Chapter Seven:

Two weeks later

A couple of weeks passed us by faster than anything I’ve ever seen. Regaining entry into Russia was easier than I thought, and I purchased my ticket post haste. I began preparing myself for the questions any officials were bound to ask me. They’d see my Asylum Visa and probably figure out my business in the United States pretty fast. One thing I’ll always be grateful to my time on the streets is this; It taught me the ability to act tough even when I’m shaking on the inside. I’ve had to defend everything I owned and believed in my entire life, it was second nature to me at this point.

“Detka, did you want to bring an extra pair of boots?” Francine was helping me pack, and we already filled two large suitcases with enough clothing to last a month at least. The thing is, I need options. Style is very important to me, I can’t wear the same thing twice during my trip. I’ve noticed this is a bizarre concept in America. I clicked my tongue in thought, mentally picturing five pairs of footwear already packed away. She held up my favorite ones and I snapped my fingers.

“I’ll wear the boots to the airport. Thank you, bunny.” I took the brown leather shoes from Francine, and set them neatly beside our bedroom door so I wouldn’t forget when I was rushing around tomorrow morning. My flight leaves early, and I’m not great at waking up first thing as it is.

“Are you excited? I mean, to see your dad at least?” Francine sat at the edge of our bed, smoothing out the pleats of her baby blue skater dress. I stopped what I was doing to join her quietly.

“I don’t know.” My answer was an honest one. I felt like I was burdening my busy father for coming to visit on such short notice. I didn’t expect he’d have much time to spend with me, and if that was the case I’d understand. I’d see Zlata, and ask how the bakery was doing. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about seeing my mother, Evgeniya. After securing my plane ticket, I wrote to her on VK just to say I’d be coming, and gave the dates of my last week in Russia. The first week I wanted to spend peacefully, visiting with old colleagues and the few true friends I had back home. My dad too, if he had the spare time.

“It’s ok not to know everything, Vasha.” Francine put her arm around me, and squeezed my shoulder supportively. She smelled like fresh picked roses, and it made me feel oddly comforted. I love floral perfumes. It reminds me of a new day. Fresh starts.

“Sometimes I wish definite answers would come to me...but the only way to get them is through experience.” I rested my head in the crook of her neck. “I’m going to miss you every second we’re apart.” I tried not to think about leaving her behind, but as the days came and went I couldn’t help it.

“Me too, little bat.” Francine mummered softly, causing me to sit up straight and cover my mouth with her’s. One thing I couldn’t stand was prolonged sadness. I spent too much time wallowing in self pity while I drank, so I always tried to move forward bravely with the decisions I made in the future. No matter how painful.

“I’m coming back, detka. It’s only a visit.” I reassured her in between kisses. She breathlessly wrapped her arms around my neck and feverishly returned my every kiss, nuzzling at me with her nose. I felt hot tears wet my skin when she pressed her cheek against mine. I knew she wanted to come along with me, and it killed her that I said no. I felt like I needed to say something about the situation.

“You’re safer here, my favorite. You know this right? I wouldn’t survive if anything happened to you.” I pulled away so Francine would be forced to look into my eyes. When she glanced away, I shook her shoulders gently. I wasn’t mad, I just wanted her to understand what I was saying.

“But I’ve already been to Siberia,” she protested adamantly. “What’s so different about this time?”

“Detka.” I feigned patience. “My dad is a very open minded person, especially in his age group. He loves me enough to see past my sexual orientation and wouldn’t ever try to change my mind about how I choose to live. Evgeniya clutched the cross around her neck as if Satan were seated beside me when I admitted to everything about you and I. I don’t know her at all...if she found out you were in Russia, I can’t predict what would happen-“

“Then why are YOU going!?” Francine’s fire had been lit inside her, a true Sagittarius reaction. I felt my Cancerian tidal waves rise in response.

I had to strain myself not to argue. Through gritted teeth, I replied cautiously. “You know why. I have to.”

“I’m going to worry about you...all the time. Constantly.” Francine warned me warily, and I shoved her backwards to get both of our minds off what was to come tomorrow. Before she could react I had my hands underneath her dress, tracing my girl’s soft inner thighs. She squirmed, spreading her legs.

“Shhh. Close your lips now...and open your other ones, detka.” I instructed seductively, and she complied almost immediately. Day time sex was my favorite, because the neighbors wouldn’t be home to hear our screams of pleasure.

“N-now?” My lover gasped, positioning herself against the mountain of pillows behind her as I accessed her pretty pink cunt. She knew it drove me insane when she refused to put underwear on. Especially while walking around in little short skirts and dresses. I moaned, biting my lip.

“No panties? What a bad girl.” I kissed the crease where her womanhood and left thigh met, making her jump slightly. I did the same to the other side before finally allowing my tongue to plunge into her sweetness. She groaned with satisfaction, and I kept licking at her swollen clit as if it were my favorite ice cream. “Yes. I have to have you right now.” I answered her incredulous question, using two fingers to enter her pulsating mound. Francine grabbed at her dark golden hair desperately, twisting her hips as I started fucking harder and faster.

“VASHA!!! Oh my fucking GOD...” Francine humped my fingers, and I grinned mischievously. I loved reducing her to a begging mess underneath the skill of my hand. I leaned forward to suck on her clit, and was met with an explosion of my lover’s cum a second later. I closed my eyes as I felt it squirt into my face. Some hit the corner of my mouth, and I licked it off. I couldn’t get enough and she knew it well. Slithering off our bed, I started for the bathroom to brush my teeth.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I heard Francine giggle lethargically. “We’re not finished yet!”

I stuck my head into the hallway to address my girlfriend with a knowing smile. “We’ll be late for Brody’s going away party. There’ll be more time for...that...tonight.”

