Hey guys, here's Chapter 57! I hope you enjoy it. Comments and feedback are always appreciated! I read every single one. Also, please let me know if you spot any mistakes. I upload revisions all the time, and I will correct any errors that are pointed out to me. Just make sure to be specific so that I can find what you're talking about.
Sorry this one took so long, it's busy time for me at work. I'm using concurrent POVs again this time and I hope you like it. There are various overlaps to show what's going on and what time it is. The graduation party is a long one, but this leads right into the epilogue.
Please note that this story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real person is purely coincidental. As always, this is a world without STI's, and everyone involved in sexual activity is at least eighteen years old.
-Witty
~Marcia~
"Are you sure you're okay?" Kwan asks me for the fifth time since the incident with Hazel and her ex-boyfriend.
"I'm fine, I promise," I giggle while we sit on the grass and watch the fire.
It's dark now; most of the light coming from the fire pit, which is casting a soft glow over the area. I'm sitting next to Kwan while still wearing my white sundress with the cute pink flowers. Kwan is dressed casually, and I can't help but occasionally glance over to his handsome face. The shifting glow from the fire makes him even more attractive.
"As long as you're sure," he smiles.
"I am," I nod, brushing my dark hair back behind my ears. "It's sweet how concerned you are for me, but I'm mostly worried about Hazel."
"What that guy said and did was disgusting," Kwan says vehemently. "I'm glad she has such great friends to support her."
"Yeah, she's stuck with us," I smirk. "Whether she likes it or not."
The two of us fall silent and I take the opportunity to survey my surroundings. It's an amazing night. The moon is high in the sky and I can see a handful of stars, although most are out of sight due to light pollution. Fireflies dart around, staying a few feet above the grass. I can even hear a few crickets, although the music being played mostly drowns them out.
Tents are set up and a few people are still playing games or sitting at tables. Frank Morrow is once again at a table with his video game and I smile as I remember that day at the mall with Mom. I know Frank has a little crush on me and I think it's sweet. He's a nice guy, he just needs to learn to be social. He tends to turn red whenever a girl even looks at him. I can't imagine Frank from AP Physics taking a girl into a mall bathroom and fucking her, like Steven did with me that day.
Kwan's friend Charles is relaxing a few feet away from us with his girlfriend, Olivia from The Jewelry Box. Kyle, Lexi's brother is still flirting with Kayla's cousin Abigail while they roast marshmallows. Amanda Sawyer is sitting in a chair by the fire, enjoying the evening mostly by herself.
Josh Morris and Shannon Gardner are standing nearby. I'm happy about their apology to Hazel and Kayla. We may be done with high school, but it'll be nice to move forward with fewer grudges. The apology should also help Hazel, since she tends to get emotional and judge herself. Then lash out at the rest of us.
Kayla is talking with Lexi, Nicole, and Steven. The redheads are still in bikinis and Kayla has on a black bikini top and her jean shorts. The four of them are drinking; Steven has a beer while the girls sip on wine coolers. It looks like quite a few people are drinking now.
Kwan wraps an arm around my shoulders and I snuggle up to him as I glance over at the pool. There's enough light for me to be able to see there are still people splashing around in the water. Dan and a few other guys are in the water, along with three topless ladies: Brittney O'Connor, Emily Hawthorne, and Jennifer Rhodes. I can't blame the guys, even I spend a couple minutes watching the wet, bouncing boobies.
"Having fun?" Charles asks as he and Olivia approach, sitting down with us.
"Yeah, definitely," Kwan nods as Josh Morris and Shannon walk by us and disappear from view. "You?"
"Yes!" Olivia breathes. "It's not every day you get to party at a billionaire's mansion."
"Steven's not THAT rich," I giggle. "But, yeah, this house is amazing!"
"You've known Kayla for a long time, right?" Charles questions. "Have you been coming here since you were a kid?"
"Yeah, Kayla, Hazel, Ashley, and I have been friends for years," I answer. "I think we were six or seven when Kayla's parents bought this place."
"That must have been a fun time," Olivia comments, wrapping her arms around her legs as she rests her chin on her knees.
"It was," I smile at the memories. "The entire mansion was completely empty at first. They only had a bit of furniture from a much smaller place, so even after moving in most of the rooms were empty."
"That sounds creepy," Olivia laughs.
"No way!" I shake my head. "We ran around the huge house, slid around on the floors. It was amazing for hide-and-seek. I remember Ashley won a game because she ran out of the house and hid in the storage shed."
"That one?" Charles asks, gesturing toward the huge storage shed on the other side of the yard. "That's more like another house!"
"Yeah, that one," I confirm with a nod. "It pretty much is a house. Windows, electricity, rooms. It could probably be converted to a house. We used it as a clubhouse for awhile."
