He picked himself up and held out a hand for her and they both began walking towards Lauren’s bedroom. She lay back on the bed and gave a sigh while Zac began stripping his clothes off. Propping herself up on her elbows she watched him pull of his socks, half bent over so that the muscle underneath his skin moved along with his body; “I mean what I said, you’re hot,” she said thoughtfully.
Zac looked up and grinned, “They don’t call me pimp for nothing.”
She laughed, “Pimp huh? Well playa I don’t let just anybody get my services for free.”
“Really? Huh and I would have thought otherwise,” he said crawling onto the bed.
“I’m a tease,” she explained, lying back so that he loomed over her, “I’m all talk. Hardly any play. But when I play, I always slide into home.”
“That was probably more than I needed to know.”
Kiley grinned, “It’s all that talk, I can’t stop myself.”
Zac leaned in closer, inches from her face, “I’ll stop you,” he muttered finally touching his lips to hers.
“What, you don’t like my baseball analogies?” she asked as they broke apart.
He responded with more kissing and she let the puns subside and wrapped her arms around his shoulders instead.

Kiley sat up so Zac could remove the bustier she was wearing; one by one each eyelet pulled apart exposing more flesh. She, trying to be as Lady Marmalade as possible, took off the skirt and stockings she was wearing and threw them to the side. Zac placed a hand on her thigh and kissed his way from her bent knee to her neck; Kiley decided that there was no point in even bothering to try to sound cute or coy or sexy. She freely verbalized her gratitude and quickly took off whatever clothing remained on her body. This time she sat up and pushed him back, taking his arms she clasped them above his head and told him to keep them there while she got him naked (that’s where the springing manhood comes). She trailed kisses down his chest and stomach, being just drunk enough to continue. Zac was very good at cheerleading and by that I mean sexleading, every move she made he made with an appreciative vocal noise and that set Kiley all a plunder.
“Mmm Lauren,” he moaned as Kiley put her mouth to his sprung manhood “What’s that?” she asked.
“Nothing…”
By the time he had entered her she ironically began thinking of the Sheryl Crow song “The first cut is the deepest” except she substituted cut for thrust and that’s pretty much how it went.
She was mid-moan by the time she saw Lauren standing outside of the bedroom. In any other situation with any other guy who was thrust practically to the back of her kidneys she probably would have made some lame attempt at covering herself. But instead she slightly waved and forgot any form of embarrassment. Lauren’s mouth was completely agape as she entered the room, “HOLY FUCK!” she yelled incredulously, yet slightly slurring.
“You guys are fucking!” she said, holding onto the door frame.
Zac looked over his shoulder to see who was talking.
Kiley managed an “mmhmm” to answer her question.
“That’s hot!” she exclaimed, “I want to join.”
“Yes”
“No”
Lauren was about to take a step forward but stopped, “huh?”
“Yes,” Kiley repeated.
“No,” Zac replied again, “you’re supposed to be fucking jealous!”
Lauren squinted her eyes in thought, “I am?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“Because I’m fucking your best friend and not you.”
“Oh,” she said simply. “Well, can I join anyway?”
Before Zac could go on about the jealousy bit his brother Taylor came up behind Lauren. He obviously, by the looks of his face, was far more drunk than she.
“Wow…those people are having sex!”
Lauren nodded, “Uhuh,” still watching.
Taylor leaned in closer and squinted his eyes together too, “Is that…WOAH! Is that Kiley?”
“HeyyAY,” Kiley said loudly, “careful those are important organs inside” she chastised.
“Dude are we…why is Kiley having sex on your bed?”
”The couch hurts,” Lauren explained from experience, “I get bruised all the---why I don’t know why she is.”
“Listen I’d love for you to all stay and chat but three’s a party and four’s a crowd and right now I’m about to go off” Kiley stated, her voice beginning to rise.
“Fuck yeah that’s hot,” Taylor said with a wink to Lauren, “we should be doing that,” he pointed towards them and then got a queer look on his face. His eyes rolled back in his head and, WAM; he went down like a sack of expensively dressed potatoes.
Lauren looked at him lying there, “fuck…he’s too heavy. I’ll just leave him there,” she muttered to herself turning her attention back to the other two, “so, are we in or…oh.”
It already ended; Kiley had the grin of some strange sex-champion, she started giggling at first until it turned into a loud breath-stealing laugh. Lauren joined in and eventually doubled over.
Zac looked perplexed but smirked anyways before laughing as well.
“That was the craziest best sex, ever, in the whole entire world,” Kiley proclaimed sitting up; “it so needs to happen again.”
“Then can I be in it?” Lauren asked with a smile.

A loud, incredibly loud noise was blaring from a stereo, forcing Lauren to open her eyes and look groggily at the clock beside her. She opened one eye and lifted her head slightly and then closed them again, letting her head fall against the pillow; “it’s still darrrrrk” she whined internally. Sleep, lovely sleep opened its arms for her again.
The next time Lauren opened her eyes it was very bright; the sun forcefully poured in from her windows, looking as if the glass pane couldn’t possibly keep it out much longer.
She raised her head to look at the clock again and this time, tore the bed covers from her warm body and ran to her closet. She was over two hours late for work.

