Out Of This World (4 page)

“Thank you, Hollie. I shall consider your offer, but so far Bella has provided me with the information I need at this time. I choose to continue my education with her.”

Hollie narrowed her eyes. “Bella?”

Sydney chuckled. “Yeah, Celeste decided that was an appropriate name for Mabs and I have to agree. I might start calling her that myself.”

If Hollie’s eyes had the ability to shoot daggers, I’d be dead.

She turned to Celeste and smiled. “Why don’t you and
Mabel
join us for dinner tonight?”

Oh now, that was rich. I’d known Hollie for over ten years and she’d never invited me to dinner before. Even Sydney seemed shocked by the invitation as she looked at her girlfriend.

“Oh, I am so sorry. Tonight I will be fucking Bella until she screams my name in ecstasy under this lovely moon and stars. I will lap up her sweet nectar from the pulsing, plump lips surrounding her vagina,” Celeste calmly remarked.

Sydney burst out laughing and I hastened to clarify. “She’s kidding.”

I remember thinking that Celeste had the driest sense of humor of anyone I’d ever met. Death Valley had nothing on Celeste. She could deliver a punchline with the straightest face I’d ever seen. Her guileless expression was unflappable.

Hollie just sat there with her mouth hanging open—too shocked to respond.

Celeste looked at me and crinkled her nose. “Bella, did I not give an accurate enough description? I replicated the words in your book.” She turned to Sydney. “I do wish to try the things that I learned in the lesbian erotica book I found. Bella seems to be an eager participant in my experiment.”

Sydney smacked the table and smiled in my direction. “I knew it. You’re a big ole dyke just like me.” She frowned and I imagined that she was perplexed about why I’d never told her before.

“She’s joking,” I protested weakly. I felt bad about not confiding in Sydney, and she was the last person in the world that I wanted to hurt.

Sydney seemed to recover quickly and smiled at me. I thought she was trying to make me feel okay. “Hey, no worries, Mabs, we won’t tell anyone. Your secret is safe with us.” Sydney looked over at her partner. “Right, Hollie?”

Hollie just sat there smirking while Sydney was waiting for her to respond. “Oh absolutely, but whenever you’re ready, we’ll be the first to have a big coming out party for you.”

I could hear the sarcasm in her voice and, fortunately, so could Sydney.

“Hollie, be nice,” she chastised. “Mabs is shy and everyone has to be comfortable with who they are before they’re ready to announce anything to the world. I promise you have our support no matter what.”

I thought it best that I just not answer—that way they could think whatever they wanted to—but I wasn’t about to confirm anything. How could I explain anything without painting myself into a tiny corner? I was pretty sure that if I’d come out in high school, no one would have treated me like they treated Sydney or Hollie.

Celeste was watching our exchange with a curious expression. She appeared not to understand what was going on. I needed to have a serious talk with Celeste about the kind of joking that she ought to avoid.

I was so not ready to come out to anyone, even Sydney. It was bad enough that Celeste knew after flipping through my book. If I were honest with myself, I was even kind of glad she found out. I’d never actually said the words to anyone, and I wasn’t sure if I ever would. I suppose it didn’t matter, because even though I didn’t confirm things with Sydney and Hollie, it was pretty much a given that they knew now.

I needed to get us on a different topic. I knew how much Hollie liked talking about herself, so I went there. “Hey, Hollie, I read in the paper that you’re running for state Senate. I bet you’ll win in a landslide.”

Hollie clearly liked the new direction of our conversation because for the next half hour she talked non-stop about it. I was able to get a reprieve when I went to the counter to purchase a latte for Celeste and myself.

I don’t know how Hollie manages to be charming and witty when all she does is talk about herself, but she’s an expert at sharing funny little anecdotes and normally sucks everyone into her sphere.

Celeste remained quiet and sipped her coffee—humming softly. I was beginning to recognize her humming as an indication of her pleasure when tasting something new. I wondered what rock she came out from under not to have ever experienced a latte. There was a Starbucks on practically every corner in the larger cities. Coffee shops sprouted up like weeds in the smaller towns that dotted not only the Pacific Northwest, but every other state in the nation. Celeste was an odd one, that’s for sure.

Sydney kept stealing glances in my direction. I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, so I guzzled the rest of my drink and made an excuse to leave.

“Sorry Sydney.” I refused to address Hollie, the bitch. “Celeste and I need to leave if we’re going to North Bend and then get back at a decent hour.” I hastened to clarify that we would
not
be joining them for dinner. “We have a lot of shopping to do, so maybe a rain check on dinner.”

“Do we need to check for rain before going to dinner?” Celeste asked.

I gave her a nudge in the direction of the door. “She’s such a jokester.”

Celeste scrunched up her face in confusion, but followed me out the door.

I practically ran out of the coffee shop and only felt remotely calm when I reached the sanctuary of my car. Celeste followed more slowly and I was ready to peel out the minute she shut the door and buckled herself in. It’s a damn good thing there weren’t any cops around as I burned rubber in my haste to get as far away from Sydney as I could.

†

I didn’t want to be angry with Celeste and I certainly wasn’t prepared to confront her, so I just casually remarked, “Um I’m not exactly…”

I didn’t know how to finish the sentence and Celeste finished for me. “It was not a good thing that I mentioned what I learned in your book, was it?”

“No. That kind of teasing and joking around isn’t very helpful to someone like me.”

“Is it forbidden?” she asked.

“Uh no, it’s just that Sydney and Hollie can get away with being open about their relationship because they’re so popular and attractive. I’d never hear the end of it and I’m not that interested in being harassed until my last dying day.”

She tilted her head. “I have so much to learn. I do not understand yet, but perhaps I will in time.”

