*Death is inevitable; no one can force it upon you or save you from it*

(My editor Frontma takes my ramblings and forges them into something that makes sense, so thanks)

(This chapter is sex-lite in case that's why you are here)

"Zane," a woman whispered in my ear. It is a testament to my out-of-control sex life that I didn't immediately know the identity of the woman in my bed even though drugs and/or alcohol were not involved.

"Yes, Hope?" I turned and whispered back.

"We are surrounded," her eyes glimmered.

Indeed, we had been surrounded in the few hours we'd been asleep. Barbie Lynn had crowded in on Hope's section of the bed. As Hope rolled onto her side and snuggled into me, Barbie Lynn wiggled in behind her and pressed her magnificent boobs into Hope's back. She had even put her upper arm to rest on Hope's and had situated her right lower thigh and calf between Hope's legs.

On the other side of the equation, Vivian was on her side, left leg laid over my thighs and left hand on my chest...on top of Hope's hand. Both our new female companions were sound asleep and snoring softly.

"What do you want me to do about it?" I inquired quietly.

"I don't know," Hope seemed conflicted. "Barbie Lynn is having a good dream."

"And?" I wondered.

"Her nipples are digging into my back and she's humping my ass," Hope grinned. At least she wasn't offended. "What would you do?"

"Turn over slowly, push her on her back, spread her legs and then slip two fingers into her pussy and pump her," I tried not to snicker. "Work in small circles, then start suckling on a nipple; she likes a bit of teeth."

"I've never been sexually involved with a woman," Hope said. It wasn't a statement but a declaration of an issue she was contemplating.

"You would like to see Barbie Lynn and me...pleasuring one another, would you not?" Hope mused.

"Absolutely," I nodded slightly, enough not to wake our companions.

"I'll bring it up to her over breakfast," she informed me thoughtfully. "I need to look into her clear blue eyes when I talk this idea out with her."

"She'll like that," I murmured, "and that is what she deserves too." Though asleep (we hoped), Barbie Lynn nuzzled into Hope's ear and let her hand drop down onto Hope's closest breast.

"She's not making waiting easy," Hope looked worried concerning her desire to postpone the encounter.

"The best things in life are never easy," I pointed out before we both drifted back off.

GOOD NEWS AND REJECTION

I woke up with the feeling that something was wrong but I couldn't place it. The alarm wasn't going off, the phone wasn't ringing, and there were no sirens screaming. Vivian, on my left side, had worked her way between my arm and my body and was draped over half of my form. The awkwardness only increased when I realized she'd slid a hand between her legs.

That wasn't so bad except it also meant the back of her hand was also rubbing along my cock. Her other hand had come to rest against my neck on the far side and her face was blowing softly on my neck's near side. Remember the arm she'd separated from my side? The devilish hand at the end of that arm had somehow wedged itself under her underwear and was holding one of Vivian's butt cheeks.

Vivian began the slow, steady process of awakening, bringing about a strange paralysis in me. As her mind wandered its way toward alertness, both of her hands fidgeted slightly. My pulse jumped and my rod raced to iron hardness against her wrist as she stirred.

"Your hand is on my ass," she murmured.

"I'm sorry," I gulped. "I wish I could say I was sorrier but I'm not. My only excuse is that I was asleep when it happened."

"I know, Zane, I put your hand on my ass," Vivian said, her breath tickling my jugular. "It was already close and...I was curious." I blinked up at the ceiling, having moments ago misread the evidence and believed I'd violated this woman's trust in me.

"I am going to spank you," I seethed. "I am going to strip down your panties and spank your butt for putting me through what you just put me through."

"Does it buy me any goodwill if I tell you that Chastity brought some things over for Hope last night?" Vivian wondered. "They're over on the dresser. That's why I cut the alarm off, so you two could get some more sleep."

"The alarm is off," Hope whispered. "What time is it?" She didn't sound so happy.

"I didn't hear you wake up," Vivian apologized.

"Long-range shooting involves controlled breathing," Hope answered. "What time is it?"

Vivian rolled over, leaned off the bed, and retrieved her phone.

"5:27," Vivian hissed back to us.

"Oh," moaned a sleepy Barbie Lynn. "I guess Zane and I will have to do it in the shower again – not that I mind," she finished with a sexy grin.

"No marathon session if you go downstairs," Vivian cautioned.

"Zane and I have already showered," Hope said, "So we can avoid the ritual at this time."

"How was it?" Barbie Lynn propped herself on an elbow and gazed upon Hope's face.

"I will never look at Zane touching or kissing another woman in the same way," Hope imparted to her. "I'll talk about the details when I've digested the lessons I learned last night."

"Yes – lessons," Hope confirmed as she rolled back the covers and sat up. "It is his chosen method for our sex play, that of female student and male instructor."

"That's just fascinating;" grumbled Rio, "but some of us do need showers. If Zane doesn't put in an appearance...hey, what are you doing, Monkey?" Rio's attention turned to Mercy. Mercy had rolled on top of Rio, elevated on all fours, and was now sucking on and nibbling Rio's left nipple.

"Did I tell you to do that?" Rio quizzed Mercy. Mercy shook her head in the negative but kept hold of the tit in her mouth. "Don't you worry, you annoying cunt," Rio grinned evilly, "I've got something planned for your insubordination this time. Now scoot." This time Mercy did wiggle off Rio.

"Why don't you play teacher/student with me?" Barbie Lynn teased me.

"You eat ice cream with a spoon and steak with a knife, Barbie Lynn...but hell, if you want to play Merry Monk and Naughty Nun with me, I'm game," I grinned. Barbie Lynn's grin equaled mine and added a salacious tongue running along the lips. She is my best sexual partner ever.

"Before you run off can I ask Zane for one favor first?" Vivian asked the ladies. I was hoping she'd be considerate enough to ask me too.

"Atta girl," Rio perked up. "Ride his face. Get his patented tongue-tickle wakeup call."

"That's not what I have in mind," Vivian responded.

"Sure," Barbie Lynn answered Vivian's request.

"What; are we stockholders in Zane now?" Hope inquired. "I withhold my vote until I know what Zane has to do and how he feels about it."

"Thanks, Hope," I looked over at her.

"You are my spotter. If you are distracted, your performance suffers and so does mine," she smiled. "It is enlightened self-interest." Yeah, right.

"I understand, Hope," Vivian nodded. "I knew if I asked Zane, he would consult with you ladies so I elected to take on any of your rejections myself. Zane, would you let me cuddle up against you for a few more minutes? That's all I want."

"Sure," I agreed. This wasn't going to be so hard. Unfortunately, fate is cruel and I'm an idiot if there was ever any doubt. Vivian maneuvered so that her back was to me and she was pressed into my body.

Hellish complication number one: when Vivian had leaned off the bed, I had removed my hand from her underwear, causing it to have ridden half-way down her ass.

Hellish complication number two: I sleep naked; my cock was hard and wedged between said ass cheeks, and I mean wedged in deep.

