Sharp Memories

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Owen wiped his face with his hands. The twenty-two-year-old couldn't fathom how the last several days had shaken up his life. Merely a few days ago, he felt he had a potential life partner in Whitney. Well, that was gone. In hindsight, Owen felt like a fool for projecting his goal of settling down after college onto an eighteen-year-old. And at the start of the trip, Owen thought he'd experienced whatever sex there could be in life. On that matter, he found himself mistaken again. Whitney and Kimberly, young and old, both showed him that his sexual experiences had been limited.

Running his hands through his short, black hair, Owen shifted his attention to the pale-skinned woman sleeping on the bed. Sprawled out on the small bed, the sheet had slipped down to reveal Kimberly's fit ass. Unlike the stern taskmaster of an older woman, Owen showed gentle compassion by covering her body with the blankets. A snort in her breathing as she felt the movement sent a shudder up Owen's spine.

Visions of last night danced in his head. The constant slapping against the back of his head as the soon-to-be-divorced woman snapped at the college student to lick her pussy the proper way. Even after several hours of sleep, Owen imagined he could hear the ringing in his ears from the blows. Having played football from the seventh grade up into college, the above-average quarterback had long become numb to harsh coaching. Yet, Kimberly had a way with her words that cut right through a person. Owen couldn't imagine the day-to-day shit her husband must have endured. That's likely a significant reason for the impending divorce. But to hear that belittling of his skills and manhood during sex left the formerly confident man feeling uncertain.

I thought that Marilynn...no, Carolyn had been crazy back in my sophomore year. Turns out that freshman had nothing on a thirtysomething cougar! Last night had to be the textbook definition of hot, crazy sex. Kimberly seemed to come unhinged at times, and her controlling...I don't know if anyone will ever believe me. She had that look in her eyes that screamed fatal attraction. The frenzied kind that will haunt my nightmares.

With another shudder, Owen quietly got off the bed. Tiptoeing around the room, he gathered up his clothes. Unable to find a sock, he told himself it wasn't necessary. What was important meant getting out of this hobby room without waking the woman up. Shit, she bitched at me for not wearing a belt! Damn good thing I didn't have one on too. I don't know if she wanted to whip me with it or tie me up. Hell, she almost did tie me up!

Slowly and silently, Owen closed the door behind him, heading toward the bathroom. After taking his morning piss, he stood before the mirror and checked out his face. Noticing how red the left side of his face appeared, Owen wondered if it would bruise. How many times did she slap me while we fucked? And those--oh, shit!

Pulling his shirt over his head, Owen braced himself for what he might see. Squinting, he surveyed his chest and then turned around to study the back of his neck and shoulders. Oh, thank god. Outside of some minor blemishes on the oily skin, Owen felt relief as he didn't notice any expected burns.

His brain flashed him images from when he watched in fear as Kimberly poured hot candle wax onto his body. Never having pursued that area in his sex life before, Owen had no clue as to how it worked and any potential scarring. She must have used some unique candles sold explicitly for sex. Still, the young man felt a little gross from the oily feeling on his body. Glancing at the shower, Owen shook his head. I better get as far away from her and shower back in the bunkhouse. I need to grab my stuff too. I don't have any reason to stay here any longer.

Jeff bumped into Clive's shoulder again, earning him a quick glare. Mumbling his apology, the big bear of a man continued to read the final of the three articles about his friends on The Stinging Truth.

"Wait, I'm not done yet," Jeff told Clive as the man scrolled down.

"This is very detailed," Clive remarked to his wife while he waited for Jeff to catch up to where he read. "And a few of these details sound somewhat familiar."

"Oh, the shit about Harvey and Beverly is point on," Gabby confirmed.

"How?" Rachel asked. "Sure, Harvey was considered a big man on campus back in high school, but he wasn't in the public eye at that time. So, his high school years aren't readily available to anyone to just find. The internet was only catching on. No Nosy Nectar existed. There weren't people's details out there for everyone to know."

"Whoa. Some of these details about Harv's old sex parties are really good...not that I would know. Nope, just going based on rumors I heard," Jeff backtracked after scrolling down further in morbid fascination.

"Give it up, sweetie. Nobody's buying it," Gabby said, rolling her eyes. Turning to face the younger guests in the kitchen, she point-blank admitted the truth. "Yes, Harvey held sex parties at his mansion and the old cabin. And, yes, Jeff and I were regular participants for several years."

"Cool," Lana responded, while Peyton shook her head, and Lacey blushed next to her.

Ramsey seemed to be the only person in the room, horrified at the public acknowledgment. Attempting to change the subject, she put on her reporter's hat and inquired about a possible source for the article.

"Is it possible that this Beverly talked to The Stinging Truth?"

Lacey barked out a loud life at her friend's question. "Crappy reporter Rammy strikes again!"

