AN: i so struggled w/this ch. Is is too corny? Is it believable? Is it boring? Let me know what you think:)
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Kenny sat at a table with just two chairs in the corner. He had view of the door so he could spot her when she came in. Erin entered all frazzled.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. Buses are unpredictable," Erin said taking a seat.
Kenny smiled, "No problem. I was only waiting like ten minutes."
"Are you ordering something?" Erin began to rummage through her purse.
"Uh, no I ate before."
"I'm not either. I don't think I can eat," Erin put her purse back on her shoulder.
A look of concern grew on Kenny's face, "Why not?"
Erin silently looked down at the table.
Kenny leaned in close, "Does this have to do with what happened at the party?"
Erin bit her lip, "Yeah... Since were not eating can we go somewhere else? I'm not comfortable around here. Is there somewhere we can go with not so many people?"
Kenny thought a moment, "Sure, how about the park?"
Erin nodded, "Let's go."
The weather was a bit chilly as they walked side by side.
"Kenny can I ask you something & promise to be honest?"
"K."
"This is gonna sound stupid... Do you really wanna know about me? I mean do you- why do you care?"
"I dunno Erin. I- I was gonna tell you this later, but well I wanted to ask you out. I really like you. Then I found out you had a boyfriend-"
"O."
"But I'm still here for you. I want to be your friend. See you don't sound stupid, I do."
"No you don't."
They entered the gated park. Kenny pointed out a gazebo where they could sit. They sat facing each other. Kenny put his feet up. Erin kept glancing nervously at him.
"I'm pretty sure we'll be fine here," Kenny reassured her.
Erin started biting at her polished nails, "Where do I start?"
"From the beginning."
"Makes sense."
Kenny sat with Erin till she was ready to speak. She had to find the words. Her eyes looked far off as if she were reliving the story.
"Dave & I started going out about three years ago. We were like childhood friends & as we got older I guess things just clicked. Our relationship was almost perfect. When we started high school he changed. I can't explain it. He is not the same person I once knew. The Dave I knew died. Did I break up with him? No. I'm was too damn insecure. I should've that time he pushed me too far..." Erin broke out in tears, she wasn't sure she could continue. "I never told anyone about this, not even my friends. It's just too damn embarrassing... what he made me do. His friends were over & I showed up at his house not knowing he had company. He was just chillin with his friends & completely ignoring me so I went to leave. He stopped me & called me back. I thought he was gonna apologize, but instead-" A huge lump had formed in Erin's throat & she could barely breath. "I don't even know why I did it. I don't even know what's wrong with me..."
"What did he make you do?" Kenny couldn't stand seeing Erin this way.
Erin buried her head in her hands, "I stripped! In front of his friends! He just begged me to do it for him. I refused & he started tugging at my clothes. He threatened to end the relationship & started mocking me. He just kept coxing me &- & I gave in. I don't even know why, what was I thinking? God, I wish I could take it back! It was so humiliating. I felt like some common slut. And while I was doing it... His friends- they were laughing & laughing. After I just ran out of there & left. The next day Dave acted as though nothing happened. They all did. So I did. From then on he's just been treating me like crap. I was going to end it, I was. Then everywhere I go I hear 'O, you & Dave make the cutest couple!' & 'You & Dave belong together!' You & Dave this! You & Dave that! I started believing... What was I without him? I was nothing. I let other people tell me what to do. I got confused, I forgot was love was. I realize now. It's not settling for what seems to be a 'good thing'. I wish I realized that sooner... I'm sorry I must be making you uncomfortable. I can be such a motormouth-"
Kenny's composure seemed tense, "Not really. It's ok. Go on."
"Your too nice Kenny. I hate to dump all this on you. Well all that must've lead up to the night of the party. Kenny, I had a great time dancing with you. I hadn't been that happy in a long time. Dave- Dave was mad jealous. I can't begin to understand why- he, he raped me."
