***********

***

Rachel Levine remembered that fateful day when they'd first gotten more involved beyond mere friendship. While she knew Gene from the science club at school, he'd been more of a casual buddy than a love interest. Most people knew about Gene, the SF geek, who if not for his rich parents, would even invoke any interest. Many a girl considered him a possibility, but was deterred by his love of insects, comic books, SF and Dungeons and Dragons.

It had been Gene's eighteenth birthday. She was amazed at the fact that she'd been invited along with a slew of other people, only to find that most were ones that his parents had called up. They were children of important clients and rich friends and family relations in addition to his three buddies, and her friends. Ace had given them all a ride over in his old clunker that day. To save time the girls had worn their swimsuits under their clothes, and carried rolled up towels and a change of dry items just in case. After they had shown their invitation to the security guard, they'd been asked to leave their car and walk in through the front entrance while their car was parked on the street. Other stately homes sat on their generous plots of land in the exclusive neighborhood where Gene said many a doctor, dentist, and lawyer lived. Not the richest of the rich, but still very well off.

"Hi curly!" Ace beamed at the tall man dressed in a crisp black suit. "Your name's not Alfred is it?"

"Cute," Patty winced. "Don't pay attention to him… he's still waking up…"

"Don't worry Miss, right this way… the other guests are still arriving… I'm Raphael, and I've been instructed to show you around."

"Who all's here?" asked Rachel.

"Miss Levine, it is a pleasure to see you back here so soon, I’m sure Master Gene will be very pleased to see you here…" said Raphael.

"Master Gene, am I hearing this stuff?" Peter chuckled to Ace, who cackled.

"Behave!" Beth hissed, stamping on Peter's foot.

"Right this way ladies, and gentlemen, Senior Gene is expecting you in the veranda…" said the elderly yet still attractive housekeeper with a hint of Puerto Rican accent. "I am Rosita, if you need anything do not hesitate to ask…"

"Where's Paul?" Corinne asked as she glanced around, and Peter shook his head. Instead of the tote bag, he carried his towel under his arm, and unbuttoned his jeans jacket.

"He's already here, silly," Patty thumped her arm. "Right Ace?"

"Pleased to meet ya ma'am," Ace said as he shook the woman's hand.

"Ahem, gentlemen may change in the lavatory to the right… adjoining the workout room," said the butler.

"And ladies you may follow me to one of the guest rooms upstairs that we have for your needs," said Rosita.

Peter said. "So you really DO have a pool, huh?"

"Definitely Mr. Crisscoula," nodded Raphael. "And Mr. Frehley…"

"Ave," Ace saluted. "Speaking of… Where's Gene? You'd think he'd meet us here…"

"Meeting the other guests naturally," Raphael said. "He will be here…"

"Why don't you ladies go on ahead… we'll hunt Gene down…?" Peter said to Patty and the others.

"Sure… sound ok?"

"Is Paul here yet?" Rachel asked, glancing in Corinne's direction.

"Master Stanley was one of the first to show up, Miss," Raphael said.

"Let's go get ready girls," Rachel said. "Can't keep the guys waiting…"

"Later sweetie," peter said to Beth, who glanced around the sizeable home like a deer in headlights. He kissed her cheek and squeezed her hand. "It'll be okay… I promise…"

"Shit, I know they're not millionaires but damn," she whispered. "You deliver pizzas to homes like this…"

"Later babe," he smiled.

"Don't take too long," said Ace as he gave Patty a playful swat on her butt.

"Just for that we might slingshot around the sun," she winked, and he gave her the Vulcan salute. She giggled and returned the gesture. All four girls moved up the stairs after Rosita, leaving the young men downstairs. Distant laughter and loud rock music echoed through the downstairs foyer.

"Sounds like they started the party without us, I'm crushed," Ace cackled.

"Gene didn't say how many people got invited to this damn clambake," peter muttered.

"Right this way if you'd like to change. The other guests who have arrived are taking refreshments…"

"Well look at who showed up," said a familiar voice as Gene wandered down the stairs. "Took you friggin long enough. Party's out back… hope you guys are ready for an interesting time…"

"Son of a bitch, you could have answered the door," Ace cackled. "Or are you kissing ass?"

