23. Jay
JAY
“We look fucking amazing,” Callie exclaimed as she looked around the living room suite.
The blonde wig she wore was fashioned into two high pigtails that swished as she looked around the room.
The whole Collective had dressed up as the Spice Girls for Halloween weekend.
Callie, of course, was Baby Spice; Iris was Posh; Michaela was Sporty; Davis was Ginger, sporting a long redhead wig; and Jay was Scary.
Kevin, who was the sixth member of the group, decided he’d be an honorary Spice named Barbie.
Sasha was having a Halloween party and they’d all decided to pre-game at the suite before heading out.
“I agree,” Kevin began, “Davis, who knew you could rock bell-bottoms and a crop top so well?”
“Apparently everyone but you,” Davis said sweetly to Kevin, who feigned offense while everyone else laughed.
“Alright, let’s get a move on–this is a rare weekend Davis and I aren’t working and we intend to make the most of it,” Iris said, readjusting her black minidress that looked killer atop her long and shapely legs.
Jay turned from where she was standing and grabbed Michaela’s hand. Her girlfriend looked amazing with a high ponytail, simple makeup, a sports bra, and a matching windbreaker set. “Ready,” Jay asked as she squeezed her girlfriend’s hand.
“Hell yes, I am ready to dance,” Michaela exclaimed.
The walk to Sasha’s wasn’t bad. The air was cool, but they managed. Jay also wore a crop top but had on long baggy pants that helped keep her from getting too cold. Michaela and Iris had scooped the front part of her hair into two of Scary Spice’s signature knots. She actually didn’t hate the look.
“This was such a good last-minute costume idea,” Michaela said as they approached Sasha’s house.
Her street was lined with pumpkins and decorations.
It was much later now, but Jay imagined that earlier on in the evening there had been plenty of trick-or-treaters canvassing the street; it just looked like that kind of neighborhood.
“Totally,” Jay agreed.
“I was surprised you didn't want to be Selena,” Michaela said.
“One, I am Selena, and two, I can’t do bangs. As much as it kills me, I can’t stand the feeling of them, and I wouldn’t want to half-ass my costume,” Jay said as they all piled onto the porch and Davis opened the front door they knew would be unlocked.
The music hit them immediately, unlike the normal volume of Sasha’s parties. This was an occasion, being Halloween and all. Something Jay was learning was as big a deal in college as outside of college.
There was an array of people in costumes as they entered.
Jay spotted several Ghostfaces from Scream, some Buzz Lightyears, and a few Lola Bunnies.
They, no surprise, were not the only Spice Girls, but Jay didn’t mind.
She secretly thought they were the most fabulous Spice Girls.
The space was decorated, too. Sasha had put up fake cobwebs with spiders, plenty of jack-o-lanterns, and had strung up jack-o-lantern lights in the living room.
As usual, the Collective found a spot on the outskirts of the dancing area to set up shop.
“I’m going to go look for Sasha!” Davis exclaimed. He gave Iris a kiss on the cheek and wandered into the crowd of partygoers.
“I am going to go grab drinks,” Jay said, just as a very striking blond man made his way over to them. He was dressed as a pirate, a very hot pirate, and it took Jay as second to recognize the man from the fair.
“Is that Bjorn?” Michaela said into her ear, as Jay watched both Callie’s and then Kevin’s expressions. To her surprise, Kevin looked pleased.
“Yep,” Jay responded, not taking her eyes off her friends. Bjorn greeted Callie, and then Kevin, leaning down to say something in Kevin’s ear, making his face flush slightly.
“Well, well, well.” Jay jumped slightly at Iris leaning into her and Michaela’s space, seemingly also observing their friends.
“Indeed,” Jay said back.
Callie, who had been between the two groups, stepped to the side to indicate they were once again all one group. Then she turned toward Jay, Michaela, and Iris. “Everyone, this is Bjorn.”
Once introductions had been made, Jay said, “I’ll be right back after I grab us some beers.”
To her surprise, Kevin said, “I’ll come with you.” Jay turned and gave Michaela a playful kiss. She winked at Iris, who gave her a meaningful “get the scoop” look before following Kevin through the crowd.
