Bobby sat on the park bench, thinking.
He wished life wasn't so complicated. It was summer. School was out. He was not supposed to have to consider serious, adult issues. Or even teen issues. Damn it, they weren't even in high school yet!
The day with his mother had been fine. Even fun, at times. Mom was great. A little serious, a little controlling, maybe, but moms were like that. He wouldn't expect her to be any other way. She had taken him shopping, to stores he liked as well as, well, others. They'd talked. About Dad. Other stuff. Mom wasn't one to open up to him, but she tried. He loved her for that. Trying was all he asked. They were done about 2 PM, and she let him go out, do whatever, before dinner. Bobby had thought about going over to Kevin's, but saw Vicky's bike was still there. Figuring they were busy... he came here.
He wasn't jealous. Not of Vicky. You couldn't be. If nothing else, Kevin would beat him up if there was any sign to it. And he'd beat himself up, too. After all, it was Vicky.
Bobby had no experience with love. Looking back on his life, he realized it was something he hadn't even seen much at home. His parents had... well, he now knew why things had been how they'd been. At the time it was just how parents behaved. And he couldn't blame his Mom. It may have been silly, or naive, to have gone into marriage thinking Dad had been "cured", but he had played along too. Said he was now... straight.
Fifteen years was a long time to string a wife along with a lie.
There would never be lies between him, Kevin, and Vicky. There couldn't be. They were always open about everything, so far as he knew. They would have to be more so from here on out. One lie, and their group could shatter. One lie, and the foundation of his entire life would be gone. His parents splitting up, he could deal with. Not well, no, but... he could, and would, survive.
Breaking up with Kevin or Vicky would kill him.
Bobby looked across the park. Some boys he knew were playing basketball. They wore shorts, half were shirtless. If he was gay, that should excite him. He should find some of his fellow teen males cute, sexy, at least physically.
He didn't.
That, he thought, was the main reason the whole gay thing had not reared its head before now. While, yes, looking at boobs had not given him a boner, neither had looking at guys. As they shopped today, he had looked at the men around them. Looked to see if any did anything for him. Some were definitely hunky. Some he took a second look at. Yet...
It took a few hours for him to realize all of those looked a bit like Kevin.
The idea that he might not be gay, but, well, a Kevin-sexual, wasn't all that comforting. It just made him more confused. More unsure of who he was. He'd been thinking about the problem for at least three days: shouldn't he have the entire issue of who he was settled by now?
Movement off to his right caught his attention. A white bike with a brown rider slowed as it approached the bike rack.
Vicky.
That was one of the features of knowing each other so well. They seemed to always be able to find the other, no matter where in the neighborhood they were. He watched as she dismounted and locked up. Vicky was definitely pretty. She always wore the same jeans and t-shirts they did, but of late they had started looking very different on her. He also liked her hair, the curly mass just looking perfect. Always the same length. He had no idea how she did that.
He didn't wave as she walked over. There was never any need for that. Bobby scooted over a bit on the bench, leaving room for her on his right. When Kevin was there, naturally, he sat to the left of Bobby, with Vicky on the other side of their friend. When it was just the two of them, she sat on his right, as if so neither took Kevin's place in the natural order of things. Things got funny when Kevin showed up unexpectedly, and there was an unspoken rearranging so they ended up in the correct sitting order.
Bobby wondered if all friendships were like this.
Vicky smiled as she got closer. That was good. It meant things went well with Kevin. There was definitely something different about her, about the way she looked, even though it was the same outfit she had worn at breakfast. She plopped down next to him.
"Thought I'd find you here."
"Been looking long?"
She shook her head, stretching her legs out before her.
"Naw. We saw you ride by his house, so knew you were about. I don't have to be home for another hour or so."
He nodded as they lapsed into silence. Her shoulder pressed against his.
"We didn't do much," Vicky said, at last. He regarded her questioningly. She shrugged. "Kissed. A bit more. Pants stayed on."
Something about that shrug caught his attention. Bobby looked at her chest. Her breasts, always nice, were different. Better. They looked so round, under that white shirt. Her nipples pressed outward, forming two points... his eyes widened.
"You forgot your bra."
Vicky's eyes widened as well, going down to her chest.
"Damn," she growled. "I knew I was going to forget it. Must still be in his room."
"I definitely like the look," he said, grinning. Her eyes turned to him, questioning, her hand going to his knee.
"You do? Really?"
"Yeah," he nodded, slowly. "I do." His eyes took them in again, then went down to her hips, legs. "I also wish you wore shorts more."
"That's not very gay of you." Her hand squeezed his knee. Bobby shrugged.
"I don't know what I am anymore."
He looked down in his lap. He didn't like the bitterness in his voice. He wasn't bitter. What he was might be in question, but he wasn't bitter. Wasn't...
Vicky's left hand touched his cheek, gently moving his head to face her. The hand on his knee moved up, caressing his thigh.
"You're Bobby."
Her eyes.
Bobby just looked into those eyes. He knew them. Had seen them his whole life. Yet...
He wet his lips, turning away from her.
"I feel," he said, softly, "the same way that I did when I looked at Kevin the other day. When I took his hand for the first time since we were little kids, and had to do it to cross the street. It's like..."
