Chapter 4: Boy, Girl

The following two weeks were very nice. Megan was as passionate as ever, and they managed to have sex every afternoon. During the weekend, Tony and Megan spent time together during the weekend. They went to the movies to see a science fiction adventure that Tony liked; and in return he sat through a romantic comedy for Megan.

Megan "tagged along" with Tony when he met his friends. It was not untypical; his friends stopped grumbling a couple of years ago that he allowed a girl to come. Of course recently, they were disappointed when Megan couldn't come; and they considered it a success when they could persuade other girls to hang out with them. As usual, a couple of Tony's friends flirted with Megan. After his surreptitious nod, she flirted back. But just as before, she wouldn't let any of them gain much ground, and declined any date invitations. That, too, was customary by now.

Cathy remained grumpy, but didn't try to disrupt the young lovers. On Thursday afternoon, she announced that she was going out on Friday.

"With whom, dear?" asked Tony's mother.

"Michael Pearce. You've met him in October; he is on the basketball team."

Tony knew Michael Pearce slightly, he was a senior and a varsity athlete, not Tony's circle at all. But not unusual for Cathy to know. Still, it must have been a recent arrangement.

"Okay, since you are sixteen, you are allowed to date, but he must come in the house to pick you up, and you must be back by 10:30."

The negotiations continued along predictable lines. Cathy has dated before, but as far as Tony knew, she didn't have a steady boyfriend.

In school, Tony noticed Cathy walking in the halls with Michael. On Friday night, Cathy returned on time, but with her lipstick smudged. Tony felt a pang of jealousy. I am such a dog. I love Megan, and yet I still get annoyed that somebody is pawing Cathy. What's wrong with me?! Even if Cathy was willing to have anything with me – which she never has except for the night of the blackout – I could never hurt Megan. Tony went and sneaked a kiss goodnight from Megan. Megan was already in bed, and normally they never risked kisses when the parents were home; but Megan didn't ask why Tony came over.

Megan's kiss drove all thoughts of Cathy from Tony's mind. Megan was all so warm and soft. He lips conveyed desire, but her eyes were tender with love. Megan always had a bit of an older brother hero-worship for Tony, but lately, it's been verging on adoration. When she looked at him like that, Tony was simultaneously elated and terrified. He was afraid of Megan discovering his feet of clay. What could be worse than betraying such faith, and replacing that look with one of disappointment?

Tony went to bed thinking of Megan. He wondered if Cathy thought of her basketball player in bed, but it was a momentary thought, soon replaced by warm, fuzzy dreams.

On Saturday, Cathy went out to meet Michael again. Tony and Megan once again hit the mall, and then the movie theater. Tony was a swimmer in school, so he rarely wanted to go to the pool during the weekends. Still, when Megan wanted to swim, he was there to provide her company.

They came back tired but satisfied. After the shower and a snack, they landed on the living room couch. The parents were shopping, and after the movie, Megan didn't want to watch television; she wanted to let the movie impressions "settle." Tony put in a CD of baroque music, turned the volume down, and settled in with a science fiction book. Megan lay down, with her head on Tony's knees. They playfully shoved for a few seconds, until they found a comfortable position where Tony could continue to read without resting the book spine on Megan's face.

"Thanks for taking me swimming, Tony," said Megan.

"Not at all. I forgot that playing in the water is very different than swimming laps. I liked it, thanks for dragging me there."

"You know, it's not fun wheedling you into doing things I like any more. I used to have to negotiate, now all I have to do is smile at you and you do what I want."

Tony put the book away, and smiled down at Megan. "If you want, I will start negotiating again." He played with Megan's moist hair. "But you have to promise not to smile at me like that – I forget everything when you do."

Megan sighed happily, and borrowed into his lap with half-closed eyes.

"You guys are disgusting!" Cathy was back, and she looked grumpy.

Megan didn't change her look at all. "You know, it's all upside down."

"What?!"

"Well, I am still thirteen, and you are sixteen. I am supposed to be disgusted looking at you making out, not the other way around."

Cathy sighed. "It's not making out. You lying there, practically purring, while Tony plays with your hair and reading. You are like an old married pair."

"I thought you'd still be with Michael. What are you doing back?"

"Michael's going to a concert with all of his friends."

"And he didn't invite you?" asked Tony.

"He did. I am not in the mood." Uh-oh, thought Tony. Trouble in paradise. I shouldn't be relieved, but I am. I am a dog.

Monday was a cold drizzly day. As usual, however, Tony was in a good mood. He now had less time to goof off, but he didn't mind. He worked on his homework religiously as soon as his parents came home, as well as after dinner. He finished what was required for school, and as a useful side-effect, the parents were impressed by his discipline.