"If you don't mind, I'm gonna go congregate," Jen said as they walked back into the party.

"I don't mind," Trent replied.

"Cool. Sorta feels weird to just hook up and run off, but there's people here I haven't seen in almost a year and I wanna catch up...uh, don't leave without coming to see me again. Okay?"

"Okay," he replied.

"You promise?"

Trent paused, looking at her. She seemed oddly serious. "Yeah, I promise."

"Kay. Cool." She hesitated, then kissed his cheek and walked away.

"She likes you," Bea murmured as they watched her go.

"I mean yeah, we like each other, I thought that'd be obvious from the oral sex," he replied.

Bea laughed. "No, I mean like, I think she likes you. And it's sort of freaking her out."

He looked over at Bea, trying to gauge if she was serious or not. But she looked serious. "She made it very clear that-"

"I know that, Trent. But we don't get to choose who we catch feelings over," Bea replied. He looked at her for a moment longer. She shrugged. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. She's different now, awkward around you...like a girl with a crush."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he asked.

"Maybe I am. Maybe it's nice to be basically engaged to a guy that like fucking every other girl wants to be with, but I know that he's mine...well, one third mine. I remember it wasn't so long ago that you were enjoying a somewhat similar dynamic. What was it you said: it's nice to be on the other side of it for once?"

"Okay, fair. But what are we going to do about it?" he asked. "If it is true?"

"I don't know. Help her however we can. But don't worry, it's never going to work, relationship-wise."

"Why?"

"Jen obviously would rather die than move back to Possum Springs, and that's where we're at for at least the next year, or two, or longer. She wants to go somewhere totally different, and she can't wait, not now. This is a really critical time in her life. She knows she can't give that up for a boy, let alone a boy who won't prioritize her in the way she wants to be."

"What? What's that supposed to mean?" he asked. He'd started looking for Mae again but now he looked back to her.

"That came out a little wrong," Bea said. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Jen, as independent as she is, wouldn't do well in a poly relationship. She's the kind of person who wants a more traditional relationship with just one guy who she fucking loves and who fucking loves her. Probably she'd be able to do some 'sex on the side' stuff, the occasional hookup on her part or his part, or the occasional threesome, but not like what we have."

"All right, fair enough...you seem really confident about all this," Trent said.

Bea sighed. "I dunno, maybe I'm wrong, like I said, but I don't think I am. At some point I started trying to read people, and I mean I've been doing it for years because my mom taught me that, as a young woman, I had to watch out for myself, and I had to start learning to see the signs of a guy who was going to attack me, or drug me, or kidnap me, or what the fuck ever else guys do to girls. And I've gotten good at it, especially after I started trying…" She paused, studying him, then sighed.

"I know that look," she said. "You're thinking, 'man, I think Bea's mom was like too paranoid', right?"

"I...don't know, maybe a little," he admitted.

"It's fine, most people get that reaction when I go into any real detail about the things my mom warned me about. For a little while, I thought the same thing. But then I started talking with other girls in high school, and I heard too many stories. Of date rape, and abuse, and outright assault and rape, and just how many women who were outright flipped out on or even physically attacked when they tried to say no to a guy. Like, it's not every guy, obviously, but it's way too many. I realized my mom was right, and the world simply is a more dangerous place for women. But nobody believes us, because we've been forced to adapt to it so well. People think, 'if it's really that bad, women would be freaking out constantly, and it would be a lot more obvious', but that's just bullshit. Shit, even when we do freak out about it, most dudes are just like 'jeez calm the fuck down, stop overreacting you hysterical bitch'," Bea muttered.

Trent was trying to think of something to say.

"Sorry," Bea said when he failed to generate a response. "That got dark, I didn't mean to. Just sucks sometimes. And makes our relationship all the sweeter, if I'm being honest. I really thought I was going to have to either be single forever, or fight over, like, everything. Or make some huge compromise."

"You don't feel like you've made a big compromise in this relationship?" he asked.

"No, I don't. I thought maybe in the beginning I might be, with the whole sharing you thing, but I don't feel that way. If anything sometimes I worry that I'm missing something huge, or that I'm going to lose you, that either this is too perfect and I have a big blind spot, or it is perfect and life is going to kill you or something. But that's just, you know, my more primal, paranoid brain talking." She shook her head. "Anyway, let's check on Mae."

"You sure?" he asked. "You want to talk about this more?"

"No, I don't, really. Jackie's right, we came here to party...unless you want to talk more? You doing okay?"

"I'm great. I just got blown by two crazy hot women," he replied.

She laughed. "I really do like how...straightforward and uncomplicated you are." She took his hand. "Come on."

They began walking closer to the bonfire, moving around it. He studied the park. It was more populated since he'd snuck off to get high and get sucked off by Jen and Bea. There were closer to fifty people here now. It was a bit louder, but except for a few people laughing loudly or telling stories, it wasn't really all that rowdy. Mostly people congregated around the bonfire, the shelters, or near the parking lot. Someone had set up a circle of chairs a bit away from the bonfire and eight or so people were sitting there.

