Grilling the Local Boy

"What's the deal with the slim, blue-eyed boy over there?" the athletic brunette on Sean's left inquired.

"How can you tell he has blue eyes?" Sean wondered. "He's on the other side of the room."

"Just give her the lowdown," the brainy brunette on Sean's right ordered.

Sighing in defeat, Sean glanced over at the brown-haired boy his age, who shook his head. "Best give them what they want."

"That's Percy Essex. Star soccer player in his mind at my school. He dates around but hasn't had a girlfriend since sophomore year."

"Percy Essex? Sounds like a name from our school," the athletic brunette remarked. Her fit body was poured into a shiny, gold sequin mini-dress. "Probably thinks his shit doesn't stink just like our boys, too."

"Yes, that is my sister's type," the brainy brunette teased, wearing a dress that matched her sister's but in navy blue. "Hmm, who's that guy?"

This is going to last a while, isn't it? Sean asked himself after Rowan Rogers' question. Rowan was the brainy girl with long, wavy brown hair, hazel eyes, medium-sized breasts, whose fit ass sat on one side of his wheelchair with a leg planted on the floor. Perched precariously in a similar fashion on the left side of Sean's wheelchair, Loren Rogers nodded in agreement at her sister's selection.

Athletic with a competitive personality, Loren briefly wondered if she and her sister had found a guy to compete over. With her straight, light-blonde hair, hazel eyes, medium-to-large breasts, and toned ass, Loren could be called the slightly sexier sister. While not the kind of girl with a reputation, she definitely had more experience than her academic-focused sister.

"Evan Naylor. The sixth man on our basketball team and part-time photographer for the school newspaper," Sean listed.

"Oh, I bet Ro would like him to nay her."

"Don't be so dirty, Lo."

"Dirty? Ha! We're looking for a New Year's Eve fling in a strange town. That's already dirty," Loren pointed out.

"Evan's also dating Daisy Kirby, the school's sports reporter. She's got a knack for knowing what's happening all around her," Sean added. "And your mom's hometown is not a strange town."

"And I don't need to listen to my sisters check out guys," Lexington Rogers responded, rolling his eyes over at where his mother talked with Sean's mom. "What's up with the dude with the broken nose?"

The male third of the Rogers triplets, Lex, had the most laid-back attitude of the three high school seniors. With his stylish, short-to-medium brown hair, hazel eyes, and athletic build, Lex looked like the type of guy that Sean thought would also be checking out potential hookup partners. Yet, Lex often came across as a mystery to Sean. He knew the other teen swam for his prestigious prep school, but he also didn't seem to take it very seriously.

"That's Dennis Conway. People call him Denny. He calls himself The Denster. I don't know how he broke his nose, but it's not the first time," Sean explained. How many times is it? Four? Five?

"The Denster? What a loser!" Loren threw her head back with a laugh.

Sean willed himself not to check out how that pushed her breasts forward. Not with her siblings and mom watching. And especially not with his mom keeping an eye on him.

"We have a few like him at our school," Lex noted.

"A few? Thornapple Academy is full of stupid-rich-kid nicknames. We got a Pinky, a Lolly, a Bunny, two Miffys, and a Tiffy. The worst is this scheming mean girl named Bitsy," Rowan listed.

"And Bitsy has an older sister named Mitzie," Loren added. "That family is the worst."

"Hey, Cliff is cool. Well, he is their new stepbrother. I feel for that poor guy," Lex said.

"Enough about life in Regal Crest. Tell us the top five guys that girls want at Honey Hollow High," Loren ordered.

"No, make it the top seven," Rowan corrected. "We want options."

"How am I supposed to know that?" Sean questioned in exasperation.

"By watching people and listening to gossip. Gawd, I thought you were the grandson of a detective," Loren stated in disbelief.

"As a self-proclaimed lover of mysteries, you should be paying attention to details around you at all times," Rowan pointed out. "What guys make girls here swoon?"

"Just tell them your sports stars and get it over with," Lex said, earning glares from his sisters.

"Like Austin?"

