[The Shifters Committee 01.0] Time Shifters

by Rebecca Foxx

  “I know,” she said, “that we did not promise anything to each other. But it hurts if I’m being referred at as someone else’s lust.”

  Shannon could not say a word. She had no idea how she should react.

  “But Bethany…” she said.

  “Do not worry,” Bethany answered. “This lunch was a bad idea. We should treasure what was good about this. But that was only what happened last night. No reason to spoil the memory.”

  Shannon felt a bitter lump forming in her throat. Her vision blurred, she was seconds away from crying.

  “I will make this easy for you,” Bethany said and started to walk away.

  The waiter arrived back to their table with the drinks. When he recognized the drama unfolding between the two costumers, he decided to flee.

  Bethany left without as much as looking back. She hid her eyes behind her shades. Might have been necessary to protect those chestnut marbles against the sun. Or maybe to hide her tears.

  Shannon had no way of concealing her pain. Those tears started to roll down her cheeks as soon as the front entrance closed behind Bethany.

  The other costumers at the restaurant did not care much about her. After all she was only a stranger. If nothing else they could ask Bethany about her business with that odd woman from the East Coast.

  The only one at least remotely moved by Shannon’s tears was the waiter.

  He offered a napkin so she could wipe her cheeks dry and blow her nose.

  Chapter 5

  Shannon spent the rest of her Saturday afternoon locked inside her room. It might have been only paranoia but she thought that the whole town knew by then about the story and was talking about her.

  She must have slumbered a couple of hours because when she opened her eyes the room was dark. Just like yesterday night. When Bethany paid her visit.

  That sudden pain she felt inside her chest equaled to a stab straight into her heart. Shannon got up and started to dress. She could not stand the haunting memory of Bethany all around.

  She picked up her bag and checked her phone before leaving. A message from the mechanic said that he had all the pieces to fix the Ferrari. By Monday morning it would be good as new.

  Right, Shannon thought. At least she could drive away furiously as she came, and never look back at this pitiful town.

  Shannon left her room without any clear destination. Instead of going to the bar in front of the motel she started to walk towards the inner part of the town.

  She stopped at every club and had a drink just to help the time passing by. It did not take long for her to get completely drunk. Also to lose herself in a maze of unfamiliar streets.

  If she had been just a notch more sober, she would have started to fear for her own life. The streets she got lost among were dark and hostile.

  There were no shadows because there was no light. The buildings were raggedy and the people on the streets inspected her with vile looks and glistering eyes.

  Shannon started to regain control over her senses. This was no joke any more, she had no idea where she was. She saw a guy standing on a nearby corner and decided that he was her best chance.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, “could you please help me finding my motel?”

  Shannon realized what a grave mistake she made once she stared into that face from up close. The guy had a dirty full beard and missed some of his teeth. His nose was huge and its tip slightly red. His eyes were dark and dangerous.

  “I can help you, Miss,” he said. His voice had a rasping quality. Shannon felt her nerves sending a series of alarm signals.

  “We can help you, Miss,” Shannon heard someone saying from behind her back. She turned around on her heels. Four other guys stood in her way, all of them similar characters to the one she decided to talk to.

  “We can help you, Miss,” one of the guys said, “but it is only fair if in return you help us.”

  Shannon’s lower lip started to tremble in fear.

  “Take my money,” she said and dropped her bag down.

  “Oh,” she heard the guy from behind her back, “we did not want your money. We want something else. But of course if you want to give us your money, we would take that as well.”

  Shannon started to shriek and run simultaneously. She did not get too far away though. She felt dirty hands dragging her down on the ground. The sharp and cool edge of a knife touched the uncovered skin of her throat.

  “Shut up,” the guy lying over her hissed into her face. His breath smelled of cheap wine and garlic. Shannon’s stomach turned upside down in disgust.

  Then she heard a shot.

  The guys jumped and run for it.

  Shannon saw a flashlight cutting through the darkness and she fainted into oblivion.

  When she woke, she instinctively cried up. She felt a familiar palm against her chest.

  “Calm down,” she heard a lovely voice.

  Bethany was back and Shannon lay on the top of her own bed in the motel.

  “Beth?” she asked with a faltering voice.

  “You okay?” Bethany replied with a question.

  Shannon sighed.

  “I think I’m fine.”

  “I could not see any wounds and your breathing seemed normal. I decided to take you home instead of a hospital.”

  “What happened?” Shannon asked.

  “I hoped you would tell me…”

  Shannon sighed again. She turned her head, she could not stand the accusing sparks in those chestnut eyes.

