Under Foreign Skies (MG) 3

“So you ended up joining the Freemasons then?” I asked as Kyle stopped at a set of traffic lights.

 

“With your dad and my dad already in? You’re acting like I was given a choice in the matter.” Kyle laughed.

 

“Dad always said y’all didn’t pull stuff like... well...”

 

“What I did the other week?” Kyle finishes for me.

 

I nod. Kyle sighs.

 

“Frankly mate, we’ve kinda had to. Think every piece of bastardry and standover bullshit you’ve ever heard blamed on Masonic nepotism. The Order are doing that. Openly and unapologetically. Of course if anyone ever tries to pull the situation in front of Fair Work or an ethics tribunal or anything, they make it go away, one way or the other. We’ve had to play their game just to keep the field level in the public sector. Otherwise they’d be running the cops, the military, and the government by now, instead of just being unduly fucking influential.”

 

“Something still not right about it.” I murmur.

 

“And that’s a conversation I have in nearly every Lodge meeting. If there was a way we could play fair we would, believe me. We’re doing what we’ve always striven to do. Be a benefit to humanity.”

 

“Sorry.”

 

Kyle grins at me. “Don’t worry about it. Oh. You got any of that horrible Zip porn?”

 

“That’s none of your business.” I retort.

 

“I’ll take that as a yes. Leave some in your locker.”

 

I blink “What? Why?”

 

“Just trust me on this.” He insists.

 

“Ok, but if I get expelled I’m blaming y’all, Detective.”

 

“Yeh orright.” Kyle snickers, pulling into the drop-off bay.

 

---

 

“Form teachers please escort your students to the lockers for an inspection.” A dispassionate voice rang over the PA.

 

Mr Reiner raised his cadaverous head and stared at the class. “Right. You heard it. In an orderly fashion, if you please.”

 

We formed lines in front of the lockers, each student roughly opposite his or her own.

 

...Of course Murphy’s Law would have it that my locker was within one or two away from Naomi’s.

 

“I hope you didn’t do anything stupid, yank.” She mused almost sweetly.

 

“Hey, I’m here same as all y’all, ain’t I? And I’m not a damn Yankee.” I reply grouchily... I knew what was coming here.

 

Two police officers walked in with the headmistress... who turned out to be an intimidating looking black widow.

 

“Alright students. There has been a report of someone trading in Manticore spines on school grounds. If anybody would like to fess up now, I will consider not expelling you immediately.”

 

Of course nobody did. They didn’t exist after all.

 

“See?” I drawled. Naomi gave a ‘hmph’ and turned her gaze away from me, seemingly appeased.

 

The Headmistress sniffed, extending an elegant, chitin coated arm. “Very well then. Officers, please feel free to search the student’s lockers.”

 

I never understood the purpose of lockers when there’s a mastercode which can open any of them. The police made short work of working their way up the lines, and to my relief there were a few other dirty magazines which were pulled out by a gloved hand and brandished with a chuckle, much to the owner’s chagrin.

 

Then it was my turn.

 

“Whoops, another one... Wow, this is something else, C’mere and take a look.” The first officer quipped.

 

The second officer peered over “Heh. Only in Zippangu eh?”

 

“I know right?” The first chuckled. “Who’s 105?”

 

I gave a gallows sigh “That’d be me sir.”

 

“This is a restricted publication mate. And unless I miss my guess, it’s a banned import too. How’d you get ahold of it?”

 

“Brought it over in my suitcase... I’m sorry officer, I didn’t know.” I replied as sincerely as I could.

 

“Welp, afraid I’m going to have to confiscate it. Sorry mate, learn for next time.” The officer replied, dropping it into the plastic garbage bag with the others. Snickers from the Order-affiliates to my right.

 

“Yessir, sorry sir.”

 

The policeman moved on, and the headmistress fixed me with a stern look. “My office, when this is finished” she ordered.

 

I ducked my head, “Yes Ma’am.”

 

“Wow, get a load of this one!”

