Gala

Derek walked out of the math wing of the school and shielded his eyes from the piercing sun. It was cold despite the sunshine. He buried his neck into the shallow collar of his windbreaker. His gaze gravitated to the ground to keep the sun out of his eyes. He had a long walk back to his apartment. The wind bit at him thru the thin vinyl of his jacket.I need a real coat,he thought to himself. He looked down at the hole starting to poke out from the upper of his left shoe. He could just see his big toe pierce thru.And new shoes.He made it to the edge of campus when he heard honking. He didn't need to look back to who it was.

Sure enough, it was a huge pink Cadillac with Lola inside. Her arm waved thru the driver window, wrapped in a puffy pink and white coat. "Deeeereek~" she sang.

"Hey," Derek replied. He walked over to the open window. "What's up?"

"What's up? I'm here to pick you up, is what's up!" she said. Derek looked up at her round face. She was dolled up with eyelash extensions and a bit of blush. Her full lips were painted with the supersaturated pink of her favorite lipstick.

"You don't have to do this for me," he said. "I know how to walk."

"It's a million miles to get to your place from here," she said.

"It's only two miles."

"And I can't just let my boyfriend walk thru this awful weather dressed in his daintiest spring jacket," she reached out and pinched the fabric of his windbreaker, rolling it between her fingers. "You'll catch a cold if you walk home in that. And the puddles!"

"Okay, okay," Derek relented. "You came all this way, it would be rude not to." Lola clapped her hands in approval. Derek climbed in on the passenger side. It was toasty and dim from the dark tint on all the windows. Lola took him away.

"So how was school?"

Derek let out a groan. "It was fine. Everything's ramping up toward the end of the semester. I got an English paper, an algebra exam, and a speech due all before break." He slouched back in the leather seat. "I'm not sure if I'll make it."

"You can make it, sweetheart," Lola said. "I know it's tough, but I believe in you." She reached across and patted a hand on his leg.

"Thanks," Derek mumbled. He closed his eyes. "And I can't even really enjoy the break. I gotta work on Thanksgiving day."

"Really?" Lola asked. "Why is a hardware store open on Thanksgiving?"

"I don't know, maybe it's for all the dads that forgot to build a dinner table beforehand." Derek waved his hand in the air. "I can just imagine the wife saying 'honey, did you build that dinner table like I asked?'" Derek said in a high-pitched voice. "And the husband goes: 'uhh, of course I did. It's in the garage. Just needs a final coat of varnish.'" Derek said in the gruffest voice he could manage. He turned toward Lola. "And we're helping that poor guy out by being open for six hours on Thanksgiving."

Lola laughed. "That's a shame tho. My Derek should be able to enjoy the holiday." She stopped at a red light halfway to his apartment. She glanced at the dashboard clock. "Do you work today?"

"Nope," Derek said, falling back into the seat.

"You should come over to my place. It's been too long since we've spent time together."

"I came over three days ago."

"And I've missed youeveryday since then," she said. "You seem tired. Let me take care of you tonight."

Derek closed his eyes. Hewastired. School had turned his mind to pudding. He let out a big sigh. "But I need to work on..." he started.

"I'll make some empanadas."

Derek opened one eye.

"Steakempanadas."

Derek sat up straight. "Curse you woman, my one weakness. Alright, I'll come over."

"Yes!" Lola cried, stomping down the accelerator as the light turned green.

They arrived at Lola's apartment building. The parking lot and sidewalks were totally clear of snow, like cuts thru shaving cream. Lola lived in a swank building that was newer than her car, with a pool, and a dedicated fenced-off area for people's dogs to play. Lola waved her badge at the sensor next to the door. They went up the elevator to the top floor. It was big enough to lift a hibernating bear, but Lola hooked her arm thru Derek's and pulled him close. Derek had to lift his hand out of his jacket pocket to accommodate this. Lola was a full head taller than him, built like the fashion model she was. The elevator doors chimed open, and they walked down the long hall, arm in arm. They stopped outside the door with the giant pink wreath. Lola fished for her keys, made difficult by her refusal to unhook herself from Derek. Finally, she turned the key and brought him inside.

