Chloe Parker Second Date Part 2

Alan returned to the "bridge" that he had found with Christian and visited with Laurel. It was outside, on the water, and pretty to look at. Alan wanted that for now.

He had been by the trees for half an hour, waiting and thinking, when Natalia found him. She was dressed for a beach, though a warmer one than the cloudy day at the Atlas Hotel. Her breasts pressed mercilessly against the fabric of her top, which was slightly more durable than a bikini. Slightly.

"Who sent you, exactly?" Alan asked, his voice calm.

"I volunteered, mostly because Laurel was trying to talk Joan into going, and she was already panicking," Natalia explained. "She probably needs anxiety meds."

"What do you know about Chloe?" Alan asked after another beat of silence. "I don't know how much you've talked to each other. It's been a very stressful week."

"A few days ago, I was told she was groomed by your grandmother. It was not my secret to share," Natalia admitted.

"The secret isn't even the weird part," Alan muttered. He let anger wash over guilt. "She's into guys, she's hot, we're good friends. How likely is it that we haven't tried dating by now?"

"Well, it's not that unusual..." Natalia sounded concerned.

"Want to know how we really met?" Alan asked. "I was in the nurse's office because I was fucking lactating in middle school. I was terrified. The nurse was confused as hell. Grandma gave me pills that stopped it that afternoon, and I tried not to think about it, but I guess I inherited something of Laurel's transformation. That same day, Chloe had her first period. She was freaking out. I had tampons in my backpack, because my sisters could've started their periods. About six months later, Emma had her period and wasn't prepared either. We were two gross kids in the nurse's office with no idea what was happening to our bodies. We got excused, and Chloe said her parents couldn't get off work. I asked my grandmother if we could give her a ride home."

Alan was silent for a long moment.

"That was nice," Natalia offered.

"I just learned that my grandmother is a sex-witch who learned I had made friends with a twin, predicted that was enough to get her drafted into Harem Hotel, and taught her how to survive here." Alan lashed out. "And I don't even want her here!"

"You don't?" Natalia failed to keep herself from sounding skeptical.

"Stereotypes, patterns, whatever. Two main types of response to a history of sexual violence. Avoid sex, or do it a lot. Chloe's done it a lot. Never with anyone who knows her backstory." Alan didn't know if his next statement was a burst of courage or anger. "I hate it!"

"Oh." Natalia's voice was very careful.

"Fuck, I was raised by a polycule. Feminists, lesbians, and trans girls around a goth musician who tried to do right by them. I know all the reasons why it's dumb to expect, well, whatever..." Alan stumbled for a moment. "Fuck. I wanted her to stop. I never told her. She's been lying to me for years. She knew this was coming. My grandmother took advantage of her, and all I can think about is getting her to stop slutting around. I keep trying to get angry about the important parts, or to address the big problem, and my mind keeps circling the stupid bullshit I shouldn't hold against her."

Alan tossed a rock out into the water. It did not skip at all.

"Well..." Natalia sighed. "You needed to get that off your chest."

"Did I?" Alan asked.

"What do you want me to say?" Natalia snapped back. "We're your harem. That's the point. Your fantasies are going to be up for a vote, and we'll be stuck with the outcome. I've been horny since Sunday because my stupid new tits have a mind of their own. I'm not your therapist or your mother!"

Alan and Natalia were quiet for a while on the beach.

"Joan would have been a worse choice," Alan decided.

"Yeah, she would have been." Natalia laughed, a touch of desperation in her voice.