October 13, Saturday, private residence 4:55 am Gardenia Kemper was having a lovely dream until her cell phone woke her up. She ignored it after the first few rings, but the annoying siren came back for revenge soon after. Lazily she flung her arm out, reaching across her dresser, knocking her radio alarm clock and lamp over onto the carpet. Cords were compromised and the power was shut off; Gardenia mumbled and tumbled out of bed, crawling along the floor. She forgot that her cell phone was in her jacket, and her glasses in the bathroom, as always. She rubbed her face and picked it up. "What?" she said groggily, recognizing the number as Lau's. "Jeez, it's...five in the morning." "Miss Kemper, I'm just calling in to tell you I can't make it today. I have to be at the airport by seven. My grandparents are coming into town and I'm the only one available to pick them up." "Oh yeah," she yawned, "I remember you telling me that. Sure, take a few days off. You've...uhh...huah! Scuse' me. You've earned it." "Thanks, I appreciate it. Are you going to be all right at Lily today? I mean, Miss Khovansky and Miss Velur aren't going to be there either." "Relax, Lau, this isn't my first barbecue, okay? I'll do just fine on my own. Say hi to everyone for me. Hey, maybe you can bring them by later and I can treat them." "Yeah right!" Lau snorted. "They're Malaysian, Miss Kemper! As in, traditional! They have no idea I work there! They think I'm still at that art museum! If any of them found out I work with...well, you know. I don't mean any offense..." "I get the picture, all right? I won't say a word. Anyway, have fun." She could practically hear the grimace Lau made, and smirked as she hung up. But soon that smirk turned into a whine, and Gardenia rubbed her face as she tried to figure out how she was going to get out of this one. But since she was awake, she figured she might as well take a shower, get dressed, and head on over to work. "God, I need more employees," she hissed. "The Gardenia & Robin Super Happy Fun Time Hour" After putting on her "Suffering Sappho-tash!" shirt and stuffing all her necessities into a duffel bag that read "Infinite Holding", Gardenia locked up and got into her car. Dawn had not yet broken when she arrived at the quite little café she owned and operated; the weather was growing chilly and her skin prickled in response. Faint puffs of fog flew from her lips as she breathed, and as she unlocked the doors and quickly turned on the lobby lights, she rubbed her arms and fingers. It wouldn't be long before she would be forced to trade in her beloved short sleeves for something warmer. There were multiple light switches, knobs, and levers that had to be turned, flipped, and pushed throughout the Lily Club; Gardenia was mainly concerned with the main breaker, which required considerably more effort to activate. She wanted her customers to adjust the lighting to their tastes, and so usually didn't fool with them individually. Once everything was brighter, Gardenia performed a quick spot-cleaning of the place, and made sure the coffee was fresh and the rolls were hot and ready. She completed her morning ritual by sliding off the catch that kept the front doors from opening, flicked the neon sign on, and turned on the music station- something subdued and relaxing for the early hours. It was 5:52 in the morning. Gardenia slumped her head down on the counter wearily. 1: Two Flowers People didn't usually come into the café until 7:00, and then at a trickle. Until then, population was sparse at best, too quiet and contemplative, or in too much of a hurry, to speak with the owner or keep her entertained. Robin wouldn't arrive at Parody until 8:00, and Odessa wouldn't even be awake for hours. That meant that Gardenia had about two hours to occupy herself until something more exciting came along. Fortunately, since she considered Lily to be her second home- she spent more time there than at her house, and rarely took days off- there was plenty to do. At least, under normal circumstances, there would be plenty to do, but her morning shift employees were all out of town. Gardenia started by making sure the place was clean, even though her evening shift workers mopped up the café pretty well every day before it closed. First she treated herself to a crepe suzette and slipped a movie into one of the televisions scattered around. Tonight's features were Gojira and Clerks- an odd combination, certainly- but she saved those for later; she watched Porco Rosso instead. After she finished her breakfast, Gardenia made herself a cappuccino and absorbed herself in the film. "Ah, Michael Keaton," she sighed. "Is there anything you can't do? I mean, Christian Bale was the better Batman, no mistake, but you bring such a quirky charm to your work. Hey, good morning!" She waved at her first customer of the day, a heavyset butch with a Mohawk, her face covered with rings and studs. "Hey," she grumbled. "Can I have like an expresso and a slice of apple cinnamon pie?" "Coming right up," she said, rising from her seat. "Sorry I made ya move," she grinned. Gardenia