Back and Forth, Part 3

This fictional account contains adult language and graphic sexual themes and
descriptions.  If such language, themes and descriptions offend you, please do
not read further.  The persons and events described in this work are purely
fictional.  Any similarity to actual persons or events is strictly
coincidental.  Copyright 2002 by SSTORYMAN.  All rights reserved.  Permission
is hereby granted to reproduce this story in any form and for any purpose as
long as this notice is reproduced and no financial remuneration is received,
directly or indirectly, by the person reproducing or using it.

BACK AND FORTH
by SSTORYMAN

3.	Friends and Family.

   The high school building looked exactly the same as it did in her universe
back home.  Well, it looked almost the same.  Kids were all heading toward
their third period classes.  But many of them were smoking in the halls while
they walked.  That didn't happen in her world!

   Then it happened.  As soon as Kylee entered her World History she saw him.
Or rather he saw her.  It just had to be Josh Allen.  But the short, freckled
kid she knew in middle school had definitely grown up!  He stood over six
feet; he was a handsome red-haired stud!  Yeah, but she was sure it was Josh.
She smiled sweetly at him.  God, her counterpart definitely had good taste!
"Hi, Josh," she said confidently, batting her eyes.

   "Hey, Kylee," Josh replied.  He seemed irritated.  "How come you
didn't call back last night?  I saw your sister this morning.  Allyson said
you were too busy for me or something."

   "I didn't feel good.  Yesterday afternoon I fainted, fell and hurt my
head," she explained unassumingly.  It was only a small fib.  "Mom took me
to the doctor this morning to check me out.  I guess I'm fine.  Sorry about
not calling you back."

   "We need to talk," Josh went on.  "As soon as class is over."

   "Lunch's next," Kylee smiled.  "Can we talk over lunch?"

   Josh nodded and they quieted down as their World History teacher began the
class.

   An hour later she and Josh sat together at a table in the school
lunchroom.  It had been divided into smoking and non-smoking sections, and
the former section was much more popular than the latter one where Josh
selected a table.  

   Kylee's cravings had been strengthened by all her recent smoking.  At
lunch she found herself frantically wishing she could have another cigarette!
But she decided not to, at least till she found out from Josh just exactly
what was the genesis of her, and his, anti-smoking feelings.

   "How's your mom, Josh?" she began innocently enough.

   "I knew you'd ask me that," he exclaimed with thinly veiled anger.
"God damn it, Kylee!  Allyson told me you gave in last night.  You're
smoking now, right?  Shit!  I don't believe it!"

   "Josh, all I did was ask about your mom!"

   "My mom's fine," he retorted.  "But you knew that.  And you also know
my mom's constantly nagging me to smoke and that it drives me crazy."

   "Okay, Josh, I admit.  I am smoking now.  Truth is I love it.  But that
shouldn't affect us, should it?"

   "How can it _not_ affect us?  God, Kylee, I really like you.  You know
that.  Shit, you're the first girl I ever -."  He lowered his voice.
"You're the first and only girl I ever made love to," he said in a hushed
voice.  "But you said you'd stay with me on this and never smoke!"

   She took a bite of her sandwich and smiled wistfully.  "Maybe Allyson
also told you my head's been a little fuzzy since my fall yesterday
afternoon," she offered demurely.  "So remind me exactly why you're so
upset about the smoking thing."

   He took a deep breath.  She couldn't help noticing how really
good-looking he was!  "Allyson said you've been a little confused.  But
God, Kylee, we talked about it hundreds of times this last year.  After my
mom almost died of lung cancer six years ago -."

   Kylee interrupted.  "Oh my God!  That's right.  I forgot.  It was lung
cancer, wasn't it?"

   Josh nodded.  "And I always hated her fuckin' cigarettes because of it,
especially after she first got sick.  I blame them for almost killing her;
and I hated it that she couldn't quit smoking even after she started chemo.
God, it was pure hell!  Then the Sheridan treatment came along and cured her
in the nick of time.  It was a miracle; I was so thankful.  But even if the
cancer was gone I still couldn't forgive Mom for not giving up those damn
cigarettes!  Even after they introduced that stupid treated tobacco and
doctors began saying smoking cigarettes is good for you, and for her
especially, I never got over it.  You know that, Kylee," he repeated
pathetically.  "That's why I can't believe you betrayed me and gave in!"

   She nodded.  Now she understood.  Josh's irrational hatred of smoking
came from the emotional scar left by his mom's near brush with death.  She
forgot it was lung cancer that claimed Mrs. Allen in her universe.  But here
Josh's mom was saved by the Sheridan treatment just in time though poor Josh
never recovered from the trauma.  He still hated smoking.  That and her
relationship with him explained a lot about her counterpart's smoking
revulsion.

