It was Sunday afternoon at the library. Ellen, the library's director, paused to watch her young page struggle with rearranging the furniture in the new teen area. Getting things set up was hard work and it was a good thing they had come in when the library was closed. They needed the extra time and the activity would have disturbed the patrons during normal hours.
Zoe's 18 year old face was flushed with exertion. Her long, blonde, hair, carefully tied back earlier in the day, was coming loose. She was wearing jeans and a baggy flannel shirt. Ellen smiled to herself. She felt like a dirty old woman, but she was enjoying the way the jeans stretched tightly across Zoe's tight little butt when she bent over.
Something was going on with Zoe, though. She seemed preoccupied. Her normal youthful energy and enthusiasm seemed tempered somehow and her lovely eyes lacked their normal sparkle.
"Time for a break! You've been working hard, sweetie." Ellen smiled.
Zoe sighed and unbuttoned the remaining buttons on her flannel shirt, revealing a sleeveless top underneath. "I'm dying!" She pulled the shirt off and flung it on a nearby chair, then plopped down on the couch. "I think we're doing pretty good."
"I think so, too." Ellen smiled and handed Zoe one of the cold drinks she had just pulled out of the cooler. "You deserve a rest! Mind if I join you?" The teen smiled and scooted over to one side. Ellen sat down close to her. The fragrance of Zoe's body splash mingled with the scent of warm skin and a little perspiration greeted her nostrils.
They were silent as they savored the cold drinks and caught their breath. Ellen spoke first. "Are you OK, Zoe? You seem quiet today like something's on your mind."
Zoe tensed and shifted her position. "I'm OK...." she said rather unconvincingly.
Ellen allowed a long silence to follow. Then she spoke softly. "I'm not going to cross examine you, Zoe, but I'd be glad to listen if you want to talk."
Zoe made no immediate reply. Then she sucked in her breath, closed her eyes and laid her head back on the sofa. "Just guys. Sometimes I don't get them. Girls seem easier to get along with. Am I just weird or something?"
Ellen's eyes rested momentarily on Zoe's supple young breasts clearly outlined by the tightly stretched sleeveless top. She touched her shoulder lightly. "You're not weird, sweetie. It really doesn't change even when you get older."
Ellen began to gently rub the teen's shoulder. "You are really tense."
Zoe sighed. "I know. That feels good."
"Turn around a little so I can get both of your shoulders." Zoe changed her position so her back was to Ellen. Ellen continued to massage her neck and shoulders, enjoying the soft warmth of her skin. "So tell me about this guy."
Zoe finished her story. "Can you believe that? See what I mean, a girl would never do that."
Ellen paused before she replied. "You know, Zoe, you're very smart and very pretty. You deserve better. I wouldn't worry too much about him. A lot of people are like that. There's a lot of guys, and, for that matter, girls, who'd love to go out with you."
It took a moment for Ellen's statement to sink in. Zoe took a deep breath. "What do you mean, girls?
"Like you said, girls and guys and different. There's good things about going out with both." Ellen continued to massage the girl's shoulders, feeling her tense a little. "The differences are nice, actually."
Zoe was unable to control her youthful bluntness. Her eyes were wide. "Have you ever done that? I mean do you go out with guys AND GIRLS?"
Ellen smiled and spoke carefully. "Yes I have."
Her eyes rested on the young, flushed face. It was evident Zoe was dying to find out more, but having great difficulty getting the questions she wanted to ask out of her mouth. "What do you mean...uh.....I guess....I don't understand about nice and different.....oh.....I don't know what I'm saying!"
"Nice in a different way. " Ellen responded as though the teen had phrased a coherent question. She knew what Zoe wanted to know. "Girls are softer. They do things a little differently.....They smell different. They don't kiss in quite like guys do. You know most girls, wonder about it at some time or another. I really wouldn't mind talking about it some more if you like."
Zoe was hanging intently on every word. Ellen watched her young eyes. She sensed they were at a crossroads. Would Zoe open up and share her thoughts or would she get scared and pull back? It was an emotional mine field. Ellen very much wanted to earn Zoe's respect and friendship. She wished there had been an older woman to talk to her when she was that age. Ellen sensed the need to remain silent and not push Zoe into a reply.
Zoe relieved her tension by sighing then mumbling something about her hair driving her nuts. She reached behind her and released her long blonde hair. shaking her head to let it fall into place and brush her shoulders. "I like it when you rub my shoulders, They really are kind of stiff." she said softly. Ellen resumed rubbing her shoulders and they were both silent for awhile. "How can kissing be that different?" "Well, girls are usually more into kissing than guys. Their lips are softer and their skin smells different... And I think they are more gentle, too." Zoe was deep in thought. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I'd really never thought about it quite in that way." She let out her breath, the movement of air causing a couple of strands of her blonde hair to lift gently from her forehead and then fall back into place. "It's really hard for me to imagine it exactly....just talking about it, you know. " She closed her eyes. "I'm really curious about how it feels. Do you think that's a little weird."
"Of course not, sweetie. Perfectly normal. There's nothing wrong with thinking about anything you want to think about. Besides, if it's something you really want to try sometime, you'll know......and I'm sure you'll get the chance."
Zoe turned suddenly as if trying to say something quickly before she changed her mind. " Would you show me....I mean about the kissing? You're really nice and I think it would be better to do it with someone I trusted. I mean doesn't that make sense?" She looked so vulnerable. Her face was flushed and her eyes dropped to the floor.