 

“I-it’s for research! Don’t get the wrong idea!” Stammered a lizard-girl, her face flushed crimson against the burned sienna of her frill.

 

“Yuh huh. ‘Hot Boys Unlimited’. Researching anatomy, no doubt.” The officer chided.

 

“Restricted?” the second asked

 

“Oh yeah. I didn’t even think you could GET this locally.”

 

“Okay, now let’s see... Alright, 123 and 125, step forward now.” The officer’s tone had changed from amused chiding to authoritative command in an instant.

 

The two boys who had beaten me and the others yesterday shuffled forwards, their eyes wide.

 

“You boys want to explain these?” The officer asked, his voice deathly quiet, holding two glowsticks in front of him.

 

“Idiots!” Naomi hissed

 

“T-they’re the tools of The Order!” One boy stammered “Wielded to show our Faith in Holy Ilias!”

 

“That’s a funny way to say ‘Possession of a Restricted Weapon without a permit’... And I’m pretty sure considering this is a mixed school, we can add ‘With Intent’ to that, wouldn’t you agree?” The officer asked.

 

“Without a doubt.” The second responded severely.

 

“B-but...” The boy stammered, close to tears.

 

“Ms Zakyntha, please contact their parents, these boys will be coming to the statio... Whoops, we’ve got a runner!”

 

Sure enough, the second boy had bolted, sprinting towards the door. With a slithering sound, a length of white spider silk launched itself through the air, tangling the boy’s legs and causing him to fall headlong to the ground.

 

“Really...” The headmistress sighed.

 

“Well, that’s that then, you boys wait here until we’ve finished up.”

 

The remainder of the search was unremarkable, save for an elaborate bong and an impressive slingshot which netted an unsuspecting two other boys an unplanned ride in a police car that morning.

 

“I owe you an apology.” Naomi said softly to me as we began to leave the lockers.

 

“Goddamn right.” I growled.

 

“Oh, your chastisement was deserved. I’m apologizing for suspecting you in the search. Clearly this was simply... unfortunate.”

 

“Oh. Thanks much.” I retort with as much venom as I can muster.

 

“Now now, you know we don’t have to be enemies. Us humans have to stick together after all. How well do you know the deviants you’re hanging out with, after all?”

 

“Well enough.” I retort, turning my back on her “And just a point, I grew up Southern Baptist. That hell-in-one-hand-titty-in-the-other sales pitch is so worn the goddamn sun shines through it, and I ain’t buyin, thanks all the same. Now if you don’t mind, I’m gonna go get my ass chewed out.”

 

“Cause at five o’clock, they take me to the gallows poooooole!” Kevin sang mockingly, clapping me  on the shoulder. “The sands of time, for me, are running looooooooowwwwwwww!”

 

“Hit the high note and I’ll be impressed, faggot.” I drawl, chuckling helplessly as I make my way to the principal’s office.

 

---

 

“I’m just saying we’re wasting a golden opportunity here.” A wiry boy with a mop of curly black hair entreated

 

A tall, brown haired boy frowned at him. I recognised him. Clint, we were in a few classes together. “We’re about to get our asses kicked for having porn at school and you’re lookin’ to exchange distributors?”

 

“It wasn’t porn...” The Lizard-Girl insisted softly.

 

“Sure Larissa.” The tall boy grinned “Honestly if you wanted to see hot boys, why didn’t you just ask?”

 

“I-is that some pathetic way of asking me out?” Larissa hissed.

 

Clint turned to look at the Lizard-girl, who was glowering at him.

 

“What if it is?”

 

Larissa blinked “W-what?”

 

“Wanna go out with me?” Clint grinned.

 

“Be serious.” Larissa chuffed.

 

“Why not, you’re cute. How ‘bout it?”

 

Larissa’s face glowed pink. “O-okay.” She murmured.