   Still not knowing all the facts for sure, she nevertheless decided to take
a calculated risk in moving her argument forward.  "Josh, regardless of what
happened before, now your mom's getting stronger and better since she
continues to smoke.  She still smokes all the time.  Right?"

   He nodded.  "Yeah, I know, God damn it.  I know.  Mom's getting better
_because_ she smokes.  It doesn't matter.  I still hate it.  I hate her
fuckin' cigarettes!  I can't stand smoke.  Last fall I got kicked off the
track team because I refused to smoke."  She gave him a quizzical
expression.  He rolled his eyes.  "Oh come on, Kylee.  You know Coach
Johnson made smoking part of the training program since smoking's supposed
to make the lungs stronger.  But it didn't matter to me.  I couldn't do it
even though it meant giving up track."  He paused.  "I can't go out with a
girl who smokes!  Never!  I can't stand the smell.  It reminds me of my mom
lying there dying."  He groaned.  "I'm sorry, Kylee.  It's just the way
it is."

   It was her turn to nod.  "So, the reason I don't like smoking is because
I'm being sensitive to you and your feelings.  Is that right?"

   "And because you hate the stink, the stench.  The smell is so foul,
putrid, really.  Till yesterday we agreed on that.  That's why I can't
believe you gave in to the pressure.  Fuck!"

   She was skating on thin ice but she had little to lose by pushing ahead.
After all, she wasn't about to quit smoking.  Though intrigued by the idea
of the studly Josh being her boyfriend she was more interested in helping him
change his mind about smokers and smoking.

   "Josh, I really love you," she whispered.  It wasn't a total lie.  Of
course she didn't really even know him.  But the idea of fooling around with
this handsome hunk definitely appealed to her baser instincts.  The very
thought of it made her feel wet between the legs!  "Look, it's been hard on
you.  Believe me, I understand.  But you're being irrational.  I don't want
to lose you, Josh.  But if you let me help I think we can overcome your
negative feeling about smokers and smoking.  I bet that'd make your mom
really happy.  Everybody would win.  Right?"

   Gradually he nodded.  "But I don't get it.  Right after your dad gave
that stupid speech encouraging smoking at an assembly a couple days ago we
had coffee with Karyn.  All three of us swore we'd never do it, we'd never
smoke.  You said you hated the smell.  You didn't care if it was good for
you or not.  You said you couldn't stand it.  Kylee; what the hell
happened?"

   She smirked.  "Here's what happened, Josh.  I learned something.  Smoke
smells totally different if _I'm_ the one who's smoking.  Yeah, the smell
can be sort of obnoxious unless it's _my_ smoke and I pull into _my_ body.
It changes everything.  I promise, all you have to do is give it a try.  Look
what happened to me.  I totally changed my mind!"

   He absent-mindedly chewed his food.  "No, Kylee," he murmured.  "I'd
still have that picture in my head of my poor mom killing herself -."

   He was slipping back into self-pity.  "Stop it, Josh.  Stop right now.
God!  If that's the only problem then we simply have to give you a new
picture to replace the sad image of your mom dying.  Let's replace it with a
brand new one, a picture of me smoking happily and feeling totally pleased.
You want to make me happy and give me pleasure, don't you?  I know you do."

   He robotically shook his head up and down.

   She heaved a sigh of relief.  "Good.  Sure you do.  Now remind me.  When
was the last time you and I fucked?"

   He looked at her in disbelief.  "We fucked, I mean, made love, last
week."

   "Right.  Of course.  Then let's do it again tonight.  Only this time
I'll help you reprogram all your negative feelings about smoking.  Because
this time I'll smoke while we do it.  What do you think?"

   "Oh God, Kylee.  I'm not sure I could do it if you were smoking -."

   She smiled alluringly at him.  The thought of Josh's big cock inside her
made her feel wet.  "Let me worry about that, big guy," she whispered
irresistibly.  She wondered.  Had her counterpart ever played the temptress
for Josh?  In her world she had some experience with her old boyfriend Guy
Powers.  She knew how to be _really_ bad.  She was sure that eventually she
could get a proper rise out of Josh, so to speak, even if she was smoking and
at first it upset him.  "I'll take care of the seduction, Josh," she went
on.  "Pick me up at eight."

   "But where?  Where will we go?"

