Music of the Soul 1, 2, & 3 Starter Bundle

by Erik Schubach

  Vicky glanced proudly at her red creation on Molly's neck then looked over at me. “Nervous? Your stuff is amazing Mia. There's nothing to worry about. But we'll be there of course. Oh speaking of being there, what plans you two got over break?”

  I shrugged, “I don't have anywhere to go, so I was planning on hanging out here.” Valla chimed in “Me too.” That got us a rare “Bullshit!” from Vicky. “You two are coming home with me!” she said sweetly. Crinkling her eyes and scrunching up her nose with a genuine, patented closed mouth Victoria Smile.

  “Jesus that was cute!” Valla laughed, “How can we say no to that?”

  I agreed and glanced a question over to Molly. “Nope.” she said, “I'm flying back to San Francisco in the morning to be with the fam. They aren't too, ummm... open and accepting about Vic and I. So I leave her in your capable hands, but do request that you return her in the same condition as when you received her.”

  In unison Valla and I chirped out, “No promises!” Causing laughter all around.

  Molly bumped the card box just to be mean. I ignored it... for an entire two seconds then straightened it up. “Gawd I want you.” was hotly whispered into my ear by my love, stopping all brain function instantly. Then the tease stood up and went to the restroom, swinging her hips suggestively.

  “Nice Vee!” Vicky giggled and grabbed all the cards, stuffed them in the box, and stood, placing a hand on my shoulder as she passed to put them away. “Mia... don't forget to breathe.” she bubbled out in mirth. I exhaled finally. Molly got up and sat on Vicky's bed, while I stood and moved to the desk chair.

  When Valla walked back in the room Molly asked if we wanted to hit the Christmas party at the Steam Plant Club tonight. In harmony, three voices snapped, “No!” Valla chuckled, “I think we've had enough of parties for a while.”

  Molly stood and did a fake stretch and yawn, eyeballing Vicky and biting her lower lip. “Well I have to be up at o' too damn early to catch my plane. Drive me to my apartment schoolgirl?”

  Vicky smiled and stood to grab her purse. I stood suddenly and exclaimed, “Oh wait, Molly!” I dug in one of the bags of wrapped Christmas presents beside the desk and pulled out a little box and stretched out my hand to Molly. “Merry Christmas from Valla and I!” I said cheerily like a little kid. She smiled and looked between Valla and I, accepted it, then started unwrapping it.

  She opened the long white box inside to see the simple, delicate white gold chain inside. She squealed and bent to kiss me on the cheek, then dove on Valla for a hug. “Thank you Mia, Vee, you shouldn't have.”

  I shook my head as I replied, “Yes we should have, you make Victoria happy.”

  Vicky started talking as she looped her arm in Molly's and started toward the door. “Be back in an hour...” Molly held two fingers up at her with a seductive smile, “...umm I mean two hours with dinner.” I swear I heard Vicky say something to Molly hungrily under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, “Let's see just how happy you can make me.” as they left the room.

  Valla and I looked at each other, then erupted into laughter. She pulled me to my feet and held me close as we danced to imaginary music. I melted into her as I fell in love with her yet again.

  ***

  We woke the next morning with a dead blonde weight on top of us snoring, still holding the slice of pizza she was eating when she fell asleep as we were talking and eating until the wee hours of the morning. Valla reached over me to grab the pizza slice and placed it on the pizza box on the floor, then she gently pulled Vicky off the top of us and onto the bed between us.

  We just sat there in the early morning gazing at each other over the snoring blonde. Her catlike eyes communing with my emerald. I liked lazy mornings like this the best, but it wouldn't last long as my 'art final' wasn't in class after lunch, it was at 9:00am. I'd have to tell them soon but I was so comfortable right now.

  We each draped an arm over Vicky's shoulder so we could touch each other, sharing our love through the contact. We sat this way smiling for a while and my internal chronometer chimed. “It's eight.” I whispered, and Valla looked behind me at the alarm clock as it clicked over from 7:59 to 8:00.

  She smiled and looked back to me and whispered, “So? We don't have anywhere to be until 1:00.”

