CHAPTER 3

It’s a sunny afternoon and Central Park is crowded.
Jenny and Nikki sit on a blanked, with a lavish picnic around them.
Jenny wears large sunglasses, a scarf and a hat to protect herself from the sunlight.
She sits behind Nikki and braids her hair.
“So… rumor has it that you went on a date with Tim Reynolds”, Jenny says, smiling, “I hear he’s very nice”.
Nikki giggles in response.
“He’s alright. He kept talking about this bulimic headcase he dumped over Fourth Of July…”.
Jenny arches her eyebrow behind the sunglasses.
“Really?”, she replies in a flat tone, “Bulimic headcase…”.
“What a loser she must be!”, Nikki laughs.
“Anyhow, Tim’s invited me to the Hamptons for Labor Day Weekend”.
“That great”, Jenny replies joylessly.
The look into Nikki’s eyes is clueless, naïve.
“You think so? I don’t know. I guess I’m just scared… “.
Jenny tilts her head.
“What are you scared of?”.
“Ah . Boys. I’ve never even gone to first base with a guy. What do I do?”.
Jenny frowns, perplexed.
“Haven’t you ever practiced with one of your girlfriend?”.
Nikki makes a face.
“Eww. No! That’s gross!”.
Jenny chuckles, amused.
“It’s not gross at all. It’s fun. And it’s… exciting. Oh well, how else do you think girls learn?”.
She seems pensive for a while.
“Here, turn around and face me”, she states then.
Nikki turns her head and Jenny removes her glasses.
“Now close your eyes and wet your lips…”, Jenny says, her eyes traveling over Nikki’s face.
“Are you for real?”.
“Do you want to learn or not?”, Jenny replies, annoyed.
Nikki blinks her eyelids.
“I guess… But it still sounds gross”.
Jenny doesn’t answer. She just leans in and kisses her on the lips. A chaste, lazy kiss.
“See?”, she whispers, “That wasn’t so bad…”.
“It was nothing…”, Nikki murmurs.
Jenny smiles.
“Let’s try again, only this time I’m going to stick my tongue in your mouth. When I do that, I want you to massage my tongue with yours. That’s what first base it…”.
Nikki seems reluctant, but nods her head.
“Okay. Eyes closed”.
As Nikki closes her eyes, Jenny leans in again and kisses her one more time.
Only, this time longer.
She gently pushes her tongue into Nikki’s mouth and, after an initial moment of bewilderment, Nikki relaxes and deepens the kiss, and they start to make out.
Jenny opens her eyes for a second, looking towards the ground.
Nikki’s hands are clutching the grass.
Jenny smiles and continues her seduction, placing her hand on Nikki’s thing and moving it under her dress.
Nikki lets out a soft sigh and Jenny pulls back.
They look at each other and smile.
“Not bad…”, Jenny mumbles.
Nikki’s eyes have a dreaming expression. A priceless expression.
“That was cool…”, she breathes out feebly.
“Maybe you should try it on your friend Tasha sometimes”, Jenny hints, putting on her sunglasses and crossing her legs.
“What are you saying?”, Nikki jolts.
“Oh come on Nikki… She’s crazy about you…”, Jenny smirks.
Nikki’s mouth opens wide.
“Is it that obvious?”.
Jenny just nods in response, and Nikki stares at her own hands, embarrassed.
“She sends me letters, you know…”, she murmurs, “…Love letters…”.
Jenny blinks her long eyelashes.
“Oh, that’s so romantic… Have you responded?”.
Nikki shakes her head, sheepishly.
“No…”.
“Well, do you like her?”.
“I don’t know…”, Nikki replies, bowing her head.
Jenny gently strokes her hand.
“Nikki, we just made out in the middle of Central Park. You can trust me”.
Nikki gives her an apologetic look.
“I do like her. I can’t stop thinking about her”.
She sniffles, trying hard to hold back the tears, and Jenny hugs her tightly.
“What am I going to do? If my mother found out about Tasha she would kill me”, Nikki murmurs against Jenny’s hair.
Jenny pulls back and cups her face.
“Listen to me. Your mother must never know. Never”.
“Okay”, Nikki nods.
“Did you hide the letters?”.
“Yes. They’re in this antique doll house in my room”.
Jenny stares at her, her face serious.
“I want you to make me copies of her letters and bring them to me”.
Nikki’s eyes widen.
“Why?”.
“Nikki, if there’s one thing I am great at it it’s love letters”, Jenny smiles, “With my help, Tasha will be eating out of the palm of your hand. Perhaps we can arrange a little get together for the two of you at my house”.
Nikki gives her a hopeful look, clasping to her hands.
“You’d do that for me?”.
Jenny smiles.
“Of course I would. We’re friends, right?”.
“Best friends!”, Nikki exclaims, beaming.
She kisses Jenny on her cheek, pulling her in a hug.