----- Confrontation, Wednesday night

I slammed the door on my inside the house.

"Hey! What's going on?" Julie demanded.

"Nothing!"

"Okaaay."

"Are you alright?" Cindy asked.

"I'm fine, Cindy. Just fuckin' fine! Where's Zoe?"

"I'm right here, Sam."

"Hi Zoe. How are you?"

"Uh, fine?"

"I see your stuff came today. Did you have a good day?"

"Yes, Sam."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Everyone else stayed away. They could sense I was mad. Burning mad.

"Why are you being nice to me like this after slamming the door? You're scaring me."

"Everything's fine, Zoe. Would you like to take a little ride with me?"

"Now?"

"Yes."

"No."

"Trust me. Please."

"Will it be ok?"

"Yes. I promise."

"Ok."

"Tell Erin I'll be back soon." I said, then Zoe and I left.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see. It's not far."

"Why?"

"It'll become clear soon."

We parked and I knocked on the door.

"Hi, Sam! It's nice to see you. What brings you here?"

"Hi, Ms. Thompson. Is Jill in?"

"She is. Please, come in. And I told you before, call me Mom."

"Ok Mom. This is Zoe. Can you tell Jill that friends are here to see her. Don't tell her it's me."

"Okay. You can wait in the living room." she said. "Jill! You have friends over."

"Coming mom."

"What's ..."

"Hold that thought, Zoe."

Jill walked into the living room and froze.

"Hi, Jill. Long time no see. Mom, can we be alone for a few moments?"

"Oh sure. Can I get you two something to drink?"

"Maybe later, not now."

"Ok, then. I'll be back in a little bit."

"Thanks. So how have you been Jill?"

"Fine." she said. She wasn't looking so fine though.

"You know Zoe here, right?"

Zoe looked at me funny.

"Oh I forgot. Where are my manners? Let me do a proper introduction. Jill, this is Blackmouse. Zoe, this is Darknose14."

I could see the blood drain from Jill's face. Are you familiar with the term white as a ghost? You would be if you saw Jill at this moment.

Zoe, on the other hand, was just the opposite. Her face was red and I literally felt the heat coming off of her face and neck.

Jill's hands were shaking. "I'm sorry." she said with a quivering voice.

Zoe started to walk toward Jill but I grabbed her by the arms.

"No, Zoe. It isn't worth it."

"Sam. Do you know how I feel right now?"

"Do you know how I feel? She's my lover's sister. I even loved her as my own."

"Samantha killed herself over what she did."

"I know. What do you have to say for yourself, Jill?"

Jill was sobbing.

"What was going through that head of yours?" I asked.

"I don't know." she said.

"You knew about this all along, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"You played me like you didn't know. You could have told me all about Samantha, but you didn't did you."

She was silent.

"YOU DIDN'T, DID YOU!!?"

"No."

"How ... just how could you?"

"I was young."

"Two people are dead because of you, Jill."

"Two?"

"Samantha and the baby." Zoe said. "You and that shitstain Marlene had her abort it. And it was those memories that drove Samantha mad. ,sMAD ENOUGH TO KILL HERSELF!"

I had to hold Zoe back again. She was steaming.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"I hope you're happy now." Zoe said. Now Zoe was crying. My eyes were wet too.

"Did you really think you could keep this a secret, Jill?" I said.

"I don't know."

"How long? How long were you not going to tell me that you talked Samantha into getting me into bed, to give me the virus? Huh?"

"I don't know!"

"Never. Isn't that right?"

"Yes. I was scared."

"Why did you do it?"

She didn't answer.

"Did you think it was funny?"

No answer. I had to stop and breathe.

"Look, Jill. I ..."

I couldn't finish.

"This is not over. There's more to be said. If we stay here now though it'll just get worse. I want to talk to you later, ok?"

"Ok." she squeaked.

"Friday. I want to see you after I sing. Be at my house Friday night." I said with a very commanding voice.

"Ok."

"We need to go, Zoe."

Jill walked to the coffee table and put the keys to the pickup down onto the table top.

"Here, Sam."

I looked down at them. "No. You need to get to the clinic. Keep it."

As we were leaving I met up with mom.

"You heard?" I asked her.

"Yes. I don't understand."

"Jill will tell you."

"I hope everything's ok, Sam."

