First in the Class, Part 6

    This fictional account contains adult language and explicitly sexual
themes. If such language and themes offend you, please do not read further.
Copyright 1998 by SSTORYMAN. All rights reserved. Permission is 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 it.

    FIRST IN THE CLASS

    6. First in the Class.

    Emily wondered if something was wrong with her. She'd gotten romantically
involved with two consecutive roommates, the first female and the second male.
She was too horny for her own damn good! She sighed. What had happened,
happened. She wasn't concerned about it. She loved fucking Bob every night.
And he certainly wasn't worried bothered by what had taken place. To the
contrary, he seemed very happy.

    He smoked with her regularly now. She'd insisted on it, of course. Ever
since the first night, Bob was quite compliant. He was crazy about her, and
did whatever she asked. He had an insatiable appetite for sex, and was willing
to play whatever games made Emily happy. And the main thing she wanted was for
him to smoke with her whenever she lit up. As a result, smoking was now
permitted throughout the apartment. Ashtrays were in every room. For Emily,
smoking was the perfect accompaniment to every activity, including eating,
watching TV, studying and sitting around talking. Bob joined in, and without
objection. It was the price he paid for access to her bed. But he was becoming
a real smoker in the process.

    She saw the familiar signs. He was learning to enjoy the smoking habit. It
wasn't addiction yet, but it was sure getting there. Bob was routinely taking
longer, harder puffs. His inhales were deeper and his holds lasted longer. No
longer did he complain of light headedness when he smoked. In fact, he seemed
perfectly happy to smoke with her whenever she asked, which was often. She
asked all the time. In the same perverse way Vicki initially encouraged Emily
to smoke, Emily now loved seeing Bob light up. Making him smoke satisfied her.
It somehow signified that she owned a part of him. That pleased her. Her
influence over him, and his attraction to her, was manifested concretely in
his deepening habit. Each time he smoked, it reminded her that the original
impetus had been caused by her and her alone.

    However, that was changing. Soon Bob no longer had to be nagged. He lit up
willingly, and even smoked with her in public with no objection. When they
went out to eat, he sometimes lit up before she did. As far as she knew, he
still didn't take his cigarettes to work and didn't smoke during the day. But
she could be patient. Those things would start happening, too, soon enough.
Once you start feeding the doggie, she knew from experience, the doggie gets
mighty hungry. Bob would find out the hard way. It was only a matter of time.

    Steve was surprised by the whole business. But he was happy about the
dramatic change in Bob's attitude toward smoking. Now Steve, too, could smoke
in the apartment. And smoke he did! Having completely backslid, by now he was
smoking a pack a day. He had a new girlfriend, Nina. She began hanging around
the apartment. At first, she was a casual smoker. But in time, she, too,
changed. Recently, she smoked more when she came over. That, too, made Emily
inexplicably happy.

    With the smoking ban lifted, Steve and Emily began hosting the study
group. Bob was always around during their meetings. He hung out with them
during their breaks. Those breaks weren't smoke breaks, of course, because
everyone in the group smoked while they studied. Because of the study group,
her friendship with Jenny at work, and social time with Bob and Steve and
Nina, Emily spent virtually all her time with smokers now.

    Then there was her mom. In many ways, Dana's transformation was the most
surprising. She finally called, saying she needed to talk. Somewhat ashamedly,
she told Emily she'd indeed developed the appetite for tobacco that George
wanted. She now joined him smoking cigars every evening. Cigars were important
to George, she explained. She initially worried about taking up a smoking
habit, but on balance felt it was an acceptable risk. After all, he wanted to
marry her! She hoped Emily understood and wouldn't judge her as hypocritical
or stupid.

    The news was music to Emily's ears! With some hesitation, she shared her
own story, how she learned to smoke with Vicki, though she left out all
references to their sexual relationship. Learning that her daughter smoked, at
first Dana was concerned. She had a mother's protective heart. She had to do
it to mollify George, but she knew Emily faced no such compulsion. She was
concerned whether Emily realized what she was getting into. Emily reassured
Dana that smoking was her own choice, that she greatly enjoyed it. She
reminded Dana of her own admission, where she acknowledged her own growing
appetite. Despite the risks, didn't she like it? Her mother softened and
admitted yes, she'd learned to enjoy smoking. Mother and daughter agreed to
get together to trade stories.