Throwing on whatever she could find she ran out of her room into the bath to brush her teeth and try to manage her hair. Last night’s make-up was caked underneath and around her eyes, “I’ve got to stop rubbing my eyelids at night,” she thought to herself and she meagerly began getting rid of the excess. With one quick stop in the kitchen for a piece of fruit she was nearly out the door when she realized there was something different in her hallway. Lying there, from last night, was Taylor who was on his stomach halfway in between her spare room and the hallway wearing…was that? A pair of red lace panties was resting on his head; Lauren looked perplexed but decided she didn’t have enough time to stop and think about it. Instead, she ran out of the door and hoped to God she made it to work before her manager would show up.
Zac wasn’t particularly thinking of anything as he was walking down the sidewalk. He left Lauren’s a while ago; she was still sleeping in her bed and he had briefly thought about waking her up knowing she’d be late for work but then decided against it. However, before he left he did manage to put Kiley’s panties on Tay’s head. He’d have put Lauren’s literally on him if he could have found some but that meant undressing Taylor and he just wasn’t in the mood for doing anything like that even the thought highly amused him as he walked. He stopped for a moment and took a look around, “Fuck!” he muttered to himself. He had unknowingly walked himself all the way to Lauren’s work.
“Even in my fucking subconscious I can’t stop thinking about her,” Zac thought as he walked inside.

Kiley awoke with a smile; she stretched heavily and moaned, “Oh my God stretching feels soooooooo good!” Turning over with her eyes closed she felt a body next to her; her grin grew bigger and she cuddled closer, “g’morning sexy” she said softly resting her head on a shoulder.
The person next to her mumbled something into a pillow so Kiley felt their head to pat it jokingly and grabbed something strange. It was silky…and flimsy, what the fuck?
She opened her eyes and gasped, Taylor was in her bed with her underwear on his head half naked.
“Taylor what are you doing with my panties on you head why are you in my bed, I’m naked what the fuck!”
Taylor tried his hardest to lift his head and try to understand what was being said, “Huh?”
“How did you…how are”
He yawned and turned over and Kiley gasped and hid her face, “uh, Taylor you should…I mean, uh…maybe you should put these on” she said grabbing the pair of underwear from his head and shoving them in his hands.
Somehow Taylor was nude and somehow Taylor was in her bed which Kiley didn’t think was such a horrible situation but nonetheless awkward.
“I’m not naked,” he mumbled and then felt his crotch absentmindedly. That’s when he woke up, “whoa, I am naked.”
“You think?”
He sat up and winced, holding his head, and looked down. Oops, he was more than naked he was…, “I’ll be right back,” he said having trouble keeping a pillow securely over his crotch. He backed out of the room and hit the door frame and mouthed “OW” painfully.
Kiley turned away, “Oh My God” she whispered, he wasn’t just naked; let’s just say little Taylor woke up before Big Taylor did.
(Metric)
Ike had lay awake most of the morning fearing that again his one night stands would lead to psychotic troll obsessed situations. So far he had checked most of the girl’s room, as much as he could see anyway. Not a troll in sight.
He looked over at Aurora and grinned; he wasn’t sure if they had hooked up or not but by the way she looked and how he felt he didn’t really care about it.
She stirred and stretched and turned over so that they were nose to nose. She whispered, “hello” and smiled slightly opening her eyes.
“Hi,” he replied with a grin.
“Did you sleep okay?”
“I think so.”
“Good.”
“I suppose I should go.”
Her eyes now opened she looked a little disappointed, “oh.”
Ike put a hand on her arm, “I’d like to stay but I have to go to work but I’m really grateful for what you did last night.”
Aurora laughed softly, “no problem whenever you need rescuing you know who to call.”
He leaned closer and placed his lips sweetly on hers, “my knight in shining armor,” and got up to get dressed.
Aurora lay in bed long after he left and fell asleep in his bed imprint, his smell lulling her back into sweet dreams.

Zac opened the café doors and stalked inside; Lauren was leaning against the counter slightly dozing as her head fell quickly and jerked her awake.
She looked up and saw Zac and smiled, “hey there lover boy! Looked like you were having a good time last night,” she said with a rather large smirk.
“Oh yeah, real good,” Zac retorted snidely, “you don’t remember what I said, do you?”
Lauren paused for a moment to think; hmm said…what did he say? It was something important too but at the time she was thinking about threesomes so nothing really stuck. She shrugged her shoulders, “I guess not…you were moaning though I remember that.”

Zac sighed angrily; she could do whatever she wanted and it would never change his feelings for her. And that frustrated him.
“So am I getting free coffee or what?”
Lauren jumped to it, “of course baby, what else am I good for?” she said half-fishing for a compliment.
She didn’t have much time to search for one as two more customers walked inside the shop. There stood Taylor beaming like an idiot and Kiley looking somewhat uncomfortable and yet happy, apparently, at seeing Zac who was willingly avoiding her gaze.
“Hey guys! It’s a regular ole party up in here. You should have all told me you were coming I would have brought out the Schnapps and the boom box,” she said handing Zac a plastic cup of liquid.
“Coffee, black” Taylor stated simply, a faint smile painting the corner of his lips.
“Can I ask you something Taylor?” Lauren inquired as she poured him a cup.
He shrugged his shoulders, “shoot.”
“Can you tell me why my friend’s panties were on your head this morning?” Taylor, having had taken a sip on his coffee choked and Zac started laughing, while Kiley looked even more uncomfortable and had resorted to resting her head in her hands.
“Uh, I’m not exactly sure why I was naked with panties on my head.”
“Naked?!” Lauren said confused, “who said you were naked?”
“I was naked in her bed with…didn’t you…where was I before this?”
Lauren started laughing, “You crawled into her bed naked? Hahaha Taylor you idiot! Now that’s what I call a morning hello!” she said directing her comment towards Kiley.
“You have no idea,” she replied recalling the nudity and the little man standing attention.