"Thanks, it will be. Just right now I'm ... I'm going to leave. We'll be back. Oh, and please, come over to see us this weekend."

"Ok, Sam."

"Bye now."

When we got back into the car I had to take a few breaths.

"I don't know, Zoe. Maybe it was wrong for me to bring you but I thought you needed to do this: to confront Jill face to face. I know I couldn't wait to."

"No, it was the right thing, Sam. I don't think I can ever forgive her though."

"Well, I'm going to have to think that over. Let's go home."


----- Even more revelations

When we got back Julie was worried.

"Sam, is everything ok? Mom called."

"We need to talk. Now. In my office. Zoe will you help me, please?"

"Ok."

"Sorry, Cindy. I'll tell you about it after I talk to Julie."

We sat in the office.

"I love you, Julie."

"I love you too, Sam. What's wrong?"

"First, I need to calm down and get something off my chest."

"Ok."

"Sunday, when Zoe said I saw her naked."

"Yes."

"She said it was when her dress fell hanging inverted."

"I remember."

"That wasn't the first time."

"Ok."

"The first time was on the plane."

"Zoe was naked on the plane?"

A smile formed on Zoe's face.

"She dragged me into the bathroom."

"I couldn't reach the handle, Julie." Zoe said. "Sam had to lock it for me."

"You dragged Sam into the bathroom with you?" Julie asked holding back a smirk. "That must have been something to see."

"It wasn't really because she wanted me to lock the door, Julie."

"Yes, it was." Zoe rebuked.

"There was more to it."

"Go on." Julie prompted.

"You know how the meds work?"

"Yes."

"Well, Zoe hadn't been with her lover for a while."

"So..."

"So she lifted her dress, took her underwear off and I went down on her."

"I see. When were you going to tell me this?"

"I never had the chance until now."

"I offered to return the favor, Julie." Zoe said. "But he wouldn't let me."

"How chivalrous of him."

"So I jerked him off instead."

"I'm glad you didn't just leave him hanging, Zoe."

"Well, he was hanging afterwards."

Julie laughed.

"Her panties are probably still on the plane." I said. Julie laughed some more. "Now, when were you going to tell me about Tee?"

"Tee? Uh, ... I never had the chance until now."

"So?"

"It was really Sharon's idea. Tee wanted you, Sam."

"What happened Tuesday night last week?"

Julie's face turned red.

"We, um, slept together."

"You, Sharon and Tee?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Now that we got all of that out of that way we need talk about Jill."

"Go ahead."

"Jill is darknose14."

"Who?"

"She's the one that talked Samantha into sleeping with me."

"How do you know?"

"I don't want to get into it all right now."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Why did she do that?"

"I don't know. Go ask her. Maybe she thought it was funny."

"I can't believe she would do such a thing."

"Ask her yourself. I'm not going to argue."

"So, she's responsible for you catching the virus from Samantha?"

"Yes. There's more. Something I haven't told you yet."

"What?"

"Samantha was pregnant."

"That's right, Julie." Zoe added. "Samantha was pregnant with Sam's baby."

"Oh my, what happened?"

"Jill and others convinced Samantha to abort the pregnancy." I replied.

"Jill did that?"

"Partly. Others too, Julie."

"What about you, Zoe?"

"Not me. I tried all I could to stop it."

"And you, Sam?"

"I had no idea until last week. Zoe got jealous of me since Samantha was seeing me for so long and convinced her to break it off. Remember, I told you Samantha disappeared from my life?"

"Yeah."

"That was Zoe's doing. I had no contact with Samantha or Zoe after that. Nobody knew she was pregnant back when she left me and I never found out until last week."

"You wanted her to keep the baby, Zoe?"

"It was so much more to it than that." Zoe said.

"What do you mean? How can there be more?"

"I'm sorry, Sam. I lied to you. Well, just a little."

"What did you lie about?" I asked.

"It wasn't that I was jealous of you being with Samantha. I was jealous that it was her and not me."

"I don't understand." I said.

"I stalked you. Remember?"

"Yeah."

"And I fell in love with you."

"But ..."

"I know, I'm a lesbian. I should have told you before, Sam, but since we're laying it all out now I should get this out too. Sorry, Julie."

"This was a few years ago?" Julie asked.

"Yep."

"I had no idea." I said.

"I know you didn't. Before I realized that I was a lesbian I had dated guys, you know. Lots of them."

