Forest Grove Institute

The drive back to the Institute was peaceful, the hum of a random pop song filling the space as Phoebe and I sipped our coffees, the warmth of the cups comforting in the cool September air. The trees along the road were a brilliant mix of reds and oranges, a clear sign that fall was settling in.

"Which place was your favorite?" I asked, breaking the silence as she navigated the winding road. Phoebe gave a knowing smirk, her eyes flicking to me briefly before she answered.

"The Crimson Ribbon, obviously..."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Of course. That place is practically FGI's unofficial headquarters. But, aside from that one, my favorite was Cafe Luna." I smiled just thinking about it. The cozy, homey vibe of the little shop with its mismatched armchairs and bookshelves stacked high with novels made it the perfect place to relax. The drinks in our cup holders were our second round from there—a little treat for the drive back to the school.

Phoebe nodded, her attention on the road ahead as she spoke. "Hmm, yeah. I know you also liked the library and that bookstore..."

"Book Nook. Yeah," I replied with a grin, already thinking about the stack of books I'd bought. Not that I needed more, but it was impossible to resist.

Phoebe chuckled. "Yeah... you and your love of books." She shook her head playfully before finally answering my original question. "I guess my favorite place would've been The Velvet Rose Boutique. I loved the mix of secondhand finds and newer, trendy pieces. Honestly, I could've gone crazy in there and bought way more than I did."

I nodded, not being too into fashion myself, but I could definitely appreciate a place that seamlessly blends both used and new outfits without them clashing. It was a cool spot to visit, no doubt.

"I loved that fountain too, in the town square," I said, a smile creeping onto my face as I remembered it. "We'll have to get the whole group to check out that festival next month." I pulled out the flyer again, eager to read it once more. "Cider & Craft Harvest Festival... Sounds like a blast. I can already picture it—fresh, homemade baked goods, people showing off their knitted creations..."

Phoebe's eyes sparkled as she nodded along, her excitement contagious. "And the caramel apples, warm apple cider, live music, and games—girl, don't even get me started! We're definitely going." I smiled, taking a sip of my coffee, and before I could say anything, Phoebe spoke again, that playful smirk spreading across her face. "But I'll definitely be going back sooner with Master..."

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head in mock disbelief. "Really? Let me guess—The Crimson Ribbon?"

She laughed and nodded, glancing at me with a knowing look before turning her attention back to the road. "Hell to the yes. That place literally thought of everything." I agreed, nodding with her. The Crimson Ribbon was one of those places that looked like just another high-end boutique from the outside—with its deep red awning and elegant gold lettering. But once you stepped inside, you knew it was a shop that catered to those in the lifestyle.

"I agree," I said thoughtfully, "I'll have to get Sir to take me there too... though starting that conversation..."

Phoebe chuckled as I trailed off, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I get it, sometimes it's awkward talking about it..."

"It's not awkward talking about it," I gently interrupted. "But it's different being submissive at school or even at home... but in town? That's a whole different story. You know how the town he grew up in was—people had no shame when it came to showing their kink in public. What if he wants to put me on a leash or..." I trailed off, imagining the worst.

Phoebe burst into laughter, remembering how I'd told her Rafael had walked me through the school on a leash about a month ago. "I don't think he'd do that, Em," she said, still chuckling. "Yes, being in public is different, but he should know that you didn't grow up with that level of openness. Where he's from is one of the few places where that's just... normal."

I nodded in agreement. "I guess you're right..."

Phoebe nodded with a grin. We might be complete opposites—her being a brat and me being the complete opposite of that—but somehow, we were becoming close friends. It was strange how we clicked, despite the differences.

"Anyway..." Phoebe continued, her voice lively, "The collection they have there is impressive. I know the school has stuff, but I don't know about you, I'm really looking forward to picking stuff out with Master." Her excitement was so infectious that I couldn't help but smile. She was right, the Crimson Ribbon really did think of everything—from impact toys and restraints to collars, and even a clothing section bursting with lingerie, lace, leather outfits, and more.

"I really liked how they had that library section," I added, keeping the conversation flowing. Phoebe nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

"Yeah, definitely. It's smart to have not just the fun sections, but also educational books. I really loved the Aftercare area—especially those little kits that had a bit of everything in them."

"Yeah, the kits were a brilliant idea," I said. "And then there was that 'build your own kit' section with bath bombs, massage oils, and bath salts for relaxation. Plus, the different types of weighted blankets—really thoughtful."

Phoebe nodded, a sly smirk creeping onto her face. "They even had electrolyte drinks and snacks." She glanced at me, her tone teasing. "I don't know about you, Em, but I'm beat after an intense session."

I couldn't help but laugh, catching the double meaning in her words. "Yeah, I'm sure you are," I replied, shaking my head playfully at her suggestive tone.

We continued talking about our outing and making future plans as we got closer to the school. When we got back, I went to my room to call Rafael and tell him all about it - he had gotten pictures, and text messages throughout the day but I wanted to hear his voice and talk with him. I was looking forward to having him back and spending time with him again.

Authors note:
I hope you like this chapter - I personally feel like it's a little boring, kind of a filler chapter... Hence , it's a little shorter than usual. but I wanted to share how the town looked and the community that was close to the school....
FGI is Forest Grove Institute... it sounds weird to call it the "Institute" which I know I did during this chapter.. I don't know... please tell me what you think!