Lauren turned her attention towards Zac and pushed a drink towards him, “how about you Kiley you look like you could use some caffeinated goodness?”
She opened her mouth to answer when Ike walked in with a smile on his face.

“Today is a good day,” he said putting his arm around Kiley and Taylor.
“How are you guys doing? Where did you end up last night?
Kiley blushed and looked from Zac to Tay hoping to wiggle out of the situation, Taylor grinned stupidly and drank more coffee while Zac gave an evil smile and pulled something from his messenger bag.

“Hey Ike, I got something for you,” he said handing him a brown-paper bag.
“Really? Who’s it from?” Ike asked, weighting the bag in his hands.
Zac smiled, “oh a friend of yours,” he mentioned blandly watching his brother open the bag.

Ike dropped the bag as soon as he looked inside it and took a step back. Taylor looked confused and picked it up, “what Ike? What is it?”
He pulled out a troll doll with a little green sweater embroidered with I-K-E on the front of it, “aw” Taylor said, “look it says your name, Hi Ike!” he said making it wave.
Ike started screaming and Taylor looked perplexed.
Lauren smuggled a laugh and tried to busy herself with crushing ice so her boyfriend didn’t notice her giggling.
“yeah I bought this from this girl who makes doll clothing,” he said choking back laughter, “Oh man…she fucking knew you haha oh Jesus Ike it’s so great!”
Ike glared at his brother and ripped the doll from Taylor’s hands, and threw it at Zac who dodged and missed it, “hey, that’s a gift from me and your new girlfriend, she told me to give you this by the way,” he said passing him a note. Ike suspiciously opened the piece of paper and read:

“Dear Ikey,” oh fuck no, he thought.

“I haven’t heard from you in a long while! I was beginning to wonder if maybe I dreamt you up but then I met your brother and he said that you just loved the trolls I owned and couldn’t wait to get your own to remember me by! That was so sweet of you! I knew you were different! Call me sometime, okay?”
Further down was a p.s.: “if you turn the sweater inside out there’s a surprise!”
“Zac gimme the troll,” he said. Handing it to him, Ike took the sweater off and turned it inside out…on the front was a heart with Ike+Glinus and on the backside was apparently the night he went home with her. Ike put a hand up to his head and covered his eyes, “Oh my God.” He muttered slightly swaying.
Zac picked up the note and read it and quickly looked at the sweater, now laughing harder than ever before, “Oh yes! Oh yes this is so great! This is going up on the mantel piece! Oh man Ike; you are so awesome!”

Ike dropped the troll again and Kiley picked it up, examining the threadwork, “this is actually really good…”
“NO IT IS NOT!” Ike screamed ripping it from her hands.
“Haha fucking trolls,” Zac laughed holding onto the counter.
Lauren came around and held onto her boyfriend’s shoulders, “it’s okay Ike, why don’t you have some nice coffee okay? Yeah that’s nice isn’t it…mmm soothing, non-troll like,” she said sniggering.
“Am I missing something?” Taylor asked looking around, “I don’t get it…what’s….why trolls? Ike are you into a troll porn ring or something? Is it like BDSM but with troll dolls? Oh my God is that why you have a whip in your closet?”
Ike shot a look towards Taylor, “I’m not going to answer that.”
“Haha, whips…Ike I didn’t take you for the kinky rough kind,” Kiley said with a wink.
“I’m NOT.”
Zac suppressed a grin, “I knew that would turn up somewhere.”
Kiley raised an eyebrow, “ohhh, I see. Now I understand.”

“Please will you get rid of this?” Ike pleaded with Lauren motioning to the fallen doll.
“Well I dunno Ike, it was a gift,” began Zac, “I spent a lot of money on that.”
“You did not.”
“I could have; it’s the thought that matters isn’t it?”
”The thought of psychologically damaging your brother?”
“Well…yes.”
“You are such an ass Zac,” Lauren reprimanded leading Ike to a table to sit down at.
Zac joined the two, “you know you want it,” he said as he passed her by.

Kiley watched bemused at the love triangle before her; or wait, wouldn’t that be love…uh, square? Or…yeah that sounds about right.

“Well at least give it to someone, or send it back. Maybe she’d get the hint then?” Kiley suggested holding the doll again. She fingered the jewel in its belly, “hey did y’all realize it has underwear on? That’s kind of strange.”
“Can we please drop the troll conversation now?” Ike asked resting his head in his hands.
Kiley sniggered, “hey I can’t help it you went home with some psycho who has a troll complex and I’ll be damned if I don’t make fun of you for it.”
“Thank-you!” Zac agreed giving Kiley a high-five.
“You don’t even know me!” Ike countered.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t laugh at you.”
Ike’s eyebrows furrowed signaling a crude comment to come until Lauren stepped in and lowered his pointed finger, “why don’t we all just drop the troll thing and talk about something else. What are you planning on doing today?”
Giving a sigh Ike let the anger drop, “go to the studio.”
“Oh yeah? Awesome I was hoping you’d say that I have this great idea that’s been going around my head for awhile since I’ve been here,” Taylor said his gaze turning towards Lauren.
She shifted uncomfortably, “well that sounds like a good idea. Going to the studio always makes you feel better.”
Ike nodded, “well why don’t we head down there and get started Tay.”
“Sounds good, if Lauren could just hook me up with some more coffee we can be on our way.”
“No problem!” she said jumping to it. They both left, Taylor with some reluctance and Ike looking troubled.

