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

by Erik Schubach

  I wanted to look back at her, but thought she might stop if I did. I could feel the heat of her hand cupping me through the shirt and bra, like they weren't even there. I'm sure I was sweating. Then I heard something. The thumb stopped moving and Riley's total domination over me loosened enough for me to realize Bev was talking to me.

  “Earth to Krustallos! I was asking, if you were gay, would you go after Luce or Rachel in the show?” she asked.

  Why is it so hot in here? I stuttered out, “Umm I don't know. Rachel seems so high maintenance. So, probably Luce, I mean she's hot and would probably own me in bed.” Like Riley just owned me on the couch. I tried to play along, “So what did you two choose?”

  Bev laughed, “Where the hell have you been? It's been the topic of conversation for the last ten minutes.”

  I blushed and shot an evil look back at Riley. “Ummm... I was just a little distracted.” I heard a little snort from Riley. I went to sit up and pull my hand out of her pocket, but she started with her thumb again and I forgot what I was doing as I melted in to her again.

  I looked back into her eyes, and they were sparkling with mischief. Crap, she knows she has control here. Riley spoke up, “So, ladies. Another movie? Or spin some vinyl?”

  God, I couldn't survive another two hours of this torture. So I forced my mouth to work through the happy fog created by Riley's assault on my flesh, “Let's listen to some albums or the singles we got today.”

  At that, Riley gently squeezed her hand a bit, causing me to gasp, then released me and pulled her hand out from under the blanket saying, “Oooo sounds like fun!” This was my punishment from her for suggesting it, and I knew it, removal of my silent, beautiful torture.

  Bev rolled off the couch and onto all fours on the floor before standing and wandering toward her room mumbling “God, no. Now there's two of them.” Then she called over her shoulder as she grabbed her box and brought it into her room, “If you two think you can torture me with ancient mono track music from bands that are like in their 50's and 60's or older now, you're wrong. I'll be in here if you need me.” And she shut her door to our giggles.

  Riley smiled and whispered, “Looks like I got my over the sweater action after all. You shouldn't have escalated the cold war.” She bit her lower lip and winked. I'm sure I melted again as I blushed and stood to make my way over to my vinyl record collection.

  I hoarsely whispered back, “My God woman, it was all I could do to not squirm and moan! I was scared to death with Bevi there!”

  She chuckled, proud of both herself and my reaction as she stood and made her way over to me and the records. I grabbed a 33-1/3 album, not showing her, and put it on my phonograph and fired up my old tube amplifier.

  She quirked a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at that, saying, “Wow! I didn't know those things still existed!”

  I smiled at her coyly. “Gives a much richer seductive tone to the vinyl, solid state amps are too harsh. I mean you like seductive over harsh don't you?” I quirked an eyebrow and she just bit her lower lip in retaliation to my implication. She fights dirty!

  I put the needle gently on the vinyl and cranked the volume 'Til You're Dead' by Melissa Ferrick blasted out the speakers. This got a huge smile out of Riley. I quickly realized she had never heard it as I started dancing with her, belting it out. I gathered that her smile was because, yet again, it was a female singer. I can't help it, I like what I like.

  Once the song was over, we stopped dancing and I stopped the record before the next song and pulled it off. She was thumbing through my treasure trove as I slid the album back in its sleeve. She swung her eyes up to me in mirth and said, “Seriously Cryster, there isn't a single album in here that doesn't have a female lead. I think I've found your kryptonite!”

  “You certainly did earlier,” I mumbled under my breath.

  She grinned smugly, “I certainly did.” Damn her and her freakishly good hearing! I blushed again and started playing with my ponytail.

  We spent the next hour just spinning vinyl and dancing, laughing, and having fun. I noticed our dancing was getting closer and more seductive as each song went along. We were taking turns selecting songs, and each one got slower and slower. Until I was in her arms, with my head resting on her chest. Our arms around each other and just swaying with the music, not really even dancing.

  I started crying, and I don't have any clue why. When Riley noticed she brought me over to the couch, her face etched with concern and dried my tears asking, “What is it Cryster? What's wrong?”