"No, not Austin, Sean!" Loren snapped. "Not only is Austin dating Lacey, but he's also kind of a jerk."

"And we don't want to bring in Mom and Miranda's dumb cheerleader stuff," Rowan added.

"Plus, Austin reminds me of the lacrosse players at our school. I don't like them," Lex commented.

Sean strained to think of which guys were popular with his female classmates. "Uh, Marcus Withrow was sort of a star as a tight end. Girls like his sense of humor. But, um, he's not coming tonight."

"Not here? Then he doesn't matter. C'mon, Sean, get your brain in gear," Loren said, with a love tap to his skull. "Who's here or who's going to be here tonight?"

"Can't you ask Lacey this stuff? This is weird," Sean complained.

"Of course, we're going to ask Lacey, but we want a male perspective. So dish!"

"Oh, I, uh, saw Lucas Prescott earlier."

"Annnnd?" Rowan prodded.

"Girls seem to like him. I guess he's charismatic. I mean, don't you have to be to win class president?" Sean asked.

"Class president, huh? That sounds like a prospect for Ro," Loren replied, nodding at her sister. Then, seeking her type, she asked, "Any other athletes?"

"I talked to Jesse Yegge's dad, so I know he's here," Sean recalled. "Jesse's our best baseball player in years. He seems to date around quite a bit but is pretty quiet about it."

"Sports star who isn't a showoff? Call me intrigued," Loren responded with a smirk. That swiftly vanished as she motioned for Sean to continue.

"Well, Jayden is for sure coming. Do you remember Jayden Cooke? He's my friend that I played basketball with in junior high."

"I remember him. We went to your game that one year," Rowan recalled before frowning. "Why did you stop playing?"

"Oh, yeah! He was handsome," Loren remarked, taking longer to remember. However, it worked to distract everyone from Rowan's last question.

"Anyone they should watch out for?" Lex questioned, showing his protectiveness.

"Hey, we're not fools, you know!" Loren complained angrily, with Rowan nodding.

"I don't think there are any truly horrible guys in my grade. There are some bad-boy types like Kessler and Xavier Glove, but they aren't assholes. Oh, actually, stay away from Jed Barrow. His dad is our congressman, and there is something off with Jed," Sean stated. "Oh, I guess Fletcher Wynwick sleeps around a lot, and some people don't like him. Maybe he's a little arrogant, but I don't think he's a bad guy. His best friend is this nerdy girl who dated Newt a couple of times."

"Oh, we've heard of Fletcher," Rowan stated while Loren nodded with a grin.

Lex rolled his eyes, motioning for Sean to hurry and finish up.

"Let's see...girls think Tristan Ritt is going to be a movie star with his face," Sean passed along.

"Do tell."

"He's in the Drama Club and the lead actor in most plays. Huh? You know, I can't really think of any girls that he's dated."

"Drama Club and not known for dating girls, you say?" Rowan repeated, her eyes flicking over at her sister. "He's gay."

"Wha--No, no. Tristan isn't...Nah, he sometimes hangs around this hot girl in the club, Lux Chaumont," Sean insisted. "Ask Aurora."

"Oh, we will. You just better hope your detective skills aren't that terrible," Loren teased. "Is that it? Doesn't Honey Hollow have attractive guys your age?"

"Girls, you have the town hero under you. Stop pestering him about other boys," Lauren Rogers, née Caputo, pointed out to her daughters.

"He's injured, and we want a guy able to have fun with tonight," Loren declared, gesturing toward his cast. "No dancing for this one."

"Besides, it's Sean, Mom," Rowan stated as if that explained everything.

"Looks like you two are out of the running for Sean," Bridget admitted in defeat. "Perhaps their tune will change by the time we get to the graduation parties."

"Is that what you were doing with Cookie's girl? Finding Sean a girlfriend?" Lauren inquired as her daughters began asking him about older guys. "He's a good-looking kid. I wouldn't worry."

