It was twilight and raining as they drove through Possum Springs.

Trent felt a strange surreality settle over him as he led Claire back to his place. She was feeling a little paranoid so he'd made sure to text her his address in the unlikely event that they got separated. He wasn't sure how to feel about how it had all gone down. Even with the awkwardness of their initial interactions, he couldn't say that he regretted them. Claire obviously had a lot to work through, even more than he'd realized, and if he could be a part of that, then all the better. But he wasn't sure that the situation with Chris could've gone better, realistically.

He suppose he could've hid somewhere, but where that Chris wouldn't look? It was possible, but unlikely, that Claire could have successfully booted him out. He obviously had no respect for her, and would have likely just looked in the closet or under the bed, and then found him, and then he'd be in a way worse position to defend himself, physically speaking. And the guy really would've laid hands on him if he hadn't pulled that knife out, which was obviously a worse outcome. No, he thought that was probably as good as it could've gone.

But that didn't mean it had gone well.

They managed to make it to his place without a problem though. Bea and Ann and Mae were all waiting for them at the door as they parked and headed in.

"So are you okay?" Mae asked. "Did you kick Chris's ass?"

"No, I didn't, and we're physically okay," Trent replied.

"How are you, Claire?" Ann asked.

"I'm fine," she replied. "I mean, a little freaked, but I'm otherwise okay...except for my pussy. Wow, that feels weird to say out loud to you all."

"He fucking wrecked it, didn't he?" Mae asked.

Bea sighed. "Mae, perhaps not the best time."

"It's okay. I'm...getting used to the idea of hooking up with a guy with three girlfriends and then talking about the hookup with them," Claire replied. "And yes, he did. But I basically begged him to. I haven't been horny in, like, months. And then all of a sudden-so horny. So...uh, thanks. For allowing it to happen. All of you," Claire replied awkwardly.

"You're welcome," Ann said. "Come on, sit down. We were gonna order some Taco Buck. You interested?"

"Actually, yeah. I'm fucking starving after all that."

"What actually happened?" Bea asked as they moved to the living room and got situated.

"Claire and I went on a date. She got crazy horny in the middle of it, we jetted back to her place, fucked like rabbits in heat, and then after a shower, her brother just fucking walks in, finds me, and started coming after me," Trent replied.

"Yeah, basically that," Claire said.

"How'd you stop him?" Bea asked.

"Uh, well...I pulled out my knife and put it to his throat."

"Whoa, badass," Mae said.

"You didn't, like, cut him, did you?" Bea asked.

"No. Thankfully we convinced him to leave without actual violence," he replied.

"Whew, that's good at least."

"Why don't you call the police on his ass?" Claire asked suddenly.

"It would be a really big hassle and I guess I figured I was doing your family a favor?" Trent replied with a shrug. "Also, I was bluffing about the cameras at the Pickaxe. Which I'm surprised he doesn't know about."

"He probably assumes my dad's got a hidden camera somewhere," Bea replied. "But with me and my dad as witnesses for you and Mae, and Molly being Molly, I'm sure we could fuck his day up. His year, really."

"I guess...in truth, I don't want to make an enemy for life? I mean, I know he seems like he's got it out for me now, but can you imagine what a fucking psycho-fuck he'd be if I put him away for a year or two? Or longer? When he got out of prison, unless he had some kind of goddamned religious conversion, he'd come after my ass. And either kill me, or I'd kill him. And I don't want to kill anyone. I'd like to get through life without killing anyone," Trent replied. He looked at Claire. "Is there anything we can do to get him to fuck off?"

She considered it for a long moment. "I don't know," she answered finally. "Maybe. I'd have to have a real conversation. But not for a few days at least. He needs to calm down. I'm surprised he hasn't called or texted me or anything. But...would it be too much to ask to get a little baked and bum food off you? I gotta be in at Telezoft tomorrow at nine and I don't want to."

"Absolutely yes, you can," Trent replied as the others nodded and agreed.