"You told me that."

"In high school I always wanted a guy like you, Sam. And the first time I had realized that wasn't until I was checking you out in college."

"You wanted me?"

"Well, yes. And no. I mean you were a guy."

"Right. I mean, like yuck." I said sarcastically.

"But I always wanted a baby, a child to raise. I wanted your baby. Maybe I wasn't so hyped up on the idea of sex with a guy, but if I had to then it would have been you, Sam."

"I don't know what to say."

"But it was Samantha who got pregnant and with your child too. The one I wanted."

"I can't imagine how you felt."

"I was actually ecstatic about the whole thing."

"Yeah?"

"I was going to have your child to raise, Sam. It would have been beautiful. It wouldn't have been totally mine but if Samantha and I got married then it would have been ours together. Don't you see?"

"I think I do, Zoe."

"And Marlene fucked it all up! Jill too!"

"I'm just so sorry to hear that."

"The abortion, ever since then, was a strain on our relationship. Yet, everyone thought it was so funny. Everyone in the guild. That includes darknose. But not me."

"I can't believe my sister is responsible for all of this."

"She's not totally responsible, Julie." I said. "I have to bear some responsibility myself."

"Why you?"

"I didn't have to fall for Samantha."

"Sam," Zoe continued, "no offense here, but you didn't stand a chance against Samantha."

"I'd like to think I did, Zoe."

"Don't believe him, Julie. But I will tell you something I told him."

"What's that?"

"Samantha and I didn't stand a chance against Sam either."

"I see. So, what now?"

"I have absolutely no idea what to do about Jill, Julie." I said.

"I knew there was something about you and her, Sam."

"What?"

"I could never put my finger on it. I used to think she hated you. Then I thought she loved you. Now ... I don't know. It's just so, overwhelming. She did this to hurt me."

"You don't know that."

"I will find out."

"Well, I need some time to think this all over. And Zoe, I'm sorry for everything."

"So, now you know how I really feel about you, Sam. How do you feel about me?"

"I ... admire you. I told you that before because you wanted the baby. I still admire you, probably more than anyone. Isn't it funny that you're the smallest person I know, yet the one I admire the most? I'm not sure how I feel right now; I'm still waiting for another surprise."

"I really do love you."

"You're something I wasn't expecting."

"All this about Jill, and now Zoe; I think I'm going to be sick." Julie said.

"Please don't be upset with Zoe."

"I'm not. We've been through a lot the past year, Sam."

"I know. We can survive this."

"I really want to."

"Good. I want to also."

"I can't blame Zoe. But Jill ..."

"Don't be mad at her either. Not yet. Not until we find out more about why she did this. Besides, there's enough disappointment from Zoe and I over Jill for the whole world."

"I will have a talk with that girl."

"Wait until I talk to her first. I don't know what I'm going to say yet, but let me have a first shot."

"What about me, Sam?"

"You'll have your chance too, Zoe. But I want to first? She hurt us all but I think I was hurt most directly."

"Ok. Sure, Sam. I'm sorry to spill all this on you in front of Julie, but I thought it would be best this way."

"It's ok, Zoe. You're right. It's best."

"This is a lot to think about." Julie said.

"We should sleep on it first before making any choices about Jill."

"That's a good idea, Sam."

"We should tell the others too. Not the whole story of course, but we still need to tell them."

"What do you want to leave out?"

"The baby. I'll tell Erin about it, but later in my own way. Alright?"

"Sure."

"Ok. let's go."

We walked out of the office together. Poor Erin looked worried since she didn't get to see me since we got back.

"Something's wrong, isn't it, Sam?"

"No, Erin. Not really."

"What happened?"

"I found out some things that I didn't know before. But knowing oftentimes makes us that much more miserable. I'm miserable."

"I'm sorry, Sam."

"Don't be, Erin. I have to apologize to you instead. I'm not going to be much fun tonight and I promised you fun."

"It's ok."

"I'll make it up to you."

"Are you going to tell me about it?"

"It's about Jill."

"Is she ok?"

"She is. She let me down though."

"How?"

"She convinced Samantha to sleep with me to give me the virus."

"Jill did that?"

"Yes, Erin."

"If she didn't convince Samantha then you wouldn't have the Borg?"

"No, I'm sure I wouldn't, Erin."

"That bitch."