Derek had done the math, and estimated that at least half the surface area in Lola's apartment, (including the ceiling) was pink. Pink rugs, pink appliances, pink plushies on the pink couch. If the landlord hadn't forbidden it, Lola would have tried to dye the wood floors pink. "Make yourself at home~" Lola chimed, locking the door behind them. Derek didn't need to be told twice. He shed his windbreaker and soggy sneakers. Derek allowed himself an eyeful as Lola took off her coat. Lifting the pink puffs of the coat revealed Lola's luscious figure. Her black hair cascaded down her back like liquid velvet, cresting at the ends like waves. She wore a cream cold-shoulder sweater. Two orbs of flesh sat high on her chest. Her sweater stretched to accommodate her opulent bust, big enough to lose your wallet in. Derek could see the faint outline of where her flesh spilled over her bra under her sweater. They bowed out to the sides, giving her side boob from the back. This exaggerated her already snatched waist. The mirrored curves of her waist repelled out to the widest pair of mother-birthing hips Derek had ever seen. Maybe even wider than her shoulders. Derek had been tempted to get a tape measure to prove this, but didn't know how to broach the topic. These hips strained her black leggings. Lola once confessed to him that she had to buy maternity clothes to accommodate her. But the biggest bump was in the back. Her butt was huge, almost a shelf. Something you could serve tea and crumpets on. From here, her body tapered down to her thighs, plump yet taught. Her hips drove a gap just beneath her crotch, but her thighs came to touch below this, before descending into strong calves. Her legs were long even for a woman her height. They finally terminated in a pair of black hiking boots with tufts of white fur poking out around her wool socks. Derek let his gaze glide across her figure. He tried to act cool, but she was a tall glass of hot coffee.

Once she had ditched her coat and boots, she took him by the hand and led him inside. "Take a seat on the couch, sweetie. I'll make you something to drink." Derek fell into the plushness of the sofa. Lola picked up a remote and turned on the electric fireplace, before heading to the kitchen.

Derek slumped back into the cushions and closed his eyes. Fatigue had caught up to him. He listened to the electric whirr of the fire, and the soft clinks of dishes from the kitchen. He ran his fingers over the gentle ridging of the couch cushions. Sleep had almost taken him when he heard Lola pad back to the couch. She held two steaming mugs. Derek could smell the hot chocolate already. "Here you go," Lola cooed, holding out the blue mug she kept just for him. Derek took with both hands. His chilled finger drank in the heat.

"Thank you," he said. Lola sat next to him. Like, right next to him. Nearly on top of him, really. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and stared at him for a moment. They locked eyes. Her's full of sparkles. His lined by dark circles. They sat in silence for a moment.

"How's my big brave student doing today?" she asked.

"I'm super tired," he muttered. "They told me that college would be hard, and they weren't lying."

"The counselors at the orphanage?"

"Yeah. I mean, the classes are easy. It's most of the same stuff as high school. It's having to support myself at the same time." Derek took a sip from his mug. It was the best damn cup of cocoa he had ever had. It flushed his mouth with warmth and languid sweetness. Lola put an arm around him and stroked his hair. "Luckily, I have that scholarship for smart orphans, but that's only good for one year. I don't know what I'll do next year."

Lola took a sip from her own mug. "That's rough baby. You're too smart to not go to school. I'm sure it will work out."

Derek gave a small chuckle. "How?" he asked.

Lola bit her lip. She moved her free hand on top of his, lacing her fingers in his. "I could help you," she offered.

Derek downed the last of his cocoa. "You don't need to do that. I mean, thanks for the offer, but I wouldn't feel right being a burden to you."

Lola put down her mug. "Derek, you are not a burden." She wrapped both arms around him and squeezed him. Derek could feel her bust press into his shoulder, almost encompassing it. "You've done so much on your own already. It's okay to need some help." Derek leaned into Lola, resting his head on her shoulder. He could smell her sugary perfume.

"I know," he said.

"Here, have a lie down," Lola said, laying back on the couch, pulling Derek with her. He followed her pull, and lay on top of her. Her breasts acted like marshmallowy pillows for his head. Lola wrapped her arms around him and kissed the top of his head. They lay in silence, listening to each other breathe, and the gentle whirr of the faux-fireplace. Lola rubbed his back. Derek sunk his arms under her shoulders and pulled himself closer, burying his face in the soft mountains of her sweater. Lola curled her knees around him, drawing him closer.

They lay this that for awhile. Derek couldn't tell how long. Lola slid her hand under his shirt and scratched his back, eliciting a small shudder from him. Lola giggled. "It's gonna be okay baby," she whispered. "You've made it this far. I can help you keep going." Derek looked up at her, his nose almost touching hers. They locked eyes. Lola pulled him by his shoulders and kissed him. A slow peck on the lips. They pulled apart, still staring at each other.

