The 'Yes, And' Method

Indira was in heaven as she sat in Ms. Mathews' car, looking around at the other women with her. Aynsley was next to her in the back, with her history teacher and Madison taking the front. Indira buckled her seat belt and curled her toes as the car pulled out of its spot in the school parking lot.

It was technically Joey's spot now. It was his car.

Ms. Matthews, Eliza, Indira corrected herself, had told them as Madison drove the luxury sedan. Indira could hardly believe that Eliza would give the car to Joey Granger, but she wouldn't judge. That was the old Indira. The one who was scared. The one who was uptight. The one who was, quite frankly, insecure. She may not understand why the others wanted to fuck Joey so much, but she couldn't deny how much he had helped her. It had been Joey Granger, of all people who had taught her to support other women. To uplift them, rather than criticize them. He had shown Indira that she and the other women who formed their new sisterhood were on the same side.

And it truly was a sisterhood.

Eliza had insisted Madison drive, and there was no need to discuss it. They would do anything for each other, and this was, for some reason, clearly important to the woman. There was no need to question it, they knew that they were supposed to support one another. Eliza had said it was some kind of lesson for Madison about responsibility and "taking her place," in the group. Indira implicitly believed the woman, but thought it also might have something to do with the fact that Eliza spent most of the car ride on her phone.

Madison and Aynsley didn't seem to mind. As soon as they were on their way, the conversation started. At first it was simple. Madison and Aynsley talking about how weird and judgmental their friends Taylor and Isla had been acting around them all day. Indira kept quiet for that, and Eliza didn't have anything to add. Indira normally hang out with her own little clique in the school's yearbook club, and didn't know Taylor or Isla any better than she had known Madison or Aynsley before this morning.

Aynsley seemed to sense Indira's distance though, and soon changed the subject.

"So Ms. Matthe- I mean, Eliza, who're you texting?" Aynsley said, turning to Indira with a mischievous grin.

"Who say's I'm texting?" Eliza said, the composure of her intense focus dropping for a brief moment.

"Well, you have been pretty quiet." Madison said.

"Yeah, I know you had Taylor and Isla for third period today. Right Indira?" Aynsley said.

"Right!" Indira said, so startled by her sudden inclusion that the word came out sounding like a chirp.

"So? Maybe I want to try and be a bit professional?" Eliza said, trying to sound like her old self.

But Indira knew better.

"Isn't your new job to nurture and build up Joey, to help him become a man? I heard you even gave notice of your resignation at school." Indira said, eliciting a few triumphant "oooh"s from Madison and Aynsley.

"I bet you're texting Joey." Madison said, a knowing smile spreading on her face.

"Ohmigosh, how is he? Did he say anything about me?!" Aynsley said.

"Wouldn't he still be on his way home with Donna and Bianca?" Indira said.

"Naw." Aynsley said, shaking her head knowingly.

"Ayns is right, Joey lives super close to school. It's like three blocks. We walked with him today." Madison said, practically squealing out those last words.

"Well, he hasn't responded. Which is of course okay," Eliza said, doing a poor job of trying to cover up her own desperation. "I mean I get to spend tonight with you three. I love you all, and this bond we share, I don't want to sound like I don't but..."

"It's okay, girl," Aynsley said reaching forward to put a hand on Eliza's shoulder. "We all understand what you're going through."

"We're all here for you." Indira said.

Eliza placed her hand over Aynsley's, taking comfort from the girl.

"I know that. Just like I know we'll all get a turn with Joey. I'm not afraid of sharing. Not anymore. When I was with Derek, I would have been horrified if he were with another woman, but now? I'm so happy Joey gets a chance to fuck Bianca. It's an important stage on his road to becoming the best man he can be. Also I'm really excited for Bianca. We all know how much she wants this, and she deserves it. So does Donna, if Joey decides to use her body too tonight." Eliza said.

"I really hope he does." Indira said, and found herself meaning it. She didn't know Nick Fowler very well. Just that he was in anime club and debate, and that only from her duties as yearbook editor. She knew Mrs. Fowler, Donna, less. But after her revelation today the woman felt like family. Indira might not know the details of Donna's life very well, but she knew the woman had discovered that her purpose in life was to let Joey use his body for his sexual gratification. Just like Bianca. Indira wanted them both to be able to realize their dreams.

"Ugh, me too! I really hope he gets over his hangups and just goes to town on her." Madison said with a sigh.

"OMG you are totally thinking about letting him manhandle you now aren't you?" Aynsley said.

"Duh! Like, come on. A guy like Joey is the best possible thing for me. Now that we, that we both are, totally official with him, all I can think about is going on that magical first date with Him I already picked out the outfit I'm going to wear. Remember that pink minidress I got that my dad went ballistic about? And my new heels? Joey isn't going to be able to stop looking at my cleavage. I can't wait!" Madison said.