Hellish complication number three: "Zane, could you wrap your arm around me, please?" Vivian murmured. I had a feeling she had closed her eyes, feigning sleep, so I draped an arm over and rested it on her stomach – nice and safe. Vivian took my hand and pulled it to a point underneath her right tit and slightly into her cleavage beneath her shirt.

Okay, I'm thinking, I'm still safe. I can do this for a few minutes and not crack. I had a really good time with Hope last night and I'm not running at a 100% over-stupid like I normally am. Vivian started to stretch, her back arching away from me while her shoulders and hips pushed in. I had to admit that her hair smelled great. I knew what to do next, but then I realized that what I had to do was think like someone who didn't know what to do. (Confused? Join the club)

"What do I call you?" I whispered into her ear.

"Vannie," she responded quietly. 'Vannie' must be the nickname her boyfriend uses.

"Time to wake up, Vannie," I breathed. Vivian kept arching her back, with some gradual hip rotation added to the mix. My cock was rubbing down between each buttock; my hand was being pushed over the top of her shirt-covered breast.

I had a reprieve when the bell's edge of my phallus caught on the waistband of her panties. Vivian swiveled her hips a few more times and then rotated her shoulders so that the palm of my hand wove circles over her breast. Her enticed nipple came out to play by twisting with my movements. I still had some hope, though, that she'd stop soon.

When she ran her hand from her stomach to her crotch I prayed that a little self-stimulation was all she was seeking. With her left hand, which I hadn't tracked, she worked her panties half way down her thighs before resuming her gymnastic routine. Then her fiendish hand migrated over her thigh and cheek until it wrapped around my penis and gave it a squeeze. I had to do something quickly.

"Vannie," I whispered with more urgency, "you really need to wake up." Vivian faked a yawn then wiggled violently against my hips. This allowed her to force my cock through her ass crack and between her thighs. Vivian was showing a surprisingly inherent talent as a champion lap-dancer. I had done the whole pseudo-sex thing last night with Hope so why was I being subjected to this again? "Vannie, I wish you didn't have to go."

That caused a hiccup in her performance. Her hip movements became almost romantic in their tenderness and a low contented growled emanated from her chest. I racked my personality assessment of Vivian to figure out what to do next. Sexual conduct is best when you know what your partner is looking for and meeting that expectation.

I took my hand from her breast, sauntered it up her sternum to her neck and jaw. I tilted her head toward me. Her eyes were still closed as if asleep so she made no reaction as I leaned in for a chaste kiss – no tongue. She kissed back in an equally tender fashion.

"You need to wake up, Vannie," I said one last time. She nodded, gave me another kiss, and then let her head settle back on the pillow.

"Thank you, Zane," Vivian told me as she looked up and over her shoulder at me.

"Fuck it all, Bro!" Rio yelled. "Your cock is in her ass. Fuck her! Fuck her! This is your chance to nail the stuck up bitch."

"She's not a stuck up bitch and my cock is not in her ass," I countered.

"Trust me," Barbie Lynn provided her input, "if that meat was up her butt, the look on her face would be totally different." What happened to normal days of waking up where we greet each other, ask about our plans for the day, and wonder what we are having for breakfast? Seriously, who has discussions about what a girl's face would look like with my dick up their ass first thing in the morning?

"On that wonderful note, I'm going to..." I suddenly realized I was boned by reality. I had nowhere to go. I didn't need to shower and I didn't have to be anywhere for an hour and a half. Speaking of boners, why wasn't Vivian letting go of my cock, which she held tightly against her pussy lips? Well, if you can't be happy...

"Vivian, could you stay with me a little longer?" I requested gently.

"That's it," Rio chuckled. "Lure her in with that patented Braxton seduction then tap that butt good." There was rustling from Rio's side of the bed. "Mercy, you stay put."

"I'm going down and talking to the other girls," Barbie Lynn announced. "Zane, I'll explain things to our shower buddies."

With that, she scooted away from the covers and crawled off the foot of the bed.

"I'm going to put some clothes on," Hope spoke up. "It is something of a marvel that so many of you seem comfortable in your nakedness but I'm not there yet." She too made her way off the bed and to the clothes Chastity had left for her friend.

"Sure, Zane, I'll stay a little longer if you like," Vivian was finally allowed to respond.

I nestled into her and she molded tightly to me. As I was busy inhaling the scent of her hair my hand returned to her stomach. This time it was a little lower – like brushing the top of her pubic hair lower. Vivian did me two better. Her right hand reached back and stroked my hair as I rested my lips on her neck – innocently of course.

Her left hand was up to far worse; she reached down and began to pet my cockhead that was conveniently poking between her legs at pussy level. At that point, I'm trying to figure out why in the hell Vivian is torturing me. A loud slap of a hand on ass echoed to me from Rio's side of the bed. Mercy squeaked. Then it occurred to me; two could play at Vivian's game.

The hand on the stomach wandered up her body, underneath her sleeping jersey and began fondling her left breast, including the occasional pull on the nipple. Another spanking resounded from the Rio/Mercy duo as I freed my left hand from beneath me and wrapped up Vivian's hair. I tilted her head toward me and began kissing her lips. Her mouth opened at my approach and we were soon wrestling back and forth with our lips and tongues.

A third slap of Rio's paddle on Mercy's butt rang out. I began pumping against Vivian's ass. As my cockhead withdraw deep into her muscular thighs her hand followed. I stopped when her fingers touched her clit. I'm still somewhat unclear on how Christian school girls stand on masturbation but it obviously didn't matter that Vivian was doing it right now – she had her shirt bunched up above her breasts, her panties around her knees, and my cock massaging her cunt.

Two more smacks echoed from Mercy's paddling which concluded with a squeal of pleasure. Sometimes those two...I guess the next step is for them to be the first FFU openly lesbian couple or a Bonnie and Clyde crime spree, based on which way the neuron misfires in Rio's noggin. As for which way Vivian's brain was going off the rails, I wasn't totally certain.

"Yes," she broke our kiss. "Yes, yes, yes," she panted. We were now rocking with some real synergy. She titled her face away from me and placed her chin on her chest as her breathing became rapid and shallow. Farther down, my cock and her fingers became impossibly slick with a mixture of my pre-cum and her vaginal fluids.

I picked up the tinglings from her cunny first but they rapidly spread to her stomach and thighs.

"Yes, oh, yes...oh, Holy God...ugh, ugh, ugh...YES!!!" Vivian cried out. More liquid sloshed against my penis – not too much but enough to make me shoot...all over her hand and thighs. "Oh, oh, oh...it's been so long," she wheezed through tortured lungs.

We rapidly put the brakes on our action and settled into a comfortable embrace. A minute later she gave me one last playful butt wag and sat up. My cock was thankfully going into a dormant state. Vivian had swung her feet off the bed, then turned and kissed me (chastely once more).

"Thank you, Zane," she smiled as she began lapping my semen off her hand. "I can't wait to try this out with my boyfriend."

Plus side: Vivian was getting the courage to get back with the long-time boyfriend who had 'accidentally' taken her virginity. I'd like to make Vivian's quality of life better. She also liked the taste of my seed.

Down side: I'm back to being a practice dummy for the ambitious girls around me. Also, she liked the taste of my seed.