It was a good, chill atmosphere, and he was grateful for it. He was also very grateful that his anxiety seemed to be in check. After a moment, they finally spotted Mae. She was actually walking towards them with Molly. Trent carefully checked their expressions and body language, and was happy to find them both relaxed and happy. Though Mae still seemed excited and a bit anxious.

"Hey," Bea said as they walked up.

"Hey, guys," Mae replied, a little awkwardly. "Uh, I talked with Molly and told her, well, uh...everything."

"Everything?" Trent asked, surprised. But then, why was he surprised? Mae overshared practically as a full-time job.

"I know Mae wants to have sex with me," Molly replied. Goddamn was she laid back. "And I've decided that if I'm going to get involved with this cute, tough girl, even casually, I would like to get to know the people she's here with. You all seem, like, really interesting."

"That sounds good," Bea replied. "Who's up first?"

"Figured I'd check out Trent first," Molly said.

"All right. Well. Let's...walk around?" he asked.

"Sounds good."

Mae came to stand beside Bea while Trent and Molly began walking away, towards the parking lot.

"So…" he said after a moment of silence, unsure of where to start. "Anything you want to know?"

"A few things, mostly I just wanted to get your general vibe. Mae loves you a lot. And she also wasn't particularly...coherent, during our conversation. She jumped around a lot."

"She does that, but also you are distractingly, intimidatingly attractive," Trent replied.

Molly laughed into her drink. "I was gonna say the same thing about Bea."

"Really? I mean, I agree, just...figured you'd be, like, this pillar of juggernaut confidence," he replied.

She laughed again, a little harder this time. "You are a writer...I'm confident, but not as confident as it may seem. Bea looks like she could beat me down, and would if it came down to it."

"You're probably right on both accounts, Bea's kinda jacked, and tall," he said.

"Yeah, she's almost as tall as you are...so you're from Nebraska?"

"Yeah. Little crap town that I never intend to go back to."

"Mae said you came out here to the rust belt under interesting circumstances."

"I inherited my great uncle's house when he died in an accident, and he was kinda well-off. And I met Mae immediately upon arriving to the town. Almost like, literally. I met her within ten minutes of stepping off the bus, and we just...instantly connected. We've hardly spent more than a day apart since that initial meeting."

"Wow, that's definitely true love. And you're a successful writer?" she asked, a note of uncertainty in her voice.

"Yeah...why?"

She chuckled awkwardly, playing with her drink. "Sorry, I know that's a sore spot, it's just...I know a lot of, uh, creative types, and I've heard a lot of lies. And, you know, it's one thing if your definition of successful is different from mine, I'm more for people being happy than rich, but it's just, the number of writers I've run into who say that they're writers, but they've basically never actually written anything, while trying to present themselves as the next Neil Gaiman...it's frustrating."

"Oh, yeah, I get that," he said. "I mean, I think I'm shockingly successful for where I am, but I'm no Gaiman or King. But I've self-published a few novels, and then I got super lucky and got a contract to novelize some popular indie games. First one launches this Wednesday."

"Okay, see, that is cool. Mae was talking about that. Demontower? I've played that, and I'm actually, like, really interested to read a novelized version of it. Especially if it's got Tabby's stamp of approval...have you spoken with her? I follow her online."

"Yeah, we've talked several times. She's super cool."

"Oh, yeah, I guess you'd have to have talked with her if she gave you the green light...one other question, Mae jumped between a lot of topics, but this didn't quite get covered. Are you and Bea, like, together too? I know you and Mae and another girl named Ann are dating…"

"Oh. Yes. Bea is my girlfriend. She's straight so she isn't dating Mae or Ann, though we do all live together."

"Okay, interesting. I knew there was something going on with you and her. Because you may have thought you were being sneaky, but I saw you sneak off with Bea and that fox girl a little while ago."

"Oh, uh, heh. You saw that, huh?" he asked.

Molly laughed and stopped in front of one of the cars. "I did. And that reaction tells me all I need to know. You totally banged back there, didn't you?"

"Well...not banged, per se…"

"You did something sexy. I think that's cool. I'm fairly sexually liberated. But…" She paused and leaned against the car they'd stopped in front of. "This one's mine," she said off-handedly, looking into her drink a little awkwardly. "There is one thing I wanted to say now."

"All right, I'm listening," he replied, leaning to the car beside her.

"So, I'm into Mae. She's cute, and fun, and she just does it for me. And honestly, this party was me breaking my self-imposed ban on sex I laid down four months ago because my life was sorta falling into disrepair. But given the way the conversation has gone, I've gotten the impression that you and Mae would both be very happy if I had sex with you, too. Unless I'm misreading that?"

"Oh no, no misreading there. I'd be over the fucking moon," he replied.

She laughed, again with some awkwardness. "So, here's the thing...I'm a lesbian."

"Ah...okay. That's cool."

She looked at him now. "You'd be totally down with it if I fucked your girlfriend...well, probably both your girlfriends, since I'm sure Ann is cute, too, and not you at all?"

"Yeah," he replied.

