“Thanks…” she said, putting aside her worries about her pjs andsitting down beside him. She could feel his dark eyes lingering onher, and if she wasn’t mistaken, she was sure that he was leaningin a little closer than necessary. She heard him take a deep breathas though he were breathing her in.
Refusing toacknowledge him, she purposely ignored him, reaching out for acroissant from the plate in the centre of the table instead.
Right away,Crispin, the loathsome Goth, pushed the plate closer to her. Whenshe met his gaze, he stared apologetically at her in a silentappeal for forgiveness. She paused before taking one, glaring athim before she begrudgingly helped herself. Dorian placed her mugin front of her and sat down in his chair.
“So, what’s on sale?” she asked, engaging the Steampunk, theonly neutral party she had left in the house.
Dorian clearedhis throat and smiled, relieved that she was talking to him, atleast. “Um… quite a few things. Here, why don’t you take a look.”He passed her a favourite flyer of hers. “There’s a cute littleHello Kitty bed-in-a-bag set you might like.”
Becky took theflyer and frowned. “It’s very nice, but it’s a bit childish, don’tyou think?”
The three Gothsimmediately stopped what they were doing and looked arounduncomfortably. Something had happened! Something had taken a sliceout of their Becky’s innocence, and they couldn’t help but mournthe loss of it.
“But you love Hello Kitty,” Dorian said with dismay, taking theflyer back.
“Not anymore,” she said with a tiny shrug of her shoulders. “Ithink I’ll just get that black set. That should make you all happy.Right, Crispin?”
At thatstatement, Crispin huffed and plunked his mug down with a loudthump. A communal groan sounded around her. She tensed and readiedherself for the battle that was sure to come.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Crispin asked with adisgruntled frown.
She wished shecould respond with all sorts of witty comments. Yet the first thingthat came out of her mouth was anything but witty or eloquent.
“Oh, stuff it, you prickly Goth!” she shouted, challenging himwith an icy glare.
Off to theside, Kelley couldn’t help but chuckle at her spirited remark.Dorian too, barely contained his snicker.
“Don’t hold back now,” Crispin groaned, not knowing whether tolaugh or cry at her outburst. “Out with it, sweetheart. Do yourworst.”
Too upset to see any humour in the situation, she suddenlyfilled up with pent up tears. Becky tried to fight the emotionalmeltdown that bubbled up through her chest, but the battle was lostbefore it even started. Before she could form another coherentword, her throat closed in, and she fell apart. Head in hands, shedisintegrated into a blubbering heap of misery right before theirvery eyes. Great! Good show. You certainlytold him, didn’t you?
“Becky?” Kell reached for her first, stroking his hand over hermess of curls. She wiggled away from him, not wanting hispity.
“Fuck… is all this because of me?” Crispin gasped, standing upin dismay, looking helplessly at his distraught littlehousemate.
“I think so, man,” Dorian said, wincing at the patheticsight.
The girl wasdevastated! Crispin looked on, not knowing what to do with himself.It didn’t help that Kell was presently glaring up at him withmurderous intent in his black eyes.
“Well, say something,” Dorian appealed to him.
“What… I mean, what does one say in these situations?” heasked, looking around aghast.
“Sorry, perhaps?” Dorian suggested.
With a heavysigh, Crispin slowly nodded. Looking guardedly at Kell, hehesitantly approached Becky. He leaned in close and whisperedsomething in her ear.
Without anotherword, Crispin left the kitchen and stepped out into the backyard. Amoment later, Becky followed him. He sat on the old wooden picnictable in the morning sun, facing away from the house. She circledaround and stood facing him, crossing her arms in front of herchest. Only then did she realize that she was still in herpyjamas.
“I’m sorry, Becky. You’re not dressed, and there’s a bit of achill out here despite the sunshine. I just wanted a moment alonewith you, away from the others.”
“I don’t plan on staying out here very long,” she said, wipingstray tears from her cheeks.
“Here, come in closer to me,” he said, offering her hishand.
She reluctantlytook it. He wrapped his warm hand around hers and tugged her inclose to him, placing her between his knees, effectively shelteringher from the cold breeze. “Becky, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t havepushed you on Jax. I honestly thought you’d be good together.”
“Looks like they’ll be just fine,” Dorian said, peering out theback window with Kell.
“Hmm…” Kell grumbled, not liking the looks of Becky inCrispin’s embrace. Man, he’d have to get these jealous tendenciesunder control or risk Crispin’s I told you so taunts.
Looking awayfrom Crispin, Becky self-consciously played with the sleeves of herpyjamas. “Why?” she asked tremulously, biting her bottom lip.
“Why?” he repeated, unsure of the meaning of herquestion.
“You made me believe that he really liked me,” she said,looking into his dove grey eyes. “Why would you dothat?”
“Tell me what happened, sweetheart, so that I might betterunderstand,” he pleaded, holding her little hands together in hismuch larger ones.
She was soflustered already that she thought she couldn’t blush brighter. Butshe was wrong. Her cheeks burned with indignation at what she wouldhave to say to him.
“I uh… I mean Jax and I were kissing, making out in his car…”She paused at a loss for words.
“Damn it, Becky. Did he hurt you?” he hissed, his handsomefeatures seething with menace.
“No…” She was a bit surprised that Kelley hadn’t explained thatmuch to him. She figured they would have had a good laugh about itby now.
She took a deepbreath before letting it all out. “He wanted to… you know, gofurther than I wanted to.” Right away Crispin tensed, believing theworst. “He stopped, though, when I started to cry.” She watched ashe instantly relaxed his shoulders before nodding for her tocontinue.
“He said that he didn’t have time for… virgins,” she blurtedout real quick. “I wasn’t worth the bother to him.”
“Bastard…”
“You knew that, though. Why didn’t you just tell him that… I’ma… that I…”
“That you’re a virgin,” he said it quietly but clearly withoutjudgement in his voice. She nodded and looked beseechingly at him.“Because it