"You're a good person, Claire, and a good friend," Ann said. "You helped me through a lot of shit. And you were there when almost no one else was. We have a good place here, and you are welcome."

"Yeah, this is the house of fun and relaxation," Mae said with a grin. "Just let your worries die when you walk through the door."

Bea was firing up a weed pipe. "She's seriously telling the truth. I came here in the beginning when I was having a meltdown and the two days following it were just...fucking paradise. I still had shit to deal with, but being here, I could forget, just for a little while, and actually relax. Here. Just relax, girl." She passed her the pipe.

"Thank you. A lot. So much. This seriously means just...so much to me," Claire murmured as she took a puff on the pipe and Trent grabbed his laptop to begin putting together the order.

"You're welcome," Ann replied.

"Yeah, and I imagine it's a lot easier to relax after fucking him," Mae said. "Can he eat pussy or what?"

Claire's eyes widened and she began to respond, then inhaled wrong and began coughing up a storm. When she got it under control, she nodded. "Oh my fucking God, yes," she managed, coughing a bit more.

"We taught him well," Ann murmured, reaching out and running a finger along his jawline.

"That you have," he agreed.

"God, one of the shittiest parts of getting the internet is learning just how many dudes out there think it's fucking weak or 'beta' to eat pussy," Mae muttered. "I had enough reasons not to like how dudes in general act about sex, but...that's really disappointing."

"Also fucking stupid," Trent said.

"Yep, I'll do just about anything for that tongue," Mae said, then giggled.

"Here, order what you want." He passed her the laptop.

"Ha ha! You're gonna regret that because I want a dozen motherfucking tacos!"

They passed around the pipe and the laptop for another five minutes before the order was put in and then everyone relaxed and sat back.

"Hey, so...I was hoping to get some opinions on something," Claire said.

"Fire away," Ann replied.

"You're all south...or north, whatever, of the, uh, I don't know how to put it...normal sexual relationship monogamy line?"

"I'm way far away," Mae said. "Pansexual poly girl who for some reason doesn't experience jealousy at all here."

"Bisexual and, apparently, poly," Ann said. "So yeah."

"I'm by far the closest. I'm straight," Bea replied, "but apparently cool with my boyfriend dating and banging other girls. So yeah, why?"

"I kinda had a breakthrough...breakdown? Whatever. After the sex and, long story short, Trent suggested that I might be aromantic. And...I don't know. Like-it kind of made sense? Makes sense? I-" She sighed and took another pull on the pipe. "Is this too much? I'm sorry. I've always been bad with sharing, but I got kind of used to telling Ann, like, everything. And, I know she vouches for you all, and that's cool, but we're still-we don't really know each other that well, and I don't want to just get crazy heavy with you all of a sudden…"

"Donna-I'm sorry. Claire. I know it's weird, and it's probably kind of weird given you used to babysit me, but it's okay. All four of us have gone through so motherfucking goddamned much over the past several months. Like so much. Like, we can't even talk about most of it. That much," Mae said.

"Wait, why can't you talk about it?" she asked. "What could you possibly-" She paused and her eyes went wide. "Hold on...was it that cult shit that was all over the news last month?"

"No," Bea replied.

"...I think you're lying. But...I also kind of feel like it's the kind of lying that's for my benefit? Like, don't ask for answers to scary questions. So...you know what, you all are being nice as hell to me, so I'll just let it go."

"Thank you," Bea said. "That is very appreciated."

"I'm sorry, I interrupted," she murmured.

"It's okay. So, basically, I was saying: we've been to hell and back."

"I guess so, Trent did get shot…" she said.

"Yeah. So, my point is, we're all really, really honest with each other. Besides all the crazy shit, we've all just broken down a lot of emotional barriers. Bea and I had some bad blood and we dealt with it, and Ann had a lot of bad things that happened to her and she's been opening up about it, and Trent too, and just...there's been a lot of crying and healing and really honest conversation," Mae said. "So feel comfy talking honest here."

