“I didn't say that."

“Holly said you said that."

"I..." I fumbled, looking left and right at the steady flow of human traffic going by, oblivious to whatever might be going on in this quiet alcove. Actually, people seemed to be deliberately avoiding looking at us, and once I realized how closely Sam was pressed up against me, I realized why.

There's a reason people avert their eyes when they see a couple kissing in public. We're trained to not involve ourselves in others' intimacy.

Sam had held my arm with both of hers for the entire walk here. And even now, I was hugging her to my chest so that our faces were only inches apart. I had done so for the purpose of keeping our volume down, but to everyone else, it must've looked like we were making out or something.

Like any number of romantic couples at this school. Committed couples.

And it hit me. I realized why I couldn't fuck Holly.

“It would have felt like cheating."

“What ?"

I hadn't realized I said that last part aloud.

“Uh, sleeping with

Holly," I explained. "It would have felt Like cheating."

“Cheating on who? You don't have a girlfriend."

"You're ALL my girlfriends. the BTC. Now maybe I'm not technically your boyfriend or anyone else's, but I DO belong to the club."

“As our friend."

“Let's get real: I'm the only male. The rules are different. If I were to start dating somebody and spending time away from the club, feelings would get hurt."

“Which is why we gave permission to Holly. We knew she wouldn't try to take you away from us."

"You're just proving my point that the rules are different. If some guy wanted to hook up with Neevie, would he have to come ask your permission? Of course not. The simple fact that any girl needs to ask your permission to hook up with me proves I already belong to you.”

“Holly didn't just get my permission. You can't put this all on me.”

I shook my head. "She wanted permission from the club. I belong to ALL of you."

“And you got permission. So it wouldn't have been cheating."

I snorted.

“Just because a guy's girlfriend gives permission for him to go flirt with another girl doesn't mean she won't get mad about it retroactively. Look me in the eyes, Sam, and tell me you wouldn't feel a little hurt if Holly got my cherry. I saw the way you got up from the movie and stormed off. Now maybe if I fell in love with one of the BTC girls, we started dating, and finally took that next step, you'd understand. But not Holly.”

“Well... Sam pursed her lips and avoided my gaze before admitting,

“Okay maybe you're right. But then that would still suggest there's one of us that you're in love with."