Starting Gate Ep. 01: MONET SHOT

(AUTHOR'S NOTE!)

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Welcome to STARTING GATE. For those of you who frequent my STARTING FROM SCRATCH soap opera, this series provides FLESHBACKS...flashbacks that is, to Piper Cherry's niece MONET BELMONT, sister to MACE BELMONT. If you have kept up well on the Scratch series, you know Monet went off to Seminary School. Now before you presume this is a GOOD GIRL story you must look at who she is related too. LOL! Let's refer to Monet as Baby Piper.

To avoid a mass flood of confusing flashback sequences weaving in and out of the MAIN series I decided to make this what I call a Maxiseries. This series will build up until it can merge over into Scratch without the need for flashback or character development. Not only will this series devote to Monet, but it will also involve and evolve her mother Mona Cherry-Belmont, Piper Cherry's older sister. Trust me when I say it's time for Piper's sister to prove she's no stick in the mud. Being the eldest of three daughters Mona needs to be the Cherry on top.

So, give the ladies a chance and enjoy the insanity. For the record? If you are a religious person this series will disturb you. For those of open mind...GOD BE WITH YOU ALL. LOL! It might be a good idea to repent after reading each episode. Tighten your Bible Belts it's going to be a wild ride.

God Bless!

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STARTING GATE Ep. 01: MONET SHOT

Three weeks ago...Just as Piper Cherry moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

"Why couldn't you just go to school in Georgia?"

Mona Cherry-Belmont had complained all the way to Raleigh, North Carolina. Actually, driving herself and her stunning young daughter Monet rather than flying up from Atlanta just to spend quality time together, yet all she could do was feel the anxiety of losing her baby girl. They were not even separated yet and her stress level was coming unglued.

"Ugggggh! Mom! That's the hundredth time you asked that. You ever think that's partly why I chose to move this far from home? God has a mission for me. Are you going to argue with him?"

"You're right Monet. It's just hard, you're my baby."

"No! Mace is your baby. I'm older than him by three years. At 22 it's time for me to grow up without my filthy rich family to dictate my every move." The cute blond with crystal blue eyes glared at her mother across the front seat of their 2021 Silver Lexus ES. With her window down her silky blonde hair was billowing about like whips. Only her sunglasses on top of her head kept her from being blinded. Rethinking her words, she switched it up, "Except to pay for my schooling."

"You applied and received grants Monet. So, the only thing we're paying for is food by giving you a daily allowance. You have a bus pass to get around Raleigh as needed. Gym membership is offered by the Church which includes a pool, I know you live in the water so that helps. What more could you want?"

"Freedom?" She smirked. "To be me."

"Good lord! That grin reminded me so much of your Aunt Piper. You two look so very much alike except your height."

"I know right? Especially here." She pinches her t-shirt but pats her 36D's. "Almost!" Piper was a 38C. Not far from heaven! On her way!

"Is that a godly thing to do?" Mona frowned turning down their music by Big Tent Revival's song What Would Jesus Do? Knowing Monet better than her family he would turn the car around. The kid had game! Her love of God was real, her belief in everything else questionable. Her future in all honesty was debatable.

"Well...if I were baptized right this very minute, I'd have to tug at my tee to keep it from clinging right?"

"Try wearing a bra more often please. Before we meet with the Head Pastor you put one on is that understood?"

"Do you really think I'd walk in with my Mount Ararat's pointing?" She drooped her jaw. Mona simply continued frowning. "Yes Mother."

Her shirt saying, 'Halo There!' over her breasts was definitely a warning sign. She had a whole suitcase full of cute t-shirts. Her wardrobe probably a bit more openminded than a girl ready to attend Golgotha Gospel School for Purity and Offered Truth for sure. Long name but Monet liked to giggle over the acronym as G-SPOT. Purity was not one of her strong points, but nobody need know that. Save God himself!

"Your grandfather had this school checked out before hand and it came up highly recommended. Otherwise, you would not be going here. You need to behave while you are attending this school Monet, our family does not need any more bad press after what your Aunt Piper went through with her ex-husband's murder trial. Somehow, we managed to come through that ordeal unscathed. Dad saved our Heiney's with that one. You saw how it affected Piper."

"Yep! She moved away. Which is kind of what I'm doing. I admire her for starting over from scratch."

"So do I, but still. Running away is not the answer. You, young lady, are moving even further away than the distance Piper has. Once I go back home there is nobody to come to your aid, so please go by the good book."

