“Something to think about. But while Cherys had always been a firm lesbian, these past few months her words have been changing. She does not talk the same way anymore. And everyone sees that she is now hiding some of her thoughts from Danielle. That is not healthy for their relationship."

“I'LL keep an eye on them. I always thought they were the strongest relationship I'd ever seen." I looked back at my sister and Cherys talking with Cherys' parents. "They clearly love one another. I just assumed they would be together forever. But if Danielle needs me, I guess I've got to be the big brother and be there to support her."

Nataliya smiled. "You really have grown up." She leaned forward and hugged me again. "Goodbye, David. I hope I will see you again." And then she turned and headed off to where Maria and Leslie were waiting.

My mind couldn't sit still. Danielle and Cherys having problems? Never in a million years. Right?

SUMMER BREAK, PRE-SENIOR YEAR (June 2001)

E-Beth was gone again, off to rejoin the same internship she had taken last year. With her intelligence and experience with the company, by the time she graduated, I was sure they would be offering her a nice job with a fat salary.

I warned her to stay out of trouble, but the new and improved E-Beth just gave me a wicked grin and a passionate kiss goodbye without answering me.

Danielle and Cherys had both gotten entry-level jobs that were relatively local to the school. But they had one week off before starting work and both girls proceeded to veg out and be as lazy as possible for almost the entire time. On Sunday, I would help them move into a new apartment that was centrally located between their two jobs.

Amber, of course, didn't need to work over the summer. Her family had enough money and contacts to guarantee her a good job once she graduated.

So that Left me as the only schlep having to work for the next week.

As it turned out, Amber's house had a pretty nice pool (and pool house, and manicured garden, etc., etc.). So, not content to just get lay out and get a tan with her old high school friends, she also invited

Danielle and Cherys to chill out at her place for the week.

Danielle took one look at our home's dinky backyard and immediately agreed.

I was already in my parents' home Thursday when the girls came strolling in, obviously looking me up and down like a piece of meat. I didn't even want to know what Amber had been saying about me all day.

The whole time I was surreptitiously observing Danielle and Cherys when they were together. Nataliya's warnings were in the back of my head, but I honestly did not detect a single difference in the way they were around each other: same affection, same casual comfortability.

And then came the Friday night party. Looking back, I guess that was when I saw the first chinks in their relationship.

“Hey, dude. You free tonight?"

“*Dude'? You never called me ‘dude'," Nate's voice was honestly puzzled.

I smirked at myself.

“Sorry, just a friend rubbing off on me. So are you free?"

“Well, I was going to do dinner with Monica, but we didn't have any set plans. What's up?"

“Well tomorrow my sister and Cherys are heading off to their new apartment, new jobs, new lives, yadda, yadda. So Amber decided to throw them a little barbecue tonight at her house. She told me to invite a few friends as well.”

“Amber, huh? I still can't believe you're dating her. Wasn't she a stuck-up bitch?"

“Nah. She's really sweet when you get to know her. I can hardly believe you're still with Monica.”

Nathan went silent for a moment. "Yeah, me, too. I'm telling you, man.