"Like your stomach is in a knot, like you can't think, yet all you can think about is the person you love."
"Yeah." He looked back at her. Her eyes were wet.
"I couldn't do much," Vicky said, "because it was just Kevin. I... I need both of you. Together. I love both of you. It's not right if we're taking turns, doing things without one of us. We have to be three. Always." He nodded, slowly. That made sense. That made so much sense. Her red lips slowly smiled, and he felt his own grin matching it.
"I wish we were back at the fort so I could kiss you," he said. She laughed, looking around.
"Yeah, me too. I wish we were together right now, somewhere alone. We probably shouldn't be a couple in public, more than we have been, that is."
He nodded.
"Mom would really come down if she thought we were in love. No more sleepovers."
"I think mine would understand," Vicky said. "Might not like it, but she may assume we're doing stuff anyway. Dad, no, he'd kill you and Kevin. Gonna have to be careful tomorrow night."
"Yeah."
They sat in silence for awhile.
****
Vicky saw her first, coming from the soccer field.
She knew Nitya. Not, well, in the who a person actually is way. Rather, she had a few classes with her, and when asked to pass back tests and homework could match the written name to the face. Kevin, she knew, was horrible at that. Even kids they had known since kindergarden, he sometimes forgot their names. Very amusing, or so her and Bobby thought. Nitya was Indian, at least in the same way Vicky was African. Not that Africa was a country, but neither parent had been able to give her more details than that. Didn't matter, anyway. Ethnic pride was lower on her priority list than school pride, and that was nonexistent.
What caught Vicky's attention was the small, light brown girl pausing next to the swing sets, looking at her and Bobby. Nitya had stopped in her tracks, looked around, looked back... then started walking over. Half casually, half hesitantly. Definitely interestingly. Both teens were looking at her as she reached them.
"Um, hi." She smiled, nervously. She stood before them in a light blue and white top, with thin shoulder straps, and blue jean shorts. Blue flip-flops and pink painted toenails completed the outfit. Very cute, as was she. Vicky thought she looked a lot better than those who tried to look sexy (and ended up looking slutty). Even the short black hair, parted in the middle and curling just under the ears, was nice. She smiled back.
"Hi, Nitya. What's up?"
The girl bit her lip.
"Um, you two are friends of Kevin Drew?"
Vicky exchanged a glance with Bobby. He shrugged.
"I can't stand the guy. How about you, Vicky?"
"A jerk." She looked back at the now unsure teen. "Yes, we're friends. The only ones who can stand him, really. Why?"
Nitya smiled as the humor finally registered. She hooked her small thumbs in belt loops on her shorts, body rocking a bit.
"Well... see, I was wondering if you could pass a note to him."
A note.
This girl... teen girl... ATTRACTIVE teen girl... wanted to give a note to their Kevin. Vicky's reaction was swift.
She blinked.
"Why?"
"Um, well..." Nitya blushed, a cute blush that demolished Vicky's anger almost before it could start. It really would take more than a note to get you angry at someone like this. "See, my family's going to Darien Lake next week, and... they said I could take a friend, and... I don't know Kevin, not really, but..."
But she wants to get her evil hands on him and do cute things to him at the amusement park. Evil, sexy cute things, most likely. Something must have shown in her face, as Nitya's eyes widened. She took a half step back, hands shooting out of their home in her belt loops and coming up, palms facing the duo in an act of defense.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't know! Jeanie said he wasn't seeing anyone! Forgive me!"
And, just like that, her anger balloon was popped once again. Vicky wasn't good at this jealousy stuff.
Bobby leaned forward, grinning. He placed a hand on Vicky's knee.
"Naw, they're not dating. Kevin isn't dating anyone right now." This was, technically, true. The trio of friends were so far beyond the idea of dating as for the term to have no meaning. Relief washed over the girl's face. "However," Bobby said, "be warned that any note you give him will be seen by us, most likely. Not because we read it, but because he'll show us. We share everything."
Nitya frowned. Vicky did as well. Bobby wasn't good at this either. His voice had... come close to revealing the truth. And this girl was smart. Her eyes looked at Bobby for a long moment, then went to Vicky. Vicky tried not to let anything show. Nitya looked thoughtful.
"Everything?"
The two teens stayed silent, ignoring all implied in that word. Which, probably, confirmed it, or at least could lead to endless correct speculation. Nitya considered for a moment... before reaching into her pocket. Out came a folded envelope. She handed it to Vicky.
"If you could give this to Kevin..."
****
"It is summer, right?"
Kevin looked up from the note. They sat at the patio picnic table, the nearby grill smoking in a way he hoped his Dad intended. Bobby furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean?"
"He means spring is when love is supposed to make people stupid." Vicky grinned at them, Kevin returning it. "Summer is a little late for that."
"Yup. Where was this letter a year ago? Now it just complicates things."
"Aww... now, if *I* was getting love letters, I'd be happy about it!"
"Who got a love letter?"
The three teens looked up as Kevin's Mom opened the screen door. She held a plate of raw hamburgers. Kevin quickly stood.
"Let me get that for you, Mom."