"It just occurred to me that, with the exception of Jen, everyone woman I've gotten intimate with in Possum Springs has cried around me," Trent muttered. "I don't know how to feel about that."

"Feel good about it, Trent," Claire said. "As the most recent inductee of 'women you've banged who have also cried in front of you', I can say with confidence that I would not have cried in front of you if I didn't feel comfortable and safe with you."

"She's completely right," Ann said.

"Yep," Bea agreed.

"Mmm-hmm!" Mae managed, as she was in the middle of taking a long drag on the pipe. She started coughing, but held up a thumb.

"Well...all right then," he replied.

"So, you're aromantic," Bea said.

"Yeah. I think. I mean, it does kinda click? I guess I was asking about your orientations because, well, I guess there probably aren't that many people that grew up in Possum Springs as anything but 'normal'," she said, making quotes with her fingers.

"I bet a lot of them aren't as normal as they present," Bea muttered.

"As someone who grew up pansexual, though I for awhile thought I was a lesbian, then bisexual, uh, yeah. I lived that experience. People are weird about it the more open you are," Mae said.

"Maybe you should talk with Jackie," Bea said.

"Yeah, actually, that'd be great. I've heard about her and seen her around town, and I saw her at that party, but we've never actually talked," Claire replied. "Ugh, I keep getting off-track. Although I guess part of the problem is I don't even know what to ask. Um. Let's say I'm aromantic. What do I, like, do about it?"

"Well, definitely do research online. I'm sure there's a lot of communities about this stuff, and they'll have advice," Bea said. "Maybe find some other aros to talk with? But…" She hesitated.

"If you're holding something back to spare my feelings, you don't have to," Claire said. "Because I feel good right now."

Bea laughed. "All right. I just don't want to seem like I'm brushing your question off. But...okay, here it is: I think it'll take a bit of time to adjust to the fact that you're aromantic, and figure out what that means to you, and what you should do about it, but you...need help with your other problems, really. Like depression."

"She's right," Ann said.

Claire sighed. "Yeah, I know. I've known for awhile, just...I mean what do I do? I probably can't afford meds and I definitely can't afford therapy. I mean I've got health insurance through the Marketplace but it's not great at all and, like, seriously? Doctor Hank? I've tried. I really did. He just told me to lose weight and exercise and get more sunlight."

"Jesus. Is that why you think you look bad naked?" Trent asked.

"No, I've always thought it. I mean, I guess when I started actually thinking about it when I was younger I was worried I was too skinny. But then I filled out and there was a window there where I was basically okay with how I looked. Then I hit like twenty two and started putting on weight and it got harder to maintain. But then I hit thirty and it's gotten a lot harder all of a sudden. But I...don't know what to do."

"We're dealing with my stupid bullshit right now," Mae said, "and we have to go to Briddle."

"It's not stupid bullshit, Mae," Trent said.

"I think it is. I hate it. I don't want to go to a doctor in fucking Briddle…"

"You just don't want to go to a doctor," Bea said. "And...I don't blame you. Women have traditionally not done well when going to the doctor. Women with mental health issues? Even worse. But...we've gotta try."

"I know, I know! But they're right. You can't just...wallow in it like I do."

"It's a lot easier for you because you don't have to work two jobs you fucking hate," Claire said. Then groaned and sighed. "Fuck! I'm sorry, that was mean."

"I mean, you're right," Mae said, "it is easier for me specifically because of that. And for other reasons. I have people supporting me. Like really supporting me. I'm so trash, I don't even have a license. You can at least drive yourself out there."

"I've gone on a journey of mental health," Bea said, "mainly trying to research ways of helping Mae. And I've learned that depressed people have a really hard time even beginning to navigate the healthcare system. For a lot of reasons. But I think you should try to find a doctor in Briddle that will take your insurance, and set something up."

"I know," she groaned. "I know that's what I have to do. It's just-my fucking job! Or jobs. Fuck! Do all of you really not have jobs?" she asked suddenly. "I'm really fucking jealous."

"I mean...we have things we do as work," Trent replied.

