Christopher Chase stared at the tiny clock in the computer's taskbar. 8:45 PM. "I'm the last one again," he said aloud, the sound of his voice echoing through the old factory building. Chris regularly worked late; it was just part of the job. At the age of nineteen, with only a high school education, he felt lucky to have the job at all. Still, being a full time support technician, aside from his role as an unofficial and underpaid junior programmer, gave new meaning to the phrase "low man on the totem pole." He was more like the guy who waited on the park bench across the street from the totem pole, praying for the day they decided to make it just one face taller. That would only help him if the three guys on the bench with him would quit or drop dead before that day ever came.

        He was not just working late because his job demanded long hours, Chris was in no rush to get home tonight. He could picture the blinking red light on the answering machine. He'd listened to the message last night. He had played it again three times this morning, making him miss the early train. He'd even called home during lunch to see whether it was still there. Not once had he been able to erase the damned thing.

        Chris stared at the empty cubicles through the darkness. The motion sensor lights kicked in every night at six. He had to shuffle around in his chair every so often to keep his cubicle lighted. He realized that he must have been shuffling unconsciously for over two hours. Come to think of it, he hadn't left his desk since he got in that morning. Of course, that was what he was paid to do- answer the phones, run errands. If he were lucky, one of the programmers would toss him a few hundred lines of code to debug.

        Last week, all of it had made him happy. Sure, his life wasn't going quite as he hoped, but he had no complaints. Today was different. Today he'd realized just how insignificant he really was.

        Leaning back in his chair, Chris grabbed his cell phone off the shelf behind him and shoved it into his oversized leather jacket, the sudden motion triggering the lights again. He squinted and decided that he much preferred sitting in the dark. He slipped on his sunglasses, shut down his computer, and walked toward the back exit.

        Feeling his pockets, Chris made a last minute check to see if he had his wallet, keys, and cell phone- his end-of-work ritual. Chris didn't rate high enough in the pecking order to have an office key. If he forgot anything, it'd be locked in for the night. He felt his keys in his front pocket then wandered down the hallway. When the elevator arrived, he stepped in and his mind snapped back to the clock in his taskbar. "8:45?" he choked. "Shit! I'm going to miss the train again!"

        Chris sprinted out of the elevator and passed the guard in the front lobby. He nearly lost his footing on the icy stairs as he took off down the empty city sidewalk. The downtown crowds were thin this late at night. He ran four city blocks, weaving between a handful of businessmen in wool overcoats.

        His sneakers shimmied on frozen pavement as he rounded the corner and trampled down the stairs into the train station; the place he referred to as the "Salt Mine." It was a dreary cavern filled with magazine stands, junk food, and stale air. Flickering fluorescents illuminated the faces of tired people, making their skin look dead like ground beef that had been in the fridge one day too long.

        He hurried past them, the squeaking of his sneakers echoing off the walls. Chris stopped in front of the monitors showing departures. He clenched his fist and swung at the air. "Shit!" he growled, pacing angrily, and cursing himself for missing yet another train. There was nothing worse than missing a train by a few minutes only to be trapped in the Salt Mine for an hour.

        "I have a car," he muttered to himself, "I should just drive to work." Indeed, he did own a car, in the loosest sense of the word. It was a car, in that it had four wheels, a steering column, and you could fill it with gas. Whether it would start, or how far it would go was up for debate. Just driving it ten miles to his local station was risky. Even if he had a car that he could drive in the daylight without feeling ashamed, he could barely afford to pay for the gas and parking that driving to the city on a daily basis would require.

        With sunken shoulders, Chris resigned himself to loitering around the Salt Mine, casting about for anything to occupy him. Businessmen on the way home from late nights at the office walked back and forth and leafed through their papers, shuffling around like zombies, consuming coffee and stock reports. Chris shuffled along with them. He had nothing to read, no iPod to play, nothing to distract him. He had nothing to go home to, either.

        After aimlessly walking the circuit for twenty minutes, Chris surveyed the vendors on the South side of the station. Only two stores were still open; a magazine stand and the liquor store. Chris didn't think that a bag of M&M's or The Times was going to do it for him tonight. He stepped into the liquor store, hoping to buy something that would take his mind off life, or at least dull his senses to the point where he didn't care about it anymore. He realized this was a long shot, but he had time to kill and nothing to lose.

        Chris walked into the store, past a man counting money in an ancient cash register. The cashier was a tall, balding man with an angular nose and bushy eyebrows. He licked his thumb before counting each stack of bills. Chris kept his head down as he went to the refrigerators against the back wall. He watched the cashier in the reflection of the fridge door while he grabbed a bottle of beer, thinking maybe the guy would be too tired or too busy to notice that Chris was under age.

        Chris tried to keep his cool as he approached the counter. The man put down the cash and eyed Chris like a vulture looks at something that wasn't quite dead yet. "Stop right there kid-o," the cashier said with a sly smirk. "Why don't you put the beer back and go get some sodey-pop."

        "Aren't you even going to card me?" Chris mumbled.

        "Kid," replied the cashier, "Ain't nobody has to card you to know you ain't old enough to drink. Hell, you don't even look old enough to be up this late."

        "Yeah..." Chris sighed. He placed the beer on the counter then grabbed a soda out of a barrel of ice next to the register. "I'll just have a Coke."

        The cashier's snide glare faded. Obviously, life had kicked this kid while he was down and it didn't need any help finishing the job. "Hey, look ..." the cashier said as he took Chris' money, "It can't be that bad, right?"

        Chris nodded insincerely.

        The cashier flashed a yellow-toothed grin and slid a scratch-off lottery ticket across the counter. "Here, have a play. No charge."

        "Thanks, I appreciate it, but with my luck, I'll blow that too."

        The man behind the counter gave Chris a sturdy pat on the side of the shoulder. "I know it doesn't feel like it now, but you'd be surprised how fast things can change. Sometimes so fast you never even seen it coming."

        Chris nodded again and went to join the other loiterers out in the station, staring at the Coke, wondering why he'd even bought it. Looking back through the shop window, he watched the cashier flick the lights off for the night.

        With the lights extinguished, Chris saw his reflection in the front window. He was tall and lanky, like everyone on his father's side of the family. At least, that's what his mother had always told him. His blond, nearly shoulder length hair was thin and greasy, and frayed at the ends like an old broom straw. He wondered if he'd even showered that morning, but he couldn't remember. What did it even matter anyway?

        He stared into his face. Except for his height, you'd have a hard time guessing his age. He had the baby face of a sixteen-year old. In the pale light you couldn't even make out the sparse, blonde stubble on his chin. If he were lucky, they would still be carding him when he was forty. The only thing about Chris' face that looked old was his eyes. There were bags under his green eyes and his pupils were dull. Was it the endless grind? Getting home in the middle of the night and going to work before the sun came up? Or was it listening to that message over and over again?

        The whistle of a train jostled Chris out of his self pity. Pulling his jacket tightly around himself, he walked out the other side of the Salt Mine to the open platform on the harbor. The leather jacket was obviously too big for him and did little to protect him from the harsh winter wind blowing across the open water. The coat was never about keeping warm. He'd gotten it for a song, thinking it would make him look cool. As Amy had pointed out a million times, being buried in a coat three sizes too big only accentuated his thin frame.

        Chris hurried across the freezing platform and up the steep steps into the train. He walked through mostly deserted cars, finally sinking into a window seat. How much of his life, he wondered, was wasted in these in-between places? How much time wandering the Salt Mine or sitting on trains? Being stuck in the in-between places always made time drag.

        Reaching into the front of his shirt, he grabbed his necklace, clenching it tightly in his hand. It was just a small metal gear on a plain silver chain. He squeezed it until the teeth on the tiny wheel dug small indentations into his palm. This always centered him when things were out of control. He closed his eyes until he felt the train lurch forward underneath him.

        Once the train left the station, Chris tried to sleep, but it was no use; his body was spent, but his mind was overrun by rapid thoughts. He stared out the window, even though watching the passing objects made him feel a little sick. It was a kind of poor man's hypnosis; tree shapes and streetlights streaked past in the dark. Cars drove by under elevated tracks. It wasn't as good as sleeping, but it induced a sort of trance that muted the noise in his head.

        It was over an hour before he reached his station. Just another hour lost in-between. It was painful to think about it. Chris didn't really want to stay at work, but he certainly didn't want to go home either. He stepped out of the train and clung to the ice encased iron railings on the platform stairs. Chris carefully stepped down each step to the parking lot. He clutched the front of his leather jacket tightly and contemplated how it would feel to not have to go home. He fantasized about stepping outside of himself for a while. What a relief it would be to be someone else. Someone with somewhere to go home to. Someone Amy would want to be with.

        The night air nipped at his bare knuckles. Chris rubbed his hands together and reached into his pocket for the keys to his old Saab. He'd worked three summers in high school to save enough money for a used car. Someone used to love this car. For a while, he had too. Now it was just something that barely shuttled him to and from the station. The car still had salt stains on the tires from a long and punishing winter. Though there was no snow left on the ground and the beginning of spring was merely days away, the nights were still frigid.

        Chris sleepwalked through the drive home. He pulled into the frozen, dirt driveway behind his crumbling apartment building and turned off the engine. Dark silhouettes lurked in the rear view mirror. It was probably the junkies going out behind the dumpster again, or perhaps some homeless people. It didn't faze him anymore. It was the sort of thing you saw a lot of in his neighborhood.

        His place was on the outskirts of the city; too far away to be in the city, yet not far enough to be in the suburbs. It was where you went when you couldn't afford to live anywhere else. Chris locked the car, went around to the front of his apartment building, unlocked the heavy glass door, and ignored his mail box. He could still remember the first time he'd gone through those doors. It was his first apartment. He was on his own, and out from under Danny's thumb. It had made him proud, made him feel like a man.

        Once, he'd thought of the place as his castle, but today it looked more like the slum that everyone else saw when they drove by. He lugged himself up the six flights of stairs to his floor. As usual, the hallway was abandoned. There was never anyone coming or going at the hour Chris came home. His body dropped against his door as he turned the key in the lock. Pressing against the door, he stumbled forward into the living room under his own weight. The place was pitch black, punctuated only by the blinking red light of the answering machine.

         Moving groggily though the void, Chris brushed his fingers against the play button before going into his bedroom. He laid down on his bed, still dressed, and listened to her voice in the other room.

        "Chris, it's Amy. God, I really didn't want to do it this way. I wanted to tell you in person ... I guess ... I just didn't know if I could say it to your face. The thing is, I'm leaving. I'm sure this isn't a surprise. You and I ... it worked in high school, but it's just different now. We're not really the same people any more and we've been really distant lately. I know you work all the time, but it's not just that. We're in different places. I'll be done with my degree in a few years and after that I don't know ... maybe I want to see the world, or maybe just try some new things. We just don't have anything in common anymore. It's not that I don't love you anymore- it's just that we've gone about as far as we're gonna go. And you need to know that I met someone else. It's not like I planned it. I didn't go looking to start something."

        God, Chris wondered, why did it take so long for her to say she didn't want him anymore?

        "It just sort of happened. Brian's a writer too."

        Why did she have to say his name?

        "We're kinda in the same place right now and it just felt right. I never wanted to hurt you. God, I know how hypocritical that sounds when I'm dumping you on a voice mail. I guess ... I just didn't want to tell you to your face cause I know it would break my heart."

        Now she's worried about broken hearts.

        "I know that pretty much makes me a coward."

        Yes.

        "It's true. You always said I wasn't good with confrontation. That's why I've already moved my stuff out. You know what I say- just rip the Band-Aid off. It always hurts less that way in the end. Anyway ... I'm sorry. A part of me is always going to love you. I just know this is the best thing for the both of us."

        Chris pulled his pillow tightly over his head. How long had Amy been seeing this guy? Had it been right under his nose? How could he not tell something was wrong? Had he missed some sign? He ran through the last year in his mind looking for something- anything to explain it. How many times had he listened to the message? Five times? Ten? He couldn't even remember. He wasn't even sure what day it was. He had to delete the message in the morning; he couldn't take listening to that again. Of course, these were the same thoughts he had every time he heard the message. This time was just like the last time he listened to Amy dump him, except this time there was another message waiting after Amy's.

        "Chris, it's your mother. Are you there? Pick up if you're there. You haven't called in months ... Dammit, you're still my son, and you won't return my calls. God! I know you enjoy hurting me, but this is just beyond. Even for you."

        This was just like every conversation Chris ever had with his mother. She was always the martyr and Chris was always the ungrateful child. He normally found this routine infuriating, but he was far too numb to take it seriously.

        "One day you're going to grow up and realize that the world doesn't revolve around you. Other people deserve happiness too. Just because you and Danny don't get along, doesn't mean you get to cut me out of your life."

        Don't get along, Chris thought. His mother had a thing for understatement.

        "I expect to hear from you tomorrow."

        Chris hadn't spoken with his mother for at least four months, and that message didn't make him want to jump out of bed and call her back. He wondered if he had been home when she called, would he have picked up? Chris didn't want to talk to his mother, but he didn't have anyone else to talk to. Amy left him, and there wasn't even anyone to tell. Chris pulled the pillow back over his head and made a mental note to erase both messages in the morning.

 

        Chris slammed the snooze button on the alarm clock for the third time. He knew that if he kept this up, he'd miss his train and be late again. He didn't need to be in trouble at work on top of everything else that was going wrong. He reasoned that if he got up and went to work, he'd at least be somewhere else. He wouldn't be in the bed that they used to sleep in together. That thought, more than the alarm clock going off again, got Chris out of bed and into the shower.

        After a quick shower, Chris tossed on some jeans and a sweatshirt and headed for the living room. Christ, had Amy owned everything? There were no pictures on the walls, no vase on the table, no plants on the windowsill. Amy had left Chris all the furniture, but all the flourishes that made the place a home were gone. Chris knew her clothes weren't in the closet anymore. Her side of the underwear drawer was empty. Her toothbrush, he realized, even her toothbrush was gone. There was nothing on the walls other than the cracks in the plaster.

        Chris left- no he fled his apartment. Other than the sound of Amy's voice playing over and over again in his head, it was a standard morning. Drive to the station. Sit on the train. Sit at his desk. How pointless it seemed. Chris tried to concentrate on work, but it was no use. He sat in his cubicle and engaged in the twenty-first century version of thumb twiddling. He skimmed news stories online. He rearranged the icons on his desktop. He even started defragmenting his hard drive. Most of it could be misconstrued as work from a distance, but Chris knew better. If he hadn't substituted caffeine for sleep all week, he might even have cared.

        "Chris," Mr Patel said as he tapped Chris on the shoulder.

        "Uh, Mr. Patel ..." Chris responded quickly enough that Mr. Patel didn't notice how little Chris was accomplishing. Mr. Patel was a distinguished looking Indian man. He wore a pressed suit every day, and he always stood up perfectly straight. Chris looked up to him. He was not only Chris' boss, he was also the co-founder of the company. It was Mr. Patel who decided to give Chris a break even though he had virtually no experience. "I didn't even realize you were back."

        "I got in late last night."

        "What can I do for you today?" Chris asked. Mr. Patel was a goal oriented man. He never stopped by to make small talk. It was one of the many things Chris admired about him.

        "Chris, Unitech just bought a license for the inventory application. They need someone on site to help them get up and running." Mr. Patel rolled a spare office chair into Chris' area and sat down. "I was thinking- you've been supporting the inventory group for a while now. You've even had your hand in the code to some extent. I think you're just the man to go out in the field and get them up to speed."

        Chris perked up. He'd never been sent out on a service call before. Usually that sort of work was reserved for someone more skilled or at least more important. "Yeah," he grinned. "I could do that. But ... doesn't Jim handle that stuff? I mean, inventory is really his project. Not that I don't want to go," he assured his boss.

        Mr. Patel lowered his voice and slid closer to Chris. "Chris, keep this to yourself ... Jim is leaving the company. He got another offer and he decided to move on."

        "Why would Jim leave?" Chris asked.

        "Jim left because he wanted to leave. In the meantime, we'll just have to pull some double duty until we hire someone new." Mr. Patel stood up and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'm not sending you because Jim left, I want you to go because you're the man for the job. Can I count on you?"

        Chris nodded. "You got it. I know how to set up the inventory system- hell I've done it dozens of times over the phone. Doing it in person should be a breeze."

        "Excellent Chris, just excellent," grinned Mr. Patel. "I knew you'd be up for it. So I need you to spend the rest of the day making arrangements and gathering documentation."

        "Arrangements?" Chris asked.

        "Yes. Unitech is in Ardmore. It's quite a trip. I need you there on Wednesday. You can expense your gas, your hotel room ... anything you need."

        "I'll get on it right now."

        "You're helping us out more than you know," Mr. Patel said, very pleased with Chris' enthusiasm. "Take the whole week. Take your time getting there and when you're done, take some time off. You've been putting in late hours. Don't think I haven't noticed." Mr. Patel slapped Chris on the back and left him to his work.

        The disk defragmenter's status bar was only one quarter complete. Chris felt a volcanic surge of guilt and clicked the cancel button. It was true that he'd been putting in long hours all week, but he'd hardly accomplished anything. Ever since Amy's message, he'd been paralyzed. It was as if he were looking out a grime covered window in a train car- the world was far away and speeding past, and he just sat there.

        This was his chance. A whole week to get away. And it was an opportunity to move out of his nobody status at work. It was just what he needed. Maybe, if he would focus all his attention on the job, it would keep him from feeling sorry for himself. It might distract him from the thought that he should call Amy and beg her to take him back.

        Collecting all the documentation he could find, Chris spent the rest of the day organizing it. The task was so engrossing that he continued shuffling and rearranging pages on the train. Before he knew it, he was at his station and on the way home.

        Chris opened the door to his apartment and walked in with his chin held high. Amy thought he was a nobody with no future. She was wrong, he thought. This trip was going to be his ticket. Even his mother thought he was a failure. He would prove them both wrong. All that was left now was the details. He signed on to his computer and checked his bank account- more than enough money for the trip. He looked around and thought about what he needed to pack. As he scanned the apartment, he saw the flashing red light on the answering machine. He walked over to the machine and pressed play.

        "Chris it's Amy. God, I really didn't want to do it this way. I wanted to tell you in person ..."

        That was the last time he was going to hear Amy's voice. She was the one who cheated on him, he thought. He wasn't going to plead with her and he certainly wasn't going to listen to that message one more time. He hit delete and breathed a sigh of relief.

        MESSAGE DELETED.

        As the tension left his shoulders, he noticed for the first time that his jaw was sore from being continually clenched for the past week. This part of his life was over. Then he heard his mother's voice.

        "Chris, it's your mother. Are you there? Pick up if you're there."

        MESSAGE DELETED.

        The only two women in Chris' life had been nothing but trouble. Even though he hadn't actually spoken with them, deleting those messages felt as good as if he'd told them off to their faces. Some day they'd be sorry for that kind of crappy treatment.

        Chris went back to the computer and pulled up a mapping site. He searched for "Ardmore" and his jaw dropped when the results came back. "Seven-hundred miles?" he gasped. Seven-hundred miles; he did the math on his fingers. It had to be twelve hours of driving. Could he drive that far in one day? Even if he could, would his car last?' "Fuck me," he uttered.

        He scoured the travel sites looking for more information. It would work if he left on Monday; two days there, two days back. Not much of a vacation, but at least it would get him out of his apartment, he thought.

        It took a mere ten minutes to arrange for a modest hotel room in Ardmore near Unitech's headquarters. All he needed now was a place to bed down at some halfway point. The only problem was, it didn't look like there was a decent halfway point. The mapping site sent him via the most direct route- through the mountains and into the heart of the middle of nowhere. It crossed ground too remote even for the residents of East Bumblefuck. He searched for hours. There were no hotels, motels, or hostels. Not a single bed and breakfast or road house. Even the campgrounds were closed for the winter. There were plenty of places to stay just two hours north of the city, but that wasn't going to cut it. "Dammit!" Chris cursed. He wasn't going to give up that easily. He looked at the clock; it was already one in the morning. He'd just have to solve the problem tomorrow.

        Chris got dressed for bed. He took off his shirt and looked in the mirror at his bare chest where his necklace fell. He squeezed his gear necklace and promised himself that he'd find a way to make everything work, even if he wasn't sure how right now.

 

        Saturday morning came and went as Chris called around, looking for a place to stay. After lunch he decided to take a break and clean out his car. His car certainly wasn't going to make a great impression on the Unitech guys, but he wanted look as professional as he could manage. When he came back inside, the phone was ringing. Was it Amy? Chris knotted his brow and stared at the phone. If it was her, he wasn't going to pick up. No fucking way. The phone rang as though the sound constituted its end of a staring contest. Chris stared back and lost. He felt a tightness in his chest and made a mad swipe for the receiver.

        "Hello?" he stuttered.

        "Chris, it's your mother. I thought I raised you to have some manners. Apparently I left out returning phone calls."

        "Hey Mom." At least it wasn't Amy. "Look, I've been busy at work ... I've been kinda meaning to call ..."

        "Well if you're trying to hurt me mister, you're doing one hell of a job." Chris' mother held a black belt in guilt-trip-fu. She could beat a man to death in front of a cop and then convince him that she was the victim.

        "I'm sorry. So what's is it this time?"

        "As I'm sure you've forgotten, Wednesday is your stepfather's birthday. I would appreciate it if you-"

        "You're shitting me, right?"

        "Chris, don't talk to me that way."

        "Come on Mom," Chris spat, "You don't seriously think that I'm showing up for that sonofabitch?"

        "Well I thought maybe you were over your rebellious phase by now."

        "Yeah Mom, it's the same old story. You always take Danny's side and that's just all there is to it."

        "That's not fair, Chris," she responded in her best wounded voice.

        "Maybe it's not fair, but that's the way it is. You know what? I can't make it. I have a very important business trip next week."

        "A trip?" she asked.

        "Yeah. I go on business trips all the time," he gloated.

        "Where are you going?"

        "Ardmore," he answered. "I'm visiting some company you've probably never heard of."

        "They're flying you all the way to Ardmore?"

        "Well ... no," he said. "I'm driving." Chris glanced at his computer and sighed. "Actually I'm having a hard time figuring out where I'm staying on the way. I keep looking over the map and all I see are small towns like Franklin's Notch ... Waterford ... Oak Grove ... There's one place called Dover, but it's some sort of resort town. I can't afford to stay there."

        "What did you say?" Chris' mother asked.

        "Dover ... yeah I dunno. It's the biggest dot on the map."

        "No, before that."

        "What, Oak Grove?"

        "Yes ... that one ..." she said. "Why do I know that name?"

        "Look, I dunno," Chris sighed. "And frankly I need to figure this out so-"

        "I remember." Chris' mother said with a hint of melancholy. "You have cousins there."

        "Mom, I think you've flipped. We don't have any cousins."

        "Well, you do. They're distant relatives of your father's."

        It was as though she dropped an atom bomb on the conversation. "On Dad's side of the family?" he asked. Chris twisted the phone cord nervously around his fingers. "Why didn't you say anything before?"

        "I forgot. I haven't thought of it in years. Before you were born, your father started a family tree. It was this kick he got on once we were pregnant. I remember how excited he was when he found out about them. He tracked them down and sent them a letter, but I don't think they ever responded."

        "How come you never told me?" Chris interrupted, "Do you know ... who are they? Can I call them?"

        "Chris, I don't know if any of that stuff made it ... Hold on."

        Chris waited by the phone, twisting the cord around his hand so tightly that the tips of his fingers turned red.

        A few minutes later, Chris' mother returned to the phone. "I can't believe I still have it. It was in the basement with the rest of your father's things."

        "Well, is there a number?" he asked.

        "No, there's just an address for Alek and Misha- Levchenko."

        "Levchenko?" Chris repeated.

        "Yeah they were fresh off the boat, if you know what I mean," she sniped.

        Chris grabbed a sticky note and pen. "Mom," he demanded, "The address. What's the address?"

        "Chris, this address is twenty years old, and they never wrote back. They probably don't even live there anymore."

        Chris mumbled, "Please."

        Chris listened patiently as his mother read out the address. He scribbled it down and pressed the sticky note on the frame of his monitor.

        "Don't get your hopes up, Chris." It was meant to be the one nice thing his mother had said all night.

        "I won't. Look, I'm not going to call strangers out of the blue and crash on their couch. I just might ... I dunno ... I'll check it out if I'm in the area. I'm gonna go. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

        "Call me when you get back," Chris' mother insisted.

        "Yeah okay. Goodbye."

        Chris hung up the phone. His mother had no real expectation that Chris would call nor did he have any real intention of calling. This was the same story they'd been acting out since he left home. He didn't even feel bad about it anymore. He was, however, grateful that his mother had caught him tonight.

        Chris stared at the address on the tiny yellow paper. His father's family, he thought. He'd never met anyone from his father's side of the family. He opened a new browser window and went to a phone directory website. He typed in "Alek Levchenko" and the address. Nothing. He tried "Misha Levchenko." Still nothing. Then he tried just the last name "Levchenko" in Oak Grove. There was one listing for an "A. Levchenko." It had to be them. How many Levchenkos could there be? Taking the sticky note down, he added the phone number under the address. He then stuck it back onto the side of his monitor and stared at the ink, not knowing whether he had the courage to call.

        Leaving the computer, Chris walked into his bedroom. It looked like a laundry truck had exploded, and there were no survivors. He dipped his foot into the rising tide of dirty clothes on the floor and shifted it into two distinct piles: dirty clothes to be washed for the trip, and dirty clothes that would spend the next week still dirty.

        He'd never bought into the laundry propagandists who insisted that there was a difference between whites and colors when it came to washing clothes, so he just shoved the top of the to-be-cleaned pile into a trash bag. Standing back up, he hoisted the clothes over his shoulder. As he walked back through the living room, he eyed the sticky note. He stared at it until he closed the door on the way to the basement.

        When he returned from the downstairs laundry, his eyes again went to the yellow slip, but he walked right past the note, down the hall, and into the bedroom. He bent down and started scooping the rest of the clothes into another trash bag. Cousins, he thought. He had cousins. What were they like?

        Suddenly, doing laundry seemed like the most unimportant thing in the world. Chris went back into the living room and ripped the sticky note off the monitor. He pressed his finger against the sticky edge and pulled it off repeatedly until the glue went dry. Picking up the phone, he dialed the number.

        One ring...

        Two rings...

        Three ...

        Chris hesitated for a moment. What was he expecting? These people had no idea who he was. This was crazy. He began to put the phone back down when he heard a young girl's voice.

        "Hello?"

        Chris hesitated.

        "Hello?" she repeated.

        Chris felt his throat tighten up. He managed to speak, though nervously and somewhat under his breath. "Hi," he said. "Um ... is this the Levchenko residence?"

        "Yes ... who are you?"

        "I'm your cousin ... your cousin Chris."

        "Chris?" the girl said, "I don't remember any cousin Chris."

        "Well you wouldn't, I mean ... that is ... well, we've never met. My name is Chris Chase."

        "Chris Chase?" the girl repeated.

        "Yeah," Chris said sheepishly. Chris heard the name "Chase" repeated by an older woman in the background.

        "Nina, did you say 'Chase?'" asked the voice in the distance. He head the phone being placed down, and he heard the girl say, "Yes Mom. It's our cousin I think?" Chris heard the phone being picked up, and Nina's voice was replaced by that of a much older woman's.

        "Hello?"

        Chris had never heard such a friendly voice. It felt like the first day of Spring after a long Winter. He reflexively grinned, though his voice was still soft and shaky. "Is this Misha? My name's Chris. I'm ... that is ... my father ... Alexander Chase is my father."

        "Goodness!" Misha exclaimed. "Alexander Chase! That is a name I have not heard in a very long time." She had a distinct Russian accent. "What was your name again, dear?"

        "Chris," he repeated in a small voice. Chris wanted to relax, but he was too excited to be speaking with someone who perhaps knew his father.

        "Alexander, he wrote us so long ago, but we haven't heard anything in years."

        "Did you know him?"

        "We never met. There was just the letter."

        "Oh," Chris said dejectedly.

        "But what a good surprise to hear from you, child! Tell me, why did you call?"

        "I just wanted to get in touch ... that and ... well, I'm embarrassed to even ask ... I ..." Chris tried to find the words to ask this complete stranger to let him into her home.

        "What is it, dear?" she asked.

        "I ..." Chris struggled.

        "You should come and visit." It was as though the older woman was reading Chris' mind. "We'd love to hear all about you and your family. You are our only relatives in this country."

        "Actually, the reason I was calling- I'm driving all the way from the city to Ardmore on Monday, and I'll be passing by Oak Grove ... I was wondering, if it wasn't an inconvenience ... if I could-"

        "Inconvenience?" Misha interrupted. "No, no! You MUST stay here."

        "It would only just be for one night," Chris blurted, "I don't want to impose ..."

        "Nonsense!" Misha beamed. "We would love to have you as our guest. We have a spare room- I'll start making it up right now."

        Chris could hear Nina's voice in the background again. "Someone's coming to visit?" She sounded very excited.

        "Thank you, it would really help me out." Chris paused for a moment then added, "And I would really like to meet you."

        "You must tell me all about yourself. How old are you? What is your father doing these days? There's so much to know!" Misha was genuinely excited. It was more than Chris could have hoped for.

        "Well, I'm nineteen, and ..." As much as Chris was excited to talk with this woman, he felt very uncomfortable talking about his father.

        "Listen to me dear," Misha said, sensing Chris' reluctance, "It is very late and I am asking you so many questions. We shall have time to talk when you get here."

        Chris quickly exchanged some information with his cousin. He jotted down directions to her house, and he gave her his cell phone number. Chris mapped the path to Oak Grove on the computer and concluded that it would take around eight hours to get there. It was more driving than he wanted to do in one day, but it was better than sleeping in his car.

        "Ok, so, I should be there around seven or eight o'clock at night, if there's no traffic." Chris said.

         "That late?" Misha asked.

        "I'll try to get there earlier but-"

        "No," Misha interrupted, "Take all the time you need, we will wait up for you."

        "Thank you." Chris' face was covered by a goofy grin. "I guess I should go. I'm still packing ...."

        "Of course," Misha said. "Call us if you get lost or need anything. Goodnight child."

        "Goodnight."

        Somehow, Misha's goodnight made him feel as though she'd reached through the phone and given him a hug. Chris wondered what she looked like. He wondered, did she look like his father? Was she even directly related, or was it her husband Alek? And Nina; Chris had a cousin named Nina. How old was she?

        Chris printed out all the directions for his trip and went to bed. He couldn't stop thinking about meeting his relatives. He wished that he had the entire week to get to know them, not just one night. Still, even one night was something. As of yesterday, he didn't know he had cousins. On Monday, he was going to meet them.

 

        Chris had spent all of Sunday washing clothes and packing. He wanted to make a good impression on the people at Unitech, but more importantly, he wanted to make a good impression on his cousin Misha. When Monday morning came around, he was exhausted. His excitement over his trip and meeting his cousins had kept him awake all night. Even with his lack of sleep, he got up early. There was no way he was going to start his trip one minute later than he'd planned.

        After Chris called Mr. Patel, he carried his suitcase downstairs to his car, took off his jacket and threw it in the back seat. It was still chilly out, but he was going to spend hours on end in a heated car. The jacket was just too large to be comfortable for driving. He put his wallet into the back pocket of his jeans and threw his suitcase into the back seat with his jacket.

        After shutting the back door, Chris slid into the driver's seat. He had his maps, his phone, and a full tank of gas. All that was left now was a lot of driving.

---

Thanks to Holly H. Hart and Tiffany Jean for editing help with this chapter!

        Chris began the long day's drive already spent from a week of sleepless nights. He had stopped for some soda and fast-food hours after leaving home, but caffeine and empty calories could only do so much. Realizing that his head was starting to drift downward every so often as he rested his eyes, he left the interstate for a rural route. Seeing a filling station, he decided to top off his gas tank before he ventured further into the official middle of nowhere.

        Pulling into the station, he caught a glimpse of the mountains ahead, a jagged range of incisors biting at the clouds. As he came to a stop, he worried that they might be more than his old car could handle.

        Parking the car in front of a gas pump, he got out to stretch, swinging his arms in broad circles in an attempt to wake himself up. Pulling out his debit card, he placed his wallet on top of the gas pump.

        A yawn swelled in his chest as he stared at the dark clouds moving across his field of vision, dropping a long shadow over the mountains and the trees below. Chris swiped the debit card through the card reader then dropped it back into his pocket. As he finished pumping, he felt the first drops of rain on his head. After the tank was filled, he placed the nozzle back in the pump and replaced the gasoline cap.

         The rain started to pick up as Chris stared up at the sky. Thick clouds obscured the sun, and it became like dusk. Getting back into the car, he pulled out his maps. He had a long way yet to go, and driving in the dark wasn't going to make the trip any easier.

        Back on the road, Chris drove for hours. It was already past eight o'clock, and he hadn't seen a single sign for Oak Grove. He was growing worried; the vicious rainstorm that had started a few hours ago showed no signs of abating. Rain poured in sheets, and he could barely see a few feet in front of the car. The headlights reflected almost nothing but the torrents of water. Still, he kept going. Again checking the time on his cellphone, he decided to give it one more hour, just one more, then call for directions.

        Nine o'clock came and went with still no signs of Oak Grove; no signs of anything, for that matter. His maps clearly showed the small town somewhere up in the mountains. He'd definitely been gaining altitude for some time, but in the storm and darkness he couldn't be sure if he were in Death Valley or on top of Mount Everest. Chris strained his eyes as he watched the road, which was becoming dangerous with all of its strange curves and twists.

        White aspens streaked by like apparitions in the rain blasted windshield. He could stop, he thought; pull off to the side of the road and wait for the storm to blow over. But how long would that take? What if it rained all night? What if he weren't even on the right road anymore?

        It was already late, and each minute he wasted dug him deeper in his hole. He desperately wanted to meet these newly discovered cousins. No, the thing to do was to make up for lost time. Chris pushed down on the accelerator and leaned forward as though that would make driving through the liquid void feel less like piloting a submarine.

        That's when he saw the twin halogen lamps slice through the water. They appeared around an unseen corner; two bright lights careening across the road. The muscles in Chris' gut tensed. Did he see it right? Were the lights over the yellow line? Oh God, he shouted in his mind, they were in his lane!

        Chris felt his mind contract; his body didn't budge, but he felt the world fold in around him. His vision was suddenly clear; he could see every rain drop as it fell in slow motion across the oncoming beams. His hands clenched the steering wheel like talons and he threw the wheel all the way to the right. His legs locked, pressing hard on both the brake and the accelerator. The tires shrieked and the engine roared, but the car did not change direction. The wheels locked as the car hydroplaned across the slick road, straight towards the oncoming lights.

        He saw them inch ever closer His every hair stood up, and he could sense the impending impact on every inch of his body as the car sailed towards collision.

        But it never came ...

        The headlights drifted past the car to the left. It was impossible. There was no way he could have avoided the other car, yet Chris watched the lights glide past.

        That was when the front tires made solid contact with asphalt.

        The front of the car jerked hard to the right and the tail end whipped around to follow it. The rickety Saab spun violently as it launched off the road and into the darkness. His senses recorded each millisecond as the car whirled through space, though his body was still frozen.

        Then he felt the impact; the car smashed against something solid in the darkness. The world went instantly from slow motion to high speed, and Chris' head snapped against the door.

 

        Christopher Chase opened his eyes, unaware of how much time had passed. His body quivering, he looked through the cracked windshield and saw the rain falling in his headlights. He heard the sound of a thousand icy raindrops pounding on the roof of his car. The word, "Shit," repeated over and over in his mind, but his lips were not moving. Realizing that his body was still stuck in the same pose it had been during the impact, Chris released his grip on the steering wheel. He'd been clenching the wheel so tightly that his palms ached.

        He felt a steady throbbing rippling from his forehead. Raising his hand to his head, Chris found it was painful to the touch, but it didn't appear to be bleeding.

        Still stunned, Chris knew he had just been in a crash. He knew he should do something, but he couldn't think of what that might be. He tried starting the car. It made some noises, but it wouldn't start. Coming to his senses, Chris moved his hand over the passenger seat until his fingers came in contact with his cell phone. He flipped it open and looked at the display.

        It was ten o'clock, and his phone was almost out of power. He started to dial 911 when the phone lit up with an incoming call. He attempted to say hello, but the words wouldn't come.

        "Chris? Chris are you there? It's Misha." His cousin sounded worried.

        "He ... hello." Chris' voice was high pitched and faint.

        He sounded rattled, something that was not lost on his cousin. "Where are you? Are you alright? There is a terrible storm tonight."

        "My car went off the road," his voice trembled. "It was dark ... and then there was another car ...." Chris found that speaking the situation aloud only made him more frightened.

        "Are you hurt?" Misha asked.

        "No. I don't think so. My head a little ... but I think I'm okay."

        "Chris," Misha said, keeping a cool head, "Do you know where you are?"

        "I ...." Chris peered out into the darkness as his eyes teared up and a lump formed in his throat. "I don't know. I was on route five-twelve ... but then I went into the mountains ... there were lots of turns, and I just don't know what happened ...." The battery life warning chimed on Chris' cellphone and the connection started to fade. "I took the turn for Franklin's Notch. That was the last sign I saw." Chris didn't hear a response, all he heard was static. "Hello?" he cried.

        "Listen to me Christ-" Misha's voice cut out in the static and back in again, "-tly where you are. Everything is going to be okay. I'm sending Alek and-" more static cut through the conversation. "-be there in a half an hour. You are going to be fine. Just stay right there. Can you still hear me?" Misha tried to hide the fear in her voice.

        "Yes," Chris said. "I'll just stay here and wait for you. I didn't hear everything you said. Are you sure you know where I am?" The last part never made it to Misha. He felt his phone rumble and beep as it powered down. He was alone again.

        Chris again tried in vain to start the car. He accepted that it wasn't going anywhere, but he hoped he could get the heat running. It was no use. Wishing his cousins had already arrived, Chris clenched his arms by the elbows and shivered.

        When his teeth started to chatter, Chris realized he needed some way to keep warm until help arrived. His coat was in the back seat, but he feared it wouldn't be enough. Chris tried to think if there were anything he may have packed that he could use, and he remembered his emergency kit in the trunk. It had jumper cables, some flares, and more importantly, a blanket. Chris considered his options as the rain continued to pound on the roof of the car. Getting out wasn't exactly a good plan, but neither was freezing to death. Chris reached down and pulled the trunk release; he could barely hear the trunk pop open over the noise of the rain. After taking a deep breath, Chris kicked open the door and sprinted towards the back of the car.

        The rain battered Chris from all angles. The frigid drops of water stung where they made impact, and every inch of him was quickly soaked. Trudging through the thick mud and the wall of water, he forced his way to the open trunk. He rummaged around and felt the corner of the ratty, old blanket. Without hesitation, he draped the blanket over his head, and he was overtaken by the sickening odor of oil and gasoline. Without bothering to close the trunk, he made his way back around the car, his feet sinking deeper into the mud.

        When he felt himself sliding downhill with the shifting earth, he realized he was on the peak of a steep incline. Straining forward with all his might, Chris yanked himself free from the mud, and his shoes were pulled off his feet. Before he could react, his socks plopped down into the muck, and freezing water and earth filled between his toes.

        Opening the back door of the car, he felt around for his jacket. He pulled at it, but it was caught under his heavy suitcase. Yanking his coat in frustration, he pulled so hard that he fell backward into the mud, taking his jacket and suitcase with him. Engulfed by the cold, wet earth, he felt his entire body sliding downward.

        Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his suitcase drifting away into the darkness. Rolling over, he grabbed for it, but he was too late- it was lost. As he felt himself pick up speed, he realized that he didn't want to find out where the suitcase had gone. Frantically, he grasped at the mud and darkness, and regained his footing. After carefully making his way back to the car, Chris slammed the back door, then climbed back into the front seat, completely covered in mud and shivering worse than before. Shaking violently now, he covered himself with his coat and the blanket.

        Chris pressed his trembling palm against his chest, feeling the outline of the gear necklace that hung around his neck. In his other hand, he held his cellphone. He knew it didn't work, but holding it gave him some small comfort. Closing his eyes, Chris tried to ignore the trembling of his body and the relentless thumping of the raindrops on the roof.

 

        A pair of headlights appeared in the darkness, as an old truck pulled off the road and pointed its headlights towards the crashed Saab. Alek and his son Andrei, wearing their boots and heavy rain coats, stepped out into the storm. The world was fluid and shifting around the two solid figures as they strode though the beams towards Chris' car.

        In the light reflected off the car, Andrei could see a pained look on his father's face. Alek turned to his eldest child and barked, "Get the bags. I will get your cousin."

        Alek ran to the driver's side door and grabbed the handle. Closing his eyes and clenching his teeth, he exhaled forcefully through his nostrils like a bull, and ripped the door open. Alek crouched down and looked inside. He saw a disoriented Chris lower his oil stained blanket and squint into the beam of the flashlight. Alek reached out and wiped the mud off Chris' pale, cold cheek "Oh God," he gasped.

        Andrei took his flashlight and scanned the car, looking for any sign of cases or bags. Not finding anything, he moved to the back of the car. The side of it had slammed into a large tree. Andrei was not a mechanic, but he knew this wasn't going to be easy to fix.

        Alek shook Chris gently as he said, "It is going to be alright. We have come to take you home." Alek's arms felt like fallen tree trunks on Chris' thin shoulders. Chris couldn't see much of the enormous man's face in the darkness other than his dark brown eyes and heavy brow. His accent was thick, and more distinguished than Misha's. "Come on," Alek said, "We can come back for your car tomorrow.

        "I ...." Chris trailed off. He was drained.

        Not waiting for Chris to finish, Alek pulled him out of the car and held the boy in his arms. He carried Chris back towards the truck. "Andrei," Alek yelled over his shoulder, "Hurry up!" Alek opened the passenger door of the truck and effortlessly placed Chris inside.

        "There's nothing here," Andrei shouted back.

        "Andrei! Do not be useless! Check the trunk."

        Andrei flashed his light into the trunk finding only a few empty bottles of motor oil and two road flares. He slammed the trunk door and trudged back to his father. "There's nothing there either," he complained.

        Looking very annoyed with his son, Alek reached into his pocket and tossed the truck keys to Andrei. "You drive," he commanded. Alek raised his thick finger at Andrei and added, "Take it easy. One accident is enough for tonight."

        "Don't worry," Andrei sneered, "I'm not the one who drove like a madman to get here."

        Ignoring his son's comment, Alek took off his coat and wrapped it tightly around Chris. The man climbed into the passenger's side and sat next to Chris while Andrei got behind the steering wheel.

        "My suitcase," Chris whimpered, "It got washed away. I fell down, and-"

        "See?" quipped Andrei, "Just like I said- No bags."

        Alek glared at his son and pulled Chris against his chest. The giant man cradled Chris and brushed the mud from his long hair. "Do not speak," Alek said, "Just try to rest. We will be home soon."

        Feeling the heat from Alek's body, Chris leaned against the man and closed his eyes.

 

        Chris felt the roughness of the road under him as he slowly opened his eyes. He was still dazed, though he was lucid enough to recognize that he was in a strange truck, and bundled up securely in the arms of some large, unfamiliar man. Chris normally would have reacted immediately, but his mind was trying to put these pieces of information together in some way that made sense. He turned his head to the left to see another, much younger and equally large, man driving the truck.

        "Alek?" Chris said in a breathless and battered voice.

        Alek looked down and brushed Chris softly on his forehead. "Just relax," he cooed.

        Chris winced as Alek's immense, rough hand touched the tender bruise on his head. "I was in an accident," Chris said sheepishly, bringing his hand up against his forehead. "I think I hit my head."

        Alek set Chris upright on the seat and pointed at a porch light in the distance. "See?" Alek said softly, "We are here. Everything will be fine."

        Andrei stared at his father. He'd never seen the man act so tenderly. His father had certainly never treated him this kindly. He couldn't understand why his father was acting this way; he questioned whether it was even in his father's character.

        Andrei parked the truck between the house and the old barn. He hopped out of the aging green truck and saw his mother waiting at the side door. She looked every bit as worried as his father.

        Alek stepped out of the truck and held his hands up to Chris. Slowly unraveling the layers of clothing around him, Chris moved towards Alek. Chris was surprised when Alek lifted him up by the hips and placed him gently on the driveway as though it required the same amount of effort as fluffing a pillow. Alek wrapped his raincoat around Chris' shoulders, and his large arm around Chris' waist, and walked him slowly to the side door where Misha was waiting.

        "I think I can make it okay," Chris said, even as he stumbled along in Alek's arms.

        Misha took Chris from her husband and held him for a moment. The boy was covered with mud and grime. Misha held his face in her hand and brushed the mud from his hair, studying Chris' face. Then she looked at her husband in shock.

        Alek didn't say anything, only returning his wife's look, unable to explain the resemblance.

        "It's just a bump on the head," Andrei complained from behind.

        Ignoring her son, Misha led Chris into the kitchen and surveyed the large black and blue mark on the side of his forehead.

        Chris winced again and said, "I think I'm okay. I just need to lay down."

        "Of course, child," Come, you must get cleaned up. Dr. Stone can look at your forehead in the morning." She took Chris upstairs to the second floor bathroom.

        Misha entered the bathroom with Chris, and ran the faucet. Taking a hand towel, she dabbed it in the stream of warm water and started to clean the boy.

        Chris turned to the older woman and said in a sturdier voice, "I think I can handle this."

        "Are you sure dear?" Misha asked.

        "Yes, I'm okay- I promise." Chris looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. His clothes were ruined. Every inch of fabric was soaked through, and his face and hair were covered in filth.

        Misha left Chris to himself and disappeared down the hallway.

        Chris looked almost as miserable as he felt. There were steady, dull throbs of pain radiating from the dark mark on his head. He started to wash up the best that he could. He cleaned his face and tried to rinse his hair in the sink, the warm water feeling like fire on his chilled skin.

        Misha returned with a plastic bag, a towel, and some pajamas. "Put your clothes in this," Misha said holding out the bag. "I will clean them tomorrow."

        Chris took the bag and Misha folded the towel and placed it on the counter.

        "Andrei said he could not find your bags."

        Chris said, "I lost my suitcase. It slid down a hill, I think."

        "Do not worry child," she assured as she placed the pajamas next to the towel. "You can wear these tonight." As Misha closed the bathroom door behind her, she said, "Hurry up dear, you must be exhausted."

        Chris was still tired, even after resting on the ride to the house. He was unsteady on his feet, and his thoughts were cloudy. Chris wasn't sure if that was from his injury or just plain fatigue. Even though he didn't feel he had a strong grip on the night's events, he did feel the same unmistakable warmth from Misha in person that he'd felt on the phone.

        As Chris peeled the soggy clothes from his body, he felt cool air sting his wet skin. Dropping everything into the plastic bag, he cleaned himself a bit more, then pulled the cotton pajama top over his head and the pants up around his long legs. After spending the night in soiled, wet clothes, the soft, clean cotton felt like heaven against his skin. He relaxed the clenched muscles in his back and he felt warmth spread to his arms as his shoulders dropped.

        Stepping out of the bathroom, he found Misha waiting for him. She smiled maternally as she took Chris by the hand, leading him to the end of the hallway and into a large bedroom. The warm glow cast by a lamp on top of an antique chest of drawers was a marked contrast to the darkness of the storm that was still raging outside.

        Misha walked to the bed and pulled the covers down, Chris following behind her. At her urging, he slid in between the sheets.

        As Misha pulled the covers up around him and stroked his long, damp hair, Chris said, "I'm sorry about all this."

        "Shhh," she whispered. "Can I get anything for you?"

        As Chris lay there in his clean pajamas, nuzzled in the soft inviting bed, he shook his head. He couldn't imagine being more comfortable than he already was.

        Misha continued to stroke his hair as she smiled at the boy. Chris couldn't help but smile back at the caring older woman.

        "Goodnight," she whispered as she went to the chest of drawers and turned out the light. As she closed the door behind her, Chris closed his eyes.

---

Thanks to Holly H. Hart and Tiffany Jean for editing help with this chapter!

        As Chris rolled over and opened his eyes he could tell by the light on the ceiling that it was morning, but something was different. He felt as though he was floating on a cloud. This wasn't his bed. His bed was only marginally better than sleeping on the floor, and that was only because he rarely swept. Even the soft feather pillows molded perfectly to the curvature of his head. He couldn't remember feeling so relaxed in his life. Most mornings, his first action was to untwist his underwear, but today, his pajamas flowed marvelously from his body. He sighed, reveling in the sensation of being absolutely pampered.

        As he drifted out of his ecstasy, he became apprehensive. Though this room was perhaps the most cozy place that had ever existed, it was definitely not his room. He sat up in bed and looked around, scanning the room from left to right.

        On the left side of the room was a portrait in an old gilt metal frame sitting on a marvelously carved chest of drawers below on which also sat an extravagant lamp. On the other side of the room was a closet door with a full length mirror set in an ornate wooden frame. To his immediate left was a nightstand with a glass of water. Someone must have been here while he was asleep. Next to the glass of water was his cell phone and two white pills which he guessed were aspirin. That was when Chris remembered- the car accident. He touched his forehead and winced. This was his cousins' home.

        Chris took the aspirin and gulped down the cool water. As he stepped out of bed, his bare feet touching the cold, hardwood floor, he had a vague memory of Misha putting him to bed in this room. Sighing, he walked over to the window. He half expected the world to be dark and drenched, just as it had been the night before. However, the sight that greeted him was nothing like the gloom he'd traversed yesterday.

        Chris looked out into the clearest blue sky that he'd ever seen. It was a crisp expanse of cobalt that held a few pure white clouds in effortless suspension. He realized that he'd had been living in the city so long that he'd forgotten what the sky looked like when it wasn't choked with smog.

        The house had been built on the side of a mountain; the backyard was an endless sea of pines and aspen that descended into a pristine valley. Directly below his window he saw a beat up, green pick-up parked next to a weathered brown barn. The barn was surrounded by a meadow filled with wild grass and flowers that were just beginning to bud purple and yellow.

        Where Chris lived, nearly every square foot of land was paved or developed. Every tree and shrub had been picked, and planted, and primped to conform to someone else's desires. In contrast, the mountainside was wild, alive, and breathtaking.

        It was difficult for Chris to pull himself away from the window, but he was just as curious about the house as he was the outdoors. Opening the closet door he found a white, cotton robe hanging next to his still drying leather jacket. On the floor, he found a cardboard box filled with unmatched socks and a few knick knacks.

        Then he walked over to the chest of drawers to look at the picture. Picking up the old metal frame, he stared at the lone girl in the picture. As he looked, he realized the girl looked eerily like him. They had the same high cheek bones, the same green-gray eyes, and the same chin. The only real difference between him and the girl was that Chris had inherited his mother's short, rounded nose, and the girl's hair was both much longer than his shoulder length hair, and brown, where his was blond. There was no question that they were related. "Nina?" Chris pondered.

        He traced the girl's soft features with his eyes. She couldn't be Nina. The girl in the picture looked about his own age. The girl he had spoken with on the phone sounded much younger. It was difficult to tell from the photograph, but Chris had the impression that this girl might have been taller than he was. As Chris stared into the girl's eyes, it felt almost as though the picture was watching him back.

        Putting the picture back on the chest, he looked around the room for his clothes. He saw a mud-filled plastic bag in the corner, and it brought back fresh memories from the previous night. He'd run off the road. His car- was it wrecked? Going back to the window, he looked at the driveway, not seeing his car, only the truck.

        That brought back more memories ... He'd hit something, and two men had come to get him. "Andrei," Chris said. He bit his lower lip as he pictured last night. One of them was named Andrei. The other one ... Chris' head shot up as he recalled the scene. The other man had carried him to the truck and held him like a baby. Was that Alek? Had that really happened or did he just imagine it? Whether or not it was real, the image sent a shiver down his spine.

        Chris went back to the nightstand and grabbed his cell phone. He flipped it open and saw that it had no power left. He looked around the room for his suitcase, but he didn't see it anywhere. Then he remembered ... he'd lost the suitcase. Wherever it had gone, it had taken his phone charger with it. Everything he had was in the mud filled bag in the corner.

        Retrieving the bag from the corner, he shuffled though it. His clothes were soiled beyond belief. He felt around in the pockets of his jeans and pulled out his debit card. Where was his wallet? Chris rolled up the sleeve of his yellow, snowflake print pajama top and shoved his arm into the mess. It wasn't there? He dashed to the closet and turned out his jacket's pockets. Nothing. Maybe it was in the car, he thought.

        Chris ran his hands through his grungy hair. It seemed as though nothing ever went right. At least he would be able to meet his cousins.

        He took the fluffy white robe from the closet and tossed it on the bed, then stripped out of his yellow pj's and placed them next to the robe. Taking off his gear necklace, he put it on the nightstand next to his useless cell phone. If he was going to meet these people, he wanted to make a better impression than he had the night before.

        He put on the robe and stepped into the hallway, looking for any signs of life. No one was around. He walked down the hall to the bathroom he remembered from his arrival, and closed the door behind him.

         Slipping out of his robe, he hung it on a peg on the wall. Examining his chin in the mirror, he found barely any stubble. Still, he searched for a razor. He found a pink disposable razor and trimmed the invisible hairs from his face. Next, he stepped into the old fashioned claw-footed porcelain tub and pulled the shower curtain closed around him. He found some soap, shampoo, and conditioner and began to lather up his body and his long hair.

        He was unsure how long he stayed in the shower, enjoying the feeling of hot mist around him as he rinsed the last bits of grime from his body.

        He was vigorously massaging his hair with shampoo when he heard the bathroom door creak open behind him. Someone was walking through the bathroom! He heard them pull up the toilet seat. Chris wiped the soap from his face. What the hell, he thought. Who was in there with him?

        A feeling of dread came over him as he thought it might be the large man from last night. Pulling back the corner of the curtain, he slipped his head cautiously out from behind the veils of plastic and steam. "Hello?" he asked in a meek voice.

        "Hi!" answered the smiling young girl sitting on the toilet with her skirt down around her ankles.

        "Nina?" Chris blurted in a shrill, surprised voice.

        "Hey," the girl giggled. "I'm sorry, but I just couldn't wait. You've been in here forever, and Dad's in the bathroom downstairs."

        "Oh," Chris fumbled, "I'm sorry I just-"

        "It's okay," the girl grinned.

        It's okay, Chris shouted in his mind. How was that okay? He stared at the girl sitting not four feet away from him doing her business. It was nothing he was prepared for. He was even less prepared for what came next, as Nina stood up and casually wiped herself between her legs and then flushed the toilet before bringing up her panties and pulling her skirt back up to her waist.

        Chris' heart pounded and he jumped back into the shower. What the hell was that? What kind of people were they?

        "Hurry up," Nina said on the way out. "We all want to hear what happened last night!" The girl exited as though nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred.

        As Chris' shock wore off, he realized that he had just seen his much younger cousin naked from the waist down, in the most bizarre of circumstances. "Okay," he said aloud, "Just get dressed, thank them for the bed, and get out of here."

        But how was he going to get out? His car was wrecked. One problem at a time, he thought. Chris turned off the water and poked his head out of the shower to see whether there might be any other strange naked people. Finding the coast was clear, he stepped out of the tub and immediately put on his robe. He spent very little time fluffing his hair with a towel before walking cautiously back to the most comfortable room he'd ever slept in.

        He went back into the room, where he saw some clothes laid out on the bed, stopping dead in his tracks when he realized what he was looking at- It was a dress! A modest, but attractive house dress! Along with it, was a pair of panties, a bra, dark colored pantyhose, a slip, and some flat-heeled shoes. Chris' heart was racing. He'd been taken in by a family of psychopaths!

        He opened the door and shot a glance down the hallway. Nobody there, he thought. Good. He slammed the door shut and scrambled to the window. It was too high to climb down ... He had to think of something. He sped back to the door and grabbed the doorknob. Maybe he could make a run for it. He went back to the window and looked down again. It was still too high to jump.

        Chris looked back at the dress and noticed a small white note on top of it. With a trembling hand, he picked up the note and read it.

 

        Dear Christina, you can borrow some of my things until we find your lost bags. Come downstairs when you are ready for breakfast. - Misha

 

        Christina? What the hell? Chris' mind raced. Was this some sort of sick joke? He tried to remember what had happened last night. Was it remotely possible they thought he ... was a she? He replayed the phone calls in his mind. Did his gender ever explicitly come up? It didn't matter- clearly they must be deeply confused if they thought he was ... Chris looked up from the note to catch his gaze in the full length mirror. He whispered, " ...a girl?"

        He studied himself in the mirror, and his cheeks flushed in embarrassment. His robe was hanging off his left shoulder, and his delicate face was framed on both sides by his long, wet blonde hair. He did sort of look like a girl. Looking back at the picture on the chest of drawers, he realized he looked like that girl. He looked back at the clothes on the bed, taking a good look at the pajamas- the top was lined with lace, and there was a small bow on its breast.

        There was a knock at the door. "Are you ready yet?" Nina called.

        Chris panicked. He responded in his best girly voice, "Not yet! Gimme a minute!" Chris could hear the sound of blood rushing into his ears. They actually thought he was a girl! It all made sense- The way Alek had treated him ... That was the reason Nina ...

        Chris covered his mouth with his hand. He had seen his cousin naked in the bathroom. It wasn't completely out of place for two girls, but if his cousins found out he was really a ... Chris thought about the two gargantuan men who'd found him the night before. If they figured out he was a boy, and that he saw Nina ...

        Chris took a deep breath and picked up the panties, and for a moment, just stared at them. They were white. His underwear was white. They were cotton, just like his underwear. Come to think of it, the panties weren't that much different from his regular underwear.

        Chris dropped the panties as though they were made of red hot metal and dashed back to the window. It was still too high to jump.

        "Chris?" Nina called.

        Chris' shoulders sank, and he went back to the girls' clothes. "I'll be right out," he called. He quickly pulled the panties up his legs. Just as Amy always said, it always hurt less when you just rip the Band-Aid off.

        Next came the brassiere. He slid his arms through the straps and pulled the cups up against his chest. He reached behind his back with his hands and struggled to fasten it. How the hell did girls do this every morning? He pulled his arms back out of the straps and spun the bra around, fastening it shut across his chest then rotated it back into position. He put his arms back through the straps and looked down at the empty cups. Maybe he could pull off being flat-chested in the dark, but no one was going to buy it in the daylight. Chris looked around the drawers and in the closet for something to fill out his bosom. He opened the box in the closet and pulled out some old socks and stuffed them down the front of his bra. It would just have to do.

        Turning his attention to the pantyhose, he tried standing on one foot while trying to angle the other one in. It was obviously not working. How the hell did Amy do this, he wondered. He then he remembered Amy sitting on the edge of the bed, seductively pulling a pair of nylons up her bare legs. Sitting on the bed, Chris tried to imitate her. He rolled up the hose and placed his toes in the nylon donuts, then carefully slid them up his legs.

        Chris looked at the slip and the dress, and every muscle in his face tightened. "Okay Chris," he whispered to himself, "You just need to be a girl for one day. There must be some train or bus or something out of this town. You can figure it out, so long as you can make it though this day."

        Chris picked up the slip and pulled it over his head. There sure were a lot more steps for girls when getting ready. He picked up the dress and held it at arms' length, realizing he had to go through with it.

        Chris stepped into his dress and zipped up the back, then went to the mirror and took a look at himself. There were two ribbons dangling from either side of the dress. He tied the ribbons into a small bow behind his back. This gave him the illusion of curves on his tall, thin body. The floral dress had short sleeves and a high neckline that concealed his improvised breasts. The skirt dropped to just beneath his knees. He looked at himself, and a plain girl looked back, watching herself slipping her stocking feet into her shoes.

        Chris walked to the other side of the bed and took her necklace off the night stand, clasping it around her slender neck, letting the gear and chain drop beneath the top of her dress.

        Nina knocked again. "Are you ready yeeet?"

        Chris walked slowly to the door, the unfamiliar sound of her new shoes echoing in her ears. She opened the door and met Nina's grinning face. Nina had straight brown hair that came down to her shoulders. She had the same features as the girl in the picture; the same features as Chris.

        "Hi," Chris said, searching the girl's eyes for any hint that her illusion had failed.

        "Your hair is still wet," Nina beamed. She took Chris' hand and led her down the hallway, past the stairs and bathroom, to her room. Nina's room was much like the one Chris was staying in, except with a smaller bed and a large assortment of stuffed animals. She sat Chris down in a chair by her desk.

        Chris was met with her own visage in a large mirror, as Nina reached up and felt her cousin's short blonde hair. "Your hair is so pretty," Nina said. "Nobody on our side of the family has blonde hair." Her voice was a mix of amazement and jealousy. Nina pulled out a series of brushes and a hair dryer and placed them on the desk in front of Chris.

        Chris stared at the implements, realizing that she was expected to know how to used them. She stared at Nina blankly for a moment, then had a brainstorm and asked, "You know what would be a lot of fun?"

        "What?"

        "How would you like to do my hair today?" Chris grinned, hoping that Nina would take the bait.

        "Sure!" The young girl exploded with excitement as she took the large brush and the hair drier, and started on Chris' hair.

        "How old are you?" Nina asked as she coiffed and dried Christina's mane.

        "Nineteen," Chris replied. "Let me guess... you're seventeen now?" Chris asked hopefully.

        "I wish," Nina replied, "I just turned fifteen last month."

        Fifteen! She saw this little girl naked! Alek would murder her for sure, she thought. She dwelled for only a moment on that dismal thought. What seemed more important was that the girl brushing her hair was actually her cousin. Chris looked at Nina in astonishment as she worked.

        "What?" Nina laughed.

        "Hmm?"

        "You're staring at me."

        "Sorry," Chris said. "It's just that ... I've never met anyone who looked like me before."

        "I guess you could say that you look like me," Nina said playfully.

        "Yeah," Chris grinned. Nina wasn't quite as close a match as the girl in the picture, but she looked enough like Chris to be her sister. She had the same cheeks and eyebrows. She even had the same tiny earlobes.

        As Nina parted Chris' hair into bangs, she asked, "Don't you have any brothers or sisters?"

        "No," Chris responded. "Actually, your family may be the only relations I have in the world. Except my mother, that is." That thought rolled around Chris' head. They were her only family, and there was no way she was going to get to know them now.

        "It's so cool isn't it?" Nina said. "We've been cousins all our lives, and we never even knew it. Can you imagine if we had just bumped into each other by accident or something?"

        "Yeah that would be weird. I mean, I guess we're distant cousins," Chris said as she studied Nina's face, "But maybe not that far removed after all."

        "We're distant enough," Nina complained. "I wish I had blond hair too." She pointed at the mirror and asked, "What do you think?"

        "Wow," Christina said, wide eyed. The girl in the mirror was crowned by beautiful blond locks. There was no doubt she would be accepted as a girl, so long as she could play the part.

        "Is your makeup in the bedroom?" Nina asked.

        "Makeup," Christina blurted out as though it was a word she'd never heard before. "Oh right ... I lost my suitcase last night. All my clothes and ..." she shrugged helplessly.

        "Well, I have some, not a lot though. Mom doesn't like me wearing makeup."

        "Oh, me too. I mean, I hardly wear makeup ... Ever," Christina added under her breath. Christina sat for the next ten minutes as Nina applied foundation, blush, eyeliner, and light pink lipstick to her face. "You're pretty good at this for someone who isn't allowed to wear a lot of makeup," Christina grinned.

        "I practice when I'm alone in my room." Nina looked into her cousin's eyes through the mirror and smiled. "It's much more fun to have someone else to practice on."

        Christina smiled back, actually enjoying talking to her cousin, wondering what it would have been like to have her as a sister. Christina was an only child, and decided that being the younger girl's Barbie doll seemed like a fair trade to have a little sister for a while. Christina's gaze left her cousin's eyes to look at her own reflection. She was no longer just feminine, but lustrous and appealing.

        Nina held out her hand and said, "Let's go downstairs. Christina Chase is the only thing Mom's talked about since you called."

        "Well," Christina interjected with a nervous laugh, "That must be me ..."

        As the two girls descended the staircase into the living room, Christina looked around at the hardwood floor, the tall ceiling, and the large windows. An enormous stone fireplace was set into the far wall. Across from the hearth, on the opposite wall, was an antique clock that seemed somehow familiar. The house must have been a hundred years old. It was not richly furnished, but it had a homey glow that Christina's apartment never approached.

        Misha walked in from the kitchen and announced, "Chris! There you are!" Misha, like her daughter, had a tall, thin body, though the years had added some gray hairs, and a few extra pounds rounded out the older woman's face and waist. She smiled kindly and took Christina's other hand.

        Christina tensed slightly as she let go of Nina's hand. She felt safe with Nina. She wasn't sure she was ready to be a girl for anyone else, but It seemed she had no choice, as Misha pulled her into the kitchen and sat her down at the table.

        "How is your head, dear?" Misha asked as she touched Christina delicately on the forehead.

        Christina squinted slightly from the pain and replied, "I think it's much better ... Mrs. Levchenko?"

        "Please dear, call me Aunt Misha- We are family!" Misha grinned as she looked at Nina and Christina side by side. "There is no doubt! The two of you could be sisters." That comment made Nina grin, and Christina blush.

        Nina looked at the bruise on her cousin's forehead and asked, "What happened?"

        "Yes, what happened last night?" repeated a gruff voice from the side door of the house. Alek's wide, sinewy body filled the entire frame of the door. He must have been over six feet tall. Christina had a sense of the large muscles in his arms and chest, even though he was wearing a winter coat. His face showed the fire of a much younger man, as though his body had not deteriorated with age. Maybe his face had grown a bit thicker, the way that an old tree trunk grew more rings. It only became more solid with time.

        Christina's head sank, and she turned dark crimson. This was definitely the man who'd held her last night. Alek hung his heavy coat on the rack by the door and sat down at the table across from Christina, staring deeply into her eyes. Christina tried to look away, but she was locked into his gaze. She searched for any signs that he suspected anything was wrong, but she only found concern.

        Alek turned to Misha and quietly said, "She looks so much like-"

        "I know," interrupted Misha softly.

        Alek reached across the table and squeezed Christina's tiny hand. He said, "Tell us, what happened?"

        Christina relayed the entire story of her trip from the moment she started out on the mountain road. They listened intently as she told them about the storm, the headlights in the darkness, her car spinning, and nearly sliding down the mountain in a mudslide. "That's all I can remember," she said. "That is, until Uncle Alek. ..." She stared at her uncle. As she recalled being cradled in his arms, the chill returned to her spine. "... until Uncle Alek and Andrei rescued me."

        "Alek slammed his hand down on the table angrily and Christina jumped in her chair. "This other car," he growled, "Did the driver stop?"

        "No," Christina said sheepishly, "He just kept going."

        Alek stood up and fumed. "Damn these drunk drivers!" Alek mashed the stubble on his chin with his hand as he added, "And what kind of job sends a girl cross-country, alone?"

        "Uncle Alek," Christina said, "That's just the sort of job I have. I'm old enough to-"

        "No," Alek interrupted, "Nineteen is not old enough to be driving alone! Not at night!"

        Christina winced at the sound of the older man's voice, trying hard not to appear too afraid of her uncle.

        "It turned out alright, Alek," Misha consoled.

        "No! Not alright! She hurt her head! It could have been far worse."

        Misha, the calming force of the two, said, "I called Doctor Stone. He should be here soon. We should not get too worked up over a little bump on the head."

        Alek was visibly annoyed, but his face softened as he turned back to Christina. "Wait here," he said with excitement, "I have something for you."

        Christina straightened up. She couldn't help but feel she'd just been scolded as though she was a little girl who had crossed the street without holding her father's hand. Still, on the scale of responses Christina had been expecting, that rated far better than a severe beating.

        Alek returned with an old, yellowed envelope. He sat at the table with a look of joy as he placed a pair of tiny reading glasses around his thick nose. He pulled the letter from the envelope and read it aloud.

        The letter was from Christina's father. Her face lit up as she listened to her uncle read. This was more than she could have ever hoped for. The letter was a simple introduction. Her father wrote that his wife was pregnant with their first child. He was working on a family tree, and his research had led him to the Levchenkos. Alexander Chase was the last of the Chase line in the United States, and he was eager to get in touch with his relatives who had just immigrated from Russia.

        As Alek finished the letter, he handed it to Christina. "Signed Alexander Chase!" he said with bravado. "And now here sits his daughter!" He smiled broadly at his niece.

        "Yeah ... here she is," Christina said nervously.

        "This was written almost twenty years ago to the day," Alek said. "I wrote him back, but we never got another letter." He stared into Christina's eyes looking for an answer to this puzzle.

        "Well," she started, "I don't remember very much from when I was young, but we moved around a lot. My father worked for the government as a scientist or something." Christina crooked her mouth. "I'm really not sure what he did exactly. We went from one place to another. Sometimes we lived on a military base, but usually we rented an apartment or a house. We probably moved before your letter got to us."

        Alek insisted, "Surely your father would have written us again. Why have we not heard anything until now? Why did you not call sooner?"

        Christina looked back and forth between her cousins. They didn't know. How could they? She just assumed, but they couldn't have known. Christina put the letter down, then felt the outline of her necklace under her dress. "My father didn't tell me about you. He ..." Nina, Misha, and Alek were hanging on every word. "... he died a long time ago ... in a fire."

        Nina gasped and Misha's face melted into a frown.

        "Dead?" Alek repeated, staring at the young girl sitting at his table.

        Christina looked away and frowned. She never talked about her father. It made her feel uncomfortable. The sympathetic looks on other people's faces always made it feel worse. "It happened when I was twelve years old. It's just been ... it was just my mom and me." Nina held her older cousin's hand and Christina squeezed it back, grateful for the support.

        "The house we were renting- it burned down. We lost everything. I don't know what happened. I mean, the fireman explained it, but I ... I don't really remember ..." Christina fought back a tear. "I didn't know about any of you until last Saturday. My mom has all of Dad's old things that they managed to save. I guess the family tree he was working on was in there."

        Everyone in the room was silent. This was exactly why Christina never spoke with anyone about her father. She felt a tear coming and she pretended to scratch her nose to hide it.

        Misha walked next to Christina and put her hand on her shoulder. "You have us now child," Misha twinkled. Christina smiled at the older woman. She forgot for a moment that this situation was only temporary. Misha lifted her niece's face up by the base of her chin and said, "You must be hungry. Let me make you something." She walked off to the stove and took out some pans.

        Alek folded the letter, placed it back in the old envelope, and handed it to his niece. "You should keep this," he said.

        Christina took the envelope and smiled at the man as he stood up. "Thank you, Uncle Alek," she said.

        The man smiled back and walked to the side door. "I'm going to open the store," he announced. "Andrei will have to stop playing with his toys long enough to drop me off."

        "Do you not need him today?" Misha asked.

        "Not right now. Besides, someone should be around to drive Christina back to her car. Maybe they can find her bags."

        Christina felt a knot in her stomach. Yes, maybe they could find her bags- and her male clothes. Then perhaps they could find her a shallow grave on the side of the mountain.

        As Alek left through the side door, Misha turned to the two girls. "I hope you both feel like pancakes," she beamed.

 

        Christina sat through breakfast, carefully studying her aunt and her younger cousin. She scrutinized the way they sat, the ways they handled their knives and forks, and the way they held their glasses when they drank. She self-consciously tried to mimic all of their behaviors.

        "Chris, are you sure you don't want any more?" Misha asked.

        Misha's home-made breakfast was the first meal that she'd had since Amy left that didn't have microwave instructions printed on the box. Christina definitely wanted more. She could have finished three stacks of pancakes by now if she hadn't meticulously reproduced the tiny bites and sips that Nina was taking. Christina took her napkin and gently patted away the syrup from the side of her lips. "No, thank you," she replied sweetly. She'd made it through breakfast, and none of the other females in the house suspected a thing. This might actually work, she thought. She could keep this up so long as there were no more surprises.

        The three of them jumped and turned towards the living room as the sound of a crashing screen door filled the air. Christina's eyes went wide when she saw a four-legged, brown blur rush into the kitchen and slide across the tile as it attempted to slow down. A large German shepherd stopped in the middle of the kitchen and stared at Christina. His ears perked up and his head cocked to the left as though he was trying to figure out exactly what he was looking at.

        "Mom," Andrei called from the living room. "The doctor ...", he said as he poked his head around the corner into the kitchen. He looked at Christina's face and was taken somewhat aback. "... is in," he finished. "I see the mystery girl is awake," he said derisively. "And it looks like I missed breakfast."

        Misha went to her son and touched him on the side of his face. "Perhaps if you did not spend all of your time in that barn of yours, you wouldn't miss the simpler things in life." She kissed him on the cheek and walked into the living room to greet Dr. Stone.

        "Hi," Christina said quietly as she avoided Andrei's eyes. "What's her name?" Christina motioned towards the large dog who was staring straight through her.

        "HIS name is Boris," Andrei snorted as he poured himself a glass of milk and straddled the chair across from his cousin. "He's clearly a man- anyone can tell."

        Christina looked up at her cousin in fear. "I should have known," she said, her voice wavering, "Does he like people?"

        Andrei gulped his milk, looked at the dog, and then back at his cousin with a sideways glance. "Yes, he loves people. All sorts of people ... Except new people. Those he doesn't care for."

        Nina rolled her eyes at her older brother. "Introduce her to Boris already."

        "Perhaps," he continued as he gulped the rest of his milk.

        Boris perked up and walked cautiously over to Christina. Christina could feel perspiration collecting just underneath her hairline as the beast approached. The dog stopped next to Christina, laid his head in her lap, and wagged his tail expectantly.

        Christina exhaled in relief and stroked the fur on the dog's head.

        Andrei straightened up and stared at his dog. "Traitor," he muttered in disbelief, "He never likes strangers."

        Nina got up and punched her brother hard on the shoulder. "Christina is not the stranger in here."

        Andrei, unfazed by his sister's blow, stood up and looked back at Christina. "Dr. Stone is here to see you. You must be dying. I didn't get a house-call when I fell off the roof and broke my arm." He put his glass down on the table and went to the side door. "Boris," he called, "Let's get back to work." The dog hopped back up from Christina's lap, but stopped in the middle of the kitchen.

        Andrei stood with the door open and commanded, "Boris, come," but the dog didn't move. He stood wagging his tail with his ears perked up. He was too excited with two visitors in the house. "Fine," Andrei growled at the dog as he went outside. Christina decided that her older cousin was to be avoided if she were going to make it through the day.

        Misha walked back into the kitchen and said, "Come, Christina, the doctor is ready for you."

        Christina got up slowly and held Nina's hand as she walked into the living room. Her hand was shaking slightly; she was still rattled from the encounter with Andrei. If it weren't for Nina's friendliness, Christina would still have been hiding in her room upstairs.

        Doctor stone was an old fashioned country doctor, whose pants were held up by large black suspenders. With his bushy white beard, he appeared like what Christina imagined Santa Clause would look like during the off season and after a strict diet. He was sitting on the couch fussing with his black leather medical bag on the coffee table. She looked into his warn, leathery face. He flashed a comforting grin, and his eyes peered sharply from under shaggy white eyebrows.

        Christina found herself smiling nervously in response. This was the end of the line, she thought, there was no way she could fool this old man.

        Dr. Stone motioned for Christina to sit next to him on the couch. She did so, doing her best to act as though nothing was out of place. Dr. Stone brushed her hair behind her ear and took a good look at her head. "That there, young lady," he said in a raspy twang, "Is what we in the medical profession, call a Grade-A bump on the noggin."

        Christina nodded nervously. "Yes sir." Christina felt the bristles of Boris' fur as he sat on the floor by her feet.

        "Relax darlin'," grinned the old man. He took his fingers and motioned them back and forth in front of Christina's face. "Just folla' m' fingers with your eyes." Christina complied.

        "Fine, just fine," Dr. Stone said, taking out a small, triangular hammer and asking Christina to fold one leg over the other. When he tapped her knee, her leg jerked. Dr. Stone placed his hands on her knees and put them back to their original position. He then pressed gently on her bruise causing the young girl to wince. "Sorry, pumpkin," he said as he reached into his bag, retrieving a stethoscope. Dr. Stone placed the device against Christina's chest and listened. The old man wrinkled his brow and reached into the top of Christina's dress. She gasped slightly as he pulled out her necklace and let it fall to the side.

        Nina looked at the shiny gear hanging from around her cousin's neck with great curiosity. Dr. Stone slid the cold head of the stethoscope under Christina's dress, pressing it close to her left breast. "Just breathe deeply," he instructed. Christina tried to do as she was told, but it was taking all of her effort to keep from hyperventilating.

        The doctor took the device and placed it back in his bag and slid Christina's necklace back into her dress. The old man looked back at the young girl in his care and stared at her as though he was trying to read something. He then took a pocket watch out from his vest and popped it open. He took Christina's slender wrist in his hand and took her pulse. When he was finished, he placed her hand on her lap and gave her a mild sneer.

        Misha came into the room and handed Dr. Stone a glass of water. The doctor stood up and took a long drink from the glass and looked Christina right in the eyes and asked, "Just what kind of game do you think you're playing?"

        Christina felt as if all of the air had been sucked out of the room. "I," she stammered, "I never meant to ..." Her mouth went dry. She couldn't find the words to explain, and even if she had, her mouth wasn't cooperating.

        "You have the pulse of an eighty-year old woman," Dr. Stone accused in an annoyed tone. "I'd say you haven't had a lick of sleep in a month."

        Christina hadn't been found out, but every muscle in her body was still clenched. "I ... uh ... not really. Except for last night."

        "Young lady, this is the sort of thing that happens," he said as he touched her bruise causing Christina to wince again, "When you drive all night and day with no sleep." Dr. Stone emphasized the words "night" and "day" with staccato taps to Christina's forehead. "I'd say you got off lucky."

        "Is she going to be alright doctor?" Misha asked in a concerned voice.

        "Well, that depends," he said turning back to Christina. "What's the capital of the United States?"

        "Washington?" Christina said, the strangeness of the question knocking her out of her paranoia.

        "And two plus two is?" Dr. Stone continued.

        "Four."

        "And your favorite color would be?"

        "Purple?"

        "Well, I would have said green myself," Dr. Stone said as he closed his bag, "It would bring out the color in your eyes, I suspect." Christina blushed at another successful volley against her former manhood.

        Dr. Stone picked up his bag and turned to Misha. "She's going to be fine. I don't think it's a concussion. But, you need to make her relax and get to bed on time for the rest of the week. And most of all," he said turning towards Nina, "No more poking her in the head!"

        Nina laughed at that last comment. Christina blurted out, "But I have to be in Ardmore on Wednesday!"

        "You're not going anywhere young lady, and that's all there is to it." Dr. Stone looked at Misha and said, "If she's feeling better on Wednesday, she can go. Not a day sooner."

        "Thank you so much, doctor," Misha said as she walked him to the front door. "How much do we owe you for the visit?"

        Dr. Stone stood on the porch and popped his hat onto his head. "Seeing as I didn't take any blood or stop any bleeding, I think we can call it even."

        Misha smiled at the older gentleman.

        "Just keep an eye on her Misha. If anything seems out of place, call me. And what ever you're feeding Nina, cut it in half. At this rate she'll be taller than me by next week."

        "Hey!" Nina shouted.

        Dr. Stone chuckled to himself as he walked back to his old Cadillac.

        Christina closed her eyes and placed her hand to her forehead. "I can't stay," she whined, "I have to get to Ardmore ... I don't have time to sit around ... I need to get my car fixed and I ... I don't have any clothes ..." Christina was beginning to realize the magnitude of her situation. "People at work are counting on me."

        Misha sat down next to Christina. She asked, "What kind of job do you have, child?"

        Nina sat down on the coffee table and stared at her older cousin. She found everything about Christina Chase fascinating.

        "Well it's hard to explain exactly," Christina said. "The company I work for makes and sells software." Christina looked at her relatives' faces and realized that they had no idea what she was talking about. "Software, you know, it's something businesses run on their computers to help them ... um, run their business."

        Nina asked, "And you make software?"

        "Well yes ... yes and no. Sometimes I guess." Christina struggled to find a simple explanation. "Most of the other guys- I mean, those guys, the men... they write the software. Some of the others sell it."

        Misha squinted at the girl as she tried to wrap her mind around the concepts.

        Christina sat up as it came to her. "When companies have problems with what we sell, they call me and I try to help them or get them in touch with someone else who can help them."

        "Oh," Misha smiled. Now she understood. "You are a receptionist."

        Christina frowned and looked down into her lap. "No, I'm not a ..." Her eyes looked up and to the right as she thought it over. "Actually, I guess I am, kinda." Christina wrinkled her brow as she tried to reason with herself that she was in fact, not a receptionist. "Wait- I also help the men who make the software."

        "How?" Nina said, relishing every piece of information about her cousin.

        "I help them track deadlines, I make copies of charts and specifications ... Sometimes they give me small pieces of work to finish for them." Christina smiled triumphantly.

        "Ah," Misha said nodding, "So you are a secretary too, yes?"

        Christina frowned again. She didn't like having her job history summed up as "receptionist" and "secretary". "I guess you could say I'm sort of a secretary too," she conceded.

        Nina asked, "Why did they send a secretary so far away?" Misha looked at Christina. It was a fair question.

        "The company I'm going to visit needs help setting up one of our products. So, I'm going to help them." Suddenly, Christina found a way to explain exactly why she was no mere receptionist or secretary. "Which," she continued, "Is really important because if they think I did a good job then it will make them happy and they'll probably sign a contract and maybe buy more of our stuff." Christina grinned widely as she regained her enthusiasm for her trip.

        "On top of being a receptionist, and a secretary, you are a salesgirl too," Misha beamed.

        Christina surrendered. "Yes, that about covers it," she said as her ego imploded.

        Nina clapped her hands. "Wow, three jobs!"

        Christina stood up and straightened out her dress. "I'm going to have no jobs if I don't get moving. I need to get my car fixed, and I have to buy some clothes."

        "But sweetheart, you lost your purse, did you not?" Misha asked.

        "Right, my purse," Christina muttered, fighting the urge to be sarcastic. She almost wished they had figured out she was really a boy and beat her to a bloody pulp. Anything seemed better than this emasculating treatment. "But my debit card was in my jeans, so I can buy something to wear."

        "Wonderful," Misha said. "Andrei will drive you to your meeting tomorrow, and he can take you into town today to buy a new dress."

        Christina stopped dead in her tracks. "A new dress?" she repeated.

        "Unless you think that is too formal?" Misha asked.

        "No, a new dress is exactly what I had in mind," Christina said, gritting her teeth.

        Nina hopped up from her seat. "We're going shopping?" The girl was ecstatic.

        How was she supposed to buy clothes with Nina watching her every move? She felt as if she were sinking in quicksand; every time she thought she was climbing out, she just sank deeper in. "I don't want to be any trouble," she said politely. "Can Andrei just drop me off? I'm sure I can find my way around. I've already inconvenienced all of you enough."

        Nina's shoulders sank. She was enjoying her older cousin's company and didn't want to leave her side.

        "I'm sure Andrei wouldn't mind." Misha responded. "Are you sure you want to be in a strange town all alone?"

        "I'll be fine," Christina said confidently. Finally, she had the situation in hand.

        "Certainly dear," Misha said. "Andrei will take you into town. While you're out, I'll clean your clothes and start on dinner. We will have a feast tonight!"

        "Clean my clothes from last night ..." Christina's mind followed that train of thought to a conclusion she did not care for. What would they do to her when they found her male clothes? "Wait, I can't ask you to do that- I can clean my own clothes!" Christina's face turned red as she giggled nervously.

        "Oh it's no problem, dear-"

        "No!" Christina shrieked, causing her Aunt and her cousin to twitch. "You can't wash my clothes ... because ... because ... I need you to come shopping with me! I really shouldn't be in a strange town all alone, after all."

        Misha eyed Christina as though she didn't understand a word the girl was saying.

        "And my bump!" Christina said frantically, pointing at her head, "It still hurts ... and uh ... I'm scared to be alone ..." Christina snatched Nina's hand and said, "And I need you and Nina to pick out clothes with me!"

        "You want me to come shopping?" Nina said.

        "Yes! Of course. Everyone! We're family! We should spend time together." Christina looked back at Misha to see whether she'd bought it.

        The look of confusion changed into one of amusement. "Certainly, we will come with you, though I am not up on the latest styles."

        "You know, you could say the same thing about me," said Christina absentmindedly. "I need to use the little girl's room. I'll be back in a few seconds, and we can all go."

        As Christina scrambled up the stairs, Boris followed close behind her. Walking down the hallway and into the upstairs bathroom, she closed the door and looked at her face in the mirror. It was hard to believe that the pretty girl she saw in the mirror was herself. "Ok," she said to the mirror, "You can do this. No one suspects you. Just be a girl for one day." She gritted her teeth and added, "Maybe two."

        Christina went to the toilet, lifted the skirt of her dress, pulled down her panties, and began to urinate. Before she could finish, she heard the same creak of the bathroom door that ruined her shower this morning. Her heart stopped and her breathing froze as she stood there- one hand holding her dress up, and the other holding her penis. It felt like hours before Boris poked his head in from around the bathroom door and casually walked in. Christina stumbled around the massive dog with her panties still around her ankles as she lunged for the door. She slammed it shut and pressed hard on the lock. "What is it with this bathroom?" she complained.

        She returned to the toilet and sat down to do her business. She closed her eyes and repeated, "Think like a girl, act like a girl. Think like a girl, act like a girl." She opened her eyes to find Boris looking at her quizzically. She pointed her finger at the German shepherd and admonished, "You didn't see that. This never happened, got it?"

        Boris dropped his head between his paws and waited patiently. Christina finished and wiped herself between her legs, trying not to think that she had seen her younger cousin perform the exact same act this morning.

        She stepped over Boris and stood in front of the mirror again. She needed to do a little more work if she was going shopping with the girls. Christina removed her dress, slip, and bra, and stared at her chest in the mirror. She had very fine blond hair on her chest. It was not much, but she didn't want to arouse any suspicion. Raising her arm, she looked at the nest of blonde hair in her armpit. It all had to go. She reached into the drawer under the sink and found the pink razor she'd used earlier. She lathered up her chest and armpits with foam from a pink can of shaving gel and went to work. Soon her upper body was smooth and hairless.

        Christina motioned to pick up her bra but stopped. She pulled down her panties and looked at the wild, yellow bush between her legs. She put the razor to her crotch, her arm shaking nervously. "No," she said, "Way too sharp." She looked around the drawers again, finding a curvy electric razor. Christina plugged it in and took a deep breath as she went in to trim the bushes.

        The dirty work finished, she put her dress back on. Leaving the bathroom, she heard the telephone ringing downstairs.

        "Are you ready to go?" Nina shouted from the first floor.

        "I'll be right down," Christina called, trying her best to sound excited. She dashed into her room and grabbed her leather jacket from the closet. She opened her window and beat the remaining dirt from last night's accident from the jacket. Putting It on, she grabbed her phone and debit card, and headed downstairs.

        Misha greeted Christina at the foot of the stairs and said, "Your uncle called. He needs me at the store, so I won't be able to take you shopping dear."

        "The store?" Christina asked.

        "Yes, we run a grocery in town," Misha explained.

        "Oh, in town ... good, so you're leaving with us still?" Christina asked, hoping Misha would not investigate her male clothes.

        "Yes, we're all going together," Misha said as she squeezed her niece's hand.

        Andrei walked into the house in a foul mood as usual. "What is it that makes women take so long to get ready?" he sneered towards Christina. "Let's go, I have a very busy day."

        "Busy in the barn again?" Nina said, shaking her head side to side in a derogatory fashion.

        "Wouldn't you like to know," Andrei snapped as he gave his little sister a smack on her bottom. "Move it," he commanded. He looked at Christina, "You too, ... princess."

        When he slapped Christina's butt, she hopped towards the door, blushing furiously. How many ways could she be humiliated in one day, she wondered.

        "Be good to your sister and your cousin," Misha admonished.

        "Sorry Mom," Andrei said half-sincerely, "But I have a lot of work to finish."

        Misha and her girls piled into the old green truck. Misha sat in the middle and Christina sat beside her. Much to Christina's surprise, Nina climbed into her lap. Christina tried to act as though this was the most normal thing in the world.

        Andrei got behind the wheel and started the engine. As the car went down the gravel driveway, it dawned on Christina that she was about to go into town dressed as a girl.

---

Thanks to Holly H. Hart for editing help with this chapter!

        The old green truck had barely turned the corner onto Main Street when Andrei pulled over to the sidewalk and put It In park. Looking towards Nina and Christina, he said, "End of the line, ladies." Needing no encouragement, Nina pushed open the passenger side door and jumped down onto the sidewalk. Christina followed, closing the door behind herself.

        "Chris, dear," Misha said though the window, "We will be just around the corner should you need anything."

        Christina flashed a broad and genuine smile at her aunt. "Thank you, Aunt Misha. I'm sure Nina and I will have fun shopping."

        Misha reached out and touched her niece on the cheek before Andrei pulled away from the curb. Christina watched until the truck disappeared around the next corner, then looked around. Main Street was flanked by rows of quaint brick buildings, none of which appeared to be over two stories tall. The entire middle of town constituted only five or six blocks of tiny stores.

        Scanning the awnings and signs, she didn't see a single franchise or chain store. Turning all the way around, she gasped, "Wow." All she could see in the distance were mountains. One giant, snow-frosted peak dominated the horizon. It didn't make a sound. It seemed strange to Christina that something so massive didn't make a sound. A few people walked down the sidewalks in the distance. Couldn't they see it too? How could they not stop and stare?

        "What is it?" Nina asked.

        "What IS it? ..." Christina repeated, "Look at all this."

        "Look at what?"

        Christina raised her arms and spun around on her heels. "All of this," she said, "The trees, the air, the mountains. It's amazing."

        "I wish I lived in the city like you," Nina shrugged.

        "I dunno Nina," Christina said, "This place is incredible. Have you ever been to the city?"

        "No. But, I'd like to go. I want to go all over."

        "Like where?"

        "I don't care," the girl grinned. "Everywhere. I want to see the whole world."

        "I'm sure you will some day."

        "I don't think my Dad will let me."

        Before Christina could ask Nina why she thought that, they were interrupted by a man's voice. "Hey there, Nina," said a postal worker as he walked past. "Shouldn't you be in school?"

        Christina looked up at the man lugging a large bag of letters over his shoulder. Then, remembering how she was dressed, she gasped and practically hid behind her younger cousin, who responded, "Hi Mr. Stevens. I stayed home because my cousin Christina is visiting." Nina stepped aside and presented Christina as though she was showing off her Olympic gold medal.

        Mr. Stevens tipped his hat and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you." The man held out his hand, and Christina reluctantly shook it. Hoisting the bag higher up onto his shoulder he said, "I've got to keep moving. I had to deliver six packages today. I'm at least a half hour behind schedule."

        Nina waved at Mr. Stevens as he continued down the sidewalk. Once she was sure the man was out of earshot, Christina asked, "How do you know that guy?"

        "He's the mailman."

        "You know the mailman's name?"

        "Yeah," Nina laughed as she grabbed Christina by the hand and dragged her down the sidewalk. "Come on, let's go! You need new clothes, and this is pretty much the only place in town."

        Christina looked up at the awning, which read, "Ariel Rose." Any store with that name would certainly not have been her first choice. She squeezed Nina's hand, looking for the courage to enter the store. She reasoned that since she was outside where anyone could see her. Inside, wherever that was, had to be better. Taking a deep breath, she followed Nina into the shop.

        In opening, the door hit a small bell, causing a portly woman in a dressy orange suit to look up from her magazine. "Nina," she said, "Why aren't you in school?"

        "I stayed home today because my cousin is in town." The young girl smiled as she looked up at Christina.

        "Cousin, eh?" the woman said as she examined Christina. "I can see the resemblance," she added with a grin. As Nina let go of Christina's hand and skipped off to look at some shoes, she continued, "My name's Abigail, but everyone calls me Abby."

        Christina shook Abby's hand and asked, "But the sign says Ariel Rose."

        Abby snickered, "That's right." She put her hand up against the side of her mouth and leaned in as she whispered, "Would you want to shop at a store named Abigail Rosenberg?" The woman laughed at her own joke with a loud snicker and a hint of a snort. "What can I get for you?"

        Nina came back over and explained, "We need everything. Christina was in a car accident and lost all of her clothes, She has a big, important sales meeting tomorrow in Ardmore, and she has nothing to wear at all."

        "I guess there aren't a lot of secrets in this town," Christina joked uncomfortably.

        "Not a one, Sugar," Abby replied. "If you hadn't walked into my store, it's dollars to donuts I would still have heard your entire life story before the sun went down." She again leaned in to whisper, "And that's only because news travels slowly on a Tuesday." After another of her snort-laughs, she added, "From the looks of you, you're going to be a particularly popular rumor with the boys. It's not every day a town this small gets a new girl."

        "Oh, I'm ... uh just visiting," Christina blushed.

        "Well, let's get started," Abby said as she dragged Christina along.

 

        For the next two hours, Christina served as Abby and Nina's plaything. She was made to try on all manner of dresses, skirts, suits, and tops. By the time they were finished, her captors had picked out two dresses, two skirts, three tops, a cardigan, a pair of flats, a pair of heels, a pocketbook, a dainty purse, and a pile of undergarments. Christina watched in dismay as her new, feminine wardrobe grew in size. She looked for an opening to pick up some items discretely, but Nina was directing her every move.

        Needing some sort of distraction, with a saccharine grin she said, "Nina, I've been so selfish. Why don't you try on something?"

        "I really shouldn't," Nina replied, "I don't need anything and I don't have any money to spend, anyway."

        "But," Christina insisted in a frustrated voice, "Why don't you pick out five or six things to try on, and I'll buy you what ever you like best."

        Nina's face lit up. She didn't have to be asked twice. The young girl wandered about the store looking for something exceptional. With that suitable distraction, Christina grabbed a pair of girl's jeans, a simple white top, some ankle socks, and a pair of white, girls' tennis shoes. She would have to swap these items for her soiled male clothes somehow, she thought. She took them to the counter where the rest of her new wardrobe was waiting. "Abby," she said in a hushed voice, "I was wondering if you could help me with a few special items."

        "I like to think of everything as special, Sugar. What did you have in mind?"

        Nina rushed up to her cousin with a pile of clothes in her hands. "Are these good?"

        Christina smiled at her cousin and gushed, "Oh those are just perfect! Why don't you go try them on?"

        Nina rushed off and Christina returned to her covert operation. Christina placed her hands in front of her chest and said to Abby, "I was wondering if you had anything that could ... give me some ... you know ... help ... in this department."

        Abby looked at the girl with one eyebrow crooked upward, "I'm not sure I follow."

        Christina gritted her teeth and flipped her hands palm-up and motioned upward. "Some enhancement?"

        Abby nodded in recognition. "Oh, sure thing." She reached under her counter and pulled out a box containing a few items to pad out a brassiere. "You're not the first Levchenko girl who's ever asked for these. You're all thin and tall, but a little light up top. Still, I'd kill for your body, Sugar."

        Christina pulled two well shaped forms out of the box and placed them into her pile. She whispered, "I could use some help with my waist too." Abby winked and walked off to a lingerie display.

        Just then, Nina stepped out of the changing room wearing a mid-length skirt and a tank top.

        "Oh that's cute!" Christina beamed. She squinted her eyes shrewdly and insisted, "Go back in and try another."

        Abby returned with a black waist cincher and said, "I'd say you need a hamburger before one of these."

        Christina did her best to fake laughter. "Oh well, you know how sales calls are- gotta look your best."

        Abby whispered, "Oh I know it, Honey. A girl has to shake it every once In a while to get ahead in this world."

        Nina stepped out in a white dress and waved at her cousin, desperate for her attention.

        "You look just a like a princess!" Christina said, barely glancing at her cousin. "Just try one more, we really should go."

        "Okay," Nina shouted as she dashed back into the changing room.

        Christina dumped the waist cincher into the pile next to the bust enhancers then asked, "What did you mean I'm not the only Levchenko girl to ask for ... enhancement? Isn't Nina a little young for that sort of thing?"

        "No, not Nina," Abby snickered, "Hell, she's still a tiny thing. I mean Anastasia."

        "Anastasia?" Christina asked.

        "Well of course, she bought her first pair ... oh, quite some years ago. You know, ... you look a lot like her. You look a lot like little Nina too."

        Christina was about to ask another question about this Anastasia, but Nina interrupted her. "Christina," the girl said, "I like this the best, can I have it?"

        "Yeah, I love it," Christina said without even looking at her cousin, "Let's get it."

        Abby, however, was looking at Nina. "I guess Nina isn't so little anymore, after all."

        That made Christina glance at Nina, and the glance turned Into a double take. Her cousin was wearing a dark green babydoll nightie! "Oh Nina," she objected, "I ... I don't know ...." Realizing she was again seeing her younger cousin in less than entirely wholesome attire, she did her best to stare at the clock on the wall.

        Nina ran over and grabbed Christina by the hand, begging, "You promised." Not letting go, she led Christina into the lingerie section, "You need to get something to sleep in, too."

        "I really don't think I need anything from here," Christina stammered, as she resumed her plaything status. Nina picked out a pair of satin boxer pajamas and a revealing chemise. "No way, Nina," Christina protested.

        "Oh come on! We can have a pajama party." Nina was hopping up and down in her tiny babydoll.

        Needing to end the game before it got further out of hand, Christina scooped up her new sleepwear and took It too the counter. "Okay, great idea," she said, "But we're out of time to try them on." Nina looked somewhat disappointed. Christina added, "Go get changed back into your clothes while I pay for your nightie." Nina ran into the changing room, somehow returning in a flash with her gift.

        Ringing up all the clothes seemed to take forever. Christina hadn't planned on spending any of her savings on this trip, much less for feminine attire. When Abby was done, Christina was presented with four large shopping bags of clothes. "That should last you the week," she said as she handed the bags to Christina.

        "Let's hope." Christina's half sneer was interrupted as she felt Nina tugging at her skirt. "Yes Nina?" Christina said.

        "You should wear your new clothes," Nina insisted.

        Christina wanted to say no, but she couldn't resist the younger girl. Christina never had a cousin, or anyone else for that matter, who was so excited to spend time with her. In spite of the circumstances, she'd quickly grown attached to Nina, and liked the feeling of having a little sister. Being the big sister was the only part of the deal she was less than thrilled with.

        Reaching into a bag, Nina pulled out one of Christina's new dresses. "This one," she said.

        "Okay," Christina sighed as she headed back to the changing room. Christina closed the door behind her and stripped off all of her aunt's clothes. She reached into one of her bags and retrieved the waist cincher. Christina took the foreign device and wrapped It around her belly. Taking a deep breath, she somehow closed it behind her back, straining to close each hook before attempting to breathe. She tried with all her might to take a deep breath, but the cincher refused to cooperate. Next she stepped into a pair of satin bikini panties, doing her best to fold her shame between her legs.

        She then fastened a garter belt around her waist, beneath her cincher. She'd seen Amy do this once or twice and found it incredibly sexy, but quickly decided that when she was the girl in the mirror, it was nothing but work. She carefully rolled a pair of nude stockings up each leg and attached them to the garter belt. So far, so good.

        She dug back into her new wardrobe and took out the matching satin bra and her two breast enhancers. She donned the bra and filled each cup. She now had a respectable bust line. Shaking her chest back and forth, she watched her new breasts move. She found this oddly comforting, since they were far more believable than the socks she'd been using all morning. Finally, she pulled her new dress over her head.

        She looked at herself in the mirror. The skirt of her new dress flared out from her hips, ending higher above her knees than Misha's house dress. Her tall, stocking clad legs were positively sensuous. The neckline was also much lower, ending just above where her cleavage should have started. The chain of her necklace disappeared into her disturbingly convincing chest. She traced the lines of the dress down to her waist, which was now cinched into alluring curves.

        Sighing, Christina was relieved that she looked even more like a girl, but she was disturbed by how effortless the transformation had been. She completed her outfit by stepping into her new high heeled shoes, then placed her dead phone and her debit card into her new pocketbook.

        Stepping out of the changing room, she faced the approving grins of the women who had been dressing her up all afternoon. This was the longest day in Christina's life.

        Nina and Christina left Ariel Rose and walked through town, each carrying two shopping bags. Christina was acclimating well to her new heels, but they forced her to walk with a leggy stride that made her bottom sashay from side to side. She'd never felt so humiliated in her entire life. She wanted nothing more than to go home and hide under her bed. Instead, she was out on display in all her feminine glory.

        "Well that sure was fun Nina," Christina said, struggling with her bags and her new walking style, "I guess we should get back home."

        "Not yet," Nina replied, tugging Christina into a store named "Steph's Salon."

        The girl behind the counter looked up from her issue of Rolling Stone and said, "Hey Nina."

        This is a very small town, Christina was beginning to realize.

        Nina put down her bags and made the introductions. "This is my cousin Christina. She was in a car accident and lost all of her clothes and her makeup and-"

        "And she has like a big sales meeting cause she's an account specialist or something, and blah blah blah right?" finished the girl.

        Christina stared at the cute girl. "How do you know all that?" she asked.

        "You were in Abby's store weren't you? People are probably talking about you on the other side of the mountain by now. Hell, you're probably on the eleven o'clock news in Shanghai."

        Christina nodded dumbly. She'd found it difficult being the center of attention at her Uncle's house. Being the center of attention of an entire town was something she wasn't remotely prepared for.

        The girl came out from behind the counter and held out her hand. "I'm Steph." Christina drank Steph in. She had short brown hair that curled upward just beneath her ears. It was set back on the left side by a stylish red bow. Her mouth was small, and crinkled up in a devilish half-smirk. Her blue jeans looked comfortably lived in. It looked to Christina that the waist had been cut off by hand, not like the jeans you'd buy in a store. Christina tried not to stare at Steph's chest. The girl was wearing a red button down sweater with the top button open. Christina looked down the plunging v-neck and her eyes caressed the tops of Steph's breasts. Perky, she thought, that's what they were. Perky is how Steph's breasts made Christina feel.

        "Hi," Christina said as she shook Steph's hand. Just touching Steph caused tingles to run up Christina's arm.

        "So ... lost all your clothes, terrible crash ... have I got the story straight?" Steph asked as she leaned back against the counter with her arms folded.

        "I don't know how bad the crash was; it was pretty dark."

        "Yeah well, it looks pretty bad to me," Steph pointed out the window with her eyes. Nina and Christina turned around and saw Christina's Saab passing slowly by on the back of a flatbed truck. "Looks like Conrad's got your car."

        "Yeah that's me," Christina sighed. Christina watched her car as it passed out of view. There was no way she was driving anywhere tomorrow.

        "Andrei is driving her to her big meeting," Nina explained.

        Christina's mind was reeling. She couldn't skip the meeting, but if she went with Andrei, she realized that she'd actually have to go as a girl.

        "Andrei? Well aren't you the lucky girl," Steph said. "What do you say we give you the works for the big meeting?"

        "Oh, I don't think so," Christina croaked, "We just need some makeup. I don't really-"

        "You've got the shindig, and a girl's got to look her best," Steph insisted. "Besides, we're running a head-wound special."

        "You know about that too?" Christina asked.

        "Doc Stone doesn't talk as much as ol' Abby," Steph explained, "But you can get a lot of choice info by asking the right questions." Steph walked over to Christina and brushed her hair aside to survey the bruise. "Wow, that's quite a shiner," she said.

        Christina felt an electric shock from Steph's fingers as they moved over her scalp. She smelled the perfume on Steph's neck. She could see down the front of Steph's sweater. Christina felt an unmistakable hardness stirring in her panties.

        "Do you really want to go to your big meeting looking like the product of a failed marriage?" Steph joked. "Why don't you stay awhile and let me have my way with you."

        "Have your way with me?" Christina repeated dreamily.

        "It'll be good for business. It's not everyday the new town celebrity walks in. People will be lined up tomorrow to hear every morsel there is to know about Christina Chase. Act now, and I'll give you a two-for-one." Steph ruffled Nina's hair, adding, "Let's get Nina in on the act."

        "Please, Christina?" Nina was using her most manipulative, pouty face, but Christina wasn't looking.

        Christina weighed her options. She definitely did not want to have anything to do with the salon. Though if she did have to go to Unitech as Christina Chase, this might not be a bad idea. Was it worse to miss her meeting, or to go as a girl? And if she had to go as Christina Chase, wouldn't it make sense to look as good as possible? Then she thought of Steph, picturing what it would be like to sit in the chair as Steph ran her fingers through her hair. Maybe getting her hair done was a good idea.

        Or, maybe she was losing her mind, Christina thought. She decided there was no way in hell she was going through with this. "We don't really ..." she started, then saw her pleading cousin's face for the first time. With a sigh, she continued, '... want to miss out on a deal."

        Nina's face lit up like Christmas, and Christina couldn't help but smile a little in response.

        Steph clapped her hands together, then looked over her shoulder. "Lisa," she called, "We've got work to do!" Lisa, a chubby Chinese girl, walked out of the back office. Her hair was tied into two small and fashionable pigtails. "Do you know who we have here?" Steph asked as she led Christina and Nina deeper into the salon. "The one, the only, Miss Christina Chase."

        Lisa shook her head with an expression of mock astonishment.

        "Oh, and Nina too." Steph added.

        "Wow, Christina Chase. That's quite a scoop. You should close down the store for good and go work for the newspaper," Lisa teased.

        "Don't you know it," Steph quipped, "I'd be running the Gazette by the middle of next week." Steph stopped in front of an open closet and pulled out two robes. "Okay ladies, you know the drill."

        Christina, in fact, did not know the drill. She hadn't realized that there would be undressing involved, and began to second guess the whole affair. But luckily, Nina took Christina's hand and led her behind some folding screens where they could change, immediately taking off her top and dropping her skirt around her ankles. Christina turned around in response to seeing her cousin nearly naked again. She unzipped the back of her dress and removed it. Mimicking Nina, Christina hung her clothes on a couple of hooks on a beam against the back wall. She looked over her shoulder to see Nina putting her robe on over her underwear. Thank God for that, she thought as she kicked off her heels and put on her robe, mindful to keep her back to Nina the entire time.

        Nina said, "Don't forget your stockings."

        "Oh right," Christina giggled nervously, "We never wear these at the salon." Christina felt painfully out of place, never expecting to have a fifteen-year old girl as a role model. Opening the bottom of her robe, she unclipped, and rolled each stocking down her legs, one at a time. Then she removed her garter belt and placed it on the shelf above her hanging dress. "Okay, all set," she announced. "Let's go have some ... fun."

