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A Rose By Any Other Name - Chapter Twelve By Jeremy Spencer
   I awoke sometime later to a gentle, warm sensation surrounding my cock.
I realized I could feel a weight pressing against my thigh and squinted my
eyes open a crack.  Heather was leaning over my legs, her back to me and
although I could not see, the feeling of wetness and suction on the head of
my prick left me no doubt about what was going on.
   I tried to maintain the illusion that I was sleeping, but something must
have alerted Heather to the fact I was awake and she turned, breaking her
oral contact with my erection, although she maintained a steady grip with
her hand.
   "Morning," she whispered shyly.  "How do you feel?"
   "Great," I replied happily, reaching down to stroke her long hair.  I
never tired of running my fingers through her locks and this morning was no
different.  "Been at it long?" I asked and flexed my muscles, causing my
cock to lurch in her hand.  She blushed, squeezing tighter in response to
my movement and sped her motions.
   "Not too long," she said.  "I woke up a few minutes ago with this," she
teased, squeezing almost hard enough to cause me to cry out, "poking me in
the butt."
   "What can I say," I said sleepily.  "It knows what it wants."
   "Well, it's not getting in there," she said pointedly, twitching her
behind for emphasis.  "But there are plenty of other places it can go," she
giggled.
   "And it seems you found one," I pointed out.
   "Hey, it was right there," Heather said with mock innocence.  "I had to
investigate."
   "And thank you so much for being so thorough!" I laughed.  "Now... 
don't mind me," I said.  "You may continue as you were."
   "Thank you kind Sir," Heather said as she turned.  I scooted up in bed
so my back was against the headboard.  My movement caused Heather to turn
back to me, a question in her eyes.
   "I want to watch," I said, my voice deepening with my desire.
   "You want to see me taste your cock?" Heather said, her lips bright pink
in the morning light.  I nodded frantically to Heather's amusement, but she
obliged me by turning her body around so I had a clear view of all the
proceedings.
   She was as naked as I was, the evidence of the previous night's
activities still evident around her thighs and I realized I was certainly
going to enjoy washing her body in the shower later this morning.  My
thoughts were interrupted as once again her mouth descended on my prick,
engulfing first the head and then as much of my shaft as she was able.
   I groaned as I watched her sink down on my cock, taking in inch after
inch until finally there was but a small portion of my shaft outside her
mouth.  My groans turned to a gasp of surprise as I felt the head of my
cock bump against the back of her throat.  Heather made a small choking
sound and I prepared to back away as best as I was able.  Before I could
move, Heather made a tiny motion with her head for me to remain motionless.
and before I could respond I felt the head of my cock being literally
swallowed down her throat.
   "Holy shit," I swore as Heather's throat muscles worked over my prick.
"Where did you learn...?"
   Heather, her mouth full of my prick attempted to answer, making instead
an unintelligible, mumbling sound around my cock which caused me to burst
into laughter.  There was a snort of indignation as my laughing forced more
of my prick into her throat than she was prepared for, but soon her
surprise turned to laughter and once again I was groaning as the ripples
tore up and down my cock.  It felt like a vibration from a washing machine
had focused on my cock and I nearly screamed at the sensation.
   Heather's mouth wasn't the only part of her pleasuring me.  As she
sucked down her throat, Heather was also toying with my balls, gently
rolling them between her fingers.  She was always careful not to squeeze
down on them too hard, but put just enough pressure to have me feeling the
effects of her blowjob far sooner than I would have normally.  Occasionally
I felt one of her fingers stray even lower, scratching lightly with a
fingernail against the tight pucker of my anus.  She attempted to breach
the opening once, but I flinched and she pulled away, giggling at my
paranoid response.
   "Hey, you didn't want me going anywhere near your butt," I accused,
causing Heather to giggle even harder.  Her laughter caused her breasts to
shake and I found myself transfixed by them.
   As if for the first time, I really watched Heather's breasts, twin
apples hanging from her chest and I reached out to cup one firm orb. 
Heather again moaned at my touch, setting off another tingling sensation,
one that this time traveled into my balls, and I felt myself, far too soon
in my opinion, readying to empty my load directly down Heather's throat.
   "Careful," I said by way of warning.  "I'm not going to last too much
longer." I teased one of Heather's nipples, the rubbery tip stiffening as I
toyed with it.  I continued manipulating her tender flesh, alternating from
breast to breast as Heather continued her oral assault on my member.
