*Standing up for what you believe in may hurt now; not making a stand hurts forever*

(Friday Night)

On Friday night we buried Goslin, our major competition for Conference Champions. Our two running backs scored more than I did, but I could have cared less; it was a big win. At the end I even had some Goslin players pick me up and tell me what a good game I played. When asked about our toughest game though, I told the reporter that it had been Hoover, the smallest school, because they never quit; never stopped giving a 110%.

Our win was also big for another reason; Blair was back for the game. He couldn't play, but he could make commentary and I tried to be polite enough to listen. He clearly despised me and I worried just a bit about what he said on the sidelines when I was playing. At the after party, Blair drank too much and got a bit pissy, but I ended up being thankful because his poor sportsmanship helped me become more solid with the undecided teammates.

Had it not been for the obvious cock-block, I might not have noticed that Amber was with my little cliché of hotties (technically Jamie's little cliché). Her BF, Jack Rollins had gotten hurt on one of the last downs and had to miss the party. Amber was nice; she'd been Emily's friend since the eighth grade, so there was some mutual tolerance between her, Jamie and me.

(Saturday Afternoon)

You would think that in the days of instant communications that people would be more mindful of what they did a little more, especially with camera phones, audio recordings, and text messaging. I received the call shortly before two in the afternoon from Emily that I had to get to her place ASAP. I grabbed Jamie along the way and we're ushered into Emily's family's home. I was the QB -- which appeared to be an all-access pass to any high school girl's bedroom. What was wrong with these people?

Jamie went to Amber while Emily came to me. We had a pretend kiss which had a little more heat than I was used to which made me suspicious. Amber looked like she'd a rough morning. She was whispering with Jamie while Emily pulled me aside and showed me some pics with Jack and some girl I barely knew. They seemed to be having a good time.

About pic five I saw that they were having too good a time. She was in too few clothes, and too drunk, for this to be a situation that ended well. Apparently she was too far gone to get any more pics out after that, but she'd woken up a few hours ago thinking that she and Jack were an item and was texting that to everyone she could think of. I could have heard that train wreck from the next county over.

Right after we got there the counter-text campaign began. Jack was claiming that Gina Orwell was some skank he'd met while buying some beer and she's been all over him. He apologized to Amber and threatened Gina if she didn't quit her delusional attacks and got over herself. How a person with the sole talent of being able to throw a stupid football more than ten yards was supposed to handle this emotional minefield was beyond me.

I started at the beginning (for me):

"Amber, do you want Jack back?" Amber looked at me confused and distraught.

"What do I do?" she muttered.

"Tell the asshole he blew his chance with you," Jamie insisted. "You have friends. Finding another guy to date shouldn't be too hard."

"This close to Homecoming?" Amber all but wailed.

"We'll let you have Craig," Emily promised which surprised the hell out of me. Was I consulted on this major social upheaval -- No.

"Sure," Jamie agreed. "Emily and I will go as a couple." Jamie hid her smirk well.

Amber looked over at me hopefully, "I wouldn't want to get in the way of anything," she protested. I knew what came next. I stepped up and took Amber by her hands and looked into her eyes.

"Amber, would you like to go to Homecoming with me?" Amber looked totally taken off guard.

"I must look like a total mess," she evaded. Her gaze when to Emily's who nodded. Jamie nodded too.

"Okay," Amber said.

"It will be just you and I, unless you have some friends you would like to bring along," I hinted. Amber smiled for the first time I'd seen today. One I got over the attractiveness of Amber's smile did it dawn on me how much I would be on the hit list of every other heterosexual male who didn't have a date to Homecoming (and maybe a few that did). If it mattered at all, I could reconcile myself with the knowledge that Amber was the friend of a friend and nothing more.

(Monday)

Remember what I said about instant communication? By the time I walked in the doors with Emily and Jamie I was back to 'Who is this guy?' Even my scholastic friend didn't know what to make of my latest social blunder. Jack Rollins knew what to do though.

"Craig, what the fuck are you doing?" he snapped at me in the hallway before first period.

"Going to class," was my hopeful reply.

"What the hell are you doing with Amber? Aren't Emily and Jamie enough for you?" he was positively growling now. I was wondering how to best put this.

"Clearly not, besides "... and he shoved me. I rocked into several people and I was suddenly glad Jack hadn't brought an army.

"Jack, Amber dumped you because of those photos," I said as I evaded his next rush, "and I wasn't going with anyone, and she was right there ... and it sort of happened. Can we still be friends?" Wasn't 'can we still be friends' the kiss of death for a relationship?

"Fuck off!" he snarled then stormed off through the crowd. To my classmates credit they all didn't look away like nothing had happened. Some had real sympathy, but I wasn't sure for whom.