“So what are you going to do today Kiley?” Lauren asked throwing garbage away. Kiley looked subtlety over at Zac before shrugging slightly, “see the sights I guess? I’ve never been to New York so I suppose I should be looking around.”
“It’d be useful if you had a guide,” Lauren offered, “I wish I wasn’t working.”
“Yeah it would be but I’m sure I can find things for myself.”
Lauren gave a sigh, “but a guide would be better,” she shot a look towards Zac hoping he’d catch the hint.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll be okay. Listen,” she began, “I’ll just get going and I’ll see you later, okay?” She asked giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Yeah, be careful okay? Don’t get lost or anything.”
“I won’t, I just hope no one tries to pick me up; later Zac.”
Zac looked up and gave a salute and watched her leave.
Lauren leaned over the counter and cuffed him on the head, “why didn’t you go with her?”
“What, me? She said she was fine besides you mentioned going with her.”
“Well obviously I can’t I’m working and besides I was referring to you numb nuts.”
“Oh, well too late now isn’t it.” He said somewhat perturbed.
She began wiping down the counters when he reached over and placed his hand on her arm.
She looked up and tried to shrug off his reach but he held on tighter, “what do you want? I have work to do.”
“Since when do you voluntarily work?”
“Since when have you ever worked?”
“I resent that.”
“Do you?”
“Why do you have to be like this?”
“Like what exactly, I don’t understand you sometimes.”
“Like…this.”
“Zac in case you didn’t know I have no clue what you are talking about.”
“I don’t want you to see Ike anymore.”
“What? Why? What the fuck Zac. What about Taylor, do you want me to stop seeing him too?” She asked throwing her rag into the sink.
Zac furrowed his brow, “wait, you were seeing Taylor too?!”
Whoops. “Does it matter?”
“I can’t believe you.”
“I can’t believe you’re so jealous.”
“I am not jealous.”
“Yeah right and I’m a virgin.”

They both stopped talking for a moment; a tensioned silence filled the space in between them as the heated words ebbed and smoldered.
“I want you to see only me.”
“Why? I mean why this…all of a sudden this monogamy; this coming from the man of multiple partners.”
“Well maybe I’m sick of finding someone new in my bed every night.”
“You can say that again. Zac I want to have a good time. I’m too young to…God; I should be having this conversation with your brother.”
“Which one?” he asked snidely.
“Can’t we just play nice?”
“No.”
“Well I don’t know what to do. I don’t understand you. I mean I guess I do. Is it going to change if I say I’ll be yours Zac? Is what we have and what we share going to change because I said that?”
Zac pondered the thought for a minute, “Yes.”
“Well I don’t think it will. Live life for a while you’re young go have some fun, live it up! We don’t have much time.”
“Why are you going somewhere?”
Lauren stopped talking and turned away to begin cleaning something else.
Zac walked next to her and leaned so that he could see her face, “and she turns away ignoring my question.”
“I’m not ignoring it.”
“You’re not answering it.”
“I’m choosing not to acknowledge it.”
“And why is that?”
She placed both of her hands on the counter and let her head drop, taking a deep breath she looked up, “listen you don’t know when things change, y’know? People go, people leave, shit happens. I mean one day you could be sitting here and the next you could have found your soul mate and you’re backpacking across Europe.”
“So what are you trying to tell me?”
I’m leaving. “Nothing, I’m just saying live life to the fullest,” and learn to live it without me…so you won’t hurt.

Kiley found that getting around New York City by yourself is practically impossible unless you want to get run over by cabs, cops on bikes, or hordes of people. She managed to make it to Central Park where she took a well-deserved walking break and bought a hotdog and sat down to eat it.

She spotted Taylor before he saw her and was already waving him down before realizing it; “hey!” she said with a grin, “what are you doing out here? I thought you guys were in your studio?”
Taylor smiled and sat beside her on the bench, “I’m taking a break for some lunch. You know, those things aren’t even real meat.” He said motioning to her lunch choice. She shrugged her shoulders, “I’ll eat just about anything,” she said with a wink.

Taylor didn’t catch on though, he grimaced once more as she ate and took the liberty of taking the food from her and throwing it at some nearby dogs.
“Hey! That was my lunch.”
“Not anymore, come with me I know a deli that serves edible food near here.” He explained helping her up.
“You better or I’ll eat you.”

“Sustenance….I need sustenance,” whined Kiley as they walked over three blocks. “You don’t understand my thighs are killing me.”
“Just think of all the calories you’re burning,” Taylor remarked.
“Excuse me? Are you saying I’m fat?” She asked incriminatingly.
Taylor looked stunned, “No.”
“Then what did you mean by that?”
“You’re not fat,” he said leaning back and checking her out on purpose, “well I mean you’ve got some junk in the trunk but a lot of guys like that,” he said with a smirk.
“Do you?”
“What don’t I like?”
“I don’t know you,” she said with a laugh, “but I think you like Lauren.”
His face hazed over slightly, “that I do. She’s a different breed of girl.”
“A different breed, hmm. And the rest of us are what, bitch?”
“No, I didn’t mean that,” he said hopelessly backpedaling.
“I’m joking Taylor I got it you have the hots for her.”
“We’re here,” he remarked opening the door for her and avoiding the comment.