"That sounds like a better clubhouse than the fort my friends and I built in my backyard," Kwan smirks, squeezing my shoulder affectionately.
"We had a lot of fun games," I tell them. "In one of them, we divided the shed into sections. We were each the queen of our own section and went to war with each other."
"I thought only little boys played war games," Charles laughs. "Damn, that's great."
"Little girls are way more vicious," I inform the guy. "Ashley and Hazel are hair-pullers and Kayla bites."
"She's right," Olivia agrees. "My cousin broke my nose when we were pretending to be ninjas."
"That's hilarious," Kwan laughs.
"It wasn't all fighting, we did like to play with dolls as well," I admit. "Ashley made hers capes so they'd be superheroes. Their cover was they were professional models by day, so it was slightly girly. My dolls had families."
"Mine went on exotic vacations," Olivia giggles. "I remember I had surfboards for all of them and used to pretend they were in Hawaii. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii."
"You'd look great in a grass skirt and a coconut bra," Charles husks.
"Down boy," Olivia smirks, playfully swatting her boyfriend's chest.
The four of us continue telling stories about our childhood hobbies. They laugh when I tell them about Steven paying for we girls to take horseback riding lessons and I end up being terrified of the horse. In my defense, horses are big! I also tell them a funny ice-skating story where I land on my butt and slide halfway across the rink.
I'm still the quiet girl, and I think I always will be. Still, it's not hard talking to these people. They're nice and I feel safe. I glance over at Steven and notice that Lexi and Nicole are both hanging off of him. Although, I'm surprised to realize that Kayla isn't there anymore. Seeing Steven with his two redheads distracts me from worrying much about Kayla. I am in love with Steven. The father of one of my childhood friends. He's so kind and handsome and I feel so much chemistry with him. I understand why Lexi wants all of us to be with Steven. All of us together forever. It's an alluring idea.
But, I also want someone who can make me his number one priority. I don't necessarily need monogamy, especially since I know I can never stop making love with my Slut-sisters. Or Steven. I just love the idea of being the center of someone's world. Of being with a guy whose heart skips a beat when he hears my name. Is that Kwan? I don't know. Shawn and I didn't work out, and I'm still a little hesitant to open myself up to this guy.
Kwan gets us drinks, with Charles opting for soda because he's driving tonight. I'm intrigued that Kwan has a beer, is he definitely planning on staying over? I remember how nice of a guy he was when things were moving too fast in that changing stall; he's not expecting sex. Hoping for it, maybe. But not expecting it.
Sipping on my drink, I notice Shannon Gardner and Josh Morris leave the house, now dressed in swim suits. Brittney, Emily, and Jennifer scream from the pool for Shannon to take her top off. Josh, Dan, and the few other guys in the pool all express their agreement.
Giggling cutely, Shannon shyly removes her top while blushing before crossing her arms over her chest. The cheering encourages her to lower her arms and expose herself. Josh and Shannon then jump in the pool. There are now four topless cheerleaders frolicking in the water. What I like the most is that the four girls can still be close again, even after previous drama. Letting go of grudges, forgiving each other. We're all growing up.
"It must have been lonely with only two people living in this giant house," Charles observes at one point. "They probably loved having you girls over."
"We spent so much time there," I respond, a tinge of sadness in my voice. "It wasn't long after they moved in that Kayla's mom died."
"Can I ask how she passed?" Olivia inquires gently.
"Brain tumor," I answer simply. "Her mom was having headaches and they went to the hospital. Doctors tried to remove it, but they couldn't save her. Kayla and Steven were a wreck."
"Of course they were," Kwan nods in sympathy.
"My parents always thought Kayla was gonna have more siblings. A lot more. Which was why they got a house with all these bedrooms," I continue. "I only found out later that they were planning to adopt because Kayla's mom had a tough pregnancy with her. Then she died and Steven's heart broke."
"Shit, that's horrible," Olivia sighs. "He seems like such a great guy. I hope the age thing doesn't cause problems with him and Lexi. Or him and Nicole."
"I don't think it will," I shake my head. "They really love each other."
"Plus, he gets to tell everyone he bagged sisters," Charles smirks, causing Olivia to smack him on the shoulder.
"Lexi has been quite the addition to our group," I giggle.
"She's, ah, definitely one-of-a-kind," Kwan nods at the redhead.
Lexi is still in her light-blue bikini and is currently standing behind her sister, pantomiming fucking her from behind. Steven is laughing uproariously while Nicole is turning red. Placing her hand on Nicole's shoulder, Lexi encourages the older redhead to bend forward, imitating doggystyle. Lexi then pretends to spank Nicole's ass. Nicole starts laughing, gasping in surprise when Lexi grabs the back of her forest green bikini bottoms and yanks them up.
"She is," I agree.