 

“Touching.” Came a voice from behind us, and we turned as one to see the headmistress fixing us with a nonplussed stare from her multiple, carmine eyes. “Since there’s no way I’m going to fit you all into my office and since I’m far too busy to supervise detention for all of you, I’m going to be gracious. Consider yourselves on probation, if I so much as hear about one of you being caught with illicit material on school grounds again, you’ll come to regret it. Severely.”

 

“Yes Ma’am.” We murmured.

 

---

 

“Our pervert returns!” Emily crowed.

 

“Honestly mate, are you going for the ‘scunted by every teacher in the first month’ hat-trick or something?” Chris laughed. “What made you think it was a good idea to leave that in the locker anyway?”

 

“Probably the same thing that made those two fuckheads think glowsticks were a good idea to be left in their lockers.”

 

“Yeah. Here’s to glorious Karma on that front!” Kevin snickered.

 

“Still...” Katherine mumbled, refusing to make eye contact with me. “I’m going for a fly.”

 

Kicking up an impressive cloud of dust and sand, she launched herself into the sky.

 

“Ok, that was unexpected.” I murmured.

 

Vicki smiled, giving me a gentle push with a coil of her tail. “Relax, she’s probably just eggy.”

 

“Eggy?” I echoed.

 

“Y’know... Got a clutch?”

 

“Is that some Australian thing y’all don’t know I don’t know?”

 

Vicki rolled her serpentine eyes. “That time of the month. She’s going to lay.”

 

“Kat’s pregnant?” I exclaim

 

“No... Well... No, actually, not at all. You don’t know about Harpies?”

 

“Not this...” I admit.

 

“You know how mammals bleed and we snakes shed? Well harpies lay.”

 

“Like a chicken?” I ask

 

“She’d claw your face onto the back of your head if she heard the comparison.” Emily snickered. “But essentially yes.”

 

“Well that’s good.” I sigh with relief. “I thought she was pissed off at me.”

 

Emily fixed me with a knowing smile, and Kevin and Chris snickered.

 

“You two have been awfully close lately.” Emily ventured.

 

“Well I’ve been helping her with her homework.” I respond with a shrug.

 

“Alison said she saw you two getting ice cream at the beach the other day... But I’m sure that was a thermal chemistry lesson” Vicki hissed softly.

 

“C’mon, Kat’s a nice girl. Y’ain’t gotta tease her like that.” I admonished.

 

“Clueless fucker...” Chris snickered. “Well, I’ve got to get to class. Can you see Kat anywhere?” he asked, peering at the sky.

We all look upwards, peering into the endless blue above us.

 

“I’ll find her.” I offer.

 

“Course you will, see you in class.” Kevin chuckled, shaking his head, Chris and Emily following behind him.

 

Vicki lingered, her eyes on me speculatively. “I know it was you.” She says at last.

 

“Don’t know what you’re talking about Vic.”

 

“I can smell it on you.” She leans up, kissing me gently on the cheek. “Thank you.”

 

As she slides away, she pauses for a moment. “S-she’s very lucky, you know.”

 

Turning again, she slithers off.

 

---

 

“Kat!” I call, “We’re gonna be late!”

 

“D-don’t come over here!” I hear Katherine’s voice from behind a low-lying bush.

 

“Kat? Is everything alright?”

 

An ear-splitting screech makes me recoil slightly “I said don’t come over here!”

 

“If you’re hurt, let me help!” I insist

 

“It’s nothing just... eeeeehhhh... leave me.... Urghhh...” Her grunts become a long relaxed moan of... relief?

 

Katherine stalks around the bush, looking at me with her tawny eyes. “Why are you still here?”

 

“I was worried!” I explain

 

“I’m fine, John.”

 

“Did I do something to upset you?”

 

Katherine scratched at the ground with a talon, her eyes on the dirt. “W-why did you have that in your locker?”

 

“What, the doujin? Would y’all believe me if I told you I read it for the story?”

 

“No.”

 

“Heh.” I chuckle “Me either. It’s just a bit of... y’know... there’s no harm in it.”

 

“I don’t like it.”

