DISCLAIMERS: in Part 1
©2003 -Vertigo-
Cayden stopped for a chicken cutlet hero on her way home, she knew Wade wouldn't be home for dinner and planned on eating in the living room in front of the Tv. Cayden liked eating over the coffee table much better than on the floor in her room, and she took advantage of it when she could. She was glad Wade would be out, she didn't feel like talking to anyone right now. This usually happened when she was nervous, or something was bothering her, and in this case, it was both. Cayden wasn't much of a phone person, and she was planning on calling Brooke. She wasn't sure that she could. She didn't know what to say, and was afraid she'd get Brooke's mother again. For now, Cayden wanted to forget about the phone call, and eat in peace. She was looking forward to the Pet Psychic to help her zone out. She wasn't sure the woman was legit, but she was bound to get absorbed quickly.
*****************
Brooke was hiding in her room, escaping her parents and their sudden need to play Trivial Pursuit. Brooke ran quickly when the evil blue box appeared. She hated playing that game with her parents. Her mother hardly knew any answers and, her father knew them all and was quite smug about it, which left Harriet pouting and insisting on a 2 pie-piece handicap. Brooke was usually the determining vote on whether her mother got away with it or not, and she always gave in, receiving a scowl from her father. She was certain he made up all of her questions after that. Even in her room, she could feel her mother pouting already.
***********************
La La stood with his back legs on the couch, and his front paws on Cayden's leg, kneading it, digging his nails into her as he inhaled the aroma of cutlet. The shop keeper felt guilty as she bit into the sandwich, knowing the orgasmic bliss that just one little piece of chicken would invoke in the cat. He was purring like a motorboat, and would have made several loaves of bread had their been dough on her leg. "Quit making biscuits out of my skin and you'll get some chicken." La La Bird's nails continued to dig into her bare leg. She shooed him off, and he ran around to her other leg to repeat the process. "Okay fatty fatty two by four, here." She tore off a piece of chicken and tossed it across the room. She couldn't help but laugh out loud watching his fat ass sway as he ran for it. Staring back at the Tv, she sighed. "Sonya thinks she can talk to animals La La, wanna go and chat with the woman?" The cat burped. "No really. I bet you have a dirty mouth, we can go to the show, and you can swear a blue streak. That'll teach her. You can tell her about that time you jumped into the bath with Daddy and landed on his wing-ding." She snickered at the memory of Wade running through the house, naked and wet, screaming about how it was mauled. "Yeah, I'd like to see her work that into a reading." Cayden looked back at the Tv and got reabsorbed by the show as she finished her dinner, La La standing vigil over every bite.
***********************
Back at the Hewitt house, the game was well under way and Brooke thought it safe to go get a drink. As she passed her parents, she noticed her father gloating, and her mother pouting. "Why do you insist on playing that game? What's wrong with checkers or Poker?" She asked from the kitchen.
"I like the game." Bert replied as he moved his piece. "Ooo, history! Go on Harriet, ask me."
"I don't like this game," she complained, "Brooke's right, let's play checkers."
Brooke snickered and hung around the table to watch them play. Of course her father got his question right. She stifled a chuckle as her mother landed on geography.
"The capitol of what?" Harriet asked, perplexed. "That's not a country."
The phone rang and Brooke reached for it absently, enjoying her parents. "Hello."
"Hey." Brooke almost choked on her water. "Cayden!"
"Yeah," The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad its you, and not your mom."
"Is that Cayden dear? Ask her if there's an Uzbekistan."
Cayden snickered. "Uzbekistan?"
"Yeah, they're playing Trivial Pursuit and mom is sure dad's making up countries."
"And if its real..." Harriet added, "What's the capitol?"
"Harriet! That's cheating!" Bert protested.
"Sounds like fun." Cayden joked.
"Oh yeah, a regular blast." Brooke agreed with a giggle.
"Well?" Harriet asked Brooke.
"Mom, leave Cayden alone."
"Yes Harriet, leave her alone." Bert smiled, knowing his wife had no idea.
"No, it's alright. Uzbekistan is a country."
"Yeah?" Brooke asked. "So what's the capitol?" She dared.
"Tashkent."
Brooke took the phone away from her ear and stared at it.
"Well, what did she say?" Mrs. Hewitt wondered.
"It's real." Brooke said still surprised. "Tashkent is the capitol."
"That's not fair!" Bert complained.
"Thank you Cayden, darling." Harriet said with a grin as she added a little triangle to her pie.
