Colony Bk. 02

Her hair had undergone an incredible transformation and hung straight, silky and tangle free down her shoulders and back. It was much longer straight. Justine and Beth had carefully braided it, threading ribbons through the braid, and a necklace, borrowed from Beth hung around her neck and led lines of sight to her breasts which were almost visible under the tight fabric.

Cyrus was petrified. This was not the Edie he had experience over the last few days. She descended the stairs with ease even in Justine's heels and stood in front of him, looking angelic but still her same awkward self.

"How do I look?" She asked.

Cyrus stammered momentarily. "How do you look?" He repeated. "You look amazing."

"Really?" She asked nervously.

"Absolutely incredible." He said confidently. She raised up on her toes- impressing everyone that she could do it in heels- and kissed him.

"Let's get going then!" She said excitedly and took his arm in hers, and they left. As they were leaving Justine leaned in and spanked Edie's butt with a loud crack. "Git'em girl." She said. Edie turned beat red and hurried out the door.

They walked down the block to the house address listed and rang the bell.

Rick answered the door. He was dressed as a clown and both Cyrus and Edie immediately felt regret.

"Hey Cyrus!" He said excitedly and eagerly shook Cyrus' hand. "And who is this?" He asked looking over Edie all too thoroughly.

"This is," Cyrus paused, "My wife. Edie." Rick shook her hand, less aggressively but still making as much contact as possible. "Well don't stand outside all night!" Rick said, "Come in, come in."

They did and were both impressed. Rick and Shirley's home was considerably larger than theirs. A large chandelier hung in the foyer and the entrance was all marble, with hardwood further in.

The dining room was large and a dark wood table occupied most of the space and they could hear music coming from the body of the home.

"Everyone is in the kitchen and living room getting to know each other." Rick said, pointing. "Just go on back."

They walked back and surveyed the scene. Neither of them garnered a lot of attention. Edie got some long looks but nothing dramatic and everyone seemed to note the new arrival and resume their conversation and eating. The party to this point only had about twenty people, which was disappointing at first but upon further consideration, Cyrus thought was a bit high.

He leaned into Edie, "Did you know we had this many neighbors?" He said softly. She shook her head. They wandered awkwardly to a refreshment station and looked over the offerings.

Their investigation of the food was cut short by a shrill, high voice that cut through the noise. "Edie?" Came the shriek. Edie and Cyrus turned around quickly. Cyrus checked to make sure his ears still worked. Behind them was a girl, maybe five foot four with brown hair that seemed to explode out from her head.

"Maggie?" Edie yelled and went running to the girl and gave her a hug. Cyrus observed the situation for a moment before walking over to hear what was being said.

"How did you end up here?" Maggie asked.

"I got here about a week and a half ago." Edie said, "I didn't think I had many other options. How did you end up here?"

Maggie threw her head back and groaned. "I've been here two weeks. I signed up after spending a while in a job placement house. You have really grown into that costume." She said pulling on Edie's dress which hardly broke contact with her.

"It's a little tight. I guess I didn't realize I had done so much growing." She said, sounding embarrassed.

"No, no, you look fantastic." Maggie followed up. She looked up at Cyrus and back at Edie. "Who is this?"

"Oh!" Edie exclaimed. "This is Cyrus, my um... husband." She said finding it harder to say than she thought.

"Nice to meet you." He said. She shook his hand, and looked at Edie. "This is who you got paired with?" Maggie said sounding impressed. "Lucky girl." She said, winking.

"Is your husband here?" Edie asked looking around.

"No, he didn't come." She said sounding disappointed.

"Why not?" Edie asked.

"He wanted to play games." She said shrugging. "I'll see if he's still playing when I go home."

"Is he playing with the other girls?" Edie followed up.

"No," Maggie said, "they don't much like gaming. I'm the only one." She looked Cyrus up and down. "How did you get him to dress up?" She asked.

Edie took Cyrus' hand. "He did it all on his own. Just for me." She said beaming.

"Well you know the way into a nerdy girl's heart, and um," She winked at him. Cyrus instantly felt uncomfortable.

"I'll let you two catch up, Edie do you want a drink?" He asked.

"Um, water is fine." She squeaked.

"No, no." Maggie interrupted. "The wine here is amazing, you have to try some." She scurried to a table nearby and grabbed two glasses, handing one to Edie and one to Cyrus. She then retrieved one for herself.

