Chapter 178

April 9, 2018 (Monday)

Dear Ms. Diary,

Lana arrived at the lunch tables and quietly said, “It’s been only two days and I miss you guys so much!” After a few voiced agreements, Lana turned to Brit and told her, “Ms. Sullivan asked me if you’d done any more body painting.”

Brit looked a bit incredulous, shook her head, then responded, “She’s going to keep on me, isn’t she?”

“I think so. She really liked your work.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t have canceled the planned nails weekend. What are Brett’s and your restraints for getting to the J?”

“Steph and Matt were both mostly out of it this weekend, so they didn’t want to have any serious discussions. That happens tonight. We’re going to push for Wednesdays and at least every other weekend, but I have no clue how they’re going to react. Oh.” She dropped her head nearly to the table and very quietly added, “They’re letting us share Brett’s bed, which I think is a good clue for the discussion tonight.”

“Wow,” I remarked. “They seemed amenable to you continuing your relationship, but I didn’t expect that!”

“I know. Right? We got ... to the house on Saturday and ... they were about to crash. Aunt Steph told us that we could sleep wherever we wanted, so I moved some of my stuff into his room. Yesterday morning, she forgot what she’d said, or something. She knocked on Brett’s door and then just walked in.” Many of us gave out startled exclamations, after which she added, “We weren’t doing anything but organizing the room for two, but we were naked. She apologized, then told us that so long as we kept to the agreement about intercourse and kept the door closed, we could be dressed in his room or, as she said, ‘whatever.’”

I responded, “Once again. How is it that our various parents ... at least most of them ... are so ... liberal with us, let us do so much of what we want? I know we’re all responsible, but is that really it? Would other kids’ parents let them do what we do if all they had to do was be responsible? I can’t believe that would be true.”

Kim replied, “It’s certainly not. I have a reasonable relationship with my parents, but I seriously doubt that I could have had live-in lovers even if my parents liked them, and I’m pretty sure they’d have objected had what we have now got going last year and I wanted to live with you guys.”

Brett and Liya arrived just then and we filled them in on the recent discussion.

Liya nodded, then said, “I’m changing topics. I’m thankful that Coach got all of us team members permission not to take PE this quarter, ‘cause I really like my World Politics elective that I got to take because I didn’t have to take PE. Oh, and, for all of you, I just found out something that we should ask Mr. Jameson about today. I can’t believe that they could have put something together so quickly, but there’ll be an elective next fall called Human Geography. I have no idea what it will cover, but it seems like what we talked about with Mr. Jameson, but Ms. Dubois mentioned it offhand in World Politics today.”

We had a lively discussion at the tables as we ate, but which was interrupted by Rachel arriving.

As she sat down next to Cera, she said, “Sorry I had to cancel Saturday. Everyone’s plans changed as Seamus’s grandfather got sent to a specialist in Dallas, of all places. The family is going to leave Thursday after school to visit up there and won’t be back until Monday sometime. So, could I ... visit this weekend?”

Everyone looked at me, so I said, “I’m not the Queen. You guys can make decisions, too.”

Meka huffed and said, “You may not be the Queen, but you’re the go-to decision-maker, even if you don’t want to be. You’ve nearly always got plans cooking away in that brain of yours that you occasionally forget to tell us until the last minute.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head at her, which got her grinning, after which she answered, “Yes, Rachel, you’re free to visit this weekend.” Much more quietly, she said, “If you can deal with how we hang out and how we sleep, you’re welcome all weekend.”

Rachel looked into Meka’s eyes for a while and responded, “I understand. Umm, could I come to your game on Thursday and then stay at the ... compound until sometime Sunday?”

Meka looked over both shoulders and around behind each of us, then quietly replied, “Do you truly know what you’ll probably see, particularly if you’re with us that long?”

Rachel’s face went even more stoic as she nodded a few times at Meka.

“Does Seamus know?”

Rachel looked even longer into Meka’s eyes, then nodded slightly.

