath in the putrid air unfiltered. His eyes watered and his sinuses flared, and it was nothing short of incredible. He felt the confines around him lower as Jackie returned her high-top to the floor. Pierce rolled over onto his back, waiting with bated breath for the beast to make its entrance.
Cotton-clad toes wiggled through the opening, closing off the one exit to the outside and the only source of fresh air. Darkness consumed Pierce like a theater ready to get the show on the road. Jackie's toes, a wiggling stampede, inched ever closer, eventually brushing over his body as the behemoth tucked itself inside. The ball of Jackie's foot bore down on Pierce's chest and pushed his head into the memory foam, squeezing pools of sweat out of it like a wrung out sponge. His legs fell under the slope of her arch, able to massage his toes into the soft fabric of Jackie’s sock.
Jackie stayed off that foot at first, slowly applying more pressure as she shifted her weight. Pierce's body molded into the memory foam, surrounded on all sides by dampened cushions. The Vore Suit kept him mostly dry, much to his chagrin, but his face, buried in the bottom of Jackie’s sock, got all the direct contact he desired. He was paralyzed in equal parts by the weight and musk, wholly smothered by his awesome girlfriend.
“Much better. That's exactly where you belong.” Jackie lifted her foot and slammed it back down, up and down, and she grinded her ball into the floor. Rumbling shot up through the high-top’s sole, vibrating through Pierce with every stomp. He once sat in a massage chair at an airport. This was a lot like that but with a giant, sweaty foot flattening him into a pancake. Jackie was surprised by how good he felt in there, like a squishy pebble lodged in her shoe. His excitement poking her felt particularly good, pleased to fulfill a fantasy of his after so many rounds of him fulfilling one of hers.
With the boys no longer in play, Heather and Jackie continued the game, reacting to the side room's distractions as the tiny players completed their stations. One by one, an unlucky tiny was snatched up by the women and tossed into Jackie’s fanny pack, each of them disappointed they didn't get the same treatment shown to Javi and Pierce. Sam tried their best to keep the remaining players on track, but given the Tyrant's increased coverage and the extra hurdles provided by the greater intensity rumbling, the tinies had practically zero chance of victory. Once the final player was captured, the lights all turned back on and the side room unlocked, the game ending in defeat.
“Better luck next year!” Jackie waved off the group, the tinies and bigs chatting happily despite their loss. Once all the players had left, Jackie untied her shoe and retrieved Pierce from his enclave formed in the insole. “Well, was that everything you'd hoped it to be? M-my feet don't smell too bad, do they?”
“This might be the best night of my life.” Pierce floated on cloud nine, tasting the fresh air for what felt like the first time. He imagined himself a monk on the end of his journey, having finally reached enlightenment.
“That good, huh? I think I can relate.” Jackie blew him a kiss, not interested in finding out what sour apple mixed with foot funk tasted like. “Want to go again next round?”
“You can go back to ‘eating’ me. That makes a better show for the audience, and I've been getting better at tongue wrestling.” Pierce flexed, drawing a guffaw out of Jackie.
“You won't hear me complaining, though you did feel pretty great down there. But, uh, let's get you washed up first.”
As Jackie slipped out to hit the bathroom, Heather pulled Javi out of her tube top, amused by the nipple shaped crease formed in the center of his costume.
“Lesson learned,” Javi said matter of factly. “The escape room is not balanced for two Tyrants.”
“Need me to sit out the rest of the night?”
“Unfortunately, that's probably for the best. A shame given how outstanding your debut performance was.”
“I don't mind. In fact, I was hoping to join the players in the side room for the next go.”
“That can be arranged,” Javi said smiling. “Just pretend to act surprised by all the scares, ok?”
Heather saluted. “Will do, Citizen Doctor Professor Man.” Watching Javi laugh at her dumb joke, Heather fought off the urge to kiss him again. He wasn't showing it now, but he must still be hurting from how Shawna treated him. Heather refused to take advantage of his vulnerability for her own benefit. It was important he chose to be with her of his own volition. “Thanks for cheering me up.”
