Your Wish Come True (revised): Chapter 16 - Girls Just Wnna Have Fun free porn video

Your Wish Come True by Pol Roger Chapter 16 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Love and money "PAUL," said the young man, pointing to himself to indicate that was his name. "Mandy," Mandy replied. "What?" he said, cupping his hand to his ear. "Mandy!" she almost shouted. He gave a theatrical nod to show he'd heard. Mandy laughed, inaudible. She kept smiling at him, and he was smiling back. He's quite cute, she thought. Nice grey-blue eyes, light stubble, tousled light-brown hair, narrow dark grey denim pants impossibly low on his hips, cool Beastie Boys tee shirt. And amazing eyebrows. Mandy just loved his eyebrows. He looks pretty fit, Mandy noted. Her eyes kept being drawn to his crotch. He was definitely packing some lunch. That solves that question, anyway, Mandy thought to herself. She had been wondering on and off all week if she was really starting to find men attractive, and if so how much. She felt something stirring between her legs and knew she was getting moist. The music was deafening, so loud it was almost beyond the sound of hearing. The steady "boomph ... boomph ... boomph," was not so much heard as felt, vibrating through their bodies and shaking the house. Earlier they had been playing some sleazy rap song, but surprisingly at the moment it was an eighties disco beat: Bananarama. Very danceable! Just before that it had been Beyonc?; also great to dance to. Surely the neighbours will complain to the police soon, Mandy thought. There were about fifty people at the party, mostly teenagers, among whom were Mandy, Gemma and Vanessa (the parents of the other girls from St Gregory's hadn't allowed them to come) and about four or five people in their early twenties. Paul was one of these. Twenty or so people had arrived in the last quarter of an hour. The house was already fairly full. It was quite hot, despite the cold rainy night outside. Most people had removed their coats and jackets. Right now Mandy just had a short clingy silvery-coloured satin dress with spaghetti straps on and silver strapped sandals with four-inch heels. And some beads and bangles, and her favourite ankle bracelet. Her hair was pulled back in a rather loose French bun at the nape of her neck. Her underwear had shown underneath the clingy dress, so she dispensed with a bra altogether and substituted an almost transparent lacy-fronted thong for her panties at the last minute when Emma had left the room. Going braless didn't seem to worry her, but it was the first time she had worn a thong, and it felt quite daring, even though no- one could see it. It was a substantial two-story middle-class house with a large garden surrounded by a high wall in a quiet leafy street in Ealing. The party was taking place mainly in a downstairs back rumpus room and the adjacent double garage, but people were wandering all over the house, finding quieter corners to talk or perhaps make out. A couple of guys were checking people's names at the big iron gates at the front, trying to keep out gatecrashers. They were a bit miserable-looking, standing out in the chilly rain wearing Barbour jackets and holding umbrellas. Not really much chance of gatecrashers on such a horrible night, though, Mandy suspected. "Drink?" Paul yelled. Mandy gave a thumbs up. "What?" he mouthed. Mandy gave a "whatever" shrug and he began to wend his way through the throng to the other side of the room where bottles were piled on an already beer-soaked table. "Having fun?" came a bright voice right in her ear. "It's great!" Mandy shouted, smiling brightly. Gemma beamed back. She waved and backed away into the group of people dancing, mainly girls. She joined Tammy Lawler, whose party this was, dancing away in the middle of the room to the incredibly loud music being played through the several speakers of the impressive home theatre system. Mandy was surprised a home stereo could make so much noise. There wasn't much food. Just some bowls with crisps and nuts, and trays of cheese and crackers. But there seemed to be plenty to drink, beer and spirits and jugs of orange juice. Probably orange juice. Paul returned with two bottles of lager and gave one to Mandy. She wished she'd been able to ask for a "screwdriver" over the noise. Oh well, a lager was better than nothing. They clinked their bottles and took swigs of their drinks in unison, their smiling eyes confirming their mutual interest. Mandy was feeling strangely excited. Part of her was thinking what a dreadful party this was, but another part was feeling a strong sense of adventure and curiosity. The music and the sight, smell and feel of so many warm and perspiring young bodies was really rather exhilarating. She could tell by the feeling in her knickers. She drank down her lager as quickly as she could, really to get rid of it as much as anything. She could feel it going to her head. So much the better. She was feeling rather reckless. "Dance?" Paul mouthed when Mandy had downed her drink. Mandy nodded. He took the bottle from her and put it on a table at the side of the room, already covered in empty bottles. They moved in among the dancing guests. Besides Paul, only about five or six of the dancers were male; but lots of girls were dancing happily. One or two looked a bit out of it. They began to move with the music. Paul was entranced by Mandy's natural grace on the dance floor, but she wasn't really doing much in the way of dance moves, just moving and swaying to the music. She felt a little dizzy- -and that was only her third lager! She was conscious of Paul's eyes on her body however, and her whole body seemed to be enjoying his admiration. The music changed. More eighties pop. It was a slow song, Eternal Flame by the Bangles. Oh shit! This could be dangerous! Sure enough Paul had taken her hands and was dancing close to her. Their bodies brushed each other as if by accident. Oh god! It was like electricity. Mandy could feel a warm tingly sensation somewhere, not quite sure where. Paul leaned in closer. She could feel his breath on her cheek. She could feel the warmth of his body. So close! She could smell his clean but manly odour. Paul jerked his head towards the door leading to the front rooms of the house. She smiled and