Soulmates
27
Heartbreak
Jaime and Keira
«WHAT JUST HAPPENED?» Jaime asked Keira.
«She cut us off! She screamed to go away again and slammed the door so hard my head hurts!»
«Why? Trayce! Where are you? Don’t cut us off.»
«Let’s go on to the bookstore and see if we can find her. I can’t believe she’d just cut us off like that when we were so near!» Keira said.
The two hurried to the bookstore, but hurrying through the mall on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, was a matter of perspective. They were going faster than others, but not nearly as fast as they wanted to go. When they reached the bookstore, the sales had the cash registers backed up and people were standing in line in the café to place their orders. Jaime and Keira split up, first checking the café for any sign of Trayce.
«I don’t think she’s here,» Keira said.
«It’s a big store. Let’s make another circuit around. She could be hiding,» Jaime said.
«She’s hidden herself from me. I can’t feel her at all.»
Both teens were upset, but continued their search, meeting up at last at the café once more.
«I don’t feel much like eating,» Jaime said.
«Me either. Can we go to your place?»
«I’ll text Dad. If he’s still circling the mall, he’ll be here in a few minutes.»
Jaime and Keira made it back across the mall, holding hands. Tears were near their eyes. David and Olivia were still nearby and in a few minutes were back to where he’d dropped the two of them.
“How did your meetup go?” David asked. “You weren’t there that long.”
“She didn’t show up,” Keira said.
“I don’t like that,” David said. “She could have been someone scoping the two of you out. Maybe not even a woman. I want you to be extra careful this week.”
“We will, sir. Can you take us to your house? We just need to figure out what we’ll do next,” Keira said.
“Sure. How about a dip of ice cream on the way back? That always makes me feel better.”
“Before lunch, David?” Olivia laughed.
“Why not?”
“Yes, please,” Keira said.
Jaime and Keira sat on the sofa in the family room holding hands. They’d finished their ice cream with David and Olivia. The older couple then said they were going out to lunch. Jaime had the impression from both of them that lunch might be in Olivia’s apartment.
«I feel really hurt,» Keira said. «I never thought she’d tell us to go away again.»
«I didn’t think she was capable of slamming the door so tightly. Any time she’s backed away from us, I could still sense her. I’ve never slammed a door so tightly—not without pretty much going into a coma.»
«You don’t suppose that happened to her, do you?»
«If it happened like it does to me, we’d have had time to understand it.»
«What if she was in an accident? Maybe she was hit in the parking lot. When you were knocked out, we both lost touch with you. Then you were in the hospital and there was so much interference I couldn’t reach you until I was in your room.»
«I didn’t see any flashing lights at the mall. We can check the news and call the hospitals, I suppose. Something really bothers me about this.»
«Did our lover really just ghost us? I’m bothered, too,» Keira said.
«I don’t know how to explain it without… at least kissing you,» Jaime said.
«There’s nothing stopping you from doing that.»
The two folded into each other’s arms and kissed deeply. In that moment, Jaime opened up and shared his deepest fears and desires. Keira could not help but do the same. The two were of one mind. Both were flooded with the intensity of each other’s feelings.
But there was no answering thought from Trayce.
Jaime had only one experience that came close to what had just happened. It was his last moments with his mother, when she’d told him she loved him. Then there was nothing. She was gone from his life forever.
Keira gasped at the intensity of the memory and the two embraced as tears began to fall. The thought that Trayce might truly be gone forever broke their hearts.
«We’re here alone,» Keira said. «Your dad won’t be back for a long time. There’s nothing stopping us… We could just go to your room.»
«Keira, you’ve just been inside my mind and body. You know how much I want you. But…»
«Yeah. Except that.»
«I just don’t like the idea that we make love to each other for the first time while we’re grieving the loss of Trayce,» Jaime said.
«It would always feel that way, wouldn’t it? I just want us to have the joy in each other that we’ve always had before. I don’t want a dark cloud hanging over us,» Keira said.
«I always thought it would be so much easier to have a relationship with a woman who could hear my thoughts and speak in my mind. Like, we’d always know for sure if our partner was consenting to something,» Jaime said.
«Instead, we see each other’s desire, complicated by our doubts and misgivings. We don’t even know our own minds and feel like we are never ready. I love you so much, Jaime.»