Meka’s eyes went big, then she asked, “Can you come to practice with us today? You could get some laps and stuff in, then we could talk when we’re done. I’m not comfortable with you being with us this weekend under the parameters you’ve just indicated, and this is not the place to get into that.”

Again, Rachel nodded, after which silence reigned until the warning bell rang.

As we all stood, Rachel quickly said, “I’ll have to go home for practice clothes, but I’ll be at the pitch before 4:00. Thanks, everyone.”

After class, Mr. Jameson answered our questions about the possible Human Geography class next fall.

“It surprised us. We don’t have a syllabus, yet, but I think on the strength of Mr. Pavletic’s history here, the administration decided to reserve a slot for it should we get that done. We’re both excited about it, so it’ll probably happen. I hope all of you will sign up for it. I’ve already told the Vice Principal that the class should not be offered at 7^th Bell.”

We grinned and laughed with him.

On our way to the Suburban, Liya said, “Mr. Jameson’s such a good teacher. He knows his shit, explains things well, and is willing to entertain the opinions of students. He’s become one of my all-time favorites.”

“Hear, hear,” replied Rhee.

The permanent J residents got to the pitch around 3:45 to find all four non-permanent residents there already. We had a round-robin hugfest after which Lana said, “What’s up with Rachel? Did that seem to you what it seemed like to me?”

Meka replied, “I have a hard time convincing myself, but it seemed to me that she wanted to put herself in a situation in which she’d at least get to see sex, maybe even to play a little part in it. Katie, Kim, you know her better than our freshmen lovers do. What’s your take?”

Kim and Katie looked at each other and apparently elected Kim, who responded, “I can’t really see any other explanation. However, since she didn’t seem like she wanted a plain vanilla kiss with Brett, does she want a hot kiss with both of them clothed ... or ... something else? She’s been absolutely exclusive with Seamus since sophomore year, at least as far as I know. Why now? Why ... No, I understand perfectly well the answer to ‘why Brett.’”

“Yes,” Meka answered, “that’s the question that flummoxes me, although I can just imagine Seamus wanting her to be absolutely sure about them as a couple to give her space to try something else on for size. I’m not sure how I feel about that if that’s what’s going on here.”

I interjected, “And we don’t even know if Brett will be here this weekend. It’s almost a certainty that he won’t be with us Thursday overnight. Oh, Thursday. Can we have Rachel not show up until, say, 9:00, when the get-togethers usually break up?”

Liya responded, “That’s our first stipulation for her request.”

Kim volunteered, “She and I could do something together. I know you wanted me to join Thursdays this week, but we ... you ... no, we have a game and that will impact how soon you can be there. I’m not really needed there, at least this particular Thursday. I’ll talk to her and take her out for dinner and we can meet you at the J.”

Lana said, “We talked to Steph and got permission to have dinner at the J tonight, but we must be home by 7:30 so we can have the planned discussion about what Steph and Matt want to do about us ... both the ‘two of us’ us and the ‘all of us’ us.”

When Kim offered to drive them home, we began stretching. The team began arriving, as did Rachel, who gave out hellos and began stretching.

Rachel took part in the calisthenics, after which Coach said, “Listen up.” Once she had silence, she said, “Please welcome in our midst, Rachel Beck. She’s been on the Central High team the past four years and the starting left back the past three, and in that position earned Honorable Mention on the all-state list this year. Two laps, with sprints, after which we’ll scrimmage Argon versus Krypton. Go.”

We scrimmaged for about 40 minutes, then spent the next 45 minutes discussing how we would split games up between the two lineups, how we would deal with subs, and moving players between lineups against certain opponents or in certain situations. I think we were all getting pretty excited for the season to start tomorrow; I certainly was.

At the end of the discussion, Coach said, “Argon will start tomorrow. If you need a ride, be here no later than 3:45 and let me know that here and now ... before you leave today ... and, if you don’t need a ride, tell me how you’re getting to Midland. We need a bus or something. I’ll think about it.”

