Horseplay
Chapter 6 : A Long Saturday

  Neil snuck to the shower early on a humid Saturday morning. The
girls barely stirred when he extracted himself from the legs, arms
and blankets on the not-quite-big-enough mattress. Standing in the
warm spray, he was a bit shocked at the night's activities. Just
thinking back at some of the images now seared into his mind was
enough to arouse him, and he had to fight the urge to either take
care of himself or rush back to the cabin for another round.
	He found Mae awake when he returned. She was sitting in the
camp chair, looking over at Harriet's sleeping form. Neil waited
patiently for her reaction. When she glanced over at him and smiled,
he relaxed a bit.
	"How are you this morning, my pretty?" he asked.
	Mae grinned and stretched. Bits of bare skin peeked out of the
small throw blanket she'd wrapped herself in, which didn't help
Neil's predicament. "I'm... I don't know. Content?" she said.
	Neil looked her over, then slid down onto the floor next to
her. "You're not sure?"
	Mae stroked his hair and murmured. "Its a lot to take... OK?"
	Neil chuckled. "too much to take sometimes".
	Mae laughed and shoved his head playfully. "Yeah, although you
lasted longer than I thought last night."
	" Really? Boy, I didn't manage very long at all."
	"No... but wasn't that your fantasy? Me licking Harriet while
you had sex with her?"
	Neil grunted affirmatively. "I think our afternoon encounter
may have helped quite a bit."
	"Still... you managed to last out... That deserves some praise.
Good boy"
	Neil laughed at her and licked her leg like a dog. "I'm a good
boy, huh?"
	Mae giggled and smacked his head. "No touchy. I'm dirty and
sticky and nasty with all your joooooses."
	Harriet mumbled something from the bed and Neil grinned. "I
think sleeping beauty rises."
	Harriet threw a pillow aimlessly, missing them completely.
	"I think she needs a wake up call" Mae mused.
	"How should we wake her?"
	"I think a wake up COCK is in order" Mae said, blushing
slightly and giggling.
	Harriet sat up, her thick hair standing in every direction.
"You sicko bastards didn't do enough to me last night? Dragging me in
here and having your WAY with me?"
	Neil grinned and crawled over to the pillow, readying his
ammunition.
	Harriet spotted him and threw up a hand in defense. "God... go
back to bed."
	"Come back to bed with you? Why Harriet, you're such a..." Neil
started, climbing to his feet.
	Harriet pointed a finger in warning "Don't you dare. You pervo
sex fiend"
	Mae giggled and stood. "Well, I'm going to go take a shower.
You two be good."
	On her way out Mae stopped for a lingering kiss with Neil.
"You... love me do you?" she asked softly.
	Neil hesitated, then nodded.
	"Not my boyfriend" she said softly, hugging him.
	Neil nodded, pulling her close. "Doesn't mean I can't love you.
You can't stop me."
	Mae nodded into his chest and sighed. Neil thought he felt a
sniffle, but when she pulled back she was smiling. "You're
impossible" she muttered.
	Neil nodded and swatted her bottom as she walked past toward
the door.
	Harriet pointedly ignored the conversation and found a
comfortable spot on the bed to stretch out. "You two are the worst to
sleep with. Elbows and knees all night".
	Neil slid onto the bed next to her, looking down at her
disheveled face. "Yeah well. I don't remember getting into bed."
	Harriet grinned. "You fucking passed OUT. Did you so good you
went down for the count".
	Neil grinned and leaned down to kiss her, but she flinched.
	"I'm a mess, you don't want..."
	But Neil refused to stop and if her breath was bad, he didn't
notice. It wasn't like kissing Mae, it was friendlier, less amorous,
more physical. He wished it would take his breath away like Mae's
did.
	When they broke, Harriet considered him and sat up. "You and
Mae... still no go?"
	Neil shrugged. "She's.. fighting it."
	Harriet nodded. "Just so you know, I don't... love you or
anything. I mean, maybe I like you a lot.. and you're.."
	"A great lay?"
	Harriet blushed, nodding.
	"A fantastic fuck? A master of the mattress mambo? Prince of
the Penis Party? Lord of the Lady Lickers?"
	Harriet laughed, trying to stop each new line, finally grabbing
him and rolling him into the covers. "You're fun, Neil. Dammit, I
should do you right here and now."
