Double Bed (Karen & Alison)
After I'd been at university for about 6 months, and had settled into a routine of attending (ahem) lectures, socialising and clubs, I was in a semi-long-term relationship with Jane.
Jane had a single room in one of the accommodation blocks in Eastwood, and was a happy-go-lucky lass. However, she wasn't completely monogamous, and I one day came back early from a day when I was supposed to be parachuting, but had been rained off, only to find her in bed with someone else - her ex, no other.
Ah, well, I hadn't been 100% faithful to her either, so we decided to part ways and remain friends.
That evening, I was in the student union bar having a couple of beers (and maybe licking my wounds a bit) when Karen came over to me.
Karen lived in the same block as Jane, on the ground floor, in a double room with Alison. They both were very confident and friendly, and it was generally assumed that they were a "couple", particularly given the facts that they never seemed to have any other relationship, and their room was furnished with both a single and a double-bed.
Karen was 5'10" with short, bob-cut blond hair, and a very full figure. Alison was, by contrast, only 5'4", with short mousey-brown hair, and more boyish figure. Of the two of them, Alison was the more introverted, and it was generally assumed she was the "wife" in the relationship.
However, it was to turn out that their relationship was much more complicated than that, as I would find out.
"Hi, Adam," Karen said, as she came over," can I sit down?"
"Of course," I said, "would you like a drink?"
"Actually, it's me who wants to buy you one," she said. "What can I get you?"
"That's kind," I said, "I'll have a bottle of Newcastle, please?"
She went to the bar, and returned a few minutes later with a bottle of "dog". She sat down.
"Alison and I were sorry to hear you'd split up with Jane, but not really surprised," she said. "She wasn't really right for you - you can do a lot better."
"Thanks, Karen," I said, "I guess I was too close. I should have seen the signs. I don't think she'd ever got over Pete."
"Well, yes," she replied, "but that's not all. I have to confess that I was a bit sad when you and her started going out. I always thought
we
had a chance."
"Pardon," I said, "you and I? I didn't... I mean... You aren't... Erm... Aren't you? You and Alison, are, erm..." I stuttered."
"What, gay? A couple?" she asked, smiling.
"Well, yes," I replied.
"Well, we're bisexual, really," she said. "I'm more into men, Alison is more into women, but we swing both ways. That's why we got the double bed. We knew each other before coming here, and we were each other's first."
Wow - she was being really frank, and, I have to confess, it was turning me on a bit.
"I think that's why Jane made a move on you," she continued, "she knew I fancied you, and she wanted to punish me for flirting with Pete."
I realised that there was a lot more to the ongoing "
soap opera
" that was the female accommodation than I had suspected.
"Anyway," she went on, "I wondered if you'd come round to us tonight, as we have something to ask you?"
I must have looked a bit shocked, so she said, "no, don't flatter yourself. Not that. Just thought we could do something to take your mind off today."
"OK," I said. "Shall I finish my beer and we can go over together?"
"No, leave it a for an hour, when it gets nice and dark," she said. "Oh, and can you bring your car keys?"
Right, then it was probably a good idea if I didn't have any more to drink, then. I'd had a couple of bottles, plus the one Karen had bought me. Three might be pushing it. Still, I could get something to eat from the canteen. That should help.
"Want me to bring anything?" I asked.
"A torch if you have one," she said.
"Very mysterious, I'm intrigued," I said.
"OK," she said, looking coyly at me. "See you in about an hour. Shall we say ten-o-clock?"
"See you then," I said, wondering what was in store.
She left, and I went to the canteen. I had a quick bite to eat - something light, but substantial enough to soak up some of the booze. I then went back to my room, and got changed. I grabbed my car keys, and was at their block at just before 10 pm. I reached to ring the doorbell, but Karen was waiting and beat me to it, opening the door before I could press the button. She motioned me to be quiet, and, taking me by the hand, led me to hers and Alison's room.
She opened the door - there were no lights on, just a couple of candles flickering in the corner. Karen was in a pyjama onesie - not sexy in itself, but she filled it out nicely. Alison was sitting on the single bed wearing a light cotton dress, with her knees pulled up to her chin. She looked a quite pretty, if a little vulnerable.
"Hi, Adam," she said.
"Hi, Alison," I replied, "are you OK?"
"I will be," she said, "as will you."
"OK," I said, "really, what's happening? Why am I here? Why did I need my car keys?"
"You haven't asked him?" Alison said to Karen.
"No," she replied, "thought I'd leave it to you."
"Well, it's two favours, actually," Alison said. "I wondered if you'd give me a driving lesson. That's number one. Number two is we'd like to watch the lights over Bath from Bathampton Down. Thought we could drive up there and just relax under the stars."
"Well, we can certainly do the latter, but I can't give you a driving lesson in the dark. That's not a good idea," I answered.
"OK," said Karen, "we can just watch the lights over the city, and maybe wait until early morning, when it gets light, and then you can give Alison a lesson. What do you think, Ally?" she continued.
"Good idea, my dirty blonde," said Alison.
"Do you want to go now?" I asked.
"Let's stay here for a bit," Alison said. "We can play a game if you'd like. Then we can leave later."
"OK," I said, and kicked off my shoes. I sat down on the edge of the double-bed, "what shall we play?"
"Never Have I Ever?" suggested Karen, sitting next to me on the bed.
"For penalties?" said Alison.
"Well, it can't be drinking penalties," I said, "if I'm driving later, I've got to stay sober."
"Plus, we don't want anything messing up your performance," said Karen.
"Dirty blonde," said Alison, again.
"Do you know how to play?" Karen asked me.
"I think I can work it out," I said.
"Just put your hand up if you've done the thing," Alison said. "I'll go first," she said. "Never have I ever skipped a lecture."
I put my hand up, so did Karen. Alison looked at us both and waved an admonishing finger. "Naughty, naughty," she said.
"What's the penalty, Miss Goodie-two-shoes," Karen asked.
"You two, kiss," said Alison.
Karen reached out for me, and I leaned towards her. Our lips met I the gentlest of kisses, hesitant at first, then more confident. Her lips parted, and her tongue probed for mine. Over her shoulder, I could see Alison watching us intently. She tasted of salt and something sweet. I'd tasted that before, but I couldn't place it.
I reached out with my hand to touch Karen. "No, no touching, yet," said Alison.
Karen reluctantly pulled away from me. Her cheeks were flushed and she had a slightly far away look in her eyes.