There was a group of us, three women and two men, and we were going hiking in the mountains. There was me, I'm Bob, Carl, Josie, Mary and Angelique, the last being known as Ange. Carl and Ange were currently going steady while the other two girls and I were footloose and fancy free. We were young, our average age being around nineteen, fit, and ripe for a little mischief if anything presented itself.
We set off, full of vim and vigour, slowly finding out that steep hills and summer heat has a way of draining that vim and vigour, turning it into a plaintiff cry of, "Who's idea was this, anyway." Ange was not too impressed when I pointed out that it had actually been hers.
Still, for all the work, it was a fun afternoon, although I wouldn't have objected if someone turned down the sun's thermostat a notch or two. About the middle of the afternoon we reached a fork in the trail. The fork we wanted went right, climbing up to the lookout point. The fork to the left led sidewards to a creek that ran down the mountain, a picnic area and a pool. The creek had been slightly dammed at that point to allow the pool.
Before heading up the trail we went left and settled down near the pool for a quick break and a snack. We'd just finished and were about to go on our way when Josie had a bright idea.
"It's too hot," she announced. "What we really need is to go in for a quick dip."
"No bathers," pointed out the ever practical Mary.
"So? We can skinny dip," came the reply.
"Ah, Josie, in case you missed it, Carl and Bob are with us," Ange carefully explained.
"And?" asked Josie, a circling hand indicating that perhaps Ange had more to tell us.
"We can't go skinny dipping with them here," said an exasperated Ange.
"Why not?"
"Yes, why not," asked Carl. He saw Ange's face and changed his tune. "Ah, naturally you can't. Just not done," he said hastily.
"Well I'm going in," said Josie. "How about you, Mary?"
"I'm in," said Mary, giggling.
"Sorry," said Ange. "We're not staying. We're going on up to the lookout. Come on, let's go."
"It's too hot," said Josie, turning mulish. "I'm going to have a swim. I'll catch up to you. Are you coming in Mary?"
Anything Josie would do, Mary would do. She agreed without hesitation.
"Well, we're not waiting," snapped Ange. "Come on Carl."
Carl looked at me, raising an eyebrow. I shrugged.
"You'd better go with Ange," I told him. "Someone needs to stay here and keep an eye on these idiots."
Carl sniggered and nodded, then turned and headed out, speaking softly to Ange, soothing her ruffled feathers. Josie and Mary looked at me, Josie amused, Mary wary.
"So you'll be watching us while we swim nude, uh?" said Josie.
"Sort of," I agreed. "I'll just sit over yonder in the shade so that you have a male escort available, if required. I won't even perv on you. Much."
"Well, go and sit," Josie told me. "We're going in."
I went and sat under my chosen tree, leaning comfortably against it. The two girls quickly disrobed, ostentatiously keeping their backs to me.
"Ah, Josie," I called as the girls went wading into the pool.
She turned her head to look back at me.
"Nice tush," I said, and she giggled.
I kept one eye on the girls (naturally) as they played in the water, the other eye checking the trail so that I could warn them of unexpected visitors. I was wearing sunglasses and, leaning back against the tree the way I was, I could understand the girls thinking I'd nodded off.
When they came out of the water they took one glance in my direction, apparently decided I was asleep, and came waltzing out giving me a couple of very nice full frontals. They really had excellent figures. They didn't bother getting dressed straight away, sitting down on the grass so that the sun could dry them.
As well as deciding I was asleep (or blind) the girls also seemed to assume that I was deaf. Or maybe they just didn't realise how well their voices carried in the still of the mountain air.
"Is he gay?" Josie asked Mary.
"I don't think so," replied Mary. "What makes you think he might be?"
"Apart from the fact that he's just sitting over there, totally ignoring two lovely young ladies capering about in the altogether? No reason I guess."
"Did you want him slavering around the pool trying to get an eyeful?" asked Mary, giggling. "He did admire your bottom, you know."
"Yeees, but that might have just been him trying to be polite. He didn't appear to have a stiffy when I looked back at him and those things do tend to be noticeable."
True. If I stood up now she'd notice all right.
More giggling from Mary.
"Are you a virgin still," Josie asked.
"Really, Josie," said a scandalised Mary. "What sort of question is that?"
"A pretty standard one," said Josie. "I'm not, I know Ange isn't but I couldn't be sure about you. If I had to guess I'd say no."
"Well, really," grumbled Mary. "It's not the sort of thing you should be wondering about."
"I know, and you haven't answered my question. You're not a virgin, are you, you slut, you."
"OK. So maybe I'm not quite a virgin, but I'll bet I'm not as experienced as you."
Some giggling from Josie, this time.
"Truth to tell, you wouldn't need to be very experienced to be more experienced than me. Ange, on the other hand, probably has had more experience than both of us combined."
"Cat. You're assuming that she and Carl get busy on a regular basis."
"I don't know about Carl, but Ange certainly does," Josie quipped.
My, my. Cats and gossip. The things you learn by staying silent. Did Carl know that Ange might be playing him false? Would Carl care? Probably not would be the answer to both questions in my opinion.
"Anyway, what does my virginity or lack thereof, have to do with you wondering if Bob is gay?"