   She hadn't thought of that.  She didn't know.  "Uh, let's go where we
went last time," she ad-libbed.  "And I promise, Josh honey, I'll forever
change your mind about smoking in one magical evening.  You can count on it!"

   That moment her friend Karyn came by.  Like Josh did, Karyn stared daggers
at Kylee when she first saw her.  "Traitor," she snarled.  "I don't
believe it, you little turncoat.  You swore you'd never do it a couple days
ago.  I hear you started smoking just like everyone else.  Well, Kylee
Bergen, fuck you!"

   "Nice to see you, too, Karyn," laughed Kylee.  Her friend was taller,
five nine, with long hair that was a robust brown and that right now
perfectly matched her flashing brown eyes.  "Yeah, it's true," she
admitted.  "I just told Josh.  I smoke now.  I'm a smoker.  And I must tell
you, Karyn, dear, I fuckin' love it!"

   Obviously upset, Karyn sat down.  "You little bitch!  I could wring your
neck!  Josh adores you and now you treat him like shit.  He deserves better."

   "Whoa, wait a minute, Karyn.  Look, I know you pretty damn well.  You're
an alternative, independent kind of girl.  You and I like Tori Amos and all
she stands for.  We both do the angry young female thing most of the time.
So what's wrong with me smoking?"

   "That's just it," Karyn protested.  "It's so compliant, so `just
what they want.'  The only way to truly rebel against those hypocritical
idiots is to do what they _don't_ want us to.  That's why we both swore
we'd never give in and smoke!"

   Kylee thought about that.  "Hmm, you're right.  Smoking _isn't_ exactly
edgy, is it?  Not in this world; not anymore."

   "It sure as hell isn't," Karyn exploded.  The comment about this world
didn't register.  "It's totally mainstream.  You got completely co-opted,
Kylee.  Your mom and dad are ruining you.  Wow, they must be deliriously
happy!  Doesn't that piss you off just a little?"

   "I never thought about it, to be honest."  In her universe Karyn was a
consummate rebel, as she was.  Karyn was the prototypical, self-avowed angry
young female.  So was this Karyn.  But in this universe Karyn didn't smoke
because it'd be too compliant, too mainstream.  It was an interesting
problem but one which she intended to fix.

   "Karyn, I don't agree that smoking's mainstream.  Yeah, sure, everyone
wants you to smoke.  But so what?  Smoking has a long, proud history of
signifying rebellion against the establishment."  You should know that, she
mused.  We discussed this in my universe many times.  "Smoking?  It's the
picture of James Dean and Natalie Wood in `Rebel Without a Cause.'  It's
the symbol of wicked and rebellious women, like, for instance, the cartoon
character Cruella DeVille, or like Jodie Foster's character in `The
Accused,' or even better, like Sharon Stone's in "Basic Instinct.'  No,
smoking can't be co-opted by the establishment, Karyn, unless we let them
co-opt it.  And we don't need to.  It's got a much darker legacy than you
give it credit for.  And that's why I decided to become a smoker!"

   Karyn shook her head.  As she was in the other universe, this Karyn was
more emotional than logical.  Accordingly Kylee had often shaped Karyn's
opinions.  Though in her universe back home Karyn first turned her on to
smoking, Kylee was the driving force that shaped Karyn's feelings about most
other things, like music for example.  Karyn had to respect that.  Didn't
she?

   "I don't know, Kylee," Karyn finally hesitated.

   Sensing weakness Kylee persistently stayed the course.  "Well, I  know,
Karyn.  Don't be an ass.  I don't care if my mom and dad are glad that I
smoke.  I'm still a rebel.  I smoke because I like how it makes me feel.  In
the end, Karyn, it's why I smoke.  Believe me, I'd smoke even if was really
bad for my health."  She saw Josh flinch.  "Sorry, Josh, but it's true."

   "I know, Kylee," Josh sighed reluctantly.  "Usually that's something I
like about you.  You're not afraid to do whatever the hell you want.  I wish
I was more that way.  I admire you and Karyn for it."

   "And that's exactly why I intend to keep smoking," she pointedly went
on.  "I smoke because I like things that give my body pleasure.  The
lynchpin of smoking is nicotine addiction, the indescribable feeling of being
irresistibly driven to indulge and feed your personal demanding habit.
Mine's totally out of control, Karyn.  That's what I like about it.  I love
being addicted.  You would, too, if you'd get your stupid head out of your
ass!"

   Her last argument struck a nerve.  It was no surprise.  She was echoing
the same words the other Karyn, the one in her universe, voiced only days
before.  Kylee smirked.  Given some time she'd whip both Josh and Karyn into
shape.  The other Kylee's friends would be smoking along with her before
long.  She felt supremely confident of it.

