Rags Ch. 02

"Lay-Layla?" Ashley spoke in nervousness, a rare use of Layla's full first name.

Layla had noticed that too, and she looked at Ashley curiously.

"Why are you-, um." Ashley said, suddenly unsure how to ask her question, but nodded towards Layla's discarded shirt.

"I always sleep in my underwear. Don't you?" Layla asked curiously.

"Why were you asleep in your clothes earlier?" Ashley asked, ignoring the question.

"I was super tired. Guess I just crashed." Layla said looking at the air mattress. Layla removed her shorts next, and Ashley's center was absolutely thrumming with excitement. Layla had small chicken legs. They were thin with almost no real substance to them at all. If it were not for the thin covering of meat that dwelt underneath her skin, she might as well have had actual chicken's legs to walk around on.

"Still, you did not answer my question." Layla looked at her with a stare as the she fell onto her back and lifted her hips to get the shorts off. The crotch of Layla's panties was now staring at her in the face and she looked away in embarrassment now. Not for herself, but for Layla. Layla had finished removing her shorts and was sitting upright with that stare. Ashley, however, could not put the image of severely period-stained panties out of her mind. Ashley had no idea where to begin with that one.

"Layla," she said in a soft voice, trying not to set the girl off anymore tonight," you do know that you have stains on your underwear, right? I mean- very bad stains."

Layla looked down at her panties for a moment as though considering it. Ashley was taken completely off guard by what happened next. Layla laid back down on the mattress and hooked her fingers in the waistband of her panties and pulled them off quickly.

"I was meaning to replace them anyways." Layla said cheekily. Layla looked around as if trying to not get caught telling a naughty secret. She leaned close to Ashley's face, her eyes set with the most serious expression, her cheeks glowing red.

"I sometimes bleed, you know. Down there. My privates. It happens every once in a while, but it has a pattern. Every month I have to buy new panties."

Ashley was completely dumbstruck. She had no idea whether to laugh, cry, or even take Layla seriously. There could be no way that Layla did not know what a period is. She had to have at least been curious enough to ask about it. Could she truly not know? Ashley swallowed her pride and decided to ask a very personal question.

"Lay-lay, have you ever used a pad?" Ashley asked slowly. The confusion written on Layla's face was enough to confirm her theory, and Ashley did not speak for a few moments. Layla's face was growing concerned, completely unashamed about how Ashley's eyes darted between her own and her now-bare crotch, covered in a tangle of pubic hairs. Ashley sighed, she needed to fix Layla's naivete before she wound up in a position she did not want to be in.

"Let's get some rest. There's some things I need to show you tomorrow."

"Like what?" Layla asked, her attitude suddenly bubbly with excitement.

"You'll see tomorrow. Let's get some sleep." Ashley replied.

Layla bounced up and down on the bed, the actions more like that of a little girl than the fully- grown woman that she was, and Ashley began to feel a sense of dread course through her body at the realization that brought. Layla was in some ways, mentally a child, trapped in a woman's body. She was going to have to get Layla up to speed on things she had obviously missed out on at some point and began to wonder once again what had happened to this girl, whom she loved with all her being, that she was homeless.

Ashley laid down on the bed, and had to physically drag Layla down with her. The girl was now all energy and excitement. She smiled more in those few moments than she had probably seen the girl give in the year they had known each other. She pulled Layla close to her settling into a spooning position with her.

"Ashie?" Layla asked.

"Hmm?" was Ashley's reply, she was on the verge of sleep herself.

"Ashie, is my butt really that big?"

"Go to sleep." Ashley chuckled sleepily. Starting to nod off after a few more moments, she closed her eyes.

She laid one arm underneath the blanket Layla was using as a pillow while the other, she noticed, was around Layla's waist with her hand dangling precariously close to the girl's pubic hair. She restrained herself from doing anything with remarkable ease given the temptation to take Layla right there. She wanted Layla to feel special if they ever got to that point, and memorable. First, she had to make sure Layla was aware of all of the things being a woman entailed so she could make a rational decision for herself. Until then, Layla would never be able to give herself fully to Ashley. Ashie was nearly passed out with those thoughts when Layla broke the silence again.

"Ashie, will you always be there with me?" Layla asked dreamily.