    The first meeting was memorable. Emily knew George started her on
cigarettes, but he'd made sure Dana was wed to them before starting her on
cigars. To Emily's delight, even after her introduction to cigars, Dana told
her she continued to smoke cigarettes, too. In fact, Dana reluctantly admitted
she smoked half a pack each day, along with a cigar each night. After she'd
learned to inhale, she couldn't bring herself to completely stop. She kept
returning to cigarettes, unable to give them up.

    After this revelation, Dana suggested they "show and tell" each other.
Emily was elated the first time she saw her mother light up. Dana took long
deliberate drags, with deep chest expanding inhales and long patient holds,
before releasing clouds of smoke from her mouth and her nostrils. George had
taught her well!

    After that, the two women often met together. Emily became a frequent
visitor at George and Dana's. Each time, mother and daughter smoked cigarettes
constantly. And each time Dana got together with Emily, she grew more
comfortable with surrendering herself to complete and shameless enjoyment of
her relentlessly growing habit. Dana knew she was becoming hooked, but it
didn't matter. Gone were former criticism and bitterness, having been replaced
by a new free and easy attitude that accepted and enjoyed life. Both George
and smoking were very good for her mother, Emily decided.

    True to his word, George introduced Emily to cigars, too. She learned to
enjoy the strong, rich smoke delivered by a good cigar, and the more leisurely
experience of cigar smoking. But it was hard to inhale cigar smoke. In the
end, she missed the experience of sucking smoke into her lungs. Each time she
finished a cigar with George and Dana, she wanted to "top it off" by smoking
one of her Marlboros. Usually Dana did the same.

    Emily's grades continued their upward progress. Now she consistently
scored in the top quarter of the class. She liked the program and her growing
role as a leader among the students. For the first time in her life, she was a
student who "got it," who was a study reference for others. After Vicki's
departure, Emily assumed the role of leader of the study group, too. She was
recognized as an authority by teachers and students. And, more importantly, by
Emily herself.

    Smoking had assumed a vital role in every area of Emily's life. At work,
she was a smoker. She knew the other smokers, and helped rally opinion against
a proposed policy that would've prohibited smoking within twenty five feet of
the bank's back entrance, where the girls took their morning and evening
breaks. Emily and Jenny led the charge, meeting with management and urging
that the needless restriction created more problems than it solved. She was
surprised by her boldness. Her former shyness had gone up in smoke!

    At the apartment, Emily smoked all the time. She frequently thought about
Vicki, particularly when she reflected on how much she smoked. Back then, it
had seemed incredible that her roommate smoked over thirty cigarettes a day.
But now, on weekends, Emily routinely consumed that many. A pack a day was her
minimum. On a good day, she was closer to two.

    Vicki was the last loose end. Each week the two women talked by phone.
Eventually Vicki hoped to move back, but was uncertain when that would happen.
Her father sold the duplex. She had no place to live if she returned. Emily
thought it best not to invite Vicki to become roommates again. She and Bob
were pretty serious. She never told him of the sexual nature of her old
relationship with Vicki, but she knew living with Vicki again wouldn't work .
Vicki understood and supported Emily's relationship with Bob. Selflessly, she
insisted Emily not look back. They'd each move on with life, without regret.

    When March arrived, the students reached the three quarter point. One
Thursday, Emily received a message from Tim Roberts, her professor from
workers comp class. She got a 98% on his final, her highest in the program.
But that was last fall. What could he want?

    When she called back, he asked her to meet him. The next afternoon, on
Friday, she arrived at Tim's office at five thirty, driving straight from her
job at the bank. She wore an extra nice outfit, elegant but appropriate for a
true business meeting. Her long red hair was stylishly arranged. She looked
good!

    "Emily, thanks for coming," Tim announced reticently at the beginning of
the meeting. "You did well in my class. You got the highest grade on the
final, you know."

    "Oh, I know, Mr. Roberts," she said shyly. "I loved your class. You were
one of our best instructors. And you were also the only professor who ever
came outside to smoke with us."

