Like every human that has ever had the misfortune of flying into Los Angeles, Alkim fucking hated LAX. It was perhaps the unluckiest horseshoe ever conceived of by mankind. He wished everyone involved in its creation would be cursed to spend their afterlife driving these multiple miserable lanes; forced into Sisyphean torment of dropping off a passenger at the upper Southwest terminal, then picking up another from the ground-level United terminal and then repeating this task for all eternity. 

 

But just this time, he could ignore the gridlock, the honking, and even the people loading or unloading in the red zone. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and in mere minutes he would have picked up Vicky and they would be getting the fuck out of here. He could shoulder the traffic if it meant Vicky didn’t have to walk a mile and a half to the damn rideshare lot and pay seventy bucks just to get home.

 

 

Sure enough, Alkim found his friend right where she said she would be, and wearing what she said she would be wearing; black leggings, and a sweater zipped almost all the way open. Her bright, blonde hair, exposed cleavage, and wolf tattoo were as good as any lighthouse beacon. 

 

He waved and pulled up in front of her.

 

“WHAT UP SLUUUUUT?!!?” He greeted her.

 

“WHAT UP SLUUUUUUUUUT!?!?!” She returned. The second “slut” was always longer and slightly deeper in tone.

 

“Well, get in hoe, so we can get the fuck out of here.”

 

“On it!”

 

With the convertible top down, Vicky was able to quickly toss her bags into the back and hopped over the door into the front seat.

 

“Thanks so much for picking me up! It’s so good to see you! I really missed you out there.”

 

She hugged him around his chest, Alkim reciprocated with his right hand while keeping his left on the wheel.

 

“It’s good to see you too! I wouldn’t have come to the worst place in the city if I didn’t miss you too.”

 

“Right?! The vibes here are awful.”

 

“Don’t need to tell me twice. Just gonna put the top up and we’re out of here.”

 

He waited for the mechanical roof to click into place, found an opening in the flow of traffic, and gunned it into the only open lane. In short order, they were back on the highway heading home, and he was finally able to refocus on their conversation.

 

“So, how was your flight?” he asked.

 

“Good! No delays for once. I slept the whole way back though, completely fucked up my sleep cycle.”

 

“Oh yeah? You know what that means?”

 

“What?” She smiled.

 

“It means we can party all night long!”

 

“Yessss! God, I missed you so fucking much, dude. You’re, like, the most down-ass bitch I know.”

 

“Saaaame, ho. The house just hasn’t been the same without you.”

 

“Oh, how is everyone? What’s been going on since I’ve been gone?”

 

 

“Not much!” he lied, “Quit that Benihana job, good fucking riddance.”

 

“Hell yeah! Fuck that restaurant.” Even though Vicky was the one who had gotten Alkim his job there, she probably hated it the most, on account of one particularly handsy manager. “So what are you doing now?”

 

“I sent out a bunch of apps for lab jobs and this TA position, but for now I’m making some side cash on this photography thing. I started using that two-thousand-dollar Nikon I got from my uncle to shoot some, uh, modeling stuff for Mikaella and Kate. Hope you don’t mind, but we used your ring lights.”

 

“Oooooh siiiick! Maybe I should pay you to take some new Insta photos later!”

 

“For you? Free, always.”

 

“Awww, thanks bitch.”

 

“Anytime, hoe.” Alkim smiled. It was good to have her back.

 

Out of everyone in the house, Vicky went the farthest towards making him feel like one of the girls, and their friendship was perhaps the most unlikely one of his life, even more so than his friendship with Kate.

 

They’d first met more than eight years ago, in their high school’s Chinese class. Vicky was a senior, and a decently popular one at that. She was always surrounded by hotties, while Alkim was just a lowly, nerdy freshman, barely a year into puberty. They had a decent rapport in class, and Vicky had even invited him to his first ever high school party, hosted at her house as part of the Asian American Student's Association.

 

But she graduated, and Alkim rarely thought of her again, while Vicky probably thought of him even less.

 

Then, years later, for Alkim’s twenty-first birthday, a friend from his old school paid him a visit and really pushed for them to visit a strip club in North Hollywood. And there she was, perhaps the last person Alkim ever expected to see again, especially behind the bar of a strip club.

 

But he couldn’t deny that she more than looked the part. 