"I appreciate you letting me loosen up and work out some of my issues with you," Vivian completed.

Why can't a woman be satisfied with being a total jerk to me so I can stay angry with them for more than five seconds? I know there are chicks out there that get out of bed, sneer down at their former lover, and belittle them before laughing like the Wicked Witch and sauntering out the door. I blame my misconceptions on Lifetime TV – my Aunt watches it – honest.

I flopped down on the bed and stared at the last bit of dark skies before the first rays of sunlight drove them away. Hope stepped into my field of view, grinning, with her ponytail dangling down and tickling my nose.

"Zane, I really care for you and I am saying this with the utmost sincerity," Hope began.

"You should have let Christina throw you out that first day," she smiled. "I have trained in the martial arts since I was five yet I've never seen anyone take a beating like you have in my entire life. The Energizer Bunny has nothing on your staying power, Zane. From Barbie Lynn at the beginning of the semester to Vivian right now, you just get it coming and going. I'm in awe with your inability to learn from your mistakes. I mean that in the kindest way."

"Have I done anything right?" I sighed. Hope grabbed my nose, pinched it painfully, and yanked my head over for eye-to-eye contact.

"You do a lot right, Zane – no pity party for you. I can name a dozen women who would charge into a burning building to save you – me included," she pointed out.

"Zane, I want to protect you, and my Father taught me to ignore the cries of my own family if we were ever attacked because that would reveal my position," Hope informed me. Man, that is just plain fucked up in so many ways I don't even want to get into. What kind of father does that to his little girl?

"I've never had a pet; I sleep with an automatic pistol under my pillow and a combat shotgun beneath my bed. I couldn't imagine anyone would consider himself a man unless he was versed in at least three forms of combat. I don't think I need to go into my instructions should a man touch me inappropriately, much less touch me when I was naked," she smiled warmly.

"Wait," I mused after a moment's retrospection, "you want to protect me? Can't I be the one protecting you?"

"Okay," she replied thoughtfully, "after Karate Club today, you and I can spar and if you can take me two out of three submissions, I will allow you to protect me."

Wait, I am going to risk getting my ass kicked for what? It isn't like she's going to sleep with me if I win, and I can definitely get some action with Cappadocia if I refuse.

"I'd like to but I have plans," I shrugged.

"I am sure Cappadocia will understand. Besides, I might finish you off quickly and the two of you can get at it when I leave," Hope countered.

"What makes you think...?" I get out.

"Zane, you live in a glass house – literally. You and her are no great secret," Hope interrupted.

"Fine, let's see who gets schooled this time," I agreed. "So, how many years of Karate have you had?"

"None," she smiled sweetly. "If it matters, I am advanced in the teachings of Taekkyeon, Hapkido, and Geom Do."

"I have no clue as to what those styles are," I admitted.

"A striking techniques style, a mixed martial arts style, and Korean Sword fighting," Hope informed me without a hint that she was offended by my ignorance.

I knew that was a vast simplification of what those schools taught but from my limited experience, we could sit back and discuss them for twenty years and not cover every nuance. What I did know was, this school had more than its fair share of females unusually skilled in the arts of killing their fellow sentient life forms.

Wait, was this the Hell Mouth and I am surrounded by an army of Buffy's, Faith's and Willow's? Did that make me Zander? Maybe I was Oz. He got to be a werewolf after all.

"Where do you go," Hope asked with intense curiosity, "between that blink of your eye and the next?"

"I'm imagining what you look like without your bra and panties on," I lied. I said that because I wanted to see her reaction, not because I had a hope in hell of her believing that. She did nothing. "I try to put my current circumstances in a context, no matter how crazy, that allows me to figure out what I should do next."

"I should have known that you would embrace a cosmic embryonic spirit when making crucial decisions," Hope noted. Translation: I'm nuts.

"I am glad you pierce through my many layers of obfuscations to see the real me," I retorted.

"I am glad you see the real me too," she smiled.

I got dressed, pulled out some homework, was jumped by my cohort of hotties, stripped down so they could examine my new collection of war wounds before finally letting me regain my clothing and dignity, while the ladies whispered conspiratorially about me. With the help of Vivian and Iona, I actually made it to the Dining Hall for breakfast by seven.

Hope, Barbie Lynn, and Vivian broke free and headed for the senior tables first but soon it was just Iona, Rio and me. Paige stopped by only long enough to check on our status; I kissed her on the inside of each wrist and she ran her fingers through my hair and straightened my collar. I had Rio check me for electronic devices because Paige likes me but she is in the Time Lord Mafia, as is Iona. I have a little feud going on with their leader.

On the way out the door, Raven caught up with me for a status update on our project. She'd written a beautiful opening paragraph and I told her that we would have the books from George Mason on Wednesday or Thursday. We asked how our weekends went; she went to the Soccer match up in Maryland and I had avoided sex the entire time.

Raven seemed pleased by the news and I'm not even in a relationship with her. Okay, I may be the only one who believes I'm not in a relationship with her but I'm happy ignoring the rest of the world at this moment. Once I passed the Dining Room threshold I was brutally reminded that I still had Handmaiden's Duty.

She was a nice, voluptuous junior named Georgia who was quite tall and quite well stacked. My task; to name all the descendants of Noah listed in the Book of Genesis. Every time I got one wrong I had to kiss her. I'd complain about the blatant sexual harassment but a) I like kissing girls and b) I could do without the ridicule of the entire school – check that; anymore ridicule from the entire school than what I was already getting.

My some miracle I made it through enough names for Christina and company to surround us (Vivian, my guardian, was right there too). Georgia suspended her punishment gracefully as Heaven pulled me aside.

"We have a date for Tuesday night," she beamed like a thousand suns.

"Cool. Should we bring anything?" I inquired.

"No. She's doing barbeque pork chops and chicken breasts, plus some other Southern stuff that I have no clue about what it is," Heaven informed me. "What is a hush puppy?"

"Deep-fried corn meal batter, I think," I tossed out there. "When do we go over?"

"5:30, and she'll have beer for me and Dr. Pepper or Sun Drop for you," she giggled. She was of legal drinking age and I wasn't, and Danica, our date, was a Lancaster City patrolwoman.

"I'll meet you at the car, Babe," I grinned down at her while squeezing her in my arms. "But we have to be going," I noted. Arriving late to Assembly was unforgivable.

"Zane, I've decided to tell my Father about you," Hope dropped her bomb right as we headed off again. I stumbled.

"Zane?" Vivian and Georgia asked simultaneously.

"Do you know how I say we should all live every moment as if it were our last? Well, never have I felt that to be truer than right now," I grinned fatalistically. "Thanks Hope."

Around Memselbub – or whatever his God-damn name was – I lost track of Noah's grandsons and began kissing Georgia a lot. About Using-Half-The-Damn-Letters-In-The-Alphabet's name, I caught a furtive hand movement by Rio and Mercy give a little jolt but I didn't have time to delve into that right then because I caught sight of Cordelia coming to Assembly from another angle.

