Written by: TVM (mrtvm@mrtvm.com)

Archive: www.asstr.org/~TheVertManArchive/Stories/Scent/Index.html

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/\ {* ~ *} /\ CINDY'S PERSPECTIVE /\ {* ~ *} /\

"Mom, Dad?" Shelby asked in horror at the smiling faces with arms full of luggage in the doorway. I feared in that moment that everything I had with her was now over. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting my sweet angel" Her mother said in a fake nice voice that immediately set off my bull shit detector. Shelby moved to my side and acted as if she wanted nothing to do with her mother as the woman tried to hug her. "Well what's wrong sweety are you still mad at me?"

"Don't you angel me" Shelby said as she pulled me in front of her. "What are you, drunk?"

"What do you mean am I drunk?" Her Mother demanded, "Shelby Lucinda Parker, you don't talk to me that way you little..."

"Bitch, whore, slut?" Shelby asked in an angry voice as she glared at her mother. "Huh Lana?"

"Oh OK, I get it, your showing out in front of your little friend" She said as she looked at me. I already wanted to punch her face in. "Well honey you need to move and let me talk to my daughter."

"She's free to stand behind me if she wants" I said.

"And I'd rather do just that" Shelby said, "And you can't make me do anything, Lana, cause as of a year ago you don't have any custodial rights to me. Remember?"

"Yes we do" Lana said with a snap of the fingers.

"Lana no we don't, you're just gonna cause more trouble, please stop" Her Father said calmly.

"That's my dad he's nice" Shelby whispered in my ear as I smiled.

"Shut up Harold" Lana said as she glared at the man and then actually said this to me as Dakota and Laney came out of their room through the bathroom. "Well the school said we could stay for a week and which room is ours?"

"There's a nice Best Western Inn down on Highway 32 South" I said, "I hope you got reservations."

"I wasn't referring to a hotel room you little smart mouth" She said with a finger point directly in my face. "You have two good size bedrooms and one of them will do just fine."

"Lana stop" Harold said in frustration. "The school said we had one night not a week. You know that."

"OK, first, Lana, you're not welcome in my dorm" I said as she glared at me. "One room belongs to my friends over there and the other is mine and Shelby's. You're not taking either one."

"I'll show you, you....smart mouth little bitch" Lana said as Shelby grabbed me around the waist to hold me back. "You need a good..."

"SHE NEEDS WHAT YOU PSYCHO BITCH" Dakota screamed from the door to the bathroom. "Fuckin call her a bitch again, I'll tear you apart, I've already had my heart ripped out and stomped on and kickin your ASS WILL FEEL GOOD."

"Kota, calm down" Laney said as she moved in front of Dakota.

"Haven't been here five minutes and you've already got everyone turned against you" Harold said as he through his hands up in the air. "I wanted to visit my daughter for one night without you bitching at her till she cries."

"You're a working...on a..." Lana said as she backed away from a struggling Dakota, who was playing a game of cat-and-mouse with Laney trying to get by. "You better stop her before I'm forced to take her down a peg."

"SHUT UP, GET OUT AND DON'T EVER COME BACK" Shelby screamed as she moved around me and glared at her mother. "You're only here to ruin my life again. You hate me cause I'm more white than black I bet. SHUT UP OR I'LL LET HER BEAT YOU. I am finally happy again and I'm in love with a wonderful person who makes me feel special and wanted and loved and not lonely. Something you never did."

"Sweetheart, you're in love?" Harold asked as Shelby turned to her father and fought to stop crying as I hugged her impulsively and prayed it was the right thing to do. She hugged me back and smiled at me as I stuck out my tongue and she laughed. Harold watching with a smile as he quickly put 2 and 2 together and asked, "You're in love with her?"

"Huh?" Shelby asked in shock. I feared again that she was gonna panic and deny it, so I kissed her cheek and blew a raspberry as she squealed and jumped back laughing and I started stalking her around the sofa. Catching her when Dakota blocked her exit as I wrapped her in my arms and started tickling her. "Oh my god stop please Cinderella stop."

"You wanna tell him?" I asked as she pulled away and kept an eye on me as I hugged her from behind. "Go on."

"Yes, Daddy it's her" Shelby said with a smile.

"Well, it's quite a shock, but you look so happy and at ease around this beautiful young lady" Harold said as he came over to hug his daughter and to my surprise hugged me too. "Welcome to the family."

"Thank you sir" I said.

"Cinderella is it?"

"Cindy, call me Cindy, she's the only one who calls me Cinderella"

"Well I've seen enough..."