nodded. They wound their way through the dancing crowd, Paul leading Mandy, holding just the tips of her fingers with the tips of his own. He led her along the hallway and then stopped. The music was not as loud there, and they could hear themselves talking. People were in the living room and dining room nearby, but no one else was in the hallway at the moment. Mandy could tell she was feeling very attracted to Paul, which scared her slightly. But she was also feeling rather light-headed from the drinks, and maybe not as inhibited as she might have been. Paul leaned casually against the wall, his hands in his pockets. There was no room for Mandy next to Paul, and Mandy didn't particularly want to stand beside him anyway. There seemed no option but to stand right in front of him, facing him. She felt a bit exposed. "So, you're a friend of Tammy's?" Paul asked. "Umm, not really that much. I'm friends with Gemma Winkler and she asked Tammy if I could come." "I'm glad she did," Paul smiled. "Me too," Mandy smiled back. She felt a little unsteady just standing in the hall in front of Paul. It was an awkward position as well, with him relaxed against the wall and her with nothing to support her. She rested one hand against the wall near Paul's arm for balance. "So are you friends with Tammy?" Mandy asked. "Who?" said Paul. They both laughed. (Good, he doesn't smoke, Mandy noted as she couldn't help smelling his breath, which held just a hint of lager.) A couple of people came down the hall and Mandy had to move closer to Paul to let them through. She felt the heat of his body as they touched lightly. Paul had shifted too, so that his shoulder was leaning against the arm Mandy was using to balance herself against the wall. They talked a bit more. He was a final year Information Technology student, hoping to work in website construction and design, as well as graphic design. He already had a small business of his own but he found running a business took too much time away from the creative side, which is what he really enjoyed. Mandy did not hide the fact she was still at school. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do when she left, she said. Maybe modelling, or acting. Or maybe something in fashion design. That sounds a bit lame, Mandy thought to herself. She liked music and dancing, she went on, so maybe she'd do something in music or theatre. Paul said he could see she was a great dancer. Mandy was vaguely worried she was sounding like a bit of a bimbo. Why couldn't she ever decide what she wanted to do after she left school? All she knew was she didn't want to be a lawyer. She told Paul so, and he laughed. "Yeah, I can see that," he said. Mandy wasn't sure how to take that, but she let it pass, laughing with Paul. She liked the way he laughed. While they were talking, Paul occasionally brushed a stray strand of hair away from Mandy's face, or laid a hand lightly on her waist for just a second. Then his hands went back to his pockets or by his sides. Mandy made no objection to his touches. She rather liked them. She felt herself being drawn by an irresistible force closer and closer to Paul. That's the only way she could describe it. She was standing very close to Paul, almost leaning against him. Her hands were resting against his chest. Her breasts felt wonderful as they brushed against him, becoming firmer, and the nipples hard and sensitive. Anyone watching would think I was coming on to him, Mandy thought vaguely. His body felt hard and incredibly strong against hers. Her awareness of her own comparative weakness actually felt delicious. Ooh! What's that? She suddenly realised she could feel a different hardness as she leaned against Paul. The realisation caused a sudden warm sensation inside her. She knew she was getting wet between the legs. Her arousal was driving out all squeamishness and caution. Her body seemed to have a will of its own which controlled her thoughts and actions. She didn't know where this was going to lead but she felt powerless to resist whatever was going to happen. Mandy could feel an aching need between her legs, like her pubic bone needed to push against something--anything. She was too short (despite her high heels) for it to reach Paul's hardening groin, but she unconsciously moved her body slightly so that his erection was against her hip rather than her lower abdomen. She was able to put a bit more pressure against Paul, but more importantly she was able to feel the stimulation of his thigh against her mons. She pushed her pelvis forward to increase the pressure a bit more. She could tell Paul liked that. She slipped her hands behind his neck. She was breathing quickly. The music seemed to have become muffled, or to be coming from a long way away. A strange silence seemed to have descended. Mandy could even hear her heart pounding. Mandy's face tilted up toward Paul's. As his face came closer she rose to meet him and their lips touched, oh so lightly! The feeling took Mandy by surprise. She was sure she was melting! It was like nothing she had ever experienced. His lips felt hot and insistent--different to a woman's lips-- and his skin felt rough against her soft cheek. But his smell was intoxicating. It seemed to convey strength and desire. She felt like putty in his arms. Hungry putty! His mouth came close to hers again. He was nibbling at her open lips, licking them, teasing them. She was offering her mouth in an agony of anticipation, letting him take the lead. Suddenly his mouth was in possession of hers, his hard tongue exploring and probing. Soon their tongues were dancing together, tasting each other, alternately caressing and invading. Now she was kissing back with just as much eagerness as he had just shown, her tongue probing his mouth, devouring his taste, lost in the wondrous sensation of his welcoming mouth, which still seemed so much bigger and more forceful than her own. Her hands were behind his head, caressing the softness of his hair, while his hands were on her buttocks, kneading her skin through the silky softness of her dress. He drew his hands away after a while and the back of his hands brushed against her nipples, causing a sudden jolt of pleasure. She ground herself against his thigh. I can't believe I'm humping this guy's leg, Mandy thought vaguely. Her pussy