And silence doesn't help either.

Chapter 46

The evening wash over the lake and your house with glowing red sun rays. Slowly you all wander inside, the tables and benches are cleared and cleaned. You said a word of power when you saw all the leftovers. It is difficult to defend the girls against a grizzly bear, although you are sure that they would cheer you on if you tried. For four seconds. The mood in the house is a bit calmer, but Millie naturally is overjoyed and you catch a few glances from her, but they get lost in the situation. Because unlike Millie, her friends are fixed on you in a different way. It's almost too funny that whenever you make one of your lewd jokes, Claire turns as red as the candles on the table. Or if you call out a toast to Millie, Susan gets angry and turns as white as the tablecloth. And Denise... You watch the girl just like Susan. The two hardly drink anything and whenever you lift your glass they do too. But only shorter and with hardly noticeable sips. You have to be careful not to shake with laughter. Millie doesn't seem to notice, which gives you another boost to tease the other girls. After talking to Denise, she seems to have gotten over it well. The McKinleys are behaving too, and you are beginning to think that you might have been able to didn't break the circle of friends.

"... and then Finn came running across the beach and screamed wildly: 'Drop the biscuit! Let the biscuit fall!” Millie shakes with laughter, you too. Her laughter sounds like the brightest bells in your ears and her face twists with happiness like it did last night. "I swear to you, it was like in Alfred Hitchcock. The seagulls didn't leave them alone and Millie simply ate the biscuit,” she explains the story from your childhood.

"It was with chocolate. I didn't want to give that to the birds.” Millie loves this story. Especially the end at which you threw yourself on her to protect her with your body. You were still young then and you were proud of yourself that you could defend Millie. You hardly noticed the subsequent tetanus injection.

"I'm just glad they didn't chop something off, that I could use later" you grin. Millie doesn't notice the silence in the room because she only has pictures of you in her head. When you realize that half the girls in this room have seen you naked and damn one hundred percent want that again, you have to pull yourself together. "So," you try to pull yourself out of the affair. "Do you want to move the party outside?" Millie claps her hands with excitement. You and Megan have already got everything the girls need for the night in the boathouse. You are amazed that Millie is so easy to compliment out of the room and your arms, but in a calm moment she said that she would understand not wanting to attract attention. Clever girl.

"So ladies," you begin and raise your voice. Everyone at the table looks at you. "I expect decent behavior. Woe to me that you set off into the forest. You stay close to the house, get it?” In turn, the heads of the Girls nod violently and you nod in appreciation for the fact that Susan and Denise are looking at you somewhat nervously. You decide to intimidate them a little more. After all, it is you who satisfy Millie and not her wild escapades under ****.

"Susan, Denise, can you still see straight ahead?" With Susan, you don't worry about your behavior. Denise also has to know your hard side so that she stays in line.

"Yeah damn it," Denise grumbles and looks down. "I hardly drank anything... honestly." You only grunt and turn to Susan.

"What about you?"

"I drank as much as Claire. Look at the bottles. They are still half full.” Indeed, she is right. You smile fatherly and walk towards the two. Millie and Claire giggle as you put one hand on the other two's heads.

"That's how it is good ladies. Always be nice, then Daddy is satisfied.” It's actually meant as a joke and Millie and Claire seem to understand that. But while Susan only nods silently and looks at her feet, you notice a touch on your other hand. You look over and you can still see Denise lowering her hands. With astonishment you see a couple of cat ears coming out from under her hair. Denise likes this stuff - mainly from Asia - and you clearly remember her fondness for these manga things. You can never really understand them, especially because you always start reading from the wrong... the right... or what... side. But Denise adores this world. When she looks at you now with her head bowed and her eyes wide and says "Yes sir", it is not just you who raise your eyebrows. What... the hell… "Ooookay... that escalates quickly," you murmur, and let go of the heads of the two.

"Boa Denise, don't always be such a slimmer," you hear Millie giggle behind you. You laugh a little nervously and luckily the girls get into it soon.

"Okay, do you have everything?" Of course it was you who brought the rest of the things to the shed. You get a positive answer to your question and take a last look around in the small room with the wooden walls. You wouldn’t have any cunning to spend your night here, but you made the girls as comfortable as possible. There is not much space in the room, but you have attached the girls' hammocks between the hooks, on which nets usually hang.

"Almost like a pirate ship," grins Claire. "Almost like in Pirates of..."

"Oh no!" You cry out loud whereupon the girl flinches slightly and bites her tongue. "Don't come to me with this film!" Claire looks startled and surprised but Millie has to laugh heartily again.

"Finn hates this film because the... what are their names?"

"Red skirts Litte One", you say and realize the nickname too late.

"He sides with the English and hates the pirates" Millie exclaims, proud of the fact, she remembered one of your many lectures of the past.

"What?" Claire says and her indignation is not been played. "Captain Jack..."

“Wouldn't stand a minute against a well-trained unit of redcoats. The Royal Navy at the time was... "

"Yes BB, we got it," Millie laughs, and although you could give a good talk about British naval power, you can't help but keep a warm smile.

