© Antidarius 2021
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Mushrooms
First Draft. Chapter Two.
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Day Four. Wednesday.
Summer. Location unspecified.
I was working on a client's marketing strategy into the afternoon and early evening, only taking short breaks for food or to relieve my overstimulated libido. I used all the stealth I could muster when out of my room, lest I run into Becca or April. I wasn't sure which was worse; the one I'd pissed off who had the power to turn me out of the house for good, or the one who had shown me her naked body in the shower earlier today in a blatant display of... Well, I wasn't yet sure what it was a blatant display of.
Despite my consistent re-imagining of April in the buff, I found focus easy, and so I worked on as the day slipped away. I ventured out no fewer than three separate times for food -- I was almost out of groceries and would need to go shopping soon -- and did not come across anyone, for which I was both pleased and a little disappointed, at least as far as April was concerned.
The windows in my room showed twilight hanging over the neighbourhood when I heard voices downstairs. They weren't loud, but I almost thought I could make the words out, even up in my room with the door closed. Was my hearing getting sharper? Cracking my door open a tad made all the difference; I could clearly hear Maisy and Becca down there having a conversation, in the living room if I wasn't mistaken. As far as I could tell they were chatting idly about certain elements of their days, and I was about to close my door and get back to work when Becca posed a question that made me pause.
"You
have
to tell me your secret, Maise!" Becca was enthusing. "Your hair is shining, your skin is glowing, and your butt is popping!"
Well, it was only a matter of time,
I thought ruefully.
And Becca is no fool.
"Thanks!" Maisy replied brightly. I could just imagine her bouncing slightly on her heels the way she did when receiving a compliment. It was a devastatingly cute trait she possessed. "I've been working hard at the gym and trying to eat less junk. I think it's working!"
"That's understating it," Becca said warmly. "Are you taking any vitamins or anything?"
There was the briefest of pauses before Maisy answered. "Nope! Just diet and exercise."
"Well, keep it up, girl. You're nailing it." It sounded like the conversation was winding down, but then Becca added offhandedly, "It's no wonder Brian likes you so much."
"What do you mean?" Risky for Maisy to be playing dumb. This could blow up badly. "Oh!" She exclaimed a second later as if realising the obvious. "You mean the little arrangement we have going. I figured it would come out sooner or later. I hope we're not breaking any house rules or anything?"
"Uh..." Becca hesitated, not expecting Maisy's response. "Not exactly. I was just-"
"Because," Maisy interjected, still sounding bright and happy. "I know you've always been clear on any rules we're supposed to observe, and you've always made sure a house meeting is called if anything needs to be brought up. It's what makes living here so easy."
"Right," Becca replied, having no choice really but to agree. I silently applauded Maisy.
Clever, clever.
"It's just, you know, I noticed him going into your room and I thought... Never mind." She suddenly sounded flustered and embarrassed; Maisy still had some work to do.
"Hey," she said soothingly. "Is everything alright, hun? Last thing I want to do is cause problems for anyone. Brian and I are just friends, you know. We've slept together a couple of times but we both know it's only temporary."
I hope that isn't true.
Hearing the words from Maisy's mouth hurt even though I was sure she was just saying what Becca wanted to hear right now.
"No, I'm not upset at all," Becca lied. "I was just being a curious Kelly, I suppose."
"Oh?" Maisy began innocently. "You don't have feelings for Brian or anything? Because if that's the case, I'll call the whole thing off right now."
"No!" Becca said, sounding alarmed. "Please don't! I mean, you are both consenting adults and can do what you like with each other. It's just... You know what? Never mind. Please forget I said anything, okay?"
"Are you sure you're alright, Becca?"