Buying the Virgin

CHARLOTTE

Sitting in my room, the small private space that I call my own, in the house I share with seven other students, my phone beeps. It’s an incoming message, from Michael

“Purchase completed fifteen minutes ago. Your Home awaits you.”

*****

Fumbling, as I balance my bags in one hand, door keys to the lock in the other, I step into the hallway of the student house.

As I tramp upstairs, a voice floats down from the top floor; Marie. “That you, Charlotte?”

“Yup,” I shout back.

“You’ve got visitors…. They’re up in the kitchen here. I made them a coffee while they waited.”

I don’t get visitors. There is only one possibility. Racing upstairs, I dash into the kitchen, and, yes, it’s them, my Master and Michael, both grinning wildly.

“Surprise!” says Michael. He sweeps me into his arms, swinging me around, kissing me on the mouth.

My Master, more circumspect, touches me on the shoulder, kissing my forehead. “Hello, Charlotte. Lovely to see you.”

“Mas…. James! Michael…” Suddenly conscious of Marie’s stare, I say. “Oh, Marie. This is Michael, my fiancée and… James…. his friend. This is Marie, one of the other house shares.”

Marie is looking at Michael with far too much interest for my liking. “Ah…. the mysterious fiancée at last,” she says. “We’ve been wondering what you’d be like… Can’t say I blame Charlotte for keeping to herself so much when I see what she’s saving herself for….”

Michael says nothing. With his blond, blue-eyed, good looks, he always draws attention. My Master sucks in his cheeks, looking amused.

“Come on downstairs,” I say. “We can talk in my room. It’s a bit quieter there. Thanks for making the coffee, Marie.”

“Oh, no problem.” She eyes Michael, all too obviously, and he pointedly fails to notice.

arms around me, holding me tight, his mouth opening over mine. His kiss is long and slow, and when he finally pulls away, he remains close, his arm pulling me in

too. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I’d have

thought you would enjoy

a desk, bookshelves, a chair, wardrobe and built-in drawers, but now, my Master sitting on the single chair, Michael sits on the end of the narrow bed as I put on the

cups, I make coffee. Michael comments “Snug. You might swing a cat in here, but it would have to be a small

working and sleeping. The

too high, and from the kitchens above, chairs scrape across the floor. “It’s a bit busy around here, isn’t it.” says my Master. “How about we go out somewhere? A restaurant perhaps? That is,

eaten. And yes, I’d love to go out with you both. It’s been so long. I know it’s only

“If we’re not interrupting anything important.” He head-points my books and notes, open on the desk. “We did choose Friday night, hoping you would

until

out anywhere with

go out. I’m here to

a little at that. My Master looks bland. He continues, “Good, and later…” he lifts my hand, kissing the fingers…” A hotel room perhaps? We thought you might like to celebrate your new

but I don’t have anything really to wear for going out in. I only brought jeans and tee-shirts and everyday sorts of

Master. “We brought some of your other clothes along. They’re in the car. And um, perhaps you should have a shower first? You

showing us how to use a lathe and

to do

have some idea of how a machine shop and

Why don’t you get cleaned up and changed, and we’ll wait upstairs? It’s a bit crowded in here….” He sees my hesitation. “Don’t worry. I’m sure James will keep me out of

“, I think she’s

“Another student?”

on the

make-up and check out the clothes they have brought with them. A classic ‘little black dress’ and high heels, and I feel ready to take on the

chatting with some of my housemates. Kylie and Sandra are there; Caroline too, and a couple of the boyfriends. Michael is drawing attention from the girls and my Master looks amused. Pete is there, his back turned to me as he stirs something in a pan; Marie’s cooking is awful, and Pete usually cooks for both

enter the kitchen, all eyes turn to me, and Pete glances around, then does a double-take as he sees me. “Bloody Hell, Charlotte. I didn’t realise you had legs under your jeans, let

blushes apologetically at Michael. “Um, sorry. didn’t mean… Not used to seeing her like

Michael. “You’ve seen a side of her

*****

lobby, all polished