«I can’t imagine my life without you. I would be miserable.»
«I’m miserable enough right now,» Keira said. «Wouldn’t it be acceptable to comfort each other with some more kissing… and stuff?»
«Yeah. That would make me feel a lot better.»
Each wanted the comfort they found in the other’s arms. They were determined not to have intercourse, but that didn’t eliminate any of the other things they’d done together. It began with just a little kissing and progressed to touching and petting. Before long they were both naked and lying on the sofa together.
«So easy. It would be so easy,» Keira sighed.
«I love you so much,» Jaime said. «I know it would be wonderful. Maybe we’re silly to wait.»
«Let’s make sure first. It won’t hurt to wait a few more days. No regrets, remember?» Keira said. «But New Year’s Eve is our time, lover. New Year’s Eve I want all of you.»
«I want to feel you, Keira. I want to feel your body and your mind as you come.»
«Keep doing that. Yes. Right there. Slide your finger… up… yes… in. I can feel you searching inside me. Searching for my soul. I want you so much! I’m… going…»
That was all the warning Jaime got for Keira’s impending orgasm. As she began to slip back into herself, she felt Jaime ramp up for his. Both rode the waves of the other’s pleasure.
They held each other and eventually dozed off to sleep.
Jaime’s phone buzzed, waking them up. He looked at the text message.
“Picking up pizza. Be home in fifteen minutes,” was David’s message.
«It’s so nice that he gave us a warning,» Keira giggled. Jaime continued stroking her body.
«He could have given us more time,» Jaime sighed. «I could continue doing this for the next fifty years or so.»
«Oh, yes. No! We need to dress.»
«I’m dressing. I love you, Keira.»
They pulled themselves together and each supported the other when sadness got hold of them.
Jaime and Keira and Emerson
“Hey, Keira, it’s Emerson,” said the cheerful voice on the phone. “I was just wondering if you and Jaime might want to get together this afternoon. We could run another test on our software and then maybe get a pizza. Um… Your girlfriend is welcome to come, too.”
“Oh, hey. Thanks Emerson. That might be just the pick-me-up we need today. Our girlfriend kind of… rejected us Friday. It’s been a real downer,” Keira said.
“I’m so sorry! Really! Nothing makes the holidays suck like being rejected by someone you really like. Can you guys get over here by, say, one, to run some tests and then we can get a pizza mid-afternoon?”
«Are you up for this?» Keira asked Jaime.
«Sure. Why not. You know what she wants, though.»
«Yeah. Maybe that’s okay. I’m so down, mindless sex might be just what we need.»
«Let’s not go too far, okay?»
“I just checked with Jaime real quick. We’ll see you at one.”
“That’s great! Later!”
It was about eight blocks from Keira’s house to Emerson’s, but they decided to walk through the falling snow. It wasn’t the first snow of the season, but this one was looking like it would accumulate some serious inches. Not much chance Monday’s return to school would be delayed, though.
«Is your hand too cold?» Jaime asked. They each had a glove on one hand, but were holding bare hands between them.
«I’d rather freeze than lose touch with you,» Keira said.
«I wish we were sharing this with Trayce,» Jaime said. «And that is the last thing I’m going to say on the subject of our former girlfriend,» he added with more finality than he felt.
«You need to remember to sign while we’re with Emerson,» Keira said. «Based on her reaction when you spoke in her mind, she could freak out completely if she finds out we talk in our heads. We don’t need to send another girlfriend to therapy.»
«Got it.»
«Look! There’s a crossbill!»
«Is that what that bird is called? He sure looks bright against the snow, doesn’t he?»
«His light shines.»
They walked through a mix of neighborhoods before reaching Emerson’s slightly more opulent area.
“Hey! You made it,” Emerson said when she opened the door to their knock. “Did you walk? I could have driven over to pick you up!”
“Thanks, Emerson. It was just so beautiful out there, we decided to walk and enjoy the snowfall.”
“It’s really coming down now. We usually have to go farther inland to the mountains to see this kind of snow,” Emerson said. She took their coats and hung them up in a hall closet. “Not to worry, though. If we get snowed in, we have plenty of supplies. We could last a week here. Let me introduce you to the fam.”
They went into the living room where Emerson’s parents were sitting and reading.
“Mom, Dad, these are my friends Keira and Jaime,” Emerson said.
