Author's Note: Thank you to all who reviewed and for all of your suggestions (you will see them happening soon).
For now I wanted to let you know that this past week one of my stories (not this one) was reported for "explicit content". A couple years back there was a big issue with this. The site moderators deleted stories and accounts and a lot of really awesome M-rated writers left this site because of it. I'm not sure if my story/account will get deleted or not (I'm hoping not because that would suck) but for now I'm going to keep writing so make sure you keep this story on alert!
Gemma
Chapter Twenty-Five Y is for YOLO
I wake up to the smell of burning coffee and the stupid soundtrack of that damn Xbox game. Everything hurts and I can barely see when I open my eyes. So I keep them shut taking in my surroundings through my other senses instead.
"What time is it?" I manage to mumble as I frisk myself looking for my phone – only to remember that I smashed it a few days back. I try to sit up but a sharp pain stabs my temple. "Oh, fuck," I curse under my breath as I plant my palms on either side of my head. I bend in half, leaning forward between my knees but that only makes it worse. Stupid fucking hangover.
Sam and Nora haven't moved from their positions on the coffee table. Although when I do manage to get my left eye partially open – I see two cups of coffee and a box of cereal in between them. "What time is it?" I repeat forcing myself to my feet as the need to pee becomes more urgent.
The game pauses as the pair turn around and smile at me.
"Good Morning, Johnny!" Nora exclaims much too perkily.
"Hey man," Sam looks at me with a half-loaded smile. "How do you feel?"
"Don't ask."
"There's coffee," Nora offers pointing toward the kitchen. "Hope you like it black 'cause there's no cream or sugar."
"Awesome," I say as I shuffle across the room toward the bathroom. As soon as I open the door I am greeted with the familiar odor of licorice. My stomach knots a little as hints of nausea return. Slipping the neckline of Mark's shirt up my face to cover my mouth and nose, I bravely continue on my course to the toilet. I'm not usually too concerned about germs but I'm pretty sure public restrooms are more sanity than this place. It's so disgusting that when I look in the porcelain bowl I actually gag. Aside from the smell, tan-ish water and the nice brown ring around the circumference, there are green and yellow blotches growing around the rim. I make a note to thank Six for letting me vomit in the bathtub. I couldn't imagine putting my face anywhere near the toilet bowl.
Making my way back into the kitchen, I see that Sam and Nora are taking a time out from their game. Nora is sipping her coffee while Sam shoves handfuls of dry cereal into his mouth. He's crunching happily, listening as Nora explains something about the next level of the game. She makes absolutely no sense as she babbles but Sam seems completely invested in whatever she's saying.
I find the coffee maker sitting on the counter. The red light indicates it's still warm however there are no clean cups. I rummage through the trash on the counter and find nothing that is durable enough to hold liquid. For a second I contemplate drinking the coffee directly from glass pot.
"Are there any clean cups? Mugs? Glasses?" I ask openly.
"There's nothing clean in this place," Nora laughs. "But here," she drains the rest of her coffee. "You can use mine." From her position on the couch she throws the takeout cup through the air. I reach out to catch it and get sprayed with a few stray drops of residual coffee.
"Thanks," I frown as I wipe my face.
"Welcome," she calls back.
After a few sips of warm coffee I feel a little better. "So where is everyone?" I inquire, although by 'everyone' I really mean Six. I was sort of hoping to wake up in her lap this morning.
"Randy has a class now," Nora explains as she and Sam prepare to start the next phase of the game. "Josh is in the bedroom sleeping." She pauses as she starts to play, instructing Sam on where to go.
"What about S…," I catch myself before I actually say "Six", and manage to change it to Sarah without it sounding too strange.
Sam pauses the game and turns around to me. "Mark, Sarah and Jane went out to breakfast."
"Really?" I say as I sip my coffee. It was hard for me to imagine those three doing anything together. "Why didn't you guys go?" I ask the duo in front of me.
Sam shrugs and restarts the game. Nora doesn't respond at all. I don't bother asking again. It's clear they are way too into the game to engage in conversation. Time passes as I finish my cup of coffee and then return to my spot on the couch. I half-watch them play as I rest a little more. My head doesn't hurt quite as bad but I'm really tired. I can't sleep though, I'm too anxious for Six to come back.