felt hot and seemed to be pulsating. He could take me now if he wanted. I don't think I could resist, even if I wanted to. But the music was getting louder again, and Mandy was suddenly aware they were still standing in the hallway, in full view of anyone who passed. They drew apart, breathless, and looked at each other. Then Mandy laid her head on his chest. "Wow!" she said quietly. Paul cleared his throat, still breathless. "You can say that again," he gasped. "Wow!" Mandy repeated. They both laughed and squeezed each other tightly for a few seconds, then released. My first kiss! Mandy suddenly realised. As a girl at any rate. My first make out, too! I don't remember it ever being like that! She laid her head against his chest again. She could hear his heart pounding. Mandy let out a sigh. # AND yet Mandy had almost not made it to the party. That afternoon Emma had been waiting for her in her new car outside the school. Lots of students looked with interest as she got into the car with Emma and they drove off, the top down despite the rain that had been falling most of the day, although it had stopped for the moment. They had an appointment with Brian at his office in an hour. Today Emma would officially become Mandy's guardian and the trustee of her entire estate. It would be too difficult to park in the city, and quicker to catch a taxi anyway, so they drove back to Chesham Street and left the car at home. There was no time for Mandy to change out of her uniform, as there was quite a bit of business to be got through at the solicitor's. In the end they arrived ten minutes early. Sitting with Emma in the waiting room of her old legal practice dressed in her school uniform felt quite bizarre. Mandy could tell Emma was nervous as well. She had started to bite her nails once or twice, which somehow got Mandy doing it. She gnawed at the skin around her nails. Only the rock-hard coating of her fingernails prevented her from making a complete mess of her hands. What was she worried about? Wasn't it all falling into place beautifully? Yet Mandy knew Emma's appointment as guardian was a very decisive act that was going to cause her to lose a lot of independence. To be under the tutelage of her own daughter! It was a bit demeaning, perhaps, wasn't it? Yet there was also something exciting about handing responsibility over to someone else. It actually felt wonderfully liberating! But although she had every confidence in Emma, it was a lot to ask of her. She was also a bit worried about the party tonight that Gemma had asked her to. She was really looking forward to it, and had been thinking a lot about what she might wear. She had wanted to talk to Gemma about it today, but what with one thing and another hadn't had the chance. She desperately wanted to call Gemma, but felt Emma would be angry if she did so before all the guardianship papers were signed. Finally they were called into the book-lined meeting room. A large table had been set up in the middle of the room, with chairs around it. There were places for Emma and Mandy and Brian, and a secretary from the firm, Jodie Martin, who was there to take notes and get people tea or coffee and drinks. But there were also two more chairs. These were for a Mr Kalashi and a Mr Giannini, who were respectively Acting Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive of the Wedjat Holdings. Both had been very recently appointed, they explained. Mr Kalashi looked only in his early thirties, of Middle-Eastern or Asian appearance with thick short dark hair and beard. Mr Giannini looked even younger, perhaps still in his late twenties. He was Italian, quite handsome, Mandy noticed, with longish wavy black gelled hair and a very dapper light grey suit. He wore dark brown shoes. He could have been a model in a magazine, she decided. Thin and wiry, and very fit. (Of course, "Derek" would have disapproved of the shoes, Mandy observed to herself. "No brown in town." he used to tell Peter when they went out anywhere important in central London. Perhaps that didn't apply to Italians though, Mandy reflected.) Both men looked appraisingly at Mandy when they were introduced, and on the whole seemed very friendly. It was Emma, however, who seemed to be the focus of their attention. Mr Giannini had taken Mandy's hand and kissed it, smiling charmingly as he did so. She blushed as he touched his lips to her fingertips, looking at her with humorous eyes. Mandy had never had anyone do anything like this to her. If he had not been Italian, the thought came into her head, she would probably have fallen about in a fit of giggles. As it was, she felt embarrassed yet thrilled far beyond anything she could have imagined. He did the same to Emma, his lips lingering perhaps a moment longer on her hand. It appeared that Emma was now to be a director, and perhaps a member of various other boards, if she so wished, or would have the right to appoint a member in her place. She also had the right to appoint other members of the board from time to time, they explained. Mandy was rather overwhelmed by all this. She hadn't really understood the extent of the financial empire she seemed to have inherited. It made her head swim. She wondered how Emma was feeling about it. So far she seemed to be handling herself very well, Mandy thought proudly. Everyone was extremely kind and polite to Mandy, but she sensed they were being rather patronising. Even Brian seemed to behave toward her in a very different way when she was dressed as a schoolgirl. (Perhaps it had been a mistake not to change her hair from the pigtails she had taken a liking to wearing--they did possibly make her look a bit younger, she reflected, though she had used curling tongs that morning to give them a wavy effect she thought was quite sophisticated.) They were almost treating her as if she were stupid. Mandy listened to them droning on and on, and decided it was finance that was stupid. Stupid and boring! The only thing she really registered was the odd fact that neither Mr Kalashi nor Mr Giannini seemed to have actually met her supposed father, Donatello Vero. She began to look around the room as something to do. She looked out the window, which had a view of St Paul's Cathedral. She unconsciously began to swing the leather swivel chair she was sitting