Operation Rescue - The New Co-Ed; Chapter 24 free porn video

Operation Rescue: The New Co-Ed By ElrodW A young man gets in trouble and loses his scholarship. It looks like his dream of college to escape a poor future is doomed - until he sees an ad recruiting 'surrogates'. His life is about to change in ways that could redefine him in ways he could have never imagined. Chapter 24 - Troubles with Sara Sara is dealing with issues of her own, including a desire to know Tommi and _her_ experiences more. A relationship is in trouble, and Sara is getting caught in a web that can only lead to problems. The 'Operation Rescue' story universe and characters contained therein are copyright 2012 by ElrodW, all rights reserved. Use of the story universe or characters without the express written permission of the owner is a violation of copyright law. ********************************************************************** "Hey, Sara, wait up!" Brian called out after Tommi's sister, hoping to get her attention. Fortunately, despite the throng of students, Brian's voice carried clearly to her. Sara stopped and turned. She immediately smiled when she recognized Brian. She gingerly stepped to the side of the walkway to avoid being trampled underfoot by less-attentive students. "What's up?" Brian asked, trying to make small-talk. Sara shrugged. "I've got a break between classes, so I was heading back to my room. Ashley usually has a coffee pot on about this time of day." "Want to run down to the coffee shop for some real coffee?" Brian asked, sounding overly eager to have her accept. "Sure," Sara changed her plans instantly. "If I don't help Ashley finish off the coffee, some of the other girls will." She fell in beside Brian walking toward the student center. "I take it you have a break, too?" "Yeah. Actually, I'm done with classes for the day, but I was going to put in some time in the computer lab." From where Brian had caught up to Sara, the student center was only a short walk. Sara ordered her coffee, but, as she started to dig out her wallet, Brian interrupted. "Allow me," he said graciously. Sara laughed. "If Tommi saw you buying me coffee, she might think you were hitting on her little sister." Brian's eyebrows rose. "Hmm, I hadn't thought of the jealous sister angle," he said thoughtfully. Sara laughed again. "Forget it," she advised. "She may not get jealous, but she _would_ try to kick your butt! She's turning into a very protective big sister!" Brian shrugged. "Oh, well. It was worth a thought." He paid with his student debit card and picked up his own coffee. Since it was the middle of the afternoon, the coffee shop was rather crowded. Brian took the first table he found free. "Sorry," he apologized, as he tried to corral some of the trash left by the previous occupant. "No big deal," Sara excused the mess. "Not everyone is neat." Brian used a napkin and wiped most of the spilled coffee, sugar, and powdered creamer off the table. He took the napkin and refuse to the trash can, and then he returned. Sara set her coffee down and slid into a chair. "Thanks." Brian sat opposite her. "How was Spring Break?" he asked simply. Sara knew he was avoiding the subject forefront in his mind - her sister Tommi. "Daytona was nice, but I didn't like all the parties. The beach was fun, but there was way too much drinking and noise and guys trying to go to bed with me. It just wasn't as much fun as I'd expected. The best part, though, was when we got to Katie's home, and we saw her parents, and we swam and sunbathed at their pool, without guys trying to score, and we got the surprise of our lives!" She was giddy with excitement at the memory of that week. "Hey, slow down," Brian urged her as she began to jabber in her excitement. "Sorry," Sara apologized. "It's just that, when I think of what happened, I can't help but get ... excited, and I want to tell everyone every detail." "We can take all the time you want," Brian said soothingly, "so you can slow down and take your time." "After last Christmas when we visited, Katie talked to her parents - Mom and Dad - and suggested that they do an adult adoption for Tommi and me! They were all acting really mysterious, and we went shopping, and we got these beautiful gowns that they insisted we wore, and we had the most fabulous dinner when they sprang the surprise, and then we were very busy doing legal paperwork and going to court, and ...." She had to pause to take a breath, and she realized that she was talking rapid-fire again. "Sorry. Well, once court was over, Katie's parents are Tommi and my parents! We're all family!" Brian smiled. He had seen the pain in Tommi when her mother passed away without ever having accepted her. He got the distinct impression that Tommi's family memories were anything but pleasant. This was a new start with a loving family. "That's neat," he said to Sara. "You two deserve all the happiness you can get." Sara was grinning now from her excitement. "And we're starting more paperwork to get our names changed. And Tommi told us ...." She stopped talking abruptly, and her eyes narrowed. "Have you talked with Tommi?" she asked. Brian shook his head. "Not really. I asked her out a couple of nights ago, but she was studying for a test. What's going on with Tommi?" He sounded concerned. "It's not something serious, is it?" Sara realized she'd said too much. "Um, it's for Tommi to tell you," she said simply, regretting the words she'd already spoken. "Okay," Brian said hesitantly. He was disappointed not to get more information from Sara. "_So_, what's up with you two?" Sara asked, bringing up the subject that she _knew_ was on Brian's mind. Brian shrugged, and he looked forlorn. "I don't know," he admitted softly. "I thought things were going so well, and then ...." He looked down into his coffee cup. "I just don't know." He looked up at Sara, his eyes brimming with hope. "Has she told you anything? Any hints or clues about where I stand with her?" Sara thought for a moment before shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but I probably know less than you do." "Oh." He sounded disappointed. "Tommi thinks I'm trying to push you two together," she explained further. "Are you?" Sara laughed. "I wouldn't mind it if you two were serious. You're very nice, and you treat Tommi like a princess. Yeah, I'd like it, because Tommi deserves someone who adores her and treats her right." She _is_ very special," Brian chimed in. "How could I not treat her like a goddess?" His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought about Sara's role. "Why are _you_ so interested in Tommi's love life?" "Touche," Sara said as she sipped her coffee. She laughed. "You know Tommi's history. She doesn't have the years of experience dating guys and knowing what to look for and what to look _out_ for. Maybe I'm just being a protective little sister." Brian shook his head. "I just wish I knew more about what she likes. You know, jewelry, perfume, music - things that she thinks are special." Sara chuckled again. "You've got me. She's as new a sister to me as she is