Lady in Red Ch. 28

"If I could interrupt," began Steve. "It's nice to see you again, Naomi! You always sat up front and answered all of the instructor's questions. I usually sat farther back and listened to you and the teacher. You drove Mrs. Landers crazy because you always answered her questions before she could call on the rest of us."

"That would be me. And you're the guy that told Frank Harnett that I was a spoiled damn black bitch that you'd never want to have anything to do with. I remember it like it was yesterday. Now you're God's gift to women, white women, anyway."

Steve was stunned by Naomi's assertion that he had uttered such hurtful things about her to Frank, or to anyone. Why would Frank say something like that? Did he misunderstand a statement, or a joke? Steve felt his face heat up as he realized how bad it must sound to Jeff Wilson and his wife. He was unable to say anything, as words failed him totally.

"Come on, Steve! Dance with me! I've been waiting eight months to be able to get you in my arms and now's my chance," insisted Ashley as she pulled Steve onto the dance floor.

"That was an extremely hurtful thing to tell Steve. He'd never say anything like that. I don't know what that Frank guy was thinking, but Steve would never speak about a woman, or a girl, with such disrespect," stated Gwen flatly.

"Maybe your boyfriend is nice to white girls but holds black women in contempt. He's probably a closet racist," suggested Naomi.

"Really? I'll tell you something I promised Steve that I'd never tell. I sleep with the guy and I'm damn proud of it. He's the most considerate lover a girl could ever want. That's not my point, however.

"One night after we made love, we started talking about anyone we ever had crushes on. I never went on a real date before I met Steve, and he assured me he had very little experience with girls before we met. I pressed him about girls he liked and what they looked like.

"He finally admitted that there was a beautiful dark skinned girl in school in Cuba that had caught his fancy. Her mother was stunning and she looked like she was going to be as beautiful, if not even lovelier. This girl used to wear an orange bikini to the beach. It had one strap that hooked to the front of her top and went around her neck. He used to dream about working up the nerve to ask her to take a walk or go to a movie with him.

"But she was way out of his class. She hardly ever spoke to him and seemed to make a point of ignoring him in school. His first crush was unrequited. Thank God I didn't make that mistake!" finished Gwen as she turned and strode away in anger.

"I'm not apologizing for Gwen, because you pretty much had that coming," pointed out Jordan to Naomi as her parents listened. "You don't know Steve or you wouldn't have said those things about him. He's sensitive and kind. He's strong and fearless, but words hurt. Maybe those words hurt you years ago, but you didn't hear them from Steve. Did it ever occur to you that maybe Steve never said them?

"Don't think you'll make any friends with any of us girls that consider Steve a friend with your poisoned talk. The truth is, every single one of us loves him. He's Gwen's man now, but she shares him. I don't mean sexually, but emotionally. I don't know how much longer we'll stay here since Steve doesn't feel welcomed by the girl of honor for the party. I have Charlie now and I love him, but he knows that I'll do anything for Steve. Now that I think about it, so will Charlie. Steve makes peoples' lives better. He saved me, and he helped Charlie find success. He's way better than what you just made him out to be! Please excuse us," offered Jordan coldly as she led Charlie out on the dance floor.

"What in hell got into you?" demanded Jeff as soon as he was alone with his wife and Naomi. "Those kids have accomplished incredible things in the past few months. They're nice enough to come to your party because I personally asked them, and you shit all over the guy? Did you see how those girls reacted? Did even one of them act like they believed a word of that crap you were tossing around?"

"Calm down, Jeff. I think Naomi may be rethinking her words. Did you see her flinch when Gwen told her how Steve had a thing for the girl in the orange bikini back in Cuba? They were both young and had no idea how to behave with the opposite sex. Naomi was smitten by him back then. She never told me, but I saw how she acted around him at the functions we attended. Now she's embarrassed herself and lost what could have been some very good friends," concluded Julia Wilson.

"The real question is this. What will she do about it? What's she made of deep down? This is a gut check for you, Naomi. If you can't handle this situation properly, I don't know how you'll make it through the Naval Academy."