   Just as I felt the first stirrings of my orgasm, Heather pulled away, a
trail of saliva connecting her upper lip to the head of my prick.  Pausing
only to give me a quick kiss on the lips, Heather threw a leg over my hips,
rubbing the distended lips of her pussy up and down my shaft to ready
herself.  Rising up on her knees, Heather grabbed me by the shaft,
positioning me at the entrance to her quim and prepared to settle down onto
my cock.
   Surprising her, I grabbed Heather by the hips and thrust upward, fully
seating myself in her pussy.  Heather let out a squeal as I invaded her
warmth, causing me to worry momentarily about Natalie waking up.
   I threw back my head, closing my eyes and just experiencing the
sensations as Heather pumped up and down in my lap.  Her hands were resting
on my chest as her hips slammed against mine.  I felt a blast of hot air
against my face and opened my eyes in time to see Heather's mouth closing
in on mine.  I opened my lips, accepting her tongue as we teased and tasted
each other.
   When we finally broke the kiss Heather leaned back, her hands now
supporting her on the bed as she raised and lowered herself languidly on my
prick.  I noticed, to my surprise, a small form against the far wall of my
bedroom and in a flash realized the two of us were not alone.  Leaning up I
grabbed one of Heather's arms, pulling her down for another kiss.  As she
leaned close I tilted my head, whispering in her ear.
   "Keep moving," I said.  "Natalie's watching us from the hallway."
   "Oh my God," Heather whispered back.  "What's she doing?"
   I looked over Heather's shoulder under the guise of reaching around to
cup her buttocks, and what I saw nearly floored me.  My little sister, all
grown up now, was splayed out in the hallway, her legs spread wide as she
leaned back against the door.  Like the two of us, Natalie was completely
naked and as I watched, her hands alternated between teasing her breasts
and thrusting wildly into her bare pussy.
   "She's fucking herself," I blurted quietly, running my tongue alone the
edge of Heather's neck.  She shuddered as I teased the sensitive skin,
taking time to kiss along the bottom of her jaw and into the hollow of her
throat.  "She's watching you ride my cock and she's touching herself," I
said.  I felt Heather's pussy spasm around my cock as I spoke, whether from
my words our our love-making I couldn't tell.
   "That's so hot," Heather moaned quietly, her mouth close to my ear.  We
were completely wrapped together, as close as two people could be as we
discussed my sister.  "It's kind of kinky though," Heather moaned as my
cock twitched inside her.  "Do you think she gets off watching you like
this?" she asked.
   "Maybe," I grinned, thrusting five or six times in quick succession.  I
felt Heather's pussy give another squeeze to my shaft, followed quickly by
a flood of her juices as her body shook with a small orgasm.  I watched as
Natalie began twisting her nipples.  It was hard to see in the dimly lit
hallway, but she appeared to be totally engrossed in our activities, her
mouth open as her fingers plunged into her wet hole.  I know it was my
imagination, but I almost believed I could hear the sucking sound her
fingers made as she played with herself.
   "Maybe?" Heather groaned, her hands reaching down between our bodies to
finger her clit.  She stiffened as another tremor passed through her
abdomen.
   "You know she likes girls," I said, reaching up to tweak Heather's
already stiff nipples.  "Who says she's getting off looking at me?"
   This must have been the right trigger, for before I could move Heather
began shaking and crying out above me.  Her pussy clamped down tight on my
shaft and I felt myself spurt out my own orgasm almost immediately.  We lay
there as our energy ebbed and our combined liquids spilled out, coating her
pussy and my thighs.
   By the time I looked up again, Natalie had already left, and without
another word Heather and I fell asleep once again.
   *****
   I awoke for the second time that morning with sunshine streaming in
through the window, surprised to find myself alone.  Stretching the kinks
out of my muscles I stood, yawning fiercely.  Even with the amount of sleep
I had received I was still tired.
   I threw on a pair of boxers, deciding to forgo any shirt or other
clothing.  I rationalized that both of the women in the apartment had
already seen me in far less and that the three of us really had nothing to
be embarrassed about.  Trying to comb my hair with my fingers, I went off
in search of Heather, a task that proved to be not too difficult,
considering the size of the apartment.
   "Morning, Sunshine," I grinned when I found her in the living room. 
Heather was sitting on the couch, a mostly empty bowl of cereal in her lap
as she read the morning paper.
   "Hey, lover" she smiled up at me, a dribble of milk escaping from the
corner of her mouth.  I wiped the drop of milk up, bringing it to my lips
and tasting the remains of some kids' cereal.