Erin stopped crying & wiped her nose in her sleeve. There was no point in feeling sorry for herself. It felt so good to just say it. Like the deep dark pit in her stomach melted away. It no longer felt like her fault. She looked over to see Kenny's expression wondering, "What must he think of me now?"
Kenny felt tears form in the corners of his eye, but he held them in, "Erin, I had no idea... Are you ok? Sorry stupid question."
Erin wanted to lighten the siguation & sarcastically replied, "Well that's so how I wanted to lose my virginity."
Erin folded her arms & shivered from a breeze.
"Are you cold?" Kenny looked her in the eyes.
"Eh, I'm fine," Erin sniffled. She didn't know why she was trying to be tough all of a sudden. Perhapes she shared too much with the boy she just met.
Kenny got up & took the seat next to her. He pulled off his orange hoodie & wrapped it around her. For the first time Erin saw his beautiful golden blonde hair. She tried to hide the fact that her heart was beating right out of her chest.
"Thank you," Erin said with a smile. She wrapped her arms around Kenny & it felt so warm.
Then Erin blurted out without thinking, "You aren't a virgin right? Uh, sorry that's none of my business." Erin wasn't exactly good at handling akward siguations. She often made them worse.
"Why do you assume I'm not?"
"Sorry I didn't mean to jump to conclusions."
"That's ok. Eh, yea i'm not. How'd you guess?"
"So you aren't a virgin?"
"Surprised?"
"I've heard stuff... like your famous jokes."
"Yea, but that doesn't mean I've had sex."
"True. Sorry I was just wondering."
Erin sighed, "I dunno how I'm going to face Dave in school tomorrow."
"Don't go then, take some time off."
"I could, like my parents would even notice. Thanks for listening to this. Alotta guys don't like hearing about ex boyfriends & stuff."
"It's fine. You need to vent. You deserve that."
Kenny reached around Erin & held her. She let him. It wasn't like Dave's touch; she didn't cringe.
"Kenny?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of coarse."
Erin turned to him & looked into his deep blue eyes, "Why do you hide?"
"What do you mean?"
"In your hood. You shouldn't, you have beautiful hair."
"I dunno why. I don't like people to see me. I hate it."
"Don't."
"I can't help it. It's complicated."
"I understand."
Erin reached up & touched his hair. Their faces were inches away from each other. Kenny lean over & whisphered, "I wish I could count every freckle on your body." The tension was overwhelming. Kenny pulled her in close & they kissed. Lips locked & twisted in a most passionate way. At first Erin was completely content. Then in her mind there was a flash of Dave forcing kisses on her. It felt disgusting & she pulled away.
"Kenny I'm sorry. I can't. It's too soon."
"I won't hurt you. I'm not the enemy. I-"
"I know that. Believe me I wanted you to kiss me. But everytime I close my eyes I see Dave! I can't get it to go away! It's torturing me!"
"Look it's ok. After what you went through- take all the time you need."
"Kenny? This sounds silly, but what if I'm never able to love again?"
"You will. I just know it. I can feel it."
Erin's cell phone started beeping.
"It's a text message. My mom reminding me to get home for 'family dinner time'. Which basically means my dad is coming home early from work. Sorry I have to go... I don't want to."
"I know what you mean. I don't want you to get introuble though."
"Alright."
Kenny walked Erin to the bus stop & then she was gone.
As Kenny walked home he felt guilty. He was always talking about girls as objects & bragging to his friends. He never really meant it though. Sure he can admit he's one horny bastard, but would never do something Dave did. In actuality, he cared deeply for his girlfriends. That was until they broke up with him. He tried not to think about that. Erin was different & special. Just the idea of someone hurting her... Kenny's blood boiled & he wanted Dave dead. He wanted justice & revenge was the best way to get that. But how? He wasn't so hotheaded as to march right up to Dave's door & rip him a new one. No, this was a dish best served cold. The right moment will present itself.