Chapter 6

The day went smoothly enough, she liked Fridays as they got to leave school pretty much as soon as the kids had gone and Rachel and her were going to the gym. Friday’s was their big workout night and they usually spent 2 hours using all the machines. Cory noticed that her mind really wasn’t on the task at hand, it kept wandering, she couldn’t focus on her run and Rachel noticed.

“You slacking off tonight Cory? What’s wrong? Had a bad day? You seemed okay, I didn’t hear you murdering any of the cherubs through the wall.”

“No it was pretty good really, I feel like I’m making progress with the kids. I’m just thinking about tonight really.”

“You going anywhere special?” asked Rachel as they sat on the stretching mat, they’d finally finished their workout.

“No, we never go out. Thought I’d spend a few minutes checking my mails or something.”

“ Made any new friends?” enquired Rachel as she settled on the stomach cruncher.

Cory paused she needed to do her sit-ups and then she’d tell Rachel all about JJ. She wanted to sound Rachel out about a few things, as she wasn’t sure what Rachel’s true feelings on certain subjects were. “Yeah I’ve made a friend in the US – I’ll tell you about her over a can of pop.”

The two friends made their way out to the entrance and grabbed a can. Rachel leant against the wall and looked at Cory. “Come on then spill the beans!”

“What?” asked Cory looking puzzled.

“Your new mate – why all the mystery?”

“No mystery, just met someone who I can talk to. She seems nice we have the same interests and well we’re getting on well….” answered Cory fiddling with her laces. “ She lives with her partner up the north East Coast.”

“Male or female?” asked Rachel looking directly at Cory.

“ Male or female what?”

“ The partner is it a male or female?”

“ Er female. Her name’s Sarah, they’ve been together 5 years.” Cory replied looking at Rachel. “Sam doesn’t know why I can be so relaxed about it. He has this thing about it being wrong and unnatural. What do you think?” She desperately wanted to know Rachel’s view.

“I think it’s a man thing Cory. I mean women are just more comfortable around each other, we’re used to hugging and telling each other how we feel, they get threatened that we women might actually survive without them!"

“ Yeah I know what you mean it’s like when I went down with the college crowd for the hen weekend and we stayed at the farm house. Sam asked where I’d slept and when I said I’d shared the bed with Angela he was like freaked out. He just couldn’t believe we shared a bed. I had to tell him so many times that nothing had happened.” Cory said, laughing as she remembered the look on Sam’s face when she’d told him. “He kept saying but what if you’d woken up hugging her?”

“I said she’d have probably hugged me back and then pushed me out of bed to make the coffee!”

“ I still say it’s because women are just more relaxed around each other. I mean we need the physical contact with our friends, we’re not into this macho British stiff upper lip and no touching that the men have, we hug and we kiss our friends and we tell them our inner most secrets. I think most women are just one small step away from being gay, I have had friends who I’ve been so close to that there was a thin line between friends and involved, but when I think of getting physical with a woman and getting physical with a man, well I just know guys do it for me but I can see why some women choose women. I haven’t met anyone yet who hasn’t had a crush on another woman at some time in her life. What do you think?” She looked at Cory.

Cory had suddenly found her laces interesting; her head was down, she was hoping the blush on her face was hidden as she was remembering her school and college crushes. “ I agree with you, I think you should be with who makes you happy and it doesn’t matter about the gender, I just wish Sam would be more tolerant. I like JJ and one day we might meet up I could do without his wise cracks when we do. I can just see the four of us eating dinner together, he’d be making sarcastic comments or something.”

“ Hey if he won’t go with you I’ll take the trip, we’ll leave the guys behind and have our own adventure.”

“So gay people don’t bother you?”

“Cory, people are who they are, if they’re a nice person and they care for people and they want to be my friend, I don’t care what colour, religion, gender or sexual inclination they have I’ll be their friend.” At this Rachel leant over and gave Cory a squeeze, Cory let out a slow breath, she was glad her friend had such liberal views she had a feeling she might need Rachel’s help and advice one day.