(Lunch)

It was all over the school by the time I joined my (now three) ladies. Jack had aimed at getting even with me and Amber and had made the next obvious move. He'd asked Emily to Homecoming, figuring that I'd burned her the way he'd been burned. Emily had been very sweet and polite, but insisted she already had a date.

Jamie had been next his target. She'd been less diplomatic. Jack had made the mistake of making a public display of allowing her to go to Homecoming with him. Jamie had giggled in his face then informed him that she was going with Emily ... plus Amber and me. After that emasculation no girl wanted to touch him.

Jack hadn't been my enemy before this, but he quickly gravitated to Blair's circle. Some of my allies made a point of coming over and talking to me and Amber, giving some good-natured ribbing. In my favor, the Cheer Squad was completely behind me (and Emily and Amber); my geek buddies basked in the peripheral coolness; so I could deal with two pissed off jocks.

(Saturday -- Homecoming)

Our Homecoming game had been against Columbia Creek. They were at the bottom half of the league so they didn't give us too much trouble. They played a fair game so we didn't run up the score. It turned out that our game didn't matter too much because on the same night Panther Hill lost their Homecoming to little Hoover. Consider how rough a game Panther Hill had played with us, we could only cheer Hoover on with all our hearts.

What placed all that back to the corner of my mind was how good Amber looked when I came by to pick her. Jack was an idiot for stepping out on this girl. Her look of uncertainty was tender when she came into the den where I sat with her mother father and little sister. She really didn't know me and now I was in charge of one of the two most important days of her High School life. I had no idea what we would do for Prom.

"Wow," declared as I stood up. "You look stunning." Amber gave a relieved smile then moved to her mother and gave the woman a hug.

"I want you back by eleven," the father instructed me.

"Father!" Amber gasped.

"Mr. Trenton (Amber's last name), I was thinking we would stay out until one, but I promise you we'll be with Emily the entire time," I countered. He measured me and my intentions. I was somewhat pleased he wasn't giving me a box of condoms and a hotel room key.

"Very well, Mr. Dawkins," he nodded. "It is an important night and we trust Emily."

He didn't trust me, but as hot as Amber was looking, I didn't totally trust me either. I took her to my car; got her to her side and she rewarded me with another smile. Once we are headed to the dance Amber turns to me.

"Thank you," she told me.

"Sure; no problem. What are you thanking me for?"

"I know that you would rather be going with Emily and Jamie," she offered.

"Amber?"

"Yes?" she answered.

"I want to be going to the party with you. I'm not saying I was ready to do this a week ago, but I'm certainly happy that I'm doing it now. You look fantastic and in the week I've got to know you I'm sure we are going to a great time," I informed her. She didn't give me an audible answer but did reach across the seat and held my hand.

I was a little late so we had to park farther from the banquet hall and with storm clouds over head I was really worried about the possibility of rain. We got to the dance okay and we hadn't been inside when we were jumped by Emily and Jamie. Emily looked absolutely perfect with the right mix of sensual and demur.

Jamie made me gasp. The girl wore a black silk and lace number that reminded me of the twisted not-so-little girl I'd been attracted to initially. Her cover story was that she was the 'male' in the Emily-Jamie couple. I may have been the only other person who appreciated the joke. What I did get was the obvious attention of three women. I made a point of keeping Amber in the dominant position. Emily had taught me well.

Several of my football friends came over and asked Emily and Amber to dance. Jamie responded by asking several of their dates to dance -- all in the name of comedy of course. Jamie got away with so much crap, doing close dances and even dipping some of her partners. When Emily and I joined in the fun -- why I got the pleasure of dancing with one of my own lineman I'll never know -- and we got Amber to join in as well.

Before long odd partner swaps become the thing to do, not that there was anything home-erotic about it at all (right). By the time we left around ten I had to tease Jamie for bringing about the moral decay of Middle America. Jamie declared it was about time. Initially Amber and I thought we'd go to the local hang out to see and be seen but Emily told us she felt a bit nauseous and convinced us to go by her place.

By some miracle of pre-sentience Emily had informed her dad that I would be taking her home, so I was left packing up all three girls and going to Emily's. Emily's dad was up and he was pleased as hell to see me with his daughter, even if it was with friends. We climbed up the stairs to Emily's room and when we got the door shut Emily and Jamie fell onto the bed giggling like, well, school girls.

"Do we need to be going now?" I suggested. I really wasn't sure how much Amber was willing to digest. Play-acting at Homecoming was one thing, but this could be very different.

"Don't you dare," Jamie declared. She began wiggling out of her dress. I wasn't counting on the fact that Amber had seen girls disrobe hundreds of times so she took Jamie's actions in stride.