"She's right?" Brooke asked wide-eyed.
"I watch the Travel Channel alot." Cayden explained.
"You must." Brooke said, proud that Cayden knew the capitol of Uzbekistan. "What else do you know?" she asked playfully.
Cayden snickered. "The women in Tashkent have long hair and they wear it in skinny braids, they have really cool palaces, they're Muslims...."
"No shit! You know this stuff for real?"
"Yep. It was on one day, I watched it and it stuck with me." Cayden shrugged.
"Cool!" Brooke smiled. Cayden was smart, she was probably great at Trivial Pursuit too. She shivered thinking of a game with her parents and Cayden and changed the subject in her head. "So what's up?"
"Oh, nothing really, just that, I was wodering, um, what time are you going to get to the shop tomorrow?"
"I get out of work at 5, I may come straight to you, I may run home and change, it all depends. What are you wearing by the way?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Casual. Are you wearing shorts or jeans? She asked shyly.
"Jeans. I don't know what kind of top yet, maybe a tank top if it's still Africa hot. I couldn't wear that to work though, no matter how hot it is. You're lucky, you can wear whatever you want." Brooke pouted.
"I guess, but I usually don't wear anything too skimpy, I hate when they stare at my boobs."
"You can't really blame them Cayden." Brooke blurted out before she could stop herself.
Cayden blushed and chuckled. "Its not so bad when you say it."
Brooke gathered herself after that embarrassing moment. "So, anyway, now you know what I'm going to wear, what can I look forward to?"
"I don't know. Jodie tells me to wear shorts, but I may go for jeans too. Jo is trying to instigate something.
"Shorts wouldn't be so bad." Brooke said with a sly grin.
"Hmm. Only if you wear them too."
"Okay, deal."
"Brooke, dear, ask Cayden when they took down the Berlin Wall. "
"Mom!"
"1989." Cayden chuckled.
Brooke laughed. "1989, now leave her alone."
"Honey, why don't you invite Cayden over to play with us one evening?"
"Cayden is not coming here to play games with you, now shoo!" Brooke waved her hand at her mother. "Cayden, you really know your stuff."
"I'm a TV junkie, stuff sticks with me. I have an endless fount of useless bullshit."
"I see." Brooke smiled. "I like that you're smart. When I can get you to talk it should be interesting."
"Yeah, well." Cayden blushed.
Brooke sensed the tall woman's discomfort. "Okay, so I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yep, tomorrow."
********************
Cayden hung up the phone and sighed. It wasn't so bad talking to Brooke at all. It was kinda fun actually, and she wondered how it would be if they were face to face. She thought about their deal to wear shorts. I wonder what kind of shorts she's going to wear... I hope they're not tight, and short. I'll go crazy. I bet they will be. She'll definitely do that to me on purpose, to torture me. Well touche. I'll wear my cut offs and my black tank top and play just as dirty. That tank top is relentless....
********************
Cayden didn't sleep as well as she wanted to. She woke up a few time during the night and was harassed by the BowFlex commercial each time. She began having dreams about the machine, and of course, Brooke was featured prominently. Half dressed and sweaty, the blonde stood over Cayden, forcing her to do reps... the tease of Brooke's musky, shiny body, inches away. Cayden awoke in the morning, sleepy, and horny, and from the second she opened her eyes, began counting down the hours until 6.
It was already hot and humid as Cayden exited the subway, another New York City summer day. She threw caution to the wind and joined the line of impatient, well dressed people in Starbucks and ordered herself a grande cup of something with 5 names. It sounded interesting, and tasted pretty good. There was enough caffiene and sugar in it to wake a small army, and it was just what she needed.
The shopkeeper turned on the air conditioner and waited for it to cool off in the store. While she stood in the silence, and sipped her trendy coffee she thought back to her dreams. She got a little nervous. If Brooke could arouse her that much in a dream, what could she do in short, tight shorts, standing in front of her? Cayden closed her eyes and mentally braced herself. The less she thought about the subject, the better she would be. Besides, the concoction she was drinking began kicking in and she was ready to start the day.
*********************
Bev waited for Brooke to get in and when she did she jumped in front of her. "Well? Today's the big day? Are you alright?"
"Depends, if you mean did I sleep last night, not really. If you mean did I dream about her last night, yes."
"Judging from the look on your face, those dreams are getting better and better."
"You ain't kidding. It's a wonder I can look her in the eye at all." Brooke said with a blush. "She called last night."