  “I do not even know…” she said finally.

  “Okay,” Bethany replied. “I will tell you then. You got completely wasted and wandered in the worst neighborhood in town. You made out of yourself an ideal target for those guys.”

  “Was it my fault?” Shannon asked, struggling with her tears.

  Bethany shook her head.

  “No,” she said, “it was probably mine.”

  “What?” Shannon asked in surprise.

  She saw some tears accumulating in Bethany’s eyes. Suddenly the tables had turned and Bethany seemed like a recent victim of an almost crime.

  She kept on sobbing while talking.

  “What happened in the restaurant,” Bethany said, “I’m so sorry. I lost my control over my own stupid head. You did not deserve what I said. It was just, I do not know what to say…”

  Shannon sat up on her bed. She edged closer to Bethany and held her face in her palms.

  “You do not have to say anything,” Shannon tried to calm her down.

  Bethany’s lips landed on Shannon’s mouth. She pressed Shannon backwards and they ended up lying on the top of each other.

  Bethany’s hands traveled around Shannon’s body, occasionally paying a visit to the naked skin under the clothes. Bethany seemed particularly interested about Shannon nice and round buttocks.

  Shannon felt as the passion rose in her body. This time Bethany took the lead and satisfied her twice before as much as Shannon could lay a hand on any of her Bethany’s sensitive body parts.

  Once they were satisfied with the pleasure, they just lay besides each other, their arms and legs tangled.

  “What about tomorrow?” Shannon asked.

  “We should not think about tomorrow,” Bethany answered.

  “Realistically we are lucky. This two nights were a gift. I do not like empty promises and long saying goodbyes.

  Shannon on the other hand wanted to say so many things. She wanted a sign, she wanted some encouragement. She was willing to start a new life and she could not think about any better place to do so than on Bethany’s side. Only if she wanted her of course.

  “Beth?” she asked.

  No answer came. Shannon glanced at Bethany’s face in the semi-darkness and saw that her eyes were tightly shut.

  Chapter 6

  Shannon realized disappointedly that Bethany had disappeared before she woke up.

  No saying goodbye, not even a note. Shannon slept for a long time, judging by t
he position of the sun and the amount of light inside her room it must have been easily noon by then.

  She stretched and yawned under her blanket. Her phone started to ring.

  Shannon did not even check the name of the caller any more.

  “What’s up, Ben?” she asked.

  “Just checking on you if everything is fine…” Ben said.

  What could Shannon say? That she fell in love, got almost raped, but later was saved by the woman she fell in love with, but just seconds ago when she woke up she realized that her love already left her alone.

  For a mad moment she almost started a rant, trying to explain Ben everything in twenty words or less. But she proved to be unable to utter any sound.

  “Shannon?” Ben asked.

  “Yes,” she said, “I’m here and I guess I’m just fine. The Ferrari will be ready tomorrow morning. I will make it to San Francisco by lunch time.”

  Ben did not answer. Shannon could hear his heavy breathing in the phone and it puzzled her.

  “What is it, Ben?” she finally asked.

  “I do not know what is going on,” Ben said, “but just yesterday you sounded like someone whose long lost favorite grandmother made it back from the grave and was ready to spend the rest of her life with her favorite grandchild.

  A day before that you acted like a maniac who could not appreciate her own success after she had run away from the deal of her life.”

  Ben stopped for a little pause. Shannon did not know what to say in her defense.

  “You know that if you do not make it here, no one else can sign those papers. Missing out on this contract would ruin not just you but me and many of the other loyal employees’ lives. We are talking about millions of dollars.”

  “I know, Ben” Shannon answered.

  “Okay,” Ben said, “so honestly, is everything just fine? Are you going to make it tomorrow?”

  “I promise I’m going to make it,” Shannon said. And she meant it. After all the madness of the last two days, her past, her real life caught up with her. She was responsible for her company and her employees. She knew that. And it seemed Ben knew that she knew.

  “Take care of yourself,” Ben said and cut the call.

  Shannon spent the whole day in bed watching TV. She secretly hoped that Bethany might just show up. But she did not. Shannon fell asleep at dusk easily and woke with a fresh body and mind at dawn. She paid for her room and said goodbye to Bethany’s cousin.

  At the mechanic she felt like the guy knew a lot more about the happenings of the last couple of days than what he showed. Shannon attempted to talk about Bethany, but the mechanic did not give straight answers to any of her questions.

  Finally Shannon accepted her fate. She gave the keys of the old Camry back to the mechanic and drove away in the Ferrari.

