Wounded Bird Pt. 04

NOTE TO READERS: This series does contain some lesbian sex, but it's mostly a study of three young women's relationships. It's why I've listed it under Romance. Cheers.

For the remainder of the summer, Ariadne took a full-time job working as a salesperson for her aunt at a downtown jewelry store in order to squirrel away some extra spending money. Because of that, she and Amy saw little of each other. This was very frustrating to Ariadne for she had already enrolled at the University and needed to leave end of August.

Meanwhile, Amy was having second thoughts about attending college come fall.

"I'm thinking of taking a gap year and earning some money," she texted Ari one day in July. "I've talked it over with my parents, and they're actually okay with it."

Ari questioned Amy's wisdom of not continuing her education. "Really? I'm surprised to hear that. A gap year may seem like the right thing now, but it's easy to lose the momentum."

"I know," Amy replied, agreeing with pretty much everything Ari said, though her resolve remained strong. "It's only for a year."

Feeling frustrated, Ari called Amy out. "Look, Amy, if you don't want to room with me, then just say so. I thought that's what you wanted."

"It has nothing to do with not rooming with you. I'm just not sure I'm ready for college, and certainly no massive university. I'm not driven the way you are." These discussions were not easy ones to have, for there was some truth to Amy's reluctance to room with Ari.

What Amy wanted was to spend time with Meredith, if only to see what she was up to. She knew Meredith was consumed with her art projects, but she wondered if the real reason she never received a response to her texts was because her offer to hook up with Meredith had scared her friend off. Whatever the reason, with time, Amy stopped reaching out.

Meredith was consumed by her art and spent hours on end painting and sketching in her studio, creating works she might display at art shows or pitch to an art gallery. She'd already contact the coordinator for an art show that was being held at the community center sometime in the fall.

Mrs. Petrakis seemed very supportive of Meredith's talent and had a friend who owned a rather trendy gallery on the west side of town. Meredith also put the finishing touches on her graphic novel, featuring the exploits of her socially minded superheroine, Meridiana.

Amy missed Meredith's company, and for a while, her friend's absence put her in a funk. She was even grouchy at times. Ariadne was quick to notice Amy's dampened mood. But when she questioned Amy about it, Amy assured her it was just the 'end of summer blues.'

Ariadne sensed something else was bothering her friend, and concluded that Amy was not interested in being with her. If Amy took off a year, or ended up attending the local college, it would pretty much put an end to any possible relationship beyond a distance friendship.

Ari was heartbroken, though she did her best to avoid any emotional scenes. The last thing she wanted was to burden Amy with all that.

Then, a glimmer of hope. Early August, Amy's parents gifted Ari and Amy with two tickets to a very popular dance club. It was their way of congratulating the girls for entering the next stage of their lives. Ariadne's parents were not overly pleased. To them, a dance club was an unsavory environment designed to undermine a girl's moral integrity. Worse, they were the conduits to sexual promiscuity and drug use.

Alison reminded Ariadne's parents that the club did not serve alcohol, was in a safe neighborhood and boasted a sterling reputation. Despite their objections, they were slowly brought around thanks to pleadings from their daughter and assurances from Alison Calvano that the girls deserved to have some fun before the fall.

More planets aligned when Ariadne's family decided to spend time with close friends who lived on a small lake. Her parents had expected Ariadne to join them, but the club dates were for that very same weekend, and so, in the end, Mr. and Mrs. Petrakis relented and let their daughter stay at home in order to celebrate graduation with her best friend.

Alison, Amy's mother drove the girls down to the club around eight in the evening with the understanding that they'd leave by eleven and take a cab straight home. Since the Petrakis household was empty, Amy suggested that she crash at Ari's place, so as not to awaken her family. Such was her claim.

Everything was now in place for a wild night of fun, and Ariadne couldn't have been happier. It was time for some dancing followed by a night together. The girls had their hair done, shaved, applied deodorant, body lotion and slipped into their best underwear. Over that, they wore newly purchased strappy dresses and matching heels. Amy also wore her a pair of sapphire stud earrings, another gift from her parents. That night, the club was packed and the music cranked to eleven. The lights flickered and the music blared as Amy and Ari danced the night away.

By the time the girls left the scene, they were drenched with sweat right down to their undergarments. The cab dropped the girls off at the Petrakis home, which was eerily dark. Once inside, they took their shoes off and made their way on sore feet up the stairs to Ariadne's bedroom.

"I can't believe how quiet it is here. I never thought your parents were going to let you stay home alone," Amy exclaimed with disbelief.

"Well, I'm not alone, am I?" Ariadne noted with a mischievous grin.

Giggling and playfully pushing each other, they went into Ariadne's bedroom and helped each other strip out of their clothes. Thanks to their solid friendship and Ariadne's boundless patience, Amy was more comfortable with being sexually intimate with her friend. There were still some feelings of uneasiness, partly because of Ari's wish to take their relationship to the next level. But the biggest obstacle, and one that Amy refused to acknowledge was that she was deeply attracted to Meredith.

For several months now, Meredith had been basically AWOL, which allowed Ariadne to court Amy without too much distraction. As for Amy, she found little in Ari's attentions to object to. Her friend was always on her best behavior. She was patient, considerate and steadfast, and add to that, her colorful personality, impressive intellect, and physical beauty and Amy had little to complain about.

Amy sighed as she removed Ariadne's bra. The girl's breasts were simply perfect. "I'd kill for breasts like these," she stated with envy.

"Feel free to enjoy them all you want," Ariadne encouraged her friend, with a seductive wink.

The girls were now down to their panties, and while Ari was anxious for them to take a shower, she felt the irresistible urge to sample one of Amy's nipples.

"Mm," she hummed as she flicked at the left teat with the tip of her finger.

"Ouch."

"I'm sorry. Here, let me take the sting away," she said as she bent down and took it between her lips.

"Oh, that's not fair," Amy objected. "Besides, I'm all sweaty..."

"So?" Ari giggled mischievously.

"I really need to shower," Amy pleaded.

"Me too," Ari agreed. "Well, then we better get these panties off you," she noted cheerily as she got down on her knees and tugged Amy's damp panties down her legs. "My goodness, you are sweaty," she declared, as if surprised.

"Well, what did you expect? We've been dancing our butts off all night," Amy retorted, in an offended tone.

"That, we have," Ariadne agreed. She got up off the floor and stripped off her own wet pair and deposited them in the hamper.

Being naked wasn't quite as shocking as it once was, though Amy felt shy about ogling Ariadne's nearly perfect body. Her pubic area alone was worth endless minutes of study.

Suppressing their desires, the girls dragged their tired, sweaty bodies across the hall to the master bathroom. Standing together under the spray, they soaped each other's body. For a time now, Amy had been entertaining the possibility of fooling around with one of her friends, but with Meredith clearly uninterested, Amy turned her attention to the one person who would welcome the attention.

With the fall looming ever closer, Amy knew time was not on her side. But it had been a wonderful night, and the fact they had the whole house to themselves pretty much sealed the deal for her.

"Here, let me wash you," Amy whispered as she squeezed liquid soap onto her wash cloth. She began to lightly slide her wash cloth across Ariadne's tummy. The girl was so sexy that Amy felt privileged to be able to soap her friend.