"Yas, girl! That'll be so hot," Aynsley said, a mischievous tone creeping into her voice, "But I picked up a new skirt, barely street legal. I'll wear that crop top with the open back. What do you think Indira, too slutty, or not slutty enough?"

Indira was shocked that Aynsley Cho was asking _her _for fashion advice. Indira loved her and Madison's style, but fashion was not her forte.

"Well, I haven't been on many dates, and I'm not Joey, but I think it's less about what you wear and more about what you say that gets a guy all flustered." Indira said.

"Very good Indira!" Eliza said, perking up as she once again looked up from her phone. "That's exactly right. I knew you'd make a good TA. Now tell me, girls, how would you seduce Joey Granger?"

"I didn't realize class was in session yet." Madison said with a giggle.

"Oh it always is, dear. At least until I'm convinced you know everything I have to teach you. But the question still stands." Eliza said, her tone softening from her formal lecture voice and becoming more friendly and conspiratorial.

"I know I'll make you proud Eliza. Wait 'til you hear me talk to him. 'Joey, I've been craving you all day. You’ve got me so hot and bothered, I can’t even think straight!'"

"Hot and bothered? Ooh, I like it, it's like something out of a rom-com. You're so sexy Madison, I bet he'll love it." Aynsley said supporting her friend, before Eliza gave her a look that was somehow at once stern and playful. Aynsley blushed at the reminder of her unfinished assignment, closed her eyes, fluttered them back open and in a breathy voice continued "'Joey, baby, you’re driving me wild. Other boys don’t even hold a candle to you...'"

The car broke out in giddy laughter with Indira joining along, caught up in the excitement.

"How about 'I can't wait until we can go back to your place and you can fuck me on your bed!" Madison said.

"A bed?" Aynsley said, "I don't think I could wait that long, I'd be all like 'Take me right here!"

"Bend me over the couch!" Madison said.

"On the kitchen counter!" Aynsley said.

"I'm a dirty girl and I can't wait to rip your pants off!" Indira blurted.

The other two paused, stared at the newcomer, even Eliza was a bit surprised then all four erupted in belly-aching laughter.

"Oh my god, dirty girl!" Madison wiped tears from her eyes, grinning, "Indira, you just became my hero!"

"Yes, yes, I'm pleased you three are all mistresses of the art of 'dirty talk'" Eliza said, her laughter dying down. "But if you're going to be Joey's girlfriends it takes more. There are times a man needs romance, sophistication, and subtlety just as much as hot slutty dirty talk."

Did Eliza mean to include Indira in that?

Indira had never thought of Joey as a source of romantic attention. She wasn't into guys like him. But when she was with the other members of their group, listening to them talk about him, feeling the energy of their infatuation, she couldn't help but want to join in. She felt supported with them in a way she'd never felt before. And they were, after all, on the same side. And if that side was throwing themselves at Joey Granger, then she'd just have to join in.

Before she could finish her thought the GPS chimed, and its robotic voice told Madison that their destination was on the right.

"So this is where your apartment is?" Madison said, turning to Eliza.

"Oh I don't have an apartment." Eliza said.

"Then where do you live? What is this place?" Aynsley said. There was no hint of worry in her voice. They all trusted Eliza implicitly, still, Indira was just as curious about what the answer could be.

"This is Joey's apartment!" She said, and her whole body changed as she said it. Eliza's refined erudite posture and expression melted into something more akin to a lovestruck ingenue, whose heart fluttered as her dream came true. Pure bliss.

"Stop! Joey has an apartment?! Could we get any luckier?!" Madison said her wide excited eyes meeting Aynsley's in the mirror.

"You're rich Mads and not even you have your own place. We were so dumb not to see how perfect Joey is for us." Aynsley said nodding.

"Well, he didn't have to buy it. I gave it to him!" Eliza said with girlish excitement. "Just like this car. I gave him everything I own even these clothes on my body are his. Joey lets me use them though."

"Ohmigawd that is, like, the sweetest thing I have ever heard." Madison said as she turned off the ignition and unbuckled her seat.

"I'm so glad he treats you so well, you so deserve it. You're this hot amazing teacher." Aynsley said as the four women stepped out of the car. She went over to hug Eliza and said "I'm sure Joey appreciates you just as much we do. He's probably just too busy giving Bianca and Donna the good fucking they deserve to text back, but I'm sure he will once he can."

Indira wouldn't have thought this was particularly sweet, but the other three women were so sure. She scolded herself. It was this kind of misunderstanding that had made her so judgy her whole life. It was clear this was exactly what Eliza wanted. Who was Indira to tell this incandescent woman what she should or shouldn't want? If Eliza wanted to give away everything to Joey, then Indira would back her choice. She didn't need to understand every decision Eliza made in order to support her. That wasn't what was nagging at her as they walked across the faux-marble tiled lobby to the shiny brass elevator doors.