"Alright, get it. Girls-evening with omnisexual pirates. I withdraw tactically.” You wave your arms and turn around. Before you leave the shed you turn around again. "The rats of the British Navy, on the other hand... Well, don't care..."

"Wich rats?" the voice of Susan comes out of her hammock. You smile maliciously.

"Well, the rats on the ships. They grew enormously in the eighteenth century because the rations of the British Navy were doubled. And since the Brits traded everywhere, they brought in these rats everywhere.”You lower your voice to a threatening whisper. "Here too. Thirty centimeters tall, highly intelligent and aggressive killer rats!” Then you disappear from the shed without turning around and shout quickly: “Good night.” So you disappeared into the darkness.

On the way back into the house, you listen to the voices of the girls, which are getting quieter and quieter, talking excitedly to each other. Sometimes it's just perfect to be the big brother. And then it hits you like a broadside from HMS Victory. If Millie comes to bed with you tonight, in fear of your rat story, you'll have to sleep with her... And Megan wants to do it again anyway... and again and again and... Admittedly, today was a turbulent day for you. But you've had those days many times in your life. Denise, Karen and Rachel asked you a lot of energy and you were happy to give it. But the difference to your previous life is that you will soon regain your energy in the most beautiful way. You grin broadly and walk towards the house, Lou Reed's song 'Perfect Day' on your lips.

When you come into the house the question arises, what are you doing now? From the window you can see the shed about a hundred meters away. The room is dark and only the moonlight shines through the windows. So you can watch the boathouse without being seen from outside. You definitely want to keep an eye on Millie. What do you expect? That a grizzly bear is coming through the forest and you have to reach for an ax to defend your girl? You can also hear music coming from below in the party room. The evening with Millie and her friends was a lot of fun. But you had always focused on the role you imposed on yourself. It will be different with Megan. It's a little unfair. Millie has blossomed because of you and Megan will have fun down there too. And you? You snort softly and shrug your shoulders.

"You chose that way buddy. Now pull that through too,” you tell yourself and pull a chair up from the dining table. You place it in front of the window and sit down, putting your feet up and stopping at the window frame. Just a few minutes to make sure the girls get along, you tell yourself. And so that you can tell yourself you are not going to put your fun above that of the girls. You snort again. After all, it is your purpose in life to neglect your feelings in contrast to those of your sisters.

Your thoughts are interrupted when you hear muffled laughter down in the basement. You turn your head to the basement door and when the door opens, the noise of the music increases suddenly and then fades off when the door closes again. Your eyes are blinded by the light that briefly fell into the room and you wipe your hands over your face. At first it is quiet in the room, but then you hear a low voice.

"Crap. Fuckfuckfuck. Fucking dirtbag full of fucking shit.” It's a woman whispering, what doesn't really help you as an insight. You can hear footsteps wandering up and down the room. Your eyes are slowly getting used to the dim light again. Apparently the person hasn't noticed you yet. You see a shadow slide through the room and the moonlight is reflected on a pair of glasses. Emma. Wait... Emma can swear?

You clear your throat quietly so as not to scare her, but you could have thrown a stun grenade at her feet. It is as if an invisible **** smashes the poor girl against the wall. A high-frequency squeak escapes from her throat as her body collides with the wall and her glasses fall from her face. You jump up as well, scared and run towards her.

"Everything's okay Emma, It's just me." You bend down and pick up her glasses. Meanwhile, Emma sinks down the wall, messing up the two braids with which she has tamed her hair.

"Finn! M-my god! You scare m-me to ****,” she gasps and looks anxiously at you from below.

"Heavens Emma, I'm so sorry." You stretch your hand out to her but Emma only looks at it blankly.

"Hey, are you okay?" you ask her. Finally she nods shyly and grabs your arm. You pull her up, applying a little too much strength, and that's why Emma flies towards you. Again this cute squeak penetrates through her clenched teeth. Then she puts her hands over her face.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god. Did you hear all of that?" You have to giggle first.

"The swearing? Fuck it yea.” Even in the twilight of the moon you can see the blush on the face of the school-famous bookworm.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Please excuse me. I d-don't know what's got into me.” She shakes her head and wants to turn away from you, but without taking her hands off her face. Like yesterday in the bathroom, you fear that Emma could still hit any furniture and gently hold her by the arms.

"Wait a minute." She stops, another squeak. "You don't have to apologize for something like that." You look at her and put enough pressure on your grip to let Emma drop her hands.

"I've never heard you swear like that before." You grin broadly to take her bias. You are pretty close together and you even think you can feel the heat radiating from her face to yours.

"You shouldn't do that either. I'm so sorry Finn.” Emma sways a little and you hold her tighter. Not that she tips me over here.

"What's going on?" you want to know, but Emma just shakes her head again and again.

"Hey Jackson," you keep insisting on her. Maybe the use of your last name will help. "You can trust me. I don't know you like that."