Kiley happily sat down with a large plate of bagels and cream cheese; she sunk her teeth into a thick coating of strawberry goodness and moaned appreciatively, “oh my God this is heaven.”
“See?” Taylor said, taking a bite of his pastrami on rye, “I told you what you were eating wasn’t real meat.”
“You’re right, this is better than meat.”
He smirked, “nothing beats a New York bagel.”
“Oh I can think of something.”
“Really, what?”
“A New York man.”
Taylor blinked a few moments but smiled and continued eating.
Zoom, right over his head. It’s useless, Kiley thought to herself, I have better luck spouting off science lines to Zac then getting Taylor to look at me and not think of Lauren. That bitch, always gets the good ones first. If only she’d have come to New York earlier…damn. Oh well, she got laid and that’s more than she expected for the next three months.

Taylor reached for his wallet when the check came and pulled out two crisp 20s while Kiley dived into her purse to help pool in. By the time she lifted her head and managed to find real money in the unknown depths of her Prada the waitress was already gone with a grin on her face (thanks to the 25% tip he left her).
“I was going to help pay,” she said with a slight pout on her face, “here let me pay you at least then,” she began handing him bills and coins.
“No, don’t worry about it it’s on me.”
“I can’t let you do that, I’ll feel bad,” she said frowning more.
Taylor reached over and closed her hand so that her palm gripped the wad of bills, “it’s your first time to New York consider it the welcome committee,” he explained getting up. “If you feel that bad about it the next time is on you.”
“You’re on,” she agreed. Ooh, a second date that’s hot. Kiley followed Taylor to the studio where he talked her in to stepping inside and saying hi to Ike and maybe hearing a song.

The studio was dark; backlit walls, a mess of photos of musicians and friends posters and movies covered the wood paneling. Strings of white lights were hung around the mixing board and in the sound booth making it feel like it was late at night. Ike was leaning backwards in a desk chair, his hands behind his head revising a melody they had just laid down.
He looked over at the door as we entered the room and smiled, “hey what are you doing here?”
“I asked her to come listen to what we’ve been doing” Tay explained taking off his jacket and also grabbing Kiley’s.
“He treated me to lunch,” she explained, “I was meandering around the city and by meandering I mean trying not to get lost or be murdered. I found the park and by that time I could hardly move.”
“She stuck out like a sore thumb,” Taylor added with a chuckle, “she was eating a hot dog.”
Ike’s face scrunched, “oh God you saved her just in time. Never eat anything from a vendor in New York,” he explained strongly, “ever.”
“Point taken,” she said with a grin.

Lauren finally managed to weasel out of the café a few hours early. With mocha in hand she trudged the long walk home feeling tired and achy. Dark ominous clouds had painted the sky while she was inside; it looked like it was about to storm at any moment. Just as she reached her apartment building door she saw heard the crack of thunder rumble above her. Upstairs she changed into a pair of lounge pants and a tank top, considering doing some yoga before she ate dinner. Just as she put her hair up she heard a knock at the door, opening it she saw Zac standing before he completely soaked. His hair was falling into his eyes, little droplets of water breaking off and landing on his lips.

“Hi Zac.”
“Hi.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to fuck.”
“Fair enough,” she said letting him in; “you know, speaking of which I still owe you a blow-job.”
“You do? Uh wait, uh yeah….you do, for that thing that one time.”
Lauren laughed, “You have no idea what I’m talking about do you?”
“Does it matter?”
“No probably not.” She handed him a towel, “here dry off shaggy.”
He dropped his coat and rubbed his hair with the cloth, making it messier and sexier than before. Lauren bit her lip for a second and leaned against her breakfast bar.

“So why are you here for real?”
He pulled the towel from his head, “like I said to fuck.” He gave a wink and threw her the towel.
“And who said I did? Never think about my feelings do you? And what happened to you being all angry?”
Zac shrugged his shoulders, “I guess I’m just letting things go their pace for a while. And I’ve never known a time,” he said pressing against her, “that you didn’t give it or want it when I suggested it.”
Lauren took a deep breath, “just because you think you can come in here and predict and know my every move doesn’t mean you can…” the words trailed off as he met his lips to hers.
“Fine whatever,” she said rolling her eyes, “but I’m out of condoms.”
Zac looked up at the ceiling, “I gave the last of mine to Ike.”
“To Ike?”
“Yes believe it or not, probably used them on troll-girl.”
Lauren laughed, “oh yeah now that’s a really hot thought, thanks. So I guess you’re going to force me to go out and buy some?”
“Well, I could go if you really wanted me too but I’m all wet and cold now,” he shivered for emphasis, “I could catch a cold.”
“Yeah right. Fine. I’ll go, only because I want to pick up some chocolate too. I’ll be back.” Lauren grabbed her keys and coat and umbrella and headed out. Zac kicked off his shoes and pulled of his shirt and laid it over the shower rod in the bathroom so it would dry. He looked in the mirror and pressed his nose practically against the glass staring into his eyes; reflection of reflection of reflection.