As were preparing to leave practice, Meka said to Rachel, “Come have dinner with us at home and we can talk about your request there.”

Rachel nodded, then said, “I left my car parked in front of the house, so I’ll walk there with you guys.”

Meka turned to Cera and asked, “Can you call your mom and ask to eat with us? We’ll get you and Brit home early.”

As we got underway after Cera got the okay and once we were away from any team members, Rachel said, “Thanks for ... considering my request. I won’t say anything else about it until we get to your house, but I want you all to know that I appreciate you guys. I should have spent more time with you this year. Had I done so, perhaps this ... might not be as difficult as it is ... both for me and for you guys. I did want to spend more time here, but it just always seemed to get away from me, and that’s entirely my fault.” She ducked her head and said a bit more quietly, “However, I was also ... concerned that I’d ... want to be ... with you guys too much. I mean, three of my four best girlfriends are now living together in that house, and I’ve ... found myself missing the times we had together in freshman year. Because of that, I’ve been afraid that I’d change my life to get something like that back like Kim did earlier this year and Katie suddenly did recently. Kim told me she ... loved everyone and, though she gave no particulars, seemed to imply that ... there was ... lots of ... sex and that it ... was great.”

Liya broke in and said, “We’re almost home, so, please, hold off on any more such talk until we get inside.”

We decided to wear clothing while Rachel was with us, although we did opt for skimpy wear. To make things easier on us, we decided to eat what leftovers we had, although made a large, fresh diverse salad for which we impressed Rachel into helping cobble it together.

As so many have, Rachel commented positively about the salad being so much more than she had ever had.

“This is relatively non-diverse, given that we often have a dozen or more ingredients in diverse salad. This is, what, eight?”

“Well, it’s much more diversity than I’m used to, and it’s great! Do you guys always eat this well?”

“Except when we order pizza. Lots of athletes here,” replied Heather with a grin.

We cleaned up the kitchen and dining room, then gathered in the living room where Meka said, “Find seats, and the floor is yours, Rachel.”

She had difficulty beginning, but closed her eyes and breathed deeply a few times, then opened them on Brett.

“I know that ... everyone has to agree, but since you figure ... more prominently in my request than the others, I’ll ask my question of you. I think it will be easier to get the question out that way, although I’m already having trouble with it.” She breathed deeply again, obviously bucking herself up, then, as her face turned red, she asked, “Brett, could I have a ... no-holds-barred kissing ... session with you ... and one during which ... anything is allowed except for ... intercourse?”

“Holy fuck,” Lana stated quietly while Heather responded, “Hell’s bells!”

Brett was flabbergasted, and he opened and closed his mouth multiple times, yet did not get a word out.

Meka was about to respond, but Rachel held her hand up at her and continued, still red-faced, “Seamus thinks I should ... have more diverse experience ... with guys before we begin talking seriously about ... getting married.”

That caused a hullaballoo.

Meka let it go for a bit then loudly said, “Chill!” When the noise died, she added, “Brett, she asked you and you’re not our pet, despite how it may sometimes seem to others. Rachel was correct in asking you the question, so we’ll let you deal with it unless you’d like our help.”

Brett, also red-faced, nodded at Meka and turned to Rachel.

“Why do you want to do what Seamus requests of you?”

She ducked her head and began responding, but quickly picked her head up to look at Brett.

“He ... had three girlfriends before me and ... h-had sex with two of them. I’m not trying to get ... even or anything like that! I do wonder, though, about ... sex with others.”

“Why me?”

She looked at him for at least ten seconds, then softly said, “Because you’re the ... nicest guy I know other than Seamus and ... the ... most handsome, although the nice is more important to me. As you know, I’m ... shy, except on the pitch and I like that you used to be shy so you know ... at least somewhat how I ... live. You might know how ... difficult this is for me. You might know I’m telling the truth when I tell you that I’ve never asked a guy out, never asked for a first kiss, never initiated anything like a ... sexual relationship. I’m probably not undecided about Seamus. However, he’s ... encouraged me to have some sort of ... sexual experience with another guy so I can be sure of him. I was ... opposed to it, but he asked me to think about it. I have ... thought about it and I ... always thought it was a bad idea ... except when I happened ... to ... think of you.”