The door opens sometime around lunch and I practically jump off the couch. It's only Randy. He has a break in between classes and came home to take a nap. He and Josh trade places as Josh heads off to campus.
A short time later the doors opens again. I expect it to be Josh but it's Sarah. She comes inside with Mark close behind her.
"Sam. Nora. We brought you lunch," Sarah tells them as she sets down two of those foam take out boxes on the kitchen counter.
"Thanks!" they reply in unison, although they make no attempt to move from their seats. Mark is standing a few feet away directing their next moves.
"What about me?" I ask Sarah as I eye up the food. I didn't think I was hungry until I saw those containers.
"You'll have to ask your girlfriend about that," Sarah replies coldly as she turns her back to me.
Inwardly I roll my eyes. Yes, I know that things ended rather badly – but isn't that how break-ups generally go? One person wants out of the relationship and the other doesn't. Inevitably someone's feelings get hurt. I guess I figured since I'm an alien – Sarah should be a little more understanding. I mean, we're not even the same species so it probably wouldn't have worked anyway. Hell, even Superman and Lois Lane hit a roadblock.
But, clearly Sarah is pissed and so I drop the subject.
"Wasn't Jane with you guys?" I ask Mark.
"Oh yeah," Mark slaps his head. "Almost forgot to tell you that she's waiting for you at the van."
As I head out the door with a, "See you guys later," it never occurs to me that this would be the last time I saw any of them again.
Bernie Kosar appears by my side and he seems to know my mood. He bounces and wags his tail, it thumps against my leg. I know I'm smiling like an idiot but I can't help feeling so… happy.
I start thinking about the first time I kissed Six. I get a little carried away with my memories and by the time I get to the van – foreplay won't be necessary on my end.
She's sitting in the driver's seat with the engine started.
"Hi," I smile at her as I rest my crossed arms on the driver's side window.
"Hi," she grins back at me, brushing hair from her face. "I have something for you," she says.
"I have something for you too," I reply as I open the door. I take her hand off the steering wheel and place it against my groin.
"You did not just do that!" She blushes and pulls her hand away. Covering her eyes she shakes her head.
"What?" I attempt to join her in the driver's seat, groping her thigh. "I missed you," I say in her ear as I lick her earlobe.
With her telekinesis, she pushes me out of the car and I end up butt-denting the Nissan parked beside us. I frown at her as I fix the dent with my own Legacies.
She offers me a white bakery bag. "For you," she says as I accept the sustenance inside as a peace offering. I unroll the top of the bag and peek inside, licking my lips in the process. It's fresh and warm and smells delicious. "Get in," she pats the passenger seat. "We have a lot to do today."
"Like what?" I ask with a mouthful of some of the best pasty I have ever tasted in my entire life.
There is a long moment of silence. Six taps her thumbs on the steering wheel. "First," she pauses looking over at me, "we should probably talk about last night."
"Okay," I say while chewing, then adding an, "Mmmmmm. This is gooood. Did you try it?"
She shakes her head no.
"Want some?" I break off a piece and offer it to her.
Her head goes side to side once more.
"Your loss," I say as I shove the chunk into my own mouth.
She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. "You said some things to me last night and I…," she stops for a second and stares out the windshield. "I thought I had this all figured out but," she sighs lightly. "You are so frustrating sometimes."
"It's not complicated," I explain. "I want to be with you." I encroach on the center console and slide my hand over hers. "See?" I look into her eyes as I lean in to kiss her. "Easy as…."
"What's easy about it?" She holds my gaze stopping my forward motion with her telekinesis. "Now that you decide you like me – it's magically supposed to happen?"
"Well, yeah?" I'm confused – this is the part where I confess my feelings. And now she's supposed to rip my pants off and hop on my dick. We have amazing sex and live happily ever after.
But – it's not playing out that way.
"Just because you like someone doesn't mean they feel the same way about you."
WTF is she talking about?
"I think it's better for both of us if we keep the romance out of our mission."
WHAT! I wonder where this is all coming from. She likes me. I know she does. Why is she playing the "let's be friends" card? Did Mark and Sarah say something to her?
"Besides," her hand slides out from under mine. "You're a terrible boyfriend."