"Lacey! That's enough," Rachel scolded.

"Absolutely not! Beverly is one of the most uptight and private women you'll ever meet," Gabby explained. "There's no way she'd ever talk to anyone about her past with Harvey. Even if it didn't go against every part of her personality, the breakup was very painful."

"She's right, Ramsey," Peyton agreed, after being silent for a long time. "I honestly never knew about her relationship with Mr. Diamond. I knew that Aunt Beverly had a painful high school romance, and that's why she never moved back here, but I didn't know with whom."

"Well, someone talked. There's far too much truth here in the small details, and that's what this writer wanted. It helps set up his big lies as being believable," Clive assessed.

"But it's not true!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Is it?" Jeff questioned.

"Uncle Jeff! I am not the lovechild of Harvey Diamond!" Peyton screeched, finally losing her composure.

"Hey, not so fast, Pey," Lana told her, glancing around the cabin. "This is a nice place. Maybe you can inherit it, or at least we can use it for some parties."

"Lana, that's not appropriate!" Ramsey admonished her.

"Don't you talk to my sister like that!" Lacey screamed back.

"Cupcake, sit down, and zip it!" Clive ordered his youngest. "Now is not the time for your grudge."

Lacey did so, folding her arms in a huff.

"Obviously, Sean looks like his dad, but you know, you kind of look like Whitney in a way," Lana continued to tease her best friend.

"Lana, don't make me ground you at your age," Clive warned his other daughter.

"Jefferson Lockett, how dare you suggest that," Gabriela sternly correctly her husband.

"I'm just --"

"We know exactly when Bridget got knocked up with Peyton. It was when that flu went around Arbor Corners. Leonard or one of Bridget's friends--girl friends--was at her side the whole time caring for her. Once she felt better, Bridget gave him one hell of a thank you, and nine months later, our little reminder of that flu season popped out."

"Eww! I didn't need to hear that, Aunt Gabby," Peyton said, cringing.

"Yes, just because you got lucky and avoided getting pregnant during that month doesn't mean you have to be so glib about it," Rachel chided her best friend. "Clive and I are pleased with our little accident...well, two if you count Finny."

"At least, I'm not an accident," Lacey whispered to her big sister.

"What? Why would I be embarrassed? I had to get here somehow, someway," Lana countered.

"Look, I'm not saying the whole lovechild angle to this article is true, but what about the rest of it. Bridget's always seemed...I don't know, giddy or affectionate around Harv," Jeff recounted. "Maybe she had a thing for him back then."

"Jeff, sweetie, every girl at Honey Hollow High had some level of a thing for Harvey back then," Gabby relayed, getting a nod in agreement from Rachel. "You weren't at the Fallon house like us girls."

"Yes, you didn't see how Harvey and the Fallons behaved. Harvey was like an older brother to Bridget and Brandy. Maybe Bee had a crush on him, but he would've never done anything. Harvey loved Beverly; we all know that. And he watched out for her sisters," Rachel explained.

"He sure did. You remember Chester Hauser from your grade?" Gabriela asked her husband.

"Chester, the Molester? Sure, everyone knew that creep. He liked to troll the junior high schools for younger--oh!"

"Yep, but not what you think. When Bridget and the girls were fourteen, She, Tinny, and Cassie caught Chester's eye. He basically stalked them. Tinsley didn't put up with people's shit and confronted him. Bridget was there right with her, and Chester knocked both to the ground. That's when Harvey had a little talk with him. After that, Chester never went near Tinsley, Bridget, or any of their friends again."

"Is that why Chester got that broken nose?" Jeff queried, getting nods back.

"I'm pretty sure that's when Mr. Fallon finally accepted Harvey into their family," Rachel recalled.

"Look, Harvey's my friend, but he does have a reputation for not being faithful and enjoying sex far more than most people. I'm not saying he did anything, but what if Bridget did seduce him. She was always a sexy girl, so it might have been hard to say no," Jeff immediately held up his hand to cut off any arguing. "I'm just playing devil's advocate here for the moment. How do we know she didn't give her virginity to her sister's boyfriend?"

"I know he didn't," Gabby flat-out insisted.

"You can't know, honey."

"Oh, I know. I was right there the night that Charlie Otterson and Bridget first had sex," Gabby revealed.

"You were?!" Peyton gasped.

"Not in the room! Listen, my parents and brother were out of town for the weekend. So, some of us girls invited our boyfriends over for fun," Gabby recounted, watching her husband. She could see the wheels turning in Jeff's head as he wondered which boyfriend his wife dated at that time. "I know for a fact that Bridget lost her virginity because we had to scrub my brother's sheets afterward. You know how much of a brat he can be. Well, picture him finding blood in his bedroom. My parents would've put two and two together real quick."

