Birthday Pool Party Ch. 52

Hey guys, here's Chapter 52! I hope you enjoy it. Comments and feedback are always appreciated! I read every single one. Also, please let me know if you spot any mistakes. I upload revisions all the time, and I will correct any errors that are pointed out to me. Just make sure to be specific so that I can find what you're talking about. Just so everyone knows, I'm gonna be on vacation during Christmas and New Year's. I won't be starting Chapter 53 until the new year. Please note that this story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real person is purely coincidental. As always, this is a world without STI's, and everyone involved in sexual activity is at least eighteen years old.

-Witty

~Kayla~

"This is our red-tail boa, a native of South America," the young female zookeeper explains while holding a ten-foot snake in both hands. "Most of her body is tan with brown and yellow tones. Her small tail is where the bright red patterning is, giving these snakes their name. Interestingly, some of these snakes will have a brown tail instead."

Crown Meadow Acres is Josh's favorite place to bring Ashley. Today the three of us are getting a private tour of the animal rescue center. We're starting out in the reptile room, and the first animal has my full attention. I'm still reeling from my breakup with Ian and Stephanie, but this is a nice distraction.

Our planned Wednesday double-date is now just the three of us. Josh and Ashley are doing their best to make sure I don't feel like a third wheel. I have to admit that I am a little jealous of how easygoing Josh can be; he doesn't get jealous of Ashley at all. Yet, I feel guilty for even wanting a boyfriend that is okay with me getting dick elsewhere.

Taking a deep breath, I keep my attention on the presentation so my thoughts don't wander where they shouldn't. The zookeeper is explaining that these snakes are usually very docile. I can see that; the boa constrictor seems perfectly content in her arms, looking right at me as its forked tongue flicks from its mouth.

"You might notice that her tail is wrapped around my leg," the woman continues. "I've had people express concern about this in the past; they were concerned she was trying to hurt me."

"Uh, she's not, right?" Ashley asks with wide eyes.

Ashley and Josh are standing next to each other holding hands. Josh is wearing shorts and a t-shirt, standard summer fare for a guy. Ashley's endless legs are on display in a pair of jean shorts, and her impressive cleavage can be seen thanks to a black scoop-neck top. Her blonde hair is in a cute braid which is hanging over her right shoulder. I'm still wearing my light-green plant print dress which provides teasing glimpses of my more modest chest.

"No, not at all," the zookeeper confirms with a smile. "Snakes have terrible depth perception; she can't tell if she's two feet above the ground or twenty. She's just stabilizing herself so she doesn't fall and get hurt. In her mind I'm basically a weird tree that gives her food."

"Better than being lunch," Josh smirks while admiring the snake.

"Very true," the young woman giggles. "Another interesting thing about these boas is that they're viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young."

"I thought all snakes laid eggs," I say with surprise.

"A lot of people do, and about seventy percent of snakes do lay eggs. The other thirty give live birth," the zookeeper smiles. "Would you like to touch her?"

The three of us take turns petting the snake and I learn that snakes aren't slimy at all. After the snake, we get to pet a juvenile alligator. With black electrical tape around his jaws, he's harmless and even closes his eyes as he enjoys me rubbing the top of his head. I then get to hold a bearded dragon before seeing a legless lizard. I get it; legless lizards have eyelids while snakes don't. However, the zookeeper is unable to convince me that a legless lizard isn't a snake.

It makes me sad that a lot of these rescued animals used to be pets. Idiots who think keeping an illegal pet alligator is a good idea, heartless jerks who buy bunnies for Easter and then abandon them. It's horrible. There is an enclosure full of guinea pigs, too.

In addition to rabbits and guinea pigs, they have other small and adorable animals. Hedgehogs, chinchillas, and armadillos. I also discover that a marmoset is quite possibly the cutest thing ever. While wearing a thick glove, I'm allowed to have a spectacled owl rest on my wrist. The poor guy can't fly because he's from a facility that cruelly trims wings.

I understand why Josh loves this place so much. It's obvious how much every employee here cares about the animals. Crown Meadow Acres also has so much more to offer, including the miniature golf course and homemade ice cream. The animal rescue is something new to me, however, and I'm enjoying myself in spite of everything.

"How are you doing?" Ashley asks me as we walk along the pond.

"Okay, I guess," I sigh. "It just feels like it came out of nowhere. I mean, I thought Ian wanted some pussy when he asked me to come over early. Next thing I know I'm getting dumped."

