Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:22:01 -0500
From: Cameron P. <cameron9_24_81@hotmail.com>
Subject: Worn State of Grace part 1

This story is purely a work of fiction and therefore any resemblences to
real people are not intented. The story contains sexual acts between women,
if this type of content offends you or you are underage, please do not read
it.

If there are any comments to be made you can reach me at the following
address: Cameron9_24_81@hotmail.com


"Crap, I'm late!"  I sqreeched as I grabbed my bag and headed out the door
to my car.  "I hate being late to new jobs."  The engine rolled and I
headed off to work.  When I arrived at the university I pulled into the
faculty parking lot and unloaded my things from the back.  "I'm never going
to live this down, I swear.  I've never been late for a job.  I just can't
get myself together these days." I said as I jogged into the building.

I have just accepted a teaching position at a university in the town I just
moved to.  My parter of fifteen years and I have recently decided to call
it quites and I needed a fresh start.  However, it is difficult to start
things over when you're thirty-seven.  What's that saying?  "You can't
teach an old dog new tricks."  Or something of the sort.  I bought a small
one bedroom house in a small little community.  It wasn't much.  But it was
nice.  I've planned on fixing the place up a little after i settled in.  As
of right now, however, it was still filled with boxes and I've been living
off of take out for two weeks.  So I'm still a little unorganized.  And
that's an understatement.

When I saw the door that held my room I quickened my pace and practically
knocked the door down as I entered.  There, among textbooks, backpacks and
clicking pencils were about twenty of the most sullen faces I've ever seen.
Don't get me wrong, I've been teaching for some years now, but at this
point in my life I might have rethought the prospect of spending my time
with a lot of young adults.  I finally got a grip on myself as I walked
over to the desk and laid my bag on top of it.  I turned around and faced
the angry mob.  "Hello, I'm professor Warren, I'm sorry I'm late.  I'd like
to get started with a few main things in which I will expect from you this
term and run over the syllibus...."

"I'm hoping one of your expectations isn't punctuality.  If so, you've
started off your year at a loss."  I heard a voice pipe up from the back.

I looked around and saw where the voice had come from.  I small girl sat in
the window sill in the back of the room.  It was rather hard to tell if she
was a girl or just an exceptionally pretty boy.  Shaggy dark blond hair
crowned her head, the bangs falling just below her eyes.  Her figure was
small, yet toned in the shirt she was wearing that seemed to be painted to
her body.  And her bottom half was clad in a tight pair of khaki pants.

"Excuse me, miss...?"  I said, extending for her name, I was slightly
insulted at the comment.

"Cassiraghi, Merrick Cassiraghi."  She said with a slight smile.

"Well, Miss Cassiraghi, I hardly think you need to make comments about my
tardiness.  Considering it is the class I'm teaching."

This girl stares at me for a minute, one eyebrow raised, assessing my
comment.  "Very true, and I'm sorry if it seemed rude to you.  But, in
order for you to teach you have to be here."

  Can you believe this?  This girl, practically a child, telling me what I
should do!  I swear, the way they raise kids these days kills me.  These
kids parents have so much money that they don't know what to do with it.
So these kids grow up thinking they can say anything and have anything they
want.  I feel sorry for them because one day they're going to realize that
money doesn't get you everything.

"If we could please get back to the task at hand..."  I started but then
got interupted again by the class, stating that it was time for them to go.
I sighed wearily and just gave up.  "Go, go, we'll start again next class".
I slumped down in my desk chair and tried to work out some kind of schedule
or goal for the class.

The day that followed was ungodly.  I haven't yet to make a friend.  So I
went through the day in solitude.  Just working on my curriculum and
thinking about my life.  Finally, it was time to head home.  My sanctuary
of a little house.  I walked through the door and instantly felt lighter.
My best friend came up to greet me.  She was a Scottie named Brante.  I
fixed some tea and curled up on the couch with her and watched a movie
trying to forget about my day and the days to come.