"Don't pass judgement yet until we've heard her side."

"Well, that stinks. Come here, Sam."

Erin picked me up and brought me to the couch. She hugged me tight and wouldn't let me go; not even for Julie.

"She's not my friend anymore."

"Erin, if this didn't happen we wouldn't know Cindy or Zoe or any of my other friends."

"We wouldn't?"

"No, we wouldn't."

"So?"

"So, there's always a bright side. Don't be too mad at Jill."

"I'll try not to."

"Good. Everyone, I invited Jill over here Friday night after singing at Mike's."

"You invited her here?"

"More like commanded."

"Why?"

"I told you: we need to hear her side."

They all reluctantly agreed. The phone rang and it was Sharon. She heard from Jill and was worried. I had to tell her an abbreviated version of the story. We were worried that Jill might do something rash so we decided that it would be good if Sharon went over to see her. I'd feel better with Sharon there.


----- Wednesday night

"You didn't have to tell me all of that earlier, Zoe?"

"It seemed to fit the occaision. Are you fully weirded out yet?"

"Oh yeah. What about you? Are you going to be ok, Zoe?"

"Yeah, I'm just really mad. I could use a drink."

"No, you can't use a drink. You WANT a drink."

"You're not my mother."

"True. But someone has to say it."

"You know that won't stop me."

"What if I said please?"

"Maybe it'll work some other time. Julie will you help me in the kitchen?"

"Why?"

"I need you to reach the glasses."

Julie looked to me. I shrugged.

They went to the kitchen, Zoe came out with a bottle of bourbon and Julie was carrying two glasses with ice.

"Where did you get that?" I asked.

"The truck came today."

"And you went through all that stuff just to get your booze?"

"I knew which box it was in and made sure that it didn't get put in the pod. I also grabbed a couple other boxes with clothes. Wanna join me?"

This time I looked to Julie. She shrugged.

"You already knew I would have a drink, didn't you?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Julie has two glasses in her hands."

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

"What the hell, why not?"

"Anyone else want to join us?" Zoe asked.

Julie went to get some wine and the other three -- Julie, Erin and Cindy -- enjoyed wine while Zoe and I had the hard stuff.

"Come sit next to me, Sam." Zoe asked. Erin reluctantly let me go and Zoe and I were sitting on the floor up against the wall while the others sat on the couch. Zoe leaned against me and I put an arm around her shoulders.

"Erin?" I asked. "You were friends with Jill the past few years, right?"

"Friends, but not close. We didn't talk much until recently."

"I see. Sharon was her friend for a long time though."

"She was." Julie answered.

"Do you think any of Jill's friends knew about this?"

"I doubt it."

"Zoe? What was it like when they were discussing all this about me within your so-called guild?"

"Samantha told the group about her virus. We didn't believe her. The guild knew that her and I were in Arizona and darknose, Jill, of course, knew Sam was in Arizona -- at Drumford. Sam and I were the only ones to tell all the others in the guild where we lived. Our theory was that darknose resided in Arizona. We were wrong."

"I suppose nobody knew anyone's real name in the guild, right?"

"No. Just Samantha and I."

"So, Jill wouldn't have known that grinder8 was Samantha?"

"Not unless she would have told Jill in a private chat, but I was usually part of all that."

"Go on, Zoe." I said.

"Well when everyone knew about this -- you have to remember I was going to school there -- things started heating up when Samantha was dared to give you the virus. Darknose suggested it and every thought it would be fun."

"Fun? I must have been the butt of all of your jokes, huh?"

"Kind of. We didn't make jokes, we made plans."

"And you went along with this?"

"No, but Samantha got it in her mind to do this. I don't know why. And when I couldn't talk her out of it I had to make sure it was safe for her."

"And that's why you stalked me?"

"Yes. You were pretty easy."

"Easy?"

"When darknose, I mean Jill, described you as a shrimp and once we knew your class schedule, it was easy to pick you out."

"I can imagine."

"Remember when you knocked on my door last week?"

"That first time? I sure do: you slammed the door in my face."

"I hardly recognized you. You were so much different than I remember."

"How so?"

"You were a lot bigger than I remember."

"No, not really."

"To me you were."

"Am I scarier now?"

"If you mean because you're bigger, no. Others being bigger are scary. But not you. Maybe my subconscious told me that it was you, but I shut the door anyway when I actually realized who you were."