Bridget smiled at Lauren's reaction. Of all her old friends, she missed the brunette for her calmness. Sure, friends like Rachel had the same caring warmth as Lauren, but none of them had a serene attitude like hers. That's saying a lot about the divorced mother of triplets. It wasn't surprising that her former cheermate married a handsome, moderately wealthy man from a respected family in the historic town of Regal Crest. Unfortunately, Redmund Rogers had an overbearing mother, Lucinda, who ruled the family. Despite Lauren's calm, friendly attitude, she repeatedly clashed with her mother-in-law's quest for control. Finally, taking charge for her children's sake, Lauren filed for divorce a decade ago.

Still a striking woman with mid-length, long dark-brown hair, blue eyes, medium-sized breasts, and a round ass, Lauren should be out finding a man if Bridget had any say about it. Lauren's lack of a relationship was a frequent topic amongst her friends. Rachel had agreed with Bridget that they needed to focus on changing that once Lacey and Sean left for college.

"I'm not worried about Sean's ability to land a girlfriend. I'm worried that he'll find one right now," Bridget responded. The odd response raised Lauren's curiosity. "Dove's a potential girlfriend for the future. When he's attending Zurbrugg. But for now, I want Sean to gain experience by playing the field."

"Oh, that's a good one, Bee. You almost had me--Wait, you're serious?"

"Damn right, I am. With Peyton being so uptight about sex, I don't want Sean going down that road. I've been pushing him in the direction of the attractive girls all around us. Pointing out who might be fun in bed. He has no idea what school will be like after saving Whitney. He needs to take advantage of his new status."

"Bridget, that sounds...Are you sure this is wise?" Lauren questioned, suddenly recognizing signs of the old Bee from two decades ago. "Sean's not like you. He must be freaking--Hell, I'd be freaking out if my mom was pushing me to screw guys at that age."

"Oh, he's absolutely freaking out, and it's hilarious."

"Bridget! That's mean."

"Don't worry. I have a plan," the blonde mother assured her friend. "Whitney's thinking along the same lines. She wants to reward her hero, and I'm all for it. Of course, Sean's a romantic, so he's going to resist."

"There is nothing wrong with being a romantic, and you know it."

"But Sean's idea of romance left him frozen in limbo for all of high school," Bridget replied. Then, she quickly and quietly recounted Sean's longtime crush on Ramsey, his failed relationship with Beyza because of it, and the name mix-up. By the end, Lauren felt terrible for the teen but still didn't think his mother's plan was the right one.

"So you plan on tag-teaming with Whitney to wear him down? That's not very motherly."

"No, it's more like good cop versus bad cop. I'll drive Sean so uncomfortable that Whitney's ideas will appear like an escape," Bridget explained. "Trust me, when you see him next for the graduations, he'll be a more confident young man. Then, he'll be ready to meet the girl of his dreams in college."

"Bee, I've witnessed your plans blow up in your face spectacularly. I know you shrugged those failures off, but can your son handle them? And what happens if he goes along with one of your crazy ideas and it implodes?"

"Oh, if he bites on one of my plans...but he'll be fine. Not only does he see the good in people, but he's also a little like you, Ren. His laidback attitude will allow him to enjoy the adventures that Whitney brings his way," Bridget insisted. "Now, what's the story about your love life? Anybody new?"

"Have you girls been talking about me? Rachel, Tinny, Shayla, and Miranda have all asked that same question this week." Lauren had a strong suspicion that they had plotted together. "And no, there isn't anyone new. I don't think that's a good idea until I'm sure about my situation."

"Situation? Is something the matter? Are you feeling okay?" Bridget questioned, growing worried.

"Calm down, I feel fine. It's just with the triplets leaving the nest soon, I don't know what's keeping me in Regal Crest. Sure, I have a job I like and a few good friends, but I miss--"

"You miss us?" Bridget's eyes already flashed excitement and hope.

"No, I never miss you," Lauren responded. She held her poker face for barely ten seconds before cracking a grin. "Of course, I miss you and all the girls. I miss everything about Honey Hollow."

"Have you talked to a realtor? I know a great one. Wait! The Simovic's house at the end of our street is for sale. We could be neighbors!" Bridget's excited bouncing drew attention.