"I am not!" I look at her angrily. "I'm a good boyfriend. Ask Sarah."
"Sarah?" Six's arms settle across her chest as she turns to face me. "You treated Sarah like crap."
"No I didn't," I reply.
Her eyebrow raises skeptically.
"I never treated Sarah badly when we were dating," I tell her. The break-up on the other hand….yeah that was definitely not my finest hour.
"Then you must be from Planet DENIAL," she blurts with a disbelieving laugh. "You cheated on Sarah. You gave her some line about how our people love forever and then you cheated on her…"
"With YOU!" I'm defensive now. "It was all because you got me drunk and crawled all over me and shoved your tongue…"
"You were sober when you were watching all the porn." Her voice is getting louder.
"The porn wasn't cheating - it was for education purposes."
"You have an excuse for everything don't you?"
"I'm not making excuses!" I realize that we are shouting at each other now.
"What about the girl you made out with at the concert?"
"That wasn't cheating – that was a…a… weird accident!"
"A weird accident? Do you hear how ridiculous you sound?"
At that moment a giant bolt of thunder crashes through the sky. The world around us lights up as though we're under spotlights. Thunder follows immediately afterward and it's deafening. I have to cover my ears. "What the hell?" I say as I roll up the window. Rain is pouring into the van and the right side of me is now soaked.
"Sorry." I look over to see a very flustered Six putting up her window and turning on the windshield wipers. Then her hands lace behind her head and she's doing a breathing exercises. "It's hard to control when I'm pissed."
"The lightening?" I look out at the puddles multiplying in the street. "That was you?"
"Don't rub it in," she snaps at me. "You're not the only one with Legacy issues."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Stop making me mad."
I am completely unprepared for that and so I sit quietly watching her.
She wriggles in her seat to get comfortable. Her shoulders rise and fall as she continues her own mini-meditation. I have a million questions for her but I try to respect her wishes and stay silent. I wait for her to calm down. Once the rain stops, she lets out a long final breath and then starts to cry. I don't understand why she is so upset but I reach over and put my arms around her.
"That's not necessary." She pushes me away with her Legacies as she wipes her eyes dry. Putting the van in drive she hits the gas and we are out on the street.
"Where are we going?"
"To get your chest."
It's well past the normal dinnertime when we pull into the very familiar parking lot. We haven't said a word to each other in hours. Now as we are standing with the The Angry Angus a few feet away, I can't keep my mouth shut any longer.
"Why didn't you tell me what was going on with your Legacies?" I ask her.
She walks by me with a short, "It's none of your business."
"None of my business?" I follow behind her. "What if that happened in the middle of a fight? Someone could get hurt."
"I have it under control. Okay?" Her arms fold across her chest and she stands facing me. I get the hint – and I change the topic.
"BK and I are hungry," I complain.
Dinner? Dinner? He asks. My stomach is growling too. The scent of steak is strong and I think we need to eat - like now.
"We'll stop somewhere on the way back," she replies.
"Or we could just eat here." I gesture to the building in front of us. A constant stream of people trickles in and out of the restaurant. I get hungrier by the second. BK barks once then sits back on hindquarters and begs. The look on Six's face says "No" but I can see her softening when she looks at my Chimaera. I add a "Please," as I pick BK up and hold him in my arms. He looks at her with his big eyes and lets out a pathetic whimper. Then his little pink tongue darts out and he licks Six's hand.
"Fine," she resigns as she reaches out to scratch BK behind the ears. "You are too adorable for your own good."
"I know," I reply pretending to be BK. She throws her head back at my outrageous statement but hey – I made her smile.
I set BK down on the ground and he disappears for a moment as he shape shifts into a tiny gecko. He climbs up my leg and into my pocket. I catch Six watching him. Her eyes sparkle with fascination as he transforms. When she sees me watching her, she nods in approval. "That is so cool."
Inside the hostess leads us to our table. We're in the middle of the bar with a great view of the mechanical bull. She places menus and flatware on the table and then leaves us to fill our drink orders. We're sitting across from each other and Six is browsing the specials. I clear my throat to get her attention and she looks up over the top of the laminated menu.
"Want to split an appetizer?"
"Order whatever you want. I'm getting salad."
