𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝟮𝟰/𝟳

Chapter 14

The next day, we drove to court to support John B on his trial. Sarah wouldn't stop crying about the whole thing, but the rest of us were solemn, and quiet.

Kiara told me she and Pope were over, and when I asked why, she just said that they'd agreed to be "just friends". When I asked why "just friends", she explained when they had sex, it wasn't very good, and agreed that their relationship was better or firmly platonic.

"But I don't understand," I said to her when we stood to the side of the funeral, having a private conversation. "Was sex with Pope that bad that you're breaking up?"

"First of all, we were never a thing. Second of all, of course not! The sex isn't the only reason why we agreed to be, you know, only platonic." Kiara said.

"Well ... how come then?"

"Okay. You know sex—"

"Duh." I knew the logistics.

"But you've never had it, right?"

"Yeah," I said. I was still a virgin.

"Sex is like, it's not like the movies or books."

"I know that," I said, starting to get annoyed. I wasn't some idiot.

"No, you don't really get what I'm saying. I'm saying, it's more than physically being together, it's like, you have to communicate."

"Like asking if this is okay and stuff?" I asked curiously. I'd seen the Tea Video at school, and everything about consent.

"You have to trust the person. Especially if it's for the first time, it's about exploring, being careful, open, you gotta speak up if something's uncomfortable." Kiara said wisely.

"So did you lose your virginity to Pope?"

"Actually," she laughed, "I lost my virginity at the start of the summer to a Touron. It was pretty awful."

"Did you ... you know," I looked around. "Um, come?"

"God no," she scoffed. "No comes when they first have sex. It was awkward, uncomfortable, and I never spoke to him again."

"So how does this relate to Pope exactly?"

"Well, he's you know ... well he was a virgin." Kiara explained.

"You took his virginity?!" I gasped.

"Not so loud!" Kiara hushed. "But yeah. That's why I was talking about communication, talking to each other. I pretty much took lead, which is fine," she assured me. "But he was awkward about it. He was Pope. Um, it's like, I thought since we knew each other for a long time, and that we were friends, it'd be okay. Like not having these amazing sky-rocketing orgasms or anything, but more like, we could laugh if we messed up, talk about it later."

"Did you?"

"No. That's the point. After like, a couple minutes of it, I just got off him and we didn't even talk. He didn't even like, say anything during it! I was doing all the work, which I get it, for the first time it's scary, but he didn't say a thing. Wouldn't tell me if what I was doing was feeling good or anything." Kiara said.

"So ... basically he was being Pope the whole time."

"Yeah. That's why when I suggested we were better as friends, he was okay. I think he sort of understands that too." Kiara said hopefully. "That's why I really like Pope. He gets things, you know?"

"I guess ..." I trailed off.

Actually, when I looked at poor Pope, he looked like someone had killed his puppy or something. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knew that he'd always been head over heels for Kiara. I guess when she said that they'd bothagreed on this "just friends" business, Kiara had been the one who suggested the idea.