	Neil smiled and winked. "Well... I would have to take another
shower, but I'm..."
	Harriet pushed off and shook her head. "Later... dammit. You're
unbelievable. I'm going to go take a shower and...."
	"Jerk off?"
	"Girls don't 'JERK OFF', dummy"
	"Oh. How about 'find Mae and lick each other to orgasm in the
shower?'"
	Harriet jumped a bit and gave him an evil look. "Shit. You
bastard."
	Neil grinned and rolled off the bed, landing and standing with
a "ta da"
	Harriet grabbed her clothes and quickly got dressed. "You keep
pushing her to me and I'll steal her."
	"I thought you weren't lez like that."
	"No, I prefer the Penis Prince, but she's so fucking... willing
and curious. Its very erotic"
	Neil smiled and nodded. "You should have seen her face while I
was showing her how to lick your hot pussy."
	Her face flushed and Harriet slipped into her shirt and grabbed
the door. "Later, I'm going to tie you to the fucking bed and make you
beg."
	Neil grinned and waved.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
	
	Breakfast was interesting. Neil tried to pry some dirty stories
out of the girls about their long shower, but neither would crack.
Their exchanged glances suggested enough, though, so Neil dropped it
and simply enjoyed his eggs. When Dave and Ruth joined them, he
caught her eye and smiled, getting a wink in return. He almost
flinched, remembering that he had yet anther lady to figure out.
Maybe if he talked to Mae and Harriet about it he'd figure a way out.
Glancing over at the pair he briefly pictured all three of them
together on the floor and had to banish the thought. That path would
just feed the monster, and he was getting too powerful as it was.
	After breakfast Mae gave him a quick hug and ran off to help
with the big competition. With the younger girls it was more of a
show than anything else, but the parents would expect ribbons and
speeches, so that's what they'd get. Neil was on parking duty for the
afternoon, but had most of the morning off. He decided to walk with
Harriet down towards the commons to get her advice.
	"Harriet, about Ruth..."
	"She wants you."
	Neil nodded, knowing that Harriet had some sort of friendship
with Ruth, although he couldn't ever remember seeing them together.
"Its just that... you and Mae.."
	"Are not your girlfriends." Harriet said. She saw Neil's face
and sighed. "Look, I can't help Mae. She's all torn up about it, but
she's firm. You really messed things up last night though."
	Neil jumped, "what?"
	"You told her... and its killing her."
	Neil paused, then frowned. "What am I supposed to do!?"
	"Show Ruth a good time and let Mae figure things out on her
own."
	Neil shrugged. "Ruth is attractive, I'm just... kind of wrapped
up in a lot in that department." He joked.
	Harriet grinned. "Actually... well, maybe you WOULD be
interested..."
	Neil stopped walking and ran his hand through his hair. "In
what?"
	Harriet grinned luridly. "Ruth is all for you and her, bumping
and grinding."
	Neil grinned and shrugged. "Its not... outside the realm of
possibilities"
	Harriet laughed and started walking, waiting for Neil to catch
up. "But..."
	"But?"
	"She's more interested in something else."
	"Uh... what?"
	"Look, Dave and I have... well, dated in the past."
	"What? He never.."
	"No, because I told him not to. He cheated on his girlfriend
with me, and until he finally got that straight, we kept it quiet.
Ruth didn't know until recently, and she was... slow to come around."

	Neil tried to put things together, and a picture emerged. "So
you and Dave have... had sex, and Ruth wants to have sex with me...
and you?"
	"I talked to Ruth about you, and when she found out I was also
interested, she hatched a plan with Dave."
	Harriet let Neil think about this for a moment, which was a
mistake. Neil had already reached the point. "What, he wants to
trade? I'm game, but I think I should get more than Ruth for you, I
mean he should toss in a couple Rookie cards" Neil joked. He was a
little shocked at the idea at first, but his feelings for Harriet
were almost entirely physical. Sharing with Dave would be weird, but
he didn't feel more than a twinge of jealousy considering Ruth's
involvement.
	Harriet swung at him, smacking him soundly on the shoulder.
"Fucker. Anyway, .. aside from your smartass remarks.. A trade would
be the next best thing on the list of fantasies."