"Cheers." She said. "Finding old friends." They all clinked glasses. Maggie knocked her glass back quickly. Edie was surprised, but sipped hers anyway.

"So, Cyrus." Maggie said looking at him. "You two, got any big plans for later?" She said elbowing Edie. Edie looked confused.

"Nothing big, just this and dinner." He said. "We planned a nice fun evening out."

"You don't have to be polite with me," Maggie said. "Edie and I go way back."

He looked at Edie and back to Maggie. "No really, just some fun at a costume party." He finished his glass of wine and looked for somewhere to put it.

"No plans to- you know," She said looking excited. "Play without the costumes?"

Edie's eyes bugged out. "What? No!" She said, her hand straightening out the dress.

"Come on." Maggie said, "You look so good in it, why wouldn't you?"

"Because that's not why I wore it." Edie said suddenly sounding and looking very discouraged.

"I know that's not why you wore it." Maggie followed up. "But you have to admit, it is a fun bonus."

"I-" Edie said her face suddenly blank. "I guess yeah." She said uncertainly.

"Is that why you wore yours?" Edie asked.

"Not totally." Maggie said, "But my husband does enjoy when I wear them." She said adjusting her princess outfit. "He likes role playing with them." She seemed oblivious to Edie's dismay.

"Maggie, would you excuse us for just a moment?" Cyrus said interjecting.

"Of course," She said, and reached for an hors d'oeuvre.

Cyrus put his hand on Edie's back and walked her to a drink table some ways away.

"Are you ok?" He asked.

"No, she's not anything like I remember." Edie said her face growing more disappointed.

Cyrus put a finger to her chin and lifted her face so they were eye to eye. "Listen, how long has it been since you saw her? A year, two?"

"A year and a half." Edie said.

"Your friend is still in there. But her interests have grown up. Don't judge her too quickly because she has some adult interests now. I didn't come with you for that- but there's nothing wrong with her doing it that way."

Edie nodded. "I was just so excited to see her, I wanted it to be like when we were girls."

"She's got to be at least twenty." Cyrus said. "She's a woman now. But I'm betting if you get past the fact that she enjoys doing what being here expects of her, because she is human, and a woman; you'll find your friend hasn't changed all that much."

Edie nodded with understanding, and her face brightened some. "Thanks."

They walked back to Maggie. "Is everything ok?" the girl asked.

"Great," Edie said, sounding cheerier. The two then moved to a couch and began reminiscing about days gone by and catching up. Cyrus wandered off to find actual food and left them on the couch.

"So," Edie asked, "Are you happy here?" She asked.

"I am very happy." Maggie said. "Aren't you?"

"I don't know, I don't think so." She said honestly.

"Why not?" Maggie said sounding alarmed. "Is it something wrong with him?"

"No, he's been wonderful." Edie said.

"Is it sharing him?" Maggie asked.

"Sort of," Edie said, looking around with her icy blue eyes. "I just always hoped and imagined I'd end up with a guy who was in love with me, you know? And we'd be totally devoted to each other. Here everything seems to be about sex. That's just not me."

"I understand that," Maggie said. "Sometimes I feel like Roland and I have a deep connection- but then a reminder will hit me that the connection we have is split between four people. It bums me out."

"Then why are you happy?" Edie asked.

"Because Roland is still great," Maggie answered. "He's into me, and into my body, and we have a lot in common. He's nice and funny. Between the moments where I have to share him with the other two girls, I got super lucky."

Edie looked away. "Hey," Maggie said, and Edie looked back. "You did too. Cyrus seems like a really decent guy. He doesn't strike me as a fantasy, princess nut, but he still dressed up for you. To make you happy. And from the way you've been acting, I'm guessing it's not even with the promise of peeling that tight, tight costume off you."

Edie protested, "Maggie, I don't want to be someone who does stuff like that. I want sex to be about, passion, love, unbridled affection. I don't want to do it just because I have to- or to get something from someone." She said.

"Don't think of it like that." Maggie replied. "Think of it like using you're pretty, little body, to say thank you to a guy who dressed up and brought you to a party just to make you happy." She looked Edie right in the eyes. "If that's not passion and affection, I don't know what else is."