"Really? What happened?" Bev asked with a big smile
"It was great." Brooke recalled with a grin. "She surprised me. There's a lot of brains in that sexy head. I like her even more now."
"That's just wonderful! She's smart and she's pretty."
"Tell me about it. Just knowing she can carry on a decent conversation about anything in general excites me. I like that I can learn from her, however trivial the things may be, like the capitol of Uzbekistan." Brooke grinned.
"I'm not even going to ask." Bev said with a confused look. "I'm just glad that you discovered another side of Cayden, and that it makes you happy."
"Very happy. After Grant, you have no idea how refreshing that is."
***********************
Cayden was fairly busy at work, the idle chatter with the customers kept her occupied until she noticed the time. Her belly knotted up and she made a silly face. Ugh. I just got horny and sick at the same time. Where the hell was Jo all day? Didn't she know I could have used her silliness? Cayden took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Ahhh, much better. Now it's time for Trading Spaces. She concentrated on the television, her belly slowly righted itself and she smiled. The bell above the door jingled and she glanced up, knowing it was just a little too early for Brooke. She became panicked, then slid down in her chair. Jesus H Christ, why today?
"ANGEL SWEETHEART! My wonderful Cayden!" Mrs. Ida Friedman did a rapid two-step towards the counter.
"Hello, Ida. What brings you here on such a brutal day?"
"It's the fifteenth, Dumpling! I told you I'd be here to pay for the indestructable cat toys! An old woman I may be, but I always keep my word. You could drop dead waiting for some people but NOT ME!" She shouted the last two words, jumped up and down, then twirled in glee, knocking her bright green hat askew.
Cayden swallowed hard and looked at the clock. 5:30. Ida was in a talkative mood, which meant she'd never leave before Brooke arrived. Fantastic. That'll be twice Brooke has to be subjected to Ida.
"How do you like my hat darling?" Ida leaned forward and whispered, suddenly adopting a British accent. "I had to buy it." She took several deep breaths, wiped the corners of her eyes with her pinkies, lifted one foot, then continued. "I'll tell you why." Ida seemed to be composing herself, she closed her eyes then talked slowly and calmly. "I went to the new Supercuts, there was a coupon in the Marketeer, so I cut it out and took it with me and asked for a trim for $9.99. WELL!" she suddenly shouted, making Cayden jump. "This is what they call a TRIM!" She tore the hat off, then hit herself in the head with it several times.
Cayden blinked rapidly, trying hard not to crack a grin. Even if Ida had a good haircut, the hat head, combined with a healthy dose of static made her look hilarious.
"How can I walk around like this?" She waved the hat around in circles over her head, pretended to cry, feigned chest pains, the threw herself onto a chair. "ANGEL!"
"IDA!"
"Do you recall my Olive Oil had that urinary tract infection, OH it was so horrible, the PAIN she was in! SO! I started to use cranberry powder I got from the herbalist, darling you know all doctors are evil, don't give them a penny of your money, I'll give you my herbalists card, well anyway..." Ida stood up and licked her lips a few times, "Wouldn't you know her PH is fine!" She laughed loudly. "Those doctors didn't know what they were talking about with their pills and their tests. They're devils and only want a poor old woman's money, if I let them they'd milk me dry, AND THEN WHERE WOULD I BE?" Ida stomped her golash covered feet and stuck out her chin. "NO MORE! Doctors are the devils darling." she said with a chuckle.
Cayden watched as Ida primped the big flower on her hat before taking pains at putting it on her head properly. The eccentric old woman clapped her hands together, looked up at the ceiling and wailed.
"OH I LOVE MY BABIES MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF!" Ida began sobbing uncontrollably.
**************************
Brooke worked distractedly for most of the day, excited and unable to sit still. She couldn't even finish a decent game of solitaire on her computer. Her decision to forego lunch was catching up to her and she was starting to feel hungry. She peeked her head over the cubicle and watched Bev pick at some chips with longing. "I'm hungry." She announced.
Bev handed Brooke the bag of chips and laughed. "First you're too nervous to eat and now your hungry. Typical."
"Hey, I'm allowed." Brooke said with a giggle as she crunched some chips. "Mmm, these are good."
Bev nodded. "They're my favorite, chips are comfort food."
"Yeah, when you can't get to the meatloaf and mashed potatoes." Brooke inhaled some more chips then suddenly stopped chewing. "Oh my god! These are barbecue!"