I had a stroke of inspiration – or maybe I just had a stroke, because I dropped my bag and charged the svelte, sexy brunette Top Gun of the Time Lord Mafia – aka the Science Club – and it was about time I applied a fresh coat of paint (whoop ass) to her little red wagon. I pushed through the crowd of girls and got within six feet of Cordelia before I registered on her radar.

Cordelia is a quick thinker and meticulous planner so it took her only one foot of space to figure out that this was the 'he's got no plan' that she'd been told about. I chose the blindly opportunistic blitz attack because even I didn't know what I was doing, so how could she figure it out? Cordelia squealed, dropped her book bag, and ran for it.

Now, I'm not really the moron that I often appear to be and this attack was not me blindly flailing at the world. Safety laid in either a building she could shut the doors upon entry or the Assembly Hall. Her problem was that both options sucked. She'd have to push through a press of girls to get inside the Assembly Hall; I was bigger and stronger and would definitely catch her if she tried that.

Running to another building, then, was her only real chance. That was a problem of physics, crowd dynamics, and physiology, all of which she was good at. Sure, I was the faster runner, but Cordelia would break free of the crowd first, giving her a head start. The question was; would it be enough?

Cordelia made for Simmons Hall, which was a good plan except for one annoying aspect of school life – politeness. Two girls were hurrying out of the building but stopped to hold the door for her...and me. Had Cordelia made it to the stairwell at the end of the hall she could have held the door against me long enough for us to risk being late for Assembly. It was good, quick thinking.

The politeness cost her one lonely second and that was all it took. I grappled her in the hallway and rolled us onto the ground. Cordelia was giggling and screeching and trying to wiggle free but I would have my revenge. I finally got her on her stomach and her arms pinned behind her back when Vivian caught up, looking incredibly peeved.

"Okay, Zane, you got me...you got me. I give up," panted Cordelia.

"That's nice," I responded. I hooked her closest leg, flung off her shoe and yanked off her sock.

"Damn, Zane, are you going to make me walk around barefooted?" Cordelia snickered.

"Nope," I answered as I went after her other foot. Cordelia struggled but not overly much.

It was all fun and games until I tied one sock around her ankle then secured the same side hand to the ankle behind her back. She fought harder to keep the other wrist/ankle set free but I got those to. I'd hog-tied her, sort of.

"Oh, come on," Cordelia moaned, starting to get pissed.

"Zane, stop this," Vivian warned.

"Vivian, do you want to see pictures of us – you and I – on the internet? Because that is exactly what this is about," I explained. "Cordelia feels like she can fuck with my life without repercussions. I'm not even asking her to stop, only to give me a warning before she does anything that is going to make my life rough."

"Things like Barbie Lynn and me in the shower, Cordy," I grumbled.

"But it was so hot to watch, Zane," Cordelia countered.

"All it takes is two phone calls; one to me and one to her," I pointed out. "Vivian, can I have a red marker?" Vivian thought about it for a second, then handed it over.

I went around to Cordelia's face and began writing on it. Cordelia was fuming and only got angrier when, by touch alone, she figured out what my message was.

"Fine," Cordelia growled, "lesson learned. Let me up."

"Nope. They will find you when Assembly is over," I informed her. Now she thrashed about for real.

"Don't do this, Zane," Vivian cautioned me.

"I'll explain later – I promise," I responded to my guardian. "Cordelia, we are going now. Do you need anything?"

"I could use a sip of water," she smirked. I went over to the water fountain, drank some in, filled up my cheeks then knelt down beside her and let her suck the water out of my mouth.

"Mmmm, Zane spit, my favorite flavor," Cordelia joked. Vivian and I made for the door.

"Oh, come on, Zane," Cordelia called out. "This isn't funny anymore. Let me go."

"They will let you go around 9:05 when the first students show up, Cordelia," I shouted over my shoulder. "I hope you give this little exhibition some thought."

As we sprinted across the campus grounds, we spotted Iona standing guard over my book bag.

"Thanks, Iona," I grinned. "It was something I had to do."

"Oh, it gets worse," Iona sighed morosely. "Zane, it wasn't my idea." She handed a cloth bracelet made of an intertwined white and green thread to Vivian. "I'll get you a blue thread as it seems you've earned it."

Any explanation was cut off by the bell for Assembly. We raced into the seats various compatriots had saved for us with bonus confusion of having Georgia sitting next to me. Chancellor Bass was back in charge but I didn't have too much time to notice; Georgia had returned to her Bible quiz and I was screwing up big time. Much secretive kissing ensued.

Once we exited the Assembly, the mass of us disseminated to our various first classes. Iona had to go a different way than me but Rio stuck close. I noticed she and Mercy both had more elaborate bracelets.

"So, what's up with this," I tapped it.

"He-he," Rio gloated. "It is an indicator of what you've done to us, or we to you."

"Whose idea was this?" I groaned.

"Three guesses, Brainiac," she laughed.

"What does mine indicate?" Vivian worried.

"Kissing and groped," Rio snickered. "I'll make sure you get your blue strand asap. That means you've been naked with him."

Vivian gave me a concerned look.

"Still feeling sorry about leaving Cordelia tied up?" I joked.

"Our Lord Christ teaches us to forgive those who have trespassed against us," Vivian quoted.

"Wait, you guys tied up Cordelia? Where? And can I go get me some?" Rio exulted.

"She's free by now," I let down my buddy.

"He did write 'Paige is smarter' on her face with a red marker," Vivian added.

"Bro, she is going to kill you," Rio giggled.

"Nah, Cordelia is angry but she doesn't buy into revenge," I stated. "She will look for other schemes to control me and I'll find other ways to keep her in line."

"What has Cordelia done to control you?" Vivian asked.

"Vivian," I sighed, "why do you think Cordelia would create a free porn site with my sexual antics as the main attraction? She can see me perform whenever she wants, but why share it?"

"That is convoluted as fuck," Rio griped. Vivian was thinking that over.

"So she gets at you by putting at risk the women you are with," she thought out loud. "You two are playing a game of chicken. She threatens to expose those who have sex with you, and you dare her to do just that. It seems to me you two are putting other girls at risk in your simple little game."

"It is not a game, Vivian, it is not little, and it definitely isn't simple," I explained. "It is not me versus Cordelia any more than it is Rhaine versus Christina, or the Progressives resisting Chancellor Bass. Everyone wants something and most are willing to aggressively pursue those goals. I mean, you found a use for me in less than four days."

"I-I –" Vivian stuttered because I'd laid bare this morning's activities. She was saved by the entrance to my classroom. She dropped me off, then returned to her normal schedule. My butt had barely touched my seat when I got a text. Apparently, I had an important phone message. It turned out to be from the Vice Chancellor's office.

"Hello," Ms. Reveal, who – like the Vice Chancellor – was new to the school, answered, "Dr. Scarlett's office."

"Hi, this is Zane Braxton. Did you assign me a meeting with the Vice Chancellor?"

"Yes, Mr. Braxton, and you have one minute to get here," the young lady informed me.

"When did Dr. Scarlett tell you to call me?" I asked, right as Ms. Goodswell walked into the room. I was almost out of time.

