Six

Mia woke up with sunlight streaming into her eyes. She flinched and rolled over. Robin was asleep next to her, laying on his back snoring like a freight train. The sound was immensely loud, reverberating in her ears. She covered her head with a pillow and snuggled into him. HE wrapped his arm around her and adjusted a little in his sleep. Her head ached, and her stomach was very sour, but she felt good about what they'd done...well, what she could remember at least. Some of the antics after four AM were kind of fuzzy.

After laying there a few minutes, she found that nature was calling and extricated herself from his grasp, slipping quietly out of the bed. The room was spinning when she woke up and she had to steady herself on a bed post. She realized she was naked and scooped up a long band tee shirt from her drawer, then padded into the bathroom.

“Good God.” she said, looking at herself in the mirror. She looked like a zombie. Her eyes were very black where her make up had run, and her hair was an absolute birds nest. She washed her face and took off her make up, then tried to run a brush through her hair while she sat on the the toilet. Waves of mild nausea were crashing over her, so she just laid her head down on her knees and actually fell asleep for a few minutes.

She woke up again, stumbled to her feet and walked into the bedroom. She put on a pair of bikini underwear laying on top of the hamper then walked out into the hallway. The television was on in the living room, and she didn't remember turning it on last night. And she smelled coffee brewing. Mia smiled weakly then walked into the living room, her legs feeling more like stilts than the lithe appendages she was used to.

Tot was sitting on the couch, smoking a cigarette and drinking a cup of coffee. She looked up from the television and grinned at Mia.
“Someone had a good night.” Tot said, casting a very exaggerated glance at the empty beer bottles, whisky bottle and shot glasses. Mia felt herself blush when she noticed the condom wrappers still decorating the floor.

“Yeah....” Mia croaked. “And someone is paying for it this morning.” she said, plopping down on the couch and hugging a pillow to her chest.
Tot laughed, then got up and poured Mia a cup of coffee. She brought her the coffee and sat back down indian style on the couch.

Mia took a sip of coffee and closed her eyes. Her stomach was rumbling, but the coffee smelled and tasted so good. It actually was competing with the whisky after taste she'd been fighting since she woke up. Mia adjusted a little on the couch, only then realizing how absolutely sore her ass was. She grimaced when she moved.
Tot nodded. “Sore?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mia just nodded, closing her eyes. After a moment, the spasm of pain passed and she opened her eyes. Tot was smiling at her, and she couldn't help but smile back. “Stop staring at me...haven't you ever seen a zombie before?”

Tot laughed, then got a very serious look on her face. “You know you are going to have to spill the beans sometime, chicky?”

Mia fumbled around on the table for a cigarette. Tot lit it for her and she nodded her thanks. “I know...I know...Lets just say, for now, that it was incredible.” she said smiling. “And that Robin is a very big boy, and I doubt I will be walking right for a couple of days.”

Tot laughed uproariously, until Mia shushed her. “Tot, honey...My head is splitting....Please.”
Tot covered her mouth with her hand and nodded. “Ok...Ok.”

Mia let her head loll back on the couch. Last night didn't seem real, it was like a dream. She wasn't sure how she felt about it this morning. She felt a little ashamed at how wanton she'd been, but she did wait 18 years to have sex, she thought, better than 90 percent of her friends. She slowly raised her head and tried to shake the cobwebs out of her brain.

“I'm gonna go take a shower.” Mia said, slowly standing up. She stumbled into her bedroom, past the snoring form of Robin. She glanced at the clock. Noon. She walked into the bathroom and turned on the water.

Noon.

“Shit.” Mia said, rushing out of the bathroom. The sudden movement brought the nausea back and she could taste the whisky in the back of her throat for a second. She grabbed hold of the night-stand and steadied herself. “Whoa.” She breathed deeply and got it under control, then shook Robin.

“Huh? What?” he said, lifting his head. He looked around for a second, his eyes finally stopping on Mia. “Oh, sorry.” he said, trying to sit up. “Morning.”

“It's noon, Honey.” Mia said, still steadying herself against the night-stand.

Robin looked at his watch. Mia wanted to laugh at how much trouble he seemed to be having focusing on the watch face. “Shit.” he said, getting out of bed.
Mia just stood there grinning as he rushed around the room gathering clothes. He had a massive erection. Morning wood, Mia thought, there's a blast from the past. Robin fumbled into his clothes, then rushed over and kissed Mia on the lips, just a quick kiss, then turned to leave. He stopped.