In response, Ariadne eased her legs further apart. Feeling a surge of confidence, Amy knelt down on the tiled basin and took in the sight of her girlfriend's sex. Her patch of dark pubic hair was fairly expansive, but neatly managed. And her labia were also a rather darkly tinged color. They were thick too, drooping between her thighs.

During the evening, Amy had found herself thinking ahead to this moment, knowing that the whole evening was a prelude to the girls coming back to Ariadne's and being intimate. Unlike the evening of their night swim, this encounter seemed laden with more significance.

Ariadne had been very patient with Amy, and the girls couldn't have asked for a more perfect night. There was no reason for Amy not to enjoy herself. After all, the planets were aligned. It was also a chance for Amy to push her boundaries. And what better way to do that than with someone she trusted and felt safe with.

Having finished soaping Ariadne's legs and feet, Amy leaned in and planted a soft kiss at the apex of her sex. Amy could tell that Ari had done some careful manicuring of the area, no doubt in anticipation of their romantic evening together.

Amy planted more kisses on Ari's mound before kissing her way down her left thigh.

"Mm," Ariadne hummed, her fingers toying with Amy's hair.

Amy liked the sound of that hum, and gathering her courage, she leaned in and ran the flat of her tongue up the length of Ari's slit. It felt soft and rubbery beneath her tongue, though there wasn't much of a taste, since water was cascading down Ari's body.

Ariadne's hands had been pressed against the shower walls when she called out for Amy to stop. "Wait," Ari said. Amy looked up and waited as Ari turned off the taps.

"There, how's that?"

"Better," Amy agreed. Amy resumed her oral attentions, mostly running her tongue along the length of Ari's slit. As she worked from her knees, Ariadne voiced a barely audible "thank you." Her gratitude was meant to dispel any doubts Amy might still be harboring.

This was an important moment for Ariadne; she had never received oral from anyone. For the first time in her life, someone was exploring her intimate places, and who better than her longtime crush and best friend.

Feeling that Ari was suitably soft and slick, Amy carefully inserted an index finger between her girlfriend's vaginal lips and up into the tight, spongy passage. There was just enough moisture to make the penetration easy, and Ari released a long sigh of gratitude as Amy's finger began sliding in and out. Ever so gently, Amy picked up the pace. When she felt Ari was slick enough, she added a second finger, and began thrusting into Ari's passage as fast and hard as she could.

To Amy's surprise, Ariadne's end came quickly. "Oh, shit, I'm going to cum," Ariadne warned.

Acting on instinct, Amy gently flicked at the clitoral hood and partially exposed pink button with the tip of her tongue. As she teased the area with her tongue, her fingers continued to twist and slide. Her pace seemed perfectly gauged, and Ari was releasing a series of short 'oh's' as she drew closer.

The end was sudden and intense. "Uh!" Ariadne grunted as she climaxed. She felt a rush of warmth escaping from within.

Amy was fascinated by the fluid that Ari had released, most of it ending up on her hand. When it was over, Amy wearily got up off her knees and beamed a smile at her friend. Still breathing hard, Ariadne threw her arms around Amy and kissed her hard on the mouth.

"I am so going to do you, but let's save it for the bedroom," Ari suggested. "Here," she said, turning the taps back on. They washed away the mess and toweled themselves dry.

Back in Ariadne's bedroom, Ari lit a candle and they slipped naked into Ari's bed. Ari wasted no time planting a deep, lingering kiss on Amy's mouth. Amy was not an experienced kisser, but Ari's lips were soft and gentle and very much to her liking.

The sheets were cool and soft and Amy felt quite relaxed as Ari's mouth went exploring. The feel of Ariadne's lips on her face and neck, and her warm naked body pressed to her excited Amy in ways that had her whole body, right down to her toes, buzzing.

An internal shift was taking place. Amy's jitters were gone. Being sexually intimate with Ari wasn't making her nervous, like it did the last time. She felt calm, and at ease with her friend.

Eventually, Ari's kisses ceased, and Amy listened to the sound of their breathing as they looked at each other in the dim evening light.

"I'm enjoying this night with you, so much, Amy. Especially that little treat back in the shower," Ari added, with a sly grin.

"Glad you liked it. Sorry it took me so long..."

"Hey, it's all good. And the night is still young." And with that, she returned to kissing her way down Amy's body.

Amy moved her legs apart and opened herself up so Ari could stretch out between her thighs. Amy knew Ari wanted to go down on her, and there was no reason to deny Ari that opportunity. Right?

"Mm," Amy hummed as her friend's agile tongue began licking and lapping at her sex. When Ari used her lips to tug at her folds, Amy felt a spike of arousal. "Oh my," she gasped.

Ari's oral ministrations were now brimming with confidence, and Amy felt fortunate to be on the receiving end of such loving attention.

Other than the wet sounds of Ariadne's busy mouth, the house seemed exceptionally quiet. It was not often that Ari's whole family was away, and not lurking about.

"Oh," Amy sighed as her pussy began to throb with need. Part of her wanted to moan more loudly, but she wasn't sure she was ready for cutting loose. She felt the need to experience the pleasure in a controlled, dignified manner. Easier said than done. It was becoming more difficult to control herself as Ari's lips and tongue brought her closer and closer to the brink of a wonderful climax. When Ari's tongue started fluttering between her labia, she wanted to scream. She knew she wouldn't last long.

Amy was so close... and her groans of pleasure were growing in pitch and volume. She couldn't help it. Ari was just too damn good! Amy could no longer hold herself back. "Oh my god!" she cried out as she spurted into her girlfriend's mouth.

Astonished by the intensity and duration of the pleasure, Amy flexed her muscles in an effort to extract every ounce of pleasure. More spasms followed. When it was over, Amy felt unable to move.

Ari crawled up to lie alongside her. The girls drew together in an embrace and after cuddling for a bit, drifted off to sleep, still locked in each other's arms.

=============

The next morning found the girls still naked in bed. The air was redolent and the bedcovers were half on the floor. Ari was on her back with an arm lying across her eyes. Amy was on her side with a leg and arm straddling her friend's naked form. And her face was nestled in the crook of Ari's neck.

The girls were so dead to the world that they never heard the front door open or the footsteps on the stairs. It was only at the sound of the bedroom door creaking open, that Amy awoke. Opening her sleepy eyes, she glanced toward the bedroom door where, to her horror, Mrs. Petrakis stood gawking in horror.

To others, seeing these two girls lovingly embracing in bed would be something to admire, even celebrate. But that was not Mrs. Petrakis's way.

The arrival of Ariadne's mother rudely jogged Amy from her sleepy state. She gasped, "Mrs. Petrakis?"

The look on the woman's face was a strange mix of confusion, disgust and fascination.

"What's going on in here?" Ari's mother asked. "What are you two doing without your clothes on? Ari!" she called out, much louder.

"Huh... what...?" came her daughter's sleepy reply.

Ari raised her head and looked over at Amy. When she saw Amy's terror-stricken eyes staring at a spot behind her, she swiveled her head around to find her mother standing just inside the door, her face contorted in anguish.

