High School Harem Pt. 04

"Hey, wait a minute..." Katie said, all of us turning our attention to her. "Isn't putting cameras in a school locker room supposed to be illegal or something?" she asked.

"Yes, very." Molly responded.

"Ok, so surely Coach wouldn't say anything, right? Because she'd get into trouble too." Katie replied.

"That's true." Molly said.

"That was my thinking too, but also, something else happened after she sent Amanda away." I started.

"What?" the girls asked simultaneously.

I then went about describing my sexual encounter with Coach Jones to them. I didn't go into full detail, just the cliff notes version. The girls listened attentively and when I finished, they seemed surprisingly unsurprised by it and relatively okay with it.

"Figures, she was probably horny and looking for some action. I mean, who puts cameras in a girls locker room, unless they're a pervert looking to spy on some naked girls? She's certainly complained enough about her husband to anyone who'll listen. And then she happened to catch a hot naked well-hung guy on camera too, she must've thought she hit the jackpot." Amanda finally spoke, seemingly feeling better.

Hearing Amanda put it into words, it all made sense.

"So, what? She'll keep quiet so long as you keep having sex with her?" Molly asked.

"I don't know, I guess? She didn't really come right out and say it." I told her.

The girls nodded in response, but they looked unconvinced and still worried.

"I don't think she'll say anything, but just in case..." I took a deep breath. "I want you to know, that if she does report us, I'll take all the blame." I said to the 4 girls with resolve.

Amanda, Erin, and Katie looked at me, stunned by my statement. There was no way I was going let them be scewed over because of me. Whatever the consequences, I could handle, but I would spare them by any means means necessary. So of course, me being my typcal self-loathing self, I was ready and willing to take the blame for everything.

"No..." Molly spoke suddenly. "We can't let you do that. You know what happened last time." she continued, showing a look of real concern and unease.

The other 3 girls looked at Molly questioningly, then looked at me.

I knew immediately what she was referring to. Only last time, I wasn't willing to take the blame, it just got placed on me. But she was right, there was little difference.

"Wait, what do you mean last time?" Amanda asked Molly.

"Yeah." Katie chimed in.

Molly took a deep breath, realizing her mistake.

"Look, Alan, I'm sorry, but you already told me. I think you should tell them, they deserve to know." she said.

I could hardly be mad at her for pushing me into revealing my secret, after all she was right, the other girls did deserve to know.

"What are you talking about?" Amanda asked again.

"Of course he already told her whatever it is, cuz they're all lovey-dovey..." Katie chimed in teasingly.

"Shh.. shut up, no we're not." Molly exclaimed nervously.

"Molly and Alan sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G..." Katie starting singing the old playground rhyme.

"Shh.. what are you, 5?" Molly interupted her teasing chant, putting her hand over Katie's mouth to muffle her words.

I couldn't help but smile while watching them, they really did act like sisters. I appreciated Katie's attempt at levity. Her childlike playful antics never ceased to lift the spirits of everyone around her.

"Okay, seriously, what did she mean?" Amanda said, turning to look at me.

As much as the moment between Molly and Katie was adorable and refreshing, I knew it was time to get serious once again.

"Yeah, Molly's right, it's time I tell you all how I came to be in this school." I said, drawing the attention of the room.

Amanda, Erin, and Katie listened intently as I told them about my past. Pretty much rehashing the whole story I'd told Molly the other day. The whole time I stayed mindful of their facial expressions, nervous of their reaction.

"So, this girl Maria, she was one of the girls on the other team in our match yesterday?" Katie asked after I finished my tale.

I nodded a simple "yes" in response to Katie.

"Wow.. what a bitch.. makes me even madder that we lost to them." Katie said with a look of disappointment.

"Yeah, she sounds like a bitch. I kinda wanna find her and kick her ass." said the usually quiet Erin.

I was glad to hear Katie and Erin's responses, they seemed to be on my side, which felt nice. I only awaited Amanda's response, hoping it'd be as positive as her friends'.

"Well, jeez, Alan... you shoulda told us sooner..." Amanda said with a sigh.

Her initial response was a bit disheartening, I once again felt nervous as she went on.

"I'm sorry that all that stuff happened to you before.. but I mean, you had to know we'd have you back." she continued.

It was like a roller coaster, first she had me feeling down, but then she came right back and lifted me up. She was right, I really should have told them sooner.

"Yeah, we've all got your back, Alan." the other 3 girls said in agreement.

"And so, Molly's right.. We're not gonna let you take all the blame and put yourself through all that bullshit again. We're your friends, and cheesy as it sounds, friends stick together." Amanda said.

Molly, Erin, and Katie nodded in agreement with Amanda, each of them giving me a warm smile.

I suddenly felt as though I were in a dream. I was so overwhelmed by their support. I mean, I'd never experienced anything quite like this. All my old "friends" turned their backs on me, but these girls were so trusting and supportive. It suddenly felt disrepectful to refer to them as a "harem" they were so much more than that. It was obvious then, that these girls were my real friends.

"okay, you win, I won't take the blame. We stick together.." I said with a sigh. "gosh.. I had no idea I have such good friends." I continued with a warm smile of my own.

We concluded our meeting with a big group hug before the girls left my room, cheesy and cliché I know, but hey, we were all feeling good so I think the group hug was justified.