smiled brightly. "Nah, I was bored stiff. Hardly anybody comes in here this early. You aren't in any hurry, are you? The pie might take awhile." "That's what she said," she joked. Gardenia smirked and made the espresso (much too relaxed to bother correcting the woman's pronunciation). Lily Club pies came refrigerated so they'd last, and they were usually sliced, baked, and sold immediately upon request, unless someone asked for a whole one. There was a microwave at the café, but Gardenia rarely used it for customers; she preferred the oven. "What's that you were watching?" the woman said, raising her espresso to the TV screen. "Saturday morning cartoons?" "It's an anime film. Miyazaki productions. Uh...ever heard of Spirited Away?" The woman shook her head. "Hmm. Princess Mononoke? Nausicaa? Howl's Moving Castle? Hmm. Anyway, it's about a World War one pilot who's apparently under this curse that makes him look like a pig. It's pretty decent." "Huh, sounds weird. Is it a Disney film?" "No, Studio Ghibli. They've produced some of their work to American audiences through Disney, though. All right, umm...looks like it's gonna be five more minutes for the pie. Can I get you anything else?" "Nah, I'm just stopping by from my night shift. I need a snack before I head home." "I hear that. You live around here?" "No, commuter. About forty-five minutes away." "Oh. Well, if you're in the area again, try our crepe suzettes." "I'll think about it," she shrugged. "So like, why is this placed called the Lily Club? Is it some kind of floral café place?" "No, just an homage to Japanese lesbians. Long story." The woman gave her a peculiar look. Finally her pie came out, hot and fresh. She took a bite and was amazed. "Damn, that's good! Did you make these?" "No, we buy them from a bakery. It's made from natural ingredients." "Yeah, I can tell. So like is this really a dyke café?" "We offer sanctuary for women when times become perilous," Gardenia proclaimed theatrically, "but there's nothing that says men aren't allowed. They just don't come in here often." "Oh. Well, thanks for the stuff. Take it easy." "Sure, you too." Gardenia wiped the counter and cleaned the coffee machine to occupy herself as the film continued. She was about to return to her seat and relax when three other women came in, yawning and bleary-eyed. "Hey there! Have a seat and relax." "We're in a hurry," they said. Gardenia tried not to look puzzled. Now what kind of a person was in a rush on a Saturday morning? Honestly, now... "Can we have three coffees, with sugar and cream? And do you have any muffins?" "Sure, what kind?" "Do you have banana nut?" "That and then some," she said, pointing to the café's main menu. They could be forgiven for their lack of observation- after all, it was still fairly early. "How do you want them?" she asked as she pulled a box from the refrigerator: "Cold, warm, piping hot?" "They're fine. We'll eat them later. Thanks." The women left as quickly as they came, leaving Kemper to sigh. She was so bored and lonely... 2: Erithacus rubecula Robin Granveldt, her focus hazy and her march in tune to a song playing through her headphones, needed to look up only once on her way to work. Unlike a certain someone she had been acquainted with since her shop opened up, Robin did not have the luxury of driving to work, nor did she have the spacious dwellings her friend boasted- but then again, she didn't have to wake up before five o'clock every morning, she could walk to work since she lived only two blocks away, her rent was cheaper, and she could take more days off. She looked up to see a bit of steam curling from the Lily Club's vents, and could smell the cinnamon and the rolls and pastries and cakes and coffees wafting out into a cloudy perfume. She unlocked her store, turned on the lights, took a peek around to make sure nobody had broken in (or they had, that they at least had the courtesy to tell her about it), then closed shop once more, hanging a sign that irresponsibly said, "Store Closed until I feel like opening it again. Sincerely, management." She walked into the Lily Club smugly and hungrily, noticing her longtime friend and occasional lover glued to one of the café's television sets, eating something bite-sized and undoubtedly bad for her. She went behind the counter without saying a word and plucked out a muffin, slipping it into the microwave. Robin had just turned the coffee machine on when her hostess finally took notice of her. "No booty call discounts." "Tit for tat. Want anything while I'm up here?" "Orange juice. There's a glass in the fridge. Help yourself. Come here, sit down. I'm just about finished." Robin brought Gardenia her glass and pulled a chair. They grinned at each other and made a toast to irresponsible behavior. "Man, I hate coming here on Saturday mornings. It's so fucking dead, and the people that do come in are all asshole losers!" "You're more eloquent than usual," Robin smirked. "Did someone slip Ritalin into your Red Bull this morning?" Gardenia scoffed. "I wish. I get some stereotype dyke who's one flannel shirt away from giving chicks