"Shaddup Ace, unless you don't want to know where the food is…" Gene laughed. "C'mon I'll get you some sodas… they're in the kitchen… and there's a barbecue going out on the porch…"

"Damn," Ace laughed. "We should come over here more often… crap…"

"Who are all these yahoos anyway?" Peter nodded as they saw a few people walk out of the kitchen and Gene nodded to them.

"A couple hundred people I don't know," Gene shrugged, rolling his eyes. "Twenty of them I remember from summer camp, another twenty from mom's bridge club… their kids, and a few from my SF club… they're already hitting the pool…"

"Christ, they pick your goddamn friends too?" Peter mumbled.

"Just about," Paul said as he wandered out, carrying a coke frosty with condensation. "Pete, Ace, you got here just in time to liven up things…"

"Why don’t we rescue poor little Richie Rich from this tea party?" peter quipped.

"I'm glad you guys are here," Gene whispered, drawing them into the kitchen. "I'm going nuts!"

"Hah, I knew it!" Ace giggled. "So… what's the game plan?"

"Well, did you bring the ladies with you?" Gene said meaningfully. "The ones that aren't blue blooded?"

"Uh huh, Rachel is sure happy to see you," Peter winked.

"And her friend Corinne is pretty hot for you, Paulie," Ace winked.

"Yeah, right," Paul chuckled. "We'll see…"

"Anything's better than these princesses," Gene said. "They're upstairs changing right?"

"Right," Peter nodded. "Now, don't you have any decent tunes in this joint?"

"Right this way," Gene laughed, relaxing visibly around his friends. The four guys slapped each other on the back and strode off to join an otherwise stuffy party.

***

"What's HE doing here," Beth overheard one of the other girls, who were sunning themselves on the deck chairs, muttering.

"Probably hanging around waiting for his tip," Ashley whispered back.

"Who invited THEM?" Beth whispered to Patty, who rolled her eyes at the gossip. "Don't tell me that Gene…"

"Are you kidding, he's not even around to see half these people… why do you think he vanished after we first arrived?" Patty shook her head.

"These people are all here cause his mommy and daddy invited them, I'd bet," said Rachel as she glanced around and pulled a towel around her shoulders. "Just to make it look like their son has a normal social life…"

"That stinks," Beth snorted.

"Hey, they seem to be enjoying the pool, so why don't we? I mean Gene'll come out when he's ready…" said Corinne.

"Besides, he's probably showing your boyfriend his comic book collection," Rachel laughed. "Knowing Ace…"

"He'd better get his skinny butt out here and quick… he IS my date," Patty laughed.

"I'll go hunt him down… wanna come with?"

"Sure," said Rachel. "After I get a dip in the pool, per your advice…"

"You look kinda nervous Cori," Patty commented, fastening the strap behind her neck. "Relax…"

"They're all so… rich… I mean… god…" Corinne muttered.

"I hear ya," Beth nodded gloomily. "I've seen this scene before. Not pretty…"

"So have I," Rachel said quietly. "Don't ask me how or where, just take my word for it… just ignore them and they'll ignore you…"

"Screw that, we've got every right to be here," Patty laughed. "But if you girls are nervous, I've got a plan. You and Cori wait here, we'll go out first…"

"And we're doing this why?" Beth asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Scooping out the territory," Rachel said, with a slight smile. "So if you find them first, we can just come on over and join you… and we won't be so…"

"Exposed? I get your drift… there IS safety in numbers…" Beth tapped her chin.

"Even if the numbers are bigger in their allowances than in my dad's paycheck," Corinne muttered. "Are you SURE that Paul's gonna even notice me, Rache?"

"Gene's a good guy, and so is Paul," said Rachel, although Patty and Beth saw the slight look of concern wrinkling her brow, and heard the quaver momentarily in her voice.

"C'mon, and let's get it over with already… I wanna put this suit to use," Corinne said impatiently. "Let's go already."

"Wait five minutes…" Patty said, and Rachel nodded, as they approached the sliding glass door. Hitching their towels around their waists, they hung back as Patty and Beth strode out first. A forest of umbrella tables flanked the pool, which was a vaguely ellipsoid shape, with a curly slide at one end, and a diving board at the other. A pavilion had been set up, covering some of the tables that had no umbrellas. Girls and guys were walking past them in either direction, and most of them seemed to pay the newcomers any mind.

