Time and Trust

AJ yawned as she stepped into the hotel’s main dining room, still wearing the boy shorts and tank top that served as her pajamas. It was a large, open space with a long central table built to seat just over a dozen people.

And it was surprisingly full. For the first time since their evening drinking game, nearly everyone was here. Megan sat with Exe, huddled in a hushed conversation, while both Farras ate with Ryan. Loretta sat alone, absorbed in a newspaper.

It was the buffet that drew her for now. The smells radiating from it were heavenly. She sidled up next to Rachel, whose toned body was sheened in sweat.

“You look like you’ve had a workout,” She said, by way of greeting.

“It felt amazing!” Rachel responded, with the early morning energy only an early twenty something could summon. “I went down to my new gym. You should all come check it out.”

AJ couldn’t help but smile at the girl’s enthusiasm. Once, fairly drunk, Jake had confided how attractive he found Rachel after her workouts. As she observed her now, sweaty, with her sports bra and shorts clinging tightly to a body whose muscles stood out from use, AJ understood the appeal.

“I’ll do that.” She agreed with a nod, before turning to the buffet.

The spread made her jaw drop. Thick cuts of bacon and ham, a display of scones, rolls and pastries, fluffy biscuits and trays of gravy, hollandaise and fruit of every kind.

Behind it all stood Julie, clad in a jaunty chef’s hat, dark stockings under sensible mary jane heels, and an apron she wore over a white bikini bottom and nothing else. Her long, silvery blonde hair was tied in a braid that trailed over her shoulder along the swell of her breasts.

“Good morning, AJ,” She said. “What can I get you?”

“Uh…Ham and eggs, please,” AJ said. “Over easy, with some toast if that’s alright.”

“Comin’ right up.”

Julie moved to a large wok, into which she poured some oil, cracking two eggs into it. She bent forward as she did it, exposing AJ to a fantastic view of both her shapely ass and the profile of her naked breasts beneath the apron.

AJ’s attention was drawn by a light kick to her shin. She turned to find Rachel glouring at her.

“Don’t gawk,” She whispered.

AJ blushed, abashed. She hadn’t mean to ogle, but this place was rapidly turning into a thirst trap for her.

“So…did you cook all this?” She **** herself to ask.

“Yes ma’am. And from scratch,” Julie answered, basting the eggs with oil as she spoke. “I've been on the clock for about 4 hours now.”

AJ whistled.

“Rough. Sorry to hear they’re roping you into this.”

Julie shrugged.

“I’m getting a lot of BPs for it, so I may have gone a little overboard,” She admitted. “Besides, it was relaxing in a way. Feels like I’m doing something normal for a change.”

She rubbed the small of her back.

“I do wish I’d had a little help, though,” She said. “It’s a lot of work for one person.”

AJ felt a flush of heat at the thought of cooking alongside Julie, though whether that was her desire for her or the thought of cooking generally, she couldn’t say.

“Well it smells fucking awesome,” She said, ingoring the urge. “You should take a break.”

Julie nodded, and slipped around the buffet line.

“I think I will,” She said. “I could use a chance to get off my feet for a bit.”

AJ took her breakfast to where Ryan and Farra sat.

“Good morning, AJ,” One Farra greeted. “How are you this morning?”

Both of her bodies were eating, AJ noticed, one nibbling at a scone while the other delicately picked at an English muffin.

“You know, I hadn’t thought about it, but I guess you’re eating for two now,” AJ observed.

One Farra shrugged.

“Normally it’s quite nice. I’m a terribly indecisive eater and this allows me to try a little of everything,” She said. “But American breakfast food’s not really my thing. Too much damned pork.”

AJ cocked her head.

“Never took you for the religious type, doc.”

“I’m not. But my parents were. So I grew up without pork and never developed a taste for it,” She said.

The other Farra furrowed her brow.

“And don’t call me doc,” She said. “We’re way past that at this point.”

AJ shrugged and turned her attention to Ryan.