They both gave each other a hug as they got to their cars, they’d become close friends and Rachel was a very tactile person. Cory was learning to accept these hugs and return them; they wished each other a good weekend and both drove off in different directions.

She arrived home twenty minutes later to find a quiet house; Sam had fallen asleep on the sofa. He looked so peaceful that she didn’t have the heart to wake him; she crept by and went upstairs to download and read her messages, she had one from JJ sent in the afternoon her time. She opened it:

JJ Matthews Re: It’s Friday

Good evening Cory

Why have I not read my e-mails??? Well a certain someone a thousand or so miles away has my undivided attention - I wonder who that could be? <vbg> OOOOOOPS! If it makes you feel any better I just delete or I would be in the same boat.

About the postscript, I have this friend who likes general music - she likes pop music but not rap, she's a sucker for mushy songs and loves soul/blues music like Ben E King, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke - she also loves Country especially Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline. She likes late 80's and 90's and rock bands like Heart and Meatloaf but not many others. Bryan Adams soothes her and she even admits to being hooked on Celine Dion (but don't tell a soul!) - and she has a huge silly grin on her face as she writes this!! Two more questions please don't avoid---- Is there any singer that our mutual friend just really hates. Please could you keep this a secret? I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for her. <vsg> (very silly grin)

Must go to work - I'll mail you later – talking of work I am writing this at work so I’d better go and look busy before the boss sees me!

Take it easy kiddo

JJ

She glanced at her watch and decided to write the answers to the recent mail and then continue their ongoing discussion about coping with grief. Both of them had found they needed someone to talk to but they never put these discussions in morning mails as neither wanted to depress the other person before they went to work.

After sending the mail she went and had a leisurely shower, this was of her favourite things after a gruelling workout in the gym. She loved the pulsating water beating on her tired muscles and the tingle of the mint shower gel made her feel wider awake. She massaged her sore shoulder muscles. It didn’t take long to wash away the day’s grime and she sat looking in the mirror as she combed her hair and prepared to dry it. She was thinking of what she could do tonight. She fancied going to the cinema to see a really soppy film but Sam would moan all the way through and make comments and she didn’t want that. Still she’d suggest it to him and see what he said, they hadn’t been out in ages and maybe a romantic comedy might make him feel in the mood.

She slipped on her jogging bottoms and sweatshirt as if she knew what his answer would be before she even asked and headed out of the bedroom door. On her way past the office a little suggestive voice seemed to pop up and entice her to step into the office and check her mails. She looked at her watch, it had only been 30 minutes, but the nagging feeling wouldn’t go away and well what was one more download. She booted up the computer and twiddled with a pen whilst waiting, she was shocked and stunned when there on the screen was a reply from JJ.

JJ Matthews Re: It’s the weekend!!!

Hi Cory

It may be the weekend for you – some of us are still working!! Take pity on me! (vbg) I’m answering some of your questions from yesterday and today, and then I have some for you!

When my Nan died I didn’t want to go see her lying in rest; I wanted to remember her the way she had been. It’s hard enough to remember her as the vibrant person she was because over 10 years she lost kind of lost her sense of humour but always kept her zest for life and all the illnesses finally took their toll on her spirit, but she was still a beautiful person and always told you what she thought. I wanted to remember her that way. Did you see your mother?

I did see my mother in the casket and unfortunately a lot of times that is all I can picture when I think of her. I think you were smart.

Went to the gym tonight it was good. You said you went to the gym what’s your routine?

I went to the gym tonight as well. I usually run 3 miles and then bike, every other night lift weights.

I have so many things I want to ask you, sometimes I feel like I’ve known you ages and then I realize it’s only been just over2 weeks!

I know what you mean about asking questions or saying things. I have a lot to say but now that I want to say them I have forgotten! I should write it down when I think of them and then it’ll jog my memory!! Ask any question you like, I usually don't have a problem with answering.

