The Doll, Part One

Trying to catch her breath and still trembling all over, Lizzy thought her parents were idiots and, for the first time in her life, she was happy about that.

She really didn’t think they were idiots, just too distracted with managing all of their wealth and maintaining their social standings in their elite little community, to notice all the people they were stepping on. Their daughter, included. She always thought, it must be hard to see where you are going with your nose so high in the air.

So busy trying to build their empire and impressing their fellow billionaires, they often overlooked their twelve-year-old daughter. As a result, Lizzy has been largely raised by the help. She wasn’t any of their responsibilities, but they went out of their way to accommodate her. Lizzy thought they took her under their wings because they sensed she didn’t share her parents’ air of superiority. Maybe they saw in her a potential to be a decent human being.

Whatever the reason, they were more like parents to her than the ones that had created her. Mrs. Nelson, the live-in maid and honorary nanny, liked to fuss over her now that her own kids were out of the house. Like a houseplant too far from a window, Lizzy soaked up the woman’s affection like it was pure sunlight. Even the usually gruff head chef would smile when she came to visit, would teach her how to cook whatever dish he was creating for dinner.

She knew her parents loved her, but it would be nice if they showed it sometimes.

For example, her birthday had just passed, and she had asked her parents for a Monster High doll. It was her favorite show, and she needed one more doll to complete her set. She really didn’t want them to play with, but as decoration for her room. She was getting to the age where playing with dolls was starting to lose its appeal. She was growing up.

Her mother, in the spirit of all things excess, hadn’t bought the twenty dollar doll Lizzy had wanted. Instead, she had gone online and bought the most expensive doll she could find. Lizzy had no idea where she found it, only that it cost as much as a new car. Her mother wasn’t remiss in telling her that when she presented the neatly wrapped box to her.

Thinking back to that day, now, Lizzy had to smile…

—————————————

…Sighing with disappointment at the box that was bigger than she was, Lizzy knew her parents had done it, again. Unless they had put it in a ridiculously big box, this wasn’t the Monster High doll she had wanted. Still, she put on a smile she didn’t feel as her mom showed it to her

“Happy Birthday, Sweetie,” her mother had said, with a flourish of her arms, “I hope you like it… It cost more than my Mercedes.”

Her mother hadn’t even stuck around to watch her open it, was late to some gala or another. Lizzy had stood at the window, watching as the driver ferried her parents away into the night. When they were gone, she looked back at the brightly wrapped box. Shaking her head, she left it where it stood, unopened.

She went up to her room and sat at her computer. Online, she opened her mother’s Amazon account, clicked on the cart icon. There was only one item in the cart- the Monster High doll she had wanted. Lizzy had known in her gut that her mother wouldn’t buy it. Sighing, she pulled her little wallet out of her purse, found the emergency credit card her parents had given her. She typed the number into the computer, then hesitated.

She could buy the doll herself, was one click away from doing just that. She knew from past experiences her parents wouldn’t even check her card statement, would just pay the bill when it arrived. They wouldn’t notice this little purchase. Still, she hesitated.

There was a knock at her door, and she jumped guiltily. She closed the window on her computer in a hurry, then got up and went to the door. When she opened it, she saw Ms. Nelson smiling at her.

Her eyes widening, Lizzy asked, “Mrs. Nelson? Why are you here so late?”

“I was waiting for your parents to leave,” the plump woman said, and Lizzy found herself being squeezed tightly, “Happy Birthday!”

“My birthday isn’t until tomorrow,” Lizzy said, hugging her back.

“I know, but I’m going out of town tonight,” Mrs. Nelson said, pulling back to arm’s length, “come downstairs. I have something for you.”

“You do?” Lizzy asked, surprised.

“Come on, Dear,” Mrs. Nelson said, taking Lizzy’s hand.

Following the housekeeper through the house, she wondered what Mrs. Nelson had for her. They walked past the still unopened gift in the living room and into the dining room. No sooner did she pass through the door was Lizzy greeted with a chorus of ‘surprises’. Wide-eyed, she looked around at all of the house staff. They were all here, even the gardeners who were never on the property past noon.

Seeing the birthday cake on the table, the candles twinkling merrily, Lizzy felt her eyes welling up. The staff had planned a surprise party for her. She laughed as they all started singing Happy Birthday, the tears falling. Touched, she couldn’t stop smiling and crying.

“Now, blow out the candles before we burn this place down,” Mrs. Nelson said.

Wiping her eyes, Lizzy blew out the candles. One by one, she hugged the staff, thanking them for this. After she had made it around the room, the cake was cut and divvied up. It was vanilla, her favorite. She was pretty sure the head chef, Mr. Williams had made it.

As dishes were being gathered but before the party could disperse, Mrs. Nelson disappeared, then reappeared with a festively wrapped present.

“Happy Birthday, Sweetie,” she said, handing the gift to Lizzy.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” Lizzy said, embarrassed.

“You say that every year,” the woman said, smiling at her, “open it.”

Lizzy tore the wrapping, gasping as she saw the Monster High doll she had wanted underneath it. She looked wide-eyed at it, then at the housekeeper. The woman was grinning. Lizzy felt more tears sting her eyes and she gave Mrs. Nelson a huge hug.

“How did you know?” Lizzy asked, looking at the doll.

“It is the only one you are missing,” Mrs. Nelson said.

“This is… You all are amazing,” Lizzy said, a knot in her throat, “thank you so much.”

