Brian and Maeve

She just laughed 'See? Making yourself useful already!'

'Yeah,' I replied 'Gotta earn my keep. Hey, I'm gonna get some gas for this,' I pointed to the mower, ' You need anything?'

'Nope. Go.'

A brief scrounge through the shed found me a gas can (empty) and, after a brief trip to the nearby station, I had a can full of gas. Once I filled the tank and primed it, it started right up. About halfway through tackling the back yard, Maeve showed up in a totally hot sundress and handed me a glass. 'Here,' she said. 'Cold lemonade.' I drank it greedily, not realizing how dehydrated I'd become.

'Thanks,' I told her. 'That was nice of you.'

'How long until the pool is ready?'

'It should be about done. Just check the Ph and, if it's good, go.'

She did and, less than a minute later, stripped off her sundress revealing a nice one-piece suit that fit her really well. She jumped in and squealed 'Oh dear LORD the water's cold. I thought you said it was ready!'

I could see a faint outline of her nipples reacting to the cold water 'It's ready,' I said as she climbed out and quickly got a towel to warm up with.

'We have VERY different ideas of what "ready" means when it comes to pools. They should be just barely warm,' she said toweling off her hair. 'Like an inviting bath. Not freezing cold.'

Without a comment, I finished mowing and put everything away. 'Hey, when is grocery day? I need to get some food.'

'Whenever you want. I go on Wednesday afternoons cause I get done early.'

'Okay.' I was going to go today because I was sure I'd seen a old grill in the shed and I was determined to get it to work. After a trip to the store to get some basics plus a good looking steak, corn and potato salad, I went back and pulled out the grill. Maeve was nowhere to be found when I returned so I presumed she was busy. Cleaning the grill and getting it to usable status was a chore but worth it when I lit the thing and started the steak and corn. About 20 minutes later and they were done. I took everything into the small kitchen and served myself a big platter full of steak, corn and salad. That was I heard her yell 'Knock, Knock!'

'Come on down,' I replied.

'That smells amazing.'

'Thanks,' I replied. 'It's nothing fancy but it does the job.'

She took a smaller bit of the meal and sat at the small bar with me. 'Mmm!' she said. 'This steak tastes great. I didn't even know the grill was in there.'

'Not surprised, it was behind a door and covered in a tarp. The Ark of the covenant was easier to find.'

'Yeah, too bad it was the Nazis who found it.'

'OHO! So there is a bit of a nerd in there.'

She laughed and said 'guilty as charged. Hey, can I ask you something?'

'Sure.'

'I don't want it to be weird or anything so you don't have to answer.

'Oooookay.'

'Were... are... are you... planning on bringing your girlfriend here?'

Oh. 'Ummm... No. Can't.'

'Oh sure, it's totally okay...'

'No, I mean I can't because... I don't have one. A girlfriend, that is.'

'Why not? OH! I'm sorry! That's none of my... Oh hell...' She got up and started to leave.

'No! It's okay,' I said rushing to get around her. 'I don't mind talking about it. Not much to talk about really.'

'Although, if I have to talk about my lack of a girlfriend that means YOU have to talk about your boyfriend. Fair is fair.'

'Lack of.'

What? 'What? You don't have a boyfriend?'

'Nope.'

There was a part of my brain that wanted to sing and dance around in joy that she was available. The part of my brain that won was the part that said 'Why not?'

'Well,' she said sheepishly. 'No one ever seemed interested.'

Again, two parts of the brain and the one that won said 'were they stupid, blind or both?'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'That means that those guys would have to be stupid, blind or both to not be interested in at least dating. Look at you!'

'Yeah,' she said pathetically. 'Look at the pale, red-headed doofus.'

'Now Maeve, have I ever lied to you?'

'Not that I know of. I think, sometimes you're not telling me the whole truth but that's different.'

'Then listen to me. You are, without a doubt, one of the most amazingly beautiful women I've ever seen.' She began to blush heavily. 'I'm surprised, no stunned, that no one has asked you to be a model. I know men, including me, that would have beaten each other to bloody pulps just to get to ask you out.' Oops.

'Then why haven't they?' She asked with tears beginning to flow.

'Stupidity. Has to be.' I knew it was in my case. 'Or, it could be intimidation.'

'Intimidation, what do you mean?'

'Okay, I'm totally breaking the Guy Code by telling you this but, Guys are just larger boys. If they see a woman who has a great face, great figure and is smart, they think "wow, I'd sure like a girl like that, but she's too good for me so why bother." It's stupid but it's the truth.'