in from side to side. Once or twice Emma cast her a funny look. Mandy stopped swinging and tried to attend to what was being said. She began to play distractedly with her pigtails, alternately smoothing out the strands on each side. # MANDY and Paul were kissing again, her arms round his neck and their lips greedily working. It was the most incredible kiss she had ever experienced. She was lost in the sensual pleasure of tasting and exploring Paul's mouth, and allowing him to taste hers. She was becoming very aroused, and wondered vaguely whether her dress had a wet patch where she had been pushing herself against Paul's thigh. Mandy heard a cough just behind her. After a moment or two there was another cough, and she and Paul stopped their kissing. "I hate to interrupt," said a rather sneering voice, "but it's your turn on the gate, Paul." "I'm a bit busy at the moment, Tom," Paul said irritably. "Well you've already had half an hour longer than you said," the person behind Mandy insisted. "I've been on the gate for an hour and a half." "Gate?" Mandy inquired. "Keeping gatecrashers out," said the person Mandy assumed was Tom. "I'm Tammy's cousin, and she asked me to organise a couple of mates to act as security. They can enjoy the party so long as there's always someone on the gate. It's Paul's turn now. Come on, Paul. You've had a long enough break." Paul reluctantly withdrew from Mandy's embrace. "I'd better go," he said. "I'll come and find you in about half an hour." Paul gave Mandy a kiss on the lips and, with a cold stare at Tom, headed down the hall. Tom leered at Mandy. "Want to give a real man a try?" he said. He was quite tall, rather lanky, and with scraggy brown hair. He had a lopsided smile. What a wanker! Mandy thought to herself. But she also felt rather sorry for him, even though she was also annoyed by his arrogance. "You think you're more of a man than Paul, then?" she asked Tom, thinking he should be put in his place. "I never had a bird complain," Tom said. "Is that right?" Mandy said. "I'm probably the first one you ever talked to." "Very funny," Tom continued to leer, "I like a girl with a sense of humour." He gave her a wink. He's a proper arsehole, Mandy thought, rather amused despite herself at Tomes persistence. "You think you're pretty hot stuff then?" Mandy challenged. "Why don't you prove it?" "Prove it?" Tom asked, uncertain what Mandy was driving at. Mandy pulled Tomes head down toward her and planted her lips on his. Tom looked back at her in surprise. "Not really that impressive, was it?" Mandy said. "Still, we'd better just confirm it." She kissed him again, plunging her tongue into his mouth. "Paul's was still better," she said, releasing her lips from Tomes breathless mouth. "But we'd better make doubly sure, just in case." She kissed him again, a long probing kiss. Tom was kissing her back and she was letting him. Finally, Mandy pulled away. "Mmm," she moaned softly, and blinked a few times. After a moment she collected herself. "Sorry Tom. Paul's definitely a much better kisser than what you are," she said with mocking pity, though rather breathless. "And I think you need to do something about your halitosis," she added. In fact Tom hadn't tasted that bad. "What about the rest of you, eh?" She put her hand on his crotch and grabbed Tomes penis and testicles through his trousers, realising he was already quite hard. She could tell his penis was actually quite large. "Oh, how sad!" she said, "I guess you mustn't really like girls then, Tom. Paul is much bigger. Are you sure you never had any complaints?" "None that I can remember," Tom said in a hoarse voice, "but I could be wrong. Could you compare me to Paul some more please?" Tom had gone deathly white. Mandy let go of Tomes crotch. She began to laugh. Tom smiled back at her broadly, the colour returning to his face. "I think we're done, don't you?" Mandy tried to sound stern, but she was smiling in spite of herself. "No, not really. Don't you think I should be punished?" Tom pretended to plead. "I have to find my friends" Mandy excused herself. "Being you is probably enough punishment," she added, still smiling. "I s'pose a quick shag is out of the question?" Tom ventured. "In your dreams," Mandy answered. He really was sort of cute, she decided. "Yes! Oh, thank you!" Tom yelled. "I'm going to shag you witless in my dreams. I bet you're going to love it." "That's the only place I'll be shagging you," said Mandy. "I love it when you talk dirty," Tom winked at Mandy. "You can dream about that too, if you like," said Mandy, deciding that she really did need to find the others. "Have that for free," she added. Mandy turned where she was standing and walked off to find Gemma and the others. She cast a look back at Tom, sure that he would still be looking at her, and sure enough he was. She tried to look haughty and disdainful, but she couldn't help smiling as she did so. Hmm. It probably just looked like she was flirting, she thought. "I'd be willing to pay," Tom called to her as she kept walking. Cheeky bugger, thought Mandy. # AFTER signing all the papers confirming Emma as Mandy's legal guardian and the trustee of her estate, Mandy was told she could leave the meeting if she wanted. In a way she wanted to stay. After all, it was her inheritance they were discussing. But she had been feeling so bored in the meeting she didn't think she could stand another minute of it. She had actually been about to excuse herself to go to the lavatory in order to gain some relief anyway, and not necessarily bladder relief! Mandy went to Brian's office to wait till the rest of the meeting was over. For over an hour she listened to music on her iPod and flipped through some magazines that Penny brought in to her. She checked her phone a few times and was sorry to see there were no messages for her. She was thinking of going out and doing some shopping or going for a walk for a while when Penny came in and told her that the meeting seemed to be coming to an end. Mandy dutifully went back to the conference room to say goodbye to Mr Kalashi and Mr Giannini. There followed some more time with Brian and Emma, as Brian explained things again and informed Mandy of some decisions that had been made. In order to avoid any conflict of interest, he would continue to be