The DLG Club Ch. 04

If you haven't read chapters 1-3 yet, please go back and do that now. This is the continuation of a very narrative and character-driven story.

DLG

Chapter 4

Eve awakens to the smell of coffee and bacon. As her mind swims back to reality, she remembers the night before. She opens her bedside table drawer and takes out her toy, looking at it appreciatively. She smiles a little and places it back, shutting the drawer.

She picks up the black bag and realizes there's something else in there. Puzzled, she dumps it out on her bed. A small, silver butt plug with a light-blue heart-shaped gem on the base stares back at her.

She picks it up and examines it closely, wondering who put it in her bag. A knock on her door causes her to jump. She quickly stashes the plug under the blankets.

"Come in!" Eve says sweetly.

The door opens, and her Daddy walks in.

"Hey, Daddy, good morning."

"Good morning," Randall says. "I..." He pauses, not sure how to continue. "Becky stayed the night last night," He deflects. "She's making breakfast."

Eve giggles. "Yeah, I think the Coopers next door also know that Becky spent the night last night. Geez, Dad. Loud much?"

"Yeah, well..." Randall says a little bashfully. "Becky and I had a talk last night. She told me about the club. It sounds like you all had fun last night?"

Eve is not sure which "fun" he's referring to, the meeting at the store, or playing with her toys afterwards but she agrees -- they all definitely had fun.

"Good," he says. "I, uh, I want you to know that Becky was very impressed by you. She made a very strong case for allowing this club to meet here."

When his tone drops from matter-of-fact to regretful, Eve's original optimism starts to plummet.

"Daddy, please? We need a safe space to--"

"I agreed."

"--meet..." Eve's heart leaps into her throat. "Wait... you... you agreed?!!"

"Gotcha," he says with a smirk.

Eve jumps out of bed and into her Daddy's arms, kissing him all over.

"Thank you! Thank you, Daddy!"

"With one caveat," he says, holding her and laughing at the affectionate display.

"Anything!" Eve delightedly promises.

"You, little lady, will need to earn this privilege through yard work," Randall states. "And I don't mean some half-assed mowing, I want the sidewalk edged, the curb cleaned up, the hedges trimmed, all of it."

Eve lets go and slips down his front, "Seriously?"

"Seriously, or you can forget the whole thing."

Eve sighs, "Fine. Deal."

"Oh, and wash my car too, it's covered in pollen," he adds, smiling a bit devilishly.

"Yessir," Eve glumly responds. "Anything else, sir?"

The switch to "sir" isn't lost on Randall, and he chuckles. "Yeah. I want you to understand this is temporary for now. If at any time I find this club has become a liability, I am revoking this privilege."

Eve looks at him, surprised and a little hurt at first, but realizes he's just being a protective father.

"Yeah, okay, Daddy."

Satisfied at being promoted back to "Daddy" status, Randall turns to leave, saying, "Come on downstairs. Kaylee and Bex have made a great breakfast."

Eve quietly closes the door behind him. She strips out of her pajamas and finds her yard work clothes. As she dresses, she finds that while part of her wants to be annoyed about the chores, she's mostly just relieved. Thanks to Becky, her Daddy is giving them another chance. She'll prove to him and Becky that she can handle this additional responsibility. Even if doing chores to earn something does feel a little juvenile, it could be worse; they could be a punishment, and THAT would definitely make her feel like a little kid again.

As she ties the laces of one soiled sneaker, it occurs to her that this affects all the girls. Maybe they'd be willing to pitch in and help, after all, they're supposed to be in this together, right? She picks up her phone and begins texting the group.

****Later that morning****

Eve smirks with grim satisfaction as the loppers cut through the thick stem of a pokeberry weed. "Timber!" she thinks as the weed falls over. She relishes the purple "blood" that leaks from the ruptured berries. She and her sisters are outside doing the yardwork. It is late morning, and the day is just starting to get good and hot. The humidity gives the impression that thunderstorms could be forming later this afternoon. The birds are chirping for now, but once the temperature rises, even they will be silent, conserving energy and relaxing in the shade.

Eve's plan is to get the more miserable yard work out of the way first, while it's still relatively cool, saving the car washing for later when the heat is oppressive. This way, they can change into their swimsuits and cool off, and have fun spraying each other with the hose while they wash their Daddy's car. Right now, her t-shirt is sticking to her, and sweat is running into her eyes.

"I can't believe Dad is making us do this," Daye complains while sitting in the shade of a tree. "Like, didn't Becky convince him the club was a good thing?"

Kaylee is edging around the flowerbed with an electric trimmer and doesn't hear.

"Well, at least we can have the meeting here and uninterrupted again," Eve says. She stands and looks at Daye with a hand on her hip. "You know, the faster we get it done, the faster it'll be over."

"Yeah, for this week. Then we have to do it all over again. It's not fair," she whines.

"The others will be here soon," Eve reassures her, "so why not just get back to work and we can get it knocked out?"

Daye sighs, stands, and prepares to start the lawnmower again, mumbling, "I still say it's not fair."

Eve shakes her head as the mower roars to life and Daye continues her trip around the yard. Eve checks her phone and wonders what's taking the others so long.

Suddenly, hands squeeze her just below the ribs.

"Gotcha!" Lily yells.

"AH!!!", Eve squeals, startled, but laughing.

Eve spins to confront her attacker. "Hey! I didn't think you were coming!" She gives Lily a light hug, trying not to get her wet with sweat.

"Meh... I got my shift covered. I figured, what the hell, right?"

"Right! Wow, thanks, Lily. You didn't have to do that," Eve says.

"Well, I figured, your Dad isn't beating my door down YET, so I figure any chance to see him is a good one." Lily smiles mischievously, "I also wanted to see if you got my little surprise."

At first Eve is puzzled, then she remembers the butt plug, "Oh... haha... yeah. I didn't notice it until this morning. Thanks."

"You didn't like it?" Lily seems genuinely hurt.

"No! It's not that... I just... you know... haven't gotten a chance to try it out yet, you know?" Eve glances around furtively, "But I did try the other one you pointed out." She shows Lily her hands open, palms out, "Ten out of ten, would definitely recommend!" and giggles.

"I bet!" Lily says, "We get great reviews on that one all the time."

"So, um, if you want to, you can take those shears and help me with pruning," Eve suggests. "If you need gloves, I'll go get you some."

"Hey, hey, hey!!" Shelby calls from across the yard. Kaylee stops edging long enough to hug her and Chelsea on their way past her.

Now that more of the girls are here, the work goes much faster. Eve directs the broader focus of the project while Daye and Kaylee help with managing the smaller groups and tasks. By the time the sun has reached its apex and the heat is at its most unrelenting, the yard work is done.

"Ugh... I think I wanna puke," Daye says.

"No shit," Li'l Bit echoes.

It looks so good though!" Kaylee says.

"Show hot... show shweaty," Chelsea adds.

Eve and Shelby nod in agreement. The air is heavy. The sky is a steel blue, and the brutally hot sun is beating down on them, making Eve feel like an ant, and someone above has a giant magnifying glass.

"You know what time it is?" Eve says, sweat running down her cheek.

"Miller time?" Shelby asks, trying to smile.

"Swimsuit time."

The girls' eyes light up. "Yesssssshhhhh!" Chelsea whispers.

As if being somehow recharged, the girls hop up and strip off their dirty, grey-brown and green-stained yard work clothes, revealing their skimpy, multicolored swimwear.

Just as they are trotting down the driveway with a bucket and sponges, Amy's mom pulls up, and Amy and Mila get out of the pollen-covered car.

"Geez," Eve thinks, seeing the oak tags and yellow-green powder coating Amy's Mom's car, "it looks even worse than Daddy's."

Amy and Mila see the rest of the girls already in their swimsuits and immediately begin removing their own outerwear.

"Okay, girls! I'll be back in a little while." Amy's mom smiles and waves. "Have fun... unless..." She pauses, considering. "Hey, you know what? My car is filthy," she digs through her purse for a second. "I'll give you girls thirty bucks if you'll wash my car. I mean you're already set up for it. Will thirty dollars be enough to get a couple of pizzas later?"

"Sure, Mom. Thanks!" Amy says, not asking the others.

"Fine by me," Daye says, "I like pizza."

Suddenly, Eve feels as if she's been transported to somewhere above this entire situation, watching as it unfolds in slow motion. For weeks, she's had a major concern about the club: how to keep it afloat monetarily. She's spent almost all of her cosplay contest reward money already. What happens when they need more charms or chokers? The idea hits her like a truck... or a car in this instance. She sees the need -- pollen-covered cars in driveways up and down the block, she sees the appeal -- pretty girls in bikinis, she looks over and sees her dad peeking at them through the window, and sees the obvious market...

"What about a car wash fundraiser??!!" she thinks.

Eve's mind is suddenly running a mile a minute.

- Gus, the owner of the service station up the street would probably let us do it there, it would attract business for him, and we wouldn't bring any unwanted attention to Daddy

- We can charge $30 for cars, $40 for larger vehicles

- We can say that a portion of the proceeds goes to some charity -- we can decide which one later

- And DLG gets the rest!

A spray of cold water breaks her out of her trance.

"Did you hear me??" Daye asks, laughing.

"Huh?" Eve responds in a dreamy voice.

"I said, let's get to work, I'm hungry!" Daye reiterates and begins hosing down Ms. Davenport's car.

Eve smiles and trots over to the car. "You guys work on this one, and me and Lily and Kay will work on Daddy's," Eve says.

"Whatever works!" Daye says enthusiastically.

From inside, Randall watches with a mix of pride, love, and more than a little lust as the group of sexy, young girls work and play, frolic and spray each other, dancing and prancing as they wash the cars. Soap bubbles float around, and their giggles and squeals seem to fuel their antics. He has half a mind to sit in his car and enjoy the show, but decides that it might not go over very well with Amy's mom. He shakes his head and walks back to his small home office and gets back to work. When he reaches his desk, he finds an envelope resting on his laptop. One word is written on it in Daye's unmistakable scrawl. "Daddy", it says.

Meanwhile, Eve keeps thinking about her brief epiphany. Could a car wash really work? She's seen plenty of other organizations pull it off, so why not theirs? She just needs some credibility. Maybe if she had a sponsor. Who would sponsor a bikini car wash? What about that girl, Sabrina, she works at Shooterz? Maybe Shooterz could sponsor them... but, wouldn't they want their own girls to do it? No, that wouldn't work. Who else would sponsor a bikini car wash? When the answer comes to her, she almost smacks herself on the forehead with a soapy sponge.

