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Acknowledgements: Much thanks to my editor for putting in all her time and effort.
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Our bodies were roughly entwined, hands groping greedily at each other.
"Kiss me."
I leaned my head forward in response. As our lips met, I closed my eyes tightly, focusing on the sensations of the kiss. I knew it was a dream, but like most dreams I just followed the action mindlessly. Suddenly, everything disappeared in a flash of white.
Bright light seeped through my eyelids as I woke with a start. My curtains had been drawn wide open, letting the sunshine invade my room mercilessly.
"Wha...?" I stammered, trying to get my bearings. The dream had evaporated in an instant, leaving just a quickly fading afterimage.
"Good morning, Sharrrron!" a voice sang, rolling the r's. "Wake up sleepyhead!"
"Gawd fuck off Nat! Geez what fucking time is it?"
"Aww don't be like that! I made you breakfast!" Nat announced in that slightly irritating singsong.
I perked up, or my stomach did, at the mention of food. Peeking through half-open eyelids, I saw the tray Nat held. There were two eggs, over easy the way I like it, and some crisp bacon. There was also a curiously chunky glass of orange juice. Nat followed my gaze as I was puzzling over it.
"Oh, I squeezed the O-J myself! Aren't you proud?"
I hesitated. "Um, is that a peel in there?"
"So picky! The fiber's good for you! Or something! Well, nobody's perfect ya know," she finished petulantly, putting on one of her best pouts. I've seen boys do ridiculous things for her when she makes that face. I was immune to it luckily.
"You think this makes up for yesterday? Your niece is one helluva whiny bitch. Next time you should take her out."
"Look, I'm sorry, I really didn't want to leave you with her, but I just couldn't miss the meeting yesterday. They're our biggest client. We have to give them the whole day. You know how it is." Nat put on a pained face. Her face was incredibly mobile, and you could usually read her face like a street sign. No wonder the boys always thought they could trick her into bed. Not that she needed tricking.
"No, I should be saying sorry. You know I'm a grumpy bitch in the morning."
"Oh? Just in the morning?" She grinned wickedly. I wasn't ready for jokes yet, so I just stared at her until she looked away and her cheeks reddened. She looked so innocent like that, but I knew she had done things that would make most of her boyfriends blush. It struck me that I was thinking of Nat and her numerous partners for the third time in a minute. I guess I was still feeling horny from my dream. My cheeks burned at the half-remembered sensations. Nat looked awkwardly at the floor, afraid to speak up.
Oh right, I was apologizing, I remembered.
"I promised last week I would take your fucking niece out so there's no reason I should be such a cunt about it. Especially since it's over now. You could've warned me, though."
"I know, I know. But wow, you're cursing up a storm today. I hope you weren't like that with my niece. She has delicate ears."
I sighed. "I was good, I swear."
Nat nodded in approval. "Great! Now eat up! I got the day all planned out."
I was still pretty exhausted, so I just concentrated on downing the eggs and juice, leaving her to ramble on. Her words lost meaning, becoming a tuneless sort of elevator music. Being tremendously thirsty for some reason, I forgot about the peel hiding in the juice until I choked on it. My sputtering interrupted her mid-sentence.
"And then, we can hit that store with the sale on - hey, are you all right?" Nat gave me a concerned look. I figured this was as good an opening as any.
"Look, I appreciate your big plans, but I'm worn out. Maybe I'll finish that book. Eat the rest of that bucket of ice cream. Watch some crappy weekend TV. Take it easy. Yeah?"
Also, your plans always end up half-assed, I said mentally. She frowned at me, staying uncharacteristically silent. Her brow furrowed in concentration as if she were trying to make a decision. I think a whole minute ticked by before I started feeling uncomfortable.
"Um Nat?..." I started tentatively, trailing off.
I tried again. "Nat, what are you look-"
"Okay! I've decided!" she interjected. She nodded vigorously as if she were convincing herself. "You're right, of course, you know best. We'll call everything off!"
I realized I had been holding my breath. I let it go in a relieved sigh.
"Except! I still owe you, ya know, so please accept your invitation to the Patented All-NAT-ural World-Famous Full-Body Massage!"
I hesitated. "I don't want - I don't know, Nat. Don't you need a license for that or something?"
"I don't," she replied. "All my customers say I'm the best!"
She did have a lot of customers, even before she got a part-time job at that massage parlor. I frowned as I remembered the people she brought to our apartment. A lot of them were just trying to get in her pants. But seeing her beam with confidence, I didn't have the heart to say anything.
I sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning and finished up my breakfast. I hope she doesn't break my spine, I thought.
---------------------------------------------------
Walking into the living room, I announced, "Okay, I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
She was bent over, setting up the table. I could see her thong and the entire length of her long legs due to her ridiculously short skirt. She does have a nice butt to show off, I admitted silently, though I rolled my eyes at the sight. Wait, I thought, she had been wearing sweats and a t-shirt when she burst into my room.
"You didn't have to dress up just for me. Or undress, more like."
She looked at me pityingly.
"Weak, Shar. So very weak." She pronounced it "Cher," like the singer.
"You're right, that was lame. And you do look good. Only a little slutty." Her top was a surprisingly tasteful blouse with some pretty patterns on the sleeves and along her neckline.
"You really think so? You CAN be nice sometimes!"
She giggled at herself while she locked the table into place.
"Okay, done!"