        When Nina stepped out from behind the screen, Christina took an extra moment to ensure her extra parts were as well concealed as she could manage. She arranged herself in her panties and tied her robe tightly around her waist. You're going to make it, she repeated in her mind. Just try and relax.

        "Christina, come on," Nina shouted, hardly able to contain herself.

        Christina and Nina were led to two salon chairs. Steph came up behind Christina and ran her fingers through Christina's hair. Christina felt tingles all over her body and her penis had an immediate reaction. She clenched her legs together to force her manhood to stay put.

         "Hmmm," Steph said as she played with Christina's hair. "A little raw, but a lot of potential." Walking around in front of the girls, she sized them up with her eyes, making sure to give Christina a thorough inspection. Steph ran her finger up Christina's left leg. "My oh my," she purred, "I don't know how things roll in the city, Blondie, but we don't go in for the French look around here. When was the last time you were waxed?"

        "Never!" Christina blurted incredulously.

        Steph gave her a puzzled look.

        "Never in a salon," Christina recovered. "I mean, I always do it at home."

        "Get up," Steph commanded as she grabbed Christina by the arm and yanked her to her feet. "You're overdue." Steph looked at Lisa and said, "Meet us in the torture chamber."

        "The what chamber?" Christina asked.

        "Ah, don't mind the name. We only call it that 'cause the diner's already called the Pain Shack." Steph shot Nina a devilish wink as she led the girls to a small room in the back of the salon.

        "Okay, Tina-fo-fina," Steph mused as she gestured to a large table in the middle of the room, "Face down on the slab." Christina looked around at her captors and realized that she had to keep the ruse going. She gulped, then lay down on the table. Lisa came into the room pushing a tray stocked with hair removal supplies. She positioned it to Christina's left then assumed a position at the head of the table. She pulled a donut-shaped attachment out from underneath the table and moved it in front of Christina's face. Lisa guided Christina's face in the padded ring and whispered, "Don't worry about Steph. She makes this sound bad, but she's an expert. It'll hurt only half as much as you're used to."

        "I dunno," Christina said nervously, "I'm not used to any pain at all."

        Steph handed Nina a magazine filled with hairstyles. "Have a seat kid," she joked. "Only the big girls get to play on the hard level."

        Nina sat down and scanned the pictures in the magazine, looking up from the pages, trying to picture what each style would look like on her cousin's head. Christina tried to fight her fear as the sickening smell of hot wax engulfed the tiny room. Steph grabbed the bottom of Christina's robe and pulled it up to the base of her panties.

        Then Lisa and Steph started to cover the backs of Christina's legs with hot wax.

        "Damn you Russian girls," Lisa said. "Your skinny legs make it harder for the rest of us."

        All but Christina laughed as the procedure continued. Christina felt every sensation as Steph and Lisa coated her with wax and placed cotton strips on top. She was grateful that she couldn't see any of what was going on. Christina could do nothing but lay there as Steph and Lisa worked, and Nina painstakingly told Steph every detail she knew about the events of last night.

        Once the wax on Christina's legs was ready, Steph and Lisa positioned themselves almost ceremonially on either side of the table. Steph motioned for Nina to put down her magazine, "Pay attention Nina, you're about to get a lesson in the price of beauty."

        Placing her hand on the small of Christina's back, Steph whispered, "Try to relax, the fun starts on the count of three." Steph nodded at Lisa.

        "One ...." Lisa started.

        Steph ripped off a strip before Lisa even mouthed the word "two." Christina gave out a high pitched grunt and clenched the table with her hands.

        "That one-two-three stuff never works," Steph laughed. "It's better to just get it over with." Steph pulled gently on the end of another cotton strip and asked, "Are you ready?"

        Christina tensed up and nodded into the donut.

        Steph winked again at Lisa, who pulled a strip off of Christina's other leg without any warning. Surprised yet again, Christina's knuckles went white as she gripped the table in pain. Christina wasn't sure if this was how this was normally done, or if this was some sort of bizarre initiation for out-of-towners. The rest of the session went much easier, as Steph and Lisa apparently grew tired of torturing Christina and finished the job without any more tricks. It was a small consolation that the pain from waxing was short lived. When the backs of her legs were done, Christina was instructed to roll over, and the procedure was repeated on the front of her legs. After every inch was completely hairless, Lisa misted Christina's legs with a spray bottle, and it was finally over.

        Steph reached out to Christina's abdomen and started to pull her robe open.

        "No!" Christina squealed. "No," she repeated, as her brain searched for a plausible excuse. "Uh, we can't wax there, it always uh ... the irritation, it's always bad." Christina gulped hoping that her objection made any kind of sense.

        "You got some tender spots, eh?" Steph conceded. "Okay then, we'll just finish up with the face." Steph wheeled the mobile tray next to Christina's head. Lisa lifted Christina's head and slid a small pillow underneath. Christina closed her eyes and imagined she was somewhere else. It was a baseball game, or maybe she was in a bar. It was somewhere manly. It wasn't a salon. It was anywhere but a salon.

        Steph cleaned off Christina's makeup then started applying wax to Christina's cheeks and around her eyebrows. "You're getting off light this time," she joked. "Next time you're getting the full Brazilian." Lisa broke out in laughter and gave Steph a high-five.

        Somehow, Christina forced herself to laugh, too. She didn't know what the "full Brazilian" was and she had no intention of ever finding out.

        Steph waited for the wax on Christina's face to set, then started ripping off the cotton strips. Christina gritted her teeth and endured the facial waxing. It didn't take anywhere near as long as her legs, but she felt uncomfortable with the two girls so closely examining her face.

        After the last strip was removed and Lisa had spritzed Christina's face, Steph tapped her captive on the shoulder. She announced, "You made it Blondie."

        Christina sat up on the table and tightened her robe. She felt her face, which was incredibly soft and much more smooth than after any shave she'd ever had.

        Steph and Lisa led the girls out of the torture chamber to a row of reclining chairs that Christina decided looked like padded lawn furniture.

         Nina and Christina sat down while Steph and Lisa went over to a series of cabinets next to a large sink. Nina reached over to feel Christina's cheek and whispered, "Did that hurt?"

        Christina placed her hand on top of Nina's and mouthed, "Yes," wrinkling her face in imaginary agony.

        Steph returned with a towel, and before Christina realized what was happening, Steph pulled Christina's hair back and draped the towel over her face. At first, the sting of the hot, moist cloth, and the scent of unfamiliar herbs were alarming, but Christina eventually gave over to relaxing sensations. Though Christina couldn't see a thing, she assumed that Nina was getting the same treatment.

        Once the towel had become cold, Steph removed it and dropped it onto a tray which she'd set up next to Christina's chair. Coming to her senses, Christina looked over and saw that Lisa was rubbing something onto Nina's face. Christina looked back up at Steph just as the procedure was repeated on her. It was at that point it dawned on Christina that she was getting a facial.

        Christina wasn't sure how long she sat in the chair, but she became alarmed as she felt the thick mask on her face dry and pull against her flesh. While she thought the hot towel was somewhat relaxing, Christina couldn't see why women would want to cover their face with mud, only to feel it harden around them. She would have complained to Nina if it weren't for the constricting feeling around her mouth.

        When Christina felt as though she couldn't sit still a moment longer, Steph removed the cotton ovals that had been covering her eyes. Christina sat motionless as Steph peeled back the now-hardened mask.

        Without giving Christina a moment to catch her breath, Steph yanked her out of her chair and down the hall to the shampoo station. Lisa and Nina followed a step behind. Had Christina turned around, she would have seen the elated look on her younger cousin's face. Nina and Christina sat down while Steph looked through the shelf to pick out bottles of shampoo.

        "Okay, you two, time for the main event," Steph said as she and Lisa fitted their clients with plastic aprons and pushed their chairs backward so that the girls' heads rested over small sinks situated behind them.

        Steph rinsed Christina's hair, while Lisa worked on Nina's. As Christina felt Steph's fingers massaging her scalp as she worked the shampoo into her wet hair, she looked up and saw Steph's breasts dangling delightfully over her face. She followed the line of Steph's neck and imagined how it would be to it plant rows of kisses along it. If the torture chamber was Hell, this was certainly Heaven.

        "Hey Kid," Steph called to Nina, "How old is your cousin?"

        "Nineteen," Nina replied.

        "Christina," Steph said slyly, "How is it that you've been walking this green earth for almost two decades, and we've never heard of you until today?"

        Christina didn't answer at first. She was still busy cataloging Steph's body with her eyes. When the question finally made contact with her brain, she answered, "I only found out about the Levchenkos last weekend."

        "Really," Steph continued. "A stranger might think you and Nina had been sisters all your lives."

        Christina gritted her teeth. Why did everyone have to say that?

        "So you had to take a business trip, and the Levchenkos just happened to be on the way?" Steph asked.

        "Yeah, that's how it worked out. I didn't plan on staying long."

        "Right, and one good smack on the head later, you're one of the gang."

        "Something like that," Christina groaned. "Nothing is going according to plan this week."

        Steph turned off her faucet and returned Christina's chair to its sitting position. She toweled Christina's hair and said, "You just have to roll with things- that's what I say. If you don't roll, then life just rolls you anyway."

        "Well this is more like when life rolls you over a cliff," Christina whispered under her breath.

        Steph removed Christina's apron as Lisa finished up on Nina. Then the girls were led back to their salon chairs. Steph stood between the girls and the wall of mirrors in front of them, holding her chin with her thumb and forefinger in an inquisitive fashion. "Okay, ladies," she said, "Pick your poison."

        Nina looked up at Lisa and asked, "Can I have the hairstyle book again?" Lisa nodded and retrieved the magazine from the torture chamber.

        Christina grinned nervously and asked, "Can't I just have a trim?"

        "Hey I like that," Steph said, clapping her hands together. "I didn't know you were the comedian in the family."

        Nina held up the hairstyle magazine and pointed to a shoulder length style. Christina glanced at it out of the corner of her eye as Steph squinted at the tiny picture. Lisa looked on and nodded.

        "You want that for you, or your cousin?" Steph asked.

        "I want it for the both of us," Nina smiled.

        "Oh, so a little twins action, eh?" Steph tapped Christina on the shoulder and asked, "What do you say, you want Dora the Explorer over here calling the shots?" Christina said nothing, only nodding affirmatively. She didn't know what to ask for in this situation, and she was happy to let Nina get her off the hook yet again. "Okay, kid-o ..." Steph told Nina as she took the magazine and tossed it into the waiting area. "... you're the boss."

        Nina added, "I want blonde hair, too."

        "No way bambina," said Steph. "Styling your hair is one thing, but if I send you home blonde, I'll have to answer to your mother. Even I'm not that brave."

        Steph walked behind Christina and picked up her hair. "I think your cousin needs some highlights, though."

        "I don't know that I need highlights," Christina objected meekly.

        "You should have asked Nina what the safe word was before you started the game." Steph had a wicked grin as she let Christina's hair drop.

        When Lisa and Steph went to work on the girls, Christina sat motionless as Steph expertly parted her mane. Using the mirror, Christina watched helplessly as Steph made a brush stroke here, a snip there. After a while, Christina noticed that Lisa was putting some hot rollers into Nina's hair. Seeing the expression on Nina's face, Christina couldn't help but smile a little; the girl was in a state of bliss. At least Nina was enjoying herself, she thought.

        Christina should have been paying more attention to what was happening to her, not Nina, as Steph covered pieces of her hair in some offensive smelling solution and then wrapped them with tiny pieces of foil. She didn't resume paying attention until she felt hot rollers being added to her own hair.

        Finally, Steph stopped attacking Christina's hair and let the two girls sit for a while. When Steph returned, she adjusted Christina's right hand until it was in a resting position above a small cup. Christina saw that Nina was getting the same treatment. She wasn't sure what was going on until she saw Lisa start manicuring Nina's fingernails. Much to Christina's dismay, Steph started on her nails too.

        "So, Chatty Cathy," Steph said as she worked, "Let's have the details."

        "The details?" asked Christina.

        "Yeah, details. Inquiring minds want to know. You're nineteen, living in the city, working as a ..."

        Nina said, "Christina's a secretary." Christina bit her lower lip and blushed. "And a salesgirl too," Nina added.

        "Right, a salesgirl," Steph said, picking up where she left off. "Do you live alone or are you shacking up with your man?"

        "My man?" Christina blurted.

        "Yeah," Steph said, grinning as she switched to Christina's other hand. "Your beau, your boyfriend, your fella."

        "I do NOT have a-" Christina started indignantly.

        "Come clean, Tina," Steph laughed. "You walk into my store wearing a man's jacket that's what- four sizes too big for you? And you say you ain't got a man?" Christina's mouth hung open as she tried to think of a plausible response. Steph held up her hands and wiggled her fingers, adding, "And I don't see a ring, so you're either seeing somebody, or having an extended sleepover. So which is it?"

        Nina looked over at her cousin, also curious for an answer.

        Christina gave it one more try. "Really, I'm not seeing anybody."

        "Bullshit!" Steph snickered. "Do you think I run my own salon just because I kick ass with the hair? Gossip, baby. It's all about the gossip."

        Christina reflected on her love life, and her thoughts drifted to her answering machine. "I was seeing Am-" Christina caught herself in mid "Amy" and quickly corrected, "Aaron for about a year and a half."

        Steph nodded at Lisa and the girl started removing the curlers from Nina's hair. Steph swiveled Christina's chair so her back was to the mirror, then started removing her curlers and the foil.

        "Year and a half is a long time for no ring," Steph observed.

        "I'm not in any hurry," Christina replied, not liking where this was heading.

        "I'm right there with you, sister. So what did Aaron do for a living?" Steph was relentless.

        "He went to college," Christina answered, adapting Amy's life story to be her imaginary boyfriend.

        "And he studied ..."

        "Literature."

        "And you and he 'was' together, as in no longer?" Steph asked, finishing with the curlers.

        "Yeah," Christina sighed. Talking about Amy made her feel the same sense of worthlessness that she'd felt all last week.

        Steph took out a brush and fussed with Christina's hair. "Were you the dump-er or the dump-ee?"

        "Dumpee," Christina moped.

        "Ouch," said Steph sympathetically, "How'd it go down?"

        "I got a message on my machine," Christina confessed as she stared at her toes.

        "The coward's way out. Did you love 'im?"

        "I do. I mean, I did. Very much."

        Steph stood in front of Christina and added the finishing touches to her hair. "So why did it go South?" she asked.

        Christina looked to her side and said, "He said we'd grown apart."

        "Typical man," Steph snorted. "Was he big where it counted?" Steph asked that last question as casually as all the others.

        Christina sat up as though she received an electric shock at the suggestion that she'd slept with a man. "I wouldn't know!" she insisted.

        Steph said, "Maybe that's the real reason you got the phone call."

        Christina wondered how many indignities she could bear in just twenty-four hours.

        "Don't worry about it," Steph added. She spun Christina's chair around twice then stopped her in front of the mirrors. "You know what they say- the best revenge is looking really hot."

        Christina shook off the dizziness and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Gone was her plain, straight hair from this morning. In its place was a flirty hairstyle that framed her face, curling in towards her neck at the bottom. Her hair was parted on the right side, and a wave of hair fell seductively over her face, almost hiding her left eye. She gawked at the girl in the mirror in disbelief. She would have to get it all shaved off when she got home- there was no other way anyone would think she was a boy again.

        Christina looked over at Nina who was admiring her identical, brunette hair in the mirror.

        Nina turned to Christina, and said, "I love it."

        "Yes, we love it," Christina agreed in agony, unable to fake a grin.

        Lisa rolled a tray into the room that was covered with cosmetics, brushes, and some metal instruments that Christina couldn't identify. Christina looked at them and said, "Nina isn't allowed to wear a lot of makeup."

        "We'll go easy on the kid," Steph assured. "That means we'll have to get our jollies with you."

        Christina surrendered. Things had already gone to far. She tensed her cheek muscles to produce what one might mistake for a smile as she said, "Let's make me beautiful."

 

        Nina was done long before Steph was finished with Christina. Lisa had treaded lightly on the girl, using only some blush and lip gloss. Nina returned from behind the folding screen, fully dressed, while Steph continued on Christina.

        "Lisa is making you a bag with the same stuff we used today," Steph said, after finishing Christina's lips. Steph took a step back to examine her work, then nodded. She waved Lisa over and said, "The nails." Lisa removed the cotton strips from between Christina's fingers and blew on her nails to help her nail polish dry. Steph went to the front counter and retrieved a small glass atomizer. She aimed the atomizer at Christina's neck and spritzed her with a hint of perfume. Nina, Steph, and Lisa all looked at Christina with approving smiles.

        Steph said, "Ladies, call the police and take me in, 'cause I am dangerous." She stepped aside so Christina could see herself in the mirror. Her face was exquisite. It was still her face, but more alluring and seductive. This went far beyond what Nina had done to her this morning. Her eyes were accentuated by long, curled lashes. Steph had also plucked Christina's eyebrows into delicate arches. There was no trace of her bruise, and her cheeks were frozen in a permanent blush. Christina looked at her lips, which were petite, pink, and inviting. They were lips that begged to be kissed. Steph had transformed her into a resplendent, sensuous woman.

        "Wow," Christina said in shock, "That can't be me."

        "We aim to please," Steph said as she skipped off to the front counter.

        Christina got up and went to the back of the store to get dressed. She noticed how different her bare legs felt as she pulled up her stockings. She felt as though she were walking around in a haze. She wondered, was all of it just a bizarre dream? It couldn't really be happening. She finished getting dressed and emerged from behind the screen.

        She stopped to look at herself in one of the full length mirrors. She saw a sexy young woman. The dress she wore showed off her petite waist and her full breasts. Her face was two parts innocent school girl, and one part femme fatal. Christina stared at her reflection, looking for the boy she'd once been, and couldn't find him. She was no longer concerned about being accepted as a girl. She began to wonder if she would ever be a boy again. Nothing in the mirror suggested that she would.

        Christina traced the outline of her necklace though the material of her dress. It was the only link she had to what felt like a former life. Her visage, the sound of her heels, and the scent of her perfume had a profound effect on her. She began to accept the new feminine role that everyone seemed to want her to play. She actually felt like she was Christina Chase.

        Nina was waiting for her by the counter. She looked up at her cousin and said, "You look so beautiful."

        Christina blushed with an odd sense of pride. She squeezed Nina's hand and replied, "We both do."

        Christina pulled her debit card out of her purse and Steph rang up her treatment and her makeup. Christina had spent more money on her new looks in less than a day than she spent on male clothing in several months. Nina and Christina gathered up their multiplying collection of shopping bags and headed for the exit.

        "Hey Nina," Steph shouted as they were leaving, "Say hi to your brother for me."

        Nina nodded, then waved goodbye.

        Christina and Nina were once more back in the middle of town. It was later in the day and school had been out for a while. When Christina had started her shopping trip, there was hardly anyone outside. Main Street was now filled with people. Christina noticed that she was getting attentive stares from the men and boys that passed by. She wanted desperately not to garner that sort of attention, and she tried to hurry Nina along. Nina was having none of it. She wanted the world to see her new hairstyle, and her older cousin. Christina's spirit lifted as they passed a small electronics store. "Nina," she said, "I need to make one more stop." She led her cousin into the building, finally in charge of the shopping game.

        Christina scanned the shelves; she needed a charger for her cell phone. She'd packed one, but that had been lost with her suitcase. If she could get a charge on her phone, and perhaps a moment of privacy, she might be able to reschedule her appointment. She walked up to the counter where a young boy was loading boxes of calculators and other goods into an open, wall-mounted cabinet. He looked somewhat younger than herself.

        Nina let go of Christina's hand and wandered about the store. Christina waited patiently at the counter for the boy to notice her presence. Finally, apparently smelling Christina's intoxicating perfume, he turned around to meet her eyes. He gasped slightly when he realized the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen was standing right in front of him.

        "Hello," Christina said cheerfully.

        The boy snapped to his senses when he realized that Christina was speaking to him. He cleared his throat and said, "Welcome to something, can I get you Arnold's?" His face turned bright red, but his eyes refused to look away. Christina scrunched her nose in confusion. The boy started speaking more quickly, as though that would help. "I mean, welcome to Arnold's ... I can get things." The boy was now visibly sweating, and he gave it one last try with concentration. "Please let me get you something."

        Christina said, "I need a replacement charger for my cell phone."

        "Charger- Okay, I'll be right back." The boy turned sharply and walked directly into the open cabinet door with a large TWACK! He covered his head with one hand and closed the door with the other.

        Christina unsuccessfully tried to suppress a chuckle. Concerned that she may have hurt the boy's feelings, she reached out and touched him on the shoulder and sympathetically said, "Don't feel bad, I hit myself in the head just yesterday."

        The boy's heart rate doubled at Christina's touch, and his voice cracked. "I'll be right back," he croaked. The boy ran off leaving Christina alone at the counter. She stood there for a few minutes, wondering where he'd had gone. She then noticed another customer in the store; a very handsome man in an expensive suit. She accidentally made eye contact with him, and he walked up to the counter.

        "Hello," the man said in a debonair voice. "My name is Richard."

        "Hi," Christina said, attempting to look elsewhere.

        "This is a pretty small town, and I know I would have remembered if we met before," he continued, undeterred by Christina's obvious disinterest.

        "That's because I'm just passing through." Christina knew this man was hitting on her, but she had no experience deflecting men's advances.

        "You should pass through more often. We have a shortage of beautiful women in Oak Grove." The man smiled as he moved closer to Christina. He reached into his breast pocket and produced a business card. Christina begrudgingly took the card and glanced at it. It read, "Richard Masters, Attorney at Law."

        "I don't know how long you're in town, but I'd be happy to show you around. There isn't much to see, but I could always show it to you twice." He looked deeply into Christina's eyes. Richard was perhaps half a foot taller than Christina, and his broad shoulders blocked her view of the exit. The man's piercing stare made her feel naked and trapped.

        Christina said, "Thanks, but I already have someone to show me around." She motioned to Nina who came back to her side.

        "Christina," Nina said, "We should hurry up. Everyone must be waiting for us."

        Christina smiled at Nina, grateful for an excuse to leave. "See that?" Christina smirked, "There's people waiting for us."

        "I'm sure there's lots of people waiting for you," Richard crooned.

        Christina cocked her head back at the sly compliment. She had no idea how to respond. Just then, the door buzzer rang as two boys entered the store. One of the boys was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and the other had curly red hair and freckles. The boy in the hoodie waved to Nina, and she went over to talk to them. With Christina now separated from her younger cousin, the man edged even closer.

        Richard said, "I'm sure she's an excellent guide, Christina," calling Christina by her name, "But I'm sure there are a few things I can show you that she can't." Christina's heart was racing. She wanted to be anywhere but trapped in this man's gaze. She was relieved when the sales boy returned to the counter carrying an armload of power adaptors of every shape and size.

        The boy, who was slightly out of breath, said, "I forgot to ask what kind of phone you had." He forced as much air into his lungs as humanly possible. "So, I brought everything we have."

        Christina opened her purse, dropped Richard's card into it, and took out her cell phone.

        The boy took the phone and flipped it open. He scrounged through the adaptors and pulled a few out. The boy then turned to Richard and said, "We have this generic plug, or this expensive one. The expensive one will charge faster, and it also comes with a car adaptor."

        Christina was annoyed that the boy addressed Richard instead of her, and she cleared her throat pointedly.

        The boy looked back and forth between Richard and Christina, and realized his mistake, "Sorry," he said, regaining his voice. "I just assumed that he was your-"

        Christina started to speak, but Richard cut in. "I made the same mistake myself," he said with a broad smile. He reached into his pocket and took out his wallet. Richard picked up the expensive charger and said, "We'll take this one."

        Christina turned to Richard and angrily whispered, "I can buy my own charger."

        "Of course you can," Richard said, "But this is a friendly town and I would feel just awful if you didn't feel welcome." The boy handed the bag containing Christina's charger to Richard, then the man put his arm around Christina's waist and led her towards the door. Richard noticed Christina's collection of bags and offered, "I couldn't forgive myself if I let you carry all those bags by yourself." Richard casually dropped the charger in one of the large bags.

        Christina knew that this smooth operator had both herself and the situation in hand, and she had to think quick to derail his affections. "Nina," she shouted, "We're going!" Nina came to the front of the store with her two friends from school. Christina wiggled free from Richard's grasp and placed a hand on each of the boys' shoulders. "Boys," she said with a seductive glance, "Nina and I sure could use your help carrying our things."

        The boys' faces ignited at Christina's touch and they immediately seized the bags. "Absolutely," said the boy in the hoodie. The red haired boy didn't say anything, but he smiled awkwardly at Nina as he picked up his share of the bags.

        Christina turned to Richard and shot him a dirty look. "I think we have the situation under control," she sneered.

        Richard responded with a hearty laugh, only encouraged by the look Christina gave him. "Perhaps next time," he said confidently as Christina, Nina, and their two porters left the store.

 

        It was nearly five o'clock when Christina and Nina entered the family's grocery store. They were followed by the two eager boys who insisted on carrying every single one of Christina's bags. Nina instructed her friends to put Christina's bags behind the counter, and the three of them walked away, leaving Christina to survey the establishment. The grocery store was more of a general store, Christina realized. It was tiny by city standards, though it appeared well stocked with a wide range of goods.

        The place radiated the same welcoming aura as her relatives' home. There were a few people in the store and Misha was working the sole register. Christina was taken aback by how the patrons greeted and spoke with each other. Everyone knew everyone else. Oak Grove was not just a small country town. No, Oak Grove was an actual community. Each store was unique, the people were friendly, and judging by the sign on her uncle's shop door, everything in town closed early.

        Christina was used to the fast paced tempo of city life- long hours, packed trains, and overfilled sidewalks where she could stand in a crowd of hundreds and be invisible. Oak Grove was different. Yet, while she found the town charming, she longed for the anonymity of the city. Although none of the patrons had actively stared at her, they had all paid her some sort of recognition; a smile here, a polite nod there. She could feel their curious eyes watching her every step.

        Christina waited for her aunt to finish ringing up her customer before she caught her attention with a small wave of her hand. Misha temporarily abandoned her post behind the register and went out to her niece with her arms outstretched.

        "Christina," she proclaimed," You look so lovely."

        Christina blushed and said, "Thank you, Aunt Misha." Christina motioned for Nina to come over. Nina finished talking to her friends, and the two boys left the store. She sprinted over and stood next to her older cousin. "Please don't be upset," Christina begged, "But Nina got a haircut too." Christina stood there with her arm around Nina's waist, waiting for any sign of disapproval.

        Misha looked at her daughter and saw that she had the same hairstyle as her cousin. She couldn't remember the last time Nina had looked so happy. Misha touched her daughter's and her niece's faces with her hands and said, "You two look so much alike."

        The three of them went behind the counter. Nina could hardly contain herself as she related all the events of the day to her mother. Christina noted that Nina strategically neglected to tell her mother about the nightie that Christina had purchased for her. After the girls finished talking about Christina's shopping day, Misha returned to the counter. Christina, looking for some way to be helpful, stood next to her aunt and bagged groceries, but still felt on display. Every customer was curious about the new girl in town, and Misha was all too willing to introduce Christina to each of them. Christina was sure that there would not be a living soul in Oak Grove who would not know her name by midnight.

        Although Christina felt uncomfortable to meet so many people, it was comforting that not a single person mistook her for a boy. It also was not as stressful as her encounter with the lawyer in the electronics store. She felt secure that Misha's presence would protect her from any unwanted attention.

        Christina survived her final introduction, and the last customer of the night shuffled out the door. She felt very hungry, only now realizing that between shopping and her makeover, she didn't have time for lunch. Misha rang out the register for the night and called to her son and husband. Alek and Andrei emerged from the back room.

        Alek's face brightened at the sight of his niece. "Christina," he gushed, "Look at you!"

        Andrei rolled his eyes at his father. He glanced at Christina through the corner of his eyes, wondering why everyone was so taken with her. Andrei took a better look and noticed the new dress, the perfectly tressed hair, and her freshly made up face. He looked at her curves and her sparkling green eyes. Maybe she was beautiful, he admitted, but since when did the entire world revolve around her?

        Nina touched her father's hand and he looked down to see her. "We both got our hair done," she beamed.

        "Yes, I see," Alek said warmly. He leaned over and kissed his wife on her cheek. "All of the women in our family are beautiful," he announced. Alek took his coat off the rack behind the counter and switched off all the lights in the store. "Andrei," he barked, "Carry your cousin's bags to the car."

        Andrei picked up all the bags with little effort as he mumbled, "Of course, that is what I am here for ..."

        After Alek locked up, the family walked around back to the old green pickup truck. "Andrei," Alek said to his son, "You ride in the back."

        Andrei raised an eyebrow.

        "And make sure nothing falls out of your cousin's bags."

        Alek and Misha squeezed into the old truck. Andrei lifted Christina's bags into the back of the truck then turned to face her. "You're here one day," he said, "And already, I am luggage."

        Christina felt a hot flush of guilt under her cousin's smoldering gaze. "I'm sorry," she said sincerely. Andrei jumped over the side of the truck and into the back. Christina slid into the passenger side, and Nina hopped into her lap. Christina held her cousin around her waist, and the family headed home.

 

        Boris barked excitedly at the sound of the family pickup pulling into the driveway. Nina opened her door and hopped off Christina's lap, all in one motion. Christina and Misha followed. Alek got out and went to the back of the truck. He was about to tell Andrei to take Christina's bags to her room, but his son was already gone. Alek looked to the old barn just as Andrei closed the door behind him. Alek growled and lifted Christina's new clothes from the back of the truck.

        The family entered the house through the side door where Boris was waiting. He wagged his tail furiously and fought the urge to jump up onto people as they came inside. Misha opened the refrigerator door and took out some food. "Nina," Misha said, "Go help your cousin put her things away." Misha started preparing dinner and Alek walked the girls up to Christina's room. Alek put down the bags and left the girls alone. Nina pulled their new sleepwear out of the bags and held them up. "Are we going to wear these tonight?" she asked expectantly.

        Christina winced at the thought. "I don't know, Nina. Let me think about it, okay?" Nina nodded. "I have to make a quick phone call," Christina said, looking though her bags for her new power adaptor. She pulled it out and sat on her bed.

        "Can I put your things away?" Nina asked with enthusiasm.

        "Sure, knock yourself out," Christina said with a smile. She didn't want to think about her new wardrobe at the moment. She plugged the power adaptor into the wall, took her cell phone out of her purse, and turned it on. "Please, please, please ...." she whispered as the phone came to life. "Yes!" she said to herself. The phone was working and had decent reception. Finally, something was going her way. Christina searched though the phone book for Mr. Patel's home phone number. He wasn't going to like being called at home, and he certainly wouldn't like what she was going to tell him.

        Christina had just found the number when she heard the door to her room open. Boris stuck his head in and looked at her. She ignored the dog and pressed the send button. Boris, undeterred, trotted into the room and jumped onto Christina's bed.

        "Go away!" she whispered.

        Boris tilted his head and stared at her as though she was speaking Chinese. Christina made shooing motions with her hands, but Boris stood, steadfastly studying the person in front of him.

        The phone rang twice, and Mr. Patel answered. "Hello? Who is this?" he asked.

        Christina spoke very softly so that Nina could not hear her speaking in her deeper voice. "Mr. Patel," she began, "It's Chris."

        "Chris, where have you been? Why haven't you called in?"

        "I'm sorry, but I haven't been able to call. There was an accident," she explained.

        "An accident? What's going on?"

        "Look, I can't get into the details right now. The short story is my car is a little banged up," Christina lied. "It's in the shop right now being fixed, and everything should be good by Thursday." Christina had no way to know for sure when her car would be repaired, but she had to tell her boss something.

        Mr. Patel muttered something in a language Christina didn't understand then said, "I will call Unitech and move the service call to Friday."

        Christina whispered, "Thank you Mr. Patel."

        "Chris," Mr. Patel continued in a calmer voice, "We really need Unitech to sign a support contract. A lot is depending on you."

        Christina stared into Boris' eyes and said, "I won't let you down Mr. Patel." Christina folded her phone closed and placed it on the nightstand. She scratched Boris' belly and said, "You already know far too much."

        Nina, who had put away nearly all of Christina's new clothes, turned to her cousin and asked, "When did you buy these?"

        When Christina saw Nina was holding her new jeans- the ones she bought to replace her male clothes, fear jolted through her. She leaped from the bed and snatched the jeans from her cousin. Nina looked at her cousin in surprise as Christina laughed uncomfortably, stuttering, "I just got these for ...." She paused trying to think of a good explanation. " ... for the trip back home."

        Twisting the jeans in her hands, she added, "They're more comfortable for long rides, you know?" There was an awkward silence as Christina put her jeans away. In retrospect, she realized there was nothing out of the ordinary about buying jeans, but her overreaction was obviously suspicious behavior.

        The awkwardness ended when Misha called Nina and Christina downstairs. The girls walked into the kitchen and found Misha working over a hot stove. "Nina," Misha said, "Could you set the table for me?"

        "Sure Mom," Nina answered. She opened a cabinet and took out some plates.

        "Chris, dear," Misha said, turning to her niece, "Could you find your uncle and Andrei and tell them to come to dinner?"

        "Yes, of course, Aunt Misha."

        Christina walked through the downstairs hallway knocking on doors. When there was no answer, she would crack the door open and peek inside. Finding the master bedroom and den both empty, she returned to the living room, pausing to take a good look around. The walls were covered with family pictures. Some were obviously from holidays and events, while others were more ordinary. Her heart sank. It was difficult to witness this loving home and not really be a part of it.

        She wished that she'd had a home like this, but Christina's family was broken a long time ago. She picked up one of the pictures that stood on a shelf above the fireplace. It was Andrei's graduation. He stood there with his mother and sister. Squinting, Christina thought she could make out Steph and Lisa in the background.

        Her mind flashed to the picture of the unknown girl from her bedroom. She wasn't in any of the pictures. Who was she?

        Alek walked in through the front door and took off his work gloves. "Christina," he said warmly.

        Christina turned around and smiled at her uncle. "Uncle Alek, Aunt Misha says to come to dinner."

        Alek nodded.

        "She told me to get Andrei too. Do you know where he is?"

        Alek reached out and took the graduation picture from Christina's hands. "Andrei is in the barn, as usual." He held up the picture for Christina to see. "You see here? This is when Andrei finished high school. I told him to go to college."

        He placed the picture back on the shelf. "But no. Instead, every day and night he is in the barn ... working," he finished with a snort. "He is twenty-one years old; what does he want to do with his life?"

        Alek placed his hands on Christina's shoulders, smiling as he looked directly into her eyes. "You are only nineteen; you have a career and you live on your own."

        Christina blushed and grinned back. Even though she didn't have the best job, and her apartment was a disgrace, her uncle's praise made her feel proud. "You have done very well for yourself," Alex commended, "Especially for a girl."

        Christina wrinkled her nose at her uncle's chauvinist comment.

        Alek continued, "Your aunt and I are very proud of you. Misha told every customer about her successful niece."

        Christina smiled at the man. He was very old fashioned, but he was sincerely affectionate. She did not like the idea of the entire town knowing about Christina Chase, but she loved the fact that her uncle and aunt were proud of her.

        Christina said, "I should get Andrei; I don't want to keep Aunt Misha waiting."

        Alek released his hands from his niece and concurred, "Good idea. I would not want to keep her waiting either." He chuckled to himself as he walked into the kitchen.

        Before she headed out to the barn, Christina looked around the room again, looking at the pictures, the fireplace, and the somehow familiar clock on the wall. She fantasized about how things might have been different if Christopher Chase had come to Oak Grove. He might have been able to be some small part of this family.

        Christina Chase was a lie. She would disappear as soon as she left town, and she could never return. Christina tried to throw off these depressing thoughts as she walked out the front door into the cool night air.

        Her depression lifted instantly when she looked around. She was floored by the dome of stars overhead. She could hardly see any stars in the city. In Oak Grove, there were so many holes in the night that she wondered if she even needed the moon to find her way.

        Christina tore herself away from the night sky, and walked down the driveway to the barn. She knocked on the weathered door, noticing the odors of sawdust and varnish. Pushing the door open, she looked into the darkness. "Andrei?" she called, standing at the entrance, not daring to enter. She again called, "Andrei, are you in there?" hesitating for a moment before she lifted her high heeled foot to step in. Before she could set a foot through the doorway, Andrei appeared from behind her and pulled the door closed.

        Shocked, Christina turned around quickly, finding herself cornered by her colossal cousin.

        "What are you doing?" Andrei's forcefulness made Christina very uncomfortable.

        "Uh," Christina stammered, "I was ... Aunt Misha sent me to get you for dinner. I thought you were in-"

        "Some places are not for you," he said with a terrible finality.

        Christina felt a knot forming in her stomach. Everyone here was loving and accepting; everyone but Andrei. Her older cousin terrified her, always making her feel as though she had invaded his home. She did not know why Andrei disliked her so much, but his attitude only reinforced her own feelings of guilt. All she could do was stand there in silence, unsure of what to say and submissively looking down at her feet.

        "Let's go," Andrei said as he motioned towards the side door.

        Fighting the urge to run, Christina walked ahead of Andrei, not wanting to look at his giant frame. She didn't know whether Andrei had figured out that she was a fraud or if he just didn't like her.

        Either way, she was soon grateful to be back in the kitchen. She felt safe near her uncle, and she was certain he would protect her.

        The rest of the evening was a dramatic contrast to the day. At dinner, they sat around eating, reminiscing, and laughing. Christina sat next to her uncle and listened, fascinated as he told her stories of her distant relatives in far off lands. His words somehow Instantly made her feel connected to these people.

        Acting like a girl that morning had taken an enormous amount of effort, but tonight, Christina was able to let down her guard. She couldn't bring herself to consciously admit it, but being attractive gave her confidence that she had lacked earlier. It was fleeting, but now, she was Christina Chase, and she hung on her uncle's every word. The Levchenkos in turn, with the exception of Andrei, seemed quite taken with their long lost cousin. Christina decided that she would play her part for the rest of her stay. The only way she could see to repay their kindness was to be the girl they seemed to want her to be.

        Christina felt a tinge of sadness when the family had finished dinner; she wanted to live in that moment forever.

        The spell was broken when Alek called across the table to his son. "Andrei, Did you see Conrad today?"

        Andrei put down his glass of water, "Yeah, he says the car will be finished by Friday- if he has all the parts."

        "How bad is it?" Christina asked.

        Andrei shot her a cold look that warned her to stay out of the conversation. "It's beat up pretty bad," Andrei answered, looking at his father. "The back needs some body work and new tires. Oh, and, the rear axle is broken."

         "Christina dear," Misha chimed in, "Don't you worry about your appointment tomorrow, Andrei will take you."

        Christina looked at Andrei who was visibly displeased with his new status as his cousin's chauffeur. Before Andrei could object, Christina said, "No, I couldn't ask Andrei to do that."

        "But you have to keep your appointment, Chris," Misha said plainly.

        "No it's alright," Christina said, "I called my boss, and he moved my meeting to Friday, so everything should work out just fine."

        Turning to meet Andrei's gaze, she added, with a slight hint of obeisance, "When the car is ready on Friday, I can leave."

        Nina frowned, obviously not liking the idea of Christina leaving.

        Alek scooped up Christina's manicured hand, beaming, "Wonderful! You will stay here for the rest of the week."

        "The only thing is," Christina looked into her uncle's eyes and gripped his large, rough hand, "I really need to go back and find my suitcase. It has important documents for my meeting." She hoped Alek would drive her to the site of the accident.

        Alek dashed Christina's expectations when he said, "Of course. Andrei can take you there first thing in the morning."

        Christina glanced sheepishly at her cousin. He was obviously unhappy, and Christina felt herself wilting under his stare. In an attempt to break free from her cousin's glance, she stood up and started clearing the dinner plates.

        Misha took the plates and said, "You don't have to do that Christina."

        "I want to help," Christina insisted.

        "Not tonight," Misha said. "Doctor Stone said you need your rest. You should go to bed."

        "But Mom!" Nina whined, "Can't Christina and I stay up tonight?"

        Christina's mind flashed to the clothing store. She and Nina had bought sexy bedclothes, and Christina had implicitly agreed to a pajama party.

        "No Nina. You have school tomorrow, and your cousin needs her rest," Misha chided.

        Nina hung her head, moaning, "Alright."

        Andrei stood up and slunk out the side door, apparently heading back out to the barn.

        Christina felt terrible. She could tell that Andrei and his father didn't get along, and she didn't want to make matters worse.

        Per her aunt's orders, she went upstairs, entered the large bedroom and made sure the door was closed securely before changing. She didn't need Boris sneaking in on her again.

        She kicked off her heels, and removed her dress. She had to struggle a bit with the zipper, finding it difficult to get it down, but after a worrisome moment, she managed it. After taking off her stockings and garter belt, she was wearing only her bra, cincher and panties.

        At home, she normally let her clothes fall where they may, but she was more careful with her new, feminine attire. After hanging her new dress in the closet and arranging her shoes underneath, Christina inhaled deeply to take off her cincher. She felt as though she hadn't had a solid breath of air all day. Breathing deeply, she looked at the girl in the mirror and saw red marks where the cincher had been. Her eyes drifted downward from her tortured waistline, down below her bikini to her hairless legs. Being beautiful is certainly painful, she thought.

        She pulled out her new satin boxer pajamas from the drawer. She decided it was safer to leave her bra and panties on and stepped into the shorts. As she pulled them up over her waist, she was very aware of every sensation as the shorts slid over her long smooth legs. After she'd put on the top and buttoned it up, she walked to the mirror to see whether she had shattered the illusion. All she saw was Christina Chase staring back at her, posing like a vixen in a lingerie catalog.

        Christina sighed. While she didn't want to be discovered, she'd hoped that some of her old appearance would have resurfaced.

        On the way to the door, she stopped, picked up the picture of the lone girl from the chest of drawers and stared into her eyes, wondering who she was. She remembered that Abby from the clothing store had mentioned that another Levchenko girl had asked for chest padding. What was the name? Christina whispered, "Anastasia?" Christina studied the girl in the picture then put it back on the chest. Perhaps she wasn't the only girl in the family with secrets.

        She left the bedroom and went down the hall to the bathroom where she carefully closed the door, making sure it was Boris-proof. Pulling down her pajama bottoms and panties, she sat on the toilet. After finishing, she wiped between her legs with a few pieces of toilet paper. The loving glow of the family dinner subsided as a new wave of humiliation hit her. Urinating like a girl was incredibly demoralizing.

        But, she had to do it; she couldn't let her guard down for a moment. At the bathroom sink, she washed off her makeup. She stared at the girl in the mirror. Gone was her glamorous look from the salon. In her place was a natural beauty with delicate eyebrows and tempting lips. Christina was mortified at how easily she had become a girl. She was ashamed that everyone had accepted her so effortlessly, and that she had gone along with it.

        When she left the bathroom and walked back towards the large bedroom, she found her uncle waiting for her at the door. "Christina," he said, "Is there anything you need?"

        Christina looked up at her uncle, who towered over her by almost a foot. She'd noticed that all the Levchenko girls, like herself, were very tall, but her uncle and her cousin were positively mountainous.

        "No thank you, Uncle Alek," she said. "You have all been so kind to me. I just want you to know how grateful I am. I never even thanked you for coming to get me last night. I-"

        Alek cut her off with a kiss on the forehead. "You are family," he said. "We are the grateful ones."

        Christina failed to prevent a single tear from escaping down her cheek as she reached up and embraced her uncle. He returned the hug, enveloping Christina in his large arms. As Christina stood on her tip toes and savored the feeling, she didn't know why she felt so safe in her uncle's arms. Maybe it was because she missed her own father, or perhaps it was the way he'd rescued her from her crash and held her in his arms as she slept.

        "Goodnight Uncle Alek," Christina said sweetly. Alek went back downstairs and Christina turned around to enter the bedroom, finding Boris sitting in the doorway with his trademark stare.

        Snapping out of her spell, Christina realized that she'd just been kissed by her uncle, and Boris had witnessed the entire affair. She bent down in front of the dog and chastised, "You didn't see that, understand? It never happened." Boris lay down on the floor with a canine snort.

        "This is just until Friday," she explained to the nosy German shepherd. "After that, I'm outa here." She pulled the waistband of her pajama shorts open with her thumb and explained, "All of this is just temporary, got it?" Boris rolled on to his side and looked up at Christina with a crooked glance. He'd apparently decided he was sleeping with her tonight.

        Christina pulled back the covers of the bed and crawled in. She didn't like being a girl, but she loved sleeping in a girl's bed. She loved the feeling of her satin pajamas as they caressed her hairless skin. Sinking deliciously into the mattress and pillows, she wished her own bed was half as comfortable.

        As sleep was overtaking her, she reflected on her situation. She had made it through the day as a girl. There had been a few close calls, but she'd made it. She still had to take care of her soiled male clothes; she couldn't risk Misha finding them. Tomorrow, she thought. Tomorrow she could take care of her jeans. She would find her suitcase, and the car would be ready Friday morning. She only had to be a girl for two more days. Andrei wouldn't have to drive her to Ardmore. More importantly, she wouldn't have to go to her meeting as Christina Chase.

        Thoughts of Andrei filled her mind. She didn't want to spend all day alone with him. She'd have to ask her uncle to come with them to find her suitcase. Maybe it would work. It'd have to. Exhausted from the day, Christina closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hoped you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Christina woke just as the first rays of sun hit the mountain. Rolling over, she pulled the blankets over her eyes to block the light. She savored the warm, comfortable feeling of being cocooned in her luxurious bed, remembering that her bed at home wasn't remotely this comfortable. Eventually she pulled the blanket off of her head and looked around, realizing that everything that happened yesterday was real. She didn't want to get up, not only because the bed was so inviting, but also she knew that if she looked in the mirror, she would see a girl looking back.

        She decided It didn't matter. She had to get out of bed; she had an agenda. If she was going to navigate through this crisis, she had to stick it out until Friday. Pulling the covers back, she stepped onto the cold, hardwood floors. Boris looked up at her; he'd stayed in her room all night. Christina walked to her closet, purposefully ignoring both the German shepherd, and her image in the mirror.

        As she removed her pajamas and began to take off her underwear, she realized her chest and back felt pinched where the bra was, and made a mental note to never sleep in a bra again. She searched through her underwear drawer, selecting a pair of blue lace panties and a matching bra. Next, she grabbed her cincher and chest enhancers, placing them on the bed before she looked through the closet. Nina had only picked out skirts and dresses. Christina desperately wanted to wear pants, but she had only one pair of jeans, and she couldn't wear them, so she decided on a black skirt that stopped just below her knees. She also picked out a light green blouse. It had what Abby had called a boatneck neckline, that showed off the sides of her neck, but luckily didn't show much of her chest. She didn't need any more attention from men like she'd received the previous day.

        As a finishing touch, Christina grabbed her necklace and fastened it around her neck, gave the gear a squeeze, then dropped it down the front of her blouse.

        Slipping flats onto her feet, she went back to the closet and removed her one pair of jeans and a plain white shirt. From the chest of drawers she selected a pair of cotton panties, a plain bra, and her ankle socks. She wadded these together in a big ball and shoved them into the plastic bag containing her soiled male clothes from the night of the accident. Holding the bag in one hand and her new, white tennis shoes in the other, Christina checked the mirror before she left the bedroom. She was still the comely young girl that she'd been yesterday.

        Boris skulked close behind as Christina tip-toed through the hallway. She was careful not to make any loud noises as she passed Nina's door. Looking down the hall to Andrei's bedroom, she saw that the door was slightly ajar, but the room was dark. She didn't want to be seen by Andrei most of all. She continued sneaking down the stairs, her efforts to remain quiet ruined by Boris, who made plenty of noise on the staircase.

         Once at the bottom of the stairs, Christina looked up to see whether anyone had noticed. So far, so good. Slinking slowly through the living room, she saw that the antique clock on the wall read 11 o'clock. Christina realized that it couldn't possibly be accurate as she continued into the kitchen.

        The kitchen was deserted; this was going better than she'd hoped. Holding her new shoes over the sink, she ran the faucet, soaking them there until they were saturated. That step completed, she walked out the side door of the house, rolled the shoes in the light dust of the driveway and placed them on the back stoop. She hoped it would appear as though she'd attempted to wash the dirt out of her shoes and left them to dry. That took care of her sneakers.

        Boris watched Christina's plotting with great interest, shadowing her as she walked past the old barn, to the backyard. Looking back at the barn, she didn't see any signs that Andrei was around. She fought the urge to peek inside. She wanted to know what he spent all his time doing in there, but she knew that the barn was somewhere she was not allowed.

        Gingerly stepping down the incline of the mountain, she still could not believe how magnificent the landscape was. Under other circumstances, she would have taken the time to appreciate the view. At the moment, Christina was struggling not to lose her footing in her flats and her skirt. She was annoyed that girls had to wear such impractical clothes. She was even more irritated that she had to be a girl against her will.

        When she was far enough down the mountain that the Levchenko house appeared minuscule, she overturned her bag and dumped all her clothes on the ground. "Whoops," she smiled at Boris.

        Boris wagged his tail. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he liked Christina's attention. He bent over and sniffed the clothes in the mud.

        Christina sorted through the pile and tossed all of her male clothes into the bushes. Looking at her old clothes made her feel uncomfortable; those were the only boy clothes she had. She was stranded, hundreds of miles away from home, and she no longer owned a pair of underwear that didn't have a bow on them.

        Christina picked up her new clothes, placed them back into the plastic bag, and started the long hike back to the house. When she and Boris got back to the house, Christina double checked the clothes in the bag, deciding that they weren't nearly dirty enough. Looking around, she found an exposed section of the backyard that was fairly muddy. Bending down, she shoved her clothes into the moist earth and rolled them around. When she was satisfied that they looked sufficiently ruined, she scooped them up into the bag.

        "What are you doing?" came Andrei's voice from behind.

        An electric shock surged through Christina's spine. She stood up quickly, but did not turn around.

        Boris wagged his tail and trotted over to Andrei.

        "What are you doing with that bag?" he repeated.

        Christina turned around and said, "Nothing?"

        Andrei snatched the bag from her hands and looked inside.

        "Hey!" Christina shouted. Her protest was halted by a cross look from her cousin.

        Andrei rifled though the bag, finding only his cousin's dirty clothes.

        "I got up early to wash my clothes," Christina said.

        Andrei looked at her suspiciously. He said, "The washing machine is in the basement, not the backyard."

        Christina trembled as she answered, "Well okay, let's go inside then."

        Andrei held the bag as he followed Christina into the side entrance, where they spotted Misha in the kitchen starting breakfast.

        Seeing Andrei and Christina, Misha said, "Good morning, children."

        Christina cleared her throat and tried to stop shaking. "Aunt Misha," she said, "Can I please use the washing machine?" She pointed at the plastic bag in Andrei's hands.

        "Certainly dear," said Misha as she took the bag from her son.

        Andrei sat down and said to his mother, "Christina was rolling her clothes around in the dirt."

        Christina felt dizzy as she looked at her aunt. She said, "No, I wasn't-"

        Misha cut Christina off, saying, "Don't be thick Andrei. Christina's clothes were covered with mud. She was shaking it off before she put her clothes in the machine."

        Christina, grateful for the explanation, nodded. "Right. I didn't want to overload the washing machine." She stared at the floor, too scared to look at her cousin.

        Andrei sneered at Christina. He was certain he'd seen her rolling her clothes on the ground. Kicking his chair out from underneath him, he stood and muttered, "Whatever." He shot Christina a suspicious glare as he left the kitchen.

        "Do not mind him," said Misha. "Andrei is always cranky in the morning."

        Christina nodded, still very shaken.

        Misha said, "I will put these in the wash for you." She opened the door to the basement and took Christina's clothes downstairs.

        "Christina," called an exuberant Nina from behind.

        "Hey Nina," Christina beamed. After her encounter with Andrei, she was relieved to see Nina's smiling face. The girl was dressed for school in a plaid skirt and a plain white blouse. Christina wondered if any of the Levchenko girls ever wore pants. She looked at the food Misha had left on the counter, then back at Nina. "When do you have to be at school?" Christina asked.

        "Not for an hour," the girl replied.

        "In that case," Christina said as she put on an apron, "I'm cooking you breakfast."

        Nina's grinned as her cousin went to work making scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon.

        Misha came upstairs and saw her niece working at the stove.

        "Christina's making breakfast," Nina announced.

        "I see this," Misha said. She touched Christina on the shoulder and said, "You do not have to do that, dear."

        Christina grinned at her aunt and insisted, "You have all taken care of me since the moment I stepped foot in this house. Making breakfast is the least I can do."

        "Really ..."

        Christina looked back at Misha and pouted, "Please let me make breakfast for my new, most favorite people in the world?"

        Misha blushed and sat down next to Nina. She looked at her daughter, saying, "Who could argue with that?"

        Nina and Misha chatted while Christina fixed their breakfast. Misha studied Christina as she worked the eggs in the frying pan. She wondered if the girl's mother had taught her how to cook. Certainly, Christina was performing adequately, but she lacked skill.

        Christina finished cooking then served her aunt and cousin. Misha objected to being served, but Christina insisted on waiting on them. Misha tasted the food and decided that her niece, while far from a gourmet, had definite potential. Perhaps if there was time, Misha would teach her a few recipes.

 

        When Nina and Misha were finished, Christina collected the plates from the table and started washing them in the sink. Misha had stopped arguing with Christina. She didn't want Christina to feel obligated to do any work, but her niece obviously wanted to help. Misha smiled at the familiar girl who was washing dishes in her kitchen. She saw how well Christina and Nina were getting along. She thought about her husband; Misha could not remember a time in the last five years that Alek looked so happy. She decided that she, too, was growing attached the newest member of her home.

        "Come now, Nina," Misha said to her daughter. "I will drive you to school."

        Christina walked them to the kitchen door, where Nina hugged her goodbye. "I wish I didn't have to go to school," she complained.

        "Don't worry about it," said Christina. "You'll be home before you know it, and we can have fun tonight."

        Christina watched her aunt and cousin climb into the family truck and drive out of sight. Christina hated being a girl, yet a small part of her enjoyed playing Nina's older sister.

        Christina heard a scratching noise and looked down to see that Boris wanted to come inside. She let the dog in, then walked over to the counter and took a piece of bacon. She bent down in front of the massive dog and held out the strip. "This," she said, "Is to buy your silence."

        Boris gladly took the bacon from Christina and inhaled it. As Christina stood up, she saw Andrei standing in the entranceway to the kitchen.

        "Ah, Now I see why Boris slept with you last night."

        Christina made a concerted effort to not look her cousin in the eyes. Andrei sat down at the table and called to Boris. The dog walked over to him and sat at his side.

        Christina went to the counter and made a plate of food for her cousin. She placed it in front of him and said, "I made breakfast ..."

        Andrei paused for a moment, then picked up a slice of toast and took a bite.

        Encouraged, Christina retrieved a set of silverware and placed it on a napkin for him. Next, she poured him a glass of orange juice and watched him as he ate.

        "Andrei," Christina said in a pacified tone, "Is Uncle Alek around?"

        "No," Andrei said, his mouth partially full, "I dropped him off at the store before you woke up."

        Christina felt her heart sink. She had hoped she could talk her uncle into taking her to find her lost suitcase. She realized that wasn't going to happen.

        "When my mother returns, we can go look for your bags," Andrei's voice somehow was missing its usual acidity, however there was no hint of charity in his voice.

        Christina refilled Andrei's juice and asked, "Do you mind if I go upstairs and take a shower?"

        "No, that's fine. But don't take all morning. I have important things to do."

        "I know. I promise I won't be long." Christina was still frightened by her cousin, more so after he'd caught her rolling her jeans in the mud. She hoped that if she continued to act submissively, he would go easy on her.

 

        When Christina returned to the kitchen, she felt some of the morning's tension fade away. She was wearing a very light amount of makeup; she'd done her best to recreate the look that Nina had given her the previous morning. She found that with her inexperience, less was more. She was also wearing the perfume that Steph had sold her. Christina was beginning to like the scent, and she reasoned that it would add to the illusion of her femininity.

        When she returned, Andrei was sitting at the table massaging Boris' head. A moment later, Misha walked into the kitchen from the living room and kissed Christina on the cheek. "Thank you for making breakfast, Chris." She turned to her son and said, "Andrei, please wash your plate."

        Andrei started to get up, but Christina stopped him.

        "Oh no," she insisted, "Let me get that for you." Christina, resuming her domestic duties, cleaned up after her older cousin.

        When she had finished washing his dirty dishes, Andrei abruptly stood up, announcing, "Ok, lets go. I have a ton of work today."

        Christina nodded and put on her leather jacket as she walked out the side door where she waited patiently for Andrei.

        Andrei was stopped at the door by his mother. "Andrei," Misha said in a hushed tone, "I want you to be nice to your cousin."

        "I am always nice," he said sarcastically.

        "I mean it, Andrei!" Misha scolded. "She is part of this family now, so you better get used to her."

        Without replying, Andrei left the house, motioning for Christina to get into the truck. Obeying her older cousin, she strapped herself into the passenger's seat. Andrei started the car, and the two of them began the long trip to the scene of the accident.

        They sat in silence for over ten minutes that felt like an eternity to Christina. Without taking her eyes off the road she said humbly, "Andrei, I don't think I've thanked you for all the nice things you've done for me."

        Andrei cooled a bit and said, "You're welcome."

        "And," Christina continued, "I really appreciate you taking the time to drive me all over the place. I know you have more important things to do."

        "It's alright," Andrei said with an increasing amount of tolerance.

        Christina decided not to push any further. She remained silent until they had reached the twisting mountain road where she'd had her accident. As she followed the curves of the road with her eyes, she felt a surge of panic. She'd been so caught up in being a girl, that she'd suppressed the very frightening memory of her crash.

        She looked at her cousin, wishing he would say something. Reliving the crash in her mind was making her heart race. "Andrei?" she said, breaking the silence.

        "Yes?"

        "I know it's none of my business," Christina started, "But what do you do in the barn all day?"

        Andrei looked over at her. It was not a cross look, but it was enough to cause his cousin to look down at her feet in deference. "I mean, If you don't mind telling me about it," Christina added.

        Andrei continued to look at his cousin. He thought perhaps he had been too hard on her. "I make things. Furniture mostly."

        "Really?" said Christina. She raised her head, wanting to look interested.

        "Sure. I make lots of things. Chairs. Cabinets. I made all the cabinets in the kitchen."

        "No way, that's incredible. I guess you're pretty good with your hands."

        "I do alright. Someday, I will go into business for myself."

        "You totally should," said Christina cheerfully. "I bet you could make a lot of money."

        "Yes, someday," Andrei responded. "My father thinks it's just fun and games, but I'm getting better with every piece I do."

        Christina was genuinely impressed. "It must take a long time to make all that stuff."

        "Yes it does, but I restore a lot of older pieces too. Last month I fixed up an old chest of drawers we had in the house." Andrei pulled off the road on the shoulder opposite where the accident had occurred.

        Christina unbuckled her belt and asked, "Do you mean the one in my room? It's fantastic." When she didn't hear a response, she looked over at Andrei.

        He had a hard look on his face. He said, "It's not your room."

        Those words hung in the air as Christina felt the knot return to her stomach. She felt as thought she'd just lost all the progress she'd made with her cousin. Christina left the truck only after Andrei got out, following two steps behind him.

        Christina looked around the area, seeing a bald spot on a thick oak tree. The impact from the crash had ripped off all the bark. Tire tracks were still cut deeply into the now-hardened ground. Standing on the edge of a shoulder, she looked down. It was so steep! She realized just how close she had come to a devastating fall. Turning to look back at the beginning of the turn in the road, she remembered how sick she'd felt that night, remembering the sensation of anticipation on her skin as the headlights glided past her. It all made her feel dizzy, and she leaned against the scarred oak as she caught her breath.

        Christina looked for a long while, but it was Andrei who spotted the suitcase, laying against a shrub many feet down the dangerous slope.

        Christina looked at Andrei who said, "Well, go get it."

        Christina knew that had her uncle been there, he would have sent Andrei or gone himself. But, her uncle was not there. She removed her flats and held them in her hand as she tried her best to make her way down the hill in her skirt. She'd made it more than halfway down when she lost her footing and fell inelegantly on her butt.

        Andrei, who was watching from the top of the hill, began to laugh. He stopped when he realized Christina was not getting up. "If she's dead, they will blame me," he muttered as he effortlessly descended the steep hill. He stopped in front of the girl and said, "I hope you don't plan on sitting here all-" Andrei stopped speaking when he saw the tears trickling down her face.

        Christina turned her head away from her cousin.

        "Hey, don't cry. It can't hurt that bad." Andrei held his hand out to his cousin, but she did not take it.

        "I know you hate me," Christina heaved. "I don't know what I did to you, but whatever it is, I'm really sorry." Christina didn't want to cry, but she couldn't help it. "I have to get to my meeting, or I'm going to be in a lot of trouble at work. I didn't plan any of this. I know I don't belong here. And I know you don't care, but it's all really scary."

        Andrei's shoulders sank as he felt a wave of remorse overtake him. "Hey," he said holding out his hand again, "I didn't mean to be so ... Look, I'm sorry." As Christina took his hand, Andrei helped his cousin to her feet. Guilt burned hotly on Andrei's face. He wanted to make things right, but he couldn't think of anything to say.

        For the first time that day, Christina looked her cousin in the eyes. Her tears stopped, though her voice still trembled. She said, "I need to stay until Friday. I promise, after that, you'll never have to hear from me again." She wiped the tears from her face before carefully continuing down the hill. Andrei hung his head and followed behind her.

        As Christina bent down to pick up her suitcase, Andrei reached out his hand and took the handle. "Let me get that," he offered.

        The two of them walked back up the hill together. Andrei walked at a deliberately slow pace so as to remain by Christina's side. He didn't dare to touch her, but he wanted to stay close by in case she lost her footing again.

        When they got back to the top, Christina bent down and put her flats back on her feet. Andrei took her suitcase back to the truck while she studied the tire marks in the dried mud. Christina noticed a sneaker buried halfway in the ground- one of hers. She gasped as she realized that the tennis shoes she'd laid out on the back stoop were an obvious forgery. She decided the best thing to do was to not draw attention to them. Perhaps no one would notice. All she could do was hope.

        Christina took a deep breath and walked back to the car. She couldn't believe she had melted down in front of her cousin. Every bit of anxiety from her accident, her job, and her charade had spilled past the breaking point.

        Andrei looked at Christina when she returned to the truck, his mind searching for something he could say that would make him feel like less of an ass, but all he could manage was, "I don't hate you."

        Christina stared out her window and coldly said, "That's good to know."

        Andrei started the car, and the two cousins started the long ride back to town. Neither of them spoke on the way.

 

        When they got back into Oak Grove, Andrei parked the truck on a small side street. He looked over to Christina. She didn't look back at him, focusing on the glove compartment.

        Andrei still felt terrible, wanting to mend the rift. "Hey, Are you hungry?"

        Christina lifted her head and looked at him, not believing her ears, "Yeah, a little."

        Andrei got out of the truck, walked to the other side, and opened Christina's door. "Let me buy you lunch," he offered.

        Christina looked into his eyes. The harshness in Andrei's face had disappeared. Nodding, she unbuckled her seat belt. Andrei took his cousin's hand and helped her to the sidewalk.

        "After all," Andrei added, "You were nice enough to make me breakfast."

        Christina nodded again. She was still ashamed of her outburst on the hillside, and she didn't feel like talking.

        The two walked down Main Street to the diner. It was a classic, chrome-plated building that looked as though it had been lifted from a 1950's movie. Andrei made a point of holding the front door open for his cousin as they entered, and waved to a woman behind the counter before he led Christina to one of the booths against the front windows.

        Andrei wanted to tell his cousin that he was sorry about the way he'd been treating her. Regardless of how he felt, Christina was an innocent bystander. It wasn't her fault that his father liked her better. Nor was it her fault that she was staying in that bedroom. All these thoughts collided in Andrei's brain but when they found their way into his throat they came out as, "What ever you do, don't order the meatloaf."

        Christina nodded as she looked at the menu.

        Andrei wished Christina would say something. He felt there was nothing he could do to make the sick feeling in his gut go away. Andrei picked up the menu and stared at it, not needing to read it. He'd known what he was going to order before he came in the door, but he needed something to do.

        The two of them quietly looked through the menus until the vacuum was pierced by an exuberant and familiar voice. "Well lookee here! It's the invisible man and the town celebrity."

        Christina looked up from the menu to see Steph standing in front of her with a self-assured grin. Steph did a double take when she saw Christina's face.

        "Hey," Steph said, tapping Christina on the shoulder. "I gotta take a nose powder. Why don't you make the rounds with me?"

        "You want me to go to the ladies room?" Christina balked.

        Steph said, "You'll thank me later," then yanked Christina out of the booth. She pushed Christina down the hall then into to the ladies' room. Feeling the same sick anticipation one felt before receiving a shot at the doctor's office, Christina gritted her teeth as she entered the forbidden bathroom. She'd suffered countless indignities as a girl. Somehow, none of it had prepared her for entering this sacred, girls-only space. Steph dragged her to a mirror and pointed at her face.

        Christina looked in the mirror and saw that her crying episode had made her makeup run. Bringing her hands up to her face, she gasped, "I look like a rodeo clown!"

        Steph wetted a tissue under the faucet and started to clean Christina's face. She asked, "So Stretch, what happened?"

        "Nothing." Christina lied. "It's just that I'm under a lot of pressure, and Andrei only makes things harder."

        Steph took Christina's pocketbook and opened it on the counter. She rifled through, pulling out the cosmetics she'd sold her. Brushing Christina's blond hair out of her face, Steph went to work restoring her makeup. "Lemme guess," Steph said, "He's been selfish."

        Christina nodded slightly and said, "Yes."

        "And oblivious to your feelings?" Steph added.

        "Yeah."

        "And, you can't ever figure out exactly what's going on in his head cause he never says what he's thinking or feeling?"

        Christina reflected on the silence of the truck ride and said, "Yes. Exactly."

        Steph finished up and put Christina's makeup back into her bag. Christina saw that her glamorous look from yesterday returned. "I'm sorry to report," Steph said with a laugh, "That Andrei is suffering from an acute case of maleness. It might even be terminal."

        Christina smiled. Steph had an infectious sense of humor that genuinely cheered Christina up. Even though it was bizarre to be dressed as a girl, and trapped in the girl's restroom, Christina was thrilled to see Steph again. The two girls walked back to the table and sat down opposite from Andrei.

        "What's that Andrei?" Steph quipped, causing Andrei to look up from his menu. "Stay for lunch? Don't mind if I do."

        "Oh sure," Andrei said sincerely, but uncomfortably, "Please stay."

        Steph nudged Christina with her shoulder. "As you can see," Steph explained, "Andrei's been a smooth talker ever since the sixth grade. He sure knows how to sweep a girl off her feet."

        The girls chuckled, and Andrei raised an eyebrow before he returned to the menu.

        "I'm sorry we put you through the wringer in the torture chamber," Steph said, referring to Christina's waxing. "We were just having a little fun with the new girl."

        "It's okay." Christina said.

        "Torture chamber?" asked Andrei.

        Christina shook her head, but didn't miss seeing Steph shoot Andrei a wink. "Sorry slick," Steph joked, "That's a place where no man can tread."

        Andrei shrugged, then looked around almost desperately to see whether the waitress was anywhere to be found.

        Christina very much wanted to flirt with Steph, but that was hard to do while she was wearing a skirt. The closest she came was, "I had a really good time yesterday ... I mean, you're really good."

        "Don't I know it," Steph said. "You're really doing me a favor too. Your hot ass walking through town yesterday turned a lot of heads."

        Christina was mortified.

        "You're the best billboard I've ever had. The salon was filled all morning with every gossipy bluehair in town with an unmarried son." Steph decided what she wanted and put her menu down. "They were lined up around the corner looking for any morsel about the one, the only, Miss Christina Chase."

        Christina recoiled at the thought of people asking about her. "The nice thing about the city, is that it's easy to be anonymous," she commented.

        Andrei, who had been turning suspiciously pink was relieved when the waitress came over, and the three of them placed their orders.

        "I thought tons-of-fun here," Steph said, pointing her thumb at Andrei, "Was supposed to drive you to Ardmore today."

        "We were supposed to, but things aren't working out exactly as I planned."

        The food came while Christina was explaining her situation in detail. Steph was sympathetic, but above all, lighthearted. After spending the entire morning alone with Andrei, Christina enjoyed having lunch with Steph. Not only did Steph take Christina's mind off her problems, she found that she genuinely liked her. Even though she'd suffered humiliations at this girl's hands that would likely haunt her for the rest of her days, she was glad to have a friend in Oak Grove. If only Christina were dressed as a boy, she would have pushed for being more than just friends.

        When the check came, Andrei seized it and left a wad of money on the table.

        "So, Conrad says the car will be ready by Friday?" Steph asked Christina.

        Christina nodded. "That's what Andrei said."

        Steph turned to Andrei and advised, "You have to stay on top of Old Man Conrad. He can fix cars better than anyone, but he's a miserable old bastard."

        "Don't worry," Andrei said, "I'm taking care of that."

        "Whoa!" Steph said in mock surprise, "It spoke." Steph reached out and stirred Andrei's coffee with a plastic straw. "I haven't seen you in the grocery lately, Andrei," she purred.

        "No." Andrei said matter-of-factly. "I'm busy with my own work at home. I'm not there much anymore."

        "I stopped in last week. I was hoping you could pack my bags for me."

        Christina did not like the emphasis Steph placed on the word "pack". Steph never said what she meant, but only an idiot could think she didn't mean what she said.

        "I don't pack bags in the store anymore," Andrei said as he gathered his things.

        "You could always pack my bags somewhere else," Steph said with her trademark, wicked grin.

        "What?" Andrei asked with a puzzled look on his face.

        Christina groaned painfully. Was Andrei stupid or something? She glared at her older cousin. How could Steph want that guy?

        Steph's mood deflated. She stood up and said, "I need to get back to the shop, otherwise the crowds might trample Lisa." She looked at Andrei then back to Christina. "See what I mean Tina? Terminal case."

        As Steph left the diner, Christina called, "Maybe I'll see you around later."

        Steph shot back, "Not if I see you first, Blondie."

        Christina's eyes dreamily followed Steph as she crossed the street and walked back into town.

        Andrei stood up and said, "Come on, we should go."

        When Andrei and Christina left the diner, he led her through town in the direction of the family grocery. Christina saw that she was getting the same attention from men and boys that she had received yesterday. Deciding to take advantage of her large cousin's presence, she clung to Andrei's tree trunk sized limb and held his hand.

        Andrei was immediately overrun by the scent of Christina's perfume and the tickle of her hair on his neck as it blew in the wind. "What are you doing?" he asked.

        Christina squeezed his hand and said, "Just humor me, ok?"

        The stares did not stop, but Christina felt somewhat protected as her older cousin escorted her to the grocery store.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        As they entered the grocery, Christina suddenly realized that she and Andrei were still holding hands. She tried to let go of her older cousin's hand without it being too obvious, and said, "Thanks."

        Andrei only nodded, but said nothing. Christina had been clinging to him as though he was a human life preserver, and he had no idea why. Yet, that wasn't what was bothering him. He found that his hand was missing Christina's hand, a terrible revolt on his hand's part. His arm had also gotten into the act. It missed the feel of Christina's arm wrapped around it. Even worse, was Andrei's neck. At some point, it had grown accustomed to the tickle of Christina's hair as it blew in the wind. Andrei could still smell his cousin's perfume on his collar. It was weird.

        "Christina," Alek called from behind the counter, "Did you find your bags?"

        "Yes, Uncle Alek," Christina beamed.

        "Andrei," Alek asked, "That took all day? I could have used you in the store."

        Andrei squinted his eyes angrily, but before he could start yet another argument with his father, Christina said, "Andrei took me to get my suitcase first thing in the morning. He was the one who found it. It slid down the mountain in the rainstorm." She looked at Andrei without any hint of resentment and added, "He was nice enough to climb down and get it for me. After that, he took me out to lunch."

        Alek looked back at his son, nodding as if in approval. That only made Andrei feel worse about how he'd behaved that morning. "You are here now," he said gruffly, "So come help me with the deliveries."

        Alek went back towards the stock room with his son in tow. Christina saw that there weren't any customers, and asked, "Can I come too?"

        "Of course you can, Tina," Alek smiled.

        Christina followed the men into the back room, which turned out to be a small warehouse with rows of slanted shelves reaching up to the ceiling. The floor was raw concrete, and the temperature was a few degrees colder than the front room. Christina saw stacked cardboard boxes separated by wooden slats.

        Alek opened a loose box on an unfinished wooden table. He wrote a note into a small spiral bound notebook and pulled a large pickle jar out of the box. "Twelve," he called to his son.

        Andrei begrudgingly took the jar from his father's hands and scanned the shelves. He asked, "Where do these go again?"

        Christina searched the shelves and said, "Up there." She took the jar from Andrei and went over to a ladder that was installed in a track against the shelves. Rolling it into position, she climbed to a shelf containing a few spare jars of pickles that was similar to the one under her arm.

        "Tina," Alek said, "Be careful, that is heavy."

        "It's just one jar," she giggled.

        "How did you find that?" Andrei asked suspiciously.

        Christina turned around so that she was facing her cousin from the fourth rung of the ladder. Pointing at the shelves beside her, she told him, "It's easy. This is where the canned goods start. By the look of it, they are ordered by size, with the larger items on the bottom. Then the jars, boxed dry goods there ... Looks like perishables are on the other side ..."

        "That is right," Alek grinned as he inspected the next box.

        Andrei grabbed the box of pickles and carried it over to his cousin. "But how did you know that?" he asked.

        Christina explained, "I've spent the last six months supporting and debugging a distributed inventory system. My meeting on Friday- I'm going to help a company set up inventory for their regional distribution center."

        "That is very impressive, Tina," Alek called to his niece.

        Christina positively bloomed under her uncle's praise. Stepping down two rungs of the ladder, she held her hands out toward Andrei.

        Andrei scrunched his face as he handed her a jar out of the box. How important she thinks she is, Andrei thought. He watched his cousin as she went up the ladder with the heavy jar under her slender arm. He was sure she said all that just to make him look foolish in front of his father. Christina came back for a second jar which Andrei fed to her. Who the hell does she think she is, his mind seethed. What was her game? Why was she wearing blue panties?

        Andrei lost his train of thought as Christina returned for another jar. When she climbed back up, Andrei realized that he had a perfect view up her skirt. Blue, he thought dumbly as he felt a stirring in his pants. He stared up at the round cheeks that were deliciously wrapped in blue gauze. Delicate lace adorned the elastic that kissed the girl's thighs. Christina returned again and again for jars which Andrei mindlessly provided. Each time his eyes followed the curvature of Christina's long, bare legs to the azure panties and the spot between her thighs.

        Coming back down the ladder, Christina held out her hand and said, "Give it to me."

        "Give it to you?" Andrei repeated.

        "Yeah," Christina said, pointing to the last jar of pickles.

        "Right," Andrei coughed. He handed Christina the last jar and looked across the room at a stack of detergent. Of course, there were no panties over there, so he glanced back up Christina's skirt. He immediately turned away as though the sight of Christina's petite underside had burnt his eyes.

        Christina came back down and walked over to her uncle to see what was next. Andrei watched his cousin and checked out how her ass moved as she walked. He shouldn't be doing that. Christina was his cousin. Cousins' don't look at each others' asses. He was pretty sure it was against the law, or at least not well thought of. But, it was a pretty good ass. No, it was wrong. Christina was his cousin. That, and she looked a lot like his sister. That made it feel even more weird.

        Christina called Andrei over, straining as she pulled a large box of peanut butter jars to the edge of the table.

        "We've got thirty of these," she said, referring to the peanut butter. Pointing up the ladder to a high shelf, she said, "I'll get on top and you can handle the heavy lifting underneath."

        "Excuse me?" Andrei choked.

        "I think we work better as a team. I mean, I guess we're almost done, but I think we can get there faster if we do it together."

        Andrei stared at his cousin, wondering if she actually said that or if he was just hallucinating. "No, I can't do that," he said.

        Alek looked up from his ledger.

        Andrei said, "I've got to pick up Nina from school."

        "School is not out for another forty-five minutes," said Alek.

        Andrei took his keys from his pocket and said, "Yes, but Nina hates it when I'm late." He made a break for the door, leaving Christina and his father with puzzled looks.

        "Andrei is always full of excuses when it is time for restocking," Alek complained.

        "I don't think that's it," Christina sighed. "He just doesn't like me."

 

        Andrei returned an hour later with Nina. Normally, he dropped her off at home, but Nina insisted that she be taken to the store to spend time with her cousin. Alek and Christina had already finished putting away the new inventory, and Alek was showing Christina how to work the old fashioned cash register behind the counter. Christina was loving every moment of it.

        Nina and Christina spent the rest of the night helping the store's customers. Christina found that Nina took an even greater delight in introducing her to the patrons than Misha had done the day before. Andrei passed the time in the back room, safely outside his cousin's orbit. After the family closed the grocery store, they all rode home in the old green truck. Christina offered to squeeze into the old truck with Andrei, but he insisted on riding in the back.

        When they returned home, Misha stopped Christina as she came in the side door.

        "Christina," Misha said, "Would you like to help me cook tonight?"

        "Sure," Christina answered, "But I'm really not a very good cook."

        "Nonsense, child," Misha laughed, "You made an excellent breakfast this morning." Christina nodded, but Misha could tell the girl was unsure of herself. "Come," she insisted.

        "Can I help too, Mom?" Nina asked.

        Misha replied, "You should do your homework, Nina."

        Nina put down her book bag, taking out her math books and a spiral notebook. She normally did her homework in her room, but tonight she set up a makeshift workspace on the kitchen table. If she couldn't join in, she would at least watch.

        Misha cracked open the oven and directed her niece's attention to what was inside. Christina peeked into the oven and saw a chicken roasting in a shallow pan.

        "What should I do?" Christina asked.

        "You," Misha said as she gathered a bag of flour and a stick of butter, "Will make the gravy."

        Christina stared at the flour and the butter and failed to visualize how that magically became gravy. She said, "I don't know what to do."

        "I will show you," Misha grinned. She cut the stick of butter then dropped a portion of it into a saucepan on the stove. She turned up the heat, and Christina watched as the butter liquefied. "Now that the butter is melted," she instructed as she poured some flour into a measuring cup, "You whisk in the flour."

        "Whisk." Christina repeated. "Does that mean like, pour it in?"

        "No Tina, like this." Misha took a metal whisk off the counter and poured some of the flour into the melted butter. She showed Christina the proper wrist technique, then handed the girl the utensil.

        Christina took the whisk and imitated her aunt.

        "Very good," Misha encouraged.

        "Are you sure I'm doing it right?" Christina asked. "I don't want to ruin it."

        "You are doing fine, dear. Keep adding the flour until you have used it all."

        "Ok," Christina grimaced.

        "Relax, Tina. All the women in our family are excellent cooks."

        "And by that logic, I am too," she muttered.

        "Let it sit," Misha advised. "You must wait for it to combine." Once she was satisfied that the mixture was ready, she handed Christina a cup of chicken broth. She said, "Add this in, dear."

        Christina poured in a portion of the broth and swished it around violently in the pan. Some of the mixture spilled over the side and into the burner. The liquid crackled and hissed as it hit the open flame. Christina winced, "I'm sorry,"

        Misha took the cup from Christina. "It's alright Tina," she assured. "You must add it gradually." Misha poured the broth in slowly as she stirred the mixture with a wooden spoon. "Did your mother not teach you to cook?"

        Christina shook her head.

        Misha handed the cup and the spoon to Christina and made her try again. As Christina stirred, Misha sprinkled in some thyme, parsley, and peppercorns. Misha asked, "Why do you not still live with your Mother? Nineteen is very young for a girl to live on her own."

        Christina frowned and stared into the saucepan with sad eyes. "It's no big deal," she lied. "Things are just different in the city, I guess."

        Misha could tell that she was probing a sensitive topic and decided to let the girl be. She watched for a few minutes as Christina stirred. "That is enough," Misha smiled. "Now we let it simmer until it is ready." She motioned for her niece to sit down.

        Christina put down the spoon, going over to sit next to Nina. Looking over the girl's shoulder, she offered, "If you need any help with your ..." Christina examined Nina's notebook and asked, "Are you doing Trigonometry? I thought you were still in Junior High."

        Nina said," I am. I'm in advanced math." She motioned for Christina to lean closer and whispered, "I'm thinking of taking regular math next year."

        "Why would you do that?" Christina whispered.

        "Because Cindy says that guys don't like smart girls."

        "Well, that's just not true," Christina laughed. "Boys like girls, period. Is there a boy in particular you're worried about?"

        "Maybe ..." Nina grinned.

        "And I take it he's not in advanced math?"

        Nina shook her head as she checked to see whether her mother was listening.

        "Well Nina, I don't think you have to pretend you're not smart to get some boy to like you."

        "Listen to your cousin," Misha said. Had she turned around, the girls would have seen her wry grin.

        When the gravy was just about done, Misha showed Christina how to skim the leftover butter off the top. After she and her aunt finished preparing the chicken, Christina enjoyed another family meal with the Levchenkos. The fact that she had played a small role in its preparation only made it better. Andrei was no longer openly hostile, and she felt more relaxed than at any other point in her time with her relatives. They stayed late at the table, talking into the night. Christina listened to her aunt and uncle as they told her about Nina's and Andrei's childhoods. Christina added anecdotes from her own history, altering her gender where appropriate.

        After the evening had wound down, Andrei went to the barn to work. Alek relaxed in the living room and Nina went to her room to do finish her homework. Christina tied an apron around her waist and helped her aunt wash the dishes. She had a glow about her, and felt a contentment that she'd only known when her father was still alive. She felt as though she had a family again. She didn't even mind doing women's work in the kitchen. On the contrary, she savored the appreciative response it elicited in her aunt. She would gladly wash the dishes every night if she could just hold onto that feeling.

        Alek walked into the kitchen and kissed Christina on the cheek from behind. He then kissed his wife.

        "Thank you for helping your aunt," he told Christina.

        Christina blushed at her uncle's affection. "It's no problem at all, Uncle Alek. I like helping out."

        Alek smiled at the girl and then turned to his wife, "Misha, I am going to bed."

        "I will be along soon," Misha replied, "I just have to get Christina's clothes out of the dryer."

        When Alek left the kitchen, Misha descended the stairs to the basement as Christina happily stacked the dry plates and put them into the cabinets.

        Nina sneaked into the kitchen and tapped on Christina's shoulder. She whispered, "Do you think we can have our pajama party tonight?"

        "Oh I dunno," Christina stammered, "You have school tomorrow and-"

        "But you're not going to be here for much longer!" Nina looked up into her cousin's eyes, pouting.

        Christina felt very guilty. She didn't want to have anything to do with her new, girly sleepwear, but she wanted Nina to be happy. She'd grown so close to her very quickly. It was going to be hard on the both of them after Friday when Christina Chase would disappear forever.

        "What is this about a pajama party?" Misha asked with a sly grin as she put a basket containing Christina's clothes down on the floor.

        Nina said, "Christina bought us new pajamas yesterday."

        "She did, did she?" Misha grinned at her girls. "Well," she continued, picking the basket back up, "Let us go upstairs and see."

        Christina felt her throat run dry as the three of them ascended the stairs and went to Nina's room. Misha closed the door behind them and Nina pulled her green babydoll nightie out of a drawer and held it up.

        Misha gave Christina a look of mild disapproval and Christina gritted her teeth.

        Nina stripped all her clothes off and put on her new nightie. Christina had her eyes closed by the time Nina had pulled her panties up over her bottom.

        Misha walked over and stood behind her daughter. She placed her hands on Nina's shoulders, then looked Christina in the eyes. "It is a bit grown up for you, Nina," she said.

        Christina hung her head. She didn't want to disappoint her aunt.

        "But I suppose it will do for a pajama party," Misha added with a smirk.

        Christina raised her head in shock. She would have preferred to have been scolded.

        "Christina," Misha continued, "It is your turn now."

        "Excuse me?" Christina blurted.

        "Did you not buy one for yourself?" Misha said, getting into the spirit.

        "Um yeah ..."

        "I picked it out," said Nina enthusiastically.

        Misha said, "Let us see."

        Christina trembled as the three of them walked to the door of the large bedroom.

        "Uh ..." Christina fluttered, "I'll be right back." Christina leaped into the bedroom and closed the door. Her mind raced as she pulled out her yellow satin chemise. Holding it in front of her by its spaghetti straps, she wondered how she was going to pull this off.

        She stripped quickly down to her underwear. She couldn't wear her bra with the chemise, but if she took off her bra she wouldn't have the illusion of breasts. Placing her chemise on the bed, she ruffled frantically through her underwear drawer. She pulled out a strapless bra- it had to work. Removing her bra and panties, she put on the bra, shoved her foam breasts into the cups, then faced the chemise.

        Christina pulled the chemise over her head and wiggled it down over her body, then pulled the matching panties up, tucking herself between her legs.

        Christina studied herself in the mirror. The yellow chemise had a square top, wreathed in light green lace. There was a long, dainty bow where the right shoulder strap met the top of the chemise. Christina tugged at the bottom, trying to make it longer, but it stopped merely inches bellow her butt. The bottom of the chemise had a tiny border of light green lace that continued up the slit on the left side, showing off her outer thigh. Her chemise exposed her frail shoulders and her long, thin arms.

        Her fake breasts sensuously filled out the front, which was thankfully just high enough to obscure her lack of cleavage. Turning, she looked at herself from behind in the mirror. The chemise barely covered her tight bottom, and put her long, silky legs completely on display.

        Christina stared at her reflection. She was a knockout, wearing clothes that would drive any man crazy. As she posed for herself in the mirror with her hands on her hips, she tried holding her hair up and looked into the mirror with seductive eyes.

        "Now blow a kiss!" Misha called from behind.

        Christina spun around on her heels and saw Nina and Misha standing in the doorway. Misha was dressed in simple cotton pajamas and a robe, and held a slinky silk robe in her hand. Nina was giggling happily in her babydoll and a robe of her own.

        Christina blushed furiously as she walked over to her aunt, and gratefully accepted the robe, which she tied tightly around herself. Misha led the girls downstairs to the kitchen, where she took out three bowls and produced a tub of chocolate ice cream from the freezer. The three of them laughed and chatted as they sat together around the table.

        "You know Nina, you are still too young to wear clothes like that," said Misha.

        "Mom, I'm fifteen years old!" Nina rebuked.

        "Yes, and you are still my little girl."

        Nina wrinkled her nose in consternation and turned to her cousin. "I am not even allowed to date yet," she complained.

        Christina giggled and stroked Nina's long, brown hair. She reflected on her encounter in the electronics store. "Listen to your mother, the men in this town are trouble."

        "Do you have a man in your life?" Misha asked as she placed a spoon full of ice cream in her mouth.

        "A man?" Christina stammered.

        Nina answered for her cousin before she could recover from the question. "She was dating a boy named Aaron, but they broke up."

        Christina was forced to reiterate her relationship with Amy to her aunt, making sure to alter the story to make Amy the man, and herself the girl, and leaving out the part where they were living together.

        This prompted Misha to lecture the girls on the motivations of men and their responsibility to remain pure. Both of the girls blushed as Misha schooled them.

        "Christina, have you ever been with a man?" Misha asked plainly.

        Christina's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped. "No!" she shrieked in indignation.

        Misha smiled and patted Christina on the hand. "See Nina? Your cousin is waiting until she is married."

        Nina nodded. Christina didn't mind being a role model to her cousin, but being an example of maidenly virtue was not a role she'd ever expected to find herself playing.

        Rebounding from her humiliation, she asked her aunt how she could fend off the advances and stares of men. She listened intently as her aunt imparted her motherly advice. Nineteen years of being a boy had done nothing to prepare Christina for even a single day as a girl. She was grateful for all her aunt's recommendations on how to handle the opposite sex.

        The girls stopped talking when they heard the sounds of shambling footsteps on the stairs. They watched as Andrei stumbled into the kitchen. He stood there in a sleeveless shirt and boxer shorts. His muscled frame filled the entire doorway.

        "So this is all the noise," he said groggily.

        "Andrei," Misha said kindly to her only son, "We did not mean to wake you."

        Andrei looked around and saw that the three were engaged in some sort of female ritual. He wiped the sleep out of his eyes and yawned," That's alright. I didn't mean to interrupt."

        "Can I get you anything dear?" Misha asked.

        "Uh ..." Andrei pondered. "A glass of water would be great."

        Christina was closer to the sink than her aunt, so she motioned for Misha to stay seated. "I'll get it," she said as she glided to the cabinet and removed a glass. Filling the glass, she took it to her cousin.

        Andrei snapped out of his stupor when he saw Christina's chemise through the open robe that floated around her shoulders. He was instantly wide awake. His younger cousin was the most sexy girl he'd ever seen, and currently the most undressed girl he'd ever seen. He spun around and left the room before Christina could even hold out his glass.

        "What's his problem?" Nina balked.

        Misha held her daughter's hand and said, "Sometimes people, even cousins, have a hard time getting along."

        Christina sighed. She'd thought that she and Andrei had worked their problems out, or at least had come to an understanding. She pursued him into the living room. "Hey," Christina called to him.

        Andrei stopped with his back to his cousin.

        Christina called again, "Hey," but Andrei refused to face her.

        Christina put the glass of water down and walked around Andrei to face him. Andrei again turned around, refusing to face her.

        Christina frowned and said in a wounded voice, "I thought maybe you weren't mad at me anymore."

        Andrei gruffly replied, "I am not angry with you."

        "Then why won't you even look at me?"

        Andrei stood in silence with his back to his cousin.

        Christina was tired of her cousin's moodiness. Steph was right about him, and she wasn't going to take it anymore. She placed her tiny hands on Andrei's broad shoulders and forced him to face her. As Andrei turned around, Christina felt something brush up against her tummy. She looked into Andrei's face to see whether he was angry. He wasn't angry; he was mortified.

        Christina confusedly asked, "What's that ..." but never finished the question. She looked down and saw that Andrei's member had swollen to gargantuan proportions and was tenting out the front of his boxers. The beast was standing at attention and poking into Christina's stomach! She looked up at her cousin in absolute horror.

        Andrei stood there, paralyzed in shame.

        Christina could feel the weight of the monster pressing into her. Did it move? She thought she felt it move! Christina took a step back and broke the connection from Andrei's throbbing manhood. She was flabbergasted and repulsed.

        Andrei forced his body to turn around. Once he was free from Christina's gaze, he ran up the stairs.

        Misha walked into the living room and hung her arm around Christina's shoulder. "Andrei likes you," she consoled, "He just doesn't know how to show it."

        Christina turned to her aunt and said, "I don't think he's having problems showing it anymore."

        Nina came in and told her mother, "Everything is cleaned up."

        "Good, Nina." She took both her girls by their hands and led them to the stairs. "Off to bed with you," she said. "It's very late, and tomorrow is a school day for you, young lady."

        Nina muttered, "Yes Mom," while Christina said, "Yes, Aunt Misha."

        Misha kissed her girls on their cheeks and sent them up to bed. Christina held Nina's hand and looked cautiously at Andrei's closed door as they rounded the top of the staircase. The two of them entered the bathroom and brushed their teeth and removed their makeup. Christina averted her eyes yet again when Nina pulled down her panties and sat on the toilet. That was exactly how this whole mess got started. Nina wiped herself and asked, "Don't you have to go?"

        Christina blushed and nodded. She sat down on the toilet first, then slid off her panties. She had trouble relaxing in front of her cousin, but she was able to go when Nina became distracted, posing for herself in the mirror. Christina wiped between her legs without getting up and slid her panties back up, tucking herself while Nina wasn't looking. Christina stood up, and she and Nina left the bathroom.

        Nina did not go to her own room, instead she skipped into the large bedroom at the end of the hall. Christina followed and saw that Nina was already getting into bed.

        Christina sighed before she took off her robe and climbed into bed next to her cousin.

        Nina whispered, "I'm really happy you don't have to leave yet."

        As Christina put her arm around Nina and relaxed, she smiled, saying, "I'm glad, too."

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Anastasia was livid. She stormed into her room and slammed the door. The bed was covered with stacks of clothes and two open suitcases. One case was stuffed over the edge, and the other was only half filled. She didn't care what her father said; it wasn't his decision. She went to the chest of drawers and slammed each drawer as she searched for her makeup bag. The antique lamp that she'd bought at the County Fair teetered dangerously with each drawer slammed underneath it. She angrily pushed the items on her shelf aside, breaking her sophomore year soccer trophy.

        "Nina!" she screamed. Anastasia's footsteps thundered through the hallway. "Nina!" she repeated as she banged on her sister's bedroom door. She didn't wait for an answer; she opened the door and barged in.

        "Nina," she accused, "You took my lip gloss again, didn't you."

        The nine-year old girl sitting on the floor looked up at her fierce older sister and confessed, "Kinda."

        Anastasia ravaged the drawers of Nina's desk and extracted a pink satin makeup bag.

        "Hey," Nina protested.

        Anastasia shook the bag at Nina and said, "How many times do I have to tell you to stay out of my room?" She left Nina's room, leaving the door wide open behind her. When she got back to her bedroom, she resumed stacking her clothes in the half-empty suitcase. She filled it past the brim then dropped her makeup bag on top. Leaning on top of the suitcase with all her weight, Anastasia struggled to squeeze it shut.

        Andrei knocked on the door.

        "Hey, give me a hand," Anastasia huffed to her younger brother.

        Andrei went into his sister's bedroom and stood next to her. The both of them pressed down on the suitcase, but it was no good. Anastasia sized up her brother and said, "Try sitting on it."

        The boy climbed onto the bed and sat on top of the suitcase. As soon as the lid crushed down, Anastasia locked it shut. "That's what we call teamwork," she joked.

        Andrei sat on the suitcase, looking positively dejected. "I don't want you to go," he sulked.

        "Andrei," Anastasia said, "We've been over this a dozen times. I'm going across state lines, not to the other side of the world."

        The boy sighed.

        "Look Andrei, I'm getting enough from Dad. I need you to be on my side."

        "I'm on your side," he complained, "But I still don't want you to go."

        "It's just college. I'll be back for the holidays."

        "That's a long time."

        "Yeah, it's three months," she said sarcastically. "Look, I'll call all the time, k?"

        Anastasia shut the other suitcase and looked back at her brother. "Okay?" she repeated.

        Andrei nodded and hopped back onto his feet.

        Anastasia handed him one of the suitcases and said, "Take this down to my car, and don't let Dad stop you."

        Andrei took the suitcase and Anastasia carried the other. She strung her pocketbook over her shoulder, and the two of them headed for the living room.

        "Stop right there!" Alek bellowed at the children descending the staircase.

        Andrei stopped, but Anastasia didn't hesitate for an instant. After Anastasia passed Andrei, he continued down the stairs and scurried around his mother, into the kitchen. He snuck out the side door while his father confronted his older sister.

        "I said stop!" Alek repeated.

        Anastasia shouted, "I'm not going to argue with you anymore."

        "Nastya, you will do as I say!"

        "Don't you Nastya me, Daddy!"

        "Please," Misha begged, "Can we not stop yelling?"

        "Yeah Mom, we can," Anastasia shot, "Because there's nothing to yell about- I'm leaving."

        "No you are not," Alek growled. "I forbid it."

        "Dad, I am nineteen years old; you can't forbid anything anymore."

        "Yes I can, and I say you are not to go to that school."

        "Alek, please," Misha pleaded.

        Anastasia picked up her suitcase and said, "The conversation is already over."

        Alek stood in front of the front door and said, "You do not need more education."

        Anastasia heaved her bag up to her waist and prepared to walk right through her mountainous father.

        Alek held up his hands and said, "If you must go, you will go closer to home." It was his version of a compromise.

        "Dad, there are no schools close to home. Home is the middle of nowhere. Besides, I already got accepted to Brown. Classes start in two weeks." She pushed past him and stomped down the driveway.

        Andrei was waiting by the car; he'd already loaded the suitcase into the back seat. Anastasia tossed her suitcase in and slammed the back door. Alek charged down the driveway, followed by his wife. Anastasia took her keys out of her pocketbook and opened the driver's side door.

        "Do not get in that car!" Alek commanded.

        Anastasia shot her father a fiery glance and slammed the door as she got in.

        Alek pointed his thick finger at his daughter and threatened, "Nastya, if you leave now, I will not pay once cent. Do you hear me? Not one cent!"

        Anastasia started the car and leaned against the open window with her elbow. "That's fine," she said petulantly. "I don't need any money. I have a scholarship, and a loan, and when I get there, I'll get a job. The truth is, I don't need you. You know it too, and it just kills you." Anastasia floored the gas and the car kicked up the gravel as it sped down the driveway.

        "Not one cent!" he screamed at the car as it drove off into the setting sun. Alek growled and stomped angrily back towards the front door.

        Misha put her arm on little Andrei's shoulder and said, "Do not fret Andrei, you know how they are. They will forget everything by the time your sister comes home for Thanksgiving."

 

        Christina sat up in bed, her heart pounding. Though she couldn't remember anything from her dreams, she felt the same sickening fear she'd remembered from childhood when she was frightened out of sleep by a nightmare. She looked around, forgetting for a moment where she was. When her senses returned to her and she remembered she was in her cousins' home, her breathing returned to a normal pace.

        Remembering last night's humiliations, she glanced to the other side of the bed and realized that Nina was not sleeping next to her. Getting out of bed, she stretched, then looked at herself in the mirror. It was still hard to believe that she was a girl. Turning her backside to the mirror, she lifted the bottom of her chemise, pulled her panties up, and smoothed out the back with her thumbs. Panties, though similar to her boy underwear on a conceptual level, were completely foreign. For one thing, they cradled her bottom, while boy underwear was strictly functional.

        Boy underwear came in one color, maybe two. It was there to get a job done, dammit. Panties had, for lack of a better word, personalities. The yellow, satin panties felt tantalizingly smooth. Unlike male underwear, they didn't cover her entire ass; her cheeks peeked out either side. It was all part of a show; there was no other rational explanation. These panties had a purpose in life- they were there to induce someone else to take them off.

        The blue lace panties she wore yesterday had a different personality. She remembered how she could feel the lace on her backside all day. Those were the sort of panties that you wore to feel pretty. No matter how much she tried to ignore them, the feeling of her panties on her cheeks constantly reminded her that she was wrapped in delicate lace. That was the one thing that all her panties had in common- the constant feeling that they were there.

        Male underwear blended into the background like an extra in a movie. Panties were the star of the show. Christina always knew she was wearing them, and they constantly prompted her to act like a girl. Thanks to Nina, Christina now owned a pile of panties. She'd have to burn them all when she got back home.

        Christina put her aunt's silk robe on over her yellow chemise and went into the hallway, which was filled with the muffled sound of running water. Christina stood by the bathroom door and listened. When she heard the shower stop, she knocked on the door and called, "Nina?"

        When the door opened, Christina froze when she saw Andrei, who was naked except for the towel wrapped around his waist. He was a solid mass of bulging muscle. Christina followed the trails of a dozen drops of hot water as they zigzagged down his chest to the towel. Instinctively, she looked at the sleeping dragon under the bath towel. The thing was massive even when it was limp.

        Andrei, for his part, gawked at Christina in her chemise. He savored her rosy face and her messy, slept-in hair. The tall girl had delicate shoulders and slender arms, and her slinky bedclothes did nothing to hide her impossibly long legs.

        Christina was still staring at Andrei's cock. It had to stop before it made her go blind. She kept replaying the scene from last night in her head. She could feel the weight of the tool on her belly. Oh God, did it move again? Was it just her imagination?

        As Christina took a step back, Andrei turned his head down and to the side. "I'm all done," he told her, blushing.

        Christina nodded, keeping her distance as Andrei walked back to his room in silence. Once Andrei was out of sight, Christina went down the hall and knocked on Nina's door.

        Nina called, "Come in."

        Christina opened the door and went inside. Nina was sitting in front of her mirror, fixing her hair. Christina walked up behind Nina, took the brush from the girl's hand, then took over the brushing.

        "I wish you didn't have to leave tomorrow," said Nina.

        Christina replied, "I'd love to stay longer, but I have to get back to my job."

        Nina nodded. She looked at the silver chain around Christina's neck and asked, "Can I see your necklace?"

        Christina reached behind her neck and unclasped the chain. She pulled the gear out of her chemise and placed it in Nina's hand. Nina held it and traced her finger across the teeth. She studied it and noticed two raised symbols on one of the metal faces. "What does this mean?" Christina resumed brushing her cousin's hair as she answered, "I don't know, Nina."

        Nina let the gear dangle by the chain and watched it spin in the light. "Where did you get it?"

        Christina turned Nina around, and she made some finished touches on her cousin's hair. "When I was a little girl," Christina began, "The house we were living in burned down."

        Nina nodded, remembering the story from the other day. "It must have been awful," she said.

        Christina nodded and continued, "My mother and I lost just about everything we owned. A few days after, I snuck under the yellow tape and looked through the rubble, looking for anything that was left."

        "And you found this necklace?"

        "Not quite," Christina said. "I found our old clock from the downstairs hallway. My father always said it had been in our family for a very long time."

        Nina squeezed the gear and asked, "It survived the fire?"

        "Not hardly. Most of it was all burned up, and the wood that was left over was warped from the water from the fire hoses. I took all the pieces I could find, and kept them in a box." She put the brush down and took Nina's hand in hers. She traced the teeth of the gear in Nina's palm with her finger. "I took this piece and made it into a necklace so no matter where I go, I will always have something to remember my Dad by."

        Nina nodded and held up the chain In her hands. Christina held her hair up while Nina refastened the necklace around her cousin's slender neck.

        "It's very pretty." Nina said.

        "I dunno how pretty it is, but when I feel bad, it reminds me there at least used to be someone who really loved me."

        Nina smiled at her cousin and said, "There's people right now who love you."

        Christina felt as though she was going to cry. She stood up and tightened her robe. "Come on," she grinned, "Let's get something to eat."

        The two of them headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Misha heard the girls come in and said, "Good morning, children."

        The two of them said, "Good morning," in unison. Misha, as usual, had breakfast waiting for them. When Christina had first arrived, it seemed odd that there was always food on the table, and that her family actually ate together. After only a few days, Christina was finding it hard to imagine living any other way. The women of the house sat down and enjoyed breakfast. Once the three of them were finished eating, Misha said, "It's a shame you have to leave tomorrow."

        Christina placed her hand on top of Misha's and said, "I really do wish I could stay, but I need to get to my meeting."

        "What do you want to do with your last day?" Misha asked.

        "I've been thinking about it," Christina said. "I really would like to help out at the store with Uncle Alek."

        Misha nodded. "You know, Tina, you should come back and visit when you have more time. You are always welcome."

        Christina nodded, stifling a tear. She knew that after tomorrow she could never see these people again. She didn't want to focus on that. She wanted to have one perfect day with her family before it was all over. She said, "I'll try to visit again." The noncommittal tone in her voice made her aunt sad, though Nina did not detect it.

        The three of them chatted as they had every morning, until it was time for Misha to take Nina to school. After they'd left, Christina went upstairs to take a shower. Sitting down to use the toilet no longer felt completely bizarre. After the past few days it was becoming habit. When she'd finished washing and drying her hair, She returned to the large bedroom, and shut the door. After making sure it was latched against Boris, she took off all of her clothes. Pulling out a pair of mesh, v-string panties, she slid them up her legs. She put on her waist cincher before she pulled her clean jeans out of the clothes basket, holding them in front of her in the mirror. Christina was tired of wearing skirts and dresses, but she decided not to wear her jeans. Though it felt strange, she wanted to make herself pretty for her uncle. The man seemed to like having another girl in his house, and today she was going to give that to him.

        Christina dressed herself in a long, flowing floral skirt. She picked out a simple white tank top with tiny ruffles on the breast and straps. She placed her bust enhancers in the built-in bra top and scrutinized herself in the mirror. The top exposed her chest and shoulders- the illusion mostly worked. To give her false breasts more coverage, she took her light pink, ruffled cardigan out of the closet and put it on over her top. She buttoned a few of the buttons; it covered her breasts though it left her neck and belly exposed. Christina put her hands on her hips and looked at herself from different angles. A small portion of midriff was exposed, and she hoped her Uncle wouldn't think it was too revealing. The sleeves of the cardigan only came down to her elbows. It wouldn't keep her very warm, but she was dressing to please her uncle, not for the weather. Satisfied, she stepped into her heels and grabbed her purse.

        She took her cosmetics down the hall and made up her face and hair in her cousin's mirror. She tried to remember how Steph had done her makeup in the diner. She still didn't have the hang of things, but after several attempts, she was able to make herself look passable. Christina finished her hair and spritzed her neck with perfume.

        She left Nina's room and went down to the kitchen. She searched through the cupboards and a cabinet until she found a wicker basket, then went to work making sandwiches for her uncle's lunch. As she finished each sandwich, she wrapped it in wax paper and placed them in the basket. She added some fresh fruit, some silverware, and two glasses.

        Christina noticed a vase of new spring wildflowers in the middle of the table. She took a few out and walked to the window. Using the window as a makeshift mirror, she arranged the tiny purple and yellow blossoms in her hair above her left ear. She smiled as she thought of spending the day with her uncle.

        Christina looked through the window at the old barn. Today was her day to say goodbye, and she had some loose ends to tie up. Taking her oversized jacket off of the wall, she went out the side door. Spring had finally arrived. There was still a chill in the morning air, so Christina put on the leather jacket. A field of flowers, blooming in the pale morning light, filled Christina's vision as she walked across the driveway to the old barn. She knocked on the door.

        "Who is it?" came Andrei's voice from inside.

        "It's me," Christina answered.

        Andrei opened the door, but couldn't bring himself to look Christina in the eyes.

        "Can we talk?" Christina asked.

        Andrei shuffled uncomfortably, "There's nothing to talk about."

        Christina pushed against Andrei's chest and barged through the doorway. Looking around, she saw a well stocked carpentry and metal workshop. There were a number of electric tools but most of the implements in Andrei's workshop were old fashioned, hand-powered tools.

        Christina reached out and took her cousin's hand. She had to break that physical barrier. She squeezed his giant fingers and said, "Look at me."

        Andrei did not budge.

        "Look at me." Christina said, more forcefully.

        Andrei looked down into is beautiful cousin's green eyes.

        "About last night," Christina began.

        "I-" Andrei stuttered.

        "Shhh," Christina cooed. "Listen to me." She held Andrei captive in her gaze. "It happens, okay? It's not your fault. I know what it feels like. Sometimes they have a mind of their own. It doesn't mean anything."