"Simmer down," Lauren whispered. "I'm still thinking it over, and the kids don't know."

"What's there to consider?"

"Which schools the kids choose. That's what to consider. If they stay close to home, I'll stay in Regal Crest. If they--"

"Aw, they're going to choose Doxton College, aren't they?" Bridget questioned grumpily. Doxton College, located near Regal Crest, was Redmund and Lauren's alma mater.

"It's one school that they applied to. They also applied to Sandbar College."

"Oh, Tinny would love that!"

"Breakwater made the list, and they just added Zurbrugg."

"Really?! Oh, they have to go there. They could be with our kids. It could be the experience we always wanted for them," Bridget stated excitedly. Her eyes scanned the triplets, imagining potential partners for each. "Oh, wait. What if they each pick different schools?"

"Lex keeps threatening to, but they won't split up. It'd kill them to be separate," Lauren explained.

"Look, there's no pressure, but you should check out the Simovic's house before you fly back. Please?!" Bridget begged.

"Uh-oh. Is our captain trying to pull you into another scheme?" Miranda Rusk teased as she appeared out of nowhere.

"Miranda!" Lauren exclaimed, hugging the new arrival. "You know that Bee was never my captain. Sometimes, I wish that weird gossip site had existed when I graduated. It would've provided entertainment for a lonely freshman far away from home."

"Please, you weren't lonely. We heard all about those boys who chased you around campus," Bridget informed her before turning to hug Miranda. "Good to see you, honey."

As Lauren's little cheersister, Miranda was always closer to the older brunette than her cheer captain. Actually, Bridget never felt a strong connection to Miranda or Annette. Sure, they were all friends, but that duo always seemed to live a separate life, even back in high school. That distance had grown in part because of the two husbands her former squadmates married. Of course, the grade school fight between Sean and Austin made things awkward for their mothers.

"Miranda!" the Rogers sisters greeted, staying seated.

"Hi, girls. And look at you, Lex. You're growing up nicely," Miranda commented, sizing up the teenager nearest her. "Do you remember my nieces?"

Peering around his mom's old friend, Lex surveyed the two busty brunettes. What he saw piqued his interest, prompting him to head in their direction.

"Hmm, now that's interesting," Lauren remarked with a wide smile. "Perhaps I should play matchmaker for my son, too, Bee."

"How is Sean?" Miranda inquired, glancing over in trepidation at the teen sitting in the wheelchair.

While Bridget filled in her old cheermate, her son got peppered with a new round of questions.

"What's the deal with Kaia and Kelsey?" Loren asked.

"I don't know. They live in Grassy Valley," Sean pointed out. "Ask Aurora."

If Sean sounded distracted, it's because he was distracted. Unlike Lex, it wasn't the Underwood sisters that caught his eye. No, his gaze lingered on the mid-length, red dress that Mrs. Rusk wore. Sean had never noticed the woman's attractiveness before scanning those old pictures the other day. Now with a cleavage-baring gown, Sean began to speculate if Aurora would look that good in twenty years.

"Don't you know if they're trouble at least?" Rowan challenged.

"Yeah, Lex gets all protective over who we date, but we pretty much run his love life," Loren revealed.

"Ask Lacey."

The two sisters glanced at each other, shaking their heads in annoyance. With silent communication, Rowan gestured to try a new tactic. Loren agreed and took the lead.

"Fine. Tell us about the girls at Honey Hollow High. Who's considered most desirable in school?"

"You know the girls that guys would kill to date," Rowan added, hoping Sean's intelligence would finally kick in.

"Yeah, list the top five girls like you did for the guys," Loren encouraged.

"I'll try," Sean responded. He would've shrugged, but the Rogers girls rested their arms on his shoulders. "Whitney Diamond probably ranks at the top of most lists. She's cheer captain and the unofficial queen bee."

"Nope. Whitney reminds us of the girls at Thornapple."

"And eww! No cheerleaders," Rowan added after her sister. "We hate that stuff."

"Oh, um, okay. I guess that crosses girls like Caterina off the list," Sean responded. "Do dancers count? Because Bianca Zuccaro has one hell of a...uh, never mind."