Ashley's eyes popped wide open, more alert than they had been since Layla's first cries pierced the dark of the night and woke her from her slumber. She laid on her side for a long time through the pondering what Layla meant by that question, every once in a while, smiling at the sounds of the soft snores of the woman who was still in some ways still a child. It was a long time before exhaustion finally overtook her, and Ashley fell asleep to vivid dreams of her kissing Layla at what she could only assume was their wedding.

**********

"ASHIEASHIEASHIEASHIE!!" a voice shouted through the dimness.

Asley could feel her body being bounced up and down, a strange weight on her belly. She was exhausted, had spent the larger part of the night lying awake after Layla asked her the one question she had hoped to hear from Layla since they had met. She knew the question was completely innocent, and Layla had absolutely no clue as to what that question actually meant to her. That is what kept her awake, Layla had no understanding as far as she could tell, about her feelings.

It was almost painful for Ashley to go day by day watching Layla wander out of camp and come back late in the afternoon always exhausted. After they had gotten to know each other, Layla still always managed to find time to hang around Ashley no matter how exhausted she was. Layla seemed to be naturally clingy, always needing some sort of contact or touch as if it validated her existence. That was not Ashley's way, but for Layla it just seemed right to her to do so. There was a feeling of connection with Layla beyond her attraction that Ashley was just not able to figure out. She had spent all of that time she was laying in bed with a half-naked Layla in her arms, and having the feeling that everything in her world would be so perfect if only Layla could return her love. She had begun to formulate a plan for today, but she was so tired she was wondering if she could just put it off for at least another day. That was the problem. She did not want to.

Ashley groaned as she felt the weight on top of her body bouncing up and down again. Ashley's mind was suddenly wide awake as her tired mind processed skin, lots of it, and a tuft of hair which could only mean one thing. Ashley's body began to react immediately even without her having to open her eyes, she knew what she would see if she did. Still, it was all sort of a dream for her. Last night she was holding the half-naked woman she had been in love with for a year, and now said woman was still half-naked and straddling her abdomen bouncing up and down trying to wake her up. Boy was she awake now. Her nipples were straining against the cups of her bra, almost aching as if in protest of the indignity of being constrained by the fabric. She could feel the wetness too. She knew it would not be too long before she started leaking, and the smell would be telling.

"Ashhhieeeeeeeee..." Layla whimpered.

Ashley smiled at Layla's cuteness and opened an eye.

"Thatta girl!" Layla shouted in triumph still bouncing up and down on top of her still. Despite the perkiness of Layla's small breasts, they still managed to bounce up and down slightly along with her. Layla had put on a shirt, but Ashley could still make out the motion, and she closed her eyes with a groan of frustration. She turned over, causing Layla to fall over onto the other side of the air mattress, and Ashley buried her face in her arms to regain control God, how she was aching to grab those perky little mounds. She could feel her slick juices starting to weep from her pussy and the smell could not be hidden any longer. She was glad she had decided to remain dressed through the evening or she would have been tempted to try something. She was even happier about it now because she would not have cared if Layla was in front of her, she would have frigged herself silly right in front of the woman without a seconds' hesitation. All in all, Ashley was admiring her own restraint in the situation.

"Oh no you don't, Ashie!" Layla shouted playfully and smacked Ashley's behind once. Ashley moaned aloud in her aroused state. That was one of her weaknesses. She loved being spanked during sex. She knew Layla didn't mean to, but Layla's reaction to her moan was absolutely endearing. Ashley looked into Layla's eyes, she knew she wouldn't be able to hide the lust in them, she was far too worked up now to even care to pretend. Layla, however, mistook her look for something else, and a tear was falling from the corner of her eye as she cupped her hands over her mouth. Her expression was one of regretful horror. If ever there was a way to instantly turn her off, Layla had found Ashley's one button- Layla in tears.

"Oh my God," Layla said quietly," I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Ashley couldn't help it, she quickly burst into loud laughter. She hid her face in her arms to hide the tears because she was laughing so hard. After a minute, her stomach started to hurt. She finally was able to bring herself under control and she got up and sat next to Layla, draping an arm over the girls' shoulders. She was still giggling softly as she looked into Layla's confused, tear-streaked face.

"Lay-lay, I promise you didn't hurt me."

" But you-"

"Lay-lay, stop overthinking things. You didn't hurt me in the least, quite the opposite as a matter of fact."