She went crimson with her last sentence and ducked her head. However, she obviously steeled herself and looked into Brett’s eyes.

“I think... No! You’re the ... only other boy I’ve thought like that about.” She closed her eyes and shook her head as if she were upset with herself, then looked at Brett again. “You’re the only guy I’ve had ... truly exciting fantasies about.” While looking at her feet and nearly subvocally, she added, “There, I said it.”

She picked her head back up and was about to say something else when Brett, still somewhat red-faced, responded, “I’m flattered. How did you think this ... session, which I assume from your description is somewhat ... temporally ... elastic, should take place? That is, where, when, and for ... how long?”

“Oh, god. Umm, I ... was hoping I could ... spend a ... night with you.”

She said the final three words very quickly, possibly to get them out of her mouth before she could retract them. There were a lot of inhalations in response to her words.

Brett asked, “Did you think of that night as you and me being alone together?” When Rachel nodded, he said, “I’m sorry. That can’t be. I’ve never been alone with any of my girlfriends ... except for Lana, but she’s living in my family’s house while her parents are traveling. Anything sexual any of the girlfriends and I do together is always with others around because we want everyone to know that no one’s getting anything that everyone else isn’t getting. Also, I’ve never had intercourse, so even if you were willing to do that, I’m not. I’m saving that first for my girlfriends.”

Rachel stared at him with an odd expression ... or a mix of expressions ... for quite a while, then said, “Actually, I’m glad intercourse is off the table for you, as I don’t know that I would have felt right after the fact if we did it. God, here I’m talking like we’re going to have some intimate time together and I don’t really know that it will be.”

“Rachel,” he said, “I like you. We all like you. All of our invitations for you to visit have been real. We would like to know you better, but not necessarily in the way you’ve requested. I am interested in your request, but if any one of my girlfriends objects, I’ll decline your request. I love all of them and I don’t want to piss any of them off. Finally, at least for now, I don’t know where I’ll be on any night this weekend. Lana and I are having a discussion with my parents tonight as to how much we’ll be allowed to be over here and even whether we’ll be allowed to spend nights here.

“On the face of it, Rachel, I doubt I’d tell you ‘no,’ as you’re interesting, sexy, and cute as a bug, but I’m not the only one here that gets a vote and the vote must be unanimous. However, as the girls have told you, you’re welcome here anytime, and if we were going to do this, I’d much prefer to know you better before we did anything like that, rather than simply taking advantage of an opportune moment.”

Rachel stood rapidly, began to take a step toward him, stopped, then asked, “May I hug you?”

“I’ll always welcome a hug from you so long as you don’t take advantage of it.”

“No, I wouldn’t, but I need to hug you, now.”

Brett opened his arms to her and she catapulted into them. I looked over at Meka to find her looking at me. I shrugged my shoulders at her, and she returned the shrug.

She seemed to revel in the hug that she sustained for almost a minute, but then Rachel stepped back and said, “Thanks, Brett, for being honest with me and for the nice things you said about me. I’ve hardly ever kissed Seamus with anyone watching, much less ... had sex ... with someone watching or even present. I’ll have to think about ... everything and let you know what I decide. But, could I still visit this weekend? I’d like to get ... you and everyone here to know me better, and I’d ... like to see how ... your ... crazy relationship works. I understand that you’re ... generally nude here, but I think I can deal with that; I just don’t know if I can be naked here.”

Meka looked at Rachel, then said, “As Brett said, you’re welcome here anytime, although let us know before you show up. When you visit, I’d like to grab some of your time to chat. We’ve missed out on changes in each other’s lives, and I’d like to learn more about the current Rachel.”