Robin turned around slowly and walked back over to Mia. He took her in his arms and gave her a very sweet, long, kiss. “There's a proper good morning kiss.” he said, looking at her smiling face. “I gotta go to work. See you tonight?”

Mia nodded. “I don't have any plans. Call me.”

She walked with him to the door. Tot was still planted on the couch grinning at Robin as he walked by.

“Mornin Tot.” Robin said, then slipped out the door.

Mia beamed at Tot, then headed back into her room. She got in the shower and let it run over her for a while, washing some of the hangover away. She washed her hair, a chore she wasn't looking forward to, but there was something sticky in her hair...and she had a pretty good idea what it was.

Hair dried, dressed in shorts and a tee shirt, Mia finally emerged back into the living room. Tot was still watching Teevee and drinking yet another cup of coffee. Mia grabbed her cup and got a refill herself, then sat down on the couch next to Tot.

Tot looked over at her and grinned. Mia grinned sheepishly back at her.

“Are you gonna spill or not?” Tot said finally.

Mia shook her head, then made a show of ignoring her while lighting a cigarette.

“I have ways of making you talk, my dear.” Tot said in a horrible German accent.

Mia feigned fear, putting her hands to her face while wearing a look of mock horror. “Ok...Ok....” Mia said, “We had a fantastic night.”

Tot snorted. “That's pretty obvious...Dirt! I want dirt!”

Mia blushed. “What do you want to know?”

“What did you do? What did he do? You know, DIRT!” Tot said excitedly.

“Well...We got back to the apartment and started making out. I went down on him....He liked that a lot.” Mia said, grinning.

“Duh..What guy wouldn't.” Tot said.

“I got a little nervous, because I knew it was going to go further...I wasn't sure how he'd react once I got my panties off, you know...I was scared he'd freak out and it would be over.” Mia said softly.

“But, he obviously didn't. Did he give you head?” Tot said anxiously.

Mia shook her head. “No...No...I didn't want him too...and probably would have been disappointed if he did. I think what I really like about him is that he's a straight guy...you know?”

Tot nodded. “Yeah, I know. I just thought that would be cool.”

Mia grinned. “He did touch it, and he kissed the head....Just to show he wasn't grossed out. It was hard for him though.”

Tot smiled. “Then what?”

“He gave me a pretty damn good rim job.” Mia said proudly, then took a final drag from her cigarette before putting it out. Tot was nodding, smiling.

“Then....” Mia said, pausing for effect. “He fucked the hell out of me.” She said, laughing.

Tot started giggling, then gave Mia a high five. “It was awesome.”

“That's kick ass Mia...” Tot said, giving her a hug. “welcome to being a slut like me!”

The girls started giggling like crazy, then Mia's cell phone started ringing. She didn't bother glancing at the screen, she just pushed talk.

“Hello.” Mia purred into the phone, still grinning at Tot.

“Hello....Mia.”

Mia froze. It was her Dad. She hadn't spoken to him in almost a year, and the last time they had spoken, it was more yelling than speaking.

“Uh....Hi Dad.” Mia said sheepishly.

“How are you doing?” Paul said. Mia realized, he sounded nervous, like he wasn't sure what to say.

“I'm fine Dad...I'm doing really well. How've you been?” Mia said. She sat down on the couch and lit a cigarette. Her headache, which she thought she'd ditched, returned with a vengeance.

“I've been well. Fine. Lydia's fine, and Justin is doing great.” Paul said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

“Good.” Mia said quietly.

“Mia, I'd like to see you. Today.” Paul said. “I'll buy you dinner.”

Mia didn't know what to say. She was still really mad at her dad, for a lot of things, but before she could edit herself it just came out. “Ok, Dad.” She grimaced as the words left her mouth.

“Good...Good. Can you meet me at the steakhouse, near my place?” Paul said. She could tell he was driving, and holding the phone up against his cheek.

“Sure. What time?” Mia said, regretting this already.

“um...How bout six o'clock?” Paul said.

“Ok dad. See you then.” She said.

Paul said goodbye and hung up. Mia put her phone down and just let her head hang.

“It's not that bad, Mia.” Tot said, rubbing her back.

“I know...Just...why today, you know? Why couldn't today just be special?” Mia said, on the verge of tears.

“Mia....You could have said no.” Tot said.

Mia shook her head. “No...I owe him the courtesy of at least going to see what he wants...He is my father.”

“I know, honey.” Tot said. “Hey...Why don't you go get some sleep? You'll feel a lot better. I'll wake you up around four.”