This gave me the time to appreciate some of the purchases we had been making for Jamie. What can I say; Jamie likes things slender, black, and lacy. I had about as much as I could take when Emily started taking off her dress as well. Why her parents allowed her to own baby-blue sheer underwear was beyond me.

"I'm going to put on some jeans and a t-shirt Amber. I have some of your clothes here if you want to change as well," Emily stated innocently. I could barely detect the undercurrent of nervousness.

"I ... Craig," Amber stuttered.

"I'll step outside," I offered.

"Oh Amber," Emily teased, "you two are dating now. It is okay." Amber stole an embarrassed look my way and all I could think of was how I promised her dad that I would keep us in Emily's company.

"Okay," Amber responded hesitantly. I turned away so that I could only get a side view of Amber. I quickly figured out that she knew what I was doing but was performing anyway. As I waited Emily handed Amber some clothes then she and Jamie proceeded to get dressed themselves.

"Well?" Amber said to me, sticking her chest out suggestively, even if only to tease. I reached out and ran my finger from her ear to chin.

"Very hot," I grinned. All three girls smile.

"What about you?" Jamie said accusingly. I looked confused until Emily pulled off her comforter and revealed a t-shirt, jeans, and shoes for me.

My first thought was how in the hell did Jamie get my stuff then I realized she knew the way into my room by way of the window, that tricky witch.

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about," Emily prodded.

"Fair is fair," Jamie added. I looked to Amber for some release but she seemed overcome by events.

"Fine," I conceded, "but turn your backs while I change." The three girls all exchanged looks.

"Of course we will," Jamie assured me. I started to change and I caught all three girls pulling the same stunt I'd pulled with Amber. I felt horribly naked yet I'd been unclothed with two with these women before.

"Very nice," Amber congratulated me. I looked down into her face, searching for some level of surrender, and when I found it I kissed her. She kissed back cautiously.

"He's a stud," Jamie joked, "he's more than the two of us can handle, and he tries to make us happy. What more could a girl want?"

Amber looked amused then laughed out loud. Emily stepped up and hooked my arm.

"Craig's a sweet guy," Emily reassured Amber.

"Sweet tasting guy," Jamie giggled. I did my best to look mortified.

"Oh," Amber said in a way that could be taking well or poorly. To clarify for me, Amber came up and took my other arm.

With both arms pinned Jamie came up and stroked my chest.

"Just so we are clear, we aren't going to have a three-way tonight," she taunted. I moaned and Amber gasped.

"Craig I want to make it clear. I'm not that kind of girl," Amber clarified.

"What? You aren't going to torture me with sexual innuendo, skimpy clothing, and provide a false sense of masculine accomplishment?" I responded teasingly. Amber put her hand beside Jamie's.

"No, I'm not going to lick you from eyelids to toes and give you a blowjob that will leave you blinded with pleasure on the first date," she falsely panted.

"Excuse me, I think I have to go to the bathroom," I groaned. The three girls ignored my needs and led me out of the house after that. After I put Jamie and Emily in the back seat I was putting Amber in the front when she turned and kissed me on the cheek.

"Thank you for being so nice to me. You really are a fun guy." What could I say? At least she didn't call me nice.

(Later That Evening)

We were one of dozen couples at the Waffle Shack when Blair and a few of the football players came in. Blair and another guy, Ned, pulled up some chairs and helped themselves to our table.

"So tell me Craig, who gets to be on top?" he snickered. He'd been drinking more than was safe for someone of his average mental capacity.

"Blair," Emily pleaded.

"Shut up!" Blair snapped.

"Watch yourself Blair. I'd hate to have to put you back in the hospital," I said blithely. "Besides, you know what a screamer Emily is," I taunted the closet homosexual who had once been Emily's faux-boyfriend.

"Bastard," Blair growled.

"If you must know," Jamie grinned pleasantly, "I get to be on top and Emily sits on his face." Emily blushed furiously. Ned openly gawked and Blair sputtered. Amber nestled in closer to me seeking some level of comfort and stability. I put an arm around her.

"Now you are trying to nail another one," Blair observed. "At least Jack loosened her up for you."

"Excuse me," I told the ladies as I stepped up. Ned stood up to meet me.

"Ned I don't have a problem with you," I managed at which point he clobbered me. I was lying on the ground when the first foot hit my guts. I was trying to curl up into a ball and defend myself when I heard Jamie screaming furiously. Something got Ned off of me.

I was struggling to my feet when Ned threw Amber down on me. We splayed out on the ground. I could now here Blair screaming for Ned then Jamie squawked.

"God damn it!" the cook hollered. I used the confusion to get up and pulled Amber with and behind me.

Ned had Jamie back pressed painfully over the table. Emily hauled off and slapped him while her face was streaked with tears. I was getting ready to fling myself at Ned when I heard the cook shout again.