Ari's first impulse was to ask her mother what she was doing home. What the girls couldn't know is that Mrs. Petrakis had not been feeling well, and finagled a ride back to town from one of her relatives. But there was no room for questions.

"Get out!" Mrs. Petrakis hollered at Amy. "Get out of here, right now!"

"Mom!" Ari objected, sitting up so that her bare breasts were on full display.

"Shut your mouth, Ari! Move it, Amy. Leave! Go!"

Even as Ari attempted to intervene, Amy scurried naked from the bed and began frantically gathering up her clothing. It wasn't easy, for the girls had left a trail from the bathroom to the bedroom.

It's difficult to convey the unpleasantness that followed. To say that Mrs. Petrakis' behavior was unseemly, would be letting her off easy. That her daughter would lie with another woman rubbed against everything she'd been taught to believe was right and true. Making sense of the situation was beyond her narrow way of processing the world. There was no attempt at reason, no compassion or understanding, no 'ah hah' moment or change of heart. Her daughter's pleadings went unheeded. Confusion, morphed into anger.

Though Amy was able to avoid the worst of this disturbing scene between mother and daughter, she could hear their shouting as she exited the house. She made it outside to the curb in record time and waited for her father to come pick her up.

What Amy later learned from Ariadne is that she did her best to downplay what happened. She never once admitted to her parents that she preferred females. Instead, she argued that she and Amy hadn't done anything wrong. They'd just been a little careless, that was all.

On the ride home, Amy did her best to relay to her father what had happened, but it required a more thorough family discussion with both parents. Amy shared with her parents her side of the story. She did her best to explain that while Ariadne was definitely gay, she wasn't sure about her orientation, and was still figuring it out.

Naturally, Amy's parents were surprised to learn that their daughter had been having sex with Ariadne, but they didn't get angry, or badger her with questions. They took it all in, and did their best not to pass judgment. Alison knew how important it was to actively listen and give her daughter space. If her daughter's sexual identity was in flux, the last thing she wanted was to squelch or negatively influence that process.

Unfortunately, Ariadne's parents were not nearly as understanding or emotionally equipped to handle the situation. Out of a need to reframe their daughter's behavior, and Ariadne's insistence that she wasn't into women, her family placed the blame squarely on Amy. When Mrs. Petrakis called Amy's parents and attempted to pin the blame on their daughter, they weren't buying any of it.

Alison Calvano artfully defended her daughter, and even tried to reason with Mrs. Petrakis, but it did not go well. Ariadne's parents actually forbade Amy from seeing their daughter.

The Calvano's felt terrible that these two girls who had been friends for so long and cared so much for each other were now being kept asunder. It was an injustice by any standard; legal, moral or otherwise.

Amy felt terrible. She texted Ari to ask how she was, and got a couple of replies. First, "I'm coping" and then an evasive, "Not now."

For days, Amy replayed that fateful evening, from the clubbing up until next morning's outburst. They were just two friends who happened to end up in bed together. And what's the big deal with sleeping in the nude? Ari's parents are Greek for Pete's sake! The ancient Greeks had no problems with nudity. And what if Ariadne is into women? Love is love, right?

Amy hated that her friend was denying such an important part of who she was, and yet, she understood Ariadne's need to keep her wishes hidden. The fallout just wasn't worth it.

==========

A week later, as Amy sat at home alone reading, and her parents were out shopping, there sounded a knock at the front door. Setting down her book, she ran to the door and opened it. It was Meredith. She was wearing a flowing long-sleeved top over a pair of gray sweatpants that were splattered with paint.

"Hey, stranger," Amy greeted her friend. "Been painting, I see." To Amy, it looked as if more of the paint had ended up on her friend than on any canvas.

"You know it," Meredith beamed. "Getting ready for the community art show. You're coming right?"

"Of course, I am," Amy assured her friend.

Meredith's face was glowing. She always looked happiest when she was immersed in her art. To Amy, she really did look as if she were in some altered state of bliss.

"This is for you," Meredith said, handing Amy a colorful card. "It's an invite to the show."

There was clearly no need for an invite as the show was open to the public and would be on display for a month. But the gesture was heartfelt, and vintage Meredith.

Amy studied the card. It was an abstract collage of paper. "It's beautiful. I take it, you made this?"

"Of course," Meredith replied, looking as if she'd just been asked the dumbest question ever. "I'm only making them for a few people. You know, the ones I care about." She flashed Amy a warm smile.

"Does Ari get an invite?"

Meredith found Amy's words odd. "Of course, she gets an invite. I already have one made up for her. If you want, you can give it to her," she suggested. "I figured you two would be coming together," she added, with a wink.

Meredith hadn't gotten word about the 'incident.' Few people had. "Uh, yeah. Sure..." Amy lied. They would both be coming to the opening, but just not together.

"When do you leave for school?" Meredith asked. Another subject Meredith hadn't been brought up to speed on.

"I've decided not to attend University this fall. I'm thinking of pursuing a psyche degree at the local college, and live here at home. It'll be cheaper and the college program is highly rated."

"So, you won't be rooming with Ari, then?"

"Doesn't look like it."

"Well, I think it's a good plan, and I'll get to see more of you. Hey, listen, why don't you drop by tonight? I'll give you Ari's invite and we can catch up. I haven't seen you in a while."

"Uh, yeah, I'd like that. What time?"

"Seven?"

"Uh, sure. Okay." Amy was always surprised whenever Meredith reached out to her. The past few weeks, she'd hardly seen her. It was as if Amy didn't even exist. Of course, Meredith being Meredith, she mostly spent her time locked in her studio. It seemed a bit obsessive, but she had to admire Meredith's dedication to her craft. And she was seriously gifted.

Of course, Meredith never did take her up on her offer of no-strings sex, but that was so long ago, it was hardly worth thinking about, especially since her recent escapades with Ari, which turned out to be better than she'd imagined. That is, until it all went to shit.

Amy noticed that Meredith was squirming where she stood. She seemed a bit uncomfortable. "Is there something wrong?" Amy asked.

Meredith first looked away, then down before reestablishing eye contact. "I do want to catch up, that's very important to me. But there's another reason I'd like to see you this evening. It's a sort of a huge favor, but it would really help me out."

"Sure... what is it?" Amy asked, intrigued by this mysterious ask.

"I'd like you to be my bestie. Just until my dad leaves. He's stopping by this evening."

"I don't understand."

"Basically, my mom's visiting a friend of hers who's going through some stuff, and my father asked me if he could swing by. Says he has an early birthday present for me. Never mind that my birthday isn't for another month." She seemed to find the situation somewhat amusing, though she was obviously wary, too.

"So, what do you want me to do?"

"Just come hang with me. I'll feel safer with you there."

Amy felt a chill envelop her body. Safer? How safe would they be? Her parents weren't around, so what could she possibly do if her father tried anything, or things turned ugly? She couldn't reasonably imagine that it would. But still...

"Okay, sure, I'll be your wingman."

Amy let her parents know that she planned to visit with Meredith after dinner. She had her phone and it was only next door, so it didn't seem that big of a deal. For some reason, she decided to wear a dress. It made sense at the time, but when she arrived, she found Meredith sitting on the stoop. She was clad in a plaid shirt, and jeans, and smoking a cigarette.

