Chapter 8-Good Samaritan
Sophia
Taylor's house is a few streets over from Emery's, but while Emery's house was simple with little to draw the eye (other than the barn a few yards on the other side of the property), Taylor's house was small and quaint, with a meticulously well manicured lawn. Without even having met Taylor's family I knew they probably like to keep up appearances.
My best bet getting into the house was Taylor's bedroom on the second floor. The only way up to the room was a tree limb just outside the window. Normally, I wouldn't have gone to such drastic measures, but at the moment, I had little choice; and I was up for it anyway.
Looking around, I made sure no one was visible around the house or coming up the driveway then I quickly scrambled up the tree swinging myself into the branches. I didn't have much cover yet since it was barely the beginning of April and the leaves themselves were just unfurling, because I didn't have much cover I had to move fast.
Positioning myself on a sturdy limb I began to inch out on the limb across from Taylor's bedroom window. Luckily, the window had been left open just enough that I could stand on the sill and inch it a little further open. I only hoped I didn't misjudge my footing and end up falling, even the with the outcropping of the eaves and first story of the house it was still a long way down.
Still moving cautiously I finally made my way to Taylor's window. Slowly I eased myself from the branch of the tree to the window sill, which all things considered was not a lot of room. Shifting my weight carefully, I inched the window open some more then carefully slid inside.
Finally I stood up and looked around. The room was about what I had expected, a soft dusty pink with a frilly bedspread. Everything a teenage girl could possibly want. On the wall next to the window was a vanity and a dresser it was here I began, but paused briefly when I heard brief noises from downstairs, probably Taylor's mom in her comings and goings. She sounded like she was talking to someone but whether it was on the phone or in person I couldn't tell. I couldn't make out a second voice so I figured she was probably on the phone. Once I figured she probably wasn't coming upstairs I relaxed and returned to my task.
As I pulled Taylor's clothes from her drawers I listened to the conversation drifting from downstairs with half an ear.
"No, the doctors are still unsure how or even why she disappeared from the hospital, if she doesn't show up in the next day or so I'm calling the police. I mean they said she had severe burns there was no way she can have just walked out!"
Taylor's mom's voice rose and it was clear to me she was upset. While I sympathized with her, I had more important things to do.
I pulled some simple things for Taylor, a shirt, which would probably be too small on her with her growing belly, a pair of sweatpants which had the Marshall High School logo on them, undergarments, and a pair of socks. I also grabbed a pair of tennis shoes, which looked like they had hardly been worn. Taylor didn't strike me as the type of girl that ran track.
I shoved all of the clothes into a gunnysack I had snagged from the barn and was about to go back out the window when I saw something else. Draped across Taylor's bed looking as though it had been forgotten about, was a T-shirt and it certainly didn't look like one Taylor personally owned. It was three or four sizes too big and when I looked again I recognized it as one I had seen Drake wearing a few weeks ago. Smirking, I shoved it into my bag with the rest of the clothes.
I dropped the gunnysack out of the window then retraced my steps out the window and back down the tree. Climbing down the tree I jumped up and grabbed the gunnysack, then made my way the few streets over back to Emery's.
Taylor was where I had left her and she looked up when I came back through the door.
"You have them? How did you get in and out of my house without my mom seeing you?" She looked astounded and impressed.
I shrugged.
"I'm used to being quiet, at least when I want to be." I continued as I tossed the gunnysack towards her, which bounced sluggishly like a bloated potato. "I think your mom's worried about you, she says she's going to file a missing persons report if you don't come home soon."
Taylor pursed her lips tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind one ear.
"I'll come home, as soon as I can figure out what to tell her."
I walked back over to the front of the barn and returned a few minutes later with the garden hose uncoiling it as I went.
"Well while you're thinking, let's get you cleaned up."
Taylor and I stood in a shadowed corner of the barn, away from the blankets and gunnysacks so nothing got wet. Then I turned on the hose.
Taylor shrieked.
"Sophia! It's cold! geez!"
I looked at her apologetically, biting my lip.
"Sorry."
In a moment not distracted by laughing at Taylor's reaction to the cold water I studied her. She was so beautiful and vibrant in the way I couldn't quite describe. She had curves in the right places, curves I certainly didn't have. I had always been a tomboy of sorts and even before we had come to Earth I had enjoyed messing around with the boys and stripping to swim in the lake of our home planet, where Roman and I had both learned to swim, but when we were older it was where we snuck away to, and skinny dipped until the sun came up.
"You're staring at me." Taylor mumbled critically.
"You're beautiful," I said honestly, why shouldn't I."
Taylor blushed pushing her wet hair out of her eyes. I knew I was blushing too, but at the moment I didn't really care.
"You make me feel weird." Taylor whispered, but she wasn't looking at me. Her hands had settled in front of her spread over her pregnant belly and showing the hint of dark hair between her legs.
I stepped behind her still holding the hose unsure of what exactly I was doing and the hose fell from my hand as I slid my arms around her not caring how wet I got.
"This is weird," Taylor muttered, "but maybe you should take your clothes off?"
I smiled faintly, she didn't have to tell me twice.
My clothes came off surprisingly quickly and then there I am in nothing but my underwear and bra and Taylor is picking up the hose again, this time turning it on me. She was right it was cold, ice cold. I scream, giggle, and tried to grab it back then we are both soaked, our hair dripping, but we're still grinning at each other. This time when I reach for Taylor she doesn't pull away I grab her hips and slide my hands over her belly and smile.
"Beautiful." I whisper. This time, she doesn't argue.
I want so much more, but I don't know how to say it and I doubt she does either, this is new territory for both of us, and then there is Drake to consider, but neither of us are thinking of that right now. My hands feel electric and curiosity burns white-hot somewhere in the pit of my stomach, but I don't move, I can't.
Finally, we turn off the hose and Taylor and I dry off the best we can. For a long time we just lie there in silence. I even take off my under clothes to wring them out,(there isn't enough sun to dry them). So we lie there naked waiting to dry off even though were both still kind of cold.
Then Taylor rolled over and picks up the discarded hospital gown which is damp, dusty and dirty. She makes a face.
"I'll be glad if I never see this thing again!" Then she tosses it away and we both laugh.
We fall into a comfortable silence before Taylor speaks again.
"So have you ever thought about doing it with a girl?"
"Maybe." I murmur. I am interested, but undefined as I had already told her everyone can love and it shouldn't be restricted to who.
"Maybe I'll have better luck as a lesbian." Taylor mutters with a half smile, "look where guys got me." She gestures down at her belly.
We both glanced at each other, but what our next move will be remains unsaid.
A short time later we are both dressed again and Taylor is pulling Drake's over her head.
"Sophia, where did you get this?"
"It was on your bed, I think it's…"
She cuts me off.
"Drake's." she finishes then smoothes the loose shirt over her growing bump. "I guess we better go we're probably going to be in trouble." She gives a short little laugh and a shrug that doesn't quite sound like her.
"Yeah." I tuck a strand of my dark hair behind my ear, a nervous gesture. "No telling what's going on at the sector now, I haven't come back since the device detonated… I hope Roman and the others are alright."
Taylor striaghtens as she ties her shoes.
"Well let's go home." She says, then we walk out of the barn together both unsure of what awaits us.