 

Vicky was a proper bombshell; Korean, five-foot-eight, and very curvy, with bleached blonde hair, pretty sizeable tits (though nothing like Kate’s), a half dozen tattoos, long legs, and thick thighs that united into what one could call an Instagram booty, as her twenty thousand followers would confirm.

 

Vicky was equally shocked to find one of her little brother’s classmates had grown into a strong and handsome man, moved to the West Coast, and could now legally drink.

 

When Alkim tried to hand her a tip, she laughed and told him he could tip her like everyone else. Ninth-grade Alkim could never have imagined that, eight years hence, he’d be on the other side of the country stuffing dollar bills into Vicky’s cleavage.

 

That interaction set the tone for their friendship.

 

After that, he spent the rest of the night doing his best to overwrite any memories she still had of his shy, little ninth-grade self. He wanted her to see only a tall, outgoing college boy with a bright future and a powerful liver, who would never say no to a night out.

 

He succeeded in leaving a positive impression on her, but she never went farther than flirting and occasional grinding at the clubs. Still, Alkim never thought of Vicky as having “friend-zoned” him. It would be much more accurate to say she had “little-brother-zoned” him, so long as one didn’t count the flirting, grinding, stuffing bills into her cleavage, and the handful of times he’d woken up after some very drunken night spooning her on some stranger’s couch. He’d assumed that had more to do with safety from strange drunken hands than actual attraction.

 

Regardless of the occasional confused signal, Alkim was happy to stay in Vicky’s bro-zone, especially since he’d been fully cut off from his real family. He’d never had an older sister, but he figured he could do a lot worse than Vicky. Especially since older sisters weren’t generally known for bringing their brothers along to party with their hot friends.

 

It was one of those nights when Vicky introduced Alkim to Kate, and that was that.

 

Still, while Vicky was not romantically interested in Alkim, that didn't mean she never took an interest in his romances. Their very first night out she’d asked him if he’d ever been in love, and whenever he mentioned some college girl, she always demanded pictures, or social media handles.

 

“Sooo, you started seeing anyone yet?” asked Vicky.

 

“Oh, nah, nothing serious. Still playing the field a bit.”

 

“Oh yeah? This field got a name?”

 

 

Alkim shook his head. “Not one I’m gonna share right now.”

 

“Booo, you whore.”

 

“Pssshh, I wish. Not been doing nearly enough whoring since you’ve been gone. I think Kate and I have only gone clubbing twice since you left.”

 

Vicky’s long absence made it all too clear for Alkim that, besides his college friends, all of his new relations and acquaintances were really hers. Without her inviting him to parties, or inviting people to the house, he rarely met anyone new. Likewise, he could not name any male friends he still talked to, discounting those former classmates that still hit him up for drugs. 

 

Vicky was appalled by the admission.

 

“Twice? Damn, we gotta get those numbers up! Gotta get you out and find you a girlfriend! Like, a slutty doctor, or a nurse, or something.”

 

“A slutty doctor? Why not one of your slutty friends?”

 

“Boyyyy, how many times do I have to say it? Michelle is not right for you!”

 

“You sure about that? She looked very right to me… almost as good as Soo-Yeon.”

 

“Bruuuuh, shut up about that homophobic bitch.”

 

“Sorry, shutting up.” 

 

 

He tried not to picture Vicky and Soo-Yeon making out and did not succeed.

 

Vicky continued, “Look, I like Michelle, but she’s shallow, and kind of a mess.”

 

“I know, I know. I’m too young for her.”

 

Vicky laughed, “I mean yeah, but she only dates white guys.”

 

“Oh shit, really? Damn, wouldn’t have wasted my time on her at your birthday party if I knew that.”

 

“I told you not to hit on her! What did you think I meant?”

 

Alkim shrugged, “I just thought it was one of those women rules I’ll never understand, like ‘don’t have sex with my roommate.’” Oh. Shit. “So, which of your hot friends should I hit on next time?”

 

She shook her head.

 

“Just give it up with them. You need to find someone on your level, some chick who can party but still likes science and stuff.”

 

Alkim grinned, “Science and stuff?”

 

“Yeah, someone smart, like you.”

 

“Hey, pop quiz: what’s my degree in?”

 

“Uhhh, it was either medicine or dinosaurs.”

 

“You sure?”

 

“Positive.”

 

“EHHH! Wrong.”

 

“Whaaat? You didn’t take any dinosaur classes?”

 

“Not one.”