Kiley managed to make it back to Lauren’s apartment without getting too lost. The directions Ike and Taylor gave her were practically useless by the time she took three wrong turns, so far she was soaked and partially muddy (thank-you very much stupid cabs). She contemplated crying once she recognized the apartment building and happily climbed the stairs as the elevator was busy carrying Lauren downstairs (not that she knew that). She walked into the apartment and dropped her coat and purse to the floor. Her mind was focused on getting out of these wet clothes and into a cup of warm soothing soup.
The thought was so enticing that she undressed right there as she kept walking, occasionally tripping and losing her balance. She walked into the bathroom to grab a towel and saw Zac looking at himself in the mirror; “is that a Hanson brother thing or what?” she asked pushing the door open.
Zac jumped and gave an annoyed sigh, “you shouldn’t sneak up on people like that.”
“I shouldn’t? Well you shouldn’t be so narcissistic.”
“Me?” he exclaimed, looking her up and down, “look who’s practically naked and by practically I mean I can see through the bra and panties.”
Kiley narrowed her eyes, “well then here,” she unclasped the bra and peeled off her underwear, “now I’m completely naked,” she said throwing them at him and walking towards Lauren’s room.
He looked momentarily disgusted and grabbed the clingy wet clothing from his body and threw them in the hamper and followed her.
She was running her hands through her hair in an effort to untangle the tresses while standing in front of an open suitcase. Kiley turned her head; “do you like to watch girls dress?” she asked as she picked out a pair of underwear and put them on, “or is it just me?”
He smiled slightly, “maybe.”
“Maybe what?” she inquired, putting on a shirt and turning to face him.
“Seeing you undressed isn’t so bad either,” he continued.
“Well you could have fooled me,” she remarked, getting on her hands and knees to look under Lauren’s bed for her yoga pants.
“Or on your knees.” She looked up this time and pursed her lips, “if you think I’m just going to crawl over there and give you what you want then you are…probably right,” she explained with a light wink.
Zac chuckled and came and sat down on the bed, “glad to know the offer still stands.”
“Literally,” she said giving a look towards his crotch.
“So are you always like this?”
“Always like what?” she questioned giving up her quest and joining him on the bed.
“Sexually explicit?”
Kiley gave a chuckle, “I’m open about what I’m feeling yes; why hide it? Sometimes it’d too hard to hide,” she gave his thigh a rub suggestively before lying down. “I suppose you would have no idea where my black yoga pants are, do you?”
Zac raised an eyebrow, “do I look like I wear yoga pants?”
“I have no idea what you do when you’re alone. Scratch that I do know, you stare at yourself you petty fool.”
“Well I can tell you that I don’t wear yoga pants.”
“You should, it’d be hot.”
“It….would be hot?”
“Mmm, yeah…just the right kind of tight baggy…”she said trailing off. Eventually she sat up and began fanning herself, “woo is it warm in here or what?” she asked pulling at the neck of her tee.
“I saw Lauren wearing a pair of black lounge pant things.”
“Lounge pant things? What are those?”
“You know…pant things…they were probably yours.”
“Could very well be; when did you see Lauren?”
“She just left like right before you came and scared me half to death.”
“Oh where’d she go?”
“To buy condoms,” he grinned mischievously.
“Ooh condoms, is someone getting lucky tonight?”
“Maybe.”
“Sounds good to me, and I would know from experience.”
His smile grew bigger, “that’s what I like to hear, satisfied customers.”

“I’m never leaving the apartment again!” Lauren yelled from the kitchen having just returned home, “there was this old woman behind the counter and she chastised me for buying condoms!”
“She chastised you?”
“Yes like, stared at me all disapprovingly and such,” she continued as she walked into the room; “am I interrupting something?”
“I wish,” Kiley added.
Lauren gave a smile, “every time I see you two together I think of the other night. That was seriously hot.”
“Uhuh. Hot, right. You were drunk Lauren,” Kiley laughed.
“Drunk Lauren or not she still knows what’s hot,” she explained joining them on the bed too.