a girl to you." "When's her birthday?" Brian asked hopefully. "Or any other special dates that I could use as an excuse to treat her to a nice dinner? Any movies she especially likes? Music?" "You're trying to plan something really awesome to impress her, aren't you?" Sara was intrigued. "Well, yeah." Sara laughed. "Her birthday - well, the official one on paper - is in about three weeks. Of course, she considers her surgery date to be her birthday, too. And ...." She paused, as she had another thought. "You know, you _could_ ask her out on Friday, to celebrate the two-week anniversary of getting another family." Brian's eyes widened. "That sounds like a great idea!" he said enthusiastically. "But I don't know if I should get her something, like a card or a small gift or ...." Sara shook her head. "Get her a card. Anything more might be misinterpreted." She chuckled. "But if you _really _ insist on getting her something, maybe you could just give her a good foot massage. She's always complaining that her feet hurt, especially after a long day going to and from classes." Brian's expression fell. "That might be kind of ... awkward," he stammered. "We ... the only, ahh, way I know to arrange that would be at my apartment, and, well ...." The awkward way he ended the sentence left Sara wondering how much Tommi hadn't told her. "Just a card and a nice dinner should be fine." ********** Sara's phone interrupted her Saturday-morning sleep-in time. She glanced at the time and saw that it was 9:51. She took a deep breath before answering her phone. "Hello," she mumbled, sounding groggy. "Oh, hi, Brian," she said after hearing the voice on the other end. "Yeah, I _was_ sleeping in, but it's almost ten, so I needed to wake up anyway." As Sara listened, she glanced across the room to see if the phone call was disturbing Ashley. Fortunately, Ashley wasn't in; her bed was neatly made, and she'd already left. "Yeah, I can meet you. Where?" She paused to listen to Brian's suggestion. "Actually, that sounds good. I'm just getting up and haven't had breakfast, so a coffee and a pastry sound great." "Good," his voice came over the phone. "I'll see you around eleven." "No, I'm quicker. Give me half an hour, and I'll see you. K, bye." She clicked off her cell phone. As she rolled out of bed, she muttered to herself, "Tommi, what the hell did you do?" Brian didn't sound very happy; something had gone wrong on their date - if they'd even _gone_ on a date. It took her thirty-five minutes to get a quick shower, untangle her hair, pull on some clothes, and scurry to the pastry shop in the student center. Brian was waiting, as expected. "Sorry I'm late," Sara apologized as she strode up to him. "Late? I figured any girl who can get ready in under two hours is _very_ early!" Brian laughed. Sara ordered a cup of coffee and a Danish, but when Brian offered to pay, Sara turned him down. "You need to have money for dates with Tommi," she reminded him. Brian's expression darkened at that comment. "The way things went last night, I'm not sure if I'll _have_ any more dates with her." Sara's eyebrows raised. "Not good?" Brian sighed. "Really bad." "I assume you want to talk about it, right?" Brian nodded. "I don't understand. It's like ... she's been distant ever since ...." He realized where his thoughts were going, and he stopped, staring down at his hands clutching his coffee cup. Sara put her hand on Brian's for reassurance. "I think I can guess what happened," she said calmly. "Even if you're not saying anything, and Tommi isn't talking about it either." Brian lifted his gaze to look into Sara's eyes, seeking some assurance that he hadn't been a cad. After a moment, his eyes drifted half-shut, and he nodded. "We ... made love ... a couple of weeks ago." Sara nodded knowingly. "That's what I figured. Was it the night she apologized for being such an ass about the whole Beta thing?" Brian nodded somberly. "Yeah." "That's what Katie and I figured," Sara confirmed. "Katie told me that Tommi didn't come home that night, and when she got home Saturday morning, she seemed quite distracted and unusually ... happy." "I ..." Brian started, and then he stopped, shaking his head. "It just happened. I didn't plan it, because I was afraid that something like this would happen, but, well, it just seemed right at the time." He dropped his gaze again. "Now I've scared her off." "I doubt it," Sara said. "Tommi is a big girl, and she hasn't been one to get scared by something different." "Has she talked to you about it?" Brian asked hesitantly. "No," Sara admitted, "but she wouldn't. She's got something going on about being the protective big sister, even if she's had that job for less than a year and a half." Sara sounded a little disgusted by Tommi's presumptive role. "Then why would she ask if we could ... back off?" Brian was clearly still distressed by Tommi's request. "I don't know," Sara said softly, shaking her head. "I really don't know." "What about her future? Has she decided anything about that?" Brian was grasping at straws, looking for something to be hopeful for. Sara bit her lower lip, wincing at the question. She knew it really wasn't her place to say anything. "You _do_ know something, don't you?" Brian read her expression. Sara shook her head. "I can't say. It's Tommi's business." "Is there ... someone else?" Brian asked the question he most dreaded asking. "I heard ... that while she was with the Beta girls, she was ... with someone." Sara sighed. This one should be easy to answer. "There aren't any other guys." "I didn't specifically say _guys_," Brian rebutted. "I know, with her history, that she might be attracted to women more than men." Sara felt her gut tie itself in knots. She _knew_ that Erica had fallen in love with Tommi, and she knew that Tommi and Erica had a fling. Sara didn't _think_ that Tommi was more interested in Erica than in Brian, but she didn't know how to answer. "As far as I know," she said carefully, "Tommi isn't having any kind of romance with anyone." "Did she?" Sara shook her head sadly. "Brian, as much as I'd love to help you dating my sister, there are some things that I just can't talk about." "So what can I do?" Brian sounded desperate for some hint or clue. "I _really_ love her!" Sara sighed and placed her hands on Brian's for reassurance. "All I can tell you is to keep treating Tommi like you do, like she deserves, and hope for the best." ********** Tommi hurried past the student union coffee shop. She happened to glance in the coffee shop as she walked past; her stomach was growling and the thought of stopping for a pastry was tempting. As she was on her way to the gym, however, she resisted temptation. The sitting area was separated from the hall by a glass wall to give those sitting a little privacy from the hustle and bustle of students in the hall. Tommi stopped so abruptly that the young man behind her had to hastily dodge around her. She glanced into the coffee shop again. Her eyes widened at the sight. There was no mistaking Brian; he was sitting at a far table. What struck Tommi most was