This is Part 6 of Vix's story. Best enjoyed after reading parts 1 to 5, so that you know the background.
***
'Good way to crank up the pressure DAD,' I said, with a sulky pout. We were doing our final set up for the mock gig, which Mum and Dad were supposed to be watching, but he had invited not only ALL The Chootes, Ed, Danny, and Lindi, but also Jemma's mum Steph, and Nikki's mum Caro.
We were shaking with nerves. Even Mads seemed a little subdued. Only Roo, older and way more experienced at playing in front of audiences, was unfazed. After all she'd toured with The Ting Tings and played in front of HUGE crowds.
'Come on Spark, if you can't play in front of us, how are you going to manage a crowded room?' He was right of course, but I just felt a little notice would have been nice.
We were all dressed up as if this were a real gig; Nikki in a pink mini dress and white heels (very lipstick-girly) Roo in that cerise bikini top I'd first seen her in, Mads in jeans, her cuban-heel boots and a leather waistcoat with nothing under it, Jemma in a black vest and a yellow mini skirt which almost revealed the tops of her black stockings (quite risque), and me, in denim shorts and a tight white crop top. We certainly looked the part, but would we sound it?
Up to now, I'd been supremely confident in our ability, but now, when we were about to put it to the test, I was full to the brim with self-doubt. Once I had the instrument in my hands and we were ready to start though, I relaxed a little.
I stepped up to the mic and voiced a very simple intro: 'Hi, we're The Zelmas. Enjoy,' and we launched into our first number, Gossip's "Standing in the Way of Control." All the band said I could do 'a pretty good Beth Ditto,' and Dad had been impressed when he heard me singing it before, so we chose it deliberately as our opener.
It was quite ambitious as a first number because it involved a lot of extreme belting, but I had noticed that my voice didn't need much warming up so I had no qualms about my ability to sing it "from cold" and, once we were actually performing, my nerves melted away, and within two or three numbers I was fully in the groove.
The gig went well; we even maintained an authentic distance from our audience by disappearing into our little lounge/tuning room for our 15-minute interval, avoiding any mingling. It wasn't something Dad was expecting, but he clearly approved of us remaining "in character."
When we came back out, I did a similar clipped intro to the one we started with; 'Hi, we're back. Enjoy.' This short intro, and the "enjoy" would later become my trademark, though I did talk more between numbers sometimes.
The gig was a roaring success. I even remembered all the lyrics, and I think it's true to say our audience were blown away. Dad was full of praise and applause. He only had one bit of constructive criticism, and that was, 'You spend a bit too much time looking at your guitar, Pet, sometimes even when you are singing. I know you don't need to do it, it's just a habit. Something to be aware of.' Hmm, I realised I did do that.
We were all abuzz. So much so that, as we were socialising, post gig, I almost forgot to observe Lindi and Caro. The first thing I noticed was that Lindi kept clear when Nikki was talking to her mum, but when Nikki went to sit down with Jemma, Lindi returned to Caro's side. They definitely behaved like a couple, but a covert couple. I found this a fascinating thing to contemplate. Little did I know that all doubt was about to be removed.
I was sitting on the couch with Roo, watching how Danny was looking all shy as he talked with Steph, when I realised Caro and Lindi were missing. At first, I thought they had maybe made a sneaky exit and gone home, but I looked out of the window and both their cars were still there. Had they gone to the downstairs bathroom? Together? I went for a pee, but there was no sign of them. How odd.
Instead of returning to the living room, I turned left, down the corridor that led out to the studio. I crept surreptitiously through the door. I'm not sure why, I must have sensed I was about to disturb them. I looked around. No sign of anyone. Then I heard a moany gasp from the tuning room. I tiptoed across and peered through the glass vision panel in the door, being careful to keep out of sight, and what I saw made my breath catch in my throat.
Caro was reclining on one of the sofas, skirt pulled up around her waist, legs wide apart, and Lindi was kneeling on the floor, eating her pussy! Caro's knickers hung loosely around one leg and her hands were clutching Lindi's hair as she tried desperately to stay quiet.
I felt a pang of irrational jealously.... that was MY Lindi. Oh, what wouldn't I have given to change places with Caro at that moment? I continued to watch them, voyeuristically, until Caro's twitchy thrashing told me she was coming. She bit on a knuckle to stifle her moans, but a desperate little whimper escaped.