   Finally, however, she could stand it no longer.  She needed a cigarette.
Back home she always sneaked out at lunch time with Karyn for one or two.
Here there was no need to go anywhere except across the cafeteria into the
smoking area.  So she stood up and smiled serenely at Josh and Karyn.
"Guys, I hate to say this but before next period I want to smoke a
cigarette."

   Her friends sat there dumbfounded as Kylee ambled across the cafeteria to
the area where smoking was permitted.  She took her gold pack of Benson &
Hedges from her purse and nonchalantly lit up a cigarette.  She couldn't
help but notice the silent unbelieving stares of the other smokers.  Clearly
her namesake established for herself a well-deserved reputation as an anti.
But as she expertly exhaled a thick stream of smoke through smiling lips
other kids began talking to her.

   "Hey, Kylee, welcome to the club!"  "Looks like you decided to finally
join us smokers, girl.  That's just great."  "We've never seen you smoke.
But we're glad you left the stupid antis over there on the other side of the
cafeteria!"

   She recognized most of the kids.  All the jocks were there.  They were all
smokers in this world.  It was curious!  In her world no one on school sports
teams was caught dead smoking in public.  But here in this universe, due to
the magic of treated tobacco, the football, basketball and baseball players,
and all the members of the track and wrestling teams, were confirmed smokers!
The irony seemed delicious.

   All of a sudden she understood this universe's Karyn's opposition to
smoking.  Back home Karyn hated jocks.  It was a pariah social caste.  In
their world she and Karyn made fun of them.  Smoking with jocks felt strange
to Kylee.  In her universe it was the rebels, kids like Karyn and herself,
who smoked and were non-conformists.  But in this world the rebels _didn't_
smoke.  As she hit on her cigarette she had to admit it made indulging her
habit a bit less attractive.  Except, she reminded herself, it still felt
_so_ good to feed her incessant cravings for nicotine!  Despite the
awkwardness of being with kids she wouldn't otherwise associate with, she
had to overlook that.  Because she had to smoke.  She needed to.  She wanted
to.  And she wanted Karyn, and Josh, to smoke, too.

   Karyn shunned her the rest of the day.  Kylee guessed Karyn avoided her in
part because she feared she'd be convinced if she kept listening.  Sooner or
later Kylee knew she'd have an opportunity to work on her again.  Eventually
she'd get to Karyn.  She had to.  She couldn't stomach hanging out only
with dweebs and jocks, all of whom smoked in this universe!

   In spite of the social stigma of now being associated with jocks, Kylee
loved getting to smoke before and after class.  She could hardly believe the
amazing pleasure of lighting up in the hall of the school along with
literally dozens of others after leaving a class, with teachers and students
alike, and then casually smoking a cigarette while walking to her next class.
Her mom was right.  The legal age for buying cigarettes may have been
sixteen, but most freshmen and sophomores who were under age smoked anyway.
Her dad the principal and his administration apparently decided to ignore it.
And why not?  If smoking's good for you there's no reason to enforce age
restrictions, especially if most of the teachers and administrators are
smoking, too.

   She took the bus home that day as usual.  She was disappointed that
smoking wasn't allowed on her school bus.  But it didn't matter.  She
indulged at school before she got on the bus and again as soon as it let her
off one street from her house.  She counted as she walked home.  By her
reckoning she was smoking her thirteenth cigarette of the day.  At this rate,
she sighed happily, I'll finish off a whole pack today at least.  Best of
all I'll be congratulated for doing it!

   No one was home.  Her mom was at work, Allyson at marching band practice,
and her dad stayed after school to handle the administrative duties of his
principal's job.  That was okay.  She felt supremely happy lighting up and
smoking cigarettes as she did her homework.  When it was done she logged onto
the internet to continue her research about smoking in this universe.  What
she learned was interesting.  The percentages of adults who somewhat
regularly used tobacco went up every year after 1996.  Estimates were that
64% of adults nationwide now smoked somewhat regularly, with slightly higher
rates of smoking among women than men.  That was up from 59% the year before
and from 52% the year before that.  Tobacco use was lowest for those 65 and
older.  That made sense.  Older folks are harder to change.  They were at
just 51%.  The astounding percentage was for ages 16 to 21.  Only 56% of
teens smoked though the percentage of women smokers was again slightly higher
than men.  The disparity between men and women was no surprise.  In her world
she knew that in general women are more easily addicted and also find it
harder to quit.  But why didn't more teenagers smoke here?  In her universe
almost 30% of teens smoked at least some; and there it was bad for them.
Here there was no disincentive.  But for some reason kids weren't
gravitating toward smoking as fast as those in their twenties, thirties or
forties.  All that despite the resumption of cigarette advertising and a big
push by the medical profession, as shown by the signs in Dr. Keith's office.

