Sunday morning and while Eric is at church, Randy, Trish, Tracey, Fox, and Diana are sitting around the living room trying to figure out something to do today.
“Where has Brian been anyway?” Tracey asks.
“He and Bonnie went to a party over at that Luis guy’s house last night and haven’t come home yet,” Randy answers.
“Thank God, Bonnie is onto Brian now,” Tracey comments to the snickers of Randy and Fox.
Trish puts forth the question, “Who is this Luis guy anyway?”
“Luis is the guy who owns the house that the guy Nate, Brian met on the beach, works for, doing what I don’t know,” Randy explains.
“Did Brian know Nate before we got here?” Tracey asks.
“If he didn’t I’m sure he knows him inside and out by now,” Fox remarks as both guys snicker again.
“Bonnie won’t have any more luck with Brian than she did with Eric,” Randy laughs.
“What do you mean?” Diana questions.
“This is Brian’s big coming out summer,” Randy tells the girls.
“What are you talking about?” Trish speaks up.
“Brian is gay,” Fox announces.
“WHAT?” the girls shout in unison.
“You told me he was coming along to be the fun one!” Tracey accuses Fox.
“Well, I’m sure he is having fun just not with us,” Fox replies.
“You guys knew this all along?” Diana asks.
“He told us at the end of the Basketball season,” Randy explains. “It made sense with all the staring he did at Fox in the shower.”
“Please if he had been watching anyone in the shower it was you with that stupid trick you do,” Fox defends.
“Oh god, please don’t tell me he does that gross trick in the shower at school,” Trish moans in embarrassment.
“Yep,” Fox replies simply.
“What trick” Tracey questions her boyfriend.
“Believe me, you don’t want to see it, it’s gross,” Trish insists.
“Come on, it isn’t that gross, it’s funny,” Randy defends as he stands up reaching for his belt.
“If your pants come down, mine never will again!” Trish threatens. The others laugh at him as he sits back down on the sofa.
Tracey peers over at Diana sitting in a chair sipping hot chocolate. “What has been going on with you and my cousin,” she asks. “You have been spending more time together than just running.”
Diana is cool about her answer trying not to smile. “He’s a nice guy is all,” She says unable to resist adding, “And a good kisser.”
“You little slut!” Tracey exclaims. “I knew you were into him!”
“Well, I guarantee you won’t catch us screwing on that couch!” Diana retorts. The others sitting on the sofa react with disgust.
“What?” Trish shouts jumping up.
“Damn it, did you see that?” Tracey says panicked.
“Sure did, Eric almost did too, but I distracted him,” Diana says to her friend’s relief.
Moving to sit somewhere other than the aforementioned couch, Trish is not happy with this reveal, “If you are a couple now why didn’t you go to church with him today?” she interrogates Diana.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say we are a couple after three days,” Diana replies to Trish. “But if he asked me to go to church with him I probably would.”
Randy picks up on the possible cat fight brewing and quickly says, “Why don’t we go to Great Adventure today, it’s not as long a ride as the Philly Zoo.”
“Sounds good to me,” Eric says having come home early from church. The others fall silent not sure how much of their conversation he had overheard. “I just have to get change,” Eric tells them heading up the stairs.
“I must admit he has come out of his shell the last few days,” Tracey comments looking over to Diana.
Diana smirks at her friend, “I should go get some money from my purse,” she says getting up from the chair to follow Eric up the steps. Eric has been more of a joiner the last few days since they started making out. Maybe the others are right, she thinks, he might be getting the wrong idea about us. She knocks on the bedroom door. “Eric can we talk for a minute?” she asks.
“Just a minute,” he replies through the closed door. “Okay, come on in.” Diana enters the room slowly to find Eric still shirtless going through the dresser drawer. “What’s up?” he asks finding a clean polo shirt.
“I can wait until you are dressed,” she says backing out the door.
“What is the big deal it’s just a shirt?” he utters. She watches as he pulls the shirt over his head her heart beating a little faster at the sight of his tan chest with only a few fine blonde hairs on it.
“This is a conversation for shirts,” Diana says trying to look as if she is not admiring his body as he puts on the shirt. “Before we go out today with the others, I just want to make sure we are on the same page.”
Eric sits on the bed his new attitude diminished. “What do you mean?” he asks grimly.
Diana takes a deep breath, “I really like you and we have been having fun together, that is all.” “At the beginning of August I am still going to school in California.” “I don’t want you to think my life or your life is going to change because we made out a few times.”
Eric is silent for a minute and then he falls back on the bed to let out a big sigh. “Thank the Lord!” he says. “I was so afraid you were going to say you were in love with me!”
“Conceded much?” Diana asks. “I just want to have some fun before I begin my new life.”
“Me too,” Eric agrees. “I was with Haylie for so long and then she betrayed me.” “I’m not ready to jump in again with both feet.” “I’m so relieved you feel the same way!” Eric says sitting back up on the edge of the bed.
“No sex, no emotional commitment!” Diana says reaching out her hand, “DEAL?”
Eric takes her hand shaking it, “DEAL!” He pulls her down on the bed next to him, “Sealed with a kiss.” The two friends kiss for awhile before they realizes, “Making out on the bed isn’t too good of an idea,” Eric says sitting up again.
“Yeah, we should get going the others are probably waiting on us,” Diana agrees.
It is a particularly hot day at Six Flags, Great Adventure. The three couples have gotten separated over disagreements on which rides to go on first. Eric and Diana stand in line for the Kingda Ka Roller coaster. Diana looks around the crowd that waits in line around them and she can’t help but feel like every woman within a couple of feet is looking at them. “Why are all these women looking at us?” she whispers to Eric. “Or am I just paranoid?”