Mia nodded. She kissed Tot on the cheek and handed Tot her cigarette, then walked back into her room. She collapsed on the bed and very quickly, fell into a deep sleep.
Four o'clock came way too fast and Tot was waking her up to get ready. Mia rolled over and covered her head with a pillow.

“Come on...get up.” Tot said, pulling the pillow away. “Take another shower and get moving.”

“Ughhhh” Mia said, getting out of bed. “Ok...Ok..” She walked into the bathroom and got into the shower. The hot water woke her up and made her feel a lot better. She realized that she was starving. All she'd had in the last 24 hours was a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner, a lot of alcohol, cigarettes, and coffee. He stomach was growling like a grizzly bear.

She dried her hair and styled it, adding a little curl to the tips with a curling iron. Mia sat down at her vanity and did her make-up. She didn't want to do anything extreme, she was going to the suburbs after all, but she wanted to do something a little dramatic. She settled on cats eye eyeliner with really dark purple eye shadow, so dark it was almost black. She used her best MAC mascara, really getting some length out of her lashes, then topped it all off with some dark burgundy lipstick.

Mia shuffled over to her closet and rifled through her clothes. She pulled out a black, cocktail length dress with a plunging neck line...Her little black dress. Well, one of my little black dresses, she thought. She threw the dress on the bed, then searched her lingerie drawer. Black gaff, Victoria's Secret Angel bra, also black. After tucking herself into her gaff, she put on her bra. The strap was riding on her new tattoo a little, so she traded the bra out for a strapless one. Much better, she thought, then shrugged into the tight little dress. Long dangly silver earrings, Silver necklace, a couple of silver bangles and she was ready to go. She checked the clock. Five thirty. Shit, she thought, I'm gonna be a little late. She grabbed her purse and headed out the door, stopping to turn around and get her cigarettes and cell phone off the coffee table.

Mia yelled bye to Tot and was out the door. She dug in her purse and couldn't find her keys, so she went back in the house and got them off her night-stand.

“Bye for real this time!” she yelled, then got in her car and sped off towards the suburbs, and what she could only see as impending doom.

Once Mia was on the interstate, the real nerves started hitting her. Her stomach was still a little queasy, mainly hunger she guessed, and she was so nervous she could hardly stand it. She lit a cigarette, hoping that it would do something to calm her nerves. It didn't help much.

Mia and her father's relationship had been strained at best for the last couple of years. She couldn't help but think of the first time she saw her father after he left, that October two years ago. She shook her head at the memory, but it wouldn't go away.

Mia got home late from school. It was a blustery November evening, with leaves blowing down the street and angry gray clouds threatening overhead. Mia dropped her coat off in the foyer and rushed up stairs to change clothes. She stripped out of the boy's school uniform, laying it neatly on the end of the bed. Her room was still a wreck, though now there were girls clothes strewn around the room as well as all the other crap. She shrugged into a pair of low-rise blue jeans, then put on her bra-stuffing it with a pair of socks, and a baby-doll tee shirt. She hadn't worn make up to school, not really. Lip gloss doesn't' count, right? She quickly remedied that situation, putting on make-up a little too vampish for afternoon, but it was fun and she was still learning how to get the look right.

Tot was supposed to come over that afternoon, but seemed to be running a few minutes behind. Mia trotted down the stairs and poured herself a glass of Diet Coke. She had just lit a cigarette when the door rang. She skipped over and opened it.

“Hello, Tot.” she purred, then froze. Her mouth was slightly open, and her heart started beating one hundred miles per hour. It was her Dad.

Paul Bonner stood there staring for a moment, confused by the teenage girl answering the door. He looked at her confused for a moment, then a look of recognition crossed his face. It was then that the expression turned to anger.

“Jeremiah? “ He shook his head, like he was trying to make the vision go away. “What? What the hell are you doing? Why....” he pushed inside past Mia and closed the door. “Why are you dressed like that? And, what the fuck are you doing smoking?” He snatched the cigarette away and put it out in the ashtray.

Mia was frozen with terror. She couldn't think. It was like a nightmare. Very similar, in fact to many nightmare's she'd actually had since Mia came to the fore. She couldn't speak.

“Well? What do you have to say for yourself?” Paul stormed, pacing back and forth.

“I...I'm sorry, Dad. I wanted to tell you, but...” Mia started.

“Wait! Why are you talking like that? Are you trying to sound like a girl? Use your real voice when you talk to me!” He said, getting closer to Mia than she would have liked.
“I....It is my real voice Dad. I'm just not forcing myself to sound more “manly”, like I've done for...forever.” Mia said, on the verge of tears.