Over the next few weeks things started getting lighter on me.  I even
started talking to a few people.  Not that I'm unsocialble, mind.  But
since Janet left I just haven't been in the mood for much light
conversation.  I still can't understand how it all happened.  We were so
happy together.  Or so I thought.  We met at college.  I was a young,
enthusiastic English major and she was this ribrant, amazing Government
student.  In our differences we really worked well together.  We hit it off
right away and from then on we couldn't be seperated.  I completely wrapped
my life around her.  Lived for her if you will. She graduated and became a
defense lawyer and I became and english teacher.  We even moved wherever
her heart desired so she could further her career.  Everyone liked her.
She was so easy going and friendly.  It wasn't until last year I figured
out exactly how "friendly" she was.  I came home early a few months ago and
noticed her car was in the drive.  I was so excited because we hadn't had a
day off together in years.  I hurried into the house and called for her as
I walked into the living room.  I stopped in my tracks when I saw her ass
up with some young woman, completely naked.  I shudder now as I think of
how I lost it.  I cried and screamed at her.  She tried to explain to me
that it's only happened this once, that the stress from the case she was on
was too much and she lost her mind momentarily.  That it wouldn't happen
again.  We screamed and yelled for hours.  But I remember my mother always
told me that once a cheater, always a cheater.  And I told her in the very
beginning that you only got the chance to screw me over once, and I was
gone.  So I packed up the next day and left.  Sometimes I still wonder if
it was the right decision.  But I could never look at her the same after
that.  And I knew it.

  A knock on the door to my office snapped me back.

"Grace?  I was wondering if you wanted to go down to the bar with me and
some of the girls?"  It was Julie.  The History teacher whom I've recently
started talking with more.

"I don't know, I've got a lot of papers to grade.  I should finish."  I
said.  I didn't really feel like going out, but it would be nice to be in
the company of someone other than my dog.

"Awwww come on, we'll have fun.  We can trade horror stories."  She smiled
and kept on until I agreed.  So I grabbed my coat and we headed down to the
bar most of the students favored.

We walked in and the smell of cigarette smoke and the noise of voices was
enough to push you back out the door. We sat at a table by the window and
Julie went to get the drinks.  I found myself at the table with three other
women and a man from the school.  I hadn't really spoken to any of them
before, but they seemed very eager to include me in their conversation.  I
greatly appreciated it and immediately felt "apart" of the group.  After a
bit in the conversation I was looking around the room.  Taking in the
environment.  A wooden bar, stained glass windows spread without.  A lot of
little square tables.  And then I heard a voice in my ear.  "First you're
late and now you're drinking.  This isn't looking like a healthy pattern,
Teach."  I whirled around quickly and looked into the face of the girl who
was rude to me my first class, Merrick.  There was a smirk on her face and
her eyes were looking right into mine.  She kind of un-nerved me.  She had
that pressence that made you stop in your tracks.  Not in a bad way, just
in puzzlement, dazed.  A cigarette was burning in between her long, thin
fingers and her hair was down across her left eye.

I recovered my composure and looked at her solumly." I don't think what I
do in my off time is any of your concern."

"I wasn't commenting out of concern, I was commenting out of interest and
mild intrique."  Steel grey eyes bored into mine.

"And why should I be of interest to you?" I asked, shortly.

"Because, you're a very attractive woman,Hence the intrigue ,and someone
has done something to take your sparkle away.  That's where the interest
comes in." She leans easily against the table behind her.

"My life in general is nothing you need to know about.  All you need to be
interested in of me is what I can teach you about English." My temper was
starting to rise.  Who the hell did this kid think she was??

"And I am very interested in your intellect.  But, I would figure that an
educated mind would also allow room for what they can learn from others."
She raised her eyebrows and smiled in an arrogant way, as if to say she had
made a point, and walked off.

I turned back to my table, fuming.  "What was that all about?" Julie asked.
"It's this girl that's been rather rude and arrogant to me since my first
class." I said, still annoyed.

"That's Merrick Cassiraghi." Said Paul, the only guy in our group.