"That's enough. Let go of the girl and get the hell out of here," he directed to Blair and Ned brandishing a hot skillet. Emily, Jamie and I were pretty regular here.

Ned let Jamie go and backed away. Blair got on his crutches and when I saw his face he'd clearly been mangled by some fingernails. Only when the door shut behind those two did I allow myself to sit back down.

"Okay, what in the hell just happened?" I asked.

"I think Amber saved your ass," Jamie wheezed.

"Jamie attacked Blair," Emily added.

"Amber, you attacked Ned? He's twice your size," I wondered.

"You ... you are my date," she sounded embarrassed.

"Remind me to never piss you off," I said as I stroked her cheek.

"Amber, I'm proud of you," Emily added as she reached across the table and squeezed Amber's hand.

"What about me?" Jamie pouted.

"Jamie, we already knew you were crazy," I grinned to which Jamie responded by sticking out her tongue.

"How about we call it a night gang?" Jamie suggested. I had to nod. "We can go back to Emily's, get our clothes and head home." We gathered ourselves up and made the trek. Jamie and Emily didn't hesitate to give me more in the way of kisses than I normally got or deserved. Amber didn't only kiss me at the door; she ran her hands over my chest and thanked me for a wonderful night. Getting my ass kicked didn't turn out to be all that bad after all.

(Next Saturday)

By the next Monday everyone at school knew that Ned kicked me to the ground. What happened was a Cold War between my friends on the team and Blair's. The coach gave a pep talk that laid the blame fully on 'people that reach beyond themselves' which I took to be me. To my friends credit they saw through the bull crap.

Friday we fought a tough game against Panther Hill again. This time the outcome was never in doubt. For the second half we stayed two touchdowns up and I had to feel pretty happy how the team pulled together. I put in only the briefest appearance with Emily and Jamie before making our exit from the victory celebration.

On Saturday I promised to make it up to Amber. We went to the local place to be seen and acted like a real couple which seemed to make her happy. We were into some heavy petting in my car when Amber pulled away with a very serious look in her eyes.

"Emily is my best friend Craig. I'd never hurt her."

How does one say that my two girlfriends are probably doing the exact same thing in Jamie's basement that we are doing right now?

"Amber, if you don't feel comfortable about this I can take you home or we can go see what Emily is doing and just hang out there," I told her. That gives her a second's pause then she reaches across the car seat and starts kissing me again.

I have my hand inside the sweater and shirt but outside the bra when the phone rang. I groaned because I was really starting to believe Amber puts out on the second date and there all kinds of little tricks I'd learned with Jamie that I've been dying to try out on another girl. It was Emily with a 911. Seconds later I get the same from Jamie.

I didn't burn any red lights, but I didn't' dawdle either getting to Jamie's. I was in the 'Man Cave' within seconds and Jamie was shoving a phone in my face. What I saw filled me with a cold rage. Jack and some of his buddies were making Gina Orwell pull a 'train'. The girl was clearly distraught and teary-eyed, but Jack was egging her on so she submitted. Only when the last guy has come on her body did Jack grab her by the face, tell her what a whore she was, and walked away did Gina fall to pieces.

No one had to coach me on what to do this time. I called Quantrill, my favorite wide-receiver and told him to gather up six guys. We had something to do. Emily insisted we have to find Gina first so I had the guys gather up and meet with me later. Tracking her down required us to travel from the back of the bar where she was jumped down the road to her little home on the wrong side of the tracks.

She was staggering home when we found her. She looked like hell. Her blouse had been torn so that here are no buttons left and her bra had been torn and mangled to the point it was useless. He skirt was a mess, according to the video her panties have been torn off, and her hose were torn. Her torso, face, hair and back were spackled with jism and it was sticking to what clothes she did have. In essence, she'd been humiliated again by being forced her to walk back home like this.

Her initial reaction to my approach was fearful. She knew my car and made the assumption that some of us jocks had come back for seconds. Amber, Emily, and Jamie had to pour out to the car to convince her that we were here to help. The presence Amber elicited was its own kind of fear until she grabbed the tearful Gina and pulled her close. Amber, Gina, and Emily piled into the back seat. Gina was mumbling about her clothes and Emily was promising to her new stuff. Jamie was a lot more succinct.

"Kill the bastard," she commanded me. I really didn't need the encouragement, but nodded to Jamie anyway. I dropped everyone off at Jamie's and she told me she was going to use her dad's car to pick us some stuff for Gina. I rendezvoused with my teammates after that. One of our guys has found Jack on the porch with three of his buddies, which is providence because I would have hated to having to hunt them down one at a time all night.

