The finality of her words brought unexpected tears to her eyes. She thought she had moved beyond this loss and accepted it, but the devastation on the faces before her caused her initial grief to return.
She breathed in and forced a smile to her face. “But that is perhaps a blessing. Now I will remain focused on composing and not be tempted to personally sing all my lead female roles.”
They rewarded her attempt at humor with smiles and cheers. She relaxed as her ship moved back into sunny waters and away from the rain clouds that threatened to bury them all. “And I have not studied a note during my time off and have probably forgotten half of what I learned, so I will greatly appreciate your assistance in catching up.”
“I will play all your compositions if you’ll let me play your piano. It is far superior to the one in the practice hall,” Bresnan said.
“If you want to stay here, I’ve got a room open,” she offered. She then looked at Andrew. “I do have a room open, don’t I?”
“Two. The second guest room is also open.”
Everyone was now begging for the second room.
“You can get yourself into trouble faster than anyone I know,” Adam teased. “Tell them you can’t choose, so the best you can offer is to add more beds if they are willing to share the rooms.”
Her suggestion was readily met, and when the eight students went upstairs and saw their palatial rooms, they screamed and hugged each other. All except Bresnan, who simply smiled at her. “I hope you don’t regret this. I’ll try to keep them in line.”
“Then you aren’t upset that you have to share your room?”
“No, this is better. This way, I get the credit for getting us all in here. Otherwise, I’d soon be hated and reviled for living a privileged life.”
Do I really want to bring people into my house who hate me?
He must have noticed the momentary doubt in her face. “I’ll take them aside tonight and set up house rules, the first being anyone who is rude to you will be tossed from the house.”
“Add Andrew, Sondra and Martin to your rule, and make sure they understand that Andrew and Sondra are not servants. This is their home. If Sondra cooks them food or Andrew drives them somewhere, it’s because they are nice people.”
Bresnan smiled. “I will be certain they understand. We’ll write the rules down and I’ll give you a copy later. If you see anything missing, let me know.”
“Thank you,” she said, and kissed him on the cheek.
Bresnan politely escorted her to the door, then whistled at the celebrating pups and told them to gather around. “We need to make up house rules so no bad apple gets us kicked out of this place.”
Amanda listened outside the door.
“And don’t you doubt for a second that if we send Amanda into a relapse, Bastion will have us packed and living in the dungeon before we can say ‘faux pas’.”
She stopped listening and returned downstairs. She was glad Bastion was getting to play the heavy instead of herself.
Bastion and the professors were huddled in conversation when she joined them. They were evidently voting on whether the students would or would not be allowed to stay.
“Do I get a vote?”
“You may provide an opinion, but they are my students and the decision is mine,” Bastion warned her.
“Then first I should apologize for not asking your permission before offering.”
“Apology accepted, but please remember to do so in the future.”
“Secondly, I would like to observe that unless you forced them to come today, they genuinely seem to want to be my friends, and I’d like to have some friends at school. Otherwise it’s going to be a long four years.”
“I agree, but there are a few in the group we have concerns about.”
“Bresnan is upstairs right now creating house rules that enable the group to police their own and kick out anyone being rude to me before you are forced to intervene and make them all return.”
“If Bresnan is willing to take control, then I will allow this experiment,” Bastion said. “However, I will call them back if I see any deterioration in your health or your mood, or if jealousy causes the remainder of my students to misbehave.”
Bastion repeated his warning when the happy students returned downstairs.
“We considered that, sir, and we think we have a solution. The eight positions should be decided by you and the professors as a reward for students who get along and help others.”
“You do realize that means you will not be spending your entire residence in this house?” Bastion challenged.
“Honestly, sir, if we aren’t willing to share, then you’ll be pulling us back within six weeks. But for a shot to live here, I believe everyone will try to be on their best behavior. I know I will.”
“Then we will try it. Have you a suggestion as to how long a student should be allowed to remain?”
“Six months, unless they do something to get kicked out. And given the long list of things that result in immediate expulsion, you’ll probably be asked to select someone every month.”
“May I see the list?”
Amanda snuggled in beside him so she could read the list as well. It was very strict. Failure to pick up dirty clothes or make the bed was grounds for expulsion.
“Wow, I’d be kicked out of here in a day,” she admitted.
“This is your house, so you can do what you want, but we’re your guests, and we’ll be good guests or we’ll return to the dorms. There’s no reason why you or the Johnsons should have to endure any of our bad habits.”
Bastion handed the list back to him. “I suspect I will be filling the slots every day, but we shall attempt this behavioral experiment. If nothing else, it should make you aware of what a slovenly group you are.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Eight students living in her house turned out to be more than anyone could bear, including Bastion, who stopped by almost every evening. When several of the boys lost their places for dirty clothes, Bastion refused to refill the slots, to the relief of all.
When the number was reduced to four, everyone was even happier, especially poor Sondra, who had to feed the masses. Amy frequently helped Sondra with breakfast and dinner, but the boys were utterly useless.