“I take it my plan worked.”
Heather nodded. “I could have done with a costume that actually fit, but otherwise yeah.”
“Is that so? Personally, I think you pull off ‘next to nothing’ exceptionally well.”
Heather rolled her eyes. “You would think that, wouldn’t you? I’m sure this ensemble ranks up there with ‘nothing at all’ in your book.”
“Whoa, this is a family event!” Javi held up his hands in protest. “Talk like that will get us kicked off campus. Besides, you made pretty good use of this outfit’s pocket space.”
“You didn’t see the half of it. There are plenty more …” Heather stopped herself short. No! Don’t take advantage. “We better get the stage ready for next round,”
“Right!” Javi forgot himself amidst all the flirting. There was a tight schedule to uphold! “Put me down there, and go help Jackie reset the side room.”
“Will do.” Heather set the tiny down where he desired and walked away, glancing back every second to get another glimpse of him.
******
Justine walked out of the student center following the tiny designated pathways marked along the pavement. She couldn’t have made it that far, she thought, scanning the ground for traces of her friend. A trail of dim orange lights bordered the tiny folks’ path, like the floor lights in a movie theater, providing enough illumination for tinies to see their way and for bigs to know where not to step in the dead of night. Justine followed the path until she reached a sitting area facing the central campus lawn.
A grated, metal, shin-high awning covered rows of miniature benches looking out over the trimmed grass. These prevented passerbys from absent mindedly crushing school property with their feet or bicycle tires. Peering through the grate from her bird’s eye view, Justine spotted a tiny woman on one of the benches bawling her eyes out.
“Hey there, Lynn. I won’t ask you how you’re holding up cause, well, that’s pretty obvious.” Justine sat down on the concrete, slightly miffed at scuffing her dress but needing to get closer to the little woman. She scooted up to the awning so she was right behind where Lynn sat. “But feel free to let it all out. I’m all ears. Or you can pretend I’m not here. Whatever you need.”
“Leave me alone!” Lynn didn’t look at her friend, instead wailing into her hands and lashing out at anyone with the audacity to listen, but Justine stood her ground unflinching. “You can't fix this!”
Justine chuckled to diffuse the tension. “Trust me, I'm well aware. But if you want to fix things with Alena, I can help you sort through the emotions bouncing around up there.” Justine tapped her temple, though she wondered if “down there” would be more accurate given their relative positions.
“What's there to fucking sort through? Alena lied to me. Not only did she try to hide the fact we're dating, she then tried to hide the very act from me. No one's ever treated me this way. No one's ever had the gall to … to …” Lynn choked on her words, her thoughts spilling out alongside a steady stream of tears. “I loved her, and I made sure she knew that. And in return I’m treated like a doll to play with until family visits and then I'm buried deep in the toy chest.”
“I got the gist from Heather. Alena was keeping you a secret from her folks?” Justine wished she could sit next to Lynn on the bench, that they could talk on equal footing. It was awkward trying to console her from so high up with the awning standing between them. “That’s rough, but maybe you’re taking this too personally.”
Lynn finally turned around. Her mascara ran down her face in inky black streaks. “Excuse me?”
“You’re acting like Alena’s ashamed of you, that you’re the problem, but I’d wager Alena’s actually ashamed of herself. It’s not that she doesn’t trust you, but she is afraid to open up to you because she’s worried what you’ll think of her afterwards.” Lynn was silent. Her brow furrowed as she tried to understand what Justine was getting at. “Lynn, what was it like for you when you came out to your parents?”
“Came out? I don’t know.” The tiny thought back to her sophomore year of high school. Rebecca Silverstein was the first girl Lynn ever dated. Blond hair, thick black rimmed glasses, was way too into a popular boy band at the time, and she only laughed at unfunny jokes. “I don’t think I ever told them. I just mentioned I had a girlfriend, and nobody questioned it.”
“I figured as much. Given your whole situation, it seemed a safe bet your parents would be more accepting of non-traditional relationship dynamics.”