"SAY IT BITCH, CALL HER A FAGGOT AND I'LL HURT YOU" Dakota screamed at Lana. "You got 10 seconds to leave my dorm room or I'm gonna do it anyway. 10, 9..."

"Why I've never been treated..."

"5...4"

"Well you can count all you want..."

"2...1"

"OH MY GOD" Lana screamed as we watched, Dakota charged as Lana scrambled to get away and crashed to the floor over the luggage and backed into the hall and away from a dangerously pissed Dakota. Laney stopping her at the door.

"COME BACK YOU BITCH AND NO ONE WILL STOP ME" Dakota screamed as she slammed the door violently and locked it. Looking back at Harold and saying, "I'm sorry for being disrespectful sir, but she don't talk to Shelby like that when I'm here."

"Who knew you cared" Shelby said with a smile as she hugged Dakota. "Can we be friends again?"

"I'm your family, remember?" Dakota asked. "I was mad at you and Max. Laney helped me get a lot of that out of my system."

"Family?" Harold asked.

"Yeh me and Shel and Dakota are kinda family now" I said, "We hang out together and if you screw with one of us you got all of us to deal with."

"Then there's Cally, Mindy, Molly, Bre, Chloe and our other roommate Maxie" Shelby said as she hugged her dad. "We're all in the same group."

"A gang?"

"No, we don't start trouble, but if someone fucks with us we deal with them" Cindy said.

"Hey where you going?" Dakota asked Laney as she took the girls hand and stopped her from exiting the room.

"I'm not family" She said as Dakota hugged her.

"I told you already you got four new friends" Cindy said, "We'll be your family if you let us."

"Can you stay the night?" Shelby asked her Dad. "Maybe get Mom a hotel room or buy her a sleeping bag and let her sleep in the woods with the rest of the wolves?"

"I'm gonna go check on her" He said, "I'll see if we can work something out."

"Fine, do what she wants like always" Shelby said as she took my hand and asked, "Lay down with me please?"

"Lay down?" Harold asked.

"Butt out, you don't have the right to even question what I do anymore" Shelby said to her Dad as she walked off and I soon followed her into what was now our room. Very interesting way to meet the parents if you ask me. It wasn't over, trust me.

/\ {* ~ *} /\ MAXIE'S PERSPECTIVE /\ {* ~ *} /\

Do you know sometimes I really do think that this blond hair is a advertisement for something. I swear I can't remember anything and this time it was something important, the Cd I had bought for Sarah in town. I had just settled into my usual booth at 'Eddie's Fast Eats' and started on my weekend homework when I realized I hadn't brought it with me. So with Sarah off in the kitchen with Eddie and Darlene, I explained to Mel what was going on and he said he'd cover for me as I made a mad dash back towards the campus and praying that I could escape again once I did get back on. Fortunately, we're talking about Mintzler, security is not exactly their first priority. I never even thought about the events of just a few minutes past as I slowed at the front door and came into what I now hoped would be a quiet room. I stopped, frozen, as I spotted Dakota just coming out of the bathroom.

"What are you doing back?" She asked in what I thought was an angry voice. She gave me a weird look and started towards me as I panicked and stumbled back against the door as it slammed shut.

"Stop, I'm begging you not to hurt me..." I said as I covered up in the corner, slipping to my knees and closed my eyes.

"Maxie, no, I won't, I promise" Dakota said in a soft voice as I looked and saw her now sitting on the floor in front of me. "I won't, god I had no idea you were this scared."

"I just came back to get the CD I bought for Sarah and I'm not coming back tonight" I said as she touched my hand.

"I'm sorry, Maxie, I'm sorry" She said softly. "Don't be scared of me. God I don't want that."

"I just want my CD is all and I'll leave" I said as she stopped me from getting up.

"Maxie please I'm begging you" She said as she moved in front of me as both of us got to our feet. "I'm not gonna hurt you, I am seriously calmer now."

"And the next time you get mad you'll try to kill me again" I said and this time refused to let the fear take over me. "You wanna beat me again, just get it over with so I can leave."

"No" She said simply. Leaning forward a bit and to my absolute shock she gently kissed me. My only response being, "Your lips are so soft."

"So are yours, so how about kissing me again and seeing how soft they really are" She said with a smile and stepping closer and smiled. OK, so you know this girl is one of my fantasies, or at least I hope you do, cause she is and oh my god here she was almost offering it to me. She leaned in again and it took everything in me to pull away. She seemed to be confused and angry as she looked at me. "What? Is it that bad of an offer?"