   As Karyn's perceptive comment suggested, she guessed in this world
smoking lost all its association with rebellion.  Smoking was something the
establishment favored.  Intuitively she knew that explained not only why
Karyn refused to smoke but why many teenagers didn't flock to embrace
nicotine addiction like she had.  The cigarette companies couldn't be
faulted.  She'd seen their billboards.  They were everywhere.  They showed
lots of good-looking, sexy young men and women engaged in all kinds of fun
activities, and all of them were implicitly linked to smoking.  No, it was
only the public health ads that completely missed the boat.  They were wimpy,
saccharin looking characterizations with no real appeal to the teenage age
group.

   She wondered if her mom understood this obvious marketing failure?  Surely
she knew all the stats.  After all she was on the Governor's Commission on
Smoking and Health.  In this universe her mom's commission looked for ways
to encourage, not discourage, smoking.  She decided at some point to talk to
her mom about the marketing problem.

   She glanced at her watch.  Josh would pick her up at eight.  In the
meantime Karyn wouldn't talk to her.  She wanted to work on her sister
Allyson.  But she wouldn't be home till dinner.  She sighed.  Perhaps it was
the time to go back to her hiding place.  If her counterpart did the same
thing they could check in and compare notes.  She sniggered.  God, she
couldn't wait to tell the other Kylee about all the trouble she'd caused in
her world in less than 24 hours!

   Finishing her latest cigarette Kylee entered her bathroom.  She felt
around in the air for the edge of the entrance.  Sure enough it was there,
though it seemed to have shifted slightly.  She stepped onto it and vaulted
herself into the invisible nether world that was her secret place.

   Her ashtray was still where she left it.  But no sign of the other Kylee.
"Hello?" she called.  "Are you in here, Kylee?"  No answer.  She sighed.
Damn!  She wanted to talk to her.

   Then she heard it.  "Hello?"  It sounded exactly like her voice.  Kylee
smiled.  She thought the other Kylee might have the same idea at the same
time and sure enough, she did.

   "I'm over here," Kylee yelled back.  She began to head in the direction
of the call.

   Through the mist she saw the other Kylee.  She smiled and so did her
opposite number.

   "I thought I'd find you here," the other Kylee smiled.  "God, I can't
believe this!  Can you?"

   "No, I hardly believe it either," Kylee giggled happily.  The irritation
she felt before towards the non-smoking Kylee was gone.  Now they shared a
delicious secret, one that Kylee wanted to share, talk over and strategize
about with her double.  Plus, truthfully she wanted to piss her off a little
by telling her how she'd ruined her non-smoking reputation!

   "So, I guess you figured it out like I did?  We live in almost identical
universes.  Except that yours is _so_ great, because in your universe nobody
smokes!"

   "Beauty's in the eye of the beholder, sweetheart," Kylee responded.
"I love your world because I love to smoke all the time."

   "Oh my God.  I didn't think of that.  Damn, have you been smoking in my
world?"

   "Sure, of course," Kylee smirked.  "What did you expect?  I've gone a
long way toward destroying your stupid reputation as a non-smoker.  Mom and
Dad are delighted of course.  They can hardly believe how their formerly
rebellious daughter has enthusiastically embraced the smoking habit!  I'm
totally out of control as a smoker in your world, Kylee, dear."

   "Shit," the other Kylee groaned.  "But I guess now that I think about
it I'm not surprised.  I've spent my time just being relieved that no
one's trying to shove it down my throat anymore."

   "You mean, down your lungs," Kylee giggled.

   "Whatever.  It's just so nice living in a world where everyone, well,
almost everyone, is delighted that I don't smoke and don't want to.  Except
-."

   "Yes?"

   "Except that in your world there's no Josh.  I don't get it.  Almost
everything else is the same except for the smoking thing and except for the
fact that there's no Josh."

   "I think I figured out why," Kylee smiled feeling superior.  "Remember
in seventh grade when Josh's mom got sick?"  The other Kylee nodded.  "In
my world there's no Sheridan treatment to cure cancer.  So in my world
Josh's mom died."  She waited for the realization to sink in.  "In my
world Josh's family moved away the next year.  I last saw him years ago.
That's why there's no Josh in my world.  Or maybe I should say in _your_
world."

   "What do you mean?"