She pursed her lips, scrutinizing him a little more closely. "You sure you don't wanna tell me I should just give dick a chance?"

"I'm positive. That'd be rude."

"It would be," she agreed, "but it hasn't stopped a lot of guys from saying it."

"We just met, and we're getting to know each other, and I'm sure you've got a lot of reasons to distrust me. But I'm a pretty reasonable and chill guy. I don't fuck around. I respect boundaries. To put it bluntly: I wouldn't be in a relationship with three women if I wasn't reasonable and respectful."

Molly's grin turned more genuine and less cynical. "That's a really good point. And I believe you. I just wanted to tell you up front because I didn't want to lead you on, even unintentionally."

"I appreciate that."

"I'm glad." She paused. "You're disappointed."

"Duh," he replied. "I mean, fuck, you're one of the hottest women I've ever seen in my entire life. Honestly, you are the most attractive woman I've ever spoken to directly."

Her smile turned a bit more awkward and she looked back into her drink. "Thanks," she murmured. She looked up at him suddenly. "Huh."

"What?"

"I dunno, it doesn't feel weird, coming from you. I get guys hitting on me all the time. I've seriously considered just slapping a sticker onto my clothes that reads 'LESBIAN', because despite what you might think about what it does for my ego, I'm fucking sick of turning guys down. But I'd say ninety nine times out of a hundred, it's weird or awkward or uncomfortable. But every now and then, there's a guy who tells me something like that, and it isn't. It's kind of nice."

"Maybe it's because you know I've got no ulterior motive."

"Well, I mean, I don't know that. You could be thinking you've still got a chance. I can't read your mind...not that I necessarily doubt your sincerity, I'm just giving an example. But I think you're right. It's uncomplicated without motivation. Just the truth, or your truth, anyway."

He scoffed. "Come on, Molly, I'm pretty sure everyone at this party would share that truth. People keep looking at us."

"Yeah, I'm used to it by now at this point." She paused. "What makes me so special? People have let me know for years and years now that I'm just so hot. Obviously there's something. In your opinion, what is it?"

He looked at her, sizing her up, genuinely trying to answer he question. "Your eyes," he said finally. "It's your eyes."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty confident it's your eyes. They're...electric. They're extremely noticeable. They light up your face."

Molly stared at him for a moment. He shifted uncomfortably. It was really strange to have the attention of such an attractive woman.

"Wow," she said finally.

"What?"

"So, for the record, I agree with you. I ask this question a lot, mainly because I'm really curious about what people find attractive, and I get a lot of basic answers, like my tits or my ass or my hips, and sometimes more esoteric stuff, like my nose, or my hands. But I do get a lot of 'your eyes' answers. And I think it makes sense. Whatever it is that makes me stand out would have to be persistent. My body shape changes, my hair changes, but my eyes stay the same. But what I'm saying wow about is, like, when you told me that I got a little...flustered. And I can't remember the last time a man made me flustered by complimenting me."

"Wouldn't it be never?" he asked.

She shook her head a little. "Despite what people think, I feel like almost no one is one hundred percent straight or gay. Guys basically don't do it for me, but that isn't to say I don't recognize if a man might be particularly attractive, or that I can be attracted to things beyond the physical. It's just...guys rarely, rarely have the personality type that can fluster me. And apparently you do."

"Oh. Well...cool."

She chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so." She stood back up. "Well, I'm going to go track down Bea and talk with her. It was nice meeting you, and I hope we hang out more."

"Same to you," he agreed.

She headed off, back towards the bonfire. He stood there for a moment, watching her go, wondering about where this all was going to lead. There was definitely a lot to her. It wasn't just that she was a perfect ten, that was all on the surface. There was a lot happening beneath the surface. He realized that he hadn't actually had a chance to really get to know her at all and figured that was probably intentional. Molly was probably a woman who not only enjoyed controlling most conversations and interactions, but did it with ease.

He realized Mae was approaching. "So, dude, uh, how'd it go?"

"Uh...good?"

"You don't sound certain."

"I mean, good, just...she pretty much shut me down sexually."

"Oh, yeah, she said she was gonna have to do that, I figured you'd understand."

"Oh I totally understand. If she's not into me, she's not into me. That's cool. It's just…"

"What?" Mae asked.

"She said something about how no one's completely gay or completely straight, and I made her, uh, flustered, in a good way."

Mae's eyes widened, becoming huge, as did her grin. "Dude...you made her horny."

"I doubt it."

"I hope you did. A threesome with you and her would be like...my crowning achievement."

"I wouldn't count on it. I'm completely not interested into pressuring her into anything."

"I know, and that's great, but...a girl can dream," Mae replied. "Where is she now?"

"Talking with Bea."

"Okay, cool. Uh...you wanna watch us? If we do fuck? She said she'd be cool with that."

"Yeah, definitely," he replied.

She giggled. "God, that'd be so cool...oh, hey! She pointed out you sneaking off with Bea and Jen earlier. What'd you get up to, you bad boy?"

"I filmed everything," he replied.

Her eyes went wide again. "Show me. Now."

Trent laughed and texted Bea to ask her to send over the video.