Visitors Just Keep Coming

“I’m pretty sure that was it.” You answer her.

“How was any of that supportive?” Stella asks.

“Having talked to Mr. O’Brien and Connor, I’m not surprised why Charlie exploded like she did. They each have their opposing sides that the others need to understand so they can find a middle ground to be supportive.” You begin to explain.

“I saw that internal struggle with Mr. O’Brien before. He bad-mouthed Connor so much because he was trying to voice out his current issues with his son, but he needed to let that out so he could realize the poison that it was, and that it was causing him to not see Connor’s side… That it was preventing him from reaching a compromise with his son.” You elaborate.

“The same with Connor when we were talking about Maddy dating in general earlier. He doesn’t just dislike the idea that she’s dating someone my age, but that Maddy’s dating someone at all while she’s still a teenager. He still sees Maddy as a kid. His baby. He’s not ready to let that go yet, but he’s trying to be supportive of Maddy who is.” You continue.

“So Charlie’s outburst was because she’s trying to be supportive of her dad?” Cassie asks.

“Based on what she said, she’s probably trying to balance being supportive of everyone’s wishes to have more freedom and supporting the lifestyle her father set for them since she seems to really love it.” You answer Cassie.

“I guess Grace was right. She is a daddy’s girl.” Stella says in disbelief.

“Wow.” Cassie reacts sarcastically while stifling a chuckle, seeing the irony in Stella’s statement.

“Oh, don’t ‘wow’ me. Like you’re not a ‘Daddy’s girl’ too.” Stella picks up on Cassie’s tease, and teases right back.

“Yeah, I know I am. That’s why I’m not surprised Charlie can be defensive about her dad if she actually likes how strict their upbringing is.” Cassie rebuffs. You smile a little since, in that whole exchange, there was no doubt in the minds of either of you three which ‘Daddy’ is being referred to for Cassie.

“I don’t think it’s that though.” You chime in. “She probably just doesn’t like how Tricia and Maddy are going to be away for the summer, and how Sadie and Grace seem to be inclined to do the same thing in the future. Choosing to stay in this city over staying at their home with her. She’s probably afraid of being alone with her parents in the future.” You point out.

“Oh shit. Yeah. I guess I was just hyped that Maddy’s going to be with us for the rest of the summer that I didn’t even consider that.” Stella says in realization.

“At least with the trait Maddy has, they’re at least going to try and find a compromise that’s good for all of them, right?” Cassie suggests, trying to lighten the mood.

“However they’re going to handle it, I’m just glad they’re still… them.” You admit with a sigh of relief.

“As opposed to…?” Stella asks.

“As opposed to, I don’t know, suddenly turning into the Brady Bunch because of magic?” You explain the fear you had in the back of your mind.

“You’re still afraid that the app is some kind of mind-control device, aren’t you?” Stella asks you with concern.

“No. I know that it doesn’t work like that, but I was just afraid that it would influence them in a way where they were just going to be mindlessly agreeable with one another.” You explain.

“Now they're a hundred percent more understanding, but also a hundred percent more shouty.” Stella jokes.

“Oh, I think being shouty runs in the family. I still remember Mrs. O’Brien—” Cassie starts to banter with Stella before she gets cut-off by the doorbell.

~ DING DONG ~

“That can’t be them already, could it?” Stella asks.

“Maybe they forgot something.” You reply, before making your way to the door.

As soon as you open the door, two girls immediately blow past you and enter the apartment in a rush. You weren’t even able to identify them by face as they were wearing baseball caps, with sunglasses and cloth face masks to cover their entire face. They’re even wearing clothes that just scream ‘we’re trying to be incognito’ with oversized jackets that cover their silhouette. You’re a bit ashamed to admit that it was a good idea, since as soon as they take off their jackets, you can immediately identify who they are.

“Paige!?”, “Becca!?” Stella and Cassie shout in recognition respectively.

Paige and Becca don’t respond to Stella and Cassie’s shocked reactions and proceed to just take off the stuff that’s covering their faces, before immediately crashing down on the couch in apparent exhaustion. Paige, like Stella and Cassie earlier, splays on the couch like a dead body. Although, it’s hard to mistake her as dead as her heaving chest is unmissable as she takes in continuous deep breaths. Becca, on the other hand, remains to look poised unlike Paige, as she dabs her sweat with a handkerchief.

“Cassie, can you get Paige and Becca glasses of water, please?” You ask Cassie, who nods and immediately heads for the kitchen.

“What’s with the Jason Bourne cosplay?” Stella finally asks, sitting down next to Paige, after Paige and Becca seem to have caught their breaths somewhat.

“News reporters… We needed to lay low.” Paige answers in between deep breaths, before thanking Cassie for the glass of water she hands them.

“I may have underestimated the level of interest in the rumors surrounding my disengagement at Hoffman’s.” Becca explains further.

“Why are you guys so exhausted though?” Cassie asks.

“Had to walk… Some **** vulture slashed my tires… Changed into those really hot outfits from the Gold Room… Used the secret exit to get away from them… Went here to lay low… Could barely breathe with the mask on… My feet are killing me.” Paige answers, still very much exhausted, and you hate to admit that you’re hypnotized by her chest that just continues to heave up and down with every breath.