 

“Then how do you know so much about dinosaurs?”

 

“Books, research papers.”

 

“Was medicine closer?”

 

“Nope, that’s not a major. When I said I was premed, that just meant I was going to apply to med school. You could be an English major and still be premed.”

 

“Shit, sorry, I swear I’ll remember this time.”

 

“No, you won’t.” He laughed. “It’s fine, though. I’m not saying you’re wrong, that I should go for smarter girls. Buuut smart girls like guys with prospects, guys who actually follow through and go to med school and have bank account balances with at least five digits.” Or even four… “I’m not exactly in a great place to get serious about that yet.”

 

“C’mon, don’t be so hard on yourself. You have your degree, and you don’t have any student loans, right?”

 

“Nope. No debt.” No money either…

 

“See? You’ll be fine. Not like you’d ever have to start stripping! Hahaha!”

 

That was too close to the truth for comfort. Alkim had been dancing around the issue for some time, but right then seemed like a good time to change the subject from his love life to hers.

 

“So, what happened in Hawaii with Kai? You never said why you were in the hospital, or why you wanted to move back so soon.”

 

Vicky’s jubilant mood dimmed instantly.

 

Alkim continued, “Did something happen?”

 

Vicky sighed. “I’ll tell you, but can we get some food first? I’m fucking starving here.”

 

“Yeah, of course.”

 

They stopped at a taco place and brought their loot back to the car for Vicky’s private confidential. They ate in relative silence before she began.

 

“Ugh, I’m too sober for this.” she groaned.

 

“Oh! I have just the thing in the glove compartment. Call it a homecoming present.”

 

Alkim was not very good at personalized gifts, but he knew Vicky, and she was not hard to shop for.

 

Vicky opened the glove compartment and burst into laughter.

 

“HAHAHAHA! Oh my gooood! Duuuude!”

 

It was an eight-ball. 

 

“Merry Christmas! This time I brought the snow to you.”

 

“Ahahaha! Thanks, dude!”

 

She hugged him again. Alkim could feel her large, firm tits pressing into his side. Admittedly, it didn’t bring the same thrill as it used to, probably due to his overexposure to Kate’s ever-growing sweater-stuffers.

 

“You always get the best shit. I think I’ll do some right now. Here, you should have the first bump.”

 

“Thanks. Just a little though, I’m already on Adderall.”

 

“Kay.”

 

She scooped up a little bit of powder with her elongated coke nail, on the ring finger of her right hand. The rest were kept trim enough for fingering pussy.

 

Alkim let her lift her nail to his nose and inhaled. It was too little for him to really feel anything, but that was probably for the best. Combining stimulants wasn’t exactly healthy. Half of the time, he only accepted coke from Vicky out of politeness.

 

She followed up with a much larger bump. Then another. 

 

Now that she’d gotten a bit coked up, it seemed like the right time to get some answers. People were always so much chattier on coke, so much more open to sharing.

 

“So, what happened out there? You made it sound like he was the perfect guy.”

 

“I thought so for a while. We had so much in common, and he seemed really chill. But once I moved in with him, he got so much more controlling, and he started getting mad at random shit.” 

 

“Like what?”

 

“So, like, he was scrolling through my socials and asked me all accusingly if I ever kissed Kate, or Hannah. I said yeah, and then he chugged two bottles, but he was so much stronger than me and I couldn't take the bottle from him. Then he broke a glass in his hand.”

 

“What the fuck?”

 

“Yeah, there was blood EVERYWHERE! And he rubbed it on the walls and shit, so fucked up. I should have gotten the fuck out right then, but I didn’t because I still liked him. Then last week he kept talking about how he was gonna kill himself if I left, and I don’t fucking play around with that, so I was gonna leave, and he just started beating the shit out of me.”

 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! Is that when you called me from the hospital?”

 

“No, that was, like, two days later. You know the really fucked up thing is that I almost went back, but like, fuck that.”

“Good call, I’m really glad you left his ass. Did you press charges too?”

 

“I didn’t have to. Neighbors called the cops, and they said I looked soooo bad that I don’t need to testify. They have enough evidence against him”

 

“Damn, Vicky. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.”

 

“It’s okay. I’m just glad it’s over.”

 

She hugged Alkim tightly, almost spilling salsa on his gearshift.

 

“Thanks for listening. You’re the first person I’ve told, besides my mom.”