Lynn hopped off the bench and walked towards Justine, standing before the sitting giantess as she spoke. “Yeah, one of my aunties is a lesbian. She’s not literally my aunt, but she and her wife looked after us a bunch when Mom and Dad weren’t around. They were partly responsible for helping me discover who I am.”
“See? That’s exactly what I mean. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have an inclusive network like that growing up.” Justine held her hand out for Lynn to climb on, lifting the tiny up to her lap. “My parents accepted me when I came out, but I still raised eyebrows when I first brought a girl home. Now, I don’t have all the specifics, but it sounds like Alena never had much in the way of a support group. Not from her family at least, and that’s huge.”
“But why didn’t she tell me any of this? Why keep me in the dark?”
“Because you mean a lot to her too. She’s been conditioned her whole life to fear opening up to her loved ones, so naturally she hesitated divulging her shame onto you. And you, on the other hand, have never had to hide your feelings from anyone. It was only a matter of time before your opposing histories led you to clash.”
Lynn sat down in Justine’s palm and curled into a ball, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her chin between her knees. She stared a thousand yards beyond the woman holding her, deep in troubled contemplation. She weighed the possibility she may have been in the wrong, the unpleasant notion stinging worse than a serrated blade.
“I fucked up, didn’t I?” She sat there unmoving, unwilling to look up at the expansive face hanging over her. Her voice was weak and devoid of its usual fire.
“Your heart was in the right place, and you had every right to be upset. Alena certainly could have handled the situation better on her end.” Justine patted Lynn’s puny shoulders with her forefinger, hoping that made up for her being too big to properly lean on. “But yeah, you kinda fucked up. Alena should have been more open with you, but it sounds like you didn’t give her much of a chance. In the future, a little less hostility goes a long way in conflict resolution. Remember, Alena’s your girlfriend; she ain’t the bitch who ‘accidentally’ spilled fruit punch on your prom dress, and as such, deserves a lot more respect in an argument.”
“So, what do I do now?” Lynn looked to Justine for an answer.
“Once you’ve calmed down, you go to her and apologize.” Justine suddenly remembered who she was talking to. “You know how to apologize, right?”
The scowl finally vanished from Lynn’s face, replaced by the rare, self-deprecating smirk. “Yes, I know how to apologize, though I can’t remember the last time I have. Sixth grade, maybe? The principal forced me too after I ripped that brat Monica’s extensions out for calling my sister fat.”
“There’s the Lynn I remember.” Justine smiled. “Feeling any better now?”
“A little.” Lynn uncurled, stretching her legs out and leaning back on Justine’s palm. “I’m scared Alena hates me now. What if it’s too late to say I’m sorry?”
“Then you turn the other cheek and move on. Such is life.” Justine lowered her head to look Lynn dead in the eye. “But if Alena’s anything like the woman you always yammer on about, I don’t think you need to worry. Just be open and receptive, and I’m sure you two will work it out.”
Lynn grinned and nodded, and fought back the urge to leap off Justine’s hand and chase after her girlfriend. As desperate as she was too make things right, Lynn knew they both needed their space. There was always tomorrow when their emotions had hopefully settled down.
******
Well past the witching hour, on the precipice of dawn, Galaween reached its conclusion. All the attendees had long since vacated, leaving event organizers, faculty, and janitorial staff to begin taking down the decorations and attractions. In the case of the escape room, Beanstalk Co. employees handled much of the take down, retrieving their loaned equipment, with the rest to be handled by students and faculty the following day when classes were canceled.
With their part complete, Jackie carried Pierce outside to bring him to the tinies’ parking lot. She had changed out of her costume into a pair of jeans and a simple T-shirt, carrying her homemade costume in a bag hanging off her shoulder. Pierce had to return the Vore Suit, much Jackie’s chagrin, and shivered in his shorts in the hoodie weather of early November.
“That was so much fun! I hope we can do that again next year,” Jackie said, holding her boyfriend up to her chest as she walked.
“Same. You really killed it as the monster. Were you in theater back in high school?” Pierce huddled up to Jackie’s thumb for warmth. He didn’t want to admit he was cold, but the touch of his skin sent shivers through Jackie’s hand.