"I don't see how that was relevant," Ms. Reveal sounded cross.

"Well, sorry then, but the nine o'clock hour isn't good for me. English rocks so call me back when there is another opening in the good Doctor's schedule," I said smugly.

"Wait, you can't – " Reveal got out before I hung up. I enjoyed the class while noticing that no one rang me back. I was suspicious that Scarlett was yanking my chain and no calls pretty much confirmed that. At the end of class Virginia Goodswell pulled me and Raven, my project partner, aside. After all, last time she'd seen us together, we'd had...difficulties.

"Are you two making positive progress?" She smiled to us.

"Yes, we are," Raven chimed in. "I've created our opening statement and Zane is getting four books from George Mason for us to use as source material." Virginia looked at me askance.

"Raven, this might be a good time to inform you that we are getting those books under a third party's name because Rio picked his pocket and checked them out using his student ID and password," I told my partner.

"Zane, if you are exhibiting this much larceny for a freshman English project, what are you going to do for Finals?" Virginia teased me. It was clearly too late to chastise me.

"As I recall, the Library of Congress's security is provided by the lowest bidder," I retorted.

"God give me strength," Raven and Virginia said with perfect symmetry. I may not be respected but I am treated with tolerance and compassion, which is more than I should expect.

Vivian escorted me to the second class of the day, Biblical Archeology, which I shared with Rio. At the door Vivian tapped my arm.

"At Homecoming I'd like you to meet my boyfriend," she informed me.

"Oh, great," I snorted sarcastically. "Do you think we can have a three-way?" Yeah, right.

"I'll give it some serious thought," she smiled pleasantly then sauntered off. I was left slack-jawed yet somehow managed to stagger to my seat.

"What's up?" Rio teased me. "Did Gorman kick you upside your head again?"

"I'm morally contemptible," I replied. Vivian was such a sweet, vanilla-flavored girl when I met her and now I had her contemplating an orgy.

"Duh," Rio chuckled. "That's why I love you; you strip away the varnish that clogs our souls, Bro. There is always less fear, bullshit, and loathing in your wake. That makes you something like a combination of Martha Stewart and me." I really hadn't enough time to wrap my mind around that imagery when my phone rang.

"Mr. Braxton, you are to report to the Vice Chancellor's office immediately," Ms. Reveal addressed me sharply.

"Hmmm...when did she tell you to call me?" I responded.

"That is not relevant, Mr. Braxton. You are expected here in three minutes," she declared, then abruptly cut the connection.

"Who was that?" Rio whispered because class was beginning.

"Telemarketer," I snorted. We went through most of the class behaving, though my phone kept vibrating. In the last ten minutes of class I caught Rio fiddling with something.

"What are you up to?" I whispered across the aisle. She revealed some kind of remote control trigger which she kept cutting on and off.

"It's my damn remote but I can't tell if it is working or not," she hissed back. "What is the range on these things? Mercy is over in Trexler Hall and I'm not sure the signal is reaching her."

"What signal would that be?" I said with a sinking suspicion.

"The one to her vibrating butt plug, Dummy," she grinned maniacally. She was bad this morning and this is her little lesson." She kept thrumming the device on and off.

"Bitch, do you realize with all that action, you may have vibrated her right out of her chair in the middle of class?" I quietly scolded Rio. She kept grinning. A positive side effect of me hanging around Rio is that she makes me look sane(r). "Besides, a vibrating butt plug? Why couldn't you use a normal one like every other sexual deviant – like you and me?" Rio's eye grew big and her jaw dropped open.

"Oh, my God, Bro," Rio muttered. "You are the best guy in the world. You are so right; next time I'll go front and back – vibrating butt plug and vibrating egg. I can alternate them or have them run simultaneously. It will blow Mercy's mind!"

"Don't break anything you can't fix or replace," I cautioned her. That signaled the end of class and my last class before lunch.

"Mr. Braxton," Ms. Reveal snarled when I answered my own personal vibrating device, "you haven't been answering your phone. Present yourself to the Vice Chancellor's office at once." Vivian walked up to me and seemed curious about the conversation.

"It's some stalker-groupie," I winked to Vivian but said it loud enough for Ms. Reveal to hear. "Ms. Reveal, why does the Vice Chancellor want to see me?"

"What?" she sputtered. "That doesn't matter. Dr. Scarlett is the Vice Chancellor, you are a student, so when she demands your presence, you appear."

"Okay, I hear what you are saying but I have a class scheduled. I wasn't aware that her authority would allow me to miss classes," I stated.

"Uhmmm...she has the authority because I am telling you she has it, Mr. Braxton," Ms. Reveal snapped. Vivian reached for my phone and I handed it over.

"Hello Ms. Reveal, this is Vivian Phillips, Mr. Braxton's guardian appointed by the Board of Directors. Now, what seems to be the problem?"

A little conversation took place where Vivian was very supportive of me. We even walked to my next class. In the process I got to provide a few answers to Frieda Godwin's Physics homework. From the course of the conversation, Vivian was getting nowhere.

"Please listen to me, Ms. Reveal," I interrupted as I took the phone back.

"This is Zane again. I know that you have worked with Dr. Scarlett before you came here but this is also your first week here so I'm going to make it simple for you; if Dr. Scarlett wants to see me, she can explain it to me why I will get an unexcused absence for one of my classes, she can have Ms. Goodswell approve the meeting, or she can go to the Chancellor and have her tell me when and where to show up," I said, "and that is how it is."

"If you waste my time with one more pointless call I am going to report you to Security for harassment. Have a nice day." I hung up.

"What are you doing?" Vivian sounded incredulous.

"Vivian, do you know what it is like to be the new kid on the playground and this other kid, who you've been told is a bully, is coming your way with a swagger?" I postulated.

"Not really," Vivian answered.

"Well, in those cases, often your best choice is to kick the bully first before he kicks you," I explained. "If Dr. Scarlett wanted to see me about some mundane crap, why didn't she let me know at breakfast? If it was important, why didn't she tell me what it was? If it was critical, why didn't she have someone from Security get me? Instead, she schedules my meetings with only a few minutes' notice. Think about that."

Vivian thought that one through, as did Frieda (who was a senior and a Rhaine supporter).

"If it is mundane, she contacts Ms. Goodswell," Vivian worked out. "If it was important, she would let you know...which means it is not. So why is she bringing you in?"

"My theory is that I'm one of the worst troublemakers in school and she's putting me in my place," I suggested.

"She's right on that account," Frieda muttered.

"Who else do you think has been called in?" Vivian inquired.

"Good point; most of us Christina people have or will be carted in," I agreed. "Should I show up with a 2X4 – aka Walking Tall – or a cowboy vest and chaps a la Magic Mike?"

"How about you appear in your school uniform and pretend you are a semi-normal person?" Vivian rolled her eyes and undoubtedly prayed silently. She shoved me into my classroom while I was attempting to kiss Frieda's hand good-bye. As Biology droned on my phone buzzed twice. The thing is, students don't answer phones during class; teachers do.