"Oh so you've heard of her?"  I said with a raised eyebrow.

"Darling, everyone's heard of her.  She's insanely brilliant.  She's
received several awards already and she's only been in college a year and a
half."  One of the other women said.  "Not to mention she's gorgeous, in an
unconventional way.  She's flirted the pants of quite a few of the women
professors here.  Not slept with them, though.  Just flirted with them
until they went insane with want.  And she's seemed to have taken an eye
for you, Grace."  She said with a wry smile.

"Well, I'm not having any of it.  I haven't seen one hint of intelligence
yet.  Just a lot of arrogance.  And I really dispise that in someone.  Plus
I'm a teacher.  I teach.  I will not be propositioned by a nine-teen year
old."

"That's what they all say." Julie said with a huge smile.

I rolled my eyes and huffed into my drink and we continued with random
conversation until we figured it was best to go home before we couldn't
drive.



Things were actually getting quite normal in my life.  I developed a
routine.  Made a few friends and was working on getting my house fixed up.
And it was going quite well if I do say so myself.  I've picked out
wonderful colors.  A bright yellow for the kitchen and a beautiful mossy
green for the living room.  And right now I'm in the process of painting my
bedroom.  So I've been sleeping on the couch for the past week.  Which is
where I am now.  I've decided to call it quits for the evening and relax.
I was watching one of my favorite British sitcoms on tv when the phone
rang.

"Hello?"

"Gracie, it's your grandmother!"  My grandma said in her thick New Jersey
accent, like I'd forget who she was.

"Hi gram, How're you doing?"

"Good good, How're you?"

"Good good, I've adjusted here and gotten settled.  it's a very nice town.
When I left Janet I thought I would never be happy again.  But I'm
content."  I said with a small sigh.

"You know, I never liked that Janet.  You could tell there was something
sinister about her."

"I know Gram, you told me this a hundred times."

"I'm an old lady, I get to repeat myself, it's my right as a senior
citizen.  Anyways, I was wondering if you'd want some company for a while?"

"Why Gram?  What happened?"  I asked in concern.  Since my grandfather died
she's been living with my parents.  Much to myy fathers dismay.  Grandma's
a little...out there.  After grandpa died she signed up for karate and
bought a gun and now lives in a realm of fantasy.  Only returning to the
real world when necessary.

"Oh everything's fine, I just need a break from your parents.  They're
driving me nuts!  No imagination.  They're cramping my style."

I laughed and I found out she had already bought a plane ticket and would
be arriving here on Saturday.



I drove to the airport on Saturday morning and waited in the terminal for
Grandma to arrive.  She was the first one off the plane.  The poor little
steward tried to help her off of the plane and got a purse upside his
head. "I'm old, not helpless!"  She said as she wobbled over to me.
"Gracie!  My sweet grandchild."  She hugged me and kissed my cheek.  I love
this woman.  She's been my sole confidant throughout my life.

"Come on Gram.  I have a few papers to grade, but we can have dinner and
get you settled in."  I said as I picked up her bag.

When we arrived back at my house I got grandma settled in the guest room
and went in to the kitchen to start making something for lunch.  Grandma
came bustling in 10 minutes later.  "Why don't you go finish those papers
of yours and I'll make something.  No no I insist!  I'll make lunch and you
go tend to your papers."  I sighed and went into the living room where I
kept my desk.  I graded a paper here and a paper there.  And then I got to
Merrick's paper.  I had assigned them to write their views on a play we had
just read.  I didn't even know she had handed one in.  She hadn't been in
my class since that first day.  I began to read it.  My God was it a
brilliant paper.  Her use of the language was exquist.  Her ideas were
thought provoking and her writing style was like none I had ever seen.
What a curious girl this was.  To be so egotistical and a womanizer.  Which
that usually is the type.  The more talents they possess the greater they
think they are.

"Whatcha thinking about toots?"  Grandma said pottering into the living
room.