   "I mean I don't want to go back to what used to be my world, Kylee.  I
want to stay in the one where smoking's considered a good thing.  I've
already smoked more in one day than I ever did in my old universe.  And I
fuckin' love it!  As far as I'm concerned you can stay in my world and
I'll take yours."

   The other Kylee stared at the ground, though it was nothing more than a
shadowy mist.  "God, I know what you mean.  I do.  It's nice living in a
house where no one smokes.  I was so surprised to go downstairs and find Mom
sitting at the kitchen table reading a magazine without smoking a cigarette."

   "What happened then?"

   "I asked Mom why she wasn't smoking.  She looked at me like I was crazy.
I started to get confused and, well, I fainted."

   "No shit?  God, the same thing happened to me in your world, except that
I fainted because I saw Mom smoking a cigarette.  It freaked the hell out of
me!"

   The other Kylee laughed.  "Mom thought I hit my head and that was why I
seemed so confused.  Slowly I figured out what must have happened, the
alternative universe thing.  My only disappointment was that after dinner
Allyson asked if I was ready to sneak out for a couple cigarettes."  She
sighed.  "I can't believe Allyson smokes in your world; especially when
it's so bad for you there."

   "Just like I can't believe your Allyson doesn't."

   "Mom took me to see Dr. Keith this morning to check my head.  I kept
talking about Josh and not understanding why no one was smoking.  She thought
I'd lost my mind."

   Kylee nodded.

   "It was so strange seeing anti-smoking posters on the wall at Dr.
Keith's office.  It was a relief, of course.  Only -."

   "Only what?"

   "Only I do miss Josh."

   "You'll get over it," Kylee predicted.  She felt a little guilty over
what she planned for Josh but decided to come clean.  "You're better off in
my non-smoking world, Kylee.  And I should tell you.  I have plans for Josh.
I plan to change his mind about smoking."

   "It won't work," the other one predicted.  "Lots of people tried.
He's so sensitive about it.  It reminds him of his mother dying.  I'm not
worried."

   "We'll see.  But let me ask you a question.  Have you, like me, slept
with a pretty fair number of guys in your life?"

   The other one giggled.  "Yeah, I've screwed around," she admitted
impishly.  "And you?"

   "God, if Mom and Dad only knew!  They'd fuckin' kill me!"  Kylee
laughed.  The banter of her delicate laughter exactly duplicated the
delighted giggle of her counterpart.  "I gather that your Josh was never as,
shall we say, sexually active as we've been?"

   The other Kylee shook her head.  "Yeah, that's right.  I was the first
girl Josh ever really dated.  In fact, he was a virgin when we first - you
know."

   "When you fucked.  Yeah, that's what I guessed.  But remember a year ago
when you, or rather when I, was fucking that stud Guy Powers?"

   The other Kylee smiled a lecherous grin.  "Yeah, Guy was eighteen," she
sighed evilly.  "God, he was hot and experienced, too, wasn't he?"

   "Yeah, he sure was.  But Guy taught me, I mean he taught us, a lot about
playing the seductress.  Right?  Well, I intend to use that experience to
reprogram Josh's ideas about smoking.  By the time I'm done, Kylee dear, I
predict Josh will feel quite differently about it."

   She shook her head.  "I don't think you can do it.  It must be hard for
you there in one way.  I mean, all your friends, and Allyson, none of them
smoke.  Right?"

   "Not yet," Kylee fearlessly predicted.  "I plan to work on that, too."

   The other Kylee shuddered.  "Well, do your worst, bitch."  Then she
laughed.  "For me, I simply plan to enjoy living in your world awhile.  Even
without Josh it's a big improvement over mine.  Tonight I go out for coffee
with Allyson.  Like you I plan to work on our little sister.  I plan to turn
her around and then do the same with Karyn.  I intend to get them to quit."

   "I guess we'll see who's more persuasive," Kylee smiled.  It was like
a game and she hated to lose any competition.  Of course her counterpart
undoubtedly felt the same.  It'd be interesting to see how each of them
could affect their respective worlds.

   "We must do this again," she announced, standing up.  "But I have to
get back now.  Mom will expect me to smoke with her when she gets home.  I
don't want to disappoint her."

   "And I'm looking forward to sitting down with Mom in a room without that
stupid stinking smell," the other Kylee countered.  "But you're right.  We
have to talk again soon."

   "Good luck," Kylee called out insincerely as they parted.  "I have to
admire your spunk."

   "Likewise!"

