Learning With Mel

Ian said he had some furniture moving with Kyle this morning since a few rooms were already dry and some chose to move their beds back to their room rather than remain in the game room until the end of the rains was more certain. If it decided to rain again the only hassle was moving a mattress so most chose to return to their caves when possible. I was excited because our cave was certainly dry which meant we would be sleeping on real mattresses this evening rather than thin sleeping pads. I smiled with contentment that Ian would have more room to sprawl out comfortably tonight without having to end up with an arm or leg on the bare cave floor.

Tonight would be the first official night in what would be our cave from now on. The excitement of having a place I truly belonged, that I could call mine, had me even more excited than I would have been already.

I wouldn't see Ian until lunch which was ideal because I needed to speak with Mel alone during our field work. I definitely had some questions about sexual relations and missed the days when Mel was right there in my head with answers. It was easier not to be embarrassed as much when I didn't have to actually speak the words out loud.

"Thank you for speaking with Ian last night. He said you helped bring him a better perspective."

"I actually had been prepared for needing that discussion. In the end, the whole thing went better than expected," she sighed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know he was going to be angry with you and Jared. I didn't mean to cause trouble. I just wanted to be truthful with him. I thought he would only be disappointed with me."

Mel laughed. "Then you haven't been paying attention very well. He's never disappointed with you. And don't worry about it. Jared and I are relieved to put it all in the past." She took a long slow breath. "That was a very low point for us."

It was silent for a few minutes as we both plucked ripe zucchini from their vines. I needed to be brave for Ian.

"Mel, can I ask you about something... private?" I whispered as I peeked up at her.

She looked intrigued. "Of course. What is it?"

I took a breath to steady my shaking voice. "Well, I don't know... I want to be able to... " I was completely at a loss of how to ask for the information I needed.

"Wanda, you can ask me anything." She looked concerned.

"I was hoping you could explain to me... what things a girl can do... for a guy."

She tried not to laugh at me. "Are you trying to ask about sex?" she whispered barely above a breath.

I quickly started to organize the squash in the basket to all go the same direction as heat flooded my face. "Yes."

She looked around. "Let's finish this row and take the full baskets to the pantry."

Once there, she turned to me, "What specifically do you want to know about? I know you understand the basics. And you've witnessed most of my memories which is all I know really."

"Well, it seems like there might have been many things you successfully kept private. Plus, I try not to think about your memories. I feel like I would be stealing your history if I dredged them up or used them for my personal use."

She looked sincerely touched, "thanks."

"Ian makes me feel, amazing." I couldn't hide the glowing smile just thinking about how he made me feel the past two nights. "I'm so inexperienced. I hoped you could tell me the things that I should do to be... better."

A sly look came into her eye. "Ok, you want to know more about sex in order to make Ian happy?" she confirmed.

"Yes," I replied simply.

"Come with me; I have a plan." She grabbed my hand and guided me through the tunnels until we stood outside of Brandt and Aaron's room. She looked back down the hall. I started to get a worried feeling in the bottom of my stomach.

"Brandt? Aaron?" she called quietly. When there was no answer, she looked relieved which was even more confusing. "Wait here a minute."

She dashed behind the curtain and returned in less than a minute with a magazine rolled in her hand.

"Don't worry. I'm not stealing. I just want to show you some things and I'll put it back. I happened to see this once while asking Aaron a question and it's how many humans learned about sex."

I couldn't imagine how this magazine was going to help but I followed her out that corridor and into our own. She moved the green screen from her room and we quickly went inside.

Now that we were safely in her room I felt an unknown weight lift. I turned to her with a questioning look. It was as if she could still know my thoughts.

"Trust me; this is one time it's better to borrow without asking." She laughed. Mel laughed a lot these days. Sometimes it was as if she was a new person, she was so happy.

"Come sit down." She sat against the wall since the mattresses were still in the game room and her floor was still wet along the shadier end.

I sat next to her. Since I had been spending my nights in the hospital, I hadn't been down to the sleeping corridors often. The room felt the same as when I used to sleep there. It was odd how familiar it was yet it no longer was my own. Or really ever was.

She noticed me looking around. "Yeah, it was weird being in Ian's room alone for the first time last night."

I noticed she put the magazine face down on her other side away from me. "Ok, first. You phrased the question like you might have the impression that there are specific things you 'should' do. Every guy is different and likes different things. Some guys really like things that other guys most certainly do not. It's very confusing." She laughed. "Don't worry. It's just as confusing for them too.

"Some guys like a girl who knows and does very little. Kind of boring if you ask me. At the other end of the spectrum there are guys who like a girl who does weird things. I mean, things most people would find disturbing. The majority of guys fall somewhere in the middle. So with that in mind, I can tell you some things that I think most guys would like. I only know from movies I saw when I was younger or things I've overheard. I'm far from an expert on the subject." She rolled her eyes. "But I do remember how little you knew so I think I can help."

"Secondly, discovering what you both like is what every new couple goes through. It's fun. Ian is very intense and loves the hell out of you. You should talk to him. Ask him what he likes; what makes him feel good; what he wants to try. I mean, don't ask all those immediately or all at once, but you'll know when the time is right. It's special discovering how to make someone happy. He's probably just as worried about making you happy."

"I don't think that is the case. He definitely knows how to do that."

She laughed to herself. "Good for you." She raised her eyebrows in a way that made me feel like I said too much. "Well, believe it or not, I'm sure he wants to discover more ways to make you even happier. You guys have just got started."

"So, with all that in mind, it's easier for me to show you some things than describe them. And less embarrassing too." She turned away and started to flip through the magazine looking for something specific.

I tried not to be embarrassed as she showed me the images. It somewhat helped me overcome my shyness to think of it purely from an educational aspect. I was used to a learning environment although the subject was never one such as that.

She showed me things that I should definitely try and would most likely use often. I asked questions about those. She also noted I shouldn't try to make the faces the women made. It would be weird. The lacy garments were beautiful and I made a comment to discreetly acquire some on the next extended shopping trip. Mel said she'd like some too and used the opportunity to ask for lip gloss as well. Then she showed me a couple acts that were much more... surprising. She said they were optional but she didn't want me to be worried should they ever come up. It depended on the individuals. I didn't ask her experience on those and she also seemed shy to talk about them.

The most important thing she stressed was to ask Ian to show me or tell me what he liked.

My mind was swimming in thoughts as she closed the magazine. She said from what she could tell, there were a lot more adventurous things out there but they were well out of her experience. And she was ok with that.

"You look like you've just had you mind blown," she laughed. "Do you have any other questions?"

"I can't think of any."

"Well, you can always ask later." She put her arm around my shoulders. "I want to get this back in Aaron's room before lunch break."

"Why does Aaron keep the group's manual?"

She actually giggled and I couldn't help but join in. "It's not technically a manual. It's for his own... enjoyment. I forgot to mention that one." She explained briefly how that would work for both men and women. It made more sense as it had appeared a very unusual manual.

"Can you stay here for a minute while I run this back? We haven't had much of an opportunity to be alone this past week and I need to talk to you more about Ian."

"Of course," I responded slowly. I was concerned about the serious change in her tone.