Zas bent down to check on his rack of lamb in the oven. It had been a busy week since the Humour and Hijinks Festival, but now they could take time to relax. Ezza was in the bedroom getting ready for their guests coming over. They had invited over Cameron and Akira for a small dinner party to celebrate Zas’s promotion to Story Researcher.

The day after the Festival Zas had written a column based on what he had seen and experienced there. He had turned it in for fun, not really expecting much. His boss however had been impressed. He had said it was like looking through the eyes of someone who had never lived among Earth’s people; it was a unique perspective that could hook readers. He had promoted Zas.

“Hello, Zas. Are you still on Earth somewhere?” Ezza asked. Zas looked at her, he’d been lost in his thoughts. Mates she was a temptress in that shirt. The material clung to her body and enforced her assets perfectly. The way it showed of her midriff was tempting. Zas turned towards his cooking so he could resist the temptation to pull her towards him. What is wrong with me? This is Ezza , dorky, old best friend Ezza. Pull it together man!

 

There was a knock on their door. Zas sighed as Ezza traipsed off to get it. He’d take small moments of peace when he could get them, they didn’t come often, not in this little apartment. He could hear Cameron and Ezza doing their dorky “alien” greeting together. Moments later Cameron came in to the kitchen and smacked Zas on the back.

“Hello Muffin, did you miss me?” Cameron asked smiling broadly. He knew Zas hated being called Muffin, which is why he did it.

“Hello Cameron.” Zas said back trying to get a hold of his temper. He hated being called Muffin and had tried calling Cameron Sweetie to get his point across on how annoying it was; Cameron however had enjoyed it and gotten more friendly. So now Zas stuck to his name only.

“Aw, you two still get along so well, don’t they?” Ezza asked Akira. They had walked into the kitchen in time to hear the exchange. Zas stiffened and Cameron just turned and nodded his head.

“You, my Pretty Baby, look amazing. I don’t know how you’ve been able to stay single all this time. Somebody better get his butt in gear before he loses out.” Cameron sang,then he walked over and hugged Ezza. Akira made a Humph sound and looked the other way.

They all talked for a bit, and of course Ezza gave both Cameron and Akira the grand tour. It took longer than Zas thought it would because Ezza and Akira were talking about decorating schemes and tips. Cameron and Zas leaned against the kitchen counter with glasses of wine.

 

“They’re so cute.” Cameron said taking a sip. Zas nodded.

“So have you two little snuggle bunnies made any headway?” Cameron asked.

“No.” Zas said. He really didn’t want to talk about it.

“Why ever not? She’s gorgeous, I preferred her when she was a he of course, but from what I learned from you two, she is now your ideal mate. That is how that was supposed to work right? Best friend, ideal mate. What’s stopping you?” Cameron asked. He was curious about it, and knew Zas was hiding something; He wanted to know.

“It’s complicated.” Zas said looking down.

“What’s complicated about it?” Cameron replied. Zas looked at him for a moment and then sighed. Usually he’d talk to Ezza about this but, since Ezza was the cause Cameron would have to do.

“I didn’t have a happy home life growing up.” Zas started.

“Who did?” Cameron said interrupting him. Zas gave him a silencing look then continued.

“My mother cheated on my father continually with her sister’s husband. I have a half-sister named Mai. My father would always avoid Mai, my mother also avoided Mai. I loved her. I loved my parents, but my father was hurt every time she cheated on him, and the fool would forgive her every time. Then get hurt again and again.

“I don’t have a great track record with woman myself. I decided long ago that I was never going to take a permanent mate. I don’t know if I could handle having her cheat on me all the time. I don’t want to be the fool my father was. I also don’t want to turn out like my mother and hurt my mate over and over again.

“Every time my mother cheated and my father got hurt, Ezza was my rock, so I could be Mai’s rock. Every time, without question, without fail. Ezza has always been there through my screw ups with woman, and all the back lash, and he never left my side. Now he’s a woman, she’s a woman. A woman who was specifically built just for me. A rarity, what if I screw it up with her like I do every other woman whose been in my life. I can’t afford to lose Ezza, something in me would break and I’d never recover from it. I just can’t.” Zas finished. He felt like crying, but it also felt good to get off of his chest.