“That is bullshit, Jeremiah Bonner!” He yelled, getting even more angry. “Why are you dressed like some teenage whore?” he pointed at Mia's face. “And this better be good!”
Mia didn't know what to say. She just started crying, tears rolling down her face.

Paul threw up his hands and almost yelled in frustration and rage. “Get yourself together and tell me what the hell is going on here!”

Mia sniffled a couple of times, wiped her face with her hand, getting the tears out of her eyes. “Ok...” she said, quietly. Then louder. “OK.” she paced away from him, composing her thoughts.

She looked at her Dad, defiance forming in her eyes. “You want the truth? Ok.” she said, pacing back towards him. “Here it is.” her voice was strong now, all the nervousness gone, replaced by rage of her own.

“I have always felt out of place, Dad! Ever since I was a little kid, I felt like something was wrong. I tried my best to do what you wanted me too...but most of the stuff I was supposed to do as a boy bored me to tears! I was no good at sports, had little interest. I'm really thin, and soft spoken and built like a girl. And that's what I've always wanted to be, Dad. A girl!”

Paul looked like he'd been slapped. “That's bullshit! Miah, you are a regular boy. You...You have never acted like a girl...So what if people made fun of you because you are small..lots of small guys don't turn out to be...to be faggots!” Paul raged.

“No dad! And...” Mia yelled back. “ I guess I am a faggot!! But it has nothing to do with being small. I like girls things....Girls clothes. The only interest I've ever had in girls was what they were wearing and how their hair looked! I told Mom how I felt, and she understands...”

Paul raised his hands in frustration, his fists clenched, shaking with anger. “I leave for two weeks and that bitch has turned you into a fucking sissy!”

Mia's mouth opened and closed, then her brows arched with anger. “What? Left for two weeks? Dad, you ran off with another woman and got her...you got her fucking pregnant! And now you are accusing Mom of being a bitch! You are a fucking dick!” she yelled.

Paul slapped her. Mia had never been slapped before. Never. She'd been in fights when she was younger, but that was mainly just Jeremiah getting beaten up. But she'd never been slapped, and the sting instantly brought tears to her eyes.

Paul's face dropped. He hadn't meant to do it, Mia could see that now. The emotion had gotten the better of him and he'd slipped. A bad slip, but a slip nonetheless.

Mia just stood there, quivering, tears running down her cheeks. “Get out.” she said quietly.

Paul started to apologize, but it was too late. “Get out!” Mia screamed, pointing at the door.

He nodded, hesitated for a moment, then left. Mia collapsed on the floor, crying and was still there when Tot had shown up a few minutes later.

She didn't talk to her Dad for almost a month. He tried to apologize, through Andrea, but Mia would have none of it. She hated him right then, for not accepting her, and for striking her which he had no business doing.

At Christmas time, Andrea finally convinced Mia to talk to Paul. Andrea and Paul's relationship was still very rocky and full of more fights than simple conversations, but Andrea did believe that Paul was really sorry for slapping Mia. He wasn't thinking of it as hitting a daughter, Mia knew, but a disobedient seventeen year old son, which while Mia thought was wrong, was more understandable.

A couple of days before Christmas, they met at a Denny's to talk. Mia arrived a few minutes late for their meet, having spent a long time sitting in her car trying to get up the courage to go inside. She was dressed nicely and wearing little make-up, at her mother's suggestion. She was dressed like a teenage girl though, no mistaking that, and looked the part well enough that most people wouldn't notice the little differences that would peg her as a boy.

She walked inside and found her father in the smoking section. There were several butts in the ashtray and she could tell he'd been here a little while. She tossed her purse on the bench and slid into the booth. They looked at each other for a moment, Both wearing looks of defiance. Paul's expression broke first, and he looked very apologetic, even before speaking.

“I'm sorry about the way I treated you, Miah.” he said, sounding quite sincere.

“Mia.” she said, firmly.

He seemed to have trouble getting it to come out but eventually repeated the name. “Mia.”

Mia nodded. “Ok. I accept your apology. Can I go now?”

He really did seem to look crestfallen at her statement. “I am sorry..I didn't mean to hit you...It's just...I don't know.” he said, shaking his head and looking down at the table.
Mia lit a cigarette, not caring if it pissed him off.

He looked at it and frowned. “ I don't like that either.”

Mia just shrugged. “Sorry.” she said, exhaling a stream of smoke towards the light above the table.