        "You know what it's like?" Andrei asked.

        "No," Christina stumbled, "No I don't know, not exactly. But I've had ... reactions ... kinda like that before. Everyone does."

        Andrei nodded.

        "So it's okay, right? We don't have to feel strange about it anymore."

        When they heard Misha pull up outside, Christina looked out the open door. "I would really appreciate it if you would drive me to the store?" she asked sweetly.

        "Oh sure, no problem ..." Andrei looked around uncomfortably, "I want to show you ... I mean ... Would you like to see what I'm working on?"

        "I would like that very much," she grinned.

        Still holding his cousin's hand, Andrei led her through the barn to a large mahogany desk. It was still drying, and it reeked of wood stain.

        Christina was floored by the large, curved desk. It had a classic style, like an antique from the 1940's. Christina could picture it in an upscale office. "You restored this?" she asked.

        "No," Andrei said, "This one I built myself."

        "You made this? I mean, you actually made this by hand?"

        Andrei's chest swelled with pride. "Yeah."

        "You're ..." Christina searched for the right word, "You're a genius."

        "Do you want to see more?" Andrei asked, as though he expected his cousin to decline.

        "Yes, I'd love to." Christina answered.

        Andrei took his cousin to another area of half-finished works. Each one had the makings of a masterpiece.

        Christina sat down in front of an old battered vanity that Andrei had purchased in an estate auction.

        Andrei watched as his cousin checked her hair in the broken mirror. "Do you like that one?" Andrei asked.

        Christina nodded. "I can tell it used to be very beautiful."

        Andrei pulled a thick splinter from the side of the mirror. "It will be again, someday," he bragged.

        Christina fixed the flowers in her hair and said, "All of this must be worth a fortune."

        "Perhaps," Andrei said, "But this is a small town and I don't have anywhere to sell these. I do have someone who is interested in the desk," he added, pointing back to the mahogany desk, "But we're still arguing over the final price."

        Christina stood up and walked back to the barn door. She placed her tiny hand on Andrei's shoulder and said, "I know one day you will be very successful." She waited for her cousin to put on his coat, but he just stood there with a goofy grin. "Andrei," Christina asked, "I know you are very busy, but do you think you could take me to the store now?"

        "Yeah, of course," he stammered, "Let's go."

        Christina returned to the kitchen and grabbed the basket of food she'd prepared for her uncle, then kissed Misha goodbye. She went out to the old truck, where she found both Andrei and Boris sitting in the truck, waiting for her. Christina hopped into the truck and buckled herself in. Boris lay across Christina's lap and stuck his head out the window. Christina stroked the fur on the dog's back as the truck sped away to the family grocery store.

        When they arrived in town, Andrei helped Christina out of the truck and insisted on carrying her basket. He gladly took her arm in his and escorted her into the store. Boris trotted closely behind.

        When they arrived at the store, Andrei put Christina's basket down behind the counter and Boris ran into the back room.

        Christina gave her cousin a hug saying, "Thank you so much, Andrei."

        Andrei's face went red and he stuttered, "It was no big deal."

        "Yes," Christina corrected, "It is a big deal. Now get home and get back to work." Christina grinned at him and joked, "I already stole too much of your time."

        Andrei toyed with the keys in his hands then left the grocery.

        Hearing the sound of paws on the floor, Christina looked up and saw her uncle following Boris from the back room.

        "Misha?" he called.

        Christina waved and went over to him. "Hi, Uncle Alek."

        "Hello, Christina," he beamed.

        Christina stood with her hands behind her back and presented herself to her uncle in the way that a little girl would model a new dress for her daddy. She said, "I'm going to work with you today, if you don't mind."

        "No, not at all."

        "What can I do to help?"

        "You can stay here out front and help the customers, while I restock."

        Christina looked around; there was no one in the store. "It's not really busy, can't I help you with restocking too?"

        "No," Alek dismissed. "The boxes are very heavy."

        "I'm not made of glass," Christina joked.

        "Please Tina," the older man smiled. "I can work much faster if I do not have to watch the front."

        "Okay," Christina conceded as she grabbed a broom from against the wall. "But I'm going to clean up at least, until someone comes in."

        "Good girl," Alek nodded. He disappeared into the back, leaving Christina to sweep while Boris chased the head of the broom. She should have been offended, but she felt oddly flattered. Alek was obviously overprotective of his girls. Christina was so used to no one giving a damn about her, that she didn't mind being coddled, at least for a little while.

        Christina had to abandon cleaning around noontime. People came and went; Christina even began to recognize a few of them. Doctor Stone stopped in for some rubbing alcohol and other supplies. He took time to examine the spot on her head that had been so badly bruised. Abby stopped by too, and the nervous boy from Arnold's Electronics store.

        After the midday rush died down, Christina called her uncle to the front. "Uncle Alek, can we stop for lunch? I made you some sandwiches."

        Alek smiled and said, "Yes ... Let me take care of one more thing." Alek went to the front door and put up a sign indicating that the store was temporarily closed.

        "You don't have to close the store, Uncle Alek."

        "Nonsense," Alek boomed, "My niece and I are going to sit down and eat together."

        Christina smiled as she skipped over to the basket of food. As with everything else that day, Alek brushed her hands aside and carried the basket into the back.

        Opening the basket, Christina took out a tablecloth, which she spread the cloth over the top of a large crate. She motioned for her uncle to sit and he waited patiently as his niece intricately arranged two place settings on the makeshift table. Christina arranged a platter in the middle of the table, which she covered with the sandwiches and some of the fresh fruit that she'd packed. Her uncle was a large man, but she was certain she'd prepared too much food.

        She took the two glasses over and filled them with water from the sink. Alek pulled the napkins from the basket, but Christina snatched them away after she placed the water glasses down. She shook her finger playfully at her uncle, and continued setting the table. Christina arranged two plates and folded the napkins neatly next to them. She stacked three sandwiches on her uncle's plate, then took one for herself. Once Christina was pleased with every detail, she sat opposite her uncle and the two of them began eating.

        "Uncle Alek," Christina said, "When I called last weekend, I was just looking for a place to spend the night, but you took me into your home, and I don't think I've told you just how grateful I am."

        "It was nothing," he dismissed.

         "It's not nothing," Christina beamed, "You've made me feel like part of your family. I haven't had that for very long time."

        Alek stopped eating and said, "Misha tells me you do not get along with your Mother."

        "I never told her that."

        "Ah, but your Aunt sees this. She sees everything. There are no secrets with her."

        Christina didn't want to think about what else Misha might have deduced. "My Mom and I don't really talk anymore," Christina explained. "That's not exactly true. We call each other sometimes, but we talk at each other, not with each other. I guess after my Dad died ... I dunno ... Things were different. Mom got married again, but it's not like we were a family like we used to be."

        "Tina, things change. It is just the way of life."

        "I know," Christina frowned. "It's just hard when everything used to be better, and things change, then it all gets worse. And that's when you realize, it's never going to be good again."

        Alek lifted the heavy wooden crate he had been using for a chair and placed it next to Christina. He sat down next to the girl and encircled her waist with his gigantic arm.

        Christina reluctantly leaned against the man. She tensed for a moment then exhaled. She continued, "It's like my mom decided to forget about my Dad. And she started this new life, and I wasn't a part of it. The guy she married- Danny, I don't know how she could forget about my Dad, and marry him. He doesn't even treat her right."

        "Did he not treat you well Tina?" Alek asked as he stroked the girl's hair.

        Christina answered, "It's not important."

        Alek held the girl for a long while. "Tina," Alek explained, "Sometimes we try to forget those who are lost to us, because remembering hurts too much."

        Christina sat up and looked at her uncle. "Uncle Alek," she asked, "Where's Anastasia?"

        Sadness overcame Alek's face. He said, "Anastasia is lost, just as your father."

        Christina held her uncle's hand in both of hers. She said, "I'm staying in her room, aren't I."

        Alek nodded and explained, "Anastasia was my firstborn, the first of our family in this country. She was six years old when we moved into our house. I can still remember the first time she walked in the door. She was holding Andrei's hand; they were so small then. She went straight to her room and said, 'This is the one I want.'"

        They were silent for a moment, then Christina asked, "How did she die?"

        Christina didn't know what she was asking. Alek had never told anyone the details of Anastasia's death. He was silent for a long time before he decided he would tell Christina. It could have been because she knew loss as he did. Perhaps it was because the girl sitting next to him looked so very much like his beloved Anastasia. Maybe he couldn't keep it inside anymore. It was just over five years ago that Anastasia had argued with her father for the last time.

        "Nastya and I had a fight. She wanted to go away to school, but I did not approve. I was cruel to her, Tina," he said. "I said things I did not mean. I said them because I could not bear to have her leave. She left in anger and ..." Alek stared into the distance and gravely said, "... there was an accident." Even though he had tried to forget, he remembered every moment of the night he last saw Anastasia.

 

        Even though more than an hour had passed since the Anastasia left, Alek was still angry from the argument, and he was sulking in the kitchen. Hearing the sound of the phone ringing, Misha motioned for Andrei to remain seated, and went into the living room. She picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"

        Andrei came down the stairs and watched as fear took hold of his mother's face.

        "Alek!" she cried. The man ran in from the kitchen and stared at his wife. She held the receiver out with a trembling hand and said, "The police ..."

        Andrei sat up and watched his father take the phone. The man's brow knotted in pain.

        "Are you sure it's my Nastya?" he asked. "Yes, I know where that is ... Yes ... Right away ..."

        Andrei's heart was racing. What was happening?

        Alek hung up the phone and looked at Misha. There were tears in her eyes. "I have to go right now," he said.

        Misha went to the kitchen and returned with her pocketbook. "I am coming," she insisted.

        "No," Alek said, "You must stay with the children."

        "What's going on?" Andrei cried.

        Alek looked at his son. There wear tears running down his cheeks. Alek bent down and placed his giant hands on Andrei's shoulders. "Anastasia was in a car accident."

        "Is she okay?"

        "I do not know Andrei, but I must go to her now."

        "Take me with you," Andrei insisted.

        Alek looked over his shoulder to his wife then back to his only son. "Andrei, I need you to be in charge now."

        Andrei shook his head.

        "I will bring her back," Alek promised.

        Alek grabbed the keys off the fireplace's mantle and charged out the front door. He ran though the moonlight and rushed into the truck. Alek shot down the driveway and into the dark. He followed the road out of town towards Franklin's Notch. It took him twenty minutes to reach the twisting mountain road. He sped dangerously around blind corners, searching for his daughter's car. There were flashing red lights in the distance. Alek stomped hard on the breaks and the truck screeched to a halt. He got out of the truck, not bothering to turn off the engine. As he crossed the street, his heart raced. There were three police cars and an ambulance. The aspen trees flashed red then blue in the rotating beams. Alek saw his daughter's car off in the woods; another car had struck it head on.

        "Oh God," he shuddered.

        Two police officers stood in front of him with their arms up, but he burst through them. A third asked, "Alek Levchenko?"

        "Yes. Where is my Nastya?"

        The officer's eyes were bloodshot. He put his hand on Alek's shoulder and said, "Sir, before I let you see her, you have to understand, it's is a very bad crash."

        "Let me see my daughter," he demanded.

        "Sir," the officer repeated, "Please let me explain."

        Alek turned from the police officer and went to the back of the Ambulance. He yanked the door open and saw that there was no one inside. He turned back to the police officer and begged, "Where is my baby?"

        The officer said, "Mr. Levchenko, she's still in the car."

        "Why?" Alek cried. He looked at the paramedics by the car and pleaded, "Why do they not do something?"

        The officer tightened his jaw and a tear formed under his eye. "Sir, we can't take her out without ... You need to understand, she's not coming out of the car. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

        Alek clenched his teeth and his throat closed up. He pushed the officer aside and went to the wrecked car. The two paramedics that stood on either side of the open car door couldn't look at the man. Alek walked past them and knelt down. He looked into the car and saw Anastasia. The steering wheel was smashed into her chest. She was hunched over; her arms dangled listlessly. Alek could see that her body was broken.

        "I have come to take you home," he wept.

        Anastasia looked at her father. Her face was drained and blood drenched her long brown hair. There was still some measure of fire in her eyes. Her lips moved, but they made no sounds. Alek leaned into the wreck so that his face was merely inches away from his daughters'. Her mouth moved again, and she whispered, "Please."

        Alek stared at his daughter's perfect, green eyes. He watched as the light left those eyes forever. He fell into them, and sank to the bottom of some unknown sea. She was empty. His daughter was gone.

 

        Tears streamed down Alek's face from his puffy red eyes. "I drove her away," he insisted. "When I found her, it was already too late." Christina wrapped her arms around the man and held him. "For so long," he said, "She was in my dreams. Every time, she said, 'Please.' I tried to make myself forget. I could not lose her every night."

        Christina didn't say a word; she only held the man. Boris wandered in from the back room and sat at their feet. Eventually, Alek regained his composure and wiped away his tears. "Forgive me Tina," he said. "That was to be my burden, alone."

        Christina rested her head on the side of Alek's shoulder and placed her hand on her chest to feel her necklace. "Uncle Alek," she said, "I don't know why we have to lose people. After my Dad died, I wanted to forget, too. It was like, if I forced myself to not think about him anymore, then maybe I wouldn't remember how alone I felt. And one day, I realized that it was selfish. You know, for twelve years, I had the greatest Dad. And it's so hard not to be grateful for every day of it. He was better than I deserved, and how could I ever forget that? Now, even though he's not around anymore, he's never really gone, because I remember to be grateful, and I keep him close to my heart."

        Alek nodded. He asked, "You are just nineteen, yes?"

        "Yeah."

        "That is very wise, for nineteen."

        "Not really," Christina said as she grinned melancholically, "After nineteen years, that's the only thing I've got worked out."

        Alek leaned over and kissed his niece on the forehead.

        Christina stood up and started packing things back into the basket. When she was finished, she took her uncle by the hand and urged him to stand. "Let's get back to work- it'll be good for us."

 

        Christina dutifully worked the register until closing time. Long after the sun had set, Alek flipped the sign in the window to "closed." He turned to Christina and said, "Andrei will be here soon, and Misha has dinner already waiting for us."

        Christina felt sad as she went about the closing tasks. She busied herself wiping down the display cases and counting out the register, but all she could think was that this was her last day with her uncle. She cast about the store trying to keep herself busy. There was a stack of boxes filled with giant cans of tomato paste that Alek had brought out from the back. Christina decided to help out and put them out on the shelves. She lugged the first box out and stacked the cans on a low shelf. When she returned for the second box, Christina did not see that the cardboard was torn on the bottom. When she lifted it up to her waist, one of the cans fell through and dropped onto her right foot. She cried out in pain and dropped the box to her side. She slumped down to the floor and held her foot.

        Alek rushed out from the back and shouted, "Tina, are you alright?" He looked around and could not see her.

        "I think I'm okay," Christina called out.

        Alek sprinted around the shelves and found his niece sitting on the floor.

        "I dropped a stupid can on my foot," she complained.

        Alek asked, "Can you stand up?"

        "Yeah I think so." Christina began to stand and winced as soon as she put weight on her right foot.

        Much to Christina's surprise, Alek bent down and picked her up. He stood up straight and effortlessly held Christina to his chest, then carried her into the back room. He placed her in a chair and knelt before her. He removed the high heeled shoe from Christina's right foot and examined her foot with his large, rough hands.

        "I'm sorry Uncle Alek," Christina apologized. "The box broke and I dropped all those cans,"

        "You should not be lifting heavy things," Alek scolded. He pressed gently on her foot and asked, "Does that hurt?"

        "A little," she winced.

        "It does not look bad," Alek said as he stood. "You stay here and rest. I will finish up."

        "I probably dented all those cans," Christina frowned.

        Alek held the side of Christina's face in his palm and grinned, "Tina, I have no concern for cans."

        Christina glowed as Alek left for the front of the store. Her uncle treated her as though she was as fragile as a porcelain doll. The odd thing was, she was beginning to like it. Feeling a cold, wet nose under her hand, she smiled at Boris. She scratched his head and whispered, "I haven't said goodbye to you yet, have I?"

        Boris rested his head in Christina's lap, giving her a sad look as though he knew where this conversation was going.

        "You and I are a lot alike," she said. "On the outside you're big and scary, but really, you're just a puppy dog. I'm not what I look like on the outside either, but you already know that. When I leave tomorrow, I can't come back anymore. I would if I could, but I'm not who everyone thinks I am. I can't keep lying to them, and if they ever found out the truth, I don't think they would ever forgive me. I can't pretend to be Christina Chase anymore."

        Christina stopped when she noticed that Boris was looking towards the door. She turned her head and saw Andrei standing in the entranceway. Christina wasn't sure just how much of her confession he'd heard, but the look on his face said that he'd heard enough, and she began to tremble before her older cousin.

        Alek walked in behind his son and said, "What are we all waiting for?" He looked at his, son then to his niece. Neither of them said a word. Alek pointed at the basket on the crate and commanded, "Andrei, get Christina's basket and take it to the truck."

        Andrei glared menacingly at his cousin as he snatched the basket and left the room. Alek went over to his niece to help her up, and as he did so, could feel her arm shaking. He held her to his body and tenderly asked, "What is the matter Tina?"

        Christina found that she couldn't speak. She wanted to escape; to disappear. There was no way she could undo what had just happened. She closed her eyes and clung to her uncle, knowing that it was the last time that she would ever hold him.

        "Come, child," Alek said as he led her out of the store and to the truck. She sat between her cousin and her uncle on the ride home, too afraid to utter a word.

 

        When the truck arrived back at the Levchenko home, Boris leaped from the back and Alek helped his niece into the house. As Misha ushered them into the kitchen, she saw that Christina was visibly shaken. Nina was already at the dinner table, and Andrei sat down beside her. Alek helped Christina to sit, then they were all at the table together.

        Misha asked Christina, "What is wrong, sweetheart?"

        "I ..." Christina tried to speak but she could not manage it. She looked at Andrei in fear. His face twisted with the sting of betrayal.

        "Christina hurt her foot at the store," Alek explained as he patted Misha's arm. "It is nothing to worry about."

        Christina's shaking grew worse as she watched the anger increase in Andrei's brow. Her heart pounded in her chest.

        Andrei stood up and looked to his parents and his sister. Pointing at Christina, he said, "She is not our cousin," his voice laced with poison.

        "What has come over you?" Alek barked, "Of course Christina is our cousin."

        Andrei stormed over to Christina and yanked her to her feet by her arm. "You are not Christina Chase!" he yelled. He looked across the table to Nina, his mother, and his father.

        "She is lying to all of us," he accused. He shook the girl and shouted, "Who are you?"

        Boris growled at Andrei. The dog's ears dropped back and he exposed his teeth.

        Alek stood up so fast that his chair shot backward. He tore his son off his niece and threw him clear across the room into the refrigerator door.

        Christina held her hand over her mouth and felt as though she could not move her legs.

        Alek shouted, "Dammit Andrei! What has gotten into you?"

        "Ask her about her clothes!" Andrei screamed at his father.

        "What clothes?" Alek pleaded.

        "From the accident!"

        Misha stood up and asked, "What about them Andrei?"

        "Those aren't her clothes."

        "Of course they are," Misha said.

        "I saw her rolling those clothes in the mud outside! Her jeans-" he insisted.

        Nina looked at her cousin with scared eyes and said, "You bought jeans when we went shopping."

        Tears streamed down Christina's face as she reached her hand to the girl and cried, "Nina, I-"

        Andrei threw open the side door and grabbed Christina's dirty tennis shoes. He held them up wildly and shouted, "These are not her shoes!" He threw them at the ground and said, "She was barefoot when we found her."

        Misha looked back at her niece and whispered, "That is true."

        Christina looked pleadingly at her aunt then back at Nina. Nina did not understand what was happening, and she began to cry. It broke Christina's heart.

        Alek held Christina by the shoulders and searched her perfect green eyes for an answer. "Tina," he begged, "What are they saying?"

        Christina wiped her tears from her face and tried to regain control of her body. How could she be so stupid as to think she could fool these people? It was all over now; all she could do was show them the truth. She took a deep breath and quivered, "Uncle Alek ... everyone ... I have something to show you."

        Christina brushed her uncle's hands off her shoulders. She stood in the middle of the kitchen and took the wildflowers out of her hair. Reaching up to her chest, she slowly unfastened the buttons of her cardigan and pulled it off.

        She began to lift her top, but Alek stopped her. He placed his large, rough hand on top of Christina's chest.

        Christina was fearful, but there was no anger in the man's eyes.

        Alek lifted her necklace and held it in his hand. "Andrei," he said calmly, "There is no doubt that Christina is your cousin." Alek reached behind Christina's neck and unclasped her necklace. "Come with me," he said, "All of you."

        Christina pulled down her top and put her sweater back on. Nina ran to Christina and grabbed her hand. They all followed Alek into the living room. Christina held onto Nina's hand tightly. Her body still trembled.

        Alek stood by the wall across from the fireplace. He pointed to the clock and said, "Listen to me, everyone. Your great, great grandfather, Kiryl Levchenko, was a master craftsman." He looked to Christina and assured, "Your ancestor as well, Tina." Alek took the clock off the wall and carried it into the middle of the room so that everyone could see. "Before he died, Kiryl made five clocks, one for each of his sons. They were handed down though our family from father to son. Three of them are still in Russia. One I hold in my hands. This one however, was not the first one to travel to America."

        Christina and Nina walked closer to Alek and looked at the intricately carved clock.

        "Christina," Nina said, "Your necklace came from your father's clock."

        "Yeah," Christina muttered in disbelief, "That's why I know this." She placed her hand on the face of the clock. "I can still see ours on the wall," she continued. "I remember the chime."

        Alek looked at his son. Andrei was confused and still not convinced. "Look Andrei," Alek said. "He opened the door of the clock and pointed to two Cyrillic characters etched into the wood. Alek held the gear necklace out to his son. The raised markings on the gear were the same.

        "Do you see Andrei? Everyone? These are initials. They stand for Kiryl Levchenko."

        There was no doubt; Christina's necklace came from Alexander Chase's clock. Even Andrei was nodding his head as though the truth in his father's hands had negated everything he'd overheard.

        Alek put down the clock then walked over to Christina. He placed his enormous hands on her petite shoulders.

        "Child," he said, "Was Alexander Chase your father?"

        Christina nodded.

        "And you are our cousin, are you not?" Alek said with an assured look on his face.

        Christina softly said, "I am."

        Alek hugged her tightly and said, "There is nothing else to know."

        Alek released the girl, then reached around her neck and clasped the silver chain around it. He beckoned the entire family to sit, and he went to the master bedroom. Nina sat next to Christina and snuggled tightly against her. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she was thankful that it was over.

        Alek returned with a box of pictures and some photo albums with yellowed pages. He spread them out over the coffee table and showed the children pictures of their ancestors, explaining how each one was related to them. Christina looked at all the distantly familiar faces. Alek progressed through the generations. At the end, he pulled out a new album and opened it. Misha took over, presenting pictures of Anastasia, Andrei, and Nina from when they were very young.

        As Alek and Misha reminisced about times long past, the man again told the story of how Anastasia picked out her room.

        It had been so long since Andrei had heard his father mention his older sister. He took a picture out of the album and held it. It was a picture of himself and Anastasia, holding hands as they entered the house for the first time.

        He rested his forehead on his hand and refused to cry. "I miss her so much," he said.

        "I do too," Alek agreed. He took the picture from his son and walked to the shelf above the fireplace. "We will always miss her, but even so, she is never truly gone." Alek took a picture of the family off of the shelf and slid the picture of Andrei and Anastasia into the corner of the frame. He placed the picture back on the shelf and said, "Not so long as we keep her in our hearts."

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        When Christina woke up early on Friday morning, none of her fear remained from the day before. Her last day with the Levchenkos hadn't gone as well as she'd hoped, but everything had worked out in the end. She was showered and dressed by the time the sun had come up. It didn't feel right to wear her jeans after last night, so she decided to wear the last skirt that Nina had picked out for her, and her plain white blouse.

        Christina opened her suitcase and loaded as many of her new clothes into it as she could. The rest of them went back into her shopping bags. Once everything was packed, she went to the bathroom mirror and fixed her hair and makeup. Looking back into Anastasia's bedroom, she sighed. The whole trip had been a mess, but she was going to miss sleeping in that room.

        Once she was ready for the day, Christina went downstairs, bumping into Andrei as he was leaving the kitchen. Looking at her cousin, she started to explain, "About what I said last night-"

        Before she could get another word out, Andrei pulled her close to him. He said, "Whatever it is, it doesn't matter."

        Christina allowed herself to lean against her cousin and she hugged him back. When Andrei released Christina, the two of them went to the kitchen, chatting as though none of the scary parts of last night had ever happened.

        When Misha emerged from the basement with a basket of clothes, she put it down and greeted both of the children. Nina joined them shortly, and she and Christina joked and laughed until it was time for Nina to leave for school.

        After Misha left with her daughter, it was just Andrei and Christina again. As she continued to talk with Andrei about nothing in particular, Christina knew she was stalling. It was as though she'd lived a whole year over the past week, and she wasn't quite ready to let go yet.

        Regardless of how she felt, she knew she had to get back to her old life, and her responsibilities, so she broke off the small talk, saying, "I guess we should pick up my car now."

        Andrei concurred and went upstairs with his cousin. He insisted on carrying her suitcase and the rest of her bags downstairs. Boris demanded one last pat on the head before Christina and Andrei went out to the old green pickup truck. He secured all of Christina's bags in the back, then slowly drove her into town. It seemed that he was stalling, too.

        After Andrei parked the truck on the side of Main Street, he went around to the passenger side and opened Christina's door. As he helped Christina out of the truck, he held out his arm with a flourish. "May I?" he asked with an exaggerated bow.

        "Yes sir, you may," Christina responded with a curtsey and a smile. Taking her by the arm, he escorted her to Mr. Conrad's service station.

        Mr. Conrad was a bald, wrinkled old man in filthy overalls, whose face seemed frozen in a permanent sneer. People in town often speculated that Mr. Conrad would have died years ago if his entire body had not been animated by pure spite.

        When Mr. Conrad saw that Andrei and a pretty young girl were approaching, he took an oil covered cloth from his back pocket and used it to wipe the perspiration from his forehead. "Andrei, have you reconsidered my offer?"

        "Yes, several times," Andrei replied sarcastically, "And it gets funnier each time."

        Mr. Conrad sneered at Andrei and barked, "Then what are you coming by for?"

        "This is my cousin Christina," Andrei said as he motioned to her. "We're here to get her car."

        "Come on back," Mr. Conrad said, "There's somthin' you two ought'n to see."

        Christina and Andrei saw that her car was still up on a lift. It looked as though the body had been banged back into a respectable shape, but the back axle was still broken.

        "Conrad!" Andrei yelled. "What is this? You said the car would be fixed today."

        Mr. Conrad growled, "The little girl's gonna have to walk 'till next week. I'm waiting for a new axle- there's no fixin' to be done without it."

        "Conrad," Andrei fumed, "You promised me it would be ready this morning! Friday, you said."

        The old man stuck his shriveled finger into Andrei's face with the ferocity of a pit bull and snarled, "That there was an es-tee-mit! You hear?"

        Christina could feel a knot forming in her stomach. She'd felt the knot so many times the last few days that she speculated it might move into her stomach permanently and build a nice cottage where it could raise a small family of tiny knots.

        "And," Mr. Conrad added, "I've been workin' on this lemon since Tuesday, and I haven't seen one red cent!"

        Andrei and Mr. Conrad descended into a shouting match; a fury of guttural noises, flaring teeth, and accusing fingers.

        Christina took a deep breath and said, "Hey." When neither man responded, she screamed, "Hey!"

        The men stopped their bickering and Christina asked, "When will the part get here?"

        Mr. Conrad clasped his chin with his grease covered thumb and forefinger and said, "I don't 'magin my supplier will be through here until Tuesday ... Wednesday at the latest. As soon as it gets here lil' lady, it'll be nothin' at all to fix." Mr. Conrad turned back to Andrei and shouted, "Until then, it's gonna stay put, isn't it!"

        Andrei squinted angrily at the old man.

        "And," Mr. Conrad demanded, "I've got a good mind to take that clunker off the lift and park it out back unless I see some money today."

        Christina remembered what Steph had said in the diner. Mr. Conrad was indeed a miserable old bastard. her shoulders sank. "Okay," she said, "I can pay you right now."

        Andrei started to speak, but Christina shushed him. The three of them went into Mr. Conrad's office, which was small and grimy, just like its owner.

        "How much is this going to cost?" Christina asked calmly.

        Mr. Conrad fingered the keys on an ancient adding machine and said, "Once the part gets here, and I put it in, and we add up the work already done ... round that off ... let's say, fifteen hundred."

        Christina's mouth opened wide. "Fifteen hundred dollars?"

        Andrei shouted, "That's outrageous!"

        Christina placed her hand on Andrei's arm to prevent the situation from deteriorating again. Christina took a deep breath and despondently said, "I can give you a thousand dollars now, and five hundred next week." She took her debit card out of her purse and handed it to Mr. Conrad.

        Mr. Conrad quickly ran Christina's card through an old card reader and presented her with a receipt.

        Christina took her card and the paper and put them into her purse. "Is it okay if I get you the rest of the money, maybe by next Friday?"

        Mr. Conrad leaned back in his chair and said, "Little lady, the day you bring me my money, is the day you can leave here with that car."

        Christina squeezed Andrei's arm to prevent him from making a scene. Standing up, she took Andrei by the hand, and left the service station.

        When they got to the street, Christina pulled out her receipt and stared at it. She frowned, "That was pretty much all the money I had left in the world. I'm going to have to find some way of paying him."

        Andrei took the receipt from Christina and looked at it. "Don't worry," he said, "You can stay with us. I'll drive you to your appointment today."

        Christina nodded and said, "Yeah, okay. I think that's a good idea. Let me make one call first."

        Christina put the receipt back into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She flipped through the address book until she found the number for work. She pressed dial on Mr. Patel's number and waited for him to pick up.

        "Hello?" Mr. Patel barked.

        Christina bit her lower lip. Mr. Patel was obviously in a bad mood already. "Mr. Patel, it's Chris," she said. "I'm still having car problems, but don't worry. I have a way to get to Unitech, and everything is going to work out. I'm leaving right now."

        "Don't even bother," Mr. Patel said.

        "Why not?" Christina asked, "I worked out a way to get there, I'll-"

        "While you were busy with car trouble, Jim snapped up the support contract."

        "Jim?" Christina repeated in disbelief. Mr. Patel had told her that Jim, the head programmer for the inventory system, had left the company, but she didn't realize he was going to poach their clients.

        "Yes Jim," Mr. Patel snapped. "He was at Unitech yesterday. It's all over. And Dilip has left with him. We are short handed, and I need you back right now."

        "But Mr. Patel," Christina pleaded, "My car won't be ready until Tuesday."

        "Dammit, Chris, I don't want to hear about your car again. You've already cost us the Unitech contract. You can either be here on time, Monday morning, or you can find somewhere else to work."

        "Yes sir," Christina said in resignation. "I understand."

        Mr. Patel hung up, and Christina closed her cell phone, dropping it back into her purse.

        Andrei looked at his cousin and said, "Let's go. We can be there in a few hours."

        Christina shook her head. She refused to let herself cry. After all the convolutions and half baked plans, it was all over. She was out of money and out of time. Not only was she going to lose her new family, but also her job. There was no way out of this one, and she didn't feel like explaining it all to Andrei. If she said any of it aloud, she would surely cry. Instead, she cleared her throat and held her chin up. "My meeting was cancelled," Christina said, fighting the lump in her throat, "You don't have to drive me anywhere."

        Andrei raised an eyebrow. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

        "Yeah," she lied, "Everything is fine. It looks like I might have to stay a little longer though."

        Andrei smiled and said, "Good," completely failing to notice his cousin's depression.

        Steph is a good judge of people, Christina thought. Mr. Conrad is a miserable old bastard, and Andrei is completely oblivious.

        "So," Andrei started, "What do you want to do? The entire town is yours."

        Christina continued to fight back her tears and said, "I'd appreciate it if you would walk me to the grocery store."

        Andrei took his cousin by the arm and led her down the street and around the corner to the family grocery. The two of them walked in and were noticed immediately by Misha. She came out from behind the counter to greet the children.

        "Christina!" she said with delight, "What are you still doing here, child?"

        "Her appointment was canceled," Andrei explained. "And her car isn't ready. She needs to stay until next week."

        "Of course she can stay," Misha beamed as she ushered Christina into the store.

        Andrei took out his keys and went to the door. Before he left, he said to his mother, "I'm going to take Christina's things back to her room." He rushed out.

        Noticing her niece's expression, Misha asked, "What is the matter Tina?"

        "Nothing Aunt Misha," Christina responded. "My stomach is just a little upset is all."

        "Go rest in the back, sweetheart," Misha said in a comforting tone.

        Christina shook her head and said, "If it's okay, I'd like to work for a while." She wandered off to find something to do.

        "Certainly," Misha said softly. She could tell something was wrong, but she would wait until her niece was ready to talk about it.

        Christina spent another day in the grocery with her aunt and uncle, using the constant work to keep her mind occupied. The day slipped into night, and Andrei returned to take them all home. It surprised Christina to see just how happy Andrei was that she was staying. When Christina got back, she found Nina and Boris waiting for her in the living room.

        Nina rushed to Christina and threw her arms around her. "Andrei said you were staying, but I didn't believe him," she sparkled.

        Christina held her back and said, "I was afraid I was going to miss you too much."

        The family sat down at the dinner table and Misha started dinner. Andrei explained the trouble they'd had with Mr. Conrad and Nina went on about her day at school.

        When the food was served, Christina stood up and said, "Aunt Misha, Uncle Alek, can I be excused?"

        "Of course, Tina." Misha answered.

        Christina shuffled out of the kitchen, and Nina asked, "Mom, what's wrong with Christina?"

        Misha told her daughter, "I do not know dear, but she will let us know in time."

        Andrei was broken out of his trance. He had been so pleased that Christina was staying that he hadn't noticed something was obviously wrong.

        Christina went upstairs to the bathroom, where she took off her makeup. She went back into Anastasia's room and closed the door behind her. After taking off her clothes and placing them neatly on the chest of drawers, she slipped into her satin boxer pajamas, crawled into bed, and just lay there. She couldn't sleep. How could her life have changed so much in just one week? Her job was over. Her life with Amy was over. Her time with the Levchenkos would be at an end soon, too. Rolling over, she began to cry into her pillow.

 

        Hours later, she heard a knock on her door. Christina peeled back the covers and got out of bed. Opening the door, she was surprised to find Andrei standing in the hallway. "Hey Andrei," Christina said in a tiny voice.

        Andrei said, "Come on, we're going for a walk."

        Christina sighed, "I don't feel like taking a walk."

        "Of course you don't," Andrei said as he barged into the room, "And that's exactly why we're going." He picked up Christina's flats and handed them to her.

        When she gave him a look that said "no," Andrei held his hands up and said, "Fine. You don't have to walk- I'm just as willing to carry you."

        Christina begrudgingly took her shoes from her cousin and put them on her feet. She gave Andrei her hand and allowed him to lead her downstairs. When they got to the front door, Christina complained, "I don't have my coat."

        Andrei took off his jacket and wrapped it around his cousin. "There we go."

        He took Christina out the front door and around back to the barn. She shivered as the wind blew against her bare legs. Andrei opened the barn door, but he didn't turn on the light. Instead, he took out a flashlight and led her through the darkness, stopping at an old wooden ladder that went up into the loft.

        Christina looked at her cousin, "And this is for?"

        Andrei laughed at Christina, "It's for climbing."

        Christina batted her eyes in disbelief. "Perhaps I neglected to tell you about my paralyzing fear of creepy ladders in dark old barns?"

        Andrei patted her on the bottom and said, "Yes I know all about it. Now get up. I'll be right behind you."

        Christina climbed the ladder and Andrei trailed a few rungs below her feet. She couldn't see where she was going, so she made sure to feel for each rung in the darkness. When she ran out of rungs, she called to Andrei, "I'm at the top- what do I do now?"

        Andrei called out, "Just keep going, and step forward."

        "It's really dark," she complained.

        Andrei answered, "Trust me, ok?"

        Christina groaned in capitulation. She pulled herself onto the floor of the loft and sat in the darkness until Andrei came up the ladder. She took his hand, and he helped her up. Andrei shone the flashlight at the other end of the loft where a large wooden bench faced the outer wall. he took his cousin across the loft to the bench.

        Christina looked at the bench. It was of simple design, and covered with tattered old cushions and pillows.

        Andrei motioned for her to sit down, and she did. She watched as Andrei fiddled with some sort of metal bolt on the wall, then sat down next to her.

        "I come here to think sometimes," Andrei said contentedly.

        "Yes," Christina observed sarcastically, "I stare at walls all the time when I relax."

        Andrei laughed as he kicked his booted foot forward.

        Christina gasped when she saw the large barn door swing open and found herself looking directly out into the night sky. The barn door provided an amazing view down the side of the mountain. She could see the lights in the valley below and in the glow on the horizon of cities in the distance. She was at eye level with a boundless sea of stars, seeming to float amongst a million holes in the sky. They were so many and so luminescent that she could clearly see her cousin's face.

        "It's amazing," Christina gasped.

        "Yes, well the chair is my work," Andrei joked. "But the rest was made by someone with much bigger hands."

        When Christina began to shiver in the cool night air, Andrei produced a scruffy quilt and draped It over himself and Christina. Christina snuggled up close against her cousin under the quilt and he put his arm around her.

        "There aren't any stars where I live," Christina said.

        "Yes there are," Andrei corrected, "You just can't see them."

        Christina pointed out into the distance and said. "That's where I live."

        "Over there?" Andrei asked as he looked at the glow on the horizon.

        "Start there, and keep going for like another six hundred miles," Christina said. "Picture a bunch of old, crumbling buildings, where everything is paved, and the sky is always filled with smog."

        "I can see it," Andrei joked. "I like what you've done with the place."

        Christina laughed, "Well, it was a real dump before I moved in." She paused then added, "That's where I belong."

        Andrei sat in silence for a moment and then spoke. "I have to apologize. I made everything hard for you when it didn't have to be. The way I acted, it was because ..."

        Christina finished his thought. "... because you thought I was taking Anastasia's place."

        Andrei tensed his jaw and nodded. "And because I was jealous of you."

        "How could you ever be jealous of me?"

        "My parents ... Nina ... even Boris. They loved you so much from the moment you got here. My Dad especially. He's so proud of you." Andrei cleared his throat and added, "No one sees me that way."

        "Sure they do," Christina insisted.

        "At first I thought it was because you looked so much like Nastya, but I realize now that wasn't it. You look like her, but you don't act like her at all."

        Christina leaned her head against her cousin's shoulder. "I'm the one who should be jealous of you. I'm not as successful as they think. And you have your whole family." Christina allowed a few tears to escape her eyes and said, "I don't have anybody."

        Andrei held his cousin and consoled, "That's not true. You still have your mother."

        "No I don't." Christina frowned. "After my Dad died, it was just Mom and me for a while. And that was pretty good, I guess. I mean, it was hard, but I liked it better when it was just the two of us. When she met Danny, everything changed."

        "Changed how?"

        "When we moved in with Danny, you know, he made it clear that I was living in HIS house. He would always tell me that I was gonna have to learn to be tough. 'The world is a mean place,' he always said, 'And you got to be hard to survive. The only person you can count on is yourself.' He said that I had it too easy, and he wasn't going to cut me any slack just 'cause my Dad died. He said I had to grow up. He'd make up these chores ... They weren't chores; they were tests. He wanted to see how far he could push me, is what it was."

        "What do you mean by tests?" Andrei asked.

         "You know. He'd have me clean out the garage. If I didn't put everything back on the right shelf, or hang the rake back exactly on the wall where he wanted it, he'd come in and throw everything on the floor. 'Not good enough,'" Christina imitated, "'Not nearly good enough.' So you know, I'd just do it again. One time, he took me out to the back yard and he actually made me chop fire wood. I mean, we didn't even have a fireplace. 'I had to do this every day Chris. It made me who I am today.' That's what he would always say. So I tried. I really did. And after hours, when my hands were blistered, he would just say, chop some more."

        "Your mother let this happen?" Andrei asked in astonishment.

        "Yeah," Christina shrugged.

        "She never stood up for you?"

        "Well, I stood up for myself sometimes."

        "What did you do?"

        "You know, sometimes I'd tell him that I wasn't going to take it any more. He'd say, 'You want to take a swing at me Chris? Go ahead.' And I REALLY wanted to. I really did. I hated him so much. But you know, I never had the guts. I always backed down." Christina shook a fist at the darkness and roared, "'Get in the closet, you little shit.' That's how it always ended."

        "He actually locked you in the closet?"

        Christina shrugged as though it was nothing out of the ordinary. "You know, just for an hour or two."

        Andrei stroked his cousin's hair. "I'm so sorry," he consoled.

        "I let it happen."

        "It's not your fault," Andrei insisted, "There was nothing you could do."

        "Oh there was," Christina corrected. "The day I graduated from high school, I confronted him. I told him to get out of my house. And I told him to leave me and my Mom alone. He just laughed at me, but I told him if he didn't leave, I would make him."

        "What did you do?"

        Christina recalled, "I punched him. I actually took that swing. I don't think he thought I would ever do it, but I punched him right in the nose. I think maybe I broke it."

        "You punched a grown man?"

        Christina nodded. "Oh God, he was furious." Christina made a tight fist with her hand. "He pounded me in the stomach. Threw me against the wall. He just kept punching. When I woke up," Christina said as she brought her finger to her left eye, "I had a black eye and two broken ribs." Christina pointed to the spots on her side where the ribs were broken.

        Andrei reached his large hand over and rested it at the base of her ribcage. Christina moved it to the appropriate places, and Andrei could feel a slight lump on the bones where they had healed.

        Andrei softly said, "I'm so sorry."

        "Well, I started the fight."

        "There is no excuse for a grown man beating a girl."

        "Anyway, when I was healed up, Danny told me I could either live by his rules or get out. So I left. I begged my mother to come with me. I said we could start over somewhere else- just the two of us again."

        Christina stopped for a few seconds, staring out into the starlight. "She said no. She chose my stepfather over me. I can't tell you how bad that hurt. It made the broken ribs feel like nothing at all." Christina frowned as tears filled her eyes. "In the end, he was right. The only person you can ever count on is yourself. I guess I can handle that, but it's just hard to be all alone sometimes."

        Andrei rocked his cousin back and forth. He said, "You're not alone anymore- you've got us."

        Christina closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to stem the flow of tears. "No I don't," she whispered.

        "Of course you do."

        "No I don't," Christina repeated. "Everything you heard me say in the store last night was true."

        "Then, you aren't my cousin?" Andrei asked in a confused voice.

        "I am your cousin," Christina said with certainty. "I am. It's just that ... I'm not who you think I am. The thing is, when I go home, everything is going to be different. The person you see right now is gonna go away."

        Andrei joked sadly, "So at midnight you're going to turn into a pumpkin?"

        Christina answered plainly, "Yeah."

        Andrei gave his cousin a squeeze and said, "I don't understand what you mean, but let me tell you this, you are part of this family." Andrei reflected for a moment then continued, "I don't know what you did to my father. He was so lost since Nastya died, but he's actually smiling again. Before last night, we never talked about her. But you came, and Dad put her pictures back on the shelf."

        Christina nodded and cleared her nose.

        "I don't know why you think you'll disappear, but you don't have to. We're not going to abandon you."

        "Thank you," Christina whispered.

        Andrei pressed, "Why did you skip dinner tonight?"

        "Things are just out of control," she replied. "I don't have the money to fix my car, and even if I did, it wouldn't matter. If I can't get back to work on Monday, I'm going to lose my job, and that's all I have left."

        "No problem," Andrei said, "I will take you home."

        Christina stopped crying and said, "That's very sweet, but how will everyone get by without the truck? I live nine hours away. It's not like dropping me off in town."

        "Then I will drive you to Dover. There's got to be a bus you can take."

        Christina shook her head. "It's not going to work. I need a car to get to the train station."

        "Can't one of your friends give you a lift?"

        "Andrei, I don't have any friends."

        Andrei didn't know what to say to that. He and Christina did not speak any further, they just floated silently together in the field of stars. Christina felt a little better after crying and talking things out, even if it hadn't changed anything. Closing her eyes, she rested on her cousin's shoulder. She was not sure how long they stayed there, but it was still dark when Andrei broke the silence.

        "Come on, it's late. Let's get you to bed." Andrei closed the barn door and led his cousin back down the ladder and into the house. He walked Christina to Anastasia's room and hugged her before sending her to bed.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Christina lay in bed on her side with her arm around a pillow. She hadn't checked what time it was, but judging by the sunlight, she expected it was past noon. Her mind was so seized with despair and worry that she'd slept only a few fitful hours since Andrei and left her at her bedroom door last night. Her hand was numb from clutching her gear necklace. She'd been holding it so tightly and for so long that the teeth had cut grooves into her palm.

        Closing her eyes, Christina tried to sleep. Not because she was tired, but rather because she couldn't bear to be awake anymore. She couldn't figure any way to come up with the money she owed Mr. Conrad. Even if she had the money, she couldn't see how she could get back to the city and be able to make it to work every day. Since Amy had left, Christina was responsible for paying all of the rent. With no job, she'd lose the apartment for sure.

        The hopelessness she felt from worrying about her car, her job, and what would become of her once she got home, seemed like nothing compared to the ache she felt in her heart. It was seven years since her father died. Not one day had passed where she'd forgotten him. When she was younger, she used to wonder how long it would take until she felt like the hole in her life that her father had left would go away. After a while, she gave up waiting.

        While she had never forgotten about her father, Christina had long since forgotten what it was like to be a part of a family. How cruel it seemed to her to be thrust into a loving home only to know that it wouldn't last. Her mother was right; she should never have gotten her hopes up. It would have been better, she decided, if she'd just kept her head down and accepted things for what they were. She was foolish to think she could get ahead at work, and even more deluded to hope that she could ever be part of a family again. She wished she'd never took Mr. Patel up on his offer. All it got her was a glimpse of a life she could never have.

        Misha came into the bedroom and saw that Christina was still in bed. "You missed breakfast," she said.

        Christina propped herself up with her elbows and said, "I'm sorry Aunt Misha."

        Misha walked to the side of the bed and sat down on its edge. She put her hand on Christina's cheek and guided her niece's head into her lap. "My dear Tina," she said as she stroked her niece's hair, "You look as though you cried all night."

        Christina nodded in her aunt's lap.

        "Andrei told me what is bothering you child."

        Christina closed her eyes and listened to Misha speak.

        "Tina, I know the world can be a cold place. Sometimes it seems that life is a great ocean, and we are just ships being thrown by the waves. You will be tossed, and rolled; that is life. But they are only waves, Tina. That is all. They are not enough to defeat you unless you give in. Do you understand what I am saying?"

        Christina sat up in bed next to her aunt and said, "Aunt Misha, I try so hard. I really thought I had it all worked out. It was like, maybe, just this once, it was my turn to get it right. But it doesn't matter how hard I try. It never matters. I always ruin everything, and it's too much this time. I just don't know what to do anymore."

        Misha took Christina's palm in hers and extended their arms in front of them.

        "All of the women in our family have tiny hands, you see?"

        Christina nodded.

        "You, and I, and Nina, we all have tiny hands and skinny arms." She folded Christina's hand into a fist and explained, "But this is not where strength is. Hope ... faith ... these are the only things that can move mountains."

        Misha placed Christina's hand back into her lap. "Now tell me Tina, do you think it is better to stay in your room all day? Or is it better to have faith that things will work out as they are meant to be?"

        Christina leaned her head against her Aunt's chest and whispered, "I guess staying in bed isn't a good plan."

        Misha stood up from the bed and walked to the door. Grinning at Christina with a twinkle in her eyes, she said, "If you get up now, you might not miss lunch."

        Christina stood up and looked in the mirror. She dropped her shoulders, thinking about just how upside down her world had become. She did feel very much like a ship lost on the ocean. Slipping out of her pajamas, she pulled her bathrobe over her shoulders, looked into the mirror and half-heartedly told herself, "Everything's going to work out." With that, she forced herself to take a shower to start the day.

        After the shower, Christina performed her increasingly familiar morning rituals; fixing her hair, applying her makeup, and picking out something attractive to wear. Once she was presentable, she walked down the stairs to the living room, wearing her yellow sleeveless dress and high heeled shoes. The dress had a floral pattern embroidered on the skirt. It was the only outfit that Nina had selected that Christina had yet to wear. Her hair and makeup made her pretty as they had been all week. The only thing that was missing was her smile.

        Nina was sitting on the couch and Christina went to join her. Nina could tell that her cousin was still upset. She hugged Christina as she said, "Good morning."

        "I think you mean, good afternoon," Christina corrected with a sad grin. "Where is everyone?"

        "We've been busy all morning." Nina walked to the open front door and looked out through the screen door. "Each of us had chores."

        Christina stood up, folding her arms in front of her, and held her elbows. "I'm sorry Nina, I should have got up earlier and helped. What did you have to do?"

        "My job was cleaning."

        Christina looked around the living room. It didn't look any different than the night before. She turned around and looked through the hallway into the kitchen. She could see that the table was covered with pots and pans. "Nina, are you sure you're finished? This still kinda looks dirty."

        Nina rolled back and forth on the balls of her feet and giggled. "I wasn't cleaning the house."

        Christina wrinkled her nose in confusion at her cousin's words.

        Nina simply smiled, pointing out the door with her eyes and a tilt of her head. Then she opened the screen door and went outside.

        Christina's heels clicked on the living room floor as she followed her cousin. She opened the screen door and walked outside. The sun blazed high over the mountain. Spring had finally taken hold, and the fields were speckled with pink, yellow, and purple. The sweet smell of the wild flowers glided though the air.

        Christina could have lost herself in this new world. "Nina?" she called. Walking down the driveway and around the side of the house, she called again, "Nina? Where are-" Her mouth hung open in astonishment. Her family stood in front of her, smiling. Even Boris was there. Behind them, was her car, looking as clean and polished as she had ever seen it.

        Christina put her hand to her mouth and gasped, "How?"

        Misha beamed at the girl and motioned to her son. "Ask Andrei," she said.

        Christina went to Andrei and looked up into his eyes.

        Andrei scratched the back of his neck with his large hand. "After you went to bed," he explained, "I went to see Conrad."

        "In the middle of the night?"

        Andrei nodded. "I convinced him to let me work on your car."

        "You fixed it? How is that even possible- Mr. Conrad didn't even have the parts."

        "Oh those," Andrei laughed, "I picked them up this morning. Two hours there, two hours back. Piece of cake."

        Christina grabbed her cousin and held him tightly. "I can't believe you did that," she said.

        Andrei laughed and patted her on the back.

        When Christina let go, she couldn't suppress her wide smile. A look of doubt crossed her face. She asked, "How did you get Mr. Conrad to let you near my car?" Christina's eyes went wide. "Oh my God, did you ... hurt him?"

        Andrei broke out into a hearty laugh. "No, of course not." He shot a glance at the barn and then looked back to his cousin. He explained, "Conrad is now the owner of a pretty nice desk."

        A single tear streamed down Christina's face and she held her cousin gently. "Oh Andrei. Thank you so much."

        Nina chimed in, "And I cleaned it for you."

        Christina released Andrei and took Nina's hand. She looked into her car; it had never looked better.

        Nina pointed at a pile of boxes and Tupperware in the back. "And Mom made you food for your trip back home."

        Christina looked back at her aunt who was smiling lovingly.

        Alek held out an envelope in his hand. "I made reservations. You are not to drive all day again," he said sternly. "You will leave today, and drive the rest of the way tomorrow."

        Christina took the envelope and looked inside. It contained handwritten directions to a motel and several hundred dollars in cash.

        "Oh, Uncle Alek, I couldn't-"

        "You can, and you will. That is final."

        Christina nodded as she whispered, "Yes sir."

        "And," her uncle added, "You will call us when you get to your room, and you will call us on Sunday when you are home."

        "Yes sir," Christina repeated.

        More tears fell from Christina's eyes. Her aunt reached up and held the girl's cheek in her palm. "Don't cry, Tina."

        "I'm sorry," Christina said as she smiled through her tears. "Nobody has ever done anything like this for me. I don't think there's anything I could ever do to pay you back."

        "You can child," Misha whispered, "Return to us."

        Christina nodded, "I will. I promise."

        Her uncle's booming voice broke the spell, "The rest of you can stand in the driveway all day, but I am going inside for lunch."

        The family followed Alek into the side door and sat down for their last meal together before Christina left for home. Christina helped Nina clean the kitchen while Misha prepared lunch for the family.

        It wasn't long before they were again sitting around the table together. Christina didn't speak much during the meal, content to eat quietly and enjoy the warmth of her family's love. Christina had hidden herself from these people. It wasn't her clothes, or pretending to be a girl. She'd kept herself emotionally at arms' length. These people had welcomed her into their home, but she was realizing she had just considered them temporary. Now, she sat in contentment and watched these wonderful people, not as an outsider, but as one of their own. She knew they loved her, and she allowed herself to bask in that love. The feeling of bliss needed no words. She wasn't sure how or when she would be able to keep her promise to return, but she vowed in her heart that she would.

        After lunch was finished, Alek stood up and announced to the family, "Before our dear Christina leaves us, there is one thing that must be rectified." Alek left the kitchen and went to the master bedroom. When he returned he was carrying an old 35mm camera. "We must have pictures to add to our walls."

        The family went outside and took many pictures. Christina posed with each of her relatives and in various groups. There were pictures of just the women, pictures of Christina with the men, pictures where she posed with her car, with Boris, and even one where Andrei lifted her off the ground in his arms. Christina was beyond the embarrassment of being a girl. She embraced her identity as a Levchenko, and she smiled with more brightness than in any picture that had ever been taken of her before.

        Christina would have liked to stay all day, but her uncle insisted that she leave early so she wouldn't have to drive at night. She finally said her final goodbyes to her family and got into her car. She watched them in the rear view mirror until she got to the end of the long gravel driveway. She left Oak Grove by the twisting mountain road where her ordeal had started. Somehow in the daylight, even the memory of her crash seemed to fade.

        She drove for hours. It felt strange to be driving. She'd grown accustomed to having one of the men drive her around. She even missed the feeling of Nina sitting in her lap.

        When she arrived at the motel, she found that the front desk had been waiting for a certain Miss Christina Chase, who had lost her driver's license. Alek had made all the arrangements and Christina had no trouble checking in. She took her suitcase, and some of the food that Misha had made from her car. She had also grown accustomed to one of the men carrying her bags. She didn't want to admit it, but she missed being pampered.

        Once she was settled in her room, she phoned home to let her family know she was safe. Everyone wanted to speak to her and she felt loved, even though she was separated from her family by a great distance.

        After she had something to eat, Christina went to the bathroom to wash off her makeup and use the toilet. It wasn't until she was wiping between her legs that she realized she no longer had to use the toilet like a girl. Christina could feel the momentum of her feminine imprisonment declining, but decided she was not yet ready to become Christopher Chase again. Picking through her suitcase, she removed the sexy chemise that Nina had picked out for her, stripped naked and put it on.

        After she crawled into bed, she stared at the ceiling. It wasn't as comfortable as the bed she had slept in last night, but it was still far better than the one waiting at her apartment. She contemplated the events of the week. She'd gone from being Christopher, who was unhappy, practically an orphan, to Christina- beloved niece. She couldn't help but smile as her mind filtered out all the stress and fear, feeling only the enduring memories of love and acceptance. She fell asleep and dreamed of walking barefoot on the mountain through the wildflowers.

 

        When she woke, Chris sat up in bed and was struck by the blandness of her motel room. She waited, half expecting to hear Nina's voice or see Boris' head poke through the door. Had it all been a dream? Pulling pulled back the covers, she saw that she was wearing her yellow chemise. There was no reason she should have worn that last night, yet she had.

        She decided that she'd get an early start. Stepping out of bed and sliding out of her chemise, she went into the bathroom and sat on the toilet. Pausing for a moment, she stood up, realizing that she was now free to stop acting like a girl. yet as she stood and urinated into the toilet, for some reason, she felt ashamed. She felt as though she was breaking some law. It was weird.

        She flushed the toilet and took a long, hot shower. After her shower, she brushed her teeth and dried her hair. She studied her face in the mirror. She decided that she wasn't going to wear makeup today, not that she needed it to be recognized as a girl.

        Chris finished styling her hair and left the bathroom. She pulled her heavy suitcase onto the bed and rifled through her clothes. The suitcase contained some of her girl clothes, but was filled mostly with boy's attire. She picked up a pair of her boxer shorts and thought things over. It would be problematic if she checked out as a boy after having checked in as Christina.

        She put her old underwear back into the suitcase and took out a pair of white cotton panties. Today she was finally going to wear her new jeans. She got dressed and put on her girls' tennis shoes. She was still dressed like a girl, but at least she didn't have to be in a skirt. Somehow that made things feel a little more normal. Her cotton bra and panties were still very much feminine undergarments, but that couldn't be helped. She didn't wear her cincher. This made her waist wider than she'd been used to. The odd thing was, it didn't look like her waist had gone back to normal. She looked in the mirror and she swore that she could still see some faint, girlish curves, deciding that It must be the poor lighting in the bathroom.

        Once she was dressed, Chris carried all of her things back to her car and checked out at the front desk. When things were settled she got into her car and was about to put the keys in the ignition, when she decided to make a call before getting back on the road.

        She dialed the number for the family grocery store and was delighted when her uncle picked up the phone. "Hello Uncle Alek," she said with glee.

        "Christina, my girl!"

        "I was just about to get on the road, so I'm calling to let you know."

         Alek's approving tone warmed her like a hug. "Good. It's best to get an early start. I don't like you driving on those highways, and it is better to drive them during the day. Take your time, and call us if you need anything."

        Chris had not been instructed to call before leaving, but she already missed her uncle. She craved his paternal affection.

        "I will, Uncle Alek," she giggled. "Give everyone my love."

        Chris made a kissing noise into her phone then said goodbye. As she put her phone into her purse, she paused for a moment. She wondered, did she actually just make a kissing noise at the phone? That was very weird.

        As she drove, Chris reflected on everything that happened this week. It seemed that as each mile passed, Christina Chase felt further away. She saw her manicured nails on the steering wheel; suddenly they seemed very out of place.

        It was mid afternoon when Chris got home. As she parked her car in her space behind her building, she looked around, searching the area for anyone who might recognize the skinny kid from the sixth floor.

        There was no one in sight, so she got out of her car and walked across the street to the Handi-Mart, keeping her head down so that her hair obscured her face on both sides. Trying her best to avoid making eye contact with the other customers, she grabbed a pair of sunglasses and a hair scrunchie, then went to the counter. When the cashier never even bothered to look at her she was reminded of Oak Grove's small town appeal, realizing that It was likely that she could wander her building with impunity. Probably no one would question her presence or even notice that she was there. Still, she couldn't take that chance.

        Chris left the store and took her purchases out of the bag. Using the store's window as a mirror, she pulled her hair back into the scrunchie, fussed with her hair for a bit, then slid on her new sunglasses.

        With her new disguise in place, she went back across the street to her apartment building, slipped quietly in through the front door and started climbing the many flights of stairs to her apartment. She kept her head down as she exited the stairwell. A man walking though the hallway took little notice of her.

        Chris shot glances to either side when she reached her door. She took her keys out of her purse and quickly entered her apartment. As she closed and locked her door behind her, she was immediately struck by just how empty her apartment felt. She longed for her new home in Oak Grove. She missed being greeted when she walked into a room.

        Chris put her purse down on her computer desk and went into her bedroom, where she stripped naked and laid her female clothes on her bed. What the Hell was she supposed to do with them, she wondered.

         Putting on the first pair of male underwear in almost a week, Chris walked to the closet and selected a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. His clothes felt unusually rough, especially on his bare legs. He went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Did he still look like a girl? The person he saw in the mirror appeared male from the neck down, but the face was wrong. The flirty hairstyle, the delicately tweezed eyebrows, and the smooth face, still read "girl."

        Chris sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought. Running to his computer desk, he grabbed the sunglasses and scrunchie, then sprinted back to the bathroom and pulled his hair back and slid on the glasses. The sunglasses didn't hide his eyebrows, but they might divert some attention. The scrunchie was also a temporary solution. Chris definitely looked more like himself, but it was going to take a haircut, and time for his eyebrows to grow back before Christina Chase was entirely gone. He disliked the idea of getting his hair cut. His long hair started out as an act of defiance against his stepfather, but it had grown into what he considered his look. It didn't matter; it all had to go. Chris couldn't wait for the curls in his hair to relax.

        It took Chris several trips up and down the stairs to carry everything up from the car. He put all of Misha's food in the refrigerator.

        He still wasn't sure what to do with his new clothes. He spread them out over his bed and looked at them though they were foreign objects. Should he get rid of it all? Maybe he could sell them at a thrift store. He eventually put his panties in with his male underwear and hung his girl clothes in the closet. He couldn't keep them there, as though they belonged, but he would figure out the details later. It was very strange to see girls' clothes in the closet again, because they weren't Amy's dresses, they were his. It was too bizarre for words.

        He really should just throw all of his new clothes out right now. There was no way he would ever wear them again. His time as Christina Chase was already beginning to seem like a distant dream. It was as though he was thinking of some other person's memories, and they felt somehow less real. As he reflected on how he had acted when he was Christina, it seemed utterly alien.

        Chris again went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He took off his shirt and examined his body. He'd always been a tall and thin kid, but no one had ever mistaken him for a girl. He felt the sting of embarrassment return. Why hadn't they seen him as a boy? He looked at his small hands. There was nothing inherently feminine in them, though the manicure certainly didn't help his case.

        Chris put his sweatshirt back on and made a mental plan. He would start off with getting a haircut. He vowed to start working out. Maybe he could join a gym, or buy some weights. He looked down at his nails and chewed on them until they became rough. That was a start. No one was ever going to mistake him for a girl, ever again.

        But how could he visit the Levchenkos again? He missed them, but there was no way he was ever again going to dress up like a girl. He wondered if there was some way he could visit his family as a boy. Maybe he could be Christina's brother? Or maybe he could be another distant cousin or something? There was no way he could see how it could work. They'd recognize him in an instant. The truth was, Christina, not Christopher, was a part of the Levchenkos' lives.

        Chris lost his train of thought when he heard his cell phone ring. He rushed to his purse and took out the phone. He made a mental note to take all of his things out of his purse as part of his plan to reclaim his maleness.

        He opened the phone and said, "Hello?"

        "Christina, it's getting late! Where are you?" It was his uncle.

        Chris felt a shock at being referred to as "Christina" again. He looked outside and noticed that the sun was going down. He'd forgotten to call his uncle and let him know that he arrived home safely.

        "Hey, Uncle Alek," Chris said as he tried to play the part of Christina. "I ... uh ... just walked in the door."

        "Just now?"

        "Yeah ... there was traffic. You know how highways are." Chris felt unbearably awkward talking to his uncle.

        "I don't like you driving on those dangerous roads. I am happy that you are safe though. Would you like to talk to your Aunt?"

        "Oh I would love too," Chris said, desperately trying to end the conversation, "But I'm ... I'm knocked out from all that driving, so-"

        "Of course," Alek said in a fatherly tone, "You can speak to her later. And next time you visit, you are to take the bus."

        "Right ... I mean, yes sir." Chris said goodbye to his uncle and hung up the phone. The protective attention that he had been reveling in this morning, now felt disquieting and out of place. It demonstrated just how complicated the situation with his family had become. There was no way he could visit them as a boy, it would turn all of the relationships inside out. Chris sighed and wondered if it would be possible to see his family ever again.

        When Chris' land line rang, he went to see who it was. He picked up the phone, sighing when he realized it was his mother.

        "Hey Mom," Chris said, disguising his annoyance, "What's up."

        "Hi Honey. How did your trip go?"

        This was how she operated. They would get in a fight, and then she would call a week later as though it had never happened. Nothing ever got better; old arguments were just left unresolved.

        "I had car problems and the whole thing kinda fell though." Chris was not eager to get into any of the details.

        "That's too bad. Did you meet your father's relatives? Were they strange and backward? You know how immigrants are."

        Chris could feel his blood boil. The Levchenkos were remarkable people. They were kind and giving, and he loved them. They had shown Chris more love in just one week than his mother had shown him in years. He wanted to tell her all of these things, but he had to keep the details of last week a secret. Chris held his tongue and said, "The address you gave me was old. They don't live there anymore."

        "Oh well, it was twenty years old. I told you not to get your hopes up. So where did you sleep?"

        "It doesn't matter," Chris snapped, "I told you, it all fell though." He stopped himself and thought about how he felt about his mother. Deep down, he still cared for her, and this last week had taught him a lot about the importance of family. "Mom," Chris asked, "Why don't you come and stay with me for a while?"

        "What?" she said in a shocked tone.

        "You know, I miss you."

        "Well," her mother said in a softer tone, "You can always come home."

        Chris grumbled, "Mom, that house, is not my home."

        His mother's voice filled with disdain. "Oh I see where this is going, you want me to leave your stepfather again, is that it?"

        "No Mom, I just thought you and I could spend some time together. Just us."

        "Well you can forget it. You have to learn that Danny is a part of this family, and that's not going to change because you don't get along with him."

        "Jesus Mom!" Chris screamed. "The man treated me like shit!"

        "You know, you're not the easiest person to live with. Did you ever stop to think how your petty bickering made me feel?"

        Chris' bottom lip started to quiver and he clenched his jaw. "Mom, he beat me."

        "Aren't you being a little dramatic Chris? As I recall, you started that fight."

        "Yeah, that's right I did. I was standing up for myself. I was standing up for you, too. And I did take a swing at him. I started a fight, but we didn't have a fight. He beat me. I was a kid, and he was a grown man, and he beat me until I couldn't get up."

        "Danny has a bad temper, but you can't put all the blame on him." His mother shot back.

        Chris felt some tears form in his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away. Chris cleared his throat and said, "Mom, I don't think we should talk anymore."

        He hung up the phone and shuffled into his bedroom. He threw himself down on his bed, feeling a loose spring in his old mattress dig into his back.

        Chris was once again, alone.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Chris' transition back to his old life hadn't been easy. After only a week in Oak Grove, he'd become accustomed to a slower, more relaxed way of life. Though he didn't know many people in the small town, it hadn't taken him long to recognize the familiar cast of characters on Main Street. His days had been filled with the company of his family or the friendly human interaction of working in the grocery store.

        After all that, he found city life more alienating than ever. He had to retrain himself not to make eye contact with people; he had to stop holding every door open. Spending his days in his dark cubicle, in front of a computer screen, was making him feel unfulfilled and isolated.

        There were also some lingering physical annoyances. Chris did not enjoy going to a barbershop with his feminine hairstyle. He had to endure the stares and snickers as he sat in the barber's chair. His shapely new eyebrows were a similar problem. With the loss of Jim and Dilip, Chris was being given an increasing amount of coding to do at work, further limiting his face time with other human beings. Still, he was sure that people were staring at his sculpted eyebrows. He feared that the delicate arches had a softening effect on his entire face, though he wasn't sure if that wasn't just paranoia. It took almost two weeks for his eyebrows to show any significant regrowth.

        His legs were an issue as well. After nearly a month had passed, his legs and face were still silky smooth. He didn't know how long the effects of Steph's waxing would last, but he was embarrassed to show his legs in public. He refrained from wearing shorts, even in private.

        Then there was Steph. Chris found himself thinking of her all the time. When he thought about his trip to the salon, all he could see was Steph. He pictured Steph's breasts dangling in front of him as she worked on his hair. He could see her eyes, and those kissable lips. He also focused on the shape of her ass as she bent over to get brushes and scissors out of the drawers. He relished the tingles he felt on his scalp when Steph's fingers ran through his hair.

        Of course his actual salon experience had been a whirlwind of physical pain and indignity. He had been poked, waxed, and plucked. He had been trapped in Steph's salon chair, dreading that she would see through his disguise.

        Yet all these painful sticky details fell away in Chris' lustful recollections. He had seen these images so many times in his mind, he'd almost convinced himself that Christopher Chase was the person in Steph's chair that day.

        But it wasn't just Steph's bodily charms that had bewitched him. Though his time with Steph had been short, she'd left quite an impression. Steph had an unstoppable, plucky charm. Even the simplest turn of phrase turned into witty, verbal acrobatics as it left her lips. She made you laugh, and feel at ease instantly. It was as though she was the hostess at the best party you'd ever been to, and there was no need to mingle, because you were dying to hang on her every word.

        Chris wished that there was some way he could go back in time and arrange things such that Steph had never met Christina Chase. But, there was no way he could do it. As much as he didn't want to, he had to accept that Steph would likely never get to meet Christopher.

        Chris had intended to let his life return to normal, even if that mean letting his experience as Christina Chase fade away. Nina, however, prevented that from coming to pass.

        It happened on an ordinary night; Chris came home from yet another long day at work. The stress of covering for Jim and Dilip's absense was beginning to grind him down. Being crammed into an overcrowded train with no air conditioning on the ride home didn't make it any better. He felt tired and rattled at the same time, and his feelings of loneliness had only been amplified by returning to an empty apartment every night. All he wanted to do was to go to bed, but the phone rang. It was Nina, the one person in the world who was always thrilled to spend time with Chris.

        At first Chris felt awkward speaking with his younger cousin on the phone, but those feelings quickly faded away. Nina wasn't like anyone else that he knew. When she asked how he felt, she actually meant it, and she wanted to know the answer. They spoke on the phone for hours until her mother forced her to go to bed. After the conversation was over, somehow the day didn't feel quite so long. It was as though talking with Nina put things into perspective; the troubles at work were just that- at work.

        As Chris got ready for bed, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had a conversation with anyone for that long. He and Nina hadn't talked about anything in particular, just the little things. Nina went on about the boy she had a crush on. Chris talked about how much he hated the feeling when he was sitting between two people on the train and how uncomfortable it felt to constantly have his shoulders in contact with those of two strangers. More importantly, Chris was able to confess to his younger cousin that he'd developed a doomed infatuation with someone in Oak Grove, a person who Chris allowed Nina to believe was a boy.

        Mostly, they told each other how they felt. Chris had never had a conversation like that before in his life, and he was unaccustomed to the liberated feeling he experienced afterwards.

        But it wasn't just that night; Nina called every night that week. It seemed that Chris and his younger cousin never grew tired of speaking with each other. It got to the point where Chris looked forward to talking with Nina all through the day. It was strange to have something to look forward to. It made everything feel a little easier.

        That Sunday, Chris was surprised again when his aunt and uncle called. Misha was concerned about his well being; what he was eating and how he was feeling. She had given him a ton of recipes over the phone. When Chris protested that he wasn't a very good cook, Misha vowed to teach him when he came to visit. Alek was overly concerned with his safety. He didn't like the fact that Chris worked long hours in the "dangerous city" and spent so much time riding on trains with strangers. Now that Chris was a boy again, his uncle's concern felt out of place; it was almost insulting. Still, Chris knew the man had good intentions.

        Though it was awkward at first, Chris allowed himself to be Christina Chase for that phone call. Somehow that made him appreciate his aunt's advice and his uncle's overprotective attitude.

        As the days slipped by, Chris found that he was rushing home for his nightly phone call with Nina. With each conversation, the two of them became more comfortable with each other. It seemed that nothing was off limits, and Nina talked about all the things that were important to a teenaged girl who was in her final year of junior high school. Chris listened to her talk about clothes, makeup, music, school, and, of course, boys. None of these topics made Chris uncomfortable. On the contrary, Chris felt such a connection to Nina that he actually cared about all of these things simply because they were important to her. The only problem was that Nina was increasingly asking for Chris' opinions and advice.

        Keeping up with Nina had become a major undertaking. Like most things, it started out small at first. On the way home from the office one night, Chris stopped at the magazine stand and bought the latest issue of YM Magazine. He also bought three computer magazines, a copy of Maxim, one magazine about cars, and a copy of Jet. It was his hope to bury the girls' magazine in a fury of masculine reading, or at least confuse the hell out of the cashier. On the way home that night, he shoved the issue of YM inside his copy of PC Magazine and forced himself to study every article, every advertisement, and every single image. Nina needed someone who could understand her, and Chris was determined to learn about everything that was important to the girl.

        What started with one magazine grew into nearly a daily affair on the train ride home. Chris found himself reading a different girls' magazine every night. He'd almost considered getting a subscription if he could have survived the humiliation of having the forbidden periodicals delivered to his home address. Soon he was reading the same things as Nina, even listening to the same music. It was uncomfortable at first, but doing these things made him feel more involved in his cousin's life, and they only grew closer as a result.

        Keeping in touch with the Levchenkos had suddenly become a fixture in Chris' life. He spoke to Nina nearly every night. His aunt and uncle made a point of calling every Sunday to check in. Though Andrei never actually called himself, he frequently piggybacked on his parent's weekly call.

        Chris found Andrei unbearably erratic on the telephone. Some nights he would go on about his projects in the barn and other nights he couldn't seem to talk about anything. Chris tried to get information about Steph out of him, but being oblivious as usual, he had nothing to offer. Steph could have flashed him every day, Chris thought, and Andrei wouldn't have noticed. Chris was beginning to resent the fact that Andrei could have Steph any time he wanted. Luckily for Chris, Andrei barely knew the girl was alive.

        Though Chris was slowly becoming comfortable talking with his family, he still felt annoyed that Alek treated him like a helpless little girl. Alek was right about one thing, however. Chris was definitely working too much and getting home too late. He'd been given loads of new work and no raise to show for it. Mr. Patel hadn't even reimbursed him for the hotel room in Ardmore that he never had a chance to use. No matter how hard he tried, Chris ended up staying longer, and getting more behind. He'd finally been given a key to the office, but he was using it to come into work on weekends, His conversations with Nina and the others were all he had to look forward to on most days. That had become Chris' daily grind- Get up, go to work, get home, never once spending time in the sunlight. The good nights where when Nina called.

        Then that had been ended by their last conversation.

        It was a late night like any other. Chris stared out of the widow of the train as it pulled into his station. It became clear to Chris that the company had no intention of replacing either Jim or Dilip. This either meant that everyone else had effectively picked up the slack, or that the company was in financial trouble. Chris knew that he was constantly behind, so he feared the latter. He didn't know how secure his job was, but he did know that the economy had been a wreck since before he'd finished high school. He doubted he could get another job, especially without a college degree.

        He pushed these thoughts out of his head as he got into his car. He was going to call Nina tonight. She was hung up on some high school boy. She would talk to Chris about her teenage fantasies and complain about her parents forbidding her to date. Chris in turn would have the opportunity to pine for Steph. Though he never mentioned her by name, and he always spoke as though he was interested in a man, just talking about it made it easier for him to deal with his unrequited love.

        Chris arrived home and climbed the six flights of stairs to his apartment. No sooner than he'd taken off his coat, he felt the rumble of his cell phone in his back pocket. He checked the number and saw that it was Nina.

        "Nina," Chris grinned, "I was just about to call you."

        "You're not busy are you?"

        "No I just got home. Besides, you know I'm never too busy for you."

        "You just got home, now?" Nina asked.

        "Yeah, well I was working late and I missed the earlier train. I had to stand at the station for an hour or so."

        "I don't know how you do that. It sounds scary."

        "There are some strange looking people," Chris admitted, "But it's safe. There's usually a cop there every night. So what's going on? Did David ask you out yet?"

        "I wish," Nina complained. "He still hasn't even noticed me."

        "Don't worry, he will," Chris consoled.

        "I didn't call to talk about David," Nina said in a slightly more serious tone.

        "What is it? Is anything wrong?"

        "No, there's nothing wrong, it's just that school is out in two weeks. I'm graduating from junior high."

        "Wow," Chris said, "That's a pretty big deal. Are you excited?"

        "Yeah I guess so. Anyway, the thing is, I would really like it if you came to graduation."

        Chris paused for a moment. All the time that he'd been talking to Nina and the rest of his family, they'd never mentioned any specific date for him to visit. They'd only spoken of some vague time in the future. Talking on the phone was one thing, but Chris wasn't sure he had the nerve to be Christina Chase again.

        "Christina? Are you still there?" Nina asked.

        Chris realized that he'd been lost in thought and quickly recovered, "Yeah, I think my cell phone lost the signal there for a minute."

        "Do you think you can come?"

        "Nina," Chris said, trying to let the girl down easily, "I dunno if I can do it. Things are really crazy at work right now ..."

        "I miss you. I haven't seen you in forever, and I really want you to come."

        "I miss you too Nina ..." Chris was torn. He'd missed Nina so much since he'd left Oak Grove. Even though they spent most of their time talking about boys and clothes, he really felt close to the girl. To Chris, Nina wasn't just his cousin, she was his best friend. He was certain Nina felt the same way. "Nina, I can't promise that I can make it. Let me see what I can do with my schedule. If there's any way it can work, I'll be there."

        "I hope you can make it," she beamed, "It'll be so much fun- I'll be done with school, so we can stay up late, and hang out all day."

        Nina and Chris talked until it was past Nina's bedtime. He didn't want to get her in trouble so he had to cut their conversation short.

        Chris wasn't sure that he wanted to be a girl again. No, he was positively certain he didn't want to be a girl. The problem was Nina. Chris realized just how important graduation was to his cousin. Perhaps, Chris reasoned, he could survive a short trip- just long enough to see Nina graduate, and maybe long enough to enjoy some of Misha's cooking. Maybe, he could even see Steph...

        Chris thought about visiting his family the next day at work. The more he thought about it, the less crazy it felt. It wouldn't have to be out of control like the last time he went. He figured that he could just pretend to be a girl for one weekend. How hard could it be? After a few days of fantasizing about returning to Oak Grove, Chris worked up the courage to ask Mr. Patel for some vacation time. It was difficult talking Mr. Patel into letting Chris have some time off, but he conceded one day. It seemed that Mr. Patel was always in a bad mood lately. Chris knew that he wasn't the source of Mr. Patel's frustration, but Chris found it was best not to aggrrivate the man. One day was hardly a vacation, but a long weekend was all Chris needed to make it to Nina's graduation.

        When Chris spoke with his aunt on the phone that Sunday, he told her to expect him the next weekend. Alek insisted that Chris take the bus to Dover, forbidding him to drive all the way to Oak Grove alone. Chris was getting a bit frustrated by Alek's attitude, but he was right this time. Chris could take the bus that left Thursday night and arrive in Dover on Friday morning. All that was left now was to find Christina Chase.

 

        Chris struggled with his workload, but he managed to get home early on Wednesday night. Tomorrow was going to be about timing. He had to get home from work, transform into Christina, and then get to the bus depot. Tonight was his dry run. Chris laid out his girl clothes on the bed and stared at them: his long skirt, light green top, his waist cincher, panties, and bra. It was strange to look at his girl clothes again, and just the thought of wearing them made his heart race.

        Taking a deep breath, Chris stripped off all of his clothes, went into the bathroom and studied himself in the mirror. The hair on his face and legs had begun to grow back, though it was very fine. Chris shaved what hair was on his cheeks and decided that his legs could be fixed by a pair of stockings.

        Back In the bedroom he clapped his hands together three times to psych himself out, repeating, "You have to do this for Nina. You have to do this for Nina. You have to do this for Nina." Chris pulled the panties up his legs and put on the bra. He'd forgotten just how much smoother women's undergarments were. He tucked himself between his legs and put the bust enhancers into the bra's cups. It was weird to be back in girls' underwear. When he pulled the waist cincher around his back and hooked it into place, he was taken aback by how painful it was. When he had worn the device for a week straight in Oak Grove, his body had adjusted to its pressures. Putting it on after not having worn it for so long was an exercise in hurt. He slipped into the skirt and pulled the top over his head. Checking In the mirror in the bathroom, he saw Christopher Chase standing in Christina's clothes. Not there yet, he thought.

        Chris grabbed his makeup from the bedroom and returned to the bathroom. He did his best to fix his hair; he'd let it grow longer, but it still wasn't as long as when he'd been Christina. Staring at his blonde hair, he was unhappy with the job he'd done. No matter how he brushed it, it didn't look like a girl's hairstyle. How the hell had it been so easy before? Thinking back to his visit, he realized that it was Nina who had done his hair. After that, Steph had expertly styled it. When it came right down to it, Chris didn't have any idea how to style hair.

        No matter, he'd have to make up the difference with cosmetics. He started applying makeup, but he was out of practice. He was able to mimic what Nina and Steph had done in Oak Grove when it was fresh in his mind, but now he was utterly inept. He tried for hours, to no avail. There was no doubt that he was a boy wearing girls' clothes. His hair was a mess, and he looked more like a rodeo clown than a girl. How on Earth did he ever think I could pull this off, he wondered. He wasn't sure how he'd even survived it the first time. He didn't want to let Nina down, but there was no way he could face his family looking like this.

        Chris sat on his bed and called Nina. Misha answered and the woman could tell there was something wrong by the sound of her niece's voice. She put Nina on the line, and Chris struggled for the courage to speak.

        "Hi Christina! I can't wait to see you on Friday." Nina was ecstatic.

        "Nina ..." Chris felt as though he was going to throw up as he spoke the words, "I don't think I can make it."

        There was a silence, then Nina said, "But you promised."

        "Nina sweetheart," Chris explained, "I know I promised, but ... something came up at work ... and they need me all weekend ..." It was killing Chris to lie to his cousin. He wanted so much to go to her graduation, but there was no way it could happen.

        "I guess I understand," she sighed.

        Tears formed in Chris' eyes at the sound of Nina's voice. He could tell that she was crying too. Chris wanted to crawl into a deep, dark hole and never come out.

        "Christina ... I have to finish my homework."

        Chris knew that Nina was making an excuse. Nina always had her work done by this time of night, and there was no way she had anything substantial this close to graduation. "Wait," Chris begged, "I can't make it this time, but how about I come up for the Fourth of July? I can ask for time off right now, and we can spend the whole time together."

        "Really?" Nina asked. She still sounded devastated, but her voice took on a ring of hope. "You really mean that?"

        "Nina, I promise. I will work it out no matter what it takes." Nina was silent. Chris needed her to know he meant what he said. "I promise." Chris repeated with determination.

        Nina cleared her nose and whispered, "Okay."

        "Nina, I love you so much. I know I can't be there tomorrow, but I want you to know how proud I am of you."

        "Okay," Nina repeated. "I really should go. I'll talk to you later?"

        "Okay Nina."

        Chris snapped his cell phone shut and sat on his bed wondering how he could live up to his new promise. He went to his computer and pulled up his calendar. He had a little more than a month to find Christina Chase. He wasn't sure how he was going to do it, but there was no way he would ever let Nina down again.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Chris now realized that it was going to take more than just a casual effort to resurrect Christina Chase. It had been foolish to think he could just throw on some old clothes and hop on a bus. It was going to take planned and determined effort. He was going to work on being Christina every day until the end result was flawless. He decided on a few steps early on. First, he was going on a diet. Chris had always been tall and thin, but he wasn't going to take any chances. From now on, it was salad for lunch. Secondly, he was going to change his workouts. He hadn't spent much time exercising, but after his experience in Oak Grove, he'd tried some weight lifting. That was over. He was switching to aerobics or Yoga.

        Step three was to let his hair grow. He'd let it grow back out after he had it all cut off upon returning home, but he needed more. He still had long hair by male standards, but it was short as far as girls' hairstyles went. He was going to let it grow as long as he could before the Fourth of July. Finally, he vowed to wear his waist cincher twenty-four hours a day. He knew he wasn't going to like the temporary changes this plan would induce in his body, but it would resurrect his girlish figure.

        Chris knew that he couldn't stop there. During lunch on Monday, he went to a bookstore and bought three books on applying makeup and two more on how to style hair. His determination and his love for Nina helped fight off any feelings of embarrassment, but still, It was an ordeal just to make it past the checkout. Chris now spent his train rides studying hair, makeup, and all the other female mysteries that Christina Chase should know. Every night he practiced fixing his hair and his makeup in the bathroom mirror.

        Still, it was not enough. Perhaps Chris could have pulled off a visit as Christina with all he'd learned, but he wasn't going to settle for a mere imitation. This vacation was for Nina, and she needed Christina. Chris was determined to become Christina Chase for his cousin. He tried to look at every situation in a new way, constantly asking himself, "What would Christina do?"

        After two weeks, all of his efforts were having an effect. He began to see Christina Chase smiling back at him when he looked into the mirror. He noticed that not only did the waist cincher not feel too tight, it was actually starting to feel loose. Chris had the beginnings of curves even when the cincher was off. He'd been hiding it at work with baggy clothes. Since his waist had rebounded from the last time he'd warn the cincher, he wasn't terribly concerned. He was focused not on any current inconveniences; his thoughts were on having the perfect vacation with Nina.

        That night, Chris browsed the online shops with his computer. He'd been trying to get inside the mind of Christina Chase, and he realized that she wouldn't show up with the same clothes she had last time. Perhaps she could take some of his old clothes, but she needed something new to wear, and some of it should not look brand new. He looked at all manner of clothes and undergarments. He remembered that he'd never seen either Nina or his aunt wear pants, but decided that was one tradition Christina was going to break.

        Chris grew concerned when he realized that a lot of the summer clothes showed off the chest, cleavage, or a lot more. Chris was lucky that he had his bust enhancers during his visit. They were a big part of selling Christina Chase. Though they looked fairly convincing, Chris knew that a lot of it had to do with the kind of clothes he'd been wearing. Also, there had been too many close calls. He'd had to undress with his back to Nina in Steph's salon, and he'd slept next to Nina in his bed one night. Those situations could have been disastrous.

        Chris did some research online on masectomy breast forms. He was shocked by what he found. There were several kinds of breast forms that could be attached to the chest to give the illusion of real breasts. He looked at the online photos in disbelief. Having a pair of these would make his detection remote at best. He could actually relax without the fear of being discovered. Man, they were expensive. A few more clicks and Chris found a store in the city that carried them. He clicked on the link that took him to the Transformations Boutique. Chris was appalled by what he found.

        The Transformations Boutique was a full-service salon for drag queens and crossdressers. Certainly they would be able to fit him for breasts, but there was no way he could ever go somewhere like that. Chris wasn't a crossdresser, at least not technically. He wished he was certain about that assertion. He definitely didn't get a sexual thrill from being dressed like a girl. It was actually quite the opposite. It was an imposition- a burden even. No, Chris thought, as much as realistic breasts would make his shopping and his time in Oak Grove much easier, that was a line he wasn't willing to cross.

        Chris yawned as he closed his browser windows. He would sort out what he was going to buy later. He realized that Christina would actually go to the store and try clothes on, but Chris had limits.

        He looked at the clock in his taskbar, seeing that It was one thirty in the morning- he had to get some sleep. As the mouse hovered over the clock, he noticed the date. Tomorrow would be his twentieth birthday. He shut down the computer and wandered over to his bedroom. Between the crushing grind of his twelve-hour workdays and spending all his free moments studying how to be a girl, Chris had lost track of time. It didn't really matter; his birthdays had become just like any other day. With Amy out of his life and no friends to speak of, it was not as though he were planning to celebrate anything.

        Chris cleaned up his makeup from his earlier practice. He was far from an expert, but he'd learned the basics. He brushed his teeth and went back to his bedroom, took out the satin pajamas that Nina had picked out for him and slipped them on over his cincher. He'd taken to wearing his girl pajamas the past few days to get back into the habit. This was the one thing he didn't mind so much. Girl pajamas were far more comfortable than any others he owned. He got into bed and tried to fluff his pillow to a respectable height. Chris was looking forward to staying in Anastasia's room again. Not a night had passed that he hadn't wished he was sleeping in that bed.

        As Chris lay in the dark room, he wondered if his aunt and uncle would call him on his birthday. He decided it was wishful thinking that they would even remember. His birthday had come up over dinner one night, but it had barely been touched on. Chris decided not to hope too much and went to sleep.

        On the train ride home next day, Chris was groggy. He'd stayed up too late the previous night shopping for his trip. Shopping for boy clothes was easy. You picked out pants, you bought them, end of story. Shopping for girl clothes was a major production. You had to find deals. You had to consider cuts, and colors. Would it look good on you? Would it accentuate your figure? Hell, you had to plan entire outfits. Buying a pair of shoes that would work with with a particular skirt was like planning the D-Day assault on Normandy. Everything had to be considered. It was only made more difficult by the fact that he was really a boy, and he had to find girl clothes that would hide that fact.

        He tried to keep his eyes open as he read one of his makeup books. He was reading about the eyes and different looks for different moods and times of day. Did it really matter? He had a hard time concentrating as he kept nodding off. In his dreams, he struggled with his eye shadow. He wore a Spring shade, and he was an Autumn. Or maybe he was a Summer? In ether case, he was doing his makeup for a day at the office, but he was dressed for a night on the town. What a nightmare.

        Chris was startled out of a light sleep when the train blew its whistle as it stopped at his station. As he threw his book into his backpack and hopped off the train, Chris felt as though he was swimming in his shirt. The combination of the cincher, his diet, and his new exercise routine was having a profound effect on his body. He was starting to get strange looks at work. Wearing his long hair back everyday wasn't terribly out of the ordinary, but Chris knew there was something off about his body. He didn't think anyone suspected what was going on. At worst, people would assume he was overworked.

        Chris continued to battle with his sleepiness on the ride home. He was going to skip his makeup and hair practice tonight, he decided. He had read about makeup all night. He was even listening to pop music on the radio. He'd done enough girling-up for one day.

        When Chris pulled into the parking lot behind his apartment building, he rested his head on the steering wheel, waiting for a minute, searching for the energy to carry him up all those stairs. He dragged himself out of the car feeling as If gravity, and not his own will, was moving him forward. Entering the foyer, he checked his mail slot, finding only a few bills. Turning from the slot, he headed for the stairs and nearly fell over when his foot made contact with a large cardboard box. He looked down at the package and saw it was address to "Christina Chase."

        The package was from the Levchenkos! Chris perked up as though he'd never been tired. He smiled as he picked up the large box. It was heavy. What could be inside? His smile vacated his face when he realized that the box was addressed to a "Christina Chase," at his apartment. His face turned red and he looked around to make sure no one was looking.

        Chris bolted up the stairs with a new found exuberance. He rushed to his door and burst into his apartment, dying to know what his family had sent him. He sat down on the floor with the box between his legs. Using his keys, Chris ripped through the packing tape and opened the flaps. He reached in and pulled out a white envelope that was labeled "Christina." He opened it and pulled out a pink birthday card. Each member of his family had written a small note and signed their name. Both Nina and Andrei mentioned that they were looking forward to his visit.

        Chris stood the card up next to him on the floor. A card alone was more than Chris had expected, but there was still more inside the box. Chris reached in and pulled out a large, circular piece of Tupperware. It was nearly a foot and a half in diameter and at least half a foot deep. He pulled off the top to reveal multicolored cellophane. Chris pulled the cellophane to the side and saw the largest pile of cookies he'd ever seen. There were cookies of every size and flavor. Some were plain and others were covered with rainbow sprinkles. Chris reached in and took a bite out of a peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie. He knew such a sinful treat was not allowed on his diet, but he didn't care. He placed the cookies next to his card.

        Chris stood up and started to push the box off to the side with his foot when he realized there was still something heavy inside. Could there be more? He sat back down and reached inside. His hands felt the smoothness of leather, and he lifted a very large and impressive looking book out of the box. He marveled at it as he held it in his hands. He opened the book and saw that it was a photo album. Inside were prints of all the photos the family had taken the last day he was with them. There were pictures of everyone- even Boris. Chris couldn't believe just how many pictures they had taken; the book must have held at least sixty images. Chris looked around and was struck by the bareness of his walls. He owned no pictures except the ones he now held in his hand.

        He looked at Nina and Andrei, his aunt and uncle; they all looked so happy. Chris looked at the smile on his own face and could not prevent that same smile from forming on his lips. He sat back and flipped through the pages. Chris felt all the same wonderful feelings from that day rushing back. He couldn't think of a time he had felt more loved. He was standing on the brink of despair, and these people had rescued him. It felt as though a switch had been flipped in Chris' head. These people seemed more real to him now. It was as if his daily life were some distant dream, and his memories of Oak Grove were reality.

        When Chris came to the end of the album, he found some pictures from Nina's graduation. She was smiling in most of the pictures, but Chris could tell there was something wrong by the look in her eyes. He felt a fresh stab of guilt from his broken promise to her.

        Chris ate a few more of the cookies then sealed them up, vowing to stick to his diet. He called his family to thank them, and he spoke with them all night on the phone. He couldn't think of any gift he'd received that made him as feel as wanted as the photo album. He talked with Nina about all the fun they were going to have on the Fourth of July, but he could sense that she was holding back. She wasn't entirely convinced that this trip wasn't also going to fall through. Chris wasn't going to let her down again. He was determined to fulfill the promise he had made to his family- he would return to them.

        After Chris had hung up the phone, he went to his computer and looked up the website for the Transformations Boutique. He was willing to do whatever it took to be with his family, and if it meant he had to swallow his pride, then that was a price he was willing to pay. He dialed the number for the salon and made an appointment. He told them he was interested in being fitted for breast forms, and they signed him up for a full makeover package. They were able to take Chris over the weekend, but he pushed the appointment to the day he was planning on leaving for Oak Grove. He could take his bags to work and take an overnight bus to Dover. One way or another, Christina Chase was going to be the one getting on that bus.

        After his appointment was secured, he went shopping online again. He bought some new clothes for himself with the assumption that he would have a more realistic bust line. He felt nervous spending the money, but he had to have faith that everything would work out. Between the breast forms and his ever expanding wardrobe, Chris had spent most of his savings on Christina- it was just like having a girlfriend. The only difference was that he was the girl. His last duty online was ordering a bus ticket. There was no turning back now, Christina Chase would visit her family in just two weeks.

        Chris felt renewed by talking to his family and looking through the photo album. He went to the bathroom to practice making up his eyes with the techniques he'd studied on the train. The only question was, was he a Spring or a Summer?

 

 

        After a month of intensive girl practice, it was finally time. Chris looked out the window of his yellow cab. He'd left work early- he took a half day that Friday. The plan was simple, he'd go to the Transformations Boutique and have his make over. Then straight to the bus station and catch the ten o'clock bus to Dover. Andrei would pick him up in Dover at seven in the morning on Saturday, and he'd be in Oak Grove around eight-thirty or so.

        When the cab pulled to the curb, Chris stepped out, paid the cabbie, and got his suitcases from the trunk. Even though he'd only be gone for four days, he found that Christina traveled heavier than Chris did.

        The cab left, and Chris was standing in front of the Transformations Boutique. He took a deep breath and steeled himself. This was for Nina. It was for Nina and the others. He walked down the steps, below street level, into the store.

        Chris put his suitcases down and looked around the store. It was part salon and part clothing store. The clothes ranged from casual clothing to gaudy dresses. He saw a row of wigs in the windows. Some of them looked fake and were brightly colored while others appeared tamer. Chris didn't see anyone in the store and there was no real waiting area, so he started to wander around. He looked at the clothing rack. Everything looked as if it were a costume; a caricature. They were nothing like the clothes he had with him. There was a wide selection of lingerie, but it fell more into the category of saucy uniforms or playwear. Chris walked up to the cash register, lifted his sunglasses, and looked over the glass display case on which the register sat. Still no one. Chris looked down at his wristwatch to check the time. When he pulled his hand away, he was looking directly though the glass counter into the display case. Chris went white when he saw the wide array of dildos, vibrators, and butt plugs for sale. Chris stood up straight in fright, as though he'd seen a dead body. He turned around slowly and started walking to the door. He was obviously in the wrong place.

        Before Chris could make it to his bags, he heard a woman's voice call, "Mr. Chase?"

        Chris froze and looked over his shoulder.

        The older woman said, "Are you Mr. Chase?"

        Chris turned around and faced the woman. She was dressed in a white business suit, and her short brown hair was speckled gray. She walked up to him and smiled as though this was any sort of normal shop, and she was an average salesperson helping a customer.

        "This is your first time isn't it?" She said incisively.

        Chris nodded.

        The woman smiled sympathetically. She walked to the door and flipped a sign that read closed.

        Chris gave her a shocked look.

        "Oh, don't worry," the woman reassured him, "We operate only by appointment."

        Chris nodded again.

        The woman held out her hand and said, "Hello, I'm Lucille. I believe we spoke on the phone."

        Chris shook the woman's hand and found the words to speak. "Yeah, I'm Chris."

        The woman smiled again, trying to put him at ease. "Well Chris, why don't you follow me, and we can discuss how we can make your fantasies come true today."

        Chris blushed and followed Lucille to a small office in the back.

        Lucille motioned for Chris to have a seat and she poured him a glass of water from a water cooler. She placed it in front of him and sat opposite from him at the desk.

        Chris took the water and started drinking.

        Lucille arranged some papers and said cheerfully, "As I recall, you wanted breasts?"

        Chris coughed violently and put his water down.

        Lucille could tell the boy was uncomfortable, so she walked over and patted him on the back. "Okay Chris, I know this can be awkward, but you need to relax and tell me a little bit about your fantasy. I'm not here to judge you, just tell me what you want." She gave the boy a friendly rub on the back then returned to her seat. She produced a large book from one of the desk drawers. She opened it in front of Chris and flipped through the pages.

        Chris looked at the book and saw a collection of middle-aged crossdressers and drag queens. This was harder than he imagined.

        Lucille continued to speak as though she was selling Chris an automobile. "As you can see, there are a number of ways we can go. You can go drag, a sissy style, or a nice club kid look."

        Chris took the side of the book and politely closed it. "I ... I uh ..." Chris stammered, "I just need to look like a girl."

        Lucille had been through this sort of thing before. She was going to have to drag what the boy wanted out of him. "I know Chris, I just need you to give me a description, or perhaps you can point out a picture of something you like."

        "I don't like dressing like a girl." Chris said plainly "I just-"

        Lucille nodded in agreement. "I understand," she said, "Your mistress sent you here."

        "No!" Chris blurted, "It's not like that ... not at all ..."

        For the first time, Lucille looked genuinely confused.

        "It's not a sex thing," Chris insisted. "I just need to look like this for the next week."

        Lucille watched with curiosity as the boy in front of her reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture. He handed it to her and she studied it. It was a picture beautiful, vibrant young lady- Christina Chase. The girl was radiant in her sleeveless dress, posing for the camera in a sea of wildflowers.

        Lucille looked up from the picture and tried to console the boy. "I'm sure you would like to look like this, but you have to understand that there is no magic wand we can wave to turn you into a girl. Now if this is the sort of look you want to shoot for, we can try for it, but there's only so much you can reasonably ..." Lucille's voice trailed off as Chris removed his sunglasses and let his hair out of his scrunchie. Lucille squinted her eyes at Chris and then looked back at the picture. She again looked at Chris, then to the picture.

        Chris' burned bright red in humiliation.

        "This ..." Lucille said in disbelief, "Is a picture of you ... isn't it?"

        Chris closed his eyes and nodded twice.

        "I see," Lucille continued, "I guess I spoke too soon."

        "Look, this is too complicated to get into right now. I just need to look like that again, and if it can be helped I need to look more ..." Chris stammered along, "More like a girl even ..."

        "When you're naked?" Lucille finished.

        "Yeah," Chris said uneasily.

        "Well Chris, let's get right to work." Lucille took Chris out of the office and into another room with a table. "Okay Chris, I'm going to need you to strip."

        "Excuse me?" Chris fumbled.

        "You heard me- strip. We have a lot of work to do."

        Chris blushed and took off all his clothes and placed them in a pile on a chair. He took off his necklace and placed it on top of his clothes. Chris stood in front of Lucille, naked, with his hands over his privates.

        The older woman picked up Chris' cincher and looked at his waist. "You've outgrown this one haven't you?"

        Chris nodded and averted his eyes.

        "You'll need a smaller one to keep you on track. You've got a pretty shape already." Lucille tied a smock around her waist and looked back at Chris. "Chris, it's okay. You don't have to be embarrassed. I've seen it all before." Lucille walked up to him and forced his hands to his sides. Lucille tilted her head in confusion as she stared at Chris' petite penis and testicles.

        "What?" Chris blurted out.

        Lucille tapped her finger against the side of her mouth. "Nothing really, it's just that most men are ... aroused at this point."

        Chris didn't think he could blush anymore than he was now.

        Lucille looked him in the eyes and said in a sultry voice, "We're going to turn you into a sexy woman." She looked at Chris' member for a response. If anything, it shrank. A look of understanding crossed her face. "You really aren't turned on by dressing as a girl, are you?"

        Chris insisted, "No."

        "It's a shame. Most men who come in here would die for a body like yours." Lucille patted the table and Chris hopped on. "You certainly are a mystery. I must say, I can't imagine why you need to look like a girl, but I promise you, this will be strictly business. Okay?"

        Chris nodded and laid down on the table.

        Lucille put on a pair of latex gloves and sprinkled talcum powder over Chris' body. He gritted his teeth when she mechanically rubbed it over his genitals. She had him roll over, and she did his back, including his inner thighs, between his butt cheeks, and around the rosebud of his anus. Chris had never been so humiliated in his life as when he felt this strange woman tracing circles around that hole. He closed his eyes and tried to picture Nina and himself standing in the wildflowers having fun. He had to close his eyes and pretend he was somewhere else.

        "The good news is this shouldn't take long. There's not a lot of hair to remove."

        Chris grunted in response.

        "The bad news is, it's still going to hurt."

        Lucille put hot wax in key places on Chris' back and shoulders and all over the back of his legs. Once it was ready, she began to rip the cottons strips off the boy. It wasn't as bad as Chris had expected. She sprayed a cool mist on Chris' back and had him roll over again. Lucille repeated the process on his chest, his underarms, and over every inch of his long, slender legs. The pain was intense, but Chris lasted through it all.

        Lucille misted his body and moved to his head.

        "What are you spraying on me?" Chris asked.

        "Don't worry," Lucille responded, "It's just an inhibitor."

        "A what?"

        "A hair inhibitor sweetie. It'll keep your hair from growing back for a while. We use it on you each time you come back for a waxing."

        Chris did not like the sound of that.

        Lucille applied wax to Chris' face, and in no time his cheeks were as smooth as his legs.

        "Thank God that's over," Chris exhaled.

        Lucille walked to the counter and retrieved a pink electric shaver. "Not just yet," Lucille said as she positioned Chris flat on the table. She grabbed the head of his penis and held it straight out as she trimmed his pubic hair. She joked, "I see you're a natural blonde."

        Chris sat completely still, surrendering to yet a deeper level of indignity.

        Lucille put more powder in Chris' bikini area and covered it with hot wax. Chris grew apprehensive as he waited for the inevitable. Lucille ripped off the cotton strips and Chris gave out a wild yelp.

        "I know it hurts, but trust me, it's worth it." Lucille consoled.

        A few more tugs and Chris was completely bare between his legs. Chris thought he'd suffered the ultimate indignity until Lucille held his feet and pushed his legs up against his chest. She applied hot wax against his butt cheeks and his taint. Chris tensed when she pulled the hair off his underside. He gasped audibly when he felt Lucille spread his butt cheek and rub more powder over his hole. He felt all the air suck out of the room when hot wax was applied around his rosebud. The pain was unbearable when she pulled the wax from that tender spot. He cried out, and tears streamed down his face.

        Lucille finished by spraying his once private parts with hair inhibitor. "Now just lay here a moment and just relax. Your skin has been through an awful lot."

        Chris didn't know how long he laid on the table. He looked down at his chest and saw that there were a few red patches. He could still feel the sting from his abuse between his butt cheeks and a few other places, but in time it did subside.

        When Lucille came back, she brought several boxes with her. She opened one of them up and held a pair of realistic looking breasts to Chris' chest. She had Chris sit up as she tried different sizes on his frame. When she was satisfied, she showed Chris how to apply adhesive strips to his chest then she attached the breasts over the strips. Lucille then showed Chris how to blend the sides of the forms into his skin.

        "Now these will stay put for well over a week, so you should have no problems. You can remove the breasts with a good hard tug, but be certain to hold your skin flat. It's better if you do it in the shower," Lucille explained.

        "Oh yes, these are completely waterproof. You can shower in them, swim in them, anything you like." Lucille held them up with her hands. "They will come close to matching your body's temperature, and the nipples will even respond somewhat to extreme cold."

        "Wow," Chris muttered.

        When Lucille let Chris' breasts drop he could feel the new sensation of weight on his chest. Chris cupped his breasts in his hands. He played with them and could feel some of the pressure transferred to his skin underneath. He'd wanted to get his hands on boobs like these since he was fourteen years old, but this isn't what he had in mind.

        "I've got something else you may like." Lucille pushed Chris flat on his back. She walked to the other side of the table and spread his legs.

        Chris tensed up, though compared to the waxing, this was a minor intrusion. Chris felt Lucille slide his penis into a sheath, and she strapped something around his crotch.

        "Okay, have a look." Lucille helped Chris up and brought him to a mirror. He- no she, saw her reflection. Chris was smooth and hairless from cheeks to toes. She marveled at the breasts hanging proudly from her chest. She traced her eyes downward and saw her girlishly shaped waist and hips. Her eyes went wide when she saw a two precious lips nested between her legs. She reached down and felt her new, artificial vagina. The device was holding her manhood securely between her legs. The breasts were a shock to her psyche, but the vagina was a mental blow from which she could not recover. She jumped slightly when she touched the artificial clitoris. It actually transferred some pressure to her penis!

        "Looks like the real thing doesn't it?" Lucille still had a tone of voice that implied there was nothing unusual transpiring.

        Chris continued to stare at his new feminine parts. His crotch was completely hairless which made the girl in the mirror look much younger than she was.

        "As you can see, it looks very realistic from all angles," Lucille said as she spun the girl around and bent her over.

        Chris looked over her shoulder into the mirror to see a young girl presenting her hairless lips and rosebud. The look of fear on her face made the scene appear all the more exciting.

        Lucille returned with one more item. She helped Chris into a new, nude colored cincher. Chris winced with pain as the impossibly tight device compressed her waist. She looked back into the mirror and saw she had a perfect, hourglass figure.

        Lucille broke Chris out of her spell when she handed her a fluffy robe to wear. The girl put it on, and the two of them went out front to the salon. Lucille shampooed Chris' now shoulder length hair, and then set him down in a salon chair in front of a mirror. She fetched the picture of Christina Chase and put it up on the mirror as a guide.

        Chris was put though the entire gauntlet. Her fingernails and toenails were manicured and polished. Her eyebrows were teased into pristine arches. Her hair was cut and styled into her old coquettish style, with the exception that it now came down to her shoulder blades. Lucille then went to work on Chris' makeup. It took over an hour, but when they were done, they could see Christina Chase staring back at them in the mirror.

