The exact function, or name, of the thing was unknown.
It was old, that was certain. Older than the oldest teen who had ever played on it as a kid. Metal pipes, freshly painted, wooden planks old and smooth. They called it the Sled Run, or sometimes Sled Hill, as that's what they used it for in winter. In the summer, they just climbed it, ran down the long, wide wooden slide at unsafe speeds or tried to climb up the incline. The covered area up top was large, a good place to rest and talk with friends out of the sun, with a nice view of the playground.
Whatever it was, the trio had made it one of their homes.
Some elementary kids had been playing on the thing when they arrived, yelling, screaming as kids did. Kevin, Bobby and Vicky did not chase them off, so much as simply make their way to the top and stake their claim. A few hard looks later, and the noise followed the youngsters off in the direction of the wooden fort/jungle gym thing.
They talked.
"I think," Vicky said, jean covered knees drawn up to her chin, "Mom is going to start to try to find things for me to do for the rest of the summer. Keep us out of trouble. I heard her talking with Dad."
"That sucks," Bobby said. She nodded.
"Yeah, but it makes sense. The more time we're just hanging around, the more chance we'll get bored, and decide to have some REAL fun. Plus, you know, we do often spend time bitching there's nothing to do."
"Yeah," Kevin nodded. "My parents have said the same thing. But, you know, it's already almost the end of July. Only a month left. I think we can keep our freedom for that month, if we try."
"True," Vicky admitted. "I'm just saying, they might try."
"If Dad gets that apartment," Bobby said, "I say we just spend the rest of the summer swimming. There will be others around, so despite Kevin being driven insane by my sexy body, we won't be tempted."
"Guy gets ONE blow job, and look what happens! Jesus!"
"Where?! Is he here?" Vicky swing her head around wildly. The two boys laughed. It was an old joke, but they were often the best. As she turned back to them, she saw a pink bike coming down the path, with a brown rider.
Nitya.
"She's here."
The bike was nice. A ten speed, perfectly fit to her small frame. The three of them had one speed dirt bikes, bought when they were younger. Vicky's seat and handlebars were raised about as much as they could be. Their parents weren't hurting for money, but they weren't getting the teens new bikes while the old ones were still useable. It's almost like they had gotten together and discussed that issue, as well as a few others.
Stupid parents, knowing each other and such.
The newcomer looked at the three bikes laying on the nearby grass, eyes raising up. Kevin lifted his arm to wave. Vicky thought Nitya looked a bit... annoyed. And well she should be. Vicky wondered if she and Bobby, with a day (and last night) to think about it, were trying to drive the girl away. Take Kevin her letter, tell him to call, then convince him to make so many demands that she gives up. That was very possible, and didn't make her feel good about herself. Vicky considered herself a good person, not mean, or selfish. Certainly not one to play emotional games.
Those could have no winner.
"Hi, Nitya!"
Kevin's voice was cheerful as the female teen's head popped up over the wooden floor. She was taking the stairs slowly, eyes looking the three over uncertainly. She was dressed similarly to two days ago, shorts and a shirt cut to show off a bit of her light brown tummy. There were sneakers this time instead of sandals, the better to ride a bike most likely. Kevin rose as she mounted the final step, Vicky and Bobby following his lead. Vicky leaned back against the metal pipe railing. Nitya's eyes were on her, probably noting how her shoulder pressed against Kevin. Vicky dropped her eyes a bit.
"So," Nitya said, "what's up?" She found the short stretch of pipe railing on the left side of the slide, leaning back against it as she faced them. Her dark eyes were on Kevin.
"It's our fault," Bobby said, voice on the miserable side. Kevin looked at him, surprised, Vicky leaning over to give him a similar look. She had been about to say that. Their friend gave Nitya a rueful look. "My fault, at least, probably Vicky's, too."
"How's that?" the newcomer asked. Her stance had relaxed somewhat, whatever anger there had been leaving. Bobby sighed.
"We... well, none of us have had to deal with any of this before."
"Any of what?"
"Any of having someone say they liked one of us."
The girl blinked. Again, her eyes went to Vicky, who shrugged in agreement.
"He's right. Nobody has ever asked me out, or Bobby. Kevin is the first, and we honestly don't know how to handle it."
"I can't believe that," Nitya said, shaking her head. "I mean, you're beautiful, Vicky!"