"...shit. I'm sorry. Holy crap. I'm really sorry. I actually just played the 'do you have a real job' card and that is so fucking bitchy." Claire hid her face. "Ugh. Fuck."

"I mean I am unemployed," Bea said.

"No, like-your guys' jobs are valid. It's just, from my perspective, having to get up and go to work six days a week in two buildings I fucking hate for similar and totally separate reasons, like...it seems like a fucking paradise. But I didn't mean it like that. Or if I did, I'm sorry and I take it back. I-I'm stoned. And stressed. And confused. And depressed-"

"Claire," Ann said, "it's okay. We tend to call people on their bullshit, but a social misstep isn't going to make us all 'get the fuck out of our house', okay?"

"I mean, I can't really call what I do a job," Mae said.

"You take it seriously enough," Trent replied.

"I'm...trying for it to be a job."

"Wait, I know Ann does, like, editing? And Trent writes books. What do you do, Mae? If you've told me, I'm sorry, it's hard for me to remember stuff."

"Oh man, don't even trip about that. My brain is Swiss cheese. I can't remember shit. I can't remember if I've told you either. I'm, uh…" She sighed and shifted around in her chair. "It sounds so dumb to actually tell people…"

"Don't be embarrassed, Mae," Bea said.

"I'm not!...okay, I am. Sort of. More like...Claire's so much older than me, it's gonna seem so fucking stupid." She winced. "Not that, like, you're old, you know?"

"It's fine, Mae. And honestly, I'm not gonna judge you. Maybe I might have a few years ago, but after all the depression and realizing how much of life is just fucking...stupid shit. Like, do what makes you happy. Tell me, I want to know."

"I'm trying to be a YouTuber who plays old horror games."

"Oh. That's...not what I thought it was going to be. Okay. How's it going?"

Mae pursed her lips, staring at Claire closely. "...what'd you think it was?"

Claire chuckled awkwardly. "Just-you know. Nothing. I don't know."

"Now I'm like really curious," Mae said.

"Actually I am, too," Trent said.

Claire sighed. "Okay. I just...thought maybe you had an OnlyFans or something."

Mae laughed loudly. "You thought I was getting naked online?! Wow!"

"Yes, please rake me over the coals of embarrassment," Claire said.

"No, I'm not-it isn't that! I'm actually complimented by that assumption. You really think people would want to see me with my clothes off, let alone pay for the opportunity?!"

"I mean...I...thought so? Obviously some people do, you have a boyfriend and a girlfriend."

"Yeah but they're weird-os," Mae replied.

"Gee thanks," Ann murmured.

"You are weird for wanting to see me naked and have sex with me. I am so not traditionally attractive," Mae said.

"Neither am I," Claire replied.

"What?! Of course you are. You're really hot," Mae said.

"No I'm not."

"You are!"

"You are," Ann said. "Not to make it weird or anything, but if I thought you were into girls at all, I would've gone after you."

"I...really?"

"Yeah, really."

"You're really pretty, Claire," Bea said. "And I'm straight."

"...um, thanks," she murmured.

"You gonna toss in on the compliment pile?" Mae asked, elbowing Trent.

"I mean gladly, it's just...I think I proved how I felt about Claire over at her place," he replied. "But yeah, you're so fucking hot. With or without clothes."

"Okay, okay," she said, "it feels weird now. But, back to what I was saying: that's cool. I think that's cool. It's not really my thing, but I can see how it would be your thing, and I think it's awesome that you're doing it, Mae. How's it going?"

"Well, I recently passed four hundred subscribers, and I've got dozens of videos up now. They're mostly averaging about a thousand views apiece at this point, so that's cool. And I've actually got some patrons on my . I'm getting like fifty bucks a month from it. Which, I know, hardly anything, but I'm amazed it's there given how little time has passed," she replied.

"That's good, Mae. I'm really happy for you." Claire smiled suddenly. "I...always kind of worried about you."

"What do you mean?"