"Nooo..." I said as I ran my fingers through my hair. "...I'm with someone else now, and god Kota I'd kill for this to happen if it wasn't for Sarah. Please don't be mad."

"Fuck, I'm so stupid, I dunno what happened, it just felt..." She said before going quiet and falling back against the door and starting to cry. "It fuckin hurts like hell...FUCK YOU MINDY."

"What's wrong? Oh no, did she hit you?" Laney asked as she came into the room and moved in front of me.

"No, she's just in pain" I said.

"Dakota, come on calm down" Laney said as she rushed to Dakota's side and moved her hands to Dakota's gently. Dakota looked at her and half-smiled as they hugged. "It's OK, she did you wrong I know."

"It just hurts so bad, I loved her so much" Dakota said in a sob as Laney smiled and touched her face. I grabbed my CD and stuffed it inside my jacket as my nerves began to go crazy at the thought of Sarah finding out about this and thinking I was playing around. Panic set in and for better or worse I had to get back to Eddie's as fast as I could. "Max I'm sorry."

"It's OK, you got this?" I asked as I stopped by the door. "Laney?"

"Yeh she's in good hands" Laney said as she pulled a suddenly giggling Dakota into her arms and made her start to dance. Both laughing as I left and ran for the stairs. Ten minutes later I stood in front of Eddie's once again and watched Sarah laughing with Mel. And of course, Mel being the smart ass he is had to point me out to her. I groaned as Sarah took off her apron and came through the main door and smiled as she saw me.

"What are you doing hiding out here?" She asked as I ran my fingers through my hair and prayed she'd understand. Thinking fast, not my best quality, I decided to go for the heart and maybe she'd understand. Moving in front of her as I took a deep breath and touched her cheek as I said, "Sarah Rae I love you and I am not Derek."

"Duh Tay" She said as she flipped my blond hair in my face and we both laughed. "So good to me, why would I think you were Derek..."

"Cause that looney tune Dakota kissed me, like ten minutes ago, and I swear to you I didn't want her too, I mean not anymore" I rambled. "OK, so I would have love to before I met you but now I am insanely in love with you and please just forgive me."

"Whoa, Tay, breath" Sarah said. "You're gonna have a stroke."

"But I love you so much and she's just trying to fuck it up for me I think" I said as Sarah kissed me softly. "Huh?"

"I love you too and I trust you" She said as I smiled and pulled her into my arms. "She kissed you?"

"Yeh I promise, no way I'd do something like that to you" I said as she grinned. "Oh yeah, I got you something."

"You don't have to buy me stuff" She said as I reached inside my jacket and pulled out the CD and showed it to her. She smiled as she took it and squealed as she said, "But I'm sooo glad you did. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome" I said as she hugged me and kissed me softly and then looked at the CD. "Heaven sent me you."

"That's what John Michael said too"

"He did didn't he?" I asked as we both smiled, "But it sounds better coming from me huh?"

"I dunno, he's very cute" Sarah said as she stuck out her tongue and slipped out of my arms and turning she opened the door and ran back inside as I chased after her. Poor frazzled Darlene just coming around the corner of the counter with a plate of eggs as Sarah crashed into her and sent it flying to the floor. Stopping as she laughed and forcing me to crash into her from behind as I tried to stop. "Oh god I'm so fired, Darlene I'm sorry."

"Sarah Rae..." Darlene said with a finger point but calming as she saw our smiling faces. "Clean those up and get back to work, Maxie sweety you have homework?"

"Yeh I do" I said as I wrapped Sarah in my arms as Darlene turned to head back into the kitchen. "Very cute?"

"Kidding" Sarah said, "You're way cuter and you're holding me in your arms so you win."

"Good answer" I said as I kissed her cheek and she grinned.

"Those were my damn eggs you splattered all over the floor" Mel said as we both laughed and look to him. "Well they were."

"Trust me Mel you won't starve to death" I said as I flipped him the bird and the diner filled with laughter.