"That's why I'm here. Mile sign just said Raleigh 66 miles. At least it didn't say 666." She giggled. "Sorry!"

"You terrify me."

"I do not." Monet swatted her mother's shoulder with her pamphlet on the school which she had been viewing to memorize where everything was on campus. "As far as not having anyone near that's not true. I have Aunt Bree as long as she's going to Law school in Charleston. That's between here and Atlanta. Why didn't we stop and say hi?"

"She had plans." With her lesbian biker club. Breanna Cherry the baby sister of the three was the black sheep believe it or not. While her father Senator Lane Cherry honored her decision to be a lesbian, more forced to accept it, in some ways it was only to look good toward political ambitions. He was quite vocal in a room alone with Bree. Partly why she moved on to greener pastures. Still in the will though. ReBelle without a cause!

"With her girlfriend Selby?"

"We are not discussing that." While Mona had accepted her sister's choices long ago it was not something she particularly enjoyed talking about. A subject change was called for. Highly religious and raised with certain beliefs on the matter it was always a raw emotion. Yes, the family loved Bree regardless. Too bad they were unaware of Piper being bi-sexual. Monet herself for that matter.

"I wonder if your brother found Piper's new home alright. He's never driven outside of Atlanta before. Let alone with that big truck your grandfather insisted he own as a graduation gift last fall. Why he needed something so large I'll never know. Although your father has a big truck too."

Monet grinned knowing part of it had to do with Mace having a big dick. Her thoughts only! Yes, she had seen her brother naked, more than a few times. Father too by accident, so it was understandable the ideas of staying large so to speak. While it really had zero to do with it, she found it funny. Monet was certainly not a perfect angel. Her halo was more an ankle bracelet. But, like much about Monet her parents were mostly blind to it. They knew of her curiosities but not everything. She was a sneaky one who could lie her way through pretty much anything. Only her brother knew her well enough to detect her manipulations and deceit. Monet talks!

"Grampa Lane just wants Mace and I to know he loves us, being his only grandkids. You should be proud of me that I didn't accept his offer to buy me a car. I'm too afraid to drive anyway. Traffic scares me."

"He wanted to pay for your schooling, but your father and I forbid it. You are our responsibility not his. All we let Dad do was the leg work in knowing what we were letting you get into." Mona wisped her brunette hair from her eyes. "Can we please turn the air on now? I know you like the sun, but the wind is making me look like a hag."

"I guess we should. Once we check in at school, I want to look my best. After we shower at your hotel room and get dressy, we'll both look hot." Monet mostly! Mona being much older than her sisters had the minor wrinkles going on. The furthest thing from ugly but at 42 years old things were not as perfect as before her kids were born. Not far off though! A personal trainer kept her in shape.

Sadly, she often felt more like a mother to her sisters than being the eldest of the three. Piper at twenty-seven almost twenty-eight, Mona was seventeen when she was born. Nineteen when Bree now twenty-six shocked her parents. She felt old and missed her youth.

Windows rolled up and the air cooling the interior, things became more comfortable. Monet was correct, a shower and a hairbrush were sorely needed. Monet out of boredom began texting her brother Mace to kill time, asking if he had reached their Aunt Piper's yet. A few minutes later they received a text message with a photo attached of Piper's dog Rotten wearing round airplane goggles panting with his head out the window. The caption said, "Co-pilot says he smells Aunt Piper's perfume. Gotta be getting close. LOL!" Monet giggled and shared it with her mother. It was amusing. Texting back Monet said, "Forty miles to Heaven."

"Same here! GPS says forty miles to Aunt Piper's." Heavenly indeed!

"Give her a hug for me when you get there." Monet sent back, "Don't squeeze her ass like you do when you hug me. LOL!" A rolling eyes emoji was all she got back. She deleted her message just in case her mother snooped. It would not be the first time. Locked out or not her mother need not know of any past mischief.

"Mace says he's almost at Piper's. See? Now you don't have to deal with her dog at our house anymore. You can miss Rotten as much as you miss me."

"I still have my Fiona to keep me company. As well behaved as Rotten was you know I prefer lap dogs. But yes I suppose I'll miss him laying at my feet." She smiles, "Now you? I'm glad to be rid of." Even Mom could razz.

"You say that but you know I'll have to put up with you for the first three days I'm on campus until you feel I'm safe. You need to let me be independent Mom."

