Poison

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created originally by Chris Angel and are copyrighted to him, any reposting or archiving without written permission is an infringement on the copyright of this series. So in other words You damn well better ask before you steal it.

Feedback: Every author in his or her own way makes it a point to ask for feedback when posting a story, well me I don't usually. But there are several reasons as to why a reader should consider taking the time to give it. The simple fact is that giving some form of feedback is truly the most important thing a reader can do after reading and enjoying a story. Hopefully in the process providing that author with at least one viable reason as to what you liked about the story. This small amount of time spent will no doubt inspire the author to write more and possibly at a quicker pace, knowing that they have a fan base who are waiting on their next works. So thanks for the feedback and please keep it comin.

Summary: From writer/producer Chris Angel comes this intoxicating tale of lesbian lust and...love? Poison.

Original Airdate: August 20, 2008 @ 9:00 p.m.
(following an ALL NEW ' Megan In Charge!')

Story Codes: no sex

Considering what this was, a meal with another family, Lisa didn't expect to be surprised by anything. She did this with her own family every Sunday so it didn't strike her as the kind of thing that would be a break from her norm; other than sitting to a meal with Nicole of all people. In fact she was quite wrong. In opposition to her own frame of knowledge... it startled her how nice and warm Nicole's parents were.

Despite her break up with Ryan, Nicole tried to put a brave face on for everyone and it worked (as well as it could have, at least). She introduced Lisa to her father, Simon, who was as Nicole said, a paraplegic. But despite his being bound to a wheelchair he wasn't the slightest bit remote or embittered. He was a cheerful man who took Lisa's hand and shook accordingly, welcoming her to the household. Lisa was startled but not ignorant. She didn't stare but she didn't dismiss, either. It was only shortly after that that Nicole compelled Lisa to follow her up to her room. There was no way the blonde girl would have refused that. Nicole's bedroom was pretty much like any other belonging to a girl in high school. There were numerous posters up on the walls (which had been painted in a very faint green) of her sporting idols and most liked movies. Those posters presided over a fairly standard set-up of a single bed and nightstand, a pinewood desk which held her PC, printer and scanner, a television on a blank painted TV unit, a stack of CDs piled up next to that, and a chest of drawers and wardrobe that Nicole's clothes were stored in. There was also a small bookcase on one side of the room that contained at least twenty text books or so. It alone was proof that Nicole was as studious as she said she was. However the room was unkempt and messy. The books and CDs were in disarray, quite a few clothes were strewn about over the carpeting, including a pair of Nicole's panties (Lisa noted that with a very heavy blush) which were hanging off a spoon lodged in a now cold and half-drunk cup of coffee. It was all very charming though, even as Nicole made her apologies for the mess and started to clear up. Lisa herself didn't mind it at all. She couldn't deny the feeling of pride she had when she was there. It was Nicole's private space (well... at least the external one) and Lisa was probably the first person in L.A. to have seen it. That made her feel proud; to know that there were dimensions of Nicole that only she had seen.

The girls spent less than and hour up there together before Simon called them downstairs for dinner. By that time Daryl had gotten home. When Lisa came down and saw her, she realized that that was font from which Nicole's beautiful looks came from. Daryl was much like a older and more mature version of her daughter, though her own hair was slightly longer and slightly darker, and straight, as opposed to the waves Nicole's hair had.

By contrast Nicole looked less like her father but definitely got his personality.

After Daryl and Lisa were introduced (and Daryl got changed out of the suit she had worn to her new job) and after Lisa had helped Nicole set the table, they all sat down to the meal Simon had cooked. It was beef stroganoff for Nicole and Simon and a well-tossed garden salad with roasted potatoes and thousand island dressing for Lisa and Daryl (who was apparently a vegetarian). It was a very relaxing and eye-opening experience for Lisa to see the Milligan household in its time of commune. Their meals were so very unlike the ones she shared with her parents. Simon and Daryl asked Nicole about her day, how she was settling in, if she'd still be trying out for the Alderson High's female soccer team, etc. On the contrary; Lisa's parents barely asked her to pass the salt. Simon and Daryl were also very friendly, asking similar questions of Lisa, inviting her for dinner again some other night too. It was nice. It was the first time she had ever sat down to a family meal and hadn't felt awkward. And by the time it was over Lisa was left with lasting impression of Nicole's family -- a sanguine one, one of true esteem.