'So, what, they want dumb girls?

'Some do, but mostly they settle for girls they think they can get rather than, to borrow a phrase, going for the gold.'

'Thanks Brian. For being honest.'

'Now my turn.'

uh-oh. 'Same answer. No interest.'

'Oh.'

I began to clean up the small kitchen. It was solidly dark now; the lights in the pool glistened and wavered in the night.

She said 'Thanks for the dinner.'

'Thanks for the place.' Then she went upstairs. I'd hoped she hadn't caught my slip. It could have been embarrasing if she had.

He slid into her damp hole easily, only meeting resistance when he found her hymen. A true virgin. 'Go ahead. I know it will hurt but I'm ready.' He pumped in and out a few more times to get everything good and slippery then drew sharply back and thrust through. She let out a sharp cry and then more sighs as he repeatedly massaged her insides.

The week went by quickly in a sea of classes. I saw Rachel and Dennis a couple of times and they looked incredibly happy and I told them so. On Friday I met in the study room with Maeve and, somehow, she seemed different. 'Are you okay?'

'Yeah,' she said distractedly. 'Long week. Lots to think about.'

'Anything I can help with?'

'Not really. Just... Guy problem'

Damn! 'Oh? Someone bothering you? I could...'

'No, no. Nothing like that.'

'Look Maeve. I like to think we're at least casual friends by now so, whatever it is, you can tell me.'

She looked in my face with a wistful look and said 'okay. There's this guy. He seems nice and I kinda like him but, I get the feeling he's not interested in me. I know you said they'd have to be blind or stupid and I know he's not blind. I've caught him glancing at me a few times when he thought I wasn't looking. I'm pretty sure he's not stupid either because I've talked with him and he seems to be smart and even a bit funny. I know we like a few of the same things and I'd like to know more. The problem is, he seems like he's, I don't know, afraid?'

'Hmmm... If I had to guess, and I do, from what you've told me it sounds like this guy, we'll call him Bob, it sounds like Bob sees you as a friend and is afraid that, if he tries for more, he'll screw up the friendship and lose everything.'

'That doesn't make sense.'

'That's because you're not a guy. Like I said Guys are big boys and boys don't, or can't, see past what they have. If Bob has a friend that's a girl and then finds a Girlfriend, the girlfriend will put the hex on the friend-girl because she's seen as competition.'

'That's true enough.'

'And,' I continued, 'If Bob has a friend who is a girl and then tries to upgrade her to Girlfriend and fails, he loses the friend. So, the only way Bob wins is to keep the friend a friend.'

'Can't the friend who's a girl be "upgraded" successfully?'

'Oh, sure, it's possible. Just exceedingly rare. If the upgrade happens, there's typically only one outcome.'

'Oh?'

'Yep.'

'What is that?' She asked sounding scared.

'Worst one. Happiness. Guys can't stand it.'

She glared at me but said 'So what do I do if I want to force the issue?'

'Whew. Well, first you have to be prepared for rejection and losing Bob, not only as a potential boyfriend but as a friend altogether. If he's not ready for or doesn't want that next step, he'll bolt for the hills and you'll probably never see him again.

'Second, sounds like you're going to have to force the issue. Don't wait for him to come to you. Go to him. Ask him out. Tell him what it is you want, be specific and use small words because, at this point, his brain will be in panic mode and trying really hard to crawl out his ears or get him to run or both. Above all, be persistent. If you ask him and he says no but doesn't run, ask again. Keep doing it until he either says yes or runs. He's not gonna like it but, there ya go.

"Finally and most importantly, don't use "Woman Speak".'

'Woman speak? What's that?'

'A lot of women use it. I don't know if you do or not. Basically, rather than saying something like "Hey, take out the trash" they'll say something like "wow look at all this trash" implying that the other person should be ashamed about it enough that they'll take it out. This doesn't work with guys. Guys, despite everything, are simple. They generally say what they mean and expect others to as well. If you "Woman speak" him, he's likely not going to get it. Use plain, simple language and say what you mean.'

'Wow. And here I thought women were complicated.'

'Oh they are. At least to men.'

'I'm going to have to think about that. Thanks, Brian.'

I'd just told her how to leave for another guy. All I could say was 'Sure. What are friends for?'

I spent the rest of the session in a fog and barely heard whatever she was saying. I don't know why I felt this way, it's not like she was MY girlfriend but, at least to me, she was a friend and, what I hadn't, couldn't tell her was that if the girl has a friend who's a guy finds a boyfriend, lots of times those friendships fall apart, too.