"Hey Lils, can we swing by SunDaze sometime this week? I have a question for Kim."

"Sure, boss. Whatevs," Lily responds.

As they wash the car, Eve sidles up next to Lily and says, "Hey, um, this is sorta fun, right? Washing my Dad's car, I mean?"

"Sure, I guess. Sorta," Lily replies. "I'd rather be washing your Dad," she adds with a wink.

Eve rolls her eyes. "I'm sure," she says, smiling. "Anyway," she continues while scrubbing a tire, "I was thinking about doing this as like a fundraiser thing for the club, you know?"

"Hmmm... I mean, I guess. You think your dad will pay us to wash his car?" Lily asks.

"No, silly! Other people's cars. I'm thinking about maybe having it at Gus's Gas down the street."

"Oooooh. Yeah, that makes more sense, sorry." Lily says. Eve is a little surprised by honest humility coming from Lily, but ignores it and continues.

"So, I was thinking, no one knows who we are, right? So, like, maybe you could ask your sister to like, sponsor us or whatever? Like, we could be like, 'DLG' brought to you by SunDaze Beach and Bikini store and like, we all wear SunDaze bikinis, to advertise for the store or whatever."

Lily stops cleaning and looks at Eve, perplexed. "That's... that's really, really smart, Eve. Did you just think of that?"

"Heh, I guess so. I mean, yeah. It just stands to reason, you know?" Eve replies, embarrassed by the praise.

"Well, yeah. I'll ask her."

"You will? Thanks, Lily. I really owe you," Eve says and touches Lily's cheek. Some suds remain after she drops her hand away and Lily giggles fiendishly.

"Oh, yeah you do. I'll remember that next time your Dad is around."

The girls share a laugh and continue cleaning.

Meanwhile, Randall is in his office, staring at the letter from his daughter, Dayton, not knowing how to feel or what to do.

"I know Becky's at work, but I need to call her," he thinks, "This is important."

He takes out his cell phone and calls Becky. On the fourth or fifth ring, she finally picks up.

"Hello, mister stud man, miss me already?" She answers in a cheerfully flirty voice.

"Hey Bex," he chuckles at her small flirt, "yeah, I guess," he responds. "Hey, I have a quick question. Do you have a few minutes?"

"Sure, my next appointment isn't for ten or fifteen. What's up?"

"I just received a letter from Daye. It's... pretty surprising, especially from our Little Glow-worm." He says, "Would you like to hear it?"

"Oh god, is she okay? It's nothing too serious, is it?" Becky says nervously.

"No, it's not like that, it's good... here, lemme just read it."

"Jesus, don't scare me like that. You know how worried I get."

"I know. Sorry, here goes..."

"Dear Daddy,"

"Okay, I'm about to get really gross and sappy here, so prepare yourself. I know I always say I hate gooshy stuff, but sometimes a girl's gotta get gooshy, you know?"

"I love you SO MUCH it's actually embarrassing. Like, if anyone ever reads this, I'll probably die of mortification and you'll have to bury me in the backyard next to Mom's rose bushes. But whatever, here goes..."

"Basically, you're the best dad in the entire universe and probably in alternate universes too. When I was little and had nightmares, you'd let me crawl into bed with you, and I felt like nothing bad could ever happen because you were there. I still feel that way, by the way when we're in bed together. Safe, I mean. When you hug me, kiss me, or when we have sex, it's like the whole world makes sense."

"Remember after Mom died, how we all kind of fell apart for a while? But then somehow, we figured out how to take care of each other. You took care of me and Eve, but we took care of you, too. It's like Mom left all her love behind, and we just... absorbed it or something. Made us stronger together. I know that sounds weird, but sometimes I swear I can feel her love in the way you hug us, or when we wake you up in your favorite way ????"

"I know I act like a brat sometimes (okay, a lot of times), but I hope someday I find someone who loves me exactly the way you love me and Eve. Someone who thinks I'm amazing even when I'm being competitive and annoying. Basically, I want to marry you, Daddy. Will you marry me? Circle yes or no.

YES NO

Just kidding. Don't do that."

"Anyway, you probably think I'm being dramatic, but I'm serious. You're my hero, Daddy. Even when I'm mad at you or acting like I don't care, I do. I care SO MUCH."

"Ugh, this is so embarrassing. I think I might barf. I can't believe I'm writing this. If you ever show this to anyone, I'll never speak to you again.

... or at least not for a little while."

"I hate the gooshy stuff, Daddy, but today I mean every word."

"Your disgustingly sentimental daughter, Daye"

"P. S. - See? Didn't I tell you this was gonna be gross? Gross but true. I'll make room at the toilet if you need to barf, too. <3 -D"

"See?" Randall asks.

Becky is silent on the other end. Then he hears a small sniffle. "Becky?"

Her voice is thick when she answers, "That was really sweet. I can't believe Daye wrote that. She's always so..."

She doesn't need to finish the sentence, "Yeah, I know," Randall says.

Becky clears her throat and sounds like herself again, "So? Is that it?"

Randall recognizes Becky's "work voice", and says "Yeah, that's it. I just wanted to share that with you. It really made my day (no pun intended)."

"Hey," Becky says, "You have the club to thank for that. I believe Daye earned her Quill charm for writing that."

Randall is thoroughly and pleasantly surprised. He begins to see the benefit of this club even more clearly now. "If it can get Daye to come to grips with her emotions," He thinks, "it can't be anything but good."

He thanks Becky and says goodbye.

He chuckles to himself and decides to peek back outside. He looks out the window just in time to see Amy's mom driving away in a sparklingly clean car with a wet Amy and Mila riding with her. His girls, along with Chelsea, Shelby, and Lily are still in the front yard, talking and laughing and spraying each other with the hose to stay cool. He thinks about how they really do seem more like six sisters rather than friends. Then he notices Eve staring back at him and smiling like a proud mother. For a split second, he could've sworn it was Heather.

A little while later, Shelby and Chelsea have gone home, leaving Lily as the only remaining non-family club member at the house. They take turns showering, and Daye lets Lily borrow some clean clothes (although they do look a little big on her).

When they all come downstairs, they find Randall is out back grilling something.

Eve pulls the sliding glass door to the side and says, "What're you doing, Daddy?"

Randall smiles a little guiltily and says, "Well... I felt bad about making you girls do all that work... Especially on such a hot day... and you did such a good job... I just figured..."

"Dad-dy, you didn't have to do that," Eve says.

"The hell he didn't," Daye counters. "I like mine medium rare, chef!" Daye calls, eyeing the steaks on the grill.

Kaylee giggles and checks on the corn heating up on the stove.

Lily huffs dismissively and plops down on the couch. She flips the damp hair out of her eyes and turns on the TV.

A few minutes later, Randall comes in with a plate of still-sizzling steaks. The aroma of them is enough to make Eve's tummy rumble.

"Come and get 'em!" Randall calls.

Lily mutters, "It's not like I'm a dog." She gets up off the couch and sits at the table, arms folded, hair covering her face.

Daye glances at Lily, and then at Eve and Kaylee. The sisters share a knowing look as they hold back their laughter.

"Lily, what steak would you like?" Randall asks politely.

"Don't care," Lily responds, "whichever."

"Oka-a-y," Randall says as he picks out a really nice-looking steak for her. "The guest gets the best," he thinks to himself.

They serve themselves the steaks and veggies. When the bowl of potatoes comes around, Randall asks, "Uh, Lily, can you please pass the potatoes?"

"Sure, here," she says, grabbing the bowl and plopping it down on the table with a small clank.

Randall looks to his daughters, who give him the same look they gave each other and he nods slightly.

"Well, I just wanted to say, thanks again for all your hard work. How's your steak, Lily?"

"It's fine. Whatever. I've had better," Li'l Bit mumbles, with half of the meat already gone.

Randall nods as if accepting constructive criticism. Daye can't help it, a snicker slips out.

"What's so funny?" Li'l Bit spits venomously at Daye.

"Nothin'. Nothin' at all," Daye says, smiling. "Just remembered something Chelsea said earlier. That's all."

Lily turns back to angrily devour her food.

Randall makes another attempt at conversation. "So, Lily, how are things at the store? Taboo, is it?"

"Yeah," she says. "It's called Taboo. We sell ladies' underwear. Interested?"

For a moment the entire table eats in awkward silence.

Lily quietly takes another small steak from the plate in the center of the table.

"Wow, you must really like my Daddy's meat!" Kaylee says sweetly.

"Oh yeah. I bet she does!" Daye mutters, laughing.

"Dayton..." Randall says.

"Sorry Daddy," Daye says giggling wickedly.

"NO! I'M JUST HUNGRY, OK?? CAN'T A GIRL BE HUNGRY?" Lily yells, her face bright red.

Kaylee's eyes widen as she is taken completely aback by Lily's outburst. Eve pats her leg comfortingly under the table. Kaylee looks at Eve as if to ask what happened and Eve just shakes her head slightly.

Lily continues eating the perfectly cooked and seasoned steak while giving Daye a glowering side-eye.

"So, Daddy," Eve says, her cheery voice brightening up the mood, "I, um, have something I wanted to tell you."

"Tell away," Randall replies.

A very quiet mocking "me me-me," echoing Randall's "Tell away" comes from Lily's area of the table.

Eve glances at her, then back at her dad, "I was thinking of doing a car wash fundraiser for the club down at Gus's Gas sometime soon. What do you think?"

"I think it's a great idea, sweetie."

"You... you do?" Eve says, surprised.

"I do. In fact, just tell me what you need me to do and I'll do it. I'll go talk to Gus if you like."

Eve isn't sure if this is the same Daddy she spoke to yesterday morning or not. He looks the same, but the words coming out of his mouth...

"Um, no, no thank you Daddy. I... I want to do it myself."

This gets a quick, appreciative glance from Lily before she ducks her head back down and saws another bite off her second steak.

"Suit yourself," Randall says.

Another quiet "me, me-me."

"Just know I'm here if you need anything," then adds paraphrasing the end of Lily's secret letter, "with all the fatherly love and manly lust."

Lily looks up with a terrified look on her face, then back down at her food.

"Lily, will you be helping with the car wash?" He gives Eve a wink as if to say, "Watch this".

"Yeah, I guess... if I can't find anything better to do... Why? Are you?" She shoots back, not looking up. "Oh, and just so you know, I don't care about that letter. I only wrote it so I could get the stupid charm."

Randall ignores all of her bickering and says gallantly, "No, no, I won't be attending. I just figured, you know," and he gives Lily his best, winning smile, "you looked so sexy out there in your bikini today, I figure you're bound to bring in a lot of business."

