In Stone

31: "As if I'll ever ignore you."

31: “As if I'll ever ignore you.”

Vaeri stayed by Caia's side for the rest of the day. She helped her finish cleaning out what Caia was now calling her new studio, then helped her continue decorating. All the while, the two of them talked like they hadn't seen each other in years.

Like the space between them had never existed, they were even closer now. Caia could ask her any question she wanted and it was no longer quite so odd. Veari stood up for Caia, was mad for her at Caia's parents, and Caia felt special and loved.

Caspian had stood up to her parents as well, of course, but there was something else about seeing Veari do it as well. She wasn't sleeping with Veari, there was no deal between them. Veari had never even heard her parents talk. She was just mad for Caia as a loyal friend.

By the time midnight came around, Vaeri was walking with Caia towards one end of the lake. All of the men were going to the other side. It was time to bathe. Parents were waking up children that had nodded off, elders were being assisted towards the edges of town, and everyone as talking and laughing like this was a great deal of fun.

“I have to admit,” Caia said to Vaeri nervously, “I've never really been in a public bath before.”

“Really?” Vaeri smiled at her as though curious. She wasn't judgmental about anything that Caia said anymore. “It's not that bad. I'll help wash you.”

“That's the part I'm nervous about,” Caia couldn't help but blush. “Do you all not have body issues?”

“No,” Vaeri answered, not really knowing what that meant and assuming that meant that she didn't have it. “You're fine, Caia. This is going to be fun. It's not like any men are there. It's just us women, and a few baby boys that really are too young to separate from their mothers. It's not a problem. You'll have fun, you'll see.”

Caia smiled at her thankfully, but it was a bit hard to believe.

Everyone, men and women, had to walk together towards the large entrance. After that though, they split in half with men going one way and women going the other. Caia didn't see Caspian, surrounded as he was by other men, but she herself was surrounded by chattering women so that really wasn't disappointing.

Once on the other side of the lake, still talking and laughing together, women began to pull off their clothes. It didn't seem to bother them at all. They bared their bodies naturally. There was no shame nor any real pride in it. Not to say that all of them had beautiful, model worthy bodies, they all had natural, normal bodies. Caia saw scars and stretchmarks, birthmarks and wrinkles. They just weren't ashamed because they didn't have the same strict standards of beauty she was used to.

It took a few moments of Vaeri urging her to undress for Caia to finally do so. It was hesitant though, trying to cover up her more private areas. Vaeri chuckled when she saw Caia doing so, but she didn't try to force her to stop. Instead she waved her forward towards the lake's edge. The soft dirt under their bare feet made a great cushion.

Once Caia found herself hip deep in water, she felt better. The midnight full moon had turned the lake into a pool of obsidian black, hiding her body quite nicely. Once she was up to her shoulders, she could almost pretend it was just an ordinary day at the beach.

“So, what now?” she asked Vaeri, splashing water up her over her shoulders.

Vaeri dipped her head back into the water, letting her hair get soaked through. “Now we just let the water the work. Put it all over yourself. Just like...that,” she laughed when Caia just took a breath and plunged herself completely beneath the surface.