Welcome to E. Mayberry

“How does a pet become an owner?”

“What?” he said loudly over the sound of the shower. “You wanna leave me now too and go be an owner?”

It was the first time I’d ever heard him raise his voice. He left the bathroom and shut the door behind him. It wasn’t quite a slam but it was clear I’d upset him. I felt like a total ass. Here he was, nice enough to help me sort my shit out at the hospital and then invite me to a beautiful place where I could have everything I wanted. Yet, that wasn’t enough for me. I needed to rub his face in the fact that he’d been left once before by choice. I’d highlighted his failure and the one thing I knew about men is they don’t like to relive past letdowns.

When I got out of the shower, I found Bastian sitting on the couch, watching TV, regular TV. He wouldn’t look at me.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

He refused to look my way.

“I said I’m sorry,” I said.

He glanced up at me and his eyes looked moist like he was close to crying.

“I never want to talk to you like that again. That’s not why you’re here. This is supposed to be nothing but a positive experience…”

“Shh,” I said as I removed my towel and let it fall to the floor. “Shh.”

I sat on his lap, facing him, and he couldn’t resist taking my tit in his mouth again. He licked it twice and backed away. He looked into my eyes.

“I love you, Sunshine,” he said. “Do you understand that?”

“I do,” I said.

He reached between my legs and put his fingers against my pussy lips. His thumb made a crescent shape over my clit.

“You need to get going,” he said.

I tried to resist but he wouldn’t hear of it. I dressed, ate a bagel, put on makeup, and was out the door in twenty minutes flat. Impossible as it seems, I’m telling you, I got it done.

I made it to class right on time. Rushing through the community center door, Vivi stood waiting with one outstretched arm pointing me toward the classroom.

“Hi!” I sang as I slid past her. “And bye.”

I expected to see a room lined with desks and filled with students like a high school classroom or something. Instead, there were only three desks positioned in a half circle. I recognized Bree right away from the TV channel I’d seen

at Emery’s house. She cleaned up nicely. Up close, she had a bit of an elven looking face, a pointy nose with ears that stuck out, and her short auburn hair, barely able to keep the ponytail she’d tied it up in, completed the costume. She was adorable in a kid sister kind of way. It was hard to imagine she was the girl I’d seen getting it on with two other people.

Next to her was one of the best looking guys I’ve ever seen. Pasha had long, dirty blond hair and a scar at the corner of one of his honey brown eyes. He was a pretty boy, charming and kind. Yes, I gathered all that just from looking at him. No, in reality I thought he looked like a stuck up asshole. A familiar asshole though. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but I could’ve sworn I’d seen him before.

In front of the other two students was a purple corduroy couch that looked like it belonged in the 70s. Sitting on it was the Hispanic heartthrob who looked like he would be on Ricky Martin’s music video casting speed dial, Marco. He was the dark-skinned version of Pasha, long hair and an intense stare. Lilly was his pet. She wore a flowered dress with no bra, clear from the way the dress hung from her erect nipples. Her hair was as dark as her owner’s and was short, boy short, but she wore it so well.

Marco glanced down at his watch and smiled up at me.

“That was cutting it close,” he said. “You were informed about the rule, no?”

“Yes, I’m sorry,” I said.

Lilly pushed Marco’s chest playfully. She smiled at me and I knew she was a good person.

“Stop scaring the poor girl,” she said. “She got here on time. So now that you’re all here, I think we can go ahead and get started. What makes this class difficult is you’re all at different stages. As I’m sure you’re well aware, this class only takes place over four days, scheduled as time permits. Bree, you’re in your second class and Pasha you’re in your third. Sunshine is it?”

She paused and waited for me to respond.

“Yes.”

“Beautiful name,” Marco said.