I'm opening a box and pulling out picture frames when Trevor, Liam and Bash return from the truck. They each have another box and Cassidy follows them with a three drawer container of my clothes, while Carter is carrying my desk chair and lamp. I'm moving into my dorm today. Four hours away from my friends and family..well besides my boys.

This feels real now. I'm on my own and living alone. No one can barge in my room or "borrow" my clothes. I'll be alone with my boys all the the time with no interruptions. I sneak glances at them while they open boxes and start pulling my belongings and decor out. Things changed over the summer. Our relationship is different now, it's evolving into something else and I'm not sure how to feel about it.

It started the night we went to my first high school party...

I had been drinking for the first time and I was pretty buzzed. I felt confident and sexy and my boys were touching me nonstop, holding my hand, kissing my head and giving me little caresses over my swim suit clad bare skin. I felt warm and fuzzy and I wanted to rub myself all over them in a giant puppy pile.

Their touches were hot and I was burning up the entire night. We left Ella there to hangout with her friends and we went home to swim in the privacy of my backyard without all of the loud, wild teenagers that were starting to get on my nerves. Carter and Cassidy were out with friends so we were alone. We were used to being alone and all of our parents never minded it, they trusted us. After the first couple years of us being inseparable the adults adjusted to the idea that we would never be able to part again and where the boys went I went and vice versa.

Bash and Liam were in the house making pizzas while Trevor and I floated around the pool. I was on my back floating while Trevor's hand supported my lower back to keep me afloat. I was still feeling the effects of the alcohol and it made me brave. I kept looking at him because he was so freaking hot. Trev is my bad boy...well he looks like one. He is tall, dark and handsome and as I stared at him I just felt lucky that he was mine and he was here touching me and not one of the other girls from the party.

His lips were plump and the bottom one had piercings on both sides called snake bites. That night wasn't the first night I thought about sucking on his lips or biting them. My feelings had been changing over the course of Senior year. My boys were not boys anymore. They were men and my body felt the effects of that change. They were handsome and strong and really really sexy. I started being more affectionate with them and returning the touches, hand holds and sweet forehead kisses.

"You okay?" Trevor asked as I continued to memorize the features of his face. I smiled and felt my face warm at the fact that he was just watching me daydream about his lips.

"Mmhmm I feel really good." I know my smile was huge and he returned it with a grin of his own. He swept hair out of my face and kissed my forehead.

"I'm glad you had fun, but I really prefer enjoying you by myself. This is much better." He winked at me and I dropped my body into his hand to stand up. He helped me right myself until I was standing in front of him. I was on my tip toes, as the water was too deep to stand flat. He had a hand on either side of my hip and still had a small smile on his face.

"What are you thinking about beautiful? You're awfully quiet."

"Kissing you." I blurted out and then slapped a hand over my mouth. He grabbed my hand to pull it away from my face.

"You want to kiss me?" He asked in a whisper. I looked up to see his face filled with shock and his eyes a size too big. I thought maybe I shouldn't have said that. Maybe I misread the signs and he didn't want to kiss me? He kissed me every day on every other part of my face, how is my mouth that different? I was getting warmer from embarrassment so I covered my face with both hands.

"Forget I said that. Ignore me, I'm a mess." I mumbled into my hands. He grabbed both of my wrists and pulled them from my face. He used his fingers to tilt my chin up to him.

"Give me permission. Tell me I can kiss you? I've been wanting to kiss you since 5th grade. I'm surprised is all. You surprised me. I wasn't expecting you to say that of all things, but I want to kiss you. More then I've ever wanted to do anything."

He was rambling then and all I did was stare up at him with a blank expression on my face.

"Say yes?"

"Yes," I whispered.

He slowly lowered his face to mine and I was terrified for a second. I'd never kissed anyone, I didn't even know what to do. I thought that this was a mistake and this was going to ruin our friendship. Before I could think another thought his lips were touching mine. They were as soft and pillowy as I imagined. I could feel the metal on both sides of his lip and they were cold to the touch.

The kiss was so soft, like he was deciding if he really wanted to go through with this or not. I lifted up further onto my toes and put my hands on his shoulders for balance. He took that as the sign he needed to deepen the kiss. He pressed more firmly into my lips, while he pulled my hips to his. I felt his erection straining in his swim shorts and it pressed against my lower belly. That encouraged me. I felt how turned on he was by kissing me I knew he was enjoying it like I was.

I used his shoulders to pull myself further up and he grabbed me by the bottom of my thighs to hoist me up. I was eye level with him as his hands supported my thighs and one of my hands went to the back of his neck, while the other held tight to his muscular bicep. I moved my lips over his slightly and I loved the feel of his plush lips pushing into mine.

He breathlessly moaned into my mouth and I used that movement to suck his bottom lip into my mouth. My whole body tingled and I'm pretty sure my vagina was on fire, which was a very new sensation to me. I rubbed my center over his abs and the friction felt so good. He gripped my lower back with one hand to push my core harder into his abs and then fisted his other hand in my hair as he took a turn to suck my lip into his mouth.

"Ho-ly fuck."

"Fuck me."