Come two and a half hours later, Daryl and Simon were curled up on the couch of the lounge together watching CNN (an act which conveyed more intimacy than Richard and Daphne had shown each other in years) while their daughter showed Lisa to the door. The two stood in the hallway of the Milligan household with mutual smiles. But Lisa wasn't stupid. She knew that Nicole was still hurting over Ryan. It was a shame really. Here Nicole had truly had her heartbroken, and Lisa felt powerless to stop it.

"Are you okay?" Lisa asked in earnest. "I know that it must be... really hard for you, with Ryan and all..."

Nicole pulled a tiny and crestfallen half-smile. "...I don't want you to worry about it, Lisa. Ryan and I just wanted a few different things is all. I've had sometime to think since this afternoon and... I'm actually starting to believe that it was for the best. We couldn't have kept up a long distance relationship anyway; he was such a horny bastard."

They both giggled a little.

"..Nah. You know what? I'm gonna be okay." Nicole's smile then became quite real, made `full'. "Thanks for coming over tonight. I really needed someone to talk to and you were there for me. I'm always gonna be grateful for that."

Lisa blushed lightly again. She was never, and would never, be one for compliments. But to hear Nicole say such sweet things to her (especially when Lisa was so used to being treated like a nerd by her student peers, an invisible girl by her parents and a vibrator by Dani) made all the difference. It made her forget all the jealousies she felt against Ryan and all the inadequacies she felt as a human being. That was how much Nicole meant to her. So Lisa softly pulled the bangs out of her eyes and offered Nicole her gentle and appreciative smile.

"That's okay..." Was all she said.

Nicole sociably squeezed her shoulder. Lisa quivered with delight at the oblivious touch.

"Want me to walk you home?"

Lisa shook her head. "I'll be fine."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow morning then, yeah?"

"Yes." Lisa then opened the door, not breaking eye contact with Nicole for a second, before turning outside and walking down the driveway. Nicole gave her a parting wave before closing the door. Lisa stopped and took a brief moment to breathe and reflect. These past few days of knowing Nicole had been a wonder for her. Meeting her lovely parents had been just as nice. And here she was, afraid she'd make a lousy impression. The knowledge of all this made Lisa feel light and giddy like never before. Nicole was feeling better too... in time maybe she would forget about Ryan and move on. Those thoughts too added to Lisa's joy. But when she opened her brightened blue eyes to cross the road, that wave of elation inside her crashed into the jagged rocks of realism and dispersed. Across the street she could see Dani's ride parked up in her parent's driveway.

She was sitting on its bonnet and was staring somewhat angrily in her direction.

The tide of warmth that Lisa felt dissolved faster than she would have expected. What was worse was that she was becoming very clear on one thing. Whenever she saw or heard from Dani her mood went sour. Lisa quickly looked back to make sure Nicole wasn't standing by her doorway (she wasn't) then she crossed the street hurriedly and came up to Dani. But before Lisa even opened her mouth she smelt an overpowering waft of something on Dani... and that something was alcohol.

There was an actual recoil. "...Have you been drinking?"

The angry smile on her face said as much. "What d'you think?"

Immediately Dani reached out and dragged Lisa to her. The blonde girl gasped as Dani literally smothered her lips in a kiss while one of her strong hands groped Lisa's tiny excuse for an ass -- IN PUBLIC. And her eyes shot wide open at the striking taste of diluted vodka on Dani's lips. Lisa was incredulous. Her whimpers of discomfort were muffled by Dani's kiss until she pushed herself free and said uncharacteristically; "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Nothing I haven't done before..." Dani slurred. "What're YOU doing...?"

"...We're in public!" She seethed. Lisa glared frantically from side to side to try and see if someone was coming or if someone had seen Dani accost her like that. Apparently no one had. Of course that didn't stop her from being worried that someone would if it happened again, especially considering the inability Dani seemed to have at keeping her voice down. She wasn't drunk but she certainly wasn't being careful either. And this was one hell of a quiet suburb. A pin could drop and ten of your neighbours would hear it. Dani didn't seem to care much about that though. She ambled forward and grabbed both of Lisa's enflamed cheeks. She brought the girl close to her again.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Lisa...?" She asked.