Naomi had been shocked at Gwen's story about Steve. She knew Frank Harnett was a liar and a troublemaker. She had simply chosen to believe that Steve disliked her. She never dreamed he had the slightest interest in her. He had never indicated it, but then Naomi had to admit she wasn't very approachable back then. If the truth be known, she still wasn't very warm to her classmates and she had few friends. She had finally met up with Steve again after so many years and she screwed it up!

Ashley was enjoying her dances with Steve. He was being quiet, even brooding a little, but he was in her arms and that was all that really mattered. She managed to keep him for three slow dances, and she knew her time with him was running out. Every girl in the room was casting glances her way, working up the nerve to ask Steve to dance with them. Then Ashley saw Naomi walking determinedly toward them.

"Uh oh! It looks like trouble's coming. That Naomi looks like she's not done with you yet," warned Ashley.

"If you've come over here to insult Steve and cast doubt about his character, you can keep on walking," stated Ashley defiantly as she stepped between Steve and Naomi.

"Actually, I've come to apologize to him. I owe all of you an apology. My actions were inexcusable. Would you allow me a dance with Steve so I might ask him to forgive me?" asked Naomi contritely.

"Really?" responded a surprised Ashley. "In that case, sure! Making up with Steve has got be one of the best things a girl can do!"

"Please?" asked Naomi softly as she stepped inside Steve's arms. "Dance with me while I eat crow. I knew you wouldn't have said those awful things. I liked you, but you didn't seem to have any interest in me. It was a stupid defense mechanism I developed over the years.

"When I heard about that 'Lady in Red' video, I couldn't wait to see if it was you. I even went to a couple of your football games, including the state title game. Your beautiful girlfriend was always around and I didn't know if you'd even remember me, so I never dared talk to you. When I heard about the attack on your school and saw Gwen talk on television about how badly injured you and others were, I cried.

"When you were abducted, I worried all week. I watched all of your TV shows and can't wait to see your movie. What I'm trying to tell you is that I was very wrong, and I'm sorry. Can we manage to be friends? We'll be going to Annapolis soon and it'll help if we have someone we can depend on. I won't let you down again."

Steve had listened politely to Naomi as they danced. He had held her slightly away from his body since he felt no warmth for her. As she talked, he began to relax.

"You were beautiful then and you're even more so now. You never gave me the time of day, so I thought you had no use for me, but I never said anything disrespectful about you. I would have discouraged anyone else from it, too. You really stung me when you said those things. Your dad was a friend of my dad's. I respect him and your mother. It embarrassed me that they might believe that I'd say something like that."

"Steve, I'll apologize to you in front of them and explain how it was a stupid misunderstanding and entirely my fault. Will that help let you forgive me?"

"I seem to have a lot of trouble staying angry at beautiful women, admitted Steve. "It's hard to believe that I've finally managed a dance with you."

"You can hold me a little closer, you know. I won't break. Let these other girls eat their hearts out. I heard how nice you were to Becky at the formal. This is my party, so could you please pretend that you like me? I know Gwen's your girlfriend, but she seems pretty cool about letting you dance with pretty girls. Becky and her sister really like you a lot and they're both beautiful blonde, white girls."

"We're not going to get along if you keep referring to people as white, or as black," warned Steve. "I don't see the need to use an adjective describing the color of anyone. Can we agree to not do that?"

"Okay! I guess I'd better get over that fast. My dad keeps telling me that the Navy won't be happy with that attitude either. You're a guy and I'm a girl, and we're dancing together. Since you said I was beautiful and since color is no issue, will you hold me closer, please? Half the kids in my class think I'm gay because they never see me with a guy. Dancing with a dreamboat will dispel some of those urban myths."

"As long as we're not misleading anyone, I can do that," replied Steve with a grin as he drew Naomi up tight against his chest.

"Well, it looks like your daughter just talked her way out of an embarrassing situation," chuckled Jeff Wilson to his wife as they watched Steve hold Naomi more closely. "Now she has to make it right with all those pretty girls that hang out with the lucky bastard!"

"Look at Steve!" gasped Becky. "He's practically crushing that Naomi now! I thought he was mad at her. He sure doesn't act it."

"I'll let you in on a little secret," responded Gwen with a smile. "Anytime you want Steve to forgive you for something, rub your 'girls' up against him until he gives in. He looks like a big strong guy, but a pair of boobs up close reduces him to a blubbering idiot. He's what scientists call 'a man'. He may even have a little extra testosterone in his system, which renders him especially weak in the knees when he's confronted with breasts of any size or shape."