During the first half of class Mr. Burns' phone rang. He looked at it as if it held satanic powers, but then he probably lectured Alexander Graham Bell about the viability of the Pony Express over any of these new-fangled boondoggles – like phones and smoke signals. When he answered it, he had to shout as he was nearly deaf.

"Mr. Braxton, answer your phone," Burns instructed me. My good buddy Seraphina gave me a worried look. My phone rang on cue.

"Hello?" I said cautiously.

"Zane, go to Ms. Scarlett's office now," Gabrielle Black instructed me coldly.

"Yes, Ma'am," I responded immediately. Yes, Black was head of security here at FFU, and she had the authority to tell me to go pretty much wherever she wanted. That wasn't why I did it, though.

I did it because the woman scares me and not because she could do bad things to me academically. No, I snapped to because if Gabrielle told me to do something or she'd ram the Eiffel Tower up my ass, I fully expected to see Paris in my near future if I didn't act as instructed. My phone went dead and I stood, ready to go.

"Dr. Burns, I've been called to see the Vice Chancellor," I told my teacher.

"Oh," he nodded absently. "Do you need the bathroom pass?"

"No, I'm good," I answered with a straight-face. I headed out, giving Vivian a quick message to her voice mail to update her on my situation.

I slipped into the Vice Chancellor's office carefully. It had been the downstairs library in the Admin Building a week ago, and the VC's precise office was an offset conference room. Ms. Reveal looked to me with a great deal of unpleasantness.

"Have a seat, Mr. Braxton," she directed. I noted her name plate read Ms. Marisol Reveal and she had the look of New Orleans Creole – Haitian mix. I sat and waited for a minute.

"When is my appointment?" I spoke up.

"Dr. Scarlett will see you when she is ready," Marisol glared.

"Okay," I shrugged as I stood up and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Marisol gasped.

"You seem to be under the mistaken impression that what the Vice Chancellor wants matters to me," I said. "I don't know you, her, or her mission here, so I'm going to lunch. Give me a call when you feel like communicating."

"It does not behoove Dr. Scarlett to explain to a student the reason she has been retained by the Board of Directors," Marisol countered.

"I agree; she doesn't have to tell me anything," I nodded. "That still doesn't explain to me why I should stay. I showed up, I waited, you jerked me around, and now I'm leaving."

"I will call Ms. Black again," Marisol warned me.

"Yeah, you keep yanking that chain and see what it gets you," I mocked her. "Right after she makes me pay for my intransigence, she will be coming for you."

"That is preposterous, Mr. Braxton," Ms. Reveal sniffed. I studied her and her desk for a few seconds. I knew what was going to happen if I left and I had nothing against her cat. I certainly didn't want to see hundreds of 'Have You Seen Ms. Mittens' flyers all over campus and I was willing to wager that would be the feline's fate if Ms. Black became pissed with Marisol.

"Is Ms. Mittens an indoor cat or does she wander about?" I asked. Marisol glared in silence. "Jeesh, it isn't going to kill you to tell me that," I griped.

"She's an indoor/outdoor cat," she allowed. I went back to the chair and sat down. They made me wait a while so I slouched and shut my eyes. I don't get enough sleep.

"Mr. Braxton, the Vice Chancellor will see you now," Marisol deigned to inform me. Being a jack-ass, I kept my eyes shut and pretend to be asleep. It took her three more attempts before she came around her desk to rouse me. "Dr. Scarlett will see you now," she said in a clipped tone.

"Oh..." I yawned. "Okay, I need to go to the bathroom but I'll be right back."

"Can't it wait?" she rumbled.

"Try making an actual appointment and I can better handle these things," I grinned. I took my time using the facilities and when I got back, Mhain Reynard, my religious fundamentalist nut rival for freshman class president, was now waiting in one of the seats. She flashed me a glacial look but said nothing.

"Hey, Sunshine," I grinned at the girl. "You look crushingly devastating as always." I could hear Mhain grinding her tooth enamel away. Marisol's headset beeped and she nodded.

"Ms. Reynard, you may go in now," Ms. Reveal said.

"Thank you," Mhain responded sweetly as she stood up and went through Dr. Scarlett's door.

"So, when do I get to go in?" I asked Marisol.

"When she calls for you," Marisol sniffed derisively. I sighed, walked over to the sofa, retrieved a pillow and used it for my head as I laid out on the floor for a nap.

"What are you doing?"

"Meditating, stargazing, praying to Space-Mecca, reliving Christ's time in the tomb, communing with the corrupted elders of Innsmouth, or taking a nap; take you pick," I mused.

"Get up," she hissed.

"Not under my own power, but if you want to try, knock yourself out," I murmured.

My eyes were shut but my ears worked just fine and they told me that Marisol came stomping my way, stopping next to my head. I was gifted by Marisol with three more 'get up's which I chose to ignore. If you can fall asleep in the mountains during a monsoon downpour, you can go to sleep anywhere.

"Mr. Braxton," Dr. Scarlett shook me a few minutes later as she knelt by my side. I hadn't really been asleep but I was curious if she'd nudge me with the toe of her black high heeled shoe (2 inch) or what.

"Hello, Dr. Scarlett," I gave a lazy smile up at her. She had sheer black hose, grey knee-length skirt, white blouse, red marble necklace, and black glasses. Her glossy black wavy hair was pulled back in a spill-over bun.

A lopsided grin was framed by her too red lips (for my taste).

"You have been giving Marisol headaches, Mr. Braxton," she murmured. I sat up; Ms. Scarlett stood and I followed.

"It is more your fault than mine," I said to the good doctor. Marisol bristled.

"How so?" Ms. Scarlett inquired.

"Why am I here?" I countered.

"As a student who has had some disciplinary issues, I was hoping to get acquainted so we could avoid difficulties in the future," Dr. Scarlett told me.

"Had you told me this at nine this morning we would have been done by now," I pointed out. Before following the doctor into her office I turned and looked at Marisol. "I apologize for putting you through so much discomfort, ma'am." We walked through the door; Dr. Scarlett indicated I should shut it and then we took our respective seats.

Again she kept me waiting while she looked over some details on her computer screen.

"You are quite the James T. Kirk in this Undiscovered Country of Freedom Fellowship University," Dr. Scarlett eventually spoke up. I didn't know who that was but I had a feeling it wasn't a modern Christian author.

"Who?" I asked. Dr. Scarlett blinked.

"James T. Kirk, Captain of the Starship Enterprise...from Star Trek," she seemed confused that I didn't know who this guy was.

"Wait, you mean that bald guy? I thought he was named something else," I wondered.

"That's Jean Luc Picard, who was the captain in the second series called Star Trek: The Next Generation," she corrected me. It was somewhat amazing to me that the Vice Chancellor was a science fiction buff. Who knew?

"Oh, wait, you mean that guy that Chris Pine plays?" I thought I figured it out. "Thank you; he is kind of hot."

"No," she corrected, "that is the new series of movies, but it is the same character." I nodded as the pieces slowly came together.

"Ah, the Green Orion Slave Girl," I finally clued in, "and that black babe who later showed up on Heroes." Sensing Dr. Scarlett's exasperation I added, "I remember ladies better than I do men."