She made her way around the room, again, hugging everyone.

———————————————

Standing with her arms crossed over her chest, Lizzy looked at the giant box her gift from her mother came in. Sighing, she ripped the wrapping paper off, wondering what sort of gaudy doll her mother had bought. She blinked in surprise when she saw the lifelike girl looking back at her. She blinked in surprise again, when the doll blinked back at her.

Then the doll really blew her mind, asking, “Good afternoon, miss. Are you my new owner?”

Stunned, Lizzy had nodded. Belatedly, she realized it probably needed her to actually say ‘yes’. She opened her mouth to say it, but the doll suddenly smiled.

“It is nice to meet you, miss. What’s your name?” The doll asked. Before Lizzy could answer, it looked around at its enclosure, then asked, “Is it okay if I come out of my packaging?”

“Um, yeah,” Lizzy said, her voice a little shaky.

She watched in wonder as the doll freed itself from its box. Standing on the floor, it was only an inch or two shorter than Lizzy. The craftsmanship that had gone into creating the doll was extraordinary; it looked like a real girl standing there. It didn’t have the exaggerated figure of most dolls, but the willowy frame of a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, which only added its realism. With long, silky black hair, pale skin, and brilliant blue eyes, she was startlingly beautiful, but not so perfect that it detracted from the illusion. Lizzy kept looking, but she couldn’t see anything that suggested it wasn’t a real girl standing in front of her.

For one crazy moment, Lizzy thought her mom had bought her an actual girl, not a doll at all. A little embarrassed, she figured even her mom wouldn’t go that far. Still, she was having a hard time accepting what her own eyes were telling

“I didn’t get your name,” the doll said, smiling at Lizzy.

Her heart beating a little faster, Lizzy said, “My name is Lizzy.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Lizzy,” the doll said, tilting its head to one side slightly, “is Lizzy short for Elizabeth, Lizzy?”

“Yes,” Lizzy said, her eyebrows knitting together. This was clearly not just an ordinary doll, but something more.

The doll nodded, then her smile widening, said, “You strike me as a Lizzy, though.”

Lizzy blinked in surprise, again caught off guard by the doll’s candor. Its responses had to be pre-programmed, yet how could a programmer have predicted this conversation. More than that, its response was appropriate- everyone called her Lizzy after just one conversation with her.

“Um, do you have a name?” Lizzy asked it, feeling a little foolish.

“You can call me Becca,” the doll said, then continued when Lizzy looked confused, “it is an acronym for my model type- Beautiful Childlike Companion Automaton. It is a mouthful, so you can call me Becca. Or, if you prefer, you can give me a new name.”

“Um, Becca is okay,” Lizzy said, looking at the doll. It was beautiful and childlike, the perfect replica of a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl. She wore a simple blue dress and Mary Janes, had a backpack on her shoulders.

“Okay,” Becca said, smiling at Lizzy.

Lizzy frowned at the smile on the doll’s face. It was a nuanced, friendly smile. How could gears and servos capture something as complicated as a smile? Even Becca’s eyes shown with a life that belied its factory origin.

Becca’s smile slipped, and she asked, “Are you okay, Lizzy?”

“Um, yeah,” Lizzy said, then added, “why do you ask?”

“You are frowning,” Becca said, her voice full of concern. The doll’s eyebrows knitted with worry. The emotion seemed so genuine.

With a nervous laugh, Lizzy said, “Sorry. I feel like I’m in a dream.”

Becca nodded sympathetically, said, “Most of the time, our owners know about our specifications before we arrive. However, I was warned it could be… awkward for awhile if I’m received as a surprise gift.”

Caught off guard, Lizzy said, “You were warned?”

“I was briefed before being shipped,” Becca said.

“Briefed?” Lizzy asked, frowning. For some reason, she pictured Becca in a room full of military personnel. She didn’t think that was quite right, but she couldn’t shake the image.

“My handler sat me down, told me where I was going, what language I’d need to speak, and of course whether if I was a surprise gift or not. It was to help me prepare to meet you,” Becca said, smiling warmly at Lizzy, “we had a nice conversation about what it was going to be like when I got here.”

“A nice conversation?” Lizzy repeated, a new mental image popping into her head- Becca having tea with her handler. It didn’t make any more sense than the military scenario.

Seeing Lizzy’s dubious look, Becca went on, “After I was woken up- that is what my initial startup process is called, the wakeup- I spent two years in training… Think of it like finishing school. I learned how to interact with humans, learned the various duties that are a part of my responsibilities… The final briefing is a chance for us to say goodbye to our handlers and to get some last minute information about our owners. It makes the transition easier… For you and me.”

“That’s impressive,” Lizzy said, thinking no wonder this thing costs more than a Mercedes.

“Thank you, Lizzy,” Becca said, sounding pleased.

Looking around, Lizzy realized she was standing in the middle of the living room, talking to a doll. Suddenly a little self-conscious, she said, “Um, do you want to go upstairs?”

“To your room?” Becca asked.

“Yeah,” Lizzy said, then added, “um, our room, I guess.”

“Our room,” Becca said like she was trying out the idea. Smiling, she said, “I like that, Roomie.”

“Right,” Lizzy said, rolling her eyes, “come on.”

Lizzy led the doll through the house, up the stairs to her room. Opening the door, she gestured for Becca to enter, then closed the door behind them. She had to smile when Becca looked around the room just like anyone would upon entering a new place for the first time. It was a human thing to do, to wonder about their surroundings.