"I...don't take this the wrong way, but I knew you were a really weird kid. But not necessarily in a bad way. Just, a way that would make it hard for you. And this place...your guys' house seems really nice. Like, it feels so warm and welcoming here. I really do feel safe here. And Trent is...way too nice. And also good at eating pussy. Like how? I'm not just, like, sex-starved so I think it's better than it really is, right?"

"Oh no, honey, you aren't," Ann said with a smirk. "He's that good."

"Yes, my lord, it's amazing," Bea agreed.

"Yeah, I'm addicted. Full blown," Mae said.

"Okay. But like, you two are good together. I mean, you all seem good together. And I'm just so glad that you all found each other, and got this whole thing going. It's...sweet. This is all so sweet. And wholesome. And cozy. And I love it."

"Thanks...do you wanna see my gaming setup!?" Mae asked, leaping to her feet.

"Yeah, sure," Claire replied.

"Come on! It's in the basement! I'm a complete basement troll!" She raced off.

"Uh, I guess I'm going to your basement," Claire said.

"Have fun," Bea replied.

The two women disappeared down into the basement.

"So...uh, how are you doing, honey?" Bea asked. "Because that sounded intense."

"Yeah," Ann agreed.

"I'm better now," Trent replied. "But...worried that this problem apparently isn't going away. If anything, it got, like, way worse. He basically caught me fucking banging his sister. And now that I told him Mae already knows it was happening...I don't think it'll take too long for him to piece together that you and I are a thing. And it's like...that's gotta suck. That's gotta be, just, so demoralizing. Some guy like me, who already has a girlfriend, not only bangs his sister, but also takes the girl he thought was his."

"I'm not fucking his!" Bea snapped.

"I know! I didn't-I'm just explaining from his perspective."

"Fuck his perspective," she growled.

"Trent has a point. Whether we respect it or not, and make no mistake, we do not, we have to deal with it, because he's going to make it our problem," Ann said.

"So how do we handle this? I don't...I can't understand it. The entitlement," Bea said.

"Trent?" Ann asked.

Trent sighed. "I get it. I mean, some of it. This has all been...really humiliating for Chris. I mean, it has to be. He sees himself as an alpha, and me as a beta. And yet I'm fucking not just multiple women, but a woman he wants and a member of his family. Does not compute. I bet I can tell you something he's thinking, almost for sure."

"What?" Bea asked.

"He's feeling burned. I'm sure he was thinking that he should've had you in the bag, Bea. He's got what he needs. He's tall, he's got a job, or had one, money, a car, he obviously works out. That's a big one. He's...I'm assuming he's attractive? Like, this isn't me being all 'oh no homo guys!', afraid to dare to call another man attractive, it's that I literally don't know. Is he?" Trent asked.

Bea's expression soured. "It's hard for me to tell because I hate him so much. I mean...I do remember thinking he's pretty hot when we first started working together. But he pretty quickly tanked that notion when he started opening his mouth. So yeah, probably to the average Possum Springs girl, he's a hottie."

"So why isn't he swimming in trim?" Trent asked.

Ann laughed. "Wow, trim?"

"Just...trying to get into his head," Trent replied. "I don't know. But the fact that you turned him down, that stung, but he could probably get over that...maybe."

"If he could, he was sure taking his sweet time."

"Yeah...but I think it was becoming obvious to him that you had a thing for me, and we had something going on. And that's...gotta hurt."

"What fucking difference does it make? We aren't compatible. He's too much of a stupid asshole."

Trent shook his head. "You don't get it. For someone like him, you are compatible, in that he wants to fuck you."

"That isn't compatible, that's horny."

"For a lot of guys, those are the same things."

"That's fucking stupid."

"It is," Trent agreed, "but it's also reality. But think of it from his perspective. He's got all the right 'tools' to reel you in. It doesn't work. Maybe he can put it off thinking you're secretly a lesbian or something. Some loophole that gets him out of the fact that he failed."

"He didn't fail I'm just not into him, Christ!"

"Same thing for a lot of guys," Trent said.