Eve has to bite the inside of her cheek not to laugh.

Lily's reaction is instantaneous. Even through her hair, they can see her face flush a bright red.

"Yeah?! Whatever, creep!" she says, trying to hide her face even more. "Your fucking food is making me sick!"

Lily jumps up from the table and walks briskly to the bathroom. As soon as her back is to them, a big grin crosses her face, and she blushes even brighter. In the bathroom, she smiles proudly at herself in the mirror as if she has accomplished something she alone knows about. She hears a burst of laughter from the table, and her smile fades, maybe wondering if it was at her expense. She looks back at herself as if trying to decide something. Her mind seemingly made up, the smile returns, and she leaves the room.

When Lily returns to the table, everyone is finished eating, and Kaylee is clearing the dishes.

Li'l Bit says to Randall in a slightly mocking voice, "You know, that food was pretty good and all, but if you want really good food, you should go to Chez Mercel. It's like a really fancy restaurant downtown. I eat there all the time. I mean, I'll probably be there this Friday. If you're around, you know... you could stop in or whatever... or not... doesn't make any difference to me."

Randall isn't always the smoothest of operators, so when it takes him a moment to realize he's just been asked on a date, she interprets his hesitation for disinterest.

"You know what? Nevermind. Forget I asked. I think I'm supposed to hang out with someone else that night anyway," Li'l Bit rattles off.

"No, I'd..." He starts defensively, then realizes this is more of her bravado and smiles warmly at her. "I'd love to, Lily. It would mean the world to me."

Lily looks up at him. For an instant, he sees the school-girl glee in her eyes, then it is replaced just as suddenly with feigned indifference. "Cool, sure, whatever. Eve has my number. Call if you want."

Eve, Daye, and Kaylee have been loading the dishwasher while this beautiful dumpster fire has been igniting. They were frozen in place until their Daddy agreed to the date. As soon as he did, they immediately turned away in synchronized movements, each trying not to squeal, laugh, or cry with joy for Lily's breakthrough.

Lily's phone vibrates.

"Aw shit. It's Kim. She's out front," Lily laments, "see you losers later... see you on Friday, Mr. Flagg," she adds with a small smile. Blushing fiercely again, Lily sprints out the front door, slamming it on her way out.

"OHMYGODDADDYTHISISSOEXCITINGICAN'TBELIEVETHATJUSTHAPPENEDIMSOECITEDFORHERANDYOUTHISISGOINGTOBESOAMAZINGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!!"

All three girls completely explode into excited squeals and peals of laughter and good cheer.

"Oh my god, Daddy. I'm gonna go pick out something for you to wear," Eve says excitedly, "Come on, Daye."

Eve and Daye dash up the stairs.

Randall feels like he just came in from being out in a storm, his head is still spinning, and his thoughts are just now catching up to what happened.

"I hope you have fun on your date, Daddy," Kaylee says quietly, still filling the dishwasher.

Randall turns and walks over to her, shooing her out of the way and taking over the chore.

"Thanks, baby," then adds with a laugh, "I hope so too... if she doesn't kill me."

"Aw, no way, Daddy, she loves you, just like I do."

Randall places a couple of dishes in the dishwasher.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, pumpkin?"

"How come you changed your mind about the club?" Kaylee's eyes spark with curiosity.

"What do you mean?" Randall asks.

"Well yesterday you hated it. Becky and you...'talked' last night. Then you made us do chores. But now, you seem totally okay with it."

Randall is continuously surprised by each of his daughters. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and here is softspoken, people pleaser Kaylee, who is so cued up emotionally, you can't get anything past her.

"To tell you the truth, it was two things. First, I read a letter that Daye wrote, and I won't show it to you, so don't ask, "He warns, but Kaylee nods understanding. "The next was watching you girls out there today, working together, being friends, becoming a family. It just... got to me. I want this for you girls. You need it."

"We want this for you, too, Daddy. Part of it is all about making you happy, you know?" Kaylee explains.

"I know. But how is that possible? You already make me the happiest Dad in the world?"

He takes her in his arms and hugs her, and kisses the top of her head. He feels her heart beating against his belly as she nuzzles her head against his chest.

"You make me really happy, too, Daddy," She whispers.

***************************

The following day, Eve was up before anyone else. She showered, made coffee, grabbed a quick breakfast, and was out the door by 8am. She had a plan to get her car wash fundraiser up off the ground, and goddammit, she was going to do it!

"Talking to Gus is my top priority," she thinks as she rides her bike down the street. As she rolls up to the station, remembering how she pumped up her bike tires here as a kid, she notices the empty pumps and parking lot. Most of the cars are across the street at that shiny new gas station. It's very nice, with its large, chrome and glass convenience store, and an automatic carwash around back. There is already a line of pollen-covered cars waiting for their turn, even at this early hour. Eve makes a mental note of this before kicking her kickstand down and strolling into the "Mar-Kit" of Gus's. The smell of stale, burnt coffee and fossilized cigarette smoke meets her as she walks in. It isn't a pleasant smell, but a nostalgic one just the same. This was her corner gas station after all, and it has always smelled like this.

An old man manning the counter calls out, "Well, well, well, if it ain't Queen Evie herself. What can I do fer ya, Queenie?"

"Hey, Mister Stanford, er, good morning, Mister Stanford. I... um," She pulls her folder full of information about her proposal out of her backpack. "I have a, um, business proposition I wanted to, uh... propose... to you about doing... um some business."

"A proposition, ya say? I got one for you. I'll give you ten bucks to light up one of them underground tanks across the street. Whaddaya say? I've even got marshmallows we can roast," and he cackles raucously.

"Uh... heh... funny you should mention the station across the street, Mister Stanford, because this might be your lucky day," Eve says with her best, most practiced businesswoman voice.

Gus chuffs a half-hearted laugh. "I think I ran outta lucky days back in aught-four, but I'll listen. Whatcha peddlin', girlie?"

"Well, Gus, may I call you Gus?"

"'S'my name. Been using it all my life."

"Well, Gus, what if I told you I could bring more business to your pumps and you wouldn't have to lift a finger?" She'd stayed up late the night before, coming up with this intro. According to her, she just nailed it.

"Ha! I've heard this one before," Gus says cynically, "What is it, some magazine subscription with a ten-gallon fill-up? Or maybe sunglasses? People love sunglasses. Or better yet, a discount program? That's what I need, to bring in even less money." Another bitter laugh.

Eve doesn't realize it, but her face has shifted from an optimistic young businesswoman's to a berated child's.

She suddenly thinks back to yesterday with Lily and tries her best to channel Li'l Bit's false bravado. She squares her jaw and says with more confidence than she has, "Actually, sir, I was going to propose a bikini car wash."

"A buh-watty-who, now? A car wash?" Gus glances across the street, and Eve can almost see the gears turning behind his old, grey watery eyes. He looks back at her, his cynicism and bitter dismissiveness gone now, "Continue, miss."

His change of tone emboldens her. Eve smiles brightly again, an excited gleam in her eyes, "So, what I propose is for you to host our bikini car wash fundraiser at this station. It would be a benefit of course," she explains excitedly, "with some proceeds going toward the Lost Sheep Children's Fund, and the rest going toward my club known as the DLG. We are a club promoting young women's empowerment, emotional awareness, and, uh, family... connections." Eve's insides are vibrating. She feels slightly nauseous, but also absolutely energized. She's got a nibble, will it turn into a bite?

Gus rubs a bristly cheek with one grimy finger. He shrugs and smiles at Eve and says, "Alright."

"Al... alright?" Eve asks with obvious surprise.

"Yeah, alright. When do you wanna throw this little bikini shindig?" He asks, his face brightening with visions of sexy girls, covered in suds, and a line of pollen-coated cars wrapping around the block. And of course, they'd fill their tanks while they wait, buying snacks as they watch the sexy show. And the best of all... seeing the lot across the street sitting empty.

Eve is astounded! This wasn't just a bite! The fish jumped into her damn boat!

"Next Saturday, 10am to 3?" Eve asks hopefully, heart pounding with excitement.

"Next Saturday? Why not this Saturday?"

"Uh, um, but... it's already Thursday. I need time to, uh..." Eve's mind reels trying to figure out if this is a viable solution for her new potential business partner.

Gus's old eyes twinkle as he sees her struggling, "Nah, nah, I was kiddin'. You take your time there, Queenie. Next Saturday it is."

Eve takes a deep breath, grateful for his willingness to cooperate. "Thank you, Mister Stanford, er, Gus. Thank you!" She puts out a small hand, and he smiles toothlessly around a toothpick, shaking it.

"Anytime, Queen Evie. You tell Princess Daye I said 'hey'."

"I will, Gus, and thanks again!" Eve says, giving him her sunniest smile. Eve runs out of the shop, almost squealing with delight, realizes she left her folder on the counter, rushes back in to find him holding it out for her. She grabs it, thanks him again, and rides for home, grinning the entire way.

A while later, she receives a text message from Lily.

Lily: Kim's on board. Just swing by and she'll get us suited up. When's the scrub-a-dub?

Eve: Oh, awesome! Tell her thanks! It's gonna be next Saturday from 10am till 3. Cookout at my place afterwards. (Eve hasn't cleared the cookout with her Daddy yet, but feels safe offering it)

Lily: Gotcha! I'll let her know.

Eve: Thanks Lily!

Things are falling into place for the fundraiser. Eve's excitement is building. She knows this means more than just securing funds. This is about planning and executing an event. Becoming a member of the community. Being active in something bigger than anything she can put on paper. It feels... good.

The following night brings the entire family nervous excitement as everyone collaborates to make Lily's date a success. Even Becky shows up to make sure Randall looks his best. She gives him a trim, and cleans up any loose hairs. "If he's going to take this girl out on her very first date, he's gonna look damn good," Becky thinks. "No one is ever gonna say my man looks ratchet. Especially if you're taking her to my favorite spot."

Randall nods in agreement, "Thanks, Bex."

"Aren't you worried Paolo is going to ask you why you're on a date with her and not me?"

"Nah, he's a pro. He probably sees people cheating on their partners all the time," Realizing this came out wrong, Randall tries to backtrack, "not that I'm cheating, it's just a... you know."

Becky lets him drown in his own quicksand before fishing him out with a "I know, dummy. I was kidding."

Meanwhile, Eve had painstakingly picked out an outfit from his "extremely limited wardrobe" which consists of a nice pair of jeans with a brown belt and shoes, a white shirt, a sport coat and a simple tie.