Whether it was her core programming or the additional ‘schooling’ Becca had received, the robots mannerisms were spot on. If Lizzy didn’t know better, she’d assume there was a real girl in her room.

“I like your bedroom, Lizzy,” Becca said, looking at the memorabilia on the wall. Pointing at the line of trophies on a shelf, she said, “You are into gymnastics and… judging by the number of first place trophies, pretty good at it.”

“Um, yeah,” Lizzy said, joining the doll. Pointing at the largest trophy, she said, “This one was countrywide… I came in second.”

“Impressive,” Becca said, smiling at Lizzy, “I noticed you were very graceful when you were taking the stairs; now I know why.”

“Thanks, I think,” Lizzy said.

Lizzy had inherited her grace and beauty from her mother. When she was younger, her mother was an Olympic gymnast, then a model. Lizzy had seen a photo of her mother when she was her age, and they could be identical twins. Same silky blond hair and arresting green eyes, a dazzling smile and perfect pale skin that gave her an almost elfen look.

Becca suddenly swayed unsteadily on her feet and put her hand on the dresser to gain her balance. Lizzy started to go to her but Becca held up her hand, said, “I’m okay. Is there an outlet I can use?”

“Um, yeah,” Lizzy said, pointing, “there is a one built into my desk.”

Becca pulled her pack off her back, sitting it on the bed. She removed an oblong disc out, then set the bag aside. To Lizzy, it looked like the charging pad to her cell phone, only larger. She watched with interest as Becca sat it on the floor, then plugged it into the power strip on her desk. The doll stood on the disc. Seeing Lizzy looking at her curiously, Becca said, “I need to recharge. Usually, ambient light is enough to recharge my batteries, but I was in my shipping crate too long. So, I have to use my electromagnetic induction pad.”

“Ambient light?” Lizzy parroted.

“Overhead lights, lamps… The sun,” Becca said, smiling, “there’s nothing quite as refreshing as the sun on your face, is there?”

“It’s okay,” Lizzy said, then pointed at the pad, “you recharge your batteries the same way my iPhone recharges?”

“Pretty much,” Becca said, nodding.

“That’s crazy,” Lizzy said, laughing.

“Why is it crazy?” Becca asked.

“My iPhone is a… well a phone, but you… what did you call yourself? An automaton?” Lizzy said, frowning, “what is an automaton, anyway?”

“An automaton is a robot, usually pre-programmed with a set of actions or tasks,” Becca said then added, “my handler says I’m not really an automaton, though.”

“Then what are you?” Lizzy asked.

“I am an artificial intelligence in an autonomous body, covered in living tissue,” Becca said.

“You are a terminator?” Lizzy asked, thinking about the movies she had seen on TV.

Becca smiled, said, “My handler let me watch the Terminator movies… I’ll be back!”

Lizzy snorted in surprise, caught off guard by the joke. Sobering up some, she said, “I saw a commercial about Watson, IBM’s artificial intelligence. As far as I knew, that was as close as mankind has come to an intelligent computer.”

“The development of the processing unit that is the core of my intelligence is top secret,” Becca said, then in a lower voice, “it hasn’t been made available to the general public, yet.”

“Then how did my mother buy you?” Lizzy asked, shaking her head, “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

“Okay,” Becca said.

Frowning, Lizzy found herself looking at the pale skin on the doll’s exposed arms. It looked just like human skin, down to the faint hair. Was it real skin? If so, how did the producers of this doll give Becca real skin? How did it receive nutrients needed to keep the skin cells from dying out? The human body needed to ingest copious amounts of calories and protein to maintain life. Did Becca need to eat? If so, what other organ systems did the robot need to process food?

“Would you like to touch it?” Becca asked.

Blinking, Lizzy parroted, “Touch it?”

“You were looking awfully hard at my arm,” Becca said.

“Um,” Lizzy said, then nodded. Becca held out her arm and Lizzy ran her fingertips over the warm, smooth skin. Doing the same with her own arm, she couldn’t tell the difference. Swallowing hard, she asked, “So, it’s real skin. How can that be? I learned in science class that the human body is made up of organ systems to support cell life… Digestive, respiratory… circulatory… Do you have a heart?”

“Not in the sense you mean,” Becca said, then went on to explain, “the living parts of me have a support system similar to the organs systems you mentioned. I need to take in oxygen and sustenance to fuel my cellular repair and function.”

“Take in sustenance? You eat?” Lizzy asked, surprised.

“Yes,” Becca said.

Frowning, Lizzy asked, “Do you have to… You know?”

Becca seemed amused, “No. Any unused organic material is burned to create energy, which is converted into an electrical current used to recharge my batteries.”

“So you can charge your batteries by light, by your charger, and by eating?” Lizzy asked.

“Yes,” Becca said, then added, “I was designed so that using my charger was a last resort. After today, I shouldn’t need to use it, again.”

“Huh,” Lizzy said, then wondered, “What do you eat?”

“I am fond of strawberries,” Becca said, smiling, “they are my favorite.”

Blinking in surprise, Lizzy parroted, “Your favorite?”

“They are delicious with a little whip cream and cake,” Becca said, her smile widening, “a dish my handler called strawberry shortcake.”

“I know what you are talking about,” Lizzy said, leaning forward, “So you can… taste food?”