I heard both of the twins commentary and I quickly pulled back and placed my head in Trevor's neck. I was embarrassed by being caught, but probably not as much as I should have been.

Polyamory is accepted and encouraged everywhere now. Men outnumber women by so many that sharing is a normal occurrence. I kept telling myself this as I knew my feelings for the twins were just as tingly and warm as they were for Trevor. I looked up to see both twins giving me huge smiles and Trevor glaring at them still holding me tight to him.

After that night things changed. The boys were even more affectionate. Liam caught me days later in my room after having changed into dry clothes from swimming and he sat on my bed then pulled me to sit side ways on his lap while he kissed me. He didn't ask, he just did it. His lips were firmer then Trevor's and the kiss was more eager. He gripped me tight to his chest and I could feel the desperation in his kiss.

I walked out of my room breathless to find Trevor and Bash smirking at me from the couch. A couple weeks after that Bash and I were alone in his room. He had been quiet lately and I had a feeling it was because I kissed both of the others and not him. He continued to touch and flirt so I didn't think he'd lost interest, I was guessing that my Bash was being just that, bashful.

I initiated this kiss. He was sitting in his desk chair and I turned it around and sealed my mouth to his. He responded instantly holding my face to his with huge hands. His kisses were sweet and slow. They felt like melting into a warm bath.

After I kissed Bash it seemed like the boys had no reservations anymore. They were each kissing me every time we were together. They were still sweet, innocent kisses, but I got lots and lots of them and I was craving their touch more then I ever had before.

Bash and Liam moved into the apartment above their Dad's gym for the summer. They worked at the gym everyday and it was easier for them to stay there. Trevor worked construction with one of his Dads, but would show up every time I went to the twins' apartment. We started having sleepovers in the apartment. I was shocked that Carter and Cassidy allowed it, but one afternoon the boys and Carter had a talk outback and Carter came in to kiss my head and give me a hug. He said that it was okay with him as long as I was comfortable and it was my choice.

The night before my first sleepover Cassidy has a very serious sex talk with me. We had talked openly about sex since I was much younger because she believed in the power of honest discussions and preparedness. I knew the ins and outs of the deed, but I knew I wasn't ready to lose my virginity. I wasn't even really sure where the four of us went from here with our unique relationship. Cassidy was relieved when I told her I had no intentions of having sex in the foreseeable future and her and Carter then stopped monitoring my "alone time" with the guys.

Summer was magical. We swam, went to the movies, went to concerts and hiked nonstop. We spent many days at the gym working out and play fighting. It usually turned into some type of sexy wrestling that ended up in kisses and boners and it was awesome. I spent many nights curled in between two warm boys and woke up intertwined with them so deeply you couldn't tell where one started and one ended. They took turns cuddling with me and the three of them rarely fought or got jealous.

We had figured out a routine and it was comfortable. It was innocent and never progressed further then making out, but there were times where I wanted it too. I'm nervous and excited for this year. I can't help but wonder what is going to change with our relationship, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

"Earth to Mia!" Bash says as he tickles my sides. I squeal and grip the picture frame I'm holding so I don't drop it. I turn and punch his (very) hard pec and then pull my hand back and grimace. He laughs and Liam grabs my hand to kiss it better.

"My favorite picture," Trevor says as he takes the frame out of my hand. It was from our Sophomore year when we all went to prom. It was my first..and my last date. The picture is of the four of us sitting on the bed of Trevor's truck eating ice cream. I'm smushed in between two giant twins and Liam's hand is wrapped in white gauze from punching my date. All four of us have giant smiles on our face and it was definitely one of the best nights.

"Me too," I smile up at Trevor. "Poor Liam and his jealous tendencies."

I stick my tongue out at Liam and he tries to grab it with his fingers. I throw myself back on the bed to evade his reach. Trevor grabs my ankle and starts dragging me off the bed towards them. I flop around like a fish until I dislodge his hand. Cassidy smacks the back of Trevor's head and pushes him out of the way.

"Come on woman, Carter and I are leaving soon so lets get as much of this done as we can. Boys you're excused. Go unpack your own room."

A chorus of groans sounded about the room and I laugh. I smack Bash's butt and tell them I'll text them in a couple hours so they can come get me and show me their room. The guys wanted to rent a house off campus for the four of us, but I wanted some independence this year. I wanted to try out college on my own with some semblance of normal.

Having three men to take care of my every want and need isn't normal. I wanted to figure some of this out myself. Carter and Cassidy were pleased with my decision and agreed wholeheartedly that some independence would help me grow as a person. I'm in an all girls dorm. The girls each have their own rooms with full beds and a little couch, desk and attached bathroom.

Because there are so few of us we are better accommodated then the boys. I feel a little guilty thinking about my guys shoved in a room together, but they assured me they were fine and they would rather be on campus in the dorm building next door then a house miles away. I eagerly agreed, because though I wanted some independence I didn't want to be far from my boys.

There is a strict curfew and security in the girls' dorm building. We have check ins each night at 9 p.m. that we have to be present for and we can't have boys in our rooms after 8 p.m. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle that when I'm used to sleeping in between two of my warm males now. I don't love the idea of being separated from them, but I keep reminding myself I need to be an independent woman and I need to stop being so needy.