 

“Come on now, it’s just drawings, it’s not like anyone even had to pose for pictures or anything.” I snort.

 

“No, not that...” Katherine murmurs, looking back up at me. “...I don’t like it when you... when you... look at other girls. It makes me feel... heavy.”

 

It all came flooding in. The lingering hugs, the pecks on the cheek, the excuses to sit next to me in form...

 

“Kat... do you like me?”

 

“Y-you’ve been a good friend, helping me with my schoolwork and all...” She stammers.

 

“Not what I asked” I replied softly, taking a slow step towards her. “Do you like me?”

 

“I... um...”

 

Go on John, take a risk. I put my hand out, stroking the long, soft feathers on the side of her head.

 

Those tawny eyes fixed on mine again. “I’m not a kitten.” She snapped.

 

“No, you’re not. What you are though is kind, fun... and really, really pretty, dammit.”

 

“R-really?”

 

“Really really. Now are you gonna answer my question?” I repeated, stepping closer to her again.

 

“W-what if I did?”

 

“Well I WAS going to ask you if y’all wanted to go out with me but I guess if you don’t like me we can stay frie...” I began, before being knocked off my feet by a harpy launching herself at me.

 

“Okay! I like you alright? Don’t tease me like that, it isn’t funny!” She screeched, sitting on my chest and mantling me with her wings like hapless prey.

 

“So you’ll go out with me then?” I grinned, tickling at her ribs until she squirmed and rolled off me.

 

“Why is it so important for me to say it?” Katherine moaned, flapping her wings in nervous exasperation.

 

“Because I’m only interested in kissing my girlfriend.”

 

“K-kissing... Okay.”

 

“Okay?”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Okay...” I murmured, putting my hand to her cheek and kissing her softly. She seemed to shiver against me, her lips soft and yielding against my own.

 

“Okay?” I repeated.

 

“Way, way better than that...” Katherine breathed, wrapping her wings around me and kissing me fervently.

 

“What about your egg?” I murmur.

 

“Tradition. Give it back to earth and sky. Shut up and kiss me.” Katherine insisted, pressing her lips again to mine.

 

---

 

“Miss Lefleur, I trust you have a good reason for being so incredibly late to my cla... And Mr Walden as well! Oh my...” Miss McDavidson drawled as we entered.

 

Snickers from the class as Katherine and I murmured apologies and headed to our seats.

 

“Well? I’m still waiting.”

 

“John was... helping me with something.” Katherine murmured, blushing.

 

“I’m sure he was.” Miss McDavidson grinned.

 

The snickers turned lecherous and a few students turned to grin at me salaciously.

 

“N-not like that! It was...”

 

“Oh!” Miss McDavidson remarked, her eyes wide with understanding, her entire demeanour changing in an instant. “I’m sorry for insinuating then dear. Please do let me know if you need to see the nurse at all. I won’t mind.”

 

“Thank you Miss.” Katherine sighed.

 

The class droned on, The twentieth century was interesting as far as development went, but trust historians to make it as dry as a succubus in a church service. Finally the period bell sounded.

 

“Mr Walden, a word?”

 

“Bloody delinquent.” Chris snickered.

 

“Shut up man.” I groaned.

 

“Just glad it’s not me. Remember, Kev’s place after school, don’t forget!” He called from outside the door.

 

“Yes Ma’am?” I ventured, walking over to where the Gazer hovered above the ground.

 

“Miss Summers brought a very interesting paper to my attention from your civics class.”

 

“Oh, the one on meritocracy?”

 

She sniffed. “No, that was full of holes.”

 

“And here was me thinking Miss S was just being a picky marker.” I chuckled.

 

Miss McDavidson shook her head, her cyclopean eye alight with laughter. “Heh. No, She’s anything but picky...” Her lip curled slightly “...In more ways than one...”

 

I pretended I didn’t hear that.

 

“I’m referring to the one about ‘white noise in archival procedures’. I was very impressed. It rivalled some of the works I’ve read on the subject at a university level.”