like us a bad name, some goofball retards who won't sit down for three seconds because they think being late to some meeting or whatever will destroy them, and another bunch of guys protesting this place." "Wow, and it's not even eight-thirty yet. I'm impressed, Dee." Gardenia grunted and reclined further in her seat, nearly toppling over. She turned the TV off and ejected the disc. "Well, just to make you feel better, not all is wine and roses at the Granveldt estate, either." "Do tell. You know how I love hearing about other people's miserable lives." "You've got it easy!" Robin chuckled darkly. "Even with those soccer pals of yours away on their game- oh, shit, that reminds me, it's being broadcast on some cable network later today. Do you think we could pirate something and watch it?" "There's no need to avast anything, landlubbers. I've got it all worked out. You were saying something about Kitty and Perky?" "Well I- " Robin interrupted herself to grin at her friend's nicknames for Felicity and Nadia. "I was just saying that with those two gone, you still have Lau, and...wasn't it one other person? You just got a new employee in that I haven't met." "Louise," she answered. "She doesn't come in until Monday. I hired her for morning shift on weekdays since Perky and Kitty are at school." "Well, you still have Lau," Robin gestured. "That's my whole point. You have more people, and I only have Terra and Fausta." "Hot Ass and Ghibli," Gardenia grinned lewdly. "I've been giving all the girls on Carnegie's team nicknames." Robin was amazed but hardly surprised. "Evidently. Is this what you spend your free time doing?" "Hey, I gotta fill the void. Like I said, until my sweet little bird showed up, it was nothing but losers here. I could've watched the extended edition of Return of the King and wouldn't miss a thing." "I am delighted to be of distraction for you," Robin bowed. "But you're wrong about something," Gardenia gestured. "What's that?" "I don't have Lau today." "What?" "Nope. She's out of town visiting relatives." "Oh, that's cool. Maybe she could invite them over. Family discount." "No can do, they're backwards Malaysian hillbillies." "What? No. Get the hell outta here!" "I'm serious!" "Do they know where their daughter works?" "They think she's still over at that art museum, and for her sake, she better not have burned any bridges, if you know what I mean." "Oh wow, that sounds like something from an independent film. 'My Malaysian daughter works at a semi-lesbian café and we don't know about it because we're traditional Asians who want to arrange a marriage for her.'" "You're pretty fuckin' accurate," Gardenia snickered. "I don't know about the marriage deal, but you've got the rest pegged. Except for all we know, Lau's as straight as I used to be before you seduced me." "Shut up!" Robin squealed as she slapped her friend's arm. "You were giving off these lesbo-vibes the moment we first met! If anything, Miss Flower Girl, your wily charms got the better of me and I decided to make the first move so we'd get all that sexual tension out of the way!" "What wily charms?" "Your wily Flower Girl charms you throw around." "That's for work and work alone." "Unless you visit me at Parody." "Because we're friends." "Do you flirt with your friends?" "No! Do you?" "Sometimes." Robin paused uncomfortably and added, "I flirt with Jenny." "Yeah, and guess who has the most video games between the two of us." "You pig!" she exclaimed incredulously. "I'm not getting a discount from her!" "You get free coffee and snacks from me whenever you like." "And who spends half her time with her nose in a comic book when she ought to be working?" The Lily Club door opened while the women were debating: people were beginning to stream in regularly now. Robin clucked her tongue. "Saved by the bell, you are. Listen, Dee, if you don't stop being so charming, I'm going to have to confront you about this." The two scrambled to their feet, Gardenia hastily swallowing the rest of her juice. "How are you going to confront me? Hey, ladies, come on in! Cool, you brought some guys around! Relax, stay awhile, have some fun! Yes, yes, men can come in here, too. Settle in, fellows. Don't be afraid to do something feminine now and then." Gardenia got back behind the counter, and Robin joined her. They took orders together and started baking, occasionally exchanging words. 