The Aviators

It’s been a week since I went out with the girls. Life with Matt seems to keep getting better each day; he’s not at home much, though. He spends a lot of time down at his parents’ with the other guys working on the album.

He leaves me here alone. For two main reasons. One, Denmore. Matt doesn’t want me anywhere near him; even though I get the impression he doesn’t appear so worried about him. Two, he thinks I distract him too much. Hah. I guess that’s a two way street, though. Matt distracts me, as well. Especially when I’m trying to do something he’s instructed me to do. Then again, maybe he’s just testing my resolve.

Speaking of that, my twin seems resolute in her belief that Brian is going to propose to her, any day now. She’s called a few times, gushing about how amazing he is. How much he loves her, dotes on her. Like I’ve already said, I envy their relationship a little. Not just for the little romantic things, but ‘cause of the bigger picture. Matt will never propose to me. I will never have any hope of being asked to marry someone. I’m a slave...and no slave has ever...

Anyway, I think she might just be right. Matt’s been saying similar things, except he hasn’t been as nice about it. Then again that seems to be the story of his relationship with my twin. Tolerant is the word I think I should use to describe the way they are toward each other. Nothing more, nothing less. I wish I could do something to change it, but it’s not really my place. Besides, they’re both grown adults, so they should be able to sort themselves out.

And I have my own issues to deal with.

Nightmares. I never remember my dreams. Or at least I didn’t prior to the day where Matt...hurt me. I mean, that’s not entirely true, I do remember my dreams, but usually only vague afterthoughts and impressions. No, the one I’ve experienced several times, now; this one I remember vividly. It’s not something I wish to repeat, though. Suffice to say that it involves me being forced to... Ugh, I can’t even say it. But, I think it’s obvious what it’s about.

Right now I’m sitting outside by the pool, dangling my feet in the water. Bella’s sitting next to me her muzzle resting on my shoulder. It’s quiet, peaceful. Matt’s been gone a few hours now; he didn’t give me any instructions, just hinted that Michelle or one of the other girls might pop around sometime. Don’t know who it will be.

Before he left I got the feeling he wanted to say something to me, but didn’t. He’s been treating me with kid gloves the past few days. It’s a little awkward between us. I mean, he’s no less firm with me, no less tender either. It’s just a different atmosphere. Tense, anxious. I’m sure we’ll get through it, though. I mean sure, what we feel for each other is illegal, and if anyone, i.e. the Guild, finds out well we’ll be in a lot of shit.

Part of me is believing for good things, though. Being positive is the only way I’ll let myself be. I know Matt is trying to stay optimistic, as well. There is one thing we haven’t done since then. He hasn’t asked for anything sexual of me. I have a feeling he’s been spending a lot of time with his right hand, at least he’s been using the bathroom in private a lot more. Oh and he avoids brushing up against me...and he wears his boxers to bed...

I don’t know how to feel about all that. That’s never been something that’s come to mind when I was with my other masters. Then again maybe it did and I never noticed. Who knows whether it’s true, or not, that men think about sex all the time. From experience, I’m sure that’s not the case. Well, with Matt I’m sure that’s not true. At least fifty percent of the time he’s thinking about music. Hah. Yeah, that wasn’t funny.

It’s comforting on one level, that he’s taking great pains to not pressure me too much, but at the same time we both have needs. Sexual needs; it’s a biological imperative and I know, sooner or later he won’t be able to ignore them. And just doing it with Mr Hand won’t be enough for him. I know this for a fact, considering the number of men I’ve serviced in my life.

No man can last for too long without a woman to fuck. It’s the truth. Unless they’re gay, then they can’t go out with sleeping with another guy. Oh, and just a random point, there are male slaves. Not many...but y’know the Guild caters to all sorts of people. And, yes, some of them have male owners. Oh and some female slaves have mistresses....and I really have no idea why I’m saying all this. It’s not even relevant to my situation.