"I'm trying. Our hotel is only three miles from the school so if you hate it those first few nights we can always go back home."

"You can go back home. I'm determined to make it work. I want to be a Minister."

"You barely quote the Bible." Mona rolled her eyes with a smirk.

"Proverbs 31: 29...Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Monet recites, "I love you for making me who I am today."

"That was very sweet. I love you too Honey." That verse alone was enough to relax Mona that possibly her daughter knew exactly what she was doing. Sure! PARTY!!! Monet knew how to manipulate her surroundings. Look out G-S.P.O.T.! You might have just invited a wolf amongst your flock.

Twenty minutes later Mona Belmont pulled into the parking lot of their hotel the Vineyard Inn. It's association with the Church offered low rates to the families of enrolled students. Mona in her tired state from long hours of driving simply popped the trunk to obtain their luggage and helped Monet grab their belongings. Monet left most of her things in the car seeing as she would be going on to her assigned dorm room in a few hours anyway. She took only what was necessary to freshen up before going to the school check-in procedure.

Letting her mother sign in at the hotels front desk she held back giving her mom time to forget that she needed to put a bra on. Nipples stabbing through her powder blue t-shirt to symbolize the color of the sky she let Cloud 6 and Cloud 9 as she called her nips poke fun at the world below. She would simply tell her mom, "Oopsie!" Or, in her dirty little mind...OOpSEE.

Following at a reasonable distance she noted a number of girls her age, boys as well, congregating outside in the hotel courtyard as if getting to know one another. Eyes on her, many of them waved out of friendship, Monet returning the favor. Going inside the lobby she used her bag to mask her chest from Mona.

"Did you see the other students outside?" Mona smiled awaiting the tall young man behind the front desk to copy her driver's license for their parking registry to avoid and protect against getting towed. The boy was a heartbreaker with a deep tan and mixed blond hair amid his natural brown. His eyes so dreamy they caught Monet's attention instantly.

"I did." She beamed at her mother but darted her gaze toward the boy. "What's going on outside Matthew?" Nametag!

"The school recommends the new students be greeted by older ones. That way they become familiar with one another should they need guidance."

"Do you go to Golgotha?"

"Final year. I'll be submitted for my first internship in a few months. Pastor Round has my name like many others on a list of Churches across the country offering firsthand experience, which will lead to an actual job placement."

"Good for you Matthew." Mona smiled brightly then looked at Monet, "If you want to go join them outside, I can take the bags to our room."

"I'll help you Ms. Belmont. Joan can cover for me long enough to be of assist." A girl behind him on a computer studying overheard his offer and closed her laptop. Hopping up she beguiled Mona and Monet with a brilliant smile. "Got this?" He asked her.

"Yep! Welcome to Golgotha. I'm Joannie."

"Monet." The blond greeted the brunette. "I should freshen up though. My hair must look horrible."

"With all due respect...you look great." Matthew complimented her. "Nobody will think differently. Trust me! Go make friends."

"Cool!" She sat her bag on the counter and whipped about walking away in her tight white shorts. Not too short but not hot pants either, Monet was a risk taker. Still Matthew looked briefly at her wiggle away but had to behave because of her mother's seeing interest in he more than Monet. Gentleman that he appeared to be Matthew Burnside like all young men loved a hottie. So did Joannie Archer, Matthew's girlfriend. Yeesh! Look at that ass. Definitely no panties either.

While Matthew helped her mother, Monet had escaped her notice on the going without her bra situation. Grinning at her good fortune she made her way toward the group of roughly twelve students.

Even though the small group continued their friendly get together, a number of eyes spotted Monet a mile away, her titties dancing from side to side with each step she took. Acting clueless to her dismay Monet found it hilarious the jaws dropping the closer she got. One young man with lengthy blond locks, his hair in a small ponytail, obvious fitness junkie eased around the two girls he was chatting with. Seeing his fast break to sprint toward Monet the girls instantly felt cheated.

"Hey new girl!" The boy reached her and opted to walk next to her the rest of the way. Monet realizing his height and build trembled slightly. While Monet stood at 5'6 he was a good 6'2. "Nice shirt. HALO THERE!" He read and waved like a geek. He sure didn't look like any geek, but the vibe was there.

"Halo yourself! You didn't have to jilt the ladies on my account." The two girls heard her defend them and the pressure fell off instantly. "I'd have introduced myself once I got there."