/\ {* ~ *} /\ DAKOTA'S PERSPECTIVE /\ {* ~ *} /\
~ (SATURDAY MORNING, DORM) ~

Hey guys it's me, yeh the to this point virtually unseen member of the Mintz, my names Dakota, and so far you've seen me do plenty of things without telling my story at all. So finally I get my own say so in this tale. Anyway, as you know Mindy is now with that whore Courtney and my heart is broke, I'm still so confused about this whole thing. What did I do that was so bad? Mindy has never, and I mean since the day I met her, never been a fighter and suddenly she's carrying around a weapon and attacking people. I know 'Shrek' deserved it, but still to zap someone is crazy as hell, I'm so afraid Mindy is on drugs or something. She's so naive and sweet that she sees the good in people regardless of what they do (Maxie?) and this whore Courtney is just trouble. But what can I do? She's somehow fell in love with that viper. God I hate her now, I just wish I could stop loving her and move on, like beginning right now. But I know it's gonna take time to get over this. Course truth be told, I'm not exactly hating the fact that this Laney girl is being so nice to me. She's so nice and pretty hot.

"Morning my Indian princess" Laney said as she grinned up at me. Forcing me to smile.

"And I am not your princess" I said as she shrugged and rolled off the bed to head to the bathroom. God she has such a hot little butt. I wondered in that moment what it looked like under those baggie jammer bottoms. So why not find out? "But I might be if you let me see your butt."

"I'm not wearing any underwear, so no" She said as I grinned and bolted off the bed and chased her into the bathroom. Cornering by the shower as she giggled and held her hands to protect herself. "Oh come on this isn't fair."

"What isn't fair?" I asked as I pulled playfully at her PJ bottoms as she squealed and twisted away as we both laughed. "Come on one peak?"

"Nooo" She said as she pushed me away and we again started to wrestle. Me finally beginning to feel alive again as I smiled and struggled against this girl who actually seemed to like having my attention on her. I heard the bedroom open and someone come in as Laney pushed me off again and I spotted Maxie coming in. Her seeing me at the entrance to the bathroom and freezing. "What did you quit for?"

"Sarah's waiting on me at Eddie's" Maxie said softly as a worried Laney moved in front of me.

"Stop, last night you made some progress, now don't start on her again, Kota?" She asked, using a nickname for me that hardly no one had ever used before.

"Yeh Kota" Maxie said with a smirk. I actually do like her, she's so funny and pretty and I'd so be into her if she wasn't taken by that hottie Sarah.

"You don't call me that" I said with a smile as I pointed at Maxie, "Laney does. She's weird."

"Huh? Fine then see if you get laid by this weirdo" Laney said as she smiled at me in mock horror. Maxie giggled as the tension in the room disappeared and she sat down on the bed, adjusting her shoes. Laney turning to walk away as I laughed and saw my golden opportunity, I followed after her as she got right in front of Maxie. I dropped down behind her and pulled her pants down to her ankles. Maxie seeing the front and me seeing the back in full glory, oh my lord her butt was so beautiful too. Too soon she gasped for breath and jerked her pants back up and marched away, blushing from head to toe. "Oh my god I'm gonna kill both of you."

"Was it a nice view from the back?" Maxie asked me as I grinned like the cat that ate the bird.

"Beautiful" I said.

"Fuck you Dakota Lane" Laney said, "That was not right."

"Smoothie too" Maxie said as my mouth began to water.

"You violated my privacy and you suck" Laney said with a glare towards me. The smile leaving my face. "I told you no once."

"Laney I was kidding earlier..."

"Fuck you" She barked. "I'm not one of your whores."

"You got whores?" Maxie asked me as we both laughed.

"STOP MOCKING ME" Laney screamed. "God that was so mean."

"OK, calm down, I'm sorry" I said as she glared at me. "Seriously, out of line."

"You won't do it again?" She asked softly.

"No I won't, I'm sorry" I said as I sat down on the bed in front of her. "I meant it as a joke."

"I told you I wasn't wearing anything" She said softly. "You don't have the right to see me that way."

"You're right, we're not dating or anything" I said with honesty in my eyes. "Forgive me?"

"You do that again and I just might not" She said as I took her hand and grinned at her. She at least smiled. "Turn the smile off..."

"She likes your smile" Maxie commented. "By the way, you have no interest in knowing what either of us thought?"

"No, cause I'd like to at least think I'm not fugly" Laney said.

"You could set the sprinklers system off" Maxie said as I laughed. Laney blushed as she smiled.

"I agree" I said as Laney covered my mouth and with her hand and replied, "Point taken."

"I'm headed back to Eddie's after I change you two wanna go?" Maxie asked.

"That sounds like fun" I commented as Laney smiled and agreed as she said, "Sure..."