  I looked at her with a guilty look on my face and whispered, “Umm... we have to be somewhere by 9:00 am to turn in my final.”

  Her eyes narrowed in confusion, “Why didn't you say anything? Okay let's get blondie up.”

  Vic just stretched like a cat between us. “Mmmm don't bother I'm up. Ooooo I'm the meat in a lesbian sandwich!”

  I slapped her shoulder as I sat up, “Perve!”

  She blinked at us innocently. “What? You guys are the ones giving me good material for my masturbation sessions!”

  I looked at her in shock and Valla just laughed out loud, “Oddly, I don't take offense.”

  We began our choreographed dance of stripping bodies, showers taken, hair brushing, and fresh clothing donned that we had developed over the past few weeks. Though it would seem impossible for three college aged girls, just a half hour later we were ready for the day.

  As we walked out of the dorm building the girls started to turn right toward the art building and I grabbed their arms and swung them around toward the parking lot. They looked confused and I cut off any questions. “My final is sorta down at the waterfront at Pike Place Market. No questions, just come.”

  I got some squishy eyed, “What's she up to?” looks from the other lez-migos, but they didn't ask. We joked and laughed our way to the parking garage at the end of the market, then we walked down the stairs to the boardwalk. We walked just past the other end of Pike Place and crossed back over the street, under the viaduct, to where a bunch of people were gathered by a tall brick building with a huge tarp draping the entire wall.

  We saw Mrs. Sax waving at us and we joined her by her side as she spoke, “This is exciting! They are going to unveil it in just a couple minutes.” She glanced at the confused and lost looking girls with me. “Oh... you haven't told them?” I shook my head. She smiled at them, “You are going to love this!”

  I was getting nervous, “J-jenny, this is V-Vicky and Valla.” Jenny gasped staring at Valla, “Why have I never seen it before? This is her?” she asked as she looked back at the tarp, then turned to me after shaking their hands. I just nodded.

  She smiled back at Valla who said, “Call me Vee.”

  There was a feedback screech in the PA system as a man by the wall grabbed a microphone, “Hello everyone, and thanks for coming today. As you know, Seattle has been commissioning urban artwork to beautify our city in recent months. This program has additional goals, such as inspiring other youths to engage in the arts and divert energy into constructive endeavors instead of destructive behavior.”

  He continued, “It is with my great pleasure that today, we'd like to unveil a mural by one of our local students, Miss Mia Jacobs, constructed using thousands of discarded hubcaps that wind up in our landfills each day. I'd like to point out that she miraculously accomplished this feat in less than three weeks.”

  Then he gestured to the wall and the tarp fell away, there was a collective gasp from the crowd and a few moments of silence, then applauds and whistles erupted from the people gathered. “Holy shit!” Valla gasped out. Vicky echoed her shock. “No friggin' way!” I looked at them to see if it was good or bad shock. They were nothing but smiles, in relief I finally let out the breath I was holding.

  I glanced back at the wall to the giant gleaming silver mural of Valla's face smiling into a silver sun. I remember that happy day, it was my inspiration for this mural. I wish all the hubcaps were the same size, I could have done better. If I had more time I could have taken the... Mrs. Sax slapped me hard on the arm. “Mia, stop obsessing!” she said sharply, then softened and laughed. “I think you get an A+ on your final.”

  She turned to Valla and Vicky, “Nice to finally 'off
icially' meet you girls. You are all she ever talks about, and I see you at the door with her all the time Vee. But now I have to get back to the University to grade the other finals.” She squeezed my arm as the girls nodded acknowledgment, keeping their eyes on the mural as Jenny walked off.

  My two friends were both taking pictures with their phones, I was getting uncomfortable. I was grabbing at their arms trying to drag them off. “Valhalla, Victoria! Let's go!” They finally looked away from the mural and to me.

  Valla smiled, “Have I ever told you that you are fucking amazing Mia?” I blushed and nodded. Vic seconded her assessment as we made our way back to the car. Both girls rubbernecking behind us to the mural as we left.

  While climbing the stairs Valla turned to me with amazement twinkling in her eyes as she asked, “When? How?”