"Sorry, Kayla," Ashley replies, giving me a side-hug. "Look at it this way, a lesser man would have fucked you before ending things."

"That doesn't help," I grunt, rolling my eyes. "I also should have waited to change my status. I keep getting messages from guys. Not sure how random old guys figured out I'm now single, but I've already deleted a dozen dick pics from my inbox."

"I get those, and my status says I'm in a relationship," Ashley says.

"It isn't all bad. Dan is being very kind and saying how great we seemed together," I continue. "Probably just hoping to get me to spread my legs."

"Dan cares about you," Ashley insists. "He's not as bad as everyone thinks. Anymore."

"Well, he's not getting any," I state firmly.

"Hey, I have an idea," Josh speaks up. "A way to blow off some steam."

"Oh yeah, what's that?" Ashley asks her boyfriend.

"You'll see, let's go!" the shy boy grins, leading Ashley by the hand.

Josh seems very excited as he leads Ashley toward the parking lot. I'm following behind them, both girls giggling as we wonder what he's thinking. Josh and I are parked side-by-side, and he pulls out his key fob to unlock his car.

"So, where are we going?" I ask.

"It's a surprise, you'll see," Josh answers.

"I'm driving, I need to know where to go," I point out with a smirk.

"Oh, right," he sighs, looking disappointed just before his face lights up. "Wait, no! You can just follow me there."

"Follow at a safe distance," Ashley adds.

"Bitch," I glare at Ashley. "Fine, let's go!"

I end up following Josh's car as he navigates various side streets until we reach the busy part of town. There aren't many parking lots in this area, but there's plenty of street parking. Josh parks his car, and I can see Ashley looking out the back window and wincing as I pull up behind him. I really don't understand why they think I can't par- oops! Shit. It's fine, it's fine. Only one of the wheels is on the curb.

"A rage room?" I ask with a frown when Ashley and Josh walk up to me.

"Exactly!" Josh says happily. "You both have a lot of stress built up; this is a safe way to let out your aggression.

"I think it's genius!" Ashley gushes, hugging her boyfriend and kissing him fiercely.

"Maybe it could be fun," I shrug, not nearly as excited as they are.

"It will be, I promise," Josh responds when Ashley finally removes her tongue from his mouth.

We walk inside and speak to the receptionist who explains how a rage room works. They provide safety gear and the only requirement is to have close-toed shoes. Thankfully, I'm wearing flats with my dress, so I'm good. Ashley and Josh both have sneakers.

The three of us will be able to enter the same rage room, and there are lots of add-on options. They have furniture, panes of glass, and even large mirrors. I suggest paying extra to smash a car, but Ashley rudely points out that I cause enough damage to cars in my everyday life. Ha, ha. She's hilarious. Dumb cow.

As the town rich girl, I end up paying for the three of us. Josh does offer, but I'm happy to do it. Well, Daddy is happy to do it. I text him for permission first! Ashley just stands to the side to see who will be paying for her to have a good time. A perk of huge boobs, I guess?

These coveralls aren't exactly flattering, but we have to be safe. We even get a hard hat with a face shield, a vest, and gloves. Ashley and I are giggling, and Josh is grinning. I find myself getting excited as the employee leads us into our rage room.

The rage room is pretty simple; a dimly lit room within a room that has walls of gray stone and a concrete floor. There are a few sturdy tables laden with items for us to destroy. We each also have a wooden chair. Weapon options include bats, brooms, and a sledgehammer. Our add-on items are already here as well; a mirror, a metal barrel, and a few other pieces of furniture.

"So, ah, how do we start?" I ask, looking around nervously.

"This was Josh's idea, he can show us how it's done," Ashley suggests, giving her boyfriend a gentle shove. "You're up, babe."

Josh nods before taking a ceramic bowl and placing it on the center of the table. Firmly gripping a bat, he brings it down hard on the bowl. It shatters quite satisfyingly, making all of us gasp. Ashley and I then start laughing as we clap our hands. The blonde then hugs her boyfriend from behind.

"Okay, that does look fun," I admit.

"Let's rage!" Ashley declares.

Josh and I start grabbing bottles and bowls so we can set them up on our tables. Ashley picks up a broom and rushes over to a large mirror. I freeze with an empty bottle of scotch in my hand as the tall blonde swings the broom. The broom head impacts the center of the mirror, causing a loud smashing noise as shards of glass fall to the ground and break into smaller pieces.