“Me on stage? Screw that.” Jackie wrapped her thumb around Pierce and squeezed slightly, enveloping him in her body heat. “I just gelled with the role. When I was young, I wanted to be a horror movie monster when I grew up.”
Pierce wasn’t sure if she meant as an actor in a movie or literally become a man-eating monster. “Either way, you stole the show. The escape room wouldn’t have been such a hit were it not for its terrifying Tyrant. Though, I’m sure it would have been better if your hapless victim actually fulfilled his role.”
“Hey, you did great. You convinced every group with your performance, and that’s what counts.” Jackie brought her boyfriend to her lips and kissed him, her breath warming him even more than her finger could. “You can bet a movie actor wouldn’t let themselves get swallowed. Unless it was Tom Cruise. Does he still do his own stunts?”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I mean it when I say I’ll let you eat me. I just need some practice first.”
Jackie cocked her head. “Practice? You mean like mouth play?”
“There’s that, but I was thinking …” Pierce looked off to the side at nothing in particular, scratching the back of his neck idly. “… There’s another way I can feel what it’s like inside you.”
Jackie stopped dead in her tracks and stared at the tiny with eyes wide. Her heartbeat pulsed loud enough for Pierce to hear, though it was drowned out by the thumping of his own. “Pierce, are you suggesting what I think you are?”
He nodded, afraid saying anything more might ruin his shot. Without a word, Jackie pulled out her phone and dialed one of her frequent contacts. Jackie spoke as soon as the dial tone cut out. “Lynn, I need the dorm to myself tonight.”
“Huh?” Lynn answered on the other end. “Jackie, wait, I-”
“Nuh-uh. You and Alena have been hogging the room for the past month. Tonight, it’s my turn.” Jackie hung up before her sister could get another word in edgewise. She looked down at her boyfriend sitting calmly in her hand, biting her lower lip in anticipation. The night was young enough, and all that rolepla-, er, performing got her worked up something fierce. With an equally hungry boyfriend in tow, Jackie took off for her dorms, practically skipping underneath the starry sky.
******
Lynn put her phone away, reeling from her “conversation” with Jackie. Her big sister never hung up on her before. “I guess I have nowhere to stay tonight. Obviously, I can’t go to Alena’s, and Heather’s not going to be accommodating, not to me.”
“In that case, you can spend the night over at my place.,” Justine said. “It’s cramped, but I’m sure I can make room for you. Naila is with Alena in their dorm anyway.”
Lynn offered a weary “Thanks. And I’m sorry about ruining your guys’ night.”
“No worries. I needed a break anyway.” Justine realized how that sounded and redirected. “Not from Naila. She’s incredible. But we’ve already had sex six times this week, and honestly, a night off is exactly what I need.”
Lynn stared up at her with mouth agape. Six times this week?! But it’s only Tuesday!
Justine read the tiny’s expression like a book and laughed. “Yeah, she’s the definition of wild. I have no idea how I keep up. Thanks again for introducing us.”
“No prob. Thanks for coming here in my time of need. You’re a great listener, better than I am.” Lynn held her fist out, and Justine reciprocated the gesture, bumping her lumbering middle finger against the puny fist.
“Never have I ever expected to hear you admit that I’m better at something than you.”
“Hey, I’m emotionally unstable at the moment.” Lynn crossed her arms. “I’m prone to say all sorts of nonsense in this state.”
“In that case, keep the compliments coming. The more I hear, the better your sleeping arrangements will be.” The two women laughed as Justine stood up, carrying Lynn off to her apartment.
******
“... and that's why they no longer let you pet the stingrays at the aquarium.” Javi laid comfortably in Heather's open palm, head resting in his hands and one leg propped over the other.
“Christ, Javi! That's wild.” Heather carried him out of the student center. Having returned the skimpy succubus costume, she once again adorned herself in her cosmic patterned dress, putting the actual starry sky above them to shame.
As they went on their way, an uncomfortable silence overtook the night. They each wanted to give the other the space to ask what they were both thinking.