"Oh, the girls... we... oh nothing. It was nothing. We play… oh no matter.” You raise your eyebrows in amazement.

"Say are you drunk?" Emma looks outraged.

"What? No!” Again she sways a little. "I only drank two or three glasses."

"Well, you sway like there is no tomorrow," you laugh, but the expression on her face becomes darker.

"No damn it. I'm not drunk.” She steps back, but her eyes never leave yours. You take your hands away and raise them demonstratively in front of your chest.

"It's okay. You are not drunk, I'm just worried.” Your conversation partner seems to be calming down again. You hold her glasses out and she puts them back on her nose with both slightly trembling hands.

"Thank you," she mumbles. "Sorry I hit you like this." She sounds sheepish and you frown in question. But then the girl is filled with energy. "I s-should go down again," she says quickly.

"What did you want up here before I hit you like this?" you want to know. It's a normal question, meant to calm her down a bit. But the result is very different. Emma looks around the room, almost panicked.

"I... I wanted... to get this bottle of wine," she says firmly and walks towards the bar on the wall. At this you are surprised.

"I thought you didn't drink that much?"

"I haven't!" Emma snaps, just to apologize to you again. If she turns even reder, you can put her on the coast to warn ships in the fog about shallows.

"But you still have planned to?" you ask doubtfully.

"No! That's... for the girls." Okay, now it's getting ridiculous. Maybe you're just being charged because your overdeveloped protector instinct is coming out again. Damn nemesis!

"So your friends send you to get **** for them?"

"Someone has to do it." But her words are spoken too softly to be true.

"Emma..." you almost groan at the words. You have a thought and you even speak it instead of keeping it to yourself.

"You are twenty-one Emma. The friends of Millie are younger than us. I like being the adult for Susan, Claire and Denise... or at least I try. But you are too mature to be treated from above.” You speak with no anger in your voice. You just want to make it clear to the girl in front of you how you see her. You owe it to her after you energized her in the bathroom yesterday. Megan can jump at you whenever she wants, but Emma can't. "I respect you and would not **** you to do anything. But something is wrong here and I would like to know if I can help. Or at least can listen to you?” Then Emma smiles and seems to calm down a bit. Not bad for someone whose only chance is to bang his sisters.

"All right," she says and fits in with her fate, her voice radiating nervousness but also joy rather than fear. OK then. "I guess I can't escape can I?" You have to laugh.

"If I told you now that you were too strong for me to **** you into something, it would undermine my authority and maybe block the opportunity for me to have a great conversation with you. That's why I'm not saying it.” You grin broadly and Emma chuckles again. A good sign.

"Don't be so sure about that, Finn," she says, and you don't know which point she responds to. But when she pulls up a second chair, it's not that important anymore.

"What are you doing here if you weren't going to scare me to ****?" You click your tongue awkwardly.

"I'll take care of Millie." Emma chuckles again. It is sweet to see how it is not enough for a loud, conspicuous laugh, and so she uses these small gestures that give her an aura that you respond to very well.

"From here?"

"I don't want to get too close to her. It's nice to see that she comes out of herself. I don't want to block her."

"So there are five girls waiting for you down there with me and your sister and you sit up here and would rather take care of your other sister? That's... impressive.” But she doesn't say it as if she thinks it's really a good thing. There is a big part of resignation in her voice.

"Well, just a few minutes. So that I can calm my protector complex. Do not worry. I still want to spend the evening with you." Emma smiles again and you both look out the window. Silence envelops you but somehow it is not uncomfortable. You growl contentedly and let yourself sink deeper into your chair. From the corner of your eye you can see how Emma looks at you from time to time. That poor thing, you think. You know what it feels like to have feelings for someone and you know that they won't reciprocate. Well, you were lucky. Damn lucky. Twice!

You grimace when Emma smiles broadly at you. She doesn't seem to recognize your discomfort. How do I do that? Breaking up with someone is not your strong point. And Emma is such a lovely girl that you definitely don't want to hurt her. But it is better to do it now. Like tearing off a plaster, quickly and with brief pain. Emma is an intelligent person and does not deserve to follow you without knowing that you have already exceeded your limit of girlfriends by one. It would be unfair to keep let her hoping.

"I'm really enjoying this, Finn. It's nice to have some peace and quiet and just to be able to look out of the window.“ Oh dear. Hurry up. You look at both of you and you notice how Emma is fiddling with her clothes. You don't really recognize it in the dark, but you think you realize that she is wearing slightly more daring pieces than usual. "Hey Finn, are you okay?" she asks worriedly when you don't answer. You just growl and notice how the girl next to you tenses. It does not help. No matter how you do it, it will be ugly.

"Listen Emma, I..."

"Finn I'm in love with you."

Fuck

• Looks like sweet Emma seems to have the hots for you. What will you do? Well, you COULD go to https://www.patreon.com/writingshark and tell me what you want me to let her do with you. Emma is open to wishes. But be nice! No swearing!