"This should go nicely with anything Lily chooses to wear. She doesn't really have much, and she has a certain... flair for the gothic. If you get there and she's in a more casual outfit, just take off the tie and undo the top button," Eve lectures.

"This is her first date, not mine," Randall reminds her.

"I know! But I just want it to be so special for her!" Eve cries. "Oh, and Daddy? Just so you know... Lily might be kinda... mean to you tonight."

Confused, Randall says, "Mean? Why would she be mean?"

"Because she really likes you," Eve explains. "The more she likes someone, the meaner she gets. It's like... her thing or whatever. She can't help it."

"So, if she's awful to you, it actually means she's having feelings," Daye adds.

"Just... don't take it personally, okay? And don't give up on her. She's worth it. I promise," Eve says.

"She's really great if you can get past all of that," Kaylee advises.

"Okay, okay... I promise to make her night a special one, no matter how mean she gets."

"Oh really? How 'special' are you gonna make it?" Daye says oozing innuendo.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... lemme outta here," Randall says as he leaves. "1223C Chestnut Court, right?"

Eve gives him a thumbs up.

"Bye Daddy. I love you!" Kaylee calls.

"Alright. I love you too. Don't have too much fun without me. Be back soon... I hope," Randall says with a laugh wondering how terrible Lily might actually be.

"Can you believe it?!" Kaylee squeals as the door closes. "After all this time, she's finally going on a date with him?? EEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"I know. I can't believe it either. Remember how she told him to go eat shit when she first met him? She's come a long way, " Daye replies, shaking her head.

"Yeah, now she'll probably tell him to go fuck himself," Eve quips, then sighs. "I just hope she stays 'Lily' long enough that 'Li'L Bit' doesn't ruin it for him... or her."

"Nah, they'll be fine. Daddy's got the patience of Job," Daye says, smiling as her Dad's car pulls away.

He pulls into the apartment complex and immediately feels a bit unsafe. This is not the best part of town. The cars in the parking lot here are all much older than his and in various states of disrepair. The equipment on what he assumes used to be a playground has been all but destroyed. The apartments themselves are from decades past, with broken windows long ago boarded up, security bars on the doors coated in cracked and peeling paint. He drives through the complex and pulls up to the curb outside Lily and Kim's apartment. He immediately knows which is theirs based on the surfing stickers, palm tree decals, and, of course, a dildo playfully suction-cupped to the front window.

Before he can call Lily's number, he sees her trundling down the steps towards his car. The daylight is just starting to fade, but he can still see her clearly. She is wearing a very pretty black babydoll dress with black and white striped stockings, a pair of platform shoes, and several bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Her hair is pink perfection, tailored into two little mini buns accented with her anime-themed clips.

He steps out of the car and opens her door. He can see her trying to hide her smile as she climbs in. A kid in a dirty t-shirt and torn jeans walks by and calls out, "Awww shit! Li'l Bit's gonna get that rich dick! Shit, you need it, bitch!" He walks away laughing derisively.

Randall glances up at the teenager, anger flaring in his head. He wants to go over and kick the little brat's ass, but Lily seems unfazed, and it's her date, so, with an angry sigh, he follows her lead.

He slides behind the wheel, looks at her again, and his anger evaporates. "Wow, Lily... you look great."

"Whatever," she says and looks out the window. Randall notices two things in the window's reflection. One, she is smiling, two, she is sticking up her middle finger up at the rude teen. Randall also notices with a mix of pity and understanding how she tries to pull the hem of her dress down to cover a small run in her stockings.

He puts the car in gear and begins backing out, and hears a quiet "You do too."

As they drive back through the apartment complex, Randall looks over at her and can feel the anger and humiliation baking off of her as she still reels from the kid's jab.

"Hey Lily," he says, trying to get her attention.

"What?" she says flatly out the window.

"Fuck that kid. He doesn't know shit."

Lily turns wide-eyed to face Randall, shock mixed with joy. He smiles at her.

"You know, when I was a kid, my dad left my mom and me. He took my sister with him. I was devastated." They pass the remains of the playground. "Anyway, after he left, me and my mom lived in a place a lot like this."

Lily turns to face him again, "You... you did?"

"Yep. Good old Colonial Court. It was pretty much a half-step away from being a government project. They finally tore it down a few years ago... pfft... good riddance." He laughs to himself. "I had to learn to keep my wits and fists at the ready. I'm not gonna lie, it was a rough way to grow up, but it ended up teaching me a lot of valuable lessons."

Lily looks back out the window, and mutters, "Yeah, well... this is just temporary until me and Kimmy get our house."

"Oh, okay. That's good, then." Randall doesn't press for details on this farce. He knows better. He used to say the same thing. "So, Chez Mercel, eh? Pretty fancy place."

"Yeah," Lily says, annoyed. Then Lily seems to switch to a different personality altogether. She closes her eyes, raises her eyebrows, and says, "I have found I enjoy the finer things in life," with uncharacteristic haughtiness.

Randall smiles, thinking she's kidding around. "Have you now? Good for you. Me too," Randall replies.

"Oh, yes. They know me at Chez." Her shortened form of the name doesn't really fit.

Randall nods and replies conversationally, "Nice... it's good to have friends, especially in the places you frequent."

"Oh, I'm basically a regular," Li'l Bit says, dropping the haughtiness a little while adding another layer to this story.

Randall begins to wonder, is she joking, or is she actually trying to convince him of these things? "Is that so?" he replies.

"Yeah. You'll see. I'll show you the good stuff on the menu. It's the least I can do," she finishes with an aristocratic flair.

Randall decides to change the subject and get her off of this joke, or lie, or whatever it is. "Let's uh, listen to some music. What do you like, Lily?"

"Do you have any Brahms?" She asks, still in her new snobby voice.

"The... composer?" Randall asks, bewildered.

"But of course."

"Uh, no, how about this 90's mix on Dotify?" He suggests.

"Whatever," Lily says, falling back into her normal voice, seemingly frustrated by his unwillingness to humor her.

Randall plays the 90's playlist and watches Lily out of the corner of his eye. After a minute or two, when she thinks he's not looking, he can see her mouthing the words to the songs and tapping her fingers to the beat.

They get about halfway to town and Randall breaks the awkward silence, "You know, Lily, I was just thinking, Shooterz has a three-dollar burger night tonight. I know a couple of girls that work there. Who knows, we might even be able to sneak you a beer or two."

Lily looks at him with a look of such disdain, he has to struggle not to laugh.

"Um... no... thank you," she says with an angsty finality that sends a slight chill down Randall's funny bone.

He smiles and says, "Chez Mercel it is." He finishes the drive with an expectant smile on his face.

R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R!!!! The chainsaw on the TV rips its way through the door of a college dorm room while another blonde bombshell screams bloody murder.

"Get her!" Daye yells while Kaylee shields her eyes.

"Run!" Kaylee yells at the TV. "Why don't they ever run?"

"Cuz, if they did, they couldn't get sawed up! Come on! Get her! GET HER!!" Daye cheers.

"I'm gonna go get more popcorn," Kaylee lies and excuses herself from the gory scene.

"Fine, ya baby. I want some too." She hits pause on the remote, and the screen freezes on the girl's screaming, blood spattered face.

As they walk to the kitchen, they hear a gentle purr coming from upstairs.

"Geez, she's still working on that outfit," Daye says.

"Yeah, but it's only been about half an hour."

"Yeah, today. And a couple of hours yesterday and three or four hours the day before that."

"Do you think we should say something?" Kaylee asks.

Daye shrugs. "Not yet. If she's still going in another thirty minutes, I might go talk to her."

Meanwhile, upstairs, Eve's room looks like a fabric bomb went off. Scraps pink and white plaid cloth are scattered around, and several T-shirts with decal attempts litter the floor. Her bed is covered in design sketches, some balled up, some with an angry red "X" scrawled through them. A belt lies coiled like a dead snake next to a pile of steel pyramid studs.

Eve is hunched over her sewing machine, feeding a piece of pink and white plaid cloth through it. Beads of sweat stand out on her forehead, and her tongue is stuck partially out in concentration.

"Just a little more and it'll be perfect..."

Suddenly, the machine jams.

"SHIT! Shit, shit, shit, shit shit!" Eve jerks the fabric out of the machine and grabs her seam ripper. She angrily goes about removing the stitching she just put in, cursing to herself the entire time.

Back downstairs, Kaylee and Daye look up at the ceiling, listening to her litany of curse words.

"Are sure we should wait?" Kaylee asks.

"Yeah. She's fine. She's only to the 'shit' stage. Once she gets to the 'fuck' stage, then we can go up."

Daye sits back down on the couch and presses "play" and cheers as the blonde bombshell is chainsawed into tiny pieces.

Randall parks the car about a block away from Chez Mercel. He is determined to give Lily the best possible first date experience that he can, so he quickly circles the car to open Lily's door for her. However, by the time he arrives, she is propping the door open with her foot, legs spread, while she cusses and fusses with her small purse.

"May I?" Randall asks gallantly, extending a hand.

"May you what?!" Li'l Bit snaps. She looks up at him, realizes what's happening, and becomes "Haughty Bit" again. "Oh, of course, darling," and gives him her hand and allows him to help her from the car.

He closes her door, places her hand in the crook of his arm, and escorts her properly to the restaurant. As he holds the door of Chez Mercel open for her, they are greeted by decadent aromas, French accordion music, and candlelit tables with white table cloths. It is a small restaurant, maybe ten tables in all, and a few seats at the small bar.

As soon as they walk in Randall sees Paolo, a portly man with a thin moustache in a maître d' uniform hurrying over. As he gets closer, Randall can see the recognition on Paolo's face and intercepts him.

"Hello! I have a reservation. Two for Flagg." He says a little too loudly, hoping Lily will hear and believe his upcoming fib. "It's nice to finally be able to eat here for once. This is my first time," he says, dropping Paolo a wink.

Paolo looks legitimately confused for a moment, then nods and says, "By all means," with a heavy French accent.

"And of course you know Lily," Randall adds.

Paolo pauses ever so briefly and responds, "Ah, oui. Lily (sounds like Lee-lee). Bienvenue," He says, his professionalism taking the place of any judgments.

Paolo shows them to an empty table near the window, a single candle burning in the center. Paolo pulls Lily's chair out for her, and she daintily sits. Randall sits across from her. Paolo brings them a carafe of water and two glasses and their menus. He assures them that they will be taken care of shortly.

"Thank you, Pierre," Lily smiles condescendingly, shooing him away. "That will be all."