I'm finally inspired to make my move; I set down the bottle before grabbing a bat and bringing it down on the glass. I can feel some of my stress disappearing as the bottle breaks. I slam the bat down again, pulverizing what remains of the bottle.

We're all getting into it; Ashley proceeds to demolish a small group of beer bottles while Josh takes a bat to an old printer. Ashley and I squeal each time we break something, Josh is laughing, and I am already feeling better. I have to give Josh credit; this is a fucking amazing idea!

"What the fuck is a PC load error?!" Josh yells as his bat repeatedly strikes the printer, breaking pieces off of it.

The sounds of Ashley and Josh raging starts to fade into the background as my emotions consume me. My hands grip the bat tightly as I stare at the ceramic mug. I can see him. I can see David's face. I can see David raping Lexi. My boyfriend assaulting my best friend.

"FUCK YOU!" I screech as I slam the bat down on the mug, shattering it into hundreds of pieces. "YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"

"Jeez, you okay?" Ashley's voice asks from far away.

"She needs to do this," Josh answers before speaking to me. "Let it out, Kayla."

I'm panting heavily as Josh sets up various items on the table for me to destroy. He looks at me and backs away before nodding at me to proceed. Snarling beneath my face shield, I lift the bat and bring it down hard, my anger exploding out of me.

David using me while raping Lexi and who knows how many others, losing myself in random sex, not caring who it is as long as they can make me forget for just an instant. The drunken memories of Keith raping me start to come back as I scream in fury. A bowl, an empty bottle of alcohol, a ceramic jug; all are destroyed, smashed to bits.

"I AM NOT A CUM DUMP!" I scream as I bring the bat down again and again, reducing the ceramic and glass into powder.

It's not enough. It's not nearly enough. I'm so angry I'm panting heavily as I glance around for more things to hit. My eyes land on the metal barrel. Leaning the bat against the table, I reach for the sledgehammer with the intention of causing as much damage as possible.

Things don't go according to plan when I realize just how heavy a sledgehammer is. My anger is disrupted as I frustratingly swing the hammer as hard as I can, barely able to make the barrel shudder. Letting out a roar of anger, I drop the sledgehammer and once again take up the bat.

Tipping the barrel onto its side, I then raise the bat above my head and bring it down. Every bad experience of the last few months runs through my mind with each impact, with each loud gonging sound. David, Keith, Stephanie and Kelsey not listening to the warnings, the kidnapping, the break up.

I remember thinking Lexi and I are going to die. Lexi shielding me with her body, Keith making us take off our clothes. Lexi having to get dressed and leave to go get money because Keith is a fucking moron who thinks he's clever.

"FUCK! YOU!" I hiss, finally hitting the metal barrel hard enough to dent it.

Touching me, mauling my breasts with a gun aimed at me. I bare my teeth as the bat comes down again. Making me get on my knees. Another strike on the metal barrel. Calling me names while pushing it in my mouth. I let out a wordless scream as I hit the barrel again and again and again.

"FUCK!" I scream at full volume, the barrel ringing with the force of each impact.

Female rage can be truly terrifying when it is finally unleashed. I lose David, I get raped, everything falls apart. Despite all the trauma, I meet another guy. A good guy, a dedicated guy. I help Stephanie through her own rape and we all end up together. Until they fucking dump me!

"You were supposed to be safe!" I yell as I slam the bat down on the metal barrel. "We could date and fuck and other guys would stay away and I wouldn't have to worry about being hurt!" I can't stop. I keep screaming and ranting as I hit the barrel. "And then we saved Stephanie. And you fucking fell in love with her! You were supposed to be safe! Fucking safe!"

I freeze with the bat held high over my head. Turning my head, I stare at the other two with wide eyes as realization hits me. My arms fall before I drop the bat, allowing it to bounce off the concrete floor. Then I crumple.

"Oh, my God. I was totally using him. Oh. Oh, fuck. Oh. I'm horrible. I..." the tears begin to flow, and once they start, they don't stop. "I'm a fucking bitch!"

Ashley and Josh put down their weapons and pull me to my feet. Everything is already completely destroyed, so our time is up anyway. After they get all of the safety gear off themselves and me, I end up wrapped in two sets of arms in the waiting room as I sob out my horror at myself.

"You didn't use him, Kayla," Ashley assures me at one point while running her fingers through my hair.

"Yes, I did," I mumble sadly, resting my head against Ashley's shoulder. "I wanted a guy who wouldn't hurt me."

"That doesn't mean you don't love him," Josh reasons quietly.