    "I enjoyed the course, and I enjoyed socializing during breaks," he
smiled. "And please, call me Tim." He nervously cleared his throat. "I'm not
supposed to do this," he began. "I really should interview paralegal
candidates at school like everyone else. But in this case I decided to go
outside the system. I need another paralegal to do workers comp."

    "Oh?" Emily asked, trying not to appear too interested.

    "Yes," he went on. "When I agreed to be an adjunct professor, I told them
I wouldn't be bound by their bullshit recruiting rules. I wanted to be able to
cut through the red tape if I came across someone I wanted to hire." He
paused. "Emily, do you have any interest in a job?"

    She smiled. "If I didn't, I wouldn't be in paralegal school! What kind of
position are you thinking of? And when can I start?" she added with a pleasant
laugh.

    Tim briefly discussed the details, including salary and benefits. He
wanted someone to start immediately. Based on the description, the position
sounded perfect. The money was ten percent more than she made at the bank.
According to Tim, she'd work with another experienced paralegal named Erin.
Emily told Tim she was definitely interested.

    "That's great. Can I ask Erin to join us? After all, you should meet her
before you finally decide to take the job." He picked up the phone dialed a
four digit internal number.

    In a moment, into the office walked Erin Burnes. She was a tall,
attractive woman in her early thirties with short, jet black hair. She wore a
mid-calf, navy blue jumper and white blouse. The outfit nicely complemented
her tall, thin figure. She had large hoop earrings and a big smile.

    "You must be Emily," she said with a warm smile, holding out her hand.
"Tim told me all about you. We're real busy here. I hope you'll accept the
offer. I could use the help!"

    Erin sat in the chair next to Emily. "I definitely _am_ interested," she
admitted. "I just never expected a job offer before I finished the paralegal
program."

    "Hey, I've got an idea," Tim said brightly. "It's almost six o'clock. Why
don't the three of us talk about this over a drink?"

    "Sure," Erin replied. "Do you have time for a quick drink, Emily?"

    Emily looked at her watch. She and Bob were going to dinner. But she could
be a little late for something this important. "I'd love to," she smiled.

    Tim, Erin and Emily crossed the street to a small, downtown bar. Emily and
Erin looked striking together, walking side by side. Both were pretty, tall
and thin. It was Friday night. The after-work, early evening trade was brisk.
The bar was full of yuppies celebrating the end of another work week. Emily
and Erin turned several heads as they walked in next to each other. With Tim,
they got a small table in the bar.

    Emily knew that Tim smoked, and she knew that Tim knew she smoked. But she
didn't know whether Erin did. Being in the smoky bar environment made her
really want one. But she didn't want to offend Erin by lighting up next to
her. So she decided to wait for Tim or Erin to make a first move.

    She needn't have worried. Before the waitress took drink orders, Erin
opened her purse and put on the table a well-worn, navy blue, leather
cigarette case. A wave of relief washed over Emily. Thank God! Erin _is_ a
smoker! She could partake without offending her potential co-worker.
Immediately she got out her own pack of Marlboro Lights 100's.

    Erin nodded upon seeing Emily's action. "Tim told me you smoke, too," she
beamed. Her gold hoop earrings sparkled in the dim light as she opened her
case and readied a long, white cigarette. "I was glad to hear it. The bastards
in building management don't let us smoke in the office during the day
anymore. But if I work evenings or weekends, I close my office door and smoke
anyway." She giggled as she put the cigarette between her lips. "We'll share
the office," she went on, pausing to light it with an expensive gold lighter.
"I didn't want to share it with a non-smoker. You know what I mean?" She
smiled as she jetted twin streams of smoke from her cute, turned-up nose. Her
manner was that of a seasoned smoker.

    Emily lit up, too. She took a lengthy initial hit, glad to fill her lungs
with smoke. "God, I _do_ know what you mean. That's great," she said during
her hold. "I'm more willing to work late if I can smoke. That's cool." She
smiled, finally discharging smoke from pursed lips as she began her second
drag.

    Erin gave Tim a broad smile. "God, you were right," she announced. She
winked across the table at her boss. "This girl is definitely one of us! Shit,
just look how she smokes! She smokes hard!"