 

“Really? That was a rant peice...” I murmured.

 

“Clearly. Your referencing was terrible but the ideas were sound, and in some cases, I would go so far as to say revolutionary.”

 

“Y’all are gonna give me a big head ma’am.” I murmured, embarrassed at the praise.

 

“My point is, my father sits on the board of the ACITI Corporation, and one of their subsidiaries hosts a ‘New Horizons’ symposium, where we have young people submit papers on related topics. It’s quite an honour, I’m given to understand. I’d recommend you submit something for it.”

 

“Really Ma’am? We’ve got exams coming up and I’m not sure I can spare the time...” I began.

 

“It’s entirely your choice, of course, but I can’t stress how strongly I’d recommend it. Have you heard of ‘Kusanagi Keito?”.

 

I snort “Who hasn’t? Guy was slated to be the first to develop true AI before Zippangu done dropped the curtain.” I pause. “That wasn’t why they dropped the curtain, was it?”

 

The Gazer chuckled, shaking her head. “The official account is the accurate one, I’m afraid. The conspiracy theories do make for good stories though. He wouldn’t be anywhere near the position to be as successful as he was if he didn’t take my father’s advice and ‘throw his hat in the ring’, as it were.”

 

“You sound like you know him.”

 

“I met him, once or twice. His wife is an absolute treasure.”

 

“Ma’am, your dad’s a director of a Fortune 500. You’re on speakin’ terms with one of the richest men on the planet... Why in the Sam Hill are y’all teaching history in High School?”

 

“Don’t you know, John? It’s all part of our evil plan to take over the world in The Name of Maou!” Ms McDavidson intoned dramatically, floating slightly higher and flaring her appendant eyes, which glowed a threatening violet.

 

I stumbled back, a flash of brief terror running through me like lightning. Then I saw her smile. I chuckled with relief, relaxing.

 

“Had you going.” She smirked.

 

“Yeah. Yeah you did. I’ll give it some thought, Ma’am.” I nodded

 

“Don’t take too long, deadline’s the end of the month.” The Gazer insisted. “Oh, And Mr Walden, if you try and re-edit your paper and submit that, I will feed you your own feet.”

 

I laughed helplessly. “Yes Ma’am.”

 

---

 

“I’ve got my Dad’s car, we could squeeze into that I guess...” Kevin pondered, studying our small group.

 

A screech from above me, and the now-familiar sensation of talons upon my shoulders.

 

“Guess I’ll see you guys there, gotta fly!” I called as the ground fell away. Reaching up, I stroked one of the legs which held me. “Hey you.”

 

“Don’t! That tickles!” Katherine giggled.

 

“Oh sure, tell me that now...” I drawled, retracting my hand.

 

“I would never drop you John...” Katherine assured me. “Well... Not unless you REALLY upset me.”

 

“Note to self, offend Kat when indoors only.” I mumbled mockingly.

 

“Git.” Katherine snickered, pressing her claws ever so slightly into me.

 

“Yowch. Those are sharp babe.” I chided.

 

“Uh huh...” She replied.

 

“Uh, babe, Kevin’s house is over there...” I pointed to a cluster of houses passing on the left.

 

“I know, I figure we’ve got a head start on them. Gives us a little bit to ourselves.”

 

She set us down on a sand dune overlooking the beach.

 

“So... What do you wanna do?” I grinned salaciously.

 

“John... I...” She fluttered her wings, pop-hopping away from me slightly.

 

I frowned. “What’s up?”

 

“I don’t want anybody’s pity.” She said forcefully. “I know how nice you are to people. If you just asked me out because you think it’s what I wanted to hear, just tell me now and we’ll forget the whole thing happened.”

 

“Kat.” I replied.

 

“I was eggy as hell today, and I know we kinda fell into a situation that might not have been ideal.” She continued, ignoring my interjection. “That’s why I didn’t say anything about it to anyone, why I made the excuse about why we were late to Miss McGazy.”