"This essay from a girl in my class.  It's wonderful.  And it just
surprises me that it came from her."

"Why does it surprise you?"  She asked curiously.

"You'd have to know this girl.  She's very pretentious.  Thinks she can
look at you and know you.  She's a womanizer.  She made a comment to me my
first class about my lateness and then I saw her at a bar a few weeks later
and she told me that I intrigued her because it seems someone had stolen my
sparkle or something."

"Well..I think it makes you angry because it's true."  Grandma said...very
cautiously.

"Don't side with her.  Even if it were true I just can't like her.  I hate
egocentric people.  And she's the biggest one I've ever met." I said with
vexation.

She just shrugged and brought in some sandwiches and tea for lunch and we
sat and talked about the family and such.



    On Monday I had scheduled a test on the material we'd covered so far.
I walked down the aisles and handed out the papers.  Discussing what was on
the test and the rules of the test.  When I got to the back i noticed
Merrick.  I looked at her for a few seconds and she smirked at me.  I
quickly averted my eyes and walked back to the front of the room.  They had
an hour to finish, so I sat at my desk and did some planning.  I kept
looking over at Merrick.  Watching her as she chewed on the end of per
pencil.  She had perfect, white teeth and full lips.  Her hair was in a
choppy style.  The bangs on the left side of her face were longer than the
right.  In the light from the window it looked more blond than it did the
first day.  She had long legs clad in tight mens jeans and a tight mens
tshirt.  Just then she raised her eyes to me.  She smiled a deviilish
smirk.  I lowered my eyes back to my papers quickly.  Finally, the hour was
up and the students passed by me and put their papers on my desk.  Merrick
walked by and layed her paper down slowly.  I paused for a
moment. "Merrick...I wanted to talk to you about your essay you handed in."

She looked at me, an amused expression on her face.  "Something wrong with
it, Teach?"

"No, I just wanted to tell you it was positively insightful.  Which
surprises me because this makes the second time you've attended this class.
So my question is, how did you get it done?"  I said, staring at her.

"Well, Thank you for the compliment.  And the answer you're fishing for is
simple.  You gave us a sylibus.  If you follow that you really don't need
to be here." She explained.

"Well, part of your grade is based on class participation.  So, you won't
be getting the grades your work really deserves."

"Well then it's not a very good rule, is it?  Why should I have to sit in
here for an hour when you can look at my work and know that I grasp
everything?"

I couldn't really think of a come back for that.  And luckily, I didn't
have to.  Grandma strolled in, wearing a pair of spandex biking shorts and
a spandex tanktop.  And to my horror, she had flaming red hair on her head.
"Well Hi there!"  She exclaimed.  "And who's this?

"This is Merrick Cassiraghi. grandma.  Merrick, this is my grandmother
Edith Warren."  I introduced them, secretly amazed at grandma's wardrobe.

"Well, aren't you just the bee's knees."  Grandma said, looking Merrick up
and down.

Merrick laughed slightly and smiled and full on smile.  "Well thank you
very much Mrs. Warren.  And might I say I love your hair and outfit.  It's
very becoming."

"Why thank you, I'm a happening young chick.  I've got to keep myself
looking snazzy." Grandma smiled.

Dear God please don't let her encourage grandma.  She's weird enough as it
is.

"Well, that's really all I wanted to talk about."  I said to Merrick. "I
would appreciate it if you're attendance would be more frequent."

She smiles and leaned over my desk slightly and a smirk. "You just want an
excuse to look at me more often.  Thank you again for the compliment ,
Insegnante."  And she walked out with a swagger to her hips.

"My goodness.  Wasn't she something?"  Grandma said.  "If only I were 40
years younger."

"Grandma!"  overwhelming shock.

"What?  She's a hot one.  Why don't you date her?"

"First off, she's a student.  Second off, she irritaites the hell out of
me." I said, packing up my stuff.

"And?  You think I liked your grandfather?  Heck no.  But the man had a
behind that fit in a pair of chinos so snug..."