Amy hated to see Meredith smoking, but she was nervous and deserved a little slack. Still, choosing to wear a dress now seemed a bad idea.

"Geeze Meredith, I'm way overdressed," she complained. "I'm going to head back home and change."

"No, don't do that. You look nice. I'm sorry, I should have told you to dress casually," Meredith apologized, exhaling smoke and stubbing out her cigarette. "I thought if I dressed up, it might send the wrong message, you know? But seriously, if it makes you uncomfortable, you can go back and change." Amy could see that Meredith was trying her best to be nice to her.

"No, that's okay. You're the one we need to worry about."

Meredith snorted in amusement as she stood up. The girls went inside and sat in the living room catching up on Amy's decision to live at home, and Meredith's upcoming art show at the community center.

"Can I see some of what you're working on for the show?" Amy asked, hoping for a sneak preview.

Meredith demurred. "I'd rather you wait. I've a few surprises that I don't want you to see yet. So, with you staying here and Ari heading off to the University, are you two still on good terms?"

"Pretty much," Amy said, which was true, for in spite of the traumatic outing, they were still pretty tight.

"That's good to hear. She's a good person, I like her."

"Me too. And what about you? You interested in anyone?" Amy asked, ready to move on from Ari.

"Not really. And as you should know, I don't do relationships."

"Oh yeah, right. You've got your art." Amy noted, wondering if Meredith would forever remain single.

"Nothing wrong with that," came Meredith's crisp reply.

When the doorbell rang around eight, it literally made Amy's heart jump. She could see Meredith's whole demeanor change as she made for the door. She felt sorry for her and hoped she could help her through this ordeal.

"Hey, baby," her dad exclaimed as he gave Meredith a bear hug. The man was large and exuded a tremendous amount of masculine energy. It was quickly apparent to Amy that he could be imposing, if he chose to be.

Meredith's dad then noticed Amy lurking in the hall. "Who do we have here?" he asked, appearing friendly, though Amy didn't miss his initial frown upon first seeing her.

"This is my girlfriend, Amy," Meredith replied cheerily. She then walked over and gave Amy a loving peck on the cheek. "Sweetheart, this is my father."

"Please call me, Jacob," he said extending his hand for Amy to shake. "I didn't realize you'd have a friend over," he observed, clearly uncomfortable. "I'm sorry to barge in."

"That's okay. I wanted you to meet her. Amy and I have been dating for a couple of months now."

Dating? Amy was as surprised by the news as Meredith's father, but she managed to maintain her composure. Clearly, Meredith was suggesting they were a couple to keep her father at bay.

Jacob Addison eyed Amy carefully, as if he were sizing up his opposition. If Amy was there to help matters, it didn't feel like it.

"So, you said you had an early birthday gift for me?" Meredith asked her father. "You know it's not until November."

"Uh yeah, I know. It doesn't have to be a birthday present. I just wanted to do something special for you. I've been so busy lately, mostly on the road."

"Thanks. I appreciate you thinking of me. Mom told me that you and Chloe split up."

"Yeah, well, you know my track record with women," he joked. "Anyway, I hope you like the gift." He reached into a bag and pulled out a box neatly wrapped in shiny white paper with satiny red ribbons.

"Do not tell me you wrapped this," Meredith joked, knowing he had neither the patience or the skill.

"You know me better than that. I had one of the staffers at the store do it for me. Cute girl." Her father smiled, but Amy could tell it was faked. She also felt his comment about the salesgirl was out of line, but Meredith ignored it.

"Hmmm, I wonder what it could be," Meredith said to herself as she carefully removed the ribbons and undid the taped flaps of folded paper.

"You don't need to open it now," he said, actually reaching out to take back the gift.

"But I want to," Meredith countered, keeping the box away from her father's reach.

Her dad laughed, but it was forced. Amy could tell that he was nervous. Meredith began carefully untying the ribbon.

"It's not a bomb, Meredith. Tear it open, the way did when you were a little child," he joked.

Meredith returned a smug look. "I want to save the ribbons and paper. They might come in handy for a collage or something."

"You are so talented," Amy gushed, taking advantage of her designated role.

Meredith had actually forgotten that Amy was in the room, but quickly caught herself and leaned over to give Amy a peck on the lips before returning to her gift box. While Amy knew it was an act, it was fun to pretend.

After removing the lid, Amy watched Meredith open the paper and stare dumbly at the contents. She reached in and pulled out a black diaphanous nightie.

Amy couldn't believe that Meredith's father would purchase his daughter intimate lingerie. It was totally inappropriate. For the briefest moment, a dark cloud passed over Meredith's face, but it quickly evaporated as she raised her face and beamed a smile at her father.

"This is beautiful. Thanks so much, Dad."

Before her father could reply, Amy jumped in. "I sure look forward to seeing you in that," she said, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"I'll model it for you later," Meredith replied in a suggestive tone. "After Dad leaves," she said, looking over at him. The look that passed between them was difficult to decipher, but it wasn't loving.

"Shall I get you something to drink?" Meredith asked her father, getting up and taking the lingerie with her.

"No, don't bother," her father said, rising abruptly. "I need to head out. I've a long day tomorrow and don't want to overstay my welcome. Glad you like the gift, honey. It was nice meeting you, Amy," Mr. Addison said, flashing another fake smile her way as he moved to Meredith to say goodbye.

Amy could sense his wish to engage in a friendly goodbye, but knew he couldn't with Amy in the room. Having Amy present was a brilliant move on Meredith's part, and Amy was fully into her role.

As her father stepped closer, Amy saw Meredith clutch the nightie to her chest in a defensive posture, her hands balled into fists. Mr. Addison stood there for a moment before taking hold of her wrists and pulling them away from her body. He didn't say a word as he stared at them, covered by the sleeves of her shirt. After a few moments, he released them, took hold of her shoulders and planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. With that, he took his leave.

Once his car was heard leaving the drive and heading down the street, Meredith collapsed on the sofa and stared up at the ceiling, her hands still clutching the lingerie.

"Are you okay?" Amy asked, for lack of anything meaningful to say. Meredith nodded, though Amy could see that she wasn't. "You want me to stay with you for bit?"

Meredith didn't respond at first, but eventually shook her head 'no.'

"Are you sure? What if he comes back?" Amy asked worriedly.

"He won't." She then turned her head and stared at Amy. "Thanks so much for being here," she said, breathing more freely. Her face registered a hint of shame, and it reminded Amy of why she was here in the first place.

"Sure. I just wish you had told me what was up," Amy complained. "I could have been better prepared."

"Better prepared?" Meredith asked, slightly confused.

"Yeah, instead of dressing up like this, I could have come out of the bedroom wearing only a towel, and with my hair all tousled..."

Amy's humor worked. Meredith's mood brightened instantly. "That would have opened some eyes! Look, I'm sorry I wasn't upfront with you, but I needed you here, and I was afraid if I told you what I wanted, you might have said 'no'."

"I wouldn't have said 'no'," Amy assured her friend.

"You were great, by the way," she added, giving her friend's arm an affectionate squeeze.

