I’m Jimmy. I live in a little upper-middle-class cul-de-sac with my parents. Due to proximity and our similar ages, I’m friends with the two other kids that live around here - Kyle and Charlotte - or Charley as she prefers.
Charley’s not like most girls. She wears shorts and t-shirts, loves bugs and video games, and generally isn’t afraid of dirt or injuries. She goes trail biking and hiking with us, and generally can be found hanging out with Kyle and I. Charley’s been “one of the boys” since we were 4, but it’s getting harder to ignore that she’s a girl and treat her the same now that we’re all 16.
Right now, it’s summer vacation, and we’re all up in our clubhouse hangout - the treehouse in my backyard. Twelve feet up the tree, only accessible by rope ladder and trapdoor.
I grab a cola from the cooler and head to my corner of the treehouse, lounging on my sleeping bag.
Kyle’s in his own corner browsing a game magazine, and Charley’s going slowly crazy from boredom.
Charley paces the floor, drumming her fingers against her leg.
"Hey guys," she says after a few minutes, "can you do me a favor?"
We glance at each other. We always help Charley out when she asks for something, because she knows we won't judge her if things go wrong. It's what childhood friends are for, right?
"Sure, whatcha need?" I ask.
She comes over and plops down beside me, folding her legs underneath herself as she settles onto the floor.
"It's gonna sound silly." She scrunches up her face.
I roll my eyes, grinning wryly.
"Come on," Kyle protests, "I'm not falling for this one."
"Aw c'mon, bro. Don't be like that! You'll see why it makes sense later!" Charley protests.
"Well... Okay, fine. Just spit it out, Charley.” I tell her.
"You know how we were talking about finding some time alone together today? To hang out and talk or whatever?"
I nod along. Yeah, so far it sounds familiar.
Charley continues: "Well... I want you guys to give me your virginity..."
The silence is deafening. The room seems to stop. My mind races, trying to find an explanation for her statement other than the fact she wants to have sex with us both.
Charley fills the silence that descends on Kyle and I.
“Look. We’re all good friends, and I love you both. I feel like the fact I’m a girl is getting in the way of things, and I don’t want that. I trust you both - and I think having our first times together would be special. Please?” She pleads. “Even if it’s just once.”
Kyle looks at me from across the treehouse, our gazes meeting through the darkness. His eyebrows raise slightly as he silently implores me to agree. I hesitate before responding.
Charley can read my reluctance well enough; she leans forward and kisses my cheek.
"Please, Jimmy? I really wanna do this. It'll mean a lot to me."
She pulls back and smiles. Her blue eyes gleam, her cheeks flushed.