	Neil hesitated, shaking his head.
	" Ruth wants you both... with me and ... you know.. all of us"
	Neil stopped completely and tried to remember what his name
was. Images of some double orgy blinded him and he stood there,
gaping. "WHA?"
	Harriet giggled, a trace of lust in her throat. "She's...
really excited by the idea of two guys, I'm just a bonus."
	Neil was still in shock, nearly tripping as he walked closer to
Harriet. "I... look, I'm not sure... plus Mae!"
	Harriet shrugged. "Include her."
	Jealousy flooded Neil and he shook his head. "No. No, I
can't... that's not going to happen."
	Harriet nodded knowingly. "Its hard when there's feelings like
that involved. There are people who can do it, and people who can't.
Remember, though... you're not her boyfriend".
	Neil shook his head. He wished it hurt less each time he heard
that particular refrain. "No... I'm not. Even if I wanted to, it
would kill her... wouldn't it?"
	Harriet shrugged. "Maybe. She was willing to share you with me,
but she was there. Would she be jealous now? If we went up to the
cabin and fucked like rabbits?"
	Neil shrugged, then grinned "Hey, good question. Lets find
out!"
	Harriet punched him in the arm. Again. "Dammit, don't distract
me. Look, maybe if you bring Ruth and her together... Fuck.. that's
hot... or all three of us"
	Neil ran his hand down Harriet's back, cupping her ass.
	"STOPPIT. Shit, Neil, I've got to go. Think about it though"
	"I am!"
	"Not ... look, if Mae and Ruth get along, she may not care that
you ... go off with her and Dave. She's so wrapped up in not being in
love with you that she might do it just to prove to herself... Shit,
I can't believe I'm trying to fulfill another one of your pervo
fantasies."
	"And yours, I bet you are so wet right now" Neil said softly,
sliding his hand back to the small of her back.
	Harriet pushed him away with a shake of her head. "Goddam
you... How do you DO that?!? I swear, it might swell your already
oversized head, but nobody has ever been so good at getting me..."
	Neil grinned and bowed. He stood and started backing up the
hill. "I'm going to go take another shower." he said. "I guess I'll
see you at lunch."
	The walk up the hill was aggravating, his teasing of Harriet
had worked both ways. When he reached the cabin he grabbed his gear
and headed over to the empty showers. He broke out his bottle of baby
oil and was just about to relieve some pressure when Harriet slipped
through the curtain, completely nude.
	"You're a goddammotherfucker" she whispered, dropping to her
knees and nearly swallowing his cock.
	Neil stiffened and moaned softly. "Ahhhh fuck..."
	Harriet was insistent and fast, slathering his cock with her
saliva and stroking rapidly up the base of his shaft. Neil felt early
warning signs and pulled back, drawing a groan from Harriet.
	Without a word he turned her and bent her over. She put a foot
up on the small bench on the wall and reached back, drawing him into
her. He fucked her rapidly, feeling her pussy expand to accept him
immediately. It was unbelievable and hardcore, pure physical lust.
	Harriet clenched her teeth, holding on to the wall and muffling
her moans with each powerful thrust.
	Neil held back his urge to slam her through the wall, he was so
aroused by her wanton moans, her unbelievable pussy and how incredible
it was that she'd followed him. Ignoring her groans, he slid out and
went to his knees, leaned forward and buried his face between her
legs. She shivered and arched her back as he stared licking her pussy
rapidly. She was beyond any need for gentle foreplay, her labia were
fully open, her clit engorged and fluids nearly dripped out of her.
	"Fuck yeah Neil, oh yeah lick my cunt.. lick my fucking pussy"
she groaned.
	The monster came back, heeding her call and growling in Neil's
mind. He increased his speed on her clit, then slid two fingers up
into her pussy. She clenched down, pressing her face against the tile
and growled deeply. Neil sped up, focusing his tongue on her clit and
working his fingers between fucking her and rubbing her g-spot. There
was a sudden violent clench, a rush of fluid and without a sound she
was orgasming hard and fast. She rocked her legs, fighting to stand
and bit down on her hand to remain quiet. Neil was shocked at how
hard her orgasm hit her, spasms rocked her back and she finally stood
completely stiff and leaned forward into the tile, gasping for breath.