  I smiled triumphantly then said, “The past three weeks, Jenny and I have been sneaking out of class after you drop me off and coming back before you arrive to pick me up.”

  Valla smiled and bit her bottom lip then husked out, “I'd take you right here right now on these steps if Vic weren't here!”

  That got me so aroused and embarrassed that it was hard to walk. Vicky chimed in, “Don't mind me, I was thinking the same thing after seeing that work of art!” I don't think I had ever blushed so hard as the girls laughed.

  Valla's sexual innuendo has been ramping up to almost critical mass the closer we got to Christmas. All I can think about lately because of it is her promise to me from Halloween. And after her comment just now, I'd give myself to her in a moment right here and now if she was serious.

  They snapped me out of my happy fantasies as we reached the car, Valla waving her hand in front of my eyes. Vicky started bouncing around in her seat. “So! Let's get back to the Lair and grab our luggage and get the heck over to my folks house! We're finally FREE till after New Years!” she babbled out at speeds faster than light. We started laughing as she cranked the radio and we rocked out back to the dorm.

  On a random thought I added to my loop that I'll have to remind myself later to deposit the thirty-two thousand dollar check I got for the mural commission. Vicky would kill me if I just leave a check lying around the Lair again.

  Chapter 12 – Magical Christmas

  This Christmas Eve... I don't even have words for it... it was just so amazingly surreal to me. I can mostly remember the excitement of Christmas from before my parents died, but those memories are also colored by the point of view of a child. But this was on a whole new level.

  The only decent Christmas after that was the one when I was with the Cohans. They were extremely poor, so we didn't do much, but Christmas morning was great. There were magically two presents under the empty tree for me. They had bought me a new hoodie and some paint brushes. I cried. I gave them the artwork I had made for them that year... a portrait of them when viewed from across the room, created with small colored sticker dots.

  But this was something altogether different. The Davenports had apparently conspired with Vicky who knew we would try to stay in the dorm for the holidays. They brought us on a short drive to just above Issaquah into the Cascades, above the snowline to a charming timber framed outdoor outfitter's place named Silent Bob's. Geek much? We spent most of the day going through a true winter wonderland in a sleigh pulled by a team of Clydesdales.

  I cuddled into Valla under a warm blanket as we watched the snow covered trees, frozen lakes and mountain peaks pass by. It was so tranquil none of us spoke often, we were just basking in the ambiance and majesty of nature. It was magical.

  At lunch time the sleigh stopped at a campsite covered by a huge timber frame picnic area that was decorated with holly wreathes and garlands with big red bows. From hidden speakers somewhere, just barely audible, instrumental Christmas music was being piped in.

  At the far end was a huge fireplace constructed of large stones where a roaring fire kept the picnic table area quite cozy despite the cold. There was a beautiful picnic lunch laid out on white lace tablecloths for the five of us, complete with hot coco and marshmallows. I felt like I was in an old black and white holiday movie.

  Maira watched me poke at Valla's utensils with my finger, straightening them out every time Valla put them down between bites. Valla's eyes never leaving me, her smiling and biting her lower lip each time she put a fork down crooked. Finally Maira looked at Vicky and spoke under her breath, but I was able to catch it. “What are they doing?” Vicky wasn't quiet at all, giggling out her response, “Oh, that? Vee is just turning herself on. Mia's OCD makes her hot, it's like watching porn to her.”

  Now I don't know who was more embarrassed at that point; Valla, Maira, or myself. I wanted to find a place to hide. I buried my head in Valla's shoulder. Mrs. Davenport slapped Vicky's arm admonishing, “Victoria Amelia Davenport!” Vicky held her hands up in defense saying. “What? It's true!” Maira just shook her head and smiled at her daughter's antics. Mr. Davenport was just laughing at the whole incident.

  After lunch we were loaded back up in the sleigh and returned on a shorter, more direct path to the car. We sang Christmas carols in the car on the way back to the Davenport's place, laughing and having such a great time.

  When we got back to the Davanport's it was dark. We settled in the great room that was decked out with white Christmas lights, beautiful natural garlands, and red bows. The stone fireplace burned romantically with big, red, empty stockings, each of our names embroidered on them in gold thread, hanging from the mantle.