Bella interrupts my contemplation, bumping the tip of her very wet nose against my left cheek. I giggle, grabbing at her collar and trying to push her away from me, telling her to leave off. She doesn’t obey me, but that’s no surprise. She has one master. Only listens to him. The same man who happens to be mine.

I guess I’m like a play buddy for her, or something. Don’t get me wrong, I think she’s great. I believe all the hype about how pets are good for one’s health. Aside from getting you out for a walk once or twice a day, every day of the week, having a pet boosts energy levels and oddly enough, happiness levels.

Which, I’ll take a bucket load of, right now, thanks very much. She seems to agree with my sentiment, because she lets out a soft yip, and then bumps up against me again, licking me all over my face. I giggle, grabbing at her muzzle and wiping at my face.

“She giving you a bath, Val?”

I jump at the voice, and turn my head; Bella peels away from me and dashes toward the person who’s just walking out of the house. It’s Michelle. She laughs and lifts a knee slightly as the blonde dog jumps at her.

“Down, Bella.” Surprisingly she obeys my sister, flopping down at her feet. Michelle reaches down to scratch behind her ears then she straightens and looks over at me. I smile at her. She joins me at the edge of the pool, kicking off her sandals, dipping her toes into the water.

“This is nice.” She wiggles her toes. “Whatcha doing out here on your lonesome?”

I shrug. “Just thinking...Matt’s with the guys...”

“I know, I just came from his parent’s place, dropped Bri off.” Michelle leans back on her hands, tilting her gaze up to the sky. She goes on, while I admire her profile. “They’re getting on well with the new material... they reckon it’s going to be the best they’ve ever done.”

I nod.

She glances at me. “I guess you wouldn’t know about that, though?”

Shaking my head, I look away from her.

There’s a pause then Michelle sighs. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound like-”

“It’s okay,” I interrupt her apology. “You’re right. But, y’know, it’s exciting, even though I don’t really understand what’s going on.” I look at her. “I think they’re amazing as a band. I saw them live...just before Matt...bought me.” Yes. I just went there. I mean, it’s no revelation to my twin. She knows. I just don’t like to mention the ‘b’ word too much.

Michelle’s lips twitch. “I still wonder how that guy...what was his name?”

“Giovanni.” The thought of that fat man still nauseates me. Ick.

“Yeah, him. I still wonder what he was even doing at that gig with you.” My twin looks at me the expression on her face making me laugh a little. A mixture of confusion and gratitude flicker across her eyes.

I shift my weight, kicking my feet against the surface of the water, watching it ripple in the sunlight. “No idea. Maybe it was fate.”

“Well, whatever it was, I’m glad.”

We share a smile with each other. She’s glad. I’m glad. We’re both glad. It’s an emotion I’m not accustomed to, but I like the feeling.

We let quiet settle on us, just enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays streaming down on us. There’s a light breeze that sets the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck to tingling. After awhile, Michelle changes position so she’s on her side observing me. I can feel her eyes on me.

I tilt my head. “What is it?”

Michelle tugs at her bottom lip. Then says, “You know Matt has a sister?”

I blink, wondering at the randomness of her comment. She gets a little pink and lowers her eyes. I tilt my head more.

“Chelle?” When she doesn’t answer, I say, “Matt told me she was your best friend...a long time ago.”

Michelle lifts her chin, her mouth getting a set look to it. “So, I guess he told you about our falling out.” It’s not a question.

I bite my lip not really sure how to answer that. Matt telling me about it, he was extremely raw over it and I know it’s not my place to comment on it.

My twin saves me the trouble, groaning softly, shaking her hair out of the tie that’s holding it back. She slides the tie over her hand leaving it to hang around her slim wrist.

“I miss her. Being friends with her. Amy and I were so close.” Michelle glances at me, to check my reaction, I guess. I just nod, she continues. “We talked about everything. I guess she was the sister I was missing...”

I can understand that sentiment. I always felt that way even when I was around lots of people. Just a missing part inside of me that I didn’t think I would ever fulfil.