“How you holding up?”

“Uhm, alright,” Ryan said, looking over her shoulder. “Y’know, just enjoying my breakfast.”

Farra examined her son.

“What’s the matter with you?” She asked. “You’re twitchy.”

“Nothing, I just-”

“There you are!” A voice called out.

Ryan immediately groaned as Lindsey bounded up to them. Her transformations from the previous round having worn off, Lindsey was now merely busty instead of in danger of tipping over. She wore a pair of yellow cotton shorts around her shapely rear, and a tight fitting, robin’s egg button up that complemented her hair; braless, AJ couldn’t help but notice.

“Heeeey,” Ryan said, warily. “You were looking for me?”

Lindsey rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, obviously. We’re going shopping, remember?”

“Shopping?” Farra asked, leaning forward to examine the girls.

“Yeah!” Lindsey said. “Spoopy witch lady said Ryan needed to find their own style, so I offered to help. We’re gonna go down to the village to do a whole makeover. Hair, clothes, makeup…all that shit.”

“Ryan, would you like me to join?” Farra asked.

“I can volunteer, too,” AJ chimed in. “I know what you like, anyway.”

Ryan shook her head.

“Guys, I really appreciate it, but I dunno…” She said. “I’m having second thoughts.”

Lindsey shook her head, then began dragging Ryan out of the chair.

“No way. Shuck your buns,” She said, giving Ryan’s ass a friendly football slap once she was standing. “Not taking no for an answer.”

“No, hear me out!” Ryan protested, attempting to stand her ground. “I barely have any points to shop with. I kinda want to save up for a VP or some…I don’t know, something.”

“The points is what’s stopping you?” Lindsey said. “Fuck that. You let me worry about the points.”

“Lindsey!” Ryan said, aghast. “I can’t let you spend all your points on me.”

“Pffff!” The teal haired girl snorted. “I’m fuckin’ rolling in bonus points right now, dude. I’ll probably have covered the whole shopping trip by the time we get there. Seriously, my treat.”

“Joonam, you should probably go,” Farra said, more quietly adding. “You know what we talked about.”

That seemed to give Ryan some pause. As she examined the group around her, AJ thought for a moment that she was going to cry. But she held it together and nodded.

“Okay. But let’s keep it just you and me, Lindsey. I…” Her voice cracked a bit. “I love you both very much, but this is something I think I need to do with someone…I dunno, removed? It’s confusing.”

AJ shook her head.

“No worries. I get it,” She said. “It’s a big step, you wanna take it on your own.”

Farra seemed less certain, but nodded her approval.

“Can you at least send me some texts or something?” She tried.

Ryan shrugged.

“You’re gonna see the new me soon enough,” She said.

Ryan went to her mother, hugged her, and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“It’s alright, Lady,” She said. “This’ll be good for me.”

Farra nodded, but AJ could see she was troubled.

“Promise you’ll come see me when you’re done, okay?”

“Of course,” Ryan said, squeezing her.

“You okay, Doc?” AJ asked softly as the pair departed.

Farra thought that question over for a moment before finally nodding.

“I know he needs to do it. Hell, I encouraged him to do it,” She said. “But…have you heard of the Ship of Theseus? I can talk about Ryan making an effort all I like, but I’m afraid of losing my child.”

An uncomfortable silence descended over the table then, not broken until a more quiet voice spoke up.

“Uhm, excuse me,” Megan said, “Ryan’s headed to the village right now, right?”

“Yeah. He went with the crazy blue haired girl,” Farra said.

“Oh…I see…” Megan said, casting her gaze back down.

Exe gave an exasperated roll of her eyes.

“Oh my God,” She said, “If you wanna go, let’s just go.”

“Well, I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. Him. Or…well, you know.”

They were all turning to look at her now, and AJ only realized what she was wearing.

Loretta put voice to her thoughts.

“Is that Jake’s shirt?” She asked.

