*Anyone can be who they want to be; the challenge is being who you need to be*
(Frontma delivered on several chapters this time so I can get them out to you soon. I thank her for spending all this time with me on this project)
(Surprisingly there is no actual sex in this chapter, though things get close on more than one occasion)
(Yes, this tale is supposed to be somewhat humorous and outrageous too. While not always comedic I'd like to think it is mostly a good-natured romp.)
My journey to the Dining Hall this Wednesday was enlivened by carrying, bridal style, a sophomore named Courtney while playing out a scene from Tristan and Isolde. I had Rhaine, Joy, and Mercy as escorts/minders, but Rhaine was now defining her responsibility as keeping me from misbehaving, not stopping me, and the other students from having fun.
Tristan and Isolde was some kind of chick-flick taken from a Wagnerian play so technically it wasn't on the 'banned' list. With me was the added bonus that it wasn't homo-erotic (being a guy in a romantic relationship with a girl β in the play) and that I could actually carry Isolde in my arms.
A larger than normal crowd had gathered for my dutiful performance and while I generally received rave reviews, I did catch a few girls talking about redoing the skit with a Sampson and Delilah theme. I pledged to avoid girls with shears like the plague. We bunched up around one of the entrances to the Dining Hall as I finished our script and carefully placed her back on her feet.
Among the scattering of applause and the press of bodies, I felt Mercy stumble into me. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open in surprise, and her breathing was coming in ragged gasps. My answer came when I looked over her shoulder and saw Rio, looking very casual but pumping her arm rapidly against Mercy's back.
When we got into the food line, Rio smirked and began sucking her forefinger which was sticky and slick.
"Seriously...in the middle of the crowd? You just couldn't resist?" I teased her.
"Next I'm sticking in the butt plug," she whispered in a conspiratorial manner. "I have it in my book bag and I'm jumping her after BA. Do you want to help?"
"I'd rather face dismemberment than break Iona's schedule," I sighed quietly.
"Some He-Man you are," she giggled. "You'll go five rounds with Gorman but Iona has you pussy-whipped."
"If I have to go, I could hardly pick a better woman," I responded, and wrapped an arm around Iona's waist and rested my hand on her hip.
"Yes, Zane?" Iona looked up at me with an exotic combination of innocence and genius.
"Rio reminded me how lucky we are to have you with us," was my answer.
"Oh, that's nice," Iona beamed up at me. "I thought it had something to do with Rio putting her hand under Mercy Chaplain's skirt." I chuckled and Rio grumbled.
"I have glasses," Iona stated, "I'm not blind."
"Did anyone else notice?" I inquired.
"No. I think Rio was pretty smooth, but if experience has taught me anything, it is Rio who is going to be the troublemaker, not you, Zane," Iona stated calmly. "I was paying attention to her."
"Oh, Cordelia wanted to know if you could come by the Science Club today around two-thirty and help us with a little problem we are having," Iona inquired.
"What's the problem?" I asked.
"Why didn't Cordy ask him herself?" Rio questioned.
"I don't know the answer to either of those questions," Iona admitted.
"It is illegal, illicit, and off the record," Rio pronounced.
"No, it is not," Iona battled back.
"Trust me, I've done my share of things I didn't want the authorities to know about and this stinks of that kind of stunt," Rio explained.
"I'll be with Zane; nothing will happen. Besides, we are the Science Club, not an international criminal syndicate," Iona told Rio.
"I'll be okay," I promised Rio. On the other hand, the Science Club wasn't all flowers, bells, and puppy dog tails.
They hacked the school's computer systems, had illegal internet hook-ups, and were re-wiring a dorm floor for my personal pleasure...and Rio's criminal instincts were more often right than wrong. We were able to get our seats and enjoy most of breakfast before Iona nudged me.
"Don't you ever answer your messages?" Iona inquired.
"I have them all automatically forwarded to you," I countered. "It seemed like the sanest thing to do."
"But you don't even know what's going on in your life," she worried.
"Darling, I have you to keep me from falling off the face of the Earth. I trust you to keep me on an even keel. Besides, someone hacked my phone yesterday so I'm not sure how safe I would be without you," I enlightened her.
"Someone hacked your phone?" Iona gasped. "Any idea who?"
"Cordelia; she put herself at the top of my Handmaiden's list. I didn't mind, but the fact that she did it means it could be done," I told her. Iona shot an angry glare in Cordelia's direction.
"Don't worry about it, Iona," Rio joked. "Have you known anyone to mess with Zane and not pay for it eventually?"
"That doesn't mean I like it," Iona kept glaring. I tapped her shoulder, then led her gaze to me by tugging on her jaw.
"Let it go. In the social hierarchy, we are freshmen, despite any accomplishments. Trust me, I know: There are some fights you don't get into until you are ready. Cordelia likes you because you are useful but don't try her patience too far or she'll break you."
"I don't like it. This is high school all over again," Iona grumbled.
"The major difference," Rio pointed out, "you have a sick psycho like me and a stud like Zane who have your back. We've left you alone once and that was only in hopes you would get out from under the hammer that was falling on us."
"Oh, we were told about your conversation with the Chancellor. I liked what you said," I told her thoughtfully, "but I believe Rio and I could have done it better."
"Who would you have quoted?" wondered Iona. I exchanged a fanatical look with Rio.
"THIS IS SPARTA!" we shouted in unison, "and then we would have kicked her desk out the window," I added.
Iona sighed, looked down at her tray, and grinned while half the dining hall gazed our way.
"You two are nuts," she chuckled.
"Ninja Urban Terrorists," Rio and I declared together, "that's us." The rest of breakfast passed without incident or too much humor.
It is not the Distance; It is the Weight on your Back
Getting out looked to be a bit less friendly as Rhaine, Joy and Mercy added two other girls to their entourage.