   Kylee stepped out of the hiding place.  Her body reappeared in the
bathroom.  God, that was weird, she sighed.  Weird but strangely
invigorating.  She _did_ admire her double.  She laughed.  What she really
meant was she admired herself, even if it was her non-smoking self!

   Stepping into her bedroom she sensed something was wrong.  She looked
around.  Everything looked normal.  But something wasn't quite right.  She
sniffed the air.  "Oh my God," she gasped in disbelief.  "Shit!  I don't
believe it!"

   She ran downstairs to look around.  It was her house.  But no ashtrays
were on the tables.  There was no aroma of stale tobacco smoke.  "Shit,"
she repeated aloud.  "I'm back in my own fuckin' world!  Damn it!"

   At that moment Vicki came through the door.  "Hi, honey.  How do you feel
this afternoon?  Did you do okay at school today?"

   "Yeah, I'm fine, Mom," she mumbled.  Shit!  This was _her_ mom, and
_her_ universe.  God, it wasn't where she wanted to be.  "Yeah, school was
fine."  She smiled uncomfortably.  "I just need to do something upstairs
for a minute."

   "Nonsense," Vicki said, a little too forcefully.  "Sit down with me
while I have some coffee.  After our visit to Dr. Keith I've been concerned
about you all day, even though he said he thought you're fine.  Let's talk
awhile.  Okay?"

   "Yeah, sure, Mom.  Just let me go upstairs for a minute."  She thought.
"I, uh, I have to go to the bathroom.  I need to pee.  Then I'll be right
back!"

   "Okay, dear," Vicki nodded setting her purse on the kitchen table.
"I'll wait.  Hey, you sure you feel okay?  You look a little confused
again.  I don't want you falling down and fainting again in the bathroom.
Maybe I should come with you."

   "No, really, I'm just fine," she answered with determination.  "It'll
only take a second."

   She ran at breakneck speed up the stairs to her room and into her
bathroom.  She searched for the invisible platform.  For a second she
couldn't find it and she _really_ panicked.  "Oh shit," she groaned.
"What if it's gone?"

   But it was only momentary.  Finally she felt it, invisible to the eye but
shifted a little from where it was before.  She lifted herself up and
re-entered the invisible world of her hiding place.

   "Kylee," she called out.  "Kylee, are you in here?"

   For several seconds she heard nothing.  "Damn," she muttered.  "Fuck!"

   Then she heard a noise.  "Kylee, is that you?"

   "Yeah, I'm over here," the other Kylee answered.

   "Thank God you came back," she yelped.  "What the hell?  For some
reason we switched back to our original worlds!"

   "Yeah, I know," gasped the other Kylee.  "I went downstairs as soon as
I got back and Mom came in.  I almost choked when I saw her lighting up a
cigarette as she set her purse down.  I knew something was wrong so I -."

   "So you told her you had to go to the bathroom to pee?"  The other Kylee
nodded.

   "Yeah, me, too.  Listen, let's try it again.  Maybe this time we'll
switch worlds."

   "God, I hope so," the other Kylee agreed.  "Because Mom told me that
she wanted me to sit down and smoke with her."  She shuddered.  "Even if I
wanted to, which I don't, I couldn't do it."  She smiled.  "Like it or
not we _need_ to switch universes, Kylee.  Now that you convinced Mom that I
smoke I can't go back."

   "I couldn't stand _not_ smoking," the first Kylee acknowledged.
"Okay, let's try again.  Hopefully this time it'll work.  And if it
doesn't ," she said mischievously.  "Well, you'll have to learn to smoke
after all!"

   "Bite your tongue!"

   Both girls moved to climb out of the misty hiding place.  As Kylee
descended she felt the bathroom floor under her feet.

   With trepidation Kylee slowly edged her way back into her bedroom.  She
looked around and heaved a sigh of relief.  On the table beside her computer
was a large ashtray full of cigarette butts!  "Oh thank God," she sighed
gratefully.  "I'm back in the right place!"

   She bounded downstairs.  Her mom was sitting at the kitchen table reading
a magazine.  She was absent-mindedly smoking a Benson & Hedges.  The
fragrance of the smoky smell made Kylee feel incredibly happy.  With a big
smile on her face she gave her a big hug.

   "Wow, that was fast," Vicki smiled offhandedly.  "And I guess you're
glad to see me.  God, you took a pee in record time, honey!"

   With no warning Kylee impulsively gave her a second big hug.  "Yeah, I
told you it wouldn't take long for me to pee, Mom.  And yes, I definitely
_am_ glad to see you."

   Vicki giggled.  "I'm pleased.  Now what's with the sudden show of
affection?  Are you trying to butter me up or something?"