“Hey, I was wondering if …” they said in tandem.
Heather chuckled. “You first.”
“No, no, you go.” Javi preferred she ask him given how impolite it'd be for him to.
“I wondered if you'd like me to give you a lift home? I figure that'd be easier for you than driving. Quicker too.”
“Oh.” That's not what he was expecting at all. Granted, it wasn't exactly the question she wanted to ask him, but she was stalwart about not taking advantage of him while he was still vulnerable. Javi sat up and took a deep breath. “Actually, I was gonna ask if I could join you tonight at your penthouse.” Heather stumbled, nearly tripping over. She held her arms out to keep Javi balanced, and managed to recover without falling. Though, with how red her face was, she almost wished she had planted it into the concrete. “I know it's rude to invite myself over like that, but you wouldn't exactly fit in my house. Plus, it'd be awkward with my parents there.”
Heather fought back a smile. “Are you sure? You've had a long night. Don't you want to go home and rest?”
“Nah, I'm still pumped up from running the escape room. There's no way I'm falling asleep anytime soon.” His grin partially faded. “Besides, I'd rather not be alone tonight.”
Heather contemplated his offer. Her answer ought to have been obvious, but a creeping suspicion ate at her conviction. “Javi, I don't want to be with you …” An untimely pause caused Javi's heart to stop beating. “... to distract you from what Shawna did. That's not fair to either of us.”
It took him a second to recover, to catch his breath. “Heather, that's not what I meant.”
“I know that. I understand that right now you want to be with me, and there's nothing I want more than to take you home with me tonight. But what about tomorrow? Once you've calmed down and gotten over the pain Shawna caused you, where will that put us? I don't want a one night stand. I'm not looking for a casual fling. If we're going to be together, I expect as much of a commitment from you as I put in myself.”
“What do you take me for, some sort of playa?” he asked all too smarmy.
Heather couldn't hold back her grin that time. “That's exactly what I take you for.”
“The only game I play is basketball. Any other conclusions you may draw from my dating habits are simply untrue.” Javi got the humor out of his system and centered himself, looking inwards to bridge the gulf between them. “I'm not using you as a distraction. Ever since you blew smoke in my face, you've been keeping your distance from me. I'm using Shawna as an excuse to get close to you again. Her prank put me through Hell, and I'll probably have nightmares for at least a week, but it was worth it to get you to talk to me again. I'm more than ready to take the leap, but if you don't believe I'm thinking straight, then I understand. If you want to drop me off at my parents’ house so I can mope around in my room all night, then so be it. Tomorrow when I call to ask you out, if you still aren’t convinced I'm committed, then I'll call again the next day, and the next, and the next, and I'll ask you every day if you want to go out with me until I receive an answer.”
Heather stood still, her lip quivering. “Is that true? Did you think I was pushing you away?”
Javi nodded. “That's the impression I got, like you were building a wall to keep me out.”
“I figured you were mad at me. You had every right to be. I … I didn't want to hurt you again.” Heather shifted around nervously. Stray thoughts bounced around her head as she tried to process everything Javi said. The whole emotional gambit blew up within her: frustration, regret, joy, hope.
“You barely hurt me the first time. It was just a little cough; it's not like I have asthma. Quit being so hard on yourself. You're more considerate than you give yourself credit for.” The two stared into each other's eyes, Javi's perfectly white teeth reflecting in Heather’s pupils. The chilled air bit at their exposed skin, but neither really felt it. They were too focused on each other.
Eventually, Heather’s lips broke out into a wry grin. “You know, my place is a lot closer than yours, and I'd like to get out of this cold weather as soon as possible. Bathing in the jacuzzi feels extra soothing this time of year, especially with company. That sound up your alley?”
“A dip into a hot bath with the woman of my dreams? It doesn't get more up my alley than that.” Heather leaned forward and kissed him, the tiny reciprocating. Any concerns she had vanished, blown away with the autumn breeze. Heather continued walking out into the night, a newfound spring in her step as she disappeared with her lover into the concrete jungle.