“Happy to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Flaherty,” Keira said as Jaime signed.
“Emerson has told us so much about you,” Mrs. Flaherty said. “I understand you don’t speak, Jaime, but I think it’s great Emerson has been learning sign language so you can work together in your computer lab. We should make sign language a mandatory course in elementary school. And make sure we have appropriate assistive technology where needed.”
Mrs. Flaherty was desperately trying to make them feel comfortable, but, like so many well-intentioned people, was focusing on the disability rather than the people. Jaime and Keira could clearly read her thoughts, though, and realized quickly her good intentions. Mr. Flaherty just looked up and smiled at them, content to let his wife handle the embarrassment without him getting involved.
“We’re going downstairs to the computers to test our apps,” Emerson said, moving them toward the door. “You might want to investigate Jaime’s text to speech app when you’re looking at assistive technologies. He can speak in class like any other student.”
“Fascinating,” her mother said. “Have fun and don’t work too hard. We’re on vacation, remember?”
As soon as they were out of earshot, Emerson whispered, “Hope that wasn’t too painful. Mom really tries hard, and usually she manages to get something good accomplished. Mercy has the best patient care reputation in the city. I have to respect her for achieving that.”
“I’m glad she’s achieving things over there,” Jaime signed and Keira interpreted. “I spent a night there a couple of weeks ago when I got cut and they were afraid I had a concussion.”
“Other hospitals would have stitched you and shoved you out the door within an hour,” Emerson said.
“Is your sister here, too?” Keira asked.
“She’s fourteen,” Emerson said as if that explained everything. “She has her computer, a television, and her cell phone in her room and figures the only time she needs to come out is to eat or piss. God! Was I that much of a twerp just four years ago?”
They laughed, Jaime’s odd squeak among the noises. They got sodas and sat discussing the holiday for a few minutes. They tried not to probe Emerson too deeply, but there was a definite sense of her being lonely most of the time.
“Well, we’d better run some tests so it doesn’t seem like I’m just desperate to have company,” Emerson said. “Look what I did with your app!”
Jaime had left a copy for her to play with on her own. She’d definitely put in some work.
“That’s great!” Jaime signed when Emerson played a version of her voice that had a soft southern drawl to it.
“Very sexy,” Keira added. “I might need to go live in Georgia just to listen to the belles.”
“Why go so far when you have me right here?” Emerson typed as the text to speech engine spoke in the drawl. It was still identifiable as her voice, but had a completely different accent.
“I can see we are all going to need to coordinate our TTS voices and then do something bizarre in school,” Keira said.
“We could put on a play,” Jaime suggested. “Our synthetic voices performing A Streetcar Named Desire or something.” Of course, he and Keira had memorized part of that play as a tool for blocking people in their heads.
“Oh, yeah!” Emerson said. She typed, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” The voice picked it up.
“We might have a whole new use for the app,” Keira said. “Jaime, you could be an acting sensation. Just feed the lines into the computer and act them out!”
“I was kidding! Don’t even think of putting me on stage or in front of a camera!” Jaime signed.
They ran several more experiments, including recording Keira’s voice tests as they had with Emerson a week earlier. Then they applied the same filters Emerson had set up for her southern drawl.
“They’re different!” Keira exclaimed.
It was clear that even though they had the same accent, the tone and timbre of Emerson’s and Keira’s voices were different and recognizable.
Jaime pulled a composition book from his backpack and started writing notes in his elegant script. Emerson looked over his shoulder.
“Not only do you have sign language that only select people understand, but you write in a way only a few people can grasp,” she said. “I’m just beginning to be able to decipher it.”
“You should see Mex and Cheery’s wedding invitations!” Jaime signed. “They both learned at the same time I did and handwrote each invitation!”
“When’s their wedding?” Emerson asked.
“The weekend after graduation this spring. The invitations haven’t actually been sent yet. I just happened to know both the bride and groom,” Jaime signed.
“And he’s going to be the best man at the wedding!” Keira said.
“You’re not, like, thinking of getting married right away, are you?” Emerson asked.
“Girl, we haven’t even had sex yet,” Keira laughed. “It’s a little early to be thinking of marriage.”
“They’re kind of different things,” Emerson said. How about going up to my room now? she thought.