3: Pollination "Well?" Kemper said during a short break. "Well what?" "How are you going to confront me and my wily lesbian charms? Hey, great to see you! Sure, go ahead and turn it on! Here's the remote." "In the usual place," Robin answered simply. She smiled mysteriously and added, "But maybe not in the usual style." "Spontaneity has been the key to our success," Gardenia admitted. "Okay, here's your cinnamon rolls. Some napkins...and a bottle of milk. Thanks- enjoy it! Here: the fruits of our labor." She dipped her finger into cinnamon icing and placed it on Robin's lips. Robin's eyes smoldered as she drew the sugary confection into her mouth and suckled it. "Mmn, tastes good. Especially since you mostly sat on your ass all morning." "And yet you haven't even opened your store. There's probably fifteen people there right now with a battering ram." "Bah, nobody comes to Parody on Saturday until ten o'clock." "Except us," she grinned. When she had the opportunity, Gardenia glanced around and noticed that nobody was paying the order kiosk any special attention. She took Robin by the wrist, gesturing for the back door she used when she wanted to sneak out unseen. Normally, she would never attempt to leave her store for long without someone to watch over it, but today... "Wait," Robin said, noticing her friend's anxious gaze. "You want to go now?" "No time like the present. Not unless you think you can handle more of my charms." Not one to back down or show indecisiveness (or worst yet- responsibility!), Robin eagerly followed, keeping an eye out for anybody watching their exit. The path was cleared and they were soon outside. Even though they were not traveling very fast, both women were quite exhilarated at what they were doing. "This is a new level of slacking off for you," Granveldt grinned giddily. "I'm almost lightheaded!" "So I guess you won't be up to task, huh?" Gardenia's eyes sparkled; she was glowing with the thrill of the escape. "I'll try my best, Dee. Whew! There, see? Nobody in front with a battering ram." She flipped the sign so that it read "Open", unlocked the door and slipped inside, turned on a neon light, and quickly dashed to the basement, still clasping onto her partner. Robin and Gardenia were spastic with adrenaline and hormones; they were laughing wildly as they wrestled in Parody's spacious basement. Soon Robin gained the upper hand and threw her best friend and lover onto a bean bag chair, then dove in after her, purring hungrily. "You smell heavenly," she whispered as she kissed and nibbled. Gardenia sighed warmly as she felt gentle hands clasp her bosom, lips touching her neck, igniting her pulse, and fingers digging deep- rubbing, touching, penetrating. She gasped and jumped as the beginnings of that ultimate sensation brought her sweet promises. And then a customer came. "Hello? I'm ready to order now. Is there anybody here? The store says 'open'!" "Damn it," Robin hissed, bailing out sourly. "Some people have the worst timing." "Just ignore him!" Gardenia begged, her eyes desperate and her breath short. "Please, Robin...god...not now." "Sorry, honey flower. I'll make it up to you." "Hey, wait- where are you going? Robin! Don't make me charm you back here! Rob- shit!" Gardenia zipped up her jeans and followed her friend to the top, where a patient man awaited with a stack of books in his arms. They both put on the act without missing a beat. "Sorry for the wait. Will you be needing anything else?" "Uh, no thanks, this will do. This is a really great store, you know." "Thanks," she smiled cordially, "I get that all the time." "I mean, there's stuff here I'd never be able to find anywhere else. I'm actually pretty surprised something that's this small and out of the way carries this kind of selection." "Rare and unique books," Robin said, referring to Parody's slogan. "I know. So why's it called Parody, anyway? I pass by here all the time but I never could figure it out. Does it have something to do with jokes?" "I just thought it was a cool name. Thirty-seven fifty-three, please." He gave her his debit card with a look of surprise. "So you own it?" "Yep, bought and paid for. I get to name it and I get to say when it's open and when it's not." "Wow, that must've cost a fortune." "Not really," she shrugged. "I bought this place back when the economy was bad and demand was low. It was next to nothing. I spent most of my money fixing it up and arranging all the standard contracts." "Huh. So what's that like?" "As boring as it sounds," she replied evenly. She gave him his receipt and he signed another copy. "Thanks so much. Come back again sometime." "Uh, sure. So what's your name?" "Gardenia," said Robin with a little smirk. "Gardenia Kemper." Gardenia, who had been wandering around browsing the CD section, couldn't help but snigger. Sometimes they assumed each other's identities and even worked each other's jobs; the anonymity gave them a rush not unlike playing hooky or having sex during business hours. "Whoa, cool name! Listen, um, I'm kinda busy this weekend, but do you think maybe you could take some time off and we could hang somewhere? There's this concert coming into town and I was...um, well, you know." "I do know about that!" she exclaimed. "I actually have tickets...and a date. Sorry." She hissed awkwardly; he took it fairly well. "Oh, no worries. Just thought I'd ask. Anyway, maybe we'll see each other there." "Amidst thousands," she smiled doubtfully. "You never know. I'll see you around, Gardenia!" He waved; she couldn't help but grin. The real Gardenia came out several seconds later, holding a soundtrack album. "Wow. You get people asking you out on dates a lot?" "Often enough. I know, it's weird! They're mostly perfect strangers, too." "I guess I'm not the only one with charm around here," she grinned. Robin smiled