"Really? That's great to know!" grinned Becky. "I may not have two hands, but I do have two breasts and apparently that's more important to Steve. I'll have him eating out of my hand in no time!"

"I can't believe you just made that joke!" gasped Ashley as she hugged her sister. "You've really come a long way toward getting over your accident. I'm really proud of you."

"That big lug with that witch's boobs making dents in his amazing pecs pretty much set me straight," replied Becky. "He wasn't even interested in feeling sorry for me. He told me I wasn't handicapped and to get over it. Maybe he'll be interested in feeling something else, something that feels a lot better than 'sorry' does."

The Sherman High School had about a twenty percent black population, but the party was pretty evenly split between black and white guests. A tall black boy approached Gwen.

"I was wondering if you'd honor me with a dance? I know you're a famous star, but you're here, so I thought I'd take a chance."

"I'd be delighted!" replied Gwen as she headed out on the dance floor with the boy. "You're a very good dancer. Thanks for asking me."

"Are you kidding? You're thanking me? Now that I broke the ice, every guy here will be trying to get a dance with you. Your boyfriend seems to be having a good time with Naomi. Most of us thought she might be gay, or at least a man hater. Now she's all cozy with your guy. Does that bother you?"

"It bothers me more that some of you thought that Naomi was a man hater. People must have thought the same about me until I met Steve. I'm graduating valedictorian tomorrow. I never had any dates before I went out with Steve, so people may have thought I was gay or disliked men for some reason.

"Steve's a big boy. He can take care of himself, even around your beautiful, exotic classmate. We have an understanding and we don't get jealous. We are totally committed to each other. We can laugh and flirt with others, but at the end of the night, we're together."

Steve, Jordan, Charlie, Gwen, Ashley, and Becky spent the next hour dancing with the local students attending the party. Naomi finally found an opportunity to speak to Gwen and Jordan off to the side.

"Steve's pretty much forgiven me for being such a miserable bitch. Now I'm asking you both for forgiveness. I was totally in the wrong. I knew it when I said it. I've worked hard to be valedictorian and spent very little time dating. I'm a social moron.

"You said that Steve had a thing for me years ago, but nothing like I had for him. I was way too shy to allow it to ever show, although my mother figured it out. I'm black and he's white and it just seemed like he'd never be interested in me. When I heard he was at Sparta, I followed everything he did. That seemed to include the two of you most of the time. I've watched the videos, the TV shows, the concerts, anything with Steve. When he came here tonight with his two beautiful white girlfriends, I became jealous and catty. I wanted to hurt you and I somehow knew the best way to do it was to hurt Steve.

"I'll understand if you don't want to have anything to do with me. I'd be that way if the shoe were on the other foot. I was wrong. I'm sorry."

"You were wrong!" agreed Jordan. "The biggest mistake you made was when you didn't grab Steve when you had the chance. Gwen knew enough to latch onto him. I was pissed at the things you said to Steve, but if he's okay with you now, so am I."

"You were wrong to think that Steve is prejudiced in any way," added Gwen. "I take that back, since he does seem to favor pretty girls with nice bodies. I saw you rub your boobs all over the guy so he'd forgive you."

"Actually, he wouldn't let me rub them against him before he forgave me. I tried, but he had to hear my apology before he'd let me close. Did I offend or upset you by dancing too close to Steve?" asked Naomi worriedly.

"Are you kidding?" laughed Gwen. "Jordan and my sister, Lisa, have rubbed their boobs all over him when they were topless. And they aren't the only ones. Jordan has pictures on the internet to prove it, and Lisa has posters that do the same. I have a friend that shall remain nameless that had her 'girls' in Steve's face not too long ago. You can release your Krackens for all I care. Steve loves boobs, but he's mine. He's a loyal friend, and a great lover, and I'm not letting him go. I firmly believe that as long as I love him, he'll be faithful to me, as I will to him.

"As far as forgiving you is concerned, once Steve made the decision, the rest of us had no choice. We all know that he wouldn't be happy with us if we were anything less than kind to one of his friends. The more Steve likes you, the more the rest of us will. That just seems to be the way it works. It may seem strange, but it's true, don't you think, Jordan?"