"Why is your gender so fucking stupid?" Bea snapped.

He shrugged. "There's been a lot of damage done over the years. You aren't getting laid regularly? You're a failure and you should just fucking kill yourself. You don't have a hot girlfriend? You're a beta pussy, fucking kill yourself. You're too chickenshit to stand up and fight like a man? You aren't worth shit. You're a 'low value male'. This kind of culture has hyper accelerated thanks to fucking online forums and shitty subreddits. It's all 'stop being such a pussy' and 'fucking man up' on, like, everything.

"You think it's just a few crazies but, no, like...it's everywhere. I mean, I am literally dating three really attractive women, and I have fucked five separate, hot women since coming to Possum Springs. Like, full-on, no stops, had amazing bareback sex with five women, and own my own house and car, and got a goddamned four-book deal. And there are still times where there's a voice in the back of my head telling me I'm a fucking failure and I've got a small dick and I'm fucking pathetic because I haven't hit the gym and gotten ripped-"

"Wait, are you being hyperbolic right now or are you actually serious?" Bea asked.

"I'm...being serious," he replied, looking down.

"But...I mean, have I, have we done anything to make you feel that way? Am I missing something?"

"No," he replied. "No, you haven't, and no, you aren't. None of you have really done anything to reinforce this. Like, at all. Nothing really sticks out."

"He's right," Ann murmured. They both looked over at her. "It doesn't go away. The voice. Telling you what a fucking failure you are. You just have to drown it. Starve it. Ignore it. Don't feed it. I've gotta deal with it...more than I let on. Telling me I'm a stupid failure and a pathetic loser. I fucked up my life. Everyone hates me. I'm ugly. Granted, it's so much easier to ignore now that I'm here with you guys, but it's still there. And none of you have done anything to make me feel that way. I just...do."

"Jesus, Ann," Bea whispered.

"It's why I don't share it with you. I just...ignore it. I think almost everyone's got that voice. I don't know why, but we do. Sometimes it's louder. If life has kicked you while you were down, I think it gets a lot louder," Ann replied.

"Yeah," Trent muttered.

"Shit...I...can I help? I feel bad now," Bea said.

"Don't feel bad. It isn't your fault. It's just...society's fault. It's just, you know, permanent damage. That we have to deal with, probably forever," Trent replied.

"Yep," Ann said. "I know Mae has this problem."

"Yeah, we're...you know, working on it." He shook his head. "Um, we were focusing on the Chris problem. My point was just, he is obviously poisoned by a lot of toxic masculinity. I'm not saying I want to be friends with the asshole, because I don't. But there's gotta be another way to settle this."

"What were you thinking?" Ann asked.

Trent sighed. "There's some part of me that thinks that if I can just talk to him one-on-one and get him to see reason...we can work it out?" He shook his head. "I hate how much I can relate to this problem. His ego is probably fucking shattered and I know a lot of people are sick and fucking tired of hearing about dudes' poor fragile egos but like...realistically, it's all we have."

"You have a lot more than that," Bea said.

"I know, but sometimes, there's a part of me that feels like my ego is all I've got. I mean, before I moved here, I'd pretty much just given up on ever 'being a man', you know? I was never going to be super masculine. And sometimes, maybe even often now, I don't even care. I think it's bullshit. But...I really can't emphasize this enough, Bea, when that feeling comes down on me like a hammer, it is compelling. It feels true, and it feels like claiming it's wrong is just lying to myself to make myself feel better," Trent explained.

"Shit," she muttered. "That really sucks."

"Yeah, but obviously it's not just a guy thing. Everyone wrestles with it, it's just what flavor you get. I'm sure you've been slut shamed but also sexually harassed."

"Yep," both Bea and Ann said at the same time.

"Well, we'll deal with it later, I guess. I don't want to bring down the mood. Claire's having fun, and she really, really deserves to. She's been through a lot," he said.

"You're right," Bea agreed.

The doorbell rang. "Food's here," he said, getting up. "Perfect timing."