        Christina was in a daze. Lucille let her out of her chair and she carried one of her suitcases into the back room. Christina grabbed her male clothes and looked at them. It now seemed absurd that she'd put them on this morning. She transferred the contents of her pants into a dainty purse, then stuffed her male clothes into her luggage and pulled out a pair of side-tied bikini panties. She pulled her panties up her legs and examined the topless girl in the mirror. She noticed the delicate mound her new lips made in her panties. She covered her breasts with her arms and studied the sexy, but innocent girl.

        Next came the moment of truth. She removed her new charmeuse silk dress and held it in front of her. She stepped into it and pulled the straps over her neck. She zipped up the side and looked in the mirror. It was a flowing pink, floral dress with a halter style strap. The skirt was knee length, and there was a sash attached to the bodice. Christina tied the sash into a bow on the left side of her waist. She was wearing the dress with no bra, though the bodice provided support for her breasts. She looked down the front of her dress and saw her flawless cleavage. She looked back into the mirror; the illusion worked all too well. Christina placed her necklace around her neck, slipped into a pair of pumps, and returned to the front.

        Lucille looked very impressed. "I wish I could take credit for this, but you're a natural beauty, Chris."

        Christina nodded. She was beginning to feel confident about the way she looked. This felt different from when she had been in hiding.

        "There are a few more touches we can make." Lucille led Christina back to her chair. Lucille dabbed a solution on Christina's earlobes and produced a piercing gun. Before Christina could think to protest, she felt the hot needle press though her earlobe. She soon felt the same sensation in the other ear. Christina looked in the mirror and saw that hear ears were adorned with silver studs. Lucille then wrapped a few bracelets around Christina's right wrist.

        The older woman smiled and proclaimed, "Now that's a look."

        Christina glanced at the clock and realized her time was running out. She gathered her things and the two women went to the cash register. Christina felt very uncomfortable standing, dressed as she was, before the display of pleasure devices. It was as if she was taunting them. Lucille rang Christina up and gave her a receipt. She thanked Lucille for all her help as she left the Transformations Boutique.

        Christina could feel electricity where her hairless body came in contact with her dress and her panties. She stepped up onto the sidewalk and placed her bags down on the curb. She could feel the thick, summer air on her bare chest. She raised her slender arm and hailed for a cab. One of the yellow cars screeched to a halt so quickly that Christina jumped backward. A surly looking man jumped out of the cab and lifted her suitcases into the trunk. Christina slid into the back seat and crossed her legs.

        She said, "Bus depot, please," and the car sped into traffic.

        When the cab arrived at the bus station, the driver retrieved Christina's suitcases and insisted on carrying them into the station for her. Christina thanked the cabbie and tipped him handsomely.

        Christina's heels clicked through the empty bus station. It was dark and deserted this time of night. She sat down at an empty bench and looked at the few people who were waiting for busses. Dressed as she was, she felt exposed, and a little frightened. She scanned the terminal looking for a police officer and was disappointed to find there were none present.

        Christina reached into her purse and took out her cell phone. She pressed the speed dial button for the house in Oak Grove and waited patiently. Christina felt relieved when her uncle picked up the phone.

        "Hello?"

        "Hello Uncle Alek," she said.

        "Christina, my girl! Where are you?"

        "I'm in the station waiting for my bus. It should be here in about fifteen minutes I think."

        "I don't like you traveling alone so late at night," he admonished.

        "I don't like it either Uncle Alek, but this way I can spend more time with everyone. Do you think you could maybe stay on the phone with me until my bus gets here?"

        "Certainly, sweetheart," Alek responded warmly.

        The two of them chatted for the next twenty minutes. Christina felt more secure with her uncle on the line. When her bus was announced, she said goodbye to her uncle and walked to the terminal.

        Grateful that her bus was mostly deserted, she was able to find a row where she could sit by herself. She did her best to make herself comfortable, and she closed her eyes as the bus left the station. Christina Chase was on her way home.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Bleary-eyed, Christina looked groggily out of the bus window. Her back was a little stiff from sleeping in the bus seat, but not much more than it would have from sleeping in her own bed. Only the bus' air conditioning system, something Christina's apartment lacked, made the overnight trip more than bearable than it would been had she spent it at home.

        Taking a compact from her purse, she flipped it open and fixed her hair and makeup before putting it back into her bag. Next she dabbed some perfume on her neck and popped a breath mint into her mouth, wishing she'd brought something to snack on. She thought longingly of the cookies she'd left at home, even though she knew they were bad for her figure.

        Christina wasn't sure how much longer it would be until they got to Dover, as she was unfamiliar with the highway. She took the green blur of trees as a positive sign. The morning sun was harsh on her still sleepy eyes, so she put on her sunglasses and gazed out the window. The world felt hyper-real; her senses were consumed with the feelings of her baby soft skin against her airy dress, the intoxicating scent of her own perfume, and the gentle beauty of the wilderness outside. She had shuffled off the gray cocoon of the city and emerged into a world rich with color and sensation.

        At work, or in her apartment, when Christina reflected on her memories of Oak Grove, she'd pictured it as though she was watching some other girl live that life. Now, she was back at the center of that reality. This time it was different, though. She didn't have to worry about keeping any appointments. There was no need to worry what people thought about her. She knew her family loved her, and there would be no awkwardness. She also knew that it was unlikely that anyone would question her gender. It was an empowering notion to feel as beautiful as she looked.

        Christina passed the time by reading copy of Allure magazine that she'd purchased at the bus station. She had wanted to get a copy of Linux Journal, but had realized that it would have looked out of place. Also, the cover of Allure promised the secret of perfect nails. After a month of intensively studying makeup, Christina was actually curious.

        Christina had read nearly half the magazine when the bus arrived in Dover. She grabbed her magazine and her purse and carefully stepped down the stairs in her high heels. She should have added high heels to her girl practice; she was a little uneasy as she went down the steep steps. As she stepped out of the cool bus, the thick summer air enveloped her bare legs and chest.

        She wondered how long she would have to wait for Andrei, but those concerns evaporated when she saw him shuffling nervously at the other end of the terminal. Taking off her sunglasses, Christina smiled as she waved to her cousin, who rushed over. Christina held out her hands for a hug but was surprised when Andrei lifted her off the ground and spun her around.

        Christina giggled, "I missed you too." When Andrei put her back down she whispered, "I have to use the bathroom, could you get my bags?"

        Andrei nodded as he said, "Of course."

        Christina walked through the bus terminal and into the ladies' room. She closed the door of her stall and pulled her panties down. When she reached between her legs, she was startled to find her new false female organs. She'd been wearing her new parts for so long that she'd forgotten they were there. No longer having another option, she sat on the toilet to do her business, forcing herself not to be embarrassed. For the next few days, she was going to think and live like a girl; this was just part of that. When she was done, she cleaned herself between her legs. She realized just how necessary that was for girls; it was a messier proposition than she was used to.

        Christina fussed with herself in the bathroom mirror and brushed her teeth with her finger. Even after the long bus trip, she looked positively radiant. She still did not enjoy being a girl, but she decided if she must be a girl, she would prefer to be beautiful.

        As Christina emerged from the ladies' room, she found Andrei waiting dutifully for her. He handed her a bottle of cold water when she reached him. "Umm," she moaned as she took the bottle and held it against the base of her neck, "You read my mind. I didn't think it would be this hot in the morning."

        Andrei squirmed uncomfortably as Christina twisted off the cap and pressed the head of the bottle against her pink lips. To Andrei, It appeared to be in slow motion. He gawked as a few mouthfuls of water ran through her lips and down her throat.

        Snapping out of it, Andrei took Christina's suitcases and escorted her to the reliable old green pickup truck that waited in the parking lot. Looking through the open passenger-side window, Christina was surprised to see Nina, bent over on her side, sleeping quietly in the morning sun.

        Andrei whispered, "She was so excited; she stayed up all last night."

        Christina looked down at her cousin and smiled.

        "She was exhausted, but she wouldn't let me leave without her," Andrei explained as he got behind the wheel of the truck.

        As Christina slid in next to her cousin, Nina opened her eyes and squinted at the girl sitting next to her. "Christina?" she asked sleepily.

        Christina whispered, "Hi Nina," as she pulled the young girl against her bosom. As Andrei started the truck, and they left for Oak Grove, Christina stroked her cousin's hair and rocked her back to sleep.

        Christina whispered to Andrei, "What time did you leave?"

        "Around six-thirty."

        "I'm sorry you had to get up so early."

        "I don't mind," Andrei shrugged, "I like driving you around."

        "Good," Christina grinned. "I missed my chauffer. What have you been working on in the barn?"

        "Oh," Andrei responded nonchalantly, "A couple of things. I'll show you when we get home."

        Home, Christina thought. It did feel like she was going home. Christina and Andrei talked all the way back to Oak Grove while Nina slept in Christina's arms. Christina asked questions about her aunt and uncle, but there was nothing new to hear. It was reassuring to think that nothing changed on the mountain. It was a relief compared to her frenetic life in the city. She imagined that Oak Grove was a timeless place; Christina pictured that it would be just as she left it. She asked Andrei about Steph, but as usual, Andrei knew nothing.

        When the truck pulled into the gravel driveway, Christina looked at the Levchenko home and the view of the valley behind it, seeing the mountain was as beautiful as ever, now alive with the energy of summer. How many times had Christina visited this place in her mind in the past few months? The mountainside felt far away in her mind, but when Andrei stopped the motor, it was as though Christina had stepped into a dream.

        "Wake up Nina," Christina said as she gently rocked the sleeping girl. "We're home."

        Nina opened her eyes and yawned, looking around to discover she'd been sleeping in her beautiful cousin's lap. She smiled.

        "You slept all the way home." Christina told her.

        Andrei took Christina's suitcases out of the truck and said, "Hurry up, Mom is probably waiting for us."

        As Christina and Nina stepped out of the truck, before she could tell what the brown blur was, Boris had leapt up with his paws on Christina's hips. "Hey Boris," she giggled. Boris was wagging his tail so vigorously that his entire backside was swinging.

        After Nina pulled the dog off her cousin, the girls went in the side door to the kitchen, to find Misha was waiting with breakfast already prepared. She embraced her niece. "Christina," she gushed, "We are so happy you are here!"

        Christina held her tightly as she squealed, "I missed you too, Aunt Misha!"

        Misha pushed her niece out to arms' length and said, "Let me see you."

        Christina stood straight and held her hands in front of her waist.

        "You let your hair grow out, it looks wonderful."

        Christina blushed, enjoying her aunt's praise.

        Misha insisted, "Come, have something to eat."

        Andrei, Christina, Nina, and Misha sat down and enjoyed breakfast. Christina had almost forgotten that other people still ate meals together. Everyone was interested in Christina's life, even though she'd spoken with all of them at least once a week for months.

        After they were done eating, Misha broached an uncomfortable subject for Christina. "Tell me Christina, Is there a man in your life yet?"

        Andrei looked over at Christina and waited for her response.

        "No Aunt Misha," Christina blushed, "I don't have time for that sort of thing."

        "You work too much, dear," Misha patted the girl on her hand. "You should find a nice man."

        Nina offered, "Christina likes someone in Oak Grove, Mom."

        Christina shot her cousin a glance and said through clenched teeth, "That's was supposed to be a secret."

        Misha chuckled, "Who do you have your eye on?"

        Andrei was very interested in the answer as well.

        "Oh it's nothing really ..." Christina cast about for a way to change the subject. "You know, I should really take my things upstairs."

        Christina stood up and went for her bags, but Andrei intercepted her.

        "I'll take these." It was a statement more than an offer. Andrei seized her things and walked her into the living room with Nina following closely behind. Christina glanced around the living room. It was the same as she remembered. The only difference was the pictures. Anastasia's pictures were on the wall with the rest of her family, but Christina noticed that she too was now on the walls.

        The children walked up the stairs to the second floor of the house. Christina exclaimed, "I can't tell you how much I've missed the bed in Anastasia's room. Mine is so hard."

        As Andrei put Christina's bags down in front of the large bedroom's closed door he corrected her, "This isn't Anastasia's room anymore. She's got the whole house. This is your room now."

        Opening the door, he ushered his cousin in. Christina gasped and covered her mouth as she stood in the middle of her new bedroom. The furniture had been rearranged, and the walls had been covered with a fresh coat of lilac paint. The only old piece of furniture that remained was the chest of drawers. Christina marveled at her new four poster bed. The frame was made of elegantly shaped iron, and a white gauze canopy ruffled in the breeze. Christina sat on the bed and savored the way her bottom melted into the mattress. She gasped again and got to her feet when she saw the restored antique vanity against the wall. She sat down at it and traced the carvings in the wood with her hand.

        She turned to Andrei and asked, "This is the old vanity from the barn isn't it?"

        Andrei nodded and said, "Yes, you seemed to like it."

        "I do ..." Christina crossed the room to her cousin. "This must have taken months."

        "Well, I wanted you to feel at home," Andrei blushed. "These are yours now ... Do you like them?"

        Christina threw her arms around her cousin and kissed him on the cheek. "Do I like them?" she asked incredulously, "These are the nicest things I've ever had in my life." She looked up at her cousin and said, "Thank you so much."

        Andrei blushed again, but his smile showed his feelings.

        Christina giggled joyously and threw herself onto her bed. "I am never, ever getting up again!".

        Nina laughed as she plopped down on the bed next to her cousin, only to have Christina leap up and grab her around the waist. "What do you want to do today, Nina?"

        "Let's go swimming," the girl giggled.

        "Okay!" Christina shouted. "I didn't pack a suit though."

        "You could wear one of mine," Nina suggested.

        "I have a better idea," Christina said playfully as she traced circles with her finger on her cousin's belly, "Why don't we go shopping and buy new bathing suits for the both of us!"

        "Really?"

        "Yes, really," Christina responded. "Besides, I still owe you a graduation present. The only thing is, we need someone to drive us into town." Making pouty eyes at Andrei she asked in a mock little girl voice, "Please Andrei?"

        "Sure, of course," Andrei coughed, "Anything you want."

        The two girls giggled, rushing out of the room and down the stairs as Andrei walked slowly after them.

        When Nina announced to her mother that she and Christina were going swimming, Misha went to work making a lunch for the girls and packed it up into a large wicker basket. She added two large towels and some sun block on top, and they were ready to go. Andrei and the girls piled into the truck and headed for town.

        Andrei dropped the girls off in front of Ariel Rose, the store where Christina had met Abby. When the two girls walked in the door causing the bell to jingle, Abby came out from behind the counter. "Well, if it isn't Christina Chase," she said.

        Christina grinned and waved with her fingers.

        "When did you get back into town?"

        "Just this morning. I'm staying for the Fourth."

        "That's great news," Abby remarked. "What brings you by my place?"

        "We need bathing suits," Nina explained, "Both of us."

        Nina and Christina took turns trying on bathing suits. With Christina's new breasts and the feminine shape filling her panties, she was free to try on all manner of suits, thought she didn't try on anything she thought was overly revealing. This was a very different experience than Christina's last visit to the store. Rather than being scared and humiliated, Christina was having the time of her life shopping with her cousin. They tried on dozens of suits before they found ones they liked.

        Nina and Christina stood modeling their suits in front of a mirror when Nina sighed, "I wish things were happening faster for me."

        "What do you mean?" Christina asked.

        Nina shot a glance to the front of the store to make sure Abby was out of earshot before explaining, "I wish I had a chest like yours."

        Christina patted her cousin on the back and said, "Don't worry, you just have to be patient."

        Nina frowned.

        "Honestly," Christina added, "I was flat as a board, and then I got these overnight." Christina made a funny face causing Nina to smile.

        "Yeah, I know, but I want to be ... you know ... noticed."

        "By the boy you like?"

        "Yeah," Nina admitted.

        "Well," Christina consoled, "Any boy that is worth your time is going to like you for more than just what he sees."

        Nina nodded.

        Christina motioned Abby over and whispered in her ear. The older woman nodded in agreement, and went to a pile of swim tops and began rummaging through them. She came back with a top that was similar to the one Nina had on.

        "Try this one sugar," Abby said to the younger girl. Nina went into the changing booth and Abby cast a sly glance at Christina. "I see you've filled out a bit yourself?"

        Christina blushed and said, "I guess so."

        "You must get it from the other side of the family," Abby joked. "The Levchenko girls are all light on top, if you get my meaning."

        Nina came out of the changing room and looked in the mirror. The top she was wearing incorporated an pushup bra that greatly enhanced her bust line. As Nina held Christina's hand and smiled, Christina asked, "Is this one better?"

        "Yes ... much."

        Nina picked out a floral bikini bottom to go with the push up top. Not wanting to take too many chances, Christina had selected a pink tankini. The top was cropped, exposing her new girlish curves, and the halter style straps exposed just enough of her breasts to leave no confusion about her gender. The shopping now complete, Christina and Nina got dressed, and Christina paid for their new clothes.

        On the way out of Abby's store, Christina turned to Nina and asked, "Let's go see Steph before we go, okay?"

        "You want to get your hair done?" Nina asked, somewhat surprised.

        "No," Christina grinned, "I just want to be friendly."

        When Nina nodded, and the two of them headed directly for Steph's salon. Christina strutted confidently down Main Street in her charmeuse dress and heels. She no longer felt scared waking through town; she was a sexy young woman and she knew it. She saw it in the face of every man and boy she passed. While she didn't appreciate their hopeful stares, their looks and the bouncing of her own breasts gave her a sense of confidence.

        That feeling was cut short when she entered Steph's salon. Steph was working on some woman's hair and Christina focused on the girl as the rest of the world faded away, her boldness giving way to the butterflies that had set up shop in her stomach. Christina went up to the counter and waited patiently. She couldn't take her eyes off Steph's body as she worked her magic on the woman in the chair. As Christina's eyes lingered on the curve of Steph's backside, she felt her penis struggle against its confinement to no avail.

        Steph saw the girls at the counter and told her client she would be right back. She rushed up front and joked, "Check it out- Nina, and the famous, Miss Christina Chase."

        Christina blushed furiously, so happy to see Steph again that she didn't even bother with the fact that Steph regarded her as a girl.

        "You little slut," Steph squawked in mock accusation, "You let some other girl do your hair!"

        Christina stammered, "Well, I-"

        "It looks good," Steph concluded. "I mean, not everyone can do the job I do, but still ... not too shabby."

        "I'm in town for the Fourth," Christina stumbled, "And I ... that is, we ... we were wondering ... Do you want to come see the fireworks with us tomorrow night?"

        Steph leaned against the counter as whispered, "Is Andrei going to be there?"

        Christina's hopes were deflated and she mumbled, "Yeah, I guess he'll be there too-"

        "Well girl, you know I'm not gonna miss that." Steph did a victory spin on her heels. She looked back at the girls and said, "Yeah, I'll meet you there. I can't talk now though, I have my masterworks to complete." Steph pointed her thumb over her shoulder to the woman in the chair.

        "Okay then," Christina conceded, "We'll see you tomorrow."

        Christina stood there, dejected, until Nina grabbed her by the hand. "Come on, let's go," She said as she dragged her cousin out of the salon. They started back down Main Street, but Nina took Christina down a side road that led out of town. They walked downhill on the old dirt road for about two miles until they were surrounded on both sides by trees and nothing else.

        Nina scampered down a narrow path through the trees and called, "This way," to her cousin.

        Christina followed Nina down the forest path to a clearing. She looked around the field and saw that the mountain range continued across the horizon. In the middle of the clearing was a large, calm lake with a wooden dock floating in the middle. She still couldn't understand how people could ever get used to seeing those mountains every day. It was something she would never take for granted.

        Nina put their things down on the shore and began to undress. Christina no longer felt uncomfortable by her cousin's nudity now that she was just one of the girls. She took off her dress and draped it gingerly on the limb of a tree. She looked around nervously. Living in the city made it almost impossible to accept that any plot of land was secluded. When she was certain they were alone, she took off her panties and cincher and slipped into her new tankini.

        Nina put sun block on her legs and handed the bottle to Christina. She covered her legs as well, then rubbed some on her cousin's back. Nina returned the favor before the girls waded into the cool water and swam around the pond. After they had been to each end twice, they swam to the middle and sat on the dock. They dangled their feet into the water and relaxed.

        Christina asked, "I'm hungry, how about you?"

        "Yeah."

        "Race you to the shore?" Christina tossed her long blonde hair to the side.

        Nina answered by diving into the water. Christina leaped in after her and trailed her to the beach.

        "Hey!" Christina shouted playfully as she tickled her cousin, "What ever happened to ready-set-go?"

        Nina laughed hysterically and shouted, "Stop it!"

        Christina released her cousin and set up their blankets on the shore. The girls sat down and took the sandwiches that Misha had made for them out of the basket.

        "So the boy you like ... David ... Has he asked you out yet?" Christina asked coyly.

        Nina sighed dreamily as she thought of the boy, but frowned as she explained, "He doesn't even know I'm alive."

        "Hasn't he seen you around school at least?"

        "No," Nina grimaced, "He's already in high school."

        "Then how do you know him?"

        "You know how I go to the high school twice a week for my advanced math class?"

        "Oh, I got it," Christina grinned. "Well, you're starting high school in September. You'll be around all the time then."

        "I know, but he'll be a senior. He's never going to be interested in me. Besides, everyone already has boyfriends by the time summer is over. It's going to be too late by the time school starts."

        Christina nodded, remembering the tough transition from junior high to high school. "Well, we could find him tomorrow and see if he wants to watch the fireworks with us."

        Nina perked up. "Do you think so? I mean, you don't think he's already going with someone?"

        "I don't know Nina, but you're never going to find out unless you take a chance."

        "I guess you're right, but what if he doesn't like me?" Nina whined, "What if he says no?"

        Christina held Nina's hands and explained, "The boys you like aren't always going to like you back, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, understand? You just have to take your chances, and when a boy comes along that's right for you, you'll feel it."

        Nina nodded and went back to nibbling her sandwich. She was so grateful to have her older cousin around to talk to. "What about the boy you like?" Nina asked.

        "The one I like ..." Christina dreamed, "The person I like is perfect."

        "What's his name?"

        Christina strategically dismissed that question. "That's not important. What matters is that he's just right for me. His eyes, his smile ... his chest ..."

        "Does he have one of those broad, muscular chests?"

        "Not exactly," Christina laughed, "But I promise you, the person I like has the word's most perfect-" Christina almost uttered the word "ass" in front of her younger cousin, but said, "-butt," instead.

        Nina insisted, "You should invite him to the fireworks too."

        "Don't worry," Christina assured her cousin, "I've already got it covered."

        "When you think about the boy you like," Nina asked, "Do you wonder what it would be like to kiss him?"

        "Yeah," Christina grinned. "Kissing feels nice. Especially when you really like the person who's kissing you."

        "Have you ever let a boy kiss you with his tongue?"

        "You only do that when you really know the person, and you like each other a lot."

        "It sounds kinda gross."

        "Well ... yeah ... I guess it can sound that way, but when a someone touches your lips with their tongue, or sometimes if they put their tongue in your mouth, it can feel really good. It kinda makes your lips feel tingly and nice."

        "Do you want the boy you like to kiss you like that?"

        "Maybe!" Christina laughed. She got serious for a moment and explained, "Kissing boys can feel really good, but just remember, don't let it go any farther than that. Boys will keep pushing and pushing."

        Nina nodded. "Don't worry, I'm going to wait just like you."

        Christina raised an eyebrow and then remembered her pledge of virginity to her Aunt. Christina had made love to Amy before, but she comically rationalized her promise in that she never would have sex with a man.

        Nina sat and thought about her older cousin's advice and then looked at the sun sinking in the sky. "We should leave now if we're going to get back in time for dinner."

        Christina responded, "I've got a better idea." Taking her cell phone out of her purse, she phoned home. When Misha answered, Christina asked for Andrei.

        "Andrei, my dear," she began in a sweet voice, while batting her eyelashes at Nina, "Could you do me a super-big favor and pick us up?" Nina giggled at her cousin's game.

        Andrei cleared his throat and answered, "Of course, where are you?"

        She responded, "Nina took us to a little pond outside of town, do you know where that is?"

        "Yeah, I'll be there right away."

        Christina made a thumbs up at Nina, "Take your time. We'll be waiting."

        When Christina hung up her phone, the two girls giggled in unison. Christina jumped up and shouted, "Let's race back to the dock while we're waiting."

        Nina got up and said, "Okay."

        Christina pointed a finger at the girl and stated, "This time it's going to be fair, so you count out, one-two-three, got it?"

        Nina nodded and started, "One-" but stopped counting as she saw Christina charge into the lake. Nina ran in after her and they swam back to the floating dock.

        The girls were sitting on the dock talking about the new clothes Christina had bought for her trip when Andrei came down the short forest path. He waved to the girls and stood patiently as they swam to shore. Andrei watched in awe as Christina emerged from the pond. Her smooth, curvy body was dripping with water. He tried not to stare at her nipples as they poked through the front of her top.

        Turning around, Andrei gathered their things, grateful he had the wicker basket to obscure the excitement in his jeans. "I'll turn around while you two get dressed," he offered.

        "Ugh," Nina complained, "It's too hot. Let's just go home like this."

        Christina nodded, "Yeah, good idea. Just let me get my dress."

        Andrei turned around and watched his cousin's bosom rise and fall as she glided to the tree branch to retrieve her dress. Walking up to him, she folded her dress onto the pile of things in his hands, smiled at him and said, "Thanks for coming to get us. I know you're busy."

        Andrei grinned sheepishly and said, "I'm never too busy for you ... And Nina. You and Nina."

        As the two girls stepped carefully down the path with their bare feet, Andrei tried to look away, but he couldn't take his eyes off Christina's butt and the way her bikini bottom was deliciously working its way between the girl's cheeks. He reached his hand out, reasoning that the polite thing to do was to straighten it out for her, then jerked his arm back as he came to his senses. Christina was his cousin. He repeated that over and again in his mind.

        When they got to the truck, Andrei loaded everything into the back and Christina rearranged her bikini by sliding her thumbs down the back. The girls hopped into the truck and yelped as the hot seats came in contact with their barely covered bottoms. Andrei retrieved the towels from the back and the girls got out while he draped them over the seat. After the two girls hopped into the truck, Andrei drove them back into town.

        Andrei stopped the truck at the grocery store, and the three of them got out. The girls wrapped their towels around their waists and followed Andrei into the closed store.

        Andrei called out into the darkness to his father, "Are you ready yet Dad?"

        Alek came out from the back and answered, "Yes, I just finished closing."

        When he saw Christina and Nina standing there with expectant smiles, he threw his hands up and proclaimed, "Christina! You are here!"

        Christina giggled girlishly and answered, "Hello, Uncle Alek."

        He walked out from behind the counter and surveyed his girls. "What are you wearing?" he asked.

        As Christina and Nina opened their towels and modeled their new bathing suits for Alek, Andrei turned away and fiddled with some cans on a shelf.

        Nina chimed in, "Christina got us bathing suits so we could go swimming today."

        "I see this," Alek said. "Nina, tell me no one saw you in that, or your mother will have us all killed."

        "Don't worry," she laughed, "We were all alone. Except for Andrei."

        "I just picked them up," Andrei sputtered guiltily. He went back to fiddling with the cans when he realized his confession was out of place.

        "The both of you look beautiful," Alek said warmly.

        Christina embraced her uncle and squealed, "I missed you so much, Uncle Alek." Christina hadn't really realized just how much she had missed her uncle until that moment.

        Alek escorted his girls out to the truck with Andrei lagging behind, watching his cousin's butt again, though he knew it was very wrong. Rather than sit too close to Christina, Andrei jumped into the back of the truck, where he counted streetlights, trees, stray cats, and anything else to occupy his mind on the ride home.

        When they got back to the house, Alek and Andrei went in the side door and the girls sneaked in the front. They ran upstairs and slipped out of their suits. Christina threw on a pair of shorts and a tank top. Nina, as usual, wore a long skirt. Though they didn't bother with any makeup, they dried their hair before heading back downstairs.

        The entire family was reunited around the dinner table. They talked all through dinner and Christina felt as though she'd never left. It was even better than the last time; she now felt completely integrated into the family.

        After dinner, Nina and Christina ran back upstairs. Christina grabbed some clothes from her suitcases and the girls went into Nina's bedroom. She told Nina to get her green babydoll. Christina ruffled through her new clothes and showed her cousin her new light blue, silk nightie. The girls got undressed and into their bed clothes. Christina's new nightie fell to just below her thighs. It was slightly transparent; her v-string panties could be seen through the material. It had a wide neck that exposed her new cleavage, and the shoulder straps were adorned with ruffles and rosettes. Once they were dressed, Christina styled her cousin's hair. She let Nina play with hers, and Nina laced her cousin's long blonde hair into two large pigtails with blue bows on the ends. The girls spent most of the night singing and dancing along with Nina's favorite music and talking about David and Christina's mystery boy.

        When it became very late, Christina said, "Come on, let's sleep in my new bed." The girls left Nina's room and stopped at the bathroom. It was occupied, and Christina was ready to wait patiently. Nina, however, knocked loudly on the door.

        "Okay! Okay! I'm almost done," Andrei complained. He opened the door and was struck dumb by the sight of Christina in her sheer silk baby doll and pig tails. It was perverse, Andrei thought. This is exactly how he would have dressed his cousin in his mind if he only had that good of an imagination.

        The girls charged into the bathroom around both sides of him and closed the door. Andrei pressed his fingers against his forehead as he attempted to will his massive erection into subsiding. Giving up, he fled to his room.

        Christina and Nina took turns using the toilet and washing off their makeup. After they finished brushing their teeth, they retired to Christina's room and got into bed. As they lay in bed, Christina reflected on the day. It wasn't exactly her first choice for a vacation, but she knew it had been a perfect day for Nina. That's all that mattered. She'd erased the stain of Nina's missed graduation and all it had taken was one day of acting like a giggling, teenaged girl. The truth was, after all the weeks of preparation, planning, and worrying, the actual day had turned out to be a lot of fun. She'd worked so hard to learn all the things a girl ought to know so she could be a big sister to Nina, but sharing all those things with her younger cousin made it all worth while. As Christina lay in bed next to Nina, she wondered if she'd ever felt so close to anyone before in her entire life.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Nina was the first one awake, and she shook Christina by the shoulder.

        "Come on, we have to get ready," Nina scurried towards the door.

        Christina sat up in bed, "Get ready for what?"

        "It's Sunday," Nina shouted as she rounded the corner. "We have to get ready for church."

        "Church?" Christina repeated to herself. She couldn't think of a time she'd been in a church that wasn't for a wedding or a funeral. She jumped out of bed and chased after Nina. "What do you mean church?"

        "We go to church every Sunday."

        "Church ... Well, what should I wear?"

        "Just wear something nice. And reserved."

        "Right, okay. Nice and reserved. Mind if I use the bathroom first?"

        Nina shook her head and the girls began the morning.

        Two hours later, the family arrived at church. Christina had selected a full length, floral gown, hoping that it wouldn't look out of place. As she walked across the church parking lot, she studied all the other girls. It seemed as if she made the right choice; all the girls were wearing dresses not unlike her own. It looked as if the entire town came out on Sundays. Then it dawned on Christina; all the people, the families, the children, the old people- they were all looking at her. Christina remembered that Oak Grove loved a good rumor. Certainly, the entire town had heard about her last time she had been here, but this was the first real opportunity most of them'd had to see Christina Chase with their own eyes.

        Christina held tightly onto her uncle's arm as he escorted her and the rest of the family to their pew. But she stared at the floor, aware that all eyes were on her. It was too much attention for her to handle. She grabbed Andrei and had him sit by her side. Flanked by her uncle on her left and her older cousin on her right, she felt as though she had some protection from the curious gazes.

        The church service was very awkward for Christina. It was as though she were in a play, and she'd never seen the script. Everyone else knew when to stand, when to sit, and when to speak. She knew she was being watched, and she feared that everyone would notice just how lost she was. She could imagine them gossiping in Steph's Salon, "Did you see Christina Chase in church today? The poor girl must have been raised a heathen."

        After a while, she couldn't help but look around nervously. She expected to be confronted with a sea of disapproving faces, but that's not what she saw. By and large, no one seemed to be paying any attention to her clumsiness. What was more disturbing were the men and the boys. They were watching her, and they didn't seem at all interested in the fact that she didn't know what she was doing. Christina tried to focus on the minister, but all she could think about were the stares burning into the back of her head like dozens of snipers' lasers.

        She looked around again, and one man in particular caught her attention. Most of the men were simply looking, but the man in the back was actively laughing at her. He took notice of each missed cue. When the entire assembly spoke a prayer, Christina pretended to speak by mouthing nonsense words. She looked back at the man. Not only did he notice, he was mocking her by opening and closing his mouth with exaggerated movements. Christina shot him a burning glance and mouthed, "Stop that!"

        The man laughed and mouthed back, "Make me."

        Christina glared furiously at the man, and then she realized that she had met him before. It was Richard Masters- the man who cornered her in Arnold's Electronics store. Christina turned her back to him and ignored him for the rest of the service.

        When the service was over, Christina looked back and saw he was still there, and he was still looking at her. She grabbed Andrei's hand and whispered into his ear, "There's a strange man watching me in the back of the church. Don't leave me alone, okay?"

        Andrei whispered back, "Don't worry, I won't leave your side."

        When everyone in the church stood up and walked to the lobby. Christina clung to Andrei's thick arm as though it was a life preserver, and she was lost at sea. She was horrified when everyone stopped in the entranceway to chat. Women came up to Misha in droves, each wanting to be introduced to her niece from out of town. Christina had to stand there graciously as Misha received every woman who had a single son between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. She dutifully played her part, though she cringed inside every time her aunt referred to her as a secretary or confirmed that she was single. Christina saw that Richard was leaning against the wall on the far end of the room, and he took great amusement in her predicament. She shot him threatening looks, but it only made the man laugh. It seemed there was nothing she could do to discourage him that the man didn't interpret as flirtation. She stood trapped, with red cheeks, as she avoided Richard, and her aunt sized up her potential suitors.

        By the time the family left the church, Christina was sure she had met everyone in town. Thankfully, Richard had disappeared. It was the only lucky break Christina had all morning. Still, she clutched Andrei's hand and scanned the parking lot nervously as they walked to the truck.

        When the family returned home, Andrei retired to the barn and Alek went to the master bedroom to change out of his church clothes. Misha and her girls went to the kitchen. Misha had been giving Christina recipes during their weekly phone calls, and she decided that now was as good a time as any to give Christina a proper lesson.

        "Today we are going to make cherry pie for the holidays. Do you know how to bake a pie?" Misha asked her niece.

        Christina shrugged, "I only know how to make pancakes and spaghetti."

        "Today you are going to learn, and tomorrow you can help me with dinner."

        Christina nodded and watched as Misha laid the ingredients on the table.

        Misha added, "Cooking is a very important skill; someday it will help you keep your husband happy."

        Christina's face flushed, but she played along, saying, "Yes Aunt Misha."

        Misha had Nina demonstrate how to measure and mix the primary ingredients in a large bowl. Without looking up from her daughter's work, Misha said, "You know, there were a lot of young men in town who would be interested in getting to know you better."

        "Oh ... they all seemed very nice," Christina chuckled uncomfortably, "But I'm really focusing on my career right now. I don't think I'm ready to settle down."

        "You say that now dear, but your outlook will change when you meet a man who interests you. You will want to settle down and start a family."

        Nina spoke up, "I'm all done, Mom."

        "Good Nina, just let it sit for a while. You know Christina," Misha said as she turned her direction back to her niece, "With a man to take care of you, you would not have to work so much."

        "I know, Aunt Misha." Christina resigned herself to the real lesson, which was about finding a man and getting married. "I do want to get married, but I want to do a lot of things before I find the right person."

        "You can't plan your life according to a calendar, child. You need to seize your opportunities when they present themselves." Misha looked to her daughter and said, "Nina, show your cousin how to turn out the crust."

        Nina demonstrated for Christina, who then took over the job.

        "Mom, Christina already has a special somebody she likes."

        That piqued Misha's curiosity. "That's right, you mentioned that there was a man in town you had your eye on?"

        Christina loved Nina dearly, but the girl had a knack for sharing the wrong information at the wrong times. "Yeah ... it's just a crush really," Christina acknowledged uncomfortably.

        Misha corrected the girls as they finished their crusts. "Was this crush of yours at church today? I might know his mother. I could arrange a date."

        Christina wasn't sure how much of this talk she could take. "There certainly wasn't any man I was interested in at church today."

        Misha next instructed the girls to fill the pies with the cherry filling.

        Nina added, "He's coming to the fireworks tonight."

        "Oh," Misha said as she smiled coyly at her niece, "I see you have the situation well in hand."

        "I suppose I do," Christina laughed nervously before trying to change the subject. "Nina has a boy she likes, too. I think maybe she's getting old enough to go on a date?"

        Nina looked at her mother hopefully.

        "No," Misha answered, "Nina is still a baby."

        The girls were only separated by five years. Christina was unsure why Nina was too young to date, while Misha was desperately trying to marry Christina off to any man she could get her hands on. "You know," Christina attempted, "I was about Nina's age when I started dating."

        Misha gave Christina a look that indicated she wasn't convinced.

        "Of course, my mother had to approve of him first, and we went out with a whole group of people."

        "Maybe ..." Misha said, beginning to crack, "I still say you are too young Nina, but I will think about it."

        Nina, whose back was to her mother, grinned at her cousin as she and Christina finished preparing their pies. Misha lifted the pie sheet and placed it in the oven. She set a timer and said, "And now we wait for an hour."

 

        The girls grew increasingly excited as the sun edged across the sky. Christina couldn't wait to see Steph tonight, and Nina was hopeful that David would finally notice her. With the freshly baked pies cooling in the kitchen, and Nina's chores completed, it was time to get ready for their big night. The girls scurried into Nina's room and went through her closet.

        "I don't know what I should wear," Nina balked.

        "Nina," Christina admonished, "David will like you no matter what you wear, I'm sure of it."

        "But I want to look my best," the girl complained.

        "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

        Christina had learned a great deal about girls' fashion from her studies. She had an even better grasp of what attracted high school boys, having been one. As Christina flicked through Nina's closet, it became obvious that her cousin didn't own a single pair of jeans. Giving up on that prospect, she settled on a long white skirt and a green halter top.

        "Come on," Christina smiled as she took Nina by the hand and led her to her own bedroom where she had her change into the clothes. Then she sat Nina down at the vanity and went to work on her face. Christina knew she was breaking the rules by using some of her cosmetics on Nina, but she was willing to risk it. Nina sat patiently as her older cousin gave her a new, ever so slightly seductive look.

        "Just a few more fine touches," Christina said, producing a small vial and spraying a smidgen of perfume onto her cousin's chest. Reaching around the back of her neck, she removed her necklace. She draped it around Nina's and secured it. "This is the most important thing in the world to me," Christina said, "Except for you." Christina smiled into the mirror at her cousin.

        "You're going to let me wear it?" Nina asked.

        "Yes. You can borrow it for tonight. It has special powers that make boys fall madly in love."

        "You should wear it so your boy falls in love with you."

        Christina sighed. She wasn't sure what she expected from this evening. Steph was clearly not interested in girls, and Christina was not quite a boy. She said, "I don't know if it can help me, Nina."

        Nina and Christina went to work selecting an outfit for Christina. Christina was in uncharted territory. She knew how to get ready for a date with a girl, but only when she was expected to show up as a boy. Unsure of what else to do, she resigned herself to making herself look the best she could.

        The girls settled on a flared light blue miniskirt with a floral print. Christina slid it up over her panties and positioned it so the yellow bow trim hung off the side of her hip. She put on a wide necked top that showcased her slender neck and thin shoulders. Its capped sleeves left nearly all of her arms exposed. Slipping into a pair of sandals, she sat at her vanity, where she labored for over forty minutes while Nina watched with great curiosity. When she was finished, she'd produced a finely orchestrated "natural" look. Her outfit was completed with a different perfume than she used on Nina.

        The girls stood in front of the full length mirror and admired their work. Satisfied, the girls rushed downstairs. When they got outside, they saw that Andrei was loading folding chairs into the back of the truck. He too seemed oddly excited.

        Christina walked up behind Andrei and asked, "Andrei, could you please add two more chairs?"

        A frown spread across his face. "Why? Did you invite someone?"

        "Just Steph, and maybe a friend of Nina's."

        Andrei sighed in relief. "No problem," he said, as he lifted two more chairs into the back. The girls sat in the truck and waited for Andrei to finish. When everything was ready, the three of them drove off to the high school.

 

        Andrei insisted on carrying all five folding chairs across the field. Nina decided that she wanted to sit up front, so it was going to be a long walk to the far side. Christina offered to carry something, but Andrei refused, not wanting to appear weak to his cousin.

        "Looks like the gang's all here," chirped a familiar voice, as Steph walked up beside them. She was wearing jeans shorts and an orange plaid shirt that was tied in a knot below her breasts. It served the dual purpose of displaying her chest and exposing her midriff. It was an obvious play for Andrei's attention, but it worked only on Christina. Christina tried not to stare at Steph's delicious body. Just the sight of Steph caused Christina's penis to swell painfully, but the confinement of her artificial sex refused to let it progress.

        "Andrei," Steph purred seductively, "You sure don't have any problems carrying all that stuff."

        Andrei took the opportunity to flex his muscles in front of his cousin. "This is nothing," he announced proudly.

        When they arrived at the front of the field, Andrei laid out a large blanket and arranged the chairs in a row. Christina sat on the left end of the row and hoped that Steph would sit next to her. Her hopes were dashed when Andrei took that seat. Steph slid in next to Andrei and Nina took the other end.

        Christina needed to do something to shake up the seating arrangements. She touched Andrei on the wrist and said, "Andrei, could you be a sweetheart and get me a hot dog and a bottled water?" Christina motioned to the concession stand, which was all the way back at the other side of the field.

        "Sure," Andrei said enthusiastically as he rose to his feet. "Does anyone else want anything?"

        Nina said, "Maybe just something to drink."

        Steph jumped up and said, "You know, I have to think that one over. Let's figure it out on the way."

        Christina frowned as Steph accompanied Andrei across the field. Steph shot a happy look back at Christina and gave her a thumbs up. Christina smiled back, but she was dying inside. She was in the most beautiful place in the entire world, with the girl of her dreams, and her job was apparently to fix her up with someone else.

        "I'm going to look around and see if David's here," Nina said as she got up. Christina nodded, and Nina shuffled off nervously about the field.

        Christina sat alone in her reclining chair and fumed. "That's right," she muttered to herself, "Don't stay here ... go off with Andrei." hearing the annoying buzz of mosquitoes in the air, she took out a tube of Avon Skin So Soft from a bag, squirted the lotion into her hands and spread it on her arms. "Go off with Andrei ... who doesn't even LIKE you," she complained. Christina arched her left leg and began working the lotion into it.

        "Hello," said a suave, male voice. "It's Christina, isn't it?"

        Christina looked up and saw a tall and handsome man wearing a suit and dark sun glasses, his jacket draped casually over his shoulder. It was Richard Masters, the attorney that had cornered- no accosted her in the electronics store during her fist visit to Oak Grove.

        "Hello," Christina replied curtly as she continued on her legs. It would be clear to anyone that the meaning of the word, as Christina said it, meant, "Go away."

        Richard continued undaunted. "My name is Richard. I saw you sitting here alone, and I thought you might want some company."

        Christina ignored the man and continued rubbing lotion on her legs.

        Richard added, "I always come for the fireworks." The man glanced down at Christina's long legs and remarked, "Some years the show is better than others."

        Christina turned flush and immediately stopped massaging her legs.

        "You may not recall, but we met in Arnold's a few months ago," he pressed.

        "Yes I remember. I also remember that you made fun of me all morning." Christina shot him a fiery glance which only caused the man to laugh.

        "I'm sorry," he said, "It was just funny that the most beautiful girl in the building didn't know any of the rules."

        "Well, I'm not from around here," Christina retorted angrily.

        "I know. You're Christina Chase, the Levchenkos' long lost cousin. You're a very successful secretary in the big city, and you're single."

        "How did you-"

        "it's a small town, and in my profession, it pays to know as much as you can."

        "Well you got it wrong. I have a boyfriend."

        "Really, what's the lucky man's name?"

        Christina was taken aback by the interrogation. "His name is ... Scott."

        "What does he do for a living?"

        "Um ... advertising."

        "And you've been seeing him for ..."

        "Over two years!"

         "Sounds pretty serious," Richard grinned.

        "It is!" Christina protested.

        "I'm sure it is," Richard joked, "Only a fool wouldn't be serious about you. Tell me, what color are his eyes?"

         "His eyes are ..." Christina froze.

        Richard bent down until his head was level with Christina's. He took off his sunglasses and locked Christina in his piercing gaze. "The next time you invent a boyfriend," Richard said confidently, "Remember that his eyes are brown."

        Christina stared, horrified, into Richard's deep brown eyes. "Thanks for the tip," she said nervously. "Well, it was nice of you to stop by, but my cousin ... my very large cousin ... will be back soon." Christina looked around for Andrei, but he was nowhere to be seen.

        "I don't mind keeping you company until your cousin comes back."

        "You don't have to do that," Christina fluttered as she reached her hand to her chest to hold her necklace. As her palm touched her bare chest, she remembered that she'd loaned her necklace to Nina.

        "How long are you in town?" The man was relentless.

        "Just a few days." Christina tried to look away from Richard's stare, but it was no good. She felt naked and vulnerable, just as she had in the electronics store.

        "Let me take you out before you leave. I can promise you an evening you won't forget."

        Christina started to shake a bit. Misha had taught her some ways of deflecting the attention of men, but defending against Richard was more than she could handle.

        "No, thank you," Christina said sheepishly. "I need to spend time with my family."

        Richard was unfazed. "I can take you out for lunch some time."

        "No, I-"

        "Then we can go out to dinner."

        "Do you know what the word 'no' means?" Christina meant that remark to be backed with definite force, but the words slipped fearfully from her mouth.

        Richard stood up and laughed heartily. "'No' is just a sound people make until they eventually give in and agree with you."

        Christina stared up into Richard's chiseled face. What the hell could she say to make this man leave her alone?

        "So how about it?" Richard asked assuredly.

        Christina was relieved when she heard an unfamiliar voice from behind say, "Hey Mr. Masters." That seemed to break Richard's stare and Christina finally exhaled. Nina had returned, and she'd brought a boy with her.

        "David," Richard said in a far less intense tone of voice, "Tell your father to stop by the office tomorrow afternoon. I have some papers for him to sign."

        Christina looked over and saw Nina standing awkwardly next to a cute teenaged boy. She was obviously taken with him, and Christina could taste how self-conscious the girl felt.

        "Nina," Christina said, "Come sit down next to me." Nina took the chair next to Christina, and David sat down next to Nina on the other side.

        Richard turned his attention back to Christina, but before he could resume his assault, Steph said, "Good evening, Mr. Bond."

        Steph and Andrei were finally back. Christina had never been so thrilled to see Andrei in her entire life as he stood menacingly behind his cousin, never taking his eyes off Richard.

        Recognizing that his attempt had failed, Richard conceded, "I suppose I'll leave you to enjoy the show." There was still a confidence in the man's voice that told Christina this would not be the last time she had to deal with him.

        Andrei continued to stare Richard down as he turned his back and walked away. Then he noticed that Nina had taken his seat next to Christina, and he grumbled. Steph was delighted as she and Andrei took their seats on the other end of the row of chairs.

        Nina asked her cousin, "Is that the man you like?"

        Andrei looked over nervously.

        "No!" Christina snarled. "Absolutely not. I HATE that guy."

        Andrei sighed in relief as he passed Christina's bottled water and hot dog down to her.

        Steph joked, "Tall, handsome, rich ... what's not to hate?" Steph looked at Andrei, desperate for some attention. "Yeah ... the kinda guys I like are big ... usually quiet ..." It was no good. Andrei didn't even notice her.

        As Christina took her food, she leaned over in her chair. "You look really amazing tonight," she called to Steph.

        "Thanks," Steph said. "Hey Andrei, what do you think?"

        Andrei turned around and asked, "About what?"

        "Nothing," Steph frowned.

        Andrei immediately turned his attention back to Christina. He called to her, "I didn't know what you wanted on your hot dog, so I had them put everything on it."

        "Yeah it's fine," Christina answered. "What did you get, Steph?"

        "Same here, Blondie. Andrei was nice enough to pay for mine." She nudged Andrei with her elbow and purred, "I'll have to find a way of paying you back later."

        He waved his hand and dismissed, "Don't worry about it."

        Christina groaned in frustration. Not only could she not keep up a conversation with Steph with everyone sitting between them, she could barely see her. Sitting back in her folding chair, she uncapped her bottled water. She took a swig and went for her hot dog.

        Andrei watched as Christina lifted the hot dog to her mouth. It seemed to him that it took minutes for her graceful arm to lift the hot dog to her lips. His mouth went dry as he saw Christina's lips part and the head of the hot dog press slowly into her mouth. The sight of it all was having a terrible effect on him.

        When Christina bit down, bits of relish and mustard rubbed on the side of her mouth. Andrei began to sweat when Christina pulled the hot dog away from her lips. She wiped the condiments from her face with a single, slender finger and then placed that finger into her mouth. Andrei gulped when Christina sucked on her finger then pulled it back out of her pressed lips, completely cleaned.

        "Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Steph muttered. She could tell exactly what Andrei was looking at as she took her own hot dog and took a bite out of it. Her intent was to be seductive, but it came off more as desperate. It didn't matter; Andrei hadn't taken his eyes off his cousin for an instant. Steph pulled the hot dog out of the bun and slid it in and out of her mouth a few times, just to see whether she could provoke a reaction from anyone. Not even Nina or David saw it. She flicked the hot dog into the field and complained, "Come on!"

        "What's that?" Andrei asked, as he finally looked at Steph.

        "Come on ... and start the show already. It seems like every year, they make us wait a little longer."

        "Yeah I guess."

        "So, Andrei-" Steph started, but it was too late. Andrei was already looking back at his cousin.

        Having given up on Steph, Christina focused on Nina. She sized up David and wasn't quite sure what to make of him. He was cute, Nina was right about that. However, Christina was worried that perhaps the boy was too old for her cousin. Christina's stomach squirmed on Nina's behalf as she eavesdropped on their conversation. Her younger cousin was painfully shy around the boy. Things got easier for the girl as the sun crept below the horizon. Nina was beginning to relax, and once the fireworks display started, there was no further need for awkward small talk.

        Christina looked longingly at Steph as the artificial star bursts illuminated the sky in bold flashes. In retrospect, she wasn't sure why she thought this was a good idea. Obviously, she couldn't make a play for Steph while she was a girl. Still, the hope that she could have a spent one evening with her was dashed. In the brief moments of light, Christina also noticed that Nina was holding hands with David. At least someone was having a good night, she thought.

        When the fireworks ended, the town applauded, and began to clean up. The five of them got up and Andrei began folding the chairs.

        David smiled at Nina and said, "I really should get back to Pete and the others."

        Nina stood expectantly, with her arms folded behind her back and nodded.

        "Hey," David began, "You and I should catch a movie tomorrow night."

        Steph elbowed Andrei and joked, "A boy asking a girl out ... what will they think of next?" Steph arched her back in a mock yawn. It was another attempt to get Andrei to notice her assets, but it was no good.

        "Nina is not allowed to date," Andrei stated definitively.

        Christina saw the brokenhearted look on Nina's face and insisted, "Nina would love to go."

        Nina looked back at Christina and bit her lower lip.

        "I'll work it out," Christina promised.

        Nina turned back to David and said, "Okay. I'd like that a lot."

        Nina and David exchanged phone numbers, and the boy jogged off into the night.

        "Well at least one of us got lucky," Steph sighed. "Well buckaroos, I should hit the trail. Monday is a big day at the shop, and someone's got to keep the town lookin' good."

        She shot Christina a depressed glance, and Christina shrugged in response. Andrei is a fool, Christina thought. Only a fool can't tell when someone wants them. As Steph walked off into the night, alone, Christina wanted to go after her, but what was the use?

        Andrei loaded up all the gear into his powerful arms, and he, Nina, and Christina walked back to the truck. Christina was disappointed that the night hadn't gone better. She'd hardly gotten to see Steph, and who knew when she would have another opportunity to spend time with her. Christina almost felt sad that Steph didn't get Andrei, either. She didn't want to share Steph, but she would have done anything to not have seen the girl's downtrodden expression as she left for the night. Nina, however, was walking on air. She didn't know how Christina was going to convince her mother to let her see David, but at that moment, she thought her older cousin could make anything happen.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        The next day felt like housewife boot camp to Christina. Misha had expanded the morning's cooking lesson to include all manner of domestic activities. Misha knew of Christina's rocky relationship with her mother and concluded that it was now her responsibility to prepare her niece for married life. Christina spent a good portion of the day in an apron, learning the proper ways to cook, clean, and do laundry. The truth was, Christina didn't mind doing "women's work." In fact, everything her aunt taught her would come in handy back home. What she objected to was the implication that she would need the information to tend house for some man. Still, she did not want to insult her aunt, so she played along. Nina was by her side the entire time, waiting for Christina to broach the subject of her date with David.

        After a lesson in the kitchen, they moved to the backyard, where Misha instructed the girls in the proper technique to beat dirt out of a rug. The girls took turns practicing on an old rug that was hanging from the clothesline.

        "Aunt Misha," Christina began cautiously, "A boy wants to take Nina to the movies tonight."

        "Nonsense," Misha objected. "Nina is too young for boys."

        "But Aunt Misha, I had my first date when I was her age."

        Misha gave Christina a suspicious look.

        "It was perfectly innocent," Christina continued, "And Nina's starting high school in the fall. She'll have to deal with boys eventually."

        "Yes," Misha defended, "She will. You said that your boy did not take you out all alone, yes?"

        Christina nodded. She thought back to her first date with a girl, which had been a group affair.

        "Nina will not go out with some boy by herself," Misha said decisively.

        Nina stared at the ground, devastated.

        Christina noticed her cousin's expression and tried again. "If someone went with them," she pressed, "would that be okay?"

        Misha paused and looked at her niece. "Are you offering to be her chaperone?"

        "Me?" Christina stuttered, "I was thinking that maybe-"

        "If you will watch over Nina, she can go."

        Christina looked over at Nina's euphoric face and sighed, "Yes, of course ... I'll be Nina's chaperone."

        "Then it is settled," Misha decided. "Nina, go inside and call your little friend, and tell him that you can go."

        Nina skipped off joyously into the house.

        Misha continued to instruct her niece, observing, "Since you are so busy looking after Nina, perhaps I should look for a man for you."

        Christina blushed but didn't answer. She returned to beating the rug, vowing not to mention dating again.

 

        After Nina had called David, she rejoined Christina and her mother. Christina found it difficult to to concentrate on Misha's lessons. Every time the older woman turned her back, Nina whispered questions about boys and dating. When she wasn't busy seeking her older cousin's advice, she passed the time being unreasonably giddy. Though being Nina's chaperone wasn't exactly Christina's idea of fun, she found it hard to see Nina's ecstatic face and not be a little excited for her.

        When the clock rolled around to five, Christina and Nina retired from their domestic education. David had decided on a seven o'clock movie, so the two girls when immediately upstairs to get ready. Time was always tight when you were living in girl-time; two hours was barely long enough to get ready.

        Christina and Nina both took showers, then went to Nina's room. Christina took great care in fixing Nina's hair for her date. Having comfortably assumed the role of the older sister, Christina made all the decisions for Nina. She selected a cotton peasant style dress for her cousin. The long skirt flared from beneath Nina's chest, giving her beanpole figure the illusion of curves. Nina watched in the mirror as her older cousin tied her shoulder straps.

        "Can I wear your necklace again?" Nina asked. "I think it really works."

        Christina removed her gear necklace and clasped it around Nina's slender neck. Christina smiled at her cousin as she told her, "You look beautiful."

        Nina hugged Christina and whispered, "Thank you so much. Mom would never have let me go if it wasn't for you."

        Christina held Nina for a while before they went into Christina's room. Standing in front of her underwear drawer, Christina stripped down and rummaged for something to wear. She selected a pair of low rise panties, a bra, and a garter belt, then went to the full length mirror. She couldn't help but notice that after her last waxing, she had no hair on her body. When she was naked, she couldn't shake the feeling that it made her look as young as Nina. Pulling her panties up her legs, she felt the satin glide against her baby soft, bare skin. Next, she put on her bra, garter belt, and shimmied into her waist cincher.

        "Why do you always wear that?" Nina asked.

        "Because," Christina answered, looking at Nina through the mirror, " I'm older than you are, but you and I have the same figure."

        Sitting on the bed, Christina carefully rolled her nude colored stockings up her long legs before clipping them to her garter belt. Walking to her closet, she pulled out a black and frilly stretch lace dress and slipped into it. The dress had translucent flutter sleeves that ended at her elbows. The knee-length skirt was covered with rose lace embroidery. Reaching up, she tied the thin straps between her bosom into a bow.

        Nina could hardly contain herself. She paced the length of Christina's bedroom as her older cousin fixed her hair and makeup. When Christina finished, she stepped into her heels and dabbed a hint of perfume on Nina's neck and then used some on herself.

        The girls walked downstairs to meet the rest of the family for a quick dinner before the entire family retired to the living room to wait for Nina's date.

        Andrei sulked on the far end of the couch, tapping his foot nervously. The entire situation made him very uncomfortable. He had half a mind to go with them. He didn't approve of Nina going out with some strange boy, and even if he had, he felt he was much better suited to make sure nothing funny happened. Also, if he volunteered, he could take Christina to the movies. Still, he didn't say a word. He just sat there, stewing.

        Alek passed the time explaining the rules to his girls. " ... and," Alek continued. "You are to be home by ten o'clock." He looked at Christina and emphasized, "That goes for the both of you."

        Nina responded, "Yes, daddy," while Christina acknowledged, "Yes, sir."

        Christina did not like the fact that her uncle had imposed Nina's curfew on her, but she preferred getting the little girl treatment from her uncle to Misha's machinations to marry her off to the first eligible bachelor she could find.

        As soon as she heard the sound of tires on the gravel, Nina rushed to the window. When Boris started barking, and Alek commanded Andrei to take the dog upstairs. Christina stood behind her younger cousin and peered out the window. She could clearly see a silver Lexus convertible stop in front of the house.

        This didn't add up, Christina thought. Even if David were old enough to drive, there was no way that could be his car. Christina's heart raced when she saw two people get out of the convertible and walk towards the porch.

        Misha opened the door and greeted her guests. Christina watched in horror as David and Richard entered her home. Her uncle was saying something to Richard, but she couldn't seem to understand what he was saying. Her mind was swimming, trying to make some sort of rational sense of what was happening. She looked around for Andrei, but he'd already gone upstairs with Boris. Before she could come to her senses, Richard had taken her by the arm and led her out of the house behind Nina and David.

        "What are you doing here!" Christina demanded in a hushed tone.

        Richard chuckled and said, "Would you believe I'm David's older brother?"

        Christina gritted her teeth angrily and sneered, "No."

        "I'm a friend of the family. When I was helping David's father with a legal problem today, and heard David and Nina required chaperones, I naturally offered my services."

        "How convenient." Christina said, her voice laced with venom.

        Nina and David squeezed into the back of the convertible while Richard escorted Christina to the passenger side of the car.

        Christina pulled her arm free from Richard and said, "Okay, let's get something straight," as she pointed a finger at Richard. "Nina and David are on a date. You and I are not on a date. We're not on anything remotely resembling a date. My job is to watch Nina, understand?"

        Richard smiled nonchalantly and opened the door for Christina. "Miss Chase," he said playfully, "I assure you, I have no ulterior motives."

        Christina buckled herself in for what she was sure was going to be the longest night of her life. She watched Richard slide into the driver's seat and look her over from head to toe. A shiver ran down her spine as Richard's gaze lingered on her long, stockinged legs.

        Christina looked everywhere but at Richard as the convertible sped towards town. She'd never been in such an expensive car before. She was very impressed, but she refused to show it, so she spent the ride looking out the window to prevent Richard from making eye contact or starting a conversation. She focused on Nina and David chatting in the back. Nina was very nervous and shy, but the older boy kept things going with all manner of questions.

        Christina thought back to when she was shy and fifteen years old. She remembered how painful it felt to be so awkward and nervous about everything; especially dating. Christina sighed as she realized that she shouldn't cause a scene during Nina's very first date.

        Richard parked down the road from the cinemas and stepped out of the car. He pushed his seat forward allowing Nina and David to step out onto the sidewalk. Walking over to the other side of the car, Richard held Christina's door open. He offered his hand to her, but Christina turned her nose upward and helped herself out. Undaunted, Richard wrapped his strong arm around Christina's slender waist and escorted her down the sidewalk.

        "Nina!" Christina called to her cousin.

        David and Nina were holding hands several paces in front of her and Richard.

        "Let them be," Richard said with a twinkle in his eyes, "We're right here if anything gets out of hand."

        Christina fumed as Richard pulled her closer to him. She couldn't imagine what crime she must have committed in some former life to deserve this sort of treatment.

        David and Nina stood in front of the box office. David purchased two tickets to a scary movie. Christina and Richard waited until the children moved to the concession stand. Christina opened her purse but stopped short when Richard said, "Two of the same for me and the lady."

        Christina groaned as Richard pulled out his wallet and paid for the tickets. She felt Richard's hand return to her waist, and she was led into the theater.

        "Can I get you anything?" Richard asked.

        "No, thank you," Christina said, as she glared at the man. She yanked his arm off of her waist and insisted, "I need to keep an eye on Nina and David." Christina looked around, unable to find her cousin.

        "They must have already gone into the theater." Richard turned to face Christina. He looked deeply into her eyes and said, "You can't blame the boy for wanting some time alone with a beautiful girl."

        Christina started to tremble and stuttered, "On second thought, popcorn sounds great."

        After waiting in line, Richard and bought Christina the largest tub of popcorn that could be had. He carried it and escorted Christina into the darkened theater.

        The cinema was small and largely deserted. From the few silhouettes Christina could discern, she saw Nina and David in the middle. She pointed into the darkness and said, "There they are. We should sit right next to them."

        "Nonsense," Richard said as he led Christina to a seat four rows in back of the younger couple. "We're here to make sure nothing funny happens. We don't have to infringe on their privacy." Richard sat down and placed his hand on top of Christina's. He caught the girl in his hypnotic gaze and crooned, "We could use some privacy of our own, too."

        Christina yanked her hand out from underneath Richard's and fumbled, "That popcorn looks pretty tasty." She reached into the tub sitting on Richard's lap, shoved an entire hand full of popcorn in her mouth, and looked away. She swallowed it whole and tried to regroup. Turning back to Richard, Christina gave the man a smoldering scowl. "Look, I'm here to make sure David behaves himself, okay? I don't want to spend the entire night making sure that you do, too."

        "Of course," Richard conceded, "Forgive me. It's just not often that a beautiful, mysterious, girl comes to town."

        Christina rolled her eyes.

        "But you're right," Richard continued. "You should look out for your cousin. Make sure that David doesn't pull any of the standard tricks."

        "The standard tricks?" Christina asked.

        "Sure. You know ..." Richard made a mock yawn and draped his arms around Christina's shoulder. "The old reach around ..."

        Christina pressed her fingers between her eyes in an attempt to fight the tension headache that was rattling her skull.

        "Leaning in close," Richard said breathlessly and he approached Christina's cheek. "Whispering sweet nothings in the girl's ear?" Richard inhaled the sweet scent of Christina's perfume as his lips hovered beside the girl. He reached in further and planted several tiny kisses down the side of Christina's neck.

        At that, Christina sat straight up. This was getting out of hand, she thought, holding her breath as she felt the older man's lips work their way down her neck. Panicking, she pulled away and angrily whispered, "Cut it out!"

        Realizing that he was moving too fast for the girl, Richard leaned back into his seat, but once again held Christina's hand.

        As the house lights dimmed, Christina accepted his hand as the price to keep the man at bay. After the movie started, Christina grumbled, "I hate horror movies."

        Richard squeezed her hand and said gently, "Don't worry, I'm here."

        Christina found that sentiment anything but comforting. As the movie progressed and Richard relented, Christina focused less on her captor and more on Nina and David. She couldn't see much in the darkness, but she thought she saw David's arm around Nina's shoulder. Unable to tell what was going on with the Nina and David, Christina turned her attention to the movie. She saw that the main character was walking up a folding ladder into a dark attic. Removing her hand from underneath Richard's, she closed her eyes tightly and covered them. She grumbled, "I don't understand why people in these movies always do stupid things like this."

        "Don't worry," Richard said, "I'll tell you went it's safe to look."

        Christina nodded, her eyes still sealed.

        "Okay," Richard assured.

        Christina opened her eyes at the precise moment something horrible leapt out of the darkness. She let out a squeal and scrunched up. When she opened her eyes she found that Richard's arm was around her and that she was curled against his chest. Smacking the older man in the chest, she glared at him and sneered, "That was really mean!"

        "I'm sorry," the man apologized through his laughter, "I just couldn't resist."

        After forcefully removing Richard's arm from her shoulders, Christina sat straight up and stared forward. She was only pretending to watch the movie; she was really watching Richard from the corner of her eye. She had no intention of letter her guard down again.

        When the movie ended and everyone stood up, Richard again clutched Christina's waist possessively. He led her into the isle behind Nina and David.

        Christina could tell from the expression of bliss on Nina's face that the girl was having the best night of her life. Feeling the grip of the older man made Christina want to punch Richard, but she knew for Nina's sake, her best option was to play along.

        "Nina," Christina called to her cousin, "It's getting late, don't you think we should go home?"

        Nina turned to Christina with pleading eyes. Before she could respond, Richard interjected, "Nonsense. The night is still young."

        "No," Christina corrected, "the night is pretty darned old, and Nina has to be home by ten!"

        Richard simply smiled at Christina.

        "I have to be home by ten, too!" she protested.

        "That leaves plenty of time for ice cream."

        Nina and David agreed, and they walked briskly in front of Christina and Richard to the ice cream stand around the corner.

        Richard made sure Christina's pace left them quite some distance behind Nina and David, affording them privacy that worried Christina to no end.

        The ice cream stand was set up in a vacant lot on the end of a row of brick buildings. Brightly colored Christmas lights were strung between light poles and a small line of people were standing in front of a wooden shack where a young boy with curly red hair and freckles was manning the register. People sat outdoors in the warm Summer night in rows of picnic tables. Some of them were talking loudly while a few others were just sitting together and gazing up into the star filled sky.

        As Richard and Christina reached the lot, Richard indicated that they should sit at a picnic table across from the stand. He began to lean in a little too close to for Christina's comfort, and she croaked, "I think I'd like an ice cream cone." She waited for a moment then grimaced, "Please?"

        Richard smiled at his captive, then went to stand in line.

        Christina scanned the area. She saw a few faces she remembered from church, though she didn't know their names. Several of them smiled back in recognition. As she continued looking through the crowd, she noticed Lisa from the salon, sitting with a muscular man with a buzz cut. Eventually, she found Nina and David sitting by themselves in a far corner. Christina could tell from the way Nina's eyes never left David's, that she wasn't aware of anything else, least of all the torture Christina was enduring to facilitate her younger cousin's first date. Seeing Nina so happy almost made Christina feel as though her night of unspoken humiliation was worth it.

        For the first time that night, Christina finally had a clear view of her cousin and her date. She thought the two were adorable together; that was until she saw David's arm sliding slowly down Nina's back.

         Christina's eyes went wide as a soft serve vanilla cone, covered with sprinkles, filled her field of vision. Richard was standing directly between her and Nina. Christina angrily leaned around the man and looked at her cousin. David's arm was still around Nina's shoulder. Perhaps, Christina thought, she was imagining things.

        The night is almost over, Christina told herself as she took the ice cream cone. She opened her mouth and gave the cone a long lick.

        Richard watched with great interest as he sat down next to his date.

        From the look on Richard's face, Christina noticed that her innocent action came off as erotic to the older man. She groaned in frustration and held the ice cream cone by her side.

        "Why aren't you in Oak Grove more often?" Richard asked.

        "I live in the city. I have my own life there," Christina responded curtly. She turned away and added, under her breath, "It's a lot different than this one."

        "I wouldn't mind if you were around more often. Don't you like it here?"

        "Actually, I love it here." Christina answered truthfully. She felt Richard's hand come in contact with her knee and inch ever so slightly upward. She sat up straight and seethed, "Life here is perfect ... except for a few annoyances."

        "Maybe," Richard said as he leaned his mouth closer to Christina's, "If you stayed around longer, you'd find that those things that annoy you aren't so bad after all."

        Christina panicked as the man closed in on her lips. She raised her ice cream cone defensively and fed Richard a mouthful of vanilla.

        Richard laughed as he wiped his mouth.

        Christina could not believe that Richard was actually enjoying this! This was some sort of perverted mating ritual, she thought; like some bizarre scene in a documentary about strange fuzzy animals in Africa. Christina gulped as she recalled how all those shows ended for the female of the species. "Richard," she demanded, "I'm getting a headache. It's time for you to take us home." Christina stood up and tossed her ice cream cone into the trash as she walked over to Nina to inform her that the date was officially over.

        "Hey guys," Christina said as she came up behind Nina and David. They turned around and Christina said, "We really should call it a night." David looked slightly annoyed at the intrusion.

        "Do we have to go already?" Nina complained.

        "I'm sorry Nina, but you remember what your Dad said- ten o'clock."

        Nina was clearly unhappy, but she and David obediently followed Christina back to Richard's car.

        Richard came up beside Christina and motioned for her to let Nina and David walk ahead of them. For once, Richard let Christina walk beside him without holding or touching her. When they got to the car, he still made the gesture of holding Christina's door open.

        Christina wondered if she'd finally gotten through to the man.

        Nina had obviously come into her own as Richard drove back to the Levchenkos' home; she was now guiding her conversation with David. She asked about what high school was like, what teachers to watch out for, and whether or not David would try out for football again in the fall.

        David was progressing to what their second date would be as the convertible stopped in front of the house. As Richard got out of the car to let David and Nina out of the back seat, Christina quickly hopped out of the car as to not give Richard another chance to hold a door open for her.

        While David walked Nina to the front door, Christina started to storm past Richard, but he held her by the arm. Christina yanked her arm free from his grasp, but Richard cut her off before she had a chance to chastise him.

        "Let them have their moment," he insisted.

        Christina watched as Nina stood in front of her door with her hands folded behind her back.

        David leaned in and gave Nina her first kiss.

        Christina had to admit, it was very sweet.

        The two said their goodbyes and Nina disappeared into the house. As David turned and walked back to the convertible, Richard again took Christina in his arm.

        Christina jumped when she felt Richard's steely grip around her waist. She found herself escorted to the front door, and in the exact same position Nina had been in just a moment ago.

        "I had a wonderful time tonight," Richard said as he peered deeply into Christina's eyes.

        "Well I had a terrible time, so-"

        "That guarantees that you'll have a better time tomorrow night."

        "Tomorrow night?" Christina demanded incredulously.

        "I want to see you again; just you and me. So, how about tomorrow night?"

        "I'm leaving tomorrow," Christina stammered, "So I guess that won't happen."

        "Give me your phone number," Richard insisted, "I'll call you next time you're in town."

        "Oh well," Christina started sarcastically, "I don't know what makes you think I would ever, in a million years, go anywhere with-"

        Richard leaned in and playfully kissed Christina on the lips.

        Christina's eyes opened wide in shock. She could feel Richard's lips gently come into contact with hers. She felt the unmistakable scratch of stubble against her baby soft cheek.

        Richard pulled back and gave Christina the same controlling gaze. Smiling longingly, he repeated, "Give me your phone number."

        It took Christina a moment to realize what had just happened to her. She raised her finger and growled, "What the hell is wrong with you? You are NOT allowed to kiss me! You're never-"

        Richard circled the girl's waist with his left arm and spun her tightly against his body. His right hand cradled the back of Christina's head and tilted it up to meet his. As he moved in, his lips brushed against Christina's.

        She could feel his tongue tickle her upper lip, causing tingles to run over her face and down her scalp. She instinctively closed her eyes and opened her mouth slightly.

        Sensing the movement, Richard slid his tongue slowly into Christina's mouth and she accepted it.

        She mindlessly sucked on the invader as it probed her mouth. Dazed, she moved her own tongue to meet Richard's. Christina felt the strange tingles spread all the way down to her toes.

        Richard released Christina from his grip and pulled back. "Your phone number," he repeated.

        Christina exhaled slowly and dreamily opened her eyes. In a trance, she responded, "555-3045." Christina looked at the man in fear and covered her mouth with her hand. She was unable to explain what just happened.

        Richard smiled confidently and walked back to his car, leaving Christina standing on the front porch in shock, with her hand over her mouth.

        Christina jumped when she heard Boris' frantic barking from the other side of the front door. Free from Richard's spell, she quickly opened the door and leaped into the house as though her life depended on being safely behind its walls. She looked down and Boris, who was wagging his tail happily.

        Christina whispered to the dog, "That did NOT happen!"

        Boris tilted his head in confusion then trotted into the kitchen.

        Nina walked up to her cousin and wrapped her arms around her. "It was wonderful," Nina said, "And it all happened because of you."

        Christina held her younger cousin and sighed. "You know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you," she said. Taking Nina by the hand, Christina went upstairs.

        Nina looked up at her cousin and asked, "Did that man kiss you with his tongue?"

        Christina winced as they rounded the corner to Nina's door. "No," she lied. "It only looked that way."

        After the girls took off their makeup and said goodnight, Christina lay in her bed and stared at the canopy overhead. Being a girl is a dangerous business, she thought, especially where men are concerned. She was so happy to see everyone again, and to be sleeping in her room, but she was glad she was going home tomorrow. Touching her fingers to her lips, she reflected on what had happened to her. She'd been kissed by a man. She'd been French kissed by a man. She could still recall the feeling of his tongue probing between her lips. Of all the things that had happened to her since she had become Christina Chase, that was the one thing above all others she wished never occurred. She tried to put it out of her mind. Tomorrow, she promised herself, everything will be back to normal.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Christina got up early, long before the rest of the family and was already dressed and downstairs before the sun had come up. Deciding that she was going to be the first girl in the house to make wearing pants a habit, she had thrown on a pair of capri pants and a simple off the shoulder top. She went into the kitchen and put on an apron; the plan was to surprise her uncle with breakfast before he went to work. Christina had seen very little of Alek this visit, and she longed to spend some time with her uncle.

        Putting her new domestic skills to use, she started making biscuits, sausage, and hash browned potatoes. She would have never done anything even this ambitious last week; Misha had made it all seem so easy. Her aunt had told her that such chores were easier when you did them for a man you loved. It turned out that Misha was right; Alek was a man she had come to love very much.

        Christina had the biscuits rolled and in the oven by the time Misha came downstairs.

        Misha smiled at her niece as she cooked.

        "Good morning," Christina said.

        Misha yawned as she sat at the kitchen table. She said, "I knew you had it in you."

        "Had what in me?" Christina asked as she started on the sausage.

        "All the women in our family are excellent cooks."

        "I'm not that good."

        "Perhaps not yet, but with practice, you will be. I see that you have great potential."

        Christina loved receiving praise from her aunt. Her own mother hadn't had a kind word for her in years.

        Misha stood up and started a fresh pot of coffee. She peeked at the work Christina was doing and smiled approvingly.

        "Am I doing anything wrong?" Christina asked.

        Misha patted her on the shoulder and said, "No dear, you are doing just fine." Misha hovered silently behind her niece until the coffee was ready. After pouring herself a cup, she sat back down at the kitchen table. "How was your date last night?" the older woman asked coyly.

        Christina stopped what she was doing, but she didn't turn around to face her aunt. "You mean Nina's date?"

        "No. I mean your date."

        Christina lowered the heat on the sausages and turned around. "I didn't go out on a date. I was just the chaperone."

        "That may be," Misha said, taking a sip of her coffee, "But both my girls were kissed goodnight."

        Christina blushed and looked at the floor. Christina mumbled, "I didn't want him to kiss me."

        "I admit, I did not have the best view from the bedroom window, but it looks as though you did not mind." Misha's coy smile had spread into a wide grin.

        Christina was mortified. She wondered just how much her aunt had seen. "I ... uh ..." Christina stammered.

        "Do not fret Tina," Misha consoled, "It is perfectly natural for a girl to desire to be kissed by a man. Just do not let it go any further."

        Alek entered the kitchen and boomed, "Who is kissing my Christina?" Christina bit her lower bit as her uncle walked up to her. Alek kissed her on the cheek and announced with a chuckle, "I am."

        Christina beamed back at the man then turned to finish cooking the sausage and hash browned potatoes.

        Alek poured himself a cup of coffee and sat next to his wife.

        Misha put her hand on top of her husband's and said, "Christina got up early to make you breakfast."

        "I see this," her uncle observed proudly. "But what is this talk of kissing?"

        "The man who took Christina out last night kissed her goodnight."

        Christina muttered, "It wasn't a date."

        Misha shook her hand and remarked, "Perhaps not, but it was quite a kiss!"

        Humiliated, Christina turned off the oven and took out the biscuits with a pair of oven mitts. After serving plates of food to her aunt and uncle, she sat down in front of them and frowned. "I hate that man, Uncle Alek," she whined petulantly.

        "Then why did you kiss him?" Alek asked as he started eating.

        "I didn't! He kissed me! I never want to see him again!" Christina insisted.

        "Christina, he is a good man for you," Misha stated, much to her niece's dismay, "He is very handsome and also very successful."

        "I don't care; I can't stand him!"

        "I felt the same way about your uncle the first time I met him," Misha explained. "He was boastful and rude."

        "I was not!" Alek rebuked playfully.

        "Indeed you were!"

        "I was driven mad with passion!" Alek leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek.

        Misha shooed him away and turned her attention back to Christina. "My point is, Tina, that you should get to know the man before you make up your mind. The next time he takes you out, go without Nina. You cannot get to know him if you spend all your time looking after your cousin."

        Christina stamped her foot defiantly. "It was not a date, and I'm not going to see him again!"

        Andrei shambled into the kitchen, blinking his eyes groggily. He grabbed some food and sat down at the time. He immediately noticed that his Christina's cheeks were flushed, and she was frowning. "What's going on?" he asked.

        "Your cousin did not like the man who took her out last night," Alek explained.

        Andrei smirked and bit into a biscuit. "He probably wasn't good enough for her."

        Alek held Christina's hand and said, "Christina, of course you do not have to see him again if you do not wish it. Did you tell him to leave you alone after you kissed him?"

        Andrei choked on his biscuit at the sound of the word "kiss". He rushed to the sink and poured himself a glass of water.

        "HE ... kissed ME ..." Christina protested. "But I didn't tell him to leave me alone, exactly ..." She wrinkled her nose and looked out the window.

        Andrei sat back down and sipped water from his glass.

        "... I sorta gave him my phone number."

        Choking on his water, Andrei shot up and announced, "I need some air."

        The family watched as he marched out the side door.

        "You do not like the man, but you kiss him and tell him to call you?"

        "It's not LIKE that!" Christina protested. "If he calls, or you see him, tell him to stay away from me."

        Alek stood up, walked behind Christina, and placed his large hands on her shoulders. "Christina, my dearest," he explained, "We will not meddle in your love life." Misha shot her husband a glance and Alek repeated to her, "We will not meddle." He guided Christina to her feet and turned her to face him. "When this man calls you, you must tell him to leave you alone. You must be firm, understand?"

        "Yes sir," Christina pouted.

        "Good girl," Alek beamed. "Now, you will be gone by the time I return, so how about a goodbye kiss for me?"

        Christina smiled and wrapped her arms around her uncle. Stepping up on her tip-toes, she kissed the man on his cheek.

        Alek smiled at his niece then went to the side door.

        Andrei came in with his finger pointed in front of him as though he was about to ask a question. He was stopped short when Alek barked, "Andrei, I need you to drop me off." Resigned, Andrei dropped his finger and followed his father outside.

        Not long after Alek and Andrei left, Nina walked into the kitchen, yawning.

        Christina got up and prepared a dish of food for her cousin.

        Misha smiled at her youngest daughter and asked, "How was your movie last night?"

        Nina could hardly contain herself. She burst out, "Wonderful! It was so much fun. I was nervous at first, but then it wasn't so bad."

        "If I had my way, there would have been no date," Misha stated. "You have your cousin to thank."

        Nina nodded. She asked her mother, "Can I see David again?"

        Misha raised her eyebrow.

        "Pleeeease?" Nina whined.

        "That depends," Misha said, turning to Christina, "What sort of boy is David?"

        Christina folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Nina's date was a complete gentleman. She's not the one who had to spend the whole night fighting off a maniac."

        "Alright Nina," Misha conceded. "Since Tina approves, you may, but we will discuss this further another time."

 

        Grateful to do anything to keep her mind off last night, Christina spent the afternoon performing domestic chores around the house. As she dusted the pictures in the living room, she noticed that nearly every picture had Anastasia in it. The only exceptions were the two pictures in which she appeared. When Christina worked her way to the antique clock, she studied it intently. It was nearly a duplicate of the clock she remembered from her childhood. She moved the hands of the clock with her finger, and they rotated freely. Christina opened up the clock and looked at its inner workings. It was almost entirely empty; of the pieces remaining, most were bent or broken. She didn't know much about clocks, but she could tell based on the amount of empty space inside, that the clock was permanently broken.

        Misha walked out of the kitchen and towards the stairs. "Don't work too hard dear," Misha admonished as she climbed the staircase. "The living room has never looked so clean."

        Christina smiled and said, "I don't mind. I like helping out."

        Misha went upstairs to clean, leaving Christina alone.

        Christina had already said her goodbyes to Nina hours ago when the girl left to help her father at the store. With the exception of last night, this was the first real down time Christina had taken in years. She'd set out to create the perfect vacation for Nina, but it turned out it was her perfect vacation too, Almost perfect, she realized, thinking of Richard.

        Christina's thoughts were interrupted by a mechanical vibration against her bottom. She reached into her back pocket and grabbed her cell phone. Flipping it open, she stared at the incoming number. She didn't recognize it, but it looked local. She wondered, could it be Steph? She hit the receive button and said, "Hello?"

        "Hi," came an eager male voice, "It's Richard."

        "Yes?" she answered impatiently.

        "I was wondering if you were free for lunch," he said confidently.

        "I'm sorry, but NO," Christina answered in an angry voice. "I'm leaving today."

        "Then let me see you before you leave."

        "You can't!" Christina snapped.

        The man laughed. "Why not?"

        "Because ..." Christina looked up at the ceiling as though the perfect excuse was written there. "Because I just got up and my hair's a mess ... and I don't have time to get ready ... so sorry."

        "That's funny," Richard said slyly, "Your hair looks great in that yellow kerchief."

        Christina reached up and touched the paisley bandana in her hair. In a fit of paranoia, she looked behind her to the kitchen, then out the front windows; Richard's car was in the driveway. She saw him hang up, and sheepishly put her phone back into her back pocket. Walking to the open door, she crossed her hands in defiance and watched the man as he came to the screen door. Christina was mortified when she realized that he'd brought her roses. Still, she wasn't going to show it. She needed to be firm with him, just as her uncle had instructed.

        Richard stood on the other side of the screen door and playfully pressed the doorbell. Motioning to the roses, he said, "I brought these for you."

        Christina glared, "It's a shame you spent all that money for nothing."

        Misha came down the stairs and called, "Christina, who is at the door?" Misha smiled when she saw Richard at the door with flowers. "Don't just stand there Christina," Misha admonished, "let the man in." Misha opened the door and Richard stepped in, handing the roses to Christina who begrudgingly accepted them.

        "What was your name again, young man?" Misha asked, sizing Richard up.

        Richard produced a business card from his pocket and handed it to Misha. "Richard Masters, ma'am."

        Misha squinted as she read the card. She glanced at Christina and smiled, "A lawyer."

        "Richard was just leaving," Christina insisted.

        "Nonsense child!" Misha corrected. "Richard, Christina made a cherry pie on Sunday. Would you like a slice?"

        Richard smiled and replied, "Mrs. Levchenko, there is nothing more in the world I would like than to have a taste of your niece's cherry pie."

        Christina's cheeks burned as she trained her gaze on the floor.

        Taking Richard by the hand, Misha led him into the kitchen Christina trailing behind. Misha motioned to Richard, "Please. Sit."

        Richard sat at the end of the table smiling appreciatively.

        Misha took the flowers from Christina and said, "I'll take care of these." Seeing that Christina was just standing there, she said, "Tina, take care of your guest."

        Christina wanted to scream, but she refused to cause a scene in front of her aunt. Instead, she obediently went to the refrigerator and took out the milk. She cut Richard a very small piece of pie and poured him half a glass of milk. She deftly set a place setting in front of him and served him a slice of her pie. After the task was done, Christina stood, holding her hands behind her back and stared out the window.

        "Sit down Tina," Misha chided.

        Christina sat down next to Richard with her hands in her lap. She kept her head down to avoid making eye contact.

        "Mrs. Levchenko," Richard started as he swallowed his third bite, "I can say without any reservation that this is the finest pie I have ever had the pleasure of tasting."

        "Why, thank you!" Misha beamed. She looked to Christina and was annoyed that her niece was not participating. "Tina, is that how we respond to compliments?"

        Christina raised her eyes to Richard then shot them back downward. "Thank you," she mumbled.

        "Tell me," Misha said to Richard, "What sort of business are you involved with?"

        Richard finished his slice of pie and wiped his mouth before he responded. "I practice law, ma'am. I specialize in medical malpractice and insurance claims."

        Misha was impressed. "Is there much call for that in Oak Grove?"

        "No ma'am, I can't say that there is. My work takes me out of town quite a bit. I work heavily with the Dover Medical Group and the hospital. That isn't to say there isn't call for a lawyer in town. I suppose I'm a lot like Doc Stone in that sense; we have our specialties, but being a professional in a small town means you handle all sorts of matters when they come up."

        "Christina is a professional too," Misha offered, "She works as a secretary in the city."

        Christina felt as though she was shrinking in her chair. She wished that she could melt away into nothing.

        "So I've heard," Richard remarked. "Judging by her pie, I would have guessed that she was a professional chef."

        Christina looked up and saw that Richard had cast his spell over Misha. Don't fall for it, she screamed inside her mind. Christina realized that the man was charming, and that's what made him so dangerous.

        Misha chuckled in response, "My Tina is just learning to cook, but she has a knack for it."

        "There is no doubt," Richard crooned. "Your niece is truly a remarkable woman."

        Christina had to act before Misha ordered wedding invitations. She stood up and blurted, "You know, it's getting pretty late. I've got to catch my bus."

        Richard asked, "Your bus?"

        Misha explained, "Tina lives so far away, too far to drive. She takes the bus from Dover."

        Richard smiley coyly as he offered, "Seeing as I do so much work in the area, it would be no trouble at all to take Christina to the bus station. I could get some work done while I'm there."

        Misha smiled at Richard but Christina interjected nervously, "But we couldn't ask you to do that!"

        Richard looked deeply into Christina's eyes as he stood up, "It would be my pleasure."

        Christina felt as though she was having a mental breakdown. She couldn't let herself be trapped alone in that man's car for over an hour. "No," she stuttered, "No! Um ... Andrei already promised ... and uh ... a promise is a promise ... and ..." She ran to the side door and shouted at the barn, "Andrei!" Looking back into the kitchen, she saw Misha's cross look.

        The look of extreme amusement on Richard's face was what made her worried. The bastard was actually enjoying this! "Andrei! I need you right now!" Christina shouted as though her life was in danger.

        Andrei came charging out of the barn and into the kitchen. "What's wrong?" he asked as he huffed. Andrei recognized the man in the kitchen as the man Christina had been worried about in church.

        Christina wrapped her arm around Andrei's and clung to him. "Nothing's wrong," Christina chirped as she squinted defiantly at Richard, "It's just time to take me to the bus station."

        Andrei said, "Okay, I'll get your things." He shot Richard a menacing glare as he left the kitchen.

        Before Misha could speak, Christina announced, "So, that's all settled then." She turned to Richard and said, "Thanks so much for stopping by, but as you can see, I have to go." Christina snatched Richard by the hand and led him back through the living room and out the front door, slamming the door behind her. She looked back to be certain that Misha wasn't watching through the window. Christina was absolutely furious. She shook her hands in the air and shouted, "Let's get this straight, okay? I don't like you. I don't like you even a little bit! I hate you, you got it? You need to LEAVE ME ALONE. That means no calls, no letters, and no stopping by! You stay away from me, and you stay away from my family. If I see so much as a pigeon with a note around its foot, I will have you killed! Do you understand? Do you get it?"

        It was all Richard could do to hold back his laughter as he watched the pretty young girl seethe. He leaned in quickly and pecked her on the cheek. "You really do make a fantastic pie," he joked as he walked back to his car. Before he got in, he called, "Call me next time you're in town!"

        Christina felt as though her head was going to explode. She clenched her fists and screamed, "And there is NO KISSING allowed!" As Richard got into his car, she took off her shoe and threw it down the driveway at him. Her anger didn't abate as she watched Richard's convertible disappear down the driveway. There was no reasoning with that man, she thought. She'd have to get Andrei to scare him. Not wanting to face her aunt yet, Christina sat on the porch and tried to calm down. She was beginning to come down from her fit of rage when the mailman came down the driveway.

        The mailman stepped out of his truck and smiled as he walked up to the porch. He handed Christina a stack of letters and said, "Lovely day, isn't it Christina?"

        Christina smiled back and responded, "It sure is."

        The postman handed her the shoe he'd found in the driveway and asked, "Does this look familiar?"

        "Um ... yeah ..." Christina said as she took the shoe. "Thanks."

        The man tipped his hat and left.

        Christina couldn't remember the postman's name. She was used to city life, where no one knew anyone else. Initially, she had been put off by Oak Grove's residents. She'd thought they were nosy gossips, but now she found it comforting that everyone seemed to know who she was.

        She flipped through the letters as she went into the living room. There were a few bills and pieces of junk mail, and a large manila envelope. Christina read the return address of the envelope, seeing it was from the Internal Revenue Service. Her uncle must have filed late, she assumed.

        Christina brought the letters to the kitchen where Misha was waiting with an unhappy frown.

        "Tina," she admonished. "Why were you so rude to that man?"

        "Aunt Misha, Richard is not a nice guy. He is self-centered and rude." Christina cleared Richard's place setting and took it to the sink. "And I promise you, he's after a lot more than my pie."

        Misha raised the palm of her hand and proclaimed, "He looked like a gentleman to me."

        Christina sighed and said. "Aunt Misha, I know you want me to find a man." Christina's face twisted with strain as she continued, "And some day I will. But Richard isn't the one."

        "Of course dear, but you should not act like that."

        Christina sat down at the table and fiddled with the letters. "I know Aunt Misha. I'm sorry. It's just that ... I dunno. It's complicated."

        Misha sat next to her niece and explained, "When a man meets a pretty girl like you, they are filled with a hunger. They will pursue you, want to possess you. When you find the right man, he will have this hunger but he will still be a gentleman."

        "Richard isn't a gentleman. He's just hungry. Starving, I think."

        Misha laughed at Christina's comment, breaking the tension between the women. They heard Andrei's heavy feet coming down the stairs. Overloaded with Christina's luggage, he stumbled though the kitchen doorway.

        Christina leaped up and said, "Let me give you hand!"

        "No," Andrei wheezed, "I'm fine. This is nothing." He stumbled though the kitchen and out the side door.

        Christina faced her aunt and announced, "I guess I should get going."

        Misha embraced her niece and said, "I wish you could stay longer dear."

        "I do too, but I have to get back."

        "Do you really like living all alone in that city of yours?"

        Christina considered that question seriously. She'd left home because of Danny, not because she wanted to. Having her own job, car, and apartment had felt glamorous when she was eighteen, but these days she realized she was just living day to day. Without Amy in her life, or any real friends at work, she suddenly realized how alone she felt. "It's not so bad," she lied.

        "You know Tina, our home is your home. You can stay if you wish."

        Under different circumstances, she would have loved to stay. Acting like a girl was far too taxing; she could manage it for a few days, but anything longer was too much. She would need weeks to recover from what had happened last night. "I really can't. I love being here, but I have another life back home. Besides, I would never want to be a burden."

        "Tina, I never want to hear those words again. You are a blessing." She kissed Christina on the forehead.

        Christina nodded. She wanted to tell Misha how much she loved her, but her throat was too tight. Grabbing her purse off the kitchen table, she walked to the side door, cleared her throat and promised, "I'll visit again as soon as I can." Turning, she left the Levchenko home.

        Andrei was waiting for Christina in the old green truck. After his younger cousin buckled her seat belt, Andrei started the truck, and they started the first leg of her trip back to the city.

 

        Nearly a half an hour passed before Andrei broached the subject of Richard. "The man in the kitchen," Andrei asked, "He is the man who took you out on your date?"

        Christina closed her eyes and responded, "I was just a chap ..." She paused then surrendered, "Yes."

        "And you kissed him?" Andrei asked sheepishly.

        "No," Christina corrected calmly, "HE kissed ME. I did NOT kiss him. I was just an innocent bystander."

        "But he did kiss you?"

        "Yes." Christina scrunched her mouth and mumbled, "Twice. Three times technically if you count today."

        Andrei frowned and said, "So, you like him."

        "No!" Christina protested. "I can't stand him. I told him to leave me alone and never come back."

        "You told him that, and he kissed you anyway?"

        "No," Christina said, becoming frustrated. "I told him that after he kissed me."

        "Three times," Andrei added.

        "After the first two times. Number three was afterwards."

        Andrei gave Christina a puzzled look.

        "Look- I hate Richard, okay?" she shouted. "I can't stand him. He's a jerk. I hate him. WE hate him."

        "We hate him?" Andrei asked.

        "Yes! Say it with me."

        Andrei repeated with Christina in unison, "We hate him."

        "See?" Christina shrieked. "I don't see why there's any confusion. We hate him and that's that."

        "If you say so. We hate him."

        Taking her kerchief out of her hair and folding it in her lap, Christina said, "I can always count on you, Andrei."

        Andrei cleared his throat and said, "Of course. You are my cousin." Andrei had needed to hear those words aloud to keep himself in check.

        "Yeah, I am your cousin, but I don't want you to think I don't appreciate everything you do for me. I mean, you drive me everywhere, you fixed my car, you made all those wonderful things for my room ..."

        "It's no big deal." Andrei insisted.

        "No, It IS a big deal. You do everything for me, and I never do anything for you."

        "That's not true."

        "It is true," Christina objected, "I mean, other than the fireworks, I hardly spent any time with you. The next time I visit, we'll do something fun together."

        "You don't have to do that," Andrei shrugged.

        "I want to. You always look out for me ... cheer me up when I feel sad ..."

        Andrei wondered if Christina had figured out his feelings for her. Twisting the rubber covering of the steering wheel in his hands, he turned to his cousin and confessed, "I love you."

        Christina smiled at him and said, "I love you too. I never knew how much I needed an older brother until I met you."

        "Yes," Andrei said dejectedly. "I feel the same way. I mean, it's nice to have a younger sister. I mean another younger sister." He was tripping over his own words hopelessly. "I mean an older, younger sister ... I mean ... you know what I mean." Andrei's face flushed with embarrassment.

        "Don't make fun of me," Christina giggled, "I mean it. I really do."

        Andrei nodded.

        Their conversation died down as they drove the rest of the way to the bus station. When they arrived, Andrei carried all of Christina's luggage, refusing to accept any help from his younger cousin. Christina had a five-minute wait for her bus. She told Andrei that he could leave, but he insisted on staying with her. When the bus arrived, Andrei escorted his cousin to the vehicle and loaded her suitcases underneath.

        Christina turned to her cousin and sighed. She couldn't believe what she was about to do. "Andrei," she asked, "Do you think Steph is pretty?"

        "Sure."

        "And she's fun to be around, isn't she?"

        "I suppose so."

        "Have you ever thought about calling her?"

        Andrei paused for a moment, dumbfounded, then asked, "What for?"

        Wide eyed, Christina stared at her cousin. Her look of exasperation slid into a wide grin. She hugged Andrei and said, "I'm going to miss you most of all, Scarecrow."

        Christina climbed the stairs into her bus, leaving Andrei scratching his head. She took her seat and tried to relax for the long trip ahead.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        It was nearly eleven-thirty at night when Christina stumbled through the door of her apartment. Her legs burned after ascending the six long flights of stairs. She let her suitcases drop; her arms feeling dull and stretched. The humidity in the dark apartment was oppressive, the hot air encasing Christina's skin, causing every inch of her body to sweat. Feeling the energy seep out of her muscles, she dropped onto her hard bed. She kicked of her shoes and socks then shimmied out of her tight jeans. Christina leaned back and turned on the fan mounted in the window over her bed. It did little more than cycle the hot air, but that was better than nothing.

        Opening her purse, she searched among the change, tissues, cosmetics, and other items for her phone. She couldn't quite summon the strength to sit up and look through the bag properly. Feeling around, her fingers found the familiar shape of the cell phone and slid it out of the purse. Flipping it open, she pressed the first speed dial number. She listened to the rings as she pressed the phone to her moist cheek.

        Alek answered sleepily, "Hello?"

        "Hi Uncle Alek," Christina yawned, "I just got home."

        "Just now?" he asked with disapproval in his voice. "I do not approve of you traveling so late."

        "I know," Christina responded lazily.

        "You should not have walked through the city alone at this hour."

        "I know, Uncle Alek. I took the late bus so I could spend more time with you and everyone else."

        "I cherish the time you spend with us Tina, but I forbid you to travel this late at night again. It is not safe."

        Christina was in no mood to argue and conceded, "Yes sir."

        "Did you rest on the trip back?"

        "I tried," Christina explained, "But I didn't really get any sleep."

        "You must be exhausted!" Alek exclaimed.

        "I'm okay," Christina's yawn betrayed her true condition.

        "You are to go to bed at once. If you are still tired in the morning, you are to stay home."

        Christina again answered, "Yes sir."

        After Christina and her uncle said their goodnights, Christina sat up in bed. She desperately wanted to lay back down and drift away to sleep, but she had work to do. Rising uneasily to her feet, she stumbled to the bathroom and leaned against the sink. As she removed her makeup, it became apparent that even without makeup, she still looked the part of a pretty girl.

        Once finished with her face, Christina peeled off every stitch of clothing, dumping them in a pile where she stood. She stepped into the shower and turned on the water.

        The water hit Christina like dozens of cold needles. It shocked her to her senses, allowing her to focus on the task at hand. She stood under the shower head and let the water saturate her body. The cool mist kept the hot summer air at bay.

        Chris reached down between her legs and gingerly pried her fake sex from betwixt her legs. It slid off easily in the water. Her penis fell forward limply from its feminine prison. The easy part completed, Chris slid her hand slowly from her left hip up to her chest, struggling to find the seam of her breast. She placed her fingernails in the crease and held the skin of her chest flat with her other hand. Afraid of tearing her skin, she pulled slowly and steadily. The breast came off, leaving on only the adhesive pad underneath. She used the same technique to remove the strip from her chest. With more confidence, Chris used the same procedure on her other side with deliberate care. She slid open the flimsy plastic shower curtain and gingerly placed her female parts on the toilet seat, then returned to her shower and soaped her chest.

        Chris held onto the shower rod for support. Her flat chest felt unnatural and unbalanced. She had worn her breasts for several days and had mentally accepted them as part of her body. To feel the weight suddenly removed was extremely disorienting. Her chest was pink where the breasts had been. The parts were not raw, though they felt sensitive as Chris massaged them.

        Her chest attended to, Chris moved down between her legs. Her penis had fared much better than her chest. It wasn't red, though her thighs felt some strain. Chris ran the soap from the tip of her penis to the base of her anus. Every part was still baby smooth. Even though she was tired, she felt a pulsing in her groin that developed into a painful erection. Chris found that she could not banish the image of Steph from her mind. She pictured her in her outfit from the fireworks and recalled the way she'd flirted with Andrei. She could picture the tops of Steph's breasts showing through her shirt. She could almost wrap her hands around Steph's curvy waist and run her hands down to the girl's ass. She fantasized that Steph was flirting with her, not her cousin. With very little stimulation, Chris reached an intense orgasm that made her legs go weak. She felt her muscles and anus twitch, ejaculating so strongly that she sprayed the wall of her shower. Christina clutched her member in one hand and the shower rod in the other. She had to hold on for balance until the dizziness left her head.

        Relaxed and glowing, Chris stepped out of the shower and dried off. She picked her panties and top off the ground and slipped them on. There was more to do, but that could wait until tomorrow. She stepped daintily on the balls of her feet out of the bathroom and returned to bed.

 

        The next day, Chris pushed nervously through the crowd at the train station. He'd overslept and missed his regular morning train again. That, however, wasn't the cause of his anxiety. After over a month of wearing waist cinchers, Chris had retained his new hourglass figure. The cincher he'd purchased at the Transformations Boutique had compressed his waist much more severely than his first one. Between that and his diet, he must have lost at least two pant sizes. He'd had to bore a new hole in his belt just to hold his baggy pants up, and he wore an oversized shirt to disguise his new curves. It felt as though he were swimming in a pile of his old clothes. His male underwear scratched and assaulted his baby soft rear end as he rushed to check the train schedule on the wall.

        Scanning the schedule for the next train, Chris realized he was in for a forty-minute wait. He pulled his sunglasses down and looked at his face in the reflection of the glass case that held the schedules. With no makeup and his long hair pulled back, he looked more like a tomboy version of Christina than his old self. He could clearly see the holes in his pierced ears, and his thin eyebrows read "girl". His stomach sank. Another haircut would help, but he would have to wait for his waist and eyebrows to return to normal.

        Chris wandered aimlessly through the crowd, stopping at a magazine stand. He searched around the stacks for something to occupy his time. Grabbing a copy of PC Magazine, he pushed his way to the counter. As he was waiting in line, a copy of Cosmopolitan caught his eye. He studied the model on the front, who was wearing an off the shoulder black dress. Chris wondered if that would be a good look for him. His eyes focused on the article list, and they lit up when he saw the title "Dealing with men who don't take no for an answer."

        When Chris was next in line, he picked up the copy of Cosmo and started flipping though it. When it was his turn to pay, the woman rang up Chris' magazines. Chris noticed the cashier's stare. Did she think Chris was a boy? A girl? His cheeks burned as he realized he was sending mixed signals.

        Stuffing the magazines into his backpack, he rushed back into the crowd. He'd been studying makeup and fashion for the month leading up to his return to Oak Grove. This time, when he'd been Christina, he'd felt relatively free from the fear of discovery, allowing him to assume his new role in a way he didn't the first time.

        Chris wondered just how many feminine mannerisms had invaded his person. He leaned against the station wall and recalled his trip. He had acted so much like a girl, and it was almost subconscious. The way he walked and spoke; the way he'd moved and touched people. He'd stayed up late in his nightie, singing and dancing with Nina along to their favorite pop stars. No one had forced him to act this way. He enjoyed being with Nina. He even had fun shopping for swimsuits and showing them off to his uncle. And then there was his "date" with Richard. That was something he hadn't enjoyed or initiated, but it had happened. Chris tried to banish the feeling of Richard's tongue in his mouth. He'd never felt so ashamed.

        Jolted out of his thoughts by the train whistle, Chris reached into his bag and removed his copy of Cosmo, dropping it into the trash as he made his way to the train.

        Chris spent the train ride lost in thought. He'd regarded Christina Chase as a different person, but he had admitted to himself that he was Christina. He was himself in Oak Grove, the only difference was that he was a girl. He feared that perhaps acting like a girl wasn't something he could do just for a few days at a time. He worried that he was becoming Christina Chase, and that the lines between his old self and this new one was blurring in confusing and uncomfortable ways.

        As the train arrived at the Salt Mine, Chris put away his copy of PC Magazine. There were already people lined up to get out the door when the train came to a full stop. Chris stood up in his seat and waited patiently while the people sleepwalked through the isle. A gap formed in the line, and Chris looked back to see an old man in a suit waiting for him. He had kind eyes, and his head was wreathed with white hair.

        Chris slung his backpack over his shoulder and said, "Thanks."

        The older man grinned and remarked, "You're quite welcome, young lady."

        Chris froze as he stepped into the isle. He felt his blood pulse in his ears as he forced himself to carry on as though nothing was out of the ordinary. He tried to disappear into the crowd as he left the train. He wandered into a lonely corner of the station and took stock of the situation. The last time he'd returned from Oak Grove, he had been able to get by with his hair back and sunglasses. Of course, he didn't have his girlish figure then. Chris needed a moment to appraise his appearance.

        Keeping his head pointed at the ground, he weaved through the streams of morning commuters. He slipped down the hall to the restrooms. As he reached for the men's room door, he stopped, his mind wracked with panic. If someone mistook him for a girl on the train, what would happen in the men's room? He turned and stared at the ladies' room door. A large woman came out of the restroom and gave Chris a curious look. He grinned at her nervously as she left the hallway. He obviously couldn't risk going into either restroom. He strode back out of the corridor and into the swirling mass of travelers.

        He made his way back across the terminal and sat at a bench, pulling his bag into his lap. Fishing around through the papers and books, he found his phone. In an attempt to buy some time, Chris called Mr. Patel and invented a story about a broken down train. He could sense that Mr. Patel was unhappy, but there was no way Chris could show up to work in his current condition.

        Chris slung his pack onto his back and once again joined the torrent of people. Climbing the station stairs, he emerged onto the busy streets of the city. He blazed a trail uptown, keeping an eye out for the first barbershop, haircutter, or dog groomer that could be found.

        After crossing seven city blocks, Chris found a unisex salon. He walked in and was greeted by a pretty girl behind a podium. She recorded his first name in a book and directed him to the waiting area. Chris kept his head down and walked to a magazine rack. His eyes were assaulted by all manner of ladies' magazines, some of which he'd already read. He bent down and snatched an issue of Car and Driver. He sat down and leafed through the magazine, not finding a single article that remotely held his interest. Still, he forced himself to read.

        Chris had barely made it halfway through an article comparing off road vehicles when he heard the stylist call his name.

        "Chris?" the man called, "Christopher Chase?"

        Chris stood up and acknowledged the man. He was large, muscular, and wearing makeup. He held his elbows at his side with his arms outward.

        "My name is Billy. I'll take care of you." His voice was male, but it was laced with feminine mannerisms.

        Chris nodded and followed the black man as he sashayed to his station. Chris studied Billy as he walked. He wondered if he acted or looked like the man in front of him. Chris shook off that thought; I'm not gay, he thought, I'm a girl.