"Dancers? We'll think about it," Loren replied, making eye contact with her sister.

"Isn't she the one feuding with Lacey?" Rowan queried. Then, getting confirmation, she added, "Skip this Bianca. We don't want to upset Lacey. She's a great source for dirt."

"Who are Whitney's rivals?"

"Olena Olesky. She's the leader of the Bumble Girls. That's the rich girl clique," Sean explained.

"Rich girl clique? Yuck! We see those types every day at school," Rowan said with distaste.

"No, that's not the main reason to keep Lex away from Olena. I know this from my detective skills," Sean declared proudly. Loren rolled her eyes while Rowan grinned. "Olena is totally fake but really good at it. She's sweet to your face while she manipulates you."

"Now that's the kind of insight we want, Seanie." Loren patted his cheek.

"But we want to hear about girls that won't ruin his life," Rowan pointed out. "If you had to ask a girl to prom, who would it be?"

"Sienna Thirlby. She's beautiful. I asked her to prom the last two years and got rejected. She's the rich girl who hates the Bumble Girls. Sienna's considered the school's ice queen as no boy is good enough for her."

"We know Sienna. Her dad has friends in Regal Crest. So when they are in town, Sela will meet Mom for lunch," Rowan recounted. "Sienna once went off on Miffy Pendergast. It was classic."

"Sienna's a bitch but a good bitch," Loren stated. "What about athletes? Who's considered the hottie on the field?"

"Huh? I guess Iona O'Hara. She's an amazing soccer player who's getting a ton of scholarship offers. Yeah, and Iona's hot. Uh, I also heard that she's pretty intense in bed," Sean added while blushing. "Maybe ask JoJo. They're good friends. You remember JoJo, right?"

"Your best friend?"

"JoJo! She was starting to grow some serious boobs the last time we saw her. What's her deal? Is she dating anyone?" Loren rattled off as Rowan nodded eagerly in agreement. The shy, friendly, and busty brunette would be an ideal candidate for their brother.

"Uh, I don't know," Sean's openness froze at hearing the mention of JoJo's breasts. "I guess she and Jared, um, well, when I was in the hospital...I don't know what happened!"

"JoJo and Jared Lockett? Wow!"

"I did not see that one coming," Rowan stated. Then, noticing Sean's discomfort over talking about his best friend, she gave him a way out. "Hey, what about Lacey's friend?"

"The uptight one?" Loren asked her sister more than Sean.

"Yeah, the newspaper girl."

"Do you mean Ramsey?" Sean double-checked.

"Yep, that's the one. Tell us about her."

Sean paused for a long time before looking down and mumbling, "It's complicated."

Picking up on Sean's demeanor, the Roger sisters made eye contact. Nodding, they each wrapped an arm around his neck.

"Why is Ramsey complicated?" Loren inquired in a soft voice.

"Sean! Sean!" a voice screeched, rushing in his direction.

The Rogers sisters barely had enough time to stand up as a girl threw herself onto Sean's lap. That caused the wheelchair to roll back almost two feet.

"Oh, Sean. You brave hero!" the girl exclaimed, straightening up to straddle his lap as best as she could on the cramped chair. "Oh, Seanie!"

Sean never had time to react as the girl shoved her tongue down his throat. It took him almost ten seconds to snap out of his shock. Returning the passionate kiss, Sean could feel the girl's hands pawing at his head. Lost in the feeling, he slipped his hands down to cup the girl's firm ass.

Eventually, the girl broke off the kiss for air. Looking up, Sean could see the lust blazing in her eyes as she bit her lip.

"My brave, brave, Seanie. I knew you were a real man. I knew it!" she emphasized, looking around her with an I-dare-you-to-disagree look.

"Hey, Beyza," Sean finally responded, catching his breath and wits. "I guess you heard."

Standing almost a dozen feet away, Bridget smirked as she saw Sean's ex-girlfriend's hand move down after her eyes lit up.

"You fucking know it," Beyza replied, sliding her palm over his growing bulge.