Amanda was surprised Amy was still in the house. The girl had apologized to her on the first day, but her apology only shifted the blame to others.
“My problem is that I trust people, and they take advantage of my trust. I followed Beth and did a lot of stuff I knew was wrong because she said to, and then she just runs back to her daddy and forgets she even knew me! And Jules Bavard. He signs me on, promising me that I’ll have the role of Camille, and then sends me all over town ‘making contacts’ until I was so sore I could barely walk. And where’s my promised role? You sing it perfectly on the opening night and then Jacque cuts it rather than have the memory of your performance tainted.”
Tears welled in Amy’s eyes, but Amanda couldn’t muster even a mild sense of compassion. “Hey, at least you weren’t poisoned and had your voice destroyed. Be glad you couldn’t sing it perfectly.”
Amy stared at her in shock. “Oh God, listen to me. Here I am complaining about my petty betrayals when you were almost killed!” She shook her head. “I used to be a better person than this. I think hanging around Beth has ruined me.”
“At the end of the day, who you become is not Beth’s responsibility, it’s yours. You can make yourself as good as you want.”
That lecture earned her a hug and began a one-sided friendship, in which Amy showered her with adoration.
In a short time, Amanda settled into her new routine. Classes were hard, private tutorials were intensive, yet her fellow students proved supportive and polite. None seemed to want to kill her, and that was a grand improvement.
Bresnan made it very clear he’d like to become her lover. She first resisted his charms by saying she had better luck with friends than lovers. When
she knew him better, she confessed she was in love with someone else.
“Hammer?” he asked.
“Well, I do still love Hammer, but no, this is a very special love.”
“The guy who owns the house?”
She nodded.
Bresnan looked around the beautiful music room. “He seems to return the feeling.”
“He does.”
“So where is he?”
“That’s a very good question. I thought he would have come to me now he’s broken out of captivity.”
“Was he in jail?”
Amanda laughed. “No. His was a different kind of captivity. He couldn’t leave where he lived.”
“Like a bubble boy?”
“Well, he didn’t live in an actual bubble, but yes, rather like that. He could speak to me by phone and see me in the cameras. He’s been my best friend and my guardian angel all in one. He recently broke free, but I think he’s afraid to become my lover. I think he believes he’ll fail to physically excite me.”
Amy had evidently been eavesdropping at the door. She now entered the room and glared at Bresnan. “You should buy a sex toy. Truth is, they’re better than most men anyway.”
“Bullshit!” Bresnan said.
Amy gave him a ‘give me a break’ look. “Buy a Rabbit and see if you don’t agree. If they could build a Rabbit that could cuddle and whisper sweet nothings in your ear, I swear men would become unnecessary.”
“And then mankind would die out,” Bresnan added, and looked at Amanda. “Whatever our flaws, we are necessary if you ever want children and someone to help you raise them.”
“Well, I don’t want children, so in my book you’re completely useless!” Amy yelled, and stormed from the room.
Amanda sensed there was a lot more going on than just a debate about sex toys and children.
Later, when she found Amy in the kitchen peeling potatoes, she sat down and joined her. “Is there something between you and Bresnan?” she asked.
“If you want him, you can have him,” Amy assured her, and peeled deep into the flesh of her potato.
“I don’t want him as a lover, if that’s what you mean.”
“Well, that’s what he wants, and he has a way of getting what he wants,” Amy warned her.
“What are you saying?”
“Just what I said.”
“Amy, are you saying Bresnan forced you to have sex?”
Amy didn’t reply.
“Amy?”
“He’ll deny it and say I’m just trying to cause trouble, and then I’ll be out of here tomorrow.”
Amanda stormed out of the kitchen and upstairs, where she asked Bresnan to follow her. She was planning to drag him downstairs and confront him in front of Amy, but Adam intervened and suggested she hear his side first.
She pulled him into her room and closed the door. “Did you rape Amy?”
His look of shock, followed by anger, seemed very genuine. “No! Is she saying I raped her? That’s not even close to what happened.”
Amanda calmed and led him to the settee by the window. “Then tell me what really happened.”
“I’ve been focused on three things since I moved in here—my music, making certain everyone obeys the rules, and trying to get you to fall in love with me. That’s the embarrassing but honest truth.”
“So what happened with Amy?”
“Amy came on to me. I politely told her my interests were otherwise occupied. But Amy doesn’t take rejection well, so she crawls into my bed and basically rapes me in my sleep. We’re sharing a room, if you don’t know. Lauren and Piper have both dated Amy and didn’t want to bunk with her. I now know why. Anyway, she has her own bed, but she keeps crawling into mine. Sadly, I never realized we’d need a rule against that. After she jumps me in my sleep, she taunts me with her sex toy, talking about how much better it feels than I do. She uses it in front of me. And I’m not going to lie to you—I get aroused by her enjoying the damn Rabbit.”