They sat there for a moment, looking at one another and catching each other’s eyes before quickly looking away.
“So are we going to do this?” Lauren asked moving to sit on her knees.
“Do what?” Kiley asked, “Oh, you mean you two,” she said pointing to them both, “sorry I’m in your way. Let me just grab some pants and I’m gone.”
Kiley made to get up but Zac grabbed her by the arm, “I never said leave.”
She stifled a laugh, “okay then.”
“So do it,” Zac said nodding to Lauren.
“Am I missing something here?”
“Kiss.”
“What?”
“Well you said that you wanted to join in last night; I want to see what I was missing,” he said leaning back a little further with a gratuitous smirk growing quickly on his face.
“We can’t just kiss because you want us to,” Kiley said slapping him on the leg.
“Yeah,” Lauren replied, “we have integrity.”
“Yeah!” Kiley agreed, “We do?”
“Oh I see so you were lying,” Zac replied, “that’s a typical Lauren trait.”
“I’m not lying! I want to make out with Kiley! And I wanted to join in!”
“So do it already,” He said placing his hands behind his head.
“You just want to watch us so you can get off, that’s such a guy thi…”
Kiley moved in, crawling on her hands and knees and cupped Lauren’s face and met her lips with hers mid sentence. They could feel Zac sit up a little straighter and lean in and watch as they continued to kiss.
Several moments later they parted slowly; Kiley smiled broadly, “she does not lie,” she said sticking her tongue out.
Zac gave an impressed smile, “that wasn’t bad but you could do better.”
“Better! Excuse me that was one of the best kisses ever!”
Zac shrugged, “I guess but you could have went further and like, touched each other and stuff.”
“And stuff?” Kiley asked raising her eyebrow, “So you want me to touch her? Like this?” she asked reaching and cupping Lauren’s breast.
“Well not just touch it; you know…move around and such.”
“What the fuck, jiggle it?”
“No! You know, rub it or whatever.”
“Why is it guys always think we want our breasts rubbed?” Lauren asked looking perplexed, “they don’t like being manhandled. Woman-handled on the other hand,” she said giving Kiley a wink.
“That was hot, do it again and I’ll jump you.”
“So why is it exactly that we should be touching each other while you watch?” Lauren asked, “What are you contributing into this threesome?”
“I’m the moral support.”
“Moral support? We need support?” She asked Kiley.
“Apparently; but I think it’s just support for what’s in his pants.”
“Hey, I am all for new sexual experiences, I’m just trying to be supportive for your new frontier. It’s a scary place out there.”
Lauren rolled her eyes and grabbed Zac’s arms, “the only thing I want to hear coming from your mouth is my name,” she said pushing his arms against her bed frame. Kiley leaned over the side of the bed and reached into her bag, coming back up with a long scarf, “I’ve always wanted to do this,” she said leaning over Zac (who had a great view of both Lauren and Kiley) and tying his hands together and attached onto the headboard.
“Hey, that’s tight,” Zac said with a slight grimace.
Kiley smiled brightly and motioned for Lauren to come closer; she grabbed her close and began kissing her, letting her hand reach down and travel the expanse of the front of her body until it dropped at her inner thigh.
Zac licked his lips slightly as Lauren let her head fall back and her hair brush into her eyes.
Kiley made a slight moan when Zac began moving, “hey this isn’t fair guys.”
Lauren looked up feeling flushed and dazed, “what?”
“We’re doing like you said,” Kiley mentioned placing her lips on the side of her neck.
“Yeah she’s just doing as she’s…..told.”
“But I can’t…I’m stuck here.”
Lauren looked down at his pants and laughed, “Aw my poor baby can’t get himself off. That’s what you get for manipulating our sexual urges.”
“Seriously this is painful. I didn’t mean touch only yourselves,” he explained, “I meant me too.”
“Oh no, no; you were right Zac, I should be rubbing up on Lauren, this is hot,” Kiley said taking off her shirt and putting it aside while moving for Lauren’s.
Lauren pulled hers off and giggled slightly as she kissed her way down to Kiley’s chest.
Kiley leaned back and smiled, bracing herself on what happened to be Zac’s leg until eventually she just lay across him, “God that feels good,” she gasped.
“OH COME ON THIS IS NOT FAIR!”
“I think we should do it right here,” Kiley suggested suppressing a smile.
“On Zac’s legs?”
“Is there any other place to be?”
“Well,” Lauren thought, “You could move back further,” she said directing Kiley until she was sprawled across his hips, “there.”
Kiley adjusted herself a couple of times and looked up at Zac who had a serious pout growing on his face, “it’s a little uncomfortable here…something’s sticking in my back.”
“Yeah, I wonder what ever could that be,” Zac said harshly, “seriously this isn’t hot anymore.”
Lauren began laughing until she fell over and giggled into Kiley’s shoulder.
“Why are you two laughing?”
Kiley leaned in and whispered in Lauren’s ear; Lauren began laughing harder and nodded her head. The two girls crawled towards Zac and both grabbed the button and fly of his pants, “now we’re getting somewhere!” Zac commented happily.
“One, two, three!” They pantsed him and then stole his underwear and decided the best thing to do in this situation in the presence springing manhoods would be to run away and leave him there tied up, just because they could.
“Damnit! I hate you ALL!”

Lauren sighed as they stood in the hallway still chuckling; she wiped a tear from her eye, “okay I guess that’s enough. I feel bad now.”
“Why?”
“Because…I dunno. He’s hot, and lying there all naked and such. I can’t let a half naked man go unattended in my bedroom.”
Kiley nodded, “I understand. It was kind of mean. But hilarious; you wouldn’t happen to have a camera would you?”
“Hahaha, I have better,” she said leaving quickly and returning with a Polaroid camera in hand.
“Friggin awesome!” Kiley proceeded to walk in by Zac, “we’ll help you out a minute so in the meanwhile you should smile!” She said bringing the camera around from behind her back.
“Aw no! Not pictures!” Zac cried unhappily.
Lauren stuck her bottom lip out, “okay we’ll stop fooling around now,” she began untying his wrists, “although the advantages of you naked and tied are hard to ignore.”
Kiley continued to take pictures when she heard Lauren’s cell phone go off, “are you going to get that?” She asked, as she began shaking the Polaroids.
“No.”
“It’s like ringing off the hook, you should get it.”
“What are you, the cell phone police?”
“Yes, yes I am,” she agreed, helping her up off the bed. Lauren gave a reluctant sigh and walked out of the room while Kiley leaned over Zac and continued to untie the scarf. She smiled over him, “what a beneficial position I’m in.”
Zac placed his arms around her lower back and grabbed her closer, “what are you doing?” she asked bemused.
“Pay back,” he replied, brining his lips to her throat.
“Mmm I like my up and comings” she retorted with a slight motion towards Zac’s uh…well you get the picture.
“Do you have a witty alliteration to everything?”
“Yes. Yes I do.”