He started, Mia could see, to get angry, but took a deep breath. “Ok. I understand. I'm just confused by all this...I don't know what to say...what to think. It's like my whole world just flipped over, Miah...Mia.” he shook his head at his mistake, still it seemed, wishing that it would all just go away.

“I don't know how to help you with that. You didn't even try to understand, Dad...You just went off the handle, and....” Her voice was getting thick, like she was going to cry. She started bouncing her leg nervously, then looked away from him, holding back the tears. She took a drag and exhaled, calming down. “And hit me. I'm pretty mad at you all around right now, Dad. You leave us to start a new family like it's nothing, then you have the nerve to judge me?” She looked at him, her eyes cold.

He nodded. “I know..I know. I just. I'm sorry about not telling you...I had no problem telling your mom...we'd been done for a long time, and she knew it. We were just staying together for you, and I couldn't take it any more.”

“And I was pretending to be a boy for you, and couldn't' take it any more.” Mia said firmly.

“Pretending? Miah...” he shook his head and corrected himself, “Mia...” he leaned in and whispered loudly. “You are a boy, dammit. There is no pretending about it!”

She laughed. “I don't care if people know I wasn't born a girl.” she said, rather loudly. Several people in the restaurant looked over at her, there expressions a mixture of curiosity and some revulsion. “I just don't care. I am who I am.” she said finally. “And, I'm a girl.”

Paul didn't know how to respond, and Mia liked that. She smiled smugly at him and tapped the ashes from her cigarette in the ashtray, then rounded out the cherry in one of the rests on the side. Finally she looked up at him.

“Look Dad....You may never like it, but you are going to have to accept it. I'm a girl now, and I'm going to live my life as a woman all the time once I get the hell out of high school. I have to put up with this charade for a little while longer and then I'm done with it.”

“But Mia.” he said, ensuring he said it right.” You...You are setting yourself up for all kinds of trouble. People will discriminate against you, you wont get a fair shot at life. There is no reason for that.” he said, pleading with her.

“Dad, I don't care.” she said firmly. “I can't put it back and make it like it was...and I don't want to. I'll take whatever they can dish out.”

Paul looked defeated. “OK. I don't like it. But, I guess I have to live with it.” he lit a cigarette of his own, looked at it, then back at Mia. “But I really wish you wouldn't smoke...it's hard to quit and very bad for you.”

“I know.” she said,then shrugged. “And I'll deal with that later. Right now, I'm finally going to do what I want to do. I've lived someone else's life long enough.” she said quietly.
Mia's coffee had gotten cold while they were talking. The waitress came by and filled it, looking at her closely, trying to see the boy in the girls face. Mia smiled at her.

“Thanks.” she said, picking up the cup.

Paul was looking at her too. “Well...You do look pretty, Mia. You look a lot like your Mom.”

She bit her tongue to keep from saying something smart assed. “Thank you.” she said demurely. “That does mean a lot coming from you.”

They didn't see a lot of each other after that. For a while there was a good truce between them, but it fired up again each time Mia would enter new phases of transition, it was as though Paul was still fighting giving up his son to his daughter.

Mia pulled into the parking lot of the steakhouse. She sat in the car for a moment, then got out. It had cooled off nicely since this afternoon, so at least she wasn't sweating off her make-up. Her little black dress fluttered nicely in the evening breeze as she entered the restaurant.

The hostess smiled at her. “Good evening, miss.” the woman looked around. “Table for one?”

Mia smiled and shook her head. “I'm meeting my Dad. Paul Brooks.” she said.

The hostess looked at the book behind the desk. “Oh, come this way mam, he's waiting.”

They walked through the crowd. Mia could feel eyes on her as they walked through the dining room. She knew she looked good tonight, so the looks didn't bother her one bit. Paul was seated in the smoking section near the window. He was wearing a pretty nice, business casual outfit and looked good, as usual. Mia put her clutch bag down on the seat and sat across from him.

“Hi dad.” she said quietly.

He was staring at her, mainly at her chest, but also at the tattoo on her near her collar bone. He didn't say anything for a second, and she could tell he was a little angry. “Hi, Mia.” he said finally.

Mia ordered a glass of Iced tea, then lit a cigarette while she was waiting for it to arrive.

“How've you been, Mia?” he said, trying to start a conversation without going right into the real reason she'd called him.

“I've been good” she said, smiling at him. “Busy...getting ready for school to start in the fall..working at the salon.”

He nodded. “I'd heard you went and got plastic surgery done.” he said. “It looks...It looks good, I guess.”

Mia looked up at him, her eyes hard. “I guess?”

