23- Lovers

"No, stay here. Stay in and get better. You've been sick all week."  Julia told Ellen and Cal.

"Julia, I won't miss homecoming, we have pictures to take and I want to celebrate this with you both." Ellen said, her voice frail hoarse. She looked weak and sickly. Her eyes sunken and her skin pale.  Cal didn't look much better, but he'd started to improve over all.

Julia and Andy cleared the dishes from the table and Andy started washing dishes.

"Tell you what. We'll get ready here and have the boys pick us up. We can do pictures right here before we leave."

"That sounds like a good idea." Andy added. "Then we'll go get Chess and Jess and take our pictures there."

Ellen sprung from the table and sprinted across the kitchen to where she vomited in the trash can. The soup she'd just eaten and the water that she drank. Ellen dragged herself down the hallway to the bathroom where she started cleaning herself up. She called her agreement down the hall. She could be heard vomiting again.

Andy and Julia got ready for the dance together. Andy put on his zoot suit and his gold shoes. Julia dressed all in white layers with the butterfly jewelry and her flats. She left her wet hair dry naturally and she scrunched her kinky curls with mousse and placed the rosebud headband in her hair. They posed in the bathroom mirror, making faces and took a picture together.

"Andy, you look great. I was unsure about that suit, but wearing it you look great."

"You look like a pixie."

"Is tonight the night?" Julia asked, taking Andy's hand. She gave him a squeeze.

"I think so."

They heard the side entrance door shut as Jay came inside. Jay came in the bathroom and kissed her hello. He unzipped behind her and started taking a leak.

"So, does he have any experiences with that?"

"Yes, but that's not it, our parents are here."

"Hello, we do it here all the time when your parents are upstairs." Jay mentioned, zipping up. He moved her aside to wash his hands. "You gonna let him pop your cherry?"

Andy blushed. He slipped quietly out of the bathroom.

"Jay you make him uncomfortable." Julia said, hushing him.

"Why? Andy, do I make you uncomfortable?"

"There's really no reason why he should. I mean it's just Jay." Julia shrugged.

Jay pulled off his hoodie and tee shirt, pulled the hair band out of his hair and left his hair down. "I got time for a quick shower right?"

"Go ahead, but hurry up." Julia said shooing him toward the bathroom. She caught Andy watching Jay. Jay closed the bathroom door. They heard the shower start. "Andy, keep it in your pants. You got a boyfriend."

"I know. But how do you not stare at him when he starts taking his clothes off?"

"Oh, he's always nude." Julia replied.

Julia and Andy head upstairs to check on Ellen and Cal. Jay found them after his shower in the living room, watching CNN. There was a CNN doc and a commentator having a discussion about the virulent strain of flu that was going around. He sat on the floor in front of Julia and handed her a brush. He'd already dried his hair, still warm from the hair dryer. She started brushing and then braiding his hair.

"That flu kills half the people that get it." Jay pointed out.

"It sounds ugly. I know." Julia said, "They're talking about quarantining some places."

"What's that mean, Julia?" Andy asked.

"Not sure. I'll google it later tonight."

"Should we quarantine them?" Jay asked sarcastically, motioning toward the bedroom.

Rey's mom, Luz, agreed to swing by and have pictures taken there. His mother had wanted to meet Ellen and Cal, even though they weren't meeting under the healthiest circumstances a quick and informal hello would be welcome. Their boys were quite close, the closest she'd ever seen her son with another person. His mother wanted to hopefully make plans to have them over for a meal and get to know each other's families.

Ellen couldn't get out of bed when the time came for photos. Cal did. He snapped plenty of pictures, met Rey's mom and made a rain check for dinner once Ellen felt up to it.

Luz stopped the minivan at Chess's house and more photos were taken of all the couples. Jess and her mom, Louann, were already there. Ray and Cass waited for friends to come get them. They posed for the family of photographers. All the couples lined up and put on their biggest junior homecoming smiles. The parents cleared out of the living room into the kitchen and gabbed for a bit before having to leave for the dance. Cass eyed Julia, walked up to her and surprised her by giving her a compliment on her dress for the night.