I’m sorry my mail is so depressing I shouldn’t go on about my Nan’s death – it puts a bit of a morbid tone to the mails.

I wouldn't worry about the tone of the e-mail. I believe I started the theme. Sometimes you just have to talk about it. I find that every once in a while I just need to talk... you just happen to be the lucky person!!

I talked to my 'friend' and she doesn't really like the grungy stuff - Chemical Brothers, Oasis etc. I’ve never heard of them!! She hasn't really heard any of Melissa Etheridge’s stuff but is very interested and wants to know what the Indigo Girls sound like. I think I can handle that. I promise i won't tell her! Thanks a bunch. But she has had the goofiest grin on her face all day and thinks you're wonderful! Well I don't know if I am wonderful, but if that is how I am being described then I will live with it. Her new friend is pretty cool, too.

Today was a much better travel day then yesterday. I usually have a long commute to work, but yesterday was the worst. I may ask the boss to shift my time a little bit so I am not hitting all the traffic.

Do you have a car??? I have a pickup truck. A Toyota t-100. It is great. 3 years old. It is a green color.

By the way your dog is beautiful, what is his/her name?? How about the cats - do they have names? I am more of a dog person than cat. (sorry)

Well I think I have rambled on enough- I was going to throw another fact at you, but I have forgotten what I was going to say – hey it’s been a long day!! Oh yeah what do think about soulmates? What is your idea of a soulmate and do they have to be involved?

I hope you have had a great day and let me know if the attachment came.

Take it easy

JJ

Cory smiled, she found herself doing this more and more when she read JJ’s stuff. She was desperate to actually talk to this woman and even meet her; she just knew they’d get on. She decided that tonight was the night to talk about past relationships. She’d found that when she opened up and told JJ stuff, JJ would respond with facts about herself and Cory was desperate to know about JJ’s history.

### Cory Williams More about me!

WARNING – HUGE E-MAIL – YOU MAY NEED CAFFEINE TO KEEP YOU AWAKE!!!!!!

Time to tell you more about myself I guess.

I have been in love three times in my life, I think – I mean I’ve been out with stacks of people but these three have held my attention for longer than 2 weeks.

The first one was at college and it was with a guy called Jon Deacon. He was wonderful and it was like the movies sparks and my heart pitter-pattering when he was near. We went out together for 9 months and I was totally smitten. We got on so well, we hardly argued unless I got drunk and then I’d want him to admit that we’d be together forever and well he never ever did. We got on ace until a girl came back on the scene that he’d always fancied and well she didn’t want him for herself but she also didn’t want him with anyone else so she flirted with him and he fell for it. He broke my heart and it took years for me to trust and give my heart again and in a way I don’t think I ever have properly. My heart was fragile and tattered for ages.

I then met someone else at college and we got on well and we were together for just over a year. We went everywhere together and practically lived together but I couldn’t give the relationship what it needed and we finished when I left college. I regret the fact that it was my fault we finished.

A couple of years after leaving college I met Sam and well he gave me the attention I’d been missing. We only got to see each other at weekends so we would go out a lot and stay at each other’s. We get on very well and although it’s not the heart beating, knee quaking romance he’s there for me, and well we have a good life.

On the subject of soul mates I'm divided - I'd like to think there was someone out there that made me feel complete but then it would mean that Sam isn’t mine. I guess a soulmate would be someone you can open your heart and soul to. Who you feel comfortable with and want to be with - even if you can't be with them - forever. You think of them constantly and can't get rid of their image from your mind. You have the same likes and dislikes most of the time. They bring a smile to your face even when they are discussing everyday life. You feel a connection to them even though you may never have met them or are likely to. I'm not sure they have to be involved- maybe they should be involved but time and place prevent it. I don't know- I don't think it's exactly like some of the fan fiction stories tell it as that's way up in the clouds. I mean the chances of meeting someone who knows what you’re thinking and can feel what you’re feeling is a bit unbelievable but it's not like all the stories suggest! So I don’t know – I guess I just don’t want to believe because that would mean mine was out there without me. I'm a firm believer in fate and that some things happen for a reason.