 

I chuckle “That’s a cute nickname, wonder if I can get one of the guys to say that to her face.”

 

“Be serious!” Katherine shrieked at me.

 

I reached up, stroking one of her impressive wings. “I am, Kat. You like lemonade and green icy poles and chicken rolls with way too much mayonnaise. You interpose your playlists with awful pop music between heartbreaking works by composers I’ve never even heard of. You claim to hate Australian Football yet you’re shrieking on the arm of the chair alongside your Dad when the Eagles play. When you fly your eyes light up like you’re on the verge of touching heaven. And you like me. And I like you. And I want you to be my girlfriend. Serious now.”

 

“R-Really?”

 

“I’m pretty sure we already had this conversation...” I chuckle softly, taking her in my arms and kissing her again.

 

---

 

“Where the hell have you guys been?” Chris demanded as Katherine set me down out the front of Kevin’s house.

 

“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.” I drawled, putting my arm around Katherine’s waist.

 

“You mean you two...” Kevin mused

 

“Uh huh.” Katherine nodded with a grin.

 

“Finally!” Emily groaned with relief. “I thought I’d have to give one or both of yez a good kicking before someone got the guts to ask the other out.”

 

“Noice.” Chris grinned, shooting me a thumbs up.

 

---

 

“Oi Kev, did your mum make any of those fuckin’ hot-dog things?” Chris calls from the kitchen.

 

“Stop eating all my food you fat bastard!” Kevin rejoins

 

“Where are your folks anyway?” I ask, picking up a controller.

 

“Gone to Unzud for the week.” Kevin replies, scrolling through menus on the screen.

 

“And they trusted y’all not to trash the joint?” I snicker.

 

“I’m trustworthy!” Kevin retorts “Mostly...”

 

“Hullo, e-mail...” Chris’s voice sounds from the hallway as he enters bearing bags of chips in one hand, looking at his PC on the other “...Oh shit.”

 

“What?” Emily asks, slight worry in her voice.

 

“Carly’s coming.”

 

“Ah bugger.” Kevin snickers “We’re all fucked now.”

 

I frown. “Something we should be worried about?”

 

“Well... She’ll usually bring beer, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up on winning any games.” Kevin drawls.

 

“Or playing, for that matter.” Chris adds

 

“Lemme in you useless faggots!” sounds a female voice from the door.

 

“C’mon in Carly, it’s open!” Emily calls.

 

“Full hands hoppy!” Comes the surly reply.

 

“I’ll get it.” I chuckle, getting up and moving towards the door.

 

I open the door to see a beer carton with legs.

 

“Don’t just stand there, this thing is heavy!” The female voice demands.

 

“Oh, sorry!” I apologize, taking the carton and getting my first look at ‘Carly.’ She’s five foot nothing at most, with round, soft looking grey ears and a cherubic face. Hazel eyes stare at me expectantly.

 

“What?”

 

“Sorry, never seen a...” I murmur, pausing as I come up with a blank for what the hell I’m looking at.

 

“Koala. What, you lived under a rock?”

 

“USA.” I grin.

 

“My condolences, shove over, there’s a house full of noobs to waste.” She grunts bluntly, pushing past me.

 

I try not to look, new girlfriend and all... but God DAMN... that girl had curves for miles.

 

“Don’t listen to her, she’s a vicious fucking drop bear!” Emily’s voice rings out.

 

“You’re such a fucking racist hopp... Eeek! Put me down Vicki or I’ll claw your eyes out!”

 

“But you’re so cuddly!” The Lamia protests “And I missded you!”

 

“Yeah yeah shut up and gimme that.” She demands, sound of her flopping onto the chair I had just vacated, no doubt claiming the controller.

 

“Goddamn Aussies...” I chuckle, shaking my head

 

---

 

“Oh you stunlocking scrub cunt!” Carly snarls.

 

“Trash talk’s for losers...” I snicker, pressing my advantage.