the figure across from him. Some girl, with her back toward Tommi, was holding hands with Brian, and, from the look on his face, he was paying rapt attention to his companion. Tommi felt her stomach churn. She was distracted the rest of the way to the gym. ********** "Can I borrow your car?" Sara was already getting the keys from Tommi's purse as if the answer was a certainty. "Huh?" Tommi didn't quite catch her question. "I said, 'can I borrow your car'?" "Oh, sure," Tommi said unenthusiastically. Sara's brow wrinkled. "Is there something wrong?" she asked. She had an appointment, but she also had a sister she loved who _seemed_ to be troubled about something. "Nah," Tommi replied half-heartedly. "Nothing." "Are you sure?" Tommi turned. "What is it with you and Katie? You seem to think that there's always something bothering me!" Her angry tone was out of line with the question. "Okay," Sara said carefully as she stepped back toward the door. "I'll be back in an hour or so." "Okay," Tommi said, before turning her attention back to her books. Even that was a futile gesture; she was having a hard time focusing for some reason. ********** Sara glanced around her in a cloak-and-dagger style, as she walked into the clinic. She knew she was overreacting, but she didn't want Tommi to know what she was doing. "Good morning, Sara," Suzie greeted her cheerfully. "Or should I say, Double-O-Seven?" The greeting left Sara feeling foolish. "Was I that obvious?" she asked meekly. Suzie laughed. "The only thing missing were dark sunglasses and a trenchcoat!" Sara hung her head in shame. "Sorry. It's just that, well, I don't want Tommi knowing I'm here." Suzie nodded. "I know. And we scheduled your appointment away from hers, just like you asked. So sit down and relax, please! Rachel will be with you in a moment." "Er," Sara stammered, "can I wait somewhere less ... public? Just in case..." Suzie smiled as she nodded. "I understand. Tommi's trips to the gym can be unpredictable. Sure," she locked her computer and stood. "I'll show you to one of the back waiting lounges." Suzie needn't have bothered; Rachel was coming down the hall just as Suzie was leading Sara away. "Hi, Sara," Rachel greeted her with a hug. "How are you today?" Sara tried to act calm, but in truth, she had a case of nerves like she'd never felt before. "I'm okay, I guess." Rachel saw through her charade. "Why don't we go to my office, and you can tell me how you _really_ feel." Sara started to sit in the formal chair opposite Rachel's desk, but Rachel gestured to the less formal sofa and chairs. "I bet you're feeling a bit nervous," she said, her warm tone and words chosen to help Sara feel less stress. Sara nodded. "Yeah," she answered. "That's an understatement." Rachel smiled. "There's no need to be. None of us bite." "But ... this is the day," Sara stammered. "When ..." "When you find out if you were accepted into the program," Rachel finished confidently. "I need to ask you once more why you think you should be in the program." Sara gulped. She hadn't expected to hear this question yet again. "I guess because of Tommi," she began hesitantly. "I can see the good she did, and I want to emulate her." Rachel laughed. "That's a good college answer," she replied easily. "I can believe the part about you wanting to do something noble and decent and good. I reviewed the results of your psych test just before you came in." Rachel smiled. "I'm willing to bet there's a little bit of sibling rivalry, and, maybe, jealously, and, maybe, you also want to show Tommi that you're a big girl and can provide for yourself, too. Am I right?" Sara stared at her hands folded in her lap, and she nodded. "Yeah," she answered, her voice a bit glum. "I guess so." Rachel's smile broadened. "Sara," she said firmly to get Sara's attention. Sara looked up and saw Rachel's smile. "Those kind of emotions are perfectly normal," Rachel continued. "They're okay to feel, and okay to admit, especially to the counselor who's going to help you through your pregnancy." Sara was listening to Rachel with fear, certain that she was going to be disqualified. Suddenly, as the words sank into her brain, her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. "You mean...?" she started to ask, still a little fearful that she hadn't heard correctly. Rachel moved from the wing chair to sit beside Sara, and she wrapped her arm around Sara's shoulder. "Congratulations. You've been accepted into the program." "Really! I'm in?" Sara was beside herself with joy. "Really. As soon as you're done celebrating, we need to review the plan rules, and then you need to sign the contract. After that, I'll send you down to Tina for your checkup and to get you started on your meds." Twenty minutes later, Sara was led to Dr. Tina's office, where she was greeted with a hug. "We did your physical the other day," Dr. Tina began. "If you have any questions about the procedure, I'll be happy to answer them now, or at any time as we progress. Okay?" "Okay, Dr. Martelli," Sara answered. Dr. Tina frowned. "Don't tell me you're going to be like your sister!" she scolded. "We're family around here. We go on a first-name basis. Doctor's orders, got it?" Sara nodded, feeling both welcomed and chastised at the same time. "Okay, Tina," she answered nervously. "At least you're not as formal as your sister!" Tina said with a grin. She pulled up Sara's chart. "We'll do one month of regulated cycle, and then see how that goes, okay? If things are going well, we'll schedule your transfer. If not, we'll do another month." Sara smiled. "I understand. I'm taking an Anatomy and Physiology course this semester, so I'm looking forward to being a little lab experiment." Tina laughed. "Have you picked a major yet?" Sara shook her head. "No." "Do you know that the Foundation has very good grants and scholarships for those who decide to go to medical school, if they sign a contract to work the Foundation after they graduate?" "Really?" Sara sounded intrigued. "If you've ever thought of being a doctor, or a nurse, it's an option you might want to consider." She smiled. "I can see you as a doctor," she added. "You're bright and curious enough, and you show a lot of empathy. I think you'd make a fantastic doctor." Sara was delighted by the suggestion. "I'll think about it." "Okay. Now we need to give you a shot, and then you can be on your way." Twenty minutes later, her rear still sore from the shot she'd received, Sara knocked on Tommi's door. Katie didn't even look up from her book. "Come in," she called. Sara strode in hesitantly. "Tommi is out?" "She walked down to the library," Katie answered. She noticed that Sara seemed to be on edge about something. "Oh. I just brought back her keys." Sara dropped them on Tommi's desk, then flopped down in Tommi's chair. She winced at the pain in her buttocks. "You been working out or something?" Katie noticed Sara's tiny grunt of pain. "Or something. You guys got plans for dinner?" "Nah," Katie answered. She turned to her little sister. "You seem kind of pleased with yourself. And a bit nervous." Sara