Easy As Biking In The Fall.
by: Bonzi Cat (translated by Angharad).
part: 270

Simon had arrived quite a bit later and I cooked his fish with some rice and veg. I was trying to get him to lose some weight as his waistline was expanding faster than the Chinese economy. I also knew I'd have to control my own eating or I would put on too much weight. My bust had increased, but so had my belly and hips. Much more and I'd be too fat to borrow Stella's clothes and that wouldn't do.

Later that night, I think I had just drifted off, listening to Simon's version of the 1812 played on a lawn mower, when I heard a shriek. I woke abruptly and lay absolutely still. There was a second and I ran into Stella's room. She was sat up in bed crying, her head in her hands.

"What's the matter, Sis?" I asked, sitting alongside her.

"I don't think I can cope with this."

"With what?" I asked gently.

"They won't let us go."

"Who won't, Sis?"

"Those Russians, how did you get past them?"

"On my bike, it's invisible, that's why it's called Specialized, it's special."

"I didn't know that."

"Nor do they."

"You won't let them hurt me, will you?"

"Of course I won't. Look, you lie down and go back to sleep and I'll watch out for you."

"Okay, thanks." She lay down and was back to sleep in moments. In fact, she had been asleep the whole time, her eyes had been shut and she had accepted my preposterous story about the bike. It might be invisible at the speeds Tom Boonen rides, but not me, the plodder.

Once I was sure she was back to sound sleep, I went to get off the bed and she called me in her sleep. I got back on the bed. It was getting cold and I hadn't brought my dressing gown with me, so I improvised. "Shove over girl," I said quietly but firmly and got in beside her.

I must have fallen asleep because I awoke with a head on my breast and a hand draped across my stomach. I also discovered that Stella doesn't snore, she clicks. It was just as irritating as Simon's snoring and I had just about learned to screen that out, the clicking was a new one.

After watching the clock for half an hour and having Stella snuggle up to me even tighter, I was too warm and becoming a little fed up. I managed to get her to roll over on to her side and cuddled into the back of her. The clicking stopped, thank goodness, although she had sort of protested in her sleep until she felt me cuddle her.

I'd never really slept with a girl before and was somewhat self conscious of where I was making contact. In some ways the absurdity of my situation made me want to laugh. Here I was a biological male of twenty three years never having slept with a biological female before, but then before Simon, I hadn't slept with a male either and still hadn't had sex with anything other than a couple of pieces of perspex. Yes, my life was certainly different.

As I watched my life unfold in my mind's eye, I felt myself want to blush and laugh alternately. I had a hand on Stella's waist and was spooned into the back of her, this was crazy. I wasn't in the slightest attracted to her in a physical sense, I hoped she knew that. I loved her but as my sister, and it was that love which was causing me to give up my own bed now. I hoped she would understand if she woke up and found me here.

I flet myself blush again, and turned over to my opposite side, our backs were now touching. She whimpered quietly, and a moment later was tucked into my back, her hand around my waist. I was too warm really, and the damned click was back, but I decided to tough it out. Three o'clock was the last occasion I recall seeing the time before I must have nodded off myself.

I awoke feeling someone squeezing my tummy, pulling me into them. For a moment I wondered if it was Simon, except his hands are bigger, then I realised where I was and with whom.

"Someone's been sleeping in my bed," said a quiet voice behind me.

"Yeah, I must have gone sleepwalking."

"You tried that one once before, in the cottage."

"Well at least you didn't scream this time," I said, looking at the clock. It was just coming up to nine.

"Are you a lezzie then?"

"No, are you?"

"No, course not. You're the one who's in my bed."

"You don't remember anything about last night?"

"No, why?"

"You had a bad dream."

"Did I?"

"Yes, you screamed and I came in to check on you."

"That was nice of you Little Sis. What else happened for you to get into my bed?"

I felt a bit uncomfortable about this, not sure why, but I did. Was she mocking me? "Well every time I went to go back to my own, you started crying again."

"No! I wouldn't have done that."

"Okay you didn't, I'm either lying or deluded, but either way, I'm getting up." I threw back the clothes and she held on tightly to me.

"Stella, I'm trying to get up, I need to wee."

"Did I really cry?"

"Do you think I would make that up?"

"No, not really," her answer sounded diffident.

"Look, I didn't get engaged to Simon so I could end up sleeping with you, even if there is more room in the bed."

She laughed a little at that but I also heard her sniff. I pulled away again and this time she let me go. I went out to the bathroom.

I really didn't know what she was thinking and it worried me. I didn't care if she was gay, except it didn't interest me, she was my sister and I loved her as such. I wondered about Monica for a moment and was about to think, like mother like daughter, when I remembered she was the wicked stepmother.

I threw on my dressing gown and went off to make some tea. After drinking a mug of the hot fluid, I took one up to Stella. She was curled up in the foetal position and crying quietly.

"Hey, what's the matter?" I said sitting on the bed and putting her drink on the bedside table.

She didn't answer for several moments, silently sobbing to herself. I rubbed her hair gently making, what I hoped were suportive noises.

"I'm sorry, Cathy," she sobbed.

"What for?"

"You came to help me and I embarrassed you."

"When was that then?"

"Just now."

"I can't remember it," I said, pretending to have amnesia.

"I'm sorry."

"There's no need, I didn't take offence, because I didn't think you meant any."

"Of course not, I am silly. I wait for twenty odd years to have a sister and when I get one, nearly drive her away."

"I can't believe you have such a poor opinion of me." I offered her with a look of hurt on my face, which genuinely reflected my feelings.

"Oh, I don't, Cathy. I think you are wonderful. Tom was right last night, you are special and I think I might just be a tad jealous."

"Nah, he was referring to my new bike, Specialized."

"He wasn't, Cathy, he was talking about you. Why do you find it so difficult to believe good things about yourself?"

"Why did you think I was in your bed for the wrong reasons?"

"Touche. I'm sorry."

"I didn't lie to you, Stella. You were having a bad dream...."

"I know, you came to protect me from the Russians, I have a sort of fuzzy memory of it or something like it. You said you came on your bike, didn't you?"

"Yes I did."

"Can you forgive me?"

"I already have, now what about breakfast?"