The strokes were deep and hard, our bodies meeting solidly each time. 'Oh...' she sighed, 'yes. More. Harder. Make me yours.' He followed her directions and plowed into her harder and faster. In only a moment, her back arched and her mouth opened in a silent 'O'. She was orgasming. He slowed, relishing the feeling of her internal muscles spasming and gripping him. 'What... What else?' she asked when she could breath again. "I want... to try everything.'

He pulled out briefly, grabbed her hips and turned her on her stomach, pulled her towards me to raise her beautiful ass, then re-entered her smoothly.

'Oh! That... feels... different.'

Again, he moved in and out quickly and solidly and she soon had her second orgasm, this time with low moans of pleasure. 'Please,' she sighed as she calmed again, 'I want you to... have me. Every part of me. I am yours.'

'There is every variety of positions but, really, only one more place' He said tenderly fingering her tightest of holes.

'Is that even possible,' she asked with a bit of trepidation.

'It is possible, some women like it and some don't. You don't have to if you're not comfortable with it.'

'Please. I want everything.'

It was several days later when she came to me, 'Hey Brian, could I ask a favor?'

'Sure.'

'There's a thing for the college and I'm supposed to go. They said I could bring someone but I don't really have anyone to bring. Would you want to go?'

'What kind of "thing" is it?'

'It's like a party but with lots of the upper tier people, not only from our school but from other ones, too. They all get together and schmooze. Make contacts and such. There's supposed to be food and lots of talking. It'd be nice to have at least one person there I know.'

'Ah, a Penguin party. Umm... Sure, why not.' I adopted a formal tone and a bad English accent and said 'Ah, it would be my most honorable pleasure to escort the lady in this most onerous task if she would consent to have this churl in such a role.'

She laughed and said 'great. Saturday at six, Be dressed and ready. They're supposed to send a car.'

Well, I didn't have a suit that fit so I went and set up a rental, looked good in it, too, If I do say so myself. I didn't go for traditional black but, instead this dark pearly gray with a black shirt and light gray tie. It was like I'd taken the traditional dark suit and inverted all the colors. Cool. I went and got my hair trimmed and spent a few dollars on an inexpensive locket on a chain for Maeve as a surprise.

Six pm came quickly and as, I ascended to the main floor, I heard the car pull up outside. 'Maeve, the car is here.'

'Coming!'

I opened the door to see a large black town car with the driver just getting out. wow. 'We'll be right out,' I told him and he nodded at me. I turned back and my heart nearly stopped when I saw her. She was wearing this gorgeous dark green sleeveless dress that had some sort of shimmery panel at the neck. It hugged every curve and stopped just above the ankles. Her hair had been tamed and was up but then cascaded down to her left shoulder.

'Do I look okay?'

'You look... incredible. Every other women there is gonna hate your guts.'

'What? Why?'

'Because a lot of women can't wear that color green and pull it off. On you, with your green eyes and coppery hair, you look like some Irish fantasy come to life. Come here, I got something for you.'

She approached, blushing, and said 'you didn't have to do that.'

I turned her around, gently draped the locket around her slender neck and fastened it. 'There,' I said. 'Now you're finished.'

She looked in the mirror and saw the small silvery half-moon sitting at the top of her breast bone and I think I saw a brief tear form as she said 'it's perfect. Thank you.'

We went to the car and drove to a very posh hotel ballroom where the event was taking place. As we walked around talking, I could practically feel the loathing pouring off the other women and, also not surprisingly, the men were taking notice as well as she drove through them. Now I knew where the phrase 'leaving them in your wake' came from. Maeve was a force of nature on everyone that night. At one point, there was some light music playing and she asked me if I would dance with her. 'I'm not sure it's that king of party,' I replied.

'I don't care. I've never danced before and I want to. Please?' The please went straight to my brain and I couldn't help but remember the scenes in my head.

'Sure, let's go. Fair warning, though, I'm not great.' I led her out to an open space, took her hand and led her in slow steps around the floor. A few people looked at us like we were nuts but I didn't care. A few couples even joined us after a moment or two. In a minute, the music shifted to a slower pace and she came in and rested her head against my neck. I was the happiest I could remember, having this vision in green in my arms and just gently swaying to the rhythms of the music. After another minute or two, the music stopped and all the dancers applauded each other. I led Maeve out of the open space and to a table.