tried to hide her joy. "I've just had a good day." She decided to change the subject, and quickly. "Brian called this morning to see if Tommi had said anything about their date last night." Katie's eyebrows perked up. "Really? What did you tell him?" "What can I tell him? Tommi isn't telling me any more than I suppose she's telling you!" Katie shook her head. "He's nuts about her." "Yeah," Sara answered. " I think she likes him a lot more than she's comfortable admitting - even to herself." "Yeah, I agree, but I'd suggest you don't try to convince Tommi of that. Not unless you want to upset her." "He'd be really good for her." "Don't let Erica hear you say that," Katie laughed, "unless you want a fight." "How would your ... I mean, how would Mom and Dad feel if Tommi were to get serious with Erica?" Sara asked slowly. "That's a hypothetical question I'm not even going to try to answer," Katie deflected the inquiry. "Now, why are you so smug?" "Who said I'm smug?" Katie laughed. "Because you have a grin like the cat that ate the canary, that's why. Out with it." Sara shrugged. "I've just had a good day," she tried to parry. Katie shook her head. "I'm not buying it. You're up to something. You borrowed Tommi's car, which means that you had to go somewhere. When you borrow her car, you don't drive very far, based on the mileage Tommi says you're putting on it. You've made several more trips than normal in the past few weeks. You're sore, and it looks like it's your rear that hurts, like you ... got a shot. You're ...." Katie's eyes widened as the pieces snapped into place. "You're in the program, aren't you?" Sara started a denial, but stopped. Katie was her sister. She couldn't lie to her. "Yes," she said softly. "I signed my contract today, and I started my medications. That's why I'm sore - Tina gave me a big hormone shot right in my butt!" "What does Tommi think of it?" Katie asked slowly. Sara sighed deeply. "Tommi doesn't know." "_Yet_. She _is_ going to find out. If I were you, I'd find a time to tell her - soon. Very soon." Katie's words were somber, even foreboding in their tone, as if Katie could see some dark future if Sara were to ignore them. "Before she finds out for herself." ********** "You're distracted again," Dee said as they looked through racks in the maternity shop. "No, I'm not," Tommi retorted quickly. "Oh? So why did you say you hated one blouse, and, when I held the same blouse up two minutes later, you raved about how nice it looks?" Tommi sighed. It was no use arguing the point; Dee had caught her. "Okay, so I _am_ a bit distracted." "Brian again?" Tommi knew that her motives were transparent to Dee. She decided against playing innocent or asking the obvious question of how Dee knew. "Yeah," she replied simply. "Wanna talk about it?" Tommi let out a lonely chuckle. "That's why I'm here, isn't it?" "Do you want to play twenty questions, or just come out with it?" Dee teased. "It's easier if I just get to the point. We ... um, that is ... " Tommi stammered, not quite sure how to say what was on her mind. "You _did_ it, right?" Dee was now highly interested, both as a friend and as a paid mentor. "Yeah," Tommi felt herself blushing a bit. "And?" Dee's voice was less professional and more gossipy-curious than Rachel's. Tommi shrugged. "It was ... good" She got a far-off stare for a few seconds. "It was very interesting. Different from what I imagined, but ... good. Real good." "And?" Tommi sighed. "And what? I got a little scared by how far we'd gone in our relationship, and I asked Brian if we could back off a little bit." Dee winced visibly. "Sounds like you went further than you intended." "Yeah, you could say that." "So, now what?" Dee held up another blouse. Tommi took the blouse and held it in front of herself. She considered for a moment before wrinkling her nose. "I don't think it's my color." She handed it back to Dee. "Now? Now I've blown it," she said, self-disgust in her voice. "Not necessarily," Dee commented quickly. "The big question is, do you love him?" Tommi shook her head. "I don't know," she wailed softly. "I really don't know. I mean, I like him. He's fun, and he treats me well, but ...." She shook her head. "I guess I do - some. But it really doesn't matter anymore." "Problems?" Dee noted to herself that Tommi sounded overwhelmed, maybe even depressed. "I saw him in the student center yesterday morning. With another girl." Tommi sounded unhappy. "I couldn't see who it was, but I could tell they were very deep in conversation." "That doesn't mean anything," Dee tried to help. "Could be someone from a class, or a friend." "They were holding hands." Tommi sighed heavily, closed her eyes, and shook her head as her gaze slowly lowered. "If I was starting to have any feelings for him, I blew it. It's too late." "Maybe. Maybe not. Every heard of fighting for the guy you want?" Dee flipped through a few outfits, eyeing the colors and designs critically. "This isn't bad for a clearance rack. What about the girl _you_ were with? Have you considered whether you'd be happier with her?" "I don't know," Tommi said softly. "I suppose I need to concentrate on having this baby first, and then I can sort out my love life. If there's anything left of it, that is." Dee held up a blouse to herself. "I think I like this one. What do you think?" Tommi stared at the blouse. It was royal blue, with lace trim, and looked very nice. "I like it,' Tommi commented. "It's pretty." "Thanks." Dee draped the blouse over her arm. "Now that you've tried both, how do they compare?" "Now _you're_ curious!" Tommi commented with a laugh. She saw Dee's expression and knew why Dee had asked the question. "You've never tried it with another woman, have you?" Dee shook her head slightly. "No." Tommi got the far-off look again as she arranged her mental notes. "It's hard to compare. Erica was ... fiery with passion. A tigress. She knew what buttons to push, and she kept pushing them." Tommi remembered how she'd felt with Erica. "She was both tender and aggressive, and it was very exciting." "How is she to spend time with? I mean, not in the sack?" Dee clarified. "She's fun, and friendly. I guess I haven't spent as much time with her one-on-one as I have with Brian." "And in comparison?" Dee was paying close attention to her answer. It wasn't clear if it was from her duties as a mentor or from lewd curiosity. "Brian was super considerate. I could tell that he was thinking of me first in everything we did. It was very tender, and I'd have to say that Brian was more intimate somehow. A bit clumsy, but more intimate." Tommi shook her head. "It's hard to compare. The experiences were too different." "So, would you do it again?" Dee asked lightly. Tommi laughed again. "With whom?" ********** Tommi stuck her head out the half-opened door when she heard Sara's voice in the hall. "Got a minute?" she asked. Sara nodded. "Sure," she said. She waved at Ashley. "I'll catch up in the cafeteria." She followed Tommi back into her room. Almost automatically, she sat down on Tommi's bed. "What's up?" Tommi frowned