  I just shrugged and smiled through bleary eyes. “I really don't know. But today has been... nice. Maybe I'm just getting confused or something. What part of US is just that dumbass bet and how much of this is real?”

  This changed her posture, she pulled away slightly and put her hands in her lap. Was it something I said? I hope she doesn't realize I had fallen for her, I know she doesn't feel the same. Then she confirmed it “Right... just a game.” Then she stood. “I'd better get going. Thanks for such a fun day. I guess I'll hear from you soon about the next date?” She started moving toward the door quickly.

  I nodded at her as I stood to follow. Damn, I had ruined such a great day. One of the best days of my life if I am to be honest with myself.

  I brightened up, “Oh, wait. Parking in the lot is spendy. Here... use this whenever you come over!” I grabbed my purse and dug around and pulled out a few one month parking passes and handed her one, she took it between two fingers, squinting her eyes. Then she eyeballed the rest as I put them back away. She cocked her perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Let me guess, you know a guy?”

  We both laughed as I nodded. I was happy I could still get her to smile.

  I wasn't even thinking when she opened the door and turned back to say goodbye, when I leaned up and gave her a passionate goodnight kiss. When I realized it I broke the kiss, embarrassed. “G-goodnight Riley. I really had fun today, thanks.”

  She gave me a smile tinged with sadness in her eyes, “Me too. Good night, Crystal.”

  I shut the door behind her and leaned my back against it, realizing she didn't use her nickname for me. It was still early, but I wandered into Bev's dungeon and she looked up from where she was reading on her iPad at her desk to see my eyes brimming with tears and wordlessly hopped into her bed and held the covers open for me to slide in with her.

  She hugged me protectively and whispered, “You gotta put a stop to this, Kru.”

  I shrugged and whispered back, “I know. But I can't, at least this way I still get to see her. Just one more date. If I can't handle it anymore I'll just quit.”

  Then I spoke into the air, more at the universe than to Bev, “Sometimes I feel like she feels it too. I mean it seems so real. But then she clams up and reminds me it isn't. My blurry line is just black and white to her.” She shook her head and just held me, rocking me.

  We sat like that for a long time just comforting each other over our doomed relationships. Silently communicating a whole conversation, complete with arguments, realizations and resignation to the inevitable outcomes of her relationship with Lori and mine with Riley, just from our familiarity with each other. I finally dozed off, thanking the powers that be for my best friend, my sister from another mother that is Beverly.

  Chapter 7 – Third Date

  Monday morning rolled around and I glanced at Bev's alarm clock, 8:15am, we had slept over twelve hours. I poked Bev who just groaned, “Whhhhaaaaaaat?” I poked her again, stating, “Rise and shine, Bevi. You're going to be late for work.”

  She looked at the clock and groaned again, “I didn't set the damn alarm last night.”

  She rolled off the bed and stood and started unabashedly stripping naked as she made her way toward her attached bathroom. I called after her as I stood, “Breakfast?” I got a zombie groan in return, that's code for “Yes please, and thank you.” in Bevi land. I smiled and wandered into the kitchen and got out two bowls, and poured some of my Fruit Loops, from
my hidden stash, into them and put spoons by the bowls. Yes, the hidden stash that Bev knows about! Then I started the coffee.

  A few minutes later zombie Bev dragged herself out to the kitchen wearing her uniform. I grabbed the milk from the fridge and she brightened up, seeing my Fruit Loops in her bowl as I poured the milk in.

  “Oooo my favorite!” she chirped.

  This caused me to chuckle. “No, you mean MY favorite.”

  She grinned like a chipmunk, her cheeks filled with sugary goodness, and mumbled out, “Tomato tomatoh.” Then she punctuated it by scooping up another big bite.

  I poured her a large coffee in a disposable cup and snapped the sip lid on it. I giggled, I felt like I was getting my child ready for school. She read me like a book as always and grabbed the cup as she headed toward the door, kissing my cheek, “Thanks, mom!” We both chuckled and I called after her, “Don't accept any rides from strangers! And come straight home after school, young lady!” We shared another laugh as she shut the door behind her.