As for a car I have a Ford Fiesta about 10 years old, I rarely use it as I get lifts everywhere and car share, trying to do my bit for the environment.

As for the dog her name is Holly, named after my Nan, the cats are called Scampi, Chips and Tom. We have 2 fish in the garden called Mulder and Scully – couldn’t resist after reading the book!!! (vbg) I was always a cat person myself and Sam is the dog person – cats are so much more independent and they come and go as they please – a dog takes a lot of looking after!! Which is why Sam does all the looking after.

So how about you – you said I could ask you any questions so here goes:

What about your love life?

How did you finally meet up with Sarah?

When did you know you were gay? Did you come straight out or hide it?

How did your parents react?

So are you a big believer of love at first sight and soul mates?

You said I could ask anything and well just ignore is if you don’t want to answer them – they’re pretty personal things.

Hope everything is okay.

Cory

Cory sat back and read the mail, she pondered deeply about the soulmate reply. Everything she’d written was exactly what she felt when she thought about JJ. They’d only known each other 2 weeks but she’d definitely opened up to JJ. She wondered if JJ felt the same – she’d have to pluck up the courage to ask one day.

She looked at her comments about love, well I haven’t lied there and her mind traveled back to her college days. Her muses were interrupted from shouting coming from downstairs. Reality hit her when she realized she should have made dinner by now. She ran downstairs and went in search of food. She found Sam in the kitchen rooting around in the freezer looking for food.

“Hi, did you sleep well?” asked Cory; desperately trying to work out what kind of mood Sam was in.

“Can’t believe I went out like a light, it’s unusual for me to sleep in the day. It’s just you’ve been really restless in your sleep Cor, more than usual, you keep tossing and turning and murmuring a name. Is something worrying you?”

Cory sat at the kitchen counter and looked at Sam, she didn’t know how to answer the question. There was something nagging at the back of her mind but she couldn’t think what. She just put it down to stress at work and they had a discussion about the things Cory could do to release the stress, most of them focussed on her getting her work done and spending less time on the computer. Cory didn’t quite agree with this as she often found herself relaxing more when she was reading her mail and replying to the many people who posted on the various lists. The conversation moved on and Cory began to give Sam her dates for the gym.

“You’ve remembered I’m on a business trip on Thursday night, haven’t you?” inquired Sam, chopping the mushrooms as he spoke.

“Oh shit, no it’d slipped my mind. I guess I’ll be brave and spend the night on my own it won’t kill me!! But we’ll have to ask mum and dad to look after Holly – I’ll never get myself organized enough to walk her and she’ll be home all day alone.”

“I’ll ring your parents later but knowing you as I know you you’ll panic now for the next five nights about staying on your own. Ring Rachel and ask her to stay over. You can still do the gym then and get some of the planning you’ve just been moaning about out of the way. Go on she’ll jump at the chance to have a night away from the kids. You two can gossip for England!” Sam handed her the portable house phone, which was never very far from him.

Cory dialed in Rachel’s number and as Sam had predicted Rachel agreed and they planned a night of gossip and wine, a recipe for a good stress free evening!

The rest of the evening went smoothly, Cory had suggested going out but Sam wasn’t keen and suggested they watch a movie and cuddled on the sofa with a bottle of wine. The movie had been a good one Anne Heche and Harrison Ford stranded on a desert island. Cory found herself looking more at Anne Heche and admiring her body. Sam made the odd comment about how it was hard to watch the film and believe the love scenes when the actress was gay. Cory let slip that if was a choice between snogging Harrison or Anne she knew which one she preferred. Sam had commented about Harrison being way too old and all Cory could think about was if only he knew!

Part 7

Mail Jules

Back to the Academy