Mandy's own legal advisor, and Wedjat Holdings, and matters to do with the estate in general, were to be handled by Thornton and Thornton, who seemed to have become their solicitors in England Mandy was very relieved to be staying with Brian as her solicitor. But she knew that the other firm would do better out of the arrangement financially. She thanked Brian effusively for agreeing to keep representing her. Emma was rather subdued as they went over things. At last they took their leave of Brian and left the office building. Emma said she needed a drink, so they ducked into a wine bar--the same one Mandy had often used to have lunch in with Brian when she had been Derek. "Wait till we get home, I have to think," Emma replied to Mandy's enquiries about how things went after she had left the meeting. She seemed very agitated. Mandy let Emma finish her drink. She was bemused that Emma would only let her have a coke while she drank a glass of whisky. Eventually they caught a taxi home to Chesham Street. "So did everything go okay?" Mandy asked cheerfully when they were inside the apartment. They'd headed down towards the kitchen and Emma poured herself another drink. Emma said nothing for a while. Mandy noticed she still seemed very tense. Her hands trembled slightly as she took a few sips of her drink. "Is everything all right?" Mandy asked, starting to worry. "Do you have any idea how much money you have?" Emma said. Mandy shook her head, looking at Emma rather blankly. "You're not going to believe this," Emma went on, "but you're one of the richest women in Britain. You own about eighty million pounds in property, and about a two hundred million in various deposits. Maybe more. Then there are investments, shares and such, and business interests, much more again. I'm not sure, perhaps another three or four hundred million pounds." "So what exactly is it that Wedjat Holdings does?" Mandy said, somewhat confused. "Just hold on. What I've been talking about is Personal property," Emma said, emphasising the words. "The income is huge. You know how you told me Brian (she was now calling him Brian, Mandy noted) said that the income was close to a million pounds? It's probably at least ten times that! Although they said quite a lot of it will still go in upkeep of properties and salaries for various staff. You could get even more if they set up various trusts and companies. Apparently, our accountants ..." (our accountants? wondered Mandy) "... think you could do much better with some financial restructuring." Emma gave a hollow laugh. "But that's good, isn't it?" Mandy said doubtfully. She was wondering why Emma seemed scared rather than excited. "I mean, it's fantastic. Isn't it?" Emma was shaking her head. "One of the richest women in Britain," she repeated. "And all that's just personal property. The main company, Wedjat, seems to actually be worth billions!--no one seems to know exactly, and there's something peculiar about it by the way--and you have a controlling interest in it. Or the estate does. Or majority share or something. I'm not quite sure who's actually in control. And it owns the Internet company--or it might be the other way around--anyway, that's not important right now." "Plus, we've just been talking in the meeting about all the dangers. As a female, and even more so as a teenager--no, just listen for a moment--you could be a target for kidnappers." "What!" Mandy spluttered. "Everyone with your sort of money has to get used to security and bodyguards. And paparazzi," Emma continued, looking dazed. "You have to realise you're in constant danger." "Emma, that can't be right," Mandy said, "No one's ever heard of me. I didn't exist until a couple of weeks ago. At least, Mandy Vero didn't exist At least I don't think she did." "Hmm. But they soon will know about you. There are company registers and all kinds of things like that. Journalists try to track down rich people to write stories about them. Being so fucking rich makes you fucking news!" Emma was almost shouting. She seemed positively unnerved by her own revelations. "They don't think this apartment is appropriate," Emma continued. "They want you to get a bigger one, not on street level and with more security." "More security!" laughed Mandy, "I've never seen a place more secure! Besides, I love this apartment. The technology's fascinating and it's fun living here. It's perfect--like it was made for me!" "Or a house, with an enclosed compound," Emma carried on, ignoring Mandy's remark. "And another thing," Emma continued, appearing to calm down slightly, "there's no way you can go to that party you were invited to tonight." "What!!" Mandy spat. "WHAT!!" she repeated, almost shouting, drawing the word out and beginning to feel overwhelmed by a tide of emotions. "Look, it's just too dangerous," Emma said in a measured voice. She could see Mandy was taking it much worse than she expected. "I know you must be disappointed, but it's not as if you've known these people for very long, and in fact that's the point: we don't know anything about them. There'll be other parties. When we know you'll be safe." "They're just friends from school!" Mandy shouted. "What harm is there in that?" "Haven't you heard a word I've said?" Emma insisted, "You're a target for kidnappers." Mandy felt utterly confused. She tried to pull herself together, and was still gathering her thoughts when Emma spoke: "So there it is. I'm sorry if it upsets you, but I don't see any other way." "You're not my bloody mother!" Mandy shouted, forgetting what she was about to say. "You can't tell me what to do!" "That's where you're wrong," Emma spat back, fuming. Mandy seemed to be utterly ungrateful for the panic and anxiety she was going through on her behalf. "I'm now your legal guardian. That's what you wanted and that's how it is. We just signed the papers if you haven't already forgotten. I have full powers of sanction and full control of all money, don't forget." Mandy's eyes widened as Emma said this. "And if you paid more interest to your own affairs," Emma continued in a more measured voice, "you would have heard everything I did in that meeting, instead of slipping off at the first opportunity, leaving me to make all the decisions." Emma seemed to get very determined again. "As of now you're my