The Mating Game

Danger! Danger!

When Aaron returns, he is still very quiet and not acting like himself.  Katie and I try to make small talk with him, but his answers are short and concise.  Giving up in the middle of the meal we simply finish our food and clean up.  At some point during this process, Aaron disappears into his room without saying a word.  Not knowing what to do with ourselves Katie and I also decide to go to bed early, but it’s no use, I’m too worried about Aaron’s state of mind.  I need to talk to him.  Maybe he was only quiet at dinner because Katie was there. Surely he’ll talk to me.  We have a more intimate relationship, Right?  He kisses me and holds me.  So that must mean he feels something more for me… Pushing open his door I find Aaron laying in his bed, eyes wide open staring at the ceiling, he knows I’m in the room, but he doesn’t say a word to me.  Moving closer to him I place my hand on his shoulder.  As soon as my hand touches his burning flesh, he flinches from my touch, and the connection is simultaneously broken.  When he recoils from my touch, it’s as if someone has punched me in the belly.  “Aaron I may not understand what you’re going through right now, but please let me be here for you,” I say gaining enough courage to approach him again.  Again he backs away from my touch this time sitting up to move away.  “Addison, I can’t do this with you.  You need to go back to your room.” He states coldly while running his hand through his thick hair.  “What do you mean?”  “This whole thing… it… it was different and fun, but now we need to get back to the way things were. You know just performing our jobs without everything else.”  “Are you saying you want me to just be like Katie and Laura and come in here and spread my legs without saying a word and let you f*ck me and then go back to my room like a good little girl? Is that what you’re saying?” I’m pissed off.  “Yes, that’s what I want.” “F*ck you, Aaron.” And with that, I leave his room. 

The next three weeks Aaron goes back to pretending like I’m invisible, and it feels like the first day I was brought here.  He doesn’t say more than one-word statements to me, and if he does say more than one word, it’s to order me around with chores. We definitely haven’t made love since Laura’s pregnancy was announced, but on the bright side, Aaron hasn’t brought Katie to his room either, so at least I’ve got that going for me.  

“If he continues doing this, he is going to cause all of us to be punished.  He needs to move on and get back to doing what he needs to do.” Katie states worriedly while we busy ourselves with tidying our room.  She has heard stories like the rest of us about mates who have stopped having intercourse.  Our only job is to mate and reproduce.  If we aren’t trying to make babies, then we aren’t fulfilling our roles.  “Well, what should we do?” I ask.  “I’m just going to have to say something to him.  This can’t go on any longer, or you and I will be punished for his actions. They’ll find out eventually.  They always do.” With that, it is decided that Katie is going to talk to Aaron today.  I, of course, have opted out of this talk since Aaron, and I have been less than friendly with one another. 

I decided to start my day off by cleaning Almond’s stall. I’m happy to see that he’s gaining weight and is thriving. At least some of us are living happily.  “How are you today buddy?” I ask scooping up his s**t.  “Oh, really that’s good.  Glad to hear it. I hope you slept well”  For crying out loud not only am I talking to a cow but now I’m pretending like he’s answering me back. Trying to complete my tasks like a normal person, and not talk to the animals I become intensely focused on my work at hand until I hear the barn door creak open behind me. Blowing a strand of hair out of my face I’m irritated that I’ve been interrupted and taken out of my rhythm.  “Yes, what do you want?” Annoyed I turn expecting either Aaron or Katie but instead, I see an older gentleman with dark gray hair standing in the doorway. “Addison there you are.  I have been looking for you.  The girl in the house told me you would be out here.” A smile spreads across his aged, wrinkled skin.  “Who are you?” he looks vaguely familiar from the gatherings.  I think he is an elder but why would an elder be looking for me.  Panic begins spreading through my mind. Oh god, they must have realized that none of us have been doing our jobs for the last three weeks.  We are all going to be punished. I’m torn from my thoughts when he informs me that he is elder John and that he’s here to perform my examination to ensure that I’m no longer a virgin.  “Oh yeah, that’s right.  I was told that you would come to examine me during the first quarter.” I say while taking a deep breath and trying to calm my heart.   “Yes, we need to confirm that you are no longer a newling.  Please come with me, we need to get on our way.”  “What,” I say not understanding what elder John is talking about.  I never realized that we had to go to a special location for the examination. It shouldn’t take a long time to ensure that my hymen is broken.  “We don’t complete the examination here at the farm?”   “Oh no, Addison we will be traveling some distance to the building where we perform the exams.”  “Well, then I should gather Aaron to come with us, especially if we will be gone for an extended period of time?” I say nervously.  I don’t like the idea of being alone with Elder John.  “That’s not necessary.  The male mates usually do not accompany newlings to their exams.  I have already informed the other girl in your grouping that I would be taking you for your examination, so let’s be on our way.” Something doesn’t seem right.   My stomach is doing flips on the inside, and my brain is saying DANGER DANGER. “Well, I would feel more comfortable if Aaron came with us.” “Addison are you stating that you are refusing to allow me to perform the examination because if you are there will be ramifications for both you and Aaron.  We will have to assume that he hasn’t completed his duty and both of you will have to be punished. ”  When he mentions punishing Aaron, I am more compelled to do what he asks to protect Aaron from further pain. “No, no of course not.  Let’s be on our way.  I am just used to checking with Aaron before leaving the farm.  However, you’re an elder so I’m sure you can be trusted.” The hell he can.  There is something about this man that is sending off warning signals left and right. But I’m not going to endanger Aaron.