There was no preamble to the fight. No one said something macho. Jack and his buddies knew why we are there and my buddies knew these assholes were a stain on our team's honor. We slammed into them like a merciless wave. There was a reason I brought so many guys. I'd never intended this to be a fair fight. You earn fair fights. This is a lesson and we proceed to administer it with a vengeance.

We were polite enough to be waiting on the police when they arrived. This was not something I'd be running away from and my buddies stuck it out with me. We even helped the cop pile Jack and his bloodied buddies in the squad car and followed him to the station. This was a time when I proved that being the QB was worth something; we all showed up to face the music.

They called the Chief in, showed him the video Jack and his buddies took of Gina and were let off with a warning about disturbing the peace. I heard him saying something about 'boys being boys' before he dispatched Jack and his cronies to the clinic. Gina deserved more but in this town I figured this was what she's going to get. For the first time at school I'd laid down the law and wonder of wonders, people listened.

I sneaked into Jamie's place around four in the morning. She's left the door unlocked so I assumed I was welcome. I tried to be quiet but Jamie stirred when I came in. She was snuggled up to Amber on the sofa. Emily had her arms around Gina on sleeping bags on the floor. Soon all the girls were staring at me.

"We put Jack and his buddies in the hospital. The police have been dealt with. Gina, I sorry, but I doubt the cops are going to look into this further," I informed her.

Amber, Emily, and Jamie exchange a glance then kind of sneak looks to Gina.

"Why?"

"Essentially I think the cops are spineless," I responded.

"No," she clarified, "why did you do it?"

"Gina no one deserves to be treated like that, especially if they hide behind the name of my team. Would you rather I had not done it?" Gina seemed to think that over.

"I'm ruined in school now," she sobbed, "No one will want to touch me, much less go out with me." Sadly I knew that is not the truth. Anyone seeking an easy score would take Gina on a date, give her a few beers and expect her to put out. After all, she fucked four guys at the same time, right? What could I say?

"Gina, you are welcome at my table anytime," I offered.

"Sure, we would be happy to have you," Emily, the Queen, assured her.

"Of course. We both think Jack is a total douche. That has to count for something," Amber added.

Gina hugged herself into Emily's blossomy embrace. Emily shot me an awkward look that I'm willing to bet has more to do with arousal than anything else. We both knew how horribly inappropriate coming on to such a vulnerable girl would be. Amber being in the room made it all that much more impossible.

"Well, I thought you deserved to know," I told the girls as I turned to leave.

"Come back here and sit on the sofa," Jamie instructed me. I went to sit beside her in the corner when she scooted aside and left the space between Amber and Jamie the only place to settle into. I put my ass down, sliding a bit into the seat and was tandem attacked by both woman. The put their heads on my shoulders and proceeded to go back to sleep. Emily got up and cut the light off before joining Gina back on the floor.

(Sunday)

I woke up to see Gina stretching as she sat on the floor, arms reaching toward the ceiling. She saw me looking at her and immediately blushed and looked away. I caught Emily looking over her shoulder at me. She'd been watching the show too. Gina had on a Nightwish t-shirt that was a little tight around the breasts and gym sweats which didn't do too much to hide her figure.

Gina went down on one elbow and looked Emily in her large blue eyes.

"Last night really happened didn't it?" Gina asked.

"Yes, but we've been trying to make it better," Emily answered. Gina then surprised both Emily and I being crossing the distance and kissing Emily on the lips.

"That's for not letting me be alone," Gina whispered. Emily nodded. Gina looked up at me, "Where you serious about letting sit at your table?" Before I could respond, Jamie piped in.

"Of course he was serious," she yawned.

"Woman, for the love of God, let me answer my own damn questions," I elbowed Jamie. To Gina, "I would be honored if you would, after all the crap my teammates put your through, spend some time with me in and out of school."

"You don't think ..." Gina began close to tears.

"I think you are pretty and tough," I finished for her.

"If he tries to have sex with you he'll have to go through me," Jamie declared.

"And me," Amber chimed in. Where the hell did that come from?

"And me too," Emily added a moment slower.

"Wow, I always thought you guys were so stuck up," Gina wondered.

"What me; stuck up?" Jamie faux-gasped.

"Actually no," Gina responded. "I kind of thought you were crazy."

I had to laugh. For some reason both Amber and Jamie decided to elbow me at the same time. With this kind of synergy I should put these girls on the team.

"Amber, um, aren't you angry about Jack and me and all the stuff I did?" Gina worried.

"I think I traded up," Amber corrected her. Now I was a used car ... who still wasn't going to get any sex anytime soon.

"I think we need to go out and be seen together," Emily announced, "after church that is." I groaned which Gina took the wrong way.