smarmily and pointed to her friend's possession. "Are you actually going to buy something, or am I going to have to burn another CD?" "Huh? No, just browsing. So...can we pick up where we left off?" "I think you'd better check up on Lily first," she sang. Gardenia rolled her eyes and grumbled. "Urgh, right. I'll see you later, okay? Don't be a stranger!" "You too," she called. Robin sighed drearily as she watched her friend leave. "Waste of a perfectly fine ass." 4: Football is Un-American "They're playing the men's game first," Gardenia said, squeezing her cell phone between her shoulder and ear. "Yeah, and the women's right after. Uh, let's see. It says here that the guys are going against Redwood Private Academy and the women have St. Thekla's. ...Yeah, I don't know where they come up with these names, either. ...Well sure. I mean, it's not going to be the same, but I'll definitely keep it on. Someone might want to see it. ...Hahahaha! Am I really that gay? You're the one who'd burst in there while they're all showering together and take photos. ...Oh yeah, I guess you would. Speaking of video cameras, do you still have yours? ...Well, I was thinking of putting on a talent show, and thought that maybe we could record it. ...Um, November. Like the first Sunday of November. I don't have my calendar with me, so I don't... Hold on, let me check." She put her phone down, completed another order, and flipped the café's personalized calendar over a month. "It's going to be the fourth. ...Yeah, that's right after that convention. ...Robin, I am not working here while there's a convention in town! Do you realize how often we have those here? ...Exactly! ...I dunno, maybe Lau and Louise could work. I'll have to ask Kitty and Perky if there's interested or not. Anyway, talent show on the fourth. ...Yeah, I'll make fliers and everything. Say, are you coming over to watch the game? ...All right. Listen, if you can't make it, I'll tell you how it went. ...I will. And I'll keep an eye on Kitty and Perky, too. Okay, I guess I'll see you when I see you. Love ya, babe. ...Hahaha! Bye." "Sorry about that," she said as she slid over to her next customer. "I needed to call my buddy in Parody about the game. We both have employees on the women's team, so we try to watch as many as we can." "Women's team?" the girl said, blinking in confusion. "Yeah. The women's soccer team for the local college." "I didn't even know there was a college here," she admitted stiffly. Gardenia snorted. "You been living under a rock?" "No. I'm not from around here." "Oh. I guess that's excusable. Anyway, my friend and I have employees that go to Carnegie- that's the local college here- and they're also on the women's soccer team. There's a men's game on right now if you want to watch." "I'm not really into sports, and I think soccer is boring." "Well, I know, and I feel the same, but you gotta watch your friends. It's actually pretty engaging once you get into it." "I'll give it a glance." She picked up her order and returned to her table, leaving Gardenia to juggle a swarm of people flooding Lily. Weekends were the biggest hits for the café, so Gardenia normally asked all her employees to come in. Unfortunately, Nadia and Felicity were out of town and wouldn't be back until later, just in time to help with Saturday evening movies. Gardenia had put a "help wanted" sign outside and even advertised in the paper, but she hadn't seen any serious applicants yet. But she was tough; she could hold down the fort, at least for awhile. The front door suddenly burst open and a voice shouted: "Fucking dykes!!" It closed just as quickly and Gardenia made a bewildered face. The woman closest to her mirrored that expression perfectly. "Wait, is this like a gay bar or something?" "No...people are just stupid. You see a sign that says 'sanctuary for women' and assume all kinds of crazy things. Oy...I should employ a few men just to prove this isn't some women's-only club." "But...lesbians do come here, right? I mean, it's sort of themed around them, isn't it? I mean, you're gay, aren't you?" "Gay and proud, but that's just me. I can't control how other people believe and live their lives. This is a place where all people can relax and where women can let their hair down and relax, but I'm not excluding men. We raise our cups in Lily, not our fists." "Ugh, so you're a dyke? Gross! God, I can't believe I was in some fucking dyke bar!" "The door's over there, sweetheart," she pointed curtly. "I'll have to ask you to leave with that language." "Fine! Fucking faggots!" Gardenia wasn't the type to get into a foul mood easily, but stupid small-minded ignorant people like those men and this woman really steamed her. She chased after the girl and shouted to her. "A faggot is a bundle of sticks, asshole! And a dyke is something...to...dam up water and...aw, screw it." She ignored the looks pedestrians were giving her and sulked her way inside. One of her beloved regulars put arms around her and squeezed gently. "Only you would run outside in broad daylight screaming something like that. Don't let it get to