Friends and Lovers

you're the kind of person the other one loves, they'll love you. I told you that I like you -' love you -' for your patience, and how helpful and friendly you are -so you know that as long as you're like that, I'll love you. And because you know that I love you for what's good in you, you know that as you get to be an even better person, I'll love you even more. With Janet and me, *both* of us are doing that all the time, like I said; because we know that both of us are doing it, then we know that the other one loves us, the same way and for the same reasons that we love them.'

Taking a breath, I continued 'If you'll think about it, I expect you'll understand that loving and knowing someone else that way also builds the kind of trust that not many people have with another person. I know and love Janet enough that I was willing to trust her when she said that me coming in here and making love with her would help you. I know and love Nadia enough that I trust she'll understand that just because I made love with my sister, it doesn't mean that I love her any less -' because I know she knows and loves me enough to trust me. I know it sounds kind of circular, and it is – because it's the kind of thing that builds on itself. When Nadia first started coming over here, I*know* that she wouldn't have trusted me as much as she does now. Once she got to know me, and find out what kind of person I am -' or at least TRY to be -' she started to love me. With the good things she has inside, I started to love her, too; and as we started to love each other, each of us payed more attention to the other -' and found out that there was even more to love about the other person. As the love between us grew, so did the trust. I'm not perfect, and neither is Nadia – but both of us trust that the other one is always trying to become a better person, because we know and love each other.'

At that point, Nadia spoke up to tell Jade 'When I first realized that I loved Danny, I thought I was an okay person – not great, but okay. But after he talked to me about this stuff, and I started trying to do what I knew he and Janet were, I've realized that I am becoming better. Like Danny says, not perfect -' not by a long shot; but better – and I never stop trying. Even my parents have noticed, and complimented me on it.'

Somewhat hesitantly, Jade told her 'When I first met you, I thought you were basically just 'okay', too. Then a few weeks after New Years, I noticed a change in you -' a good one, that I really liked.'

Nadia just smiled before answering 'That was when Danny made love with me the first time, and I started to understand what it is about him and Janet. I wasn't used to being completely responsible for myself, so it wasn't easy for me at first; but once I learned that I have to know what I want before I can have it, it got easier. Of course, having Janet and Danny loving me and trying to help when they could did a lot, too.'

Jade wanted to know 'That was when Danny wanted to be with you the first time?'

Nadia grinned as she answered 'No, he didn't want to be with me. I wanted him to be the first guy I was ever with like that, because I really liked the kind of guy he is -' I mean, I had already started to love him for how patient and gentle and understanding he is, I just didn't know it yet. Then when he was with me, and we made love and talked – that's when I really knew that I did love him, and why, and it was so much better than I'd thought it would be. Since then, we've made love more; and every time, it's gotten better and better with him. I mean, the physical part -that's good -' better than good, even. It's knowing that I love him, and he loves me, that makes it so wonderful. I still go out on dates with guys and everything, 'cause even though Danny and I love each other so much, I know it's too early for me to think about settling down and having a family and stuff with any guy. I know that Danny won't talk about me and him, so my parents won't find out that I'm making love -' they'd probably think it was just sex -' while I learn about things that I'll need to know when I go off to college, and even after. After he saw us, I*knew* he wouldn't say anything to anybody -' ever. That's why it was Janet _and me_ that were trying to tell you it was okay.'

Jade looked at Janet, then Nadia again, before asking 'What Danny said – it's what you were trying to tell me, isn't it? About love, and knowing someone, and trust, and all of that.'

Sis answered 'Yeah', followed by Nadia's 'Uh-huh.'

'And even after you spent all that time trying to tell me, and I wouldn't listen or believe you, you loved me enough to go get Danny and come back in here -' giving up the private thing you had with him so I'd feel better', looking at Sis.

'Sure. You're one of my best friends, and I love you. I didn't want you to have go around*worrying* like I knew you would if we didn't.'

Jade turned to look at me and asked 'And you were willing to be with Janet just because she said so, because you love her and trust her that much.'

'I said so, didn't I?'

Then she looked at Nadia to say 'You thought enough of him that you wanted him to be the first guy you were ever with -' and he made you happy enough that you keep making love with him.'

'Well, yeah.'

Then, after looking at all of us, she quietly said 'And all of you -you're willing to sit here and answer my questions, and explain everything again. And while you're doing that, you tell me that you love me, too -and not just that, but what it is about me that you love -' and*not one* of you said anything about how I look – just what was inside me.'

I suppose if Mom or Dad had been there, they'd have recognized what happened to Jade; me and Sis, and Nadia, we didn't have a clue. All we could tell was that she appeared to be off in her own dimension, looking at something none of the rest of us could see while not paying the slightest bit of attention to us.

When she came out of whatever alternate reality she was in, Jade looked at all of us with tears in her eyes as she exclaimed 'All of you – you do love me – and so*much*!', looking like she wanted and needed to hug somebody.

She looked at all of us again before suddenly launching herself at me, surprising the hell out of me; I figured that if she was going to go hugging somebody, it would have been Nadia, maybe, or more likely, Sis -' I mean, they were girls, too, and I didn't have any reason to think that she had any interest in ME. That was how it happened that Jade was able to knock me onto my back, and lay with her body on mine as she hugged me and cried into my chest. When I looked at Sis and Nadia, both of them were smiling at what had happened, and looking like they were ready to start crying in sympathy with Jade. As a kid, it hadn't taken me long to figure out that crying was some kind of female group activity – kind of like how they went to the bathroom in bunches in a public place.

So having Sis and Nadia looking as though they were about to start crying, too, was something of a distraction from the feel of Jade laying on top of me. As cool as her body felt, her breasts felt warm where they were pillowed against my chest. I put my arms around her to try and comfort her, and when I started to gently stroke her back, I discovered just how soft and smooth her skin was.

While I tried to settle Jade down again, Sis got up and left her room; when she came back, she had a hand towel from the bathroom. She tried to give it to Jade, but Jade was apparently too preoccupied to notice it. I went ahead and took it, instead, setting it where it would be handy when it was needed. Sis got back onto the bed, electing to sit at the headboard, next to Nadia. The two of them held hands and whispered to each other while I was busy with Jade.

After a while, Jade lifted her head to look at me and say 'I'm sorry, Danny.'

Well and truly confused, I had to ask 'Whatever for?'

'For getting all hysterical, and knocking you down and laying on you, and crying on you.'

'Like I said -' what are you apologizing for? It was pretty obvious that whatever it was that you zoned out on us about, it was pretty serious. If you wanted to hang on to me, and cry on me, and all that, it's okay with me. I was still waterproof when I checked in the shower this morning -', I said, trying to draw a smile from her.

The best she could manage just then was a little half-grin, but that was better than crying, as far as I was concerned. When I offered her the towel Sis had brought back, she readily accepted it and began drying her eyes and face. When she was done with that, she blushed faintly as she dried the tears that had accumulated on me.

'Well, I'm still sorry about it', she told me. 'It's just that it all kind of -*clicked* in my mind -' what you said, and what Nadia and Janet told me. All of a sudden it all made sense, and I could see how it worked, and how I couldn't help but be a better person if I started doing the things that you do. And then on top of that, I realized that you love me -' all three of you -' and how much – and it made me so sad and happy at the same time I thought I'd just die.'