    Emily was in the middle of another drag. With her cheeks hollowed inward,
she felt a little self-conscious. But Erin went on. "Emily, I can see that you
really understand what it means to _need_ a cigarette. I think we're going to
get along just fine!"

    Emily exhaled and watched Erin pull on her cigarette. The drag was
protracted and luxurious, followed by a snap inhale pulling the smoke deep
into her lungs. Each time Erin inhaled she raised her shoulders to expand her
chest, increasing her lung capacity to deposit the sweet, nicotine-carrying
agent as deep inside as possible. Then she'd tip her head and smile, slowly
exhaling through her nostrils. Emily liked Erin's style. She liked everything
about her. She agreed with the analysis. They'd get along just fine!

   
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    On Monday Emily gave two week notice. A fortnight later she began at
Tim's. She and Erin quickly became friends. Erin was married, with no
children. She and her husband began getting together socially with Emily and
Bob. Every afternoon at five thirty, true to her word, Erin closed the door of
their office and lit up. She chain-smoked from the moment the door closed
until she went home, usually around six thirty. In addition to smoking at
days' end, Erin took multiple smoke breaks each morning and afternoon. Being a
paralegal meant being treated like a professional. Neither Erin nor Emily
punched a clock. They could take as many breaks as they needed or wanted, as
long as work got done. Before Emily joined the office, Erin was accustomed to
taking frequent smoke breaks during the day. Emily invariably joined Erin
downstairs to smoke. To get her work done Emily had to stay a little late on
non-class nights, but it was worth it. She enjoyed the freedom to smoke more
often during the day. And she did.

    After several weeks at Tim's office, late one night Emily realized she'd
just finished her second pack of cigarettes that day. It had been a work day,
and she smoked two whole packs! She couldn't believe it. Because she and Erin
smoked so much, she knew her consumption had increased since starting her new
job. She just hadn't realized _how_ much. She opened her third pack of the
day. The more she smoked, the more she wanted to, she realized. No, check
that. The more she _needed_ to. She sighed as she lit up cigarette number
forty-one. She was hopelessly addicted, and she knew it. Vicki's prophecy
proved true.

    Emily smiled as she thought again about the puppy analogy. "Starting to
smoke is like buying a cute puppy. But you have to be careful. Eventually the
puppy grows up!" Yes, her cute little puppy had grown monstrously large. She
had one hell of a bite, too. But Emily didn't care. Feeding her habit was fun.
Damn it, she liked to smoke! Whether it was cigarette number one or number
forty-one of the day, she enjoyed every one of them.

    Yes, life was good now. Her mother was marrying a great guy. She herself
had a great job as a paralegal, a wonderful live-in boyfriend, and lots of
other good friends. Plus, her grades continued in the top twenty percent at
school. She sighed. There was no chance she'd finish first in the class. But
for the first time in her life she was actually within striking distance of
being first at something. She'd never have imagined it!

    Emily smiled. In one way, she _was_ first in the class. After all, she was
the first one to land a paralegal job! In the end, that was more important
than anything, including grades.

    A second realization hit her as she took pleasure from another protracted
drag. In just over six months, she'd become first in the class in another way.
Based on observing the other students who smoked during breaks, she was
probably first in the class in terms of cigarette consumption. She didn't know
anyone else who smoked two packs a day. She smiled as she thought about it.
Two fuckin' packs in a day! God damn! Six months ago, she didn't smoke at all.
Now she averaged almost forty cigarettes a day! Her grin widened as she
released a stream of smoke into the hazy living room. After orientation last
August she remembered thinking this program would change her life. Well, it
had, and in more ways than one!

    With one last puff, Emily crushed her cigarette in the large, overflowing
ashtray and turned out the light. It was late, after midnight. She was ready
for bed. She couldn't see it in the dark, but she felt the smoke pouring out
of her nostrils as she walked into the bedroom. Bob was asleep. Emily put on
the night light and brushed her teeth. Morning would come soon, she smiled.
She pulled down the sheet on her side of the bed. That meant only six more
hours 'til she smoked the next cigarette. First in her class. She giggled as
she fell asleep. She was definitely first in her class!

    THE END

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