Voume 2 Issue 2: For the Love of the Grade

Selma was sitting at home with her bum ankle up on a pillow. Birdie and Ian were playing cards and Selma was trying to study for her final exam in Victimology and was seriously stressed. After getting trampled at O’Reilly’s Pub, Blake had taken her to the hospital. Her ankle was broken and she had missed a lot of school.

“I can’t believe Dr. Marvel is refusing to work with me on this,” Selma whined.

Birdie and Ian nodded. They had heard these complaints a million times now. Selma’s Victimology professor was a hard-ass and wasn’t cutting her any slack for missing school because of her ankle. She was going to do fine on the final exam, but was really struggling with the final paper and he was reluctant to give her an extension.

As she sat on the couch and fumed, she decided to try and talk to Dr. Marvel one last time. She went to her room and did her hair and makeup and put on a sexy dress. The way she saw it, Dr. Marvel was a lonely shrimp of a man. He probably hadn’t had a date in 10 years or more. Maybe this strategy was worth a try. She had been debating it all semester and, at this point, she was desperate. How would she get into grad school if she didn't get an "A" in this class? The pressure was too much for her.

After she was finished getting ready she told Ian and Birdie where she was headed. The two of them looked at her suspiciously.

“You’re not doing what I think you’re doing are you?” Ian asked, one orange eyebrow raised.

“Doing what?” Selma asked innocently.

Ian sighed. He knew that his friend Blake had developed feelings for Selma over the past month—ever since he “rescued” her from the fire. He wished he could get it through Blake’s head how non-monogamous Selma tended to be.

Selma wrapped her black peacoat around her black dress, fishnet tights, and one black thigh-high boot. Her broken ankle was still in her black support boot.

“I’ll be back in an hour or two,” she said and hobbled out the door.

Birdie and Ian continued playing cards. Birdie sighed.

“I hope she’s not going to his office thinking she’ll get a passing grade if she flirts with him or, you know,” Birdie said.

“I know. Sometimes she just takes things too far,” Ian replied.

Thirty minutes later Selma walked through the front door. Her eye makeup was streaked down her cheeks and she was crying. She wouldn’t say a word to Birdie and Ian about what happened but instead went to her room and slammed the door shut. No cajoling or encouragement from Birdie or Ian would draw her out her room for the next day and a half.

Volume 2 Issue 1: She Slithers and Meddles

Ian marched bravely across the street. It was early November and chilly. The neighbor-girl was sitting outside. Down the road was the post-office. He had letters in hand, ready to deliver and timed things just right so that she would be outside when he "just so happened" to walk by.

He also needed to get away from Birdie who couldn’t stop gushing about her latest crush.

The woman waved at him. At first he didn’t really believe what had happened and hesitated. She waved him over again. Jackpot! His plan was working perfectly. She had a letter in her hand.

“One of you roommates wouldn’t happen to be Birdie O’Reilly would it?” she asked and took a drag of her cigarette.

“Oh, yeah—she’s my cousin and my roommate. I’m Ian O’Reilly,” he said holding out his hand for a shake. She slapped it in a sideways high-five and blew smoke out her nose. He couldn’t help but check out her long dark hair, deep brown eyes and curves.

“I’m your neighbor—Georgia Smalley,” she said and handed him the letter.

“The postal worker left that in my box by accident. Any chance you could give it to Birdie?” she asked.

“Yeah, no problem,” Ian mumbled. He tried quickly to think up some reason for them to hang out. He could see the top of her t-shirt under her coat. It had logo on it from the movie The Crow.

“You like The Crow?” he asked. She looked at him, down at her shirt and up at him, one eyebrow raised.

“I’ve got the whole graphic novel series. You wanna check it out?” He realized he was speaking really quickly and took a deep breath.

“Yeah, sure,” she said and snubbed out her cigarette.

As they walked towards his apartment Ian’s heart began to race. He hadn’t dated anyone in over a year. His last girlfriend had cheated on him and he’d had a really hard time moving past that situation. He tried to think of something to say to Georgia.

“So, how long have you lived across the street?” he asked as they entered the front hall of the apartment.

“Long enough, I guess. I’ve lived on my own since I was sixteen. I’ve lived in that particular apartment for about three years now,” she said as Ian fumbled with his keys.

They stepped into the apartment.

“Looks like we’re the only ones here,” Ian said and became even more nervous. Should he make a move? No! Too soon, but maybe…

“Well The Crow is back on my bookshelf,” he said and she followed him to his bedroom in the back of the apartment.

Message #6 from Devina

Hello and Happy New Year!

2010 marks the start of Volume 2 of Deviant! Make your New Year's Resolution to keep up with all of you favorite characters and keep the comments and emails rolling my way!

Thank you for your support in 2009 and I hope you continue to enjoy my Queer Soap Opera blog!

Love you all,

Devina Devore