"Salad?" I look at her and laugh. "We're at a steakhouse and you're getting a salad. C'mon Six, eat for once."
She doesn't say anything and I give up trying to talk to her. When the waitress comes, she does order salad. I, on the other hand, order enough food for three people. Our meals come really quickly and I feast like a king. The steak is seasoned with a rub that is sensational and it's a nice tender cut of meat. I cut pieces off and feed them to BK who is hiding under my napkin on the table.
Six picks at her salad then glances around the room. She puts her fork down and picks up her cup, bringing it to her lips but not actually taking a sip. I watch as she literally pretends to eat and I can't help laughing out loud.
"What?" she growls under her breath as her eyes lock on mine.
"Try some of this," I plunge my fork into a piece of steak and reach across the table, aiming it at her mouth. If she had any sense of romance she would have let me feed her but she's momentarily jaded. She takes the fork from my hand and picks the chunk of meat off with her fingers.
It's a little insulting because, it's not like she's a stranger to my saliva. Aside from a look, I don't make any comments. If we were back on Lorien and speed dating, I would have moved on by now.
Six chews slowly, and eventually admits that she likes it. We end up sharing my dinner. I don't mind because I certainly ordered more than I could eat. However, it's annoying that she won't eat from my platter. Instead she uses the tiny bread plate and cuts everything with her own knife.
By the time the waitress asks us about desert, we're completely stuffed and have to decline. The small amount of food that is left we pack up for BK. After the bill is paid we head back to the van and Six tosses me the keys.
She runs her hands through her hair, scooping it together and tying it back with a rubber band. "Stay here and stay quiet," she orders. Then she walks behind a large SUV. I disobey and try to follow her but she's disappeared. I can sense that she's nearby but I can't actually see her. Damn invisibility. I go back to the van and turn the radio on – hoping now that she's in a better mood she won't mind listening to music.
BK is in the passenger seat with his paws on the arm rest. His nose is pressed against the glass, leaving a big smear that I'msure Six will have something to say about.
"BK get down."
SIX! SIX! He tells me as he jumps onto the dashboard pointing his nose up at the giant bull on top of the bar. I lean forward over the steering wheel and look up at the bull. It wobbles slightly – at least, I think it does. I watch it for several more seconds but it doesn't move again. Maybe it was the wind? Or my imagination.
Six returns carrying my backpack, the one I left in the room in my haste to leave. She also has her bag and a large duffle bag.
"Wait a minute…" I look at her than back up at the roof. "Don't tell me you hid our stuff in the bull….," I stare at the atrocity with the neon lights beneath it. Henri would have freaked out if he knew my chest was inside the most obvious landmark in a twenty mile radius.
She passes my bag over the console. "It's not like I had a lot of time to find a better place," she grumbles as she opens her bag, sifting through the contents. I check my bag as well. The chest is inside along with a few other necessities. I put my stuff in the back while she pulls out a brush and starts to fix her hair. The brush combs out the knots leaving the silky black tresses fall across her shoulders.
"Where to now?" I ask as I put the van in reverse and back out of the parking space.
A mischievous smile graces her lips. "How about somewhere private?"
Now – if that's not code for" I want to be alone with you and have wild sex all night" – then I don't know what is. "Like a hotel room?" I suggest.
"Nah," she shakes her head. "I was thinking something more remote."
Remote? As in away from civilization? Maybe she's a screamer. Just the thought of her crying out my number has me envisioning very naughty things. "Like an island?" where we can be warm and wet and naked. I know of a few places like that in the Keys….but that's kinda far from here and I don't know if I can wait that long.
"Think you can remember how to get back to the hunting cabin?"
"As in the tiny shack with cots and no windows?" It's not my first choice for an intimate retreat but whatever. She can pick the venue as long as I can pick the position…. "I think so."
In less than two hours we are hiking up the trail to the cabin. It's pitch black in the woods but with my Lumen we have no problem navigating through the twisting pathways. My memory is better than I thought because I find the cabin without getting lost – not even once.
The door is locked but for us that's not a problem. The interior is the same as we left it and I set my bag down on one of the cots. I look at the other and shake my head. They're too flimsy – any sort of aerobic activity will probably break them. Then there's the chair but I doubt that will hold us either. Maybe the floor?
