Get some advice

While the KDK and your phone had been on your mind, you realised you had never checked what message you had gotten earlier between your conversations with Rebecca.

“Sorry I got a text earlier and never checked it. Do you mind if I…” you went to ask.

“Oh, no please take a look” Rebecca replied before you could even finish your sentence.

As you suspected, it was from Izzy based on your earlier conversation, replying about your ‘friend from out of town’ message.

Izzy: Aww how nice. I’m sure they look forward to visiting too. Is there anything you think they will need to bring with them or do you have any advice for them?

With Rebecca at the side of you, you didn’t want to leave her to be sat there on her own so you decided to get her involved, hopefully giving her a first introduction to Izzy if they were to meet.

“So on this weekend trip, we ran into someone we knew. I know that’s a bit vague so sorry about that but it’s still a bit of a secret that she will be coming to visit us this weekend. Anyway, she’s asking if she should bring anything or if there's some advice she needs. Any ideas?” you asked, hoping Rebecca would have a better idea than you.

“Hmmm, If you are planning for a guest, you probably have everything they need I would think. And worst case you can just go to the store… Have you told them about… your situation with everyone?” Rebecca questioned, trying to word it delicately.

“...Not really. She knows Emma is my girlfriend but that's about it” you replied.

“I wouldn’t say that's a ‘not really’. I think that’s a ‘not at all’” Rebecca teased, using air quotes to sell her point.

She was right though. You hadn’t really explained the situation with you and your subjects or even the harem-like nature of what was going on. It wasn’t exactly like you could drop that conversation on her either given the more serious nature of the reason you visited.

Your fingers hovered over your phone for a while before you managed to type something back, letting Rebecca take a look and approve the response before you hit send.

Max: They should be fine as long as they pack like they are going on a holiday. Just clothes for them really. For advice, I’d say that currently I’m in a romantic situation that's a bit outside the norm for most people. There's a chance they will see a few weird occurrences but if they have any questions they are free to ask them and people won’t be offended.

“I feel like that is gonna raise a lot more questions for you but it opens up the conversation. Who is this Izzy by the way?” Rebecca asked, reading her name from the top of the messaging app.

“That’s complicated…. Sorry, I’d like to tell you more but there are people who don’t know yet either and I don’t want to spread anything before they know. You might get put in the middle of something or there might be…” you started to explain, feeling yourself start to ramble before Rebecca stopped you.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry. I’m sure you will tell me when I need to know” Rebecca replied with a smile, her hand grabbing your own under the cover of the desk and giving you a reassuring squeeze.

Your phone didn’t buzz again for the next little while and you were happy just taking a moment to relax with Rebecca at your side. Time did pass however and you saw both Jessica and Grace come down the stairs, making Rebecca squeeze your hand once again before she had to separate from you.

Jessica seemed happy to have spent some time with Grace and whatever mood she had been in before not being able to direct the tour now seemed to be long gone, instead happily keeping pace with Grace instead of rushing ahead.

The two of them made it to the desk and when Rebecca made a move to stand up, Grace waved her hand as if she shouldn’t bother, letting her stay seated as the conversation started.

“Right, that should be everything now wrapped up” Grace said with a long sigh, a weight lifted off her shoulders now that the work was complete.

“I think we got everything study-wise done as well” you added, straightening out the exam papers on the desk that Jessica had prepared.

“Great! Rebecca, with the pass you have you are free to use the gym today if you wish but I have promised to take this guy home before his Mom gets annoyed at me. Same with you Jess. Just make sure you both get home safe” Grace explained, waving for you to get up.

Jessica looked like she would have taken your seat as soon as possible if Rebecca was planning on staying but she got up alongside you, not feeling comfortable being the only one sat down when she didn’t even work here.

Still, she waited at the front desk while you and Grace went upstairs to grab your things. You wanted to ask her so many things but you didn’t think you would be out of earshot so you decided to wait until you were in the car on the way home to pester her.

You hadn’t done any exercise while you were here so you didn’t really need to use the showers, opting to just get your belongings and head straight back out. Grace also seemed to be doing the same as you saw her locking up her office as you left the room, letting you both rejoin and return to the lobby without much time passing.

Jessica and Rebecca were still there but they had got closer to the door to leave.

“I appreciate you giving me a chance to look around. I’ll definitely consider joining but I didn’t really plan on staying for too long tonight anyway” Rebecca said, directing her thanks towards Grace.

“Oh it’s no worries at all. I try to do the same for any prospective members” Grace replied, trying to stay as humble as possible.

You could tell the two were trying to stay polite by giving each other some sincere gratitude but you had noticed that Jessica wasn’t looking in their direction for once. Normally her eyes would be glued to at least one of them but instead, she had her eyes set on you while the other two were off in their own conversation.

“...I’m still not convinced about you but I’m happy for us to have a truce while we are working together” Jessica revealed, extending her hand out for you to shake.

You were surprised at the sudden gesture but you went to reach your hand out to shake hers, only pausing for a brief moment when you realised that she had given you an opportunity that even she wasn’t aware of.