"Maybe," she replied, smiling, "but I also hang out with two guys, so everyone assumes I'm taken. Which, well, I am, we all are, but still. I know that hasn't stopped guys from asking other girls."
"So, why did you..."
"Partly just to see what Kevin would do," Bobby said. "You know, embarrass him a bit."
"And we now know he likes you." Vicky ignored Kevin's raised eyebrow, continuing to talk as if he wasn't there. "Really likes you. Disgustingly, ickingly likes you."
"So we don't know what to do. I mean," Bobby said, "Vicky and I don't know you that well, but we like you, and anyone Kevin likes we're probably going to like just as much, once we get to know you."
"If you date him... you really have to date all of us."
"Because," Nitya said, softly, "you do everything together? Even...?"
Vicky looked around. The sun was low in the sky, they were in shadow for the most part. Nobody was watching. Turning to Kevin, she gently kissed his cheek. After a pause, Bobby kissed his other cheek. Nitya's eyes almost exploded.
"Everything," Vicky said.
****
"Everything."
The three friends sat across from her as the summer shadows lengthened. Bobby sat to the left of Kevin, Vicky to the right, their shoulders touching. Kevin... he, and them... both of them...
What did she think of that?
She had fallen for Kevin not long after her first day at this school. A few of the girls with lockers around hers had adopted her, shown her around school, the neighborhood. Invited her to sit with them at lunch. She had been with them, eating, doing much more listening than talking, when there was a commotion. A sixth grade girl had tripped, her lunch flying onto the floor. All around her laughed.
Except for one. A brown haired boy, thin, had stood up from his chair. Coming over, he helped the girl to her feet. Told her to get back in the lunch line, see if she could get something else from the lunch ladies. Smiled at the twelve year old, before retreating back to his chair, and friends.
Nitya fell in love with that smile. With the boy who had helped without thinking. She had watched him all year, silently. Her new friends, once they realized, did their best to try and hook them up, but she refused most of it. Not until the summer had she decided to accept aid. Decided to seriously go after him.
Now... now, she had him. The real him.
Her eyes went to his. Those eyes. The same eyes. The same smile. Jealous. That's what she was. Jealous of those two friends who sat next to him. She wanted Kevin. Wanted to sit by his side. Hold his hand. Kiss him. Have him hold her...
"I like you," she said, softly. "I like you, Kevin. I want to be your girlfriend." And she didn't want to share. That's what she wanted to say. Nitya did not want to share him with anyone. She was going to say it. Tell him. Tell them. Make him choose. Or just stand up and leave. Yeah. She didn't need this. It was one thing to read about this stuff in a book, line marriages and other impossible things, but she did not want...
"Nitya." Vicky's voice was almost pleading. She looked at the brown skinned girl. Vicky... had slid over, away from Kevin. There was a gap. A small gap. Room enough for a slim girl to sit, shoulders pressed against both Kevin and Vicky. Their eyes met. "Sit over here," Vicky said. "Please? Give us a chance."
A chance.
Date... all of them.
Would she? Could she?
"No."
****
Kevin watched the small teen peddle away into the darkening park. His two friends, two lovers, held both his hand. It was not possible for a third person to join their hand to his. Not possible for another to join their tribe. It was just them. Just...
"I'm sorry," Bobby sighed. Kevin felt his oldest friend squeeze his hand. Vicky did likewise. "Blame us. We should have stayed quiet. Just let you two..."
"Let us what?" Kevin frowned at his friend. "Isn't it better to know now, rather than later? I'm not leaving you two for someone, so if they can't accept you, there's no point."
Nobody else had ever said they loved him, though. Nobody had ever come to him. Asked him out.
He liked her...
****
Bobby had never hunted teen girls before.
They were a foreign species, to be sure. One he had ignored as best he could, in the few years classmates had slowly changed from nice preteens into bedazzled, big breasted creatures. Now, though, he had to enter their world. Follow their trail into the unknown, into dangers unforeseen.
Bobby was wandering the mall.
Oh, the mall, itself, was well known territory. The trio had their usual haunts, stores they'd stop in, the game store, book store, the place with the dirty cards and novelty gifts (he had no idea how the place hadn't been shut down!). However, never had he looked into the dozens of clothing stores. The places full of fake, or at least fake looking, jewelry. Those large enough to not be fully explorable from the entranceway, he actually went into. A single male, in a world of women.
God, they must think he was gay, or a pervert.
