Chapter 38

I rubbed Pat’s hair and head hard. Shampoo suds bubbled over my fingers, down her bangs, and off her chin. She was laughing and sputtering out the shower spray. Xiomara scrubbed off my back. Andrea reached for my cock. I smiled at her and shook my head.

“Your sister said you needed it.” She worried. I kissed her nose.

“I do need it and I’m glad you’re eager to do it.” She was with an excuse and someone else to blame. “But I’m not giving Reggie more of a show then he has to get. Later, we’ll all celebrate.”

“I wanna celebrate without the all.” Andrea looked over her shoulder. She was thankful for the steam but she could still make eye contact with Reggie. “I guess it’s not so bad.”

“Is there any left?” Pat scraped her fingers through her hair. “God I hate those things.”

“You’re all deloused.” I slapped her butt. Xiomara mimicked me and I jumped in surprise.

“Get my hair.” She told me and I turned around to set to work on her.

“I can clean you off if you like.” Pat said to Andrea who was watching me. The other girls had already gotten out of the shower and were dressed and preparing food. My stomach growled like a monster.

“I guess so,” Andrea said. “Let’s get out of here.”

“I love your hair,” I whispered to Xiomara as I stroked out the last of the bubbles.

“Thanks,” She said warmly. “I just wish I had all of the stuff it needs. Shampoo and body cleaner aren’t going to be enough forever.”

“So long as it’s on your head, I’ll love it.” I kissed her ear. Andrea jumped as Pat smacked her ass before I could pat Xiomara’s. Xiomara didn’t jump.

We walked out to towels held by Elizabeth, Suzi, Yuming and Zoë. Elizabeth dashed for me as Yuming wrapped up Pat. Zoë took Andrea. I was surprised but didn’t question as Elizabeth shoved the towel mostly up my nose to dry my face off. I thanked her and Dashawn as he handed me a pair of pants.

They had used half of all of our clothes to make those ropes. I had said to use clothes. I was thinking the bedsheets could’ve worked too. They remained untouched. I pulled on a black t-shirt. There were no long sleeved tops for anyone. The girls, my girls, were favoring conservative sleeveless dresses. Some of the implants, Valerie and Laurie, had picked out t-shirts and jeans. Yuming retained a sweater buttoned up over her sleeveless dress. It gave her a royal specialness that a lot of the girls didn’t like.

“Sandwiches again!” I grinned as I inhaled the food waiting for me. I grabbed Xiomara before my seconds and pulled her onto my lap. Pat sat down on Marin’s next to me. I was halfway through my sandwich number two when I caught Renée nibbling her way into the second triangle of hers. Everyone but Reggie and Franny were around the table. He was secured to the cabinet doors. She was squatting next to him and feeding him chunks of sandwich.

“Why don’t we say grace?” I asked.

“‘cause we already started eating?” Connie looked at me crooked.

“Because Grandma’s not visiting?” Zoë snarked with a smile. She flicked her eyes at Renée to tell me she was remembering as well.

“Because I’m Jewish.” Pat chugged down her juice and belched.

“No you’re not,” Elizabeth countered. “Your mom converted to marry your step dad. You didn’t have to.”

“Fair enough,” Pat shrugged. “I don’t know how to say grace. I wanted an excuse.”

“I didn’t mean it as a religious thing,” I smirked. “I meant as a family thing. Kinda, welcome us all together at the table.”

“A sort of opening ceremony for whatever we want to do together,” Wanda smiled in agreement, “Like in the Olympics.”

I kept myself from laughing, which was smart with a mouthful of juice. I smirked. Connie put down her sandwich. We all followed suit. She looked at me, waiting. I was struck. I didn’t know what to say.

“I want to thank you all for welcoming us into your home,” Dashawn declared. “Thank you for trusting me with Zoë and with everyone. It means a lot to know that you think I’m that good of a guy.”

“We all think you’re that good of a guy,” Zoë said.