Lisa squirmed as Dani's hands left her cheeks and went roaming around her body again. This time she didn't pull away... but only because her thoughts started running away from her again. Dani paid no attention to that, to the expression on Lisa's face, the one that indicated that gears and cogs were turning in her mind.

"How long has it been?" Her pearly white teeth bit down on Lisa's left earlobe before uttering, "...Come on..."

Her hand grabbed Lisa's ass again... but tighter and more possessively. That was enough to break Lisa out of her own thoughts once again and compel her to pull away. This time she put some real distance between herself and the half-drunk girl in front of her.

"...I don't want this." She declared.

Dani's callow sneer turned into an angered one. But she turned her attentions to the Milligan household across the street. Lisa followed her stare and then looked back at Dani. Apparently she had seen the two of them together at the door saying goodbye. Part of Lisa felt defeated at that thought. Though she hadn't really considered the fact up until now... she wanted to keep Dani and Nicole as far away from each other as possible. At once she knew why. For one thing she couldn't stand the idea of Dani potentially ruining the only serious friendship she had ever had... but most of all Lisa didn't want someone as sweet and as decent as Nicole to know the kind of things she had let Dani do to her. It was all a result of her own personal weakness. For those reasons; the knowledge that Dani now knew of Nicole really bit her on the ass. Lisa would have done anything to kept this element of her life a secret from Nicole.

Dani stared at the Milligan house. "...Is this because of that bitch over there?"

At THAT Lisa balked quite completely. The comment stung, like it had been said to HER, like she had been slugged in the stomach. Through all the sex and the power the blonde girl had forgotten how boorish Dani could really be.

"Don't call her that...!" Remarked Lisa.

Dani stared evenly at her before quipping, "...Are you hot for her?"

That second comment stung too... but for a very different reason. Lisa tried to protest but found herself stunned into silence. All she could do was glance away. That silence was more than an answer for both of them -- it resolved the question with a calm earnest and frankness that words couldn't possibly have mustered. But then something peculiar happened. When Lisa looked up sheepishly, taking her eyes off her feet, she saw something in Dani's caramel eyes that she had never seen before.

Hurt.

Dani took in quick breaths, eyes darting rapidly, while one of her shaking hands absently plucked at her bangs. At first she tried to laugh it off, dismiss the idea of Lisa having feelings for someone else, as though it didn't matter or that it just wasn`t possible; but that was false and both of them knew it. Lisa suddenly felt a pang of guilt... even more so when she saw Dani's lip quiver. The frailty Lisa had seen in Dani before was back but this time it was so much worse. This time it was truly emotional. "You... like her?"

Lisa bit her own lip and tore herself from Dani's frustrated gaze. "...I'm sorry..."

Dani's left leg started trembling.

"I'm really sorry, Dani..."

The Italian girl swallowed the uncomfortable lump in her throat. "...What about me?"

It was long overdue. She had to say it now while the chance was here. "...Dani... I... I mean... it... wasn't going anywhere, was it...? Maybe... I'm sure... that there's... someone better out there for you. Someone else."

"...I don't want someone else! I want you...!"

"...I'm... sorry..." It was all she could possibly say. Then she turned to her door. "...I think you should go now..."

Before she even made it to the step Dani desperately grabbed her wrist to stop her from going. She span Lisa around on her heels and grabbed her by the shoulders, declaring desperately, "Lisa, please...!"

She couldn't think of a single thing to say other than `I'm sorry'. And Lisa had apologized more times than she could count for things she couldn't control. But this was something she could control and she was finally (albeit through the friendship she shared with Nicole) beginning to see that for herself. So Lisa shrugged Dani's grasp off of her and jogged up to the front door. She quickly unlocked it, went inside, and then slammed it shut -- only to hear Dani bang her fists against it from the other side.

"Lisa! ...Lisa!" She yelled aloud. "Lisa, open the door! Open this door! Lisa!"

That was bound to be heard by the neighbours. Lisa didn't dwell on that this time however. She ignored all the banging and shouting and ran upstairs to her room. She slammed the door behind her and collapsed on top of her bed in sobs. Below she could still hear her now ex-lover slamming her fists into wood and yelling for her to come back out. So Lisa grabbed the pillow of her bed and wrapped it around her head, covering her ears until Dani gave up. Moments after that Lisa heard two sounds; first of a car door opening and then closing, then of tyres screeching erratically against asphalt. She knew that to be Dani driving away, and she remembered with some bitterness that Dani had been drinking vodka. But there was nothing she could do. It had to be done. What they had wasn't a relationship but whatever it was, it was wrong, and it had to end. The young blonde woman curled up into a ball. While lying down she roughly wiped the tears out of eyes and sobbed to herself, "...I'm so sorry..."