  But the focus of the room was the large tree in the corner by the huge panoramic windows. The white twinkly lights and the beautiful glass ornaments with red bows tied to the branches, presents tucked neatly under the tree, just felt so... right. The place looked like a fairyland. My eye caught something and I walked over to the tree then looked at an ornament that was not like the others.

  It was an unevenly constructed snowflake made from Popsicle sticks covered with glitter, and the picture of an adorable little blonde girl in the middle. The contagious smile on her face was unmistakable, I caught myself smiling back at the photo. It was Victoria, she couldn't have been older than five in the picture. Maira stepped beside me, “Yes, it is my favorite ornament. Vicky made it for me in the first grade.”

  I smiled back at her then turned my gaze to Valla, laughing on the couch at something Mr. Davenport had just said. This truly did feel like family, I'm glad that Valla got a chance to experience it with me. Unbidden, my eyes teared up a bit as I watched her. I whispered to Mrs. Davenport, “Thank you so much for everything you are doing for us. This is so wonderful, you truly didn't have to go through all this effort. You have no clue how much this means to us.”

  I glanced over at her, she was looking at Valla too, with sorrow in her eyes. I looked between her and Valla and back again I opened my mouth to speak, but she nodded and whispered to me, “We know about Vee.” I knew she was talking about Valla's secret, it was like there was a vise on my heart. How did they know?

  “V-Vicky?” I asked.

  She shook her head slowly and turned her sad eyes back to me. “No. She'd never betray you girls' trust. It's just obvious.”

  I nodded and silently cried. She stepped between me and Valla so she wouldn't see. She reached up and wiped away my tears with her sleeve, then grabbed my hand and dragged me to the giant sectional couch beside my girl before she spoke. “Let's watch a holiday movie before we have our Christmas feast, shall we everyone?” Everyone cheerfully piped up in agreement as Mr. Davenport grabbed the remote and turned on the flat screen TV and cued up Santa Clause is Coming to Town.

  About when we were all singing, “You put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walkin' 'cross the flo-o-or!” Mrs. D excused herself to check on dinner. I was cuddled into the crook of Valla's arm, while Vicky was laying across our laps with her head in my lap and her feet draped across her father. It was nice. I gave Valla a gentle peck on the lips as she lazily ran her fingers through Vic
toria's hair as we watched the show.

  Just as the show was finishing, Maira came in with a smile. “Dinner is ready everyone!” We got up excitedly following the heavenly smells wafting from the dining room. Vicky hopped up on my back and I gave her a piggyback ride in while Valla and Mr. D laughed at our antics.

  Mr. Davenport sat at the head of the table while his wife took the other end. We three girls sat along one side, with Vic close to her mother. Mr. D spoke, “We're going to forgo saying grace this year and instead just give thanks for the wonderful family we have here and that we can share of ourselves at this time.”

  Everyone smiled in agreement. “Here here.” we chimed and started dishing up. There was lots of chatting, gossip, and laughing going on throughout the meal. The food was perfect and the ham was delicious. More than a few times I had to straighten Valla's utensils, the vixen.

  Throughout the meal I would sit back and marvel at 'family'. Valla never looked happier. I decided then and there that I was going to make sure Valla had her entire list checked off, one way or another.

  After helping clean up after the meal we all retired down the hall to the bedrooms. Valla and I were in the guestroom that shared an adjoining bathroom with Vicky's room. We dressed in our night clothes, I kissed Little Vee goodnight and put her in my purse.

  We were exhausted and happy as we started to doze off in each others arm. Sometime during the night, Victoria wandered in hugging a pillow to her chest. “I miss Molly.” she whispered, and we wordlessly raised the covers for her to slide in with us.

  We woke up to a hyper-blonde pogo-stick bouncing on the bed. “Wake up, wake up, wake up! It's Christmas!” Valla was giggling at her, “Settle down blondie!” But her excitement was as contagious as her smile. We took turns showering and brushing our teeth, but opted to stay in our night clothes.