as she slumped into her chair. "I was going to ask you the same thing. We haven't talked much lately." Sara shrugged. "We've both been pretty busy." "I noticed that you've been borrowing my car more often," Tommi noted. "Not that I mind, but I'm just wondering if everything is okay." "Sure." Sara didn't sound convincing. Tommi noticed. She got up and started pacing. "If there's a problem, how am I supposed to help you, if you won't tell me?" "Tommi," Sara tried to sound calm, "I know you want to help, but, sometimes, I can handle things on my own. I'm not a little kid anymore." Tommi dropped her gaze and sank back into her chair. "I know," she said softly. "It's just ... I never felt like I had a little sister to care for. If there's a problem, I want to help. When I see you regularly going off- campus, it makes me afraid that there's some kind of medical problem." As she spoke, her eyes suddenly widened. "The mileage - it's the same as when I go to the clinic!" Her jaw hung open. "You're going to the clinic? You're signing up for the program?" Sara felt a surge of panic, but she was trying to not show the emotions. "What are you talking about?" Tommi stood, astonished. "I know you were talking with Rachel a lot, and I know you were interested. You're in the program, aren't you? How could you do that without talking to me about it?" Sara felt her lower lip trembling. She knew that Tommi would eventually find out, but she hadn't anticipated that Tommi's reaction would be so vehemently opposed to the idea. "I've got to catch up with Ashley and the girls for lunch." She stood and walked out, pausing the doorway, but not looking back. She desperately wanted Tommi to tell her that it would be okay if she _did_ participate. She needed Tommi to tell her that it was okay for her to start making decisions about her own life, and that Tommi would support her. Neither came. Sara sighed heavily and walked out the door, closing it firmly and loudly behind her. Tommi's eyes watered, and she felt very uneasy. She and Sara had never had a major argument until now. She didn't know if her hormones were making the issue seem larger. All Tommi knew for certain was that she really hated feeling so disconnected from her sister. After staring at the closed door for almost two minutes, constantly wiping at the tears, Tommi grabbed her purse and walked out the door. ********** Tommi was so distracted by her emotions that she nearly rear-ended a car as she drove, and even that barely registered. She parked her car and hurried into the clinic, hoping that Rachel was free, not thinking that she could have called and ensured that Rachel had a few minutes to talk. "Tommi," Suzie called from her desk, a very concerned expression on her face. "Are you okay?" Tommi took a moment to focus her attention on Suzie's question. "Huh? Oh, yeah," she said softly. "Is Rachel in?" Suzie shook her head. "I'm sorry, but Rachel flew out last night for a meeting at Foundation headquarters. She won't be back in the office until tomorrow. Is there someone else who can help you, or do I need to send Rachel a message?" Tommi shook her head sadly. "No." Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she slowly turned toward the front door. "Tommi," Suzie called urgently, "do you need to talk to someone?" Tommi stopped and slowly turned her head. "I need to talk to Rachel," she repeated. "Would it help to talk to me?" Suzie offered. "Or somebody else?" She was already typing an urgent message to Dr. Tina on her computer. She'd never seen Tommi this low, except when Sara lost her financial aid the year before. Without Tommi's knowledge, the software took Suzie's message and turned it into an urgent text message. Suzie rose from her workstation and quickly strode to Tommi's side. She placed her hand on Tommi's arm. "Why don't we go sit down in the break room?" Suzie suggested. She guided Tommi back into the clinic, away from the exit door. As the two were walking toward the back, Dr. Tina burst through the door. She flanked Tommi and helped Suzie guide her back to a break room. As they sat down, Dr. Tina asked, "Are you okay, Tommi?" The concern in her voice was genuine. Tommi was on the verge of tears. "I ... I don't know," she muttered, staring down at her hands in her lap. "What happened?" Dr. Tina asked softly. "Sara ... and I ... had a fight," Tommi sobbed. "We've never had a fight before. She's ... she doesn't need me!" Dr. Tina put her arms on Tommi's shoulders for reassurance. "Sara _does_ need you, and she _does_ love you. But she's also legally an adult, so she is sometimes going to decide things for herself. I remember when my little sister did that the first time. It felt like she didn't need or _want_ me, but it wasn't real; it was just my emotions speaking." Tommi looked up. "I think she's ...." She couldn't continue. Finally, after a few moments of struggle, she blurted out, "Did she sign up as a client?" Dr. Tina shot Suzie a quick warning glance that, fortunately, went unnoticed by Tommi. "If Sara _did_ sign up, would that be so bad?" "I did this one so she wouldn't have to," Tommi protested. "I wanted to take care of her." "What would you do if she signed up _after_ you graduated? Or after _she_ graduated? What would be the difference?" Suzie asked. "Or is it that you wanted to be the protective big sister that you'd never been, and now you feel like she's rejecting you?" "Your first fight has to be very difficult for you, especially since you weren't close when you both were younger. Siblings argue and fight, though." Dr. Tina rubbed Tommi's shoulders. "It doesn't make it any easier, but arguing is normal. You'll get through this." Tommi tried to nod in acknowledgement of Dr. Tina's advice. "I need to know. _Is_ she going to be a host mother?" Dr. Tina sighed. "I'm sorry, Tommi, but you know the rules. If she were, I couldn't tell you. If she weren't, I wouldn't know it to tell you." She patted Tommi's arm. "I'm sorry." ********** Tommi sat alone at the table in the coffee shop. Everyone in the dorm was out, either at the gym, in class, or at the library. She really wished she had someone to share coffee with. The way things were going, she felt all alone. Sitting at the counter, Erica noticed Tommi, and she waved. Erica frowned when Tommi didn't notice her, so she walked confidently over to Tommi's table. "Hi, Tommi," Erica sang sweetly. Tommi looked up, startled. "Oh, hi, Erica." Then noticed the curvy red- haired girl trailing close behind Erica. Erica noticed, from Tommi's appearance, that Tommi had most likely been crying. Still, there were pleasantries to observe. "Tommi, this is my friend Trudy. Trudy, Tommi." As Tommi extended her hand to shake with Trudy, she noticed immediately that Trudy's eyes were spiteful and angry, despite the pleasant smile she put on. Her grip was icy and harsh. Clearly, Trudy was _not_ happy to meet Tommi. Tommi guessed that Trudy was Erica's current girlfriend, and that Trudy's icy demeanor came from knowledge of Erica and Tommi's earlier tryst. "Nice to meet you," Tommi said simply. "Likewise," Trudy