	Neil moved behind her again and she moaned. "No.. I don't want
to have to clean up again... " she muttered. She turned and pushed
him back until he was leaning against the other corner wall. Once
again he was in her mouth. He closed his eyes and leaned back,
savoring the moment. "I want you to come in my mouth" she said,
pulling out just long enough to whisper before sliding him deep into
her throat.
	Neil could only nod, she was all over him. Her hands on his
balls, her tongue up and down his shaft, her mouth covering him. He
struggled to hold back, to resist, to hold out and enjoy the
attention but it was useless. His hips rocked forward on their own,
his mental defenses failed to go up and he was lost in her oral
attention. He barely managed to hold together thirty seconds. Every
attempt he made to block the sensation, to think about anything else,
to throw up any kind of barrier was useless. She was insistent,
constant, everywhere on his cock.
	She whispered between licks and strokes, maintaining the
sensations with her hands. "Come in my mouth, Neil, fuck my mouth and
come in it.".
	Neil's struggles ended. She was simply too good, too constant
in her attention, attacking his eyes, his ears and massaging every
nerve in his penis. Even worse, each time he thought he knew what she
was doing next, she changed to something else. The rising tide of
orgasm was unstoppable and he reached down, gathering her hair in his
fists and moaned in carnal bliss. Harriet growled around his shaft,
drawing him deep into her throat and bobbed up and down. He tried to
match her, but the pleasure crippled his pace and he finally just
leaned back and allowed her to bring him over the top. The first
burst caused her to moan victoriously and Neil was once again past
consciousness, flooded with pleasure. It drew on and on, and he dimly
felt himself ejaculating over and over.
	He barely registered that she was leaving. Harriet leaned down
and patted his head and Neil realized he had slumped down against the
wall and was sitting on the tile with the warm spray raining down on
his head.
	"That... was exactly what I needed." she said happily.
	Neil grunted something and reached out, only to have her dance
away.
	"Nope, I'm done with you. I felt you resisting me, by the way.
Nobody resists a blowjob by Harriet Enders." she gloated.
	Sitting in a stupor in the shower floor, Neil was forced to
agree.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
	
	Neil's alarm woke him for lunch. He'd stopped back to change
and discovered that an empty bed after a shower blowjob was almost as
impossible to resist as Harriet and her incredible oral skills. The
monster in his mind was sated and Neil decided to catch up on his
rest.
	When he reached the Cave, Mae was sitting in her spot. Her eyes
twinkled when he arrived, and he looked around for Harriet.
	"So, someone told me you like sex in the shower" Mae whispered
when he at.
	Neil took a spoonful of stew and failed to fight his grin.
"She's very... persuasive."
	Mae chuckled. "I'm sure you fought to protect your honor
valiantly.. for what? two seconds?"
	Neil smiled and considered her. She didn't seem jealous, which
surprised him a little. It also worried him, perhaps he wasn't as
sure of her feelings as he'd thought. "It doesn't... bother you?".
	Mae seemed honestly surprised by the thought. She pursed her
lips, then shook her head. "You're... " but she stopped, seeing his
face. "No. Maybe your.. penis isn't mine, but I have something all to
myself" she said.
	Neil sighed and nodded. He would just work on it. On the bright
side, it meant he could explore his opportunity with Ruth and Dave,
although he was still hesitant to share. He considered exploring the
topic with Mae, but hesitated, then dropped it. It would wait, he
thought.
	Mae finished her meal and came and snuggled next to him, just
sharing his space. It was enjoyable and frustrating. Finally, though,
he had to go. He was on parking duty for the afternoon, a job that
essentially required him to be a traffic cop for the parking lots.
The parents would be arriving just after noon to enjoy a light lunch,
endless presentations and finally the big show in the arena. Neil was
more than willing to camp out in the woods near the big parking area,
doing essentially nothing. He wished Dave or one of the other
counselors he was friendly with were going, but they were all
assigned elsewhere. At best it would be boring.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
	Neil got stuck with the second point for parking duty. It meant
he had to stand at the second marker and wave cars along, probably for
the better part of an hour. The cars would pull past the first point,
then his, then down the line to whoever was on final park. Fancy cars
and SUVs rumbled past on the hardpack pavement, most filled with tired
and less than patient parents looking to fawn over their youngsters.