When the girls.. wait no, my friends left my room, I was once again alone with my thoughts, but I wasn't feeling down like usual, no I felt pretty damn good. This whole weekend has been one hell of a roller coaster ride, I said to myself.

I sat at my computer and turned on some music, just to keep the mood going as I browsed the web, checking my social media and what not. I logged into Facebook and saw that I had a message, it was another from Maria. But I wasn't gonna haul off and punch my monitor this time, so I just opened the message and read it silently to myself.

Hey, Alan, I have to leave this afternoon and would like the chance to talk before I go. Can we please meet?

I read the message and actually remained calm, I didn't lose my shit, so I'd say that's pretty calm. I thought about it for a moment. And thanks to her newfound integrity she'd shown by telling my mother the truth the day before, I decided I would grant her simple request. Not that I felt obligated, especially not after what she and her parents had put me through, but hell, I was feeling good.

Alright, you know where the campus fountain is? Near the admissions building? Meet me there in about 5 minutes.

I knew she'd know the place, it was pretty hard to miss, especially since she'd been to the admissions building to see my mom the day before.

Okay, I'll be there, thanks for this.

I read her reply, then closed out the browser on my pc and got up from my chair. It was just past noon and I didn't have anything better to do, so meeting her wouldn't be cutting into anything. I left my room and began making my out of the dorm to start the long walk to our agreed upon spot. I walked to the place, thinking about how this meeting would play out. What would I say? What would she say?

As I approached the fountain I saw Maria sitting on one of the benches, waiting for me. The trip had only taken me a little over 5 minutes, so I knew she wasn't waiting long.

When she saw me she immediately stood up and greeted me with a hug. I accepted the hug, because I didn't want to be an asshole, but then she tried to kiss me and I recoiled, gently pushing her off me. She looked a bit disappointed, but I think she understood why. As for me, I'd just refused a kiss from a pretty girl, so I actually felt pretty proud of myself. Given, it was from a girl who'd fucked me over rather hard in the past, but hey, it's the little victories.

We took a seat on the bench, no one else was around, so we could talk privately there.

"So, what did you wanna talk about, Maria?" I said, opting to get straight to the point rather than catching up.

"Well, as I'm sure you've heard by now, I went and saw your mom yesterday." she said.

"Yeah, and?" I said, keeping it terse and on point.

"And, well, I just wanted to apologize to you personally. I know how much trouble I caused you, and I'm sorry. I know you'll never forgive me, but I just had to say it." she said, tears beginning to form her eyes.

Admittedly, I'd always had a weakness for girls crying, I just couldn't stand seeing them upset. But upon seeing this particular girl's tears, I felt nothing. I hope that doesn't make me a bad person, and it shouldn't, she really had fucked me over big time, why should I feel sympathetic for her?

"Then, why did you lie in the first place?" I asked, surprised by my own coldness.

"I don't know." she said, trying to hold back her tears.

"How can you not know? It's a pretty reasonable question, don't ya think?" I said firmly.

"Because..!" she exclaimed, tears flooding from her eyes. "You know how my parents are, they made me tell that stupid fucking lie! They threatened to disown me and kick me out on the street as soon as I turned 18, if I didn't go along with whatever they said! And then even after I went along with them, they still treated me like shit. I couldn't go a single fucking day without being referred to as a skank and all kinds of other awful names, by my mom and dad of all people! Viciously mocking me day in and day out for every little thing I said and did!" she was fully sobbing by the time she finished her rant.

I was taken aback. I knew how strict and overbearing her parents could be, but I never knew they could be so cruel. God damn my weakness for a girl's tears, I began to feel for her as she sobbed right in front of me. Then, when she lifted her arms to try and dry her tears, her long sleeves rode up, revealing several small scars on each of her wrists. She'd been cutting herself and wearing long sleeves to try and hide it. I instantly felt horrible for how cold I'd been at first. Here I was, this whole time thinking only of myself and my own woes, and I'd never even stopped to consider her and think about what she must be going through. And even going so far as talking about what bitch she was when telling my new friends the story. What a piece of shit, I am.

"Hey, look, it's alright. I forgive you. And I'm sorry, I had no idea how rough you had it." I said in a soft tone, putting my hand on her back to try and reassure her.

Maria responded by wrapping me in a warm hug, burying her face in my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her in return and let her cry into my shoulder.

"I never really blamed you for what happened, you know. I sort of always figured it was your mom and dad who pressured you. But damn, I didn't know how cruel they could be, I'm so sorry you had to endure that. Just know, I really appreciate you coming clean to my mom. Really, thank you, from the bottom of my heart." I said truthfully.

She continued crying for a good long while until she finally calmed down. We then spent the next few minutes making small talk, catching up and all that, trying my best to lighten the mood and cheer her up.

When the time had come for her be to leaving because the bus would be arriving to pick her and the rest of team up, I gave her one last hug before we parted. I also gave her my new cell number and told her to call or text me anytime she wanted to talk or was feeling down. We parted ways and I couldn't help but wonder if she was gonna be okay. I hated the idea of her having to return home to her parents, but I hoped she would remember she could talk to me.

I walked back to the dorm, cursing this weekend. So many ups and downs, and now the latest downer. I guess the roller coaster just had to have another go before the weekend was over.

To be continued...

(Sorry to end on such a gloomy note. Hopefully no one is overly depressed by it, I promise the next chapter will pick things up. After all, this story is far from over, there will be plenty more ups and downs along the way, but I hope you'll stick with me to the end.)