said through her false smile. She released Tommi's hand and interlocked her arm with Erica, leaning her head on Erica's shoulder. "I understand you two live in the same dorm?" "Yes," Tommi answered simply. She felt her stomach knot again for some reason she couldn't put her finger on. "And ... are you the one who did the surrogate mother thing?" Trudy answered. Tommi was conscious of the fact that she was showing - a little. "Yes," she said through a false smile. "This one is my second, actually." Erica patted Trudy's hand. "I'd like to talk with Tommi a bit. I'll catch up to you in class." Trudy smiled at Erica. "Sounds good," she said. She wrapped her arms around Erica and gave her an exaggerated kiss, while one hand squeezed Erica's bottom. "So you don't get lonely," Trudy said with a grin. She walked off, wiggling her bottom at Erica in an exaggeratedly sexy way. "Interesting girl," Tommi said, trying not to sound sarcastic but failing. The parting display had made it abundantly clear that Trudy _did_ know and that she was letting Tommi know that Erica was hers. "Yeah," Erica said simply, "she's very nice ... and fun." She sat down opposite Tommi. "I've noticed that you seem very pre-occupied lately. Is something wrong?" Tommi sighed. "Everyone thinks that something's wrong." Erica laughed. "Well, you _have_ been sulking around a lot for the last few days, not talking to anyone, so I would imagine people have a reason to worry about you." Tommi considered for a moment. "Yeah, something's wrong. It's Sara." "Oh? She seems to be doing okay." Tommi scowled at Erica. "I think she's been going to the clinic to get into the host-mother program." "That's wonderful!" Erica squealed with delight. She noticed that Tommi was frowning. "Isn't it?" "No!" Tommi retorted immediately. "She shouldn't have to do that!" Erica seemed puzzled. "It's okay for you to be a host mother, but not for her?" "That's different." "How is it different?" Erica asked bluntly. "It ... it just is!" Tommi answered. Erica started to reply, and suddenly her eyes widened with a dawning realization. "You did your second pregnancy so she could come to school here, didn't you?" Tommi tried to deny it, but she failed to be convincing. "Oh, my, that's so sweet and loving," Erica cooed. "You wanted to take care of her now because you never did _before_, right?" She shook her head, smiling sadly. "I bet she knows exactly what you did, though. She's smart enough to figure it out." "I hope not," Tommi said, sounding quite worried. "We already had a big fight, and if she finds out that I was trying to help her ...." She stared at the table top. "I'm going to lose my little sister." ********** Tommi rapped lightly on Sara's door, feeling nervous, impatient, fearful, and a host of other unhealthy emotions. She _had_ to talk to Sara, but she wasn't quite sure how. After a few moments, the door opened, and Sara stood, peering out at Tommi. Her expression was guardedly neutral. "Yes?" she asked simply. "May I come in?" Tommi was formal and polite. "Sure," Sara said. She strode back to her desk and sat down, returning her attention to her books. "I ... I don't like arguing with you," Tommi began hesitantly. "It doesn't feel very good." Sara turned and stared at Tommi for several awkward seconds. Finally, she spoke. "I don't like it, either. But more than that, I don't like being treated like I'm still a little girl," she added emphatically. "I'm sorry," Tommi apologized, hoping that Sara was in the mood to accept her apology. "I'm kind of new at the big-sister thing." "No kidding," Sara said, her words dripping with sarcasm. "And you're pretty new at the dating thing, too." "Is _that_ what's bothering you? The fact that Brian and I aren't getting more serious?" Sara crossed her arms over her chest. "What's wrong with Brian? He's sweet, and he treats you like a queen. He's smart. I don't understand why you're pushing him away?" "You're on his side, aren't you?" Tommi accused. "I'm not taking sides," Sara replied quickly and angrily. "But he's a great first guy for you to date." "That's my business," Tommi shot back. "Our ... relationship was moving way too fast, and I wasn't very comfortable." She changed the subject to what _she_ was concerned about. "What's up with you and the clinic?" she demanded. "Moving too fast? What is that supposed to mean? Were you scared about having sex? Or are you scared because maybe you're starting to love him?" Sara parried and returned to her topic. "That's none of your business!" Tommi yelled at Sara. "And if I go to the clinic, that's none of _your_ business!" Sara angrily replied. "You don't have to volunteer," Tommi continued. She figured she'd won control of the argument. "Why not?" Sara stood toe-to-toe with Tommi, her arms crossed angrily and defiantly. "If it's okay for you, why isn't it okay for me?" "That's different! I had to pay for college!" Tommi shouted. "You don't!" "It's not all about the money," Sara countered. "It's about control, isn't it? You think you have to be the big sister taking care of the little kid, don't you? Well, it doesn't work that way! I'm a grown woman, and I can do what I want or need to do!" "But ... I'm not trying ...." Tommi sputtered, not knowing how to rebut Sara's argument. "Yes, you are! Starting with the scholarship you arranged for me! Did you think I wouldn't figure it out?" Sara's words cut Tommi to the heart. "I just ... wanted to help!" Tommi said weakly. Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. "Can't a big sister do that?" "Not if the price includes telling me how to live my life," Sara snapped. Tommi stared at her little sister, not knowing what to say or how to say it. Finally, as the tears continued, she fled from Sara's room, running down the hall and down the stairs to her own floor. It took some fumbling to open the door, and when she got into her room, she flopped face-down on the bed, her body wracked with sobs. ********** Katie sprawled back on her bed, looking across the room at Tommi. "I'm sure it's your imagination, or maybe it's hormones again. Things can't be as bad as you're imagining." Tommi shook her head slowly. She wasn't crying - for now - but she had been. "Nothing is going right!" she protested weakly. "Everything is crashing down around me, and I can't do anything about it!" "Okay, let's start with Sara. She's pretty mad at you right now." "It's my fault, too!" Tommi snorted. "I was trying to help her, and now she won't talk to me!" Her voice had an edge of self-pity. "Sisters fight, remember?" Katie reminded Tommi. "You need to keep in mind that Sara is eighteen and legally an adult. You can't stop her from doing things." "And I pushed Erica away. Now she's got a girlfriend and barely has time to talk to me!" Tommi complained. "A girlfriend? Are you sure?" Katie was certain that Tommi was exaggerating. "Some red-haired girl was hanging all over Erica at the coffee shop, and she made a very big scene to make sure that I knew Erica was hers." "You're jealous," Katie observed, hiding her amusement at Tommi's display of