	After forty minutes Neil opened the chain for the last lot and
started to wave cars in. They'd managed to put everyone in a spot
without a single accident and only a few bruised egos. Neil was
dusty, tired and hot and more than willing to take a break when he
heard a voice behind him and almost waved a car into the ditch.
	"Hey Neil", Ruth said with a chirp.
	Neil cringed. Ruth was wearing a slightly skimpy outfit and
seemed to be banking on his reaction to it. "Hey Ruth, you look nice"

	"Nice and HOT she said, fanning herself"
	Neil grinned and waved another car into the lot. They were
pretty thin now, the last stragglers and latecomers, rushing to get
there in time. As he waved the car past, Ruth stood just behind him.
	"Talked to Harriet this morning"
	Neil almost jumped, but managed to hold his cool. "Really?"
	"She uh, mentioned she might talk to you. Did she?"
	Neil almost lied, but beyond the layer of innocence, Ruth was
clearly hiding something. Maybe it was anticipation, but he suspected
she already knew the answer. "Mayyyyybe." he mocked.
	Ruth pouted. "Aw, come on...."
	Neil smiled. "Perhaps I'm interested" he said with a leer over
his shoulder. Ruth grinned.
	"Just Perhaps?"
	Neil shrugged, "I have to work some things out"
	Ruth bounced up to him, giggling. "MMmmmm. Two guys... AND
Harriet? You have no idea how much just thinking about it turns me
on."
	Neil gaped then recovered. "Yeahh... well, it might have to be
something else... first".
	Ruth gave him an odd look and stopped bouncing.
	"Look, Mae and I are... kinda dating but not dating."
	Ruth rolled her eyes.
	"Yeah, I know. BUT."
	"But you have to clear it with her?"
	"Maybe... or I have to.. well, remove her jealousy."
	Ruth shook her head.
	"If... you were to join me and Mae... she'd be a lot less ..."
	Ruth laughed. "Jesus, Neil. You sure know how to proposition a
girl".
	Neil waved a car on while his cheeks burned. It was quite a
suggestion, saying he couldn't have an orgy with her until she had a
threesome with his girlfriend.
	Ruth watched the car pass and looked up the now empty road.
Walking past him she slid her arm around his shoulders, then drew it
across and down, finally patting him on the butt. "I have to say, I
haven't been invited to a threesome in a while. I'm not as... into
girls as Harriet is, but I certainly enjoy the spectacle."
	Neil started to respond, but spotted another car.
	Ruth saw it too and chuckled. "So no sucky fucky until your
girlfriend gets a taste?" she said in a little-girl voice.
	Neil waggled his eyebrows and laughed. "I know... I have a
fucking tough life"
	"I just hope you're as good in bed as Harriet says... I'd hate
to do all this work for a lame fuck" Ruth said in a low, sultry
voice.
	Neil started to make a joke, but weighed Ruth's mood and
dropped it. "Harriet said I was good in bed?"
	"Well... I think the exact word was 'fantastic'".
	"I don't think you'll be disappointed" he said in a serious
tone. It lacked his normal bravado, and he wondered at her effect on
him.
	Ruth clapped her hands and giggled. "OK, I was going to...
taste test you in the woods, but Harriet seems to have beaten me to
it. So, talk to Mae and we'll... set the date"
	Neil watched her leave in shock. She was so sure of herself, it
was very different than Mae's submissive streak or Harriet's secretive
slutty side. It was refreshing, even when Ruth joked she was forward
and direct. You didn't feel like you were figuring her out or trying
to understand what she meant.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
	As he approached the commons, Neil was besieged by young girls
saying goodbye and introducing him to their parents. Several gave him
long, measured looks but he smiled and shook hands with everyone. The
parents would relax after a few questions, generally about some class
or ride that Neil barely remembered. Similar islands of parents
surrounded him as girls located some instructor or counselor who had
impressed them or simply paid attention to their interests.
	When Neil managed to escape the first clutch, a second sprung
up just as he turned the corner. Andrea, the little girl from barrel
racing, squealed and ran over, dragging two already exhausted looking
parents.
	"This is him, daddy, he put me up on top of a barrel!" she said
proudly.