"Nobody we know, thank god," Corinne whispered to Rachel, as they watched their friends casually stride past the curve of tables. Rachel narrowed her eyes behind her sunglasses to see if she could pick out Gene.

"Wait, they're stopping there," Rachel pointed with one finger. "I guess he's playing host…"

"Where?" asked Corinne in a hushed whisper. "You mean that's my blind date? Paul Stanley?"

"The very same…" Rachel said.

"He's so cute… I share oil paints with him in Art class," Corinne whispered, grabbing Rachel's arm anxiously. "He's Gene's best friend, right? Other than Ace and Peter, I mean…"

"Uh huh," nodded Rachel. "But it looks like we might have some competition…"

Already they saw Gene sitting at the table, opening a cardboard box bearing a logo of a cat wearing a chef's hat and apron, and the name Crisscuola's Pizzeria and Restaurant on top. Ace and Peter were grabbing pieces out of it while Paul wrestled with paper plates, and people were glancing oddly in their directly. Corinne hadn't questioned the boxes of pizza in the trunk, until she saw the buffet the caterer provided was the usual potato salad, hot dogs, and fried chicken.

***

"I hate to ask man, but why did we bring our own pizza?" Ace shrugged.

"Cause he's got real taste, that's why," Peter laughed. "And I don't think he wants us to feel like we have to be with the shi-shi crowd…"

"Exactly," Gene said. "I'm sorry about the menu choice…"

"Forget it," Paul said. "The chicken's burnt to a crisp anyway, and the potatoes are watery…"

"This is real food," Gene nodded. "Thanks Pete…"

"Who planned this anyway?" Peter asked. "Mumsy and dadsy?"

"Pete," Paul covered his face as Gene winced. "Knock it off… you KNOW how parents are… especially the ones that plan your marriage since age 2…"

"Don't I know it," Peter chuckled. "But we didn't have a big piggy bank…"

"Good grief," Paul mumbled. "So Gene… where are your parents?"

"Inside wrangling with the caterers, and making nice-nice with the parents," Gene said with a look of disdain.

"What did ya think man," Peter quipped.

"Where's the chips?" Ace asked, and Peter shoved the bag toward him.

"Don't eat them all, save some for Gene…" said Peter.

"Hey there are a lot of pretty girls here…" Ace commented.

"You just noticed that now?" Gene quipped.

"Watch out for our girls, man," Peter held up his hand. "Or else you're walking home…"

"Ouch," Ace laughed, throwing a piece of ice at him. "They take forever…"

"Yep," Gene nodded. "I just hope they come down before we finish this pizza… I know that Rachel loves this kind… so don't hog it, Ace…"

"Hey, fatso, you ate three pieces already so don't come cryin to me!" Ace retorted, smacking Gene's hand as he reached for another slice.

"So Gene, who is this blind date you talked about setting me up on? Someone I know?" Paul asked, leaning back in his chair and blinking in the bright sunlight.

"One of Rachel's friends," Gene said as he licked his fingers. "And she's someone that you wouldn't expect…. Automatically."

"Oho your little girlfriend?" Ace teased. "She's trying t' spread the wealth huh?"

"Shaddup," Gene said, throwing his pizza crust at Ace.

"Kinda funny that you got all these girls here, and all this food, and you're still a normal guy," Peter commented. "Blows my mind."

"That's why I've got you clowns to keep me from going crazy," Gene said.

"Amen," Paul nodded. "Although I wouldn't mind if one of these girls was the lucky one…"

"Who them?" Peter snorted. "Probably looking for their prom dates… that their parents arranged for them in advance…"

"Peter, shut up," Paul sighed. "That was uncalled for…"

"Just an observation," Peter said.

"He's right," Gene said. "If it wasn't for Mom counting on me to be the gracious son and put in an appearance at this party, I'd say the four of us take our girls and blow this popstand…"

"Why don't you?" Ace asked.