"Sorry! Just excited to meet nude people."

"Nude?" She offered a queer look.

"I meant new. GOD!" He pelted his temple with his head.

"Don't take his name in vain."

"My bad!" He clasped his hands in prayer and looked up apologizing. She shook her head at the two girls and pointed at him as if saying, "Is he for real?" He was a stud but come on! The two girls approached her to join the boy.

"Hi! I'm Olive Branch...don't laugh it's really my name. I'm serious. This is Holly Waterston." Olive was a brunette with shoulder length hair and glasses. Medium build at 5'5, but busty at a firm 36C like Monet, even though Monet had a slender lower body.

Holly was a redhead with tender freckles, blue eyes, and a gentle caramel cream complexion stood at 5'4 and thinner like Monet, also with 36C cups. Modest yet charming dresses on both young ladies they were certainly gorgeous.

"Hey! Monet. Like the painter!"

"I'd love to paint you." Another boy intervened stepping up, he tall like the blond but with more confidence. He stood 5'8 with short brown hair and hazel eyes.

"I bet you would." She chuckled. "I look good wearing body paint."

"No! Really, I paint. I've actually sold a few paintings. My Dad is an Artist. I'm Luke."

"Which has to make blondie here Mark right?"

"How did you know? I left my nametag in my room."

"Front desk guy was Matthew. Paintbrush boy is Luke. Simple deduction. Oh! The girl at the desk is Joan...so...Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Joan."

"That's hilarious." Olive chuckled. "I hadn't even thought of that."

"Welcome Monet!" Holly bubbled up. "Do you always go without...?" She points at Monet's chest.

"Trust me I never go without." She winked at Luke then Mark. The boys looked puzzled. "Oh, come on! Please! I'm joking." Not! "My mom and I just drove up from Atlanta Georgia. I wanted to be comfortable. No undies either." So that explained the wiseman's camel. Her mother hadn't noticed that part, only her bra.

"Whoa! You sure you're attending Golgotha?" Olive chuckled.

"Complaining?"

"No. Just...wondering."

"I wouldn't go without on campus you might get reprimanded." Holly patted her hand as if being spanked.

"Lord I hope so." Monet blew them away, the remaining boys and girls surrounding her to say hi. "Let me guess...Ruth..." A girl rose her hand giggling and revealing herself as Ruth Anne Purl. "I knew there was one in there somewhere. How about a Mary?" Another girl who was short at 5'1, 100 pounds laughed.

"I'm Abel." A lanky boy with curly brown hair and an attempt at a goatee nodded. "Abel Wabash!"

"I bet you are. Able I mean." She razzed him making him blush but grin hard. "How about you two handsome...I would say Devils...but well...kind of why we're here right?" The final two boys chuckled, one a beefy boy but hardly unattractive at 5'7 reddish brown hair. The second young man handled himself like a jock but was shorter than the other boys being 5'4 and fit. He had brown hair, but the temples were buzzed short.

"Barnabas!" Spoke the taller boy. "That's Eli."

"Sup Barn? Eli." She rubs Barn's belly making him drop his jaw. "Three wishes!"

"You think I'm Buddha? Wrong denomination." He laughed.

"I still want you to grant me three wishes." She batted her eyes. The group was in awe of her charisma. "First one...I want you to hold Ruth's hand." She noted the girl Ruth shyly looking at Barnabas. Taking his hand, he introduced Ruth and the big guy, both blushing heavily but maintained their hand hold even as Monet looked around at the others. "Hmmm? Mary? You look like a Mark kind of girl." She drags Mark by his dress shirt up and nudges him into Mary face to face. The two just stood in awe of one another up close.

"Luke? I think you'd paint a good picture with...what's your name?" A petite brunette with a goth vibe held back, introductions proving herself shy.

"Ph-Phebe." She looked worried, her eyes bulging.

"Hi Phebes!" Monet swooped in and hugged her whispering, "Just relax and follow my lead Wednesday Addams." Taking the girl in pigtails by hand she guided her over to Luke.

"There's your canvas Luke. Paint a smile on her face and give her a hug like I just did." Shrugging Luke volunteered and she accepted. Inhaling his scent Phebe pouted with the most amazing dazzle in her deep blue eyes. Monet winked at the girl then turned to Olive and Holly. "You two are going to be my besties. We'll room together if I have to kick booty to make it happen." The girls grew giddy, slightly stressed but happy that she wanted to know them better.