I was nearly nineteen, and had just finished my A levels at a prestigious British private school, and a friend and I decided to go travelling for a while, to de-stress and await the results. Our families, being rather affluent, were prepared to foot most of the bill, and so the world was very much our oyster. We could have thrown a dart at the map of the world and gone anywhere we pleased. We decided on Canada and the USA. We planned to take planes and trains to different cities over the course of three months. I was very excited; I had never been to North America, and it seemed like the adventure of a lifetime. I expected to get 5 A grades, and in October I was due to start University, and would probably never be so footloose and fancy-free again.
My friend Joanna was very different to me. I was not very outgoing, but Jo was the life and soul of every party. She had had a string of boyfriends, and I had never had a serious relationship. She was single-minded, and would never hesitate to ask for what she wanted in any situation, and she usually got it. However, she had at first seemed reluctant to leave Marc, her boyfriend, behind for 3 months. Lately she seemed happy about it.
When we were planning, booking tickets and hotels, Joanna made some strange decisions about where we would stay. We could afford luxury hotels, but Jo insisted on booking some Youth Hostels and backpacker hotels.
"Why would you want to stay in a hostel?" I asked.
"So we can meet people," she replied, winking.
I did not understand. "Can't we meet people staying in a hotel?"
"Not these kind of people Steph!" giggled Jo. "Don't you want to meet some guys? Other guys, our age?"
"Of course," I said uncomfortably. I really did want to meet guys, but it made me nervous just talking about it, even with my best friend. Jo could see this, and quickly steered the conversation away.
"It'll be more interesting. And cheaper. We can spend the savings when we get back! New wardrobe for Uni, Steph!"
We helped each other shop for the trip. We packed light, as we would be carrying our things around quite a lot. We went to Boots, and I bought the usual; toothpaste, shower gel, soap, mosquito repellent and other things we'd need. Jo spent twenty minutes checking out the condoms, and bought a box of 36. I blushed and pretended to look at something else. I saw no need to pack anything of the kind, so I put it out of my mind.
Two weeks later, our families waved us off at Heathrow, and we were on our way to Miami. We did not talk much on the flight. Jo had her music and I had my crossword puzzles. However, I thought nothing of this.
I was very excited to be in America. I suppressed a giggle whenever anyone spoke to me; I loved the accents. Jo had been before, but she was loving it too. Our first day and night in Florida were rather uneventful, as we were very tired. We spent more time together the next day, but in the evening Jo went out by herself. She was heavily made up.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Just out. I won't be long. A couple of hours maybe."
I could tell by the way she spoke that she didn't want me to come along. "Okay. I'm still tired, anyway. I need to check out flights and things for Thursday."
"Cool," said Jo, and she left.
I did as I had said, and did not notice her return that night. She was there when I woke. She slept for a long time. I went out and did my own thing and met her again in the afternoon. From then on it was the same story everywhere we went; we would be together in the day, and most evenings Jo would go out. It became commonplace and I thought less and less of it. I was having a fantastic time, seeing the sights and met quite a few people here and there. However, there was a major blow when we were staying in Toronto, Canada.
I went out in the early morning to get some breakfast; Jo was still asleep. I found an art fair at the university so I was gone for about three hours. When I got back, I unlocked the door with my key, exactly as usual. I shut it behind me before I realised what was going on inside.
A tall man, with cropped, black hair, was kneeling on Jo's bed, stark naked. He was pointing he dick at Jo's mouth, and she was licking it.
"Jo!" I cried, dropping my bag.
"Steph, I-" called Jo, but she was interrupted.
"Come on over here, baby. I can handle two pussies at once!" said the man.
I turned and ran out. I was shocked. I knew what it was all about, but I had never seen an erect penis before, and certainly never seen someone licking one. I had been on a date with a guy who had stroked my breasts over my clothes, but that was it. I did not know what to do.
I wondered around Toronto all day. I eventually pulled myself together- what I had seen was adult and normal. Anyway, we would be going on to Montreal tomorrow, and we could forget all about it.
Jo was waiting when I went back.
"I'm really sorry about that."
"Okay," I said. I didn't really want an explanation.
"I knew you'd be back. I just really had to. He came to see me and I had to get fucked." She saw the look on my face. "You'll know what I mean, soon."
"What does that mean?"
"You've got to do it one day, Steph."
I looked at her blankly. I didn't like confrontation. Anyway, Jo was my friend. She was sorry. I resolved to change the subject. "So, we leave on the eleven o'clock train for Montreal tomorrow."
"About that," said Jo. "I'm not going with you."
"What?" I said in disbelief.
"I need to stay with Garth for a while. Steph, I have never felt so good as when he fucks me. It's amazing. I need more than four days of that. I might catch you up in Halifax. I'm not sure. But I need more of him. I'm sorry Steph."
That was about all the explanation I got. We spent the rest of the day apart. She was of course gone in the evening. In a way I was glad- our friendship was over, and in that case I'd rather travel alone. I decided to carry on on my own.
I arrived in Montreal the next day. I was very happy- I spoke fluent French, and thought the city very beautiful. I checked into my private room at a backpacker hostel near the centre of the city. I spent my first day riding buses and checking the place out. In the evening I sat down in the TV room and chatted with some other hostellers.
One in particular seemed keen to speak to me. He was Adam, a college freshman from California. He said he was travelling with two friends, but they were out. We talked for several hours about all sorts of things, and I went to bed in the early hours.
The next day I took a tour bus and saw a few more sights, and met Adam again in the evening. Eventually the other residents went to bed, and we were alone. He reached over and touched my hand. I recoiled a little. He smiled at me and took my hand in his.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing," I said. But secretly his very touched was sending tingling sensations through my body. He ran his hand up my arm to my shoulder and drew close to me. This was so strange to me. I had only known him for two days. He kissed me on the cheek. My body tensed.
"Relax, baby," he said. "Shall we go to my room?"