Dark as the Night

40

Author's note: I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but please enjoy a laugh at poor Odessa's expense.

-Evie

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Later that day, Odessa couldn't help zoning out when she was supposed to be going through patient files, making a list of everyone who was due for a checkup the following month. She kept trying, unsuccessfully, to figure out what James had meant that afternoon, and what was going on between him and Ashlyn.

"-sa! Odessa!"

She jumped and nearly dropped her tablet when she realized that Leila was calling her name. "Yes?" she asked sheepishly.

"Dessa..." Leila narrowed her eyes and used the nickname Tai had begun using. "What's going on? You're usually more alert. Are you overloaded with tutoring and training? Do you need your hours reduced further? Time off?" Her voice had begun to rise in pitch and speed, her brows furrowing in worry.

Odessa laughed even as she winced. "I'm fine, you can calm down." She twisted her fingers together and looked away nonchalantly. "I just have something on my mind," she mumbled.

Leila's face softened as she sighed with relief. "What's up? Anything I can help with?"

Odessa looked down at her screen, intently trying to avoid Leila's eyes. "It's nothing, really. I'm just confused about something James said today."

"Well that's not surprising," Leila said with a snort and roll of her eyes. "That boy has no clue how to actually talk to girls. He only knows how to flirt with them."

"He doesn't flirt with me," Odessa commented thoughtfully. "But I know what you mean. At least, I do after this morning."

Leila set her tablet down and turned fully toward Odessa, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest. "What did he do?" she asked with a sardonic arch of her brow.

Odessa put her own tablet down and sighed. "This girl, Ashlyn I think he said, came up to him and just started flirting with him. It was really obvious and kind of gross." She scrunched her nose and Leila snorted again. She continued, "she invited him over and he agreed, then after she left, he told Tai and me that he and Ashlyn...." she paushed, blushing. "...Lick each other. He said she likes to lick his abs and then he said he really likes licking too and I just... don't... know what he meant. It seemed really awkward and grossed me out." Now she was the one talking quickly, her words flying out of her mouth almost before she could catch her breath.

Leila cringed and put her hands over her ears. "Lalalalalalalala!" she cried out. "I do not want o hear about James licking girls! He is basically my little brother and just– Gah!" she mimicked gagging and shuddered. Odessa laughed, amused by the woman's antics.

"Well what did he mean? Why would he want to lick her stomach?? I'm so confused!" Odessa wailed and put her head in her hands.

Leila looked at her askance. "How much do you actually know about sex, other than the mechanics of it?" she asked.

Odessa put her hands back in her lap and fidgeted in her seat. "Um... not much? Obviously I know where babies come from, what sex organs are and how they work, and um..." she trailed off then continued quietly, "how the pieces fit together and that it feels good."

The last word was so quiet, Leila barely heard it. She sighed deeply. "So basically, to answer my question, nothing." She groaned, "This is going to be a loooong night..."

Their work forgotten, Leila proceeded to spend the rest of their shift explaining the reality of human sexuality not covered by a textbook, and Odessa spent it in utter mortification.