The boys' dorm rules don't seem nearly as strict as mine. It's different now. Women are cherished yes, but we are also more controlled. We don't have freedoms we once did due to the fear of abduction and being sold. Even worse for the fear of rape or slavery. A world run by mostly men is not a safe one. There was once a time women were able to roam freely and go shopping or out to eat alone. Because of the virus that affected women so greatly we won't be safe again unless we're locked up like princesses in towers.

I've been lucky to have my boys because with them at my side I was allowed to go and do whatever I wanted. They protected me and Carter trusted them with my safety. There are so few instances I remember of a boy or man bothering me..or really even talking to me. My boys deterred interest from anyone they thought was inappropriate. It might seem weird to be so coddled, but I've never really known anything else.

Before the boys, it was my sister. While she is female, she's a bad ass. No one fucks with her because they know they will end up on the losing end. She is one of the reasons I am striving for independence this year. I want to be more like her. Strong and capable so my boys don't have to fight my battles for me. I learned a lot of self defense over the summer after I told the guys about wanting to be able to protect myself when they weren't there. Of course they all laughed because they thought it was funny I thought I'd ever be without one of them. I kicked Liam's shin and he patted my head and told me I was cute, but he still taught me how to protect myself.

"We are running back down for the few things left. Get this rug down so we can rearrange when we're back!" Cassidy yells as her and Carter jog down the steps towards the cars.

I didn't bring my car with me. I have one at home, but there wasn't a need to bring it when all I need is within walking distance on campus and the boys each have their own car. They will take me for groceries or whatever else I need. There are also hired security guards in the girls' dorm. They aren't just to protect us while we are in our rooms, they are here to protect us while we are around campus too.

If we need to go off campus we are supposed to have a guard transport us to run our errands. Carter introduced Liam, Bash and Trevor to the head of security at the front desk and informed him that the boys were my relationship network. I stood there shocked while Carter spoke about this so nonchalantly. The boys had serious expressions on their face while they shook the guard's hand as if they were already on duty as my protectors.

The boys and I hadn't talked about that. I guess it was safe to assume that's what they would be one day, but I had never heard it said out loud. A relationship network is just that. The relationships women chose to commit themselves too. Sometimes it's romantic interests, but not always, you could have friends or even family in your network. The network is solely committed to that female though, so if you had a non- romantic interest or a family member in your network they could not leave to be involved in another network or relationship without fines.

I've seen many where a women has a network of up to 10 people, but there are individuals within the network who live a lonely life all for the sake of being this one women's friendly companion. I guess it's similar to marriage, but no one really gets married anymore. They sign these network contracts and they are equally as bound as a marriage license. My mind has been running since Carter spoke to the guards.

I need to talk to the boys. Is this a discussion they have already had with Carter? Why wasn't I included? Obviously it's my decision who's in my network and obviously I would chose them eventually, but shouldn't that be a conversation we have first? I realize why Carter did it though.. now my males have more freedom to come and go from my room and I can leave with them without a guard present. They can escort me to and from my classes and errands so I don't have to utilize some guard I don't know.

The girls also can't go into the the boys' dorms without logging which room they will be in and for how long with the attendant at the entrance. I wonder if they will list me in their relationship network with their dorm?

I lay the pink, fuzzy rug down and continue rummaging through my memento box. I pull picture frames out and loose pictures I plan to make a collage with on the wall. I admire the good looks and handsome faces of my guys and sigh. Maybe I should have agreed to live in a house off campus with them. I miss them already and I'm nervous about not having as much time with them when we are all in classes.

The three of them also said they plan to find part time jobs for "spending money." Bash called it "Mia money," and I giggled. Female schooling is entirely paid for by the government, but males still have to pay to attend. Luckily, the boys have great families who supported their decision to follow me to college and agreed to pay for their classes, dorms and meal expenses.

The twins' Mom and Dad own the gym we work out at all the time and it's very successful. Trevor's Mom has three men in her relationship network. Trevor considers them all Dad and with three incomes the family was able to easily send Trevor to school. The money the boys earn will be extra for their personal spending. I receive a stipend from the government that is loaded onto a chip card once a month. It is more then enough to cover my food, clothing and any extra expenses I would have.

There are fairly limited jobs females can hold. An employer has to be able to house women safely within a secure building and ensure they are transported to and from work safely as well. Most women continue their education through college and our government encourages it with free college and stipends. Women are usually the teachers of the community, the nurses, lawyers, social workers and ones who care for sick and elderly. Jobs that are essential and require compassion and empathy. Things that sometimes our male counterparts lack.

My major is teaching. I thought for a long while I wanted to be a nurse like Cassidy is, but I don't think I could handle the loss of it all. I don't do well with loss.

I wasn't the best student at school, but I enjoyed it and I did try my best. I always put in extra effort to make the grades that Ella made so easily. I want to teach elementary aged children. I feel I could make a difference in the lives of kids that age. That was an age I really could have used an extra caring adult around. I could be for someone what I needed as a child.