"You're too good to me," Derek said. He went in for another kiss. Lola accepted gladly, parting her lips. Their tongues brushed each other, tasting the echo of hot chocolate. Lola opened wide, taking more of his tongue. Derek pushed further, exploring her mouth. Lola grabbed the back of his head, forcing their heads closer together. Derek hooked his arms underneath her shoulders, and forced him closer. Lola wrapped her lips around his tongue and sucked on it. Derek pushed his crotch into her's. He pulled his tongue out of Lola's grip and kissed her neck. She moaned, wrapping her legs around him, pulling him closer.

Derek unhooked one his arms and slid his hand under her sweater. Her skin was smooth and warm and soft. He probed for her breast, and didn't have to search for long. Her breast was a bulging mountain of flesh that overfilled his hand. He squeezed and felt flesh escape between his fingers. Lola squirmed underneath him, clutching the back of his head. She strained herself into planting kisses on his neck.

Derek worked her breasts like a baker handling dough. He found her already stiff nipple and pinched it. Lola arched her back, lifting them both off the couch. Derek assaulted her neck, giving it a firm bite as he twisted her nipple. "Oh baby!" Lola cried. "Derek! Please!"

Derek relented. He released her breast and neck from his hand and teeth. "We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves," he said into her ear. He sat up.

Lola trailed her fingers along his back as he sat up. "Is it because..?" She trailed off.

"Oh no, it's not that." Derek said. "I don't mind that," he reassured her.

Lola was a futanari. She was up front early on in the relationship about having a penis. She said it was best for him to know early on.

"Do you... still have a vagina?" he asked at the time.

"Yes." Lola said. "I'm a normal girl, I just... have some extra."

"Lola, everything about you is extra," he said, eyeing her up and down. He looked at her preposterous proportions and her designer clothes. He took her hand. "Lola, I like you. I like all of you."

Derek affirmed his affection in the present moment by gently prodding the growing lump in front of Lola's groin, elicit a tense breath. "I'll be ready to meet the littleguywhen the time comes."

Lola furrowed her brow. "Don't call her a little guy," she admonished. "Lolita is a very feminine dick."

Derek laughed. "You named your dick?"

"Well, yeah," Lola admitted. "Don't guys name their dicks?"

"Yeah sure,someof them do," he said. "Did you name your boobs too?"

"This one is Lizzy," Lola said, poking herself in the left breast. "And this one is Larissa."

Derek grabbed both breasts and shook them like he was shaking a pair of hands. "Please to make your acquaintance, ladies. Lola rolled her eyes. "Now," Derek said, pulling Lola up by the shoulders, into a sitting position. "I was promised some empanadas."

"Fine." Lola relented. She dropped her arms over his shoulders. They stared into each other's eyes. "Do you have homework?"

"Lola, I'm in college. I always have homework."

***

***

After suffering thru two more weeks of school, Derek was relieved by the start of Thanksgiving break. He walked home, glad that the weather had abstained from snowing. His apartment was a single room, save the bathroom. He got it thru a housing voucher, and coming out of an orphanage had vaulted his application to the top of the waiting list. It was small. You could walk the perimeter in 20-30 paces, depending on how big a stride you took. He had a bed, but no couch. In the kitchen quadrant was the dining table that the previous tenet couldn't bothered to take with them, and a microwave. He dumped his backpack on the floor and flopped onto his bed. He groaned his exhaustion into his pillow. The minutes passed by.

His pocket started buzzing. Derek blindly reached for his phone and flipped it open. "HmmMmm?" he greeted, his face still planted in his pillow.

"Dereeeeek!~" Lola chimed thru the speaker. "How are yooooou?~"

"Exhausted," he said, pivoting his head to face the phone. "But I'm on break now."

"That's what I was calling about," Lola said. "If you're not doing anything on Thursday, do you want to spend Thanksgiving with me?"

Derek rolled his eyes. She knew perfectly well they only thing he was doing on Thanksgiving was working. "I'd love to," he said. "Should I bring anything?"

"Just your own sweet self!"

***

***

Derek stepped out of the sliding doors of the hardware store where he worked, and stepped into the door to Lola's car. On the way to her place, she asked Derek about what he was going to do for Christmas.

