LEGEND OF LEXI

CHAPTER 5

CONTINUE:

*******

"Guess that's the end of that back rub, huh?" Lexi said.

"Uh, yeah, I guess so."

"That's too bad. It was kinda nice."

I stared at her, but she didn't even glance my way. Her tone was utterly lacking in guile or sarcasm. So far as I could tell, she meant exactly what she'd said. Which was, after all, what my hope had been. Something didn't sit quite right with me about it, but I didn't have time to worry about it right now.

"Keep your eyes on your game," I said.

"Why?"

"Gotta change, don't I? You heard Dad."

"So what, you thought I'd peek?"

"Maybe. I dunno. Just keep your eyes averted, yeah?"

Lexi snickered. "You're being so weird this morning. When have I ever looked?"

"I dunno. Just don't start now."

I was pretty quick about getting dressed, and it was really only a few seconds while I changed boxers that mattered anyway. I rarely slept in anything more than underwear, and what with Lexi's early morning gaming, she'd seen me like that too many times for it to even register.

She was still just lying there staring fixedly at the tv screen when I left.

****

I was pretty convinced I'd been temporarily insane that morning. Once I'd gone through some of my normal life, the urges I'd felt seemed ridiculous and not a good idea to act on at all. Then again, that was often how urges experienced while horny seemed once the moment had passed.

Luckily, I hadn't broken anything. Nothing had changed. I'd acted a bit weird, but judging by Lexi's lack of reaction through the rest of the day, she'd barely given it any thought.

It was late that evening before I was given any sign that I'd made an impression.

This time, I was the one playing a game. Lexi came into my room near-silently, except for the faint squeak of the door. I didn't give her much notice at first since that morning was out of my mind, I was otherwise absorbed, and her walking in whenever she wanted wasn't unusual, so long as I hadn't left the door fully closed. She was better than our parents about respecting a shut door, and I made sure to leave it cracked most of the time so as not to push my luck and ruin a good thing.

Rather curiously for Lexi, she slipped around behind my chair and stood leaning against the back of it, arms draped loosely around my neck. When she didn't do anything more than that, I got too curious not to say anything.

"What ya doing there?"

"Nothin'."

"Nothin', huh?"

"Yep."

"You trying to freak me out just hovering like that? You know I'm not gonna give up and let you play instead just because you're being weird."

"Perish the thought." Lexi shifted slightly. "No, I had a thought like maybe I could rub your shoulders or something, but it's not a very good angle. Then it turned out it's kind of a comfy spot."

"Comfy, or just amusing because you're lurking behind me?"

"Both." She moved her chin closer to my ear. "It was kinda weird you just rubbing my back out of nowhere, you know."

My heart jumped. She didn't sound like she knew exactly why I'd done it, but she was being a bit hard to read too. "Oh?"

"But it was nice."

"Oh. Good."

"So I thought it might be nice if I did something for you too."

"Really? Is that what this is?"

"I dunno. It was a thought. People like shoulder rubs, I think. I never saw the appeal really. Back rubs just seem better. Mighta been a good chance to find out for sure, though."

"Well I mean if back rubs are on the table..."

"Can't do that either, smarty-pants."

"Maybe not right here, but I possess the mystical power of locomotion."

I slid smoothly out of my seat and onto my bed without ever taking my eyes off my game. I emulated Lexi's favourite game-playing pose by resting on my tummy with my elbows propping me up near the very foot of the mattress.

"Wow," Lexi said with all due sarcasm, "that's a neat trick."

"I thought you'd like it."

"Buuuttt what if I just steal your chair now that you're out of it?"

"That would be cruel, and I would be forced to be slightly annoyed at you."

"Oh. Well then."

Lexi seemed to still consider being a chair thief for a moment, but opted against it. She came over to sit with me instead.

To be continue..