"I knew he wasn't happy with me spreading my legs, but that didn't stop me from being a fucking whore!" I whimper as tears run freely down my cheeks.

"You weren't perfect, you made some mistakes," Ashley sighs, hugging me tightly. "You just have to learn from them. Ian would have gotten into MIT either way. Maybe you can find each other when he gets back."

"In four fucking years?" I ask with a snort. "Not likely."

"Ian could never forget you," Josh says with surprising sincerity.

"That was nice of you to say, Josh," I sniffle, tears flowing from my eyes and something worse flowing from my nostrils.

"That's attractive," Ashley giggles, extracting some tissues so I can blow my runny nose.

"You know what the worst part is?" I ask as I struggle to make myself presentable. No girl can make this kind of ugly crying cute.

"What's that, honey?" Ashley asks, looking at me intently.

"I have to tell Hazel she was right," I say with a straight face.

"I know that you're going through a lot right now, but let's not do anything crazy," Ashley smirks. "There's no need for Hazel to ever think she's right."

Ashley and I stare at each other for a moment before we both start laughing. I can feel Josh and Ashley both holding me as the quiet guy laughs with us. The switch from sobbing to hysterical laughter is sudden, but by the end, I just feel empty. Not a bad empty, just wrung out.

"Okay, we're going to need some supplies, and then we're having a slumber party," Josh declares.

"What are you talking about?" Ashley asks while looking past me to frown at her boyfriend in confusion.

"It's early afternoon," I add.

"Fine, a slumber party without slumbering, whatever," Josh shrugs.

"I'll ask again; what the fuck are you talking about?" Ashley wonders, a small smile on her face.

"What? I may not have dated anyone before you, but my sisters got their hearts broken a lot. I know the drill here, girls," he explains while switching to an over-the-top campy voice. "It's Chinese food, ice cream, bad television, and gossip time!"

"I don't know, Josh..." Ashley trails off.

"It actually does sound nice," I say quietly.

"Well, then that settles it; we're doing it!" Ashley nods.

"Where?" I ask.

"My parents are at work, then they're going out to dinner with Jennifer," Josh answers.

"What about your sister? Isn't she done for the semester?" Ashley inquires.

"She got an apartment, it's fine," Josh shakes his head.

"Josh's place, then," I agree.

Once I'm back in my car, I pull off the curb and follow Josh. We stop and pick up a rather large to-go Chinese order. It's quite a bit early for dinner, but it smells delicious. Next, we park in the grocery store lot so Josh can run in and grab some ice cream.

While waiting in the parking lot, I take the time to do some texting. Daddy is being very supportive, so is Stacey. Hazel and Marcia are still at the mall, but they occasionally reply to our group chat. Lexi is still contemplating revenge.

I notice there's a car in the driveway when we arrive at Josh's house. Josh parks next to the car in the driveway while I pull up onto the sidewalk. The three of us exit the two cars and meet up in the driveway. Josh looks surprised that someone is at his house, but I think he recognizes the car.

Before Ashley and I can ask who is here, a very pretty young woman walks out of the front door. She appears to be a couple years older than us and there's some definite family resemblance to Josh. Dressed in casual clothes, she walks down the stoop wearing casual clothes and approaches us with a smile. She's carrying a black garbage bag which seems to be filled with clothes.

"Hey, baby brother!" she smiles, walking up to Josh and setting the trash bag on the asphalt so she can hug him.

"Hi, Emily," Josh replies, returning his sister's embrace. "I wasn't expecting you to be here."

"Just getting some clothes for the apartment," Emily answers, releasing Josh and turning to face Ashley. "And I lucked out; I get to meet the famous Ashley!"

"Nice to meet you," Ashley smiles, offering her hand.

"Oh, no," Emily begins, grinning widely while throwing her arms around Ashley. "You're dating my brother, you're getting a hug."

"Ah, okay," Ashley giggles, giving Josh's sister a quick hug.

"And who is this?" Emily asks when she releases Ashley.

"Kayla. Kayla Thomson," Josh answers. "She's Ashley's friend. And she's my friend."

"Well, then you're getting a hug, too!" Emily declares, wrapping me up in a hug.

"Nice to meet you," I giggle, hugging Emily while she squeezes me.

I like her! Emily is a very friendly girl and is much, much more outgoing than her little brother. Of course, I really don't mind that Josh is quiet, I just want him to be comfortable around us. I like that he acknowledges we're friends even though I'm no longer dating one of his best friends.