"Are you deaf man, he's got an alibi, sheesh," Paul smacked the side of his friend's head, not hard, but enough to make Ace drop a glob of pepperoni on his lap. "You don't piss off your parents… Gene's mom means well… it's just well…"

"Yeah, I get ya," Peter nodded. "Parents are parents, no matter how rich they are… Mom will want to know my game plan when I'm fifty!"

"Yikes," Ace yelped. "Not me, man…"

"Can we talk about something else please guys, you're bumming me out," Paul said.

"Um Gene I like thought your parents were… um divorced…" Ace said.

"My birth father took off when I was seven. I mean my step-father when I say Dad," Gene said.

"Get with the program Ace," Paul sighed. "You know the drill, can we please…"

"And Mom remarried the guy I call Dad, and Sir, when he's pissed off," Gene said to Peter as he cracked open another can of coke. "Which seems more and more lately…"

"Damn," Peter muttered. "I thought MY family was friggin complicated…"

"They ain't got nothing on him, man," Ace muttered. "I wonder if there are anchovies on this pizza… and if these kids ever eat anything but this highbrow crapola…"

"I'm famished," Gene muttered as he reached for another slice of pizza. All four of them clustered around one of the tables off the side of the pool. Laughter from all around him of the others combined with splashing, but he was clearly paying attention to those friends who meant the most.

"Your parents should have hired Pete's clan to do the catering," Paul said as he munched on a meatball hero. "This is good stuff, man…"

"Believe me I told my mom, but she said that she and Dad had this planned since last year, and well, considering how things are kinda tense with marriage number two right now," Gene sighed.

"No wonder you hang out at my place half the time," Paul muttered.

"Shit… but you said dad…" Ace scratched his head, sucking up threads of cheese that remained on the slice of pizza that he'd just gobbled down.

"He means his old man who bugs him about applying to Yale and Harvard school of accounting, and taking up the family business…" Paul explained. "Simmons, Simmons, and Son Accounting Partners Ltd."

"God forbid," Gene muttered. "While I'm grateful my old man gave me his name, which was more than my birth dad did… I could do without the lectures already…"

"What about mom?" Peter asked.

"She's heavily involved in community charities and her job with the art galleries as a chairwoman of the executive committee," said Gene. "A career-minded woman if ever there was one. She doesn't take any crap from anyone, and she's come miles from the woman who stepped off the boat in Ellis Island…"

"Wow," muttered Ace as he leaned back.

"Don't look now, but babes at four o'clock," said Paul with a hushed whisper. Two girls wearing bikinis walked towards their table, their eyes fixed on Gene and Paul. Each one wore a loose robe open at the front that covered their shoulders, and hats with broad brims to shield their eyes from the sun. The first had sunglasses with thick white frames, and long hair hanging loose about her shoulder, bleached blond in color with dark roots. The other girl had light brown curly hair; light hazel eyes that peered at them over a pair of cat shaped shades.

"Sharona, Maxine," Gene said. "Hello."

"Gene, there you are… we've been looking everywhere…" said the blonde.

"I'm sure you ladies have," Gene said, but he seemed to glance around them.

"We just saw you sitting over here all alone and wondered if you wanted some company…"

"I'm not exactly alone," Gene said patiently.

"Who ARE your friends, we've never seen you three here before… except for Paulie here," said Maxine as she leaned down and tipped her sunglasses up. Her hip brushed Paul's bare shoulder.

"Um, do I know your name?" Paul asked, a bit at a loss.

"These are my friends, Paul, Ace and Peter," Gene said.

"Nice to meet ya," Peter said politely. They glanced at Peter, a bit perplexed, for he wore a 'wife beater' along with his swim trunks, and Ace wore a ripped Trek shirt along with his.

"Hi babes!" Ace grinned. "What's shakin?"

Both of them held their hands out with the backs facing down, and Ace reached out to shake both, followed by Peter who kissed the back of each. Almost ignoring them, the blonde immediately fixed her eyes on Paul, saying, "Hey handsome, I'm Maxine…"

"And I'm Sharona," said the girl with light brown hair. "We're old friends of Gene's… we go WAY back…"

At the mention of this, Peter watched Gene rolling his eyes slightly. He regarded both girls with a detached politeness, as if they were an irritant that had to be put up with, rather than childhood friends. Ace and Peter exchanged glances and hid their mutual snicker at seeing Gene squirm. Nevertheless they felt sorry for him, and wondered just HOW he was going to get out of this.