   "Yum," I said.  "Sugary goodness...  breakfast of champions, eh?"
   "Yeah.  It was all I could find," she answered.
   "Where's my sister, by the way?" I asked, glancing around the room.
   "Not sure," Heather shrugged, but I realized the answer when I happened
to glance at the clock.
   "Never mind," I said.  "She has a couple of really early classes twice a
week, and think today's the day.  I should probably be getting ready too,"
I said.  "Do you work today?"
   "No," Heather answered, shaking her head.  "Katie took my shift a couple
weeks ago.  Says she has plans tomorrow, so we switched." Heather got a
seductive look in her eye as she looked me up and down.  "Are you sure you
have to work today?" she asked, licking her lips suggestively.
   "Yes," I groaned.  "Believe me, if I could get away with spending the
rest of the week...  heck, the rest of the semester, alone with you...  I'd
do it in a heartbeat."
   Heather pouted for a moment, her frown turning to a grin as she smiled
up at me.
   "Fine," she said.  "Just wait until your sister gets home.  I'll just
have to see if I can seduce both brother and sister today."
   "She'd like that, I think," I shrugged, a cold chill going through me.
Was she serious?  After everything we'd talked about, she was making jokes
about this?
   Heather must have sensed my frustration, for she quickly stood and
walked over to me.
   "Oh, Daniel," she said, brushing her fingers through my hair.  "I'm
sorry.  I didn't mean it."
   "No, that's okay," I shrugged.  "I'm still a little touchy... 
especially about that.  And...  I've been confused about a lot of things
lately."
   "You mean like wanting to jump your sister's bones?" Heather giggled. 
My eyes must have bugged out of their sockets at that and I stood there
speechless.
   "What?"
   "Girls talk, dummy," she laughed.  "What do you think Natalie and I were
talking about the other week?"
   "I'm not sure that I want to know," I admitted.  "But...  what?"
   "You."
   "And what exactly about me?" I wanted to know.
   "Just how big a pervert you really are," Heather answered.  "She talks
about you all the time, you know.  Talks about how you walked in on her,
and how you admitted thinking about her.  I think she kind of likes it,"
Heather continued.  "Maybe you should give it a chance."
   "She's my sister," I blurted out.  "I wouldn't ever..."
   "What about last night?" Heather asked pointedly.  "I could tell how
excited you got when you realized she was watching us.  All of a sudden you
got so hard inside me.  Even before you told me I could tell something was
happening."
   "Oh, God.  I'm so sorry," I said.  Everything Heather was saying was
true, of course.  I had been fantasizing about Natalie and although I had
no intentions of ever making a pass at her, I had to admit the idea was
incredibly arousing, mainly because of how forbidden it was.
   "I'm not upset," Heather said to my amazement.  "She really looks up to
you know, almost like a father.  And I think every girl wants to make Daddy
proud, don't you?"
   "I wouldn't know," I stammered.
   "All I'm saying is, I don't think it would be the worst thing in the
world.  She's awfully cute, you know."
   Suddenly things became crystal clear and once again I nearly flew into a
fit, reining myself in at the last minute.
   "Is that what this is all about?" I asked.  "Do you just want to get in
bed with my sister?"
   "Maybe," Heather grinned.  "But that's not why I brought it up."
   "Then why?" I asked.  Heather got a wry smile on her face.
   "You're not going to want to hear this," she said.  "But I want to do
this for us."
   "I'll let you explain this before I explode," I said.  "Because you've
said this before."
   "And I was wrong before," she admitted.  "But this time I think I'm
right."
   "Okay.  Talk," I said through gritted teeth.
   "Daniel, ever since I've come here, and probably before, the two of you
have been tip-toeing around each other as if you're walking on eggshells.
The way Natalie looks at you sometimes almost makes me jealous."
   "She doesn't..."
   "She does," Heather interrupted.  "I know you're not looking for it, but
you watch her the same way.  I have to admit the way she prances around
here wearing what she does really can't help matters, but the two of you...
there's some weird energy between you two, and I don't like it."
   "So this has nothing to do with you liking girls?" I asked.  "This is
why you bring up...  a threesome?  For me?" I asked.  "And with my sister,
of all people!"
   "Especially since I've brought it up before and you've ignored the
idea?" Heather asked.
   "Exactly.  Why now?  What's different about this?"
   "For one thing, she's your sister," Heather said, pointing out what I
thought was the biggest, and most obvious sticking point.