“Yes,” Becca said simply, then went on when Lizzy just looked at her, “I possess the same five senses you do. Your senses are nothing more than analog input converted into an electrical signal to the brain. As such, my designers were able to recreate them in me. If you touch my arm, I feel your hand on my skin. Smells, tastes… Everything.”

“That’s… Amazing,” Lizzy said, stunned.

She had known this was no simple doll the first time Becca blinked at her, but this was a little too much like science fiction. Lizzy hadn’t known such advances had been made in technology that it was possible for Becca to exist. She looked at the doll with a mixture of awe and a little fear. Becca represented a crazy new future where smart robots would be a reality, which was a little scary. After all, she has seen the Terminator movies. I, Robot; the Matrix Movies… Lizzy was sure she could think of more robots gone bad movies if she tried.

Becca seemed harmless, though. Lizzy wasn’t scared of the doll, herself, but of the possibilities she represented.

“You seem troubled, Lizzy,” Becca said, frowning, “have I upset you?”

“No,” Lizzy said, then smiled at the doll, “this is just a lot to take in. You are a lot to take in.”

“My handler was right then,” Becca said, sighing, “I do not make a good surprise birthday gift.”

Lizzy took Becca’s hand and squeezed it, said, “It’s going to be okay. Just give me a little time to adjust.”

“Okay, Lizzy,” Becca said, looking down at their hands, “I think we both need to get to know one another. That is what friends do, right?”

Becca met Lizzy’s eyes then, and Lizzy didn’t feel like she was looking at a robot’s processing unit but at a living, breathing soul. There was a genuine connection between them, and a shiver of wonder worked up Lizzy’s spine. The more Lizzy talked to Becca, the harder it was to think of her as an automaton or a doll or anything short of a miracle.

She swallowed hard, managed to say, “We get to know each other first… Friendship comes next.”

Becca gave her a warm smile, then said, “Then we should start getting to know each other right now because I really want us to be friends.”

——————————————

Looking at Becca now, Lizzy had to smile. They had indeed become friends, something that still amazed Lizzy. She never expected to be so close to a robot, but Becca was so much more than servos and circuit boards. Her creators had installed intelligence in Becca, but her personality was all her own. She had a quirky sense of humor that never ceased to catch Lizzy off guard and a love of strawberry shortcake.

Other than the service staff, Becca was Lizzy’s only real friend. Her parents were in the one percent, which didn’t leave many people in her pool of potential friends. Add to that that she was homeschooled only made that pool even smaller. The few kids she did get to meet were either stuck up, spoiled, or weird, so it was just her and Becca.

Becca went everywhere with them, even out in public. Rare trips to the mall became an amusing treat as Lizzy looked at the faces of her fellow shoppers. None of them even suspected Becca was anything other than another girl. Even Becca seemed to like the anonymity, saying it made her feel like part of a crowd and not so alone. Becca meant it because she was a robot in a sea of humanity, but Lizzy had understood the sentiment. It was how she felt in her own home.

It amused Lizzy that Becca sort of freaked her mother out. She hadn’t read the product description very closely, hadn’t realized what she was purchasing. Becca’s intelligence and genuine emotions made the woman nervous, and she avoided Becca, for the most part.

If that was the extent of her mother’s purchasing snafu, it could be chalked up as comic misadventure. If her mother had read the description of all of Becca’s capabilities, she never would have bought the doll for her thirteen-year-old daughter.

Thinking about the crazy night that led to a change in Lizzy’s and Becca’s relationship, Lizzy had to smile. It had started with just one question…

———————————————

…Do you want to sleep with me?” Lizzy asked, looking at Becca stretched out on the floor next to the bed. She felt kind of guilty, lying on her comfy mattress and the girl was on the hard, cold floor. It had been bothering her for a while, but she asked on the spur of the moment.

Becca sat up and tilted her head inquisitively to one side, said, “I don’t know. Do you want me to sleep with you?”

“The bed is a lot more comfortable than the floor,” Lizzy said, smiling at her, “it’ll be like we are having a sleepover. Or, what I imagine having a sleepover would be like. I’ve never actually had one.”

“A sleepover, yes,” Becca said, nodding. She gave Lizzy a curious look, then said, “Do you really want me to sleep with you?”

The question seemed a little… off to Lizzy. Still, she scooted over to make room for Becca, held up the covers so she could get under them, then said, “Yeah.”

“Interesting,” Becca said, smiling at Lizzy, “then I’d very much like to sleep with you, Lizzy.”

“Okay,” Lizzy said, amused.

Becca got lithely to her feet, smoothing her pajamas into place. They used to be Lizzy’s, but the girl had needed something to wear, so Lizzy had gifted them to Becca. She had received a huge hug from the doll and an even bigger smile.

That first night, when Becca changed into her new pajamas, Lizzy had seen just how anatomically correct the girl was. A girl, indeed. She had been a little embarrassed by the girl’s nakedness, had looked away. Her cheeks had gotten even redder when she thought about getting undressed in front of the doll. Just as she had seen Becca naked, the doll had seen her without clothes on several occasions.

They had been sharing a room for a couple of months now, so that awkwardness has long since passed. Lizzy no longer cared if Becca saw her naked and wasn’t embarrassed to see Becca unclothed, either. Sometimes she caught herself admiring Becca, still amazed that she wasn’t a real girl. She couldn’t find a single spot on Becca’s body that looked less than human. She has hugged the girl enough to know she felt as real as she looked.