	Neil almost blushed at her father's reaction. "The barrel
racing barrels." Neil added helpfully. "Andrea was helpful enough to
point the way for the girls who weren't as familiar with the course"
he said diplomatically.
	Andrea's mother smiled, but her father's eyes twinkled briefly.
"What? I'll not stand to have my little girl manhandled in this way"
he said with just enough jest to keep Neil from jumping.
	Neil grinned and looked defiant. "Well, I had to put her to
some use, she's a horror in the class, chasing all the BOOOOOYS".
	Andrea shrieked into giggles, running to her father, insisting
it was all a horrible lie. Her mother laughed and pulled her away.
	"Will you be teaching over the winter, Neil?" she asked.
	Neil shook his head. "I doubt it, the camp might ask though."
	"Well, I put in a good word for you, they need more counselors
like you" she said with a smile. Andrea had already rushed off to
another counselor.
	Her father shook his hand again and laughed. "Neil, there
haven't been any boys.. catching her attention, right?"
	Neil smiled. "No sir, the only boys Andrea was interested in
had 4 legs."
	Her father nodded and relaxed. "Not too far off, but not
today."
	Neil laughed and tried to head another way, only to be cornered
by more girls saying goodbye. e didn't managed to reach the edge of
the quad before the trumpets started, indicating that the campers
needed to suit up for the first round in the arena. Neil snagged some
hot dogs from the common mess, but instead of heading to the arena, he
turned instead toward the woods. He had a plan for the evening, and
he'd need time to get out to the other side of the lake to make it
work.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
	Between the games, prizes, dinner and loading it was nearly
eight before the counselors managed to sit down for dinner. Neil
dropped down between Mae and Harriet with a big grin and tore into
his salad and steak with abandon. He got a few amused glances from
around the table, but he steadfastly ignored them. After a brief word
with Harriet in line for seconds, he wolfed down some potatoes and was
off to his cabin with a brief farewell.
	When Mae opened his cabin door and stepped inside, he was
ready. Candles borrowed from a half-dozen counselors lined his
dresser, three vases (made from empty milk cartons and a bottle of
wine) were filled with wildflowers and a small bistro table and
chairs sat in the middle of the room. Two wine glasses sat amidst
scattered flowers and a modest bowl of ice cream.
	Mae hesitated, glancing around for landmarks until she spotted
Neil. He had hoped to dress up, but counselors don't pack dress
clothes and he was forced to wear a nice polo shirt and shorts
instead. When he pulled a chair out for Mae, she became flustered and
misty.
	"Neil! What... ? How did you?"
	"I've got connections... and owe some favors.." he said with a
wink, tipping the blanket covered chair insistently.
	Mae made her way over and sat carefully, wondering at the
decor. "Is all this for..."
	"You." Neil said firmly, cutting off any discussion.
	Mae paused, her eyes growing wide. "But.."
	"But ice cream!" Neil insisted. The bowl was a concoction of
ice cream sandwiches and other basic desserts. The camp kitchen
wasn't stocked in that area and he'd been forced to raid a few
personal collections.
	Mae looked at the wine, the ice cream and the room in awe. She
glanced at the array of wildflowers, whites and reds and purples.
Neil had spent an hour collecting what he could find on the far side
of the lake. Horses tended to eat anything not poisonous, so it was a
struggle to find flowers that looked like anything other than weeds.
	Neil pushed her chair in slightly and made his way to the other
side, only to hear a squeak of chair legs. He turned, and found Mae
standing. "Uh, Mae?"
	Mae shook her head and tears started to stream down her cheeks.
"I.. can't Neil..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "We... can't".
With that she rushed to the door and pulled it open. "I'm sorry,
Neil". she croaked, and was gone into the night.
	Neil spent a very long two hours picking up. He could hear the
sounds of the counselor end-of-week party going on. The next two
weeks would be full of older students and complicated schedules so
they held a traditional blow-out when the younger kids left. As he
loaded a trash bag with the last of the flowers, Neil decided to go.