"okay okay okay!"I screamed.  Desperately wanting to change the subject
from my grandfather's posterior.


The weeks continued to go on.  Grandma had been staying with me for a few
months now.  And it was nice to have some company around the house.  My
classes had finally came to an end.  The students had taken their exams and
tonight was an awards ball to honor those who had excelled in their
subjects.  Don't even get me started on who mine was.

Grandma bustled in.  "So what are you wearing to you shindig tonight?"

"I don't know, just a black dress probably." I said, not really caring.

"Aw come on.  Give your old grandma a little fashion show.  You know what
they say.  It isn't worth dressing up if you don't go all out."  She put on
her sad, old woman face.  I sighed.

"Alright, alright.  Let me go pick out a few."  I clumped to my bedroom.
After about ten minutes I came out in my first choice.  It was a black
dress that came right below my knees with black sleeves on it and a rounded
neckline.

"Are you going to a funeral?"  came the comment.

"This is a nice, respectable dress Grandma."  I said sternly.

"Yes, it's respectable for a middle-aged house wife in the mormon
community."

"I am middle-aged, unless you've forgotten."

"Of course I haven't forgotten.  But you use to really do yourself up when
you went out.  Why not do it now?  You're still a beautiful girl.  Show it.
And if the rest of your choices look like this, don't show me.  I can't
take no more."

I flopped on the couch, letting out a sigh as I hit.  All of my clothes
looked like this now.  I felt middle-aged and frumpy.  So my wardrobe
showed it.  "You know, I don't even think I want to go to this".

"Of course you do.  We just need to make you feel sexy.  I'll be right
back. "  Grandma said, scooting upstairs.  After a lot of rustling I heard
her descend.  She was carrying something floral.

"Here, I bought this in manhatten when I had a date.  And he died before I
got to wear it.  It's a shame to let it go to waste."  She held it up to
me.  It was beautiful.  But even I had apprehentions about wearing a dress
an old woman had picked out.  Then I remembered it was my grandma.  I went
to try it on and didn't even want to come out of my bedroom.  It was a
beautiful dress.  However, it was short.  It had spaghetti strapes and see
through lacy material over top of the white material.  The flowers on it
were open and red.  Mixed with some yellows and pinks.  And it came above
my knee.  I heard grandma call from the living room.  "If you need shoes to
go with it I've got those too!"

"Grandma!  I'm not wearing this!  It shows way too much of me."

"Nonsense!"  She walked back into my bedroom.  "You look like a stunner.  I
got the shoes.  Now we need to do your hair and put on some make-up.  Not
enough to make you look like a tart though."  She was carrying her make-up
bag and a pair of white sling back heels.  It boggled my mind how she ever
thought she was going to walk on those things.  I finally gave in and let
grandma do what she wanted.  It's no point in arguing with the elderly.
They've put up with years of crap.  So a little from you doesn't fase them
a bit.

When She got done I looked in the mirror.  And for the first time in over a
year.  I felt beautiful.  My hair had been pinned up loosly, a few little
tresses left to fall around my heart shaped face.  The make up grandma had
applied was light.  Not even noticable and she had put a bold shade of red
on my lips.  The auburn of my hair looked nice with the colors in the
dress.  I really did look good.  I hardly recognized the person looking at
me with large, brown eyes.

"There!  You look like a movie star" Grandma said, smiling.

I smiled a large smile. "Thanks, I really do feel good."

It was about time to be there.  So I started gathering my things.  I popped
my head around the corner to the living room. "Are you sure you don't want
to come?" I asked grandma.

"No no, you go have fun.  I'm going to stay here and watch Matlock and call
some of my girlfriends from Jersey."

"Okay, I've got my cell phone if you need anything."

"Alright sweetie, have a good time.  Knock em dead."

I locked the door behind me and headed to the University.  I walked into
the big, grand hall in which we were holding the celebration.  A little
self concious now.  The hall was done up beautifully.  They had a stage set
up in the front of the huge room and tables situated around.  A large dance
floor centered the room.  Julie walked up to me.