"Can we let the turkey have his day before we start worrying about the savior?"

"But I just love theseasonof it all," Lola said. "The food, the pretty snow, giving presents, all of it." She pulled into the parking lot. "Don't you love it?" She reached across the seat and put her hand on his thigh. Derek felt a sudden need to match her enthusiasm.

"Well, yeah, of course I like Christmas. Who wouldn't?"

"What's your favorite part then?" She said, leaning in closer, tightening her grip.

Derek considered just parroting what she had already said. He took a deep breath. "I like getting presents. Well, that's not exactly it. Have you ever seen those trees in the mall with tags on it? With kid's names and what presents they want." Derek looked at a tree on the lawn. "I loved getting a present thru that. It just... it was really nice, knowing that someone went out of their way to get a gift for someone they didn't know." When Derek looked back at Lola, here eyes were brimming with tears. Her lip was shaking. "Are you-" Derek started.

"That's so wonderful!" Lola burst. She squeezed her eyes shut, wringing tears onto her cheeks. "I walk past those trees every year, and I always think of doing it, but never do. And to think, that my present could have gone toyou!" She covered her face with her hands.

Stunned, Derek managed reached over and grabbed her shoulder. The car was quiet, save the sound of Lola's tears and the heat blowing. "Don't feel bad," Derek said once he had summoned something to say. "Y'know, one of my professors said something that stuck with me. He said 'the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but you know what the second best time is?'" Lola peaked her puffy eyes past her palms. "'Right now.'" He leaned over and hugged her. "We can start giving those gifts this year. Together."

Lola let out a couple more whimpers. "You're right," she croaked, wiping tears from her eyes. "Thank you."

The couple made their way up to her apartment. Lola excused herself to the bathroom to blow her nose and freshen up. Derek wondered over to the kitchen to sneak a peak at the food. What he saw was a couple boxes from a local restaurant with 'Thanksgiving special' written on the side of it. He grabbed plates and cups and silverware and set the table. Finding some placemats was difficult, in part because Derek really didn't know if Lola kept such things, but in the end he found some appropriately festive ones in a drawer. He racked his brain about which side the fork sat next to the plate when Lola came back into the room.

"Oh, thank you for helping," she said. here eyes were still a little puffy. Derek couldn't help but notice she had applied lipstick. Classic red, rather than her signature pink. His eyes lingered on them. Watching them shine. "Would you set up the candles too? They're in the bottom shelf of the hallway closet. The lighter's by the fireplace."

Derek gathered the candles while Lola put the food out. The food was wrapped under tin foil. Lola did her best to obscure the name of the restaurant on the side of the containers. "I spent all morning making this," she said with an exaggerated wink.

"Thanks for going to all this effort," Derek replied. "Let me help." Together they set out all the food, lit the candles, powered on the fireplace. Lola set two wine glasses on the table, and started uncorking a bottle. "Hey, I'm only 18," Derek said with barely contained excitement.

"You're allowed to drink when you're at home," she gave him some side-eye while pouring the red liquid. "Under my supervision." She set a glass at each plate. "Take a seat." Derek followed instructions while Lola flicked off the lights, leaving them lit by only the candles. The candle light swayed across the room, letting out an occasionalcrackmixed with the soft whirr of the electric fireplace. Lola sat down across from Derek. "Dig in."

Turkey, stuffing, mac and cheese, and mash potatoes leapt onto Derek's plate. He only just realized how hungry he was, stuffing his face. "Slow down, sweetie," Lola cooed. "No one's going to take it away from you."

Derek took a big swallow and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Sorry," he said. "It's just really really good. I don't remember the last time I had a meal like this."

Lola smiled. "I'm glad." She took a few bites out of her own plate. "How's the wine?" Derek lifted the glass. The candles sent radiant ripples thru the red water. He took a sip and grimaced. Soft giggles came from the other side of the table. He closed his eyes and took a proper gulp. "Well?" Lola probed.

"It tastes like an attic," Derek confessed. Lola threw her head back in laughter.

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?" She said. "It tastes better the more you have." She raised her glass across the table. Derek met her glass with his, letting out a declamatoryding, before taking his third drink.

A half-hour later, Derek had stuffed himself like a bird. He raised his glass to his lips, polishing off the last of it. As he set his glass down, Lola put down her knife and fork as well. She had shown more restraint and was pleasantly full.              "Oh my god," Derek groaned. "That was so good."