 

“Anytime. Honestly, Vicky, as far as I’m concerned, you and Kate saved my life. I’ve got your back. Whatever you need, I’m here for you. I know there was nothing I could have done when you were in Hawaii, but if you’re ever in another situation like that, please, just tell me. I’d rather get my head kicked in helping you out than help discharge you from the hospital.”

 

“Thanks. But the next time I say I wanna move in with someone I met at a music festival, just shoot me in the face.”

 

“Seems a bit drastic. How about I just tie you to the bed or something and make you watch breakup movies until you give it up?”

 

“Hmmmm. Yeah, that sounds better. I should probably take a break from relationships for a while, huh?”

 

“Yeah, that’s probably for the best.” Until you can learn to spot red flags. “You’re a very trusting person, Vicky, and I love that about you, but take it from me: moving in with randos is not always the smartest idea. Unless, of course, the rando is me, in which case it’s a great fucking idea.”

 

She smiled but did not laugh. “Yeah. Like, after Kai, and Desiree, I think I’ll just be free and slutty for a while. Let my good luck build back up before I waste it all again.”

 

 

“Whew! Cheers to that! No more attachments! We can all cruise for bitches together. Be each other’s wingman, or wingwoman.”

 

“Yassss bitchhh! We gotta go dancing, I wanna see those fast-fucking feet of yours move.”

 

Alkim grinned.

 

“I thought you might say that, which is why Kate and I got you another present, something to go with the blow.”

 

“Oh? Something that goes with coke…” She looked confused, like she was still trying to puzzle it out. “Is it… Xan?”

 

“Noooo, not xan. We bought tickets for Avalon tomorrow night! You, me, Kate, and Mikaella.”

 

Avalon was one of Vicky’s favorite clubs, over in Hollywood. The place had a huge capacity, and with live music playing, it was more like an indoor concert venue than a typical nightclub.

 

“Ooooo yaaay! What’s the vibe? Who’s playing?”

 

“No idea, but Kate said the lineup seemed like your thing. They have the artists on their website, if you want to check who’s playing Saturday night. Also, please never do Xanax and coke together; you could die.”

 

Vicky quickly checked the lineup on her phone and let out an excited high-pitched scree.

 

“YEEAAAAH BOYYYY! My third favorite DJ is playing tomorrow!” She pumped her fists up into the cloth top.

 

“Oh, lit. Who is it?”

 

“No, like his name is Yeah Boi, with an I, hahahaha.”

 

“Oooooh, I get it now.”

 

 

“Anything else you wanna get while we’re out?” asked Alkim.

 

“Nope! I’m ready to go home and relax for a bit.”

 

So, they drove back. When they pulled up in front of the house, Alkim helped Vicky carry her bags to the front door, and they went inside.

 

“What up sluuuuuut?”

 

“Kate!”

 

Vicky dropped her bags instantly, and the next moment she had both arms wrapped around the busty goth.

 

“It’s good to have you back,” said Kate.

 

“Good to be back! Waaaiiiit, giiirl, did your boobs get even bigger?” 

 

“Why? Is it noticable?” Kate smirked knowingly.

 

It sure was noticeable from where Alkim stood. Kate’s excess titty was even visible from behind, so Vicky must be getting one hell of a view from the front. Vicky pulled back a bit to take them in fully.

 

Kate just stood with her hands on her hips, allowing Vicky to appraise her expanded bustline.

 

“Like, I saw your Insta posts but I didn’t really believe it until now.” 

 

“Do you believe it now?”

 

“Fuck yeah. Mind if I cop a feel?”

 

Kate shrugged. “Sure.”

 

So, Vicky respectfully honka-honkaed those amazing boobs.

 

Alkim wished it had been that simple for himself. Then again, it was still crazy that Kate let him get away with as many liberties as he took, especially when he wasn’t a beautiful woman, like Vicky.

 

 

“Daaaamn, they’re soooo soft. These’ve gotta be, like, THE biggest naturals I’ve ever seen on a girl your size! What cup size are you now, like a J-cup or something?”

 

“Bigger, at least a K, but I’m not sure how much bigger. They started growing a few weeks ago and they haven’t stopped yet.”

 

Kate raised an eyebrow towards Alkim.

 

He chose not to acknowledge it, and thankfully Vicky wasn’t watching Kate’s face.

 

“Wow, really? They just started growing again, just like that?” She snapped her fingers for emphasis.