“Is that all?” Cameron asked. Zas looked up at him his mouth open slightly.

“What do you mean is that all?” Zas said dumbfounded. He knew Cameron could be cold when he wanted to be, but now of all times when he’d opened his heart to him, really?

“Look, I’m not trying to be the bad guy here, but gods! Step into reality for a moment and out of whatever fantasy world you’re living in. Ezza was devoted to you as a man, now as a woman she’s even more devoted. She literally changed for you. Don’t be an ass. Now smile and laugh.” Cameron said fixing a smile on his face as Ezza and Akira came walking back into the kitchen.

Dinner was delicious as everyone but Akira knew. Ezza and Cameron joked around and chatted through most of the night. Occasionally Cameron would make a remark to Zas about time and hurrying things along. Zas would blush and Akira would look a little concerned.

As the evening wore on they put on some music and Ezza started to dance. At first she tried to get Zas to join her, but he refused. Cameron called him a child and joined Ezza. Because of the tight spaces, they basically danced in place.

 

To Zas and Ezza’s shock, Akira started making needling comments to Cameron about flirting and throwing away their relationship. Cameron flinched and stopped dancing. In fact from that point on Cameron stopped enjoying himself all together. Ezza nudged Zas and nodded at Akira. Very discreetly Zas looked into Akira’s mind. He pulled out after a few moments.

The party wound down quickly after that. As Cameron and Akira left, Ezza reached out and placed her hand on Cameron’s arm. When he turned towards her, she gave him a questioning look, silently asking if he was alright. Cameron patted her hand where it lay, and then smiled at her and walked out.

 

Zas came out of the bathroom to find Ezza sitting on the couch reading a book on the Hunters, or as Earthlings called them: Vampires. Zas watched her read for a few moments, a look of utter concentration on her face. Ezza was always like this, getting so absorbed in what she was doing that the world just disappeared. It had been one of Ezza’s more attractive qualities both before and now. Giving his head a quick shake to clear those thoughts away, he started for the bedroom when Ezza let out a squeak. Looking over he found Ezza biting her lip and staring at his naked wet upper body.

“What?” He asked. Ezza glanced up at his face for once. She had seen his body mostly naked about a million times since they had met, but never before had she really ‘seen’ it. Was being a woman really changing her this much?

“You gave me a shower, I already had one thank you.” Ezza said. She started reading again, which is why she missed the mischievous smile on Zas’s face. He knew he shouldn’t be doing this, but Mates, he couldn’t help himself. Going over to where Ezza was sitting, he leaned in close to her ear, and dropping the timber of his voice a little he whispered in her ear.

Ezza felt her face flush and her temperature rise. He could be so dirty and mean sometimes. She took the pillow beside her and whacked him with it.

“Perv!” She yelled at him as he walked into the bedroom laughing.

Ezza waited a few moments and then went into the bedroom to get ready for bed. After changing she turned around to talk to Zas. Ezza pointed down towards the floor in disgusted surprise, Zas looked just in time to see something small and furry disappear inside a hole in the wall.

“That’s it! I’ve put up with weird electrical boxes and leaky pipes, the occasional bug family, and the funky smell in the living room. I am done. I hate this place. It just crossed the line! I want to move Zas.” Ezza said. She looked at him and stomped her foot down. Zas couldn’t help but chuckle.  Ezza didn’t find it funny, which just made Zas laugh more, which made Ezza angrier. It was a vicious cycle that ended with Ezza yelling and throwing a pillow at Zas. Then she sat in bed alone crying to herself about what a jerk Zas was. Zas sat on the couch feeling like a heel as he listened to Ezza cry. She used to love things like rats, since becoming a woman, she had changed her tastes a bit and Zas found it confusing. He used to think he’d never understand woman, well now that went for his best friend too. Life was rough. Laying down he covered his ears and went to sleep.