So, did she jump into bed with them?
Steven asked and regretted saying it immediately. Monica sat up abruptly and turned to him.
You fucking idiot, what a stupid question, honestly Steven, like I told you before, I cant believe that someone hasnt told you that your smart mouth will get you into trouble one day. She was almost yelling at him.
Sorry, Im sorry Mon, but what did she do then, you know after seeing him?
Steven thought this was the most unbelievable story he had ever heard and he wanted the whole story up to the present. He thought he could hear a train in the distance.
Quick what happened then? he urged.
She apparently ran off, gathered herself together as much as she could and caught a bus back home. She grabbed her clothes and other personal things and was living in a motel room. My girlfriend and I took her home and looked after her for a few days, and when she got better, she started having a, you know, relationship with my girlfriend. We all got on well, we all, to some degree hated men, but Diane more than either if us. Then when Liv, my girlfriend, moved to Sydney, me and Di more or less started, too, more than just friendship. She looked after me I guess, like, dinner ready when I got home, the house neat and tidy and the washing done, stuff like that. She did that for over a month before we started sleeping together, and in all that time, she never heard from Mick or his parents.
The train was getting close. Monica grabbed Stevens hands and stood up. He stood up with her, and she looked gravely up into his eyes.
Diane and I may not be in love with each other, but in our own way, we love and need each other, and she is adamant that I should not get involved with men ever, even though she herself is attracted to them still.
She leaned forward and as Steven saw her lips moving toward his, he clutched her quickly to him and kissed her deeply. It was quick but meaningful. She crushed her lips hard against his, and he felt her arms go quickly around his back and pull him ever so briefly against her body. And then they parted, and she turned and was walking, almost running from him. Steven saw the train pull up as she disappeared down the stairs and he jumped into the closest carriage as soon as the doors opened. He leaned against the doors when they closed and as the train started to pull away he peered through the darkness up the street to try and catch a last glimpse of her. He saw nothing but empty streets.
Chapter Five
The Capitulation of Katie
At work the next day Steven was in early and, as usual, Kate was there, always one of the first. Steven had not slept well and was too preoccupied to notice Kate. She startled him.
Good Morning Steven, did it go well?
Huh, sorry?
He looked up at her as if she was some magician that had somehow just appeared beside him.
Work last night at Monicas, thats what you said
Oh yeah great Steven grasped the line of the conversation it went okay but we probably didnt achieve what we wanted to he lied. Maybe that wasnt so far from the truth he thought.
Look, about tonight, we didnt finish, so we might be working again tonight. Yeah I know its Friday and we were going to the drive-in, but lets have lunch today and Ill tell you all about it okay?
She couldnt hide her disappointment but she replied brightly enough.
Lunch is fine, Ill come get you.
NO! He said it so harshly that she visibly jumped. Sorry, I didnt mean to startle you, its just well, I dont know when Ill be going so can you just flex a bit until I come get you?
Sure Steven, anytime is fine, unless Mr Wellesley has me doing some dictation in the office or something.
She was backing away as she spoke, and Steven saw she was uncomfortable. She turned and almost ran back to the office. He watched her disappear and then realized that, whatever Monica and Diane had done to him last night, meant that he and Kate were never going to do anything other than pass pleasantries in the office, and that, he would explain to her at lunch. But maybe that is exactly what they wanted him to do, so no goddammit, he wasnt going to change his life to suit a couple of dykes. He got up out of his chair and went to follow Kate, but Wellesley arrived and waved at Steven as he went into the office. Steven waved back and sat back heavily into his chair again. Lunch time Ill tell her he said softly to his monitor. It hummed back at him.
Monica said nothing to Steven at all on her arrival at work, in fact, it seemed to Steven that she treated him exactly the same as the first couple of weeks that he had started there. Harry was different though, and he had obviously told Marc as well as. They were both eager to hear how it had gone the night before.
So, spill the beans Harry said when Monica drifted off for a coffee.
Marcs eyes were lit up looking at him as well, obviously dying to hear something juicy.
Nothing happened at all Steven said.
Bullshit, look at you man! said Harry. You look like youve just been through World War Three, so come on and dont spare the details.
Honest, absolutely nothing happened, I just drank a little too much wine and I feel like shit so just lay off will ya?
The quiet fury in his voice convinced them both to leave well enough alone. None of them passed a word between each other all morning, even though Mon was the most normal of them all. At about one oclock, Steven stood up and stretched, and told them he was going to grab a bite to eat with Kate. Monica didnt even look up from her monitor but he knew she was watching him as he wandered over to Kate, who sat looking at him approaching as if World War 3 was about to start.
Ready? was all Steven offered her.
She bit her bottom lip and just nodded and began to stand. They ate at a small coffee shop overlooking the river. Steven surprised himself by having no interest in sharing idle chit chat laced with his normal sexual innuendo. He heard Kate prattle on about the office and Mr Wellesley, all the time primly eating her sandwich and drinking her lemon squash and using her napkin after every bite or sip. His eyes casually followed the napkin as she returned it to her lap one time and realized that the table top was glass. She placed her napkin neatly onto her left thigh, and Steven suddenly recognized that her could see up her skirt, just glimpsing her knickers through the tinted glass tabletop. He recalled what Monica had said to him about staying away from Kate and his decision became automatic. Under the pretense of looking at his hands on the edge of the table, Steven focused through the glass to Kates crotch.
Kate? He hesitated, studying her shiny red panties, only just barely visible between her closed thighs. He looked up at her face then and nearly changed his mind but pussy was pussy he thought. Why dont we still go out tonight? That double feature is on at the drive-in and I still want to see it and I would be privileged if you would accompany me. And I guess Id be using you coz you have a car and I dont but I really would like to do it with you. He used the ambiguity knowing she wouldnt understand it anyway but if she was that naive that she couldnt see his ulterior motive, that wasnt his problem.