"I just pretended you were my sweetie. Wasn't too difficult."

One corner of Meredith's mouth attempted an appreciative smile in response to Amy's tender compliment. But Amy was troubled by this twisted, dangerous game the two of them had just engaged in.

"Meredith, you can't keep playing games with him. You need to tell someone what's going on!"

"It's not that easy," Meredith replied, shaking her head. She was clearly frustrated. "I don't want to go down that road. Look, I'm nineteen, for fuck's sake. I'm not a minor!"

"What does that have to do with it? This has been going on for years. He gave you lingerie, Meredith!"

Meredith didn't reply. She just sat there, staring at the undergarment. It was clear to Amy that Meredith liked the gift. It was beautiful, but that wasn't the point!

"What are you going to do?" Amy pressed.

She shrugged. "I'll figure something out." Meredith moved close to Amy. Taking her hands, she said in the softest of voices, "Thanks for being here. It meant a lot to me."

Amy was moved by Meredith's words, and could tell that Meredith was suppressing her emotions. She wasn't always sure about Meredith's intentions, but right then, she knew she was being sincere. And she was worried.

"What he's doing to you is wrong. I hate seeing you this way." Amy could feel her emotions welling up.

Meredith smiled. "I hate it, too. Still, it helps knowing you're looking out for me," she replied affectionately.

Suddenly, Amy felt the urge to tell her about Ariadne. "Uh, look, Meredith, you probably haven't heard, but a couple of week ago, Ari and I got busted by her mother. She caught us in bed together."

"Holy shit!" Meredith exclaimed, her face lighting up with amusement. "Were you actually having sex when she caught you? Oh, I would have loved to have been there for that!"

"No! we were sleeping in her bed, that's all."

"So why all the fuss, what's the big deal?"

"Well, we were naked at the time," Amy admitted. Perhaps it was the way she said it, but it made Meredith laugh. Even Amy thought it sounded funny, but she did her best to stay on point.

"I know, it's stupid, but Ari's in a shitholad of trouble."

Meredith did her best to rein in the giggles. "Hey, I'm sorry that it didn't go so well..."

Amy huffed bitterly. "You've no idea. Her mom went crazy. I literally grabbed my clothes and ran out of the house, half-dressed. I had to wait by the street for my dad to come pick me up."

Meredith shook her head in disbelief. "I don't mean to make light of it, but it does sound like a comedy, you running out of the house half-naked."

"If only. I've been dealing with it okay, but it's been hell for Ari. Look, Meredith, I know you really like Mrs. Petrakis, and that she can help you with your art career, and all, but I just don't think you should go over there, right now."

"Oh?" Meredith was clearly disappointed.

"Meredith, it's like a police state, over there. Mrs. Petrakis was even rude to my mom when she called to talk to her. Her parents have threatened to stop paying for her college education unless she seeks help."

"What sort of help?"

"They're homophobes, Meredith! They think if you're gay, there's something wrong with you. They want her to meet with a priest. The planet is going to hell, and all they care about is who you sleep with. It's so stupid, and it's none of their fucking business anyway!" Amy took a deep breath and slowly let it out in an effort to control her rage.

"Wow. I've never seen you this upset," Meredith said, clearly impressed by Amy's intensity.

"Why shouldn't I be? I mean, if you can't accept your own kids for who they are, then why have children?"

"Beats me. People have issues, and instead of dealing with it, they want to make it your issue. Okay, I'll try and stay clear of their place for a bit. But you are coming to my show, right?"

Amy's anger softened a little. "Of course, I am. I don't know about Ari though. If she does come, it won't be with me."

After a moment of silence, Meredith changed gears. "I know you're upset, but it sounds like you and Ari had some real fun."

At the sight of Meredith's suggestive grin, Amy shook her head in disbelief. "You are so bad..."

Another shrug from Meredith. "Well? Did you?"

Amy took a breath and exhaled. "Yes, we did. We had fun. There! Happy?" Amy replied, pretending to be put out.

"Give me five, girl," Meredith cheered, offering her hand. The girls smacked palms. "It's about time, Calvano! I swear, that Petrakis girl has the patience of a saint! She must really love your ass. So, I guess you won't be needing my services anymore, huh?"

Amy gave her a questioning look. "Uh... You were supposed to call me," she reminded her friend.

"Was I? Sorry. But see? You didn't need my help after all."

Amy stood there staring at Meredith who moved over to the sofa and sat down. She placed the nightie over the back. When she looked over at Amy, Amy began moving closer, until, as if launched from a sling, she fell into Meredith's arms, and began kissing her, pushing her back onto the couch.

"Amy... Amy, what are you doing?" Meredith pushed Amy off of her, only to see Amy slide off the cushions and onto the floor. She leaned in and began undoing Meredith's belt.

Meredith stopped resisting, and even raised her bottom so Amy could tug her jeans down her legs. Once Meredith's pants were around her calves, Amy had to take time to fiddle with the laces so she could remove Meredith's shoes in order to get the jeans completely off. It was a bit comical, but Meredith waited it out.

Shoving the shoes and pants to the side, Amy pushed Meredith's legs open and pressed her face to Meredith's crotch.

Meredith's skin was hot and gave off an alluring scent. Without bothering to take off Meredith's panties, Amy pressed her mouth to Meredith's sex and kissed her through the barrier of fabric.

Amy could hear Meredith's short gasps of pleasure as she pressed her face into the growing dampness. The gusset of Meredith's panties was now quite wet, and Amy wanted them off. She reached up and began tugging them down Meredith's legs.

Again, Meredith pitched in, raising her bottom until Amy got the panties past her knees. As soon as they were out of the way, Amy pushed Meredith's legs apart. She took a few seconds to admire Meredith's beautiful coral petals, her sloping mound and slender patch of light brown hair before leaning back in to continue what she'd started.

"Oh fuck!" Meredith hollered up to the ceiling, as Amy pressed her face to Meredith's sex and began devouring it as if possessed.

"Oh easy, girl, oh shit, that feels..." Meredith half laughed and gasped. Amy's tongue and lips were beginning to work their magic, and Meredith was tensing up.

Meredith could hardly believe that the girl between her legs was the same shy, reserved person she'd first come to know. But it was hardly the time to question her friend's state of mind. And then, there was her state of mind. The gifted young artist was still wrestling with the impact of her father's visit. Add to that, her spending far too much time alone in her studio, and she was now primed for exactly this sort of action.

The room was alive with gasps, groans and joyful humming as Amy made love to her friend. "Shit... oh shit! Oh, I'm going to come!" Meredith suddenly announced.

In preparation, Amy clutched Meredith's butt cheeks, and did her best to keep Meredith's body from squirming too much.

"Ooooh, nooo," Meredith whimpered, as she began to climax. "Oh, my... Uh!"

Amy held tight as Meredith's body jerked upward, and warm fluid flowed into the back of her throat. Meredith's body flexed and shivered for a while longer, and then it was over. With a dramatic exhale, Meredith slumped back. The room grew quiet as the tension slowly drained from her body.