"I don't know," Edie said noncommittally. "It's just not the way I am."

"It's not the way you were." Maggie corrected her. "You aren't sixteen anymore, Edie. You're a woman, with a real man who is really committed to your well-being." She made eye contact with her friend again. "I promise, when you do finally do what is totally natural between you and him, not only will you enjoy it- we can still watch all our movies. We can still read our books, play our role-playing games in the basement. None of that goes away. You're just adding something else. Something I think you'd like, and be good at."

"Promise?" Edie asked.

"Of course," She said. Edie leaned in and gave her a hug, Maggie hugged her tight.

Cyrus wandered back over with some variety of meat on a stick, chewing happily. "What are y'all talking about?"

Maggie looked up at him, "Just catching up." She said with a smile. "At some point, would you mind if she came over and we watched movies just the two of us? I think we both need that."

"Go for it." He said, and took another bite.

Maggie looked at Edie and wagged her head towards Cyrus. Edie looked at her with a face of half-panic. Maggie smiled and doubled down.

"It was nice to meet you Cyrus." She said standing up and smoothing out her dress before shaking his hand again. "Party isn't what I hoped for. I'm going to go home and throw my own costume party." Maggie said with a confident smirk. She looked at Edie, waved, and said. "Have a fun night you two. Edie, I'll see you tomorrow maybe?"

Edie nodded. Maggie winked at her and left. Edie sat on the couch and Cyrus sat down next to her. "How'd that go?"

"Pretty good actually," She said, "Thanks for bringing me back."

"My pleasure. I know this has all been more of an adjustment for you." He said.

Edie finished her wine, and looked at Cyrus. "Do you want another one?" She asked.

"I could settle for one more, sure." He said between bites. She smiled at him and got up. For the first time, she noticed his eyes when she leaned forward, stood up, straightened out. She walked into the kitchen, made small talk and walked back, handing him a glass. She sat back down next to him.

"This stuff is much stronger than it sounds in books." She said sipping the gold, transparent beverage.

"This is pretty strong for wine. But given the hosts I don't think that should be any surprise." She looked at him confused and he nodded to the foyer where Shirley had her hair up in two balls on the side of her head and was dressed in an exceedingly revealing cat costume.

"Is she wearing a slutty cat costume?" Edie asked.

"Yes, she is." Cyrus said, downing more wine.

"But her husband was-"

"A clown, I know." Cyrus finished her sentence.

"The new neighbors are weird." She said casually, then looked back at Cyrus. "Too judgemental?"

"Not this time." He said cracking a smile. She smiled back and finished glass two. She blinked a couple of times really feeling the first glass.

"Wanna get out of here?" She said trying to sound casual.

"We just got here, are you not having fun?" He asked.

"Maggie is right, the party is lame. Fun was you getting all dressed up to come out with me." She said and leaned in kissing him softly on the lips. Cyrus was ready to pull away quickly but she lingered, her lips parting slightly. The kiss broke and she took his hand. "Maybe we can throw a better party at home."

Ch. 6: Edie's Party

Edie stood up, adjusting her dress and holding Cyrus' hand as he stood up. They walked to the door and snuck out, dodging the wild shouts and drunken joking Shirley was engrossed in just outside the dining room.

Cyrus and Edie walked back down the block. Cyrus started twice on the short walk back to ask questions about what they should do next, but Edie turned around putting a finger to her lips to say 'shh'.

They got to the door and Edie stopped, turning around, standing on her toes to kiss Cyrus again, wrapping her arms around his neck. He leaned down to make the kiss easier on her, trying to find a way to politely put his hands on her sides- feeling her ribs beneath the dress.

She sank back to her feet and took her shoes off, looking at Cyrus. "Shh, be quiet when we go in."

He mouthed back, "Ok."

She opened it, her hand in Cyrus' leading him through the door, quietly shutting it and up the stairs- his shoes clicking as they went. At the top of the stairs she pointed down and he took them off. She pulled his wrist and they snuck down the hall to her door.

Cyrus began to ask a question, "Where are-" Edie put a finger to his lips and shook her head. She opened the door and went in, pulling Cyrus behind her, then closing the door. She walked to the center of the room on the balls of her now bare feet.

She looked at Cyrus and whispered. "When we first got here, I cornered you in the kitchen and asked you to prove you wanted me."