He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “This weekend we all went out and drank too much. All night long, she kept rubbing up against me. When we came home, she pulled out that Rabbit.” He looked sickened by his memories. “I...I had sex with her, and I was angry she had manipulated me into doing that, so I wasn’t very nice about it.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means there was no foreplay, no kisses, just—what is the American expression? Wham, bam, thank you ma’am.” He looked up, clearly upset. “What I did was wrong, and I do regret it, but it was not rape. She could have stopped it in a second. All she had to do was yell, and you would have come to her rescue. Despite her protests, she was enjoying it—maybe not the sex, but she was definitely getting off on her ability to control me.” He racked his fingers through his hair.
“If you want me to leave because of this, I’ll kick myself out, but I think Amy should go as well. And if Amy stays, I definitely need to go, and I wouldn’t advise putting another guy in her room.”
Amanda took his hand. “I don’t know what to do about this. I think I’ll need someone else to decide.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I do believe you, but the problem is that I’m not objective in this matter. I truly like you, and despite all her attempts to become my friend, I still don’t like Amy, so there was never any question I would believe you over her. However, that’s not fair to Amy, so I’m going to ask someone else to decide.”
“You can’t take this to Bastion. He’ll kick me out of school. Just let me leave.”
“I wasn’t going to ask Bastion.”
“Then who?”
“Adam. I want Adam to come here and solve this dilemma.”
Bresnan looked around. “Can he hear us?”
“Yes. All rooms have electronic surveillance.”
“So he has video to prove what I said?”
She nodded. “Which is why he’s the best person to resolve this.”
“Take me out, please.” Adam’s voice sounded from her pocket, causing poor Bresnan to fall off the settee.
She helped him up and took the phone from her pocket. “You frightened poor Bresnan,” she scolded.
“Sorry, Bresnan, but I’m not too keen on being manipulated myself. Which day did this harassment begin?”
“It was about two weeks after we dropped to four.”
Amanda placed the phone in her lap, and Adam provided the video of the nights in high speed. Bresnan moved in closer so he could see as well. Even in high speed, it was obvious Amy was trying to provoke him as she strutted about naked, leaning over him as he worked on his homework and rubbing his shoulders as she asked him questions. When Amy finally stepped into the bathroom for a shower, Bresnan abandoned his books and changed into his pajamas. Amanda shifted in embarrassment as she watched Bresnan’s naked body on the video while his actual body pressed so close to her side.
“Adam, do we really have to see this? Can’t you simply look at the tapes yourself and make a decision?”
“I’m busy doing something else,” he replied. “Something of vital importance. Just be patient—the pertinent material will eventually show up,” Adam scolded.
Amanda couldn’t remember Adam ever scolding her before, and his declaration of being busy with something of vital importance made her suspect Luke required his attention just now.
“Sorry. Go back to what you’re doing, and we’ll handle this.”
“Thank you,” he said, his voice softer and unquestionably full of love.
By the time they reached the night when Amy jumped Bresnan, Amanda wanted to so the same. The truth was, Bresnan was sexy as hell without his clothes on.
Her sympathy went to Amy when he woke up during the sex and cursed her even as he climaxed. She watched Amy’s attempts at making him love her grow more and more desperate by the day, and Bresnan was correct about Amy’s pleasure with her Rabbit being erotic.
The angry sexual conquest was hard to
watch, but the protests rang false to her ear, and she was certain the reason why Amy cried afterward was because she knew Bresnan now hated her.
When she set aside the phone, she asked Bresnan why he hadn’t sent Amy home after the night she jumped him.
“Because she helps Sondra in the kitchen. I didn’t want to remove the only person who was of some use.”
“You could have helped her,” Amanda challenged.
“I’m not allowed to do anything that will endanger my hands. Sharp knives and fire are included in the items I must avoid.”
“Of course.” Amanda lifted his hand and examined his long, strong fingers. A pianist needs to protect his hands. When she finished her examination, she continued to stroke his valuable digits.
“You saw how she taunted me—”
“Yes. But I also saw how delicious you look without your clothes.”
“I did not encourage her!”
“No, you most decidedly ignored her, but Amy has fallen in love, or perhaps in lust with you.”
“I never wanted Amy. I wanted you.”
“You say that in the past tense.”
“Well, knowing the man you really love is watching our every move is freaking me out. I really have to leave now.”
She sighed and cooled down her libido. “But we’ll still remain friends?”
“Forever,” he promised her, and kissed her on the cheek.
She walked him to her door, reluctant to let him leave. “If you change your mind, you’ll be welcomed back.”
“Thanks.” He tenderly stroked her cheek. “I hope your James Bond shows up soon, because you’re in desperate need of loving.”
“I am,” she admitted.
He kissed her on the lips. After a sweet moment, he backed away from her and glanced up at the security camera. “I’ll pack my bags and tell the others goodbye.”
She nodded and closed her bedroom door when he left. She threw herself face down on the bed and groaned in frustration. “Adam, will you save me the embarrassment of going to some sleazy store and order me some sex toys? I won’t try to blackmail you into coming before you’re ready, but I don’t want anyone else. I just want you.”
Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2) Page 25
