Day Two: Evening

All five women decided to head up to the bar after lunch, Susan didn't know any of them aside from Laura and that relationship was wholly antagonistic. She really didn't want to make any more enemies even if the twins were the only ones that seemed interesting. Sticking with the crowd seemed like her best bet and she could use a drink.

Candy of course wanted to learn everything about the one woman here she didn't know. If her ranking in the challenge was anything to go by she Laura didn't have the best opinion of her, but Candy was sure that was just a misunderstanding. She also thought it was pretty funny how she kept staring at her breasts.

Gabriella didn't drink as a general rule and didn't spend much time with groups of people her own age even let alone half, but that wasn't her age any more she supposed and this wasn't a environment that was good to isolate yourself in. Perhaps the bar had tea?

Anna was still in shock at how well the shorter girl had handled her, sure her work had kept her too busy to progress past blue belt but she had a good six inches and a lot of muscle on her.

Stacy was actually in a good mood for the first time in this hellscape. The look on Anna's face after getting thrown around by her had almost been as gratifying as some of the dumb apes that didn't think a girl could be dangerous, though she'd been proving that since high school when she earned the black in Krav Maga. Still Laura's ex had some good moves on her, she just needed to get outside the mindset of martial arts as a sport and she could be dangerous too.

.

The group found Misty, Carla, And Kim already at the pub. Each had a pint of beer and seemed to be playing some kind of charades which they disturbed on their entry.

"Hello!" Misty called, looking more relaxed than any had seen her so far. "You'll have to excuse the terrible twosome but they seem to have lost their voice!"

"Are you drunk already Ms. Dawn?" Gabriella sternly asked "It's barely past lunchtime."

"And what's this about losing voices? Did they strain themselves singing?" Anna interjected.

"Trap Card! In the music center. I think. Something like can't talk for 24 hours. And drinking was safe. Can't hunt, cards will eat me."

"What? Okay your cut off." Susan took the mug out of her hand. "Just how much have you had to drink?"

Carla and Kim both held up five fingers.

"Snitches!"

"Did a trap card really try to eat you?" Candy wanted to know.

"Maybe? Hid in here instead." Meanwhile Professor Escarra had gone behind the bar and started looking around for instant coffee or tea bags and found both by the rack of mugs next to a very modern looking microwave she was fairly shocked to find. Soon she brought her former student a cup of coffee while her own tea was brewing.

Stacy and Anna had gotten a couple pints of their own and sat at another table.

"So that was something, and fairs fair I got a look at you changing yesterday. Speaking of looks that didn't look like Karate, you didn't even take a stance."

"When defending your life you won't always have the opportunity to take a stance. I've been studying Krav Maga since high school. So have Tracy and Laura, mom insisted. I'm surprised Laura didn't tell you."

"Shit, Tracy can toss me around like a rag doll too? I just can't win with your family. Laura mentioned having practice back when we were in school but I thought she meant dance or some shit. She was always pretty open with me, was real straight forward with me about cutting things off as well."

"I'm sorry about that, I always thought you two were really good together. When Laura and Candy went off to university we lost the three of you and I was stuck with Tracy."

"What happened between you two? There was never this anger between you."

"I got tired of being her shadow, I went my own way at collage, and then when it got boring I dropped out and both of them acted like I stabbed mom or something."

"You mean when Tracy left for MIT you stopped trying to keep up with her." Gabriella said, passing by with her cup of tea.

"Fucking bitch." Stacy muttered. "She acted like I stabbed mom too." Stacy got up and stalked off to refill her beer then veered off to get something stronger instead.

.

Anna watched Stacy join the silent musicians who had moved to another table in protest of the coffee and tea drinking that had taken over their old one. Even Candy was drinking coffee with her still drunk and clearly upset by something friend in solidarity. Then Susan sat down next to her offering her a fresh pint.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Do you mind if we talk?"

Anna hefted her glass "You paid the toll, talk away."

"I think we have a similar problem, we're both on the outs with Laura and I shouldn't need to tell you that's not good in our current situation."

"I think everyone can see that, except maybe Stacy."

"Yeah well she's a little psycho."