Lauren reached over her counter and picked up her phone, “Yeah?”
“Is that how a lady answers the phone?” said the voice on the other end.
“Hi Mom,” Lauren gratuitously rolled her eyes.
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me. Now, I called to see if you can make it to the family reunion in San Diego on the 8^th.”
Lauren gave a sigh, “Gee Mom, I don’t know.”
“Lauren! I have not seen you for five months you either get your butt home or I’m going to---”
BEEP
“Hold on Mom, other line; Hello?”
“I’m going to strip you naked, rub honey over your body and lick it off inch by inch.”
“Hey Ike, how are you aside form horny?”
“What are you doing tonight?”
For a moment Lauren imagined him saying “who are you doing…” cuz that would have been awkward.
“Uh, nothing.”
“How about coming over?”
“Now? It’s raining outside.”
“Please? I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Ugh hold on, other line.”
BEEP
“I’m back; well I don’t know Mom I’m supposed to be doing something with this guy I just met, on the 8^th…”
“Uh, Lauren? You’re still with me. What guy?”
“What? Uh, hold on.”
“Mom?”
“Yes, dear.”
“I’m busy; I’m going to have to call you back. I have someone over.”
“Fine dear, call me back; who do you have over?”
“A boy.”
“A date? Are you doing something you shouldn’t?”
“Mom! I’ve got to go!” Lauren hung up the phone and immediately heard it ring; angrily picking it back up she screamed, “Yes Mom! I am doing something I shouldn’t with a boy; we’re having SEX right now! So I’ll talk to you LATER!”
“Lauren, what the fuck, who’s over?”
Lauren panicked and looked over…Damnit why do I never check my caller ID; “Zac is.”
“Zac?! Why is he over? I thought he was going home? Is that who you’re seeing?”
For a brief moment inside of her Lauren contemplated screaming “Yes! I’m running around with your brother behind your back….actually both your brothers,” but it dwindled once she recognized the muddled hurt in his voice.
“Zac is here with Kiley, for her…whatever. He came to see her,” she lied…partly. Ike gave a sigh of relief, “Wow those two really hit it off, eh?”
“Yeah, they’re uh inseparable.” She mentioned looking down the hall and hearing giggling.
“So are we seeing each other or what?”

Lauren came back into the bedroom looking defeated and tired; she began to search for a sweater while Kiley and Zac continued to lounge on the bed (Zac now partially clothed).
“It’s freezing in here,” she muttered.
“You’re telling me,” Zac said, “just look at my nipples.”
Kiley shot him a look.
“Are you going somewhere?”
Lauren pulled a sweater on and sat at the edge of the bed, “Ike called.”
Zac sat up a bit, “he did?”
“He knows you’re here.”
“He does?”
“Yeah. But I lied and said you were here for her.”
“Woo me! I’m a part of a giant sex lie!” Kiley exclaimed dancing a bit.
“I’m going out to see him.”
“You should wear more than that, it’s raining too.”
“Yeah Lauren it’s a bit ‘nipplely’ outside.”
“You were waiting for the opportunity to say that weren’t you?” Kiley asked. Zac nodded, “yes’m.”

Lauren agreed to meet Ike at his apartment. She left Kiley and Zac bickering over the word ‘nipple’ and its appropriate conversational usage. Just as she was climbing the stairs on the way up to see Ike, she bumped into Taylor. A cigarette hung limply between his lips, a lighter held securely in his hand.
“Hey,” he said, the cigarette bouncing up and down as he spoke. He plucked the stick from his mouth and grinned, “Out for a smoke,” he said shaking the lighter.
Lauren absentmindedly nodded, “I kind of thought that, “she said a grin slightly tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“You’re here for Ike,” he half stated half questioned.
Lauren shook her head yes, “He called before.”
“I heard.”
“Yeah. So, I should probably uh, get to him.”
“Oh. Right…,” Taylor continued to stand there for a few moments; “So,” he said taking a step forward so that his chest pushed against hers. He took a breath in, “See ya around.”
As he began walking down the steps Lauren called after him, “did you want to tell me something Tay?”
He looked up and smiled, “No,” he lied.
“Oh. Okay, later.”
“Yeah. Bye.”

Lauren felt confused and gave a sigh as she walked into Ike’s apartment which would have been completely dark if it weren’t for a scattering of candles. “Ike?” she called, turning on the lights.
All of a sudden Barry White began playing as Ike came suddenly sliding into the room in white socks, boxers, and apparently last year’s Superman cape he never bothered to ‘return’ (we all know he bought it for himself…in March).
He managed to stop right in front of her and grab a baguette to sing into; giving a great Michael Jackson twist he dropped to one knee and let his head fall.
Lauren raised her eyebrow, “Aww baby, was that all for me?”
Ike stood up and smiled, “Yes mon cherie, t’was my impromptu performance fueled by my love for Lauren and her nudity.”
“But I’m not naked.”
“Yet, mon cherie, YET” he corrected.
“I thought you said you were going to return this,” she tugged at the satin cape.
Ike darted his eyes away, “Uh…it’s not mine, it’s Zac’s.”
“Zac’s,” Lauren repeated dubiously.
“Yeah. Sometimes when you’re not around he’ll dress up in this, naked save the socks and the cape and dance around to Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. It’s actually a really moving performance. He could go Gold.”
“Have you been smoking your brother’s stash again?”
Ike grinned and did a spin, “I feel man-pretty inside! To the Bedroom, Ho!” and he ran and slid out of the room ala super-hero style.
Lauren chose to stay where she was in the meanwhile removing the numerous layers of clothing she had worn to keep warm.
Ike eventually poked his head back into the room, “I said HO, come on! Come onnnnnnnnn” he motioned with his head.
“I heard you,” she said, removing her shoes.
“Then why aren’t you Ho’ing…I mean coming?” Ike asked walking back towards her.
Lauren shrugged her shoulders, “do you love me?”
Ike smiled and placed his arms around her shoulders, “of course I love you.”
“No I mean, do you really love me; like can’t see life without me?”
“What’s this all about?
Lauren looked away and found her view on a picture of Taylor, “nothing sorry. I guess I just uh watched too many romantic movies today or something.” She explained lying through her teeth.
“Oh. That’s okay baby, I still love you,” he said hugging her into his chest so that she laid her head against him.
I can’t believe the air hasn’t caught on fire or the room isn’t vibrating. It’s…it’s like I’m actually living you know? Like all this time I didn’t know what life was until I’m with you.
“No, it’s nothing at all,” she whispered feeling desperately sad.


to be continued....