Not even the tender nudge of her pet kitten could break her out of that malady.

**********

When Lisa awoke the following morning things proceeded as they always did. It was the same tried mantra; wake up, feed Koenig, take a bath, get dressed, check e-mail, go downstairs and finally drink a quick coffee alongside her disagreeable father. Lisa did most of that with a chip on her shoulder. She didn't express anger very well however; so to Daphne and Richard it was like it always was with her. It was per usual. There were times when Lisa really believed that should she even catch fire they wouldn't notice her.

It was all quite meaningless though. Her mind, as normal, had vacated from her usual routine and settled on her newly burgeoning love-life. Throughout the process of getting ready for school the only thing she thought about was what happened with Dani. Part of her really felt guilty. Normally Danielle Cooper was such a strong person to her, this Goddess of determination and strength that Lisa felt powerless to deny. But lately she had been seeing a new side to Dani, one that proved wholesale she wasn't nearly as strong as Lisa had thought her to be. There was an understated but palpable fragility nestled inside Dani's heart -- Lisa had seen it twice thus far, the first time being after all her facial injuries and the second being yesterday. The blonde didn't think she'd ever forget that heartbroken look in Dani's eyes. It was plaguing her even now. But she kept telling herself, over and over and over and over again, that this was for the best. They would probably just cause each other more pain if things continued as they had thus far. This didn't need to be another modern reincarnation of the hedgehog's dilemma. They could get through this; of that Lisa was becoming quite certain. So by the time she went downstairs there was little in her head that accentuated regret. There was maybe a little guilt for Dani's reaction to the whole thing, but no regret.

This time Lisa made quick goodbye's to her parents (so quick in fact that Daphne could not stop and cajole her into eating something she didn't want or sitting around a table with a father who barely knew her) and left the house abruptly. Lisa noted with some relief that for once Dani's car was not parked up in her parent's driveway. Less than four minutes later Nicole emerged from her own home. Lisa smiled fully. She looked great as always. This morning she had forsaken her brown satchel for a rucksack though. It was open slightly, and inside she could see one of the heels of a pair of studded shoes. >From that Lisa recalled that Nicole would be trying out for the girl's soccer team today.

"Hey Lisa." Nicole said, somewhat more chirpy than yesterday. "Ready to go?"

She nodded. "Of course. But how are you? Are you... okay? You know, after the whole Ryan thing?"

Nicole's smile faded but it wasn't replaced by a frown. Rather it was replaced by a thoughtful and distant glance in the distance. She seemed to be in deep thought for a moment, perhaps even losing sight of her surroundings, then shook herself out of the reverie to answer. "...You know what? In a really weird way... I think I'm already over it."

That had Lisa confused. "...Really...? But... I mean... he was your-"

"I know. He was my boyfriend and he was a great one. But I put my head down last night and I just had a good chance to think things through. I think that part of the reason I got so upset was because Ryan was like... the last piece of 'home' I had left. That's no fair on him and it's not fair on me. I think its best to move on."

Lisa couldn't have been happier to hear that. "I'm pleased for you. I hated seeing you so upset."

"And that's why you're my friend...!" Nicole nudged her playfully as they started walking to the bus stop. "So what plans do you have for the weekend?"

Lisa blinked. "...Plans?"

"Yeah, you know, plans? What'cha got planned? You gonna hit the town? Get hammered? Sacrifice a goat?"

"...No, nothing like that..." The blonde giggled a little. "I don't really... do much on the weekends, except... well... studying and stuff."

Nicole stared at her. "...That's all? Studying?"

"Pretty much..."

"Uh huh. No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no. That's boring. That's school. You won't be burying your ass in books... at least not this weekend," Declared the brunette. "No, my friend, this weekend you'll be taking me out for a movie. Yeah, that sounds about right. And there'll be no arguments either."

Lisa smiled privately. "I wasn't going to make any."

That smile widened when Nicole hooked her arm around her more petite shoulders. Nicole brought her close with a chuckle. "Yeah I didn't think so. We'll have a blast."

Justin wrote this:
All you need is love :)