He ate the ice cream, blew out the candles and collected them
together, dumping them into a box and splattering wax across the
bottom. He switched his polo shirt for a standard T-shirt, threw the
blankets back on the bed and headed out. Maybe Dave would cheer him
up.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
	He spent a few minutes in the Cave in a miserable haze, smiling
absently to people until he found a corner to sulk in. It wasn't what
he'd hoped, and it failed to do anything for him. When he left, Dave
and Ruth caught up walked back to Neil's cabin with him. They cheered
him up a little, but when they reached his door and he sent them to
their own room it faded. Standing alone in his room his last few
embers of hope and cheer faded and died. He knew now that Mae was not
going to change her position, that no matter how hard he tried there
would be no relationship. The thought was crushing, and no matter how
much he wanted to chalk it up to a "life-experience" or "one of those
things" as Ruth and Dave insisted it wasn't. It was a broken heart,
and broken hearts didn't become growth experiences until they were
ready. He paced the three steps between his bed and door for nearly
an hour, wavering between tears and anger. Finally, in what was
probably the hardest thing he'd done all week, Neil slowly turned the
lock on his door for the first time since arriving at camp. Without
looking back he went to bed.
	He ignored the first soft knocks, falling back into a deep
sleep with only the slightest twinge of regret mixed with anger. Some
time later, though, there was a more persistent visitor at his door.
	Neil opened the door slightly an saw Harriet, her eyes red and
puffy. "Wha..?" he managed before she pushed her way in.
	She cried for a second, waving off his attempt to comfort her.
	"What happened?" he begged.
	"You. YOU happened. To Mae. She's been crying in my room for
hours now. Dammit Neil..."
	Neil sat on the bed and rubbed his temple, waiting.
	"She.... " but Harriet stopped and sat down on one of the two
chairs he'd borrowed for his romantic dessert. Neil had shoved them
against the wall until he had a chance to return them to storage.
"Did you really have flowers? ...and candles?" she finally asked.
	Neil shrugged. "...and ice cream." he said softly. He was
physically tired and mentally exhausted and this little nighttime
chat wasn't helping. With a slow groan he collapsed into the matching
chair.
	Harriet sniffled and rubbed her nose. "She was overwhelmed,
Neil... she"
	"She ran out of here." he said simply. When Harriet didn't
respond he slipped deeper into anger from his tenuous perch in
anguish and frustration. "I get the picture, OK? Tell her I get the
Fucking. Picture."
	Harriet shook her head and tried to stand, but Neil stopped
her.
	"Whatever she FEELS, whatever dark hidden, locked away part of
her feels something for me, she won't let it out. I get it. Message
Received. I'll leave her alone. Tell her I'll stop... trying. I'll
just stop, OK? I'm done."
	Harriet sat back heavily and sniffled. "She says she wants to
talk, but you locked your door. I think... she also wants to sleep in
here."
	Neil instantly shook her head firmly. "No. Not tonight. I'm
tired and angry and frustrated and.... fucking tired. OK? Just
absolutely fucking tired. I'm tired from today, I'm tired of fighting
her emotional... walls and.... I'm tired of trying to figure out what
she wants. You know?"
	Harriet nodded and reached out to Neil, but he was sitting back
in the chair and rubbing his eyes.
	"You know what's funny? Sex... With sex I can read her like a
book. Like a fucking instruction manual. She tells me one thing and I
just know, I just KNOW what she's really saying. Its like having a
map, I start here and I read the map and I go there and no matter
what she says out loud, her body and her mind are right where I
expect them to be... Why the FUCK can't she be like that... with.."
Neil nearly lost it, and had to clamp down and breathe deeply to hold
himself together. He slouched forward, resting his elbows on his
knees. There was a horrible ringing in his ears, his heart was racing
and he felt like he was going to pass out.
	Harriet came over and hugged him carefully, sitting down on the
bed next to his chair and pulling him into her bosom. "OK, OK, Neil. I
get it. I'll... talk to her. You get some sleep."
	Neil nodded and stood. "I'm sorry you got wrapped up in this,
Harriet."
	Harriet paused and smiled sadly "What would camp be without
drama?"
	Neil walked her over to the door. When she turned outside, he
gave her a brave smile.
	Harriet pulled him partly through the door and hugged him.
"Don't lock your door, OK? I might need someone to curl up with
tonight.
	Neil managed to turn off the light and reach the bed before
falling asleep. He tossed and turned for a bit, finally settling into
a deep sleep undisturbed by dreams or nighttime visitors.