"Oh my God, you look gorgeous!"  She squealed.

I blushed.  "Thanks, so do you."

"So come on.  All of the honories are here.  They're going to get the
ceremony over with first.  She lead me to a table where a bunch of the
other teachers I associated with were seated.  Everyone commented on how
lovely I looked.  It was very flattering.  A few minutes later the lights
dimmed and our Dean stepped to the podium on the stage.  After a ten minute
speech, in which we all wanted to shoot ourselves or drown in our drinks,
the awards started to get handed out.  We all politely applauded at the
right moments.  And then Merricks name got called.  She ambled across the
stage.  Those long legs taking strides.  She completely astounded me.  She
was atired in a black, very tight fitting suit, flat front pants, a white
shirt and a silk tie, also in black.  All of which, looked very nice on her
slim frame.  Her hair was perfect.  It had that piecy, "just got out of
bed" look.  She smiled as she accepted her awards.  I stared at her the
whole time as she walked back off stage.

The whole ceremony lasted forty-five minutes.  I was ready to fall asleep
by the time it was over.  People started getting up from their tables to
mingle and dance.  I stayed there chatting with Julie and anyone else who
wandered over.  I was having a good time.  After a half hour Paul asked me
to dance.  I hadn't danced with anyone in a long time.  So I accepted.  We
were whirling around the dance floor, idly chatting, when Paul looked
behind him.  Merrick was tapping him on the shoulder.

"Can I cut in?"  She asked, with a smile.

He cut his eyes to me and grinned.  "Sure, I was getting a little tired.
Old age, it kills you."

"No, I really should go and sit down myself..." I started.  But Merrick
grabbed me and pulled me into her.  Her Left hand in my right and her right
arm across my back.

"Aw Teach, it's a dance."  She smiled full on.  So I relaxed.  Figuring I'd
get it over with.

"You look stunning. " She said. "That dress is amazing."

"Thank you.  You look very nice yourself.  Although I was surprised you
wore a suit to an event like this." I said with a raised eyebrow.

"And why not?  It's what I like and these people are no concern to me.  If
I don't like me, who else will?"

"Very true, I suppose."

We whirled around the floor for a few minutes.  I was surprised she could
dance so well.  Most young people can't do the classic dances.  They can
only grind and writhe.  She smelled wonderful.  I was wondering what it was
when the band started playing an upbeat, Latin number.

"I think I should go sit down now."  I said.  Not really being a big fan of
the genre.  I turned and started to go when she grabbed my hand and pulled
me into her.

"Teach, are you that afraid of being close to me?"

"Of course I'm not afraid.  I'm just not a fan of this type of music." I
said, getting a little annoyed.

"Then you just haven't had the right dance partner."  Those eyes were
boring into me again.

I just stared at her.  I couldn't say anything. I just stayed there in her
arms.  We started moving to the beat.  Hip to hip.  She never moved her
eyes from mine.  When the beat of the music picked up, so did she.  She
twirled me out from her and drew me back in. She danced as if I were
feather-light in her arms.  Her hands moved to my ass and griped it,
pulling me closer and pulling me, my toes scimming the floor.  She twirled
and grinded and I was lost in the moment.  All I could see was her.  My
back arched as I was dipped backwards, her left hand made it's way, flat
palmed from my calf over my groin, my stomach, up and throat.  I shivered.
And as the music ended she snapped me down in one last dip.  She leaned
down and her lips met with mine.  My lips willingly parted, making room for
her tongue.  After a minute I noticed applause.  I looked around the room
and the dance floor had cleared while we were dancing.  I looked at her in
embarrassment.

she smirked.  "See, with Latin dances, it's only perfect when there's
sexual chemistry.  You have to feel as if you're making love on the floor."

"If you think I want to sleep with you, you're more pompous than I
thought."  I said angrily.

I stomped off and out the door.  I only looked back once and she was just
standing there, hands in her pockets, smiling wryly.


Continued....