Paolo pauses, forces a smile, bows slightly, and walks away, giving Randall a concerned look.

Lily's face seems to glow in the candlelight, the shadows dancing playfully across her face. She looks into the candle's flame, eyes shining beautifully, and then up into Randall's face. She is radiant.

"It's so nice here," she whispers, as she touches the glass votive with her fingers, the flames reflecting the fire in her eyes.

Randall nods, genuinely agreeing, "Yeah, it really is. Especially now. Thanks for bringing me here, Lily." He surprises himself by meaning it. He reaches across the table to hold her hand.

Sensing his intent, she balls up her fist and pulls it away as if it doesn't belong. Li'l Bit chuffs and says, "I mean, it's always like this. Why do you think I come here?"

Randall flinches minutely from the rejection. "Jesus, who hurt you, Lily?" He thinks. Then he remembers his daughters telling him how their parents deserted Lily and her sister, Kim.

The waiter comes to take their drink order. Randall orders a bottle of Petite Sirah and two glasses. The waiter raises an eyebrow at Lily's small stature, but he knows Randall and goes about his business.

"I'm going to go ask 'Pierre' about the specials. I'll be right back," Randall says.

He approaches Paolo and slips him the fifty he keeps in his wallet in case of emergencies. "If this ain't an emergency, I don't know what is," he thinks.

"Hey Paolo, just let everyone know, I'm sorry in advance. Just do your best... I want to make her night a good one, so please be patient."

"Anything for you, Monsieur Flagg. Merci."

He returns to the table saying, "Wouldn't you know it, they already sold out of tonight's specials."

"Oh well, I usually like the um..." Lily glances through the French Menu. She realizes it is all written in French, and sees the one item she recognizes, "The escargot (she pronounces it with a hard "t")."

"Really?" Randall replies, somewhat amused, but congenial. "I would've thought maybe the cordon bleu?"

"No. The escargot is to die for," Li'l Bit insists, still pronouncing the 't'.

Randall has to wonder if she knows what escargot is. He almost feels bad for her, but then again, maybe this is the lesson she needs.

"Escargot it is then," he says.

The waiter returns in a few minutes, bringing their bottle of wine. He performs the wine service impeccably. However, when he pours the first taste into Lily's glass, she says, "That's it? That's all I get?"

The waiter glances to Randall who nods almost imperceptibly to the waiter, the waiter returns the same nod and fills her glass the rest of the way. He then takes their order.

Randall orders for both of them, Escargot for the lady (he makes a show of "finding" it on the menu and purposefully mispronounces it the same way Lily has) and the cordon bleu for himself. He figures he can split his with Lily once she has reached the "FO" stage of this "FA".

"Would the mademoiselle care for the cuisses de grenouille appetizer?" the waiter asks Lily with a glint in his eye.

Randall, knowing that Lily would most likely not want frog legs is about to say "That won't be necessary", but Li'l Bit says "Of course, Pierre. That's a silly question. You know I always get the cuses... that."

The waiter nods to Lily and smiles at Randall and leaves to relay their order to the kitchen. Randall nods to himself and lets the staff have their fun.

He looks across at Lily. "Pierre is apparently the only French name she knows," he thinks, "First the maître d' was Pierre, now the waiter is. He shakes his head slightly. He feels bad for her. He does. She's such a cute girl. She's so innocent and oblivious. His heart goes out to her.

"What are you looking at?" Li'l Bit snaps.

... and she ruins the moment again.

He picks up his glass of wine and smiles.

"To uh, first dates and... new experiences," he says with a bit of relish.

Their glasses clink softly, and Lily smiles as she takes a sip of wine.

"So, Lily. About that note."

She looks at him from the corner of her eye. "What about it?" Li'l Bit asks defensively.

"I, well, I was just wondering... I hope you didn't mean what you said the other day, you know, about only writing it to get a charm? Because, if that's true, then... I don't know... that would really hurt my feelings."

Lily takes another sip of wine, looks out the window, her expression softening. She sighs.

She turns to Randall, her expression hardening again, and says, "Whelp, sounds like a 'you' problem if you ask me."

Unprepared for such a ruthless assault, this stings Randall as if she had physically slapped him. He stares at her sternly for a hard moment.

Li'l Bit smiles bitterly at him, seeing the hurt on his face. "What?" she asks, as if daring him to defend himself.

Randall nods to himself, sighs, and says calmly and evenly, "Okay. Good to know. I guess that's something I will have to keep in mind."

Her smile falters, and for a brief moment, a look of real fear flashes across her face before she turns and looks out the window again.

After a brief pause, Randall sees her drop the hard exterior again. "I mean... I didn't mean that I didn't mean all of it..." she says quietly to her reflection in the glass.

Randall's heart breaks for her, but he won't let her off this hook she has just hung herself on. He has learned his lesson. When he reaches out, she lashes out. He decides to let her fine dining fantasy play out.

Small raindrops begin to streak the window, a flash of lightning momentarily brightens the sky outside, and thunder rumbles ominously in the distance.

"FUUUUUCK! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! FUUUUUUCK! AHHH!"

"Okay, that does it," Daye says in frustration, pausing the movie again and stamping up the stairs, Kaylee following cautiously behind.

Daye sweeps the door open to Eve's room and is shocked. It looks terrible in here.

"What the fuck, Eve?" Daye asks.

"GO AWAY! GET OUT!" Eve is crying, red-faced, clutching most of a skirt with a few lengths of thread hanging from the waistband.

"Maybe we should leave..."Kaylee offers, but Daye ignores this.

"Eve," Daye says in a gentle voice that Kaylee is unaccustomed to hearing come from her. "Come on. Come on downstairs and relax," she orders, then softens a little more and offers, "We have popcorn."

"NO! I'm so close to being done!!" Eve yells.

"Done doing what? Turning your room into a landfill? Jesus Christ, Eve, look around."

"Daye," Eve says quietly through her tears, "Please. Please go away. I need to finish this."

"No, you don't. You don't NEED to do anything except take a break. When was the last time you ate?"

Silence

"That's what I thought," Daye says with love and mild contempt. "Come downstairs, now. We're going to feed you, get you a glass of wine, and then the three of us are going to come back up here and finish this, together."

Eve begins another tirade, getting louder with each statement. "You won't know what to do. It'll get all messed up. You'll ruin everything!"

"Eve? NOW." Daye says with finality. "We're not doing this shit again. It's the cosplay contest all over again. Come downstairs or I'll... I'll..." Daye's voice drops to a seriously threatening whisper, "Or I'll smash that goddamn sewing machine into a million fucking pieces."

"You wouldn't dare!" Eve says, reflecting her sister's tone.

"Try me." Daye folds her arms, then, with one finger, points toward the door. "Go. Downstairs. Now."

Eve sits on the floor, steaming. "God, I hate you sometimes," she says as she stands up and walks out the door.

A while later, Eve returns to her room with Daye and Kaylee in tow. She is now fed and a slight bit tipsy. When she walks back into her demolished room, she is shocked as if seeing it for the first time, "Holy shit! What did I do?"

"I'll help you clean it up," Kaylee says.

"Thanks, Kay, but you don't need to do that." Eve picks up a few pieces of fabric off the floor. "It's like walking through a warzone."

"Yeah, well, now you see why I made you stop," Daye explains. "What can we do to help, boss?" Daye adds with a smile.

"Um... I... I'm not sure," Eve says, clearly puzzled.

"I'm good at ironing, maybe I could do the decal," Kaylee says.

"And I like stabbing things, maybe I could work on the belt," Daye says with a playfully malicious smile.

A few minutes later Kaylee is focused on cutting out the decal with a razor knife while the iron heats up, and Daye is using a small wooden mallet to hammer the studs into the belt. Eve is hovering over them both, wringing her hands and pointing out any minor mistakes.

"Eve, I love you, but I swear to god if you don't get out of my face, I'm going to beat you to death with this little tiny hammer!" Daye says, clearly at her wit's end.

"Sorry... sorry..."Eve backs away and sits at her sewing machine. "Kaylee, if you keep cutting, you're gonna--"

"EVE!" Daye yells.

"Sorry!" Eve turns, picks up her skirt and begins feeding it through the machine again.

"So, how do you think Dad and Lily are doing?" Daye asks suggestively.

"Oh, I bet they're having so much fun!" Kaylee replies, a wistful romantic expression on her face.

The waiter comes and delivers their cuisses de grenouille. "Bon appétit," he says to Lily.

Lily looks at the plate. A few leaves of lettuce provide a bed for the four pairs of frog legs to rest, posed almost like dancing ballerinas. Lily looks at them, trying to hide the horror and disgust in her eyes. She thinks she knows what these are, but she isn't certain.

Randall takes a pair of frog legs on his plate, squeezing the juice from a lemon wedge onto them. Lily does the same. She is now watching him, following his lead. No longer wanting to risk making things worse for herself.

Randall begins cutting into his legs with his knife and fork, Lily mirrors him, anxiety growing in her stare.

Randall takes his first bite. "Mmmm. These are good, Lily. Thanks for ordering them."

Lily takes a minuscule bite of the meat, chewing hesitantly, hoping this isn't what she thinks it is. "These chicken wings are weird," she says, hoping desperately that she's wrong.

"Hmm? You mean the frog legs? Randall asks as he takes another bite. "They taste fine to me."

He observes, not without humor, as she begins to turn a little green herself, much like these late amphibious ballerinas once were.

The rain is now falling harder as Randall devours his cuisses de grenouille. Meanwhile, Lily pushes hers around on her plate, not eating.

"So, you like them, the... frog legs?" she asks tentatively.

"Sure, why not. They kinda taste like chicken... and kinda like fish. Like a chicken-fish," he says, thinking, "Dad joke to the rescue!"

For Lily, his strange description actually helps dispel the horror she was feeling toward the frog legs. "It's a chicken-fish," she thinks, "Just an everyday run-of-the-mill chicken-fish," and takes another, larger bite... and he's right. It does kind of taste like a chicken-fish, whatever that is.

She is just starting to enjoy her appetizer, when the entrees arrive.

As the waiter places the shallow bowl of eight beautifully arranged snails in front of Lily, a bright flash of lightning bathes them in a metallic blue, unearthly brilliance. "Escargot for the lady," the waiter says pleasantly, and the clap of thunder crashes through the restaurant.

Lily is done. She is through pretending. The snails look up at her like the eight eyes of some giant spider as another flash of lightning explodes across the sky. Her stomach does flip-flops at the thought of eating these... alien... things.