emotion. "I'm _not_ jealous of some air-headed bimbo!" Tommi snapped back. Katie shrugged, while she smiled inwardly. Tommi _was_ jealous. Someday, Katie and Tommi would have a long discussion and confront that reality. "I didn't think you were involved with Erica." "She's pretty cold to me. Distant. I've lost a friend," Tommi explained bitterly. "Okay, so you've lost a friend - or you _think_ you have. That's not the end of the world." "I think I pushed Brian away, too," Tommi said softly. "He's gotten pretty cool toward me, too." She lowered her gaze to her hands crossed in her lap. "I saw him with another girl." "You have some ... feelings for him, too, don't you?" Katie asked lightly. She _knew_ the answer; the trick would be to get Tommi to admit it to herself. Tommi closed her eyes and shook her head sadly. "I suppose. I like him. Maybe I like him _more_ than just as a friend." "And for Erica?" Tommi sighed. "I don't know. I think so. Some, at least." Katie shook her head sadly, sighing. "No wonder you feel lost. You're probably confused about which of the two of them you have stronger feelings for, or you should be attracted to. The extra hormones are making you feel more vulnerable emotionally, and you feel like you've lost both of them." "And Sara. I lost her, too!" Katie shook her head. "No, you didn't. You two had your first real argument, but you'll get over it. You're sisters, after all. Siblings argue once in a while, but then they make up and go back to being best friends." "Says an only child," Tommi spat bitterly. Instantly, she regretted her words, spoken in a fit of self-pity. "I'm sorry," she apologized quickly. Katie bit her tongue, lest she lash out at Tommi for the hurtful thing she'd just said. After mentally counting to ten, she decided she was calm enough to speak. "See? I know that deep down in your heart, you didn't mean that, but your emotions got the better of you. The same is true for both you and Sara." "But why can't she accept what I want to do to help her?" Tommi practically begged for an answer. Katie shrugged. "I don't know. Is it possible that she really admires you and just wants to emulate you?" Tommi pondered Katie's words for several seconds. "I never thought of that," she said slowly. "Do you think I owe her an apology? Katie knew she'd made progress helping her sisters reconcile. "Probably." "I think I can do that," Tommi said slowly. "Now what about the other issues? What about Erica and Brian?" Katie smiled. "I'm going to guess that you'd like some companionship, maybe even a lover, right?" Tommi blushed but nodded. "But I blew it. I chased both of them off." "Why?" Tommi's eyes widened. "Why?" She realized that she hadn't thought of _that_ simple question. "Because ... someday I want a long-term relationship and to have my _own_ baby," she admitted softly. "Brian would be a good father," Katie observed. "Yeah, Tommi answered, almost wistfully. "But Erica would be a good co- mother, too" Tommi added quickly. "If you decided on Erica," Katie noted. "Yeah. But I guess that would rule out having my own, wouldn't it?" "Maybe not," Katie offered. "You could always get inseminated, and I read about some research by the Morris Foundation where they created viable sperm from a donor's stem cells. With that technology, you and Erica could even have each other's babies." "Are you trying to encourage me to choose Erica?" Tommi asked, her voice mirthful but also somehow sad. "I chased her off, remember?" "Who you choose is up to you," Katie said simply. "What would Mom and Dad," Tommi paused, rolling the words "Mom and Dad" off her tongue slowly, savoring them, "think if I settled into a lesbian relationship? That would cause problems, wouldn't it?" "You can always talk to them and find out. I'm pretty sure that they'll be more concerned about your happiness than some traditional old gender boundary." "Yeah, I guess I can add that problem to the list," Tommi said, nodding. "Mom's really not going to like me calling, if all I have are problems." "She'll love getting to play mother; don't worry about it." Tommi sighed heavily. "I guess I've learned a lesson here, didn't I?" "What's that?" "I need to enjoy life and not get scared. I chased off two very good friends because I was afraid." "You may not have chased them off, you know," Katie commented hopefully. "If both of them were still interested," Tommi observed wistfully, "I'd have to either date them both equally, or date neither of them, until I made up my mind which way I want to go." Katie laughed. "The guy gets you Mondays and Fridays, and the girl gets you Wednesdays and Saturdays! That sounds like an interesting social calendar!" ********** "Hi, Dad," Tommi spoke into her phone nervously. "Hi, kiddo," Roger spoke easily to his new daughter. "Is something wrong? It sounds like you're unhappy." "No, things are going okay. Well, mostly okay." "Are you sure?" Roger asked again. "I really need to talk to Mom, if she's available." "I suppose it's something that needs a mothers' touch?" Tommi laughed. "Yeah, it's mostly girl-things. I wouldn't want to embarrass you!" "Sometime, I wish you'd call just to talk to me. It's kind of lonely having girls who need to talk 'girl things' with their mother and not to talk with me!" Roger's protest was feigned and lighthearted. "Okay, I promise next time I call, it'll be just to talk to my Dad!" "Okay. Love you, kiddo. Here's your mother." Roger handed the phone to Ronnie. "Hi, Mom? I ... need some advice." "That's what a mother is for, dear," Ronnie answered easily. "Now what's bothering you? Hormones and pregnancy again?" Tommi could hear the elation in her Mom's voice at being asked for advice. "No, it's ... lots of things." "I suppose you already spent time talking with your sister," Ronnie predicted. "Yeah, Katie and I talked a lot." "And Sara? You've talked to Sara about what's on your mind?" "No, I haven't. That's one of the problems. Sara and I ... we had a big argument." "That happens. Even the best sisters don't always see eye-to-eye." Ronnie was choosing her words carefully, so she wouldn't upset Tommi. She could hear the strain in the girl's voice. "That's what Katie said, too. She said it's normal, and we'll get back to being best friends, but it doesn't feel right. It hurts, and I feel kind of empty." "I'm sure it does. What happened?" "I guess it started when I kind of confronted Sara about her becoming a host-mother at the clinic." "That's wonderful!" Ronnie said tentatively. "Isn't it? Or is _that_ what's bothering you?" "She shouldn't _have_ to do it!" Tommi protested. "Does she know about the scholarship?" "Yeah, she knows. I think that's one of the things that got _her_ mad." Tommi confirmed. "You know," Ronnie tried to be non-judgmental, "Sara might see it as you controlling her, even indirectly. She _did_ have to put up with a lot of that growing up." "I just wanted to help her. I didn't mean to upset her!" "I know, honey," Ronnie cooed. "Sometimes, the best of intentions still cause fights and disagreements and hurt feelings." "I'm learning that pretty quickly," Tommi