"Thanks, Cass. You look very pretty too." Julia replied, playing nice as long as Cass was playing nice.

"I'm sorry about the baby, Julia. That must have been hard."

"Thanks, Cass."

"I want to apologize, call a truce. I'm not saying we'll be best friends or even friends at all.  It's not our fight to have."

"I accept that. So, I'll meet you half way and apologize too. You're right. It's not our fight."

"Besides, Julia, I'm sure we can come up with something to fight over on our own."

"We always could, Cass." Julia replied. "So, you and Ray. That's great. How long have you 2 been together now?"

"It's been since the cabin weekend, Julia. A year. Hey, there's no trip planned this year because that was really fun last year."

"No, there's not. If we were to go we couldn't stop at any rest areas along the way."

"Ha, what a mess that was. How is your psychopath killer? He dropped off the face of the earth didn't he?"

"Oh, thank God. I was losing my shit for a while there. I still look over my shoulder, scared to walk around alone sometimes. And him-" Julia pointed at Jay, "He's my replacement stalker."

"What are you two talking about?" Jess smiled, sliding next to Julia.

"The past." Cass answered quickly, scanning the freshman next to Julia. She didn't see what Chess saw in her, but then again she didn't know Jess very well. Only saw her in passing when she was with Ray. "Oh, my, where's Chess?"

"Not sure." She answered, then stepped away to find him.

Cass shook her head. "Anytime you want her leave, ask her where Chess is."

"Awe, come on. That wasn't nice."

"Well, I'm not nice. And she's always so fucking happy. And excited." Cass rolled her eyes.

Ray motioned to her. "My ride. Hey, have fun tonight. See ya there." Cass walked away and left with Ray.

Julia began to wonder when they would be leaving. They had pre-dance plans that involved some weed and vodka. Rey and Luz finally stopped talking long enough to leave the house. Once the 2 started a conversation, they didn't stop.

She left them out of the van outside Shades Ballroom. They went behind the building to the pond and sat on the benches by the water. The moonlight bounced off the water, the fountain was spouting in the middle of the pond and its lights were brightly shining on it. Chess opened the vodka and they passed it around. He sparked the lighter and he, Jay and Julia shared a joint. Slowly they started back toward the ballroom. Feeling good and lifted, Julia told them they'd follow soon.

"What do you plan on doing with me, Julia?" He asked as he slid his hand beneath her white dress.

"Well, Jayson. I think we should make the pre-dance fuck a tradition."

"Where? Right here?"

"Why not?"

"That's my girl." He smiled.

As far as dances go, this homecoming was fairly typical. Low lights, a DJ playing the most up to date and popular music, a full dance floor. The music stopped and the lights came up briefly near the end for the announcement of the junior class homecoming king and queen. 5 boys and 5 girls stood in respective lines as their class president stood at the microphone. She announced the names of all the boys and girls on stage then announced the king first. Jay accepted his crown when the president announced his name, leaning so she could set it atop his head. The homecoming queen followed suit. Hayley stepped forward to accept her crown and then she and Jay posed for a picture. There was a customary king and queen dance, but Jay declined without hesitating and stepped off the stage as the lights went back down. He left Hayley alone on stage and the dance floor empty. The crowd had been holding their breath as to whether the two would set aside their past and their differences to dance. The floor filled quickly with their classmates and slow dancing resumed.

Jay and Julia went to their table and sat together, holding hands, looking out over the water of Shades pond. They reminisced about the dance from last year. The struggles and the changes they went through because of that one trip to the cabin. "Are you sure you want to start talking about that? You haven't drudged that up in a while."

"Ok, sorry. But it was fun, Jay."

"The trip? Yes, it was a good time." He agreed. "When my uncles were here, they offered to take me up there again, go hunting and fishing."

"Go, Jay. Spend time with your family. Kill some deer."

"Julia, I don't ever want to kill anything ever again." He said, squeezing her hand. He pulled her closer to him and put his arm over her shoulder.