"We just love the music… are you gonna show us where the lifeguard is…" Maxine said.

"It's pretty much fend for yourself…" Gene started before he was interrupted. Peter peered around to see Beth and Patty walking towards them from the house. Ace waved wildly to them, and Paul wrung his hands as he saw Gene's detached disdain for the young women who were chattering a blue streak in their ears.

"Why didn't you come to my birthday party last week?" Sharona giggled. "I sent the invitation out two months in advance."

"She was asking about you, Gene," said Maxine. "You could've brought your friend Saul here…"

"That's Paul," Paul blinked, sighing. They were cute enough, but he didn't care much for their casual disregard of Ace and Peter altogether. If you weren't inside their realm of experience you were part of the scenery, or otherwise invisible.

"I had some things I had to do… prior commitments," Gene said quickly.

"Well why don’t' you ask him, Sharona?" Maxine chattered. "You've been bursting out of your skin all week to do it…"

"What?" Gene asked. "Look, excuse me… I'm talking to my friends here… I'll have to get back to you later…"

"Looks like your busy Geno," said Peter neutrally.

"No Pete I just…" Gene trailed off, his lip curling in frustration. Part of him wanted to be with his friends, while the other half demanded him to be a polite host, which was akin to a fish having fur at this moment.

"Patsy, Beth, over here," Ace waved.

"Well would ya look at that… Our dates are here," Peter said loudly, breaking Gene's attention toward them for a moment.

"Petey, you gotta see their workout room," Beth said as she walked over, next to Pat. Getting up from the table, Peter hugged his girlfriend while Ace patted his knee. Patty sat across his lap, and looked in question at the two girls who were assaulting Gene with questions galore, while Paul glanced back and forth in confusion.

"Excuse me ladies… Petey, Ace, your ladies made it… you girls find everything all right?" Gene asked as he raised his hand to Sharona and peered around her to see them greeting his friends.

"My mom was saying that we were going to take the yacht up to New England and she said you and your friends might wanna join us," Sharona said excitedly. "What do you say Gene… you'd love to…"

"Maybe later…" Gene said. "Patty, Beth, where are the others?"

"Hi Gene, they're still primping," Patty chuckled as she sat on Ace's lap.

"Gene but your daddy said…" Sharona got out, but Gene interrupted her.

"How about you, sexy, you in the mood for a cruise? We've got room for one more always," Maxine said as she leaned over and rubbed her hip against Paul's shoulder.

"They're upstairs, and there was a girl who Rachel wanted you to meet…" said Patty. "Unless you've got other plans…"

"Hang on a minute Shar," Gene said to Sharona. "What did ya say, Pat? Rachel's here, right?"

"She is," Patty said. "Unless you changed your mind…"

"Um, Gene… I think I see Rachel and someone else…" Paul said helplessly when he saw the irritation on their faces. Especially when he saw the two other girls in question wander over, and stand near Patty and Beth with perplexed looks. Rachel's eyes sparkled as they approached, and then dulled when she noticed Gene practically cornered in his seat by the two socialites chattering away.

"Gene…" Rachel said. "Paul… oh there you are, I'd like you to meet…"

"Rachel, glad to see you made it all right," Gene said as he rose from his chair, and brushed past Sharona. "This is Corinne, right?"

"Don't tell me you forgot my name already," Corinne teased.

"But Gene…" Sharona interrupted, moving between Gene and Rachel. "This is important…"

"I'm sorry, but I'm talking to someone right now, could you excuse me, ladies?" Gene said curtly. He stepped around her, and stood next to Rachel, who stood with her arms folded across her chest, almost as if to hide the low cut of her one-piece swimsuit.

"Corinne? No way, you mighta told me you'd be coming here," Paul said as he saw her standing there. His eyes wandered over the brief suit, bluegreen in color with its swirling pattern, with the strap that tied behind her neck. She filled it pretty well with those gently curving breasts and long honey blonde hair pinned up partway. Her makeup was simple, almost nonexistent, and the towel hitched round her waist concealed the tops of her legs, leaving more to the imagination. Which Paul seemed more interested in than the bronzed socialites who were irritated that he was paying the newcomer more attention then they.