“I just want to say thank you too, Dean.” My jaw tightened at Reggie’s words. “You know what? Have your sluts. There’s boxes of 10 lonely girls down and over. Let me go. Give me time to set up and somewhere for your sister to go to when she’s ready to be a woman not some protected little girl hiding behind her brother.”

“Dude, fuck off.” I said. I looked around the table. “Maybe, we need to take care of everything first.”

“The fuck you do.” Marin punched me in the meat of the leg under Xiomara’s ass. “You don’t get to walk away from all of us just because you got stuff needing to be done. You said this was a family thing. Make us family.”

Pat nodded fiercely. I looked up at Xiomara. She nodded.

“Dashawn, our girls, Reggie.” I started. I was running my hand in circles on the small of Xiomara’s back. “I know I couldn’t love anyone on Earth the way I love you all.”

“Gay!” Dashawn smirked at me.

“Nah, he could do gay stuff on Earth.” Reggie scowled.

“Nah, he’s got no time for that!” Wanda countered. “Dean is rollin’ in bitches.”

“It’s important that we look out for what’s best for everyone. Even when it’s hard. Even when we’re angry and hating.” Zoë looked a bit whiter as she heard me talking this way about Reggie. I saw Connie disapproving. I saw Renée digging a knuckle into her cheer captain for that rebellion. They kept their squabble quiet while I continued. “We have a whole world to explore ahead of us. As lovers, as family, as parents, as whatever we choose or need to be. I hope no matter what happens, we’ll be together.”

“Oh, I get to stay?” Reggie interjected with sarcasm.

“No, once we’re done eating, we’re taking you back to your box and shutting you in.” I said.

“And some of you have to go back with him,” Xiomara murmured lightly. “Not you Zoë. I volunteered to take your place.”

“You’re a hero,” I told Xiomara and rubbed my forehead on her shoulder. She tried to smile and couldn’t.

“I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to leave any of you.” Elizabeth interjected in rapid syllables.

“I’m sorry but--” I stopped Xiomara with a light pinch on the back of her neck.

“It’s taken care of. Only Reggie has to go back.”

“You’re not protecting your sister. You’re just robbing me. You think you’re anything with your army of sluts? I’ll climb out and--”

“I’ll go with him.” Franny said. “You have to keep Vanessa.”

“I think Vanessa wanted to go with Dashawn.” I said. “She has that--”

“Where are we going? We’re not all staying together?”

“What do you mean you fixed it? If we don’t put everyone back it said they’d vent us! Blow us out into space!”

“There was a console down below.” I said. “I have assurances that--”

I was more than a little surprised when tons of tension fell off of Xiomara’s shoulders and she snapped her arms tight around me.

“I don’t have to be with him? I can stay with you?” She hardly believed her own words as she said them.

“I’d never have let you stay with him.” I growled.

“Oh, what’s so bad about me? I--”

“Gone. You’re gone. Xiomara. Open the last locker.”

“You sure? It’s just supposed to be outdoor clothes.” She kissed me on the cheek and walked into the hallway. She grabbed the dials behind the wall. It shut with her outside. I was up on my feet.

“Clean your plate.” Connie’s voice was sharp but her smile was bright. “She’ll be fine. It’s Xiomara.”

The ca-chunk noise was loud for a deadbolt pulling back in the locker. There was a hiss and a whoosh as the wall of lockers slid backwards. I picked up my sandwich.

“Sweet! Free stool!” Elizabeth, who had been hovering snatched my seat. Xiomara rapped me in the chest.

“All yours. Now I’m going to finish eating.” She squeezed my wrist as she sat down on Elizabeth’s lap. They struggled and jostled each other, but it was friendly. I inhaled the last half of my sandwich.

“So who’s coming with me to bring Reggie home?”

“I can drop him off.” Dashawn said. “I mean--”

“You’re going down one floor and deeper one box.” I told him.

“What? Why?”

“Do you want to go back where you came from?” I asked.

“No,” Yuming, Wanda, and Kia answered for Dashawn. I smiled. “The only empty box right now is Reggie’s. Do you want it?”