"I never thought of it that way, but now that you mention it, you're right. If Steve likes a person, we girls tend to like them, too. If he loves another girl, we all love her. Not a physical love, but emotionally, we pick up on his feelings and follow his lead. Gwen often leads Steve into these things, like she had Steve take Becky to the formal. He took it from there and now she's one of the 'harem'. Don't get me wrong. I love my boyfriend, but Steve is a special friend and I'm honored to be part of his female entourage.

"We won't be having sex, but we share everything else and that's what Steve does to females of all ages. I noticed your mom got a little squirmy when she was talking to him. My mom just met him and she thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. Gwen's mom, and I mean no disrespect, is absolutely in love with him."

"Jordan's right about that. Steve's done so many great things for us, and he's so darn attractive, she's head over heels. But that's okay. I have a boyfriend that everyone likes a lot. That's why I get to sleep with him in my parents' house. He's earned the right to tag their daughter anytime he wants. I'm just a sacrifice my folks have offered up to Steve to keep him close!" complained Gwen as she used her hand to cover her smile.

"My God! That's just wrong! If you weren't eighteen, I'd report them to child services. Just to help out, we could switch places. I'll wear your clothes and pretend that I'm you. We're practically twins," suggested Naomi.

"That might work, except that Steve would notice the difference when he ran his hands over your butt. He's used to a tiny one like mine."

"Oh Yeah?" challenged Naomi. "Stand next to me. Jordan, tell us who has the bigger ass, Gwen or me?"

"Steve! You got here just in time. Which of these asses looks bigger to you? If it were dark, could you tell which ass belonged to which lady, just by using your hands?" asked Jordan.

"That's a good question. I can't be sure. Suppose you tie a blindfold on me and we find out?" joked Steve.

"Okay, it's a bet. If Steve can tell which ass is yours nine out of ten times, you win. If he can't, we'll swap places for a week," proposed Naomi.

"Nine out of ten times? Wouldn't you rather go for a few hundred?" asked Gwen with a laugh. "That bully spanked my poor little butt in the movie we're making. He knows it very well. He'd never mistake that big bottom of yours for my cute little tush."

"He spanked you in the movie? Now I really want to swap places! You need to be removed from the abuse the guy is heaping on you. I'm offering to help. That's the kind of friend I can be. Please let me help you!"

"I don't think I'll take that bet. I trust Steve, but I'm not going to have him squeezing your bottom if I can help it. It may be much larger than what he's used to, but Steve's nothing if not adaptable. He could learn to like big bottomed girls."

"You two are breaking me up," laughed Jordan. "It looks like Naomi is joining the sorority. Just remember that Steve and Gwen are in love, lovers, soul mates, and disgustingly faithful. Anything else goes."

Steve looked at the three women and shook his head as Charlie wandered up to join them. Any one of them was all a man could ever ask for. The three of them together practically took his breath away. He put an arm around Naomi and the other around Gwen and led them toward the Wilsons.

"Thanks for inviting us, Mr. Wilson," stated Steve as he shook the older man's hand. "We had a great time and I really enjoyed seeing you, your wife, and daughter again. I hope it doesn't take so long for us to get together again."

"Not a chance!" interjected Naomi. "Gwen's invited me to stop in now and then, plus come to your graduation tomorrow. I'm too late to be your girlfriend, but I'm a girl that can be your friend. Gwen's even nicer in real life than she comes across on TV, and she's even more beautiful, with a sharp sense of humor. You've hit the jackpot with her."

Jeff Wilson cast a glance at his wife to find her beaming at her daughter's improved attitude. "I didn't tell the story about the bet. I'll make it quick. We had this jerk named Murphy that was pretty good with a handgun. He thought he was the best, but there were several guys on base that could shoot circles around him and Steve's father was one of them.

"Bill, that's Steve's dad, finally had enough of the empty bragging. He suggested that Murphy was overly impressed with himself and a 15 year old kid could probably shoot better than he did. Naturally Murphy got incensed and challenged Bill to put up or shut up. Long story short, Bill won a hundred bucks from Murphy, but better yet, he shut him up. We knew Steve would be good since he had Bill for an instructor, but we all left the shooting range shaking our heads. Let's just say that those terrorists had no chance when Steve entered that gym with a gun in each hand."