"No," she says, standing and looking at Randall defiantly, shaking her head. "No, nuh-uh. No fucking way!"

Randall looks at her at first in mock surprise, but seeing her real horror, it quickly turns to honest concern.

"What the ever-fucking FUCK is that??!!" She shouts, pointing to the plate of snails. The waiter backs away, and the other diners in the restaurant fall silent, staring. The first of her tears rolls down her face.

She shifts her point to Randall. "I came here with you because I wanted to have a nice date! Not to eat fucking frogs or fucking slugs or whatever the fuck those are!! I... I wanted to come here because I wanted... because I thought you'd... because I... I... I love... UGH!!"

Sobbing, Lily dashes out the door and into the pouring rain.

Randall watches as she flees past the window. He digs in his pocket, throws his credit card on the table, and runs out after her. On his way out, he catches a glimpse of the waitstaff trying to hold back laughter.

"Lily?! Lily!!" He calls into the storm. As soon as he leaves the restaurant, he is instantly soaked; the rain is coming down in sheets. As he jogs down the block, he calls her name again. Lightning splits the sky in a dazzling display, followed by another deafening crack and rumble of thunder.

As the thunder rolls off into the distance, he can hear her sobs. She is crying openly, now. He follows the sound of her voice and enters a cemetery. His wife's cemetery.

Lily is huddled up on a bench under the eaves of a mausoleum, her knees are pulled up to her chin, and she is hiding her face.

"Lily?" he asks, approaching slowy.

"GO AWAY! I HATE YOU!"

He pauses briefly, but continues his slow approach. Not knowing what to say, he says, "Lily... I'm sorry." Thunder rumbles distantly as he sits at the far end of the small bench and places a hand on her shoulder. She is trembling all over and shaking with the force of her crying.

"Lily..."

Before he can finish, she leaps at him, startling him, but she isn't attacking, she is holding him, clutching at him, clinging to him like someone who is drowning clings to a life raft. He can feel the beat of her heart, the heat of her tears on his face, and the breath of her sobs on the side of his neck. He holds her, rubbing her back in soothing circles.

They stay like this for a few minutes. The torrential downpour eases a bit, and Lily calms down.

"Lily?"

"What?" She asks, her voice tear-choked and miserable.

"Lily, I want you to know, I really, truly liked your letter. It meant a lot to me." Randall says in the gentlest tone he can muster.

Lily stops shaking. She sits back, looking at him. In the dim light, he can't tell the difference between her tears and the rain. Her face crumples, showing the chaos boiling inside her, "You're so stupid!" Li'l Bit blurts out in a mix of relief, exasperation, and sheer joy.

"What? I..."

Her grimace becomes a look of sad loneliness, and Lily kisses him. She kisses him with a passion and fear he has never experienced with anyone. She kisses him desperately and lovingly. Her tongue flutters against his, tentatively at first, and then with an intense need, a yearning to be close, to be connected. He can feel her heart pounding against his, beating rapidly, like a frightened bird's.

The rain has almost stopped, now. The eaves of the mausoleum still drip, and the couple sitting on the bench break their first kiss and sit, regarding one another, truly, honestly, for the very first time.

Lily giggles unexpectedly, then the giggle turns to a laugh.

"Frog legs?! Chicken-fish??!! What the hell was I thinking??" Lily laughs again, harder this time. "I'm... I'm so sorry. Sorry for taking you there. It was awful... I was awful"

"Oh, it wasn't that bad," Randall responds, smiling flirtatiously, "and I'd venture to say the company was actually the best part of the meal.

Lily's grin widens.

"Are you hungry?" He asks.

"For food?" she asks suggestively.

"Yes, for food," Randall replies.

Lily sighs with slight disappointment, then looks up, still smiling. "Starved."

They leave the cemetery hand-in-hand, soaking wet, and more than anything, happy.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

Yet another blonde bombshell gets sawed into bits.

"I 'saw' that coming!" Daye cheers.

"Ugh... gross. Serves her right, though. She tripped over nothing. They always trip over nothing," Kaylee complains.

The movie switches to a scene of a college girl creeping down her dormitory hall holding a kitchen knife, her brown hair tucked into a bun.

"See? She's gonna kick his ass," Daye says, relishing the presumed ending of the movie.

"With that little knife versus a chainsaw? How?"

"I dunno, but I bet she does."

Kaylee watches the movie, her anxiety building.

Suddenly, a thump from upstairs makes her jump. Then after a succession of thumps, she realizes it's Eve walking around in her platform heels.

"Can you believe how good the outfit turned out?" Kalee asks, her eyes gleaming.

"Psh... of course it did. I was helping," Daye replies, a good-humored smile on her face.

"Do you think Daddy will like it?"

"Ha! Daddy's gonna love it. So will the other girls. Trust me," Daye says confidently.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"How many times do I have to say it? I'm always right."

Upstairs, Eve is trying on the outfit, making notes about what needs to be brought in or let out, finding the perfect height placement of the thigh strap, and generally nitpicking the whole thing to death. The difference now is, the giant grin spreading across her face.

"I did it," she thinks, then pauses recognizing the fallacy in her initial thought. "We did it," she corrects herself. This thought makes her heart swell with even more pride. "For the club, by the club," she thinks wildly, smiling even more broadly.

"They're gonna love it," she says to her reflection.

They arrive at Shooterz a few minutes later. Shooterz is a typical sports bar with several large televisions hanging on the walls. There is a dining area at one end with pool tables, air hockey, and other arcade games at the other. The place smells like fried foods, beer, and good times. Scantily clad women in vaguely western style outfits are taking orders and running food to the patrons.

Trish is behind the bar. She is a middle-aged woman, and while she isn't at all unattractive, one can tell that her best-looking years are well behind her. She is somewhat tall, with auburn braids dangling playfully from beneath her cowboy hat. The red and white checkered halter top barely contains her sizable breasts, and her very short jean shorts show off her other "assets" with reckless abandon. She is a jolly, uninhibited woman who seems a natural for this particular restaurant.

She sees Randall approaching, rain dripping from the tip of his tie and his shoes squishing. She smiles and says, "Well, if it ain't randy Randy! What, you get caught out in the storm?"

"Hey, Trish. Yeah. This is Lily, my new... friend," he says.

Trish hands them each a clean, dry bar towel and says to Lily, "Watch it, honey. This one has a way with the ladies," and laughs. "Hey, don't I know you? Yeah. You work at Taboo, don'tcha?" Trish, as usual. She is chewing on a wad of gum, and she pops it as if to add an extra question mark.

"Yeah, so?" Lily bristles slightly at Trish.

Trish shrugs, unfazed, "Nothin'. Cool store... good underwear... better toys," she drops Lily a sly wink. She places both hands on the bar and asks, "What'll ya have?"

"Two of the three-dollar burgers all the way and an order of chili-cheez tots, please. Oh, and I'll have a beer and Lily will have..."

"The same," Lily says, challenging Randall.

Trish looks at Randall, who shrugs at her. Trish looks around, shrugs back, and says, "Two cheap and easies, comin' up (an inside joke about Randall's beer choice)."

Lily's mischievous smile widens considerably as she realizes she got one over on this lady.

"Trish is an old friend of mine," Randall says as he leads them to one of the high-top tables. "She doesn't mind you're underage for alcohol as long as you're with me."

Outwardly, Li'l bit seems a bit crestfallen, inwardly, Lily is absolutely glowing.

Trish brings them the "cheap and easies" -- two bottles of cheap beer. They both take sips and are quiet for a moment.

Lily picks at the label on her beer bottle, her voice barely audible over the bar noise. "You want to know why I was such a bitch tonight?"

"You weren't--"

"Yes, I was." She looks up at him, eyes bright with unshed tears. "I was awful and you know it. And you... you just... you kept being nice. Even when I was being horrible."

Randall waits, sensing she's building to something.

"My dad never... he never took me anywhere. Never opened doors or pulled out chairs," she lifts her bottle, "never shared a beer with his daughters or any of that stuff. And tonight, when you did all that..." Her voice breaks slightly. "I guess this feels like what having a real dad might be like."

"Lily..."

"And I hate that!" The words explode out of her. "I hate you for making me feel safe and cared for when both know it's all just bullshit. I hate that you make me feel like maybe I'm worth something, and not just a piece of trash from the shitty apartments."

She wipes her eyes angrily. "So, I did what I always do, I tried to push you away. Because feeling like this--feeling like someone actually gives a shit--it hurts. At least it will in the end when you leave." A tear slips down one cheek. "I can't have things like this. I'm not allowed."

"What aren't you allowed to have?"

"Oh, I don't know, "She ticks things off on her fingers, "Um, how about a family that doesn't leave. Someone who sticks around when things get messy." She meets his eyes. "Someone who looks at me the way you look at your daughters. Like I matter."

"You do matter, Lily."

She holds up a finger to him, warning him. "Don't." Her voice is fierce. "Don't say things like that. Because when you do, I start believing that maybe I could be part of something good for once. And then when you figure out what I really am..."

"What are you really?"

"Broken. Angry. Too much trouble." She laughs bitterly. "Just ask my parents."

Randall sits back and studies her for a long moment. Then he grins. "Well, you're definitely trouble. I'll give you that."

Lily blinks, thrown off by his response.

"I mean, you took me to a fancy French restaurant where you ordered snails and frog legs without knowing what they were. That's either trouble or the best entertainment I've had in years."

Lily's mouth twitches, trying not to laugh. "It wasn't funny."

"Are you kidding? You called Paolo 'Pierre' three times. The waitstaff was placing bets on whether you'd actually eat the escargot."

"They were not!"

"Twenty bucks says they were. And when you jumped up and yelled 'What the ever-fucking FUCK is that?!' - I thought the old lady at the table beside us was going to have a heart attack."

Lily covers her face with her hands, but he can see she's starting to smile. "Holy shit, I'm never living that down, am I?"

"Nope. But you know what?" He leans forward conspiratorially. "I've been to Chez Mercel dozens of times for dates and business dinners. Boring as hell. Tonight was the first time I actually had fun there."

"Because I made a complete ass of myself?"

"Because you were real. Even when you were trying not to be." He raises his beer. "To the girl who taught me that sometimes the best part of fine dining is ending up in a graveyard."

Lily looks at him like he's crazy, then slowly raises her own beer. "To the guy who followed me into cemetery instead of eating overpriced chicken."

Their bottles clink, and Lily is actually laughing now. "I can't believe you stayed past the frog legs."