They finished out the dance on the dance floor for the last two slow songs before going home. They walked from the Shades Ballroom the short distance to Julia's house. On their walk they watched as an occasional ambulance would pass. They figured there was an accident going on somewhere. Once they got to the house they found Cal putting Ellen into the car. Andy was upset, but Cal insisted he was taking her to the hospital. She'd been vomiting through out the entire day and he worried she was not going to improve at home. Cal, on the other hand, had started to feel much better. Andy wanted to go with her and was upset immediately. Cal told him no. He'd call with an update, but there would be nothing for him to do in an emergency room. The 6 kids went inside the house. Rey comforted Andy as he was worried about his mother. Jay and Julia went to the basement with Jess and Chess. Chess pulled out the bottle of vodka and Julia poured the punch in their cups.

Julia turned on the TV. The local news was still on, the news journalist outside the local ER that was flooded with people that night, all ill with the flu that was going around. From what CNN reported earlier, it started in Asia and had traveled the world at large from there. On planes and trains and cars and buses. "Hey, this is bigger than I thought. Look." Julia turned the TV up so they could all hear.

"My mom started getting sick this morning." Jess said. "But her cold medicine works."

The symptoms mimic the flu. High fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and vomiting, generally feeling like you have been hit by a truck. Anyone who is not sick is urged to stay indoors and not venture out into the public. Julia opened up her laptop and looked on line for more information. "It says here any areas that have been contaminated should be cleaned with soap and water, then bleached. It also says that half the people that get this virus die."

"In a third world country maybe." Chess mumbled.

"Ellen might have this, Chess."

"Jules, put that away. She's in the hospital. They'll take care of her." Jay said.

Julia folded the laptop and set it on her table. Later, she thought, later. She planned on researching more. The virus that was going around sounded virulent and potent. What if one of them got it or one of the kids? What if it didn't stop with Cal and Ellen? What if they were living in a bio hazard?

"God, gimme a drink, please."

"Bottoms up." Chess said.

Andy and Rey came downstairs after spending a couple hours alone together. A couple hours later and too much alcohol imbibed, Julia and Jess lay on the bed together talking about their boyfriends. Jess asking questions about relationships and hoping beyond hope that she and Chess would last as long as she and Jay had. Andy and Rey joined their conversation after spending alone time in Andy's room. Andy looked like he'd never been more in love. Jay and Chess had enough listening to the 4 of them talk about boyfriends and love and went outback to smoke some weed.

"So, did you two get lucky?" Julia asked, slurring her speech. She struggled to sit up, but managed to do so as Jess did the same. Both girls were more than interested in that love story. Andy and Rey sat on the love seat across from them holding hands and smiling. Andy looked more comfortable and relaxed in his skin, sitting beside Rey. They didn't get a chance to really answer as the girls were white chick wasted. They sat and watched the two of them talking on the bed.

"What the hell are these two on?" Rey asked Andy.

"Vodka. That's all." Andy replied, shaking his head.

The two girls sat up again, then got to their knees. They faced each other and then their hands locked together. Julia leaned to Jess and kissed her. Jess kissed her back.

"What on earth?" Andy asked, looking toward the door where the boys would eventually walk through.

"They look like they're having fun. And the night could get interesting. If only Jayson would loosen up." Rey said, half kidding and half serious.

The girls separated. Julia and Jess looked at each other, giggling. "I kinda liked that." Jess said, kissing Julia's neckline where she normally would kiss Chess's neck.

"Me too." Julia giggled, cocking her neck to the right so Jess could continue. She touched Jess's chest, squeezing her breasts with her hands softly.

"If they only knew what they were missing in here." Rey laughed, moving closer to Andy.

Julia and Jess continued to kiss and touch each other curiously. Neither had been uncomfortable at that point. They were not paying attention when the boys came back in from outside.

Their eyes grew wide as they watched Julia and Jess on her bed. Rey and Andy stood up to head back upstairs. "I think this might be our fault." Rey whispered to Jay. "You're welcome."

"Yeah, uh, thanks."

