16. Michaela #2
“We should, all of us. Not that all of us are putting ourselves out there, but it's good, you know? I definitely am going with them next time, considering the things I wanna get up to,” Kevin said, yawning.
Michaela shook her head with a smirk at her friend, but she agreed they should all get tested.
Iris and Davis had brought back condoms from the Alliance to share with everyone and were immovable on the topic of safe sex.
Then there were Brian’s parting words to her that made her slightly shiver.
“Let’s get tested then, all of us,” Michaela said, and she looked around the room at her nodding friends.
“I am very pro-safe sex, just like Iris. The opposite is very much something I am not into,” Callie said.
“There is something you’re not into, then?” Jay said, and Michaela could tell she was trying to redirect the conversation somewhere lighter and perhaps somewhere away from their friends who weren’t present at the moment.
“It's not like I am into everything, I am just not not into everything.”
There was a pause while Michaela assumed everyone tried to run the math on that.
“Would you like, fuck a guy?” Michaela asked, careful not to look at Kevin, knowing she was perhaps pushing a little.
“I do and have fucked guys, what do you mean—”
“No, I mean with a dildo or something,” Michaela said hurriedly, proud of her own gall.
Callie tipped her head again and said, “Oh, you mean like with a strap-on? I haven’t, but I totally would. I have a feeling that’d be super rad. I feel like I have the hips for it.”
“What, you would?” Kevin said, perhaps a little nervously.
“Of course, if that’s what he wanted. I really am into my partner feeling good over anything.”
“You are incredible,” Jay said, and Callie raised her can. Jay clinked it and they each took a drink.
“Why do you ask, Kayla?” Callie asked casually.
“No reason, I was just curious, doing research for my beat at the paper.”
Callie was quiet for a moment, and Michaela thought she wanted to ask something but wasn’t sure how to. Then she shook her head and said, “Is that how you like to have sex? Someone fucks you?”
Michaela’s mouth went dry. She knew why Callie was asking; she was curious, and Michaela reminded herself she was amongst friends.
Two of whom would probably go into too much detail about their own sex lives.
Michaela and Brian had engaged in oral and anal sex.
But that’s not what Michaela said; instead, she just said, “I don’t know. ”
“What do you mean?” Callie asked, seeming genuinely confused.
“I have never really figured all of that out. With Brian, we just kinda did what he wanted to do.”
“Oh babe,” Kevin said, and Callie sighed.
“It’s okay, you’ve got time to work it all out,” Jay said from their side of the rug, and Michaela turned to her and smiled weakly.
“You are literally living with two people who have sex for a living, maybe you can talk to Iris and Davis?” Callie suggested, draining her beer.
“Maybe, though I don’t even know where to begin.”
“Maybe write out a list or something, of stuff you want to try? Know about? Explore?” Kevin said.
Michaela took this in and decided it wasn’t a bad idea, and it came to her that she had a journal where she was supposed to be working things out anyhow.
“I suppose I could do that, but, god, where to start? I don’t even think I’ve been properly kissed.”
“Oh, baby girl,” Callie said soothingly, with no hint of teasing in her voice. “We have got to get you to a real prince charming—prince or princess, you said your ex was a guy, but I don’t want to assume.”
Before Michaela could say anything, Kevin clapped his hands. “That’s it! Your article could be the true telling of your romantic and sexual explorations! It’s relatable and way more interesting than old celebrity news.”
Michaela felt her face warm; what Kevin was saying made sense, but she wasn’t sure she could share all of that with whomever read Other Voices. Then again, Michaela did say she would try. Said she would push herself.
“Maybe, we shall see,” she finally responded, and she watched Kevin drain his can.
“I mean as long as you're safe and comfortable,” Jay added, and Michaela turned to her to give her a reassuring smile.
“I haven’t decided whether or not to do it, but it could be an interesting idea to get me out of my shell a bit,” Michaela admitted. And there was the tiniest hint of something Michaela couldn’t quite place that crossed Jay’s face. It was only there for a second, before she smiled and nodded.
“Well, I think I gotta go and sleep,” Callie said abruptly, standing and stretching. “If I don’t leave now, I’l be taking over your couch, and I’d rather be in my bed.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you home,” Kevin said, standing.
“It’s so late Kev, just stay over with me?” Callie asked, and Michaela saw Kevin blush slightly.
“Ah, sure okay.” Kevin turned to Michaela and Jay, “Ladies, until next time.” Michaela and Jay stood, and everyone exchanged hugs before Kevin and Callie left.
