Oh yeah, I do not own W.I.T.C.H. or any of the characters, the plot is totally a work of my twisted little mind...
Busted #8: New Rules
Caleb's POV, Monday Just Before the End of Lunch
The plan was set and everyone seemed a lot calmer, Will and Taranee wore smiles for the first time today. We had hope and it looked like things could get back to normal – or at least normal for us.
The girls got up do to their group bathroom visit. What is it with girls and going to the bathroom together? Do they really hate to go by themselves? As a guy, solo is the only way to go...
As the five headed out the door, Nigel asked, "Hey Caleb, how did you know that Irma was the one?"
Without thinking or hesitating, I answered, "That's easy: the first time I saw her. I loved her right away but it was not any one thing that I could put my finger on. It was just lots of small things: her skin, her hair, her sense of humor...until I realized it was everything. I love everything about her."
"Then how'd you end up with Cornelia?"
That question was not as easy to answer, for starters I'm not real proud of myself for that decision. To make it even worse, Nigel was asking this question in front of Peter, the guy I'm pretty sure feels Cornelia is the only one for him.
"Short answer: I made a stupid choice because I didn't think Irma would ever notice me. But no matter how I tried to make it work with Cornelia or tried to go on without Irma, I was miserable. And I made them both miserable too."
I thought it was over, things seemed to go back to normal, as we waited for the girls to come back. Peter folded up a paper football, Eric yawned, and I glanced at the door. When Nigel spoke up again.
"I think I know how you feel, 'cause something in my gut tells me Taranee the one for me. The only one for me."
That got all of our attention, especially Peter's. It was just a few weeks ago that Nigel was too afraid to hold Taranee's hand when Peter was around. Now he had just confessed his true feelings right in front of Peter.
"So what are you going to do now that you know that man?" Peter asked, as both a big brother and a guy in love.
"I don't know exactly," Nigel said with conviction, looking Peter directly in the eye, "but I'm not going to let anyone separate me from her, not even Judge Cook."
I don't think I've ever seen Nigel so serious about anything before.
"Ok..." Eric said, he looked a little uncomfortable or at least left out. Hay Lin was the only one of the girls that was still holding on to her virginity.
I think even Peter noticed it because he tried to change the subject and asked, "So what's pregnant sex like?"
With a smile, I replied, "HOT. Plus she's extra horny."
"Hmm, almost sounds like its worth it."
"Peter, man with Irma...it's totally worth it. I guess it's really different for you guys here on Earth. But I'm from Meridian. All my life I've watch people grow up, find a mate then start a life with that person. We aren't held back by age like it is here. When a guy is ready for a wife, he takes one. As simple as that."
"For me normal is wanting a family, wanting to feel my child growing inside the woman I love. I'm just glad Irma could understand and accept me. It's awesome to want the same things. I was trying so hard to suck it up and be okay with her taking that 'morning-after pill' but I was miserable when I thought that she might not want to carry my child."
I think I was smiling like an idiot because the guys were just staring at me like I was insane. I think I may have shared too much. How could they understand me? Things are so different here. But that doesn't matter to me and Irma.
Suddenly I couldn't stop smiling and didn't care if I looked like a smiling fool, cause right then I was struck with one thought: I know exactly what we'll be doing when we get home from school.
Taranee's POV, The Girl's Restroom
We sort of hung around until there was no one in the room but us five. It's sort of become our habit so that we don't have people overhearing our 'sensitive' conversations. Especially here at school...there's more drama than on daytime TV.
As Ali Barton walked out the door, I worked on my courage. I just had to ask!
"Hey Irma, can I ask you a sort of personal question?"
Irma was heading for a stall but called out over her shoulder, "Sure Taranee, anything."
"Um, do you feel any different since you've had sex?"
Hay Lin was brushing her hair at the mirror beside me. I tried not to look at her as I said the words, but I couldn't miss the way her eyes became large and round when she heard my question.
From inside the stall, Irma was slow to answer – either because she was busy or embarrassed by my question – I don't know which.
"Actually," her voice sort of floated over the stall, "yeah, pretty much I'm horny all the time."
Cornelia came out of her stall with a big smile and agreed, "Yeah I know, me too."
"Wow, that's funny," Will said as she looked from Cornelia to me, "because I am soooo horny too. It seems like all I can think about. Too bad my mom is determined to make me a nun."
Irma came out of the stall and I guessed she noticed I hadn't said anything since my original question. She sort of focused on me as she walked over to the sink to wash her hands.
"So is that what you wanted to know?"
"Well," I stumbled, "yeah...it's just that since last Friday, I sort of...well ache."
"Oh my gosh, Taranee, did he hurt you?" Hay Lin asked in a tight worried voice.
"Oh no, not that kind of ache...I'm not in pain or anything. I just really want to do it again."
Irma finished drying her hands then came over and gave me a quick hug.
"Man, I don't know what I'd do if my parents had tried to separate me and Caleb," she said as she let me go. "This must be unbearable for you."