        That is, he corrected, I was pretending to be a girl.

        He took his seat and Billy draped a plastic apron around him, asking, "Okay, honey. What can we do for you this morning?"

        Chris took off his sunglasses and let his hair down. His blond locks fell to his shoulders and retook its feminine shape.

        Billy raised his eyebrows and remarked, "Well, hello Rapunzel!" He stood behind Chris and manipulated his hair in the mirror. "Are you looking for a new style? Maybe a different color?"

        Chris cleared his throat and croaked, "No, I just need it to be a lot shorter."

        Billy held Chris' hair above his shoulders and questioned, "Something cute like this?"

        Chris' face flushed as he removed his wallet from his pants pocket. He took out his driver's license and pointed at the picture. "I need this, right here." The picture showed Chris' old hairstyle. It was plain, and it fell beneath the ears, but the style was obviously male.

        Billy studied the image and exclaimed, "You really want me to desecrate this beautiful head of yours with that?"

        "Actually," Chris decided, "I need it to be much shorter." He scanned the pictures on the wall and pointed at a man with a layered cut. "Something like that."

        "Okay, honey," Billy joked, "You're the boss, but this will haunt me the rest of my life!"

        Billy took out a pair of shears and mercilessly sliced away at Chris' mane. It took mere seconds before the floor was littered with piles of blonde hair. With the heavy lifting over, Billy misted Chris' hair and went to work.

        "It's a cryin' shame, honey," Billy started, "I know a lot of boys who would kill to have your good looks."

        Chris' face went flush, and he stammered, "I ... I don't usually look like this ... I went to a costume party last night."

        "Umm hmm," Billy hummed. "We all wear our costumes until we decide to be who we really are."

        Chris ignored that last comment.

        "I can still remember when I was your age. I started hittin' the clubs ... looking good ... dancin' all night. It was a blast, baby, but it was back to wearing a costume in the morning. Walkin' around, being somebody I wasn't s'posed to be."

        "It's not like that, really."

        "You can fool yourself baby, but you can't fool Billy. I've been down that road myself. But now I'm out, and I'm me all the time." Billy joked, "I can tell you're so far in the closet, you're knee-deep in shoes."

        "I'm not in the closet!" Chris protested.

        "When did you come out?"

        Chris stumbled, "I'm not ... I'm NOT gay!"

        "Whatever, baby. You're straight. You're just a pretty straight boy with a movie starlet 'do."

        Chris frowned and closed his eyes, praying for this experience to end.

        "I know it's hard, honey. I waited years before I told anyone," Billy added sympathetically.

        Chris perked up. Billy had him all wrong, but there was a similarity to their situations. Chris looked at Billy through the mirror and asked, "When you told your family that you were ... that you weren't who they wanted you to be, how did they take it?"

        "Well baby," Billy counseled, "It went down like they all go down. There was yelling and screamin'. My parents thought it was a phase. When they realized it wasn't, they thought they could church it outta me."

        "But it's okay now, right?"

        "Things are different, but they're good. My folks disowned me, but my sister keeps in touch. There's never any guarantees that people will accept the real you, but you have to deal with that and get on with livin', cause life's too short to spend it being someone you ain't."

        Chris pondered telling his family that he was in fact, a boy. What would they think of him? How could he even explain it? Chris thought of his uncle. Even if Alek did accept him as a boy, their relationship would never be the same. What about Misha? And Andrei? He couldn't bear to think of losing Nina.

        "Tell me honey, what do you think of that?"

        Chris' contemplation was halted by Billy's announcement. He reached up and felt the shaved hairs on the back of his neck. He unquestionably had a male haircut. His hair hadn't been this short since he was still living with his mother.

        Chris responded, "It's perfect." His face and body still retained traces of Christina, but this would be enough to allow him to return to work.

        Chris tipped Billy and gathered his things. He was lost in thought as he paid for his haircut and left the salon. Billy didn't understand Chris' situation, but he did have some good advice. Sooner or later, Chris had to stop pretending to be someone he was not. The question was, how would he go about it? Confessing to his family, he reasoned, would almost ensure that he would lose them. One option was to dispose of Christina Chase altogether. Move her somewhere far away. Perhaps some other excuse. That was no good either. Not only would he still lose his family, but he knew they would look for him. Chris' own mother had not bothered to even visit him since he'd left home, but he knew his uncle would not stop looking if his niece vanished.

        Chris walked into the office, still gripped by his dilemma. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a picture frame and placed it on his desk. It was the only decoration among the piles of papers and books in his tiny area. He melted into the image of his family standing in the field on the mountain. He could smell the wildflowers and feel winter's last chill on his face. He'd kept these pictures stuffed away in his album, just as he had tried to keep Christina safely contained in Oak Grove. It had made it easier to keep his troubles away from the forefront of his thoughts. Now, he couldn't image why he did that. These people were a source of strength. All it took was a glance at the frame, and he felt the warmth of their love. It seemed so unfair that he'd been blessed with the family he'd always dreamed of, only to be doomed to lose them forever.

 

        July was now in full force, bringing all the simple pleasures of Summer: sitting on the front porch on a breezy starlight evening eating watermelon, the cool refreshment of homemade lemonade, the feeling of the cold lake water on your skin after a long day in the heat. This is how Chris imagined the time was passed in Oak Grove. He often pictured these things in his mind when he looked out the grimy window by his cubicle. Another high rise across the street made the view anything but interesting. The alley between the buildings was cloaked in their perpetual shadow. Even on the brightest of days, the window gave the impression that it was dusk. This is how Chris spent three whole months; the entire summer.

        Chris devoted the next couple of months to reestablishing his male persona. He was relieved that his eyebrows had returned to normal, but pretending to be a girl had taken its toll on his body. His waist never completely recovered from wearing his cinchers. While he had lost his hourglass figure, his midsection retained distinctively girlish curves. His pubic hairs were regrowing slowly; Chris had a thin layer of blonde peach fuzz between his legs and his butt cheeks. He self-consciously monitored his body for changes every time he was in the bathroom.

        Even if his body wasn't cooperating, he had taken steps to banish his feminine mannerisms. He'd thrown away all of his fashion and beauty magazines and boxed up all of his girl clothes. Conscious of the way he spoke and how he moved his body, he attempted to halt any behaviors that were overtly feminine. The only exception to this policy was his hair. He let his hair grow, rationalizing that it had been long before he was ever a girl. A part of him knew that he was growing his hair out so he could visit his family again, even though he couldn't bring himself to admit it. He'd considered dating; there was an endless supply of attractive women in the city. While he thought about it, he never followed through. His time was ruled by his job. He also found that whenever he saw a beautiful woman, he immediately compared her to Steph.

        The days began to blend together. Chris was shocked to realize that it was already September, when Nina's phone calls had lessened in frequency because she'd started high school. Chris still managed to speak with her cousin at least once a week. Nina would always ask for advice about school and especially about her new boyfriend, David. Chris spoke with his aunt as well. Misha constantly asked when she could expect to see her niece again. Reluctant to become Christina Chase again, Chris deflected these questions. Even if he wanted to return, his schedule at work would have prevented it. Chris had no idea that the situation was about to be come worse.

        When Chris got to work one Monday, it was like any other day. He shuffled drearily to his computer and went through his emails. There was one marked urgent from Mr. Patel, that requested that Chris should stop by his office first thing that morning.

        Chris walked down the deserted corridor to Mr. Patel's office. He knocked on the open door to get Mr. Patel's attention. Mr. Patel was on the phone, and motioned for Chris to wait. Chris' eyes wandered around his the office. Mr. Patel had a large window with a decent view of the city. His wall was adorned with business degrees and accolades. He had given up an upper management position at a solid firm before starting this company. Chris noticed that the office was uncharacteristically disorganized; Mr. Patel's desk was littered with paperwork. Mr. Patel hung up the phone and motioned for Chris to sit down.

        "Chris," Mr. Patel said in a serious tone, "Thank you for stopping by. I want to tell you how much we appreciate all the hard work you've been doing."

        "Thanks," Chris responded. He was glad that Mr. Patel had noticed all the time he was putting in, but he didn't like the Mr. Patel's tone.

        "Chris, Sergei and Phil are leaving this week. I don't have to tell you how shorthanded this leaves us. I'm going to level with you, the company is in a spot of trouble."

        Chris nodded, but did not speak. There was only one senior programmer left.

        "This doesn't mean anything necessarily, we just have to work harder to pick up the slack. We need to hold on until the end of the year. I'm arranging for some venture capital, and then we can hire more people. We're all going to have to pull some late hours, but we're going to be just fine."

        Chris nodded again and looked down.

        "Chris, can we count on you?"

        Chris looked up at his boss and replied, "Yes sir. I'll help out however I can."

        "Good, good. That's all then. I won't keep you any longer." Mr. Patel stood up and walked Chris to the door. He gave Chris a slap on the back, and then Chris returned to his desk.

        Chris wasn't sure how he could work more than he already was. He'd already been doing far more work than a junior programmer should. Though his title and pay hadn't changed, he was essentially the lead on the eCommerce package. He was also working a good number of Saturdays. Still, Mr. Patel had given Chris a chance even though he had no real experience or education. He was determined to stick things out.

        Over the next month, Chris found out just how hard that was going to be. He was now working every Saturday, and occasionally on Sundays as well. Not once did Chris get home before ten o'clock at night on any weeknight. His sleep patters became irregular, and his every waking moment seemed to be spent at work or commuting. This pace kept up into October, and Chris wasn't sure he could continue at this rate for another two months.

 

        It was nearly eleven-thirty when Chris returned home one Saturday. He barely had time to take off his oversized leather jacket before the land line rang.

        Chris picked up the phone and groggily muttered, "Hello?"

        Chris heard his uncle answer, "Christina?"

        Chris cleared his throat and said, "Hi Uncle Alek, it's me."

        "Christina, where have you been all day? We called at least three times!"

        Kicking his sneakers off as he dropped onto the couch, Chris responded, "I'm sorry Uncle Alek, I was at work all day."

        "You were working on a Saturday? Again?" his uncle exclaimed angrily. "Did you just get home?"

        Chris winced at the sound of disapproval in his uncle's voice. "Yes sir," he replied guiltily, "I know you don't approve of me being out so late, but things have been really busy at work. They need me to work late for a while."

        "Tina, we have not heard from you in two weeks."

        Chris was astonished. He knew he missed speaking with his aunt and uncle the previous Sunday, but had it really been two weeks? He strained to remember, but he couldn't recall the last time he'd spoken with his uncle. He didn't even remember the last time he'd spoken with Nina, or even Andrei. "I'm so sorry Uncle Alek," he apologized, "I've just been so busy ... I guess I lost track of time."

        Alek's voice changed from annoyance to concern. "Your aunt and I are worried about you. You work far too hard. You should find some other kind of job."

        "I really can't right now." Chris had thought about getting a new job. He'd scanned the job boards online, but there was hardly anything in the area. The companies that were hiring were looking to fill senior positions; Chris would be lucky to even get another junior position with the state of his resume. He'd even contemplated getting some other kind of job, as some sort of cashier, or other kind of entry level work, but he couldn't see how he could earn enough money to keep his apartment. For better or for worse, Chris needed to ride this rough spot out where he was.

        "Tina, you are to call your Aunt tomorrow," Alek commanded. "She misses you."

        "I will," Chris responded obediently.

        "Why do you not come home for a while? When will we see you again?"

        "I dunno," Chris began, "I miss you all so much, but I don't think I can get away. Maybe Thanksgiving."

        "We will see you then," Alek responded firmly. "It is late, I want you to go to bed right now."

        "I will, Uncle Alek,"

        "Goodnight, Tina," Alek said affectionately.

        Chris replied, "Goodnight Uncle Alek, I love you."

        Chris was chagrined that his uncle thought he had a bedtime, and furthermore, that midnight was past it. It didn't matter; Chris was tired and he had no intention of staying up. The truth was, even if he'd been wide awake, he would still have obeyed his uncle. Alek had assumed the role of an overprotective father to his niece. Chris didn't care for the overprotective part, but he liked the idea that there was someone who was always looking out for him. It seemed that whenever Alek treated him like a helpless little girl, he fell obliged to obey.

        Chris stumbled around in the dark around the piles of clothes and trash on the floor. Misha had done an excellent job teaching Chris to keep house, but he was hardly ever home for long enough to put those skills into practice. He dropped onto his bed and shimmied out of his clothes.

        As he laid there in his underwear, he transcended the normal definition of "tired." He entered that realm of mental exhaustion that exceeded physical fatigue. His muscles felt dead and empty, and his mind was spent. A solid month of sixty-hour work weeks had taken its toll. He wished he was in his bed in Oak Grove. His room there was always clean, and there were always crisp, clean sheets. As he cast his thoughts to his other bedroom, he could smell the fragrant summer air floating in from the window. He pictured the canopy of his bed flowing in the mountain breeze. He could almost feel the softness of his mattress. He always felt like a princess when he slept in the bed that Andrei had made for him.

        Chris tossed and turned. The alarm clock read two-seventeen. He wanted desperately to sleep, but he was caught in a restless fit. His body ached from overuse. Desperate, Chris rose from his bed, his ankles and knees stinging as they bore his weight. Flipping on the bathroom light switch, he stared at his face as it was lit up by the pale illumination of the incandescent bulb dangling from two wires overhead. There was no color in his cheeks, on the walls, or in his thoughts.

        Stripping out of his underwear, Chris left it on the floor where he stood. He stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water. The massaging pulse of the shower head coaxed some life back into Chris' sore muscles. He stood there for several minutes, leaning on the shower rod for support.

        Feeling better after the brief shower, he grabbed a towel from the wall, dried his long hair and shambled back to the bedroom. He laid back down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He was tormented by the sound of passing cars and people on the street. Looking at the alarm clock, he realized it was almost four in the morning. This had to end; Chris needed something to help him sleep. He thoughts again drifted to his other bedroom. If only there was some way he could be there, he knew he could sleep.

        Chris jumped out of bed and went to his closet. He knew what he was about to do was very wrong, but he was desperate. He was consumed with nervous energy, and he needed to do something to make it stop. Removing a large cardboard box out of the closet, Chris ripped off the tape that held it shut. He didn't rummage through his girl clothes; instead, he made a neat stack on the ground as he dug into the box. He searched until he found the satin boxer pajamas that Nina had picked out for him during their first visit to Ariel Rose.

        Taking a deep breath, Chris slid the boxers bottoms up his long slender legs. He relished the feel of the smooth satin against his bare bottom. His male clothes were so course and abrasive; he wondered how he'd survived for so long in them. He slid his arms daintily though the sleeves of the top and buttoned it, and pranced over to the mirror with a rediscovered girlish delight. Looking at his reflection in the window, he fussed playfully with his hair. He was a long way from being Christina again, but his pajamas made him feel comfortable and relaxed; even attractive.

        Relishing the sensation of his pajamas, Chris slid back into bed and fantasized that he was back in his room at home. He closed his eyes and focused. Andrei and Nina were sleeping just down the hall. When he would wake up tomorrow morning Misha would be waiting downstairs with something delicious for breakfast. Chris would be up bright and early, and he would wear something pretty for his uncle. Perhaps he would go swimming with Nina or sit under the stars with Andrei. It was a beautiful fantasy. The fantasy turned into dreams as Chris truly relaxed for the first time in weeks and drifted to sleep.

        When Chris awoke the next day, it was as thought a dam had broken in his mind. He was not ashamed when he realized he was wearing his girl pajamas. They were his clothes, and they were comfortable. The fact that they were intended for girls didn't seem to matter. Even though he'd only slept for a few hours, he felt invigorated. His dreams had been filled with vivid images of life on the mountain, and he felt as though he'd really been there. Chris realized that to keep up the punishing pace of his job, he had to make some changes.

        The first thing he did was clean his apartment. He cleaned thoroughly, the way Misha had taught him. It took him half the day, but the apartment had never looked or smelled so good. Once that chore was done, Chris opened the boxes containing his girl clothes. He hung them up properly and cleared out a drawer for his panties and undergarments, even though he had no intention of wearing these things, except perhaps for his sleep clothes. Lastly, he put pictures of his family on the walls, including pictures of himself.

        This new behavior carried into the week. Chris had bought several magazines to read on the train on Monday morning, including the latest issues of Cosmo, Allure, and even YM. He had become genuinely interested in makeup and fashion, and he didn't see any reason to deny himself these things. He knew he was still a boy, but it didn't matter. This was no different from buying any other magazine about any other topic that interested him.

        All these things made the long hours easier to bear. As long as he was focused on Thanksgiving, and seeing his family, it was as though the volume on life was turned down.

        As November approached, Chris prepared for his return to Oak Grove. He shopped online for new clothes; he needed an entirely new wardrobe for Fall and Winter weather. Again, Chris dipped into his meager savings, but spending money on new clothes felt like a reward for all the hard work.

        Now an expert at online shopping, Chris had no trouble buying girls' clothes in the right sizes. He clicked around for hours, scrutinizing every skirt and sweater in every catalog. Compounding measures, he needed a new dress. Chris had a romantic notion of a family Thanksgiving; he pictured the family, well dressed, and sitting around an enormous turkey. Christina Chase would need a new dress to wear for Thanksgiving Day. While not overly dressy, it had to be something more extravagant than the dresses she'd worn to church.

        Chris, who now had bookmarks for all his favorite apparel stores, perused the images of formal dresses. He wished that he had the luxury of trying them on before deciding what to buy. As he saw one image after another of dresses designed for proms and weddings, he realized he had to try other stores or at least other sections of the catalogs. Just before he navigated away, one dress in particular caught his eye; it was a peach colored cocktail dress with a very short skirt. Though it was completely impractical, he clicked on the image to view the details. For an instant, he pictured himself wearing the dress. Against his better judgment, Chris bought the dress. He could try it on just once or twice, he reasoned, then return it. He just wanted to see what it would look like. After all, any other girl would be able to try on as many dresses as she wished. All she'd have to do was walk into any story and try things on. He didn't have the option. Considering the circumstances, ordering the dress for fun seemed like the only fair thing to do.

        After spoiling himself by spending some of his rapidly shrinking savings on a dress he would never need, Chris returned to the search for a Thanksgiving dress. Once he found one to his liking, he finished up the rest of his online shopping. By the time he was done, his girl clothes far outnumbered his boy clothes. He'd also splurged on body lotions, makeup, perfume, and jewelry. Though he'd bought a variety of bracelets and earrings, he didn't purchase any necklaces, as he could never dream of wearing anything but his gear necklace.

        Once his new wardrobe was secure, Chris called Lucille at the Transformations Boutique and set up an appointment. He wasn't looking forward to the pain or humiliation of another waxing, but he chalked it up as one of the costs for spending time at home. He would also have to get his ears pierced again before he could enjoy all of his new earrings. Even thought he was going to see Lucille, Chris called Steph and made an appointment for the day after Thanksgiving. He rationalized that he wanted to try some new things with his hair, but it was really an excuse to spend time with the girl of his dreams.

        The last step was his bus ticket. His uncle had forbidden him to take the night bus again, so he had to purchase tickets for a bus that left early in the morning.

        With all this done, Chris still returned home exhausted at the end of every day, but his heart was filled with hope, as he knew he would be home soon.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Christina sat on the bus to Dover, leafing through the current issue of Vogue magazine, where she'd dog-eared a few pages containing some looks she wanted to try out with Steph.

        This time, her visit to the Transformations Boutique had not been as traumatizing as the first time. Though the place made still her feel extremely uncomfortable, she tried to look at it as though it was an ordinary salon visit. The Brazilian wax wasn't quite as painful as the last time as her pubic hairs had never quite grown back to their old thickness. She supposed there was no real need to wax her bikini area, but she had to admit that the feeling of her panties caressing her baby soft skin made her feel more secure in her new role.

        She was wearing clothes that were suited for travel. She had on her favorite pair of boot cut jeans. Her high heeled leather boots were a recent purchase. On top she wore a red, poorboy style turtleneck sweater. Finishing the outfit was her new green wool peacoat jacket.

        She hadn't planned on buying the jacket; that purchase had been compelled by her new awareness of fashion. Years ago, she would have debated the existence of a "fashion sense," but now she was aware that such a thing was as real as taste or smell. When she was shopping online, she found the peacoat and immediately realized that it was the missing key in a number of her new Fall outfits. It wasn't an impulse buy; it was tidal gravity. She couldn't explain the attraction to someone who didn't have a fashion sense; it was something you could only see if you were open to the experience. It was similar to how she had never really noticed just how dirty her apartment was until after Misha had taught her to keep house.

        Christina's hair had returned to its former glory and her newly pierced ears sported a set of basic hoop earrings. Between the new clothes and jewelry, it was obvious, even to herself, that she was reveling in her femininity. Christina never thought of her self as ugly when she was a boy, but she'd never though she was good looking either. Christina, the girl, was beautiful, sexy, and glamorous. She could see it on the faces of the people she passed. It was a powerful feeling. She thought it was foolish to not enjoy that when she had the opportunity, even if it were just temporary.

        It wasn't the clothes, the jingle of her new bracelets, or the smell of her perfume that recalled her feminine side as much as the weight of breasts on her chest. It wasn't disorienting like it had been the first time she'd worn them. Instead, it was a pleasant, familiar feeling. Being a girl was coupled in her mind to her family and Oak Grove; it triggered warm feelings and memories. Just wearing her breasts was enough to make her feel relaxed. Her false vagina was another story. It was restricting and mildly uncomfortable. She knew from experience that she would adjust to the feeling. Though it should have all felt strange, being a girl was something Christina rationalized as "normal" under the circumstances.

        It was exactly that sort of thinking that allowed Lucille to sell her a new, smaller waist cincher. Christina's waist had shrunk again, not because of wearing her old cinchers, but because of her lifestyle. The long hours at work combined with too many skipped meals had taken at least five pounds from her. She needed a smaller one to have any effect on her ever shrinking waist.

        The lead up to Thanksgiving had been hard, but the tough times at work were almost over. She just had to ride it out until the end of the year. None of it mattered right now; Christina let it all fade away as she sat on the bus. She was exhausted as usual, but thoughts of seeing her loved ones prevented her from sleeping.

        With every hour that passed, suburbia waned, and was replaced by green woodlands and mountain vistas. The sun crossed overhead, resting finally on the horizon as the day was consumed. What Christina felt could only be described as homesickness. She wasn't sure when the switch had happened, but she no longer thought of her dank little apartment as "home". She hadn't had a place that felt like a real home since her father died. All the places she had lived with her mother and Danny had just been glorified closets. When Christina had first moved in, she was very happy with her tiny apartment. After experiencing life in a real, loving home again, her place felt empty and lonely. Just like her fashion sense, it was a new sort of awareness. Once you had it, there was no going back.

        Though Christina was spent from another month of long hours, she found new energy when the bus pulled into the Dover station and she saw the old green truck waiting for her. Shoving her Vogue into her pocketbook, she rushed to the door. She scanned the station in the dusk's thin light for her cousin Andrei. She was surprised when she saw her uncle waiting for her.

        "Uncle Alek!" Christina shouted with glee. She ran to her uncle and threw her arms around him.

        "Hello Tina," her uncle laughed heartily. He held Christina out at arms length and said, "Let me look at you."

        If she'd known that her uncle was going to pick her up, Christina would have worn something nicer.

        Alek looked his niece over and his face wrinkled with concern. The smiling girl that stood before him was his beautiful niece, but she was changed. He could see hints of bags under her eyes through her makeup. Her body looked wasted and frail; he could tell that she was worn thin.

        "Tina, you look so tired," Alek exclaimed.

        "I'm okay Uncle Alek, I just couldn't sleep on the bus is all." Christina looked away. She didn't want her uncle to know how many hours she was working or how exhausted she really was.

        Alek grabbed Christina's bags and whispered, "Come Tina, we will take care of you." He led Christina to the truck and loaded her suitcases into the back while she got in. Being in her uncle's orbit had a calming affect on Christina. All the stresses of her city life completely melted away; she felt loved and protected. Christina's eyes became heavy. There were so many things she wanted to talk about, but it would have to wait. She cocked her head onto her shoulder and drifted to sleep.

 

        Christina awoke when she felt her uncle's giant hand on her shoulder. Alek lifted Christina out of the truck and placed her onto the ground. Christina was startled as she felt her boots sink into snow. The chill in the air made it clear that winter came much earlier on the mountain. She shivered and held her uncle for warmth as they went in through the side door to the kitchen.

        The entire family was waiting for Christina and Alek's return. Alek took Christina's bags upstairs and left her to greet the family. Boris rushed to Christina's side and rubbed his head underneath her palm. Nina and Andrei began speaking over each other, both hungry for Christina's attention.

        Misha shushed them both and said, "Christina has had a long trip, and I am sure she is hungry."

        Christina agreed as she took off her coat, "Yeah, I could eat a little something I guess."

        Misha sat her niece at the kitchen table and heated up some roast left over from dinner. Christina fielded questions from her cousins about everything from work to her love life. Misha put an end to the interrogation when she placed a gargantuan plate of food in front of her niece.

        "Aunt Misha!" Christina exclaimed, "I can't eat all of this!"

        "You've lost weight dear," Misha admonished. "You need to eat."

        Christina knew better than to argue. As she placed a forkful of mashed potatoes into her mouth, she closed her eyes and savored the taste as the potatoes melted on her tongue. She hadn't had a real, home cooked meal in almost six months.

        When Alek returned to the kitchen, the family sat and chatted while Christina ate. They talked about what they'd been doing since the last time Christina was there. Nina talked about life in high school, while Andrei bragged to his cousin about his latest projects in the barn. Christina did more listening and eating than speaking. She did find time to mention how much she was looking forward to helping Misha prepare Thanksgiving dinner the next day.

        Christina was nowhere close to finishing everything on her plate when she announced she was full. After Misha cleared Christina's place, Alek stood and said, "Everyone, you can talk to Christina tomorrow. Now it is time for her to go to bed."

        "But Dad," Nina protested, "It's still early!"

        "I'm not really tired Uncle Alek," Christina added timidly.

        "Tina, you look exhausted, and you will go to bed right now." There was no anger in Alek's voice, just a fierce certainty that told Christina that the subject was not up for debate.

        Obeying her uncle, Christina said goodnight to everyone. She left the kitchen and went upstairs to her room. Stripping out of her clothes, she stood naked except for her cotton thong panties. The thong was part of Christina's new liberated shopping habits. She didn't feel ashamed when she bought girl clothing this time, in fact, she decided to have fun with it. She'd read in Elle Girl that the right choices in underwear could make you feel sexy even when you were dressing down. The feeling of the thong nestled between her hairless cheeks made her feel deliciously naughty.

        She put her clothes away, then selected a sleepshirt to wear. She pulled it over her head and examined herself in the mirror. The sleepshirt was a simple pink jersey with blue sleeves that came down just below her elbows. The front was adorned with a sleeping cartoon kitty cat with a bow on her head.

        Shivering from the feeling of the cold wooden floor under her feet, Christina walked to the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and sat on the toilet, gasping at the kiss of the cold porcelain on her bare bottom. Once she was finished with her business, she went to the sink to remove her makeup and brush her teeth. She didn't care for being sent to bed so early, though she had to admit that she had been looking forward to sleeping in her bed for months.

        When she left the bathroom, she found her uncle waiting in the hallway. All the annoyance she felt washed away when she saw Alek's paternal smile. He took Christina's tiny hand in his and led her back into her bedroom. Alek released her hand and walked over to her bed. He pulled back the thick covers and patted the mattress. Christina grinned and hopped into bed. She straightened out her sleepshirt and her uncle pulled the covers over her.

        "I haven't been tucked in since I was seven years old," Christina giggled.

        Alek laughed and exclaimed, "Then it has been far too long. Nina outgrew it when she was twelve. And Nastya," Alek recalled, "When Nastya was only six years old, she told me that she had slain every last monster under her bed."

        Christina laughed and said with mock seriousness, "My bed has been monster free for quite some time. The closets I'm not sure about."

        "I would always check Nina's closet right after going through the list."

        "What list?" Christina asked as she regressed into infantile glee.

        "First, I would check to see if she washed behind her hears." Alek moved Christina's earlobe with his large, rough finger and checked behind it.

        "It's clean," Christina giggled.

        "Good!" Alek praised. "And your teeth?"

        Getting into the spirit of the game, Christina smiled widely, showing off her white teeth to her uncle.

        "Excellent. Good girl. But, there is something on your nose!"

        Christina tried too look at her nose to see what she could have possibly missed and asked, "What's on my nose?"

        Alek leaned forward and pecked her on the tip of her nose and said, "A kiss."

        Christina laughed and gushed, "Uncle Alek!"

        Alek stroked his niece's hair and said, "I want you to get some real rest. Do not think I have not noticed how hard you are working."

        Christina, again under her uncle's paternal spell, nodded and said, "Yes sir."

        "Is there anything you need before I leave you?"

        Christina reached behind her neck and unclasped her necklace. She removed it and put it into Alek's large palm. Christina whispered, "Could you put this on my nightstand?"

        "Of course, Tina." Alek responded lovingly. He reached over and deposited the gear on the table and observed, "You wear this always, do you not?"

        "Yes. It's the only thing I have left in the world from my father."

        Alek nodded and kissed his niece on the forehead. He whispered, "Goodnight, my dear," and walked to the door.

        "Uncle Alek!" Christina objected. A playful grin crossed her face and she whispered, "You forgot to check my closet."

        Alek laughed and poked his head into her closet. "All clear," he announced.

        Christina giggled, replying sweetly, "Goodnight, Uncle Alek."

        Alek replied, "Goodnight, Tina." He turned off the lights and closed the door behind him.

        Christina wrapped her blankets around her and between her legs. She reveled in the guilty pleasure of being babied by her uncle. Now that she was tucked into her comfy bed, she felt the toll of weeks of late and restless nights. She grabbed one of her pillows and clutched it to her chest as she drifted off into a deep and serene sleep.

 

        When she awoke the next day, Christina opened her eyes and looked around. It was true- she was actually home. She relished the sight of her bedroom; the chest of drawers, the vanity, and, of course, the canopy over her bed. Glancing out the window, she watched the snow falling gently. It felt as though she'd slept for a week. She could smell the delicious scent of the turkey cooking in the kitchen beneath her. At that, she sat up in bed. She realized, the turkey was already cooking ... She shot a glance at the clock and saw that it was almost one o'clock!

        She jumped out of bed and threw on her robe. Christina bumped into Andrei on the way down the stairs as she rushed to the kitchen. She called, "Sorry!" to her older cousin as she turned the corner into the kitchen. Nina and Misha were tending to the stove and cleaning off the table.

        "Oh my God!" Christina exclaimed, "I slept through the turkey?"

        Misha turned to her niece and touched Christina's cheek with her hand. "Do not worry child," she said.

        "I wanted to help," Christina sighed dejectedly.

        Nina said, "Dad was right; I guess you were really tired."

        "Yeah, I guess so," Christina admitted, "I didn't even realize."

        "Go upstairs and get dressed," Misha consoled. "There is always more to do."

        Christina nodded as she promised, "I'll be right back."

        Christina heard Misha call, "Take your time, dear!" as she scurried back upstairs. She saw that Andrei's door was ajar. She'd never been in Andrei's room, and she was very curious to see what it was like. Poking her head through the door, she saw Andrei sitting on his bed. There were horrendous piles of clothes and junk; not a single square inch of floor was visible beneath the trash. It was comforting to know she wasn't the only slob in the family.

        "This place is a sty!" Christina exclaimed.

        Andrei looked up to see Christina's smiling face at his door.

        Christina stood there for a while then joked, "Come on in you say? Sure! Why not."

        Andrei watched his cousin's slender legs as she tiptoed in her teensy sleepshirt and robe through the minefield of papers and dirty underwear to his bed. He grabbed one of his pillows and held it in his lap to obscure the erection that was quickly growing in his pants.

        Christina pushed aside a pile of books and sat next to him. Making a pouty face, she apologized, "I'm sorry. I just had to see what your room looked like. Don't be mad."

        "I'm not mad," Andrei stumbled, "I would have cleaned up a little if I knew-"

        "Please," Christina interrupted "My room is disgusting too."

        "Your room is spotless."

        "Oh no," Christina corrected, "I mean my place back in the city. It makes your room look like the Taj Mahal."

        Andrei wrinkled his brow and asked, "What's the Taj Mahal?"

        "It's some kinda fancy palace in India I think. I dunno really, but from the pictures, I bet it's super clean inside."

        Andrei laughed. "And you are an expert in places you've never been to?"

        Christina elbowed her cousin and retorted, "Well someday we can go together, and I'll ask the janitor."

        "Okay, it's a deal," Andrei joked, "We'll travel the world and visit all the janitors."

        Christina giggled in response. Noticing that Andrei had a picture on his nightstand, she reached over him and took it into her lap. It was one of the pictures from her first visit; she and Andrei were standing alone in front of the barn. "You have a picture of us on your nightstand." She leaned over and put it back, adding, "That's so sweet."

        "I ... I uh," Andrei blushed, "It's just a good picture."

        Christina smiled at her cousin, and Andrei couldn't suppress a smile in return. It was cut short when Christina suddenly stood up. "I'm a mess," she exclaimed. "It's the middle of the day, and I haven't even showered yet."

        Andrei looked at his cousin in her cute sleepshirt and then stared at a pile of dirty laundry on the floor. "You look fine," Andrei choked, "You always look great."

        "You don't have to be polite," Christina said appreciatively. "I really should get ready though. I can't wear this all day," Christina said as she straightened out the bottom of her sleepshirt.

        Andrei muttered, "That wouldn't be so bad ..."

        "What's that?" Christina asked.

        "Nothing," he recovered, "You should go and get ready."

        Christina walked to the door and called back, "I should leave you alone so you can get dressed too."

        Andrei stood up and said, "I am dressed."

        Christina looked back at her cousin. He was wearing a pair of old jeans and a flannel shirt. Christina laughed but then stopped when she realized Andrei wasn't making a joke. "Andrei," Christina objected, "It's Thanksgiving! We should all wear something nice."

        Andrei cleared his throat and answered, "Right. Something nice. I know that." He grinned sheepishly as his cousin glided out of his room.

        Christina went down the hall and into the bathroom. After a quick shower, she returned to her room to get ready. She slipped into a delicate lace panty and bra set and squeezed herself into her brutally tight waist cincher, wincing at the pain it caused. She had no plans to wear the item often; she'd already done some damage to her waistline and she had no intention of doing more permanent harm, but today was a special day. Going through her closet, Christina took out a full length black dress adorned with golden floral embroidery. She had bought it specifically for this day. It was a little formal, but she wanted to enjoy the first real family Thanksgiving she'd had in years. She dropped the dress over her head and fussed with it in the mirror. The dress had a deep neckline that proudly showed off her bust.

        Satisfied with her clothes, Christina sat down at her vanity and turned her attention to her face and hair. It took her nearly thirty minutes of primping and fussing to look just right. After slipping into her high heels, she gave herself one last inspection. She thought she looked good, but the only opinion she really cared about was her uncle's.

        On the way out the door, she misted herself with the perfume atomizer that was on her vanity. Finally ready, Christina descended the staircase and returned to the kitchen.

        "Tina," Misha exclaimed, "You look beautiful."

        Christina smiled. "I'm sorry I slept all day. Is there anything I can do to help?"

        Misha nodded as she tended to a simmering pot full of string beans. "Yes dear, you can set the table." She touched Nina on the shoulder and said, "Go and find your father and Andrei. Tell them that dinner is almost ready, and to come to eat."

        Nina ran off while Christina took the plates out of the cabinet. She was nearly finished with the place settings by the time Nina returned with her father. Alek was dressed casually; not as well as when he took Christina to church, but he had dressed up somewhat for the occasion. Christina took a seat next to her uncle and grinned, hoping for a compliment on her new dress. She was crestfallen when he chatted with Misha.

        At his wife's request, Alek went to the oven, removed the giant turkey, and carried it to the middle of the table. Sitting down with the carving knife in his hand, he asked, "Where is Andrei?"

        "He said he's not ready yet," Nina explained.

        "Not ready? What is he doing up there?" Alek asked testily.

        Christina stood up and said, "I'll go get him."

        "Good girl," Alek said. "Tell him we are all waiting."

        Even Boris was pacing the kitchen nervously, waiting for the turkey to be carved.

        Christina stood for a moment in front of her uncle, expecting he would notice her dress or at least her hair, but he did not say a word. Hoping that Alek was merely hungry, Christina went up to the second floor and knocked gently on Andrei's door.

        "I said I'm not ready Nina!" Andrei growled.

        Christina jumped back at the sound of his voice then timidly offered, "It's Christina."

        Andrei immediately opened the door. He stood in a formal pair of slacks and a clean white shirt, and his face was flush with frustration. A tie hung unevenly around his disheveled collar.

        "Uncle Alek is waiting for you," Christina said. "I think you're making him cranky."

        "I'll be down in a minute."

        "What's the problem?" Christina asked.

        "Nothing," Andrei replied stubbornly.

        Christina shot a glance at his tie then eyed her cousin knowingly. She took his hand and dragged him to her bedroom. She positioned him in front of her full length mirror and started working on his tie.

        Andrei took a deep breath and let Christina help him.

        "I can't do it this way," Christina complained. She went to the hall closet, retrieved a foot stool, and placed it behind Andrei. Attempting to balance on the stool in her high heels, Christina wrapped her arms around her cousin and leaned her chest against the back of his left shoulder. She could barely reach around him as she fiddled with his tie.

        Andrei was awash in the sweet scent of his cousin's perfume. He could feel her breasts pressing against his back as she fixed his tie and straightened his collar. Once she was done with the tie, Andrei felt his cousin's fingers along his scalp as she brushed his hair with her hands. The sensation was maddening.

        Stepping down from the stool, Christina came around and took a look at Andrei from the front. "You clean up quite nicely," she proclaimed.

        "Thanks," he mumbled.

        Ever the perfectionist, Christina stood in front of Andrei and played with her own hair in the mirror.

        Andrei found her every movement enchanting.

        "Do you think this dress looks good on me?" Christina asked.

        Andrei swallowed and said, "Yes, you look beautiful."

        She spun around and looked him in the eyes, still upset that Alek hadn't noticed. "Really? You're not just saying that?"

        "I really mean it," Andrei said seriously.

        Christina smiled and said, "Thanks." She grabbed Andrei's sweaty palm with her tiny hand and added, "We'd better get downstairs before anyone wonders what happened to us." She led her cousin briskly through the hallway and down the stairs. The two cousins entered the kitchen hand-in-hand.

        Misha, Alek, and Nina looked at Andrei in astonishment. Even Boris somehow seemed surprised.

        "Andrei, you're wearing a tie!" Nina exclaimed.

        Andrei cleared his throat, but he did not respond.

        "I think he looks good!" Christina defended playfully.

        "He actually does," Nina gasped, "But, I don't think I've EVER seen Andrei wear a tie before in my whole life!"

        "Leave your brother alone," Misha chided, "He looks very nice. Let us all sit down and eat."

        Christina and Andrei took their seats, and the family said grace. Alek, still testy from the long wait, carved into the bird with a vengeance. Once Alek's aggressions were taken out on the massive turkey, the family enjoyed the meal together.

        Christina was in a state of complete bliss; this felt like first real holiday meal she'd had in over a decade. She felt as though she had known these people her entire life. She didn't even mind being a girl today. Being Alek and Misha's niece actually made her feel special.

        Alek and Andrei devoured an enormous amount of food. Christina, though she savored every bite, ate even less than Nina. Months of irregular work hours and poor eating habits made it impossible for Christina to eat much without making her stomach upset. Still, she was content to nibble at the delights that Misha had prepared.

        When everyone, including Boris, was finished, the family retired to the living room. Christina had taken dozens of pictures of the city with her digital camera, and the Levchenko's passed the time looking at the prints. They all were curious about Christina's life away from home, and none of them had ever been to the city.

        Christina showed them pictures of marketplaces, museums, and busy city streets. Most of the pictures were from last year, long before any of the problems at work had started. Christina had weeded out any pictures of herself or Amy. While she did have some pictures of her office, and some of the people at work, she'd removed all the pictures of her apartment. She was far too ashamed of her bare walls and ratty old furniture to let anyone see them.

        After an hour or so, the family dispersed. Andrei went out into the cold barn to work, while Nina went upstairs to answer a phone call from David. Christina and Misha were left to clean up. Still feeling guilty from sleeping all morning, Christina insisted on doing most of the work. When Christina started mopping the kitchen floor, Misha shooed her out of the kitchen and demanded that she take a break. Christina wandered into the living room just as Alek came in the front door carrying a tremendous load of chopped wood.

        Christina rushed to him and said, "Let me help you with that!"

        "Nonsense!" he guffawed, "I do not want you to ruin your pretty dress."

        Christina held her hands behind her back and grinned furiously. After Alek dropped the load of wood in the bin next to the fireplace, she asked, "Do you like it Uncle Alek? My dress?"

        He smiled and said, "Of course Tina, you are beautiful."

        Glowing from her uncle's attention, she gushed, "Thank you, Uncle Alek." She added, "I didn't realize the fireplace actually worked. I mean, most of the fireplaces I've seen were just for show."

        "This fireplace is quite real, I assure you." He motioned to the couch, "Have a seat and I will build you a fire."

        "Oh, you don't have to do that," Christina dismissed.

        "It is no trouble," Alek insisted.

        Christina did as she was told and took her seat while Alek arranged two thick logs in the fireplace. When he had the beginnings of a fire, he joined his niece on the couch.

        Christina looked up at the large man's face. He looked nothing like her father; Alek's jaw and shoulders were wide and strong. Though his mannerisms were gruff, they disguised a kind soul. Christina's father, as far as she could remember, had been as tall and thin as she was. Alexander Chase had always been absent minded and analytical, though even with his busy schedule, he'd always made time for her. Even though the men were different, Christina felt a similar warmth from her uncle that she remembered from her father. Maybe it ran in the family, or maybe it was just the feeling of having someone in her life again. Whatever it was, she was drawn to it. Thirteen years without her father couldn't extinguish her need for that kind of love. Perhaps it was her craving for Alek's paternal attention that allowed Christina to feel no shame in acting like a girl for her uncle.

        Leaning against the older man's shoulder, Christina said, "Thank you for having me over for Thanksgiving. I really enjoyed it."

        "You are always welcome Tina. You can stay whenever you wish; it does not have to be a holiday."

        "I missed you so much," she confessed.

        Alek turned to his niece and gave her a serious look. "Why do you not tell me what is really going on?"

        Christina felt her stomach sink as though she had just rolled over the top of a roller coaster. What did her uncle mean? Her breathing became shallow, and her eyes went wide with fear.

        Alek continued, "Why are you working so much?"

        It took Christina's mind a moment to realize that Alek didn't suspect her true identity. Even though she knew she was in no danger, the tightness in her chest would not abate.

        Alek held Christina's hand and said, "Tina, you are shaking. Do you not feel well?"

        "I'm ok," Christina croaked, finding her voice, "I'm just a little chilly."

        "Wait here," Alek commanded before going down the hall to the master bedroom.

        Christina took large gulps of air as she recovered. Her head was swimming, and she could feel a warm sensation returning to her hands.

        Alek returned in the room carrying an old quilt. Sitting down next to Christina, he wrapped the blanket tightly around her. He draped his thick arm around her and pulled her close. "Is that better?" he asked.

        "Yes," Christina gasped as her breathing returned to normal.

        "Why have you been coming home so late at night?" Alek repeated.

        "It's nothing really," Christina dismissed. "The company I work for lost some people, and they haven't replaced them yet, so we all have to pitch in a little until the end of the year." Christina wasn't going to lie, but she decided the whole truth was more information than she wanted to share.

        "Why have they not hired more workers?"

        "Um ... they're waiting for the end of the year. They're going to hire people in January." Christina omitted the part about raising capital.

        "I see," Alek said slowly. "You know I do not approve of you working weekends."

        Christina stared into the fire and acknowledged, "Yes sir, I know."

        Alek pressed, "How much time have you been spending at work?"

        Christina winced and sidestepped the issue. "Oh you know, not too much. Just a little more than normal."

        Alek took his niece's chin in his large, rough hand and guided her head so she was looking him in the eyes. "How many hours do you work each day." Alek phrased this as more of a command than a question.

        Christina bit her lower lip, unable to escape her uncle's gaze.

        "Tina ..." Alek said with a hint of annoyance.

        "Well, technically, I guess maybe twelve hours or so?"

        "Twelve hours!" he boomed.

        "Yeah ... and maybe two or three more if you add in commuting." Christina added, "But I really just sleep on the train, so that hardly counts. And the Saturdays thing- that's just temporary. So when you think about it, It's really not as bad as-"

        Alek held up his hand and Christina stopped talking. "Tina, I do not approve of this at all. You are not to work this much, and I forbid you to ride the train alone in the middle of the night." His voice was firm as he handed down his edict.

        "But Uncle Alek-"

        One stern look from her uncle stopped Christina dead in her tracks. "I forbid it," he repeated, "And that is final. You are to look for some other job."

        Christina scrunched her brow in annoyance. Advice was one thing, she thought, but who was he to dictate the terms of her life? She was about to tell him that she could make her own decisions when Alek shot her another steely glance. Her shoulders dropped and she unwrinkled her face as she answered, "Yes sir." In a timid voice, Christina said, "I have to keep working some long hours until I find a new job, okay?"

        "Fair enough," Alek responded, "But you will be home no later than nine o'clock, and in bed by ten."

        "Ten?" Christina balked. Christina shrank again from her uncle's glare and conceded, "Ten o'clock."

        "And you will call home every Sunday."

        Failing to find the words to stand up to her uncle, Christina promised, "Yes sir. I will." She rationalized her defeat with the knowledge that she'd already been scanning the job boards for months. In a way, that was almost the same as not submitting to her uncle's demands. As for calling every Sunday, Christina had no objections.

        With the fire now blazing, Christina slid out from underneath the quilt. Desperate to change the subject, she pointed to the old clock on the wall and asked, "Uncle Alek, what happened to your clock?"

        "What do you mean?" Alek asked as he looked to the far wall.

        "The clock doesn't work anymore. It's all empty inside."

        Alek stood up and removed the clock from the peg on the wall, then placed it gently in Christina's lap. She ran her hand down the side of it, and opened the glass door. There were still a few gears and cogs in the old clock, but it was mostly empty.

        Returning to his seat, Alek explained, "This clock has been in our family for generations. When your aunt and I left for America, almost thirty years ago, my parents gave us heirlooms to take with us. My mother gave me a gift to give to Anastasia when she came of age, and my father gave to me, this clock. As the oldest son, it was my birthright. At the time, Misha was only a few months pregnant with Nastya, and we could barely afford our plane tickets. We had to leave many things behind, and some of our belongings, such as this clock, I could not afford to take with us. I had to send it by ship, with the rest of our things. It was months after we were settled that many of our possessions reached us."

        Christina leaned against her uncle as she was drawn into the story.

        "Even in these modern times, an ocean voyage can be a dangerous thing. The ship was rocked by a terrible storm the day before it reached these shores. Much of its cargo was lost to the sea, but this clock, and a few other items survived."

        "But it doesn't look that bad at all."

        "No, not now, but when it was returned to us, it was very broken. Here," he said, touching the side panel. "The wood was cracked and splintered. And the door," he explained as he tapped his finger on the glass. "This was broken to pieces." He picked up the clock and held it at an angle so Christina could look down its face. "See that on the big hand?"

        Christina nodded. She could make out a faint imperfection.

        "This was bent over."

        "I would never have guessed," Christina said in astonishment. "It looks as good as our old clock ever did."

        "I was able to fix it," He said proudly. His grin faded, and he admitted, "Not all of it though." He opened the door to expose the hollow inside. "This was beyond me. The internal workings were destroyed. The pieces were lost ... or bent ... I tried to rebuild it, but I did not have the gift that my great grandfather had."

        "Well at least you still have it," Christina consoled, "My father's clock was lost in the fire."

        "Yes," Alek said as he stood and took the clock from Christina's lap, "This endures, though it will never be the same again." Alek hung the clock back on the peg and arranged it just so.

        "It's too bad you couldn't make the insides work, but you did a wonderful job fixing the outside."

        "In my youth, I was quite the woodworker," Alek boasted.

        "Just like Andrei."

        Alek sat back down and smirked, "Who do you think taught him?"

        "You must be really proud of him," Christina said. "The things he makes are amazing."

        Alek frowned. "Andrei is a good boy, and he is a hard worker, but he needs to stop playing games in the barn. All day and night he works, and for what? Maybe he sells something every few months."

        "But-"

        "No," Alek barked, "Andrei needs to grow up. He needs to be a man."

        Christina didn't agree, but she nodded anyway. She could sense the tension that existed between her uncle and her cousin, and she didn't want to exacerbate things by taking sides.

        Misha walked into the living room wearing a long nightgown and a robe. She smiled at her husband and her niece and said, "You two are still awake?"

        Christina grinned and explained, "Uncle Alek was just telling me about the stuff you lost when you moved to the United States."

        "Oh," Misha said with a sly grin, "Did he tell you that he made me leave the silver tea set, that my mother gave to me, behind?"

        "Misha ..." Alek winced.

        "Four generations that was in my family!" she said, raising her hand.

        "But Misha ..." Alek said as he walked to his wife and took her hand.

        Misha was grinning now, "He takes me all the way across the ocean so my cousin can have my tea set?"

        "Thirty years, Misha!" Alek objected as he kissed his wife.

        Christina giggled, "If you did take it, it could have sank off the boat!"

        "Yes!" Alek grinned as he motioned towards Christina. "You see my niece, the genius?"

        Misha roared in mock anger, "Better at the bottom of the ocean with the crabs than with Marina!" She kissed her husband on the cheek and whispered, "Come to bed, Alek."

        "Yes, of course. I've already kept Tina up far past her bedtime."

        The word "bedtime" stabbed at Christina's ears.

        "You run along, Tina," her uncle commanded, "We will see you in the morning."

        Christina said goodnight to her aunt and uncle and went upstairs. After she'd washed her face and brushed her teeth, she returned to her room and studied herself in the mirror. She stripped off all oh her clothes and examined her naked body. Even with no clothes or makeup, Christina looked like a girl. The misunderstanding with her uncle scared the life out of her. Seeing herself naked reassured her that no one would mistake her for a boy. Still, the whole situation was tenuous at best. She had to keep up the illusion, and the best way she knew to do that was to think like a girl, and act like a girl.

        Hearing the door creak open, Christina spun around on her heels. Her arms instinctively shot up over her chest. "Boris!" she yelled at the large German shepherd. Christina dropped her hands and bent down next to the dog. She rubbed his belly and chided, "I gotta put a bell on you or something." She went to the door and closed it tightly. Turning around, she presented her naked form to the dog. "What do you think? Just like the real thing."

        Boris tilted his head.

        "Well," Christina conceded, "Almost like the real thing."

        Ignoring the dog, Christina rummaged through her drawers and took out a green tank top and a pair of orange g-string panties. She pulled the tank top over her head and slid the lacy panties up over her hips, then went to the mirror and admired herself. From the nipples poking though her top, to the delicate mound resting in her panties, there was no way anyone would mistake her for a boy. Christina turned her backside to the mirror and surveyed her butt. It was flat and tight. Though not overtly boyish, it was not as full or rounded as she would have liked. Still, even Nina shared her waifish figure, so it wasn't as though she was the only girl in the family with a tight bottom.

        A twinge of shame shot through Christina as she realized that she'd just taken "thinking like a girl" one step too far. Christina Chase, she reminded herself, only exists in Oak Grove. It was okay to be a girl here, perhaps even to enjoy being a girl, but she needed to maintain some limits.

        Refusing to dwell on the situation any further, Christina went back to her door and opened it. "Okay you," she said to Boris, "Out!"

        The large dog laid down on his belly and dropped his head between his paws.

        "Go see Andrei! Go on!"

        Boris raised an eyebrow and very little else.

        "Fine," Christina acquiesced, "The floor is yours."

        Christina took off her necklace and placed it on her nightstand before getting into bed. Before she even had the covers pulled all the way up, Boris jumped up onto the bed.

        "Excuse me?" Christina asked in surprise.

        Boris ignored the girl and lay down next to her. Draping her arm over the dog, Christina snuggled up next to him. Rubbing his belly, she said, "You can stay, but you'd better keep all my secrets."

        Christina reflected on her night with Alek as she cuddled Boris. As much as she resented being ordered around by her uncle, a part of her hoped that he would walk though her door and tuck her in again. It was a silly, childish desire, but she felt it none the less. She had to make do with reliving last night in her memories as she fell into slumber.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Nina stood on her tip-toes, stretching to slide a case of paper towels onto the top shelf. She didn't like working in the grocery store during vacations, but working with Christina was another matter entirely. "I wish you were staying longer." Nina said, placing the last case on the shelf. "Why didn't you take the whole week off?"

        "You should be glad they gave me any time off at all," Christina responded. "Things have just been crazy at work." The two girls had cleaned all through the excruciatingly slow morning hours and were now looking for any chores to keep themselves occupied.

        Nina, now finished with restocking, joined Christina in cleaning the glass cases next to the register. "Crazy how?" she asked.

        Christina shot a glance to the door behind the counter; there was no sign of her uncle. Even Boris, who was lying on a large mat by the door, was asleep. Christina grabbed Nina by the hand and pulled her to the far corner of the store next to the cereals and grains. "You can't tell anyone this, okay? Top Secret."

        Nina nodded and held up her hand, her fingers crossed.

        Christina whispered, "The company I work for is running out of money. A lot of people have already left."

        "Are they going out of business?"

        Christina shook her head. "No, but they aren't hiring anybody to replace the people we lost, so I have to work like insane hours, and Saturdays too."

        "That's crazy!" Nina exclaimed.

        "See? That's what I mean. That's why I didn't come back sooner."

        "I thought maybe ..." Nina started.

        "What?"

        Nina frowned and said, "I thought you maybe didn't want to visit anymore. I mean, you didn't call for a long time or return any of my messages."

        Christina put her hand on Nina's shoulder. "That's not it at all. I love staying here. And Nina, you've got to be my best friend in the whole world."

        "Really?"

        "Yes really." Christina beamed. "But," she said returning to her serious tone, "It's going to keep being crazy, at least until January. We're supposed to get funding next year, and then everything will be back to normal. Until then, I have to keep on working long hours."

        Nina asked, "Can you do the same stuff as the people who left?"

        Christina's face went flush with embarrassment. "I'm not exactly a secretary. I do all kinds of technical stuff, the same stuff as the men used to. That's not important right now. The important thing is, I can't stay as long as I want to for now."

        "What about Christmas?" Nina asked.

        "I'll be here for Christmas one way or another. I promise. But, you can't tell anyone about the money problems okay?"

        "Okay," Nina nodded, "I promise."

        "Your father already gave me a lecture last night," Christina griped. "He said I have to find a new job, and now I'm not even allowed to ride the train at night anymore."

        "Yeah," Nina commiserated, "I hate it when he gets like that. No dating! No staying out late! He doesn't talk to Andrei that way."

        "At least you can date now," Christina smiled.

        "Yeah, but that's only because of you," Nina said appreciatively. The two girls came out of their hiding place and returned to their cleaning. "You know, you don't have to do anything Dad says," Nina added.

        "I know," Christina sighed. "There's just something about the way he says things that makes me ... I dunno. I wouldn't want to disobey him."

        Nina rolled her eyes. "I know what you mean. One time when I was ten, I snuck out of the house to play with my friends after dark. Not even after dark, it was dusk!"

        "What happened?"

        "Dad tracked me down to the park, and he actually spanked me," Nina stated matter-of-factly.

        "No way!" Christina whispered.

        "Yeah, right in front of all my friends too. And really hard."

        "Your father doesn't seem like the spanking type to me."

        "It was only that once," Nina explained, "And believe me, once was all it took."

        "Wow, I never would have guessed." Changing the subject, Christina offered, "Hey, I'm going to Steph's after work to get my hair done. Do you want to come?"

        "I would love to," Nina responded, "But I already have plans."

        Christina raised her eyebrow and quipped, "What kinda plans?"

        Nina folded her washcloth in her hands and said, "I'm going over to David's later. He's going to help me with Trigonometry."

        Christina squinted at her cousin and asked, "Since when have you ever needed help with math? You're like some kinda math genius."

        Nina grinned dreamily, "Yeah, but David doesn't need to know that ..."

        Christina gasped and pushed Nina playfully. "You sneak! You really like this guy, don't you?"

        "I do," Nina admitted. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself. "When David kisses me, it feels good all over."

        "Just what kinda kissing are we talking about?" Christina asked incredulously.

        Nina opened her eyes and said, "The same way you kissed Richard."

        Christina flashed back to her kiss and the tingly feelings it produced in her. She snapped out of her recollection and protested, "Okay number one, Richard kissed me- I had nothing to do with it."

        Nina raised her eyebrow and grinned at her cousin.

        Christina blushed as she refuted, "And it was not the kind of kiss you thought it was!" Of course, it had been, but Christina did not want to admit she'd let Richard French kiss her.

        "Anyway," Nina continued, "David's picking me up later."

        "He can drive already?" Christina asked.

        "Yeah." Nina responded.

        "Nina," Christina started seriously, "You have to be careful with boys. Especially older boys. Don't let him go too far. I know it can feel really good, and it's exciting, but don't let David push you into things you're not ready for yet."

        "You sound just like Mom."

        "Well, that's because your mother is right," Christina stated.

        Alek walked in from the back room, hearing the last comment. "Your mother is always right," he joked.

        Nina sat on the counter next to the register and said, "Like when she said there was no point opening the store the day after Thanksgiving?"

        Alek looked around the deserted store and smiled. "I got a lot of work done for a change." He examined the glass display case and the rest of the store. "And this place has never looked better." Opening the cash register, he removed the till. "I suppose since it is almost time to go, and according to your mother, no one is coming anyway, we could close early."

 

        Shortly after Alek had finished counting out the till, a black Jeep pulled in front of the store. Nina bent down for her book bag as David trudged through the snow and entered the grocery. Alek gave the boy a smoldering glare.

        David shoved his hands into his pockets and called to Nina, "Are you ready, babe?"

        Nina skipped over and held David's hand. "Yeah, let's go."

        "Nina," Alek called forcefully to his daughter, "You will be home at six-thirty for dinner."

        "But Dad!" Nina whined, but her father's stare cut her protest short. "Yes Daddy," she grumbled.

        As the two left the store, Christina watched them suspiciously as they got into the Jeep and drove away. She turned to her uncle and repeated incredulously, "'Babe'? Did he actually call her 'babe'?"

        Alek raised his thick finger and said, "Nina has been dating that boy ever since you left. Going out on a few dates is one thing, but she is getting too serious too fast."

        Christina thought back to the movie theater last summer. While she had tried to watch David and Nina, half the time she had been too busy fighting off Richard. It was the same thing at the fireworks; Christina spent that night alternatively scanning the crowd for Richard and trying to get Steph's attention. She wasn't sure what sort of boy David really was. "You might be right," Christina agreed.

        "And I do not trust that boy," Alek said gravely.

        "I wouldn't have trusted me at that age either."

        Alek smiled at his niece and asked, "You were boy-crazy too when you were Nina's age?"

        Christina blushed. She had been comparing herself to David, not Nina. She gulped and said, "Yeah, I suppose I was."

        "Ah, then perhaps I should not despair. You've grown into a fine young woman." Alek kissed Christina on the cheek and she instantly melted.

        Alek took most of the money from the till and stuffed it into a dark blue deposit bag. Dropping the deposit slip in with the money, he zipped the bag and headed for the door. "I will be back very soon," he announced, putting on his coat. He left the store and headed through the snow to the bank.

        Christina slid the till back into the register and took stock of her cleaning. The store really had never looked better, at least not in her experience. Stepping into the back room, she checked herself in the mirror. She was wearing a long gray skirt topped by a thick, multicolored turtleneck sweater. She fussed with her hair and fixed her makeup, wanting to look good for her appointment with Steph. If there is a God, she thought, Steph will be a lesbian. Christina was knocked out of that happy dream when she heard the bell mounted on the front door jingle, signaling a customer.

        She went to the front and stood behind the counter. She saw a man in an expensive overcoat examining the apples. She called out, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

        The man turned around, and Christina's smile dissipated when she saw Richard's smug grin. Richard swaggered to the counter and said, "I heard you were back in town, so I thought I'd stop by."

        Christina squinted her eyes angrily at the well-dressed man and spat, "I believe we had a chat last time you saw me about ... oh what was it ... on the tip of my tongue ... that's right- about staying away from me forever?"

        Richard laughed heartily, "Forever is a long time, and seeing as you haven't had me killed as of yet, I take that to mean you're happy to see me."

        Christina fumed, burning with anger. She wondered, was there no end to this man's arrogance? "I'm not happy to see you," she growled, "I am NEVER happy to see you. Do you get it yet?"

        Richard flashed Christina his insidiously charming grin and said, "I'll have to be happy for the both of us. So ... What time do you get off work?" Richard leaned in closer across the counter, making Christina very nervous.

        She asked, "What makes you think I'd ever go out with you again after the way you acted?"

        Richard raised his right hand and said, "I'll behave. Scout's honor."

        "Look," she stumbled, "You're wasting your time. I have a boyfriend now."

        "Really," Richard grinned, "What color are his eyes this time?"

        "Brown," Christina snapped.

        Richard didn't miss a beat. He fired back, "It must be very serious if you can remember the color of your make-believe boyfriend's eyes."

        Christina clenched her fists under the counter in rage. She was about to explode, but then her face softened. "Oh, he's real. He's very real. He slept over just last night."

        Richard raised an eyebrow and mumbled, "Oh really ..."

        "Yes," Christina purred, "Perhaps you two should meet. Oh Boris!"

        Boris got up off of his matt and walked next to Christina. Richard saw the dog, and his confident grin returned. It was cut short when Christina tapped the counter and Boris jumped up, resting his front two paws on it. The German shepherd was gargantuan; standing on his hind legs with his front paws resting on the counter, Boris' head was well above Christina's elbow.

        "Richard," Christina said sweetly, "I'd like you to meet Boris- the man in my life."

        Richard coughed nervously, but maintained his composure. He leaned back across the counter towards Christina and said, "I'm sure Boris wouldn't mind if-" but the large dog stopped him in his tracks with a prolonged baritone growl.

        "Oh, I think he might," Christina whispered malevolently.

        Richard backed up two full steps and asked, "Is he well trained?"

        "Oh yeah ... Boris here is a regular puppy-dog Einstein. He knows all sorts of commands for kill, maim, destroy ... and I'm sure there's one for stop-hurting-the-lawyer, but I'll be damned if I forgot to ask which one that is."

        Richard straightened his tie, gathered his courage, and pressed, "Why don't you introduce me to your friend, and we can talk about the magic word later." Richard walked back to the counter but stopped when Boris growled and flashed his teeth.

        Christina stroked the thick fur on Boris' head and announced, "We're closing for the night, so if you're not going to buy anything, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

         "Fair enough," Richard answered. He looked around the store and said, "I do, in fact, have a purchase to make."

        Christina watched him suspiciously as he went to the back of the store and pulled a package out of one of the refrigerated cases. She heard him open the plastic, though she couldn't see what he was doing.

        Richard returned to the counter, holding five slices of roast beef from a bag of cold cuts. "Hey Boris," he said in a friendly tone, "Who's your new buddy?" Richard held out the meat to the dog, his hand shaking slightly. Boris sniffed the meat and his ears perked up.

        The large dog looked up at Christina.

        "Don't you dare!" Christina whispered angrily to the dog.

        Boris quickly snatched the slices of roast beef and retired to his mat.

        Turning to the dog, Christina growled, "You traitor! I can't believe you!" She turned back to deal with Richard, finding him leaning over the counter, his lips only a few inches away from her own. Christina backed up until her body collided with the wall.

        "So," Richard asked with new found confidence, "What are you doing tonight?"

        Christina stuttered, "I'm washing my hair."

        "What about tomorrow?" he beamed.

        "Yeah, um, lemme think- still washing my hair."

        Undaunted, he pressed on, "And on Sunday?"

        "I'm a lather-rinse-repeat kinda girl."

        Richard laughed and conceded, "Okay, I get the hint. I know when to give up." He looked into Christina's eyes with a serious gaze that nearly knocked her over. He said, "Just so you know, I haven't been able to get you out of my head. I want to see you again. If you change your mind, give me a call. Anytime."

        He reached into his wallet and took out a twenty-dollar bill. Placing the money and the rest of the cold cuts on the counter, he said, "Please give Boris these for me." He flashed Christina his pearly whites one last time, then strode confidently out of the store.

        Waiting until after Richard had walked around the corner, Christina leapt to the door and flipped the sign to "Closed." She shot a paranoid glance out the window then dropped the blinds and fastened the two locks. Feeling somewhat relieved, she leaned her back against the door and exhaled. A sudden knock on the door was all it took to make her jump out of her skin.

        "You have to go away now!" she shouted nervously.

        "Tina," Alek called from outside, "Open the door."

        Christina spun around on her heels, unlocked the locks, and opened the door.

        Alek was shocked by the crazed expression on his niece's face and asked, "What is going on?"

        Christina didn't answer. She took her uncle's hand and pulled him though the doorway. Poking her head out of the store, she checked in both directions to see whether Richard was lurking. The coast clear, she pushed the door closed behind her and locked it.

        "Tina!" Alek exclaimed, "What has gotten into you?"

        Christina held her palms against her temples and complained, "Richard was just in here."

        "Richard?" Alek asked.

        Christina sighed, "The man who took me out to the movies."

        Alek held her by her elbows and asked, "Did he ... do anything to you?"

        "Yes!" Christina whined.

        Alek's voice filled with concern for his niece. "What did he do child?"

        Christina frowned and said, "He asked me out on a date."

        "And?" Alek asked intently.

        Christina crossed her arms and complained, "And? And! And that's it! He asked me out on a date!"

        "So ..." Alek repeated, trying to grasp the situation, "Richard came into the store ... to ask you out on a date."

        "Yes!"

        "And you told him ...?"

        Christina stamped her foot and said, "I said no! Absolutely not!"

        Alek's eyebrow crept up his forehead. "And then what did he do?"

        Christina shook her head and said, "Well ... He left."

        Alek recounted, "So Richard came to ask you out, and then you said no, and then he left."

        "Yes!" Christina exhaled in vindication.

        Alek broke out in a booming laugh. "Tina," he explained, "You are a beautiful, young girl. Men are going to seek your attention!"

        Christina crossed her arms and frowned. Her uncle didn't understand at all, she thought. "Uncle Alek," Christina asked, "Will you walk me to Steph's salon?"

        "Tina," Alek admonished.

        Christina grabbed Alek's hand with both of hers and pouted, "Please Uncle Alek?"

        Alek sighed, then smiled at his niece, conceding, "Anything for my sweet Tina."

        Christina waited while Alek turned out the lights and locked up the store. Once the task was complete, Christina, Alek, and Boris stepped outside into the falling snow. Christina wrapped her arms around her uncle's thick arm and nuzzled close to him. As the two walked together through town, she kept an eye out for Richard. Her uncle didn't realize how dangerous he was, but she did. When they reached the salon, Christina kissed her uncle goodbye and went inside.

        Steph was sitting in the deserted reception area with her feet up on the table of magazines. She tossed aside her issue of Newsweek when Christina entered the store.

        Christina's eyes drank Steph in. She was wearing an old pair of jeans and a Rolling Stones concert t-shirt. The red stripe in her short brown hair looked deliciously punk.

        Before Christina could say a word, Steph stated, "You're late."

        "Oh, sorry," Christina apologized as she hung her jacket on the coat rack, "I would have been here sooner, but I got cornered by Richard."

        "It must be nice havin' the world beat a path to your door," Steph quipped, "But then, you are the better mouse trap."

        "What?" Christina laughed.

        Steph forced a smile and said, "Nothing. Don't mind me, I'm just in a lousy mood. Lisa's out of town for the holidays, and I've been here alone all day."

        Steph led Christina to the shampoo area and sat her down in one of the chairs. Mechanically tying an apron over Christina's sweater, Steph lowered Christina backward until her head was over the sink.

        Christina tried to enjoy the sensation of Steph's fingers massaging her scalp, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Steph was unhappy about something.

        "I'm sorry if I made you stay late," Christina said as Steph rinsed her hair, "I didn't realize that the whole town stayed home today. In the city, everyone is out shopping the day after Thanksgiving."

        Steph squeezed the water out of Christina's hair and unceremoniously pushed her upright. "It's not a problem," she said. Without waiting for Christina to get up, Steph went to a salon chair and motioned for Christina to sit. "So, what do we want today?" Steph chirped, with a slight hint of her normal, friendly demeanor.

        Pulling the dog-eared copy of Vogue out of her bag, Christina sat in the chair and flipped through the pages. She pointed at a picture of a model with short hair that ended in cascades of curls. "I was thinking about something like this. What do you think?"

        Steph snatched the magazine and gave it the once-over. She cocked her head and scoped out Christina's hair. "Yeah we can do this," she said as she leaned against the counter in front of the mirrors. "But why did you come here for it?"

        Christina grinned and answered, "Because you're the best stylist I've ever had."

        Steph stepped around Christina's back and flicked up the tails of Christina's wet hair. "You obviously saw someone, what- a few days ago?" It was true; Christina had the full treatment with Lucille at the Transformations Boutique. "So," Steph repeated, "What are you doing here?"

        Christina wanted to tell Steph she was there because she found Steph mesmerizing; that Steph was never far from her thoughts, and that she'd never met anyone she wanted more than her. Of course, she couldn't tell her any of that. "Other than my family," Christina stuttered, "You're the only person in town I really know. I ... I guess I missed you."

        Steph looked, wide eyed, through the mirror at Christina. "You missed me?" she repeated.

        Christina wanted to tell Steph that she longed to be around her, but what came out was, "Yeah. I mean, I don't really have any friends in the city."

        Steph was taken aback. "That's kinda of a surprise considering that you won top billing in the first annual Miss Oak Grove Contest."

        "Yeah well, it's not anything I'm used to."

        Steph ruffled through the drawers in the counter, pulling out scissors, curlers, and other supplies. Turning back to Christina, she leaned against the counter with her arms crossed. "You really expect me to believe that a leggy blonde bombshell like you has any problems being noticed?"

        Christina squirmed, "Things weren't always, you know, like this."

        "So how were they like?" Steph snapped. "You pull a Tilt-a-Whirl into a tree, then you've got Andr ... this town eating out of your hand. What were things like before that?"

        Christina took a deep breath. She didn't like to talk about her past, but for some reason she didn't understand, Steph was mad at her. "You know," Christina started, "This place, these people ... I don't really know how I'm supposed to be. I grew up around military bases, and stuff like that."

        "You were an Army brat?"

        "Not exactly," Christina continued, "My dad wasn't in the military, but he worked for them doing some kinda research or something."

        "Your father is a rocket scientist or something?" Steph joked.

        Christina shrugged under her apron. "I dunno. Maybe. He wasn't allowed to talk about it. So, my mom and dad and I, we went from place to place; wherever they sent my dad. Sometimes it was near big cities and other times there was nothing around but the base. I didn't live in the army housing, so I never really met any other kids. And every time I started to fit in at school, you know, it was time to leave again. After a while I kinda just stopped trying. It was a lot easier to be invisible. You know, it was like, why try to make any friends when you know you're gonna be gone in a year? Honestly, all the attention I get here makes me feel really uncomfortable." She looked down at her toes.

        Steph's expression lightened a bit. "So why aren't you spending the holidays with the folks?"

        Christina reached under her smock and rested her hand on her chest above her necklace. "It's not important," Christina shrugged.

        Steph cocked her head and pressed, "What, you don't like 'em or something?"

        Christina looked up directly into Steph's eyes. "My Dad died when I was eleven."

        "Oh," Steph said guiltily. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

        "It's okay. You didn't know."

        "How did he die?"

        "The house we were renting burned down. My dad ..." Christina took a deep breath and started again. "You know, you come home from school one day, and it's just all gone."

        "Everything?" Steph gasped.

        "Yeah," Christina shrugged, as if it were no great thing. "That's just life, right? You always lose everything. It's just a question of when."

        Steph couldn't conceive of losing everything she owned in the world, and her father, all in the same day. "You still got your Mom though, right?" Steph asked hopefully.

        "Not exactly."

        "Jeeze, don't tell me she died in the fire too."

        "No, no ... nothing like that. My Mom's still alive." Christina assured Steph. "My Mom and I bounced around for a while after that. She got remarried, and we tried to live a normal, suburban life like on TV."

        "That don't sound too bad."

        "My stepfather and I ... Let's just say we had some problems." Christina felt a tear coming on, but she fought it.

        "What kinda problems?"

        "I really don't want to get into it," Christina said as a single tear escaped from the corner of her eye. "The short story is, I left."

        "You ran away?"

        "Kinda. I mean, it's not like I snuck out in the middle of the night or anything. I just left."

        "How old were you when you left?"

        "Seventeen."

        "What?" Steph gasped. "You moved out when you were only seventeen? Your Mom let you leave?"

        "Yeah. That's when I moved to the city."

        "Okay, so let me get this straight- When you were seventeen years old, you moved into the city? By yourself?"

        "Yeah."

        Steph threw her hands up in the air and exclaimed, "And your mother didn't do anything?"

        "We don't really talk anymore."

        "Jesus!" Steph exclaimed. "You're practically an orphan!"

        "I dunno." Christina shrugged. "I guess I used to be. But then, it's like it all changed one day." Christina closed her eyes and smiled. "I have a family now. I love Nina so much I just can't tell you. And Andrei ... I mean I never knew what it was like to have a big brother until I met him."

        "I didn't realize ..."

        Christina opened her eyes and looked back at Steph. "I know that's all probably juicy gossip, but could we keep that between just us?"

        "Yeah, sure thing," Steph nodded. "Strictly off the record." She jumped to Christina's side with her usual zest and snatched the magazine out of her lap. She draped her arm around Christina's shoulder and flipped the Vogue open to the page they were looking at. "This hair," Steph explained, "Will look great on you, except it's too short." Steph ran her finger down the model's neck and stopped at the shoulder. "For you, it stops here."

        "Why?"

        "Because Blondie, tall, skinny chicks and long hair is like peanut better and jelly. You should let it grow out even more. So, you ready to get beautiful?"

        Happy to have the old Steph back, Christina nodded affirmatively.

        Savoring the feelings of Steph manipulating her hair, Christina spent the next forty-five minutes in bliss. All the months she'd spent away from Oak Grove hadn't diminished the attraction she felt to Steph. If anything, spending time alone with her, in such close contact, only heightened her feelings. Christina felt a twinge of disappointment when Steph finished and removed her apron.

        Christina stood up and admired her hair in the mirror. It was even better than she had imagined. Her usually flat hair had more volume; it fell cleanly to her shoulders where it broke out into cascades of wide curls. Unlike her first visit to Steph's salon, Christina didn't look upon her reflection in shame. Part of her was actually proud of the way Steph had made her look.

        "Wow," Christina exclaimed, "It's amazing!"

        Resting her hands behind her head, Steph spun in an adjacent chair. "It's hard to have these powers," she joked, "I promise to use them for good, and never evil."

        "I'm sorry I made you stay late today," Christina apologized.

        "Don't sweat it. It's not like there's a lot to do in this town anyway."

        "Hey why don't you let me ... that is if you want to," Christina stammered, "Maybe we could grab something to eat?"

        "Sounds good to me. Just let me take care of a few things."

        As Christina waited patiently, Steph flipped off all the lights and brushed the hair on the floor into a dustbin. When she was done, Steph grabbed a thick parka of the coat rack and wrapped it around her tiny frame.

        Christina slid on her peacoat, and the two girls went out into the cold towards the diner.

        Steph noticed Christina shivering and said, "Don't get me wrong, I dig the threads, but aren't you dressing a little light?"

        Christina rubbed her hands together and answered, "I didn't realize it would be this cold. It hasn't even snowed once in the city yet."

        Steph broke out into a fast jog and shouted, "Let's get to Margie's before you freeze to death!"

        Christina did her best to chase after Steph. While learning to walk in women's shoes came easily, running in her high heeled boots, through the snow, was another matter entirely. It was all Christina could do just to keep up. Steph was already leaning against the open door by the tine Christina reached the diner.

        When the two of them entered the building they were immediately noticed. "Evenin', Steph!" Marge called, as she came out from behind the counter. She squinted at Christina and guessed, "And it's Christina, right?"

        Christina nodded.

        "Margie, this is the famous, Miss Christina Chase," Steph said as she presented Christina to the shop owner. "We were in here with Andrei that time."

        "That's right," Marge said as she recalled seeing them togther.

        Steph turned to Christina and said, "See, Margie here is a decent human being, not a soulless gossip like the rest of us."

        "Stephanie, I swear, the things that come out of your mouth," Marge said through her laughter. "Grab a seat anywhere you like. I guess everyone is at home having turkey sandwiches today."

        The girls sat down at one of the many empty booths and waited for Marge to bring them menus.

        Sitting there, alone with Steph, it almost felt to Christina as though they were out on a date. Falling into her old first date patterns, Christina tried not to appear too eager, though her hands were sweaty and she kept fiddling with the silverware.

        Marge came by with their menus and two glasses of water. Christina was too nervous to read anything, so she fell back on her old standby. She put the menu down and asked Marge, "Could I get a bacon cheeseburger, medium rare, a root beer, and a side of onion rings? Oh, and no pickles on the burger?"

        Marge nodded and wrote down the order.

        "Well, a girl's got to eat!" Steph exclaimed.

        Christina blushed, worried that her order was out of place.

        Steph folder her menu on top of Christina's and announced, "Make mine the same, lose the sausage, well done, and change the rings for fries."

        Marge jotted down Steph's order and then back behind the counter.

        "Man, am I glad you didn't order a salad," Steph joked, "'Cause then I'd have to get a salad, and then I'd have to beat you to death with a sack of doorknobs."

        Christina laughed hysterically. Steph had a way of breaking the ice no matter what the situation. "I went on a diet last summer," Christina confessed, "And I thought I was going to die."

        "Trust me- you're plenty skinny," Steph said, "You need a hamburger. Maybe directly in an IV."

        Noticing the sun was going down, Christina pulled out her cell phone and dialed home. She told her uncle that she was out with Steph, and wouldn't be home for dinner.

        After Christina put away her phone, Steph asked, "You still have to check in?"

        Rolling her eyes, Christina said, "Yeah, I do. It's kinda annoying, but it's also nice that someone cares, you know?"

        Steph nodded.

        "Where are your parents?" Christina asked. "Do they live around here?"

        "Oh sure," Steph said, "They live right outside of town. My folks own my building. When they retired I turned the place into a salon, and I moved into the apartment on the second floor."

        "What did it used to be?"

        "It used to be a hardware store. I spent all of high school selling nails, not doing them."

        "I just can't picture you working in a hardware store."

        "I hated it. Just thinking of the smell of rubber and sawdust makes me feel like tossing my cookies. But, it did teach me how to run a business. And there were other perks ..."

        "Like what?"

         Leaning forward, placing her elbows on the table and holding her head in her palms, Steph looked up dreamily and said, "Your cousin used to come into that store almost every single week. He always needed something, and I was more than happy to give it to him. I actually memorized the differences between kinds of drill bits just so I had something to talk about with him."

        Marge arrived with their burgers, and she placed them on the table. She asked, "Anything else I can get for you?"

        "No, thank you," Christina smiled.

        After Marge left, Steph sighed, "But I was just the girl in the hardware store. Don't get me wrong, I flirted my ass off." Steph looked at Christina with the most serious look Christina had ever seen and asked, "Have you ever spent all day making yourself look good just so maybe you'd get one single compliment?"

        Christina slapped her hand on the table and exclaimed, "Oh my God, yes! And it KILLS you when they don't even notice!"

        "Thank you," Steph said holding out her hand. "All Andrei ever did was brag about his projects. It was always a shelf or a desk or something."

        "His stuff really is amazing though."

        "What? You've seen it?"

        "Andrei restored an incredible antique vanity for me, and made me this amazing bed-"

        Steph's jaw dropped. "He made you a bed? Like, a whole bed? With his hands?"

        "Yeah, you wouldn't believe it. It's got a canopy and everything. He must have worked all summer. When I was here for the Fourth, he surprised me. He painted my room, and had the vanity and the bed waiting for me. It was the sweetest thing ever."

        Steph shoved her cheeseburger into her mouth and bit off an enormous bite as though she was plugging up her mouth to keep something from coming out.

        Eager to change the subject from Andrei to anything else, Christina asked, "So, your parents just stay at home now?"

        "Nah," Steph responded, "They run a strawberry farm. It's not big or anything, but it keeps them busy and makes some bucks."

        "Are you serious?" Christina grinned.

        "Yeah. You should come pick some next year. The whole town comes by to pick their own strawberries. It's a riot."

        Christina sat back and said, "I just don't get it! Everyone around here has their own businesses and these creative and interesting jobs."

        "Getting tired of rat racing it in the city?"

        "I sit in a dark cubicle in an old factory for twelve hours a day. In front of a computer- all day! And I commute over an hour, one way, for that privilege. All that, and I can just barely get by."

        "Well," Steph said, "If you don't like it, why don't you just stop?"

        "And do what?"

        "I dunno. Whatever you want. There's room for one more around here. I mean, don't get me wrong- life moves slowly in a small town. It ain't the big city."

        Christina shook her head. "I couldn't do that."

        Steph shot back, "You don't like it here?"

        "I love it."

        "And your family is right here in town?"

        "Yeah, but-"

        "And," Steph interrupted, "You don't like your job."

        "I didn't say I didn't like it."

        Steph shot Christina a knowing look.

        "Okay, so no," Christina conceded.

        "Well then don't quit your job and don't stay here, cause then you might just be happy or something, and that would suck."

        Christina changed the subject again, and the two girls chatted through the rest of the meal. Christina fought the temptation to tell Steph that she was really a boy. Not only would it open the possibility of something more between them, but Christina desperately wanted someone to understand exactly what it was she'd been going through. As much as she wanted to tell Steph, Christina couldn't think of any way to tell Steph the truth that didn't involve Steph freaking out and never talking to her again.

        After eating a few of her onion rings, Christina pushed her plate away. She could feel her cincher tightly binding her waist. "I used to be able to eat two whole plates of these things," she complained.

        Marge came over with the check and asked, "You two want any dessert?"

        "Dessert!" Steph laughed, "Jeeze Margie, are you trying to kill us?"

        After they paid, Christina stared out into the darkness outside the diner.

        "So whatcha gonna do for the rest of the night?" Steph asked.

        "I dunno. Just go home and hang out I guess. You know the Levchenko's are pretty old fashioned. They don't even have a television."

        "No TV!" Steph balked. "Okay, Blondie," Steph said, jumping up and taking Christina by the hand, "You're coming with me."

        The two girls ran from the diner into the night. The clouds were dusting the town with a new coating of white as the snowflakes waltzed in the streetlights.

        Christina was freezing and almost out of breath when they got back to Steph's salon.

        Taking out her keys, Steph opened the solid metal door next to the salon and went into the vestibule.

        Christina waited for Steph to gather her mail, then followed her upstairs to the second floor. Christina's shivering subsided when she entered the warm apartment. She was shocked by the sheer size of the place, which was at least three times the size of her apartment back in the city. The living room was carpeted from wall to wall, and there was a modest entertainment system across from a beat-up couch. The walls were adorned with pictures, and the room was lined with plants. Its style sat on the border of old-time homey and kitschy chic. It was definitely Steph's apartment.

        "Grab a seat," Steph chirped as she tossed her parka onto an old rocking char.

        Christina took off her jacket and sat on the couch.

        Steph hopped over the top of the couch and sat next to Christina. Pulling a large remote out of the couch cushions, she turned on the television. She flipped through the channels and stopped on one of the classic movie stations.

        "I love Sabrina," Steph remarked, "Something about Audrey Hepburn ... I just dig her. You ever see this one?"

        "I think I saw the remake?"

        "Then you never saw it. This is the real deal." Steph hopped off the couch and called, "Hold on I'll be right back," as she went to the kitchen.

        Christina looked around and sighed. She should have been thrilled to be in Steph's apartment, but things had essentially degenerated into girl time. After all, Christina thought, who really wants to go to the slumber party if you have to play along as one of the girls? Still, girl time with Steph was better than no time with Steph.

        Steph came back into the room grinning madly and carrying a tray holding a jug, two glasses, and a bottle of water. She placed it on the end table and started pouring a clear liquid from the jug into the glasses. She put some water into her glass and a lot into Christina's.

        "What are you doing?" Christina asked.

        Steph handed the glass to Christina and said, "Giving you a fighting chance." Steph took a sip and motioned for Christina to do the same.

        Christina took a small sip and smiled. "This tastes pretty good. What is it?"

        "Apple schnapps." Steph raised her glass and announced, "Tonight, we're spelling classy with a 'K'"

        Christina laughed and took a larger drink.

        "Hold up Blondie," Steph warned, "This stuff is homemade and strong as hell. I know it don't taste like much, but take it easy."

        Christina nodded and took another sip. After nursing their drinks for twenty minutes Steph had a good buzz going and Christina was bordering on inebriation.

        "It's just crazy," Christina slurred, "Sabrina comes back from Paris, and it's like she's a completely different person, I mean NOBODY recognizes her."

        "She was gone for like two years."

        "Yeah, but it's like, SO obviously still her ... and NOBODY gets it. I totally know how that is."

        "Whadya mean?" Steph asked.

        "It's like when I crashed my car. It's like I woke up the next day, and I was in Paris."

        "You mean, you just got back from Paris." Steph corrected.

        "Right. I just got back. That's what I meant," Christina laughed. "And everyone's all like, 'Christina' this and 'Christina' that, like I'm supposed to be this different person now."

        Steph laughed and smacked Christina with a pillow. "You're drunk!" she accused.

        Closing one eye and holding her forefinger to her thumb, Christina confessed, "Just a little." She took another sip and continued, "It was like, from day one, I was drafted into the family. Nina was just like right there and ... boom ... I had a sister just like that." Christina snapped her fingers. "And a mom, and a dad, and a dog even."

        "And a brother," Steph added taking a sip from her glass.

        "Nooo." Christina corrected, leaning backwards. "Andrei HATED me."

        "Really?"

        "He couldn't STAND me. I mean, I was scared of him. Seriously terrified."

        "That doesn't sound like Andrei."

        "It's not like him really, but it was, you know? I mean he's great now, but back then he was all like, 'That's Anastasia's room you're sleeping in and not yours!'" Christina raised her hand in a fist high above her head.

        "Andrei changed after his sister died," Steph explained. "He got really quiet. And he kept to himself. I think he took it pretty hard."

        "Yeah, he must have. The dirty looks he gave me- I can't even tell you. And he took me to the spot where my accident was, so I could like, look for my suitcase, and it was down this hill so, he was all like, 'Go get it yourself!' And I fell down the hill and I just started ... crying like crazy ... cause he was just so mean to me."

        "That time in the diner, when your makeup was running?" Steph asked.

        "Right." Christina put her glass down on the table and sat indian style on the couch facing Steph. "He hated me sooo much."

        "Are you sure?"

        "One night in the kitchen he grabbed me, and shook me, and started screaming, 'Who are you really!' and all this really intense stuff. I mean, it was crazy."

        Steph hiccupped and asked, "Why would he do something like that?"

        Christina waved her hand dismissively and stated, "He heard me talking to the dog and freaked out. It was all a big misunderstanding."

        "He overheard you talking to the dog? And then he thought you were someone else?" Steph asked in a confused voice.

        "Exactly. Everyone else was all like, 'Hey Tina, take your coat off and stay a while.' But Andrei was like, 'Get out of town or else!'"

        "Well, what changed?"

        Christina shrugged. "He said Anastasia was back in the house again, and then he was super nice ever since."

        "Anastasia back in the house?" Steph pondered. She giggled and said, "You are so drunk." She got up and retrieved a box of crackers from the kitchen, placed them in Christina's lap, and took her drink away. "Eat these," she commanded.

        Christina started munching on the saltines and announced seriously, "I like apple schnapps."

        Steph laughed and agreed, "Yeah we all do, but you're a lightweight."

        Christina took a break to munch on her crackers then continued her story. "Yeah, so then Andrei stopped hating me. I was so depressed cause my car was broken, and I was like, gonna lose my job and stuff. So Andrei took me up into the barn and held me under the stars and was like, 'It's going to be fine and stuff.'"

        "He held you under the stars?" Steph shouted.

        Christina wrapped her arms around herself and said, "Yeah he went from cranky-boy to sweet-boy just like that."

        Steph rolled her eyes and balked, "That's just perfect!"

        "It made me feel better, but I was like, you know, the car's still busted, it doesn't change anything." Christina reached out and touched Steph on the hand. "So Andrei, in the middle of the night, gives Mr. Conrad the desk he was working on for like months, so he can use the garage. And he drives for hours to get the parts for my car, and then he fixed it himself. It's like I woke up the next morning, and it was a miracle."

        Steph slapped her hand to her forehead and sunk into the couch. "Oh God, I wish I hated you."

        Christina sat up, munching her crackers, and asked, "You want to hate me?"

        "Yeah," Steph responded, "But I don't. Hell, I LIKE you."

        Christina whined, "Why do you want to hate me?"

        "Oh, come on. Don't you think it's obvious when someone has the hots for someone else?"

        Christina winced, thinking Steph was on to her. "Look it's not what you think. I'm really a-"

        "It is SO what I think! Andrei is completely, hearts-a-flutter, in love with you."

        Christina stared wide eyed at Steph then broke out into intoxicated laughter. "No he's not!"

        "Yes he so is! What is this?" Steph complained, "Something genetic with your family? You people can't tell when someone wants you?"

        Christina laughed some more, then stopped when she saw the tears roll down Steph's face. "No," she insisted, "Andrei is like my brother. I probably just remind him of Anastasia."

        "Okay! Number one," Steph cried, "You are night-and-day-different than Anastasia. And number two, I saw him looking at you at the fireworks. He is one hundred percent in love with you."

        Christina looked up into the air and pondered that possibility. Could Andrei actually be in love with her? The very idea was ludicrous.

        "I mean, I know this crush I have on your cousin is just stupid," Steph sobbed, "But I can't make it go away. Have you ever dreamed about someone? Just wanted to be around them? Even if it was just to be around them, and nothing else?"

        Christina looked longingly at Steph and responded, "I know exactly how that feels."

        "But he doesn't want me. He's in love with you. It's like I don't even exist! I mean, I can see why he wants you ... You're prettier than me. I'm always going to be Steph at the hardware store."

        Christina scooched across the couch and wrapped her arms around Steph's shoulders. "You're more than just hardware-Steph. And you are so much prettier than me."

        "It doesn't matter. He's never going to notice me. I mean I've done everything short of giving him a lap dance."

        "Andrei thinks you're pretty."

        Steph wiped her face and asked, "He does?"

        "Yeah. I asked him before I went home last Summer, and he said you were pretty. And fun, too."

        "Really?"

        "I swear."

        Steph sat upright and regained her composure. Leaning her head back, she tossed the rest of her drink down her throat. "I don't know why I've been torch-carrying for so long. No, that's not true- I know why. Andrei's quiet and mysterious. It's like there's somethin' going on in his head and you dunno what it is, but it's probably deep. And he works with his hands." Steph closed her eyes and smirked deviously. "Those big, rough hands ... and those shoulders ... and his chest." Steph opened her eyes and remarked, "I bet he's big downstairs, too."

        Christina rolled her eyes and confirmed, "Oh my God, it's a monster! You have no idea."

        Steph grinned wildly and pointed her finger at Christina. "You peeked, didn't you!" she accused.

        Christina's mind raced back to that night in the living room. She could still feel Andrei's pulsating member poking her in the stomach. She tried to force the image out of her head, but the vision of Andrei's rock hard penis tenting out his boxers was a picture that was burned permanently in her memory. "I didn't peek," Christina defended, "But um ... I did ... kinda ... Look, it's huge. Just trust me on this one."

        "You get all the breaks," Steph sighed. "I wish I could sneak just one little peek. It doesn't matter though. You're the one that Andrei wants, not me."

        "Andrei doesn't want me- you're wrong on this one," Christina insisted as she resumed munching on the crackers.

        "Is Andrei going to pick you up tonight?"

        "Yeah, I guess so."

        "Okay, so when he comes to get you, just mention that you're cold- not even that, just say you're a little chilly."

        "Why?"

        "Just do it, you'll see."

        Christina let out a long, mournful sigh. "Maybe ... just maybe I could, you know, set you and Andrei up on a date."

        Steph grinned from ear to ear. "Do you think he would go for it?"

        "Look, I know he likes you." Christina looked sadly at Steph and stated, "And anyone would be crazy to not go out with you. We just have to get Andrei to realize that he wants to."

        "Well how do we do that? I mean, I've been on the case for years!"

        Christina snapped her fingers. "I think I know how!" She got up and stumbled to her pocketbook. Grabbing her phone, Christina dialed home. When her aunt answered, she asked to speak with Andrei.

        "Andrei dear," Christina purred sweetly into the phone. "It's late and I'm sooo tired." She faked a yawn and Steph laughed on the couch. "Could you please pick me up? I'm at Steph's. Just ring the bell. Right, the door next to the salon. Okay, thanks. Be careful in the snow."

        "Okay, so now what?" Steph grinned.

        "Where's your bedroom?"

        Steph stood up unsteadily and led Christina to her bedroom. Christina started rifling through the clothes in Steph's closet and drawers. She pulled out a sheer chemise and a long robe. She held them up to Steph and said, "Here, put these on."

        Steph raised an eyebrow and asked, "So we're going with the lap dance after all?"

        "No," Christina smirked, "Just pretend you're getting ready for bed and put these on."

        "And this will make Andrei notice me?"

        Christina grimaced and said, "I promise, if you wear this, you'll get ... a reaction from Andrei. Guaranteed."

        Steph took the clothes and said, "I really don't want to know how you know that, do I?"

        "No you don't," Christina confirmed. "Now get changed, and just be yourself."

        A shock went through Christina's body as Steph pulled off her Rolling Stones shirt. Christina spun around on her heels and looked at the wall. Sneaking into the girl's locker room was fun, but being just another girl in the locker room was maddening. She felt her penis strain futilely against her gaff as the girl she desired stripped behind her back.

        Steph tapped Christina on the shoulder and asked, "Well, does it work?"

        Christina turned around and marveled at Steph's slender, curvy body under the thin pink chemise. Christina resisted the urge to feel Steph's perky breasts, which hung just inches away. "Yeah, it's working," she bellowed.

        The girls returned to the living room and waited for their prey. Ten minutes later, they heard the buzzer ringing.

        Christina winked at Steph and sneaked off to the bathroom.

        Steph went to the intercom and pressed the switch. "Come on up!" After pressing the button to unlock the front door, she fussed with her robe. As she heard Andrei's heavy footsteps on the stairs, she grew nervous. She tried the robe closed, then open, then off the shoulders, and then open again. She tried to calm down, but she still jumped when she heard the knock. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she opened the door.

        She had intended to lean seductively against the wall but missed the door frame and stumbled forward. She flipped her hair back with her hand and looked up into Andrei's face. "Hey, Andrei," she stuttered.

        Andrei turned to look into the apartment and was struck dumb by the sight of Steph in her chemise. He felt an instant stirring in his pants. "Steph!" he blurted out, wide eyed. "I'm here for ..." Andrei trailed off, unable to complete his thought. "I'm here for ... um ..."

        Steph blushed and smiled widely. This was the first time Andrei had truly noticed her. "For your ... cousin?" she giggled.

        "Right my cousin ..." Andrei said, fiddling with his hands.

        "Your cousin ... Christina?"

        "Right, that's the one. Is she here?"

        "Yeah," Steph said, taking Andrei by the hand and leading him into the living room, "She had to take a nose-powder."

        "Right."

        There was a long silence between the two, but not an awkward one. Andrei was nervous, but he couldn't take his eyes off Steph. He broke the pause and muttered, "Uh, you look very ... um ... very... nice."

        Steph was positively glowing. She had waited for years for Andrei to say something like that. "Oh this?" she gushed, "I was just about to go to bed."

        Andrei grinned anxiously. He couldn't think of anything else to say, and he was relieved when Christina entered the room.

        She stood next to Steph and beamed, "Hey Andrei. Are you ready to go?"

        Not looking away from Steph, Andrei said, "Yeah, as soon as you're ready."

        Christina buttoned her jacket and said, "I'm ready when you are."

        Steph nudged Christina with her elbow and said, "I bet it's cold outside."

        "Yeah, it's snowing again," Andrei agreed.

        Steph elbowed Christina again and whispered out of the corner of her mouth, "Somebody might get chilly."

        "Oh right," Christina blurted. "I'm a little chilly."

        Without missing a beat, Andrei took off his heavy winter coat and draped it around Christina's shoulders.

        Christina gasped at Steph in horror!

        Steph didn't say a word. She just flashed Christina an I-told-you-so look as Andrei escorted her downstairs. Steph watched the two until they walked out of sight and into the vestibule. Closing the front door, Steph walked back to the couch and fell backward into the cushions to watch the ending of Sabrina. She poured herself another swallow of schnapps and grinned. Christina Chase, her competitor for Andrei's affections, was now her best hope to make her dreams come true.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Pulling the still-hot load of towels out of the dryer, Nina piled it into the laundry basket. Taking a towel off the top, she started folding.

        Christina took the next one, folded it, and placed it on the stack they were building on top of the dryer.

        "Thanks for helping out with my chores," said Nina.

        Christina responded, "Your chores are my chores."

        "In that case, do you want to write my history report?" Nina joked.

        "No," Christina laughed, "But if you need help, which I doubt you do, I'd be happy to go to the library with you."

        Christina had spent the entire morning with Nina. Christina was wearing her favorite jeans and a new pair of Keds. On top, she wore a simple white cotton camisole, wreathed in lace, covered by a light yellow cardigan sweater. When Christina helped Nina get dressed this morning, she again searched desperately for a pair of jeans in Nina's closet in spite of her protests that she owned no such garment. It was at that point that Christina resolved to buy her cousin jeans for Christmas.

        Christina eventually had to settle on a jean skirt for Nina. Both of them were wearing kerchiefs in their hair. Christina had taken to wearing one whenever she did housework. Since her hair had grown to her shoulders, she found it nearly impossible to get any work done unless it was held back in some fashion. Nina did not usually wear anything in her hair, she just wanted to dress like her older cousin.

        Christina had also grown fond of coordinating her clothes with Nina. She felt a wonderful sense of belonging when she looked into that smaller, younger face that looked so much like her own. Even though Christina felt accepted by everyone as a girl, she still harbored the fear of discovery in the back of her mind. The only time she felt completely safe was when she was alone with Nina. After all, it was Nina who had done her hair and makeup on her first day as a girl. The girls had made a special connection that day; Nina so very much wanted Christina as her sister that Christina fell naturally into the role. When she was alone with Nina, she was wholly Christina Chase, without reservation or fear. Christina cherished these moments. She knew that she could not continue to masquerade as a girl forever, but when she was with Nina, time was immaterial.

        The pile of folded towels teetered uncertainly as Nina placed the last clean towel on top. Nina took the stack folded towels and put them back into the clothes basket as Christina pulled the next sodden load out of the washer and shoveled it into the dryer. After Christina started the dryer, Nina hopped up onto it and sat down.

        "Where were you all last night?" Nina asked.

        Christina slid onto the washing machine next to Nina and responded, "I went over to Steph's to watch a movie. We went out to eat after she did my hair. We had a pretty good time ... I guess she got me a little drunk," Christina laughed. "You know she likes Andrei right?"

        "It's completely obvious, isn't it? The only person who doesn't know is Andrei."

        "Well," Christina explained, brushing some lint off the side of her thigh, "I sort of promised her I would set her up on a date with your brother ..."

        "Good luck!" Nina exclaimed. "I can count the number of dates Andrei's been on with one hand."

        "Is he shy or something?"

        "How would I know? Andrei talks to you more than me."

        "Really?" Christina asked in shock. Once she broke the ice with Andrei, he was always there for her. It seemed odd that he and Nina didn't talk. "I guess I didn't notice."

        Nina let out a large sigh and said, "Andrei wasn't always so moody. I don't really remember the day Anastasia died, but I remember what things were like afterwards. It was like everything was broken, and it wasn't ever going to be okay again."

        "What do you mean by broken?"

        "I guess it was like ... I don't know exactly ... it's just that things were different ... in a really bad way."

        Christina remembered the awkwardness of having dinner with her mother in the months following her father's death. It was a bizarre unreality to sit at a table for two which had once been for three. She and her mother were living in a bad dream, but the knowledge that her father would never again sit with them had transformed that bad dream to an undeniable truth. There was a hole in their lives that would never again be filled. Christina understood that kind of pain all too well. She'd sensed it in her uncle, but until this point, she never saw it in Nina.

        "After the funeral," Nina continued, "Andrei went into his room and didn't come back out. He didn't leave the house ... he barely ate ... He missed so much school that year that they made him go to summer school, or else they were going to make him repeat the tenth grade. Dad was just the opposite. He started acting like nothing happened. He took down all the pictures of Anastasia and put them in the attic. He didn't even want to talk about her. I don't even know how she died, exactly. All Dad would ever say was it was a car accident, and then he wouldn't say anything else about it."

        Christina knew all to well the last moments of Anastasia's life. Her uncle's retelling of that night would haunt her for the rest of her days.

        "Andrei and Dad would yell at each other all the time," Nina explained. "One day, they just stopped. I mean they just stopped EVERYTHING. They didn't yell ... or talk ... or anything."

        "They seem okay now," Christina offered.

        "Well, they're better. But they're not okay. Not like they used to be."

        "What about your mom?"

        "Mom," Nina continued, "She was so sad, but she tried not to show it. Sometimes, I saw her crying in the kitchen when she thought no one could see her. I asked her one time why God would take Anastasia away from us, and she told me that she didn't know, but we had to have faith that there was a reason. I don't know what we were supposed to have faith in, but I know that she meant it."

        "Yeah she said something like that to me once. I didn't get it either, but I think maybe she was right." She put her arm around Nina's shoulder, trying to console her. "I know that it's hard to lose somebody. At least you got through it alright."

        Christina meant that to be comforting, but her heart sank when Nina looked down between her dangling feet. "What's wrong?"

        "I don't always remember Anastasia. I mean, I remember her, but sometimes, I can't remember everything I should."

        Christina pulled Nina against her bosom and held her tightly. "How old were you when she died? Ten?"

        "Nine," Nina corrected.

        "That's really young, Nina. It doesn't mean you don't love her. I ..." Christina faltered, "I can't always remember everything about my father, either." Christina had never admitted that to another living soul. It was her deepest shame, but she hoped that sharing it with Nina would spare her cousin from the guilt she felt.

        Nina looked up into Christina's eyes and asked, "Really?"

        Christina nodded. "Yeah. But you shouldn't feel bad. We always remember the people we love. It's just that those memories aren't always at the surface, you know? But they're still there." Christina paused then added, "Things will get better. I promise."

        Nina wiped her tears and said, "Things are already better," with lightness in her voice. "Dad is actually talking about Anastasia again. And Andrei ... I dunno ... I haven't seen him this happy in a long time. Everything is better now that you're here."

        "I ..." Christina choked, "I can't replace her ..."

        "I know. I don't think you are. I mean, I don't think things will ever be like they used to be, but having you around is different, too. But better different."

        Nina hopped off the dryer and picked up the basket of towels. The girls took the clean towels up to the hall closet on the second floor. As they stacked the towels in the closet, Christina remarked, "So, you were at David's pretty late last night I hear." Christina's voice was a mixture of playfulness and concern.

        "Yeah ..." Nina answered dreamily.

        "You've been seeing him for a while ... are things getting serious?"

        "I like David a lot."

        "And David likes you a lot too?"

        "I think so. He always wants to see me. And he's always nice to me at school. And ..." Nina trailed off, unsure if she should continue.

        "And what?"

        Nina looked around to see whether the coast was clear. Satisfied that her mother was not lurking, Nina grabbed Christina by the hand and tugged her into her bedroom. The girls sat on Nina's bed, and Christina looked at her cousin inquisitively.

        "And what?" Christina whispered.

        "He wants to ..." Nina said in a hushed tone, "You know ... try some things."

        "What do you mean, 'things?'"

        "He uh ... he wants me to try touching it."

        "Touch it?" Christina repeated in confusion. A look of horror struck her face and she strained to maintain her whisper. "No! You can't touch ... IT! There's NO touching IT!"

        Nina was a little shocked by Christina's violent reaction. She admitted, "I told him I had to think about it." After a brief pause, she added, "I'm a little curious. I've never even seen a boy's pe-"

        Christina cut Nina of before she could even say that word. "IT! Never seen an IT!" Christina did not think she could bear to hear the word "penis" escape her younger cousin's lips.

        Nina asked, "Have you ever seen a guy's ... it?" She thought it was childish to use that word, but she could tell her cousin didn't like the p-word.

        Christina's face went crimson. "Yes," she answered honestly.

        "Have you touched one before?" Nina's spoke as though she had asked a teacher in history class why anyone would want to shoot President Lincoln. It was an innocent question that demanded a real answer.

        Christina gritted her teeth and answered, "Yeah, technically ..."

        This opened a floodgate of questions from the younger girl. "What do they look like close-up? Does it feel soft? Cindy said they're slimy. Are they slimy? Cause I think she just said that to see if I would fall for it."

        Christina's mouth hung open. She wasn't sure where to begin. She didn't want to begin at all. Before she could formulate anything resembling an answer, Nina shot more questions. "The boy you touched, was he cute? Did you like him? Did you like touching it?"

        The thought of holding some boy's penis made Christina feel sick. Immediately, her mind flashed to Andrei's cock poking her in the belly. She forced that image out of her mind and put her finger to Nina's lips. "Stop," she begged. Summoning every ounce of courage, Christina said, "Okay, I know you're curious, and that's okay. So ... Penises," Christina thought she felt the tickle of vomit at the base of her throat when she said that forbidden word, "Are kinda soft and spongy. When you ... I mean when someone ... touches ... one ... they get really hard."

        "So they aren't soft?"

        "Well yes and no. The head is still pretty soft I guess, but the rest is really hard. And they aren't slimy. Cindy was messing with you."

        Nina nodded, hungry for information.

        "But I don't want you to touch David's ..."

        "Penis." Nina completed.

        Christina put her hand over Nina's mouth, terrified that word might come out again.

        "Why not?" Nina asked. It was an innocent question from a curious girl.

        "Nina, you have to understand that boys ... they push ... and they keep pushing for more and more."