Coming from her, it sounded almost accusatory, but AJ knew better.

“He gave it to me. When my…y’know, boobs were out.” Megan said, then winced. She must have understood how bad that sounded. “Not in a pervy way. I just had to take my shirt off in front of him.”

Exe reached over and placed a gentle hand over Megan’s mouth.

“What she’s trying to explain is that I bought her a thing that made her clothes fit after her body got all messed up,” She said, “It was supposed to last a week, but when Jake was walking her home last night, it stopped and she exploded out of them. Her brother’s a nice guy and shit so he gave her his shirt to cover her up.”

Megan blushed furiously as Exe retracted the hand.

“Uhm…yeah. That. Sorry,” She said.

Loretta chuckled and shook her head.

“That curse they got you under is really somethin’, huh?”

“Yeah…it sucks…” She pouted.

“This friggin 'whole island is like the law of evil,” Exe said. “Like, the worst thing always happens.”

“Murphy’s Law,” Megan corrected. “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.”Under more normal circumstances, I’d say that’s just a form of confirmation bias, but I think you might be onto something.”

Farra watched her, confused.

“What does this have to do with Ryan?”

Megan toyed with her hair.

“Well…he said he didn’t want anyone around he knew, right? I want to give him some space.”

Farra gave her a warm smile.

“He doesn’t know you very well, child,” She said. “And you should be putting your own needs first in any case.”

It was odd hearing such an outwardly young woman refer to a 25 year old as ‘child’, but that was Farra; as young as she looked, she couldn’t escape who she was. AJ admired her for that.

Dear god, you have a crush on her, She thought. The hell is wrong with you?

“Yeah, and no offense Mrs. Ali, but like…kinda fuck her anyway,” Exe said standing up. “Come on. I wanna get off this godforsaken hotel, and you need new clothes.”

“Jones-Ali,” Farra corrected, “But for God’s sake, just call me Farra. What is it with all of you?”

Megan’s big green eyes darted between the two women. She looked torn, but had no way of arguing. Finally, she nodded and stood.

“Hey, don’t be nervous,” Exe said with a smile, taking Megan’s hand. “This is gonna be fun! And this’ll be a good time to work on our bargain.”

That seemed to perk Megan up a little. It was the most warmth AJ had seen out of Exe. Still…

“Bargain?” AJ asked. “You two had some kinda…thing?”

Megan nodded.

“Yeah. I…uh…well…I’m really pretty now, and uh…”

“She wants to know how to be hot,” Exe finished for her. “As someone who makes a living being hot, I’m something of an expert.”

“And what’s she giving you?” AJ asked.

Megan shook her head.

“That’s uh…”

“It’s alright, Megan,” Exe said, brushing a bang back. “She’s going to teach me a little bit about Jake. Just a little tit for tat between friends.”

AJ nodded, but harbored her doubts. Friends, or a marriage of convenience? She couldn’t decide if the nakedness of Exe’s ambitions made her more or less trustworthy, but she hoped she wasn’t using Megan.

Still, the girl needed some confidence.

“Well, you two have fun,” Farra said, “And don’t worry about Ryan. If you see him, just be polite. I’m sure she’d benefit from both your inputs.”

As the two girls departed, Loretta put her paper down.

“You know, Farra,” She said. “It might not hurt to do a shopping run yourself.”

Farra arched an eyebrow.

“What makes you say that?”

“Most of your clothes are 56 year old woman’s clothes,” The redhead responded. “I see you bought a thing or two, but you’re young and gorgeous now. Don’t mean any offense, but the look oughta match.”

Farra considered that with more grace that AJ probably would have.

“You have a point,” She allowed. “But unlike those two, I really do need to keep my distance. Ryan made it plain enough that he doesn’t want his mother hovering around. I see his point, pain me as it does.”

Loretta smiled.

“How’s about you and me go check out that village tomorrow?” She said.

“Hey, that’s kinda convenient,” Julie cut in. “I’m working on a sailboat tomorrow.”

