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CHAPTER 28 Kim opened her apartment door to a Chatha who was even pinker than usual. Her hair had been newly redyed, a daring neon; her cheeks were flushed; her tongue was almost as neon as her hair, due to a strawberry lolli that was probably the tenth or twentieth in a long line of lollis to be had that day; and her muppet jacket, knee-length dress and shoes were all solid shades of pink. She was also more flighty than usual, brushing past Kim without even saying hello. She walked all the way to the window, which she opened even though the air was far below freezing, and she stuck her head outside for a moment before turning around, lolli planted firmly in her mouth. Without a word, she stared at Kim. “You all right, Darlin’?” Chatha wrung her hands then dropped them. Then she reconsidered just letting her hands hang there, and occupied one by taking the lolli out of her mouth. She looked at it a moment before registering what it was, at which point she blinked and looked up at Kim again. “Chatha? Speak to me, luv, this is a little bit unnerving.” “Why di’n’t anyone ever tell me?” “What, luv?” “Wha’ ... wha’ guys can do...” She was about to take a lick of her lolli, but then brought it back from her mouth, embarrassed. “Wi’ their tongues,” she whispered. Kim covered her mouth so she wouldn’t laugh. She paced in a small circle before walking to join Chatha at the window. She took the pink little grrl’s shoulders, and led her over to sit on the edge of the bed. “Chatha Darlin’, I think it’s time to tell you a little bit about the facts of life.” “Nah, ah know ahl tha’ how babies’re born an’ stuff. I am 17, y’know. Bu’ we di’n’t do any o’ tha’. No’ yet.” “So who’s the perpetrator?” Chatha took a few cautious licks of her lolli before answering. “Darius.” Then she dropped her hand with the lolli in it, staring at it like she couldn’t believe she was actually holding that. “Does this mean we don’t have to pay him for his tech work anymore?” “Kim, i’s no’ a joke! I’ was... I’ was... Ah mean, i’ was all so... I’ jus’...” “So what happened, Chatha? No jokes. I want to know how a bloke could steal my little pink grrl’s heart.” Chatha swung her feet, taking the time to finish off her lolli before even thinking about what had happened again. When she was finally staring at the paper stick in defeat, she sighed and jumped off the bed. “He drove me ‘ome from th’ studio. Tha’s after you an’ Jess went off t’ plan out th’ next photo shoot. Which ah know wha’ ah’m wearin’ for already, so y’know. Bu’ tha’ doesn’t matter right nah. Wha’ matters is... Well, ‘e drove me ‘ome.” She bit her lip, worrying at it for a while before continuing. “He came in wi’ me, an’ we were sorta’ kissin’ fer a while. Ah know all abou’ kissin’. Been doin’ tha’ since ah was a li’l kid. Tha’s nothin’. Jus’ kissin’. He says ah taste pink. An’ I ne’er told ‘im abou’ tha’ night on th’ last show, y’know? So I mus’ actually taste pink. D’y’ think ah taste pink, Kim?” “I don’t know. I’m not sure what pink tastes like.” “Maybe i’ was leftover lolli taste, or somethin’.” She blushed even deeper when she said ‘lolli’. “I noticed you were sort of fidgety with your lolli, Darlin’. Care to share?” “He... Well, Darius, ‘e said...” “Yeh?” “Said ah was his lolli. His pink lolli. An’ tha’... He’d like t’ take m’ wrapper off.” “I give the boy points for creativity.” Kim smiled, then messed up Chatha’s hair a bit. “Breathe, luv. No one’s going to hold this against you. Well, Heather would hold anything against anyone, but you’re not telling her, you’re telling me.” “Y’don’t mind hearin’? I mean, ‘e is a bloke an’ all... An’ y’ don’t like ‘em or anythin’, so I’m not expectin’ that you’ll jus’ sit ‘ere an’ listen as I blather on about--” “Darling, I hate the typical male. Darius has had too much exposure to our band to be able to be typical. So long as he never, ever, ever even gets close to hurting you, I’ll remain fine with him.” “He’d ne’er hurt me.” “Just remember that’s what they all say, awright luv?” “Awright.” Kim put her arm around the fidgeting Chatha. “Tell me more, Darlin’. You’re itching to get this out. I’m all ears.” “Well, ah di’n’t wanna’ take m’ clothes off, ‘cause we hadn’t been datin’ b’fore, we’d just started doin’ more than flirtin’ few days ago, y’know?” “Yeh.” “Bu’ the way ‘e kissed m’ mouth... An’ m’ neck... I ‘ad t’know wha’ else he could do. Ah jus’ ‘ad to. Ah’ve ne’er been naked fer a boy b’fore...” “The first time is always scary.” “Yeh. Bu’ ... th’ things ‘e did... They jus’ took th’ fear away. Ah never knew anyone could do anythin’ like tha’... He actually... He put his mouth... I’ was...” “I know what you’re saying, Darlin’. You usually have to date a girl to get that sort of attention.” “Oh, ‘e’s n’girl! I’ was amazin’... An’ apparently ahl o’ me tastes pink, no’ just m’kisses.” “Well, you’ve spent your life devoted to being pink. It makes sense, Darlin’.” Chatha nodded. For a while, she was silent. She had run out of things to say. Finally, her mind found something else that wanted to be voiced. “Kim?” “Yeh?” “If we only really need a few t’ fuck... Can Darius be mine?” Kim smiled. “Yes, Darlin’.” |
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Talk to LL,
the author. |