"You opened it back up when I made that deal with you."

"What deal?" Julie asked.

"She asked how I found her and I said I would tell her if she opened the door again. I thought it was pretty lame at the time, but that's all I could think of."

"But," Zoe said, "I opened the door anyway."

"Much to my surprise."

"How did you find her, Sam?" Erin asked.

"A guy at school who worked in the admin offices gave me her address. What was his name? Don, I think."

"It's Donny." Zoe corrected.

"Yeah, that's it."

"He's Marlene's brother."

"Who's Marlene?" Erin asked.

"She's the one, uh, I mean, she used to be our friend." Zoe answered.

"She used to be?" Cindy then asked.

"Long story. Let's just say I hate her now."

"Why?"

"I used to go out with her. Again, long story, ok?"

"Ok. Sore subject. I understand."

"Do you remember the big blue, Sam?"

"The one where I met Samantha?"

"Yeah."

"Vaguely."

"She took you home. I mean literally; she picked you up and carried you to my dorm room."

"That was your room? I thought it was hers."

"She didn't go to college. I let her use it. I had to convince my roommate to stay away."

"How did you do that?"

"Blackmail."

"I think we only spent one night there. Then we went to her apartment all the other nights."

"And you didn't get suspicious about that either."

"You're right. I was too wrapped up into actually meeting and sleeping with a girl. I wasn't thinking straight."

"You can say that again. You still don't remember meeting me, do you?"

"Hmm ..." I said as I studied Zoe's face for a few moments. "No. I'm sorry, Zoe, I don't."

"I was a head taller than you."

"I figured. But I still can't place you."

"It doesn't matter." she said. She seemed a little disappointed that I didn't remember her.

"I must have been hungover the whole week from the big blue. I'm sure that's why I don't remember you, Zoe."

"I can vouch for that." Cindy interjected. "The booze flowed freely there. People threw up and peed all over the place. I remember stumbling over some girl outside who was against the wall of one of the buildings outlining the quad. It was the afternoon after the blue and she was still sleeping with her pants to her ankles. You could see the stain on the sidewalk where she had peed."

"Oh my God." I said. "I was never that bad."

"I've seen guys fall asleep standing with their head leaning against walls, their cocks hanging out."

"That was never me. Nope."

Everybody else laughed. Zoe finished her bourbon with one last big chug.

"Want some more, Sam?"

"Slow down. I haven't even finished half of mine. You had only two glasses of wine a couple of nights ago and look what that did to you. I'm sure this has a lot more alcohol."

"The whiskey glass only holds half as much as a wine glass."

"This isn't a whiskey glass."

"Don't get mired in details."

"No, I don't want anymore."

"Ok, maybe later." she said as she poured herself another.

I noticed Julie did the same with her wine. She was sitting on the couch with Erin and Cindy on either side of her, her arms on top of the back of the couch behind them. Her wingspan was greater than the living room sofa and the glass in her right hand was on the other side of Erin. With her left she reached to pull Cindy in closer to her and hug her the way I was hugging Zoe.

Erin spoke again, "Zoe, what's this computer game about anyway?"

"Would you like me to show you?"

"Sure."

Zoe got up with the full glass in her hand then promptly fell back on her ass. Her hand was up in the air and not a drop was spilled. Talent.

"Uh, Zoe." I said, "Maybe you've had enough booze already."

"Nonsense. I haven't even started."

"Why don't I make a fire in the fireplace and we can just sit. You can show Erin the game tomorrow. Is that ok, Erin?"

"That would be great. I work late tomorrow."

"Is that alright with you, Zoe?"

"Sure, Sam. I tomorrow Tee showed."

"What?"

"I showed Tee tomorrow."

"You showed her what? The game?"

"Yes."

"You're going to show her tomorrow?"

"Yep."

"So, you can show both Tee and Erin tomorrow?"

"Yep."

"Ok. Good to finally figure that out."

I got up to make the fire and Zoe followed. Along the way she tripped, or rather made a big production out of tripping accidentally on purpose, then catching Erin's top and pulling it down.

"Ooopsies." she said as she exposed Erin's bra.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you little girl?" I asked.

"Who're you calling little?"

"You."

"I didn't do that on purpose, little man. But I'm going to do this on purpose." she said, then she reached for my crotch.