"Paul, you could have come with us," Maxine pouted.

"Gene who are your little friends?" Sharona asked, her lips partly open to show her upper teeth in that annoying manner a lot of girls regarded the unknown. "I don't believe we've met…"

"Excuse me?" Corinne asked. "Do I know you?"

"Apparently we don't know you," Sharona said. "We haven't been introduced…"

"Rachel Levine," Rachel said quickly. "And my best friend Corinne Stevenson… and this is Patricia, and Beth…"

"Oh," said Sharona, blinking as she peered more closely at the girls, and Peter snorted and shook his head.

***

"We'll be checking out the pool," Peter said. "If ya wanna join us…"

"Um, Ace, didn't you say that Gene had a pinball machine…" Patty asked, grabbing Ace's hand.

"It's in the basement," Gene said as he realized what was going on. Clearly the tension was building, because Sharona was standing quite close to Gene, and Maxine was leaning heavily against Paul by now while Corinne stood to one side, and Rachel on the other. Both sets of girls regarded one another with mutual dislike and vexation. Rachel sighed and glanced around, realizing that she was only here because Gene had invited her.

"They've got a great pool," Paul said as he glanced at Maxine and Sharona standing with steam coming out their ears.

"I was just talking to him about something, so if you ladies don't mind, we'll let you have him when we're done," Maxine whispered, behind one hand as she leaned over to Corinne.

"I didn't see your name written on him," Corinne whispered back.

"Well we're friends of Gene, and I'm sure he'd want one of US to keep him company, not some stranger," Maxine said in a louder voice.

"Not to insult you dearie, but we were talking to him when you interrupted," Sharona said quickly.

"What did you say?" Rachel asked sharply. "That's my friend you're talking to. There's no need to be catty…"

"I beg your pardon?" Sharona said icily as she turned to Rachel. Gene bit his lip, opening his mouth to say something, but he didn't get the chance.

"And we've got better things to do than sit around here. I'm going swimming… coming Rachel?" Corinne interjected.

"Well of all the…" Maxine sputtered.

"Now let's all calm down," Gene said quickly. "These are my friends and they just got here…"

"I just got here… if we're interrupting anything… we'll just wait our turn," Rachel said pointedly.

"You're not interrupting anything," Gene said. "Sharona and Maxine were just saying a quick hello… weren't you?"

"What's the rush?" Sharona asked, inhaling deeply. "I haven't seen you for six weeks… we have so much to catch up on…"

"And besides, I think they DID say they were going swimming," Maxine said with emphasis. "How about it Paulie… I can show you the sauna…"

"C'mon Corinne, I think I could use a swim to cool off a bit," Rachel said as she took a step away from the escalating conversation. "I'll see you later, Gene…"

"That's not necessary, Rachel," Gene said quickly as he moved in front of her to block her way. Much to her surprise he slid his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his hip before turning to face the others. She flushed a faint pink at the looks in the two other girls' eyes, which clearly signaled the prequel to a catfight.

Corinne felt like she wanted to sink into the floor, and Paul noticed her distress. In the ensuing tableau he'd taken a position between her and the socialites, wondering if he should say something or not. "Gene, I think I'm gonna just show Corinne around…"

"Oh you should have someone who's been here a few more times show you the way, we wouldn't want you to get lost," Maxine said as she walked over and slid her arm in Paul's.

"Why don't we take a cue from them, and you can…" Sharona said as she took a step towards Gene, but stopped when he glared at her with dark eyes.

"Maxine, Sharona, if you don't mind I'm trying to catch up with my buddies here," Gene said firmly, yet softly in a tone that wouldn't be disobeyed.

"Sharona, get this through your head. I'm not interested right now in your company. And as for you Maxine, why don't you go find your date," Gene said pointedly.

"And that would be whom?" Maxine asked, glancing at Gene with questions in her eyes.

"The guy you came with… Paul's already got a date thank you…Corinne, you already know Paul, right?" Gene said. At least Sharona and Maxine had the good grace to be quiet for a few minutes while Gene turned his attention toward his friend. Rachel moved back a step, and maneuvered closer to Corinne, putting distance between herself and the two girls in their expensive bikinis.