you, honey. They're closed off in their dull, grey little worlds while we get to be here. Okay?" She kissed her forehead and Gardenia thanked her. People ignored the men's game for the most part (they lost) and interest didn't raise very much when the women's match came on. Gardenia cheered for her girls, but she mostly cheered alone. "They work here, you know," she grinned proudly. Another regular took notice and approached the television. "Hey, she's right! That's Nadia! That's that cute Russian chick! Shelley, that's that girl I told you about! Look!" "Cool," Shelley said as she joined her friend. More people were being drawn into the game, but only because they recognized Nadia, not because they were actually interested in soccer, or Carnegie, or (saddest of all) Felicity. One or two also knew of the exploits of Shannon Wilson, and soon there was a buzz going about. Business exploded as people made new orders for food and drink, and poor Gardenia was nearly ran ragged. She was saved by grace as Robin strolled in, smiling, and walked up to kiss her cheek. "I missed you! Busy day?" "Hectic. I'm thinking I shouldn't've turned the game on. Now everybody's watching." "And that's a bad thing?" "No, but the line for orders is half a mile long! Please help me out, sweetie." Robin chuckled as Gardenia pulled out the puppy-dog eyes. "It's the least I can do after you put me out of business. Nobody's coming to Parody now. Don't worry, I put up a sign. We won't see any battering-rams today." 5: Succubus Odessa Beill woke up at 1:00 in the afternoon every day and loved her life more than anyone she knew, with the possible exception of a certain Flower Girl and Bird. Not only did she own and operate her own business- just like her contemporaries- but she was doing exactly what she wanted with her life, could make her own schedules, answered to no higher authority (besides her parents), and devoted her life expressly to love, romance, and adventure- again, like her companions. Unlike the two younger women, however, Odessa was single and had no attachments to any lover- but this was her choice and her belief, and she would stay that way until she was convinced there was something even better. Odessa didn't believe in long-term relationships. She had made love to many women (and women only), and had always felt something towards them, yet she always concluded the relationship before it could become stale and stagnant. Odessa loved getting to know people and loved being around them, and she was all for the congress and copulation of lovers; she just didn't think anybody could hang onto one person for very long, unless it was out of habit or necessity. She scoffed when the religious right claimed that homosexuality would be the downfall of marriage; adultery and divorce took care of that millennia ago. Instead, she preferred being with a person only as long as both parties were interested- or rather, interesting. She didn't like being tied down and, with only two exceptions, had never honestly been in real love. Odessa would have nothing to do with "slutty" behavior; she preferred to be called a romantic. When she woke up that morning, took a shower, ate her breakfast, and got dressed- in that order- there was no romantic partner by her side, nor had there been for some time. The last one had terminated their relationship due to "outside conflict": with my schedule, she said, we wouldn't be able to keep it up for long. It was fun while it lasted, but... "You don't have to say anything else," Odessa had said with an understanding grin. "I know exactly what you mean. We'll just cut our losses and count our blessings. But if you ever have some free time, stop on by for awhile. Out and About won't be the same without you." As Odessa made her daily drive to Parody and Lily to see her favorite patrons, she wished with all her heart that one of her employees, a buxom young woman with a silvery streak in her dark hair, would come of age soon and join everyone on the main floor. Odessa liked Kasumi a lot, but she would be of better service amidst the crowds, flirting and serving drinks. Her talents were being put to waste in that disastrous office (although to be fair, she had tidied it up well). Odessa couldn't count the number of times she had stared longingly at the younger woman, or how many times she wondered if Kasumi would be at all interested in her. She didn't think of herself as anybody's "boss"; the title sounded so ugly. Gardenia and Robin certainly bucked the office, and they seemed to have a great rapport with their employees. Now if only she could convince Kasumi to see past all that... Breakfast service had ended when she finally reached the Lily, and the gang was busy watching a soccer match on TV. It was Carnegie versus St. Thekla's, and interest was surprisingly high. Odessa knew that most of the people that came to her nightclub were in the post-college crowd, and seeing as how she recognized a few old friends, she didn't think they'd pay much attention to a small college sports team. She had to remind herself never to underestimate the value of familiar