  I cleaned up the breakfast dishes and headed toward my room to get ready for the day.

  ***

  I was clean, refreshed and dressed by 9:30 and grabbed my cell. [ got plans 2day? ] I shot to Riley. Moments later she shot back [ just waiting on yr date invite :) ] I laughed, she was so sure of herself and her charms. Well she has reason to be. I shot back my customary [ call me ] and my phone started ringing.

  I answered, “Consider yourself invited, I'll be there in 30.”

  She laughed then she said, “You know, this is like four days in a row, people are going to talk.”

  I laughed back, “Let them talk. You gonna be ready? Just casual, but you will need a jacket.”

  I could hear the smile in her voice. “Oooo another day date. I'm ready already. See ya soon, Cryster,” and she hung up.

  I found myself smiling. She used the nickname again! Maybe she isn't mad about how I ruined the night after all. I got to my car and got a [ bored ] text on my cell. I smiled and fired back [ call me ] Then I answered the ringing on speakerphone, “Hey, girl! Why you so bored?” She giggled like a madwoman at the expected greeting.

  She sounded nonchalant, “Oh, no reason. Just waiting for some chick to bring me on a mystery date.”

  I smiled, “Anyone I know?”

  She played along. “Just some girl with a ponytail. Didn't get her name.”

  We continued the banter until I was descending the exit ramp with me saying, “Getting off the exit now, see you in five.” I was rewarded with a super cute, “K, bye,” and she hung up. I approached her loft and saw her standing on the sidewalk with her thumb out. I smiled to myself then I pulled up and she hopped in with a grin.

  She grabbed my hand and our fingers found their rightful configuration. Then she chirped, “Hi!”

  I was grinning like a fool as I replied, “I'm not supposed to pickup hitchhikers.”

  She mocked indignation. “Fine, return me to my stoop, driver,” while placing the back of her hand on her forehead dramatically.

  This got a chuckle from me. “For all you know I'm some psycho hitchhiker picker-upper who will drive you somewhere to take away your innocence.”

  She sat up straight and her smile returned. “You say that as if it is a bad thing!”

  We shared a laugh as we continued deeper into downtown, I turned on Pike and she laughed, “Again?”

  That was the desired response, so I waggled my eyebrows as we drove right past the market. This got me a, “Tease!” from the brunette vixen. Then I veered east and asked, “I assume you had breakfast already?” She responded with, “One of those granola bars that seem to be all over my loft and office, I swear I don't know where they keep coming from. Oh, and some coffee.”

  I smiled. “Good, then you'll be hungry at lunch.” She still had curiosity painted all across her face as we got on the northbound Interstate 5. I fessed up a little, “Well, this may lose your whole bet thing for me here. This is more of a day trip that my parents would take me on when I was little, I have some fond memories and just wanted to share a little of my childhood with you. So no spectacularly romantic gestures. Just me.” I finished sheepishly.

  She looked almost moved as she spoke quietly, “Sharing personal memories is one of the most powerful romantic gestures there is. So... we've never talked about your parents. They live here?”

  I shook my head. “No my mother got offered a CIO position down in San Jose five years ago and off they went. I stayed since I had a scholarship to UW. I even had Vee Jacobs, the poet, in my freshman English Lit class. SHE was an inspiring girl. I love this city, so here I stay.”

  She looked thoughtful, and I asked, “How about your folks?”

  She shrugged, “Just mom and I back in DC. Dad took off when I came out at fifteen. Mom already knew when I told her. She never wavered. I love that woman. When I came to Seattle on a vacation a few years back, I fell in love with the city and the Cascade Mountains, so I sort of never went back. I don't get to see my mom as much as I'd like, but she's happy.”

  I was absorbing everything she said, I realized I had been silent for too long after she finished. “I'm sorry about your father. I don't know why it makes a damn bit of difference if someone is straight or gay, they are the exact same person they were before they came out. I just hope that if I ever determine whether or not I'm a lesbian, that I don't lose someone I love that way.”

