Chapter 2: Questions

Chapter 13: Facing the Music

The afternoon sun blazed down, shimmering off the surface of the pool as Yuqi floated lazily on her back, trying to relax. The water was cool and inviting, a stark contrast to the heat of the day. Kelly swam laps nearby, occasionally splashing Yuqi for no reason other than to be annoying. The day had been quiet, the kind of peace Yuqi knew wouldn’t last forever.

This is an alternate take on Dawning... Or How I Survived a Plane Crash, Sort Of which is the same up to the kiss. If you have just read that story, you can skip down three or four pages (to “kiss a boy”) and pick up how this version goes.

The darkness never changes, but sometimes it smells different. After 400 years, whether my eyes are open or closed matters because it’s how I communicate. One if by land, two if I see….

CHAPTER 65
My mouth was sticky the next morning, my head still fuzzy. I could still remember most of it though, as the pictures were shown, more wine poured and a messy bout of tears was resolved in the old, old way. Maz looked up at me, bleary-eyed, and lifted a sheet to her nose with a wince.

“Which of us spilled the red on the dooner?”

“No idea. Won’t need a dry clean for a while. Stain’s there to stay, I think. I’ll stick the kettle on, and then we can strip the bed”

Her smile up at me was a little fragile, but she nodded.

“Good job we’re both off today”

Chapter 3

I called Marilyn the next morning, before I left the motel. She told me that there was a car park on Portland Terrace, not far from the office, and to park there if I got to Southampton before the office closed. She would contact Gloria to get another key cut for the house and the office for me. I took my time going east, my car wasn’t as swift as Marilyn’s.

This is one of my "houswife and sex" stories. If this sort of thing offends you please don't read.

An unhappy crossdresser answers and advert for a man looking for a "special" wife.

I arrived at his house and pulled into his driveway. My 20 year old Ford Focus looks very shabby next to the Mercedes and the Tesla on the large gravel drive. The house is huge and screams money. My stomach doing back flips just thinking about what may happen.

Chapter 2 of 3 – Release

And it gets worse in this chapter. Honestly, be cautious.

“Are you wearing lipstick?” Mike asked.

I nodded.

“Melissa, is he your personal make-up model?”

“Would you like to be my next artistic marvel?” Melissa asked with a subtle flirty hint to her voice.

“I could use a little hair work, maybe.”

“Oh, I can do a lot more.”

“We noticed,” Chad replied as we stepped into the building.

The hallway was crowded with cheerleaders, advisors, coaches and administrators.

“I think she knew there was nothing for you here. Not as a man, but even less as a woman, if that’s how you decided to live.” When I didn’t meet his eyes or say anything, he asked, softly, “Was she wrong?”

 
 
XII. The Feast of Fractured Mirrors

The farmhouse table groaned beneath casseroles that reeked of clove and false piety. John’s mother—a woman who starched her hymns—leaned in, her gaze lingering on Lanie’s sun-kissed cheeks and the demure lace dress that was Georgia. “What a vision,” she sighed as if this moment could be preserved like a jar of pickled beets.

Once the party was over, it was time for me to plan starting college. I accepted one of several pre-made class listings for first years. Making living arrangements was often even tougher than picking classes in college on Earth, but here it was pretty easy. There were dorms, and there was a single room for each person, with doors that would allow them to pair up couples in adjoining rooms.

Chapter 2

I followed the girls to the café on a shopping mall called Above Bar Street. It wasn’t very far, and had everything you would need, especially banks. There was a branch of the one I used, just five minutes from the office.

We all had a light lunch, with me following the girls to try the salad. It would not have been a good look if I had ordered a burger. I did note the range that they had, for when I was here on my own. There! I was already thinking about being here for real.

Chapter 1 of 3 – Draw

This one's a rough one. Proceed at your own risk.

On route to Ciarán’s Warehouse:
“This is a nice ride.” Rose couldn’t believe that Sasha picked her up in a blackout Corvette.

When she got inside the car, she couldn’t believe how hi-tech it looked. It was like someone took the inside of KITT from Night Rider and placed it inside a Corvette. The Corvette itself didn’t look like a normal vette. It was a little longer then a normal vette with a thicker front and rear bumper.

In a society controlled by the oppressive Imperium, Curtis finds himself entangled in a web of secrets and sacrifices. As he navigates the treacherous landscape of deceit and loyalty, he is faced with a series of impossible choices as he tries to find the right path forward.

PART FOUR
GARY/1950s DIOR NEW LOOK

1

Chapter 12: What’s in the Box

Kelly crossed her arms, her face a mix of impatience and curiosity. “Well, are you going to open the chests, or are we just going to stare at them all day?” The mystery of the chests seemed to hang in the air, adding to the intrigue.

Yuqi glanced at her parents, then down at the three chests sitting in front of her. They felt heavy, not just physically but with a sense of importance she couldn’t explain. Her medallion seemed to hum faintly against her skin as though it wanted her to proceed.