"So," Six brushes against my side. "I'm a little nervous about this."
"Why?" I ask her as I reach for her hand. "There's nothing to be nervous about."
"It's an excited-nervous." Her fingers curl around mine. "I've been curious about this for a long time."
"Me too," I smile. Then my heart starts beating a little faster. This is going to be our first time together. I exhale. No pressure Four. No pressure at all.
"Soooo," her foot taps anxiously against the floor. "I guess you should get started."
"Yeah," I breathe the word as I pull her close to me. She looks up at me with wide-eyes as I dive in – kissing her hard. She takes a step backward and her hands catch me under the ribs pushing me away from her. Her heads turns and I can see her puzzled expression. "What's wrong?" I gasp.
"Ummmm," she wipes her mouth with her hand. "I think there may be a communication issue."
"What are you talking about?" My heart is thudding and my cock is at ninety percent. "You said I should get started…"
"Opening your chest…," her hands flail out emphasizing the back pack sitting on the cot. "You should open your chest and see if there is anything we can use…."
Fuck. Is she really serious about this whole friends thing?
"My chest," I repeat rather glumly. Not that I don't want to open my chest – hell I've been curious about it my entire life – but right now my body wants other things. But I open my back pack and remove the small intricately engraved box. I sit on the floor and Six sits across from me. In between us is the chest.
Now that Henri is gone I can open the chest on my own, a bittersweet ending to the life we shared together. I open the lid and look inside at the variety of items nested together almost like a mixed up puzzle. I'm almost afraid to take them out for fear I'll never get them back inside so neatly.
"Wow," Six's eyes sparkle as she leans forward on her hands for closer inspection. "What are you going to take out first?" she asks.
"This," I reach inside and remove a sphere-shaped object. I hold in my palm like it's a crystal ball although it doesn't seem quite that delicate.
"What do you think it is?"
"No idea." I hold it out to Six. Her hand barely touches it and it comes to life. "What'd you do?" I question her as it grows larger.
"Nothing," she replies as it starts to float out of my palm. Smaller spheres form from the larger one and they orbit each other. For some reason they look incredibly familiar.
"Lorien." I'm not sure how I know this but I do.
"It's home," Six covers her face and I can see tears forming in her eyes. The same emotion pools in me too and while I'm not crying – I definitely feel as though I could. "You feel it too, huh?" she says as she reaches out for my hand. A tiny wet trail rolls down my cheek, embarrassed I wipe it away with my free hand. Six slides across the floor until she's sitting beside me. Our sides touch and she lays her head against my shoulder.
The macrocosm slowly spins on its axis. The surface is a lush green with deep blue spots – Lorien's oceans. As it turns we see the plush forests dim and then turn brown. The bright blue hues dull into a murky grey. I'm watching our planet die all over again. Our people. Our families. All gone. Sadness overwhelms me but there is a building anger that overcomes it.
"I hate them too," Six says aloud. I don't know if she's read my mind or if our connection is growing stronger. But my dedication to our mission is renewed. It was stupid of me to waste time with high school and dating.
I was sent here for a reason.
I have a purpose.
I am a soldier.
I am Number Four.
"We need to find the others," I announce to Six as I collapse the solar system and put it back in the chest. Her hand brushes my shoulder and then traces down my spine.
"We will." Her words are spoken delicately. Directly. But her fingers pass over my shirt searching out the skin beneath. A warm touch sweeps across my lower back.
I sit back on my heels and my jaw sets. "What are you doing?" I ask her pointedly. "Because now," I take her wrist and remove her hand from my body. "Isn't the time."
"I know," she concedes letting both hands fall into her lap. I turn away, packing up my bag and mentally calculating how long it will take us to get the closest Garde. It' at least a half day drive, if not more.
"Come on." The keys jingle in my hand as I toss her the duffle bag.
"I just keep thinking about them." She hasn't moved an inch and I tap my foot impatiently.
"We can talk in the car."
"They died so suddenly."
Yeah, I know all about the attack. How the Loric people were in the middle of a celebration and were caught off-guard. Unprepared. By the time they realized what was happening it was too late. "Six," I walk over to her to and offer my hand to help her stand. "We should go."