Jay and Chess stood still, not sure whether to separate them or let them continue. Neither seemed to think it important to stop them from fooling around. "Am I dreaming?" Chess asked as he watched the girls, Julia with her hand up Jess shirt.

"I hope not." Jay answered, looking sideways at him. He whispered, "You're ok with this right? Because I am."

"I'm more than alright with this."

Julia and Jess removed their shirts, their breasts exposed they touched and tasted each other.

"I love your tits. Mine are so small." Julia told her leaning down to put her small nipple in her mouth.

"No, they're perfect. You're so pretty, Julia."

"Awe, thanks." Julia smiled, her speech still slurred as she tried to focus. Julia's fingertips played with the waist band on the sweats Jess wore. Julia sat before her only in panties. Julia moved them down a bit, but felt Jess tense up at her touch. Her curiosity peeked, wanting to touch her between her legs, feel someone else's wetness on her fingertips. Julia took Jess's hand and placed it between her legs, pressing Jess's hand against her panties.

Julia looked at Jay and Chess. "Jay, you wanna help us out, babe?"

Jay didn't hesitate, approaching the bed. He settled behind Julia on his knees and before touching Jess, he looked at Chess. He opted not to touch her at all instead he slid Julia's panties down, exposing the trimmed red patch of hair between Julia's thighs. Jay's hands roamed her body from behind. Jess set before the 2 of them, starting to feel more alone.

She motioned to Chess to hand the bottle of vodka to her. He held the bottle to her mouth and poured some inside. He set the bottle down and held onto his hand with hers as she touched Julia with the other. She manipulated her wetness, pushed her fingers gently inside of her. Chess helped Jess off with her sweats and Julia and Chess's fingers both dove between her legs. Julia fingered her as Chess pushed in and out of her with his fingers. They continued till Jess was quivering and coming over both of their hands.

Julia lifted a bit letting Jay pull her underwear off, then grinded back on him. She felt him undoing his pants, then settled back on him as she pulled Jess toward her. She kissed and felt Jess as Jay pushed into her. Chess pretty much followed suit behind Jess.

The girls drank down more vodka as they let their boyfriends fuck them.

"Wanna switch?" Jess asked her. She and Jay had interlocked fingers. Chess's hands were already exploring Julia and neither boyfriend seemed to complain when hands went everywhere. She and Julia pulled off of the boys, maneuvering around on the bed to switch off boyfriends. She could feel Chess behind her as she hesitated. He waited for her, it was up to her. Julia took Chess's hands and held them around her waist as she watched Jay with Jess. He was kissing her shoulder, watching Julia, but it was Jess who let Jay inside of her.

Julia turned from Jay, taking Chess between her legs as she lay down. Chess pushed inside of her and Julia wrapped her legs around his waist. Chess's lips were on her neck. "Take it easy, Chess." She whispered in his ear. "It's kinda big."

"K. Sorry." He agreed, doing as she asked. "You're tight. I'm gonna cum, Julia."

She could hear he was almost there in his breathing. She clenched her vagina around his length. Hold on. I'm almost there." She whispered in his ear as quietly as she could.

"I can't." He gasped, moving his hips faster, making her cum at the same time he did.

He started to slow a bit, but she urged him to keep moving, "Don't slow down yet." She lifted her bottom off the bed, arching her back a bit to meet him, feeling herself empty around his length.

The two separated and scooted off the bed where Jay and Jess were still going at it. Julia pulled the tee shirt back over her head and snatched the vodka off the floor as she led Chess to the stairs. She closed the door behind them at the top of the steps and gave him a kiss.

"Your girlfriend is amazing. I love her." Julia grinned.

"What about them?" Chess asked, taking a seat on the sofa.

"What about them? Leave them alone." Julia took him in the dark living room, flipped on the TV. Julia pulled her tee shirt over her head and sat on top of him. Julia lifted herself so he could push off his pants. "Do you know you were blessed with a big dick for a small guy?" Julia smiled.

"I've been told." He smiled back at her. "Glad you like it."

"Oh, I do." Julia giggled, taking a drink of vodka from the bottle she'd brought upstairs. She handed off the bottle to Chess who took a gulp.