   "Duh."
   "Let me finish," Heather snapped.  "You have no idea what I'm going
through here.  When...  back before Europe, every time I brought up the
idea to you I was joking, but deep inside I was terrified."
   "Really?" I asked in amazement.  "I thought you were trying to push me
into something I didn't want to do."
   "You want it as much as the next guy," Heather said, rolling her eyes in
exasperation.
   "Maybe," I admitted.  "But it's nothing I'd ever do, and especially not
with my sister!  And what were you scared of anyway?" I asked.
   "I'm scared...  terrified actually, of losing you."
   That shut me up quick.  I had assumed Heather wanted a threesome for the
chance to be with another woman, under my watchful eye and with my
blessings, but now she was telling me she wanted to do it because...  I
didn't quite understand why.
   "Explain that, please."
   "Before, I was saying it just to hear you say you weren't interested. 
Every time I brought it up, I was hoping you'd say no and it was a huge
relief when you did.  You never disappointed me, and I loved you all the
more for it."
   "So why keep bringing it up?" I asked.
   "Back then, it was because I'd keep seeing you looking at other women.
Not seriously, I know.  But you were still looking, and I was insecure."
   "Why?"
   "Because they were prettier, or smarter, or more worldly than I was,"
Heather said.
   "Bullshit.  They weren't."
   "Well, I thought they were, and I was always scared you'd leave, so I
just wanted to hear you tell me that I was enough for you."
   "More than enough," I said truthfully.  "More than I ever imagined or
deserve."
   "You're too good to me," Heather whispered, reaching out and running her
hand up and down my arm.
   "Then why bring it up now?  And why with my sister?"
   "Because, I know it's something you want.  You just admitted it, even
though I know...  I know you'd never do it, but I know you're interested in
it."
   "All guys are, or so you say."
   "And they are.  But I'm terrified of it, but I want to do it too," she
said.
   "Because you like girls too?"
   "Yes."
   "Then why be scared?" I asked, not understanding what I thought was her
irrational fear.  Once again Heather explained it to me, and I knew
immediately she was right.
   "Because," she said.  "I just couldn't do it.  It'd be way too strange.
Scary, even.  I mean, what if you left me for the other girl?  Especially
after I begged and pleaded for this to happen!  What would that say about
our relationship?  Or what if I fell in love with the other girl, or you
fell in love with both of us?  I couldn't do that!"
   "Why not?" I asked.  "I'm not interested in that kind of a relationship,
but a lot of people do that."
   "I couldn't," Heather said.  "It was so rough on me after Europe,
knowing what you thought of me after seeing me with another woman."
   "It wasn't just the other woman," I said, remembering the look in her
eyes and the riding crop in her hand.
   "But that was part of it," Heather persisted.  "And then I was only
answering questions from you.  What if everyone knew what kind of a
relationship we were involved in if we invited in a third person?  I
couldn't handle everyone knowing about it, and understanding that they
disapproved."
   "I understand all the reasons you wouldn't want to do this," I agreed,
pressing forward despite my reluctance to hear her reasons for the
threesome.  "Because I feel the same way.  What I don't understand is why
you now are pushing for this," I said.  "Why now?  Why with Natalie?  Why
the three of us?"
   "Because I'm still insecure, for one thing.  But at the same time I want
to do this, and I think it's the safe way."
   "Safe?  How is this safe?"
   "First, because she's your sister."
   "That makes no sense," I said in amazement.
   "Yes.  It does.  Are you going to fuck her?" Heather asked suddenly.
   "No!  I already told you that."
   "Okay.  So, we don't need to worry about you falling in love, do we?"
   "No.  Because I already love her, but not like that," I said pointedly.
   "And we already know that you enjoy watching your sister have sex,
so..."
   "It's not because she's my sister," I objected.
   "Fine.  You like watching two women have sex.  Fair enough?"
   "I suppose."
   "Of course you do.  You're a guy," she grinned.  "And I like having sex
with other women, right?"
   "Apparently," I answered glibly, earning myself a punch in the arm. 
"Hey!"
   "You deserved that," Heather answered archly.  "Now, where was I?"
   "Having sex with another woman...  my sister, I might add.  Apparently
you enjoy that."
   "I do," Heather grinned.  "But I know that makes you nervous."
   "Damn right."