"Are you kidding? Best dinner theater I've ever seen." He pauses, his expression growing more thoughtful. "Plus, there's something else you should know about tonight."

"What?"

"That cemetery where we ended up? Where you... where we talked?" He takes a sip of his beer. "That's where my wife is buried. Heather."

Lily's eyes widen. "Oh God, Randall, I'm so sorry. I didn't know--"

"No, it's okay. Actually, it's... it's kind of perfect, in a weird way." He looks at her seriously. "You know what I was thinking when I found you on that bench? I was thinking how Heather would have liked you. How she would have understood what you were going through."

"She would?"

Randall nods. "She lost her mom when she was six. Had to live with her dad who ended up... who didn't really love her for being her. She knew what it felt like to think you're trash, or to think you're too much trouble for people to want to stick around." He leans forward. "But she said something to me just before she died that I've never forgotten. Most of her friends had stopped visiting her in the hospital, but me, and the girls, and Becky visited almost every day up until the end. It never bothered her that her other friends stopped showing up. I personally hated them for it. I asked her how she could be so indifferent, and you know what she said?" Randall looks at Lily sternly and says, "She said the people worth having in your life don't leave when things get hard. The ones that leave are the ones that were never really there to begin with."

Lily stares at him, processing this.

"So, when you tell me you're broken or too much trouble... I've heard that before. From someone I loved more than anything. And I'm here to tell you the same thing she told me - the right people don't run away when you show them who you really are, they run towards you."

Lily looks down at her hands, a fragment of beer bottle label stuck under one thumbnail. She peeks back up at him. "Even into a graveyard during a thunderstorm?"

"Even into a graveyard during a thunderstorm," he says with a warm smile.

For the first time all evening, she looks at him without any walls up at all, and he sees her, the real her, looking at him. She is absolutely gorgeous.

She looks down at her bottle again. "The weird thing is... I'm not usually like that. Like I was tonight, I mean," she continues, shaking her head. "At work, with customers, even with your daughters - I'm fine. I can handle myself. But with you..." she looks him in the eye and chuffs a small laugh, "You scare the shit out of me, Randall."

"What? Why?"

She goes back to peeling her bottle. "I don't know. I guess because I don't know what to do with someone like you. Someone who sees right through my bullshit. Watches while I act like a psycho bitch and still doesn't run away screaming." Her voice drops. "I don't know... I guess when I'm around people I can intimidate, I feel in control. With you, I feel like that thirteen-year-old kid whose parents just disappeared."

"And that's when the psycho-bitch comes out?" Randall asks, slightly amused.

"Yeah." She laughs bitterly. "It's almost like the more I like someone, the worse I treat them." He looks at him and says mockingly as if quoting from a book, "Cuz you can't lose what you never really had, right?"

"I'm still here, Lily."

Her expression shifts, walls slamming back up. "And what? Am I supposed to 'have' you now? Is that what you're trying to say? What are you, my boyfriend? My daddy? What are we even doing here?"

Randall doesn't flinch. He just takes a sip of his beer, his eyes never leaving hers. He sets his beer down, leans forward, and says calmly, "I'm just offering to be your friend, Lily. Nothing more, nothing less."

She leans back and folds her arms. "Friend." She practically spits the word.

"Well, I don't know what this is," he gestures at both of them, "and I don't know where it's going. But I know I like spending time with you."

The fight goes out of her as quickly as it came. She sighs heavily. "Sorry," she mumbles. "I did it again, didn't I?"

"Yep. Right on schedule." He grins.

Despite herself, she laughs, tears in her eyes, making them sparkle. "God, I'm exhausting. Why do you even want to be with me?"

Randall seems to consider this and grins playfully, "I think it's your hair. Yeah, that's gotta be it. I have a thing for girls with bright pink hair."

Lily rolls her eyes but she's smiling. "Very funny."

"No, wait, I'm wrong. It's definitely the dildo stuck to your window back home.

She looks at him, a little shocked, then smiles a little and says, "What're you saying, Randall? You like dildos? I didn't have you 'pegged' for that kinda guy."

They both laugh at this.

"See? You make me laugh, when you're being yourself. But even when you're being awful, there's something about you that's still so... you. Like calling everyone Pierre tonight."

"That wasn't funny, that was embarrassing."

"It was honest, even if it didn't seem so. It's what I like most about you. Even when you're lying - like tonight with the whole aristocrat thing - you're so bad at it that the real you shines through anyway." He leans back. "You can't fake being genuine, Lily."

She stares at him. "Even when I'm being a complete bitch?"

"Especially then. Because that's when you're trying the hardest to protect yourself. And you wouldn't try that hard if there wasn't something in there worth protecting."

Trish arrives with their burgers and chili-cheese tots, breaking the moment. Two burgers for two drowned rats."

As they dig into their food, the conversation flows more easily. Lily seems somewhat relaxed, like a weight has been lifted. They talk and laugh, and by the time they finish eating, she's truly comfortable at last.

"So," Randall says, gesturing toward the arcade area, "wanna play some games?"

Lily grins mischievously. "Isn't that what we've been doing all night?"

A while later, they are back in the car, headed to Lily's apartment. Randall returned briefly to Chez Mercel to pick up his card and give the waitstaff a sizable tip for the disruption. Lily waited outside, too embarrassed to come in.

On the car ride home, Lily seems much more at ease than at the beginning of the date. Granted, she has had a couple of beers at Shooterz, but mostly, she sees Randall as at least a friend, if not more. She looks over at him and says, "Thank you, this night has been... educational." She giggles musically. Randall is touched by how pretty her genuine laugh is. She adds, "No, but really. Thank you." And she takes his hand in hers.

"I hope you had fun, Lily. I know I did... at least during the second part," he says with a playful smile on his face.

"Absolutely. I especially liked the punching bag! POW!" she laughs again, punching the air with her other hand.

"Yeah, that was incredible!" Randall exclaims. "How'd you do that?"

"Haha, easy. I just pretended the bag was your stupid face!" She squeals with playfully mean laughter.

They ride along in joyful silence.

Lily speaks up after a few moments. "You know, you don't have to take me home if you don't want to."

Randall glances over at her, trying to see if this is Lily or if it's a Li'l Bit trap. "No? Where should we go?"

"I mean... we could go back to your house, couldn't we?"

Randall is torn, his mind racing. "Is she saying what I think she's saying? If she wants to have sex... would that be wrong? She's so... fragile, emotionally anyway. I probably shouldn't... then again, she's friends with the girls, maybe she just wants to see them."

"Forget it. Nevermind. I'll just go home," she says flatly, obviously hurt and disappointed by his hesitation.

"No, no, no, you don't understand. I... I would love for you to come home with me, I just don't know if you... If we should... you know?" It's Randall's turn to be insecure.

Lily's jaw drops, and she backhands him across the bicep. "As if! Look at you thinking you're gonna get lucky. Psh! What kinda slut do you think I am?" she says, finishing with another one of those melodic giggles.

"No," she continues. "I just thought, you know, maybe we could watch a movie. Hell, Evie or Daye could watch it with us if you want... if you're scared," she finishes suggestively. "I just... I like being near you." This last part she says so quietly, Randall barely hears it.

Randall doesn't speak; he just turns the car in the direction of home and takes Lily's hand again.

She smiles gratefully up at him, then looks out the window. This time when he looks at her reflection, he can see a girl who is happy, excited, and absolutely love-struck.

His internal alarm bells start to go off, warning him not to do this, not to get involved with her, but he ignores them. This is too fun. She is too sweet. She needs this, and he thinks he does, too.

"Heather would approve," he thinks, and a bittersweet smile crosses his face.

They pull up in the driveway of Randall's house at about 11:45 pm. The house looks dark except for the bluish light of the downstairs TV being on.

"Well, this is it, "Randall says.

"What's it?" Lily asks, confusion on her face.

"This is the end of our date. Once we go inside, it'll be Eve and Daye and Kaylee with a thousand questions and giggles, so on and so forth. So, again, I say, this is it."

Lily looks at the house, knowing Randall is right. She looks at him, needful, yearning, but still insecure in her ability to ask.

"I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind a goodnight kiss. I mean, it is the end of the date, isn't it? It seems only fair. Like... a rule, right?"

A playful sparkle hits her eyes. "Yeah, it's the rules. We have to follow the rules," she says with mock sincerity. She smiles, unbuckles her safety belt, and gets on her knees in the seat. She gently kisses Randall... then attacks him with kisses.

Suddenly, in the midst of her starlight-fueled kiss bombardment, the porch light comes on. Lily, startled, slips back into her seat as if nothing happened.

Randall chuckles. "Well, it looks like we've been made, partner. You ready?"

Lily, now seeing that it's Daye, smiling at the front door, grins and says, "Ready."

They disembark from the car and, thus, from the date, and make their way inside the house.

Daye is the picture of uncontrollable excitement when she opens the door. She is grinning from ear to ear. Kaylee is right behind her, a similar expression on her face.

"He-ey. Welcome home, lovebirds!" Daye croons as they walk in. Randall feels Lily stiffen at this, and squeezes her hand trying to comfort her.

"How was it? Was it magical? How was the food? What did you order? Ohmygod, was it romantic? Did you kiss? How was the kiss? When did he kiss you? Was it by candlelight?" and on and on. Lily stiffening more and more with each question.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa... hold it. Let us in the house first. You girls sound like you've been hanging around Chelsea too much," Randall chuckles.

Lily actually laughs a little at this.

Kaylee can't help herself, "Awwwww... they're holding hands!"

Lily immediately lets go of Randall's hand and folds her arms.

"It was fine," she says defensively, "As soon as we got to the strip club."

"Lily..." Randall says.

Lily looks up at Randall, winks, and says, "Sorry, Daddy," and giggles wickedly.

Someone clears their throat.

"Ohmygod!" Kaylee whispers.

There on the landing stands Eve. She is wearing the DLG outfit, looking immaculately, astonishingly, amazingly gorgeous. She looks... perfect.

The outfit hugs her body, accentuating her curves. The studded belt is cocked to the perfect angle to offset the geometrical design of the plaid. The t-shirt exposes her midriff without being too revealing and the decal hugs her perky breasts without overwhelming them. Her choker glistens in the stairwell light, and her bag hangs at her side, proudly emblazoned with the DLG logo. Her thigh strap is adjusted so that it is tight enough to show the impression of firm athletic tone as well as a softer feminine grace, and the heart-shaped buckle shines happily. The two small hearts on her pink platform heels glimmer brightly.

Eve herself is beaming.

"Well? What do you think?" she asks, cheerily.