"I remember." He said but she shooshed him.

"Stop interrupting." She said softly. "You got all dressed up and took me to what might have been the lamest costume party ever." She said, hands clasped in front of her, her feet and legs fidgeting. "So now, it's my turn to show you what I want."

She turned around, facing her back to him. He looked at her confused, his eyes struggling not to look at her butt, which the dress she had on fit snuggly around. She looked over her shoulder at him. "Well?"

Unsure if he was allowed to talk or not, he gave her a confused look.

"Take my wings off." She said, wiggling her hips.

He moved towards her and examined the costume, finding where the wings slid into the dress with stems and pulled them free, setting them on the bed.

"Now the necklace." She said, looking back over her shoulder. He found the clasp and undid it, leaning into her as he let the length of it fall away, before she let him set it in her hand. She bent over and set it on the night stand leaning forward, then straightened up.

"Come on," She squeaked, "What's next?"

He caught one of the dress laces in his fingers and she shrugged her shoulders forward waiting for the tug. He pulled the lace through the bow and it came loose. He put his fingers inside the dress and pulled loosening the lacing allowing the dress room to slide.

He hesitated, unsure of what was happening. "Take it off, silly." She said. He tugged the fabric one more time before pulling the dress down over her shoulders, which she rolled forward to give the dress room. It slid slowly with careful tugging until it draped from her shoulders, clinging to her breasts. He tugged again and pulled it down over the bra and then lowered his fingers to her hips and finally the ensemble fell free.

She stepped out of the dress and bent over to pick it up, setting it next to the night stand. She was in white cotton panties and a strapless bra. Cyrus again stood awkwardly.

She looked back at him over her shoulder. "Keep going." She encouraged. He reached up and started feeling the bra for where to unhook it. After a few moments of feeling Edie giggled.

"It unhooks in the front." She said between giggles. Cyrus started to move around her but she reached back. "Nuh uh." She said. "You can do it from right where you are."

He reached around nervously unsure of how to find the clasp. His finger felt the center of the fabric and ran timidly up and down it feeling for a clasp. "You're going to need more than that to get it off." She said leaning back slightly.

He relented and used both hands to feel for the clasp, his palms brushing against her breasts as he fumbled for the right grip to pull the clips apart. She breathed softly while he did and finally it came free. He pulled it off and she crossed her arms over her breasts. He tossed it aside. She wiggled her hips at him signaling the next step.

He stuck a finger into each side of her waistline and pulled slowly. The cotton fabric slid easily down her pale smooth skin and dropped just past her knees. She stepped free of the panties and kicked them out of the way. Totally naked, her blonde, straightened hair hung down her arched, slender back.

His eyes ran up and down her figure apart from his control, examining her butt, her back, her hair, her slight shoulders and hands.

"Get closer." She said. He did. "Closer." He stepped forward until they were practically touching. She giggled, her finger tips brushing his pants. "I think someone brought a magic wand." She felt it again with her fingers.

"Come on, off with your socks." He took them off and tossed them aside. "Now back in close." She whispered with a chirp. Her fingers found his pants again feeling what was beneath, before starting on his belt.

"Don't be shy." She squeaked, "I brought you up here to play with me." She looked over her shoulder as her hands clumsily worked to get the buckle on his belt free, then started on his button and zipper. "So," She said looking up at him. "Play with me."

She felt him hesitate behind her, and abandoned his pants grabbing his hands and placing them on her shoulders. "Cyrus," She said impishly. "you're not being very festive." She slid his zipper down and tugged at the crease so they fell. But they caught on his erection on the way down. She giggled when she discovered what happened and pulled them free. They hit the ground.

"I am trying to throw you a costume party." She giggled, her hands finding his boxers seam and slipping fingers in them. He leaned and whispered, "A costume party where we take the costumes off?"

She pulled the boxers down, fishing them over the stiff erection that tried very hard to catch on the elastic and they too dropped. She turned around to face him and started unbuttoning his shirt. "It's my party." She said, "And at my party, we take our costumes off to start the party." She pulled his shirt open and then lifted his jacket off his shoulders and let it fall.

Then the shirt fell. She felt up and down his chest and let out a soft gasp.

"It's like your body is made of rocks." She breathed. She grabbed his hand and led him backwards to her bed, her eyes fixed on his naked body all the way.