'Thank you Brian, that was nice. Thanks for being easy on the new girl.'

'No thanks needed, that was about all I know.'

The rest of the night passed in a flood of tedious speeches and, none too soon, we were on our way home. When we arrived I walked her to the front door, told her 'Thanks for inviting me. I felt out of place but you made it great. Goodnight.'

She smiled a wan smile that almost looked sad and said 'goodnight, Brian. Thanks to you too.'

I walked to my room in a haze, carefully removed the suit and plopped, dazed, into bed.

Gradually and slowly, he pushed in. She was very tight and let out a small yip 'Are you okay?'

'Yes,' she replied. 'I'm fine. Go.'

He pulled out slightly and applied a big glob of lubricant to the hole, then pushed back in, again slowly. This time, he slid in easily and, soon enough, they met. He was fully in her. He slowly stroked out and back in. She sighed and moaned lightly.'It feels... different.'

'Do you want to stop?'

'No.'

Dammit! I woke up early for a Saturday and quickly went out for a run, something I rarely did anymore, but I had to get out of there. I stretched and did a quick warm up, and then started off. What could I do? Part of me wanted it so badly it hurt and another part was desperately afraid of it. Afraid of ruining what I had. The Girl friend dilemma. Not to mention Bob, who I instinctively hated, whoever he was. My head swirled and swam, my feet pounding the pavement. Before I knew it, I was back at my old place. Maybe Dennis could help. I stopped and massaged my legs, I was sore from the run. I walked up to the apartment and knocked. It was Rachel who answered. 'Oh, hey Brian. What's up?'

I tried not to notice that she'd answered the door in a half shirt and panties. Her house, her rules I guess. 'I was hoping to talk to Dennis about something.'

'Oh. He's in the shower but you can come in.' she backed out of the way and I walked into what used to be my apartment. I barely recognized the place. The walls had been cleaned or painted, the floor was clean and it looked like they'd replaced our natty old couch with a nicer one. Not to mention the big TV on the wall.

'Wow, I barely recognize the place.'

'Yeah, it's amazing how much better a place can look when there's not shit all over the place. What's going on?'

'Girl problems.'

'Oh, well then, leave Dennis out of it. Spill.'

I didn't know Rachel that well but, maybe that would help. 'There's this girl. She was, well still is I guess, my math TA and... Well....'

'You want to do her.'

'NO! Well, yeah but not just like that... I dunno. I feel like... Okay, I know this is gonna sound weird and probably creepy but, I've been having these incredible dreams,'

'EW! I don't wanna know!'

'But, the thing is, they're all her. Not only that but it's like I'm living it. When they're happening it feels as real as this.'

'Do I know this seductress?'

'I don't know. Her name is Maeve.'

She gave me a strange look and said 'Long, red hair?'

'Yeah, that's her.'

'Okay,' she sighed. 'I know her and she's talked to me a bit. Tell me what it is you're looking for.'

'I want... I don't know what I want. I feel like I'm stuck in the nowhere zone between having a friend and having a girlfriend. I don't know what she wants and if I push too hard or too far, the friendship will break. I just... want her to be happy.'

She muttered something under her breath, 'okay, Brian. I need you to listen carefully. Maeve is not glass. She won't break. She's just... inexperienced. I told her that she would probably need to make the first move but I'm not sure that she's capable of that. She's not like some other girls that will come on to you. But, if and when she commits to something, she gives it all she has. If you get physical with her, she's going to commit to it. If you're not willing to do that, BE that. You need to tell her. If you ARE, you need to tell her that, too.

'And I'll tell you another thing. Based on what she told me, I think she's ready. So, the question really is "Can you be that for her"? Can you commit to her, a hundred percent?'

'I...' I didn't have an answer. Which, of course meant that I DID and it was 'no'.

'Think about it before you make your final decision, Brian. But MAKE that decision.'

Dennis walked out of the bathroom wearing a towel and said 'Oh, hey Brian. I thought I heard talking out here. Rachel, Why are you only half dressed? Get some clothes on! What's up Bri?'

'Well, I was just talking to Rachel about this girl I'm seeing.'

'Oh, well I bet she gave good advice. Whatever she said, I second.'

I smiled and said 'thanks,' and walked out. I walked around for a while just thinking 'Shit.' I knew what I wanted. Hell I'd seen it in my mind. But I wasn't sure I could commit 100%. I needed to end it before she got hurt and my feelings, well my feelings be damned.