“Sorry, they are looking at me,” Eric tells her. “It is hard to control in this heat and crowd.”
“What is hard to control?” Diana asks him.
“The attraction women have to me,” Eric says coolly.
“Again, Conceded much?” Diana comments.
“I know how it sounds but I have an effect on people,” Eric whispers.
“What your Superpower?” Diana suggests fully expecting him to deny it.
“Something like that, my Mom’s brother had it and her uncle,” Eric tells Diana. Their rather odd conversation is cut short as they board the coaster.
The ride is fast and exciting but neither of them looks thrilled as they leave the ride. Diana takes his hand as they go to a nearby bench to sit down. “What is this all about, what did your uncles have?” Diana asks.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything you’ll just think I’m crazy,” Eric replies.
“Then why did you?” Diana presses.
“It is just that you are the first one that it didn’t work on,” Eric tells her. “And I have to wonder why?”
“It, what didn’t work on me?” Diana quizzes.
“Forget it, it doesn’t matter,” Eric insists.
“It matters to me, now spill it!” Diana insists again taking his hand.
Looking down at their hands on his leg, Eric smiles knowing that she isn’t going to believe anything he tells her, “When I kiss a girl she falls in love with me.” “That is why Bonnie was acting the way she was toward me.”
“Then what changed?” she asks. “Why did Haylie cheat on you?”
“There are several things that break the spell,” he tells her. “Distance, that is what did it to Haylie.” “Drugs, that is what did it for Bonnie.”
“When did you kiss Bonnie, big man?” Diana asks.
“Beginning of last year at a track meet, it was an accident, She caught me off guard, she has been after me ever since.” he explains. “That is why I have been avoiding everyone for months.” “I couldn’t risk contaminating anyone else.”
“Brian, you kissed Brian?” she asks in shock.
“No, I didn’t kiss Brian,” Eric insists. “Brian was a different story.” “Other bodily fluids do it too.” “I caught Brian sniffing my underwear.”
“Gross,” Diana says before realizing something else. “Wait a minute, you kissed me knowing I would fall in love with you?”`
“I figured you were going away to school in a month so the same thing would happen to you that happened to Haylie.” he justifies.
“Well that is a really shitty reason,” Diana tells him pulling her hand away from his.
“So you believe me?” Eric says in surprise.
They stare each other down for a few minutes. “I have to ask, if saliva and sweat make people fall in love with you, what does the other stuff do?” She asks softly.
“What else is there?” Eric asks coyly trying to get her to say it.
“You know,” she says gesturing toward his lap.
He smiles at her shyness, he hasn’t seen that before, “Personally I don’t know, but my Mom tells me that was my Uncle Greg’s downfall.” “Women became violently obsessed when exposed to it.” Feeling like a weight has been lifted from him, Eric asks again, “So you believe me?”
“I would have to accept that people with powers exist to believe your story,” Diana says. “I am just surprised that you don’t think your powers are the work of Satan.”
Eric chuckles, “My family has dealt with this for generations.” “When I was born my Mom thought it would be good for me to be raised with religion to act as a cornerstone to controlling it.” “You see when her brother had it, he let it get out of control.” “He ended up being murdered by jealous lovers.” “I’ll admit it is hard to live with but my strong religious beliefs do help.”
“I need time to think about this,” Diana says getting up from the bench and begins to walk away. Eric quickly scrambles to follow her. As they walk she stews on what he has told her. She wants to believe him, but is that only because she wants to tell someone else about her powers. She so needs to have someone in her life she can trust with her secret.
“Hey look there are Tracey and Fox,” Eric exclaims pointing to the couple sitting at a cafe’ table sharing an order of French fries.
They start to walk over to Tracey and Fox. They both look happier than she has ever known them to be, Diana thinks. Why can’t she have that? She at least deserves to have some happiness in her life! Diana assures herself. Then she grabs Eric’s arm, stopping him. Turning to him face to face she announces, “I want proof!”
“Proof?” Eric repeats, “What do you mean?”
“I want you to kiss a total strange and make her fall in love with you!” Diana insists. “After all your “power” didn’t work on me, I need some proof!”
Eric thinks for a minute then replies, “No, I won’t go through that again!”
“Then I have no way of knowing what you have told me is true,” Diana says bluntly. “I can only assume what everyone has always said about you is true, you are a selfish jerk!”
From the table Fox spots Eric and Diana and calls to them, “Hey, guys come on over!” Eric looks over to them, at their new found love. He remembers how that felt. How will he ever feel that again, now that he knows he has this power? What if Diana is right, what if it is all in his head.
Diana starts to walk to join her friends when it is Eric that stops her this time. “Okay I’ll do it,” he tells her.
Diana turns to him and smiles. “A girl of my picking,” She grins heading over to the couple at the table.
“Hey, wait a minute, I didn’t agree to that!” Eric shouts after her.
“What are they doing?” Fox asks Tracey as he watches Diana and Eric stand there talking.
“Looks like they are having their first fight,” Tracey replies. “Just as well, I’m still not fond of the idea of her with Eric.” “At least I know Diana’s not good at having a boyfriend.” “She really doesn’t know how to treat a guy to make him happy.”
“Pot meet Kettle,” Fox says as the other two friends reach the table where they sit. “What have you two been up to?” Fox asks.
“That’s not fair,” Tracey grumbles.
“Not much just a couple of rides,” Diana replies.
“We are headed over to the log flume,” Tracey says.
“Sound refreshing to me,” Eric says. “What do you think Di?”
“I think we have that little challenge to complete first,” Diana tells him.