"You mean that felt good to you?" Layla asked with a very puzzled expression on her face. "Spanking never felt good to me, when-"

Layla paused as if considering something. Ashley raised an eyebrow, looking at Layla intently.

"When what, Lay-lay?"

"Nevermind."

Ashley knew there was a topic there that shouldn't be pushed, so she shrugged her shoulders and made a face that said the topic was as good as dropped. Layla's face quickly brightened up, and that wonderful smile from last night reappeared.

"So, when are we going to go?" Layla asked excitedly.

"Go where?" Ashley asked. She watched as Layla's face fell slightly.

"Oh. I just thought you wanted to show me something today."

Ashley palmed her forehead, feeling stupid for forgetting.

"How does right now sound?" Ashley asked with a grin.

"Great!" Layla said enthusiastically, jumping up and heading towards the tent flap.

"Whoa, Lay-lay." Ashley said loud enough to get Layla to stop and look back at her.

"Something wrong?" Layla asked.

"Yeah, there is."

"What?" Layla asked, her face wearing a worried expression.

Ashley couldn't help but giggle, Layla was still turned with her back to Ashley, and Ashley was too tempted to resist at least one touch.

"The problem is- that although there are a number of people out there who wouldn't mind seeing a cute half-naked girl walking the streets-," Ashley stated while giving Layla's bare bottom a slight smack," I do not think the police would share the same opinion."

Layla gasped at the sudden contact of Ashley's hand with her bottom, and it had sent feelings throughout her body that she had felt before, but still did not understand. It was the same feeling she got every time she was near Ashley, and it had bothered her well into the night, the tingling sensations and the dull heat she felt radiating throughout her body, the pleasurable pressure she felt around her private parts was always nice. Yes, she was familiar with that feeling, but only if she could understand what it meant.

Ashley had noticed Layla's reaction, and her silence afterwards. She watched as Layla's eyes appeared rheumy and a look of longing clearly displayed in them along with confusion.

'So' Ashley thought to herself, 'she likes a little rough play.'

Ashley decided to take things slightly further out of curiosity. She grabbed a handful of Ashley's hair and pulled on it gently, causing Layla's head to jerk back slightly, and she heard Layla gasp again. Layla's bottom made contact with Ashley's crotch and her legs splayed slightly out of instinct. Ashley grinned to herself. She bent over Layla's body so her abdomen leaned on Layla's back, maintaining her grip on Layla's hair so she could whisper into Layla's ear. Layla moaned in a way that came out in a kind of high-pitched mewl. The sound drove Ashley to new heights of lust, causing her body to thrum with sexual tension which Layla was clearly but unknowingly responding to. Everything Layla displayed so far let Ashley know the girl might be open to her advances when the time came, and she held onto that bit of hope because she knew she couldn't take things too far just yet. So, she brought her lips close to Layla's ear.

"We certainly wouldn't want that kind of trouble, would we?" Ashley whispered in a breathy voice.

"No." Layla whispered, the word uttered through ragged breaths.

Ashley let go of Layla's hair and stood back so that she could get herself dressed. Ashley watched as Layla pulled yet another period stained pair of panties out of a trash bag. Obviously, those were meant to be her clean clothes. Ashley couldn't help but shudder in anger over how much Layla did not know. Where were this woman's parents that they could not teach her even the basics of what it meant to be a girl? She shook her head to clear the anger and focused on several revelations that improved her mood greatly while she watched Layla dress. Layla apparently liked a little rough play. Two, she was obviously a submissive by the way she allowed Ashley to control her. Finally, she might be open to the idea of a lesbian relationship, and one with Ashley at that once she was aware of the implications.

Layla finished dressing, and as always, looked absolutely marvelous to Ashley despite the grungy clothing she was wearing. Layla stepped out of tent allowing the first sunlight of the day to penetrate. Ashley did not realize how cold it was and shuddered as a slow but frigid wave of air hit her. Layla turned back to face the tent and peered inside. She motioned for Ashley to follow.

"Come on, slow-poke! Let's go!" Layla exclaimed giddily.

Ashley climbed out of the tent and rubbed her arms to get the blood moving. She felt herself being half-dragged through the woods by the small woman, the energy put into each step reminding Ashley of a small yap-dog. She chuckled to herself as she realized they were close to the edge of the woods.