Once they’d made it into the kitchen and out of the path of the speaker system, Jay didn’t hesitate to say.
“So, Bjorn? Is he a new member of the Collective ?” She’d said the last bit jokingly, but was surprised to see a flash of something cross Kevin’s blushing face.
Something that looked a little possessive.
“No, not at all,” he finally said and turned to begin pulling cans out of the barrel and handing them to Jay.
“So what was with that, then?” Jay asked, in a tone that she hoped told Kevin she wasn’t letting it go.
Kevin looked around as if checking to see if anyone could hear him. “Okay, keep an open mind.”
“Kev, it’s me,” Jay said and was happy to see Kevin consider her and then nod his head in agreement.
“Callie and I are kinda hooking up with him. Like, together. At the same time. Threesomes. A lot of threesomes.”
This wasn’t what Jay had been expecting, not that she had known what to expect, but honestly the whole thing sounded pretty hot. “While unexpected, and I feel like I am missing some steps, good for you,” Jay said earnestly.
“Oh my god, it’s the best,” Kevin said, as if relieved Jay wasn’t judging him and excited to have someone to talk to.
“I am learning so much about me and sex, and it’s amazing.
I mean, I don’t know how much detail you want—” Jay wasn’t sure she wanted that much, not now at least “—but I’ve learned so much from Davis. ”
“Davis?” Jay said, not following. “What does Davis have to do with this?”
“Oh my god, Jay, you and Michaela live with him and Iris! Have neither of you ever talked to them about what they do?”
“You mean sex work?” Jay said as if she were missing something.
“Yes! But like, not just fucking, oh my god, they are like sex connoisseurs! Practically sex GODS.” Kevin emphasized his last words. “They know so much and talking to Davis really helped me figure some of my shit out.” He stooped down and began grabbing beers again.
“Like what stuff?” Jay asked, now intrigued.
Kevin got the last couple of cans and righted himself and said, “Besides figuring out that I am probably bisexual with a preference for men, I also have interesting sub/dom dynamics going on with the genders I sleep with. Davis mentioned I could psychoanalyze that, but I am choosing not to and just going with the flow.”
“And Davis helped you with this?”
“Yeah, Jay, he’s incredible. He talked me through everything. We even did a little fun role play without going too far. He was like my sex coach. I went to him after the fair because Bjorn and Callie had approached me with the idea.”
Jay nodded, finally having a fuller picture. “A sex coach,” she repeated, thinking back to the day before and how wrong things had gone with Michaela.
“So is Iris, I think? I told Kayla she should talk to Iris anyhow, about you know–well, you both are dating now, so I suppose you do know.”
Jay filed that idea away for later; maybe she would speak to Michaela first and then they could talk to Iris. “Yeah,” Jay said finally, as they turned to head back towards their friends, “maybe. But hey, good for you two.” She turned to smile at her friend, who returned the grin.
They made their way back through the crowd to Bjorn, Callie, Iris, and Michaela.
Iris and Michaela looked like they had just finished agreeing on something; Iris looked excited, and Michaela looked anxious.
Jay handed a beer to Iris, then gave Michaela a beer and a reassuring smile to check-in.
Michaela smiled back at her and took her beer.
“Guess Davis is still with Sasha? I want to see her costume,” Jay said to lighten the mood.
“She’s Ariel, from The Little Mermaid. She’s a Disney princess every year,” Iris said distractedly. She put her arms around both Michaela and Jay, hugging them close. She then leaned in and said, “So, the suite is empty. Everyone is here, and they’ll be here for a while.”
“Yeah?” Jay asked, as if this were obvious.
They had all planned to dance the night away and see where the night took them.
Likely, it would take them back to the suite for a little post-night-out fun or chatter while they all sobered up.
Jay looked at Michaela, who offered a small, anxious smile. Something was definitely up.
“Mickey, what’s going on? What have you two been—”
Before Jay could go on, Iris said, “Now is the perfect time for a little privacy, don’t you think? I heard you are in the market for a coaching session.”
“Coaching?” Jay said. Her mind automatically went to the type of coaching Davis had been giving Kevin. Surely…
“That’s right,” Iris said gleefully, her voice going sultry and mischievous. “Michaela tells me you’re in need of a sex coach.”