Michelle crosses her arms under her breasts. “But, I didn’t get along with Matt.”

I give a little smirk. “Yeah, I couldn’t tell.”

She rolls her eyes. “I know. It’s hardly a secret. Amy never knew, though. I mean short of the whole ‘your big brother is annoying’ thing.” She huffs. “Guess it’s better than the ‘oh my God your brother is so hot’ deal.”

I grimace.

Michelle smiles as she says, “Social mores. A girl can’t lust over her best girlfriend’s brother, and a guy can’t lust over his best guy friend’s sister...it’s just etiquette.”

See, that’s something else I don’t have any knowledge of. Being a slave sort of secludes you from what’s the norm of society. For me, what’s normal is being owned by men and used for sex. That’s normal to me. And being lusted over is the norm too.

I shake my head. “So, you pretended for her sake?”

“Exactly. And then I fell for some crack-head and basically alienated her and Matt.” Michelle lifts her shoulders. “Didn’t give a shit about him, but...it killed me when she blabbed behind my back to him and his friend.”

“Brian...” I murmur.

“Yeah. My Bri...” Michelle gets a wistful look then shakes it off. “I think I secretly liked him, even way back then...but my head was up in the clouds. Y’know? That guy...the one I went with. He was rich. Hadeverything you could ever imagine. I wanted that, y’know? I mean we were doing okay. Mom and Dad raised us kids the best they could.” She frowns, chancing a look at me.

I wave at her to go on. I’ve long since forgiven our parents for giving me up. It’s not their fault how my life turned out.

“Yeah, but...this guy. Damn, he wanted for nothing.” Michelle laughs bitterly. “Little did I know what kind of person he really was...” She rubs at her face. “Matt and Brian both saw it...Amy did too. I mean...he was older than us...” She sighs. “Anyway, I’m sure Matt’s told you what happened...”

I pull my feet from the water, wiggling my toes to dry them. “Yeah...but...” I hesitate.

“But?” She quirks an eyebrow.

I note how neat she manages to keep them, and absently run a finger over mine. “Matt says that’s not all...”

“Not all?” Michelle purses her lips. “Oh.” It dawns on her. “You mean us not getting along?”

“Yeah. You don’t have to say, though...”

“Nah. I think I should tell you.” Michelle sits up, lifting her feet out of the water as well. She brushes at her legs, water drops catching the light and shimmering. Getting comfortable, she takes a couple of moments before meeting my eyes again.

I wrap my arms around my knees, propping my chin against them, ready to hear whatever she has to say.

Michelle exhales a rough sound. “Well.” She clears her throat. “It was when we first moved into their street, actually. It wasn’t even anything that had to do with school.” She looks toward me. “Mom and dad said we had to downsize...couldn’t afford the place we were living in. So we upped and moved to the same street where Matt’s parents still live now.”

I nod, wondering how that was. Then I’ve moved so many times...I know how it is to be torn from one place and shunted to another.

“Anyway, I met Matt in the street one day and, uh, I think it was mutual hatred at first sight.” She gives a sharp laugh. “I don’t know what he saw...maybe he thought I was some stuck up bitch. I know I thought he was just some lame ass loser kid.” Michelle smiles sadly, shaking her head. “Every chance he got he’d rib me about everything he could think of...the way I dressed, the way I talked...the fact that we were a large family crammed into this tiny house.”

She pauses, a faraway look coming to her eyes. I don’t press, just continue listening, waiting.

“And then I met Amy at school.” A smile passes across her lips, softening the sharp edges of her face. “I couldn’t believe she and Matt were even related. She was too sweet to me.”

“And Matt wasn’t,” I say. Stating the obvious, but I just want to clarify.

Michelle inclines her head a little. “Yeah. He was an asshole to me...to put it kindly.” She rubs a finger along her left arm then sucks at her bottom lip. A habit we seem to share. “I don’t really know why. I never did anything to him. At least not back then.” Which obviously means since then she’s given back as much as he gave.