"Thank you." Her eyebrow arched as he took the plate, turning to carry it over to the grill. Stepping onto the cement patio, she closed the screen behind her. "Are you sure you two don't want to stay for dinner? It's either cook all the hamburger today, or freeze what's left."
"Yum!" Vicky said, smacking her lips. "Food that's about to go out of date! My favorite! Thanks, but Mom and Dad probably want to eat with me. Family bonding and all that."
"Yeah," Bobby said. "But thanks, Mrs. Drew."
"I just thought I'd ask." The screen door opened again, Mr. Drew coming through with a plate of corn on the cob. Kevin did not rush to help him. As the teen stood by the smoking grill, his mother walked over behind the sitting Vicky, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders. "So. Who got the love letter?"
"Kevin," Vicky said immediately. Bobby nodded in happy agreement, Kevin growling unhappily at the pair. "Some girl's stalking him."
"Ah," said his father, opening the grill. A mass of smoke released into the air. "I had a stalker in high school. Cute little redhead. Very nice figure."
"Oh?" Kevin's mom reached up, sweeping a few strands of her curly brown hair out of her eyes. "A nice redhead, you say?"
"Yup. I was taken, of course, dating a wonderful blonde at the time, but it was still nice to feel wanted."
Kevin looked between his two parents. Slowly, with large, exaggerated steps, he moved away from his father. Vicky and Bobby stood as well, backing away. Mrs. Drew smiled.
"Oh, Honey, you're going to feel something all right..."
****
Kevin sat on his bed, love letter in hand.
"Dear Kevin.
You do not know me. You have seen me walk the halls at school, or noticed me five seats behind you in English. But you do not know me. I, too, do not know you.
But... I want to.
Every time I see you, my heart flutters. Every time I hear your voice, I want to shout for the world to become silent, so I only hear you.
I love you.
My family is going to Darien Lake this Wednesday. I would like you to come.
Love, Nitya"
Short. Simple.
Devastating.
She had obviously wanted to give him this two days ago, at the park. How long had she been carrying it, on the off chance she saw him? Stalker, indeed! Yet, he knew what she was going through. For a brief period, he had obsessed about Beth Teneson. The note he had written to put in her locker was probably still in his desk somewhere, undelivered. Just as well, given she had taken up smoking. His fantasies about her had ended as soon as he saw that.
Well, that would be one way to get out of this. Take up smoking.
Dropping the note onto his mattress, Kevin picked up the 8th grade yearbook. Nitya was only in one picture. Despite running with the popular crowd, or at least one of the crowds, she didn't seem to be in any of the group shots. No clubs, no teams. No dances. The three of them had done chess club, the yearbook having the photo to prove it. He thought he looked stupid in the picture, but it probably reflected reality.
But this girl said she loved him.
What confused him more was Bobby and Vicky had given him the note. Why? He could ask them, naturally, and would, tomorrow. They'd even answer. He knew that. But...
Kevin shook his head. The girl was cute. Very cute. The fact he was in love with his two friends didn't change that, anymore than the fact he had loved them while he was lusting after Beth mattered. His teen brain could totally separate the two. Nitya would be actual dating. Dating!
Did he want to date?
That was a good question.
****
"Vicky! Phone!"
Vicky let out a sigh as her father held out the receiver to her. As she reached, he moved it back a bit.
"You're with them all day. Why is he calling?"
So many ways she could answer that, none of them proven to be helpful.
"Because you won't let me text."
Dad paused, considered, and held the phone back out to her. He smiled.
"Good answer. And, no, no texting."
Vicky's eyes didn't roll until he had turned away and started out of the room. He was such a Dad. Moving to an empty spot on the hallway wall, she let her back fall against it.
"Hello."
"Hi Vicky." Kevin's voice was worried. She straightened.
"What's up?"
"It's the note."
"What about it?"
"It would be a date."
"Well, yeah... oh."
"Yeah."
She slid down the wall, sitting on the polished wood floor.
"And?"
"Do you like her?"
"I don't know here that well," she said, sighing. "She's nice."
"We have each other."
"Yeah..."
"I feel like I have to call her tonight. One way or the other."
"Probably should."
"I don't know what to say."
"What do you want to say?"
"Yes, but..."
"But."
"Yeah."
She sighed. This is what she got for not driving away anyone who so much as looked at Kevin or Bobby. Her free hand went up into her hair, fingers tangling themselves in her curls.
"Want us to come chaperone?"
There was a moment's silence. Vicky frowned.
"Kevin?"
"What if the three of us dated her?"
"Ha!" The laugh burst out of Vicky. "You're kidding!"
"No, really. We do everything together, right?"
The smile left her face.
"Right."
"So?"
She closed her eyes.
"Gotta think about it. We'll talk tomorrow night."
"What do I do tonight?"
"Just talk to her," Vicky chuckled. "If you can't do that, problem solved!"
"True. Thanks, Vicky."
"Anytime."
"Love you."
It caught her unaware. Gripping the phone with both hands, she felt the blush explode over her face, and neck.
"Love you," she said, softly. "Goodnight."
She sat there, long after he had hung up, phone in hand.
Saturday night could not come soon enough.