“Challenge?” Fox questions, “What challenge?” Both Diana and Eric remain silent. “Come on guys, it might be fun if we all did it.” Diana can’t believe this is the same Fox she knew only a few months ago. He has become so outgoing, but this is definitely not something for him and Tracey to try.
Diana gives Tracey a glare that her girlfriend picks up on instantly. “Ya know Fox, why don’t we just go on the flume the two of us and these two have some more private time,” she says kicking him in the leg under the table.
“Come on stud let’s get to it,” Diana says grabbing Eric’s arm. She pulls him away from the table and they walk off though the picnic area both of them searching for a girl.
“Is this how she was with that guy from the Zoo?” Fox whispers to Tracey as the other two walk away.
“You promised to not talk about the Zoo,” Tracey scolds.
“I agreed I wouldn’t tell Diana, I didn’t say I wouldn’t talk to you about it.” Fox grins.
Tracey looks to the couple bickering as they walk away. “Actually Diana was much different with Steve,” Tracey says. “She was always trying to prove herself to him.” Looks like the opposite with Eric.”
Not far away for the table where Fox and Tracey sit, “How ’bout her?” Eric says pointing to a hot brunette sitting at a table with some other teenage girls.
“Please, she looks just like me,” Diana says. “It can’t be someone you would want to kiss.” “Or someone who would want to be your girlfriend.”
“You’re going to pick someone ugly aren’t you?” Eric guesses. “What a minute did you just say you wanted to be my girlfriend?”
“No I said she would,” Diana quips. She continues to search the area until she spots some more familiar faces. “I’ve got it, how about Trish?”
“Are you crazy?” Eric complains. “Even if I didn’t have a power that would make for a very uncomfortable rest of the month.”
Then Diana spots a couple walking to the restrooms holding hands and laughing. “Her!” “She is the one!” Diana announces.
“I still think you are crazy, that guy will kick my ass,” Eric insists. They watch as the couple kiss before splitting up to go in the separate restrooms.
“I have an idea,” Diana says heading toward the restroom. “Come on, wait outside for a minute.” Diana follows the girl inside. She took notice of the target’s shoes as she entered the Ladies room. Diana closes the door turning the deadbolt to lock it.
An older woman washes her hands at the sink as Diana approaches her, touching her arm. Diana catches the woman as she collapses backwards unconscious. Diana lays her on the floor as she glances under the stalls. There are three other women in the restroom, one of them is the target. Diana decides that taking care of them inside the stalls is the best idea. She reaches under two of the stalls rendering the women inside unconscious through ankle contact. The thump apparently of one of the women’s heads against the stall makes Diana cringe and the third woman rushes from her stall.
“What’s going on here?” the girl shouts.
“It’s okay, my name is Kelly,” Diana tells her. “Just relax.” she tells the girl taking her arm giving her the smallest of jolts make her groggy for a few minutes. She lays the girl on the bench to return to the door. “Eric, get in here?” Diana calls out the cracked door.
“What, what are you talking about?” Eric says. “This is the Ladies room!”
“Just stop being such a prude!” Diana tells him yanking him inside by the arm. The scene inside the ladies room is confusing to Eric. “Never mind that,” Diana says.
“But, but,” Eric mumbled.
“Here she is,” Diana says sitting down next to the girl lifting her up from the bench.
“What is going on?” the girl asks still groggy.
“Let’s go stud, let’s see your stuff,” Diana tells him.
“This is weird,” Eric says.
“Life is weird,” Diana says. “Now kiss her!”
“What?” the girl mumbles.
“Come on just do it or we are done!” Diana says, Leaning in to give him a seductive peck on the lips.
He smiles at her and then turns to the innocent girl on the bench. Sitting down next to the girl, he hesitates for a moment, then kisses her. Diana watches as the girl tries to resist at first. Diana begins to feel guilty about what she has done to facilitate this “attack”. Diana is relieved when the girl begins to kiss Eric back. The roles are quickly reversed as Eric begins to fight to get away from the stranger. The girl is winded when the kiss ends.
“How do you feel?” Diana asks the girl.
The girl is flushed as she responds, “I feel like he is the best kisser I’ve ever met.” She leans over to Eric nuzzling his neck, then licking her tongue up his sweaty neck tasting his salty skin.
“There is that good enough for you?” Eric asks trying to push the girl away that continues to paw at him.
Diana watches as the girl grabs hold of Eric trying to kiss him again. “What about your boyfriend?” Diana asks.
“Scott?” the girl says. “He is fine but not as good as this guy.” “I’ll bet you’ve got something else that I could put my mouth on,” She says moving her hand to reach down the front of Eric’s shorts.
“I hate to admit it, but I do believe it,” Diana says. She reaches out grabbing the girl’s forearm before her hand can get to far into Eric’s shorts. “That will be enough,” Diana says using her healing power to speed up the girl’s metabolism to burn through the toxins Eric has introduced to her body.
“What’s happening?” the girls says pulling away from Eric. “Scott!” she shouts. “Scott help me!”
Eric jumps up away from the bench as there is a pounding on the ladies room door. The girl’s boyfriend shouts, “Helen are you in there?” “What is going on?”
Still holding the girl’s arm Diana gives Helen a slight jolt so she joins the rest of the women in sleep.
“What did you do to her?” Eric asks as he watches the girl slump over on the bench.
“Never mind that now,” Diana says, “Are you ready to make a run for it?” She says moving to the door. “Let’s go!” she says opening the lock and forcing the door open, slamming the boyfriend against the wall behind it. Eric is full of questions and follows Diana more out of reflex than thought. Diana lead Eric on run half way through the park. When she finally stops Eric is completely exhausted.
“What the hell just happened?” Eric asks panting, his hands on his thighs.