After a few seconds had passed, Amy got up off the floor and sidled up alongside her sated friend. Meredith looked up through her lidded eyes, a crooked, silly grin on her face. Amy could feel her heart swell with happiness. Her face was wet with Meredith's spending, and she loved it.

There was so much Amy wanted to tell Meredith, like what she meant to Amy, and how deeply connected Amy felt to her. And how much better she felt about sex now. And though Amy knew she had just cheated on Ariadne, she also knew that she needed to be closer to Meredith. Her relationship with her two friends was complicated, and yet, she felt more in control of her feelings than she had before.

"I don't know what got into you, girl, but that was unexpectedly good," Meredith finally managed to say, lazily shaking her head in amazement.

"Really?"

"Really." They quietly eyed each other for a few seconds. "And that's it, right? Just something you wanted to try... No strings?" Meredith asked, studying Amy's face carefully.

Amy nodded and smiled. "No strings, I promise. Ari and I are still good."

That last bit was open for debate, but it didn't matter. Truth was, Amy had no idea how things were with her and Ari. She knew Ari wasn't happy with Amy's decision to bail on her. And once Ari left for school, their friendship would be put to the test.

With Meredith, things were simpler. They were buddies, looking out for each other's welfare, and while she didn't always understand where Meredith was coming from, it no longer made her uneasy, like it used to. And that was odd, for Meredith had her share of demons.

'Maybe I'm changing?' Amy wondered. 'Perhaps with each new experience, I am gaining confidence, getting a better sense of my powers'.

"Panties please," Meredith ordered, jarring Amy from her thoughts.

Amy handed Meredith her panties, and watched as Meredith slipped them on, letting the waistband audibly snap in place. She held out her hands and waited for Amy to pull her up off the sofa.

"What happens here, stays here," Meredith proclaimed as she adjusted her clothing.

"My lips are sealed," Amy promised, as the two girls hugged. Then, Amy gathered her things and saw herself out.

After shutting the door, Meredith made her way back to her studio.

===============

Since their discovery in bed, Ariadne's parents kept a keen eye on their daughter. Though Ariadne assured her parents that nothing sexual occurred after she and Amy had ended up in the same bed together, her parents wanted her to talk to their priest. They also got Ariadne to promise that she would not continue to spend too much time with Amy. Naturally, Ariadne played the chastised daughter to perfection. She apologized for her lack of judgment, and promised to take her pastoral care seriously, at least until she left for school.

Ariadne was no fool. She knew her freedom wasn't far off. She'd bide her time, doing and saying all those things calculated to keep her parents at bay. And despite Amy's decision to bail on their college plans, Ari wasn't ready to give up on her friend.

"I'm just glad your mother didn't catch us in the act," Amy told Ari during a brief phone call. Ariadne agreed that would have made things much, much worse, though the idea of such a scene had them both laughing.

Fall arrived, and Ariadne left without Amy for her first year at University. The girls exchanged a quick phone call to say goodbye and voice their affection and best wishes. And just like that, a new chapter in their lives began.

Despite Amy's fling with Meredith, and the wrath of the Petrakis family, Amy remained as loyal as ever to Ariadne. Amy did think about Meredith and wonder how she was doing, but she didn't see much of her. Meredith's message had been clear: No strings.

For the fall art show, Ariadne made a special trip back from school in order to attend. Amy and Ari agreed to arrive separately in order to avoid a scene with Ari's mother, who also planned to attend the show.

"She says she wants to evaluate Meredith's work, but I think she just wants to keep an eye on me," Ari told Amy during a phone call.

Ari and Amy showed up for the event wearing dresses, partly in support of their friend, but also because dressing up was something they both shared a love for.

"Damn girl, you are rocking," Amy effused at the sight of Ariadne in her heels and sleek, form-fitting dress.

"Thanks. You look good too," Ari said, leaning over and planting a chaste kiss on Amy's cheek. Amy glanced nervously about the room.

"Don't worry, Mom's not here yet," Ari whispered into her ear.

In spite of the circumstances, Ari assured Amy that they should keep the faith, knowing that somewhere in their future, they'd be able to be together without Ari's parents threatening to hurl fire and brimstone down on them.

The art show was in full swing. The room was packed with people, and the girls could feel the energy throughout the space. The walls and the floor of the large room were populated with paintings and drawings, sculpture, woven fabrics, installations and even some performance pieces. A classical guitar and flute duo provided ambience.

Eventually, they tracked Meredith down and gave her hugs. Meredith had also dressed up, though her look was more artsy than elegant. She had on a black beret, a beautiful long-sleeved white blouse, bold red lipstick, and some very nice black pants that stopped at the tops of her low riding boots.

Meredith's mom, Jane, was there as well, glowing with pride for her daughter. It was heartening to see. It was a big show, with many local artists being showcased, and while the quality of the art was varied, most of what was on display was exceedingly good.

But the pieces that stood out most were those done by Meredith Caufield, as she now signed her works. Her paintings and drawings were the talk of the show. There was a supposedly a limit to the number of pieces each artist could submit, but with six pieces on display, Meredith's creations were bound to stand out.

Her largest work was a painting that demanded close study, since it was somewhat abstract and full of symbols. There was also a smaller drawing featuring a bird diving from the sky. It was done in colored pencils and Amy couldn't take her eyes off it. And then there were two ink drawing from her graphic novel featuring the heroic, Meridiana. Amy thought it very clever that Meredith had fashioned the character's name after that of her own.

"Wow, these are amazing," Ari said softly to Amy, as the two girls stood locked arm in arm before the graphic panels.

"She's that superhero I was telling you about," Amy reminded Ari. Amy adored the fictional heroine. Seeing those sketches again brought back fond memories of her early days getting to know her talented friend. The two panels looked even more impressive, having been finished, framed and mounted on the wall.

"Excuse me," Ari whispered to Amy, as she withdrew her arm. Her mother had arrived and Ari didn't want to give her an excuse to wield stricter control. "Mustn't create a scandal," Ari whispered conspiratorially as she made her way over to her mother.

As Amy gazed at the scenes from "Meridiana," she made the connection between Ariadne's oppression by homophobic parents and Meridiana's exploits on behalf of the marginalized and helpless. It suddenly made Amy appreciate this valiant character even more.

Amy stared over at Ariadne, who was chatting with her mother. Then over to Meredith who was explaining one of her pieces to someone. Feeling herself getting emotional, she turned her attention back to the show.

In the spirit of egalitarianism, Amy spent some time admiring the other works on display. But time and again, she found herself drawn back to Meredith's magical creations. While the graphic novel seemed positive and full of promise, Meredith's large painting was more somber in mood and tone. It was replete with images of ghostly figures and landscapes assailed by storms, and objects hurling out of swirling masses of color. To Amy, it seemed fraught with anxiety.

When asked about the piece, Meredith jokingly referred to it as belonging to her "stark period."

Some people were definitely put off by this complex, disturbing work, but one of the local art critics was heard to praise it for its maturity and daring.

Of course, the dreaded Mrs. Petrakis was also a devotee of Meredith's work. "Too bad she's such a judgmental bitch," Amy cursed under her breath.