 

“Just like that.”

 

“Did you start eating anything new, or something? New meds?”

 

“Nope, seemed pretty random.”

 

“Damn, that’s crazy.” Vicky lifted them up from below again, bouncing them in her palms. “Wouldn’t mind a second visit from the titty fairy.” She seemed to lose focus playing with Kate’s world class funbags, before suddenly remembering Alkim was right behind her, still holding her luggage. “Oh my god! Boyyyy! How long have you been standing there?!” 

 

“Perv’s been watching the whole time,” Kate smirked.

 

“Avert your eyes, child! We’re having women-talk!”

 

“Alright, alright. You guys catch up; I’ll just take these to your room.”

 

Not like I haven’t seen it all before. 

 

It took Alkim a few more trips before he’d put away all of Vicky’s luggage. The moment he rejoined Kate and Vicky in the living room, Mikaella’s door swung open, and she was joining in the reunion.

 

“Vicky!”

 

“Mikaella!”

 

They hugged. Vicky, being at least a head taller, completely enveloped the much smaller, thinner girl in her embrace.

 

“It’s so good to see you!” said Mikaella, freeing herself from the bigger girl’s grasp. “How was Hawaii? You look a lot tanner now.”

 

Most Korean girls would take that as a grievous insult, including one of Alkim’s exes who might have responded to being called tan by immediately scheduling a skin bleaching session. But not Vicky; she’d long since embraced that tanned, LA bimbo look. It suited her so well that Alkim could hardly recall how she’d looked in high school with paler skin and her natural black hair.

 

“Thanks! It was fun for a bit, but I’m glad to be back home. Ooooh!” She grabbed one of Mikaella’s new pink locks. “When’d you get highlights?”

 

“A couple days ago. Just thought I should try something new for my hair and stuff.”

 

“Well, I looove this new look! Your face looks really, really smooth too… I can’t even see your pores, they’re like, microscopic now. Did you start using a new product?”

 

Mikaella grinned, “Nope! Just being more regular I guess.”

 

“I can tell you’re lying! C’mon! You’ve gotta share the product!”

 

“Hey! Do you wanna take a shooooot?” suggested Alkim, mimicking the tone Vicky usually asked in.

 

“Oh hell yeah! Let’s get lit!”

 

So, they all started drinking and catching up, without anyone divulging any of the multiple physiological changes they’d undergone that Alkim had caused.

 

Soon enough, Vicky decided they should either switch to a drinking game, or drink while playing Nintendo Switch games.

 

In the end, drunk driving in Mario Kart won out.

 

Kate, Alkim, and Vicky all loved video games, but Vicky was by far the bigger gamer of them all, as would be expected for a girl with a Legend of Zelda tattoo. She never stopped trying to get Alkim back into World of Warcraft with her, but that was one addictive pastime he was never touching again.

 

Still, there was no stopping Vicky from crushing them all like insects.

 

“Move, bitch! Get out the way! Get out the way, bitch, get out the way!”

 

Then Vicky expertly boosted past Alkim, drifted into the turn, and shoved Kate off the side.

 

“Shit! I fucking hate rainbow road!” yelled Kate, as her car was cast into the cold vacuum of space.

 

“In space, no one can hear you eat shit,” mocked Alkim.

 

Then his phone buzzed.

 

He handed his controller off to Mikaella, who’d just been curled up next to him, spectating.

 

“Can you take over for me?”

 

“Oh, fuck. I’ll try.” She would do her best, but there was no way she could hold her own against the far more experienced gamer girls.

 

“I’ll be back in a bit, just need to start cooking that duck I bought.” said Alkim.

 

“OOohhh! Yes pleaseeee! I really missed your cooking!” said Vicky.

 

Alkim went into the kitchen and opened his texts.

 

Ania: Hello young man

Ania: I hope you’re enjoying this fine Friday evening

Ania: I’m hosting an open house on Sunday

Ania: At this property, from 12- 4:30pm

 

She sent him a Zillow listing for a place just a mile away.

 

Ania: Why don’t you come around 5?

Ania: If you’re not too busy that is

 

Alkim was not too busy. 

 

Alkim: Sure

Alkim: I'll be there at 5

Ania: Perfect. I’ll save you some hors d'oeuvres 😉

 

 

That could be a lot of high-stakes social interactions back-to-back. He just hoped he was up to the task.