Diana guides him to a park bench, she isn’t sure what to say. She feels obligated to tell him the truth after all that has happened. “Do you want to know why your power didn’t work on me?” Eric just looks at her confused by all that has happened. He is still trying to catch his breath from the long run, far beyond any they have done together. She reaches over and takes his hand again. “Your hands, that wasn’t some miracle cream.” She takes hold of his knee, “Your leg was more than just a cramp.” “That was me, that was my power that healed you.” “My power works to heal me instantly as well, I think whatever your bodily fluids do, my powers counteract it.” “I can transfer that power to others, first you and then that girl.” “I cured the girl of the contamination of your power.”
“What about those unconscious women?” Eric asks a slightly frightened look on his face.
“I transfer something called Bio-energy and if I increase the amount it renders people unconscious,” Diana explains.
“That is amazing Diana,” Eric says leaning over to kiss her. “That means you do like me, for me,”
“I wouldn’t count on that, I still can’t believe you were willing to contaminate me for a kiss,” she grips again.
“You have to admit it was a good kiss, right?” Eric teases. “Well look at it this way we have something else in common now, we have the same kind of secret.” “I guess we should avoid that couple for the rest of the day, though.”
“That would be a good idea,” Diana agrees.
Later that night back at the beach house the girls have turned in for the night. “I’ve noticed that you haven’t been writing in your diary,” Tracey comments as Diana lays in bed reading a book.
“I’ve decided that this is going to be my off the record vacation,” Diana replies.
“Wow, I remember how furiously you would right in that thing at camp,” Tracey says. “I’d have guessed you would have a lot to say about Eric in your diary.”
“Nope,” Diana says simply making Tracey even more frustrated. She glances over at her friend in the next bed, “How about you?” “Take any good photos recently?”
“What are you implying?” Tracey asks.
“No dick pics?” Diana giggles.
“I…,” Tracey stops before she can finish. “Where is my camera anyway?” Tracey jumps out of her bed to go through her suitcase.
“Guess your new found sex life has dried up pretty quick, with Eric and Fox sharing a bed.” Diana suggests.
“You could fix that,” Tracey comments.
“Not happening,” Diana replies. “What Eric and I have is not like that,”
“How is it then?” Tracey asks. “What exactly do you like about my cousin?”
Diana lays her book on her belly and thinks for a moment. Her first thought is to give Tracey the answer she always got from her about the boys she dated, He’s Hot! But even though that is true that isn’t why Diana has been doing what she has been doing with Eric. Maybe it is his power to some extent. “He likes to run, I like to run,” Diana finally says.
“He likes soccer too, I know that is one of your turn-ons,” Tracey comments.
Diana knows exactly what Tracey is referring to when she mentions soccer. She never even knew that Tracey took pictures of Steve and her playing at Camp. “It isn’t like that with Eric,” Diana insists. “I’m not in love with him or anything.” The moment she says it she can feel that it is true.
“Like you were with you know who?” Tracey prods. “Here it is,” she says finding her camera under the bed.
“I don’t feel at all toward Eric the way I felt toward you know who,” Diana asserts.
“Now where is that wide angle lens?” Tracey asks.
In a room down the hall Fox begins a similar conversation with Eric. Fox pulls on the pajamas that Eric bought for him to wear while they share a bed. Eric is already in bed laying on his side facing away from his bed mate. “So how is it going with Diana?” Fox asks cautiously.
“Good,” is the one word reply from Eric.
“How did that challenge thing go today?” Fox inquires climbing into bed to lay in his back.
“Okay?” Eric replies. “Why the sudden interest?”
“I don’t know, just wanting to be a friend,” Fox replies. “Tracey and I have gotten pretty serious and you are her cousin, I thought we could be better friends.” “After all Diana is her best friend too.”
Eric rolls over to look at the young man who is next to him in the bed. “Tracey put you up to this didn’t she?”
“No, no, she would probably kill me if she found out I was even asking you about Diana,” Fox replies. “But face it you know those girls are talking about us right now!”
“You are just being paranoid, Diana is not like that,” Eric says. “Besides there is nothing to talk about.” Eric says still feeling weird about the activities of the day.
“What about the make out sessions you and Di have been having?” Fox asks, proving to Eric that the girls do talk.
“She talked about that?” Eric says in surprise.
“She told us you were a good kisser, I’m sure Tracey got more info out of her when they were alone.” Fox tells him.
“There isn’t much more to tell, we have an agreement, no sex, no emotional commitment.” Eric explains.
“Yeah, right,” Fox says switching out the light.
“What do you mean by that?” Eric asks.
“Girls only tell you what they think you want to hear,” Fox explains. “It is there actions that betray their true feelings.” “Tracey and I had hit a bump in the road.” “You remember how she was don’t you?” “With all the dating.”
“Yes, I didn’t think she would ever settle for one guy, sorry to say that to you, but that is the way it seemed to me.” Eric comments.
“I know, I sure didn’t think it would be me, either,” Fox tells Eric. “I didn’t trust her when she said she loved me.” “I wanted to have sex, but I didn’t want her to dump me afterward, so I pushed her away.”
“So what happened to change that?” Eric asks.
“Turns out she does love me, she got me a really thoughtful birthday gift,” Fox says. “It was something I never thought she was capable of doing.”
“You are different aren’t you?” Eric comments. “All the guys I know only want to screw a girl or two, or three, but you wanted one to love you.”
“I blame it on being raised by a single Mom,” Fox confesses. “That is why I thought we could be friends because you are different too.” “Not in the same way of course.”
“So let me get this straight, you think Diana might be lying to me, even though it turned out that Tracey wasn’t lying to you,” Eric questions.