"Whoooaaaa... I knew it was gonna look good, but, damn, Evie!" Daye half whispers, eyes glistening in amazement.

"Yeah..." is all Kaylee can manage.

"I want one," Lily says automatically, then catches herself and adds, "I mean, you know... whenever."

"You look absolutely stunning, sweetheart," Randall says with genuine pride. "Well done."

"Thanks Daddy," Eve says with a giggle. "I did turn out well, didn't it?" She slides down the banister and hops down to hug everyone.

"I did the belt," Daye says to everyone as she hugs Eve.

"And Kay did the decal," Eve adds, knowing Kaylee would never speak up for herself. "Thank you guys so much. I literally couldn't have done it without you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... what's new?" Daye says teasingly.

"So, girls, is it okay if Lily spends the night tonight?"

The three of them eye Randall with a bit of subdued shock.

"Not like... with me... just... because..."

"You guys have Holo, and I want to watch that Summer Slasher Series you guys have been going on and on about," Lily interjects.

"Okay, well, after all that, I think I'm going to bed," Randall says. He turns to Eve and adds, "Baby, you look amazing, really. I'm very proud of all of you."

"Goodnight Lily. Thanks for a wonderful night."

Lily looks up at him as he climbs the stairs. She's more than a little disappointed, but torn between wanting to join him and being with the girls she is most comfortable with.

"'Night," is all she says.

"I'm gonna go change," Eve says.

"Come on and watch the movie with us, Lils!" Kaylee squeaks.

"Okay," Lily says somberly and joins Kaylee and Daye on the couch.

Eve clip-clops back up the stairs to change.

When she opens the door to her room, her Daddy is standing there, a sly smile on his face. He puts a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet.

"I really like that outfit, Evie. A lot," he growls quietly.

"Thank you, Daddy," Eve says in her most hopeful girly voice.

"Let me take a better look," he orders.

"Yes, Daddy," Eve purrs and does a slow pirouette, her shoes tapping lightly on the floor. When she faces him again, she gives him her one eyebrow up look. "What do think, Daddy?"

"Hmmm... Let me see the back again... I think you're missing something," Randall says, concerned.

Her expression turns to dismay and she says, "Oh, okay."

"Yep... just as I suspected," Randall says.

"What is it, Daddy? What did I miss?" frantically trying to think of what she forgot.

"I can't believe you could leave out something so... big. Here, bend over slightly, let me see if I can fix it."

Eve feels him messing with the hem of her skirt.

"You know, Evie, I really like those shoes. They make you the perfect height."

"But, Daddy, you always say you like my size."

"I do, pumpkin. I do..."

Eve hears his zipper come undone just before he flips the back of her skirt up and yanks her little lacy panties down.

"... but now I can do this a lot more easily," Randall finishes and plunges himself deep inside Eve's tiny wet hole.

Eve does her best to stifle her cries. His length runs in and out of her, over and over.

"MMM. MMM. MMMM. MMMM." Eve moans quietly through her nose.

"That's right, stay quiet baby," he pants. "I doubt my date would like to know I brought her home only to fuck my daughter."

He rams himself in and out of her. Eve braces herself against the door. In Randall's mind, he can't help but flash to that kiss, the feel of Lily's body pressed against his. How she clung to him, thrusting her tongue against his. Her heart beating wildly in her chest.

"Oh... Daddy..." Eve half-whispers.

"Shhhhhh..." Randall replies. "I like this outfit a lot, baby. I promise to do this again any time you wear it."

"MMMM... then I'll... fuck... never take it off, Daddy... I want your dick in me... ungh, god... forever." Eve whispers, her breath hitching with each of Randall's thrusts.

Eve's shoes begin to rattle against the floor as her legs start to shake. Randall withdraws, spins her around, and picks her up. She wraps her legs around him as she settles herself back onto him, sliding slowly down.

"Oh... my... god..." Her breathy voice tickles Randall's ear, and she buries her face into his shoulder, moaning into it.

Randall grabs her by her ass cheeks and begins running his daughter's body up and down the length of his cock, quickly building himself toward his climax. Her small breasts heave up and down under her shirt. While he loves his daughter, tonight this act is more about physical release than emotion.

Eve is now covering her mouth and screaming into her hand. Randall feels her pussy clamp down on him as her frame begins to buck and shake in his arms. He feels her cumming on him. This alone triggers his own orgasm.

Up, down, up, down, he jams her down onto his cock as far as he can, over and over.

His balls tighten, a spark ignites, and he feels himself explode into her. Now he is using her to pump the cum from his balls.

Eve is quietly giggling now, happy to have pleased her man with her body.

He gradually slows his pace as he empties his last few drops into her.

She kisses him deeply while he holds her. He can feel her interior muscles flex and relax around him, echoes of the orgasm she just had.

He strategically sets her down on a scrap of pink and white plaid fabric lying on her bed, holding her new skirt out of the way to avoid the inevitable mess.

As he removes himself from her, there is a spurt of cum that drenches him.

When he stands, she giggles quietly again.

"Yum," she says, staring mesmerized by his cum-drenched cock as she sits on the bed infront of him. She takes him in her hand and licks him from sack to tip, gathering as much of their mixed fluids as possible on her tongue. She pulls him into her warm mouth. A place that feels so good, it's like it was created just for him. Just for his cock. She's gentle, knowing her Daddy is sensitive right now. She massages the bottom of his shaft with her tongue as she runs her mouth up and down his length, staring happily up at him with her dark, cavernous eyes.

Once all their cum is cleaned from him, she releases his cock from her with a small audible 'pop'.

"Wow, Daddy. You REALLY like this outfit," Eve says with a quiet laugh.

"I do, but I also like the person wearing it... at least a little."

Eve beams up at him. "I missed you, Daddy. How was your date?"

Randall reflects on the date and replies with a sigh, "I missed you too, sweetheart, and let's leave it at that."

"That bad?" Eve says, with concerned surprise.

"No, not that bad. Lily is wonderful once you break through that exterior, which I finally did. Let's just say she probably won't ever go to Chez Mercel again."

Eve laughs at the cryptic statement.

"I love you, baby. Thank you for that. I really needed it."

"I love you, too, Daddy. You know you can fuck me any time you want. Anytime at all," Eve assures him. "With or without the outfit." She uses a finger to get the last drop of cum from the side of her mouth and licks it clean.

"She truly is her mother's daughter," he thinks.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," he says and plants a kiss on top of her head.

"Goodnight, Daddy."

He leaves her room, and begins removing his clothes to prepare for bed.

Meanwhile, the other girls are on the couch, riveted to the TV. If Eve and Randall were worried about any of them hearing their lovemaking, they needn't have been. The screaming of debutantes and prom queens is loud enough to wake the dead.

Daye is watching with a smile of morbid fascination, Kaylee is peeking through her fingers at the TV, and Lily is at the end of the couch, clutching a pillow and staring at the scene unfolding with absolute terror.

Soon, however, the credits are rolling up the screen.

Daye yawns, "I'm gonna hit the hay."

"Me too," Kaylee says. "Hey Lily, um, you wanna sleep with me tonight? Sometimes those movies scare the crap out of me."

Lily sniffs, "As if. No way. I don't fall for that baby crap. It's just a bunch of corn syrup and red food coloring anyway."

"Oh, okay, it's just... you looked a little... you know what? Nevermind. If you change your mind..."

"I won't," Lily says with more anger than she meant.

"Okay!" Kaylee says sarcastically.

Lily sighs and says quietly, "Sorry."

Kaylee sighs, then smiles, "I know." She pauses. "Look, my door's always unlocked, you know, just in case you get... lonely or whatever." She turns and follows Daye up the stairs.

Lily watches them leave, unable to decide whether to follow them or not. She mutters "Whatever," echoing Kaylee. Frustrated with herself, she switches off the TV, plunging herself into darkness.

Her eyes adjust, and she stares around the room. She looks out the window and sees the edge of the garage peeking around the corner of the house.

Is someone standing there, behind the garage? Staring in at her? Is he... holding something? Is it... a chainsaw?

Her heartbeat quickens. Thud, thud, thud. She can hear her heart in her ears.

She realizes it's just a bush and lets out the breath she didn't know she was holding. "Idiot... stupid fucking movie," she silently scolds herself.

She shuts her eyes so they can stop playing their tricks on her. Forcing the immediate images of chainsaw murderers away, she thinks back over the events of the night. The kid's rude comment, the ride there, the restaurant, and the "Pierres". The disgusting frog ballerinas and the grotesque, spider eye escargot. How embarrassed she was as she fled into the storm. Then Randall was there. He never flinched, never doubted her. Why? What did he see in her? What made her so spec--"

A roaring crash, amplified by the dark.

"The fuck?!" she says out loud her heart racing and her hackles up. Then she hears a mechanical click and whoosh as the automatic ice maker refills itself.

"Fuck this." She grabs the pillow and heads up to Kaylee's room.

Standing at Kaylee's door, she hesitates. She reaches for the knob, but can't make herself turn it. Standing there in the dark hallway, she hears a light snore come from the door at the end. Randall's room.

She tiptoes past Daye's room and gently turns the knob of Randall's door. If Eve had seen this, she would've been impressed by her level of stealth.

She silently enters the room. She can see through the gauzy curtains as heat lightning lights up the sky in the distance.

She gets almost to the bed when she steps on a creaker.

"C-r-e-a-k..."

A startled snore and then, "Eve? Izzat you?" Randall's sleep, choked voice says in the darkness.

"No, dummy. It's me. Go back to sleep."

"Lily? You okay? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, go back to sleep," Lily insists.

She crawls onto the bed with him.

"Did you have a bad dream?"

"No," she hisses.

"The horror movies get to you?"

"Shut the fuck up, Randall."

She lies next to him, shifting her body so that she is now the "little spoon".

Randall, smiles in the darkness and shakes his head. "Lily being Lily," he thinks.

Lily sighs heavily and looks out the window. The heat lightning flashes again, causing the tree outside to be cast into blueish-white relief. It reminds her of the snails and she cringes with revulsion and fear.

"Jesusfuckingchrist! Would it kill you to put an arm around me??" she says in whispered rapid-fire anger.

Randall wraps an arm around her and pulls her gently into him. He inhales the scent of her hair. Coconuts.

With Randall holding her, she finally begins to relax. Gone are the thoughts of the chainsaw murderer, gone are the thoughts of snails and frog legs. Just the memory of their first kiss remains. That beautiful, amazing, magnificent kiss repeats over and over in her mind, finally becoming part of her dreams.

Continues in chapter 5!