        Nina scrunched up her face trying to make sense of what her cousin was telling her.

        Christina sighed and laid everything out. "Boys want sex. All boys, and pretty much all the time. When a boy isn't saying anything, he's thinking about sex. When he's talking, there's words coming out of his mouth, but in his head- he's thinking about sex. When he goes to bed at night, he dreams about it. It's all sex all the time. And the thing about boys is they don't just think about it. They want it. All the time. And they keep pushing to get it. They escalate things. And once they get to a certain place, there's no going back."

        Nina nodded, but Christina could tell her cousin didn't get it.

        Christina said, "David wants you to touch his ..." Christina shot Nina a stopping glance to prevent her from saying the p-word again. " ... his it. But that's not where it will stop. First he'll want you to touch it. Then he'll want you to hold it. And after that, to jiggle it. It's never just touching, do you understand?"

        Nina nodded, finally grasping what her older cousin was warning her about. "So it starts with touching," Nina said, "And then they try getting more and more until you have sex with them."

        Christina let out a relieved breath. "Exactly! And you're WAY too young for that. I know you're curious, but you should wait."

        Nina thought about what Christina had said and took it to heart. The curious part of her resurfaced and asked, "The boy you touched, did you jiggle his it? Did you make it squirt?"

        Christina looked absolutely horrified. "I have never jiggled some boy's ANYTHING!"

        Nina looked up at Christina, her eyes gleaming with all sorts of questions her cousin did not want to answer.

        "Look," Christina said with an air of finality. "There is no touching David's it. No touching ANY its until you are much, much older."

        Nina nodded seriously and said, "Okay. No touching."

        Relieved to have finished that conversation, Christina went back into the hallway and picked up the clothes basket. Nina followed as the two girls went to Andrei's door. Christina opened the door and walked in, but Nina did not follow.

        "What are you doing?" Nina asked.

        "Remember? I have to set Andrei and Steph up. I thought I would get on Andrei's good side by cleaning his room."

        "I'm not allowed in there."

        "Come on, he won't mind."

        "He won't mind if you go in there. He actually likes you. If I go in there, he'll kill me."

        Christina shrugged, "Well it will be about an hour before the next load of laundry is done, you might as well take a break."

        Nina grinned and said, "Maybe I'll call David."

        Christina frowned as Nina went back to her room. She was beginning to think David was trouble. She did not like the idea of the older boy pressuring Nina to touch him. She knew that all boys were like that. She had even pushed Amy into touching her penis when they were still in high school. Still, she wouldn't let anyone pressure Nina into something she wasn't ready for.

        Closing the door behind her, Christina surveyed Andrei's room. There was so much to do; there wasn't a surface that wasn't littered by dust or half-empty cans of Coke. The floor was strewn with dirty clothes and dirt from Andrei's labors in the barn. The bed was an absolute mess, too. The covers were twisted and piled up. One pillow was shoved between the bed and the wall, and the location of the other was a mystery. It was obvious that Andrei was incapable of keeping things straight himself, and none of the other women in the house had the daring to attempt the mission.

        Christina took off her cardigan and hung it on the doorknob before diving into the task at hand. The first step was relatively easy: scoop all the dirty clothes into the clothes basket. She shivered as she picked up a pair of well worn boxer shorts. She had to remember that she loved Andrei, and she was also determined to help Steph find happiness. Surely, she could survive handing her cousin's funky drawers for that cause.

        After she'd filled the basket, she constructed two piles of clothes next to it. This is going to take multiple trips, she thought. Looking at the bed, she wondered how long It had been since last time the sheets were laundered. Misha always kept her linens deliciously clean, and the older woman had instructed Christina on the finer points of keeping house. She knew the best way to do Andrei a favor was to strip the mattress bare and clean everything.

        Christina yanked the blankets down into a large pile. She then pulled the mattress askew so she could pull the fitted sheet off of it. The side of the mattress knocked into Andrei's nightstand, causing a picture to fall. Christina picked up the picture and sat on the disheveled bed. It was the picture of the two of them from last Spring. Christina placed the picture gently back on the nightstand. Steph was all wrong about Andrei, she thought. Christina knew that Andrei thought of her as a sister, and there was the proof. She smiled at the image of them together and then went back to work.

        Christina tore off the fitted sheet with some measure of difficulty. When she had removed it entirely, she saw the corners of some glossy papers poking out from beneath the mattress. Curiously lifting up the mattress, Christina slid her hand underneath. She pulled out a stack of three old issues of Playboy magazine. Sitting on the bed, she laughed. Andrei might have been quiet, or even shy, but there was no doubt was at least aware of the opposite sex. Christina flipped through the pages of the first magazine and skipped right to the pictorial; this was not the first Playboy she'd ever seen. These days, she spent most of her time reading Cosmo or Vogue, but leafing through the adult magazine triggered a familiar routine. She became immediately aroused at the images of naked women, though her gaff prevented her from achieving a full erection. Christina unzipped her jeans and moved her hands down the front of her panties, not too unlike what the woman pictured in the magazine was doing. Spreading her legs, she tried manipulating her artificial clitoris. It provided some stimulation to her trapped penis, though not nearly enough to get her off. It was, however, more than enough sensation to force her to continue her machinations.

        Quickly finishing the first Playboy, Christina started on the second. Being trapped in a semi-aroused state was maddening; she desperately wanted to come, but she wasn't brave enough to remove her false vagina. She'd have to make do with her new parts for now. Christina's breath quickened and she tried gyrating her hips, causing the fake clitoris to grind against her hand. That was definitely better, but not anywhere good enough. She picked up the third Playboy and flipped frantically through the pages. The magazine fell open to a particular page that had a photograph wedged into the binding. Assuming it was some sort of bookmark, Christina hoped the page had something particularly good on it. She was disappointed to see that the images on that page were no more erotic than the others.

        Continuing to stimulate herself in her panties, she took out the photograph and flipped to over to reveal the picture. She immediately stopped her girlish masturbation when she saw the picture, dropping it as though it was searing hot. It fell back to the page, landing face up. It was a picture of HER! There she was, standing alone in the field of wildflowers. What portion of an erection Christina had managed instantly shriveled. She recalled all the unmatched, rolled-up sweat socks she'd stuffed into the clothes basket, and the horror of the situation washed over her. Steph was right; Andrei did have a crush on her. And furthermore, he'd been masturbating to her picture.

        Feeling a bit sick, Christina stood up and zipped her jeans. Her heart was racing and she began to feel a little dizzy. She'd told Nina that she'd never made a boy squirt, but judging by the volume of ruined socks, she'd been making Andrei do that at least twice a day for weeks.

        Stumbling back to the door, Christina grabbed the basket of Andrei's dirty clothes. She couldn't stop cleaning his room now that she'd started, but she needed to get out of there for a while. She slammed the door closed behind her, leaving the pornographic magazines and her picture still on top of the bed. The part of Christina that didn't want to set Andrei up with Steph disappeared. Not only did Christina want to make Steph happy, but she needed to direct Andrei's lustful attention to some other girl, where it might be welcome.

 

        Christina had still not approached Andrei about Steph nor the photograph she'd found before the family left for church. Alternating between embarrassment and anger, she spent most of the afternoon avoiding her older cousin. Somehow, she had to get past these feelings and corner Andrei. Christina was leaving on Tuesday, and it was already Sunday; she had to set up Steph's date before she left. Still, she found that when she was in the same room with her cousin, all she wanted to do was scream at him. What made things worse, was that there was no one she could tell. She certainly couldn't tell anyone else in the family about her picture in the magazine. The only person she really knew outside the family was Steph, and she definitely wouldn't want to hear what Andrei had been up to.

        The only thing Christina could do to calm down was help her aunt. Since sweeping the entire kitchen hadn't made her feel any better about the Andrei situation, she continued into the hallway. As she worked past the master bedroom, she was certain she heard the sounds of cursing coming from inside. Christina cautiously laid down the broom against the wall and pressed her ear to the door. Was she actually hearing her aunt and uncle having a fight? She tried to understand what the argument was about, but she was fairly certain they were speaking Russian; either that, or some other language she didn't understand. She continued to listen even though she couldn't comprehend a single word. Christina jumped back and grabbed her broom when she heard footsteps walking towards the door. She did her best to act naturally as Alek came out of the master bedroom.

        Alek stood at the door, breathing heavily with his back to Christina. She waited for him to notice her, but gave up and said, "Uncle Alek?" He did not respond, so Christina tapped him on the shoulder.

        Alek spun around and snapped, "Yes Tina- what is it!" His eyes were pressed closed as though he was enduring the worst headache Christina had ever seen.

        Christina jumped slightly and looked away. "Um ... nothing," she stuttered.

        Realizing that he'd rattled the girl, he put his hand on her shoulder, but did not apologize. "I am going for a walk," he said as he left for the front door.

        A moment later, Misha came out of the bedroom. Her face was flushed, and she was visibly upset.

        "Oh Christina, dear," Misha said, her voice still hoarse from yelling, "It is Sunday! You do not have to do that."

        Christina kept sweeping and grinned nervously. "Oh, I don't mind." Laying the broom against the wall, Christina asked, "Is everything okay?"

        Misha manufactured a smile and touched Christina's cheek with her hand. "Of course. Do not worry."

        "But the noise-"

        "It's fine. Sometimes men ... sometimes they are prideful."

        Christina nodded. It was clearly all that Misha was willing to reveal. As she followed her aunt into the kitchen, she wondered where the woman found the strength to hold everyone else together. Misha always had a way to make everything feel good even when they were not. Christina wished there was some way she could lend Misha her strength. The only thing she could think of was to play along as if she had not heard the argument.

        Alek came into the kitchen shortly afterwards. He looked angry and agitated in a way that Christina had never seen before. While she did not fear her uncle, Christina thought it would be best to stay out of his way today. Christina saw some crumpled papers in Alek's hand and noticed how he threw them forcefully into the trash.

        Realizing that Christina was in the room, Alek composed himself. He shot his niece a forced smile which Christina gladly returned.

        Sensing that it would be best for her to be elsewhere, Christina announced, "Um, I've got to go see Andrei. I'll be out in the barn." She gladly left the kitchen to grab her pea coat. When she snuck quietly back though the kitchen, she saw that Alek was holding Misha from behind. She wasn't sure what was wrong, but it appeared that her aunt and uncle weren't mad at each other anymore. Christina cautiously pulled the crumpled papers from the trash and stuffed them into her jacket pocket. Her aunt and uncle turned around when they heard the noise, though they didn't see what she had done. Grinning nervously, Christina waved goodbye with her fingers, and went out the back door.

        The cold wind blasted Christina's long hair as she stepped out onto the snow-covered driveway. She ran to the barn as fast as she could, cursing herself for not buying a proper winter coat. She felt some warmth as she entered the barn.

        Andrei was working on a piece of wood with a plane on his workbench, surrounded by three old space heaters.

         Christina walked slowly towards the source of heat, her rage growing with each step. She'd tried to keep a calm head all day, but seeing Andrei, all she could think of was him jacking off to her image. It was nauseating enough that any man was doing such a thing, but she was furious that it was Andrei. They were cousins after all! Practically siblings! More than that, Christina had trusted him. Stepping into the ring of warmth cast by the space heaters, Christina straightened out the skirt of her Sunday dress and sat down on an old bench with her legs crossed.

        So engrossed in his work, Andrei didn't notice his cousin until she sat down. He immediately smiled, retrieved a blanket, and draped it over Christina.

        Christina's shivering stopped, but she cast daggers at Andrei with her eyes.

        Andrei, as usual, didn't register the glance and went back to work. "You don't usually come out here to watch me," he said, not looking up from the plank of wood he was shaping.

        "I cleaned your room yesterday ..." she began.

        Andrei started shaving the wood harder, and grunted, "Yes, I know. I should have thanked you. It's never been so clean, at least not as far as I can remember." He planed faster and faster, causing sawdust to cloud the air.

        "Yeah well, when I was cleaning ..." Christina trailed off as she saw the intensity with which Andrei was working. He was attacking the wood as though he was trying to kill it. Apparently, Alek and Misha weren't the only people who were having a bad day. Andrei continued shaving the wood furiously until Christina put her hand on his arm. "Hey," Christina said softly, "What's wrong?"

        Andrei stopped, breathing heavily from his exertion. He dropped the plane on the work bench and pushed the wood onto the floor. "I don't know what I'm doing here," he growled in aggravation.

        "What do you mean?"

        "I mean ..." Andrei ran his hand through his hair. "All this. Why do I even bother?"

        "Because you're great at it," Christina objected. "My God, if I was this good at anything-"

        "But it doesn't matter!" Andrei shouted as he threw his hands in the air. "You know, my father is right. I'm just playing games out here. I can't sell any of this ... junk! I don't have a store, and even if I did, no one would want to buy this crap anyway."

        "That's not true. Uncle Alek is wrong." Christina put her hands on Andrei's shoulders and forced him to look at her. "He's wrong," she repeated. "What you do out here is amazing. I love those things you made for me. I would totally have bought them, but I can't even afford anything that nice. I know you're not selling a lot of stuff right now, but someday you will."

        Andrei was still breathing heavily, but the fire was leaving his eyes. "I just want ... more." He looked at his hands and said, "I know I can do things, but no matter how hard I try I'm still stuck here." He looked up at Christina and said, "You already have your own apartment."

        Christina patted the bench beside her and Andrei sat down. Unable to stretch up to his shoulder, she wrapped her arm around Andrei's waist and leaned against him. "Andrei," she explained, "I work at terrible job just so I can afford my crappy apartment."

        "At least you live on your own."

        "If you saw my apartment, if you saw where I lived, you wouldn't be impressed. My place is a dump. All my furniture is secondhand. The neighborhood is dangerous. I'm scared to go out at night sometimes. If you ever saw it, I would be ashamed."

        "Really?" Andrei asked in astonishment.

        "Yeah," Christina answered seriously. "And I have to admit, I used to feel proud when I first went out on my own, but I have to tell you, it gets lonely sometimes. Why else do you think I visit so much?"

        Andrei put his gigantic arm around his cousin and remarked, "You don't visit much at all."

        Christina laughed and said, "That's 'cause I have to work too much to pay for that crappy apartment of mine. I spend all the time I get off here. So really, don't feel bad, okay? You have nothing to feel bad about."

        "I'm sure your place isn't so bad ..."

        "It is. Trust me. I would have sent you a picture, but I didn't want you to know just how bad it is." Christina sat with her cousin and tried to get worked up about her picture in the dirty magazine. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make herself feel angry with her cousin.

        "Andrei," Christina began, looking up into her cousin's eyes, "When I was cleaning your room yesterday I ..." She couldn't think of any way to say it. Andrei would be mortified! She tried to imagine if it were she in his place. How would she feel to be confronted? How could she ever live it down? She couldn't bring up the picture. She couldn't even accuse her cousin of harboring feelings for her. Christina stewed, trying to think of a way to be tactful.

        "What is it?" Andrei asked, breaking the awkward silence.

        Thinking of a way to spare Andrei's feelings, Christina grimaced and steeled herself for what she was about to say. "I ... I have a confession."

        "A confession? What do you-"

        Christina put her hand over Andrei's mouth and croaked, "Don't interrupt. This is REALLY not easy for me to say." Christina looked away and muttered under her breath, "You have no idea how hard this is to say." She removed her hand from Andrei's lips and looked back at him. "I've had, uh ... kind of uh ... crush ... on you ... For a while now. I feel really bad about it because..." Christina stressed these next words, "You are my cousin, and I love you, and I know those kind of feelings are wrong for me to have."

        Andrei nodded, but before he could speak, Christina continued. "And I realize that these feelings I have for you ... it's because, you know, it's because I think maybe ... I'm lonely, and you're the only man in my life right now. We spend a lot of time together and ..." Christina closed her eyes to make it through the next part, "You know, we stay in the same house, and I've seen your ... body ... and uh ... it's, you know, very ... attractive."

        Again, Andrei started to speak, but Christina cut him off. "Anyway, the thing is; I know these feelings I have are wrong. And you're very important to me, and I don't want to ruin what we have. And I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. Do you think you can ever forgive me?"

        Andrei paused, wondering if it was time for him to speak. "It's okay," he said. "I'm flattered, really." He gave Christina a mighty squeeze and confessed, "Honestly, I think I've had a tiny crush on you too."

        "Oh really?" Christina said, feigning surprise. "I guess I didn't notice. That makes me feel a lot better." She leaned her head against his shoulder and asked, "So, are we okay then?"

        "Sure."

        "Good!" Christina exclaimed happily. "Cause when cousins get together, all you get is flipper-babies."

        Andrei couldn't help but laugh.

        Seeing this as a good opportunity to mention Steph, Christina pressed, "Andrei, I feel a little strange saying this, but I think you should go out on a date with Steph."

        Andrei sat up at the suggestion. His mind was cast instantly back to Steph's apartment. All of a sudden, he could not see anything but Steph in her chemise. "I don't know ..." he stammered.

        "What's not to know? I know Steph likes you, and I'm pretty sure you like her too."

        "Steph likes me?" Andrei asked in astonishment.

        Christina had to stifle the urge to smack her cousin. Of course Steph likes you, she shouted in her mind. It was obvious! She would kill to be the one that Steph liked, but it wasn't meant to be. "Yeah, she likes you. She likes you a lot- I promise."

        "I ... I couldn't. I mean, I don't want to hurt your feelings."

        "Andrei, you're not going to ..." Christina stopped and reflected on how she felt about Steph. She answered truthfully, "I can't say I'm not going to be upset to see you and Steph together, but I'm just gonna have to get over it. There's no reason the two of you can't be happy."

        Andrei stood up and paced nervously in the glow of the space heaters. "I'd like to ... I mean ... I would, but ..."

        "But what?" Christina asked, getting a bit agitated. She was handing Steph to Andrei on a silver platter, but he wasn't biting.

        Andrei confessed, "I don't know how to talk to girls."

        "You talk to me all the time!"

        "That's not the same. You're not like other girls."

         Christina muttered, "You have no idea."

        "What?" Andrei asked.

        "You have no idea how easy talking to girls can be. Just be yourself. Steph already likes you, okay?"

        Andrei sat down and thought it over. "I just don't know ... Maybe ... what if you came too?"

        Tossing her blanket aside, Christina stood up complained, "Andrei! I can't go with you and Steph on a date!"

        "It could be a double date. You did it for Nina ..."

        "Okay, number one, Nina is FIFTEEN years old. And number two, that was NOT a date!"

        The angry tone in Christina's voice caused Andrei to back off. "Okay," he conceded. "I'll think about it."

        Christina's insides felt sick; she couldn't believe Andrei was turning Steph down. She touched Andrei on the shoulder and said, "Okay, you think about it. But I know Steph would like to go out with you, and it would make me ... really happy ... to see the two of you together." Christina left the barn, returning to the bitter wind outside. She jogged back to the side door of the house and entered the warm kitchen. Her uncle was no longer there, but Misha was busy starting dinner.

        Misha smiled at her niece and asked, "Christina, could you help me dear? This is a good time for you to learn how to make a roast."

        Christina responded, "Yeah sure, that sounds like fun, but I've got to make a quick phone call first, okay?"

        Misha nodded.

        Christina left the kitchen and ran upstairs to the second floor. Boris, excited by all the activity, followed Christina up to her room. Christina tossed her jacket on the chair in front of her vanity and hopped on to her bed. Boris hopped up onto the bed after her. Christina ruffled the fur on Boris' head then grabbed her cell phone off her nightstand. She hit the speed dial number for Steph and waited for her to pick up.

        "Hey Steph," Christina forced out. She wanted to tell her that Andrei wasn't interested and that perhaps she should give girls a try, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

        "Hey Blondie, what's shakin'?"

        "I just finished talking to Andrei ..."

        "Really? What did he say?" Steph sounded elated.

        "He said he wants to take you out, but ..."

        "No! There's no buts! Did you tell him there's no buts? Why is there a but?"

        "He doesn't want to be alone with you."

        There was a shocked silence followed by, "Is there some misunderstanding about the entire concept of dating?"

        "No," Christina said, still harboring aggravation with her cousin, "He's just nervous I think. He wants me to go, too."

        "What?" Steph snapped. "Okay, there IS a fundamental misunderstanding at play."

        "No, he wants us all to go on a double date."

        "Oh." Steph said, sounding relieved. "So what's the problem? We'll just find someone for you."

        "What!" Christina screeched. "Wait a minute-"

        "Just call that Richard guy," Steph interrupted, "The one who wants to be the white on your rice- It's perfect!"

        "No!" Christina answered, her voice cracking. "That is the polar opposite of perfect. I can't stand him!"

        "Come on!" Steph pleaded. "I've wanted just one date with Andrei since I was in the sixth grade! Call up Double-O Lawyer and be a Bond girl, just for one night."

        "Steph, you don't know what you're asking me to do! I can't just-"

        "Christina, all that stuff you said about me being your only friend in town- you meant all that, right?"

        Christina muttered, "Well yeah, but-"

        "Well I'm asking you, as a friend. Please, do just this one thing for me."

        Christina paused and considered the unthinkable. "Steph ... I really can't-"

        "Christina, I'm begging you!"

        Christina cringed at the tone of Steph's voice. She really did want Andrei more than anything else in the world. Christina's shoulders dropped in defeat. "Okay."

        "Really?" Steph burst out. "You mean it? Really?"

        "Yeah. But only for you. And for Andrei. But you can NOT, I mean NOT FOR AN INSTANT, leave me alone with that man."

        "Okay, deal."

        "Okay."

        "Christina, I can't tell you how much this means to me," Steph gushed. "I'm serious. You and I are best friends for life."

        Christina thought that being best friends for life with the girl she had a crush on was a poor consolation prize. She took a deep breath and said, "Let me call Richard before I change my mind. I'll call you back when I have it all worked out."

        "Okay, you got it."

        Steph hung up and Christina went to her vanity to get her purse. Sitting down on the bed next to Boris, she dug into the bag. When she'd started her masquerade as Christina Chase, her purse had always been empty. Now it was jam packed with cosmetics, keys, change, scraps of paper, and perhaps all the spare socks that had disappeared from every dryer on the face of the Earth. She wondered how other girls ever found anything. Taking out a tattered business card that Richard had given her almost a year ago in Arnold's Electronics store, she put it to Boris' nose and let him sniff it. "Smell that, boy?" she asked. "Next time you smell that, I want you to kill."

        Boris wasn't sure what she meant, so he simply wagged his tail happily.

        "Look who I'm talking to," Christina admonished. "One slice of beef and you abandon me. What kind of guard dog are you anyway?"

        Boris hung his head between his paws and looked up at Christina.

        She ruffled the fur on his head again to let him know she wasn't really angry with him.

        Christina stared at the card for a while before she could bring herself to dial the number. She could hardly hear the dial tone over the echo of her heartbeat in her ears. Her hopes of getting an answering machine were dashed when Richard picked up the phone and said, "Hello?" Richard waited for a moment and asked, "Hello?" a second time before Christina found her voice.

        "Hello," Christina answered in a grave tone.

        "Well," Richard beamed, "Miss Christina Chase! You just caught me. I was about to leave the office for the night."

        "It's Sunday," Christina said in a snarky voice, "What are you doing in the office?" It was an accusation more than a question.

        "I was working on a special project. Nothing you'd be interested in," he said dismissively. "So ... for what purpose do I have the pleasure of speaking with you tonight?"

        Christina hated the way he spoke. His every word carried an assured tone as though his own self-confidence was attempting to overpower every situation. Christina gritted her teeth and said, "I need a favor."

        "Of course. Anything. What can I do for you?"

        Christina took a deep breath and bellowed, "I need you to take me out on a fake date."

        There was a short pause followed by a chuckle. "You're asking me out on a date?"

        "A FAKE date," Christina corrected.

        "Oh right, so you said. ... A fake date. And how is that different from a standard date?"

        "It's the same as a normal date, except you don't like me, and I don't like you," Christina fumed. "And we won't enjoy ourselves."

        "That is quite an attractive offer!" Richard joked. "But there's a problem- I like you. Quite a lot, actually."

        "Fine," Christina answered, rolling her left hand into a fist. "You can like me all you want, and I still won't like you."

        "And I think I'd enjoy it immensely," Richard continued, not hindered by Christina's venom. "In fact, I believe that I can promise that you will have a good time too ..."

        Christina did not care for that intimation one bit. "Look, do you want to go out with me on a fake date or not?"

        "I most certainly do. When did you have in mind?"

        "I'm leaving town on Tuesday."

        "That just leaves tomorrow."

        "Can you do it or not?" Christina barked.

        "Well," Richard said, his voice not losing one drop of it's poise, "I did have some late appointments, but I would gladly postpone them to see you."

        Christina closed her eyes so tightly she felt her entire head might implode.

        Richard continued, "So let's say, the Clairmont Inn? I'll pick you up at eight o'clock tomorrow?"

        "I'll MEET you there at eight. And my cousin Andrei will be there too." She hoped that last part sounded like a threat.

        Richard joked, "Andrei can come, but I'm not dancing with him."

        "He's bringing his own date!" Christina spewed.

        "Fair enough," Richard laughed, "That leaves you all to me."

        Christina protested, "That does NOT leave-"

        "Excellent," Richard interrupted. "I'll see you tomorrow at eight."

        "Fine!" Christina pressed the end button on her phone and tossed it across the room.

        Boris jumped off the bed, worried that he was the reason Christina was so mad.

        Christina stormed out of the room and down the stairs. Blazing through the kitchen, not saying a word to her aunt, she went out the side door into the cold night. Christina was so furious that the fact that she was not wearing her jacket did not faze her. She burst into the barn and stomped over to Andrei's work bench.

        Hearing the noise, Andrei looked up from his work in shock.

        Christina's cheeks were ablaze from the cold air, but the anger in her eyes burned hotter than the sting on her face. Leaning forward, she poked Andrei in the chest with her finger and screamed, "I just got off the phone with Richard! You've got your double date! Happy now?"

        Andrei had never seen his cousin in such a state, and found no words to answer her.

        "Eight o'clock. Tomorrow night at the Clareman Inn," she said, still poking him in the chest.

        "The Clairmont Inn?" Andrei asked sheepishly.

        "Whatever!" Christina shouted, her waving hands in the air. "You are going! And you are going to have a good time, or so help me, I will bury your broken body in the cold, rocky ground in the backyard!"

        Andrei backed away and said, "Okay then ... sounds like a hoot." He watched Christina heaving with anger, waiting hopefully for her to calm down even a little bit. When he thought she'd burned off some of her rage, he asked, "I thought you hated Richard ..."

        Christina slapped him hard and repeatedly on the side of his shoulder and screeched, "YES! YES! I HATE RICHARD! God! You stupid jerk!" She hit him a few more times until her hand hurt worse than her cousin's shoulder. "I hate Richard, but I love YOU, you idiot! This is all you get, do you understand? One double date, then you're on your own."

        Andrei nodded, realizing that saying anything would likely trigger another assault.

        Christina shook her head and muttered, "You'd better be everything Steph hopes you are." She stormed back out of the barn, this time realizing just how cold it was outside. She lifted the skirt of her Sunday dress and ran to the side door and into the safety of the kitchen. Her aunt was staring at her huffing and puffing. Christina bent over, rested her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath. Once she could speak again, she looked up at her aunt and gasped, "So ... let's make a roast."

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Christina could feel time stalking her all day. She'd called Steph last night after dinner to give her all the bloody details of their double date.

        Steph, of course, had been absolutely elated. She'd explained that the Clairmont Inn was a small bed and breakfast on the edge of town. Its dining room was the closest thing to an extravagant restaurant Oak Grove had to offer, and it was certainly the most romantic place anyone could have picked.

        Had Christina known this, she would have insisted that they go anywhere else, but it was too late now. While she was sure that the day was dragging for Steph, she could feel the minutes slipping away. She wondered if this is what it felt like to be on Death Row.

        Christina was laying on her bed, staring blankly at the canopy of her four poster bed when the clock on her nightstand buzzed. She limply threw her hand onto the button to stop the noise. It was in fact, five-thirty, and she had to get ready for her ... date. Christina corrected herself that it was only a fake date. At least she wasn't going to be alone with Richard, she thought. If he got out of line, Andrei would surely do something to him. Perhaps something horrible and painful. Christina smiled to herself, comforted by the thought that Richard would very likely step out of line in front of her cousin.

        Taking off her gear necklace and placing it on the nightstand next to the clock, Christina stripped out of her long silk skirt and turtleneck. She placed the garments gently on the bed then slipped out of her underwear and waist cincher. Christina caught her body's reflection in the mirror. Somehow, her female appearance no longer bothered her; she'd grown accustomed to being a girl in her family's house. When she looked into the mirror, she fully expected to be the girl she saw. She'd let down her guard so much that she wasn't really acting anymore- she was just being herself. Granted it was a softer, more curvy variation, but it was still her.

        Feeling the red marks on her waist where the cincher had cut into her, Christina cursed Lucille for talking her into the tighter garment. She didn't want to wear it too often as she was afraid it might permanently compress her waist. Still, one more night wouldn't kill her. She had to admit, it did make her more look more attractive.

        Christina slumped at that thought. She was about to make herself attractive for her date with Richard. Shaking off her depression, she put on her bathrobe. She wasn't doing any of this for Richard, she thought, it was for Andrei and Steph. She cast a glance in the mirror on the way out. She only had to look passable tonight, not beautiful. Richard didn't deserve beautiful.

        Christina left her room and wandered drearily into the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and let her robe fall around her ankles. Stepping into the shower, she savored the sensation of the hot water against her smooth, hairless skin. Christina couldn't get over the difference waxing made. Lucille had mercilessly stripped every nook and cranny of her body. Every inch had become sensitive to touch; it was as though someone had turned up the volume on all tactile sensations. She tried to let her mind drift under the massaging pulses of hot water, but she couldn't think of anything but the doom that awaited her tonight. Stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around her hair, Christina got back into her bathrobe and returned to her bedroom.

        "Hey Nina," Christina said absentmindedly to her cousin, who was sitting on Christina's bed next to Boris. Christina sat down at her vanity and turned on her blow dryer.

        While Christina worked on her hair, Nina got up and rifled through her cousin's closet.

        None of this fazed Christina in the slightest. Just under a year ago, Christina had been shocked to find Nina was using the toilet while she was in the shower. Now, Christina accepted, even welcomed, Nina's presence in her private space. It no longer felt inappropriate; it was just normal. Switching off the hair dryer, Christina started brushing out her long, blonde hair. In the vanity mirror, Christina saw that Nina was holding a short, peach cocktail dress.

        Nina said, "You should wear this."

        Christina got up and took dress from Nina. She held it in front of herself in the mirror. The tiny satin dress had a short A-line skirt that ended well above the knee, showing a hint of crinoline underneath. A soft sash circled the waist ending in a reserved bow. On the right side of the strapless top was a small, but fashionable brooch. Christina wondered why she'd ever bought such a thing. How much of her savings had she spent on girl clothes that she never planned on using? Considering the situation in which she now found herself, she regretted buying the ultra-femme frock. "I don't think so Nina," she objected, "I was really just going to return that..."

        "You'll look great in it," her cousin insisted.

        "You think so?" Christina asked as she posed in the mirror. "The thing is, I don't want to look great tonight."

        "Why not?"

        "Because I don't want to give Richard any ideas. He's got enough of those already."

        "You shouldn't let that bother you. I wish someone was taking me to the Clairmont ..." Nina returned to Christina's closet and said. "I don't think you brought any other dresses."

        Christina put her cocktail dress down on the bed, pulled out a long, floral print dress and asked, "What about this?"

        Nina rolled her eyes. "That's for church!" she complained.

        Christina rolled her eyes in return. Of course Nina was right, but she didn't care. "I wish I was going to church," Christina whined. "At least then I could use all those crosses and holy water to protect me." Christina made a silly face and made a cross with her fingers.

        Nina laughed then regained her serious tone. She took the floral dress out of her cousin's hand and put it back into the closet. She took the peach dress off the bed and handed it to Christina. "You're wearing this," she announced.

        "Oh you're running the show now?" Christina mused.

        Nina smiled coyly and said, "Yes I am." She went through Christina's drawers and pulled out pulled out a pair of white lace panties and a strapless bra.

        Christina watched in amusement as Nina continued, pulling out a pair of gauzy, dark stockings and a garter belt.

        "You're taking this pretty seriously," Christina giggled.

        Nina sat on Christina's bed and picked up her necklace off the nightstand and toyed with it. "You're going to have a great time in spite of Richard, and when you get back I want you to tell me all about it."

        "You really want to go to this restaurant, huh?"

        Nina nodded.

        "Well maybe sometime we can go together."

        Nina chuckled. "That's not the same thing as a boy taking me."

        "It's not as different as you think," Christina muttered under her breath.

        "What?"

        "Nothing," Christina covered. "Do I really have to wear all this?"

        "It's not up for discussion."

        Christina turned away from Nina, sighed and pulled her off her robe, tossing it onto the back of her vanity chair. Keeping her back to Nina, she stepped into the panties and put on her bra. Though the two girls had been naked around each other before, Christina always hid as much of her body as possible. Safely in her underwear, Christina put on her garter belt and sat on the bed. Nina watched as Christina rolled her stocking ups her long legs.

        "Did that hurt?" Nina asked curiously. "All that waxing I mean?"

        "Oh God yes, you have no idea."

        "Why did you get it done all over?"

        "I dunno. The place I go to in the city thought it was a good idea. I really didn't like it at first, but now I kinda do."

        "It looks like they got you everywhere."

        Christina stood up and removed the hanger from the dress. "Yeah, all over. It isn't fun, being naked and having someone strange seeing your privates."

        "I guess not." Nina said thoughtfully. "You know it was a really big deal when I got, you know, hair down there the first time. Why do some girls get rid of all of it?"

        Christina pondered that question. "You know, I really don't know. I guess because it's sexy?" Christina unzipped the back of the dress and stepped into it.

        "Do you think I should do it?" Nina asked.

        Christina motion for her to come over and Nina zipped the dress up for her cousin. "No I don't, Nina." Christina sat on the bed and said, "You don't have to do any of that. All you have to do is be yourself, and the right boy will think you're wonderful."

        Nina hopped up onto the bed next to Christina, and they looked at each other in the mirror. "Well you'd better not be yourself tonight or you'll make Richard fall in love with you."

        Christina let out a mock shriek and pushed Nina onto the bed, tickling her cousin's belly mercilessly. "That's enough out of you!" she shouted playfully over the younger girl's relentless laughter.

        "Cut it out!" Nina begged. Christina ceased her assault and Nina said, "Come on. We're not nearly done yet." Nina shoved Christina over to her vanity and took her robe off the chair.

        Christina sat down and went to work on her foundation. Over the protests of her younger cousin, Christina used only the barest amount of cosmetics, giving her a very plain look.

        "Come on!" Nina whined.

        "No way, Nina. You already talked me into this," Christina said, moving her hand down her body, presenting the dress, "That's more than enough."

        Nina rolled her eyes as she pouted, "Fine!"

        Christina held her hair back, and Nina put her gear necklace around her neck. When she got up she stepped into a pair of high heeled pumps and took a look in the mirror. As she fussed with her hair, she was thinking she looked much better than Richard deserved. "We have to get moving," Christina said.

        Nina shot a glance at the clock on the nightstand. "It's not even seven o'clock yet."

        Pinning on her earrings, Christina turned to Nina and asked, "How long have you known your brother?" she asked coyly.

        Nina shrugged, "All my life."

        "And having known him all that time, what makes you think our dear Andrei is ready?"

        Nina giggled and followed Christina as she strode confidently out of her bedroom and through the hallway to the opposite side of the house. Nina quietly pushed Andrei's bedroom door open and laughed at her brother who was fumbling hopelessly with a pale green tie.

        "Nina!" Andrei snapped. "Get out of here!" Andrei forgot about his sister when he saw Christina slink into his bedroom in her sexy strapless dress.

        She stood in front of him and shooed his hands away from the tie that hung partially around his neck. "You be nice to Nina," Christina admonished.

        Andrei was still a little leery of his cousin. "You're not going to hit me again, are you?" he asked.

        "We'll see," she answered, pulling the tie free from his collar. "The night is still young." She examined the tie and held it in front of him. "Do you feel comfortable wearing this?" Andrei shook his head, and Christina tossed the tie onto his dresser. "Then you don't have to." Christina grinned warmly at her cousin as she arranged his collar and unbuttoned the top button of his clean white shirt. She ran her fingers through Andrei's short brown hair in a vain attempt to make it behave. "Nina," Christina instructed, "Go get a brush." While Nina was out of the room, Christina said, "Relax. You don't have to try to impress anyone. You're going to have a good time. I promise, ok?"

        Andrei nodded, still somewhat nervous. "I'm sorry I put you in this situation," he gulped.

        Christina placed a single, slender finger over Andrei's mouth and shook her head. "Shh. Don't remind me. I'm already in a cranky mood. The truth is, you've already done more nice things for me than anyone else in the whole world. I'll be fine. You just have a good time with Steph." She dropped her hand and added, "And don't leave me alone with ... him."

        Nina jogged into the room and handed Christina a large brush and a comb.

        Christina spent a few moments combing Andrei's hair. When she was satisfied, she sat on Andrei's bed next to Nina. "Put on your jacket," she commanded. Andrei took his suit coat from Christina and put it on.

        "Well?" he asked meekly, holding his hands out to his sides.

        "What do you think Nina?" Christina asked.

        "I think he's the same dork, all dressed up."

        Andrei took a step towards Nina, but he stopped when his cousin held up her hand.

        "Tell him what you really think," Christina admonished.

        "You actually... look really nice." Nina choked on the words at first, but she was surprised by the smile they elicited on her lips.

        "Really?" Andrei blushed.

        "Not quite right though," Christina observed. She stood up and ruffled Andrei's hair a bit.

        Nina exclaimed, "Perfect!"

        Christina leaned on Andrei's tall shoulder and repeated, "Perfect."

        The task complete, Christina and Nina took Andrei downstairs to the living room where his parents were waiting.

        Andrei blushed when his mother kissed him on the cheek.

        "You look so handsome!" She gushed. "You too, Christina!"

        Christina smiled, though she was anything but happy about her date.

        Alek walked up and smacked Andrei in the shoulder and grinned slyly. "Stephanie is a good girl," he said. "You are to be a gentleman."

        Christina thought she saw her uncle wink at Andrei, but she couldn't be sure.

        Alek turned to Christina and said, "Remember to behave yourself, and be home by ten o'clock."

        "Dad," Nina complained, "Christina is twenty years old!"

        Alek took a deep breath and conceded, "Eleven o'clock."

        "No, no," Christina objected, "Ten o'clock is fine. No need for me to stay out late, I always say." Nina look absolutely scandalized by that comment, but it seemed to make Alek happy. The truth was that Christina didn't want to stay out a minute longer than was required.

        Andrei and Christina walked out the front door with Misha following closely behind. Christina could still see her in the window as they got into the truck and drove away. As soon as they were at the end of the driveway, Christina announced, "We're stopping at the flower shop first."

        Andrei said, "Aren't they closed by now?"

        "I called up yesterday and ordered a bouquet for Steph, and there's someone there waiting for us."

        "Wow, you really thought of everything."

        "Yeah well, I've been planning this date with Steph since July."

        "You've been planning this date for me for months?"

        "Um yeah ..." Of course that wasn't true. Christina had been fantasizing about dating Steph herself, but that was not going to happen.

        Christina sighed as she remembered just how hard it was to walk into the barn and offer Steph up to her cousin. That wasn't the only thing that had bothered her about the previous day. After she'd heard her aunt and uncle arguing, Alek had shouted at her. Though it was a brief incident, something about it had crawled right under her skin.

        "Hey," Christina said. "Have your parents been fighting lately?"

        "Not that I know of," Andrei shrugged.

        "Your dad ... he snapped at me yesterday. Did I do something wrong?"

        "I wouldn't let it get to you. That's the way he is. I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it."

        "Yeah," Christina sighed, "But he didn't say he was sorry."

        "Sorry?" Andrei laughed. "That word's not in his vocabulary. My father has never apologized to anyone in his whole life."

        Andrei parked the truck in front of the florist, and he and Christina hopped out.

        Christina clutched her pea coat tightly around herself. Not only was the jacket too light, but her short dress was not designed for this sort of weather. Noticing the thick clouds overhead, Christina realized that she desperately needed to buy a winter coat when she got home.

        Andrei knocked on the door of the shop. There was a faint light from inside, and a young man unlocked the door. In the pale light, Christina couldn't tell his age. He might have still been in high school. He definitely looked younger than Andrei. He had wavy black hair and a long, pointed face. Christina couldn't quite make out the name tag on his apron. He led them to the counter and pulled a large bouquet from display case. Stretching over the counter, he handed the bouquet to Christina.

        "I arranged them myself," he said in a nasal voice.

        Christina smiled and handed them to Andrei. "You did a lovely job," she complemented, causing the young man to smile broadly. "I can't thank you enough for staying open."

        The young man held his hands behind his back and looked downward. "It was no trouble at all," he insisted. He looked at Andrei and said, "That will be sixty-five dollars."

        "Sixty-five dollars!" Andrei gasped.

        Christina elbowed him and growled, "Pay the man for Steph's flowers."

        Andrei grudgingly took out his wallet and gave the young man the money. He muttered, "Sixty-five dollars is a lot of money for flowers."

        "It's not for flowers," Christina snarled out of the side of her mouth, "It's for Steph. And flowers will make her happy, so just shut-up about it. Girls like getting flowers."

        Andrei collected his change, and they turned to leave.

        "Wait a minute," the young man called.

        Christina and Andrei turned around.

        The young man reached back into the case and held out a bunch of miniature sunflowers. "These are for you."

        Christina walked forward and said, "I didn't order those, did I?"

        "No," the young man stuttered, "But I thought you might like them."

        Christina gasped, "Oh." She took the flowers from him and repeated, "These are for me ..."

        "Yeah," the young man responded, not quite able to meet Christina's eyes. "I thought you'd like them."

        Christina put the flowers to her nose and drank in the scent. "It's November! Where did you get sunflowers?"

        "I had them over-nighted from South America."

        Christina shook her head slightly and asked, "For me?"

        The young man got the courage to meet Christina's eyes and stumbled, "I've seen you around town, and you're something special. Like sunflowers in the winter."

        Christina couldn't prevent her cheeks from burning bright crimson; she'd never felt so flattered in her entire life. Now it was Christina who found she couldn't meet the young man's eyes. "Thank you, Harry," she purred.

        The young man held up his name tag and said, "It's Harold."

        Christina bit her bottom lip and said, "Harold ... thank you so much. I love them."

        "We have to go." Andrei interrupted grumpily. He knew that he could never pursue his feelings for his cousin, but he did not like other men pursuing her in his presence. He was beginning to think that a double date might have been a mistake.

        "He's right," Christina blushed. "Thanks so much for the flowers." Christina and Andrei turned to leave. As she left, Christina smiled over her shoulder and saw that Harold was grinning from ear to ear. Christina was still glowing when she got back to into the truck.

        "I guess girls really do like flowers," Andrei complained.

        Christina didn't bother to respond. Of course she had no interest in Harold, but there was something about the gesture that knocked her off her feet. She had never considered herself unattractive as a boy, but she was far from overtly sexy. Being desired was a new and intoxicating experience. She feared the lustful looks she elicited from men on the street, but there was a genuine sweetness in Harold's gesture that had caught her off guard. She spent the drive to Steph's on cloud nine, sniffing her sunflowers. She was brought back down to Earth when Andrei parked in front of Steph's salon.

        They got out of the truck, and Andrei pushed the buzzer next to Steph's door.

        Steph unlocked the door, though she did not say anything over the intercom.

        Andrei and Christina walked up the stairs and stood in the hallway in front of the inside door. Andrei looked at Christina, the bouquet in his hands trembling slightly.

        Christina said nothing, only nodding reassuringly.

        Andrei took a deep breath, and opened the door. He was somewhat relieved to find that Steph was not there waiting for them.

        "Steph," Christina called out, "Where are you?"

        "I'm in the bathroom," Steph called. "Christina, I could use your help with something."

        Christina looked at Andrei and shrugged. She went down the hallway and knocked on the bathroom door. "Steph?" she asked.

        The door flew open, and Steph yanked Christina into the bathroom by her arm. "I can't go out there," Steph cried, "Look at me!"

        Christina studied Steph from head to toe. The stripe in her hair was gone; her hair was instead crafted into an elegant 1950's hairstyle with a delicate headband. She was wearing a long black dress with a leg slit. The dress clung to her body showing off all of her curves. On her hands were long black gloves, and she wore a string of pearls around her neck. Steph exuded a simple elegance that felt somehow familiar to Christina.

        "Whoa," Christina moaned as she felt a constricted stirring in her panties.

        "I know! It's terrible! I don't know what I was thinking- Andrei is going to think I'm a freak!"

        It took a moment for Christina to stop staring and to start speaking. "Andrei is going to love it." She continued giving Steph the once over as she walked around her in a circle. "Audrey Hepburn?" Christina asked.

        Steph nodded.

        "From Roman Holiday?"

        "Breakfast at Tiffany's," Steph whispered. "It's stupid, but when I imagined going out with Andrei, it's what I always pictured in my head. I just ran with it."

        Christina put her hands on Steph's shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes. "You look fantastic, and Andrei is going to love it."

        "You think so?" Steph said, on the verge of tears.

        Christina felt the tightness in her panties and said, "Trust me, you look fantastic."

        "Okay ... okay ... okay ..." Steph repeated to herself as her breathing slowed down. "I can do this."

        Seeing that Steph had a handle on things, Christina turned to leave the bathroom, but Steph grabbed her arm to stop her.

        "Hold on," Steph said, her normal pluck returning to her voice, "Who did your makeup?"

        "I did. Why?"

        "Why?" Steph asked incredulously. She turned Christina to face the mirror. "You're going to go to the Clairmont looking like this?"

        "What's wrong with my makeup?" Christina blushed.

        "Nothing, it's just you missed your face."

        Christina rolled her eyes. "Look," she explained, "I don't want to give Richard the wrong idea."

        "What?" Steph exaggerated, "That you're a girl?"

        Christina threw her hands to her side and said, "Actually, yes!"

        Steph scrunched up her face and gave Christina a confused look. "Ok, here's how it is Blondie- we're going to most swankadelic place in town. I realize by your big city standards, it barely rates a 6.5 on the chic scale, but it's news around here, get me?"

        "News?" Christina asked.

        "Yes, as in did you hear that Christina Chase and Steph Bonacelli were at the Clairmont last night?" Steph mimed. "Oh, why yes, Steph was dressed up like Audrey Hepburn and Christina was the Amish girl." Steph emphasized the word "Amish" in a way that made Christina groan.

        Christina took a deep breath in through her nose and gave in. "Fine. Do whatever you want. But just keep it simple, okay?"

        "Sure thing Blondie. Remember- I'm a professional."

        Christina sat on the toilet with her eyes closed while Steph went to work on her face. After about ten minutes, Christina said, "I think that's enough. Andrei is waiting for us."

        Steph said, "The ancient Egyptians invented living rooms so men would have somewhere to hang out while girls got ready." Christina failed to stifle a chortle, and Steph complained, "Quit moving, I'm almost done. Steph applied some finishing touches around Christina's eyes then stood her in front of the mirror. "Am I a genius?"

        "No!" Christina gasped, "You're a criminal!" Steph had given her the look of an innocent school girl on the way to her junior prom. With the short peach dress Nina had picked out, she more than looked the part. "I said, keep it simple!"

        "Look, you're the one who came in wearing that! I don't create looks," Steph said rolling her hands dramatically around Christina's face, "I liberate them." Christina looked positively indignant, but before she could say anything, Steph grabbed her hand and said, "You know ... I just want to say, however things work out tonight ... thank you. I'm really glad you're coming." Steph hugged Christina, and Christina held her back.

        Though Christina was incredibly attracted to Steph, in that moment she felt nothing but innocent affection for her. It almost made her think she might be happy just being Steph's friend. Christina let go of Steph and said, "We should really go. We're running late."

        Andrei heard the sound of the girls walking into the living room and stood up nervously to greet them. He felt his throat go dry when he saw Steph. Andrei was so floored by Steph's appearance, that he didn't notice her expectant and anxious expression. Andrei said nothing; he just stood fiddling with the bouquet of flowers he clutched tightly in his hands.

        Christina, who was walking a few paces behind Steph, mouthed, "You look so beautiful."

        Andrei nodded and said, "You look so beautiful." He was repeating what his cousin told him to say, but when the words left his lips, they were his own.

        Steph positively glowed and responded, "You look very handsome yourself."

        Andrei stood up a bit taller, though still very uncomfortable in formal clothes, and admitted, "Christina dressed me."

        Christina slapped her hand to her forehead in anguish, but Steph purred, "We'll have to give her a medal, won't we."

        Andrei mechanically shoved the bouquet of flowers forward and choked, "These are for you."

        Taking the flowers from Andrei, Steph stepped closer to him. She stood up on her tip toes and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you," she said, "They're wonderful."

        Over Steph's shoulder, Andrei caught the devastated look on Christina's face.

        "I'll just put these in water before we go," Steph said as she went to the kitchen, leaving Christina and Andrei alone.

        "Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Andrei whispered.

        Christina forced a smile, though her eyes were still heavy with sadness. She nodded affirmatively.

        Steph walked back into the room, grinning at Andrei. Taking Steph's arm in his, Andrei escorted her to the truck, with Christina sulking behind them. Steph sat in the middle of the seat next to Andrei.

        Christina was left on the passenger side, holding her sunflowers in her lap and staring wistfully out the window. The edges of the gray clouds glowed with the light of an unseen moon. She waited for the snow to start falling, but the thick clouds refused to release a single flake. Unable to watch Steph fawn over her older cousin, she kept her eyes skyward for the entire trip to the Clairmont Inn.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Christina was barely aware of her surroundings when the truck pulled into the parking lot. She stepped out of the door and closed it after Steph had exited. Immediately crossing over to Andrei, Steph inserted her arm through his.

        Christina studied the Inn as they approached. It was a two-story stone building that seemed both elegant and ancient. Christina thought it was the oldest building she'd seen anywhere on the mountain. She folded her arms to ward off the cold, and a chilly wind blew her long blond hair sideways. She was relieved to feel the embrace of sweet smelling, warm air as she entered the lobby. The air was filled with the scent of burning lamp oil and something delicious being cooked in the distance. The inn had tall ceilings and hardwood floors covered by exquisite rugs. The walls were adorned with old paintings of the mountain and the town. Oil lanterns hung, glowing romantically, from the posts. Christina now understood why Steph was so excited and so nervous; this was not just the best restaurant in town, it was the most impressive restaurant Christina had ever been to.

        As Richard approached, Christina's astonished gaze slid into one of annoyance. He was well dressed, as usual, in a perfectly lined suit, and he was carrying a single rose. He held the rose out, and Christina begrudgingly took it. Richard leaned in to kiss Christina on the cheek, but she took a step backwards and whispered, "There is NO kissing."

        Christina motioned towards her cousin and said, "Richard, this is my cousin Andrei ... Andrei, Richard," She motioned to Steph and continued, "And this is-"

        Richard stepped forward and interrupted, "Miss Holly Golightly. I'm sure we've met before."

        Steph grinned and held out her hand which Richard took and kissed in a gentlemanly fashion. "Right you are, Mr. Bond. We met at the fireworks. I'm Steph."

        "Yes; of course," Richard grinned. "I helped your parents file the paperwork to set up your salon."

        "Oh that's right!" Steph responded. "I totally forgot."

        Richard inserted his arm through Christina's and said, "Shall we? Our table is waiting."

        Steph nodded and they walked through the lobby to the main dining room. Christina and Richard led the way with Steph and Andrei walking a few steps behind them.

        "What's with the rose?" Christina growled out of the corner of her mouth. "This is a fake date, remember?"

        "Yes, of course," Richard said in mock seriousness. "I apologize. The store was out of plastic flowers."

        Christina gritted her teeth and looked away. She could tell it was going to be a long night.

        Christina was surprised by the size of the main dining hall. She would not have guessed that the old building held such a large room by it's outside appearance. She saw only two other couples in the dark corners of the room as they crossed the dance floor. Soft, classical music filled the room from unseen speakers.

        Richard held Christina's chair out for her.

        Christina shot the man an annoyed look before taking her seat at the large marble-topped table.

        Taking the cue, Andrei held out Steph's chair.

        Christina noticed the elated expression on Steph's face as she took her seat. At least Steph was getting her dream night, Christina thought.

        All of them, except Richard, picked up their menus and began scanning. Christina decided that Richard looked too comfortable for this to have been his first time at the Inn. Looking over the menu, she was unhappy about the prices next to all the entrees. She wondered if Andrei could afford them. A pang of jealously swept though her, and for a moment, she was glad that the flowers and dinner would cost her cousin a small fortune.

        An extremely well-dressed young man came to the table and introduced himself as William. "Is there anything I can get for you to drink while you are perusing the menu?" he asked politely.

        "Actually," Steph interjected, "If everyone is ready, could we just order now? I'm a little hungry."

        "Me too," Andrei concurred, without looking up from the menu. Jumping from one line to the next, Andrei tried to make sense of the strange names. What was Polenta? And why was it soft? He saw a listing for "Roast Free Range Chicken." Chicken, he thought. He knew what that was. It came with mashed potatoes, and roast garlic jus. Jus? What was that, he wondered. They must have meant "juice." At the prices they were charging, Andrei thought, they could have at least proofread the menu. "You go first," Andrei said to Steph. "Get anything you want."

        Steph smiled at William and said, "I'll have the sautéed skate, and a glass of the house wine."

        "And for you sir?" William said to Andrei.

        Andrei gave the menu one last desperate scan. He let out a sigh of relief and said, "The twenty-ounce black angus rib eye." Though it was one of the more expensive things on the menu, Andrei was grateful that the restaurant had something he could understand. "And a wine too."

        "Very good," William said. "Would you care for an appetizer?"

        Steph leaned up against Andrei and pointed at a line on the menu. Andrei read, "And this ... sautéed baby calamari."

        "And for you?" William asked, as he turned to Richard.

        "To start, we'll have the charcuterie plate. I'll have the jarret d'agneau braise." Richard's French accent was impeccable.

        Christina put down her menu and started to order, but Richard cut her off, adding, "The lady will have coq au vin de bandol au tagliatelle. And bring us a bottle of the Clos du Bois cabernet sauvignon."

        Before Christina could yell at Richard for ordering for her, William announced, "Ladies, could I please see some identification?"

        Steph produced her driver's license and presented it to William.

        "Identification?" Christina squeaked.

        "Yes. In order to serve you an alcoholic beverage, I need to see some identification."

        "I ... uh ..." Christina panicked. Though she was under-aged, that's not what worried her. Her driver's license clearly read "Christopher Chase."

        "She'll just have a water," Steph said, diffusing the situation. Christina grinned nervously at William.

        "Very good," he said. "I'll be back with your drink orders in a moment." William collected all the menus and walked through a free swinging door into the kitchen.

        "Christina isn't legal yet," Steph explained, "She's only twenty."

        Richard looked genuinely surprised. It was perhaps the first time Christina had seen his impenetrable charm fade, if only for an instant. "Christina's twenty years old?" Richard asked across the table.

        "Yes." Andrei said sternly, resuming the role of his cousin's protector. "How old are you?"

        "I'm thirty-one."

        Andrei's eyes went wide with astonishment.

        Christina blushed as she looked up at Richard. It was no wonder all of Misha's advice about handling boys fell short with him- Richard had her outclassed.

        Steph playfully flipped her gloved hand in Richard's direction and did the same with her other hand towards Christina. "Sugar Daddy, meet Lolita," she quipped to Richard. "Lolita," she said to Christina, "I believe you've already met Sugar Daddy."

        Richard laughed, but Andrei did not look pleased. Christina felt a sickness in her stomach. Somehow the knowledge that Richard was eleven years her senior made her doubt her ability to keep him under control.

        "Correct me if I'm wrong," Richard started, addressing Steph and Andrei, "This is your first date?"

        "Why yes it is," Steph answered. "What gave it away?"

        "Nothing at all," Richard said suavely, "I would have thought you two had been together for years when I met you in the lobby. It's just that the last time I had the pleasure of taking out Christina, she was playing matchmaker."

        "I guess it's officially a trend," Steph grinned, falling under Richard's spell.

        "In that case," Richard said, rising to his feet and holding out his hand to Christina, "Perhaps you would like to join me on the dance floor so these two can be alone."

        Christina looked at the older man as though she was a deer caught in headlights. She felt Steph give her a sharp kick to the shin and exclaimed, "Ow!"

        "Excuse me?" he smiled.

        "I said no! Absolutely not. I don't dance."

        "Nonsense," Richard said decisively. He took Christina's hand and pulled her to her feet.

        Christina shot a scared look over her shoulder and saw Steph mouth, "Thank you."

        Andrei, however, was shooting daggers from his eyes into Richard's back.

        As Richard and Christina reached the center of the dance floor, Christina was forced to face her captor. "I don't know how to dance," she confessed.

        "There's nothing to it," Richard soothed as he guided Christina's hand to his shoulder. He placed his hand on Christina's hip and said, "This is just a simple waltz. Follow me, and you'll be fine."

        Christina nodded and allowed Richard to lead her around the dance floor. She felt a little clumsy, but Richard kept the steps simple. After a few minutes she began to feel more confident, and Richard took her through a few more difficult moves.

        "You have a natural grace," Richard complimented. "I would have expected that you studied dance when you were younger. Perhaps ballet?"

        "Not hardly," Christina said as she self-consciously watched her feet. "I used to play baseball."

        "You played baseball?" Richard laughed. "I can't picture it. You must have been quite the tomboy."

        "You have no idea," she said in an annoyed voice. Casting a glance towards the table, Christina prayed that Andrei would put a stop to all the dancing. Her hopes sank when she saw her older cousin actually talking to Steph. From the look of things, Steph had found some way of breaking the ice. They were sitting close together, their faces edging nearer. Christina's attention returned to her dancing when she felt her body being pulled up against Richard's.

 

        William came to the table holding a large tray. He placed two bottles of wine on the table and poured everyone's drinks. Next to Christina's place setting, he placed a bottle of spring water and a tall glass. Next he put the appetizers in the middle of the table and asked, "Is there anything else I can get for you?" Andrei shook his head, and William went back into the kitchen.

        Andrei stared at the plates of food. One plate looked like a pile of fried rings, and the other resembled a plate of cold cuts with bread and vegetables.

        "Which one is ours?" Andrei asked uncomfortably.

        Steph pointed at the pile of rings and said, "The calamari." Steph took a piece and tossed it into her mouth.

        Andrei cautiously took one of the rings and took a bite. He choked a bit then took a sip of his wine. "Those aren't onion rings," he coughed.

        Steph laughed. "It's squid," she explained as she ate another ring.

         "Squid?" Andrei asked incredulously.

        Smiling devilishly as she took another piece of calamari off the plate with her fork. She held it up to Andrei's mouth and said, "You shouldn't be afraid to try new things, otherwise you won't know what you're missing."

        Andrei took the ring off Steph's fork and returned her smile.

        "You know Andrei," Steph said as she moved her chair closer, "All those years, you used to come into my Dad's hardware store, you bought a lot of stuff. You know, I always wondered what you were working on. I'd like to see the other side of that story."

        "Yeah, you should come over and I'll show you all my stuff."

        "All of it?" Steph said with a wicked grin.

 

        Christina's heart sank as she watched Steph and Andrei, It looked as though they were actually hitting it off.

        "This piece," Richard explained, "Is more of a slow dance." He held her tightly and continued, "It's simpler than waltzing. Just stay close to me and you'll be fine."

        Christina bit her lower lip and held onto the older man. Staying close to Richard, she thought, was the opposite of fine. She waited for the song to end; it was worse than waiting for microwave popcorn. Christina felt a sickening chill shoot through her body as she felt an unmistakable hardness grow in Richard's pants against her tummy. She wanted to push free from the embrace, but she couldn't muster control of her limbs. Looking pleadingly over Richard's shoulder at the table, Christina begged Andrei with her eyes to rescue her. It was pointless; he was enthralled by Steph. Christina felt Richard's embrace slacken as the song faded away. Pushing herself away from the older man, she held her hand to her throat and lied, "I'm really thirsty, can we take a break?"

        "Certainly." Richard said, as he took Christina by the waist and led her back to her seat.

        Christina could feel the beginnings of a headache as Richard held out her chair for the second time that night. She smoothed out her short skirt underneath her as she sat.

        "You guys were great out there," Steph said, never looking away from Andrei.

        It was not lost on Christina that Andrei's hand was resting on top of Steph's.

        "Christina's a natural," Richard remarked.

        Christina kicked Andrei under the table. Though she put a good deal of force into the thrust, it barely got his attention. Holding her water to the right side of her face so that Richard couldn't see her lips, she mouthed, "Take me home!"

        "I think ..." Andrei started, obviously torn between helping his cousin and staying to enjoy his night with Steph.

        "You think what, Andrei?" Steph asked.

        Andrei saw that William was coming with a large platter and recovered, "I think the food is here."

        William set up a folding table and placed the large tray on top. While William was placing plates of delicious smelling food in front of everyone, Andrei was watching Richard closely. However, rather than scrutinizing his behavior to protect his cousin, he was observing him for cues on how to act.

        Andrei's new found manners were not lost on Steph, though she would not have cared if Andrei had stuffed his napkin into his shirt and unbuttoned his pants. She was thrilled to be the center of his attention for the first time in her life.

        Christina spent the meal in agony. On one front, she had to face Andrei and Steph, who were quite obviously falling for each other. They didn't say much, but their body language told the entire story. It was as though Andrei had woken up and realized that he'd always wanted Steph. Christina thought she could handle losing Steph to Andrei, but being forced to watch it unfold was unbearable. On the other hand, she had to field questions from Richard about the city, her job, what she wanted to do with her life, and all sorts of other topics. Doing her best to deliver indifferent answers, she wondered if there were anything she could say that would make Richard lose interest in her.

        They were almost finished with dinner when Christina felt a poke from Steph under the table.

        Steph motioned with her eyes towards Andrei, then towards the door.

        Christina took a bite of her chicken and scrunched her brow in confusion. Steph made the same gesture again and it dawned on Christina that she wanted to leave. From the look on her face, Christina got the impression that she wanted Andrei all to herself. Christina held up her glass again and mouthed, "You can't leave me!" Steph didn't offer any response other than her pleading eyes, but Christina was adamant.

        Stretching her arms, Steph yawned. "Man, am I getting a tired. I think maybe you should take me home, Andrei."

        Christina kicked Andrei very hard in the shin, evoking a visible response on his face. "Nooo." she mouthed with tense lips.

        "It's no problem," Richard offered, "I'd be happy to take Christina home."

        Andrei was well aware of the look on his cousin's face. He turned to Steph and said, "Why don't we wait until everyone's finished?"

        "Because ..." Steph searched, "Because I think I left the oven on." Steph gave Christina a pleading look.

        Jamming her foot into Andrei again, Christina insisted, "I'm pretty sure I checked the oven before we left." Christina watched in horror as Steph dropped her hand from the table and onto Andrei's thigh.

        Steph looked at him seductively and purred, "If you take me home and the oven's not on, we could always turn it on together."

        Even Andrei was not so dense as to miss a suggestion like that. He stood up so fast that the table rattled.

        Christina averted her eyes to avoid the obvious bulge in her cousin's pants.

        "Steph's right," Andrei coughed, "You can't be too careful." Reaching his hand into his pocket, Andrei pulled out a wad of cash. He dropped the money on the table without counting it and took a thrilled Steph by the hand.

        Christina sat up high in her chair and followed them with her eyes as they escaped across the dance floor, then out of sight. She couldn't believe that men could be so single-minded and so easily manipulated! Sinking back into her chair, she looked back at Richard.

        Richard could barely contain his amusement at the whole situation. He took a sip of wine and joked, "I think those two have the right idea."

        Giggling anxiously, Christina stuffed her mouth with another bite of food. She tried to keep her mouth full for the rest of the meal, not only took prevent her from answering any more of Richard's questions, but also to speed the date by.

        When William came back to ask the couple if they wanted anything for desert, Christina asked him for the check before Richard could order anything else. Once the plates were cleared away and Richard had paid the bill, Christina said meekly, "It's getting late; I really think you should take me home now."

        "The night's still young," he said hopefully, "Are you sure you don't want to try your hand at dancing again?"

        "No," Christina said as she held her tummy. "You know, the food was great, but I think maybe I just ate a little too much."

        Richard held out his hand as he stood up.

        Christina put her hand in his and let him help her to her feet. She put on her pea coat and buttoned it up.

        Richard opened his large trench coat and draped it around his date. "You know, it's far too cold for that," he said, referring to her jacket.

        Christina only nodded and did not cause a scene when Richard put his arm around her waist and led her to the lobby.

        The attendant behind the podium called out, "Have a great night, Mr. Masters." Richard waved genially in response.

        Christina felt the rush of ice-cold air as they stepped out into the parking lot. She clutched Richard's coat tightly around herself as her fingers went numb. All day, she felt as though she was waiting on death row; this was the final walk to the electric chair. The first flecks of snow tumbled down from the sky. The clouds were merely dusting the parking lot, but she knew that, just like her date, the storm would easily get out of control.

        Richard held open the passenger side door of his convertible, and Christina reluctantly stepped in. Terrified, she watched Richard slide into the driver's seat out of the corner of her eye. She was afraid of what Richard wanted from her; she was afraid that he would find out that she wasn't who she appeared to be. What really churned her stomach was the thought that her family might learn the truth as well. She wanted to be angry with Steph and Andrei, but she could feel nothing but the paralyzing fear.

        As Richard started the car, Christina buckled her seat belt, regretting the feeling of constriction it caused. She stared into the darkness, doing her best to keep her eyes away from Richard. She noticed that they were heading further up the mountain; the opposite direction from town.

        "Richard," she said in a tiny voice, "I think we're going the wrong way."

        "We have plenty of time. I thought we'd take the scenic route."

        Christina sank into her seat. She wanted to scream at Richard, but she couldn't find the courage. This was the first time she had ever been truly alone with the man. In the grocery, she'd had Boris by her side. When she yelled at him last July, she was standing safely on her own front porch. Now, she was stranded in his car and at his mercy. Reaching into the overcoat, she held her necklace tightly and prayed for strength.

        The car climbed higher up the mountain until they were nearly at the peak. Richard pulled off down a dark, gravel road that plunged them deep into the forest. The Lexus absorbed most of the shock of the country road, but Christina could hear the sound of the gravel grinding in her ears. The road ended in a bald spot between the tall pines. The trees pulled back, and Christina thought she could make out the edges of a rocky cliff in the pale light that reflected off the clouds. Over the edge, the valley, and miles beyond, stretched out in front of them. The lights below twinkled beneath the starless sky that poured forth silent snow.

        Christina gathered her courage, reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. "Are you going to take me home, or do I have to call my uncle to come and get me?"

        "I need to say something first," Richard said, " I owe you an apology. I was a little ... forward with you the last time I took you out. I didn't realize you were only twenty."

        "Oh, so it's okay to be a complete jerk if I was a few years older?"

        "I suppose not," Richard conceded. "I think you owe me something too, though."

        "I owe YOU something?" Christina growled.

        "Just an explanation. It's obvious that tonight was never about you and me. You were using me to get Andrei and Stephanie together."

        Christina actually felt a little guilty. There was a disappointment in Richard's voice that she'd never heard before. She thought about how he'd acted tonight, and though she had not wanted to go out on a date with him, she had to admit that he had behaved himself. Looking him in the eyes, for perhaps the first time that night, she said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to use you."

        Richard broke out his characteristically charming smile and said, "You most certainly did. And furthermore, I was more than willing to be used."

        "Why?" Christina asked.

        "Because," Richard said, inching ever so slightly closer, "I really wanted to see you again. I've never met anyone who I just couldn't get out of my mind. I was sure I'd blown it, but when you offered me another chance to be near you, I couldn't say no."

        Christina was floored. There was a sincerity in Richard's voice that was utterly disarming. No one had ever said anything like that to her before, much less meant it. She blushed and grinned slightly as she looked away. She brushed her hair back over her ear and looked back at Richard. "Why did you bring me up here?" she asked.

        "I just want to talk to you."

        "We talked all night," Christina objected.

        "No, I talked. ... You avoided."

        Christina nodded then took a deep breath. "What did you want to talk about?"

        Richard inched even closer and said, "What I want to know is, why did you ask me out tonight, even though you obviously don't like me. Did you go through all that just to fix up your cousin? Why would you do that?"

        Christina responded, "Because, you know, I really love him. He's a great guy, and Steph sees it too." Christina paused then continued, "It may not look like it, but the Levchenkos are amazing people. They're really special, and when I'm around them, it makes it almost like I'm special too. There's nothing I wouldn't do to make any of them happy."

        Richard put his arm over the seat and tenderly said, "You are special."

        Christina shook her head and said, "No, I'm really not. They took me in, and they treat me like I belong. I'm just lucky."

        "Family is very important to you, isn't it."

        "Yeah it is." Christina admitted. "After I lost my family, I never thought I would have one again. Now I do, and it's like a miracle."

        "How did you lose your family?"

        Christina was surprised that there was still a single person in Oak Grove who wasn't familiar with her entire life story. "There was a fire when I was very young. My father died, and we lost everything." Not wanting to revisit her past yet again that was all she was willing to share about that day.

        "That must have been terrible," Richard said. "What about your mother?"

        "She's still around," Christina shrugged, "Just not for me."

        "I guess you've had it kind of rough."

        "I really can't complain," Christina insisted. "Even though my Dad is gone, and Mom and I don't talk, I still remember a lot of good things."

        "What sort of things?"

        "The little stuff. You know, the stuff that never seems important until later? I remember my Dad teaching me how to throw a baseball. The smell of my mom's pancakes in the morning." Christina closed her eyes and smiled broadly. "This one time, my Dad missed my birthday. I was nine I think. He couldn't get away from work, and I was just crushed. But the next day, he spent the entire day with me. We got up early to go fishing, not that I was any good at it. And I remember that night we played mini-golf, like three times in a row."

        "Miniature golf?" Richard smiled.

        "Yeah." Christina said. "It was a lot of fun. Honestly, I just liked seeing him."

        "I take it he wasn't around very much."

        Christina shook her head. "Not as much as I wanted, anyway. You know, things were always going to be better someday, ... and then ... he was just gone."

        Richard nodded. "I think I can understand that. My parents are no longer here either."

        Christina put her hand on his and asked, "What happened to them?"

        Richard looked down and shook his head. "They moved to Florida."

        Christina broke out in laughter. "You jerk!" she said playfully as she shoved Richard in the chest.

        Richard looked back up with a huge grin and continued, "It's very sad. They stay inside all day and watch Wheel of Fortune. It's no way to live."

        Christina couldn't stop laughing. Once her deep, belly laughs subsided, Christina said, "Look Richard, you're almost a decent guy, you know, when you're not being a complete ass. I'm sorry I used you tonight. And I guess, you know, I don't really hate you exactly."

        "I don't know what made me think you hated me," he joked. "Perhaps it was when you screamed, 'I hate you,' on your front porch. Or maybe the time you tried to have your dog kill me."

        She winced. "Yeah, sorry about that ... But," she continued forcefully, "In all fairness, I think there's something you need to know."

        "What's that?"

        Christina paused to collect herself. "I'm not actually a ..." she said, motioning over her body with her hands. "See, I'm really a ..." She struggled to find a way to break the truth to him gently. "I'm not attracted to you. See, I'm not attracted to men ... understand?"

        Richard stared into Christina's eyes trying to connect the dots. "You're saying you're a ... lesbian?"

        "Almost?" Christina shrugged. "I like girls, that's for sure."

        Richard continued to stare at her, searching for some sign that she was kidding. His eyes widened, and he nodded his head in recognition. "That's why you were looking at Stephanie so strangely tonight. You're attracted to her."

        "I hope it wasn't too obvious." She put her hand on Richard's and said, "You can't tell anyone, okay?"

        "All your secrets are safe with me," Richard promised. His eyes resumed their confident gleam, and he asserted, "One thing is for certain though. You aren't a lesbian. At least not entirely."

        "What do you mean?" Christina asked, worried that Richard had caught on to the deeper truth.

        "You can't really be a lesbian since you're attracted to me." Richard took the opportunity to flash his award winning smile and inch even closer to Christina.

        "Excuse me?" Christina squeaked. "Did you come in during the intermission or something?"

        "You say you're not attracted to men, but you are definitely attracted to me."

        "You know, you're not nearly as charming as you think you are."

        "Tell me," Richard grinned, "Is it more than I think?"

        "Don't you ever quit?"

        "Maybe I think you're worth the effort."

        Christina's mouth dropped in response to both Richard's determination and the compliment.

        Richard explained, "On our first date, when you kissed me, I could feel it. That's how I know you are attracted to me."

        Christina put her fingers to the crest of her nose as though she was fighting a migraine. "Okay, number one, we did not go out on a date. We have NEVER been on a date!"

        "We're on one right now, Princess," Richard crooned.

        "A FAKE date!" Christina corrected in an exasperated voice. "And number two, YOU kissed ME. I did not kiss you. And number three, I hated it! I'm not attracted to you- not even a little bit!"

        Richard laughed and asked, "Then why did you give me your phone number?

        "Because ... I did because ..." Christina grasped for a rationale and found that none came to her defense. "That didn't count! You tricked me! I didn't expect ... a kiss ... and it wouldn't matter who you were, you just caught me off guard!"

        "Fair enough." Richard said as he closed the remaining distance between them. Their hips touching, and his arm around Christina, Richard pressed, "I'll make you a deal. Kiss me right now. No surprises. If you honestly don't feel a thing for me, I'll leave you alone forever."

        "Yeah right," Christina balked sarcastically. She paused to consider Richard's proposal and asked, "And if I do feel something, then what?"

        "Then you and I will go on a genuine, non-fake date. Just the two of us."

        "So you promise you will leave me alone forever if I kiss you?" Christina asked seriously.

        "Honest. I promise. Unless of course, you are still attracted to me."

        Christina paused, weighing her options. "Okay. Deal."

        Richard's gaze pierced through Christina's eyes.

        The churning in the pit of her stomach told her she'd somehow fallen into a clever trap. She felt paralyzed as Richard leaned ever so slowly towards her lips. His arm slid off the seat and onto Christina's shoulders, pulling her close to him. Christina felt his other hand glide gently from behind her right ear down to her chin as it tilted her face up to meet his. The trail of his fingers created a wave of sensation that traveled down Christina's body. She could now feel Richard's hot breath against her face as he closed in. Closing her eyes, Christina minutely parted her lips. She felt his upper lip brush against hers; it caused all the same tingles as their last kiss.

        Christina opened her eyes. Placing both of her hands against Richard's chest, she slowly pushed him away. She turned her head away from his and mumbled, "I'm not allowed to be out this late."

        Richard released his grip, but his self-assured smile never left his face. He hadn't exactly won their little power struggle, but Christina had certainly lost.

        Pulling Richard's overcoat tightly around her, Christina said, "My uncle wants me home by ten." Christina spoke as though she was in a trance; she was deeply confused by what had almost happened between them. The one thing she knew for certain was that she wanted out of the situation.

        "Do you always do everything your uncle says?"

        "Yes. Take me home right now." Christina stared out the window; her view was now completely obscured by large white snowflakes.

        "Of course, Princess," Richard said as he slid back into his seat and started the car. He cast a few gazes towards his date on the silent ride home, but Christina kept her focus out the window or in her lap.

        The drive seemed to take forever to Christina. In her current, jumbled state of mind, she didn't have a good sense of time. Feeling the car stop, she looked up to see her family's house. She sat there, dazed, until she felt a blast of cold air when Richard opened her door. She took his hand and stepped out into the fresh layer of snow.

        Richard put his arm around her waist and led her to the front door.

        Christina stood in front of her front door and looked at Richard. Her long blonde hair was dusted with snowflakes and her cheeks had a natural blush from the cold. Her hand was on her chest, resting over her necklace. Standing there in shock, she wasn't certain what she should say.

        Richard stepped close to her and said, "I had a wonderful time with you tonight."

        "Thank you for dinner," Christina responded in her haze. "And for teaching me how to dance."

        "When can I see you again?"

        "Um ... I won't be back until Christmas ... but-"

        "I'll be waiting." he said confidently.

        Richard took Christina's hand in his and gently kissed the back of it. "Goodnight Princess," he said as he took his coat off of Christina and draped it over his shoulder.

        Christina stood there as she watched Richard return to his car and drive away.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Christina took the load of clothes from Nina's hands and piled them into her suitcase. Realizing that she would be coming back for Christmas, and that she wouldn't dress as a girl while she was in the city, there was no need to take everything home. Nina, though always eager to help out her older cousin, was more interested in what had happened last night more than packing.

        "Tell me again," Nina said, "What was the food like?"

        "It was fantastic," Christina repeated for what felt like the tenth time.

        "It sounds so romantic."

        "It's really is very nice, Nina, and I'm sure you'll go there some day soon." Christina closed the top of her last suitcase and added, "You should have seen Andrei with the menu. He didn't have a clue."

        "Yeah, well it's not really Andrei's kind of place. You're serious that he and Steph really liked each other?"

        "Yes," Christina said, somewhat angrily.

        Nina said, "I guess I know Steph's always been interested in Andrei, but I guess I thought that was a from-a-distance thing. I wonder what she sees in him."

        "Who cares!" Christina said as she heaved the suitcase off the bed and onto the floor. "What do I know what she sees in that stupid-" She stopped herself and said, "Your brother is a good guy."

        "Are you okay?" Nina asked.

        "Yeah, I'm fine," Christina apologized. "It's just sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to. And sometimes people let you down."

        "What's that supposed to mean?"

        "Nothing," Christina lied. "Could you go downstairs and tell your Mom that I'm leaving soon? I don't think Andrei's going to wake up in time to drive me to the bus station."

        Nina nodded and left the bedroom.

        Nothing had gone the way she wanted last night. Steph finally gotten Andrei. Steph was happy. Andrei was happy. She was the only one who didn't get what they wanted.

        And then there was that incident with Richard. Christina couldn't believe she chickened out. That's what it was, she thought, just nerves. She should have just kissed Richard and been done with it. Better yet, she should have just called her uncle. She'd just have to deal with Richard once and for all next time she was in town.

        Christina dragged her suitcases into the hallway. It seemed she was traveling more heavily with each successive visit. The bags felt full even with the large considerable of clothes she was leaving behind. As Christina made her way down the hall, she saw Andrei emerge from his room. He was still in his pajamas, and he had dark circles under his eyes. It was the first time she'd even known her cousin to sleep late.

        Andrei rushed over to his cousin and effortlessly lifted her bags off the ground. Avoiding eye contact, he said, "Let me take those down for you."

        Christina didn't say anything to him.

        Andrei looked down into Christina's face and was struck by the hurt expression on it. He turned away in shame and mumbled, "I guess Dad can take you to the station."

        "No," Christina responded sharply, "You're taking me. You promised. Hurry up and get dressed- I don't want to miss my bus."

        Not saying another word, Andrei rushed downstairs with Christina's suitcases.

        Christina wandered into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Pulling down her jeans, she sat on the toilet to relieve herself. She was too lost in thought to recognize just how many feminine behaviors had become habits. She finished and wiped between her legs, still wondering how to dispose of Richard. After checking her hair and makeup in the mirror, she went downstairs to the kitchen.

        Christina laughed when she saw the tower of Tupperware containers Misha had constructed on the kitchen table. Her aunt was disassembling it in segments, placing the pieces in shopping bags.

        "Aunt Misha," Christina complained, "You're gonna make me fat!"

        Misha rushed over and pinched Christina's cheek. "Nonsense child. When you returned, you were nothing but skin and bones! You are wasting away in that awful city."

        She did have a point, Christina thought. When Christina arrived, she felt tired and strung out. Life moved so quickly, and she felt as though she was always running to keep up. Though she hadn't even been in her Aunt's house for a week, she felt as though she'd been there forever. Even with the stress of her date still weighing on her mind, Christina felt more rested and whole than she had in months. Christina hugged her aunt and said, "Thanks for all the food."

        "When will you be back, Tina?" Misha asked.

        "As soon as I can. I promise."

        "Your visits are so short dear, you should stay longer for Christmas."

        "I will if I can," Christina said sincerely. "I don't know what things are going to be like at work when I get back. I think they'll be less crazy."

        Andrei rushed into the kitchen, still buttoning his shirt.

        "Andrei," Misha commanded, "Take your cousin's things for her."

        Christina put on her jacket as she watched Andrei lift all the bags of food Misha had packed. After kissing her aunt on the cheek, she followed Andrei out to the truck. Christina got in and waited for Andrei to finish packing.

        Andrei eventually joined her, and the two of them started the long trip to Dover.

        Christina spent the entire drive staring at her cousin. She waited for over twenty minutes for Andrei to say something, but he was doing his best to keep quiet.

        "You really let me down last night." Christina finally said.

        "I know."

        "I asked you not to leave me alone with Richard. You promised me."

        "I know."

        "That was the only thing I needed from you, and you so let me down."

        Andrei seared with guilt. He could feel Christina's eyes burning into him, but he kept his focus on the road. "He didn't ... do anything ... did he?"

        "No," Christina said in a reassuring voice. "He was a perfect gentleman. Well, more or less. Let's just say that my life just got a lot more complicated. I don't know exactly what happened, but I've never felt so confused before in my entire life. And I really don't like it. But that's not the point. The point is, I thought I could always count on you. I never thought you would ever let me down."

        That hurt Andrei worst of all. "I'm really sorry," he said sincerely. "If I could do it over again I wouldn't have-"

        "No," Christina interrupted. "When someone like Steph comes along, you shouldn't let her go."

        Andrei turned to his cousin with an astonished look on his face.

        "Steph is great. I mean, there really aren't a lot of people who are so ... perfect. What you did, I mean, it wasn't right, but if I was in your place I might have done the same thing."

        "Does that mean you forgive me?"

        "I dunno. Maybe. Either way, it still hurts."

        "I'm really sorry."

        "I know you are," Christina admitted, "But last night could have been really bad for me. I mean REALLY bad. I guess I'm not the best judge of character. I'm not even sure who I am right this moment."

        "I don't understand," Andrei said as he looked over at his cousin.

        "I'd explain it to you, but I don't understand it either." Christina paused for a while then asked, "You do realize just how great Steph is, right?"

        "Yeah," Andrei said.

        Christina tried to be happy for her cousin, but she couldn't force herself to feel something she didn't. She was mad that Andrei got Steph. She was jealous that they looked so happy together. On top of that, Christina wasn't sure that she wanted to come back over Christmas and deal with Richard. She wasn't sure she wanted to come back ever again. She pondered all these feelings as the truck sped closer to the bus station. Before long, they were pulling into the bus station parking lot.

        Andrei was the first one out of the truck. Eager to be useful to his cousin, he scooped up all of Christina's bags from the back. He protested furiously when Christina insisted on at least carrying Misha's bag of leftovers.

        "Did you have a good time last night?" Christina asked as they walked to the terminal.

        "Yes!" Andrei said enthusiastically. "Steph and I talked about her parents' old store while you were dancing. And after I took her home, we stayed up talking all night until two in the morning about nothing. Well, everything I guess." Andrei trailed on and on. He wanted so much to tell someone about his date, and he had no one to share it with except Christina. "We didn't just talk either ... I guess-"

        "Okay," Christina interrupted. She had a miserable look on her face. "I think that's more detail than I can handle right now."

        Andrei realized he was pushing too far. He put down Christina's bags then held her hand. "Listen," he said, "I know how hard last night was for you. And I'm sorry that I let you down. It won't ever happen again. I'll always love you, and I will always be there for you. I promise."

        Christina felt the rumbling of the ground beneath her and the sound of the bus screeching to a halt behind her.

        "I have to go now," she mumbled.

        Andrei pleaded, "I really mean it."

        Christina squeezed his large hand and said, "I know you do, Andrei." Christina turned away from her cousin and boarded the bus. Taking her seat, she watched Andrei load her belongings into the bottom of the bus. She waved goodbye to him, but she couldn't manage a smile. The two of them looked at each other until the angle of the bus broke their gaze. Things weren't quite right between them, but some time away might remedy that.

        Christina opened one of the Tupperware containers and pulled out a piece of Thanksgiving turkey. She nibbled on it and savored the taste. Her aunt had some magical secret that actually put love into everything she cooked. Whenever Christina ate anything her aunt had made, she could envision Misha working in the kitchen, a smile covering her face. It was the next best thing as actually being with her, and it made almost anything feel not so bad. Finishing the small piece of turkey, Christina put the plastic container back into the bag. There was a time when she could have easily devoured half the bag in one sitting. She wasn't sure if her new appetite was due to the wearing the waist cincher, or a year of long hours at work. Whatever the reason, she wanted to make Misha's food last.

        As the bus sped out of town, Christina pondered just how complicated her life in Oak Grove had become. She used to think of it as her special place where life was easy and everything worked out. In retrospect, it was just as complicated as everywhere else. Still, she preferred it to what was waiting for her in the city. She wasn't sure how she was going to survive another month of late nights and working on weekends.

        Being trapped in the bus seat with just her thoughts was torturous. It was one of those moments where she felt she would just jump out of her skin, but all she could do was sit still. She felt pulled in a dozen different directions all at once.

        Fiddling with her bus ticket, Christina realized that nothing was more mind numbing than the long ride back to the city. There was no way she was going to sleep, and she cast around for something to keep herself occupied. She crumpled the ticket in her hand and shoved it into the pocket of her jacket. Feeling another paper in her pocket, she took it out. It was the envelope that her uncle had thrown away. Whatever was in there was the cause of the fight she'd heard between her aunt and uncle. All the drama surrounding her double date had made her forget she had it.

        Christina opened the envelope and pulled out several pages of forms and tiny print. She found the cover letter and immediately recognized the Internal Revenue Service letterhead. Scanning the text and mountains of forms, Christina struggled to make sense of the formal document. It cited a number of arcane tax form numbers, specific taxation rules, and many other points she didn't understand. She had never even filed her own taxes; she'd always gone to a specialist. She gasped when she found the terms "back taxes," "lien," and "seizure." She wasn't sure, but it looked as though they were accusing her uncle of not paying his taxes for over six years, perhaps even longer. Reading on, her heart skipped a beat when she saw the IRS was threatening to take the family grocery. Christina flipped though the forms, desperately looking for a dollar amount; something to make sense of it. She found another document that mentioned the house. She felt close to tears with frustration. Why would her uncle throw this letter out? Is this what Misha meant when she said Alek was too proud? Did he need money? She would gladly give her uncle everything she had in the world, but by the looks of things, it would not have been enough.

        Christina searched frantically through her purse for her cell phone. She pulled it out and started to dial her uncle's number. Stopping halfway, she put the phone down. What would she say? How could she explain how she found out? What could she possibly to help? Christina realized that calling her uncle would only embarrass him. Feeling completely useless, she went through her address book, looking for someone to call. There was no one. There was nothing she could do, at least not at the moment. She promised herself that she would work out some kind of plan when she got back to the city.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Pulling the pillow off of her head, Christina forced her eyes to focus on the alarm clock. "Crap," she yawned. It was already past eight; she'd slept late yet again. She had spent most of last night Googling taxation problems to no avail. Dropping her bare feet onto the cold floor, she went into the bathroom. Her eyes winced in the pale light as she took stock of what she saw. As usual, after her Oak Grove vacations, Christina was still a girl. Even without her false breasts in place and with her disheveled morning hair, there was no doubt about it. Her powder blue cotton pj's, which were covered from head to toe with yellow chicks, certainly didn't help her cause. She was in a difficult spot- she would be returning home for Christmas, so she did not have the luxury of getting a haircut. She'd just have to find some way of making herself a convincing boy in the meantime.

        Christina reached out for her toothbrush and noticed large black splotches on her palm. She squinted at her hand and read the list she must have scrawled sometime in the late hours of the night:

        Problems:

        1. Buy Coat

        2. Christmas Shopping

        3. Taxes

        4. Richard - kill him

        Making a to-do list was a good idea, considering she'd forgotten ever writing it down. She studied her palm and wondered how taxes and killing Richard ended up on the bottom of the list.

        Christina committed the list to memory before taking her shower. Afterwards, she towel dried her long hair as she stepped through the mess in her bedroom. She'd let doing laundry slide before Thanksgiving, that is, for her male clothes. Her closet and drawers were filled with perfectly cleaned dresses, skirts, tops, and panties. Most of her male clothes were in a heap on the bedroom floor, right where she'd left them. The look of the room gave the impression that she lived with an incredibly messy boyfriend. "Clean," she thought, inserting that task after "Buy Coat" in her mental to-do list.

        Christina poked through the pile of clothes on the floor looking for the least dirty items. She selected a pair of jeans and a very wrinkled shirt. She also snatched a sweater out of the pile. The sweater would not only hide her wrinkled top, but it might also hide her curves.

         She went back into the pile, searching for a pair of sweat socks and underwear. Socks were easy to find, but clean underwear was another story. She held up a pair of used briefs with a few holes in the back. There was once a time when she would have put them on without thinking, but that was before she had Misha's voice in her mind. Today it was scolding her for living in such a state. Christina tossed the clothes on her bed and went through her drawers, pulling out her least feminine pair of panties. They were simple, white cotton briefs with lace on the leg holes and a bow on the waistband. Telling herself that there was nothing wrong with wearing her own underwear, she stepped into the panties. She was actually glad she had an excuse for wearing panties today. Going back to men's underwear after one of Lucille's waxings was not pleasant.

        After putting on the rest of the garments, Christina rushed back to the bathroom. She sorely missed the full length mirror in her room at home. Making do with her tiny bathroom mirror, she scanned her bottom intently, looking for any signs of panty lines. Convinced she was safe, she focused on her waist. The bulky sweater did a decent job of hiding the damage done by another week of wearing a waist cincher. The only remaining problems were her hair and face. She looked like a girl in boy's clothing; that would simply not do. She pulled her long hair back into a ponytail with a scrunchie and put on her sunglasses. It was better, but still not entirely convincing. She ran to her closet, fetched a wool winter cap, and jogged back to the bathroom. She pulled it tightly onto her head. Better still, but not great. There was no way around it; she'd just have to suffer through a few stares until Christmas.

        "Hey there," she said to the person in the mirror. "Hey," she repeated, forcing herself to speak in a lower voice than usual. It would have to do; she was already late for the train. The last thing she needed was to call even more attention to herself by being the last one into the office.

 

        Chris spent the trip to the office attempting to hide in her oversized leather coat. She'd even gone as far as tucking her hair down the back of the coat in an attempt to disguise herself. She held her head down when she walked into the office. It wasn't that hard to avoid people since so many of her coworkers had left in the past few months. Some had moved on to new jobs and others had been broken by the unreasonably long hours.

        Chris was able to spend her day responding to calls and emails without any real interaction with anyone else in the office. Everyone seemed on edge and took little notice of her. Even Mr. Patel, who rarely showed signs of stress, was rushing from one end of the old factory building to the other carrying stacks of papers and notebooks. Something was going on, and as usual, Chris was out of the loop. She could have easily listened in on the conversations that everyone else was having, but she was just as happy to be invisible.

        She looked at the picture of her family on her desk several times that day. It seemed so unfair that life had given her such wonderful people and simultaneously made everything so damned complicated. She couldn't figure out what she was going to do about her uncle's tax problems. She had no idea how to deal with Richard. She wasn't even sure how she was going to dress herself tomorrow. She felt tossed around; abused by fate. She was a hapless observer in her own life.

        Her entire first week back at work was a repeat of that first day. She did her best to focus on work, and to keep out of sight. On Friday, the entire office cleared out much earlier than usual. Chris was almost the only person left by six o'clock. It was very uncharacteristic for a company that had been making such a huge push for the last six months.

        Chris slid on her sunglasses and made her way quietly to the door. If she left now, she would not only be keeping her promise to her uncle not to work late, but she could also fit in some shopping for a winter coat. She made her way down to the first floor and outside into the brisk cold of the early winter night. She shrank into her oversized leather jacket and pushed through the crowds to the taxi stand. Normally, she would have used the subway, but she didn't feel safe riding underground with her androgynous appearance.

        A short taxi ride later, Chris was standing in front of Macy's. She could have easily gone to the Walmart near her apartment, but she'd survived a very long and hard year, and she decided she had earned a treat. Walking in through the heavy revolving glass door, Christina searched for the women's section. The last time she was in the store had been a few years ago. She'd spent a lot of money on perfume for her ex-girlfriend Amy. It somehow didn't seem strange that she was now shopping there for herself; in fact, it was sort of a rush. Chris had done all of her shopping in Abby's store or online. This was her first shopping trip to a large store where she could try things on in person.

        Finding the outerwear section of the women's department, Chris dove into the racks. Everything was overpriced, but she didn't care. She needed a coat to wear for Christmas, and since she was going to spend so much time in it, it would be criminal to not love it. She found one long black, fur-lined coat that she immediately fell in love with. Thinking no one was looking, she held it up in front of herself in the mirror. She had already pulled three coats off the rack when a salesgirl walked up behind her.

        The salesgirl tapped Chris on the shoulder and asked, "Is there anything I can help you with ... sir?"

        Chris noticed how the trailing "sir" was more of a guess than a certainty. She slid her sunglasses over her eyes and responded in a deep voice, "No thanks, I'm okay."

        "Are you shopping for your ... um ..."

        "Sister," Chris said nervously.

        "Well, if you need anything," she said, pointing to the station by the dressing rooms, "I'll be right over there."

        Chris nodded as the girl left her to her shopping. Chris looked at the beautiful coat that was draped over her arm then dejectedly put it back on the rack and left the store.

        She felt so ashamed. She was so used to being accepted as a girl that she had never expected to be confronted like that. For some reason, the encounter with the salesgirl depressed her terribly. She knew she should spend the night Christmas shopping, but she had to escape.

        As she stepped out onto the sidewalk, she felt as though she would burst into tears at any moment, and she wasn't even sure why. It felt as though she had a stain on her soul.

        Chris resisted the urge to pick up the new Cosmo in the train station and sat quietly in her seat for the entire ride home. She felt a sick feeling in her stomach on the car ride back to her apartment. There was just no winning. Events had conspired against her to make it necessary for her to act as a girl. Just as life was plotting against her on one hand, it was making sure that she couldn't just be a girl, either. Her formerly simple life had turned into a perilous balancing act.

        Once back in her apartment, she gazed at the mess. This happened every time she went away; everything took a back seat to getting ready for her trips.

        Christina thought about her Aunt Misha, and how she always kept her house spotless. With all the things that felt out of control in her life, her apartment was perhaps the only thing she had authority over. She went into the bedroom and pulled off her sweater. Rummaging through a drawer, Christina pulled out a paisley bandana and tied back her hair. She began to pick up her male clothes and piled them into a laundry basket. Every inch of floor she uncovered made her feel a little better about the coat incident.

        Two loads of laundry, and hours later, Christina found that her enthusiasm was only growing. She'd washed all the windows, dusted her few pieces of furniture, and even arranged all of her magazines by date on the bookshelf. All of Misha's lessons were finally paying off. Christina felt as if she were beginning to understand her aunt. She was physically cleaning her apartment, but it felt as though she was getting her life under control.

        It was almost eleven o'clock by the time Christina dragged her last load of laundry up from the basement. She felt exhausted, but it was a good exhaustion. She started folding her clothes, stacking them away neatly. When every piece of clothing was gone from the laundry basket, Christina changed into a pair of luxurious purple satin pajamas. Falling backward onto her hard bed, she pulled a pillow over her eyes.

        Christina thought back to her conversation with Misha on her first trip to Oak Grove. Her car had been trashed, and there was absolutely no hope that anything could be done to save her job. Misha had told her to have faith, even though everything felt out of control. She didn't understand how anyone could be expected to have faith when everything in the world was obviously wrong.

        Once again, Christina's life felt out of control. She didn't know how she was going to save the family grocery store. She didn't know whether she could go on being a girl for her family. Still, Misha was right about a lot of things, even if Christina didn't understand why. She was definitely right about how cleaning your apartment can clean the cobwebs out of your mind. Maybe she was right about faith as well. Christina closed her eyes and tried to picture a better day tomorrow. A day when all her problems would just work themselves out. A day without embarrassment, confusion, or despair. For just a moment, she thought it was even possible.

 

        Chris walked into work on Monday filled with hope and confidence. It was a wonderful feeling to start the day in crisp, clean clothes, to catch the early train, and carrying a feeling that everything was going to work out. Chris was one of the first people in the office. She sat down in her area, pulled off her sunglasses, and went to work responding to customer emails. She'd responded, in detail, to each and every inquiry before she moved on to bug fixes in the eCommerce product. After checking out the latest revision of the code, she started investigating the first problem in the issue tracking system. Chris was so engrossed in her work that she didn't notice that many of the cubicles in the office were still empty by eleven o'clock.

        "Chris," Mr. Patel called from behind.

        Chris swiveled in her chair to face Mr. Patel. She was so engrossed in the code that she didn't realize her boss was standing behind her.

        "Yes Mr. Patel?" she asked.

        "We're having a meeting in twenty minutes in the glass conference room."

        "Okay, I'll be there."

        Mr. Patel nodded then walked away. He looked agitated about something, but he'd had that same look for the past four months, Chris thought. It didn't matter; Chris felt as though nothing could bring her down today. She plodded along, writing some tests for a few tricky border cases, barely noticing the time slipping by. She realized the meeting was about to start only when she saw the few other people in the office making their way to the conference room.

        Chris saved her work, grabbed a notepad, and hurried off behind everyone else. The glass walled room was filled with every single person in the office. Chris, the last one in, shuffled her way to the back of the room and leaned against the wall.

        Seeing that everyone had arrived, Mr. Patel rose to address the group. "Everyone," Mr. Patel began, "I want to start by saying that Edward and I could not be more pleased with all the great work you've done. We could not have asked for a better, more dedicated group of people to work with. You've all put in extra hours, and you've all made sacrifices. If I haven't made it clear in the past, I want to make it clear right now just how much we appreciate it. That's what makes this so hard to say. I know most of you are aware of the conference call yesterday, and I can confirm that any rumors you might have heard are true. Our investors did not come through with another round of funding. I'm afraid that as of tomorrow, we're closing our doors."

        Chris looked around the room in shock. She seemed to be the only one who didn't see this coming. She'd been so focused on not drawing attention to herself last week that she missed what was going on right in front of her.

        "This is not to say that we won't be reopening next year. Edward and I are still trying very hard to get more funding for the first quarter. If we can manage it, we'll hire back as many of you as possible. I wish I had better news. For now, we have to lay you all off. I feel as though I've let you down. If there is anything I can do, a reference ... anything, please come see me today. We'll be handing out your final paychecks in a few minutes. Feel free to use the rest of the day anyway you wish."

        Chris' mind was reeling. She was now unemployed. Mr. Patel's partner, Edward Manning, stood up to say a few words, but Chris didn't hear any of them. Before, she had been worried about how she was going to save her family. Today, she wasn't even sure how she was going to take care of herself. She had been living largely paycheck to paycheck. She had no idea how she was going to pay her rent after Christmas. Chris felt a strange numbness. She was aware of what was happening, but there was no feeling associated with it. It wasn't real ... not yet anyway.

        Chris followed everyone else as they shuffled listlessly back to their cubicles. Many people simply left. Others were starting on their resume. Chris sat down at her desk and pulled up the code she'd been working on. Her first inclination was to get back to work, but she couldn't see what good that would do. There was an envelope with her name on it, sitting on her desk. She opened it and pulled out her last paycheck. She read it four times before the reality of the situation began to sink in. She folded the check and put it into her pocket. She then committed her changes to the code and shut down her computer. Looking around the area, she saw that others were having a similar reaction. Chris put on her leather jacket and hid behind her sunglasses. There was no reason to stay. She took her picture of her family off of her desk and shoved it into her backpack. Moments later she was on the street and walking uptown. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she had to get away from the building.

        How far had she walked? Two miles? Four? She wasn't sure. Seeing a branch of her bank up ahead, she walked in and waited patiently for an ATM. Chris signed the back of her last paycheck, her hand trembling slightly. Once she slid the check into the machine, the situation felt unbearably real. She wanted to call someone, but who could she possibly call? She couldn't call her uncle. If he knew that she'd lost her job, he would freak out. She couldn't burden Andrei or Nina with the news either. Calling Steph might be an option. Steph had called her on Tuesday to fill her in on all the gruesome details of her latest date with Andrei. Steph would understand, but if Chris told her anything that important, it would certainly find its way to Andrei, and eventually her aunt and uncle.

        Taking her receipt from the machine, Chris pushed her way through the line of people waiting behind her. She wandered until she found an entrance to the subway system. It was a long ride through the crowded tubes to the train station. Over an hour and a half later she was back at home.

        It was only four-thirty. She couldn't remember the last time she'd gotten home so early. She had no idea what to do with herself. She couldn't clean her apartment; she'd already given it the most thorough cleaning imaginable last night.

        Christina took off her clothes, letting them drop on the floor around her and walked into the bathroom. She stepped into the bathtub and took a long, hot shower to clear her head. All of her troubles raced through her mind at the speed of light. How was she going to solve her uncle's tax problems? What was she going to do for money? How could she even keep seeing her family? She couldn't keep up her masquerade forever. Soon, she wouldn't even be able to afford to take the bus. The entire situation was unsustainable.

        Stepping out of the shower, Christina wrapped a large, fluffy towel around her chest. She tiptoed into the living room, her hair still dripping wet, and sat on her tattered couch. Taking the phone off the receiver, she dialed her uncle's number. A lump formed in her throat as she waited for someone to answer. She had managed not to cry all day, and she continued to fight.

        "Hello?" Misha asked as she picked up the phone.

        "Hi Aunt Misha," Christina said, unable to prevent a few tears from escaping down her cheek.

        "Tina!" her aunt gushed, "It is so good to hear your voice."

        "Hey, I was wondering ... I think I can get more time off work than I thought. Is it okay if I come home early?" Christina pulled a tissue out of a box on the end table and blew her nose.

        "Of course child," Misha said with concern in her voice. "You can come home any time you wish."

        "I'll be there a week from tomorrow, if that's okay."

        "Tina, is something wrong dear?"

        "No," Christina lied, "I've just got a cold is all."

        "Are you sure, Tina?" Misha asked shrewdly.

        "Yeah. Everything's fine. I'm sorry, I can't really talk right now, I gotta go do the dishes."

        "Alright dear. We will see you soon."

        Christina said goodbye to her aunt and hung up the phone. Wiping the tears from her face, she went over to her computer desk to make a plan. She took out a pad of paper and wrote down the list she'd washed off her hand last week.

        Problems:

        1. Taxes

        2. Coat

        3. Christmas Shopping

        4. Kill Richard

        She scribbled out "Kill Richard" and replaced it with the much friendlier phrase, "Deal with Richard." She then added two more problems to the list:

        5. Find a Job

        6. Being Christina Chase

        She went down the list with her pen. Item number two was easy; tomorrow she'd head into the city and buy her coat. She knew she shouldn't spend a lot of money on a coat now that she was unemployed, but this was going to be a special Christmas, and she wanted to look her best. Besides, if she didn't solve her job problems, not buying the coat wouldn't buy much time.

        Item number three, "Christmas Shopping," was also easy to solve. She now had all of next week to find gifts for her family. The one up side of losing her job was she could spend all day looking for the perfect items.

        "Taxes," Christina read aloud. She still didn't know what to do about that one. She could talk to an accountant, but she didn't have all the information she assumed she would need. Also, it was probably illegal to go through someone else's records, even if they were family. She wrote a large question mark next to that one.

        Deal with Richard. Christina wasn't sure about this one either. If only she'd kissed him and been done with it! She would have to find some way to get it through to him that she wasn't interested. That one would have to wait, too.

        Find a Job. Christina had infrequently looked at job postings online. She never found anything she felt comfortable submitting a resume to. That was going to have to change. She'd just have to try anything. The worst thing anyone could tell her was, "no." In the meantime, she could take a job at a Walmart or a McDonald's. It wouldn't pay the rent, but it would be something until she found a better job. Christina circled that item and jotted down some ideas she could pursue after Christmas.

        The last problem was the hardest one to confront- Being Christina Chase. Christina had grown accustomed to being a girl. It was the only way she could see her family. Not only that, but the more she did it, the more natural it seemed to feel. Reflecting on the past year, all of her happiest moments were because of being Christina Chase. Some of the worst moments too, she admitted. Putting her pen to the paper, she hesitated. Christina knew what the solution was, but it was difficult to say or write. She tensed the muscles in her hand, and the pen wrote ... "Stop."

        That was the only solution- to stop being Christina Chase. Christmas would be her last trip to Oak Grove. She didn't know how she was going to tell her family. She didn't want to focus on how she would break it to them. Christina's eyes welled up at the thought of losing her family. What was important right now, was having the best Christmas that she could possibly have. The memory would have to last a lifetime.

        Disposing of Christina Chase, she thought, would also solve the Richard problem as well. He couldn't pursue her, if she didn't exist. It was a case of two birds with one stone. It was the perfect solution, though it didn't give Christina any comfort.

        Shoving the notepad aside, Christina turned on her computer. She pulled up the website for the bus company and purchased a round trip ticket to Dover. Next, she viewed the balance in her checking account. Things were going to be tight. Money didn't really matter, she thought. She was going to make this Christmas magic; what happened afterwards, was unimportant.

        Christina spent the rest of the night jotting down ideas and window shopping online for Christmas gifts. By seven o'clock, she had a list of potential gifts for everyone except her uncle. She wasn't sure what she could get for him. It had to be something that showed how much she loved him, and also something that would remind him of her long after she had disappeared. Whatever that perfect gift was, it didn't come to her that night.

 

        The next day, Christina stood in front of the checkout counter in Macy's and smiled at the salesgirl. "I don't need a bag," Christina said, "I'm going to wear it out." The woman behind the counter handed the receipt to Christina, and she put it into her purse. Taking the long black coat off the counter, Christina put it on. She savored the feeling of the fur lining.

        "You have a great day," the girl behind the counter called as Christina left the store.

        "Thanks!" Christina called back. "Have a Merry Christmas!"

        Christina pushed through the heavy, revolving door in the front of Macy's and walked out into the windy streets. She loved the feeling of her new coat. She wasn't sure going shopping dressed as a girl had been a good idea, but it was the only thing that made sense. She was free to try things on, ask questions, or do anything else she wanted. She could have had her coat last week if she'd had only thought to go shopping as Christina Chase. She stopped and admired her reflection in a shop window. It seemed foolish to spend so much money on her coat considering she would never wear girls' clothes again in three weeks. Still, if you're going out, she thought, why not go out in style?