“By all means, put your feet up.” You tell them, and the two don’t hesitate to take their shoes off and plant their feet on your coffee table.

“I may be asking too much, and you’re welcome to decline… but would it be alright if I asked for a foot massage?” Becca asks you specifically, and you can’t help but chuckle as you understand why she thinks you’d be a great help in that department. You don’t bother answering her with words and just proceed to sit cross-legged in front of her and start massaging her feet.

The moan that escapes Becca after you start massaging her foot is probably the first time you can say you’ve seen her ‘unsophisticated’.

“You can tone it down a little Monica Bing.” Stella jokes, a recognizable Friends reference to you.

“Apologies. That was unbecoming of me.” Becca replies in obvious embarrassment, but she obviously stifles another moan after you use your thumbs to place pressure on the top of her foot, while your fingers place pressure on her sole.

“‘I’ll have what she’s having’, am I right ladies?” Stella continues to joke at the expense of Becca, while she nudges Paige asking if she gets the joke. It makes you and Cassie chuckle, but Paige’s cheeks get even more flushed after the suggestion.

“That’s not a bad idea actually. I’m sure Paige would appreciate a foot massage from you as well, Jay.” Becca suggests.

“What? It’s fine-I’m fine-No need for that-Hehe.” Paige declines, but she says it so awkwardly that the others grow confused why she’s so jumpy at the idea. For you, however, it’s pretty obvious that she hasn’t told Becca yet about what transpired in Classroom 237. Hence, why she’s jumpy around the thought of you touching her.

“I won’t judge… mmmhhh… if he makes you… react… like I do, Paige.” Becca assures her, assuming why Paige isn’t comfortable with the idea, but Paige just grows even redder from the thought.

“I honestly wouldn’t mind after I’m finished with Becca.” You say, trying to encourage Paige that everything is indeed ‘fine’, and that she shouldn’t be awkward with you after everything that happened in Classroom 237. You do find it kind of funny how you’ve turned the tables with her and that she’s the one that’s uncomfortable around you now.

“How about you massage my feet, Stella?” Paige counters.

“Nah. You’re going to want to try a massage from Dad. Trust me.” Stella declines, basically cornering Paige into their suggestion. She looks at you, and you just give her a cheeky smile for her troubles. This seems to light a fire out of Paige, who doesn’t appreciate how much more comfortable you are about this than her, and she answers Stella with an “Okay. Fine” that probably sounded more aggressive than she wanted it to sound.

Paige, Stella, and Cassie then catch up on Paige’s first day on the job. It seems to have been a trial by fire for Paige, as she’s pulling multiple duties as Becca’s Executive Assistant on her first day — driver, publicist, agent, personal assistant — all because Becca doesn’t want to use the Hoffman Enterprise provided employees in those positions despite her still being technically employed for another month.

Meanwhile, you continue massaging Becca’s feet, and the longer the massage goes on, the harder it seems for Becca to stifle her moans of pleasure. She tries clenching her fists to stop herself, until finally asking for her phone from Paige to try and take her mind off of the pleasure of your foot massage.

“Oh! I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to reply to your tagged messages, Cassie.” Becca tells her, who dismisses the apology as it wasn’t a problem at all, and Becca goes back to reading her messages. “Oh? Maddy’s back in the city? Where is she?” Becca asks.

“She’s at her grandparents’ place right now with the rest of her family. They kind of had an argument while they were here.” Cassie answers her, which Becca initially reacted to with a curious look, before obviously realizing something. Cassie seems to notice this too, and asks Becca, “What?”

“Apologies. I just remembered you told me Maddy had a supportive family; but if last night was any indication, even with parents as supportive as yours, Cassie, it’s not always a guarantee that arguments won’t break out.” Becca answers, phrasing it in a way that makes it seem that she isn’t referring to the traits. You notice Stella looking impressed with how Becca phrased it as well, as Paige isn’t looking at her direction.

“Well, Maddy does have a supportive family, so I’m positive they’ll work it out.” You assure her.

“Does her family already have plans for dinner? I can have one of the restaurants deliver some food for us.” Becca suggests.

“They already have dinner plans, sadly; but Maddy’s been looking for you actually. She’s been wanting to introduce you to her family the most.” Cassie tells her, and Becca seems genuinely humbled to hear it.

“What about you guys? What’s your plans for tonight?” Paige then asks Stella and Cassie. Stella and Cassie look at each other and have a telepathic conversation, before both landing on the same answer, and answering “Movie night?” simultaneously.

“Wanna watch a movie with us before you go home, Paige?” Stella invites her.

“If you guys can drive me and Becca home, then I’m in.” Paige answers with a chuckle. Cassie and Stella immediately look at you, and you immediately understand what they mean and say there won’t be a problem with you driving them home later.

“Actually, would it be alright if you ask Viv to drive Paige home?” Becca chimes in, getting curious looks from everyone. “Well, since it seems he doesn’t have plans tonight,”

“I was thinking of going on a date with Jay.”