"Whoa. Zoe, I really think you've had enough booze already. Why did you pull Erin's shirt down?"

"She has nice boobs, Sam. I know she's your sister, but take it from me, they're first class."

"I know, Zoe. She shows them every chance she gets."

Zoe took a step away from me and began looking me over top to bottom. She nodded and said, "Yeah, that would look good."

"What're you doing?"

"I'm imagining you as a girl with big boobs. You'd be hot, Sam. Real hot. In fact, I might even do you."

The others girls were laughing on the couch. Zoe had a bit of a hard time standing but after the fire was going, Zoe again cuddled up with me on the floor. She literally was becoming my pet.

"So, how did Jill get so big, Sam? Did she hang on the inversion table too?"

"No. Her dad was big. Their dad was big." I said pointing to Julie.

"Uh, Sam?"

"What Julie?"

"Jill did hang on the table. Remember?"

"Don't encourage her."

"It's true."

I shook my head.

"Ha! I knew it." Zoe said. "Let's go out there now, Sam. I want to hang infarted. Inflated. Upside down."

"You'll get sick in the condition you're in right now."

"Oh. Ok."

"That was easy."

"Let's measure ourselves."

"Now?"

"Sure. We can all get naked again. Then I can upside down hang. Hang upside down."

"You've been in too much contact with Erin and Cindy, little girl."

"I've been in contact with Erin's boobies."

"Ok. We're all glad you told us that but you really didn't have to."

"Yes I do. You want to hear about it, don't you, ... little man."

"What did she do? Motorboat you?"

"She told you already?"

"No. I know just know Erin. I'm surprised you survived."

The other girls were enjoying this.

"I'll have you know that I can stand up to the biggest boobies in existinter, ... existence."

"Stand up? You're only up to her crotch. You'd have to be standing on the table."

"I was."

"I wish I was there to witness that."

"Wanna see us?"

"No. I don't want you falling off of the table."

"I promise I won't fall off."

"Some other time."

She blew a raspberry at me. "Finish your drink, Sam." she said.

"I'm drinking it. Be patient."

"Does he always drink so slow, Julie?"

"He doesn't drink much." Julie replied.

Zoe sighed, leaned into me again and stared at the three on the couch.

"You three are so hot. Did you know that?"

"Thank you." they all said.

"I still have yet to get into your pants, Julie."

"Zoe!" I exclaimed while the girls laughed.

"What? Come on, we all know it's going to happen. I get wet thinking about it. One of these days, Julie."

"Her size doesn't intimidate you?"

"She doesn't intimidate you, and I'm almost as big as you are."

"No, you're not."

"I will be after a few more hangings on the table."

"Oh, shut up."

The other girls were laughing out loud at our conversation.

"Yeah, Sam." Cindy said. "What're you going to do when Zoe is bigger than you?"

"Not gonna happen. Not with the booze she's drinking."

"I'm going to pick you up and carry you around." Zoe said.

"Why?"

"You'll be my little baby boy."

"Whatever."

"Aw, guys." Erin said. "Don't pick on my little brother."

"Oh, now it's little brother again?"

"I mean big."

The others laughed again when Erin changed her statement.

"Erin." Zoe said. " He knows I don't mean it. Sam can handle the abuse. I saw that in him a long time ago. Right, Sam?"

"Right what? That I can handle it or that you saw that in me a long time ago?"

"What?"

"Did you mean ... oh, forget it."

"I will. Who wants another glass?"

"Did you finish your second drink already?"

"Sure."

"No more. I don't want you to be sick like you were. Ok?"

"Aw, that's so sweet of you, Sam. You're looking out for little old me."

"First you say you're big, now you say little."

"Just go along with it and have fun. I'm trying to forget what happened today."

"Fine."

"Do you mind me sitting next to you?"

"Not at all, Zoe. I like it."

"Good." she said. She leaned with her head in my chest and her hand found its way under my shirt. She started rubbing my chest real slow. It felt good and I made no motion to move it away.

"Zoe?" Cindy asked. "Do you mind telling us when and how you got the virus?"

"I got it before Sam. But Samantha and <<<burp>>> I did't start shrinking until last year."

"How did you know you were going to shrink?"

"I didn't. Not until Samantha started."

"How did she know?"

"I don't know."

"How did you catch it from Samantha?"

"The same way Sam did."