God, I was so turned on. These two older women, both worthy subjects for my fantasies, were having torrid illicit sex, and I was privileged to watch. I unbuttoned my shorts and slipped my hand inside...
Caro's orgasm had subsided, and Lindi stood and undid her trousers, pushing them down, along with her knickers, taking one leg out so she could climb up over Caro and straddle her face. I was treated to a view of Lindi's perfect bum and Caro's tongue working feverishly between her legs, slurping her pussy lips, which looked deliciously fleshy, just as I had imagined them.
FUCK! I was just on the brink of coming when a soft voice said 'Hey babe, whatcha doin?' It was Roo, come to look for me. I turned and put a finger urgently to my lips -- a wet finger, as it happens -- and she crept over to me. I looked back through the glass, but they'd heard us and were hurriedly trying to re-clothe themselves.
Roo looked over my shoulder and said 'Oh...' I decided I wanted them to know I'd seen, so before their clothing was fully rearranged, I pushed the door open and walked in. They were both ruffled and flushed bright red with embarrassment, making them look even more appealing, somehow. Jeez, I could have fucked both of them, there and then.
Roo followed me in and we stood, hands on hips, looking at them with smirks on our faces. 'So, in flagrante delicto!' I said wickedly.
'Oh, God, sorry Vix... how much did you see?' said Lindi.
'Everything. I saw everything, and it was lovely.'
Lindi laughed, a little strangely, but Caro looked at the floor. She wouldn't make eye-contact at all. I felt kinda sorry for them. I didn't want them to feel like this. They'd done nothing wrong. A little illicit and furtive maybe, but not wrong.
'Let's have a seat,' I said, gesturing to the sofas. Roo and I took one, and Lindi and Caro the other. 'We already suspected you two were getting it on,' I said. 'Since you told Mads you were having "a lot of fun." I didn't expect to catch you at it in our tuning room, but the fact you are having sex is not a surprise.'
'Does everybody know?' Lindi asked, looking pained.
'I don't know that, but Mads, Roo and I suspected it, and Jemma and Nikki think it's possible.'
'Nikki knows,' said Caro, 'she tackled me about it a few days ago and I didn't deny it. Lindi looked glum. 'I think she's a bit shocked and disappointed in me.'
'Why?' said Roo, 'you and Nikki are both grown women. You shouldn't have to live your life by her rules, I know my mam doesn't live by mine.'
'I know, but...'
Lindi cut in -- 'Truth is, it's not a new thing. We were physical with each other way back in college, and even while Caro was married. Were together. We've always been together.'
Caro smiled at her weakly. 'It was doing it while I was married to Tom that was wrong, I suppose.'
'Nah, can't see it,' said Roo. 'Obviously, Lindi was giving you something he wasn't.'
Yeah, pussy, I was thinking mischievously, but I managed to keep my mouth shut.
'Anyway, this nice little encounter can remain our secret if you want,' I said, 'but I don't really think you need to keep your relationship completely under wraps.'
'No. It's bound to get out I suppose, said Caro, 'Tess has known for years, and now Nicola and you lot know about it, it's bound to spread. I think it's probably time to get it out in the open.'
'Let's do it,' said Lindi, smiling, and she stood and held out her hand to Caro. We walked back through to the house, where everyone was suddenly clamouring to know where we'd been.
'Oh, just chillin in the studio,' I said, being a little economical with the truth. Roo and I moved aside and let Lindi and Caro stand, holding hands, in the middle of the room.
'Caro and I have something to tell you all,' Lindi began. 'I know some of you might already have your suspicions, but we want to end the speculation. Yes, were together, a couple. It's not something we want to hide anymore. We love each other.'
Danny and Ed looked a little ill at ease, looking around for other people's reactions, but no-one seemed especially surprised. Mum was the first to step forward to hug them both, quickly followed by Dad. 'Congratulations, you two,' said Mads raising her glass, and Dad took a cue from that.
'A toast.' He waited 'til everyone had a glass, then continued, 'To Lindi and Caro, cos love should always be celebrated.' We all repeated and took a swig, then he continued... 'And a second toast...to The Zelmas'
'The Zelmas'
***
'And they were actually doing it?' Mads asked, wide eyed.
'Yep. Knickers down, full on oral sex.'
We had returned to the cottage and were cooking dinner, and I was explaining my discovery in the tuning room, because Mads had suspected that what happened in the studio had somehow precipitated Lindi's announcement.
'Wow, and did you just walk straight in on them?'