"Oh, you're Corinne… I'm Maxine, and this is Sharona, we're both old friends of Gene here," Maxine said as she shook Corinne's hand. "We were just asking him if he wanted to join us on a cruise, weren't we?"

"Yes, and it does get very nice up in Connecticut this time of year…" Sharona said. "Daddy always has us take a few friends with us…"

"Um, that sounds nice," Corinne said. "Sorry to interrupt you guys…"

"Oh no, we were just chatting," Sharona said, giving a fake smile that made Rachel groan inwardly.

"Paul, why don't you show Corinne around while I finish talking to the ladies…"

"Sure Gene," Paul asked, and he nodded towards Corrine. Gene mouthed a yes, and Paul glanced back and forth between Maxine and Corinne. He had jumped to conclusions about whom his blind date was, and although either girl was a nice catch, considering his track record with girls amounted to a grand total of two previous relationships, he was grateful for anyone. Especially when both of them had found out he was an art student, and jumped to a conclusion that was based on stereotype, not truth.

"Um I'm gonna break in this new swimsuit, why don’t you join me, Corinne," Paul said as he grabbed Corinne's hand and tugged her with him.

"Sure… see you Rachel," Corinne said as she walked off after Paul, who increased his pace with each step till they were out of earshot. She saw people watching and felt annoyed at first, then meanly glad that she'd gotten the attention of a good looking guy that she'd seen in drama class often enough. She'd have to thank Rachel for this detail.

"Have fun… if you want to talk later, I'm here," Maxine said. "Offer still stands…"

"Sure, fine…" Paul said as he disappeared into the forest of swimsuit figures milling by the pool.

"Let's go already," Corinne said quickly before moving out of earshot.

"You could have told me he was spoken for, Gene, you were always too serious," Sharona laughed. Rachel remained a spectator, judging whether or not she should remain, or stay for Gene's sake.

"Well it's a blind date. I mean he IS welcome to join us of course…" Maxine said. "Where have you been hiding him, Gene?"

"At high school," Gene said. "And what do you mean 'hiding'?"

"Nothing… I mean he's not one of the people we've met through summer camp, and he doesn't go to our temple… and his dad isn't in the club is he…"

"No, he isn't, does it matter?" Gene snorted.

"It's no big deal I just mean that he's someone new…" Sharona trailed off before Gene's glare shut her up.

"He's got a big project that weekend to finish…" Rachel broke in, and both girls swiveled their heads simultaneously toward her, shocked that she had spoken two words in the long silence.

"Couldn't you let him know I'd enjoy a call from him once in a while?" Maxine said. "I can give him my phone number and…"

"Maxi, cut it out," Gene sighed. "I'm not playing matchmaker. Who he goes out with is HIS business, all right, so just leave him alone."

"I was just being polite," Maxine snorted. "I'm not trying to start anything."

"Yeah, right," Gene muttered. "And that goes for you too, Sharona!"

"But I'm not…" Sharona got out.

"I'd appreciate it if you would stop butting into my personal business, both of you! You may be acquaintances of mine for god knows how long, but that does not give you the right to interfere in my social life. Furthermore, I'd appreciate my guests to act with the appropriate respect, or else I will ask them to leave…" Gene continued, tightening his grip on Rachel.

"C'mon already, I'm not trying to be insulting, and you know that Gene," Sharona sighed. "Are you going to answer my question or not, Gene? We have to know sometime today…"

"I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to say no thank you," Gene said. "I've got other plans."

"But don't you owe us some catch up time I mean we drove all the way here from…" Sharona started.

"Look, I'd like to show Rachel here around the place, so go have fun or something…" Gene said.

"But it's your birthday… we at least thought…"

"He's made up his mind," Maxine said with a sigh. "Drop it Sharona…"

"That's right. It's my party and I'll do what I want to," Gene said. "With all due respect ladies. C'mon Rachel, let's take a walk…"

"But…" Sharona said, as Maxine shook her head in disgust.

"He'll never learn. Coming here was a waste of time I tell you… all he cares about is comic books and other ridiculous things… he'll never be like us…" Maxine muttered.

"That's what I'm afraid of…" Sharona sighed. "I was trying to give him a chance…"

***