   "No, not really," Kylee grinned.  She reached out her hand and wiggled
her fingers.  "But if you don't mind I'd really, _really_ like a
cigarette!  I'm so glad you smoke, Mom.  And God, the smoke from your
cigarette smells _so_ incredibly good to me right now!  Can I have one?"

   Vicki laughed again.  "Of course you can, honey."  She shook out a B&H
for her daughter.  She handed it over along with her lighter.  "Nothing
makes me happier than to have you smoking along with me, Kylee.  You know
that, dear."

   Kylee eagerly lit up her long white cigarette.  She desperately
double-pumped and sucked as much smoke as she could muster deep into the
depths of her lungs.  She held it inside for an eternity before finally
speaking.  "Yeah, Mom, I know," she smiled letting smoke burst from her
lips and nostrils.  "And believe me, Mom, right now nothing makes me happier
either!"

   The pure ferocity of her daughter's light up and initial hits both
surprised and pleased Vicki.  "My God, girl!  You look more and more like a
diehard smoker all the time!  It's truly wonderful.  But I can hardly
believe it!"

   Kylee smiled.  "Believe it, Mom."  She drew again on the B&H and inhaled
deeply.  "Trust me.  It's truly who I am now and forever.  And I don't
ever want to be anything else, not ever again.  I want to be a diehard smoker
just like you!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   After dinner that night Allyson casually wandered into Kylee's room.
"Can we talk?"

   Kylee looked up from the computer.  "Sure, Allyson.  What's on your
mind?"

   Her sister shut the door.  "You _know_ damn well what's on my mind.  I
heard what you did at school today.  You seem determined to establish a new
reputation as a smoker."

   "That's right.  That's exactly my intention.  Tell me, Al.  Why does
that bother you?"

   "I don't know," her sister shivered.  "Ky, I've always been in awe of
you.  I wanted to be like you.  When you came out so strong against smoking I
liked how you rebelled against Mom, Dad and everyone.  But now you changed.
I liked you better as the angry female protestor."

   "Like Tori Amos?"

   Allyson smiled.  "Yeah, I guess so.  Like Tori."

   She smiled sweetly.  In this world like hers she'd sold Allyson on her
favorite singer.  "Allyson, I never steer you wrong.  Do I?"

   Allyson shook her head.  "You're a great sister and a great friend."
She shrugged, embarrassed.  "No, I mean it.  You're my best friend.
You've given me lots of advice through the years.  Most of it I took, too,
sometimes much to Mom and Dad's chagrin!"

   Again Kylee smiled as she turned on her persuasive charm full blast.
"Al, listen.  Everyone knows I was against smoking.  I said I hated the
smell.  Didn't I?"  After a nod she went on.  "It takes courage to admit
you're wrong.  But Al, I was wrong.  Dead wrong.  Yeah, okay, the smell of
smoke isn't so great if it's someone else's.  But when it's yours and
you're pulling it deep down into your own lungs -."  She stopped and
sighed contentedly.  "Well, what I discovered is, it's wicked sweet.  I
mean it.  It's the best!"

   Her little sister sat down.  "That's what I don't understand, Ky.
How'd that happen?  A few days ago you were dissing all the people who
smoke.  Suddenly you're a big fan.  I don't get it.  What did I miss?  Who
did this to you?  How'd it happen?"

   "Al, if I told you, you wouldn't believe it.  Trust me."  She smiled.
"But that's not important.  What _is_ important is you need to learn
first-hand how great smoking can be.  I know you'll like it."  She
remembered a similar discussion she had with Allyson in the universe next
door.  "Trust me.  I'm sure you'll love it once you try it for yourself."

   Allyson spoke slowly.  "You seem so sure," she began.  "I don't get
it.  How can you be so certain?  Ever since Mom and Dad started smoking I've
hated the smell."

   "And apparently so did I," Kylee countered.  "But now I love it."  She
reached for her pack of Benson & Hedges.  "Do yourself a big favor, Al.  Let
me teach you.  Please?  If you hate it you don't ever have to again.  It'll
be our secret.  No one will ever know.  Just give it a shot."  She paused.
"What do you say?"

   For what seemed like an eternity Allyson hesitated.  "Okay," she mumbled
finally, nervously running her fingers through her long blond tresses.
"God, I can't believe this.  But okay.  Go ahead and show me, Ky."

   Kylee grinned.  She gave Allyson an unlit B&H before picking up one for
herself.  And then for the second time in her life Kylee taught her little
sister how to smoke a cigarette!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previous part | Next part