Paul shook his head. “No...I mean, they did a good job, and you look...well, you look beautiful. But, Its like a last nail in my son's coffin.” he said quietly.

Mia actually felt sorry for him. It was the first time they'd seen each other since she had her surgeries, and he actually was sad about it. “I'm sorry Dad...I really am. But, I have to be myself.”

He nodded. “I know....I can see that.” he said, pointing to the tattoo.

She laughed a little. “yeah, I didn't bother to hide it. I'm not one for hiding how I feel or who I am anymore.”

HE nodded, looking a little defeated. “I guess so. Be careful though, Mia. don't get into things that are going to get you into trouble, ok?”

She smiled at him. “Always in control, Daddy.” she said “No problem.”

They ordered their food. Mia ordered a small steak and baked potato, along with a salad. She was absolutely starving.

The small steak turned out to still be more than she could eat, but she got the rest to go. After they were finished eating, she ordered a cup of coffee, as did Paul. They sat there, smoking and drinking their coffee, neither talking.

“Mia...” Paul started. “I want you to come out to the house and meet Lydia and the baby.” he said finally.

Mia looked up at him. “I've already met Lydia.”

“No, I mean..Really meet her. She's my wife, and your stepmother. And I want you to meet your half brother Justin.” He said.

Mia looked down at the table. “I don't know dad.” she said, then looked up at him.

“Please?” he said, actually sounding sincere in his request. “I'd really appreciate it.”

Mia looked off into space for a second, thinking. Finally, she nodded.

“Ok. When?” she said quietly.

“Next week. come out to the house and we'll eat dinner. You need to eat, you are all skin and bones.” Paul said finally.

Mia laughed. “Ok...I will come. What day specifically?”

They worked out the details, then Mia hugged him goodbye. She could tell he was a little hesitant to hug her, but once he did, he hugged her tightly and lovingly.
“I love you, Mia. I really do. But I worry about you so much.” he whispered.

“I know daddy...I know. “ she said, hugging him back. “I love you too.”

And she meant it.

He walked her to her car and waited for her to get in and drive off before getting into his car. She breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been angry, at first, but had done a good job of keeping it from taking control of him. By the end of the conversation, he'd seemed to come to terms with it and accept it a little better. Jeremiah was not going to come back. Period. She was done with that part of her life and was becoming the woman on the outside that she was on the inside.

Mia was still thinking about it as she pulled onto the interstate and headed towards home. The upcoming dinner with Lydia was nagging at her. She'd never really liked Lydia, and hoped that by some strange miracle, the dinner would go off without either of them losing their temper. She had intended on going home, but instead found herself pulling up in front of the tattoo shop. At some point she had just started driving there, not paying attention to where she was going.

“While I'm here...” she said to herself, getting out of the car. She checked her watch. The shop was open for several more hours. Robin and Pete were sitting out on the porch. She smiled at them and started walking over.

“Bit overdressed for us aren't you, Mia?” Pete said, laughing.

Mia smiled and flipped him off. “I was hanging out with my Dad.” she said, her voice conveying how little she'd enjoyed it.

“Gotcha.” Pete said.

Robin was walking down to meet her. He stopped and gave her a kiss. She folded into his arms and he held her tight for a moment, laying his head against hers.

“Did it go ok?” he asked quietly.

Mia nodded, then shrugged. “ I guess.” she looked up at him. “Y'all aren't very busy.”

Robin shook his head. “No...not busy at all, actually. We were earlier, now we're just waiting for the late rush. He took her hand and led her up to the porch. Pete gave up the swing for her.

“Why thank you Pete.” she said, sitting down. Robin sat next to her. She leaned over and put her head on his shoulder.

“Awww...So cute I could puke.” Pete said, snickering.

Mia and Robin both laughed at his comment, especially the way he said it, in a weird little baby talk voice.

The three of them sat there for a while talking. Robin lit Mia a cigarette, then had one himself. A customer showed up for Pete, so the two of them were left alone on the porch. Mia didn't say anything, she just enjoyed the silence. Finally, Robin spoke.

“Mia...” He said, looking down at her.

She turned and looked up at him, her head still resting on his chest. “Yes, dear.' she purred.

“I had a great time last night.” Robin said softly. “It was mind blowing.”

Mia grinned at him. “Thanks...I had a great time too. Everything...Was perfect.”

They kissed. It was a long, tender kiss, full of longing and desire. When the kiss was over, Mia felt like she was drowning without his mouth against hers, so she kissed him again. She could feel the desire welling up inside her.