Becca wasn’t naked now, wearing a tank top and some shorts as she slipped into bed. She smiled at Lizzy, said, “This is indeed much more comfortable.”

“I’m sorry you’ve had to sleep on the floor,” Lizzy said, a little sheepishly.

“I didn’t mind,” Becca said.

“Still, I’m sorry,” Lizzy said, smiling at her.

“You are forgiven,” Becca said, rolling on her side, “I have to admit, I’m surprised to be here, though. Happy, but surprised.”

“What do you mean?” Lizzy asked.

“When I saw you were a young girl, I thought I wouldn’t need certain aspects of my training,” Becca said, smiling at Lizzy, “I’m glad I was wrong in that assumption.”

“What aspects of your training didn’t you think you’d need?” Lizzy asked, frowning.

“This,” Becca said, then kissed Lizzy.

Lizzy tried to gasp in surprise, only to feel Becca’s tongue slip into her mouth. Pushing the girl away, Lizzy stared wide-eyed at her, asked, “What are you doing?”

“Kissing you,” Becca said, running her hand up and down Lizzy’s arm.

“Why did you kiss me?” Lizzy asked, her lips tingling from where Becca’s had pressed against them.

“Because you look very kissable,” Becca said, her hand slipping over Lizzy’s shoulder and onto her neck.

Lizzy realized a little too late that Becca was going to kiss her, again. It was a repeat of before, Becca’s tongue slipping into her mouth when she tried to gasp in surprise. She tried to pull back, but Becca’s hand on her neck didn’t let her. Becca’s tongue caressed her own, teased Lizzy into kissing her back. Lizzy was doing it for a couple of seconds before she realized she was and her heart started racing when she realized she didn’t want to stop.

Pulling back, Becca smiled at her, said, “You are a nice kisser.”

Her voice a little husky, Lizzy said, “Thanks.”

This time when Becca kissed her, Lizzy knew it was coming. She was a little surprised when she opened her mouth, anyway. As before, the tantalizing tease of Becca’s tongue drew her deeper into the kiss. They were kissing until Lizzy had to come up for air. With a nervous laugh, she met Becca’s eyes, said, “Wow!”

Becca smiled at her, nodded her agreement. Lizzy found herself looking at Becca’s lips, imagining them pressed to hers, again. Her heart racing, she leaned forward, hesitating at the last second. She really didn’t know what she was doing, but she really wanted to kiss Becca, again. She pressed her lips to Becca’s before she could lose her nerve. When Becca’s lips parted, Lizzy slipped her tongue into her mouth.

I’m making out with Becca, Lizzy realized, as crazy as that seemed. Crazier still, she still didn’t want to stop.

Finally pulling back, she said, “This is getting weird.”

Becca met her eyes, asked, “Do you want to stop?”

With a nervous laugh, Lizzy admitted, “No.”

“Good,” Becca said, with a playful smile, “I don’t want to stop, either.”

Lizzy had meant kissing, but she got the feeling Becca meant something else. Exactly what, she didn’t know. Still, when Becca leaned in close, Lizzy kissed her, again. She was a little surprised when Becca moved against her, the space between them evaporating. Lizzy thought this was a part of the ‘something else’, probably just the beginning.

How far am I going to let this go, Lizzy wondered, still kissing Becca. She barely had time to consider the question before Becca began testing the limit. Lizzy gasped as the girl’s hand slid down her back to grab her buttock. She opened her mouth to tell Becca to stop but what came out was a nervous giggle.

Becca met her eyes, said, “Am I going too fast?”

“Yeah,” Lizzy laughed, noticing Becca hadn’t moved her hand.

“Should I slow down or stop?” Becca asked, a playfulness creeping into her voice. There was a bit of a challenge in the coy uptick of her smile, as if she was daring Lizzy to say no.

“Um, what are we doing?” Lizzy asked, her heart beating a mile a minute.

“We are sleeping together,” Becca said, the corners of her mouth turning up even more, “which is kind of a misleading term. We aren’t sleeping.”

“Sleeping together?” Lizzy said, then her eyes got wide, “Oh, you thought I meant sleep together sleep together-”

“I’m glad you wanted to,” Becca said, kissing her, “You are so beautiful, I’ve wanted to since I first saw you.”

“I… Well…” Lizzy said, caught off guard. Meeting Becca’s eyes, Lizzy thought the girl meant it. Her cheeks hot, Lizzy looked away. Still, she was smiling.

Stop smiling, she thought, trying to stop, you are only going to make this misunderstanding worse. Stop smiling just because she said you are beautiful. She’ll get the wrong idea.

Brushing an errant strand of hair behind Lizzy’s ear, Becca leaned in and kissed her deeply. Lizzy forgot to tell her to stop, forgot everything that wasn’t Becca’s kiss. Her toes were curled, and she hardly noticed when Becca’s hand was still on her buttock.

Breaking the kiss, Becca smiled at Lizzy and asked, “Should I stop or slow down?”

The kiss had short-circuited her brain and Lizzy didn’t know what Becca was talking about for a second. When it sank in, she realized her answer had changed. Swallowing hard, she said, “Maybe just slow down.”

Becca’s coy little smile was back, and Lizzy didn’t know why, but that smile made her heart skip a beat. It made her feel a little like a mouse cornered by a cat, and her reaction to that feeling surprised her. She liked the look in Becca’s eyes, the playful gleam that said she was up to no good. A naughty shiver went up her spine as she wondered just what Becca intended to do to her. That shiver told her just how much trouble she was in.

