“I don’t know,” you shake your head as your hands go back to rub your aching behind. “That was… you really went in on me.”

“I haven’t started to go in on you,” Grisham says. “That was nothing.”

You screw up your face as your butt throbs. “That was definitely something.”

She chuckles and runs her hand through your hair. “Time to get this cut,” she says. “Not too short though,” she adds as her fingers curl in your locks and her dark eyes narrow into a smile which makes you quiver. “I want to be able to get a good grip on you.”

“That’s not fair,” you half-moan.

“What isn’t?” Grisham cocks her head to the side.

“You’re playing with me, like she did.”

“Like who?” Grisham releases your hair and gives you an inquiring look.

“Uhm…” You realize that telling her who might cause trouble for you and trouble for Terra. There was never supposed to be anything between you, and maybe there wasn’t, but it definitely felt like it.

“I think I know who,” Grisham says, her expression hardening.

“Nothing happened,” you say, quickly. “I mean, nothing inappropriate. Just…”

“Just enough for you to fall in love and react like an abandoned puppy when she left.”

Grisham is smarter than she looks. Well, not that she looks stupid, necessarily, it’s just she’s kind of simple in the way she speaks and maybe that made you think she was less… hell. You don’t know what to think.

“I’m not in love,” you say. “It was just a crush type thing I guess.”

“A crush she encouraged,” Grisham sighs. “She’s twice your age at least. No wonder you were such a pain in the ass when we were trying to deal with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean a commanding officer is supposed to command,” Grisham says flatly. “And when they don’t, cadets get chaotic.” She opens her mouth as if she has something more to say, then shuts it again, as if she’s thought better of it.

“Really,” you say. “It wasn’t like that.”

“I know exactly how it was,” Grisham says firmly.

“How could you possibly know?”

“Because I have you to look at,” she says. “Every sculptor leaves their mark on the clay. And some just leave it in a heap. Come on. It’s time to get you cleaned up.”

You follow Grisham out of her quarters reluctantly, every step making the burn in your bottom reignite. It’s not comfortable to walk, but it’s even less comfortable to think about what Grisham said, and to wonder if maybe she’s right, even just a little.

“I’m an adult,” you mumble, almost to yourself.

“What’s that, cadet?”

“I’m just saying I’m an adult,” you say. “So, there’s nothing wrong with me liking another adult.”

“No, there’s not,” Grisham agrees. “You can like who you want. But your commanding officer can’t leave you without half the training and discipline you need because you’re cute and you’ve got a crush.”

“You think I’m cute,” you say with a little grin.

“I think you’re adorable,” Grisham agrees. “But that doesn’t make a bit of difference to me when it comes to you following regulations.”

“Maybe you’d have more fun if you broke the rules sometime,” you suggest.

“Maybe you’d have a more comfortable time sitting if you didn’t spend so much time trying to break them,” she replies in turn.

You have to admit to yourself, she might have a point.