“No? There’s like two hundred boxes. The people inside must want some kind of solace. I think we’d be better off with some other people to look out for.” Dashawn considered. He put down his glass and Yuming immediately got off of his lap to fill it. He tried to tell her he was finished but she didn’t listen. He deserved the smile on her face. I squeezed Suzi’s shoulder. She was one of the few with no one on her lap. Dashawn didn’t deserve Suzi’s scowl.

“Wow, you’re a good person,” Hannah grinned.

“One of the best,” Zoë agreed.

“Are you going with him, Zoë?” Franny asked. All of my girls laughed brutally. “What?”

“I’m going to land with Dean,” she said, “and the rest of our family.”

“Ahh!” Renée got off of Connie to hug Zoë who was under Suzi.

“So where did you put us?” Yuming asked. I could see some on the fence eyes looking at me with that suspicion.

“In one of the ten girls no guys boxes.” I frowned. “The first one I recognized a name in.”

“Who?” Marin lit up.

“Ugh ... One of your sisters.” I grinned. She beamed. Hopped to her feet forcing Hannah to scramble and hold on. She chased around and hugged Dashawn around the neck. “You’re going to take care of her.”

“I am?” He worried. “I have Yuming and--”

“And you’re more than capable of taking care of me and other girls who need it,” Suzi’s mother said, “just don’t fuck any of them in front of me before you fuck me in front of them.”

“Now that’s what I call true love!” Renée squealed.

“Who are you and what have you done with my girl?” Connie grabbed her cheerleader and dragged her in for a tight hug.

“Dude, give me a box of sluts.” Reggie said. “I mean, why not? You’re just punishing me because of--”

“Because you attacked me and my sister,” I said. “I can forgive you, but I can’t trust you.”

“You don’t need to forgive me. You’ve already decided to dispose of me. At least let me pick the funeral arrangements. Dead man walking’s last request.”

I stopped. I looked at Zoë. She would’ve let me kill him and treat me like a king for it. I looked at Pat. She would help me kill him and never let me live it down. I looked at Andrea. She could never leave me if I killed Reggie. I didn’t want any of my girls out of fear or duty. I wanted them with respect and love. I scared myself. I was not worried about the alien boot on my neck if I did kill him. I don’t think it would’ve been enough to stop me if I had to do it. If he came for me. I’m glad I’d never know.

“Girls, Zoë and I are abstaining. Where is he going?”

“Far away.” Hannah said.

“That’s a promise.” I said. “Does he go alone or do we give him company?”

“How alone?” Franny asked.

“You’re free to tag along with him wherever we send him.”

“You can’t make this decision?” Connie worried.

“I already did. I’ll change my mind if you girls can’t live with it.” I said.

“What did you decide?” Kia seemed to get hot to know. I frowned at her. I almost told them.

“No, that’s not fair.” Andrea shook her head. “I don’t want anyone to be lost and alone in the world. Put him in a box full of people.”

“He won’t ever learn or become a better person if there is no one for him to depend on or to depend on him.” Renée said. “I don’t believe he will get better though. I vote, out and alone.”

“Bitch!” Reggie swore.

“Called my friend a bitch. I just want to hurt you. For me, for Renee, and for Zoë.” Connie said. “Our family first. Out and alone.”

“I’m scared of you girls.” Elizabeth said. “I was there with Zoë and when he hurt Bradley. No.” She took a deep breath. “But I agree with Renée’s point. I don’t trust him but for the rest of his life? He should go somewhere he can learn. In with people.”

Dashawn and Yuming didn’t vote. Vanessa and Franny didn’t vote. Zoë and I didn’t vote. Renée, Connie, Pat, Xiomara, Suzi voted alone. Kia, Hannah, Marin, Elizabeth, Andrea voted people. Laurie was too scared to vote. Reggie had been vocal the whole process. Pat drummed her fingers on the table. She had been staring me down the whole time. Wanda bit her lip and had added nothing yet.

“A tie? Everyone else abstaining?” I worried.