responsibility and I will not have you putting us both in danger! You are not going, and that's final." "I can't believe this!" Mandy ranted. "You've become a monster! You've gone off your rocker, that's what you have! It's just a party, a little party!" "I'm sorry," Emma said primly. Mandy glared at Emma. Then she began to feel tears pricking her eyes. She hadn't realised until now just how much she had been looking forward to this party. It felt like the whole world would end if she didn't go. "This is so unfair!" she blurted. Her eyes had filled with tears and she could hardly speak. Emma tried to reply but Mandy interrupted. "I'm sorry I ever trusted you. I'm sorry I ever asked you to be my guardian. You may think you're my guardian but if you stop me going tonight I'll never speak to you again." Emma was shocked. "It's for your own good," she told Mandy. "I hate you!" Mandy screamed, and ran down the stairs to her bedroom, slamming the door and locking it. "Shit!" Emma said softly to herself. What should she do now? She slumped into a chair and tried to think. "I shouldn't have been so hard on her," Emma told herself. "There probably wasn't that much harm going to the party, really. If I'm honest, Mandy had a point. No one knows anything about her at this stage. I guess I'm just so shocked about how rich she is and spooked about what I've let myself in for that I took it out on her." Mandy had thrown herself face down on her bed after locking the bedroom door. She was crying, but they were tears of rage. This is so unfair! she repeated over and over like a mantra. After a while, however, she began to calm down. Had she really said she hated Emma? She had almost meant it, she had been so angry, but now that she was feeling a little less distraught she regretted saying those words. She began to feel awful about it. Emma's only trying to look after me, she admitted, though she's still dead wrong. And I suppose there'll be other parties. But I was really looking forward to this one, Mandy remembered and was once again close to tears. Mandy sat back on the bed to think. She had stopped crying but she didn't feel like moving or doing anything. She heard a knock on her door, and Emma's voice calling out. "Mandy? Can we talk?" "Leave me alone," Mandy said sternly towards the bedroom door. She wasn't quite ready to talk to Emma yet. "Please, Mandy. Just let me in for a moment." Emma didn't sound angry. Mandy got up and let her in, then walked back to the bed and plumped herself down sullenly. Emma hesitated, then sat down beside her. She sensed Mandy tensing up. "I'm really sorry I lost my temper," Emma began. "I acted really stupidly. I can't believe how I spoke to you, like you were a child. You don't really hate me, do you? Please tell me you don't." "Oh, Em, of course I don't," Mandy answered, though she still sat stiffly, leaning forward slightly with her arms crossed. "I'm really sorry I said that. I didn't mean it. It's just that it's so unfair." "Yes, well I've been thinking I probably overreacted a bit. I mean, it's still true that we're going to have to be really careful about security and protection and everything, but I think maybe you had a point about it not having got to that stage quite yet." "Are you saying you might have been wrong?" Mandy began to relax and turned to look at Emma for the first time. "Partly wrong," corrected Emma. "I'm just saying you need to listen to what I was telling you and take it seriously. But maybe I got carried away a bit. You don't seem to understand, this is turning out to be a much bigger deal than either of us realised. It scares me and I need someone I can talk to about it." "But I do want you to talk to me about it," said Mandy, "You just didn't give me the chance." Emma considered this for a while. "You're right," she said. "It's really weird. You know, I now actually believe you're Dad, or used to be anyway, but I can't stop thinking of you as a kid. I can't help myself. And you seem to go along with it, don't you? A bit anyway," Emma adjusted when she saw Mandy was about to interrupt. Now it was Mandy's turn to think for a while. "It's this body, I suppose. And perhaps my brain. It just feels normal for me," she said. "I've never felt more normal, actually. Though the last half hour has been a bit shitty." "Yes," agreed Emma, "deeply shitty. So where does this leave us?" she posed. Mandy shrugged her shoulders. "You really want to go to this party, don't you?" said Emma. Mandy looked at Emma hopefully. "Yeah, I really do," she said. "Then I suppose there's no harm." Mandy threw her arms around Emma's neck. "Oh, thank you! Thank you so much, Em!" "But I don't think you should stay very late. You still need to be careful. I just don't want anything awful to happen," Emma said when Mandy seemed about to argue the point yet again. "How late?" Mandy asked, apparently accepting Emma's condition. "How about eleven o'clock?" Emma said. "That's not very late," Mandy said, disappointed. "All right, then. Twelve," Emma said finally, "but no more arguments, okay?" "Thanks, Em," Mandy smiled with relief. Emma was looking around Mandy's bedroom. "It's getting pretty messy in here," she said, almost to herself. "It's even messier than the other day." And indeed, there were several piles of clothes on the floor and over the furniture, and even on the enormous bed, pushed over to the side Mandy hadn't been sleeping on. Shoes and panty hose and tights and underwear were left where they had been taken off. "You used to be obsessed with neatness," Emma said incredulously. "It's a bit of a disgrace, don't you think?" she said, looking at Mandy with a quizzical expression. Mandy shrugged her shoulders again. Since going back to school there seemed to have been no time to do any washing or tidy up. "I can't seem to find places to put everything," she offered eventually. "And there hasn't been a chance to tidy up. I know where everything is, though." "Well I'm not going to pick up after you, that's for sure," Emma declared. "You're going to make me tidy my room, aren't you?" Mandy said nervously. "I think you should," Emma agreed. "But perhaps what we should do is get a housekeeper or something. You can certainly afford one." "Oh, Em, that's a great idea. Do you mean it?" "Yes, of course. I'll see