"Damn, and I thought we had fun in high school. You girls sound like sex-crazed sluts back then," Lana teased.

"Oh, you know it," Gabby said, winking at her.

"Gabs!"

"Let it go, hun. Pick your battles," Clive told his wife.

"Um, sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to say goodbye," Owen said, causing everyone to look at him.

"You're leaving?" Clive asked, noting that after Chief Colburn's visit last night that Owen wasn't a suspect any longer.

"Yeah, does anyone know Whitney's room number?"

"Oh, we have it written down here," Rachel responded, moving to pick up the small notebook. She showed it to Whitney's ex-boyfriend, who nodded in thanks.

"I, uh, just wanted to say that I'm sorry for my actions yesterday. I think I need to work my jealousy issues, but that's still no excuse."

"It's good you recognize them," Jeff remarked, slapping him on the shoulder, ever the friendly man. "You take care of yourself."

"Thanks," Owen replied, turning to face the one person he specifically wanted to address. "Peyton, I'm sorry I hurt your brother. I know you likely won't forgive me, but I wanted to apologize."

"I told you what would happen if you hurt Sean. Remember that," Peyton replied in a non-forgiving tone.

"Fair enough. I hope you all have a good new year," Owen finished as he turned to leave.

An awkward silence lingered in the kitchen and dining room. A silence that finally drove Lacey nuts.

"Isn't this slander or libel? Can't they sue The Stinging Truth? There's no way this can be considered legitimate journalism."

"Ha! Good luck with that," Ramsey chuckled, causing everyone to look at her.

"Why?" Lana inquired.

"You would need to know who's behind The Stinging Truth, and nobody knows," Ramsey revealed. "When it first debuted last spring with its sensational articles, the Daily Flyer attempted to discover more about the site. The exact location of the site's servers is unknown. Attempts to find it led to a maze around the world. And who's running it is also unknown. The names on the article's bylines aren't real people."

"Yes, I know the identity of the people behind The Stinging Truth is a hot topic down in city hall and the courthouse," Clive revealed. "Nobody can understand their business model either. It's possible a website like this could generate enough revenue in a large city but in a town the size of Honey Hollow? I can't see how it can survive. They clearly seem to have a staff of more than one person, so it's not some guy blogging in his basement."

"Well, no matter how many people work there, they sure get shit wrong a lot," Lana noted. "But we all suspect that's on purpose, right?"

"Yes, the intent of The Stinging Truth seems to be all about attacking people, usually with sensational or salacious stories that play into either conspiracy theories or prejudices. Mayor Dunkley and certain aldermen have largely been their focus, but other prominent individuals in the area have also been targets," Clive stated. "Harvey's a prime target if you think about it. He's a rich playboy with a long list of beautiful women coming and going. The most surprising part here is not these stories, but that it took this long for them to go after Harv. That other gossip site has made him a staple for over a decade."

"Nosy Nectar might be about who's dating, cheating, breaking up, having flings or one-night stands, and other gossip, but it's never meant to be malicious," Lana pointed out.

"Oh, please, that place is all about gossip. That makes it just as bad," Ramsey remarked dismissively.

"No, it's not!" Lacey insisted, getting a warning glare from her mother. "The person or people behind Nosy Nectar won't post clearly false information. They might make mistakes, but not on purpose."

"You can't seriously believe that," her feuding friend spat back.

"No, it's true, Rammy," Lana agreed with her little sister. "Back when we started high school, people gave up with sending fake stories to Nosy Nectar. It used to be a game early in the site's history to try and trick whoever ran it, but they always seemed to smoke out the lies. Nate used to send in hilarious stories he made up about Roddy Taft all the way from Hawaii."

"I seem to remember you and Poppy loving it whenever your antics had posts about them," Peyton recalled in annoyance. Nate Toone and Poppy Dufor, two of Lana's wilder friends, weren't Peyton's favorite people.

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with wanting a little attention for your fun. And Nosy Nectar appreciated us. Just because they spread gossip, it doesn't make them bad people. We all love to gossip in some form or another."

"Ah, the wisdom of my daughter shines when it comes to spreading gossip," Rachel remarked, shaking her head.

"Shouldn't people keep on trying to discover who's behind The Stinging Truth? If it's spreading made-up crap about Mayor Dunkley and good people like Bridget, it needs to be stopped," Jeff remarked, garnering Ramsey's attention. Sitting up straighter, one could see the wheels turning in the teen's head as Jeff continued. "Someone needs to step up and expose this den of lies."

"I wonder if Bridget and Harvey have heard about the articles?" Gabby questioned.

"Good morning, Diamond Cabin!" Chastity greeted boisterously, startling nearly everyone. "Articles? Galloping ghosts! What did Mr. Harvey do now?"