“Slow, it is,” Becca said, kissing her, “but I don’t know how long I can hold back. I’ve wanted to do this for months.”

Her already racing heart started beating even faster at the girl’s words. Had Becca really been thinking about this the whole time she has been here? Blinking in surprise, Lizzy thought about some odd behavior Becca had exhibited. At the time, she had written it off as her programming being less than perfect, but now… Some of the things she had said, the way she sometimes looked at Lizzy had been sort of… flirty.

“You’ve wanted to… do this for months?” Lizzy asked.

“My handler called it fantasizing,” Becca said, smiling at Lizzy.

“You’ve been… fantasizing about me?” Lizzy said, her eyes wide.

“Us, actually,” Becca said.

“You can fantasize?” Lizzy asked, frowning as the idea really sunk in.

“Physical attraction leads to thoughts of intimacy,” Becca said, kissing Lizzy, “this is true of humans… and me, as well.”

“Physical attraction?” Lizzy parroted, her cheeks hot, “you-you are attracted to me?”

“Very much so,” Becca said.

Lizzy guessed she shouldn’t be all that surprised, considering everything that has happened since Becca slipped into bed with her, but she kind of was. It was a new feeling for her, being desirable and desired, and it both excited and scared her a little. She didn’t know if she wanted Becca to keep smiling at her like that or tell her to stop.

Setting aside her own emotions, Lizzy took a second to process what Becca had said about being physically attracted to her and about having fantasies. She knew Becca had her own personality, one she had developed since her initial programming. Becca had told her that no two units in her model type were the same in that regard. Was this attraction part of that personality or just installed software?

“Becca, is this… part of your programming?” Lizzy asked.

“My model type is designed to be a companion,” Becca said, meeting Lizzy’s eyes, “I’ve been trained for any form that role takes- Nurse, friend… Lover.”

“Oh,” Lizzy said, surprised how much Becca’s answered disappointed her. She wanted Becca to be genuinely attracted to her, not just programmed to be.

Putting a hand on Lizzy’s cheek, Becca smiled at her and said, “Just because I’m programmed to play a role doesn’t mean I don’t have my own preferences. I have to eat, but I prefer to eat strawberries.”

“Oh,” Lizzy said, smiling as the comment sank in.

“Had I been sent to a different owner, I would have fulfilled my duties faithfully,” Becca said, meeting Lizzy’s eyes, “but with you… I want to.”

“Really?” Lizzy asked, holding her breath. When she realized she doing it, she had to wonder why she was so invested in Becca’s answer. While she had to wonder why, she couldn’t deny she wanted Becca to say yes.

“Yeah,” Becca said, still holding Lizzy’s eyes, “I do… Do you?”

With a nervous laugh, Lizzy said, “Um… Maybe.”

God, am I really considering this, Lizzy thought, with an inward shake of her head. Looking into Becca’s eyes, she realized she was. More than that, she was leaning toward saying yes. Part of her was intrigued by the idea of sleeping with Becca and she got a naughty thrill up her spine at the temptation to say yes.

Becca kissed her then, and the legs were kicked out from under her resistance. When Becca pulled back, Lizzy’s heart was racing. There was a question in Becca’s eyes, and Lizzy found herself nodding. Becca’s eyes widened, and Lizzy laughed nervously.

“Are you sure?” Becca asked.

“No,” Lizzy said, taking a deep breath, “we better do it before I change my mind.”

Becca laughed, said, “Okay.”

Lizzy watched as Becca slipped her tank top over her head and off, tossing it aside. The doll had small, upswept breasts, barely a handful. Her nipples had stiffened, jutting skyward. It was a shiver response, brought on by a chill in the air or excitement. It wasn’t cold in the bedroom.

Becca hooked her thumbs in the shorts she wore, then hesitated when she saw Lizzy looking. She looked at Lizzy’s clothing pointedly. She waited, her eyes on Lizzy.

Getting the message, Lizzy swallowed hard, then sat up so she could take off her sleep shirt. She always wore panties and a t-shirt to bed and those flimsy panties were all that saved her from being naked. She wanted to cover herself but the smile on Becca’s face stopped her. The doll’s eyes were hungry as they roamed over Lizzy’s nearly naked body and it made Lizzy’s heart race. A shiver of excitement worked through Lizzy as she hooked her fingers in her panties and ran them down her long legs and off. She shivered again as the corners of Becca’s mouth turned up even more.

Becca slipped out of her shorts and panties, tossing them aside. Again, Lizzy saw just how thorough Becca’s manufacturers had been. Her cheeks were a little hot as her eyes went to Becca’s femininity. She had wondered why Becca’s designers had bothered to give the doll genitals the first time she had seen Becca naked, but that was before she completely understood Becca’s role as a companion.

Lizzy glanced up and saw Becca looking at her curiously. Her cheeks burned hotter as she realized the doll had caught her looking.

“Do you find me attractive, Lizzy?” Becca asked.

Lizzy hesitated, not sure what her answer would be. She had never really looked at Becca like that, or any other girl for that matter. Even when Lizzy was checking Becca out before, it wasn’t sexual. More like admiring the sleek lines on an automobile or the picture quality on a new television. Once she had really gotten to know Becca, she had been a little ashamed of treating her like the latest gadget on sale.