"But, you're a girl."

"All you have to do is <<<hiccup>>> exchange fluids."

"Oh."

"You know about that; we did it last night."

"Yes, I know." Cindy said. She was slightly embarrassed.

"Julie, do you mind me being next to Sam?"

"No, Zoe." Julie answered. "As long as Sam is ok with it."

"I could take Cindy's place next to you."

"If that's what you want."

"Or I could be next to Erin if you want Sam next to you."

"Would you want to? What about Cindy?"

"Or her. I like all of you."

"Then why did you choose to be next to Sam?"

"Because after what's happened today I feel closest to him."

They all nodded their heads in understanding.

We talked some more; mostly the others -- Zoe was falling asleep now. The fire was dying down.

"Would you like me to take care of the fire, Sam?"

"No. Let it die, Julie. I think we're all going to bed soon."

"What are you going to do with Zoe here?"

"I don't know. I'm relaxed sitting here. I could fall asleep just like this with her if you don't mind."

"I don't mind. I'll get a blanket."

Julie covered us up, turned the lights off, and the others went to bed. I fell asleep with Zoe curled up next to me, her little hand still under my shirt on my chest.


---- Late that night

Sometime in the middle of the night, around three AM, I woke to a deep kiss. I opened my eyes and pulled back bumping my head on the wall behind me.

"Ouch. Zoe?"

"Hi."

"Hi. What're you doing?"

"Is this not familiar?"

"I don't think we've kissed like this before."

"Yes, we have."

"When you danced with Cindy?"

"No."

"When?"

"That first night in my dorm room with Samantha."

"I ..."

"You were really sloshed."

"What happened?"

"Don't you know what happened? I was there. Watching."

"Wow."

"When you two were finished then we kissed and cuddled."

"I think I remember cuddling up with someone that kept me warm that night."

"It was me. You were naked and cold. Samantha was smashed and kept going back and forth to the bathroom."

"It was you?"

"Yes." she said, then gave me another kiss.

"Ok. So, what're we doing now?"

"Cuddling."

"Alright. I'm not sure I can go back to sleep anyway."

"Then we can curl up with each other."

"Ok."

"This time, you can keep me warm."

She was straddling me and she slipped her hands under my shirt and hugged me.

"You know, under this blanket nobody will be able to tell what we're doing."

"You have something in mind?"

"We can do anything we want."

"What do you want to do?"

"Remove your belt." she said.

I did. She undid the buckle and zipper then reached around behind to cradle an ass cheek in each hand. She had a hard time since I was sitting. I lifted my butt up and she pulled my pants off.

"It would be easier if we were lying down." I said.

"Ok."

"Not here on the floor. Let's go to the couch."

We got up and started moving to the couch.

"Wait."

"What?"

She finished off the water that was in my glass; the ice had melted. Then she poured another half glass of bourbon and took a sip. She then gave it to me.

"Have some, Sam."

"Why?"

"Please."

"Fine." I said before taking a gulp. Then she took another.

"You really like drinking liquor, huh?"

"Only with you."

"You wouldn't drink alone?"

"Nope."

"Or with anyone else?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"I have good memories of you when you were drunk."

"I don't. But I guess you're talking about that first night with Samantha?"

"You could say that."

We kept taking turns sipping until the glass was empty. She put it aside.

Before we made it to the couch she pulled my shirt up. "Take it off." she ordered. We laid down on the couch together and threw the blanket over us. I only had on my underpants and socks.

Zoe got on top and caressed my arms, chest, and face. She ran her hands through my hair and the whole time I held her. Then we turned over to our sides and she put her hands in my underwear and grabbed my ass again. Her head was in my chest at this point and we both lay there still.

It was a tranquil moment and very much in contrast to what we had both experienced earlier confronting Jill. The disparity of those moments made this one extra special.

"Zoe?"

"What?"

"Why did you come with me so willingly when I asked you last week? Why are you even here?"

"You know why. I had nowhere else to go."

"But you were taking a big chance. You hardly knew me."

"Haven't you been listening? I knew exactly who you were. It was I who was the stranger. Why did you even ask me?"

"It was that dream, I suppose. It was so real. I'm not totally sure anyway; I don't have a better explanation."

"So yeah, when you asked me to go with you it was a no brainer. If I thought, even for an instant that I could maybe have something, anything with you, then I had to take that chance."

