SSS(SS) - Part 9

CCL House is huge. It’s three times the size of CGH’s place, which now belongs to… exterminators. Who are not actually exterminating anything because there are no goddamn bedbugs.

As Sal climbs out of the Prius, she’s struck by the size of the house. Seeing it for real brings other things into focus. Everybody knows the story about Amy, the psycho president, and what she did. All that happened here? Sal shivers. It’s creepier than any haunted mansion. These CCL girls are brave to sleep in this place. It’s a miracle that anyone stayed after what happened.

“God,” Sal mutters as she follows Athena to the door. Maybe the place is less terrifying in daylight.

Inside, she finds it surprisingly dignified. There’s some tipsy laughter coming from the kitchen, but that seems weirdly ordinary. Athena strolls to the doorway and taps with her knuckles.

“Kathy. I have a job for you. Hey, all of you.” She waves Sal over. “Sal from CGH is staying with us. You’re all going to be super nice to her. Kathy, put her in Kylie’s old room. Give her the tour. Tell her the rules. Find her some sheets and pillows. Whatever she needs. Pretend she’s T. Swift.”

Athena pats Sal’s shoulder, then breezes off toward the stairs.

Being shown around by some random CCL girl is deeply awkward. It’s only a little better once Sal’s alone in the room. It’s not bad. This place has drawbacks, but it seems like CCL takes care of it. In fact, they’re keeping up with this crumbling mansion from the Civil War better than Sal’s girls keep up with a house built in the 70s.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Sal mutters as she sits on the bed and stretches her legs out. She sits for a moment gazing at the room. It’s not a hotel room. What the fuck happened to her life? She stares at her phone, then dials Lindsay.

“Sal? You OK?”

“CCL took me in like a fucking orphan.”

There’s a pause. “Oh. That’s interesting.”

“Their house is huge.”

“Have you not seen pictures of it?”

“I don’t know.” Sal sags against the headboard with a sigh.

“Are they doing orgies?”

“Doing orgies?” Sal echoes.

“Yeah. You know they do that thing. That book they sell with CCL fantasies? They do stuff in there,” Lindsay says eagerly. “Are they doing it?”

Sal shrugs, at a loss for words. She listens for a moment. Someone in a neighboring room is singing along to ‘Fortunate Son’ and she is not a good singer.

“They are not doing orgies,” Sal reports. “I think they’re just normal people. Well, not Meri, obviously. She’s a freak. But the rest.”

“Well, that fucking blows,” Lindsay replies.