"Is that why you were texting him? To see if we could use his place?" Indira said.

"Not exactly. Remember how I told you I gave Joey ownership of all my clothes? It's just one part of my curriculum towards Joey achieving success and the pinnacle of manhood. It's about teaching him responsibility. As soon as I relinquished my possessions to him, making him the focus of my life, it was like... it was a dream come true. A dream I never knew I had." Eliza said with a longing sigh. "There's nothing I want more than to see him grow and accept more control over his own life. But he has much to learn. That's why, to teach him the importance of accountability I relinquished control over my wardrobe to him completely."

"Stahp!" Madison said, her voice going up a whole octave out of pure enthusiasm. "That sounds so sweet! We have _got _to play dress up with you."

"Yes! Madison and I used to love playing dress up with our dolls. She's so right. You would much more fun than a doll. You're like totally gorgeous. As long as there's more than just your boring teacher clothes in your closet."

"Joey's closet." Indira said, not trying to criticize Aynsley, but support her.

Eliza gave her an encouraging smile and nodded as they stepped into the elevator.

"Precisely, Indira. Very good. It is Joey's closet. And these are _his _clothes, I don't think that it would be appropriate for you to use them without asking Joey first." Eliza said.

"But it would be so much fun." Madison said, with an adorable whine to her voice and a pout on her face.

"Aren't we already having fun?" Eliza said.

"Well duh, that's super obvi, but this would be even more fun." Aynsley said with an almost identical whine and pout combination.

"Yes, but it wouldn't be proper. Besides, you have lessons to attend to. I wasn't just texting Joey on the ride you know. I've already started outlining both of your curricula, there's much work to be done."

The other two girls deflated. Indira hated seeing them disappointed. She felt torn between wanting to stand beside these two amazing girls, and her role as Eliza's TA. It was an impossible situation.

Until she realized she didn't have to choose.

"But Eliza, don't you think it could be educational?" Indira said as they continued its ascent.

"Explain." Eliza said, not with doubt but curiosity. The other two girls were practically on their tippy-toes as they gave Indira looks of eager encouragement. Indira just hoped she wouldn't let them down.

"Well," Indira said. "You said yourself that Madison and Aynsley needed to learn how to both refined and slutty. You could help guide them in both direction, while letting them express their creativity, using your body as their canvas. Besides, Madison and Aynsley are Joey's girlfriends, and everyone knows part of being a girlfriend is being able to raid your boyfriend's closet."

There was a moment of silence between them, cut only by the soft thrum of the motor pulling the cab up towards Eliza, no Joey's apartment. Eliza was lost in thought as the other girls searched her face for a hint of an answer.

"You make several good points, but I still fear it may undermine Joey's authority to dress me however he wants." Eliza said, and as the doors opened Madison and Aynsley looked crestfallen, drudging themselves out of the elevator cab on into the hallway.

Indira couldn't bear to see them disappointed, but she had to support Eliza. Then she thought back to the car ride. She remembered Eliza's text messages.

"Well Joey hasn't gotten back to you yet right?" Indira said.

"No. I did text him several times, but... well we all know he probably is busy." Eliza said.

Perfect, Indira knew victory was at hand. She just had to reel her teacher in a bit more.

"Of course! And we all agree that Bianca and Donna deserve Joey's full attention." Indira said.

"Duh." Madison said.

"Those babes deserve a good pounding." Aynsley said nodding along.

"Yes, clearly I agree with you all. Joey is doing important work, both for them and for his own journey to realizing what becoming a man is all about, that's why I love my job. And him. What's your point?" Eliza said, as the three of them stopped outside of the door to Joey's apartment.

"My point is that Joey already has a lot of responsibilities. You're absolutely helping him by giving him more, but part of responsibility is learning how to delegate, right? Joey might not have time to text you back tonight. I know you're so committed to him, that you'd go to sleep in that outfit if you don't hear back from him. You'd probably go back to work tomorrow in the same one, out of your love for him. But that would only raise questions. Suspicions. Suspicions that could fall back on Joey. That could be dangerous. Madison and Aynsley are his girlfriends. We all agreed that they have the biggest hand in supporting Joey. They should learn about helping him take on his responsibilities. If Joey does have the time to tell you what to wear, you should 100% follow his instructions. But if he doesn't..."

Indira let the words hang in the air. The four of them were still waiting outside the apartment, as Eliza pondered this new information. The three girls staring at their teacher with tingling anticipation. When her face broke out into a smile, Madison and Aynsley squealed loud enough for the whole floor to hear them.

Indira couldn't help but join in. She was so proud of herself. She was already helping these women so much.

And Joey.

Indira's heart fluttered at the thought as Eliza opened the front door and Madison and Aynsley burst into the apartment.

She finally felt at home.