  As soon as she left the border of Fallon behind her, she accelerated the car.

  So, other than having those two wonderful nights in Bethany’s hands this weekend did not help her in any ways. She still felt lost and unsure about her future. She was turning 30 and besides being extremely successful in her job, she could not show much.

  She knew she was not going to accept the job. She worked as a CEO and owner of her own company. She was not going to carry on from an employee position. What else was there to do then, Shannon marveled hard.

  Then she heard the siren. Could it be, she thought.

  She glanced at the mirror and saw the patrol car. Shannon pulled over to the side of the road. She did not dare looking behind. With her eyes fixed downwards she waited with a pounding heart.

  “That’s a nice ride,” she heard that lovely voice, “you know I could take you to jail for speeding again and keep you for myself for at least another day in this town.”

  Shannon jumped out of the car and kissed Bethany on the mouth.

  “Careful,” Bethany warned her, “this might count as an attempted bribe.” But no matter what she said, she kissed Shannon back.

  “I did not want to, but could not resist it. I had to say goodbye,” Bethany said.

  “You know arresting me would be foolish,” Shannon answered.

  Bethany broke gently free from her arms.

  “Why are you saying that?” she asked.

  “Because I’m willing to come back anyway.”

  Bethany could not believe her own ears.

  “Why would you?” she grasped for air.

  “You caught the wrong end of that call,” Shannon said, “I never wanted that job. I will sign a contract today and I will be free to do after that whatever I want.”

  “And you want to come back to here?” Bethany asked.

  “No,” Shannon answered, “I want to come back to you.”

  They ended up kissing again under the blistering rays of a furious sun in the middle of what seemed like a land inhabited by the wildest dreams and the highest hopes.

  THE END

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  Pandora’s Closet

  Chapter 1

  After 10 consecutive hours of intense grading, hurrying to the kitchen to make coffee, and pacing around her apartment with jittery nerves, Tammy managed to finish all of her grading and send it off two minutes before the deadline.

  She'd planned on going out drinking heading to one of the downtown bars. The gay dance club, the one right next to her favorite coffee shop, wouldn't be that crowded because it was a Sunday.

  It would probably be a more relaxing experience than what they usually offered with its huge, neighborhood rocking speakers, rock hard body dancers gyrating 20 feet above the main floor, their most intimate parts covered by a thin layer of paint.

  No, she shook her head from side to side. That's not what she wanted to do with her evening. She'd probably fall asleep a few minutes after walking into the club.

  The only thing for her to do was to kick her feet up, channel surf or binge watch a show on Netflix. She clicked on the TV and absentmindedly flip through the channels.

  She yawned widely she could get a few more channels landed on the Riverside local news 12. A couple of burglaries on the northeast side of town; fire on the southeast side; and a health food store opening up near the college campus. Tammy yawned again and prepared to click off the TV.

  BREAKING NEWS: Tammy's ears pricked up. She raised the volume.

  "Just 15 minutes ago police announced that they have arrested Marilyn Courtney McFarland, a 37-year-old assistant teachers assistant at the Pomona community college. McFarland is accused of having inappropriate relationships, authorities say, with more than a dozen students."

  Tammy bolted upright, blinking her eyes in shock several times as she stared at the picture of the young woman being led, head down hands cuffed behind her back, security personnel and police on both sides of her, leading her into the county jail.

  As thoughts of her own tryst with students flooded back into her mind, Tammy trembled in fear.

  Never in her life had she felt so vulnerable. She felt sick to her stomach. Pomona Community College was in a suburb outside of Los Angeles. It was probably about an hour and 20 minutes drive away from her apartment.

  It was terrifying to think that a teacher, especially a female teacher, so close in proximity to herself had been arrested on the very charges that could one day be brought against her. That was absolutely terrifying.

  Arrested and handcuffed and led to a county jail. How in the hell would she ever be able to explain that to anyone?

  Tammy screeched, nearly jumping off the couch as her phone beeped. She held one hand pressed to her heart and took several short quick breaths.

  She didn't know what was coming over her but she didn't like it. This wasn't like her at all. It was almost as if somewhere, deep down within her soul she wanted to get caught.

  Confused, shocked, terrified, all she could do was stare at the TV with her
mouth hanging down to the floor, feeling like she'd been kicked in the stomach and in the back of the head at the same time.

  The phone beeped again but this time, Tammy managed to keep her composure. She wanted out. And she wanted out as soon as possible, before anything blew up in her face, before any of these fucking girls went public, before any of them thought that they might be able to get something out of her.