"Don't worry about Craig," Jamie smiled, "he's just watching his chances of sex going down the tubes for today." With that last addendum she patted my arm compassionately.

After that, Amber, Emily and I went off to get ready for our Sunday ritual. Jamie and Gina would remain behind. I told Jamie to behave to which she gave me the 'who me?' expression. I couldn't get through the service fast enough and I was relieved to find Emily and Amber were waiting for me to pick them up for 'studying', or so the cover story went. We picked up Gina, took he by her place to check in with her mother and get her school stuff, we gathered back at Jamie's.

What Gina found to be the oddest part (to date) of our little troupe was that we actually studied and did our homework. Gina's horizons had always been limited to some low-paying job around town. The rest of us were aiming for college, but Emily didn't miss a beat drawing Gina in. Emily had this magic when it came to making people feel good and believe in themselves. It had worked gangbusters on Jamie.

Gina gravitated toward me which only made Amber territorial. Somehow I was trying to remember that I'd been having sex with Jamie and Emily (sort of) only two weeks ago, I found Amber's possessiveness odd. Soon Jamie and Emily had Gina boxed in and concentrated on her studies and Amber had her sole attentions on me.

By the time we were ready to go, Emily had decided that she would be dropping Gina off first. She made a great show of walking Gina to her home and even stopping by for a few minutes. We then drove past Amber's to drop Emily off and finally we stopped by Ambers. She gave me something way beyond the normal goodbye kiss.

"I don't want you feeling lonely," Amber murmured.

"Amber, I've been trying to get with you for days now. You are well worth waiting for," I promised. That made her happy, which was more than it did for me watching those tight-ass jeans skipping up the walkway. I went home and yanked furiously for an hour.

(Monday)

I set the record straight for waiting with Emily and Amber by Gina's bus. I had little doubt she'd been treated like a pariah onboard so the appearance of me on the scene escorting Gina in was a definite shock. Gina's spirits picked up noticeable and then something even more miraculous happened; several of the guys who had been with me when I went after Jack came by and made a point of talking with her too -- no coaching or anything.

By lunch Gina was close to being out of her shell. People she'd thought never even knew she existed stopped her in the hall and made small talk with her. In the twisted, convoluted system that was the High School hierarchy, Gina had become popular. To add to all the madness, my close buddy Quantrill came up and sat with Gina. She stammered repeatedly but he was a nice guy about it.

Jack stayed the hell out of my way and even non-jocks were giving him grief. At practice the coach pulled me aside to threaten me with the disruption to the team but his grip had slipped so far that I blew him off without repercussions. Blair joked within earshot about me now being with three whores.

I asked him how it felt having Emily prefer to be with one man with four ladies as opposed to being with one man who clearly couldn't perform. Hitting so close to home made Blair angry as hell. It made Emily nervous but Jamie and Amber found it to be hilarious. Jamie even joke about which one of them wasn't worthy of being labeled a whore.

On Tuesday, Quantrill asked Gina out to the victory party; she just about fell out of her chair. After agreeing she cornered me and begged me to tell her if I'd put him up to it. I denied any involvement since that was the truth. I did catch up with Amber and Emily but they seemed as confused about it as I was. Even Jamie disavowed all knowledge, claiming that Quantrill must be a really nice guy.

Gina still asked to be part of our study group; good for her academic outlook, but another dark cloud on my sexual horizon. I did discover that I had lower than expected sexual boundaries with Amber. Her ass and the sides of her breasts were allowed to my wondering presence. She also did an excellent job of sucking the fingertips (figuratively) off my fingers -- God damn this girl had some suction. She had this look she would give me when she was doing it that whole finger-sucking thing was one part angel of innocence and one part tantalizing seductress.

On Wednesday night Jamie pulled me aside and told me that Amber was about to explode, which I told her made two of us. She told me to come by tomorrow, but not to worry about studying. I didn't get too much sleep and I coasted through classes in a dream-like state. I couldn't get the girls and get to Jamie's fast enough.

(Thursday)

Jamie met me at the door with a t-shirt and not much else.

"If I had been your dad?" I joked.

"I would have been surprised that my dad had to knock and I'd have told him I was about to take a shower if he'd lost his keys," she said as she teased me with a turn of the hip that showed me the bottom of her black panties.

She attempted to saunter down the hallway with some dignity, but I pursued her and grabbed two handfuls of ass. Jamie squawked and swatted my arm.

"Me -- horny," I responded in my best caveman impersonation.

"Behave or you will be me-sexually frustrated," Jamie threatened. I put my hands around her hips and kissed her on her neck.

"If you want we can do it on the sofa," Jamie mused.

"I think we agreed to meet everyone downstairs," I sighed regrettably. Jamie reached up and patted my cheek.