“Not so much as lying, just saying what she thinks you want to hear,” Fox corrects. “It is just that in the time I have known Diana she has been secretive.” “Almost like she has been hiding some dark secret.” “Tracey says that she was more outgoing and aggressive when they first met at camp years ago but something changed.”
Eric lays there in the dark thinking about what Fox has said. He knows Diana has a secret, moreover he knows what that secret is now. It is clear to him he is the only one that knows her secrets, just like she is the only one to know his secret. Eric has heard Tracey talk about Diana being love before, something he never asked her about. “What do you mean she was more outgoing?” Eric asks curiously.
“I don’t know if I should say, you should probably ask her about it,” Fox replies.
“Is that where you found out?” Eric asks knowing that it was his gossipy cousin that told him. “Come on, I know it is something Tracey told you, if I ask Diana about it I would like to have a heads up to what I’m stepping into when I ask.”
“It is just that there was a guy at camp that summer when Tracey met Diana,” Fox begins. “He’s a big guy, tough looking,” Fox describes the Steve Roberts he saw at the Zoo not the fifteen year old that Diana and Tracey met all those years ago. “Diana really had the hots for him and he rejected her.” “I think she might still be afraid to let her real feelings out because of that time.”
“Rejected her?” Eric says. “Who would reject Diana, she is really hot!”
“I guess she wasn’t so hot back then or he had other issues,” Fox surmises. “Wouldn’t you reject her if she tried putting her hand down your pants?”
Eric has to laugh to himself, Fox has no idea that did happen today, but it wasn’t Diana. It was Diana who stopped it from happening. “Is that what she did to him?” Eric asks.
“I don’t know, I sounds good to me though,” Fox chuckles. “Don’t tell Tracey I said that she would kill me!”
“It’s her boobs I want to see,” Eric whispered loud enough for Fox to hear. “There are days when we are running that they look fantastic.” “When her shirt is all sweaty, I just want to push my face into it.”
“You horney bastard, you do what to fuck her!” Fox exclaims.
“Maybe,” Eric says softly. In his mind he has to admit Diana could be the only girl he could do it with safely. Without her having some reaction to his fluids. But he is afraid that it might ruin what they do have, make things even more awkward for the next couple of weeks.
Morning at the beach house has become fairly mundane. Tracey and Fox lovingly making breakfast together. Diana waiting at the table, Eric coming down for his morning run. “Randy and Trish not back yet?” Eric asks.
“Nope,” Fox replies.
“That house is a bad scene, those parties can only lead to no good,” Eric states. “Half of our housemates are getting lost in something they shouldn’t.” “I think we need to have a talk with them.”
“Give it a rest mother hen, they are all over eighteen,” Tracey chides her cousin.
It had been a couple of days and Diana’s anger at Eric had mellowed enough for her to go on a run with him. They don’t speak as they run along the beach for the first few miles. “So are we good?” Eric final asks.
“We are better, I wouldn’t say good,” Diana replies. “I have to admit I do like you, the fact that I healed you and enjoy our time together tells me that much.” “I also have to admit I haven’t always used my talents correctly in good judgment.” “That is why most of the time I wish I didn’t have any powers!”
“So we’re good?” Eric says again.
“Stop saying that!” Diana tells him running faster to get ahead of him.
Later back at the house, it has been raining for a few hours since Eric and Diana got back from their run. Diana, and Tracey are making lunch for the guys while they watch a soccer game on TV. Diana watches as Fox and Eric talk and joke back and forth as they watch the game. She feels good about how much better Eric is getting along with the others. It is almost like the roles have been reversed, He has become friends with the others and she thinks he is a jerk. “Hey Trace, remember no mustard on mine,” Fox calls to his girlfriend.
“And Di, no spit in mine,” Eric follows. She smiles on the inside knowing what he is getting at. Only his spit would make a difference on a sandwich. Deep down she knows he is a good guy, she just has to get rid of her anger completely and maybe they can go back to what they had a few days ago. After all he is her type, not to mention good looking. The girls bring sandwiches and chips over to the living room area. The couch has room for four and Tracey plops down next to Fox. Diana hands Eric his plate and then stands looking down at the final space on the couch. “You don’t have to sit next to me if you don’t want to,” Eric tells her.
“Just sit down Diana and stop being a baby!” Tracey scolds. She does as she is told and squeezes into the final place on the couch.
Eric’s bare arm touches hers and she can feel the moisture of his skin. He looks at the point where their arms touch and says to her, “This is nice.”
Then she glances over to see that Eric is also bumping against Fox’s bare arm, “What is up with that?” she whispers.
“I don’t work on straight guys, that’s how I can be on the track team,” Eric whispers back.
“What is all that whispering down there?” Tracey demands. Diana’s answer is in the form of a kiss on Eric’s lips that makes it clear that she has forgiven him.
“Final, they kiss and makeup,” Fox says. “Can we get back to watching this match?”
As they finish up their lunch, Bonnie struts in the door from the beach returning to the house for the first time in a day. She brings someone else with her. “Hey everyone, I’d like for you to meet Luis,” she calls out noticeably stoned.
“Where are Randy and Trish?” Tracey asks.
“Back at the party still,” Luis answers entering the house behind Bonnie. “I just wanted to come by and invite the rest of you in person.” Diana feels a chill at the sound of the new arrival’s voice. She instantly jumps up from the couch to see his face. One look at him and Diana recognizes Luis, that is not the name she knows him by. It is clear to her that he recognizes her as well. “So Bonnie these are your friends,” Luis says, in a condescending tone. When Luis approaches from the kitchen Diana gives him a knowing look that he returns. The boys stand up from the couch to shakes Luis’s hand as Eric introduces Fox. Eric already met Luis at a party a few days ago. “Diana Carter, so nice to put a name to the face,” he says.