Loretta eyed her skeptically.

“You do a lot of sailin’ in Indiana?”

“No,” She admitted. “But I didn’t do a lot of cooking either, and the breakfast turned out great.”

She shrugged.

“I think I’m kinda naturally good at whatever my job is. Which makes sense. They want me to this stuff sexy, not shitty.”

Farra considered that and shrugged.

“I believe I’ll take you up on that,” She said. “I think I’d like a chance to get to know you two better.”

Loretta smiled.

“The wives of the group,” She said. “I like it.”

AJ leaned back and smiled, letting the chemistry breath.

As she let the older women talk, she found Rachel picking at her food in silence.

“Hey roomie,” She said. “What’s the matter?”

Rachel looked up, almost surprised.

“Oh…I’m just thinking about Emmy,” She said. “I haven’t seen her. I know she spent the night with Jake, but she said she’d catch up with me and I haven’t seen her.”

AJ frowned. She hadn’t seen her either. More ominously, she hadn’t seen Hannah.

Hannah had been on her mind a lot lately. AJ had been the one who’d introduced her and Jake, and she’d felt the woman was something of a second sister to her. But the way she’d been acting since her initial transformation was beyond concerning.

“I wonder if she’s back at her place,” She mused. “Probably pretty tired if she and Jake did…well, y’know, what they’re probably like to do.”

Rachel considered that.

“Yeah. Those two are like rabbits when they’re together,” She said.

She pulled back her long, dark hair and tied it into a ponytail.

“You’re probably right. It’s probably nothing,” She said. “Do you wanna come check out my gym with me?”

AJ wished she could be so dismissive. But the notion of seeing the gym was a good one.

“Yeah. Sure,” She said. “Lemme finish my grub here and I’ll be glad to.”

That’s when she entered. She was dressed in a loose, flowing skirt with a side slit that left one perfect, olive leg exposed, and a simply black tube top that did appealing things to her full breasts. Her hair was piled in a bun atop her head.

“Good morning everyone,” Leah said cheerily, “Are we having breakfast?”

Her greeting was met with a chilly silence. Her dark eyes scanned the table before she made her way to the buffet line.

“Hello, darling,” She greeted Julie with a warm smile. “Are you our chef for the morning?”

Julie made a show of checking her watch.

“Actually, I’m off the clock.” She said coolly. She took off her chef’s hat. “But the food’s still warm. Grab a plate and fill up.”

She turned her back on the hostess and made her way to the table.

“Farra, I think I’m gonna head back to the room,” She said. “I think I need a bit of a nap, with the early morning and all.”

“Sure,” Farra said. “I’ll keep it down when I come back.”

One pair of eyes met Julie’s while the other watched Leah carefully as she filed her plate. When she was finished, she made her way to Loretta, and the chair pulled out beside her.

“May I join you?” Leah asked politely.

Loretta gave her a searching look.

“Well, I’d say it’s a free country, but that ain’t exactly right here, is it?”

Leah cocked her head.

“I can’t tell if that’s a yes or no.”

In answer, Loretta reached out to push the chair beneath the table.

Leah stiffened.

“Right…” The hostess said. “I suppose I’ll take this back to my room, then.”

AJ frowned.

“Leah…”

“It’s alright, luv,” She said, “I understand. I’ll see you lovely ladies around.”

She left with dignity, though the encounter left a rotten taste in AJ’s mouth. She’d have to do something about that.

“Soooo….” Rachel tried. “You wanna go see my new gym?”

“Yeah,” AJ said “Let’s go do that.”

She stood and stretched, taking one last look back at the room. It was a good morning, she decided. They were getting closer now. If the show wanted to pit them against one another, it wasn’t working. And good bonds meant the odds of each winner helping out the others were all the better. A few things rankled, including what she’d just witnessed, but she could deal with that, and everything else.

_Just gotta have some time, _She thought as she followed her roommate. Time, and trust.