about it next week. In the meantime you'd better get your things tidied up, or we won't have a chance of getting anyone when they see how messy you are." Mandy's now radiant face dropped as she surveyed the extent of the squalor she had managed to create in her fashionably furnished master bedroom. It really had got out of hand she realised. Being neat just didn't seem to come naturally the way it used to. In fact she rather liked a certain level of untidiness. Not quite this much though, she conceded. Emma interrupted Mandy's reverie. "On second thoughts, you'd better start getting ready for this party, hadn't you?" Emma brushed a little residual tear from Mandy's cheek. "We'll have to do something about your eyes, they're a bit puffy. Tidying up will just have to wait." "Oh no! I look horrible!" Mandy groaned, looking over to the mirror on the dressing table. "No you don't," Emma stoked her hair. "We'll have you fixed up in no time." Mandy gave Emma a hug, and they began to prepare Mandy for the party. # "WHAT did you mean earlier about the companies being peculiar?" Mandy asked Emma. She had been driving Mandy across town to Ealing where the party was, and they were almost at the address Gemma had given Mandy. "Yes, there are some things that seem a bit strange to me, and I'm not the only one that thinks so. I'll talk to you about it later." She gave Mandy a warm hug, and told her to have a good time. "But not too good, mind!" Mandy gave a nervous laugh as she got out of the car. # "OH, Mandy, I'm so glad you're here," Gemma gushed as she gave Mandy a huge hug. She seemed very excited. "This is such an amazing party! And that's such an amazing dress. You're the sexiest person on earth." Gemma gave Mandy a tweak on the chin. Her eyes looked a bit wild. Mandy thought Gemma was eating something, but it seemed she was just clenching her jaw for some reason. "I love everyone and everything!" Gemma declared loudly. She could hardly be heard above the music. Mandy smiled at Gemma's exuberance. The music had been turned down a bit as no one was dancing at the moment, so they were able to talk without difficulty. "Have fun snogging?" came Vanessa's voice behind Mandy. "Yeah!" Mandy smiled, blushing slightly. "You been snogging!" Gemma laughed. "Who'd ya snog, then?" "Oh, a couple of guys I just met," Mandy answered, thinking that sounded a bit bad. "There was Paul, and this guy Tom (I think), but he doesn't really count. I really like Paul, though." "Snogging two different guys!" said Gemma, falling about hysterically. "Very impressive. How was it?" "Great!" said Mandy, "well, Paul was great. I just snogged Tom for a laugh. He wasn't too bad either, though," Mandy admitted. "I love snogging," Gemma declared, and grabbed Mandy's face in her hands, kissing her firmly and passionately. Mandy was so surprised she offered no resistance. Gemma moved her hands to Mandy's waist and Mandy found her arms moving behind Gemma's neck. Mandy felt the familiar sensation of soft female lips on hers, and a soft feminine tongue exploring her mouth. But the feeling of surrendering to this taller and physically stronger girl was new and delicious. She felt her arousal stirring almost as much as when she had kissed Paul. Gemma giggled for a long time when they eventually separated. Mandy noticed people nudging each other and pointing at her and Gemma. Some of the guys were grinning and gawking lasciviously. "I never kissed a girl before," Gemma gushed. "I might turn lezzie for you, Mandy," she laughed hysterically again. "You have got the swee'est face, did you know that?" She gave Mandy another quick kiss on the lips. Mandy looked at Vanessa, wondering what she was making of Gemma's behaviour, but Vanessa seemed unconcerned, her eyes closed, moving her body to the beat of the music playing in the background. Then suddenly the music was back up loud again, playing But I Feel Good by Groove Armada. Gemma dragged Mandy and Vanessa into the middle of the room and started dancing, swaying to the mesmerising song with complete abandon. Mandy let loose as well, but wondered why Gemma was so uninhibited tonight. And wondering whether their kiss might have put their friendship at risk. Mandy had begun to feel very thirsty after all the dancing, so she slipped away to get some water. She had drunk three glasses and was now sipping a vodka and orange when she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Having a good time?" Emma said, kissing her on the cheek. "I'm having the best time!" Mandy answered, thrilled to see Emma. "I met this--" she broke off when she saw Paul standing beside Emma. "Who would have thought Paul would be here!" Emma said brightly. "I suppose you met him at the gate. He's sort of the bouncer or something, apparently. Paul, you didn't say whether you'd met my housemate Mandy." "Yes, Paul and I met earlier," Mandy said hastily, smiling at him coyly and raising an eyebrow. She noticed his discomfiture with some enjoyment. "You two seem to know each other quite well." "We sometimes have a coffee or lunch together at college," Emma said. "History (which, as you know, is half my course) and Computer Studies are both at the Mile End Campus of Queen Mary College, and the entrance to Computer Studies is right next to the Student Union Bar! So you might say our meeting was inevitable." Emma cast a smile at Paul. "You should have seen his face when I arrived!" Emma continued. "He didn't even see me till I was right inside the gate. He was too busy looking at the car! Some security you are!" Emma giggled. "When I said I was here to collect you he said he'd get you, but I told him I'd come in myself and give you a surprise. I didn't want it to look like you'd been thrown out by the bouncer, did I?" Emma laughed some more. "If they saw me leaving with Paul they probably would have jumped to all sorts of conclusions," Mandy agreed, with another smile at Paul. "So I guess it's after midnight," Mandy said, turning to Emma. "Have I turned into a pumpkin?" She pretended to examine herself. "It's nearly two actually," said Emma. "I thought I'd give you a bit longer. Looks like a great party, by the way. But we probably should get going. Anyone you need to say goodbye to?" Mandy said goodbye to Paul, shaking his hand in a very formal manner, and looking