Michelle smirks as she goes on again. “He wasn’t too bad if I was hanging out with Amy...guess he didn’t want to upset her, or something.” She chews on the inside of her left fingernail then looks at me. “When I went out with that guy...he was even nice enough to his sister to try and convince me the guy was bad news. I mean...Brian was part of it too...I’d met him through school...and aside from him being Matt’s friend...I thought he was okay.”

I rub my cheek and point out, “They both tried to get you away from that guy. ‘cause Amy told them about him.”

“True. I was so pissed at her. I kind of lost my way there. And then, well you already know what happened, right?”

I nod, “Yeah, Matt told me.”

Michelle sighs. “Yeah...after that, I quit having anything to do with any of them...and Matt quit bothering me.” She stops speaking for a moment, frowning at her hands, rubbing them together. Then she says, “But then I...” She pauses again, dragging her fingers through her hair. It’s obvious she’s trying to figure out how to continue.

“You got with Brian...” I prompt, figuring that’s the most likely cause of any other contention between them.

“Yeah, Matt hated that.” Michelle exhales a soft sigh. “It was all very well that we weren’t acknowledging each other, anymore. But when I fell for Brian... Matt claimed I stole his best friend from him.” She rolls her eyes again. “I have to say, I could never get between the guys and their friendship. They have the band. If I’d actually done any lasting damage to their relationship, the band could never have happened. But...your man...he likes to hold a grudge.”

I flush. “He’s not my man.”

My twin gives me this disbelieving look, which tells me exactly what she thinks of my statement.

“Chelle...he’s my master,” I protest.

She continues to glare at me. I sigh, lying back on the concrete. I don’t want to argue with her. Takes way too much energy.

Bella bounces over and starts licking me again. I can’t help but giggle, breaking the tension. Michelle laughs too, grabbing at her collar and pulling her away from me. Bella settles down as my twin begins to stroke her between the ears.

Then she looks at me, face serious. “Say what you like, sis. But he isyour man. I mean, if he didn’t own you, you’d totally go for him, right?”

I sigh. “Can’t lie there...” Pressing my hands over my face for a moment, I mumble, “But we were talking about you and Brian.”

Michelle moves so she’s sitting closer to me. Reaching over, she rests a hand against my shoulder. I gaze into her sincere face.

“Look,” she says, “Honestly, whatever happened in the past doesn’t matter. I’m willing to put all my shit to bed if it means you get to be happy.”

I cock my head at her. She’s just spent the last half an hour spilling her guts about all that and she tells me it doesn’t matter. I don’t know if I can believe that. But, at the same time, I can’t really argue with her.

She doesn’t give me a chance to, as she states, “You love Matt...I can tell.”

I flush a little, ducking my head down. Hearing it from her makes me realise how true it is, and that even though he’s said it to me, I have yet to say it out loud, like really say it, to his face, up front.

I bite my lip, keeping my eyes on the ground. “You can?”

Michelle purses her lips, nodding slowly. “Yeah.” She pauses for a moment then adds, voice low, “Y’know? I think you fell in love with him very early...before either of you even knew it.” She smiles warmly at me. “You two are good together.”

A tingle runs down my spine at her words, as if she has just said something extremely prophetic. It’s like what she’s saying is that this is meant to happen. I’m meant to be where I am, right now. That this is right. And everything is going to be okay.

I close my eyes for a moment, nodding in agreement at her declaration. “Yeah...we are, aren’t we?”

Michelle smiles, pulling me into her arms for a hug. I embrace her, tight.

Then she murmurs as we rock a little. “I’m so glad you’re home, sis...”

I choke up at her words, thinking, home...yeah...it almost feels like that...almost...

But all I say in response, as we remain holding onto each other, is, “Me too, sis...me too...”

Notes

Apologies for the wait. I got distracted by an original story that I've started writing and life. :) Enjoy. And thanks to everyone who is still with me :)