  I saw her squint at the 'whether or not', trying to read into it. I don't know why I'm so scared to just admit to her that I've come to the determined that I am. I have never connected with another person like I do with her. It goes beyond the connection I have with Bev. I'm just scared that she doesn't feel it too. Coward.

  She finally spoke, “How would your parent's take it if you did?” She tilted her head and squeezed my hand. I guess she could tell I was in heavy thought over the subject. I glanced over and our eyes met for a moment, I got an electric charge from her swirling chocolate browns intensely searching my duo-tone eyes for clues.

  I took a breath as I looked back at the road. “They'd actually be pretty fine with it. After Bevi came out, my parent's didn't treat her any different. They love her like a daughter and I swear that my mom thought I was gay too and was trying to get us together for months after that. Then she would even point out pretty girls for me all the time, 'Oooo look at that one honey. She's hot isn't she?'. I think she kind of figured it out though, seeing the string of boys I'd bring home.”

  She snickered. “I think I already like your mom.”

  I smiled and offhandedly replied, “You should come on down the next time I go to visit them.” I kicked myself for saying my thoughts out loud again, what the heck is wrong with me?

  She stopped for a second or two, reading me, then said softly, “I'd like that.” Catching me off guard.

  I smiled at her as I slid onto the Highway 525 interchange to Mukilteo. “Almost there.” She glanced at the signs then looked a question at me. I chuckled. “Patience my inquisitive Riley. All shall be revealed soon.” I winked an she shook her head at me smiling.

  I turned on the radio and cued up some girl bands on my iPod, much to her amusement. “Hey, don't judge me,” I giggled. And a few minutes later we were pulling up to the Mukilteo Lighthouse Park. I smiled hugely at her as I parked the car.

  “We're heeeeeere,” I called out as we hopped out of the car. She looked one part amused and one part curious as I grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the lighthouse, saying, “My dad has this thing for lighthouses. He'd tell me the story of every one we'd visit. Mukilteo is special, since it is still in operation.”

  “In a time of electronic warning systems, radar and sonar, lighthouses serve no purpose, but the sailors around here still swear that they navigate by it at night and it gives them a certain feeling of protection seeing its gleaming warning,” I repeated what my father told me when I was eight.

  “He brought me here for the first time when I was in
the fourth grade. I don't know how he pulled it off, but instead of the regular tour, he got us up to the lens room to look out over the Sound. I think he knew the caretaker or something.”

  I could see amusement in her eyes, I read into it and made a connection I had never seen before this moment. Then I laughed out loud, “Seems I may have just discovered where my networking inspiration came from. I guess he 'knew a guy'.” She seriously laughed out loud at that.

  “Now, let's do the tour!” I was excited as we went through the ground level, listening to the history of the lighthouse from the thirty year old lady with the Mukilteo Historical Society uniform on. She spoke of the difference between the fixed Fresnel lens it has now and the old revolving Fresnel lens it replaced. How sailors can still see the light beam from twelve nautical miles away. We were in tourist mode and shared smiling glances back and forth, bumping hips and having fun, just soaking in the ambiance.

  An older couple gave us quite a dirty look when they saw we were holding hands and being so familiar with each other. Riley tried to let go of my hand, I could read it in her eyes that she didn't want people looking at me that way. I wouldn't let her let go and gave her a reassuring squeeze and I raised our hands and kissed the back of her's, which got me a warm smile in trade. Then we chuckled at the old folks as they jockeyed to move up to the front of the tour, away from us.

  When the tour was over and everyone was filing out, I pulled Riley off to the side. When everyone was gone the tour operator turned around and beamed a giant smile at me, “Crystal! Long time no see!” She looked at Riley then stopped for a second, “Oh, this isn't your sister, Bev.”

  I smiled back and released Riley's hand to give the girl a hug, “Hi Leanna. I'd like you to meet Jane McKay. I thought I'd bring her on a date here, exploring my childhood a bit.”

  Leanna didn't even bat an eyelash at the word 'date' as she turned to Riley and surprised her with a hug, “Very pleased to meet you, Jane. You must be a special girl. Crystal NEVER brings anyone around.”