   "So, your sister ought to be the safest person out there.  You aren't
going to want to touch her, so I don't have anything to worry about, since
you won't leave me for her.  I'm going to enjoy it, because it's something
I like to do, and frankly, knowing you're going to be watching would make
it all the more exciting, since I'll be performing for you, in a way.  And
you'll get to be a voyeur, which we know you like."
   "So it's perfect, then?" I asked.  "You're thinking that you get to make
out with another woman, one you find attractive, I get to watch two sexy
women loving each other and that's that?  Perfect, huh?" Surprisingly, I
could see where she was going with her arguments, although this was
certainly a discussion I would have never expected to have.
   "Almost."
   "So, what's the hitch?" I asked.
   "I could still fall in love with your sister."
   "And?"
   "And leave you for her," she said miserably.
   At that my blood did run cold.  That possibility hadn't occurred to me.
I didn't know if Heather was serious, or if I thought Natalie would ever do
that to me, but as tempting as it was to call in sick, I knew I couldn't.
Not that I was thrilled that Dr.  Bergerud kept asking me about taking over
him.  I didn't like the pressure, but I liked the respect it showed he had
for me, and if I started acting all flaky, I knew I would lose that
respect.
   I was running extremely late, and was fortunate that my first commitment
of the day was as late as it was.  Even with the late start, I wasn't going
to have any prep time to get ready.  I looked at the clock, exasperated by
this point with the entire conversation.  "So why even bring it up in the
first place?" I asked.  "If you think you might leave me?"
   "Because you don't need to worry about that," Heather said, looking at
me fiercely, as if somehow trying to convince me.  "I love you too much to
ever do that to you again."
   Suddenly things did start falling into place.  It was a brilliant, but
incredibly flawed plan.  It got the two of us what we wanted, what Heather
claimed we both needed, to strengthen our relationship, or in reality what
she thought we needed to strengthen our relationship.
   I could see where she was coming from, and that frightened me, because I
had never felt the need to look outside what we got from each other to make
me happy.  I was perfectly content.  But then I thought of Dr.  Bergerud
and Stacey, and how they had an incredibly complex and complicated history.
Their life was something I wouldn't want, at all, I thought.  But it did
seem to work for them.
   I was almost at the point of saying yes to Heather's idea, but there was
just one hitch.
   "Who knows what Natalie will think about this?" I asked as I stood. 
"Have you talked to her yet?" Heather shook her head 'no.' "Then maybe it's
a bit too early to be making plans, don't you think?"
   "Yes," Heather answered meekly.  "Did you want to talk with her?" she
asked.
   "I think we both should," I said as I stood to leave.  "You can tell her
all the reasons you think this is a good idea, and then I'll let my sister
know exactly why I have reservations about sleeping with her," I said,
knowing how strange that really sounded.  I'd never expected to have those
words escape from my lips, but here it was.
   "Okay."
   I bent down kiss Heather on the lips.  I could still taste the sugar on
her lips and made her giggle as I made a production of licking up every
last bit of sweetness I could find.
   "Thank you," she said.  "Thank you for listening to me.  Thanks for
giving this a chance."
   *****
   As it turns out I made it to my classes on time, but it was a different
story a couple weeks later.  It was closer to Halloween, and we had the
first big snow of the season.  What with shoveling the snow and the
incredibly timid drivers I was pushing the limit bigtime.
   I ran into the music department, as late as I ever wanted to be,
frantically pulling off my coat as I came through the door.  I shouted out
a "hello" to Katie as I sprinted past the office and waved at Dr.  Bergerud
as we nearly collided in the hallway.
   "What's up?" he called after me as I fumbled through the junk on my
desk.
   "Have you seen the snow out there?" I snapped, immediately regretting
the harshness of my words.  "Sorry," I apologized.  "I'm running really
late this morning."
   I made it to my class a few minutes late.  Happily my students all
thought I was the greatest teacher in the world, or else it was still too
close to the start of the year for them to feel comfortable leaving, for
all of them were still seated and waiting for me when I arrived.
   "Sorry," I said.  "Now, where were we..."
   After class I managed to corner Dr.  Bergerud before he left for lunch.
Our schedules weren't often aligned enough for us to eat together and today
was no exception, but I wanted a quick chat.  And a chance to apologize for
the last time he had mentioned the job situation.
   "Sorry about the other day," I said.  "I know you're under a lot of
pressure with the new job and all that."
   "Not a big deal," he said, waving off my apology.  "I was a little
frazzled and took it out on you."
   We grinned awkwardly at the sudden end to the discussion.  I think we
both had been prepared for it to take longer to settle our differences.