“Luis, you seem more like a Jordan to me,” Diana says eager to shake his hand.
He does not reach out to shake her hand instead he puts his hands into his pockets. “Perhaps one day I will use that name, or have I already,” he chuckles. “So hard to remember these days.” He turns around to look at the others in the room as Bonnie returns from up stairs. “It must be great to have a group of friends like this to share a vacation.” “Don’t you think, Diana?” he says as he turns to glare at her. She doesn’t reply only return the glare. “Well Bonnie we should be running along,” he says taking her by the arm. “Don’t forget the party to come by the house anytime, Eric knows the place.”
After Luis and Bonnie leave, Diana pulls Eric aside, “We can’t let them go to that party!”
“Now you’re worried about those parties?” Eric accused. “I was the one who told you it was like Sodom and Gomorrah.”
“That man’s name is not Luis, he is a criminal and murder!” Diana exclaims.
“What are you talking about, Diana?” Eric asks. “Do you know him somehow?”
“Yes, I know him and he knows me!” she retorts. “His name is Boss Jordan and I thought he was dead!” “He murdered my friend Gina!” “I have tried to put an end to him twice before but, you know what they say three’s the charm.” “He thinks he is going to lead me into a trap, but I’m older and wiser now.” “And I have inside information!” she says looking into Eric’s eyes. “I need you to tell me everything you remember about that house and that party you went to with Bonnie.”
“When you said put an end to him what did you mean?” Eric asks timidly.
Diana realized how what she said must have sounded. She was very upset when she thought she killed Boss Jordan. She should be happy that he is alive, but now he is too much of a threat to her friends again. “I meant an end to his criminal activities,” Diana tells Eric. “We need to make sure he goes to jail this time!” “That is why I need to know every detail!”
“There isn’t much to tell, there was a lot of booze, drugs, and sex.” Eric begins. “Those are three things that someone with my problem can not participate in so I left.”
“Nothing?” Diana says annoyed. “Nothing else?”
“No, not that comes to me, I walked in, Bonnie introduced me to Luis, He gave us both these big green pills,” Eric recalls. “Bonnie took hers right away, I ditched mine in a potted plant.” “The least intoxicating thing there was beer, so I left after about fifteen minutes.” “Like I said it really wasn’t a safe place for me to be.”
“Then it is on to plan two,” Diana announces. “When you and Haylie were together did she do everything you told her to do?”
Eric gets a confused look on his face. He hadn’t ever really thought about it before Diana asked. Haylie and he did almost everything together for years and he never once questioned it. There were times when she wanted to do things that he didn’t want to do but she never once complained. He hates to admit it but Diana might be right. “Yes, she did, never once questioned me,” he says sadly.
“That is what I hoped,” Diana smiles. “That means the key to bringing Boss Jordan down is, you having control of Brian and Bonnie making them our moles.”
“But I told you that the drugs he is dealing breaks ‘the spell’ of my power,” Eric tells her again.
“Well I think I can use my power to detoxify them so that won’t be a problem,” she explains. “We just have to get them away from that house long enough to turn them to our side.”
“That isn’t going to be easy because Brian hasn’t been back here in days,” Eric comments. “What about Randy and Trish?”
“I would say we get them out but not to use them,” Diana tells Eric. “Brian and Bonnie have a history with your power making them better candidates.”
Two days later, Eric. Brian, Bonnie, and Diana arrives at the party at Luis’ house. Outside on the beach Eric holds both Bonnie and Brian’s hand. Neither wants to let go of him. “Look you two know what to do right?” he asks.
“No sex, no drugs,” Brian says.
“Find the drug stash,” Bonnie adds leaning in to kiss Eric again. Diana watches feeling a little uncomfortable watching them kiss to reinforce his control. But not as uncomfortable as Eric is kissing Brian.
“This better work because I don’t ever want to do that again!” Eric tells Diana wiping his mouth in his shirt collar.
Inside the house the music is more than loud, it covers the sounds made by the party guests. There are people standing everywhere as they enter the front room of the house. Partiers drink and dance all around, laughing and making out. After Eric’s pawns are on their assigned missions Diana and Eric hold hands to make their way through the crowd. Moving from room to room, it is the same everywhere. It is in the kitchen that Diana first spots the green pills being served to paying customers. Eric leads Diana away into the great room. He knows that is where all the real debauchery happened. The room is crowded and loud. A barrier of men and women stand blocking the passage to the center of the room.
“I never made it past here last time,” Eric tells Diana.
“We will this time,” Diana tells him as she moves forward into the crowd. Diana takes hold of Eric’s hand leading him into the wall of people. She uses the free hand to touch the people in her path, giving them a slight jolt of her Bio-energy to weaken each one to move them aside.
Once inside the ring of people that encircle the large room they don’t look back as they find a place to stand alone by the bar. It would seem that the crowd is made up of spectators who like to watch the out of control house party at the center of the room. Both of them look around at what Eric had previously called Sodom and Gomorrah. He wasn’t too far off. Everyone in the room appears to be drunk or high on something. Any inhibitions the guests may have had when they entered the door are gone now. There are people dancing, couples having sex on the floor, on the furniture, even up against the walls. All varieties of pairings, men with women, women with women, men with men. There are groups of three or more doing things that Diana never thought possible or pleasurable.
“What do we do now?” Eric asks.
“I don’t think we have to do anything,” Diana replies. “Jordan will find me.” “All of this comes from one pill?” she asks.
“It is a very strong, fast acting pill and long lasting,” Eric answers. “Within minutes of taking it Bonnie was going down on two strangers.”
“You didn’t tell me that before?” Diana mentions.