/\ {* ~ *} /\ MINDY'S PERSPECTIVE /\ {* ~ *} /\
~ (SATURDAY MORNING, KARATE CLASS) ~

"Mindy sweety, are you sure you even wanna be here?" Mr. Tomoko asked, that's my beyond patient Karate teacher. He was at the moment holding one of those boards with padding on it that they use to hit. Anyway, although I royally suck at this, he always encourages me to keep trying. But I think even he's given up on me now, cause with this stupid sling I can't do anything. What made this even worse was the fact that Courtney was watching from the chairs just off the mat. I saw her kick her shoes off and step onto the mat and come towards us and I knew I was about to feel even more useless. No doubt she was good at this too, I thought.

"I'm sorry Mr. Tomoko I am trying..."

"Excuse me sir" Courtney asked. "I'm Mindy's...ummm...friend and I think I can help, cause this is stupid."

"Well I'm sorry I'm not doing good enough..."

"Shut up for a second beautiful" She said as she moved in front of me and I took a deep breath. "You can do this. You're just not used to letting out that tiger inside."

"I don't have a tiger inside, I'm a pussy cat" I said as Courtney smiled. "Meow."

"I like your sweet side, but this could save your life" She said, "Now get serious. You want everyone to think you're a wimpy dumb blond forever?"

"No" I said softly.

"I said, dumb little Mindy, get mad and do something" She said as she got in my face. I wanted to feel hurt over her thinking I was dumb but before I could she cupped her hands around my neck and said, "Hit that board with every muscle in your body."

"I do and I'm not dumb" I said as she kissed me on the lips and then growled, "Show me bad ass Mindy, I wanna see you show me."

"Yeh?" I asked as Courtney smiled.

"That board is Veronica and you don't have any protection and she's gonna hurt you for what...she's gonna hurt you" She said as the worst fear of my life ran through me and I wanted so bad for someone to hug me and tell me it wasn't gonna happen. My usual response. "You gotta do it, DO IT."

"Miss I do appreciate the effort but maybe..." Mr. Tomoko said as I turned and glared at that board and with the fear and anger burning in me I drove my open palm into it so hard I knocked Mr. Tomoko back a foot or so.

"YAHHHHHHHHHHH" I grunted as I did it. The feeling of shock and amazement coming over me as a huge smile of surprise crossed Mr. Tomoko's face. "I did that?"

"YESSSSSSSSSS!" Courtney said as she crashed into me with a hug. "Way to go Shakespeare."

"Mindy, that was certainly quiet a determined effort" Mr. Tomoko said proudly. "How about you do that again?"

"I dunno if I can, she just got me so wired for that" I said as Courtney grinned and said, "Protect me."

"Huh?"

"I'm hurt, and you're trying to keep Veronica off me" Courtney said, "You can do that."

"No ones gonna hurt you" I said as the same fear and anger began to rise in me and as it peaked I struck the board once again with an open palm thrust and again staggered Mr. Tomoko back a foot or so.

"I knew you could do it" Courtney said as she hugged me from behind again. "I feel so safe with you."

"Oh yeah I'm sure" I said as Courtney laughed.

"That was impressive" Mr. Tomoko said. "I think this young lady is good for your motivation."

"Yes she is" I said.

"But you must understand, Karate is the art of self-defense..."

"I know that sir, really I do" I said softly. "I think I'm ready to learn the basics now, I could probably use a refresher course."

"See you next week?"

"Yes sir" I said with a huge smile.

"Shakespeare is a bad ass" Courtney giggled as she moved in front of me. "But I still like the other Mindy lots more."

"This Mindy?" I asked as I twirled my hair around in my fingers like a typical blond as we walked towards the exit to the building. Getting outside, Courtney dragged me into the corner by the entrance and kissed me softly on the lips as she said in a 'for your ears only' voice, "Nooooooo, I like the Mindy who likes me and doesn't give up on me when I'm trying to help. I don't think your dumb. Shakespeare."

"But sometimes I can play dumb" I said with a playful kiss and suggestive grin. "Let you take advantage of little ole me?"

"I've never been with a girl, that way" She said. "So you take advantage of me?"

"GRRRRRRRRR" I said as she took my hand and kissed my cheek. "If you really gonna let me be in control."

"I can do that" Courtney said, "Course I doubt my wittle Mindy windy has ever had a dirty thought in her life."

"I've had my tongue in more pussy than you ever will" I said as Courtney's mouth dropped open. "I'm one of those girls who has no interest in pecker, I love pussy, everything about it too. And..."

"Can you make me cum?" Courtney asked boldly as I blushed, but surged on in a hush voice before I chickened out.

"Guarantee it" I said with a soft kiss. "I've been told I'm really good at it too."

"OK, you talked me into it" Courtney said as I squealed in laughter and she started pulling me along down the path back to the dorm.