replied meekly. "I bet, if you ask her, that she loves the dickens out of you for wanting to help her, and for putting yourself through a second pregnancy for her. But I bet there's also a part of her, deep inside, that she may not even be aware of, that's scared to death of feeling obligated to you." Tommi laughed. "That's just what Katie said." "Like mother, like daughter," Ronnie replied. "It's really hard, too. We had just gotten a special relationship, and then I went and blew it. I feel like it's all my fault." Ronnie laughed. "It would have been something, sooner or later. It's impossible for people to get along perfectly all the time! The important thing is that both of you work out your differences. Keep talking, settle your disagreements, and focus on how much you two love each other. If you do that, you'll do just fine." "Thanks, Mom," Tommi said into her phone. "You know, I don't think I'll ever get tired of saying 'Mom'." "You're welcome, honey. Try to keep your chin up and focus on how much you love each other." ********** The phone rang again and again, futilely, until Tommi finally hung up in frustration. It wasn't like Sara to not answer her cell phone. In fact, she hadn't bothered to respond to the messages Tommi had left on her voicemail, either. Tommi sighed, then walked slowly out of her room and trudged up the stairs. After a knock on the door, Ashley opened it and peeked out. "Oh, hi, Tommi," she said, but her voice sounded less than enthusiastic, even furtive. "Is Sara in?" Tommi asked bluntly. "I need to talk to her." "Uh, no," Ashley replied. This time, there was no disguising the unease in her voice. She was trying to hide something from Tommi. "Do you know where she is?" Tommi continued to try to get answers. "I think she's in the library," Ashley mentioned. She wasn't a convincing liar. "Okay," Tommi decided that Ashley _did_ know where Sara was, but wasn't going to tell her. "Can you tell her I'd like to talk to her when she gets back?" "Sure. Night." Ashley closed the door quickly, as if to cut off an interrogation before she spilled her secrets. Tommi sighed and walked to the dorm lobby. Katie was in their room studying for a test, and Tommi didn't want to disturb her. After pacing around the lounge area for a few minutes, Tommi walked upstairs and retrieved her jacket. "You going out?" Katie asked taking a momentary break from her books. "Yeah. I'm feeling kind of restless," Tommi answered unenthusiastically. "Did you get a chance to talk to Sara?" Tommi shook her head. "She's out." "Oh. Well, I know you two will get things worked out eventually." Tommi tried to keep from laughing derisively. She didn't have nearly as much confidence as Katie had. "We'll see." She pulled the door shut behind her and walked from the dorm. Tommi wasn't sure where she was walking; she just needed to be out, alone with her thoughts. She knew she was in a melancholy mood, but she didn't want any company, making forced attempts to cheer her up. Right now, Tommi didn't _want_ to be cheered up. She wanted to work through her feelings, no matter how unpleasant or even painful that process might be. Tommi found herself at the fountain. In the moonlight, it was an other- worldly place. Without their summer robes of green foliage, the trees were shadowy alien creatures lifting their scraggly arms upward against a dark blue sky, as if to worship the white orb floating overhead. She sat on the edge of the fountain, listening to the splashing and burbling of the water and watching the silvery sparkles as drops and waves reflected the moon's rays. It was easy to imagine the fountain was alive, a watery creature struggling mightily to reach the heavens, to touch the moon, failing and falling and trying again as if locked in a Sisyphean task. Her mood matched the eerieness of the scene. Her problems were clawing at her, just like the trees clawing at the sky, trying to drag her into a dark pit of depression. She hadn't realized that there were things she should reach for, goals beyond just having a baby, like love and companionship, but now, she found her situation embodied in the fountain, forever destined to reach for a goal that could never be grasped, and yet, unable to give up trying. She had friends, to be sure, and her new family, but at the same time, it seemed like there was no companionship, no deep love, no hope for the future. Even the precious life she carried in her womb, that she loved without knowing, and cared for in the most intimate way possible, was destined to be taken from her without her every seeing or touching or holding it, leaving Tommi alone and wondering if she, too, might someday experience the love she so longed for. She'd been afraid, and that fear had cost her relationships, cost her the love she so dearly craved. As a result of the fear and rejection she'd felt as a child, she didn't feel equipped to overcome her fear, to take a chance, to hope and reach, and, if rejected, to pick herself up and try again. Now her fear had tainted what had been a perfect relationship with her sister. Tommi realized that she truly feared losing Sara. All of the complications and dangers of pregnancy didn't bother her; she accepted her own fate. But Sara? Tommi was afraid of losing Sara, and, in her fearing, she'd pushed Sara away. Eventually, despite her jacket, Tommi started to feel chilly. Still feeling overwhelmed, she trudged slowly back toward her dorm, knowing she could collapse exhausted onto her bed and let the dream world temporarily whisk away her troubles. As she came around the corner toward the main entrance, she spied a familiar car in the parking lot, in a visitor's spot. Puzzled, Tommi stopped, and, feeling a morbid curiosity, she backed herself into the shadows and watched. It took a few minutes, but, eventually, the drivers' door opened. The driver circled the car and opened the door for the passenger, then offered a hand to assist that passenger in standing. Tommi watched as the passenger paused, then lifted her arms up around the driver's neck and kissed him. Tears gushed forth, as Tommi ran away from the main entrance. She ducked into one of the side entrances, and, still crying, ran down the hall into her room. Without a word, she flopped face-first on her bed, sobbing hysterically. Katie turned from her books as soon as Tommi burst in. She heard the crying. "Tommi," she asked immediately, concerned, "are you okay?" Tommi didn't answer. She just lay on the bed sobbing. Katie crossed the small room and sat on the edge of Tommi's bed. She placed her hand on Tommi's shoulder for comfort. "Tommi, what's wrong?" "Everything!" Tommi sobbed between tears. "What happened?" Katie had seen Tommi upset before, but never to this extent. She was worried about her sister. Tommi didn't look up from the bed. "Ashley ... wouldn't tell me ... where Sara was!" she cried. "I knew ... she was lying. And ... I ... just ... saw..." she tried to say between sobs, "Sara ... coming ... home ... from a date ... with Brian! And she ... kissed him goodnight!" ********** to be continued