Social Circle

6. Kissability

Richard jumped a bit as he heard the door open as he had just started to doze off, as he hadn’t gotten much sleep last night due to being in a new place and a new bed, and especially the fact that he HATED sleeping alone……not that he’d ever admit it. It was one of the reasons he had sex so often…an excuse not to have to be alone.

“How’d it go?” Richard asked with a yawn nodding at Kara.

She chuckled a bit still looking a bit pale and stressed, but she seemed able to find a real smile even with the overbearing stress on her shoulders. “Okay….I guess, I think I at least got the point across that I don’t hate him…..” she said with a yawn, “I think I had the same idea as you, a nap sounds ridiculously wonderful!”

Richard chuckled a bit, and patted the spot next to him, sending her a wink, “Well, you’re welcome to join me!” he teased flirtatiously causing her to give a real laugh nevertheless climbing into her own bed ignoring his offer.

“Thanks, I needed that,” she smiled.

“Anytime, glad to be of service,” he winked at her before yawning.

“Sleep well, Rich,” she murmured not even catching she hadn’t called him Richard as her eyes closed.

She didn’t even notice his body freeze at the name, before slowly relaxing, “Sleep tight Kara,” he murmured back, before whispering too low for anyone else to hear, “You’re the only one beside my mom I’d ever allow to call me that…..”

Josh meanwhile had gone back to his room to see Jennifer fast asleep looking actually at peace. He sighed looking away before grabbing what he needed and exiting and going into the living room where everyone else was. “So he returns,” Jacob teased loudly with a laugh.

“Shut up Jake,” he grumbled sitting on the couch next to Shelby and pretended to be intrigued in their conversation for the next few hours. Right around dinner time Kara and Richard entered the room, Kara her normal color and her beautiful smile back on her face.

“Hey Kara, how are you?” Sophie asked worriedly.

“I’m fine Soph, no worries, but um guys can you do me a favor?” Kara asked softly.

Everyone looked towards her worriedly as the only one still absent from the room was Jennifer. “Please don’t mention what happened today, it doesn’t matter okay? It’s over, I know you all are curious, but just everyone please just drop it. She doesn’t want to hear about it okay?” she asked.

She watched eyeing each person down as they slowly nodded and the chatter picked up again as Jennifer took deep cleansing breaths before exiting her room. She was scared to face everyone, especially Josh and Kara. Kara had been so great……she truly proved her worth as a friend during that time, but surely it had to change Kara’s view on her. She must look at her as if she was fragile, and she didn’t want that…..and Josh……Josh surely must think she was insane…..not that she really cared what he thought. She just hoped he wouldn’t be too rude, or that he hadn’t told the others…. Unfortunately, she knew that they knew something had happened, and they would all be bugging her to know…..are you okay’s…..she could hear them now. She wasn’t okay, she knew that and they knew that…… so it wasn’t worth the I’m fines.

She entered the living room nervous and she felt the eyes on her and she immediately looked down at her feet when she heard Kara’s voice, “Jen, come sit by me we were just discussing what Richard and I decided for our activity this evening!”

She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face at Kara’s attempt of making the atmosphere for her as little awkward as possible. She walked over to her and sat beside her taking the spot she had pointed at between her and Richard, as she noticed Josh was on Kara’s other side. She silently thanked her for not making her sit by him.