"I wouldn't say that to her face if I were you."

"Let me guess, Krav Maga?"

"How did you..."

"Just about every rich kid's parents sends them to learn that, my dad did the same. The whole damn dojo when I was a kid was other rich kids learning how not to be kidnapped. I know Laura and the twin's parents are rich so it figured."

"Parent. Their dad died when the twins were about one years old."

"Shit, I didn't know that."

"Laura doesn't talk about it. At all. But I was around long enough to hear about it from the others."

"Well I'm sure as fuck not going to bring it up."

"Good plan."

"Speaking of plans, how do you see yourself getting back in Laura's good graces?"

"Won't do you much good I'm afraid. I ranked high enough I'm pretty sure Laura still cares, so while I may not like it I'll let myself be drawn back in. Hell I haven't had a steady girl since Laura ditched me, might as well have the rebound stick. Permanently bound together sounds like it'll do the trick. I'm not going to crawl though, she at least owes me an apology. I'll make her earn me back if I can so she's invested in us. Hopefully the audience can understand that, and if not they can fuck off."

"Yeah that won't work for me. Fuck am I going to do?"

"Laura's not that cruel, her subconscious might want to make you a cow but she doesn't really. Make an honest effort to bridge the gap, get her to like you, and she'll come around."

"Thanks, if I've got to be stuck in a harem at least it's with some good people."

.

Tracy burst through the door some time later "You all decided to go drinking and none of you fuckers thought to wake me up to come with?!"

After that everyone went down to dinner together and then split up to their separate bedrooms. Most when straight to bed but Tracy wasn't tired and she noticed Susan was too restless to sleep.

"Can't sleep huh?" She asked her.

"not really, I keep feeling like I've forgotten something."

"Did you remember to milk yourself today?"

"Oh fuck! No, no I didn't. I can't get any fucking bigger!"

"Relax, we got plenty of time. I'm sure the in the bed rule is a by midnight thing. It's always By The Strike Of Midnight in these kinds of tales."

"You think? Okay that's good." Susan started getting up from the bed.

"So. You want some help with that?" Tracy asked.

Susan looked back in shock "Are you kidding me?"

"Look I heard the kind of noises you were making last time and it got me pretty revved up okay? I know you're upset by your new tits but they're looking mighty fine to me and yes I'd love to get my hands on them. And you can tell me shut up Tracy any time now."

"No, it's okay. I've always gotten a lot of attention because of my breasts, and I had to get used to it. It was kind of nice to be wanted really, but I thought the way I am now made me a freak and maybe the attention would stop because no one would want a gross cow."

"Whoa, hey! You are not gross! Okay the ears are a bit weird, not gonna lie, but your tits are fucking fantastic!"

"Don't forget the damn tail."

"I do actually, but that's because you keep it tucked down a pantleg during the day. Still the tail is kinda cute really. So do you want some help?"

"Yeah fine, if we're going to be in bed by the stroke of midnight I could use your help. It's kind of distracting trying to do it by myself anyways."

"Sweet! Can I try some from the tap?!"

Susan laughed "You are so nothing like your sister, knock yourself out."

Tracy raced into the bathroom while Susan shook her head and followed more slowly, but not by much.

.

Laura had spent a good amount of time reading this day. Shar was right, the book selection was quite good. It was easier to read than just relax, she kept thinking she needed to do something, to be somewhere. Susan had been right, she was too high strung. More wine helped. By the fourth bottle she'd given up and turned on the TV. She had to know what was going on with the others, invasion of privacy go hang. The shopping hadn't kept her interest, and Misty was just playing with her cards. Tracy was sleeping during the day for some reason. She watched Stacy and Anna tussle with interest, she didn't know Anna had studied and Stacy had only gotten better since the last time she'd seen her spar. Watching the duo rock out on the mini stage was really something even if Carly wasn't singing, she really needed to try and be less bitter about their lies. Watching everyone hang out together in the pub really struck a cord, she wanted to be there with them. She'd spent too much time alone. Candy was right, their once a month get together wasn't enough.

Tomorrow Candy would be here and Laura would tell her she was right.