him straight in the eye with another arched eyebrow. She was pleased to see he looked flustered. She decided she really did think he was definitely very cute. What a pity Emma seemed to like him too. She found Tammy Lawson and thanked her for inviting her. She seems a bit wasted, Mandy thought. Then she found Gemma and Vanessa, who were dancing with two guys Mandy hadn't seen before. She introduced Emma to her school friends as she said her goodbyes. "See ya, Luscious Lips," Gemma shouted over the music. "Have a good Easter break." She hugged Mandy, then resumed her dancing. Vanessa did the same. Mandy found her coat and she and Emma headed out to the car. "Crikey, your friend looked completely E'd out," Emma said as they made their way to the car. The rain had stopped earlier, but was now starting again. "What do you mean?" Mandy asked. "The clenching jaw and crazy dancing's a dead giveaway," Emma answered. "I was dancing most of the night," Mandy said. "What's wrong with that?" "You haven't taken anything, have you?" Emma asked, concerned. Emma had had her share of recreational drugs in her time, but now that she was a responsible guardian all that would have to change. "You mean Ecstasy? You're kidding, aren't you?" "Not at all. Half the kids there look like they're off their heads. So did you take any?" "Me? I didn't even know it was at the party. Though I guess that's a bit na?ve, isn't it? Or is it? Shit, Em, Gemma goes to a Catholic school run by monks!" said Mandy, rather stunned at Gemma's apparent drug-taking. She supposed it explained a lot, though. "No, I just had plain old grog," she finally answered Emma's question. "Hmm. That's still underage drinking, strictly speaking." Emma commented lightly. She quickly continued seeing Mandy was about to react, "Actually, I expected to find you a lot more tiddly, I must say." They were driving through the rainy night now, the traffic moving rather slowly. "I was pretty pissed earlier, but I got sobered up all of a sudden," Mandy said, wondering if she should tell Emma about Gemma kissing her. "Oh?" Emma asked, concentrating hard on her driving on such a wet night. "Well, I did make out with three separate people," Mandy laughed. "Three guys in one night! I'm impressed!" said Emma. She was quite different to the strict authoritarian figure she had been acting like that afternoon, Mandy observed to herself. "I didn't say guys. I said people" Mandy corrected suggestively. "What? You made out with girls?" Emma nearly choked. "I thought you were beginning to prefer guys," she added. "One girl, and two guys," Mandy said, "and the girl came on to me." "I'm gob-smacked!" Emma laughed nervously. "So who was it?" "Gemma, actually," Mandy answered after a pause. "Right in front of everyone. Half the guys started to cream their pants watching us." "Sounds like you hardly pushed her away. Anyway, the state she was in, she'd probably have snogged anybody." "Thanks," said Mandy. "I mean, anybody halfway good-looking," said Emma. "Thanks again. I think," said Mandy. Emma was silent for a while. "So, how was it?" she asked, finally. "It was a really great party. I had such a great time," Mandy said, beginning to sound sleepy. "No, I mean kissing a girl," said Emma. "You know, as a girl." "Actually, snogging Gemma was pretty amazing." Mandy smiled to herself at the recollection. "Almost as good as--as one of the guys I snogged." Mandy brought herself up before she mentioned Paul's name. "Totally different to when I was a man," she continued. She could feel Gemma's soft lips again on her own soft and yielding ones. She let out a sigh. "So you like snogging guys better now?" Emma laughed. "Some guys," Mandy said, smiling to herself again as she thought of Paul. The feeling of his strength compared to her own weakness and the smell and taste of his confident kisses came powerfully back to her. Then she was almost giggling at the way she had teased Tom. Oh yes, she liked snogging guys now all right, she thought to herself. Who could have imagined she'd ever feel like that? she mused. "It was funny kissing Gemma though, now you mention it," Mandy went on thoughtfully. "It was really different. You know, to before. Like, I wasn't trying to prove anything, or anything like that. It got me all wet if you must know. You know, in the twat. Come to think of it, that happened with the guys as well. Quite a bit, actually. I had to go to the bathroom and wipe myself." Emma shifted in her seat uncomfortably, still making sure to keep her mind on driving. "Too much information!" she quipped with a little laugh. Emma began to frown as she peered forward looking through the windscreen, the wipers working furiously. She ran a hand through her hair as though the effort of concentrating was getting too much. "So, how well do you know Paul?" Mandy ventured. Emma began to smile again. "Well, we see each other for coffee or a bite of lunch at college quite regularly, and we've been out once or twice. It's not, like, a romance or anything. We can still see other people if we like." "And you're happy about that?" Emma frowned a little. "Why do you ask?" she said. "No reason," Mandy said, trying to sound casual. Something warned her not to pursue this subject too far. She had a strong feeling that Emma cared about Paul more than she was letting on. Why wouldn't she? He was really hot (as Mandy herself could testify!). "So have you been seeing anyone else apart from Paul?" Mandy ventured. Emma frowned again. "I'm not some slag you know," she said primly. "I never said you were," Mandy said, taken aback. "You're the one who said you could still see other people." "So I did," Emma said, shifting uncomfortably. "Actually, I do like Paul quite a bit, but we're both so busy we don't get to see much of each other. Lately I somehow got this idea that he was avoiding me a little. Insecurity I suppose ..." Mandy was trying to concentrate on what Emma was saying, and she really was very interested, but she was also finding Emma's voice extremely comforting. And her eyes were beginning to feel really heavy. She was thinking about something Emma had just said, and was about to comment. Then she forgot what it was Emma had been saying. Her eyes were just not staying open. "Hey! Are you falling asleep?" Emma asked. Mandy made no reply.