 

“Oh fuck no, you did not just... Alright little bitch, here comes the pain!”

 

“Little? I’m pretty sure I could play with my beer on top of y’all’s head.” I snicker.

 

“Fucking try it faggot, also... boom.”

 

“What the fuck?” I exclaim, watching as her character unleashes a devastating combo which chews through my health bar.

 

“What now, bitch?” Carly crows as my character’s head explodes in a font of stylized gore.

 

“God damn... Alright, you done whooped me. Good Game.”

 

“Damn right noob.” Carly grates, but the grin she flashes me is one of friendly enjoyment.

 

I belch softly. “I’mma go find my girlfriend.”

 

“No shagging!” Kevin orders

 

“Like I’m gon’ give you poor fuckers pointers.” I snicker with a slight slur.

 

I spot brown and gold feathers rustling in the breeze in the backyard, and make my way outside to find Katherine.

 

“What’s a gorgeous girl like you doin’ in a place like this?” I drawl.

 

Katherine turns to me, grinning slightly lopsidedly. “I felt a bit whoopsie... Came out for some air.”

 

“Are you drunk babe?”

 

Katherine shakes her head seriously then hiccups. “Maybe a little...”

 

“Yeah. Reckon I oughta slow down too.” I chuckle. “Everything alright?”

 

“Yeah, just feels a little close in there with everybody in the same room.”

 

“Naw, now I saw your family photo. Plenty of harpies in one spot there.”

 

“Why do you think we took it at the park?” Katherine snickers “We don’t do crowds so well.”

 

“Well I hope two ain’t a crowd...”

 

Katherine slides her wings about my shoulders “Definately not.”

 

Our kissing is interrupted by the bang of a balcony door above us. Katherine glances upwards, pushing me under the eaves. Still in each other’s arms, we listen intently.

 

“You can’t tell me you’re sore over Johnno and Kat.” That was Chris’s voice.

 

“No... Well... Not like that anyway.” Vicki’s sibilant tones.

 

“What’s wrong then?”

 

A hissing sigh, “I thought I’d get over it, you know? I thought eventually if I just kept putting myself out there, I’d stop being so afraid. I’d stop seeing a different pair of eyes in the face of every boy who leans in to kiss me.”

 

Shuffling of feet on the balcony. “You know, there’s one avenue you haven’t explored.”

 

“Oh? What’s that?”

 

“Me.”

 

“You’re drunk.” Vicki snickered.

 

“Not that drunk Vic. Look at me.”

 

“W-why?”

 

“Because we’ve known each other since we were barely able to string sentences together. Look at me.”

 

“O-okay, I’m looking at you.”

 

“What do you see?”

 

A chortle. “My drunk-ass friend.”

 

“Absolutely. Nothing else. Just me. I would never hurt you. Ever... And I’ve had feelings for you for ages, it’s just taken me this long to work up the guts to say it.”

 

“I can’t...”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because what if I end up getting cold scales with you too? I couldn’t bear it, Chris. I just couldn’t!” The sound of Vicki’s soft sobbing.

 

“I know you’ve been through some rough shit, Vic. And I won’t press it. But the door’s open, even if all you wanna do is talk about it... Just... Just wanted to say my piece.”

 

Sound of the door opening

 

“Wait, Chris?”

 

“Yeah Vic?”

 

“This might just be the beer, but I’ll bite myself if I let this pass without finding out... Let’s try it... just once.”

 

“You sure?”

 

“No I’m not, but get over here and kiss me before I lose my Maou-damned nerve!” Vicki hissed.

 

Rushing footsteps, wet sounds of kissing.

 

“Oh... oh wow... Mmmmm”

 

“You OK?” Chris murmured.

 

“Did I say stop? Fucking holding out on me all these years, get the hell OVER here!” Vicki’s hiss was urgent and demanding.

 

Katherine gave a ringing little peal of laughter. “Oh Maou that’s so sweet.”

 

“Let’s hope they feel the same way when they sober up.” I murmured.