“But you had enough time to fuck me, huh?” She laughed sarcastically. Before Francine, I was used to women who laid on their backs and waited for me to please them without returning anything. I quickly figured out that my girlfriend wasn’t one of those types. She loved giving just as much as she enjoyed receiving. As a result, our constant tug of war for dominance always seemed to leave someone’s ego temporarily bruised. Today, it was Francine’s.

“Well if you’d cum faster-“ I started, but quickly clamped my mouth shut at her exasperated glare. She suddenly hurled a pillow at me, and I ducked back into the safety of our restroom just in time.

I loved firey women. Curse my attraction to the polar opposite of myself.

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

Francine organized a farewell celebration for Brody at Joey’s Italian Paradise as soon as we knew when she was leaving, and made the invitation out to any of her friends or family who could make it. Renting out the back patio meant we’d all have plenty of space, and I’m glad she decided to have it at her work because it was inexpensive and simple. We were the first ones there along with Olivia, who came without Charlotte. I greeted her with a hug and asked if she was alright. Before she could respond, Francine interjected quickly.

“Sorry dude, Liza just called. People should be arriving any minute.” She placed a hand on Olivia’s shoulder, and our friend nodded apathetically.

“Gotcha. I’m gonna go see what the hold up on our food is. Let’s talk later, Vasha.”

I nodded back with a wink, and Olivia went inside to check on the pizzas and refreshments.

“Here, detka. Could you help us with the streamers?” Francine handed me the sky blue ribbons and I got to work climbing poles and taping the decorations in place. After a few minutes, I caught on to the laughter down below and smirked.

Well, I’m small. What else did they expect?

I knew Francine gave this task to me because I loved to climb. Trees, houses, anything. It’s an enjoyable hobby and a great way to get out of trouble.

“Is something funny?” I asked in English with tape between my teeth. I untangled the last paper streamer carefully before taking the tape and slapping it against the surface of it’s respective pole.

“Maybe you should’ve called her a monkey instead of a bat, Francine.” Olivia guffawed, watching me slide down with my arms and legs tightly wrapped around the last pole.

“Woah! Russki, are you stripping for us now too? HOT!” Brody’s loud voice came ringing onto the patio, and I frowned in confusion.

“Strip? What is it?”

Francine leaned against Olivia, doubled over in laughter. Once she caught her breath, she explained it’s meaning in Russian and I rolled my eyes at them all.

“Children.”

“That’s us. Hey, if I got you a little red dress could you do any upside down tricks?”

“I know a really good one that involves my foot cracking your head open. How’s that?” I snipped, not really mad. Crude humor is something I’m very used to from Brody.

“Your ladys got jokes, France.” Brody came forward wearing a nice pair of black jeans and a light cashmere grey sweater. She had a fresh haircut, and it looked a little shorter on the sides. I thought she looked like a very...handsome woman. Liza appeared behind her a minute later, wrapping her arms around Brody’s waist tenderly.

“Everyone’s filing in now. Thanks for arranging all this, dude.” She let go of her lover to embrace Francine tightly.

“Yeah...it’s really something.” Brody looked around with excitement, spotting the steel bucket overflowing with beer bottles in the corner of one of the tables. “LIT. Babe, wanna beer?” She started walking off.

“I’m driving baby— I’ll just have water.” Liza waved her off to continue her conversation with my girlfriend. In the span of ten minutes, the patio was overflowing with people who knew and loved Brody. I blinked at the sight before me, saying a silent prayer for my friend. She seems like the type who doesn’t get affected by life easily, but I understood how difficult this had to be for her. A few days before the party, Brody had taken me to Friendship Park so she could elaborate on what was happening a little more without everyone else there distracting her. Of course, Francine came with so she could translate. Brody explained how she was a mid-level ranking official in the Navy, and how she’d signed on for eight years instead of six like she originally planned. I’m not sure how things like that get mixed up, but I figured it was a simple mistake. Or maybe not. I didn’t ask any questions, just nodded and said my friendship was always with her. Liza has been taking the news very hard, so it was nice for me to see her dressed up and getting lost in distraction for a while.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Olivia sitting by herself in a chair hidden by a few palm trees. She pulled her engagement ring off and fingered it with tears streaming down her face. I shifted on my feet, only wondering for a second if I should go over before heading that way.

“Hi Olivia, can I sit down?” I asked softly, craning my head to the side to try and look into her eyes. Her gaze was fixed on the gold ring, but she nodded slowly. Since there wasn’t another chair, I sat on the stone ledge and placed my hand on her back gently. We didn’t say anything for a minute, and I looked out at the rest of the party having a good time. I wanted Olivia to be one of those people, and wished she wasn’t going through this struggle with Charlotte.

“Vasha?”

“Hmm?”

“I told Brody...that’s why my EX isn’t here.” Olivia’s voice was thick, and it sounded like she was about to start crying again. “I figured everyone should know about what happened...especially my best friend.”

“You broke up?” I asked in stunned shock. Olivia whipped her blonde ponytail back, turning to face me directly.

“Could you forgive Francine...if she cheated on you?” The question didn’t sound rhetorical, and Olivia looked at me with such hope in her blue eyes it made me bite my lip. I could lie to her...

No, I couldn’t.

“Never.” I sighed, squeezing my friend’s shoulder. “I loved someone before Francine. She betrayed me once. We tried to be friends...but in the end it didn’t work out.” The searing pain of Olya’s cold amber eyes staring at me while she was half dressed with our co-worker will never go away. I don’t see how anyone could forgive such deception. As much as I loved Francine, I’d leave her the same way I left Olya if she slept with someone else.

Olivia looked at the ground, tears falling onto the concrete. “I don’t think I can forgive Charlotte either....” she pulled her phone out shakily. “She doesn’t know we’re done yet, but she’s about to.”