He found his prey at the opposite end of the mall from where he had entered, naturally. Six girls, classmates. Jeanie and her coven. Nitya was NOT with them. That was good, probably. Bobby didn't have to deal with her. However, the thought of WHY she might not be with her friends depressed him. With no idea, still, of what he was doing, or what he was going to say, he walked over.
Karen noticed him first, eyes widening. The redhead had formed a bit of a crush on the blond boy in sixth grade, or at least it had seemed like that to him. She had tried to be around him, very annoyingly. Whatever the reason, he had NOT been interested. Still wasn't. She said something to the others. As one, they turned from the clothing rack, as did their breasts. All wore tops which were very tight, arms and bellies bare. Jeanie frowned.
"I think you're in the wrong store."
There were giggles at that. It was true. Whatever his sexuality, this kind of gaudy stuff did nothing for him. No effeminate cross dresser was he. Still, as long as he wasn't trying to impress them...
"But I was told they had my size here."
A dozen eyes widened. Bobby smiled. Let them wonder. He looked them over.
"Nitya's not here?"
"No," Jeanie said, mouth forming a firm frown. Or pout, although it was a bit too sincere for a pout. "She's home, crying, thanks to your friend. We're going over later."
Bobby closed his eyes. Damn.
"It's my fault," he said, shaking his head. "Don't blame Kevin."
"She blames him," Tawny said, malice dripping from her voice, "so we blame him. What a jerk."
"Yeah," the others agreed. Jeanie folded her arms over her bosom.
"Poor Nitya poured her heart out to your friend, and he led her along for days before saying no! Nobody does that to our friend!"
"Yeah! He broke her heart!"
That was, definitely, one way to look at it. Probably an accurate one, applying to both Nitya and Kevin.
"Like I said, it's my fault. I need to talk to her."
"Then talk to her. Nothing's stopping you."
"Apart from not having her number, address, or knowing if she'd even listen. Yup, nothing stopping me."
Jeanie blinked. The anger in his voice seemed to have registered. The blond regarded him for a long moment.
"Come with us."
****
Bobby's dislike of girls was growing stronger.
They sat in a half circle behind him, glowering. All tan limbs and half hidden boobs. He sat on a footstool in the middle of her living room, exposed. Before him... Nitya. She sat in the middle of the leather couch, hands clenched in her lap. Jeanie was at her side, eyes hard when they fell on him, soft and supportive as they dropped to the slight teen. She had an arm around her.
"Go on," Jeanie said to him. "Talk to her. Make it right."
God. This wasn't what he wanted. This wasn't the way to help Kevin. He wished Vicky was here. She'd know what to say. Maybe he should have waited until Tuesday, when she'd be free. But that would be cutting it too close. Time was running out...
"He wants to go out with you, Nitya."
Her head bowed, eyes staying firmly in her lap. Jeanie almost growled.
"Then he shouldn't have said 'no'!"
He ignored her, focusing on Nitya.
"It's me and Vicky's fault. We didn't mean to scare you away. We... we just wanted to be honest. I'm sorry. Everything we said was true, but we want you to give him a chance. Give us a chance."
There was another sarcastic comment from behind him. To his left, he saw Nitya's younger sister and her friend watching, wide eyed. God. He wasn't helping. He was just making things worse. For all of them.
"I'm sorry, Nitya." He stood. She looked so small, sitting there. So... helpless. So...
So pretty.
Bobby took a step forward, going down to one knee on the thick carpet. Nitya looked up into his eyes, surprised. Gently, he touched her clenched hands. Her eyes widened.
"Call him. We'll back off. Just..." Words failed him. He had done his best, however bad that was. Bobby gave her hands a squeeze, releasing her as he stood. Stupid. He was so stupid...
"Wait."
Her voice was soft. He stood his ground for a moment, before dropping back down onto one knee. Nitya's head lifted. Her eyes were red.
"You love him."
"Yes."
The word came out without hesitation. Only when a half dozen female gasps came from around him did Bobby realize what he had done. Yet there was no other way that question could be answered. No other way he would EVER answer it. If this led to rumors, more, then...
Then so be it.
Nitya nodded. Her face reddened. The room was silent, all awaiting her. Bobby, unsure, reached his hand out again, placing it back on hers. Her skin was soft. Warm. Smooth.
"Jeanie," she asked, eyes not moving from Bobby, "you're still going Wednesday as well?"
"Yeah..." Her voice was unsure, now. Nitya nodded.
"Can Bobby and Vicky ride up with your family, then?"