"Obviously," she noted. "I did not call you to my office to discuss trivia, Mr. Braxton..."

"Please, call me Zane," I interrupted then, "and I apologize for interrupting. May I call you Victoria?"

"Dr. Scarlett will do," she shook her head. "As I was saying, I asked you here to discuss your integration into this school so that we can avoid some of the problems experienced in the past."

I looked at her; she looked back, expecting me to say something, but I didn't.

"As the sole eligible male on campus, what do you see as your role here?" she pressed on.

"Uhmm, Dr. Scarlett, I am a student here – that is my role. Are you implying that I'm looking for something special because I am a guy?" I questioned.

"Mr. Braxton – Zane, you are a guy, you have remodeled your personal quarters into a bordello, and there is evidence of you having sexual relations with multiple female students," she responded. "How is that not 'something special'?"

"The administration stuck me in the attic, then told me I could set up my room any way I saw fit," I clarified. "The vast majority of my room is set aside for my fellow freshmen to have a place to unwind and relax."

"I've never violated any girl's Purity Pledge, though a few have reconsidered it after meeting me," I admitted. "I've been in a few fights – I'm not proud of that. I did as much as I could do to resist Chancellor Bass – I am proud of that. What she was doing was ten shades of wrong and I don't run away from a righteous fight."

"Zane, I am not condemning you for defending the women in your life, nor for having a healthy libido," Dr. Scarlett stunned me with a lack of blame being tossed my way. I worked that over in my mind until I figured out what was going on.

"So, do you have any recommendations on what I could do differently to fit in?" I inquired.

The problem was, this wasn't about me fitting in. She wasn't lauding my sexuality and she was trying to throw me off-center by the little annoying phone call game, followed by this sympathetic interpretation of my school life to date. I knew she wanted to manipulate me but I didn't know why. I had to get her to tip me her hand so I could figure out what the game was.

"Are you familiar with the concept of Christian Female Tribalism?" Scarlett opened.

"I get the feeling it has something to do with the six framed articles from non-Christian magazines hanging on your wall," I noted. "Also, you are clearly the darling of the Christian media," I added, as I tallied up the dozen other articles attesting to her fame.

"I haven't dedicated my life's work for the sake of popularity," Dr. Scarlett smiled (sure, right). "I am looking into the relationship between Jesus Christ's teachings, men and women. My research has led me to believe that women exist in a more spiritually pure form when solely in the company of other women."

"Where do men fit into this picture?" I questioned.

"Men provide the ultimate guidance, of course, as well as their roles in procreation and raising male children past the age of eleven," Dr. Scarlett related. "Women are happiest and most effective when they form their own networks and hierarchies."

"You don't date much, do you?" I had to ask.

"Mr. Braxton, I have lived a chaste life in pursuit of my studies," she answered.

"Outside of your father, Victoria, have you ever lived under a man's guidance?" I wondered. It was a calculated move to use her Christian name.

"It is Ms. Scarlett, Zane, and I have relied on a variety of pastors for spiritual guidance over the years," she stated.

"Okay," I stood up, "we have nothing to discuss then." She didn't yell at me as I headed for the door. "You've never been in love and I can tell you have a poor estimation of romance."

"You would be incorrect, Zane; I have been in love but I chose purity over sinfulness," she countered.

"My faith is based on God being love – without reservation, restriction, or guilt. I know exactly where you are coming from," I said with my hand on the doorknob as I looked over my shoulder.

"You are seeking validation for the mistakes you've made over your lifespan and you are willing to sacrifice the young ladies at the school." I was getting angry.

"I was hoping for something better but it seems like a different conductor but the same old music, Doc."

"That is not so," Dr. Scarlett stayed calm. "I am not attempting to drive you or any other student off campus. I am not your enemy."

"That is simple enough to resolve," I nodded. "What is your perfect women's society view and response to promiscuity?"

"Lust is a sin; women should resist sin as vigorously as men," she countered.

"The seven deadly sins are Catholic, not the words of Jesus," I grinned. "In fact, the first list wasn't even created until the 4th century after Christ."

"That does not make them any less valid," Dr. Scarlett offered.

"What is the cut-off date for Bible legitimacy?" I turned and faced her. "1000 ACE? Today, here, and now? Who is to say I can't create new scripture, then?"

"I apologize, Zane," she mused, "but you hardly seem to be someone touched by the hand of God with a gift of prophecy."

"Do I have to lay on hands to prove it?" I beamed. I had finally been able to interject sexual innuendo into the conversation. She didn't respond like a damn normal person – no. Dr. Scarlett stood up, walked around her desk and came to a stop barely a foot from me. I am not so easily deterred.

I leaned into the doctor until my nose was at the crux of her neck and shoulder. I used my cheek to push her hair aside and sniff my way up to her ear. She was really ironclad in her control of her passions. I trailed my nose up to her eyebrow ridge, circled over the forehead, down past the other eye, and over to her lips. We didn't kiss but I did get what I wanted.

"How about I call you Victoria when we are alone?" I tested her.

"No; call me Ms./Dr./Vice-Chancellor Scarlett," she corrected. "You are my student."

"Cool," I shrugged. "Is there anything more for us to discuss?"

"I would like to discuss my plans for this school and the role I think you can take on," Scarlett persisted.

"We've had that discussion – I chose a messy democracy over any sweet-smelling dictatorial existence," I declared. "Your belief system stands for the denial of self-determination."

"It does not, Zane. If anything, it gives women more power over their lives," she explained.

"But the basis for your system retains men in charge, with the added 'benefit' of women being more removed from the critical decision-making processes," I replied patiently.

"Don't you enjoy being in charge of so many women here at FFU, Zane? You have certainly convinced dozens of women to do what you want, even to their own detriment," Dr. Scarlett drove her point home. I laughed; I couldn't help myself.

"I might enjoy being in charge if any of the women would give me the opportunity, Victoria. Honestly, I allow the women here to safely experiment with their sexually," I explained. "Thing is, I really don't mind because I help these ladies become more comfortable in their skins, with their desires, and allow them to share things they have discovered about themselves. If I was with only one woman, what peer could she talk to? You've put your blinders on to the fact that women want to examine those urges they all have," I proposed.

"They don't surrender to lust; they acknowledge it, explore those frontiers, and then decide how to use that knowledge," I continued. "Most of the women in my life here don't lose their virginity. I think by challenging their Purity Pledge, they become stronger in their convictions. I'm not taking any choice from them; they are exercising their own will concerning their bodies."

"If you deny the male role in the Christian relationship, doesn't that emasculate you?" Victoria asked, and I noticed she didn't chastise me for using her first name this time.

"I'm not going to fall into the trap of mistaking sexual activity for true masculine activity," I headed her off. "I would like to think I mediate disputes, help with our studies, and protect them physically if needed. I don't like to fight, but I will fight to defend my ladies. So no, I don't feel less of a man because I listen to, occasionally obey, and always try to respect women."

"I see your point, Zane, and I will give it some consideration," Dr. Scarlett lied to me.

