It Comes Naturally

17.

It was Sunday morning already, the impromptu girls' weekend was ending too soon. Stacia woke early for some reason and it wasn't the fact that she was in another foreign place. Since their rush from New York, she got used to the opulence she faced at every turn. Though one can see the riches the Johnsons and the associated families lived in, you can see how unpretentious they all were. Stacia was used to the rich snobs in New York when they happened to 'drop by' the diner for 'normal food'. Harem and his friends were nothing like that. The entire group welcomed her and Taylor with welcome arms. The mothers of each respective teen rallied around them, giving both girls the motherly love they craved and missed. Taylor broke after the third day of their care, the act her mother did register to her finally, and all the grief and pain she bravely held in was released because of the love she received. 

Smiling to herself, she rose from her bed in the large room she shared with Taylor. The room was designed for comfort and relaxation. Grabbing her robe and phone, she easily made her way out of the room, looking over her shoulder to make sure her friend was sleeping soundly. A few nights ago she had a bad nightmare, screaming in fear of her step-father coming to get her. It took a while to reassure her of her safety in which Harem had to be called over. Stacia thought it so pure when he showed up at the house in his pajamas and a tattered stuffed animal in his hand. Whatever the animal meant between the two, it calmed Taylor down and she went back to sleep without a fuss. What happened during the wee hours of the morning between her and Harem still made her blush. 

Wrapping her arms around her body, she made her way out to the pool and took residence on the bamboo garden chair. Stacia lightly touched her lips remembering the tentative kiss she received from him. A chuckle escaped her at what he said after their kiss and finally got out of that shocked/dazed state the kiss caused.

 "If you want to slap me now, do so, just know I will definitely kiss you again and make it longer."

After that kiss, she was flustered by his attention and the feelings that came along with it. He was insightful enough to give her space since then but didn't stop showing his consideration for her. Stacia was of two minds about the budding attraction, on one side she was accepting of it and on the other, she wonders if his attention on her is unbridled attention he held back for Selby. She learned of the Selby situation and felt the girls' anger and hurt along with it. Given that he expressed his feelings for her in a heated situation, it was all a messy situation. Stacia frowned. She asked herself why Selby believed her boyfriend over childhood friends who seem extremely tight-knit. That brought her back to Harem's affections. She wanted to know if they were real and genuinely for her or was she simply a substitute for Selby.

Stacia wanted it to be the former and not the latter. Rocking her head back, she closed her eyes and welcomed the sun on her face. It felt good being outdoors and actually smelling the fresh air and hearing the nature around her. Thanks to Harem and his family she now has the opportunity to pursue a career and not think about being stuck at a diner for the next ten years. At first, she refused their generosity but Taylor stated clearly that it wasn't charity, the family only wants to see their kids and those closely associated with them, so good in the world. No matter how small that good was. 

"There you are. I panicked for a while when I didn't see you."

Stacia turned to the teasing yet concerned voice of her best friend. Taylor made her way over and took the seat beside her, taking in nature around her. "I like it here," Stacia commented.

"Me too," Taylor returned with a sigh. The two stayed in silence, losing track of time until the others met them outside, also in sleepwear. Stacia grinned at the scene around her. They all looked like they were all nursing a hangover when in reality it was adrenaline withdrawal. Friday night was spent getting to know each other more and a bit of gossiping, Saturday was time spent in the custom-made pool of slides and underwater grotto, and last night they all went out to dinner and visited the 24/7arcade at Johnson's mall. Stacia thought that was cool, they even had extra security available in scenarios of drunk or high teenagers entering the mall.