Venus was awake by 3:30 am.

My body clock must be on Pacific Time, permanently, she thought to herself, as she quietly moved around in the kitchen. By 5 am, the aroma of fresh coffee began to fill the air, along with the scent of her homemade cinnamon rolls.

Abel was also awake. He and Megan had spent most of the late night sitting on the beach together. While he hadn't made any specific moves to initiate sex, he fought the urge to do so. It was baffling, as he couldn't understand the new feelings inside himself at the same time. Worse, they felt pleasant, happy, and exciting, which were almost alien...there were so many girls he'd been with, but why was this one different ? There was what he concluded, a completeness he felt when he was with her...a calm peace inside...what would that be like if he pushed further? The prospect was intensely inviting, but it also scared the crap out of him ...

Megan cautiously tiptoed into the kitchen, enjoying the scent of coffee.

" Well, good morning sweetheart ..." Venus startled her. " Help yourself to the caffeine, I'll get you something to eat.." and she quickly produced a small tray with fruit n assorted yogurt.

Minutes later , Megan couldn't help staring at the glamazon delicately sipping coffee across from her at the table. Enormous pink rollers, covered by a colorful silk scarf sat on her head, and a shear silky caftan was tied gently just above her voluptuous breasts. Was this a D, or a double E cup, she wondered to herself, when a snort from the sofa startled her.

" Men make the worst noise when they sleep," Venus smiled , looking at the sleeping giant .

Opie was sprawled out, still holding his Game of Thrones paperback, a sheet covering half his legs. Megan recognized the book, along with his faded t shirt which read WINTER IS COMING.

" Wouldn't you agree ?" Venus was watching her .

" Um...I guess..." Megan glanced at her cup, feeling self conscious. " I hope we don't wake him up.."

" Hell, there's only one thing that'll wake that beast, and it sure as hell ain't us, honey.."

She waited for a response, and added, " Its ok, honey, I may have a loud bark, but I don't bite..I was raised to be a perfect lady." Venus's voice was gentle. " Now, I wanna know all about you, cause I believe, and I'm never wrong, now, that you have the utmost attention of the young man you spent three hours with on my front porch last night...!"

Megan felt suddenly embarrassed, but tried to conceal her smile. " It's not like you think.."

" Excuse me? Lil girl, you can't fool a proper Lady, and you don't tell fibs to one either.." she finished with a look that made the young girl laugh. " There, now...tell me all about how you met our young man.."

Megan relaxed. " We're both in English Lit, but we've been going to school together since the third grade... I wasn't really part of the crowd he ran with..."

Venus shook her head. " Yea I know all about some a those heathens..."

" He wasn't in class much this year...and I met him after he got arrested at the mall last month."

" She saved my ass is what she did" Abel interrupted, walking into the kitchen. Without hesitation, he opened the refrigerator and pulled the milk container out.

" Young man, if your lips even touch that , I'm gonna slap u to Saint Louis..." Venus admonished. " Now go get a glass and use it like your mama raised you to!"

Watching as Abel grabbed a used coffee mug out of the sink, she interrupted him.

" No, on second thought, march your ass back to your room, and put on a shirt.." Venus grabbing it out of his hand.

" What?"

" A clean shirt, please, you're in the presence of two ladies!" She glared .

" And bring out your backpack if you can't find ones, I wanna see what you brought this year !" She called as Abel grumbled down the hallway. A few moments later it sat open in front of Megan.

Venus picked thru the contents, frowning.

" You packed this, right ?"

" Yea, I was in a hurry.." Abel answered, cramming a cheese danish in his mouth.

" You plan on taking this sweet girl to Jake's seafood ?" She tossed the clothes aside .

" Yea, why ?"

" Not in these rags you aren't.." Venus glared, holding up one of his Winston Tree Service shirts.

" It doesn't matter what anyone wears!" Abel countered, part of his danish dropping in his lap.

Venus wasn't having it, and leaned forward across the island.

" Like hell it doesn't, young man...this beautiful young woman will not be debased when she walks into a public restaurant with someone whose dressed like a vagabond ! "

Megan reached for the danish, and after wiping the smear of frosting from his thigh, quickly popped in in her mouth.

" Come on, Venus, it's not a big fuking deal, ok?"

" Well it is, kinda..." Megan interrupted licking her fingers. " I've never been out to dinner before. I even packed for something like this !"

Both females stared at Abel, who felt cornered.

" I have a solution ", Venus seemed to capitulate. " Today will be a Day with the girls !" She gestured grandly, as Tommy appeared around the corner. " You...go put on a shirt, and comb your hair !" she barked. " He quickly retreated..." Sweetie, you, and I will have a grand day, shopping, having lunch, and doing those important things girls do out on the town !"