"Oh, wow...that condescension was unwarranted, Doc," I shook my head. "You would never accept that I could be the man who would alter your lifelong path. You have an unrealistic expectation of what that man would be like but it allows you to pursue your goal without male guidance and still be a good Christian woman."

"So now you think I am a hypocrite?" She gave a patient smile.

"Nope. I think you believe the theory you are selling, Vic. You are clever, attractive, but somewhat annoyed that your looks give your ideas less credence though you still use your looks when needed. You are manipulative because you are sincere and you want to keep the argument based on rational discourse, not passion."

"That would make you my opposite," she observed. "You embrace your gut instincts and allow your emotions to override what you think is the safe course of action. It is a pity you perceive me to be your enemy; I thought we could do great things together."

"You are the enemy, but you are not the bad guy; I respect those who have faith, even if it is faith in something I don't agree with," I pointed out.

"You believe women are better off without male interference in their lives. I believe there is nothing better in Creation than a man and woman in harmony with one another," I stated.

"Don't you believe in safeguarding these young ladies' souls?" Victoria pressed on.

"If the ladies were children I could understand your interference," I countered, "but they are adults, capable of making adult decisions, and you do them a disservice by stealing their destinies from them."

"You see yourself as a better alternative?" she remained serenely calm – that's so hot.

"Lady, my life is a mess," I grinned. "I have a hard time figuring out what I'm going to do much less what I should tell someone else to do."

"But you are making the decision that my solution is the wrong one. How do you justify that?" she countered my grin with a smile of her own.

"Just because I don't have the right answer doesn't mean I don't recognize the wrong one when I see it," I reposted. "As I said earlier, we have nothing to discuss."

"Very well," she allowed, "but please tell me what the whole sniffing thing was about."

"It was more than sniffing, Dr. Scarlett. I was looking for your pulse reaction, sweat, what kind of perfume and body soap you use, as well as facial tics and eye dilation."

"That is certainly odd," she pointed out.

"Well, it tells me you are a mid-thirties virgin who likes feminine things. Your skirt is finely woven wool, your shirt is silk, and your cross is 24 K, as is the necklace, with a real ruby inset. Your bra is a black half-cup, which is very nice if you are wearing a white shirt. Lastly, you are wearing stockings, not pantyhose."

"Since neither you nor Ms. Reveal is a lesbian, you are wearing these clothes for your own enjoyment because you are not interested in any man right now," I told her. "You are still holding out for your Mystery Man which is oddly romantic for someone who denies romance."

"Ms. Buchanan was right," Scarlett laughed softly. "You would be interesting to deal with."

Right as I made ready to ask her what exactly Christina said, my stomach began rumbling.

"I'm off to lunch unless you need me for anything right now," I sighed. Victoria turned me around and directed me out the door. Rio, Mercy and Vivian were waiting for me. It rapidly became clear that Rio was Dr. Scarlett's next appointment.

"Ms. Reveal," I inquired of Dr. Scarlett's assistant who glared in response. "I'm heading off to the dining hall, and since I doubt you've been able to grab a bite to eat, do you want me to pick up something for you and the doctor?" I doubted that was what she expected. She typed away at her keyboard for a few second, checking out today's menu.

"Mr. Braxton, could you get me the Caesar Salad and Dr. Scarlett the trout?" she said.

"Zane," Rio snickered softly, "how far did you get? I'd hate to have to sex her up all over again when I can go straight for the main dish."

"Smooth, Bro," I groaned while Marisol looked like she was going to staple Rio's ear to the desk.

"The Doctor and I talked and that is all," I cautioned Rio. "I suggest you do the same and keep it simple." Rio snorted and followed Dr. Scarlett into her office. Before she dropped out of sight Rio half-turned, pointed at Victoria's butt, and mouthed 'Wow' and made out the hourglass curves. She was really subtle; only Mercy, Vivian, Marisol and I saw it – which meant all of us.

"Mercy, are you going to be okay?" I inquired once the door shut and Mercy had sat down.

"I need to stay for Rio," Mercy sighed.

"Vivian, can you wait for Rio while Mercy and I take a walk?" I asked my guardian.

"Absolutely, Zane," Vivian nodded. She took a seat while Mercy followed me wordlessly out the door.

"You don't have to do this, Zane," Mercy spoke up after a while.

"Own up to all you do, Mercy," I replied, "and by that, I mean I brought you and Rio into a collision course so I am as responsible for your happiness as I am for Rio's."

"I...ummm...thank you," Mercy worked out the words. "Rio can be too much to handle at times."

"Yes," I wrapped a very inappropriate arm around her shoulder, "she can be, but I feel she's worth putting up with the bull crap. Don't be discouraged by her fooling around with other women – or men; Rio is far more loyal than people give her credit for. She may do things to piss you off – that's a given – but she wants to be with you. In fact, who do you believe she was thinking of when she bought that butt plug?"

"You?" she meekly mocked me.

"Ha, ha, ha," I chuckled. "That is the reason I don't sleep on my stomach these days, Mercy. She plays rough. She loves rough too, so I feel it is an adequate trade-off. If you want to snuggle with someone else from time to time, you are welcome on my pillow any night."

"Zane, do you think I'm a lesbian? What I am trying to say is, I think I may be a lesbian but I'm not sure," Mercy confided in me.

"It doesn't matter what I think but in my experience, you are bi-sexual, not a dedicated lesbian. That could mean that you like relationships with girls but the occasional fling with a guy," I said.

"You have had sex with me and I know you enjoyed it. You are not in an environment that allows many men so now that you are coming into your sexuality, you are confronted by women. Sexual orientation is one thing; sexual preference is another," I went on to say, "At Spring Break we should put your ideas to the test. Until then, don't worry too much about it."

"Not being a virgin would be horrible enough," Mercy related. "If my parents thought I was homosexual, they would die – or kill me."

"Mercy, do you think what you are doing is sinful?" I questioned. Mercy had to think about that for a while. We gathered up three trays and made our way back to the Vice Chancellor's office.

"Yes...yes, I do, Zane," Mercy muttered. "I am afraid I'm going to Hell."

"Mercy, you are not going to hell – at least not for what you've been doing the past few weeks," I comforted her. "Think about the good you've done for Rio."

"I am still steeped in perversions," she moped.

"Trust me on this; the battle between Heaven and Hell will not be decided by the playful use of a dildo, butt plug, or vibrator," I whispered into her ear. Mercy rewarded me with a wicked little smile. "What matters is the happiness you bring, the trust you earn, and the powerless you protect. Don't knock yourself out because you too are feeling pleasure."

Mercy stopped walking which brought me up short. She worried her lower lip as she worked some things out in her head.

"Do you think I'm really Rio's best hope at salvation?" she asked softly.

"You more than anyone else," I responded. I could see a weight lifting off her shoulders.

"Thank you, Zane," she smiled at me. We entered the Administration building and headed for the Vice-Chancellor's office.

"I'm going to have to tell Rio about his conversation," I told her. Mercy looked uncertain. "Someone deserves a spanking, don't you think?" That wonderful little lusty smile crept onto her lips once more.