Like others, Amy saw disturbing elements in Meredith's pieces, and yet she understood her friend's need to use art to exorcise her demons. It was another way of getting to know her. In nearly every work, Amy could see something of Meredith's personal struggles being played out on the canvas.

But the piece that most affected her was a simple charcoal drawing of a bird seeming to plummet downward. There were no clouds, or ground or any other objects in the frame. Just this lone, colorful bird, its feathers finely rendered. Its wings were back, and she couldn't tell if it was in the act of diving or if it had been shot out of the sky. All she knew is that she was fascinated by that bird.

Moving into the back room, Amy was delighted to find yet another piece of Meredith's. The piece was rendered in lines of paint, very much in the style of a Japanese watercolor. Done on a three-foot square canvas, mostly with thin, bold black lines and shades of gray and off-white, it showed two mouths meeting in a passionate kiss. The kissers were women, and the perspective had them so close to the viewer that only the lower half of their faces fit into the frame.

There were a few dashes of color, mostly in the lips, which were sensually drawn and enlivened with a variety of pink and red hues. The effect of seeing that kiss dominating the space of the canvas stirred up a whole range of feelings for Amy. It was intimidating, thrilling, erotic... and also very familiar.

And it featured two females! Why did Meredith depict it?

And that's when she noticed that the left-most woman's hair was colored and styled exactly as her own, right down to the magenta streak falling down the side of her face. Even the shape of the jawline and nose perfectly matched hers. Once she saw those details, she was sure that she was one of the females portrayed.

At that moment, Meredith strolled over. "What do you think?" she asked, her eyes aglow with pride.

Amy turned to Meredith and asked with a mix of anger and befuddlement, "When did you do this?"

Meredith shrugged. "I've been working on it for a while, from memory of course."

"Is this some sort of joke?"

Meredith drew back. "What do you mean?" She looked bewildered but Amy had a feeling she knew what was up.

"You think I don't recognize that streak of color in that girl's hair? And that's got to be Ariadne on the right," she complained, pointing to the painting and clearly impatient for an explanation.

Meredith shoved her hands into her pockets and pouted. "It's definitely not Ariadne. And why are you so upset? Nobody knows or cares who it is. I put a lot of work into that. It's one of my favorite pieces."

"Meredith, you know what Ari and I have been through. I don't want people knowing that's us. I'm surprised Mrs. Petrakis didn't have it removed."

"Well, for starters, she has no control over what gets into this show. She's not on the selection committee. And I don't care if it offends her, or anybody else for that matter."

"But what if somebody recognizes me?" The girls stared over at Mrs. Petrakis who was talking to somebody from the high school. Next to her, stood Ariadne.

Meredith ignored Amy's anxiety. "No one is going to recognize you. You're as hidden from view as the purloined letter."

"The what?" Amy asked.

"It's an Edgar Allen Poe story. This detective is hired to track down a stolen letter. But turns out it was sitting on the mantel the whole time, in plain sight. And yet no one knew it was there."

"I think it's beautiful," Meredith added in a slightly offended tone. Amy watched in frustration as the most unusual and fascinating person she'd ever met faded back into the crowd.

"Meredith must be over the moon. Her stuff is the talk of the show." It was Ari. Amy looked around furtively.

"It's okay," Ariadne said, taking her arm. "Mom had to leave early. Amy, I am so sorry. I hate this whole wretched charade."

"Yeah, it sucks," Amy agreed.

"But you know what really pisses me off? According to my parents, I'm the one who's brought shame to our family. Yet they're the ones turning it into a soap opera, complaining to their friends, wondering what they did wrong. And all the while, my stupid brothers make crude jokes and call me 'lezzie' and 'lesbo' behind their backs. I'm the bad apple, while everybody else gets a free pass."

Amy had no response to that. And so, they began quietly strolling about the room, studying the art.

"Hey, who's that?" Amy asked, pointing to a bearded man, rather light complected and dashingly handsome, chatting it up with Meredith. He had on a pair of designer glasses, some gray slacks, a tweed jacket over a plain shirt.

"I have no idea," Ariadne replied. "He might be a teacher or an administrator at the school. Maybe it's someone my mom knows," Ariadne mused.

Before Ari and Amy made to leave, they went to say goodbye to their brilliant friend. "We're so proud of you," Amy gushed, giving Meredith a farewell hug.

"Thanks," Meredith replied, relieved that Amy wasn't still upset. It had been a great opening. Her work had been well received and she was glowing with pride.

"By the way, who was that guy in the tweed jacket you were talking to?" Ari asked.

"Oh, he's an art dealer and owns a gallery in Barcelona. He said he was interested in showing some of my stuff there. Pretty incredible, huh? He gave me his card and asked me to look him up, if I'm ever over there."

"That seems a bit fishy, if you ask me," Ariadne noted warily.

Meredith gave Ari a rather impatient look, before placing the card in her carryall. Amy also wondered if the offer was a little too good to be true. "It might be wise to do some research on the guy," Amy kindly suggested.

"Oh, for sure! I'm not going to just hop on a plane and fly to Barcelona," she huffed. "Well, unless he's willing to pay my way," she joked.

The two girls then said their goodbyes, locked arms, and headed for the exit, leaving Meredith to schmooze and bask in her success.

As they made for the exit, the sound of a man's voice brought Amy to a quick stop. Ariadne came to a halt as well. The girls turned to face the man.

"Amy, isn't it? You're Meredith's girlfriend." It was Meredith's father, Jacob Addison.

"Uh, yes... I am..." Amy replied hesitantly. She hazarded a quick glance at Ariadne, who looked very perplexed, and was gripping Amy's upper arm rather tightly.

Mr. Addison extended his hand for Amy to shake. "I'm Meredith's father. I met you at my daughter's house, remember?"

"Yes, I remember," Amy nervously replied, shaking is hand. Her palm was very sweaty. "I'm sure she's glad you came to see her show," Amy noted, hoping to be as pleasant as she could, while also aware of Ariadne's impatience.

"I always try to catch her openings," Mr. Addison let them know. He then turned his attention to Ariadne. "And you are...?" His smile sent a chill down Amy's spine.

Before Ariadne could answer, Amy cut in. "Uh, this is my friend, Ariadne. She's also a friend of Meredith's."

"Ariadne. What an exotic name."

"It's Greek," Ariadne replied, doing her best to appear pleasant, even though she was not pleased at all.

"It was nice meeting you again, Mr. Addison." And with that, Amy clutched Ariadne's arm and practically dragged her out of the building.

As soon as they exited the front door, Ari came to a sudden stop. "What the hell was that?" Her tone was harsh and Amy knew exactly why.

"That was Meredith's father," she explained to Ariadne, hoping her answer would suffice.

"And why does he think you're Meredith's girlfriend?"

Amy sighed. "It was all faked, so he'd leave Meredith alone. I'm not her girlfriend."

"Faked?" Ariadne couldn't make sense of that at all, and was wondering if Amy was concealing a deeper truth from her.

"He's a predator, Ari! Didn't you see the way he looked at you?" Amy challenged her. "He was practically undressing you. That's the kind of man he is."

Ariadne took a deep breath to calm herself. "I don't know, Amy. Your relationship with Meredith just keeps throwing me one curve after another."