"Wait!" Ashley yelled.

Layla stopped on a dime and looked at her quizzically.

"I have to grab something before we go."

Layla shrugged and followed.

Ashley walked determinedly along through the forest to an area Layla had never been before. The walk was taking a long time, and Layla was curious about what was so important that Ashley would take all of this time, and exert this much effort to get "something". She watched with interest as Layla began to slow down. She walked curiously, going between several trees before coming to a stop next to a small flat rock. She pried the rock from the ground to reveal a plastic bag full of money. Layla was in awe. In that plastic bag was more money than Layla had ever seen in her life. She was staring and Ashley was slightly nervous.

"Lay-lay?" Ashley said quietly.

Layla looked from the bag to Ashley's eyes and she saw vulnerability there, a first in her experience.

"Ashie?" Layla responded, unsure of what else to say.

"I trust you to keep this secret. It's the only reason I let you come along."

"Was this what you wanted to show me?" Layla asked, completely confused.

"No!" Ashley exclaimed in laughter. "I'm just saying I trust you not to tell anyone I have this."

"Or try to take it, you mean." Layla said, her tone conveying offense at the notion.

"No, no- I mean yes, well- sort of." Ashley tried to backpedal, and saw Layla was about to leave. She panicked and grabbed Layla's arm as she was turning around.

"What I mean is-," Ashley paused, looking at the back of Layla's head," it is the only thing keeping me going until I can get back on my feet."

Layla turned back around and saw a tear falling down Ashley's cheek.

"Every once in a while, I spend a little just to remember what it feels like to be a little- human, I guess?"

"I guess I can understand a little. Instead of food and clothes, why not spend it on something worthwhile?" Layla asked.

"Like?" Ashley asked.

"Like actually trying to get out of this lifestyle."

"Easier said than done, Lay-lay. I mean, dreaming of becoming a doctor or someone important is more of a Cinderella 'rags to riches' type of story for people like us than reality. I actually want to look decent, not wandering the streets in torn up rags."

"That's basically what I do- somewhat." Layla said with slight indignation.

"I don't mean it that way, please don't misunderstand me. I have just become, I don't know- jaded."

"Try to fix it." Layla said simply with a shrug of her shoulders.

"How?" Ashley asked, her tone slightly bitter. "My parents kicked me out because-, well, they didn't like me."

"Why would they do that?" Layla asked curiously. She placed a hand on Layla's arm and stroked it lightly.

"I'm not sure I can explain right now, but I just don't see a way out."

Layla looked deep into Ashley's gray eyes, her face was a mask of the mental anguish that she had learned to hide so well. Layla was sad that she had never noticed it before, and was amazed that Ashley took so much time to worry about her and comfort her whenever she dealt with her nightmares. Suddenly, Layla thought she had a brilliant idea, and if today was the date she thought it was, it would probably be the best day to do it.

"Ashie, what day is it?" Layla asked, prompting a confused look from Ashley.

"October twenty-third, why Lay-lay?"

"Ashie, I know you wanted to show me something, but can I take you a couple places first?"

"Okay..." Ashley said, the end of the word trailing off in her confusion.

Layla gave a sad smile.

"Today is kind of an important day for me. I want you to meet someone. I have everything I need with me."

Ashley looked at Layla with a raise eyebrow and Layla giggled. Layla took hold of Ashley's hand and led her out of the woods on a more familiar route. This way, they would not be noticed coming out of the woods on the busier main street a block away. It was also convenient for Layla in another way, as Ashley was about to find out. Layla started walking towards the front door of a garden store. It was a place that Ashley had passed hundreds of times since she started living in the woods behind it, and never gave it a second glance except as a place marker to know where she was. Layla, however, was striding towards the door with purpose.

Ashley followed dutifully along, wondering what the purpose of this errand was. Her heart felt as though it stopped as soon as she started to consider Layla was getting flowers for a lover. That made perfect sense to her, and her mood dropped considerably. Nobody was behind the counter and Layla started to go between the flowers that were left. She would touch one, then another, always stopping to smell each flower or bouquet as she passed them. She watched as Layla would bend over the flowers, and with a dainty flick of her head to clear her hair out of the way she would lean in to take in the fragrance.