Instead of me pulling her up, she yanks me down to the floor. My knees hit hard but before I can even get the "Owwww," out – she's pressed up against me. The "owwww" in my throat is replaced with a "WTH" as her hands cup my face. She looks me in the eye and I stare back at her.
"You're right." Her lips move closer to mine. "We should leave right now." I nod in agreement. "But I'm afraid that once we do – we'll never have this moment again." Then she kisses me.
She tastes like the salty rub of the steak and it makes me want to devour her. But I'm the one who is confused now. It seems almost wrong that we are doing this when there are other Garde out there who might be in danger.
Wait a minute.
Did I just think that?
What the hell happened to me?
"What's wrong?" Six asks. Her mouth stays close as her eyes search mine for answers.
"I think I feel guilty." I lean my forehead against hers. "What gives us the right to do this. To have this freedom - when the others could be in danger."
"It's about time you realized that." Tears stream down Six's face as she embraces me.
In the matter of an hour I've grown up. I don't know how it happened or why but it did. Maybe I should have opened my chest sooner. It might have prevented me from acting so recklessly and making the mistakes I made.
"But we can't let the guilt and the hate consume us," she continues. "We have to be strong and smart. We have to trust each other." She kisses me again, lightly. "And I trust you. With my life."
"I trust you," I profess. "With mine."
Our lips meet again. Her tongue traces the seam of my lips and they part, letting her tongue caress mine. It's only kissing but it leaves me breathless.
"Did you change your mind about mixing business and pleasure?" Not that I want to stop but I'm second guessing my every decision. And this one – I need to be sure about.
"Yes," she answers solidly. "YOLO, Four. YOLO."
You Only Live Once. Then as if to prove her point she removes my shirt. Hands skim across my bare skin followed by her lips and tongue. I lower myself so I'm lying back on my elbows. Her mouth hovers over my navel as she unbuttons my pants. I lift my head and to see her staring up at me from beneath long black lashes.
The room is silent except for the faint sound my descending zipper makes. She's mildly amused as my cock springs out at her.
"No underwear today?" I don't see any reason to explain about Mark's James and his secondhand boxers as the heat of her breath engulfs my erection. I don't blink as her mouth lowers toward the head. Her tongue snakes out, the tip barely touches me before it retracts.
I cum a little.
Her tongue appears again wiping me clean. I shudder with pure delight.
Her hand closes around my shaft as she gently fists me. Pumping at a steady rhythm she swirls her tongue over the head. I want to watch her but at the same time my eyes involuntarily start to close. I am barely able to think but I force myself to focus my telekinesis enough to unsnap her bra. When she notices, her eyes look up at me and her fist opens slightly, leaving a vertical passage wide enough for her tongue. She laps the underside of my cock, as the pace changes.
"Put it in your mouth." Please.
Her tongue rides up the length and over the top. Then her lips seal just below the head and I watch as my cock disappears into her mouth.
Holy Fucking Lorien!
I'm not sure if it's some kind of indecent Legacy or if Six's tongue is just incredibly gifted but I swear – I didn't think it was possible for anything to feel this fucking perfect.
I'm entirely inside her mouth. Her tongue pulses. Her throat contracts. I can't hold myself up any longer so I let my arms go and melt into the floor. Through half-closed eyes I see the ceiling above me. I turn my head and glance at my right hand.
Normal.
The same with my left. Completely normal.
The circular pattern her tongue has been moving in changes direction. My hips thrust up against her. Her response is a gentle massage of my balls. This is so much better than sex. I begin to wonder why people even have intercourse.
But then I think about Six, naked and straddled over me – and I understand the attraction to both.
The momentum changes again as she decides to go up and down. I look up briefly to see a single eye as her hair falls in her face. I sink down again with an audible moan. I place my hands on the top of her head, silky black strands weave through my fingers. Then she goes all the way down, until her mouth is at the base of my shaft. I feel a faint vibration but then I'm done.
My body trembles as I orgasm down her throat. She comes up quickly, choking. I mean to offer some sort of apology but she doesn't entirely pull away from me. She lingers, taking in every last drop as I continue to cum, over and over.
When I am finally done, she lays on top of me, petting my head.
"I'm down with this YOLO shit," I tell her. "Anytime."
"Good," she smiles at me. "Because now it's my turn."