Talia...but what about Rachel?

"I don't think your technique works very well." Stephanie could sense my confusion. She leaned in.

"Why? Who'd you see?"

"Uh...Talia." I stared into my food.

Suddenly, she broke into raucous laughter. "Oh my GOD. That's so fucked up. Ian, I think you might be a little warped. We'll have to try something else."

We finished eating without anymore talk of prom, but I couldn't get Talia out of my mind. Not only was she well spoken for, by somebody I liked, but she and I had never even considered becoming serious. Talia and Rachel were such a perfect pair. And yet, the image of Talia's perfect breasts, the feeling of her hot skin on mine...and now, thanks to last week, I also had the memory of Rachel's tight quim to contend with...maybe I am "warped."

I studiously avoided Talia the next day. I was afraid that I'd give myself away, and I still needed time to think.

I couldn't wait for a chance to clear my head with a run. Amy looked amazing in her skimpy gear, as always, and I realized how pent up I was feeling. I bought an issue of Playboy on the way home and found the two women closest in type to Talia and Rachel. I hoped that would get it all out of my system. I felt better after that and tried to beat the Egyptian in Goldeneye for the 50,000th time.

I audibly gasped when Talia rang the doorbell around 7, wearing nothing more than a tight tank top and Daisy Duke shorts. No bra. I stared.

"Hey, what's up?"

She leapt forward and squished her incredible body against me, causing an immediate reaction which I tried to cover with my hand.

Talia fixed a serious look on her gorgeous face. "Ian. You need to ask someone to prom."

She came in and fell on to the couch. I faced her from the easy chair. After avoiding her all day, it was only natural that she would show up. I had a nervous knot in my stomach...what if she's talked to Stephanie? What if she took it seriously? I'm in trouble....

"Far be it from me to tell you what to do, but you deserve someone special, like I have Rachel." Had she been talking since she came in? Nothing in her tone suggested that I'd crossed a line. "I mean, surely SOMEone in our group has your eye for something more serious. Like, dude, if I were single, I'd be all over Elizabeth. Maybe she can be turned...." Talia had a licentious grin playing her dark lips. "But, I have Rachel. Who do you have? Miss April?"

She locked eyes on the Playboy that I'd stupidly left on the coffee table. I prayed that she wouldn't notice the resemblance.

"Listen, Talia, the last year has been the most amazing in my whole life, thanks to you and the girls. I really, really don't want to screw up that dynamic by asking any one of you to prom."

"You're so full of shit. You're just afraid of hurt feelings. Really, Ian, we can take it. It's not me, is it? Afraid that Rachel will scratch your eyes out? She's the jealous type."

I kept my eyes on the floor. "I'm serious. I think that it's better for everyone if I just go stag." I meant it.