End of January. The quarter was moving way too quickly. Kathy and I each knowing that the middle of March would be here soon. We tried to bury that fact in the back of our minds.
It was cold, even for southern Illinois. The three of us would meet in the Library every night, find a quiet corner away from others so I could help Valerie on her two problem classes. She was doing good, bordering on a 'B'. She was happy.
During a break in the studying, I had a thought.
"Val. Remember last winter when we organized a pool volleyball night, at the university's swimming, pool with some of the girls from your floor and guys from my dorm?"
"Yeah. That was fun."
Kathy looked at us like she didn't know what we were talking about. I explained the whole open pool thing.
"I never knew about that. It sounds like fun. Especially now in the cold. A nice warm pool, even if it does smell like chlorine."
"Yeah. For some reason, it's not well known."
Looking at Valerie first, "Do you think Marsha and Terri would be interested?"
Then Kathy, as I asked, "What about Alex? Maybe others on your floor? I'm sure my two roommates would be interested."
Valerie chuckled and grinned, "You just was to see a bunch of girls in bikinis."
I looked back, grinning, "And your point is."
Shaking her head, "Guys are all pigs. You show em a little skin and they're like putty in your hand."
"Well, there would only be two that I would be imagining topless," Recalling images of a topless sunbathing afternoon.
Valerie recalling that afternoon, "That was fun," sighing, "I don't know if I'll ever be able to experience that again."
Kathy looked over at me and gave a coy grin. We each had the same thought... once we get settled... check out a nudist resort... then see if Valerie would be interested in expanding her topless experience.
...................................
The roommates were all on board. Kathy got a couple of other girls that were interested. Boomer and Ken were into it too, especially at the mention that Alex and Valerie were going to be there. Ken remembered the time us guys at the dorm went to the pool from last year. It was news to Boomer. Boomer called some of his friends and got more interested... mostly guys, but a couple of girls. It was going to be quite a group.
It was quite a mixture. All just average guys and gals. I do have to admit... Kathy, Valerie, Alex, and Terri stood out. All the girls wore two piece. Some modest. Some smaller and sexy. Marsha had the biggest boobs, with a lot of 'boob flesh' spilling over her top. Kathy wore the modest two piece that I had first seen her in the previous summer. When I saw her, she whispered in my ear, "The red bikini is for your eyes only," as she kissed my cheek.
I had Valerie on one side of me and Kathy on the other as we formed teams. Ken and Boomer were on our team as were Alex and Terri.
It was fun. I would occasionally lift Kathy by her waist up to take a swing at a high ball over the net. I would do the same with Valeri and Alex. My trailer mates took notice of the physical contact I made with all three. Kathy, they weren't surprised. But when I did the same thing to Valerie and Alex they each were a bit surprised. I didn't care.
After volleyball, there were games of 'chicken fights'. Girls on the shoulder of guys trying to knock each other over. What made the whole thing fun, was that none of the girls were worried about getting their hair wet, or makeup messed up. I mean they were in a pool.
They chased us out of the pool at 9:00. Boomer's friends thanked us for letting them join us as did Kathy's floor friends and they headed back. We hung back in the warmth of the lobby, deciding what to do with the rest of the evening. It was either the girl's apartment or our trailer. The girls were more comfortable at their place.
After driving to the liquor store... Boomer, Alex, Ken, and Valerie in Boomer's car, the rest with me, we returned to the girl's apartment. They all disappeared for a bit to do girls stuff... dry hair... touchup makeup... more comfortable clothes.
It was us guys in the kitchen area sucking on some beers.
"I can't believe how comfortable Valerie and Alex were with you picking them up around the waist. I mean you have Kathy. And she was fine with it. She even seemed to enjoy watching you guys," Boomer quietly said.
"Yeah. I can't imagine Jess putting up with that, if she was still around," Ken added.
"Yeah. I've got Kathy. You both know that I'm leaving at the end of the quarter, but will be back for the graduation ceremony," they both nodded. "What I haven't told you, is that soon after graduation, Kathy will be coming up north... we'll be living together."
They both looked at me in surprise. As I went on.
"Valerie and I have a special friendship, since the beginning of last year. Kathy knows that, and is fine with it. They're friends too. Staying over at Kathy's room sometimes has brought a bit of familiarity between Alex and myself. Again, Kathy's fine with that also."
"Living together. What do yours and her parents think about that?"
"Mine aren't nuts about it, but know we would do it anyway. They're already referring to Kathy as their future daughter-in-law. Hers are OK, knowing that I will be their future son-in-law."
"Wow. You guys really have a future planned out."
"Not really. Just some basics. Hey Boomer. We might even be close to you."
Just then the girls returned. Hair all dry. New makeup. Comfy clothes. No bras (it wasn't real noticeable, but if you were to look real close you could tell). Again, Boomer and Ken were amazed at the girls comfort level.
It was fun. We alternated between just hanging out. I saw Alex and Boomer doing a slow dance. Ken and Valerie hung out. The four of them getting into a game of Hearts. Kathy and I hung out with the rest of the girls.
Kathy again spent the night in my warm bed. Each of us basking in the afterglow. Each of us warmed by the closeness and love we shared. Who needs pajamas?
......................................
Second week in February, Valerie and Kathy were meeting for their mid-week get-together at the Student Center. Even though they saw each other during our study time, this was their alone time... 'girl talk' time.
Kathy noticed that Valerie acted like there was something on her mind. She knew that Valerie and Ken had started seeing each other and wondered if there was something she needed to talk about.
"Kath. Remember that art class I took last year? The one that I drew Bill?"
"Yeah. You want to use him again?" she grinned.
"Well, kind of."
"What do you mean, 'kind of'?"
"Well, we're still drawing nudes. I've gone to all the labs, so that isn't a problem. The topic for the last few classes and latest assignment has me wondering," Kathy kept quiet as she let her friend gather her thoughts.
"We've been studying how to bring emotion and passion into our sketches. The models that have been at the lab have been couples. The problem is... there's no emotion between them, in my opinion. How can you draw something when it's not there?"
"Have you talked about this with your instructor? I mean, I'm sure others in your class have noticed the same thing."
"Actually, I think I'm the only one with this problem. I've talked to him, and he just says that since nobody else has expressed the same concern that it must be me, as he hasn't noticed it between the models. I mean, I watch the couples, looking for a spark... a look, letting me know they're into each other. They embrace. They kiss. But there's nothing. I think they are just two random people, and not boyfriend and girlfriend. When they separate, the guy's not even hard. What does that tell you?"
"That they're not boyfriend and girlfriend. Val, are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting...? That Bill and I pose for you like we're making love?"
Valerie looks at her friend with a soft, "Yeah. I mean. I've never seen two people so in love."