Jay went to grab the cans and throw them out as Michaela stood in their bedroom doorway.
“So, there is something weird there, right?” Jay said from over her shoulder.
“What do you mean? Kevin and Callie? Oh yeah, for sure.” Michaela said, knowing it was pointless to act dumb with Jay.
“Hmm,” she hummed, unfazed. “You wanna shower first?”
“Yeah, thanks,” Michaela said, turning to enter their room and grab her shower kit.
Michaela was straightening her desk up when Jay walked in, fresh from the shower. She had on an old t-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts, as always. Michaela wondered if Jay just liked boxer shorts, even though she was a woman. As she was learning, everyone had their preferences.
“Woo I am pooped, and Callie and I have a shift at one tomorrow,” Jay said, dropping her own shower kit. She grabbed her hairbrush and began brushing her wet hair. The room was full of her citrus and vanilla scent and Michaela relished it.
“I am definitely sleeping in before getting started on homework,” Michaela said, straightening and moving to her bed directly opposite Jay’s.
“I hope tonight was fun,” she heard Jay say, and Michaela turned to face her friend. Jay was there, standing with her rosy cheeks revealing her secret freckles, smiling, and Michaela melted a bit.
“Jay, thank you so much for today, for everything. I owe you, so much,” Michaela said.
She was still floating from the entire day, and her last beer had her feeling uninhibited and open.
She was so grateful to Jay, but she also liked the way she felt when she was open with Jay.
It was both thrilling and soothing to be open with someone you just knew you were safe with.
Someone who truly got you and took the time to have your back and make sure you knew it.
Michaela’s mind went back to the dressing room, to Jay’s arms around her, and her chest fluttered.
“Technically, I am the one who owes you a favor, since I lost,” Jay said warmly.
“Kiss me?” Michaela hadn’t meant to say it out loud. But she realized that’s what she had been feeling in the dressing room and while they danced.
“What?” Jay said, clearly startled, and it snapped Michaela to sense.
“Ah sorry, that’s stupid and out of nowhere,” she said, frantically searching for something to make the request relevant.
“It’s just we were talking tonight, and I realize I’ve never been properly kissed and it's silly, forget it. It’s just you have experience, I don’t really and I—again it's stupid. I should ask Iris or Davis or—”
“It’s not stupid,” Jay said quickly, and walked towards Michaela, who felt her heart skip a beat and her body tingle with anticipation.
“It’s not?” she said quietly, the shift in the moment making her mind struggle to keep up.
“You don’t, umm–do you like women?” Jay asked, her voice catching.
“A kiss is a kiss, right?” Michaela said, wondering if Jay’s voice catching was a sign of hesitation. It occurred to Michaela then that she hadn’t shared everything with Jay about how she felt about women. “But again, if it’s stupid–”
“It’s not. I’d be happy to kiss you, too, to show you what it feels like. For your article or whatever.”
“For my article,” Michaela repeated. Jay was in her space now. Their height difference meant she was looking down into Jay’s beautiful face, her big brown eyes soft and warm.
Jay lifted a hand to Michaela’s cheek, and Michaela leaned into the touch.
“If you’re sure you want me to.”
Go with the flow. The promise she’d made Kevin echoed in her mind. “Actually, can I kiss you, and then you…take over? I’ve never kissed anyone before.” Michaela watched Jay swallow and her eyes darken.
“Whatever you want, whatever you need.”
Michaela leaned in and touched her lips to Jay’s.
They were soft and not as full as hers, but full all the same.
She pulled back and touched her lips again to Jay’s, and this time she felt Jay’s other hand cup her face as Jay took over and deepened the kiss.
Michaela felt Jay’s tongue dart out and opened her mouth more, letting Jay sweep in.
The minute she did, the warm buzzing that had begun with their lips touching ignited, and Michaela felt flames burst through her.
Just when she was ready to dive in for more, Jay was pulling back.
“How was that?” she said, and Michaela’s vision swam for a second as she came back down from the high of the kiss.
“Amazing.” Michaela said. Jay smiled and stepped fully back and seemed to sprint over to her bed. Michaela watched her rip back the covers and throw herself in. Unsure of what that meant, Michaela turned off the light to the room and got in her own bed.
Needing to say something, Michaela said into the dark, “Thanks Jay, again, for everything, for the kiss.”
There was a pause before she heard Jay say back thickly, “Of course Mickey, I’d give you anything.”