While her initial inspection hadn’t been sexual in nature, Lizzy had still noticed Becca was put together well and not just in the manufacturing sense. Becca had the lean figure of a dancer- long in the leg and narrow in the waist, with a flat belly, small breasts, and a round backside. Lizzy thought she was a good looking girl with a nice body.

But am I attracted to her, Lizzy thought, chewing on that question like a dog on a bone, there is a difference between thinking someone is pretty and finding them attractive.

Looking at Becca now, Lizzy thought maybe she was. Becca’s skin looked so soft and touchable, her lithe body inviting. She found herself wondering if it would feel as good as it looked if she ran her fingertips over it. When heat spread between her thighs, she realized her question had been answered.

She looked up and realized Becca had been watching her the whole time. The doll gave her a curious look and Lizzy blushed. With a sheepish smile, Lizzy said, “I- I do.”

“Yeah?” Becca said, smiling at Lizzy.

A little shyly, Lizzy said, “Um, yeah.”

“To be honest,” Becca said, kissing Lizzy, “I wasn’t sure you’d be into this.”

Laughing, Lizzy said, “It’s a bit of a revelation for me, too.”

Her smile widening, Becca kissed Lizzy, again. It was a breath-stealing, toe-curling kiss that left Lizzy a little dizzy and wanting more. Becca put her hand on Lizzy’s shoulder, gently urged her to her back. Without breaking the kiss, Becca got to her hands and knees. When Becca finally broke the kiss, Lizzy looked up at her expectantly. With a playful smile, Becca kissed the graceful curve of Lizzy’s neck, making her giggle. When Becca’s lips found the slope of one breast, the giggle became a gasp of surprise. Becca rolled her eyes up at Lizzy, winked. Still meeting Lizzy’s eyes, Becca kissed her other breast.

So this is happening, Lizzy thought, still trying to figure out if she was ready for where this was heading. When Becca trapped one of her straining nipples with her lips, then gently with her teeth, Lizzy moaned. She still wasn’t sure, but her body seemed to like what was happening to it. She was starting to respond to Becca’s sweet torture, suddenly hot all over. What Becca was doing to her started to feel even better. When her back arched off the bed and her fingers dug into the sheets, she knew that she wasn’t going to ask Becca to stop.

She didn’t even change her mind when the doll’s lips brushed against her skin in the hollow of her rib cage, then lower on her stomach. She bit her lip, watching as Becca moved lower. She shivered as Becca’s ran her tongue along the faint muscle line down the center of her abdomen. Her heart was beating faster and faster the further down her body Becca moved. She found herself holding her breath as Becca passed her navel. Becca was running out of real estate in a hurry and Lizzy propped up on her elbows as Becca kissed her in a spot her panties would have covered. One more kiss and things would get interesting in a hurry.

Then it happened, Becca’s soft lips finding her bud. She hadn’t realized just how excited Becca had made her until a moan escaped her with that first kiss. She wasn’t ready for the intense pleasure the hot, wet flick of Becca’s tongue sent through her and she gasped. Becca rolled her eyes up, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She trapped Lizzy’s hood between her lips, gently sucking on it. A thick moan escaped Lizzy, her hips pushing her girlhood against Becca’s mouth eagerly.

God, I’m glad I didn’t tell her to stop, Lizzy thought, her body writhing under Becca’s attention.

The lovely sensation of Becca’s tongue caressing her bud, the naughty thrill of doing something bad, the excitement of trying something new… She liked this more than she thought she would. More than that, she was glad it was Becca. New experiences were always best when shared with a friend and Becca was the best one she had.

What Becca was doing to her felt too good for it to last. Lizzy knew what would happen if Becca didn’t stop and her heart started racing. She had only ever gotten to that moment of ecstasy herself, usually in the shower or late at night when she couldn’t get to sleep, but Becca had her on her way to that explosion of pleasure. Lizzy bit her lip as her little noises of excitement started to get louder.

It wouldn’t be long now, Lizzy thought, her body already starting to tighten up in anticipation. The thought barely had time to pop into her head before she cried out as she came hard. It had never been like this before, her whole body trembling as the pleasure washed over her. Becca didn’t stop, just slowed the caress of her tongue. Lizzy clutched at the sheets as the lovely pressure on her now tender bud kept those intense sensations alive in her body.

Becca moved up Lizzy’s supine body to kiss her. Only when Becca’s tongue was in her mouth did Lizzy remember where it had just been, but she didn’t care. Even with the happy juices still flowing through her from her climax, Lizzy wanted more.

Breaking the kiss, Becca smiled down at her, said, “I guess you liked what I was doing.”

Her cheeks red, Lizzy said, “It was amazing.”

“Good,” Becca said, her smile becoming playful, “because I like doing it to you.”

Lizzy’s eyes went to Becca’s naked body and her heart started racing. Swallowing hard, she met the girl’s eyes, stammered, “Can-Can you… I mean would it… Would it feel good if I did… that to you?”

Her playful smile even more mischievous, Becca asked, “Are you offering?”

“I… well… Isn’t that how it goes?” Lizzy asked, nervously, “a tit for tat?”

Touching Lizzy’s cheek tenderly, Becca smiled at her and said, “I knew you’d be a considerate lover.”

“So it would?” Lizzy asked.

“Yeah,” Becca said, kissing her, “it would be amazing.”