“Um… We probably won’t be virgins much longer,” Keira said.
“We were waiting for our girlfriend, but she cut us off, so there isn’t much reason to wait except making sure the two of us are ready,” Jaime signed.
«Did you see that?» he shot to Keira.
«Loud and clear! If we said let’s all go to bed now, she’d be all over it… us.»
«Are you sure we aren’t just responding to a fantasy?»
«It’s definitely a fantasy, but there’s real intent behind it.»
«Wow!»
“I’ve got an idea,” Emerson said.
Jaime and Keira could clearly see her idea taking shape and caught their breath.
“This is just because you should have one experience that I can help with. I, like, understand you wanting to wait for sex and you should really be alone together for that.” I could coach them through each step of the way. Maybe after their first time, I could get more involved. “You both know I’ve got experience with a three-way. God, it haunts me and I can’t stop thinking of Dom and Raquel. They’re getting married New Year’s Day. I might need to see you guys just to talk me out of despair as they’re getting hitched.”
“We understand,” Keira said.
“I knew you would. So… What I was thinking is that I could show you, or participate with you, or something, in a three-way kiss. It’s just for instructional purposes, you know. It wouldn’t mean I’m your third wheel or anything. It’s just…” Emerson stuttered to a stop. “I feel so alone now. And you two are so sexy. And… I really want to kiss you.”
«Okay?» Keira asked Jaime.
«Yeah. You know. Just to see what it’s like.»
«Yeah.»
Jaime and Keira pulled Emerson into an embrace that let each girl know quickly the other was braless. They just held each other for a few minutes with Emerson breathing heavily between them. It was clear in her mind that she was excited beyond words just to be held by them. She desperately wanted the kiss.
«We need to be careful,» Keira said. «It could be overwhelming for her if we share what we felt when we kissed the first time.»
«Do you think she’ll feel that?»
«Definitely. Just based on the last time you touched her bare skin. That was just her shoulder.»
«Okay. I’m ready.»
Being physically in touch with a third person when they kissed was far different than being with Trayce in their heads. They could see from Emerson’s memory how they needed to tilt their heads the same direction as they came together for that first electric touch of their lips. Emerson was not waiting. Her lips were parted and she touched theirs with her tongue. Then all three tongues came into play and the world shifted.
For Jaime and Keira, it was like merging themselves into Emerson, her memories and hopes. They could clearly see the difference between their thoughts and hers. She was open to them, but not really sharing with them beyond enjoying the experience of the three-way kiss together for the first time.
For Emerson, it was a new world. She could feel their growing interest in her, but also felt both her disappointment in losing her lovers in Paris and the other two losing Trayce. Still, the passion they had for their missing partners was shared completely with each other. Emerson gasped for breath and then put her hands behind both Keira’s and Jaime’s heads to hold them for a longer and more passionate kiss that brought tears to the eyes of each of them.
«We do care about you, Emerson,» Jaime whispered in her mind. «You are our dear friend. We just want to hold you.»
«Can we be more than friends?» she whispered, not realizing she was actually speaking with them.
«Anything is possible, but we all need time to heal. Right?» Keira asked.
«Yes. I just… I just want to kiss you some more. And everything!»
Everything proved to be hands exploring each other, eventually slipping beneath shirts to caress bare chests. The teens let the kiss deepen with more and more boundaries between them disappearing as they found each other’s breasts and nipples.
Before they could let their hands slide lower, Keira and Jaime pulled back.
«We need to get control of ourselves,» Jaime said.
«Yeah. If we let this go further, we’d be screwing here on the carpet,» Keira agreed. «If you want.»
«Tempting, but I don’t think we should.»
«Right.»
They stood looking at Emerson as they pulled their hands from beneath her shirt. Emerson continued to hold her position with her face upturned for the kiss, her lips parted, and her eyes closed.
“That was nothing like what I expected,” she sighed. Her eyes slowly opened but she continued a glazed look into space. “I felt like… like I could feel all three of us. Like I was somehow inside you and you were in me. I… I think we should put our coats on and go get a pizza. Yeah. That’s what we need. Just a pizza with pepperoni and lots of cheese.”
“Sausage and mushrooms,” Keira added.
“Sure,” Emerson pressed her legs together. Fuck! I think I came.
Please feel free to send comments to the author at devon@devonlayne.com.