        Christina spent the rest of the week shopping for her family. Finding Nina's gift was easy; Christina had already decided Nina was getting jeans. That was solved by a trip to the Gap. She purchased two pairs of flared jeans that she thought would look great on her cousin.

        Andrei was another easy gift. She went to the Home Depot in town and purchased a battery-powered electric drill. She'd been to the Home Depot many times before, but this was the first time that anyone had ever offered to help her. She was grateful for the assistance too. She explained that her cousin did a lot of woodworking, and he was still using old-fashioned, hand-powered drills. The man at the store knew exactly what would be a good fit for Andrei. When Christina saw the complexity of all the types of drill bits and accessories, she realized just how much Steph liked Andrei. She couldn't imagine anyone memorizing all that information just to talk to a boy.

        Christina even found time to buy a gift for Boris. She bought, what she assumed, must have been some sort of elephant bone. She couldn't imagine anything that large coming out of a cow.

        Misha was a much harder person to shop for. Christina wanted to find something special and personal. She was certain it had been her aunt's idea to give her the photo album for her birthday; it was just the sort of thing Misha would think of. Christina went from store to store, agonizing over sweaters and scarves. She looked at perfumes, paintings, electronic gadgets; nothing seemed right. None of these things had any value to her aunt. The perfect idea came to Christina while she was standing in front of a bakery shop in the cold city night. She saw all the wonderful cakes and pastries through the frosty display window, and immediately rushed to the bookstore across town.

        Christina hurried out of her cab and into the store with only minutes left before they closed for the night. She waved to the boys behind the registers to indicate that she knew exactly what she needed. Jogging in her heels up the escalator to the third floor, she went to the far back corner and quickly examined all of the shelves. The back corner was the area where they stocked writing journals and pens. She searched frantically, looking for something that approximated the image in her mind.

        Her eyes lit up when she saw the expensive leather-bound writing journal nestled in the shelves. It was dark brown with intricate flower designs raised on the cover. Christina flipped through the crisp, blank white pages and smiled. It was perfect. Before rushing back downstairs, she grabbed an inexpensive calligraphy pen.

        The boy behind the counter looked annoyed, but he was relieved that Christina had not taken long, just as she had promised. He rang her up, and Christina rushed out the door to hail a cab. She checked the large clock on one of the billboards; she had only a few minutes to get to the train station. Every cab seemed to be occupied. She threw her hand up desperately at every yellow blur that sped past. Minutes later, a cab stopped.

        "Darn it!" Christina complained as she stepped out of the cab and rushed down the stairs into the Salt Mine. She would have normally had much harsher words, but she felt inhibited from cursing whenever she was in girl's clothing. Squinting at the illuminated schedule, she confirmed that she'd missed yet another train. She would be stuck at the station for almost an hour.

        Christina glanced up and down the platform looking for any distraction. Hoisting her heavy bags off the ground, she dragged herself through the poorly lit station and into a convenience store. It dawned on her that she'd spent the entire day shopping and hadn't had a thing to eat since breakfast. Looking around the pastry case, Christina saw a large cinnamon muffin, and her mouth watered. Though she was no longer on any sort of strict diet, she'd been doing her best to avoid anything like that muffin. Her magazines had warned her about the sins of carbohydrates. She didn't care. It was late, she was stranded, and that muffin was coming home with her. She asked the attendant for the muffin, and placed a small bottle of water on the counter. After paying for her distractionary dinner, she headed back out into the station. Christina walked all the way down to the far side and out to the platforms on the waterfront.

        Sitting on a deserted bench, Christina munched on her forbidden muffin. She thought she saw something moving in the dark under the railing separating her from a pile of scrap metal and refuse that was stacked behind the station offices. She watched intently and saw the gleam of two tiny eyes and a skinny worm-like tail. She could barely make out the silhouette of the tiny mouse, but she was certain it was there. She nervously looked around to see whether anyone was watching. Convinced that she was not being observed, she broke off a piece of her muffin top and tossed it in the mouse's direction. It fell inches short of the railing, landing in the bright light of one of the station lamps. The mouse initially fled, but eventually returned to his former position.

        "Go on, Mr. Mouse!" Christina whispered encouragingly. She grinned when she saw the tiny pink nose cautiously probe from out of the darkness. The mouse paced back and forth, unwilling to venture into the light to get his free meal.

        Christina jumped back slightly, as did the mouse, when two hulking boots crossed her field of vision. She looked up and saw an orange-vested station worker trudge past. When the man had gone, Christina looked for the mouse. She felt guilty that she hadn't landed the crumbs in the darkness; she knew that if one of the workers saw the mouse, the poor thing would assuredly be stomped.

        Moments later, she saw the tiny pink nose emerge again and wiggle. Christina looked back up the platform, keeping a lookout for any other people. She heard a scampering noise and saw the mouse out of the corner of her eye. She looked back at him and was struck by the sight. He stood there, hunched over with his morsel clutched between his two hands. The poor thing was thin and tired. He tasted the muffin piece a few times then quickly carried it back into the warmth of the scrap pile. Christina wondered how any creature could stand to live in such a condition. If she were the mouse, she would have seized the food without reservation; after all, what did he really have to lose?

        Another pair of heavy boots stole Christina's focus. These, however, did not belong to a station worker, they were attached to a very large and intimidating man wearing a threadbare parka and a pair of oil stained jeans. She looked fearfully into his eyes, and a shot went through her spine as the man's eyes lingered on her. Turning her face aside, Christina monitored the man with her peripheral vision until he was some distance away. Christina opened her purse and clutched her cell phone. All of a sudden, the waterfront bench felt like a very frightening place to be sitting alone. She hoisted her bags and walked back into the sparsely inhabited station to wait for her train.

        She wanted to call her uncle, but she couldn't call the man every time she felt scared. Though talking to her uncle always made her feel better, she knew calling the man only reinforced his assumption that she was unfit to live in the city on her own. Still, she clutched her phone none the less. It was reassuring to know her uncle was only a speed dial away.

 

        Two hours later, Christina pulled into the dirt driveway behind her apartment building. Not only had she missed the first train, but the later train was running ten minutes behind schedule. Her feet pounded against the frozen dirt of her driveway, the bags stretching her hands closer and closer to the ground. She struggled to get her bags up the six flights of stairs to her apartment. She ascended the last flight by hoisting her bags to each successive step, one at a time. She resisted the temptation to dump her bags carelessly onto the floor when she got inside her apartment.

        Christina had found a gift for everyone except her uncle. With only two more days remaining before she had to leave for home, she hoped it was enough time to find the perfect gift. She changed into a pair of cozy flannel pajamas and hopped into bed. Tomorrow she would just have to start again.

 

        When Christina awoke the next morning, she didn't even bother making breakfast or taking a shower. Walking barefoot into the living room, she grabbed the bag containing Misha's journal and took it into the kitchen. She rifled through a disorderly stack of notes, ragged loose-leaf pages, and clippings, and shoved them all into the bag. Returning to her bedroom, she sat on her stiff mattress and poured all the contents into a pile in front of her. She placed the journal and the calligraphy pen to one side and concentrated on the papers. Each paper contained a recipe that Misha had taught her at home or sent to her in the mail. She read each piece of paper and categorized them into piles of related topics. She barely had room left on her bed when she was done stacking.

        Christina wanted to show her aunt how grateful she was for everything the woman had taught her. Her idea was a simple one: she was going to transcribe every single recipe into the book in front of her and present it to her aunt.

        Taking the calligraphy pen, Christina practiced writing out the first recipe on the back of one of her scraps. She practiced writing the recipe nine times before she felt confident enough to write it into the journal. Writing deliberately and cautiously, she made great efforts to keep all the text aligned with unseen margins. It took her several minutes to fill the first page. She noticed that unlike a ballpoint pen, the ink on the page took a long time to settle and dry. She started practicing the next recipe while the first was still drying. This was going to be a long and tedious task, but she knew her aunt would appreciate something she'd put her heart into more than anything she could ever buy in any store.

        She finally took a break around two in the afternoon to make herself a sandwich. She'd been at work all morning, and she had only dented the surface. This was a bigger job than she imagined, and she cursed herself for not thinking of the idea days earlier. At least working on the book kept her mind off her uncle.

        She couldn't conceive of any gift that was good enough for him. She should be back in the city shopping furiously, she thought. She reflected on that and realized that any shopping trips would be futile unless she had even an inkling of what to shop for.

        Christina worked into the late hours of the night, never once stopping to get dressed. When she could no longer keep her eyes open, she relented and went to sleep. As soon as she woke up the next day, she went right back to work on the cookbook. By nine that night, she was finished. She'd spent the entire day transcribing recipes, stopping only for food, and to pack her bags for her trip in the morning. Once the last page had dried, Christina flipped though the book to admire her work. It was a masterpiece, but she didn't feel satisfied. She'd spent her last days working on Misha's present and she still had nothing to give to her uncle.

        After wrapping Misha's book, she stacked it in the pile in the living room with all the other gifts. She felt exhausted; it was getting late and there weren't enough hours left in the day to start anything else. Out of time, she thought dejectedly. Completely out of time.

        A flash of inspiration struck, and she wondered, could it be done? Was it even possible? Still in her pajamas from the day before, she rushed to her bedroom closet. Standing on the tips of her toes, She shoved aside the boxes and clothes on her top shelf. She reached back as far as she could and felt into the darkness with the ends of her fingers. She pressed down tightly and pulled the old shoe box forward until it was near enough to grab with her hands. As she held the box in her arms, she wondered, could it really work? She wasn't sure, but she had no options left. She carried the box to the pile of gifts and deposited it there, unwrapped. There was nothing she could do now; she would just have to take her chances when she got home.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Unwilling to stand outside in the cold, Christina waited in the empty Dover bus station. This trip had been very unusual. It wasn't just not being able to sleep properly on the bus. Nor was it the uncomfortable feeling of wearing the same clothes for such a long time; that was quite ordinary. The unwelcome change was that Andrei was now a half an hour late. Christina had never arrived in Dover without someone waiting to meet her. She'd never even as much as unloaded her own bags from the bus. She sat alone in the station, waiting for anyone to show up.

        Annoyed, she dialed home on her cell phone. She waited impatiently as the phone rang. It picked up after three rings, though it did not connect her to her family. Christina listened as an automated message informed her that her service had been disconnected. She had forgotten to pay the bill this month! In light of all the money she'd spent on her new coat and Christmas gifts, Christina wondered if she could even afford to pay her balance.

        She turned her phone off and dropped it back into her purse. It was just another unpleasant reminder that she was unemployed. She didn't want to deal with anything until after she had her perfect, final, family Christmas.

        Christina had taken to biting her nails before she saw her older cousin jogging up and down the terminal looking for her. She hoisted her bags and struggled out the door.

        "Hey Andrei!" she called.

        Andrei's head perked up, and he spun around. He sprinted quickly to his cousin, and seized her bags. "I'm sorry I'm late," he blurted.

        "Andrei, I've been here for almost an hour! Where have you been?"

        "I just got caught up in some things. Come on, it's cold," he said, motioning to the truck with his head.

        Christina followed him through the frigid parking lot and into the truck. Andrei had left it running, and it was toasty warm.

        As they pulled out of the bus stop Christina asked, "What were you doing? Were you working in the barn? 'Cause it's too cold for that."

        "The barn is fine."

        "Well what were you working on?" Christina asked with a smile.

        "I was ..." he stuttered, avoiding his cousin's eyes.

        Christina stared at him intently, and Andrei could feel her eyes burning a hole in the side of his head. He shot her a nervous glance and she grinned devilishly.

        "You were with Steph!" she accused playfully.

        "I ..."

        "You were so!" she said triumphantly. "Okay," she said in a pouty tone, "I see how it goes. You get together with Steph, and Christina gets to wait at the bus station for an hour."

        "It's not like that ..."

        Christina couldn't help but laugh out loud at her cousin. "Andrei! It's okay! I'm happy you and Steph are 'getting along.'" She shot him a scandalous glance, implying she knew exactly what he was up to. "I'm happy for the both of you, really. But, next time you leave me waiting, make sure it's the Summer, okay?"

        Christina could tell that Andrei was embarrassed. Though Christina was genuinely happy for her cousin, she was still not thrilled that he had Steph and she didn't. She was, however, making a concerted effort to get over it.

        Once he realized Christina really wasn't mad at him, Andrei relaxed a bit. He talked about how things were going with Steph and the latest projects he was working on.

        Christina could see that her cousin had fallen hard for Steph. She understood all to well how easy it was to fall in love with her, and she quickly grew tired of hearing about it. Changing the subject, she asked whether her aunt and uncle were having any arguments. Though Andrei said that he hadn't seen anything, Christina assumed that between Steph, spending time in the barn, and being his usual oblivious self, she couldn't assume that anything had changed since Thanksgiving.

 

        Christina was still preoccupied with solving her uncle's problem as she followed Andrei into the side door. There was no one but Boris waiting to greet her. The dog sat in front of her, wagging his tail. Christina bent down and scratched his large tummy. "Hey puppy," she said. "I've got some goodies for you, but you have to wait until Christmas."

        Boris licked her face affectionately.

        Standing up again, Christina patted Boris on the head. She grabbed the bag containing her presents from Andrei and went into the living room.

        "Aunt Misha?" she called, "Where should I put my presents ..." Christina stared at the fresh pine tree in the corner of the room next to the burning fireplace. She put her bag down on the couch and walked over to the tree. Holding out her hand, she felt the bristles. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and inhaled the scent of freshly cut pine.

        "Tina!" her aunt called from behind.

        Christina turned around and hugged her aunt tightly. "This is a real Christmas tree!" she said in awe.

        "Of course it is dear," Misha laughed. "You are acting as though you have never seen one before!"

        "I haven't," she said. "I guess I have, but I never had a real Christmas tree before. We had one of those fake, pipe-cleaner trees. And after I turned fourteen, we just kinda stopped with the tree all together."

        "Would you like to help us decorate it?"

        "Can I?" Christina asked, practically bouncing.

        "Of course, child! We can start as soon as Nina gets home. Go tell Andrei to get the ornaments down from the attic."

        "Okay," Christina grinned as she rushed to the staircase. She saw Andrei coming back down and stopped him. "We need to get the Christmas decorations," she beamed.

        "Can't," Andrei shrugged. "I have to go. I have things to do today."

        "Steph things?" Christina asked slyly.

        Andrei winced and replied, "It's just a few boxes up in the attic. I'm sure you can handle it." Andrei continued down the stairs, and Christina held his arm to stop him. She looked at him with a very serious face.

        "I need to talk to you when you get home tonight, okay?"

        "Sure," Andrei responded casually.

        "I'm serious, it's very important. I need your help with something big."

        "What is it?"

        Christina eyed her aunt in the living room and whispered, "We can talk about it tonight."

        As Andrei rushed downstairs and out the side door, Christina, still excited about decorating her first real Christmas tree, rushed upstairs. Looking up at the ceiling, she saw the outline of a door. She ran into her room and grabbed the chair in front of her vanity, dragged it into the hallway, and kicked off her high heeled boots. Cautiously stepping onto the chair, she tugged on a ragged yellow cord and pulled the door down. Christina stepped down off the chair as the door opened. She pulled on the feet of a slightly warped, retractable wooden staircase and unfolded it.

        She stared up into the dark attic and wished Andrei hadn't rushed off. As she crept up the steps into the darkness, her stocking caught on the rough, warped wooden stairs. Groping around a support beam, Christina found a light switch and flicked it on. The single, exposed bulb flooded the attic with a pale yellow light.

        Christina hoisted herself up onto the dusty planks and walked gingerly through the middle of the attic, casting her head from side to side, looking for the Christmas decorations. Crossing over the center of the house, she entered the dark side of the attic. Christina stopped in front of a large collection of boxes and stacked papers and dug in. What she found wasn't Christmas decorations, but a box of clothes.

        She carefully stepped to the far end of the attic and felt in the darkness until she found another light switch. She flipped It, and the far side of the attic filled with light. Casting her gaze back at the boxes, she saw clothes hanging from a rod, piles of books, and a collection of stuffed animals.

        Christina stepped back to the clothes to investigate, finding a multitude of dresses and boxes of casual clothes. There was also some soccer gear and a cheerleading uniform. All of these things must have been Anastasia's. Christina had never felt as though she was invading Anastasia's space by staying in her old room, but in the freezing and dark attic, she felt she was somewhere she ought not be. A chill ran down Christina's spine. Seeing Anastasia's pictures had made her seem far away, but holding her clothes in her hands made her feel very real.

        As Christina watched her breath hang in the cold air, she felt as though someone was watching just over her shoulder. She reflected on the terrible way her cousin had been torn out of this world. How would she feel if she knew some other girl was living in her room? What would Anastasia think if she knew someone else was spending Christmas with her parents?

        Christina wondered what things would have been like if Anastasia was still alive. Would the Levchenko's still have taken her in? Would Anastasia have liked her? Would she have seen thorough Christina's disguise?

        "Christina?" Nina's voice came from the hallway.

        Christina dropped the teddy bear in her hands and called, "I'm up here Nina."

        Climbing the stars into the attic, Nina asked, "What are you doing up here?"

        Christina stepped away from Anastasia's things and answered, "I'm looking for the Christmas decorations, so we can do the tree."

        "Oh, they're over here, I think."

        The girls each grabbed a box and stepped down the stairs into the hallway. Christina folded up the stairs and closed the attic door. After she put her chair back into her room, she and Nina took the boxes into the living room. They opened the boxes, and Christina marveled at the antique glass ornaments. They were delicate and beautiful, nothing like the plastic baubles with which she had adorned the fake Christmas trees of her youth.

        "I can't believe it's a real tree," Christina said as she hung an ornament on a branch.

        Nina said, "We always have a Christmas tree," as though she was pointing out something painfully obvious.

        "Well I never had a real tree." Christina added one ornament after another; it was all Nina could do to keep up. "This is going to be the best Christmas ever."

        "I'm more excited about New Year's Eve."

        "Why's that?"

        Nina sat down on the floor and pulled a tangled ball of Christmas lights out of a box, beginning the mindless task of removing the knots. "Every year, there's a New Year's dance in town. This is the first time I'll actually have a real boyfriend to take me."

        "New Year's dance, huh?" Christina asked as she grinned at the younger girl.

        "And finally," Nina gushed with her eyes closed, "I'll have my first New Year's kiss at midnight. At least one that's not from Dad."

        "It sounds like a pretty big deal."

        "It is. You'll see for yourself."

        "Me?" Christina joked. "I dunno if I'm going to any dance."

        Nina dropped her lights and looked at Christina as though her cousin was insane. "You HAVE to go," Nina insisted. "Everyone in town always goes. And it's going to be great."

        "Well ..."

        "Besides," Nina added, "If you don't go, Dad will probably make me come home early."

        "Even on New Year's Eve?" Christina asked in shock. "Well ... we'll talk about it later."

 

        Christina and Nina spent most of the evening decorating the tree while Misha cooked in the kitchen. It was almost seven o'clock when Alek walked in through the front door. Without stopping to take off his coat, Alek kissed each of his girls on the cheek.

        Overjoyed to see her uncle, Christina threw her arms around Alek and held him.

        Alek patted her on the back and said, "You must let me breath, Tina!"

        Christina loosened her grip and smiled at the older man. She didn't know how she was going to get along without her uncle in her life anymore. "I'm sorry Uncle Alek," she said, "I just missed you."

        Alek recognized a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I missed you too," he said, "But you have only been gone a short while."

        "I know. It's just that ... it's not important. I'm just happy to be here with you."

        Alek kissed his niece on the forehead then joined Misha in the kitchen.

        "We should get these boxes cleaned up," Nina observed. "It's just about time to eat."

        "Andrei isn't home yet."

        Nina rolled her eyes. "Andrei doesn't always make it home for dinner these days."

        "Steph?" Christina asked incredulously.

        "I don't know what Steph did to my brother, but he is in love."

        Christina sighed. "I guess even Andrei can see a good thing when it's right in front of him."

        "What do you mean?" Nina asked.

        "Nothing," Christina dismissed. "Don't worry about it. Let's clean up- I'm starving."

        The girls returned the boxes and the unused decorations to the attic. Afterwards, Christina enjoyed another meal with her family, though something was missing. Andrei had never spoken much at the table, but he had been a constant presence. Christina had once feared her large and moody cousin, but that changed once they connected. He had been selfless, tender, and fiercely loyal. Christina never realized that Andrei had always been by her side, at least not until after he was gone. She cast frequent glances out the kitchen window, expecting Andrei to return at any moment.

        After dinner, Christina sat with her family in the living room. As the night grew long and the fire died down, one by one, they went off to bed. Christina sat alone, watching the last embers glow in the fireplace.

        "Christina," a voice said. "Christina."

        Christina felt a hand on her shoulder, shaking her. She opened her eyes and saw Nina standing next to her in her pajamas. "Nina?" she said groggily. "I must have fell asleep."

        "Christina, it's almost one in the morning. Go to bed."

        "I will," Christina yawned. "I'm just waiting for Andrei to come home."

        "Christina," Nina began as though she was pointing out something painfully obvious, "I don't think Andrei is coming home anytime soon."

        "No, he will," she asserted, still sleepy. "I told him I needed to see him tonight. He'll be here."

        "Okay," shrugged Nina. "Just don't stay up all night." Nina went back upstairs, leaving her cousin to wait for Andrei.

        Christina stared at the old clock. She was so sleepy that she momentarily forgot that it was broken. Rising from the couch, she went to the wall and stood in front of the it. With her finger, she pushed the two hands into position to read one o'clock.

        She went to the window and pulled back the curtains. The long driveway was blanketed in darkness. There was no sign of Andrei. She realized that Nina was right; she'd have to talk to Andrei tomorrow. Dejected, she climbed the stairs and went into the bathroom, where she relieved herself and washed off her makeup. She was so tired she forgot to brush her teeth before retiring to her room.

        As Christina entered her bedroom, she switched on the light and saw that Boris was lounging on her bed. "So I see this is your room when I'm away," she said playfully to the German shepherd.

        Boris did not get up, but he started wagging his tail. His eyes followed Christina as she took off her dress, waist cincher and underwear.

        Rifling through her drawers, she pulled out a long, white cotton nightgown. She pulled it over her slender body and buttoned the two buttons on top. The gown exposed her shoulders and her cleavage; Christina had long since stopped buying clothes that hid her chest.

        Boris watched her take her cell phone out of the purse on her vanity.

        Christina dialed the speed dial number for Steph. After only one ring, the phone picked up and she heard a recording.

        "Your service has been temporarily suspended," the voice said. "Please contact customer support to reinstate your service."

        Christina turned off her phone and dropped it back into her purse. She had already forgotten that her service was turned off. It was an unwelcome reminder that just beyond the comfort of Oak Grove, things were coming apart at the seams. She frowned as she looked around her room; she had only a handful of nights left here.

        Christina forced herself to not think these things. She wanted to fill her mind with more wonderful memories to sustain her once all of this ended.

        Turning off the light, Christina climbed into bed next to Boris, who apparently had no intentions of moving. She wrapped her arm around the dog and snuggled close to him, saying nothing as she rubbed his belly. She tried to sleep, but she was worried that with only a week left before Christmas, she may not have time to execute her plan.

 

        Christina spent the weekend trying to corner Andrei. It seemed that he always left the house before Christina woke up, and returned long after she went to bed. She wasn't entirely sure Andrei had even come home on Sunday night. The only time she did see him was when he was dropping her off or picking her up from the store. She tried to drop hints, but she couldn't speak openly about her plan for her uncle's gift in front of him. To make matters worse, Nina was spending a lot of time with David, though not as much as Andrei spent with Steph. It reminded Christina that she was single at Christmas. At least she still had her uncle. She spent every day working with him at the grocery store. How many times had she tried to bring up his tax problems? There was never a good way to say it. She knew she had to do something soon.

        It was late that Tuesday when Christina and Alek returned from the store. Andrei didn't even bother getting out of the truck before he rushed back to Steph's place.

        Christina sat in front of the fireplace and kicked of her snow covered boots. She heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.

        Nina entered the room wearing a long dress that looked too formal for dinner.

        "Hey Nina," Christina yawned. "What's the occasion?"

        "David is picking me up. We're going out to a movie."

        "Again?" Christina complained. "But we're going to eat right now!"

        Nina sat down on the couch and said, "I guess it's just you and Mom and Dad tonight."

        "Why is everyone so busy? It's Christmas!"

        "Sorry," Nina winced.

        Christina noticed that her cousin looked preoccupied with something. "What's up Nina?"

        "Nothing," she denied as she stared at the fire.

        Christina waved her hand in front of her younger cousin's face to break her gaze. "I don't think it's nothing."

        "Well ..."

        "Well what?" Christina asked with concern.

        "How many dates ... I mean ... when you date a guy, how long is it before you should consider ... you know ..."

        "Know what? What do you mean?" Christina asked in a confused tone.

        "You know," Nina said in a whisper, "Before you ... do ... 'it.'"

        Frustrated, Christina shook her head and muttered, "What do you mean, 'it?'" Her eyes went wide with horror and all the color drained out of her face. She repeated, "IT?"

        "Keep your voice down!" Nina whispered, "Mom and Dad are in the other room!"

        "There is no doing 'it!' Do you understand me? You are way ... way too young for 'it.'"

        "David wants to do ... 'it.' We've been dating for six months now. He said that everyone else at school is already having sex."

        Christina gripped her brow with her thumb and forefinger as though she was developing a headache. "Look Nina," she explained, "Most boys will tell you just about anything if they think it will get you into bed. Especially a boy like David."

        "What's that supposed to mean?" Nina shot back defensively.

        "Well ... Nothing." Christina didn't want to push her cousin away by telling her what she really thought of David. "The point is that there is no magic amount of time you date a boy then it's okay to have sex. You only do that when you're much older, and you're in love." Christina caught herself and blurted, "Married. When you're married. Not before. How long has David been pushing for ... 'it?'"

        "All the time," Nina shrugged. "Especially after last week." Nina realized she was giving far too much away and stopped dead in her tracks. She stood up and said, "I think I should check my makeup before David gets here."

        Christina grabbed Nina by her wrist and pulled her back onto the couch. "What was last week?" she commanded.

        "Well," Nina blushed, "I sorta kinda touched 'it'"

        "What do you mean 'it!'" Christina shouted.

        Nina whispered, "His penis."

        Christina held her head again and muttered, "Don't, don't, don't, don't, say that word."

        "Well what do you want 'it' to mean? Is 'it' doing it or touching an it, cause frankly, I don't know what anyone is saying anymore."

        "You touched his 'doodle.'" Christina said gingerly.

        "Doodle?" Nina repeated sarcastically.

        "Yes!" Christina barked under her breath. "And I told you there is absolutely no touching David's doodle!"

        "It wasn't just David who wanted to do it! I wanted to see what it was like."

        Realizing that yelling at Nina wasn't going to solve anything, Christina did her best to calm down. "Look Nina, it's normal to be curious about those things. And certain kinds of touching feels really good. It's okay that you feel that way. It's okay that you even wanted to do it. What I'm trying to tell you is, don't let David talk you into anything that you're not ready for."

        "Okay," Nina responded.

        "I'm sorry I overreacted."

        Nina nodded. She pondered what her cousin had said then she plainly asked, "Have you touched Richard's penis?"

        "What?" Christina shrieked.

        "I'm sorry," Nina said defensively, "Richard's doodle."

        "No! Absolutely not!"

        "I just thought since you are dating him that maybe-"

        "No!" Christina interrupted. "We are NOT dating! There is no doodle touching going on and there never will be!"

        Nina started to speak but was interrupted by the sound of a car horn honking outside. Standing up, Nina started for the door. "I have to go, Doodle-" Nina blushed and corrected, "Uh, David is here."

        Once Nina was out the front door, Christina jumped up from the couch. She hurried to the window and watched Nina as she walked out to David's car. It irked Christina that not only did David not come to the front door, he didn't even get out of his car. She thought she saw David lean over and kiss Nina after she got in, but she wasn't sure. What she was sure of was that she didn't trust David, and she didn't think David was a good boy for Nina.

        Christina felt guilty as her cousin drove away. Nina didn't know that after Christmas, Christina Chase was never returning. Christina didn't know how she was going to survive without talking to her younger cousin on the phone or seeing her anymore. She promised herself that she had to find a way to set Nina on the right track before she left.

        Christina focused her mind on what she had to accomplish before she stopped being Christina Chase. She saw her uncle emerge from his bedroom and decided to seize the moment. She couldn't let herself linger on her guilt or her grief; she had an agenda, and she had to see it through.

        "Uncle Alek?" Christina called out to the older man.

        Alek entered the living room and beamed at his niece. "Yes Tina? What is it?"

        "I need to talk to you about something," said Christina, holding her hands behind her back.

        "Can it not wait until after dinner? It's almost time to-"

        "No," Christina interrupted, "It's important."

        "Of course Tina, what is troubling you?" Alek asked tenderly.

        Christina began, "When I was here for Thanksgiving, I heard you and Aunt Misha fighting ..."

        Alek shook his head dismissively and said, "Do not worry about that, it was just a spat. Everything is alright."

        "But I know what you were fighting about. I know about the problem with the IRS."

        Alek didn't speak, he just looked at his niece with piercing eyes.

        "I read one of your letters," she confessed. "I mean, I don't really understand everything that was in it, but I've been doing a lot of research. I think you should talk to an accountant or a specialist or something. I don't see how you could owe that much money. Anyway, I was thinking, maybe there's something I can do to help?"

        "Help," her uncle stated flatly. He exhaled forcefully and paced back and forth in front of the girl. "Help!" he exclaimed. "Help by reading things that are not for you?" he shouted.

        "I didn't mean to-"

        "Oh but you did!" Alek barked. "And now you think you know better how to run this house? You think that just because you spend your holidays here, that you know how to better take care of this family?" Alek's face burned with anger.

        "I didn't say that," Christina said as her eyes welled with tears.

        "No, you did not SAY anything. You go around sneaking. And plotting. And now you talk about things you know nothing about!" Alek paced back and forth like a predatory beast in front of cornered prey. "We are not to speak of this again," he commanded. "Do you understand?"

        With tears streaming down her face, Christina trembled, "Yes sir."

        Alek shot her a steely glare before turning his back and walking into the kitchen.

        Christina saw her aunt standing beside the kitchen door. She wasn't sure how much Misha had heard. Without saying a word, Christina ran past her aunt and up the stairs to her room. Throwing herself on her bed, she clutched her pillow and wept.

        Boris skulked into Christina's room with his head down. He jumped up onto the bed, and lay at the foot while Christina cried.

        Christina didn't know how long she laid there; it was long enough for her to exhaust her tears. Sitting up, she wiped her face and arranged the skirt of her dress so it was no longer bunched up around her legs. She leaned over and scratched Boris' belly. The dog knew that Christina was upset though he didn't understand why. Christina heard a knock on her bedroom door and muttered, "Come in," with a voice that was spent from crying.

        Misha came into the room carrying a plate of food and a box of tissues on a tray. She placed the food on Christina's nightstand then sat on the bed next to her niece. "Your uncle should not have spoken to you that way, Tina," she soothed as she handed Christina a tissue.

        Christina hunched over and blew her nose. She stared at the tissue in her hand. Without lifting her eyes, she whispered, "I know that I'm not really part of this family. I just wanted to help before I-"

        "Tina!" her aunt scolded. "You are never to speak like that again. You ARE a part of this family. Your uncle ... all the men in this family are very stubborn, and very proud. They do not like to be told when they are wrong."

        Christina looked up with red, puffy eyes and said, "I shouldn't have taken that letter."

        "No you should not have, but your heart was in the right place, child. You did what you thought was right, and Alek should not have yelled at you. He is not angry with you, Tina. He is angry at me. Mostly, he is angry at himself."

        "He sounded pretty angry at ME," Christina insisted.

        "He is frustrated," Misha explained. "He does not know what to do, so he yells."

        "What ARE we going to do?"

        "Things are going to work out."

        "How can you know that?"

        Misha put down the box of tissues on the bed and took her niece's hand. "Because I have faith, child. Because everything happens the way it is meant to. Yes, life feels hard, but you must always be grateful for what you have, and take the opportunities you are given."

        "But they're going to take the store!" Christina whined. "And maybe the house, too."

        "When the time is right, we will know what there is to do."

        "That's it? We'll just know?"

        "Yes."

        "Aunt Misha, I just don't know how you do it! I mean, the world is a mean place- it just gives you things so you can lose them. One day It gives you love, just so you can feel so empty when it's not there anymore." Christina's eyes welled up with fresh tears. "I had it all figured out in my head; the way I was going to spend Christmas, but it's not happening. I wanted to help, but there's nothing I can do. And Andrei is not around when I need him more than ever. Even Nina is gone. And the thing is, I'm almost out of time. You know I don't fit here. I wish I did. But it's like, no matter how hard I try, it just doesn't matter. Nothing ever matters."

        Misha wrapped her arms around her niece and rocked her gently. "My darling Tina. Life has been unkind to you, this is true. But how long are you going to keep searching for all the things you already have?"

        "I don't have anything," she whispered.

        "Nonsense. You have us. You always will."

        Christina mumbled, "It's complicated."

        "And you have Richard," Misha added.

        Christina sat up out of her aunt's embrace and winced. "I'm actually trying to get rid of him."

        Boris, no longer content to sit alone at the edge of the bed, inched forward and dropped his head into Christina's lap.

        "And you have Boris!" Misha grinned.

        Christina laughed, though her throat was still tight from crying. "Him I want to keep," she said as she scratched behind the dog's ear.

        Misha took another tissue from the box and cleaned the tears from Christina's cheeks. She stood up and said, "Do not burden yourself with all this worry. It is not your job to keep this family together."

        "I know," she frowned. "Uncle Alek made that very clear."

        "Ah yes," Misha said from the doorway, "But he was wrong. It is not his job either. It is mine."

        Misha winked at Christina as she closed the bedroom door behind her.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Christina pulled the pillow off her head and squinted as the morning sunlight flared in her eyes. She sat up and checked the clock- 6 AM. Perfect, she thought. Andrei wasn't getting away today.

        She threw off her covers and leaped to her feet. Not even bothering with a robe, she strode through the hallway in her nightshirt. Andrei's door was closed. She stood impatiently in front of his door and tapped on it gently. When that elicited no response, she knocked harder. After a few minutes, she conceded that Andrei was either asleep or already gone. She opened the door and poked her head into the dark room. The shades were drawn tightly, blocking out any trace of daylight.

        "Andrei?" she whispered. "Are you awake?"

        Christina flipped on the light switch and saw that Andrei's room had reverted to its messy state. There were piles of clothes on the floor, drawers hanging half open, and there were empty soda cans littered around a nearly empty wastebasket. The bed was a tangled mess of sheets and blankets, and it looked as though Andrei had vacated it some time earlier that morning.

        It was already Thursday. Christina had only three more days before Christmas. Frowning, she sat on the edge of Andrei's disheveled bed.

        There was a new picture on his nightstand. It was a snapshot of Andrei and Steph sitting in a booth at the diner. Steph's arms were draped around Andrei's broad shoulders and she was kissing him on the cheek. Christina picked up the picture and held it in her hands. She noticed that the picture of her and Andrei was still on the stand, but it had been moved to the back, against the wall. She put Steph's picture back where it had been and left the room. She knew she shouldn't feel jealous, but she felt genuinely hurt to be so easily replaced. Granted, she was happier with Andrei's sexual attention placed elsewhere, but she missed him.

        Leaving Andrei's bedroom, Christina considered an attempt to rearrange anything she might have displaced to hide her intrusion. Given the state of the room, she couldn't imagine that her cousin would notice any difference. Having no other option, she shuffled moodily into the bathroom to start her day. After a quick shower, she returned to her room and dried her hair. She slipped on a simple pair of cotton panties, a bra, her tight cincher, a pair of jeans, and a plain top under a striped turtleneck. As she pulled the sweater over her head, her necklace got caught in the fabric. For the first time that morning, she had to slow down. She meticulously worked the gear free from the tangle as to not ruin the garment. Once untangled, she gave the gear a squeeze and dropped it under the sweater. Her makeup took only fifteen minutes. Gone was the clumsy girl that had first learned about makeup nearly a year ago.

        Looking back at the clock, she saw that it was almost eight. Still too early to call anyone, she thought. Unwilling to sit still, she threw on her new coat and stepped into her low heeled boots. Descending the stairs, she went out through the front door. The sky was thick with clouds, which had covered the ground with a gentle dusting of snow. The cold air bit at her cheeks and nose as she walked around the house and down the driveway. She noticed the old green pickup was not there; her uncle must be at the store and Andrei was probably long gone.

        Christina made her way to the barn and pushed against the door. It was stuck; it looked as though the hinges were frozen. She pushed as hard as she could, but it was no use. Christina threw herself into the door two times, and it finally yielded.

        The barn looked deserted. All of Andrei's projects were collected into the far corner and covered with tarps. Christina didn't know whether this was because Andrei had shut down for the winter or that he'd put everything on hold to spend time with Steph.

        Feeling a palpable sense of defeat, Christina meandered around the barn aimlessly, then went back into the house through the side door.

        "Christina," her aunt said as she peered into the oven to check the biscuits. "What are you doing up so early?"

        "Nothing," Christina said dejectedly as she sat at the table. "I was just hoping to catch Andrei before he disappeared."

        "He has been spending a lot of time with Stephanie. That is how young men act when they are in love."

        "I know. And I'm happy for him, really. It's just that I've been here almost a week, and I've hardly seen him."

        Misha sat at the table with her niece and consoled her. "We will all be together on Christmas."

        "Yeah, but then I'll be out of time."

        "Tina sweetheart, you are always talking about time. Running out of time. Never enough time. Really dear, you are young. You have all the time in the world."

        Christina sighed and leaned over the table, resting her chin in her hands. "Aunt Misha, things are different back home. After New Year's I'm not going to be able to visit ..." She couldn't bear to say "anymore," especially with the concerned look on her aunt's face. She continued, "... as much as I would like to. There's things I want to get done before that happens."

        "If this is about how your uncle spoke to you, I promise you that-"

        "No ... no" Christina interrupted. "It's just how things are. There's nothing I can do about it. It's just that I wanted to have this perfect Christmas to remember forever."

        "Do not worry Tina, I will talk to your cousin tonight." Misha noticed that her words did little to cheer her niece up.

        Christina stood, saying, "I have to go make some phone calls."

        "Don't be too long dear, breakfast is almost ready."

        "I'm sorry," She shrugged, "I'm just not hungry."

        Christina dragged herself back up to her room and closed the door. She reached into her purse to retrieve her cell phone. Before she finished dialing Steph's number, she remembered her service was disconnected. She shoved the phone back into her purse and crept down the hallway to Nina's room. Cracking the door open, she whispered, "Nina?" Christina saw that her younger cousin was still asleep; she couldn't use the phone in her room.

        Christina sneaked into the living room and sat on the couch. Peering into the kitchen, Christina saw that Misha was too busy tending to breakfast to notice what she was up to. Christina picked up the phone and dialed the number for Steph's salon.

        Steph picked up and said, "It's your dime- what's up?"

        "Hey Steph," Christina whispered. "Is Andrei there?"

        "Yes he is, thank you very much," Steph responded with delight. "Have I told you that I've accepted Christina Chase as my personal savior? I owe you big time Blondie."

        "Yeah that's great. Listen, I need to talk to Andrei. It's really important."

        "Sure thing. I'll get him."

        Christina waited impatiently for a few minutes until Steph returned to the line.

        "He's busy in the basement right now, can he call you back?"

        "What's he doing in the basement?" complained Christina.

        "Fixing these old pipes. I would tell him to take a break, but if he stopped right this moment, I'd have to rename the place 'Steph's Canal.'"

        "Yeah, okay. Have him call me back. But, this is life and death important, okay?"

        "You got it. I'll let him know."

        "Thanks."

        Christina hung up the phone and stared at it, trying to think of something to do. Maybe she could call her uncle. He could definitely light a fire under Andrei. She reached for the phone but stopped. She was still smarting from Alek's scolding, and not yet ready to speak with him. Who could she call to at least take her into town? She rifled through her purse and pulled out Richard's tattered business card. It was worth a shot, she thought. Richard would certainly drop everything to come get her. She dialed the number for his office, but his machine picked up.

        "You've reached the law offices of Richard Masters," his voice said. "I will be out of the office until December twenty-seventh. Please leave a message after the tone."

        Christina slammed the phone in frustration. Richard must be visiting his parents in Florida, she guessed. There was nothing to do but wait until Andrei called her back.

        Unable to contain her nervous energy, Christina paced back and forth in the living room, still wearing her long winter coat. She felt as though she were coming apart at the seams. She'd lost her job. Andrei had abandoned her. Nina was busy with David. Her uncle hated her. And these were the last few days she had left with her family. She didn't know whether she should cry or scream. What she did know was that there was no way she was going to wait around just so her cousin could let her down again. Grabbing her purse, she slung it around her shoulder and charged out the door. The light dusting had grown into a mild snow storm. Undaunted, Christina stepped into the whiteness and charged determinedly down the long driveway.

 

        An hour later, Christina was still trudging through the deepening snow. Her vision was cluttered by thousands of thick white flakes. Her toes and fingers were numb, and her face felt raw. She regretted her rash impulse to walk into town. If only her cell phone had been working, she would have called someone to come and get her. At this point, her only option was to keep going.

        It took another half-hour for Christina to reach town. All the buildings and cars were covered in white. The small mountain town's roads had yet to be plowed, and a few citizens drove down Main Street in heavy trucks with chains on the wheels.

        Christina wasn't sure what force kept her moving but whatever it was, it carried her into Steph's salon and gave out shortly thereafter. Collapsing into a chair in the waiting room, she held herself and shivered.

        Steph and Lisa were both in the store working on customers. Steph finished up on her client and walked back to the front desk. She immediately rushed over, when she saw Christina huddled over in her chair.

        "Christina? Are you okay? How did you get here?" she asked in rapid fire.

        "I walked," Christina said as she shook.

        "You walked? From your place? That's miles! Are you serious?"

        Christina nodded and rubbed her crossed arms up and down her sides. "I need to talk to Andrei," she insisted.

        "Mrs. Gibbons," Steph said politely to the woman sitting on the other side of the waiting room, "Lisa will be with you in a minute. I've got a situation here."

        Steph grabbed Christina's hand and was taken aback by how cold it was. She took Christina into the back office and had her sit down on a small, uncomfortable couch. Pulling a tiny space heater out from a pile of junk behind the desk, Steph plugged it into the wall and pointed it at Christina. The radar-shaped device glowed orange and radiated heat in Christina's direction.

        "Wait right here," Steph commanded.

        Grateful for the searing heat the small heater was emitting, Christina did her best to relax on the tiny couch.

        Steph returned a moment later with a mug of hot chocolate.

        Christina accepted the mug and took a sip. Finding It far too hot, she placed it on the floor next to the couch. "Please, I really need to see Andrei," she said through her exhaustion.

        Steph nodded and went to fetch Andrei.

        Christina had never been in Steph's office before. It was a tiny room that was overpowered by a very old, metal desk. The yellowed calendar on the wall displayed April, 1975. Christina assumed this place was the last relic of the old hardware store. One thing that was definitely a recent addition was the large picture of Andrei and Steph on the desk.

        Christina looked back at the office door as her cousin entered the room. Andrei's pants were covered by damp spots, and he left tiny puddles wherever he stepped. Steph edged in behind him and sat behind the old desk.

        "You really walked all the way here?" Andrei said with a hint of both annoyance and concern.

        "Andrei I need your help-"

        "You couldn't wait until I got home?"

        Christina rolled her eyes and complained, "And you were planning on coming home when?" Andrei opened his mouth, but Christina persisted. "I've been home for a week, and I've barely seen you. You say you'll talk to me later, but you never do. I got up at six o'clock this morning, and you were already gone! And I don't even know when you get in anymore. I mean, I've stayed up all night-"

        "I've been busy," Andrei defended, "I was going to call you back."

        "I just need you to help me with Uncle Alek's Christmas gift. If it's not ready by Sunday, I won't have anything to give him, and this is going to be my only Christmas. And it's my last chance to make up with him. I don't know if it can even be done. I just know I can't do it without you."

        "What are you talking about?" Andrei asked, his voice now only reflecting concern. "Why do you have to make up with my father? And what do you mean your only Christmas?"

        "Andrei," Steph interrupted. "Wrap up what you're doing in the basement and take Christina home."

        "But Steph," Andrei objected, "I'm not finished yet."

        "Is the building gonna float away?"

        "No."

        "Then get outta of here. I don't want to see you until Christmas."

        Andrei wanted to stay, but Steph's eyes stated clearly that the matter wasn't up for debate. "I'll be right back," he said as he went to the basement.

        Steph walked from behind of the desk and sat next to Christina on the couch. She put her arm around Christina and asked, "What do you mean this is your last Christmas?"

        Christina reached down and held the hot mug between her cold hands. She took a long drink and responded, "It's complicated, but I don't think I'll be coming back to Oak Grove after New Year's Eve."

        Steph whispered, "I hope you change your mind."

        Christina responded only by taking another drink of hot chocolate.

        "I'm sorry I've been using up all of Andrei's time," Steph apologized.

        "It's okay," Christina said, shaking her head, "You waited for him a lot longer than I did."

        Andrei returned to the office with his coat on. "Okay, let's go."

        Steph walked to his side and kissed him on the lips. She lingered in the kiss then promised, "I'll see you on Christmas day."

        Andrei smiled and said, "I'll miss you."

        Christina did her best to be happy for them. They were so much in love; it made Christina feel very alone. It hurt that she'd lost Steph to Andrei. What was more surprising was the pain she felt that she'd lost Andrei to Steph.

        Andrei helped Christina to her feet, and they left Steph's salon together.

        Once they were in the truck, Andrei said, "I was going to call you back, I swear."

        "It's alright." Christina muttered. "I was just having an episode or something. Nothing is working out the way it was supposed to, and I just needed you."

        "I'll help you with what ever it is you have to do," he said sincerely.

        "I know you will. It's just that ... you know, I miss you. I kinda got used to having you around all the time."

        "I'm still around."

        "No you're not." Christina stared at the dashboard. "You and Steph; you should spend lots of time with her. That's how it's supposed to be. And I know Steph really appreciates how lucky she is."

        Neither of them spoke again until they got home. Andrei quickly got out of the truck and jogged to the other side to open his cousin's door. "What happened between you and my father?" he asked. "Why do you have to make up with him?"

        Christina took her cousin's hand and dropped into the thick snow. "One thing at a time, okay?"

        As the two cousins entered the side door, Misha and Boris rushed into the kitchen.

        "Tina!" Misha exclaimed, "Where have you been? We were worried sick!"

        "I uh ..." she stuttered.

        "She was with me," Andrei lied. "I took her into town hours ago."

        "Right," Christina added.

        Without any further explanation, they hurried past Misha and up the stairs.

        "Why did you tell her that?" Christina whispered.

        "Because you would be in trouble for walking into town during a snow storm, and I would be in trouble because it was my fault." Andrei grabbed his younger cousin by the arm and said seriously, "Actually, that wasn't a very smart thing to do."

        "I know," Christina said, "I've been a little emotional lately."

        "Christina, what is going on with you? You know there's nothing you can't tell me."

        Christina looked at Andrei critically, wondering if that was actually true. "Come on," she said, leading him to her bedroom. Christina kicked off her boots, shed her coat, and sat on her bed. Andrei grabbed the chair in front of the vanity, spun it around, and sat on it backwards.

        Nina poked her head into Christina's door and asked, "Where on earth have you been?"

        "Get lost, brat!" barked Andrei at his sister.

        Christina shot Andrei a dirty look and said, "Come on in, Nina."

        Nina closed the door behind her and sat on the bed next to her cousin.

        Taking a deep breath, Christina explained her plan. "Okay. Here's the situation. I wanted to give your father something special for Christmas, but I couldn't find anything that was good enough. But then I thought of something I could give him. I just need some help to pull it off."

        "What is it?" Andrei asked in frustration.

        Leaning over the mattress, Christina stretched her arms over the side of the bed and underneath. She strained as she lifted a heavy shoebox and placed it on the bed between the three of them. When she removed the lid, her two cousins curiously peered in. The box contained a pile of gears, screws, coils, and springs. There was a very large main spring and a charred and warped piece of wood. Picking up the piece of wood, Christina flipped it over in her palms to reveal what had once been the face of her father's Levchenko clock. The minute hand was bent over, and the hour hand was missing entirely. The numbers, from eleven to five, were still visible, but the rest had been claimed by the fire.

        Christina handed the clock face to Andrei, and Nina picked up a large gear from the box.

        "After the fire," Christina explained, "I went back to the house. I had to sneak in, early in the morning, past the police tape, and over a fence. Everything was gone. All of my clothes. All of our furniture. Everything I had. I must have looked through that pile for hours for, you know, anything to remember what my life used to be like. The only thing I could find was our old clock. What was left of it anyway."

        "You can't be serious," Andrei gasped. "You think I can rebuild Dad's clock from this?"

        "You have to," Christina begged. "This is the only thing I have to give."

        "Andrei shook his head. "Even if there was more to work with... or if I even had blueprints ... even then ..." He looked from Nina to Christina. "I can't do this."

        "I know you can do it," Christina implored. "You're a genius! You fixed my car, even though you're not a mechanic. You were just fixing Steph's pipes, and you're not a plumber."

        Andrei looked unconvinced.

        Christina insisted, "Whatever it is that our great, great, grandfather had, you've got it too. I know you do."

        Andrei looked into Christina's eyes. She was serious. He looked over at Nina for some inkling of reason.

        Nina shrugged and agreed. "Maybe you CAN do it."

        "Alright," Andrei sighed. "I'll try. You realize, if we break Dad's clock-"

        "We won't," Christina asserted. "I know you can do it." Christina looked at both of her new conspirators and laid out the details. "Christmas is on Sunday. That gives us tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday to work. We can't just take the clock; we'll have to wait until your parents are asleep, work on it as much as possible, and get it back on the wall before they wake up."

        Andrei said, "Three nights ... I don't know, Christina ..."

        "It HAS to be enough time, I'm not going to have another chance."

        "Why do you keep talking like that?" Andrei shouted. "Why aren't you coming back?"

        Nina shot a scared look at her cousin. "What does he mean you're not coming back?"

        Christina couldn't bear to look at Nina, so she focused on Andrei. "I can't explain it. I just won't be back. Maybe not for a long time." She knew she couldn't ever return, but she didn't want to make Nina more upset.

        Andrei shouted, "You can't just say you're not coming back and not tell us why!"

        Christina didn't want to lose her cousins, but there was no other choice. She also couldn't tell them why she couldn't come back. It was an awful situation, and the fact that she didn't answer Andrei made the situation all the more tense.

        "You're not coming back ..." Nina began, as though she'd just figured out the entire puzzle, "Because you lost your job ..."

        "What?" Christina responded.

        "You lost your job," Nina repeated. "You did, didn't you?"

        "How did you know that?"

        "Because I called your cell phone when you disappeared this morning. It said the number was not in service. And you told me you were having job problems last time you were home. That's it, isn't it?"

        "You're not coming back because you can't afford to," Andrei added.

        Christina looked back and forth between them. It wasn't the exact truth, but it would have to do. It was technically true that there was no way she could pay for a bus ticket now.

        Andrei asked, "How much money do you have left?"

        Christina shook her head and shrugged. She didn't want to think about what she was going to do once she went back to the city.

        "Do you have enough money to pay your rent?"

        Christina knew that she didn't have enough to pay for January, but bringing that up would only ruin Christmas for everyone. "I'll work it out. Really, don't worry about it."

        "You have to return our presents!" Nina demanded. "We can't take them now."

        "Nina's right," Andrei concurred. "You don't have to get us anything."

        "Okay!" Christina shouted through the lump in her throat. "Just stop it! You are TAKING my presents! I don't know when I'm going to see either of you again, so you can't take Christmas away from me! And I don't want to talk about jobs or money anymore."

        "We have to do something," Andrei insisted.

        Christina could tell by the look on her cousins' faces that they weren't going to let this go. "Okay. Fine. We'll talk about it later though, okay? Right now, we have to fix your father's clock. And the both of you ARE taking my presents."

        "Okay," Nina said with hesitation, "But we are going to figure something out."

        Once Christina convinced her cousins to relent on her money issues, they put the plan into action. The first step in their conspiracy was to not arouse suspicion. Christina and Nina spent the rest of the afternoon doing housework. The only thing out of the ordinary was that both of the girls spent a lot of time cleaning Andrei's room. Even with his array of heaters, Andrei decided that it was too cold to work in the barn all night; his room was the best place to do the actual work. It would also be easier to smuggle the clock upstairs, than into the barn.

        The girls were still hard at work when Andrei left to pick up Alek from the grocery store. Christina made sure to keep Nina away from Andrei's mattress. She didn't want to embarrass Andrei by letting Nina see the dirty magazines hidden in his bed. She was, however, curious whether her picture was still there. She didn't know whether she would be disgusted or relieved if it was. Realizing that she was actually becoming jealous of Steph, she decided not to dwell on those feelings. By the time Andrei returned with Alek, Nina and Christina were done preparing Andrei's room.

        Christina, Andrei, and Nina weren't talkative during dinner. Andrei and Nina were simply lying low, preparing for the heist later that night. Christina, however, was afraid of speaking in front of her uncle. She could tell that he was still angry with her, and she didn't think she could stand to be yelled at again.

        Misha could sense the tension between her husband and her niece, even though her children did not. She had seen her husband behave this way before; nothing enraged him more than an argument with Anastasia. This was different though. Anastasia always argued with her father, but Christina hadn't started a fight. Also, her daughter could give as good as she got. She and her father were so alike; each would escalate the argument until it erupted. That was the way they related to each other. They yelled, and fought, and then it was over.

        Misha could see that Alek was waiting for that same response from Christina, but Misha knew the girl didn't have it in her. It broke Misha's heart to see Christina wilt from the heat searing behind her husband's eyes. How much of his anger was from his damaged pride? Or was it because their niece looked so much like their lost daughter? Misha couldn't know for sure. She did know that interfering would only make things worse for Christina.

        After the family finished eating, Christina went to the sink to wash the dishes.

        Misha noticed that Christina had hardly eaten a thing. She went to her niece and said, "I do not need any help tonight ,Tina. Why don't you get some rest?"

        Grateful to escape the kitchen, Christina nodded and left the room. She felt as though her uncle was about to explode at any moment.

        Andrei and Nina followed her up the stairs and into the upstairs hallway.

        Christina turned to the both of them and frowned, "I think I'm just gonna be alone for a while, okay?"

        "Sure," Andrei said compassionately. "We'll come get you when we're ready."

        Christina nodded once, shuffled into her room, and closed the door behind her.

        As Andrei and Nina started back down the hallway, Nina said, "I don't understand why Christina's so sad. We're going to fix the clock. Do you think she's worried about money?"

        Andrei responded, "I don't know, Nina." He looked over his shoulder at his cousin's door. "There's something bothering her; I don't know what. There's been something wrong since the first day we met her. I wish we could do something about it, but she won't even tell us what it is."

        "There has to be something we can do," Nina insisted. "I don't want her to go away."

        Andrei put his large hand on Nina's shoulder. "I don't want her to go, either. I'll think of something, I promise. Right now, I should get my tools and get everything set up for tonight."

        "No, don't do that. You should get some sleep. It's going to be a long night, and we're going to need you to be awake. I'll wake you up after Mom and Dad are asleep."

        Andrei nodded as he went into his room.

 

        As Christina sat on her bed in her silk, pink pajamas, she reflected on what Misha had told her about faith. Christina wished it made sense, because everything in her life was falling apart. Nina and Andrei were slipping through her fingers. She feared that her uncle hated her. On top of it all, she had nothing at all to return home to. She sighed as she looked at the girl in the mirror. She'd gone through so much to be a girl for her family, especially for her uncle. What was it all worth in the end? If only she'd not been mistaken for a girl almost a year ago. She wondered, would that have made things better? She wouldn't have spent all that money on her new wardrobe. She might still have had a masculine waistline. It might have been possible to keep her family forever.

        Still, there was a part of her that wouldn't have changed a thing. If she hadn't been a girl, she realized, she wouldn't have been Nina's older sister. She couldn't imagine them being so close if she had been a boy. Would Andrei have protected her if she had been a boy? Would Misha have taught her how to clean, or keep house? And her uncle, what would things have been like if she'd been a boy? Could she call him when she was frightened? Would he have tucked her in? Would he have stayed up with her, and told her stories? Maybe he would have, but Christina couldn't picture it. As much as she couldn't bear to lose her uncle, she wouldn't have traded being his daughter for anything. Even if it were temporary. Even if it were all a lie.

        If she'd actually been born a girl, this might have been her bedroom. She could have seen her family every day. It was a stupid, childish fantasy, she decided. Christina pulled out her necklace from her pajamas and held it in her hand. Misha was wrong, she decided. Faith and love were not the things that moved the stars. There was only cold, mechanical fate.

        Christina was distracted from that thought as she heard her door open and saw Nina peek inside.

        "Come on," Nina whispered, "We're ready."

        Taking the box of clock parts, Christina followed Nina into Andrei's bedroom.

        Andrei had set up an old card table to serve as a makeshift work bench. Her uncle's clock lay dissected under a desk lamp, with Andrei hunched over.

        "This is all that's left," he said to the girls as he showed them the pieces. There was a tightly orchestrated mesh of gears and axles sitting in front of him. It was obviously missing most of the components.

        Christina placed her box on the table and pulled out her parts. There were a few duplicate items, but her collection of clock internals was far more complete. She also had the mainspring, and two large weights. Her uncle's copies were somewhere at the bottom of the ocean.

        Andrei took time to arrange the pieces on the table, stopping only when most of the surface was covered. Most of the pieces were still connected to one another, while others hung free. Staring at the gears before him, Andrei squinted like an old man playing a crossword puzzle. He said, "It's going to take me a while to see how this all fits together."

        "I didn't realize there'd be so many parts," Christina sighed. "We're never going to figure it out."

        "Don't be so sure," he said, sounding optimistic for the first time that night. "You can still see how this was assembled," he said, motioning over the complete section of his father's clock with a tiny Philips-head screwdriver. He rotated portions of Christina's completed gears and said, "And there's even more hints here. A lot of this is still intact. I think maybe ... maybe there's enough here to make it work. I'm not sure. I need to think about it."

        Christina stared at Andrei, who did nothing but focus on the clock parts. Realizing that there wasn't much she could do to help at this point, she sat on Andrei's bed and held Nina. The girls didn't speak; they just watched Andrei. He was motionless with the exception of his eyes. Christina had never seen her cousin work like this before; it was fascinating. She watched his eyes dart back and forth between the pieces, and she could tell that he was solving the riddle in his mind. She watched him for over an hour, waiting for him to make a move, any move. Several times she wanted to call out to him, and ask him exactly what it was that he was doing, but she feared it would break his concentration.

        Christina had never seen this side of her cousin before. Andrei could be careless and oblivious; he couldn't tell that Steph had been hitting on him for years. It was different when he was working. She'd never seen anyone so observant or determined. Watching him study the gears was exhausting. Christina felt her eyes grow heavy. Nina, who was sitting between Christina's legs and laying on her chest was already asleep. The slow in and out of Christina's breathing grew synchronous with that of her younger cousin, and she drifted gently out of consciousness.

 

        "I can see it!" Andrei shouted, waking both the girls.

        "What?" Nina yawned.

        Christina rubbed her eyes and her cousin came into focus.

        "I know how this works!" he whispered in excitement. "I can see it all! Well, most of it ... enough to get to work."

        Christina stretched her arms and looked at Andrei's alarm clock. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed. "It's four in the morning!" She looked at her cousin who had just started to fiddle with the gears. "Have you been staring at that mess for five hours?"

        "I don't know," Andrei shrugged. "It's not important; I've got it worked out. It's just a question of time now."

        Christina stared at her older cousin in awe and disbelief. He hadn't slept, nor had he moved from his seat.

        Grabbing his tools, Andrei started matching pieces together.

        Christina could tell he was having some trouble manipulating the small parts with his large hands, but he was too determined to let that hinder him. Nina fell back to sleep in her cousin's arms, but Christina could not tear her eyes away from Andrei. Watching him arrange the parts was mesmerizing. All the doubts she had as to whether fixing her uncle's clock was even possible evaporated as she watched her cousin work. She now understood what Steph meant when she said that there was always something going on in Andrei's head. As she had hoped, Andrei had looked at the mess on the table and had seen a clock. It was the same way he could look at a pile of scrap metal and see Christina's bed. He had a deeper understanding of the world than Christina ever imagined. It wasn't that Andrei was oblivious, she realized, he must have been constantly distracted.

        Andrei's alarm clock buzzed loudly causing Nina to jump in Christina's lap. Andrei, however, continued undeterred.

        "Andrei," Christina said, shutting off the alarm, "We have to get the clock back on the wall!"

        "In a moment," he muttered, still fiddling with the gears.

        Christina tapped Nina on the shoulder, and she hopped off the bed.

        Nina said, "I'll get changed, and help Mom with breakfast. We don't want to look suspicious."

        Andrei took the now empty clock in his hands and yawned, "I'll take this downstairs."

        "No," Christina objected, "You need to get some sleep."

        "I have to take my father to the store. It's okay."

        "No," Christina repeated, "You really need to rest."

        "She's right," Nina added from the doorway, "You're no good to us unconscious." She left the doorway and headed for the bathroom.

        Andrei's eyes were bloodshot, and his giant shoulders slumped. Though he was physically spent, Christina could see a glow in his eyes. If there had been any more hours in the night, she knew Andrei would have worked them. Christina wrapped her arms around her cousin and held him tightly. "Thank you so much," she said.

        Andrei weakly held her back and yawned, "We're not done yet."

        Christina released him and said, "I know, but I know you will do it. I can always count on you to save me." She kissed him on the cheek, and took the clock from his hands. "I'll drive your father to the store. You go to bed right now."

        Andrei nodded and climbed, fully dressed, into his bed.

        Christina turned off the lights and closed Andrei's bedroom door behind her, then tiptoed down the stairs with her uncle's clock under her arm. With all of its gears laying on the table upstairs, the clock was incredibly light. She sneaked through the faint, ambient morning light that glowed though the windows. Looking cautiously over her shoulder, Christina hung the old clock back on its peg and adjusted it until it hung just right. She heard noises in the kitchen and realized her aunt and uncle were already awake. Looking at her reflection in the window, Christina did her best to make herself look presentable. She slid her necklace down the front of her silk pajamas, and brushed her long blonde hair back off of her face. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Christina turned around and glided into the kitchen.

        "Tina, you are up early," Misha exclaimed as she cleaned a frying pan. Alek was already dressed and sitting at the table, finishing a plate of scrambled eggs and toast.

        "I thought maybe I could work in the store today with Uncle Alek," she said hopefully.

        "You're not even dressed," Alek said derisively, without bothering to look up from his food.

        Christina's forced smile collapsed into a frown and her head sagged. "It won't take me long to get ready."

        Alek wiped his mouth with his napkin, and tossed it down into his plate as he stood. "Where is Andrei?" he barked.

        "Andrei got home late again last night," Christina explained nervously. "I thought maybe I could drive you to work."

        "You?" he laughed. "You can not drive the truck."

        Christina looked at her feet and mumbled, "I think I can handle it."

        "Handle it?" Alek scoffed.

        "I know how to drive a stick," Christina insisted meekly.

        "Not only are you the expert in finance, you are an expert in trucks as well," he chided as he grabbed his coat and made his way to the side door. Alek waited for Christina to retaliate, but she only stood in place, with her head hanging low. "You can not even drive your own car," he spat, his anger growing with each word. "If you could, you would not be here now."

        Christina looked up at her uncle with wide, hurt eyes. She looked as though he had just stabbed her through the heart.

        "Alek!" gasped Misha.

        The sneer on Alek's face broke for an instant. He looked as though he might apologize, but instead he turned to his wife and growled, "Tell Andrei I took the truck. If he intends to sleep all day, then he can find some other way to get around." He slammed the door, leaving Christina paralyzed in the middle of the room. Her face was frozen in a devastated expression, and tears trickled silently down her pale cheeks.

        Misha put her arm around the girl's waist and guided her to the table. She sat next to her niece and said, "He did not mean it Tina."

        "Yes he did," she wept. "He hates me."

        "No dear, he does not hate you," Misha explained. "You hurt his pride. Alek is an old fashioned man. He thinks that he, and he alone should provide for his family."

        "I just wanted to help."

        "I know dear, but he is stubborn, and proud."

        "What can I do? I already apologized," Christina held her head in her hands. Her long blonde hair fell down her arms and onto the table. "Maybe I should just leave."

        "Tina! You are not to leave this house!" Misha commanded.

        "He doesn't want me here."

        "He does," Misha said, "He just wants you to fight with him."

        "What?"

        "He wants you to fight! To shout! That way he can shout back. That's why he said those terrible things. He wants you to fight, so he can yell."

        "Why would I fight with him?" Christina asked, looking up at her aunt.

        Misha brushed Christina's hair off of her face and responded gently, "Because Nastya would have. Because you remind him of her."

        "I'm not Anastasia," she cried.

        "I know you are not, dear. So does your uncle. He just does not know what to do with himself. He is angry because he has no answer to his troubles. And he is ashamed because you know about them. He is shouting at you because he does not know what else to do."

        Christina nodded, but she didn't feel any better. "Sometimes ..." she trailed off, "Sometimes I wish I was your daughter, and the room upstairs really belonged to me. I wish that just once, when it was time for me to leave, I didn't have to." Christina leaned her head against Misha's shoulder and cried, "And I wish that Uncle Alek still loved me."

        "He does, sweetheart, I promise," Misha assured as she rocked Christina. "You know Tina, you can stay here if you wish."

        Christina wiped the tears from her cheeks and whispered, "I don't belong here."

        Nina walked into the kitchen dressed and alert as though nothing had happened last night. Seeing that her older cousin had been crying, she asked, "What's going on?"

        "Nothing Nina," Christina lied, "Everything's fine." She stood up and said, "I'm going to take a shower. I'll be back in a little while."

        Nina looked at her mother for an explanation, but Misha did not speak. Nina didn't know what was wrong, but she saw the same worried look on her mother's face that she'd seen on Andrei's yesterday. Nina felt helpless. She wanted to make Christina happy again, but she didn't know how. What was worse, was her terrible suspicion that these were the last days she would ever spend with her cousin.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

        Doing her best to pretend that nothing was wrong, Christina spent most of Friday helping Misha and Nina with household chores. Her attempts to savor her time with Misha and Nina were crushed by their concerned looks. When she looked into their faces, all she saw was worry. The women carried on all day, making small talk and doing chores. None of them dared to address the complications that that were tearing Christina in two.

        Christina felt utterly lost. Had she ever felt so disconnected? Perhaps, when Amy had dumped her, but this was far worse. There was no way she could hold on to her family, and she doubted that even her gift, if Andrei could pull it off, would mend the rift that had formed between her and Alek.

        When Alek returned from the store that night, Christina retreated to her room, using an upset stomach as an excuse. With all of her worries, her stomach had been churning all day, but the truth was, she didn't want to give her uncle another opportunity to attack her. Though it was only six-thirty, Christina removed all her clothes and changed into to a pair of cotton panties and her pink and blue cotton sleepshirt that bore a sleeping kitty. She crawled into bed and made her best effort to sleep, knowing that Nina would come for her when they were ready.

        Christina tossed and turned through a fitful sleep. Her mind filled with disjointed images of her family, her apartment, and her old job. It was all slipping away and there was nothing she could do.

        "Christina," came a far away voice. "Christina, it's time," the voice insisted.

        Christina opened her eyes and saw that Nina was standing over her. "What time is it?" Christina yawned.

        "A little before two," Nina replied groggily.

        "Two!" Christina squeaked. Knocking off her covers, she sat straight up and grabbed the clock off her nightstand.

        "We couldn't start any earlier. Mom and Dad were up late."

        "Why were they up late?" Christina complained. "They're never up late!"

        "I don't know," Nina frowned, "They were arguing about something."

        Christina looked at her cousin standing before her in her long cotton night gown and worried expression. Hugging Nina, Christina consoled, "It's okay, Nina. I think I know what they were fighting about. It's going to be okay."

        "Let's go," said Nina.

        As Christina stepped quietly down the hallway behind Nina, she felt the cool air caress her long bare legs and the base of her pantied bottom that just barely peeked out from underneath the short nightshirt.

        Andrei didn't even budge when the two girls entered his room.

        Walking up beside her older cousin, Christina placed her hand on his shoulder and asked, "How much time did we lose tonight?"

        "More than I would have liked." he responded. He looked over his shoulder at her and assured, "I don't think we're in trouble yet." Andrei saw what his cousin was wearing and did an involuntary double-take.

        Noticing Andrei's response, Christina smiled a little. She wasn't at all attracted to Andrei, and she certainly did not enjoy his crush on her, but it was reassuring that she could still turn his head, even with Steph's competition. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Christina asked.

        "Not right now," Andrei said, focusing on the interplay of the mainspring with the weights.

        Christina nodded and joined Nina on Andrei's bed. She surveyed Andrei's room and was shocked to see that it had not yet reverted to its formerly disheveled state. The only mess she found was a pile of scrap paper on Andrei's nightstand. She examined the pages and found fevered drawings of gears and spokes and parts. Had Andrei bothered to sleep? She was beginning to understand how he could spend all his time in the barn.

        Noticing the goose bumps on her cousin's slender legs, Nina pulled Andrei's blankets over herself and Christina

        The girls snuggled tightly together in Andrei's bed while he worked tirelessly on the clock. Christina held Nina against her chest, something both girls found comforting.

 

        Andrei was still hard at work when the first rays of sunlight invaded through the window blinds.

        Christina, the first to wake up, surveyed Andrei's work then gave Nina a gentle nudge.

        The younger girl wiped her eyes and looked at Andrei's alarm clock. Hopping out of bed, Nina yawned, "We have to get Dad's clock downstairs."

        Christina said, "Why don't you take it, Nina?"

        Nina took the clock under her arm and hurried downstairs.

        "You look so tired," Christina said as she pulled back the covers of Andrei's bed.

        "I'm fine," Andrei said as he gritted his teeth in a feeble attempt to capture his long yawn. Without bothering to change his clothes, he climbed into bed next to his cousin. As soon as his head hit the pillow, his eyes shut.

        Brushing Andrei's short brown hair with her fingers, Christina whispered, "Thank you, Andrei, for everything."

        Andrei gave a small nod in response.

        "We're not going to make it, are we." Christina stated.

        "Maybe we will."

        Christina continued stroking his head gently and whispered, "Be honest."

        Andrei cracked his eyes and said, "No."

        Christina nodded, though she didn't look very upset. "Get some sleep Andrei. I don't want you to kill yourself."

        "I'm not going to let you down," Andrei yawned, half asleep.

        "You didn't," she whispered.

        Pulling up the covers on her side of the bed, Christina slid out as gently as she could as to not disturb her exhausted cousin. She pulled her nightshirt back down around her bottom and tiptoed out of her Andrei's bedroom. Christina ran into a tired Nina coming up the stairs.

        "Okay," Nina said, "It's back on the wall. Nobody saw me. I think we should get some sleep, and maybe we can get to work earlier, tonight."

        "Nina," Christina began slowly, "I don't think we're going to work on the clock tonight."

        Nina stared at her cousin, trying to make sense of what she had just said. "What are you saying? We've got to finish it."

        "That's just it," Christina explained, "We don't have time. One more night is just not long enough."

        "But it's Christmas Eve!" she insisted. "We have to try at least!"

        "Nina ... Andrei's exhausted. We've worn him out. And even if he was wide awake, there just aren't enough hours."

        Nina frowned and remarked, "Well that's just stupid!" folding her hands and grimacing stubbornly. She held that pose for a moment, then her face changed. She was pondering something, but just what it was, wasn't betrayed by her eyes. "Okay," she started logically, "So what we really need is more hours. Let's go get them." She turned around and walked determinedly back down the stairs.

        Christina stepped after her, calling, "What do you mean, get more hours?"

        Nina didn't answer. She continued down the stairs and into the kitchen as though she couldn't hear her cousin.

        Christina stopped short at the kitchen doorway and peeked in to see if her uncle was there. She saw a used plate on the table and decided that he must have already left for work.

        "Mom!" Nina called insistently to her mother. "You have to see something."

        "In a moment dear," Misha said from behind her stack of pans and dishes soaking in the kitchen sink.

        "No Nina, don't-" Christina stammered.

        Nina shouted, "Mom, you have to come right now!"

        Misha put down the plate she was scrubbing and turned around to face her daughter. "Just what is so important that you need to yell?" she asked incredulously.

        "Just come on!" Nina commanded as she stormed into the living room.

        Misha entered the living room, still wearing her apron, just as Nina removed the antique clock from the wall. "Nina!" Misha gasped, "What are you doing? You should not do that!" Misha held her hands in front of her as though she were about to snatch the clock from her daughter's hands from the other side of the room.

        Nina hoisted the clock up under her thin arm and insisted, "Just come with me, and look for yourself," she said as she defiantly took the clock back upstairs.

        Misha lifted up the skirt of her house dress and scampered up the stairs after her daughter as she warned, "Be careful with that!"

        Nina burst open the door to Andrei's room, causing Andrei to jump up in his bed in startled annoyance. She stormed over to the table and placed the clock down amongst the loose gears and partially assembled mechanism.

        Following close behind, Misha gasped when she saw the dissected clock. "What have you done!" she exclaimed.

        "We're fixing Dad's clock," Nina explained calmly. "Christina brought the parts from her father's clock, and Andrei is putting them in Dad's."

        Wondering what had come over Nina, Andrei shot Christina a half-shocked, half-exhausted glance.

        Christina shrugged in response.

        Misha's surprised expression melted into curiosity as she surveyed her son's progress.

        "It's Christina's Christmas present for Dad," Nina added. "We've been working on it at night."

        Misha reached her hand out to the assembled mechanism, but did not dare touch it. "This is what you have been up to," she said in astonished realization.

        "You knew?" Nina asked.

        "No, I did not know, but I am not blind, Nina. I knew the three of you were up to something."

        "There's isn't enough time to finish tonight. We need to work on it all day .... so ... we need you to keep our secret, okay?"

        "Can this be done, Andrei?" Misha asked her half-asleep son.

        "No," Andrei yawned, "But ask me again in a few hours." He pulled his covers over his head and went to sleep.

        "Alright, Nina," Misha said wearily, "But you must not do any damage."

        "Andrei can do it, Aunt Misha," Christina assured. "I know he can."

        "Nina," Misha said, looking at Christina rather than her daughter, "Get ready for the day. I need your help downstairs."

        Nina rushed out the bedroom door and into the bathroom.

        Misha walked over to the table and picked up one of the loose gears and held it in her hand. She asked, "This is all that is left of your father's clock, is it not?"

        Christina answered, "Yes."

        "Are you sure you want to give this away Tina? You are not doing this because Alek is cross with you?"

        "No," Christina said, shaking her head, "I decided before I came home."

        "Then why, dear?"

        "I just wanted to give him something that would let him know how much ..." Christina bit her lower lip and tried to put her feelings into words. "Uncle Alek is very important to me."

        Misha put down the gear, went over to Christina, and held her hand. "Alright dear," she smiled. "Get some rest. You look very tired."

        "Okay."

        Christina left the room, and Misha walked back to the table. Running her hands over the face of the clock, she wondered, just for a moment, if her son actually could repair such a complex thing. She didn't think it was possible, but she was so proud of her children for trying.

 

        Misha woke Christina up at eleven forty-five in the morning. She told Christina to wear something nice, as she was expected to join the family for Christmas Eve dinner.

        Christina did not want to go, but she was not going to argue with her aunt.

        It took her an hour to shower, dress, and complete her hair and make up. She wore a simple polka-dotted navy dress with short sleeves. It wasn't overly dressy, but it wasn't something she was likely to wear to church. As Christina appraised herself in the mirror, she wondered why she even went through the trouble of getting dressed up. Usually she dressed well to please her uncle, but she certainly didn't want to be noticed tonight. Taking her necklace off her nightstand, Christina clasped it around her neck and gave the gear a squeeze before letting it drop.

        Ready for the day, Christina went across the hallway into Andrei's bedroom. As expected, her older cousin was hunched over his makeshift workbench, trying to complete his task. "Hey," Christina called from behind him, "Level with me- where do we stand?"

        Andrei put down his tiny screwdriver and pliers and answered, "It's going to be tight, but I think we're might just make it. Assuming anything I'm doing makes sense, that is..."

        "Great," Christina beamed, "You know, Nina is smarter than the both of us put together."

        "Yes, it is a surprise to all of us." he joked, as he resumed his work.

        Sitting on the edge of Andrei's bed, Christina crossed her legs and imagined tomorrow morning in her mind. She could hear the clock chime, and see the look of astonished joy on her uncle's face. Wrapping her arms around herself, she pictured him holding her. Christina spent the entire afternoon in Andrei's bedroom. When she wasn't fantasizing about tomorrow morning, she passed the time fetching Andrei drinks, and watching him work.

        Andrei worked right up until the moment his father pulled into the driveway. Christina had the clock back on the wall well before her Alek had entered the house. With her aunt now a member of the conspiracy, she was not afraid of being caught with her uncle's clock. She was, however, afraid of eating in her uncle's presence. His cruel words from the previous morning still stung.

        Christina again spent dinner avoiding her uncle's eyes, though she was sure that they were upon her the entire time. Andrei and Nina, much to their mother's annoyance, ate quickly so that they could return to the work upstairs. Misha, however, studied her husband throughout the meal, looking for any indication that he'd come to his senses. It wasn't exactly the sort of Christmas Eve that Misha had hoped for.

        Misha, now a full-fledged conspirator, cleverly coaxed her husband to bed earlier than normal, affording Andrei an early start on the clock that night. Christina and Nina sat around Andrei's bedroom, watching him work for the third night. This was the final attempt; either the clock would be restored, or Christina would have nothing to give to her uncle. Andrei again worked late into the night. Unlike previous nights, the girls did not even bother to change into their bedclothes. They hovered over Andrei, still in their dresses from the previous day. Andrei was now beyond assembling the device; he'd moved on to installing the reconstituted mechanism to the body of the clock.

        "It is past four! Are you still not finished?" came Misha's tired voice from the doorway.

        "Come in, Mom!" Nina whispered.

        Misha hurried over to her son's side to examine his work. An astonished look crossed her face when she saw his progress. She had not thought Andrei was capable of repairing the clock, but the evidence in front of her was irrefutable. She was invigorated, as were her girls, in that Andrei appeared to be on track to complete the clock by morning. She squeezed in between Nina and Christina on the edge of Andrei's bed and watched him work.

        The time was slipping away. Four o'clock blurred into four-thirty, and then into five. Christina had taken to biting her fingernails and was sharply admonished by her aunt. With no other outlet for her nervous energy, Christina began pacing the length of her cousin's bedroom. When that was no longer enough, she took out her necklace and squeezed it tightly in her hand until the teeth of the tiny gear ate into her palm.

        Andrei put down his tools. There was nothing more than a few metal scraps and rods left on the table. Christina took notice and halted her pacing. The teeth of the gear still dug into her hand. Andrei stared at the clock but he did not speak. He studied it for several minutes with the same incisive stare that he displayed the first night. Misha watched her son with barely contained anticipation that quickly turned into frustration. She exploded, "Is it done Andrei?"

        Andrei sat up straight and let out a long, slow exhale. It was as though he'd been holding his breath all night. "No," he said decisively.

        "What do you mean, 'no?'" Nina bursted.

        With a grim look on his face, he slowly stood and faced his Mother and sister. He then turned to Christina and said, "I'm missing something."

        "What's missing?" Nina shouted, forgetting the lateness of the hour.

        Andrei went over to his cousin and took her hand in his. He opened Christina's palm, slowly displaying the gear on her necklace. "I'm missing this," he said.

        A scared look seized Christina's face. "I didn't think you would need this too," she forced through the lump in her throat.

        "I know," Andrei said as he looked compassionately into her eyes. "I tried my best to work around it."

        Misha stood up and rushed between them and yanked Christina's hand from her son's. "This is finished," she commanded. "Andrei, you have done very well, and I am proud of you." She looked around at her children and said, "I am proud of all of you, but we are finished."

        "No we're not," Christina whispered.

        Misha watched as Christina slowly unclasped the necklace from around her long, slender neck and held it out.

        "Tina," Misha implored, "Do not do this."

        Christina's bottom lip quivered slightly, and she whispered, "It's okay."

        Andrei looked at his mother cautiously, then reached out for the necklace. Scooping it up from Christina's hand, he returned to the desk and continued working.

        Misha went to hug her niece, but Christina backed away and folded her arms tightly. Taking the hint, Misha returned to her seat on the bed next to Nina.

        Andrei worked for another twenty minutes as his mother and sister watched on. Standing by herself in the middle of the room, Christina stared at the floor. She felt completely naked without her necklace hanging around her neck.

        Again putting down his tools, Andrei stood up and cradled the clock in his arm so it was perpendicular to the floor. He pulled the chains at the bottom and adjusted the weights. All eyes were on him as he slowly opened the door and swung the pendulum. He drew his hand away slowly, and the pendulum continued to swing on its own power. Andrei smiled broadly, and Nina and Misha jumped up and hugged each other. They used every ounce of their restraint not to cry out in triumph.

        Misha grabbed her son and hugged him tightly. "You did it, Andrei!" she gushed. As she held her son, Misha looked over her Andrei's shoulder and saw the forced smile on her niece's face. Misha announced, "Alright, children, the sun will be up soon, and there is no time to rejoice."

        She took the clock from Andrei's hands and gave it to Nina. "Take that downstairs Nina, then off to bed," she commanded.

        "You," she said, as she pointed a finger at Andrei, "Get into bed this very instant."

        Andrei did not need to be told twice. For the third consecutive night, he collapsed onto his bed with his clothes still on.

        Misha went to Christina, who was nervously scratching at her scalp. Taking Christina by the hand, Misha led her niece to her bedroom and closed the door behind them. Christina sat down on her bed, and Misha sat beside her.

        "It's just a stupid piece of metal," Christina mumbled. She had put up a good front in the presence of her cousins, but now, alone with her aunt, she couldn't hold back anymore. She began to breathe erratically and burst into tears. Her sobs were so powerful that they shook her entire body.

        Misha guided Christina down so that the girl was laying on her side with her head resting in Misha's lap. Misha gently stroked her niece's hair, but she knew there was nothing she could do to console her.

 

        Christina lay in bed, wide awake. Misha had stayed with her until she couldn't cry anymore. After her aunt left, Christina didn't get much sleep.

        Christina heard a loud knocking on her door. Pulling the pillow off her face, she sat up in bed and saw Nina standing in her doorway.

        Thin strips of light from the window blinds crisscrossed the girl's feet as she walked Into the room and leaned against the foot of Christina's bed. Nina was standing in yellow cotton pajamas and grinning from ear to ear. "Come on!," she exclaimed, "It's time to open the presents!"

        Christina pulled back the covers and stepped onto the cold hardwood floor. She looked at her self in her full length mirror. She adjusted her satin pajamas and took stock of herself.

        "I'm a mess," she complained.

        "No you're not!" Nina giggled.

        Christina whined, "I need to take a shower and fix my hair."

        Grabbing Christina's hand, Nina dragged her cousin to the door over her protests.

        "Okay!" Christina laughed. "I have to brush my teeth at least!"

        Nina waited impatiently as Christina scrubbed her teeth. Christina almost spat out the toothpaste laughing at her cousin. Nina looked as though she would burst at any moment from frustration. Once Christina was finished, Nina resumed rushing her down the stairs.

        Alek, Misha, and Andrei were already waiting in the living room. The Christmas tree was lit up with the lights and decorations that Christina and Nina had arranged, and the entire room had been accented with fresh pine wreaths. A garland hung over the front door, crowned with a fresh clipping of mistletoe. It was the perfect vision of a family Christmas.

        Christina had trouble meeting her uncle's eye as she descended the stairs. He and Misha were sitting closely together on the couch.

        Resting in an armchair next to Boris, Andrei looked insanely tired as he struggled to remain conscious.

        Christina and Nina took their places on the floor in front of the smoldering fireplace.

        "What are we waiting for?" Misha beamed. She pointed towards two gifts; one addressed to Nina, and one for Christina. The girls took the brightly wrapped boxes and opened them. Each contained a pair of handmade bunny slippers. Nina's bunnies had perky upright ears while Christina's had droopy lop ears. Both of the girls were delighted.

        "Mom, these are perfect!" Nina cried.

        Christina slipped her pair on over her cold bare feet and said, "Wow, these are so fuzzy!"

        "That's because they are made from real bunnies," said Andrei seriously.

        Both the girls looked at Andrei in shock as he broke out into laughter.

        "Andrei!" Misha admonished. "They are not made from bunnies!"

        "How did you make them, Aunt Misha?" Christina asked.

        "Oh, it's not hard, child."

        Christina begged, "You have to show me how."

        "Don't you know how to sew dear?"

        Christina shook her head.

        "I will teach you later," Misha promised.

        Christina grabbed a long box and handed it to Nina. "This is for you," she announced.

        Nina ripped open the wrapping paper and pulled out two pairs of jeans. The girl's face lit up.

        Christina said, "I thought it was about time you had a pair of jeans, Nina."

        "I love them," Nina smiled. "We have to try them on later." Nina pulled a small gift out of the pile and handed it to her cousin.

        Christina carefully removed the wrapping paper and opened the box. She pulled out a light pink sleep mask that was crowned with a small bow.

        "What made you think of this?" Christina giggled as she pulled the sleep mask over her forehead.

        "You sleep with a pillow over your head every night!"

        "Yeah, I guess I do."

        The family exchanged a few more gifts as Boris sat in the corner chewing on the end of the massive bone Christina had bought for him.

        Christina could hardly wait to give out the rest of her presents. Unable to contain herself, she pulled a large box out from under the tree and placed it in Andrei's lap. She slid next to him and gushed, "I hope you like it."

        Andrei shook the box, feeling its heft. Opening the large gift, he pulled out the cordless drill and gasped at it in awe. "I can really use one of these," he said as he woke up. He looked at the drill for a moment then put it back in the box. "This is too expensive," he complained. "I can't accept it especially when-" Christina's nervous grimace made Andrei hold his tongue. He almost let out the secret that Christina had lost her job in front of his parents. "It's too expensive," he repeated firmly.

        Christina insisted, "You have to take it, and I won't take no for an answer." Leaning over her older cousin's lap, Christina grabbed at a medium sized gift with her name on it. "Is this for me, Andrei?" she grinned.

        Wincing, Andrei said, "Don't open that right now."

        "Why not?" Christina asked in disappointment.

        "Um ... it's not ... I ... I want to get you something else."

        "It doesn't matter what it is, Andrei. I will love it, I'm sure."

        "No don't," he insisted. "Your gift was too expensive... I should get something better."

        "Don't be silly," Christina dismissed as she greedily ripped off the wrapping paper in spite of Andrei's pained look. She uncovered an intricately carved wooden jewelry box. Christina bit her lower lip as she examined it. There was a single large, velvet lined, compartment with two short sliding drawers underneath. Christina instinctively touched her chest with her palm and was reminded of the void around her neck.

        "I'm sorry," Andrei whispered. "I can make you something else."

        "I told you I would love anything you made for me, and I love this," she insisted sadly. Christina continued examining the box and asked, "You spent a lot of time on this, didn't you?"

        Andrei gave her a playful punch on the shoulder and joked, "Did you think I forgot about you?"

        Christina smiled and said, "I'd have to be crazy to think that, wouldn't I?" Sitting on the arm of Andrei's chair, Christina gave Andrei a hug as she whispered, "Thank you."

        Andrei gave Christina a squeeze then went searching in the pile of gifts. He handed Christina a long box which was addressed to her from her uncle.

        Christina opened it, revealing a large striped sweater. She held it up over her chest and noticed that it had long cuffs that covered the tops of her hands. Turning to her uncle, Christina beamed, "Thank you Uncle Alek! It's perfect!"

        Alek muttered, "Your aunt picked it out."

        Christina let the sweater drop and frowned. It wasn't open hostility, but it wasn't the sort of loving response she craved from her uncle. Folding the sweater, Christina stuffed it back into the box. She added it to the stack with Nina's jeans so she could wear when the girls would try on their presents.

        Retrieving the last present from underneath the tree, Christina took it over to her Misha. Christina sat on the floor at her aunt's feet and said, "I tried really hard to find you the perfect gift. I hope you like it."

        Stroking Christina's hair, Misha assured her niece, "You do not have to get me anything Tina. It is enough that you are here with us." Misha opened the gift deliberately, in an attempt to salvage the shiny silver wrapping paper. Once she securely removed the wrappings, she removed a leather tome from its box and placed it on her lap. Opening the book, Misha slowly flipped through the pages. "Tina," she whispered. "Did you write all of this yourself?"

        "Yes," Christina grinned. "It's absolutely every recipe you've ever taught me. You've taught me so much; I just wanted you to know how grateful I am."

        Misha was overcome with emotion. "This must have taken days, child."

        Nina jumped up and looked over her mother's shoulder at the book. "Wow!" she exclaimed.

        "Do you like it?" Christina asked.

        Standing up and handing the book to Nina, Misha said, "Yes Tina, of course! It is wonderful." She helped Christina to her feet and held her tightly.

        Alek surveyed the empty space under the tree and announced. "Ah! That is all. Finally time for breakfast!"

        "No Alek," Misha smiled. "There is one more gift. Christina has something for you."

        "Fine," he inhaled testily. "Where is this gift then?"

        Christina looked at her aunt who returned her glance with a nod. Stepping carefully through the piles of wrapping paper and gift boxes, Christina made her way to the far wall. She adjusted the weights of the clock, and opened the glass door.

        Alek stood up and looked at Christina with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

        Pulling the pendulum to one side with her slender fingers, Christina let it drop.

        Alek's watched in awe as the pendulum swung and the clock ticked to life.

        After closing the door, Christina positioned the clock at twelve o' clock.

        The entire family listened as the clock chimed twelve times. Bouncing off the floor, the walls, and the ceiling, the chime could be heard in every corner of the living room. It was a sound that Andrei and Nina had never heard before. It was a sound that was hauntingly familiar to Christina. She could remember a time when she was so small that her father's old clock appeared gargantuan on the walls of her home.

        Alek walked slowly to the clock. He opened the door and looked into the case in astonishment. "How?" was all he could manage to utter.

        Christina held her hands behind her back and stared at her feet. She said, "We used the parts from my father's clock."

        "But how is it even possible?" he continued.

        "Andrei put it together, Uncle Alek," she explained. "He just has a way with things; he's gifted."

        "Andrei?" he asked dumbfounded.

        "It's true," Misha confirmed. "I saw him with my own eyes."

        Andrei stood up and scratched the back of his head.

        Pushing past the litter on the floor to meet his son, Alek asked, "Is this true? Did you really do this Andrei?"

        "Yeah," Andrei shrugged.

        Alek slapped his son on the back and erupted, "Ha!" He took a moment and looked at his son with pride, something he had not shown his son in a long time. "They are right, you are a genius!"

        Andrei grinned uneasily, unaccustomed to such lavish praise from his father.

        "Andrei," Alek said, "I have been all wrong about you. If you can fix this clock, then perhaps you have a real future as a craftsman."

        Unable to believe what his father was saying, Andrei asked, "You think so?"

        Alek hung his large arm around his son's shoulders and walked with him into the kitchen. "Indeed I do, Andrei. You must show me what you are working on in the barn ..." Alek trailed off as he and his son disappeared into the other room.

        Christina stood alone next to the clock. Feeling a tear coming on, she pretended to scratch the side of her nose and went to stand in front of the window.

        "Tina-" Misha started.

        "No," Christina sulked. "It's fine. Andrei really did all the work. And he is a genius. It's about time Uncle Alek realized that." Christina didn't say another word as she just stared outside into the blanket of white.

        Nina went to Christina and stood beside her. She leaned against her Christina, who wrapped her slender arm around her. They stood together, watching the snow blow around in the wind.

        Respecting Christina's desire to be left alone, Misha frowned and began cleaning up the living room.

        "Hey, what's that?" Nina asked.

        Christina responded, "What's what?"

        "There's a box on the front porch."

        The girls went to the front door and opened it. A cold burst of air hit Misha, who was picking up scraps of wrapping paper. Boris ran to the front door, scattering bows and paper across the floor.

        Misha squawked, "What are you two doing?"

        "There's something on the porch Mom!" Nina called.

        Christina was grateful for the warmth provided by her new bunny slippers and she leaned forward and pulled the box out of the snow.

        "What is it Tina?" Misha asked.

        Christina closed the door and held the box out for all to see.

        Nina guessed, "It's probably a gift from Richard."

        "Don't even say that!" Christina barked. She brushed the snow off the top and read aloud, "Merry Christmas, Nina? Nina, who do you know who would leave a gift on your doorstep?"

        "Is it from David?" she asked.

        "It does not say who it is from," Misha observed.

        Christina handed the box to Nina and said, "Well, I guess you'd better open it."

        Nina opened the flaps of the box and saw that it was filled with Christmas gift bows. Reaching in, she pulled out a large, plush reindeer.

        "I don't see a card ..." Christina said with a sly grin.

        "It can't be from David," Nina guessed as she examined the reindeer, "I'm seeing him tomorrow."

        Christina shrugged, saying, "I guess someone has a secret admirer," in mock surprise. The idea that Nina might get involved with someone other than David was the first piece of good news Christina had received all week.

        "We can discuss who Nina's admirer is later," Misha interrupted. "Now we must start cooking for tonight."

        Christina nodded. Christmas dinner was an important meal and she still felt guilty that she hadn't helped with Thanksgiving.

        Nina and Christina went upstairs to shower and dress for the day, then returned to the kitchen. The women of the house kicked Andrei and Alek out of the kitchen and went to work.

        Andrei shot Christina an apologetic glance on the way out.

        Christina was devastated by her uncle's reaction to her gift, but she didn't blame Andrei. Her best defense at the moment was to throw herself into her work. She knew if she stopped for a even a moment, she would cry.

        Before leaving for Steph's parent's house, Andrei came back into the kitchen to apologize to Christina.

        Unwilling to talk about the situation, Christina shooed her older cousin away, claiming there was nothing to talk about.

        Working in the kitchen with Nina and Misha proved to be an excellent distraction. Christina knew that this was the last time that she and the other Levchenko women would prepare a large meal together, and she wasn't going to let her heartbreak with her uncle get in the way.

        Christmas dinner wasn't as awkward as the previous night's. It was, however, a very quiet meal. Usually the family would be boisterously engaged in conversation, but not tonight. Nina and Misha knew of the sacrifice that Christina had made for her uncle, and they were both filled with disappointment. Misha was especially worried; she could feel Christina slipping away. She had been so certain that Christina's gift would mend the rift between her husband and her niece, but it was not to be.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

Abby shrugged and continued, "Not a word of that, but they did say you two made quite the couple on the dance floor."

"Yeah," Christina admitted with a sneer, "There might have been some dancing."

"If Richard took you to the Clairmont, then he must have you in his sights."

"Is that his thing?" Christina asked.

Abby leaned in and warned, "That Richard Masters is one smooth talker. I swear he has dated more girls than a crocodile has teeth!"

"You don't say."

"Just watch your back, Sugar. He's not one for settling down."

"Oh I will," Christina assured. "I've seen him in action. I'm sure he has all the girls eating out of his hand. But I'm not all the girls. I'm not... even one girl."

Being Christina Chase
Chapter 27 - The I in Team
by Admiral Krunch
 

        With Nina out with David, and Andrei still visiting with Steph's family, Monday was a very slow day for Christina. Though she did not mention it to her aunt, Christina had already packed all of her things. Her dreams of a perfect Christmas now ruined, she'd decided that there was no point in staying. When Christina had awoken that morning, she'd completely emptied her closet and every drawer, and hid the packed suitcases under her bed.

        When she left the room, she was wearing the sweater she'd received from her uncle in the hope that it would elicit some sort of positive response from him. Though Alek had ceased being openly hostile towards Christina, he'd settled into a sort of awkward tolerance. Not only did Christina wish she'd not interfered in her uncle's affairs, she wished she had never even found out about them.

        Once Christina had finished her daily chores with Misha, she sneaked upstairs and into Nina's bedroom. She could hear the sounds of her aunt and uncle arguing on the first floor. It was much louder and more ferocious than she'd ever heard before. Though she couldn't quite make out what it was they were saying, she was certain it was related to their problems with the I.R.S. Part of her wanted to go downstairs and do something to make it stop, but she was afraid of another confrontation with Alek.

        Sitting in the chair in front of Nina's mirror, Christina remembered the first time she'd showed Nina her necklace. It was just another reminder of what she'd lost. Now she was going to lose her family again. Not that it mattered, she thought. Her uncle despised her now.

        Picking up the phone on Nina's desk, Christina dialed the bus station in Dover and waded through the automated voice menus until she was connected with a real person.

        "Can I help you?" came the voice of the attendant.

        "Yeah, I have a ticket for New Year's Day." She gave the man her name. "Is there any way I can trade it in for something this week?"

        "Certainly," the man said, "Where are you going?"

        "Back to the City."

        "And how soon did you want to leave?"

        "As soon as possible."

        "I have a bus leaving tomorrow at three in the afternoon," the man said. "Does that work for you?"

        "Yeah, that's fine."

        "Okay then, little lady, you just bring in your ticket tomorrow and we can exchange it."

        "Perfect. Three o'clock. I'll be there. Thanks."

        "Thank you. You have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" he chirped.

        "Yeah ... thanks." Christina said to herself as she hung up the phone and turned to sneak back out of Nina's room. When she faced the door, she saw Nina standing in the doorway. The girl was wearing one of her new pairs of jeans, and she looked absolutely devastated. Tears rolled down Nina's cheeks, and her gaze seemed to pierce through Christina's eyes and clear into the wall behind her.

        "You're leaving?" she moaned. "I thought you were going to come with us to the New Year's dance ..."

        "Nina ... I ..."

        "No!" she said as her body heaved with sobs, "It's just perfect!" She stormed into the room and threw herself onto her bed.

        Christina rushed to her cousin and sat beside her. Putting her hand on Nina's shoulder, she promised, "Nina, it's okay, I'm just leaving a little earlier than I planned ..."

        "No, it's NOT okay!" Nina cried. "You were supposed to stay all week. And I don't even know when you're coming back!"

        "I know Nina, but-"

        "And Mom and Dad are fighting," she wept. "I've never heard them fight like that before."

        "Nina," Christina tried to explain calmly, "That has nothing to do with you." She bit her lower lip and lied, "It's going to be okay."

        Nina sat up on the bed and wiped her tears. "And David's going to dump me," she pouted.

        "What?" Christina asked in shock. "Why would you say that?"

        "Because ... he says everyone else in school has had sex already and I'm just wasting his time."

        "He said that?" Christina shouted. "That little prick!"

        Nina's head cocked back, unaccustomed to hearing her older cousin curse.

        "If he's laid a hand on you," Christina snarled, "I swear to God I will-"

        "We didn't do anything!" Nina interjected. "That's the problem."

        Christina stood up and paced the floor between Nina's bed and the window. "He made you touch his ... his ..." She clenched her fists but she would not allow herself to say the word.

        "Penis," Nina squeaked.

        "Doodle!" Christina begged.

        "Oh yeah, I forgot. Doodle." Nina watched Christina pace angrily and offered, "He didn't make me do that. But I don't think I want to have sex yet."

         Christina ordered, "You're not going to!"

        "I know. But I don't want him to dump me, either. I think maybe I love him."

        Returning to Nina's side, Christina held the girl tightly. "Nina," she explained, "You'll know when you're really in love with someone. You'll feel excited when you're just around them. And when they're not around, you'll wish they were there. It's just something you can feel. If you think that you MAYBE love David, then it probably isn't real love. And most of all, someone who loves you back, for real... they won't pressure you to do anything you don't want to do, or be someone you're not."

        Nina stopped crying, but she still frowned. "It's like everything is falling apart all at once," she whimpered. "I just want to hide in bed and never get back out."

        Christina gave Nina a long squeeze and said, "I know exactly how you feel. But you can't give up just because things don't go the way you want. When things are bad, you have to work at them to make them better."

        "Then why are you leaving?" Nina asked innocently.

        "Uh ..." Christina blushed, "That's different."

        "How is it different?"

        "Yeah? How is what different?" Andrei asked from the hallway. He was still wearing his winter jacket which was coated by a layer of melting powder.

        "Christina's leaving tomorrow," Nina frowned.

        Andrei stepped into his sister's room and draped his enormous coat over his sister's chair. The coat was so large that the bottom of it touched the ground. "Is that true?" he asked Christina.

        "Kinda?" she winced in response.

        "Because of Dad," Andrei concluded. "What is going on with you two?"

        Christina turned her head away, refusing to answer.

        Andrei looked at Nina and asked, "And this is why you're upset?"

        "Yes. And Mom and Dad fighting. And other stuff too."

        "Mom and Dad are a mystery. I haven't seen them fight like this since the time Nastya told them she was going to college. You don't have any idea what it is, do you?"

        Nina gave a defeated shrug.

        Andrei looked at Christina who refused to return his gaze. Andrei's brow wrinkled, and he asked his cousin, "You don't know anything about what's going on?"

        "I really can't say anything," Christina mumbled.

        "So you know a lot more than you're saying," Andrei prodded. "And that wouldn't have anything to do with you leaving early ..."

        Christina did her best to blend into the wallpaper.

        "Or why Dad's been angry at you ..."

        Nina sat up in bed and peered at Christina with the same curious stare that Andrei had.

        Christina whispered, "It's just going to make things worse if I ... I'll get you in trouble too."

        "Hey," Andrei said in attempt to get Christina to look at him. "Hey," he repeated more forcefully.

        Christina looked towards her older cousin, but she could not meet his eyes.

        "Don't you remember staying up the past three nights? You, me, and Nina- we're a team. So out with it."

        "Yeah, what's going on?" Nina echoed.

        Christina looked back and forth between her cousins and decided they had a right to know the truth. "I know why your parents are fighting. When I was home for Thanksgiving I found ..." Christina paused and corrected herself, "I stole a letter out of the trash. Your parents were fighting, and I wanted to know why."

        "What was it?" Nina asked.

        Christina looked up at Nina's open door and motioned with her head for Andrei to close it. He quickly closed the door and returned to his seat. "It was from the I.R.S.," she continued, "I don't exactly understand everything it said, but as near as I can tell they think Uncle Alek owes them a lot of money."

        Andrei pressed, "How much money is 'a lot' of money?"

        "A whole lot." Christina answered. "They're talking about taking away the store." Christina looked at Nina, who looked very frightened. She wasn't sure she should continue, but she was tired of keeping so many secrets. "Maybe the house, too," Christina added as she held Nina's hand.

        Andrei's eyes went wide. Standing up from the chair, he paced angrily. "You knew this," he growled, "Since Thanksgiving?"

        "Yes."

        "And when exactly were you going to share this with us?" Andrei asked, his anger churning in his gut.

        "I didn't want either of you to worry."

        "Well," Andrei shouted, "How is that plan working out?"

        "Not so good." Christina flinched. "I went to your father as soon as I got back home to see if ... I dunno ... to see if I could help somehow."

        Andrei waited for Christina to continue and when he realized she wasn't going to, he demanded, "What did he say?"

        Christina started to cry, both from the recollection of her uncle's harsh words and Andrei's interrogation. "He yelled at me," she sniffled.

        "Stop it, Andrei!" Nina yelled. "Calm down and let her finish."

        Realizing how he was acting, Andrei stopped pacing and said, "I ... didn't mean to yell."

        Trying to compose herself, Christina wiped her face and continued, "He said I wasn't a part of this family. And that it was none of my business. And he said ..." She heaved a deep breath and finished, "He said that I didn't belong here."

        "He couldn't have-"

        "He didn't say those words exactly, but I know that's what he meant," Christina said, cutting Andrei off.

        Andrei waited for her Christina to look at him and said, "You know ... none of that is true."

        Christina shrugged as though it wasn't an important matter.

        Andrei added, "And I'm sorry I yelled at you."

        "So what are we going to do?" Nina asked, breaking the silence.

        "Don't look at me-" Andrei shrugged, "I'm not the idea guy." Both Andrei and Nina looked at their cousin.

        "You said you told Dad you wanted to help," Nina said to Christina. "What were you going to do?"

        "Um ..." Christina stumbled. "I was just going to say we should talk to an accountant or something ... Somebody who'd have some idea what was even going on. Aunt Misha said your father is too proud to ask for any help."

        Andrei pondered aloud, "I'm not sure we even have an accountant in town."

        "We have to know someone!" Nina exclaimed. "If not an accountant ... maybe ..." Nina's face lit up in revelation. She looked at Christina pointedly and said, "Maybe a lawyer."

        Christina scrunched her face and asked, "You mean Richard?" as though the entire concept was as confusing as nuclear engineering.

        Nina rolled her eyes and sarcastically asked, "How many lawyers are you dating?"

        "One," she answered. Christina's entire face twisted in frustration, and she shouted, "I mean none!" She looked at Nina and fumed, "I don't know if he even does tax law!"

        "I'm sure he would at least give us some advice. Especially if you asked him, that is." said Andrei, rejoining the conversation.

        Christina tried to let go of the tension that was building in her chest and conceded, "I'm sure he would look into it, but we don't have anything to show him. I don't even have that letter anymore."

        Nina said, "We could make copies of all of Dad's information."

        "Your mother wouldn't like that I'm sure," Christina objected. "And besides, do we even know where that stuff is?"

        "It's in a lock-box," Andrei answered. "In their closet."

        "Okay, so it's locked up in your parent's bedroom where we can't get it," Christina summarized snidely.

        "No problem." Nina chirped. "Dad works in the store all day, and I can keep Mom busy."

        "Okay," Christina said, "But it's still locked up."

        "I think I can arrange something for that," Andrei said confidently.

        Christina looked back and forth between her cousins and saw the plan crystallizing in their eyes.

        "After Andrei takes Dad to work tomorrow," Nina began, "I'll get Mom to clean the basement with me. And you and Andrei ..."

        "We'll sneak into Mom and Dad's room," Andrei said, picking up the thread, "And we'll get all the papers. I can take Christina to the library, we can make copies, then I'll drop her off at Richard's and then sneak everything back into the closet. It should take what, an hour? An hour and a half at the most."

        Nina looked back at her cousin and asked, "Are you still leaving tomorrow?"