Laughing self-consciously, Lizzy said, “I don’t know about that. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“I can teach you, if you want to learn,” Becca said, meeting Lizzy’s eyes.

“I want to learn,” Lizzy said, a little surprised that it was the truth. She was learning all kinds of new things about herself tonight.

Smiling, Becca said, “I was hoping you’d say that.”

That smile made Lizzy’s heart skip a beat and she said, “Don’t forget… Slow.”

“I know,” Becca said, kissing Lizzy before rolling onto her back beside her, “I’m not going to teach you everything tonight. Not by a long shot.”

Lizzy wondered just how much Becca had to teach her and if it all felt as good as what Becca had just done to her. A shiver of excitement worked up her spine at the thoughts of the interesting nights to come. Looking at the naked girl beside her, she reminded herself it wasn’t going to be all about the receiving of pleasure. Another naughty shiver worked through her as she wondered what sort of things Becca would have her do in return.

She was a little shaky with adrenaline as she got to her hands and knees. Becca smiled up her, an uptick of the corners of her mouth that was both coy and encouraging. Lizzy took a deep breath to bolster her courage, looking down at Becca’s pale breasts, then lower. She remembered the way Becca’s lips had tickled her skin with each kiss and she wondered what it was going to be like on the other side. Becca’s skin was pale and smooth, looked very kissable.

Before she could chicken out, Lizzy ran her hand up Becca’s side to cup one of her breasts. She felt Becca’s nipple stiffen in response to her touch and she had to bite back a nervous giggle. Becca moaned as Lizzy gently kneaded her breast, her back arching. Lizzy couldn’t hold the giggle in, anymore. She blushed when Becca gave her an amused look.

“I’m a little nervous,” Lizzy admitted, taking another deep breath.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Becca said, reassuringly.

Nodding, Lizzy leaned in and kissed the pale slope of Becca’s breast. It was far from unpleasant, Becca’s skin warm and soft under her lips. It settled her nerves some and she thought she could do this. The next kiss was easier. Becca’s soft sighs of enjoyment helped, too, encouraged her to keep it up. Those soft sighs became a moan as Lizzy’s lips found her straining nipple. Becca’s back arched, again, pushing her breast against Lizzy’s mouth. Even as inexperienced as she was, she knew that meant Becca liked what she was doing to her. She didn’t stop, teasing first one nipple then the other until she had worked up enough courage to move lower.

She left a trail of kisses down Becca’s taut stomach, working her way down the girl’s supine body. When she ran out of belly, she looked at the soft folds of Becca’s girlhood, pale and hairless. She hesitated, thinking this was an odd place to put her mouth. Still, she thought she owed it to Becca to return the favor from before. She gave the girl’s bud a peck, like it was her aunt’s cheek. Her lips didn’t spontaneously catch fire, so she tried it, again. Becca was as soft and warm here as she had been everywhere else Lizzy kissed.

Emboldened, she ran her tongue across Becca’s bud, tasting the salty sweat on her skin. She giggled as Becca moaned thickly. Taking a deep breath to calm down, she flicked her tongue back and forth. This time when Becca moaned thickly, she didn’t stop.

I can’t believe I’m doing this, Lizzy thought. She had her mouth on another girl’s naughty bits, something she never expected to do. More than that, it wasn’t all that bad. A naughty shiver worked through her when she thought, I kind of like it.

The caress of her tongue had Becca making these sexy little sounds and Lizzy rolled her eyes up at the girl. Becca’s face was pinched in pleasure, her mouth slack and her eyes closed. Lizzy thought she was doing something right, judging by the look of pure enjoyment on Becca’s face. With a curious sense of accomplishment, Lizzy continued to tease Becca’s bud.

Seeing the tightening of Becca’s stomach, Lizzy wondered if the girl could experience the explosion of pleasure she had when Becca was doing this to her. Becca said she had the same five senses as Lizzy, but could she really have an orgasm? Sensing the gathering tension in the girl, Lizzy thought she was about to find out. Becca’s little sounds of excitement were getting louder, the roll of her hips coming faster.

Then Becca cried out as her whole body locked up. Lizzy grinned as the girl lost control, shaking like she was pitching a fit. She didn’t know if Becca was experiencing the same rush of pleasure she did when she climaxed, but she was definitely feeling something.

Grinning, she said, “I guess you liked what I was doing.”

Becca laughed and sat up, kissing her. Putting her hand on Lizzy’s cheek, she said, “Your face is all wet. Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Lizzy said, then her curiosity got the better of her and she had to ask, “Did you… you know?”

“I had an orgasm, yeah,” Becca said, her smile widening, “a good one, too. I’m still trembling.”

“You can do that?” Lizzy asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Yeah,” Becca said, sighing happily, “my creators wanted me to be as close to a real girl as possible.”

“Huh,” Lizzy said.

“You are really good at that,” Becca said.

“Really?” Lizzy asked, surprised.

“Yes,” Becca said, then tilted her head to one side, “how come? I was supposed to teach you.”

Laughing, Lizzy said, “I don’t know. Beginner’s luck, maybe?”

———————————————–

Lizzy moved into Becca’s arms, still feeling a little fuzzy after this latest round of lovemaking. She smiled, thinking about what Becca had said that first time, that she wouldn’t teach her everything about having sex that night. The doll hadn’t been kidding- Becca still had a few tricks up her sleeve, Lizzy was sure. Her smile widening, Lizzy couldn’t wait to learn something new.

Continue to Part Two

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