Robin stopped kissing her, and reached up and stroked her hair. “I can't right now...I have to work...well, I may have to work.” he looked at her and smiled. “And if you keep that up, I'm not going to be able to do anything but take you somewhere and have my way with you.”

“Promise?” she said, kissing him on the neck.

“Later tonight?” he asked.

Mia nodded. Robin stood up and walked paced around for a minute. “What's up?” Mia said.

He smiled at her. “I had to get up. If I stayed there with you, I know what I'd end up doing....And I have to stick around tonight...I need the money.” He said, laughing.

She grinned at him. “Ok.” She looked around. “You don't seem to have any customers.”

He frowned. “No...I don't at the moment.”

She smiled triumphantly. “Now you do.” she said, standing up.

He laughed. “What do you want, Mia?”

She grinned at him, then walked over and took his hand. “Something...Interesting.”

Robin followed her into the piercing studio. She sat down on the table and crossed her leg, showing a lot of thigh and miles of smooth flesh. He shut the door. “How interesting?” he said, cocking an eyebrow at her.

Mia grinned at him and slowly slid the top of her little black dress down around her belly. She unclasped her bra and let it drop on the table. Robin was watching her, smiling ear to ear as Mia took her breasts in her hands, cupping them.

“You sure?” Robin said, picking up a pair of gloves from the box next to the piercing table.

Mia nodded. “Yeah...I've wanted them done for a while.” she said, grinning.

“Ok....Lay down on the table.” Robin said. “Can I pick the jewelry?”

“Sure.” Mia said, then waited expectantly for him to return with Jewelry. Robin perused the wall for a minute, then pulled a couple of pieces down. He handed the packages to Mia, two horseshoe 12 gauge, titanium small diameter rings with lollipop ends. She looked up and smiled. “Perfect, I love the rainbow balls on the ends.”

Robin got all professional then, getting all his stuff together. Finally, he looked over at Mia. “Ready?” he said, then reached out and touched her nipple. She giggled and nodded. “OK...I'll give you the special treatment.” he said, winking at her. He leaned over and flicked his tongue on her nipple a couple of times until it popped like a little pencil eraser.
“Hey, is that how you always do it?” She said, feigning innocence.

He laughed and shook his head. “Um...no.”

He clamped off her nipple and took the needle in one hand, and a piece of cork in the other.

“Here we go.” he said.

Mia bit her bottom lip and looked at the ceiling. There was a sharp, quick pain in her left nipple, a little tugging, and then as soon as it had started, it was over.

“One down.” Robin said, reaching over to pick up the other ring.

Mia took a deep breath as he clamped off the other nipple. Another sharp pain, tug, and done.

“All done.” Robin said, wiping at her nipple with a soft gauze.

He helped her sit up. She grinned at him as he gestured for her to go look in the mirror. She hopped up and looked at herself in the full length mirror, then looked back at Robin over her shoulder and smiled ear to ear. She wiggled her breasts, watching the piercings move. It hurt a little to do that, but she couldn't' help but giggle.

“Thank you, Robin.” she said, turning back. “You like?” she asked, striking a sexy pose for him.

“Very much.” He said, grinning at her.

Robin went over all the care stuff with her, things she'd heard before when she got her belly button pierced, then he handed her a little bag with basic care stuff in it.

“You may want to do this.” He said, placing a couple of pieces of gauze in the cups of her bra. “In case there is any bleeding, you don't want to get it on your nice bra.”

Mia carefully put her bra back on. The gauze really helped pad the piercings from getting rubbed wrong. She could feel vibration transmitting through the titanium, and could only imagine how nice it was going to feel once it was healed.

Mia walked over to her purse and pulled out her wallet. “How much do I owe ya, baby?” she said.

Robin shook his head and held up his hands. “No charge...I thought you were doing that for me anyway.” he said with a laugh.

Mia sighed and rolled her eyes. She walked over to him and shoved a couple of twenties in the waistband of his jeans. Robin laughed, but took the money. “Thanks, baby.” He said, putting the money in his back pocket.

“Well, I've got to get running. I've gotta work in the morning, and for some reason I'm really tired today.” Mia said, grinning at him and wrinkling her nose.

“Yeah...I'm kinda tired today myself. I wonder if something kept us awake last night.” He said, looking up from cleaning up his station.

Mia laughed, then walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “Call me tomorrow, ok?” she said.

Robin nodded, then pulled her into an embrace. Mia was thankful that he was careful not to press her too hard against him, but then again, he'd had it done to his nipples too and knew how it feels. He kissed her and she actually felt weak in the knees. “Sure thing baby....Sleep tight.” he said, then walked her out.