"Good boy," she rewarded me. "You've made a commitment to Amber and I'd hate you if you became some selfish High School jerk." Sometimes girls are like landmines; you don't know you've made a mistake until they go off.

We made our way downstairs and I was brought up short. Amber and Emily were lounging on the floor wearing as much as Jamie, with the added bonus that they weren't wearing bras.

"You look nice," Emily greeted me. Amber said something a bit more direct.

"Get over here," Amber requested.

She was nervous so I walked over to her, went to my knees and kissed her on the lips. When she started kissing me back I pushed her back onto the ground. Amber wrapped her arms my neck and held herself against me as I bore her down. Without waiting for me she began dry-humping urgently. Since she couldn't have been that sexual deprived I was thinking she was trying to make an impression.

"Too many clothes," Jamie whispered in my ear. She started working my shirt up over my head. At the same time another set of hands were unbuckling my belt and unzipping my pants. Emily even managed to plant a kiss on my hip and waist before moving down to Amber. It was cleverly done.

When I pushed up and let Jamie pull my shirt off Amber pulled off her shirt too. I slipped down and pressed my mouth to one nipple and started one of those tricks Jamie had taught me -- suckling with pulling with the teeth. I massaged the other breast with my hand taking great pleasure with the hardness of her nipples.

Amber began rubbing her hands through my hair and moaning softly. Jamie and Emily worked down my pants and underwear in several sharp pulls. Sex makes men ignore many types of pain; those that lead to the promise of sex being the easiest to ignore. I was now pressing my very aroused member against Amber's thigh. How did I get so lucky?

I moved up so that my penis was rubbing against her still covered pussy. Why was I the only one naked? That question didn't stay unanswered for long as Jamie moved down and leaned in close to Amber and me, breasts exposed and inviting. I started going from Amber's lips to Jamie's breast.

I was a bit freaked when Jamie slid a hand between us and starts rubbing Amber's breast that until recently I had been suckling at. Instead of reacting poorly Amber bucked harder against me and moaned, "Yes, yes," between kisses. Emily was placing gentle kisses along my hip and I assumed Amber's hips. I knew what Emily wanted and needed, so I scoot off Amber and use my free hand to pull down her panties.

Emily took over and finished getting the panties off and then started kissing the inside of Amber's thighs. This seemed to be driving Amber nuts so Jamie upped the ante. She started nibbling on Amber's ear, Amber turned to look at her and Jamie kissed her. I took this as my cue to move down and start working on Amber's breasts again and playing with her cunt with my fingers.

Emily's fingers join mine and I can feel her lips come to Amber's labia which she uses her fingers to push aside before she went diving in. Emily was working her best friend over well and it wasn't long before Amber cried out and arched her back. Emily drank her up hungrily while Jamie stole her breath away with a passionate kiss.

Amber propped herself up and looks down at Emily whose cum-drenched lower face was filled with fear and indecision about what she's just done.

"Amber I ..."

"Emily, you have been my best friend forever. It isn't like I didn't suspect you of being a little different," Amber assured her.

"I was afraid you wouldn't understand," Emily said happily.

"I'm not sure I understand either," Amber began, but seeing Emily's worry added, "But I liked it. I liked it a lot. Now if the two of you don't mind, I want to get Craig's rocks off." Amber for the win! "He looks like he's suffered long enough."

"Why don't you get on top?" Jamie suggested. "I have something in mind."

Amber nodded and I was over-eager so I quickly found myself on my back and Amber was poised over me. With one hand she opened her flower to me and she pressed down on my chest with the other hand. Amber did a quick intake of breath and lowered herself incrementally down onto my penis. Amber wasn't as tight as Jamie, but she was warm and comfortable and special in her own way. Maybe guys put too much emphasis on tightness and not enough on how warm and wonderful it feels to be inside a woman.

I soon found another pressure down farther on my legs and was rewarded with the picture of Emily cupping Amber's breasts and nibbling on her neck. Amber closed her eyes, moaned and was totally getting into getting pleasured from below and behind. I would have seen more if it wasn't for Jamie straddling my face and smiling down at me.

"Please Craig," she asked gently. I shook my head in the affirmative because I just loved the taste of Jamie. I immediately found the location of my old companion in ecstasy, Jamie's clit, and teased it with my rolled up tongue. I then proceeded down her folds once before starting to drill my tongue in and out in sharp moves.

Jamie shuddered slightly. I couldn't hear much as her thighs bracketed my head but she was getting progressively wetter and rocking back and forth. I was caught off-guard when she moved forward and stopped. That pretty much left me without a safe option to breath. Only later did Jamie tell me she'd closed with Amber and they'd begun kissing and biting each other's lips.