"Mesquite Barbecue." Bev corrected.
"My breath!"
"Oh, brush those teeth and you'll be fine."
"What if I burp or something?"
Bev laughed. "Calm down honey."
Brooke blew on her hand and smelled her breath. "Ew, great. Do you have any Listerine?"
"Just eat the chips and relax." Bev said with a soft smile.
Brooke groaned. "Its too late now anyway." She stuffed more chips in her mouth.
"Look, its 4, one more hour!" Bev announced happily.
Brooke put the bag down and frowned. "I'm not hungry any more."
"Nerves, you'll be fine." She noticed Brooke pick up a big bag from under her desk and surmised it was her clothes for the date. "Where are you going?"
"I'm sneaking out early, I'm going to get changed."
Bev promptly followed the blonde to the ladies room. Brooke emerged from the bathroom in lycra shorts and a sports bra, the big bag slung over her shoulder. "You're wearing that to a date!?" Bev asked loudly and in shock.
Brooke jumped out of her skin. "BEV! You scared me half to death! "
Bev stared openly. "Tell me you're not wearing this to dinner."
Brooke pretended to be hurt, watching Bev's eyes widen. Then she laughed. "No, I'm roller blading home," she patted the big bag, "I need to get rid of the nervous energy." Bev relaxed and released a loud breath. Brooke began laughing. "You should have seen your face!"
"Honey, it's not that you don't look good, you look fabulous, but ...I can't believe I thought you were wearing this." she blushed.
"Just think, I'll be all pumped and sinewy for the date. " Brooke winked.
"Trollop."
Brooke giggled. "And don't you forget it."
********************
Cayden rolled her eyes and fished a tissue out of the drawer. She presented it to the hysterical woman, hoping she'd eventually pay and get out quickly. "Ida, I know you love your cats and they saved your life. How did they like the balls?"
Ida jumped up and down with excitement, stepping out of a golash and threw her hands over her head. "My babies LOVED them!" she declared. "Cupcake Juior, not Senior, plays and plays!" the crazy old woman laughed uproariously. "It's WONDERFUL! You should see them! Why don't you come over to tea, keep an old woman company? Oh you're a godsend! You should sprout wings and fly away!"
**********
Harriet ran to the door as Brooke came in. "Honey! You're all red and sweaty!" she said with obvious concern.
"Yeah mom, it's a million degrees out." Brooke just wanted to get under the cool shower.
"Quick, come into the kitchen and drink something. I have iced tea." Harriet pushed Brooke to the kitchen.
"Ma! I'm okay, I just want to go take a shower!"
"Bert, talk to your daughter, tell her it's not healthy to be out in this heat with her rolling skates."
"Roller blades, Harriet." Bert leaned foward in his chair. "Brooke, at least drink something, make your mother happy."
"Fine, give me a drink." Brooke put down her skates and marched like a pouty child to the table.
Harriet beamed as her daughter drank. "There, now isn't that much better?"
"Much. Now may I go shower? I reek."
Harriet frowned. "Yes, go shower, a lady shouldn't smell.
*********************
Brooke checked herself out in the mirror a final time and was satisfied with her appearance. "Okay, now to pass through the living room without incident." She held her chin high as she walked directly towards her keys. "I'm going." she announced.
"Brooke!" Mrs. Hewitt exclaimed in shock. "That's not what you're wearing to a Dinner Party!"
Brooke rolled her eyes and turned to face her mother. "It's not formal or anything."
"What will the other couple think?"
"They're not a couple, besides, Cayden's wearing shorts too."
"Bert, look at your daughter."
Mr. Hewitt glanced up at Brooke and his eyes widened. "There you go with those again!"
Brooke looked down at her chest. "Daddy, they go everywhere with me. I grew them and I intend to keep them."
"Don't be fresh with your father." her mother scolded.
"Sorry, daddy."
"You should be ashamed." Harriet wagged a finger and tsk'd. "You fibbed."
"What?" Brooke asked in defense.
"There is no Dinner Party young lady, you're going to Cayden's house dressed like that for other reasons." Harriet narrowed her eyes.
Brooke reddened. "No." she said guiltily.
"I for one, would never wear shorts to a dinner party, OR a Wonderbra."
"You don't own a Wonderbra." Bert interjected.
"You shush." Mrs. Hewitt warned. "Cayden is dressing like that too?"
"Yes, ma."
"Well, I suppose you do look sexy if that's what you're going for."
"Exactly." Brooke admitted.