I spent the next hour telling her trivia about Snoqualmie Pass and pointing out various landmarks.

She acted like a kid turning her head this way and that, remarking on the beauty of the mountains. “We do not have this where I come from. It is very beautiful. I think I would like to explore these mountains.”

I wondered where she was from. I started thinking that maybe she’d led a very secluded life—never exposed to other parts of the US. I’d heard about people who were homeschooled and protected from the outside world. I wondered if her parents were nutcases and that’s why she was so unusual. I’d read about people, called empaths, who were sensitive to others. Of course instead of getting accolades for their special skill, they were isolated and shunned. I would just consider it my moral obligation to introduce her to many varied experiences, starting with a refreshing trek in the mountains.

“Well, I’m not much of a hiker, but I do own a pair of hiking boots and I could probably handle an easy hike or two,” I offered.

“I would like that.”

I didn’t want to jinx anything because I was really enjoying Celeste’s company, so I carefully broached the subject. “Um, Celeste, how long are you planning on visiting this area?”

“As long as it takes,” she responded.

Okay that was definitely not helpful. I quickly interjected, “Um, it’s no problem for me. You can stay as long as you like.” I added, “I want you to stay.”

“I will stay at least until the next moon change and then I will decide the future.”

So I had at least a month. I smiled at her.

†

We reached the outlet complex. I figured they would have everything she would need for the next month. My favorite place to shop was Banana Republic so I parked close to there. After Celeste got out of the car, I was so excited I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the store. I just knew she would look great in their clothes. Since she was about my size, I started pulling out pants, shorts, and shirts in a size six. Before I could check myself, there was a mountain of clothes in my arms the size of Mount Rainer. I laughed and she giggled right along with me.

She pulled me into the dressing room with her and I tried not to look, but it was hard—really hard. She didn’t seem to notice or care and never looked away as I gawked at her.

I was right, there wasn’t one outfit that didn’t look amazing on her, but she limited her purchases to three pair of jeans, shorts, long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirts. I wondered if she liked the number three.

She didn’t grab any underwear or socks, so I pulled out seven of each in different colors to match her new clothes.

I was curious about what else she might have in her backpack, as she rummaged inside and pulled out her wad of cash. I was amazed at how much money she had. It didn’t seem like she’d even made a dent in the roll. I hoped that Celeste wasn’t some kind of criminal like a drug dealer with all that cash. She really didn’t seem the type. I watched as she stuffed part of the money in her back pocket before placing the rest back in her backpack. I tried not to be too obvious about sneaking a peak, but she zipped it up before I had a chance to see what might be inside.

The sales clerk was one of those bored rebel types with an impressive amount of metal attached to her face. She was literally wearing a dog collar with spikes, and I wondered how she possibly kept her job. It’s not like Banana Republic is some punk clothing store. I watched Celeste scrutinize the young woman who rang up her purchases.

“Bella, does she need to be walked like a human canine companion?” Celeste pointed to the dog collar.

The woman raised her eyebrow, but fortunately didn’t seem offended.

I cringed at her question. “Um, no. I’m pretty sure that’s how she likes to accessorize,” I whispered.

“Accessorize?”

“Yes, dress up her outfit,” I explained.

“Is the metal on her face an accessory?” Celeste asked.

I didn’t want to offend the salesperson, so I was just about to lead us out the door when the young woman chuckled. I was whispering, but Celeste wasn’t especially quiet with her questions. She stuck her tongue out at Celeste displaying a small silver ball that prominently sparkled under the store lights.

The young woman winked at us. “This little accessory serves a dual purpose. My girlfriend loves it. You might want to get one.” She looked directly at me. “I guarantee she won’t be disappointed,” she added as she nodded in Celeste’s direction.

I blushed and mumbled, “Thanks.”

Recognition seemed to pass over Celeste’s face. “Oh, the little silver ball can be used to stimulate the clit when licking someone.”

The sales clerk laughed. “Yep, sure can.”

I tugged at Celeste and made a beeline for the door.

After we left the Banana Republic, an electronics store caught her eye and she stood mesmerized in front of the flat screen TV you could see through the window. Like a homing pigeon, she made a beeline for the section of the store with the fancy home theater systems. I followed her in like a puppy dog.

Normally stores put in action movies or animation because they show off the sound and color so well, but for some reason, this one had a romantic comedy because there was a couple starting to get a little steamy.

Celeste pointed at the television. “I would like to buy this instructional device.”

“That’s just a DVD playing. We can rent a DVD tonight if you’d like.”

“Will it instruct me on the things in your book?”

Okay, now I was starting to get a little worried. Maybe Celeste wasn’t joking before. Maybe my previous assumptions were correct and she was even more sheltered than I was. I silently cursed her idiot parents. I let an evil thought cross my brain. It had been quite some time since I’d watched a lesbian movie and if Celeste wanted some exposure to the dark side, well then, who was I to deny her? I already had a few favorites including the whole
L Word
series on DVD. Yep, the education of Celeste would begin this evening.

“Come on, Celeste. I have a nice TV at home and several DVDs that you might enjoy. You don’t need to buy that. We should get you a comfortable pair of boots for hiking, and maybe a pair of tennis shoes or something casual for kicking around.”

“Kicking around? I don’t wish to kick anything, I think that would cause harm,” she stated.

I laughed. She was so quirky. “I recommend Sketchers. They are the best shoes to do a lot of walking in.”

She nodded and we proceeded to purchase a pair of hiking boots, a pair of Sketchers, and some casual loafers.

†

I was getting hungry again so I suggested we stop somewhere for lunch. The North Bend Bar and Grill was relatively close, so I made the executive decision to stop there for a late lunch.