 

“Even if they don’t, that’s the first time she’s ever been able to do that without... well...”

 

“Going inside her head?” I finish

 

Katherine nods.

 

“Here’s to beer, God’s greatest social lubricant.” I chuckle.

 

Katherine giggles, leaning in and kissing me again.

 

---

 

“Why on MY bed though?” Kevin laments.

 

“It wasn’t as if we planned it Kev!” Chris offers consolingly. “It just kinda... fell into place.”

 

“Oh I bet it did...” Kevin exclaimed sarcastically.

 

“You didn’t!” Carly gasped.

 

“Not for lack of enthusiasm, I tell you what...” I chuckled, my arm around Katherine’s waist.

 

“I think it’s sweet.” The harpy near-pouted.

 

“Then YOU can wash the sodding sheets, Katherine!”

 

“Oh dry off Kev, nothing happened but a bit of snogging... Orright and maybe my hands up her shirt... And she put her tongue in my ear...”

 

“They don’t need a blow-by-blow Chris!” Vicki hissed, her golden face darkening in a blush.

 

“Sorry Vic...” Chris apologised, taking the Lamia’s hand in his own. She looked down at the contact then back up at Chris, a soft smile in her eyes.

 

“Still here...” She whispered, her voice a mixture of pride and amazement.

 

Chris returned the smile, his heart in his eyes.

 

“This is so cloying I think I may puke.” Emily grumbled “You know you’ve totally screwed with the group dynamic, right? Me and Kev are the only single ones left!”

 

“Have you met my friend Kevin?” I chortle, waving an arm at the young man grandiosely.

 

Kevin and Emily looked at each other appraisingly, before bursting into laughter.

 

“Not on his best day!” The Kangaroo declared

 

“Too right, it’d be like making out with me sister!” Kevin agreed

 

A sound of the doorbell.

 

“I’ll get it.” Kevin offered. “But do try and keep the fuckin’ hormones to a dull roar while I’m out of the room?”

 

I pulled Katherine to me, “Quick, while he’s gone!”

 

Katherine flapped her wings against my shoulders, laughing as she buffeted me “Gerroff you perv.”

 

“Hey Carly, your boyfriend’s here.”

 

“Ok faggots, that’s my ride. It’s been fun, do try and not be so fucking hopeless next time.” Carly drawled, waving a two-thumbed hand at us.

 

“Hey cutie.” A familiar voice sounded from the hall.

 

“Baby!” Carly cried joyously, launching herself into her boyfriend’s waiting arms and kissing him fervently. As she broke the kiss, my suspicions were confirmed.

 

“Sup Mick.” I snickered.

 

“Oh shit fuckin Johnno...” Mick laughed. “What are you doing here?”

 

I shoot him a mocking grin. “I go to school with these guys, what’s your excuse, apart from cradle robbing?”

 

“Ease up turbo, she’s nineteen.”

 

“And you’re what, thirty?”

 

“Twenty six mate, don’t make it any worse than it already is!”

 

“You are a dirty old man though baby...” Carly chided, tapping him on the nose with a clawed finger.

 

“But you love me for it.” Mick rejoined, kissing the Koala again.

 

“Right, all of you, fuck off outta here.” Kevin ordered with mock outrage. “If everyone’s getting some tonight except me, yez can all do it in yer own homes.”

 

“Spoilsport. Cheers for having us mate.” Chris grinned

 

“Yeah yeah... Oi Johnno, next time at yours.”

 

I nodded, “I’ll check with my cousin, fair warning, he is a cop.”

 

“I do like a man in uniform...” Emily mused.

 

Kevin stared nonplussed at the Kangaroo. “Et tu, Emily?”

 

“Need a ride back to Kyle’s place Johnno?” Mick asked, hand in hand with Carly.

 

Feathers around me as Katherine enfolded me in her wings, making a noise of protest at the concept.

 

“Thanks Mick.” I smile “But I think I’ve got a flight already booked.”