Harriet cracked a grin." Then you'll be fine."
"Thank you mom. Can I go now?"
"Yes. Bert, tell her to have a good time."
"I'll do no such thing!" He huffed. "There's only one kind of good time to be had with those in a frame, and I don't condone it."
"Daddy, it's not an orgy or anything, it's a friendly get together."
"Friendly my foot! I know what you're doing." He said with a scowl.
"Daddy, I'm a big girl!" Brooke argued.
"Oh, everyone can see that."
"Bert." Harriet pursed her lips and shot him a look. "Don't you trust her?"
"Yeah, Daddy?"
"Well, yes I do but...."
"No buts. Go, have a good time, Dear." Harriet kissed Brooke on the cheek.
Brooke went over and hugged her father and he squirmed and grumbled. "Thanks mom, love you daddy."
Bert scowled as the door closed. "Damn near suffocated me with those things."
Harriet rolled her eyes. "I thought you liked Cayden."
"I do, what I know of her, but Harriet!" He whined.
"Bert, she's not a virgin you know."
Mr. Hewitt threw his hands in the air and made a disgusted noise.
His wife just nodded and smiled. "Really, you know."
"That's not the piont!"
"Yes, it is. She looks sexy and it disturbs her daddy."
"Perhaps. I don't want to be thinking those things."
"So don't. Tell her she looks nice and look away."
"Did you see her?" he pointed to the spot Brooke was last standing.
"Yes, Honey, if she and Cayden become a couple, you can't treat her like that."
"Yeah, yeah." he scowled even harder.
"You'll be alright Sweetheart."
***********************
Cayden groaned outright as the door opened and Brooke walked in. Ida in her dementia, ran to Brooke, arms flailing and laughed in glee.
"Isn't she an ANGEL FROM GOD?"
Brooke raised both eyebrows and nodded. "Oh yes."
"I keep telling her HE will come down from heaven and bless her with wings!"
The blonde grinned and turned to Cayden who looked as if she wanted to disappear.
"Ida, so you came to pay for the toys?"
"YES! 3 dollars! The Balls! Did I tell you how my babies LOVE them? OH! A better toy I'll never find!"
Ida began weeping again, but with a few dance steps and a large inhale, composed herself. She fished around dramatically in her wicker pocketbook.
Cayden gave Brooke a pained look, but Brooke couldn't hide her amusment at the woman wearing one yellow rain boot and a bright green hat with a giant flower on it.
"Yes darling, it's in here, I just have to find it. OH!" she pulled out a toothbrush. "I got this at the drug store, two for a dollar! Can you believe it? It's the good kind too... with the raised bristle. Do you change your toothbrush often sweetie, you should you know..."
Cayden fought the urge to scream. She looked over at Brooke and her eyes narrowed. Brooke looked way too good to waste on Ida.
"HERE!" Ida screamed, carefully counting the three dollars repeatedly, pulling them often to make sure they were indeed real, and then placed them neatly next to each other on the counter. "Three dollars exactly!" She turned to Brooke again and grabbed her by the cheeks. "Oh! What a sheina punim on this one!"
Now it was Cayden's turn to grin as Brooke's eyes widened.
"Such a beautiful face! Are you a model dear? I used to be a model you know, I was a famous singer with the opera too!"
Cayden began shaking her head wildly. "No, Ida, don't you have to get home to..."
Too late, Ida Friedman burst into song.
Brooke was impressed. "That's wonmderful." she told the woman.
"Thank you sweetheart. Are you a friend of Cayden, my angel?"
"Yes, and we're planning on having dinner with a few friends in a little bit."
"OH! I'm keeping you lovely women from eating! Goodness! I better leave you now so you can eat! I don't want to overstay my welcome! Cayden, honey sweetie, love, you think about coming to my house for some tea!" Ida pinched Cayden's cheeks and with a large pirrouette, turned to leave.
"Oh, don't want to forget this." Brooke pointed to the forgotten boot.
"Where would my head be if it weren't attached to my body?" Ida cackled hysterically as she replaced her boot. She then began singing at the top of her lungs as she left the store.
Cayden groaned and covered her face.
"So, hello there angel." Brooke teased. You ready to blow this taco stand?"
"Oh yeah, in a heartbeat." Cayden agreed. "Thanks for disposing of Ida, how did you do that anyway?"
Brooke snickered. "It's a gift."
Cayden looked the blonde up and down and decided she had quite a few gifts.