All I could tell at the time, beyond the shortness of breath, was that Amber began grinding herself against me furiously. Now I'm a good athlete and that means I have good breath control so I wasn't frantically tapping on Jamie's thigh, but I was stroking it firmly indicating I needed air. Jamie stat up then rolled backwards; a maneuver I rewarded her with a full length lick from clit to anus. She stayed there, clearly hoping I would repeat the action.

I began to probe her butthole with my tongue which gave her a shiver. She really loved this stuff. I had barely entered her when she gave with a mighty spasm of the hips and fluids on my chin and neck. On shaky legs Jamie dismounted my face and moved so that she was kissing me deeply on the side of my face, neck, and lips.

"Oh fuck!" Amber panted, "That is so hot!" Emily took that moment to twist both of Amber's nipples and nibble on her ear. Amber's muscles rippled through her vagina in a way that was completely new to me. She kept grinding back and forth against me and I was close enough that I grabbed her hips and held her in place.

"Wait Craig; are you close?" Amber asked in an excited voice. It dawned on me that I'd never asked Amber about protection.

"Yes," I ground out between stressed impulses.

"Emily, scoot down," Amber asked. Emily slid off, confused but not for long.

Amber moved down me far enough to wrap her lips around my cock and start sucking with her lips while pumping me with her hand. It was fantastic. I was able to prop myself up and stroke her cheek.

"I'm close," she pumped even harder, "Oh God ... cumming!" Amber wouldn't quit; she kept swallowing and swirling her tongue along the head as she milked me of every last drop.

Amber climbed up my body and I saw she had some of my semen in her mouth. As she leaned into kiss me Jamie caught on to what Amber was doing and squealed in delight.

"Me too!"

I left that to Amber and we exchanged bodily fluids for several seconds before Amber turned to Jamie and they repeated the process.

Emily looked a bit left out so I motioned her toward me. When she came up to my side I cuddled next to her and smiled.

"No one has gotten you off, now have they?"

Now Emily looked really nervous, but also intrigued.

"Poor Emily," Jamie said sympathetically as she crawled around from behind.

"We really can't have you suffering like this," Amber said coming around in front Emily. Now Emily was shivering. She looked to me for support so I kissed her.

"It is going to be okay," I reassured her. She smiled up at me, taking comfort in the trust we shared.

Jamie put her hands on either side of Emily's head, tilting it back so she could plant a kiss on Emily's forehead. Amber came to Emily's knee and kissed it at its apex. She ran a hand from behind the knee to mid-thigh. Emily closed her eyes as Jamie moved her head from my shoulder into her lap. Jamie ran her fingers through her scalp to her cheeks and finally to Emily's lips where they were kissed lovingly.

There is a lot guys can learn by watching women make love. First off, it isn't a race to get to the breasts; it is a slow dance played with a level of control and acceptance that I wasn't used to. Jamie took it so delicately that Emily was able to trace behind her movements along her chin, neck and breastbone. Emily was reacting to it in such a manner that I wasn't sure she was even aware of Amber's progress between her thighs.

I knew she wasn't following Amber's movements because she gave this little start when Amber go close enough to breathe on her outer lips. She moaned and shook her head slowly between Jamie's breasts. Amber was taking her time, moving in with deeply passionate kisses then withdrawing to let the sensation to be savored by Emily. She repeated this process again and again, picking up the pace each time until she finally gave them one long kiss and her first lick.

Emily tried to push herself down toward Amber's teasing mouth but Amber was having none of it. Emily moaned in frustration. Amber put both her hands on Emily's hips and began increasing her exploration. Pulling upon what little experience she'd gained from Emily's efforts minutes ago she simply did to Emily what Emily had so expertly done to her.

Right when I was starting to feel like the fifth wheel Jamie tapped my head and motioned me to Emily's closest breast. I scooted down and quickly moved aside Jamie's questing fingers and took Emily's nipple and as much breast as I could take into one slow wet oral embrace. Emily's hand came down to my head and caressed it. This much she would allow me.

I was so caught up in Emily's gyrations I almost missed Amber taking one hand down and inserting at least one finger into Emily. That set Emily off and she was shifting back and forth violently before she screamed out and stopped thrashing.

"Fantastic ... "Emily panted. "Amber, thank you." Amber looked up, very pleased with herself and wrapped in success of her first time.

"That was pretty good for me too, but I still think I'll stick with Craig for the time being," Amber admitted.

"I think it is more a matter of bringing Emily around to our way of thinking," Jamie joked. "I'm pretty happy with Craig too. Emily?" Emily responded by coming up to me and planting another kiss on my lips.

"For a guy he's kind of nice, but he's still just a friend," she sighed lovingly.

"I'm okay with that," I told. What could I say? Emily was a really good friend and if she was going to be different I was a good enough friend to respect her wishes.