   "So," he said.  "Just out of curiosity, what are your thoughts?"
   "Seriously?  I'm leaning toward taking the position.  But," I said when
Dr.  Bergerud appeared ready to start clapping.  "I'd like to know a little
bit more about what's expected of me, and how much of your class load I'd
be taking on, if that's okay?"
   "Certainly.  Absolutely.  Of course!" Dr.  Bergerud laughed.
   "When's the latest you'd need to know from me, as far as a final
answer?" I asked.
   "January," he answered with little hesitation.  "Preferably before
Christmas, if at all possible."
   That left me around two months, or three if I wanted to take advantage
of the Christmas break, for me to make this life-altering decision.
   "Okay," I said, nodding my head in agreement.  "I can do that.  But...
what if I can't?"
   "What do you mean?"
   "What if I can't make the decision by that date?"
   "Ah.  And you decide later that you would like the job?"
   "Exactly."
   "Well...  your name gets thrown in with all the other applicants, and I
can pretty much guarantee you wouldn't get the job.  Too young, too
inexperienced, no reputation...  those sort of reasons mean the job goes to
someone else."
   I nodded in understanding.  "But...  you'd be willing to give me the job
before anyone else even has a shot at it, because...?"
   "Because you can do it."
   I smiled as Dr.  Bergerud walked down the hallway.  In reality I was
almost one hundred percent certain I was going to take the job.  I wasn't
trying to string him along any longer than necessary, but there were
certainly some other things up in the air in my life, and I wanted to take
everything into consideration.
   That accomplished, I had one more meeting for the day.
   *****
   "Hey, Dan.  How's it going?" Katie asked when I entered the office. 
"Still running around flapping your arms?" she joked.
   "Nah.  Once I got here everything seemed to calm down a bit," I laughed.
"How's it going for you?"
   "Good, I suppose.  How's Natalie doing?" she asked and I knew I'd been
correct in thinking there might be some sort of connection between the two.
Natalie and Katie had met on a few occasions, when Katie dropped by the
apartment to chat or when Natalie had stopped off in the music department
to drop off something for me.
   "Good," I said.
   "She likes girls, right?" Katie asked, and I didn't think I'd ever seen
her more nervous as right then.
   "Yes," I said.  "Why do you ask?"
   "Oh, just curious," she answered vaguely.
   "Uh huh." I said sarcastically.
   "Stop it," Katie laughed.
   "Yes, she likes girls.  A lot," I answered.  Feeling a bit more
confident, and anxious to know her opinion, I gave Katie a quick rundown of
the conversation I'd had with Heather regarding the her proposal of a
potential threesome with my sister.
   "God, that sounds hot," Katie said to my amazement.
   "Seriously?" I wondered.  "You just said you were interested in my
sister, and now...?"
   "Dan, my family is pretty open.  Some might even say we're a bit fucked
up, okay?  This kind of thing isn't all that common, but it's not unheard
of."
   "I suppose," I answered.  "Could I ask you a question?"
   "Sure, shoot."
   "Um...  in Europe, when I walked in on your mom and Heather...  you were
there, but didn't seem to be too involved.  What was going on?"
   It was Katie's turn to blush in embarrassment.
   "I like to watch," she said nervously.  "And my mom gets off on being
watched, and...  Heather didn't seem to mind.  Sorry."
   "Don't be.  I...  I kind of realized that about Heather the other
morning.  It caught me by surprise, but it was kind of exciting how she
responded once she knew someone was watching her."
   "And what about you?" Katie asked slyly.
   "Uh.  Yeah, me too," I said.  "So, you really wouldn't mind?" I asked,
trying to steer to the conversation back to my sister.  "We haven't talked
to her yet, but Heather seemed convinced Natalie would be up for it.  But
if you have problems with it...  I wouldn't want this little experiment to
come between anything the two of you might have."
   "No.  I understand perfectly, and besides...  if Natalie is hung up on
you, this is probably okay.  Just...  one request, okay?"
   "What?"
   "Invite me to watch."
   "Seriously?"
   "God, yes," she answered.  "That would be really...  really great."
   "I'll see what I can do, I guess," I said, ready to leave the office.  A
lot of discussion I'd had lately had been nothing like I'd ever expected.
There was a certain logic to all of them, but it was certainly far beyond
anything I'd ever done, or had expected to do.
   "Cool," Katie grinned as I left.  It was going to be an interesting
couple of months before Christmas break, I had no doubt of that.
   End Chapter Twelve
  
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