        Christina shrugged and said, "I guess not."

        "Good," Nina concluded, "Then you're still coming to the New Year's dance."

        Christina opened her mouth to refute that statement, but Andrei cut her off, saying, "Of course she is." Going to the door, Andrei said in a comically polite voice, "If you ladies will excuse me, I have to practice my lock picking."

        After Andrei left, Christina turned to Nina and asked, "I know this is all pretty scary. Are you okay?"

        "Yeah, I think so," she answered. "But you have to promise not to keep any more secrets, okay?" Christina inhaled, but before she spoke, Nina continued, "And you can't just leave."

        "I'm not going to leave," Christina said reassuringly. "We're going to work this out somehow, I promise."

 

        The next morning, Christina stood in her bedroom and looked out the window at the driveway below. After what seemed like an eternity, she saw Andrei and Alek walk out the side door towards the truck. The two men apparently had a newfound camaraderie that filled Christina with jealousy. Though she couldn't hear their conversation, she imagined that her uncle was telling Andrei how impressed he was with him for repairing the clock.

        Christina didn't blame Andrei for the situation. If anything, it made her understand how Andrei felt when she was on the receiving end of Alek's praise. As the truck drove away, Christina wished that she was the one driving Alek to work; that she was perhaps, his favorite. Realizing that not only was Alek angry with her, but that soon she would never see him again, Christina raised her hand to her chest to feel her necklace. The emptiness where her necklace had once been made her heart sink.

        Christina couldn't afford to wallow in her depression. Andrei had just left with her uncle, which meant it was time to put their plan into action. Pushing her thoughts aside, Christina went downstairs and into the kitchen.

        "Don't you look nice today," Misha commented brightly to her niece.

        "Thanks," Christina answered absentmindedly.

        Christina, in fact, did look especially attractive this morning. She was wearing a black and white dress with a tall collar and a very revealing neckline. The skirt of the dress was unseasonably short, stopping at just above the knees. Christina's selection was no accident; the point of the dress was to show off her chest and her long legs. From her high heels to her makeup, she'd taken great pains to cultivate an aura of seduction.

        The realization that she was dolling herself up specifically for a meeting with Richard made her feel a little sick inside. She rationalized everything by reminding herself that her appearance was strictly to manipulate Richard into helping her save her family, and for no other reason.

        Putting on an apron, Christina went to work on the dishes piled in the sink and waited for Nina.

        Nina, as per the plan, came into the kitchen shortly after Christina, and joined her older cousin by drying the dishes that Christina was rapidly cleaning.

        After all the breakfast plates were done and Misha had started sweeping the hallway, Christina and Nina sat at the kitchen table. Nina sat facing the entranceway and watched cautiously for her mother. As soon as Misha came into her field of vision Nina said loudly, "But I haven't played since the fifth grade."

        "That's so weird!" Christina feigned, "I used to play the flute, too. You don't still have your flute, do you Nina?"

        "Um, I guess so, but I don't know where it is." Nina answered with a devious grin.

        Misha walked into the kitchen carrying a dustpan worth of dirt and deposited the load into the trash. "Are you looking for your flute Nina?" Misha asked.

        "Yeah, Mom."

        Putting down the dustpan next to the trash, Misha went to her daughter and pinched her on the cheek, said, "You should not have given it up."

        Rubbing her face, Nina asked, "You don't know where it is do you?"

        "It's in the basement," Misha answered as she returned to her cleaning.

        "Oh, okay," Nina answered. Nina knew exactly where her old flute was. What her mother didn't know, was that she and Christina had taken it from the basement and hidden it under Nina's bed the night before. Nina nodded to Christina, and the girls went downstairs into the basement. The plan was in motion.

        The old basement had low stone walls and exposed boards for a ceiling. Christina had spent a lot of time in the far corner where the washing machine and drier were situated, but the rest of the space was a dark and cluttered mystery.

        Nina waited for a few minutes then called out, "Moooom! I can't find it!"

        Moments later, Misha stepped carefully down the stairs and said, "It's right over here, on the second shelf." Going over to a densely packed rack of Nina's old possessions, Misha grunted testily at the empty space where the flute should have been. Misha had an uncanny ability to remember where most every item was in her house; the missing flute was an affront to her sense of order. "It was right here ..." Misha said as she mentally cataloged all the possible locations for Nina's flute.

        Christina and Nina split up and scoured the crowded basement looking for any hint of the instrument.

        "It's not over here," Christina called from the opposite end of the room.

        Nina threw her hands up in mock frustration and exclaimed. "Forget it! We'd have to clean the whole basement. There's no way we'll ever find it."

        Nina and Christina walked slowly back to the stairs but Misha stopped them. "You know, Nina," Misha said as she stared at the cluttered shelves, "Cleaning the basement is not a bad suggestion."

        Shooting Christina a quick wink, Nina whined, "Oh come on, Mom!"

        "Not another word," Misha admonished. "If you took better care of your things, we would not have to search for them."

        "Oh alright!" Nina moaned.

        Step one had gone off without a hitch. The three of them quickly became entrenched in the massive chore of cleaning the basement. Misha's cleaning obsession was in full swing, and she was soon directing the girls to remove items from the walls a section at a time.

        This went on for about fifteen minutes before Andrei stomped down the stairs in his heavy winter boots. Misha looked disapprovingly at the tiny puddles her son left behind him.

        "Why is everyone down here?" he mumbled.

        "We are cleaning the basement," Misha explained, without taking her mind off the work in front of her. "You can help by moving these boxes," she said, pointing to a stack of heavy crates.

        "Oh good!" Andrei said happily. He rushed into the space under the stairs and started lifting the massive boxes as though the were made of balsa wood.

        "Andrei," Misha asked suspiciously, "Since when have you been excited about cleaning?"

        Andrei shrugged. "I just like cleaning, I guess."

        Misha tilted her head as her right eyebrow crept up her forehead.

        Christina pulled out her best annoyed pout and complained, "I told him we had to go to Abby's after breakfast to go shopping."

        "What for, Tina?"

        "He only has that one suit. He needs something new to wear to the New Year's dance."

        Andrei called back, "No I don't."

        "Andrei," Misha said, "What ARE you going to wear?"

        Andrei put down the massive wooden box in his hands and faced his mother. He looked down at his dirty flannel shirt and tattered jeans and said, "I don't know. What I always wear."

        "Andrei Levchenko!" Misha scolded, "You will not take Stephanie anywhere looking like that! Especially not where the entire town will see!"

        Christina folded her arms and testily muttered, "See? I told you." It was an Oscar-worthy performance.

        "You go with your cousin right now," she commanded.

        "But Mom," he fought.

        "Right now!" she repeated sternly.

        "Okay!" Andrei said defensively, as he dragged himself up the stairs. His acting was not in the same league as his sister's, but it was convincing enough to fool his mother. He stomped into the kitchen with Christina lightly stepping up the stairs in his wake.

        When they reached the kitchen, they nodded to each other and slinked with the seriousness of bank robbers through the house and into the master bedroom. Andrei wasted no time rummaging through the top shelf of the closet. When he exhausted that option, he searched along the closet floor and pulled out a heavy metal box. The old ammunition box was painted green with black letters stenciled on the side. Christina was unable to read the Cyrillic characters though she wondered what they said. Andrei reached into his pocket and pulled out a white trash bag and spread it out on the floor. Placing the box on top of the bag, he examined the heavy padlock.

        "What's the bag for?" Christina whispered.

        "Lock picking," Andrei replied. He reached under his coat and produced a hand-sized hacksaw and started cutting into the lock.

        "This is what you call lock picking?" Christina whispered in shock.

        "Yeah. What did you think I meant?"

        "I dunno ... I thought PICKING THE LOCK maybe! Uncle Alek is going to notice this, don't you think?"

        "It's okay. I have another lock."

        "Yeah," Christina said sarcastically, "But isn't he going to figure things out when his key doesn't work?"

        Andrei stopped sawing and gave his cousin a stern look. "Christina, Dad is going to find out no matter what. What ever we come up with, it'd better be good."

        Christina nodded in resignation as Andrei went back to cutting the lock. Knowing that she was disobeying her uncle, Christina felt a knot bend in her stomach. She knew that stealing his records was a far greater offense than reading some discarded letter. Stealing a letter had resulted in a brutal condemnation; Christina imagined that when Alek found out what she was up to, he'd throw her out of the house for good. With every cut Andrei made into the lock, Christina felt her gut churn. None of it mattered, she told herself. Alek would certainly disown her, but if there were a chance she could save his home, she had to take it. In the end, she could never return anyway. If that was the case, she wondered, why did she feel as though she would throw up at any moment?

        Through the brute force of Andrei's muscles, the lock quickly fell off the box and into the pile of metal shavings that had collected on the trash bag.

        Christina dove into the old ammunition box and scooped every paper that contained a dollar amount or a signature. "Okay," she finally announced, "I think this is everything."

        After putting a new lock on the box, Andre hid it in the back of the closet. He then scooped up the bag of metal shavings, and without a word, he and Christina sneaked back through the house and into the kitchen.

        Christina slipped her long, fur-lined coat over her revealing dress while Andrei deposited the metal shavings into the trash. The evidence disposed of, Andrei and Christina went quietly out the side door and took the truck to the library.

 

        After making copies of each and every single form, letter, and receipt at the library, Andrei and Christina drove into the center of town. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, but the wind was blowing so much snow that it appeared as though it was snowing from the ground upward. Andrei drove the old truck through the middle of town and parked in front of Abby's clothing store, Ariel Rose.

        As he held open Christina's door, Andrei said, "Tell me again why I actually have to buy new clothes?"

        Christina looked at him sternly and answered, "Number one, you really do need a new suit. And number two, now your mother will expect to see it."

        Andrei sighed and followed his cousin into the clothing store.

        As Christina and Andrei walked in the door, the bell attached to the wall jingled.

        Abby, who was folding shirts in a pile in the men's area, stopped what she was doing and went to greet her customers.

        "Well if it isn't Christina Chase!" she remarked. "And Andrei too!" Putting her hand to the side of her mouth, she leaned into Christina and whispered, "I haven't seen Andrei in my store since he was a little boy shopping for a suit for his first communion. Ever since then, his mother had to come without him." Abby threw in one of her half-laugh, half-snorts for good measure.

        Christina smirked back at Andrei, whose cheeks were now aflame, then asked, "Did lil' Andrei make a scene?"

        "Sugar, it was like he was a vampire and that little blue suit was made of garlic!"

        "Oh, really?" Christina laughed.

        Gritting his teeth, Andrei said, "Can't we just get this over with?"

        "It's funny you mention suits," Christina gushed to Abby, "It just so happens that lil' Andrei needs a new suit for the big dance."

        Taking Andrei by the hand, Christina led him to the men's section of the store and started leafing through a rack of formal wear.

        "The dance," Abby asked shrewdly, "Who's Andrei taking?"

        "We don't have to talk about this ..." Andrei muttered.

        "Abby, Abby, Abby!" Christina said with new found glee, "Why Steph, of course!"

        "Stephanie Bonacelli?"

        "Is there any other?" Christina found that being the source of the gossip was infinitely more fun than being the subject. As she held up a suit jacket in front of her cousin, she continued, "Certainly you must have heard! It's quite the passionate affair."

        Andrei did not say a word as Christina held one jacket after another up to his chest.

        Deciding on a jacket she liked, Christina handed the garment and a pair of pants to her cousin and said, "Try these on."

        "You realize, I hate you right now." Andrei grumbled.

        Christina placed her two forefingers on Andrei's cheeks and forced his mouth into a fake smile. "This is the bestest game ever," Christina purred. "I love dressing you up."

        Andrei again went crimson as he took the jacket and pants and retreated to a changing room.

        After Andrei closed the changing room door, Abby asked, "And who's taking you to the dance, Sugar?"

        "Me?" Christina dismissed. "I think I might be leaving town before the dance."

        "That's a shame. I was sure it would be Richard Masters."

        "Richard, huh?" Christina huffed. "So that's the word on the street?"

        "You could say that. A friend of a friend said that you and him were at the Clairmont Inn together."

        "And this friend of a friend didn't see Steph and Andrei?"

        Abby shrugged and continued, "Not a word of that, but they did say you two made quite the couple on the dance floor."

        "Yeah," Christina admitted with a sneer, "There might have been some dancing."

        "If Richard took you to the Clairmont, then he must have you in his sights."

        "Is that his thing?" Christina asked.

        Abby leaned in and warned, "That Richard Masters is one smooth talker. I swear he has dated more girls than a crocodile has teeth!"

        "You don't say."

        "Just watch your back, Sugar. He's not one for settling down."

        "Oh I will," Christina assured. "I've seen him in action. I'm sure he has all the girls eating out of his hand. But I'm not all the girls. I'm not even one girl."

        Just then, Andrei came out of the dressing room in the pants and jacket. His flannel shirt hung out of the top of his pants, and the jacket was bunched slightly in the back, showing the haste with which he'd put it on.

        Christina went to her cousin and straightened out his jacket. She picked up his shirt and examined how the waist of the pants looked on him. Andrei reached out his hand to stop the inspection, but Christina slapped it away. "Behave yourself," she said, as though she was talking to a four-year old. "That looks pretty good," she said as she adjusted the sleeves of the jacket and straightened out Andrei's shoulders. "Okay, change out of this, and I'll give you the next one."

        "That next one?" Andrei balked.

        "Yeah, the next one," Christina insisted as though it was painfully obvious.

        Andrei asked, "This fits, right?"

        "Well, yeah, but-"

        "Perfect. Let's get it." Before Christina could say another word, Andrei stiffly walked back to the changing room and closed the door.

        As Andrei was changing back into his normal clothes, Christina rummaged through a case of packaged button-down dress shirts and took one out.

        Andrei came back out of the dressing room and handed the jacket and pants to Christina.

        Christina took the items and placed them on the front counter by the register along with the shirt.

        Motioning to the shirt, Andrei asked, "Are you sure that's the right size?"

        "Andrei, my dear," Christina said with a wicked smirk, "I wash your underwear. I know your exact sizes for everything."

        "You're enjoying this a little too much," he complained.

        "Oh, this is the best," Christina said, again taking him by the hand, "I think I'm gonna start dressing you every morning."

        "Okay," Andrei insisted, "We're done now."

        Christina led him to a rack of ties and said, "Fine. I'm through getting my jollies, I promise. But, you do need a tie." One after another, Christina draped ties around Andrei's neck and mentally composited them with the suit. Settling on a green tie, Christina said, "Seriously. Andrei, you're going to look great. Steph is gonna love it."

        "Really?"

        Christina smiled at her older cousin and said, "What girl wouldn't love you?"

        Taking the tie back to the counter, Andrei added it to the pile of clothes. He avoided Abby's eyes as he paid for his new suit.

        Christina waved to Abby with her fingers as she and Andrei left the store. Shopping for her older cousin actually had taken her mind off her troubles for a short while, but now it was back to business.

        Andrei tossed the bag containing his new suit into the truck then handed the stack of photocopied paperwork to Christina. "Are you sure you don't want a ride?" Andrei offered.

        "Yes," Christina said. "We're already behind schedule. You need to get everything back into Uncle Alex's box."

        Nodding, Andrei got back into the truck.

        Christina's thin body shivered as she watched Andrei drive out of town. Pulling the wide hood of her coat over her head, she made her way through the shifting snowflakes. She turned down a side street and walked up a slight hill until the center of town was several blocks away. A small, though impressive, house sat among older brick buildings and a few residences. The sign blowing in the wind creaked on old, rusted hinges. It read: Richard Masters, Attorney at Law.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

"Come back tomorrow," he beamed.

Blushing, Christina said, "I think you'd work faster without any distractions."

Richard answered seriously, "I need you around to answer any questions that may arise." In a much more playful tone, he added, "Besides, you are far and away my favorite distraction."

Being Christina Chase
Chapter 28 - Close Quarters
by Admiral Krunch
 

        Christina stood in the driveway in front of Richard's office. Spending not an instant second guessing whether or not she should be there, she hurried up the walk as fast as her high heeled boots would permit, and climbed the slippery stairs to the front door. Pressing the doorbell, she waited. Standing there, she pulled her hood down tightly in a vain attempt to block out the wind that was blasting her face.

        Seeing Richard's Lexus parked in the driveway, she rang the doorbell again, only to receive no response. Unwilling to give up, Christina opened the screen door and swung the tarnished brass knocker three times.

        Eventually she tried the doorknob, and to her luck, it was open. Wiping her boots on the doormat, she stepped silently into the house. Closing the door tightly behind her, she pulled back her hood. From the outside, the building looked small and ordinary, but the inside was very impressive. The main entry gave way to a reading room that sported an expensive looking Persian rug covering a polished hardwood floor. The wall was covered with bookshelves containing several old and imposing volumes. Several leather upholstered chars were in the corners facing out a large, windowed alcove. Beside one chair was a large antique globe that sat suspended in a wooden ring supported by three columns.

        On the other side of the entryway was an enormous, unmanned wooden desk, covered with disheveled papers and an old rotary telephone. The mess on the desk was very out of place with the sitting room. The sitting room was very organized, though it looked as though it rarely saw use.

        Christina continued deeper into the small house. She went through a narrow corridor and past an unoccupied bathroom. The walls were covered with black and white photographs of what she assumed was Oak Grove. One picture in particular appeared to be a snapshot of the center of town from perhaps fifty years ago. At the end of the corridor was a half open door. Christina heard the sound of Richard speaking on the phone. Not wanting to disturb him, Christina stood quietly in the hallway and waited for Richard to finish.

        "I'm telling you not to worry Jerry- we've been down this road before," he said. "I know what they're telling you, but they don't have a leg to stand on ... Of course they say they're not going to pay- insurance companies don't make money by paying people ... I know ... I know ... Look, we got them last time right? Don't worry. I'll be there soon ... Look- I've got to let you go. If you want this all filed by next week I've got to get back to work ... Right ... Friday ... Ok Jerr. Say hi to Cynthia for me."

        Hearing Richard hang up the phone, Christina took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway. She knocked twice on the door frame, causing Richard to look up from his files. Richard's office, much like the sitting room, was covered from floor to ceiling with impressive bookshelves. His desk was absolutely massive; it looked to be at least seven feet across to Christina. It, like the desk up front, was littered with papers and open books. The room was illuminated only by the large windows behind Richard and a small green shaded lamp on his desk.

        "Christina?" Richard asked in surprise.

        "Hi," Christina responded softly. Pointing down the hallway, she said, "I rang the bell like three times ..."

        "No, it's fine," Richard said as he stood up and motioned with his arm for her to enter. "I must not have been paying attention. Please, come in. Have a seat."

        Christina took off her coat and hung it on a tall, cherrywood coat stand.

        Richard held his breath as Christina removed her coat, revealing the dress underneath. The seductive frock gave him a generous view of her impossibly long legs, and he appreciated the way the tops of the girl's breasts peeked over the low neckline. As Christina walked across the office and took a seat in the large leather chair across from his desk, Richard's eyes never left her. "Wow," he said appreciatively.

        "Excuse me?"

        "Sorry," Richard said as he returned to his seat, "It's just ... Seeing you is a very nice surprise."

        "Thanks," Christina said quickly and insincerely. Christina didn't appreciate the man's innuendo, but he was on the hook, just as she'd intended.

        Richard grinned at her for longer than might have been appropriate, and finally asked, "What made you decide to stop by today?"

        Christina swallowed and looked directly into Richard's eyes. "I need a favor," she said decisively.

        "Well, if you're looking for another fake date," he joked, "I'm afraid that I'm all tied up until next week."

        This was precisely the sort of overconfident nonsense that would normally have set off a violent reaction in Christina, but she was too worried about her family to let it affect her. Looking at the pile of documents in her lap, she frowned.

        All traces of smugness faded from Richard's face and, in a tender and concerned voice, he asked, "What's wrong, Princess?" He looked at the stack of paperwork in Christina's lap and held out his hand.

        Handing Richard the files, Christina said, "My family is in trouble. The I.R.S. says my uncle owes them a lot of money. I think they want to take the store away. Maybe more than that."

        Richard opened the folder and skimmed the documents. She met his eyes when he looked up from the pages and said, "I didn't know what any of that really means, and I couldn't think of anyone to turn to."

        "This is very serious," Richard said gravely. "You need to tell your uncle to come in and see me."

        "He won't do that. I was hoping you could tell me what to do."

        "Christina," Richard said in an official voice, "You have to understand that I shouldn't even be looking at these documents without your uncle's permission. I really can't take any action until you have your uncle come in himself and-"

        He won't do that," Christina repeated. She shook her head and continued, "He won't ask anyone for help. He's so stubborn. If you even bring it up, he ... he ..." Christina's eyes began to tear. She'd considered crying as part of her scheme to manipulate Richard into helping, but she found that when she thought about the situation, and how her uncle had treated her, she couldn't help but cry. Suddenly, she felt very foolish, and ashamed of breaking down in front of Richard. Standing to leave, Christina sniffed, "I don't want to get you in any trouble."

        Richard quickly got up and maneuvered around his massive desk. "Hey, don't go," he said.

        "I'm sorry," she cried. "I just don't know what to do. My aunt and uncle are fighting ... and Andrei and Nina ... I can't let them lose their home." Christina was at the end of her rope. Tears bean to glide down her alabaster cheeks and she hid her face with her hands.

        Richard took Christina into his arms and held her tightly against his chest.

        Christina did not move her hands at first, but she eventually draped them around Richard's broad shoulders. Her head came to rest beside his, and she cried. "Nina and Andrei," Christina said, "They think that I know what I'm doing, but I'm just making it up as I go along."

        Rocking her gently, Richard said, "It's okay."

        For the first time since she'd found out about her uncle's problems, Christina didn't feel the weight of that knowledge crushing her. For that moment, in Richard's arms, she felt as though she didn't have to always be the strong one. When Christina had finished crying, she again felt very foolish. Pushing herself away from Richard, she said, "I'm sorry. I should just go."

        "No," Richard said firmly. "You have nothing to be sorry for, and you're not going anywhere. Sit down, and we'll work something out." Helping Christina back to her seat, he said, "Just stay right there." Richard sprinted out of the office and down the hallway.

        Wiping her eyes, Christina contemplated her shameful behavior. She couldn't believe she'd fallen to pieces like that. It was true that she'd felt as though she were on a sort of emotional roller coaster ever since she'd returned to town, but there was no need for hysterics. What shamed her even more was that she apparently needed someone to comfort her.

        Richard returned and handed Christina a hot mug of cocoa. Two tiny marshmallows danced on the surface and melted.

        "How did you know I like marshmallows?" Christina asked, her voice spent from crying.

        Richard sat on the edge of the desk and grinned. "Because everyone likes marshmallows."

        Christina took a long sip of the hot cocoa, then held the cup in her lap with both of her hands.

        "I'm going to help you," Richard said in a tone that made Christina believe him. "I don't know how this will work out, but I am going to do everything in my power to save your family's store." Returning to his giant desk, Richard opened Christina's file, and arranged the papers all over his workspace.

        Still ashamed of her behavior, Christina took another sip of cocoa and whispered, "Thank you."

        "You have to realize that I can't take any actions. I'm just going to give you some advice. Also, taxation is not my specialty, but I'll do the best I can."

        "I'm sure that will be more than enough," Christina said sheepishly. She added, "I'm going to pay you for your time, of course."

        Richard waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "I won't hear of it."

        "No," Christina insisted, "I have to pay you. How much do you usually charge?"

        Richard looked up from the papers in front of him and casually quoted, "I usually charge my regular clients around two hundred dollars per hour."

        Christina's face went blank, and she sank into the chair. "Oh," she whispered. She glanced over at the arc shaped mantle clock on the bookshelf and said, "I think I might need some sort of payment plan ..."

        Smiling at the girl, Richard assured, "You are not going to pay me a thing."

        "Richard," she began, "I don't want you to do that because you think ... that you ... and I ..."

        "I like most any sentence that ends in you and I," he said confidently. Christina frowned, and a semblance of seriousness returned to Richard's voice. "Do you see those diplomas on the wall?"

        Christina turned her head and saw an impressive collection of framed parchments.

        "Do you know how a poor country boy like me got to go to all those expensive schools?"

        "No?"

        "Because the church, and the fine people of this town saw something in me. They paid my way. Sure, it wasn't a full scholarship, but it was enough to get me started." Looking Christina directly in the eyes, he said, "I won't ever forget that. It's my responsibility to look out for Oak Grove, just like it's Doc Stone's job to keep everyone healthy. These people were there for me when I needed them, and I promised myself that I would never let them down."

        Richard opened the desk drawer and pulled out a small photo album. Placing it face down on an exposed portion of his desk, he slid it to Christina.

        Leaning forward, Christina looked through the pages. She saw a picture of a young girl and said, "This is a picture of Steph! And her parents, I guess? This was the old hardware store, wasn't it?"

        "When they put everything in Stephanie's name, I handled paperwork," Richard explained.

        Flipping though the pages, Christina saw familiar faces, though she didn't know all their names. Stopping on a familiar face, she said, "And there's one of Abby ..."

        "Her mother needed a living will."

        "And Mr. Conrad?" Christina asked with a hint of disgust.

        "Yes, him too. Some company tried to sue him for the mineral rights to his farm."

        "You helped Mr. Conrad?" Christina asked incredulously.

        Richard grinned charmingly and asked, "Would Oak Grove still be Oak Grove without that lovable old crank?"

        "I dunno about lovable," Christina responded, "But I guess you're right."

        Christina continued looking through the book and asked, "And you didn't charge anyone?"

        "Some of them insisted on paying what they could, but I never turned anyone away. Most of my work in town is pro bono," Richard said as he focused on a particularly long letter from the government. "I make more than enough working with my clients in Dover."

        "Are you sure?" Christina asked one more time.

        Richard flashed her his trademark smile and said, "If your uncle loses his store, I'll have nowhere to buy my Cap'n Crunch. I'm just acting in my own self-interest."

        "Okay," Christina said, satisfied that his intentions were as close to pure as she could reasonably expect. "Just as long as you're not just doing this for me."

        "Someone certainly has a high opinion of herself," he joked.

        "I-"

        "It's quite alright," he interrupted. "I have a high opinion of you too."

        Christina's face involuntarily flushed. She hid behind her mug until she'd consumed every last drop of hot cocoa. She watched Richard as he studied the documents for almost an hour. He made dozens of notes on a yellow legal pad and frequently typed numbers into a small calculator. Realizing that it was getting late, she asked, "So ... what's the verdict?"

        Richard rolled backward in his chair and stretched his arms. "The verdict," he yawned, "Is not yet in. I'm going to need a lot more time to look this over. On one hand, the government's figures look accurate." He held up a stack of papers and offered, "But I can see that your uncle made several errors in past filings- and I'm no accountant. I just don't know yet."

        "Oh," Christina said in disappointment.

        "It's not a problem; I just don't think I'll be finished in one night."

        "I can't ask you to spend all your time on-"

        Richard raised his hand and said, "I knew what I was getting into when I offered. It's fine, really. It'll just take a little longer than one night."

        "Okay," Christina responded. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I have to be back for dinner ..."

        "Of course," Richard said as he raised out of his chair. "Do you need a ride home?"

        "No ... I'm going to meet Andrei at the grocery store. It's bad enough you're ... I mean ... you've done more than enough as it is."

        Richard smiled and said, "For the last time, it's no bother. Though you can help me out."

        "How?"

        "Come back tomorrow," he beamed.

        Blushing, Christina said, "I think you'd work faster without any distractions."

        Richard answered seriously, "I need you around to answer any questions that may arise." In a much more playful tone, he added, "Besides, you are far and away my favorite distraction."

        Christina's flattered expression gave way to one of extreme discomfort. She had to play this very carefully; she needed Richard's help, but she didn't want to lead him on. In a strange way, Richard was sort of growing on her and she didn't want to hurt him, almost as much as she didn't want to be discovered. Retaining her serious tone, Christina agreed, "I will be back first thing in the morning- but for questions."

        "Of course," Richard smiled. He retrieved Christina's long coat from the coat stand and held it out for the girl.

        Christina rose and allowed Richard to help her with her coat. Turning around, she paused for a moment, her face mere inches away from the older man's. "I can't tell you what this means to me," she said. Before Richard had a chance to respond, Christina rushed past him, and went down the hallway to the front room. Pulling her fur-lined hood over her head, she burst through the front door and into the swirling waves of snow that cluttered the air. The wind stung her cheeks, but she hardly took notice. The plan was in action. It was her best hope to save her family, though she reserved no hope for herself.

        Christina was so engrossed in her thoughts that she almost walked past the door of her family's grocery store. She stepped into the warmth of the store and pulled back her hood.

        Andrei looked out from back room when he heard the bell. Christina had run late indeed; the store was already clean and Andrei was waiting impatiently for her to arrive. Giving his cousin a silent nod, he told her all she needed to know. The papers were back in the closet, and no one suspected where she'd been all day.

        A hint of a smile crept across Christina's mouth, but it dissipated as her uncle entered the front of the store. She immediately averted her eyes as Alek switched off the lights. Under the cover of the darkness, cut only by snow filtered moonlight, Christina's sad face was hidden.

 

        The next morning, Christina was already sitting on the front stairs of Richard's office as his silver Lexus pulled into the driveway. Though she was buried in the thick fur of her hood, she saw the overly pleased expression on Richard's face. She smiled back at Richard as she stood to greet him. It wasn't intentional; Christina found it hard to sneer at a man who was constantly thrilled to see her. It was even more difficult in light of everything he was doing for her.

        Richard stepped gingerly on the ice-covered brick steps and thrust his keys into the lock. He smiled back at Christina as he held the door open for her. The winter morning air had already stung his earlobes and the tip of his nose, though his face bore no sign of discomfort. Christina could tell Richard was thrilled just to be in her presence. Though he'd made it clear that he intended to win Christina's heart, gone was the slick image he had presented almost a year ago in Arnold's Electronics store.

        "You didn't have to come so early," he beamed, wallowing in his infatuation.

        Christina pulled back her hood exposing her pale face. "I figured if I got here early, I wouldn't waste so much of your time," she shivered.

        "What if I don't mind you wasting my time?" he asked playfully, closing the door behind them.

        Christina tensed up as she thought of the ways in which she suspected Richard would like her to waste his time, but she managed to preserve her friendly smile. "Why don't we get right to it?" she asked.

        "Of course," he responded. He watched Christina remove her coat and drape it on a hook by the front door. His eyes drifted down her back over her tight fitting turtleneck, then resting on her jeans which were tightly compressing her firm, rounded bottom. He fought the pressing urge to reach his hand out and caress her inviting butt. As much as he was attracted to the younger girl, he forced himself to walk down the hallway into the back office.

        "Make yourself at home," he called from the other side of the tiny house. Rushing down the hallway, he cursed his obvious erection. How was it that after all the women that had passed through his life, not to mention his bedroom, that a skinny blonde girl who didn't even like him, caused him to respond as though he was still in junior high school?

        Taking his seat behind his absurdly large desk, Richard opened the Levchenko file. He poured over another year's tax returns for several minutes. It was no use; he spent each moment waiting to hear Christina walk through the door. Ten minutes later, Christina stepped quietly into the dimly lit room holding a cup of coffee. Richard watched her as she placed the steaming mug onto a coaster next to him. He grinned appreciatively and took a long drink. "You put milk in my coffee; just the way I like it," he commented.

        "Well, the two empty milk cartons by the machine were kind of a hint," Christina joked.

        "I suppose so. Why don't you have a seat?"

        Christina pulled a kerchief out of her pocket and tied her long blonde hair back. "Actually," she objected, "I thought I'd clean up your office today."

        "I wouldn't hear of it," Richard complained, "I need you to answer questions about your Uncle's tax returns. Besides, you don't have to do anything. This is one hundred percent, no strings attached legal help."

        "Yeah, I know," Christina sighed, "But let's face it- I know about as much about taxes as you know about rocket science."

        Putting down his pen, Richard said, "Actually I know quite a bit about rocket science. I was a member of the Oak Grove model rocketry society all through grade school. I also took two years of physics in my undergrad before law school."

        Christina rolled her eyes playfully at Richard's Cheshire Cat grin. "Fine," she laughed. "Well I know as much about taxes as I know about model rocketry."

        "When we're done with this, maybe we can launch a rocket together," Richard offered, with almost a straight face.

        Christina laughed aloud in spite of herself. "Yeah ... I don't think so," she sparred. "But I won't feel like I'm taking complete advantage of you if I do a little work around here."

        She walked to the door but stopped when Richard called out, "Would taking advantage of me be such a bad thing?"

        Christina turned on her heels, still unable to remove the amused grin from her face. She said, "Well, you had a real shot before I found out you were one of the model rocket kids." She titled her head and shook it dismissively from side to side before leaving the room.

        She laughed again when she heard Richard shout, "Did I mention I drive a really cool car now?"

        Feeling oddly at ease, Christina returned to the front room and appraised the house. She couldn't fathom how anyone could get any work done, much less think, in such a dusty and cluttered space. Of course, she'd spent most of her life in a similar condition before Misha reformed her into a housewife-in-training.

 

        Having spent the majority of the morning cleaning the front office and the kitchen, Christina started on the reading room. She struggled as she carried a stack of books from one of the bookshelves to the far corner by the window.

        "Let me help you!" Richard said with urgency as he came down the hallway. He scooped the books effortlessly from Christina's hands and placed them next to a stack of books that she'd removed from the top shelf.

        "Thanks," Christina blushed.

        Returning to Christina's side, Richard asked, "Why, exactly, are you dismantling my library?"

        "I'm just moving the books so I can clean the shelves," she explained. Christina ran her finger across the length of a shelf and kicked up a miniature tempest of dust. She held up the incriminating finger for Richard to inspect and placed her alternate hand against her hip.

        "You're dusting the shelves."

        Christina nodded seriously.

        "The dust on the shelves, which no one can see, because they're always covered by the books," he joked, motioning to the pile in the corner.

        Christina sternly replied, "Yes. Maybe no one can see the dust, but I know it's there."

        The girl's seriousness only caused Richard further amusement. "Do you do windows too?" he asked.

        Christina shot a glance over at the large windows in the reading room and bit her lower lip. "I was thinking about doing those tomorrow. I haven't even worked my way to the bathroom yet."

        Placing both his hands on the girl's slender shoulders, Richard said, "You don't have to do all this. And I was kidding about the windows."

        Christina exhaled, letting the tension leave her body.

        Richard devilishly added, "I do expect you to wear a French maid's outfit though. I haven't decided the exact style yet, but I think any of them will work."

        Christina wriggled out from under his hands and balked, "Richard! Enough already! I'm serious, okay?"

        Richard stepped in closer to Christina and gazed powerfully into her eyes. "I can be serious too," he said in a direct tone. "I liked the way it felt when I saw you waiting for me this morning. And I like seeing this place clean, because it reminds me that you were here."

        "Richard ..."

        "And," Richard continued undaunted, "I like the way your perfume lingers in the doorway long after you've left the room."

        "Okay, I kinda prefer the snide comments to the seriousness," Christina maneuvered.

        Richard reached out his right hand and traced Christina's cheek from her earlobe to her chin. "Is it wrong that you're on my mind every day?"

        "Kinda," Christina intoned softly as she backed up towards the wall.

        "And when you go," he continued, "That I'm just counting the minutes until I see you again?"

        "I don't think-" Christina started, but was cut off when her back landed flatly against the wall behind her.

        Richard continued to move in closer. "Is it wrong that I'm attracted to you? And I want to get to know you better?" Christina opened her mouth to speak, but Richard wasn't finished. "And you're attracted to me too. Why fight that?"

        Christina was breathing quickly; her breasts rose and fell with the pounding of her heart. "I'm not interested in you that way," she said in an unconvincing tone.

        Richard closed the remaining gap between them and placed on hand on Christina's hip. The other found its way to her shoulder. "Don't you remember the test? The kiss?"

        "Yeah," Christina defended, unable to tear her eyes away from the man towering over her, "The kiss that never happened."

        "Right," Richard said, picking up the thread. "You didn't want to kiss me because then you'd have to admit to yourself that maybe there's something between us. Something worth exploring."

        "That's crazy," Christina said in a breathless haze.

        Richard pulled Christina against him and tilted her face up to his by her chin. "Let's find out," he sighed, his mouth slowly closing in on the younger girl's lips.

        Falling into a strange trance, Christina felt the same tingle in her stomach she'd felt the first time Richard had kissed her on her front porch. She felt as if her thoughts were trapped under water, and her body was responding to Richard's lead instead of her own. Her eyes closed. As Richard inched ever closer, she could feel his breath on her face. Christina's lips began to part, and she felt almost as if she were falling upward into him.

        BZZZZZZZT!

        The sound of the front doorbell shot through their bodies like electricity. Richard turned his head to look at the door and Christina's brain kicked back into gear. She deftly pushed Richard's large hand off her waist and slid sideways out from under him. "I'd better get that," she said, her face flush from the near-kiss. Rushing to the door, she flung it wide open.

        A young boy, about Nina's age, stood in the doorway, carrying a large white bag. Pulling back his hood, he revealed a tangled mop of red hair.

        "Can I help you?" Christina asked.

        "Yeah, I'm from Mandarin Delight?" the boy stated, his breath hanging in the sharp winter air.

        Richard appeared in the doorway and let the boy in. "I ordered lunch," he grinned to Christina. He paid the delivery boy and gave him what Christina thought was an excessively generous tip. It was, she assumed, just another show for her benefit.

        After the delivery boy was gone, Christina addressed the situation. Her first impulse was to reach out and hold Richard's hand, but she decided that would be more than enough encouragement for him to make another attempt to pin her down. "Richard," she said with a forcefulness she wished she had when her back was literally against the wall, "You can't just buy me lunch."

        "Sure I can," he joked, "it's my office. I get to make the rules."

        "No, I mean, you're already doing so much, I can't have you spending money on me too."

        "Princess," he chuckled, "It's just Chinese food ..."

        "I know," Christina frowned, "But I already feel bad."

        "You really don't have to feel that way ..."

        "But I do." She took a deep breath and offered, "Let me take care of lunch tomorrow, and we'll call it even."

        "That's just fine." Richard smiled, realizing he had just been promised another lunch date by the object of his affection.

        Christina, perhaps due to her aunt's constant training, reflexively cleaned off the desk in the front room and started unpacking the food. She set two places for them, and after Richard was seated, she went into the kitchen to get two glasses of water. She was so engrossed in her routine that it never occurred to her that she was serving Richard, nor did she notice how much he enjoyed it.

        As the two of them chatted during lunch, Richard wanted to know more about Christina, but she steered the conversation away from her past. Richard already knew too much about her, she thought. She wasn't sure how she would keep the older man occupied, but to her astonishment, he was more than eager to talk about himself.

        It was amazing, she thought. Feign a little interest, and a man was more than willing to talk endlessly about what he did for a living. Between stories about law school and growing up in Oak Grove, Christina was able to keep Richard busy with a few nods and grins.

        After lunch, Richard returned to his office while Christina resumed cleaning the sitting room. Though she was engrossed in her work, Christina kept a watchful eye, fully expecting Richard to make another pass at her. It didn't happen that day. She spent the rest of the time cleaning, and Richard, true to his word, tirelessly worked to find a solution to Christina's problem.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

Christina couldn't stand the devilish look on her aunt's face. "I know," Christina explained, "I got up early to cook something for lunch." She looked pleadingly towards Misha in the hopes she would let the subject drop.

"Who are you cooking lunch for my dear?"

Christina's shoulders sank. Her aunt was going to make her say it aloud. Letting out a heavy sigh, she turned her head away as she muttered, "Richard."

Misha patted the seat next to her, and Christina, resigned herself to her fate, sat down.

Christina had reached an entirely new stage of embarrassment; she could feel heat pulsating throughout her entire body. "Aunt Misha, I know what you're thinking, but it's not like that at all," Christina protested.

Being Christina Chase
Chapter 29 - Pyrrhic Victories
by Admiral Krunch

 

        As she did every morning, Misha woke when the first ray of sunlight shone through her bedroom window. Rotating her feet over the side of the bed, she held the small of her back as she sat up. Alek was still sleeping next to her, snoring loudly. After so many years of marriage, the noise no longer had any effect on her. She looked back at her husband and sighed. They had been fighting for months. Despite knowing just how serious their situation was, Misha let Alek make all the money decisions, even though she knew the decisions were wrong. It was the way things had been since she had taken her wedding vows. Still, she'd always been able to reason with him in the past. Not this time, she thought. How could it be that a man could be so prideful as to lose everything he'd worked for, she wondered.

        Misha knew there'd been bad times in the past. This too, was just another problem that would eventually be overcome. Lately though, Misha had become angry with her husband for another reason. Alek had been positively cruel to their niece. Misha thought of Christina as her own daughter, but she knew that she was different from her other children. Nina and Andrei had grown up in a house where yelling and fighting was as a regular occurrence. When the Levchenkos had a problem, they shouted it out. It was a good system; you made it clear exactly how you felt and you had a shouting match until it was worked out. The point was, it got the anger out of your system, and after the yelling was done, everyone could go back to normal.

        Christina, though, hadn't grown up in her house. Her new daughter wasn't used to the little signs of affection that filled every day. Nor did she understand how their family fought. Every harsh word her husband spat at Christina left a stain; a hurt that wasn't easily mended. She knew that Alek was just as trapped as her niece. He didn't have a sparring partner, only a target. Without anyone to push back, he just pushed harder. She knew he'd already said things he didn't mean, but as much as Christina didn't know to fight back, Alek didn't know how to stop.

        It broke Misha's heart. She couldn't love Christina any more if she'd given birth to her. She realized that her family needed Christina too. She could see it in Nina and Andrei's faces. Misha always carried the burden of keeping her family afloat, but Christina was the one who had actually brought her children together.

        Misha didn't know much about Christina's life away from home, but she saw how drained her niece looked every time she returned. Christina needed a real home, she decided.

        What was most evident to Misha was just how much Christina needed a father. Staring at her husband, Misha did not say or think a word. Through all the years they had been together, through all the fights and the hard times, she had never felt resentment towards the man until now. She could see the sadness in her niece's eyes and the frown that lurked behind each half-hearted smile. She feared that if things did not change, she would never see Christina again.

        Pushing herself out of bed, Misha threw on a battered old bathrobe and shuffled groggily into the kitchen. She heard the clatter of pots and pans as she turned on the light.

        Christina, who was already dressed for the day and apparently cooking a large meal, spun around in surprise to see her aunt standing in the doorway. "Good morning," Christina croaked, as though she'd just been caught committing a felony.

        "Tina?" Misha asked in astonishment, "What are you doing up so early?"

        Christina blushed furiously and stammered, "I ... uh ... just had to get some cooking done ..."

        With sleepy eyes, Misha stepped over to inspect her niece's work and smiled approvingly. "A little odd, yes?" she said coyly.

        "I dunno what you mean ," Christina mumbled as she looked away, "I'm just cooking ..."

        "Ah yes," the older woman continued, "Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, peas ..." She took a peek in the oven and gave her niece a scandalous look, "And you are baking bread too."

        "Let me put some fresh coffee on for you," Christina said as If trying to distract her aunt.

        Misha sat down at the kitchen table and watched her niece stumble nervously with the coffee pot.

        "Tina," Misha called brightly.

        Christina didn't turn around. Instead, she focused harder on the task of making coffee as though the act would provide enough camouflage for her to disappear.

        "Tina," Misha called again.

        Christina put down the pot in defeat and turned around with her hands folded neatly in front of her. "Yes?" she answered in a tiny voice.

        "These are not breakfast foods," Misha stated plainly.

        Christina couldn't stand the devilish look on her aunt's face. "I know," Christina explained, "I got up early to cook something for lunch." She looked pleadingly towards Misha in the hopes she would let the subject drop.

        "Who are you cooking lunch for my dear?"

        Christina's shoulders sank. Her aunt was going to make her say it aloud. Letting out a heavy sigh, she turned her head away as she muttered, "Richard."

        Misha patted the seat next to her, and Christina, resigned herself to her fate, sat down.

        Christina had reached an entirely new stage of embarrassment; she could feel heat pulsating throughout her entire body. "Aunt Misha, I know what you're thinking, but it's not like that at all," Christina protested.

        "So, you and Richard are having lunch today?"

        "Look," Christina said in an exasperated tone, "It's just lunch. It's not a big deal."

        "Ah. Not a big deal. If it is not a big deal, then why were you with Richard all day yesterday?"

        "It's wasn't all day!" Christina whined. "Wait," she added nervously, "How did you know that?"

        "Tina," Misha explained, "I know my son. You did not take him shopping all day. It is a miracle you got Andrei into a suit at all."

        "Yeah okay, but why would you think I was with Richard?" Christina asked indignantly.

        Misha merely cocked her head and raised her eyebrow in coy accusation.

        Christina sucked in a deep breath, and her eyes grew wide. "It's not like that at all! He's just helping me with something."

        Misha did not answer. Her grin simply grew exponentially.

        "Oh my God!" Christina shouted in frustration as she stood up and stormed back to her cooking. "It's one hundred percent business! He bought me lunch yesterday, and I'm just making it even! That's all! He's just helping me with a project!"

        Misha asked, "And what kind of project would that be?"

        "What kinda project?" Christina sputtered as she racked her brain for a good excuse.

        "Yes," Misha repeated, "For what projects does a young girl need a lawyer?"

        "Well ..." Christina said in a shrill voice. "You see ..." She couldn't exactly tell Misha what she was doing nor could she think of any other explanation. "Okay, you got me," Christina muttered through gritted teeth and tightly closed eyes. "I really like spending time with Richard. He just does something to me. Can't get enough of him." She opened one eye to see whether Misha had bought her lie. Of course, the older woman was already sold.

        Misha walked over to her niece and helped her pack her lunch into a large wicker basket. "You know child," Misha said sweetly, "I could tell from the beginning that the two of you were right for each other."

        "I dunno about that," Christina complained.

        "And I know what it is like to be young and in love."

        Christina winced as though the word "love" was a slap in face. "Love is an awful strong word. I'd say 'like' ... or 'tolerate' maybe ..."

        "And when you are in love with a man," Misha continued in spite of Christina, "You may feel like you are ready for more than just dating. The man may try to convince you to go further than you want to go."

        Christina couldn't believe she was getting the same conversation that about Richard that she'd given to Nina about dating David. "Aunt Misha," Christina dismissed, "Trust me. There is NO WAY that anything could happen."

        "Tina," Misha advised, "Just be careful. And do not spend all your time with a man. Men do not need much encouragement, and it may give him the wrong idea."

        "You know," Christina said seriously, "Richard really surprised me. He's not the person I thought he was. I used to think he was some arrogant jerk that thought he could get any girl he wanted."

        "And you do not believe this now?"

        "Well ... no ... actually, I still think he's an arrogant jerk. But you know, it's like he's a decent guy, too. He goes out of his way to help people, but it's not like he makes a big deal out of it."

        "And he does not pressure you dear?"

        "Oh, all the time! He's like a steamroller!" Christina exclaimed. "But, I guess the thing is, when I ask him to stop, you know, he does." Christina looked up at her aunt as though she'd just pieced together a jigsaw puzzle. "Aunt Misha, why does he keep chasing me when he knows I'm not going to let him do anything?"

        "Tell me dear," Misha grinned, "Why do you think that is?"

        Christina thought that over. She was about to speak, but was interrupted by sounds coming from the downstairs bathroom. Anxiously opening the oven, Christina took out the bread she was baking and asked in a shaky voice, "Is Uncle Alek awake already?"

        "Tina," Misha consoled, "You do not have to hide from your uncle."

        Christina pulled out her bread and let it sit on top of the oven to cool. She stared askance with hurt eyes and countered, "I'm not avoiding him. It's just, I have somewhere to be ..."

        Holding her niece by the arm, Misha pleaded, "Tina, why not stay and have breakfast with us."

        Christina shivered slightly as she twisted out of her aunt's grip. "No," she insisted, "I really should go." Rushing out of the kitchen, Christina went up the stairs. She looked over her shoulder to see whether her uncle was out of the bathroom yet, but it appeared that he was still taking his shower. Feeling a familiar sickness grow in her stomach, she knocked on Andrei's door.

        Andrei opened the door sleepily. Standing in his boxer shorts and a tank top, he looked at his cousin through half open eyes.

        "I thought I was the one who got up early," he yawned, stretching his arms.

        "Andrei, can you take me to Richard's office?"

        Andrei blinked his eyes and squinted at his alarm clock. He yawned, "You know, I don't think he's going to be there for a couple of hours ..." Andrei wiped his eyes and took a closer look at his cousin, who looked as though she was on the verge of tears. She was clenching her jaw as though she was in pain.

        Christina insisted, "I kinda need to go now, if that's okay."

        "Yeah," Andrei said in a tender tone. "I'll just be a minute." He pulled Christina into his dark room and sat her down on the edge of his bed. Sifting through a pile of clothes on the floor, he pulled out a dirty pair of jeans and a flannel shirt and pulled them on with his back to his cousin. Andrei stepped into a pair of boots, and led Christina back downstairs and into the kitchen.

        Christina grabbed the wicker basket into which Misha had just finished putting Richard's lunch.

        "Where are you two off to so early?" Misha asked.

        "Oh you know," Andrei shrugged as he pulled his parka over his shoulders, "Just going out for a drive." He took Christina's long coat off the coat rack in the hallway and held it out for her. Christina let Andrei help her with her coat, all the time making sure not to make eye contact with anyone.

        Taking Christina's basket, Andrei escorted his cousin to the truck. The sun had just risen over the mountain, and it lent a yellow glow to the long icicles that hung off the roof of the barn. The sting of winter was in the air, so Christina pulled her fur-lined hood over her blowing hair.

        She did not say a word on the way into town. Andrei parked the old green truck in front of Richard's office and left the engine running.

        "Thanks," Christina mumbled as she pulled the lever on the door.

        "Hey," Andrei protested, pulling his cousin back inside. "Where do you think you're going?"

        "I'm just gonna wait for Richard."

        "Christina!" Andrei said in a worried voice, "It's seven in the morning! And it's below freezing out there!"

        Christina scratched the back of her head and shrugged. "It's okay."

        Andrei pleaded, "What is going on with you?"

        "Nothing," Christina dismissed.

        "It's NOT nothing. Why are you acting like this?"

        "I'm sorry," Christina sighed. "I just feel like when I was still living with my step-dad."

        "What do you mean?"

        "When I was still in high school, and living with Danny, I used to get up as early as I could and sneak out of the house before he got up. And we had this great big tree in the back yard. Sometimes if I didn't have anywhere else to go after school, I'd just sit up in the tree and wait."

        "Wait for what?"

        Christina shrugged. "Wait for him to go to bed. Or go out bowling. Or wait until I could sneak in my bedroom window with no one noticing. Anything so I didn't have to deal with him."

        "I don't see why that means you have to wait outside in the snow."

        "It's not a big deal," Christina deflected, looking out the window.

        "Christina, this has to stop. When you get home tonight, we're going to talk to Dad and work this out."

        "We can't do that," Christina muttered, with her hand on her forehead.

        "And why not?"

        "Because I broke the rules, Andrei!" Christina exploded. "I'm breaking them right now! It's your father's house, and it's his rules, and I'm breaking them! And I can't ..." Christina exhaled in desperation. "Look, I don't want to talk about this anymore."

        "Okay," Andrei conceded, "But we're going to wait here together until Richard shows up." Andrei waited a few moments for his cousin to acknowledge him. "Okay?" he insisted.

        "Okay," Christina said in a tiny voice. She looked over at Andrei and saw the distraught look on his face. She slid next to him and clung to his large arm. Leaning against him, she said, "I'm sorry. I'm just moody today."

        The sun had only been up a few hours, and she already felt drained. Intending only to rest her eyes, Christina fell asleep on her cousin's broad shoulder. She awoke some time later when Andrei shook her gently. He pointed to Richard's Lexus pulling into the driveway. Christina shook off her sleepiness and rearranged the rear view mirror to face her. Doing a makeup check, she asked her cousin, "Do I look okay?"

        "Christina, you are beautiful," Andrei smirked.

        Christina kissed Andrei on the cheek and said, "Thanks for staying with me."

        "Always," he replied as Christina exited the truck with her large wicker basket.

        Richard was waiting in the walkway for Christina with the same pleased expression he'd had yesterday. He offered to carry Christina's basket, and after putting up a mild protest, Christina allowed him to take it. He escorted Christina into the office and carried the basket into the kitchen.

        "That's an awful lot of food, Princess," he said.

        Christina winced at being called "Princess" yet again but, forced herself to be civil. "Well, I owe you from yesterday," she explained.

        "Christina, You really didn't have to make lunch," Richard said. "It looks like you spent hours over a stove."

        "We're not discussing this," she dismissed. "I've got to do something for all your hard work."

        "Fair enough," Richard conceded in a grin.

        "Do you need me this morning?" Christina asked.

        "Every morning, Princess."

        Christina laughed a frustrated, half-crazy laugh and clarified, "Do you need me to answer any questions?"

        "Not just yet."

        "In that case," Christina said, picking up some paper towels she'd left on the front desk yesterday, "I'm going to start on the windows."

        "Christina ..." Richard objected playfully.

        "Eh!" she chirped, "Remember the part where we don't discuss this?"

        "Ah, that's right." Richard's eyes lingered on the younger girl's backside as she walked into the study and sprayed Windex on the windows. He eventually tore himself away and retired to his office.

        Christina made sure she spent the entire morning in different rooms than Richard. The less contact she had with the older man, the better, she reasoned. She'd cleaned every inch on the sitting room and was well on her way with the kitchen when she realized it was time for lunch.

        As before, Christina, following Misha's training, set the up the front desk as a makeshift table and called Richard in for lunch. After serving Richard the food she'd made, she sat across from him, unable to shake the feeling that she was a lamb that had wandered into a lion's den.

        "Christina, I can say without reservation that this is the best chicken I have ever had in my life," Richard commented as he dug into a third helping.

        Between her upset stomach from this morning and her new girlish appetite, Christina had hardly eaten a thing. "Richard," she started candidly, "I think I need to get something straight with you."

        "Of course, Princess," he grinned confidently.

        "See? That's what I'm talking about," she said, wagging her finger at the older man. Her admonition only amused the man. "I really appreciate everything you're doing for me," she continued.

        "I know," Richard dismissed.

        "No, I mean I really do. The fact that you would do anything that nice for me after the way I've treated you is just so wonderful. And that's why I feel like I have to be straight with you."

        Richard wiped his mouth with his napkin and paid serious attention to the girl that sat on the other side of the desk.

        "I ... like you," Christina admitted. "It turns out, you're a good man. You really are. when you're not being a complete ass, anyway. And I'm not going to mislead you, so I want to tell you up front, I'm not going to sleep with you." Christina managed to maintain eye contact with the man during her entire speech.

        "Christina," Richard responded seriously, "I never meant to imply that I expected that."

        "No, that's not what I mean," Christina explained, "What I mean is ..." Christina brushed her hair back behind her left ear nervously and continued, "What I mean is, I know you're interested in me, and you keep pushing ... and I'm telling you now, I'm not going to sleep with you. It's just not possible." Christina paused to offer Richard a chance to say something. Since he didn't, she kept filling in the blanks. "So ... I'm saying, all these little games ... the comments ... cornering me for kisses ... it's not going to work."

        "Princess," Richard said sincerely, "I don't want to sleep with you."

        "You don't?" Christina asked in genuine surprise.

        "Well," Richard joked, "Actually I do, but I haven't been trying to get you into bed."

        Christina scrunched her face as though she was trying to parse that last comment.

        "Christina," Richard said as he looked deeply into Christina's eyes. "Did you know that ever since I met you, I haven't been able to look at any other girl?" Christina opened her mouth to speak but Richard kept going. "When I'm in the same room with you, I feel like the rest of the world just isn't there anymore."

        Christina blushed in spite of herself, but she held strong. "Richard, I know what sort of reputation you have."

        "And how do you know that?" Richard asked coyly.

        "Well, two words," Christina smirked, holding up her fingers, "Abigail Rosenberg."

        Richard could help but let out a hearty laugh. "So you went to the source."

        "Yeah. And I know about your ... impressive ... history with the women of Oak Grove."

        "What else did Abby say?" he asked playfully.

        "Well, 'smooth talker,' that was verbatim. Something about, 'more girls than a crocodile has teeth.' Her words, not mine." Christina couldn't help but laugh a little as she thought of the way Abby had told the story. "And 'love 'em and leave 'em'?" she finished.

        Richard nodded.

        "Look, I'm not going to tell you how to live your life," Christina said seriously, "But you have to know that I'm not going to be another notch on your bedpost. So stop trying."

        Richard reached across the table and held Christina's hand, his face taking on an air of sincerity that caught Christina off guard. "Christina," he began, "I know it may sound like some bad pickup line to say that you're different, but you are. I'm not sure what you've done to me, but it's for real. I just want to spend some time with you."

        Christina rolled her eyes and said, "You don't even know me."

        "But I do," Richard responded. "I know that you love this town, even though you're always in a rush to leave. I think it's adorable the way you wear a kerchief in your hair whenever you clean. You have a habit of toying with your necklace whenever you feel nervous."

        That last comment struck home. Had Christina still had her necklace, it would have already been in hand.

        "And I know you're just about the most courageous and selfless person I've ever met," Richard added.

        "I'm not really-"

        "But you are," Richard said earnestly. "Whenever I see you, you're always helping someone else; never thinking of yourself. You're here right now, and I know that asking me for help couldn't have been easy for you."

        Christina shook her head slightly, not taking her eyes off Richard's.

        "I know I haven't lived my life the way I probably should have, but I see you, and I don't quite want to be the person I used to be. And it makes me wonder if I could ever be good enough for you." Richard concluded, "I certainly plan to try."

        Christina was absolutely floored. Sitting there, she stared, dumbfounded, at the older man.

        "Christina?" Richard asked, breaking the girl out of her spell.

        She whispered, "No one's ever said anything like that to me before."

        Just then, the doorbell interrupted their conversation. Taking her opportunity to exit the awkward and confusing sitation, Christina got up and started cleaning.

        Richard shook his head and muttered, "I have to tear that thing out." He walked to the front door as Christina cleared off the front desk.

        As Richard opened the door, Christina saw an old man with thinning hair standing in the doorway wearing a snow dusted overcoat. He was smacking his hat with his hand to clean it off. Christina couldn't hear what the two men were saying. She watched the old man hang his coat on the stand by the front door then follow Richard back to his office. He took almost no notice of Christina, and she thought the old man looked somewhat annoyed.

        Richard led Saul through the hallway and into his office. Closing the heavy door behind them, Richard motioned for Saul to have a seat in the large leather chair in front of his massive desk.

        "Richie," Saul said, still standing, "What are you doing here? Jerry and I expected you days ago."

        "It's like I said on the phone, Saul," Richard explained casually, "An important situation came up."

        "Important, he says," Saul complained as though there someone else in the room he was addressing. "So important that you make me drive all the way from Dover."

        Richard motioned to the seat again, and Saul sat down. "I need you to look over some numbers for me. I've taken a look at things from a legal perspective, but I need an accountant to wrap this up."

        Saul still looked agitated. "This is what it takes to get you to show up for work?" he complained. "Fine, then let me see."

        Richard reached into a stack of papers and handed some key documents to the old man. Saul took the forms and squinted at them. Reaching into the breast pocket of his jacket, he pulled out a pair of round rimmed spectacles and slid them over his nose.

        "What is this?" Saul asked.

        "Just what I said on the phone. Local businessman in town; the IRS is giving him a hard time. Looks to me that he's been misfiling for the past seven years or so."

        "Misfiling? There's a description," Saul quipped. "Look at this. He should have been filing an itemized return." Saul flipped though some more forms and asked, "And you're telling me that everyone who works at the store are his children?"

        "Yes," Richard confirmed. "And his wife."

        "He missed that too," Saul said. "How many years has this been going on?" he asked himself as he sorted through year after year of returns. Looking at a thick folder, he remarked, "What, he can keep receipts like this but he can't take care of the rest? There's nothing to say. We have to do all of this over."

        Saul stood up and shooed Richard out from behind his own desk.

        "So you think you can help me out with this?" Richard asked.

        "Yes, yes," Saul said testily. "Give me a LOT of time, and I'll see what I can do. Do you have copies of the codes?"

        Richard nodded and motioned to a stack of binders. Each was contained the relevant tax regulations for the past few years.

        "And an adding machine?" Saul croaked.

        Richard opened the lid of the expensive laptop computer on his desk.

        Saul shot Richard a disgusted look.

        Closing the computer, Richard laughed. "Some things never change," he mused. Pulling open one of the drawers of his massive desk, Richard took out an aged adding machine with a slightly yellowed paper tape and plugged it into the wall. Saul sat down and went to work.

        A few moments later, there was a knock on the heavy wooden door. "Come in," Richard called.

        Christina quietly opened the door and walked in carrying two cups of coffee. She handed one to Richard and placed the other down in front of Saul. Holding her hands behind her back, she told the old man, "I wasn't sure what you take in your coffee."

        "Black is fine," Saul smiled.

        Christina smiled back at him and then turned to Richard. "Is there anything I can get you?"

        "No thank you," he said warmly.

        "Okay," Christina said as she walked back towards the door. "I'm going to finish cleaning up the kitchen and bathroom."

        Richard nodded as the girl closed the door behind her.

        "It's about time you got some help around here." Saul said. He made a motion with his hand in front of his throat. "The first time I've been here in years that I don't feel like I'm choking on dust. This place needed a woman's touch."

        Richard laughed and explained, "She's not the help."

        Saul looked up from his calculations. His eyes demanded an explanation.

        Richard tapped the papers in front of Saul and said, "His niece."

        Saul took his glasses off his face and took a cloth out of his pocket. Sitting back in the large chair, he cleaned the lenses. "And finally it makes sense," he quipped. "You know, when your parents asked me to be your godfather; I knew you were going to be trouble. 'You have to watch this one, Saul', they said. Did I tell you the story about your fifth birthday?"

        "Yes," Richard nodded, "It's your favorite story. You tell it to anyone who'll listen."

        "On your fifth birthday," Saul continued as though Richard hadn't said a thing, "I said Richie, what do you want for your birthday? And you said, 'Josie'. I asked your parents 'What's a Josie?' And they said, 'The little girl next door!'"

        "Yes, I remember."

        "Always with the girls. That's what it always is," Saul said, holding his finger above his head as though he was a professor making a very important point during a lecture.

        "Shall we look at these numbers, or discuss my love life?" Richard joked before taking a sip of coffee.

        "I should set you straight about women, but the sooner I finish this, the sooner we can get to work with Jerry." Saul put his glasses on again and returned to his furious tapping on the ancient adding machine.

        Saul stopped tapping on the keys of the machine and asked, "Richie, is it right to play with this girl while you're involved with all this?"

        Richard looked seriously at the older man and said, "Saul, I don't think I'm playing with this one."

        Saul huffed to himself, "That will be the day!"

 

        When the sun was close to setting in the window behind Richard's desk, Saul pulled the spent tape from the back of the adding machine and checked his numbers against the forms he had prepared.

        "That looks great, Saul," Richard said, peering over his godfather's shoulder.

        "Don't be in a hurry Richie," Saul admonished. "It pays to double-check. You're always in such a rush." After checking each and every page to his satisfaction, Saul proclaimed, "That's it! Tell your little girl to come in."

        Looking over the forms, Richard patted Saul approvingly on the back. He jogged out the door and into the kitchen. Christina was nowhere to be found. "Christina?" he called as he went into the front room. Looking around, he saw that the girl sleeping on the floor of the sitting room, her back up against a wall. Richard bent his knees until his face was level with Christina's. Gently brushing her cheek with his hand, he whispered, "Christina ... wake up Princess."

        Christina slowly opened her eyes and yawned, "Richard?"

        "Hey there," the man beamed.

        Christina stretched and looked out the window, seeing that it was already getting dark. "I finished cleaning ... um ... everything I guess." She took Richard's hand, and he lifted her up to her feet. "I'm not sure what I'm going to work on tomorrow," she said as she eyed the office for anything out of place.

        "Come on," Richard said happily. He held Christina's hand and led her back into his office.

        "Ah, Miss Christina is it?" Saul said as he lifted his spectacles to look at the girl. "Come here please."

        Christina let go of Richard's hand and looked back at him as she walked behind his desk to stand next to Saul.

        "This is my godfather Saul," Richard explained. "You could say he's an expert when it comes to taxes."

        "Nice to meet you, young lady," Saul said as he shook the girl's hand. He was still in something of a hurry and did not miss a beat in explaining the situation. "Your Uncle needs to re-file these five years," Saul said pointing out five large stacks of paper. He flipped through pages upon pages pointing out the multitude of places that Alek needed to date and sign each form. "And send it with this letter that your lawyer friend drafted," he added as he piled one form on top of another.

        Christina nodded and did her best to follow along. When Saul was finished, she shot Richard a perplexed look, then turned back to Saul. "What does this mean?" she asked in confusion.

        Saul held up three fingers and said, "Thirty-five hundred dollars," with a warm smile.

        "Thirty-five hundred?" Christina repeated in awe.

        "Thirty-five hundred dollars, and you're in the clear," Saul replied.

        An enormous grin spread across Christina's face and she threw her arms around the old man. "Oh my God!" she squealed happily.

        Saul's eyes went wide, and the old man blushed.

        Richard laughed so hard that he nearly choked when we saw the expression on his godfather's face.

        Christina let the man go, but she couldn't stop smiling. It was the happiest Richard had ever seen her. "I ... I don't know what to say," she gushed to both of the men. "I wish there was something I could do to make it up to you."

        Saul patted the girl on the back and said, "Just be glad you have a friend like Richie."

        Cocking her head, she shot Richard a scandalous look and chirped, "Richie?"

        Richard waived his hand dismissively as though she should disregard that name all together.

        Saul put his spectacles back into his breast pocket and handed Christina a business card. "Tell your uncle to call me next year; it will save both of us time," he said as he walked from behind Christina towards the office door. He raised an old wrinkled finger towards Richard and said, "I'll see you tomorrow, yes?"

        Richard nodded.

        Saul shot a look at the joyous girl, then back at Richard and winked. "No need to show me out," he dismissed with a wave of his hand as he exited the office.

        Christina glided across the room and sat in the large leather chair opposite Richard's. Slumping slightly in the chair, she relaxed for the first time since she learned of her uncle's tax problems.

        Richard stood by her side and draped his arm over the back of the chair.

        Looking up at Richard, Christina said, "I didn't think you could do it."

        "You underestimate me," he grinned.

        Christina laughed happily and replied, "Yeah, I guess I did. I guess, deep down, I didn't expect anything was going to work out."

        Richard walked back to the other side of his desk and started gathering papers. "Didn't I tell you we were going to take care of things?"

        "Yeah you did." Christina conceded gratefully.

        Richard smiled and stared into Christina's eyes for a bit longer that he should have, but Christina was too happy to notice. "Hey," Richard said, pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the window behind him. "It's starting to snow, and it's already dark. Why don't you let me take you home?" he asked hopefully.

        Christina shook her head, though she couldn't stop smiling. "No thanks, Andrei is waiting for me at the store."

        "Let me drive you to the store," Richard offered.

        "It's not that far," Christina countered absentmindedly.

        Richard arranged Christina's papers into a series of manila folders and slid them into a large envelope. Taking one last shot, he said, "At least let me walk you there."

        Christina started, "You really don't have to ..." but stopped when she saw the slightly dejected look on Richard's face. "Yeah. Okay," she acquiesced, "I would like that a lot."

        Richard did not have to be told twice. He led Christina back to the front room where she collected her wicker basket from lunch. Helping her with her coat, Richard led her to the door.

        The night air was crisp, and the moon was muffled by thick clouds. All around, the town was covered with a delicate powder, and the two of them left rows of side by side footsteps. There were almost no cars on the streets, and the only sound that could be heard was the whispers of the large snowflakes as they fell.

        Richard held out his hand to the younger girl.

        Christina let out a chuckle as though she couldn't believe Richard had not yet given up, but at no point did her smile leave her face. She held out her tiny hand, hesitated for a moment, then placed it in Richard's.

        "Well this is kind of nice, wouldn't you say?" Richard flirted.

        Christina rolled her eyes and purposefully bumped up against Richard's shoulder. "It never stops, does it," she observed in spite of her smile.

        "I guess I'm just an optimist," Richard mused.

        "Yeah, you have no idea," Christina joked sarcastically.

        Richard pressed, "You don't seem to mind so much."

        "I'm still reeling from your impressive display of lawyerly prowess."

        "Lawyerly prowess?" Richard repeated, laughing aloud.

        "If you don't like the way I talk, then I can walk the rest of the way myself," Christina said devilishly.

        "No, no," Richard clarified," I am in awe of your command of the English language. Never let it be said otherwise."

        Richard escorted Christina through town and to the door of her family's grocery store. They stood facing each other for an awkward moment.

        Christina was the one who broke the silence. "I really can't tell you what you've done for me," Christina said seriously.

        "Really," Richard responded humbly, "It was nothing."

        "It was so not nothing," Christina corrected. "I just wish I could make it up to you."

        Richard shook his head and replied, "I already told you, there were no strings attached."

        Standing there, Christina couldn't keep herself from smiling foolishly at the older man.

        Breaking the silence, Richard said, "I guess this is the part where we say goodnight."

        "Yeah," Christina said. She stood silently for a moment, considering if what she was about to do was a good idea. Richard started to leave, but Christina reached out and held his arm. "Hey," she said. "So, Nina and Andrei and I are going to the New Year's Eve dance tomorrow. And anyway-"

        "Are you asking me out on a date, Princess?"

        Christina shook her head and laughed. "Why do you think everything is a date?"

        He joked, "I suppose I get dances, dinner, and going to the movies confused with dates."

        "I'm just saying, I'll be there ... and if you happened to be there, I might be convinced to save you a dance."

        Richard smiled widely, but the grin quickly gave way to a disappointed expression. "Princess," he apologized, "I can't. I'm leaving for Dover tonight. I've pushed back some commitments to help you out this week. There's just no way ..."

        Christina looked somewhat disappointed and nodded in resignation.

        "Why don't we get together when I get back?" Richard offered hopefully.

        "I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."

        "How about the next time you're in town?"

        It dawned on Christina that she hadn't made the situation clear to Richard. She took the envelope full of paperwork and held them up. "Richard," she said candidly, "I did some things I shouldn't have done when I took all this stuff and brought it to you."

        Richard said, "I don't follow..."

        Christina frowned, "When my uncle finds out what I've been up to, I'm not going to be allowed back anymore."

        Tilting his head, Richard shot Christina a wry grin, but it faded from his face when he realized she wasn't kidding. "You can't be serious!" he balked.

        "I am very serious," Christina said bleakly. "He told me to stay out of his business, and I directly disobeyed him."

        "But ... he wouldn't really throw you out," Richard said incredulously.

        "Richard," Christina said with the same seriousness that had the man so unnerved, "The first thing I did before coming to see you was pack my bags."

        Richard paced back and forth in the snow angrily. He threw his finger towards the door and growled, "Is he in there? I'm going to have a word with him right now."

        Richard made a start for the door, but a gentle tug on his arm from Christina held him in place. "Please don't do that," Christina asked in a resigned voice. "You know, it's okay. I knew what I was doing."

        "But it's not right," Richard said sternly.

        Christina shrugged and said, "But that's how it is."

        "Well," Richard said searching Christina's eyes, "Maybe the next time I'm passing through the city, I could give you a call."

        Christina laughed melancholically. "Richard, that's like six-hundred miles from here. I don't think you'll be passing through."

        "You can show me the sights," he grinned.

        Knowing that she was the only thing in the city Richard had an interest in seeing, Christina shook her head and returned his grin. "Look, even if that weren't crazy, I'm not even sure where I'm going to be living."

        "What do you mean?" Richard asked, the concern returning to his voice.

        "I lost my job a couple of weeks ago. I don't think I can even afford to pay my rent next month."

        "Your uncle is throwing you out when you have nowhere else to go?"

        "No," Christina objected. "No one knows. Well, Nina figured it out, but my aunt and uncle have no idea. And I don't want them to know. It would just make them upset."

        "I have to do something. I could help you find a new job or give you some money ... there has to be something I can do."

        "That's sweet," Christina said through her weak smile as she held up the envelope, "But you already gave me everything I need." Her words did nothing to relieve the worried look on Richard's face. "I just need to know that they're going to be okay," Christina said. "It doesn't matter what happens to me."

        "It matters to me," Richard said tenderly.

        Smiling warmly at the older man, Christina said, "Goodnight, Richard," as she opened the door of the store and walked inside.

        Richard stood in the snowy night, staring through the grocery store's window. He saw Christina breaking the good news to her cousin Andrei. She jumped excitedly, and her older cousin hugged her, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Shortly after, he watched her large uncle come out from the back room holding a broom. He laid it against the wall and flipped all the switches on the wall. The lights cut off, and all Richard could see was darkness.

 

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!

"You look ... nice," Andrei choked. His eyes again unconsciously drifted around his Christina's body. Regaining control of himself, he stuttered, "But if you want to change into something else ... you know ... that's fine too ..."
 

Being Christina Chase
Chapter 30 - The Dress in the Attic
by Admiral Krunch

 

        Nina sat on the edge of Christina's four poster bed watching her cousin pack the rest of her belongings. "But why can't we tell Mom and Dad right now?" Nina whined.

        Christina checked the bag on top of the chest of drawers to make sure it contained all of her bathroom supplies. Content that she had everything, she placed it on the ground next to all her other bags and two suitcases. "Because Nina," Christina explained, "Your father is not going to be very happy when he finds out what I've been up to. And I don't want to get yelled at right now."

        "Then let me tell him!" Nina complained.

        "No way," Christina said firmly. "Uncle Alek is already mad at me. I'm not going to drag you or Andrei into it."

        "But we were all in it together. He's not stupid. He's going to know that we all stole his files."

        "I just think it would be better if it comes from me. That implicates you and Andrei as little as possible." Christina had a tone in her voice that let Nina know that the matter was not up for further discussion.

        Andrei poked his head into Christina's bedroom and rapped his large knuckles against the door twice.

        "Hey, Andrei," Christina said.

        Walking into the bedroom, Andrei took the chair from in front of the vanity and pulled it out. He straddled the chair backwards, letting his large arms rest of top of the backrest. He said, "You know, you don't have to pack every last little thing."

        "I don't know when I'm coming back," Christina said without making direct eye contact. She knew she was never coming back, but still she was unable to tell her cousins.

        "I know," Andrei said, "But you really packed everything. I mean everything."

        "Yeah," Nina agreed sadly.

        Christina looked back and forth between her cousins, and it was obvious that her behavior the past week had made them extremely worried. She'd debated leaving some of her clothes behind; it wasn't as though she would need any of them ever again. Ultimately, she'd decided against it; she feared that leaving things behind wouldn't give her cousins a clean break. Also, she suspected that she might have to sell her girl clothes to help make ends meet next month.

        "Come on guys," Christina begged, "Don't look at me like that. This is hard on me too." Seeing that her appeal was having little effect, she attempted a slightly different tack. "This is our last night together in who knows how long. We should enjoy it." She could tell by the looks on their faces that they still weren't convinced. "Okay?" she pleaded.

        "Yeah, okay" Andrei answered.

        Nina didn't say a word; she just nodded. "I guess we should get ready for the dance," Nina offered, her mood improving somewhat.

        "Nina ..." Christina moaned. "I'm not sure I feel up to going to the dance."

        "What do you mean? You promised," Nina protested.

        "I know, but-"

        "Oh you're going." Andrei added seriously. "You made me go shopping. You have to go."

        Reaching backward, Christina pulled herself up on top of the old chest of drawers. She crossed her legs and smoothed out her long skirt. "I don't have anything to wear," Christina objected.

        Andrei threw his hands towards the piles of luggage on floor and complained, "You have nothing to wear? This is more clothes than I have ever owned in my entire LIFE, and you're telling us you have nothing to wear?"

        Painfully aware of the size of her wardrobe, Christina shuddered at the thought of just how much of her savings had been spent on girl clothes. She was even a little angry with Andrei, as he was not aware of the amount effort shopping and dressing required when you were a girl. She said, "I took my formal dresses home in November. All I have with me is what I wore to church."

        "So wear that!" Andrei griped.

        Both Christina and Nina broke out in laughter at Andrei.

        "What?" he said seriously.

        "She can't wear a church dress to the dance," Nina said dismissively to her brother. "But still," she said to Christina, "I'm sure we can find you something to wear.

        "Christina let out a long, exasperated breath. "Okay," Christina reasoned, "Even if I had something to wear, you know ..." She motioned her hands towards Andrei. "Andrei is going with Steph ..." Looking back at Nina, she added, "And you're going with David ... so ... I'd just be hanging around, ruining the night for you guys."

        "Just call Richard," Nina insisted. "You know if you asked him to take you, he'd drop everything and be here in ten minutes."

        Andrei couldn't help but laugh at that last comment.

        Christina, however, hung her head and sulked. "He said no," she mumbled quietly.

        "What?" Nina asked.

        Christina took a deep breath and said more clearly, "I asked Richard to go, and he told me no." Christina certainly did not want to go to the dance with the imposing, older man, but she still felt some sting from his rejection. It had been one thing when she turned him down, but Christina had grown unexpectedly accustomed to being the center of his world.

        "I don't believe it," Nina said half-accusingly.

        "Well, he was supposed to be in Dover all week for work, but he sorta put it on hold to help us out. So last night after we finished, he had to leave."

        Andrei consoled, "Well I'm sure he would have gone if-"

        "Look, it's fine," Christina interjected. "It's okay if he doesn't want to go with me. I don't want to go with him anyway. I was just being nice 'cause he helped us out. That's all."

        "That doesn't mean you shouldn't go," Nina insisted. "It's not like Richard's the only guy in town who's going to want to dance with you."

        "Yeah," Andrei said enthusiastically.

        Christina's mind froze at that thought. Nina was right. Christina had suffered through the longing glances of men when she walked through town. It was like being on display in some museum; at the dance, it would be a hundred times worse. At least in a museum, there is no touching allowed, she thought.

        Realizing she wasn't getting through to her cousin, Nina decided to play dirty. "You know, if you go with us to the dance, then you can give Dad the tax forms before we leave. He can't yell at you, if you're not here."

        Christina cocked her head upward and considered Nina's logic. Of course the girl was right, but which fate was worse? Another brutal confrontation with her uncle, or making herself available for all the lustful advances of every single man in the town of Oak Grove? Struggling with the decision, Christina wondered if slipping suicide in as a third option was allowed. "I still don't have anything to wear," Christina moaned in resignation.

        "Can't we just go to the store?" Andrei asked.

        Christina said, "I can't afford anything right now, Andrei."

        "I've got it," Nina grinned. The girl hopped off of Christina's bed and went into the hallway. The others followed and watched as Nina, standing on her tip toes, pulled the cord that released the attic ladder. Before Christina could make a peep, Nina climbed the ladder, and turned on the light.

        Christina went up the stairs followed by Andrei. Brushing the dust off the hem of her skirt, she teetered across the planks in her high heels after Nina. She stumbled when she reached the darker part of the attic, but Andrei was there to catch her. "What's the big idea, Nina?" Christina asked as Andrei helped her regain her footing.

        Standing in front of boxes of girl's clothing and an old armoire, Nina opened the armoire doors and displayed an array of dresses. She insisted, "There has to be something in here you can wear."

        Christina felt a cold chill shoot down her spine; Nina expected her to wear one of Anastasia's dresses. Looking around the old attic, she felt the same uneasiness as when she had come to the attic looking for Christmas decorations. It was almost as though she could feel Anastasia watching from the darkness in the corners. "Nina," Christina whispered, "I can't wear one of your sister's dresses."

        Ignoring her older cousin, Nina searched through the dresses for one she thought would be acceptable. She took out a yellow ball gown and held it up in front of Christina.

        Christina turned to Andrei and insisted, "I can't wear Anastasia's clothes."

        Andrei said, "It's okay."

        Nina swapped the yellow ball gown for a little black cocktail dress and shook her head disapprovingly. She went through a few more, but stopped when a red evening gown caught her eye. She gave it to Christina and commanded, "Hold this up."

        Christina, almost in shock, held the dress in front of her and Nina decided, "This will work just great."

        "Nina," Christina repeated seriously, "I should NOT be wearing your sister's clothes."

        Folding her arms in front of her, Nina told her older cousin how things were going to be. "Christina, you promised me you'd go to the dance. And I don't know when I'm going to see you again, so you have to go."

        "Nina," Christina gasped.

        "Look, it's just a dress," Nina continued adamantly, "If Anastasia were still alive, I'm sure she would have lent it to you."

        Christina shook her head and blurted, "But-"

        "But nothing," Nina countered. "It's stupid for this dress to sit up here in the attic."

        Christina looked pleadingly at Andrei; surely he would be against this.

        "I guess it's alright," he shrugged. "It's either that, or you can wear my suit," he joked.

        Christina shoved the dress into Nina's arms then grabbed Andrei by the shoulders. "Please tell me I can wear a suit!" she begged.

        Andrei laughed, thinking she was building on his joke.

        Christina would have killed to be going anywhere in Oak Grove as a boy, but the look on Nina's face told her that she was going to the New Year's Dance in Anastasia's evening gown.

        Nina led the three of them back through the darkness to the ladder. All the way, Christina could not help but throw nervous glances around the attic. The three of them stepped down the ladder, and Andrei pushed it back up into the ceiling.

        "I guess I'll leave you two alone," Andrei groaned, "'cause it will take hours for you to do whatever you do to get ready."

        Punching Andrei in the shoulder playfully, Nina said, "Don't worry, we'll leave plenty of time to make sure you look good for Steph." Nina made playful kissy faces at her older brother who smirked as he retreated to his room. Then Nina commanded her older cousin to take a shower and report back to her room when she was finished.

        After she'd showered and blow dried her hair, Christina entered her room with a towel wrapped around her chest. Nina, who was sitting on the edge of Christina's bed, was already in her light blue ball gown. She kicked her legs gleefully under the layers of taffeta and lace. Though Christina dreaded going to the dance, she couldn't help but smile back at Nina. Every time Christina saw the younger girl smile like that, she could almost believe that everything she'd been through was worth it. "Wow, Nina," Christina beamed, "You didn't waste any time."

        "This is going to be so much fun tonight!" Nina gushed. Jumping off the bed, she started waltzing with an invisible partner. Closing her eyes dreamily, she said, "This is going to be the first New Year's Eve where someone will actually kiss me at midnight."

        Christina waltzed with her cousin and agreed, "Yeah, it's a pretty big deal, isn't it."

        "Totally." Letting go of Christina, Nina started rummaging through one of Christina's bags, looking for shoes to match Anastasia's dress. "I wonder who's going to kiss you?" she asked.

        Christina raised her hand to her chest and asked in astonishment and blurted, "Kiss me?"

        "Well yeah," Nina said, not looking up from her shoe hunt. "Whoever you're dancing with at midnight is going to want to kiss you. It's a New Year's tradition."

        "I never thought of that ..." Christina trailed off.

        Nina pulled out a pair of red pumps and eyeballed them against the dress. "I hope he's cute," she added.

        Christina laughed nervously and agreed, "Oh yeah ... That would be great, to be kissed by some cute guy at midnight." She made a mental note to slip into the ladies' room at least five minutes before midnight.

        Stacking the shoes next to the dress laid out on the bed, Nina clapped her hands twice, and Christina jumped into action. Christina pulled out a red satin thong and a matching strapless bra and laid them on top of the chest of drawers. With her back to her younger cousin, she dropped the towel from around her chest and squeezed herself into her brutal nude colored waist cincher. Next she pulled the satin thong up her long slender legs. She expertly slipped into her bra, a maneuver she had now done so many times that it required no effort at all.

        The younger girl shook her head and said, "Stockings, too."

        "Are you sure that's necessary?" Christina asked.

        "Yes."

        Christina dove back into her bags and retrieved a red garter belt and a pair of long, gauzy black stockings. Fitting the garter belt around her waist, she leaned back against the chest of drawers. She expertly rolled both stockings up her long, hairless legs and clipped them in place. It was yet another skill that she'd long since mastered.

        "Okay," Christina sighed, "Let's take a look at this thing." She lifted the dress up in front of her and peered into the full length mirror. Shooting a suspicious glance back at her cousin, Christina wondered just what Nina had gotten her into. She gasped, "This is what you want me to wear tonight?"

        Nina lifted the skirt of her gown and scampered mischievously over to her cousin. "It's perfect!" she exclaimed. "When you walk in there tonight, everyone is going to notice you. You're not even going to miss Richard."

        Christina swallowed nervously and balked, "I don't think I need this much attention Nina."

        Tapping her feet impatiently, Nina shot her older cousin an annoyed glance.

        "Okay okay!" Christina conceded. It was going to be their last night together, and Christina was willing to do whatever it took to make it a good one for Nina. Unzipping the back of the dress, Christina stepped into it. She pulled it up her body, taking notice of the feel of the dress as it brushed up against her slender frame. The dress didn't feel tight, but it felt more snug than any dress she'd ever worn. Once the dress was up as high as it was willing to go, she turned her back to Nina and asked, "Zip me up?"

        The ecstatic girl was more than happy to oblige. Christina started back towards the mirror, but Nina commanded, "Wait!" She placed the matching red heels on the floor in front of Christina and demanded that she step into them. Next, she held out a pair of red opera gloves. Christina, ever Nina's faithful Barbie doll, pulled on the gloves which ended a few inches above her elbows.

        "Now can I look?" Christina pouted playfully.

        Nina pulled the dress in various places to arrange it just so. Once she was satisfied, she nodded to Christina.

        Christina spun around to face the mirror and was dumbstruck by her reflection. "No ..." she groaned. Facing her cousin, she shrieked, "Absolutely not!"

        Nina grabbed Christina's arms and forced her back to the mirror. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" she giggled.

        Christina looked at her reflection in horror. The red gown had a long, straight skirt that flowed down to her ankles. A slit ran from the bottom all the way up to her hip, so high that every now and again you could catch a glimpse of the top of her stocking. Her long, slinky leg peeked sexily out for all to see. There was no possible angle where her sensuous legs were not on full display. The waist of the dress was like a second skin, conforming to Christina's curves. The neckline plunged deeply from the two, off the shoulder, straps exposing her breasts, which were presented in all their glory. The snug fitting dress pressed them together, and upward, making them look even more supple and tantalizing. Christina instinctively raised a gloved hand to the void where her gear necklace would have been. "Oh my God, Nina!" Christina exclaimed. "You turned me into Jessica Rabbit!"

        "Who?" the girl asked with a puzzled expression.

        Christina didn't bother explaining. Turning around, she looked at herself from every possible angle. She was mortified to see how her round butt pushed invitingly against the seat of her skirt.

        "Why on earth did your sister own a dress like this?" Christina complained.

        Nina replied, "I'm pretty sure she wore this to Homecoming."

        Putting her hands on her hips, Christina asked, "Your sister wore this to a Homecoming dance? This dress?"

        Nina nodded.

        Throwing her hands up in the air, Christina screeched, "Where was it held? Vegas?"

        "I think you're overreacting a little bit ..."

        Christina stormed to her door, pulled it open, and screamed, "Andrei!" She pointed accusingly at Nina and said, "Overreacting? Overreacting! Just wait until your brother sees this."

        Andrei jogged across the hallway, his large boots vibrating the old hardwood floor. "What's wrong?" he asked anxiously.

        "This is what's wrong!" Christina stated incredulously. She waved her hands in front of her body from her breasts down to her hips and said, "Your sister expects me to wear ... this ... to the dance!" Christina let her hands fall back onto her hips and awaited her cousin's response.

        Andrei's eyes crawled up and down Christina's body. Then up and down again. Momentarily they fixated on her impressive breasts and then down to her alluring legs. Andrei looked up into his cousin's face. Christina wasn't wearing any makeup, but she was still a knockout. Her long blonde hair was slightly disheveled from the blow dryer; it only added to the sensuality of the image.

        "Don't you have anything to say?" Christina asked snidely.

        "Wow," was all that escaped Andrei's mouth. He was still unable to take his eyes off Christina.

        "See?" Nina exclaimed, "He likes it."

        "Yes. It's very ... nice," Andrei said in his trance. He felt a familiar hardness in his pants and retreated out into the hallway so that his body was half-obscured by Christina's door frame.

        Realizing the reaction she had evoked in her older cousin, Christina slapped her forehead and muttered, "Here we go with this again."

        "Andrei thinks it's fine," Nina insisted, unaware of the state of arousal Christina had triggered in her brother.

        Andrei blushed furiously and fumbled his words. "I really ... um ... I have to go and get ready ... and ..."

        Christina shooed him away with her hand and said, "Yeah, I know. Go on." Christina was about to tell Nina in no uncertain terms that the dress had to go, but she felt her younger cousin's hand in her own. Christina looked down and was assaulted with Nina's best pout. "Nina ..." Christina cringed, "I don't think I can wear this."

        "Come on," she whined. "Anastasia did."

        "Well I think your sister was a lot more adventurous that I am."

        Nina responded, "We should both be more adventurous."

        Christina shook her head, but she was still cornered by Nina's pout.

        Nina begged, "Please ... Wear it for me?"

        "Oh Nina!" Christina groaned. She tried to stare the girl down, but it was no use. Christina surrendered " ... fine." Sitting down in front of her vanity, Christina resigned herself to her fate. She picked up a large brush and started to work on her hair.

        Nina, looking positively elated in her pretty dress, stood next to her cousin and asked, "Can I do your hair and makeup tonight?"

        Christina held out the brush to her cousin and asked, "You promise not to go over the top, right?" Nina nodded seriously, and Christina handed the brush over.

        The younger girl took over, and Christina found that she couldn't help but smile at their reflection in the mirror. Between Nina spending so much time with David, and Christina's stint at Richard's office the past week, Christina was truly happy to have some private time alone with Nina. Christina could still remember their first pajama party. She reflected on the times they'd spent together over the summer, fixing each other's hair, experimenting with makeup, and singing along with their favorite songs. Somewhere along the line, girl time with Nina had stopped being an act and turned into something Christina actually enjoyed.

        Nina went though Christina's luggage and pulled out her cousin's makeup bag. Placing it down on the vanity, she started looking through it for nail polish.

        Realizing what Nina was looking for, Christina went back to her bags and returned with a bag containing of four bottles of nail polish. Christina gushed, "You have to see these Nina; I got these on clearance at Sephora in the city."

        Examining the bottles, Nina selected one, "I like this one a lot."

        "Me too," Christina concurred. "I was running super low on cash when I was Christmas shopping, but there was no way I was going to pass this up."

        "Oh I know," Nina said with the seriousness of a U.N. diplomat. "I would have done the same thing."

        Christina relaxed her hand on the table, and Nina gingerly applied the polish to her cousin's manicured nails. Enjoying the moment, Christina sighed softly to herself.

        "What?" Nina grinned as she continued to work on Christina's fingers.

        Christina said wistfully, "You know I was just thinking about the first morning I woke up in this room."

        "Yeah?"

        "Remember? It was after my car accident? And I'd lost all my clothes, and makeup."

        "I remember."

        Christina continued, "It was so weird. My head was killing me, and I was all alone in a strange place."

        "This isn't a strange place," Nina giggled.

        "Well, it was to me, back then. Anyway, I don't know if I ever told you before, but I remember when you were doing my makeup that day, it made everything a lot less scary. Anyway, I guess it was just like, I knew right there that we were going to be best friends."

        Nina put the cap back on the nail polish and dropped it back into the bag. She smiled as she agreed, "I thought the same thing."

        Christina looked a little too serious for a moment and said, "You know, that no matter what happens, I'm always going to love you, right?"

        "Yes," Nina replied, "Now shut up."

        "Shut up?" Christina laughed.

        "Yes." Nina took out a foundation brush and said, "You know I have a hard time with your face when you talk too much."

        "I talk too much?" Christina scoffed playfully.

        Nina put her finger to Christina's lips and shushed her older cousin. Christina complied and did her best to keep quiet until Nina was satisfied with her results. When Nina was finished, Christina appraised herself in the mirror and was impressed. Christina said, "You got pretty good at this."

        "Well," Nina said, "Ever since you convinced Mom to let me wear makeup, I got a lot of practice."

        Her makeup now complete, Christina went to the full length mirror. There was no doubt about it; the look read "sex kitten." If there were a way she could sit out the dance without disappointing Nina, she would have. Still, there was a small part of her that enjoyed being beautiful. Christina knew that as a boy, she was at best, moderately handsome. Christina Chase was unarguably a bombshell. In a weird way, it was empowering to feel desired. Tonight, Christina realized, would be her last opportunity to experience being the center of attention.

        Christina returned yet again to her bags and pulled out the jewelry box that Andrei had given her for Christmas. She brought it back over to Nina, and the two of them ruffled through her jewelry.

        Nina picked out two elegant, faux diamond earrings and insisted, "Wear these."

        Taking them from her cousin, Christina held them up against her earlobes and looked in the mirror, tilting her head from side to side. Rather than put them on, she held them up to Nina's ears. "Why don't you wear them?" she said.

        "Really?" Nina asked excitedly.

        "Yeah," Christina replied as she carefully threaded each one through the tiny holes in Nina's earlobes. "Those look great on you."

        Nina tossed her hair back slightly to get a better view in the mirror and smiled furiously.

        "You know Nina, those look so good on you, you should just keep them."

        "I couldn't ..." Nina fussed as she stared at her ears.

        "Yes you can," Christina insisted, "All my stuff is your stuff. Besides, they look better on you, anyway."

        Nina picked out a pair of long silver teardrop earrings and handed them to Christina. "Try these on," she commanded. Pinning them onto her ears, Christina presented herself for inspection. Nina nodded approvingly.

        Christina took one last look at Nina. The girl was beautiful in her ball gown, and her face was glowing. Though Christina knew that this would be her last night with Nina, it was in that instant that Christina felt the crushing reality of that truth. Instinctively, she reached up to hold her necklace, and her hand found only emptiness.

        "Is my hair okay?" Nina asked.

        "Sure it is," Christina answered, "You look great."

        "... then why are you staring at me?"

        "No reason," Christina lied as she manufactured a smile. "We should go. It's getting late, and we still have to get Andrei ready."

        Nina nodded, and the two girls went across the hallway to Andrei's room, the sound of their heels against the hardwood floor filling the room.

        "You know Nina," Christina said, "I'm probably not going to be around as much as I like anymore, so you're going to have to help your brother from now on."

        "Do I have to?" she balked.

        "Yeah," Christina replied, "Someone has to keep him in line."

        "I guess you're right," she giggled.

        Christina knocked on Andrei's door and waited.

        Andrei opened the door and stood in the entrance. One side of his shirt was hanging out of is pants. His red tie was strewn about his neck as though he had been locked in a life or death struggle with it and lost. Even his hair was an absolute disgrace.

        Christina pointed at the suit jacket on Andrei's unmade bed and commanded, "Nina, explain to your brother why we don't toss our clothes around willy-nilly."

        Nina pushed past Andrei and scooped up the jacket. "You have to hang this up or it will get wrinkled," she admonished. Taking a plastic hanger out of the litter on Andrei's floor, Nina hung the jacket on the side of the dresser. While she was at it, she made an attempt to kick the dirty clothes on the floor into something resembling a coherent pile.

        Noticing how Andrei's eyes were staring at her chest, Christina decided to have a little fun at her cousin's expense. She placed her hands on her waist and tilted her hips seductively. She cleared her throat in an attempt to get her older cousin's attention, but it did nothing to break Andrei's gaze. Christina cleared her throat again, and Andrei snapped out of his trance. He looked into Christina's face and blushed.

        Looking over Andrei's shoulder to make sure Nina was occupied, Christina whispered in her best pouty voice, "Just for future reference, when I shout your name and ask you to tell Nina why I CAN'T wear something, it means you're supposed to talk her out of it."

        "You look ... nice," Andrei choked. His eyes again unconsciously drifted around his Christina's body. Regaining control of himself, he stuttered, "But if you want to change into something else ... you know ... that's fine too ..."

        Christina grinned evilly and touched Andrei's cheek with her gloved hand. "Oh, it's too late for that," said seductively. Seeing Andrei's massive member straining the front of his pants, Christina reached out slowly with her left hand and pulled the top of his slacks forward. Andrei turned a darker shade of red as though his head was going to explode. Undaunted, Christina took the side of Andrei's shirt that was hanging out of his pants with her other hand. Slowly stuffing it down Andrei's pants, she let her hand linger. She parted her lips invitingly, and savored the distraught look on Andrei's face.

        Breaking into uncontrollable laughter, Christina let go of Andrei's pants and rapped him playfully on the shoulder as she walked past him into the room. "I'll tell Steph you have a thing for femme fatales," she snickered

        Taking a moment to compose himself, Andrei muttered, "That was very wrong," without budging from the spot where he stood. Turning around, he faced his cousin. His embarrassment had destroyed the erection in his pants.

        Christina grinned innocently and joked, "Lucky for you, Steph is into dressing up as movie stars."

        A smirk crept across Andrei's face, and he shook his head as he repeated, "That was so very wrong."

        Giving up on her feeble attempt to organize her brother's trash, Nina asked, "What was wrong?"

        Christina took Andrei's massive palm in her own and dragged him into the room. "What's wrong," Christina explained, "Is that your brother is twenty-two years old and he still can't put on a tie by himself." She took a small metal foot stool out from underneath Andrei's desk and placed it on the floor behind her older cousin. Carefully stepping onto the stool in her heels, Christina held onto Andrei's enormous shoulders for support. She leaned her chest against Andrei's back, and draped her arms around his shoulders. As Christina tied a Windsor knot, Andrei did his best to stand up straight.

        Andrei felt the familiar tickle of Christina's long blonde against his cheek, and he was lost in the smell of her perfume. It took all of his concentration to avoid yet another embarrassing erection.

        Satisfied with her work, Christina stepped off the stool and motioned for Andrei to sit on the bed. He complied, and Christina took a comb off Andrei's night stand and gave it to Nina.

        "Okay Nina, work your magic," Christina grinned.

        "Nina?" Andrei asked.

        Christina pulled herself up on top of Andrei's desk and crossed her legs. The slit in her skirt put her long silky legs on full display. "Nina's in charge of hair tonight," Christina explained.

        In a matter of minutes, Andrei went from disheveled to dapper.

        "God, it's so unfair," Christina complained.

        "What is?" Andrei asked.

        "Do you have any idea how easy you have it? It took Nina and I hours to get ready for tonight."

        Standing up, Andrei straightened his jacket. He joked, "You should have had the good sense to have been born a boy."

        Christina muttered, "Don't worry, it's on my to-do list."

        That last remark cause Andrei to raise an eyebrow. He was about to ask what his cousin was getting at, but the honking of a car horn in the driveway stole his attention.

        Nina jumped up off the bed and shouted, "What time is it?"

        "A little past eight," Andrei replied.

        "David's here!" Nina shouted. "I have to go!"

        Nina maneuvered around the piles of trash and clothes on Andrei's floor then ran downstairs. Christina and Andrei followed after her.

        "I thought you were going with us," Christina called as she came down the stairs.

        "Not tonight," Nina said as she put on her coat. "David has the whole night planned."

        "What do you mean, 'planned?'" Christina asked suspiciously.

        Nina shrugged. "I dunno," she said. "It's a surprise. It's so romantic, isn't it?"

        "No it isn't-"

        "How do I look?" Nina asked one last time.

        "Nina, you great, but-" Christina was cut off by another impatient honk from David.

        "Okay, I'll see you there!" Nina said as she rushed out the door.

        Christina shot Andrei a worried look. She said, "I don't trust that boy."

        Just as Andrei and Christina came down the stairs, Alek and Misha walked out of the master bedroom. Christina couldn't be sure, but by the look on Misha's face, she suspected her aunt and uncle had just had another fight.

        "What was all that?" Misha asked.

        Andrei said, "Nina just left with David."

        Alek didn't speak; his gaze was transfixed on Christina.

        Assuming that her uncle was angry with her, Christina shrank behind Andrei. What she didn't realize was that Alek recognized Anastasia's dress. The sight of his niece, who looked so much like his daughter, was mesmerizing. It was as if Anastasia had stepped out of the past. Except for the blonde hair, Alek felt as though his daughter was standing before him.

        "I thought Nina was finally going to properly introduce us to the boy," Misha complained.

        Snapping out of his trance, Alek agreed, "Yes. I should get to know this boy if he is to date my daughter. What sort of boy picks Nina up in the dead of night and just drives off? He shows no respect."

        Christina said, "I don't think he's good for Nina."

        "You were their chaperone!" Alek boomed. "You said he was a gentleman!"

        Misha placed her hand on her husband's enormous arms and whispered, "Alek ..."

        "I know I did," Christina said submissively. "I was wrong, but I'm going to take care of it."

        "You?" Alek barked. "You are the reason she is with that boy!"

        "Hey!" Andrei shouted forcefully. "Don't talk to her like that!"

        Alek looked incredulously at his son.

        Christina could tell by the fire in her uncle's eyes that he was about to unleash a new tirade upon Andrei.

        Misha was not going to allow it. She squeezed her husband's arm, and it was enough to calm him down a bit.

        Andrei, however, was still itching for a fight.

        Seeing Andrei's incisors as he sneered, Christina begged him, "Andrei, please go warm up the truck?"

        Andrei looked back and forth between his uncle and his cousin with his eyes. He did not want to leave Christina alone with his father, but he eventually conceded, but only because Christina had asked him to. Angrily grabbing his coat in his massive fist, he stormed outside, slamming the front door as he went.

        Breaking the silence, Misha said, "Christina, that dress looks wonderful on you dear."

        Christina grinned weakly and looked at her uncle, hoping for a reaction. His stubborn nod wasn't quite the glowing approval Christina would have wanted. Dejectedly pulling on her fur-lined coat, Christina bent down and reached under the Christmas tree. She felt under the tree skirt and pulled out the large envelope containing the solution to her uncle's tax problems. As Christina walked towards her uncle, she looked him in the eyes for the first time since their confrontation in the kitchen. She handed him the envelope and said, "Uncle Alek, I know that I've disappointed you, and I am very sorry."

        Alek was taken aback; he would never have expected a sincere apology, and he could think of no way to respond.

        Turning to her aunt, Christina promised, "I'm going to look after Nina."

        "I know you will," Misha replied warmly.

        Buttoning her coat, Christina turned her back on her aunt and uncle and walked silently to the door. There was a certain freedom in surrender, she thought. She'd spent the past two weeks living in fear of her uncle, but it didn't matter anymore. By giving him that envelope, whatever Christina feared her uncle would say or do was now guaranteed. Now that she knew the waiting was over, there was no fear left; only resignation.

        Alek watched his niece disappear into the cold December night.

        "What is it, Alek?" Misha asked, looking at the envelope.

        Opening the large yellow envelope, Alek pulled out a stack of forms and papers. He removed the handwritten letter off the top of the stack and ruffled through the familiar looking forms. Immediately knowing what they were, he angrily walked to the middle of the living room and slammed them forcefully on the coffee table. Alek, his blood boiling, read the note Christina had written.

        "Alek what is it?" Misha repeated.

        Alek sneered menacingly and shoved the note out for his wife to read. Misha took the crumpled note and read it to herself:

 

        Dear Uncle Alek,

        Enclosed are your taxes for the past five years. You need to sign and date every place that I've marked with a red x. If you re-file these, you will only owe the IRS about $3,500. If you do this, you won't have to lose the store or the house. I know you'll want to talk about this when I get home.

        Love, Christina.

 

        Misha fell backwards into a large armchair next to the fireplace. She said in amazement, "She did it. I do not know how ... but she did it."

        Alek paced back and forth like a caged animal. "Yes," he spewed venomously, "She did it."

        "Alek," Misha said in a calm voice.

        "Yes, she did it!" Alek yelled. He pushed over the pile of forms on the coffee table with his giant paw and fumed, "She had to prove me wrong! She had to prove SHE was right, and I was wrong!"

        Clenching her fists, Misha stood and barked, "Alek!"

        He shook his head furiously and growled, "No! This is just like her! She is defiant! And headstrong! There is no arguing with her. She makes up her mind, and that is that!"

        "ALEK!" Misha screamed so loudly that even she was surprised, "She is not Anastasia!"

        Alek, who had never heard Misha address him in that way, stared back at his wife, dumbfounded.

        "She is not Nastya," Misha repeated in a quieter but furious tone.

        Alek stared at his wife for a moment. "I know," he muttered, "But she deliberately disobeyed me. This is always her way."

        "No!" Misha sneered through gritted teeth. "Anastasia was stubborn. And proud, like her father! But not Tina, Alek. Tina adores you. And she does everything you ask of her. She lives for a kind word from you. Do you not understand that she cannot fight back? You are hurting her!"

        "I ..." Alek stumbled defensively. "I told her to mind her own business," he rebounded. "She had no place interfering!" he growled, regaining some of his fire.

        "Damn you, Alek!" Misha shrieked. She stormed angrily into the master bedroom and returned, carrying a plain silver chain. She thrust it into Alek's rough hand and stared her husband down. "That," she explained, with a rage her husband had never seen, "Is Christina's necklace- what is left of it. That was the most important thing in her world, and she gave it up for you. Because she loves you. She wanted to give you a gift that would let you know how she felt. That was the most precious thing she had, and I watched her give it up without a thought for herself. Just so your damned clock would work again!"

        Alek looked down at the tiny silver chain in his hand.

        "She gave you her heart," Misha spat. "And you're throwing it away!"

        "I ..." he whispered in shame, "She knows that-"

        "Does she?" Misha pleaded. "Have you been to her room? Have you seen? Her things are packed. There is nothing left," Misha said, trembling slightly. "Her closet is empty. Do you not understand? She does not intend to return!"

         Clenching her teeth ferociously, she continued "I have stood by you through good times and bad. But this I will not allow. THIS I WILL NOT ALLOW! If you drive my child away, I will never forgive you."

        With that, Misha turned her back on her husband and went into the master bedroom.

        Alek was still in a state of shock. He and Misha had fought before, but she had never treated him like that. He looked down into his thick hand and studied the silver chain. Picking it up, he let it dangle between his fingers. Going over to the clock, he opened the door and watched the pendulum swing back and forth. All alone, he could hear the intricate ticking of gears, and cogs, and springs. He stared into the clock until the noise was louder than his own cloudy thoughts. He closed the clock door and went to the front window. Looking out the window into the darkness, he thought about what his wife had said. He thought of Anastasia, ... and he thought about his niece.

---

Edited into coherence by Holly H. Hart.
Thanks to Sephrena Miller for taking an early read.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it or hated it, please leave a tasty comment.
Krunch Away!