“No,” Pat and Wanda shook their heads. Wanda let Pat speak first. “You don’t know everybody I know. You didn’t go to my school. If I’m here they could be here. What if you hadn’t recognized Marin’s last name? What if you had sacrificed her to Reggie? Connie got it. How many cheerleaders are there?”

“Seventeen.” She answered. “Fifteen to perform and two backups in case of injury or other problems.”

“How many of those girls would you let Reggie have?”

“One.” Renée answered instantly. Connie burst out laughing.

“I love you girl.” She squeezed her teammate. Renée was grinning.

“Yeah, we’ve only been talking about Reggie. Not one of you brought up the girls who are unprepared for him.” Laurie finally talked. She looked over at Reggie. “He’s strong. He throws his weight around. He expects things.”

“I never, would never, just take anything from a girl.”

“Not from a girl, no.” Laurie almost tried to smile. “But from Bradley? From Dean!”

There were several girls gathered around Laurie. Rubbing her back. Hugging her and keeping her safe. “I don’t want you to be hurt and lost and discarded.”

“Yeah,” Andrea spoke up. “I change my vote to Out and Alone. Because, that’s the only way he’s the only one on trial.”

“Fucking kangaroo court.”

“What was your plan?” Zoë asked me. “What were you going to do with him?”

“Send him off alone.” I said. “I hadn’t even considered letting him get reformed. What kind of person am I?”

“Someone too close to the case,” Yuming said. “Don’t be ashamed of this. It’s a conflict of interest. That’s why we don’t let doctors operate on their children. Same for a judge sentencing his wife. You’re too close.”

“You don’t seem to be.” I pointed out.

“The fuck I’m not.” She shook her head. “You have my daughter and my grandkid in your arms.”

“Shit...” I banged the table with my hands.

“I’ll take care of him.” Franny said. “Anything to get away from this high school slut garbage.”

“What? Really?” Yuming asked. “Jesus. I can’t believe I’ve fucked a kid I taught...”

“It was a lot easier and safer before facebook and twitting.” Franny shrugged. “And I looked more like this back in the eighties.”

“We have a plan.” I stood up. “Finish eating and then come help me get prepared to take the babysitters home.”

“I better end up babysitting.” Yuming warned me as she collected up Dashawn’s empty dishes. “Or there’ll be hell to pay.”

“If you go where I tell you, you’ll land about twenty miles north of us. There’s a river between us, we’ll be on the hill beyond it.” I said. Xiomara nodded picturing the map herself. Connie took a deep breath. She looked around.

“I’m coming with you.” She declared.

“Anyone who wants to come is coming.” I said.

“What if I pass out for the night?”

“What if you do?” Zoë’s worry followed Wanda’s sarcasm.

“Then you’ll get dragged home.” I said. “Is anyone staying?”

Everyone looked around. Pat sighed. “Can I? I hate that orange stuff.”

“Of course you can.” I walked over and squeezed her. “Is she going to be alone?”

“No,” Suzi said. She got up and took her mother to the hallway. “You’re going to bitch at me if I go out there.” She hugged her mother. “I love you mom.”

“Sweetie...” She kissed her daughter on the head. “I love you too. You couldn’t do much better than being with Dean. You always told me that.”

“Mom!” Suzi blushed but she was grinning as she looked back over her shoulder at me. I smiled. It wasn’t just my two shortest staying behind. Zoë refused to let someone drag her back lifeless. She promised to stay. I think it was more about her not being able to see off Reggie. She also stank like she hadn’t showered in a few days. Her clothes were probably a few days old as well.

“I’m going to stay!” Laurie chirped. “Can I stay?”

“She’s one of yours now.” Connie nodded. “What about Vanessa?”

“She’s welcome.” Xiomara declared. “You weren’t there when Dean had gotten woken up on Earth. She was there for us. She’s family if she wants to be.”

“If she wants to be?” Connie asked slowly.

“Dammit!” Marin beamed. “I’m going. I’ve got to see this spaceship.”

“What about Reggie?” Hannah asked. She stood over him and stared him down. No one else had made eye contact with Reggie since I had arrived. I liked the strength in her. “Do we untie him?”