faces: a lot of women were starting to recognize Kasumi and Fausta, and one had even put a name to Felicity's face. "Oh my god, that goalie is so hot!" she heard one girl say. "What was her name? Elincia? Oh, Valencia. Wow, she's good. And that tall girl, uh...Howlet? Anybody know her? Right, Rain Howlet. She's really limber!" "Ohmygosh, I recognize her from the fencing team! That's that girl from the fencing team!" "Hey, it is! She's sexy!" "She sure is," Odessa purred. She watched Shannon attack St. Thekla's defense, paying special attention to her firm legs. Odessa was somewhat indiscriminate with her women. "Hey, gorgeous!" she heard a familiar voice chirp. Odessa smiled and sauntered over to the front counter, where she met two exhausted best friends. "About time you showed up. Help us out here, will you? We've been swamped." "Hello to you too, Granveldt! Where's that cute little Asian girl that works here?" "Off with family," Gardenia said. "Come on, step over. A little hard labor isn't going to kill you." "I'd rather not leave that to chance," Odessa laughed. "So do I get a discount or something if I help?" "Free lunch," Gardenia offered. "Plus all the women to flirt with you can handle." "Hmm, very tempting. Maybe we can discuss something a little better soon. Okay, so what do I do?" "Run the register, please. The price guide's right there in front of you. Don't flirt too much, and, um...oh! Hand out fliers for the movie night tonight." "Sounds thrilling," she groaned. "Better than being stuck at Parody," Robin sighed. "You know, you two are very cruel, stealing all my customers away." "You're the 'smart' one, though," Gardenia said, pointing to Robin's outfit. She had on a skirt that went to her knees, hosiery, heels, a dark blue vest, and a pink sweater- altogether a very professional-looking ensemble. Odessa's midriff was exposed and she was wearing shorts- and Gardenia, of course, has already been discussed. "People go to your store to get intellectual stimulation. That's why I'm always there." "So it's not to flirt with me?" she smirked. "You're the one who flirts!" she snorted. "I'm in it for the scientifical aspect and stuff." "Well, what do people come here for? Naturally, they go to Odessa's because it's sexy..." "I'm the fun one," she replied cheerfully. "I'm the one wearing goofy shirts and playing movies. You two really need to lighten up." "Maybe after you expand your mind," Robin moaned playfully. "Or your legs," Odessa added with a wink. That brought their conversation to a standstill. The next customer in line blanched. "Um, so, what's that about playing movies again?" "Don't mind the cashier," Gardenia gestured. "She's a temp worker." "Fuck you, flower girl," Odessa grinned. "Can I help who's next in line, please? Oh, hey Betty! How ya doing, girl?" "She is such a whore," Robin sighed as she watched Odessa kissing her customer. Gardenia put her arm around her and slid her free hand down to her bottom. "Don't be jealous, honey. We're living in sin too, remember?" "Oh yeah!" 6: Household for Three "Where's your clock?" Odessa wondered as she looked up during a lull. She had been to Lily enough times to know its basic layout, and was used to seeing a wall clock near the front, with two "female" symbols as the hands. "Something's broken on it," Gardenia grumbled. "I had to take it into shop the other day and I haven't heard anything back. I'm thinking I'll get a discount because it's a Lesbian Clock." "Why do you think you'll get a discount?" "Because whoever fixes it wouldn't dare overcharge me," she answered wryly. "If I so much as whisper the word 'sexual discrimination', I could have a lawsuit on my hands. God bless a nation that allows people to sue others for something so ridiculous. Anyway, instead of risking it, I'll bet the thong I'm wearing that I get a pretty decent cut. I'm hoping, anyway." "He'll probably charge you the same flat rate he charges everybody," robin gestured. "No muss, no fuss. Odessa, would you like a milkshake?" "Sure! Did you get any new flavors?" "Nope, still the same five." "Make it a peach, then. Are you buying, Robs?" "Yeah, are you buying?" Gardenia said, giving her a firm poke. "Maybe I should collect that enormous tab of yours." "Just as soon as I get yours, lover," she smiled. "I don't have a tab! I just come in and borrow your stuff for awhile! It's not like I steal it." "I don't operate a library, honey buns. There you go, Odessa. What about you, Dee? Surely you can afford a free shake." "You know I pay for that stuff," she grumbled. "But fine, whatever. More money out of my pockets. Cookies and cream, please." "You can afford it, sweetie," Robin giggled. "You are richer than both of us put together. That's why you have that obscene penthouse with the pool." "That was a gift from mommy- and just be thankful I don't charge for its use...ya freeloader." "Both of you get weirder every time I see you," Odessa muttered. Still- Lily had the best shakes she knew of. When the three were finished, Odessa announced she'd be going on a break, but first wrapped one arm around Gardenia's waist and