"A relationship? Is that what you want?"

"What do you think? After all I've told you, especially tonight?"

"I think yes."

"And would you?"

"If it weren't for Julie, then yeah, it would be a distinct possibility."

"If not Julie then what about Kaycee?"

"Kaycee. Hmm. Let's put it this way. When I asked you to come with me I knew it was going to be for the long term no matter who else was involved. So, whatever happens, rest assured we'll be together. We will always have some sort of relationship, Zoe, but as for exclusive, not unless a lot of other stuff falls apart. I'd like to think of you as a sister; like Erin."

"I like Erin. You two are lucky to have each other."

"I feel the same way. Does this clarify things? Is that what you want to hear?"

"Yeah, I think so. Thanks for being honest."

"Besides, Zoe, I'm a guy. I mean, yuck. Right?"

"Right. Yuck." she said and put her head down on my chest. "I mean look at this hair on your chest. It's just ... hairy. And these muscles. I mean who are trying to impress? That shit don't work on lesbians, Sam."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Zoe."

She didn't say anything, just lay on my chest still. Then without warning she blurted, "I never thought she'd be that way."

"Who?"

"Darknose."

"Ah. What did you think she'd be like?"

"I don't know. I never figured I'd meet her so I didn't think about it. You know how you just get a subconscious picture in your head of someone that you haven't seen but have talked to?"

"I think so."

"So, I had this picture in my head that I couldn't describe if you asked me before."

"Did she look like the picture in your head?"

"Yes and no. Yes, she looked sort of like what I had in mind but no, I wasn't prepared for how big she was."

"She was only like five five or five six just a few months ago."

"Not much bigger than I used to be. Did she start growing the same time as Julie?"

"Shortly after."

"Did she like you or not?"

"She didn't at first. Then suddenly, she did. Did you like her?"

"I liked her before. She made me mad, but when we played together I liked her like a good friend. It was after the abortion that the friendship went bad."

"Did the group, the guild, still stay together after me?"

"After the abortion, yes."

"What about after Samantha died?"

"No. I made sure everyone knew and then that was pretty much the last contact I had with any of them. I don't know, maybe the rest of them kept in touch with each other."

"How did they take the news?"

"Well, it's what you would expect. They all said they were sorry."

"Do you think they were being sincere?"

"Of course."

"What about darknose?"

"Yeah, even Jill. I'm so mad at her but I can't believe she feels nothing for Sam's death."

"I'm sure she does. You know she works at the clinic helping out those with the virus?"

"She was always curious about it."

"Really?"

"It was more than curiosity I felt. More like an obsession."

"An obsession with size?"

"Yeah. Little size. Maybe that's why she's working with those with the virus."

"Or maybe she's making amends?"

"I don't know what her motivations are. You know her better than I. What do you think?"

"I'm not sure. Let's talk about that later."

"What do you want to talk about now?"

I shrugged. "Anything but that."

"Did I surprise you when I took my clothes off last night?

"You are always full of surprises."

"Did you get horny?"

"My dick was so hard I could have chopped wood with it."

She smiled. "I'm happy to know I can still do that."

"You better be careful little girl."

"Why?"

"You might get hurt."

"What would you to do to me?"

"I'd do that yucky stuff that guys do. Kind of like what I did to Cindy this morning."

"You liked seeing the two of us nude, didn't you?"

"No, I was so disappointed."

"Yeah, right. I know you did. I actually like to be nude. Always have."

"I figured that when you were nude this morning just talking like nothing was different. I'm surprised your not naked now."

"I don't trust myself right now." she said.

"You don't trust yourself not to have sex with me."

"I don't trust myself not to get pregnant."

"I see. Then you really better be careful."

"Oh you have no idea."

"I think I do have an idea."

"Then you know I'll be careful."

"Careful? Yeah, except you like to tease me so much."

"It is fun, isn't it? Maybe it's partly my subconscious coming out. What do you think?"

"Anything is possible with you. I'd believe anything."

"Does the teasing bother you?"

"It didn't. But what I know now, I think I should be scared."

"As long as we don't cross that line..."

"Then I guess we'll be ok."

I could easily cross that line but I also knew that it was best not to.

I had thought earlier that I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep but I was so relaxed now with Zoe in my arms that both of drifted off. It was a nice respite from the earlier revelations.