It felt like I might cry, so I bit my lip to help fight the tears and somehow managed a small nod.
Then the words just burst from me like they had a mind of their own.
"It's just that...that...my mom keeps telling me I such a whore." I felt tears slowly escape as I said the words. "It just hurts so much what she keeps saying, I mean, I'm not a bad person just because I had sex am I?
I just let my pent up feeling roll free and continued telling my best friends how conflicted I felt.
"I really love Nigel and I can't forget how it felt to be with him, his voice, his touch...just a thousand little things that keep telling me my mom has to be wrong."
I was pleading with my friends to confirm that my my was wrong. I needed to hear it from someone outside my head. I needed to hear it aloud to combat all the ugly things my mom had said.
The other girls surrounded me with a group hug.
It was Irma that spoke first. Lately, she's been taking the lead a lot because of her experiences with Caleb.
"Aw, Taranee," she drawled as she hugged me again, "there's nothing wrong with how you feel about Nigel or about you wanting to express that physically."
"Yeah, Nee I mean think about it...your mom isn't giving up sex with your dad is she? She needs to accept that your feelings are the same as hers for your dad." Leave it to Cornelia to point out the obvious. Thank goodness she had a point as she continued on, "Your mom has control issues and just wants you to stay a little girl forever. Or at least until she gives you permission to grow up and date the perfect guy. But I think you've already found the perfect guy, so your mom needs to accept it."
"Um, I agree with Cornelia," Hay Lin piped in. "Don't take this the wrong way Taranee, but in the whole three years I've known you, your mom has always been way too controlling. I mean she still picks all your clothes!"
Will and Irma just nodded their agreement.
"Okay," I asked, as I tried to dry my face, "so my feelings are not a bad thing. But am I acting like a whore? I mean should I have been able to hold out like Hay Lin? I mean I'm nowhere near as bold and out going as Irma or Cornelia."
Irma and Corny looked surprised by my comment. I quickly tried to clarify.
"I just mean, I'm the shy quiet one. People don't expect or accept it when I act bold or daring. You guys are the only people that do that for me. Everyone else expects me to be "Taranee -the-good-girl'. When you guys decide you're going to do something unexpected, you know how to speak your mind and make people accept it. I don't."
"Okay, just for the record and forever more going forward, let me clarify!" Hay Lin voice and wind powers filled the room. We all turned startled into silence by her sudden outburst.
"None of us is bad and definitely none of us are whores! And yes I know I'm the only one that hasn't had sex but that will change someday and when it does I refuse to go through this again! You are my best friends and you have beautiful hearts and giving souls. You all...we all love our boyfriends and I don't think a single one of us is so young and naïve anymore that we would take our relationships or actions lightly. We're more than the average 16-yr old high schoolers, we're Guardians. Somehow I get the feeling we were never meant to play by everyone else's rules. So let's make up new ones. Rules that apply to us and our live and forget everyone else."
"You know, I think she has a point," Cornelia said with a smirk. "I'm definitely up for a new definition, cause I've been called a slut too many times too. And I don't want to spend my life living down mistakes."
Will looked thoughtful obviously thinking about her mom, as she nodded and said, "Yeah, we need...no deserve new rules!"
"Okay so from this day forward, we all agree that no one can call us whores or tell us we're wrong about what we feel for the guys – right?" Will said in her best pep talk voice.
"Right!" we all agreed in unison.
We shared one more group hug then marched out of the restroom and back to the cafeteria. It was good to know that they understood and I wasn't the only one that felt like a part of their soul was missing. I love Nigel, but I think I need him even more than that – he's a part of me.
We made it back to the lunch room with about five minutes left to till we had our next class. I was so relieved after talking with the girls I forgot to wash my face and get rid of the evidence of tears. I never thought Nigel would take one look at me and knew something had been wrong.
He stood up grabbed my bag then pulled me to the side of the door. And in a whisper asked what was wrong. I tried telling him that nothing was wrong, but he knew that wasn't the truth. So about the third time he asked I confessed everything I had been feeling and how rotten it all made me feel. Then I even confessed how horny I had been/was.
"Taranee, why didn't you tell me how you were feeling right away?" Nigel asked as he stroked of my braid.
"I... I don't know," I could feel the blush grow across my face like wildfire, because I had just admitted not only how I felt but my physical need for him.
Then the bell rang. Our friends were walking towards us so we could all head back to class. That's when I felt Nigel grab my hand and tug me towards the music hall.
I followed quietly, wondering where he wanted to go. We turned down two of the sub halls and suddenly we were alone in an empty hall.
Only then did I stop and ask, "Nigel, where are we going? We have to get to class?" I was okay with sneaking off to find a little privacy for a quick smooch, but we were going to be late if we went any farther.
Nigel's response was to keep pulling my hand as he lead me down the hall. He looked over his shoulder to ask, "Have you ever seen the Cello room?"
Cheers!