"Ari, you need to chill. Meredith and I happen to be good friends. I care about her, okay?"

"I know you do. Ever since you first introduced me to her, I've seen how close you two are. I know you've never admitted to being gay, and I've tried not to push you on that. But now I'm wondering if you're even being honest with me. Is that why you're not attending school, so you can stay close to Meredith?"

Ari's well-aimed dart pierced too close for comfort. "No, I just think the college is a better fit for me. Besides, I couldn't be with her, even if I wanted to. She's made it very clear to me that she doesn't do relationships." As soon as Amy had said it, she knew she'd made a mistake, and the look on Ari's face, confirmed that fear.

"Why would she have to tell you that?" Ariadne asked.

"Can't we just let it go?" Amy pleaded.

After a moment, Ariadne sighed and shook her head in resignation. "Sure. I need to get home. It was good to see you."

Several days passed without Ariadne responding to a single text from Amy. Eventually, she responded, though there was a coolness in her replies. Ariadne's stresses had been piling up. There was the pressure of excelling in her college classes, coupled with the horrible tensions at home. And it was obvious that Amy was not being honest with her about Meredith.

Ariadne thought she had it over Meredith in so many ways, and yet, Meredith radiated this magnetism that pulled you in. No wonder, Amy was drawn to her.

==========

Later that fall, Ariadne was home for the weekend, and Amy invited Ari and Meredith over. Amy's nineteenth birthday was the following week, and she wanted to have an early birthday celebration with her two best friends. Amy's parents were home so the girls would mostly keep to Amy's room enjoying wine and some cake that her mother had made for the occasion.

As luck would have it, Ari's parents and her two brothers had headed over to the Cape to spend the weekend with Mrs. Petrakis' older sister. Ariadne couldn't go because she had a test she was cramming for, and so her parents allowed her to stay home. Of course, they set their curfews, as well as times when they would call to check up on her.

By now, Amy and Ari's parents were no longer on speaking terms. As mentioned earlier, Ari's parents had accused Amy of being the instigator, the one who corrupted their innocent daughter.

Alison, being a therapist, saw right through that bogus claim and urged Ariadne's parents to be more accepting of their daughter's wishes. Her pleas fell on deaf ears. To Mr. and Mrs. Petrakis, same sex love was sinful and unnatural, as determined by a couple of passages in the only book they chose to consult. When the dust finally settled, Mr. and Mrs. Calvano didn't care if they ever saw "that wretched family again."

"Charoomena genelthlia!" Ariadne proclaimed in Greek into her phone.

"Did you just wish me a happy birthday?" Amy asked, tentatively.

Ari laughed. "Need to work on your Greek, girl."

"But you're the Greek girl. I'm Ksenos, right?" Ksenos, was the Greek word for any person who wasn't Greek.

"That's right. So, what time shall I come over?"

Amy loved hearing her friend in such a cheerful frame of mind, and hoped they could move past the misunderstandings and petty jealousies.

"About six. But no hard stuff, okay? I'm thinking maybe some beer and wine."

Again, Ariadne laughed. "You're such a softy."

"Well, unlike you, I haven't been drinking ouzo since I was three years old! By the way, I texted Meredith, but haven't heard back from her yet."

"She's probably too busy talking to gallery owners about her next art show."

"Yeah, I bet she gets a couple of commissions from that showing."

"I have to say, I didn't care for all of it, but she sure is talented," Ari noted, in the tone of someone with a discriminating taste in art.

"So, I'll see you Friday, at six?" Amy asked, ready to wrap up their call.

"Yep. Oh, and I'm bringing some pasta."

"Bring it on, girl!"

"Adío!"

After signing off, Amy decided to walk next door and see if she could persuade Meredith to join them for an evening of fun. But before she could make her way downstairs, she became aware of her mother calling up the stairs for her.

"Amy!"

Hurrying downstairs, she was surprised to see Meredith's mom, Jane, sitting on the sofa. She looked upset. Alison Calvano went and sat next to Jane, and placed her hand on the distraught woman's shoulder.

"What is it? What wrong?" Amy asked. She sensed something bad had happened, and her stomach felt tight.

As soon as Amy's mother saw her enter the room, she asked her in a rushed, urgent way, "Amy, have you seen Meredith? Do you know where she might be?"

"Uh, no, I was just heading next door to see if she was home. Why?"

"My daughter seems to have taken off with someone. When she didn't come home last night, I got worried," Jane said, clearly doing her best to stay calm. "At least she was thoughful enough to leave a note, though all it said was, "I'm taking a little trip. Talk soon."

"What?" Amy was gobsmacked. "How could she be so inconsiderate!" Amy fumed. "What's wrong with her?" The shocked look on her mother's face made her catch herself.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"No, Amy, you're right. It is inconsiderate of her," Jane replied. And for the first time, she looked angry instead of just worried.

"Anyway, I thought she might have said something to you about where she was going." Jane took a breath.

"No, she hasn't. Have you tried calling her phone?" Amy awkwardly suggested.

Jane sighed and shook her head. "She doesn't have it with her."

Amy rolled her eyes. That girl clearly hated phones. "What about her father?" Amy somehow thought he might have something to do with it. "Maybe she's with him, and didn't tell you?"

Again, Jane shook her head. "He hasn't seen her either."

Meredith's mother was clearly upset and Amy thought it best not to keep pestering her with questions she probably already knew the answers to.

And so, Amy sat down on a nearby chair, slumped forward with her elbows on her knees and tried to think, though it was hard to shift gears. She thought back to her last encounters with Meredith. That meeting with her father was particularly upsetting, but thankfully she'd been there, and it ended okay. Then, there was that guy at the art gallery. He seemed a bit dodgy. Could she have run off with that guy? That would be nuts.

After sitting in a state of inertia for a few more minutes, Amy excused herself, promising to make some enquiries. "Don't worry, she'll turn up," she added, lamely. "I mean, she left you a note, right?"

When she got back upstairs, she immediately phoned Ari.

"Hey girl. What's up?" Ari asked, expecting to hear more good news.

"Have you seen Meredith?"

"No. Why?"

"I just found out from her mother that she's been missing for a couple of days."

"What do you mean 'missing'?"

"Well, she left a note that she was taking a trip, and her traveling bag is missing. But she hasn't called and it's been a couple of days. Her mom's pretty upset. You haven't heard from her, have you?"

"No. Why I would I hear from her?" Ariadne's tone was a bit unfriendly.

"I don't know, I though she might have stopped over at your place to talk art with your mother!" Amy snapped.

"I'm sorry. No, she's not here. Look, Amy... it's Meredith."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Amy bristled, unable to conceal her impatience.

"Well, you know how she is. She's probably hanging out with some people she met at the gallery, talking about art and totally oblivious to the fact that people are at home worrying about her. She can be pretty self-absorbed."

"Yeah, sometimes," Amy replied in an irritated tone, feeling the need to defend Meredith's honor.

"I bet she calls us in a few weeks from New York or LA, and tells us to hop on a plane and come see her latest opening," Ariadne offered, hoping to lighten the mood.

It did the trick, for Amy's mood did lighten a bit. "Yeah, that sounds like something she'd do."

End of Part 4