Robin stood on the porch and watched her all the way to her car. She started the car and waved, then headed out towards home.

Mia unlocked the door and dropped her purse on the table next to the door. “Tot!” she yelled, then looked around the house for her. No dice, she thought, then peeked in her room. Nope, no Tot. Mia shrugged, a little disappointed that she wasn't home but Mia had been gone for a long time. Her nipples were throbbing little, so she shimmied out of her dress and bra then threw them on the bed. She couldn't help but stand in front of the mirror for a few minutes and admire the new jewelry. She grinned, then finally put on an old, soft tee shirt and headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Mia brushed her teeth and washed her face. Her mind wandered back to the meeting with her Dad, and the upcoming visit. It put a damper on her night, and worried her a little. She wasn't sure how the whole thing with Lydia would go. She still wasn't very happy about the whole situation, but vowed she would try to make it work.

From the other room, she could hear her phone ringing. She rummaged through her purse and answered.

“Hello.” She said.

“Howdy Beeeotch.” Tots said with a laugh. “What's up? You home?”

Mia laughed. “Howdy Slut. Yeah, I'm here.”

Tot mocked offense at the comment. “Slut? I seem to remember someone else shaking the headboard last night”

Mia giggled. “Guilty.”

“And speaking of slut.” Tot said. “I'm not gonna be home tonight. Well, not until late.”

Mia grinned. “I gotcha. Have fun. Be safe.”

“Love ya.” Tot said.

“Love you too.” Mia said, then hung up.

She wandered into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Nothing but beer and condiments.

“We have to go shopping.” Mia said, shaking her head. She grabbed a beer and headed into her room.

She sat down on the bed and sighed. Not tired, she thought, then looked around her room. I could clean. No, don't want to clean. She got up and went over to her desk. She booted up her iMac and opened Everquest. She waited while the software updates loaded then logged in. No sooner had she logged in than a private message popped up. It was Carl. Mia smiled.

Argus (Carl)- Hey there.
Leigh (Mia)-Hey Carl!!
Argus: What have you been up to? Haven't seen you on here for a while.
Leigh: Sorry, been really busy.
Argus: Are you at home?
Leigh: I'm at my apartment. Why?
Argus: You moved already?
Leigh: Yeah, been here for almost a month. duh.
Argus: Still have the same cell phone number?
Leigh: Yeah.

A couple of seconds later, Mia's phone rang. She picked it up.

“Hey Carl, what's the occasion? You never call on the phone.” she said, sounding concerned.

“Hi...Hi Mia.” he stammered. “I just wanted to talk to you.”

“what's up?” Mia said, lighting a cigarette.

“I heard you had plastic surgery.” Carl said quietly.

“I did.” Mia said, wondering what was going on.

“So...Like, what did you have done?” Carl asked. “You didn't have...it cut off did you?”

Mia laughed. “No...I didn't have SRS.”

Carl breathed an audible sigh of relief. “So...there's still a chance we may get Jeremiah back?” he asked. Mia could hear the nervousness in his voice. He actually had sounded heartbroken when he asked it.

Mia didn't respond right away. She knew Carl missed his friend, even though as far as she was concerned, that friend hadn't really gone anywhere. “No...Probably not.”

Carl was silent for a moment. “Ok. What did you have done?”

Mia outlined the procedures for him, telling him what they did and why.

“So..” Carl said. Mia could tell he was saying it around a big smile. “You got big stripper titties now?”

Mia couldn't help but laugh. “you pig!” Mia said. Then after a few seconds. “Yeah, I guess I do.” she giggled. “They aren't huge...C cups.”

Carl laughed. “Ok...no triple Ds then.”

“Um, no.” Mia said. “They look quite natural, really.”

“Alright. I was just worried about you, that's all.” Carl said.

“I know. I'm sorry I'm not going to go back to being Miah, Carl.” She said.

“You need to be you...I understand that, I just still don't understand the whole thing very well, you know?” Carl said.

“I do. I really do. We still good?” Mia said, hoping they were.

“Of course. Hell, how else am I gonna be friends with a hot girl?” Carl said, laughing.

“Good.” Mia said. “Now, lets play some Everquest and quit nattering like hens.”

“Alright. bye.” carl said

“Bye.” Mia said, hanging up and shaking her head.

They played Everquest for a couple of hours, then finally Mia had to log out. It was almost one and she was beat. She brushed her teeth again and went to bed.