“I didn’t think you would believe it without seeing it,” Eric says his attention captured by the live porn show going on all around him. His sheltered lifestyle makes the sights of these people almost addictive. Like rubbernecking at a car accident. One girl in particular draws his attention. She bounces on the lap of a man with a shaved head, sitting in a high back chair. It is the girl from Great Adventure, Helen. Did she end up here because of what they did to her at the park?”
“This place is gross and it smells like ass and beer!” Diana complains. “Imagine the disease going around in here.”
“Diana we need to go,” Eric says loudly trying to be heard over the music and moaning. He is afraid that Helen might see them.
“So are you two, too good for my little swara?” Luis says coming up behind them.
Diana turns her eyes flaring ready to take this scum down in an instant. It is all she can do to hold back her eye blast. “You are a pig making these people do this!”
“I am not making these people do anything,” Luis responds. “In fact I have helped them free themselves of the bonds that hold them back.” “You two should give it a try,” he says holding up a large green pill.
“No thanks, Boss,” Diana says angrily. “I intend to put an end to your little drug house!”
“Is that so,” Luis replies, “Isn’t it enough for you that I am banished from New York to this second rate shore town?” “Boss Jordan did die in New York thanks to you!” “What you did to me caused me to lose face with my people.” “I had to come here and start all over from nothing!” “I do believe it is I who is going to end you!”
“You are welcome to try!” Diana shouts her eyes glowing now, threatening him.
“Don’t think I am not prepared for it this time!” Luis tells her. “Come with me someplace we can talk more privately!” Diana isn’t afraid for herself, it is the others she is worried about, too many of her friends are here. She needs more time and letting him believe he is in charge will get her that time.
“I’ll come but Eric is leaving now,” Diana insists.
“I don’t think so,” Luis says gesturing his hand to men standing at the edge of the crowd. Two large ones step forward taking hold of Eric’s arms. “My men have been instructed to not lay a finger on you, sweetheart, for their own safety.” “But your little boyfriend here is a different story.” “They could very easily break him into pieces.” “Now if you will follow me.”
“I’m sorry, I’ll get you out of this,” Diana tells Eric as they follow Luis.
“No problem, I know we’ll get out of this,” Eric says trying to sound tough. He looks at the two guys holding his arms forcing him through the party. Diana has been showing him how to use his power as a weapon. He wonders if these guys have the same interests as Nate. “You guys know my friend Brian?” he asks the brutes.
“You mean that little Faggot Nate has been banging?” one of the guys said.
“Nasty piece of garbage, that one is!” the other guy comments. Eric takes the men’s words to mean that they are straight. He is grateful that he won’t be kissing them anytime soon, but that makes his power useless.
Diana and Eric are brought up stairs and into an office. Luis’ man Nate waits standing between two office chairs. He wears his standard green Speedo and Hawaiian shirt that is open to show off his ripped torso. “Have you met my right hand man, Nate?” Luis asks.
“Can’t say I care,” Diana says. Nate smiles at her showing his perfect white teeth.
“Oh you should Nate here is more than a perfect smile and abs, he is a Pharmacological genius,” Luis explains. “It was him who created this little beauty,” the drug dealer says holding up one of the green pills. “To think he only wanted to use it to get laid,” Luis scoffs. “It was my brain that knew we could make a fortune off of these miracles.”
“That is no miracle!” Diana announces.
“What about this?” Luis asks as he directs Nate to the door at the other side of the office. It is Brian and Bonnie that enter, their eyes betraying how high they are. Brian gives Nate a long passionate kiss on the mouth.
“It would seem my cock is more powerful than your desire power,” Nate says to Eric. “Yes, we know about your little talent.”
“That has nothing to do with it, it is that drug you have been giving them!” Eric retorts.
“Yes, that drug,” Luis mulls over. “When I realized who Brian’s friend were I upped the ante, you might say.” “I had Nate create another drug much more addictive than the one we have been selling.” “So as to make it impossible for these two to fully detoxify, ever!” “No matter how strong their will they will always crave it.” “Their sad little lives will never be the same.”
“You monster!” Diana shouts. “Why would you do such a thing to them?”
“Because I can,” Luis replies. “But you haven’t seen the best part yet!” Nate spins the two office chairs around to reveal Fox and Tracey bound and gagged.
“NO!” Diana shouts. “Let them go, this is about me not them!” she pleads.
“Yes, it is about them and what I do to them now, it is all because of you!” Luis says. “Brian, Bonnie show Diana what you have for your friends.” The two drug addled zombies each bring a hand from behind their backs revealing a syringe in each. Nate also pick up one from the deck. “These syringes contain a liquefied form of our green gems.” “Induced directly into their bloodstream it will give them a high like no other.” “Of course they will be dead in an hour, but those are the drawbacks to having the best high of your life.”
“Need I ask who the third needle is for?” Eric chimes in trying to act brave.
“No handsome boy you needed,” Nate says walking over to where the two men hold Eric by the arms placing the needle to his neck.
“This is ridiculous, I’m not going to let you do any of this!” Diana exclaims. She looks to the horror in Tracey’s eyes as Bonnie holds the needle to her neck. Diana wants to fire a bio-energy blast at the needle wielding assassins but knows she can’t do all three at once.
“Wait, wait!” Eric exclaims. “Can’t I have a drink first?”
“A drink?” Luis questions.
“I’ve never drank alcohol in my life, at least let me go out with a taste of that fancy scotch of your,” Eric pleads. “A toast perhaps?” Eric says raising his eyebrow to Diana. What is he up to she wonders.