whispered something into her ear. She kissed the woman's soft supple lobe, sucking softly, and blew into it gently before leaving. Gardenia had to remove her glasses to wipe the fog off. "A business deal, I take it," Robin said blandly. "If you say so," she grinned. Gardenia scampered away without hesitation or restraint, once again leaving the store's upkeep to chance. Robin decided she'd give them a few minutes to themselves before pulling them back. Odessa was already down to her shorts and brassiere when Gardenia found her searching through the vending machine, so the younger woman snuck up on her and wrapped arms of desire around her naked tummy. Gardenia wasted no time and peppered Odessa's rich ochre skin with kisses: shoulders, neck, arms, hands, fingers, and the delicious muscular hills and valleys of her back, her glorious womanly back, naked and beautiful as it curved and soared. Her hands covered Odessa's soft breasts and caressed them, pinching and tickling her taut brown nipples, rubbing and lifting the supple underpart, squeezing gently until they had blossomed into full arousal. Odessa moved only briefly to remove Gardenia's jeans, using her sultry eyes to insist that she keep her shirt. Her bare bottom was out in full glory soon; Odessa yearned for its roundness as her warm lips found the epicenter of womanly delights. It didn't take long for the young woman to reach orgasm; she muted her cries by burying her mouth first in Odessa's neck, then her lips. They kissed fiercely at first, rather mashing their mouths together, almost pushing each other with the force of their strength. Later, gradually, their affections softened, and what was once fire became silk instead, slick and smooth and delectable. Tongues leaped out and met; saliva was exchanged; sighs and breathless smiles were made. It wasn't until Gardenia turned around, by chance, that she happened to notice they were being watched- by Robin. She was smiling warmly, arms behind her back, and nude from head to toe. "Oh my god!" Gardenia yawped with a laugh. "You're completely naked!" "Don't we have a knack for the obvious," Robin said warmly. She approached the two without a care in the world (of course, making sure the door was locked) and knelt down. "I said I was going to make it up to you, didn't I?" The two kissed passionately; Gardenia's breasts were bared in seconds. "I don't get it," Odessa said. Robin purred as she pulled her shorts down and kissed everything she could. The dark-skinned woman said, "Oh, that," before surrendering herself. 7: Twenty-four for one-hundred "So long, Rachel. Bye. Take care of yourself, Renee. Have a safe trip. Hey, it's been fun, Betty. You watch out for that Odessa, now! Kitty, Perky, you crazy kids stay out of trouble. Congrats again for winning that game! Is that it? Are we all clear? Okay, Lily old girl, time for you to sleep." "Do you always talk to the store when you lock up?" Odessa said. Gardenia grinned. "No, just off-hand. Today was a pretty good day, wasn't it? I mean, this morning was awful, but...overall, it was pretty good." "What about tomorrow?" Robin said. "You said you were going to be hiring soon." "I'm taking the day off tomorrow, actually," she said as she stretched. "I'll let Kitty and Perky take care of the place. They owe me big time for all the days I let them practice. What about you?" "I don't need to hire any more people." "I mean what are you going to do tomorrow? Why not come over and swim? It's been ages since we've spent an entire day together." "Oh, do all those times we played hooky and visited each other not count?" "Come on, you know what I mean. I miss being around you." "I can't," Robin sighed as she approached Parody. She locked up as well, making sure everything was in its proper place and not stolen (or if it was, that someone at least had the courtesy to tell her). "I've got a date tomorrow." "Oh really?" Gardenia grinned. "With who?" "Jennifer, that girl from the team." "You mean Shorty?" Robin chortled. "You really are immature, you know that?" "Yeah, so? Is it so bad being young?" "No," she answered serenely. "And that's why I love you. ...Odessa, you've been awfully quiet. Any plans for tomorrow?" "Go to work and go to bed until one in the afternoon," she answered breezily. "Maybe one of you can join me. Dee, how about it?" "I can't, I'm wiped out. Uuhhh!" She yawned loudly and stretched again. "Damn! Who would've thought I'd be this tired at only...ten o'clock at night? Woof, yikes! It's not my age, it's my workload." "You did work very hard today," Robin said as she drew her friend in for a kiss. Gardenia moaned softly and caressed Robin's body; Odessa walked away, feeling lonely. "Aaaaaanyway, I'll get back to the O and A. Kasumi'll clock out soon and someone needs to watch over the place. I can't slack off like you two." "Who's slacking off?!" Robin wondered, feeling insulted. "Yeah, we're the epitome of responsible behavior." The two best friends looked at each other, then snickered out loud before heading home. Another day, another dollar.
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