He does and then there are further complications.

"Mrs... Mrs. Pomeroy," I sputtered as the daydream I had often experienced in this very room was now reality.

"Ms. Pomeroy," Lara corrected. "But please call me Lara." She added with a sparkle in her eyes.

I gulped. A smile crept into the corners of Lara's mouth as she watched me squirm. "Château Élan? That place is quite extravagant."

"The food is divine, and their wine selection is the best in the city," Lara stated, answering my unasked question. "I can't think of anywhere better for a first date."

"D D Date!" I replied, my voice cracking.

"Yes, you know, like in the old shows when a man and woman go out together for a romantic evening," She said, clearly enjoying my obvious discomfort.

"You want to go on a date with me?" I asked in utter amazement.

"That is why I asked you out," She replied, running her dainty hand through my hair. Her long red tresses fell in her face as she leads forward. Lara was now so close that I could smell the sweetness of her breath. "Don't think I haven't noticed how you look at me. And I must say I find it exciting."

"Yes," I said, my heart was pounding like a hammer against my sternum.

"Good," Lara replied happily. She stood up and walked back to the door. "Let's go check that book out. Unfortunately, you'll have to read it at home. The library is only open a half-day now that the semester is over."

My head in the clouds, I walked back to the desk with Lara. I nodded along with whatever she was saying. While checking out the book, it seemed like she took every opportunity to touch me. Lara was constantly placing her hand on my shoulder, leaning into my side, and many other slight brushes of contact as she led me to exit.

"Be sure, and dress sharply. I want every woman there to be insanely jealous of the cute boy on my arm," Lara said before giving me a quick peck on the cheek. My face turned beet red. Lara let out a cute giggle before shutting the Library door, locking it, and heading back inside.

It felt like I floated back to the train platform. Being midday, the station and carriage were both mostly empty. I quickly found a vacant seat and sat down, touching the exact spot on my cheek where Lara's soft lips had grazed.

After an uneventful trip back to my building, the raucus loud argument emanating from inside my apartment shattered my calm afternoon.

"Why did you put THAT on?" I heard a familiar voice shout.

"This is how I dress! You insisted I put something on. Now you're complaining about my choice of attire," Akane screamed back.

"You were only wearing an apron. Now you've put on your high school uniform, and from the looks of how little it covers, it's not your most recent one," The all too intimate voice shot back.

Much against my better judgment, I opened my door. "Akane I see you've met Ashley."

"Little Brother!" Akane shouted before running to fling herself onto me. In her exuberance, she lifted me off the floor and pulled me tight into her ample cleavage.

"Akane, you... are... smothering..." I managed to get out before I ran out of oxygen.

"Let him go you psycho weeb," Ashley commanded.

Akane dropped me unceremoniously as she stared daggers into my childhood friend.

Ashley was a lithe woman shorter than the average height of her gender. Her features were understated compared to most. Her caramel-colored was bespeckled with a multitude of dark freckles. Always one for simplicity, she ket her dark hair fashioned in a cute pixie cut.

Akane hurled the first salvo. "I don't think I've ever met a woman as plain as you. You wouldn't happen to be one of those normies, would you?"

I could see the purple rising in Ashley's neck. The slur of normie used for those who were not genetically modified in the womb had always irked her. Considering that these two had gotten off to a horrible start, the insult ratcheted that feeling up to sheer hatred.

I stepped between the two before things could become physical. "Akane I do not care what I promised your mother. Apologize now, or you can spend the rest of the month back at your place."

"But... But..." She started to protest.

"Now!" I said as I kept an eye on Ashley. Her hands were both balled into fists ready to pound the life out of Akane

"Fine. I'm sorry for insulting you," Akane said, causing Ashley to relax.

As I was trying to decide on the best course of action to keep these two from murdering each other, fate intervened. Akane received a phone call from her mother and excused herself.

"What are you doing living with that trollop?" Ashley asked as soon as the door shut behind Akane.

"Her mother and mine are colleagues. She asked my mother to have me keep an eye on her while she is out on business," I replied, trying to keep the peace.

"I don't believe it. Trista is up to something. She would never agree to allow you to be in the same room with a girl that unstable," Ashley said, sitting down.

If anyone knew my mother well enough to make that judgment call, it was Ashley. She and I had been inseparable as children. All through school, we were as close as siblings. Even when she started to become a woman while I stayed a boy, we did not drift as most friends of opposite genders do. As such, she had spent a lot of time with my mother, who treated her like a surrogate daughter.

"And I can't believe you went along with it," Ashley continued. "Sometimes Greg you act like a thirteen-year-old and not the twenty-six-year-old you are."

I winced at the criticism that hit too close for comfort. "Please Ashley be reasonable. Someone has to look after Akane. Do you think a girl like her could be self-sufficient?"

Ashley stared at me, trying to determine the sincerity of my protest. "I suppose you are right. She would probably starve **** without someone to make sure she ate more than pocky sticks. Anyway, before I was distracted by your naked weeb roomie, the reason I came over here, I need your help. I've got a genetic issue that has me stumped."

"Of course Ashley," I replied. "You know I'd do anything you asked."

For a second, Ashley looked away. Her usually rigid face showed a nervous expression, and a slight blush crept up her neck. "Yes, well, uhm, this is going to uhm sound unusual, but... can you..."

"Spit out already," I said curious as to what had flustered Ashley.

"I need you to strip naked for some tests," She finally blurted out.