“Yes, maybe that would be funny to see,” Luis says turning to his liquor cabinet. Luis pours two glasses of scotch on the desk. “Bring the puritan here,” he commands. The three men move Eric to the front of the desk, loosening their grip on his one arm to allow him to pick up the drink. “To my ultimate revenge,” Luis announces raising his glass.
“Yes, to you getting what you deserve!” Eric says as Luis gulps down the scotch. Eric pretends to take a drink but does not. He places the full glass back on the desk. He glares at Luis waiting for a reaction.
“Luis?” Nate says confused as his boss stares at Eric speechless. Luis’ hand begins to shake as he then drops his glass to the desktop, it rolls off to the floor, breaking.
All Eric needs to feel is the needle move from his neck for him to act. He gives Nate an elbow to the gut. The two thugs move to restrain Eric again but Diana is faster as he grabs one of them by the arm. The six foot, four tall man collapses to the floor. Nate recovers quickly lunging at Eric with the needle drawn. Eric dodges aside leaving the other thug to receive the needle in his chest. Diana grabs Nate’s bare arm to sending him into unconsciousness.
Diana fully expects to turn and see the needles plunged into Tracey and Fox’s necks, but to her surprise Brian and Bonnie stand unmoved still holding the needle tips against the skin’s surface. She now is sure that the free will of her friends is completely gone. They both stand like robots awaiting only a command to act. She looks to Luis who stands just as stiff. “What did you do?” Diana asks turning to Eric.
Eric grins broadly, “I added the ‘full cocktail’ to the scotch yesterday when I was searching this place.”
“What are you talking about?” Diana questions fearing she knows the answer. She looks to Luis as he stands like some department store manikin his eyes pinned on Eric.
“I put everything I have in it,” Eric tells her. Eric steps back to the edge of the desk. Luis smiles at him, a look of desire in his eyes. Eric reaches out to touch Luis’ face, he doesn’t even flinch. “I think he is my perfect slave.” “No telling how long it will last.” “Tell Bonnie and Brian to stand down.” Luis does not respond to Eric’s command. He looks into Luis’ eyes to see nothing. What he has done, no other member of his family has done before with the affliction. Eric reacts in away of which he didn’t think he was capable. He draws back his hand and slaps Luis across the face. “I said tell Bonnie and Brian to stand down.”
“Do as he says,” Luis tells his drugged slaves. Bonnie and Brian act on command and remove the needles from the throats.
One look at the shock in the eyes of the two captives and Diana hates that she knows the solution to the problem at hand. “The cops should be here soon, tell him to reveal all of his drug supply and confess to the police.”
While Eric deals with Luis, Diana unties Fox and Tracey. “You guys need to leave, you can’t be here when the police arrive,” Diana tells them.
“Di, what the hell just happened?” Tracey demands as soon as her gag comes off.
“Luis is really Boss Jordan the guy who killed my friend Gina,” Diana explains quickly as she frees her friends. “When Eric was here before he was given one of the green pills, He didn’t take it, he hid it.” “He and I snuck in here yesterday to find that pill and anything else we could use to get Luis and Nate arrested.” “We took it all to the police to have them analyze it.” “We called the police before we came to the party to give them the address but we had not planned for the two of you to be here, so you have to go!” The sound of sirens outside can be heard as Diana hurries her friends out of the office telling them, “Go down the beach!”
Fox and Tracey hold hands, go out into the to still going strong rave. On the way past the bar Tracey grabs a six pack of beer to take with her back to their beach house. The young couple flee the house down the beach running over the sand in the dark moonlit night.
Still in the office Diana turns her attention to Bonnie and Brian. It is beyond upsetting to think what Luis has done to them. She can only help that her power can break the hold he claims he has on them. She sits the poor kids down on the chairs. Their young bodies have been through so much these past few days, from drug addiction to hormonal chemical reactions, now an even more powerful drug addiction she must force their bodies to overcome.
“Do you think you can detoxify them again?” Eric asks standing behind her.
“I don’t know,” she replied slipping her hands inside Brian’s shirt to his bare chest. “I was barely able to save them the last time.” “My power only works to speed up the natural healing of the body, if that drug is too powerful for their bodies to flush out like that scum said, there might be nothing I can do.” Diana begins to let her healing bio-energy flow into Brian’s chest causing a violent reaction. “Hold him still,” she tells Eric as Brian shakes her hands from his chest.
“Oh my god,” Eric exclaims as he braces Brian to the chair. “This is much worse than last time.” “And you have to hurry the cops have already gotten in the front door.”
“Send Luis out there to stall them,” Diana instructs focusing her power stronger on Brian as he squirms in the chair. She can feel the poison in his body begin to burn away. Diana’s power is working on him but she can’t be sure how good the final result will be. Brian stops struggling as he falls unconscious.
“You heard her Luis go confess to the police and keep them out of this office!” Eric shouts at the drug dealer. Luis gets up from the sofa and leaves the room. “I have no idea how long that spell I have him under is going to last,” Eric tells Diana as they move onto Bonnie. Bonnie is a screamer and her voice soon draws in the police to the office.
Diana and Eric explain that Luis had dosed their friends with the drug in the needles. Many ambulances are called to take away the many sick party goers. Luis, Nate, and the rest of their men are arrested. Diana and Eric go to the station to make their statements leaving out the Zeni-human parts.
It is late when the police drop Diana and Eric off at the beach house. Diana is tired after over taxing her powers on Bonnie and Brain. They come in the door to find Tracey and Fox unconscious and partial nude on the living room floor. A quick investigation of the sense reveals that they had drank beer from Luis’ house that was laced with drugs. Luckily the drug was not as powerful as what Luis had intended for them. Diana is able to revive them with a bonus just like Randy and Trish, neither one of them has any memory of anything that happened at Luis’ house.